San Francisco Edition -- September 30 -- October 6, 2016

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Volume 15 - No. 40 • 3 Sections – 22 Pages

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USA

DATELINE WWII Filvets congressional gold medal act closer to passage FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

FILIPINO veterans who fought in World War II are closer to receiving the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM), one of the highest civilians awards in the United States.

After the Senate unanimously approved the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, the bill received enough co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.

On July 13, the bill passed in the Senate and was sponsored by the likes of Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

As of Monday, September 26, the House version of the bill received 299 co-sponsors including Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (DHI), Joseph Heck (R-Nev), Juan Vargas (DCalif.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Mark Takai (D-HI) Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).

The award would collectively honor the more than 260,000 Filipinos who lent their

S E P T E MBE R 3 0 - O C T O BE R 6 , 2 0 1 6

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

ESPINO, OTHER PANGASINAN OFFICIALS CLEARED OF DRUG LINKS

Duterte admits errors in ‘matrix’ and Urbiztondo, Pangasinan board member Raul Sison were erroneously included in the matrix prepared by intelligence officials. “Insofar in the drugs, somehow we were negligent in the counterchecking. Espino, Sison, [Undersecretary] Baraan’s brother, I would like to apologize to you publicly. I am sorry,�

Duterte said in a speech after inspecting the alleged “mega-shabu� laboratory here.

a drug matrix linking Sen. Leila de Lima, a former Justice secretary, former Justice undersecretary Francisco ManilaTimes.net Baraan 3rd and other officials to the ARAYAT, Pampanga — President illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Sept. Prison.

On Tuesday, over a month since the 27, publicly apologized for mistakenly including three Pangasinan officials release of the matrix, the president in his controversial “drug matrix,� said former Pangasinan governor and and cleared them of links to the drug now Rep. Amado Espino, Baraan’s brother, dismissed Pangasinan protrade.

Duterte on August 25 revealed vincial administrator Rafael Baraan,

by CATHERINE AND

S. VALENTE LLANESCA T. PANTI

Fiery discussion included jobs, race, nat’l security and scandals

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

California to expand ‘Asian American’ label

Bill to examine AAPI health and education needs NAIA EXPRESSWAY OPEN. Workers put ďŹ nishing touches on the ďŹ rst section of the NAIA Expressway Project Phase 2 as motorists ply the newly opened expressway in ParaĂąaque City last Thursday, Sept. 22.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel de Guzman

by CHRISTINA

AJPress

CARSON, Calif. — Filipino boxer Donnie “Ahas� Nietes dispelled any doubts about his viability as a flyweight by defeating former WBC champion Edgar Sosa to claim the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) title at the StubHub Center on Saturday, September 24.

Nietes, who now holds a professional record of 39-1-4 (winloss-draw), earned the judges’ nod in all 12 rounds of the fight to win a unanimous 120-108 decision. His opponent seemed to play the aggressor in order to

M. ORIEL

AS the November election approaches, the campaign of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump formally announced its Asian Pacific American (APA) Advisory Committee in an effort to reach out to the fastgrowing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) electorate.

The formation of the committee was first introduced during an APA National Forum at the sidelines of the Republican National Convention last

Former U.S. Congressman Steve Austria of Ohio

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Brunswick, Ohio Mayor Utah Attorney General AJPress photo by Ron Falconi Sean Reyes Robert Macabagdal

said Wednesday, Sept 28, the United States might have to impose conditions on assistance to MANILA — Deeply troubled the Philippines, given President by the extraordinarily high num- Duterte’s supposed refusal to adber of individuals killed in the ad- dress concerns on human rights ministration’s war against illegal violations and other abuses. drugs, two American senators u PAGE A3

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

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Ron Villanueva, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates

Conditions may be set on US aid to Philippine

make up for lost rounds, especially later in the fight when Nietes managed to land devastating counterattacks.

An overhand right from the first-time flyweight late in the tenth round visibly rattled Sosa.

The more experienced fighter managed to avoid an extended trip to the canvas, but drops to a professional record of 52-10 after Saturday night. “Hindi ako nagmamadali na i-knockout si Sosa (I wasn’t in a hurry to knockout Sosa),� Nietes told reporters and fight fans after the match.

His decisive win was preceded

Pork Belly Regular

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AJPress

Filipino boxer Nietes wins 12 rounds and unanimous decision in flyweight debut ANTHONY LICAS

NEITHER Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton held back in their much-anticipated first presidential debate on Monday, September 26.

Moderated by “NBC Nightly News� anchor Lester Holt, the debate explored topics like the economy, job creation, race relations amid police brutality and national security in the wake of attacks from the Islamic State (IS).

However, a great portion of the evening was spent discussing scandals which have dominated news coverage for this election cycle like the birther conspiracy, Trump’s tax returns and Clinton’s emails.

The debate acted as a microcosm of the overall

5 Fil-Ams named to Trump’s APA advisory committee

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by ERIC

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Clinton, Trump square off in first debate

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CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday, September 25 signed off on Filipino-American Assemblymember Rob Bonta’s bill, which would require the state to include more Asian American subgroups into the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) labels.

AB-1726 — also called the Accounting for Health and Education in API Demographics (AHEAD) — will require the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to disaggregate the data, which means breaking down the API groups into smaller subgroups for census surveys.

The state would now be required to collect data for Bangladeshi, Malaysian, Hmong, Indonesian, Pakistani, Taiwanese, Thai and other ethnicities which were not previously required to be included, as the Asian Journal previously reported. “The population of California is uniquely diverse, especially within the API community,� Bonta said in a statement. “There are more than 23 distinct communities within the

The three officials were earlier mentioned by the President as having conspired with de Lima in the illicit drug trade inside the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.

In the drug matrix, Espino was said to have been tagged by Sison as “the richest politician in Northern Luzon.�

Espino allegedly used Rafael Baraan to cover all his illegal activities.

The president said: “I cannot be

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SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

Duterte admits errors in…

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perfect and sometimes you are correct when you say that life is never fair.”

But he maintained that de Lima and former Justice undersecretary Francisco Baraan 3rd were involved in the drug trade.

‘True leader’ Espino, Pangasinan governor from 2007 to 2016, heaped praises on Duterte.

“My family, friends and the people of Pangasinan would like to express our gratitude to the president for being a true leader and gentleman. He has my highest esteem for the courageous and bold statement of apology on clearing my name, Raffy Baraan and Raul Sison,” Espino said in a statement.

“Let me reassure the President of my sincere and relentless support on his anti-drug and peace and order campaign which had always been my campaign message for the past six elections,” he added.

Duterte and Espino were said to have met on August 30, with

the president assuring the Pangasinan politician that the matrix would be revalidated.

“I kept my silence for the past three weeks as I know beyond reasonable doubt that I am not guilty of this allegation. Although my family and the people of Pangasinan were saddened by this unprecedented accusation, we remained steadfast on our respect and high regard on the discretion of the president and relied completely on his promised revalidation,” Espino said.

Espino is a member of Duterte’s political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

Drugs, no; black sand, yes Duterte said he spent several nights studying the three officials’ connection with the Bilibid drug trade, but he said there was a gap that he could not explain.

The three were likely the subject of rumors and hearsay, he said.

Ronnie Dayan, the driver-bodyguard claimed by Duterte to have been de Lima’s lover and bagman, is a native of Urbiztondo.

De Lima is also alleged to have

bought property for Dayan in the Pangasinan town.

Duterte however noted that Espino and Rafael Baraan were involved in a separate case involving illegal black sand mining at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

“If we talk about black-sand mining, there’s probable cause, but to stretch it further to involve them [in drugs], I studied it for several nights … I couldn’t see the connection, it is not really very clear to me,” he said.

The president also said he, not the intelligence personnel who prepared the matrix, was fully responsible for the mistake since he was the one who released it to the public. He said he was willing to be charged in court.

“But my answer to the judge would really be something like, ‘Nagkamali ako [I was mistaken]. I am sorry but I have to inform the people immediately so that they can take regard of their surroundings and prevent the contamination of drugs,’”

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RESTORATION. The provincial government of Lanao del Sur and the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) have agreed to restore the Lake Lanao watershed. Lake Lanao is the second largest lake in the country, next to Laguna de Bay. It supplies 70 percent of Mindanao’s power needs, aside from being a source of fish and marine products and irrigation.

Photo from Lanao del Sur official website

Clinton, Trump square off in first…

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election race as both candidates were in full attack mode, each questioning the other’s qualifications for the presidency. The debate got particularly heated when the subject of physical fitness and endurance to maintain the presidency came up.

“She doesn’t have the look.

She doesn’t have the stamina,” Trump confidently declared. “I said she doesn’t have the stamina. And I don’t believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina.”

Clinton fired back, referencing her opponent’s lack of political experience.

“As soon as he travels to 112 countries, negotiates a peace deal, a cease-fire, a release of dissidents and opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a Congressional committee — he can talk to me about stamina,” Clinton retorted.

Mixed feelings Post-debate polls failed to come up with a clear consensus of a winner following the debate, and it was largely due to medium. Online-based polls show that Trump won, including Drudge Report which declared him the

victor by 83 percent. He also won in online surveys conducted

by CNBC (67 percent) and TIME (55 percent).

However, in polls conducted by more traditional means, Clinton came out on top.

For example, one poll conducted by CNN indicated that Clinton won the debate with 62 percent of viewers, while only 27 percent believed Trump performed better. Moreover, Public Policy Polling prescreened participants who were willing to vote on a winner after the debate, and 51 percent declared Clinton the winner over Trump’s 41 percent.

Additionally, it seems that each candidate won among members in their respective parties.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) believed that its nominee held his own as a nonEstablishment candidate.

“Donald Trump showed he is the only candidate in this race with the ideas to stimulate our economy, defeat radical Islamic terrorism, and keep our streets safe in every community,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “The American people deserve better than a dishonest career Washington politician defending a failed status quo, and Donald Trump showed tonight he is the only candidate

with the big picture leadership our country needs.”

However, Democrats everywhere think that Clinton won the debate, including Melissa Ramoso, national coordinator for Filipino Americans for Hillary, who said that the debate “reaffirmed” Clinton’s qualifications as president.

“I think Secretary Clinton made all her supporters very proud,” Ramoso told the Asian Journal after a debate watch party at Far Bar in Los Angeles. “It was clear that she dominated the debate and held her ground. She was factual, prepared and executed her answers well. She was not afraid to counter Mr. Trump’s claims without warrants.”

Ramoso added: “She knew she was on the world’s stage, and it was her moment to show that she was prepared for the debate despite Mr. Trump criticizing her. She even stated, ‘I prepared to be President, and I think that’s a good thing.’”

Grace Barrios, vice president of outreach for Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD) and a Clinton delegate during the Democratic National Committee, also attended the watch party and agreed that Clinton’s performance underscored her

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From the Front Page

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SSEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016

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5 Fil-Ams named to Trump’s APA…

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July, the Asian Journal previously reported.

“The committee members will support and strengthen ties to each community and provide recommendations on how best to ensure AAPI voices are heard and included in the campaign,” said a release by the Trump campaign on Sunday, Sept. 25, a day ahead of the first presidential debate against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

The 31-member committee — comprised of a mix of male and female elected, appointed and grassroots leaders who believe in the Republican nominee’s message to “Make America Great Again” — includes co-chairs Guam Gov. ANTI-ZIKA CAMPAIGN CONTINUES. The Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial announced last Monday, Sept.

26, that it has added 3 new Zika confirmed cases in the Philippines for 2016. The DOH reiterates its appeal to LGUs to find ways and be very vigorous in searching and destroying mosquito breeding sites. There are now a total of 12 Zika cases in the country.

Photo courtesy of DOH.gov

Clinton, Trump square off in first…

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“clear plan” for the presidency, especially in terms of economic growth, education, national security among other issues.

Barrios said that the former secretary of state’s performance also highlighted Trump’s shortcomings.

“It was very clear that [Clinton] is in complete command of policy and the political will to implement it,” Barrios told the Asian Journal. “Having Donald Trump debate her showed us his lies,

innuendoes including birtherism and his plans whenever he had one are not beneficial to many of average Americans. Last night strengthened, even more, my commitment to ensure we will have Secretary Hillary Clinton as our first woman president.”

The watch party was hosted

by AAPI for Hillary, California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, API Caucus - California Young Democrats, Filipino Americans for Hillary - Southern California, Korean

Conditions may be set…

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Sought for reaction, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said, “We respect the opinion of others but we also give ourselves the permission to chart our own course and fulfill our destiny in our own terms.”

Abella said the Philippines would remain an ally of the US despite the differences. “The fundamental relationship between the US and the Philippines remains unchanged by aberrations due to political perspectives and opinions. We continue to forge forward even as we attempt a deeper understanding of each other’s methods,” Abella said.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, who wrote the Leahy Law to ensure that the US would not be complicit in human rights violations committed by forces that might receive US assistance, said he asked the State Department to discuss the matter with them and help in their deliberations on current assistance for the Philippines as well as “on decisions we will make for appropriations in fiscal year 2017.”

The Leahy Law also encourages foreign governments to hold accountable perpetrators of such abuses.

“While there are ways we can find out which units were involved in these abuses, if President Duterte’s government is unwilling to work with us, including by refusing to investigate allega-

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella

tions of abuses, then we are faced with a broader issue that cannot be remedied simply by withholding assistance from specific units or individuals,” Leahy said.

As the Leahy Law should also be used to push for reform and accountability and to address systemic challenges, Leahy said it might be necessary to consider further conditions on assistance to the Duterte government to ensure that “US taxpayer funds are properly spent and until that government demonstrates a commitment to the rule of law.”

Sen. Benjamin Cardin said he too was “greatly concerned that unless we are able to see a more constructive approach” on these issues from the Duterte government, “we may need to consider taking these steps.”

Cardin is a ranking member of the US Senate foreign relations committee while Leahy was chairman or ranking member for more than 25 years of the appropriations subcommittee funding US foreign assistance programs. n

Americans for Hillary - Los Angeles and Korean American Democratic Committee.

The groups will hold another debate watch party for the upcoming vice presidential debate on Tuesday, October 4, at Far Bar. The party will also honor Joe Montano, a Filipino-American senior staffer to Sen. Tim Kaine, who passed away in July.

Another debate party for the second presidential debate on Sunday, October 19 will also take place at Far Bar. n

Eddie Calvo and Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Ralph Torres, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Korean Americans for Trump founder Lisa Shin.

Of that number, five are Filipino-Americans: former U.S. Congressman Steve Austria (R-Ohio); Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes; Brunswick, Ohio Mayor Ron Falconi; Ron Villanueva, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates; and Pastor Herman Martir of Texas.

Falconi said in a statement that the committee brings “vibrancy to [Trump’s] campaign.”

“His ability to connect with everyday Americans is a testament of his character, and what he wants to do to bring America

forward from the past 8 years,” Falconi said.

Reyes, who is Filipino on his father’s side, spoke on behalf of the Trump campaign during the Presidential Election Forum hosted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) in August.

He highlighted the real estate billionaire’s views on issues like business regulations and immigration and even clarified the controversial Philippines as a “terrorist nation” remarks.

“I think Filipinos need to educate themselves that Donald Trump can truly make America great again,” Reyes told the

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California to expand ‘Asian American’…

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Asian American population and 19 within the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population.

AB 1726 will give us a clearer pathway to formulate policy focused on positive outcomes for our specific API communities.”

If it lives up to its expectations, AB-1726 has the potential to create more initiatives that will solve the problems of the AAPI community. For example, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA) found that 14 percent of Asian Americans do not have health insurance.

But when comparing Korean Americans to Japanese Americans, the statistics differ signifi-

cantly; about 27 percent of Korean Americans are uninsured while only 8 percent of Japanese Americans are uninsured.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – California (Advancing Justice – CA), a partnership of Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus and Advancing Justice Los Angeles, applauded the legislation. “...[It] will have a positive impact on the overall health of the [Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)] community in California,” the groups said in a statement.

“By disaggregating data in DHP, state government officials can make more informed policy decisions on how best to serve our

communities.”

Before it was signed this week, AB-1726 was pushed by more than 80 API advocacy groups, including the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC).

“AB-1726 would allow the needs and assets of Southeast Asian American communities to be revealed when they have been concealed and rendered invisible for too long,” SEARAC Executive Director Quyen Dinh told NBC News last month. “In health, our communities also face tremendous unique health disparities from survivors of war and genocide.”

The bill also has its share of critics, many of whom think that

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SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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

OUST DUTERTE PLOT BEING HATCHED IN NEW YORK?

Yasay denies he is source of Andanar info

by MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

“I DO not know whether those reports are true, I deny having said those things and I am sure Sec. Ernie Abella would not say those things,” said Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. when asked at the Town Hall meeting with the Filipino-American community in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 21 if he knew about the alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from power.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Monday, Sept. 19 that the administration has a list of Filipino-Americans in New York who are planning to oust President

Duterte from power come January 2017.

Andanar didn’t name his source but he said his information came from a cabinet secretary who is currently in New York.

He told radio station DZRH, “I was just talking to somebody in New York now who is also a member of the Cabinet – I won’t mention his name. But he also heard of the Fil-Ams in New York who are planning. They are hatching a plan to oust the President by January 2017. There is this kind of report.”

“I’m glad you asked that because I heard about it, too,” Sec. Yasay said, addressing the Asian Journal. “The information allegedly came from two Cabinet secretaries who are now presently in the United States, particularly in

New York, and these cabinet secretaries are Secretary Yasay and Secretary Abella, who is right in front of me.”

Yasay expounded that while he heard about the Oust Duterte Movement from Manila, “the rumors about the assassination attempt certainly to me is a part of a bigger conspiracy to discredit our president.”

According to the Manila Bulletin, operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested a veterinarian last month in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City on charges of arms smuggling after retrieving from him a balikbayan box containing weapon parts shipped from the United States worth P4.5 million. n

National, state lawmakers hope to maximize impact of AAPI vote

by Eric

anthony Licas AJPress

IN celebration of National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 27, elected officials encouraged Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to secure their right to be heard by registering to vote.

The nonpartisan organization, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAvote), invited national and state legislators from across the country to discuss the importance of raising voter turnout amongst AAPIs during a web conference on Tuesday. They are the fastest-growing demographic and electorate in America, and represent critical votes in hotly contested political contests throughout the nation, according to Democratic Rep. Judy Chu of California’s 27th district.

“We have gone from being marginalized to being the margin of victory,” said Chu during the conference. “Regardless of what party you belong to, or which candidate you back,

there’s one thing I know: we, the AAPI population make a difference in this election.”

The November election will set the course for emergent policy debates on issues affecting the AAPI community like immigration, education and the economy, said Democratic Virginia House Delegate Mark Keam on Tuesday.

However, Rep. Grace Meng (D-New York) of the state’s 6th district pointed out during the conference that only about 60 percent of eligible AAPI voters typically registers to vote. In comparison, the registration rate is 78 percent amongst all eligible Americans.

“If we don’t secure a seat at the table, we’re going to be on the menu,” said New Jersey Assemblyman Raj Mukherji on Tuesday.

He went on to say that voter turnout drops dramatically, particularly amongst first generation Americans, in off-year elections.

Mukherji called upon voters to cast their ballots during these

less publicized contests, where their voices would have a greater effect on the outcome. He hopes the wave of political engagement that comes with a presidential race will not dissipate in the years that follow.

“2016 is going to be the largest mobilization effort of AAPI voters we’ve ever seen in history,” said APIAVote Executive Director Christine Chen.

However, time is running out.

Registration forms must be postmarked or submitted online by Friday, October 14 in New York, Tuesday, October 18 in Nevada, and Monday, October 24 in California.

APIAVote partners will continue to conduct outreach and signup events throughout the registration period in 25 states at grocery stores, cultural centers, temples, boba shops, and a wide variety of other locations.

These gatherings also allow people to check the status of their registration, learn what’s on their ballots, and develop a plan for November 8. n

California to expand ‘Asian American’…

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expanding the label will provide a competitive disadvantage for those applying to college. Last month, members of the API community rallied against the bill by holding a protest in front of the state Capitol as the State Legislature was voting on the bill.

“I disagree with the way we

finely divide the Asian community into specific subcategories when we don’t do the same thing to the other ethnic groups,” Lily Ding, a member of the Silicon Valley Chinese Association, told NBC News on Monday following the bill’s signing.

According to an NBC report, AB-1726 extends to the DPH a

decades-long law that requires other state agencies, boards and commissions to collect data from at least 11 AAPI communities. Bonta’s bill includes 10 more AAPI subgroups, creating a more inclusive data gathering process that coincides with the U.S. Census Bureau. (Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)

FIRST IN LINE. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar meant business when he announced that the first section of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Project Phase 2 will be opened to the public on the first minute of Thursday, Sept. 22. Villar is shown paying the toll at the expressway at past midnight.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel de Guzman

WWII Filvets congressional gold…

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efforts on behalf of the United States during the second world war. As previously reported by the Asian Journal, less than 16,000 of those soldiers are alive today.

“This is a significant step forward in the long battle for due recognition of our veterans who courageously fought side by side with the Americans in the defense of freedom and democracy,” Minister Patrick Chuasoto, Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Philippine Embassy said in a statement.

If passed, the Filipino WWII veterans join other ethnic military groups that have been awarded the CGM like the Tuskegee air-

men, the Navajo Code Talkers, Women Air Service Pilots and more, according to Cecilia Gaerlan, executive director of Bataan Legacy Historical Society, an organization that seeks to preserve the historical significance of Filipinos’ role in WWII. The Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 was introduced on June 11, 2015 and was supported by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP).

FilVetREP was formed last year to obtain national recognition and awareness of the Filipinos’ efforts in WWII. They plan

to conduct research on the Filipino American experience during the war and seek to bring the Filipino side of the war to light.

The California State Board of Education recently approved curriculum changes of the state’s high schools to incorporate more information about Filipinos’ roles in the war in Grade 11 U.S. History lesson plans.

Earlier this year, the United State Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rolled out a new family-based immigration program for Filipino WWII veterans and their families called the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program. (Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)

5 Fil-Ams named to Trump’s APA…

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Asian Journal at the party’s convention in July.

Noting how the AAPI vote is crucial and could swing races, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has been trying to court the population, most notably with the launch of the Republican Leadership Initiative (RLI) in 2015 to train AAPI millennials to engage their communities on a grassroots level.

“The diversity of Mr. Trump’s AAPI advisory council represents his commitment to the interests of our entire AAPI community,” Fil-Am Ninio Fetalvo, a spokesman for the RNC, told the Asian Journal in an email. “Coupled with the RNC’s historic ground game efforts that have had a presence in AAPI communities across the country for the past three years, we are confident that Asian Americans will turn out for Mr. Trump and the Republican Party ticket on Election Day.” He added that the strength

of the RNC’s outreach showed when AAPIs leaned more to the right during the 2014 midterm elections.

Additional members of the committee will be added in the future, the Trump campaign said.

The Clinton campaign shrugged off Trump’s attempt to convince AAPI voters to vote for him, noting that it has been engaging with the population since the former secretary of state launched her presidential bid.

Earlier this year, her campaign released an AAPI fact sheet that outlined her plans to address various matters, ranging from reducing the visa backlog for Filipinos and fighting for comprehensive immigration reform.

“Donald Trump’s last-ditch effort to gain the AAPI vote by launching an Asian Pacific American Advisory Council with less than 50 days before the election is too little, too late. Hillary Clinton has had a career-long record of fighting for the best interests

of the AAPI community, and has shown her commitment since the start of her campaign. Hillary Clinton has specifically laid out a comprehensive plan to tackle the issues that AAPIs care about.

This November, we are confident that the AAPI vote will reflect the community’s overwhelming support for her,” Jason Tengco, AAPI outreach director of Clinton’s campaign, told the Asian Journal in an email.

In May, nonpartisan groups APIAVote, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and AAPI Data released “Inclusion, Not Exclusion,” a voter survey examining the trends within the Asian American population.

According to the findings, 31 percent of Filipinos reported a favorable view of the Republican Party, compared to 64 percent of Filipinos for the Democratic Party.

Thirty-six percent of Filipinos responded that they are planning to vote for Clinton, while 11 percent for Trump. n

Filipino boxer Nietes wins 12 rounds and…

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by strong performances from Filipino boxers throughout the event’s main card.

After earning a controversial victory from what turned out to be an accidental bumping of heads in his first fight against Juan “El Penita” Jimenez, ”King” Arthur Villanueva came back to settle the score in spectacular fashion. Moments after escaping from the corner of the ring during the second round, Villanueva caught Jimenez with a fierce right cross as the challenger stepped around “King” in an attempt to deliver a blow of his own.

That punch sent “El Penita” sprawling face first into the canvas and drew a collective gasp from fight fans in the arena. Referee Jimmy Cantu stopped the fight as Jimenez, who now holds a record of 22-11-0, struggled to find his legs, resulting in Villanueva’s successful defense of his WBO Asia-Pacific Bantamweight title. The victor improved his record to 30-1-0.

Meanwhile, Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo handily defeated Ramiro Robles, who was a late replacement on the fight lineup with a current professional record of 13-6-1. Magsayo scored knockdowns in the second and seventh rounds, but both fighters managed to go the distance.

After earning a unanimous decision, “Magnifico” retained his recently won WBO featherweight title and his undefeated (15-0)

professional record.

Saturday’s matches showcased the formidability of fighters coming out of the Philippines, and signaled promise for the future of Filipino boxing. Nietes had told members of the media that he wanted to explore heavier weight classes in pursuit of more illustrious matchups.

“Mate-test ko kung hanggang saan ang lakas ko dito sa 112 (pounds) (I’m testing my strength at 112 (pounds)),” Nietes said after his victory.

“Ahas,” who hasn’t lost a fight in 12 years, proved on Saturday night that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the flyweight division. n

Boxing history’s longest reigning Filipino champ, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, adds the Wolrd Boxing Organization’s (WBO) inernational flyweight title to his impressive list of accomplishments with the help of head trainer, Edmond Villamor (left) and other ALA boxing staff on Saturday, September 4 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Contributed photo by Jhay Oh Otamias / Philboxing.com

Duterte admits…

PAGE A2 t

Duterte said.

“I’m willing to swallow my pride unlike the others, if I’m wrong. I have a dirty mouth but when I commit a mistake, it comes from the heart, I am very sorry,” he added.

Duterte said he will publicly name more officials linked to drugs, mostly barangay (village) chairmen, mayors, governors and congressmen, once he comes Fight fans leap to their seats after “King” Arthur Villanueva knocks out Juan, “El Penito” back from his trip to Vietnam. n Jeminez on Saturday, September 24 at the StubHub Center

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A

Duterte urged to address hunger, poverty ‘Martial law victims not necessarily bitter, vengeful’ by auRea

CaliCa Philstar.com

by Romina

CabReRa Philstar.com

MANILA – What about hunger and other problems?

Two senators urged the Duterte administration to also launch an all-out war against hunger and poverty in the country and not just focus on the illegal drug problem.

Sen. Grace Poe said an intensified campaign against hunger could be done by institutionalizing reforms that would reach the grassroots level.

“If it is important for us to fight or to wage a war against drugs, we need even more so to wage a war against hunger. I am appealing that we end hunger with the same vigor as the fight against drugs,” Poe said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian echoed his colleague’s sentiment, saying that the fight against poverty and hunger should go hand-inhand with the current war against drugs.

“Of course there is room, you can fight multiple wars. This war should be continued, it might not be as efficient. This was started already. We have some feeding programs, CCT (conditional cash transfer program), so these must be continued. Let’s fine-tune

Two senators urged the Duterte administration to also launch an all-out war against hunger and poverty in the country and not just focus on the illegal problem. (them)drug as we go along the way,” eliminate hunger in the country,”

he said.

Gatchalian said the national government should look at the best practices of Southeast Asian neighbors, particularly citing Vietnam.

Poe said solving hunger should be prioritized by the government as the problem had been placed on the back burner by previous administrations.

“The problem is it has never been a priority for any administration and I am not just saying this one. I think if we focus our efforts into it, there shouldn’t be any problems, we can alleviate or even

she said in an interview.

Although she supports the government’s campaign against illegal drugs and criminality, Poe expressed belief solving hunger should be “more of a priority” due to the sheer number of affected Filipinos.

The two senators have respectively filed bills seeking to solve hunger in the country, which include giving free lunch to all public students, first 1,000 days assistance for newborns, and the Nutri-Skwela Act to address the nutritional and dietary needs of young students.

MANILA – Martial law victims fighting to ensure that such a dark period in history will never be repeated are not necessarily bitter or vengeful, according to former president Benigno Aquino III. In fact, Aquino, whose family was a victim of the Marcos dictatorship, said some of them were a personal source of inspiration for being able to move on with grace despite what they had been through.

The former president was asked about the people he looked up to aside from his parents who were democracy icons.

Former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was assassinated in 1983 after a long battle with the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

His mother Corazon was installed into the presidency when a bloodless people’s uprising occurred three years after the assassination.

Aquino said that an aunt and the nanny who took care of him when he was young were both oppressed during martial law but he never heard them talk about “getting even” or wishing that their persecutors experience the same things that happened to them.

Aquino disclosed his nanny, who was six months pregnant, was arrested three times during Marcos’ time. The only offense he could think of was that she was under the employ of a family seeking democracy.

Aquino had also been talking about the sufferings of his family while his late father was incarcerated for seven years before they

went into exile in Boston.

A documentary shown during his last Independence Day rites at the Palace was again screened during the informal forum on the night of Sept. 23 at St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City. It was the day that martial law was implemented though it was signed on Sept. 21, 1972.

Aquino also cited former lawmaker and Commission on Human rights chair Loretta Ann Rosales as among those who were not thinking of personal vengeance while continuing to defend human rights.

Listening to them could make people pause and think: “Why is the hatred of the nuisances… deeper?” Aquino said, adding these people must have found the “grace of God” in their sufferings.

Another idol, he said, was South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist Nelson Mandela, who was incarcerated for 27 years but held no rancor against his enemies.

Aquino said he had a one-onone talk with Mandela, who was president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, when he came here in the country and met with his mother.

Aquino said Mandela, during his detention, was reportedly being poisoned little by little, and “to see somebody without bitterness” after all of that was remarkable. “(I was) trying to imagine how, (while) you were oppressed for so long you were filled with anger…

I have so many examples,” the former president said.

But despite being passion-

Former Pres. Benigno Aquino III

ate about the martial law issue, Aquino said the issue on whether Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani was beyond him.

“I’ve kept quiet about the Marcos burial because I’ve got so many years to say my point and it’s time to hear everybody else’s point,” he said, noting the vocal opposition of various sectors when President Duterte announced his approval of the burial.

“They have shared their own stories,” he said.

Supposedly scheduled this month, the Marcos burial at the heroes’ cemetery was halted by a status quo ante order issued by the Supreme Court, where various oppositions were filed by victims of human rights abuses during the martial law years.

Those opposing the burial of Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery believe that the state should not pay tribute to a dictator or it will send the wrong signal to the young generation.

DOH confirms 3 more Zika cases by miCah

CENTENARIAN. President Rodrigo Duterte (right) kisses the forehead of 108-year-old Lourdes Marquez in ceremonies for the signing of rules implementing the Centenarians Act of 2016 at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall.

The law grants a cash gift of P100,000 to persons who reach the century mark.

ManilaTimes.net photo by

Yvana m. vaRdeleon Manilatimes.net

All of the previous patients have recovered.

HeALTH Secretary Paulyn Jean The DOH chief said a patient Ubial on Monday, Sept. 26 said from Cebu, a 22-year-old woman, three new Zika cases have been was 19 weeks pregnant. confirmed and one of the patients However, an ultrasound showed is a pregnant woman. no fetal abnormalities particularly This brings the number of Zika in the child’s central nervous syscases to 12. tem, Ubial said. The DOH will Ubial however said there is no monitor the woman throughout reason for the public to panic. her pregnancy.

“We believe that there is local The Zika virus causes microtransmission but it is not wide- cephaly in babies. World Health spread,” she stressed.

Organization (WHO) Country

Representative Gundo Weiler said there is a higher risk if a woman got infected during the early stages of her pregnancy.

Despite the rising cases, the DOH said it will not recommend travel bans in areas with confirmed Zika cases.

“We report only three regions with cases—region seven, region six, and NCR (National Capital Region),” Ubial said. She urged the public to be cautious and destroy breeding areas of mosquitoes.

A

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Features

OpiniOn

Cantankerous

THE word on the street is that for the next six years, the Philippines will “cross the Rubicon” with the United States, an idiom which means to pass a point of no return.

This was stated by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte to reporters on Monday, Sept. 26, wherein he recalled his previous meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos earlier this month.

He also revealed that the Philippines could enter possible economic alliances with Russia and China, countries he called that are on the “other side of the ideological barrier.”

“We had a one-on-one meeting and I said, ‘I think I’m about to cross the Rubicon with the United States, at least for the six years [of my term].

I will need your help in everything – trade, commerce – and I will open up,” Duterte said.

However, Duterte clarified that the Philippines has no plans to cuts its ties with the U.S. Asked to explain what he meant with his “cross the Rubicon” remark, Duterte pointed out an apparent loophole in the defense agreement by the two countries.

“There is an RP-U.S. Pact that was in the ‘50s. It says that an attack on the Philippines would be an attack of the United States. But in the United States Constitution, it says that before a President can de-

clare war, with anybody in defense of an ally, he has to go to Congress for permission to go to war. That’s the problem. So if Congress will not give him that authority, what will happen to us?” Duterte said.

For his part, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. who just came back from his visit to the U.S., said that the president was just expressing his desire to pursue an independent foreign policy.

“He was saying that to dramatize what he feels are the areas that would need further strengthening insofar as our relationship with the US is concerned,” Yasay said.

For decades, the Philippines and the U.S. have maintained strong bilateral relations based on support for international security, joint strategic goals in the Asia Pacific, a mutual commitment to democratic values, and historical ties. Such immutable partnership has been strengthened for years by vibrant democracies that are committed to each other in strength and prosperity.

The U.S. has always recognized the Philippines as an indispensable partner for upholding vital American interests in the region.

The people between the two countries have also

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

shared a tradition of working together from counterUnless both countries commit to the same goals, ing extremism, to strengthening economic ties and this enduring partnership will jeopardize the muinternational security, and to fighting poverty and tual political, economic and strategic benefits they creating opportunities for prosperity and growth. have for their people. (AJPress)

An overwhelming majority of Filipinos in America do not support Duterte’s efforts to become more independent from the US SUPPORTERS may have praised The Fil-Am Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for Perspective standing up against America in declaration that he is not a puppet of Uncle Sam and that his Gel SantoS-ReloS administration’s foreign policy is veering away from the United States. But as far as Fil-Ams are concerned, this is not a good idea.

In the online viewer poll of The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America,” an overwhelming 92 percent of viewers who voted said they do not support Duterte’s efforts for the Philippines to become more independent from America.

Only 8 percent believe Duterte is on the right track when he thinks the Philippines can do things on its own. They are encouraged by the belief that he is the first president who can truly assert the Philippines’ sovereignty as an indepen-

Rodel RodiS IT all started with a radio interview on Manila radio station DZRH on September 19, 2016 when Pres. Duterte’s Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced the news that Filipino Americans in New York were planning a coup against Pres. Duterte in January of 2017.

This is how Andanar said he learned the news: “I was just talking to somebody in New York now who is also a member of the Cabinet – I won’t mention his name.

But he also heard of the Fil-Ams in New York who are planning. They are hatching a plan to oust the President by January 2017. There is this kind of report. “ Andanar added that he even asked this unnamed official if he has evidence to prove it or if this is another hearsay. “It’s really about the evidence that you have, isn’t it? (If there is) you let me know (because) it is the concern for the government and it should be a concern for the nation because it’s a destabilization talk,” Andanar said he told the official.

Although Andanar never identified the source of his news, there were only two cabinet officials who were in New York in that time period - Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. and Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella.

dent nation This finding is understandable and even expected, considering the fact that these same viewers are kababayans who live and work in the United States, remitting their hard earned dollars to their family back in the Philippines, helping keep the Philippine economy afloat.

Those who do not support Duterte’s policy believe the Philippines still needs the United States, especially in the light of the territorial dispute against China’s “bullying” in the West Philippine Sea. They also value all the help the Filipinos get from our long time ally especially during times of natural disaster, as well as the trade, investment and employment opportunities that kababayans back home enjoy as a result of the Philippines’ diplomatic and economic relations with America.

Two days after Andanar’s news, Secretary Yasay addressed the issue when he spoke at a Town Hall meeting with the FilipinoAmerican community at the Philippine Consulate in New York. “I do not know whether those reports are true, I deny having said those things and I am sure Sec. Ernie Abella would not say those things,” he said.

So it appears the question is not whether Yasay or Abella can provide any evidence of the plot to Andanar but whether Andanar has any evidence that “a member of the cabinet” actually provided him with information about such a plot. Or did Andanar just make it up as a joke?

According to Wikipedia, Andanar is “a former Filipino television news anchor, radio commentator, podcaster, audio blogger, voiceover artist and comedian.”

Unless reading a teleprompter as a former television anchor qualifies one as a journalist, it does not appear that Andanar has the credentials to even understand what hearsay means.

The lack of any evidence of this “Fil-Am plot” did not stop Andanar from further inflaming the issue in subsequent press conferences.

Two days after the DZRH radio interview, Andanar announced from Malacanang Palace that the administration has already identified the people behind the supposed plot of Filipino Americans.

“We have names. We know who you are,” he said. “We are aware

As ABS-CBN News reported, if Duterte loosens the Philippines’ ties with the U.S., the Philippines could stand to lose about $1.3 billion in foreign direct investments, more than $150 million in development aid, and about $8.3 billion in goods that the Philippines exports to America every year.

Recent headlines, however, make more kababayans in the U.S. worry. As Duterte strengthens his stand to distance the Philippines from the U.S., he has been “warming up” to China and Russia.

Duterte has clarified that while he is “not yet ready to really break ties with the U.S., he said he “will open up alliances with China.”

ABS-CBN News further reported that Duterte also said that the country may need Russia’s help if the Philippines distances itself from the United States.

“I’ve been talking with PM Medvedev.

One-on-one kami. Walang nakaalam noon. I said, ‘I think I am about to cross the Rubicon between me and the U.S., at

least for the six years. I would need your help and everything — trade, commerce.

I will open up,” the president said.

On top of these concerns is the fear of some kababayans of how Duterte’s belief, or non-belief of God, may affect how he stirs the Philippines from democratic to communist principles.

“What if there is no God?” was the question Duterte posed during the oathtaking ceremony of Malacañang Press Corps officials on Monday, Sept. 26, with reference to his bid to revive capital punishment in the Philippines.

“Ang mga tao sa Pilipinas hindi na naniniwala sa batas because fear is not there,” Duterte said in a report by ABSCBN News and other media.

“Hindi tumalab yung death penalty noon kasi hindi in-impose. One, because of the Catholic church. Second, the bleeding hearts, because only God can kill. Ang problema niyan, I ask you, what if there is no God?” Duterte said.

ABS-CBN News also quoted the president questioning God’s presence when

women and children are raped and killed.

“So, where is now God when a oneyear-old baby, an 18-month-old baby is taken from the mother’s arms, brought under a jeep and raped and killed. So where is God?” Duterte said.

I can hear Duterte’s supporters contend that this should not be an issue because there should be separation of powers between the State and Church, and that Duterte’s philosophical question and position should be respected and not taken against him.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you support Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s policy of distancing the Philippines from the United States and building stronger ties with China and Russia? *** 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.

No Fil-Am plot to oust Duterte

of this and we have names, I’ve received names but I’m not going to mention it because, you know, I was also a journalist and we might be charged with libel,” Andanar said in a press briefing.

According to the news reports, Andanar declined to provide any clue on the identities of the people who are allegedly plotting Duterte’s ouster because he said he did not want to be sued for libel. He insisted, however, that the information was provided by “credible sources.”

The difference between Duterte’s Secretary of Communications Martin Andanar and Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda Josef Goebbels is that the latter never claimed to be a “former journalist.” Goebbels famously said “It is the absolute right of the State to supervise the formation of public opinion.”

It was Goebbels’ boss who famously said: “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”

Andanar was undeterred by Yasay’s denial and persisted in his quest. “We have to confirm, we have to vet, but whatever they’re planning, just think twice because it is not lawful when you bring down a government. And rest assured that we will protect our president,” he said.

Andanar has used unconfirmed hearsay reports about an imagined conspiracy to launch a witch hunt against Filipino Americans who are critical of the Duterte

administration. He wants them to “think twice” about participating in any anti-Duterte demonstrations. It was intended to intimidate Duterte’s critics in the U.S. Perhaps Andanar did not imagine everything. I can confirm that there really were conversations

by Filipino Americans in New York and in other parts of the U.S. about asking Pres. Duterte to resign. I know I am on Andanar’s black list because I participated in that teleconference.

On September 8, 2016, Balitang America aired an interview with “Filipino American human rights lawyer” Ted Laguatan where he criticized Pres. Duterte for damaging the good relations of the Philippines with the US. “I’m sorry for him that he cannot control his mouth and his brain because it gives us a bad image as a nation. It is unfitting because he is seen speaking like that against the world, against the leader of the United States, against Filipino interest. There’s only one solution. He should resign,” he said.

The following week, on September 13, the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) led

by Loida Nicolas-Lewis from New York held a national teleconference to discuss Laguatan’s call for Duterte to resign.

While there was support for the sentiment, there was also concern that it was not yet time for it and such a call would only be used by Duterte supporters to attack his

critics.

There was also a suggestion for US Pinoys to write a letter to Pres. Duterte to ask him to tone down his language and his attacks on the US, an ally supporting the Philippines claim to the West Philippine Sea. In the end, US Pinoys for Good Governance voted unanimously to support a resolution to buy a jet ski and donate it to Pres. Duterte to help him fulfil his campaign pledge to jet ski to the Scarborough Shoal to plant a Philippine flag on it in defiance of China’s efforts to transform it to an island fortress.

So it is quite possible that someone heard about this US Pinoys’ teleconference and about discussions calling for Duterte to resign and word of it reached this unnamed cabinet official in New York who may have passed it on to Andanar. As anyone familiar with the perils of how a “broken telephone” works, the retelling of the conversion misstated the original call for Duterte to resign, to a call to impeach him, all the way down to a call to supporting a coup to oust him.

The remaining mystery is the date. According to Andanar, the Fil Am conspirators are planning to stage their coup in January of 2017. As one who participated in that September 13 teleconference, I can confirm that no one suggested a specific date for Pres.

Duterte to resign.

But I think I know the source of

the date Andanar is referring to.

We should remember that in his campaign speeches, candidate Duterte repeatedly promised to resign if he is not able to solve the problems of crime and drugs in his first six months in office.

Duterte said on January 20, 2016: “I will not ask for a (full) term…I ask for three to six months and I will finish them,” said Duterte, referring to criminals, drug lords, and corrupt public officials, during a symposium in Manila at the De La Salle University.

Speaking on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, on September 19, 2016, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said of Duterte’s promise:“In the campaign, he categorically said that the drug problem would be solved in six months or he would step down. But of course he is not a man of one word. His words cannot be trusted and he gives a lot of excuses. He made the people believe.”

Duterte assumed the presidency on June 30, 2016. Duterte’s self-imposed six month term will expire on December 30, 2016. So on January 1, 2017, Duterte will resign. This is not according to the Fil-Am conspirators, as Andanar alleges. This is according to Pres.

Duterte himself.

Mystery solved.

(Send comments to Rodel50@ gmail.com or mail them to the Law Offices of Rodel Rodis at 2429 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 or call 415.334.7800).

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

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016

CJ

Journal

Your Immigration Solution Ben Loveman and nancy miLLer IMMIGRATING through marriage is a very common way to get a green card. Once a U.S. citizen and an alien agree to marry each other, they must work out the details of when and where to marry and how the immigration of the non-citizen fits into their plans. There are three different ways to accomplish this. Two of them involve K visas. The other involves completion of the entire process in the home country via a family petition and consular processing.

K-1 visas are for fiancés of U.S. citizens. A K-1 visa requires that the parties have a genuine intent to marry; the legal capacity to marry within 90 days of entry; and have met in person at least once in the last 2 years. In rare circumstances this final requirement can be waived for extreme hardship or if satisfying the requirement violates strict cultural customs. The minor children (under the age of 21) of a K-1 visa holder can accompany or follow the K-1 beneficiary on a K-2 visa.

A K-3 visa is issued to an alien who had married a U.S. citizen; is the beneficiary of an immediate relative visa petition; and seeks to enter the United States to await approval of an immigrant visa (green card). The K-4 classification allows minor children of the K-3 to immigrate as a derivate of the K-3. The K-3 process is similar, but not identical, to that of a family petition and consular processing.

Grounds of inadmissibility applicable to the beneficiary, previously approved K visas filed by the petitioner and the petitioner’s criminal history all affect the possible issuance of a K visa.

Subsequent to entry on the K

Current issues & recent developments in K visas visa (and after the marriage of the K-1 to the petitioner), the K beneficiary must apply to adjust status to permanent residence.

A K visa holder can only adjust status based on the marriage to the K petitioner. Approval of the application leads to permanent residency as a conditional resident in most cases. But the process is not always smooth.

Divorce, separation, or the ageing-out of children complicates the path from K status to permanent residency.

Recent court decisions have mitigated these complications.

Recent case law has confirmed that K-1/K-2 visa holders are still eligible to adjust status despite divorce. This is because eligibility is established at entry. However, they may only adjust on the basis of the marriage to the U.S. citizen petitioner and must establish the marriage was bona fide.

For K-3/K-4 visa holders, divorce is a bigger problem. This is because eligibility for adjustment of status is tied to the visa petition from the petitioner.

Divorce results in revocation of the petition. However, divorce will not be the end of the road for the K-4 derivative upon a showing that a family relationship continues to exist with the petitioner. Separation, legal or in fact, will not destroy eligibility for the K-3/K-4 visa holder so long as the marriage was bona fide.

Aging out (turning 21) is an issue that affects K-2/K-4 beneficiaries. Until recently, USCIS policy held that K-2 visa holders lost eligibility for residency if the process was not completed before they turned 21. However, the courts have determined that eligibility is fixed as of entry so a K-2 visa holder’s age is locked in as of the date of entry provide the K-1 parent marries the K-1 petitioner within 90

days of entry to the U.S. The K-4 visa category carries a variation of this problem. A person is eligible for a K-4 visa if they are the under 21 year old child of a K-3 beneficiary. However, a K-4 visa holder adjusts as the beneficiary of an immediate relative petition filed by the U.S. citizen petitioner. That petition is only valid if the marriage between the petitioner and the K-3 parent took place before the K-4 turned 18. Thus, a K-4 visa holder over the age of 18 at the time their parent married the petitioner, could enter the U.S. in K-4 status but would not be allowed to adjust their status.

There is a glimmer of hope for those with this issue. A recent court decision held a K-4 visa holder can adjust status without an approved visa petition. The court left unanswered the question of how such an adjustment of status could be accomplished but still the door has been opened.

Whether the couple should apply for a fiancé visa, a K-3 visa or choose the consular processing route are major decisions. Consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer will allow the couple to determine which method best suits their situation. *** 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) 795-8009 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

FocusEconomics sees the local economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), growing 6.4 percent this year before slowing down to 6.1 percent in 2017.

Photo by Jun Acculador/CC BY-ND

FocusEconomics sees the local economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), growMANILA, Philippines — The ing 6.4 percent this year before Philippine economy will grow slowing down to 6.1 percent in more than six percent over the 2017. next two years as the new govThe figures will be faster than ernment embark on expansion- last year’s 5.8 percent. The 2016 ary spending that will boost outlook falls within the governdomestic demand, a Barcelona- ment six- to seven-percent target, based think tank said. but that of 2017 is slightly below

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

the 6.5- and 7.5-percent goal.

“Expansionary fiscal policy as well as solid domestic demand should drive another year of healthy growth in the economy,” the think tank said.

“The Philippine economy performed robustly in the first half of the year and economic activity was supported by strong domes-

u PAGE CJ2

MOODY’S WARNS TRUMP PRESIDENCY COULD HURT

PH economy faces post-US election risks

by MayveLin

U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

Donald Trump

THE Philippines is one of the Asia Pacific economies bound to get hit by the impact of possible shifts in foreign policy in the United States after the November elections, credit watchdog Moody’s Investors Service said in a report released Friday, Sept.

23.

Nomura shares the same view, betting the Philippines would lose the most from a Donald Trump victory.

Campaign proposals ahead of the US presidential election on

November 8 point to a potential period of less proactive foreign engagement over time, whichever candidate wins.

“Outcomes could range from a continuation of the status quo to a gradual retrenchment from trade and investment ties, and curbs on immigration. These scenarios would have ramifications beyond the US borders,” Moody’s noted.

In general, credit implications are likely to be limited. For instance, Asia Pacific sovereigns’ direct exposure to a potential slowdown in US imports is gen-

u PAGE CJ3

CJ

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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

DOF files tax reform package, Pagcor reinstates licenses for eBingo seeks reduction in income tax

by IrIs

GOnzales Philstar.com

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

THE Department of Finance (DOF) on Monday, Sept. 26, submitted to the Lower House bills comprising the first package of its proposed tax policy reform program, which will slash personal income tax rates but raise excise rates slapped on oil products as well as vehicles.

In a statement, the DOF said the first of the four packages included the following: restructuring the personal income tax system; expanding the value-added tax or VAT base by reducing exemptions; raising excise taxes on oil products; and restructuring the excise tax on automobiles, save for buses, cargo vans, jeeps, jeepney substitutes, special purpose vehicles as well as trucks.

For the personal income tax regime, the DOF said the reforms included “adjustments in the income tax brackets to correct so-called income creeping; reduction in the personal income tax maximum rate to 25 percent from 32 percent, except for high-

est income earners; and shift to a simpler, modified gross system.”

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III had said the plan was to impose a higher personal income tax rate of 35 percent for the “ultra rich” earning P5 million or more a year.

But Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, who chairs the House committee on ways and means, told reporters it may be more difficult to pass a package, such that the DOF should instead pitch the measure aimed at lowering income tax rates and the other revenue-generating legislation separately.

The tax reform proposal may also have take a backseat to Congress’ ongoing plenary deliberations on the proposed P3.35-trillion 2017 national budget.

On the sidelines of the budget deliberations, Cua said that while the DOF already submitted the tax reform package to his office, he has yet to look into the details.

The bills will be referred to the ways and means committee, and then for discussion at the plenary, which is currently tackling the 2017 national budget.

Cua said the DOF’s proposals would not necessarily be prioritized, as they would be consolidated with the the pending bills earlier filed by other legislators.

He noted that also pending in the Lower House was similar legislation aimed at lowering income tax rates as well as generating more revenues for the government.

Cua said he would prefer that Congress have parallel discussions on the revenue-losing and revenue-generating measures instead of them being lumped together.

The DOF wants a comprehensive tax reform package passed so that the government would not bleed as a result of foregone revenues from lower income taxes. n

MANILA, Philippines — The government has backtracked anew on its stance on gaming, withdrawing an earlier move to revoke the licenses for electronic bingo games or eBingo.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said it would no longer revoke the licenses of eBingo entities located inside malls, arcades and hotels even if they are near schools or churches.

Earlier, Pagcor ordered bingo operators within 200 meters away from schools and churches to close shop.

However, in a Sept. 24 notice to eBingo operator AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE), Pagcor said entities located inside malls, arcades and hotels will now be considered exempt from the distance requirement.

ABLE is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC), a listed gaming company founded by businessman and now Negros Occ. Rep. Alberto “Albee” Benitez.

Pagcor’s board of directors approved the exemption.

“The approval was based on the recommendation of Pagcor’s Gaming Licensing and Development Department (GLDD) and the legal opinion of its Corporate and Legal Services Department (CLSD) to honor the licenses of operators whose gaming sites are located inside malls, arcades and hotels and consider them

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

LET’S do a reality check. So okay, your partner is the consummate slob and you have to pick up after him. He thinks he has a maid living with him for free. He has this maddening habit of not putting the toothpaste cap back on. That’s easy.

Get one with a cap that snaps back on. The point is to find a way to work around an annoyance or when all else fails, accept the tiny irritations.

With time and patience, things get easier. As you get older and hopefully, wiser, your eyes dim and your hearing goes for a reason. You become less critical as you see the bigger picture more clearly and the end game is within sight. You become aware of your own mortality.

The point is that you can choose to look through the lens of kindness and forgiveness and instead see if he still has those itty bitty, wonderful things about him that attracted you to him in the first place. His sense of humor maybe or the way he still makes you laugh…

Love is a two-way street. Note how you behave towards him.

How do you look to him? Do you take the time and the effort to look va-va-voom and give him that look that can make his heartbeat race just a tad? Or did you let yourself go, letting gravity and the ravages of time run rough shod over your physical appearance? Put up a fight.

There’s help out there. Or do you nag him to death for every little thing? Do you make him feel small with your smartass barbs? Or does he feel he can soar like an eagle when you are around him?

Don’t buy into the modern concept of the throwaway or trade-up society that seems to imply you can change partners every five years or so. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. It may work for cars and appliances but falls flat for human relationships. Fix what can yet be fixed. Nurture what can grow into something beautiful.

Eat humble pie, if you have to.

There is no shame if you truly love. Ask a Higher Power to help you keep things whole.

When you value your partner

exempted from distance requirements,” Pagcor said in its letter to ABLE. As a result, 20 eBingo sites have resumed operations.

Furthermore, Pagcor said its board allowed the resumption of eBingo operations until the respective expiration of the licenses of the sites.

The gaming regulator said it is still studying whether it would permanently maintain the exemption of malls, arcades and hotels from the distance requirements.

Prior to this, Pagcor revoked the licenses of 120 non-compliant eBingo sites for violating distance restriction guidelines.

This was after President Duterte ordered a crackdown on online gaming.

“Online gambling must stop.

It’s out of control. I would sug-

gest that sometime soon, licenses must be cut,” Duterte said during his first Cabinet meeting on June 30.

PhilWeb Corp., which operates the eGames network, was the first to be hit by the crackdown.

Pagcor has refused to renew the license of PhilWeb, which expired on Aug. 10.

The company is majority owned by businessman and former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, whom Duterte singled out as an oligarch.

Duterte has since backtracked on his earlier pronouncements, saying that he would allow online gaming provided the entities are located far from schools and churches.

PhilWeb is still negotiating for its license while Ongpin has decided to sell his 53.76 percent stake in the company. n

Two magical words “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”

— Jean Baptiste Massieu

and are mindful of him or her, it shows that you are grateful for his part in your life and that you are interested in going the distance and making the relationship work maybe even till life beyond death.

Taking your husband, wife or partner for granted is the biggest cause of so many divorces these days. If alarming numbers are to be believed, half the population already live in Splitsville.

There is a disproportionate number of single moms and single dads worldwide struggling with severely diminished finances and dealing with courtappointed visits. They juggle schedules, shuttling children in two locations and in cases of bitter, acrimonious divorces, compete for their children’s affections while complicating things further by starting up new relationships. All these are piled on top of broken, disappointed, cynical lives.

They are left to deal with what I call the BIG D’s – the doldrums of doubt, darkness, disease, depression, desperation, dejection, disappointment, discouragement and disillusionment.

You just wish you can DELETE all these ugly D’s from your life.

Some go to the deep end. Sadly, tragically some of these cases end in death.

Love has died. Nothing matters. Yet love, according to the “Desiderata” is as perennial as the grass. While there is life, hope springs eternal. Those who are not put off by a disastrous relationship think that the “right one” is just around the corner. Perhaps. But if they do not learn from their previous mistakes, they are doomed to repeat them. There’s that D again.

They will cycle in and out of one disastrous relationship after the other.

Single parenthood is no cakewalk in most cases. Ask around.

Do not believe the distortion of truth in movies spun by Hollywood or this trend of celebrities adopting babies and the media glamorizing the lives of single parents. That is one tall tale of an ego on overdrive. There is no romantic or comedic element in going it alone. Single parenthood is more like the Theater of

the Absurd. The honest truth: there is little glamour or fun in single parenthood – in far too many cases, just an endless, harrowing tale of one struggle after the next.

There are exceptions of course. Unless you made a foolish or tragic fatal choice or fate played a dirty trick on you and you ended up meeting and marrying the partner from hell. He or she could be a sociopath, a psychopath, a criminal, a user, a liar, a pervert, a druggie, a murderer, a serial philanderer or just unfit to live in this planet with another human being.

Perhaps, the best way to happiness would be to love, appreciate and say “thank you” to the one you’re with every single day of your life together. And while you’re at it, blow a kiss to the heavens for making you a winner in the love lottery stakes sending you someone you love or can learn to love AND (THE BLESSING of all blessings) who loves you back!

Love is not a 50-50 proposition. It’s not even giving 110% of yourself to the other. It sounds sentimental, sappy and old fashioned but whether you like it or not, it is giving of yourself without counting the cost. It is the pure, intrinsic nature of life’s greatest mystery - LOVE. Those couples buried six feet deep, side by side at Forest Lawn probably understood what love and devotion meant.

Their souls may have fused.

Their hearts in the life beyond beat as one. That is one story you can believe in.

(Or if you’re in for a laugh and have a sly, dry, wicked sense of humor, you might say those savvy couples probably got a twofer from the cemetery plot sales rep! LOL ;) How to find THE ONE if you’re on the hunt? Or how can you make THE ONE realize that you’re THE ONE for him or her without beating him or her over the head?

That is one story for yet another day. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

International think tank sees over…

PAGE CJ1 t

tic demand,” FocusEconomics said.

In making the forecast, the agency cited the double-digit growth in fixed capital investments during the first semester, when growth accelerated to 6.9 percent that capped the previous administration’s term.

Nevertheless, FocusEconomics said the first half performance could still very well indicate the government’s commitment to implementing economic reforms, especially under Duterte government that promised to boost spending.

From just 0.9 percent of GDP last year, the Duterte administration vowed to widen the budget deficit to three percent next year on the back of higher infrastruc-

ture spending.

The deficit cap for this year had also been widened to 2.7 percent of GDP from the original two percent.

Still, FocusEconomics said there is reason to believe the economy slowed in the second half in the absence of election spending, while private consumption held up with the help of remittances.

“Latest high-frequency indicators show that economic activity might have slowed in the third quarter. In July, growth in retail sale decelerated and remittances recorded the first contraction in four months,” it said.

Focus Economics economist Massimo Bassetti said private consumption is expected to grow by 6.4 percent this year and by

5.9 percent next year.

“Remittances, which accounted for approximately 9.8 percent of GDP in 2015, are an important source of income for many Filipino families and thus a main driver of private consumption,” Bassetti said.

Central bank data showed the amount of money sent home by Filipinos abroad grew three percent to $15.32 billion in the first seven months of the year from $14.87 billion in the same period last year.

This was lower than the four percent growth target set by the BSP due to the de-risking activities being undertaken by foreign banks as well as the impact of soft oil prices in the world market on the deployment of Filipino workers. n

Community Journal

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

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ I HAVE previously written articles about the logistics and legality of Donald Trump’s plan to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. I would now like to offer him a humane, money – generating alternative: bring back Section 245(i)!

Section 245(i) was a law that expired on April 30, 2001. It allowed certain people to adjust status (obtain a green card in the US) even if they were out of status, worked without authorization, overstayed their visa, entered the U.S. without inspection, etc., provided the person had a visa available (through employment or family petition) and: • Is fingerprinted, has a background check performed, is otherwise law – abiding and is “admissible” • Paid a fine/penalty to the US government of $1000.

Under current law, many of these people are now unable to adjust status or obtain their green card in the US. Instead, they are required to depart the US and apply for their immigrant visa abroad. In many cases, they would be also be required to apply for and be granted a provisional waiver or an expanded provisional, if eligible.

If Section 245(i) is brought back, and let’s say the fine/penalty is raised even to $5000, that could generate tens of billions of dollars for the US government, which these prospective immi-

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016

CJ

Maybe Trump should bring back Section 245(i)? San Bruno Fire Department Open House grants would gladly pay vs having to depart the US. There have been studies where it is estimated it would cost upwards of $400 billion to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants.

Why spend all of those billions of dollars when the US government could, instead, generate billions of dollars?

Trump’s plan that “everyone has to leave, and the good ones can come back” merely enriches the airlines, travel agents, hotels, etc., who would gain by having all of these people travel outside the US. In addition, having these otherwise law – abiding people leave the US could cause tremendous amounts of anxiety and pain, especially for their US born children if they must depart the US. Or what if they have a special needs US citizen child or a wheel – chair bound US citizen spouse (or parent) who they are caring for? What if they are currently working as a caregiver and have to depart the US? Who takes care of their elderly patients or parents?

Section 245(i) effectively accomplishes Trump’s goals: applicants are thoroughly vetted, with fingerprints and background checks, to ensure they are among “the good ones”. Why, with such a background check, would they still be required to leave the US? The fine/penalty of $5000 should be punishment enough for them having overstayed. Why add to the misery by still making them depart the US, when Section

Calendar of Events across

PLEASE join the San Bruno Fire Department for an Open House on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station 1, 555 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA. Meet your local fire fighters and learn about fire services!

Open house will include: • Fire engine and truck display • Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Demo • CPR Demo • Emergency preparedness • Station tours • Car safety seat installation • Free children bike helmets and smoke alarms October is National Fire Prevention Month. This event is free, fun and educational!

Hot dogs and refreshments Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an will be served. n

245(i) could generate billions of dollars for the US government?

It would also enable these people to remain with their families and avoid the tremendous amount of anxiety, disruption, and separation that they and their family will suffer.

Trump says he is a smart business man, and can offer sensible solutions to our nation’s problems. While I don’t have all the answers to the complex issue of immigration reform, an updated or revived Section 245(i) offers a humane alternative to Trump’s mass deportation plan, while at the same time addressing his concerns about either being tough on immigration and/or screening people. Mr. Trump: it would be a smart move. ***

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)

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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 O C TO B E R 1

Artisan Made Philippines’ pop-up event in Los Angeles Celebrate the start of Filipino-American Heritage Month with Artisan Made Philippines on Saturday, October 1, a pop-up event showcasing some of the best social enterprises emerging from the Philippines. The event will kick-off at 1 p.m. with an Eco Fashion Show featuring the beautiful pieces from each of the various collaborators such as Filip+Inna, Rags2Riches, and ANTHILL that are part of the Artisan Made Philippines Capsule Collection. After the fashion show, at 2 p.m., meet some of the founders at the Founders Fireside Chat and learn about the wonderful work that these organizations are doing in the Philippines to make a difference in the lives of artisans, indigenous tribes & women’s collectives.

There will also be some surprise performances from various international artists during the event. Culminating the festivities is a VIP Kamayan Style Dinner with New York Timesfeatured Chef Yana Gilbuena, who will be creating a five-course meal using ingredients influenced by artisan-made and Indigenous Filipino tribes. The address of the venue in West Los Angeles (Marina Del Rey / Culver City / Venice area) will be provided to those who RSVP & revealed before the event. For general admission and VIP tickets, please visit: www.artisanmadeph.eventbrite.com.

O C TO B E R 2

2nd Annual Kultura Food & Arts Festival in Chicago Filipino Kitchen is proud to announce the chef roster and menu for Kultura Festival, a contemporary Filipino-American food and arts festival on Sunday, October 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, at Logan Square’s Emporium Arcade Bar and Surf Bar, 23­63­ N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.The festival features a roster of local culinary mainstays and out-of-town heavy hitters: Chef Kristine Subido of Pecking Order Catering; Top Chef season 10­ alumna Chef Chrissy Camba of Maddy’s Dumpling House; night market favorite Hapa Chicago; Melissa Yen of JoSnow Syrups; Chef Bjorn DelaCruz of Manila Social Club (NYC); Dorothy Hernandez, co-owner and creative director of Sarap Detroit (Detroit); Chef AC Boral of RICE & SHINE and Naks Tacos (Long Beach, CA); and Chef Sharwin Tee of Curiosity Got The Chef on Lifestyle TV (Manila, Philippines). Carefully curated to appeal to those who personally identify with Filipino culture and the merely curious or uninitiated, Kultura Festival aims to highlight the best in Filipino-American food and arts. Kultura Festival tickets are available at https://ti.to/filipino-kitchen /kultura-20­16.

O C TO B E R 7

Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in New Jersey Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers perform ‘10­0­ years of song’ at St. Peter’s University, St Aedan’s Church at 7 p.m. Maestro Ryan, the Philippines’ top composer (“Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika,” Tuwing Umuulan” and more) presents his handpicked vocal group singing his arrangements and beloved hits. Admission is free, donations for the benefit of the church choir are appreciated. St. Aedan’s is at 80­0­ Bergen Ave, Jersey City, NJ 0­73­0­6.

O C TO B E R 8

PH economy faces post-US election…

PAGE CJ1 t

erally small.

However, the debt watcher noted Asian economies whose exports to the US are focused on high value-added manufacturing products are more vulnerable to policies that disincentivize foreign sourcing of business services.

“US policies could incentivize onshoring—the repatriation of jobs by overseas-based suppliers back to the US—and a focus on domestic production and sourcing in response to claims that increased openness to trade has led to job losses in some sectors and regions of the US,” it said.

Asia Pacific countries that have the largest trade surpluses with the US could also be on the receiving end of political criticism.

China and, more recently, Korea have borne the brunt of such attention in the past.

Moody’s said the Philippines and India “would be exposed to any policies that discourage US businesses from foreign sourcing of services.”

“India and the Philippines would be most vulnerable if the US imposed higher tariffs or tightened rules on outsourcing, given that their service revenues are more concentrated in information technology and telecommunications, some of which could, in principle, be sourced from the US,” it said.

Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea, on the other hand, would be most vulnerable to efforts to repatriate high value-added manufacturing jobs.

Moody’s said remittances to Asia could weaken if the US tightened immigration rules.

“Immigration has been another major focus of the US election campaign. A tightening in immigration rules in the US would over time dampen growth in remittances to other countries, which are significant for some Asia Pacific sovereigns,” it said.

“However, the Philippines and Vietnam whose remittances receipts from the US are largest in relation to the size of their economies also run current account surpluses that would provide buffers against any marked weakening in remittances inflows,” it said.

In Asia Pacific, Moody’s noted remittances from the US are largest for the Philippines and Vietnam at 3.3 percent and 3.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), and 9.2 percent and 4.1 percent of current account receipts, respectively, in 2015.

“The two countries’ current account surpluses and ample foreign-exchange reserves would buffer a potential loss in remittance revenues,” it added.

PH to lose the most Meanwhile, Nomura said a

Trump presidency would no doubt hurt Asia’s gross domestic product growth and could ultimately drive cost-push inflation, impart smaller trade surpluses and looser macroeconomic policies.

“In Southeast Asia, we believe the Philippines’ economy stands to lose the most if Mr. Trump wins the presidency. While it remains unclear if he will follow through with his protectionist campaign rhetoric and broaden it to include other smaller countries in Asia, there are a number of channels through which the Philippines could be affected,” it said.

If US immigration policies tighten, leading to fewer migrant workers, this could impact remittance inflows back to the Philippines, it noted, pointing out that the US is host to 34.5 percent of the total overseas Filipino population, and estimates accounts for about 31 percent of total worker remittances.

“Mr. Trump’s goal of bringing jobs back to the US may also affect the increasingly important business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, which caters mostly to US corporates and now brings in FX revenues that are projected to equal the size of total worker remittances (about 9 percent of GDP) in the next cou-

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25th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is proud to announce the date & venue for the anticipated Silver Anniversary edition of its annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture. FPAC 25, the 25th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), will take place Saturday, October 8 at the beautiful Echo Park Lake. Admission is FREE. The popular festival, the City of Los Angeles’ Filipino American Event, is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California. Audiences can expect to enjoy traditional and contemporary Filipino food, music, dance, crafts and culture. This year’s theme, “Samu’t Sari: Showcasing the Diverse Creative Tapestry of the FilAm Community,” lends its meaning to the Tagalog phrase which loosely translates to “diversity.” While certainly a hot topic in today’s society, FilAm Arts focuses on the vast contributions of Filipino American artists to the creative tapestry of the City. For more information, please visit www.filamarts.org or call 213­3­80­3­722. For sponsorship and vendor opportunities, please email info@filamarts.org.

An Evening with Martin Nievera at the Ford Theatres Filipino-American History Month kicks off with the much anticipated concert debut of Martin Nievera at Hollywood’s newly renovated Ford Theatres. Presented by PAE Live!, “An Evening with Martin Nievera” brings the Philippine entertainer center stage on Saturday, October 8th, 20­16 at 7:3­0­pm as he performs his greatest hits, traditional Filipino love songs and an eclectic, upbeat mix of Broadway and standard pop tunes. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Apl.de.ap Foundation, a project of the Asian Pacific Community Fund established by Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas. “An Evening with Martin Nievera” is proudly sponsored by Leelin Bakeries, Island Pacific Supermarkets and Kalayaan Incorporated of Southern California with LA18 and The Asian Journal as official television and print media sponsors. Ticket prices for “An Evening with Martin Nievera,” start at $48; Reserved Seating.Tickets are available at FordTheatres.org or via phone at (3­23­) 461-3­673­.

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

Fax résumé to:

info@asianjournalinc.com

CJ

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

PeoPle & events

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

County of San Mateo proposes improvements to Private Defender Program contract

SAN MATEO County’s Private Defender Program — a unique arrangement in which the County contracts with private attorneys through the Bar Association to provide indigent defense — is in compliance with state and national standards, but has failed to provide reliable information on costs and cases necessary to effectively oversee and evaluate it as a service provider, according to an evaluation coming before the Board of Supervisors.

At its Sept. 20, 2016, meeting, the Board will accept reports from the County Manager and Controller on the PDP and consider recommendations for the next six months aimed at improving the County’s oversight of the contract with the San Mateo County Bar Association (SMCBA).

The recommendations include: • Address the Controller’s findings of poor internal controls, lack of documented financial policies and procedures and non-compliance with fee schedules that led to incorrect payments; • Add a termination clause in the existing agreement requiring both the County and SMCBA to give at least 12 months’ notice.

The current agreement ends June 30, 2017 and does not include language giving sufficient transition time if the contract is not extended; • Create a PDP Oversight Committee that meets quarterly to set priorities, monitor goals and select the Chief Defender; • Develop a PDP Performance Report to prioritize goals and

monitor results; • Make the list of PDP attorneys and application process available to the public and include client feedback in attorney evaluations; • Develop an independent process for client issues with their assigned PDP attorney; • Leave administrative staffing as is and place a 10 percent expenditure limit on future contracts; • Maintain the roles of the Chief Defender, Assistant Defender and Managing Attorneys.

The County Manager’s Office commissioned an independent evaluation of the PDP in 2015 in advance of the current contract’s upcoming expiration. Deputy County Manager Reyna Farrales who oversaw the effort, said the intention was to determine if the PDP remains the best model for indigent defense and explore potential efficiencies in costs and operations.

“The feedback we received from attorneys, clients and oth-

receiving client complaints.

In response, on April 27, the SMCBA Board of Directors separated the position of Chief Defender from the Executive Director position of the SMCBA and established Standing Rules to prevent PDP panel attorneys on the SMCBA Board from voting on any matter related to the program.

While the Haning/Casey evaluation focused on operations, the Controller’s Office conducted a financial review of the PDP. The Controller concluded that the monies paid by the County to the SMCBA were spent on providing indigent defense services, but it can’t yet evaluate the SMCBA as a service provider because of untimely and incomplete independent audit reports, inaccurate and deficient reporting to the County, inadequate monitoring and analyses of case and cost data and poor internal controls and invoice procedures.

A follow-up audit will be conducted after March 31, 2017.

The Board of Supervisors will accept the reports and discuss the recommendations at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Board Chambers, 400 County Center, Redwood City. The Board agenda and packet, including the complete PDP evaluation, are available at http://sanmateo. siretechnologies.com/sirepub/ mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=339&do ctype=AGENDA. n

ers familiar with the PDP has been positive overall which is meaningful because we want all of our residents to have access to the best defense they can under the law,” Farrales said. “However, our reviews did identify areas of improvement to strengthen the program, including financial management, client experience and County oversight of the contract.”

The 2015 evaluation conducted by retired Judge Zerne Haning and former County Counsel Thomas Casey found that the PDP is in compliance with the American Bar Association and State Bar of California’s standards but more County oversight is necessary. The report recommended changes to address conflicts of interest among executive staff and PDP panel attorneys serving on the SMCBA Board of Directors, open up the PDP panel to all qualified members of the SMCBA, address growth in administrative staffing, elimiGET ready for the Botanic Garnate the use of PDP attorneys in den’s Fall Plant Sale! As always, the list of plants for sale will be published approximately a week before the sale on the Friends for participants and winners. A website, www.nativeplants.org; cornhole bean bag toss game expert advice on plant selection will also be set up for play and cultivation will be available throughout the day. from garden staff, docents, and The event will take place on volunteers on the day of the sale.

Saturday, October 8 from 2 p.m. Along with familiar favorites, the to 6 p.m. at Shinn Historic Park, 1251 Peralta Blvd., in Fremont.

Tickets are $25 per person and available online at the Niles Main Street website at http:// PAGE CJ3 t www.niles.org and can be pur- ple of years,” Nomura said. chased at Joe’s Corner at 37713 The Philippines is starting Niles Blvd. Raffle tickets will from a strong position with a also be available to purchase for robust growth outlook, due in fun prizes. part to progress in reforms over Major sponsors for this year’s the last few years which Nomura Oktoberfest include Das Brew, believes will continue to support The Nile Café, and Altamont. n domestic demand amid a poten-

AUTO SALES

glass, one full pour of beer or featured wine, music and dancing with two different bands, Funkelweizen and the Newark Sax Quartet, and a free shuttle from Niles.

This year the event includes fun games like “Toss-the Sausage” and “Hoist a Full Beer Stein the Longest” with prizes

tially difficult global backdrop.

“As such, the economy is in a position to be able to weather such shocks, even if not fully mitigate it. In particular, the new government is planning significant fiscal expansion to support public infrastructure spending,” it said.

“If supply-side inflation pres-

EMPLOYMENT

PSYCHIC

FILHOFF celebrates 3rd anniversary on Oct. 1

THE Filipino Band Musicians Hall of Fame Foundation (FILHOFF) celebrates its THIRD anniversary with a Luau Night on Saturday, October 1, at the Beresford Recreation Center, 2720 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo Ca, 94403.

The 3rd Annual Award Ceremony, recognizing outstanding musicians and bands is held in October during the National Philippine-American Heritage month.

Past awardees inducted into the Hall of Fame include Gene

Generoso, Ben Tesoro, Ernie Delgado, Joey “Pepe” Smith, The Electromaniacs, Hi Jacks, Deltas, Celtics, and Bits N Pieces.

This year’s inductees are Robert “Bob” McCoy (Individual Artist Division) and The Jungle Cats (Band Division).

FILHOFF is a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation. Proceeds of the event will be for the support of aging Filipino Musicians or the surviving spouse of a deceased one.

Donation of $35.00 for the dinner-dance is tax-deductible. n

Fall plant sale

Get ready for Fremont’s Oktoberfest fundraiser

THE fall season means pumpkins, spiced apple cider, cableknit sweaters, and…Oktoberfest!

Once again, the City of Fremont Human Services Department and Niles Main Street Association are co-sponsoring an Oktoberfest celebration to help raise funds for the City’s Giving Hope Holiday program, a program dedicated to needy families, children, and senior citizens, and the Niles Main Street Association, who will use their funds for projects and activities in Niles.

A ticket includes a 12 oz. beer commemorative glass or wine

FILHOFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (L-R) Frank Sityar, Agnes Torres, Chito Desuasido, Pat Ancheta and Luz Sumagang. Not in the picture: Nelson A. Guiab and Essie Claveria.

RPBG sale offers unusual plants that are not available anywhere else.

For the best selection, arrive early. Join the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden—membership grants you admission to the sale at 9 a.m., an hour before everyone else. If you don’t have time to join the Friends beforehand, you can

join at the sale starting at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the sale, October 1.

Dress warmly, bring boxes or a wagon to haul your bounty, and don’t forget a checkbook or credit card to cover the intriguing surprises you’ll find along with your pre-planned purchases.

Public info: www.nativeplants. org n

PH economy faces post-US election…

EMPLOYMENT

PRAYER

FOSTER HOMECARE

sures emanate from lower global supply of food products, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has ample scope to address second-round inflationary effects, with a new monetary policy framework already in place and room to hike policy rates as necessary,” it added. n

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016

CJ

www.islandpacificmarket.com

NORCALSPOTLIGHT

STORE

OPENS IN HAYWARD

(#56U)419+0) + 2 ĂŻ

a grand opening for its 20th store in the United States located in the city of Hayward last September 23.

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ayward city officials, Philippine government representatives led by Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr., Island Pacific management, bank representatives, suppliers, vendors and invited guests were on hand to witness the ribboncutting and blessing ceremonies. Rev. Fr. Joseph Antony Sebastian of St. Joachim Church led the blessing rites.

The new Island Pacific branch is situated in a bustling commercial property near the corner of Hesperian Blvd. and West A St., which is also home to other equally-known stores like Target, Starbucks, T-Mobile and Subway.

Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday, in her remarks, told Island Pacific owner Jeff ‘NiĂąo’ Lim, that the city “appreciates your coming to Hayward. We have missed having a store in this location. Twelve percent of the population in Hayward is Filipino‌ with a very diverse community, there is a need for grocery stores throughout the city.â€?

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What we bring to the industry is competition.

The community benefits when shoppers have many choices.�

19691 HesperiaN Blvd. Hayward, CA 94541 Open Daily 8:00 am - 9:00 pm Island Pacific : (510) 674-2870

> Right beside TARGET > Close to 880 FWY

the home depot

establishing Island Pacific as a viable alternative to shoppers looking for the brands they LOng for, and offering competitive prices on many products that people love to buy.

National Asian American Coalition CEO Faith Bautista, in her brief remarks, encouraged people to shop at Island Pacific and told the audience that the NAAC will, as they have done in other IP branches, provide much-needed services to the community, including loan modification, micro-lending and downpayment assistance.

Mechanics Bank CEO Ken Russell, for his part, voiced his support for Island Pacific and said that “as we grow, we hope the relationship we have with the NAAC and Island Pacific will grow as well.�

When it came for his turn to speak to the guests, Island Pacific CEO/President Jeff Lim described the heartache their family felt when his mom had to close their grocery store when a larger supermarket chain opened near their location. He told the audience of a promise he made to his mom then: that they will reopen in the future and compete with the big players in the industry.

Sixteen years and 20 stores later, it looks as if Lim and his family have gone full circle, establishing Island Pacific as a viable alternative to shoppers looking for the brands they long for, and offering competitive prices on many products that people love to buy. “What we bring to the industry is competition. The community benefits when shoppers have many choices,�

Jeff said. “.?E Q?TPL OE 'TM?OB .?AGĂA (sa isang lugar), mapapansin nila na

bumababa ang gastos nila sa pagkain.�

And Jeff did not hesitate to thank the people who have been with the company since it began its revival. “There were 45 people who started with us when Island Pacific was born. I am not alone in this‌ many of those who started with us are now in the management team,â€? he said, while adding that one of his greatest goals is for the employees to have an true ownership interest within their company.

As for the future, Lim said Island Pacific is busy in its efforts to seek out markets that have a need for their supermarket chain and their services.

Next month, according to Jeff, Island Pacific will be opening stores in Santa Clarita, San Francisco and Las Vegas (Nevada).

To the Filipino community, Jeff has this to say: “Sana po ay tangkilikin natin ang sariling atin. For us, the customers are always the boss.

Kung may kailangan po kayo, magsabi lamang sa amin at gagawin namin ang

aming makakaya.�

As part of its grand opening ceremonies, invited guests partook in a buffet line provided by Island Pacific. Entertainment numbers were provided by Ryan Gallagher, while Jackie Castillejo-Guingona and Dave Rodriguez emceed an afternoon program and gave away prizes to lucky Island Pacific shoppers.

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SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Friday, September 30, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - September 30, 2016

APATUre 2016: HERE

Showcasing the creativity of asian Pacific american artists Two Fil-Am artists featured, over 60 participants exhibiting their work in venues across San Francisco

K

Sammay Dizon

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe/AJPress

earny Street Workshop (KSW), the oldest multi-disciplinary arts organization in the country, brings back aPature 2016, an annual gathering of the Bay area’s emerging asian Pacific american (aPa) artists. The event will run from September 30 to October 15, three weekends showcasing over 60 emerging aPa artists in venues across San Francisco.

This year’s theme is “aPature 2016: Here,” emphasizing the importance of aPa space and community, as well as the intersection of arts and social justice, and innovation and disruption. The even also represents the many cultures that exist under the aPa umbrella. aPature is a play on the word, “aperture,” and was named so for KSW’s mission to amplify the voices of aPa artists and put them into greater focus within the frame of arts conversations happening to global level. “aPature is a platform for emerging artists in our community to showcase their creativity,” says Festival Coordinator Dara Katrina Del rosario. “artists have always played a vital role in

Cassandra Farrar, Music

Claire Macaraeg, Comics and Illustration

shaping our cultures and societies. They empower us to become visible and speak about who we are. This festival is a platform for artists to continue to have a voice in this rapidly changing city.”

Fil-Am artists on spotlight This year’s featured artists include to Fil-ams: performer Sammay Dizon and cartoonist Trinidad escobar.

Dizon is a choreographer/producer and interdisciplinary performing artist of Kapampangan, Ilokano and Bicol descent. She defines her body as a “tool of resonance” for spiritual intercession and envisions a future in which our indigenous traditions co-exist within our urban landscapes.

The founder of UrBan x InDIGenOUS, an intergenerational

multi-disciplinary arts festival, Dizon was a guest artist through a/P/a Institute at nyU for the first ever Indigenous Dance Forum curated by Jack Gray. She is also a two-time recipient of the “Presented by aPICC” artist award, and Performing Diaspora 2016 artist-in-residence at CounterPulse.

Dizon is part of aPature’s Performing arts Showcase on Saturday, October 8, 2-5 p.m. at the asian art Museum in San Francisco. escobar is a poet, cartoonist, and educator in Oakland. Her writing and visual art have been featured in various publications such as rust & Moth, The Womanist, The Walrus, red Wheelbarrow, Solo Cafe, Mythium, Tayo, Maganda Magazine, the anthologies Walang Hiya, Over the LIne, Kwento, and more.

She has been a guest artist and speaker for the San Jose Museum of art, Pilipino Komix expo, LitQuake and The Cartoon art Museum in San Francisco. She is currently working on her graphic memoir, Crushed. escobar is the featured artists for aPature’s Comics & Illustration Showcase on Sunday, October 2, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the San Francisco Public Library.

Other featured artists include: • Writer and educator Jane Cho (Literary arts) • artist, academic and curator Viet Le (Film) • nina Vichayapai (Visual arts) • Krystle ahmadyar of ruby Mountain and Los Sirenas (Music) Ticket prices range from $0-$25, available now at events. sparxo.com/aPature2016. For more information on other artists and/or program and exhibit schedules, please visit www.kearnystreet.org.

On cover: Performing artist Sammay Dizon, on background self-illustration of Trinidad Escobar. *Special thanks to Dara Katrina del Rosario and Jason Bayani.

Maia Paroginog, Visual Arts

entertainment SF3

Why my heart breaks over Brangelina’s split

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – September 30, 2016

By Monet

Alex Gonzaga & Joseph Marco reunite in new movie

Lu

by Ricky lo Philstar.com

What could have been a wonderful day to welcome the fall season became a day of mourning.

It was indeed the start of the “fall”– only, I wasn’t talking about crisp leaves and beautiful autumn colors. It’s the fall of my all-time favorite power couple. the end of an era: It’s “Brangelina” no more.

I speak for most people when I say it was shocking to learn about angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt calling it quits. after 12 years and six kids together, and after their two-year wedding anniversary, Jolie filed for divorce. the news left so many fans (including me) heartbroken while we remember the oncehappy-you-and-me-against-theworld romance that the couple shared. the divorce document was filed in Los angeles on Monday, Sept. 19, which cites “irreconcilable differences,” the usual boilerplate language in divorce proceedings, with no details about what the differences entailed. It says the two separated last thursday, Sept. 15.

It indicates Jolie is not seeking spousal support.

She lists “miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects,” and earnings from and after the separation as “separate” property, and indicates community and quasi-community property are to be determined. It lists their six kids (Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8).

In addition, she wants Pitt to have joint legal custody of the kids but she wants their sole physical custody. Divorce attorneys say that’s rare, even in celebrity divorces.

Celebrity divorce lawyer Neena tankha, a partner at the New York firm Warshaw Burstein says, “they’ve been coparenting for so many years, it’s unusual and surprising to see one parent asking for sole custody at this late stage. It suggests there

was some incident or series of incidents that made angelina think to question his parenting.

It’s a very aggressive move for someone who has co-parented in the way this family has been accustomed.”

When asked what makes this divorce different, tankha says, “they have six children and that’s not typical for celebrity couples at all — in fact, I can’t think of another celebrity couple with six children. But in the end, even a celebrity divorce is still a divorce.” true enough, just like any celebrity divorce, speculations and gossip are going around. Some say an affair has caused the split (not that it’s unusual in hollywood); some say it’s substance abuse. a report confirmed that Pitt is under investigation for child abuse by the L.a. County Department of Children and Family Services following an incident on a private plane in which he allegedly got “verbally abusive” and “physical” with one of the couple’s kids in front of Jolie and at least some of their other children.

Later, Pitt, 52, issued a statement to People, saying, “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.”

Whatever the reason for their divorce, it doesn’t matter anymore. None of it will change what has been decided. I just hope it will not be a messy one and they’d still end up civil towards each other.

What saddens me most is that Jolie and Pitt had gone through a lot together. they are like the ultimate hashtag #marriagegoals. they are both multi-millionaire movie stars, both famous human-rights activists,

owners of luxury properties in the USa and abroad, and the parents of six children. they’ve shown the world that a celebrity marriage can work if you are willing to make it work. that gave people hope. It gave me hope that love can truly conquer all despite the odds.

But that’s just how life is: relationships end, marriages fail.

It doesn’t matter if you have all the money in the world, have a gorgeous spouse and talented children. I realized now that these hollywood stars are just like us.

When things get tough, they deal with it the way most of us, regular people, do. and just like tankha says, at the end of the day, a celebrity divorce is still a divorce.

Now that it is in the hands of their lawyers, the harrowing events will inevitably follow. and just like any other divorce, it will be painful and unsettling. the only difference between their divorce and regular people’s is that everybody will be watching.

People will talk and they will be brutal. and this, I believe, is what the couple should be prepared for.

My heart breaks over this news, and I know I am not alone.

But like any heartbreak, it will mend. I sincerely hope that after all of this, ‘Brangelina’ fans will find another couple to root for and maybe, make them believe again that “forever” can (still) be found in hollywood. *** 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

BaCK then when they starred in “Pure Love,” the Kapamilya adaptation of the Koreanovela, alex Gonzaga and Joseph Marco almost became lovers, a possibility rudely interrupted when the teleserye ended. Will the flame be rekindled now that they are back together in “My Rebound Girl” of Regal Films, their first big movie break?

It was the Regal motherdaughter tandem of Mother Lily Monteverde and Roselle who remembered what they called “the tV magic” of alex and Joseph and deemed it high time they teamed up in a movie.

Directed by Emmanuel de la Cruz (“Slumber Party,” “Kailangan Kita” and “Sarung Banggi”), “My Rebound Girl” features alex in the titular role as a girl who keeps bouncing back after every fall (in love), until she crosses paths with Joseph’s character. here are alex and Joseph in separate Conversations: You first worked together on the ABS-CBN show “Pure Love.” What have you learned from and about each other that helped your work in “My Rebound Girl”?

Joseph: I’ve learned that for a love team to work, you really have to work as a team. alex: Joseph lets me be whatever! he finds me funny and he appreciates my personality so I’m comfortable working with him.

There was chemistry between you (in “Pure Love”) that could have developed into a real-life romance. What happened? Were both of you “committed” to somebody else?

Joseph: We both think that it wasn’t the right time just yet so instead, we chose to get to know each other more as friends. alex: No. We were just focused on other aspects of life. he wasn’t a priority at that time.

Do you find “ideal girl/ideal boy” qualities in each other?

Joseph: Yes! She loves her family, fears and loves God, has a very kind heart and is humble,

Alex Gonzaga: I have fallen in (and out of) love probably twice and I have written two books to close those chapters in my life., Joseph Marco: I’ve fallen in love twice. I managed to move on by keeping myself busy. And also, by moving forward without looking back.

too. We get along very well. alex: Yes! Jowsy (that’s how I call him) is very mysterious, caring and sweet to me, much more so I think if I am his girlfriend.

Have you ever had any “rebound” experience in real life?

Joseph: None. alex: Yes, in college. I knew I was a “rebound” and I even told the guy I could help him court his ex back.

What is in your roles that you identify with?

Joseph: Rich, my character, is a bit serious about his life and when it comes to love, he has no reservations. I think those are the two qualities that I can identify with. alex: Rocky, my character, is easily convinced that men will not hurt her. I am somewhat like that.

Tell us interesting sidelights on the set.

Joseph: Cathy (alex’s first name is Catherine) and I love to eat together and annoy each other. We enjoy each other’s company. alex: We were in Benguet.

We were stepping on fresh coffee beans. Maybe there was a higad (caterpillar) because our feet became super itchy, so we had to be rushed to a hospital.

How many times have you fallen in (and out of) love? How did you manage to move on?

Joseph: I’ve fallen in love twice. I managed to move on by keeping myself busy. and also by moving forward without looking back.

alex: Probably twice and I have written two books to finally close those chapters in my life.

Let us see if you match by completing the following sentences: My pet peeve is…

Joseph: Whenever people say they would hang out with you and they cancel at the last minute. alex: Pretentious people and insects.

What excites me is…

Joseph: the future. alex: New opportunities.

I know that I’m in love when…

Joseph: I always think about and want to be with that person. alex: I’m happy if I have a day-off from work.

I am the type of person who…

Joseph: Likes to try different adventures!?! alex: Now enjoys quiet moments.

I expect my lifetime partner to be…

Joseph: there for me no matter what happens. alex: accepting, appreciative and funny.

I don’t like a person who…

Joseph: thinks highly of him/herself. alex: Pa-cool and pa-sosyal.

I think my best trait is…

Joseph: I consider myself generous. I enjoy giving and sharing all the blessings that I get from work. alex: I always find the funny side at any moment.

SF4

celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - September 30, 2016

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar After Bea Alonzo and Zanjoe Marudo broke up, many men have been linked to the young actress. Apart from John Lloyd Cruz, another actor has been seen around Bea these past few months.

Just recently, photos of her and ex-boyfriend Gerald Anderson out together in Makati surfaced online. the young actress finally admitted that she and Gerald have been going out a lot these days. they’ve been spotted together many times — dinners, working out, in fun runs, purchasing a car and even a

Is love brewing between Gerald Anderson and Bea Alonzo?

Handsome actor Martin del Rosario is the newest contract star of GMA 7 and is now part of the primetime teleserye, “Ako ay sa Iyo.”

brief vacation in Cebu.

Many say though that it

Former Mrs. Pangasinan 2009-2011 Gloria Sendin Junio celebrated her birthday last Monday, September 19, with a dinner at Pied Piper Bar and Grill at Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Shown in photo with the birthday celebrant are her husband Vincent Junio and best friend Elizabeth Laron Sublay.

Family and friends gathered last Saturday, September 17, to celebrate Gloria Moya’s 60th birthday at Embassy Suites in Burlingame. In photo are Gloria’s friends and co-worker at Mills Peninsula Hospital (L-R) Martin, Juan, Ankita, Danica, Gloria (the celebrant), Grace, Roula, Joy, Liberty, Jean, John Ray, and Rommel (kneeling).

Gerald Anderson and Bea Alonzo have recently admitted that they have been going out. The couple, however, refused to share any other details about the current status of their relationship.

was just for publicity, especially during their promo and theater run of their latest romantic film, “How to Be Yours,” which was released last month.

“Hindi naman kami nagtatago (We are not hiding).

We go out,” said the actress.

“Wala naman masama. Parang wala naman kaming nasasaktan (There’s nothing wrong about it. We’re not hurting anyone).”

Still, Bea has not shared the official status of their relationship — whether they are a couple or are still on the casual dating stage.

“Parang ang pangit magshare ng mga personal, and babae ako (It doesn’t look nice to share personal stuff, and I’m the girl), explained Bea. She assured that they will let their fans know if and when any serious development in their relationship.

In an earlier interview, both Gerald and Bea agreed that they are taking their time and see where their renewed friendship goes.

“We’re just enjoying what we have right now. After six

Former Filipina beauty queen Jady Lyn Smith, daughter of Club Royale 2016 Queen Lilly Smith, is shown with her mom during the Club Royale: A New Beginning event held last September 17 at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Burlingame. In photo with them is Club Royale King 2016 Louie Rubio.

San Jose fashionable lady Susan Pacifico was one of the special guests of the Filipino-American Seniors of Alumn Rock (AFASAR) during their anniversary celebration last Saturday, September 17.

Mrs. Pacifico is shown with AFASAR’s 1st Princess, Erlinda Milanes.

years, it’s only now that we get to deeply talk at length,” said Gerald. We’re not going to rush into things just because that’s what other people want.

Jaime and Norma Dee Rosario were among the trophy presenters of King Louie Rubio and Queen Lilly Smith during Club Royale’s coronation ceremonies held at Marriott Hotel in Burlingame last September 17.

I am personally enjoying her company so much and I don’t want to complicate things with forward thinking. I’m really

happy with what we have right now.”

Let’s wait and see how this develops!

Heart evangelista takes her time

by Tessa

Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

AS multi-hyphenate Heart evangelista renewed her contract with GMA Network at the beginning of the week, she was unable to avoid questions as to when she and husband Senator Chiz escudero plan to have a baby.

Since marrying the 46-yearold legislator in february 2015, evangelista, 35, has gone full throttle in establishing a second career as Love Marie Ongpauco, the painter, with three sold-out one-woman shows to date, and a number of highly successful artistic collaborations in fashion and makeup. through all these, she also managed to keep up her showbiz career as “Philippine tv’s Sweetheart” and completed two prime time series in the past year.

“We want to have a baby,”

Heart Evangelista with husband Sen. Chiz Escudero

she said, “but Chiz knows I’m a workaholic!” the ever candid celebrity laughed.

“We’re moving into a new home by December—a house I’ve been building as my dream house—and there is a special room there that will be for our

baby,” she confirmed. that morning, however, according to evangelista, she asked her husband as it hit her, “What if GMA gives me a new soap after I renew my contract today?” thankfully, the “very mature” senator apparently took the possibility calmly, and simply said, “then you work on your soap.” evangelista went on to say that much as she seems more focused on her painting these days, she has come to value her showbiz career all the more for a couple of reasons.

Busyness indeed becomes Heart evangelista, as she grows more beautiful with each new surprise she pulls from her talented sleeve. But what more if her next baby is neither for tv nor the canvas? No pressure, but what a sight that would probably be.

robin Padilla feels like a first time dad by chrisTina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

Over the weekend, a photo of a smiling robin Padilla and his wife Mariel rodriguez-Padilla inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport greeted his half-amillion followers on Instagram.

It was the day husband and wife carefully planned for and agreed upon. the day rodriguez—who has had a couple of miscarriages since they wed in 2010, and now a delicate pregnancy—would fly to the US to be with her own family to give birth.

It will be remembered that when the Padillas announced the gender of their baby early this month, they also revealed they decided on a US birth to ensure that advance technology is readily available in case anything untoward were to happen to mother and daughter. the only catch in this setup is that Padilla may not be beside his US citizen wife when their long awaited bundle of joy finally arrives.

“I am still waiting for the approval of my visa,” he acknowledged in a press conference two days prior to his wife’s departure on friday, Sept. 23.

Life imitating art, Padilla’s situation is almost straight out of his 2005 movie “La visa Loca,” where he played a taxi driver desperate for a US visa but unfortunately

‘All for our baby girl,’ writes Mariel Rodriguez Padilla on her Instagram posts—her last photo, for now, with husband Robin

denied all the time.

In reality, one of the most popular and successful actors in the business is unusually uncertain of obtaining visas to other countries because of his conviction for the possession of illegal firearms in 1994. Stripped of his civil rights, he has had to undergo lengthier and more complicated procedures when applying for travel permits, since his release from prison in 1998.

“I hope the friendly people of the US embassy can hear me now. Mabait po ako, kita nyo lapis ang dala ko [I’m a good person, and I only have a pencil in my possession],” he teased with a chuckle, referring to his new

advocacy, Black Pencil revolution with MoneyGram, which was launched during this interview.

Should he be granted the visa in time for his wife’s delivery, Padilla said they might stay a couple of months in that country until their baby is strong enough for a long haul flight.

Like a first-time dad Asked what other plans he has for his mother and child post birth.

“I have so many plans for her [their daughter Isabella]. I missed my chance to really be with my other children but this time, I will make sure that I’ll be there for my daughter all the way,” Padilla excitedly shared.

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - September 30, 2016

SF5

Club Royale Celebrates 23rd Staging of Royal Ball A

King Louis Rubio (standing, left) and Queen Lilly Smith (center, seated) pose with the very first Queen of Club Royale, Queen Aurora Viray.

night of camaraderie, friendship, glitz, glamour and generosity took place on September 17 as Club Royale celebrated its 24th anniversary with the staging of its Royal Ball at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Burlingame, California Established in 1991, Club Royale was founded by Gil and Jett Viray-Navarro in order for Filipino Americans to have a venue to present their accomplishments and elegance to the community. A charity component was added so that the organization could contribute to worthwhile nonprofits and charities around the United States.

Among its beneficiaries so far have been Asian AIDS Foundation, Filipino Senior Citizens of Northern California, Philippine Medical Mission (different places in the Philippines), Operation Smile (for people with cleft palate), and Operation Rainbow (headed

by Dr. Adkins).

Club Royale follows the vision of Jett VirayNavarro who has served as overall chair of each royal ball staging. From the very minute details of the ballroom, to the flow of the program,

and to the overall feel of the event, Jett plans every meticulous detail in order to create an unmistakable experience for the ball’s guests.

Excited members of the Club Royale family and their invited guests made the trek to Burlingame to join this year’s ball, which was dubbed by one of the attendees as “the most elegant and classy ball staged by Club Royale so far.”

With a theme of “Almost Paradise,” the Club Royale ball attracted 340 guests, some of whom flew in from other parts of the world, including Germany, Canada, the Philippines, Holland, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The royal ball program included the presentation of the past Kings and Queens of Club Royale, the coronation of the new king and queen – King Louis and Queen Lilly, and the royal waltz performed by the past Kings and Queens, board of directors and honorary members, and the president and first lady of the Club.

After the program, attendees danced the night away to the music provided by Joe Alvarez and His Band.

From left: Director Rey Reyes, president Gil Navarro, first lady Jett Viray-Navarro, King Ferdinand Villar and Commissioner Ray Satorre.

Club Royale founders Jett Viray-Navarro and Gil Queen Dr. Corazon de Guzman and president Navarro pose before the start of the festivities. emeritus Engr. Jose de Guzman.

King Jonathan Goco with Queen Clara Viray dancing the waltz.

Photo above shows (from left) director Bituin Ignacio, director Florenz Casco, overall chair Jett Viray-Navarro, King Ferdinand Villar, and member Elena Estabrooks.

Queen Aurora Viray and director Napoleon Viray announced each Overall chair Jett Viray-Navarro with three-time Club Royale King Ferdinand Syquia de Villar. guest entering the ballroom.

Queen Erlinda Stancliffe with King Benny Piotrkowski

Directors Terri Camacho and Jhun Viray.

King Willem Hinse with director Arthur Viray.

Directors Bituin Ignacio and Loyda David.

Queen Ellen Goco and King Willem Hinse.

Queen Elizabeth Pasco and King Rolly Mungues.

Directors Vic and Amor Barba.

Directors Zenaida and Knapp Viray

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The As ian Jour na l SF M A G A Z I NE - Sept emb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

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