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Duterte refuses to be reprimanded by international bodies

by LEILA

B. SALAVERRIA Inquirer.net

MANILA — If he was still a city mayor, Rodrigo Duterte could take criticism from international bodies. But as Philippine president, he would not allow himself to be reprimanded by them, Duterte said on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

A day after cursing at the European Union for calling for a stop to extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the country, President Duterte explained why he was “bullshitting� the interna-

DATELINE

statements encouraged the killing of drug traffickers and users.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20 in a speech before local government officials in Davao City, Mr. Duterte lashed back at the EU. The President said “f*** you� to the EU, and flashed his middle finger, a move applauded by his audience.

He also said the group’s statement was only intended to atone for its own sins.

According to him, a study of history would show that EU member countries were involved in atrocities in the Middle East. â–

tional body.

He noted that even the EU was reprimanding him. “When I was mayor, that’s okay. It’s different now that I’m President because I represent a country,� he said in a speech before soldiers in Camarines Sur. “I am the President of the republic. Why would you insult me, why would you curse at me as if I’m under you? That’s why I’m bullshitting all of them,� he said.

The EU earlier expressed concern over the rising number of slain drug suspects. EU lawmakers had also said the President’s

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

CA to develop model curriculum for ethnic studies

IN a historic move to expand high school curricula, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bipartisan-supported bill that would create a model curriculum in ethnic studies for high schools, charter schools and public colleges.

Authored by Assemblymember Luis A. Alejo, AB 2016 would encourage high school districts and charter schools to include more comprehensive history about Asian Americans, African Americans and Latinos in ethnic studies courses. “The development of a comprehensive ethnic studies curriculum acknowledges the diversity of California, which has the most ethnically diverse public school student body in the nation,� Alejo said in a statement.

The bill would require the state’s Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) and the State Board of Education (SBE) to collaborate with

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24-year-old Filipina’s unexplained death spurs homicide investigation THE unexplained death of a 24-year-old Filipina from La Puente, California, which occurred sometime during the weekend of Saturday, September 17, has drawn the suspicion of homicide detectives.

Nursing student Cassandra Salvador returned home from work on Saturday evening and was found unresponsive when her parents attempted to wake her the next morning, according to KCAL9 News.

Police officers who arrived at her house on the 13200 block of East Gyna Lane on Sunday, September 18, sometime after 9 a.m. pronounced the woman dead at the scene.

Salvador was reportedly in good health.

Investigators are still unsure whether or not foul play was a factor. “It doesn’t look natural, so we’re going to treat it as a homicide until we determine it’s otherwise “ LA County Sheriff’s Lt. John Co-

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BASILAR RELIEF OPERATION. Thousands of displaced Muslims were given government relief Sunday, Sept. 18 in a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf in Tipo-Tipo town that security forces took over two weeks ago.The relief mission was a joint project of the ofďŹ ce of Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the provincial government of Basilan and Anak Mindanao Party-list.

Photo courtesy of ARMM-HEART

TIME illustrates dark side Ex-justice exec denies drug of the Philippines’ drug war lord’s allegations

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

Former Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III

FORMER Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III has dismissed as “complete nonsense� accusations of convicted bank robber Herbert Colanggo that he profited from the transfer of highprofile prisoners inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In his testimony in the House of Representatives hearing on the illegal drug activities in NBP, Colanggo claimed that Baraan had asked for P500,000 in exchange for the trans-

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s violent crackdown on the illegal drug trade has received international attention since his entrance into office on June 30.

The latest probe comes from the Asia edition of the renowned TIME magazine which examines the toll of Duterte’s campaign and his vow to eliminate illegal drugs from the country.

The cover — which reads “Night falls on the Philippines: The tragic cost of President Duterte’s war on drugs — features a striking image of the dead body of a suspected drug dealer.

The article, written by Rishi

Duterte: We need US to protect sea claims Philippines also open to proposals from China, Israel in fighting terrorists

by LEILA

B. SALAVERRIA Inquirer.net

dent Rodrigo Duterte.

Mr. Duterte made the statement on Tuesday, Sept. 20 in the course of exMANILA — The Philippines needs the plaining his earlier remark that he might United States for the South China Sea, later ask US soldiers to leave Mindanao where it remains locked in a territorial to pave the way for talks with Moro rebdispute with China, according to Presiels. The Moros or the Muslims in Mindanao have been pressing for a Bangsamoro state and demanding recognition by the US of the brutality suffered by the Moros as it colonized the Philippines 100 years ago. “I never said get out of the Philippines, for after all, we need them there in the China Sea. We don’t have armaments,� he said.

He added that the Philippines would not be ready to go to war with China anytime soon, and President Rodrigo R. Duterte participates in a plenary session during he would not want it, because the second day of the ASEAN Summit at the National Convention Center a war with China would be a in Vientiane, Laos on September 7, 2016.

Photo by King Rodriguez/PPD

Iyengar, discusses the administration’s illegal drug crackdown, pointing out Duterte’s unconventional leadership style that borders on “authoritarian.� Iyengar doesn’t shy away from capturing the human toll of the carnage that has killed more than 3,000 Filipinos, half of which were killed by vigilantes.

Iyengar includes the thoughts of those that support Duterte’s call, including one man from Cebu who trusts Duterte to “straighten out� the drug dealers.

On the other hand, Iyengar includes the criticisms of those who distrust Duterte’s policies, like Philippine Senator Leila de Lima who sees the current climate of the government as a

“slippery slope toward tyranny.�

The human rights concerns of the escalated killings have also become a top international concern, for which Duterte has received much criticism.

Iyengar also takes a streetlevel view of the drug war, implementing personal stories from those directly affected by the crackdown. “The poor in the barangays — as the smallest units of municipal organization in the Philippines are called — pay the highest price,� Iyengar wrote. “In these impoverished communities, children play beside open sewers, families often share one room, and, for a few people, shabu

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Robredo urges Filipinos to remain vigilant vs return of martial law

by ROSETTE

ADEL

Philstar.com

MANILA — As the country commemorates the 44th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, Sept. 21, advised Filipinos to remain vigilant against its return.

Robredo urged Filipinos to “remember the 70, 000 who were imprisoned, the 34,000 who were tortured, the 3,240 who were killed, and the 390 who disappeared during one of the darkest periods of our history.�

She called on those who serve in gov-

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Vice President Leni Robredo

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From the Front Page

TIME illustrates dark side of…

PAGE A1 t

(methamphetamine) is an open escape — both psychologically and financially.”

This isn’t the first time that TIME has highlighted Duterte and his controversial drug policies. The president also graced the cover of the magazine’s May 23 issue in which they dub him

“The Punisher.”

More time required On Sunday, September 18, Duterte announced that he would need more time to fulfill his promise to eradicate illegal drugs from the Philippines.

Despite previously saying he’ll continue the raids “until the last pusher is out of the streets” the

president indicated that he needed up to six months.

“That self-imposed time of three to six months, well, I did not realize how severe and how serious the problem of drug menace [is] in this republic until I became President,” Duterte said.

He reportedly added: “The problem is… I can’t kill them all.” n

Ex-justice exec denies drug lord’s…

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fer of a prisoner from one compound to another through a certain “Susan,” said to be the official’s bagman.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director, Baraan said in a statement, has the sole discretion in the transfer of inmates from medium to maximum-security cells without the approval of the justice secretary.

Baraan said Director Maria

Charina Dy-Po of the Department of Justice (DOJ) technical staff and any BuCor director would attest to his claim.

“I did not have that authority to cause or order any such transfer. We did not even know who were transferred and where, when, why were the transfers made,” he said.

“Colanggo’s claim is complete nonsense,” Baraan said, referring to the name the inmate is

commonly known for. “I challenge him to produce any document that shows I approved any transfer of inmates within the Bilibid compound.”

He pointed out that DOJ technical staff was under the office of another DOJ undersecretary.

Colanggo claimed that “Susan” got in touch with his talent manager, Reynante Diaz, on the cost of transferring inmates at NBP. “I do not personally know of any employee in the technical staff whose name is Susan. I in-

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BEACH CLEAN-UP. Employees of the natural resources department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) clear a beach in Datu Odin, Maguindanao from wastes. Local officials in Maguindanao’s adjoining Datu Odin and Datu Blah towns said that folks are also helping now disseminate the need to clean their coastlines in support of the cleanup campaign by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the (ARMM).

Philstar.com/John Unson

Duterte: We need US…

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Witnesses (from left) retired police officer and convicted kidnapper Rodolfo Magleo, National Bureau of Investigation agent Jovencio Ablen Jr. and former Bureau of Corrections acting director Rafael Ragos listen to congressmen on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos

Convict Herbert Colanggo testifies at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

“massacre.”

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, acting on the Philippines’ complaint, earlier invalidated Beijing’s claim to almost the whole of the South China Sea. China, though, has refused to recognize the ruling.

The President is seeking bilateral talks with China over the issue, and has said that he would insist that discussions between the two countries be based on the decision.

But even as he said that the Philippines needed the US, Mr. Duterte said the Americans have always looked down on the Philippines.

“I really do not know what’s wrong with these Americans.

They look at us as if we’re lowly,” he said.

He repeated his earlier lament over the FA-50 jets the country had acquired, which he said did not have missiles.

He said the Philippines had bought them from South Korea, but these were made with US technology. The Philippines could not have acquired the jets without US consent, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Duterte had railed against the US for planning to discuss the human rights situa-

tion in the country with him, and said the Philippines was no longer a vassal state.

But he subsequently said the Philippines would not cut ties with its close allies.

Meanwhile, Mr. Duterte also said the Philippines was receiving offers for anti-terrorism equipment from China and Israel.

Regarding intelligence equipment, the country would have to be careful and ensure that it would get only from trusted sources, said Duterte.

“There will be at least one or two sources for our intelligence equipment. We just can’t buy these anywhere, because they’re listening to us,” he said.

“There are about two countries where we are safe. They are allies,” he added.

But he did not identify these two countries.

When it came to firepower, the Philippines could get cheap ones from other countries, he said.

Mr. Duterte also promised to arm all soldiers with a Glock pistol as sidearms. His announcement was met with applause. n

Robredo…

PAGE A1 t

ernment to continue to be instruments of truth, justice and to maintain an unwavering commitment to the rule of law as she said it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that their stories are neither forgotten nor twisted for political purposes and ambitions.

“Let us be safeguards of freedoms of life, liberty, speech, and due process.We must all remain vigilant against the return of Martial Law or any of its elements,” Robredo said in a statement.

“Not in this lifetime, never again,” she concluded.

Prior to her vice presidency, Robredo openly voices out her opposition against the Martial Law period. During the campaign period, she questioned the human rights violation of Marcos.

Late President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation 1081 on Sept. 21, 1972, placing the entire country under Martial Law. During the full implementation of martial law, several officials and citizens were arrested and activists were killed while a number of institutions and media outlets were also closed down Martial law officially ended Jan. 13, 1981 although Marcos remained in power until the historic EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986. n

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10 young Fil-Am leaders chosen for PH immersion trip

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two engineers, two lawyers, two marketing and communications professionals, a Broadway producer, an educator, a transportation infrastructure specialist, and a culinary enthusiast, form the fifth batch of young Filipino-American leaders who will embark on an immersion trip to the Philippines to meet with influential Filipino personalities and deepen their understanding of issues affecting their country of heritage.

Now on its fifth year, the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) continues to give highperforming, next-generation Filipino-Americans the opportunity to reconnect with their roots and engage with government leaders, business executives, cultural experts, social entrepreneurs, and innovators in different fields in the Philippines.

TO CLEANER RIVERS. Fish traps and pens built along the Calmay River in Dagupan City have contributed to pollution in the waterway.

The following are the 2016 However, an aggressive campaign on illegal fish pens has prevented the release of about 1.8 metric tons of commercial feed to the FYLPRO delegates: city’s rivers in the last three years, city agriculturist Emma Molina said on Monday, Sept. 19. Dagupan is crisscrossed by seven rivers.

Noel Aglubat (New York), a civSince July 2013, the city government has dismantled 508 pens that used to operate in a 92.26-hectare area. il engineer at the Federal Energy Photo by Willie Lomibao/Inquirer.net Regulatory Commission at the New York Regional Office; Tiffany Batac (Washington, DC), manager of the asset management service area at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff; Joanne Boston cording to a neighbor of the fam- might help the Ventanillas and (Daly City, California), an oncolby Eric Anthony LicAs law enforcement better under- ogy reimbursement specialist at ily speaking anonymously.

AJPress “They had friends over,” she stand why such a tragedy took a private practice in San FranNEIGHBORS and police in told the Orange County Register. place is encouraged to contact cisco and vice president of the Long Beach are wondering what “They had barbecues up there. detectives of the Long Beach Filipino Food Movement; Mark Police Department at (562) 570- Calaguas (Chicago), a staff atdrove a 36-year-old Filipina to Just a happy couple.” torney at the Chicago office of stab her infant son to death beShe added that the newly wid- 7244. n fore turning the knife on herself owed father was seen crying and sometime before 6:30 a.m. on struggling to maintain his comTuesday, September 13. posure as he was interviewed by Ken Ventanilla returned to his police. home on the 1500 block of Park On Tuesday, investigators and Avenue to discover the lifeless bod- forensics technicians gathered ies of his wife, Charlene, and their statements from other people liv8-week-old son, Shane, apparently ing nearby and collected about following what investigators have six large bags of evidence before labeled a murder-suicide. departing from the site of the Officers dispatched to the resi- crime at about 2 p.m., according dence found that both subjects to the OC Register. As officers had suffered multiple stab wounds were leaving, a small group of to the upper body, according to a people was seen across the street preliminary statement from Long from the family’s home huddled Beach Police. Mother and son in a circle with their heads lowwere pronounced dead at the ered. scene by the fire department.

The Ventanillas have another The Ventanillas appeared to son, who is 2 years old. have a healthy and happy life, acAnyone with information that

Filipina mom kills infant in murder-suicide Case baffles neighbors and police in Long Beach

CA to develop model…

PAGE A1 t

high school and college instructors specializing in ethnic studies to establish model curricula.

Schools can then use that model as a guide to revise their lesson plans and coursework.

The bill won’t be in effect until the 2020-2021 school year which allows more time for schools to adjust their curricula.

Earlier this year, the Stanford Graduate School of Education released a study that found that having comprehensive ethnic studies improved classroom performance and engagement among students of color.

A group of students in San Francisco took an ethnic studies class that focused on race, nationality and cultural identity.

Researchers found that these students performed better academically and showcased more enthusiasm than students who did not take them.

“Schools have tried a number of approaches to support struggling students, and few have been this effective,” Emily Penner, a Stanford researcher involved in the study, said in a statement. “It’s a novel approach that suggests that making school relevant and engaging to struggling students can really pay off.”

School districts in California have already made it a requirement to incorporate comprehen-

sive ethnic studies in their curricula (or are moving toward it), like Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), El Rancho Unified School District (ERUSD) in Pico Rivera and Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).

Last year, Brown vetoed a similar bill that required schools to develop ethnic studies curricula.

AB 2016 merely encourages schools to take the initiative, but it’s a monumental step for all students, Alejo said.

“Ethnic studies are not just for students of color. We should give all students the opportunity to prepare for a diverse global economy, diverse university campuses and diverse workplaces,” Alejo said.

In July, the SBE approved recommendations made to incorporate Filipinos’ roles in World War II in high school U.S. history courses.

As the Asian Journal previously reported, the Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS) pushed for the recommendation to tell a side of the war that has previously been ignored.

“The curriculum is deviating from a Eurocentric history and moving more towards the Pacific to accurately reflect the diversity of the population here in California,” BLHS Executive Director Cecilia Gaerlan told the Asian Journal.

(By Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II listens during the House hearing on the alleged drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos

Ex-justice exec denies…

PAGE A2 t

quired from Director Dy-Po and she informed me that two employees in her office carry that name. What I am certain of is that I do not have—with either of them—that kind of dealing that Colanggo generally descri bed in his outlandish claim. What he claimed is a total impossibility insofar as I am concerned,”

Baraan said.

Baraan and his brother, former Pangasinan provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, were both named by President Duterte in a drug matrix showing Sen. Leila de Lima’s alleged conspirators in her drug protection racket.

(Reports from Gil Cabacungan and Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon)

McDermott Will & Emery LLP, where is a member of the discovery practice group; Brandon Dela Cruz (Honolulu), director of marketing for the international, Hawaii-based restaurant chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue; Elizabeth Frilles (Honolulu), educator; Christopher Lapinig (Los Angeles), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA’s Skadden Fellow in the Impact Litigation Unit; Maria Teresa Quintans (Tamuning, Guam), a special assistant at the Office of the Governor of Guam, where she focuses on the Lieutenant Governor’s public relations, marketing, events and social media; Donny Rojo (Seattle), integrated product leader of innovation and development at Philips; and Jhett Tolentino (New York), three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer.

Minister Patrick Chuasoto, the

Embassy’s Chargé d’Affairés ad interim and chair of the FYLPRO Selection Committee, noted the high caliber crop of applicants to the 2016 edition of FYLPRO. “The application process has been highly competitive this year and we are proud of the ten delegates who made the final cut.

They have enormous leadership potential, and all have exhibited the will to be involved not only in shaping the future of the Filipino-American community but also in contributing to Philippine development,” said Minister Chuasoto.

The 2016 FYLPRO immersion trip, which will be held on November 23 to December 2, 2016, is a joint undertaking by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States, the Ayala Foundation, Inc. and the Filipino Young Leaders Program Organization. n

24-year-old Filipina’s…

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rina told local station NBC 4.

There were no signs of gunshot or stab wounds, but police say strangulation or drug overdose are still possibilities, according to reporters for KCAL9.

Fred Padrone, a family member who said he had known the deceased since she had emigrated from the Philippines, described Salvador as “very lovely, funny. She was a very

nice kid.”

She had a boyfriend, who is cooperating with police.

Investigators are currently going over footage taken from the surveillance systems of nearby homes. Anyone who might have information that might benefit their investigation is encouraged to call the LA County Sheriff’s Department’s homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500. (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)

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SF coalition announces new initiative to help cover cost of citizenship

REBUILD BATANES. Vice President Leni Robredo visited Batanes last Monday, Sept. 19, to assess the damage left by Typhoon Ferdie.

The vice president also called for an emergency meeting with key shelter agencies to discuss how to help the province rebuild itself.

Photo from the Leni Robredo Media Bureau

HUD issues new guidelines for people with limited English proficiency THE U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Thursday, Sept. 15 issued “Limited English Proficiency” (LEP) guidance that addresses how the Fair Housing Act (FHA) would apply to claims of housing discrimination brought by people because they do not speak, read, or write English proficiently.

More than 25 million people in the United States do not communicate proficiently in English.

The FHA prohibits both intentional housing discrimination and housing practices that have an unjustified discriminatory effect.

People with limited English proficiency are not a protected class under the act. However, the act prohibits discrimination on seven protected bases, including national origin, which is closely linked to the ability to communicate proficiently in English.

Housing providers are therefore prohibited from using limited English proficiency selectively or as an excuse for intentional housing discrimination. The law also prohibits landlords from using limited English proficiency in a way that causes an unjustified discriminatory effect.

“Having a limited ability to speak English should never be a reason to be denied a home,” said Gustavo Velasquez, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

in a statement. “Every family that calls this nation home has the same rights when it comes to renting or buying a home, regardless of where they come from or language they speak.”

Nearly 9 percent of the U.S. population is limited in English proficiency. Approximately 16,350,000 (or 65 percent) of these individuals speak Spanish, while 1,660,000 (7 percent) speak Chinese, 850,000 (3 percent) speak Vietnamese, 620,000 (2 percent) speak Korean and 530,000 (2 percent) speak Tagalog. Housing decisions that are based on limited English proficiency may have a greater impact on these and other groups because of their nationality.

The guidance addresses how various legal approaches, such as discriminatory effects and disparate treatment, apply in FHA cases in which a housing-related decision — such as a landlord’s refusal to rent or renew a lease — involves a person’s limited ability to speak, read, write, or understand English.

Discriminatory practices, for example, could include applying a language-related requirement to people of certain races or nationalities; posting advertisements that contain blanket statements, such as “all tenants must speak English;” or immediately turning away applicants who are not flu-

ent in English. Targeting racial or national origin groups for scams related to housing also constitutes intentional discrimination.

A housing provider also violates the FHA when the provider’s policies or practices have an unjustified discriminatory effect, even when the provider had not intended to discriminate. Determining whether a practice has a discriminatory effect involves a three-step legal evaluation of the statistical evidence of a discriminatory effect; whether the housing provider’s policy or practice is necessary to achieve a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest; and, if so, whether there is a less discriminatory alternative policy or practice.

In addition to the new LEP guidance, which is limited to the FHA, HUD published a “Notice of Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons” in 2007.

Any person who believes he or she has experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to www. hud.gov/fairhousing. n

SAN FRANCISCO – In honor of National Citizenship Day, a coalition of San Francisco organizations announced on Friday, Sept. 16, the launch of a unique citizenship loan program to help more San Francisco residents become citizens at 50 percent of the cost.

San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative, San Francisco’s Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) and the Mission Asset Fund announced a new partnership designed to help low-income residents overcome the financial barriers to applying for citizenship.

“Citizenship is a powerful financial asset,” said José Quiñonez, CEO of the Mission Asset Fund. “It means access to more promising job opportunities, financing for higher education, and increased financial stability.

It also means being heard and the chance to vote in our upcoming election. Through this powerful partnership with OCEIA, we are offering Lending Circles to help clients unlock their economic potential and break through the cost barrier of applying for citizenship.”

The program, called Lending Circles for Citizenship, will allow eligible participants to receive a 0 percent interest loan of $680 to cover the cost of submitting an application for naturalization. To encourage more residents to take advantage of the benefits that citizenship offers, OCEIA is provid-

ing a 50% match, lowering the cost for applicants to $340.

“Creating pathways to economic success and quality of life for immigrants is essential and good for all,” said Adrienne Pon, executive director of the San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA). “Immigrants contribute significantly to the economy and workforce, and as naturalized citizens, provide even greater contributions to our overall success as cities and a nation. San Francisco is proud to partner with community organizations, labor, and philanthropic foundations on this long term effort.”

The initiative is part of an effort

by San Francisco organizations to make it easier for eligible immigrants to apply for citizenship.

“Becoming a citizen is a top priority for our communities,” said Anni Chung, president and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly, the lead organization of San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship, a public-private partnership that aims to promote citizenship among San Francisco’s eligible immigrants.

“San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship has conducted 21 naturalization workshops in the last three years and will continue to assist applicants until 2019! Our goal is to assist 10,000 Legal Permanent Residents in becoming citizens by 2019,” said Chung.

To help eligible immigrants apply for citizenship, San Fran-

cisco Pathways to Citizenship is organizing a free workshop on Oct. 1, 2016. The workshop will take place at 205 13th Street, San Francisco from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. No appointment is needed.

For more information, go to: sfcitizenship.org or call (415) 6628901.

About MAF Mission Asset Fund (MAF) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit helping financially excluded communities – namely, low-income and immigrant families – gain access to mainstream financial services.

About OCEIA The Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) is a policy, compliance, direct services and grantmaking office.

OCEIA’s mission is to promote inclusive policies and foster immigrant assistance programs that lead to full civic, economic and linguistic integration.

About SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative is a publicprivate partnership that aims to promote citizenship and civic participation among San Francisco’s citizenship-eligible immigrants.

Participating organizations include Asian Pacific Islanders Legal Outreach, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Self-Help for the Elderly, Catholic Charities CYO, International Institute of the Bay Area and La Raza Community Resource Center. n

Court blocks proof-of-citizenship requirements for voters in 3 states

WASHINGTON, DC – A federal appeals court has blocked Kansas, Alabama, and Georgia from adding proof-of-citizenship requirements to the federal mail voter registration form.

Advancing Justice | AAJC and 16 other civil rights and voting groups filed an amicus brief, explaining how the challenged requirements disenfranchise voters.

The League of Women Voters sued Brian D. Newby, the executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, to prevent the proof-of-citizenship requirements from taking effect.

The Advancing Justice | AAJCled amicus brief points out that citizens in traditionally disadvantaged communities are more

likely to lack the documents to satisfy proof-of-citizenship requirements and that for many individuals, the cost and burden involved in obtaining documents will be a significant obstacle and deterrent to exercising their constitutional right to vote.

“The court’s decision removes unjustified obstacles to voter registration,” said Cecelia Chang, director of litigation at Advancing Justice | AAJC. “Eligible citizens should not have to pay hundreds of dollars or expend many hours, days, and weeks securing documents so they can register to vote.”

Last Friday’s ruling, which was handed down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, protected voters in Kan-

sas, Alabama, and Georgia. The court granted a preliminary injunction only one day after hearing oral argument in the case. In blocking the proof-of-citizenship requirements, the two-judge majority noted that an injunction was in the “public interest” and agreed that implementing the requirements would cause “irreparable harm.”

“This is a victory for voters in Georgia,” said Stephanie Cho, executive director at Advancing Justice - Atlanta. “Proof-of-citizenship requirements disproportionately burden young voters and naturalized citizens and would have made it more difficult for Asian American voters, one of Georgia’s fastest-growing groups, to vote in upcoming elections.”

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Robredo on Duterte ouster plot: No plan B LP bloc to remain with Senate majority

by Jefferson

antiporda Manilatimes.net

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo denied anew allegations that the Liberal Party (LP) was planning to oust President Duterte and install her as chief executive.

Speaking to reporters in Naga City, Robredo said it was unfair for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to insinuate that the testimony of self-confessed hit man Edgar Matobato was the LP’s “Plan B” to bring her into power.

Robredo, who heads the LP being its highest elected official, said it was offensive to implicate the LP in an alleged impeachment plot against Duterte, noting that party members in the House of Representatives had only met once since the May 9 elections and that was to discuss whether to join the majority bloc.

“The LP has not even met to discuss matters about the present administration,” she said.

Robredo said she was not aware that a witness would come out in the Senate hearing last Thursday, Sept. 15.

She said she has always showed support for the President after she joined the Cabinet.

Robredo chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

The Vice President said she was offended by the insinuations of Cayetano.

“We are offended by Sen. Cayetano’s accusation that the LP is plotting to oust the President and that I will be the intended beneficiary of this plan,” Robredo said.

Good working relationship The Vice President maintained that she has a good working relationship with President Duterte and appealed to his staunch allies not to sow intrigue between them.

Robredo believes that any move to impeach the President will not succeed and may only result in turmoil to the detriment of the Filipino people.

“We have a good working relationship, which I hope will not be destroyed by allegations that the LP is plotting to oust him,” the Vice President said in a press conference at the HUDCC head office in Makati City.

Cayetano accused the LP of attempting to destabilize and

Senate majority as a political reality, although the issue could LIBERAL Party senators on have been addressed had there Tuesday, Sept. 20 agreed to stay been an opportunity for a diawith the majority bloc even after logue.

“We are deeply saddened by the unprecedented ouster of Sen. Leila de Lima as head of the Sen- the events that transpired yesterate committee on justice and hu- day (Sept.19). Elementary courtesy dictates that we as members man rights.

In a joint statement, Senate of the majority bloc of the Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin should have been consulted,” the Drilon and Senators Francis Pan- LP senators said in a statement.

The LP bloc maintained that gilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Risa Hontiveros said that its alliance with the majority is they recognize the actions of the based on reforms that will spur

progress.

“As long as we believe that these reforms can be achieved, we will remain with the majority,” the senator said.

Drilon in an interview said LP senators will remain independent.

“We will criticize if there is basis or need to criticize. We will cooperate where we believe that what is being presented to the Senate is for the benefit of our country. We will not criticize simply for the sake of criticizing,” he said.

Supreme Court: Poe a natural-born Filipino Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

oust Duterte using the Senate inquiry into the spate of extrajudicial killings.

Cayetano said an obvious beneficiary would be Robredo, who would take over as president if Duterte were ousted.

Duterte had also mentioned that “yellow” groups were out to unseat him through an impeachment.

LP stalwarts and members denied the President’s accusation that they were harping on his alleged human rights violations to remove him from office.

Robredo urged her fellow government officials to use instead their energy to achieve the administration’s plans for the country in the next six years.

The Vice President said she told Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea during their Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14 that there was no plan to unseat the President and assured them that she was supportive of the administration.

“I always ask the people to support the President. Even if we have different stand on issues it’s not a reason not to support him because the success of the Duterte administration is also the success of the entire nation,” Robredo said.

She said she called on the people to be vigilant and discerning because the allegations made against Duterte were serious.

Philstar.com photo

But she added these must be taken with a “grain of salt” since they would not know whether the witness was telling the whole truth.

Cayetano alleged that the LP was behind Matobato, a witness called by Sen. Leila de Lima to testify in the Senate hearing on extrajudicial killings amid the President’s war on illegal drugs.

Matobato accused Duterte of having ordered the deaths of about 1,000 people when he was Davao City mayor.

Cayetano, who was the runningmate of Duterte, revived talks about LP’s Plan B that was floated during the campaign. The plan supposedly involved moves to unseat Duterte and replace him by Robredo once they were in power since the administration candidate, Manuel Roxas II, would not win.

Duterte won by a landslide in the last elections with 16 million votes. The President also has the super majority in the House where impeachment cases emanate and enjoys high trust and approval ratings.

The Vice President, being the constitutional successor of the Chief Executive, is normally seen as a threat to the highest seat if competent and popular, and especially when the two top leaders of the land are not party mates.

If not president material, a vice president usually becomes a mere spare tire for six years.

MANILA – The Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 20 upheld the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal on Sen. Grace Poe’s eligibility to run in the 2013 elections and ruled that she is qualified to sit as a senator of the republic.

The court voted 9-3 in favor of Poe and declared her a naturalborn Filipino citizen, and, therefore, qualified to hold the office of senator. The SC junked a petition filed by Rizalito David, a losing senatorial candidate in 2013, asking the high court to reverse the SET’s ruling.

David claimed Poe, a foundling, cannot be considered a natural-born Filipino because of the “absence of proof of blood ties to a Filipino father or mother.”

David also questioned Poe’s reacquisition of her Philippine citizenship in 2006 after being naturalized as a US citizen and living there until the death of Fernando Poe Jr., her adoptive father, in late 2004.

Questions about Poe’s citizenship were raised as she prepared to run for president in the 2016

In this Sept. 8, 2016 photo, Sen. Grace Poe is sworn into the Senate Electoral Tribunal by Justice Antonio Carpio.

elections. She lost to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the May polls.

The SC members who dissented in the case were Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Mariano Del Castillo and Bienvenido Reyes. On the other hand, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate

Justices Teresita De Castro and Arturo Brion inhibited from the case.

Brion, Carpio and De Castro were also members of the SET. Poe is now a member of the tribunal, which is tasked with resolving electoral protests involving senators. (Rosette Adel/ Philstar.com)

DOH confirms 6 new Zika cases

by Lorenzo

antonio Mendoza Manilatimes.net

SIx new Zika virus cases were confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, Sept.

20.

The DOH said four of the patients are from Iloilo City, while the two others are from Laguna and Cebu City.

This brought to nine the total number of locally transmitted

Zika virus cases, where the patients are between 9 and 49 years old.

Six out of the nine patients are women.

The six new patients had no history of travel to other countries within a month preceding the onset of illness, according to DOH spokesman Eric Tayag.

Tayag read from a statement made by Health Secretary Paulyn

Jean Ubial, who is in China for a meeting and heading to New York for another meeting.

He said Ubial has sent quick response teams to gather more information about the new cases and to show support to affected areas in their drive against the Zika virus.

At present, the DOH said, the Research Institute for Tropical PAGE A7

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SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Features

OpiniOn Denouncement OVER the past three months, more than 3,000 suspected drug dealers and traffickers have been killed amidst the Philippine government’s current bloody war against drugs.

More than 600,00 others—mostly drug users—have surrendered to authorities for fear that they might be next on the “Kill List.”

Officials said there are about 3.7 million drug addicts in the country, a figure that they said reflects a problem of “epidemic proportions.”

“I didn’t realize how severe and how serious the problem of drug menace in this republic (was) until I became president,” President Rodrigo Duterte said.

Shocked by the extent of the drug menace in the country, Duterte pleaded for six more months to fulfill his earlier promise to end the drug problem and criminality in the country.

Of this staggering death toll, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has only accounted for 1,167 deaths after 18,814 operations from July 1 to September 20. The others—alleged to be involved also in drug-related crimes—were killed in summary executions by vigilantes.

To strengthen the accountability of law enforcers and to institute corrective legislative measures to ensure full respect for basic human rights, Sen. Leila De Lima filed Senate Resolution 9 to seek an inquiry into the rising number of extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals.

“Extrajudicial or summary killing is homicide.

Carried out premeditatedly and in conspiracy with other public authorities, it becomes mass murder, which, if left unabated and unchecked, can escalate into a crime against humanity under international law,” De Lima said in her resolution.

During a Senate hearing last week, a witness who claimed to be a former member of the vigilante Davao Death Squad, accused then-Davao City Mayor Duterte of ordering his criminals and enemies killed. Edgar Matobato also revealed that Duterte ordered to ambush De Lima in 2009,

when the latter was still the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights.

Because of her apparent opposition to the current administration and, De Lima has stumbled upon a legal quagmire of acrimony and finger-pointing.

On Monday, Sept. 19, De Lima was accused by fellow Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of “destroying the integrity and reputation” of the Senate by being supposedly biased against Duterte. She was then ousted as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which is investigating the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug criminals.

In her privilege speech on Tuesday, Sept. 20, De Lima defended herself and maintained that she was only doing her job as a senator.

“Mr. President, I am not the problem. I am not the one giving a bad image to this country before the international media, contrary to the accusation and belief of Senator Cayetano. The problem of this country and this administration is the extra-judicial killing of more than 3,000 of our countrymen in the past three months, or more than a thousand per month,” De Lima said.

No matter what side Filipinos are on, they must not miss the point. There are more than 2,000 unaccounted deaths since the recent drug war was launched. There were lives that were wasted and were deprived of their human rights only because of their alleged connection with drugs.

Though it may also seem as a continuous argument, this political travail will contribute to a more forthright national consciousness. Every riveting detail that will be exposed for the public to absorb will bring Filipinos to a deeper level of political sophistication. (AJPress)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

De Lima should have inhibited herself in Senate Justice Committee probe SENATOR Leila de Lima should The Fil-Am not have been ousted, but in- Perspective stead, should have inhibited herself from being chairman of the Senate Justice Committee Gel SantoS-ReloS even before any hearing started. After all, she has also been accused of being part of the drug syndicate while she was still justice secretary during Pres.

Benigno Aquino III’s term.

This writer presents this opinion not because of what the pro-Duterte senators who voted to strip De Lima of that power, which she allegedly used to smear President Rodrigo Duterte’s name and leadership. De Lima should have inhibited herself from presiding over any hearings

and investigations in the Senate Justice Committee because of delicadeza.

Even before the presentation of the star witness Edgar Matobato — a self-confessed hitman who testified last week that Duterte ordered death squad killings when the latter was still Davao mayor — there were already doubts about De Lima’s impartiality in presiding over drug-related cases in the Senate.

Especially so, since she could be the subject of the investigation because of her alleged involvement in the drug cartels inside New Bilibid Prison while she was DOJ chief.

De Lima’s inhibiting herself in presiding over these cases would not mean she was guilty of the ac-

I LEARNED what it means to be a U.S. citizen at the family dinner table.

My earliest memories are of the vivid stories my parents told me, stories that shaped the values I hold to this day and that emphasized the importance of citizens playing an active role in shaping and improving our world.

Over warm bowls of sinigang, my father told my brother, sister and me how he marched in Selma, Alabama and stood with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the historic battle for civil rights.

Over chicken adobo and steamed rice, my mother shared how she lived in the Philippines during a time of great political upheaval, how she strongly opposed the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship and the human rights abuses that

gating these cases. This would even earn the respect of doubters who think she is already guilty.

However, on the flip side of this issue, critics of the Duterte administration believe this move of “demoting” De Lima could have just robbed the Senate of its independence in objectively hearing cases against Duterte’s alleged human rights violations in his war against drugs.

An international human rights group already spoke out against the ouster of Lima.

As ABS-CBN News reported, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Senate should seek de Lima’s reinstatement as chair of the committee on Justice and Human Rights.

“The Senate vote to remove the chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights is a craven attempt to

derail accountability for the appalling death toll from President Duterte’s abusive ‘war on drugs,’” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at HRW. Kine contended that the Senate “is imperiling the Philippine public by covering up allegations of statesanctioned murder rather than exposing them.”

THE BOTTOM LINE IS: the truth should come out of the hearings for the good of the Filipino people.

Should De Lima be reinstated as chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective. com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos

Citizenship with a side of adobo

Commentary

Rob bonta

cusations fired against her by no less than Pres. Duterte himself, as she had been among the most outspoken critics of the president. She was, after all, the one who initiated the probe into Duterte’s savage campaign to kill drug users and drug dealers with little, if any, due process.

De Lima should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, a principle stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — which she has been fighting for on behalf of those 3,000+ people who could have been killed without due process and in violation of the rule of law.

But this writer believes the integrity of the Senate should supersede De Lima’s right to be chairman, if only to keep the Filipino people’s faith in it as an august body investi-

defined it, and how she fought for democracy and self-determination. I was born in Quezon City, Philippines. And when I was just two months old, in the ramp up to Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of martial law, my parents decided to leave the country and come to California.

My mother was and continues to be a prominent leader in the Filipino American social justice movement.

And while eating ube ice cream and leche flan, my parents recounted how we lived in a trailer in the legendary La Paz, the headquarters for the United Farm Workers of America in the Central Valley, just a stone’s throw away from the home of Cesar Chavez. They described how they worked alongside civil rights leaders like Chavez, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco, and Dolores Huerta, organizing Filipino and Mexican farmworkers in their struggle for fair treatment and better working conditions.

Through these lessons shared

at the family dinner table, my parents instilled in me a sense of civic duty to fight for justice and serve others. Today, as a California State Legislator, I focus most of my time and energy working to help our most vulnerable community members who have historically had little or no voice.

Being a U.S. citizen may not compel you to seek elected office, like it did me, but it must stir in you a sense of ownership in and commitment to this great country. Whether you were born a U.S. citizen like I was or naturalized like my mother, you are a full member of the United States. All of us are equals. That is a powerful and fundamental defining tenet of this nation.

In my view, all U.S. citizens must be involved in shaping our democracy and changing the community for the better.

Engagement and activism are critical.

This engagement can take many forms. At its most basic, everyone who is eligible should

register to vote. And once registered, we must vote in every election for the rest of our lives.

Showing up to vote during presidential elections only is not enough. We must vote on local measures and propositions.

Who should be your city councilmember or county supervisor? Do the elected members of your school board share your vision for the type of education you want for your children?

As a member of the California State Assembly, I authored and got passed AB 817 to help make voting easier. This law provides language assistance to voters at polling places. As our state becomes more diverse, it’s critically important to provide the tools to help all citizens exercise their constitutional rights.

AB 817 allows lawful permanent residents to serve as volunteers during elections. This is a great way to expose future citizens to civic engagement and help current citizens exercise their right to vote.

There are other ways to be

an active and engaged citizen.

Serve on a jury. Show up at a school board or city council meeting and share your opinion. Help a candidate that shares your values get elected or walk or make phone calls to get a local measure passed, like a school parcel tax.

During elections, we often hear the partisan rhetoric that either Democrats or Republicans are hurting our country.

But neither Republicans nor Democrats are the enemy. I believe the real threat to our nation is apathy.

We overcome apathy by staying informed. Reading a local newspaper, following social media, or watching the news on television helps to build the connective tissue among us and helps to reinforce the words in the Constitution that “We the People” matter-- that we are indeed a “we” and are all in this together. And that “we” are responsible for speaking up in the face of injustice.

Many countries do not give

their citizens the fundamental right to make their voices heard, challenge the system, and work to realize a more perfect union.

People should embrace healthy discussions about the course of our nation and the condition of our people. We should talk about how to make our nation stronger and more just for our citizens and noncitizens. And we should act to carry out that vision.

This privilege of living in the United States must never be taken for granted. And the duty of being an engaged and active citizen must never be forgotten. *** California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta serves in the 18th District, representing Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro.

This column is part of a series of op-eds by public officials about citizenship, published

by New America Media in collaboration with the national, nonpartisan network New Americans Campaign. For more information about upcoming citizenship workshops near you, go to:newamericanscampaign. org/events.

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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Court junks NBN raps vs Arroyo

by Ma.

Reina Leanne ToLenTino Manilatimes.net

THe Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division has dismissed the graft complaint filed against former president and now Rep. Gloria.

Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga in connection with the botched $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal.

The court granted the demurrer to evidence filed by Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, and former Commission on elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. in the case where they were accused of violating Section 3(g) of the anti-graft law.

The court also granted Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence in case nos. 0468 to 0469 where she was accused of violating Section 3(i) of the anti-graft law and Section 7(d) of the Code of Conduct and ethical Standards for Public Officials and employees, respectively.

A demurrer to evidence is filed by an accused after the prosecution completes its presentation of evidence on the ground that the evidence presented are insufficient to convict the accused.

In a statement, defense lawyer Laurence Arroyo thanked the court for vindicating Arroyo.

“We are thankful to the Sandiganbayan for granting our demurrers in the three cases.

It’s a well-reasoned decision.

I encourage the public to read it. Former President Arroyo has been vindicated anew. She has always kept her faith in the judiciary and our courts have not failed to fearlessly render justice. Our courts have not allowed themselves to be swayed

by public opinion or perception.

They are bound by the evidence and the evidence alone,” the lawyer said.

Arroyo’s camp had argued that the NBN contract dated April 21, 2007 was inadmissible because it was not authenticated and the prosecution did not present the original of the contract, among others.

The defense also pointed out that the deal never became effective because Arroyo canceled it on October 2, 2007. “even assuming arguendo [for the sake of argument] that the NBN contract is admissible, and assuming further that it became effective and was never cancelled, the prosecution failed to prove that it is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the Government,” it said.

Arroyo’s lawyers said the prosecution failed to prove that the deal was overpriced at $329 million from $130 million which was supposedly the actual cost of Chinese firm ZTe’s proposal for the national broadband project.

The prosecution likewise failed to prove that the NBN project covered only 30 percent of the country compared with the proposal of Amsterdam Holdings, Inc. (AHI) that would cover 80 percent at less cost, Arroyo’s lawyers argued.

“It is the theory of the prosecution that the NBN contract is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the Government because AHI’s proposal is supposedly superior to it. Yet, the prosecution failed to present

DOH confirms 6 new...

PAGE A5 Medicine can carry out tests for over 1,000 suspected cases.

The Health department itself has ample supply of mosquito nets and insecticides that are available for distribution to local government units.

It focuses its efforts to prevent and control spread of the virus through the 4S strategy: Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites; Self-protection measures like using insect repellent and mosquito nets especially at day time, as well as use of condom for protection against this sexually transmitted infection; Seek early consultation for skin rashes, fever, joint pains or red eyes; and

Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak.

Contracting the virus through mosquito bites, patients exhibited skin rashes and suffered from joint pains but they are expected to have recovered at this writing.

Tayag said initial information showed that the four new cases in Iloilo City were not connected to Zika virus cases in areas where they were earlier reported to have occurred because these areas are more than 10 kilometers apart.

The Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus or tiger mosquitoes, species that are found in sub-tropical tropical and tropical regions like the Philippines.

Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Inquirer.net photo

AHI’s written proposal,” they said.

The defense added that AHI “was not qualified to undertake the NBN project” and that the deal was “in fact, advantageous to the Government.”

The prosecution, it added, failed to prove that the former President was interested, for personal gain, in the approval of the project which required the approval of the National economic and Development Authority (NeDA) where she served as Chairperson of the Board.

The prosecution also failed to prove that Arroyo knew of Abalos’ alleged attempt to bribe former NeDA Director General Romulo Neri with P200 million for the immediate approval of the proposal and that the deal was approved with alleged haste because it “went through several layers of review,” the defense counsels argued.

It is blamed for causing microcephaly, which is characterized by unusually enlarged heads in babies, and other birth defects.

Tayag earlier said they have not recommended any travel restriction to Iloilo City, even for pregnant women.

He added that they did recommended that pregnant women ask their doctors for any instructions about their pregnancy.

Iloilo City, the DOH spokesman said, can be declared Zika virusfree if no new case is reported in the next 45 days.

Gundo Weiler, World Health Organization representative in the Philippines, said the rise in the number of cases only means the Health department is proactively testing for the Zika virus.

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016

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SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Hijack scare grips NAIA

by Benjie

Vergara Manilatimes.net

COASTAL CLEAN-UP. Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) hold a clean-up drive in Manila Bay as part of activities to mark the PCG’s 155th founding anniversary.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

PH eyes talks with China sans preconditions by jose

KatigBaK Philstar.com

THe Philippines is quietly making arrangements through diplomatic channels for bilateral talks with China without any preconditions to discuss their competing claims in the south China sea and West Philippine sea, Foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay said.

“The important thing is that we talk,” he told Filipino community members at a meeting in the Philippine embassy in Washington on Friday, sept.

16.

The inadequately armed Philippine military cannot fight China in any battle and this is why President Duterte ordered the navy not to conduct joint patrols in the south China sea with the Us, he said.

He said joint patrols could be seen by China as a provocative act, making it more difficult to peacefully resolve territorial problems.

A day earlier Yasay told a forum at the institute of strategic and international studies the country was not yet prepared to hold discussions with China.

Beijing has said it can only talk with Manila outside the framework of the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that declared as invalid China’s extensive claim

in the south China sea and West Philippine sea. The ruling also reaffirmed the Philippines’ rights over several contested reefs, shoals and islands. “our position has been we will not engage them in talks outside the framework of the tribunal ruling. We are now engaged in the process of making sure these bilateral talks will happen,” Yasay said.

He said the relationship between the two countries was not limited to the maritime dispute. There were other areas of concern in such fields as investment, trade and tourism and discussing them could open the door for talks on the maritime issue.

Referring to newspaper reports of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, Yasay lamented that some rights groups abroad have picked this up without doing their own verification.

He said of about 3,000 people reported killed in the drug war since Duterte took office on June 30, official investigations have shown about 900 were killed in legitimate police operations against drug lords and pushers.

The other cases are still under investigation but according to initial findings some are victims of vigilante group or victims of the fight for supremacy

between rival drug groups, Yasay said.

He said there was need for human rights group to validate the reports of extrajudicial killings before condemning the government for human right violations. newspaper reports should never be used as basis for concluding that extrajudicial killings are happening, he said.

He reminded his audience that President Duterte won the presidency on the platform of intensified campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.

Present at the embassy meeting were a small group of Filipino migrant workers who expressed their support for Duterte and called on Yasay to help about 300 Filipino victims of human traffickers in the Us. The official promised to look into the matter as another small group of workers rallied outside the embassy carrying placards calling for an end to human trafficking.

Yasay visited Washington en route to new York to attend the 71st session of the Un General Assembly. He had no meetings with Us government officials.

Washington views Duterte with suspicion because of his intimidating reaction to Us officials’ reminding him of his duty to uphold human rights.

Tension gripped the ninoy Aquino international Airport (nAiA) on Tuesday, sept. 20 when members of the anti-hijacking unit of the Police Aviation security Group (Avsegroup) surrounded a saudi Airline plane after the pilot mistakenly pressed the distress call button.

The plane, a Boeing B777, landed at 2:39 p.m. but the 400 passengers were only allowed to disembark at 5 p.m.

Airport officials said the Manila Control Tower (MCT) received the distress call at 2:15 p.m., prompting authorities to believe that the plane was under threat.

Upon receiving the distress signal, airport authorities implemented a standard operating procedure “in accordance with the airport emergency plan.”

The plane, which came from Jeddah, was not allowed to dock at Terminal 1 and the pilot was advised to park at the end of the taxiway.

A crisis management team was deployed to verify if there was a hijacking incident.

Manila international Air-

Policemen surround the Saudi Airline plane which was isolated at the end of the tarmac.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Lanz Mendoza

port Authority (MiAA) general manager ed Monreal later told reporters that there was no hijacking and that the pilot in command made a mistake.

Monreal said the pilot accidentally pressed the distress button twice.

He said the control tower asked the pilot to confirm if the plane was under threat and he again pressed the distress button.

“We cannot take chances because we can not determine the

real situation inside the aircraft.

How can we say if the pilot is telling the truth if it was merely an accident or he may have been ordered to press the button at gun point,” he said.

The tension eased when the passengers were finally allowed to disembark.

However, they were subjected to rigid security check.

Because of the incident, two international flights were diverted to Clark international Airport.

LP hit for failing to deliver ‘Yolanda’ housing by neil

alcoBer Manilatimes.net

A MiliTAnT lawmaker on Tuesday, sept. 20 scored an admission by Vice President and housing czar Maria leonor “leni” Robredo that only one percent of housing construction for victims of Typhoon Yolanda was completed by the national Housing Authority (nHA).

Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis party-list group said the Aquino administration should be blamed for the delayed construction of houses for the typhoon victims.

Robredo has said that only 200 out of 900 housing units in Hernani, eastern samar province was completed by the nHA. “Robredo should blame the Aquino government for this Yolanda housing mess. The former administration was incapable of competent work and totally failed to provide decent and permanent housing for Yolanda survivors despite the billions of pesos of public funds and foreign donations poured in,” Casi-

Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis party-list group said the Aquino administration should be blamed for the delayed construction of houses for the typhoon victims.

lao said.

Records from the Tacloban City Housing office revealed that the nHA had only built 572 out of its target 14,162 permanent houses, while non-government organizations had constructed 556 out of its planned 2,169 houses.

The nHA website, however, reported that 5,767 houses have been completed as of mid-February but admitted that it would

not be able to hit its target of 13,928 housing units by the end of 2016.

The nHA is constructing 8,161 houses in 19 sites located at the northern villages of leyte province.

But despite the completion of thousands of units, around 200 houses are occupied by families from high-risk zones because of the absence of permanent water supply and electricity.

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Journal

Your Immigration Solution Ben Loveman and nancy miLLer EVERY week clients consult with us who erroneously believe that they are not eligible for adjustment of status simply because they entered on a C-1 visa. The prevailing understanding of the C/D visa category is that the use of a C-1 visa to enter the United States results in a bar to becoming a permanent resident from within the United States (a process also known as ‘adjustment of status’). However, this understanding is flawed. In hopes of dispelling this pernicious myth, we devote our discussion this week to the nuances of the C-1 visa category.

Let’s start with the most typical use of a C-1 visa by a bona fide crewman. A person entering the U.S. with a C-1 visa to pursue employment aboard a vessel (a ship or airplane) is a bona fide ‘crewman.’ Crewmembers are ineligible to adjust status in the United States. If they are eligible to get a green card (such as through their marriage or other family relationship), they must complete the process through the U.S. Consulate in their home country. It is from the application of this section of law that many have come to believe that all C-1 entrants are barred from adjusting status. However, the C-1 visa category is not exclusively for crewman and exceptions to the general rule apply.

In addition to being given to crewmen, C-1 visas are also issued to those in continuous transit through the United States en route to another international destination.

“C-1 in-transit” holders are not prohibited on that basis from adjusting status.

So, if one is traveling from their home country to a third country and has a “layover” in the United States, they are likely to be issued a C-1 transit visa. This will allow them to remain in the U.S.

Opportunity overlooked?

Don’t judge a C-1 visa by its cover for no more than 29 days. If, for some reason, they don’t leave and later become eligible to get a green card, they will be able to adjust their status in the U.S. Of course, USCIS will look very closely at why they did not leave to determine whether they had a preconceived intent to remain in the U.S. at or before they entered. If CIS concludes that they did, they could be denied in the exercise of discretion.

Just because one works on a ship does not mean he is a crewman. The law defines a crewman as one who is required to perform duties for normal operation and service aboard a vessel.

While this does include persons employed by concessionaires (e.g. beauticians), it does not include persons not needed for normal operation or where numbers are in excess. The Board of Immigration Appeals has ruled that the “focal issue in determining whether an alien qualifies as a crewman is whether the person entered the United States in pursuit of his calling as a seaman.

The Board further clarified that the “substance rather than the form [of the entry] which controls.” On that basis, the argument has been made that one who misrepresented his intention to work on a vessel is not barred from adjustment under 245(c).

However, persons misrepresenting their intentions will require a waiver of inadmissibility to be eligible for adjustment of status.

They will need to show that their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent or spouse will suffer extreme hardship if they are not permitted to remain in the U.S. Bona fide crewmen are able to adjust their status too if covered

by INA §245(i). 245(i) applies to persons who had a petition or labor certification filed on their

behalf (or on behalf of certain relatives) prior to April 30, 2001.

If such a petition was filed prior to between January 14, 1998 then the filing alone satisfies the requirements. A petition filed after January 14, 1998 but on or before April 30, 2001 requires further showing physical presence in the United States on December 21, 2000. Satisfaction of §245(i) allows adjustment of status for bona fide crewman.

Crewmen who cannot adjust may benefit from the ‘provisional waiver’ program. Crewmen were never prohibited from departing to obtain an immigrant visa abroad. However, one who leaves after having been unlawfully in the U.S. for a year or more is barred for 10 years from returning. The bar is waivable upon a showing of extreme hardship to their qualifying relative.

The “provisional waiver” allows for preapproval of the waiver eliminating lengthy separation and uncertainty from the process.

If you or your loved one entered the United States with a C-1 or D visa, consult with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to determine what options exist to allow you to legalize your status. *** 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)

by Czeriza

valenCia Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The International Finance Corp.

(IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has launched a certification system for green buildings that would guide property developers in attaining the most

cost-effective design and aid in obtaining financing for their projects.

IFC recently launched its EDGE green building certification system in partnership with the Philippine Green Building Initiative (PGBI). The system is supported by a free software that can guide property developers in creating

houses and buildings that curb energy and water consumption by as much as 20 percent.

PGBI vice president for operations Ramon Aguilos said EDGE would also give developers access to a database containing information on green buildings in more than 120 countries to

u PAGE CJ3

BSP blames ‘derisking’ for fall in remittances Foreign banks’ fears triggered by anti-money laundering, terrorism concerns

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo

THE derisking strategy of foreign banks is driving the cost of sending money to the Philippine higher, causing a decline in remittances by overseas Filipinos, a central bank official told The Manila Times.

“We are seeing the continuing narrative of derisking, upsetting the otherwise normal flow of remittances,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said.

The strategy is mainly driven by the business decisions of

u PAGE CJ3

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Community Journal

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

California divorce 101

The CTV Files Atty. lilli B. BAculi THE following seeks to address or clarify some common misconceptions about divorce.

“What if my husband/wife does not want to sign the divorce?” or “My husband/wife does not want to sign the divorce papers, what can I do?” California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) or, in some instances, to get a judgment of divorce.

Perhaps the confusion lies in the part where the other party (your soon-to-be ex-spouse) needs to be served with process.

In proceeding in an action for divorce, there are procedural requirements dictated by law that must be followed to ensure that the other party has notice of the action (that is, that s/he is being brought to court for an action of divorce) and that s/he is given time to respond. However, there is no requirement for the other party to respond. There is no

requirement that s/he sign any document at all. All that needs to happen is that s/he is properly served with process according to the rules.

“What? I have to share my retirement earnings? This is mine, I worked hard for it!!” Generally, all of your assets prior to the marriage is just your own separate property. However, California is a community property state and so once you get married, all property acquired during the marriage is community property. And if anything out of the community property is used towards separate property, the community might turn out to have a claim on part(s) of separate property. Separate property are “all property acquired before marriage; all gifts, bequests, devise, or descents. All property acquired or exchanged with traceable separate property; and all property acquired after separation.”

“S/he is the one who left our family. I shouldn’t have to pay support.” Again, California is a no-fault divorce state. There is no assignment of blame or fault; fault does not factor in the equation in the issue of support. Some of the

factors that the Court will look at to determine whether there is basis for support, and if so, in what amount, are – length of marriage, age of parties, if there are minor children in the marriage, income of both parties.

“I’m smart enough to handle my own divorce. Why do I need an attorney?”

You don’t need an attorney. There is no requirement that you must have an attorney. However, in cases involving issues such as domestic violence, custody disputes, child support, spousal support, and division of community property assets it would be wise to seek advice from a licensed and experienced attorney so as not to waste your time and money, not to mention the court’s time and resources, especially when you have to keep going back to court because of incomplete or missing documents that could have been addressed from the very beginning by a competent and knowledgeable attorney.

Lawful Permanent Residents, Domestic Violence, and Deportability. Keep calm and don’t get angry! If you are a lawful permanent resident, know that a

WE ARE

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 1 of 2 parts)

ON a visit to my father’s grave site on a quiet, lush, manicured patch of Forest Lawn Glendale, my husband, daughter and I trudged along several tombstones of husbands and wives who lived in the 1850’s and died just before the mid-1900’s buried side by side.

My daughter noted the pattern in the headstones of a generation ago. I commented that it is getting harder to find such longevity of devotion these days among younger married couples of the current generation.

Call this the Age of Distraction for the “Selfies” generation. It seems we love ourselves far too much to the exclusion of others.

Perhaps it is because society as a whole, is engaged in far too many distractions and mired in too much self-absorption.

Social media enables and encourages a popular culture that fosters self-love to the worrisome u PAGE CJ5 point of extreme narcissism. It has become a struggle for many couples just to stay together.

One might argue that the generations before us didn’t have the same challenges that we are having. True. It may have been a far simpler time compared to the complexities we are all faced with. And yet they leave behind lessons of love that result in devotion and fidelity. Surely, we can learn a lot about nurturing human relations from those who have gone before us.

This I have learned from an older generation at an early age.

Of all the powerful words in the English language, the words “Thank you” are like magic wands in helping transform human relationships, marriage in particular, happier. Not perfect … just happier.

You don’t even have to say the words. You can acknowledge anything good done for you by your partner by a sweet gesture, a nod, a smile, a touch or anything else that works for you that says “thank you.”

In short, don’t take your partner for granted. Whether you’ve been together 50 days or 50 years, those words never get old.

If you want that most powerful emotion called love to live on, treat your partner like a gardener takes care of a plant. Most plants cannot survive without water, light, soil and other optimum conditions kept at a consistent basis. The human heart is like that. It grows strong and beautiful with constant, devoted care.

Saying “thank you” to your

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Two magical words “…And I think about those people who mean so much to me And for so many years have made me so very happy And I count the times I have forgotten to say “thank you” And just how much I love them.”

— “Sometimes”, Richard & Karen Carpenter

partner in life as often as you can, simply means you appreciate him. You are validating his worth as a person. Perhaps, being appreciated and shown respect, is next on the list of the most basic needs of a human being after the needs of food, clothing and shelter are met.

The words may not come naturally to you and your partner may be stunned at first but go ahead.

Give it a try and say “thank you.”

Say it like you mean it. Look for the small gestures such as giving you a cup of coffee, opening your car door, doing housework, cleaning your car or filling up your gas tank. Just don’t take what he does for you as a given.

Or how about taking the initiative yourself? If you do it long enough and often enough, he just might mirror your behavior. What goes around comes around.

If he brings home the paycheck that pays for your family life, then treat him like a king. Often, the goodhearted partner will treat you like his queen. There are exceptions, of course. It is only the jerks and the jackasses who abuse their positions of strength.

That holds true for both sexes.

If there is constant, sincere appreciation shifting back and forth between partners, you are, in effect, cementing a foundation for a relationship that would be tough to crack even if a threat to your marriage, like a pretty, young vixen with mile-long legs comes along making a play for your partner. Likewise, a smooth talking, slick Pepe Le Pew character with washboard abs would smell more like Brad’s sweaty armpit and would have no chance with a woman who already has a man at home she can canoodle with.

The same is true for men. Paul Newman simply explained why he remained faithful to Joanne Woodward, “Why fool around with hamburger when you have steak at home?”

What is good for the gander is good for the goose. There may be scores of women out there right now who feel neglected by their spouses. Maybe there’s another woman or man waiting in the wings. But more often than not during this Age of Distraction, the disaffection is rooted in self-absorption. And there lies the problem. Women need, want and crave appreciation just as much as men, if not more.

Self-love takes many forms — whether it is playing video

games or social networking on FB, Twitter or Instagram or some such platform on the internet for hours on end; binge drinking; gambling; watching or playing golf or any other sport; vain, selfobsession as a health nut or on becoming an Adonis body-building hunk or going to the deep end of things, deviant sex and pornography.

With few exceptions, obsession is unhealthy not only for the obsessed but also for those who live within his or her immediate orbit. Excessive time spent on these obsessions is time stolen from nurturing the love relationship. Watch out for these modern-day distractions and addictions that are just too many to list. Admit them if you have them and break the bonds with firm resolve. If you want true love and happiness, strive for balance and moderation.

In all cases of neglect, love is left to wither and die. Women who feel neglected, if driven to their limits, may throw all caution to the wind and look for love from the first opportunistic guy that comes along ready to engage in mild flirtation, an occasional dalliance or a full blown affair and gives them the attention and validation they crave. Such women can make disastrous, life-changing decisions that cause not only personal damage but also leave behind in the wake of a messy split, massive psychological, irreversible damage to children and other people involved in the couple’s life.

Say “thank you” and mean it.

Don’t just do it out of habit. Cut off the cellphone “umbilical cord” and make eye contact. Open your eyes and see the good in your partner. Wisdom, as they say, is knowing what to overlook.

Rein in that critical sharp tongue. The tongue is a small yet powerful muscle that can lash out capable of slashing and burning a relationship forever. The effect is amplified a million times when you write it down or use the web to vent your fury. When you document your anger on paper and more frequently these days online, you have entered “scorched earth” territory. There is little chance of ever going back. (To be continued) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Mon Cargo at 30: The most reliable and trusted balikbayan box service for the Filipino community in the Bay Area WITH the growing door-todoor cargo industry in the United States, it is hard to single out the “fly-by-night” companies from the trusted and reliable ones.

Here in the Bay Area, one name stands out from the rest and has proven itself to the FilipinoAmerican community for three decades now: Mon Cargo Now celebrating its 30th year, Mon Cargo was established in 1986

by Mr. Mon dela Vega Singh. Always committed to excellence and customer satisfaction, the company sticks to its credo to maintain an outstanding track record of being the most honest, competent and steadfast enterprise.

Putting the client and their cargo first Mon Cargo always thinks about their clients’ needs and cargo first. Aside from offering the convenience of free scheduled pick-ups of boxes, senders can track their cargo by calling a Mon Cargo customer service or representative. This means that clients can be informed of status reports and know the exact location of their shipments.

Apart from free scheduled pick-ups, they also offer replacement boxes, strapping and insurance of up to $500.

Mon Cargo can also assist returning residents in procuring and sending inexpensive container shipments, crating home appliances, furniture and vehicle shipments, as well as airfare tickets.

As they celebrate their 30th year, Mon Cargo would like to show their gratitude and high regard to their customers by extending their 1+1 PROMO and 5+1 PROMO. If you send one (1) regular box, you can avail one (1) junior size free shipment to Metro Manila and/or Luzon. Or, if you send five (5) regular boxes to Metro Manila and/or Luzon you get the 6th box free. (The five boxes don’t need to be sent at the same time.)

Truly, Mon Cargo Services, Inc. has remained true to its slogan, “Hanggang doon mula dito,

Taken inside the office, with Agnes Doniego Singh in the picture. Agnes Doniego Singh, President and CEO, says, “In all our dealings, we make it a point to be friendly, courteous, fair and compassionate.” And that’s exactly what their customers take from their experience with Mon Cargo.

Carmen Manalo, Marketing Manager, personally attends to all the boxes before shipping to the Philippines.

Call now at our Toll free No.1-800-432-4300 for free pick up. We are always ready to serve you.

kahon niyo’y selyado, walang bawas, walang kulang, delivery intact.” They believe that every box send by their kababayans contain more than material things. It is a symbol of hard work, remembrance, and celebration of Filipinos here in the U.S., as well as the love and care for their families and friends who will receive the box back in the Philippines.

With these in mind, along with the company’s excellent and competent service, are what makes Mon Cargo one of the best door-to-door delivery service in the Bay Area.

For more information on Mon Cargo’s services and/or promos, visit their website at www.moncargoservices.com or call them at 1-800-432-4300.

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CJ

Congress could always block Trump’s immigration plan

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ PEOPLE are justifiably concerned, anxious, and even terrified over Donald Trump’s proposed plan to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. However, let’s remember that the executive branch does NOT pass laws, nor is the president in charge of funding or the budget. Those powers, duties, and functions belong to Congress, as the legislative branch of the Government.

So let’s say Trump proposes the massive deportation. He would need to have both the House and Senate pass a law, which he can sign. (After all, Donald Trump is against “executive action”, and so he would likely act based only on a law proposed and passed by Congress.)

Congress has the ability to oppose or even block various proposed pieces of legislation. If you recall, a few years ago, Pres.

Obama, along with a coalition of Democrat and Republican law-

makers, proposed comprehensive immigration reform, which passed in the Senate. However, the House blocked that legislation, and would not even bring it up for a vote. As a result, that piece of legislation, urged by the president, went nowhere. So, if Trump proposes a piece of legislation, the House or Senate could always block it, or Senators could “filibuster,” which would also result in the proposed legislation going nowhere.

Congress is also in charge of the budget and funding. There are estimates it would cost over $400 billion to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants. This might include the cost of building new courtrooms, hiring new judges and their staff, building more detention facilities, transportation for the mass deportation, etc.

Congress may not be willing to spend that amount of money for such an unnecessary endeavor.

If Trump can’t get the money to carry out his plan, the plan would go nowhere.

While Trump talks tough about immigration, he must take a step back and consider the practicalities (or impracticalities) of his plan, and we must always remember Congress could always block his attempts or refuse to fund it. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

Business News

(Advertising Supplement)

Get the chance to have your immigration questions answered immediately when ‘Citizen Pinoy’ goes live on September 25! Kapamilya, we are excited to bring you yet another LIVE telecast of your favorite immigration program – ‘Citizen Pinoy’. Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel is “excited about being able to answer your questions in real time.” Viewers are already encouraged to send in questions at www.facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw The live telecast of ‘Citizen Pinoy’ – will be seen on September 25, Sunday at 6:15 pm (EST/PST) on TFC.

Calendar of Events across

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S E P T E M B E R 24

PASCPA-Los Angeles dinner dance event Socio economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia

Philippine now treads ‘higher growth path’ — Pernia

by Czeriza

ValenCia

Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — With a growth trajectory that has been uninterrupted for 17 years and a robust economic growth average in the past six years, the Philippines has gotten out of the boom-and-bust cycle and is now traversing a “higher growth path,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

In a presentation during the general membership meeting of the Chamber of Thrift Banks on Thursday, Sept. 15, Pernia said the average growth rate of 6.2 percent in the last six years has been the highest since the 1970s.

“In earlier years, the Philippine economy was known to go through a boom-and-bust growth cycle. However, in recent years, the country has proven to get out of this cycle as we have

been experiencing sustained high growth,” he said.

In the second quarter of 2016, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) accelerated to seven percent, faster than the previous quarter’s growth rate of 6.8 percent and 5.9 percent in the second quarter of 2015. With the first semester growth rate of 6.9 percent, the economy only needs to grow by 5.1 percent in the second semester to reach the lower end of the government’s growth target of 6.7 percent for 2016.

Pernia said the low inflation in recent years fueled the expansion of the economy. In 2015, headline inflation rose by only 1.4 percent on the average.

This was mainly due to the deceleration of non-food commodity prices such us housing, water, electricity and gas. Year-to-date headline inflation averaged 1.4 percent ending in July.

This favorable macroeconomic

performance, Pernia said, has allowed for the country’s GDP per capita to grow at an average of 4.3 percent annually in the past six years. As of 2015, the country’s GDP per capita stands at P74,770, up by 4.15 percent year-on-year.

“The second quarter GDP growth puts the country as perhaps the fastest-growing economy in Asia. And for the full year 2016 and until 2017, the Philippines is expected to remain as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia,” he said.

The Cabinet official said growth would continue to be driven by strong household consumption supported by remittance inflows, increased public spending on infrastructure, improved employment prospects, low inflation and low interest rates.

Low petroleum prices could also encourage expansion of existing firms and even result to the

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IFC launces certification system…

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compare design trends and costing. It also has a mechanism for determining the corresponding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions with improvements in design and changes in materials used.

“We are glad to have this technology. Architects and engineers can use this to evaluate green buildings constructed in 120 countries. This database can provide comparisons for current practices. It makes green buildings accessible and affordable,” he said.

Aguilos said at present, only a handful of developers are pursuing green projects because of the perception that constructing

green buildings entails steep costs.

With a sustained campaign, however, they see this number expanding to 20 percent of the nationwide count for new buildings and improvements in the next seven years.

“Gone are the years when green buildings are expensive,” he said, noting there are designs that are even applicable for socialized housing.

Amado de Jesus, president of PGBI said developers should view green buildings as investments despite of the higher initial costs.

“Filipinos are used to looking at the cheaper options but we gave to think of it in terms of its

lifecycle cost. It entails upfront costs but it’s actually savings in the long term,” he said.

PGBI, a non-profit group of professional associations that promotes energy-efficient and environment-friendly design and construction, is the certification provider for EDGE projects in the Philippines.

IFC current does not provide direct financing for green buildings in the country but it helps scale up lending for such projects by providing advisory services and risk guarantees to its partner banks to support their loans. These guarantees are currently provided for projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation. n

BSP blames ‘derisking’ for fall in…

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foreign correspondent banks in weighing the risks and benefits of dealing with remittance companies, and in the process closing the accounts of several money transfer operators (MTOs), to limit their exposure to possible money laundering channels and other financial crimes.

Guinigundo said derisking increases the cost of money transfers, because additional costs are incurred in complying with antimoney laundering and counter terrorist financing requirements.

“In fact even the Arab Monetary Fund, IMF [International Monetary Fund] and The World Bank have documented various cases of derisking in the Middle East jurisdictions,” he said.

Latest data from the BSP showed a year-on-year drop in personal and cash remittances

in July.

Personal remittances stood at $2.35 billion in July, down 5.4 percent from $2.49 billion year earlier, and were also lower compared with the $2.57 billion in June.

Personal remittances are transfers in cash or in kind, as well as capital transfers between households.

In the seven months to July, the rise in personal remittances slowed sharply to 2.9 percent – from 7.4 percent a year earlier – at $16.92 billion from $16.44 billion.

Cash remittances coursed through banks totaled $2.13 billion in July, down 5.4 percent from $2.25 billion registered in July 2015. In June, cash remittances totaled $2.33 billion.

In the first seven months of the year, the 3 percent growth rate

in cash remittances was slower compared with 7.7 percent in January to July 2015 Money laundering The BSP official explained derisking in the Middle East is related to concerns about money laundering and terrorist financing.

The Middle East is one of the major sources of overseas Filipino remittances, with 80 percent of total cash remittances coming from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait.

Exacerbating the impact of derisking is weak oil prices, which dampens the propensity of Saudi Arabia, UAE and other oil producing markets to overseas workers with jobs, Guinigundo pointed out.

Providing an optimistic view is IHS Markit Asia-Pacific chief

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Philippine American Society of Certified Public Accountants (PASCPA) is celebrating 30 years of promoting excellence for the future leaders! Join PASCPA on Saturday, Sept. 24 as it installs officers & board members and inducts new members of the organization. Networking will begin at 4:30 until 6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Pickwick Gardens, 1001 Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91506. Attire is formal and there will be no host bar. A donation of $65 is required. For more information, please visit http://pascpa.org/.

8th Regional Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region invites everyone to the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint. Festivities will be on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at this year’s host parish, Holy Family Church - Glendale (209 East Lomita Avenue, Glendale CA 91205). Procession starts at 4:30 PM , then Mass at 5:30 PM with Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, as Principal Celebrant. Reception , fellowship and program will immediately follow at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium across the church. For more information, please contact Ping Bayani at(913) 558-4332 or bayani0950@yahoo.com.

Annual celebration of Sr.San Miguel Archangel The Association of Iligan City & Lanao del Norte of Southern California (AICLNSC) invites everyone, Iliganons, Lanaons and friends to come and celebrate the annual celebration in honor of Senior San Miguel de Archangel, Patron of Iligan City. The Diyandi 2016 Fiesta Celebration will be at Carson Park, 21411 South Orrick St., Carson, CA 90745 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be a Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m. and followed by Sinulog/ Procession at 11:30 a.m. On September 24, 2016, a Dinner Dance/Induction of new set of Officers 2016-2018 to be held at St. Philomena Parish Hall, 21900 South Main St., Carson, CA 90745 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For details, please call Lenard Castillo (310) 8869374 or Edna Cabreros (562) 316-9541.

S E P T E M B E R 25

Virgen de los Remedios Festivities at the Los Angeles Cathedral Thousands of Marian devotees all over Los Angeles will gather at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for the Diamond Jubilee of Virgen de los Remedios Canonical Coronation on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. The Glendale High School Band, conducted by Grammy nominee Amy Rangel, will lead the afternoon procession participated by both Filipinos and Latinos in their traditional costumes. This will be followed by a Solemn High Mass with the joint choirs of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, St. Columban, Couples for Christ and the award winning Immaculate Heart of Mary Children’s Choir accompanied by musical artists from the Filipino American community. Everyone is invited to come and bring their Marian images. Organizations are asked to bring their banners for the procession to begin at the Cathedral Plaza. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is located at 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2707.

S E P T E M B E R 28

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders community town hall The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) Southwest Regional Network is holding an Asian American & Pacific Islander community town hall on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Las Vegas. Officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), US Department of Labor (DOL), Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Social Security Administration (SSA) will present their agency’s overviews and answer your questions. The event is hosted by the Asian Community Development Council at 2610 S. Jones Blvd., Suite 3, Las Vegas, NV 89146. To RSVP, please register at www.whiaapiroundlasvegas. eventbrite.com.

S E P T E M B E R 29

Bataan Legacy Historical Society multimedia presentation Bataan Legacy Historical Society, a non-profit educational 501(c)(3) organization, will hold a multimedia presentation at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please visit www.bataanlegacy.org.

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

CJ

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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

Self-employed professionals San Jose opens ‘Citizenship account for only 14% of taxes Corners’ at 10 public libraries

by Prinz

P. Magtulis Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Only 14 percent of the government’s total revenues come from selfemployed individuals and professionals, burdening salary workers with huge levies which the government reiterated will be addressed.

“We have high tax rates for self-employed and professionals, yet we have a very narrow base among them,” Department of Finance spokesperson Paola Alvarez said in a statement.

The figure has consistently gone down from 34 percent in the 1980s and down to around a fifth of entire revenues in the 1990s, she said, citing Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) data.

In contrast, wage earners have contributed more than 60 percent to revenues which has risen over the past three decades.

No absolute figures were provided or were immediately available as of press time.

The Duterte administration is submitting the first of four packages comprising its comprehensive tax reform program to Congress over the next two weeks for approval.

Aside from it, separate measures to relax the bank secrecy law and make tax evasion a predicate crime of money laundering are also being threshed out, Al-

Initiative will help connect local immigrants to naturalization workshops, educational programs and financial empowerment services, with support from Citi

varez said.

These bills, she said, aim to give more power to the BIR to look into bank accounts of those with pending tax evasion cases, without the need to ask for separate permission from the courts.

“The Bureau of Internal Revenue, however, cannot fully audit them because of existing bank secrecy laws,” Alvarez said.

“In relaxing bank secrecy laws, we want to cover all types of accounts, whether they pertain to deposits or investments, or to peso and dollar accounts,” she said.

The same case is being eyed on plans to amend the country’s dirty money laws.

“We also want to include the crime of tax evasion as a predicate crime to money laundering, so we can catch the big tax evaders and haul them to court,” the spokesperson said.

Similar moves to ease bank

secrecy and tighten money laundering laws have failed during the latter part of the previous administration, which has rejected outright lowering of income levies without offsetting potential revenue losses.

President Duterte has made it his campaign promise to bring down income taxes to a high of 25 percent from 32 percent for individuals, and to 25 percent from 30 percent for corporations.

According to initial figures which may still be revised, the comprehensive tax reform plan is estimated to generate net additional revenues of P368 billion by 2019.

“From now until the end of the month, we are conducting a series of consultations to further refine this proposal,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez was quoted as saying in a separate statement. n

BSP blames ‘derisking’ for fall in…

PAGE CJ3 t

economist Rajiv Biswas, who said that despite the 5.4 percent drop year-on-year, the overall level of remittances in the first seven months of 2016 has remained stable.

“However there is evidence that several negative factors are impacting on remittances,” he said.

Biswas noted the derisking of relationships by correspondent banks with remittance firms as part of risk management procedures is making it more difficult for Filipino workers abroad to remit funds home.

“This derisking process has been underway well before the RCBC case, so is not mainly driven by that event, but reflects a wider international trend among banks globally to tighten up their relationships with other financial

AUTO SALES

firms due to fears about potential money laundering vulnerabilities,” he said.

RCBC is the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, which figured in the money laundering scandal that involved $81 million of stolen funds from the Bagladesh Bank’s account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. RCBC was slapped a P1 billion fine by the BSP for ignoring anti-money laundering protocols, the biggest regulatory fine in the history of the Philippine banking industry.

The IHS Markit economist noted the impact of lower oil and gas prices has weighed on growth in the Middle East oil producing countries – key employment hubs for overseas Filipinos “Middle East financial institutions have also been derisking their financial relationships, due

to the global pressure on Middle East nations to crack down on illicit financial flows related to terrorism and money laundering,” he added.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) showed the number of newly hired land-based workers dropped 10.3 percent year-onyear to 235,895, while that of sea-based workers fell by 44.4 percent to 134,360.

“While there is a likelihood that this might continue and affect OFW remittances this year, the more than 18 percent growth in BPO [business process outsourcing]revenues for the first six months of 2016 could, somehow, cushion the soft remittances flows,” Guinigundo said.

Domestic politics

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — The City of San Jose, with support from Citi Community Development, proudly announced the opening of “Citizenship Corners” at 10 of its branch libraries, areas where local immigrants can find a wide array of resources to help them integrate and thrive in our community.

“We are proud of our rich immigrant heritage, and the fact that half of our small businesses and VC- funded startups have been started by immigrants,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo. “As we celebrate ‘Welcoming Week’ here in San Jose, we are proud to be unveiling these new Citizenship Corners that will help more of our local immigrants pursue the American Dream and create a better life for themselves and their families.”

According to a report by the Urban Institute, San Jose is home to approximately 400,000 immigrants – 20 percent of whom are eligible for naturalization but have not yet become citizens. Naturalized citizens typically have higher educational attainment, annual earnings, and homeownership rates than their non- citizen counterparts; they are also less likely to be living in poverty and experience increased access to higher-skilled and higher-paid jobs.

San Jose’s Citizenship Corners will host a number of resources that can help these residents navigate the naturalization process, including citizenship test preparation materials and information on obtaining legal assistance. Three locations will even include videoconferencing equipment that will enable customers to participate in legal consultations with off-site citizenship attorneys.

In addition, Citizenship Corners will feature several other resources commonly-request by our local immigrant community, including online education, ESL and skills training programs. They will also serve as hubs for multi-lingual classes and workshops that the Library hosts in partnership with com-

EMPLOYMENT

munity partners on a variety of topics, including financial capability.

“We are dedicated to continuing to strengthen our services for our growing immigrant community,” said City Librarian Jill Bourne. “By activating a number of Citizenship Corners throughout the city, we’re confident that more people will seek services and the expert guidance of their librarians, as they start their path towards becoming a U.S. Citizen.”

The creation of Citizenship Corners was largely made possible through the support of Citi Community Development as part of the national “Cities for Citizenship” initiative. Citi is also supporting the development and launch of a suite of financial empowerment and capability programs in the community, including upcoming workshops that will launch in a number of San Jose public libraries later this fall.

“Citizenship is a powerful asset for unlocking greater eco-

PSYCHIC

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

FOSTER HOMECARE

nomic opportunity,” said Vicki Joseph, Northern California Market Director for Citi Community Development. ”Citi is proud to support San Jose’s work in expanding immigrant integration with the Citizenship Corners program, as well as their efforts to provide vital financial empowerment services that will unlock greater economic opportunity for the San Jose community and its residents.”

Citizenship Corners are now located at the following San Jose branch libraries (note: the libraries marked with an * will have video conferencing capabilities): 1. Bascom 2. Biblioteca Latinoamericana 3. Dr. Roberto Cruz - Alum Rock* 4. East San Jose Carnegie 5. Edenvale 6. Educational Park 7. Hillview* 8. Seven Trees 9. Tully Community* 10. Joyce Ellington n

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016

CJ

Fremont Family Resource Center hosts Mayor Lee announces New Bay Area voter education and registration events partnership to modernize city services

IN preparation for the upcoming November general election, the Fremont Family Resource Center (FRC) will host two voter education events along with many opportunities to register to vote.

On Tuesday, September 27, National Voter Registration Day, the FRC will host their first educational event from 12-1pm. On this day, attendees will learn how to use touch-screen accessible voting machines, register to vote, update their voter information, and sign up to be paid poll workers if they choose. The event is open to all ages, and seniors and those with a disability are especially encouraged to attend. Dolores Tejada, Community Organizer at Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL) and one of our event co-sponsors, says “As an agency that serves people with disabilities and seniors with functional limitations, we are working hard to ensure that our community is prepared to vote through our #VoteDisability campaign and that includes teaching people that using an accessible voting machine is an option they have a right to use.”

The second voter event is on Tuesday, October 4th from 12-1pm. The League of Women Voters will present an overview of ballot items in easy-tounderstand language along with the pros and cons of the propositions. In past years, attendees found this session especially helpful in understanding the issues.

On both September 27th and October 4th from 10am-3pm, tables will be set up in front of the FRC so that residents can register to vote in time for the November 8th election. Voter registration forms will be available in many languages, and

multi-lingual staff and volunteers will be available to help people complete the form. Residents can also pick up voter registration forms from the FRC lobby Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Completed forms must be mailed to the Registrar of Voters with a postmark date of October 24th.

The FRC is located in Downtown Fremont at 39155 Liberty Street between Capitol Avenue and Walnut Avenue. Both educational events will be held in the Pacific Room, #H800. There is currently road work on Capitol Avenue so drivers may want to approach from Walnut Avenue.

The FRC is seeking volunteers to help staff the voter registration tables and will provide all information needed. To volunteer for one-hour shifts or longer, please call the FRC at (510) 574-2000.

Co-sponsors of these events include the FRC division of the City of Fremont Human Services Department, CRIL, Registrar of Voters, League of Women Voters with support by the Alameda County Public Health Department. n

Register to vote at the Alameda Free Library THE City of Alameda, along with our Country, faces an important election this November. Are you registered to vote? If you’ve moved, never registered, or are changing parties, you need to register. The last day to register online, in person, or by phone is October 24th. But why wait that long?

The Alameda Free Library and the Alameda League of Women Voters will have a special registration event on Tuesday, Sep-

tember 27th from 1-6 pm at the Main Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda. This is National Voter Registration Day and we’re happy to be a part of the push to get everyone registered.

There will be hard-copy forms available for you to complete and mail in, or you may use one of two dedicated computer terminals for online registration.

This event is free and no appointment is necessary. For more information, please contact the

California divorce…

PAGE CJ2 t

conviction of domestic violence will make you deportable. Sometimes, the smartest thing to do when emotions are running high is to just walk away.

Not all divorce cases are the same. It is important to be properly informed about your rights and responsibilities under California law in divorce proceedings.

The wrong advice or information can and will hurt you, and waste your time and money. Consult a licensed and experienced family law attorney to help you navigate through your divorce. And, especially for divorces that might have issues of domestic violence and you are not a U.S. Citizen, please

consult with an experienced immigration attorney who handles deportation defense. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.

Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 4958088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys. com. For general information visit www. chuatinsayvega.com.

Philippine now treads…

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entry of new companies.

However, within the immediate term, the country must remain vigilant of downside risks to our growth prospects, said Pernia.

On the external front, economic managers are monitoring the fragile growth in Japan and the European Union, and the slowdown in large emerging economies, particularly China.

“We will also continuously monitor the monetary policies in the major developed economies and the knock-on effects of the Brexit. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the extended period of low oil prices could also affect OFW jobs and remittances.

There is also the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea,”

said Pernia.

On the domestic front, logistics bottlenecks could constrain economic activity.

Delays in the roll out and implementation of government infrastructure and reconstruction projects would also delay regional development and recovery in disaster-stricken areas.

“Weather shocks, including a potential La Niña towards the end of the year, could work both ways – it could increase agricultural production but could also result in floods in urban areas,” said Pernia.

Closure of mines, while having minimal impact on economic growth, could also adversely affect the economy as a significant numbers of workers could be displaced. n

BSP blames ‘derisking’…

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Asked if political uncertainties in the country could also be the reason for the decline in remittances, Guinigundo said “it may have some remote impact on investment and output in the long run, but I don’t think this is the reason for the decline in the July remittances.”

Biswas shares the same view, noting the latest economic data does not show any sign that political uncertainty in the Philippines is having an impact on remittances or economic activity so far.

He noted the pace of economic growth in the Philippines has been extremely strong in the first half of 2016 at 6.9 percent yearon-year, while latest readings for August from an IHS Markit survey also indicate strong new manufacturing orders.

Forex rate The foreign exchange rate has been cited by an economist for the decline in remittances.

“I don’t buy any of those ‘sophisticated’ reasons offered by the BSP,” said Economist Dr. Victor Abola of the University of Asia and the Pacific.

“I think it’s simpler than that.

Overseas Filipinos are just smarter than before. I think they are saving for better days when the exchange rate favors them,” he

said.

Data from the Philippine Dealing System showed the peso has weakened to P47.11 to a dollar at the end of July from P46.11:$1 at the start of the month.

“Political factors don’t count here. The RCBC affair may have some effect if remitting banks have tightened their requirements to ensure compliance with AML [anti-money laundering],” Abola said.

Positive spillovers Singapore-based banking giant DBS said household consumption will continue to support the Philippine economy as long as positive spillovers from remittances persist.

“We reckon household consumption growth may remain in excess of 6 percent for the coming years,” said DBS economist Gundy Cahyadi.

Cahyadi noted household consumption has been robust, growing a record-high 7.2 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2016, with non-food consumption leading the overall growth at 7.4 percent.

He said domestic demand remains strong and will likely continue driving the country’s gross domestic product growth in excess of 6 percent going into 2017. n

Alameda Free Library at (510) 747-7777. n

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee joined Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter, and West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon to announce the results of the 2016 Startup in Residence (STIR) program and to highlight new technology products developed from the sixteen week program to address regional civic challenges.

Fourteen startups from across North America join thirteen government departments in San Francisco, Oakland, San Leandro, and West Sacramento to share technology products codeveloped to address civic challenges and improve the quality of life for Bay Area residents.

“The Startup in Residence program is a model for civic innovation and regional collaboration,” said Mayor Lee. “This program is a unique opportunity for government agencies and startups to think creatively about how we can all work together to modernize government to benefit residents.”

STIR builds on the success of the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Civic Innovation 2014 pilot initiative, which produced six technology products designed to meet San Francisco specific needs such as indoor navigation for visually impaired travelers at San Francisco International Airport.

This year, STIR expanded

regionally and the participating startups are working on issues including streamlining the foster care application process, creating a mobile solution to support early education outreach and enrollment, and developing a tool to assess damage in the aftermath of an emergency such as an earthquake.

“STIR is a platform for governments to work together with civic-minded private sector businesses on regional issues,” said Mayor Schaaf. “This work is critical because the challenges we’re facing don’t respect geographic boundaries. We have to look everywhere for solutions beginning right here in our region by learning and sharing across the public and private sectors.”

“Expansion of the STIR program to additional cities in the region has accelerated our willingness to explore new technologies and learn from each other,” said Mayor Cutter. “We look forward to growing these city collaborations in the years to come.”

“It’s been a rewarding experience for our Police and Fire Departments to work with startups through STIR,” said Mayor Cabaldon. “The agile development methodology and iterative approach to project management that our staff have learned through the program has immense short and long term value.

Public-private partnerships like this one are helping us to deliver services more effectively and inject a fail fast, fail often, start up mentality into the culture of government.”

STIR offers education sessions for government and startup staff in areas including partnerships, procurement, open data, civic tech trends, technology marketplace and new methods of product development. Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and the San Francisco Department of Technology generously hosted program participants for the education sessions.

“The opportunity to be a founding partner on STIR perfectly embodies our organization’s commitment to support entrepreneurs with the mentors and educational resources they need to be successful,” said Nicola Corzine, Executive Director, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.

“We look forward to supporting the growth and expansion of STIR in 2017 and beyond.”

The 2016 STIR program was supported by a number of organizations including a grant from the Economic Development Administration, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, Civic Makers, ImpactHubSF, Runway Incubator, Wearable IoT World Labs as well as several thought leaders and mentors. n

CJ

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Friday, September 23, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - September 23, 2016

Mae Cendaña Torlakson seeks to be first Fil-Am woman in California State Assembly by

Christina M. Oriel / AJPress

EvEn with 1.5 million Filipinos — considered the largest Asian population — in California, the group’s representation in the state Legislature has been disproportionate.

Rob Bonta made history as the first Filipino American elected to the Legislature when he won the 18th Assembly District seat (covering Oakland, Alameda and San Leandro) in 2012.

However, this november, another Fil-Am is eyeing a seat in the Assembly, with hopes to become the first Fil-Am woman to serve the state in that capacity.

Mae Cendaña Torlakson announced her bid for the 14th district seat in July 2015, and came out on top in the four-candidate race during the June primary, despite the millions of dollars raised to discredit her.

Though Torlakson fell into

Torlakson campaigning around District 14

politics by chance years ago, the motivation to run for a higher office stemmed from her passions for helping people and representing the Fil-Am community.

“Did you know we are the largest-growing population and there’s only one Filipino assemblymember in the Legislature out of 80?” she said during a recent interview with the Asian Journal.

“Actually 120 if you include the [state] senators. Rob said we should at the very least have six.”

The 14th District seat, which will be vacated by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, covers parts of Contra Costa and Solano counties, including areas with large Fil-Am populations, such as Concord and vallejo. (According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Solano County had 52,641 Filipinos reported and 61,161 in Contra Costa County.)

Torlakson with Assemblymember Rob Bonta

Advocating for access to education Before migrating to the United States, Torlakson — who holds a tourism degree from University of the Philippines, Diliman — owned a fashion boutique and traveled around the world as a singer. For those who remember, her most famous rock hit was “Hoy Lalake.”

When her visa for the U.S. arrived, she joined her family in South San Francisco and continued doing performances throughout California.

However, a point came when she needed a stable job to support her son and daughter, Yves and Tallulah.

“I realized I needed to get a real job because singing would not do it,” she said. “I needed health care for my kids.”

Photos courtesy of Mae Torlakson for Assembly

A brother-in-law referred her to an opening at the Duty Free inside San Francisco International Airport. She was hired immediately as a sales supervisor.

“Two weeks before my first job, I was singing and everyone was there having fun and I was the star,” she shared. “Two weeks after, I was putting sourdough bread in a bread rack at the airport...I was putting newspapers up and doing the cashiering. It was very humbling, but I started from the ground up.”

From there, Torlakson applied for a ‘typist’ position at a retirement planning company in San Mateo. She stayed at the company for five years, working her way up as the assistant to the controller.

When she received her citizenship, she moved back to the Philippines to get her children.

They all settled in California in 2000.

For the past 16 years, Torlakson has worked for the University of California, beginning with the alumni office — a position she said she got because of her work with the alumni association of St. Paul Manila, where she went to high school — and then the student affairs office.

She is now a manager for the UC’s Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program, which connects educationally disadvantaged students from middle school to university level

with resources needed to get into a related industry.

The program reaches 25,000 students, including a large number of Filipinos, across the state.

Many of the students are the first in their families to attend college or already have families of their own.

One of Torlakson’s efforts in the role was forging a partnership with Cisco three years ago, wherein an employee of the technology company would agree to meet with a collegelevel MESA student for an hour once a month.

“The [employees] were impressed so they…talked to the leaders [and] put together a recruiting day. It became a win-win because Cisco found out they could actually home grow their talent, that they don’t have to go outside their area to find the talent,” she said, adding that several students have been hired by the company.

The program has been so positively received that other major tech companies have approached Torlakson about partnerships.

“When you get people right when they graduate from college, they stay and that’s the problem with a lot of the tech jobs now — it’s like a revolving door — and those are the people they want to keep,” she said. “[Companies] are always complaining that they don’t have

the diverse workforce. But that’s because they’re not going out there...now they’re realizing that there’s talent out there.”

Foray into local politics Torlakson’s first experience with local politics came from voicing her frustration with neglected community parks.

“My son suggested Bay Point, where I could still afford a house. I see there’s water and I thought there would be a trail by the water. I go and there’s no trail, no park. There was a piece of land that said ‘park’ but a sign that said ‘no trespassing’…Someone said, ‘why don’t you go to the park district board meeting and ask what’s going on?’ So I did,” she recounted.

She was eventually encouraged to interview for an open seat on the Ambrose Recreation and Park District’s board, which oversees recreation services for 26,000 residents of the Bay Point and Oak Hills community of Pittsburg.

Though she was appointed to the position in early 2005, she was told that she would have to run for it come november of that year.

“Luckily, I had a good campaign manager. [My husband] Tom’s chief of staff, Gloria Omania — a Filipina who has been with Tom for 32 years — adopted me and she was my campaign manager. She was relentless,” Continued on Page SF5

By Monet

Lu

I have always been a fan of our indie films. So many of our great actors and actresses started out with playing lead roles in such an interesting movie genre.

There’s something raw about these types of films and in one way or another, it separates the real actors from those who are just popular for reasons totally unrelated to good acting.

I find it unsurprising—rather, much anticipated—that a Filipino-produced-and-directed film would win the top prize in an international film festival. and not to mention, it stars one of the finest actresses of all time, Ms. Charo SantosConcio. “ang Babeng humayo” (“The Woman Who Left”) is a story about a schoolteacher’s attempt to lead a normal life after spending her 30-year imprisonment for a murder she didn’t commit. The irony plays as she also plots the murder of the man who framed her while she tries to tackle life outside the prison cell. Talk about normal life, right?

Released after someone else confesses to the crime, horacia (the main character) finds out that her husband died, and her daughter had moved out and her son had gone missing. The big twist unravels when she learned that a former lover had set her up to be jailed. horacia is played by aBSCBN Chief Content Officer Charo Santos in her first film foray in nearly two decades. In an online article, the actressturned-executive revealed why she accepted the role after a considerably noticeable hiatus from starring in movies.

“I really wanted to work with this director … I wanted to understand the aesthetics behind his cinema, why he produces long-running films,” Concio, the former president

Director Lav Diaz’s ‘Ang Babaeng Humayo’ wins top prize at the 73rd Venice Film Festival

entertainment SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – September 23, 2016

James Reid: No shortcuts to health and fitness

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

and chief executive officer of aBS-CBN Corp., told Reuters. “he doesn’t manipulate the audience, he doesn’t manipulate the characters, he allows the characters to go through the journey and to feel the journey,” she added. “ang Babaeng humayo” won the golden lion, the top prize at the 73rd venice Film Festival in Italy. The prize is awarded by an eight-member jury of filmmakers and actors, headed this year by British film and stage director Sam Mendes.

The film runs for about 228 minutes (nearly four hours) and is the 19th film of the 57-yearold director. It also won Best Foreign Language Film at the Sorriso Diverso venezia 2016 awards, one of the collateral awards handed out before the festival’s major honors.

Produced by Cinema One Originals and Sine Olivia Pilipinas, “ang Babaeng humayo,” also features performances from John Lloyd Cruz, who walked beside Santos on the red carpet.

Twenty U.S. and international movies featuring top

TheRe is no denying that James Reid is one of the hottest young actors today. he is also a social media phenomenon with millions of followers online, not counting the various fan accounts that his devoted followers set up. The highly bankable love team JaDine, where he is paired with reel and real life girlfriend Nadine Lustre, has further sent their legions of admirers in a frenzy, whether at mall tours, concerts, meet and greets, and again online where their tandem is high up among trending topics.

Clearly, Reid is on a winning streak as proven by his barrage of brand endorsements.

Recently, he joined the ranks hollywood talent and auteur of Tv goddess anne Curtis and directors were in competiultimate movie hunk Derek tion at the world’s oldest film Ramsey as endorser of canned festival, in its 73rd outing this product Century Tuna. year. The event is seen as a For this campaign, Reid is launching pad for the industry’s seen at his fittest—with sculpted award season. abs, toned muscles and firm The Best Director award biceps—which he attributes to was shared by Russia’s andrei a rigorous fitness regimen and Konchalovsky for the holocaust a proper diet loaded with good drama “Rai” (“Paradise”) and protein.

Mexico’s amat escalante for at his endorsement launch “La Region Salvaje” (“The at Makati Shangri-La on SepUntamed”). tember 6, Reid openly shared Commenting on escalante’s his journey to achieving his envidrama, which opens with a able form. he drove the point naked woman being pleahome that lack of time, given sured by a tentacled creature, his very busy showbiz schedule, jury member and venezuelan need not be an excuse to living director Lorenzo vigas said the a healthy lifestyle. movie affected all the judges “Yes, my schedule is very emotionally. hectic but times like this that I’m american actress emma working a lot, it’s the diet that Stone took the Best actress helps me get by. I go by high prize for her role in the musical protein diet with some carbs “La La Land” and argentine ac- and a lot of fiber,” he said. tor Oscar Martinez was named “If I have free time I defiBest actor for his performance nitely go to the gym to do in the comedy-drama “el Ciuweights, but then there’s still so dadano Ilustre” (“The Distinmuch you can do even withguished Citizen”). out weights. Like when you’re German actress Paula Beer home or when you’re at work, received the Marcello Masthere are strength exercises that troianni award acknowledging you can do. and I guess when Continued on Page SF4

you really have a proper diet and make time to exercise, it’s possible [to achieve your body goals].”

When it comes to working out, the showbiz heartthrob shared that he does not have a single routine he specifically follows. Unlike others who go by set exercises, he admits to changing what he does often because it allows him to target different body parts more.

“If you repeat the same exercise over and over again, it’s not going to be effective,” he added. “actually for my body type, I have a speedy metabolism, so I focus more on heavy lifting— more isolated lifting. Cardio [is] not so much, but if I do, it is more intense. I only do cardio if I really want to get ripped but I’m just more on the weight and strength training.”

On the other hand, Reid is very strict with his diet. he has no cheat days, nor does he reward himself with a treat when James Reid has no shortcuts in health and fitness—he sticks to his diet and exercises even he achieves a fitness goal.

Continued on Page SF5 when busy.

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celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - September 23, 2016

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar

IN the year 1973, Rizal Governor Adelina Rodriguez sponsored the first Green Revolution Trade and Exposition Industrial Fair in Pasig. It was highlighted by the nationwide search for candidates for the Miss Green Revolution beauty pageant, which yours truly was the chairman.

The winner of that prestigious beauty and talent competition was none other than Rosario Navarro Santos, now known as Charo Santos Concio, President of ABSCBN. Her appointment to the position made her the first woman president of the media conglomerate, and in charge of the company’s total business portfolio taking over interim president Eugenio Lopez II. She is also the host of the network’s longest running drama anthology, “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

Madam Charo, who will turn 61 on Tuesday, October 27, heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays this month. Among them are: October 1 - Former basketball star and now actor Benjie Paras, and actress/TV host Rhian Ramos; October 3 - The late Master Showman German Moreno, and beauty expert Carmen Taylor; October 4 - Fil-Am Cuisine proprietress Annabel Guevarra; October 5 - Singer Erik Santos and actress/model Phoemela Baranda; October 7 - Actor Joey Marquez, and San Jose stu-

dent leader Christian Back; October 8 - San Francisco community leader Charrie de Veyra Saddul; October 9 - Former Manila Mail publisher Ruben Bunag, and former restaurateur Jimmy Diaz; October 10 - Senator Chiz Escudero; October 11 - “It’s Showtime” director Robert Vidanes; October 12 - San Rafael community leader Lolita Hajian, the later former Miss Philippines Larcy Villar, and Eat Bulaga! co-host Joey de Leon; October 13 - Filipino-Italian model Guiseppe Nucera; October 15 - GMA Pinoy TV Executive Vice President and CEO Jimmy Duavit, bank executive Rose Satorre Asuncion, veteran movie writer and talent manager Norma Japitana; October 17 - Actress Bea Alonzo, singer Vina Morales, and multi-awarded director Olive Lamasan; October 19 - Actress Joyce Jimenez (now residing in Los Angeles ); October 23 - Manila Bulletin Celebrity World columnist Crispina Martirez Belen, Long Beach political leader Malou Mariano, and singer Vernie Varga; October 24 - Queen Philippines Globe 2011 Erica Achico Ilecer, and TV personality Pia Guanio; October 25 - Former Miss Philippines Cristina Galang Caedo, entertainment producer/manager Annabelle Rama, and Pittsburg best dressed business executive Fernand Tanedo;

ABS-CBS President Charo Santos Concio heads list of October birthday celebrants

Charo Santos Concio, former Miss Green Revolution 1973, actress and now the President of ABS-CBN, will celebrate her 60th birthday on Tuesday, October 27.

Former ‘Star in a Million’ winner Erik Santos will celebrate his birthday on October 5.

Singer/actress Vina Morales will celebrate her birthday on October 17.v

Antioch care home owner and dental assistant Evangeline Perez will celebrate her birthday on October 29.

October 26 - US’ former October 27 - TV host Boy First Lady Hillary Clinton, KaiAbunda, actor/director Albert ser Permanente HR Manager Martinez and SamTrans mein San Francisco and South San chanic Manny Cabrera; Francisco Glenna Marie AgbayOctober 28 - Actress ani, and Viva Films big boss Vic del Rosario;

SamTrans employee Emmanuel Cabrera will celebrate his birthday on October 27.

San Rafael community leader Lolita Hajian will celebrate her birthday on October 12.

Fil-Am Cuisine Restaurant proprietress will celebrate her birthday on October 4.

Angelika dela Cruz, and Novo Ecijano leader Marilyn Cuncio Carian; October 29 - Antioch care home owner and dental as-

sistant Evangeline Perez; October 31 - Multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon.

To all celebrants, a very happy birthday!

Sunshine Dizon sees no reconciliation with hubby

by MJ

Marfori ManilaTimes.net

WE caught up with Sunshine Dizon at Quezon City RTC and the strong mother of two made it clear that she is focused to pursue her Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) suit. The hearing for the Unjust Fixation and Concubinage complaints she filed against her husband Timothy Tan and alleged third party Clarisma Sison has been reset to September 29.

Furious, Sunshine was quick to clarify that she is already in good terms with her estranged husband. Admittedly, she allowed Tim to see their two children at the mall recently and explained to In the Know she was just being civil and a well-mannered human being.

“I’m not one to be rude, and I neither think it’s right to do that, especially when children are involved,” she added.

In the end Sunshine asks netizens to pray for her as she gets ready for an ugly battle in court.

“I will appreciate prayers, especially with so many things I’m hearing that the other camp plans to do. I really hope the law will protect me and my children,” she ended.

Sunshine Dizon

Dingdong Dantes thrives as ‘Alyas Robin Hood’ Breaks silence on social media bashing over American actor’s comment on show’s similarities with US series ‘Arrow’ by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net

GMA Network’s “Primetime King” Dingdong Dantes is back on television as he headlines the series “Alyas Robin Hood,” which carries the inspiring message that there is a hero in every person.

A combination of action, drama, adventure and comedy, “Alyas Robin Hood” revolves around the life of Pepe de Jesus (Dantes), a man who finds absolution in doing service to his community.

“All the projects I’ve done are very special this is different because I am in a new phase in my life,” Dantes said in a group interview during the program launch on September 10. “I have a family now, and I was able to count just a while ago that I’ve been with GMA Network for 18 years so the feeling of gratitude is overwhelming especially to be entrusted with such a meaningful role in Alyas Robin Hood.”

Besides thriving in such a positive role now that he is a husband and father, the 36-yearold actor is even more excited that “Alyas Robin Hood” allows him to live his dream of becoming an action star.

“I remember as a kid, I was fond of watching action movies, so this is a dream come true for me to star and be the lead in an action packed series,” he enthused.

“I do a lot of training [for my role] but everything is not hinged on that because we make sure that all my movements are correct and precise to highlight the sport we’re promoting—archery,” Dantes continued.

As for Alyas Robin Hood’s inspirational component, he said, “It is an amazing feeling that I get to solve a problem and help others in my community from episode to episode, but what is more important is of course the search for truth and justice.

What’s also different is that my

A new and exciting role for Dingdong Dantes

character makes it a point to find the root causes of different problems in society, and they’re Continued on Page SF5

entertainment

Mae Cendaña Torlakson seeks...

From Page SF2 Torlakson said. “She ran three of my campaigns and I was top vote-getter. I was the newbie and everybody said, ‘She’s new, she doesn’t know anything.’ But I still made No. 1 because I had a really good campaign.”

Currently, she is in her third term on the board and boasts some of her accomplishments, including being the first Filipina elected to office in Contra Costa County and garnering $4.5 million for the Great California Delta Trail, a plan to connect all five Delta counties.

“I found out that by being an elected official, I can do things.

Remember that park I asked about? I got that to open two years before it was supposed to,” she shared.

State Assembly bid When the District 14 seat opened up, Torlakson saw it as an opportunity to make an impact outside of Pittsburg, where she and her husband live.

“It’s just to help more people.

That’s the short answer to that.

I’ve helped 25,000 students in MESA. I helped about 26,000 constituents in Ambrose and I just want to spread out,” she said of why she’s running.

Among those areas of importance on Torlakson’s platform include preventing gun violence, increasing educational access, providing affordable housing, creating jobs, opening up more transportation means and protecting the environment.

“I have a passion for education and I have ideas that I can share with people, be a team player with people in the Assembly and promote economic opportunities for people like what I’m doing with MESA, making sure that people invest in the people in their area. Protecting the environment is also important to me,” she said.

She went on to expound on revitalizing the plan to transform portions of the Concord Naval Weapons Station into a state university.

“My goal is to put that back on the table. Universities are business magnets. Silicon Valley was born because there was Stanford, San Jose State and Santa Clara,” she said. “We have the potential to have a Silicon Bay Delta there.

Why? Because we have Highway 4, the BART system and the Delta…We have one of the best community college systems in our area. Most of our students

SF5

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - September 23, 2016

Director Lav Diaz’s ‘Ang Babaeng....

“This is for my country, for the Filipino people, for an emerging performer, for our struggle, for the struggle her role in post-war drama of humanity,” the 57-year“Frantz.” old said as he accepted the In an article released a few Golden Lion award for his days ago, director Lav Diaz black-and-white movie. described “Ang Babaeng Congratulations Direk Lav, Humayo” (“The Woman Who and to the cast and crew, you Left”) as a testimony to the are all amazing. struggles of the Philippines Once again, we (Filipinos) after centuries of colonial have proven that real talent rule. shines even in a global capacity.

From Page SF3

go to UC Berkeley or UC Davis.

But they have to go away. If we had a four-year comprehensive university, a UC or CSU, then they could stay there. We wouldn’t have to spend for transportation and housing. When students leave, they stay where they go and don’t come back.”

The main strategy of Torlakson’s campaign has been utilizing “people power” by knocking on doors and talking to voters around the community.

“A lot of money was thrown at my opponent but I still came in at No. 1. My opponent (Concord Mayor Tim Grayson) got $3.4 million from SuperPACs and $500,000 of that, he used on radio ads against me, telling lies about me,” she said.

During the June primary, Torlakson placed first with 32.5 percent of the vote, while Grayson narrowly trailed behind with 32.1 percent.

Heading into the November election Her husband Tom Torklason — the current state superintendent of public instruction — said his experiences serving three terms in the Assembly and two terms in the state Senate have in part helped shape her campaign.

He disclosed the advice he shared with her: “First, ask yourself: ‘why do you want to do it? How much do you want to do it? How much are you willing to give?’ Because you have to give up a tremendous amount of your life to do the campaigning.”

To date, her list of endorsements continues growing with backing from California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, state Treasurer John Chiang, Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Legislative caucus, Filipino-American Democratic Club of Contra Costa County and EMILY’s List, among many others.

In an email to the Asian Journal, Bonta praised Torlakson as

Photo courtesy of Mae Torlakson for Assembly

the “best candidate” because of her work in providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged Californians.

“Mae is a tireless advocate for increasing access to STEM education and creating good jobs for the next generation, and if elected she will fight for a CSU in Contra Costa county,” Bonta wrote. “I have long pledged that I am the first Filipino-American California state legislator, but I won’t be the last. We need Mae in the Assembly as an inspiration for our daughters and the next generation of Filipino-American leaders.”

Though the primary results in June were a slight triumph for the campaign, Torlakson acknowledged that the work isn’t over given that there are less than 50 days until the election.

“Even for this November, it’ll be even harder because the people who put money into [my opponent’s] campaign…will come back with a vengeance since they weren’t able to put me down,” she said.

She added that doing events and meeting with community leaders has helped her gain recognition among Fil-Ams — but actually getting them to vote in November will be the challenge.

“Some Filipino Republicans say, ‘Even though you are a Democrat, I’m going to vote for you.’ It’s Filipino first, before party. I appreciate that. A lot of Filipinos may be registered but they don’t vote either, so we need to continue doing outreach,” she said.

She called on Fil-Ams to support her even if they don’t live in her district, because as a legislator, her actions will have a broader impact on the state.

“The policies I say yes or no to will affect the entire state,” she said. “Having the voice is very important and I could be that voice for the Fil-Am community.”

*** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns.

Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

James Reid: No shortcuts...

From Page SF3 “I’m not much of a sweet tooth so I’m lucky. But the thing is, if you put chocolate in front of me, I’ll eat it till there’s no more left. That’s the only exception,” he laughed.

Asked about the most challenging part of reaching his Century Tuna body, he pointed

to the first two weeks of the challenge.

“I just came from finishing a world tour, a television show, so it was really hard to go to the gym, just on those first two weeks. You really have to persevere and stick to your routine and eventually it becomes easier.”

Indeed, it is a pleasure to see James Reid transform in the public eye both figuratively as a teen heartthrob to a more mature actor, and literally with his handsome face and beautifully ripped physique.

Determined as ever, this young man’s star will only soar even more.

Dingdong Dantes thrives...

From Page SF4 all very real and relevant.”

Controversy More than a week ago, after the trailer of the forthcoming drama-action show was released, it quickly became a

trending topic on social media and garnered over a million views. Just as soon, there were comparisons made between “Alyas Robin Hood” and American TV series “Arrow” starring actor Stephen Amell, who plays a character inspired by DC Comics’s Green Arrow. “Arrow” is also a costumed vigilante who fights crime with his bow and arrow.

Amell shared Robin Hood’s video complete with a shocked emoticon. When asked by a fan what he thought of the show, he replied: “I mean, I have no idea what it is and frankly, I don’t care—at all. But boy, oh boy does it look familiar.”

Dantes, in the trailer, wore a costume that looks almost identical to Amell’s in “Arrow.” And yes, he drew a lot of flak from superhero fans both here and abroad for the many similarities.

Asked to comment on the controversy, Dantes began, “I was talking about being here [in showbiz] for 18 years. Those

18 years were also the years I entrusted myself—practically more than half my life–to GMA. I know that all the shows went into thorough review and research and we have exceptional creative team behind the network. That’s why I am confident of all the programs they give me and I also trust them.

So for me [despite all this] that is what I am holding on to—my trust in them, and their trust in me.”

More specifically he discussed, “Robin Hood is based on an English folklore, from a legend. More or less we all know the story. I think what is important to me is the core and the reason why we are doing this. For us, it is because of our love for the craft and our goal to entertain. Whatever their reaction is, it’s normal. You cannot please a hundred million Filipinos but what is important is the 37-percent—the loyal viewers of GMA—are happy and we hope that number will grow.”

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

seafood city fpfc