March 20-22, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 20 • 2 Sections - 20 Pages
Malacañang: ICC offi cials barred from DATELINE USA Palace prefers to see entering country if caught probing drug war ‘silver lining’ in US FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
gov’t report on EJK
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
MALACAÑANG on Monday, March 18, said International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and prosecutors would be barred from entering the Philippines if the nature of their visit is for conducting a probe into President Ro-
drigo Duterte’s war on drugs. “If they say ‘We will be investigating.’ Perhaps they will be denied [entry] by the [Bureau of] Immigration,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a press briefing. “Huwag na. Matulog na lang sila (They should not come here. They should just sleep),” he added.
DESPITE the United States government identifying extrajudicial killing (EJK) as the Philippines’ chief human rights concern, the Palace said it prefers to focus on the positive aspects of the report. In a statement on Saturday, March 16, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the U.S. State Department’s 2018 report on human rights “reflects the U.S .government’s appreciation of the Duterte administration’s governance agenda anchored on fighting corruption, criminality and illegal drugs.” “While the political opposition and detractors of the president, including some of those in the mainstream media, would dwell on what they consider as negative observations and milk the same for their political purposes, we prefer to see the glass half full and focus on the According to the fact-finding team, this vehicle seemed to have been tailing positive aspects of the report,” Panelo said. Contributed photo Panelo then urged the public to read the en- them at the Ortigas Center. tire report so “that they may not be deceived by intended negative and false commentaries.” In his statement, Panelo pointed out how the report mentioned the developments in the
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However, Panelo said ICC representatives can visit the Philippines as tourists and “guests” but once they make moves to start a probe into the administration’s controversial drug war, they may face deportation. “I’ll smile at them and tell them nicely ‘you can’t do it here. If you persist you will be deported. You will be vio-
lating (our sovereignty),” Panelo said. “You’re interfering with the sovereignty. Because when you try to subject a country to your jurisdiction, then you’re interfering with that country because we have our own courts here. We can prosecute anybody if we feel (they violate or transgress) the law,”
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Int’l lawyers note ‘severe’ rights violation vs PH lawyers
Fil-Am arrested in PH for child pornography
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
A PANEL of international lawyers on Monday, March 18, said there has been a “sharp increase” of rights violations against Filipino lawyers, prosecutors, and ENOUGH WATER IN ANGAT DAM. Angat Dam’s water level of 210 meters remains to be ‘normal high’, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, FILIPINO-AMERICAN Joel Aquino Pasay was judges since the start of the administration of Presi- Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday, March 17. The reservoir’s water level at Barangay San Ruiz, Norzagaray, Bulacan can still supply most of the water needs of Metro Manila despite the onset of El Niño. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on Satur- dent Rodrigo Duterte. u PAGE A3 day, March 16, due to his indictment from the United States District Court of Nevada for child pornography charges. The U.S. court indicted Pasay on May 2, 2017, with his receipt of child pornography as by EMMANUEL TUPAS it is in violation of the TItle 18 in U.S. Code Philstar.com 2252 (a)(2). He allegedly distributed copies of THE government is not worried if politicians with child pornography materials. He was nowhere suspected links to the illegal drug trade will withdraw to be found for almost two years. their support for President Duterte’s advocacy for a Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Superinshift to federalism, an official of the Department of the tendent Vicente Danao Jr. received a tip that Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monthe U.S. fugitive was initially seen along Paday, March 18. checo Street, Tondo Manila. Law enforcement DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya officials scouted the area and failed to catch said a possible withdrawal of support for a federal him. form of Duterte administration would not deter the On October 29, 2018, the Philippine Bureau government from naming more politicians with susof Immigration (BI) issued a deportation order Manila Water Chief Operating Officer (CEO) Perry Rivera, Manila Water Chief Executive officer pected involvement in illegal drugs. for the 56-year-old in hiding. Danao said that and President Ferdinand Dela Cruz, Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, and “The fi ght against illegal drugs is more important they found him temporarily residing in Deca MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco testify on Monday, March 18, during the House inquiry DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan than anything else,” Malaya said on the sidelines of on the water shortage in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Homes Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga.
Government to name more narco politicians
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Malaya
Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos
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ManilaTimes.net photo by Rudy Martinez
Filipina-American millennial confirmed to LA Board of Public Works Manila Water apologizes by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
LOS ANGELES — A high-ranking Filipina American in City Hall is now a commissioner on the Board of Public Works. Jessica Caloza was confirmed to the position on Tuesday, March 19 after the City Council voted unanimously, making her the first Pinay to sit on the Board. She was nominated for the vacant seat back in February by Mayor Eric Garcetti, for whom she had served as director of scheduling since 2017. “When we were making a decision about appointing the next Public Works commissioner, this was a no-brainer,” Garcetti said on Tuesday. “The best person in this city and this administration was...right there in front of us every single day.” At the City Council meeting, Caloza spoke about her perspective as a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines “whose first The audience at the LA City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 19 applauds Jessica Caloza, previously the LA Mayor’s
for water interruptions, takes blame for shortage by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
WATER supply concessionaire Manila Water on Monday, March 18, apologized to its customers for the unexpected water service interruptions that affected many households in Metro Manila and Rizal province. Manila Water Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ferdinand de la Cruz appeared before the congressional hearing to take responsibility for the water shortage that affected most of the people in Eastern part of Metro director of scheduling, as she became the first Filipina-American commissioner of the Board of Public Works. Caloza, a Manila and nearby areas. AJPress photo by Noel Ty u PAGE A4 first-generation immigrant, brings local and federal government experience. “I am ready to resign. I am
holding myself accountable for the unexpected drop in service levels to your constituents whom we have consistently served over the past 21 years with 24/7 water availability and sufficient pressure,” de la Cruz said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said that they are also considering to refund the water bill payments of those affected by the said water supply shortage. “We will be studying options if there is going to be a rebate.
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Malacañang: ICC...
PAGE A1 he added. PH never a party to Rome Statute The country officially withdrew from the ICC on Sunday, March 17, though Malacañang insists that the Philippines was never under the ICC’s jurisdiction in the first place. “Our position on the matter remains clear, unequivocal and
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inflexible: The Philippines never became a state party to the Rome Statute which created the ICC,” Panelo said on Sunday. The Philippines might have ratified the Rome Statute that created the ICC, but according to the administration, the government never published that in a newspaper or the official gazette, as required by law. The ICC is an intergovernmen- ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda stressed the court continues to have jurisdiction over the possible crime against humanity committed during the period the Philippines was a state party to the statute. Photo from Twitter/@Int’l Criminal Court
tal organization that investigates cases of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression. It was established by the Rome Statute, which was enforced in 2002. The country decided to withdraw its ratification of the Rome Statute because of what officials described as “outrageous attacks” against Duterte by the UN and the ICC. Human rights groups and the president’s critics have already expressed concern that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC would worsen human rights abuses in the country. Panelo, for his part, dismissed them as “conspiracy theories.” “It is open season of conspiracy theories by the political opposition, the Left and the human rights activists. Suddenly becoming experts in international law and sharing the common advocacy of demonizing the president and his administration on the issue of human rights vis-a-vis the drug war, they make good media copy, which obviously is the intention,” he said. According to him, the extrajudicial killings were caused by “drug syndicates killing each other either for their own protection or to exact revenge against whistleblowers,” and “turf wars among drug lords and drug pushers.” “The anti-illegal drug campaign is anchored on national survival as well as accountability of those who bring the nation to the precipice of destruction,” Panelo said. “There is no culture of impunity under this administration. The country’s criminal justice system continues to be operational and strictly compliant with the constitutional requirement of due process,” he added. n
DRY SEASON. A teenager walks along a parched rice filed in Baliuag, Bulacan province. The El Niño dry spell might last up to June, delaying the onset of the rainy season, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Pagasa Deputy Administrator Flaviana Hilario said the forecast indicated the onset of the rainy season toward late June instead of the usual late May to early June. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
Government to name more narco...
PAGE A1 a conference on federalism attended by representatives from various government agencies at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. He did not say how many more politicians would be implicated in the illegal drug trade. Duterte on Thursday, March 14, named 46 politicians, including three congressmen. Reports said several people in the narco list are the President’s partymates at the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). “We can’t do anything if they will no longer support us but at the end of the day, we go where the majority rules,” Malaya added. He belittled the influence of narco politicians as they are just a small percentage of the number of local elected officials in the country. “We have at least 42,000 barangays and more than 1,000 municipalities in the country. So we are still hoping that we will have the support to make this happen,” Malaya said. Around 200 representatives of 76 national government agen-
cies attended the conference on federalism, which is aimed at getting the inputs of other workers in government on federalism. The DILG previously consulted the public. “We also need the support, the buy-in of the national government agencies because federalism is about giving resources and powers to the regions,” Malaya pointed out. The DILG plans to hold a similar meeting next month with officials from local government units. Political maneuverings Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, who is eyeing the gubernatorial seat in the May 13 polls and whose brother was included in Duterte’s narco list released Thursday, said “this is all about political maneuverings.” In a video posted Saturday night, March 16, on his Facebook page, he pointed out that his elder brother, graduating Pangasinan First District Rep. Jesus Celeste, has been cleared by the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of any involvement in illegal drugs in a resolution last December. As of 11 a.m. Monday,
March 18, the video has gained 112,000 views, 4,100 reactions and 1,496 shares. He explained that three officials were cleared or delisted in that RPOC resolution – the mayors of Bauang and Naguilian in La Union plus his brother, Rep. Jesus Celeste. The two mayors were no longer listed in the latest announcement made by the president but the name of Rep. Celeste remained, thus prompting his relatives and supporters to wonder. “I know my brother too well. He is innocent of the accusations hurled against him,” Arthur said as he chided political opponents who are trying to drag his name into the issue. He said he would continue to go around and bring some documents showing that Alaminos City is the first in Region 1, if not in the country, to have been cleared of illegal drugs. He added that Alaminos City was also the lone city in Pangasinan to receive a gold award for their successful anti-drug abuse programs during the 1st National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Award last December. (With Eva Visperas)
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Dateline USa
IN FULL SWING. Personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways continue dredging operations in Manila Bay as the rehabilitation program enters its second month. The government hopes that the massive cleanup that would cost P47 billion would lead to the reduction of the coliform level to make the bay fit for swimming and fishing. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina
Int’l lawyers note ‘severe’ rights violation... PAGE A1 The panel included lawyers from Belgium, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands and the United States, belonging to international lawyers’ groups International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA) and Day of the Endangered Lawyer Foundation (DELF). The panel reviewed 13 incidents of attacks against members of the Philippine bar, conducting interviews and conferences with government officials, NGOs, the Commission on Human Rights, legal professionals, victims and families of victims in Metro Manila and Iloilo from March 14 to 18. Since July 2016, legal professionals have been suffering from attacks. The killing of human rights lawyer Ben Ramos in November last year prompted the panel to come to the Philippines. “We have visited other countries where there has been a high degree of criminalization of lawyers because of the execution of their duties and defense of people but we have not visited any country where there has been such a high degree of extrajudicial killings, harassment and surveillance of lawyers, prosecutors, and judges, and also now we’re learning, paralegals as well whom we consider also to be part of the legal profession,” said lawyer Suzanne Adely from the United States’ National Lawyers Guild.
“That does not mean that we’ve looked into this matter in every country in the world but there are…the reason that we came here in the first place is there have been extensive reports about this,” she added. Patterns in killings According to the panel’s review of data, there are “patterns” in killings. “[T]here are patterns suggesting a connection between the killings and the actions of the PNP and AFP. There are recurrent elements sustaining such connection,” the data revealed. Among the elements they noted included Duterte’s public declarations targeting lawyers; lawyers being tagged, harassed and surveilled before being killed; a lack of sufficient investigation; and the killings involving masked, professional shooters on motorbikes who use .22 caliber guns with silencer. A culture of impunity The panel pointed out that Duterte’s declarations and “almost complete impunity of offenders give police, military and effectively anyone a license to harass and kill.” They urged Duterte to “refrain from publicly attacking lawyers and instead publicly condemn all attacks against lawyers, prosecutors and judges.” They also urged the government to cease red-tagging and public disclosure of drug lists, as well as ensure the safety of lawyers and the independence of the ju-
diciary. Under the Philippine jurisprudence, red-tagging is defined as “the act of labelling, branding, naming and accusing individuals and/or organizations of being left-leaning, subversives, communists or terrorists (used as) a strategy... by State agents, particularly law enforcement agencies and the military, against those perceived to be ‘threats’ or ‘enemies of the State.’” “We learned that lawyers in the Philippines have been redtagged for defending human rights, defending political dissidents, and defending victims of human rights violations,” the panel said. No hand in killing Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, for his part, dismissed the panel’s findings. He said they should not attribute the deaths to the president as the killings “could be personally motivated.” “They cannot attribute the lawyers’ killing to PRRD (Duterte) and his administration. The killing could be personally motivated,” he said. “What do they mean by their statement that the Administration should refrain from attacking lawyers? The administration has not attacked any lawyer in any way and/or manner. Coming as it does from lawyers who should know better, blaming the administration for the lawyers’ deaths is gross intellectually challenged,” he added. n
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LAX breaks ground on $4.9 billion airport train Largest contract in city history to create more than 2,000 construction jobs
LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday, March 14, broke ground on the Automated People Mover (APM), a train which will connect travelers directly to airport terminals and create new and convenient locations for passenger pick-up and drop-off outside the Central Terminal Area. The historic infrastructure project will transform public transportation, reduce traffic congestion, and deliver a world-class experience for travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Mayor was joined by Councilmember Mike Bonin,
Supervisors Janice Hahn and Mark Ridley-Thomas, Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) President Sean Burton and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) CEO Deborah Flint, as well as community and labor leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Everyone traveling to or from LAX should have access to modern, reliable public transportation that gets them to their destination on time,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The Automated People Mover is a historic investment in our city’s transportation infrastructure
— a milestone that will create middle-class jobs, reduce traffic congestion, and deliver a worldclass experience for travelers.” Since taking office, Mayor Garcetti has guided forward a more than $14 billion transformation of LAX that began in 2009. Mayor Garcetti’s historic infrastructure investments have strengthened working families and the middle class. Under his leadership, unemployment has been cut in half and 212,000 new jobs have been created. Construction of the train is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs. n
Palace prefers to see ‘silver lining’ in US...
PAGE A1 Duterte administration’s antidrug campaign. “Its assessment is respectful of the government’s deeper challenges, [like the] deaths of many law enforcement officers during operations, even as accountability of those from the same ranks is guaranteed through investigations of ‘any actions taken outside the rule of law,’” Panelo said. “It recognizes the sentencing of three police officials involved in the Kian de los Santos killing, even as it noted that 1,274,148 individuals have surrendered for drug rehabilitation and clearance while our unprecedented war against illegal drugs and criminality has resulted in more detainees,” it added. Panelo then cited how the report acknowledges government efforts to “promote speedy disposition of inmate cases, including the use of plea bargaining.” Furthermore, Panelo said the U.S. State Department’s report “is also sympathetic to the government’s challenges in the peace process.” The report, Panelo said, also touches on the milestones “in addressing concerns of vulnerable
Filipina-American millennial confirmed to LA...
Philstar.com file photo
groups” and “the free, fair and well-organized conduct of the local elections for barangay and youth officials in May last year.” The U.S. State Department, in its annual global human rights report for 2018 released March 13, noted a “sharp rise” of extrajudicial killings with the onset
of the Philippine government’s campaign against illegal drugs in 2016. However, Panelo reiterated that “the president and this government have never sponsored any form of violation of human rights nor will they tolerate them.” (Inquirer.net)
Fil-Am arrested in PH for...
PAGE A1 “[Pasay] poses risk to public safety and security being a fugitive from justice,” Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. The arrest was done with
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti (center) and Jessica Caloza (left) pose with members of the local Fil-Am community in City Hall before Caloza’s confirmation for the Board of Public Works. Garcetti nominated Caloza, his director of scheduling, for the position last February. AJPress photos by Noel Ty
the collaborative effort of the MPD, BI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security via an arrest warrant as they arrive at the residence of Pasay in Pampanga around 1:30 p.m. on March 16. Aside from the U.S. Homeland
Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Manila and Las Vegas, the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Manila Police District Special Operations Unit (MPDSOU) and the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) also helped in the said arrest. (AJPress)
PAGE A1 experience here in the United States was right here in Los Angeles.” “It’s why I have such a passion to serve and why I am in public service because it was through good public programs and good public institutions that my family in one generation was able to succeed and why I’m here today,” she said. Following the confirmation, she was sworn in to become part of the five-member, full-time executive team that oversees projects and programs, such as construction and sanitation, to the benefit of the city’s 4 million residents. She will specifically handle the Bureau of Engineering, which deals with infrastructure plans. One of her immediate priorities as commissioner is to take a look at the metrics the Board is collecting and have them disaggregated to see where the resources and services are being allocated. “Data is so important to holding government accountable and making sure there’s transparency with our residents and making sure that they understand what services we provide and what resources that are publicly available because it is a safety net for so many families,” Caloza told the Asian Journal. She added that expanding the services through language access is also on her agenda, “since English is my second language, as I notice for so many people in this room and in this city.” Before the City Council meeting on Tuesday, a reception was held by the Mayor’s Office, which was attended by City Hall colleagues, Philippine Consul General Adelio Cruz, Consulate representatives and dozens of members of the local Fil-Am community. “For them, it’s really important to make sure that we have people in these positions that look like them and represent their values and that’s what I’m really looking
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to confirm Jessica Caloza to the Board of Public Works on Tuesday, March 19. Prior to the council meeting, Caloza and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti held a reception with local Fil-Am community members.
forward to doing. Seeing people energized me and motivated me to just do good work,” Caloza shared with the Asian Journal. Prior to the director of scheduling position, Caloza was deputy director of scheduling and came to the Mayor’s Executive Office from the Office of Immigrant Affairs, where she managed policy proposals, grant programs, and civic engagement initiatives focused on expanding access to resources for immigrant communities. Her background also includes serving in the Obama administration as a policy analyst in the Department of Education and as campaign aides for several members of Congress, including former Rep. Xavier Becerra, California’s current Attorney General. With her experience on the federal and local levels of government, Caloza said she also brings a unique perspective as a millennial in public service. “For me, it was never calculated in that I was trying to get from
point A to point B… It’s really a testament too to the mayor and this administration that they believe in our generation and that we can make tough decisions no matter how old you are,” she told the Asian Journal. “Age is also part of representation, just as gender is and just as ethnicity is. We want to make sure that people who are going to live in our age in these communities have a voice on the Board and on these issues that really affect every single person. It doesn’t matter how old you are.” Caloza went straight to work during the Public Works meeting on Wednesday morning. The commissioners hold meetings three times a week, which are open to the public. “You can see what we’re voting on, what we’re talking about, and the discussion is all public,” she said. “It’s important to see how government works up close so that you understand where to push and pull when you want to get something done.” n
Dead whale’s plastic-filled stomach a ‘wake-up call’ vs pollution — Greenpeace by GAEA
KATREENA Philstar.com
CABICO
THE case of a dead whale with 40 kilos of plastic trash in its stomach—said to be one of the worst cases of poisoning—should prod everyone to take drastic action against plastic pollution, an environmental group said on Tuesday, March 19. A Cuvier’s beaked whale died in Compostela Valley on Satur-
day, a day after it was stranded in Mabini town. The animal died of starvation and was unable to eat because of the trash filling its stomach. The 40 kilograms of plastic trash included grocery bags and rice sacks. Abigail Aguilar, Greenpeace Philippines campaigner, said whales, dolphins and turtles have been reported to have died in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia because of trash in
the space of less than a year. “[This] is a clear proof how grave plastic pollution affects our environment, most especially ocean creatures,” Aguilar said. She noted that three whales and a dolphin were found dead with plastic in their stomach in Davao Gulf this year. A sperm whale died in Indonesia last year with nearly six PAGE A7
Manila Water apologizes for water... PAGE A1 Normally, we do it in the next rate rebasing, but unfortunately congressmen are saying that 2022 is too long,” MWSS chief regulator Patrick Ty said. “We will discuss this after we fix the problem. They (Manila Water) hope to find a solution by April so we will study all options by that time,” he added. According to de la Cruz, operations of the distributor in charge of the capital’s east zone will return to normal by the end of summer. The supply deficit will be halved by April and will be reduced further to 15 percent by May. Manila Water also attributed the water supply shortage to high consumer demand, as it cited the condition of the Angat Dam, its main supply source. They said that water it needed increased to 1,740 million liters (MLD) per day, higher than its 1,600 MLD allocation. To add to that, Maynilad gets 2,400 MLD from Angat Dam, which has a capacity of 4,000 MLD. MWSS also said that the Manila Water’s failure to complete a treatment plant in Cardona, Rizal was also partly to blame for the water shortage.
Palace: No water crisis, just mismanagement Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on the same day, that there was no water crisis in Metro Manila, rather he attributed the water shortages as a product of Manila Water and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) inefficiency. “Eh, iyong lang problema lang na iyon, nagawan kaagad nila ng paraan eh. Simplengsimple lang ang problema. They created their own problem, and they provided the solution. It’s purely inefficiency, mismanagement (They were able to solve the problem, which was so simple. They created their own problem, and they provided the solution. It’s purely inefficiency, mismanagement),” Panelo said as reported by CNN Philippines The spokesman shared that the MWSS was able to restore the water supply of 90 customers in Metro Manila right after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the release of water from Angat Dam. Water department placed under Office of the President A draft executive order to place the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) under
the Office of the President is on the works to address the water crisis experienced by certain areas in Metro Manila. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles revealed on Sunday, March 17, that such transfer would focus on the “policy, direction-setting, and the integration of all government efforts pertaining to water” as they were set to craft a “national water management master plan.” “At this point, we have built a consensus on how we can address these issues, but the recommendations as outlined in the EO will still be subject to the approval of the President,” Nograles said as reported by Rappler. “Given the scope and breadth of water-related concerns, the supervision of OP could help ensure that all 30-plus agencies involved in water resource management are on the same page,” he added. At present, the NWRB is under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). NWRB coordinates and regulates water-related activities in the entire country that has an impact on the physical environment and the economy. n
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Wangzha Shangzun Truly DATELINE PHILIPPINES Transcends the Ordinary Palace: No correlation between human rights, economy
IN the afternoon of March 6, 2019, peals of thunder could be heard rumbling above the sky of the Holy Miracles Temple, sounding like giant earthquakes and landslides. The rain came pouring down rapidly. The Grand Hall of Shakyamuni Buddha at the Holy Miracles Temple was crowded with nearly a thousand Buddhists from all over the world. Holding khatas with both hands, they kneeled to respectfully and sincerely welcome the greatly accomplished holy guru, Wangzha Shangzun. Wangzha Shangzun is a great holy guru who has attained the level of Gold Button Grade 3. In this lifetime, He has followed H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to learn Buddha-Dharma and has attained tremendous accomplishment in holy realization. The Shangzun is considered the one and only Venerable King of Extraordinary Strength within the field of Buddhism throughout the entire world. He once conducted the Vajra Fa-man Holy Selection Grand Dharma Assembly during which He performed the Determination by Holy Selection in accordance with the Dharma and arrived at the determination that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the true incarnation of the primordial Buddha. In 2016, Wangzha Shangzun personally presided over the holy exam held by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters for Dharma kings, rinpoches, Dharma masters, masters, and acaryas around the world. In establishing the Samsara Eight-Wind Array and Vajra Array, and with his holy realization, the Shangzun determined through Holy Selection the grade levels—the levels of accomplishment—of nearly 10,000 Buddhists. That astounded the world! The Shangzun is, however, indifferent towards fame and fortune. In the past few years, He devoted himself to Dharma affairs of saving living beings. He rarely sees regular Buddhists except for seeing a very small number of high-level Buddhists. With the near-completion of the Dipankara Buddha Hall in the Holy Miracles Temple, and upon repeated requests by the monastics of the temple, the Shangzun has finally agreed to go to the Dipankara Buddha Hall periodically to chant sutras and mantras, to perform Dharmas, to pray for and bless faithful Buddhists who light lamps to beseech blessings. It was only under this karmic condition that the Shangzun agreed to publicly meet with Buddhists regardless of their level of accomplishment. In the evening of March 6, Wangzha Shangzun arrived at Holy Miracles Temple. He walked with firm and stately pace as if a Vajra deity was descending to a mandala. A huge Vajra scepter which weighs about 1,000 jin (approximately 1,100 pounds) was placed in front of the entrance of the Grand Hall of Shakyamuni Buddha. According to the ancient Dharma rules in the time of Guru Padmasamb-
hava, any great holy guru who attained the level of Gold Button Grade 3 must lift the temple-barrier Vajra scepter—the weight of which corresponds with the body weight and age of the holy guru—before they can stride over the scepter and enter the Buddha Hall. This Dharma rule is meant to verify if the Shangzun’s physical condition is healthy and if He has attained the standard of having transcended the ordinary. The rule requires Wangzha Shangzun to lift a 1,000 jin temple-barrier Vajra scepter before He can enter the Grand Hall to pay homage to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Wangzha Shangzun has a Vajra-like physique that is tall and grand, and an appearance that is very dignified. He went up to the temple-barrier Vajra scepter, bent over, and lifted up the 1,000 jin Vajra scepter effortlessly, manifesting the mighty character of a Vajra deity. When He put the Vajra scepter back on the floor, the ground and the hall instantly shook and the congregation was astounded. Subsequently, Shangzun gracefully strode over the Vajra scepter and entered the Grand Hall. He prostrated to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III as he spoke these words with utter sincerity, “I, disciple Wangzha, prostrate myself before the great Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III!” With his back bent and head bowed, He slowly came in front of His Holiness the Buddha. His Holiness the Buddha placed His hand on the Shangzun’s head. Afterwards, the Shangzun retreated to the side and ascended to His seat. He addressed the congregation, “Buddhist disciples, I’m very happy to see you here today. I’m happy because you have the karmic affinity in this lifetime to meet Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III. Thus, you’ll be able to learn the authentic Buddha Dharma, the unaltered and pristine Dharma. Because of this, you will be able to attain accomplishment within this lifetime. So of course, I’m very happy.” Wangzha Shangzun blessed everyone in the congregation by placing His hand on each of their heads before He left. This went on until very late at night. After the Shangzun left, Buddhist disciples were unable to hold back their curiosity about the 1,000 jin Vajra scepter. Many came forward to try lifting it. A body-builder and weightlifter also gave it a try. Certainly, it is obvious that no matter how much strength they exerted, they were unable to lift it, and everyone shook their head when they resume standing. They were not even able to move it, not to say lift it. Two people tried to jointly lift one end, but the Vajra scepter did not move a bit. No wonder Shangzun is called the Venerable King of Extraordinary Strength. Kankun Rinpoche, the attendant of Wangzha Shangzun, said, “On this planet earth, among all Dharma kings and rinpoches, you cannot find anyone who can lift the temple-bar-
rier Vajra scepter. There are no temple-barrier Vajra scepters in front of their Grand Buddha Halls because this is a sharp weapon that exposes the nature of ordinary people. If they are not truly great holy people, do they dare to place a temple-barrier Vajra scepter in front of their Buddha Halls? Why? The reason is simple. True Buddha-Dharma has already become extinct. What people have learned are fragmented empty theories. No matter how reputable some of the Dharma kings or rinpoches are, or how high their status may be, their physical bodies are essentially sickly and weak. How can they have any holy qualities in their bodies? How could they have a Vajra body developed from true Buddha-Dharma? The only place to witness true realization power is right here where Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III is. Only Wangzha Shangzun, a close disciple of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, has truly attained realization powers manifested from the authentic Dharma of the Tathagatas. I dare say some of those Tibetan Dharma Kings who brag about their lineages and talk empty theories are very pitiful. They do all sorts of useless things to fool amateurs. Even though they pose to look energetic when ascending to the Dharma dais, their bodies are weak and sickly. They are tormented by their illnesses yet they continue to make up empty lies, and even fabricate false Buddha-Dharma. Since cultivators do not look for facts and only listen to empty talk, it is not surprising that they are being swindled! This is precisely the Dharma-ending age that Shakyamuni Buddha talked about where the demons prevail, Buddha-Dharma declines, and practitioners are often harmed. To cover up the fact that they are by nature ordinary people, some Dharma kings or rinpoches might say, ‘Our lineage places no emphasis on that!’ I am saying you can only deceive idiots. Whether or not you place emphasis on that, if you claim that you are a holy person and you have transcended the ordinary to become holy, why doesn’t your body have the great strength of a holy person? The undeniable facts are that you have no physical strength and your physical body is weak and sickly. Isn’t that true? If you disagree, show everyone that you can pick up the temple-barrier Vajra scepter! Just as with the Five Vidyas. Many people pretend to have Five Vidyas, but ultimately, where are their Five Vidyas? Can they show their Vidyas one by one? What level of accomplishment do they have in their Vidyas? They have nothing! Shakyamuni Buddha stipulated that a Bodhisattva must have Five Vidyas, yet you are deficient in the Five Vidyas, and without any level of accomplishment. You are clearly not a great Bodhisattva. By claiming to be a Bodhisattva, you are going against the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. You are simply an ordinary person and not a Bodhisattva at all!” n
House will not recall budget bill – Arroyo THE House of Representatives has yet to withdraw its version of the 2019 budget bill, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Tuesday, March 19. “We have not withdrawn our version. We’re in discussion about what is the proposed new version,” Arroyo told reporters at the sidelines of a business event in Taguig City. The Speaker is set to meet with other House members late Tuesday, including San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, her delegated negotiator with the Senate on the 2019 General Appropriations Act. Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Mon-
day said the House agreed to keep the version of the bill approved in the bicameral conference committee report. Arroyo, who signed the budget measure last week, maintained that the House will keep its version with line-itemized projects, contrary to the proposal of the Senate to have a lump-sum budgeting. “We will insist on no lump sum because that is what is unconstitutional. That’s what we will insist, no lump sum. Now, as to the details, that’s the one that we’ll see,” she added. The P3.757-trillion national budget impasse continues as
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd remains firm on not signing a bill allegedly tinkered by the House post-ratification. At least P95.1 billion were supposedly realigned and a portion of the P15-billion budget for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program were itemized to at least 62 favored districts, Lacson noted. “If we don’t come to an agreement and then Tito Sotto does not sign the bill, then there’s no bill to send to the President. So I do not know if we will but I would wish we would,” Arroyo said. (Glee Jalea/ManilaTimes. net)
DIALOGUE WITH RIDERS. Senator JV Ejercito together with LTO Chief Edgar Galvante and Col. Darwin Paz of PNP-HPG pose for a souvenir photo with the motorcycle riders after holding a two-hour dialogue with them at the Senate over their complaints against the implementation of the new “Doble Plaka” law. Senate hoto by Cesar Tomambo
MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday, March 19, said human rights concerns raised by “detractors” of the Duterte administration were not hurting the economy, adding that investor sentiment remains favorable for the Philippines. “There is no direct correlation between human rights and the economy, as some quarters particularly two international lawyers groups would like to point out,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. “While we continue to adhere to the rule of law and uphold international humanitarian law and the protection of human rights, the critics and the detractors of the administration continue to vilify the president and the government, even raising the issue of human rights in connection with the drug war to other issues such as trade, business and the
economy,” he added. Panelo said he was responding to claims made by international groups of lawyers that the Philippines’ foreign investments “have been or will be adversely affected” by the issues on human rights and extrajudicial killings. “As our economic managers succinctly expounded, foreign investments are anchored on principal considerations, they are: macroeconomic fundamentals, no or minimal restriction on foreign equity on investment areas and activities, ease of doing business, good infrastructure, nonrestrictive labour laws, and consistent policy milieu,” he said. But human rights watchdogs at home and abroad say most of the fatalities in the government’s anti-narcotics drive are extrajudicial killings committed by cops, accusing Duterte of inciting violence and “steamrolling the rule of law.”
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show foreign direct investments net inflows ended last year at $9.802 billion, down 4.4 percent from the $10.256 billion received in 2017. It was the first drop of such inflows in three years. The amount is also lower than the $10.4 billion net inflows which the central bank expected for the full year. Meanwhile, the economy grew 6.2 percent in 2018, below the state’s 6.5-6.9 percent goal for the year and the weakest in three years amid high inflation. Last year, London-based Capital Economics said the “much bigger concern” for the Philippine economy over the long term is “a string of inflammatory comments and policy changes by Duterte that have raised concerns in the minds of investors over the president’s judgement and commitment to the rule of law.” (Ian Nicolas Cigaral/Philstar.com)
A6 MARCH 20-22, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Out of the ICC
FEATURES
COUNTRIES that withdraw from the International Criminal Court can return, but this isn’t going to happen for the Philippines under the Duterte administration, much to the dismay of human rights advocates. Burundi, The Gambia and South Africa also withdrew from the ICC and remain out. Indonesia withdrew but later changed its mind, so this can be done by the Philippines. The Duterte administration is not alone in wanting to keep the country out of the ICC. The United States, China, Russia and Israel – countries that leave large footprints in the global arena – have stayed out of the ICC, mainly over national sovereignty concerns. So have Libya and Qatar. ICC proceedings leading to a formal probe are not stopped by a notice of withdrawal, which takes effect only a year after the notification is submitted. The Philippine government is expected to argue that the ICC cannot proceed with a formal investigation of President Duterte on charges related to his bloody war on prohibited drugs. The argument is that all three branches of government are still functioning and judicial courts and the legislature are still providing checks and balances to abuses of the executive branch, so the ICC cannot step in. An alternative for the Philippines is to strengthen the institutions that hold public officials accountable for their actions. The system of checks and balances for all three branches of government
is enshrined in the Constitution and other laws. But implementing the system is weak and unreliable. Even if a sitting president escapes impeachment, which is a political process and a numbers game, there are laws that can be applied in various cases of abuse of power once a chief executive steps down from office. Those who carry out unlawful orders can also be brought to justice under existing laws. The challenge is to gather sufficient evidence that can stand in court, and to ensure that justice will be rendered fairly and with reasonable speed. These are the areas where the country is weak, but such flaws are not beyond repair. The strength of several of the states that have ratified the Rome Statute is that their institutions are strong enough to allow them, on their own, to prevent their people from committing offenses covered by the ICC, and to punish anyone who breaks the law and abuses power. This must be the ultimate goal of the Philippines. The laws are there; what’s lacking is enforcement. (Philstar. com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Trump’s disapproval rating hits record high: It’s not just the economy, character matters too
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump: “Why will they impeach me? I am doing a great job?” To which his supporters and fans say, “The American people elected Trump not because he is perfect. They elected him because they know the economy will boom under the billionaire business mogul reality show superstar.” Or, “Who cares about the issues against him? The economy is doing great! That’s all that matters!” NO, President Trump! It is not just the economy. Your supporters and ever loyal avid fans may blindly take every word you say without question, but they are not MOST of the American peo-
ple. The FACT is, a majority of the American people disapprove of the way you do your job as president. This is according to a new CNN Poll, which is also revealed in previous results of all credible polls. Your favorability rating is on the negative, Mr. President. A majority of Americans - 51 percent - disapprove of your job performance, the lowest share since CNN began polling at the beginning of your term. Only 42 percent of respondents said they approve of your performance, while the remaining respondents said they have no opinion. IT IS NOT just the economy, President Trump, because the same poll revealed that a majority of Americans- 51 percent
-gives you a thumbs up in the way you are handling the economy. What then accounts for the deficit? It is not just the economy, Mr. Trump. The American people are demanding that the President of the United States has character and demonstrates true leadership as well. You fail the character test not because of the press and your critics that you love to demonize only because they are demanding accountability from you and calling you out for your incessant lying to the American people. You fail the character test because you betray the public trust accorded to you as president. You fail the character test because you insult the intelligence of the American people with your
falsehoods and twisting of facts just to fit your narrative which is fabricated to massage your ego and serve your personal interests, regardless of the facts. You fail the character test because you discriminate against people, a blatant violation of the Constitution. You fail the character test because you cannot rise above your pettiness and self-centered mindset that is why you, without shame, attack people who do not bow down to you and feed your insatiable ego. You fail the character test because you bring out the worst in people, dividing instead of uniting the nation. It is not just about the economy, Mr. President. Because with your style of governance that is based not on intelligent analy-
sis of facts and data but on the whim, instinct and manipulation of people, and a sense of white supremacy, you are leading this great nation to isolationism. You have pulled down this nation from its leadership position in the world, and you are pulling down the economy because of your myopic and shortsighted thinking. The economic numbers may be good now, for the well-to-do Americans, but what about the ordinary hardworking people? What will happen to the economy with the unprecedented budget deficit you created when you give out more handouts to your billionaire and millionaire Americans while depriving quality social services like health care, education, safety nets to the ordinary hard working class?
Do you even care? Perhaps not. During a 2017 briefing with senior officials, you responded to a presentation of charts and graphics showing concerns about rising national debt by saying, “Yeah, but I won’t be here”. This was because you did not think it will erupt until after you leave office, according to a source The Daily Beast said witnessed the comment. It is not just the economy, Mr. President, but even in that department, you have already betrayed the American people. *** 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
Why development should guide any US-PH MDT review
Commentary
DAN STEINBOCK In times of great uncertainty, strategic ambiguity offers little clarity. The review of the U.S.Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty should be guided by the quest for sovereignty and economic development. DURING his recent visit to the Philippines, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad met Murad Ebrahim, the Filipino Muslim rebel leader who became a regional governor under the Malaysian-brokered peace deal. In the course of the meeting, Mahathir told Murad that “it’s easy to shoot and kill, but it’s difficult to develop. If there is peace, then everything will come.” Mahathir’s words offer guidance in intra-country divides, but also in inter-country friction, including the review of the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States. In early March, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the government should review the MDT to avoid provoking a potential armed conflict with China in the South China Sea. Lorenzana pointed out that the security environment in the region today is “much more complex” than in the early Cold War era, when it was drawn up. “The
Philippines is not in a conflict with anyone and will not be at war with anyone in the future.” Obviously, there are different views about the preferred future of the MDT in Manila, Washington and elsewhere. Typically, most are predicated on geopolitical arguments, treaty texts and interpretations of various statements. Yet, Mahathir’s wisdom matters. Development is not viable without peace. In the long run, it is the quest for economic development that should drive the MDT debate. Sovereignty and ‘zero-problems’ foreign policy Since the early 2000s, the rapid growth of the so-called BRIC economies has greatly inspired debates on economic development. As a large emerging economy with solid structural potential for the future, the Philippines could draw from the lessons of these countries. As I have stressed since my 2014 Mabini lecture at the Foreign Service Institute, there is nothing automatic about strong growth potential. Vital economic, political and security shifts can support or penalize growth. In light of Mahathir’s views, the most important lesson may well be the “zero problems policy,” which was developed a decade ago by former Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davuto-
glu who lectured in Malaysia in the Mahathir era. Historically, this approach has been typical to successful industrializers in the emerging world. From the 1980s to 2000s, China was largely focused on inward development, though gradually building international relations. The same goes for India’s industrialization in the past two decades. In Brazil, the most intensive phase of modernization occurred earlier but could only be completed in the Lula era. In Southeast Asia, the rise of Singapore only took off after Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership overcame race riots and began a decisive focus on development. In Vietnam, reunification and reforms could only move ahead after colonialism and triumphs against the French and U.S. neocolonial wars. In Indonesia, both Sukarno and Suharto sought rapid industrialization, but it was only completed with peace and stability in the era of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Of course, none of the large emerging economies have been able to avoid all conflicts, many of which stem from colonial legacies following artificial partitions (India), invasions and wars (China), and structural dependency (Brazil). Yet, the effort to reduce friction in foreign relations, in order to focus
on economic development has been typical of successful modernization. What these large emerging economies also share is their insistence on sovereignty. After decades, even centuries of colonial “divide and rule,” they want to control their own future. While all of them seek to cooperate and partner with other nations in different ways, they do not easily tolerate the military presence of other countries within their territories. As evidenced by the Middle East, such presence is not just a reminder of colonial legacies but can violate their sovereignty and result in destructive proxy conflicts in the region. Economic development first Following the recalibration of the Philippine foreign policy, there is nothing so challenging in the country’s bilateral relations with China that could not be negotiated in a mutually satisfactory way over time. But just as Manila would not easily tolerate an anti-Philippine stance by foreign troops in China, it is hardly surprising that Beijing has concerns about any military presence by third-party countries in the Philippines – especially in light of historical track record. The Philippines became a U.S. colony after the Spanish-American war and the subsequent
Philippine-American War. The promised independence materialized only after the Japanese invasion and the end of World War 2 in 1946. Yet, a strong U.S. military presence remained in the country until 1991. Following President Obama’s “pivot to Asia” in 2011, President Aquino and his foreign secretary Albert del Rosario achieved the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), as a sort of a prelude to more intimate collaboration with the anticipated presidency of Sen. Mar Roxas in 2016. The scenario was foiled by Duterte’s electoral triumph, which, reportedly, led to a regime change plan by former U.S. ambassador Philip Goldberg in fall 2017. In all these scenarios – from the late 1890s up to present – the Philippines has been seen as a geopolitical platform to project U.S. hard power in the region, particularly vis-à-vis China, as most historians acknowledge. Toward peace, development and prosperity When Defense Secretary Lorenzana said last December that the objective of the MDT treaty review would be to “maintain it, strengthen it, or scrap it,” he presented three clear future scenarios to the country. Any scenario that would maintain or strengthen the MDT runs
the risk of undermining Philippine sovereignty, exposing the country to costly entanglements and potentially fatal conflicts in the region, which, in turn, would undermine the quest for economic development. Instead, what Manila needs is strengthened sovereignty, strong Asean cooperation, and development. Successful economic modernization is not viable without sovereignty and focus on development, as evidenced by the history of the BRIC economies (and that of the United States). When the MDT was signed in 1951, the U.S. and advanced countries still dominated world growth, whereas emerging Asia was struggling amid poverty. Today, China and emerging countries fuel global growth prospects, while emerging Asia is catching up with higher living standards – but only as long as peaceful conditions prevail in the region. So, if economic development is to remain the national priority, these are the facts that should guide the review of the MDT in the new and far more complex security environment. ••• Dr. Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served at the India, China and America Institute (US), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see http://www.differencegroup.net/
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCh 20-22, 2019
A
Longer maternity leave impacts decision to hire women — ECOP survey by LOUELLA
DESIDERIO Philstar.com
MANILA — More than half of Philippine companies expect the Expanded Maternity Leave Law to affect their decision in hiring women, a survey of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) showed. Preliminary results of the ECOP survey were presented at the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc.’s first quarter general membership meeting Tuesday, which showed 68 percent of the 70 respondents saying the new law would affect their decision in hiring women. Signed into law in February, the EML grants additional maternity leave benefits to working mothers to 105 days from 60 days. The law also gives an option
to mothers to extend their leave for an additional 30 days without pay once they give birth. Out of the 34 respondents who were in favor of the EML, four said it would affect their decision in hiring women. As for the 24 respondents who were against the new law, 10 said the passage would not affect their decision in hiring women. Those who said the new law would have an impact in their decision to hire women cited compromises in the productivity of the company and higher cost implications in terms of benefit and cost of hiring and training a temporary replacement as reasons for their response. Meanwhile, some respondents said the new law would not affect their decision to employ women as they want to promote
equal employment opportunity and gender equality, want qualifications to be the basis for hiring, and as women make good employees for they are more organized, detail-oriented and generally more reliable. The survey, conducted from March 11 to 15 this year, covered 70 businesses, with 51 percent comprising large scale companies and 27 percent accounted for by small enterprises. Most of the respondents were engaged in either manufacturing, services, and logistics and transportation. ECOP director general Jose Roland Moya said the results of the survey are still preliminary as the group is still waiting for the responses of other businesses. The deadline for responses is on March 30. n
Filipina quantum physicist honored in Paris by JAN
MILO SEVERO Philstar.com
FILIPINA quantum physicist Dr. Jacquiline Romero was honored with an international award in Paris last March 14 after she was selected for the L’OréalUNESCO International Rising Talent grant for 2019. Apart from Romero, the award was also given to 14 other promising young women internationally who are making important contributions in science. According to the UNESCO website, the Brisbane-based, Filipino doctor specifically works in the field of quantum physics, which explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level. She is exploring how an infinite number of possible shapes of photons — particles of light — can be used to encode information at a higher capacity. Her works could lead to reliable and secure communication, help conserve data privacy, guard against the growing risk of cyber attacks, and deliver more powerful computation. “Winning a L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science fellowship has given me a national platform to show that women, particularly mothers, can succeed in science. People are inspired by stories, and I think my journey is a story that could do so much to inspire
SENATE INVESTIGATES WATER SHORTAGE. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon (2nd from left) asks Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo Velasco about the agency’s long-term plan to provide uninterrupted and affordable potable water to residents of Metro Manila. “We should have a masterplan to address a problem that will not go away. Tell us what legislation is needed to assist you or address this problem,” Drilon told Velasco during a Senate investigation on the water shortage crisis in Metro Manila Tuesday, March 19. Also in photo are (left to right) Senators Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Panfilo Lacson, Sherwin Gatchalian and Joel Villanueva. Senate photo by Albert Calvelo
Bong Go pushes protection of nature by RALPH
VILLANUEVA ManilaTimes.net
FORMER special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go urged citizens of Cavite to protect the environment to help achieve a better society. In a statement, Go underscored the need to protect the environment since it will result in a better future for Filipinos.
“[Go] knows that the key to a better country is to protect nature, that gives us our necessities,” Go’s statement read. Go attended the meeting of nature protectors in Trece Martires, Cavite to show he was serious about the environment. In the same event, Go said that agriculture was among his priority legislative agenda if he is lucky enough to land a Senate seat in this year’s midterm
polls, He is also pushing for the establishment of Malasakit Centers, which he has been doing even before he declared his intent to run for the Senate. Go also wants laws on sports development, education, Magna Carta for barangay (village) officials, among others. According to the latest confirmed senatorial survey, Go can a spot in the “Magic 12.” n
Dead whale’s plastic-filled stomach...
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Dr. Jacquiline Romero
young girls and young women scientists,” said the physicist, who works for EQUS and the University of Queensland. “Her journey to push the boundaries of quantum information began in the Philippines, where she was encouraged by her school teachers to pursue science, even participating in national physics competitions,” EQUS said of Romero. “As part of a minority of
Contributed photo
women in quantum science, she believes improving the representation of women in science requires a fundamental cultural change, starting at school, where girls’ and boys’ sense of wonder and curiosity should be equally nurtured.” As part of the award, Romero will receive €15,000 as prize money for her outstanding contributions to the advancement of science. n
kilograms of plastic waste discovered in its stomach. A whale also died in Thailand last year after swallowing more than 80 plastic bags. A green turtle, a protected species, suffered the same fate there in 2018. “It is unimaginable how many more animals are mistaking and ingesting plastic for food right now and how many more of them will be found beached and dead soon,” Aguilar said. She added: “One piece of plastic found in the stomach of a whale or a dolphin is one piece of plastic too many. How many dead whales, dolphins or sea turtles do we need before
we wake up and take drastic action on plastic pollution?” Call for action vs plastic pollution The death of the whale comes weeks after a study on the country’s pollution problem by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives revealed that around 59.8 billion pieces of plastic sachets are used by Filipinos a year. The report also showed that more than 17 billion shopping bags are used across the Philippines every year. The use of smaller, thinner and often transparent plastic bags is at 16.5 billion. The Greenpeace Philippines campaigner stressed the death of the whale is not just a cause
for alarm, but an “urgent call for quick, effective, sustainable and large-scale action against plastic pollution.” “We can never emphasize enough how urgent it is for corporations to reduce the production of single-use plastic and redesign packaging and systems to minimize plastic waste, for governments to ban single-use plastic products and for citizens to be mindful of a throwaway lifestyle and put pressure to both the government and the industry to take decisive steps to counter this crisis,” Aguilar said. She added: “From production, to consumption, to disposal, we have to get our acts together.” n
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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL
PH’s trade-induced dollar outflows Palace disputes claim EJKs affecting zoomed to historic record in 2018 business confidence in Philippines by DAXIM
L. LUCAS
Inquirer.net
THE Philippines recorded its highest net outflow of US dollars on record last year, due to the largest trade gap in the country’s history brought about by the accelerated spending and the infrastructure scheme of the Duterte administration, the central bank said. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the country’s 2018 current account —the total value of exported goods and services, minus the total value of imports—yielded a deficit of $7.9 billion in 2018, higher than the $2.1 billion deficit registered in 2017. “This developed as the widening deficit in the trade-in-goods account more than offset the higher net receipts posted in the trade-in-services, and primary and secondary income accounts,” the central bank said, explaining last year’s 267-percent increase in the current account gap. At this level, the current account deficit stood at an equiva-
lent of 2.4 percent of gross domestic product, compared to the 2017 level of 0.7 percent of the total value of the country’s economic output. The trade-in-goods deficit for full-year 2018 rose by 21.9 percent to $49 billion, reflective of the 9.4 percent expansion in imports of goods and the 0.3 percent decline in exports of goods. Exports of goods, meanwhile, dropped to $51.7 billion in 2018 from $51.8 billion in the previous year owing mainly to lower export shipments of coconut and mineral products. Imports of goods expanded to $100.7 billion in 2018 from $92 billion in 2017. “The 9.4 percent increase was attributed to higher imports across all major commodity groups, notably raw materials and intermediate goods, indicating increased domestic production activity,” the central bank said. Imports of raw materials and intermediate goods grew by 16.7 percent to reach $37.6 billion, supported by increased importation of manufactured goods (20.4
percent) and higher purchases of materials and accessories for the manufacture of electronic products (60 percent). Imports of mineral fuels and lubricants, capital goods, and consumer goods expanded by 21.3 percent, 5 percent, and 7.6 percent, respectively. Net receipts in the trade-inservices account aggregated $10.5 billion in 2018, 20.7 percent higher than the $8.7 billion net receipts posted in the previous year. This developed largely on account of increased net receipts in technical, trade-related and other business services; manufacturing services; and telecommunications services, combined with lower net payments in travel services. According to the central bank, the country’s balance of payments position for the entire 2018 stood at a deficit of $2.3 billion, significantly higher than the $863 million deficit recorded a year ago. This development was brought about by the rise in the current account deficit as the trade-in-goods deficit continued to widen. n
Jollibee to launch Guam store in April by ANGELICA
BALLESTEROS Manilatimes.net
JOLLIBEE Foods Corp. is set to open a store in Guam on April 6, the firm’s 38th store in the United States following the establishment of outlets in New York, Florida, California, Hawaii and Texas, among others. Dennis Flores, president of the Jollibee Group’s businesses in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia, said the company had long hoped to enter the Guam market. “We believe that our best-selling [products] will appeal to the diverse people of Guam,” he said. The Jollibee Group operates 14 brands including Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich and Red Ribbon, among others.
last year. The capital expenditures will be used to fund the construction of new stores, renovations and investments in production facilities. Last year, the Jollibee Group opened a total of 502 new stores — 317 in the Philippines and 185 overseas, bringing its total store network to 4,521 stores across all of its brands. Jollibee also entered four countries last year: Italy, Macau, United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Net income jumped by 16.5 percent last year to P7.77 billion on the back of strong systemwide retail sales. Manilatimes.net file photo Jollibee shares on Friday, This year, the group plans to March 15, ended up P3.20 to spend P17.2 billion to grow its P316.20 apiece amid the Philbusinesses, almost double the ippine Stock Exchange index’s P9.6 billion in actual spending 0.62-percent rise. n
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo claimed foreign investors never raised the issue of EJKs during their meeting with economic managers Philstar.com file photo by Miguel de Guzman by ALEXIS
ROMERO Philstar.com
MALACAÑANG Monday, March 18, disputed claims that the issue of extrajudicial killings is affecting business confidence in the Philippines and maintained that the government is stepping up reforms to lure more investors. Previous reports have quoted Christopher Leong, president of regional lawyer group LAWASIA, as saying that the government should take into account the short-term and long-term effects of the way crimes are solved. He was also quoted as saying that extrajudicial killings and rule of law could affect the confidence of foreign businesses that are eyeing the Philippines as an investment destination. But presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo claimed foreign investors never raised the issue of extrajudicial killings during their meeting with economic managers. “I think whoever said that should conduct more research of that. According to our economic managers, particularly (Finance) Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez, (Socioeconomic Planning) Secretary (Ernesto) Pernia and (Trade) Secretary (Ramon) Lopez, they are one in saying that never that issue of human rights or extrajudicial killings have been raised during meetings with investors
and other conferences relative to the business investments to this country,” Panelo said in a press briefing. Palace: Gov’t addressing red tape Panelo claimed foreign investments have also increased despite allegations that the administration is condoning extrajudicial killings. “If you compare that to the previous administration, we got huge investments from the foreign side,” he added. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that foreign direct investment inflows dropped by 4.4 percent to $9.8 billion last year from $10.3 billion in 2017 as investors were concerned about the trade war between the United States and China and the higher inflation. Last year’s figure was also lower than the $10.4 billion target set by the central bank. Panelo said the government has undertaken measures to address red tape, a problem that he said turns off investors. “If there is so much red tape, they will be discouraged in coming here. That is precisely why we have the law on stopping such...That’s the reason why we have that kind of law, precisely to encourage the foreign investors,” he said, referring to the ease of doing business law signed by the president last year. “And then, with respect to
peace and order situation — and that is why there are so many foreign investors because they know that criminality has gone down considerably and there is war against illegal drugs and we are dismantling many factories producing shabu,” he added. ‘Exaggeration’ More than 5,000 people have died since the president launched his brutal war on illegal drugs in 2016, raising concerns among human rights groups who claim that the campaign encourages the summary execution of suspects. Officials deny this, saying law enforcers are only allowed to use violence if their lives are in danger and if suspects violently resist arrest. Panelo also described as an “exaggeration” the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’s (IBP)claim that one lawyer dies every month since November “I don’t think so. And even assuming that to be true, it cannot be attributed to the government or whatever because those deaths may be the result of the problems affecting that particular individuals subject of the killing,” Panelo said. “It could be personal motivations, it could be revenge, it could be a botched business deals or could be a client… disgruntled. There are many reasons for killing a particular individual,” he added. n
By country source, the United States registered the highest share of overall remittances at 35.5 percent, the central bank said. It was followed by Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Canada, Qatar, Hong Kong and Kuwait. The combined remittances from these countries accounted for almost 78 percent of total cash remittances. For all of 2018, expatriate Filipinos sent $32.2 billion to their relatives and beneficiaries back home. This represented a growth of only 3 percent from the end2017 level of $31.2 billion—the weakest annual growth in the last four years where rates stood between 3.8 percent (2015) and 7.5 percent (2014). Historically, dollar remittances from overseas Filipinos have accounted for as much as 10 percent of domestic economic consumption, providing a key pillar of growth for the Philippines. London-based Capital Economics had projected that the slowing growth of remittances from Filipinos living and working overseas would further widen the currentaccount deficit and put pressure on the peso. For 2018, cash remittances rose by only 3.1 percent, the slowest since 2001 and Capital Economics expected the annual growth in the near term remaining at about 3 percent—half the average rate in the last 10 years. In a March 14 report titled
“Philippines: Is the slowdown in remittances a concern,” Capital Economics senior Asia economist Gareth Leather and Asia economist Alex Holmes said the easing remittances growth reflected the “improved performance of the Philippine economy, which made it easier for people to find employment at home and reduced the need for them to go overseas in search of work.” The Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) has been expanding by more than 6 percent yearly since 2012, among the fastest in the region. The domestic unemployment rate also dropped to 10year lows as the growing economy created more stable jobs in recent years. Capital Economics also attributed the slowdown in remittances to fewer job opportunities in the Middle East amid a downturn in what had been a top destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “The [Middle East] is the source of 30 percent of remittances to the Philippines and there has been a marked slowdown in remittances from the region over the past few years,” it said. With remittances accounting for a tenth of GDP, Capital Economics said weak inflows might “act as a drag on consumption and investment.” But despite easing dollar remittances, “with fiscal and monetary policy set to be loosened this year, economic growth should remain fairly strong,” it said. n
Remittances off to tepid start in 2019
Inquirer.net file photo by DAXIM
L. LUCAS
Inquirer.net
DOLLARS sent by expatriate Filipinos to their local beneficiaries rose slightly in January, thanks to an increase in volumes sent home by both land- and sea-based overseas workers, the central bank said on Friday, March 15. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said personal remittances from the country’s workers stationed abroad grew by 3.4 percent yearon-year in January 2019 to reach $2.75 billion from $2.66 billion in the same period last year. Personal remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of a year or more rose to $2.12 billion, 2.3 percent higher than $2.07 billion recorded in January 2018. Those from seabased and land-based workers with work contracts of less than a year rose by 12.6 percent to $580 million from $520 million. Meanwhile, cash remittances that were coursed through banks—which count only wages sent home by expatriate workers and excludes funds sent home by non-OFW Filipinos—totaled $2.48 billion in January 2019, a 4.4-percent growth from $2.38 billion last year. This growth was in line with the increase in remittances from both land-based ($1.95 billion) and sea-based ($530 million) workers, which rose by 2.3 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively.
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
Woman on a mission: How this Fil-Am engineer rose through the ranks at NASA BY
CHRISTINA M. ORIEL / AJPRESS
“I REALLY wasn’t interested in space,” confesses Josephine Santiago-Bond, while reflecting on her engineering education during a recent interview with the Asian Journal. The Filipina-American engineer never anticipated that her experiences would culminate in a career revolving around missions and exploration in outer space. It was 15 years ago when Santiago-Bond first landed an internship at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Today, she’s the head of the Advanced Engineering Development Branch at the center, a division she helped create that extends engineering support to the agency’s various missions in space, on Earth and other planets. Budding engineer Born in the United States to parents pursuing their Ph.D. studies, the family moved back to the Philippines a few months later, where Santiago-Bond would grow up and study until college. Coming from a family of scientists and doctors, she was naturally curious about the science field as well. One of her earliest memories was testing acids and bases on indicators her mother had brought home. “I loved the color combinations that I got from playing with that kit, but it created a really vivid memory that I think really influenced me to get into sciences,” she says in a NASA video. At 12 years old, SantiagoBond passed the national competitive exam and was accepted as a scholar at Philippine Science High School, a selective public high school that specializes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and is considered the top science school in the country and one of the best in the ASEAN region. When it was time to apply for college, she said she was “undecided” about a major but was attracted to engineering, particularly electronic and communications, after speaking to a former schoolmate who was a freshman studying that discipline at the University of the Philippines (UP). “I couldn’t tell you what she said but I remember feeling really excited about taking electronic and communications engineering,” Santiago-Bond recalls. She enrolled in the five-year program at UP, where she graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in that engineering specialty.
Other profiles written about the engineer have dwelled on her difficulty in some math courses as an undergraduate, but those shortcomings didn’t detract her from graduating and proving that she was meant to be in this field. “I take pride in being a product of Philippine education as it speaks to the high quality of education that is available in the Philippines and how graduates can successfully compete internationally,” she says. Her first engineering job out of college brought her to South Dakota for Daktronics, Inc., which designs sports products like scoreboards. She simultaneously pursued a master’s degree in electrical engineering at South Dakota State University (SDSU). “To be frank, my motivation was to get a U.S. education because not only was I trying to get a job here in the U.S. but also because I had mediocre grades in undergrad and this was a do-over for me to go to grad school and get better grades,” Santiago-Bond says. NASA calling She took on a second job as a research assistant under an advisor who received funding from NASA’s Space Grant Consortium. An opportunity to spend a summer at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), one of NASA’s 10 field centers in the country, presented itself because the university didn’t have a facility for the project she was working on that involved hazardous gases. “That was the second winter I had spent up there [in South Dakota] and it was pretty frigid so I was excited to spend the summer with him at KSC,” she recalls. Her period at KSC, coupled with the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, further piqued her interest in NASA — as did applying her engineering expertise to aerospace research and development. “I’m kind of embarrassed to say prior to that incident, I didn’t really know about space shuttles and that there was an International Space Station orbiting around us,” SantiagoBond says. “I felt very sad about the lives that we lost with Columbia and became in part obsessed with the TV coverage of the recovery.” She adds, “If any good can come out of a disaster like that, I can say that was the point at which I truly started learning and getting interested about NASA and space in general.” After spending the sum-
After graduate school, Santiago-Bond was offered a position as an electronics engineer at Kennedy Space Center, where she continues to work today 15 years later as the head of the Advanced Engineering Development Branch.
mer in Florida, she applied and was accepted as a graduate intern at NASA in 2004, where she would go on to spend two semesters. It soon translated into a full-time, post-grad offer a year later as an electronics engineer in which she had a hand in the design of new technologies and Constellation subsystems, and space shuttle ground system operations. “I chose to work here and I’ve stayed...I’ve been here about 15 years. The people around me are great…to work with,” Santiago-Bond muses. “I enjoy living on Florida’s coast and really the biggest thing is that I want to contribute to some way to the mission of space exploration.” Through the years, NASA has offered continuing education and professional development, which she says have helped her become “more self-aware.” She later transitioned to systems engineering with a graduate certificate program, which the agency subsidized, to hone into more of her identified underlying strengths, such as being able to communicate with a team of people and solving technical problems. “It’s great to come to work every day because I can be myself and my values align with the organization’s values. They always emphasize safety, integrity, teamwork and excellence and those are things I line up behind,” she says. “It’s very rare to find an organization that carries a mission to drive and advance in science and technology, aeronautics and space exploration with just the very simple desire to enhance knowledge all for the benefit of mankind.” Another career milestone was being part of the agency’s Systems Engineering Leadership Development Program (SELDP) in 2012, a competitive agency-wide program for high-potential system engineers to have access to courses, workshops, coaching and mentorship. The program placed her in a year-long assignment at Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, which was a slower-moving and smaller environment compared to KSC. While there, Santiago-Bond was on the mission systems engineering team for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), a spacecraft mission that orbited the moon in 2013 to gather detailed information on the moon’s thin atmosphere and Josephine Santiago-Bond, left, chair of Kennedy Space Center’s Asian Pacific American Connection whether dust is lofted in the (APAC) Employee Resource Group, and Alyssa Garcia, the group’s co-chair, speak to attendees at the lunar sky. Her responsibilities annual Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month special event in 2016. included ensuring that the Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett LADEE passed its follow-up review and communicating with other NASA centers involved with the integration. “I’m proud to have been part of the integration and test of LADEE. It’s a spacecraft that orbited the moon for five months and intentionally crashed on the far side of the moon. The mission actually far exceeded the 100 days that it was meant to,” she reflects. The mission lasted 160 days after it crashed onto the lunar surface in mid-April 2014. In her nearly two decades at the space agency, she quickly beams a list of several projects she’s worked on: the tail-end of the historic Space Shuttle program, which ended in 2011; and the formulation and launch of the Ares I-X in 2009, a 327As a graduate research assistant, Santiago-Bond had the opportunity spend a summer at John F. Kenfoot tall unmanned rocket that nedy Space Center, which turned into an internship and then a full-time position. was part of the research on Photos courtesy of Josephine Santiago-Bond
Santiago-Bond poses in front of Space Shuttle Discovery in 2007.
Josephine Santiago-Bond and her husband Chris Bond stand next to the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer propulsion structure at NASA’s Ames Research Center. Photos courtesy of Josephine Santiago-Bond
the future of space exploration post-space shuttle. She also contributed to another lunar exploration mission called Regolith and Environment Science and Oxygen and Lunar Volatiles Extraction (RESOLVE), which had aimed to put a rover on the surface of the moon in 2017 for nine days to map water ice and other compounds. After the year at Ames, she returned to KSC under the Ground Systems Development and Operations program and went on to be the chief of the newly formed Advanced Engineering Development Branch. “Out of all of those, my greatest source of pride is in establishing my current branch from scratch,” Santiago-Bond says. “The organizational culture change that goes with establishing a new branch is by far more challenging to me than any of the technical issues that we had to address as a group.” On a typical day, her day is structured with scheduled meetings and administrative and technical tasks, but she keeps an “open-door policy” for those under her supervision or spends time with them in their workspaces. “I listen to them, problem-solve with them and provide them with constructive suggestions and I ask for feedback. When I’m not with them, I advocate for them with our stakeholders and to our management,” she says. Her leadership position comes with overseeing 21 engineers and three interns across various engineering disciplines, providing that “support for exploration, research and technology across the agency.” She and her team currently have a portfolio of 70 projects that have to do with Earth (“to improve tasks…so they can be more accurate, faster and safer”), Mars, the moon, and space in general. For the more complex operations in space or another planetary surface, SantiagoBond facilitates engineering support where she can “find maximum alignment between what the project needs in term of skill and what the strengths of my employees,” she explains, mentioning that she takes their career goals into consideration. “On rare occasions when I find that there is no good fit with anyone in my branch, then I identify where I can find a better fit and I facilitate the negotiation,” she says. “Out of all the different things I do in my job, the care of my engineers is the most important aspect…I have the responsibility of removing and identifying the
obstacles in my engineers’ way so that they can focus on being the high-performing engineers that they are.” There are a handful of activities Santiago-Bond discloses that her team is brewing, such as sending hardware to lowEarth orbit and a moon exploration mission set for 2020 that could go into testing by later this year. “You might see our contribution in a satellite servicing mission that’s set to launch in 2020. You’ll see us extend the life span of an existing satellite even though that satellite wasn’t meant to be serviced in orbit. You’ll see some in-situ resource utilization — different projects that allow us to plan long-term human presence on the moon or Mars,” she hints. Taking the giant leap Santiago-Bond bears a sense of duty with her identity as a Filipina-American and the perspective she contributes to a large organization like NASA. She previously served as the chair of the center’s Asian Pacific American Connection Employee Resource Group. “My leadership position also points to how NASA values diversity and practice of inclusion on a daily basis. I always feel that I am valued, not only for my engineering and leadership skills, but also as an Asian American and as a Filipina-American, who brings a unique set of experiences and ideas to the table every day,” she says. “I’m not the only female Filipina-American, nor am I the first, who is in a leadership position at NASA, which in itself makes me proud.” Recent data from 2012 show that one-third of NASA’s employees are women, with 30 percent supervisors and 20 percent engineers, according to the National Women’s History Museum. Five years later, 37 percent of the agency’s new hires were said to be women. The increase comes as some progress when the agency and STEM fields as a whole are traditionally male-dominated. While the agency, like other STEM-related organizations, pushes to employ more women and individuals from diverse backgrounds, Santiago-Bond says women who are interested in being in the field need to see other women already doing it. “I would advise them to find a mentor, someone who is capable of helping them overcome, either real or perceived obstacles preventing them from entering the STEM field,” she says. “The biggest obstacle in having more women in STEM is the lack of interest. Being interested requires them to pic-
ture themselves in that situation,” she says. “I would say to them, ‘don’t be afraid of being the only woman in the class...or the only woman in the meeting’ if they’re actually practicing a technical profession. A second woman will come along and they would have done her a favor by being the first. Believe that they bring value and just go do it.” With Women’s History Month this March, it’s fitting to remember the women who became before Santiago-Bond like Kitty O’Brien Joyner, the first woman engineer at NASA; Dorothy Vaughan, the first African American manager at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA’s predecessor); Mary Jackson, the agency’s first African American female engineer; Katherine Johnson, a mathematician whose calculations were critical to the success of the first U.S. manned spaceflight; Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; and the late Angelita Castro-Kelly, a Filipina who was the first woman to be NASA’s Mission Operations Manager for the Earth Observing System. (At the end of this month, two women astronauts on the International Space Station, directed by woman flight controller, are expected to mark the first time in history that an all-female crew will do a spacewalk.) “That’s very empowering to work in a workplace that embraces that diversity and inclusion and gives us an opportunity to give back to the nation and the world,” Santiago-Bond says. As for more career benchmarks to hit? Another goal of hers is to do more community outreach and be a shining example that there’s no straight trajectory for a STEM education — and that there’s redemption after not-so-perfect grades because learning is a life-long journey — as well as proving that having a career in the agency is possible while being a mother. “It’s me now trying to follow my pursuit of work-life balance. My priorities have shifted over the years. I became a wife 10 years ago and a mother five years ago,” Santiago-Bond says. “I love that NASA’s policies have assisted me in both as an engineering supervisor and as a wife and a mom. I can work anywhere and my time is pretty flexible within the policies and that allows me to continue to give my best to NASA and be there for my family when it matters. Looking back, I never thought I would get as far as I have.”
Rhizomes
PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “THE man who is “fighting for his rights� is working in the wrong way. The only way to be sure that we get our “rights� in life is, to “plug in� and let the divine activity of light and love express through us to do things in the right and perfect way at the right an perfect time. The artist, the composer, the scientist, the researcher – all demonstrate this attitude of meekness toward the law, toward the inner source of ideas. Einstein said that great ideas came to him after he had relaxed and ceased from the strenuous stretch for his objective. The meek or receptive mind invites God-ideas. The meek consciousness is not self-centered. It is God-centered. It is humble in the recognition of human limitations but confident in the conviction of divine resources. And it is not afraid of public opinion nor of resistance – not even of failure. Because success to this person is not a matter of public-acceptance but of Godacceptance.� – Eric Butterworth, “The Amazing ‘Be’ Attitudes� in “Discover the Power Within You,� 1989. Light within and from the audience There is a certain confidence displayed by the all FilipinoAmerican cast of “America Adjacent� at the Skylight Theater in Los Feliz, as well as by the play’s director and playwright. It is as if they are bound by an invisible spiritual linkage that “all are enough,� and a high level of respect and a warm welcome are the codes of conduct. It is perhaps why I am quite relaxed in watching a play directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera and written by playwright Boni B. Alvarez. I expect excellence and I usually get that from their plays. There is no pretension in staging, there is no anxiety in the pacing of the play, there is simply a stage made fertile by the countless hours of preparation and theatre experiences that when and if conflicts ensue as part of the scenes, the exchanges and tones evolve naturally and without screaming from nowhere. On preview night as another evening that I went, scene changes progressed organically from one to the other, by this well-prepared cast. There was a natural rhythm to their stage movements. You don’t get annoyed from a disconnect of characters or from ill-timed props removal, just when an audience is just getting engaged in the characters. In fact, one evening, a blackout occurred in the middle of the play and said power failure would take hours for DWP to repair, that the management offered a refund for another show. Surprisingly, the audience, eager for the ending, offered to light up the stage with their cellphones. How about that for a true dramatic collaboration? Would you not give it your all under those circumstances? Could it be also from Rivera’s skillful direction, as much as the dialogue credibly developed by Alvarez, the playwright, who stays true to discovering his Filipino community’s sensibilities as well as his own craft of writing? There is a sweetness and charm to their personalities that even though accolades are given, they accept them with smiles and a demurrer from Boni at times who confides that he “does not feel� that success. Even as we were taking photos at the end of the play, we had to coax Boni who was hiding in the back to join us. Maybe it is that constant self-critique that keeps this duo moving forward such that may their last play be the measure of excellence and the next one to echo that level of quality and even exceed it. Tackling issues onstage Of the play’s inspirations, Alvarez wrote, “I read an article about a birthing house filled with expectant Chinese mothers in San Gabriel Valley that had been raided. Neighbors complained of excessive trash and reported heavy traffic in and out of the house. The authorities investigated and the landlords were fined and cited. The women who were still able to fly were quickly deported, while others were detained. In ‘America Adjacent,’ I have adapted the women to be Filipino.� In “America Adjacent,� the women are not poor, they paid thousands of dollars to come to the U.S. to stay in a cramped apartment, whose living room was converted to have four lazyboy recliners as sleeping spaces until these women give birth to their babies. “I wanted to know who
‘America Adjacent’: The play’s lessons on light and love
entertainment
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
Kathryn shuts KathNiel breakup rumors by JAN
MILO SEVERO Philstar.com
KATHRYN Bernardo wrote an open letter that revealed her secret to “becoming a superstar in her own right.� In an article published in Preview, Kathryn wrote the letter titled,“Confessions of a Former Teen Queen: An Open Letter by Kathryn Bernardo.� Kathryn, who is turning 23 this month, began her letter by opening up about her struggles in starting a showbiz career, which included travelSamantha Valdellon, Angela T. Baesa, Sandy Velasco, Arianne Villareal and Toni Katano star in ing long hours from Caba“America Adjacent� at the Skylight Theater in Los Angeles. natuan to Makati to attend auditions that only lasted for a few minutes, and worrying that she is not “tisay� or pretty enough to get the job. “While other children my age were busy trying to master the periodic table, I was memorizing lines for a VTR, which—fingers crossed—could potentially land me a short role in a drama or a TV commercial,� Kathryn wrote. “While waiting for my turn beside fair-skinned girls who were vying for the same role, there I was, worrying that I might not be ‘tisay’ enough or pretty enough to actually get the job. It’s okay, though, my parents would say. There’s alHazel Lozano, Samantha Valdellon, and ensemble in “America Adjacent� at the Skylight Theater in Los ways a next time,� she added. Angeles, written by Boni B. Alvarez and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera Photos by Ed Krieger She also shared what advice she would give to her these women are who made this roommates would say, yet also seven-year-old self after her caring in how she treats some journey and what they risk to birth American babies,� Alvarez of her roommates. Find out why struggles. “If I could travel back in she hugs her high heels to sleep wrote. time and give that seven-yearin a Lazy-Boy recliner. There At least the stage presents old girl a pat on the shoulwere many memorable scenes a bit of comfort, though it still der along with some sisterly that were giveaways and gifts feels like the pregnant mothers advice: ‘Don’t worry too much to those who are part of the are on house arrest, prevented Filipino-American community as and take things slowly,’ I’d by the administrator from disthey are universal conversations tell her for sure. ‘You have covering the neighborhood, as to be tough. You have to be in many immigrants’ homes. she confiscated their passports strong. It won’t be easy, but if As first generation imand cellphones. you’re patient, you’ll get there migrants, we are daunted by Can you imagine solitary eventually’.� the memories we recall, the confinement, even if with five Though her early career tenderness of our childhood other women? Does it not feel experiences in contrast with the robbed her of a “normal� like they are without freedom childhood, Kathryn said she is and yet the irony is that all these harshness and the shock of an expectant women came to give inhospitable culture layered with glad she experienced those “because nothing worth it fear of enforcement authorities their children “everything for ever comes easy.� and the uncertainty of what the their future consideration?� “And throughout that future offers. What a beautiful line in the It is not in the birthing of dialogue which captures the their babies that the sufferessence of what it is to be an American vs. what it was in their ing is detected, but it is in the displacement from being homeland – familiar, comfortsurrounded by what is familiar: able, but confined to one’s language, community, going economic class status. “America Adjacent� involves to mass in the same church, even watching Tagalog movies. a cast of actresses honed in The play depicts these familiar theater: Evie Abat as Janelle memories with humor, including May Cabusao, Toni Katano as Paz Locsin, Hazel Lozano as Ad- the simulated celebration of the ministrator, Samantha Valdellon Eucharist on Easter Sunday. I like the play’s treatment – cast as Sampaguita Bautista, of difficult women’s issues of Sandy Velasco – cast as Aimee Reyes, though one is quite new postpartum, mental disorder, fear including who the fathers to LA Theatre debut, Arianne are to these babies about to be Villareal- cast as Divina Ayala. born, with a surprise twist and a Angela Baesa is cast as detour to an orphan’s journey, Roshelyn Sandoval and she has and the difficulties that came also been pursuing film and with an unsheltered childhood television. She has finished a and being vulnerable to an feature, “8 days Carlo,� filmed uncle, and being “dark-skinned in Mexico and several short films, “Anito and Bicultural.� So and unwanted.� Beyond our home provinces versatile is also Toni Katano, and birthplace cities’ churches playing Paz Locsin, whose upin the Philippines, the beauty coming films include “The Florist� and “Nanay Ko� alongside and strength of our homegrown Filipino-American communities Paolo Montalban. Samantha is come from being loyal followers a familiar face having appeared of our churches here in the U.S., as Lee Lee in the premiere of but also that we are connois“Bloodletting,� another play written by Alvarez and directed seurs of good Filipino restauby Jon Rivera in Atwater Village. rants and in the last few years, giving birth to a vibrant Filipino The play’s richness is in the Food Movement. In Los Angeles simplicity of its credible, easy alone, there are 18 restaurants to understand, fast-moving to choose from. dialogue that belies the mulWith cultured sensibilities tiple social issues it tackles. At times, the audience is laughing, of our palates and caring for our souls by prayers and faith amused by the women’s adept rituals, can we perhaps show memories of home, but is also similar loyalty as well to our live moved by the sacrifices they theatres? After all, if you check went through. the listing of 102 live theatre One memory recall stood venues in Los Angeles, we out for me that was well acted have one of those to be proud by Sandy Velasco who played of: “America Adjacent� at the Aimee Reyes - it was the loveSkylight Theatre in Los Feliz. making experience with her Can we show some love for this partner. She made it quite play as it will be ending Sunday, hilarious and the audience March 24? laughed with her. This is worth With “America Adjacent,� a seeing for both its comedic special bonus awaits the audiand acting values and how she ence – on special days, you get demonstrates it further. It is to hear from Giselle Tongi, asboth funny and endearing as sociate producer, moderating a Filipinas in sisterhood do when they hang out with one another panel of women speaking about their experiences here in - no holds bar conversations. America, with American children Another is the Adminisborn here in the U.S. and the trator’s tenderness switch on gaps in language, terminology, and off, played well by Hazel accent, cultural norms and even Lozano. She vacillates from different expectations. This being the strict, in your face panel is quite informative as our administrator, who has to daily grind schedules gloss over extract compliance from these these gaps and conflicts usually pregnant women, and then bearise. comes tender and gentle when If only for a few hours, we she persuades these women get to examine and reflect on as she was about to take the how far we have grown and infant of Janelle May Cabusao even evolve as a Filipino-Ameri(played adeptly by Evie Abat) can community here in the into a relative’s home, after U.S., finding our safety net here Janelle May abandons her by engaging our creative spirits, baby. Her movements showed and in support of one another, how privileged she was, quite selfish and self-centered as her Continued on Page 6
Kathryn Bernardo
tough climb, I was lucky to have a strong support system. My family was with me every step of the way, always reminding me to look at the bigger picture. It was because of them that every single rejection and failure seemed fleeting,� she said. On being dubbed as “Teen Queen,� Kathryn said she does not anymore remember when it started as she first does not know how to react on her alias. “I’m flattered as I think about it now, because now I see it as a testament that people respect me as an artist. I realize, they must have given me such a title because they acknowledge my hard work. And for that, I’m eternally grateful,� she said. “Sadly, though, I can’t forever remain as your Teen Queen. Like everything else in this world, change is inevitable. And I, too, need to grow,� she added.
Photo from Instagram/@bernardokath
Kathryn said if there is anything she learned while working in this industry all these years, it is the constant need to evolve. “I’ve seen stars rise and fall, and more often than not, the greatest tragedy is when they choose to live in a box. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I became an actress at an early age and yet I took my time before deciding to take on more mature roles—my first kissing scene, in fact, was in 2016, for the movie ‘Barcelona: A Love Untold’,� she said. “I didn’t want to rush things. I didn’t want to do anything I wasn’t prepared for. I took things gradually because I felt it was the right thing to do. But as I grew older, I felt it was about time to finally break out of that shell. While I don’t regret taking my time to grow, I also don’t intend to get left behind,� Continued on Page 4
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Ken’s show is helping his dad fight illness entertainment Kathryn shuts KathNiel...
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by OLIVER
M. PULUMBARIT Inquirer.net
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
From Page 3 she added. Kathryn also shared her and boyfriend Daniel Padilla’s mutual decision not to accept projects together this 2019 to pursue individual growth. “We both know it’s going to be tough for both of us
and maybe even tougher for our fans, but we really gave it some thought, and while there’s nothing we want more than to make you happy, we’d appreciate if you can give us this year to pursue our individual growth this time around. It’s a risk, and I’d be lying if I
told you that the idea doesn’t scare me, but at the same time, I’m excited to discover what kind of opportunities await us both in this journey,” Kathryn said. “Needless to say, DJ and I will still be here; I will always have his back in the same way that I know he always has mine. It’s just that, in the meantime, we want to support each other off-cam,” she added. For Kathryn, “Maturity takes courage, and courage takes maturity. Because I know myself better now, I’ve learned that it’s okay to take a leap of faith sometimes and trust in the process.” “Because, I’ll let you in on a secret: It’s impossible to make everyone love you. No matter how good you are, no matter how talented, it will never be enough. Ultimately, people will love who they choose to love and hate who they choose to hate. So given that, we can all use a little kindness and compassion in this world,” she said. To conclude her letter, Kathryn thanked her fans and said: “I hope it’s because you see yourself in me. I hope you know that we’re just the same—the only difference is I happen to be an actress.” “I’m not perfect at all. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I laugh, sometimes I get hurt. I hope I don’t disappoint you with my flaws, because at the end of the day, I’m just a human being like everyone else,” she added. She also thanked her family, especially her mom. She said she is glad that her mom stood by her side and guided her the best way she can. “Thank you for giving me so much of your time, to light my way and to ensure that I become a responsible person who isn’t blinded by the spotlight. And now that I’m old enough to stand on my own two feet, my wish is for you to finally be able to give time for yourself. I’ll be okay now, I promise, because you’ve made me stronger all these years.”
IN the afternoon drama series “My Special Tatay,” actor Ken Chan plays Boyet Villaroman, a young father with autism. The show, which continues to be thespically and personally important for the Kapuso talent, gets impassioned feedback on social media, he says. “Every night, I read comments—all of them,” he tells the Inquirer in Filipino. “Most of the time, we receive positive reactions. We can’t avoid getting negative comments, but those are about three in a thousand.” He is especially moved by fans’ response to his output, according to Ken. “I feel touched that people appreciate our hard work,” says the actor, who was previously featured in the rom-com series, “Meant to Be.” “That’s a winning feeling. Honestly, every time I feel down, I just read comments to boost my energy. I draw strength from them.” Viewers of the half-hour show, he adds, express their gratitude to his network as well, for creating such a pro-
“I’m so blessed and thankful that the Lord has made my dreams come true,” he shares. “One thing that I’ve learned from all this is to live simply, like most people—that’s where I find happiness. I don’t want to be overwhelmed by materialism.” Ken, whose father has stage 2 esophageal cancer, reveals that there is a marked improvement in his health. “He’s getting better now. His chemo treatment is ongoing. ‘My Special Tatay’ is a big help to my family financially and emotionally. My dad is happy for me. Just seeing his children happy and successful makes him happy, too—it Ken Chan GMA photo helps, whatever the family gram. “There are mothers who may be going through. Ilalahave children with situations ban ko si Papa kahit anong similar to Boyet’s, thanking mangyari.” us for showing how their lives He admires his father’s really are,” he says. fighting spirit, Ken wrote in That way, Ken explains, an Instagram post a couple he feels that it is giving real of months ago, because the people proper representation: latter continues to laugh and “It’s an honor for me to be smile despite the medical their voice.” struggles. Ken has been acting since Fast forward to now: The 2011, and has become one of 26-year-old actor tells us, “BeGMA’s most popular talents. cause of the show, my daddy What is he learning about suc- is happy. And I know that with cess, and how has it changed the help of happiness, he’ll him? recover from this.”
Cristine as a single mom: No one helps me, financially by ALLAN
POLICARPIO Inquirer.net
NOW that she’s 30 and a mother to a 4-year-old girl, Cristine Reyes said that life, for her, is not about seeking personal happiness anymore. “Many things have changed. My outlook in life is different now. It’s no longer about having fun—I just want to be with my daughter (Amarah) all the time,” Cristine, who has dyed her side-shaved hair flaming red, told reporters at a press conference for “Maria”—her first action-thriller, which opens in cinemas on March 27. The actress admitted that work was something that didn’t particularly excite her when she was just starting in the biz. It’s the complete opposite now. “I used to dislike working. Now, all I want to do is work, work, work—for my loved ones. I value it more these days,” Cristine said. “When something is asked of me, I study.” For her 30th birthday last month, Cristine went on vacation in Thailand with her sisters, Ara Mina and Heidi Gatmaytan, then flew to Boracay for mother-daughter bonding with Amarah. “I just wanted to travel and spend quality time with my family. That’s a blessing,” she said. “Being with Amarah, sobrang sarap sa feeling. I wish I could be with her every day. But, I’m a working mom. I just explain to her that I have to do it, so we can book hotel rooms when we go on vacations!” Noticeably absent from both outings was her husband, mixed martial artist Ali Khatibi, from whom she has allegedly separated. The entertainment press was cautious and did not to pry. Her reply, however, leaves something to the imag-
Cristine Reyes
ination, when she was asked if the reason she has been working so hard as of late was the fact that she’s raising her kid alone. “Well, ever since, it’s just me who has been working for myself. And I can really say that I’m self-made,” she said. “I have been working for 15 years. I started in 2003, and I have been helping my family ever since,” she added. “No one helps me, financially.” Directed by Pedring Lopez, “Maria” follows a disgraced cartel assassin named Lily (Cristine), who fakes her own death and flees to a farflung province after a failed mission, earning the wrath of the organization she works for. She changes her name to Maria and starts a new life: She marries a businessman and gives birth to a daughter. But just when she thinks
Photo from Instagram/@cristinereyes
everything is going well, the cartel manages to find Maria, forcing her to return to the life of bloody violence she used to thrive in. “I didn’t expect I would be asked to do an action movie, because here in the Philippines, it’s the men who usually get such roles,” said Cristine, who underwent a month of extensive training for her fight scenes and stunts. “I’m also a big fan of Angelina Jolie,” she added. “Ang astig niya. So, when I learned I was going to do action, I was like, deal!” Asked if she showed some skin in the movie—as in many of the sexy romantic films she has done in the past—Cristine said there’s no need for that this time around. “And you don’t really have to do that to appear sexy,” she pointed out. “It’s all about how you carry yourself.”
Claudine Barretto pays homage to Rico Yan: ‘My love, my life’ by CODY
CEPEDA Inquirer.net
CLAUDINE Barretto took to social media to pay homage to ex-boyfriend Rico Yan on Friday, March 15, a day after what would have been his 44th birthday. Yan passed away in his sleep due to hemorrhagic pancreatitis almost 17 years ago on March 29, 2002. Barretto, despite the years that have gone by, continue to keep his memory alive and did just that when she shared a picture collage of Yan on her Instagram last March 15. “My [love] and my life,” wrote Barretto. “Always and forever.” She also clarified to one netizen that she did not choose ex-husband Raymart Santiago over Yan when he was still alive. “Then why did you choose your ex-husband over Rico when he was still alive?” asked the netizen (@allthingsitalian). “I was not with my ex-husband. We were not together while Ry was alive,” answered Barretto. “Get your facts straight.”
Barretto shared another post on the same day, this time a quote dedicated to Yan. “In my heart every single day RY,” she said. In the past, Barretto shared on social media love letters written to her by Yan when they were still together. She also visited Yan’s grave in February last year when his sister Tina came home from the U.S. It was not just Barretto who remembered the late matinee idol on his 44th birthday. Actor Marvin Agustin took to Instagram on March 14 on which he Claudine Barretto Photo from Instagram/@claubarretto shared a poster of the Agustin. 1997 movie “Flames,” which “Eksakto ang papirma ni he starred in with Yan, Barretto, nanay, kaarawan ng idol natin,” Jolina Magdangal and Bojo Ochoa wrote on March 14. “MaMolina. “Flames” was Agustin’s ligayang Kaarawan RY.” first ever movie. It was Ochoa who found Yan Actor Dominic Ochoa, also on March 29, 2002, at the Dos a good friend of Yan, took to his Instagram account to share a Palmas Resort in Puerto Princesa, photo of an elderly woman hold- Palawan. Yan was only 27 years old at the time of his death. ing up a poster of him, Yan and
entertainment
Kier Legaspi addresses estranged daughter Dani Barretto: ‘I was the first man who ever loved you’
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
by KATRINA
HALLARE Inquirer.net
AS Dani Barretto comes closer to her wedding day, some family matters had to be dealt with, and both Dani and her estranged dad, Kier Legaspi, are obviously feeling the surge of emotions. Barretto broke her silence about her relationship with Legaspi, admitting that they are currently not in good terms. “I haven’t spoken to my dad in six years,” the fashion and lifestyle blogger admitted in a vlog entry on her YouTube channel last Saturday, March 16. “The last time we spoke, we were not in good terms — and until now, we’re still not in good terms.” Barretto went on that the two of them never shared a “solid relationship.” She however said that they had a brief connection which lasted about two months, which she described as “nice.” “I’m not gonna say naman na parang I didn’t love him or I’m not gonna say ‘I don’t love him,’” Barretto said. “It’s just that na I guess when you’re apart for so long, and you already grew up, and nasanay ka na wala yung tao sa life mo, you just feel like not naman you don’t need the person, but it’s more okay without them. (I’m not gonna say that I didn’t love him, or I’m not gonna say “I don’t love him.” It’s just that I guess when you’re apart for so long, and you already grew up, and you got used to that person being out of your life, you just feel like it’s not that you don’t need the person, but it’s more okay without them).” “My dad and I are not hurting each other anymore by not just talking, maybe it’s for the best,” Barretto admitted. “I mean, we tried the talking thing and it didn’t work out well for us, we ended up not in good terms. And maybe that’s just it, that’s how it’s meant to be.” Despite not having her father around, Barretto credited
Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix headline this unique series on the lives of the Badjaos.
GMA photo
Dive into the enthralling world of ‘Sahaya’ by MANILATIMES.NET
Kier Legaspi with daughter Dani Barretto
her mother, Marjorie, for giving her “so much love alone.” She also revealed that her mom is “the most deserving” person to walk her down the aisle when she gets married to Xavi Panlilio. “My mom is walking me down the aisle because it’s only right that she walks me down the aisle because she raised me on her own,” the blogger explained. “And everything that I am, it’s all because of her.” ‘You will always be my daughter’ While Barretto disclosed her not-so-good relationship with her dad, the actor reached out to her daughter in a heartfelt Instagram post last Sunday, March 17. “I don’t really say much about our relationship because I am certain that both of us know the truth,” he said. “I believe that no matter what
IN a world that is constantly changing, there is something to be said about Photo from Instagram/@kier_legaspi celebrating our true identity and heritage. you say now can never change Tonight, GMA Network’s the truth and the memories Entertainment Group fulfils we had.” its commitment to continue The actor also assured bringing viewers world-class his daughter, “I’m here, I will entertainment with its newest always be here.” primetime spectacle, “Sa“Bata ka pa lang lagi na haya.” kitang hinahabol (Since you This extraordinary epicwere young, I have always drama series is top-billed by chased after you), you don’t one of this generation’s most know what I had to do just to promising screen pairings, see you,” he added. Bianca Umali and Miguel Tan“I want you to know that felix, together with sought-afI was the first man who ever ter Kapuso leading man Migo loved you and that no matter Adecer. what, you will always be my “Sahaya” is the inspiring daughter,” Legaspi added. story of a determined and spe“I will continue to pray for cial Badjaw who rises above you and your family. Hindi all difficult circumstances in importante ang opinyon ng life that will challenge her iba. Para sa akin, kasama ang resiliency as she maps her path Legaspi family you will have towards self-acceptance, suca special place in our hearts. cess, and admiration. (The opinions of other people In her titular role as Saare not important. For me, haya, Umali breathes life into a along with the Legaspi family, beautiful Badjaw lady blessed you will have a special place with extraordinary abilities in our hearts).” which will lead her to inspire
her family and her people, including Ahmad, her simple childhood friend who has always been in love with her, portrayed by Tanfelix. Adding a twist to their story is Jordan, played by Adecer, the wealthy Manileño who will compete with Ahmad for Sahaya’s love. Joining them in this intriguing series are talented actors and actresses: Eric Quizon as Hubert, Jordan’s father whose business is coral mining at Sahaya’s village in Tawi-Tawi; Zoren Legaspi as Harold, Sahaya’s father who abandons her mother before he knew that they were about to have a child; Mylene Dizon as Manisan, a Badjaw who fell for Harold and ended up raising and teaching their daughter, Sahaya, resiliency and good values; Pen Medina as Panglima Alari, Manisan’s father and the panglima or leader of the Sama Dilaut; Debra Liz as Babu, Sahaya’s cheerful grandmother; Juan Rodrigo as Bapa, older brother of Panglima Alari; Ana Roces as Irene, Harold’s loyal wife who will do anything to protect her fam-
ily; Ashley Ortega as Lindsay, Jordan’s spoiled cousin and the school’s queen bee; and Snooky Serna as Salida, a loving yet vengeful mother who will be the reason why Manisan and Sahaya will be separated. Further cast in very special roles this pilot week are Benjamin Alves as Aratu, Salida’s son and Manisan’s husband; Gil Cuerva as the young Harold; Karl Medina as young Alari and Jasmine Curtis-Smith as the young Manisan. To shed light on the culture of our Badjaw brothers and sisters, GMA 7 hired consultants and recreated an entire set reminiscent of a real Badjaw village in Calatagan, Batangas which brings viewers a realistic vision of their community. Likewise for this program, the network sets the bar even higher as it uses for the first time a high-end cinema camera to create clean, sharp and cinematic images. “Sahaya” is written by Marlon Miguel and Jonathan Cruz, with Aloy Adlawan as Creative Director, Suzette Doctolero and noted director Zig Dulay at the helm.
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How Kylie Padilla balances acting & mothering
entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
by RICKY LO Philstar.com
Fil-Am vlogger Wil Dasovich with American Youtube star Logan Paul
“CHALLENGING!” That one word sums up the struggle of showbiz moms (or any mom for that matter) in keeping a balance between working and mothering. “But if you are praised for your work,” said Kylie Padilla, star of “TODA One I Love,” the month-old comedy show on the GMA Telebabad, “the sacrifice is worth it.” In “TODA,” Kylie as Gelay makes a living by driving the tricycle of her father who was Photo from Youtube/@WilDasovich mysteriously murdered. It marks her reunion with Ruru Madrid with whom she worked on “Encantadia” when they were barely out of their teens. “I’m still adjusting between working and minding home,” added Kylie whose in micro-vlogging site Vine. son (Alas) with husband Aljur “You know what, I’m Abrenica is turning two in just really thankful that he November. “In the beginning, was down for the vlog,” Wil I thought it would be a breeze told Philstar.com. to be a working mom. But I try “It’s always good to meet to make up for it on the days someone that has influence to when there’s no taping. The your content in a certain way. show is getting good rating You just meet someone and and the atmosphere on the set see the human side of them,” is comfortable, masaya kami, he added. so these are nice rewards.” Logan drew flak last year Kylie brought Alas to the after posting a video of him “TODA” set only once. in a forest in Japan near what “He’s more independent appears to be a body hanging now, di na siya naka-latch on from a tree. The film location sa akin the whole day.” is known in Japan as a freWhen Aljur is working, quent site for suicides. Kylie stays home — and vice
Wil Dasovich on meeting Logan Paul: ‘Very down to earth, friendly’
team at a celebrity event in California and spent almost a couple of days together. They attended the Mammoth Film FORMER PBB housemate, Festival. model and vlogger Wil DasoWil shared that he was vich shared his experience on his recent meeting with contro- grateful Logan was down to versial American YouTube star film a vlog with him. He said Logan had a “huge influence” Logan Paul. in his content creation even if In one of his February 2019 vlogs titled “Confronting he started in 2014, almost year before the American vlogger Logan Paul (Didn’t Expect this did. Response),” Wil featured the According to Wil, the fastcontroversial American vlogger type vlogging style originated and slapped him in the face in from Logan and no one was jest. Dasovich said he and Logan doing that style before him. Logan initially started filming were on the same bowling by ROSETTE
ADEL
Philstar.com
Kylie Padilla and husband Aljur Abrenica with their son Alas Photo from Instagram/@kylienicolepadilla
versa. “He’s the perfect father,” said Kylie who got married to Aljur in civil rites several months after her father, Robin Padilla, finally gave her his blessing. “I never thought that he would embrace fatherhood the way he has. When I’m at work, sobrang hands-on siya in taking care of Alas. I’m amazed to see how they bond as soon as I get home. Si Alas naka-cling lang sa tatay niya, so nakakatuwa ‘yun. They have bonded as father and son and I’m happy for that.” It’s easy for Kylie to portray Gelay because she said she’s boyish in real life. “I’m not as tomboyish as Gelay, but like her I also have a ‘macho’ side. It comes naturally, although I have to work on my lines because I’m not good in speaking Tagalog. Kailangan sobrang angas. I take note of how my co-stars deliver their lines especially Buboy (Villar). He’s my peg. On the set, I carefully listen to how he talks, natural na natural. ‘Yung sa movement naman, kumuha ako ng kaunti kay Papa. I get in character once I wear my hat.” She and Ruru are credible as a loveteam. Before they shoot a romantic scene, does Kylie have to ask Aljur’s permission? “No naman. Actually, before I accept a show, I tell him about it na and we
Paolo Contis with John Lloyd Cruz
discuss the details to avoid any disagreement. Ganoon din siya sa akin. He would tell me if he had any kissing scene pero all the other scenes okay na ‘yun.” How does she think she and Ruru have matured since their “Encantadia” days? “Hmmmm, medyo weird. “Encantadia” was a serious program. We were cast as parents; it was not comedy. In “TODA”, we can loosen up a bit so I get to know Ruru better. So if we ever work in a serious show again, we will come out better because I know him more now.” According to Kylie, as long as a project wouldn’t take too much of her time away from her family, she would take it at all costs. “Ipaglalaban ko,” she stressed. “I would fight for it. But family is still my priority especially since I want to watch Alas grow up and share every moment of his growing up. We could never turn back the hands of time so I don’t want to miss the wonderful experience of a mom and her child growing up together. “As I’ve said, the project has to be worth my time. Ayaw ko naman lagyan ng restrictions because after I gave birth, I told myself that as an actress I didn’t want to be half-cooked. I have to give 100 percent to everything that I choose to do.”
Photo from Instagram/@paolo_contis
Paolo Contis shares ‘Tabing Ilog’ throwback photo with John Lloyd Cruz by JAN
MILO SEVERO Philstar.com
PAOLO Contis posted a throwback photo reminiscing the days of their ‘90s afternoon youth-oriented drama series “Tabing Ilog.” In his Instagram account, Paolo posted a photo of him with “Tabing Ilog” co-actor John Lloyd Cruz kissing him on the cheek. He said the first episode of “Tabing Ilog” was shown on the same day of his birthday in 1999. “Nung March 14, nag celebrate ako ng birthday ko... pero 20 years ago, 1999, kasabay ng aking kaarawan
pinalabas ang unang episode ng #TabingIlog,” Paolo wrote. He jokingly added that his character Badong and John Lloyd’s Rovic were the ones that ended up in the series, but this was never shown. “Eto ang litratong nagpapatunay na si Rovic at si Badong ang nagkatuluyan sa ending! Hindi lang pinalabas!” he said. “Tabing Ilog” was shown in ABS-CBN for more than four years. Apart from Paolo and John Lloyd, other cast members of the show included Paula Peralejo, Patrick Garcia, Jodi Sta. Maria, Desiree del Valle, Baron Geisler and Kaye Abad.
“America Adjacent”... From Page 3 to nurture those creative sparks of light. Can we make this play another resounding success with our active presence and support? I thank you in advance. *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in
science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.
community 7
The bucket list
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
Grazing in the grass
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
(11th of a series)
MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA WHAT’S your game plan when you retire? The timing can be one of 3 ways: you yourself planned when it will happen; the government said it’s time you did; or circumstances beyond your control, like the onset of illness, finally put you out to pasture. Or are you one of those who have decided to keep on going and going simply doing what you do best beating the bushes, like the energizer bunny? There is tremendous life force in you that needs to be spent. You ignore your age and trust your instincts. You are powered by nothing but chutzpah and prayer, knowing deep down that you will simply wake up one day and decide this is as far as it goes. Enough is enough. Typically around your early sixties, retirement, as a stage of life, looms large staring at you in the face. If life is like driving on the freeway, it is supposedly a time when you begin to downshift your gears, getting off the fast lane as you move to the middle lane and gradually sidle to the farthest right lane to find your exit. You head home to the gentle comforts of home sweet home knowing you never have to get up so early starting tomorrow to do the same darn thing you’ve been doing for decades. Freedom at last!!! Breaking the shackles of the workaday world feels wonderful. There is now time to do the things that you have always wanted to do and maybe flesh out those dreams that have been percolating quietly in the back burner. Now you have the time, adequate resources and, most importantly, the blessing of all blessings, you are still in the pink of health. Thank God, hallelujah!!! You have run the course with time left over to savor being alive. You feel like doing cartwheels —that is—if your osteoporotic bones and stiff limbs will let you. Meh… Probably NOT! Ideally, you are ready for this stage of life. That is —if you have dotted your i’s and cross your
Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process. If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate succession. Even if you have a will when you
“ … If life is like driving on the freeway, it is supposedly a time when you begin to downshift your gears, getting off the fast lane as you move to the middle lane and gradually sidle to the farthest right lane to find your exit...” t’s— as you render a full plate of life experiences, good and bad, while trying to balance home life and work life for many years… Of course, you can always go into denial and think and act young but your contrarian body will probably beg to differ at times yanking you back to face the reality of having logged a lot of miles on your one and only body. Suddenly you have to deal with aches and pains in places you never thought existed. It doesn’t help that your doctor reads gobbledygook sets of numbers about your blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, creatinin levels, blood pressure readings, A1C number, kidney and liver health and so forth. Your medical provider wants to submit you to mammogram and colonoscopy and all types of tests to find out if you are still of sound mind and sound body, purportedly so you can enjoy the rest of your remaining years. It’s something borrowed from the automotive industry: 100 K check, 200 K check to see if all your parts are still in working order and which parts need replacement. Okay, admittedly, these are not gobbledygook numbers but they indicate that this time around, you have no excuse to ignore the warning signs of your mortality. All it says is: SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT. OR ELSE you can go to the wide blue yonder flat on your back sooner rather than later. SIGH… But there is a serious reason why you hem and haw to put off all these gamut of tests. What if they find something? Oy vey! You’ve run the full course of life only to deal with another daunting challenge. Also, you ascribe to the belief that what you don’t know won’t hurt you. Or so it seems. I have heard of sad stories of
people, who after just a few years of retirement, are diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 cancer or some form of serious illness and are left to deal with a very short lease on what is left of life. Of course, these stories are purely anecdotal and isolated but they do happen. You feel older and if you culled out the nuggets of wisdom from yours and other’s experiences, you’ve become even a little wiser perhaps. You have listened halfheartedly to those financial planners and even those persistent advance funeral planners who have been bugging you about the benefits of being prepared for the inevitable. You have taken pains to sock away a smidgen of moolah for a long time in your 401K or saved a few bucks by yourself and by your estimates (and provided you are sensible with a tight fixed income), you will remain fiscally viable, without having to rely on a government dole-out, even if the unthinkable happens. You plan to exit this world with your dignity intact. You hope that a smattering of beautiful memories, yours as well as of those you leave behind, are indelibly marked in a few hearts and minds for a generation or two — strong enough to move them to bring you flowers on your gravesite long after you’re gone. If your life were to be compressed to a 60-second video, you hope that the awful parts were edited out and landed on the cutting room floor permanently deleted. The saddest thing about a life is to be forgotten as though you never lived. To be continued next week… *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $150,000 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate will pay for attorney’s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc.
if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document without having to open a probate court case. If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate. Your estate is not public record When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny. Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust. Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy of the revocable living trust after you pass away. You can dictate who will inherit from your estate.
“If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all .”
Debt Relief
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG CLIENT is 72. He still works his normal job and makes about $3K a month. He also receives social security of $1K. So, his total income right now is $4K. He tells me that he is tired of working. His wife doesn’t want him to work anymore. His wife retired ahead of him at age 65, and now receives her social security of $800. She doesn’t work anymore. I ask him what’s the problem? He says they have the following debts: 1. He owes $30K of credit cards 2. He owes $10K of car repo deficiency 3. His wife owes $12K of credit cards Minimum payment on his credit cards is $1K a month. Minimum payment on wife’s credit cards is $400 a month. Total minimum credit cards payment for the household is $1,400 a month. Net income for the household is $4,400 a month. They don’t own a house.They rent for $1200 a month, just a one-bedroom apartment. Utilities and food is about
If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case. With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee
PAGE B8
Seniors need Chapter 7 relief for $50K various unsecured debt
$700. They have a 2013 Lexus 250 IS that is fully paid. They only have one car. They had a new SUV but that was repossessed last year, thus the $10K repo deficiency. Car insurance is $120 and gasoline and car maintenance is $400. Cable TV and cell phone is $200. They contribute to their church $100. They send $1000 a month for the medical expenses of their adult son who lives abroad. He doesn’t have medical insurance, and has diabetes T 2. His illness has taken a bad turn recently. Although only 45, he now has to have dialysis 3 x a week. And, last month, his foot was amputated due to gangrene from a wound that would not heal. He accidentally cut himself while cleaning his backyard. He stepped on a nail that went through his flip-flop. The nail was rusty and made a nasty wound on the sole of his feet. The wound became infected with MRSA, which is a kind of bacteria that does not respond to antibiotics. The wound and infection became full of pus, then, it became gangrene. Panic time. Doctors suggested that they amputate his foot to save his leg. Is there a choice? What a difficult position to be in. Lose your foot
to save your leg. So, with the $1K that they send to their son, their total monthly expense for necessities is $3,800 vs. their net household income of $4,400. Hence, they still have an extra $600 a month, BEFORE they make the minimum payment for their credit cards of $1,400. Well, at this point, their short $800 because they need $1400 for minimum card payments but they only have $600 left. And who knows, their son may need more than $1K a month for medical expenses with his rapidly deteriorating health. We pray to our God Almighty through his Son, Jesus Christ, we’re never faced with this kind of sad situation. Imagine having your son or daughter having to choose with amputation of the foot to save a leg and being on dialysis. That’s too much to bear. You would probably cry your heart out everyday. I refer you to Psalm 91: Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of Almight, can say to Him ‘You are my defender and my protector. You are my God; In you I trust... When they call to me, I will answer them; When PAGE B8
Calendar of Events across
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS M A R C H 23
Free oil filter and motor oil recycling event in Rosemead, CA ATTENTION ALL SAN FERNANDO RESIDENTS – Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters in exchange for a free new oil filter on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held at AutoZone (8350 Garvey Ave. Rosemead, CA 91770). Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean. So, don’t miss out – we’re making it easier for you to keep your car running smoothly and efficiently.
MARCH 30
Philippine Medical Society of Northern California installation of officers in Foster City, CA The Philippine Medical Society of Northern California will hold its 47th anniversary and installation of officers for 2019-2021 at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City, CA on Saturday, March 30. For sponsorship information, please contact Dr. Clementina Manio at drtina0427@gmail. com or visit https://www.pmsnc.org/.
United Bicolandia Los Angeles induction in Montebello, CA United Bicolandia Los Angeles will hold its 45th Anniversary and Induction Ceremony at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA on Saturday, March 30. For tickets and sponsorship information, please contact Lanie Berrei at lanieberrei@hotmail.com or (818) 281-3169.
City of San Fernando, La Union Association-USA ball in Brea, CA The City of San Fernando, La Union Association-USA will hold its 29th Fiesta Ball — “A Reunion to Remember” — on Saturday, March 30 at the Embassy Suites (900 East Birch Street) in Brea, CA. It will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 12 midnight. For more details, you may contact ball chairman Noel Nabua at (949) 323-3873 / nsnabua@gmail.com; outgoing president Samuel Chee at (909) 662-7501 / samnlynnndchamp@yahoo.com; incoming president Vicky Neri at (562) 394-6293 / vickybneri@gmail.com; and director Vangie So at (626) 485-3110 / vangieso@ aol.com.
APRIL 7
Ryan, Ryan! The Maestro and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in Glendale, CA Recently proclaimed National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s works will be showcased on Sunday, April 7 at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center (1440 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205) at 6 p.m. by his multi-talented singing group, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers joined by some local artists like Mon David, Annie Nepomuceno, Louie Reyes and many more. Come and hear how his work that spans five decades has made an indelible impact on Filipino culture. Copresented by Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA, a 501 (c) 3 organization that brings exemplary Filipino Artists to U.S. stages. For ticket information ($35-$125) visit www.philpatrons.org and to learn about other tour stops in Las Vegas (April 7), San Diego (April 12) and Seattle (April 14).
APRIL 13
2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit in LA The 2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at The Center of Cathedral Plaza (555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). In partnership with the LA County of Department of Mental Health, registration begins on March 11. This is a FREE event for all. Breakfast and lunch included with registration. Please email FilipinoWellBeing@Gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/FilipinoWellBeing for more updates.
A P R I L 22
West Ranch Music Masters Tournament in Valencia, CA West Ranch High School’s Instrumental Music Program is excited to announce their inaugural Golf Tournament fundraiser to be held on Monday, April 22 at The Oaks Club at Valencia, CA. Check-in and breakfast starts at 10 a.m. with a 12 p.m. shotgun start. The $125 per player fee includes: 18 holes of golf, use of golf cart, practice facilities, lunch and dinner. There will be an optional Mulligan and Magic Putt package for purchase. Additionally, a wide array of silent auction and raffle baskets will be available. The awards dinner will be served starting at 5pm and will feature students performing live jazz music. For those who wish to attend only the dinner and award festivities, the cost is $50. All proceeds go directly to support the West Ranch High School Music Program. To register for the tournament or for more information contact Jean Conway at westranchband@gmail.com or visit westranchmusic.com. Deadline to register is on April 11.
A P R I L 25 -28
Philippine Nurses Association of America - North Central Regional Conference in Columbus, Ohio The Philippine Nurses Association - Central Ohio will hold a regional conference from April 25 to 28 at the Embassy Suites (2886 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio). For more information, please visit http://www.mypnaa.org/.
M AY 4
Kulintang festival in Oakland, CA As part of the as part of the celebrations of Asian American Heritage Month, Gongster’s Paradise — a kulintang party — will be held on Saturday, May 4 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center where the father of Filipino-American Kulintang music, Danongan ‘Danny’ Kalanduyan was once an artists in residence. This year’s line up will feature a new generation of Maguindanaon Master Artists from Cotabato City, Traditional groups from all over the United States and Contemporary groups from all over the world including Toronto, Philippines, Seattle, Virginia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Alongside non-stop kulintangan, Gongster’s Paradise will feature visual artists, vendors, and dancers to showcase movements related to kulintang music rooted from all over Mindanao. A feast will be served throughout the evening to be prepared and served by Chef Eric Pascual, rising star and owner of Eats By E and will be joined by collaborator and sponsor, Ramar Foods. It will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (388 9th St., Oakland, CA 94607).
M AY 1 7-1 9
Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii The Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Association (SMISGA) and the Santa Marians of Hawaii are sponsoring the Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 17-19, 2019. The festivities will start with a meet and greet on May 17 at 5 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom to be followed by a gala night on May 18 at 5 p.m. at the Dole Cannery Pomaikai Ballroom. A picnic is also scheduled at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on Sunday, May 19 starting at 10 a.m. The ticket to attend all the events is $130.00 per person. Due to limited space, reservations must be made not later than March 31, 2019. Hats and tshirts will also be on sale for $20. For further information, call Nena Empleo at (808) 384-0394, Carlito Soria at (808) 487-3370, Alex Pena at (702) 373-9522 or Orlino Baldonado at (865) 7898324. Leave a message if there’s no answer. Additional information is also on SMISGA.com and Facebook @ SMISGA19FB. Proceeds from the events will be for various projects in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur and in Hawaii. Donations are tax deductible since SMISGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
M AY 25
Marist School Marikina to celebrate 55th anniversary in Buena Park, CA Marist Alumni Abroad, coordinated by Arthur ‘Jojo’ P. Armada ‘77, invites alumni, family and friends, and the public who are interested, to the 55th anniversary grand reunion of the Marist School Marikina, to be held on Saturday, May 25, at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (7675 Crescent Ave., Buena Park, CA 90620). The event’s theme is “Celebrating Our Marist Life...The Legacy Continues,” hosted by Marist Alumni Abroad. Dinner and dance: 6 pm to 11 pm; donation: $55/pax (per person). Contact person is overall chair Jojo P. Armada at (626) 216-3529 or email: armadaarthur@yahoo.com.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
8
Five benefits of establishing a revocable...
community
PAGE B7 t
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
Seniors need Chapter 7 relief for $50K... PAGE B7 t
they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. I will reward them with long life; I will save them. Obviously, something else will now have to be chopped off. The credit cards have to be chopped off to free them of having to pay $1400 a month. Anyway, they have paid this minimum of $1400 for the last 10 years. They have paid a total of $168k for the last 10 years to keep $42K of credit cards current. So why do they still owe the same $42K of credit cards today? Because that’s the way it works. It’s a great deal for mastercard and visa but it SUX totally for clients. If they had wiped these cards out with Chapter 7 ten years ago, they would not only owe $42K today in cards, they would have at least $250K in savings that will give them extra income of say 7%, giving them income of $17,500 a year, or $1,500 a month, which they can use to travel around the world, or just reinvest the income.
I forgot to ask if their son has children. If he does, clients may need to help their daughter in law take care of their grand children if their son dies. It would certainly help to have an extra $1,500 a month for the care of their grand children abroad. $1,500 a month abroad in a third world country goes a very long way towards good care of their grand children abroad. Their son will appreciate this very much since he won’t be able to take care of his children anymore. Here’s the other problem clients are facing. He is about to stop working his regular job that gives him a gross of $3K a month. You don’t have to be an accounting major to figure out what the loss of that income will mean. There will just be no money available to make the minimum payment of $1400 a month to keep the credit cards of $42K current. No way, just, no way. It’s time to get rid of the $42K with a Chapter 7 wipe out. Should have done it ten years ago. Now, clients really
ANNOUNCEMENT
EMPLOYMENT
must file to get rid of the $42K. It’s like the foot has to be chopped off to save the leg. Such is life. So I refer you to Psalm 91 again because that Psalm was written by Moses who is much beloved by our God. So it carries a lot of weight and truth in it. If you need debt relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. “For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receieves; And he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; And to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.” Luke 11:10 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
EMPLOYMENT
If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate. You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal. The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate. You can structure your estate to minimize estate taxes If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving
which carries tax advantage and asset protection. You can choose who will administer your estate after your death When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee, you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members. *** Please note that this article is not legal
EMPLOYMENT
advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
New Smart Gardening workshop
people & events 9 Coyote awareness tips The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019
THE City of Culver City has a new smart gardening workshop offering! In a partnership with the City’s new coordinator and instructor, Go2Zero Strategies, Culver City is expanding its 2019 workshop calendar with a new smart gardening workshop.
The first event will be held on April 2. A Beginner’s Workshop will start at 9 a.m. and end at 11 a.m., while an Advanced Workshop will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided to both Beginner and Advanced Workshop participants from 11 a.m. to noon. This dynamic day of learning
will give participants the option to gain a deeper knowledge of composting, edible and waterwise gardening all in a single day. Guests are welcome to attend one or both workshops. For more information, please email erin@go2zero.net or Catherine.vargas@culvercity.org.
Communities coming together By MARIANNE
DE CASTRO
IN a thriving metropolis of 10 million people, Los Angeles County stands as having one of the highest numbers in homelessness and people who go without proper medical care. In an initiative to help out the community and seeing the need by providing some health services, Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) of Los Angeles partnered up with Mission City Community Network, Inc (MCCN) at MacArthur Park last March 9. The members of the PMCC (4th Watch) of Los Angeles saw the needs and rallied together to organize an event that would give impact to the community. It took months of preparation, as well as locating resources and the right people to connect with the same mission. The search for a partner commenced and eventually the church was connected with a contact; Mr. Pedro Ramirez, the Outreach Director from MCCN. From there, a partnership bloomed. Even with the proper resource and generous help of Mission City Community Network, the
event was delayed due to stormy weather for the past few months. Through these difficulties, the plans persevered as the desire to give a helping hand to the community would not stop until the medical mission became a reality. March 9 marked a very successful endeavor as the event was found in victory. PMCC (4th Watch) Los Angeles and MCCN set up bright and early that Saturday morning and immediately started serving the people. By the end of the event, the medical mission had served about 70 people. The care provided included physical checks such as blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring. Not only was physical care provided, but also spiritual care such as prayer requests and short bible studies were available to those in need. All those who partook in the event also received a gift care package at the end of their check ups. Entertainment was also provided in the form of music by the young people of the church and even featured the public preach-
ing of the gospel by the minister of PMCC (4th Watch) of Los Angeles, Virgill Jan Dago. The appreciation of the community could be felt through this medical mission. With a very successful run, the PMCC (4th Watch) of Los Angeles and Mission City Community Network hopes to team up for more medical missions in other areas of greater Los Angeles in the future. You can catch PMCC (4th Watch) Los Angeles on Saturdays distributing Panera Bread at the corner of Wilshire/Vermont station. For more information on these organizations: PMCC (4th Watch) Los Angeles 2843 James M Wood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90006 Bible Study : every Tuesday, 7:30 pm Prayer Meeting : every Thursday, 7:30 pm Worship: every Sunday, 10:30 am Mission City Community, Inc. 15206 Parthenia Street, North Hills, CA 91343 www.MCCN.org
INCREASED coyote sightings and activity between January and May are a common occurrence in Southern California as these months correspond with mating and pupping season. Their opportunistic and adaptable nature coupled with human behaviors are why coyotes so easily lose their natural fear of humans and are comfortable living in urban environments. By taking a few simple measures, individuals can greatly reduce the chance of brazen encounters with coyotes and potentially deadline conflicts with small pets. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), these include: Making your property undesirable and inhospitable to coyotes by: • Installing motion-sensitive lighting around the house. • Trimming ground-level shrubbery to reduce hiding places. • Stashing or eliminating food sources, which include: - Picking up fallen fruit, covering compost piles, and removing sources of water. - Bringing in pets in at night,
storing pet food indoors, and avoiding using bird feeders as they attract rodents and other coyote prey. If you encounter a coyote and it follows you, do not crouch, turn your back, or run away; instead, make loud noises and wave your arms above your head. If it does not retreat, throw rocks or another object in its direction.
To report coyotes exhibiting aggressive behavior toward humans or attacking pets within city limits, call City Hall at (909) 8397000 during business hours or the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station at (909) 595-2264 any time. Be prepared to provide date and time of encounter or attack, approximate location, and your contact information for follow-up.
City of West Covina to host free business workshop on SBA loans WEST COVINA, CA –The City of West Covina and SCORE are hosting a “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About SBA Loans” workshop on Thursday, March 28, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the West Covina Council Chambers (located at 1444 W. Garvey Avenue South, West Covina, CA 91790). The workshop will be presented by Jim Ely and will share with attendees all about SBA loans. Ely has been working for Stultz Financial, Inc., a financial company serving as SBA loan experts for both borrowers and lenders. Since 1984, he has been doing Small Business Administration Loans, where he has helped banks set up their SBA lending departments to working directly with borrowers to obtain SBA loans. Since 2004, he has been a lead instructor for the National Government Guaranteed Lenders SBA application processing class and is also a loan committee
chairman for the Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County. In 2015, he was been recognized by the SBA as its Financial Services Champion of the Year. Ely will educate the business owners and entrepreneurs all about the SBA, including what SBA loans entail, how to qualify for a SBA loan, and the process to apply. With Ely’s experience and knowledge, this is a great opportunity for attendees to further understand SBA loans, and possibly take advantage of what SBA loans have to offer. To sign up for the workshop please go to http://bit.ly/wcscoremar19. To schedule a mentoring session, get additional information on services offered, or ask about upcoming workshops/seminars, call the local East San Gabriel Valley SCORE office at (626) 593-1120 or visit their website at www.eastsangabrielvalley.score. org. You may also visit the City’s
website at www.westcovina.org. Please contact the local East San Gabriel Valley SCORE office to schedule an appointment or for more information. About SCORE SCORE is a nonprofit association that provides free and confidential business advice to business owners and individuals who are planning to be business owners. The City of West Covina partners with SCORE to provide free monthly workshops and counseling sessions for business owners in West Covina as well as those looking to open a business in West Covina. Services provided by SCORE include mentoring, workshops, online workshops, and much more to help businesses get started, grow and succeed. For more information about SCORE, please visit their website at www.eastsangabrielvalley.score.org. There services are also available at West Covina City Hall.
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 20, 2019