March 21-23, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 24 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Trump unveils plan for opioid crisis, mirrors Duterte in first address President proposes death penalty for certain drug dealers, frames sanctuary policies, immigrants as a reason for drug circulation PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s campaign plan to combat the nationwide opioid addiction calls for a tough-on-crime approach that includes urging Congress to strengthen sentencing laws for traffickers. The plan involves the Department of Justice seeking “the death penalty against drug traffickers, where appropriate under current law,” Andrew Bremberg, director of the president’s Domestic Policy Council, said in a briefing of the plan on Sunday, March 18.
Duterte urges nations to quit ‘rude’ ICC by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, March 18, called on other countries to follow his example and withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). Speaking at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduation rites in
Baguio City, Duterte lashed out anew at the tribunal, calling it “rude.” The president further tagged the Rome Statute as “bullshit,” saying the European Union (EU) sponsored the treaty as an “atonement” for the bloc’s past “sins” and “brutality.” “I will convince everybody now who are under the treaty. Get out, get out, bastos ‘yan (It’s rude). It is not a
SIOSON AJPress
BEIJING always sends Manila a warning whenever the latter conducts aerial patrols around West Philippine Sea—which is part of the highly disputed South China Sea—according to Philippine Defense Secretary Lorenzana. In an interview with CNN Philippines on Tuesday, March 20, Lorenzana bared the usual exchange of words between countries amid patrols within conflict-
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Philippine Defense Secretary Lorenzana
Inquirer.net photo
AGREEMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif of Saudi Arabia during a courtesy call in Malacañang Palace at Monday, March 19. This was followed by a meeting with President Duterte where the two expressed commitment to combat terrorism and violent extremism. Prince Abdulaziz conveyed the personal and warm wishes of His Majesty and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to the president and reaffirmed the importance of the Philippines to Saudi Arabia. For his part, President Duterte stressed the need to expand cooperation across many fields including security, trade and investment, as well as in promoting the rights, safety and well-being of Filipinos. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal
Palace: Possible Boracay closure only temporary by AJPRESS MALACAÑANG on Monday, March 19 assured the public that there would be no permanent closure of Boracay Island. Palace spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. clarified that any closure would only be partial and would serve as “remedial” measures to clean up the world-famous tourist destination. “The permanent closure of Boracay is unacceptable. If there will be any partial closure [on the island] it is to ensure that Boracay will be viable for the next generations to come,” Roque told reporters. During a news briefing held in Nabua, Camarines Sur, Roque assured that President Rodrigo Duterte will be making a “fair” decision on the recommendation to close the
island for a maximum of one year. The Palace official also added that Duterte would take into consideration the small resort owners’ plight when he makes a decision on the closure. “What the president has said is he will be fair with what he will do to Boracay and he is a president who listens. Whatever he will do, it is intended for the welfare of Boracay. But as of now, he has no decision yet,” Roque said. Last March 15, the interagency task force led by the Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, and Local Government officer-in-charge Undersecretary Eduardo Año recommended a one-year closure for the rehabilitation of the Senator Nancy Binay is joined by Department of Tourism spokesperson Assistant Secretary island. Frederick M. Alegre during the inspection of business establishments in Boracay.
PH Senate passes nat’l ID bill by BERNADETTE
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by DANA
Everything you need to know about the new Medicare cards (but beware of scams)
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and made the country rich while leaving the poor Arabs to fight against one another. They divided the Middle East.” Last week, the Philippines sent a formal notice on the withdrawal to UN Chef de Cabinet Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti. In its formal notice on the with-
China warns PH planes flying over West PH Sea
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IN April, the government will start sending out new Medicare cards, launching a massive, yearlong effort to alter how 59 million people enrolled in the federal health insurance program are identified. Historically, Medicare ID cards have been stamped with the Social Security numbers of members — currently, about 50 million seniors and 9 million people with serious disabilities. But that’s been problematic: If a wallet or purse were stolen, a thief could use that information, along with an address or birthdate on a driver’s license, to steal someone’s identity. For years, phone scammers have preyed on older adults by requesting their Medicare numbers, giving various reasons for doing so. People who fall for these ruses have found bank accounts emptied, Social Security payments diverted or bills in their mailboxes for medical services or equipment never received. The new cards address these concerns by removing each member’s Social Security number and replacing it with a new,
document that was prepared by anybody. It is an EU-sponsored [treaty],” Duterte said. He continued: “These white fools from EU... I tell you, they are doing it to atone for their sins. They are [seeking pardon] for the many years of brutality that they inflicted. In the Middle East, they took so much of the oil, they increased their productivity
E. TAMAYO
ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippine Senate on Monday, March 19, passed on third and final reading a measure seeking to harmonize “redundant” government identification cards (IDs) with a national identification system. Seventeen senators voted for the bill’s passage while two others — Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan — did not. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, sponsor of Senate Bill 1738 or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act of 2018, said there are 33 different forms of “functional” identification cards is- Senator Panfilo Lacson said the public has nothing to fear about the Philippine ID system since it would only contain very basic demographic and biometric data of sued by various government agencies. He said the measure would help the public to “easily” every Filipino citizen and resident alien. Infographic by John Nicole Villamayor/Philstar.com transact with government and private institutions. “The huge number of government-issued IDs may lead to ‘duplication’ of to be issued to us will be our ID until we die. We’ll bring it to efforts, wastage of resources, and uncoordinated identity ap- our grave. No one will ever use that. The ID is unique,” he said proaches,” the senator said. in Filipino. “It will also help deter criminality,” he added. Lacson said the Phililippine Statistics Office (PSA) would Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee Public Order need P25 billion in five years to fully implement the national and Dangerous Drugs, said the establishment of a National ID system. Reference System could help law enforcers deter criminality “A newborn child will be given a ‘temporary’ ID. But the ID u PAGE A4
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Senate photo
House approves divorce bill on final reading by AJPRESS THE House of Representatives on Monday, March 19, approved on its third and final reading, a bill seeking to introduce divorce and dissolution of marriage in the Philippines. Lawmakers approved House Bill No. 7303 or “An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines” with a vote of 134-51-2. The bill aims to give “the opportunity to spouses in irremediably failed marriages to secure an absolute divorce decree under limited grounds and well-defined judicial procedures to terminate a continuing dysfunction of a long broken marriage.” It likewise aims to grant the divorced spouses the “right to marry again for another chance to achieve marital bliss.” Among the grounds of divorce include existing grounds for legal separation under Article 55 of the Family Code, and an-
nulment under Article 45 of the same code, which include physical violence, homosexuality, marital infidelity, and affliction of sexually transmissible infection, among others. Grounds also include separation in fact for at least five years, legal separation by judicial decree for at least two years, psychological incapacity, gender reassignment surgery, irreconcilable differences, and joint petition of spouses. Following the House’s approval, the bill will then be submitted to Senate. The divorce bill, however, will seem to have a hard time in getting approval at the Senate as several senators had already expressed opposition to the measure. Duterte ‘anti-divorce’ President Rodrigo Duterte is against the divorce bill, according to Malacañang. “He doesn’t want to comment but since there was voting already in Congress, the
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Duterte urges nations to quit... PAGE A1 drawal, the Philippine government stated that its decision to leave the treaty was a “principled stand” against those who “politicize and weaponize human rights, even as its independent and well-functioning organs and agencies continue to exercise jurisdiction over complaints, issues, problems and concerns arising from its efforts to protect its people.” Under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, a state party’s withdrawal will take effect a year after the UN secretary-general received the notification. Duterte, however, insisted that the one-year withdrawal rule does not apply to the Philippines. He noted that the treaty, although ratified, was never enforced in the country because it was not published in the government’s Official Gazette, as required by law. He stressed that the treaty should be published because it
is “clearly a criminal law.” “You have to publish it so people would not be ignorant. Because if it is not published, you cannot tell me now that ignorance of the law excuses no one. It has to be published in the Official Gazette,” Duterte said. He added, “When it is published in the Official Gazette, it becomes a law. Now, if there is no publication in people… it is fatal especially a criminal law.” Don’t leave The ICC last week urged the Philippines to reconsider its withdrawal from the treaty. In a statement sent to Inquirer, the ICC took note of the Philippine government’s critical role in preventing “the gravest crimes” from happening. “The Court encourages the Philippines to not follow through with the reported intention to withdraw, as it is an important State Party to the Rome Statute, and as such an integral part of the international criminal justice system aimed at ending impu-
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From the Front Page
nity for and helping prevent the gravest crimes under international law,” the Public Affairs Unit of the ICC said. While saying that it “fully acknowledges that withdrawing from the Rome Statute is a sovereign decision,” the ICC also noted that the Philippines’ decision to leave won’t halt possible investigations against Duterte. “A withdrawal would have no impact on ongoing proceedings or any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective,” the ICC said. Malacañang, in response, said that the Philippines won’t renounce its decision. “It’s too late; it’s as if the train has left,” Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said in a radio interview. Roque also reiterated that Duterte is ready to face possible ICC investigation into his drug war: “If the case would proceed, the President would face it.” n
SOGIE RALLY. LGBT advocates gather at the People Power Monument in Quezon City to seek the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression bill that is pending in Congress. ManilaTimes.net photo by John Micah Sebastian
China warns PH planes flying over... PAGE A1 ed territories. “These [Philippine] planes, every time that they fly over these features of Chinese, they will challenge,” Lorenzana said. “They will say that you are entering Chinese airspace. Just exchange of words. Then we will say: ‘No, we are passing over Philippine airspace.’ It’s just a play of words every time we have patrols.” China is claiming nearly the entire South China Sea, with Philippines as among its rival claimants. Reports say China is nearly finished constructing artificial islands capable of supporting military facilities at several Philippine-claimed reefs along the Spratly archipelago, located in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines, on the other hand, continues to assert the country’s sovereignty over the
West Philippine Sea. Lorenzana said the country conducts regular aerial and naval patrols in area as part of efforts to assert its territory. Earlier this month, the Philippines acquired six surveillance drones worth $13.76 million from the United States through a grant. According to the Defense chief, the drones will not only be used in patrolling the West Philippine Sea, but also in patrolling the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) and the sea lanes of Sulu. “Now that we have the drones and we have what you call the marine patrols, we send our naval patrols every now and then towards the areas,” Lorenzana said. He also added: “They can be transported easily because they will be put in a container. These are very powerful, very silent and can stay aloft for 24 hours.”
Amid the sea row, the Philippines and China continue to forge closer ties in other areas, including trade, infrastructure, and counterterrorism. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano was scheduled to meet with his counterparts in China last Wednesday, March 21. At press conference before his flight to China, Cayetano said the South China Sea dispute will be set aside during the meeting to focus on the “strengthening relations” between the two countries. “We agreed with them, we will put our dispute in one side and grow the relationship in all other aspects so whether we talk about our agricultural exports, whether we talk about the infrastructure, talk about counterterrorism, Marawi, we usually also discuss systems,” Cayetano said. n
Palace: Possible Boracay closure...
PAGE A1 The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), however, warned that shutting the island will negatively impact the country’s economy. PCCI noted that 20 percent of the tourism industry’s total income was sourced from Boracay.
The tourism industry, as a whole, was the third-biggest contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Last month, Duterte likened Boracay to a “cesspool” due to the island’s dysfunctional sewerage system. On March 6, Duterte threatened
to put Boracay under the state of calamity if his six-month ultimatum to clean it up is not met. The president also threatened to arrest local government officials and resort owners if they refuse to cooperate or protested the ongoing investigation and efforts to rehabilitate Boracay. n
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‘Lost & Found’: Untold stories of adopted Trump unveils plan for opioid crisis, mirrors... Filipino kids in snow-covered Montana PAGE A1
by Rae
ann VaRona AJPress
The story of coming to America from the Philippines is a powerful one often told through the perspective of the hard working immigrant or the overseas foreign worker. But one narrative that a group of Filipino-American filmmakers want to be told is that of moving over 7,000 miles away as a child to a new family looking to make them their own. “Lost & Found” is a short documentary produced by The Filipino Channel’s program “Balitang America” (News America) that tells the story of adoption, but takes it a step further by focusing on families living not in the coastal states of California or New York, but in the mountainlocked city of Bozeman, Montana where a small population of young Filipinos find themselves most at home. “We’re always trying to tell the story of Filipinos in all places of America — including states you don’t expect to find many Filipinos,” said Steve Angeles, correspondent for Balitang America and producer of the documentary. “There must be a unique story when it comes to Filipinos outside of California, Nevada, or New York.” Through aerial footage of tropical and lush Philippine greenery, juxtaposed with sweeping mountains and snow covered roads of the Rocky Mountain region, the film does put into perspective just how different the backgrounds of these families and their adopted children are. But it also brings truth to the cliché suggesting that home is indeed where the heart is. “All of the kids we met were really cool. They showed us love as if we were one of their own,” said Jeremiah Ysip, the Northern California based emmy-award winning videographer who filmed the documentary. Ysip likened the initial meeting to meeting long lost family members. Like many kids and young adults living in the United States,
Every family has a unique history. But for some families in the Rocky Mountains, their roots go beyond borders, cultures, and blood. “Lost & Found” – the newest BA Original Documentary – tells their stories.
A change of scenery. The Wambeke siblings grew up in a Manila orphanage, and now, they live in Montana, along the Rocky Mountain View. Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Ysip
Through the Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach — a hague accredited adoption agency — the young Reddig now lives a life familiar to many kids across the U.S. after being adopted by Quinn and Alyson Reddig of Minot, North Dakota who provided him with both a home and a series of successful medical treatments. With a population of nearly 45,000, Bozeman is the fourth largest city in Montana. Of its total population, less than two percent are of Asian ethnicity. The percentage drops to less than one percent when accounting for Filipinos. Ysip and Angeles mused that the kids were happy to see new Filipino faces. “They haven’t seen Filipinos in a long time so they were pretty happy to see a couple of Filipino strangers out there,” said Angeles. Upon recalling one of his most memorable moments, Ysip looked back to meeting brothers Ron and Nante Kroon, and their fellow adoptee friend Ariel Wambeke. The three were among the older of the adopted kids featured in the documentary. “That moment was memorable to me because it was was as if they were seeing their reflection for the first time and finally saw themselves,” said Ysip. “That unspoken connection between kababayans is what Ryder Reddig (left) of Minot, North Dakota, and Nikki Van Dyken (right) of Bozeman, Montana. bind us and makes us Filipino,” Both children grew up in Rehoboth Children’s Home, an orphanage in Tanay, Rizal in the he added. “Despite being far rePhilippines, before they were adopted by American families. They were reunited at the Hope moved from their homeland and for Orphans Gala in Bozeman, Montana. Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Ysip PAGE A7 the Filipino adoptees enjoyed things like music, studying, getting their own cars, and even going to Vegas with friends. In one home, a young Filipina and her American mother casually talked about Filipino food. In another, a trio of siblings reminisced on the transition of moving to America — one of who has started a family of her own. And then there was the home of 12-year-old Ryder Reddig whose personal story of going through medical treatments after being born in unfortunate circumstances brought the Balitang America team to Bozeman in the first place. Born with a disfiguring tumor that affected his hearing and sight, 12-year-old Ryder Reddig has come a long way from his life at the Rehoboth Children’s home in Rizal, Philippines where he grew up after being abandoned as a baby.
Everything you need to know about the... PAGE A1 randomly generated 11-digit “Medicare number” (some capital letters are included). This will be used to verify eligibility for services and for billing purposes going forward. Such a major change can involve bumps along the way, so there will be a transition period during which you can use either your new Medicare card or your old card at doctors’ offices and hospitals. Both should work until Dec. 31, 2019. If you forget your new card at home, your doctor’s staff should be able to look up your new Medicare number up at a secure computer site. Or, they can use information that’s already on file during the transition period. “We’ve had a few people contact us and ask ‘If I don’t have the new card at a doctor’s appointment, does that mean my provider won’t see me?’” said Casey Schwartz, senior counsel for education and federal policy at the Medicare Rights Center. “That shouldn’t be an issue.” Cards will be sent to people covered by Medicare on a rolling basis over a 12-month period ending in April 2019. Older adults in Alaska, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, hawaii, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia will be the first to receive the mailings, between April and June, along with several U.S. territories — American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The last wave of states will be Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee, along with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. “If your sister who lives in another state gets her card before you, don’t fret,” the Federal Trade Commission explained in a new alert. Since the cards are going out in waves, “your card may arrive at a different time than hers.” If you think Social Security might not have your current address, call 1-800-772-1213 or
check your online Social Security account at https://www.ssa.gov/ myaccount/, the FTC advised. When you get your new Medicare card, don’t throw your old one in the trash. Instead, put it through a shredder or “spend time cutting it up with a pair of scissors” to make sure the part showing your Social Security number is destroyed, said Amy Nofziger, a fraud expert for AARP. Those numbers remain sought-after by scammers, and AARP and Senior Medicare Patrol groups tell of receiving fraud reports related to Medicare cards since last year. In one scam, reported by California’s Area 1 Agency on Aging, a caller purporting to represent Medicare or another government agency claims to need your bank account information so Medicare can arrange a direct deposit of funds into your account. The new Medicare cards are used as an excuse for the call. In another, circulating in Iowa, scammers are threatening to cancel seniors’ health insurance if they don’t give out their current Medicare card numbers. “We’re telling people, don’t ever give someone this number — just hang up,” said Nancy Ketcham, elder rights specialist at the elderbridge Agency on Aging, which serves 29 counties in northwestern Iowa. A month ago, Alfonso hernandez, 65, who lives in Moreno Valley, Calif., received a call from a man who told him, in Spanish, that Medicare was going to issue new cards and that he needed to verify some information, including hernandez’s name, address and Social Security number. “I said no, normally, I don’t give my Social Security number to anyone,” hernandez said. At that point, the caller put his “supervisor” on the phone, who said the government needed to make sure it had correct information. Caught off guard, hernandez recited his Social Security number and, “as soon as I did that, they
hung up.” “Immediately, I’m like ‘oh my God, what did I do,’” said hernandez, who quickly contacted credit agencies to have them put an alert on his account. “I just keep praying that nothing happens.” Just last week, California’s Senior Medicare Patrol program received a report of another scam detected in Riverside County: a caller claiming that before a senior can get a new Medicare card, he or she has to pay $5 to $50 for a new “temporary” card, according to Sandy Morales, a case manager with the program. Nofziger of AARP said a Medicare representative will never contact an older adult by phone or email about the new cards and will certainly “never ask for money or personal information or threaten to cancel your health benefits.” The new Medicare cards are free and you don’t need to do anything to receive one: They’re being sent automatically to everyone enrolled in the program. Don’t give out any information to callers who contact you by phone, she advised. If you suspect fraud, report it to the FTC , AARP’s fraud help line, 1-877-908-3360, or your local Senior Medicare Patrol program. If you’re among nearly 18 million seniors and people with serious disabilities who have coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, keep the card that your plan issued you. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies, which have their own way of identifying members. Similarly, if you have prescription drug coverage through Medicare — another benefit offered through private insurance companies – keep your card for that plan as well. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Judith Graham/California Healthline)
The following day, the president formally announced his plan at an event at Manchester Community College in New hampshire, a state which is been hit particularly hard by the opioid crisis. “The only way to solve the drug problem is through toughness,” Trump said on Monday, March 19. “If we don’t get tough on the drug dealers, we are wasting our time, and that toughness includes the death penalty.” This isn’t the first time Trump has alluded to imposing the death penalty on certain drug traffickers. In early March, the president brought up the issue of implementing the death penalty for drug dealers at a rally in Pennsylvania wherein he claimed that individual drug dealers are responsible for the mass deaths by opioid addiction. “Drug traffickers kill so many thousands of our citizens every year,” Trump asserted before an impassioned audience of supporters. “Thousands of people are killed or their lives destroyed, their families are destroyed. So you can kill thousands of people and go to jail for 30 days. They catch a drug dealer, [and] they don’t even put them to jail.” Trump’s stricter penalties for narcotics crimes has concerned health and treatment advocates, who’ve advised the administration that it cannot punish its way into remedying the opioid epidemic. Opioids refer to a group of drugs that range from codeine to illegal narcotics like heroin. These drugs — which are primarily for pain relief — are the strongest legal pain remedies and are only available through a doctor’s prescription. examples of opiates include morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, methadone, diamorphine and alfentanil and when taken irresponsibly, can be highly addictive and, when abused, can be lethal. Recent figures from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) found that nearly 42,000 Americans have died from an opioid overdose in 2016 and in the past year, that number of deaths has increased by 30 percent; since 1999, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths has quadrupled. States at the highest risk of opioid abuse include West Virginia, Ohio, New hampshire, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, which all had the highest rates of death from drug overdose in 2016, according to the CDC. Trump’s plan: What’s in it? Trump has long announced his plan to eradicate the opioid problem during his term, once calling the epidemic a “national shame.” In October 2017, he declared it a public health emergency. According to a CNN report, an administration official said that the Justice Department will be “examining to move ahead with to make sure [the death penalty proposal is] done appropriately,” and will not wait for congressional approval to propose legislation to make the death penalty measure happen. Another key part of the plan involves urging lawmakers to lower the number of drugs possessed that prompts mandatory minimum sentences for certain opioids to accurately represent “the new reality of drugs like fentanyl, which are lethal in much, much smaller doses,” Bremberg said. Moreover, these new penalties are strictly meant for those dealers who traffick large quantities of opioids and not those who “are growing pot in the backyard or a friend who has a low-level posses-
President Donald Trump delivered remarks on the opioid crisis in the United States on Monday, March 19 at Manchester Community College in New Hampshire. He brought several people to the podium to share their stories, including parents whose eldest son died of a fentanyl overdose. White House photo by Andrea Hanks
sion crime,” Bremberg clarified. In an effort to hold enabling health professionals accountable, the Justice Department would also be directed to go after “criminally negligent” doctors and pharmacies and take legal action against opioid manufacturers who break the law. Trump’s plan also includes a massive federally-backed ad campaign which would take on two forms: First Lady Melania Trump’s plan to focus on the well-being and education of young children and the president’s focus on shock value to discourage Americans from not abusing opiates. “The best way to beat the drug crisis is to keep people from getting hooked in the first place,” the president said. “This has something I have been strongly in favor of: spending a lot of money on great commercials showing how bad at is. The epidemic can affect anyone and that’s why we want to educate everyone.” Speech draws comparisons to Duterte Many experts have long acknowledged an oratorical resemblance between Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Both have made headlines for controversial public statements, and the comparisons continued after Trump’s vociferous Monday speech, where Trump praised the drug policies led by various countries. Though he wouldn’t name any countries or world leaders, it was evident that Trump indirectly acknowledged the violent anti-drug campaign in the Philippines, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of drug suspects. “If you look at — if you look at other countries — I’ve gotten to know the leaders of many countries. And I won’t mention names, but you know the countries I’m talking about,” Trump said in New hampshire. “Take a look at some of these countries where they don’t play games. We have to change the laws, and we’re working on that right now.” Nearly a year ago, Trump and Duterte spoke in a highly-publicized phone call where Trump expressed congratulations to the Philippine leader for the “unbelievable job” he has done with the country’s rampant drug addiction. “Many countries have the problem — we have a problem. But what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that,” Trump said, according to transcripts of the April 2017 call. Duterte has not been shy about endorsing ruthless violence against drug suspects and has long ignored the pleas of the international community to stop the violence, which has lodged attacks
PH Senate passes nat’l... PAGE A1 and terrorism by facilitating the processes of apprehension and prosecution. The Senate and house of Representatives will harmonize, during the bicameral conference committee, conflicting provisions in their respective versions to come up with a measure that they can ratify. Lacson said the house wanted to make the ID “functional.” “In the Senate version, it’s a combination of foundational and functional. Foundational, mean-
ing each and every Filipino and even resident aliens who are here for 180 days will be armed with a legal and valid identification or identity,” he explained. “There will be a problem if it is functional because we have 33 functional IDs: driver’s license, Post Office (ID or postal ID), GSIS (Government Service Insurance System ID), SSS (Social Security System ID), etc. Do we really want to incorporate them into one ID? We’re not yet ready for that. So, that would be part of the discussion in the bicam,” he added.
on scores of innocent Filipinos. “Do the lives of 10 of these criminals really matter? If I am the one facing all this grief, would 100 lives of these idiots mean anything to me?” Duterte said in 2016. Trump’s language in his Monday speech bore a striking resemblance to Duterte’s coarse oratory regarding the Philippine drug problem, which has resulted in a violent crackdown that has reportedly killed tens of thousands of drug suspects since Duterte took office in May 2016. “This isn’t about nice anymore,” Trump forewarned on Monday. “This is about winning a very, very tough problem and if we don’t get very tough on these dealers it’s not going to happen folks…I want to win this battle.” Another attack on sanctuary policies In true Trumpian fashion, the president didn’t shy away from throwing partisan shade on sanctuary jurisdictions on Monday and went as far as to connect sanctuary policies with perpetuating the circulation of opiates in the U.S. “everyday, sanctuary cities release illegal immigrants and drug dealers, traffickers and gang members back into our communities. They’re protected by these cities,” Trump said before ordering Congress to “block funds” to sanctuary jurisdictions. he specifically named Boston, whose mayor, Marty Walsh, fired back at the president for having “criminalized both our immigrant community and those suffering from substance abuse.” “It’s time to stop painting all undocumented immigrants as criminals,” Walsh said in a statement. “Our immigrant community makes positive contributions to our city each and every day. And his epidemic is not something we can arrest our way out of. We need actual investments in prevention and treatment programs and policies, not just talk.” Moreover, sanctuary policies, in general, do not call for the release of “illegal immigrants and drug dealers.” Sanctuary jurisdictions — such as the state of California and cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland — order their respective law enforcement agents not to aid and abet in federal immigration operations. The newly-enacted SB 54 in California, for example, “ensures that no state or local resources are diverted to fuel any attempt by the federal government to carry out mass deportations and that our schools, our hospitals, and our courthouses are safe spaces for everyone in our community.” In other words, they do not explicitly liberate undocumented criminals and drug pushers. (Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)
Under the bill, the national ID system establishes the PhilSys number, PhilID and PhilSys Registry. The PhilSys Number is a randomly generated identification number for each individual, to be incorporated in all identification systems of government agencies. PhilID is a non-transferable card with the PSN, full name, facial image, date of birth, address, and fingerprints of the bearer. The Philippine Statistics Authority will act as the PhilSys Registry. n
House approves divorce bill on... PAGE A1 president is against divorce,” Palace Spokesperson harry Roque said in a briefing. Duterte, according to Roque, thinks divorce should not be made legal as “children would be pitiful if there will be divorce.” house senior deputy minority leader Rep. Lito Atienza, who had earlier expressed strong opposition to the bill during plenary deliberations, lauded Duterte’s stand. “The president has saved the Filipino family with his strong position against divorce, which has been passed on second reading in the house,” Atienza said. expressing “strong” agreement with the president, Atienza pointed out that “divorce would be very detrimental to mothers and
children.” he went on to say, “Through ayes and nays, I, together with a miniscule number of lawmakers voiced our opposition to the bill but our collective voices were ultimately drowned out by the majority of congressmen for the passage of the bill on second reading.” “We admire the president’s display of strength and character. he did not allow himself to be stampeded by the mob on this critical issue,” he added. Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin slammed Duterte for his “turnaround” as he accused the president of “pandering” to the new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). “I think Duterte’s turnaround in the divorce bill is his way of
pandering to the new CBCP president, Bishop Romulo Valles, who is from Davao,” Villarin said in a statement. “It shows how he uses people’s issues to prop his politics and sow organized chaos to deflect us from his main political agenda of strongman rule.” Last week, Valles reiterated the Catholic church’s stance against divorce, as he appealed to proponents and supporters of the bill to “consider seriously” the “social costs” of an easy dissolution of marriage. Valles warned that in a context in which divorce is presented as an “easy option,” marriages and families are “bound to break up more easily,” and more children “will grow up disoriented and deprived of the care of both parents.” n
A6 MARCH 21-23, 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Boracay shutdown
FEATURES
WITH all the bad publicity now reaped by Boracay for pollution, the island’s best move is to correct years of neglect ASAP so it can quickly tell the world that it’s back in business. Boracay has taken its worst hit since it gained renown as a travel destination, and it is suffering the consequences at the peak of the travel season. There is no argument that the island will emerge better once its problems are addressed, and that local government officials bear much of the blame for failure to properly regulate development on the island. But the national government should also avoid headline-grabbing knee-jerk measures to spur a thorough cleanup. Shutting down the island to tourism for up to a year needs careful consideration. About 30,000 people are directly employed in businesses around the island, with many others dependent for their livelihoods on downstream enterprises. Boracay is the country’s top tourism destination, and until early this year continued to be voted as one of the world’s best in terms of beaches and hotels. The government can shut down and impose other penalties on establishments that violated environmental laws and are operating without the necessary permits. Some establishments may even
have to be closed permanently for sitting on no-build zones. If warranted, administrative and criminal charges can be filed against local government officials. If the government closes the entire island to tourism due to environmental concerns, it should apply the same stringent standards in other travel destinations. Boracay is not the only island where sewage is dumped directly into the sea. The practice is common all over the archipelago, including in other popular tourism sites. Sewerage systems are old, inadequate or nonexistent in many areas including in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. With all the bad publicity, Boracay must work double time to address its pollution problem. Instead of a yearlong closure of the island to tourism, however, the government can consider implementing the necessary reforms in phases, or at least a much shorter shutdown period. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
17 school shootings in the first 11 weeks of 2018: Has America been desensitized to gun violence?
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS WHEN will the murder of innocent children and civilians due to the gun violence epidemic ever end in America? Just on Tuesday, March 20, an armed student in Lexington Park, Maryland opened fire in a hallway shortly before classes began around 8 a.m, striking a female he reportedly had a previous relationship with, and a male student. This is the 17th school shooting in only 11 weeks into 2018 where someone was hurt or killed. That averages out to 1.5 shootings a week, according to CNN. Has America been desensitized? Has this been the new “normal” in this country? Whatever happened to the “listening session” between President Donald Trump and the families of the victims of several mass shootings in America? Whatever happened to the theatrics of the televised meeting between President Trump and the lawmakers following the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida when a former student opened fire using
an assault rifle? Whatever happened to the strong urgent rhetoric of Trump admonishing the Republican and Democratic lawmakers for not passing legislations to solve the gun violence epidemic because they were afraid of the powerful and well funded National Rifle Association who has been lobbying against any gun control laws? Well lo and behold! This president was no less afraid of the NRA, who, like the Republican lawmakers, was also beholden to the association. After Trump’s meeting with the NRA: Goodbye to raising the age requirement from 18 to 21; goodbye to writing laws himself to ban bump stocks that convert semi-automatic rifles to rapid firing machine guns; and goodbye to more stringent gun laws to protect Americans! Meanwhile, the Republicancontrolled Congress again put the call for stricter gun laws on the back burner, with the Senate leadership prioritizing voting on legislation that rolls back Obama-era regulations that were meant to regulate financial institutions in the aftermath of the deepest recession after the Great Depression. We have seen this movie be-
fore. Strong powerful words and “thoughts and prayers” rhetoric that were never translated into action and legislative changes for implementation, thanks but no thanks to the lobbying efforts and payback demands from the NRA which has been contributing millions of dollars to the campaign funds of these Republicans. They delay and delay their actions hoping the clamor for gun control laws would cool and die down until the next mass shooting occurs. Would this time be any different? “ENOUGH!” “Never again!” These make up the battle cry of students across America, who walked out of school on March 14. They were supported by teachers, parents and other Americans from coast to coast in calling on politicians to bring an end to the school shootings that plague America. These student activist lead by the Parkland shooting survivors vow that the Parkland massacre should be the last, and that they are taking action and responsibility to fight for their future, to fight for their lives. Indeed, these young people defied orders from school officials and even local government officials who threatened
Pres. Donald Trump
them with detention, suspension, even corporal punishment in some states, just to subjugate them. BUT many of these kids have awakened from their apathy and are now making their voices heard, despite criticisms, insults, denigration from irresponsible adults who would rather cling to and protect their guns, than protect the lives of innocent children and civilians from mass shooting. Contrary to the scare tactics of the NRA and their cohorts in Washington, these kids and stricter gun law advocates are not demanding to take away the Second Amendment rights of Americans. As “The Other
White House photo
98%” Facebook page stated it: “No one is saying take ALL your guns away. No one is saying take away the Second Amendment. If you believe that, then your leadership in the NRA and GOP have done what they set out to do, to brainwash you.” What they are fighting for: To ban AR-15 type weapons [military weapons meant for use in the war zone and not by civilians] and magazines that convert semi-automatic weapons into rapid firing machine guns; to adopt gun laws that will help save lives including stronger background checks more stringent and longer steps in screening of those who are ap-
plying for license to purchase and use guns, NO weapons sold without background checks, increase age requirement from 18 to 21; to take the NRA out of government. These are supported by a big majority of Americans — almost 7 out of 10. Shouldn’t President Trump and the Republicans in Congress listen to 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
In pursuit of lasting peace
PeaceMaker (Part 2 of 3)
(Remarks of Hon. Jose De FORMER SPEAKER Venecia, Former Speaker, JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. Philippine House of Representatives; Founding Chairman, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); CoChairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Chairman Emeritus, Universal Peace Federation (UPF); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and for Intercultural Dialogue at the UPF International Leadership Conference 2018 “Building a World of Lasting Peace: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values” Seoul, Republic of Korea; February 18-22, 2018.) Revival of Six-Party talks and Korean unification We believe that the lingering conflict and potentially dangerous flashpoint in the Korean Peninsula with North Korea, now nucleararmed and continuously testing improved nuclear weaponry, and perhaps even the potential of missiles launched from submarines, could be resolved peacefully through diplomacy, cooperation and bilateral and/or multilateral dialogue. No matter how most difficult, it must be constantly tried and pursued, and we claim its eventual success, for the sake of the two Koreas, Asia, and the world. We urge the revival of the long-postponed Six-Party talks among the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea and even better sustained direct talks between North and South that would directly contribute to enhancing political stability and security not only in the Korean Peninsula but in the Asia Pacific region, but most importantly lead to unite the two Koreas, forswear war, and together build a strong, united prosperous first-world nation for the Korean peoples in the second or third decade of the 21st Century. Perhaps, the successful dynamics of North Korea’s nuclear development could be channeled to economic mobilization. And the Six-Nation Talks could have a business-focused auxiliary to develop economic joint ventures for deployment in the Korean north.
Two Koreas should adapt to global changes Excellencies, friends: We must point out that despite the occasional harsh rhetoric on both sides of the 38th Parallel, I believe governments, parliaments, political parties, civil society organizations, and religious groups must encourage and support direct talks between Seoul and Pyongyang. As we know in past years, direct talks re-started some years ago between Washington and Pyongyang—in New York and Geneva, but had not met with success. Indeed, direct talks between North and South will complement these high-level explorations. Perhaps they could even catalyze the long-suspended Six-Party Talks to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Korean Peninsula. Perhaps direct bilateral or multilateral talks could even lead to agreement on a road map to eventual unification. But these talks have not been reopened for a long time now. Today the basic fact is that the distribution of power in the world is fast-changing–particularly in East Asia–and the Korean Peninsula must adapt to these epochal transformations. Vietnam itself emerged from three difficult successive wars, winning against great powers, and its socialist government adopting a market economy, lifted its people from poverty to become today a rising peaceful economic power. North Korea can be like Vietnam, which is already emerging as a power in Southeast Asia. The great example of course is how the two Germanys finally emerged from Cold War confrontation and totally united under then Chancellor Helmut Kohl, to become today the predominant economic power in Europe. And China, under the unforgettable leader Deng Xiaoping, opened China to the world, lifted more than 500 million people from poverty and introduced appreciable elements of free enterprise capitalism to China’s socialist economy, which has propelled China to the second largest in the global economy and perhaps No. 1 within 10 years. ASEAN Plus 4 Perhaps the two Koreas should begin with some degree of economic cooperation. And the obvious way which of course should
not take too much time for Pyongyang to be invited to associate itself with the East Asian Economic Grouping of the 10 Southeast Asian states and the 3 Northeast Asian states – China, Japan and South Korea. The ASEAN Plus 3 could become ASEAN Plus 4. This should not be a long process and the idea should be shared with Pyongyang sooner than later. Yes, indeed, North Korea should not be left alone and isolated as we push for political and economic integration in Asia. In my view, the immediate task of the parliaments and mainstream political parties of the Republic of Korea and the Communist Korean Workers’ Party (KWP) of the North, aided by the parliaments, political parties, civil society, and business leaders of the global community, is to draw up a clear, distinct and workable road map toward unification. Political parties and civil society organizations should network with the leading think-tanks of Asia, U.S., and Europe to envision the architecture of Korean confederation and unification, actively revive Seoul’s Kim Dae Jung “Sunshine Policy”, promote a bipartisan approach among the major parties of the South, and draw on South Korea’s vaunted economic power, to help build the economy of the North under an economic and political Confederation of Korean Unity. The Asian, European, African, Latin American, Australian, and U.S. parliaments could organize a program and send delegations to the North Korea legislature, their Ministers of Agriculture and Tourism might interact with their North Korean counterparts to look into the recurring causes of famine in the North and to develop jobs-creating and foreign exchange-earning tourism there. The great Chinese, Russian, and Western industries can look into North Korea’s hydrocarbons, mining, and hydro-electric potential. The late Reverend Moon and Madame Moon over the years have built genuine goodwill in Pyongyang and among the Koreans in the North and donated their much-appreciated hotel and erstwhile automobile factory that they established there to the North Korean government and people. (To be continued next week)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 21-23, 2018
A
Dateline PhiliPPines
Whistleblowers alarmed over Napoles becoming state witness by Dana
SioSon
by Patricia LourDeS
AJPress
SEvERAL whistleblowers in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam were appalled by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to place businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles under its Witness Protection Program (WPP). Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion PDAF or pork barrel racket, was admitted provisionally into the WPP last February 27. The DOJ’s move, however, was only disclosed on Friday, March 16. Lawyer Stephen Cascolan said his clients—witnesses Marina Sula, Arlene Baltazar and Simonette Briones—were “alarmed” and “confused” by the development, which is a step closer to making her a state witness. “Where is this leading to?” Cascolan asked. “After looking at the official certification of the DOJ, we only got confused because her (provisional) admission did not mention to which cases she would be used as witness.” Cascolan also expressed concern that Napoles’ possible testimony could result to the dismissal of the pork barrel scam cases. “The cases may be diluted and their credibility as witnesses would be eroded,” Cascolan said. For his part, Levito Baligod— the former lawyer of primary whistleblower Benhur Luy—remarked that the DOJ’s move was “lacking in perspicacity.” Baligod noted that Napoles “already admitted under oath during the Senate hearings that she [had] no knowledge [of] or ‘involvement’ in the PDAF scam.” “How can she now be of any use to the state as witness? Those to be sued under Napoles’ testimony will just be too happy to have her as an adverse witness because they can easily destroy her credibility,” he said. ‘Unbelievable, crazy’ Several lawmakers likewise expressed dismay at the DOJ’s recent move. In a message to reporters, Senate President Koko Pimentel described Napoles’ partial admission to the WPP as “an unbelievable, crazy development.”
DOJ subpoenas Aquino over Dengvaxia fiasco Philstar.com
Janet Napoles-Lim
“Do some people in the DOJ really believe that Janet Lim-Napoles is qualified to be a state witness in the PDAF scam, which she herself invented, organized and perpetuated?” Pimentel added. Senator Bam Aquino also criticized the development as he reminded the DOJ that its of its mandate “to enact justice for the Filipino people, not to protect drug lords and criminal masterminds.” Aquino continued, “For the ordinary Filipino to have any hope for justice, the DOJ must stop perpetrating the culture of impunity in our country and begin upholding the rule of law.” Senator Jv Ejercito, meanwhile, said he was “disturbed and dismayed” by the DOJ’s decision. “This is a setback in our fight against corruption and the pork barrel system. I am not prepared to accept the idea that Mrs. Napoles is the least guilty in the PDAF scam. Napoles rigged the system in order to enrich herself and others at the expense of the public,” he said. Graft, plunder case not affected Despite considering Napoles as a state witness for possible new cases, Justice Secretary vitaliano Aguirre II clarified that she won’t be exonerated in the multibillionpeso pork barrel scam. Aguirre said Napoles will continue to face graft and plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan. “The pending cases she is currently facing in the Sandiganbayan will not be affected in any
Viray
MANILA — The Department of Justice has issued a subpoena against former President Benigno Aquino III, former Budget Secretary Butch Abad and former Health Secretary Janette Garin over the dengue vaccine mess. Aquino and the two former Cabinet members were ordered to attend the March 23 hearing on the Dengvaxia case filed by volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and vanguard of the Inquirer.net photo Philippines, Inc. “Under and by virtue of the way as her status as state witness will apply only to possible new authority vested in me by law, you are hereby directed to apcases,” Aguirre told Philstar. The justice secretary further pear at Room 140, Mezzanine clarified that Napoles’ placement Floor, Delas Alas Hall Building, under WPP is only provisional Padre Faura Street, Ermita Manila, on March 23, 2018 at 10:00 and preliminary. “As to her status to be a state in the morning, in connection witness, it involves both legal and with the preliminary investigafactual questions that we are now tion of the above-entitled case,” studying before we finally decide the subpoena read. Last month, the vACC and the whether to put her under WPP,” vPCI filed a criminal complaint Aguirre noted. “If she passes the criteria, only against Aquino and 19 others for then could she qualify for full the reported deaths of children coverage of WPP. Otherwise, allegedly connected to the antiher provisional admission will dengue vaccine. Other respondents in the case be cancelled if it is found that her affidavit is not credible,” he are Department of Health Undersecretaries Carol Tinio, Gerardo added. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Bayugo, Lilibeth David and MaMorales, in a separate statement, rio villaverde; DOH Assistant said that Napoles’ new status Secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and CB-72311-01 Asian Ad MM.pdf 1 Santiago; 3/6/18 10:27 Nestor otherAMDOH of“has no effect on theCRA cases under ficials Laureano Cruz, Joyce Dutrial in court.” n
Former President Benigno Aquino III and former Health Secretary Janette Garin are facing criminal complaints in connection with the Dengvaxia mess. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban
cusin, Mar Wynn Bello, Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Ariel valencia, and Julius Lecciones; former DOH Undersecretaries Nemesio Gako, vicente Belizario Jr., and Kenneth HartiganGo; head executive assistant to Garin, Dr. Yolanda Oliveros; unnamed directors and officers or employees of Zuellig; and unnamed directors, officers or employees of Sanofi Pasteur. Aquino was accused of authorizing the release of P3.55 billion for the procurement of the vaccine within the 45-day election ban in 2016. Last week, Aquino clarified that the purchase order for
Dengvaxia was signed on March 9, 2016, or more more than two weeks before the start of election ban on March 25, 2016. “This complaint is based on imagination and wrong intention. It is clear that this failed the standards of the law and truth,” Aquino said in a press conference last Thursday. The president expressed his hopes that the Comelec would dismiss the complaint against him in relation to the Dengvaxia mess. “We expect the Comelec to do the right thing, which is to dismiss the complaint as soon as possible,” he said. n
PDP-Laban bares senatorial slate for 2019 MANILA — Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan on Tuesday, March 20, has revealed their senatorial lineup for the 2019 midterm elections. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez announced the senatorial candidates of the ruling party during the mass oathtaking of new PDP-Laban members in Caloocan City. Among the senatorial bets of PDP-Laban are Senate President Koko Pimentel, former MMDA chair Francis Tolentino, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and special assistant to the president Bong Go. Pimentel’s re-election is seen
to face legal complications as senators are only allowed two consecutive terms. The Senate president was only proclaimed senator in August 2011 following the resignation of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri over poll fraud allegation in the 2007 elections. Pimentel earlier said that he could still run in 2019 as he only served one year and 10 months in his first term. In October 2017, Pimentel had announced six potential senatorial candidates including himself, Tolentino, Nograles and Roman. House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo appear to have been dropped from the ruling party’s senatorial slate. (Philstar.com)
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‘Lost & Found’: Untold stories...
PAGE A4 other Filipinos, that deep connection only proves that kapwa spirit of one.” On the parents, Angeles said, “you can’t help but admire them for what they did for these once orphaned Pinoys. They were surprisingly quite open also with their life stories.” Nearly 1.8 million children in the Philippines are neglected or abandoned, a number reached by the United Nations’ Children’s Rights & Emergency Relief Organization. That’s more than one percent of the country’s entire population. According to the U.S. Department of State, 127 adoptions from the Philippines to the U.S. were made in 2016, the lowest it’s been in a ten year decline which has in part been due to factors in the Philippines. “Theirs is a different tale compared to the average Filipino immigrant,” said Troy Espera, executive producer at Balitang America, who has produced Emmy Award winning stories. “It’s also a very American story that highlights the compassion and generosity of the Bozeman families who opened their homes to these international orphans.” The crew behind “Lost & Found” is hoping that the documentary will open the eyes of viewers to the story of adoption, especially adoption from the Philippines. Talking from his own previous views shaped by images and commercials on television, Ysip
said that actually meeting the kids gave him a new perspective that was more positive and hopeful. “These kids may have been in orphanages, but they were taken care of there in the Philippines,” said Ysip. “All these kids needed was a permanent home where they can plant themselves and bloom so high that even if they grow from concrete and now live in the snow, that they reach their fullest potential.” Angeles said that the story of the adoptees is also timely as the U.S. faces anti-immigrant sentiments often exemplified through viral hate crime videos. But if there’s one thing he’s learned from covering their stories is that good people still do exist, in places one may not expect. “It takes a lot of heart and courage and unconditional love to do what these families do,” said Angeles. For Ysip, he learned that it wasn’t just the children that were lost and found, but the parents. “Maybe not lost that they didn’t have direction in their lives, but lost meaning there was a missing void in their lives that they didn’t know how to fill,” he explained. “I learned that love, as cliché as it sounds, really has no boundaries,” Ysip added. “Regardless of where you’re from, two worlds can be bridged and connected.” “Lost & Found” was aired on Saturday, March 17 on The Filipino Channel which hopes to submit the documentary to film festivals across the U.S. n
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A March 21-23, 2018 • La MIDWEEK aSIaN JOUrNaL
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 21-23, 2018
B1
Peso seen falling to P54:$1 this year by MAYVELIN
CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippines’ budget and current account deficits will continue to put pressure on the peso throughout 2018 and beyond, Singapore-based bank DBS said as it forecast a decline to P54 versus the dollar by yearend a further fall to P56 in 2019. In a report, DBS noted that high growth in the Philippines was now being accompanied by twin deficits, with the government’s budget shortfall having hit P350.6 billion while the current account deficit ballooning to $2.5 billion last year. The bank also noted that overseas Filipino worker remittances, a traditional support for the peso, had been overtaken by record trade deficits. “This has increased the peso’s weakness to higher U.S. rates and a stronger U.S. dol-
ManilaTimes.net file photo
lar,” DBS said, noting a 4.4percent depreciation in just the first two months of this year compared to the full-year drops of 5.4 percent and 4.7 percent in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The peso has traded between P51 to 52 per dollar since the end of January, the weakest in over a decade. It closed up 10 centavos on Friday, March 16, at P51.93:$1. DBS said the door had opened for the peso to fall to P54:$1 this year and to P56:$1
u PAGE B3
PH youth have lower digital quotient – study by MA. LISBETH
K. ESMAEL
ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippines’ screen time management fell short of the global average, a report on the digital intelligence quotient (DQ) of young Filipinos showed. In its 2018 DQ Impact report—which seeks to measure how children between eight and 12 years olds manage their screen time, multitasking, online-game participation and social-media use—global think tank DQ Institute said the country scored a 96, lower than the average score of 100. A score between 100 and 115 indicates that the children are “more responsible and have
moderated use of the internet,” the report explained. A score of 85 and below mirrors their vulnerability to “cyber risks and unhealthy habits of digital use,” it said. “The aspiration is to have a screen time management score of above 115, which means children can be considered as relatively disciplined users of digital media and technology,” DQ Institute said. The average Filipino child spends 34 hours—two hours more than the average—in front of digital screens every week. Seventy-three percent of Filipino children are exposed to “cyber-bullying, inappropriate
u PAGE B4
Philippines, Japan sign loan deal for first Metro Manila subway Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative Yoshio Wada inked the first tranche of a loan deal for the initial phase of a 30km underground railway, which is estimated to cost P356.96 billion. Philstar file photo by IAN
NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com
THE Philippines and Japan on Friday, March 16, signed a P51.3-billion loan agreement for the construction of the first Metro Manila subway, which is expected to ease traffic gridlock in the capital. At a ceremony, Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative Yoshio Wada inked the first tranche of a loan deal for the initial phase
of a 30-km underground railway, which is estimated to cost P356.96 billion. Officials said the funding agreement carries an interest rate of 0.1 percent per annum and a repayment period of 40 years, inclusive of a 12-year grace period. The big-ticket project has a total loan financing requirement of P259.6 billion, the biggest amount committed by JICA to a single country. The Japanese funding for the project will be sliced in three to four tranches. “The loan is really almost too good to be-
lieve... this is a very generous package from the JICA,” Dominguez told a press conference. The subway project will cater to 14 to 16 stations and is expected to be completed in 2025. Meanwhile, partial operation of the first three stations is set in 2022. Once finished, the first underground railroad in the Philippines will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s premier gateway.
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Philippine economy to grow faster, says think tank by CZERIZA
VALENCIA Philstar.com
REGIONAL think tank ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) sees the Philippine economy growing faster in 2018 and 2019 as exports remain buoyant and domestic consumption accelerates amid the ambitious infrastructure development program. In a report AMRO said it forecasts the domestic economy growing 6.8 percent in
2018 and 6.9 percent in 2019, both faster than the 6.7 percent pace registered in 2017. “Amid the softening in private sector demand last year, an ambitious Build Build Build program in public sector infrastructure is expected to lift growth momentum in the near term,” said AMRO. AMRO said while the first package of the tax reform program would help finance the Build Build Build program, risk pockets to the economy remain because of the
Philstar file photo
inflationary effects brought about by excise tax hikes and other external factors such as
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B MARCH 21-23, 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
Business news
Mining your own acres of diamonds
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA A FARMER in Africa heard glowing stories of other farmers who have become rich by discovering diamond mines in the continent. Filled with excitement and visions of sparkling diamonds, he sold his farm quickly and set out to become a diamond prospector himself. He wandered far and wide for many years crisscrossing the huge continent hoping to strike it rich. Hope and change however proved to be a lame strategy. Alas and alack, the years took their toll and finally, having grown old, tired and despondent over his failures, he ended his life. Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm settled in and one bright day, while fording a stream on the land he now owned, was attracted to a gleam of colored rock at the bottom of
the land free and clear which he had sold practically for a song and a dance. If he only took stock of what he had, surveyed his surroundings and explored and worked on his own acres, his story might have had a happy ending. This story is a staple used by noted motivational speakers and writers to bring home a point. And for good reason… The “Acres of Diamond” Story is a powerful metaphor to inspire people to explore and harness their own potential as human beings striving to reach their goal of achieving the riches they seek, whether tangible, intangible or a hybrid of it was a pretty crystal. The visi- both. In the most obvious terms, tor told him that it was probably one of the biggest diamonds he riches could mean physical had ever seen. It turns out that wealth like money in the bank, a the stream had many more such comfortable retirement, celebrity status and the perks that come diamonds at its bottom. The first farmer never knew he with it. However, there are also was standing on his own acres those parameters that are harder of diamonds. He already owned u PAGE B3 the shallow water. He picked it up out of curiosity and displayed it on his mantel as décor. One day a visitor noticed the rock and almost fainted. He asked the farmer what he thought it was and the farmer innocently said,
“Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them.”
— Alfred North Whitehead
Solar energy credit for residential A SOLAR electric residential property to be qualified for the credit must meet the following requirements: 1. Costs paid must be for qualified for solar electric property. 2. Qualified solar electric property costs: These costs must be for use of solar energy to generate electricity. You may rely on the manufacturer’s certification in writing that a product is a qualifying property for the credit. Keep the certificate for your records. 3. Qualified solar water heating property costs: These costs must be to heat water for use in your residence. At least half of the energy used by the solar water heating property for such purpose is derived from the sun. The property must be certified for performance by the nonprofit Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed. For a summary of water heater systems ratings with names and addresses of participating suppliers visit SRCC’s website: www.solar-rating.org.
What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA 4. Costs: Includes installation, labor, preparation, wiring, etc. Refer to Form 5695 for a complete listing. 5. The electricity must be for use in a residential energy efficient property. 6. The residential property must be located in the United States and must be used as a residence by the taxpayer. 7. The residential property does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence. 8. The credit for residential solar electric property does not include any specific certification or output requirements. Any costs incurred for solar electric property qualify for the credit subject to the requirements discussed above. 9. Check requirements for any available state and local incentive programs prior to commitment.
10. Before January 1, 2017: If property is placed in service before 2017 , the credit amount is generally 30% of the cost of qualified solar electric property, solar water heating property, small wind energy property, geothermal heat pump property, and fuel cell property. 11. After December 31, 2016 but before January 1, 2022: If the property placed in service after December 31, 2016 and before January 1, 2022, the credit is available only for eligible solar electric property and solar water heating property. 12. In 2017, 2018, 2019: The credit amount is equal to 30 %of the cost of eligible property placed in service in 2017, 2018, or 2019. 13. In 2020: The credit is 26 % of the cost of property placed in service in 2020. 14. In 2021: The credit is 22 percent of the cost of property placed in service in 2021. HERO loan or PACE for property assessed clean energy loan: These loans are used to primarily finance high cost solar energy. Payments for these loans are
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Seven things you should not do when served with divorce papers by your spouse FOR most people, being served with divorce papers by your spouse is probably one of the biggest surprises in your life. The spouse in the receiving end of the divorce sometimes are not offered any explanation for the divorce petition by their spouse. You may start getting upset about how this can happen to you and start doing things that are going to be seriously detrimental to your divorce case later on in the proceeding. Here are seven things you should not do. Do not confront your spouse and commit domestic violence Many spouse feel very angry and upset upon receiving the divorce papers. You may start blaming your spouse and attacking your spouse. You may even yell, threaten, scream, or even physically assault your spouse. This type of confrontation is called “domestic violence.” You may be arrested criminally if your spouse calls law enforcement. Your spouse may also file a domestic violence restraining order against you. Either one would compromise your ability to seek custody of your children, child support, and spousal support. It would also affect your credibility as a witness for future proceedings. In addition if you do this in front of the children, this may be looked at as domestic violence and abuse against the children. The incident may be reported to Child Protective Services for investigation. Do not run to the bank and empty out all your bank accounts or sell assets except for funds necessary retain legal representation in the divorce. If you have assets, do not run and empty out your bank accounts with the goal of securing it from your spouse. The divorce petition and summons includes certain automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROS) which prohibits transferring and encumbering assets. You will be in violation of the ATROS if you do this. Your spouse may also make a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against you. However there are certain exceptions to withdrawing funds such as funds necessary for your living expenses and funds you need to retain an attorney. Do not cut off your spouse from any insurance policies One of the ATROS prohibits you from removing your spouse
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes from health insurance coverage and other insurance policy. It would be a violation of ATROS to do so. You need to maintain your spouse on all existing insurance until the divorce is finalized or the status of marriage is dissolved in a bifurcated trial. Do not take off with your child and move out of state or out of the country If the child has been living in this state, California Court has jurisdiction over your child even if you leave California after being served the divorce. Your spouse can get an order from the California court to return the child to California and get sole physical custody of your child. This can be enforced through law enforcement in other states. In addition, this would also be an ATROS violation. Such a move would seriously undermine your claim for custody of the children. Do not use your child as a messenger to communicate with your spouse Divorce process is a very difficult process for the children. Children often blame themselves for the divorce of their parents. Children sometimes manifest this through their academic performance during the divorce process. Do not involve the children in your divorce case. Using the children to communicate messages to your spouse puts them in a difficult and very stressful situation. This will also affect your claim for custody of your children if you regularly involve your children in your attempt to communicate with your spouse. In addition, you should not say disparaging remarks about the other parent to your children. Do not stalk your spouse onsocial media such as Facebook or Twitter. Your spouse probably stopped informing you as to what is going on in his/her life at this point. You may be curious if your spouse hooked up with a third party or an old flamer. You may be curious what your spouse are telling
your friends and family. Do not stalk your spouse on social media such as Facebook. Do not hack into your spouse’s e-mail. This is a crime. Your spouse can also file a domestic violence restraining order against you for stalking. Most of the evidence obtained illegally is not admissible in court anyways. If you have been unfriended by your spouse, let it be. Do not quit your job voluntarily If you think you can dodge child support and spousal support by quitting your job voluntarily, it is not going to happen. Your spouse’s lawyer will argue that there was no legitimate reason for you to leave your employment and may seek the court to impute income on you. Your spouse may seek vocational evaluation for purposes of determining your earning capacity. In addition, the amount of income you will lose by quitting is substantially more than the money you will owe in child or spousal support. Even if you are successful in dodging the support orders by quitting your job, your spouse can modify them back up the moment you go back to the work force. If you have been served with divorce papers and are unsure how to react, seek professional help before you dig yourself deeper in the hole. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
BUSINESS NEWS
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 21-23, 2018
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Business owner files Chapter 7 Philippine economy to grow faster... due to $1-M labor lawsuits
Debt Relief
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ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG
THE client is 65. He operates a service-oriented business with three outlets in strip malls. He has been in business for eight years. Of the three outlets, two are losing money, while the third has some profit that subsidizes the loss of the first two, and provides the client with some disposable income that is barely enough to cover his monthly living expenses. The gross receipts from one outlet total to about $10,000 a month. Forty percent goes to rent, 50 percent goes to labor, so what else is left? The gross receipts from the second outlet are $4,000 a month, barely enough to cover rent. The third outlet, which turns a profit, keeps the client from becoming a homeless person and puts food on the table. So, it’s not a great business but allows the client to survive. He has no retirement accounts, no 401K or pension, and is expecting minimum social security when he turns 66 next year. In other words, the client still needs to keep the business going beyond retirement, just so he can live a decent life in a rented home. He doesn’t even own a house. The problem with client’s business is that a service is performed by individuals who are not technically speaking, employees. When the service is rendered, the client takes a cut from the receipt and gives the rest to the individual who performed the service. Let’s just say that these individuals are more independent contractors than employees. Business owners, if they can get away with it, prefer the independent contractor to the employee. Independent contractors are paid on a per customer basis. If a customer walks in and the service is performed, the client just gives the independent contractor his share of the payment for services rendered. If there is no customer, there is no salary to pay. In addition, there is no overtime pay to worry about. For instance, trucking companies prefer to have their drivers buy their own trucks so they can classify them as independent contractors. As independent contractors, drivers do not qualify for employee benefits and do not get paid a salary. Instead, they get a check for each delivery they make. At the end of the month,
they probably get about $10,000. From that amount, they deduct their operating expenses. Whatever is left is their net profit for that month. Are truck drivers employees of the trucking company or are they independent contractors? The same thing can be said for Uber drivers. They own their cars. But Uber gets them the passengers and cuts them a check for each ride. I have clients who make $2,000 a month gross with Uber by driving part-time. Some make $4,000 a month gross. Are drivers employees of Uber or are they independent contractors? The IRS uses the “control” test. If the business owner has control over most of the time of the individual, that individual is deemed an employee, not an independent contractor. Going back to the client, he has four individuals who perform the advertised service for client’s business. He takes a cut from the gross receipt, then, gives the balance to the individual. There are no set “work” times (9 to 5). If a customer comes in at 9:30 p.m., the individual performs the service for the customer and then client and individual split the gross receipt for services rendered. The client has operated his business using this method for eight years. Certainly, he considers the individuals independent contractors, and for eight years, the individuals appear to agree. But recently, all four individuals filed four separate state court lawsuits for overtime and back pay with each claiming $250,000 of unpaid overtime and back pay!! That’s $1 million of overtime of back pay. Where will the client get $1 million? If he had that money, he would probably just close his business and retire somewhere in the world where no one knows him and where he can live like a king. Maybe in the Caribbean or some remote island country where there’s plenty of sunshine every day, and live the rest of his life in peace. Last he checked, he only had $1,000 in his business checking account. He’s just short $999,000. The client opts for Chapter 7 for a fresh start to discharge the $1-M in lawsuits. But can bankruptcy wipe out claims for unpaid overtime and back pay? It sure can. They are not exempted from discharge; therefore, they are dischargeable. Even if plaintiffs attempt to prove that these claims are not dischargeable under say, “intent to cause dam-
age” or “fraud,” the client would prevail because client’s intent was to enter into a business contract with these individuals and these individuals voluntarily and freely agreed to this business relationship between client and them. The client did not put a gun on their heads to force them to perform the service. It’s clearly a business relationship that worked for both client and plaintiffs for eight years. Seniors with $48K in credit card debt The next client is 68 with equity in his residence of $150K but owes $48K of credit card debt. He started getting social security payments of $1,800. His wife gets social security of $1,200. After the house payment of $1,500 and necessary expenses, there is no money left to pay minimum credit card debt of $1,400 monthly. This is a no-brainer. The client and wife opt for a fresh start as seniors to discharge $48,000 of credit card debt, which they carried for 20 years. They only paid $312,000 of interest for 20 years and they still owe the same $48,000. If they did a Chapter 7 even 10 years ago, they still would have saved $156,000 of interest! Since the client is 68, his equity exemption is $175,000. That is more than enough to cover his equity of $150,000, so there’s no problem with his house. He keeps everything he owns but got rid of $48,000 of credit card debt. It’s a great deal and gives them a fresh start in their retirement, and in another three years, their credit score will be over 620. In five years, it will be 690. In seven years, 720. In 10 years, there is no record of their Chapter 7 petition filing.
*** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader. There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with the attorney. The first general consultation is free. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.
Peso seen falling to P54:$1... PAGE B1 t
by 2019 – levels last seen 15 years ago. “Although it comes as no surprise that the Philippine peso is depreciating for a sixth consecutive year, there is a need to be vigilant against signs of overheating in its economy,” the bank said. It recalled that in November last year, the International Monetary Fund warned that credit gaps could approach “warning” levels in 2017 to 2018. “Close attention should be paid to the increased leverage of some conglomerates and property developers, as well the expansion in shadow banking activities,” it said. Furthermore, DBS said that
given the twin deficits and higher inflation outlook, it expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to eventually hike rates every quarter into the second quarter of 2019. “This will help temper the depreciation pressure on the peso from the three Fed hikes we expect this year,” it pointed out. Some analysts expect the Bangko Sentral’s policymaking Monetary Board to raise key interest rates during a meeting this Thursday, especially since inflation — measured under 2006 prices — hit 4.5 percent in February, breaching the 2.0-4.0 percent target. Central bank Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., however, has said
that monetary authorities expect the rise in consumer prices to return to the target range next year. During its last meeting on February 8, the Bangko Sentral’s policymaking Monetary Board raised its inflation forecast to 4.3 percent from 3.4 percent in 2018, above its 2 percent to 4 percent target range. Last week, Espenilla also rejected “one-for-one” rate hikes in response to U.S. Federal Reserve actions. The U.S. central bank, which will be holding a two-day policy meeting this week, is expected to announce its first interest rate hike for the year this Wednesday, March 21. ■
Mining your own acres of... PAGE B2 t
to achieve and can’t be bought outright by money, like inner peace, contentment, serenity, a healthy mind in a healthy body filled with good spirit and well being or a long, happy, meaningful life. The wisest ones go for a mix of both the tangible and the intangible. You get to choose your very own definition of wealth. Oftentimes, staying the course and having the wisdom and the patience to use the resources found directly right under our noses and the neurons firing in the brain between our ears offer better odds than seeking out those greener pastures. As one smart aleck pointed out, the other pasture is always greener simply because it has a gardener that waters, fertilizes and fusses over it all the time. (And used often as a multilevel marketing ploy to recruit people for get-rich quick-schemes. But I digress.)
Staying the course and mining your own acres of diamonds could also apply to married couples going through tough times. There are always critical moments that would require partners to fight for their marriage and stay committed no matter the struggle. There is the struggle of the infidelity of one partner attracted to another, maybe a young spring chicken or a hunk with washboard abs waiting in the wings, the struggle to rise above health issues or the struggle to keep their heads above financial waters or the struggle to stay as a family despite the discord brought about by various debilitating addictions. Many seem to think they can hit the reset button by trading up to another partner. They think that if they can only find the right one, find Ms. or Mr. Perfect, life would be better. Oftentimes, that route simply leads to more troubles ahead, more complications,
more heartaches and crushing disappointments. If one treasures the intangible acres of diamonds built by years of being together in the form of happy memories and achievements, scrapping the negativity, overlooking irritations or editing out the heartaches through genuine forgiveness brought about by unceasing prayers, perhaps staying the course and loving the one you’re with, is actually easy peasy. With faith and determination, you can mine your own acres of diamonds right in your own marriage, right in your own backyard. The question is, are we mining our own acres of diamonds in every area of our lives right now? And if not, why not? *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Philippines, Japan sign loan deal... PAGE B1 t
‘Timely completion’ According to Dominguez, the plan for the subway line envisions a “north zone” that will extend to Bulacan and a “south zone” that will stretch to Cavite. The flagship infrastructure project will have commercial spaces that will be leased to help pay the hefty Japanese loan and defray the cost of operating the facility.
“The timely completion of the subway project will crown the aggressive infrastructure program the administration of President [Rodrigo] Duterte has initiated,” Dominguez said. “It will likewise crown the achievement of the economic diplomacy the Duterte administration has undertaken,” he added. As he charts an “independent foreign policy” while lessening his country’s dependence on tra-
ditional treaty ally the US, Duterte is courting regional rivals China and Japan to help foot the bill for his P8-trillion infrastructure plan. A recent study by JICA revealed that traffic cost in the Philippines has worsened to P3.5 billion a day in 2017. The Duterte administration is depending on a mix of foreign borrowings, budgetary allocations and private funding for its ambitious infrastructure push. ■
higher oil prices and weak exchange rate. Headline inflation has already spiked to four percent at the start of the year and is expected to slightly breach the upper end of the government target of two to four percent for this year but AMRO expects inflation to ease back to the target by 2019. The country’s massive infrastructure program is also confronted with capacity issues and labor supply woes. “On the domestic front, the economy’s weak implementation capacity poses a constraint to the infrastructure push. Government agencies lack skilled
manpower to implement an increasing number of complex projects which would require international expertise. Also, not enough local private contractors have the technical competence, experience and financial capacity to handle the long list of largescale projects. Moreover, despite abundant labor supply, there is a shortage of skilled labor in specific occupations and industries such as in construction,” AMRO said in the report. On the external front, AMRO said protectionist policies in the U.S. threaten the growth of remittances and business process outsourcing (BPO). “Remittances and BPO rev-
Calendar of Events across
enues face a potential slowdown from U.S. protectionist policies, among other headwinds. The clampdown on undocumented migrants in the U.S. place an estimated 300,000 Filipinos at risk of deportation,” said AMRO. Reforms to attract foreign investments will help counter external risks and facilitate growth, said AMRO. “Advancing efforts to improve the country’s business climate and investing in human capital to address the labor mismatch will raise the economy’s absorptive capacity and complement the drive to accelerate infrastructure investment,” said the think tank. ■
America
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Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA There will be a FREE immigration forum on Thursday, February 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801). RSVP is a MUST to attend. No registration fee required. Please contact (714) 657-7460 or admin@globallawcenters.com. Attendees will be able to get information on the following topics: How to find H-1B/green card sponsoring companies, tips for a successful H-1B interview, job placement assistance for qualified applicants with start-ups in Orange County, and a list of top 100 H1-B employers in the OC. Global Law Centers strives to inform the immigrant community of its rights and make sure it is knowledgeable about what immigration processes might be available. The forum will also update everyone about new and recent changes which may affect immigrants and their families. Refreshments will be provided to all attendees. For more information about Global Law Centers, please visit www.globallawcenters.com.
A P R I L 1 1 -1 3
Advancing Justice Conference in Washington, DC Advancing Justice Conference in Washington, DC The Advancing Justice Conference is the signature event in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community focusing on civil rights and social justice happening on April 11-13, This three-day, bi-annual convening is hosted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice. It provides a unique forum to learn from issue area experts and community leaders, discuss common challenges and opportunities, share best practices, and find more effective ways to work collaboratively. This year, community leaders from across the U.S. will come together in Washington, D.C. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018advancing-justice-conference-april-11-13-registration-39652865789.
APRIL 14
SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura in Queens, NY AFTA presents its latest fundraising event - “SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura” – a cultural dinner show featuring the internationally recognized dance troupe from the Philippines, the Leyte Dance Theater, which will kick off their USA TOUR 2018 in NYC. The event is on April 14, 2018, 3:00 pm at the Rock Church in Woodside, Queens. “Salida” aims to raise funds and awareness to support the flagship projects of the Association of Fil-am Teachers of America, Inc. (AFTA) with their partners: The Rock Churches Worldwide and the Leyte Biliran & Samar Federation. Proceeds of this fundraiser will finance AFTA’s projects in the Philippines like Adopt a School (Marawi City, Biliran and Albay, Adopt a Scholar, and Balikturo). For Sponsorship opportunities, contact Roxanne at 347-932-6631 or Nitz at 862-368-1706 or any AFTA officer/board member.
Philippine Medical Association of Southern CA and its auxiliary to hold inaugural ball in Anaheim, CA The Philippine Medical Association of Southern California (PMASC) and its auxiliary will be holding its biennial inaugural ball on Saturday, April 14 at the Anaheim Marriott (700 W Convention Way, Anaheim, CA). This grand occasion will be attended by several Filipino physicians and its guests to raise funds for humanitarian purposes, specifically its outreach programs including medical missions to the Philippines and Southern California. The association has been conducting such purposes for 46 years since its founding in 1971. For more information and tickets, please contact Dr. Emma Arella at (661) 794-3322, Dr. Ellen Abejuela at (909) 859-4865 or PMASC Executive Office at (562) 572-2481.
APRIL 30
East West Players’ 52nd Visionary Awards & Silent Auction in Los Angeles East West Players celebrates its 52nd Anniversary at the Annual Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction. The Visionary Awards laud the achievements of individuals who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through their craft. Proceeds from the gala will benefit East West Players’ educational and artistic programs. It will be held at the Hilton Universal City (555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, CA 91608) on Monday, April 30. At 5:30 p.m., VIP Reception*, silent auction, and registration begin. Dinner and awards show begin at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please visit: http://www. eastwestplayers.org/news/east-west-players-52nd-anniversary-visionary-awards-dinner-andsilent-auction/.
M AY 3 -1 2
34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival The 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 3 - May 12, 2018 at select cinemas in the Los Angeles area. A key highlight of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month activities, the Festival is produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, and enjoys broad support from cinema artists and audiences alike. Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented over 4,000 films, videos, and digital mediaworks by Asian international and Asian Pacific American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific American and international cinema. To learn about Visual Communications, visit www. vconline.org.
JUNE 9
Kalayaan Incorporated presents Philippine Independence gala in Los Angeles Kalayaan Incorporated, Southern California’s foremost celebrant of Philippine Independence will host the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 9, at the Universal Hilton Hotel, Universal City, California. For more information, contact Erlinda Granada-Sabah at (562) 682-9576; or Malou Perez at mperez0813@ aol.com.
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B4 MARCH 21-23, 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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People and Events
Healthy eating and cooking workshop in Diamond Bar ADULTS age 55 and older who would like to learn how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet and prepare easy, delicious and nutritious meals are invited to attend a free seminar planned for Monday, March 12 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Diamond Bar Center. Sponsored by Right at Home In Home Care and Assistance, this seminar will provide ideas and tips on how to cut back on processed food and instead prepare nutritious meals that are high in
fiber and low in salt and fat. Research shows that increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables lead to life-long health benefits and help prevent a number of age-related diseases. Admission to this seminar is free, but requires advance registration. Diamond Bar Center is located at 1600 Grand Avenue. For more information and to reserve your seat,
contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (909) 839-7070.■
Solar energy credit for... PAGE B2 t
reduced by the amount of the property tax bill. Proper treat- credit claimed in your Form 1040 ment of these costs are principal using Form 5695. portion is non-deductible and in*** terest is deductible as debt interest related to home acquisition. Disclaimer: Any accounting, business It is important to know that the or tax advice contained in this costs related to qualified electric communication is neither intended as residential property increases a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific the cost of your property but is issues, nor a substitute for a formal
EMPLOYMENT
opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies. (Advertising Supplement)
Batch 1977-78 Reunion
“Magkita-kita po tayo Batch 77-78 - Binangonan Catholic High School sa dararting na April 7, 2018”
PH youth have lower digital quotient... PAGE B1 t
active searches, gaming addiction, meeting strangers online, online sexual content, inappropriate adult images and inappropriate sexual talking,” the report said. The figure is 17 percent higher than the global average.
EMPLOYMENT
DQ Institute presented the report with Globe Telecom. “In building a digital nation, it is important to have a deeper understanding on the impacts of technology to Filipino youth and provide proper interventions to address these,” said Yoly Crisanto, senior vice president for cor-
EMPLOYMENT
F0R RENT
Performance Strong. Results Delivered.
porate communications of Globe Telecom, which presented the report with DQ Institute. “Working with the DQ Institute and the [Department of Education], we are hopeful that the Philippines would soon join the roster of countries with high DQ index in the future,” he added. ■
B MARCH 21-23, 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 21, 2018
Filipino cuisine gains visibility in America
Fil-Am owned café pushes Philippine-sourced coffee beans, Filipino dessert flavors in drinks by Christina M. Oriel AJPress
DESPITE the ubiquity of coffee giants, neighborhood cafés are still appreciated by locals, and for visitors, it’s the best way to get a glimpse into the local scene. If you happen to be in the San Diego area, a new café and retail shop owned by a group by MOMar G. Visaya /AJPress of Filipino-Americans opened in Carmel Mountain Ranch earlier this year. Mostra Coffee comes from the mission of Fil-Am owners — Jelynn Malone, Sam Magtanong, Beverly Magtanong, Mike Arquines and RJ Ocubillo — to put the Philippines on the map as a source of speciality grade coffee beans. After doing philanthropy work with Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines, they saw it as a way to eradicate poverty by working with Filipino farmers through fair-trade and Romy Dorotan & Amy Besa (Purple Yam) direct-trade practices. Inquirer.net photo “This was our mastermind Chef Andre Guerrero (Oinkster) with Chef Alvin plan: If we could get to a point Cailan (Eggslut/Amboy) where we could source beans Photo from Instagram/@chefandreguererro from the Philippines, bring them to America [and] brand a world-class coffee brand, we could create a demand for it on a global level. Then, in turn, that would mean roasters from around the world would start traveling to the Philippines and ordering coffee, which would provide jobs for farmers,” Malone told the Asian Journal in an interview. Though Malone had originally wanted to open a bakery, the owners took the route of a coffee roasting facility that would begin with sourcing beans from usual places like Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia. But during a trip Johneric and Christine Concordia (Park’s Finest) to Mindanao, they found beans and got them graded. “For coffee to be specialty Nicole Ponseca (Jeepney and Maharlika) grade, it has to score above an 83 out of 100. And this coffee from the Philippines was graded a 95,” Malone said. Before the new retail space, Mostra had been operating at a warehouse for the past four years and opened a coffee cart
Two purveyors – Tom Cunanan and Margarita Manzke – get James Beard nods
2018 is off to a great start for Filipino cuisine in America as mainstream publications and diners continue to talk about it with passion and more curiosity than ever. Last week, the James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for their annual awards bestowed on the best chefs in America today. Tom Cunanan of Bad Saint in Washington, DC made it to finalists list again for the honor of Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic). Margarita Lorenzana-Manzke of Sari Sari Store and Republique in Los Angeles and Wildflour in Manila is one of five finalists for Outstanding Pastry Chef. Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields and furthers the Foundation’s mission to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. Also last week, the New York Times published a treatise on where Filipino cuisine in America is today and how a generation of Filipino and Filipino-American chefs and restaurateurs are pushing the cause forward. Entitled “Filipino Food Finds a Place in the American Mainstream,” the article dwelled on, among other things, bagoong and how Filipino food entered the American mainstream. “The article is seminal: it’s a defining moment for Filipino food — it doesn’t need to be dumbed down in order for it to translated for or admired by the mainstream. Filipino food doesn’t need to be gimmicky or trendy to be craved. Rather the food can be just as it is — honest, favorable and unique,” Nicole Ponseca told the Asian Journal. “The New York Times answers the question that has long been circulated amongst Filipinos and foodies: Why did it take Filipino food so long to go mainstream? Ligaya Mishan’s influential article and previous reviews on Filipino food hint that our food is best when we do it on our terms with the bold flavors that define the cuisine,” she added. While other Asian cuisines have been part of the American dining scene for decades now — Chinese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese — it is only in the recent years that Filipino dishes started gaining recognition outside the packets of Filipino communities and enclaves across the United States. This recognition comes in many forms and formats, including full page features on chefs and dishes, such as the Los Angeles Times feature on halo-halo, specifically, how to make it like world-class pastry chef Margie Manzke. The article described the classic dessert as “deeply emblematic” and “homey, craveable and just a little weird”. Last year, Vogue came up with an article entitled “How Filipino Food is Becoming the Next Great American Cuisine” noting that it has been five years since food
Chef Sheldon Simeon
Chef Charles Olalia (Ricebar)
outside — after people had started coming to the facility looking for brewed coffee. It went from one to four days a week, drawing lines out the door and down the sidewalk. “With all of that energy around us, we were like, ‘We should probably open up a retail space where we can actually serve people every day on regular hours,’” Malone explained. “But being a coffee company and we’re in a suburban neighborhood in San Diego so anywhere there’s a Starbucks or a Coffee Bean, you can’t open up a coffee shop or even a cafe. So we finally found a spot in one of the big shopping centers and we’re in a Home Depot shopping center right next door to See’s Candies. After we found this spot, we just decided we’re going to go full-blown retail here. So we’re now open seven days a week.” Mostra, the Italian word for ‘show’ or ‘exhibition,’ comes from taking Malone (a film and TV actress/host) and Beverly Magtanong’s (professional opera singer) performance backgrounds and translating them into a business. “We took it to another level when we brought on our partner Mike, a fine dining chef, because a lot of the stuff he does is very visual. So when we’re doing our drinks, it’s a very visual experience, we plate our drinks,” Malone shared. “It’s like a show, and even the whole experience — from the decor, space and customer
Bibingka crème brûlée latte Photos courtesy of Jelynn Malone
service — almost takes you to a different place.” One of the standout menu items is the Bibingka Creme Brulee Latte, which is torched like the regular creme brulee dessert and topped with toasted coconut and brown butter. They’re also known for the Campfire Latte and cold brews like the ‘Choco-Nana’ (remake of own housemade banana milk) and ‘One Bra-zillion Coconuts,’ which has shredded coconut from the Philippines and vanilla beans (think along the lines of an Almond Joy). Unlike bigger coffee shops, the owners of Mostra emphasize the value of customer service and making sure that customers feel welcome and part of a community. “All my partners and I like to attribute that to being Filipino. We feel like we’ve brought so much of that Filipino family Continued on Page 5
Photo by Deb Lyndsay
Freshly baked pan de sal and ube butter Big Boi’s menu features combo meals with options of chicken adobo, pancit, pork sisig, Photo courtesy of Big Boi Filipino tocino and BBQ skewers, as well as a la carte items like sinigang and lumpia shanghai.
Chef Walter Manzke and his wife Margarita
writer Andrew Zimmern predicted Filipino cuisine was going to become “the next big thing”. Then we have the social media influencers on Instagram and YouTube venturing into Filipino cuisine by way of Jollibee and dessert enthusiasts devouring ube in any variation or usage — from sundae swirls to lattes and fillings. A Bloomberg report last year said that Google searches for “Filipino food” have doubled since 2012 and entries for “lumpia near me” rose to an astonishing 3,350 percent. Around May 2017, Pulitzer Prize winner and food critic Jonathan Gold wrote that the “time for Filipino cuisine is now” and “the place is Los Angeles,” he added. And that’s where we slightly beg to differ. The place is not just Los AnPhoto courtesy Bravo TV
Chad and Chase Valencia (LASA)
Chef Tom Cunanan
Mostra Coffee is owned by a team of Fil-Ams: (left to right) Beverly Magtanong, Jelynn Sophia Malone, Sam Magtanong and Mike Arquines (not pictured is RJ Ocubillo).
Photo by Michelle Park
geles, it is America. Well, at least in the major cities of these United States. Los Angeles is home to a number of chefs who are talked about in the industry circles for their inventive take on Filipino food — including Andre Guerrero (Oinkster), Alvin Cailan (Eggslut/ Amboy), Charles Olalia (Ricebar), Chad and Chase Valencia (LASA), Ryan Garlitos (Irenia), Johneric Concordia (Park’s Finest), Barb Batiste (B Sweet/Big Boi), Kristine de la Cruz (Créme Caramel/ FrankieLucy Bakeshop), and Isa Fabro (pastry chef known her mango royale pie). Then, there’s Hawaii where “Top Chef” alum Sheldon Simeon owns and operates the lunch spot Tin Roof. This summer, he is set to open Lineage in Maui. According to the website Eater, the dishes at Lineage are designed to be shared and derived from Simeon’s own family recipes from the Philippines as well as recipes that are a part of traditional Hawaiian cuisine. In Texas is “Top Chef Season 9” winner Paul Qui, who is slowly reclaiming his spot in the industry after a much-publicized domestic abuse meltdown in 2016. The James Beard Award-winning chef opened Aqui in Houston last year and hired fellow Filipino-American chef Gabriel Medina as chef de cuisine and Jillian Bartolome as pastry chef. Bartolome is a semifinalist this year at the James Beard Awards for Outstanding Pastry Chef. New York, on the other hand is home to Romy Dorotan & Amy
Fil-Am chef Barb Batiste turns to Filipino classics at Big Boi on Sawtelle by Christina M. Oriel AJPress
SAWTELLE Boulevard in West Los Angeles is another haven for those with eager tastebuds and stomachs, as blocks are lined with sushi bars, ramen places, and Boba tea shops, as well as other selections from Korean to American cuisine. No matter the day of the week or time, many of the establishments often carry long waits. The area — known as Sawtelle Japantown — has been home to B Sweet Dessert Bar for close to four years, a dessert shop founded by Filipina-American chef Barb Batiste. Batiste recently sat down with the Asian Journal to talk about Big Boi Filipino, her latest fast-casual venture along the busy thoroughfare that opened in midJanuary, just six stores down from B Sweet. Batiste — who was born in Manila but grew up in the U.S. — has a background in graphic design and ventured into the world of desserts after developing a chocolate chip banana bread recipe on the side. Her experience includes serving as executive pastry chef at the Loews Santa Monica Beach and then head pastry chef of LA Art Gallery. From there, her friend Kurt Steinitz became her business partner to launch her own venture that included catering, two dessert trucks, and eventually the brick and mortar store named B Continued on Page 4 Sweet Dessert Bar that opened
Chef Barb Batiste, known for her confections at B Sweet Dessert Bar, opened Big Boi Filipino on Sawtelle Boulevard in January as a tribute to her late father. AJPress photos by Noel Ty
in 2014. At B Sweet, Batiste has over the years infused sweet Filipino elements into menu staples like ube pan de sal pudding, halohalo, and halos (pressed donut sandwiches using Magnolia ice
cream). “Growing up, I wasn’t sure this was where I would be at 50 years old. It all led me to it,” she said. “One thing I’ve noticed — I’ve been married for 31 years Continued on Page 5
entertainment 3 Crustacean Beverly Hills reopens after eight-month renovation Managing Ex-Battalion a ‘first’ for Ai-Ai The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 21, 2018
MISSED the famous garlic noodles and garlic roasted Dungeness crab from Crustacean Beverly Hills? The wait is finally over! The iconic Euro-Vietnamese restaurant — beloved by many in the Filipino-American community of Southern California — reopened its doors on Tuesday, March 13, following an eight-month long, $10 million dollar redesign. The downstairs dining area features a completely new menu composed of revamped Crustacean classics; modern Vietnamese fare with a European sensibility; small plates, prix fixe tasting menus; and seamless indoor-outdoor seating on both S. Santa Monica Boulevard and Bedford Drive. The new entrance is now on 468 N. Bedford Drive. In addition to Master Chef
by RICKY LO Philstar.com
Crustacean Beverly Hills unveiled new interior decors on Tuesday, March 13.
Photos by Wonho Frank Lee
The iconic garlic noodles and garlic roasted Dungeness crab
of palm (a vegan-friendly “crab cake” with spicy aioli), pho soup dumplings (holy basil, kaffir lime in a royal broth); Himalayan salt block steak with either A-5 Wagyu Matsusaka (3 oz), Prime All Natural Rib Eye (16 oz), or Prime All Natural Filet Mignon (10 oz). For those who enjoy cocktails, the bar program at Crustacean features concoctions that pair Asian spices and flavors, such as a Turmeric Mule and an Artichoke Old Fashioned. Meanwhile, the House of An hospitality group has announced a new restaurant, named Da Lat Rose at Crustacean, located upstairs that is set to open this May. Further details of the dining menu have yet to be announced. Crustacean Beverly Hills is located at 468 North Bedford Drive. Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Photo by Ian Bailey (AJPress)
Helene An’s garlic noodles and Dungeness crab, the expanded menu features starter dishes like tuna cigars (instant smoke, brick de feuille, macadamia nut, Vidalia onion, and tobiko caviar) and surf & turf sashimi (wild salmon, A-5 Wagyu, crispy garlic, purple potato, tobacco chili vinaigrette); entrees such as hearts
Chef Tony Nguyen and Chef Helene An in the new Crustacean kitchen
Continued on Page 3
Soup Dumplings
Saltblock Wagyu
Kampachi Sashimi Photos by Carl Larsen
Crustaceanʼs grand opening drinks, including turmeric mule and an artichoke old fashioned Photo by Ian Bailey
Happy Bakery: San Gabriel’s favorite bakeshop HAVING just moved to America a few years prior, Ernest Ng knew little about the community in San Gabriel Valley and almost nothing about starting up a bakery in California. Although he was Chinese, he had grown up working on a farm and going to school in South America, and was far removed from the Chinese community. Nevertheless, his strong work ethic and persevering spirit enabled him to open Happy Bakery at the age of 25. The modest store attracted the Chinese community, from the older folks who would walk each morning to purchase their daily ji bao (chicken bun) to the young professionals who would buy dozens of zhi ma qiu (sesame balls) for work. Since the birth of Happy Bakery, Ernest and family worked 365 days of the year. This allows them to provide consist products to the community, and the genesis of the Chinese boom in San Gabriel Valley. Leading his parents and his younger siblings in creating a life in America, Ernest and his family poured their efforts into the little store located on the corner of Valley Boulevard and Ninth Street. With much input from the community and many trials of various recipes, Ernest and his father were able to create traditional Hong Kong style pastries, dim sum, and cakes to cater to their community. After a two years break, Happy Bakery relocated on Valley and San Gabriel Boulevard. Faithful customers came flocking back. Nostalgia over flows in the younger generation of Chinese people who first ate its products bought by their parents. To this day, Happy Bakery is still heavily embedded
into the community in San Gabriel Valley. Happy Bakery is open everyday from 6:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. and is located at 846 E Valley Blvd., Ste. B San Gabriel, CA 91776. For more information, please call 1- 626- 308- 3532. (Advertising Supplement)
Liz Uy: Motherhood changed my life by JAN
MILO SEVERO Philstar.com
CELEBRITY stylist Liz Uy has confirmed rumors that she is now a mother as she introduced to the world her baby boy Xavi in an Instagram post on Friday, March 16. In an exclusive interview with Preview magazine, she affirmed that Xavi is her baby and motherhood has changed her life significantly. “I don’t really think only of myself anymore. Every time I do anything, I think of Xavi first,” the ex-girlfriend of actor John Lloyd Cruz has been quoted as saying. Celebrities and netizens gave their congratulatory messages to the new mother. “We love you Ms Liz. Xavi looks adorable,” Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach commented on the post. “I miss you Xavi!” said actress
Celebrity stylist Liz Uy and baby Xavi.
and Uy’s friend, Anne Curtis. It can be recalled that Liz was unable to attend Anne’s wedding, presumably because she was still pregnant
Photo from Instgram/@lizzzuy
with her baby. Liz starred in the reality show “It Girls” together with her friends Solenn Heussaff, Isabelle Daza, and Georgina Wilson.
FROM being managed (by Asian Artists Agency/AAA, formerly Backroom to which she has been loyal for years), Ai-Ai delas Alas has turned the table and decided to be a manager… a “first” for her. Last Sunday, March 19, at her and husband’s own AiSarap Express (on Sgt. Esguerra, near Quezon Avenue, Quezon City), Ai-Ai announced that she had signed a two-year contract as manager of Ex-Battalion, the YouTube sensation with, hold your breath, more than 40 million followers (mostly millennials and preteens) worldwide. “I first heard about the rapper band last year,” recalled Ai-Ai. “I wanted to record a song and a writer on my (GMA) show told me na kung gusto ko raw mag-hit ang song ko, isama ko ang Ex-Battalion. Sabi ko, ‘Foreigner ba sila?’ The writer told me, ‘I-research mo sa Internet.’ That’s how I got to know the group.” The song is called Walang Pinipili, which is about Ai-Ai and Gerald, her husband of three months (they marked their third wedding anniversary last March 12), is now gaining followers on social media. “Ako ang bida sa song at back-up ko ang Ex-Battalion,” explained Ai-Ai. “In our next song, sila naman ang bida at ako ang back-up. The song is not only about Gerald and me. It is against discrimination, dapat no gender at no distance.” Ex-Battalion is so named because the members (six rappers who were present at the contract-signing) came from other bands. The other day, in her capacity as the group’s manager, Ai-Ai signed a contract with RRJ clothing brand that has enlisted Ex-Battalion as endorser, which means that in their gigs the members will be wearing nothing but RRJ clothes. “My goal is to bring ExBattalion to mainstream,” said
Ai-Ai. “I think they will be as popular as Salbakuta. Among their projects is a show in the U.S. Ipapasyal ko sila sa Disneyland.” As manager, Ai-Ai said that she wakes up early to check on the boys whom she considers as her “mga anak.” (Her other “anak” is Jiro Continued on Page 4
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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 21, 2018
Iya Villania shares quirks of her second pregnancy by Jan
Milo seveRo Philstar.com
KAPUSO star Iya VillaniaArellano is now five months pregnant with her second child with Kapuso host Drew Arellano. She said her pregnancy now is more sensitive than when she had her firstborn, Primo. “It was easier with Primo.
During my pregnancy with Primo kasi as in walang wala. I had no complications; I didn’t feel any morning sickness. It was so easy. This time around, it is relatively easy pero nagkaroon ako ng food aversions, naging mas mapili ako sa pagkain,” the actress told Philstar.com in an interview.
Iya Villania with son Primo.
The hands-on mom shared she also now experiences nausea because she cannot figure out what she likes to eat. “I’m craving for instant noodles. Pero hindi ko hinahayaan ‘yung sarili ko to always give in to that cravings, pero minsan hinahanap ko siya.” This summer, Iya, Drew and Primo will go to new Zealand for a much needed rest. But Iya said her family chooses to stay at home during regular days. “Because he (Drew) is always out of town, we enjoy being together at home. Also, we love it kasi it’s also where Primo is comfortable and dun lumalabas ‘yung personality ni Primo. He does all these silly things tapos nakaabang nalang kami ni Drew kung anong kalokohan ang gagawin ng batang ito.” Iya said they do not want Primo to go into showbiz until he finishes his studies. She will let her child to do whatever he wants to be in the future. “I just want him to have a good heart and I just want him to be a happy boy. Bahala na siya on what he wants to become.” Primo already goes to school once a week, but only for play time “to nurture skills and more than anything, I just want him to get comfortable being with other kids,” said Iya. The celebrity mom recommends Yoyo as the stroller can be carried like a bag and can fit in anywhere, whether in the closet or in airplane storage bins. Apart from having an international warranty, the stroller can be modified into three versions: 0+ version suitable for infants; as a car seat, and a 6+ version for babies older than six months.
Shades of Gray: Catriona sweeps Binibining Pilipinas awards by Deni
Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com
household and we have amazing influence not only in our families, as mothers, sisters and friends, An early pageant favorite, but also in our community. If we Catriona Elisa Gray, wins as the could get the women to stay Philippines’ official representastrong and be that image of tive to the 2018 Miss Universe strength for the children and the pageant. people around them, then once Gray has been crowned Bb. the rebuilding is complete and Pilipinas Universe 2018 at the coronation night held in Araneta is underway, the morale of the community will stay strong and Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City high. Thank you.” on Sunday, March 18. As the new Binibining PiliFrom the moment Catriona was named as the first winner of pinas Universe 2018, Catriona wins: the first-ever Pitoy Moreno na• One year ambassadorship tional Costume Award, fans of contract with Cream Silk the 24-year-old TV host, model • P500,000 worth of manand singer already had a good agement contract from Bb. feeling that she is going home with the topmost title by the end Pilipinas Charities, Inc. • P500,000 worth of Dairy of the night. Queen endorsement contract From winning Best in that includes a TV commercial national Costume in a Mind• Complete set of wardrobe anao-inspired Jason Demavivas from BPCI ensemble, Catriona went on • Full scholarship training to win five of the 11 minor and from Dale Carnegie major special awards given, in• 18 months of salon services cluding Jag Denim Queen, Miss and gym membership Ever Bilena, Best in Swimsuit, • Personal accident insurand Best in Long Gown. ance Initially, Gray was pitted • P25,000 cash and P25,000 against volleyball star Michele Gumabao, who later on went to worth of Ever Bilena products • P500,000 Pizza Hut enwin as Bb. Pilipinas-Globe 2018. dorsement contract, including a In the much-awaited QuesTV feature tion and Answer portion, Gray Born in Queensland, Austrawas the last of the contestants lia, Catriona has an Australian called via draw lots. One of the father, Ian Gray, while her mom, judges, H.E. US Ambassador to normita Ragas Magnayon, is the Philippines Sung Yong Kim, from Albay, which is why she asked her: “After the devastatrepresented Albay in Binibining ing war, Marawi is now on its Pilipinas. way to recovery. What is your Catriona was named after message to the young women of her paternal grandmother, acMarawi?” She nailed the title when she complished painter Catherine Gray nee Ross from Scotland. flawlessly answered: A taekwondo black belter, “Thank you for that question. Catriona earned a Masters My answer and my message to Certificate in Music Theory from the women is to be strong. As the Berklee College of Music in women, we’re the head of the
Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray Facebook/Binibining Pilipinas
Boston, USA. She also have a Certificate in Outdoor Recreation. Apart from being the lead singer of her school’s jazz band, she starred in local “Miss Saigon” productions. After taking up high school in Australia, she moved to Manila, where she became a top model at the age of 18. In 2016, Gray was hailed as Miss World Philippines and she competed at the Miss World 2016 pageant, where she landed in the Top 5. She also received special awards such as the Multimedia Award, 2nd place in Talent, and Top 5 finalist for Beauty with a Purpose project. If victorious, Gray will become the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe titleholder, following Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973) and Pia Wurtzbach (2015), who hosted the 2018 Bb. Pilipinas pageant alongside Richard Gutierrez.
Filipino cuisine gains visibility in... From Page 3
Besa (Purple Yam), Miguel Trinidad & nicole Ponseca (Jeepney and Maharlika), King Phojanakong (Kuma Inn), Dale Talde (Talde and Rice & Gold), Leah Cohen (Pig & Khao and Piggyback Bar JC), Jordan Andino (Flip Sigi), neil Syham (Lumpia Shack), among others. Through the years, we have seen the evolution and growth of these movers. Most, if not all of them, worked hard and persevered to open their own brick and mortar stores now. Dorotan and Besa have been helping push Filipino forward for more than two decades now, after opening Cendrillon in Soho in 1995 and gaining fame and a loyal clientele as a neighborhood restaurant. They closed shop after more than a decade and reopened in the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn as Purple Yam in 2009. Five years later, they opened Purple Yam in Malate, one of the oldest historical districts in Manila. Maharlika started in January 2011 as a weekend pop-up brunch place in the East Village, until Ponseca & Trinidad gained more than enough experience and guts to open Maharlika ten months later. In 2012, the two opened Jeepney also on First Avenue and helped propel the eventual explosion of Filipino cuisine in new York City. Talde and Cohen used their experience and exposure on Top Chef to create a brand for themselves and opened their own restaurants. Both have also ventured beyond Manhattan and Brooklyn and crossed the Hudson River to open restaurants in Jersey City, Talde with his eponymous restaurant near Grove Street and Cohen with Piggyback Bar JC on Hudson Street, by the Harborside and overlooking the gorgeous Manhattan skyline. Andino also parlayed his reality TV fame and opened Flip Sigi in the West Village and followed it up by opening a branch in the Upper East Side last year. A few blocks down from Andino’s Filipino taqueria is neil Syham’s Lumpia Shack Snackbar on Greenwich Ave. which he opened years after selling lumpia at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. He was also in food news recently when New York Times wrote about his new venture in Flushing called Ok Lah, a partnership with fellow Smorgasburg chef Carson Yiu. The dishes change daily, it could be chicken inasal and Hainanese chicken today and sinigang and a version of the Indonesian rendang the following day. That there is way more to Filipino cuisine than just lumpia and adobo or Filipino Cuisine 101 is another thing that the New York Times article pointed out. These are just the basic introduction to Filipino food and both just barely scratched the surface. now that we have the attention, it’s time to bring out more
from the arsenal. Sinigang, sisig, paksiw, pinakbet, binagoongan, ginataan, kare-kare, nilaga, sutokil, humba. Are you hungry yet? Let’s go back to the adobo and if we look at it closely, we’d realize that there’s a thousand and one variations of cooking it depending on where one is from. The list is endless. Regional Filipino is where it is at, and it is something that the Filipino Food Movement knows and understands. That is why early this year, chefs from the West Coast (and one from nYC) gathered together to serve regional Filipino dishes at the James Beard House. Chefs from Portland (Carlo Lamagna of Magna), Seattle (Melissa Miranda of Musang), San Francisco (Francis Ang of Pinoy Heritage), Philadelphia (Lou Boquila of Perla) and new York (Miguel Trinidad of Maharlika/ Jeepney) got together to push heretofore unknown and unheard of Filipino dishes such as the Ilocano dinardaraan (dinuguan or blood stew) which many Filipino parents in America would feed their American-born children and call the dish “chocolate meat”. “not many people know how many different cultures are present in the country,” shared Joanne Boston, Co-Director and founding member of the Filipino Food Movement. “Carlo and Francis mentioned it would be awesome to have Regional flavors featured since the Philippines is so diverse.” A genuine Ilocano, Lamagna said he remembers growing up in Detroit where his dad and uncles and aunts would prepare feasts in his uncle’s garage. “They would slaughter a goat and prepare all the dishes with it and it would be one amazing party,” he said, adding that he loves to cook and prepare goat dishes such as kaldereta, kilawin and papaitan. Boston said that the timing is perfect. “now is the time to educate. Let’s tell them why our food has so many faces. Let’s tell them about how some of our native dishes were transformed into the dishes we see today,” she said. “Our food isn’t the same as how it was 100 years, 200 years, 300 years ago. There is a natural evolution with time.” The road to the James Beard Awards Philippine-born Tom Cunanan co-owns Bad Saint with Genevieve Villamora and nick Pimentel. In a Washington City Paper interview, Cunanan said that he was inspired by Maharlika and Jeepney which he visited in 2013 while attending a wedding in new York. Upon his return to DC, he told Villamora that he wanted to open a Filipino restaurant in the nation’s capital. “I saw my generation of Filipinos doing something really
cool in these really rad spaces,” he said. The 24-seater, no-reservation restaurant opened in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC two years later, on September 2015, after a successful crowd-funding campaign via Kickstarter. Bon Appetit declared it as the number two restaurant on its annual America’s Best new Restaurants list for 2016. Born and raised in the Philippines, Margie Manzke spent her early years working in her parents’ restaurant. Inspired by their hard work and perseverance, Margarita decided at a young age to follow in their footsteps and enter the culinary world, studying culinary arts, specifically pastry, at Le Cordon Bleu in London. She also enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America in new York, where she received an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. Chef Margie moved to Los Angeles where she worked in some of the city’s best restaurants, including the original Spago on Sunset Boulevard and Patina on Melrose. It was at Patina that she met her future husband, Walter. In 2001, Margarita left Patina to work with Josiah Citrin at his Michelin two-star restaurant, Melisse, where she quickly rose to the position of Sous Chef. In search of a new challenge, Margarita and Walter The Manzkes moved to Carmel to open a series of successful restaurants including Bouchee, Cantinetta Luca and L’Auberge Carmel. In 2007, Margarita returned to Los Angeles with Walter to reopen Bastide Restaurant, where she served as Pastry Chef. From there, she worked with the team at Church & State before finally returning to the kitchen and the pastry department at Bottega Louie. In the summer of 2012, along with her sister and husband Walter, she opened Wildflour bakery and café in Bonifacio Global City, a recently reinvigorated section of Manila. Since opening, the trio has received rave reviews for the classic cuisine and whimsical offerings. In 2013, the Manzkes opened a second location of Wildflour in Manila. Last year, they opened Sari Sari Store in downtown Los Angeles. Margie Lorenzana-Manzke says the inspiration behind the restaurant is a simple one: “The idea was that I could cook the food that I want, the food that I grew up on, and could introduce Filipino food to other people.” Like many, she laments that in Los Angeles Filipino food is “not known” and “not popular,” and that people “have no clue what it is.” But she thinks her rice bowls are a great place to start: “This is just a small part of Filipino cuisine but an approachable one, and a good introduction.”
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Fil-Am chef Barb Batiste turns to... From Page 2
now — is that I’ve always cooked and baked. B Sweet started off with the chocolate chip banana bread and Big Boi just started out with whatever it is that my mom taught me to make, the lumpia and chicken adobo.” With Big Boi, it’s her turn to show the more savory side of the cuisine. “It was always in my heart and mind to do something with Filipino food,” Batiste said. “What’s nice is that it’s about time Filipino food has become a bit more mainstream than it has been. There is a lot of Filipino fusion going around, which I have respect for, but it isn’t what I do. I lean toward the traditional, classic foods that I grew up with.” The restaurant pays tribute to her late father, Angel, whose nickname was “Boi.” She added, “In the Philippines, everyone has a Tito or Lolo Boy, whatever it is. I thought it was appropriate — he was a big guy.” Beyond the name itself, how Batiste crafted the menu takes into consideration her father’s favorite dishes but are “slightly healthier and leaner, without sacrificing the flavor.” She calls her menu “Filipino 101” as an introduction to the cuisine for non-Filipinos, as well as classics that Filipinos can find comfort in. “People come in and say, ‘I’ve never had Filipino food. I don’t know what it’s like.’ It’s so hard to describe because it’s such a diverse cuisine. If you’ve never had it before, my staff and I tell customers to try the chicken adobo, garlic rice, and pancit and you’ll love it,” she said. Big Boi’s menu features “Bigz” (two items for $15) and “Smallz” (one item for $8) combo
meals with the choices of chicken adobo, pork sisig, longanisa, pork tocino, BBQ skewers, canned meat (housemade Spam), or seasonal veggies. There are a la carte options such as lumpia shanghai, pancit bihon, sinigang (using daikon radish instead of gabi), and pan de sal with ube butter. The portions are generous enough to be spread out into two meals or good for sharing. “You can change the cuts of meats and [use] the less fatty meats but Filipino food has a little bit of that fatness in it — that’s what makes it so delicious. I didn’t want to take that way. I wanted to make sure that those flavors that my mom, lola, and aunts cooked are still in there with not having the 10 inches of fat,” she described. Batiste rolls out monthly specials to test and gauge the response to more complex dishes. This month of March has lumpiang sariwa with shrimp; past specials have been lechon kawali (but roasted, not deep fried) and mechado. Chicaron is available on weekends, while silog (add a fried egg) is an option on Sundays. “I wouldn’t call the menu items basic. Maybe to someone else, they may think ‘When is the dinuguan coming? Or the kare kare?’ The dishes with more complicated flavors that I’d love for people to try are coming and so we’ll see how that goes,” she said. Being the only Filipino food establishment in West LA, Batiste and her team have been surprised by the reception not only from other cultures, but also Filipino Americans who have tried the food. “The street really needed it. I think it was certainly something that was different from any of the
Big Boi sits on Sawtelle Boulevard and is the only Filipino restaurant in the area.
Fil-Am owned café pushes...
From Page 2 and hospitality asset that were instilled in us growing up into our business,” Malone said. As for her lessons learned, it’s the hard work and grit to run a business, as well as the benefits it brings to the local and greater economy.
“Mostra was inspired and born from philanthropy work. We intended to give back and help people, so we did something that came from a true and honest, unselfish place. Beyond just creating opportunities for the Filipino people in the Philippines, we wanted to help create opportunities for our own families. We wanted to create opportunities in our local community like creating jobs. When the intentions are true and good and you are passionate and fulfilled with what you do, then working every day is exciting,” she said. To follow Mostra’s latest creations and collaborations — including a current one with Fil-Am-owned Baked Dessert Bar — catch them on Instagram at @mostracoffee or www.mosOne of Mostra’s drinks con panna Photo by Vincent Oliver tracoffee.com.
Mostra’s retail shelf and bar
Photo by Brandon Joseph
Managing Ex-Battalion a ‘first... From Page 3 Manio who is not quite out of rehab but is said to be eager to return to showbiz.) During last Sunday’s presscon, Ai-Ai choked with emotion and shed a little tear when the boys praised her. She’s ExBattalion’s first manager and she promised to sort out the boys’ schedule and, yes, their earnings. “I advised them to be professional, to be punctual and to say ‘Good morning or good afternoon,’ or po and opo to senior stars,” said their Nanay Ai-
Ai. “I remind them to be punctual. Those who are single, not to let love get in the way of their career.” (A member is “committed” and has a newborn child.) Incidentally, AiSarap has been attracting dozens of clients so Ai-Ai and Gerald are opening more outlets soon. AiSarap serves delicious fast food (mostly Chinese-inspired that the movie writers loved so much, insatiably finishing platefuls). “I want to create a Food Kingdom,” said Ai-Ai.
restaurants here. It draws people. There’s our Filipino community, which is larger than I thought on the Westside, who are really excited about this place,” Batiste continued. “We want to open that up and share not just the food, but the pride that we take in our culture and heritage. The Filipino people are proud people and it makes me proud to be able to share that here on this side of town.” Spirit of ‘salamat’ To her, one of the indicators that Big Boi is doing something right is when Filipinos come in and say it smells like their lola or mom’s house. “Then I know I’ve done my job because that’s the smell that I remember,” Batiste said. “To this day, my mom is 83 now and while she doesn’t cook as often anymore, when I go into the house, that’s what I smell. I wanted to create the space here on the Westside, not only to introduce people to our culture and our food, but also to create a space that felt like home. It’s small and quaint, it certainly doesn’t scream Filipino. It has my personal touch to things,” she added. Upon entering Big Boi, the decor is similar to B Sweet with a modern, wooden aesthetic; it doesn’t look like the typical Filipino fast food, turo turo joint. But there are elements that bring in touches of Filipino culture — from the oversized spoon and fork wall ornaments to frames with handwritten Tagalog phrases (like mahal kita and kaibigan, among others).
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 21, 2018
Tagalog phrases are shown on the walls of Big Boi.
There’s a particular element that stands out at Big Boi beyond the food and it’s the expression of ‘salamat’ (thank you), which can be seen on the wall, by the cashier, and inside all of the takeout containers. “I always grew up and was taught to always be grateful and thankful for the things that you have, the people in your life, the food on your table, the food you serve and the food you cook. So ‘salamat’ to me is more than just a word. We teach everyone who’s not Filipino that it means ‘thank you,’ but I feel like there is so much more about that word for me personally,” Batiste reflected, showing appreciation for her craft, family, team and customers. Customer service and taking care of those who patron and work with her are the “core of my success,” she said. “None of it could be possible without people who support you, your custom-
AJPress photos by Noel Ty
ers, your clients that I’ve had for almost nine years. How can I not be thankful?” Batiste said one piece of advice her father left her with is to “do what you love” and that has guided how she has run her businesses over the years. “It’s never about the money and it never has been for me. It’s always been about the passion, putting it out there and having people know about it. That is the best way to support this movement that is now so apparent. If you are the chef or the owner of a business, to never forget that. To me, that’s success,” she said. “Of course, we all have bills to pay. You have payroll, rent, and all these things. But in spite of that, I wake up every day and I can’t wait to go and cook the food and think of more recipes and what the next monthly special is going to be.” What’s next for Batiste and
her two shops? She exclaimed, “another one, sooner than later!” Perhaps in another side of town. “It’s been an amazing journey in such a short time. I always thought, ‘I’m going to make this food, share it and really hope in my heart that I did it right and that people would love it.’ But I never imagined how much love and support I’ve gotten and the comments that we get are heartwarming. It’s been a lot to take in because again, we go back to the word ‘salamat’ and I’ve been so grateful,” she said. [Editor’s Note: Both Big Boi and B Sweet Dessert Bar are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but are open other days from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. (until 8 p.m. on Sundays) to catch the lunch rush and all-day weekend crowds. Customers who dine at Big Boi can show their receipt at B Sweet for a discount.]
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 21, 2018