January 9-11, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 2 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
Makati court reopens Trillanes’rebellion case, upholds arrest order by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
THE Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Monday, January 7, reaffirmed its decision to reopen the rebellion case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as it denied the senator’s plea to reverse the ruling. In a six-page decision dated December 18 of last year, Makati RTC Judge Elmo Alameda explained that the senator failed to prove that he applied for amnesty and admitted his guilt over the incident. “Sen. Trillanes was not able to prove through Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV
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Philstar.com photo
NEW PEACE ADVISER. President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes newly-appointed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr., as a new member of his cabinet prior to the 33rd Cabinet Meeting held at the Malacañang Palace on Monday, January 7. Galvez replaced Jesus Dureza as the chief of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process after the latter resigned in the wake of corruption allegations against his subordinates. Galvez served for 12 years in Mindanao, during which he said he visited rebel lairs where soldiers were often killed, earning these areas the tag “point of no return.” Malacañang photo by Rolando Mailo
Erring Cabinet men to be held accountable — Palace
USA
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
DATELINE US carbon emissions saw sharp rise in 2018, data shows FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
AFTER years of declining carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the U.S. saw emissions take a sharp increase in 2018, according to new data Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo published on Tuesday, January 8. According to the Rhodium Group — an economic research firm that looks at energy and climate as one of its key research areas — the U.S. saw CO2 emissions increase by 3.4 percent in 2018, the largest annual gain in over 20 years. The only year since 2004 that saw a larger yearly increase was in 2010 when the U.S. economy was making a come back after the Great Depression. Last year’s rise came despite factors suggesting improvements in emission efforts. Not only did emissions see a decline since 2015, but the increase also came despite many of the nation’s coal plants going into retirement
Inquirer.net photo
MALACAÑANG on Monday, January 7, assured the public that erring officials will be held accountable for their actions. This is after the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) announced that it is investigating three officials accused of irregularities. The three officials namely Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, former Customs commissioner and now Technical Education and Skills De-
velopment Authority chief Isidro Lapeña and National Commission on Indigenous People chairman Leonor Oralde-Quintayo were the ones identified by PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna. According to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, there would be no sacred cows in the Duterte administration. “You violate the law, regardless of your status — whether you’re a friend, an ally, a political adversary, a relative, a friend or a fraternity brother — it doesn’t matter. You are ac-
countable,” said Panelo to reporters. “We will wait for the findings. If there’s evidence, the president will act on it,” he added. Bello, for his part, said he is not aware of any complaint or pending investigation being conducted against him by the PACC. However, he said he is prepared to address the issue once the PACC required him to answer the allegations of corruption being thrown at him. “Wala pa namang (There’s still no) complaint against me and they have
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Duterte orders Manila Bay cleanup, Palace calls for 2019 budget approval ASAP crackdown on errant hotels CORRALES Inquirer.net
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US Navy destroyer sails near disputed islands A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed near the disputed islands in the South China Sea where China has built military installations on Monday, January 7, as trade talks between the two countries commenced. The United States and its allies periodically send planes and warships through the area claimed by China — an act that reminds Beijing their right under international law to pass through the waters. U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson Rachel McMarr told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the USS McCampbell sailed within 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) of the Paracel Islands “to challenge excessive maritime claims.” The Paracel Islands are claimed by China as well as Taiwan and Vietnam. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its territory, while Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts. McMarr added that the so-called “freedom of navigation” operations were “not about any one country, nor are they about making political statements.” The sail-by happened while Chinese and
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Department of Public Service (DPS) personnel sweep garbages washed ashore by the waves of Manila bay in Roxas Boulevard. Inquirer.net photo by Earvin Perias
by AJPRESS
“We urgently call on Congress and graciously urge it to approve MALACAÑANG on Monday, the general budget in the soonest MANILA — The government January 7, urged the lawmakers possible time, otherwise delay in would start cleaning the heavily to expedite the approval process its approval will affect the release polluted Manila Bay, President of the the 2019 budget noting that of the funds for the salary hike of Rodrigo Duterte said on Tues- any further delay in the passing is soldiers, policemen, teachers and day, January 8, as he ordered not a feat acceptable to the Filipino civilian employees,” Panelo said. “Further unreasonable delay on hotel owners in the area to install public. Presidential spokesperson Sal- the part of Congress to approve water treatment systems or face vador Panelo said that the “unrea- the General Appropriation Bill that closure. Duterte said he already in- sonable delays” of the legislation will throw a monkey wrench on the structed Environment Secretary in the approval of the General Ap- program of the administration will Roy Cimatu and Interior Sec- propriations Bill would hinder the be unacceptable to the sovereign retary Eduardo Año to start the implementation of government people that place them in office,” projects and programs. by NESTOR
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Darren Criss becomes first Fil-Am to win Golden Globe, dedicates award to Filipina mom by AJPRESS ACTOR Darren Criss became the first Filipino American to win a Golden Globe award on Sunday, January 6. Criss accepted the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series for his role as Andrew Cunanan, the half-white, half Filipino serial killer, in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” This was Criss’ first Globes nomination and win. In his acceptance speech during the 76th Annual Golden Globe
Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Criss recognized how the entertainment industry has improved in terms of representation. “This has been a marvelous year for representation in Hollywood and I am so enormously proud to be a teeny-tiny part of that as the son of a firecracker Filipino woman,” the award-winning actor said. He also paid tribute to his Filipina mother, Cerina Bru, who hails from Cebu. He added, “So, Mom, I know you are watching this. You are hugely responsible for most of the
good things in my life. I love you dearly. I dedicate this to you.” He described Ryan Murphy’s mini-series as “a grim story to make,” noting that it tells the tale of a murderer who killed five people including fashion designer Gianni Versace. Criss acknowledged that the role gave him the chance to be the first Filipino-American to ever win a Golden Globe award. Aside from dedicating his award to his Cebuana mother and Filipino heritage, he also expressed his gratitude to his fiance Mia Swier. “I’ve said this before, but being
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Darren Criss
Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador/SIPA USA/AP
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Makati court reopens... PAGE A1 testimonial and documentary evidence that he filed his application for amnesty nor expressly admitted his guilt in the application form for the crime he committed during the Manila Peninsula incident which are the minimum requirements set forth under Proclamation No. 75,” Alameda said as reported by The
Philippine Daily Inquirer. The judge noted that the plea had been assessed “thoroughly and excessively” by the regional trial court and was found to be “not novel.” The same court also released the arrest warrant and travel ban for the senator in September 2018. Trillanes posted a bail worth P200,000. Trillanes’ camp declined to
From the Front Page
comment as they await the official copy of the ruling. However, his legal counsel Reynaldo Robles said that they “will consider the possibility of appealing or questioning the ruling before the higher court.” Palace to Trillanes: Law is catching up on him Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo expressed his sentiments on the ruling noting that Trillanes is now facing the consequences of his actions. The spokesman further stated that it is the senator’s undoing. “Senator Trillanes’ comeuppance is finally knocking at his door, and he can only blame himself for the situation he embroiled himself in for he created his own quagmire,” Panelo stated. “He may have succeeded in evading his accountability before the law but the law is now catching up on him. It should dawn on the departing senator and to others who are prone to challenge the majesty of the law that it is no respecter of anyone regardless of the political and social status status of the violator,” he added. The presidential legal counsel also called the senator an “ingrate and renegade military officer.” He also used the senator’s situation to warn those who plan to criticize the administration and rebel against the government. “The Palace respects this decision of the trial court in finding sufficient grounds to deny Senator Trillanes’ motion for reconsideration. While currently at liberty after posting bail. Trillanes must still come to grips with the criminal transgressions he committed as an ingrate and renegade military officer,” he added. “What’s happening to him should strike fear in the hearts of those who after being financed by the taxpayers’ money for their education will plot against the government that nurtured them as well as those who use their political power to shield them from accountability as they malign and sow intrigues against persons they dislike even inciting the citizenry to hate duly constituted authorities,” Panelo added. Trillanes lost his appeal a week after leaving for Europe for a series of engagements. n
RELIGIOUS FERVOR. Devotees join the procession of replicas of the Black Nazarene on Monday, part of the festivities to mark the Feast of the Nazarene. The celebration will be capped by the Traslacion, a grand procession expected to draw at least five million people. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina
Erring Cabinet men to be held... PAGE A1 not asked me to reply to any complaint,” Bello said, in reference to PACC. President Rodrigo Duterte, who won on a platform of curbing corruption and crime, promised he would not tolerate even a whiff of corruption in his administration. Case in point, Duterte has already fired several officials, including members of the cabinet accused of involvement in questionable deals and unnecessary trips, as proof he is serious about his anti-corruption drive. While critics claimed Duterte’s crackdown is selective, saying the president’s close allies were
spared and some dismissed officials were reappointed to new posts, Panelo defended him by saying the president only fires an official once there is evidence showing he committed wrongdoing. “If you say whiff of corruption, there should be substantial grounds. The president will order an investigation. If you are accused of something, it doesn’t mean you will be dismissed immediately. The president is not like that,” Panelo said. Malacañang said the PACC investigation against Bello, Lapeña and Quintayo is allowed to continue.
Bello and two other labor officials were accused in July last year by a local job recruiter of graft and corruption. Amanda Araneta, president and general manager of MMML Recruitment Services Inc., threatened to file charges before the PACC and claimed she personally gave Bello an iPhone and P100,000 cash as Christmas gifts in 2016. She also said she tried to give him an expensive bottle of perfume as well as P100,000 cash as a belated birthday gift in June 2017. Bello, however, denied the accusations. n
Palace calls for 2019 budget approval... PAGE A1 he added as reported by Rappler. The palace spokesman urged the legislators to veer away from partisan politics and focus on their duties so that they could further provide the service that they promised the Filipino people should they be elected. “It behooves members of Congress to steer off partisan considerations and sweep away the indifference to the plight of the citizenry and collectively focus their attention to pass the General Appropriation Bill into law for the service of the people that they have sworn to protect,” Panelo stated. In an article from The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the presidential
legal counsel also enumerated the domino effect that the delay would entail. He explained that the government services will be compromised if the 2019 national budget would not be approved as soon as possible. “It will also delay the commencement as well as the continuation of infrastructure projects, not to mention the adverse effect on the efficient delivery of social services. The maintenance and operating expenses would be impaired as they will not be fully covered,” Panelo explained. Panelo emphasized that the executive branch have nothing to do with the delay noting that the office of President Rodrigo Duterte submitted the budget proposal
way ahead of time so that the lawmakers could assess it better. “(The executive branch) has submitted the proposed general budget on the very day that the president delivered his State of Nation of Address, twenty nine (29) days earlier than the maximum period required by the Constitution, precisely to give Congress the ample time to review it and make amendments thereto,” the spokesperson said. “Congress must not shirk from its constitutional duty to approve the General Appropriation Bill. The swift passage of the General Appropriations Bill will merit approbation and accolade to all the members of Congress by a grateful nation,” he added. n
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Fil-Am actor Tony Labrusca may be deported by AJPress
BLACK NAZARENE TRADITIONAL ‘PAHALIK’. A devotee touches and wipes handkerchief on the foot of the Black Nazarene image during the traditional “Pahalik” at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila on Tuesday, January 8. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
Jan. 15 is the final deadline to get coverage with financial assistance through Covered California tHE best way to ring in 2019 is by getting the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance for you and your family. open enrollment for covered california runs through Jan. 15, with coverage that begins on Feb. 1. california’s health insurance marketplace continues to deliver on the promises of the Patient Protection and Affordable care Act, with 11 insurers serving covered california consumers all over the state — 96 percent of whom are able to choose from two insurers or more, while 82 percent of have three or more choices. “there has been so much noise — and at times, plain disinformation — around the Affordable care Act in the past year, but the important thing for consumers to know is that covered california’s open enrollment will go through Jan. 15,” Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “You still have time to sign up and get quality and affordable coverage throughout 2019.” covered california and its community partners are more determined than ever to get people signed up for coverage to get the care they need and deserve. More than 3.5 million consumers have been enrolled through covered california at one time or another since 2014. About 1.3 million consumers were enrolled in 2018, with nine out of 10 getting financial assistance to help them pay for coverage. In fact, covered california has helped cut the state’s uninsured rate to a his-
toric low of 6.8 percent. Nearly 250,000 covered california enrollees identified themselves as Asian in 2018, with over 90 percent getting financial assistance to help pay for coverage per the agency’s September 2018 Active Member Profile. An estimated 1.1 million uninsured californians are eligible to enroll in covered california, and new research shows that 82 percent of uninsured consumers surveyed, who are eligible for financial assistance, do not know that they qualify for subsidies that can help bring that life-saving coverage within reach. covered california is the only place you can go to find out if you are eligible for financial help that lowers the price of your coverage. the average member pays $5 a day for health insurance, with many paying much less. Go to coveredcA.com to see if you qualify for financial help. It’s easy: Just click on the button that says “Shop and compare” and enter your ZIP code, your household income, the number of people who need insurance and their ages.
If you checked whether you qualified for financial help before, check again. It only takes a few minutes, and you could end up discovering that you qualify for premium assistance that helps consumers save an average of 80 percent off their monthly costs. this coverage has helped save lives and protected consumers from financial devastation from medical bills that reach tens of thousands, and in some cases, millions of dollars. We all know people who have lived without insurance or gone without adequate health care for too long. It doesn’t have to be that way. Help is out there, and now is the time to sign up for life-changing care. You can get free and confidential enrollment assistance by visiting www.coveredca.com/ find-help/ and searching among 700 storefronts statewide and the more than 16,000 certified enrollers who can assist consumers in multiple languages. In addition, consumers can reach the covered california service center by calling (800) 300-1506. Life can change in an instant; be covered when it does. n
Actor tony Labrusca, despite being apologetic for his behavior at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, is not off the hook yet and might still be deported, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI). While Labrusca was granted a 30-day visa, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the agency would still look into his record of stay in the country. “What happened at the airport has already been resolved by our supervisor… Now, if we will see that he violated an Immigration rule while in the country, for example if he worked here in the past without the proper permit or visa, then that could be a reason to initiate a deportation (proceeding) against him,” Sandoval explained. the actor might be blacklisted or barred from returning to the country aside from being deported. He would only be allowed to return if the BI issues a lift order. In the instance that Labrusca would be deported, he could file a legal complaint to contest his deportation before the BI or the Department of Justice (DoJ). As of tuesday, January 8, however, no deportation case was filed against him. Labrusca drew flak on January 3, thursday, for shouting at an immigration officer who only gave him a 30-day visa. Foreign Affairs Secretary teodoro Locsin Jr. even wanted him deported, taking his opinion on twitter after the incident. “Just deport him,” Locsin said in reaction to the airport incident. Labrusca has already apologized for his actions on his social media accounts, explaining he was just frustrated and was not aware of the policy that he needed to be with his parents to qualify for a balikbayan stamp. “It was very upsetting for me. And I’m sorry that I somehow took my frustrations out on the officer. But never did I call anyone stupid, nor an idiot, much less brag about
ABS-CBN photo
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr Philstar.com file photo
being a celebrity,” he said. “I know for a fact that the officer is merely doing her job. My biggest mistake perhaps was letting my emotions get the better of me and again I’m sorry,” he added. Labrusca was warned by the BI on Friday, January 4, reminding the actor the limits of privileges accorded to returning Filipinos. the one-year visa privilege is for former Filipinos and their immediate family members who are traveling with them, it said. Requirement puzzles DFA chief Locsin said he is puzzled with a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) policy that requires the birth certificate for passport renewals. Locsin questioned why it is necessary for applicants to submit their birth certificates when renewing their passports on twitter after an exchange with an overseas Filipino worker (oFW) who encountered a problem renewing his passport. “Isn’t the expired passport sufficient ID? How many times do you have to prove you are what the State declared you are in the expired passports?” he said. the tweet was directed to assistant secretary Elmer cato. “Why even need to show birth certificate when he is holding a government-issued passport that’s expired and he wants it re-
newed,” he added. cato’s replies are now deleted, but he explained that the birth certificate requirement would allow the department to capture additional data, especially from those who have yet to obtain an e-passport. “Fact that they are holding a genuine government document is totally sufficient. What we are trying to do is play catch up with personal data while renewing passports. can’t do two things at the same time,” replied Locsin. “Passports are not prima facie evidence. they are conclusive evidence that you are what your passport says. otherwise you will need to show video of your parents copulating, you gestating in the womb, being delivered and growing up sufficiently to look like you do now,” he added. Locsin gave a suggestion to oFWs, saying they should keep documents like birth certificates for passport renewals and other things that require them like school enrollments. He also suggested to renew passports as early as two years before expiry for Filipinos working in an inaccessible area, due to the pace of renewal process. cato, for his part, said the problem would be addressed by the new passports with 10-year validity. n
Tony Labrusca
Duterte orders Manila Bay cleanup... PAGE A1 cleanup. “that’s why I told General cimatu and General Año, ‘You start cleaning the Manila Bay.’ they will start to clean it,” he said in a speech during the Barangay Summit on Peace and order in Pasay city. He also warned hotels near the Manila Bay to ensure that they
have their own water treatment facilities for the proper disposal of waste material. “Put water treatment [facilities] in your hotels or else I will close you. Do not dare me,” he said. the president said he is not afraid to lose tourists if these hotels are closed for violating environmental laws.
“If there are no tourists, then so be it. We will not die. You do something about your waste there or otherwise I will close it. that’s for sure,” he said. the president cringed at the idea of people swimming at the polluted bay. “Is that the way you do it? You swim among the germs of humanity?” he asked. n
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Travelers protest NAIA traffic
The recommendations of the TSA include the installation of additional equipment such as X-ray DEPARTInG passengers on machines, walk-through metal Monday, January 7, complained detectors and alarm systems. of traffic jams at the ninoy Aquino “Procurement of these items is International Airport (nAIA) due under process, but this will take to stricter inspection of vehicles. time because these are not offTravelers said they took more the-shelf and will require time than an hour to get to the deparfor manufacturing and delivery. ture area of the nAIA terminals These equipment are expected to because of the long lines of vebe installed in the second quarter hicles. of the year,” Monreal said. Consuelo Fernandez said she Another TSA recommendation left her house in Cavite at around was the conduct of background 10 a.m. for her 2 p.m. flight. She check on newly hired airport perarrived at the airport before 1 sonnel, which includes national p.m. Intelligence Coordinating Agency Airport security officials called checks for those implementing security control and submission of new national Bureau of Investigation clearance for MIAA access pass holders. The TSA also recommended a change in the “security culture” among long-time nAIA personnel on consistent implementation and observance of strict security procedures. While waiting for the delivery of the security equipment, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has given instructions to implement manual intervention such as Travelers said they took more than an hour to get to the departure area of the NAIA terminals the hiring of additional contracted because of the long lines of vehicles. Philstar photo by Rudy Santos guards around the clock. n by Rudy
SantoS Philstar.com
for public cooperation due to the random checking of vehicles recommended by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). According to the officials, the stricter inspections were part of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)’s response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s observation that security at the nAIA was insufficient. “The government is coordinating with other international assessment agencies, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, which found Manila airports to be generally satisfactory,” MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said.
3 US Marines questioned over bullets in baggage at NAIA THREE U.S. Marines were questioned at the ninoy Aquino International Airport (nAIA) for their failure to declare ammunition found in their possession on Thursday, January 3. The U.S. military personnel, who participated in the Balikatan exercises in Zamboanga recently, were about to board a Delta Airlines plane for Japan when they were called by airport authorities. Personnel of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) discovered the bullets when the bags of the US servicemen were subjected to X-ray screening at the departure area of the nAIA Terminal 3. OTS officials said 60 bullets and
Darren Criss becomes first Fil-Am to win... PAGE A1 half Filipino is one of my favorite things about me,” Criss said backstage, as reported by Deadline. “ I feel like I have been given a superhero cape and I am glad to step up to that plate.” The former “Glee” actor won against Golden Globe nominees Antonio Banderas in “Genius: Picasso,” Daniel Brühl in “The
Alienist,” Benedict Cumberbatch in “Patrick Melrose” and Hugh Grant in “A Very English Scandal.” Criss also won an Emmy for the said role and is nominated for a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award. “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” was the second season of FX’s true crime anthol-
ogy series, “American Crime Story.” The show also won this year’s Golden Globe for Best Limited Television Series. Criss joined the cast — including Edgar Ramírez, Penélope Cruz, Ricky Martin and Jon Jon Briones — and director Ryan Murphy on stage to accept the award. n
US carbon emissions saw sharp rise in...
Office for Transportation Security officials inspect ammunition seized from U.S. Marines at the NAIA on Thursday, January 3. Philstar photo by Rudy Santos
17 magazines were found in the luggage of one of the Marines named Daniel Barlow. The U.S. Marines were allowed
to board their flight after documents for the ammunition were presented by an American liaison officer. (Philstar.com)
US Navy destroyer sails near disputed... PAGE A1 US officials started talks in Beijing over finding a solution to the bitter trade war that saw the two countries imposing tariffs on more than $300 billion in total two-way trade last year. “All operations … demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows. That is true in
The cast of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 6. (L-R): Cody Fern, Judith Light, Edgar Ramired, Darren Criss, Prenelope Cruz. Ricky Martin, Finn Witrock and Jon Jon Briones. Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador/SIPA USA/AP
the South China Sea as in other places around the globe,” McMarr said. However, the latest move happened at a particularly tense time in relations between the United States and China. U.S. President Donald Trump accused Beijing this week of seeking to interfere in congressional elections.
China, meanwhile, recently denied a request for a U.S. warship to visit Hong Kong. Beijing also postponed joint military talks this month in protest against a U.S. decision to impose sanctions on a Chinese military agency and its director for buying Russian fighter jets and a surface-to-air missile system. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)
PAGE A1 last year. While the number of coal plants closing reached a record high in 2018, the data found that natural gas was still chosen over renewables in replacing the resulting electricity demand. “As a result, power sector emissions overall rose by 1.9 percent,” said the report. Also, a major contributor to the rise was the transportation sector which remained the nation’s largest source of emissions for three years in a row. “The transportation sector held its title as the largest source of U.S. emissions for the third year running, as robust growth in demand for diesel and jet fuel offset a modest decline in gasoline consumption,” said the report. This, it said, pointed to the transportation sector challenges of decarbonization beyond light-duty vehicles, or passenger cars. While the sector did see efficiency improvements, particularly
in electrification, improvements were ultimately not big enough to meet the country’s medium and long term emission goals. But most responsible for the emissions in 2018 alone were the buildings and industry sectors — the two sectors most often ignored when it comes to clean energy and climate policymaking. The report estimated that direct emissions from residential and commercial buildings increased in 2018 by 10 percent, the highest level since 2004. Part of the reason, it noted, was a colder winter, or the number of heating days which saw a 15 percent increase during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to 2017. In the industrial sector, the report said that preliminary estimates suggest the sector lead the largest gains in the year at 55 million metric tons. This was mostly due to industrial activity growth. “While buildings have begun to attract some creative policy think-
ing, the industrial sector is still almost entirely ignored. At the state and federal level, few good strategies have been implemented to begin decoupling production from emissions,” said the report. Looking forward to 2019, it highlighted the Paris Agreement target that calls for a 26-28 percent reduction from 2005 levels by 2025. “The U.S. will need to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions by 2.6 percent on average over the next seven years — and faster if declines in other gasses do not keep pace,” the report said, adding that the percentage is significantly faster than any seven-year average in the nation’s history, and twice the pace the U.S. achieved between 2005 and 2017 “It is certainly feasible,” it added, “but will likely require a fairly significant change in policy in the very near future and/or extremely favorable market and technological conditions.” (Rae Ann Varona/ AJPress)
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Napoles turned over to Correctional Institution by ReiNa
toleNtiNo ManilaTimes.net
CABINET MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte greets Education Secretary Leonor Briones prior to the 33rd Cabinet Meeting held at the Malacañan Palace on Monday, January 7. Malacañang photo by Rolando Mailo
PH teachers’ group files case against PNP for red tagging by Nathalie
Robles
AJPress
MeMbers of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Monday, January 7, swarmed the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame to protest and announce that they are filing a case against the police force for allegedly profiling their members. ACT Philippines secretaryGeneral raymond basilio voiced out the group’s concern on reports that law enforcers are asking about the whereabouts of ACT members and several others that are affiliated to them. “The singling out of ACT members in PNP’s profiling is enough cause for alarm, especially with the state’s track record of violent suppression of dissent. We cannot sit idly by as PNP sows terror in our schools and communities,” basilio said as reported by The Manila Times. The secretary general for the umbrella group of public and private school teachers said that such move from police officers are trying to “justify and normal-
ize surveillance.” He noted that the public has “the right to live freely and what they are doing does not fall under ‘normal.” “The PNP has clearly been caught red-handed. After initially denying that such a memorandum exists, they have now turned to making outlandish claims about how this is part of their mandate and regular operations. This is an alarming attempt to normalize their illegal activities, going so far as to claim that anyone might be subjected to such operations,” basilio said. similar cases in the said profiling are dispersed all over the country in areas such as Manila, Malabon, Las Pinas, Zambales, bulacan, rizal, Mindoro, sorsogon and Agusan Del sur. Orders are presumed to originate from national leadership after a certain memorandum is issued among police units to gather intelligence. “Profiling is unmistakably wrong (as it hinders) privacy, free expression and organizing ranks. What they’re (PNP) doing is essentially union-busting,” basilio said.
The Commission on Human rights (CHr) spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia urged the national police and government to clarify the mandate and practice transparency with how they enforce government regulations. “reports of alleged profiling of members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) are alarming as it violates rights to privacy and association, which are guaranteed freedoms in the Constitution among others,” de Guia said. “Clandestine operations may lead to a number of abuses as it is easier to deny accountability for any action; we urge the government, particularly the Philippine National Police, to clarify such allegations–It is important for our police force to stay true to their role as law enforcers. After all, it is their sworn duty to serve and protect the rights of every Filipino.” de Guia added. DILG, PNP: Only intelligence gathering, no crackdown The PNP confirmed reports of profiling members of ACT, however, they noted that it is solely PAGE A7
JANeT Lim-Napoles has been turned over to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, the bureau of Jail Management and Penology (bJMP) informed the sandiganbayan’s First Division on Monday, January 7. The court on Friday, January 4, maintained its warrant committing her to the CIW, following its ruling that convicted her of plunder in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” scam. “The undersigned respectfully inform your Honorable Court that on Jan. 4, 2019, the said PDL (person deprived of liberty) Janet Lim Napoles was properly turned-over to Correctional Institute for Women (CIW), Mandaluyong City, escorted by twelve (12) sTAr Team escorts from bJMP-NCrO [National Capital region Office], headed by J/supt[.] bernabe ruiz and eleven (11) personnel of this
Janet Lim-Napoles
unit. Attached herewith is the original copy of the Mittimus received by” CIW,” Jail Chief Inspector editha balansay, city jail warden of the Taguig City Jail-Female Dorm, said in a letter. A mittimus refers to a warrant issued by a court to commit someone to imprisonment. On December 7, the sandiganbayan’s special First Division acquitted former sen. ramon “bong” revilla Jr. of plunder in connection with the PDAF scam.
ManilaTimes.net photo
The court however found Napoles and richard Cambe guilty and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua. Napoles, who was detained at the bJMP facility at Camp bagong Diwa in Taguig before her transfer to the CIW, asked the court to allow her to stay at Camp bagong Diwa “for security purposes and humanitarian reasons.” The court denied her motion for lack of merit. n
A6 JANUARY 9-11, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Eliminating political rivals
FEATURES
THE mayor of Daraga, Albay is professing innocence and describing himself as a “convenient scapegoat.” The Philippine National Police, however, says it has solid evidence to pin down Carlwyn Baldo for the murder of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police bodyguard Orlando Diaz on December 22. The accused gunman together with the driver of the getaway motorcycle have surrendered, pointed to Baldo as the brains, and apologized to the victim’s family. Batocabe was on his last term as congressman and had filed his candidacy for Daraga mayor, challenging Baldo and the vice mayor in the May elections. This makes the murder a case of election-related violence, and it won’t be the last in this election season. Because the victim was a congressman, there was strong pressure, including from President Duterte, to catch Batocabe’s killers and solve the case. A P50-million bounty for information leading to the killers must have also helped. As of the 2015 census, Daraga had a population of only 126,595, with 66,648 registered voters in the 2016 elections. The first-class municipality has 54 barangays. Why do politicians commit murder for a three-year term with modest pay in such a small town?
Such killings are not unique in this country. Candidates have been murdered by their rivals in remote areas with fewer than 5,000 voters. The attacks are carried out, usually by hired guns, because the masterminds believe they can get away with it. The country’s worst case of election violence – the massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao – took place in 2009, but justice has yet to be rendered. Several members of the Ampatuan clan are on trial for carrying out the massacre because Esmael Mangudadatu had dared challenge an Ampatuan for the post of governor of Maguindanao. If it takes a decade for the courts to resolve such a heinous crime, it can only embolden politicians to keep resorting to murder as an ideal tool for eliminating rivals. Authorities know which are the socalled hotspots for election violence in this year’s polls. The attack on Batocabe should lead to intensified efforts to curb the violence. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
The US national emergency isn’t the border crisis — it’s Trump and his chaotic governance based on lies, vanity & ignorance
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PUT YOURSELF for a moment in the shoes of some 800,000 federal workers who have been working without pay or have been furloughed for almost three weeks now because of the partial government shutdown, and are worried about rent or mortgage obligations to pay, sending their kids to school, putting food on the table for their family to eat. Or maybe you are among those who have been waiting for your tax refund to pay for a personal or family obligation, or perhaps you depend on government services for your business or livelihood or are using the airports for your job or your business. TSA has revealed how this Trump’s shutdown has already been causing security issues in our airports because of the crisis in manpower.
We are all in this together. The United States of America — we the people, the taxpayers — have now been made hostage by President Donald Trump’s obsession with the border wall that he couldn’t care less about how this government shutdown has been hurting us all because to him, it is either the $5-billion dollar funding for the wall, or nothing at all. The Constitution mandates that Congress — the House of Representatives, to be more precise — is invested with “the power of the purse” — the ability to tax and spend public money for the national government. In funding the government, both the Republicans and the Democrats of Congress have appropriated $1.6 billion for border security, but Trump wanted $5billion to build his ‘beautiful’ wall, which he promised during the
campaign that Mexico would be paying for. He has been pandering to his base, whose support and loyalty he has been insatiably needy of for both political and personal expediency, and perhaps, even survival. As polls after polls reveal how increasingly unpopular this wall is for a majority of American taxpayers, and how Trump and the Republicans are now being blamed for the government shutdown, Trump uses and abuses the sacred Oval Office to make his case with the American people on the need for this wall during a televised address on Tuesday, January 8. The problem with this address is that his arguments are based on his alternative facts and fabricated statistics to tell the American people that there is a national emergency crisis in the border and that Trump would have to use money coming from other Congress-ap-
proved appropriation to pay for that wall. Trump lies when he and his surrogates in the administration claim that the wall is important to stop the 4,000+ people with ties to Islamic terrorism who come in illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border. He claims these people are there to bring in drugs, infest the country with crimes like murder, rape, etc. — the same argument that stoked fear among voters that helped him win the Republican nomination, and eventually the presidency. THESE CLAIMS OF TRUMP ARE LIES. These claims have been negated by actual government studies and statistics, fact checked and reported by news media, including Trump and the conservative’s favorite cable news channel, Fox News. Yet, the president and his cohorts continue to knowingly use these dirty tactics
to deceive the American people and justify taxpayer funding for his wall. Facts state that these 4000+ people mostly come through the airports, and not from the southern border. They come in the U.S. legally and overstay. Only 12 out of the 4000+ came from the southern border. Some become homegrown terrorists. This does not even include the terrorism perpetrated by white supremacists American citizens. The infestation of drugs come through the ports as well, and also through the underground tunnels in the border, not above ground. Crimes, rape, and other transgressions likewise do not come from people coming through the southern border. Statistics show that crimes in the country are committed mostly by U.S. born citizens, and NOT by immigrants -- documented or un-
documented. This unfortunate chapter in our nation’s history is but one proof why indeed we have a national crisis and security threat, both domestically and internationally. But the threat is coming from no less than Donald J. Trump and his accomplices, including people who blindly follow and believe their reality show president who would do anything and everything without regard for the truth, the facts, and the collective good of the American people. We, the people, should stand up to this president. This has to END. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos
President Duterte vs God Almighty: Who’s winning?
Commentary
RICARDO SALUDO HEROD said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they [the wise men] set out. … They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country another way. — The Gospel of Saint Matthew, 2:8-12 For Catholics true to their faith, there is only one constant answer to the headline question, despite heaven’s seeming silence amid repeated presidential affronts against Church prelates, priests and practices, not to mention the Almighty. For the devout, God always wins, whoever may have the audacity to challenge Him. Indeed, even when all seemed irretrievably lost on Good Friday, when His Son was a battered, bludgeoned, bloody mess, abandoned by followers and buried lifeless, the Lord triumphed over erstwhile unbeatable Death, thus opening the door to life everlasting for all humanity. Even for Rodrigo Roa Duterte, if he would have faith. Still, many a believer may be forgiven for thinking that the pope-
cussing, God-blaspheming former Davao mayor has cowed the Lord above. No divine lightning bolt has struck, no world-shaking calamity has swept the land, and even public approval ratings still seem blessed from above. Is God letting Duterte off the hook? Seasoned Scripture readers won’t raise eyebrows over heaven’s silence. God bides and moves in His time.Take this Sunday’s Epiphany mass Gospel story, quoted above. Yahweh did not slay King Herod, even when plotted to murder God’s own Son, the Messiah and King He promised many centuries before to Abraham, Moses and David, and of whom prophets and angels spoke. Angels did warn the Magi or wise men not to return to Herod, and told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus, and escape from the despot’s plot. But God still allowed the king to massacre countless baby boys in Bethlehem. But heaven seemed to have eventually exacted justice. In his dying days in 4 BC, about two years after Jesus’ birth, Herod suffered an excruciating disease, said to be a kidney ailment. The pain drove the tyrant to attempt suicide, according to the Jewish historian Josephus. And only God knows what was in store for Herod’s soul. Did heaven punish Aquino? A good number may doubt or dismiss Bible stories and even ancient history as dubious tales unworthy of serious attention today. These modern minds may wish to consider events from our time, indeed, right before Duterte’s
presidency. Then President Benigno Aquino 3rd did his own bishop-bashing and even seemed to go so far as undermining the voice of God Himself. Early in his rule, his appointed head of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office accused eight prelates of receiving luxury sports utility vehicles from PCSO during the Arroyo administration. This was utterly false, but Aquino let his sweepstakes maven Margaret Juico publicly malign what she labeled the “Pajero bishops.” Thankfully, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and the late Miriam Defensor-Santiago came to the prelates’ defense, and it emerged that PCSO funds were used to buy mostly used vans and pickups for Church charity projects — all perfectly lawful for entities aiding the poor. But the bigger affront to heaven came during the Reproductive Health bill deliberations in Congress. Aquino called on legislators to vote according to their conscience — which is the voice of God in their souls. But when voting was conducted in December 2012, solons were told to approve the contraceptive measure or lose their pork barrel. Hence, mammon was used to induce lawmakers to disobey God’s inner promptings. What happened next would seem to be divine retribution for those looking with the eyes of faith. In July 2013, the pork barrel controversy erupted, sparking the largest protests under Aquino at the time. That was just half a year after the RH bill became law,
Philstar.com photo
and the month after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) consecrated the nation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The following month, then Senators Jinggoy Estrada and the late Joker Arroyo exposed another pork barrel scheme, the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which illegally diverted budgetary allocations to expenditures not in the budget, many of them pet projects of senators who voted to oust the late Chief Justice Renato Corona in mid2012. After the DAP brouhaha in August came three big calamities in succession: the September Zamboanga siege by the Moro National Liberation Front, disgruntled over Aquino’s favor toward rival Muslim rebels; the
October Bohol earthquake, leveling many centuries-old churches; and the November Supertyphoon Yolanda. All these crises showed Aquino’s governance failings, including his callous retort to a Tacloban resident decrying armed looters during the storm: “You’re still alive, aren’t you?” December saw the Supreme Court unanimously declare the pork-barrel Priority Development Assistance Fund unconstitutional, with even the CJ Maria Lourdes Sereno and other Aquino appointees voting PDAF down. Six months later in July 2014, DAP was also voided unanimously, prompting a nationally televised presidential outburst. Apparently, that didn’t teach Aquino a lesson. Another halfyear later in mid-January 2015, right in the face of visiting Pope
Francis, Aquino falsely claimed that bishops were silent during his predecessor Gloria Arroyo’s rule, while criticizing his regime. In fact, the CBCP used stronger language in her time, even lamenting: “We look at our landscape and see darkness everywhere.” Just over a week after Aquino’s untruth about the Church hierarchy, the January 25 Mamasapano Massacre of 44 police commandos happened in a botched mission presided over by Aquino and his suspended Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima. That plunged presidential ratings to their lowest ever, leading to the loss of his chosen successor Mar Roxas in the 2016 elections. Will something similar happen to Duterte? Only heaven knows. (ManilaTimes.net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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SC to hold oral arguments on petition vs martial law extension by Kristine Joy
Philstar.com
DND-AFP NEW YEAR’S CALL. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (middle) welcomes a foreign military official during the Joint DND-AFP New Year’s Call 2019, held at AFP Commissioned Officers’ Club, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, January 8. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Women’s commission slams officials who ‘perpetuate misogyny’ by ryan
Macasero Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippine Commission on Women on Monday, January 7 expressed dismay at public officials who are supposed to uphold the dignity of its citizens, especially women, and promote gender equality but instead perpetuate misogyny. Officials are “supposed to uphold the dignity of its citizens, especially women, promote gender equality, and be exemplars of honor and integrity,” it said. It said, though, that some continue to “perpetuate misogyny grounded on power.” While the agency didn’t mention specifically who it was referring to, it follows a statement made by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 30, when he said he touched the private parts of a domestic worker when he was younger. The PCW is the government policy-making and coordinating body on advancing the role of women in the country. “The PCW reiterates that sexual molestation or abuse, including rape, are public crimes and a violation of human dignity,” it said. “It is an abhorrent attack on a person’s self-worth and should never be used as subject matter to prove a point,” it added Presidential spokesperson Sal-
vador Panelo, meanwhile, argued that the president’s story wasn’t obscene because people were laughing. “If it was obscene, the reaction of the audience would have been bad, they would have been angry at him,” Panelo said earlier. The PCW joined other organizations, including the Commission on Human Rights, in condemning misogyny. The CHR last Friday, January 4, said the government should refrain from making such statements that might contravene its commitment to uphold the rights of Filipino workers, especially women. “Filipino domestic workers, especially women, face a number of challenges in some receiving countries. The current administration is fully aware of this condition when, in early 2018, the government even prompted a deployment ban in Kuwait following numerous cases of disappearance, death, and abuses of Filipino workers. Reports of similar forms of maltreatment are also being reported in other countries,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said. Vice President Leni Robredo criticized Duterte on Sunday, January 6, saying that his comments normalize rape and sexual abuse.
“I hope it was thought through… It’s not bad to joke but there are jokes that are not meant to be made,” Robredo said in Filipino on her radio program. Women’s group Gabriela took the strongest stance against the comments, saying that Duterte should resign for admitting to touching his house help inappropriately. In a statement, Gabriela said “it is deeply disturbing even for Duterte to brag about attempting to rape a maid when he was a minor.” The group, which has been critical of Duterte’s policies since allied lawmakers in the Makabayan bloc broke away from the House majority in 2017, are urging the president to resign over this latest “confession.” “The maniac in Malacañang has proven that he had no qualms violating the rights of women, people of lower stature and viewed them as his own personal toy,” Gabriela said. The PCW also urged the general public to speak out and “help in fighting the misuse and abuse of power by men to subjugate women.” They said, “We call an end to sexism, whether in thought, language and actions, and an end in becoming instruments in perpetuating gender-based violence.” n
Patag
MANILA — The Supreme Court is set to discuss the opposition lawmakers’ challenged to the Duterte administration’s year-long extension of martial law in Mindanao through oral arguments. In a press briefing, SC spokesperson Midas Marquez said that the SC has set the petition for oral arguments on January 22 and 23. The high court also ordered the government to comment on the House of Representatives’ “Magnificent Seven” plea to strike down the third extension of martial law as unconstitutional as it lacks factual basis. The government, to be represented by Solicitor General Jose Calida, is given seven days or until January 15 to file its comment. Reps. Lagman, Tomasito Villarin (Akbayan party-list), Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao), Edgar Erice (Caloocan), Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list), Christopher Belmonte (Quezon City) and Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands) filed the petition on Friday, January 4. In a statement, Lagman said that their petition asserted that their petition argues the following points: - Rebellion does not exist and persist in Mindanao; - Public safety is not imperilled; - Another year of extension unduly prolongs the martial law regime; and - Proclamation No. 216 which originally imposed martial law and suspended writ in Mindanao has become functus officio (of no further official authority or legal effect) and cannot anymore be extended. President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire region of Min-
In this file photo, students hold a rally near Malacañang in Manila to mark the first month of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban
danao under martial law in May 2017 through Proclamation No. 216. The government has since extended it until the end of 2017. Duterte later pushed for another year-long extension for 2018. Lagman challenged both moves of the government before the SC but the tribunal has upheld the constitutionality of Proclamation No. 216 and its subsequent year-long extension. On December 12, the Congress voted 235-28 and approved Duterte’s request to extend martial law for 2019. Twelve senators voted in favor of the joint resolution that sought to extend martial law in Mindanao and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. Only minority Sens. Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Risa Hon-
tiveros and Francis Escudero of the majority bloc voted against it. Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto abstained from voting. At the House of Representatives, 223 representatives voted in affirmative while 23 voted in the negative. In a letter submitted to the two houses, Duterte said that security assessment by the police and military indicated that rebellion still persists in Mindanao. Duterte noted that the Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Daulah Islamiyah and other terrorist groups continue to perpetuate threat in the entire region. He also mentioned communist groups, which he said, pose serious security concerns to the public. n
PH teachers’ group files case against... PAGE A5 for intelligence gathering and not limited to the said group. PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said that they were determining whether it was supporting the armed rebellion. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that they plan on meeting with the Department of Education to explain that the PNP’s measures were legal and necessary and clarified that there was no crackdown on ACT members. “Nonetheless, as previously
stated by P/Director General Oscar Albayalde, we wish to underscore that there is no crackdown on ACT members in any school in the country. What the PNP is undertaking is simply intelligence or information gathering which is one of its major functions,” Malaya said. n
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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
B
BIR moves vs counterfeit TIN cards
Inquirer.net file photo by Ben
o. de vera
ernment agencies, etc.). Hence, Inquirer.net it has been decided to redesign the TIN card and at the same TO address the “rampant” time declare it as an accountsale of counterfeit tax identi- able form in order to address fication number (TIN) cards, the issue of the unauthorized the Bureau of Internal Revenue issuance of TIN card within and (BIR) will introduce a new de- outside the BlR,” Internal Revsign that is more difficult to enue Commissioner Caesar R. fake. Dulay said in Revenue Memo“It has been observed that randum OrderNo. 2-2019 isselling of fake TIN cards is ram- sued on Jan. 3. pant and increasing (e.g., onThe new TIN card, or BIR line selling through Facebook, Form No. 1931, will have a selling by fixers to taxpayers pre-numbered sequential serial while transacting in other govu PAGE B2
‘Introducing innovation not enough’ by anna leah
e. Gonazles Manilatimes.net
FARMERS engaged in agribusiness should utilize innovation to boost their operations and meet the growing demand. A policy brief published by the Bureau of Trade and Industrial Policy Research of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said, “the main requirement for an innovation to generate impact is for it to be utilized by farmers of agribusinesses in terms of upgrading their operations. “ “Therefore, simply introducing the innovation is not enough,” it added. The policy brief said food companies are the usual users of innovations in process-
ing, packaging, and waste related to agricultural products. Large multinational companies on the hand, introduce new products based on local market research. The study however said these are developed through in-house research and development (R&D) in parent companies abroad. Contract and managed farms run by large buyers most likely use new technology and adopt research-based practices while smallholder farmers of cacao, coffee, and mango have difficulty investing in technologies. “The cacao, coffee and mango value chains are dominated by smallholder farmers, requiring innovations and adoption of new technology in order to meet the growing demand,” the study said. n
GDP growth slower than 6.7% in 2018, says Pernia Inflation in December 2018 hit a seven-month low as it slowed down to 5.1 percent from six percent in November. This brought annual inflation rate for 2018 to 5.2 percent – the highest in a decade. Philstar.com photo by Catherine
talavera Philstar.com
product) growth and it went down to 6.7 percent in 2017. This year, we are going to have something THE Philippine economy is lower than 6.7 percent,” Socioecoheaded for a second straight year nomic Planning Secretary Ernesto of slowdown as a “challenging” Pernia said in a CNN Philippines 2018 appears to be less robust television interview. Based on latest data, GDP than the prior year, the country’s growth averaged 6.3 percent in chief economic planner said. “We started 2016 with a 6.9 the first three quarters of 2018, percent GDP(gross domestic lower than the government’s tar-
get of 6.5 to 6.9 percent growth for the year. “2018 was a challenging year because of high oil prices which affected our imports, including food and crude, of course. Not only that, we were battered by calamities…agriculture did not perform well,” Pernia, who heads the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said.
This year, the government is targeting a GDP growth of seven to eight percent. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno expressed optimism for the target. “I think that’s doable despite the looming economic slowdown, because our economy is driven
u PAGE B5
Consortium spending P6B to modernize Clark airport, double terminal capacity THE consortium that recently bagged the Clark International Airport concession—the triumvirate consisting of the Gokongwei, Gotianun and Singaporean airport operator Changi—committed to invest about P6 billion in modernizing this international gateway and doubling the terminal capacity to eight million passengers a year. Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC), JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. and Changi Airport Philippines Pte. Ltd. (CAP), a subsidiary of Changi Air-
ports International, formed the North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) to undertake this project. The notice of award was given to NLAC for this hybrid public-private partnership project covered by a 25-year concession by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) in December 2018. NLAC is seen to leverage technology, enhance productivity, build a culture of service excellence and provide training to ensure the processes and services are delivered correctly, consorInquirer.net file photo
u PAGE B3
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BSP likely to reverse tightening cycle in 2019 Unlimited rice imports to bring in over 1 million tons 166 private traders apply for out-quota shipments
The consumer price index rose sharply by 5.2 percent last year from 2.9 percent in 2017 amid higher oil and food prices as well as a weak peso. Inflation exceeded the BSP’s two to four percent target. Philstar.com file photo by Lawrence
agcaoiLi
Philstar.com
THE possibility of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) slashing borrowing costs may happen as early as the second quarter given the sustained slowdown in inflation and a less aggressive US Federal Reserve, Dutch financial giant ING Bank said. Nicholas Mapa, senior economist at ING Bank Manil, said the central bank has been afforded opportunity to reverse the rate hike cycle with inflation trending back to the two to four percent target. “The BSP will likely slash borrowing costs as early as the May 9 meeting to help bolster slowing growth momentum with its price stability mandate safeguarded. With market anticipating a less aggressive Fed rate hike cycle in 2019, BSP may be afforded a window to walk back its own aggressive rate hike salvo from 2018,” he said. The central bank’s Monetary Board jacked up interest rates by a cumulative175 basis points in five straight rate-setting meetings from May to June last year
to prevent inflation from spiraling out of control before taking a breather in December. The consumer price index rose sharply by 5.2 percent last year from 2.9 percent in 2017 amid higher oil and food prices as well as a weak peso. Inflation exceeded the BSP’s two to four percent target. Inflation last year breached the BSP target for the first time since 2008 when it averaged 9.3 percent versus the central bank’s three to five percent target. With more imported grains currently on delivery over the next few weeks as well as the rice tarrification bill set for signing and energy prices depressed, Mapa said risks to the inflation outlook appear tilted to the downside and expectations now more anchored. “In light of these developments we will be revising lower our inflation outlook for both 2019 and 2020,” he said. Aside from slashing benchmark rates, Mapa said the central bank is seen resuming the reduction of the level of deposits banks are required to keep with the BSP by another 200 basis points
this year. The BSP lowered the ultrahigh reserve requirement ratio to 18 percent from 20 percent last year as BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. committed to reduce the level to single digit within his six-year term. “With the stars aligning for decelerating inflation, a more dovish Fed and possibly slowing growth momentum, the chances for a BSP two-pronged easing in H1 has increased significantly. With our inflation forecasts likely to be lowered given recent price trends, we will be revisiting our forecast for BSP policy in 2019 as well,” the economist added. Headline inflation eased to a seven-month low of 5.1 percent in December, better than market expectations, from six percent in November. This was better than the BSP’s 5.2 to six percent forecast. Core inflation (which excludes goods with volatile prices) likewise reversed to post a slower growth print of 4.7 percent in December compared to the previous month’s 5.1 percent, allaying fears of deeply-rooted inflation pressures. n
on its website. BIR personnel involved in issuing these cards will have to report on a monthly basis their receipts, issuances, transfers and balances of accountable forms. Based on the sample, while the first time issuance of the new TIN
card will be free of charge, a fee of P100 must be paid to replace lost or damaged cards. Former BIR chief Kim S. Jacinto-Henares had planned to issue “smart” TIN cards before her term ended in 2016, but this did not push through.n
BIR moves vs counterfeit TIN cards
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rial number, which will allow BIR offices and personnel to control them and be accountable for their release. The new TIN card design will be rolled out this month, based on a sample provided by the BIR
Philstar.com file photo by Louise
Maureen Philstar.com
siMeon
AGRICULTURE the Philippines moves toward the unlimited importation of rice, 166 firms have applied to bring in one million metric tons of the commodity under the out-quota scheme, based on the updated list released by the National Food Authority. The rice will be sourced from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Taiwan. The interagency National
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA [Select a handful of those things in your bucket list that have the highest chance of coming to fruition given your time frame. In tech speak, this means before your life’s energy goes into ‘low batt mode’ and life has run out of sockets to plug into.] You gaze at the photos on the walls, dig up the albums in storage boxes – memories of days gone by, milestones — the springtime of one’s life: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations — so many happy, wonderful memories frozen in print. Now you have them too in digital form, thousands of images and videos, trapped in computer hard drives and smart phones or spread far and wide via social
Food Authority Council (NFAC) allowed the unlimited importation of rice to further stabilize market prices. Out-quota allocation means that traders can apply for any volume of imported rice they want to bring into the country. Of the initial volume, the imports will be discharged in Manila, Subic, Cebu, Zamboanga City, Davao, La Union, Tacloban and Cagayan de Oro. The NFA will continuously process and approve applications of private traders.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said importers could only bring in 25 percent brokens but the latest terms of reference for the out-quota scheme allows traders to import 25 percent brokens or better. All rice to be imported will be levied with a 35 percent tariff for ASEAN countries and 50 percent for non-ASEAN. Rice import allocation of eligible importers must be loaded upon the approval of the sanitary and phytosanitary import
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The bucket list Write your story (2nd of a series)
”...Healing begins with forgiveness. It can make us whole again. And when we are whole and bathed in God’s light, darkness no longer holds power over us.” media for all to see. Then there are also the awful ones encrusted in your memory, the things you would rather forget. These are your raw materials to get this project going. So here’s one suggestion to sum it all up while you still can — something you may want to include in the top tier of your bucket list. Write your story So many stories to tell… So little time… Though you may think
that your life is generic like plain vanilla, if you are honest and dig enough, there are so many tiny montages, vignettes of a past life. Uniquely yours, these may be sweet, sour and even bitter moments of one’s life. Imperfect as it is, you have lived through it all. Somehow, by God’s grace, you made it through. That is victory enough. A bit of caution! You don’t have to write a tedious, biographi-
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Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process. If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $150,000 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your
COMMUNITY JOURNAL
tium members FDC and JG Summit said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, January 4. The consortium is seem to draw on the experienced airport professionals of Changi Airports International and Changi Airport Group. Together, they have experience in more than 50 airports in over 20 countries. “We are honored to be given the opportunity to participate in the development of Clark International Airport. We believe in the potential of the Philippines and the Luzon region. Together with our partners and with the support of key stakeholders, we will develop Clark as the region’s premier gateway,” said Lim Liang Song, chief executive officer of Changi Airports International. “Building on the airport’s geographical position and catch-
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Five benefits of establishing Break the shackles of debt in 2019 a revocable living trust
estate will pay for attorney’s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case. With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document without having to open a probate court case. If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate. Your estate is not public record When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny. Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust. Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy of the revocable living trust after you pass away.
You can dictate who will inherit from your estate. If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate. You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal. The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate. You can structure your estate to minimize estate taxes If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving which carries tax advantage and asset protection. You can choose who will administer your estate after your death
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Consortium spending P6B to modernize... PAGE B1 t
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 9-11, 2019
ment, we will grow the airport’s network and provide passengers with a superior airport experience including a brand new commercial area. In addition to global brands, the new airport terminal will also have a curated selection of retail and food and beverage outlets that showcases the best of what the Philippines has to offer,” he added. NLAC intends to promote Clark International as the Northern and Central Luzon Gateway Airport by actively engaging strategic partners like tourism authorities and airlines. The consortium also vowed to grow traffic and build a wider route network, and establish connectivity to Clark with more domestic and international points. “With the new Clark International Airport, travelers and visitors can expect to be greeted with fast, efficient and hassle-free ser-
vice. We believe that the ease in travel in a world-class airport will help boost the region’s tourism industry and related businesses. It is NLAC’s vision to redefine the air travel experience at Clark International Airport,” FDC president and chief executive officer Josephine Gotianun-Yap said. “We are very optimistic about the prospects of Clark International Airport, and will do our part to support its growth by providing a world-class gateway airport. With our group’s experience in airline operations, property development and our various consumer-oriented businesses, we will provide the best service and value proposition to both passengers and airlines to make Clark International their airport of choice,” said Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of JG Summit Holdings. (Inquirer.net) ■
BEST wishes and Happy New Year to one and all! Do you want more debt, less debt or zero debt for 2019? Why do we say, ‘break the shackles’ of debt? Because debt ties the debtor to the creditor in a slave master relationship until the shackles of debt are broken for good. No one wants to be a debt slave. A debt slave uses all of his or her disposable income to pay debt, daily, monthly, yearly and forever, and even until death, debts have a claim on the estate of the deceased! The client is 60. His wife is 62. They’re about to retire sooner than later. What happens when they retire? Obviously, their household income goes down because they stop working and start relying on social security. The average social security for Americans in 2018 is about $1,400 a month. So, the client gets $1,400 and wife gets $1,400, or a total of $2,800 a month of social security. While working, clients make $50,000 a year, and the wife makes $40,000 a year, or a total of $90,000. That’s about $7,500 a month of income. When they stop working, instead of getting $7,500 a month gross, they will get, let’s say $3,000 a month as combined social security benefits. That’s a 60 percent reduction in client’s household income. I have another client who is 68 and he continues to work and make a salary of $4,000, plus his social security of $1,600. However, his wife who is 69 has stopped working and draws social security of $900. She used to make $2,500 a month when still working as a cashier at a supermarket. So, even in that case, where one spouse continues working, there’s a reduction in household income. As they say, “you gotta do
Debt Relief
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG what you gotta do.” Once the household income drops, the first problem that rears its ugly head is debt service. The client owes $30,000 of credit cards. They need $1,000 a month to keep those cards current. That’s paying minimum interest only. They’ve been paying $1,000 a month on this very same $30,000 of credit cards for the last 20 years. So they’ve paid a total of $240,000 to keep $30,000 of credit cards current for the last 20 years! How much do they still owe now after paying $240,000? They owe the very same $30,000. It’s really a big deal because the client has transferred $240,000 of the household’s hard earned money, that’s a quarter of a million dollars in the last 20 years, just to keep $30,000 of credit cards current. Isn’t that just plain dumb? They could have filed a Chapter 7 15 years ago and gotten rid of the $30,000 of credit cards. What would they have now if they did that? They would have $180,000 of savings, which probably would be about $300,000 now if wisely invested in equities, notwithstanding the present wild stock market gyrations, they would have no debt, and their credit score would be perfect if they handle new credit in a timely manner. Yes, your credit score increases yearly after bankruptcy and you do get new credit cards and new credit lines. I just suggest that you pay off the cards completely every month. Don’t
Calendar of Events across
leave any balance outstanding. Otherwise, the balances start accumulating again, and you’re on the hook again. Your credit score will be good enough to buy a car immediately after bankruptcy, just bring the discharge order to the dealer. That’s all they look for. In three years from filing bankruptcy, your credit score is good enough to buy a house, albeit at higher interest than one with perfect credit. In year six or seven, your credit score is over 700, and in year 10, your credit score is perfect once more. It’s over 800. No matter what your age is, if you have accumulated significant credit card debt that you are not able to significantly pay down and you just keep making minimum payments on these cards, you really are a slave to debt. That’s your life. You are shackled to debt for the rest of your life. That’s not a good idea, is it? Being a debt slave for life is a bad idea. You will be living in darkness. Your family will be living in darkness. If you don’t agree with me, go ahead and add to your debt and see what happens. Each year that goes by, these accumulated credit cards will become bigger and bigger and demand more and more of your household income. If you need debt relief, call our office to set an appointment. I will analyze your case personally. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS JA N UA RY 1 6 - 1 8
Spark Philippines Trade and Travel Fest in San Francisco Discover creative and delectable culinary products and enticing travel destinations of the Philippines in a three-day event – January 16-18, 2019 — at the Philippine Consulate General (447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA), a block away from Union Square San Francisco. Spark Philippines Trade and Travel Fest is a sneak preview of two of the best things that the Philippines can offer — food and travel. Discover many innovative food ingredients, such as the coconut floral sap vinegar or Sukang Tuba and the mango flour. Uncover the uses of the “dinosaur egg” salt or Asin Tibuok. Learn more about Philippine food products from a few Philippine companies participating in the Winter Fancy Food Show 2019. The Fest affords visitors to savor Filipino fusion-style eats and dine kamayan-style (no cutlery required) in a salu-salo or a gastronomic feast featuring locally sourced ingredients using Filipino heirloom recipes. Guests can also explore attractive travel packages in the land of fun and sun. Choose from a number of inviting tourist attractions of the Philippines. Travel agents will have the opportunity to meet with others. Importers and participating food companies can continue their conversations in the event.
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4th Homeless Service Professionals Job Fair in LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, the LA Homeless Services Authority, the County of LA Homeless Initiative, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, United Way of Greater LA, Workforce Development Systems, and LA Southwest College invite you to the fourth Homeless Service Professionals Job Fair on Thursday, January 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Over 30+ employers will be in attendance, who are looking to fill hundreds of positions throughout the greater LA area — everything from case managers and outreach workers to housing navigators, supervisors and executives. Join us for our job fair and learn about the incredible impact you can have to help people get all the support they need to start a new chapter. You can help change lives. Types of Positions: Direct Service / Entry Level: case managers, outreach workers, housing navigators, employment specialists, administration, finance, and more; Management / Supervisory Level: supervisors, coordinators, program managers and directors, and similar positions; Professional Level and Executive Level: with advanced degrees such as MSW, MPP, MPH, LCSW, certifications; senior management. On-site resources available: Resume review and editing; Interviewing preparation and tips; and Connections to more local services. Please RSVP at: HSPJobFairLa.eventbrite.com. The job fair will be held inside the Thomas G. Larkin Fitness and Wellness Center at Los Angeles Southwest College (1600 W. Imperial Hwy., Los Angeles, CA 90047).
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Santo Nino Celebration at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Torrance, CA Most Rev. Bishop Oscar A. Solis will celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass on Friday, January 18 at St. Catherine Laboure Church (3846 Redondo Beach Blvd. Torrance, CA 90504) at 7 p.m. The Novena prayers and Chaplet will follow after the Mass. The parish has an exact replica of the Infant of Prague (Santo Nino) clothed in a relic of the Holy Robe that adorns the original statue in the shrine at Prague. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own statues; the devotion of touching them to the Holy Robe will conclude the celebration. For more information, please contact Lorna Arceo at (310) 345-4637, Maria Quan (310) 714-6537 or Vicki & Romy Balliyut at (310) 406-6575.
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Sto. Niño celebration at St. Finbar Church in Burbank, CA Please join us for Sinulog on January 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Finbar Church (2010 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506). Bring your statues of the Infant Jesus. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m.
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38th Annual Asian American Expo in Pomona, CA The 38th annual Asian American Expo will be held on Saturday, January 19 and January 20 at the Pomona Fairplex (2705 Fairplex Dr. Pomona, California 91768). The Asian American Expo features 6 large expositions, 1,000+ vendors, 9 non-stop performing stages, and 3 separately unique food courts. Attendees from all different ethnic and work backgrounds, from both local and international, are bound to be at the Expo. The Asian American Expo is hosted at the beginning of each year to celebrate the coming of the Lunar New Year Festival, with the goal recreating the New Year celebrations found across Asia at this time of the year. Food, shopping, entertainment and fun – these are all annual staples that can be found at each year’s event. The hours for both Saturday and Sunday are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $11/day for adults (age 13 to 65) and $9 / day for seniors (above 65) and children (under 13). For more information, please visit http://www.asianamericanexpo.com/.
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
B4 JANUARY 9-11, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
PEOPLE & EVENTS
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
People and Events
City of Artesia and TreePeople to host Fruit Tree Giveaway
ON Saturday, January 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the City of Artesia in partnership with TreePeople is hosting a Fruit Tree Giveaway outside the Old Artesia Library Building at Artesia Park. This event is made possible due to a grant from the Max Factor Family Foundation. The City of Artesia is excited to invite the community to take a tree home with them to grow their own citrus fruits to promote healthier diets, and improve air quality in the City by increasing the tree population. TreePeople will have 225 citrus trees to distribute to community members on a first-come, first-served basis and while supplies last. Tree types will include orange, lemon, lime, kumquat, and grapefruit. Each household can take home only one tree after participating in a brief on-site workshop. There is no advanced registration or identification re- City of Artesia has partnered with sia. The City looks forward to conTreePeople to promote tree care tinuing its efforts to acquire and quired to participate. This is the second time that the and urban forest growth in Arte- distribute more trees in Artesia.■
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
City of Santa Clarita to host ribbon-cutting for the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Widening project ON Friday, January 18, at 10:00 a.m., the City of Santa Clarita will be hosting a public ribbon cutting event to celebrate the completion of the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Widening Project. The event will be held at the northwest corner of the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge. Attendees may park at the Valencia Village shopping plaza located adjacent to the event site. Signs will be posted to direct attendees to the event site along the street. Along with the Santa Clarita City Council, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Fifth District, County of Los Angeles will be in attendance. Supervisor Barger played a crucial role in getting the necessary funding to make this project a reality. Representatives from both the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and Caltrans will also attend. The multi-million dollar project expanded the bridge to provide an additional traffic lane in each direction – increasing the number of lanes in each direction to four.
In addition to improving trail connections with a new undercrossing trail in the west bank, the project also added a raised median and a new protected sidewalk and bike path on the south side of the bridge. The Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Widening Project is a federally funded project and is part of the Building and Creating Community theme in the Santa Clarita
EMPLOYMENT
FOR RENT
2020 plan. To RSVP for the ribbon cutting of the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Widening Project, please contact Kirsten Lindgreen with the City of Santa Clarita at klindgreen@santaclarita.com or at (661) 255-4321 by Thursday, January 13. For additional details about the project, please contact Project Manager Jackie Lillio at (661) 286-4131..■
B january 9-11, 2019 • SoCal aSIan jOurnaL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
Unlimited rice imports... Volunteers sought for 2019 Homeless Count
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clearance by the Bureau of Plant Industry and payment of the required tentative advance Customs duty. The out-quota imports will add to the recently bid out 500,000 MT via open tender and the 203,000 MT government-to-government scheme. The agri chief had allayed possible fears of flooding of imported rice in the market.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen because when the importers feel there is so much rice stocks in the market and prices go down to a level where they cannot make money anymore then they will not import,” Piñol earlier said. “It will be the absorptive capacity of the market that will set the cap. And no businessman in his right mind will import rice if there is no market,” he added. n
The bucket list
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cal tome, so boring you may induce flat lining even yourself to early death. I would recommend choosing a typical day, a significant year or seasons which reflect the peaks and valleys of your life. You can paint your story in broad brush strokes at first and fill in the details later, like a painter would, with the precision of a palette knife. Write in your own style. If they block the creative flow, forget grammatical rules, syntax, and the rigid rules for writing, for the time being. It is like recording streams of memories. There is no grading system here. Be honest. One rule I recommend that should apply at all times — REFRAIN from causing even more hurt, if somehow, someone else reads your story when you’re gone. Believe it or not, the written word is precise and like a laser sword, it can slice a heart or like a soothing miraculous balm, heal brokenness. Choose wisely. How you choose reflects the beauty or ugliness of your soul. Kindness is a car that can get you to heaven. The Good Samaritan is a case in point. Is it a Pollyana view of life on earth? It sure is. But life can be brutal and in some cases, so cruel we need all the kindness we can get from one another. Or if you live a relatively charmed life and have a generous spirit, dispense acts of kindness to strangers without fanfare. Someone wise once said to choose those who can never repay you back. No one has to know. If you do it for applause and recognition, then you have cashed in your reward prematurely. Don’t post on social media for all to know. But if you do, remain anonymous. Your act of kindness can go viral and inspire others to do likewise. Focus on the act to squeeze the max out of it. Memories can be faulty. The way each of us sees things is uniquely processed through a set of largely emotional filters that may not align with how others in our immediate orbit remember them. In story writing, it is called POV or Point of View. Remember that in the eternal scheme of things, only God’s POV knows the pure, unvarnished, unadulterated truth. Your stories are all there buried deep within you. The early sunset years when you still have a sound mind in a sound body are probably the best time to write your story. Those neurons firing in our noggin are still sharp but
we know, these have a definite shelf life. Don’t do it as an ego trip listing your accomplishments but put pen to paper or chase a cursor like mad on your laptop as an exercise in validating your life, putting into words, those memories that sparkle like diamonds, like the joys that you have caused to make others glad and appreciate life and how others made you a better person. Accolades are fine but those you leave behind who feel eternally grateful to God for the life you lived as it left a mark on their own lives even when you’re gone are probably the highest tribute to your time on earth. I guess these are the things that make God smile. You’ll be one of those good and faithful servants. The act of recording your life story reveals to us God’s presence in every minutiae, facet and seasons of our lives. You realize that even in your darkest moments when all seemed lost, God is always there for us all. You begin to see clearly your purpose in life. Of course, as in any story, there are parts you want to share because they are happy and inspiring. There are parts that must remain secret by choice, known only to you, the God of your being and the characters of those tragic, dark vignettes you would rather forget, locked away forever or better yet, erased for all eternity. Let go of these, if you can. Healing begins with forgiveness. It can make us whole again. And when we are whole and bathed in God’s light, darkness no longer holds power over us. Life is a mural of many colors and infinite designs. Savor yours during these precious sunset years. There are so many twists and turns and variations and, if taken in one go, can seem like a blur on a whitewater tube ride. Scoop up a few golden snippets and record them. This could be well worth your while. Become the writer/editor of your life story. Dare to write it. Edit it. Even critique it, if you wish. Don’t worry about other people’s criticism. You are your own target audience for the time being. Someday when you’re gone, your story might have the power to inspire someone else. Next week: An idea for The Bucket List … *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
THE City of San Dimas is looking for volunteers for the 2019 Los Angeles County Homeless Count. This year’s homeless count will take place on Tuesday, January 22 beginning at 8 pm at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. The data gathered from the Count is extremely valuable in our mission to end homelessness. It supplies government agencies, service providers, and housing
providers with a reliable estimate of the homeless population in San Dimas, as well as an array of demographic information. For more information, contact (909) 394-6282. Visit www.cityofsandimas. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019Volunteer-Flyer.jpg to view the flyer for more information on what volunteers will be doing on the night of the count.n
Five benefits of establishing a revocable... PAGE B3 t
When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee,
you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.
The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both
the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail HYPERLINK “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
GDP growth slower than 6.7% in 2018, says Pernia PAGE B1 t
by internal demand like Build Build Build and investment in human capital,” Diokno said. Pernia earlier said he expects GDP growth in 2019 to be better, but closer to the seven percent level. He said monetary tightening in some countries, including the US, and the trade war between China and the US are among the fac-
tors that could affect the domestic economy this year. “So that will slow down our exports, but as mentioned by Secretary Diokno, we are really more internally driven,” he added. Pernia also expressed confidence in President Duterte’s political will, noting this would help push the implementation of policies. “The President, with his political will, has been able to institute pol-
icy reforms like liberalizing some areas from farm restriction. And we are also implementing very soon the ease of doing business, anti-red tape act, rice tariffication, of course, and the national ID system,” Pernia said. Asked if the country has already experienced the worst when it comes to inflation, Pernia answered in the affirmative. “When we talk about inflation
rate, it is clearly on a downtrend and it will continue to go down to our target of two to four percent range in 2019 and subsequently,” Pernia said. Inflation in December 2018 hit a seven-month low as it slowed down to 5.1 percent from six percent in November. This brought annual inflation rate for 2018 to 5.2 percent – the highest in a decade. n
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 9, 2019
5 Fil-Am books to add to your reading list by
Trinidad’s latest collaboration, a cookbook titled “I Am can War. Magsalin and Chiara a Filipino (And This is How We end up writing and clashing on Cook),” has made it to the Best two different scripts, one from of 2018 lists of many reviewers. the perspective of a Filipino From The New Yorker, Bosschoolteacher and the other ton Globe, Chicago Tribune, from the lens of a white phoLos Angeles Times, New York tographer. Times Book Review, Houston “I’m very interested in that Chronicle, Food52, PopSugar, concept of multiple ways of they are one in saying that. looking at things,” Apostol Ponseca and Trinidad made told NPR. “You know, this nosure that the whole spectrum tion that in all of us there are of Filipino cuisine is somehow multiple identities, you know, represented in this book, from and we don’t recognize the sithe simple to the most complex multaneity of them. I’m a mom, recipes and from casual, street I’m a daughter, I’m a teacher, food to the classic national I’m a writer, I’m a Filipino, I’m a dishes like adobo, kare kare American. And I really like this and kinilaw to regional dishes. kind of seeing things from variAt their San Francisco ous points of view.” launch, Trinidad shared that Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad at the launching of their book “I Am A Filipino” in San Francisco Praise has trickled in for one of the biggest challenges last November 2018. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya Apostol’s novel, including they had to face was sourcBuzzFeed’s Best Fiction of ing for the right ingredients, 2018, Publishers Weekly Top particularly those that are really 10 Best Book of 2018, and a hard to find here in the United New York Times Book Review States. Editor’s Choice. “We had to find alterna“This is a complex and aptly tives, and we mentioned that vertiginous novel that deconin the book. Filipinos are very structs how humans tell stories resourceful,” he said. Ponseca and decide which versions made a shout out and thanked of events are remembered; people like Clang Garcia, Ige names repeat between scripts, Ramos and Cocoy Ventura in and directors suddenly interthe Philippines for showing rupt what feels like historical them around the regions to narration. Apostol’s layers of discover recipes and ingredinarrative, pop culture referents that are specific to the ences, and blurring of history provinces and towns they and fiction make for a profound visited. and unforgettable journey into the past and present of the Philippines,” Publishers Weekly wrote in its review.
MoMar G. Visaya, Malou bledsoe and Christina M. oriel / AJPress
IF one of your New Year’s resolutions is to read more, the Asian Journal recommends books by several Fil-Am authors to add to your own list. In the past year, books on our radar have included Jose Antonio Vargas’ memoir “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen,” fiction novel “Aliasing” by Mara Coson, graphic novel “Blame This on The Boogie” by Rina Ayuyang, and poetry collection “ESL or You Weren’t Here” by Aldrin Valdez. There are a handful of books we’re excited about this year, such as “Lalani of the Distant Sea” (May 2019), an epic fantasy inspired by Filipino folklore by 2018 Newbery Medal Winner Erin Entrada Kelly and “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion” (August 2019), a book of essays on contemporary digital culture by New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino. Email us at editor@asianjournalinc.com to share your reading list and other books by Filipino and Fil-Am authors from 2018 as well as those to watch in 2019.
recipes she and her family cook to bring readers on her table not only to enjoy the bounty of her poems but, slyly to consider the ways in which Filipino-Americans, and people of color in general, are assailed and fetishized. The book also explores ways for poetry to nourish the reader’s soul and mind through Gambito’s playful style and zest in her words. Gambito is the author of the poetry collections “Delivered” (Persea, 2009) and “Matadora” (Alice James, 2004). She has received honors for her work from Barnes & Noble’s Writers for Writers Award from Poets and Writers, and the Wai Look Award for Outstanding Service to the Arts from the Asian American Arts Alliance. She is also an Associate Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Fordham University, and co-founder of Kundiman, a non-profit organization serving Asian American writers. Pre-order available on Amazon.
Illustrator Andre Sibayan, writer and publisher Gayle Romasanta, and the late historian Dawn B. Mabalon hold copies of the cover of children’s book, “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong.”
tol
“Loves You” by Sarah Gambito “Loves You” — which will be released on January 22 by Persea Books — is a collection of recipes in poetic form and a mode of resistance. Author Sarah Gambito includes real
“Insurrecto” by Gina Apos-
“Insurrecto” is the fourth novel by Gina Apostol, who has previously won a PEN/Open Book Award and a Philippine National Book Award. “Insurrecto” follows two women — Filipina translator Magsalin and American filmmaker Chiara Brasi — on a trip in present-day Philippines (under Duterte) to work on a script about the Balangiga massacre during the Philippine-Ameri-
“I Am a Filipino (And This is How We Cook)” by Nicole Ponseca & Miguel Trinidad Trailblazing restaurateurs Nicole Ponseca and Miguel
“Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong” by Dawn Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta The late historian Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, writer Gayle Romasanta and illustrator Andre Sibayan collaborated on “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong,” released in October 2018 by Bridge + Delta Publishing. “Journey for Justice” — the first nonfiction illustrated children’s book on Fil-Am history — details Itliong’s efforts as a farm labor organizer and civil rights activist who led the Delano Grape Strike in 1965 and eventually co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez. Though efforts in recent years have been made to highlight Itliong and fellow Filipino labor leaders’ roles in one of the most pivotal social movements in U.S. history, this is the firstever book on Itliong. A percentage of proceeds from this book will be donated to the nonprofit organizations, Little Manila Rising and the Filipino American National Historical Society. Itliong’s story will be the first of a series of eight children’s books on Fil-Am history under Romasanta’s Bridge + Delta Publishing, under the authors’ mission that Fil-Am stories should be part of K-12 education. *The first edition of the book will be launched and sold in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 27, while the second edition will be available online in late March.
Gina Apostol — winner of a PEN/Open Book Award and a Philippine National Book Award — released her fourth novel “Insurrecto.”
Sarah Gambito, author of the forthcoming book “Loves You.”
Elaine Castillo
“America is Not the Heart” by Elaine Castillo Elaine Castillo grew up in what she describes as a “very Filipino neighborhood in a very Filipino atmosphere.” Her town, Milpitas in California is a majority-minority where there’s a large Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexican, Taiwanese communities, which is why she said she didn’t grow up thinking of herself as a minority.
“I read quite a lot of translated works, which I realize now probably is a sub-conscious political response to a white mainstream canon. I read a lot of Filipino American writers from Jessica Hagedorn to Carlos Bulosan. That book, ‘America is in the Heart,’ was the first time I ever read about someone from Pangasinan,” she told the Asian Journal. Asked if her novel is her response to Bulosan’s classic
AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
masterpiece, she replied, “To be honest, I didn’t actually think of the title as the grand, ambitious answer to Bulosan.” “As a Filipino, I like a pun. So whenever I read the title ‘America is in the Heart’ from Bulosan, I always thought, ‘America isn’t the Heart,’ just as a rhyming joke that I used to say to myself. It was never a big thing. It came from that private, personal joke,” she said.
entertainment Kris: My doctors are delaying the inevitable The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 9, 2019
by Christina
alpad ManilaTimes.net
Tony Labrusca
Philstar.com photo
Alex Diaz shares his side of Tony Labrusca’s ‘outburst’ at immigration officers by Katrina
hallare Inquirer.net
ALEX Diaz shared his side of what happened when Tony Labrusca allegedly had an outburst at an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1. Labrusca was recently in hot water after he reportedly shouted at the officer for giving him only 30 days in the country. This led the Bureau of Immigration to warn foreign nationals that they may be blacklisted in the Philippines if they show disrespect to its personnel. The Kapamilya actor, who was with Labrusca when they arrived from Canada, said he was a witness at the immigration and “saw the whole thing go down.” This he said in a series of Twitter posts Friday, January 4. “@tonythesharky (Labrusca) wasn’t the only one at fault but he was made to look like the bad guy when both sides had faults,” Diaz added. He pointed out that nobody mentioned that Labrusca was going to have a private conversation with the immigration supervisor. Diaz also revealed that three other officers went to him trying to “fish information” on what was happening, with the superior repeatedly telling them to leave the office.
Alex Diaz
“I don’t think that’s their job,” Diaz said about the three officers. Diaz also shared that when he first left the country, he had an encounter with a “not-so friendly” officer who saw his Canadian passport. “Oh anong gusto mong gawin ko dito (Oh, what do you want me to do with this)?” the officer reportedly told Diaz, with the actor noting he said it in a sarcastic tone. “Immigration [isn’t] [sunny] and [pleasant] by any stretch of the imagination,” he expressed. Everyone is human and capable of mistakes even Tony
Photo from Instagram/@alexandermcdizz
who got heated and these IO’s who claimed not to know who he was at all but proceeded to blast him on social media right off the bat,” Diaz said his last words on the matter. “Sana (I hope) we hunt for both sides always before passing judgement, slandering or defaming people.” Labrusca on Friday night issued an apology for his behavior, adding he was unaware of the Immigration policy on Balikbayan Privilege—which qualifies for one year and is “exclusively given to former Filipinos naturalized abroad and their spouse and children who are traveling with them.”
IS Kris dying? This would cross the mind of anyone who has viewed Kris Aquino’s viral social media post regarding her health. The “health bomb” that Kris dropped during a panel feed with her lawyers Sigfrid Fortun, Enrique dela Cruz and University of Santo Tomas Law Dean Nilo Divina to refute the allegations of her former manager Nicko Falcis eclipsed her court battle with her erstwhile business partner. Kris admitted that she has “a form of lupus.” “Ang inamin ko po sa inyo is [having] chronic spontaneous urticaria and that is true. I did not want to specify because Atty. Sig told me wag mo sabihin ang iyong allergies kasi pinapadali mo for your enemies to kill you. But now I can tell you the truth, I’m allergic to every single medicine that can cure you or at least manage your symptoms kung may lupus ka. All my doctors are doing now is delaying it. They’re delaying the inevitable,” she said. According to Aquino, her form of lupus, which she did not explain, was the reason why she had to seek medical attention in Singapore in October. The disease emerged in all her test results in the Philippines, forcing the top TV host and movie actress-turned-online celebrity to submit to more examinations abroad. “Thankfully the tests showed that my kidney functions are still OK,” she added. Aquino also listed her other health concerns — high blood, hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia, which on many occasions rendered her unable to get out of bed without help. “Joshua and Bimby (her sons) would literally have to lift me off the bed so I can go to the bathroom,” she tearfully revealed. With an endless list of allergic triggers identified in her Singapore tests — including
org], the said condition is a long-term autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation, pain and damage to the skin, joints or organs. Having lupus means that something is wrong with one’s immune system [thus the term autoimmune disease] which enables the body to fight off viruses, bacteria and germs. Put simply, the immune system is therefore unable to identify the difference between viruses and healthy tissues, thereby attacking both. The disease can become mild or lifethreatening but with the proper treatment, those diagnosed can still lead a full life. The Lupus Foundation of America lists four different types of lupus – systemic lupus that causes inflammation to the kidneys, nervous system, blood vessels of the brain and the hardening of the arteries; cutaneKris Aquino Photo from Instagram/@krisaquino ous lupus which is limited to the skin and which causes exposure to trees, pollen and rashes and sores; drug-intemperatures from the mid 30s and up — Aquino said that duced lupus which is caused by prescription drugs commonly emotional stress was yet anused for treatments of high other element that sets off her blood pressure, irregular heart chronic spontaneous urticaria, rhythms, and tuberculosis; and making her merely “one fatal neonatal lupus, a rare condition allergic reaction from anaphythat affects infants of women lactic shock.” who have lupus. Aquino said she would fly Former president Ferdinand to Singapore again this week to Marcos succumbed to systemic address a lump in an unspecified part of her body and would lupus erythematosus. A staunch advocate of living be away for two weeks. “In church before Christmas with lupus is Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, [in Japan], I told God I’d let go of all my anger if only he would wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, who has been batlet me live until my son Bimby tling the illness for a decade. turns 18th in seven years,” she Pop singer Selena Gomez said. drew attention to the condi“Kaya hindi na ako galit tion when she revealed she sa’yo Nicko, pero harapin mo had a kidney transplant after naman lahat ng kaso mo. ’Yun her diagnosis. Other foreign lang. I did not lie. I don’t want celebrities living with lupus into die being accused as a liar.” clude Lady Gaga, Toni Braxton, Forms of lupus Nick Cannon and Seal, among According to the Lupus others. Foundation of America [lupos.
Kit Thompson on maturing as an actor
entertainment by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
It took Dennis Trillo 14 years to duplicate his MMFF feat, the first having been for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 for “Aishite Imasu 1941� (left) and the latest for Best Actor at the 2018 MMFF for “One Great Love� (right), voted 3rd Best Picture. Both were produced by Regal Films, ‘my lucky charm,’ says Dennis. Contributed photos
“I have lost count. Pero marami-rami na rin since I first won 14 years ago. Before this MMFF award, I won a Best Actor FAMAS for ‘Felix Manalo,’ and also one from Star Awards.� Where do you keep all your trophies? May space pa ba? “Some are here at home, some are in my condo unit and the others are at Popoy’s office.� How different was the feeling of winning now from winning 14 years ago? “Very different. ‘Aishite Imasu’ was my first movie so I was a greenhorn at that time. But since then, I have learned a lot. Kahit paano may dagdag na skills sa aking craft. The most important thing is pakikisama and having a positive work ethic.� (Dennis was launched as a member of the ABS-CBN’s Star Circle together with the likes of Bea Alonzo and Alfred Vargas.) You are a lucky Regal Baby. “You can say that because it was Regal who produced my winning films. One Great Love was my first Regal movie since 2009 when I did one of the ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’ films. Regal is my ‘lucky charm’.� Did you have a hunch that you would win? Mabibigat ang
Cinemalaya entry, Joji Alonso’s romantic drama “Belle Douleur,� with Mylene Dizon; as well as a digital web series, where he plays a lawyer. “I don’t mind going bolder, but it’s not really heading in that direction with the projects I’m doing so far,� said Kit.
willing to play any role.â€? In One Great Love, you play Ian, a martyr in love. How do you see yourself in that character? “Ian gives his all when he’s in love. His motto in life is‌if you love a flower, you don’t pick it otherwise it will die with whatever you love about it. So you have to nurture it, palagi mo siyang didiligan at hindi mo siya pipitasin para mamulaklak ng marami pa. For Ian, love is more appreciation than possession.â€? Very poetic! Are you like that with Jennylyn (Mercado, his girlfriend), that she’s like a flower na dapat dinidiligan araw-araw? “Dapat, eh. You know, I think the notion of some people about love is wrong. When they like someone, they become possessive to the point na nasasakal na nila ’yung tao. I don’t think they understand the real meaning of love. I think I was like that when I was younger. But as you grow older, you learn things and your outlook in life changes. When you love somebody, you shouldn’t stop her from doing what she wants and loves to do.â€?
Is Jennylyn like that? “Hmmmm, I think so‌Ganoon din naman po!â€? Obviously, you (and Jennylyn) believe in “second time around‌â€? (They broke up and reconciled before long.) “Yes, we are closer now than ever before.â€? (Their families were together for the Christmas dinner, with Jennylyn seated beside Dennis’ mom.) Would you say that Jennylyn is your one great love? “Hmmmm, I would say that, yes, she is. We are in a good relationship so‌sana naman po!â€? Jennylyn has a love son (Alex Jazz, by ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia) and so have you (Calix, with ex-girlfriend Carlene Aguilar). How are you as a dad to the kids? “I try to be a hands-on dad to them, even if I am always busy. I make it a point to spend my free time with them.â€? So what do you look forward to this year and beyond? “I want to do a project that will make me known internationally, maybe a series for Netflix. That’s one of my main targets this year.â€?
Dennis Trillo
R. cRuz
Inquirer.net
Can Dennis thrill you? THE answer to today’s interrogative title is a resounding yes. Actually, that same rephrased question was already answered in the affirmative in a story about Dennis Trillo several years ago when the maturing process of Dennis the Actor started right on his first film, Regal Films’ “Aishite Imasu 1941� for which he bagged a Best Supporting Actor plum at the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). He was 22 then. Fourteen years later, Dennis would surprise himself by winning Best Actor at the 2018 MMFF for “One Great Love�, also by Regal Films directed by Eric Quizon (the 2004 film was megged by Joel Lamangan), which was named 3rd Best Picture. Downed by flu, Dennis was unable to attend the Gabi ng Parangal. It was his manager Popoy Caritativo who received the trophy for him and thanked those involved in the film on Dennis’ behalf. Dennis repeated the “thank you’s� in his Instagram, accompanied by his “awarded� photo from 14 years ago. “But even if he had high fever,� said Popoy, “Dennis had to get up to shoot for Cain at Abel (his GMA action-adventure series with Dingdong Dantes) on Dec. 28 and 29, and went right back to bed after that.� The show must go on! Conversations retrieved Dennis’ 2004 photo with his “Aishite Imasu� trophy from the archives. For a photo with his latest award, Popoy said that he had to send Dennis’ trophy to the Cain at Abel set and asked Dennis’ handler to do the “quickie� job. Good enough shot! Dennis had hardly recovered when Conversations talked to him on the phone (he was at his parents’ home while nursing a fever). He sounded somewhat hoarse, would excuse himself when he coughed, but was generally as engaging as he has always been. How many trophies have you harvested so far?
City and then to Los Angeles in California to WHILE he said he wasn’t study acting. “It looking forward to flaunting his was more of a body on the big screen, actor Kit personal thing. Thompson claimed he would do I love what I’m so if work required it. doing so I really Kit became controversial want to be the because of his role in the 2014 best that I can Cinemalaya entry “#Y,â€? where be,â€? he declared. his character Ping Ronquillo had Kit’s trip a steamy shower scene. In one to the United media gathering, Kit was asked States was after whether he would be okay to he got arrested doing frontal nudity, something at a music similar to what American acevent in Clark, tor Michael Fassbender did in Pampanga, “Shame.â€? for marijuana Kit replied: “I’m open to anyuse. The 21thing. If I like the script, I will do it. year-old actor Thankfully, there hasn’t been any claimed to have similar requirement in the projects learned from that I’ve done so far‌ When I do the experience, work, it’s not about me, but the but refused to Kit Thompson character.â€? elaborate. Kit was part of the 4th season “Feeling free, I guess,â€? he of the reality series “Pinoy Big explained. “You know, I was still Brother: Teen Edition.â€? After his young then. It’s all part of growstint in the ABS-CBN program, he ing up, committing mistakes and bagged other projects like “Kahit learning from them.â€? Puso’y Masug atan,â€? “Must Be When he returned to Manila, Love,â€? “Galemaâ€? and “ForeverKit joined the cast of Cathy Garciamore.â€? Molina’s “The Hows of Us.â€? He Kit then went to New York is currently working on another by MaRineL
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 9, 2019
GMA photo
mga “kalabanâ€? mo. “To be honest, every time I make a movie, hindi ako umaasa. Once I finish it, that’s already an achievement. If I am recognized by critics and award-giving bodies, that’s already a bonus. I just give my best. Mahirap mag-expect, especially since our movie is very simple‌simple lang ang estorya. I was aware naman na mabibigat sila, like Jericho (Rosales in ‘The Girl in the Orange Dress’) and Eddie (Garcia in ‘Rainbow’s Sunset’).â€? Did you jump in your sick bed when you were announced the winner? “Hindi naman. I learned about it when somebody texted me congratulations.â€? Speaking of Aishite Imasu, you played a cross-dressing
comfort woman. Didn’t you have any second thoughts about playing a role that was a big no-no among young actors at that time? “For me, that was a challenge. Kung ayaw gawin ng iba, parang natsa-challenge lalo akong gawin. I consider it a plus factor if you dare or volunteer to do it.� You did a kissing scene with Jay Manalo (as a Japanese soldier), just as you did with Tom Rodriguez in the GMA soap My Husband’s Lover. No qualms (hesitance) doing those kinds of scenes? “None at all as long as hindi naman malaswa ang pagkagawa and it’s really needed and essential to the story.� Good thing you are not homophobic. “Of course, I am not homophobic. If I am, hindi ko magagawa ang mga ‘yon. Besides, I don’t want to limit myself. Sabi nga nila, for art’s sake. Hehehe!!!� You have played varied roles (including a macho dancer in a GMA show). Is there a role that you wouldn’t do? “As I’ve said, I don’t want to limit myself. As an actor, I’m
Photo from Instagram/@kitthompson
Usher in the Year of the Pig at the 2019 Asian American Expo Asian American Expo returns to the Pomona Fairplex for the 2019 event calendar! Universally recognized as the largest Lunar New Year celebration in America, Asian American Expo 2019 is celebrating its 38th anniversary on Saturday, January 19th and Sunday, January 20th with a diverse lineup of new and returning exhibitors, sponsors, and activities. Since 1982, the Asian American Expo was organized as a local community gathering with a purpose of sharing cultural heritage and to promote understanding amongst people of different cultural backgrounds through a celebration of the Lunar New Year. Chinese, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai – all these Asian cultures are linked by their shared celebration of a new lunar calendar. This year’s event is guaranteed to be even bigger and more expansive than last year’s showing, featuring over 1000 vendors in seven large exhibition halls, 3 unique food pavilions, and eight nonstop performing stages. Asian American Expo offers spectacular live traditional non-stop performances on eight stages throughout the show on both days. There are more than 48 different groups of entertainers and performers scheduled. Guests can experience Chinese Acrobatics, Japanese Taiko, Thai, Korean traditional dances, cheerleading, marching bands, drum craft, ballroom dancing, fashion runways and more. The Lion and Dragon dances are a must see for the Lunar New Year celebrations. Key activities to add to the expo bucket list are the annual Expo Eating Competition, Toyota Ride 'ULYH /XFN\ 5DIÀ H 'UDZLQJ DQG WKH 3KRWR &RQ test. For more information on 2019 Asian American Expo, please visit http://AAexpo.com. (Advertising Supplement)
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 9, 2019
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 9, 2019