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Duterte, Cayetano meet for possible 2016 teamup

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

mANILA—sen. Alan Peter Cayetano met with Davao City mayor rodrigo Duterte on tuesday, sept. 29 to discuss a possible teamup in the 2016 national elections. the senator, a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP), announced during a press conference on monday, sept. 28, that he will run for vice president.

“If mayor Duterte runs and chooses someone else, pero ang tingin ko siya ang the best

DATELINE

“If his running mate is unacceptable to the party or some of the party members, then we can opt to support him alone,” Pimentel said in a televised ambush interview. sen. ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr., another member of the NP, admitted that he has also been in talks with Duterte’s camp. three senators of the NP— Cayetano, marcos and sen.

Antonio trillanes IV—will be running for vice president next Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who announced on Monday, Sept. 28 his intention to run for vice president in 2016, meets with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, another possible presidential bet.

Photo from the office of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano year.

for that, I should support him,” Cayetano said in an interview with ABs-CBN News.

Duterte earlier said that he has no plans of seeking the presidency but later on changed his mind, citing that he will reconsider his earlier position. sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, a partymate of Duterte from the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, said that Davao City mayor should be allowed to choose his running mate if ever he decides to run.

Binay-Marcos talks ‘almost complete’

USA

by Jefferson

antiPorda ManilaTimes.net

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Healthcare costs rise nationwide More US employees are shouldering the burden

AmerICANs are shouldering an increasing amount for medical costs, with deductibles outpacing the average employee’s wage growth in the last five years and overall inflation, according to a new report.

Us workers saw their out-of-pocket medical costs rise again this year, as the average deductible for an employer-provided health PAGE A2

Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay and Sen. Bongbong Marcos Philstar.com photos

seN. ferdinand marcos Jr. on Wednesday, sept. 30 said he is running for higher office in next year’s elections. he, however, did not say which place he is setting his sights on but said his camp is almost done with talks with Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“We are about to finish the talks, I think we will have something already in the coming days,” marcos told reporters after attending a campus forum at Universidad de manila.

In an earlier interview, he said the option for him to run for reelection is not anymore being considered.

he also telegraphed a message that he is gunning for the vice presidency.

“In my case, I think we are headed in that direction. We are now presently talking about VP [Vice President],” marcos said as he admitted that he is in “high-level talks” with the Binay camp. he added that he is also in discussions with people identified with Davao City mayor rodrigo Duterte.

“It is at the highest possible level. We talk directly to each other and I don’t think there would be any level higher than that,” marcos said, referring to his meetings with the Vice President.

Binay earlier said marcos is among those being considered to be his running mate in 2016.

Friendship-ending event senate President Pro-tempore ralph recto is hoping that the 2016 contest among the five senators will be fierce but friendly, not a friendship-ending event. the five recto was referring to are sen. Grace Poe, who has announced her candidacy for the presidency; sen. francis escudero, who is Poe’s running mate; sen. Antonio trillanes IV, who is gunning for the vice presidency; Cayetano, who announced his vice presidential run in Davao City on tuesday, PAGE A2

Immigrants unaware Asian immigrants likely to overtake Hispanics in US population of US protections against financial abuse by aLLyson

escobar

AJPress

oAKLAND—rosemarie Varona and her husband visited an auto dealership in 2009 and decided to take out a loan to purchase a car.

“We were so happy. I came here 20 years ago and this was my first new car,” says Verona, who is originally from the Philippines. the couple negotiated with the dealership to finance the car through their own bank, PAGE A3

ACCorDING to a new report by the Pew research Center, Asians are on track to become the largest population of immigrants in the United states. the study released on monday, sept.

28 also mentioned that the share of new hispanic arrivals is smaller than it was 50 years ago, and that the percentage of the whole Us immigrant population was higher in 1890 than it is today.

By 2065, Pew projects that there will

CNN reported. the act took away a quota system that once favored european immigrants, and replaced it with a policy that looked toward reuniting immigrant families and providing necessary employees. since the act’s passage, about 51 percent of immigrants have come to the Us from Latin America, and a quarter of new immigrants have come from Asia. the Us currently holds the largest immigrant population in the world-today, about 14 percent of the nation’s

be 441 million people living in the Us, and 88 percent of that growth will be attributed to future immigrants and their children. Asians are expected to outnumber hispanics, making up 38 percent of all immigrants. the nearly 130-page document-entitled “modern Immigration Wave Brings 59 million to Us, Driving Population Growth and Change through 2065”--provides “nonpartisan analysis that explores trends and projects the future,” and comes 50 years after the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act,

population are immigrants, but that number is expected to rise to at least 18 percent, Pew research Center projected. of the current largest immigrant groups, hispanics made up 4 percent of the total Us population in 1965. today, they make up 18 percent, and by 2065, that figure is projected to be 24 percent.

Asians, meanwhile, were less than 1 percent of the total population 50 years ago--today, their numbers went up to 6 percent in 2015, and they are exPAGE A2

Comelec sets guidelines on nuisance candidates Police still on search for missing Daly City Fil-Am at facebook in menlo Park, his family thought that he was late because he had to work overtime. “from 8pm to about 9:30pm, we texted and called him but there was no reply,” said Lucy mayrena, Christian’s mother.

“We assumed that he was just working overtime.” mrs. mayrena said that she

body is creating guidelines on how to determine nuisance candidates and prevent them from filing certificates of candidacy (CoC).

“We will come up with guidelines on what are nuisance candidates... In fact, I already asked mANILA—the Commission on one of our lawyers to research elections (Comelec) said the poll and look at jurisprudence to see what would classify or qualify a nuisance candidate as opposed to a viable candidate,” Comelec Chair Juan Andres Bautista said.

“It is the responsibility of the Comelec to make sure that elections are done properly. We don’t want it to become a mockery. We should disallow candidates that would impact the solemnity of Comelec proceedings, and also the way that the conduct of the general elections,” he added.

Bautista assured that the guidelines they will set will not defeat the right of every individual to run for public office. the Comelec is crafting guidelines on nuisance candidates as The Commission on Elections decided to craft guidelines that would determine and prevent part of their implementations to nuisance candidates from filing certificates of candidacy.

Philstar.com photo PAGE A3 by rosette

adeL

Philstar.com

and her husband, Cristobal, went home instead. “our daughterin-law called at 1am and said my son was still wasn’t home and she was really worried because she hasn’t heard from him.”

Christian’s last known activity was on sunday around 5pm when he left work. It is said that he may have visited one of the PAGE A2

Christian Mayrena

the Daly City police are still searching for a filipino-American male who went missing last sunday, september 27.

Christian mayrena, 35, was supposed to meet his parents for dinner last sunday at their residence in Daly City, but never arrived. An audio/video engineer

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A

october 2-8, 2015 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

Binay-Marcos talks ‘almost...

PAGE A1 Sept. 29; and Marcos.

“You can disagree without demonizing each other. You can lock horns on policies but don’t stab your opponents’ backs with

lies,” Recto said.

He expressed belief that the five, “having worked together in close proximity for years in a chamber as small as a volleyball court, would be a deterrent to a

dirty campaign.”

“The election should all be about constantly lifting up one’s qualifications, not solely putting down the opponents,” Recto said.

Asian immigrants likely to overtake...

PAGE A1 pected to meet 14 percent by 2065.

Earlier data from the Migrant Policy Institute revealed Asians have one of the highest naturalization rates in the country. While only 47 percent of all immigrants in the country are naturalized, the number for Asian immigrants is considerably higher, at 59 percent.

Breaking it down by Asian subgroups, data found that Vietnamese and Taiwanese immigrants have the highest naturalization rates at 76 percent and 74 percent, respectively. Data reveals

59 percent of Koreans, 51 percent of Chinese, 47 percent of Indians, and 68 percent of Filipinos are naturalized.

As of 2013, 1.26 million Filipinos are US naturalized citizens; 43,489 of whom were naturalized that year. Today, the total Asian population in the United States amounts to over 18 million — nearly 18 times more than 1.5 million in 1970.

Though Hispanics make up 47 percent of US immigrants, immigration from Latin American countries has generally slowed, especially from Mexico.

“A steep decline began in 2007,

in part because of the Great Recession,” Mark Lopez, director of Hispanic research for Pew, explained. “It became more difficult to cross the border and to demographic changes in Mexico with fewer young people wanting to head north.”

Lopez, who oversaw this study, says the steady rise of Asian immigrants has “bubbled up” over the past decade, noting Chinese citizens who’ve flocked to the United States for educational opportunities like graduate school.

He also mentioned the great influx of Indians arriving on visas to work PAGE A3

FAMILY DAY. Families visit Manila Zoo on Sunday, Sept. 27. Manila is still a favorite place where people can relax and bond with family members, relatives and friends.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Healthcare costs rise...

PAGE A1 plan jumped nearly 9 percent in 2015 to more than $1,000.

Though lower than in previous years, the annual increase surpassed wage growth and overall inflation by a wide margin, and marked the continuation of a trend that has rapidly shifted healthcare costs to workers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The analysis, released Tuesday, Sept. 22, was conducted by nonprofit organization Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Education Trust. It indicated that over the past decade, the average deductible that workers must pay for medical care before their insurance kicks in has more than tripled, from $303 in 2006 to $1,077. The average is seven times faster than wages have risen in the same period, the report said.

PAGE A1

Four in every five workers who are insured through an employer pay a deductible, Kaiser stated, in which they are required to pay some of their medical bills prior to the start of their coverage.

“It’s a quiet revolution,” said Kaiser Foundation President Drew Altman. “When deductibles are rising seven times faster than wages…it means that people can’t pay their rent. They can’t buy their gas. They can’t eat.”

By comparison, workers’ wages increased 1.9 percent between April 2014 and April 2015, according to federal data, while consumer prices declined 0.2 percent.

Raising deductibles and copays has traditionally been a way for employers to keep premiums in check. The new report also shows that premium growth

remained “modest” in 2015.

“Deductibles are rising a little bit every year – almost $100 a year – and then that really adds up, in combination with flat wages,” said Altman, according to CNN. “If wages were keeping up with the growth of cost sharing, it wouldn’t be a big deal for people. But the pain level is significant. It really affects budgets because their wages aren’t rising at the same time.”

This year, an average employer-provided health plan cost workers $1,071. That is down nearly 1 percent from 2014, marking the first time that the survey has documented an absolute decline in workers’ share of premiums.

The average family plan cost workers $4,955, up 3 percent from last year. By comparison, employees’ share of health insurance routinely increased by double digits in the early PAGE A4

Police still on search for missing...

Bay Area casinos.

His friends and family have also checked hospitals, police departments and casinos in the San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay and East Bay areas.

At present, there are no leads on where Christian could be and the police are asking the public’s help in locating him.

Christian is described as 5-foot3 inches, 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He drives a

metallic blue 2000 Lexus RX 300 with license plate 4JDX557.

Any information on Christian’s whereabouts should be forwarded to the police at (650) 991-8119 or the tip line at (650) 873-AIMS and refer to case #15008381.

Dateline USa

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

Immigrants unaware of US...

PAGE A1

Patelco, but the dealership did not follow through. “It was all lies,” says Varona. “I even received a letter from Patelco saying that they never received an application.”

Instead, the dealership attempted to finance the car through a different company at a higher interest rate.

Varona shared her story with a group of Bay Area ethnic media journalists and community organizers at a press event organized

by New America Media for Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA).

HERA, a California non-profit legal services organization, provides free financial and legal counseling to California residents who have been subjected to predatory lending, can’t access affordable credit, or are dealing with homeowner problems such as foreclosures or poorly regulated homeowner’s associations that have the power to go after delinquent members.

“Why lawyers? The debt collection system in our country is not very functional,” says Maeve Elise Brown, co-founder and executive director of HERA. “The same debt can get sold and resold multiple times to different entities until you don’t know the name of the person who’s collecting money from you, you don’t recognize the dollar amount, it’s all different from what you originally knew,” Brown explains.

Brown states that most consumers are unaware of the federal and state laws that protect

them from predatory lending and other forms of financial abuse, and that HERA’s role is to spot and address violations of those laws.

HERA attorney Megumi Tsutsui describes the cases of two clients who applied for loans at check cashing stores to deal with emergency expenses.

“They were monolingual Spanish speakers,” Tsutsui says, “but they were given a contract in English telling them how much it would cost to take out this loan.

They were never told in their language how much it would cost them. [One was] charged 80 percent interest, which was $1,750, to take out a $2,500 loan. The other person was charged a 180 percent interest rate, so it cost him $6,800 to take out a $2,500 loan.”

This type of lending is illegal under the California Civil Code 1632, which stipulates that the terms of a contract must be provided to the borrower in a language they can understand.

California’s most common languages–Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese– are protected under the code.

Like Varona, many of HERA’s clients are immigrants who have negative items on their credit reports or sometimes no credit history at all.

“What a lot of people don’t realize when they’re coming to this country is that a large part of this economy is built on credit scores and credit history,” Tsutsui says.

“If you don’t have a credit history or you have a bad credit score, PAGE A4

Comelec sets guidelines...

PAGE A1 guarantee the filing of COCs in Oct. 12 to 16, 2015 at its main office at the Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila will remain orderly.

“We want to have greater order in the way we do things. We just want to ensure that there is order. We also want to make sure that it is done properly,” Bautista said.

The poll body also seeks to control the number of people joining

the candidate in filing their COCs inside the Comelec office.

“We will be more discriminating, in a sense that, obviously when a candidate files for his or her COC, he or she would like to have immediate family members, co-candidates from the party to be with them,” Bautista said.

Bautista said they will install television monitors outside of the building allow supporters of candidates get a view of the happenings inside the office. n

Asian immigrants likely to overtake...

PAGE A2 in high tech, taking jobs in Silicon Valley.

Of newer immigrants from the past five years, more have come from Asia (2.5 million) than from Central and South America (1.7 million).

According to Pew, the US will no longer have a “majority group” within four decades. By 2065, Hispanics are expected to make up 31 percent of immigrants, the study predicts. Asians will later outnumber Hispanics to make up 38 percent of immigrants.

“On one hand, US citizenship offers more security than let’s say, permanent resident status, which can be lost or revoked in some instances. In addition, to having the right to vote and having the ability to run for political office, US citi-

zens can sponsor a wider range of family members — they can bring children, spouses and parents quicker than what’s allowed for the lawful permanent residents,” commented Jeanne Batalova, a senior policy researcher at the Migration Policy Institute.

Becoming a citizen is “a very important step for the Asian American community because it allows them to become more integrated in America,” said Jannette Diep, executive director of Boat People SOS-Houston, in a press call back in June. “This integration allows the AAPI community to become more visible in US cities, increasingly getting elected to public office. Some immigrants never thought they would become a US citizen and have the right to vote in their lifetimes.” n

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObeR 2-8, 2015

A

Pope Francis offers words of healing and peace before departing the US

Pope Franics

OVER the weekend, Pope Francis made a final stop during his historic six-day US visit to Philadelphia, to continue spreading his message of hope to diverse audiences, including immigrants, prison inmates, victims of sexual abuse, and Christian families from around the world.

Pope Francis arrived in Philadelphia on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 26, to celebrate a Holy Mass with the bishops and clergymen and women religious of Pennsylvania. The mass was held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the moth-

er church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“What about you?” the pope asked, speaking in his native Spanish to priests, deacons, and consecrated religious men and women, to remind them of their mission of building up the church. “How many young people in our parishes and schools have the same high ideals, generosity of spirit, and love for Christ and the Church! Do we challenge them? Do we make space for them and help them to do their part? Do we share our own joy and enthusiasm in serving the Lord?”

He also called on the importance of women in the modern church, citing the example of St. Katharine Drexel, an heiress from Philadelphia who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and used her wealth to support minority students in the early 1900s.

After the Mass and visit to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Pope Francis greeted a crowd of thousands from the steps of Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall, only a few feet from the building where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. Thousands gathered to catch a glimpse of the “Popemobile”-- a modest black Fiat 500--and chanted, “Francisco!” and “Viva Papa!”

In his remarks, the pontiff talked about the importance of cultural heritage, also tying America’s historic founding to religious freedom, which he has been advocating for throughout the trip. He championed religious diversity and “compassion for those in need,” Huffington Post and the News Journal reported.

“I ask you not to forget that, like those who came here before you, you bring many gifts to your new nation. You should never be ashamed of your traditions,” Francis said. “I repeat, do not be ashamed of what is part of you, your lifeblood.”

Pope Francis’ pro-immigrant message has echoed throughout

his tour, from his historic address to Congress last Thursday, Sept.

24 to the Mass of thousands celebrated Friday night, Sept. 25 at Madison Square Garden in New York, reported the Los Angeles Times. He called for compassion and understanding towards immigrants, calling on Americans to minister to the disadvantaged and forgotten in society.

“Many of you have emigrated to this country at great personal cost, but in the hope of building a new life. Do not be discouraged by whatever challenges and hardships you face… you are called to be responsible citizens, and to contribute fruitfully to the life of the communities in which you live,” the pontiff said.

“He talks not like a pope, but like someone from my town, like a normal person,” Gerardo Flores, a Philadelphian and immigrant from Mexico, told the Los Angeles Times. “His words are going to change the ideas of the politicians.”

Later, the pope concluded his first day in Philadelphia at the Vatican-sponsored Festival of Families, as part of the World Meeting of Families along Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The event included live performances from comedian Jim Gaffigan, the Philadelphia Orchestra, singer Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, and Juanes, according to the Associated Press.

Actor Mark Wahlberg welPAGE A4

A

october 2-8, 2015 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

Dateline USa

Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson on the upcoming NBA season and representing Filipino fans

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

WITH the start of the 20152016 NBA season less than a month away, Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson is hoping “great things will happen” and anticipates the team will mesh well together.

“We got a lot of guys that want to learn and want to have a good season. We’re pretty strong....

Last year wasn’t fun, losing all those games, but at the same time we did learn a lot and we worked, we kept improving and that’s all we can ask for...” he told reporters during Lakers Media Day on Monday, Sept. 28.

The Fil-Am basketball player, who is entering his second year in the league, is looking to work hard and “put it all on the line” when the regular season begins on Oct. 27. Over the summer, he worked on honing his skills overall and told reporters his three-point shots, among others, are easier to make.

“I was in there in the workshop [this summer] chopping my game down and working it back up and trying to build a lot of confidence for the season,” he said.

In his rookie year, Clarkson averaged 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.86 steals and 0.20 blocks in 59 games.

He was also the first-ever Lakers player to be named the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month, an award he received in April for games he played in March this year.

Clarkson on Gilas In addition to representing the Los Angeles team, Clarkson was in talks earlier this year to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the ongoing FIBA Asia Championship, for which he was cleared to play. However, due to scheduling conflicts with Lakers training camp, which began Monday, he did not make the Philippine roster.

Although Gilas lost to Palestine on the opening day of the championship on Sept. 23, it has secured the top seed after sweeping the second round of the tournament, claiming its most recent victory Tuesday, Sept. 29, against India. On Thursday, Oct. 1, Gilas will face Lebanon in the final round.

“Just keep continuing to put it all on the line,” he said in a message to the Philippine team.

Childhood cancer rate soars in Northern California counties

PALO ALTO—California’s upward trend in the rates of new cancer diagnoses of children and youth up to age 19 closely mirrors that of the nation, but in a number of Northern California counties, rates have risen precipitously between 2000-2004 and 2008-2012, according to Kidsdata.org of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.

In Napa and Marin counties (near San Francisco), rates rose by 69 percent and 58 percent, to reach 22.8 and 21.5 per 100,000, respectively—the highest in the state.

In San Mateo, Sacramento, Sonoma, and San Francisco, all counties with incidence rates of about 20 per 100,000, rates rose between 20-39 percent during As Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson enters his second year in the NBA, he hopes “great things will happen” and expects the team will mesh well. Clarkson, the only current FilAm player in the league, also addressed questions regarding his recent trip to the Philippines, Gilas Pilipinas and his Filipino fans during Lakers Media Day on Monday, Sept. 28.

AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

“Keep continuing to play and good things are going to happen, keep continuing to win.

That’s all anybody can ask for, but most importantly, keep representing the flag and keep playing.”

He also said he hopes Gilas makes it to Rio. On visiting the Philippines & Filipino fans Clarkson, the only current Filipino-American player in the NBA, has expressed pride in his Filipino roots. In May, he visited the Philippines, an experience he spoke positively about. His mother, Annette Davis, is halfFilipino.

“Learning about my culture and being around those people.... It was a fun time for me and I really enjoyed it. Definitely being there with my country on my back is definitely something I want to do so hopefully we make that happen,” he told reporters.

While in the Philippines, Clarkson hosted an NBA Cares clinic with Trey Burke from the Utah Jazz and four-time NBA champion Horace Grant.

As Clarkson’s Filipino fans follow him into the NBA season, he offered the following message to them: “I’m going to keep trying to represent well and keep trying to put on for the country and the flag and try and do my best.”

Upcoming season With reports that Kobe Bryant could be retiring after this season, Clarkson said it means a lot to be playing with the NBA veteran.

“We want to send him out on a good note so that’s what we hope to do,” Clarkson said.

And with a rough season for the team last year, the Fil-Am said he wants to help bring back the Lakers’ winning days, especially because of the fans.

“We got the best fans in the league so they definitely make you want to put it all on the line when you’re out there playing.

That’s what I’m trying to do,” he said.

Clarkson also said he and rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell were able to build chemistry during the summer. The better off-court relationship makes it easy to bring that chemistry on game days, especially, he said, because it’s important that they are both able to communicate with each other easily.

“As a rookie, [we’re] both young guys and [we’re] both still learning.... Building that comfortability with each other off the court is going to make it much easier to do it when we’re on the court,” he said.

The Lakers will play its first game of the season on Oct. 28 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. n

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

the same period.

The rate of childhood cancer diagnoses in California has risen by six percent since the 20002004 period, reaching 17.5 per 100,000 in 2008-2012.

The state’s childhood cancer diagnosis rate varies by ethnicity: white children have the highest rate (19.2 per 100,000), compared to Native American children, who have the lowest (12.2 per 100,000).

When it comes to cancer survival however, white children have the highest five-year survival rate (84 percent) compared to African American children, who have the lowest survival rate (75 percent).

Similar to adults, survival disparities for children with cancer may be associated with socio-

Healthcare costs rise...

PAGE A2 2000s.

Businesses continued to pick up the bulk of the cost of health coverage for their workers, paying more than $5,000 on average for a single plan, and over $12,500 for a family plan.

Employers’ rising health costs are often singled out as a cause for “stagnant wage growth in recent years, as businesses have put money into health benefits that might otherwise have gone to workers’ paychecks,” the LA Times said.

Employers say the higher deductibles allow employees to have a greater financial stake when selecting a doctor or ordering a test, the New York Times reported.

“It truly is to engage employees as better health care consumers,” Laurel Pickering, the chief executive of the Northeast Business Group on Health, told the Times.

Additionally, a greater deductible puts the responsibility on the worker to determine if it is worth visiting the doctor or requesting for a test, Robert Reiff, head of the employee benefits consulting business for insurance brokerage firm Lockton Companies, told the Times.

The climbing costs have heavily affected America’s middle class, the Times reported, with many individuals opting to skip out on going to the doctor due to out-of-pocket expenses, such as co-pay fees, despite the slowdown in the growth of healthcare cost.

“It may be tamping down on unnecessary care, but we’re seeing a lot of evidence of skimping on necessary care,”

said Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access at nonprofit group Commonwealth Fund, according to the Times.

A recent report by the Center for American Progress showed that employers are largely pocketing savings, while passing along higher premiums and outof-pocket costs to workers.

Unaffordable deductibles are also emerging as a major issue for health plans being sold on marketplaces created by President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The marketplaces, now in their second year, were initially designed to help people without private or employerprovided insurance.

Most of the nearly 10 million people in marketplace plans qualify for subsidies to offset their premiums, but deductibles in many of those plans cost thousands of dollars.

“Deductibles are a big problem for consumers,” said Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, the largest state marketplace in the country.

Covered California now requires health plans to exempt some office visits from deductibles, so that consumers are not discouraged from getting necessary healthcare and attention.

The average deductible for a silver plan on marketplaces nationwide in 2015 is more than $2,500, according to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Beyond costs, the new report contains more encouraging news about the endurance of employer-provided coverage, as 57 percent of employers report-

economic status, health coverage, early diagnosis, quality of care and genetic factors.

According to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, to ensure that all children afflicted with cancer have the best possible health care, policies should prioritize providing care in the context of a “medical home,” supporting pediatric centers of excellence, supporting quality of life services, and working toward a unified, efficient and comprehensive payment system for cancer treatment.

Currently, families must navigate a complicated web of service systems with confusing payment policies, which can result in delayed or denied services for children and financial hardship for families. (Inquirer.net) ed offering benefits, from 2014.

More and more large businesses provide health benefits, with 98 percent of firms with 200 or more employees offering their workers at least one stable health plan.

This year, employers with at least 100 full-time workers will have to provide benefits or pay a penalty, according to law.

The requirement will apply to employers with at least 50 fulltime employees in 2016, though Republicans and Democrats are working on legislation that could change this mandate.

The survey also looked at the potential impact of another provision in the Affordable Care Act. The possibility of a new excise tax, the Cadillac tax, which was created under the legislation on costly coverage plans, may further drive up the deductibles that Americans who are insured through their employer must pay.

“Those changes likely will shift costs to workers,” said Gary Claxton, Kaiser Family Foundation vice president who monitors the employer survey, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The last major provision anticipated to be implemented in 2018, would apply to plans that provide high-cost benefit plans and is widely opposed by labor unions and major business groups, among others.

The report states that 20 percent of employers offer plans that would be subject to the Cadillac tax, although 13 percent of large firms that provide health coverage are already moving to avert it by, among other things, offering more affordable plans.

(Agnes Constante and Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

Pope Francis offers words...

PAGE A3 comed the pope before he led the crowd of over 20,000 people in prayer: “Holy Father, welcome to Philadelphia…the City of Brotherly Love.”

Families are “a factory of hope,” Pope Francis addressed the crowd in Spanish, reported CNN. “In the family, indeed, there are difficulties. But those difficulties are overcome with love.”

“Hatred is not capable of dealing with any difficulty and overcoming any difficulty. Division of hearts cannot overcome any difficulty. Only love. Only love is able to overcome. Love is about celebration, love is joy, love is moving forward.”

Papal message of healing to victims, prisoners, and believers On his final day in the US, Sept.

27, Pope Francis had a packed schedule filled with visits, farewell remarks, and a Holy Mass for the people.

He spoke to about 300 bishops and religious at the chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he stayed overnight in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.

The seminary was also visited by St. John Paul II in 1797, as well as Blessed Mother Teresa and thenCardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI. The pope spoke on the serious issue of sexual abuse in the church, saying that “God weeps

for the sexual abuse of children,” and apologizing on behalf of the number of priests and religious persons involved in such scandals.

At the meeting, he also met with several victims to pray with them.

“Please know that the Holy Father hears you and believes you.

I deeply regret that some bishops failed in their responsibility to protect children. It is very disturbing to know that in some cases bishops were even abusers.”

Francis has created a Vatican tribunal to address the issue; also to prosecute clergy members and bishops who fail to protect victims, the Washington Post reported.

Later in the day, he visited inmates at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, going row by row to greet prisoners with sincere smiles and, for some, heartfelt hugs.

“Life is a journey, along different roads, different paths, which leave their mark on us,” Francis told 100 inmates at the site, which processes nearly 3,000 men a year. “All of us need to be cleaned, to be washed. [Jesus] invites us to share in his lot…to create new opportunities, for society as a whole. I encourage you to have this attitude with one another and with all those who in any way are part of this institution. May you make possible new opportunities, new journeys, new

Immigrants unaware of US...

PAGE A3 it could impact what the cost of credit is to you and what interest rate people charge you.”

In the Bay Area, credit scores are also having a growing impact on whether people can access affordable housing. HERA clients have been denied affordable housing due to credit history, unpaid collections, or too much existing debt, such as large student loans.

“Student debt is very difficult to get rid of,” says senior attorney Noah Zinner. “If you fall behind on a credit card, you have options; there are limits to what

they can do to come after you.”

Federal student loan debt is unique, Zinner explains, because tax returns and even public benefits are not protected from collectors.

Zinner says that HERA has been heavily involved in advocacy to reform federal student loan debt discharge rules. Right now, he considers the best-case scenario for most borrowers to be a payment schedule of 15 percent of the student’s discretionary income for 25 years. He notes that many clients find this prospect dismaying.

“The things that everybody

paths.”

To end his visit, the Pope celebrated his final mass to conclude the World Meeting of Families.

The outdoor 4 pm mass was held in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and included a 500member papal choir.

In his homily, Francis encouraged the thousands of families gathered from around the world with words of love: “Faith grows when it is practiced and it is shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. These are the right place for faith to become life, and for faith to grow in life.”

At the Mass, he also announced the next World Meeting of Families to be held in Dublin, Ireland, in 2018. The global gathering of Catholics is held every three years.

Before departing by plane back to Rome, the Holy Pontiff thanked the volunteers, bishops and priests, and US lawmakers including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for hosting and preparing for his historic visit.

“Please know that as I prepare to leave, I do so with a heart filled with gratitude and hope,” Pope Francis said, before his evening flight from Philadelphia International Airport. “I will pray for you and your families, and I ask you, please, to pray for me. May God bless you all. God bless America!” (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

needs in order to move ahead,” says Zinner, “like housing, education, a car if you need to get to work [are] becoming inaccessible to people, or accessible at such a cost that you’re basically becoming a servant to your own debt.

“Although there seems to be wealth growing in the Bay Area, it’s very much a superficial wealth [that’s] only accessible to a very few.”

This report is part of a project to educate consumers about financial abuse in partnership with Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA). For more information, go to www.heraca. org. (Sarita Hiatt/New America Media)

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A

Global competitiveness: Philippines up 5 notches

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA—The Philippines continues to claw its way up the world competitiveness rankings as it climbed five notches in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Competitiveness Index 2015-2016.

The country ranked 47th among 140 economies this year, an improvement from its 52nd spot among 144 countries last year, a WEF report released showed. The ranking last year was seven notches higher than the previous year’s spot.

The WEF competitiveness ranking is measured based on how institutions, policies and other factors affect the level of productivity of a country.

The Philippines got the highest ranking in terms of macroeconomic environment followed by market size and business sophistication.

The country, however, lagged in terms of infrastructure, labor market efficiency and goods market efficiency.

In emerging and developing Asian economies, the report revealed that competitiveness

trends are mostly positive, despite the many challenges and profound intra-regional disparities.

China and most of the Southeast Asian countries performed well, while South Asian countries and Mongolia continued to lag behind.

The WEF report said the five largest members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Malaysia (18th), Thailand (32nd), Indonesia (37th), the Philippines (47th) and Vietnam (56th) – all rank in the top PAGE A7

Government to continue pushing for BBL by auRea

calica Philstar.com

MANILA—Despite delays, Malacañang said it would continue to push for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law to ensure long-term peace and development in Mindanao.

President Aquino was committed to have the bill passed as it would give the people of Mindanao the chance to truly live in peace, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Malacañang earlier said the executive branch was working on the BBL amendments to address the concerns both of Con-

gress and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Valte also welcomed the pronouncement of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal that there would be no bloody war should the BBL fail to pass.

Iqbal gave assurance the MILF is committed to peace-building efforts.

Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat earlier said the first election in the planned new autonomous Bangsamoro region in Muslim Mindanao could only be held in 2019 or later.

“That is, if the present Congress or the next Congress

passes the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that would create such region,” he said.

Lobregat cited the “moving timeline” for the approval of the draft BBL by the House of Representatives.

“The first deadline was in June, before the adjournment of the second regular session.

The second is before we go on our first recess on Oct. 10, but that is no longer possible because we will tackle the 2016 budget starting on Monday. So Dec. 16 before the Christmas break is the new deadline,” he pointed out.

DOJ chief admits getting SAF killers a difficult task by edu

Punay Philstar.com

MANILA—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima admitted that it would be a challenge to the government to bring to the criminal justice system the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and private armed groups tagged in the brutal death of Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in the Mamasapano clash.

De Lima admitted this as the Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to start its preliminary investigation (PI) on the murder charges against 90 individuals found liable for the killing of 35 of 44 SAF troopers during the clash last Jan. 25.

While the government expects cooperation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the PI against its 13 commanders and 13 members also tagged in the kill-

ings, the participation of respondents from BIFF and other armed groups remains uncertain.

More than 60 respondents charged with the complex crime of direct assault with murder are from the BIFF and private armed groups. De Lima said the possible non-participation of respondents in the PI proceedings would not prevent the resolution of charges as rules provide for a waiver of right to answer charges in case of their absence in hearings.

She made assurance that the DOJ would exhaust all available means to serve the subpoena to all respondents, including possible request for assistance of local officials. De Lima said the DOJ would also seek the assistance of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities to coordinate with the MILF to expedite

the process.

The charges filed with the DOJ last week covered the cases of 35 slain SAF men who belonged to the 55th SAF company that clashed with the MILF, BIFF and other armed groups in the cornfields of Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano.

The cases of the nine other slain SAF commandos from the 84th SAF company in Barangay Pidsandawan as well as the five civilians and 18 MILF fighters who were also killed during the clash and the reported US involvement in the operation are still undergoing investigation. De Lima said the factfinding report on the second part could be released after two weeks.

The fact-finding report said the Mamasapano bloodbath was not a “misencounter,” rejecting the findings of the MILF.

NEW DILG CHIEF. President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates newly installed Department Of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento after the oathtaking held at the office of the President, Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, Sept. 29. With Liberal Party Presidential Standard Bearer Manuel Roxas III, Speaker of the House Sonny Belmonte and DOTC Secretary Joseph Abaya as witnesses to the oath.

Malacañang photo by Robert Viñas

‘Very good’ progress on right shoulder, says Pacquiao after MRI by maRk

GionGco Inquirer.net

MANNy Pacquiao’s road to recovery from shoulder surgery is going as planned.

In an Instagram post, Pacquiao was seen undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of a follow-up check up for his right shoulder.

“Thank you to all the doctors. Very good progress,” the eight-division boxing champion wrote. “Glory to God. Successful MRI on my shoulder.”

Pacquiao went under the knife to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder just days after revealing the injury during the post-fight press conference following his unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May 2.

With a full recovery near, his promoter, Top Rank chief Bob Arum also bared to the Telegraph that Pacquiao could make his ring return either “at the end of February or at the latest in the first two weeks of April” with Briton Amir Khan as the possible opponent.

Arum, in the same interview, also said that negotiations with Khan’s uncle and laywear Robert Davis to make the fight happen are already ongoing.

Khan, a former two-time world champion, have been clamoring for a big time fight since missing out on Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. early this year.

Screengrab of Manny Pacquiao’s Instagram post

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A

Martial law victims seek CA relief on $1.9-B award Lawyer Robert Sison and the Marcos Ochoa Serapio Tan law offices are to submit written manifestation from their clients clarifying the representation on the case.

“The defendant-appellee (Marcos estate) must choose which of the two law firms is its lead counsel, and who is the collaborating counsel, if any,” read the CA decision.

Non-monetary benefits for human-rights (HR) victims of martial law will be made possible through a partnership between the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB) and four other government agencies.

Signatories to the memorandum of agreement are the HRVCB, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Under the agreement, the DSWD will develop a comprehensive psychosocial services and rehabilitation program for victims or survivors of human-rights abuses, which will include ensuring access to relevant education and training.

(Edu Punay, Rhodina Villanueva/ Philstar.com)

March 3, 2004 declaring the popular actor a natural-born Filipino eligible for the presidential election.

In his dissenting opinion, the magistrate held that the then presidential candidate was actually not a Filipino citizen since he was an illegitimate child of his father Fernando Poe Sr. and American mother Bessie Kelley.

Carpio has said that being an illegitimate child, the late actor took the citizenship of his mother.

“In conclusion, private respondent Fernando Poe Jr. is not Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice a natural-born Philippine citizen Antonio Carpio since there is no showing that MANILA—Is history repeating his alleged Filipino father Alitself? lan F. Poe acknowledged him at Supreme Court Senior Associ- birth,” Carpio said. “The Constiate Justice Antonio Carpio may be tution defines a natural-born citreprising his role in the disquali- izen as a Philippine citizen from fication case filed against Sen. birth without having to perform Grace Poe. any act to acquire or perfect his An opinion voiced by Carpio on Philippine citizenship. Private Poe’s citizenship issue was con- respondent Fernando Poe Jr. sistent with his stand on the same does not meet this citizenship issue involving the senator’s late qualification,” read Carpio’s father, Fernando Poe Jr. opinion.

Carpio raised his opinion during Carpio also said the burden of last week’s oral argument on the proving citizenship is on the indicase before the Senate Electoral vidual claiming to be a citizen of Tribunal (SET). the Philippines.

Carpio was one of five justices “Any person who claims to be who dissented in the SC ruling on qualified to run for president be-

cause he is, among others, a natural-born Philippine citizen, has the burden of proving he is a naturalborn citizen,” he said.

“Any doubt whether or not he is a natural-born citizen is resolved against him. The constitutional requirement of a natural-born citizen, being an express qualification for election as president, must be complied with strictly,” he stressed.

Voting with Carpio against FPJ’s citizenship then were former chief justice Renato Corona and associate justices Conchita Carpio-Morales (now ombudsman), Leonardo Quisumbing and Dante Tinga.

The majority decision, penned by associate justice Jose Vitug, said while the action king was born out of wedlock, Poe Sr.’s father, Lorenzo, “albeit a Spanish subject, was not shown to have declared his allegiance to Spain by virtue of the Treaty of Paris and the Philippine Bill of 1902.”

Seven other justices voted with this ruling – then Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and associate justices Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Alicia Austria-Martinez, Romeo Callejo Sr., Adolf Azcuna and former chief justice Reynato Puno.

MANILA—The Court of Appeals (CA) was asked to enforce a 1995 US court decision awarding $1,964,005,859.90 in damages to human rights victims of martial law.

Petitioners led by former Human Rights Commission chairman Loretta Ann Rosales asked the CA’s 13th Division to reverse a ruling of the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) dismissing their plea.

However, the CA did not immediately resolve the petition.

It ordered lawyers of the heirs of former President Ferdinand Marcos to clarify who will be their lead counsel.

Carpio also voted to disqualify FPJ in 2004 by edu

Punay Philstar.com

Global competitiveness: Philippines up...

PAGE A5 half of the overall Global Competitiveness Index rankings.

“Our report finds worrying signs that a new normal of suppressed economic and productivity growth and persistently high unemployment is damaging resilience and leaving the world vulnerable to another protracted slump,” the WEF report read.

“Here, emerging markets

represent the greatest cause for concern, with many of the larger markets seeing reverses this year, having failed to enact crucial institutional and market reforms during better times (India being the notable exception),” it said.

“In Europe, we see improvement in many southern economies, helping narrow slightly the region’s north-south divide.

Access to finance remains the

key challenge across the region, however,” the WEF report stated.

“In Asia, three economies – Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong – appear in the top 10; the ASEAN bloc continues to perform strongly and China holds steady on 28th,” it added.

Foreign business groups welcomed the positive improvement in the country’s global ranking, but noted that there

DAVID VS. GOLIATH. Philippine guard Jayson Castro challenges the defense of Iran giant Hamed Haddadi during their game in the second round of the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship on Monday, Sept. 28 in Changsha, China. Team Philippines won via a 87-73 victory.

Photo from Fiba.com

Binay confident of Erap’s support for presidential bid

by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

MANILA—Vice President Jejomar Binay said he remains confident that former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will support him in the 2016 presidential race.

“I think so, we have no issues,” Binay told reporters in Calamba, Laguna when asked if he thinks he will still get Estrada’s support after Sen. Grace Poe declared her intention to run for president next year.

Binay said he believes he and Estrada would still be together in next year’s polls.

“I owe it to him (Estrada) that he included me as his vice presidential candidate in 2010,” he said.

Poe is the daughter of Estrada’s best friend, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Estrada is also

Poe’s godfather.

Estrada, in previous media interviews, said he was torn between endorsing Binay, his political ally, and Poe. Binay, Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, or the so-called “Three Kings,” formed the coalition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to campaign for the Estrada-Binay tandem in 2010.

Binay launched UNA as his political party for the 2016 polls

last July 1.

Estrada’s nephew, former Laguna governor ER Ejercito, has remained with UNA. Binay said he recently had lunch with the former president at the Manila City Hall but they did not talk about the 2016 elections.

“Let’s just say that it goes without saying,” he said, when pressed if he was sure of Estrada’s support.

are still plenty of things that the Philippines needs to address to be totally competitive.

“It’s good to see the country’s further improvement in the survey but there is obviously the need to immediately focus on the most problematic factors, with the lack of infrastructure being the biggest danger to the competitiveness of the country’s economy,” European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines vice president for external affairs Henry Schumacher said.

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october 2-8, 2015 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Alerted

TOURISM is a dynamic and complex industry, where apart from leisure, the success of any tourism destination will depend on how well it can provide a safe and secure environment for its visitors.

Currently on the upswing, the Philippine tourism’s momentum as being one of the leading tourist attractions in Asia might be halted following the highly publicized abduction on Samal Island in Davao Del Norte.

Local and international authorities have been alerted after the kidnapping incident of three foreigners and a Filipina from a luxury resort island in Samal. Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Hall’s Filipino girlfriend Marites Flor, and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, were taken from the Holiday Oceanview Marina before midnight on Sept. 21, by armed men who claimed that they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

However, early speculations also pointed out that the Abu Sayyaf Group, a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda, initiated the attack. The group is notorious for kidnap-for-ransom activities in Mindanao but the military has yet to confirm if the group is behind the recent abduction.

There has been no breakthrough in the search and rescue operation as of Tuesday, Sept. 29. Hundreds of policemen, elite Army troops and Navy members are currently scouring the coasts of Davao and nearby provinces in search of the captives and the armed group.

Canada has advised its nationals against traveling in several areas in Mindanao after two of its citizens were among the captives. Canada said

its nationals should avoid travel to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the provinces of Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Cotabato, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat “due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.”

Other countries followed suit as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have issued travel advisories to their citizens. If not concluded at the soonest time possible, more travel advisories against the Philippines are to be expected, and its consequences to the tourism industry may be exacerbated.

Malacañang accepted the travel advisories issued against areas in Mindanao. However, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. assured everyone that the Philippine government is working double time to apprehend the perpetrators. Coloma also allayed the possible effects of the latest kidnapping in the tourism industry saying that it was an isolated case in the last 14 years.

Coloma added that the government has enforced tighter security also as part of the country’s preparation for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Nov. 18 and 19. President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin are

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

among the expected high-profile visitors of this year’s gathering of world leaders.

The kidnapping incident is not to be tolerated, but it is enough reason to make the national government and concerned agencies improve their operation to promote a safer environment not just for the country’s tourists but also its citizens. The

country’s tourism will undoubtedly suffer after this, but this doesn’t mean all the things that have made Philippines—a country full of history and cultural diversity—are gone. All agencies concerned will just have to compromise and compensate for the damages that may be incurred from this unfortunate incident. (AJPress)

Early poll results: Fil-Ams choose Roxas over Poe and Binay

AS the election season in the Philippines heats up, we see possible tandems forming among those seeking the highest posts of government. Anticipation and excitement are growing, and Fil-Ams are very much in the loop about the political developments in the Motherland.

As of press time, Sec. Mar Roxas still awaits Cong. Leni Robredo to be on board as his vice president, but she asked for more time to discern whether this is her true calling, because her daughters with the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo’s daughters wish that she would not run for the second-highest

to run with Binay post. as other rumors Only Sen. Grace Poe The Fil-Am say he could be has a solid tandem with picked by Davao Sen. Chiz Escudero, who Perspective City Mayor Rois definitely running as drigo Duterte. her vice president.

Duterte has yet VP Jejomar Binay to formally anhas not yet announced nounce his intent who his pick is for VP, Gel sanTos-relos to run, but the latalthough rumors are circulating that it would probably be est survey shows a strong following, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, a solid anti- placing fourth after Poe, Roxas and administration figure whose political Binay.

Pictures of Duterte and Sen. Allan interests match those of Binay at this Peter Cayetano have been circulating time.

But even Marcos is not sure whether in the news after Cayetano formally an-

nounced that he is indeed running for do among Filipinos in America. meanVP. Could this scenario push Robredo while, will Duterte shake the dynamics to run with Roxas? if and when he decides to run for PresiOn September 16, after Poe an- dent? Will Grace Poe be able to keep nounced her candidacy, The Filipino her lead? Will Mar’s upward momenChannel’s daily newscast Balitang tum catapult him to be the next PresiAmerica asked its viewers: If the Phil- dent? ippine Presidential Elections were held ABANGAN ANG SUSUNOD NA KAtoday, who would you vote for to be the BANATA! next President of the Philippines? *** The results: Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang Mar Roxas - 56 percent America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author Grace Poe - 29 percent in this column are are solely those of the author and None of the above - 15 percent not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, Jejomar Binay - 0 percent go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.

It looks like Binay has a lot of work to facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Lies, damned lies and Grace Poe Llamanzares Commentary

Francisco s. TaTad THE original phrase reads, “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Initially attributed to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), it was later quoted by Mark Twain, Walter Bagehot, Arthur James Balfour, Henry Du Pre Labouchere, Jervoise Athelstane Baines, Leonard Courtney, Winston Churchill, among other famous personalities. It recently appeared as the epigraph of an article written

by Gil Ramos, Ph. D., a Filipino data scientist living in the US West Coast, who raised serious questions about the credibility of the two polling firms in the Philippines, Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations. It slammed the use of “surveys” for propaganda purposes, specifically to manufacture rather than measure public opinion in favor or against certain political personalities.

I have called these surveys a blunt instrument for the idiotization of the Filipino masses, notably the voters. They are routinely inflicted on the ignorant and the gullible, and even on the not-soignorant and yet so gullible, with the obscene collaboration of the complicit and superficial media and other tools of mass deception and mass hypnosis. Recent and ongoing developments have reconfirmed and reinforced this analysis, thereby aggravating the nation’s increasing moral and political blindness.

I have a healthy respect for honest, professional polling. But not for “push polls” and manu-

factured surveys that stink. In a while, we shall talk a little more about these. But just as no selfrespecting entrepreneur would invest money in a new product without first ascertaining whether or not there is a market for it, no self-respecting politician would announce his bid for any office without first ascertaining whether any portion of the public is aware of him and his intrinsic merits. This is where market research or honest and scientific polling has its uses. I myself have availed of it.

In 1978, I was on my ninth year as the youngest person in the Marcos Cabinet, and the President asked me to run for the Batasang Pambansa. Then, as now, I did not see myself as a politician, so I tried to beg off.

I didn’t slap people’s backs, nor tell green jokes, nor laugh at jokes that weren’t funny, I told the President, so I would be the wrong person for it. But it was the first election of the New Society, he said, (martial law did away with elections in 1972), and I was “the spokesman of the New Society,” so I had to run.

It was not a request, but a command, so I had to submit.

As it was to be a regional election, my problem was, although I knew I was a Bicolano, the Bicolanos did not know who I was.

So I had to go down to Bicol to make myself known to the Bicolanos. After a month or so, I ran a survey to find out whether I was registering, not as a potential candidate in an election that was yet to be announced, but simply as a Bicolano. The result was positive, and I used it to help me decide whether or not to run, but not to advertise myself as a potential candidate.

This is not what’s happening right now.

Rich and ambitious non-entities pay off the entrepreneurial

pollsters to put them on the list of those whom the public would allegedly like to see in the Senate, even before the senatorial candidates are officially nominated. Or, the pollsters themselves solicit the business of the interested parties and come up with simulated or manufactured surveys to award favorable ratings to the paying parties. In the case of the presidential polls, the fraudsters do not even bother to find out whether the names they include in their manufactured or manipulated surveys are all eligible for the office, pursuant to the constitutional requirement that no person may be elected president or vice-president, unless he is, among others, a natural-born citizen, which means one who is a Philippine citizen from birth, without having to perform an act to acquire or perfect his citizenship.

The most scandalous proof of this is the persistent effort to portray Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares as the alleged front-runner in the alleged presidential surveys supposedly commissioned and paid for by a penurious newspaper, despite the fact that she is not even a natural-born Filipino under the Constitution, and therefore not fit to remain in the Senate, as stated in the quo warranto suit before the Senate Electoral Tribunal by petitioner Rizalito David and his counsel Manuelito Luna, or to run for president or vice president.

If the propaganda pollsters really want to find out what Filipinos really think about Mrs. Llamanzares, they should run a survey among individuals who understand what the Constitution says about natural-born citizens, and know that Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares was born a foundling without any known parentage or citizenship, and ask them whether citizens should

follow the clear language and the “dura lex sed lex” mandate of the Constitution or the unverified and unverifiable claims of so-called popularity polls. The choice is between the constitutional process and a con game.

And in many instances, the opinion polls have been used as a con-game.

Thus, the Philippine Star page 2 story claimed: “Poe tops Pulse Asia survey for president, VP.” “Sen. Grace Poe remains the leading candidate for president and vice president in the May 2016 elections, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

“Poe topped the Sept. 8 to 14 survey for most preferred candidates for president, Pulse Asia said.

“Poe would be elected president by 26 percent of Filipinos if the 2016 were held during the survey period, Pulse Asia said.”

If indeed a real survey was conducted, among individuals who understood that Mrs. Llamanzares’s constitutional eligibility is under serious dispute because of her lack of citizenship, the pollsters should have asked the respondents whether or not they cared about this issue at all, and if they didn’t, the pollsters should have reported that 26 percent of those interviewed——not 26 percent of 50 million Filipino voters—-would still choose Mrs. Llamanzares, whether or not she was constitutionally eligible for the office.

The day before that, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the paper whose gatekeepers have the arrogance to say that nothing is news until you read it in the PDI, bannered a non-story saying, “More lawyers back Poe on citizenship,” accompanied by a commentary by one Oscar Franklin Tan, whom the paper identified as its legal commentator, saying that Mrs. Llamanzares’ contin-

ued use of her US passport after she had supposedly renounced her US citizenship and taken an oath of allegiance to the Philippines was irrelevant to the question of her citizenship.

The paper gave the impression that an army of lawyers had come out of the woodwork to supply evidence which Mrs. Llamanzares’ counsel had earlier failed to provide the SET, and which should now convince Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Justices Arturo Brion and Teresita de Castro as well as any of the six senator-judges whose understanding of and loyalty to the Constitution transcend all partisan and other personal considerations, that an infant born with no known parentage, nationality or citizenship could still become a natural-born citizen later in life by participating in a beauty contest.

The paper failed to produce the army of lawyers, or any novel theory or doctrine that transcends or overturns Sec. 2, Article IV of the Constitution, which says, “Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship.” It quoted with ease the statement of former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, who referred to Article 2 of the 1961Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which provides that, “A foundling found in the territory of a Contracting State shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be considered to have been born in the territory of parents possessing the nationality of the State.”

But it failed to point out that said Convention came into force long after Mary Grace was born and found, and that the Philippines has not acceded to it, and is not therefore a “contracting

party” to it, until now. The Nobel laureate Albert Camus warns against “quoting without judging;” even retired jurists as well as leading national newspapers of a certain class would do well to remember that.

As for the PDI legal commentator Tan, he calls those who question Mrs. Llamanzares’ citizenship status as “haters of our favorite foundling,” and sneers at petitioner Rizalito David’s counsel Manuelito Luna by asking “who is this lawyer Luna belatedly hounding Poe?” He appears to be in desperate search of personal motives to explain why some people want Mrs. Llamanzares disqualified from seeking an office for which she is not eligible under the Constitution.

I was the first one to point out that Mrs. Llamanzares is not a natural-born Filipino. I have written the most number of articles on this issue, too. But until I saw how much lying she has done under oath, I was prepared to say that without the constitutional issue hounding her, I would have been among her foremost admirers and would have supported her. So why suggest hate at all? I do not even hate PNoy, why should I hate her? Neither, I believe, does Rizalito David or Manuelito Luna. It is a terribly small mind that wants to reduce an issue as large as a presidential candidate’s constitutional ineligibility for the office into a personal thing.

Tan does Mrs. Llamanzares no great service when he says: “She became a Philippine-US dual citizen in 2006. She swore an oath of allegiance to the Philippines in 2010 as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board…The day before she swore her oath of office on Oct. 21, 2010, to President Aquino, Poe filed a PAGE A10

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Acting Makati Mayor Peña faces graft over cheaper, smaller cakes

by Marc Jayson

cayabyab

Inquirer.net

ACTIng Makati City Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña has been sued for graft before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged overpriced birthday cakes for senior citizens.

In the graft complaint filed on Tuesday, former Makati Vice Mayor Bobby Brillante said Peña suspended the ongoing procurement with Timstate/Bakerite Food and Beverage Corp. to give way to his favored supplier goldilocks Inc. when he replaced suspended Mayor Junjun Binay.

Binay, the son of Vice President Jejomar Binay, was suspended for six months pending the Ombudsman’s investigation for graft over the alleged overpricing of Makati City Hall Building II and the Makati Science High School building.

The goldilocks cake is cheaper at P280 per piece compared to that of Timstate/Bakerite at P306, but consumers get to eat more portions in the cakes supplied by Binay, Brillante said.

This is because Peña’s cake is smaller in size, at nine inches in diameter and two inches thick, compared to Binay’s cake, which is nine inches in diameter and four inches thick.

Still, Peña awarded an P8.666million contract to goldilocks for the supply of 31,187 cakes for senior citizens for the period of Aug. 15 to Dec. 31, Brillante said.

Brillante alleged that the cakes supplied by Peña were overpriced

by P3.036 million.

Acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Pena is facing a graft complaint over the alleged overpricing of the birthday cakes being distributed to senior citizens in the city.

Inquirer.net photo

“The contract for the cakes of Makati senior citizens was overpriced by P3,036,337 or 35 percent higher than what Makati City was paying under suspended Junjun Binay’s previous contract prior to Peña’s assumption as acting mayor,” Brillante said in a statement.

“The amount of overprice, thus the gross disadvantage to the city government, is equivalent to at least 35 percent of the total bid price offered by goldilocks. Peña’s act of entering into a contract grossly disadvantageous to the City of Makati constitutes a violation of Section 3(g) of the Republic Act 3019 (or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act) for which he should be liable,” he added.

Brillante said the goldilocks cakes do not conform to the specifications of the contract. Pictures submitted to the Makati social welfare department showed that the cakes were only eight inches

in diameter and less than two inches in height, he added.

The cake-giving program started in 2003 when Vice President Binay was still Makati mayor.

The cakes under the Vice President’s term in Makati were supplied by Millennium Food Chains Corp., where, according to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), his children—Senator nancy, Makati Representative Abigail, and Mayor Junjun—were founding directors. Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado alleged that Millennium served as a dummy for the Binays. The Binays denied the allegations.

The AMLC found the link between the Binays and the cake supplier in its inquiry report which ordered the freezing of their 242 bank accounts and their alleged fronts in the course of the Ombudsman’s investigation on the alleged graft activities in Makati.

Lies, damned lies and Grace Poe...

PAGE A8

sworn affidavit that she was renouncing her US citizenship.

But she filed this with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, not with the US government.”

This has the same effect as the various falsified or flawed documents submitted by the defense counsel to the SET. Instead of helping the respondent, it bakes her in the furnace. Remember the Dual Citizenship Law covers only former natural-born Filipinos who became foreign citizens after 2003. Mrs. Llamanzares was never a former natural-born

citizen, and she became a US citizen, by Tan’s own admission in 2001, before the passage of the Dual Citizenship Law. So his statement has no merit.

As to her alleged renunciation of US citizenship, this act had to be perfected under US law, with the US State Department, not with the BID. By Tan’s own admission, she was still a US citizen when she assume office as MTRCB chair, a job reserved for Filipinos. This was a further violation of law.

We have to end where we began—-with surveys. Surveys, even when done with great scientific care, could still be flawed.

This happened in the 1948 US presidential election when, on the basis of nearly unanimous forecasts, the Chicago Tribune headlined, ”Dewey defeats Truman,” only to see Truman win.

What is unforgivable though is when despite the shameful SWS exit survey fiasco in Metro Manila in 2004, we still find the same fraudsters in operation, and they have the temerity to boast a nearly 100 percent accuracy, just because their surveys are used no longer simply for mind-conditioning, but rather to guide the cheating syndicate that controls the hocus PCOS. (ManilaTimes.net)

MOONCAKE FESTIVAL. A man gazes at a large mooncake on display in Binondo Manila, as the Chinese-Filipino community celebrates Mooncake Festival or Harvest Moon Festival, because of the celebration’s association with the full moon on this night. In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and unity. Thus, the sharing and eating of round mooncakes among family members during the week of the festival signify the completeness and unity of families.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

Roxas hopes Filipinos will ‘hug, accept’ Leni Robredo the way Jesse did Admin bet confident LP ticket will be completed by Oct. 5

by yuJi

Vincent Gonzales Inquirer.net

LIBERAL Party (LP) standardbearer and former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II is hoping that Filipinos will “hug and accept” Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo the way her late husband did.

Roxas was reacting to a Facebook photo posted by Robredo on Sunday, which showed the former local government secretary hugging his wife.

“Reposting because I desperately need this,” Robredo said in the caption.

Roxas said Jesse’s hug might be Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas hopes Filipinos will “hug and accept” Camarines the lifeline Robredo was asking for Sur Rep. Leni Robredo the way her late husband, former Local Government Secretary Jesse on Sept. 17, a day after poll front- Robredo, did in this photo. runner Sen. grace Poe announced do to be his running mate, but the harapin ito. So alam ko na ang that she would run for president in neophyte lawmaker said the LP’s pangulo ay, magkasama kami ng next year’s polls.

Sept. 30 deadline was a bit too pangulo nung makausap namin si “Nauunawaan ko si Cong. Leni. soon.

Cong. Leni at yung kanyang dalaMay tawag at may hamon na kinaRoxas also shared that he and wang mas nakakatandang anak, at haharap niya, biyuda siya, tatlong President Benigno Aquino III him- maganda naman ang pag-uusap,” dalagang anak, isa ay nasa high self talked with two of Robredo’s Roxas said. school pa, so hindi madali ito at three daughters, who had exThe LP was set to announce its nauunawaan ko na nung isang pressed opposition against their vice presidential bet and full senaaraw ay humingi siya ng lifeline at mother running for a national po- torial lineup in a convention on siguro yung larawan nila ni Sec- sition in 2016.

Wednesday at Club Filipino, but a retary Jesse ay dumating na nga “Of course may pangamba sila party stalwart said the impending yung lifeline niya,” Roxas said. para sa kanilang ina. Biglaan na announcement was moved to Oct. The LP had wooed Poe to be its development ito, kahit na matagal 5, Monday. vice presidential bet in the 2016 nang napag-uusapan ay siguro Asked if he was confident that elections, but the senator joined nung dumating na nga ‘yung pun- the LP would complete its ticket the presidential derby two weeks to na naging totoo ito ay kinailan- by Monday, Roxas said: “Yes and ago. Roxas formally asked Robre- gan na nila talagang isipin ito at may I note, yes with a smile.”

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Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves AmAndA C. Kwong And nAnCy milleR NO one wants to be a victim of crime. It often results in the person feeling vulnerable and helpless. But, if it does happen, the victim may be able to obtain a U –visa under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. 10,000 U visas are available each year to persons who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been the victim of qualifying criminal activity; possess credible and reliable information establishing that they have knowledge of the details concerning the criminal activity; have been helpful, are being helpful, or are likely to be helpful to a certifying agency in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity and that the criminal activity occurred in the United States. It is available to those in removal proceedings, those under a final order of removal or those seeking the relief who are not in proceedings. The visa is approved for 4 years. During that time, the U visa beneficiaries (which includes spouse and under 21 year old children) may work. As discussed below, the U visa can lead to a green card.

Qualifying criminal activity includes any of the following or similar activities in violation of the law: abduction, blackmail, domestic violence, extortion, false imprisonment, felonious assault, female genital mutilation, fraud in foreign labor contracting, being held as a hostage, incest, involuntary servitude, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, obstruction of justice, peonage, perjury, prostitution, rape, sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation, slave trade, stalking, torture, trafficking, unlawful criminal restraint, witness tampering,

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2-8, 2015

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Journal

Help for victims of crimes First Annual 100-mile ‘Links for Humanity’ bike ride takes aim at racism

or attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit any of these crimes. Similar activity means that the nature and elements of the offense are substantially similar to the specifically named offenses.

A direct victim is one who has suffered direct and proximate harm as a result of the criminal activity, including a witness to the offense who had a severe reaction, such as a miscarriage or a heart attack. An indirect victim means a family member where the direct victim is deceased due to murder or manslaughter or is incompetent or incapacitated if the family member is a spouse or child under the age of 21 of the direct victim or the under 18 year old the sibling if the direct victim was under 21.

An applicant for a U visa must provide a document signed by a certifying official stating how the person qualifies as a certifying official; that the petitioner has been a victim of a qualifying criminal activity that the certifying official’s agency is investigating or prosecuting; that the petitioner possesses information concerning the activity; that the petitioner has been or may be helpful and that the criminal activity occurred in the U.S. Certifying official has been defined as a head of a certifying agency or law enforcement agency or prosecutor, judge or other authority involved in the investigation or prosecution; a supervisor who has been designated by the head of the agency to issue U status certifications; or a federal or state or local judge. Getting this certification has been a complicated and difficult experience. However, thanks to the California Legislature, that process just became easier.

The Immigrant Victims of Crime Equity Act, marks a milestone in immigrant victim rights. The bill is awaiting Governor Jerry Brown’s signature.

While he has not specifically ad-

dressed the issue, those “in the know” expect that he will sign the bill.

Under the proposed law, the definition of certifying officer has been expanded to include local law enforcement agencies and child protective service agencies. In addition, the Immigrant Victims of Crime Equity Act adds a requirement that the certifying official process the certifying statement within 90 days of the request, or within 14 days of request if the noncitizen is in removal proceedings. Previously, there was no guidance on the timeframe for certifying entities to respond to requests.

This will make obtaining timely certification easier for the victim.

After three years of physical presence in the United States in U status, survivors may apply for a green card as long as they have not unreasonably refused to provide assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution. One of the only exceptions rendering ineligibility is for the limited few who are inadmissible for participating in Nazi persecution. Therefore, any noncitizen whose immigration status is not settled and who has been a victim of what might be a qualifying crime should consult with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney regarding your potential options. ***

Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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

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SAN JOSE, Calif. – The first annual “Links for Humanity” bike ride will take place this year on Oct. 17, stretching 100 miles along Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria, to raise awareness around racial unity. Riders will include founder Alan Whitsett and 12 other riders, an ethnically diverse group representing every continent.

Using bike-mounted, handheld and drone cameras, a team of videographers will document the ride in hopes of raising awareness of racism and commitment to social unity, and spark interest in participating in future rides around the country.

Whitsett is planning to cover logistical costs of this first ride with a crowdfunding campaign. Next year, “Links for Humanity” aims to expand participation to 250 riders. The long-term goal is to create a nonprofit organization that funds educational programs focused on racial sensitivity, and implement opportunity programs that provide for underprivileged youth.

“The support we’ve received to make this project a reality has solidified my belief that we’re not the only people who feel that racism’s role in our society is unacceptable,” said Whitsett. “Rather than argue or debate about it, this team of racially diverse riders is going to make a statement about what we can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.”

Since its conception just over two months ago,

“Links for Humanity” has received support from local community leaders, universities, charities and businesses such as Eyenoo, Garmin, El Paseo Limousines (San Jose), and Summit Bicycles (Los Gatos).

The Links for Humanity story After Whitsett cycled with his club one Saturday, a discussion emerged that set in motion this project. He realized that a pace line in a cycling group literally and metaphorically illustrated his thoughts against racism. In a pace line, riders must rely on and trust each other. It takes a tremendous amount of concentration to maintain a safe gap with the person in front of you and ride steadily, so that the person behind you can do the same. If you are troubled by irrelevant details such as the color of a rider’s legs, you become a liability to others.

“In a pace line, riders work together as one living, breathing entity with a single purpose: to get to the finish line together. This chain is the metaphor behind “Links for Humanity.” The pace line rides like a chain with interdependent links to achieve a common goal, much like the links in the chain that propel our bicycles. Like the links in the chain of humanity, if that chain is broken, everyone suffers,” continued Whitsett.

For more information about Links for Humanity go to http://linksforhumanity.org. n

Filipinos needed for UCSF Pilipino Americans Go4Health Weight-Loss Program to prevent diabetes and heart disease FILIPINO-Americans have one of the highest rates of Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease in the United States. Type 2 Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke and many other health problems. Dr. Melinda Sarmiento-Bender of the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) is conducting an important study focused on preventing diabetes and heart disease among Filipino-Americans.

This is a 6-month lifestyle intervention promoting weight-loss through physical activity and healthy eating using your smartphone and mobile app.

If you are a Filipino over 18 years old, have Type 2 Diabetes and are taking metformin (not taking insulin) you can join the UCSF Pilipino Americans Go4Health Weight Loss Program study. The program aims to decrease diabetes and heart disease risks through weight loss, healthy eating, and physical activity with personal tailored coaching. You should not have any disabilities limiting your ability to walk at least 20 minutes.

You will be asked to use your smartphone (iPhone or Android), wear a pedometer every day, and join a private Facebook group.

Participation requires a 6-month commitment that includes one office visit per month, 3 physical exams, and 3 blood draws. Participants will receive up to $80 and can keep the Fitbit Zip pedometer ($60 value) for completing all 6-month study requirements.

If you are interested, please call (415) 483-0992 or e-mail pilipinos@ucsf.edu Your participation will help to understand why Filipinos are at such high risk for diabetes and heart disease, and to find ways to prevent these risks among the Filipino community! n

CJ

Community Journal

OCTOBER 2-8, 2015 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

C

alendar of Events

across

America

Immigrating to the US as a foreign worker

The CTV Files AurorA VegA-Buzon, esq.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS O C TO B E R 3

Philippine Heritage Institute International Presents Tribute 2015 The legacy of Naomi Palma-Armada, who died of a heart attack June 10, lives on.

On October 3, from 6pm to midnight, the Philippine Heritage Institute International (PHII), a private non-profit foundation founded by Naomi in 1989, will present Tribute 2015: White House Millennium Council Award to Outstanding Filipino American Nurses (on its 17th year) and President’s Award: Profiles of Service, Pillars of Community (on its 8th year) at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel (12725 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA 90703). Parking for the event is free. Attire: Formal or Filipiniana. Music provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For more information, contact president Josie E. de Jesus (714) 272-0300; joestarisdejesus@gmail. com, or event chair Norma Merza (562) 947-0248; norma.merza@yahoo.com.

Fil-Am History Month Films & “Talk Story” Time Please join us at the Carson Library (151 E. Carson St. Carson, CA 90745) on Oct 3rd, from 1-4pm, at the Carson Library to hear stories of individuals from the books, “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay” and “Hawaiians in Los Angeles.” Join with FANHS-LA Chapter, the Filipino American Library, Friends of the Carson Library, APALA, and other community leaders as we celebrate October as Filipino American History Month and the birthday of Larry Itliong, one of the main organizers of the 1965 UFW Delano Grape Strike. There will also be a screenings of Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the UFW, and America Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawaii; both are educational documentary films about the Filipino and Hawaiian experience in America. This is a FREE event with a talk, book signings by the authors, and light refreshments afterwards. For more information and to RSVP, please contact roseeibanez@ gmail.com.

Fil-Am History Month Kick-Off The 2015 Filipino American History Month celebration in Carson will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3rd from 12 to 4pm at the South Bay Pavilion (20700 Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746).

Organized by the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce South Bay Los Angeles (FACCSLAA), the event headlines musical entertainment, business vendors, networking, exhibits, an immigration panel, and health and fitness activities. Special performances by Malou Toler, Mon Concepcion, Sara Mislang, Cecile and Mighty Show, and with host Gee Gee Starr. For more information on the FilAm History Month in Carson, please 310.748.9688, or South Bay Pavilion at 310.366.6629.

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Kultura: A Filipino American Food & Arts Festival Kultura Festival, an all-ages, contemporary Filipino-American food and arts festival, will take place in Logan Square’s Emporium Arcade Bar in Chicago on Sunday, October 4, from 11 AM to 6 PM. Presented by Filipino Kitchen, this festival is carefully curated to appeal to those who personally identify with Filipino culture, food, and those who are curious or uninitiated. With a craft beer bar, food trucks, special guest chefs, and an expected 2,000 festival guests and staff, Kultura Festival aims to highlight the best of Filipino cuisine to Chicago and the Midwest. Tickets can be purchased for $10 general admission at https://ti.to/filipino-kitchen/kultura-festival, $5 for students and seniors. More information can be found at http://filipino.kitchen/kulturafestival.

O C TO B E R 1 0

LA Builder Lions Club 25th Anniversary The Los Angeles Builder Lions Club will celebrate their 25th Anniversary and Annual Outstanding Parents Night on October 10, 2015 at the Almansor Court banquet hall (700 S Almansor St, Alhambra, CA 91801). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band.

For further questions, please call Lion Bill Menor (323) 465-0613, Lion Yoli Ramo (213) 3051332, chairpersons or Lion Tita James, co-chair at (818) 203-2325.

O C TO B E R 1 5 -1 8

Legionarios del Trabajo in America Triennial Convention The Legionarios del Trabajo in America, Inc. will hold its 18th Triennial Convention, October 15-18, 2015, at the Clarion Inn and Suites in Stockton, CA (4219 Waterloo Rd, Stockton, CA 95215). For more information, please contact Cora Gines at (209) 957-0217 / (209) 4065438, or Elena Gabriel at (209) 598-1436.

O C TO B E R 1 7

A UNITED States employer can sponsor foreign workers who are either professionals (college degree holders), skilled (at least 2 years training or experience) or unskilled (high school graduates) to immigrate to the US. This article will deal with the basic requirements of sponsoring foreign workers.

A “US Employer” is either a company, a partnership, a sole proprietorship or a person domiciled in the United States who has a need for the particular skills and services of the sponsored foreign worker. A US Employer must first obtain a labor certification from the Department of Labor and approval of a petition from the Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The labor certification process is one of the most complex immigration-related procedures.

This article is a snapshot of the requirements and procedures of a labor certification, but it is not a substitute for legal advice. If you wish to sponsor a foreign worker, you need to consult with an experienced immigration attorney to assess your particular situation and eligibility to sponsor, and make sure that your case is prepared correctly.

What is Labor Certification?

Labor Certification (LC) is a process whereby a prospective US employer conducts a test of the labor market – by putting out job wanted advertisements -- to find out if there is a shortage in a particular occupation, before it is allowed to hire a foreign worker for the said occupation. The process involves several steps, after which the U. Department of Labor (DOL) certifies that: • The US Employer has a valid job offer – there is a real and existing job position, and a bona fide opening or vacancy.

• The US Employer needs the foreign worker’s skills and abilities.

• The US Employer has tried to look for a US worker for the job position -- normally by advertising in newspapers and online job searches by State workforce agencies like CalJobs, and doing other recruitment efforts -but could not find a US worker who is able, willing and ready to fill the position. A “US worker” means any worker who is either a US citizen or legal permanent resident.

• The US Employer has offered the prevailing wage for the position, as determined by the DOL. • The US Employer has found no qualified US workers. If candidates respond to the advertisements and other recruitment efforts, the U.S. Employer must prove to the DOL that they are not qualified US workers, or are not ready, or not able or willing

The Metamorphosis

UNITED LAB-USA 32nd Anniversary The UNITED LAB-USA will celebrate their 32nd Anniversary on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Royal Garden in Cerritos. The association is headed by Rey Guieb, President. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other questions, please call Felix Belen, outgoing president at (626) 839-0736.

UERMMMC - Medical Alumni Association Inaugural Ball The University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center - Medical Alumni Association of Southern California (UERMMMC - MAASC ), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which participates in many humanitarian projects and medical missions to barangays in the Philippines, will hold its Inaugural Ball and Dinner=Dance on October 17, 2015 at the Manhattan Beach Marriott (1400 Parkview Avenue; Manhattan Beach, CA 90266). Proceeds from the event will benefit underserved areas and families in Lucena, Quezon and District 2 of Pampanga (Lubao, Sasmuan, Guagua, Floridablanca) who are in need of medical and surgical care. The theme of the Inaugural Ball will be “A Black and White Event.” The evening starts at 6:00pm. Tickets are $90 per person and are tax deductible; VIP packages ranging from $500 and up are also available. For more information, please call Dr. Teri Pastor at 310-707-8480, Gloria Legaspi at 951-496-0536 and Lucy Babaran at 818-395-9348. We thank our guests and sponsors for their generous support!

O C TO B E R 25 -27

Paco Catholic High School Class of 1964 Reunion sa Amerika” at the Gold Coast Casino & Hotel (4000 Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89103) in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 25-27, 2015. Reminisce with your schoolmates from 50+ years ago and re-live memorable high school days! Reconnect with your old friends and make some new ones! This is the first reunion gathering in the US since our 50th grand reunion. For more information, please contact: Dan Hidalgo - danielh616@hotmail.com; tel. (914) 3100864 / (914) 740-7028. Ester Tadeo Celestino - cesarucelestino@yahoo.com; tel. (201) 4330727/ (551) 574-8511. Minda Cuario Cameron - meandatwo@aol.com; tel. (813) 633-5642. Ed Bondoc - bondoced@yahoo.com; tel. (415) 342-9877. Gertrudes “Nette” Descallar Collyer - mycolly@roadrunner.com; tel. (818) 767-8175.

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Calapan Central High School Reunion Please save the date for the 60th anniversary year of Calapan Central School in Oriental Mindoro.

Where: Oakland, CA When: November 1-3, 2015.

Contact: Luz Yu (luz_yu@yahoo.com)

N OV E M B E R 7

Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture Save the date! FPAC 24 will occur on November 7th at the El Pueblo Historical Monument. Please visit www.FilAmARTS.org for more exciting details and information!

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

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

ernie D. Delfin (Part 1 of 2)

GK’s main program is building up people, never a dole out nor charity. Its record and performance for over ten years is phenomenal. It has become a major social agent of change in the Philippines. About 5 years ago, GK opened its Enchanted Farms in Angat, Bulacan and also created a model for Social Entrepreneurship primarily in agri-businesses, considering that the Philippines is still primarily an agricultural country. Majority of Filipinos still work as farmers, an industry that made millions of them unable to progress due to meager and unpredictable income aggravated by increasing population to feed, clothe and shelter. It is illogical that Filipinos still go hungry and must import its rice from other countries considering that God has given the Philippines abundant land with fertile soil and rich natural resources!

Enchanted Farms is a social experiment and incubator for various social enterprises especially agri-businesses.

Its “University of Social Entrepreneurship“ headquartered in its almost 50-hectare campus has attracted many students and social tourists as far as Europe and America. When our “LakbayAral” group from Pangasinan was there last July, students from elite colleges in Manila were also there. The orientation was done

by Meloto with his staff and a few OFWs (Overseas “FRENCH” workers) who are interns in this “university without walls.” It is a revolutionary strategy and social irony having the WASPs (White Anglo Saxon People) as the “workers” and the brown Filipino the as “bosses.” Nevertheless, it is a very conducive en-

to accept the job offer. If the DOL is not convinced of the employer’s good faith recruitment, the LC will not be issued and the foreigner being sponsored will not be able to immigrate to the United States.

The Recruitment Process The US Employer needs to advertise the job vacancy and while it can set particular requirements for the job position, it can only impose requirements that are normal to the job position and must not be overly restrictive. In addition, the US Employer must offer a wage rate equal to the prevailing wage in the area of intended employment, as determined by the DOL. Applications received in response to advertisements in newspapers, online job searches, company website and other forms of recruitment must be carefully evaluated, and can only be rejected for lawful, jobrelated reasons and for not meeting the minimum requirements.

After completing the recruitment process, the U.S. Employer submits the labor certification application to the DOL either through mail, or online under the DOL’s Program Electronic Review Management (PERM).

DOL takes between 6-10 months to process a labor certification application.

DOL conducts audits of applications submitted, either randomly or due to certain factors in the submitted applications. In such audits, DOL may request for clarification, additional information or other documents or evidence, after which a certifying officer can certify or deny the application, or require the US Employer to do another recruitment – this time, under DOL supervision.

The filing date of the labor certification application sets the priority date for the foreign worker.

The priority date determines when a visa will be available to the foreign worker, assuming the labor certification application is approved.

What happens after DOL certifies the application?

The US Employer can now file an immigrant petition for the foreign worker with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and must submit the certified labor certification (LC) with the petition. The USCIS evaluates the petition to determine whether the US employer has the financial ability to pay the wages of the foreign worker, and whether the foreign worker qualifies under one of the following categories: • 2nd Preference – Advanced Degree Professionals (for jobs requiring at least a Masters degree, or a Bachelor’s degree plus at least 5 years of experience) • 3rd Preference - Professionals (for jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree); and Skilled Workers (for nurses and other jobs requiring 2+ years training

or experience) • Other Workers Preference - Unskilled Workers (for jobs requiring less than 2 years training or experience) Upon approval of the immigrant petition, the foreign worker and his/her family (spouse and children under 21) can apply for permanent residence -- either through adjustment of status (if present in the US and eligible to apply) or getting an immigrant visa from the U.S. Embassy in his/her home country (if abroad) -- but filing for adjustment or applying for immigrant visa depends on the foreign worker’s priority date. As stated, the filing date of the LC sets the priority date, which in turn dictates when visas are available to the foreign worker and his family. You can check priority date information by logging on to our website www.chuatinsayvega.com and go to the Visa Bulletin link.

Validity A certified LC is only valid for 180 days for a specific US Employer, position, and location. If any of these 3 factors change, the LC cannot be used and may become a useless document. Also, DOL may still revoke an approved LC if it receives information there is no valid job offer. If the U.S. Employer does not file an immigrant petition within 180 days, the LC is considered expired and can no longer be used.

Effects of a Certified Labor Certification A certified LC is only the first step in obtaining permanent residence (green card) status or an immigrant visa, for a foreign worker and his/her family. If a foreign worker is already in the US, the LC does not give the worker any immigration status yet; nor does it authorize the worker to remain in the U.S. The LC is not an authority to work, and getting a certified LC does not authorize the worker to be employed either by the sponsoring US Employer or by any other employer. If the foreign worker is already out of status, the certified LC does not legalize the foreign worker’s stay in the US. If you wish to sponsor a foreign worker, or if you want to know whether you can be sponsored as a foreign worker, you need to consult with an experienced immigration attorney to assess your particular situation and eligibility. *** Atty. Aurora Vega is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 4958088; (619) 955-6277; auvega@ctvattys.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Gawad Kalinga-Rotary: Not only building houses but building people too vironment where the rich and the poor congregate and learn from each other. Sooner or later some become partners of a business where capital and labor become a healthy marriage.

These agri-business cycle starts from the seedbeds to the transplanting of the seedlings to fertile grounds, watching them grow till harvest time. The harvest becomes the raw materials of dried, pickled or bottled finished products, ready for the market or sold directly to the ultimate consumers, a great improvement to the old concept of farm to market. This innovation of “farm to the kitchen” allows the farmers to earn more. If this social innovation is duplicated in every town in the Philippines, the “poor” farmers will have bigger shares in the profits that will cumulatively result into a more progressive country. Then and only then would the Filipinos need not leave (as OFWs) just to live!

For what it has done, Gawad Kalinga has been recognized not only in the Philippines, like being a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee in 2006 but also globally as the Skoll Awardee for Social Entrepreneurship in 2012. Meloto is now a widely sought speaker especially in America and Europe as his vision of empowering the poor by actually working with them has caught global fire. It is the same philosophy being espoused by Pope Francis who is also making radical changes in dealing with the poor and powerless of the world. *** Thousands of Rotarians, including this writer, have been involved with GK for many years.

The last couple of years, for instance, our Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club (GKeRC) that I founded

in 2011 has helped in some ways the completion of the GK Villasis Namnama (Hope) Village I, where I was honored and privileged to give the symbolic keys to several houses last July to the poor but deserving families. Dozens of Rotarians joined, led by our Quezon City District Governor Dr. Reynaldo David (D3780) and his classmate from Tarlac District Governor Mai Ocampo (D3790).

As it was a joint GK-and Rotary event, our own DG Dr. David also inducted two new members of our GKeRotary -- Peter Montilla (he and his wife Soledad founded the GK Villasis Namnama Village) and the Mayor of Laoac, Pangasinan, Silverio “Boying”Alarcio.

Inspired by this rare and moving event, our newly inducted Rotarian Mayor Boying surprised many people as he was able to fast tract the groundbreaking of GK Laoac Namnama (Hope) Village II two weeks later in Barangay Anis, Laoac, Pangasinan, where dozens of Rotarians from our sister club of Rotary Club of Urdaneta City and Cong. Kimi Cojuangco gracing the occasion.

As most GK Villages are funded by private individuals and their friends, the GK E-Rotary Club and the Urdaneta City Rotary Club are now spearheading an innovative fundraising by selling raffle tickets to win a brand new “Angel” House and Lot” in Urdaneta, that is deeply discounted by the developer, Architect Rolando Sabado, who is also the incumbent president of the Rotary Club of Urdaneta, as the Grand Prize PLUS dozens of consolation prizes to be drawn sometime in 2016.

The plan is to print tickets and sell them to our friends and rela-

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Community Journal

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

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ UNDER US immigration laws, if a non-citizen commits and/or is later convicted of certain types of crimes that person could be removed/deported. This is the case even if a person has been a green card holder for many years or later had the conviction expunged.

I have encountered people charged with crimes who either handled the case on their own and pled “guilty,” or their criminal attorney negotiated a “plea deal.” After accepting the plea deal, they are shocked and horrified that DHS is now putting them in deportation procedure because of their criminal conviction. They profess their innocence, claiming they never really did anything wrong, did not understand the consequences of pleading guilty, and as part of their deportation defense, hope to prove their innocence.

The problem with that approach is that the immigration courts do not try, re-try, or decide your guilt or innocence of the crime you committed as part of the deportation/removal proceedings. The focus is on the fact that you were already convicted or pled guilty. If you truly believed you were innocent, the place or venue to make that ar-

gument should have been in the criminal court. However, the immigration judge will not try your criminal case, when you already passed up the opportunity to do so, by pleading guilty.

That is why it is important for a non-citizen charged with a crime, to have a criminal attorney represent them in the criminal matter.

They also seek the assistance of an immigration attorney who could work with the criminal attorney for an acceptable plea bargain. Sometimes, it is possible to be charged with one crime, but the plea deal results in pleading guilty to a crime that may have no immigration consequences.

For example, I had a case where the person was charged with assault and battery, after getting into a fight with a bouncer/security guard. Working with a criminal attorney, we negotiated a plea deal for “disturbing the peace,” which is like having your radio on too loud. That would have no immigration consequences. Had the person pled guilty to assault and battery, it could have had severe immigration consequences.

Sometimes a criminal attorney may not be fully aware of the immigration consequences of a plea deal. The criminal attorney may be thrilled to get a plea deal that avoids jail time, but in so do-

THIS Sunday, leading US Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers Kapamilya’s questions at his Law Offices in Glendale, California.

Can an aunt sponsor her nephew for a working visa at her own company?

A green card holder returned to the Philippines to attend his father’s funeral and stayed all these years. Can he return to the US without being turned away?

Monette AdevA MAglAyA

ing has the person plead guilty to a particular crime that will absolutely result in removal proceeding. Sometimes a person will accept the plea deal just to get the criminal matter “over with,” not realizing the plea deal will come back to haunt them, from an important standpoint.

If you are not a US citizen, and were charged with a crime, I would strongly recommend you immediately seek the advice of a reputable immigration attorney, who can analyze your situation, work with your criminal attorney in connection with negotiating an appropriate plea deal that would not have severe immigration consequences. Moreover, if you already pled guilty to a crime that carries severe immigration consequences, maybe certain steps can be taken to reopen the criminal matter, or otherwise lessen the severity of the plea.

However, I want to be clear that no one can “guarantee” any plea deal, as many factors come into play, such as the severity of the crime, the strength of the evidence against the person, the flexibility of the prosecutor, etc.

But I want to stress that crimes committed by non-– citizens have immigration consequences, and therefore, you should also consult an immigration attorney

Watch an all-new episode of your informationpacked, award-winning public service program on television – Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot–on Sunday, October 4 at 6:15 pm PST/ EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

Also, for latest immigration news and updates, please “like” and “share” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gurfinkellaw.

(Advertising Supplement)

Begin the Beguine with Vigan “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

— Marcel Proust

(Part 1 of 3)

HERE’S a thought. How about playing tourist in your own native land?

Get out of the city and really look with fresh eyes at the countryside. Let it not be said that aliens and other strangers saw something worthwhile that we didn’t — right in our own backyard. Let’s hope that even with gale force winds brought on by the latest super storm to hit the area, Vigan remained unflappable.

Those cavernous shopping malls, tiendecitas, tianggues and the stalls of Greenhills springing up like mushrooms, awash with gizmos, trinkets, doodads and brand name knock-offs for consumers to buy —we will always have with us—but certain places in the country deserve a long, hard look and a VISIT, before they fade away to oblivion.

Vigan is one of them. If you fit the bill of an expatriate who must cram the tourist experience into a 2 to 3 week time frame and there is only one chance for a local side trip, just one chance to do one mad dance before your Philippine trip is over, begin the beguine with Vigan. It has first claim to being the best of the old remaining towns of our Philippine colonial past. It shows the eclectic blending of many cultures forged over hundreds of years. Vigan shows aspects we would never see just by reading a travel book or watching a video.

Vigan shows aspects of our character, of who we are as a people.

VIGAN TEACHES US. For the longest time, I have always wanted to go North of Manila and visit Vigan in the Ilocos province, struck by the memory of an image I’ve seen in some tattered travel poster years back.

Here is Philippine history you can actually touch, a narrow, colonial

street you can actually walk on or keep your ears peeled to listen at sundown to the soothing clip clop of horse-drawn calesas for hire to tourists at 150 Php/hour or more, mixed with the annoyingly grating sound of the ubiquitous tricycles. The authentic remnants of Spanish architecture on Calle Crisologo, a short strip of narrow, cobblestone road, allow us to get a glimpse of what life must have been like several hundred years ago.

If you have any clairvoyant bone in your body, you can even sense the presence of curious, benign ghosts of ages past in the ancestral homes, mingling and jostling with the tourists eying strangers curiously wondering about us just as we wonder about them. At the nice, neat bed and breakfast inn we stayed in called Grandpa’s Inn, named for the doctor who owned it sometime ago, I could swear there is a quietly hovering presence in one part of the upstairs open area, faintly caught on camera, mysterious and otherworldly, making the small hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. If it were not for the bagnet, the daing and the longganisa they were serving for breakfast and the quaint calesa bed, the pleasant people at the reception desk and the efficiently working air conditioning in the Kalesa Room we were billeted in, I would have bolted for other accommodations.

It takes serious money and pigheaded determination to undertake preservation projects on a huge scale. In time, the ancestral homes that line Calle Crisologo will need to be preserved, if they are to be seen by generations yet to come who must be afforded the chance to see bits of our past in order to understand

who they are, as a people with a shared history, heritage and distinct personality in the context of an increasingly global world.

The venerable Ayala Family, who understood history, art and culture and its collective role in nation-building, saw this clearly far ahead of anyone else in the country and did its part through Ayala Foundation, decades ago.

The legacy lives on in the wellkept Burgos House which is now under the auspices of the National Museum. But more needs to get done. There is a certain sense of urgency in seeing just such a place — before the passage of time, changing mores, priorities and the inroads of crass commercialism endanger and eventually transform these old remnants of our history into just a memory, preserved only in history and travel books.

Sadly, under present conditions with the country constantly grappling with its social, economic and political woes while searching for its soul in waging a fight to the death with endemic corruption from the highest to the lowest rungs of government, preserving history, art and culture will have to stay in the back burner for a very long time. What this means for us is that the remaining relics of our history, if we don’t take the effort today to provide for their preservation, will simply be allowed to crumble to dust and fade away.

But enough thinking about tomorrow! Today has enough troubles of its own. For now, there’s enough yet of Vigan to enjoy just the way it is. (To be continued) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Animal activists protest at Petaluma Poultry Processing for World Day for Farmed Animals PETALUMA – On Friday, October 2, local animal rights activists from Sonoma County Chicken Save, along with national nonprofit Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), will protest at Petaluma Poultry Processing, a local chicken slaughterhouse, to commemorate World Day for Farmed Animals.

Dozens of activists will peacefully gather to inform the public about the tragedy happening just inside, as well as offering “whistleblower cards” with information to help workers:

CJ

Immigrants charged with crimes should seek help from both criminal and immigration lawyers

More Immigration Questions are answered on an all new episode of Citizen Pinoy!

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2-8, 2015

Date: Friday, October 2, 2015 Time: 9am– 7pm Location: Petaluma Poultry Processing, 2700 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, CA 94954 “This protest memorializes and speaks out for animals who are brutally killed at Petaluma Poultry Processing,” said area resident Lauren Ornelas, who is organizing the event. “On World Day for Farmed Animals, we intend to tell the public that all animals raised for food face a gruesome slaughter and deserve our respect.”

World Day for Farmed Animals includes a coordinated, targeted series of demonstrations at slaughterhouses and other animal agriculture facilities around the world to oppose the abuses inherent in animal agriculture. In addition to (your city), protests will be held in more than 100 U.S. locations and in several other countries, including Canada, England, Spain, Chile, India, and Israel.

“There are 65 billion farmed land animals killed for food every year, who are confined, mutilat-

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THIS WEEK ON “CITIZEN PINOY!” HOW CAN A PERSON WHOSE WIFE WAS “KIDNAPPED” PETITION A NEW GIRLFRIEND? Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers this question as well as a Humanitarian Revalidation question and more! Also, Atty. Gurfinkel gives viewers a look into how immigration concerns are handled in an office setting. All this and more, on the information-packed, award-winning public service program — “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday, October 4 at 6:15pm PST/EST (9:15pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

when making a plea deal. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different. The information

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

with any reader.

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

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PeoPle & events

OCTOBER 2-8, 2015 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Gawad Kalinga-Rotary: Not only building…

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tives and business associates inside and outside the Philippines.

The “donation” may be “tax deductible” depending where the buyer is. The grand prize may also be taxable. The Rotary Executive Committee as of this writing is discussing the number of tickets to print and sell: 1,000 tickets at $100=P4,500 or 2,000 tickets for $50=P2,250 or 3,400 at $30=P,1350. Stay tuned!

We are all praying that any-

one who would like to donate/ buy tickets or to help us raise some funds or donate 1 house for $3,000.00 to please contact me at: ernie.gkerc@gamil.com.

You can also visit our website for more information at www. gkerc.org In behalf of the future beneficiaries, and the Rotarians and the Municipality of Laoac officials, I thank anyone and everyone who can help us, in anyway to make this GK Laoac Hope Vil-

lage # 2 a reality in 2016 or as soon as possible.

Maraming Salamat. Thanks a million! God bless us all! *** Food for thought: “It is true that money cannot buy happiness, but it is certainly a very good down payment!” – This columnist *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com Visit: www.gkerc.org

Animal activists protest at…

As FARM has grown, so has public awareness of farmed animal abuse and the benefits of veganeach year on or around October ism. In addition to its 10 Billion PAGE CJ3 t ed, and bred to grow so large, so 2 in conjunction with the birth- Lives Tour - the organization’s quickly, that many of them liter- day of Mahatma Gandhi, an out- most ambitious undertaking yet ally suffer to death,” said Michael spoken advocate of non-violence - its grassroots initiatives include Webermann, FARM executive towards animals.

World Farm Animals Day, Great “The greatness of a nation and American Meatout, Compassiondirector. “Each year, World Day for Farmed Animals seeks to ex- its moral progress can be judged ate Holidays, Vegan Earth Day, pose the public to the shocking by the way in which its animals and more. FARM has been active truth of animal agribusiness, and are treated,” Gandhi famously since 1976 and was incorporated companies like Petaluma Poultry said. For more information please as a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit visit www.DayForAnimals.org. must be held accountable.” in 1981. FARM, recognized as About FARM This year marks the 33rd year one of the best charities in AmerFor more than 30 years, Farm ica by Independent Charities of World Day for Farmed Animals has been observed. The inter- Animal Rights Movement (FARM) America, is based in Bethesda, national day of action typically has worked to end the use of ani- Md. and has volunteers in all 50 includes vigils, marches, and mals for food through public ed- U.S. states and dozens of other demonstrations, and takes place ucation and grassroots activism. countries. The organization is

EMPLOYMENT

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

2015 FPACC Bi-National Business Conference: Bridging trans-Pacific commerce in a changing world

tion 2015’s partner and collaborator is FPACC Foundation Inc. while the co-hosts are the Las Vegas Filipino American Chamber of Commerce and the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Nevada.

Federation 2015 promises an exciting, engaging, and timely general program with moderated business-to-business (B2B) interactions and transactions, idea exchanges, networking, and memorandums of understanding interwoven throughout the 2-1/2 days’ activities. The program opens with the “Women’s Entrepreneurial Summit” on Friday, which also includes home-based entrepreneurs, a trade show exhibit that is open to the public for two days, and an evening welcome reception. The Saturday morning program is dedicated to funded by contributions from US-based business and economic individuals and foundations that matters while the afternoon sescare about animal rights, human sion is focused on Philippine and health, and environmental integ- international topics of interest, rity. For more information please highlighted by a formal evening gala event. FPACC’s biennial visit www.farmusa.org. n SAN FRANCISCO -- On November 6 to 8, 2015, the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce (FPACC) will commemorate and celebrate its 19th year anniversary at the 2015 FPACC Bi-National Business Conference, a.k.a. Federation 2015, which will be held at the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The organizers of the biennial, bi-national gathering of members from various Filipino American Chamber organizations and business communities in the USA and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expect to enhance and strengthen the organization’s volunteer work in “Bridging Trans-Pacific Commerce in a Changing World”, which is also the conference’s theme. Federa-

EMPLOYMENT

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FOR SALE

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election of its officers and board members will also take place during the conference. The Sunday morning session is scheduled to showcase the memorandums of understanding among the conference’s bi-national and domestic business stakeholders and present the incoming board of directors’ strategic plans.

Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino is located at 3770 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Registration and hotel booking information are found at http:// FPACC.net and http://fpachamber.com/FED_2015__Bi-National.html. Register online at http:// tinyurl.com/federation2015. As of press time, the “early bird” discounts for registration ends on August 30, 2015. Sponsorships, including media sponsorships, and advertising opportunities are also available at FEDERATION2015@FPACC.net.

For more information, contact Marie Cunning, FPACC President, at Marie.Cunning@FPACC. net or (602) 573-6936. n

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2-8, 2015

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2015 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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Friday, October 2, 2015

Jethro PAtALinghug (FiLM)

AstrALogik (Music)

kiMberLy Acebo Arteche (VisuAL Arts)

SF2

cover story

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 2, 2015

Kearny Street WorKShop preSentS ‘apature 2015: Future tenSe’

Bringing in a diverse assembly of next-generation Asian American and Pacific Islander artists

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe/AJPress

FROM October 2 to 17, in venues across San Francisco, a one-of-a-kind festival will highlight some of the brightest and most promising local talents in various disciplines of visual and performing arts, music, literary arts, film and comics & illustration. Presented

by Kearny Street Workshop (KSW), the country’s oldest and longest-running Asian Pacific American community arts organization, this year’s theme, “Future Tense,” offers prophetic glimpses into alternate realities, as a diverse assembly of nextgeneration artists imagine and engineer social change in the 21st century and beyond.

“APAture calls upon the wealth of creativity and artistry in our communities that have yet to be discovered or given due recognition,” said KSW Program Manager Jason Bayani.

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

Visual Arts Showcase (Free admission) October 2-17, Arc Gallery Studios, 1246 Folsom St., San Francisco Featured artist: Kimberly Acebo Arteche A Murphy & Cadogan Contemporary Art Award winner, Arteche received her BFA in Visual Arts/Photography from the university of Maryland, Baltimore County. her work has

been shown at the SOMArts Cultural Center for the Murphy and Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards showcase and at Root Division for MFA Now 2015. At present, she teaches ethnic studies with Pin@y educational Partnerships at Skyline College and currently a graduate student at San Francisco State university.

Other artists include Austin Boe, Rea Lynn de Guzman, Alan Khum, Grace Kim, Kyong Ae Kin, hadar Kleiman, Jana and Lawrence, Topher Maka, Nicholas Oh, Sunshine Velasco, Jeremy Villaluz, Manon Bogerd Wada, Tianxing Wang and Xiao Wang. With performances by Caroline Calderon and Joseph Nontanovan.

Music Showcase (Admission: $12-$15 at the door) Friday, October 9, 8pm12am, Bindlestiff Studio, 185 6th St., San Francisco Featured artist: AstraLogik An eclectic soul duo from San Jose, their diverse taste in music takes audiences on a journey where they hear performances that include tinges of neo-soul, R&B, roots, hip hop, electronic, world and indie.

AstraLogik has performed for grassroots community organizations, festivals and events all over the Bay Area. In April 2015, they launched their first eP, called Dream Awake.

Other artists include a.K.aye (hip hop), Ruby Mountain (indie folk), ebolabuddha (metal), Iridium (reggae/alternative), Vibrant Thangs (R&B/soul), and Wesley Woo (indie rock).

Thi Bui

Jethro Patalinghug

Film Showcase (Free admission) Saturday, October 10, 125pm) at the SF Public Library, Koret Auditorium Featured artist: Jethro Patalinghug A Bay Area filmmaker with more than 12 years experience in television and corporate video production, Patalinghug is also currently working as a video producer for Adecco at Google. his documentary film, My Revolutionary Mother, won best short documentary at the Boston Asian American Film Festival, the Singkwento International Film Festival and the unofficial Google Film Festival.

The film also won Best Filipino Focus documentary at the Cebu International Documentary Film Festival, first honorable at the Asians on Film Festival and was the official selection to the CAAMFest in 2013, Cinemalaya 2015, the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival 2014. his featured film for APAture 2015 #MyNameIs, is about a protest movement against Facebook’s “authentic” name policy.

Other official selections are Gangsta Warrior by Mass Bass by Sine68, Winter of the Unforgettable: 1944 by Lamnho Giang, Saan ang Espiritu ng Mga Vietnamese? by evyn Le espiritu, I Hate the Color Red

by Jazmin Jamias, A Period Drama by Kristine Gerologa and Accident by Granny Cart Gangstas.

Comics & Illustration Showcase (Free admission) Saturday, October 10, 12-5pm at the SF Main Public Library, Hispanic/Latino Room, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco Featured artist: Thi Bui Born in Vietnam three months before the end of the Vietnam War, Bui and her family immigrated to the united States in 1978. She studied art and legal studies at the university of California, Berkeley, and received an M.F.A. in sculpture from Bard College and a master’s degree in art education

from New York university. At one point she wanted to be a civil rights lawyer, but she got her head on straight and became a public school teacher instead. She is a founding teacher of Oakland International high School, the first public high school in California for recent immigrants and english learners. She also mentors students in the M.F.A. in comics program at the California College of the Arts. The Best We Could Do is her first graphic novel. She lives in Berkeley with her son, her husband, and her mother.

Other artists include Bo, Brian Canio, Mei-hsuang Chiang, Ka Yan Cheung, Sam Coaass, Trinidad escobar, Cynthia Fong, Lam Giang, Lamnho Gian, ellis Kim, Vincent Kukua, Michael Manomivibul, Minnie Phan, Sherwin Viray and Cecilia Wong.

Literary Arts Showcase (Admission: $7-$10 at the door) Sunday, October 4, 7-10pm, at Arc Gallery & Studios, 1246 Folsom St. Featured artist: Siamak Vossoughi Born in Tehran, Iran, and grew up in London, Orange County, and Seattle; Vossoughi graduated from the university of Washington and has lived in San Francisco for 20 years. he currently works at Presidio hill School and Some of his stories have been published in Glimmer Train, Kenyon Review Online, Washington Square, The Missouri Review, The Rumpus, and Fourteen Hills. he was awarded the 2014 Flannery O’Connor for Short Fiction for his collection Better Than War. Other artists include Kazumi Chin, Yume Kim, Ari Laurel, Quinn Leong, Michelle Lin, Francois Luong, Ploi Pirapokin, Kanwalroop Kaur Singh and Shelley Wong.

Performing Arts Showcase (Admission $12-$15 at the door) October 3, 8-11pm at ACT’s The Strand/The Rueff, 1127 Market St., San Francisco

Siamak Vossoughi

AstraLogik

Featured artist: SPULU (contemporary dance) SPuLu grew up in Oakland. he is an Alvin Ailey Camp (Berkeley/ Oakland) Alumni (2005) and has been working as an Ailey Group leader/mentor since 2012. he’s danced for multiple companies in the Bay Area: Future Shock Oakland, Destiny Arts, Chapkis Dance, Strong Pulse Dance Company, and Culture Shock Oakland. he is now the administrative director for Future Shock Oakland and is currently studying dance at San Francisco State university with an emphasis in race and resistance studies. his dance style is a modern contemporary fusion of Pacific Islander cultural movement and hip-hop.

In the future, SPuLu hopes to graduate and open a visual and

SPULU

Photo by Ron Carino

performing arts school in the Bay Area.

Other artists include BAD Repertory Theatre (sketch comedy), Sammay Dizon (multimedia), Rasika Kumar (dance) and Fong Tran (spoken word).

There will be a closing reception and panel on Saturday, October 17 from 1-5pm at the Arc Gallery & Studios. Panel discussion will be moderated by Dara Katrina Del Rosario, with performances by MenD Theater and Robert Marquez. Tickets are at $7-$10 at the door.

For more information about APAture 2015, tickets, schedules and Kearny Street Workshop, log on to www. http:// i52611.wix.com/kearnystreet. *Special thanks to Jason Bayani, Kearny Street Workshop’s Program Manager.

CBCP lauds AlDub KathNiel, JaDine, LizQuen in one stage for ‘spreading virtue, values and morality’

by Joyce JiMenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Three of ABSCBN’s biggest love teams shared one stage!

On It’s Showtime’s sixth anniversary on Saturday, Sept.

26, the love teams of James Reid-Nadine Lustre, Kathryn Bernardo-Daniel Padilla, and Liza Soberano-enrique Gil performed together.

This is the first time that these love teams shared one stage at the same time.

The rare performance is most memorable for KathNiel and JaDine fans since the two are being pitted against each other.

Their shows Pangako Sa’Yo and On the Wings of Love air back to back in ABS-CBN’S primetime block.

Why hugh Jackman is pleased to meet Filipino TV reporter

The breakout love team: Alden Richaeds and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Saturday lauded the “Kalyeserye” of GMA-7’s Eat Bulaga for “supporting the noble cause of spreading virtue, values and morality.”

“Supporting the noble cause of spreading virtue, values and morality that our nation deserves. #ALDubeBforLOVe,” a post from the CBCP Twitter account read.

The split-screen loveteam of actor Alden Richards and

Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza surpassed its previous 12 million Twitter record and reached a new high of 16.4 million tweets on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The hashtag for the latest episode of Eat Bulaga’s “Kalyeserye,” #ALDubeBforLOVe reached 16.4 million tweets making it the top trending topic worldwide.

Netizens worldwide basked in excitement as Alden and Maine met for the fourth time on a date. (Inquirer.net)

The love teams of James Reid-Nadine Lustre, Kathryn Bernardo-Daniel Padilla, and Liza Soberano-Enrique Gil performed together for “It’s Showtime’s” sixth anniversary.

Actor Hugh Jackman, who is known for his portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men film series, holds a painting of the character made by ABS-CBN news reporter Marie Lozano’s brother, who had Down syndrome and died two years ago.

Screengrab from Hugh Jackman’s Instagram account

AuSTRALIAN actor hugh Jackman on Tuesday, Sept. 29 took to Instagram to share a photo of himself with ABSCBN reporter Marie Lozano.

Jackman, who was holding a painting of Wolverine in the picture, said he had the “great pleasure” of meeting Lozano, whom he called a “lovely lady.” “her brother, Jeffrey, had Down Syndrome. he passed away 2 years ago. Marie shared with me that one of Jef-

frey’s joys in life was painting,” Jackman said in the caption.

Jackman said the painting was made by Lozano’s brother using his mouth when he could no longer use his hands due to the disease.

“I accept this gift in Jeffrey’s honor. May his spirit live on,” he added.

Jackman is popularly known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men film series.

(Inquirer.net)

sam Milby: Not your typical ‘Amboy’ San FranciSco

By Monet

Lu

As stereotypical as it is, there is some sort of “label” attached to being an “AmBoy” (American boy) or a “Fil-Am” (Filipino-American). some would have it that most of these “hybrid” Pinoys usually come off as arrogant or entitled. Which is why it is not only surprising—but such a relief to know—that one of their kind is totally the opposite of what we described as the typical Amboy. I am of course talking about the very humble and down-to-earth rockstar, sam Milby. sam Lloyd Lacia Milby was born and raised in Troy, Ohio.

Milby is the youngest son of Filipina Elsie Lacia who hails from surigao, Philippines and American entrepreneur, Lloyd Milby. Not many people know that one of Milby’s first big break is in a toothpaste commercial in 2005. He later on became more famous as one of the housemates of Pinoy Big Brother in the same year.

One of his earlier media appearances is in the music video of Just A Smile by Barbie Almalbis, which was used to promote that toothpaste product.

As a housemate in the Pinoy Big Brother house, Milby, for me, is the most charming. Rumor has it that his fans intentionally voted him out of the house so that he would exit sooner and they can finally meet him in person. Milby was defeated by his fellow housemate, Jayson Gainza during their one-on-one eviction.

Right after his exit from the PBB house, countless movie and television offers poured in, and he was later hailed as the newest “heartthrob” of Philippine Cinema.

I’ve heard a lot of good

Sam Milby

things about this young man. some say that Milby is low profile and easy to get along with. It is no wonder that he is the most famous among his PBB counterparts. He headlined the romantic comedy Kahit Konting Pagtingin, opposite Angeline Quinto (also starring Paulo Avelino) on ABs-CBN, he starred in his first antagonist role as Eros in the dark melodrama Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala with Kc Concepcion & Judy Ann santos. Milby also finished Death March, his fourth independently produced film (Cannes Film Festival entry) and received good reviews for his action scenes in Kimmy Dora Ang Kiyemeng Prequel. He also headlined in The Gifted under Viva Films with Anne Curtis & Cristine Reyes.

In 2006, he was launched as a member of all-male group, Coverboys with John Lloyd Cruz, Zanjoe Marudo, Rafael Rosell, Victor Basa and Jake Cuenca. From being just another Pinoy Big Brother housemate, the FilipinoAmerican looker has outshined even his own popularity with sold-out concerts and Platinum albums, top-rating TV soaps (including Maging Sino Ka Man with John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo and Anne Curtis, which launched his career as a dramatic television actor), blockbuster movies and big product endorsements to his name. He is a regular stay in the sunday musical variety

show, A.S.A.P. since 2007 up to present, and a member of ABs-CBN’s elite circle of homegrown talents, star Magic co-managed by Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. Milby has also won several acting awards and this has only made the young actor more grateful and driven to improve his craft. In fact, he is one of the few Filipino actors who ventured into Hollywood.

Milby has been taking acting classes and trying out his charm and talent for a chance at Hollywood. While this is not impossible, I am sure that his fans from the Philippines would definitely miss him if he everything worked out for him in the Us. Aside from being an actor, commercial model, and recording artist, Milby is a jack-of-all-trades. His hobbies include motocross, hockey, figure skating, tennis, golf, playing guitar, and singing. sam Milby proved to be one of those Fil-Ams who does not need to have “attitude” in order to get attention. He worked hard for everything he has achieved in the industry and does not rely on the fact that his accent gives away his pure American blood. I have to say that even though PBB are receiving flak for their notorious display of “real-life norms,” they did one thing right in introducing this fine young Am-boy who may look “Am-boy” on the outside but definitely a humble “Juan” on the inside.

Good luck on your career, sam. *** 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

features SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – October 2, 2015

Comcast announces fifth back-toschool kickoff for Internet Essentials More than 2 million low-income Americans, from 500,000 families, have now crossed the digital divide at home Company doubles internet speed, offers Wi-Fi routers for no additional cost, and announces pilot program for low-income senior citizens PHILADELPHIA—Comcast today announced several significant enhancements and milestones for Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program.

The company said it plans to double the service’s download Internet speed, offer subscribers a Wi-Fi router for no additional cost, and conduct several pilot programs for low-income senior citizens. The announcements reaffirm Comcast’s commitment to help close the digital divide for low-income families and bring the transformative power of the Internet into more American homes. since the program’s inception, Comcast has made 25 key enhancements to Internet Essentials, and this is the third time in four years Comcast has increased speeds for customers. The current speed is doubling to up to 10 Mbps downstream, which is enough to power multiple devices simultaneously. In addition, by offering free Wi-Fi routers, customers will be able to connect any Internet-enabled device, including tablets and smartphones, which could help save money on monthly wireless bills.

“We have made significant progress toward closing the digital divide for low-income parents and children across the country. In less than four years, Internet Essentials has connected more than 500,000 families, or more than 2 million low-income Americans, to the power of the Internet at home,” said David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “With the increase in the program’s Internet speeds, the addition of Wi-Fi and a streamlined auto-enrollment process, more families will have even easier access to the Internet

and its life-changing resources for education, employment, healthcare, communication, and entertainment.”

The pilot program for lowincome seniors is designed to better understand the unique challenges of helping them cross the digital divide and learn how to use the Internet. According to Pew Research Center, just 47 percent, or less than half, of seniors (aged 65 and older) have high-speed Internet at home.

When it comes to income level, only 25 percent of seniors with household incomes below $30,000 have home broadband, compared to 82 percent of seniors with household incomes at or above $75,000.

The first pilot program will take place in Palm Beach County, Florida, where Cohen was joined by City of West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio, Palm Beach County school District superintendent Robert Avossa, and Urban League of Palm Beach County President and CEO Patrick J. Franklin to make today’s announcements. “senior citizens can be an afterthought when it comes to addressing digital literacy and use of the Internet,” said Franklin. “However, the Internet has a tremendous power to help change their lives for the better by tearing down the walls that geography may have put between them and the ones they love. It can also help restore a sense of community and inclusion, bonds that can weaken as we grow older.”

To receive the faster Internet speed, customers simply need to reboot their cable modems.

Existing customers who would like a Wi-Fi router just need to call the dedicated call center and either request to have one shipped to them for free, or they can schedule a professional in-

stallation, also for no additional cost. New customers will have the option to receive a Wi-Fi router when they sign up.

Internet Essentials Investments Through Internet Essentials, Comcast has invested more than $240 million in cash and in-kind support to help fund digital literacy and readiness training and education, reaching nearly 3.2 million people through national and local nonprofit community partners. Through the end of June 2015, Comcast has: • Dedicated more than $1 million in grants to create Internet Essentials Learning Zones, where networks of nonprofit partners are working together to enhance public Internet access and increase family-focused digital literacy training in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Fresno, Miami, and seattle, among others.

• Provided more than 41,000 subsidized computers at less than $150 each.

• Distributed for free nearly 46 million Internet Essentials program materials.

• Broadcast more than 7 million public service announcements, valued at more than $90 million.

• Welcomed more than 3.5 million visitors to the Internet Essentials websites in English and spanish and its Online Learning Center.

• Fielded more than 3.2 million phone calls to our Internet Essentials call center.

• Offered Internet Essentials to nearly 48,000 schools and more than 5,000 school districts, in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

• Partnered with 9,000 of community-based organizations, government agencies, and federal, state, and local elected officials to spread the word. *Advertising Supplement

SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 2, 2015

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 ABS-CBN. 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, which has been on air for 23 years.

Madame Charo, who will turn 60 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 - Master Showman German Moreno, and beauty expert Carmen Taylor; October 4 - Fil-Am Cuisine proprietress Annabel Guevarra; October 5 - TV Patrol coanchor Korina Sanchez Roxas, Speaker Sonny Belmonte, singer Erik Santos and actress/model

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

Phoemela Baranda; October 7 - Actor/TV host Joey Marquez, and San Jose student leader Christian Back (currently attending De Anza College majoring in Finance and Economics); 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, former Daly City Councilmember Carol Klatt, and Eat Bulaga! co-host Joey de Leon; October 13 - Filipino-Italian

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.

Senator Chiz Escudero (who is also running for Vice President in the 2016 Philippine election), will celebrate his birthday on October 10 with his wife, actress/TV host Heart Evangelista.

Daly City beauty expert Carmen Taylor will celebrate her birthday on Saturday, October 3.

The Philippine Association of University Women recently awarded Ms. Conchita Mitchell of Daly City for Previous Outstanding Achievements as witnessed by CA State Board Member Ray Satorre and Daly City Councilmember Mike Guingona (who is running for San Mateo Board of Supervisor).

Philstar.com

CEBU—Jericho Rosales doesn’t mind being the second choice for the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Walang Forever.

His role was originally given to JM de Guzman. However, the film’s producer, lawyer Joji Alonzo, recently announced the actor has been replaced by Jericho.

“Hindi ko tinitignan lagi kung sino ang pinapalitan ko, e,” said Jericho during the press conference for Filipino restaurant Kuya J’s in Cebu on Sunday, Sept. 27.

“I really don’t mind kung second choice or third choice ako. As long as the project is fit para sakin and I know that I can do a good job in playing a role,” he added.

The Kapamilya actor also said that he understands JM’s decision to give up the film to

focus on his TV show All of Me. “I know that JM is very busy with his soap,” he said.

“Ako rin ganon ang buhay ko kapag may soap ako. Hindi ako nakakatanggap ng pelikula kasi mahirap talaga.”

Jericho said he has always been interested to star in a romantic-comedy project, which made hi say yes to Walang Forever. For the MMFF entry, the ABS-CBN star will work with GMA-7 actress Jennylyn Mercado for the first time.

The film also stars Jennylyn Mercado and will be directed

by Dan Villegas.

“Rom-com [romantic-comedy] has always been something that I’ve always wanted to penetrate,” he said. “Kumbaga get into a territory na medyo light lang while having fun. “ The last TV show he did was Bridges of Love, which ended in the first quarter of the year.

Lea Salonga

Multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon will be celebrating his birthday on Halloween, October 31.

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

Jericho will start working on the film on November after going to Paris and having series of shows in US with Maja Salvador.

Netizens interpreted her tweet as an allusion to the “AlDub” loveteam of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza despite it not referring to the split-screen lovers.

Salonga sent the tweet as the second “Saturdate” of Richards and Mendoza in Lola Nidora’s

Caedo, entertainment producer/ manager Annabelle Rama, and Pittsburg best dressed business executive Fernand Tanedo; October 26 - US’ former First Lady Hillary Clinton, Kaiser Permanente HR Manager in San Francisco and South San Francisco Glenna Marie Agbayani, and Viva Films big boss Vic del Rosario; October 27 - TV host Boy Abunda, actor/director Albert Martinez and SamTrans mechanic Manny Cabrera; October 28 - Actress Angelika dela Cruz, and Novo Ecijano leader Marilyn Cuncio Carian; October 29 - Antioch care home owner and dental assistant Evangeline Perez; October 31 - Multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon.

To all celebrants, a very happy birthday!

film from Regal Entertainment.

“They are a wonderful couple. She and Vic will have a simple, intimate wedding. I will attend even if she doesn’t invite me,” she said.

In Resureksyon, currently in cinemas, Belle plays an overseas Filipino worker who comes home to her family in a coffin.

At her wake, she comes back to life as something else.

What is the challenge of playing a vampire?

I wasn’t a vampire at the beginning of the film. The hardest scene to make was when I was saying goodbye to my sister (played by Jasmine CurtisSmith) and we both had to cry.

I had a hard time crying so we had to motivate each other.

It was hard to play a vampire because I had to do a lot of stunts—running and jumping.

As a form of research, I watched vampire movies to see their movements. I saw Twilight, Kubot and Interview with the Vampire, starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. I love vampire movies.

What was it like working with Jasmine? With Paulo Avelino?

Jasmine is like a baby sister to me. (Belle is friends with Jasmine’s older sister Anne Curtis). She used to sleep at my house when she was younger.

Not many people know that she eats a lot, but never seems to get fat.

It’s nice to hang out with Continued on Page SF6

world. That’s what I was after. We all need fun, but that can’t be all there is,” she said.

Salonga also said that she was “slowly learning” about AlDub. She even described Mendoza as “gorgeous.”

“Uhmmm… I have no idea what’s going on. Why did people assume I was tweeting about AlDub? I wasn’t. I don’t know about

it. So why the hate?”

“I’m slowly learning about the whole AlDub phenomenon.

It teaches positive values, most notably LOVE. So why the hate, AlDub fans?” the actress added.

Salonga is in New York City preparing for the play Allegiance which will officially open on November 8 in Broadway. (Inquirer. net)

r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

Jericho Rosales doesn’t mind being the second choice for the lead of of the 2015 Metro Manila Filn Festival entry “Walang Forever.”

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

Isabelle Daza wants to plan Vic and Pauleen’s wedding

by Marinel

Lea Salonga draws flak from ‘AlDub’ fans over ‘shallowness’ tweet

ACTRESS Lea Salonga came under fire over a tweet she posted on Saturday, Sept.

26 which tackled “kababawan” (shallowness).

The tweet read: “Okay lang sa akin ang kababawan, pero hanggang doon na lamang ba tayo? #NagtatanongLangPo.”

Actress Bea Alonzo will be celebrating her birthday on October 17, most likely with boyfriend, model/actor Zanjoe Marudo.

“Sandstorm,” a film produced by award-winning actor JD Charisma; and directed & written by award-winning director, Lawrence Iriarte; won the “Best Directed ” film for the 48 Hours Film Festival 2015 held at Camera 12 in downtown San Jose last September 20, 2015. This film was written, filmed, & edited in 48 hours. Shown in photo are (L-R): Brian Simmerman, JD Charisma, Lawrence Iriarte, James Devreaux Lewis, Matthew Abaya and Henrietta Nofre.

Jericho Rosales doesn’t mind being 2nd choice to JM de Guzman in MMFF entry

by JoyCe JiMenez

Glenna Marie Agbayani, HR Manager for Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco and South San Francisco, will celebrate her birthday on Monday, October 26.

“I KNEW it! I knew they were the one for each other,” said actress Isabelle Daza, reacting to the news about the engagement of her friend Pauleen Luna to Eat Bulaga! cohost Vic Sotto.

Belle and Pauleen became close when the former had a short stint as Bulaga host in 2014. She said she was excited for her friend “because I was there at the beginning and was a witness to everything. Pauleen and I don’t see each other often but we’re pretty close. I’m still in touch with her and with most of the hosts of Bulaga via Facetime.”

Belle is convinced that “Pauleen is ready for it. I’m going to help her plan her wedding, even though she is not asking for it. In fact, I already told her what her color motif should be,” the actress said during the press conference of Resureksyon, a Borgy Torre horror mansion topped the trending topics on Twitter. The hashtag #AlDubEBforLove generated more than 25.6 million tweets.

The actress clarified in succeeding tweets that she was not bashing anyone but she was talking about striking a balance between what is fun and serious.

“For those of you that replied about BALANCE, you rock my

Isabelle Daza says she is challenged by her current projects and believes she still has to prove herself.

Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 2, 2015

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features

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 2, 2015

New homes available for quick move-in at Cielo by William Lyon Homes for a limited time only

BRENTWOOD— Cielo by William Lyon Homes is offering homebuyers the opportunity to pick their favorite way to save big on quick move-in homes at Palmilla in Brentwood. For a limited time only, as part of the Pick and Pack Savings Event*, buyers can choose to save on closing costs, design studio credit or additional appliances. Featured homes include Residence Three, Homesite 36 which spans approximately 2,305 square feet with five bedrooms and three baths.

This single-family home features over $25,000 in upgrades including granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances, upgraded flooring and interior paint and much more.

Visit HYPERLINK “http://www. lyoncielo.com” www.lyoncielo. com or stop by the sales gallery to learn more.

“Buyers should visit soon before this great opportunity is gone,” said Kathy Floyd, Director of Sales for William Lyon Homes. “Those who act now will not only enjoy incredible savings, but can also settle into their new home before the holidays.”

Additional neighborhoods participating in this limited time savings event include Maplewood in Tracy, Oak Crest

in Antioch and Victory at Vista Del Mar in Pittsburg. Visit www. lyonhomes.com/northern-california to find out more about the quick move-in opportunities available.

Cielo presents four distinctive detached floorplans that offer approximately 1,770 to 2,422 square feet, with three to five bedrooms, two and a half to three baths and two-car attached garages. Prices start from the mid $400,000s.

Set within the renowned Palmilla master-planned community, residents will enjoy a well-rounded lifestyle with access to the Palmilla neighborhood park, as well as several nearby parks and golf courses.

The Brentwood setting affords the community access to the Brentwood Union School District and Liberty Union High School District. Commuters will appreciate proximity to Highway 4 and Vasco Road, offering easy access to major employment centers.

Palmilla is situated in Brentwood, a setting that NerdWallet named the “Best City” for Homeownership in California in July 2014. Citing the influx of homeowners, the affordability and comfort of homeownership and proximity to natural attractions, the study ranked

Brentwood #1 out of 178 California cities.

It matters who your builder is and William Lyon Homes is a company built upon a legacy of pride and integrity. A team of visionaries who are passionate about homebuilding and committed to providing a high quality homebuying and homeownership experience, William Lyon Homes has earned a solid track record for outstanding construction and customer service since 1956.

The company continues to expand its well-respected brand beyond California, Arizona and Nevada and into other market areas across the Western region with the acquisition of Polygon Northwest Homes, its newest division in Washington and Oregon, and its Village Homes division in Colorado.

William Lyon Homes’ shares are publicly traded on NYSE under the symbol WLH. For updated information and to learn more, visit www.lyonhomes.com.

To visit Cielo, travel Highway 4, exit east on Sand Creek Road. Turn right on Fairview Ave., left on Central Blvd., then left on Palmilla Dr. and follow the signs. The Model Homes and Sales Gallery are open daily from 10am to 6pm. For more information, please call (925) 513-1015 and register your interest at www.LyonCielo.com.

Prices, plans and product information subject to change. *All homes subject to prior sale. Buyers must purchase between September 12, 2015 and October 31, 2015 and close escrow by December 18, 2015 to qualify. Homes that do not already have flooring are subject to added price if upgrade is selected by buyer. Prices and availability of homes subject to change without notice. See sales counselors for details. *Advertising Supplement

Help us BOX A SMILE for 3,000 kids this Christmas THE LBC Foundation, in cooperation with Project Pearls, aims to move love this Christmas through its project BOX A SMILE. The LBC Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of LBC Express. Together with Project PEARLS, a non-profit organization, whose vision of seeking to protect and provide the basic human rights of the poorest of the poor children in the Philippines, BOX A SMILE will be launched on October 1, 2015.

Box A Smile is a project that aims to deliver a Happy Christmas to children in poverty in the Philippines. LBC Customers from North America who sends a box via sea or air from October 1 to November 30, 2015 may elect to participate in the program, where a portion of their transaction fees will be donated to Box A Smile.

The funds raised will be used to give Christmas gifts to beneficiary children at a gifting event (Christmas party) organized by Project Pearls. LBC Foundation is targeting to collate 3,000 Christmas Gift Boxes.

Come December 2015, the distribution of Christmas Gift

Boxes to children aged 4-14yo in underprivileged areas of Helping Land, Tondo, Manila, Brgy. Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan, Zambales will be held.

With this, we encourage

your participation in bringing smiles to children in need. Visit your nearest LBC branch or call 1800-338-5424 for more information on how you can help. *Advertising Supplement

Movie on San Pedro Calungsod, 2nd Filipino Saint, premieres in the Bay Area at Century 20 Great Mall St. Elizabeth Church hosts premiere of ‘Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir’ MILPITAS—The story on our 2nd Filipino saint finally comes alive on the big screen through the film Pedro Calungsod, Batang Martir. And St. Elizabeth Church in Milpitas is pleased to feature a private premiere on Oct. 10 @ 7pm and Oct. 18 @ 5pm at the Century 20 Great Mall in Milpitas.

All are welcome to learn more about our young saint who was martyred at 17 years old while on a missionary trip to Guam with the Spanish Jesuits.

Pedro Calungsod, Batang Martir (also known as Journey of a Young Saint) was originally released in the Philippines as an official entry to the 2013 Manila Film Festival. It was praised and widely endorsed by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) for the values that Pedro can impart to our young generation of future leaders. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Youth Commission and Media Office also approved the movie.

San Pedro—an altar server, young catechist, and migrant worker—has inspired Filipinos worldwide, especially the youth and overseas workers. Come be inspired by his life. Tickets are very limited and available through St. Elizabeth Parish

Office, (408) 262-8100, or by emailing calungsodmovieusa@ gmail.com. Tickets: $20 for general admission, $50 for reserved upper row seating. Proceeds will benefit the construction of St. Elizabeth’s new Parish Minis-

try Center.

For more information, please visit St. Elizabeth Church, at 750 Sequoia Dr., Milpitas, CA 95035 or call (408) 262-8100 or email calungsodmovieusa@ gmail.com.

Magalona sisters cut their hair for a cause

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Maxene Magalona is happy that she was able to convince her sister, Saab Magalona, to join her cause for cancer patients.

Last year, Maxene was happy for the support that the public gave for the “Matrix Chairs of Change,” which was spearheaded by salon brand Matrix and in partnership with David’s Salon.

The participants of the campaign will cut off eight inches of their hair, which will be used in making wigs for the benefit of Kythe-Ateneo, which takes care of kids battling cancer.

“Sobrang sarap sa feeling seeing the kids so happy because nabigyan namin ang isang kid ng wig. The smile on

Maxene Magalona was joined by her sister Saab Magalona in her cause to cut off their hair to make wigs for kids with cancer.

Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez

their face is just priceless,” said Maxene about the campaign.

Saab, who joined the cam-

paign for the first time, said it wasn’t hard to convince her to join the cause since they’ve also lost their father, master rapper Francis “Kiko” Magalona, to cancer.

“It was no problem at all, no hesitations,” Saab said. “It was a great example of how someone let go of their beautiful long hair and I know I’ll feel good the way that she did when she did it last year.”

Maxene also said that being part of the campaign can make the kids feel that they are there for them. “Matrix, Ateneo we’re all here for all these families of these kids with cancer.

They’re having a hard time going through that, but just seeing how many people are willing to help it feels so good,” she said.

Isabelle Daza wants to plan...

From Page SF4 Paulo. I learned so much from him. Paulo can be a good writer-director someday.

How do you describe Borgy as a director?

He is good and I enjoy working with him. Everything in the film was his vision, but he maintained a friendly relationship with the cast. When Paulo, for example, asked if it’s okay to do a certain scene in a different

way, Borgy would consider it.

He’s super-cool and I love him.

Are you satisfied with your decision to move to ABSCBN? Weren’t you promised a lead role?

I’m happy. I’m challenged by my projects. I don’t expect my bosses to give me everything right away. I still have to prove myself and my capabilities. I’m happy with ABS-CBN, although I’m still in touch with

my Eat Bulaga family.

What did your mom (actress and former beauty queen Gloria Diaz) say about your performance in “Nathaniel?”

She always says that I should act and speak with my eyes; and that I’m only as good as my last scene so I have to do my best. What they are going to see is just the final take.

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