NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R
Volume 18 - No. 3 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
J A N U A RY 1 8 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 9
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DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Utility company PG&E to file for bankruptcy Does not expect customers to experience impact in services
CITING potential liabilities from California’s recent wildfires that took place in the last two years, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) said on Monday, January 14, that it intends to file for bankruptcy, calling the move its “only viable option.� The announcement came just hours after news that its CEO, Geisha Williams, would step down. The utility company — which powers the residences of roughly 16 million Californians — was determined to have been responsible
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Filipina assumes post as Asian American Journalists Association’s new executive director
Pulse Asia: Duterte still most trusted, highest-rated exec by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJ Press
ACCORDING to the most recent Pulse Asia survey, President Rodrigo Duterte is still the highest rated and most trusted top government official in the last quarter of 2018. The poll released Friday, January 11 was conducted from December 14 to 21, 2018, and revealed Duterte posting an 81 percent approval rating, up by six percentage points from his 75 percent mark in September 2018.
In the last month of 2018, the president’s trust rating was at 76 percent which was four percentage points higher than his 72 percent-rating in the third quarter of the same year. Duterte’s performance is only disapproved by 7 percent of Filipinos while 6 percent have small or no trust in him. Duterte, who hails from Mindanao, received the highest approval score in his bailiwick in Mindanao at 96 percent. This is followed by Visayas (86 percent), Luzon (74 percent), and Manila (69 percent). He acquired majority approval ratings in Class
ABC (87 percent), Class E (86 percent), and Class D (78 percent) as well. In addition, Duterte got the highest trust rating in Mindanao, recorded at 91 percent, followed by Visayas (82 percent), Luzon (69 percent), and Manila (67 percent). Duterte’s trust scores in Classes ABC, D and E were also high at 79 percent, 74 percent, and 82 percent respectively. Pulse Asia also revealed that Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni� Robredo and Senate President Vi-
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Arroyo: Medical marijuana works by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJ Press
COMMUNITY leader Naomi Tacuyan Underwood is the new executive director of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). Underwood joins AAJA from the Washington, D.C.-based Faith & Politics Institute, where she served as director of programs. She has Community leader Naomi over a decade of exTacuyan Underwood perience in nonprofit Photo courtesy of the management and
SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday, January 15, said she believes in medical cannabis, and has used cannabis medical patches before. “I am an author of that [medical marijuana bill]. I really believe in medical cannabis. As you know, I have my problem here and when I’m in a country that allows it, I put a pain patch, but here in the Philippines I cannot do it,� she told reporters Tuesday, January 15, speaking of the chronic pain in her cervical spine. “So I authored that bill because I believe that it can help me and many other people, but there was a lot of objection to the bill from the House and from the Senate. That’s why we are just letting the legislative process take its course. Right now it’s on second reading,� she added. President Rodrigo Duterte, who joked about taking marijuana to keep him awake during international summits in December,
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Asian American Journalists Association
Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
MEETING AT THE PALACE. President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the venue of the Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) Command Conference inside the MalacaĂąang Palace on Tuesday, January 15. MalacaĂąang photo by Albert Alcain
US most trusted PH ally, says poll DFA: No need for birth certificate in passport renewal by HELEN
FLORES Philstar.com
THE United States has remained the country most trusted by Filipinos, and Russia and China the least, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey. The poll, taken from Dec. 14 to 21 last year, showed 84 percent of Filipinos saying the Philippines should extend “a great deal/fair amount of trustâ€? to the U.S. This was higher than the 79 percent recorded in March 2017. The U.S. was followed by Japan and Australia with trust ratings of 75 percent and 72 percent, respectively. Great Britain/United Kingdom obtained 57 percent. Reacting to the survey result, MalacaĂąang expressed optimism Filipinos’ attitude toward China would change if the latter shows
sincerity in its dealing with the Philippines. “It’s understandable for Filipinos to feel that way... Because we’ve been used to the (United) States being our ally, so we are more used to engaging with America. Perhaps as we go along and witness the sincerity of China with respect to agreements between the two countries, their views might change,� presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a press briefing Monday, January 14. Pressed why he thought a majority of poll respondents were distrustful of China despite President Duterte’s pro-Beijing statements, Panelo replied: “Not necessarily, it takes time for people to accept certain things that they are not used to.� Meanwhile, in the case of Rus-
Davao court denies hold departure plea against Trillanes by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJ Press
THE Davao Regional Court Branch 54 on Tuesday, January 15, denied the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a hold departure order against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for
his libel case filed by presidential son Paolo Duterte. The Davao court rejected the motion after the opposition senator attended the arraignment and pleaded not guilty on the case filed by the former Davao City vice mayor and his brother-in-
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sia and China, most Filipinos say the Philippines should extend only “a little trust or no trust at all� to these countries at 54 percent and 60 percent, respectively. Forty percent of Filipinos say the Philippines should not trust China too much. The survey was conducted after the two-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines, where both countries signed numerous deals, including a possible joint exploration in the disputed West Philippine Sea. Duterte had said he would like to strengthen ties with China and Russia, two global powers with shaky relations with the U.S. While Filipinos still trust the U.S. most, respondents from Mindanao — Duterte’s bailiwick — have a less trusting attitude to-
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by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
AMID the issue of a possible data breach in the passport system, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) retracted its earlier statement and now announced that it no longer requires a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate in passport renewal. DFA Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy� Locsin Jr. announced on Twitter that he was “signing order removing birth certificate requirement for passport renewals.� He said that the “old passport is more than sufficient� for the renewal process. The said order was lauded by recruitment consultant and migration expert Emmanuel Geslani as he noted that it would be a “welcome relief� for the Over-
seas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are employed in places far from the consular offices. “The department order signed by Sec. Locsin is a welcome relief for millions of migrant workers deployed to 180 countries all over the world who are working in numerous job sites where the nearest consular office may be
hundreds or thousands of miles away,� Geslani said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Locsin: Data not “runawayable� After stirring an uproar on social media over the “stolen data� pronouncement, Locsin clarified that the contractor APO Pro-
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JANUARY 18-24, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Pulse Asia: Duterte still most trusted...
PAGE A1 cente Sotto III obtained majority approval and trust scores, with Robredo post ing a 62 percent approval rating and 56 percent trust rating, and Sotto enjoying 74 percent approval and 66 percent trust scores. “Senate President Sotto enjoys an increase in his trust score in the rest of Luzon but Vice-President Robredo’s own rating declines in the Visayas,” Pulse Asia said. On the other hand, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo got a lowperformance approval score of 27 percent, while her trust rating climbed two percentage points to 21 percent. “The only majority figure obtained by the Speaker is her 52 percent distrust rating in Metro Manila,” Pulse Asia said. “The rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Class D are critical of and distrust Speaker Macapagal-Arroyo,” it added. 2019 HEALTH BUDGET. Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, seeks clarification from Health Sec. Francisco Duque during the resumption of the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2019 budget of the Department of The House of Representatives, Health. Senate photo by Albert Calvelo however, received high-performance approval and trust ratings at 66 percent and 64 percent, respectively. The Senate, meanwhile, scored to communities affected by wild- they were not “naive” to the mat- a 69 percent performance approvPAGE A1 for 17 wildfires that burned across fires in Northern California, and ter. our restoration and rebuilding Northern California in 2017. “I’m cognizant of the taxpayIt is also believed to have been efforts will continue.” ers, and I’m cognizant of the It further said that it was com- ratepayers, and I’m absolutely the source of the recent Camp Fire in Northern California when mitted to “continuing to make cognizant of those who lost ev- PAGE A1 community engagement where one of its power lines made con- investments in system safety as it erything,” said Newsom. tact with trees, though that has works with regulators, policymakHe added that he and his staff she has long focused on empowers and other key stakeholders to had been in constant contact ering Asian American and Pacific yet to be determined. The fire resulted in 14,000 consider a range of alternatives with the stakeholders and regu- Islander communities. “I am excited to join the AAJA homes and over 4,000 other to provide for the safe delivery of lators throughout the week and family, and to build upon the debuildings destroyed, and 86 natural gas and electric service weekend. for the long-term in an environdeaths. “Throughout the months cades of work that the leadership Filings with the Securities and ment that continues to be chal- ahead, I will be working with the have committed to increasing diExchange Commission show that lenged by climate change.” Legislature and all stakehold- versity and innovation in journalCalifornia officials respond PG&E may face at least $30 bilers on a solution that ensures ism,” said Underwood, a Filipina For California politicians and consumers have access to safe, immigrant who grew up in Guam lion in liability for wildfires in 2017 and 2018, in addition to regulators, PG&E’s announce- affordable and reliable service, and currently resides in Annanfines, penalties, and other costs ment signals challenges in decid- fire victims are treated fairly, and dale, Virginia. “Naomi’s unique experience from potential liabilities, litiga- ing on what next steps to take. California can continue to make Having just entered office last progress toward our climate at the intersection of nonprofit, tions, and government investigacivic engagement and politics week, California Governor Gavin goals,” said Newsom. tions. The utility company did say in Newsom told reporters on MonLast year, the state officials will help take AAJA to greater its announcement that it did not day that he and his team were allowed PG&E a bailout by im- heights,” said Michelle Ye Hee expect customers to experience looking at what options it had posing victim lawsuits costs Lee, the president of AAJA. “Her any impact on their electricity or in helping the situation, but that and other fire-related losses to ideas and passion for expanding nothing had yet been decided. natural gas services. ratepayers, but it’s unclear if the AAJA’s reach and impact in jour“Everyone’s immediate focus same will happen this year. Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows PG&E to stay in busi- is, rightfully, on ensuring CaliforCiting the 2010 San Bruno ness while it works on sorting out nians have continuous, reliable gas pipeline caused by PG&E, and safe electric and gas ser- California Senator Jerry Hill told PAGE A1 its debts. But as wildfire survivors re- vice,” said Newsom. Reuters, “I think there’s less law Manases “Mans” Carpio. Acknowledging the possibil- change, less thought of a bailout main among the most vulner“Nag-plea ako ng not guilty able to the bankruptcy’s impacts, ity of the bankruptcy filing going this year than we saw last year, sa apat. Mga harassment cases PG&E added that it was “com- through, he added that as much certainly.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJ- lang ito talaga just to inconvemitted to providing assistance as they’d like to see it avoided, Press) n nience me, para ma-distract ako (I plead not guilty on all four counts. These are all just harassment cases to inconvenience me, to distract me),” Trillanes said as //", 9Ê /Ê 7 reported by CNN Philippines. Duterte and Carpio filed the libel charges against Trillanes after he accused them during a 2017 interview in Cebu City of extorting money from the ridehailing firm Uber. “All the incredible lies Mr. Trillanes has invented to destroy me and my family are finally catching up with him. We all know that Trillanes is a pathological liar and today marks the beginning of our search for the truth and justice,” the former vice mayor said as reported by The Philippine Star. Despite the junked hold departure plea, the court ordered Trillanes to stay in the Philip-
Utility company PG&E to file...
Former New People’s Army rebels who surrendered to the government listen intently to the message of President Rodrigo Duterte during their formal surrender to the President held at the Cataingan National High School in Cataingan, Masbate. Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante
al and a 65 percent trust rating despite its failure to pass the 2019 budget before it adjourned for the Christmas holidays. The Supreme Court received a 64 percent approval rating, and a 62 percent trust score. 1,800 adult Filipinos were inter-
viewed by Pulse Asia using an error margin ±2.3 percentage points at the 95 percent level. Subnational estimates for each of Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have ±6.5 percentage points error margin at 95 percent confidence level. n
Filipina assumes post as Asian American... nalism and civic engagement will be crucial as our organization continues to grow and innovate in the coming years.” Underwood has worked extensively in community outreach, including a stint as deputy director for APIAVote, a national nonpartisan organization that builds voter engagement capacity in local AAPI communities. She has also served as legislative staff for Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam), focusing on territorial, environmental and AAPI issues, among other issues. “I have deep respect for the role of journalism in our democracy, and this role must be fortified with the diversity of perspectives that journalists of color bring. I
look forward to supporting and uplifting AAJA’s members, and working closely with leadership to increase AAJA’s visibility and impact in this next chapter of the organization’s growth,” Underwood said. She graduated from New York University with degrees in journalism and Asian Pacific American studies, and received a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles. Underwood started her new position on Jan. 9, and succeeds Kathy Chow, who departed the organization after eight successful years to become the executive director of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. (AJPress) n
Davao court denies hold departure...
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/Ê 7
pines from January 27 to February 10. The senator was also asked to present his itinerary and trip details. Although Trillanes was declared persona non grata for describing the city as “the most dangerous city in the Philippines,” the senator still arrived at 5:40 am in the city, boarding a Philippine Airlines flight, to personally post a P24,000 bail for each count of libel. The senator said that he was “surprised” that the people in the hometown of the presidential family welcomed him warmly. However, he noted that declaring him as persona non grata was nothing more than a political move. “It was a political move of the Davao City council, the persona non grata (declaration), but I am glad of the warm welcome I received here in this city. The world turns. Time will come when challenges confront them. They should be ready also,” Trillanes said.
However, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo believed that the senator’s retort only proved to be false confidence. He claimed that such statements coming from Trillanes are a facade to hide the fact that the senator is afraid to serve jail time. But Malacañang claimed Trillanes was afraid to return to jail and was only making it appear that he was ready to face the charges against him. “Trillanes said I’m here to face the challenge, meaning he could have chosen not to go there. He was making it appear that he was there to accept the challenge. My response to him is: you have no choice. If you did not go (to Davao City), you would be arrested immediately,” Panelo said. “The problem with this guy is, he pompously claims to be unafraid of the criminal charges against him and yet his body language, his rantings against the president show the opposite. He is in mortal fear of going back to jail,” he added. n
pines should give China either “a great deal/a fair amount of trust” (49 percent to 50 percent) or “a little/no trust at all” (50 percent). China and Russia in Pulse Asia’s March 2017 poll also got the highest distrust rating at 63 and 56 percent, respectively. As for regional organizations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation got majority trust ratings at 82 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Pulse Asia asked its 1,800 adult respondents nationwide the question: “Generally speaking, how much trust should the Philippines extend to (country/organization)?” (With reports from Alexis Romero/Philstar.com) n
US most trusted PH ally, says...
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PAGE A1 ward the country. It was in Mindanao that the U.S. got its lowest rating at 74 percent. Russia, on the other hand, obtained its highest score in Mindanao at 54 percent. Nearly or exactly the same percentages of Metro Manilans and Mindanawons say the Philip-
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Dateline USa
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 18-24 , 2019
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Netizens slam ‘disturbing’ photos on PH subsite on Reddit by aRic JohN
sy cua ManilaTimes.net
A PHILIPPINE subsite on Reddit, a U.S.-based media aggregator and discussion site, has caught the attention of its users for “disturbing” posts of photos of women, including celebrities, apparently without their consent. An unnamed user sent a message to The Manila Times on Monday, January 14, about “r/Jakolandia” and sent a screenshot of a Google Drive containing the photos. The forum has 2,600 subscribers and was compared to the “Bible Study ni Pastor Hokage,” APPEAL FOR HELP. Cristal Allera (holding mobile phone), wife of 2nd Officer Claro Allera, shows the photo of her husband who is among the 20 sailors detained in Libya, during a press conference in Malate, Manila on Tuesday, January 15. Allera and six other Filipino sailors were aboard the MT Levante, which was seized by the Libyan Coast Guard on suspicion of oil smuggling in August 2017. PNA photo by Joey Razon
US Navy commander fired for sex solicitation in PH by Nathalie
Robles
AJPress
A COMMANDER has been sacked from his position on a U.S. Navy submarine after he admitted that he hired female prostitutes while he was in the Philippines on March 2018. In a report from Kitsap Sun on Friday, January 11, United States Ship (USS) Bremerton commander Captain Travis Zettel was removed from his post in August 2018 due to “a loss of confidence in his ability to command the Los Angelesclass fast attack submarine, which is now tied up in Bremerton for decommissioning.” According to reports, a certain source informed the Department of Defense Inspector General’s hotline about the incident in Subic Bay, Zambales while the submarine was docked. The call was then transferred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) for further inquiries. The unnamed caller reportedly explained that Zettel came up to him and another sailor while they were at the pool. The commander said that he “requested/ordered” 10 girls “to arrive at the hotel.” Around dinner, the sailor saw “provocatively dressed females outside (Zettel’s) front door.” Another sailor was also seen “walking around and talking to other sailors in his command with three local females holding onto his arm.” The crew was in Subic
Bay, Zambales for a port call on March 1, 2018. In May 2018, a month after USS Bremerton arrived for decommissioning and two months after the incident, the NCIS conducted an investigation wherein Zettel “admitted culpability in the payment of female accompaniment.” The naval investigation team reprimanded the commander as they decided to relieve him from his post. They administratively reassigned him to the staff of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor-based Submarine Squadron 19. The other sailor who was seen with three local female companions denied his participation in prostitution and he was not “pursued for disciplinary action,” according to the Washington-based daily with documents provided from the Freedom of Information Act request. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. lauded the United States for its verdict of axing the submarine commander noting that it is a “responsible state” for issuing such a decision. “He was fired by the U.S. government. Now that’s a responsible state,” Locsin said in a post on Twitter. The former USS Bremerton submarine commander is a native of Puyallup, Washington. He was commissioned in 1998 and first served on board the USS Salt Lake City before carrying
Arroyo: Medical marijuana... PAGE A1 said he was in favor allowing the use of marijuana not for recreation, but for medicinal purposes — a sentiment supported by 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, for his part, said allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes is already covered by Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 so there is no need for a new law. However, the law only allows the use of cannabinoid, the active ingredient in marijuana, for pain reduction. Drugs with cannabinoid, on the other hand, remain unavailable commercially in the Philippines, and can be used only upon the request of health facilities with a physician’s endorsement. Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, principal author of the medical marijuana bill, expressed joy over the statements of Arroyo and the President, saying the country’s leaders “have an open mind on the advances of science and research” unlike some medical practitioners. “Patients with debilitating ailments really need medical cannabis, either for treatment or relief,” he said. According to him, his proposal would give hope to persons “with debilitating disease, severe pain, intense seizures and persistent muscle spasms” and that most of these patients “are desperate for alternative treatment and have gotten tired of using only pharmaceutical drugs.” “I feel for all the parents who have spent huge sums of money and are continuing to spend more. You see light at the end of the long, dark tunnel of your children’s suffering and pain,” he said. He also mentioned that children with frequent medical seizures who were given medical marijuana felt a great improvement in their condition based on research findings. His bill, as Albino pointed out, seeks to allow the use of medical marijuana under strict regulations to be issued by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration. He urged the critics of his proposal to “shed your fear of the unknown and open your minds to the potential benefits of medical marijuana.” ‘All about money’ — Atienza Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, meanwhile, accused some of his colleagues of pushing the bill to enrich themselves and not to help people. “Several lawmakers want to legalize medical marijuana because they themselves are eager to go
into the business of cultivating the illegal drug and running dispensaries,” he said. “Politicians are raring to go into marijuana trade. There are politicians who want to profit from legalized medical marijuana. This is clearly all about money – lots of money,” Atienza added. Despite Atienza not naming anyone specifically, Albano felt alluded to. “Atienza’s remark is very unparliamentarian,” he said. “He (Atienza) sees ghosts where there are none. He should name names. There is nothing wrong with the medical marijuana bill. Don’t impute ill-motives on the authors. Our only intention is to provide relief to terminally ill patients who are in severe pain,” he added. Medical cannabis, according to Albano, “has been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses to treat chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions.” Earlier, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte would sign into law any bill legalizing medical marijuana, but Atienza said “no such bill would arrive at the Palace for the president to sign.” “The bill legalizing medical marijuana is already dead as far as this Congress is concerned,” he said. He added that the House minority prevented further floor deliberation on the measure. Atienza warned that legalizing marijuana will lead to abuse and addiction and create an unwanted public health emergency in the country. He insists that the susceptibility to abuse far outweighs any and all of the unproven benefits of allowing prescription marijuana. “Marijuana is a poison. No amount of sugar-coating will make the illegal drug less toxic,” he said. The legalization of medical marijuana has also been rejected by the Philippine Medical Association, the professional organization of Filipino physicians. “It is contrary to the policy of the state to safeguard the wellbeing of its citizenry,” it said. Along with methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, cocaine and heroin, marijuana is tagged as a prohibited substance under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Carrying at least 500 grams of marijuana, or at least 10 grams of marijuana concentrate (resin or resin oil), is punishable by life imprisonment plus a fine of up to P10 million under the law. Meanwhile, being in possession of lesser quantities of the drug is punishable by 12 to 20 years in prison plus a fine of up to P500,000. n
which also got similar attention last year. “Is this really okay? As per one of the Redditors that I’ve talked to, parang eto rin nga yung (this is similar to) Hokage groups sa (on) Facebook,” user SleepyCakey posted. “Okay lang sana kung pornstars talaga yung pinagpipiestahan dun pero hindi, (if those who are feasted on are pornstars, but no, they are) innocent girls, kahit (even those who are) fully clothed pa, napapagusapan rin dun (are talked about).” I even saw the infamous Google Drive of the ex-GF’s shared doon (there). Can we do something about this?
Or do we just turn a blind eye kasi (because) ‘boys will always be boys’?” The Reddit user said the subsite was reported to the administrators. Another user named stranglingisfun thought that it was only pictures of celebrities until posters of classmates, colleagues, and neighbors started appearing, accompanied by crude comments. “Yung mga nag co-comment (Those who comment) at nag popost (and post) dun madalas mo din makikita dito sa (you would see it a lot here on) r/ph [RedPAGE A4
DFA: No need for birth certificate...
PAGE A1 duction Unit, Inc. said that the “data is not run-away-able but made inaccessible.” However, he claimed that the data left are “not of much use” and are “corrupted.” “APO assured me they were able to access but not much use and parts corrupted. APO agrees with me that old passports are the best evidence of identity and join me in despising those who don’t agree with me,” Locsin said as reported by The Philippine Star. “The Department of Foreign Affairs is taking the word of APO Production Unit Inc. that there is no breach in passport data Capt. Travis Zettel, then-commander of the and as sufficient justification in fast-attack submarine USS Bremerton, salutes removing the birth certificate sideboys at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, requirement in the renewal of Hawaii on Aug. 5, 2016. passports,” he added. Photo by Michael Lee/U.S. Navy However, Locsin said that his out various assignments aboard office cannot fully ensure the public that the data has not been other submarines. n
compromised or tampered with. He said that only a fact-finding investigation from the Senate would clarify if there was a breach in the system. “Only a Senate investigation will assure the public that there was no breach or loss of data. Until then, the Department can give no assurances on the safety and security of some data,” the foreign affairs department said as reported by CNN Philippines. DICT to DFA: “Be aware of cybersecurity responsibilities” In line with the passport system controversy, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Assistant Secretary Allan Cabanlong urged DFA to secure their data since they belong to the country’s Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs). “If your organization is identified as one of the Philippines’
12 CIIs make sure you are fully aware of your cybersecurity responsibilities. This is to ensure that the welfare of the consumers, as well as the privacy and security of the data collected and used for their specific purpose, adhere to the policies and practices of DICT,” Cabanlong said. As per Republic Act 10844, the foreign affairs department, along with the 11 other CIIs, must be in compliance with DICT’s National CyberSecurity Plan 2022 and Memorandum Circular 005, s2017. “In the same fashion, all government agencies are encouraged to abide by the recommendations outlined in the DICT MC 006, s2017. These are guidelines that outline how each agency can better identify threats to their data assets and reduce their risk of exposure significantly,” Cabanlong added. n
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JANUARY 18-24, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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Newsom diverges sharply from Washington with health care budget by Samantha
Young
and ana B. IBarra Kaiser Health News
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday, January 10 unveiled his first state budget, one that leads California down a very different health care path than the one Washington has forged. The progressive blueprint embraces a state health insurance mandate, beefed-up insurance subsidies, coverage for undocumented immigrants and six months of paid parental leave — CLEAN ELECTIONS. Candidates and police officials lead the ceremonial releasing of white doves, which symbolizes “divine intervention�, not unexpected from a Democrat during the “Unity Walk, Covenant Signing� at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on Sunday, January 13. Some 4,000 people joined who campaigned on expanding the unity walk as part of efforts in calling for clean and peaceful elections this year. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez health care and criticized President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans for eroding the Affordable Care Act. The new governor declared his $209 billion state budget proposCITY of San Francisco Mayor sible for vetting a pool of contrac- which streamlines the building al, of which health care accounts London N. Breed on Tuesday, tors who can provide construction and planning code approval pro- for nearly 30 percent, “a reflection January 15, introduced legislation support and homelessness ser- cess for homeless shelters by to declare a shelter crisis in San vices and would then choose from implementing expedited approval Francisco, which would allow the this pool for future projects, rather procedures that would reduce the city to take more immediate ac- than having to go through the usu- process by a matter of months. tion to address the homelessness al three to six month contracting This ordinance would require approcess for each project individu- proval from the California Departcrisis. The two ordinances introduced ally. To ensure accountability, the ment of Housing and Community by Mayor Breed together would ordinance requires HSH and DPW Development before going into OAKLAND, Calif. — According significantly expand a more limit- to submit detailed annual reports effect. “With thousands of homeless to California’s Housing and Comed shelter crisis ordinance already on all contracts awarded under youth and adults sleeping on our munity Development Department in effect and streamline adminis- this expedited procedure. Additionally, this ordinance streets every night the City must (HCD), the golden state must trative, contracting, building, and planning code red tape that delays would remove planning code bar- take action to ensure that we are dramatically increase the prothe construction of new shelters riers to opening shelters in certain able to shorten the time it takes ductive capacity of its residential and the delivery of services to zoning districts that currently have to open new shelters and expand construction sector in order to limitations or restrictions. HSH services for people experiencing create enough new housing to those in need. “We cannot just say there is a would be required to undergo a homelessness,� said Sherilyn Ad- improve affordability. However, homelessness crisis and continue robust community process prior ams Executive Director for Larkin new research entitled “Rebuilding California: the Golden State’s moving at our normal pace,� said to the opening of any site-based Street Youth Services. Mayor Breed has announced Housing Workforce Reckoning� Mayor Breed. “We need immedi- service like a shelter. The Board ate action to address this public of Supervisor would have over- an ambitious plan to open 1,000 released Monday, January 14, by emergency, and we need to move sight of all contracts rewarded un- new shelter beds by 2020, 212 Smart Cities Prevail shows the infaster to add more beds and get der this expedited procedures and of which have been opened so dustry has failed to make the inour unsheltered residents the ser- would be able to veto proposed far. Additionally, she has pro- vestments necessary to compete vices they need to help them exit shelter locations by majority vote. posed spending the $181 million for the more than 200,000 new “We are facing a crisis in our in discretionary funding from the workers necessary to meet this homelessness. I am committed to opening 1,000 new shelter beds community. These ordinances re- recently announced windfall on ambitious goal. “The data shows residential by 2020 to clear our nightly wait- form City processes and expedite affordable housing and homelist for shelter and bureaucracy our ability to respond to the crisis lessness programs, including the construction work is more dangerand red tape should not delay our before us,� said Shari Wooldridge expansion of 300 new spaces in ous, economically risky, and lower efforts to bring help to the people Executive Director of the Society homeless shelters and Navigation paying than most other jobs in our economy,� said study author Scott who are suffering on our streets.� of St. Vincent de Paul-San Fran- Centers. The shelter crisis would remain Littlehale. “When you consider The first ordinance would allow cisco. “These ordinances will althe City to streamline the contract- low the City to open shelters more in place for five years, or until these dynamics alongside the ining and permitting process for the quickly, expand homeless ser- there is a 30% reduction in home- dustry’s aging workforce, its failconstruction of new homeless vices and make a positive impact lessness as measured by the Point ure to institutionalize investments shelters as well as the contract- in the lives of people experienc- in Time Count, the City’s biennial in apprenticeship training, and a ing process for homelessness ser- ing homelessness in our commu- survey of homeless individuals. shrinking supply of young workThe legislation is co-sponsored ers and immigrants, it is clear why vices. The Departments of Home- nity.� The second ordinance would by Supervisors Vallie Brown, Sha- the housing sector is struggling to lessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) and San Francisco Public opt-in the City to AB932, authored mann Walton, Rafael Mandelman, attract the new workers it needs.� While construction jobs require Works (DPW) would be respon- by Assemblymember Phil Ting, and Matt Haney. n longer commutes, more flexibility in work hours, and far higher risk of workplace injury and death than other jobs, Littlehale found residential construction workers earn 24 percent less per year than all other jobs on average, and less than half have health insurance coverage through their employer. Wage theft in the industry has grown by 400 percent since 1972. When adjusted for cost of living, California’s median construction wage ranks 46th in the United States. Compounding the problem, Littlehale found, is that the labor pool on which residential construction firms have relied since the 1980s is shrinking. California’s stock of young male workers without a college degree has fallen since 2005, and its supply of non-naturalized immigrants has decreased
Mayor Breed introduces legislation to declare shelter crisis in San Francisco
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget embraces a state health insurance mandate, beefed-up insurance subsidies, coverage for undocumented immigrants and six months of paid parental leave. Photo by Ana B. Ibarra/Kaiser Health News
of our values.� Newsom’s 2019-20 budget plan is just the starting point. He must negotiate with the legislature on a final budget by June 15 — so some of these proposals are certain to change or be eliminated. “These are first-in-the-nation, new steps to provide new help for people to afford access and coverage,� said Anthony Wright, execu-
tive director of Health Access California. “That’s a good thing.� Lee Ohanian, a senior fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution and an economics professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, countered that California would need to cut costs if it wants pay for Newsom’s initiatives. “Newsom has a long list of very PAGE A7
Study: Housing workforce shortage is barrier to affordability California needs at least 200k new residential construction workers by almost 350,000 between 2005 and 2016. “Because of its decades-long reliance on a lower-wage, lower skilled workforce, California’s housing construction industry finds itself ill-equipped to compete in today’s labor market,� Littlehale added. “Considering the inherent physical dangers and economic volatility, the work simply does not pay enough to lure workers away from other states or other industries.� While construction requires substantially more pre-employment training than most other jobs, Littlehale notes the residential construction industry has largely avoided institutionalized investments in apprenticeship. The few programs that are offered are managed only by employers and funded on a “voluntary� basis—and produce 90 percent fewer workers than “joint labormanagement� programs financed through collective bargaining agreements and prevailing wage laws. “Housing contractors have no real incentive to invest in training programs that would attach a more stable supply of skilled labor to the industry unless their competitors are doing it too,� Littlehale said. “As a result, the industry lacks a training pipeline capable of attaching an adequate supply of skilled workers to residential construction careers.� The housing industry last produced new housing on the scale called for by HCD in the 1970s and 1980s. This was also a period when more residential construction workers were covered by collective bargaining agreements mandating competitive wage levels, fringe benefits, and apprenticeship training standards. But data shows that since then, productivity per unit of labor in construction has been declining, even as it has grown by more than 30 percent on average in other economic sectors. “As the industry moved away
from arrangements that were able to attract, retain and re-supply the industry’s stock of skilled labor, it has generally relied on a large number of low wage workers to meet increased production demands,� Littlehale observed. “That option no longer exists, so housing contractors need a strategy to attract and retain more skilled workers.� Though the housing sector has focused on regulatory reforms to accelerate approvals of new construction, Littlehale believes such changes are unlikely to affect the industry’s overall productivity without addressing the shrinking labor pool and lagging productivity. “Ultimately, housing builders’ reservoir of low-wage, less-skilled labor is not refilling itself,� Littlehale concluded. “The industry should consider labor-management cooperation measures like prevailing wage and collective bargaining agreements because they are consistently associated with higher wages, increased apprenticeship enrollment, more production efficiency, and fewer workplace safety problems. By improving labor market competitiveness, wider utilization of these workforce development arrangements would help restore California residential building to the production engine it once was.� Scott Littlehale has authored numerous studies on the U.S. political economy, labor related public policy and the construction industry since 1993. He served on the technical committee of CASA — The Committee to House the Bay Area — between 2017 and 2018. Smart Cities Prevail is a leading national non-profit research and education organization focused on the construction industry. Learn more at www.smartcitiesprevail. org. In 2017, several Facebook pages and groups exposed photos of young women with alleged members of a Bible study group, four of who were arrested. n
“Images or video of intimate parts of a person’s body, even if the person is clothed or in public, are also not allowed if apparently created or posted without their permission and contextualized in a salacious manner,� its policy read. “This includes child sexual abuse imagery, child pornography, and any other content, including fantasy content (e.g. stories, anime), that encourages
or promotes pedophilia, child exploitation, or otherwise sexualizes minors. Depending on the context, this can in some cases include depictions of minors that are fully clothed and not engaged in overtly sexual acts.� In 2017, several Facebook pages and groups exposed photos of young women with alleged members of a Bible study group, four of who were arrested. n
Netizens slam ‘disturbing’ photos on PH...
Dear San Jose City Council: Coyote Valley -- the wetlands, open space, and farmland just south of urban San Jose -- has been threatened by industrial sprawl for too long. It is wildlife habitat that is home to over a dozen rare and endangered species. We view Coyote Valley as an essential part of our community. From cleaning the air we breathe to protecting RXU KRPHV IURP Ă€RRGLQJ WKLV ODQG LV LUUHSODFHDEOH As you consider public purchase of land with proceeds generated from Measure T bond funding, many of us will be conducting a “Rally for Coyote Valleyâ€? on Jan. 22 between 12:00 and 1:30 pm outside City Hall to demonstrate our support for the protection of this regional treasure. For more information on how to show support, go to protectcoyotevalley.org/valley
PAGE A3 dit Philippines],� the user wrote. “That sub is a cesspool of sexually frustrated disgusting men who share and jacks off to the photos of unaware people they personally know or even photos of underage teens/kids.� A check at Reddit’s content policies state that it was against “pornography and sexual content against minors.�
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 18-24 , 2019
DATELINE PHILIPPINES
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Duterte to respect people’s will No shortage in HIV meds, DOH claims on Bangsamoro law — Palace by SHEILA
CRISOSTOMO Philstar.com
by AJPRESS MALACAÑANG on Monday, January 14, said President Rodrigo Duterte would respect the “people’s call” on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). This is a week before a plebiscite in parts of Mindanao on whether or not to ratify the measure. “What is important and certain is that the president will abide by whatever the will of the sovereign people in that part of this country is,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a Palace briefing. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also said Duterte, in support of BOL, would join a rally in Cotabato on January 18. However, Panelo has not con-
firmed whether or not the president would attend that event. “Ultimately, it will be the people’s call whether they want it or not,” he said. “Well, certainly, the voice of the president is always a powerful influence on whatever matter he gives his voice into,” he added. When asked if the president would campaign for the ratification of BOL, Panelo answered: “If he feels that there is a need [then] he will campaign for that. If he feels that it will win, whether even without his calling for voters to support it, he will not.” “The president [is the] best judge of what will be the outcome of this plebiscite. He will make a move if he thinks he should. He won’t sit and just watch if he feels
kailangan (if he feels needed),” he added. BOL seeks to replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which would have greater fiscal autonomy, a regional government, parliament, and justice system. The proposed region would be composed of the current ARMM which are Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur. BOL also seeks to include 6 municipalities of Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays of North Cotabato in the Bangsamoro, provided that the province and their municipalities, respectively, vote for it. The plebiscite to ratify the bill will be held on January 21. ■
DENR urged to stop influx of plastic waste imports by GAEA
KATREENA CABICO
Philstar.com
MANILA — An environmental watch group on Tuesday, January 15, called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ban plastic waste importation as a means to prevent dumping and pollution in the country. EcoWaste Coalition made the statement days after the 51 garbage-filled containers languishing at a Mindanao port were shipped back to South Korea— six months after the arrival of the shipments in the country. Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator, stressed that the DENR should follow China’s move to ban plastic waste importation “to safe-
In a statement, the DOH said it takes the issue of HIV infection in the country “seriously” and that it has “taken great steps to ensure that HIV testing is available and accessible to those who are at risk.” Philstar.com photo by Andy G. Zapata Jr.
corded in November 2018, a to- ART patients out of the 61,152 tal of 685 were given ART. This cases recorded since January brings to 32,909 the number of 1984. ■
Survey: Self-rated poverty in PH drops by 2 percent by AJPRESS
EcoWaste Coalition lauds the departure from the Philippines of the 51-trash filled containers from South Korea. Philstar.com file photo
guard human health and the en- Roy Cimatu to impose tough vironment.” measures that will prevent dis“We request DENR Secretary PAGE A7
Andanar seeks ‘fair’ travel advisories
PRESIDENTIAL Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said he would ask tourism leaders to issue travel advisories that are “more specific” to areas in the Philippines affected by security issues so as not to affect other travel destinations. Andanar, in a news conference in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, said he would direct his agency’s
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) has denied the reported shortage of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) for HIV, saying in November 2018 alone, a total of 685 individuals availed themselves of the free medicine. In a statement, the DOH said it takes the issue of HIV infection in the country “seriously” and that it has “taken great steps to ensure that HIV testing is available and accessible to those who are at risk.” The DOH said it also made sure that treatment is available for those who are diagnosed with HIV. The health department made the statement in reaction to a Twitter post about the shortage of ART, particularly Nevirapine, in a treatment hub. ART is a concoction of drugs that suppresses HIV and keeps it from progressing into AIDS and prevents onward transmission of the disease. Based on DOH data, out of the 945 new cases of HIV/AIDS re-
Office for Global Media Affairs to push for fair travel advisories. “I will stress on the importance of [travel advisories] specific in the provinces or the cities that are affected by terrorism,” Andanar said. He cited the role of the Office for Global Media Affairs in cultivating better tourism relations between the Philippines and other countries.
“The good relations between PCOO and different information ministries in Asean, Japan, China, Australia, US, brings our department closer to them,” he added. Andanar is set to fly to Bangkok, Thailand this week to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the ministry of information there on journalism education exchange. PAGE A7
THE latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that the number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor significantly dropped from the previous quarter’s 52 percent to the latest 50 percent. “The proportion of self-rated poor families was at 42 percent in March 2018. It rose by six points to 48 percent in June, and by four points to 52 percent in September. It subsided by two points to 50 percent in December,” the polling firm said as reported by The Manila Times. It added, “Nevertheless, the resulting average self-rated poverty rate of 48 percent for 2018 is two points above the average 46 percent in 2017 and four points above record-low average of 44 percent in 2016. This is the second consecutive increase in the annual self-rated poverty rate since 2016.” Following the survey results, the Palace welcomed the rating drop. Presidential Spokesperson
Salvador Panelo attributed the progress to President Rodrigo Duterte’s programs and policies to curb the negative effects of inflation among the Filipino people. “The Palace welcomes the December 2018 survey on self-rated poverty conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicating that 50 (percent) of Filipino families consider themselves as “mahirap”, a drop from September 2018’s 52 (percent),” Panelo said in a press briefing. He noted the president’s “tireless efforts” to address the inflation issues surrounding basic goods and commodities. However, in a report from The Philippine Star, the chief executive’s legal counsel also pointed out that even with such “positive development,” the 50 percent self-rated “poverty among Filipinos is still high.” “Our economic managers are vigorously pursuing policies and programs geared towards reducing the poverty level and propelling the country’s economic development to a degree satisfactory to the administration’s goal of not only giving our country-
men comfortable lives but putting our country at par with our fast developing industrialized Asian neighbors,” the Palace spokesman added. The survey was conducted among 1,440 adults respondents or estimated 11.6 million families, from December 16 to 19. Selfrated food poverty measures the proportion of respondents rating the food their family eats as poor or mahirap. Out of the 50 percent, or the 720 respondents who considered themselves poor, 37 percent claimed that they were “always poor,” while the remaining 13 percent said that they only slipped into poverty. From the other half of the respondents who do not consider themselves poor, 27 percent said they have never experienced poverty, while the remaining 15 percent said that they pulled themselves out of poverty. SWS said the median self-rated poverty threshold – the monthly budget that a poor household needs for home expenses in order not to consider itself poor in general – is P10,000. ■
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JANUARY 18-24, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Next cleanup: Manila Bay
FEATURES
IT’S good to hear the government wanting to clean up Manila Bay. If the heavily polluted Pasig River can be rehabilitated, it shouldn’t be impossible to improve the quality of the water in the bay. This is not Boracay, however, and there must be careful management of expectations. The government is zeroing in on hotels and commercial establishments including casinos by the bay for the cleanup. These establishments can be expected to quickly comply, if they haven’t already, since most are connected to water treatment and sewerage systems in Metro Manila. The bigger challenge is the waste from other sources. Manila Bay is home to the country’s busiest international container port and domestic seaport, and there will always be toxic waste from the ships. Around the bay are numerous informal settlements, where people fish for a living, make charcoal and treat the sea as their garbage dump and public sewer. Tons of the garbage wash up along the shores during typhoons. Environment officials have said the cleanup will include creeks and other waterways in Metro Manila that feed into the Pasig River or directly into the sea. One upside of the planned cleanup is a possible stop to massive bay reclamation projects approved by local politicians. Artificially shrinking the bay area
can aggravate flooding, endanger the livelihoods of marginal fishing communities and further upset the ecological balance around the bay. Instead of further industrial or commercial development, the protected wetland that has sprung up along the Las Piñas-Parañaque border deserves to be expanded. The mangrove forest has become a bird sanctuary, marine protected area and ecotourism park, helping to mitigate the impact of flooding and storm surges in the area. Some informal settlers can be turned into custodians of ecotourism zones. Developing a protected wetland around the country’s primary seaport is unlikely. The area is congested enough and there are ongoing moves for port expansion. It is possible, however, to improve waste management — both solid and effluent — around the bay. Even in informal settlements, local government and barangay personnel can mobilize the community for improved garbage management. Those living or working around the bay must be persuaded that it is in their best interest to stop treating the sea as their personal dump. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS AMID President Donald Trump’s fabricated “emergency” crisis at the border that has caused the longest government shutdown in U.S. history because he won’t sign a spending bill without his wall, the United States of America may have been facing a REAL EMERGENCY crisis based on a report that came out revealing that the 45th president of the United States’ own actions may have constituted a possible threat to national security. As the New York Times reported, citing information from former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigations, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the president’s behavior that they began doing a counterintelligence investigation whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests. The probe was launched in the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as FBI director, although the debate as to whether to proceed with the counterintelligence investigation has started as early as during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign. According to the Times report,
FBI opens counterintelligence investigation into Trump’s Russian ties, concerned he’s a threat to US national security “Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Mr. Trump’s ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude. But the president’s activities before and after Mr. Comey’s firing in May 2017, particularly two instances in which Mr. Trump tied the Comey dismissal to the Russia investigation, helped prompt the counterintelligence aspect of the inquiry.” The investigators of the counterintelligence investigation, tasked to handle national security matters, had to consider whether the president’s own actions constituted a possible threat to national security. Agents also sought to determine whether Mr. Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow’s influence, or if the president is innocent. The investigation that the FBI opened into Trump also had a criminal aspect alongside the national security issue: to determine whether his firing of Comey constituted obstruction of justice. How do the criminal and counterintelligence investigations
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.’s promise of an “autopsy” on the passport data breach is quintessential ‘Teddyboy.’ It grabs attention. On second thought, however, the autopsy threat may be either premature or a misdirection. An autopsy, according to the medical definition, “is an examination of the body after death with such dissection as will expose the vital organs for determining the cause of death or the character and extent or changes produced by disease.” The passport data breach, on the other hand, is far from dead. It is still very much a live reality. It is in a position to cause more mischief. I know because I am one of several million Filipinos who are now in the process of applying for the renewal of their passport, and I am one of those who are affected by the felonious action of one outsourced passport manufacturer of the DFA who absconded with my birth documents.
V. Putin. And investigators had watched with alarm as the Republican Party softened its convention platform on the Ukraine crisis in a way that seemed to benefit Russia.” Also explained in the report are other factors that fueled the F.B.I.’s concerns, including Christopher Steele, a former British spy who worked as an FBI informant, who had compiled memos in mid-2016 containing unsubstantiated claims that Russian officials tried to obtain influence over Mr. Trump by preparing to blackmail and bribe him. As we already know, the FBI was also already investigating four of Mr. Trump’s associates over their ties to Russia months before the 2016 US Presidential Election. The constellation of events disquieted F.B.I. officials who were simultaneously watching as Russia’s campaign unfolded to undermine the presidential election by exploiting existing divisions among Americans. “In the Russian Federation and in President Putin himself, you have an individual whose aim is to disrupt the Western alliance and whose aim is to make Western democracy more fractious in order to weaken our ability, America’s ability and the West’s
ability to spread our democratic ideals,” Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page told House investigators in private testimony reviewed by the New York Times. The FBI was also alarmed by the fact that when Trump was sworn into office, he “sought a loyalty pledge from Mister Comey and later asked that he end an investigation into the president’s national security adviser” Michael Flynn. Trump’s eventual firing of Comey compelled FBI to launch the investigation. “Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security,” according to the testimony of James A. Baker, who served as FBI general counsel until late 2017. Mr. Baker said this in his testimony when he privately testified in October before House investigators who were examining the FBI’s handling of the full Russia inquiry. Strengthening the case against Trump would be the revelation of a Washington Post report which stated how Trump Trump has gone to “extraordinary lengths” to keep the specifics of his con-
versations with his Russian counterpart under wraps. According to the Post citing statements from current and former U.S. officials, “Trump’s efforts include confiscating the notes from his interpreter and not allowing them to discuss the details of the meetings with other officials in his administration.” ALL OF THESE are now part of the other pieces of the puzzle being pieced together based on evidence in the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. We, the People, need to know if the 45th president of the United States has been betraying the American people by acting as an “asset” or “agent” of Putin and Russia, instead of fulfilling his oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” *** 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
Passport data breach needs more than an autopsy
Opinion
YEN MAKABENTA
relate to the Russia Probe that Trump has been denigrating as a” witch hunt”? The Times explained “Special Counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, took over the inquiry into Mr. Trump when he was appointed, days after FBI officials opened it. That inquiry is part of Mr. Mueller’s broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them” to damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign and help Trump win. The actions, rhetoric and decisions of Trump during the campaign and as president have been deemed as contrary to the democratic principles and interests of the United States, while appearing to be working to help the agenda of Vladimir Putin and Russia, especially when it comes to the foreign policy positions and decisions of Trump as President of the United States. Quoting the Times’ report, “Trump had caught the attention of FBI counterintelligence agents when he called on Russia during a campaign news conference in July 2016 to hack into the emails of his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Mr. Trump had refused to criticize Russia on the campaign trail, praising President Vladimir
Because of the data breach, I will have to produce my birth certificate, which unfortunately is hard to find because I was born during a distant time when my parents were on the run from the Japanese occupying forces, and the attending doctor is now gone. The data breach, I am forced to conclude, is all too real in its impact on my life. Anatomy of the breach Secretary Locsin’s autopsy will do nothing to kill the breach. The service he can perform is to provide an anatomy of the breach, or uncover the identity of the perpetrators. The tale that has emerged is as messy as a real autopsy. There is finger-pointing among three presidential administrations. As the full story of the passport mess was excavated, it surfaced that the problem may have started under the DFA of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) and then got worse under the DFA of Benigno S. Aquino 3rd (BSA). Locsin has vowed that the mess will be solved by President Duterte’s DFA under Locsin. Locsin says he will “autopsy” officials of the Aquino administration who were responsible for
the “crooked deal.” He declared: “I will autopsy the yellows who did the passport deal alive. This is called evisceration.” Which sounds gruesome, because evisceration means “disembowelment.” On the other hand, former Foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. (the first Duterte foreign affairs secretary) took issue with Locsin’s initial claim that an outsourced passport manufacturer absconded with or refused to return the passport data of applicants. Yasay said Locsin may be misinformed or is being misled by people who have something to hide. Yasay has quite a story to tell. He says the passport mess can be traced to the time of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Del Rosario, his predecessor. Yasay narrated on his online account that the problem started when the DFA, in 2015, awarded the printing of electronic passports to APO Production Unit Inc. (APUI) despite an existing agreement between the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciare (FCOF) of France. According to Yasay, the BSP and the DFA on Aug. 1, 2006 entered into a memorandum
of agreement (MOA) covering the procurement and centralized production of machinereadable electronic passports (MREP) in compliance with the standards required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This was during the time of GMA. In the implementation of its obligations under the MOA, the BSP awarded through bidding the main part of the project to FCOF. “On Oct. 5, 2015 (during the time of President Benigno Aquino 3rd) while the FCOF contract with BSP was subsisting and even as the MREP made by FCOF continued to be fully compliant with the standards of ICAO, the DFA awarded the production of a new e-Passport system to APO Production Unit Inc., a government printing facility without bidding on condition that no part of the contract can be subcontracted or assigned to a private printer,” Yasay said. “In violation of this condition, APUI engaged the services of the United Graphic Expression Corporation for the production of the new e-passports,” he added. Yasay said he tried during his
time to restore the BSP contract on the instructions of President Duterte, but he says powerful members of Congress (who happened to be members of the Commission on Appointments) stopped him. More investigations The Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) have likewise assured the public that they will investigate. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also branded the reported data fiasco as alarming, citing the possibility that the information lost could be used illegally. “If true, then it is a very grave security concern and is quite alarming. These are personal information such as full name, date and place of birth and other information that could be used illegally,” he said. “We will get in touch with the DFA to find out the details of this issue and how to mitigate its ill effect.” The privacy commission plans to ask DFA officials to submit to a probe, adding it will also summon the alleged passport contractor. “Any form of non-availability of personal data, infringement of the rights of data subjects
and harms from processing that include inconveniencing the public, must be adequately explained to the satisfaction of the law,” NPC Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro said. The NPC will conduct its own investigation on the grounds that “a private contractor has caused the non-availability of Filipino passport data and other documents entrusted to it for processing.” Expediting passports The more the investigations, the less clarity there is to the passport breach at this stage. The perpetrators of this fraud still have to be unmasked. The only thing worse that can happen is for Congress to take over the investigation. Meanwhile, there is a ray of light in Secretary Locsin’s declaration that he wants the processing of passports expedited. “I just want passports quickened by doing away with any requirement but a prior passport. Anything else is the Senate’s and DoJ’s (Department of Justice) job,” he stated. If I can get my new passport without having to produce my birth certificate all over again, I may pronounce this issue dead. (ManilaTimes.net)
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Newsom diverges sharply from Washington... PAGE A4 expensive things he would like to do,� Ohanian said. “He’s going to have to take money from something else.� While the Democratic legislature is generally supportive of expanding health care coverage, there are both political and financial obstacles to the sweeping proposals that Newsom has laid out. The governor’s plan to create subsidies for middle-class Californians, for example, relies on lawmakers approving a financial penalty on the uninsured, which was an unpopular provision in the Affordable Care Act. Newsom estimated the penalty would raise roughly $500 million a year. The estimated subsidies would be modest. For an individual who earns between 250 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level — or between about $30,350 and $48,560 — the subsidies would average about $10 a month, said Newsom cabinet secretary Ana Matosantos. Although these Californians already qualify for a federal tax credit under the Affordable Care Act, many still can’t afford their insurance. For individuals who make between 400 and 600 percent of the federal poverty level — or between about $48,560 and $72,840 — and therefore don’t qualify for federal tax credits, the state subsidy would come to about $70 a month on average, depending on location and premium costs, Matosantos said. “It will certainly be a help to some people,� but doesn’t do a lot to address overall affordability, said Larry Levitt, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Kaiser Health News, which produces California Healthline, is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) Congress eliminated the federal tax penalty for uninsured people, effective this year, as part of its 2017 tax bill. In response, New Jersey, Vermont and the District of Columbia have passed their own mandates in an effort to keep healthy enrollees from dumping coverage. A third state, Massachusetts, already had a state mandate. Newsom argued during his bud-
get briefing that, unlike the federal tax penalty, the California penalty would not be considered a tax and would only need a simple majority to win legislative approval. “California does not need to go in the direction of the rest of the country,� he said. Whether lawmakers will embrace the penalty is unclear, even though Democrats have supermajorities in both houses. California voters last year recalled a Democratic state senator who voted for a gas tax increase. Assembly Health Committee Chair Jim Wood acknowledged the vote could be “a difficult one.� The Healdsburg Democrat, who is carrying a bill to create state-based subsidies, said he is hopeful his colleagues will consider all the governor’s health care proposals as a revenue-neutral package. For example, the executive order that Newsom signed earlier this week that directs state agencies to work together to negotiate prescription drug prices could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars, Wood said. Those savings, along with the revenue from the health insurance penalty, could help pay for subsidies, or for coverage under Medi-Cal for unauthorized immigrant young adults, he said. “It’s kind of a three-dimensional chess game right now in trying to put all these things together,� Wood said. Lawmakers last year considered extending full Medi-Cal benefits to both young adults and seniors who are in the country illegally. But the proposals were dropped during budget negotiations, in part because former Gov. Jerry Brown balked at the cost. Medi-Cal is California’s version of the federal Medicaid program. Newsom’s budget includes $260 million to pay for Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrant adults ages 19 to 25. California already covers all kids up to age 19, regardless of their immigration status. Newsom described the expansion as the right thing to do from both a moral and a financial standpoint. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
on Tuesday announced he would introduce legislation in Congress prohibiting California from using federal dollars to provide MediCal to undocumented immigrants. However, Newsom’s budget would use state dollars to pay for the expansion, just as state funds pay for undocumented children’s coverage. Cassidy’s spokesman did not return an email seeking comment. Among the health-related proposals that still need more vetting is Newsom’s plan to expand the state’s paid parental leave program from six weeks to six months. Details were scarce, and the governor said a task force is studying how to pay for it — whether through increased taxes on employers or using general fund dollars. That too could be a sticking point among lawmakers. “I am a big proponent of parents spending time with newborn children,â€? said Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, the ranking Republican on the Assembly Budget Committee. “However, I am absolutely opposed to forcing employers to do that.â€? Newsom’s budget also includes several other health-related initiatives, including: • $25 million to improve the detection and treatment of early psychosis, which includes symptoms such as hallucinations and disorganized thoughts and behaviors. • $10 million to provide clean water, including bottled or hauled water, to communities during emergencies. • $100 million for programs that coordinate health and social services and help provide housing for people with mental illness. • $60 million to increase developmental screenings for children at 9, 18 and 30 months of age. • $342.3 million to restore recent cuts in the In-Home Supportive Services program, which provides in-home care and transportation to low-income older people or those with disabilities. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. n
PAGE A5 “That MoU will have educational exchanges between journalists in the Philippines and journalists from Bangkok,� he said. “It’s the same MoU that I signed with China. I think some of our colleagues in the Philippines
are beneficiaries of these scholarships,� he added. Last week, the United Kingdom and Australian governments issued advisories warning their nationals against traveling to Mindanao in the wake of the bomb attack in Cotabato City on Decem-
ber 31. MalacaĂąang, however, assured the international community that it is safe to travel to Mindanao since the bomb attack, which killed two persons and wounded 34 others, was an “isolated case.â€? (PNA) n
Andanar seeks ‘fair’ travel advisories
IN MEMORIAM. Lawmakers listen during the necrological rites for slain AKO Bicol partly-list representative Rodel Batocabe. “All of us recall Rodel to be a bubbly fellow. We have seen in the video what a daring man he was, ‘The Daragueno Who Dared.’ He dared to confront the evil in Daraga at the cost of his life,â€? Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in her eulogy. Arroyo referred to Batocabe’s fearlessness in pursuing advocacies in Congress, and in conveying his ideas through his interpellation, sponsorships, manifestations and opinions on many issues. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger RaĂąada
DENR urged to stop influx of plastic... PAGE A5 carded plastics that could no longer enter China from being diverted into the Philippines due to loopholes in existing regulations,� she said. Lucero noted that there has been a significant rise on waste exports from South Korea to the Philippines after China prohibited the importation of scrap plastic in 2018 to protect the country’s environmental interests and people’s health. Data from the Korea Customs Service showed that waste exports from South Korea to the Philippines rose from 4,398 tons to 11,588 tons after China closed its doors for plastic waste imports from overseas. “Waste traders from industrialized countries are frantically looking for places with lenient regulations where their plastic waste can be shipped for so-called ‘recycling’ like what we have seen in the controversial plastic garbage shipments from Canada and South Korea,� Lucero said The EcoWaste executive added: “We need to take action now like what Malaysia and Vietnam did before it’s too late.� In May last year, Vietnam temporarily banned plastic waste imports after the surge in trash shipments caused by China’s ban congested several ports. Two months later, Malaysia
permanently stopped the issuance of import permits for plastic wastes. While South Korea took back the shipments of garbage dumped in the country, Canada remained quiet. Between 2013 and 2015, close to 100 container vans of garbage were also imported to the Philippines from Canada and only be-
latedly discovered. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country is committed to solving the garbage dumping issue during the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila. He made the same statement in 2015 during his visit to the country for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. n
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JANUARY 18-24, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019
Friday, January 18, 2019
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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019
Catriona Gray’s Miss Universe reign off to a great start by
tle and yet, and yet, they still had smiles on their faces. They were it has really been my identity for greeting us as we walked past. the past three years,” Gray said. Coming as someone who was “The reason why I do what I do frustrated with my own life, I had is that I really aim to have this so many things that I wanted that platform, to reach more people, I felt like I could have,” she said. and now that I am given this opIt struck her. portunity, I am so overly aware of “I had so much to be grateful the responsibility that I have. It is for. That really impacted me so a challenge that I am so excited strongly. That, and seeing the to pursue.” kids, made me question why Gray is excited to expand was I born into a situation where her work on children’s education I had the opportunity and here and HIV/AIDS to other countries they are born to a circumstance which have the same problems. where they don’t. That’s not These two are platforms that fair,” she said. she is passionate about because Gray is a firm believer that of personal reasons. education is one tool that She is looking forward to could level out the opportunity. expanding these causes and Children could have dreams of focus on things where she could becoming a musician, the next make a difference like going to president, to be an astronaut. countries, for example, which “Education is a platform have been successful in focusthat can validate that dream ing on the social problem of and allow them to pursue their HIV/AIDS and bringing what they dreams,” she affirmed. have applied there back home to Miss Universe: Behind the the Philippines. scenes Gray was 21 years old and People now see a glamorous she was going through a hard Miss Universe who worked hard time in her personal career, to get that crown, something struggling and frustrated and that a lot of people did not see. one day, she just told herself that You see, Catriona Gray did she did not want to think about her homework. her problems for a moment and “This is my second foray into decided to do volunteer work, pageantry and I knew what I something that she has never wanted,” she said straight up. “I done before. knew that I wanted to be handsIt was as simple as logging on in everything. That’s just me to the internet and through naturally.” Google, she found Young Focus. As a newbie before, she She was then living in Paranaque wanted to be guided by people and Young Focus is based in who are experts in the field. Tondo, Manila, which was not Gray represented the Philipthat far. pines in the Miss World competiGray went to Tondo and tion held in Washington, D.C. in met with the people behind the 2016. She placed in the top five. organization and she knew right Pageant enthusiasts contend then that she has found what that she should have won. she was looking for. More than For her next foray a year that, the impact of meeting the later, which was Binibining kids and seeing their situation Pilipinas, Gray said she knew changed her life and her perwhat she wanted and what she spective on things. would be most confident in. She “People there live with so lit- knew how she could see herself
MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress
WHEN Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray left Manila for Bangkok to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, she had meticulously planned and laid everything out so that the moment the competition started, she let go and told herself to enjoy and have fun representing the Philippines. “Every single time I stepped onstage I just enjoyed myself and I think people saw that. I was just happy to be there,” Gray told the Asian Journal in a freewheeling interview at the Miss Universe Organization’s new office in midtown Manhattan. This was Day 3 of her hectic Media Week schedule doing interviews with Good Morning America, Live with Kelly & Ryan, AOL Build Series, Good Day NY and also with ABS-CBN and GMA Network from the Philippines. Gray arrived in New York on January 2nd, after spending the holidays in seclusion. She celebrated her 25th birthday on January 6th which she spent going to church, eating out and watching Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. “I feel so grateful that I am here in New York City. I love it! It feels like it has sunk in na,” she shared. “I had a quiet holiday season and it feels like I am now stepping into my shoes as Miss Universe. I am suffering just a little bit of jetlag but aside from that, everything is well.” The newly minted Miss Universe is looking forward to a year of opening doors and exploring possibilities to promote the platforms that she holds near and dear her heart. “I want to have the best year that I could possibly have and that for me would be to do as much work as I could for different organizations because
as most beautiful in terms of her final look and styling. She went in as an independent candidate and built her own team, which back then was an unpopular decision. A lot of people told her that she was crazy for doing so because “there’s never been a Miss Universe Philippines who hasn’t come from one of the camps.” “But I knew I could do it. And that’s my stubbornness. That was my vision and when I have a vision, I stick to it and I want to execute it,” she shared. In the end, she gained a family from the team that she pooled together. “We’re all good friends now and that’s something that I am so grateful for, that gift of family, they created that support for me and they allowed my vision to come to reality,” she said. Hands-on Not a lot of people know but Gray herself was the one who designed the now famous ear cuff that she wore during her coronation. She wanted to be a Miss Philippines in her wardrobe and not just the letterings across the sash. She and her team met with historians and travelled across the Philippines to research for her national costume and derive inspiration from the people, the culture and the history of the regions. “I feel the Filipino people deserved that. I wanted to share what we could offer as a country. We’re not just nice people and beautiful beaches, we’re so much more than that,” she said. “I wanted people to learn about what I was wearing, that there is a story behind it. It was more meaningful that way.” From the folklore of Ibong Adarna to the T’nalak weave to the various islands that her team featured in the video series
Catriona Gray during media week in New York on Tuesday, January 8
AJPress photo by Troi Santos
Photos courtesy of Miss Universe Organization
that they released as the Miss Universe competition began, it was her way to generate more interest among her now growing team of followers, particularly on social media. “It was such an amazing experience, probably one of my most memorable for the whole year. I am so grateful to my team for believing in my crazy vision.
I went up to them and I said ‘I want to make a video series about my national costume’. It has never been before,” she said. As a Miss Universe now and even during her reign as Miss Philippines, Gray has become a tourism ambassador for the Philippines, promoting not just the Continued on Page SF3
President Trump addresses the nation about border wall Your Immigration Solution Devin M. Connolly PRESIDENT Donald Trump addressed the nation from the oval office last week to discuss the current government shutdown and his request for a wall along the country’s southern border. He said there is a crisis along our border that can only be solved by a physical barrier. Democrats disagree, saying that funding a border wall would be a colossal waste of money. Caught in the middle are immigrants and federal workers who are missing paychecks as a result of the partial government shutdown. Is there really a crisis? Are Democrats being unreasonable? These are the questions that millions of Americans are asking themselves as they try to make sense of this shutdown. Federal workers who are being forced to work without pay are getting a lot of attention, and rightfully so, as they are required to show up for work and they have no idea when they will receive their next paycheck. So unless they have a sufficient amount of savings, they are unsure if they are going to be able to pay their mortgage, put gas in their car, pay for medications, etc. Another group of people who are left with uncertain futures are immigrants. Since immigration courts are closed due to the shutdown, when is their next deportation hearing? Would Trump be willing to exchange permanent resident status (and a path to citizenship) for the Dreamers in exchange for funding for his wall? Will this shutdown finally lead to comprehensive immigration reform? So many questions, so few answers. But what is known though is that, despite all the uncertainty, there are options that exist today for immigrants. The starting point should be to meet with an experienced
immigration attorney to discuss your options. One likely goal for the majority of people is to obtain work authorization. Not only does a work permit, officially referred to as an Employment Authorization Document, allow a person to be lawfully employed in the U.S., but it also carries with it many other benefits. These benefits include obtaining a social security number, a Driver’s License, etc. Unfortunately, not everybody is eligible for a work permit. Eligibility for a work permit usually accompanies a pending application for a different immigration benefit. For instance, when a person files an application for asylum based on their fear of returning to their native country, they may be entitled to a work permit while their application is pending. This need to file a separate application so that they may obtain work authorization can be very tempting. After all, the work authorization can be relatively immediate, whereas any negative immigration consequences will not be for years . . . or so people mistakenly think. The truth is that filing an application for immigration benefits so that you become eligible for a work permit can have disastrous immigration consequences, including being ordered deported. Nothing is free; make sure you ask your immigration attorney about the risks. While work permits are great, green cards (permanent resident status) are even better! There are so many different ways to get a green card, some of which are not widely known. We all know that marrying a U.S. citizen can lead to a green card, as can being petitioned by an employer. But most people are not aware of the many lesserknown ways of being eligible for permanent resident status. For example, did you know that a person could be eligible for a green card if they have been the victim of a crime and have cooperated with law enforcement? Or that a person could be eligible for a green card based on the hardship that a family member would suffer if
Catriona Gray’s Miss...
From Page SF2 sites but the country’s culture as well. Asked about her favorite spots, she mentioned “the mountainous provinces like Sagada (Mountain Province) and Batad (Ifugao)” along with the “beaches of Palawan, Coron especially”. “More than these beautiful places though, I would like to share aspects about our culture too, [especially] our textiles because these textiles could mean the livelihood of one community. Beyond our beaches, we have T’nalak and hand made brass and I think that is something to be incredibly proud of that is Pinoy talaga (really),” she explained. Gray maintains that for as long as she can, she will wear Filipino accessories and showcase Filipino textiles and fabrics. One designer who does her outfits is Jearson Demavivas, who created her national costume for Binibining Pilipinas and also designed the main body suit of her national costume at the Miss Universe pageant. He hails from South Cotabato and he works with T’nalak all the time and he has respect for the fabric and knows what it means to the community, according to Gray. Who could forget her national costume? Gray paraded what she and her team called the “LuzViMinda,” deriving inspiration from the parol of Pampanga with her bodysuit printed with tattoo patterns used by the “Pintados,” indigenous people from some of the islands in the Visayas and a headpiece and brass accessories from South Cotabato. Through her platform as Miss Universe, Gray looks forward to showcasing some of the Philippines’ many indigenous textiles and accessories, whether it is a sampaguita-inspired rattan bag or a hand-made burda callado silk top. The red gown and famous walk “I don’t know if you’ve heard if it, but my mom dreamt of me winning Miss Universe in a red dress,” she said laughing. “That
is true, and that time I didn’t really think anything of it because I was just a teenager and I didn’t have any interest in it yet.” Right after she won the right to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant, Gray remembered her mom’s dream. She knew she wanted red and she did not want to test fate so she said there was no other choice but to wear the red gown. Mak Tumang, the gown’s designer, conceptualized it as a tribute to the Mayon Volcano, a national symbol and one of the most iconic sites from the Bicol region where Gray’s mom is originally from. He submitted his first sketch to Gray a month after she won the title and right there she decided it was going to be her finals gown. “Daragang Magayon is a folklore and my mom’s maiden name is Magnayon which is a pre-colonial Filipino name so it all tied up together,” she said. “It felt like a beautiful tribute and there was no other option.” The details of that fiery red gown symbolized the lava from Mayon’s eruption and her team tied it up with her now famous “lava walk,” although technically the walk came before the gown. “Mak is exceptionally talented at what he does and he is incredibly meticulous which I greatly respect being a perfectionist myself,” Gray said. The gown is made out of digitally printed material with 12 tones of Swarovski crystals and put on each tone of the fabric. “Just imagine the labor and love and attention to detail that went into that gown, it was something amazing. When I wore it the first time I was in tears just because, it looked like it has a life of its own,” she shared. And speaking of the now famous walk, Gray clarified some of the headlines that have appeared saying that because of her scoliosis, she was in tears as she practiced and perfected her walk. “Some of them are a little out of context saying that I was crying in pain. I wasn’t. My scoliosis causes me mild discomfort Continued on Page SF6
they were forced to return to their native country. In short, an expert may be able to identify a way for you to obtain a green card when you did not know that such a way existed. The reality is that it is a very difficult time for undocumented immigrants in the United States, especially when you consider that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is regularly conducting raids and deporting people. But doing nothing is not the answer - your problem is not going to go away. With a new year upon us, now is the perfect time to revisit your immigration case. Consult a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney today and ask what options are available to you. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China. For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019
Jon Jon Briones joins new Ryan Murphy series ‘Ratched’ by AJPress
FILIPINO actor Jon Jon Briones will be part of Ryan Murphy’s new Netflix show, “Ratched,” joining a star-studded cast such as Sarah Paulson, Sharon Stone, and Cynthia Nixon. In an Instagram post on Monday, January 14, Murphy — who is listed as an executive producer — said that the series will start filming in a couple of weeks and revealed the cast list, which also includes Finn Wittrock, Charlie Carver, Judy Davis, Harriet Harris, Hunter Parrish, Amanda Plummer and Corey Stoll. “On behalf of myself and Ms. Sarah Catharine Paulson who plays the title role and is also a big fancy producer on it, we are thrilled to announce our amazing cast...a true murderers’ row of talent. So many of these actors are supremely talented folks who Sarah and I have both longed to work with,” Murphy wrote in his post. Briones also confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Monday.
Filipino actor Jon Jon Briones
“I can finally share this with you all!!! Honored, excited, grateful and feeling beyond blessed! Thank you sir @mrrpmurphy,” Briones wrote. “And can’t wait to work with the queen @mssarahcatharinepaulson again! And all these amazing actors!!!” Briones previously worked with Murphy for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” in which the Filipino actor played Modesto Cunanan, the father of Versace murderer Andrew Cunanan (played by Fil-Am
actor Darren Criss). According to Variety, the show has a two-season, 18 episode commitment. “Ratched,” based on Ken Kesey’s novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” will follow Nurse Ratched (Paulson) and “track her murderous progression through the mental health care system,” a Deadline article released last year said. Michael Douglas, who was a producer of the 1975 film based on the novel, also joins this project as an executive producer.
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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019
Miss Universe Philippines franchise no longer with Bb. Pilipinas
celebrity world By Ferdie Villar AFTER a lot of rumors and speculations in the past few weeks, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson claimed last Sunday, January 13, that he has acquired the franchise rights of Miss Universe (MU) in the Philippines. He added in an interview with The Philippine Star that the acquisition of the franchise is yet to be announced. “I think it shall be formally announced this January or February, when Catriona (Gray) comes back again to the Philippines,” he said. Speculations about the franchise came when Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray went back to the Philippines shortly after winning in Thailand accompanied by Singson and his daughter Richelle SingsonMichael, who was among the judges during the pageant.
Singson’s claim did not come as a surprise to many, in spite of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) chairperson Stella Marquez-Araneta’s earlier statement that her organization still holds the official franchise of MU. However, the ex-governor said that he and the MU Organization has been in talks since he helped fund the Philippines’ hosting of Miss Universe in 2016. “’Binibining Pilipinas Universe’ will be replaced with ‘Miss Universe Philippines.’ Noon pa binibigay sa akin ‘yan (It was being offered to me since before), because I’ve been helping them since 2016,” he said, in a report with CNN Philippines. “Instead of talking to many companies before, they just talked to me and I then gave
them a non-refundable deposit of $1 million. Who would disagree to that, non-refundable? I gained their trust. Before the signing in 2016, they even first asked me to pay $12 million,” he recounted. For Miss Universe 2019, Singson revealed that the presentation will be unique and historic, as it will be held in South Korea and North Korea will send a delegate for the very first time. The BPCI held the MU franchise since 1964. The country’s delegate to the international pageant, along with other beauty contests such as Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, Miss Globe and Miss Intercontinental, is chosen through the organization’s annual Binibining Pilipinas pageant.
Actor Albert Martinez will portray the lead role of the general in The Filipino Channel’s newest teleserye, “The General’s Daughter.”
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Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson claimed last Sunday, January 13, that he acquired the franchise of Miss Universe Philippines. (Philstar file photo)
Actress Angel Locsin makes a comeback on television via the primetime teleserye “The General’s Daughter” on ABS-CBN 2/The Filipino Channel.
California State Commissioner Ray Satorre is shown cutting the lechon during the 41st annual fiesta celebration of Senor Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo. Also in photo assisting Satorre are Jett Navarro and beauty impresario Ferdie Villar.
Rev. Father Abraham Alonzo, spiritual counselor of ANX Hospice, is shown in photo officiating the Holy Mass during the 41st annual fiesta of Senor Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo held last January 1 at the residence of beauty impresario Ferdie Villar. (All Nazareno fiesta photos by Ray Guarin)
Joan Tullo and Natty Jollorina Guarin were among the devotees who attended the 41st annual fiesta celebration of Senor Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo last January 1.
Jett Viray Navarro led the devotees during 41st annual fiesta celebration of Senor Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo hosted by beauty impresario Ferdie Villar at his residence in South San Francisco. Shown in photo are (L-R) Alma Ramirez, Elsa Macariola, Jett Navarro, Susan Pacifico and Claire Viray.
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019
Immigration Corner
February 2019 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
March 15, 2008
March 15, 2007
December 01, 2017
December 01, 2016
(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder
January 15, 2008
July 01, 2007
Third Preference
Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.
August 01, 1997
August 22, 1995
Fourth Preference
Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.
December 08, 1997
October 01, 1995
LABOR CERTIFICATION:
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)
Current
Current
FAMILY CATEGORY:
Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family DREAMS OF A FAIRYTALE WEDDING ENDED UP IN A NIGHTMARE OF BATTERY AND ABUSE. Anne entered the U.S. on a fiancé (K-1) visa, hoping to build a beauti- and employment based categories. A priority date is a perful, love-filled life with her U.S. citizen petitioner. But the marriage turned into a nightmare, when the husband became verbally and physically abusive. Battered and abused, Anne reached out to leading immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. Watch as Anne was able to escape the chains of abuse, through the son’s “place in line” for a visa, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petition that the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel filed and was able to get a green card for Anne….on an encore meaning immigrant visas (or episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement) green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status by Christina M. Oriel in the U.S.), you would have to AJPress wait until it becomes current PIXAR will have its first-ever again. short film featuring Filipino Beginning last October characters, created by a Fili2015, the format of the Visa pino-American story artist at its Bulletin changed, in that a new studio. column was added, called the Bobby Rubio — whose “Application Filing Date.” If a work at Pixar Animation Stuperson’s priority date is eardios includes “Incredibles 2,” lier than the Application Filing “Up,” “Brave, and “Monster’s Date, they can already file for University” — is now taking the adjustment of status and work writer and director’s seat for authorization (provided they are “Float,” a short film that will otherwise eligible and USCIS have Filipino lead characters in indicates on its website it will computer-generated imagery use the Application Filing Date (CGI). for that month). This could allow “It’s OFFICIAL! I can people to obtain work authorifinally tell you I’m the #Writer / zation much sooner than before, One of the Filipino CGI characters from Rubio’s #Director of the #Pixar #Sparkwhere they had to wait for the short film “Float” Bobby Rubio Short ‘Float’!” Rubio wrote on priority date to be current (in the Photo courtesy of Instagram/@BobbyRubio Screengrab from Disney-Pixar/YouTube his Twitter account on JanuVisa Issuance Date column) in bachelor’s degree in fine arts Rubio said in a video released ary 10. “I’m so proud to be a order to both file for adjustment from California Institute of the by the studio. part of this program and to and be eligible for a green card. Arts. He worked nine years at Rubio went on to conbe among these very talented Walt Disney Feature Animafirm in another Twitter post people! And I have to give a “Alcatraz High” and “4 Gun tion as a traditional artist and shout-out to my wonderful and that “…those are #Filipino Conclusion.” storyboard artist on films like lead characters in my #Pixar talented crew, Team Float!” The release date of “Float” “Pocahontas,” “Tarzan,” and #SparkShort! @Pixar’s first all Disney-Pixar on January has yet to be announced, but “Treasure Planet.” He also had the first three shorts — “Purl” #CGI Filipino characters! So 10 announced the short film a stint at Nickelodeon Studios technically, the first #Pixnoys! program Sparkshorts, “an exdirected by Kristen Lester, where he was an assistant diperimental storytelling initiative I am proud to tell our stories. I “Smash and Grab” directed rector and storyboard artist for by Brian Larsen, and “Kitbull” know what it means to see our that welcomes new creative “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” culture represented on screen! voices at Pixar Animation Studirected by Rosana Sullivan before moving to Pixar. #RepresentationMatters.” dios to share their stories.” — will be showcased at the El He has also developed his The story artist grew up “I see it as a wonderful Capitan Theater in Los Angeles own independent comic series, from January 18 to 24 followin San Diego and earned a opportunity to tell my story,”
Fil-Am to direct first-ever Pixar short featuring Filipino characters
First Preference
Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)
(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder
Third Preference
Professional/ Skilled Workers
October 01, 2017
August 01, 2017
Other Workers
Non-Skilled Workers
October 01, 2017
August 01, 2017
*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or
legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook. com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @ GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES
ing the “The Little Mermaid” feature film presentation. In an Instagram post on Monday, January 14, Rubio shared two stills of the short film along with the message, “When I was growing up, I didn’t see much characters that looked like me on #television or #movies and I am thrilled that my children will have these guys and
hopefully they are just the beginning and will inspire more #FilipinoAmerican stories to come!” The shorts under the Sparkshorts program will be launched on YouTube in the coming weeks, then will be available on Disney+, the upcoming streaming service that Disney will launch in late 2019.
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people & events The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019
Love and deportability: Divorce, domestic violence, and immigration laws
marriage (or, in the case of a spouse self-petitioner, the child was battered or subjected to extreme cruelty); the marriage was entered into in good faith; s/he is otherwise eligible for immediate relative or preference status; Atty. LiLLi BerBAno BAcuLi, eSQ and has good moral character. In certain cases, though WHAT if I do not have legal an individual has not suffered any physical harm, abuse can papers, and my spouse is abustill be argued depending sive? If safety is a concern, we on the circumstances, since urge people to seek help first, “abuse” is not limited to physiparticularly if there are minor cal harm. Each application will children who may also be at risk be reviewed and examined on of abuse. For non-emergency a case-by-case basis, and given calls, individuals may dial 2-1-1 the whole picture, an individual to seek help finding resources might just be able to show that for health, mental health, or he or she is a battered spouse temporary shelter. or has suffered extreme cruelty Options available for victims of abuse: VAWA Self-Peti- from their U.S. citizen or Lawful tion. The spouse or child of a Permanent Resident husband. If so, a VAWA Self-Petition will U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permaenable her to adjust her status nent Resident, or the parent of a U.S. citizen, who is battered or without having to rely on their spouse. subject to extreme cruelty may California divorce – “no file a self-petition independently fault.” California is a no-fault of the abusive U.S. citizen or divorce state. A party filing Lawful Permanent Resident. for divorce does not need the The spouse or child must consent of the other in order demonstrate that he or she to file a Petition for Dissolution resided with the U.S. citizen or (Divorce) or, in some instances, Lawful permanent spouse or to get a judgment of divorce. parent; was battered or subject What needs to happen is to extreme cruelty during the
The CTV Files
that the other party (your soonto-be ex-spouse) needs to be served with process. In proceeding in an action for divorce, there are procedural requirements dictated by law that must be followed to ensure that the other party has notice of the action (that is, that s/he is being brought to court for an action of divorce) and that s/he is given time to respond. However, there is no requirement for the other party to respond. There is no requirement that s/he sign any document at all. All that needs to happen is that s/he is properly served with process according to the rules. Deportability issues for green card holders with domestic violence conviction(s). A non-citizen, even if a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) for ten years, is liable to be deportable if s/he commits or is convicted of certain crimes, even if it’s “just a misdemeanor.” A conviction for domestic violence can make a non-citizen deportable. A criminal conviction’s negative impact on immigration status. The Record of Conviction (ROC) details an individual’s criminal history – his/her arrest,
what s/he plead to, and the final judgment/sentence. The relief(s) available to an individual facing removal/deportation proceedings will depend largely on that individual’s record of conviction. If you are a non-citizen, it is best to consult both with a criminal attorney and with an experienced criminal immigration attorney who handles deportation defense before pleading to anything in criminal court. No two cases are exactly the same. Consult with an experienced and competent family law and immigration attorney immediately, and more importantly prior to filing any applications with the USCIS, or prior to pleading to anything in any court, in order to explore their options and possible legal ramifications that they might be facing. As always, be wary of Fil-Am actors Nico Santos (left) and Vincent Rodriguez III (right) along with actor Jake Choi (center) grace online tools that offer immigrathe cover of Advocate, a leading LGBTQ magazine, and share their experiences as LGBTQ Asian Americans tion help or notarios who are not in Hollywood. Photo courtesy of the Advocate licensed to practice law. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to Actors share experiences of being leading Asian discuss your particular situation and/or American entertainers in the LGBTQ community how their services may be retained at he added. (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) by Rae ann VaRona Rodriguez similarly talked 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www. AJPress about being a double minority, chuatinsayvega.com. IN the March 2019 issue that and expanded on what it person (Advertising Supplement) looks at the increasing represenally meant to be able to tell the tation of Asian Americans in the Fil-Am story on television. LGBTQ community, gracing the Rodriguez’s Fil-Am character cover of leading LGBTQ magaof Josh Chan on the CW’s “Crazy zine Advocate are Fil-Am actors Ex-Girlfriend” has a backstory Nico Santos and Vincent Rodthat includes being a devoted riguez III who shared with readers Catholic, being raised by a tighttheir experiences of being gay, knit family, and even living in the Fil-Am actors in Hollywood. densely Filipino-populated city of Santos — who plays the flam- West Covina, California — expeboyant undocumented Fil-Am riences familiar to many Fil-Ams. sales associate Mateo Liwanag in “To represent my community the NBC comedy “Superstore” as a Filipino man, as a young and played the even more flamleading man, a gay man, and boyant Oliver T’sien in the highly [asking] what if I could be there raved about film “Crazy Rich and be myself?” he recalled in Asians” — shared in his individual his interview with the Advocate. cover, his experience of being “[To] tell stories and show the not only a minority, but a gay world that Filipinos can be leadone in the world of mainstream ing men too.” entertainment. Playing the role of the “We talk about representastraight ex-boyfriend of the tion all the time,” said Santos, show’s main character, Rodriguez who moved to the U.S. from also shared of how he’s been fothe Philippines when he was cused on exploring new possibilisixteen. “That’s like such a buzties in acting including in stunts zword in Hollywood right now, and actions. but really, it is—as somebody “I’m preparing for action who’s like a double minority, roles. I know I’m an Asian dude, as somebody who is queer and but now that I think [that] we’re Brown—it’s important to bring more likely to see Asian leadthat to the forefront.” ing men, I think we’re going to He continued, “My Brownsee new stories being told that ness is something that I can’t are not what we’re used to, in hide. There are some straightterms of the action genre,” said acting or straight-passing queer Rodriguez. people out there, but I’m not Also joining Santos and Rodone of them. This is something I riguez on the cover is Jake Choi would rather not have to hide,” of “Single Parents.”
Fil-Ams Nico Santos and Vincent Rodriguez III grace cover of Advocate magazine
Catriona Gray’s Miss...
From Page SF3 especially on a long day of heels but it doesn’t hinder me in any other way,” she explained. “It is about learning the balance and coordination and it’s all about practicing.” Childhood in Australia Gray admits that she was very outdoorsy as a child and she had a very carefree and happy childhood. Since she was an only child, she said, “medyo sheltered ako (I was a little sheltered). I am very close to my parents who I love, love, love very much. I always spent time with my dog kasi wala akong sibling (because I don’t have a sibling).” Her parents Ian and Normita were very supportive, even when she decided to move to the Philippines, and for that, she feels very blessed. “My parents have supported me 110 percent in anything I’ve ever wanted to do. They never tried to define my dreams, they always pushed me to dream bigger because they always believed in me. I feel that is a very important reason why I am here today because they’ve always instilled that confidence in me, that I am capable, that I am worthy and that my dreams are valid,” she shared. In an Instagram post, Gray said her dad taught her to be “tough, gutsy and give power to my words” while her mom told her to always trust her intuition and “hold a firery (sic) soul in a soft heart.” More than that, what is the biggest lesson her mom taught her? “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well, which I can
apply to this journey because I really went all out,” she said, letting a loud guffaw. “I pulled together all of my resources, I really put my heart out in every single aspect up to the jewelry, the turns. My signature is on everything [on] this journey, I was really hands on.” Gray believes that her biggest weakness is her being “over-analytical,” particularly when she was younger when she wouldn’t even stop to savor and enjoy her moments of victory. On the other hand, she considers being creative as her biggest strength. “I always try and do something different and being creative, I feel like it flows to every aspect that I put my hands on,” she said. Gray describes her first week as Miss Universe with two words: grateful and fulfilling. “Every step of the way, I have always been overwhelmed by the support not only from team, family and friends, but from the people, the Filipino people. They are the reason why I even considered joining again,” she said. Exactly a year ago, Gray was at the Binibining Pilipinas office turning in her application. In between, there were moments of doubt and she would question herself if she is doing the right thing or if this was the right path for her. It is the spirit of support from the Filipinos (including those overseas) that has helped Gray carry through the journey despite feeling overwhelmed at times, the same support that she says is helping her now fulfill her duties as Miss Universe.
10th annual Filipino Heritage Night held at LA Clippers with halftime performance, special celebrity basketball game
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019
Apl.de.Ap, Manny Pacquiao among guests during celebration by Christina M. Oriel AJPress
FILIPINO talent and the collective love for basketball were on full display yet again at the Staples Center on Tuesday, January 8, as the Los Angeles Clippers hosted its annual Filipino Heritage Night. Building off from the momentum during the 2018 celebration, Tuesday’s Filipino Heritage Night featured an extensive program with Fil-Am talent and influencers — such as the Black Eyed Peas’ Apl. de.Ap, Manny Pacquiao, Jessica Reynoso, Liane V., the Bosco brothers, and more — on the court in between quarters of the game. Gillian Zucker, Clippers president of business operations, told the Asian Journal that the Clippers are “proud to represent every part of LA, and to celebrate what makes our city unique.” For the past decade, the Clippers has held this night to recognize the Filipino-American community and its contributions to greater LA. Those who purchased their tickets through the Heritage Night package received an Apl. de.Ap bobblehead and were honored with their group name on the video board. A portion of ticket sales was donated to the Apl.de.Ap Foundation, which focuses on children’s arts and technology education in the Philippines. “This is history in the making — the first Filipino bobblehead by the Clippers,” Apl.de.Ap told the Asian Journal ahead of the night’s festivities. His foundation, with its executive director Ted Benito, and head of marketing Dan Vo, were recognized during the 2nd quarter. Before the team faced off against the Charlotte Hornets, singer Jasmine V warmed up the crowd with the national anthem.
Jules Aurora, Liane V., Apl.de.Ap, Jessica Reynoso, and Jasmine V. perform three songs during the halftime show.
Jessica Reynoso and Apl.de.Ap warm up with the Clippers Spirit Dance Team.
AJPress photos by Noel Ty
Manny Pacquiao joins Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor to throw T-shirts and entertain the crowd after the 1st quarter of the game.
Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias, founder of ROS Marketing and one of the key organizers of this night, told the Asian Journal, that “It was beyond an honor to work with Senator Manny Pacquiao’s team & the Apl.de.ap Foundation to put together this year’s LA Clippers Filipino Heritage Night. They are not only our country’s biggest stars, but they are both humble philanthropists that genuinely care for their people and really showed up for our community [on Tuesday].” Pacquiao — who has been in LA to train for his January 19 fight — sat courtside at the game and was introduced during the 1st quarter time out. Prior to the game, Pacquiao met Clippers coach Doc Rivers, during which Rivers shared that
he was a “huge fan” and that he owns a signed pair of the Filipino boxer’s gloves. The world’s only eight-division boxing champion went on to throw T-shirts to the crowd alongside Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor, sign a basketball, and run into his former opponent Floyd Mayweather, who was also sitting courtside, as the Asian Journal previously reported. “At this year’s Clippers Filipino Heritage Night, we saw the passion of LA’s Filipino community and the excitement they helped us bring to the arena,” Zucker continued. “Only at a Clippers game can you see Manny Pacquiao throwing T-shirts to fans alongside Chuck the Condor or Apl.de.Ap getting the whole crowd pumped
After the Clippers game, a special basketball match was held between Team Apl and Team E-Man. Team Apl won 59 to 54.
Bottom row (L-R) Jessica Reynoso, Anthony Presents, Jasmine V., Liane V., Apl.de.ap, P-Lo, JayArr Ines, Dion Basco; 2nd row (L-R) Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias, JJ Anderson, Polo Molina, Kevin Gray, Dj Man; 3rd row (L-R) Know Lazarus, Slay Boogie, Allen Palos, Joseph Jose, Chris Cruz, DJ Icy Ice, Brian Puspos, DJ E-Rock, Andy Tauscan, Muron Marten, Josh Manansala, Gee Crooks, Jules Aurora; 4th row (L-R) Alex Wassabi, Jean Paul Hoang, Don Benjamin, Christian Davies, Matt Cabral.
up at halftime and then shooting jumpers with his friends on the court after the game.” During halftime, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas introduced Apl.de.Ap, who performed hits like “Bebot” and “I Got a Feelin’” alongside Reynoso, Liane V., Jules Aurora, and Jasmine V. “Our culture is being known by the world and I am very proud to be back again to represent our culture, where we come from, and we’re proud… Angelenos, Filipinos,” Apl. de.Ap shared with the Asian Journal. The Clippers Spirit Dance Team also joined the singers with vibrant dance moves across the court. Kyla Fajardo, who is currently the only Fil-Am on the Clippers Spirit Dance Team, said, “I think it’s really awesome that the Clippers does a Filipino Heritage Night because I’ve been super proud of my culture and roots and it’s really nice to see here in LA that we’re appreciating it because there’s a large Filipino population.”
Reynoso, an R&B singer whom Apl.de.Ap discovered through “The Voice Philippines” and has been touring with the Black Eyed Peas, said, “I’m still in shock right now. I never thought I’d get to perform with a group that I looked up to growing up.” After the official game, during which the Clippers beat the Hornets 128-109, a special match between two teams — led by Apl.de.ap and DJ EMan of radio station Power 106 — was held featuring Fil-Am celebrities and influencers in various industries from entertainment to fashion. Team Apl won 59 to 54. Other NBA teams, such as the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets, also have their own versions of nights to recognize their Fil-Am fans. Other sports teams like baseball, from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the San Francisco Giants, do annual celebrations as well. “Coupled with some of the most talented artists/influencers of this generation like P-Lo,
Jessica Reynoso, Liane V., Jules Aurora, Jasmine V., Alex Wassabi, Brian Puspos, with DJs E-Man, E-Rock & Icy Ice, together we showed not only our entertainment spending power but we showed that we can turn any place to feel like a fun, family party filled with dancing, games, karaoke & of course basketball, including the legendary Staples Center,” Cobarrubias said. Cobarrubias also noted that she hopes the success of Clippers’ Filipino Heritage Night will influence other LA teams — that Fil-Ams are loyal to — to host a program like this of their own. As for the Clippers, it’s a given that Filipinos will continue to be celebrated on its home court as preparations for next year’s gathering will soon be underway. “This year’s Filipino Heritage Night set a new bar, and we’re excited to have even more fun as we start planning to celebrate again next year,” Zucker added.
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - January 18, 2019