San Francisco Edition -- August 28 -- September 03, 2015

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Volume 14 - No. 35 • 3 Sections – 28 Pages

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US plans more drills for freedom of seas

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

mANILA—the United states plans to increase the number of military and humanitarian drills it is conducting in the Asia-Pacific as part of a new strategy to counter China’s rapid expansion in the south China sea, the Philippine military said on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Admiral harry harris, commander of the Us Pacific Command, highlighted key aspects of the Pentagon’s freshly drafted Asia-Pacific maritime security strategy during talks with Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin

DATELINE

and Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) chief Gen. hernando Iriberri at Camp Aguinaldo.

Col. restituto Padilla, spokesman for the military, told journalists that the report outlined Washington’s set of actions in the disputed south China sea and east China sea, focusing on the protection of “freedom of seas,” deterring conflict and coercion and promoting adherence to international law.

China claims most of the south China sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. the Philippines, Vietnam, malaysia, taiwan and Bru-

nei also have overlapping claims.

A military source, who was in the meeting between harris and Iriberri, told reuters the Us and the Philippines are expected to increase the size, frequency and sophistication of exercises in the region. since China’s land reclamation efforts began in December 2013, it has reclaimed more than 1,170 hectares of land as of June 2015, the Pentagon said last week in a report on its Asia-Pacific maritime security strategy. the reclamation campaign significantly outweighed efforts by PAGE A2

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes United States Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris during the courtesy call at the Study Room of the Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Malacañang photo by Joseph Vidal

Filipinos applaud House Foreign Affairs Committee on efforts to combat land grabbing in Southeast Asia

USA

by Allyson

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Bill to raise gas tax by 12 cents advances in California Senate

A CALIforNIA senate committee has approved a measure that would increase the state’s gas tax by 12 cents per gallon as a means of addressing California’s transportation crisis. the new fuel levy, passed on Wednesday, Aug. 19, would be California’s first tax hike since 1994, the san Jose mercury News reported. It would be collected in addition to the state’s current 42 cents-per-gallon tax and an 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal tax. Along with legislation that would raise vehicle registration fees by $35 each year per car, the state would generate $4 billion per year for repairs. fees for all-electric vehicles would also increase $100.

While the senate committee advanced the transportation tax bill in a 9-2 party-line vote, tax and fee hikes require a two-thirds approval in both houses. how Democrat and republican state lawmakers decide to work together to repair California’s deteriorating roads will unfold throughout the next few weeks.

“We don’t want to dump the cost of our horribly maintained infrastructure on the next generation – it will be too late to solve the problem PAGE A3

‘Superbug’ outbreak at California hospital A hosPItAL in Los Angeles announced Wednesday, August 19 that some of its patients have contracted an antibiotic-resistant “superbug,” which has been linked to a type of medical scope used in the procedure, and has infected dozens of people around the country. huntington memorial hospital said in a statement that it notified public health authorities, after several of its patients who had procedures using olympus Corp. duodenoscopes were found to have the resistant pseudomonas bacteria. the hospital said it has quarantined the scopes while it investigates whether they may be linked to the infections. the statement made no mention of the total number of infected patients or their conditions.

According to the Los Angeles times, the issue was discovered in June and three patient infections have been reported to health PAGE A3

escobAR

AJPress

the house foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific gathered at the California state Polytechnic University, Pomona campus on friday, Aug. 21, for a field hearing about property rights, development, and land ownership in southeast Asia. for years, the United states has sought to help promote security and economic growth in dependent countries like the Philippines and Cambodia. many families in the southeast Asia region are denied basic protections under the law, including the right Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs to secure property, raise capiCommittee, talking with Joey Quinto, editor and publisher of the California tal, and participate freely in the Journal for Filipino Americans.

AJPress photo by Allyson Escobar economy.

on friday, rep. ed royce (r-California), chairman of the house foreign Affairs Committee joined with rep. matt salmon (r-Arizona), chairman of the subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, as well as several Us officials from various agencies and bureaus, in charge of promoting and protecting land development in foreign countries.

“We have been working very closely with [the Philippine] government to respond to the devastation of tacloban and to reform the government. however, at some local government levels, the legacy of marcos still remains,” royce said in his opening statement. “But as we aim to deepen our engagement and

Filipino with drug history arrested in BOC chief to meet with OFW Disneyland for carrying loaded gun groups over balikbayan boxes

Percival Aguilar Agoncillo

ANAheIm—Anaheim police say an armed man, Percival Aguilar Agoncillo, 44, was arrested last month in the esplanade area between Disneyland and California Adventure, after park security found him with a loaded gun and additional ammunition.

Agoncillo was nabbed shortly after 9pm on July

9, booked, then released on by evelyn mAcAiRAn Philstar.com $20,000 bail. however, he was rearrested mANILA—smarting from in Northern California, when a public criticism of a plan to post-arrest background check subject balikbayan boxes to found that the san francisco resident was on probation in san mateo County for carrying a loaded gun.

After learning of Agoncillo’s arrest in orange County, san

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Binay: ‘Ghost beneficiaries’ served Makati City

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

mANILA—Vice President Jejomar Binay on tuesday, Aug. 25 admitted that there are makati outsider senior citizens

Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay claimed the nonresidents of Makati City who benefited from the Senior Citizen program rendered service in Makati City.

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physical inspection, Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Alberto Lina is meeting next week with overseas filipino PAGE A2

PAGE A2

who benefited from their program but clarified that these beneficiaries gave service to makati City.

Binay responded to sen. Antonio trillanes IV’s allegations of “ghost beneficiaries” in makati City which he mentioned at the hearing of the senate Blue ribbon sub-Committee. he said these beneficiaries are senior citizens from other cities and municipalities who rendered service in makati City.

“Halimbawa teacher, halimbawa pulis na hindi taga-makati. Eh nakikinabang naman ang makati sa serbisyo nila binibigyan namin ‘yun,” Binay said in an interview with dzmm.

Aside from non-residents of makati who benefited from the senior citizen program, trillanes also referred to ghost beneficiaries as residents who already passed away but are still part of the list of beneficiaries PAGE A3

Travelers push their balikbayan boxes at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City. Instead of a random physical inspection of balikbayan boxes, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will use X-ray machines to thoroughly examine all shipping containers filled with balikbayan boxes.

Philstar.com photo by Kriz John Rosales

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transform our aid so that it supports sustainable, market-based economic growth, we must consider whether the underlying conditions exist to realize that growth.”

“In countries where citizens are denied basic protections under the law, including the right to secure property, those conditions simply do not exist. An outdated and inefficient land administration system has resulted in fraudulent, overlapping and duplicate or even triplicate land titles and widespread land grabbing in the Philippines. the perpetrators are local politicians, foreign investors and well-connected people,” he continued.

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From the Front Page

US plans more drills...

PAGE A1 other claimants in size, pace and nature, the Pentagon report said.

China says the outposts will have undefined military purposes, as well as help with maritime search and rescue, disaster relief and navigation.

During the meeting, Harris vowed to help the Philippines strengthen its intelligence gathering capabilities, as the Philippines and the US agreed to work together to maintain regional stability.

“It was agreed that developing the capability of the AFP is of paramount importance, specifically in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and command and control,” defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said.

“They agreed that they will be assessing how best they can assist us in those areas,” he said in a phone interview.

The Philippines and US agreed to cooperate in information-shar-

ing and help maintain regional stability.

When asked if the informationsharing agreement will cover the South China Sea dispute, Galvez said: “It will be all-encompassing.

It will cover all security concerns including maritime issues, antiterrorism efforts and other transnational security issues.”

Galvez said Harris acknowledged that enhanced information sharing would further boost the interoperability between the AFP and the US Pacific Command.

Harris arrived in Manila for a three-day visit that aims to boost the security ties between the Philippines and the US. Harris also met with with National Coast Watch Council Undersecretary Jose Alano. He capped his courtesy calls with a meeting with President Aquino at Malacañang.

The US Pacific Command official is also scheduled to meet AFP Western Command chief Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez in

Palawan.

Harris’ visit came as the Philippines is embroiled in a territorial row with China over the Spratly Islands and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, a fishing area located off Zambales.

US vows to help Philippine resupply missions Gazmin said he asked the visiting US Pacific commander to help protect the transport of fresh Filipino troops and supplies to Philippine-occupied reefs in the disputed South China Sea by deploying American patrol planes to discourage Chinese moves to block the resupply missions.

The Philippines has protested past attempts by Chinese coast guard ships to block smaller boats transporting fresh military personnel, food and other supplies to a Filipino military ship outpost at the disputed Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which is also being claimed and guarded by Chinese coast guard ships. The tense PAGE A5

Filipinos applaud House Foreign Affairs...

PAGE A1 Royce also lauded President Benigno Aquino III for “his considerable efforts to reform and clean up politics,” but the damage brought by years of federal corruption has been done.

Over 12 million Filipinos reportedly do not own the rights to their own homes with respect to verifiable land title, calling the desperate need for proper titling to pave the way for wealth and opportunities for families.

“I was glad to see such a strong US humanitarian effort. In the aftermath of natural disasters like this, on top of losing their homes and belongings, victims can also find themselves without a shred of proof to their rights to their property,” Royce said.

Last February, Royce led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to the Philippines, where they observed the widespread destruction done by Typhoon Yolanda.

“On a previous delegation [to the Philippines] I was personally prevented, at gunpoint, from accessing the property of a constituent by what appeared to be local security forces,” Royce shared to the crowd of hundreds. “In my meeting with President Aquino, I pressed him on the importance of protecting property rights.”

“Filipinos, as well as Cambodians, have great economic potential we should be working to unlock. The question is, what can we do to change land grabbing and put an end to people being pushed off their land?”

Jonathan Stivers, an assistant administrator of the Bureau for Asia with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), talked about the Partnership for Growth program in collaboration with the Philippine government. Stivers acknowledged the “substantial economic progress” in terms of higher growth rates, but also noted distressingly high rates of unemployment, national poverty levels, and severe income inequality that persists in the country.

Protecting land rights is key

to promoting growth in many struggling rural and urban communities, he said.

“In rural areas, despite the most recent comprehensive land reform program that transferred ownership rights and titles to a majority of the smallholder farmers, productivity of basic food crops has remained low, and farmers’ incomes have not improved,” Stivers said. “The high cost of property registration and the fact that seemingly routine registry processes, like correcting clerical mistakes, issuing lost titles and weeding out fraudulent certificates require lengthy court processes, are among the constraints to secure property rights.”

Stivers also pointed out the large backlog of cases, causing major delays and high costs of litigation. For example, 90 percent of the cases (of which 17 percent were land disputes) handled by the Supreme Court in 2012 took more than 20 years to make their way through the system of hearings and high court appeals.

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary James Caruso talked about the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent foreign aid agency that helps to address problems of corruption, and is working on a partnership agreement “compact” with the Philippines.

“In the case of the Philippines, should land rights and tenure emerge as binding constraints to economic growth during development of the compact, MCC will give careful consideration to interventions to address this issue,” Caruso said.

Congresswoman Rep. Judy Chu (D-California) also spoke to the subcommittee, highlighting the importance of land ownership and the rights individuals have to their own homes.

“Too often in the world, weak property rights and land titles have pushed families--especially women and children, who are most susceptible--away from their homes. Land grabs are often done by force, affecting the

poor and marginalized, and creating massive displacement sites and squatting communities,” Chu said.

According to US Foreign Aid, almost $2.7 million in aid has been provided to Cambodia and the Philippines, Chu pointed out.

“Where is this money going?” she asked members of the committee at the hearing. “This is driving our need to act on this urgent matter.”

Filipinos reach out to Ed Royce, House Foreign Affairs Committee Several witnesses and educators who know first-hand the direct impacts land grabbing has on the lives of Filipinos and Cambodians were also present at the hearing.

Faith Bautista, president and CEO of the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), gave a testimony on behalf of one of the largest pan-Asian American advocacy groups in the US. She talked about the Belisario family, whose 44 properties were illegally seized and transferred to nonlegitimate owners often without documentation. She also made a list of suggestions to improve the system to benefit displaced Filipinos, including providing proper forms, an independent auditor to examine claims, prompt reports with a specific resolution, and a comprehensive response from the Philippine government regarding the land issue.

Zosimo Laurel Contreras, a litigant in the property dispute, said his family’s property in Tagaytay had been forcibly seized, and implored the committee to work diligently with the Philippine government to help keep their rightfully inherited land.

“We cannot let the land grabbers control us. We cannot continue to feel helpless,” Contreras said. “Where is the justice?

Where is the Rule of Law in our Philippine government? Where is the respect for property owners, and who will protect our rights?”

Joey Quinto, publisher of the PAGE A3

Filipino with drug history arrested...

PAGE A1 Mateo County probation decided to search his residence on July 12. Agents found methamphetamine and a loaded Colt .45 in the kitchen, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe said

Wednesday, August 19.

San Mateo prosecutors charged Agoncillo with felony possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of drugs while in posession of firearms and possession of ammunition. He also is charged with two mis-

demeanors of being under the influence of drugs and possessing a small amount of meth.

He remains in custody in San Mateo County in lieu of $150,000 bail. An arraignment for the Orange County charges is set for August 27. (Inquirer.net)

BOC chief to meet with OFW groups...

PAGE A1 workers (OFW) organizations in an effort to clear the air as well as give affected individuals greater opportunity to air their grievances.

Lina, currently in Cebu for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, has tentatively scheduled the meeting for Sept. 1 or 2.

About a dozen OFW organizations are expected to attend the gathering.

“Their concerns should be understood because they are the ones working (abroad),” Lina said in calling for the dialogue.

He urged Migrante International to attend the meeting and stressed he would not stop anyone from joining the group’s “zero remittance” day set for Friday, Aug. 28.

The government stands to lose P3.1 billion in one day if the “zero remittance” drive pushes through, Sen. Francis Escudero

said, citing central bank data.

The BOC chief said one good thing that came out of the controversy was its having called the nation’s attention to the issues he had raised but which had fallen on deaf ears, like his support for higher tax exemptions for the contents of balikbayan boxes.

A measure has been filed by Sen. Ralph Recto seeking to increase the tax-exempt value of the contents of balikbayan box to $2,000 from the present $500.

“Anybody can attend (the dialogue). Everybody is welcome and we would have a dialogue with them to fix the problem.

What would we accomplish if everyone would be hotheaded?” he added.

“What can I do if they were misinformed, or if they have their own opinion or politicized the whole issue? As for me, in the eyes of the people, in the eyes of God, what I am doing is

in accordance with my mandate to do what is best for the country,” Lina said in response to the possibility that some workers would hold off sending remittances tomorrow.

The Customs chief said the balikbayan box issue is just one of the concerns he has to deal with. He said he has to make sure that security measures are strictly implemented to prevent the smuggling of weapons, ammunition and illegal drugs.

“If illegal drugs and ammunition manage to enter the country, what will our relatives say? They will blame Commissioner Lina for allowing these contraband goods inside the country and this would have a bigger impact” on the people, he added.

Aside from plans to install more x-ray machines and close circuit television (CCTV) cameras at BOC centers at ports PAGE A3

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Bill to raise gas tax...

PAGE A1 if we delay,” said Sen. Jim Beall (D-Campbell), whose transportation tax bill passed the committee in a 9-2 vote.

At an Aug. 19 news conference, California Gov. Jerry Brown urged bipartisan cooperation in tackling the reparation of the state’s transportation infrastructure but did not explicitly say how he wants it to get done.

“My approach to bringing people together is not to prematurely close the door,” Brown said, according to San Jose Mercury News. “I’m not going to put all my cards on the table this morning.

“This is a big challenge. How we’re going to get to the end of it isn’t exactly clear this morning.”

Some GOP lawmakers have indicated they are willing to support the gas tax hike on the condition that revenue is used only for transportation improvements.

Each year, the federal government spends about $50 billion on transportation projects, but the current gas tax only generates $34 billion annually.

The week before the committee approved the transportation bill, business organizations including the California Chamber

of Commerce and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group said any solution should strive to collect a minimum of $6 billion per year through gas and diesel tax hikes, and by boosting license and vehicle registration fees.

President and CEO of the Bay Area Council Jim Wunderman proposed indefinitely extending the quarter-cent sales tax provision of Proposition 30, which was approved to help California’s schools, and directing funds toward transportation needs. Revenue from this portion of Proposition 30 would amount to approximately $1.5 billion annually.

California is the latest state to consider boosting its gas tax in recent years, as federal transportation funding has become limited.

In addition to transportation legislation, lawmakers in a separate panel on Aug. 19 approved measures aimed at solving California’s health crisis, including raising the legal smoking age to 21, regulating e-cigarettes and permitting counties to put local tobacco taxes on the ballot, Mercury News reported. (Agnes Constante/AJPress with reports from San Jose Mercury News and The Hill)

‘Superbug’ outbreak...

PAGE A1 officials.

Drug-resistant bacterial infections around the country have been linked to contamination of the reusable scopes, which are used for a procedure known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The fiberoptic scopes are placed down a patient’s throat and used to diagnose and treat gallstones, blockages and cancers of the digestive tract.

“The patients who experienced the bacterial growth were very ill before they underwent the scope procedure, and the risk of the procedure was explained to each patient and family,” Huntington Memorial’s statement said.

A dozen infections were reported earlier this year at Cedars-Sinai and at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Centers in Los Angeles, and three patients were proclaimed dead.

The hospitals said the infections occurred even though the devices had been cleaned to the manufacturer’s standards. They

have since implemented more stringent disinfection procedures.

Olympus is the market leader for duodenoscopes in the U.S., accounting for about 85 percent of sales, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

On Monday, August 17, the FDA posted a warning letter online that said Olympus waited three years to alert regulators to a cluster of 16 infections in patients who underwent procedures using the scope in 2012.

Additionally, FDA inspectors found that the company currently has no standard procedure for promptly reporting serious problems with its devices, which is a requirement for medical device companies.

The company said it was reviewing the FDA’s warning.

The FDA also posted warning letters Monday to two other scope manufacturers citing problems with the testing, design, reporting and quality control of their devices. (Allyson Escobar/AJPress with reports from the Associated Press)

Binay: ‘Ghost beneficiaries’...

PAGE A1 of the program.

Binay said that if the claims on beneficiaries who should not have been entitled to the program are true, the sub-committee should have just told them so that they could have acted on it instead of using it as another criticism.

“Ba’t naman ako kasama na naman dyan? Ang mayor pipirmahan mo ‘yun, merong appropriation ‘yan. Ngayon kung

‘yung wala na, namatay na, bakit sa ‘kin na naman magtatapos yan?” Binay said.

The vice president said that he will sue Trillanes for his accusations.

Last Friday, Aug. 21, Binay’s camp, through spokesman for media affairs Joey Salgado, denied that there are ghost senior citizens in Makati City. He stressed that beneficiaries of the programs follow a strict process in applying for the program.

BOC chief to meet with OFW groups...

PAGE A2 and airports, Lina said they would also be asking other government agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to lend some of their trained K9 dogs to the BOC. PCG spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said that to his knowledge there has been no request from Lina for K-9 assistance.

“We are more than willing (to assist the BOC) if there is a request, we could arrange it. The command is willing to help in any way. The BOC and the PCG have had previous coordination in other areas,” Balilo added.

P3-B single day loss With over $2.014 billion in remittances sent by OFWs per month, Escudero said the country’s single day loss if Migrante’s campaign were to push through is estimated at $67 million or P3.1 billion at P46.61 to a dollar exchange rate.

Citing data culled by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), personal remittances from OFWs in 2014 reached all-time high of $26.93 billion, which accounted for 8.5 percent of the gross domestic product last year.

In the first half of 2015, the BSP reported that personal remittances from OFWs grew by 6.2 percent to $12.7 billion from $11.9 billion in the same period last year.

“The OFWs play a major part in the Philippine economy and its sustainability, so I don’t understand why the BOC targets the OFWs in its anti-smuggling campaign,” Escudero said.

“This is not the way to treat our modern-day heroes. I say no to physical inspection of balikbayan boxes. The BOC

should run after big-time smugglers,” he said.

“The proposed policy is antimigrant and will only fuel serious backlash like a boycott on the remittances sent by OFWs,” he added.

Escudero said the BOC should put to good use its budget for surveillance and prevention of smuggling amounting to P540 million under the 2015 General Appropriations Act, to enhance the agency’s intelligence gathering capabilities.

He said President Aquino did the right thing when he stopped the BOC from implementing the regulation following complaints from netizens, and from OFWs and their families.

Reasonable At Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. expressed confidence that the OFWs would be reasonable in the face of calls for a remittance holiday.

He said President Aquino after all has already ordered the BOC to stop the random physical inspection of balikbayan boxes brought in by OFWs. He said it’s every OFW’s personal decision to send money to their loved ones.

“To follow or not to follow, that is based on their reason and we believe that using reason, they will do what is best for the sake of their loved ones,” Coloma said.

Coloma also appealed to various sectors not to politicize the issue as the government has always been for OFWs. Coloma said the government respects the rights and sentiments of OFWs, and is thankful for their contribution to the country’s economy.

Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2015

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How the drought affects CA life for years to come

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

ACCORDING to a new study, the California drought has some serious effects. If the drought were to continue for two to three years, rural communities and wildlife would suffer most--but urban populations have readied themselves to withstand further restrictions in water deliveries.

The “what if” report from the Public Policy Institute of California released on Thursday, August 20 praises city-centers such as Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana and San Francisco-Sacramento for adapting to the driest four years in state history through the use of recycled water, ground water and mandatory water conservation measures.

The report also coincided with a statement Thursday from Gov. Jerry Brown, who said climate change is worsen-

ing the effects of California’s four-year drought.

“New scientific reports now make it crystal clear that climate change is already affecting California and the Southwest in the form of higher temperatures and a more devastating drought,” Brown said.

“It’s time for Republicans, foot-dragging corporations and other deniers to wake up and take sensible action before it is too late.”

He referenced a separate report titled “Contribution of anthropogenic warming to California drought during 2012–2014,” which was published in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Forecasters predict increasing temperatures in the Golden State over the next few decades.

“By the 2060s, more or less permanent drought conditions

will set in, with evaporation overpowering short bursts of intense rainfall,” said A. Park Williams, a bioclimatologist at Columbia University’s LamontDoherty Earth Observatory.

“The big cities are the success story in the drought so far. That was not the case in the last big drought, so they’ve learned from that,” said Caitrin Chappelle, associate center director for the Public Policy Institute.

Two decades of investment in indoor conservation and new reservoirs--capturing more storm-water and using treated waste water on golf courses, school grounds, and in cemeteries--created “a more diversified portfolio that left cities more resilient to withstand extended droughts.”

“Metropolitan Water District of Southern California estimated Southern California saves 800,000 acre-feet of water as

a result of indoor and outdoor water conservation practiced since the 1990s,” said Brandon Goshi, manager of water policy and strategy.

The report warns that further drought will dry up more wells in rural communities in the central part of the state, where in some cases the ground is sinking due to over-pumping.

In addition, an extended drought will drain revenues from water utilities, expected to fall by $600 million by the end of 2015. Without reserves, utilities will have to raise rates high.

More drought years will also lower yields from hydropower plants, a relatively cheap source of electricity. Power utilities will lose $500 million in 2015 but energy losses are being made up through a surge of renewable sources, such as wind and solar.

PAGE A4

Filipinos applaud House Foreign Affairs...

PAGE A2 California Journal for Filipino Americans, also told his story about his family’s property in Antipolo being locked by a powerful Philippine general, who took full control of the access road and built a home for himself.

In objection of the act, Quinto has reached out to several lawmakers, including President Aquino, members of the Philippine government, the United Nations, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Judy Chu, and the House Foreign Af-

fairs Committee led by Congressman Ed Royce.

“Congressman Royce has been the champion of these issues,” Quinto said. “When he discovered this endemic problem in our country, he reached out to our community in an effort to end corruption and land issues.

Because members of Congress don’t want to see their billions of dollars in aid going to waste.

When it comes to taxpayers’ money, everyone will pay attention…this affects everybody.”

He continued, “If corruption and land-grabbing continues, there is a major credit risk. The Philippines is maturing loans every month, obtaining a higher interest rate. What we need to do as a community, is to bring out our stories, and get rid of the culture of fear. Filipino-Americans are also Americans, and we won’t be hurt. We cannot be afraid. We need to rise up and take back our land.”

“It is important for the Filipino community to organize and to

be an advocacy group for these issues,” Chu told the Asian Journal. “There are so many things that can be done--letters to be sent [to MCC] on the conditions placed for a second compact.

We need to bring these types of things to members of Congress, and it’s more effective if Filipinos themselves, as well as victims, can bring these issues to Congress to educate them, and then have a plan of action. We need to use whatever leverage we have.”

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California lawmakers OK exit exam Gov. Brown signs law making legal exemption bill for class of 2015 status of kids irrelevant in civil suits Gov. Brown expected to sign

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

ThE state Senate on Monday, Aug. 24, approved a measure that would allow about 5,000 California high school students that fulfilled graduation requirements this year but did not pass the exit exam to obtain their diplomas.

In a 37-0 vote, the California Senate advanced SB725, following the Assembly’s 77-1 approval last week. The bill now heads to California Gov. Jerry Brown, who is expected to sign it into law.

The emergency legislation comes after California education officials cancelled the summer

SACRAMENTO—Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill making the immigration status of a minor irrelevant in civil actions, or lawsuits for damage claims.

California has the largest immigrant population in the country, and the signing of the bill proposal confirms the governor’s policy of integration of immigrants.

The measure, AB 560, was introduced by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat representing District 51, which encompasses much of central and southeast Los Angeles.

The bill was in response to

exam this year, having decided it did not align with the new curriculum based on Common Core standards. As a result, students were left with no way of taking the test.

“Students who’ve been accepted into college should not be prevented from starting class this fall because of a test cancellation they could not control,” said Brown spokeswoman Deborah hoffman, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Many students were required to pass the exam to be accepted into four-year colleges, certain job-training programs and the military.

“We have a high school graduation requirement in place that no one can meet,” said Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Canada-Flintridge), who sponsored a bill, SB172, that would suspend the exit exam for the classes of 2015 through 2018.

The California Senate advanced Liu’s measure, which is now being considered in the Assembly. If signed into law, SB172 would take effect on Jan. 1, which would do nothing for students who would have needed to pass the exit exam in July to start job-training programs or join the military this month. Since coming back from the summer session last week, state lawmakers have been looking for a solution for the class of 2015.

“I am grateful to put this snafu behind us so that students get Police in Sherwood, Oregon, have issued a the education they deserve,” warrant of arrest for Fr. Ysrael Bien, who is believed to have fled to the Philippines.

PAGE A5

a demand for more than 80 children against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for alleged abuse by a master of the Miramonte School, a case that generated enormous controversy.

The LAUSD’s lawyers wanted to investigate the immigration status of children, arguing that California law permits this to be a factor to consider in the determination of damage payment terms.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys filed motions to exclude children and the research of the immigration status of plaintiffs in such cases. Eventually

LAUSD’s lawyers withdrew their request.

The measure signed by Brown explains that the immigration status of a minor, under any applicable law, is irrelevant to the issues of liability or remedy.

“An undocumented child deserves the same protection as any other child in our state,” said Gomez. “My bill closes an unintended gap in existing law to ensure justice for all children and preventing the degradation of children when they are victims of crimes, regardless of their immigration status.”

(New America Media)

Filipino priest flees US, wanted for hidden camera in restroom SAN FRANCISCO—Police in Sherwood, Oregon, have issued an arrest warrant for a Filipino priest who allegedly placed a hidden camera in a church bathroom, but he has fled to the Philippines.

After a boy discovered a camera hidden in an electrical socket in the bathroom of the St. Francis Church in Sherwood in April. Court documents say Father Ysrael Bien told his parents an elaborate story over the course of a month about a police investigation that never actually took place.

Bien was not charged with a crime at the time due to insuf-

ficient evidence, and the Archdiocese of Portland placed him on administrative leave on June 28. however, a customer sent a query to Spyguy Security of Arlington, Texas, if it had sold any hidden cameras to anyone in Sherwood, Oregon.

A spokesman said they Googled for any news item about Sherwood and found Bien’s name, which matched with one of their receipts.

An arrest warrant was issued for Bien on Tuesday, August 18 on charges of personal invasion of privacy, tampering with physical evidence and PAGE A5

How the drought affects CA life for years to come

PAGE A3

The biggest impact of continued drought years falls on the state’s rivers and forests, Chappelle said.

Already, the four-year drought combined with higher temperatures due to global warming have sparked 160 wildfires burning in the Western United States, with 100 of those in California. More drought will add to the number and intensity of wildfires, the report said.

“These very hot, large fires

permanently damage the ecosystems and the drought creates the circumstances that those fires are more likely to happen,” Chappelle said.

Fire agencies are only focused on suppression and should employ a long-term strategy of forest thinning and better forest management, the report said.

In California’s rivers, more drought years could wipe out at least 18 species of native state fish, including most salmon runs. Waterbird populations

would rapidly decline, the report warned.

“One thing to keep in mind: our ecosystems are not as able to adapt as we are. Streams can’t pump ground water or build a desal plant,” Chappelle said.

While national meteorologists have put the chance of an El Niño bringing storms and flooding to the West Coast at 90 percent, the PPIC report said that part is “not something state water agencies should count on. Even if rain-

SAN FRANCISCO

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fall amounts increase, another drought could be around the corner.”

“Everything we do now will make it easier for the next time there is a drought,” Chappelle said.

Added Williams, “By knowing how much global warming has contributed to the trend in California drought conditions over the past century, we can reliably predict how the future will play out.” (With reports from the Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Times)

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

Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2015

A

Study shows subconscious racial biases in Americans

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

HANGING COFFINS. In mystical Sagada, where beliefs and traditions are intertwined with community life, residents frown on any act of disrespect for the living and the dead. The ancestors of Sagada folk are either buried in caves like Lumyang and Sugong. Coffins are also hung on a mountainside like those found at Baw-eng that can be viewed from Ambasing Road at the Echo Valley in Sagada town, Mountain Province. Netizens criticized a scene in the movie “Above the Clouds” that was shot at the Lumyang burial cave. The scene that caught the ire of elders and residents shows actor Pepe Smith opening one of the coffins in the cave, a tourist destination.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Dante Ang

US plans more drills...

PAGE A2 standoff at the shoal has lasted two years.

Gazmin said Harris assured him of US readiness to provide assistance, adding that the US military has flown an aircraft at least once when a Philippine boat delivered supplies last year to Filipino marines marooned on a rusty naval ship that ran aground years ago at the disputed shoal.

Such US military flights deter Chinese moves, Gazmin said, adding that Philippine resupply boats have been harassed less by Chinese coast guard ships after the deployment of the US patrol plane.

“If there are Americans flying around there, we won’t be troubled,” Gazmin told the AP. “We

need to be helped in our resupply missions. The best way they could assist is through their presence.”

Ayungin Shoal, which is called Ren’ai by the Chinese, and the nearby Spratly Islands lie about 120 miles from the western Philippine province of Palawan, and about 700 miles from southern China. China’s foreign ministry says Beijing has “indisputable sovereignty” over the shoal.

The Philippine navy deliberately ran one of its ships aground at the shoal in 1999, fearing that Chinese forces would occupy it after taking control of nearby Panganiban (Mischief) Reef four years earlier. A Chinese frigate and maritime surveillance ships arrived in 2013 and the uneasy standoff remains unresolved.

California lawmakers...

PAGE A4

said Assemblyman Phil Ting (DSan Francisco), who co-authored the bill, according to San Francisco Chronicle. “Students never should have been put in this position.”

SB725 faced opposition from lawmakers, including Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff of Diamond Bar, who urged the state to quickly update the exam.

“It’s mind-blowing to me that this even happened,” he said, according to SF Gate. “Without an Exit Exam, we will return to the days where a diploma shows completion of course work without a guarantee of minimum

mathematics and language-arts competency. We can’t let that happen to California students, who deserve better than that from us.”

Assemblyman Travis Allen (RHuntington Beach), said California should reinstate the test so students can obtain their diploma the way those before them did.

School board members in Oakland and San Francisco called voting to give diplomas to high school students who met all graduation requirements except for the Exit Exam unacceptable.

The action technically violated California’s education code, according to the Chronicle.

A RECEnT study from the Pew Research Center suggests that subconscious preferences for different racial groups persist, even among multiracial adults.

Researchers at Pew say that “most humans display a bias against out-groups—people who are different from them.”

They wanted to find out whether biracial adults were less likely to have implicit racial biases because of their multicultural backgrounds. The study’s findings suggest that biracial adults are “simply more divided in their racial preferences.”

Subconscious racial preferences can alter behavior, according to Pew. For instance, a 2007 study conducted by Harvard Medical School found that white doctors with high levels of implicit bias against blacks were less likely to treat black patients. A Swedish researcher found in 2010 that “implicit bias against Muslims correlated strongly with the way hiring managers decided to interview either Swedes or Arabs for a position.”

“Most of these implicit racial biases are consequence of subtle messages seen in the media, popular culture, that suggest one group is good, and another group is bad-associating one group with crime, another group with accomplishment,” said Rich Morin, senior editor at Pew, according to nBC news.

The study utilized Implicit Association Tests (IAT) to reveal “hidden bias” among whites, blacks, Asian Americans, and biracial black-white and biracial Asian-white adults. The IAT measures how long it takes for a participant to associate positive or negative words with a given term or image.

For example, when someone is prompted with an image of Caucasian face, if he selects the word “good” significantly more quickly than when he is prompted with an Asian-American face, he may have an implicit bias in favor of whites.

Pew conducted two experiments: one experiment took whites, blacks, and biracial black-white adults, and tested implicit bias among each group in favor of either whites or blacks. The other experiment took, whites, Asian Americans, and biracial Asian-white adults, and tested bias in favor of either whites or Asians.

In the study, more biracial Asian-white adults than monoracial whites had some form of implicit racial bias.

Only 22 percent of Asianwhite biracials were free of racial preference, whereas 30 percent of whites had no racial preference between whites and Asians. Fewer Asianwhite biracials displayed implicit bias when compared to Asians, while only 20 percent of Asian Americans did not

exhibit any subconscious racial preference.

The study found a 4 percent margin of difference between the percentage of monoracial Asians who favored Asians, and the percentage of monoracial Asians who favored Whites: 38 percent of Asians favored whites over Asians, while 42 percent of Asians favored other Asians over whites.

The highest level of implicit racial preference revealed in the entire study was among whites being tested for bias against Asian Americans, with 50 percent of whites tested in the study revealing a subconscious preference for other whites over Asians. 30 percent of whites had no implicit bias, and 19 percent of whites had a subconscious preference for Asians.

The second highest level of implicit racial preference was among whites tested for bias against blacks: 48 percent of whites in the study have a subconscious preference for other whites over blacks. 27 percent of whites tested had no preference between whites and blacks, and 25 percent of whites preferred blacks.

A higher percentage of biracial black-white adults and biracial Asian-white adults displayed implicit bias in favor of whites, when compared to bias in favor of their respective minority group.

Accounting for background, age, and political beliefs, the study suggests that the fre-

quency and magnitude of racial bias does not significantly differ by age, education level, or political party.

Republicans and Democrats, for example, hold similar levels of implicit bias, the study suggests. Also contrary to some beliefs that younger generations will no longer be racist, the age of survey respondents had no significant effect on levels of implicit bias. Although some previous Pew studies have shown that millennials are more racially tolerant than older generation, the IAT tests imply otherwise.

“Measuring implicit racial bias rather than explicit bias reveals a much higher frequency of prejudice,” wrote Stanford professor Shanto Iyengar, a consultant to the Pew study. “The IAT is useful in detecting views that individuals may be reluctant to divulge to others or even to admit to themselves.”

When asked how to dismantle these implicit biases, Morin said, “Simply knowing that you hold these biases is an important first step [in dismantling implicit bias]. It makes you think twice when making the hiring decision.

That way, it keeps these biases in check.”

“I do not know if it’s impossible to lose [biases], but it is certainly true from the literature that it’s possible to contain them…we aren’t raceneutral, but maybe we’re moving in that direction.”

Filipino priest flees US, wanted...

PAGE A4 initiating a false police report.

Officers with the Sherwood Police Department attempted to locate Bien at his last known residence, but according to another priest at the home, Bien may no longer be in the U.S. Bien, who was apparently visiting family in the Philippines, was reportedly asked by his archdiocese to return after his home leave, but he has not replied.

Parish spokespeople expressed regret that one of their priests was involved in a grave misconduct and praised the diligence of Sherwood police.

Concerned parishioners,

however, criticized the church for not withholding Bien’s passport when he was named a person of interest.

In an affidavit for search warrants filed in Washington County, Sherwood police said a 15-year-old boy found a hidden camera in the men’s restroom at the church and brought it to Bien on April 26.

The camera was reported to be 30 inches off the floor, or waist-high, and disguised to look like an electrical outlet.

Sherwood police released a photo of a similar device.

Two days after the camera was discovered, the teen’s father contacted Bien asking if police wanted to talk to his

son or get his finger prints, according to court documents.

Those documents state Bien told the family an elaborate story over the next month about a police investigation that never occurred. Bien reported the camera stolen to police on May 20.

Court documents state he told detectives he was advised by an attorney not to answer their questions, so he was informed they would be applying for a search warrant of the church and his home.

The search warrant was obtained for items including his computer, a hard drive, a USB flash drive, his iPhone and iPods.

The archdiocese was notified of the case at that time, but did not place Bien on leave for more than a month due to an “abundance of caution not to interfere with an ongoing police investigation,” according to a statement from the archdiocese.

Anyone who knows Bien’s location is asked to call the Sherwood Police Department at 503-629-0111 or Detective Debbie Smith at 503-9257117.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of privacy invasion at St. Francis Church is also asked to contact detectives at 503-925-7117.

(Inquirer.net)

A

august 28-september 3, 2015 • NOrCaL asIaN JOurNaL

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

OpiniOn

Features

Devalued

THEY are not called modern day heroes for nothing. According to a report by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), about 5,054 OFWs fly out every day in search of greener pastures.

These so-called heroes spend most of their time away from their families and homes to pursue better lives for the ones they love. Some are even compelled to work while enduring unfair and harsh working conditions, including long hours, low pay, and human rights abuses.

Through the remittances they send to their families back home, OFWs find some significance in the hardships they succumb to.

The diversification of OFWs and of the labor market keeps remittance growth at a robust pace every year. The sustained and higher remittances every year result to billions of pesos and help the country achieve Philippine economic development and stability.

The annual outflow of overseas Filipino workers is not only a solution to country’s unemployed workforce, it also helps the government maintain a manageable gross domestic and gross national product (GDP and GNP), a visible major source of gross international reserves and the country’s external debt.

For developing countries, like the Philippines, remittances sent by OFWs are one of the largest sources of external finance. The recent strong flow of remittances helps the country receive credit worthiness and lower its cost of borrowing money in international markets.

In June this year, cash transfers rose by 6.1 percent to $2.18 billion, the highest level since December of last year. This follows the usual trend of remittances inching up as the year progresses before peaking during the December holiday season. This result brought the year-to-date total to $12.08 bil-

lion, higher by 5.6 percent last year.

Aside from remittances, OFWs also send balikbayan boxes to preserve strong ties with their families despite the long distance. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) defines balikbayan boxes as “packages of personal effects and/or ‘pasalubongs’ sent by Filipinos residing or working abroad to their families or relatives in the Philippines to enhance Philippine tradition and culture for the promotion and preservation of strong family ties through love and caring expressed in gift-giving.”

Recently, the BOC has been under fire for implementing a random inspection of balikbayan boxes.

This didn’t sit well for Filipinos worldwide, who instantly criticized the BOC’s bold move and alleged corrupt practices.

In its defense, Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said that the bureau is only implementing the drastic measure of random inspection of balikbayan boxes to address smuggling. Lina added that the government is losing P50 million a month in revenues due to smuggling carried out through balikbayan boxes.

Pres. Benigno Aquino immediately intervened and put a stop on the protocol and ordered BOC to find alternative ways to clamp down balikbayan boxes that are being used for smuggling.

“We have won the battle but the war is far from over.” This was the statement of Migrante Partylist, following Aquino’s directive to BOC to stop its random inspection of balikbayan boxes.

“We are pleased that the President has spoken on the issue of random inspection of our balikbayan boxes. This is an initial victory for OFWs worldwide.

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective gel SantoS-ReloS WHEN I shared through this column what undocumented Filipinos in America may expect from a Trump presidency—and that Trump should recalibrate his message against undocumented immigrants so he will not be misconstrued as condoning violence against them—I got different reactions from kababayans from different walks of life.

Here are some of them: Unfortunately, there are people that approved violations of the laws as long as it will be in their favor. Even our Almighty God has laws that we are required to follow. But many violated and ignored both laws. That includes Obama who hates our country.

We will always hear violators complain. The truth is—the pub-

CTalk

Cito Beltran ARE you angry enough about our state of affairs in the Republic of the Philippines?

The thought has begun to surface as millions of Filipinos come to terms with the fact that the Self-Righteous Brotherhood occupying Malacañang are a bunch of incompetent and insensitive dolts who punctuate their failures with off the cuff remarks that only serve to incense the public.

Filipinos have been known to be tolerant even of stupidity and mediocrity but the PNoy Misadministration has obviously broken all records as far as achieving nothing is concerned.

The one thing they have managed to be consistent about is to accumulate those who they call “critics,” “haters,” and a vast number of angry Filipinos whose quality of life and productivity have deteriorated due to what many believe is PNoy’s indifference or insulated mindset to the day to day hardship of Filipinos.

His big picture notion of making the Philippines a serious regional

Philstar.com photo

But all the beautiful words cannot hide the fact that the administration has imposed on BOC a P600-million revenue target from balikbayan boxes,” said Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante Partylist chairperson.

Regalado also revealed that the P600-million target is “what emboldened the BOC to implement the brazen, sacrilegious inspections of balikbayan boxes.”

“The statement of the Department of Finance (DOF), which oversees the BOC, is totally silent on the P600-million target. If this stays, we have every reason to believe that the ‘seemingly reasonable’ steps are nothing but damage-control aimed at

dousing OFW and national protests,” she added.

Abroad, the quality of Filipino service is in demand. OFWs are treasured by other countries for being hard working, dedicated and loyal. Other notable traits admired by foreign employers are their hospitality and honesty.

However, the same could not be said back home.

Clearly, the protection and promotion of economic rights of OFWs should be given appropriate actions, to develop creative and practical ways to utilize both the OFWs’ financial and human resources. It is time to give back and for the local government to establish a win-win situation for the economy and OFWs. (AJPress)

Kababayans’ reaction to Trump’s immigration policy lic became tired and exhausted watching their country destroyed. Get ready for judgment day. Yes, Filipinos should be concerned if Trump wins. They are the biggest violators and not afraid to try their chances of getting away. - Marilyn Patacsil We Filipino-Americans should be concerned about [it].

It’s terrifying how some people can excuse the kind of racism that’s being put forth. Trump’s pronouncements surely have reached those who have hate in their hearts. It’s alarming that the same people who say they are pro-life and say they are Christian have no problem saying things against and even threatening their fellow human beings. - Yong Chavez Am not a fan of Trump but I like the way he opens the debate on ILLEGAL immigrants...

Trump need not to be POLITICALLY correct like most people [in] the media like you… Illegal

pro-immigrants and anti-immigrant groups. Indeed, Donald Trump has hit on a theme that soundly resonates with voters.

For immigrants and the silent majority who are citizens of this great nation, the issue of immigration brings back that deep paternal and maternal feelings from within of what it means to be an American. At the end of the day, when we examine our core value as an American, whether native or naturalized, we ensconced ourselves to the foundational principle that “America is a Nation of Immigrants.” It was before, still now, and will always be.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump’s proposed immigration policy is so Un-American and racist in its philosophical foundation and orientation.

Even Mr. Trump’s ancestors including his great grandfather of German stock and grandmother of Scottish Origin would

immigrant ordered freed by feds now suspected of murder in Ohio...Killed in her sleep: Illegal immigrants suspected in Mass. grandma’s death faced deportation...Have you ever reported the “KILLING IN CALIFORNIA by an illegal immigrant”? NO...So let’s be fair…Did you ever mentioned that Obama never mentioned the killings by [an] illegal immigrant in the USA, NO —That’s Obama immigration policy…

Only the “politically correct” media or persons misconstrued all speeches of candidates they don’t agree with, let’s be fair. Ehbhong_Tubao The Migrant Heritage Commission, an immigrant rights advocacy group in Washington DC, released this statement: “Thank you, Mr. Trump, for bringing back Immigration once more into the national consciousness and headlines. You have reignited debate on immigration and reenergized both

Are you angry enough? or global player, his insistence on passing the twisted version of the BBL, his obsession with outdoing his predecessor, or solidifying his imaginary “Matuwid Na Daan” have cost millions of Filipinos a high price in terms of their quality of life and personal finances.

For many, the formerly moral aspiration for the “Tuwid Na Daan” has crumbled under his form of selective justice, his failure to make his minions account for their non-performance and questionable conduct, and for ignoring the people’s plea for action and service from government. Simply put his muchadored “Tuwid Na Daan” has become nothing more than the Tagalog translation of the proverbial phrase: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Judging from the chaos, congestion and immobility on Metro Manila roads, airport and pier, it would be safe to say that we have found our hell on earth.

And like lost souls in the abyss, all we want now is to be able to bring back the travel time to the traditional 1 to 1.5 hours, it used to take instead of the 3 to 4 hour kidney and bladder busting ride.

All we want is to be able to ride

Commentary

the MRT and LRT without having to get into fights with fellow Filipinos as a way of expressing or releasing our anger at a government and a President whose sole obsession is to insure the continuity of their failed governance.

So now we begin to read posts on social media mildly suggesting or asking: How should we express our anger, our frustration and how can we make this government act? There are now those suggesting a 3-day strike the same way citizens in Latin American countries have displayed their displeasure. Some suggest tax holidays or boycotts.

One or two suggests giving the PNoy administration a taste of its own medicine by staging EDSA 3 or 4 (depending on who’s counting).

These, Mr. President, are the initial snowflakes for “the winter of our discontent” that may come way before the May elections. Many of us do not have deep pockets to see us through and clearly people are losing their patience and waking up to the realization that something has to be done, something needs to be done, and history shows PAGE A7

have been disqualified on Mr. Trump’s proposed immigration policies. Mr. Trump’s ancestors including his parents came to America in dire need. And because of harsh economic realities of life, just like millions of Hispanic, Asian and African immigrants, they look at America as a “dreamt of destination”.

To look for a better life for their families in the new world.

Mr. Trump’s basic immigration principles to make America great again i.e building a wall at the Mexican and American borders, ending birthright citizenship and mass deportations of the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants and now the seizure of remittance monies of undocumented immigrants will cause irreparable damage not only to US-Mexico relations but as well as other Latin American countries , Asian and African countries that will be directly impacted by Mr.

Trump’s nativist and inhumane immigration policies.

No matter how you look at it, under Mr. Trump’s proposed immigration policies: families will be destroyed, a complete waste of taxpayers money, impractical and unrealistic (building a wall) and the constitutional principle enunciated in the 14th Amendment referring to “birthright citizenship” which has been part of the US Constitution for the last 150 years will be put to naught.

America cannot go back to the decades of historical racism and oppression and resurrect the guiding legal principle in the infamous Dred Scott case decided by the US Supreme Court where black slaves and their descendants were disqualified by their own blood from enjoying the rights of citizenship. We have to remind Mr. Trump, that this is AMERICA, A Nation of ImmiPAGE A7

His powerful son has done nothing to solve his murder

RigobeRto tiglao On Friday, Aug. 21 the 31st anniversary of the assassination of our national martyr, Ninoy Aquino was remembered, and again, photos of his son President Aquino with his sisters praying before the hero’s grave hogged newspapers’ front pages.

Ninoy’s murder on August 21, 1983 was an event that changed the course of Philippine history.

I am still astounded at how its masterminds and conspirators were so daring and precise in their execution of the deed as to kill him in broad daylight. If the killers’ timing was just a few seconds late – or if the journalists with Aquino had been a bit bolder as to insist on following Aquino down the tube – the opposition leader’s killing could have been witnessed and photographed by foreign media who would have told the world about it.

As mysterious, though, as to who were the brains behind the assassination is the fact that Aquino’s now powerful son, Benigno 3rd, has done nothing to uncover

August 21, 1983: After 31 years, murders still unsolved.

who were behind his killing, as well as that of Rolando Galman, allegedly the actual trigger man who put a .357 mm. bullet into his head.

This is despite his four years as the most powerful man in the country that he has been able to remove the Supreme Court Chief Justice, incarcerate the former president on flimsy grounds, and have the entire Congress under his thumb.

Aquino is known to be vengeful against those who have slighted him in the most minor manner.

This trait certainly doesn’t apply to his apparent nonchalance to-

wards his father’s murderers.

Masterminds not idle In contrast, the masterminds of the assassinations don’t seem to have been idle, and have been determined to forever erase all trails of the evil deed that could lead to them.

In the early morning of May 7 this year,discharged Master Sergeant Pablo Martinez was killed in what initially appeared to be an accident along Roxas Boulevard.

An eyewitness claimed that an SUV Montero driven by one Henry Roque ran over him after he fell from his bicycle which the PAGE A7

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

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OpiiOn & Features

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2015

A

OLDER GRADUATES. The implementation of the K-12 basic education program, which adds two more years in high school, will mean that the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will have older graduates who are commissioned as lieutenants, and thus shorter terms for senior military officers. Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri said that while there will be no vacuum in the PMA with the implementation of the K-12, there will still be an effect.

Philstar.com photo

Kababayans’ reaction to Trump’s...

PAGE A6 grants, and children born here regardless of ancestry are automatically citizens. Mr. Trump’s ancestors from Europe benefited from the immigration policies of this country and so should children of Asian, African and Hispanic ancestry born in the United States of America.

To all the Presidential Candidates: Words matter. Political correctness matter. For months that we have been inundated with “Trumpism,” that even “babies,” “kids” born in this

PAGE A6

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

jam. Government officials were held responsible and expected to do something, that led to the no-arrest policy on main roads where the priority was to get vehicles moving as fast as possible. Under the regime of the righteous brotherhood no one is held responsible, they blame each other and when that no longer works with angry people then they say: “Sorry po,” “we beg for your patience and understanding.” That Mr. President does not fix the problem or get the job done.

In terms of vehicle and road use or the lack of it, we the Filipino people are one very oppressed and abused lot. When we buy cars, we pay for everything involved in making the cars, buses etc. We pay the duties and taxes on those products, we pay the duties and taxes on the fuel and other accessories that go into the vehicle and in order to drive or ride said vehicles, we pay for registration, insurance, license, medical exams, air pollution tests and road users tax.

The government collects the duties, taxes and VAT on our vehicles, on the fuel, collect money

on the insurance, the LTFRB franchise and then on the road users tax! The Philippine government is the biggest business interest, profiteer and competitor but the worst in terms of investments, product development and customer service or relations.

In other words, it is the biggest FREE LOADER that subscribes to UNLI TAX! The so-called PPP or Public Private Partnership projects on infrastructure is the biggest scam of them all where the government actually gets private partners to bid and pay the government a concession fee to build the projects and then pass the bigger bill to Filipino citizens. In effect, the PNoy Misadministration is taxing all of us even the dead and their estates but none of that money goes to major infrastructure that we badly need. After taking as much as 50% or more for income tax and VAT, travel, road users tax etc., the government enters into a conspiracy with developers to make us, the Filipino people, pay for every time we use highways, airports, power etc. So we are paying for everything and still getting nothing! That should make you angry enough! (Philstar.com)

Are you angry...

that the people ultimately does something about governments that betray and ignore their basic needs. Cory Aquino led one, Gloria Arroyo led the second, Urban poor almost had their very own EDSA3, so a fourth one is not all too impossible. *** The PNoy Misadministration would have us think that the reason for gridlock is progress as evidenced by the various construction projects, roadwork and infrastructures that are being put up. The PNoy administration is not the first administration or government to put massive infrastructure projects. Marcos, Ramos, and Arroyo had a lot but to their credit the gridlock did not turn EDSA into a parking lot almost everyday of the week even past the truck ban.

Ramos and Arroyo were concerned and sensitive to public displeasure resulting from being stuck in traffic. I know that Gloria Arroyo would call and nag then MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando every time she heard reports of traffic jam or whenever she herself was caught in a traffic

hensive Immigration Policies that embraced the principles of family unity, economic opportunity, equality and humanity.

These are the American core values that even Mr. Trump’s great grandparents and parents fully embraced.” ***

country are being branded now as “anchor babies,” (Most recently, Mr. Jeff Bush unwittingly connected the term application to “Asians”), what we have seen so far is the lack of respect to human dignity and that all of us are bound by the common thread of humanity. We cannot allow these candidates to simply entertain us while at the same time they are fueling bigotry and racism.

We want to hear how our broken immigration system will be fixed. The adoption of Compre-

His powerful son has done nothing...

PAGE A7 vehicle bumped. The police initially concluded that it was purely an unfortunate accident. His son Diomedes, also an Air Force sergeant, however, suspected he was murdered.

The latest report I’ve been able to dig up was a Philippine Star news item dated May 19: “Parañaque police investigators confirmed that Roque could no longer be contacted after three witnesses surfaced and claimed they saw his SUV deliberately run over Martinez after he hit the victim’s bike and fell down into the asphalt.”

Who is Martinez? He was convicted as one of the conspirators in Aquino’s assassination and had served nearly 30 years in jail for the crime. Since his release in 2007, and probably because he had become deeply religious, Martinez had been volunteering to disclose the brains of the murder.

(An excellent documentary titled “The Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.” produced by Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, daughter of Philippine Daily Inquirer editorin-chief Letty Magsanoc, shown on History Channel yesterday and every August 21 since it was produced in 2010, also focused on Martinez and his revelations.)

In 1995, he admitted his role in the plot, and testified that it was Galman who killed Ninoy with a single bullet to the head. He said it was he who escorted Galman to a motel to spend the night before the assassination.

Martinez alleged that former Philippine Constabulary Maj. Romeo Gatan, a businessman named Hermilo Gosuico, former Air Force Col. Romeo Ochoco, and Air Force Capt. Felipe Valerio were in that hotel to tell Galman what he would do the next day.

The other 11 officers and soldiers made up the team that allowed Galman to get close to and shoot Aquino in the head, after which they gunned him down.

Martinez’ earth-shaking testimony, though, was first narrated in a February 2006 article in the U.S. Time magazine and in an on-

camera interview in 2007 by ABSCBN’s Julius Babao with him right after his release from prison: “I didn’t hear any direct order from him, but I asked them [the conspirators in the hotel] who was giving them the orders, and they replied, ‘Danding.’“ He was referring to oligarch Eduardo Cojuangco who had controlled until the last few years the giant San Miguel Corp. Martinez’s claims were recorded in a formal deposition and submitted to the Supreme Court, which had been asked to reopen the case.

The Court, though, ruled that it didn’t qualify as “newly found evidence.”

Cojuangco’s denial Mr. Cojuangco has vehemently denied such accusations.

“Valerio is among those who might be able to shed light, but to me, it’s Ochoco whom the government should ask because he was the one who ordered me to bring Galman to the airport,” Martinez said in 2007.

Capt. Valerio was the head of the 10-man team of the Aviation Security Command who collected Aquino from the China Airlines plane to the airport’s tarmac, where the former senator and then Galman were shot dead.

Valerio and his immediate superior Air Force Col. Ochoco disappeared right after Marcos’ fall in 1986.

Valerio was not included among the 16 convicted or the other 18 accused who were acquitted since he could not be arraigned, as he could not be found and arrested.

He was reported to be living in the US. Ochoco, for some reason was also not indicted, and has been reported to be living in Australia.

Aquino or his officials had done absolutely nothing to get in touch with Martinez or with the other 10 officers and soldiers convicted of the crime to convince them that they would be placed under his protection if they told everything they knew about the assassination.

Having given everything the Americans wanted, allowing them

to have military forward operating sites here, couldn’t have Aquino asked them for a small favor of looking for Ochoco and Valerio, and extraditing them here to face justice?

One would have thought the martyr’s only son would use all the resources at his command as President not just to seek justice for his father, but also to shed light on what is one of the most ruthless but pivotal killings in our nation’s history.

Aquino hasn’t.

Aquino’s seeming lack of concern over his father’s murder convinces me that either there is something deeply wrong in this person’s psyche, or that there is something terribly embarrassing in the assassination that has been kept so secret that even the victim’s powerful family has refused to uncover its mastermind.

Aquino’s mother Cory also seemed disinterested when she was president in getting to the bottom of her husband’s murder.

However, this was mostly viewed as an understandable, even laudable, above-the-fray stance of the Saint of Democracy.

More cynical observers felt, however, that she was afraid to discover that the mastermind could be Cojuangco, her cousin, or that she even already knew this.

For political stability’s sake An interpretation kind to her claimed that if she had pursued Cojuangco for the crime, the oligarch could have joined and funded the many coup attempts against her rule, and that she chose to sacrifice her personal wish—to avenge her husband— for the sake of the country ‘s political stability.

The son certainly can’t make such justification now for his disinterest in finding out who ordered his father’s murder.

A big lacuna in our nation’s history remains to be filled, as mysterious as why his widow and the son hadn’t lifted a finger to expose who ordered the head of PAGE A10

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august 28-september 3, 2015 • NOrCaL asIaN JOurNaL

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New version of Philippine map to Arroyo hopeful, too, of getting out on bail include contested islands in Spratlys

by Marc Jayson

cayabyab

Inquirer.net

by EvElyn

Macairan

Philstar.com

MANILA—A new version of the Philippine map would be released by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF)—and it will not only include Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal as part of the country’s territory but also identify each of the contested islands by their names during the Spanish era.

KWF chairman Virgilio Almario said they aspire to issue the new map within the year. Once completed, the new Philippine map may be viewed on the KWF website.

By using the native names of the disputed islands, Almario said Filipinos would be able to provide proper references to them, aside from stressing the Philippines’ sovereignty over the territories.

“If I would be able to do it my way, I would look for the original name of some of these islands so that we would be using their real names. For instance, the Scarborough Shoal, who would believe that it is owned by the Philippines… They have native names so we should do research,” said Almario, a National Artist for literature.

He noted that Beijing uses Chinese names for the islands to emphasize their territorial claim.

Scarborough Shoal is sometimes referred to by its native names, Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

But as for the other islands in the West Philippine Sea, Almario admitted the need to conduct research using maps available during the Spanish period.

For this project, Almario said they would be coordinating with the National Mapping and Re-

source Information Authority (NAMRIA).

Meanwhile, in observance of the month-long Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, the KWF relaunched the “Aklat ng Bayan” project.

Under the project, books on world literature were translated into the Filipino language.

Since last year, the KWF has translated 25 books, which include world literature as well as anthologies of Ilocano, Bicolano and Hiligaynon regional writings.

Almario clarified that profit was last on his mind when they came up with the Filipino translation of such books.

“It (sales) is not important to us. What is important is what is needed in the education and to show that Filipino is a language that could be used anywhere, and not only for gossip,” he said.

THE lawyer of former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo is also hopeful that she would be granted bail for her plunder case after the Supreme Court (SC) allowed Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s temporary freedom.

In an interview on Monday, Aug. 24, Atty. Laurence Arroyo (no relation) said the former president should also be given provisional liberty because she and Enrile share similar health conditions.

He said Arroyo’s petition for certiorari filed in April before the Supreme Court to reverse the Sandiganbayan’s denial of her bail is similar to that of Enrile’s plea before the high court.

“I think it will help the petition of former president Arroyo which is also pending before the Supreme Court because I think they are similarly situated,” Atty.

Arroyo said.

Atty. Arroyo said his client had also raised Arroyo’s frail health at age 68 and her not being a flight risk in her petition before the Supreme Court.

“Based upon sa nabasa ko sa media that the Supreme Court allowed Senator Enrile’s bail on humanitarian grounds, number one because of his age and number two because of his frail health based upon the medical certification of government doctors, and number three that he is not a flight risk. So all those three issues were raised in our own petition,” Atty. Arroyo said.

“Number one, (Arroyo) is already 68 years old, number two that she is not a flight risk, number three that government doctors have likewise certified as to her frail health, and number four, she’s undergone three major spinal surgeries,” he added.

Arroyo, who is under hospital detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) be-

cause of her cervical spondylosis, is facing plunder case over the alleged misuse of at least P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds for personal gain from 2008 to 2010.

Enrile posted bail last Aug. 21 after the SC in a vote of 8-4 granted Enrile’s motion to reverse the Sandiganbayan Third Division’s ruling which denied his bail plea.

The high court noted Enrile’s frail health and not being flight risk at 91 years old.

The decision came exactly a week after the SC sided with Enrile’s request for bill of particulars in his plunder case over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

The high court set the bail amount for plunder at P1 million.

On top of the P30,000 bail for each of his 15 graft charges, Enrile paid a total amount of P1.45 million.

In the ponencia of Associate PAGE A9

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2015

A

Aquino: GMA deserves to be in jail Bersamin hits back at Leonen over JPE bail

by Delon

Porcalla Philstar.com

ceBU cITY—former president and now pampanga rep. gloria macapagal-Arroyo deserves to be in jail, president Aquino said. he was reacting to observations that a supreme court ruling allowing sen. Juan ponce enrile to post p1.5 million bail can benefit Arroyo, who is herself seeking court approval of her petition to bail. he also disagreed with most of his Liberal party allies in the house of representatives, led by Iloilo rep. Niel Tupas Jr., who

signed a house resolution calling for the anti-graft court sandiganbayan to allow house arrest for Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest at the Veterans memorial medical center in Quezon city.

Aquino, titular head and chairman of the ruling Lp, theorized that being lawmakers and mostly male, his colleagues could have been persuaded into signing the resolution out of pity or respect, or they may have felt it was the gentlemanly thing to do.

But he added the information available to legislators may have been “inadequate.” he said it is perfectly alright for Arroyo to remain at the Vmmc

Arroyo hopeful, too, of...

PAGE A8 Justice Lucas Bersamin, the high court said enrile’s political stature and frail health ruled out the possibility of him being a flight risk as he stands trial for plunder.

“With his solid reputation in both his public and his private lives, his long years of public service, and history’s judgment of

him being at stake, he should be granted bail,” Bersamin’s ponencia said.

“The currently fragile state of enrile’s health presents another compelling justification for his admission to bail, but which the sandiganbayan did not recognize,” it added.

“In our view, his social and political standing and his having

and being under house arrest would not afford her greater leeway in addressing her medical issues.

“If she has no medical issue, then why keep her in a hospital?” he stressed that Arroyo’s plunder case is a non-bailable offense. he said granting Arroyo the privilege of house arrest would not sit well with the people and with future generations. he said there is appropriate punishment for every crime. he stressed that success in fighting corruption is measured not just by the number of cases filed but by convictions. immediately surrendered … indicated that the risk of his flight or escape from this jurisdiction is highly unlikely.”

In his dissenting opinion, Associate Justice marvic Leonen said the majority decision to allow enrile smacks of “selective accommodation” on a person because of his title and stature. he said the ruling also sets a dangerous precedent because ordinarily bail is not granted based on humanitarian grounds.

by eDu

Punay Philstar.com

mANILA—The conflict between two magistrates of the supreme court (sc) stemming from the decision last week granting bail to sen. Juan ponce enrile in the pork barrel plunder case has gone from bad to worse.

Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, who wrote the ruling, hit back at Associate Justice marvic Leonen in a rejoinder submitted to the full court during session.

Bersamin specifically accused Leonen of overstepping his bounds and lacking respect for the majority ruling.

“At this point, I wish to state that Justice Leonen overstepped the bounds of respect for the majority; once the vote was taken, he had absolutely no business implying anything against how the majority had voted, or how their consensus had been reached,” read the rejoinder, a copy of which was obtained by reporters from sources. “he (Leonen) was a member of the minority; he should have stayed there. he should have confined himself to expressing his losing views. he should not fret and

smdc pg2 shore 2 3/4h fc

assail the process that he could not control from his side of the vote,” Bersamin stressed.

Bersamin believes Leonen was just whining with his losing opinion and instead of respecting the majority ruling, he went out of control and displayed his “selfrighteous mindset.” he said the allegations of Leonen in his dissent were “false and unreasonable” and also “unfair to me as the ponente (author) and to the seven other members of the court who joined me.

Bersamin stressed there was no deceit or sudden revision in grounds on the ruling circulated to justices after their voting on the case last Aug. 18, as claimed by Leonen.

“The majority was well aware that what was to be voted on was the pruned-down version simply because there was no demand from any of them to still first see the original version. on the part of those who voted against, none of them, including Justice Leonen, demanded to first see again the older version before voting,” he explained.

Bersamin alleged Leonen raised issues to delay the voting.

“he asked for time to circulate a draft. I saw this as a move to delay the vote. It was in exasperation more than anything else that I said that I would revert to the original version, and that the case should now be put to a vote. much discussion followed. Then the vote was taken,” he said.

Bersamin also turned the tables on Leonen and accused him of violating section 2, rule 10 of the Internal rules of court on matters of confidential deliberations of the sc justices. he also recalled Leonen even approached him during the Baguio summer session “to suggest to limit the justification for granting bail to humanitarian grounds.”

Bersamin added the dissenting justices were the ones who did not read Leonen’s opinion when they signed it, saying “two of them signed in favor of his dissenting opinion days before the opinion he wrote for them was completed.”

The rejoinder was supposed to be tackled in session of the justices, but Leonen asked that the deliberations be reset to sept. 28.

A majority of the justices, however, decided to just set the voting in their next session on sept. 1.

Dateline PhiliPPines

A10 august 28-september 3, 2015 • NOrCaL asIaN JOurNaL

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Binay camp seeks ethics probe on Trillanes

by Helen

Flores

Philstar.com

MANILA—The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay asked the Senate ethics committee to investigate Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for allegedly using Senate funds amounting to P1.63 million a month for his household expenses.

Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs, said Senate documents show that more than half of the P2.93million monthly allocation for Trillanes’ office goes to the salaries of 63 consultants, including his houseboy, family drivers, media workers, campaign donors, ex-Magdalo soldiers and a brother who was getting P71,200 a month.

Quicho cited media reports that Trillanes’ houseboy Eddie Ybañez was getting P3,500 a month and drivers Bernard Allen Marzan and Jay-Ar Caro were being paid P11,500 and P8,100 a month, respectively.

Marzan and Caro, along with 14 other consultants, were members of the Magdalo group. The Magdalo was behind the Oakwood mutiny and Manila Peninsula siege during the time of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Among these Magdalo soldiers are Segundino Orfiano Jr. and Ian Lee Punongbayan, who receive P71,200 a month, and Sonny Madarang who gets P71,300 a month.

“Even his houseboy he included as consultant. He should stop his moralizing and pontificating since the more he talks, the more he is exposed as a hypocrite,” Quicho said.

“We are sure he will again blame the opposition for this exposé. But we did not invent the Senate documents. The senator should explain before he complains,” he added.

More than triple The P1.63 million that Trillanes’ 63 consultants get every month is more than triple the allowed P506,262 monthly budget allocation for consultancy services, Quicho said.

From July to December 2014, Trillanes paid his consultants some P9.77 million, exceeding his budget allocation for consultancy services by more than P6.74 million.

Quicho said Robert Fong and Fabian Go were the highest paid consultants, receiving

P80,000 each per month.

He said Fong and Go each contributed P500,000 in campaign funds for Trillanes in 2013, Commission on Elections records showed.

For six months last year, Fong and Go were paid a total of P480,000 each, Quicho said.

“He apparently used taxpayers’ money to reward the people who helped him. The amount is almost the same with their campaign contribution if we will count only the July to December 2014 monthly consultancy fees that Fong and Go got,” he said.

Former subordinates Quicho said reports also showed that at least 16 consultants were his former subordinates in the military service.

He said Trillanes also “hired” his brother, Juan Antonio Trillanes, as a consultant and paid him P71,200 per month, receiving a total of P427,200 from July to December 2014, Senate documents show.

Quicho said Trillanes violated section 3.2 of the Commission on Audit Circular 85-55-A, which states that “unnecessary expenditures are those not supportive of the implementation of the objectives and mission of the agency relative to the nature of its operation.”

“It appears Senator Trillanes took the concept of the Senate as one of the two houses of Congress literally. He apparently got his budget for his house from the upper house, also known as the Senate,” he said.

No balls Trillanes said Binay’s camp could not make demands when the Vice President “does not have the balls” to appear before the Senate investigation.

“They act so tough when they are operating against people but when confronted, they are nothing. I have said that people who have no balls cannot be president,” he said.

“The names mentioned in a newspaper article published today are legitimate consultants.

Some were employed as confidential agents in relation to the ongoing Senate investigation regarding Binay anomalies, while others are doing field research, staff work and other auxiliary services assigned to them,” Trillanes added.

He said the Commission on Audit has cleared his office on the issue.

Hatchet job He said that the report was a hatchet job to tarnish his anticorruption efforts.

Trillanes said that a new set of exposés would be revealed tomorrow when the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee resumes its hearings on the alleged anomalies involving the Vice President and his family.

He said that the hearing would revolve around the janitorial, security and information technology services of the Makati city government during the tenure of suspended mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. Trillanes said the contracts for these services were valued at over P1 billion annually.

“We will reveal the details of how they profited from these,” he said.

Move on In a related development, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte urged Binay to stop being “sour grapes and bitter and to move on.”

Belmonte said he was making the appeal in the wake of the incessant attacks by Binay and his spokesmen on the administration of President Aquino and his preferred successor, outgoing Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

He said the attacks were unleashed after the Vice President failed to win the President’s endorsement for his long-announced aspiration for the presidency.

He added that the Vice President still feels bad about being rejected and apparently is not ready to forget about it.

Belmonte suggested that the opposition presidential candidate “should focus on rebuilding his diminishing credibility and on promoting his plans for the country.”

REFUGEES. Children line up for lunch at an evacuation center in Barangay Caraoan in Gonzaga town, Cagayan during the onslaught of Typhoon Ineng last week. Government preparations for the entry of Typhoon Ineng (Goni) in the country was not lacking even as casualties and shortage in supply of relief goods were reported in some affected areas, officials said.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

Duterte won’t run in 2016; cites ‘flawed system’ ‘Can’t choose from Roxas, Poe, and Binay? Don’t make me an excuse’ by uji

Vincent Gonzales Inquirer.net

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has maintained that he will not run for president in the 2016 elections supposedly because of a “flawed” government setup.

In a roundtable interview with Inquirer editors, Duterte on Tuesday, Aug. 25 said he has been touring different parts of the country, particularly Mindanao, not to bolster a clamored presidential bid but to promote federalism.

“I have never thought of what I would do if I become President because I never intended to be one.

Wala akong ambisyon,” Duterte said, calling the Constitution as a “well of corruption.”

“It’s because itong Constitution is really flawed. What will I do there?

It’s a flawed setup. Even if you want to, mahihirapan ka,” he added.

Saying that federalism is a good setup that “will bring about changes,” Duterte maintained that he has been reaching out to Filipinos to “make connections with the locals” if the issue of federalism will become relevant in the future.

“Itong institution ng presidency, wala ka talagang magagawang tama diyan. One year na nandiyan ka, puro pagnanakaw ang ibabato sa’yo,” he said. “All the idiotic things that a president should not do, you will be doing when you are in office.”

Asked about the timing of his visits few months before the national elections, Duterte cited the timeliness of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which he said was reflective of federalism as well.

‘Don’t make me an excuse’ Amid public clamor urging him to run for president, Duterte said

His powerful son has done nothing...

PAGE A7 their family killed.

In the case of the also mysterious assassination of another president, the US’s John F. Kennedy, the trail had gone totally cold after nightclub owner Jack Ruby, who killed the alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, died in prison four years later in 1967.

In Ninoy’s case, Martinez had

provided enough leads to solve the mystery, and many of the soldiers convicted are still alive and can be persuaded to tell everything they know. They can even be convinced to disclose who reportedly has been generously taking care of their families financially in the 30 years they’ve been in prison.

The crimes’ planners—Col. Ochoco and Capt. Valerio, Marti-

nez alleged—can still be tracked down. (Businessman Gosuico and Gen. Gatan reportedly had died several years ago by natural causes, although I have been unable to confirm this.)

How can Aquino keep wearing that yellow ribbon on his chest, when he has done nothing to solve the crime it signifies?

How can we be proud of a na-

people should not make him an excuse if they cannot choose from potential presidential candidates.

“If you can’t choose between Grace, Mar, and Binay, then don’t make me an excuse. Why me?” he said.

Reacting to reports of talks between Nacionalista Party and PDPLaban and a possible tandem with Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Duterte said he has never talked about the presidency with anybody.

The Davao mayor added that his popularity in preference polls will not affect his decision not to run in next year’s polls.

“If I become no. 1 tomorrow, it would not mean anything to me,” Duterte said.

“I have to overcome the objections of my family. Dalawa ang asawa ko, dalawa ang ayaw,” he added. tion whose two presidents, one the widow and the other the son, had not bothered to bring justice to a hero who had declared that the Filipino is worth dying for?

Or maybe it would be more realistic to hope that Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.—who aspires to lead this nation—would provide evidence to prove that it wasn’t his father who ordered Aquino’s murder, as most Filipinos believe the Senior did. (ManilaTimes. net)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2015

A11

Bongbong Marcos eyeing higher post in 2016

by Maila

ager Inquirer.net

Sen. Bongbong Marcos

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that he was considering running for a higher post in 2016.

Marcos said he was talking to “friends” about his political plans next year but not for reelection.

“Tuluy-tuloy pa ang mga usa-

pan sa ating mga kaibigan sa larangan ng pulitika. Tuluy-tuloy din ang paguusap ng nacionalista Party (nP) sa iba’t-ibang grupo, sa iba’t-ibang partido,” (talks are ongoing with our friends in politics. the nacionalista Party is continuing talks

with different groups, different parties) he said in an interview over Bombo radyo Monday, aug. 24.

“Hindi na namin napapagusapan ang reelection. Ang pinag-uusapan ngayon ay tatakbo sa higher office, hindi na sa Senate,” (We no longer talk about reelection. Discussions are about running for higher office, no longer for the Senate) he added. asked on tuesday, aug. 25 if he was considering running for a higher post next year, Marcos said: “Yes, I am.”

Marcos’ party mate in the nP, Senator antonio trillanes IV, was the first to declare his vice presidential bid in 2016. another nP member, Senate Majority Leader alan Peter Cayetano, has also expressed openness to run for vice president.

“May the best man win,” Cayetano said in a television interview on tuesday when asked about the possibility of him running against two party mates.

Dick Gordon lists woes, hits gov’t on social media by rosette

adel

Philstar.com

Philippine Red Cross chief Richard “Dick” Gordon ran for president in 2010 but lost to current President Benigno Aquino III.

ManILa—Philippine red Cross Chair richard “Dick” Gordon on tuesday blasted the government in a recent social media post. on his Facebook account, Gordon posted a collage photo of some of the major issues the aquino administration faced, namely the Metro rail transit problem, heavy traffic along

eDSa, lack of decent jobs, the Hong Kong hostage crisis in 2010, the Mamasapano operation and rampant crimes.

Gordon asked government to show concern and take initiative in addressing concerns those concerns.

“Magkusang-loob, magmalasakit at magkapwa-tao” naman kayong mga nasa Pamahalaan.

sa traffic, sa Mrt, sa SaF 44 sa Mamasapano, sa Krimen na lumalaganap, sa milyon-milyong oFW napipilitan umalis dahil sa kakulangan ng trabaho sa atin, na kadalasan mahirap para sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” Gordon said.

“Ibalik naman natin ang malasakit sa isa’t isa,” he added. the former senator also commented on the issue of the Bureau of Customs’ directive to pry open some balikbayan boxes as a way to stop smuggling in the country.

He said government should not meddle in the contents of overseas Filipinos’ packages for their families in the Philippines and should stop adding burden to citizens.

“Pati ba naman ‘yung mga oFWs, papakialaman niyo pa yung mga balikbayan box nila para sa konting kaligayahan ng mga pamilya? Alalayan naman natin sila! Wala na nga kayong prayoridad, papahirapan pa ninyo yung mga hirap na hirap magsikap sa ibang bansa upang makaangat sa buhay,” Gordon said. once a mayor of olongapo City and secretary of the Department of tourism, Gordon lost the presidential race in 2010 to current President Benigno aquino III.

DESTROYED. Corn crops in Barangay Caroan in Gonzaga, Cagayan are destroyed after the onslaught of Typhoon Ineng.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

Poe, Escudero said to be readying senatorial lineup by dJ

Yap Inquirer.net

SenatorS Grace Poe and Francis escudero are preparing a senatorial lineup that may include boxer Manny Pacquiao, technical education and Skills Development authority (tesda) chief Joel Villanueva and former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, according to the nationalist People’s Coalition (nPC). other names on the list are Senators Bongbong Marcos, ralph recto and tito Sotto, who are all up for reelection, former energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, and representatives Sherwin Gatchalian, Mark Villar, Martin romualdez and Lino Cayetano. nPC president and House

Deputy Speaker Giorgidi aggabao said these were the names being “bandied about” in informal talks on a possible run by Poe and escudero for president and vice president, respectively, in next year’s polls.

But aggabao made it clear that the list was not final.

“I could confirm that Senators Grace and Chiz will cobble up a slate coming from different parties,” he said in a text message. “the names you mentioned are bandied about. But the list is by no means final,” aggabao said.

“Some names could be dropped, and new names added,” he said. neither Poe nor escudero has formally announced plans to run

individually or as a team in 2016, but they have had talks with the nPC, whose leaders, including aggabao, have publicly expressed support for the two.

Pacquiao, the Sarangani representative, is a member of the United nationalist alliance (Una) of Vice President Jejomar Binay. He is being wooed by rival parties, including the ruling Liberal Party, which is fielding Interior Secretary Mar roxas as its standard bearer.

Some of the names on the nPC list belong to the LP, including recto and Petilla. others are with the nacionalista Party, among them, Marcos, Villar and Cayetano. romualdez is president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

Senate Electoral Tribunal starts hearing on disqualification case against Sen. Poe

by Christina

Mendez

Philstar.com

ManILa—the Senate electoral tribunal (Set) started to discuss the disqualification case filed against Sen. Grace Poe. It met to iron out some organizational matters and has set in motion the case that rizalito David has filed questioning Poe’s nationality and residency status, according to Sen. Vicente Sotto III. “We designated a spokesper-

son who is attorney Irene Guevarra, the Set secretary,” he said. “technically, the case has already started. We are not supposed to discuss it or talk about it.” the procedure to hear David’s complaint has been started, but he had not provided any details, Sotto said. the Set reportedly met at a posh hotel in Manila.

Sen. nancy Binay, a member who was also present during the

Set regular meeting, refused to comment. the members are now considered “judges” who will eventually weigh evidence on the petition filed against Poe, she said.

David filed a disqualification case against Poe before the Set, questioning her nationality and residency.

He also filed another case before the Commission on elections.

A12 august 28-september 3, 2015 • NOrCaL asIaN JOurNaL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Lawyers of accused in Pastor slay told to present proof

by Erika

SaulEr Inquirer.net

The judge handling the murder case of international racing champ enzo Pastor on Tuesday, aug. 25 ordered the lawyers of accused Domingo “sandy” de Guzman iii and Dalia Guerrero-Pastor to submit written authority as counsel from their clients.

Judge Luisito cortez of the Quezon city Regional Trial court Branch 85 granted the request of private prosecutor enrique de la cruz that the lawyers present proof that they were authorized to represent the accused on account of De Guzman and Dalia’s nonappearance in court despite the arrest warrants against them. “They seem to be fooling the court. They haven’t been arrested despite the warrants of arrest. and yet their lawyers are here in court. so we want to clarify if their clients really want these lawyers to represent them,” De la cruz told reporters after the hearing.

De la cruz added that the accused have filed several motions requesting orders from the court despite their failure to appear.

“Our position is that if you’re hiding from the law, what right

Enzo Pastor

do you have to seek justice?” De la cruz said. Dalia’s counsel Ruy Rondain and De Guzman’s lawyer charls Mark Parcia both said they had no knowledge of their clients’ whereabouts although they believe the two have not left the country.

The court also issued a subpoena against broadcaster Noli de castro and the cameraman who taped his interview with al-

leged gunman PO2 edgar angel.

De la cruz said the broadcaster could help corroborate the notary public’s testimony that angel, who had linked Dalia and De Guzman to the crime, executed his affidavit voluntarily. enzo Pastor was shot dead in June last year allegedly by a gunman hired by De Guzman who conspired with Dalia. according to a witness, the two were lovers.

NEW ATTRACTION. Photo shows one of the rock formations in the Capisaan Cave System in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chaired by Sen. Francis Escudero has approved proposals that seek to declare the Capisaan Cave System in Kasibu town here as an ecotourism zone.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Enrile comes to co-accused Gigi Reyes’ rescue ‘SC ruling will benefit my chief of staff, too’ by lEila

B. SalavErria Inquirer.net

Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, once called the “25th senator,” may still be detained in a female jail cell, but she hasn’t been abandoned. sen. Juan Ponce enrile on Tuesday, aug. 25 said he expected his former chief of staff to benefit from the supreme court ruling granting his motion for a bill of particulars in connection with his plunder case stemming from allegations he pocketed P172 million in kickbacks from his pork barrel allocations. enrile disputed the statements of Levito Baligod, a private complainant in the alleged P10-billion racket, that the favorable decisions the former senate President had won from the high tribunal would leave Reyes “holding the bag.”

The senator pointed out that he and Reyes were coaccused under the same plunder complaint arising from the alleged diversion of his Priority Development assistance Fund (PDaF), or pork barrel, to ghost projects and fake foundations in schemes planned by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Baligod earlier said enrile’s motion for a bill of particulars was intended to underscore the fact that Reyes would be made principally liable for the plunder case, as allegations showed that it was she who supposedly received the

Gigi Reyes

kickbacks. a motion for a bill of particulars is filed to allow a defendant to get more details of the crime he was alleged to have committed.

Like enrile, Reyes had also declined to enter a plea on her plunder charge, on the ground that her right to due process was supposedly denied, the senator noted. also accused in separate counts of plunder charges in connection with the PDaF scam are senators Jinggoy estrada and Bong Revilla who remain detained. Napoles, who is in jail for the alleged serious detention of Luy, is also a coaccused in the plunder cases.

Reyes, who surrendered to the sandiganbayan on July 4 last year, is detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology female dormitory in camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig city.

Days after her surrender, Reyes

filed in the supreme court a petition for certiorari and prohibition, in which she claimed that the plunder and graft charges against her lacked probable cause. citing grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of or in excess of jurisdiction, Reyes asked the high court to nullify and set aside the sandiganbayan resolutions, which adopted the Ombudsman’s indictment of Reyes for plunder and 15 counts of violations of the anti-Graft and corrupt Practices act (Republic act No. 3019).

The 52-year-old Reyes had disappeared for eight months after the pork barrel scandal broke out. she returned home on april 19 last year on a flight from san Francisco to face the plunder charges against her. a lawyer, Reyes worked for enrile during his two terms as senator—from July 1995 to June 2001 and from 2004 to January 2013— when she resigned after publicly accusing in a radio interview that sen. alan Peter cayetano was a “hypocrite” for criticizing enrile’s alleged uneven distribution of the senators’ christmas bonuses.

Before her resignation, Reyes was widely regarded as the “25th senator” for her purported influence in the senate as a stern, nononsense aide to enrile. Reyes has sought to downplay her role in enrile’s office. she claimed to merely represent enrile in meetings and conferences.

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2015 A13

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Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves & ben LovemAn Current immigration laws are not perfect but creative and strategic use of the provisions of the laws as they exist can offer pathways to residency or longterm employment authorization. the last two years have been difficult for immigration reform efforts. After flirting with a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system, the House of representatives failed to even vote on the reform package. the law, which could have brought hope to millions, languished and died in the halls of Congress shepherded to a slow end

by Conservative representatives unwilling to even debate the law. President Obama’s efforts to offer temporary relief through work authorization through the DAPA program have been, at least temporarily, scuttled due to lawsuits from groups opposed to reform. the inability of Congress or the President to pass meaningful reform has not changed the fact that scores of families have at least one member who is here without permission. these loved ones living in the shadows want nothing more than to be able to contribute and support their families here and abroad. While we are still fighting and hoping for a major overhaul to the system, for many simply waiting is not the best option. Laws in existence now offer the chance for employment authorization and a pathway forward towards residency and a better future.

Present law provides for persons who have uS citizen or lawful permanent resident spouses, children, or parents who have resided in the united States for ten-years or longer to apply for permanent resident status before an immigration Judge. to be eligible the applicant must prove that s/he has: (1) resided in the

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28-SepTembeR 3, 2015

CJ

Journal Work authorization now! ‘World War II in the Philippines: The Legacy of

united States continuously for ten years; (2) has been a person of good moral character; (3) has not been convicted of certain criminal offenses; and (4) has a uS citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child who would suffer exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. the applicant must meets each of these requirements and be deserving of approval as a matter of discretion.

Applying for resident status before a Judge necessarily means being in removal proceedings which can be a scary prospect. But the convergence of huge court backlogs and the government’s use of prosecutorial discretion mean that going to immigration court is not as scary as it used to be. With wait times to see a judge hitting record highs it can be over five years before a case is decided and in the meantime applicants will be entitled to work authorization and be able to support their families. Further, for long-time residents with familial ties to the uS and a clean criminal history the government might agree to indefinitely close a removal case meaning the applicant will remain indefinitely eligible for employment authorization.

Whether to pursue a cancellation of removal case as a means to obtain employment authorization and a chance at residency depends on the particular circumstances of each case. Assessing the benefits and risks requires inventorying personal, familial, and immigration history. In some cases the inventory could reveal that seeking cancellation is largely risk-free. For instance, an undocumented father with uS citizen children in high school, no criminal record, and the need for better employment to support his children would be a likely candidate to pursue cancellation of removal. Given the current backlogs, even if the government does not agree to suspend processing of his

case, by the time he goes for final hearing before an immigration judge one of his children will likely be eligible to petition him for permanent resident status. In the meantime he will have gained the invaluable opportunity to work anywhere his talents allow.

Applying for cancellation of removal may also be attractive to persons with lawful permanent resident or uS citizen parents who have filed petitions on their behalf and who are waiting for a visa to be available to either apply for adjustment of status or to apply for an immigrant visa in conjunction with the provisional waiver. For more on the expanded provisional waiver process—another opportunity under current law—please see our recent article on the topic on our website). For these of persons applying for cancellation offers the chance to obtain employment authorization until their visa is available.

Other cases will present closer calls and some cases will be unsuited to this strategy. the point is that the immigration system in place today can be utilized if the right questions are asked and a careful analysis is conducted. If you or a loved one might be eligible for employment authorization and residency through cancellation of removal you should discuss your case with an experienced immigration attorney.

*** 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

Two Nations’ at the SF Public Library on Sept. 12 In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Bataan Legacy Historical Society, Memorare Manila 1945, the San Francisco Public Library and the Philippine Consulate General present World War II in the Philippines – The Legacy of Two Nations, an exhibition and a conference. the four-month exhibition will open on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 10:30am at the San Francisco Main Public Library (third Floor) located at 100 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA. the Conference will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 10am at the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Main Public Library. Both events

are open to the public. Admission is Free but registration through eventbrite (Bataan Legacy) is recommended for the Conference. the exhibition from September 12, 2015 to January 9, 2016 will depict the story of World War II in the Philippines, a seminal piece of history that has been mostly forgotten. the exhibition will present a compelling story of the sacrifices of Filipino, American and Allied soldiers and civilians. One million civilians perished in the Philippines during WWII and its capital Manila became the second most devastated city in the world after Warsaw. It will depict the Bataan Death March,

one of the most horrific events during WWII. the Conference on October 24 will feature speakers from different perspectives of the war. WWII veterans Chief Johnny Johnson of the uSS San Francisco, the most decorated carrier during WWII and Maj. General richard Keith of the 511th Parachute Infantry will be among the speakers. Veterans and survivors of the war will also act as panelists. State Superintendent tom torlakson of the California Department of education will give the opening keynote speech.

For further information, please visit our website at www. bataanlegacy.org.

Parangal Dance Company’s 7th Anniversary Show In celebration of their 7th year in existence, Parangal Dance Company’s choreographer, eric Solano, will present Alamat, a program showcasing traditional and inspired attires, music, and dances of the northern Philippine Highlands (Kalinga and Ga’dang), Mindanao (t’boli and Bagobotagabawa) and Maranao. Dances will also be representing Spanish influence.

Parangal has partnered with recognized traditional cultural bearers in the Philippines and in the united States to premiere their respective group’s legends on proscenium stage. these partners include Jenny BawerYoung (Kalinga; Bay Area, California) and cultural masters of national Commission for Culture and the Arts- Amparo Mabanag and Margareth Balansi from the Ga’dang community of Paracelis, Mountain Province, and Sonia D. Mangune and Arlyne D. Salazar from Bagobo-tagabawa of toril, Davao City. resources for Alamatalso include Leyte Dance theater, ramon Obu-

sanFolkloric Group, and Silin Awed.

Performance will be on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 2pm and 7pm (PDt) at Skyline College theater (located at 330 College Dr. Building OneSan Bruno, CA 94066). tickets are: Group (6 or more) - $20 (main show) / $15 (matinee), Senior (65) / Child

(12) / Student - $20 (main) / $15 (matinee) and General (from August to show) - $35 (main) / $30 (matinee). Website fees not included in pricing. For tickets: http://alamat. eventbrite.com/ this production is funded in part by Alliance for California traditional Arts and San Mateo County Arts Grants Program.

CJ

AUGUST 28-SepTember 3, 2015 • NOrCAL ASIAN JOUrNAL

Calendar of Events across

Community Journal

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Beyond business, LBC makes it America easy for customers to give back

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 AU G U ST 29

UPAAGLA Induction Dinner-Dance All U.P. Graduates, family and friends are invited to attend The Induction Dinner Dance of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) on August 29, 2015 at 6pm at the Glendale Embassy Suites (800 Central Ave, Glendale, CA 91203). This event shall benefit the Scholarship Fund of UPAAGLA. Tickets are $75 inclusive of dinner. For ticket and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Arnel Joaquin (213) 880-3305 / arnelj@gmail.com, or Dick Cu (562) 547-0560, or visit www.upaagla.org.

SepTember 4

National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Charity Golf Tournament Where: Penderbrook Golf Club, 3700 Golf Trail Lane, Fairfax, VA 22033 When: September 4, 2015; 8am-2pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

Saulog Celebration: A Night of Serenade Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity, Inc. (CEBU INC.) will be hosting a Saulog Celebration: “A Night of Serenade” on Friday, September 4th, at St. Rebastian Roman Catholic Church (5802 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, NY 11377). The show will present the Cebu Clergy Performing Artists, and feature: the 2015 NYC Philippines Independence Day Parade Grand Prize Winner - C.E.B.U. INC. Sinulog Dancers. The show will start at 8:00pm on Friday. Please contact CEBU INC. for more details.

SepTember 4-6

National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Convention Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004 When: September 4-6, 2015; from 8am-5pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

S e p T e m b e r 4 -7

Ramon Magsaysay/Cubao High School 2015 Reunion in Las Vegas Calling all Cubao High School/Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School graduates and alumni! Come out and join the 2015 Get-Together of our Alma Mater from Friday, September 4 to Monday, September 7 at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103). A special Dinner/Dance is scheduled on Saturday, September 5. To our Alumni now residing in Canada, the US, and other parts of the world, all are invited to share this special weekend event with their fellow graduates and classmates in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, please call Jay Medina at (310) 967-9517 or Boots Doria at (925) 330-8081.

SepTember 5

Filipino Association of Leisure World Dinner-Dance The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold their dinner-dance at the Leisure World Hall on Saturday, September 5th. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For further information, please call Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209.

Poverty, global development, and societal issues. While governments debate these matters and consider what they can do to manage it, there are others who are already taking the first step.

LBC express Inc., for instance, while a private business entity, is already making an effort to alleviate these issues with partnerships with relevant organizations and customers who want to do their part for initiatives.

“We have recently partnered with two important organizations based in Canada—the Philippine Cultural Community Center (PCCC), which is focused on providing support and services to the Filipino communities in Canada; and Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCoP), which provides community development as well as humanitarian relief,” explains rafael Policarpio, LBC North America’s Area Head.

PCCC is focused on continuous education information, planning and direction, health care and social services, and social integration for migrant Filipinos in Canada, while ANCoP is a global Catholic community present in over 100 countries geared towards poverty alleviation through effective child education and various development programs and values formation.

For the partnership, members of each organization will be given LBC Community Partner Cards, where LBC will donate $2.50 to their specific organization’s cause for every balikbayan box sent though LBC. the initiative, which will begin in August, runs through November this year and is available to all members of the said Canadabased organizations. the intent is simple, the process is uncomplicated, but the end result can move many lives.

“Ultimately, it’s a means by which LBC can give back to the community with the help of our loyal customers, while at the same time providing them the kind of service that they deserve,” ends Hugo Bonilla, LBC North America’s President.

For more information on LBC,

The CTV Files

SepTember 5-6

Atty. LiLLi B. BAcuLi

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for Accountants at the NCPACA Convention

tHe power to give, take away, and deport. the United States does not welcome you with open arms.

It allows non-citizens entry into the United States, under certain conditions. When these conditions are broken, you can expect nothing but the full force of the United States government through the Department of Homeland Security to bear down on you. Until you are a full-fledged US citizen, you may be deportable.

It all starts with the Notice to Appear (NtA). the NtA is the charging document issued by an authorized agent of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to noncitizens who the government believes are inadmissible or removable. the NtA is issued to place a noncitizen in a full removal proceeding before an immigration judge, who will determine whether the noncitizen is to be removed or allowed to remain in the United States.

Who Can Issue an NtA? various officials within DHS are empowered to issue NtAs in different circumstances. the US Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICe), which is an arm of DHS that conducts investigations and enforcement and removal operations, may issue NtAs. the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may also issue an NtA when it finds a noncitizen has not complied with regulations governing admission or maintaining lawful status after admission. the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may also issue NtAs. CBP operates primarily at designated ports of entry and manages customs, immigration,

Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004 When: September 5-6, 2015; from 8am-5pm, at the National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants (NCPACA) 2015 Convention Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

SepTember 19

Citizenship Day 2015 The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is having a FREE Citizenship Day event on September 19, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, to assist low-income, 18+ immigrants eligible for US citizenship with the full naturalization process. Every case will be reviewed by a legal attorney. Please call us at 407-841-8310 ext. 3123 for an appointment and any questions you may have. Thank You!

PILIPINO INTER-CLUB OPEN Invitational Golf Tournament The 11th annual PILIPINO INTER-CLUB OPEN (PICO) is open to fellow master golfers from the tri-state area. The charity tournament will be held on Saturday, September 19, at Royce Brook Golf Club (201 Hamilton Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844). It will be a shotgun start @ 1:30 pm. Registration is $120 each player; includes golf cart and food after the game. Come early for registration, refreshments, and mini contests. Come and join the quest for individual and team honors by class. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Family Center Christian Church, and donations are 100% tax deductible. Sign-up now at http://www. spgolfclub.com/PICO. For more details, please contact Ed Badiola 908-531-7377, or Justil Cruz 973-926-1400.

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CELEBRATE LOCAL with San Diego Restaurant Week!

This September, San Diego Restaurant Week, presented by Lexus Dealerships of San Diego, will CELEBRATE LOCAL... keepin’ it fresh - really fresh. San Diego Restaurant week returns September 20th - September 26th for ONE WEEK ONLY to “Celebrate Local” at all 180+ participating restaurants. Choose from a three-course dinner or two-course lunch deal to satisfy your cravings. NEW THIS YEAR, San Diego Restaurant Week will be partnering with Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to provide backpacks for children in need within the San Diego community during the ALL FOR KIDS campaign. Ditch the dirty dishes and join over 150,000 fellow diners as we celebrate San Diego’s thriving culinary scene and the homegrown, local businesses that provide us with the produce and products we love! Tickets are not necessary for this delectable week of discounted dining, but reservations are recommended! Visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com for more information, including a list of participating restaurants, or to make your reservations in advance!

Rafael Policarpio, LBC North America’s Area Head, with Joseph Franco, PCCC’s Secretary, Treasurer, and Spokesperson

Policarpio with Ricky Cuenca, ANCOP’s President

please visit http://www.lbcexpress.com; or call the hotline at (888) 652-2522.

LBC express, Inc. is the Philippines’ market leader in payments, remittance, courier products, mail, parcels and, cargo logistics. through a global presence in over 30 countries in Asia-Pacific, North America, the Middle east and europe, LBC express’ network of 4,400 locations, partners, and agents is growing steadily, and commits to moving lives, businesses, and communities in the Philippines and across the globe. Founded

in 1945 as a brokerage and air cargo agent, LBC express pioneered time-sensitive cargo delivery and 24-hour door-to-door delivery in the Philippines. today, it is the most admired and trusted courier, cargo, and remittance service of millions of Filipinos, an iconic and global Filipino brand. LBC can move it for you: visit us at www.lbcexpress.com, or call telephone +632 8585 999 (Metro Manila), 1 800 10 8585 999 (Provincial), and follow LBCexpress (Facebook and twitter).

(Advertising Supplement)

What makes you deportable

security, and agricultural inspection duties. CBP makes thousands of determinations daily, concerning the admissibility of arriving noncitizens.

Below is a discussion on examples of what might trigger the USCIS, ICe or CBP to issue an NtA putting you in removal proceedings.

Inadmissible: When you are not allowed to enter.

Nikolai is a Lawful Permanent resident (LPr) who was admitted to the US in 1970. In 2000, he was convicted for 2 DUI convictions and petty theft. recently, he took a vacation outside of the US for a few weeks.

Upon his return, CBP took him aside and issued him an NtA for being an “inadmissible alien.”

Deportable: When you are getting thrown out of the country.

Jennifer (also an LPr) was convicted of 2 counts of possession of marijuana, 2 counts of being under the influence of marijuana.

She is currently out on bail for her 4th case in a span of 12 months, for resisting arrest, public indecency, and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

She has just recently been issued an NtA alleging that she is “deportable.” the Filing of an Application May be trigger an NtA. In a third scenario, Marco has been living under the radar for 20 years and finally decided on filing for citizenship, without first consulting with an experienced immigration attorney. At the interview, he is shown a record of conviction for DUI that he had forgotten. Worse, there were several misdemeanor theft convictions from 10 years ago that he had also forgotten.

Marco is scheduled for a second interview, and he is panicking as to what might happen.

In either of these scenarios, Nikolai, Jennifer, and Marco run the risk of being removed (deported) from the United States

because of their convictions, notwithstanding their LPr status, and their long-term residence in the United States.

A Criminal Conviction’s Negative Impact on Immigration Status. the record of Conviction (roC) details an individual’s criminal history – his/her arrest, what s/he plead to, and the final judgment/sentence. the relief(s) available to an individual facing removal/deportation proceedings will depend largely on the record of conviction.

Not every criminal conviction will result in deportation and not every deportation proceeding will lead to an order of deportation. Nevertheless, certain commission of crimes will render a non-citizen inadmissible or deportable, and will run the risk of being placed in deportation proceedings. An individual should act quickly and consult both with a criminal attorney and with an experienced criminal immigration attorney who handles deportation defense, to mitigate the negative consequences of a criminal conviction to his/her immigration status.

It is important to be informed and know your options. An experienced immigration firm or attorney will be able to help you understand the options available to you under the evolving immigration laws. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.

Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com. For general information visit www.chuatinsayvega.com.

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2nd Grand Reunion GOT (RETIRED) from Cerveza San Miguel US CHAPTER Where: Gold Coast Casino & Hotel (4000 Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89103) When: Sept. 25 and 26; Grand Reunion Sept. 26 at 7:00 pm For details and information, please contact Renato Umayam at 323-841-3516, Nida Matias at 818-394-9178, Greg Lacondola at 702-334-8068, or Arnold Navarro at 318-779-6254.

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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.

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

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

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. Federation 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 21/2 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 PAGE CJ3

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

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ Dear atty. Gurfinkel: Before I was 16 years old, I was adopted and petitioned by my aunt, and got my green card through her petition. I am now a US citizen, and would like to bring my biological mother to the US. Is it possible to petition my biological mother?

Very truly yours, B.N. Dear B.N.: When a child is adopted before their 16th birthday, and receives an immigration benefit as a result of that adoption (such as being petition and obtaining a green card), they are considered the “child” of the adoptive parents. This means, the adopted child cannot petition for his or her biological parents or siblings, and they cannot receive any immigration benefit from them.

In your case, since you obtained your green card as a result of an adoption, you could not petition your biological parent, or your bio-

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

Has the world gone mad? Have we completely lost our moral compass?

You seriously wonder about the state of the soul of human beings these days. When more people seem to rise in outrage over the killing of a lion rather than on the wholesale murder and sale of baby parts, we probably need to get down on our knees, bow down our heads in shame and do some serious soul searching.

Cecil, a lion in Zimbabwe was killed by an obsessed American hunter for sport. Thousands on twitter and other social networking tools rose up in collective indignation aghast over the death of a lion. Even daft lawmakers are trying to get in on the action.

At about the same time, videos exposing the trade and trafficking of baby body parts from top executives of Planned Parenthood abortion clinics came out on TV and the internet. These videos didn’t seem to get as much attention and traction worldwide as they should.

Surprised? In a world where far too many people have become too self obsessed, far too distracted or just plain apathetic to be shaken to their roots, we may have indeed lost our way.

Can a direct hit by 7-mile asteroid hurtling through space with earth’s name on it, be far behind?

What will it take to shake us out of our individual and collective complacency? What will it take to be shaken to the core, feel revulsion down to the pit of our stomachs, recoil in horror, feel so agitated, enough to rise in indignation and take action against the systematic and mass murder of human babies AND to top it all, the callous, barbaric sale of their body parts for profit under the pretext and guise of advancing medical research.

I pray I am wrong in my perception of reactions and re-

Community Journal

logical brothers or sisters.

However, it is still possible for an adopted child to re-establish a “petitionable relationship” with their natural parents even if there was an adoption, provided, (a) the child received no immigration benefit as a result of the adoption; (b) the adoption was lawfully terminated (pursuant to a court order rescinding the adoption); and (c) the natural parents relationship has been re-established. For example, a person may have been adopted, but later obtained a green card through marriage, and not through the adoption. They could perhaps go back to court, have the adoption rescinded or terminated, at which point it could be possible to petition their biological parents.

In addition, there is a difference between a person being petitioned or obtaining a green card as an adopted child and as a stepchild.

If a person obtained their green card as a stepchild (their parent married a US citizen before their 18th birthday, and the citizen stepparent petitioned them), that child could still petition his or her other natural parent.

If these situations apply to you or someone you know, you should seek the advice of a reputable im-

ENCORE EPISODE ON CITIZEN PINOY! Leading US immigration lawyer Michael J. Gurfinkel continues to answer questions from Kapamilya in Rosemont, Illinois, such as I am a US citizen and want to retire in the Philippines. Will that affect my citizenship? I petitioned my married son in the Philippines, but he was killed in an accident. Can I still bring his family to the US? Get answers to these and more on an encore episode of the information-packed, award-winning public service program—’Citizen Pinoy,’ this Sunday, August 30 at 6:15pm PST/EST (9:15pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

migration attorney. *** 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 murder of babies and the killing of a lion “The most dangerous place for a baby these days is in the mother’s womb.”

—Monette Adeva Maglaya sponses to this horror during our times. If I am, I apologize. I cannot gauge the intensity of silent moral outrage. No matter the appearances, I do believe that good trumps evil every time. I do believe that there are millions or even billions who are of good heart and believe that such evil is indefensible —an abomination every which way you look at it.

In every Christian home and every church, there are quiet prayer warriors all over the world known only to God, enjoining the intercession of Our Holy Mother Mary in begging God for mercy and to intervene and reverse the course of the downward trajectory of human affairs in our time.

Humans, made in the image and likeness of God, are the crowning glory of God’s creation in this neck of the universe.

Those of us who believe in this core Christian doctrine recoil at this grievous offense. Observe the maternal instincts of animals which would do everything in their power to protect their young. Yet, there are animals which eat their young. It is the nature of the beast. Sadly, there are those among us who behave no differently.

The videos show the gruesome, horrifying, callous negotiations and sale of baby body parts. A later video shows PP involved even in the sale of whole baby cadavers, so that eye balls, kidneys, livers, hearts and everything that makes the human body of a baby can be sold intact for a better price and thus improve PP’s bottom line.

An executive is heard saying they even want to improve their abortion procedures to something that is less “crunchy” so that “specimens”, as they so casually call baby body parts, can

be harvested in better condition for a better price in the market.

It is mind blowing that these top executives of the abortion factory discuss prices over lunch while swirling their glass of wine matter-of-factly dickering over prices as though human beings were cattle. Can anything be more ghoulish? One executive says during negotiation that she wants a Lamborghini.

So move over Herod, Sanger, Mengele, Gosnell et al. You have company. Lots of them … The depths of hell may be filled to overflowing.

The Center for Medical Progress which produced the explosive videos is a pro-life group. It has worked undercover for years to expose the wickedness and evil practices of this industry.

Buyers in these videos are actually actors who are exposing the heinous practices of the abortion industry, particularly Planned Parenthood. PP is a politically well-connected, deeply entrenched, well funded national organization receiving over half a billion dollars a year in taxpayer money.

It is sad that a legislative effort to defund the group of taxpayer money has failed just recently due in part to the lack of leadership and true grit among many members of our feckless, inept Congress and Senate who lack the moral and intestinal fortitude to win victories when they have the capacity to do so. There is simply no excuse. The matter will be up for revote and I sense a change in the direction of the wind.

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

After-school program funding opportunity for San Jose K – 3 Students “We know that third-grade reading proficiency strongly correlates with high school graduation rates and remains a challenge for too many of San Jose’s children,” says Mayor Sam Liccardo. “Since the 1990s, our residents have recognized the need for City-funded afterschool programs that, if well designed, can deliver consistent achievement gains. This is a first step in re-engaging the City of San Jose in supporting these critical programs that, after a decade of budget cuts, were all but eliminated.”

The proposal submission deadline is August 21, 2015 at 5pm. Applicants will be informed of grant decisions in October 2015.

“The grants available through

the SJ Learns initiative will help San Jose’s young children— especially low-income kids with working parents—get the opportunities they need to succeed in school,” said Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation and one of the co-chairs of the SJ Learns Working Group. “I’m proud to be a part of this timely effort that will have a positive effect on so many children and their futures.”

SJ Learns will work with partners to explore strategies with the potential to further expand high-quality after-school programs. SJ Learns’ priorities were established by a working group of leaders in the education and youth development fields throughout San Jose.

2015 FPACC Bi-National Business Conference...

PAGE CJ2 welcome reception. The Saturday morning program is dedicated to US-based business and economic matters while the afternoon session is focused on Philippine and international topics of interest, highlighted by a formal evening gala event. FPACC’s biennial election of its officers and board members will also take place during the conference. The Sunday morning

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Can adopted children petition biological family members?

SJ Learns launches RFP

SAN JOSE— The Request for Proposal (RFP) for SJ Learns, an initiative by Mayor Sam Liccardo to expand high-quality afterschool programs, went live on Fri., July 24. SJ Learns provides an opportunity for organizations to apply for funding up to $500,000 to support innovative after-school programs in San José elementary schools for K – 3rd graders.

The RFP is being administered by Silicon Valley Community Foundation and can be found at www.siliconvalleycf. org/other-funding-opportunities. San Jose school districts, charter school networks, and established elementary school coalitions are encouraged to submit a proposal to participate in the program.

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28-SepTembeR 3, 2015

session is scheduled to showcase the memorandums of understanding among the conference’s binational 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://fpacham-

ber.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.

The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) 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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AUGUST 28-SepTember 3, 2015 • NOrCAL ASIAN JOUrNAL

College readiness rates deviate significantly for Asian American and Pacific Islander students ACT and APIASF reports suggest need for improvement in educational quality IoWA CITY, IoWA—Asian graduates in the Us high school class of 2014 outperformed all other groups in meeting key benchmarks for college readiness, while Pacific Islander students were significantly less likely to meet the same benchmarks as their peers, according to two new reports released recently from ACT and the Asian & Pacific Islander American scholarship Fund (APIAsF).

The reports, The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2014: Asian students and The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2014: Pacific Islander students, examine the academic preparation and postsecondary aspirations of students in these two groups among 2014 high school graduates who took the ACT test.

While data for Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students are often combined, these reports separate the results and reveal a wide chasm between outcomes for the two groups.

For instance, 57 percent of Asian students met at least three of the four ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, compared to 24 percent of Pacific Islander students.

“These reports show how important it is to pay attention to the vast discrepancies within a diverse group of students that are often regarded collectively as the ‘model minority,’” said Jim larimore, ACT chief officer for the advancement of underserved students.

“The reality is more complex, particularly for those students who come from low-income families or are the first in their families to go to college.”

“Asian American and Pacific Islander students are often overlooked as individuals in need of educational support and guidance,” said Neil Horikoshi, president and executive director of APIAsF. “The successes of some have masked the struggles of many. These reports are critical to exposing the overlooked needs of AAPI students nationwide. As we

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continue to disaggregate data and understand the complexity of the AAPI community, we are grateful for our partnership with ACT and important work like these reports to dispel the ‘model minority’ myth.”

Across all four subject areas measured by the ACT—English, math, reading and science—Asian students were more likely than all other racial/ethnic groups to meet readiness benchmarks, while Pacific Islander students were less likely than many of their peers to meet benchmarks in each subject area.

Nearly 5,700 Pacific Islander graduates from the class of 2014 took the ACT compared to just over 80,000 Asian graduates from the same class.

From 2010–2014, the number of ACT test-taking Asian graduates increased by 23 percent, while the number of Pacific Islander students remained steady.

Although the large majority of both Asian and Pacific Islander students report planning to enroll in college—85 percent for Asians, 83 percent for Pacific Islanders—52 percent of Asian students said they plan to earn a graduate or professional degree compared to 33 percent of Pacific Islander students.

The research-based ACT College Readiness Benchmarks specify the minimum scores students must earn on each of the four subject tests (English, math, reading, and science) to have about a 75 percent chance of earning a grade of C or higher in a typical credit-bearing first-year college course in the corresponding subject area. ACT research suggests that students who meet the benchmarks are more likely than those who do not to persist in college and earn a degree.

The ACT/APIAsF reports use data from more than 1.8 million ACT-tested 2014 high school graduates.

During ACT registration, students are asked to provide informa-

PeoPle & events

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

Standing up for rural postal delivery PosT offices are crucial anywhere, but especially crucial in rural areas that depend on the postal service to stay connected through news delivery, services crucial to businesses, and, in some communities, a link to prescription drugs and other services.

The mail service is a national treasure that has been in operation for 240 years.

Every day, the Postal service provides affordable, universal mail service to all—without using taxpayer dollars for its

operation.

The Center for Rural Affairs has signed letters of support for continuing reliable, affordable 6-day mail delivery from the Us Postal service. Particularly for remote rural citizens, the service is a lifeline. Nearly 10,000 people have signed the pledge.

We also signed letters of support for two bi-partisan measures in the House of Representatives. one, HR 54, would restore service standards to those in use before

last January’s reductions. The combination of reduced service standards and closing mail processing facilities has left rural Americans and businesses experiencing the worst of mail delays.

The other House measure (HR 12) calls for maintaining 6-day mail service across the country. small towns and rural communities in particular depend on this service as a link to prescription drugs and other vital services. Both measures passed in the House.

To pledge your support to save our public postal service visit: http://agrandalliance.org/ pledge/ oR http://www.cfra.org/ standing-rural-postal-delivery.

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues. (By Marie Powell / Center for Rural Affairs)

Peninsula Family Service is recruiting for volunteer counselors for Fall training

PENINsUlA Family service starts another training this Fall for volunteer senior peer counselors.

Why volunteer? If you have an aging parent, relative, or friend and you wish to learn the facts and challenges of aging and the many things that occur in this process -- what to do or how you can help -you might consider becoming a senior peer counselor. You can make a positive difference in the lives of others. A special bond is developed when volunteers can speak their native tongue -– by sharing their values, wisdom and culture.

Aging isn’t always pleasant and easy. And these “kababayans” (fellow countrymen) face loneliness due to loss of loved ones or loss of health. some have family problems or are experiencing culture shock, especially those still unfamiliar with life and goings-on in the new country. Besides offering a supportive ear these tion about parental education, high school course taking and postsecondary aspirations.

The Asian American report is available at: act.org/newsroom/data/2014/states/asian. html, and the Pacific Islander report is at: act.org/newsroom/data/2014/states/pacificislander.html.

About ACT ACT is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people achieve education and work-

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New senior peer counselors from last Spring training.

volunteers offer help to those needing assistance with regards to the many resources available to them in the san Mateo County, such as food, work, health, legal assistance, housing – to name a few. still others simply are unable to share with family members their worries in life, both in the U.s. and in the Philippines. listening is the one impor-

tant and simplest aspect of the counseling program. Volunteers are not licensed, like those that have degrees and experience in social work. We are allies and guides to those who need emotional support and guidance. With our peer counseling, those people who are hesitant to allow someone to “listen” to them are now more comfortable meeting with a peer counselor who shares a similar background place success. Headquartered and experiences. Many Filipiin Iowa City, Iowa, ACT is nos are still afraid to come out trusted as the nation’s leader and seek support, although it in college and career readi- is free and confidential. Confiness, providing high-qual- dentiality means that all things ity achievement assessments discussed are only between grounded in more than 50 the clients and counselors. years of research and experiThe senior Peer Counselence. ACT offers a uniquely ing program is being offered integrated set of solutions by Peninsula Family service that help people succeed from in san Mateo County to adults kindergarten through career, age 55 and older. Volunteer providing insights that unlock counselors are trained older potential. To learn more about adults who share similar exACT, go to www.act.org. perience, values, wisdom and

culture. Graduates have reported that they have learned a lot for themselves that they are able to relate not only to clients, but to their families and friends as well.

Training starts september 21, 2015 through october 27, 2015 on Monday and Tuesday mornings at the offices of Peninsula Family service at 24 second Avenue, san Mateo. Topics include: Aging in America, Effective Communication, Mental Health Challenges, Working with Diverse Cultures, Understanding loss, Ways to Work with Clients, among other related issues. Counseling is offered in English, Filipino, spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and lGBTQ community. For additional information, call ofie Carpio Albrecht at Peninsula Family service 650.403.4300 ext. 4363 or e-mail: oalbrecht@peninsulafamilyservice. org.

FOR SALE

FOSTER HOME CARE

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SEAFOOD CITY FOOD SERVICE FpFC

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AUGUST 28-SepTember 3, 2015 • NOrCAL ASIAN JOUrNAL

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Friday, August 28, 2015

SF2

cover story

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 28, 2015

‘She, Who Can See’

A hAunting contemporAry live performAnce About worlds in collision

By Malou liwanag-Bledsoe

/ AJPress

LIVE stage performances often bring the audience to a difference experience, as the story is almost up close and personal. Still, there are no limitations to what one can bring to the stage in terms of the story and medium (whether dance, music, etc.).

Created with from a hybrid language of live dance and film, She, Who Can See brings an immersive performance experience exploring the shamanic journey of a contemporary modern American woman, Salima (brought to life by dance artist Alexandria Diaz De Fato). With its soldout run last May, She, Who Can See returns onstage at the Bindlestiff Studio for eight shows starting September 4.

In the story, Salima is an American woman of Filipino descent caught in the cultural crossroads, haunted by an inherited legacy of shamanism.

Disrupting Salima’s middleclass American life are white-clad spirits—performed

by June Arellano (as Adhara), Rebecca Fazio (as Kimat), Jonathan Mercado (as Ig), and Sammay Dizon (Ragat)—who appear before her in her dreams, on city streets—and just about everywhere else.

The main character precari-

ously balances the insistent demands of the indigenous “pre-colonial self” for recognition in a western world, wherein such spiritual “gift” is considered nonsense, delusional, or taboo.

Also joining the rest of the cast is Gregory Manalo as Nico.

A multi-media live performance Presented by Kularts, She, Who Can See is the brain child of Alleluia Panis; who is trained in western and ethnic dance forms along with Filipino blade fighting arts. In this work, Panis’ movement inventions are a fusion of Filipino traditional dance, indigenous ritual dances, Escrima bladefighting system and modern dance.

Panis is the Artistic and Executive Director of Kularts, and a respected elder artist in the United States and the Philippines. Panis is at home in both Filipino tribal and

traditional arts and American contemporary forms.

For music, classical composer Florante Aguilar (creator of the award-winning documentary Harana: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade), explained his experimentation with the sound score using tribal beats and instrumentation.

“It’s the opposite end of the spectrum, from the familiar western mode to indigenous scales and instrumentations,” he said. “It was a fun challenge.” He also added that the collaboration worked because of Panis’ “clarity of vision, combined with creative freedom.”

Working both choreographer and director, Panis seamlessly blends live dance with from Wilfred Galila, bringing the audience deeper into Salima’s frazzled mind.

As a filmmaker, his works have been screened at the 23rd and 26th annual Los

Jonathan Mercado and Samantha “Sammay” Dizon.

Ariana Grande breaks free in Manila

by Micah levin isla Philstar.com

MANILA - There were no set transformations and gimmicks. There were no fireworks, only vocal pyrotechnics. The Manila leg of Ariana Grande’s The Honeymoon Tour, which gathered thousands of Filipino Arianators at the Mall of Asia Arena last Sunday, Aug. 23, gave what Pinoy concertgoers value the most—great live singing. The show was short but definitely nothing short of unforgettable moments.

At exactly 8:40pm, the lights went off as the giant LED screens revealed the 22year-old American pop star, sporting her signature ponytail, proclaiming her love for music.

After a brief introductory clip, the Grammy-nominated belter appeared in a black two-piece ensemble and did Bang Bang, her hit 2014 collaboration with contemporaries Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. The venue, dominated by teenage girls in black knee-high socks and cat ears, erupted in screams. Proving that behind her petite frame is a vocal powerhouse, the playful songstress went on with Hands On Me, Best Mistake and Break Your Heart Right Back, catchy tracks from her second studio album My Everything, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 in 2014.

After a quick break, Ariana returned on stage wearing a black ribbon headdress—with those sultry-but-cute facial ex-

Sammay Dizon, Rebecca Fazio, and Jonathan Mercado as the entities in ‘She, Who Can See.’

Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. As a photographer, he is the lead artist for Kodakan: Pilipinos in the City—a photography and media exhibition at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center in San Francisco. Galila is also a writer, whose work has been published in Beyond Lumpia, Pansit and Seven Manangs Wild, an anthology of short prose and poetry.

“In live theater, we see the full body within the theatrical space; but on video, we are able to come up real close, and see the emotional details of the character,” Panis said and also explained why Bindlestiff is the venue of choice. “I want to immerse the audience in Salima’s desperate sense of entrapment, of intrusion, of worlds in collision. To make the audience emotionally and physically feel the chaos of Slima’s internal landscape, the work is purposely layered.

As Salima’s journey is confined within her body, the audience is also confined within the walls of this little black box theater.

She, Who Can See will be onstage on September 4, 5, 11 and 12 (Friday-Saturday) with 7pm and 9pm showings each day at the Bindlestiff Studio, 185 6th Street, San Francisco.

For advance online tickets at $15 log on to http://shewhocansee.bpt.me/. Tickets at the

Gregory Manalo as Nico and Alexandria Diaz DeFato as Salima.

door is $20.

For more information about the characters, story and production, visit http://kularts.org/wp/kularts-presents/ she-who-can-see/.

*On cover: The entities of She, Who Can See (L-R) Samantha Dizon, Rebecca Fazio, June Arellano and Jonathan Mercado. All photos by Wilfred Galila

2nd Pinoy Music Festival attracts veterans, newbies by allan

PolicarPio Inquirer.net

THAT we were able to pull this off despite our limited time and resources is really fulfilling,” singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon said of the second Pinoy Music Festival, which coincided with the inaugural observance of the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino from July 25 to 31.

Cabangon, the festival director, described the weeklong There were no fireworks, only vocal pyrotechnics at the Manila leg of Ariana Grande’s The Honeymoon Tour musical celebration as “very succoncert at the MOA Arena.

Philstar.com photo cessful.” “We would’ve loved to songs done by legendary divas have a bigger celebration, but we pressions she loves doing from did the best we could. I hope we before her. And last Sunday time to time—for her first surnight, Ariana, now in sparkly sil- do even better next year,” he told prise, a mash-up of Madonna’s the Inquirer. ver from head to toe, showed Vogue and Whitney Houston’s Through Proclamation No. I’m Every Woman. Already high this raw side of her again when 933 signed by President Benigno she took on Whitney Houston’s on energy, the former NickelAquino III in 2014, the last week iconic ballad, I Have Nothing. odeon star wasted no time and of July of each year has been “I love this song and I know declared Linggo ng Musikang segued to Be My Baby. you love it, too,” the singer Aside from the recurrent “I Pilipino to develop, promote and told the audience. And she was foster appreciation for original love you, Manila” and “Make right; don’t we all love Whitney Filipino music and to revitalize the some noise, Manila,” Ariana local music industry. and her birit songs? didn’t talk too much; she just Tasked to spearhead the adShowing no signs of strain let her powerful voice do the vocacy are the National Commisfrom hitting all the high notes, talking and clearly, her fans sion for Culture and the Arts and Ariana entered the last part of didn’t mind. And without much the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong the musical extravaganza profanfare, Ariana took the arena Mang-aawit (OPM). Cabangon is duced by MMI Live with Love back to her ‘90s R&B-inspired OPM vice president for external Me Harder and Honeymoon Yours Truly era with Right affairs.

Avenue, and finally ended the There, The Way, her first-ever Throughout the Pinoy Music concert on a much higher note Festival, various music-related hit, Baby I, and the power events were held across the with her biggest radio hits, ballad Tattooed Heart. After metro: mall and school shows, another swift outfit change, she Break Free and Problem. street performances and bar As expected, Ariana condelivered two of her heartbreak cluded her show in Manila with sessions; My OPM Playlist tracks, One Last Time and My exhibit at Bonifacio High Street a prolonged belt, reverberatEverything.

Ampitheater; and the OPM ing and solid, as if remindBefore hitting the big time, Music Marathon at the Quezon ing everyone that she’s just Ariana was known for doing City Memorial Circle. begun—and she’s in it for the YouTube covers, a small girl “Everything turned out well; long haul. who boldly sings the biggest a lot of people attended the

shows,” said Cabangon, who also heads the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. “Seeing artists up close on the streets was a surprise for the people.”

The Pinoy Music Festival culminated in a free concert at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City. It gathered some of the country’s best acts: OPM president Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Avanzado, Boboy Garovillo, Jim Paredes, Gary Valenciano, The CompanY, Christian Bautista, Yeng Constantino, Aicelle Santos, 6cyclemind, Thyro Alfaro, Yumi Lacsamana, Bayang Barrios, Cooky Chua, Moonstar88, Myke

Salomon and Abra.Indie bands and performers, including The Slice, Autotelic and Farewell Fairweather, were given spots to introduce their works. The Halili-Cruz Dance Company performed, too.

“It was very heartening because we didn’t have to convince these artists to join us; they were all very willing. Some, like Quest, even volunteered,” Cabangon said.

The key to sustaining progress, Cabangon said, was continuity. “We’ll take a few weeks’ break and then try to think of new projects we can mount until next year’s Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino,” he said.

features SF3

6 beauty bloggers Holistic approach to skin whitening I highly recommend The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – August 28, 2015

By Monet

Lu

WORKING in the beauty department for years has earned me the right to call myself a beauty expert. People ask me for advice—and they are usually happy with it; some have learned much under my training and supervision.

I love that I can help other people look nice—even stunning—when necessary. And, if have all the time and energy, I would love to pass on what I know to everyone who needs it. Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of time to do that.

And this is why I love that there are amazing beauty bloggers out there who are just as passionate as I am in imparting their wisdom. I’ve been following some of them for some time now and here are 6 beauty bloggers that I highly suggest you follow.

1. La La Mer Who would use plain Greek yogurt as a face mask? I ask the same thing until I was introduced to it by this Los Angelesbased TV host turned lifestyle blogger, Marianna Hewitt. She looks like Kim Kardashian (which would perhaps get you more hooked to her blog). She offers personal makeup and lifestyle tips, and video tutorials on how fans can recreate their favorite celebrity looks. I find her blog interesting and up-to-date with the latest beauty trends. And again: plain Greek yogurt. That just says it all.

2. Michelle Phan From ways on how to use a liquid liner to grooming tips, this beauty you-tuber is definitely worth your subscription.

I say that along with her 7 million-plus subscribers. Phan has been at the top of the beauty guru game since the nakedmake-up look surfaced. She began posting tutorials in 2007 and gained followers because of her laidback style and color-

Michelle Phan

ful costumes and themes. She came out with her own make up line and a style-guide book.

If you want to learn the basic stuff in makeup and some really unique looks, this woman is your best friend. Apparently, 7 million people agree with me.

3. Kathlyn Lights How can I not love Kathlyn Lights? Her take on make up transformation is very refreshing. She is not as seasoned as the other bloggers in this list, but this beauty blogger is the new face to watch out for! Her reviews on makeup brands and products are credible and reliable. I should know, I purchased some products based on her recommendation. I love that her reviews on both drugstore brands and high end ones are honest and fair. She also featured her morning and night skin care routine, which I think is very helpful.

4. Zoella She is known online as Zoella. Her name is Zoe Sugg and she is a beauty blogger goddess. Her typical day includes gaining 7.5 million subscribers, making TV apperances, being a digital ambassador for mental health and breaking the record for highest first-week sales of a first-time novelist for her novel. If that is not enough to lure you into her cultic aura, your decision needs some reevaluation.

I love Zoe’s bubbly personality

and sense of humor. And her makeup techniques are just spot-on. Her quick hairstyle tutorials and makeup routine will definitely make you a fan.

5. The hip chick online Before you think that this list is just for the yuppies, let me introduce you to Kim. This 40-something mom is the enchanting “Rapunzel” in real life. Her amazing hair can be the envy of every woman.

She feautues tutorials on how to turn your hair into a magnificent “crown of glory.”

One online article writes, “She thoroughly demonstrates elementary (but often challenging) techniques like using a round brush, getting perfect beach waves, and maneuvering a curling wand. We were especially impressed by how naturally voluminous she made her mane look at the crown without any teasing.”

6. Pixiewoo They say having too much of everything is bad. I agree.

But if you are getting beauty and makeup tips from-not just one-but two sisters--you wouldn’t mind getting too much, right? I cannot get enough of the “pixiwoo” sisters. The sisters/makeup artist behind the pixiwoo channel are just amazing! They have a knack for recreating celebrity makeup looks which I really love! Imagine looking like Angelina Jolie or Rihanna.

Many Filipinos are born with dark skin. We call it Naked “kayumanggi”. This skin type Truth is more prone to scarring and hyperpigmentation. Skin darkening is caused by the overproduction of melanin. Think of it as a huge chunk of rock Dr. Vicki Belo that accumulates over time in your skin. It can be stubborn HI Dr. Vicki! and hard to remove.

I have been a fan of your Prolonged or frequent TV show ever since I saw it 3 exposure to the sun’s UV years ago! I was even more rays, hormonal changes such thrilled when I saw that you as pregnancy or use of birth have a column so I took the courage to send you an email. control pills or a result of an allergic reaction to a subDoc, I was born with brown stance applied on the skin are skin as most Filipinos are. among the primary causes of However, I noticed that over hyperpigmentation. the years I have developed Always remember that dark patches on my face and body. Also, my skin got darker. there is no one-solution-fits-all when it comes to whitening.

I have tried so many whitening soaps, lotions, creams and Though using creams and still to no avail. Some products lotions help in lightening of the skin, it does not totally adhave even caused the dark dress the concern. spots to spread! Please help What you need is to get me on how I can get whiter a proper assessment of your skin. skin condition.

P.S. More power to your Also, what you have to column! know is that whitening is a Love, Trish continuous process and must be maintained on a regular These beauty experts know basis. how to keep their followers empowered and entertained at the same time. Even their Basics videos are a must-watch for any beauty beginner (even veterans can learn a thing or two!).

Well, for the love of makeup and skin care, one would get as much help as she possible can. And these amazing beauty bloggers are social media’s gift to mankind. *** 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

At Belo we have developed a skin whitening system that guarantees to lighten skin four tones lighter. We call it the lumina system. It is a unique combination of inclinic treatments and specially formulated products to help you get a healthy fairer skin.

It is our holistic approach to skin whitening. It starts with preventing melanin production, removing melanin on the top layer of the skin and even infusing the body with antioxidants to help maintain the healthy glow. The type, quantity, frequency and combination of products and treatments will vary depending on your skin condition and needs.

Thank you Trish for trusting me with your beauty concern! Always remember that you only have one face and one body so make sure that when it comes to your beauty it has to be done right the first time. Again I encourage everyone to send your beauty concerns at vicki@belomed.com and let’s all get belofied!

Love, Dr. Belo

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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 28, 2015

celebrity world

Actor Jericho Rosales heads list of September birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar

Jericho Vibar rosales, known in the Philippine entertainment industry as echo, heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays this September. echo will be 36 on Tuesday, September 22, with his wife, model Kim Jones. other people celebrating their birthday are: September 1 - Singer/actor Ariel rivera, who is now with ABS-cBN 2, Senior Tax Specialist with Fremont Group in San Francisco Myrna Diaz cabrera, Batanguenos of Northern california leader rudy Manalo, former Mutya ng Pilipinas winner Azenith Briones, and former Fiesta Filipina executive Producer isidro “Sid” Protasio; September 3 - Philippine Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares, singer/recording artist Nonoy Zuniga, and Billing coordinator of Dentons Law Firm

ozelle orence; September 5 - Filipino American Democratic club of San Mateo county President Dorie Paniza; September 7 - Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda; September 8 - hillsborough socialite and fashionable lady Virgie corpuz Gualberto, and Filipina cPA connie Protasio; September 10 - Former Miss rP-USA winner and singer Fatima “helga” Yusuf, and actor JM de Guzman; September 11 - costway Business Associate Jonathan Tan; September 14 - Actor/TV host edu Manzano, and Kapamilya actor Patrick Garcia; September 15 - Former Miss rP-USA winner Patricia Torres of hayward, and multi-awarded director Wenn Deramas;

September 16 - San Francisco community and civic leader Violet orence; September 18 - Asian Journal Northern california editor-in-chief Malou LiwanagBledsoe; September 19 - Former Mrs. Pangasinan of the United Pagasinanes Association, inc.

Gloria Junio; September 20 - Actresses christine reyes and erich Gonzales; September 23 - Philippine Delicacies grand dame and owner Lina Quiambao, and Daly city well loved political and community leader, the late Lina Mesina Susbilla; September 25 - computer expert analyst Jun Jun Villar; September 27 - entertainment host and announcer Dave rodriguez; September 28 - Law office assistant Agnes Marabella; September 29 - Veteran actress Miriam Jurado of Larry Santiago Productions (who is now residing in Las Vegas, Nevada); September 30 - Former Pilipinas Got Talent winner Marcelino Pomoy.

To all celebrants, a very happy birthday! *** The new Miss Tourism Philippines were crowned last July 30 at The Theater in Solaire resorts and casino. The four lovely ladies who took the respective crowns are Leidda Paulette Babasanta of Sta. rosa, Laguna (Miss Tourism Philippines-eco Tourism international); roanne refrea of cabuyao, Laguna (Miss Tourism PhilippinesWorld); rhiann charlotte Kalaw of Lipa city, Batangas (Miss Tourism Philippines-Universe); and Alexandra Mae rosales of calamba city, Laguna (Miss Tourism Philippines-ASeAN Tourism Ambassadress).

One Central is a luxurious 50 and 42-storey twin-tower residential condominium situated in the heart of Makati CBD designed by award-winning international design firms, The Preben Kent and Gettys Chicago.

Life gets easier with Megaworld International’s exclusive ready-for-occupancy units Reward yourself with Megaworld International’s Home Club: Your key to a lifestyle of privileges MeGAWorLD international offers exclusive and pre-selected ready-for-occupancy (rFo) units to meet your meticulous and sophisticated needs. each unit has the advantage on convenience, security and access to endless possibilities of the live-work-play-learn lifestyle.

You need not wait for months or years and get to experience the best rewards in an instant. owning an rFo unit means instant membership to Megaworld international’s home club, your key to a lifestyle of privileges. As a member, you will automatically enjoy the following privileges: extensive after-sales services including Leasing and resale Management, Turnover and Maintenance Services, and Free interior Design Services. You will also receive free items such as a key kit, a one month’s supply of fine wine, and access to the Megaworld international exclusive client lounge.

Through Megaworld international home club, you will experience seamless transactions from the time you plan to buy a ready unit, to designing your living space and turnover, until you plan to re-sell or lease out your condo units.

Worry-free lifestyle privilege Now is high time to take advantage of venturing on rFo units as it gives guaranteed recurring income because of the solid market for it. Property leased out can really increase your asset and can give rental cash flow to fund your lifestyle and retirement. With the Leasing and resale Management Services, selecting and negotiating bank finance options and refurbishment of units in preparation for leasing or resale of the property are done on your behalf.

A “hassle-free” turnover process and maintenance A hassle-free Turnover and Maintenance service awaits you to ensure that everything will be in good condition upon your acceptance of the unit.

To sustain a premium lifestyle experience, you are guaranteed quality control and maintenance of the rFo units even in your absence. housekeeping personnel are on standby to regularly check the unit and provide a report to you.

Very Personal. Very You. Personalize your units with the free interior Design Services. Based on your personality, lifestyle and mood prefer-

ences, you may conceptualize your unit with the help of a dedicated group of in-house interior designers. You have the option to live in a Modern, contemporary, industrial or Modern Zen-inspired home.

Megaworld international is currently selling rFo units in various Megaworld townships and prime locations such as eastwood LeGrand Towers 1 & 2 in eastwood city; 115 Upper McKinley in McKinley hill; Sarasota, Pinecrest and Montecito in Newport city; and Greenbelt Madison and one central in Makati central Business District.

Megaworld international is the global marketing arm of Megaworld corporation. it is present in over 40 countries in North America, Asia Pacific, europe and Middle east and is poised to expand to more territories, bringing the best real estate choices from the largest developer in the Philippines.

For inquiries, please call, Angelita Contreras Megaworld international VP-North America 1 (818) 913-1188 San Francisco Office: 433 Airport Blvd. Ste. 328 Burlingame, cA. 94010 1-888-860-8168 ext. 1 internationalluxuryproperties@yahoo.com *Advertising Supplement

Multi-awarded actor Jericho Rosales will celebrate his 36th birthday on Tuesday, September 22. Echo, as he is fondly called by his friends and fans, is happily married to model Kim Jones.

Philippine Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares will celebrate her birthday on Thursday, September 3.

Former Mrs. Pangasinan Gloria Junio will celebrate her birthday on Saturday, September 19.

Shown in photo are the 2015 Miss Tourism Philippines queens (L-R) Leidda Paulette Babasanta, Roanne Refrea, Rhiann Charlotte Kalaw and Alexandra Mae Rosales. (Philstar photo by Celso de Guzman Caparas)

Myrna Diaz Cabrera, a Senior Tax Specialist of the Fremont Group in San Francisco, will celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, September 1.

Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County President Dorie Paniza will celebrate her birthday on September 5.

Apart from the cash prizes, the queens earned the right to represent our country in the forthcoming international pageants. refrea received P100,000 and will compete in Japan.

Kalaw, Babasanta and rosales took home P80,000, P60,000 and P40,000, respectively.

Kalaw will compete in Lebanon and rosales in Malaysia.

Manila Vice Mayor isko Moreno headed the panel of judges with members including Dina Bonnevie, Fanny Serrano, 2015 Mrs. Universe Philippines Jennifer “ina Alegre” cruz and pageant national director

Sheryl Dimaranan and son Ernest Samuel of Binan, Laguna celebrated their last few days in San Francisco. Shown in photo are Sheryl, Ernest and Fr. Roland of Mater Dolorosa Church in So. San Francisco.

ovette ricalde.

Produced by National Director Gareth Blanco, the coronation night was hosted by Mikael Daez, 2014 Miss Philippines Air Diane Querrer and onin Mas.

TV5 international expands reach in US via DirecTV

TV5 international marks a milestone by expanding its reach in the US via DirecTV, now part of the AT&T family. KAPATiD TV5, TV5 international’s entertainment channel, is set to deliver some of the most anticipated shows in the Philippines. As the home of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Kapatid TV5 has greatly revitalized Filipinos’ love for the Philippine’s premier basketball league and has been instrumental in bringing the action-packed PBA games to Filipino homes all over the world.

Kapatid TV5 also brings light, happy, and entertaining programs that make TV viewing appealing to the whole family. its wide variety of shows include Young Hearts, a week-long miniseries featuring different love teams in the most requested TV adaptations of popular love stories shared on the story-sharing internet site Wattpad; #ParangNormalActivity, a youth-oriented horror-comedy show featuring a lovable teen barkada who solves mysteries with the help of a pretty and friendly ghost; Hi-5 Philippines, the popular local franchise of the hit kiddie edutainment program from Australia; No Harm No Foul, which is top-billed by funnyman/songwriter ogie Alcasid and a group of basketball superstars who have teamed up for a hilarious weekly sitcom.

Kapatid TV5’s programming

also includes Misterless Misis, a show that brings girl power and female independence to the next level with the quirky and fun-filled characters portrayed by ruffa Gutierrez, Lorna Tolentino, Gelli De Belen, Mitch Valdez, ritz Azul, and Andie Gomez; Happy Truck ng Bayan, a lively and star-studded variety game show hosted by Derek ramsay, Jasmine curtis-Smith, Tuesday Vargas, Marielle rodriguez-Padilla, Gellie de Belen and Janno Gibbs; along with the breaking primetime news brought by award-winning news anchors Luchi cruz-Valdes and erwin Tulfo on Aksyon. “it has always been TV5 international’s goal to reach out to Filipinos across the world. With our partnership with DirecTV, we are happy that we will be able to bring Kapatid TV5’s quality programs to more Filipinos in the US,” said ernesto Sta. Maria, Jr., chief operations officer of TV5 international. “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with DirecTV and giving Kapatid viewers in the US the best viewing experience that will make them feel as though they never left the Philippines.”

“We’re excited to bring TV5 to DirecTV’s lineup and expand our content offerings to our Filipino customers,” said emma Brackett, vice president of content, DirecTV, part of the

AT&T Family.With the addition of Kapatid TV5 we are proud to be the only TV provider in the US that carries the three biggest and most sought after Filipino networks in one place, further strengthening our leadership in the market.”

Kapatid TV5 is available in DirecTV’s FilipinoDirect package. And now that Kapatid TV5 is seen by more Filipinos in the US through DirecTV, TV5 international is even more inspired to bring the best of Philippine TV to more Kapatid viewers all across the world. And with TV5’s evolving programming grid, viewers can expect a wider variety of innovative shows in the coming months.

Kapatid TV5 is currently being viewed in the United States, canada, Middle east and North Africa (Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, chad, cyprus, Djibouti, egypt, iran,iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab emirates, Yemen, West Bank, Gaza Strip and Palestine), Guam, Australia, Papua New Guinea and hong Kong. To be updated with the latest happenings and events of Kapatid TV5, visit www.kapatidinternational. com or www.facebook.com/ kapatidinternational. *Advertising Supplement

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