March 14-16, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 22 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
Sanofi Pasteur ignored warning, says US expert by JEFFERSON
ANTIPORDA ManilaTimes.net
AN American expert on tropical diseases testified before the Senate on Tuesday, March 13, that he warned anti-dengue vaccine maker Sanofi on the health risks of using the Dengvaxia vaccine in 2016, bolstering the government’s case against the French pharmaceutical giant and health officials of the Aquino administration. Scott Halstead told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee he even sent a video of Antonio Dans, a health expert, hoping that it could
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DATELINE
Dr. Scott Halstead tells senators that he had suggested that blood tests be conducted on persons to be inoculated with Dengvaxia because he believed that the vaccine was safe for those found to be seropositive but dangerous for those who have not been infected by the dengue virus. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
RECOGNITION. President Rodrigo Duterte flashes his signature pose with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Salvador Mison, National Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano and personnel of the AFP during the president’s visit to troops at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City. The president hailed the Western Mindanao Command for its efforts against threat groups and mentioned the troops’ operations against the ISIS-inspired Maute group during the five-month battle in Marawi City. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal
DOJ drops drug raps against Duterte: Feed UN Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim rights experts to crocs by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
Calif. domestic workers call for dignity in the workplace A DAY after International Women’s Day, dozens of domestic workers and advocates gathered in Los Angeles on Friday, March 9, to launch a statewide campaign pushing for greater compliance with immigrant worker protections. The campaign was also launched in San Francisco where Assemblymember Phil Ting was in attendance. “I am so happy to gather with you today to stand in our collective power as immigrant working women, as domestic workers, nannies, caregivers, and house cleaners,” said Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of Pilipino Workers Center (PWC). “And on that note — happy International Working Women’s Day,” she added. “Today, we celebrate all of us women who are stand-
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New lawsuit challenges Trump’s plan to end temporary protected status
Plaintiffs fire back on Trump’s alleged controversial ‘sh-thole countries’ remark
THE Trump administration has just been hit with yet another immigration policy-related lawsuit. On Monday, March 12, a group of immigrants and their children have filed a classaction lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over President Donald Trump’s bid to terminate the program that allows them to stay in the U.S. The adult plaintiffs have been allowed in the country through Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a special status that Congress enacted in 1990 that grants temporary residency and work authorization in the U.S. to people from
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by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
THE Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim, and 20 others of drug charges due to lack of evidence, according to a resolution released Monday, March 12. In a resolution dated December 20, 2017, the DOJ dismissed the complaint for sale, administration, dispensation, trading, delivery and transportation of Off the hook: Peter Lim, Peter Co and Kerwin Espinosa
Inquirer.net photos
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ANY United Nations (UN) experts who will come to investigate the alleged human rights violation in the Philippines’ drug war should be fed to crocodiles, said President Rodrigo Duterte. “If these fools come here, are there crocodiles here? The ones that eat people? Throw those sons of b****** to them,” Duterte said in a expletive-peppered speech over the weekend.
Speaking before the military in Zamboanga City, Duterte justified his recent order to the military and the police to not cooperate in any UN human rights investigation, saying it has legal basis. He explained that the best way to protect law enforcers from incriminating themselves is through exercising the right to remain silent. “You know, they say they are investigating us. My God, you
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Resigning ‘easier option’ but Sereno vows to fight ‘til the end by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
“I WILL not resign.” This is what Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno said on Monday, March 12, after her colleagues issued a joint manifesto demanding her to step down from her post. In a speech on Monday at the University of Philippines Diliman, Sereno vowed to fight the impeachment case against her to the end as she refused to give in to calls for
her resignation. “I am determined to wage ‘til the logical end of this battle started by those who seek to undermine the Constitution and the judiciary. I am resolute in carrying on the good and noble fight for judicial independence. I will finish the course of this thorny race,” she said. While admitting that “resignation is the easier option,” the chief justice stressed that she prefers to do the “right” thing: to face
the impeachment trial. “I do not doubt that resignation is the easier option, allowing the weight of the Office of the Chief Justice to be immediately lifted off my shoulders, freeing me to pursue and enjoy many things that ordinary citizens do. It will end the unrelenting attacks against my person, my staff and other court officials,” she pointed out. She continued, “But I do not make choices in life on the basis of what is the
easier option but what is the right thing to do. And without the slightest doubt, the right thing to do is to fight this impeachment to the end.” Sereno further noted that succumbing to others’ demands for her to step down “will only serve to erode the independence of the Supreme Court (SC) and embolden those who demand a subservient judiciary.” “To do so would invite Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno ManilaTimes.net photo
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NAMED BY BILL GATES AS AMONG WORLD’S BEST TEACHERS
Filipino thrilled to be in the Top 10 by NEIL
ALCOBER ManilaTimes.net
JESUS Insilada, a public school teacher from Calinog, Iloilo province, could not believe he was named by philanthropist and entrepreneur Bill Gates as one of the Top 10 finalists for the 2018 Global Teacher Prize of Varkey Foundation, beating tens of thousands of candidates from around the world. He was one of the 30,000 nominees from more than 170 countries. Insilada, who has a doctorate in Edu-
cation and is the principal of Caninguan National High School, was chosen one of the finalists on February 14 through the Foundation’s YouTube channel. He said he was surprised by the announcement. “Di ako makapaniwala, deep inside, I was hoping na makasali sa Top 10. Masaya… flattered with this opportunity to share my story para maging inspirasyon sa iba, (I couldn’t believe it. Deep inside, I was hoping to be included in the Top 10. I’m happy… I feel flattered being given this opportunity to share my story
to be an inspiration to others),” he said. His school learned of the good news during their recognition program, “They were shocked that it was Bill Gates who made the announcement. Sabi ko sa kanila, mag-focus kayo sa studies ninyo at sa mga guro, pag-igihin pa ang pagtuturo. (I told them, focus on your studies. And to teachers, keep striving to improve your teaching.)” he added. Varkey Foundation is a global charitable foundation headquartered in London, focusing on improving the standards of
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A March 14-16, 2018 • La MIDWEEK aSIaN JOUrNaL
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From the Front Page
Sanofi Pasteur ignored warning... PAGE A1 be presented during a Blue Ribbon hearing that same year. Halstead said that Dengvaxia should not be administered to seronegative individuals, or people who had never been infected with the dengue virus. Halstead, a dengue expert, said he published two articles in 2016 suggesting that blood tests should be conducted on recipients of Dengvaxia before the actual vaccine was given. This was because of the health risks Dengvaxia could bring to seronegative individuals. “My contention was the vaccine is safe for seropositive but dangerous for seronegative and you can discriminate between the two through test,” Halstead said. He dismissed the claims of Sanofi that the vaccine would be safe for children 9 years old and above, noting that such declaration did not fit biology of the human species. Sanofi, he said, was aware of
his study because the company responded and even published an answer. “They (Sanofi) said that they did not think there is enough data. And the contention of Sanofi is that there are more people benefited than hurt,” Halstead said. “I was quite astonished and upset that this mass immunization is going forward,” he told the senators. He also said the press release of Sanofi on November 29 saying that the vaccine was effective in patients who had a prior dengue infection but might cause more severe disease otherwise, was based on the result of the test that he had suggested. The Blue Ribbon Committee officially ended its hearing into the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia controversy Tuesday and would be recommending charges to be filed against persons involved in the mess, including former president Benigno Aquino 3rd. In an interview after the hear-
ing, Sen. Richard Gordon said he had yet to discuss the matter with members of the committee, but was looking at recommending charges such as dereliction of duty, negligence and violation of the procurement law. “Definitely anybody that has anything to do with the speed, the undue haste, the wastage of money and above all the severe pain that has been inflicted by deaths, by the painful stress and experience now being faced by our people will be included,” he said when asked who would be included in the recommendation for the filing of cases. Apart from Aquino, Gordon said, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad and health officials of the previous administration headed by Janette Garin would be included in the Blue Ribbon report. Sanofi will be cited for conspiracy, according to Gordon, adding that the company’s desire to
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SERENO SUPPORTERS. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s supporters clad in white shirts shout to condemn efforts to pressure the chief magistrate to quit. In return, Sereno said she would not resign, rejecting calls by judges and court workers for her to make the “supreme sacrifice.” ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
DOJ drops drug raps against... PAGE A1
illegal drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act against the respondents. Espinosa had earlier confessed that he was a drug dealer. Lim, on the other hand, was previously named by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the country’s biggest drug lords. Espinosa had tagged Lim as one of his suppliers of shabu (crystal meth). Apart from Espinosa and Lim, also cleared were alleged New Bilibid Prison (NBP) drug trafficker Peter Co, Marcelo Adorco, Jermy Amang, Lovely Impal, Ruel Malindangan, Max Miro, Jun Pepito, and several others identified only by their aliases. The case was filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) last year. But Assistant State Prosecutors Michael John Humarang and Aristotle Reyes found no probable cause against Espino-
sa, Lim and several others. Prosecutors said the complainant has “failed to present any circumstantial evidence to prove respondents’ illegal drug transactions. “It is undeniable that the evidence in this case is grossly insufficient to justify a finding of probable cause that respondents engaged in the illegal drug trade,” prosecutors added. The resolution was approved by acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said the decision on the case can still be reviewed either through “a motion for reconsideration, or ultimately, by way of automatic review” of his office. Following the controversial dismissal of charges against alleged drug lords, a frustrated Duterte, who is notable for his intense campaign against illegal drugs, said he would review the case himself. In a series of social media
post, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque quoted Duterte venting his ire to Aguirre: “‘Pag nakawala ‘yan si Lim at Espinosa, siya ang ipapalit ko. (If Lim and Espinosa get away, he will replace them.) I can review that dismissal order. Nagamin na nga sa Congress (He [Espinosa] already confessed in Congress)! Why not admit it as evidence against him?” “I will invoke my power of supervision and control and will review dismissal,” Duterte also said, according to Roque. The PNP, for its part, has filed a motion for reconsideration to reverse the decision clearing the drug charges against Espinosa, Lim, and others. “It’s on appeal. We filed a motion for reconsideration in the junking of the case of Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa. We will use all legal remedies to make sure they are held liable,” PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa told reporters. n
Duterte: Feed UN rights...
PAGE A1 fools! If you are investigating us, the rule in criminal law is, any statement or answer that you give may incriminate you,” the president said. He continued: “If you answer their questions, it will be freewheeling, it is recorded. If you are called there, you are bound by whatever you say. So the best way is to just keep silent. Just tell them, ‘We have a Commander-in-Chief.’ Haven’t I told you? I take full responsibility.” In a statement last week, UN Human Rights Office High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein “deplored” Duterte’s order to security forces to ignore inquiries related to his anti-illegal drugs campaign. The UN human rights chief likewise reminded the Philippine government that it “has a duty to uphold human rights and to engage with persons appointed by this Council.” “This son of a b****, stupid chief of (UN Human Rights
Council)..., they got angry because the advice is ‘do not answer questions from them’ and that is for a reason – legal. That is provided for in the Constitution itself,” Duterte said. Duterte’s order to ignore rights probe came after the International Criminal Court (ICC) begun its preliminary examination into the Philippine government’s drug war. The president, however, remained confident that he won’t be tried, as he insisted that the ICC or any other foreign organization has no jurisdiction over him. ‘Crude, inappropriate’ Commenting on the UN human rights chief’s remark that Duterte should have his head examined, Malacañang said UN officials should “respect sitting heads of state.” Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was “wholly unacceptable” for Al Hussein to say that Duterte needs a “psychiatric evaluation.” Pointed out that “all the UN
is composed of an international organization and is composed of sovereign state,” Roque noted that “sovereign states of course are represented by their respective leaders.” “There’s a world of difference between a UN official using crude language against a sitting head of state and the President using any kind of language that he wants on a private individual,” the Palace official told reporters in a briefing. “Especially in this instance, when the person using the crude language is himself without a democratic mandate,” he added. Al Hussein had suggested the need of psychiatric help after the Duterte recent insults against global human rights officials, including UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings Agnes Callamard and ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, whom the president referred to as “undernourished” and “the black one” respectively. n
Resigning ‘easier option’ but Sereno vows... PAGE A1 the kind of extra-constitutional adventurism that treats legal rights and procedures as mere inconveniences that should be set aside when it suits the powers that be,” she added. Earlier on the same day, groups of judges and employees of the high court issued a joint manifesto urging Sereno to vacate from her post. During the flag ceremony at the SC, president of Supreme Court Employees Association (SCEA) Erwin Ocson implored Sereno to resign “for her sake and the sake of the Filipino people.” “Kami po ay nananawagan para na rin po sa kapakanan ng buong sambayanang Pilipino na kayo po ay bumaba na sa pwesto at magbitiw bilang punong mahistrado o chief justice (We are calling for you to step down as Chief Justice for the sake of all Filipinos),” Ocson said. Among the groups who signed the manifesto include the Philippine Judges’ Association (PJA), Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE), and Sandiganbayan Employees’ Association (SBEA). Their members who support the call for
Sereno’s resignation wore red during the ceremony. Ocson went on to say, “The impeachment proceedings in recent months have put the Judiciary in dispute, thereby affecting the honor and integrity of each justices, judges, officials, and rank and file personnel.” “Court officials have been pitted against each other, resulting in a distressing atmosphere,” he added. ‘Have some delicadeza’ In a separate message to Sereno, lawyer Larry Gadon said the top magistrate should have “delicadeza” and just step down. Addressing Sereno, Gadon said, “Sana ay magkaroon ka naman ng ‘delicadeza’ at kahihiyan at dignidad sa sarili mo (You should have ‘delicadeza’ and shame and dignity for herself).” He pointed out: “Ikaw ang pinuno ng bahay, pinapalayas ka. Ikaw ang pinuno ng pamilya, pero tinataboy ka. Ano pa bang mukha ang pinapakita mo nun (You are the head of the house but they’re asking you to leave. You are the head of the family but they’re pushing you away. Do you still have the face to
meet them)?” It was Gadon who filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno. Gadon accused her of culpable of violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption, and other high crimes. Among the grounds for impeachment Gadon cited in his complaint include her alleged misdeclaration of Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), bypassing the en banc, and delaying the benefits of retired SC personnel. With members of the judiciary calling for the Chief justice’s resignation, Gadon recommended Sereno to just resign. “Papasok ka pa ba sa opisina mo na alam na alam mo na lahat ng tao doon ay sinusuka ka (Will you still go to your office even though you everyone is vomiting you out)?” “Kaya kung ako sa kanya, magresign nalang siya para matapos na rin ang lahat ng ito, hindi na tayo mapagod lahat at para din makapahinga siya dahil (That’s why if I were her, I would just resign to end everything, and so that we all won’t get tired because) I’m sure she is really bothered with this case,” he said. n
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Russia probe: Intelligence committee Republicans say ‘no collusion’ GOP ends the announcement despite the special counsel’s push for further inquiry
by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
Following a year of political discord on the issue, Republicans on the House intelligence Committee announced on Monday, March 12 that they had concluded the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians who used social media to influence the election. Rep. K. Michael Conaway (RTexas), who is leading the investigation, said that the committee Republicans acknowledged that Russia did interfere with the 2016 presidential election, but did not agree with the claim that Russians favored Trump’s candidacy. “we found perhaps some bad judgment, inappropriate meetings, inappropriate judgment at taking meetings,” Conaway told reporters on Monday. “But only Tom Clancy or Vince Flynn or someone else like that could take this series of inadvertent contacts with each other, or meetings, whatever, and weave that into some sort of fictional pageturner spy thriller.” The Republican-led committee made its shocking announcement despite Special Counsel Robert Mueller — who has been
overseeing the investigation since May 2017 — has expanded his questioning and inquiry into criminal charges against at least four Trump affiliates. The HiC spoke with a total of 73 witnesses and reviewed more than 300,000 pages of documents, but it failed to interview the man at the center of the investigation, President Donald Trump, himself. in a one-page statement, they said they found no evidence of wrongdoing by President Donald Trump’s team, despite Special Counsel Robert Mueller garnering multiple guilty pleas from 19 individuals and three organizations, including four members of the Trump campaign. The announcement provoked outrage among the Democrats on the committee, who warned their Republican counterparts not to close the investigation before Mueller was finished with his part of the investigation. Democrats in the committee lambasted the goP for their statement, arguing that shutting down the investigation left many “questions unanswered, leads unexplored, countless witnesses uncalled [and] subpoenas unissued,” according to ranking committee member Rep. Adam
Filipino thrilled to be... PAGE A1 education for underprivileged children. it was founded in 2010 by Sunny Varkey, an education philanthropist and entrepreneur from Kerala, india, who is based in Dubai. insilada, also a teacher and member of the Panay-Bukidnon indigenous Peoples’ (iP) community, uses culture-based teaching and inclusive learning in transforming the lives of students in his area. He is also an advocate of iP’s rights and welfare, and strives to contribute to making education culture-sensitive. At least 87 percent of his pupils have shown improvement in grades as they learned through his method of teaching using traditional dances, songs, local games and crafts. insilada will fly to Dubai for the
awarding ceremony on March 18, 2018. Varkey’s global Teacher Prize searches for and recognizes exceptional teachers who have made an outstanding impact on their students and the profession. The other finalists among the 10 best teachers in the world are from Turkey, South Africa, Colombia, the United States, Brazil, Belgium, Australia, the United Kingdom, and norway. They were chosen for bringing positive changes to the lives of learners and their communities. Should he win the coveted $1 million prize, insilada said he would build a museum that would showcase the Panay Bukidnon culture, as well as support local performances and train teachers. insilada has won the Carlos
Schiff (D-Calif.). Schiff noted that although the investigation could be left to Mueller, who possesses the “resources and independence” to complete the task, the investigation itself would be left with some holes. “This fundamentally misapprehends the mission of the Special Counsel, which is to determine whether U.S. laws were broken and who should be prosecuted,” Schiff said in a statement released on Monday. “it is not Mueller’s job to tell the American people what happened. That is our job, and the majority has walked away from it.” Schiff continued: “By ending its oversight role in the only authorized investigation in the House, the majority has placed the interests of protecting the president over protecting the country. And history will judge its actions harshly.” Meanwhile, Mueller’s investigation into whether Trump obstructed justice is said to be close to completion, likely after several interviews with key individuals including the president and his son, Donald Trump, Jr., who previously released bombshell campaign emails that suggested that Russia favored a Trump candidacy. n
Pilipino Workers Center executive director Aquilina Soriano Versoza starts off campaign launch event on March 9, calling for greater compliance with domestic worker protections in California. AJPress photos by Rae Ann Varona
Calif. domestic workers call... PAGE A1 ing up against fear — uniting and making sure that the voices of domestic workers, of immigrant women workers, are heard.” Central to the campaign is the introduction of Assembly Bill 2314, sponsored by Ting, that will include a Domestic work Enforcement Program within the California Department of labor Standards Enforcement. The program will focus on promoting fair labor standards by providing tools and resources to both domestic workers and employers. ‘Our work, our dignity’ “Dignity” was the key word at the launch as attendees chanted and held up signs reading, “our work, our Dignity,” in English, Filipino, and Spanish. lee Plaza, who has been working as a caregiver since arriving in the U.S. from the Philippines in 2012, spoke on behalf of domestic workers and reiterated the need for dignity in their work spaces. “we want to provide dignified care and services as caregivers, as nannies, as house cleaners, but we also want to have dignity for ourselves and to receive what is due to us — fair labor practice, fair wages, and to be able to say that there is dignity with our work,” said Plaza in her speech. over 300,000 domestic workers work in private homes throughout California, with nearly two million households in the state depending on them to care for their loved ones and homes. los Angeles alone has the largest concentration of domestic workers in the entire country. Advocacy and efforts towards basic labor protections of do-
Palanca award multiple times for his Hiligaynon short stories. He received the 2017 Princess Maha Chakri Award, and was one of the 2014 Metrobank Foundation outstanding Teachers. He was also a national awardee for “The Many Faces of the Teacher” of the Bato Balani Foundation, inc. in 2013. Another Filipino teacher, Ryan Hobitan Homan, a literacy champion of San Jose Elementary School in Donsol, Sorsogon, also made it to the top 50 of the global search. “we are truly proud of our teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty. our global Teacher Prize finalists have proven that Filipino teachers do not only impart knowledge to their learners, they also advocate great causes such as the promotion and preservation of culture—the PAGE A1 very soul of our nation,” Education Secretary leonor Briones war-torn countries or countries facing natural disasters. said. n Currently, there are more than 200,000 people living in the U.S. through TPS, and many of them have resided in the U.S. for more than 20 years, according to the American Civil liberties Union (AClU) which is representing the plaintiffs. The Trump administration espoused a narrower version of the federal law that enforces TPS; this new version has been used to terminate TPS status for individuals from El Salvador, Haiti, nicaragua and Sudan. “with the stroke of a pen, this administration upended the lives of hundreds of thousands of people lawfully residing in the United States for years and sometimes decades. But in terminating TPS in the way that it did, this administration was exercising authority it did not have,” Emi Maclean, staff attorney for the national Day laborer organizing network (nDlon) and one of the attorneys
mestic workers — many of who are immigrant women — have been ongoing. Most recently, SB1015 extended the permanent right to overtime pay for domestic workers in 2016. Yet, domestic workers continue to experience poor working conditions, with many still unaware of labor laws that protect them. A 2012 national study of the domestic work sector found that one in four workers reported receiving less than minimum wage. Educate employers often times, domestic workers themselves are not aware of the labor laws that govern in their own homes. “i have a lot of friends — not only Filipinos — that work, especially in board and care, and are receiving like $1,500 a month because they [employers] justify it by giving them free board and care and lodging. But account the lodging and the food, it won’t even amount to the minimum wage that we have,” Plaza told the Asian Journal. in another instance, Plaza recalled showing up to work assigned by her agency, expecting to take care of one patient. instead, her duties went beyond the job description and required her to take care of the patient’s spouse and grandkids, tend to the garden, and feed the cats and dogs. “it’s just like buying one and taking more,” said Plaza. Comedienne and actress Julia wackenheim represented Caring Across generations, and spoke from an employer’s point of view on the importance of supporting
fair domestic worker rights for the wellbeing of the client. “in the same way we go to our offices and expect a livable wage, insurance, a normal hourly wage — we must provide that for the caregivers that we employ,” said wackenheim. “The employees that work for me and my family have been in terrible situations previously where they were constantly in fear of their jobs, whether or not they would have enough money to pay for rent, and food, and clothes, and that must stop now,” she added. ‘Work that makes all work possible’ in the Philippines, Plaza was an educator and dean at a university. She said many of her co-caregivers had their own careers back home too, with some even being medical doctors. Coming into the undervalued domestic work industry where jobs are often seen as easy, substandard treatment and humiliation are commonly shared experiences. “Caregiving or domestic work is the work that makes all work possible,” said Plaza, who like many, has had to work with clients dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s. “without us, the family of the patients that we are handling cannot really do what we do.” Joining the leadership and advocacy side, Plaza is now looking to use her skills in educating both workers and employers of the fair labor laws. “Each one has the responsibility to know their obligations as employers, and we should also know our obligations as workers and our responsibilities too,” she said. (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)
New lawsuit challenges Trump’s plan... representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. in January, Trump received major pushback for allegedly referring to the countries these TPS holders hail from as “shithole countries,” suggesting that the U.S. need not accept more individuals from these countries. That remark partially fuelled this lawsuit, which stated that the new law violates the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause because “it was motivated by intentional race- and nationalorigin-based animus against individuals” from these countries. “it arises from the Trump Administration’s repeatedly-expressed racism toward non-white, non-European people from other countries,” the lawsuit reads. The children plaintiffs — who are U.S. citizens — claim that the termination of the TPS program forces them to choose between leaving the country to be with their parents or stay in the U.S. without them, effectively revoking their rights to remain in their
home country to be raised by their parents. According to the lawsuit, those children hold an “absolute right to remain in the United States” according to the Fourteenth Amendment. “As with any child, their wellbeing and future development are tied to nurturing and stable relationships with their parents. Science confirms this common sense understanding,” the lawsuit reads. “Children of immigrants acutely suffer when their parents face even the possibility of deportation. The fear of deportation is directly tied to the prevalence of stress-related illness in children, including higher levels of anxiety and trauma, depression and family instability.” if the Trump administration’s action remains in effect, the deportations would occur next year, which could impact the 200,000 TPS holders as well as tens of thousands of their Americanborn children. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
Sanofi Pasteur ignored warning... PAGE A2 regain its capital was the reason it pushed Dengvaxia to the Philippine government despite the risks. gordon noted during the hearing that neighboring countries Malaysia and Singapore did not purchase Dengvaxia when it was offered to them. “So this means that we were reckless,” he said. Mother breaks down A mother whose child was given the controversial Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine broke down as she expressed frustration over the alleged insensitivity of some doctors and the lack of information on the waiver she signed that allowed her child to be part of the government’s mass immunization program. “what’s been happening to us, it’s not just the kids getting hurt, but also the parents. we are very stressed,” said Carolina Casejo at the resumption of the Senate hearing on Dengvaxia on Tuesday. Casejo cited the alleged harsh treatment of a doctor who, she claimed, hit her child with papers the doctor had. The child had been taking pictures and was warned before he was hit. “i feel so hurt . . . i felt humiliated with the other parents and Dengvaxia victims there,” said Casejo who joined other parents whose children were inoculated with the vaccine. Casejo said she did not get the name of the doctor but had reported the incident to the director’s office of the Philippine Chil-
dren’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City. Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi, PCMC executive assistant, apologized and told her that the hospital had obtained the name of the doctor, who would be subjected to disciplinary action. Casejo also said that another PCMC doctor had diagnosed her child with Thalassemia, an inherited sickness of the blood that leads to anemia. But she said she remained adamant that Dengvaxia was the cause of the complications to her child’s health. She said her child developed cough and cold, and fever of 39.2 degrees Celsius one week after receiving the dengue vaccine. Casejo even showed a ledger where she claimed to have detailed the symptoms her child experienced. “This is complete with what my child experiences every day. Every day i write them down, i count them.” She said her child had also experienced anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, three times from September to December. She expressed her frustration over the lack of information on the waiver that she and other parents signed. “The details were not complete in the waiver i signed,” Casejo said. gordon said it was this insufficiency of information from concerned government ofices that was one of the major causes of the Dengvaxia controversy.
“our people are on the losing end here. Because they were not informed properly, their children die. They lost without a fight. They do not know. it is the lack of information that killed the children,” he said in Filipino. “it is the right of the patients inoculated to be informed,” he added. Parents of the children who were inoculated with the vaccine were also present, and became emotional as well. Present in the hearing were Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd and former Health secretary Paulyn Ubial. Duque said he requested for the use of government funds so that he could, among others, appoint a team of 500 nurses to serve as surveillance officers who would go around schools and communities to regularly monitor the state of Dengvaxia recipients. Duque also tapped the Red Cross in several regions to help bring potential victims directly to hospitals. Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo said the Health department was planning to collaborate with the Department of Science and Technology to develop a reliable method of serotesting or of determining whether the patient was a firsttime dengue patient. At least three of the 14 reported fatalities were traced to Dengvaxia although further studies were needed, according to a study by a team from the University of the Philippines and Philippine general Hospital. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Robredo: Ousting Sereno via quo warranto will set ‘dangerous precedent’ by Audrey
MorAllo Philstar.com
MANILA — Echoing Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Tuesday, March 13, that allowing the removal of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno through a quo warranto petition could set a “dangerous precedent.” Robredo asked if this move to oust Sereno could also be used against other impeachable officers, including President Rodrigo Duterte. “For me, a quo warranto can affect all of us because it sets a dangerous precedent,” she said in Filipino in an interview at the ADP Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Talk. “If a quo warranto is given due course, does this mean that even the president can be removed using quo warranto?” she added. Drilon on Monday, March 12, said the quo warranto case could lead to the ouster of impeachable officers such as Duterte through the same means. Robredo also urged the critics of Sereno to allow her impeachment process to continue, just days after the House Committee on Justice found probable cause in the complaint filed against her by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon. She also stressed the need to provide the embattled chief justice, who is currently on an indefinite leave, an opportunity to prove her innocence in the Senate should it convene itself into an impeachment court. Disagreements among justices of the Supreme Court should also not be seen by the public and should be resolved among them-
DENGVAXIA FIASCO. Senator Richard Gordon (left), chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, presides over the continuation hearing on the P3.5-billion worth of dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, that had been administered to students nationwide by the Health Department held at the Senate in Pasay City on Tuesday, March 13. Also in the photo (from right) are vaccine expert Dr. Scott Halstead, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Forensic Laboratory Director Dr. Erwin Erfe, PAO Chief Atty. Persida Acosta, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) member and scientist Dr. Antonio Dans, former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial and present Health Secretary Francisco Duque. The Senate started the investigation on the Dengvaxia after its producer Sanofi-Pasteur admitted the vaccine could cause severity of the disease in those who had not contracted dengue before availing it. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Sotto told to bare source of poll fraud allegations Vice President Leni Robredo delivered the keynote speech at the opening of the 19th FICTAP International Cable Television Congress and Exhibit held at the Manila Hotel in Pasay City on Thursday, March 8. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President
selves, Robredo said. Robredo warned that the public spats among justices could shake the trust of the Filipino people in the SC and the judiciary. “If they have internal problems, these should be resolved within themselves,” the vice president said. “The Filipino people should not see these.” The country’s second highest government official, however, refused to say if there was really pressure on court employees and judges after some of them openly called on their boss to step down supposedly for the sake of the judiciary, which the chief justice rejected. Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide said that such calls violated Sereno’s rights and were “worse” than impeachment. The vice president, who is a lawyer, said that efforts to remove Sereno outside of the constitutionally-prescribed mode of
impeachment were illegal. “The filing of a quo warranto (petition) sets a bad precedent. This is a bad precedent because there is an attempt to shortcut the process. This is against the Constitution,” she said. Sereno is facing an impeachment case at the House and a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida before the SC. In filing the petition, Calida questioned Sereno’s hold on office after she allegedly failed to comply with some of the requirements of the Judicial and Bar Council for the post. The high court has given Sereno 10 days to answer the solicitor general’s petition. Gadon meanwhile moved for the removal of Sereno based on 27 acts which allegedly amounted to culpable violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes. n
by MAyen JAyMAlin Philstar.com
MANILA — Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes urged Sen. Vicente Sotto III to reveal his source for the allegations of fraud in the 2016 automated elections. Brillantes expressed doubt about Sotto’s claim, noting it is not possible to transmit tampered results a day before the actual elections. “I don’t believe that transmissions done before election day can be counted as part of the official results,” Brillantes said, noting the series of transmission tests done prior to election day. He said the Comelec had conducted automated elections in the past eight years and there had been no proof showing the results were manipulated. “I am surprised with the claim of Sotto. Who is his source, maybe I know him and I think the senator should not trust him,” Brillantes said. He said an investigation must be conducted to identify Sotto’s
source. Rampant cheating in previous manual elections, Brillantes said, could not happen in automated elections. Voters can be paid, but voting machines cannot be tampered with, he said. He cited an event during the 2010 elections wherein a losing congressional candidate complained of poll fraud and early transmission, but it was never proven. He said the Senate should conduct an inquiry to give Sotto an opportunity to prove his claim and the Comelec to comment on the matter. Brillantes said Sotto’s allegations could erode public trust in the election system. He said this could only be addressed if the source would be identified. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body also wants to know Sotto’s source. Jimenez said they reached out to Sotto and the Comelec immediately submitted the documents requested by the senator.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III
Philstar.com photo
He said voting machines have audit logs, which can be checked if a transmission was made before election day. Jimenez reiterated Brillantes’ call for an investigation in order to shed light on the matter and the truth to come out. “We cannot assume that the allegations are correct because nothing was proven yet,” Jimenez said. “For now, we cannot confirm anything because what we have are only copies of pictures from the TV. That would not be enough to serve as basis for any conclusions,” he added. n
Ex-DENR chief Gina Lopez favors ‘strong arm’ Boracay closure pez, a long-time environment advocate, told Philstar.com that she is “very much in favor of MANILA — For former Envi- what the president is doing.” President Rodrigo Duterte last ronment chief Gina Lopez, the government should prioritize the month threatened to shut down environment over business as she the top tourist destination, sayvoiced approval for the Duterte ing it has become a cesspool. He also directed the Departadministration’s move to address ment of Environment and Natuissues on Boracay Island. Asked about her stand on the ral Resources to recommend a Philstar.com photo potential closure of Boracay, Lo- course of action regarding the by rosette
Adel
Philstar.com
Former Environment chief Gina Lopez
island’s problems within 60 days. “It can’t be business at a cost of taking care of the environment. You know, you’ll ruin everything so it’s good you come down strong and everybody else gets on their feet,” Lopez told Philstar.com. Lopez disclosed that she is not familiar with hotel operations so she cannot comment on how
long the closure should be. “But I’m very much in favor of the strong arm for the environment,” Lopez, whose appointment the congressional Commission on Appointments rejected last year, said. The Department of Interior and Local Government previously proposed a two-month business shutdown and placing PAGE A7
A6 MARCH 14-16, 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
FEATURES
Cleared
THE presidential spokesman said the fight isn’t over yet – “Hindi pa tapos ang boksing (The boxing fight is not over yet). ” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for his part stressed that his department’s junking of drug charges filed against self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, alleged drug trafficker Peter Lim and several other respondents was not yet final. The clarifications were issued as the Senate considered a probe into the Department of Justice resolution clearing Espinosa, Lim, New Bilibid Prison drug convict Peter Co and more than a dozen other respondents of drug charges. Espinosa is the son of the late Albuera town mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was shot dead in his jail cell by a police team that was ostensibly trying to search his detention area for drugs during a predawn raid on Nov. 5, 2016. Facing a congressional probe, Kerwin Espinosa said he was the drug dealer and not his father. He also claimed that he contributed money to the Senate campaign of Leila de Lima when she was the secretary of justice. A state witness, Espinosa’s henchman Marcelo Adorco, claimed that Lim supplied the drugs that Espinosa distributed. Lim, a Cebu-based businessman who is reportedly in the most wanted list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, denied
the accusation. He and his brother are supporters of President Duterte, who met with Lim in Davao City when the businessman was implicated in drug deals. The resolution, signed by Assistant State Prosecutors Michael John Humarang and Aristotle Reyes, questioned the credibility of Adorco and cited weak evidence in dismissing the charges. Aguirre claimed he was unaware of the resolution. Because of Lim’s known ties to the President as well as Espinosa’s testimony against De Lima, the DOJ resolution has raised eyebrows, and revived questions on whether the administration is waging a selective war on drugs. Questions have also been raised on why the resolution dated Dec. 20, 2017 was not made public, with the case becoming known only this week after journalists obtained a copy of the resolution. and other crimes is always compromised by the Any campaign against illegal drugs, corruption selective application of the law. The administration
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
must convince the nation that this is not the case in the ongoing war on drugs. (Philstar.com)
‘NO COLLUSION’
The Fil-Am Perspective
Republicans on House Intelligence Committee end Russia probe, break away from US intelligence community to conclude Putin did not help Trump win
GEL SANTOS-RELOS WHAT’S THE RUSH? Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee this week ended the year-long Russia probe without informing the Democrats in the committee, announcing that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not trying to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election. They also concluded, “there was no collusion” between the Trump campaign and Russia, as Putin’s government interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This goes against the findings of the U.S. intelligence community (CIA, FBI, Senate Intelligence Committee et c), and even the Mueller criminal investigation that indeed Russia meddled in the elections through cyber warfare and hacking, by bombarding fake news to weaken the candidacy of Hillary Clinton
and help Trump win. While these Republicans on the committee conceded that Russians meddled in the elections to sow chaos, they disputed the intelligence community’s assessment that they tried to help Trump win the election. “We found no evidence of collusion, and so we found perhaps some bad judgment, inappropriate meetings,” Texas Republican Rep. Mike Conaway said. “We found no evidence of any collusion of anything people were actually doing other than taking a meeting they shouldn’t have taken or just inadvertently being in the same building.” The top Democrat in the committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, lashed out at the Republicans’ decision to end the probe, saying, “While the majority members of our committee have indicated for some time that they have been
under great pressure to end the investigation, it is nonetheless another tragic milestone for this Congress, and represents yet another capitulation to the executive branch.” Schiff continued on to point out that “By ending its oversight role in the only authorized investigation in the House, the Majority has placed the interests of protecting the president over protecting the country, and history will judge its actions harshly.” Former CIA official Phil Mudd questioned the House Republican report asking, “How the heck can they say they got to the bottom of this” when some interviewees chose not to answer questions?” When the assessment was released, James Clapper, who was director of National Intelligence in the Obama administration, likewise questioned the conclusion of the Republicans in the
House Intelligence Committee. “I obviously disagree. The four intelligence chiefs all agreed with the assessment, which was based on highly classified intelligence,” Clapper said in a report on CNN. “This is a case of people living in their own reality bubbles when we can’t agree on basic facts. Clapper further noted that U.S. intelligence found Putin had deep animus toward Clinton and saw Trump as more friendly toward Russia. Democrats in the House Intelligence Committee said the Republicans rushed through the final interviews, even allowing witnesses to pick and choose which questions they answer. As CNN reported, the committee issued a subpoena to former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon in January, but in his return testimony, he still did not answer questions about his
In pursuit of lasting peace
PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. (PART 1 OF 3) (Remarks of Hon. Jose De Venecia, Former Speaker, Philippine House of Representatives; Founding Chairman, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); Co-Chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Chairman Emeritus, Universal Peace Federation (UPF); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and for Intercultural Dialogue at the UPF International Leadership Conference 2018 “Building a World of Lasting Peace: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values” Seoul, Republic of Korea; February 18-22, 2018.) Excellencies, friends, ladies and gentlemen, We are honored to welcome you all to this UPF International Leadership Conference 2018. We thank the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), the much-loved leader, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the spirit and legacy of the late Rev. Sun MyungMoon, founder of UPF and its successful global outreach, and its outstanding President, Dr. Thomas Walsh. Extraordinary moment: North and South Korean athletes walk side by side under
“unification” flag Excellencies, friends: At the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics several days ago, the North and South Korean athletes marched together behind a blue-and-white “unification” flag for the first time in more than a decade. It was an emotionally charged historic moment, which sends a powerful signal that peace, though it may be difficult, elusive, and distant, is not impossible. We in the UPF and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) applaud Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong-Un for sending a high-level delegation, including his sister, Kim Yo Jong, to the Pyeongchang Olympics and for perhaps creating the beginnings of the SeoulPyongyang informal or formal talks. These laudable gestures have raised hopes for peace and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula. We equally commend South Korean President Moon Jae-in for his vision, leadership and initiative in carving out a new path to signal better relations between the two Koreas. We hope that the North and South Korea display of unity at the Pyeongchang Olympics will be built upon and serve as harbinger of a new chapter in political and economic engagement in the Korean Peninsula, and, to quote President Moon Jae-in, “a precious
starting point for a step toward world peace.” Transfer of ICAPP Secretariat from Manila to Seoul In 2006, as my small, humble contribution in helping encourage direct talks between Seoul and Pyongyang, I transferred from Manila to Seoul the Secretariat of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which I founded and established in Manila in September, 2000 and of which I am Chairman of its Standing Committee up to now. The ICAPP Secretariat is now most active in Seoul and headed by Secretary General Park Ro-byug, an experienced South Korean diplomat, and by my Co-Chairman, now South Korean National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong. I am proud to inform you that since we formed ICAPP in Manila in 2000, ICAPP now counts some 350 ruling, opposition, and independent parties from 52 countries in Asia, and the Korean Workers Party of North Korea is a member of ICAPP. Ideological differences shouldn’t get in the way Excellencies, friends: In Northeast Asia today, we need to develop pragmatic and creative methods that will try to rebuild North-South relations in the Korean Peninsula— without hopefully allowing too many of the ideological differences to get in the way. My interest in such an outcome is personal as well as professional—because my
earliest voluntary errands in Philippine foreign policy involved North Korea. In 1990, I visited Pyongyang as then acting Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, in an informal pioneering effort to try to open Philippine diplomatic relations with North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)—to try to discourage it at the time from giving material and moral support to guerrillas of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the Philippines. This was at a time Pyongyang itself was also trying to broaden its East Asian friendships; and I met with the North Korean leader, President Kim Il Sung, at his mountain villa north of Pyongyang. I was accompanied then by Filipino Congressman Miguel Romero, now deceased, Philippine business leader Len Oreta, who is married to the younger sister of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta, and civic and education leader Nestor Kalaw. Despite his forbidding reputation, I found the legendary Kim Il Sung widely and keenly interested in the outside world: our appointment of ten minutes stretched to more than one hour as he and I exchanged views on many issues. I was later informed it is rare that he entertains visitors for a long period. When I inquired into the possibility of another war on the Ko-
u PAGE A7
time in the White House. Democrats also wanted to subpoena the committee’s last two witnesses, outgoing White House communications director Hope Hicks and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski to get their testimonies under oath and to compel them to produce documents needed in the investigation, but Republicans did not issue them. Schiff contended after Lewandowski’s interview last week, ”There are a number of steps that I think any credible investigator would say, ‘These need to be done,’ and we still hope that they will be.” Trump was quick to exonerate the Trump campaign through his favorite platform Twitter, stating in all caps: “THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS, AFTER A 14 MONTH LONG IN-DEPTH IN-
VESTIGATION, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.” BUT this development only ends the probe in the House Intelligence Committee. The Senate will continue with its own investigation, and so will the team of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The American people deserve to know the TRUTH, and the Republicans in Congress and President Trump should not get in the way. *** 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.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
‘The UN Human Rights Commissioner owes President Duterte a full apology’ Commentary
RIGOBERTO TIGLAO THAT headline are not my words but those of Adam Garrie, an analyst and prolific writer in a piece in the news and opinion website “Eurasia Future.” Garrie is described there as “a global specialist with an emphasis on Eurasian integration, and his articles have been published in the Oriental Review, Asia Times, Global Research, RT’s Op-Edge, Global Village Space and others.” Garrie does seem to be of the pro-Russia worldview. But as I have pointed out in my Facebook page and elsewhere, it is crucial for us to get out of the U.S. and European worldview that has dominated our minds for the past century—which explains to some extent our country’s underdevelopment— or at least to balance it with other intellectual frameworks. Even many of our supposedly esteemed journalists, I’m convinced, have turned out to be brainwashed by American thinking, that several are now in U.S. institutions as if they were born there. In the following article, Garrie gives an analysis that I agree with totally. I think he is more Filipino than
the Yellow propagandists in this country who have been painting the country and its president black to please their American colleagues and masters. Garrie’s article starts here: In 1970, Jordanian forces killed over 3,000 Palestinian refugees who had fled their homeland during the 1967 Arab–Israeli War. The Palestinian Liberation Organization along with many thousands of refugees were then relocated to Lebanon after a mass expulsion, after a brutal suppression of their activities known as Black September. Today, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan acts as a kind of parking lot for American tanks and armaments which then illegally pass into the sovereign territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. While Jordan has allowed the U.S. to use its country as a base from which to inflict suffering onto the Syrian people, the suffering of Palestinians likewise continues with little meaningful Jordanian protest. Against this backdrop, UN Human Rights Office High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein of Jordan found time to criticize Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for his war against terrorism and the related war on drugs. While the Jordanian head of state is a hereditary monarch, President Duterte was democratically elected and continues to enjoy the support of the vast majority of Filipino people, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein has slammed PAGE A7
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 14-16, 2018
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Drilon, ConCom seek end to political dynasties by Bernadette
e. tamayo
ManilaTimes.net
SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday, March 12, sought the immediate passage of the anti-political dynasty law as he vowed anew to include a provision in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) prohibiting political dynasties in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR). The Consultative Committee (ConCom) that is reviewing the Constitution also voted on Monday to put an end to political dynasties. The BBL aims to abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to be replaced by BAR. Drilon noted that poor provinces in the ARMM are ruled by dynasties. Citing a study conducted by Dean Ronald Mendoza of the Ateneo School of Government, Drilon said three provinces in the ARMM — Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Sulu — are among the poorest in Mindanao. Drilon said the study “clearly shows the relation between poverty and political dynasty.” Based on the study, 81 percent of governors, 78 percent of congressmen, 69 percent of mayors and 57 percent of vice mayors come from political
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon ManilaTimes.net photo
clans. Drilon said judging from the responses of resource persons during the public hearings on Charter Change, Filipinos want Congress to pass the anti-political dynasty law before amending the Constitution. “There is a growing appeal for Congress to pass the enabling law that will ban or regulate political dynasty in the country, as stated under the 1987 Constitution before amending the Constitution to shift to a federal form of government,” he said. “Ultimately, any proposal to amend or revise the Constitution will be submitted to the people for ratification,” said Drilon, one of the principal authors of an anti-dynasty bill in the Senate. “Hence, it behooves the pro-
ponents and supporters of Charter Change and federalism to listen to the demands of the people,” he said. Legal luminaries have also called for the passage of an antipolitical dynasty law, including former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who heads the consultative body tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution. The Consultative Committee (ConCom) voted on Monday to put an end to the practice of so-called “political dynasties” of passing on their positions to relatives one after another. Members of the ConCom voted 17 to 1 to prohibit any succession by a relative up to the second-degree of relations by blood (consanguinity) or by marriage (affinity) in any elective position in all levels of government from national, regional, provincial, city, municipality and barangay. “This means that an elected official who is ending his term may not be succeeded by his spouse, his children and their spouses, his grandchildren, his brothers and sisters and their spouses, his parents and grandparents, his spouse’s parents and grandparents, and his spouse’s brothers and sisters and their spouses,” ConCom said in a statement. n
In pursuit of lasting... PAGE A6 rean Peninsula, he dismissed the liability outright. Conflict would be foolish—he said emphatically—it would only cause “mutual destruction” in both North and South Korea that neither side could afford to suffer. In no uncertain terms, he told me: “If we attack the South, the South will be destroyed. But we in the North will also be destroyed.” Thus, when today Pyongyang, with leader Kim Jong-Un, his grandson, and previously his son, Kim Jong-Il, rattles the sounds of war in the Korean Peninsula, I remember those words of practical wisdom from the late Kim Il Sung. Most importantly, at the same time, in response to my request and appeal, Kim Il Sung did me and my colleagues honor and he promised and indeed put in writing that North Korea would not give aid and comfort to our
Filipino NPA guerrillas—who had, by then, been fighting to overthrow the Philippine State for more than two decades. President Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea, told me that by the time we leave for Beijing en route to Manila, the North Korean government would have the letter ready. And he kept his promise. Philippines-North Korea diplomatic relations And on my invitation, President Kim Il Sung sent to Manila, a few weeks after I left Pyongyang, his Deputy Premier Kim Dahl Hyun to finalize the agreement with our then Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus, which expeditiously resulted in diplomatic relations between Manila and Pyongyang. That was the most successful result of our trip to North Korea. Today the North Korean
Ambassador in Bangkok is accredited to Manila, presents his credentials to the Philippine President in Manila, and visits Manila from time to time. Similarly, our active Ambassador in Beijing is accredited in Pyongyang. I had since turned over to then President Corazon Aquino, the beloved late President, the priceless North Korean document signed by North Korean Deputy Premier Kim Dahl Hyun committing the North Korean Government not to give aid and comfort to the insurgent Philippine New People’s Army. I specifically asked this document from the President of North Korea (DPRK) and he authorized Deputy Premier Kim to sign it and handed to me. I in turn proudly presented the document to then President Cory Aquino in Malacanang Palace when we returned to Manila. n
RUN FOR DRUGS RECOVERY. The Philippine National Police (PNP), through the Police Community Relations Group, launched the 1st Chief PNP Run dubbed as “Takbo Kontra Droga” at the Quirino Parade Grounds in Manila. The activity, which was participated by PNP personnel, non-government organizations and civilians, aims to support the Wellness and Recovery Program of Tokhang. It also aims to promote health awareness and empower individuals and communities to be responsible for their own health through running. Proceeds of the activity will be used in the Wellness and Recovery Programs of the PNP nationwide. Photo courtesy of PNP-PIO
Ex-DENR chief Gina Lopez favors... PAGE A5 Boracay under six-month state of calamity. A declaration of a state of calamity makes emergency funds available to local governments. The Senate committee on environment that conducted probe into the tourist destination, however, opposed the total closure of the island. They are recommending to only close establishments that did not comply with environmental standards. During her speech at the launch of nationwide search “Quest for Love”, to be featured on her travel show “G Diaries”, Yes, through thick and thin, that agreement which we forged in Pyongyang in the summer of 1990 has kept our two states friendly and cooperative until now. I must say that I have since developed close relations with the CPP-NPA-NDF leaders Jose Maria “Joma” Sison; my high school classmate at De La Salle Luis Jalandoni, then CPP-NPANDF chief negotiator with the Philippine government on the peace talks, and now senior adviser; and with Fidel Agcaoile, their new chief negotiator, and have helped push over the years, and hopefully success at some time, sooner than later, a final peace agreement with our Communist brothers at home. (To be continued next week)
Lopez noted how there is a lack of “genuine” economic growth in Boracay. “You know, look at Boracay, Boracay [earns] P20 billion yearly. But I was told the original settlers of Boracay … they’re called kulots – are somewhere there in the mountains,” Lopez said, referring to the Ati people of Aklan. “You know you make P20 billion pesos in an island every year and the people… that’s their home that’s their island and they’re somewhere there in the mountains. You can never bring on economic growth like this,”
she added. Lopez said the island can have genuine economic growth through area development, which her foundation “I Love” wishes to accomplish. In April 2017, Lopez also criticized the tourism model of Boracay saying it displaces the poor. “I don’t like Boracay… But the people who live in Boracay, where are they? They call them kulot (curly). They’re somewhere there in the mountain,” Lopez was quoted in a business forum last year. “I don’t believe in that kind of tourism,” she added. n
‘The UN Human Rights Commissioner... PAGE A6 Duterte for the naming of a UN official Victoria Tauli-Corpuz as a sympathizer of the New People’s Army terrorist group. Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein said, “It makes one believe that the president of the Philippines needs to submit himself to some sort of psychiatric evaluation.” Frankly, what ought to be subject to a wider evaluation is the fact that the UN Human Rights Commission has totally failed in its duty to address genuine human rights disasters in disputed territories. This includes the failure of the UN to do anything meaningful for Palestine, Kashmir, the Serbian refugees of the
1999 NATO war and occupation of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the war of aggression against the people of Donbass, just to name a few. The Philippines is a country that for years has faced an insurgency from the New People’s Army and from extremist Moro groups, including the Daeshaligned Maute Group. Duterte, in declaring a state of martial law in Mindanao, was able to defeat the Maute Group after they attacked the city of Marawi in May of 2017. However, the country continues to face a protracted insurgency from the al-Qaida-styled Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. (ManilaTimes.net)
A March 14-16, 2018 • La MIDWEEK aSIaN JOUrNaL
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 14-16, 2018
B
PH ‘most vulnerable’ to Trump protectionism by Mayvelin
U. caraballo ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippines will end up as a “biggest loser” if U.S. President Donald Trump continues a push to deliver on protectionist campaign promises, a London-based consultancy said in a new rerport. Capital Economics noted that recent developments, from the resignation of White House chief economic advisor Gary Cohn — a free trade advocate — to the introduction of tariffs on products ranging from solar panels to steel, were fueling fears of a global trade war. “The bigger concern is that recent events represent a turning point in U.S. policy that lead to a much broader and deeper shift towards protectionism,” Capital Economics added. It is no surprise that China is in U.S. President Donald Trump’s sights and will likely be the main target of any trade war, the consultancy pointed out, given his focus on bilateral trade deficits. Not only does China have a much bigger bilateral surplus with the U.S. than any other country, but that surplus has actually increased sharply during Trump’s first year in office and now stands at a record level. But other countries in the region, notably the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and Korea, also look vulnerable to a shift toward protectionism. “The Philippines would be
the biggest loser if Trump followed through on his previous threats to punish American companies that outsource jobs abroad,” it said. The country’s thriving business process outsourcing sector (BPO) is a main driver of the economy, last year contributing revenues equivalent to about 10 percent of gross domestic product. “What happens next is highly uncertain. But given recent events, there is a clear risk that the U.S. moves in a much more protectionist direction over the coming months,” Capital Economics said, “If this happened, we think the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and Korea would be the most vulnerable countries,” it added. The National Economic and Development Authority, which warned back in 2016 that BPO firms needed to diversify in the wake of threats aired by Trump, earlier this year tagged BPO’s as having contributed to a fourth quarter slowdown in services exports. “We must note that a major contributing factor to this decline was miscellaneous services, which includes the BPO industry…,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in January. “We can take this as an indication that the current market profile of the BPO sector is ripe to move into higher value added services,” he added. n
PH lauded for submission of aviation emissions plan THE International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has commended the Philippines for the voluntary submission of a state action plan to limit carbon dioxide emissions. The Civil Aviation Administration of the Philippines said that ICAO Secretary-General Fang Lui, in a letter, described the action plan’s submission as “an opportunity to establish and showcase strategies to reduce aviation emissions.” “In this regard, we commend the commitment of the Government of the Philippines towards environmental sustainability,” Liu was quoted as saying in the letter. The plan includes measures such as the development of biofuel as an alternative and the establishment of a performancebased navigation (PBN) system in all public aerodromes. All frequently used CAAP airports will also now be installed with solar power systems to power up offices and small
equipment as well as runway lights. The Transportation department has expressed support for a shift to environmentallyfriendly measures but also admitted significant challenges. “At this point in time, we do not have the facilities for the hybrid fuel. This is true even in more advanced countries,” Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Tamayo has said. “The Philippines has voluntarily applied to take part in the CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) and has submitted a state action plan to ICAO,” he noted. n
Government settles P680.47 billion in liabilities in 2017
This, however, is slightly higher than the P647.27 billion programmed for debt payments set under the 2017 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing document of the Department of Budget and Management. Philstar.com file photo by Mary
Grace Philstar.com
Padin
THE national government spent P680.47 billion for debt payments in 2017, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported. According to latest data from the BTr, the national government settled P680.47 billion in liabilities last year, 13.86 percent lower than the P789.97 billion paid in 2016. This, however, is slightly higher than the P647.27 billion programmed for debt payments set under the 2017 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing document of the Department of Budget and Management. For the month of December alone, debt service amounted to P27.96 billion, up 12.2 percent. The government allots a portion of its budget for debt payments to settle obligations on a monthly basis, depending on
their maturity. Of the total debt payments in 2017, about P310.54 billion was spent on interest payments. The remaining P369.93 billion came in the form of principal payments. Interest payments were two percent higher than the P304.45 billion settled in 2016. Further broken down, interest payments for domestic liabilities amounted to P210.48 billion, while interest payments for foreign debt accounted for P100.07 billion. The BTr earlier attributed the increase in interest payments to coupon payments for retail Treasury bonds issued in September 2016 and April 2017, as well as fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. According to the BTr, this remained seven percent below program, generating savings of P24.3 billion for the government. n
FDIs reach record $10.05 billion in 2017 – BSP According to data from the BSP, net inflow of FDIs last year amounted to $10.05 billion, 21.4 percent higher than the $8.28 billion recorded in 2016.
by Mary
Grace Philstar.com
Padin
MANILA, Philippines — Net inflow of foreign direct investments (FDIs) reached a record high of $10.05 billion in 2017 on the back of positive investor sentiment amid the country’s sound macroeconomic prospects, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Monday, March 12. According to data from the BSP, net inflow of FDIs last year amounted to $10.05
billion, 21.4 percent higher than the $8.28 billion recorded in 2016. It also breached the full-year 2017 target of $8 billion earlier set by the BSP. “Investors continue to view the country as a favorable investment destination on the back of the country’s sound macroeconomic fundamentals and growth prospects,” the BSP said. The economy expanded 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, leading to a fullyear growth of 6.7 percent in 2017. Eco-
Photo by Edd Gumban/Philstar.com
nomic managers expect economic growth this year to hover between seven and eight percent. Last year, the BSP said all major FDI components registered increases during the period. In particular, net equity capital investments rose 25.9 percent to $3.26 billion from $2.59 billion in 2016. This happened as gross placements, amounting to $3.74 billion, outpaced withdrawals which only reached $479 million. u PAGE B2
B MARCH 14-16, 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
Business news
Philippines eyes industrialization with China’s help by RichaRd
MeRcuRio Philstar.com
THE Philippines is shifting to high gear as the government pushes its industrialization plans to catch up with its more industrialized neighbors in the region. Expected to play a key role in this development under the current administration is new ally China, the world’s second largest economy and a nation no stranger to industrialization. With previously damaged political ties of the two countries mended, China is now seen as an important player in attaining the Philippines’ much longed-for industrialization. “Industrialization is a priority of the administration, it is an important element of our inclusive growth strategy to ensure that growth would be broad-based, generate more and better jobs, eliminate poverty, and result in shared prosperity for all,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told The STAR. “We should continue to strengthen our trade and investment cooperation with China, especially now that China is already moving towards a services-oriented economy and as its manufacturing investments shift to other countries. We should be ready to serve as an alternative investment destination for these manufacturing activities being relocated to relatively low-cost countries, as well as in deepening our participation in global value chain activities where China plays an important role,” Lopez said. Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Charito Plaza agrees that forging closer economic and diplomatic ties with China would be beneficial in realizing the Philippines’ industrialization dreams, given China’s status as the number one global producer of goods. “On the economic front, this will allow for increased trade and investments between the two countries and, at the same time, promote greater industrialization as more Chinese companies will participate in the country’s Build Build Build program and relocate their manufacturing operations from China to the Philippines,” she said. PEZA, the biggest investment promotion agency in the country, has received many inquiries from Chinese manufacturers wanting
to set up their facilities in the economic zones and make the Philippines as their production and logistics hub. Investments pledges from China with PEZA saw a significant jump of 134.3 percent last year to P1.03 billion from P440 million the previous year. This Expected to play a key role in this development under was the second highest the current administration is new ally China, the world’s amount of investment second largest economy and a nation no stranger to Photo by Michael Vargas/Philstar.com approval from China in industrialization. to sustain a double-digit growth PEZA’s history, next only to the in manufacturing,” Lopez said. P1.16 billion recorded in 2012. Data from the Department of “This will be a big boost to our drive to generate more invest- Trade and Industry (DTI) shows ments, employment and exports, manufacturing growth exhibited including transfer of technology, substantial increases over the particularly from the operations last two decades, particularly in of Chinese companies in the terms of growth of value added country’s ecozones. The Chinese which rose from an average of government has much to offer four percent during the period to the Philippines to facilitate its 2000 to 2011, to 7.5 percent from leapfrog to high industrialization 2012 to 2017. The contribution of manufacand middle-income economy turing to the economy likewise status,” Plaza said. Paving the road to PH indus- grew from 21 percent in 2010, to 23.6 percent in 2017. At the same trialization To be an industrialized coun- time, manufacturing was able to try, the Philippines’ trade and hike its contribution to total eminvestment chief said one has to ployment from eight percent in undergo structural transforma- 2011 to 8.6 percent last year. “Note that in the past, the tion that would shift economic activities from agriculture to Philippines did not experience structural transformation of the manufacturing, then services. He said a strong and modern economy from agriculture to industrial sector is needed to manufacturing. There was no lead the country’s growth. This rapid industrial growth led by would require the development manufacturing, instead, what of basic industries like iron and we observed was a rise in the steel, and chemicals that serve services sector and a declining as inputs to a lot of other indus- and stagnant manufacturing industry. This was in stark contrast tries. Unfortunately, this is a level far to the substantial increases in from where the Philippines is at manufacturing that neighboring countries like Thailand, Indonepresent. Compared with nations like sia, Malaysia, and China experiThailand, China, and Malaysia, enced during the same period,” the share of manufacturing to Lopez said. “Now, there is a good chance the Philippine economy is quite that if the country’s high level small, according to Lopez. However, he said market op- growth could be sustained until portunities to expand production 2030, we could hit a manufacturin the country, as well as the ris- ing share of 30 percent of gross ing costs in countries like China domestic product, especially if puts the Philippines in a strong manufacturing would continue to position to substantially increase grow double digit,” he said. A new industrial policy its manufacturing share. For any country to become a “Many would say that we are now experiencing a manufactur- highly industrialized economy, ing resurgence characterized by its government should have a the strong growth that manu- clear national industrialization facturing has been experienc- policy. For the Philippines, this policy ing over the last six years. For as long as we are able to sustain is known as inclusive innovathis high level growth, we will tion industrial strategy or i3S, get there, hopefully by 2030 or launched by the DTI last year. earlier, especially if we are able u PAGE B3
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FATCA reminder for US persons THE Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires foreign financial Institutions and other non-financial foreign entities to report on the foreign assets held by their U.S. account holders or be subject to withholding on certain payments. 1. Form 8938 Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets: U.S. taxpayers holding financial assets outside the United States must report those assets to the IRS on Form 8938. There is penalty for not reporting financial assets. This is in addition to FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) (formerly TD F 90-22.1), in addition to Form 8938. 2. FATCA and foreign financial institutions: FATCA may require foreign financial institutions to report directly to the IRS information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers or by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest. These institutions include banks, investment entities, brokers, and certain insurance companies and certain non-financial foreign entities may have to report of their U.S. owners. 3. Outside of US new account
What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA set up: Foreign financial institution may ask you for information about your citizenship. 4. Service Account Holders: If you are mainly maintaining a service account, FATCA provides special reporting requirements of U.S. account holders of some financial institutions that do not solicit business outside their country of organization. 5. Threshold: The threshold varies depending on your filing status or if you live abroad. 6. Outside of US: You are live abroad if you are a U.S. citizen whose tax home is in a foreign country and you have been present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 days out of a consecutive 12-month period. 7. Single or married filing separate: You must submit a Form 8938 if you have more than $200,000 of specified foreign financial assets at the end of
the year and you live abroad; or more than $50,000, if you live in the United States. 8. Married filing joint income tax return or live abroad: You must submit a Form 8938 if you have more than $400,000 of specified foreign financial assets at the end of the year and you live abroad; or more than $100,000, if you live in the United States. 9. Exception: 1) If you are not required to file a U.S. income tax return for certain year then you do not have to file Form 8938. 2) If you report interests in foreign entities and certain foreign gifts, you may just list the submitted forms on Form 8938 without the details. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies. (Advertising Supplement)
Romantic comedies and that thing called love
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA IF you’re a woman who believes in secret in such things as love-at-first sight and happilyever-afters, TAKE HEART. Even during this cynical, jaded Age of Information when nothing seems sacred or mysterious any more, there are still countless women (and maybe some men) the world over just like you, who believe in the magic and mystery spun by that ancient, invisible force called LOVE. It is written in our DNA. So don’t fight it. It’s just that modern women (and some men) probably won’t admit being romantic in public, for fear of ridicule. They will say, “Bah, humbug!” with a straight face and then watch every romantic comedy on the sly. That is probably why the Hallmark Channel is at the forefront of this storytelling genre. Some have cheesy, predictable plotlines developed in about an hour and twenty-two minutes viewing time. Women are a captive audience and these women, in turn, drag their partners, more than likely, kicking and screaming because they would rather watch violent movies oozing with blood and gore. Yeah, yeah. Talk about women coming from Venus and men, from Mars. That’s what makes the chemical attraction between straight genders so compelling and fascinating — repelling and binding at the same time. Deep within most women, despite all that they’ve seen and been through, some, despite being scarred beyond belief by past toxic liaisons, if they don’t let bitterness and acrimony permeate their hearts, that thing called LOVE, still rules and does so mightily. Romantic comedies churned out fairly regularly from the Hollywood story factory seem to come from a well-worn template, copy-fitted in about 90 minutes of predictability. After a while, they taste like prepackaged burgers, food enough for the starving romantic soul, but hardly satisfying. After you have seen a few, you can very well interchange the characters and the plots and subplots like pieces of Lego. It’s a formula that keeps on giving: girl meets boy; a delicious attraction sizzles; a situation sets up a series of conflicting, seemingly complicated twists and turns made more tenuous by a third opposing character, just like Bluto, in the Popeye, Olive Oyl triangle. There is always that horrible antagonist that prevents the girl and the guy from coming together. The couple almost gives up trying but then an unexpect-
ed twist happens, some deus ex machina, a manipulation by the love god, that resolves the conflict and zaps away all obstacles e.g. a can of spinach that rolls from nowhere, that energizes Popeye to pummel Bluto; guy gets girl or whoever is doing the hot pursuit; and finally, the way is then made clear for the de riguer wedding scene. Sigh. THE END. Disney has pretty much scoured the bottom of the barrel in spinning out modern versions of animated stories from ages past. In medieval times, when marriage, the nunnery or spinsterhood were the choices that were available, most young girls dreamt about that rich, dashing
“The past is prologue” — Shakespeare knight riding on a horse, that would slay the dragon, overcome overwhelming forces, sweep them off their feet, ride out into the sunset and live happily ever after. For a few centuries, that was how it was. But we all know, real life tells far different stories. The fairy tales turn out to be more like Gothic novels. Girl and guy don’t always end up happy. The depressing d’s descend on every life: divorce, deceit, despair, discouragement, disillusionment, darkness and death. And we’re left disappointed. But for all that, hope springs eternal in the human heart and keeps the romcom writers busy. We have this need to believe even if we begin to view with a jaded eye that the concept of happilyever-after is just a myth, long after the harsh facts of reality beat us into submission in a staredown. Slowly, warily, we learn to separate fact from fiction. Our world has changed from the simple to the utterly complicated present times. We now live with ubiquitous social networks available to our fingers where we can engage electronically in our pajamas and unmade beds, engage with one another instead of what used to be face-to-face interpersonal relationships when we need to be right where we need to be to make our case. We facebook and twitter all day long electronically creating, maintaining or killing off disposable internet relationships, that can defy space and time constraints, that can either bloom and thrive or take shallow roots and die in an instant. It doesn’t really matter. The next thing is just a click away. It remains to be seen what will come out of this relatively new phenomenon that is rewriting how this generation and the succeeding ones will find their mates that are right for them. There is
no precedent, no formulas, no template, no books to copy from. The young ones may have to muddle through, make mistakes and come up with a new set of rules to write brand new stories to fire up and light their imaginations while holding steadfast in the belief written in “Desiderata” that despite “…all aridity, love, is as perennial as the grass …” Something happened in the middle of the last century to cause some kind of imbalance. Women became liberated from their traditional role after WWII. They joined the work force and learned to be independent. The roles of genders, and those inbetween, are no longer as clearcut as they once were. With post-war prosperity and abundance, came opportunity for women who decided from a wide range of choices that included college, career, family and the chance to be financially independent. This is not to say that the past was better, only that it was different and maybe, just a tad easier to figure out. The present times pose dilemmas that leave us scratching our heads. The rules of engagement between men and women need to be rewritten. Romantic comedies often glorify the attraction of opposites. But it must be made clear in the interest of equal time, that the attraction of opposites is only one half of a truism. There’s a serious caveat emptor for all young men and women out there looking for a lifetime mate and seeking guidance from a higher power on how to best proceed. Here it is. Although opposites do indeed attract, it is the likes that stay together. The possibility of longer, happier lives exists in such a union. In an increasingly unstable, disintegrating world such as ours, such unions of like minds, bodies and spirits make a whole lot of difference. However, NEVER discount the power of chemistry. It is a real force wired into each one that draws one to the other. Deal with it. But in the end, it is the little things that you may have to look for to muddle through the choices and get past appearances. If you are a young woman, see how he treats his mother, his sisters and all the women in his family. If he shows kindness and is respectful of them, chances are, he will be kind to you and respect you as well. The same is true of young men. Look at how your intended treats her dad and all the men in the family. Look for kindness and generosity of spirit above all, old-fashioned traits that wear well. There are clear indicators and there are red flags. Watch for them. Do not let love or the stirrings of lust blind you totally. If faith and religion, commitment
u PAGE B3
FDIs reach record $10.05 billion...
PAGE B1 t
The central bank said equity capital placements originated mainly from the Netherlands, Singapore, the United States, Japan, and Hong Kong. By sector, equity placements were channeled to gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; manufacturing; real estate; construction; and wholesale and retail trade activities. Meanwhile, the BSP said net availment of debt instruments – comprised mainly of intercompany borrowings or lending between foreign investors and their subsidiaries – reached $6.01 billion, 20.7 percent higher as compared to the $4.98 billion posted
in 2016. Reinvestment of earnings likewise expanded 9.3 percent yearon-year to $776 million from $710 million. On the other hand, the BSP said net inflow of FDIs for the month of December 2017 alone, declined nine percent to $699 million from $768 million the same month the previous year. The central bank attributed this to the drop in the net investments in debt instruments, which was cut more than half to $335 million during the period. Net placements of equity capital, likewise, inched down 0.4 percent to $305 million, originating from Singapore, Japan, the Neth-
erlands, the US and Luxembourg. These were placed in manufacturing; real estate; wholesale and retail trade; information and communication; and arts, entertainment and recreation activities. Reinvestment of earnings, meanwhile, grew 24.1 percent to $59 million during the month. Inflows from FDIs, remittances, exports, tourism receipts and the business process outsourcing sector help build the country’s gross international reserves that serve as buffer against external shocks. For 2018, the BSP said it sees FDIs reaching $8.2 billion, higher than the $8 billion target for 2017. n
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Debt Relief
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG
WHO said that, first is chance, twice is coincidence and third is habit? I have two new clients who are actually previous clients. The first is 55 and she filed jointly with her husband 12 years ago for Chapter 7 relief of credit card debt. To tell you the truth, I still remember mostly everything about the client and her husband one and a half decades ago. At that time, my main office was on Figueroa and 2nd street in Downtown LA, and it was just the next building from where the bankruptcy trustee hearings were being heard. I would just walk with clients from my office to the hearing. That was so convenient. Creditor reps would pass by my office for coffee after the hearings and talk about reaffirmation, and possible objection to discharge of claims. The creditor would sometimes show me the pattern of credit card usage of the last month, and say look, the debtor’s income is only so much; how in the world can he pay his credit card debt, implying that there was some kind of fraud and absence of intent to pay for credit card debt inferred from insufficiency of income. Or, sometimes creditors would offer to keep the credit line open despite bankruptcy. I remember this client clearly because her husband was a famous sports personality and actually held a world champion title in his sport. World champions are rare indeed, few and far inbetween, and they stand out from the regular Joe or Mary. At that time, they had racked up about $60,000 of credit card debt. The minimum payment of $1,800 was putting a lot of strain on their finances. So, they opted for a fresh start without the $60,000 debt. A fresh start is what they got on the financial side, but husband had other personal problems, and addiction to alcohol was one of them. When you start with beer for breakfast, beer for lunch and beer for every hour of the day and night, your liver just cannot process the alcohol quick enough. When push comes to shove, cirrhosis of the liver is
Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this question a lot from our family law clients. The fact is that California is a no fault state and you do not need your spouse’s signature in order to get a divorce. What is more important is being able to properly serve your spouse with the divorce petition and satisfy the jurisdictional requirement of the Court by showing that either you or your spouse resided in the State for at least 6 months prior to filing the petition and in the County for 3 months prior to filing the petition. When you file a divorce petition, you have to serve your spouse with the summons and petition. Your spouse then has 30 days to file a response after being served with a divorce petition. If your spouse fails to file and serve you with a response, you can file a request for default against your spouse after 30 days. You can also file a proposed judgment for the court to approve. The default procedure can be done even if there are issues of property division, custody, visitation, and support. However, the Court will still review your proposed judgment and property division to make sure it conforms to the policy towards equal division of community property. Meaning,
and fidelity are both important to you, the likelihood is there that these core beliefs will be a bond that will hold you in tough times. It may seem funny to you but the parents of your intended are more than likely a preview of how your fiancé or fiancée will turn out to be 2 or 3 decades from now. The past, as Shakespeare once said, is prologue. Take heed. There will be exceptions of course, but the mango does not fall far from the tree. You can prevent heartache by a balanced mix of heart and mind when choosing the love of your life. Sometimes, the heart is recalcitrant and makes a choice for you but know that a humble, grateful heart who asks for guidance par-
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Client seeks Chapter 7 Philippines eyes industrialization with... relief again for $48K in credit card debt PAGE B2 t
the result after a decade and a half more of this kind of drinking. That’s when the whites of your eyes turn yellow, then you know you’ve met the end of your drinking days because you will soon die because your liver doesn’t work anymore. The client tells me that her husband died two years ago from too much drinking. He just could not stop. He literally drank himself to death. What a sad way for a world champion to die. Once an epitome of good health to such an extent he became a world champion but he ends up dying the sad death of a drug addict. What a change of fortune. He had the background to be productive for the rest of his life just by teaching kids in his community how and what it takes to become a world champion like himself. This would be maximizing his God-given talents. But alas, the “spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” – This is what Jesus said to Peter as He agonized on that night thinking about what He had to do to fulfill the will of God the Father, to redeem mankind from the consequences of sin. He said of his anticipated torture and death on the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father as He perspired blood, “Father, if it is possible that I pass on this cup, but nevertheless, Thy will be done, not mine!” The managed to get a divorce just a month before husband died, so technically she was not a widow. At any rate, client’s new credit card debt post fresh start 15 years ago, now reached $48,000. So since this is her second time to seek a fresh start without debt, it’s just a coincidence. It’s not yet a habit. But the client is such a positive outlook on life, and her second fresh start includes a new husband! She remarried last year. Our God, Adonai, and His one and only Son who died for our sins, blesses her indeed! Client seeks Chapter 13 again for default on residence My second old and new client filed a Chapter 13 case to cure arrears in his house 20 years ago. At that time, there was still the six-month rule concocted by the bankruptcy judges in the Central
District of California to protect mortgage holders from debtors who file a second Chapter 13 case. If the debtor filed a second Chapter 13 case, he would have to bring to the first hearing of creditors, all of the mortgage payments due in the last six months. So, if the mortgage is $2,000 a month, the debtor would have to bring $12,000 in certified funds to be paid to the mortgagee. For most debtors who were even having a hard time paying one mortgage payment, the sixmonth rule, pretty much rooted out a lot of debtors from being able to get to second base. The client was one such debtor. He got hit hard with the six-month rule. But fortunately for him, the first mortgage on which he had arrears went bankrupt, and the bank that took over the loan did not surface for a very long time. I believe the new bank did not appear for three or four years. By that time, the debtor had set aside enough funds to get current on his mortgage and all went well for him until recently when he retired. He’s now behind four months on the mortgage. Now, Chapter 13 again is required to help him cure the default. He will be given five years to pay the default in 60 equal monthly installments, thus protecting his house from foreclosure. Again, this is client’s second time, so it’s just a coincidence. It’s not yet a habit. *** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader. There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with the attorney. The first general consultation is free. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.
Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuses to sign? you have to propose a division of community property that is pretty much equal between the spouses. If your proposed property division is one sided such as distributing all community property to you and giving all the community debts to your spouse, the Court would probably not grant your judgment. The Court would probably set a hearing for you to explain why this is an equal division of community property. The only time you may need your spouse’s signature is if your spouse files a response to your divorce petition. This is called “contesting” the divorce. If your divorce is contested by your spouse, you can resolve the case either by “settlement” or by “trial.” However, you do not have to settle all the issues in the case at once. Under the concept of divisible divorce, you can settle some of the issues and set the other issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on for trial. Our office try to resolve cases through settlement because it is more cost effective and the parties are usually happier with the outcome. In that situation, the parties may avoid the cost and uncertainty of going to trial by executing what is called a stipulated judgment which is in essence an agreement as to all the issues in the divorce case. For issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on, you will have to go through the litigation process which involves obtaining discovery, exchanging declara-
tions of disclosures, and preparing the case for trial. Ultimately, you will obtain your divorce at trial in addition to adjudication of the distribution of community assets and debts amongst other issues. It is in the best interest of the party to retain the representation of competent counsel who will assert his or her rights under the family code. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Romantic comedies and that thing...
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 14-16, 2018
ticularly in the all too important decision of choosing a lifetime mate, in sincere, constant prayer that assaults heaven will not be spurned. If this is important to you and it should be, get down on your knees and beg for this grace. Even the queen of romantic comedies, Sandra Bullock, the smart, sassy one who always made the right choices in her career but had an adventurous streak about her (and a flawed thinking cap when it came to matters of love), thinking she can tame a bad boy or make a tiger change his stripes in the name of love, bought into the “opposites attract” half of a truism and got blindsided by a disastrous marriage with someone who was totally different from her in every
way. Time heals all wounds. But do take heart. Time also wounds all heels. Since God gave us free will, we are able to write parts of our own stories. If we were all writers, we have in front of us, a tabula rasa, a blank page, a cursor at the ready, steadily flashing, patiently waiting for your stories to spill, the remanufactured, recycled or better yet, the brand new, original stories of romantic comedies that beg to be written. The world, I am sure, would like to hear about yours. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
The i3S prioritizes the growth and development of 12 major industries including manufacturing sectors like auto and auto parts, aerospace parts, electronics, chemicals, shipbuilding, garments, iron and steel, and agribusiness along with tourism, IT-business process management, particularly knowledge process outsourcing, construction and infrastructure and logistics. The i3S aims to grow and become globally competitive with innovative manufacturing, agriculture and services, while strengthening linkages to domestic and global value chains industries. Through the program, accompanying measures to improve the capacity of firms to sell to both domestic and export markets are being implemented through more strategic and aggressive investment promotion and trade policies, along with focused, performance-based, and time-bound incentives. “The strategy puts innovation at the core of industrial policies and programs. Innovation is crucial in improving industry productivity and competitiveness, as well as in moving up the global value chain and addressing the challenges from automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies,” Lopez said. “The government continues to be relentless in its efforts to revive factories, expand production, generate employment, and enable the industry to provide the catalyst that will build the seamless link between a productive agriculture and a strong ser-
vices sector,” he said. With its 105 million consumer market, rising middle class, and young English speaking workers, the DTI said opportunities abound for the Philippines to transform and upgrade its industries, generate more jobs, and attract more investments. Considered as a services-oriented economy for the past few years, the Philippines is now looking to transform itself to become globally renowned as a manufacturing powerhouse. “The country’s industrialization level may be lagging behind our competitors in the region, but the current administration is determined to elevate the Philippines’ status as a middle-income economy before the end of President Duterte’s term. This will surely put the country back on the industrialization track and with bright prospects of it overtaking some of our competitors in the region in terms of attracting foreign direct investments and industry output,” Plaza said. On PEZA’s part, Plaza said her agency is complementing the national industrialization strategy by promoting investments in economic zones and facilitating the establishment of more industrial parks in the regions’ less-developed areas. The economic zones, which will host the operations of mainly manufacturing and agro-processing companies, will play a key role in the dispersal of industries and the creation of jobs towards accelerating country-side development, she said. “There has been a significant change and high-impact development with the country’s indus-
Calendar of Events across
trialization program compared to 10 or 20 years ago. In terms of ecozone development, we have seen the growth of evolving ecozone models from the traditional industrial estates and export processing zones to hightech parks and agro-industrial ecozones. This paved the way for our transition from low technology and low value processing of goods, to higher value chain and more sophisticated manufacturing of computers, electronic devices, cars, ships, among others, as multinational companies set up their export-oriented facilities in the country’s ecozones,” Plaza said. According to PEZA, industrial zones are being put up more aggressively at present, with P72 billion-worth of economic zone projects up for development on top of P38-billion worth of new manufacturing, agro-industrial, and information technology centers and parks already proclaimed under the current administration. Moving forward, Plaza said the government could do so much more to spur industrialization by sustaining GDP growth rate at a minimum of seven percent to achieve a double digit growth rate. “This will entail attracting the strategic, pioneering and high technology investments into the country and positioning the Philippines as a hub for regional and global distribution of goods. This will pose a huge challenge on the government’s ability to provide the infrastructure support and to enhance ease of doing business to attract more FDI into the country,” Plaza said. ■
America
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Philippine American Bar Association’s 32nd installation & awards gala in Los Angeles on March 14 The Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) invites you to its 32nd Installation and Awards Gala on Wednesday, March 14 at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. This year’s Gala will feature keynote speaker California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, a menu of Filipino flavors, and special performances. PABA will be PABA will be honoring Distinguished Leader Ben Hofileña, Jr. (20th Century Fox Film Senior Counsel), Trailblazer Ruthe Ashley (California LAW Executive Director Emeritus), and Community Champion Minh T. Nguyen (The Law Office of Minh T. Nguyen, ALC). During the gala, PABA also will formally unveil its new logo and website, both of which were developed by a Fil-Am-owned start-up and involve colors and designs deeply rooted in the cultural history of the Philippines. A cocktail reception and auction will begin at 6 p.m., while the dinner and program will begin at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets or a sponsorship, please visit: https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/paba/giftstore.jsp.
MARCH 19
Glenn Miller Orchestra to perform in Stevenson Ranch, CA The world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will swing into the Santa Clarita Valley for a special one-night only event to be held at West Ranch High School (26255 Valencia Blvd. Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381) on Monday, March 19 at 7 p.m. The most sought-after big band in the world will take the stage with bandleader Nick Hilscher at the helm, performing beloved hits from their extensive library, which includes “In the Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade,” and “Pennsylvania 6-5000.” Hosted by West Ranch High School’s music program, the concert will be an event for all ages and offers the chance to experience history, enjoy the magical melodies and walk away knowing you’re supporting a new generation of talented musicians in the processes. Tickets are $25 for seniors/students, $30 for general, and $35 for VIP. Prices increase by $5 at the door the day of the event. Tickets are available online at westranchmusic. com, by phone at (661) 222-1220 ext. 645, or at one of the locations: Nick Rail Music - 25868 McBean Pkwy., Valencia, CA, (661) 288-2345; Nationwide Insurance, 23236 Lyons Ave. #205, Newhall, CA, (661) 254-1714; Innovations Salon - 25830 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch, CA. (661) 255-5580; or Bella Cucina - 27911 Seco Canyon Rd. in Saugus, (661) 263-1414.
M A R C H 29
Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA There will be a FREE immigration forum on Thursday, February 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801). RSVP is a MUST to attend. No registration fee required. Please contact (714) 657-7460 or admin@globallawcenters.com. Attendees will be able to get information on the following topics: How to find H-1B/green card sponsoring companies, tips for a successful H-1B interview, job placement assistance for qualified applicants with start-ups in Orange County, and a list of top 100 H1-B employers in the OC. Global Law Centers strives to inform the immigrant community of its rights and make sure it is knowledgeable about what immigration processes might be available. The forum will also update everyone about new and recent changes which may affect immigrants and their families. Refreshments will be provided to all attendees. For more information about Global Law Centers, please visit www.globallawcenters.com.
APRIL 14
SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura in Queens, NY AFTA presents its latest fundraising event - “SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura” – a cultural dinner show featuring the internationally recognized dance troupe from the Philippines, the Leyte Dance Theater, which will kick off their USA TOUR 2018 in NYC. The event is on April 14, 2018, 3:00 pm at the Rock Church in Woodside, Queens. “Salida” aims to raise funds and awareness to support the flagship projects of the Association of Fil-am Teachers of America, Inc. (AFTA) with their partners: The Rock Churches Worldwide and the Leyte Biliran & Samar Federation. Proceeds of this fundraiser will finance AFTA’s projects in the Philippines like Adopt a School (Marawi City, Biliran and Albay, Adopt a Scholar, and Balikturo). For Sponsorship opportunities, contact Roxanne at 347-932-6631 or Nitz at 862-368-1706 or any AFTA officer/board member.
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People and Events
PMASC announces auxiliary inaugural ball in Anaheim, CA
THE Philippine Medical Association of Southern California (PMASC) and its auxiliary will be holding its biennial inaugural ball on Saturday, April 14, at the Anaheim Marriott (700 W. Convention Way in Anaheim, California). This grand occasion will be attended by several Filipino physicians and its guests to raise funds for humanitarian purposes specifically its outreach programs including medical missions to the Philippines and Southern California. The association has been conducting such purposes for 46 years since its founding in 1971.
EMPLOYMENT
City of Downey commits funding to help homeless families and youth
AT their regular meeting last February 13, the City Council of the City of Downey committed $352,998 to assist homeless families and homeless youth through a federally-funded Housing Rental Assistance Program. Downey Mayor Sean Ashton stated, “It’s been a longstanding priority of the City Council to take a proactive approach to helping the most vulnerable members of our community; our commitment of more than $300,000 in federal funding is just one of many ongoing activities, including the development of a Downey HomeThe PMASC is a professional organization of less Action Plan, which is funded the Physicians in Southern California of Filipino through a County Measure H heritage dedicated to address the economic, edu- grant.” cational, and humanitarian needs of its members The City is partnering with and the community. Several guests including pub- the nonprofit organizations The lic and private officials are expected to grace this Whole Child and Jovenes to prooccasion. vide rapid rehousing and rental For information and tickets about this highly subsidies for young adults aged significant event, please contact the following: Dr. 18-24 and families with children. Emma Arella at (661) 794-3322, Dr. Ellen Abe- These organizations are able to juela at (909) 859-4865 or the PMASC Executive pair the City’s Federal HOME Office at (562) 572-2481. ■ funds with other supportive ser-
EMPLOYMENT
Photo courtesy of www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/Downey
vices such as job training to ensure families can remain permanently housed after the financial support has ended. Mayor Pro Tem Rick Rodriguez, one of two Council Members who serve on the Council’s Homeless Subcommittee, stated, “the City has for years, without fanfare or attention-seeking, approached the problem of homelessness holistically with investments in job training, literacy and community programs such as TLC, as well as proactive outreach and compassionate enforcement along our riverbeds and freeways, and the commitment of these HOME funds is another way City continues helping
EMPLOYMENT
F0R RENT
SERVICES
families and young people in dire need.” “I’m proud to have been part of the vetting process to select local providers that will assist our local Downey residents, particularly families referred through Downey Unified School District’s TLC program,” added Council Member Alex Saab, who also serves on the Council’s Homeless Subcommittee. “The public should rest assured that these new services are funded with federal dollars which come with a high degree of oversight not only from federal and City staff but also from those of us on the Council Homeless Subcommittee.” ■
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 14, 2018
Presidential fashion consultant
Mimi Parrel-Pimentel on styling a leader by AJPress MIMI Parrel-Pimentel, a 45year-old fashion designer from Cagayan de oro, is taking the Philippine fashion scene by storm and is steadily making a name for herself worldwide. As a college student, Pimentel spent her free time at her aunt’s dress shop, mindlessly sketching designs. She is now one of the Philippines’ most soughtafter designers and has received the honor of being appointed the presidential fashion consultant of Malacañang, wherein she is in charge of dressing and styling President rodrigo Duterte. This has led her to have the opportunity to design Duterte’s inaugural barong, as well as the barongs of the ASEAN ministers and the outfits of their spouses, cabinet members and other government executives when the ASEAN Summit was held in the Philippines in 2017. That same year, the designer had also designed the Filipiniana gowns for the Miss Universe candidates during the Philippines’ hosting of the pageant. The Asian Journal’s travel and lifestyle publication, Balikbayan Magazine, sat down with the fashion icon and native of Mindanao and Cagayan de oro at her shop on Jupiter Street in Makati, as she spoke about her roots, career, and plans for the future. BBMAG: Tell us a little bit about yourself. PIMENTEL: I was born and raised in Cagayan de oro, and graduated with a degree in International Studies at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan in 1992. After that, I studied fashion design at Madonna School of Fashion and Design and graduated in 1994. For the next three years, I worked as an in-house designer for my aunt, Jessie Sia. I got married in 1997 and established my own shop, Mimi Parrel-Pimentel Boutique and Dress shop. In 2000, I was an awardee of the ramon Magsaysay Foundation, as the Best Female Entrepreneur in region X. I went on to pursue further studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology, London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. When I returned to the
Philippines in 2011, I opened the Fashion Institute of the Philippines Cagayan de oro Branch and the year after, I established the Philippine Institute for Skills and Arts Development (PISAD), a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) accredited school. In the past few years, I have received various recognitions, such as the Business Leaders Award from the Business Week Mindanao Corporation (2012), and opportunities like joining the International Fashion Show in Canada and New York (2015). In 2016, I was appointed the presidential fashion consultant of President rodrigo roa Duterte. In 2017, I had the chance to dress up Miss Universe candidates in Filipiniana gowns and make the barongs of ASEAN ministers and outfits for their spouses, cabinet members and other executives from different government agencies. I also joined Singapore Fashion Week that year. Earlier this year, I joined the House of Ikons fashion show in London. one of my advocacies is to help promote the local fabrics, particularly Mindanao silk, to give livelihood to the weavers. BBMAG: Where did your love for fashion design and dressmaking begin? PIMENTEL: As a kid, I loved to draw cartoon characters. My mother opened a dress shop inside our house when I was six years old. I remember that I loved playing with the sewing machines and buttons. When I was in high school, my aunt took over the dress shop after my father opened a construction business. The shop and construction business were both in one place. I started observing my aunt and how she dealt with clients and seamstresses. When I finished college, instead of sitting around and doing nothing, I would sit at a table and sketch dresses. I realized that I had this strong interest in fashion. As time passed by, my aunt started noticing my potential and discovered that I had innate skills in fashion designing. She saw that I had these cohesive designs in my sketches and she offered me
to make a design for her fashion show — it was a life-changing offer that paved the way for my fashion career. The first collection that I made for my aunt was thought to be glamorous and started to have high demands. Seeing this, she brought me to Manila after I had graduated in international studies at Ateneo De Cagayan in 1992. There, I studied at the Madonna School of Fashion and Design for two years. As soon as I got back to my hometown, she hired me as the in-house designer for three years until she left to migrate to the U.S., and that was when I took over the business. Being the successor of my aunt, I managed the business and slowly gathered loyal seamstresses and clients. BBMAG: Where do you find or look for inspiration when creating a piece? PIMENTEL: I gain my inspiration through some of the international artists like Elie Saab and Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Dior, among others. Traveling allows me to view the fashion trends in different perspectives as they come from different countries with diverse cultures. Furthermore, I get inspired seeing distinct and native fabrics that are available in that particular country that cannot be seen anywhere else. The abundance and uniqueness of these fabrics are what keep me reminded that you can be infinitely creative in your own way — and that’s what makes fashion full of surprises. BBMAG: Where have you traveled? PIMENTEL: I have traveled around some states in the U.S. like California, New York, and Florida, Washington, and Las Vegas. In Canada, I had shows in Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. I have also traveled around Dubai, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. As I travel, I usually shop for fabrics that are only exclusive to that particular country. BBMAG: Who are some fashion icons you look up to? PIMENTEL: Among my choices are Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe.
Mimi Parrel-Pimentel with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
For local celebrities, Lucy Torres, Dawn Zulueta, and Gretchen Barretto, because they all have a taste and class. BBMAG: How would you describe the perfect client? PIMENTEL: Customer satisfaction is the toughest part in running a fashion business. For me, when you make a design for a client, it has to fit his or her personality and synchronize with his or her daily habits. A perfect client is someone who is open to new ideas and design concepts. And most of all, someone who trusts you as the designer. BBMAG: Can you name a client who was the most fun to work with? PIMENTEL: President Duterte! He is a funny person, easy to deal with, and mostly, he is a good payer. He will not use what you made for him if you will not accept his payment. He is a great man, and always loves to joke around. (Laughs) BBMAG: What is it like working with President Rodrigo Duterte? PIMENTEL: I find it exciting, challenging and amusing. After working with him for a while now, I have been able to observe and understand his fashion preferences and how he likes his barongs and suits to look and feel like. I found out that he is not that “maarte” with the designs. He is more after comfort than style. In fact, when I presented 10 designs for his inauguration barong, he chose the simplest one with only the Philippine flag embroidered on the left side. I also made some intricate designs but he chose the simplest. What’s nice about him is that he patronizes Mindanaoans and supports my advocacy to empower women farmers who play a very important role in the sericulture industry. “Mindanao silk,” a product of Laguindingan, Misamis oriental was what President Duterte wore during his
inauguration. And to complete it, I also added his favorite pants, which were made of corduroy. BBMAG: What was it like dressing the ASEAN leaders? PIMENTEL: It was an honor to dress up the ministers. It was a rare opportunity to meet and talk to these powerful people on earth. BBMAG: Do you have some advice for aspiring Filipino designers? PIMENTEL: one of the biggest misconceptions that I get is that in order to be a fashion designer, one must have all the shades of a pencil, all those coloring materials, and all those expensive machines. But I tell you, you can start off with [just] a pencil and paper. Mix that together with passion and effort, and dedicate some time to it. Then you will find yourself riding the train towards your dream to become a wellknown and a world-class fashion designer. BBMAG: What are your thoughts on being the fashion icon of Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro? PIMENTEL: Being a fashion icon means setting future trends. It also means being timeless in your style. BBMAG: What is next for you? PIMENTEL: I’m looking forward to my international shows. I’ll have a series of shows abroad in the upcoming months. I was invited to the House of Ikons in London this past February, so I had been busy preparing for my collection. It is a 20-piece col-
lection with various designs like casual wear, formal wear, and barongs as well. The series of shows for “Hibla” will soon make its way to New York, San Francisco, Vienna, China, Japan, and Australia. I am also currently working on the gowns for former first lady Imelda Marcos and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
deric Mccabe: i’m filipino! the way from Los Angeles. Deric has a Filipina mother ManilaTimes.net and grew up with his lola too in FroM Kobe Bryant to Montana, but he said he doesn’t oprah Winfrey. This proudly know much about the PhilipFilipino wonder kid is rubbing pines since he’s never been elbows with Hollywood’s who’s here. who, and he’s bound to be one “My lola tells me stuff and of them in the near future. I’m so interested to learn more His name is Deric McCabe, about the country. I don’t really the 9-year-old actor from the know much yet… All I know is cast of Disney’s next big film, “A that I’m maarte! That’s what Wrinkle in Time.” In the Know my ate calls me!” he laughed met this talented cutie via video gleefully. chat during the world premiere Well maarte suits Deric since of this big debut movie of his, all he showed just how good his by MJ
Deric McCabe
Marfori
Photos from Instagram/@dericmccabe
arte skills are as Charles Wallace Murry, lead role Meg Murray’s (Storm reid) younger brother, who is precocious and wise beyond his years. His character boasts of a genius IQ, and is able to sense what others are feeling. He also holds a special bond with his sister as they search for their missing father. Deric says it took him seven months and several call backs before he landed his first major role, which his mother documented on Instagram. “It wasn’t easy at all, but I was having fun every minute of it!” Deric was also honest enough to admit he did not know the gravity of his role nor that he would be working with the two-time Academy Awardnominee oprah Winfrey, oscar winner reese Witherspoon, Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling, oscar winner Jennifer Lee and oscar nominee director Ava DuVernay. “Well, at first I was like who’s oprah? Who’s reese? I really didn’t know because they were like regular people on set who come on time and are very down to earth and professional.” They were definitely great
The nine-year-old Fil-Am on the set of the Disney film ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ with Oprah Winfrey
role models for Deric who is just starting in showbiz. He recalled shooting with the big wigs in New Zealand where he became close to oprah and the rest of the cast. “Everyone was lovely on
With Kobe Bryant during the premiere of the movie in Los Angeles
set!” he enthused. With the newfound attention he is getting, Deric says he was pleasantly surprised at the support he’s been receiving from the Filipino community. “It made me more inter-
ested to know about the Philippines. I’m working now but I told my mom to take me there and explore.” He ended our conversation by saying, “I’m Filipino! I’m proud to be Filipino!”
entertainment 3
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 14, 2018
What’s in Jericho Rosales’s adventure kit by iza igLesias ManilaTimes.net
REUNION AT CENTURY SEAFOOD MANILA. Vic Sy reunites with his nephew George Sy Go of Tagaytay Canyonwoods and a planned dormitel in Taft and Pedro Gil. Vic is a balikbayan who also invested in George’s Canyon de Boracay. In photo are: (seated, L-R): Vic Sy,Jimmy Go, George Sy Go, Teri Go and (standing, L-R): Roger Oriel, George Sy Go, Jr.
Pia and Gerald display cute chemistry in new movie by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
It’s perfect casting, no wonder the first team-up of Pia Wurtzbach and Gerald Anderson is titled “My Perfect You.â€? Judging from the trailer, there’s chemistry between Miss Universe and Mr. Macho, but that’s as far as make-believe is concerned. In real-life, Pia is going steady with racer Marlon stockinger and Gerald with Bea Alonzo. As Pia “warnedâ€? in this Conversation, she didn’t want to give away much of the plot of “My Perfect You,â€? directed by Cathy Molina-Garcia, which is a follow-up to Pia’s post-Miss U movie, the 2017 MMFF topgrosser “Gandarrapido: the Revenger squadâ€? (starring Vice Ganda) that won Pia a PMPC star Awards as New Movie Actress of the Year. this much we can tell you (according to the trailer of the movie produced by star Cinema): Burn (Gerald) is rejected by his girlfriend when he proposes to her and it leads to the collapse of his career. He’s fired. Feeling hurt and lost, he retreats to Zambales where he meets Abi (Pia) who runs a camp. And then‌ What do you find interest-
Pia Wurtzbach and gerald Anderson
ing about your roles? Pia: Not to give away too much of the storyline but I find my role interesting because my character, Abi, is a ball of sunshine and she brings life to the story of My Perfect You. Gerald: Burn is very challenging and very complex to portray. Maraming layers si Burn. What is your idea/concept of a “perfect you�? Pia: someone who is patient and understanding. And somebody who knows how to make me smile no matter what
toP actor Jericho Rosales looked every bit the part of adventure seeker Diego in his 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival Movie “siargao� because he is one in real life. At 38 years old, the hunky leading man is still hungry to see exciting places and try thrilling experiences. out and about on his motorcycle, roughing it in geographical locations when not working, Rosales is always dressed as a true wanderer in his staple denim jacket, Kevlar pants and riding boots. surfing—as he did in siargao—is also another favorite pastime for the outdoorsy celebrity whose wife, model Kim Jones, enjoys joining him in the water. Asked how he chooses his adventures and destinations, Rosales proudly says he doesn’t
Jericho Rosales
Photo from Instagram/@jerichorosalesofficial
go by Instagram-worthy sites. What draws him to a place is his interest in understanding communities. I really like going to new places no matter where it is to meet new people. It’s not about the distance either but mostly about the connection I can make with the place. I
don’t plan for a trip for too long‌ Basta pwede ako, go na kaagad!� he laughed as The Manila Times sat down with him. On-the-go Rosales added that besides his usual gear, he brings with him neither a camera nor a Continued on Page 4
Star Cinema photo
the situation is. Not necessarily “perfect� in everyone’s eyes but perfect for me. Gerald: Being the best version of yourself every day. What is in Gerald that reminds you of Marlon? Pia: they are both handsome. How were you during the shoot? Did you have to “break the ice� before you became comfortable with each other? Pia: Yes, we try to chat between takes and during breaks so we can do our scenes Continued on Page 4
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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 14, 2018
Pia and Gerald display cute chemistry... From Page 3 together easier. It would be awkward to do a scene with someone you hardly know. Gerald: Yes, because I met her only once during the story conference for this movie then we went straight to the shoot. It wasn’t hard to break the ice be-
cause Pia is very down-to-earth and comfortable to be with. How did you feel during your love scenes (if there are any)? Pia: There are no love scenes in this movie. Do you have to alert but not necessarily ask the permis-
Philippine Expressions Bookshop to host Pinay Gathering ‘18 in San Pedro, CA
SAn PEDRO, CA — The Philippine Expressions Bookshop (PEB) will be hosting sion of Marlon before doing a “Pinay Gathering ‘18” on Saturlove scene? day, March 17, 3-6 p.m. in San Pia: We are aiming for a Pedro, California. The event is general patronage rating so that part of PEB’s ongoing celebrakids can also watch the movie. tion to honor Filipina authors, What did you talk about on coinciding with women’s history the set between takes? month. The event will feature Pia: Everything…his experibook talks and signings by acences in showbiz, my experience claimed Filipina authors across as Miss Universe, and about different literary genres. fitness and food. PEB founder and owner Gerald: About life and about Linda nietes said that “Pinay her journey as Miss Universe, Gathering” is a good opporabout fitness, our goals and our tunity for readers to see and dreams. hear more from their favorite What part of each other’s authors. She added that the body did you find most attracfeatured authors are paragons tive/sexiest? of Filipino ingenuity in the writPia: Gerald has very expresten word. sive eyes. I think that’s why he’s “Many of our authors are such an effective actor. award winners, and the Fil-Am Gerald: Her eyes. community should be proud of What would you tell Marlon them!” nietes said in a press about your experience doing release. the movie? Featured authors include Pia: I’d share my experience Cecilia Manguerra-Brainward being locked in location in Zam(“The newspaper Widow”), bales, how there was barely any Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz signal in the area (only Smart) (“Even the Rainbow Has a and that a store was two hours Body: Distinct Artistic Legaaway. I’d share about my expericies”), Marianne Villanueva ence working with direk Cathy (Mayor of the Roses), Irene and how much I have learned Suico-Soriano (“Primates From from her. To me, direk Cathy An Archipelago: Poems”), is the star of the movie. She’s Angela narciso-Torres (“Blood amazing. Orange: Poems”), and TesWhat did you discover sie Jayme (“Black Clouds in about each other during the Manila”). shoot? The writers’ featured works Pia: That Gerald is a gentle— all noteworthy in their man, he’s very caring to everyown right — showcase differone around him and he takes his ent styles and genres. “The fitness very seriously. newspaper Widow” and “Black Gerald: That Pia is very Clouds” in Manila are fictional humble despite her success novels, while “Even the Rainand she’s very human even if bow Has a Body” is a collection she’s one of the most beautiful of interviews with different artwomen in the universe. ists and personalities. “Primates If you were not “commitfrom an Archipelago” and ted,” would it be possible for “Blood Orange” are collections you to fall for each other? of poems, and Mayor of the Pia: I don’t think it would Roses is a short story collection. be difficult for anyone to fall for According to nietes, PEB Gerald as he is such a gentlehas been holding this event on man, he’s close to his family and he takes his work seriously. Those traits are admirable in a man. Gerald: Pia has all the by Deni Rose BeRnaRDo qualities of being a good girlPhilstar.com friend. SInCE actress Liza Soberano has been busy taping her new fantasy series “Bagani” together with love team partner Enrique Gil, and also with co-stars Sofia Andres, Matteo Guidicelli and Makisig Morales, there are rumors that Liza’s revival of the popular comic book superhero “Darna” will no longer push through. But in reaction to gossip and news reports saying that “Darna” has been shelved, Star Cinema sent a press statement to Philstar.com. Mico del Rosario, Star Cinema’s advertising and promotions manager, said about “Darna” being shelved: “It is not true. The shooting of ‘Darna’ has started and trainings have been continuous.” “The news article that came out…that the Darna movie has been shelved is not true. Production is in full swing. Thank you,” Del Rosario stressed. “Darna” is a fictitious
an on-again-off-again basis, with the bookstore hosting the event in some years, and not in other years. In the beginning, it was just an informal gathering of women who met and exchanged ideas across the dining table. It soon evolved into a book talk series when the interest for literature began to pick up. nietes hopes that by featuring Pinay authors, more and more young people are encouraged to pursue the craft and become the next generation of Filipino wordsmiths. “Everyone has a story to tell,” nietes said. She said it’s time “for Pinays to come out of the woodwork, so to speak, and write.” “Write something of value, not just for vanity, but to inspire others and teach us
the great lessons of life. Each one of us has a journey worth documenting,” nietes said. “Pinay Gathering ‘18” is free and open to the public, but seats are limited. To RSVP, send an email to info@ philippinebookshop.com, or call (310) 514-9139. Philippine Expressions Bookshop is located at 479 W. Sixth Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. Due to the good response to this event, it is highly encouraged to RSVP via Eventbrite so that the free seats will be reserved. Attendees will also get a 10 percent discount on all titles purchased during the event. For those unable to attend, PEB will accept orders via email for signed copies of the authors’ books. (Mico Letargo) (Advertising Supplement)
Star Cinema speaks up on ‘Darna’ being ‘shelved’
Liza Soberano
superhero character created in 1950 for Pilipino Komiks by Mars Ravelo and artist nestor Redondo. Since then, the character has been immortalized in many TV shows and films, starring actresses such as Gina Pareño, Lorna Tolentino, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Anjanette Abayari, nanette Medved, Regine Velasquez,
Philstar.com photo
Angel Locsin and Marian Rivera. Locsin is supposed to star in the latest movie adaptation directed by Erik Matti, but the actress begged off due to a spinal injury. As replacement, Matti chose Soberano, who has been training ever since to prepare for Darna’s big comeback.
What’s in Jericho Rosales’s adventure... From Page 3 cell phone on his travels, but a kikay kit! “Of course I have one,” he laughed again. In my kikay kit, I have pomade, toothbrush, dental floss, moisturizer, lip balm, cologne, deodorant, sunblock and wet wipes.” Apparently, friends who join him in his adventures have a habit of asking him for things they need. “It’s funny they always forget to bring everything so they’ll just say, ‘Yan si Echo, kumpleto yan may kikay kit yan eh.’ It’s like I’m their kuya because I have everything they need whenever we go.” ‘True Wanderer’ Taking his love for adventure and responsibilities as brand ambassador a notch higher this year, Rosales excitedly announced in this interview that he just finished directing Wrangler’s “True Wanderer 2018” promotional campaign. Shot on a barge in Batangas, Rosales also stars in the video with rocker, actress and fellow adventurer Arci Muñoz who has just been named the brand’s first female ambas-
Jericho Rosales
sador. Scheduled for online release this summer, Rosales shared, “I’ve done projects like this before… music videos that I directed, I but wasn’t able to release them for personal reasons. But for something branded, this is definitely my first. “This video is all about adventure, so it’s close to my heart. Working on it has made me appreciate how much time, effort and energy a director spends on a particular project. It’s time-consuming yes but I
Photo from Instagram/@jerichorosalesofficial
put my heart into this.” As for working with Munoz again, his co-star in television series “Magpahanggang Wakas,” he said, “It’s important for a director to know the actor. Luckily, Arci and I have become good friends. She knows my style in front of the camera so we were able to talk about quality and how to execute the scenes. “I have to thank Arci really because she was really game to take instructions, and we finished all of her parts in just two hours.”
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 14, 2018
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 14, 2018