MARCH 30-APRIL 2, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 24 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa released on bail after arrest at NAIA Palace: Cases have “nothing to do with freedom of expression or the press”
warrant as she set foot in the Philippines from her trip to San Francisco, California. The VETERAN journalist and Rap- arrest warrant was issued by pler Chief Executive Officer the Pasig Regional Trial Court (CEO) Maria Ressa posted bail Branch 265 dated March 28. “To any officer of the law, you on Friday, March 29 after being arrested upon her arrival at are hereby commanded to arNinoy Aquino International Air- rest the person Maria Angelita Ressa who is to be found at (adport (NAIA). The Pasig City police wel- dress redacted) or elsewhere comed Ressa with an arrest and who stand charged before by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
DATELINE
me of the crime of violation of Section 2-A of Commonwealth Act No. 108 or the Anti-Dummy Law,” the arrest warrant penned by Judge Acerey Pacheco stated. However, she was able to secure bail amounting to P90,000 before the Pasig RTC in exchange for her provisional lib- ARRESTED. A police officer escorts Rappler chief executive officer, Maria Ressa (middle), at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon erty. Ressa said that this was her arrival from the U.S. on Friday, March 29. Ressa was ordered arrested by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 265 on charges of u PAGE A2 violation of the Anti-Dummy Law. Photo courtesy of the NAIA Media Affairs Division
Duterte’s birthday wish: ‘Progress, prosperity for PH’
USA
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Democratic and Republican parties lay down strategies for reaching AAPIs ahead of 2020 ASIAN American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) continue to be the fastest-growing minority group in the U.S., and when it comes to public policy and politics, this growth has also been increasingly reflected in the electorate. Just in the last decade, the number of AAPI voters nearly doubled from about 2.4 million registered voters in 2000 to about 5.8 million in 2016 — about 3.7 percent of the total voting population, according to the 2018 Asian American Voter Survey conducted by APIAVote and AAPI Data. u PAGE A3
Family Court Judge Cheryl Moss
Inquirer.net photo
Fil-Am Las Vegas judge heads city’s first-ever gambling court
WITH the image of Las Vegas comes those of blackjack tables, slot machines, and colored poker chips with the accompanying image big cash wins and prizes. But less thrown in the spotlight is the side of gambling where the games can get taken too far to the point of addiction. That’s where Filipina-American Family Court Judge Cheryl Nora Moss comes in. Moss—who was elected to the District Court, Family Division in 2000 after starting her legal career serving as a law clerk in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and as an intern in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the capital among others — created a new speu PAGE A4
President Rodrigo Duterte
Malacañang photo
FOR President Rodrigo Duterte’s 74th birthday, his only wish is a more “prosperous and progressive” Philippines. “My wish is that we will just continue to progress and prosper, hindi tayo masali dyan sa mga gulo-gulo ng ibang bayan (we won’t be involved in the troubles of other nations),” he said before blowing out the candle on
his Philippine flag-themed birthday cake during his dinner with the Presidential Security Group at Matina Enclaves in Davao City on Wednesday night, March 27. Duterte said that on his actual birthday, he would just be “sleeping all day” at home. He has previously said he will be unavailable on his natal day, but will welcome his children and grandchildren. “I wish you all happiness,” he told his well-wishers who pre-
sented the specially customized cake to him. According to The Philippine Star, Duterte has never thrown lavish parties to celebrate his birthday, even when he was Davao City’s mayor. Usually, he makes himself unavailable every March 28 — which is why he has shunned any activity at Malacañang or anywhere in Luzon and the Visayas for his birthday this year. u PAGE A2
Facebook removes 200 fake, ‘misleading’ pages, accounts based in the Philippines FACEBOOK took down 200 pages, groups and accounts for using “coordinated inauthentic behavior” to spread content across the social media network. In a blog post, Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook head of cybersecurity policy, said 67 Facebook pages, 68 Facebook accounts, 40 groups and 25 Instagram accounts were taken down for “misleading others about who they were and what they were
doing.” Gleicher said Facebook is “constantly working to detect and stop this type of activity because we don’t want our services to be used to manipulate people.” “We’re taking down these Pages and accounts based on their behavior, not the content they posted,” he clarified. “In this case, the people behind this activity coordinated with one another and used fake accounts
to misrepresent themselves, and that was the basis for our action.” The pages that have been taken down were a combination of authentic and fake accounts. “They frequently posted about local and political news, including topics like the upcoming elections, candidate updates and views, alleged misconduct of political opponents, and controversial events that were puru PAGE A5
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson
Senate photo by Joseph Vidal
Senator likens PH PH defense chief in US to discuss defense to ‘wild, wild west’ by NATHALIE
treaty with American counterpart by JAIME LAUDE Philstar.com
PHILIPPINE Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, now in the United States for a United Nations conference, is set to discuss the 1951 U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with his American counterpart. Lorenzana, who is pushing a review of the decades-old defense treaty, said the matter would definitely be on the table in his meeting with acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan in Washington next week. He did not reveal the exact date of the meeting or other possible agenda items. “Yes,” was Lorenzana’s reply when asked Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana met with UN Secretary if he intends to discuss with Shanahan his General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters in New York
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on Wednesday, March 27.
ROBLES
AJPress
Photo courtesy of DND
PHILIPPINE Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday, March 27, called for a stricter firearm regulation policy as he compared the country’s crime condition to that of 19th century America’s “Wild, Wild West.” “Dapat sa 18th Congress, palagay ko, pagtuunan ng pansin [ang gun control] kasi talagang halos araw-araw na ‘pag nakakapanood ka ng news, parang wild, wild west na ang ating bansa (The 18th Congress should focus on gun control because when you watch the news every day, it seems that our country has become like the wild, wild west),” Lacson said as reported by ABSCBN News. The senator, who used to be a chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that people must change the mindset wherein firearms within the line of sight were considered acceptable. According to Lacson, alienating the notion of guns would reduce crimes committed using such.
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A march 30-april 2, 2019 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal
Duterte’s birthday wish: ‘Progress... PAGE A1 t Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo wished Duterte to be given longer life and better health by the Almighty. “As Mayor Duterte celebrates his 74th birthday, we pray the Almighty to continue giving him a sound mind and a healthy body, that he may finish the goals he had set for the betterment of the country and people that he loved
so well towards a future of progress and prosperity,” he said on Wednesday night. Panelo also said that the Philippines is “certainly blessed and privileged to have someone as dedicated as President Duterte as the captain of our ship, steering our flag carrier safely to a land he vowed to be free from drugs and crimes, where each Filipino will enjoy a comfortable life.”
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, meanwhile, in a text message said: “Destiny designed your name: Rodrigo Roa Duterte, 74 years ago on this day, to lead that we may follow, and to follow that we may live, your noble cause within our lives. Happy Birthday, President Duterte!” According to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the country is blessed to have Duterte as its president who he dubbed as “one of the most intense and focused persons in government.” “On behalf of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, I would like to greet the President a very Happy 74th Birthday. We are truly blessed to have Mayor Rody as President. I’ve always known him to be one of the most intense and focused persons in government; his passion tempered by a soft heart for the ordinary Filipino. His style of leadership is very much defined by his own strong personality, which we have witnessed countless times in Davao City and beyond. This is the type of leadership we need as a country now,” he said. ‘Take a break’ Paolo Duterte, presidential son and former Davao City vice mayor, told Duterte to “take a break. We’ll take care of your detractors.” In a Facebook post that served as a birthday greeting, he said, “Happy birthday, Pa! Kahit gaano ka pa ka-busy sa trabaho, minsan wala ka ng tulog, pero naghahanap ka pa rin ng oras para sa amin. Maraming salamat, Pa! Nandito lang kami para sumuporta sa iyo (Despite how busy you are with work, and sometimes don’t even sleep, you still manage to find the time for us. Thank you so much, Dad! We’re here to support you). “Pahinga ka rin paminsan minsan, hayaan mo muna ang mga taong nagkukunwaring brightbright dyan, si Inday na ang bahala sa kanila! Hehehe at yung mga baliw/buang dyan ako na ang bahala sa kanila! (Get some rest once in a while, let the people who pretend they are bright be, [Inday] will take care of it! And I’ll take care of the crazy ones),” he continued. Paolo Duterte also wished him good health so he can better serve the country and its countrymen. n
BUDGET IMPASSE IS OVER. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III signs the P3.767 trillion national budget for 2019 “with strong reservations,” paving the way for the transmittal of the enrolled bill to Malacañang. Accompanying Sotto are Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senator Panfilo Lacson and Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri. In his letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, Sotto sought for the disapproval of P75 billion in realignments made by the House of Representatives after the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the measure. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa...
PAGE A1 t her seventh time to post bail as she faced 11 complaints and charges overall in a span of a year and three months. “Sad day for me. Apparently, the Philippine government isn’t satisfied with arresting just me…They’re not criminals, neither am I. The fact that the government tries to label us as criminals is in itself criminal. This is the weaponization of the law,” she told reporters on Friday. Ressa’s co-defendants, managing editor Glenda Gloria and five members of the company’s 2016 board — Felicia Atienza, Manuel Ayala, James Bitanga, Nico Jose Nolledo and James Velasquez — paid their bails worth the same amount on Wednesday, March 27 before the arrest warrant was served. All of them have not posted bail for the Securities and Regulations Code violation amounting to P126,000 per accused. The bail amount for the antidummy and SEC violation charges for Ressa and other members of Rappler’s board brings the amount to P1.512 million. “Rappler is not the first news
organization that the president has attacked. He’s called us name. A week after President Trump in the United States called the New York Times and CNN ‘fake news,” President Duterte called Rappler ‘fake news.’ This is obviously not just a Filipino problem, it’s a global problem,” Ressa said Friday. “I think one of the things we need to step up and admit is that the press in this country is under attack.” She added that she and Rappler will not “take the threats sitting down.” “We’re actually going to believe in the rule of law, even though I’ve seen in the number of cases filed and the number of arrest warrants that have been issued that the rule of law has been weaponized,” she said. “I’m hoping the [judges] are guided by the spirit of the law and protect our democracy.” Palace: All are equal before the law Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Ressa should not consider the charges filed against her as the administration’s move to intimidate the critical media. He further noted that the cases have “nothing to
do with freedom of expression or the press.” “She is complaining again that she is being arrested. All are equal before the law. She wants to be treated differently. That cannot be done. She cannot be complaining that this is a violation of press freedom,” the palace spokesman said. “All warrants of arrest issued by competent courts are to be served the way it was served to her this morning. Warrants of arrest are not issued unless the courts determine there is a probable cause which means the due process has been observed,” Panelo added. In February, Ressa — who was named 2018 Time Person of the Year — was arrested and released on bail on suspicion of “cyber libel” by the Philippine Department of Justice. The charges for that stemed from a story published to Rappler involving businessman Wilfredo Keng from May 2012, months before the Philippines adopted a cybercrime prevention law. In 2014, Keng claimed that the piece linked him to human and drug trafficking, which prompted the paper to update PAGE A4
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Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke to AAPIs in Las Vegas: ‘I’m listening’ by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
CALAEX GROUNDBREAKING. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar (left) and Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla (3rd left), lead the groundbreaking of the CALAEX Cavite Segment at the MPT South Headquarters Ground, Barangay Alapan II-B in Imus, Cavite on Wednesday, March 27. The Cavite Segment starts from Kawit and will traverse the Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Dasmarinas, Aguinaldo Highway, and Silang town. This will connect to the Laguna Segment of Sta. Rosa exiting to Mamplasan, Binan, Laguna towards SLEX. Upon completion, CALAEX will cut travel time from 2.5 hours to under 45 minutes and help decongest the stretch by approximately 50,000 cars. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Democratic and Republican parties lay down... PAGE A1 t Citing a report from the Center for American Progress and AAPI Data, Asian Americans are estimated to reach 5 percent of voters nationally by 2025 and 10 percent by 2044. It added that eight states have already reached these percentages with 5 percent or more of the AAPIs being of the citizen voting age population. In California and Hawaii, over 10 percent are of the citizen voting age population. The same increasing trends can be found when looking at counties and congressional districts. The survey added that since 2012, the number of AAPI-serving organizations getting involved in National Voter Registration Day has increased to over 317 from 154. “Continued population growth, coupled with increased voter registration and voter engagement efforts, have spurred AAPI serving organizations to participate in primary and special elections,” said the survey report. “With the opportunity to claim a greater portion of the vote share in lower turnout elections, AAPI community organizations dedicated additional resources to register and educate voters about the importance of voting in a primary election.” Asked to rate the favorability of Republican and Democratic parties, AAPI respondents to the 2018 survey held a net unfavorable view of the Republican Party, with 34 percent viewing it
favorably and 52 percent viewing unfavorably. For the Democratic Party, the respondents held a larger net favorable rating, with 58 percent viewing the party favorably and 28 percent unfavorably. This was a stark contrast from the party’s net negative rating among the general American public of 52 percent viewing the party unfavorably. Looking closer at the AAPI subgroups, percentage distributions were mostly similar. Among Democratic Party percentages, all AAPI subgroups had higher percentages viewing the party favorably than unfavorably. But among Republican Party percentages, Filipino and Vietnamese groups differed from the other AAPI groups in having higher percentages being in favor of the party. Among Filipinos, 48 percent viewed the party favorably compared to 44 percent who viewed it unfavorably. Among the Vietnamese, 48 percent also viewed the party favorably compared to 38 percent unfavorably. But yet, the AAPI community still makes up only a fragment of the nation’s registered voters. According to the survey, a relatively high portion of AAPI registered voters did not identify with either party: 38 percent were described as non-identifiers, 30 percent as Independent, two percent as not knowing, and six percent reporting not thinking of themselves in “terms of political parties.”
Given the statistics, it’s no surprise that Democrats and Republicans are looking to get AAPI voters on board with their party platforms. Efforts to reach AAPI communities As presidential candidates head off in the campaign trail, both the Republican and Democratic parties have been laying out strategies for reaching the greater AAPI communities. For both parties, that means not only community outreach, but engagement. This is seen as critical given the potential margins of victory, especially in Midwest states. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), who serves as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair, said that many AAPIs live in states like Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania where the total number of AAPI voters outnumber the margin of victory in those states. “They have such an outsize opportunity to determine who wins in 2020,” Meng told the Asian Journal in an email. Miki Carver, Asian Pacific American press secretary for the Republican National Committee (RNC), said that GOP efforts have included focusing on building off the foundations established over the last two cycles that proved successful in the last presidential race. In the last cycle, the RNC traveled across the U.S. to host PAGE A4
LAS VEGAS — There are 331 days until the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22, 2020 and 586 days until the November presidential election. With Nevada as a swing state, Democratic presidential hopefuls are starting to campaign here, particularly in the Las Vegas area. In recent weeks, Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro have made stops to meet with local leaders and community groups. The latest visit over the weekend came from former Congressman and Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) who packed in five events in two days, including a meet-and-greet with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth and select leaders like state Assemblywoman Rochelle Nguyen, Clark County Planning Commissioner Duy Nguyen, and One APIA Nevada chair Evan Louie on Sunday, March 24. AAPIs are estimated to account for 10 percent of Nevada’s electorate and have shown to be a key swing vote in major races in recent years. O’Rourke spoke on a range of topics, such as climate change, public education funding, student loan debt and gun control. He was met with several questions from the audience, including one from a Filipino-American high school senior named Xavier, who asked how the candidate would ensure Fil-Am voices are heard given that
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) speaks at District One in Las Vegas’ Chinatown on Sunday, March 24. AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal
they are the fastest-growing minority in the state. “There’s a reason that in our first full day in the state of Nevada, running for the presidency on the 10th day of this campaign, I’m listening to you and taking your question,” O’Rourke said. “I would ask in the spirit of your question that you help me and guide us to make sure that we deliver for you, for others in the AAPI community, other Filipino Americans in Las Vegas and [those] who are in Nevada and are throughout this country. I have no hope of understanding things from your perspective unless we first have that conversation. Tell me what our needs are.” O’Rourke started his speech by saying that his run for the presidency comes at a “defining moment.” “I come at a time of historic division and polarization and hyperpartisanship in this country,”
Beto O’Rourke meets chef Khai Vu, owner of District One restaurant in Chinatown and Clark County Planning Commissioner Duy Nguyen.
O’Rourke told attendees gathered at District One in Chinatown. “I’m running in a way, not to divide or denigrate or demean anybody... I couldn’t care less...who you voted for last time for president, whether you can vote at all because of your age or criminal conviction or your immigration status. The fact that you are my fellow American and human being is all that counts and matters now at this moment.” On the student loan debt crisis — which hit $1.5 trillion last year — he suggested free community college and debt forgiveness in exchange for public service. “Student loan debt is the one kind of debt that you will never shake until you pay it off or until you’re in the grave. Literally, you’ll be paying that for the rest of your life until it’s settled,” he said.“I think the first step is to stop digging the hole to ensure that community college is free for all Americans — that we ease the transition into apprenticeships, working with a union, learning a trade or a skill for in demand, high wage, high value, unfilled jobs that we have all over this country today.” President Donald Trump earlier this month released a 10-point proposal to reform the Higher Education Act, which includes a limit to student loan borrowing and eliminating public service loan forgiveness and instead extend loan forgiveness to all students pursuing any career. “I want to make sure that if you have student loan debt right now, that we work with you to forgive that debt, you’re going to dedicate some part of your life to public service,” O’Rourke added. He called for investing in public PAGE A5
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Fil-Am Las Vegas judge heads city’s first...
PAGE A1 t cialty court that has become the first in Nevada and the second in the whole United States to deal solely with gambling. Second only to the gambling court in Amherst, New York, the Las Vegas court is modeled after the specialty courts in Clark County, such as mental health court, veterans court, and drug court. “I am very proud to be the first judge and probably the only judge with as much training as I had,� Moss told the Filipino Channel’s “Balitang America.� Appointed by Chief Judge Linda Bell to direct the new specialty court, Moss started the Gambling Treatment Diversion Court in Nevada to provide an alternative option for those whose charges stem from gambling. The Court was established after a statute was amended to allow eligible defendants to enter a treatment program instead of prison. Despite Gov. Jim Gibbons signing the bill in 2009, it took nearly a decade for the program to finally get going. To actually get into the program, a defendant must plead guilty to a crime and that the
crime came as a result or in furtherance of gambling. The program is also limited to those who haven’t been convicted of a violent crime against a person or child, or of a sexual offense. The alternative program can last up to three years in which defendants are required to show up to Court every other Friday, but Moss said it’s their goal to have those in the program graduate in a year to 18 months, depending on how much is owed to the victim. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 15 percent of Americans gamble at least once a week. Approximately two million U.S. adults are said to meet all the criteria for pathological gambling, and four to six million are said to meet at least one of the criteria. For Moss, the benefits of the court serve both the system and the individual in that it not only gives the offender an opportunity of rehabilitation, it also saves the system from spending more money than it should. She added that it costs $24,000 a year for just one person to be kept in prison. “But if we rehabilitate them,
address the gambling addiction so they can be in the recovery, got out and get a job, stay away from casinos—no more gambling,� said Moss. Adding to the rehabilitation benefit, Moss emphasized that recovery also meant making sure the number of repeat offenses goes down. “They have no concept. They just need to feel to gamble. They need to get that rush, the adrenaline, so they need to keep getting money to fuel their addiction. They don’t know how much they gamble,� Moss told Balitang America. “They don’t understand how much it all adds up and go deeper in debt. And you know when rock bottom hits when you get arrested and end up in a criminal court and get charged with a felony, not paying casino markers, bad checks, embezzlement, stealing from your boss.� Moss added, “That’s the purpose of this court, to at least pay back the restitution to the victim. Get people the help. We want them to become a productive member of the society.� (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress with reports from Bev Llorente, Balitang America)�
FOR MARAWI REHAB. The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday, March 27, acquired new engineering equipment, which will be used for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City and nearby areas. The military received 248 units of engineering equipment worth P1.5 billion, which was part of a government-to-government deal with China. Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos
US lawyer to aid PH victims of sexual abuse case vs American priest by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
UNITED States-based lawyer McDonald Worley recently arrived in Biliran, Eastern Visayas to interview nine of the alleged victims of American priest Rev. Kenneth Hendricks, who is now detained in Quezon City jail over charges of sexual abuse. The Houston-based lawyer clarified that he was not involved with the criminal side of the case filed against the 77-year-old priest. Worley emphasized that he is after the civil aspect, which focuses on the compensation received by the alleged victims. “I have nothing to do with the criminal aspect of the case. I just handle the civil side. So it’s basically money that has to be paid to the victims,� Worley said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. “A fund to compensate sexual abuse victims by Hendricks is being set up by the U.S. Catholic Church. I am here to gather information and the jury will have to decide on the amount,� Worley earlier added as reported by the Philippine News Agency. Worley explained that the alleged victims were seven and 12 years old when the abused happened. He also narrated the confessions of the young victims
who are now in their early 20s. “He would then lure them to his apartment where he would gradually progress from spending time with the boys to fondling them,� the American lawyer stated as reported by The Manila Standard. “It’s basically testimony as evidence. It’s all testimony. It’s really brave for them to say ‘hey, this happened to me’ and I will say something and do something about it so this will not happen again to somebody else,� Worley added. He said the Church could be held liable for the actions of Hendricks since they were aware of his misconduct but failed to put a stop to it. “That’s part of the investigation. There is a system failure. They need to have policies and procedures in place so this will not happen. They know something is going on and they do nothing about it. They did not stop it,� Worley said. He also explained that there will be people who will not believe that a member — let alone a leader — of a religious organization would be capable of such abuse. “There will always be people who don’t believe something bad will be done by a religious person, or by persons in author-
ity. You don’t think bad about them because it didn’t happen to you. But if 50 people said, ‘It happened to me,’ that’s another story,� the lawyer added. He also urged those victims who haven’t come forward to break their silence and report the crime committed against them. “I know, It’s very embarrassing to come forward and say, ‘This happened to me.’ That’s why you should be brave to come forward and say, ‘This happened to me, too’� the lawyer said. “I would like them to come forward so this [sexual abuse] will stop. It’s hard and embarrassing, but if you keep quiet, this keeps going on because no one is saying it,� he added. Hendricks is charged with acts of lasciviousness and child abuse and would face federal cases in the United States for engaging in illicit sexual acts in the Philippines. He was also charged in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio with illegal sexual misconduct in a foreign place. He was arrested in St. Isidore the Worker Chapel in December 2018 by U.S. Homeland Security, Philippine Bureau of Immigration, and local police. He served as a missionary priest since 1988 in Naval, Biliran where he was accused of molesting altar boys. n
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the article that same year. Groups support Rappler and Ressa The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said that Rappler “has clearly become the whipping boy of the Duterte administration as it seeks to silence and intimidate the independent and critical press.� “This intolerant and vindictive government’s ham-fisted efforts to humiliate Rappler and its officers and personnel have succeeded only in humiliating itself in the eyes of the world and everyone who values freedom and democracy,� it added. Human Rights Watch Asia Division Researcher Carlos Conde said that “the administration has shown a relentlessness in
its persecution of government critics unseen since the time of the Marcos dictatorship.� “This case against Ressa and members of her board is unprecedented and speaks volumes of the Duterte administration’s determination to shut the website down for its credible and consistent reporting on the government, particularly the ‘drug war,� Conde added. Daniel Bastard, the head of Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s Asia-Pacific desk, said the “judicial harassment of Rappler by various government agencies is bordering on the absurd. “In all, the website and its journalists are currently the targets of proceedings in at least 11 cases, each as spurious as the other. Against the
government’s manipulation of the judicial system with the aim of silencing troublesome media outlets, Rappler stands as pillar of democracy to be defended at all cost,� Bastard said. The online news platform, Rappler issued a statement regarding the recent turn of events. According to them: “this pattern of harassment against Rappler that started in January 2018, when the SEC issued an order revoking its license has not stopped.� “Issuing arrest warrants against them and the journalists (has) a chilling effect on the freedom of speech, on business and innovation. Instead of encouraging business and media to pursue innovation, the government is stifling such initiatives,� it added. n
Democratic and Republican parties lay down... PAGE A3 t
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trainings with AAPI leaders and volunteers through their flagship program called the Republican Leadership Initiative. The party sees growth in the leadership program as better positioning them for 2020. So far, the RNC has either hosted events or plans to host events in states including Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington D.C., New York, Florida, Michigan, and Texas. The RNC has also held multiple roundtables in states to provide an opportunity for communities to be informed on President Donald Trump’s policies. “We have placed a premium on building relationships and having a presence in every community and neighborhood across the country,� Carver told the Asian Journal in an email. “We made big inroads in the midterm cycle, and now with that permanent infrastructure in place — combined with the positive results of the Trump administration — we are primed to build on this success in 2020,� added Carver. As for the Democratic Party, the DNC announced its Organizing Corp 2020 program, which will recruit young college students in their junior and senior years to organize communities in key battleground states including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin where the DNC recently an-
nounced it would host its Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. “I’m excited about Milwaukee because Milwaukee gives us the best opportunity to talk about so many values as the Democratic Party,� DNC Chairman Tom Perez told the Asian Journal, adding as an example how Milwaukee’s history of unions aligns with the Democratic Party’s union movement. Perez said that while the party fell short in the 2016 presidential cycle particularly in the Midwest, the party wants to make sure that the upcoming election yields better results. Meng said that efforts include eliminating barriers that prevent AAPIs from voting. “In states like Georgia and Texas, AAPIs are being prevented and discouraged from voting because of onerous requirements like exact-match registration and English only ballots,� said Meng. Perez highlighted how the AAPI community played a critical role in the success of Democrats and a number of key races across the U.S. in the 2018 midterm elections. “We have worked hard to organize in the AAPI community and we work hard to make sure that our values and priorities reflect the values and priorities of the community,� said Perez. “That’s been a real key to our success and we are going to continue that.�
2020 candidates Currently, the number of Democrats who have made their presidential runs official far outweigh that of the GOP, which has Trump vying for re-election. While a few Republicans, such as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Ohio Gov. John Kasich have hinted to possibly running, only former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld has thrown his hat in the ring. Many Republicans, including Jevon O.A. Williams, RNC committeeman for the Virgin Islands, have expressed wanting to protect Trump from running opposed in the Republican Party, reported the Washington Examiner. But in the Democratic Party, over a dozen Democratic leaders have officially announced their run, with a few more leaders including former Vice President Joe Biden potentially joining in the race. In light of the large pool of candidates, Perez said that what unites the party far exceeds their differences. “I think we understand that we must never confuse unity and unanimity,� said Perez. He said that despite the possible differences in addressing key party issues, all Democratic candidates share the core views of securing universal health care, where AAPIs remain uninsured or underinsured, and combating climate change for example. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 30-ApRIL 2, 2019 A
Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke to AAPIs...
MANILA BAY REHAB. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continues its rehabilitation of Manila Bay by using amphibious and dredging equipment. DPWH personnel desilt portions of Manila Bay between the U.S. Embassy and Manila Yacht Club on Friday, March 29. PNA photos by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
Facebook removes 200 fake, ‘misleading’... PAGE A1 t ported to occur during previous administrations,” Gleicher said. “We identified these accounts and Pages through an ongoing internal investigation into Philippines-linked coordinated inauthentic behavior. Our assessment benefited from open source reporting. We have shared relevant information with policymakers and industry partners,” he also said. ‘Disinformation hierarchy’ Scholars from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Leeds found in a report released in 2018 that a socalled disinformation heirarchy has PR and advertising executives at the top. According to “Architects of Networked Disinformation: Behind the Scenes of Troll Accounts and Fake News Production in the Philippines” co-authored by Jonathan Corpus Ong, associate professor of communication at UMass Amherst in the U.S., and Jason Cabañes, lecturer in international communication at the University of Leeds in the UK, those chief architects work closely with anonymous digital influencers with followers ranging from 50,000 to 2,000,000 and community-level fake accounts operators who manually operate fake profiles to infiltrate community groups and news pages. Their main responsibility is to generate and inspire support through online engagement.
“To achieve this, they recruit a team of anonymous digital influencers and fake account operators to seed core campaign messages in online spaces and create ‘illusions of engagement’ to inspire enthusiasm from real supporters,” Ong and Cabañes said. $59,000 spent for ads Gleicher said in his post on the Facebook Newsroom that “although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that this activity was linked to a network organized by Nic Gabunada.” Adobo Magazine, which focuses on the advertising industry, described Gabunada in 2016 as “former CEO of Omnicom Media Group Philippines and former senior vice president at ABS-CBN” and the man behind Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s successful social media campaign. “Having digital natives running the show, grasping the social media culture didn’t come as a challenge, there was no need to translate campaign messages into digital creatives and copies. Each social media team from esch different area holds their own, creating their own memes and crafting their own copies and posts,” he said in a feature in Adobo. He also said that “bots were not used; the effort centered on volunteers.” Gelicher said around 3.6 million accounts followed at least
Senator likens PH to ‘wild... PAGE A1 t
“Dati-rati tayo na nakakakita tayo ng baril sa labas, hindi natin pinapansin. Pero kung maiba ang mindset natin at makakita tayo ng baril, agad-agad na irereport kasi ang presumption natin, masamang-loob ito, palagay ko, mababawasan ang krimen sa paggamit ng baril (We have become used to seeing guns, we no longer pay attention. But if our mindset is different and we would report those carrying guns because we presume them to be outlaws, then crimes using guns would be reduced),” he said. He proposed that “if we see someone in civilian attire and with a firearm, we should instinctively assume the person is up to no good, and report him or her to the nearest police station.” However, he considered the stand of the people who are concerned about their safety and security. He encouraged law enforcement officials to take that as a challenge to prove that they can indeed “serve and protect.” “Some gun owners’ groups have argued they have no choice but to bring their guns outside their houses because the police cannot protect them. This should be a challenge to the PNP, to show they can protect the public,” he said in an interview with dzMM.
Lacson clarified that despite the fact that civilians could be armed provided that they have a license to carry, such liberty should still be monitored due to the danger it could pose to the civilian and the people around him. “Firearms are for self-defense against intruders and should be kept at home. Once one brings it outside his house, chances are the owner’s mindset can change and he or she can use it for offense,” Lacson explained as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. “Presently, when we see persons in civilian attire with firearms bulging from their pants, we just assume they are police or military personnel. It should be the other way around,” Lacson added. The senator cited the recent shooting incidents, including that of a policeman who was gunned down in EDSA on Tuesday, as well as fatal attacks on politicians, journalists, judges and lawyers. “We cannot allow a situation that allows mass shootings like in other countries. Neither can we afford the present situation where the country becomes the Wild, Wild West,” Lacson said as reported by the Manila Bulletin. n
PH defense chief in US to... PAGE A1 t
proposal for a review of the MDT. The Philippine defense chief has long been pushing for a review of the MDT to make it more attuned to the current security environment in the South China Sea. Lorenzana is in New York for the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting on Uniformed, Capabilities, Performance and Protection. He said his meeting with Shanahan was arranged at the last minute. Earlier, a senior U.S. official said there’s no official request from either side to review the defense treaty. But just the same, Patrick Murphy, the U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia (PDAS), said the Philippines and the U.S. have been regularly discussing the treaty. “There is no request from either side to renegotiate the trea-
ty. That said, we have frequent discussions and talks in appropriate channels with appropriate mechanism on a regular basis about the treaty,” Murphy, who was in Hawaii last week, said in a teleconference with foreign and local media. In pushing for a review of the MDT, Lorenzana cited “ambiguities” that may have emboldened China to seize areas within Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea without firing a shot. He said the MDT specifically states the U.S. would come to the defense of the Philippines if the latter is attacked. China has been deploying civilian ships in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea to help its forces undertake island building activities or intimidate Filipino fishermen and coast guard vessels. The Chinese strategy of intimidation without firing a single shot has rendered the MDT ineffective, he said. n
one of the pages taken down, about 1.8 million accounts joined at least one or more of the groups and around 5,300 accounts followed at least one of the Instagram accounts. Gleicher also said around $59,000 (P3,101,630) was spent for advertisements. Last January, Facebook announced it removed 220 Facebook pages, 73 accounts and 29 Instagram pages. It also said it banned Twinmark Media Enterprises and its subsidiaries for repeatedly violating the social media giant’s misrepresentation and spam policies. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/ Philstar.com)
PAGE A3 t educators which would “produce a return far and above the initial cost.” “It’s going to make us a stronger country and it’s going to make this a stronger democracy,” he said. “We’re making better educated, more informed decisions at the ballot box, more of our young people run for office and become our elected leaders.” With nearly 40,000 people who died from guns in the United States last year, O’Rourke said that legislators find “the political will to pass sensible gun legislation like universal background checks or ensuring that no weapon designed, engineered, and sold in the United States military to kill people as great a number as humanly possible is sold into our communities.” He also suggested locker laws that keep children away from adults’ firearms and red flag laws “so that someone is a danger to themselves or someone else in their lives we ensure that we get them help to protect their loved ones and those in the community,” he said. He fielded several questions from the audience, including one about his loss to Texas Senator Ted Cruz last November. With the national attention on that race, O’Rourke seeks to build on that momentum in this presidential field. “Texas is a state that for so long has been written off or taken for granted — too red for Democrats to compete in and too red for Republicans to worry about,” he responded. “Though we did not win, we were able to overcome,
transcend the barriers put in our place that ranked Texas 50th in voter turnout in the nation.” In addition to touching upon the various issues, O’Rourke said he brings a certain authenticity to the race. “You will not see me read prepared statements, you will not see me saying the best or the most tested or the well-written thing that perhaps some others might,” he said. “But you will see me speak from the heart, from my experience and the shared experience of those who share their stories with me, their perspective, their lives to inform this campaign and the service we want to provide.” Earlier on Sunday, Beto drew crowds to Arandas Taquera and a local coffeehouse and met with the Mujeres Network. The night before, he was at a “house party” hosted by a supporter from Summerlin. Prior to Las Vegas, O’Rourke made visits to Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal
New Hampshire and South Carolina since announcing his candidacy on March 14. The former congressman, who served on the El Paso city council prior to that, joins a crowded Democratic field in the 2020 race to the White House in 2020, with Sanders, Gillibrand, Gabbard, Castro, California Senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg among the contenders. O’Rourke, Harris, Warren, Castro and Klobuchar are slated to appear at the National Forum on Wages and Working People in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 27 hosted by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Center for American Progress Action Fund. “We will be back in Nevada many, many times over continuing the conversation, continuing to learn,” O’Rourke told supporters on Sunday. n
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D ATELINE PHILIPPINES 48 Filipinos on death row in Malaysia by DELON
PORCALLA Philstar.com
MANILA — Forty-eight people, mostly overseas Filipino workers, are facing the death penalty for violating 11 offenses under Malaysian laws, a lawmaker said. Rep. Lito Atienza of partylist Buhay urged the Malaysian government to downgrade to prison terms the death sentences that a Kuala Lumpur court meted on dozens of Filipinos, mostly migrant workers. Malaysia usually carries out its death penalty by hanging. “In light of Malaysia’s decision to scrap the mandatory death sentence for several offenses, we are appealing for the lives of Filipinos on death row to be spared,” Atienza said. “The commutation of death sentence does not mean that the convicts are not getting punished. They are still getting penalized with harsh prison
terms. The death penalty is cruel and inhuman punishment that flouts the right to life,” he added. The Department of Foreign Affairs has reported that at least 48 Filipino citizens are on death row in Malaysia. Malaysia’s Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope coalition government) imposed a moratorium on all judicial executions in October 2018, pending the passage of new legislation that will remove the mandatory death sentence for 11 offenses. Instead, the new legislation will give Malaysian judges leeway to inflict either death by hanging or long-term imprisonment. At present, Malaysian judges have no choice but to send to the gallows those convicted of offenses that carry the mandatory death penalty, such as terrorism, murder, rape resulting in murder, gang-robbery
with murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping in order to murder and hostage-taking resulting in death. The Pakatan Harapan government has campaigned for a review of the death penalty and other “unsuitable” laws during the 2018 general election. The coalition government announced in October that it would be endorsing a bill to abolish the death penalty in Malaysia. It has since retreated, moving instead to just give judges the discretion to impose either the supreme or lesser punishment, due to pressure from anti-abolitionist groups in Malaysia. Malaysia carried out 13 executions from 2016 to 2017 ELECTION SEASON. A man walks past posters of candidates put up on a bridge along Cambridge Street in Quezon City. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rudy Martinez before it froze executions in October 2018. In the Philippines, Congress revived the death penalty for 13 heinous crimes in 1993, only to abolish it in 2006. n
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Palace hit for downplaying Chinese ‘harassment’ of Filipino fishermen MANILA — Opposition senatorial candidate Gary Alejano called out the Duterte administration for downplaying reports that Filipino fishermen have been experiencing harassment from the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government would certainly protest Beijing’s actions on Philippine waters but such allegations would have to be proven first. This statement comes as a video documentary, where fishermen from Zambales narrate how Chinese coast guard personnel harass them, circulate online. The camp of senatorial bet Neri Colmenares released the video over the weekend. Alejano, a former marine officer, noted how the administration prioritizes relations with China to the detriment of Filipino fishermen. “This is a manifestation of the administration’s lack of will to champion our national interests and territorial integrity,” Aleja-
no said in a statement released on Wednesday, March 27. Alejano accused the government of turning deaf ears on the complaints of Filipino fishermen. He also noted that the government had been repeatedly denying reports that China has been encroaching on Philippine waters. “Clearly, this government has failed to deliver justice for every Filipino. Ang mga Pilipinong dapat pinagsisilbihan ng ating gobyerno ang nadedehado (The Filipino people whom the government should be serving are at a disadvantage),” Alejano said. The Magdalo Party-list lawmaker stressed that the country’s maritime strategy should also include the West Philippine Sea “to guide and protect our fisherfolks and troops in times of conflict.” “Additionally, I fully support the ICC case filed by former government officials and Filipino fishermen in their pursuit of justice. In times of incapacity
of our government, we have to stand for our country and for the future generations,” he added. The military, on the other hand, disputed the claims of Filipino fishers that they are being harassed by Chinese nationals in Scarborough Shoal. The Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) said it has not received reports of Filipino fishermen being harassed by the Chinese. There have also been no sightings of Chinese water cannons nor dredging ships in the waters of Scarborough Shoal, which is also called Bajo de Masinloc, according to Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat. “We have regular Navy and Coast Guard Maritime patrols in the northern maritime borders covered by our (area of responsibility) to ensure freedom of navigation in the sea lines of communication,” Salamat said. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar. com)
Inmate Napoles set to attend PDAF trial THE SANDIGANBAYAN has received written authority from the Supreme Court en banc (full bench) that would allow jailed businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to attend the trial of the graft cases faced by former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and of the plunder case faced by former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” scam. Several divisions of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court had sent letters to the high court after Napoles, who is among the accused in the cases, was committed to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. “Acting on the following letters, the court resolved to grant the similar request for exemption from the application of the resolution dated Nov. 19, 2013 and Circular No. 163-2013, dated Dec. 6, 2013, of the Office of the Court Administrator,” the high court said in a resolution dated January 29, which was quoted in a notice received by the Sandiganbayan on March 22. Based on Office of the Court
Administrator Circular 1632013, national prisoners may not be brought outside the penal institution for attendance before any court without the Supreme Court’s express authority. The letters from the Sandiganbayan were relative to, among other cases: the plunder case and the graft cases faced by Enrile, wherein Napoles is among the accused; and the graft and malversation through falsification cases filed against several individuals, including Napoles, over the misuse of Malampaya funds in 2009 to 2010. The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division had suspended the trial of the plunder case faced by Enrile and other individuals in connection with the PDAF scam. Napoles has yet to be arraigned on the cases involving the Malampaya funds. The Sandiganbayan’s First Division will resume the trial on April 11 of the graft cases faced by Revilla and other individuals. The court deferred the continuation of the trial of these cases because it had yet to receive a copy of the written authority from the high court. Richard Cambe, Revilla’s for-
Janet Lim Napoles
ManilaTimes.net photo
mer Senate staff, and Napoles were committed to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City and to the CIW, respectively, after the Sandiganbayan’s Special First Division convicted them of plunder in connection with the PDAF scam. In a decision promulgated on December 7, voting 3-2, the Sandiganbayan’s Special First Division acquitted Revilla of the plunder charge. Finding Napoles and Cambe guilty beyond reasonable doubt of plunder, the court sentenced the two to reclusion perpetua with perpetual absolute disqualification to hold any public office. (ManilaTimes.net)
Measles cases still rising March 14. The figure was also 5,006 higher compared to the total MANILA — There are no indi- number of measles cases recations that measles incidence corded during the same period is slowing down, with over 2,000 last year. Fatalities due to measles also cases recorded in a span of one went up to 338 from only 46 week. The Department of Health deaths during the same period a (DOH)’s Disease Surveillance year ago. The DOH said Calabarzon acReport showed a total of 23,563 cases of measles recorded na- counted for the most number of tionwide from January to March cases with a total of 4,838, in21, up by 2,167 posted as of cluding 98 deaths, followed by by MAYEN JAYMALIN Philstar.com
Metro Manila with 4,568 cases, including 87 deaths. Central Luzon also posted high number of measles cases with 3,761, including 57 deaths. More than half or 59 percent of the measles patients were not vaccinated against the infection. A majority or 12,442 of the total cases were males while children belonging to one to four years age group had the most number of cases with 6,688. n
The Department of Health (DOH)’s Disease Surveillance Report showed a total of 23,563 cases of measles recorded nationwide from January to March 21, up by 2,167 posted as of March 14. Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 30-ApRIL 2, 2019
A
Top posts in gov’t still dominated by men – CSC level positions, which include the positions of undersecretary, assistant secretary, bureau director MANILA — Men continue to and regional director. Lizada thus called for stricter dominate the top- or third-level posts in government even as compliance with Republic 9710 more women now occupy low- to or the Magna Carta of Women, which mandates the adoption mid-level positions. The Civil Service Commission of special measures for the in(CSC), in celebration of women’s cremental increase of women in month, released the data to show third-level positions in the civil how gender balance in the civil service until a 50-50 gender balservice still needs to be pursued. ance is achieved. “The higher ranks in governCommissioner Aileen Lizada said the Inventory of Government ment are still male-dominated, Human Resources or survey of government workers conducted in December 2017 showed that out of the 1,835,118 total government personnel in the country, at least 1,016,073 or almost 60 percent are women. Career employees comprise 89.8 percent of the total population or 1,647,891, while non-career employees are at 187,227 or 10.2 percent. The CSC explained that the career service is characterized by entrance based on merit and fitness determined as far as practicable by competitive examinations or based on highly technical qualifications, opportunity for advancement and security of tenure. On sex classification, the survey showed that there are more female employees in the career service across all regions, representing 61.66 percent or 1,016,073 out of 1,647,891 career employees. In the non-career service, the number of male employees is slightly higher at 107,136 or 57.22 percent compared to 80,091 female employees or 42.78 percent. There are also more female employees occupying second level positions, which cover both professional/technical and executive/managerial posts. Survey results reveal that there are 842,868 or 65.91 percent females in second level positions compared to male counterparts at 435,899 or 34.09 percent. “These figures reflect the CSC’s recognition of the importance of women as contributors to nationbuilding. As the premier human resource institution of the Philippine government, CSC joins the nation in highlighting the critical role of women in our society, as well as in advancing their rights and protection, especially in the workplace,” Lizada said. However, she noted the underrepresentation of women in thirdby MICHAEL
PUNONGBAYAN Philstar.com
MANILA BAY WATER QUALITY. Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) personnel check on the water quality of Manila Bay if the bacteria levels have gone down. Based on initial testing on Friday, March 29, water at Manila Bay is now cleaner, particularly along the U.S. Embassy and nearby areas along Roxas Boulevard. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
8-M Filipinos hit by TB epidemic by JAIME
PILAPIL ManilaTimes.net
EIGHT million Filipinos are affected by the Tuberculosis (TB) epidemic that has swept the country, according to Senate candidate Dr. Willie Ong, who served as a consultant of the Department of Health (DOH). He said 1 million Filipinos were active TB carriers. Ong, who teamed up with Anakalusugan party-list, said his information was validated by the World Health Organization. However, the DOH has yet to confirm it. “The Health department will
announce the TB epidemic in six months, although it is aware of the dreaded outbreak,” he said in a news briefing in Quezon City. He said the 8 million people affected by TB should undergo x-ray immediately, and that the estimated 2.5 million others should undergo molecular tests to determine if they had the disease. “The Philippines is now No. 3 in the world out of 180 countries experiencing TB problem. This is alarming because we might get a travel ban and our overseas Filipino workers might have difficulty getting hired abroad,”
Ong said. TB cases by 2022 According to the DOH, TB, a highly preventable and curable disease, affected 581,000 Filipinos in 2017. Of this number, 264,000 were not aware that they were infected. It added that nearly 60 Filipinos die of TB every day. Based on the department’s 2017-2022 Philippine Strategic TB Elimination Plan Phase 1, the government aims to reduce TB deaths by half from 22,000 to 11,000. The DOH also aims to “find and treat” some 2.5 million TB cases by 2022. n
Lorenaza: Misuari not capable of starting war MORO National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari is no longer capable of waging war because he has lost most of his men to other groups. “They (MNLF) are still capable of creating trouble like what they did in the Zamboanga City siege. But war? Not anymore,” Department of Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters in a text message over the weekend. He explained that Misuari no longer has manpower since most of the rebel leader’s men have “gravitated” to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ManilaTimes.net photo Mindanao (BARMM), following
the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). President Rodrigo Duterte had said that the MNLF leader threatened to wage war if the plan to shift to a federal system of government does not push through. Lorenzana dismissed Misuari’s threat as mere “sound bites in an attempt to make himself be noticed.” “But he is missing a great chance to be really relevant. He should accept the BARMM, work within it and lend his leadership, stature and expertise to make it succeed,” the Defense chief said. “My guess [on his threat]? He’s bluffing,” he added. (Dempsey Reyes/ManilaTimes.net)
with 57 percent males holding third-level positions,” Lizada pointed out. She underscored that as the CSC strives to bring gender balance to the bureaucracy, other sectors or levels in government should follow suit by providing a viable environment for working women, especially women executives, many of whom have already proven that they can be active drivers of positive changes and reforms in government. n
A8 MARCH 30-APRIL 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
A worsening problem
FEATURES
GIVE him credit for candor. During a campaign rally for administration candidates over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the drug trafficking problem has so worsened that the Philippine National Police is “on the brink of surrendering.” Officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the President’s statement must have been prompted by the series of drug busts during which the PDEA seized billions of pesos worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. Whether the president was just venting his frustration in public or admitting, as critics say, that the drug war has been a failure, his statement shows the challenges posed by governments in fighting the drug menace. And it emphasizes the need for a review of the way the campaign is being carried out. Eradicating the drug problem was the President’s most memorable promise when he campaigned for the highest position in the land in 2016. With his bailiwick of Davao City as template, he even set a timetable for accomplishing the feat within six months from assuming office. Skeptics said it’s far more complicated to achieve the gains he made as Davao City mayor on a na-
tional scale. The skeptics proved correct, and the president had to revise his timetable, explaining that he underestimated the extent of the drug menace. As deaths piled up in his bloody campaign, he extended his self-imposed deadline, and eventually admitted that the drug menace would be around even after he steps down from office. Even rich countries face tough challenges in stopping an illegal but highly lucrative trade. The narcos of South America have shown how massive the profits can be from drug trafficking, and how a shock-and-awe campaign of killing drug personalities can have only limited success. The Philippine government has announced a recalibration of the drug war, with greater focus on large-scale traffickers, and with drug abuse treated as a public health problem. The President’s candid assessment of the extent of the problem should lead to further changes in the way the war is being waged. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
House and Senate leadership need to be involved in sharing Mueller report with the American people
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump has been doing interviews and political events spreading even more lies that he has been exonerated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report. He continues to call the Russia probe a “hoax” and a witch hunt, despite the fact that members of his campaign, Russian nationals had been indicted, given guilty pleas, sentenced and imprisoned as a result of the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The Mueller probe likewise definitively confirmed the extent of Russia’s assault in our democracy using cyber warfare, including helping Trump win by hurting the campaign of Hillary Clinton, hacking into her emails and that of the Democratic National Committee, as well as spreading fake news to sow discord among the American people and institutions. The Mueller probe report, as summarized and presented by Trump’s political appointee Attorney General (AG) William Barr, stated that the probe did not find
sufficient evidence beyond reasonable doubt to conclude that Trump and his campaign committed a crime by wittingly conspiring with Russia to assault the 2016 elections. However, Barr summarily concluded that Trump was exonerated in the obstruction of justice allegations against him, contrary to Mueller’s statement that he could NOT EXONERATE Trump for obstruction of justice. This summary created more questions than answers, doubts instead faith among the American people, especially in light of the fact that Barr had been very public in discrediting the Mueller probe in the possible case of obstruction of justice even BEFORE he was appointed AG, adding fuel to speculations that Trump appointed him primarily because of this reason. This, of course, was part of Trump’s pattern of hiring people whom he deemed would and should be loyal to him, would defend him at all cost, despite the Department of Justice being mandated by the Constitution to be an independent law enforcement body and the Attorney General to
be the attorney of the American people, and not of the president. Prior to Barr’s confirmation as AG, Trump appointed Matt Whittaker as acting AG, who prior to his appointment, also made public statements that a sitting president should not be indicted. Whittaker took Trump’s appointee Jeff Sessions’ post after he was fired by the President because he recused himself from any investigation related to Russia out of delicadeza and possible perception of conflict of interest — something alien to Trump’s character. After Barr’s summary of the Mueller probe exonerating the president, more than three in four Americans, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, think the full Mueller report should be released to the public, a new CBS poll revealed. Bad news for Trump — despite Barr’s summary of the Mueller probe — almost half of Americans think Trump colluded with Russia, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos report. On Friday, March 29, AG Barr wrote to Congress announcing that a redacted Mueller report
will be made public in mid-April; if not sooner, citing national security concerns if the full report containing classified information is revealed. Moreover, Barr explained that redacting is inevitable for parts of the report that contain information that may undermine cases that are under investigation now in courts, and in protecting the identity and safety of private citizens who came out to help in the probe. Barr also said Special Counsel Robert Mueller will be part of the process, which is a good thing. But the attorney general should also include the leadership of the House and Senate Committees related to the probe — Judiciary, Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees as representatives of the American people in our quest for the truth. Trump and the Republicans in Congress have now been asking for the House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff to resign not only from the Committee but from Congress for his stand to continue with the probe on collusion. This was Schiff’s re-
sponse on March 28, 2019: My colleagues might think it’s okay that the Russians offered dirt on the Democratic candidate for president as part of what’s described as the Russian government’s effort to help the Trump campaign. You might think that’s okay. My colleagues might think it’s okay that when that was offered to the son of the president, who had a pivotal role in the campaign, that the president’s son did not call the FBI, he did not adamantly refuse that foreign help — no, instead that son said he would ‘love’ the help with the Russians. You might think it was okay that he took that meeting. You might think it’s okay that Paul Manafort, the campaign chair, someone with great experience running campaigns, also took that meeting. You might think it’s okay that the president’s son-in-law also took that meeting. You might think it’s okay that they concealed it from the public. You might think it’s okay that their only disappointment after that meeting was that the dirt they received on Hillary Clinton wasn’t better. You might think it’s okay. I don’t.
You might think it’s okay that, when it was discovered a year later that they had lied about that meeting and said it was about adoptions, you might think it’s okay that the president is reported to have helped dictate that lie. You might think it’s okay. I don’t. You might think it’s okay that the campaign chairman of a presidential campaign would offer information about that campaign to a Russian oligarch in exchange for money or debt forgiveness. You might think that’s okay. I don’t. You might think it’s okay that that campaign chairman offered polling data, campaign polling data, to someone linked to Russian intelligence. I don’t think that’s okay. You might think it’s okay if that the president himself called on Russia to hack his opponent’s emails, if they were listening. You might think it’s okay that, later that day, the Russians in fact attempted to hack a server affiliated with that campaign. I don’t think that’s okay. You might think that it’s okay that the president’s son-in-law
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Mothers and daughters: A legacy of intuitive leadership
Rhizomes
PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “When you are your whole self/ intact with body, mind and soul/The divine spirit of work flows through your being/Just close your eyes and listen in deep silence/And you shall hear an inner voice/always urging you to complete your unfinished tasks/And always challenging you /to put all your heart in your work.” – Fernando A. Bernardo, “The Silent Voice of Your Soul,” 2003. “Our children can lead us into authenticity because they intuitively know how to be. They intuitively know how to live within their body and respond to their spirit. They are fully aware of the need to meet reality as it presents itself and are able to respond in a manner that we adults often aren’t. This is why it’s from our children that we can learn how to really live.” – Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D., “The Conscious Parent: Transforming ourselves empowering our children,” 2010. WHEN you say mothers and daughters, one imagines sacrifice, struggle and tears in their relationships. From the time of labor — at times three days for some mothers to long hours of
birthing, to nurturing the daughter to become an empowered woman with gentleness and compassion and then, becoming best friends to one another — one can say that the relationship of mothers to their daughters is a complex one. But, it is layered with many levels of humanity and with all the emotions a human being can feel. And with granddaughters, all is about overflowing joy, a mutuality of love and affirmation! For Cynthia Bonta, a tireless activist for social justice, her life is not limited to just parenting her three children (Lisa, Rob and Marcelo). Nor is it grandparenting her seven grandchildren, whom she personally took care of, while their parents worked, or kept tabs of them growing up — among them becoming an accomplished ballet dancer, sports athlete and even a sultry jazz singer with an a capella group at Yale University. With a state agency’s professional career prior to her retirement, she is also an activist tireless for social change, whether it is against the Marcos dictatorship to restore human rights and democracy in the Philippines, to curriculum reform in the California schools to include people of color’s histories and contributions of building civic lives
in America, to today’s tenants’ struggle for reasonable rent control in the Bay Area. Cynthia’s life is more than about herself. She looks for folks willing to receive, her mentees, and for whom she can pass on her wisdom, and together, contribute to social causes. She founded the Philippine National Day Association (PNDA) and as an organization mentors middle and high school students in Sacramento on how to become passionate leaders of change and inspiring examples of leaders who care for others. Can you imagine a SHEro who has made a life of more than five decades of noble altruism? Noble, in the sense of selflessness, and without self-created benefits and altruism, which means giving one’s life to help others. As I write this, I can think of two women icons, Grace Lee Boggs and Dolores Huerta, who both are lifelong progressive activists for social change. Even at 80 years old, Cynthia has not slowed down. Last year, around August, she received the highest award bestowed to an alumnus of Silliman University, the Outstanding Sillimanian award, for her many lifelong contributions. A banner greeted her at Dumaguete airport congratulating her for this Sillimanian award.
An opening theater play greeted all the returning Sillimanians on Saturday, followed by a worship hour in their beautiful church the next Sunday morning and a two-mile long parade, with all the floats built by students and their teachers in different colleges. That was just the start of the weekend. It was followed by driving her through the parade in an electric car, and the next day, full regalia of color guards’ formation saluted her, as she alighted her special vehicle. It was a parade normally given to heads of state, yet, here was Cynthia, an octogenarian, validated for what she has done for Dumaguete and Silliman University, and of course in California. In January 2017, as Alameda Sister City’s vice president, she headed the Alameda-Dumaguete Sister City Committee, which enabled the 170 volunteers of the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California (PMSNC) to provide medical, surgical, dental, ophthalmological services to over 9,000 residents of Dumaguete. There was such an organized mobilization of local resources given the logistical and local support of then-Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, now a Philippine Congress representative.
Lisa Bonta Sumii (left), Cynthia Bonta (center) and Malaya Sumii (right) — three generations of Bonta women who volunteered at the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California’s 2018 medical mission, coordinated by Dr. Marlene Cordero. Photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
2018 PMSNC’s medical mission in Santa Barbara, Iloilo In 2018, we find Cynthia with her daughter Lisa Bonta Sumii, a psychotherapist by profession, and her granddaughter, Malaya Sumii, an 11-year-old 5th grader in California who took off two weeks to join the 2018 medical mission in Iloilo and a side trip to Dumaguete. Cynthia helped with dispensing pharmaceuticals based on physicians’ prescriptions and facilitated a wellness seminar led by Enrique Dela Cruz for barangay health workers. Lisa and Malaya became part of the dental team. All volunteers
paid their own way to go to the mission. I sat down with mother and daughter for an interview, my first time to meet them, and I had a chance to observe them. Dr. Jeremy Velasco brought not only his own dental tools, stuffed toys but also paid for his two dental staffers to travel and to work all five days. With this cohesive and patient-focused team, 456 dental patients in Santa Barbara, Iloilo were attended to in five days, and their rotten teeth extracted. Implicit trust amongst professionals and volunteers is the underlying ingredient of effec-
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Some of the PMSNC volunteers, who travelled from Northern California, Southern California, Chicago and other parts of the US Photos by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
Mothers and daughters: A legacy of...
PAGE A8 tive medical mission teamwork and successful outcomes, which I saw in the surgical team after I observed the outpatient department. Lisa and Malaya were assigned to help Velasco (a practicing dentist) and Mila Viernes, a registered nurse with dental expertise.Malaya had a simple task: to write down the name of the patient, and the tooth to be extracted, the exact number called out by the dentist on a dental form and then, verified by the dental assistant. She also circled out the correct dose of antibiotics and pain medications. Malaya stayed focused and at times, did not even take breaks. When I asked where her strong work ethic came from, Lisa credited it to the long hours of being on a softball team. “Being a player helps Malaya with focus and endurance,” she said. Lisa, a psychotherapist, helped in counseling the patients before the rotten tooth was removed. She said: “Often, I would comfort the mother of the child who was getting a tooth extracted. Other times, I would simply put her hand on the shoulder or the leg of the child or adult and tell them everything was going to be ok.” There was one mother who was determined for her young daughter, of maybe 9 or 10 years old, to have a few of her teeth extracted. Lisa recalled the girl who “kicked, screamed, and protesting, verbally and physically.” She continued, “I directed them away from the dental area and reassured the girl everything was going to be fine, nothing has to happen right now. She offered the option, to the mother, to maybe return tomorrow to try again, but that it might be a
Some of the Iloilo residents waiting for triage, then, referrals for surgical, dental, medical and opthalmological services by PMSNC in conjunction with local and provincial health professionals and hospitals
little too much for her daughter to take, today. She nodded and agreed. They left the mission, for that day, arm in arm. They returned the next day, for a successful and positive experience.” To those who were brave, Lisa held the jaw and after the extraction, she gave the child a stuffed toy or hand-me-down clothes from Malaya’s brother, Jaxon. One patient got so excited, he took off his clothes and paraded in his newly donated shirt and pants. But, one patient kept crying and could not calm down. Velasco assured him it was okay to come back. A half hour later, he came back, braver, and without tears, submitted to the dental extraction, and smiled when he got his stuffed toy. Lisa and Malaya gained the team’s trust and both got to do more tasks. Lisa got to hold the hammer while Mila, the nurse with dental expertise chiseled the tooth off the jaw. Why? These patients ate sugar cane and the sugar cane fibers got embedded into their jaws and
without tooth cleaning, bacteria proliferated. The rotten tooth had to be dislodged using chisel and hammer and of course, anesthesia injections to numb the spots. Can you imagine Lisa, with no prior dental experience, now trusted to help out with complex molar extractions? After Malaya’s stint in the dental station, she assisted pediatrics and later, the respiratory station, and using a stethoscope, she heard the abnormal breathing of lungs filled with mucus, and after nebulizer treatment, lungs got clear. She would proactively guide patients into the respiratory station, as she could spot those who could not breathe. “Helping patients with respiratory needs was especially interesting, as she has asthma herself and as a younger girl, often needed nebulizer treatments,” Lisa said. Cultural insights and feedback on their volunteer experiences Cynthia shared that Lisa spent PAGE A10
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 30-ApRIL 2, 2019 A
A10 March 30-april 2, 2019 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal
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11 actresses on drug watch list — PDEA chief by EMMANUEL
TUPAS
Philstar.com
MANILA — Eleven actresses are included in the list of celebrities with suspected links to illegal drugs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino disclosed on Wednesday, March 27. Aquino told ANC that the actresses are among 31 celebrities reportedly linked to illegal drugs. Aquino said a majority of the celebrities are in their 20s and 30s, most of them still active in the entertainment industry. “Tatlo lang yata yung matanda dyan (only three are old). All of them are young,” he said. Two have been identified as drug pushers, selling shabu and party drugs such as ecstasy to users. Aquino declined to identify the celebrities, saying the PDEA is still validating the reports linking them to drugs. He said more celebrities could be involved, adding the list does not include others on the radar of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government agencies. Aquino said there could be more than 100 celebrities in the combined list of the police and the military but they have no validation. The PDEA will not release the names of the 31 celebrities now
being probed for alleged involvement in illegal drugs. However, the identities of the show biz personalities being investigated will eventually be exposed when they are arrested and charged in court. “They may be public figures since they are being looked up to, but the fact is our intention is to just arrest them. They are not in the same category as a public officer,” PDEA spokesman Director Derrick Arnold Carreon told reporters at a press briefing yesterday. He explained that celebrities or entertainers are not like socalled narco politicians whose names were released by President Duterte himself. He noted that alleged narco politicians are seeking public office and are courting the people for votes, which means that their being in the drug list “is imbued with public interest.” “Of course yes, a celebrity may be a public figure but they are not seeking public office,” he said, emphasizing though that because showbiz personalities are idolized and seen on television daily, those involved in illegal drugs should be caught and it would be then that the public will know who they are. Carreon said the drug list for celebrities supposedly containing some 31 names is being validated and is bound to change, though he
cannot reveal more as he himself and even those with ranks higher than him cannot just see or access the list as intelligence materials are on a need to know basis. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to investigate the alleged involvement of several prosecutors in the illegal drug trade in the country. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he plans to personally lead the fact-finding investigation against 10 prosecutors included in so-called narco list of PDEA. “Once identified and there’s a scintilla of evidence, I myself will lead the investigation against them. That (involvement of prosecutors in illegal drug trade) is just unacceptable,” he told The Star. Guevarra said his office would coordinate with PDEA’s Aquino for the conduct of a parallel investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation, the fact-finding and law enforcement arm of the DOJ. The PDEA revealed last week that its narco list includes 10 prosecutors and 13 judges, but did not release their names pending verification and further validation of their alleged involvement in drug trade. Aquino aired frustration that their efforts are wasted with the dismissal of cases they have filed. (With reports from Michael Punongbayan, Edu Punay/Philstar. com)
House and Senate leadership need...
PAGE A8
sought to establish a secret backchannel of communication with Russians through a Russian diplomatic facility. I don’t think that’s okay. You might think it’s okay that an associate of the president made direct contact with the GRU through Guccifer 2.0 and WikiLeaks, that is considered a hostile intelligence agency. You might think it’s okay that a senior campaign official was instructed to reach that associate and find out what that hostile intelligence agency had to say, in terms of dirt on his opponent. You might think it’s okay that the national security adviser-designate secretly conferred with a Russian ambassador about undermining U.S. sanctions, and you might think it’s okay he lied about it to the FBI. You might say that’s all okay. You might say that’s just what
you need to do to win. But I don’t think it’s okay. I think it’s immoral, I think it’s unethical, I think it’s unpatriotic and, yes, I think it’s corrupt, and evidence of collusion. Now, I have always said that whether this amounts to proof of conspiracy was another matter. Whether the special counsel could prove beyond a reasonable doubt the proof of that crime was up to the special counsel and that I would accept his decision, and I do. He is a good an honorable man and he is a good prosecutor. But I do not think that conduct, criminal or not, is okay. And the day we do think that’s okay is the day we will look back and say, that is the day America lost its way. And I’ll tell you one more thing that is apropos of the hearing today. I don’t think it’s okay that during a presidential campaign
Mr. Trump sought the Kremlin’s help to consummate a real estate deal in Moscow that would make him a fortune. According to the special counsel, hundreds of millions of dollars. I don’t think it’s okay that he concealed it from the public. don’t think it’s okay he advocated a new and more favorable policy towards the Russians, even as he was seeking the Russian’s help, the Kremlin’s help, to make money. I don’t think it’s okay that his attorney lied to our committee. There is a different word for that than collusion and it’s called compromise. And that’s the subject of our hearing today. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos
EVIDENCE VS. LEFTISTS. Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for operations, presents to the media the bundle of evidence and books against leftist organizations that support the New People’s Army (NPA), during a press conference in Pasay City on Thursday, March 28. Also in photo are National Security Council Deputy Director Vicente Agdamag (left), and Jake Lanes, executive director of the Mindanao Indigenous People’s Council for Elders and Leaders. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
VACC TO CATHOLIC BISHOPS:
‘Don’t meddle in death penalty debate’ by CATHERINE
VALENTE ManilaTimes.net
THE VOLUNTEERS Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) told Catholic bishops not to meddle with the issue of the reimposition of the death penalty, insisting that it was the job of Congress. This was after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) claimed that the death penalty was not the solution to the problem of illegal drugs in the country. “Don’t meddle with the death penalty issue and let Congress do [its] job,” the VACC said in a statement. The CBCP on Monday urged the government to first look at other aspects of the criminal justice system before the reimposition of the death penalty for drug smugglers. “The penalty is the last stage in the criminal justice system… so why do they want to [first make changes]with the penalty?” Rudy Diamante, executive secretary of CBCP Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care, said in an
interview. “It (the death penalty) has never been effective and they know that…They know very well deep in their hearts, it is not the solution. Killing has never been the solution,” he added. But the VACC insisted that the capital punishment was the best deterrent to heinous crimes. “You should remember that the VACC is primarily composed of surviving victims of heinous crimes and the immediate family members of victims murdered through heinous crimes. The VACC believes that since there is no clear substitute that would effectively give justice for the life or lives taken by these perpetrators of heinous crimes, then the re-imposition of the Death Penalty is the closest thing for getting justice for the victims of heinous crimes,” the VACC said. “The death penalty is not only for drug-related crimes but also for other heinous crimes,” the anti-crime group added. Citing information from local and international anti-illegal drug enforcers, the VACC said the Philippines was “now the
most active transshipment point of illegal drugs mainly due to the fact of the absence of the death penalty.” “To date, there are 56 countries in the world that have the Death Penalty in their justice and penal system,” it said. The VACC has been urging President Rodrigo Duterte to reinstate the death penalty, noting the “rampant killings” in the country. Lawmakers and Duterte see death penalty as a deterrent to crimes, but the Commission on Human Rights argues that capital punishment does not lower crime rates. A bill reinstating the death penalty has made it past the third and final reading at the House of Representatives. At the Senate, it has yet to be tackled at the committee level. The 1987 Constitution abolished the death penalty but allowed Congress to bring it back for heinous crimes. It was brought back under the administration of President Fidel Ramos and abolished again under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. n
Cybercrime cases in PH soar by ROY
NARRA ManilaTimes.net
THE number of cybercrime cases investigated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) went up by almost 80 percent last year, according to the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNPACG). The PNP-ACG investigated 4,103 cybercrime cases in 2018, which is 79.64 percent higher than the 2,284 cases probed in 2017. In 2013, when the ACG was created, there were only 149 cas-
es reported, the agency said. Of the 4,103 cases, 1,041 were online libel, the most prevalent cybercrime in 2018. This was followed by online scams (1,012), photo and video voyeurism (415), identity theft (395) and online theft (364). The remaining 876 cases were of various offenses. Since its inception six years ago, the ACG has investigated 10,109 cybercrime cases. PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said the PNP ACG was still improving its equipment, but they were already receiving help
from their counterparts and stakeholders. “Compared to other countries, our [Anti-Cybercrime Group] is still young…We are still in the process of modernizing, although we get support from our foreign counterparts with regard to training and equipment,” he added. Police Brig. Gen. Marni Marcos, ACG director, said they were still improving on how to deal with cybercrime cases. “It’s really a challenge, but we have success stories,” he added. n
Mothers and daughters: A legacy of...
PAGE A9 long summers during her middle and high school years with her Ninang Sylvia (Cynthia’s older sister) and cousins Bambi and Tinky in Los Baños. That cultural immersion gave Lisa an in-depth understanding of the Filipino native culture. Lisa shares her insights about the medical mission: “Brown saving brown. You see brown professionals in the medical and dental areas, while in the U.S., white professionals serving brown in the medical area, which gives rise to this ‘savior’ mentality amongst white groups of rescuing brown people.” She contrasted her experience of not seeing immediate results, as a psychotherapist with a private practice in Oakland. “Here you see immediate results,” while Malaya blurts out her affirmation: “Mommy, you could have been a very good dentist.” Malaya texted her best friends, Mave and Ella, in California: “how different the lifestyle was [in Iloilo]. I like that instead of using salt, sugar and catsup, they were using their natural resources, bananas. Also, cows, goats (which Malaya saw in nearby farms) I like that there are not so many buildings and many more houses. And they have a song for everything.” Mom then hummed the song lines, “Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara.” Her role was to calm the patients: “You see the tooth come out, you touch them, and reassure them.” Lisa distinguished the qualities of Filipinos born in the Philippines who are down to earth, with humility, and a simple way of being, while Filipino-Americans worry about too many things, take things so seriously. Yet, she sensed that their cultural differences fall away and become one, as they worked for the medical mission: focused on
being kind, on being loving, and being able to take care of “the other,” the patient in need. As to where the motivation comes from, Cynthia shared that “it was the mother-daughter’s combined passion that took them to volunteer for such a serious mission — to bring health care to helpless countrymen (kababayans) — supported by Dad, Aron who stayed home with Jaxon. I did not suggest nor tell them to do the medical mission. It was Malaya that was strongly and adventurously for the idea as soon as I got back from the Dumaguete Mission in 2017.” “Malaya said to me proudly, ‘My best experience was with the dental station. It is nothing to me anymore to look into mouths with rotten teeth and smell the blood mixed with their bad breath.’ I was emotionally impressed with this as I do not think I could do it myself,” Cynthia added. As to what the medical mission meant for Lisa, she said, “It’s such a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to the Philippines and participate in this medical mission with my mother and my daughter. Something I never really imagined could happen. Three generations working together for a common cause, in spite of the generational gap. Each of us have our own inner motivation and commitment. The pride I have for my people does not exclude how proud I am of them both.” Do you readers get a sense of how Malaya is being raised with positivity and excellent examples of humane women around her, primarily her mom and her grandmother? At one point, this writer told Malaya, “Oh how I love your fresh eyes of seeing the Filipinos!” Cynthia underscored that “it was Lisa’s thoughtful support for her daughter, Malaya, providing her the guidance in positively
processing her experiences in a strange and new place and culture was an important factor in making such a strong impact on Malaya. As a mother (seeing Lisa in demand to assist complex molar extractions and even ended up suturing gums), this showed strong surrender to the commitment to be of help wherever needed. And as a grandmother, I am very impressed, very proud and very moved.” I dare to say it was the best version of humanity that Cynthia was describing but also, because in her family, being kind and being helpful to others are second nature to them. It has been passed on from her Cynthia, into their bloodlines, and now, Lisa, her daughter and Malaya, her granddaughter, who are better versions of themselves, for the next generations to come. It is a great testament that Cynthia’s lifelong service to others has become what mom and daughter choose to do for themselves, as well. This March, Women’s History Month, I cannot think of a fitting tribute than to spotlight these three women and a young girl who are servant leaders! I salute them! *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.
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Senate’s ‘comprehensive probe’ on Michael Yang’s alleged drug links sought MANILA — Senator Leila de Lima has asked the Senate to conduct a “comprehensive probe” into Michael Yang’s alleged involvement in the country’s illegal drug trade. Yang served as President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic adviser until December 2018. The proposed Senate inquiry was contained in Senate Resolution No. 1033 filed Thursday by De Lima, who has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame over drug charges. “A comprehensive probe into Mr. Yang’s alleged link to the illegal drug trade is imperative, as accountability must be sought given his official, high-level capacity as a former Presidential
Economic Adviser,” De Lima said in a statement on Friday. She said the Senate should also look into whether Yang’s position as then presidential economic adviser may have been “abused” for personal benefit and may have impact to national security and welfare. De Lima noted in the resolution that during Yang’s appointment, the Philippines entered into various loan agreements with China, including what she branded as “onerous, one sided” loan deal for the construction of the P4.3-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation. “There is a need to inquire into and demand concrete explanation into the citizenship of presidential appointees such
as Mr. Michael Yang, with the nature and scope of his work and influence over foreign and economic policy, as a public office held by a foreign national is inimical to national, security, public interest and welfare,” the resolution read. De Lima’s resolution hinted at Yang’s possible deportation as an undesirable alien, if his involvement in the illegal drug trade or other illicit activities is proven. She cited a Supreme Court ruling, providing for the power of the state to deport an alien. “This is without prejudice of course to the filing of appropriate criminal charges against him,” she said in the same statement. (Inquirer.net)
Dry spell brings farm losses to P2.8 billion by KARL
OCAMPO Inquirer.net
MANILA — Damage to agriculture caused by El Niño rose to P2.86 billion just more than a month after it struck the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Wednesday, March 27. The council said rice and corn farmers incurred the bulk of the losses. Hardest hit were the regions of Soccsksargen and Bicol. Officials have declared a state of calamity in the regions of Mimaropa, Zamboanga, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao due to the worsening dry spell. Other regions severely affected by El Niño are Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas. The weather phenomenon will worsen next month, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Pagasa said 61 percent of the country would likely experience drought while 31 percent would likely experience a dry spell—leaving only 8 percent of the country not vulnerable to El Niño. This means the country will have to brace for warmer weather and less chances of rainfall as the year progresses. Farmer leader Jhun Pascua of the National Movement for Food Sovereignty said some farmers in
Cracks appear on the soil in rice lands due to lack of water in irrigation canals in Libon town in Albay province. Inquirer.net photo by Michael B. Jaucian
Mindanao were already forced to sell their livestock as grassy areas for grazing had disappeared. Crops planted in parched lands were left to wilt as farmers had no way of irrigating them. In Bulacan province, Raul Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers said rice growers could not shift to planting other crops even if they wanted to because they had no definite water sources to rely on. “There’s not enough government intervention, especially from the NIA (National Irrigation Administration). Farmers who only know how to plant rice have no other option but to wait [for the drought to end],” Montemayor said. Pilipina Bermudez, manager of the NIA Public Information Office, said the agency had the capacity to help only 1.5 million farmers in irrigating their lands—or just 14 percent of the country’s total agriculture workforce.
Asked whether the agency has the means to help areas that rely on rainwater for cultivating land, Bermudez said the NIA could only focus on areas where it had available irrigation systems. Of the 3.9 million hectares of rice farms in the country, 1.2 million ha benefit from communal irrigation systems while 2.7 million ha rely on rainwater, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. El Niño “is not something we could prevent,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in an interview. He said all the agriculture department could do “is to pick up the pieces afterward and provide interventions.” Piñol has been pushing for the construction of solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) all over the country to ensure the availability of water all-year round. But with limited funding, it is proceeding at a snail’s pace. n
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - ApRIL 2, 2019
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JOURNAL Meet the Filipina-American ‘ninja warrior’ breaking new ground in the world of obstacle course training ‘American Ninja Warrior’ contestant Pamela Price on life on and off the course with a rare autoimmune disease
the Asian Journal has covered a wide variety of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans making their ALL across the world and mark in historically-homogeneous across all industries, there are fields of profession. Filipinos breaking barriers. But in the relatively new world In government, medicine and of obstacle course racing (OCR), science as well as Hollywood, the there’s a Filipina-American who’s music industry, visual and perfor- making her mark just as OCR itself mance art and professional sports, grows more prominent. by
KLARIZE MEDENILLA AJPress
OCR trainer Pamela Price is on track to be the Fil-Am face of the increasingly popular sport, so much so that last year, she was invited to be a contestant on the wildly popular NBC competition show “American Ninja Warrior,” where contestants compete to finish an intense series of obstacles Price on the podium after winning 3rd place PAGE B5
‘I Am a Filipino’ among James Beard Foundation Book Award finalists by
MOMAR G. VISAYA AJPress
THE proprietors and owners of the East Village restaurants Maharlika and Jeepney have just added another feather in their cap: James Beard Award finalists for their book “I Am a Filipino: And This is How We Cook,” published by Artisan Books. Filipina-American Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad are nominated for a James Beard Award under the international category, which are books with recipes focused on food or cooking traditions. They are up against Anissa Helou’s “Feast: Food of the Islamic World” and Austin Bush’s “The Food of Northern Thailand.” The James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for the 2019 James Beard Awards during a press conference in Houston on Wednesday, March 27. Nominees were announced in nearly 60 categories of the Foundation’s various awards programs, including Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant
Miguel Trinidad and Nicole Ponseca, authors of “I am Filipino” and owners of Maharlika and Jeepney, have been nominated for a James Beard Award. Photo courtesy of Nicole Ponseca
Design, and Media. “I Am a Filipino”made it to the New Yorker’s “The Best Food Books of 2018” and described Filipino cooking “as among the brightest, sweetest, sourest, and funkiest of world cuisines; by
comparison, almost any other food seems bland.” The review also called Ponseca and Trinidad’s book an “exuberant gastronomic manifesto” because of the way it was able PAGE B5
at the USA OCR National Championships in December.
The OCR trainer on the set of “American Ninja Warrior.”
Photos courtesy of Pamela Price
B MARCH 30 - APRIL 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
EntErtainmEnt
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Step inside a world of pure imagination Pia Wurtzbach immortalized at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in P13-M wax figure ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ musical lands in LA for three weeks by AJPRESS THE national tour of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” direct from Broadway is now in Los Angeles for a limited three-week engagement at Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Tickets for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are now on sale, and available at www.HollywoodPantages.com and www.Ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 982-2787 or in person at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre Box Office (Opens daily at 10 a.m. PT). Broadway veteran Noah Weisberg (South Pacific, Enron, Elf, Legally Blonde) will star as the extraordinary chocolate maker, Willy Wonka, with Henry Boshart (age 10), Collin Jeffery (age 11) and Rueby Wood (age 11), alternating in the title role of Charlie Bucket. They will be joined by James Young as Grandpa Joe, Amanda Rose as Mrs. Bucket, Jessica Cohen as Veruca Salt, Madeleine Doherty as Mrs. Teavee, Kathy Fitzgerald as Mrs. Gloop, Nathaniel Hackmann as Mr. Salt, Daniel Quadrino as Mike Teavee, David Samuel as Mr. Beauregarde, Brynn Williams as Violet Beauregarde, Matt Wood as Augustus Gloop. The 36-member company also includes Sarah Bowden, Elijah Dillehay, Alex Dreschke, Jess Fry, David R. Gordon, Chavon Hampton, Sabrina Harper, Benjamin Howes, Karen Hyland, Lily Kaufmann, David Paul Kidder, Jennifer Jill Malenke, Joe Moeller, Tanisha Moore, Claire Neumann, Caylie Rose Newcom, Joel Newsome, Kevin Nietzel, Kristin Piro, Clyde Voce, Armando Yearwood Jr., and Borris Anthony York. With direction by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features music by Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, a book by Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum theatre David Greig, choreography by Tony Award nominee
The cast of Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.
and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse and includes additional songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 Warner Bros. motion picture. The hit Broadway musical features songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a toe-tapping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters from Hairspray. Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” features scenic and costume design by fivetime Tony Award nominee Mark Thompson, lighting design by four-time Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman, sound design by Andrew Keister, puppet and illusion design by Obie and Drama Desk Award winner Basil Twist, projection design by Jeff Sugg, special effects design by Jeremy Chernick, orchestrations by three-time Tony Award winner Doug Besterman and music direction and supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck. For more than 50 years, Roald Dahl’s story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has captured imaginations around the world, and now for the first time Broadway audiences are invited to experience Willy Wonka’s delightful and semi-dark chocolate world first-hand. Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous—and mysterious—
Photos by Joan Marcus
by CHRISTINA
ALPAD ManilaTimes.net
HER reign as Miss Universe 2015 may have ended, but Pia Wurtzbach continues to make a stir in the international scene. On Thursday, March 28, she became the first Filipino to be immortalized by the iconic Madame Tussauds wax museum as she personally unveiled her mirror image at a hotel in Mandaluyong City. The wax figure would be flown for display at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. “I’m at a loss for words. I’m so happy to be chosen as the first Filipina to have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, so I’m really grateful for that. And I think that people around the world are now coming to know more about Filipinos and also about beauty queens, and I’m just so happy that I’m able to share this moment with my countrymen first,” the 29year-old told The Manila Times on the sidelines of the big reveal. The wax figure, which immortalizes Wurtzbach relinquishing the famed Miss Universe Miki-
Pia Wurtzbach strikes a pose with her wax figure which is wearing a replica of the iconic Swarovski-embellished royal blue ball gown by Filipino designer Michael Cinco. Philstar.com photo by Jan Milo Severo
moto crown to her successor in 2016, perfectly replicates the beauty queen’s physical features, including her Swarovski-embellished royal blue ball gown by Michael Cinco.
“Madame Tussauds chose this pose [where I am holding out the crown] because they wanted something interactive, where people can have their own crowning moment as Miss Universe and take pictures,” Wurtzbach explained. Elle Rex, Madame Tussauds’ studio manager, said a team came to Manila to take Wurtzbach’s measurements and photographs. “Our UK team composed of photographers, sculptors, as well as our Hong Kong team flew here to take hundreds of measurements of Pia. She also had to hold the pose for a long time and they had to make her turn 360 degrees to make sure we get each and every angle right,” Rex said. “Her dentists even shared her dental impression with us so we can restore her teeth for the wax figure,” Rex added. It took some 20 artists and about six months to complete the wax figure in London. Wurtzbach’s wax figure will be unveiled today at the SM Mega Fashion Hall.
What broke Lani’s plan to retire in Las Vegas by MANILATIMES.NET
Henry Boshart as Charlie Bucket and Noah Weisberg as Willy Wonka in Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
factory is opening its gates...to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination. Get ready for exquisitely nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas. Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman), Langley Park Productions (Kevin McCormick) PAGE B5
April 7 @ 6pm 1440 E Broadway Glendale CA
Buy online www.ryanryan.eventbrite.com
AT 50, Lani Misalucha continues to be in-demand for shows both here and abroad. Lani is billed as Asia’s Nightingale (noted for her derring-do such as singing while reclining on a sofa). But did you know that in 2003, Lani seriously thought of retiring? “At that time,” Lani revealed during the show’s presscon, “my husband and I had a serious talk after a show at PICC. The following year, we migrated to the U.S. and settled in Las Vegas. I was ready to settle down as an ordinary citizen and lead a quiet life away from the limelight that I had been so used to in the Philippines, while raising a family. But that didn’t happen.” Offers started pouring in, too juicy to turn down, so Lani’s
plan was broken. “Life has a way of making surprises,” said Lani, “so I conceded that the life of a singer was like that. Hindi mo talaga puedeng talikuran. As long as the public wants you, you have to stay. Habang may kumukuha sa’yo, sige ka nang sige.” However, you should also listen to the alarm bell, according to Lani. “We are not getting any younger,” she added. “There are so many other things that are more important and valuable than making money.” That is, like spending precious time with family. Now a grandma, Lani can continue singing since all her and husband Noli’s children are grown-ups.
Lani Misalucha Photo from Instagram/@lanimisalucha
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Fil-Am recruiters share benefits of joining US Army
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - ApRIL 2, 2019
A CREWMAN WHO JUMPED SHIP WENT HOME TO THE PHILIPPINES ON AN APPROVED PROVISIONAL WAIVER, BUT WAS CHARGED WITH FRAUD FOR OVERSTAYING, AND COULD NO LONGER RETURN TO THE U.S. Jimmy entered the U.S. in 1999 and jumped ship. When the provisional waiver regulations came out, (which also included crewmen), Jimmy immediately applied for it in his desire to “do the right thing” and legalize his status. When USCIS approved his provisional waiver (thereby “forgiving” his overstay), Jimmy traveled back to the Philippines for his immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy, thinking he would be back in the U.S. in a few weeks. However, the Embassy charged him with fraud by imposing a new “90-day rule” for his having overstayed almost 20 years ago. He found himself stuck in the Philippines while his wife lay in a coma in the U.S. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel never abandoned Jimmy or his case, and kept fighting for him. Witness a heart-tugging and heart-wrenching homecoming and reunion on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
IN recent years, estimates have found that only 1 percent of young Americans are eligible to join military service. For the U.S. Army, there are about 33.4 million Americans between the ages of 17 to 24, the ideal group it is targeting for recruitment. But of that number, only 9.7 million are qualified, while 136,000 are even interested in joining, according to a report by the Army Times. The requirements to enlist in the Army include between 17 and 34 years old, U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, have a high school diploma or equivalent, score at least a 33 on the Armed Forces Qualifica-
tion Test, and meet height and weight requirements, among others. There are many misconceptions about Army service, such as the major one about how enlisting means automatically being put on the battlefield and being ready to fight in a war. Meet some Fil-Am recruiters in Southern California who are willing to share their experiences with other Fil-Ams eyeing a career in the military. “I joined the Army in 2011 after two years of community college. I wanted to become independent and wanted to help my mom, who was a single mother,” said Sgt. Dustin Macadaan, who was born in the Philippines and moved to Carson. “I go around to colleges because around that time, they
know how tough it is. We talk about if the Army can work for you. At the end, I ask you if you want to join or not. I know you’ll make a smart decision. The Army has a host of benefits from higher education to citizenship opportunities. The cost of higher education is at an all-time high and can be a deterrent for many who want to pursue their post-secondary degrees. However, joining the U.S. Army means that those educational goals don’t have to be shelved. “It’s all about information. Our job is to give out information because not a lot of people know,” said Sgt. Mamer Galit, a recruiter in Rowland Heights. “What they know is from the movies, but they don’t know about the job we actually have.
We have nursing, medical, IT, mechanics, aviation. If they want to do cybersecurity, they can do that. We even have hackers in the Army.” Galit added that he shares with other Filipinos that the Army will train them for whatever job the pick. There are various avenues this branch of the military makes going back to school a reality, from the Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP) — which is a partnership be-
Sgt. Ambrosio
SFC Bustamante
Sgt. Macadaan
Sgt. Galit
by AJPRESS
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tween the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and over 1,900 colleges — to financial aid programs and education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill. Educational benefits can also be transferred to soldiers’ spouses and children. “I joined the Army as a reservist, but prior to that, I was actually an active duty Marine for four years. But I thought the Army gave a good opportunity to go back to school and take advantage of the benefits as far as the Montgomery GI Bill Post-9/11 and tuition assistance while you’re in the reserve time,” said Sgt. Jason Ambrosio. The Army also offers graduate-level scholarships in law, medicine and the seminary. Through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), the Army will pay 100 percent of tuition for a graduate-level health care degree for any accredited medical, dental, veterinary, psychology or optometry program in the United States or Puerto Rico. For the latter two fields, there is the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) that selects several active duty Army officers to AJPress photos by Noel Ty obtain a legal education and the
Chaplain Candidate Scholarship Partnership (CCSP), which is a joint venture between some of our nation’s leading graduate institutions and the Army to provide financial assistance to candidates for chaplaincy. Non-citizens who are legal permanent residents (green card holders) may join the military. Members of the Armed Forces can file for naturalization and may experience a quicker process in terms of becoming a citizen. Their spouses can also be eligible for expedited naturalization. “I was a college student and had two part-time jobs and I needed something to help me get work experience and get a better opportunity,” said Sgt. First Class Anthony Bustamante, a recruiter in Tarzana. “That’s where the United States Army came in. I was able to use the Army to help me succeed in my civilian life and also find a professional job I didn’t know I was good at until I go into the Army.” He added, “My mom is proud that I joined the Army. She wasn’t a first but then she saw that it was something I really wanted to do and became very successful.” (Advertising Supplement)
B4 MARCH 30 - APRIL 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
MOONLIGHTING by MYLAH DE
LEON
INTERVIEWS come in many ways. Some regard it as a battle — others call it a theater piece, even as a delightful minuet. But the disdain shown for what is called “showbiz interviewing” which tends to elicit mere enter-
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The interview: The Get ready to meet the newest royal baby this spring! license to ask virtually anybody in the world tainment, not information, is a contempt shown, however, only by those who clearly would be considered as “news people.” The license to ask virtually anybody in the world is a great opportunity as it gives one the
chance to let the subject come in. That moment is available to you to inquire about the whole universe of a person’s life: their pains and sufferings, their joy and struggle. You can learn from it and take with you their doings, loves, poems, goals, music, meetings, films, millions, and misfortunes. Their popularity is so vast, so glamorous, that it can exasperate and suffocate us. The power of the interviewer staggers the mind. It is a breathtaking way they get to walk into peoples’ lives, and ask them anything they want. If the interviewer had his way, he would sit with them for hours just so they can bare their souls. The interviewers are surrogates who think and listen for us, and ask the questions people might ask if they were on the spot. What makes a really good interview and what kind of person makes an excellent interviewer? I have spent fifty percent of my professional life asking questions. I’ve also learned to shift gears with the subject’s response, or that a good serve in tennis does not ensure that the ball will come back where it is expected, and you have no idea how our expertly prepared questions will be answered. Interviewers have different goals, different time limits, different settings and unique personalities, just as our subjects. Nobody is a snapshot. We are all complicated people. But while journalists are free to ask the question in the way they like, politeness and civility always worked better than hostility and prosecution. And in their headiest topics, they get the truth through their interviewing. But when is that truth liquid, and when is it solid? In my earlier years as a novice crime reporter, a police general whom I greatly admired and revered, gave me a tape recorder and made me believe I could write police stories. That tape became my Excalibur through the years of interviewing. However, rather than an interview, they are conversations recorded on tape, then transferred into written dialogues — actually monologues provoked PAGE B5
BY MONET
LU
LET’S just all take a moment and welcome the spring season with some fuzzy feels starting with babies being born – and not just any baby – but the royal baby of Prince Harry and the “American princess,” Meghan Markle. The future member of the Sussex family is expected to arrive this spring. It was only in October that Kensington Palace revealed Markle and Prince Harry were expecting, and since then everybody has been speculating the baby’s name, sex, and how the parents-to-be are planning for this big life change. I, for one, just love hearing the latest scoop about the royal family. But hearing specifically about Meghan Markle, who is an American, a fashion icon and symbol for kindness and humility and women empowerment, is my guilty pleasure. I am a fan of her fashion statements and her guts. She strikes me more as “one of us” than an aristocrat, you know what I mean? And now that the Duchess of Sussex is probably weeks away from giving birth, I can’t contain my excitement. And it seems I am not the only one. I’ve been reading a lot on Markle’s journey to motherhood and I must say that many have been written about her diet, her birthing plan, their parenting style, and the list goes on. So I am doing my readers (who are also obsessed about everything-royal familyrelated), a favor by writing what I have learned about this Markle’s spring baby. Reports say that Markle, who grew up in Los Angeles, has been very focused on clean living since becoming pregnant in order to stay healthy and chemical-free throughout her entire term. “Her California roots are coming through,” according to People. “She’s being mindful of what she puts in her body and on her skin and even her at-home cleaning supplies. She’s hyper aware of what she’s using. She’s looking for natural things.” Let’s start with the baby’s name. Unfortunately, we won’t know this until our princess gives birth, but she and Prince Harry reportedly have a long list of baby names. Although the couple already knows the sex of their baby, they chose to say nothing to the public. I actually caught wind of “royal trivia” stating that traditionally, the royal couple does not learn the sex of the baby until the
Life Coaching in a Different Perspective STARGAZER ONE sleepless night in the second quarter of 2018, I was talking to a depressed person overseas and her bitterness led to so many questions. One of her questions struck me and made me ponder. I realized that most people normally blame others right away and fill themselves with denial when something wrong happens to them. Then I decided to post this on Facebook on the dawn of May 24, 2018. Someone asked me why bad people do not reap their karma right away and still continue to create havoc. When will they reap what they deserve? My answer: Visualize an empty glass. Each time you do bad, bad karma fills it bit by bit. The more people you hurt and do injustice to, the more the cup gets filled up. Now it will definitely come to a point where somehow, somewhere this person does something bad to another and it then fills up the glass and causes an overflow. That is the only time he reaps what he deserves. All our glasses will definitely fill up and what is due will be received. One need not take revenge into his hands but instead let the normal flow of life happen. Remember this. There is a natural LAW...There is a definite order for things and there is justice always. Note: The same thing as that with blessings and good karma, it follows the same principle. #stargazersays Why is God so unfair for allowing bad people to trample on other people’s dignity? In spite of their so-called bad actions, some still get richer, more powerful and more influential? Why is it that those who con, scam and
Photos courtesy of Kensington Palace
birth. Besides the people in the delivery room, it’s the tradition that the queen is first to be told of the new arrival via phone call. According to a reliable source, “While there are many royal baby traditions that have been broken in recent generations—such as Princess Diana being the first to birth a royal baby outside of a palace and, instead, in a hospital—saving sex reveal for the day of birth is likely one that will stay for generations to come.” This brings us to the due date. Baby Sussex is due in late April or early May, according to royal’s reporters who overheard Markle tell this to well-wishers in Birkenhead, England, on January 14. According to recent reports, Markle will give birth at the Lindo Wing of London’s St. Mary’s Hospital, where her sister-in-law Kate Middleton had all three of her children. Vanity Fair reports that Markle and Prince Harry are in the midst of setting up their “eco-friendly, gender-neutral nursery,” which will come equipped with a playroom and two bedrooms—including one for Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland. According to Vanity Fair, the color scheme is white and gray and will include “top-of-the-line cameras, security windows, and a state-of-the-art stereo system As for the birth plan, just like every other mother-to-be I know, Markle wants a natural birth. And that is not surprising since Markle’s mom is actually a yoga teacher. I also read about Markle and Price Harry saying that they will not impose traditional gender roles on their little one. Vanity Fair writes “Meghan has been talking to some of her friends about the birth and how she and Harry plan to raise their baby. Her exact word was fluid. She said they plan to raise their child with a fluid approach to gender and they won’t be imposing any stereotypes.” As early as now, the couple decided that they do
not want any pressure on their child. That was quite a load of juicy (and interesting) news about the Markle’s pregnancy and their plans. I can’t wait for her to meet her new bundle of joy! I am sure she will be fi lled with so much happiness that she would cry and so will we – most definitely. But for now, we do as what both common people and royal parents do at this stage – we wait. At least we have that in common with them, am I right? Congratulations to the parentsto-be and we are looking forward to meeting the youngest prince or princess of Sussex. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
Choices in life and the law of karma (Part I of II)
rob people of their hard earned money still get away and live luxurious lives? Where is God’s justice here? Stop dragging in God when misfortune comes. He never designed bad luck. The beauty of God’s creation is that there is a perfect order for things. Like a country with a preamble or constitution, there are laws governing life: the Spiritual Laws of the Universe. The order of life should guide us to make our choices. We have the liberty to decide whether we will follow the basic spiritual laws in life. However, if we really analyze it, there is actually no right or wrong move. Let us look at it as lessons and not as punishment for what we have done. Karma teaches us about life... the natural order of things and that everything fits like pieces of a puzzle. What we have undergone in the past is necessary for who we are today. It simply shows that every action has a consequence... Going back to the issue this depressed person raised, the so-called bad person may have worked really hard for his money though he may have an attitude towards others. He may have shouted and cursed those who work for him but it yielded him good results. Though he was a slavedriver, it gave him positive results such as good sales or production. That is the main reason why he gets richer and more influential. But the downside is that he is always angry, stressed out and agitated all the time, making it difficult to relax and enjoy life. And what then does he get in return? Health concerns like heart problems, hypertension, etc. In the same note, why do con artists and scammers become
even richer and powerful? Of course, they do! They have mastered the art of influencing people into giving them what they need and through illegal ways, they amass wealth and power. Now how does fairness come into play here? They may, indeed, gain power and money but somehow they will lose these in the end. The universal law will also keep up with them in a matter of time. Sow bad and you shall reap bad. A person spending money beyond his means can succumb to the temptation of borrowing a lot of money. First, he uses up all his credit cards and when payment due date comes, he gets frantic and looks for quick solutions. He now gets into taking out loans and approaches people to borrow, sweet talks them and promises to pay. He buries himself in deep debt that his earnings could not keep up with the payments. Poor debtor victims end up not being paid. Is there injustice here? None. But there are lessons to learn. Eventually, he might end up in jail or go bankrupt. On the surface, it may be unfair. But negative energies will yield negative energies. It is just a matter of time. *** Stargazer is a life coach, aura reader, psychic/clairvoyant, and lecturer on the paranormal. She uses the aura, energies & vibrations as focal points of her psychic readings. Using several techniques involving the psychological, spiritual, paranormal and her own experience of the intricacies of life, Stargazer makes one get in touch with his inner and understand life in a positive manner. Faith in God and belief in self is what Stargazer emphasizes on. Currently, Stargazer is a radio anchor of DZMM Teleradyo, the radio arm of ABS-CBN. Her show “Pinoy Vibes” has been airing every Sunday morning since Sept. 2007. She can be reached at stargazerphils@ gmail.com. For more information, please visit http://stargazer.ph/.
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Meet the Filipina... PAGE B1 in the least amount of time. “I didn’t even know how it came to be! But in October, it just all fell into place when a producer reached out to me and sent me a letter saying she’d been seeing my OCR stuff and thought I could run the course very well,” Price told the Asian Journal in an interview earlier this month. The 32-year-old OCR trainer — who is also a dance instructor and journalist — is set to appear on Season 11 of “American Ninja Warrior” which she filmed earlier this month. Her Instagram page (@babyninjawarrior) showcases videos of her training, and it isn’t just your garden variety “Fitstagram” page. It shows off, not only her skill set — which ranges from dancing, swimming, bouldering, tire flipping and truck pulling — but her natural on-screen charisma and personality. And upon meeting Price in person, it’s easy to see why producers from the show reached out to her for a feature. “It was a blast! I can’t say too much about it, but it was so unbelievably fun and really represented what I love so much about the obstacle course community,” Price says, beaming. A born athlete Price was born in Virginia
Beach, Virginia, but raised in Maine after her parents relocated the family in order to raise Price and her sister in a safe community. Price’s mother is an Americanborn Filipina nurse whose father was in the United States Navy, and her father is a Jewish psychiatrist from New York City, whom Price says she “compares to [filmmaker] Woody Allen.” “They wanted us to raise us in Maine because it was so safe, but I definitely was the token Asian. My nicknames as a child ranged from ‘Sushi’ and ‘Dumpling,’” Price remembers with a laugh. Like many in the Filipino diaspora, especially in the United States, Price was initially raised with little reference points to the Filipino culture, saying she was basically “raised as a white girl” and only really started learning and appreciating the culture in her adult life. “My [Filipino] grandparents were very, very careful to make sure that my mother didn’t know Tagalog and that I didn’t know Tagalog,” Price says. “Everything was just American, a full assimilation.” As such, Price’s career trajectory clearly reflects the uniquely American conviction of personal achievement and pushing yourself to reach your highest potential.
Step inside a world of... PAGE B2 and Neal Street Productions (Sam Mendes, Caro Newling). The performance schedule for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is rec-
ommended for ages 6 and up. Children under 5 will not be admitted to the theatre. All patrons must have a ticket, regardless of age. Individual tickets start at $35. Prices are subject to change without notice. A complete list of cities and dates for the national tour can be found at www.CharlieOnBroadway.com.
‘I Am a Filipino’ among...
PAGE B1 to “weave together threads of Filipino history, culture, and diasporic traditions.” “It’s a brilliant cookbook that doubles as an important work of cultural scholarship, or maybe an important work of cultural scholarship that doubles as a brilliant cookbook—from foundational recipes like pinakurat (a sweettart-hot condiment made with fruit, fish sauce, chiles, and vinegar) to a rainbow of adobo styles, meats, and methods,” Helen Rosner described further. Trinidad took to social media on Wednesday to express his happiness when James Beard Foundation released the list of the finalists. “HOLY SH#T! This is huge. I can’t stop smiling,” he posted on his Instagram account @chefmigsnyc. As the Asian Journal previously reported, three Fil-Am chefs have been nominated as well: Tom Cunanan of Bad Saint is up for Best Chef (mid-Atlantic) and Margarita Lorenzana Manzke is yet again up for Outstanding Pastry Chef, while Sheldon Simeon’s Lineage in Hawai’i was nominated for Best New Restaurant. The 2019 James Beard Awards celebrations begin in New York City on Friday, April 26, with the James Beard Media Awards. The exclusive event honors the nation’s top cookbook authors, culinary broadcast producers and hosts, and food journalists and will take place at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. There are 12 awards up for grabs with three finalists each for the Book Awards, 11 awards for the Broadcast Media Awards and 17 for the Journalism Awards. The events then move to Chica-
go, beginning with the Leadership Awards dinner on Sunday, May 5. The dinner, presented in association with Deloitte and hosted by Gail Simmons, will recognize honorees for their work in creating a more healthful, sustainable, and just food world. The James Beard Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 6, 2019, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson. During the event, which is open to the public, awards for the Restaurant and Chef and Restaurant Design categories will be handed out, along with special achievement awards Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Design Icon, and America’s Classics. Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields and further 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.
The interview...
PAGE B4 by my questions and opinion. With the presence of a microphone, knowing it was there, like feeling spied or judged, it was not uncommon for my interviewees to grow pale, red or mutter haltingly or simply fall silent. Sometimes they jumped around, especially when asked open-ended questions. I have always thought that letting people talk and faithfully reporting what they might say contribute to written profiles. But the subject would down the microphone in a chaos of words. After a taped interview comes the worst moment when I would listen to silences and torrents of talk, for me to transpose into conversation, profiles. Thus for the sake of clarity, we find it necessary to put more order into the answers we receive, but not to destroy the beauty and color of the language. I like dramatic questions and responses, written eloquently and colorfully. Listening to someone talk isn’t at all like listening to the words played on a machine. At times a flashing glance or a movement of the hands will make the blandest remark acceptable, just
as a disagreeable nose. A humble attitude can, at times, distract from the value of the richest remark. Reported remarks are not enough to give an idea of who is speaking, the shape of his features, the gestures they make…the complete profile. Some of the characters I’ve interviewed are my friends, or almost friends or possible friends. Possible enemies are those who condemn for not having the good sense to censor the remarks they did not have the good sense to refrain from making. The loud protest of betrayal could be deafening, but it’s cleansing if you’re brave enough to write it. Now, in my twilight years, I’ve always realized that I haven’t said everything about them, but now I will. I’ve decided to be fearless with a conscience as clear as a baby. I will no longer be keeping anything back. Now, I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my heart — I feel fresh and clean, ready to fly up to paradise — in the event that one of them challenges me to a duel and is quicker on the draw than I am. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.com
Price has been a dancer since she was a young child, dancing with the Portland Dance Company in Maine, performing in community shows like “The Nutcracker.” Starting off with ballet, the young Price soon added contemporary dance styles like hip-hop to her skillset. Come middle school, cross country entered the athletic foray for a 12-year-old Price, who, at this point, was dancing with the Portland company. Price then moved to New York City to attend the small liberal arts school Marymount Manhattan, and while she was there, she taught dance at the YMCA in SoHo to at-risk children living on the street. “I think [dancing] is where I got my discipline because I never had easy teachers,” she says. “But that was hard. But it was very rewarding when you find the students who take a liking to dancing and they get it.” Then in 2009, she relocated to Los Angeles where, like so many East Coast transplants who settle on the West, she began looking for writing jobs. She’d developed a love for writing while penning culture pieces in college and in her study abroad program in Paris, so journalism seemed like the most natural course of action for the young 20-something. During one such interview she met her mentor, veteran journalist and publicist Michele Elyzabeth, and became her assistant and then, a couple of years later, they started the daily news site LATF USA (LA TV FILM, LATFUSA. com) together, where she covers a host of topics, including the health and fitness space.
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - ApRIL 2, 2019 Along with Elyzabeth, she helped kickstart the Hollywood Beauty Awards, which honors makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion stylists, photographers and other behind-the-scenes folks who work in entertainment. Pr ice lear ned about OCR through her writing ventures, covering and participating in an obstacle course race called Tough Mudder, a 10-mile race with about 20 obstacles. In short, OCR is a wide-ranging sport that tests endurance, strength, deftness and speed. It combines long-distance running on varying terrains and a series of obstacles reminiscent of military training obstacles that test. (“American Ninja Warrior” is like a truncated version of OCR as it eliminates the long-distance running piece of OCR.) Gaining popularity within the last decade, the OCR community is growing exponentially every year and is on track to becoming an Olympic sport in the future. “I just fell so in love with OCR. I always say I’ve been in love with a man before, but I’ve never been in love before like this, and it’s not even been two years since that,” Price shares, noting that OCR quickly became a huge part of her lifestyle. Immersing herself in a brand new athletic endeavor wasn’t a far stretch for the lifelong dancer, runner and fitness junkie. Putting aside an athlete’s love for building on physical strength and stamina, Price says her favorite thing about OCR is the strong sense of community. “It’s funny because obstacle course racing is a relatively new sport,” Price explains. “All of
the elite athletes that I know are moms that are 40-somethings and they just started two years ago and they’re just killing it in the game. It’s really an incredible sport because it’s people of all backgrounds, all ages, everyone supports each other. There’s the competitive nature, obviously, but we’re all there for one another and there’s a huge teamwork aspect to it.” One of the most popular obstacle race is the Spartan Race, which is a series of obstacle races with varying difficulty levels ranging from three miles to marathonlength, which Price says is a good start for those who are interested in developing an OCR lifestyle. A warrior in the truest sense It takes an incredible physical and mental prowess to be able to complete the series of hurdles OCR trainers face on the course. The connectivity between the mind and body are essential to a successful athletic career, something of which Price is acutely aware. Price suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder known as Behcet’s disease, which causes inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body. The rarity of the disease, with less than 20,000 cases in the U.S. every year, lends itself to a lot of confusion and misdiagnoses. “I only got diagnosed several years ago because it took a long time to figure out what the hell it was,” Price says. Her first Behcet’s-related attack happened in college where she developed ulcers and was falsely diagnosed with herpes “about four or five times.” Eventually, she saw a doctor
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who diagnosed her with Behcet’s disease, which can only be diagnosed through symptoms, not tests like herpes. The ulcers eventually spread through her body, and a steroid shot is needed to clear the inflammation up, which would be difficult should she start climbing up the ranks of OCR where she’d be tested for steroids. In addition to the ulcers, Price experiences joint pain and arthritis and works to keep her immune system in tip-top shape because the disorder is fueled by weak immunity. Last year, she had an attack where she describes feeling “like an old woman” having difficulty getting out of bed and trying to walk without experiencing pain. “I think that’s a big reason I go 200 percent in whatever I do,” Price shares. “It’s been really comforting reading stories of other women who have also been misdiagnosed, but there’s definitely not enough information on the disease.” Despite the chronic pain she feels and having this extra hurdle to deal with amid her ascent within the OCR community, Price hasn’t let this disease bring her down. The fear, of course, that this could affect her performance in the future is there, but she chooses to continue to pursue personal goals and achieve all the things. “I do try to live in the moment, like if I’m invited to a race on Saturday when I was going to rest, I’m going to race. If I have any excuse not to rest, then I will not rest,” she affirms. Season 11 of “American Ninja Warrior” airs on NBC on May 29.
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COMMUNITY JOURNAL
Your Immigration Solution ATTY. AMANDA KWONG ON March 19, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States decided that the government may indefinitely detain certain non-U.S. citizens while they await their immigration court removal proceedings These non-U.S. citizens may be detained without bond or parole. The Supreme Court examined the relevant law that had two subsections. The first says that the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) or an immigration judge (“IJ”) may exercise discretion in releasing a noncitizen on bond or parole if they find that the noncitizen is not a danger to the community and not a flight risk. In this situation, noncitizens can ask for bond or parole at a bail hearing and try to persuade the DHS or IJ by showing evidence of community ties, good moral character, length of duration in the U.S., and other discretionary factors. If the IJ or DHS agrees that s/he will not endanger others and will appear at specified court dates, then bond or parole can be ordered. However, under a second subsection, the DHS is mandated to take certain criminal aliens into custody. The noncitizens argued that they were not subject to the mandatory detention provision unless they were arrested by ICE “when released” from state or local custody. In their cases, some of the noncitizens were not arrested by ICE until 5, 7, and 11 years after they were released from criminal custody. The Supreme Court ultimately decided that the government is supposed to detain noncitizens who have committed certain crimes, with no possibility of bond or parole, because Congress had determined that those crimes are generally committed by people who are more dangerous and more likely not to appear for their court dates. The Court interpreted the “when released” language to mean any time after the noncitizen has completed his/her criminal jail time, and not to cut the number of
Supreme Court rules that immigrants may be detained indefinitely
days in custody short. The Court indicated that the DHS is not be obligated to immediately arrest and detain noncitizens who had just been released from criminal custody as a practical matter and that “an official’s crucial duties are better carried out late than never.” This decision recognized that some noncitizens may have never been arrested on criminal charges,
“ The Court believed that Congress, in the way that the law was written, would have wanted those noncitizens to have been covered by mandatory detention evenif they were not previously placed in criminal proceedings.” such as representatives of terrorist organizations, those that the government has reasonable grounds to believe are likely to engage in terrorist activities, or even spouses or children of a noncitizen who recently engaged in terrorist activities. The Court believed that Congress, in the way that the law was written, would have wanted those noncitizens to have been covered by mandatory detention even if they were not previously placed in criminal proceedings. Some members of the Court believed they were going too far in concluding that bail hearings are forbidden for all noncitizens who have ever committed one of the listed offenses regardless of whether they are taken into custody when released from prison, even if years or decades after release. They wondered why Congress would have granted the DHS this broad authority to deny bail hearings after noncitizens may have established roots in their communities for years if they had
been convicted of minor drug offenses or illegally downloaded music or were in the possession of stolen bus transfers. They believed that Congress did not intend the law to be contrary to “basic American and common-law traditions.” They also said that the majority of the Court should have given more consideration to how indefinite detention without a bail hearing likely deprives a “person” of his/her “liberty…without due process of law.” The minority view stated that when the noncitizen is released, placing him/her into custody should occur within a reasonable time of no more than six months. The presumptive six months is consistent with the amount of time that the government can detain certain noncitizens while they are waiting for removal from the country. The implications of this decision do not favor noncitizens. Any noncitizen who committed or is suspected by the government of having ties to certain criminal conduct may be detained indefinitely with no possible request for parole or bond. They can still challenge removal or request relief, but must do so while in custody for the months or years that the proceedings remain pending. It is a challenging time to be an immigrant, and choosing the right attorney is of utmost importance. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China. For more Information please call (800) 795- 8009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - APRIL 2, 2019
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Too much debt often leads to an empty bank account
Minding Your Finances ATTY. RAYMOND BULAON YOU may not like what I have to say in this article. But oftentimes, the truth hurts. But if you find yourself broke every payday because of too much debt, you may find the information here helpful to change your life for the better. Did you know that more than 90% of the population lives from paycheck to paycheck? And a lot of these people don’t even have any kind of savings that they can access in case of a financial emergency. As a matter of fact, a study has revealed that most people have less than $5,000 in their savings account. I don’t know about you but for most people, that amount can’t even cover one month’s worth of living expenses! What would happen to you and your family if you had a sudden loss of income? That’s a scary thought, isn’t it? As a bankruptcy attorney, I
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have found that the reason most people find it impossible to save is because a huge portion of their income goes to simply paying debts each month, mostly credit cards. For example, if you are leaving paycheck to paycheck, every penny that you take home from your job is already accounted for every month. A portion goes to rent or your mortgage, a portion goes to your other living expenses and a portion also goes to paying debts every month. Thus, after all your bills and debts are paid, you are left with nothing - so you wait for next payday again. OK, maybe there’s not much you can do about your expenses because they are what they are (unless you are living beyond your means). But maybe there is something you can do about your debts so that a lesser portion of your income goes to debt payments every month. Believe it or not, most people cannot survive even for just one single month without a paycheck! That’s right! These are the peo-
ple with zero savings in the bank and with nothing to tap into in case of a financial emergency. Are you one of these people? If you are, I suggest you sit down and figure out a way to make some changes with your finances so that you will never, ever be put in such a helpless situation. Plan in advance so you are not caught unprepared. Financial problems can “snowball” easily. If you don’t pay your bills this month, next month you would need twice as much to get current. Well, if you have no savings whatsoever, just imagine how you can easily go from “being OK” to being bankrupt over a very short period of time. That is why it is important that you keep your finances in check at all times and do not be pulled by the world’s way of thinking. Going with the “crowd mentality” only assures you that you will wind up exactly where the crowd winds up. Dare to have a different way of thinking. Did you know that statistics show
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The prodigious love of God, the Father
The Prophetic Voice
tal robe, put sandals on his feet and the family signet ring on his finger. And to top it all, he tells his servants to kill a fattened calf and hold a party to celebrate his younger son’s return. For some people, the father’s gesture in this parable is unbelievable. Why would he still shower him with affection after wasting all his inheritance on a wild and crazy life? If they were the father, they would chastise him right away and shame him for showing his face again. But it’s precisely what the father has seen in his son—yes, shameful and remorseful. So, he’s ready to forgive him and give him another chance. Moreover, no matter how much tough love he wants to show his son, he could not bear seeing him wasting his life away and being far from him. To be back in his arms and household! This is what God wants for each of us. No matter how many times and how long we have strayed away from him, he wants us to return to him.
REVEREND RODEL G. BALAGTAS GOD never closes his heart to anyone of his children. His love and forgiveness are prodigious—immense like the ocean and the universe. It’s no wonder that his Son, Jesus, showed this kind of love to us by dying on the cross with open arms. God’s love for us is prodigious that no matter how big our sins are and how long we have committed them, he’s ready and willing to forgive them if we repent and return to him. We see this attribute of God in this Sunday’s Gospel, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, a story which we are never tired of hearing about. (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32) One wonders how the father in this parable could still treat his younger son with love and affection after squandering all his inheritance. He runs to his son as soon as he sees him from afar and embraces him. He tells his servants to clothe him with a fes-
For he knows that life without him would always be empty and never peaceful. He knows that nothing of this world would ever satisfy our longing for wholeness. And so, he desires that we come back to him again and again. We may shy away from God every time we fall into sin. We need to be careful when we feel this way. It may be the voice of the devil telling us that we’re not worthy of God’s love anymore and that we don’t have the right to his love and mercy. It’s precisely what the devil wants us to feel: worthless and undeserving of God’s love and forgiveness. As human beings, we’re weak, and we’ll continue to struggle with until the day we die. But we need to keep hoping and believing that the immense love, mercy, and forgiveness of God would triumph over any sin that we have committed. God’s mercy and love are open to the worst sinner in the world even if that person fully repents
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Keynote Speaker
Priscilla Hunt Philanthropist CEO, Hunt Enterprises Inc.
www.april6gala.info | FACC-SLAA's widely attended annual fundraiser will be held on April 6, 2019, at the Sheraton Hotel, Cerritos, Ca. It's the event of the year when families, friends, business owners, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and government organizations come together as a community to share their stories, laughs, successes, and experiences as entrepreneurs and business owners. This is a celebration to support FilAm business owners, entrepreneurs, and the Fil-Am community. Gaming tables for prizes and a hot variety of entertainment lineup with the hottest DJs, live band, and dancing. Tickets $65. Info: 213-608-5837
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Tax Tips VICTOR SY, CPA, MBA
QUALIFIED tuition plans (referred to as Section 529 plans) are established to help families save for college education in a tax-advantage way. These plans are sponsored by states, state agencies, and educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. They are designed to encourage saving for future education costs. Funds are contributed and invested to earn either dividends or capital gains. Distributions are tax free if funds are used to pay “qualified higher education expenses” of the student beneficiary.
New law allows section 529 plans for elementary and high school Old law: Old rules allowed tuition for college but not for elementary or secondary schools as qualified higher education expense. New law: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act) adds elementary and high school to the equation. It provides that qualified higher education expenses now include expenses for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. Limits: There is a limit to how much of a distribution can be taken from a 529 plan for these expenses. The amount of cash distributions from all 529 plans per single beneficiary during any tax year can’t, when combined, include
more than $10,000 for elementary school and secondary school tuition incurred during the tax year. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com. (Advertising Supplement)
40 days of Lent to start another chapter of healthier life with meaning
IT’S been almost four weeks since I was put to sleep at the Orange Coast Memorial Hospital for a triple Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG, aka bypass operation) and thank God, I am still alive recuperating slowly but surely! Without the operation, where three arteries were substantially clogged, I was told that sooner or later I would have had a serious heart attack that will cause severe malfunction of my cardiac system that could have resulted to my death! So, I am very fortunate that I was able to listen to the timely warnings of my body that I felt since November. I was discharged from the hospital just before Ash Wednesday (March 6) and in quiet meditation, I realized that in a person’s life there comes a time when he realizes and accepts his own mortality. The traditional reminder by our Catholic Church on Ash Wednesday is that “we all came from dust and unto dust we will return,” came like a loud thunder that indeed no human is invincible. “ASH” could mean “Acceptance of my human Self’s Humanity,” and that humbled me profoundly. I am writing this piece with great gratitude to share my thoughts and experience and prayerfully inspire oth-
The Metamorphosis
ERNIE D. DELFIN ers who can relate to my story. Indeed, our life is a journey that we do not know where and when it will end. Life is a great mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved, and I made up my mind to live as best as I can every day. As my dear Franciscan friar friend — the late Fr. Father Emery Tang, O.F.M. — told me several times, God will always give us good health and active life long enough to do what He wants us to accomplish. So for the rest of my life, I intend to live to the fullest, include as much reading, writing and doing works of mercy as well as continuing my work at our Catholic Peace & Justice and Prison Ministry in our diocese of Orange. And of course, our many unending service-above-self projects with the Rotary in the U.S. and the Philippines. *** Since Thanksgiving, what I think, do, eat, and enjoy have changed dramatically. Being
helpless for weeks like a baby — substantially dependent upon my personal “nurse” at home, chef, driver, housekeeper and waitress, rolled into one person, my wife of over 40 years — made me realize and be eternally grateful that marriage, indeed, is for better or for worse. Publicly, I can announce to the world that I am most blessed with the unconditional love of my wife Benita with our two children EJ, and Donna Karen with her husband, Tri Nguyen and their two daughters Sofie and Olivia. They are the top six reasons to live for — to enjoy with them, among many others, the remaining years of my life. I have listed down more than a dozen reasons why I am praying to God to bless my plans as I try to follow and do His will. Among the top two reasons this year is to fulfill one in my Bucket List: To join a Pilgrimage to Holy Land this November, to see the many places and re-live lessons I have read in the Bible. Also, to publish the first of three volumes of my “Metamorphosis” book that existed in my head the last 10 years. Also, in my readings and reflections the last few weeks, I have realized that Maslow’s hierarchy of needs of food, shelter and clothing in order to live was
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AC 21: Changing of your employer of your Failure to accommodate an injury is disability discrimination employment-based green card application ANAHIT Shirvanyan, 63 years old, worked as a kitchen staff at Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC), a licensed childcare facility in Van Nuys, CA, which is part of the Los Angeles Community College District. After several years of work for LAVC, Shirvanyan began experiencing pain in her right hand and arm. This was due to her work duties which required her to regularly lift heavy grocery items and kitchen equipment. She was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Shirvanyan said that after she complained to her boss about her pain, the supervisor reduced her hours. At some point, the supervisor also asked Shirvanyan why she wore a splint on her hand. When Shirvanyan asked for help in pushing carts and moving heavy items, management ignored her requests. She was allegedly told, “Nobody is obligated to help you because they have their own work to do.” Shirvanyan’s health woes continued. She was told that she should consider retirement. Shirvanyan later provided the employer a doctor’s note, requesting three months of leave to deal with her pain. However, Shirvanyan never heard back from the employer. She was compelled to sue her employer for failure to provide reasonable accommodation and for disability discrimination. California law prohibits discrimination based on disability or medical condition. California law defines disability (whether mental or physical) as any disease, disorder, cosmetic disfigurement, anatomical loss, emotional or mental illness,
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights ATTY. C. JOE SAYAS, JR. or specific learning disabilities, which limits a major life activity. Working at a job is considered a major life activity. The employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation to employees to enable them to work despite their disability. Depending on the employee’s specific restrictions and the employer’s circumstances, the following are examples of reasonable accommodations: 1. Making facilities accessible to and usable by disabled individuals; 2. Job restructuring; 3. Offering part-time or modified work schedules; 4. Reassigning to a vacant position; 5. Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices; 6. Adjusting or modifying examinations, training materials or policies; 7. Providing qualified readers or interpreters Sometimes allowing the employee a temporary leave of absence may be a reasonable accommodation if, after the leave, the employee likely can resume his or her duties. Additionally, if the employee can no longer perform the former job’s duties, offering a vacant position may be a reasonable accommodation, even if the position pays less than the disabled employee’s former job.
The employer has the duty to find and offer suitable jobs for the employee. Simply telling the disabled employee to check available job postings in the company is not enough. The employer must in good faith determine whether a disabled employee can be transferred or reassigned to a vacant position. The employer is in a better position to know what jobs are vacant or may become vacant. Additionally, the law entitles the disabled employee to “preferential consideration” in reassignment of existing employees. However, the employer is not required to promote or create a new position in order to accommodate a disabled employee. After 15 days of trial, a jury found that the employer failed to engage in interactive process and failed to accommodate Shirvanyan’s disability. They returned a verdict in favor of the employee, awarding her $2,899,670 in damages. ***
The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 2910088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.] (Advertising Supplement)
Young client seeks Chapter 7 discharge of $300K credit cards for a fresh start WHEN I say the client is young, I mean she’s in her 20s. She is married and has a toddler son. Before becoming a mother, she was working full-time and earning about $60,000 a year. That’s a good salary for a young person. So how did she rack up so much credit card debt? Wait, are you reading this right? Does she owe thirty thousand or is that three hundred thousand? You read that right, there’s no typo: she owes three hundred thousand. Whether the amount of $300,000 as credit card debt is unusually large is debatable. For Michael Jackson, $300,000 is not a big credit card debt because he charged $500,000 on his American Express card for a week’s stay in a hotel in Vegas. And that’s a one-time charge. In this client’s case, aside from working full-time, she also engaged in a business enterprise or shall we say a business activity. Since her credit was very good, she was able to obtain a lot of credit cards. She used these cards to purchase gift items such as TV sets, refrigerators and other appliances, furniture, and whatever her “client” wanted her to get using her credit cards. Her clients are people who do not have credit but want to buy on credit. For example, you want to buy a new Samsung 80” flat screen smart TV. It costs $3,000. You can’t qualify for credit to buy that TV for whatever reason. Maybe you just arrived in the U.S. from Timbuktu and have no credit here. The client will buy that TV for you. You get the TV but you have to pay back client over a period of time plus she makes a
Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “ ….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” Family Code §760. This becomes a problem if you are the spouse that has the substantially higher income or the one who accumulates the majority of the assets during the marriage. You are called in family law lingo “the in spouse.” The other spouse (or in our lingo also called the “out spouse” gets a half interest on everything accumulated during the marriage even if the asset is under your name alone or it was accumulated solely due to your sweat and hard work. The out spouse, who stayed at home most of the marriage, gets a one half interest on all the accumula-
Debt Relief
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG margin over her cost. That’s the nature of the client’s business activity. Just add another layer to it. In between the client and you, there is another guy, let’s call him Mr. Z. Mr. Z is the guy who actually contacts the people with no credit who want some big-ticket item. So, in this situation, Mr. Z is the guy who collects from the ultimate buyers, and it is Mr. Z who pays the client back, plus her margin, whatever that margin is. What happens when the ultimate buyers drag their feet and don’t pay Mr. Z back on time. Well, that’s pretty simple. What happens is that Mr. Z is not able to pay back my client. When that happens, the client does not receive the money from Mr. Z to pay back her credit cards and her whole house of cards collapses. By collapse, I mean the client starts to default on the minimum payments on her credit cards. So maybe the client then uses one card to pay the other cards, the proverbial borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. The snowball effect of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul causes the amount of debt to keep getting bigger and bigger, until there’s no more money to borrow from anybody, and then the fat lady sings. In the client’s case, when the fat lady sang, the total amount she
owed was $300,000 of credit cards. The first question that needs to be asked is whether or not this is a legitimate use of credit cards? Well, credit cards can be used for anything you want. Some people even use them to pay hookers, or to gamble in Vegas, or worse, to buy weapons of mass destruction. Credit cards don’t care what you use them for as long as you pay them back with interest on time. Just give them their minimum monthly payments and they’re happy. It’s not unusual for debtors to use credit cards to finance a business activity. This is what the client used her credit cards for: to finance a business activity. Everyone knows that a business can make money, lose money or breakeven. If her business activity had made money, the client would have no problem paying back her cards. The problem is her business did not work. Why not? Because the ultimate buyers would not pay back Mr. Z back on time. Well, the truth is, Mr. Z is not the one holding the bag. It’s the young client who is ultimately left holding the bag of $300,000 of outstanding credit cards, which she can’t pay back. Even Kodak went bankrupt. Remember Kodak? Kodak was the biggest player in the film business for a very long time. It started losing money when digital cameras came in. Remember Mossimo? Before Under Armour, there was Mossimo. Mossimo had a meteoric rise in business but it fell flat and went bankrupt in a short period of time. Ever heard of Montgomery
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Do I need a premarital agreement before getting married? tions during the marriage under California community property law. For example, if you opened a savings account during the marriage under your name alone for which you religiously and diligently stash away 25% of your earnings during the marriage while your spouse blows away his/her salary during the marriage, your spouse still gets a half interest in the money you saved in your savings account. Another example would be if you purchase a piece of real property during the marriage under “your name alone” and have your spouse sign a “quit claim” deed, your spouse may still have a claim for a half interest in your real property. Another example would be if you owned a business prior to marriage, but due to your hard work, long hours of labor, and efforts, the business grew exponentially during the marriage, your spouse may still have a claim for an interest in the business. Signing a premarital agree-
ment may serve as added protection to the future “in spouse” and a hurdle for the future “out spouse” by avoiding or altering the applicability of California community property law to assets 1) already owned by each and 2) to property and income to be acquired or earned during their marriage. Premarital agreements may validly provide that the earnings and accumulations of each party during marriage will remain that party’s separate property, free of any claims, community property or otherwise, of the other party.” Cheney v. City & County of San Francisco Employees Retirement System (1936) 7 C2d 565, 569, 61 P2d 754, 756. Premarital agreements may also serve to preserve a person’s estate for his or her heirs, free of the other party’s inheritance claims. Pursuant to Family Code §1612(c ),“ Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to all of the following:(1)
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DEAR Attorney Tan, I have an approved I-140 immigrant petition which was filed by Company A on my behalf. Company A would like to employ me as a bookkeeper. Based on that approved I-140 petition, I filed an application for green card (I-485 adjustment of status) in August 2014. Since that time, my green card application has been pending, as USCIS has requested additional documents in support of my application. Recently, another company, Company B, has expressed interest in hiring me for a payroll clerk position. Company B is a more established company based in the Midwest and pays $10,000.00 less but offers much better benefits. Is there a way I can substitute Company B as the employer in my green card application? --P.T. Dear P.T. Under INA Section 204(j), commonly referred to as AC 21, an approved I-140 employment-based immigrant petition filed by one employer can be used by or “ported” to another employer providing certain requirements are met. First, a green card (I-485 adjustment of status) application must have been filed and must be pending for at least 180 days. Second, the “new” job offered by the second employer must be in the same or similar occupational classification as the job for which the first employer filed the I-140 petition. In your situation, you meet
Legal Advice ATTY. DARRICK TAN the first requirement in that your application for green card (I-485) was filed in August 2014. Your application has been pending for over 1 year, which is more than the required 180 days under AC 21. In depth analysis in your case is needed as to whether Company B’s job of “payroll clerk” is considered a “similar occupational classification” to Company A’s job of “bookkeeper,” for which Company A petitioned you. In determining whether one job is similar enough to another job for AC 21 purposes, the USCIS takes into account the totality of the circumstances, including the job duties of both positions, the Standard Occupational Code (SOC) from the approved I-140 and the SOC code for the job offered by the new prospective employer, as well as the offered wages for each position. In your case, analysis would begin with the job duties of each position. The more similarity in job duties between bookkeeper and payroll clerk, the greater the likelihood that USCIS would consider them similar. Also, the SOC code for the 2 jobs would be taken into account. In addition, the wages offered by each
employer would be considered. The existence of a big disparity in wages offered by each employer is not by itself a reason to conclude that the jobs are not similar. In your case, the fact that Company B is offering $10,000 less than Company A has to take into account the fact that the Midwest has a lower cost of living, as well as the fact that better benefits are being offered by Company B. If it is considered a “similar occupational classification,” Company B may be substituted in as the employer in your pending green card application, and Company B will not have to start the process from the beginning by filing a labor certification application and by obtaining an approved I-140 petition. The analysis of whether you can use or “port” your approved I-140 requires additional analysis, and consulting with an experienced attorney is recommended. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Too much debt often leads to an empty bank... PAGE C2 t
that 95% of the population will never achieve financial independence? Thus, if you do what everyone else is doing, you will get the same results that 95% of the population gets. Think about that for a minute. We are living in a society where “excess” has become the norm and people’s “yearning” capacity has exceeded their “earning” capacity. To account for the difference between the two, these people amass large amounts of debt to support a lifestyle that their income cannot afford. The result: Empty bank accounts and no plan in place to
keep the family’s welfare secure should an unforeseen financial crisis strike. And remember: Life is uncertain and you never know when the next financial challenge could come. People die, get sick, disabled or they get laid off. If you do not carry insurance to protect yourself against these catastrophic events, the best insurance you can have is smart financial and debt management at all times. Remember that debt is your enemy, not your ally, in your quest for financial security. If you are struggling with serious debt problems, have zero savings and are worried about your financial future, you may
be feeling frustrated and hopeless about your situation. Don’t give up! For a free consultation and debt analysis, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. Let me evaluate your situation and recommend possible options. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
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40 days of lent to start another chapter... Do I need a premarital agreement... PAGE C2 t
probably not quite right. That may have been a correct assumption for lower forms of animals like dogs and cats and wild animals in the jungle, but for humans, it is quite different. The will to live for higher causes, to see the realization of one’s dream, and fulfill the purpose and meaning of his life, can be a more powerful motivation to live. This theory was well documented by Dr. Victor Frankl, in his poignant book “Man Search for Meaning,” narrating his incomprehensible corporal sufferings including tremendous physical pains and human hunger
but survived all his Nazi captors during the Holocaust because of his will to meaning, that he alone created and understood. In parallel ways although not as profound, I can relate to it as I am undergoing the “dislike” of eating certain foods but eating it just the same as they are just a “necessary evil” to give the body just enough gasoline to walk, as not to collapse and die. So like Dr. Frankl, due to that physical “suffering” since my surgery, the drastic change of my dietary requirements caused the loss of 10 pounds of unneeded fat. Mysteriously, however, I felt that
this weight of loss — while it weakened my physical strength — was seemingly compensated by a sharper mind and healthier spirit! Soon, it will be Holy Week, and I wish and pray to all our AJ readers to have a joyful and blessed Easter. The 40 days of Lent are enough preparation — as I am now having — to have a “new” life as Christ admonishes us to do through the teachings of His Church. *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com websites: www.gkerc.org www.edelfin.globalgn.com
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only at the time of his last breath. God showed this when Jesus was dying on the cross and told the repentant thief that he will be with his Father’s Kingdom. This is not to say that this message is a passport to anyone to keep sinning. But this shows how mindboggling God’s mercy is. St. John Chrysostom said it right, “All that God looks for us is the slightest opening, and he forgives a multitude of sins (On Repentance, Homily 1, 3-4L PG, 49, 282-283, liturgy.slu.edu). In her Diary, St. Faustina Kowalska wrote this similar message:
“All graces flow from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night. God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary, that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest.” (No. 1507) May this time of Lent be a momentous time for all of us to feel the extravagant and immense love and forgiveness of God. May it be a time for us to return
Calendar of Events across
to the arms and home of our Father! Amen. *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS MARCH 30
Philippine Medical Society of Northern California installation of officers in Foster City, CA The Philippine Medical Society of Northern California will hold its 47th anniversary and installation of officers for 2019-2021 at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City, CA on Saturday, March 30. For sponsorship information, please contact Dr. Clementina Manio at drtina0427@gmail. com or visit https://www.pmsnc.org/.
United Bicolandia Los Angeles induction in Montebello, CA United Bicolandia Los Angeles will hold its 45th Anniversary and Induction Ceremony at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA on Saturday, March 30. For tickets and sponsorship information, please contact Lanie Berrei at lanieberrei@hotmail.com or (818) 281-3169.
City of San Fernando, La Union Association-USA ball in Brea, CA The City of San Fernando, La Union Association-USA will hold its 29th Fiesta Ball — “A Reunion to Remember” — on Saturday, March 30 at the Embassy Suites (900 East Birch Street) in Brea, CA. It will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 12 midnight. For more details, you may contact ball chairman Noel Nabua at (949) 323-3873 / nsnabua@gmail.com; outgoing president Samuel Chee at (909) 662-7501 / samnlynnndchamp@yahoo.com; incoming president Vicky Neri at (562) 394-6293 / vickybneri@gmail.com; and director Vangie So at (626) 485-3110 / vangieso@ aol.com.
APRIL 7
Ryan, Ryan! The Maestro and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in Glendale, CA Recently proclaimed National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s works will be showcased on Sunday, April 7 at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center (1440 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205) at 6 p.m. by his multi-talented singing group, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers joined by some local artists like Mon David, Annie Nepomuceno, Louie Reyes and many more. Come and hear how his work that spans five decades has made an indelible impact on Filipino culture. Copresented by Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA, a 501 (c) 3 organization that brings exemplary Filipino Artists to U.S. stages. For ticket information ($35-$125) visit www.philpatrons.org and to learn about other tour stops in Las Vegas (April 7), San Diego (April 12) and Seattle (April 14).
APRIL 13
2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit in LA The 2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at The Center of Cathedral Plaza (555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). In partnership with the LA County of Department of Mental Health, registration begins on March 11. This is a FREE event for all. Breakfast and lunch included with registration. Please email FilipinoWellBeing@Gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/FilipinoWellBeing for more updates.
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West Ranch Music Masters Tournament in Valencia, CA West Ranch High School’s Instrumental Music Program is excited to announce their inaugural Golf Tournament fundraiser to be held on Monday, April 22 at The Oaks Club at Valencia, CA. Check-in and breakfast starts at 10 a.m. with a 12 p.m. shotgun start. The $125 per player fee includes: 18 holes of golf, use of golf cart, practice facilities, lunch and dinner. There will be an optional Mulligan and Magic Putt package for purchase. Additionally, a wide array of silent auction and raffle baskets will be available. The awards dinner will be served starting at 5pm and will feature students performing live jazz music. For those who wish to attend only the dinner and award festivities, the cost is $50. All proceeds go directly to support the West Ranch High School Music Program. To register for the tournament or for more information contact Jean Conway at westranchband@gmail.com or visit westranchmusic.com. Deadline to register is on April 11.
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Philippine Nurses Association of America - North Central Regional Conference in Columbus, Ohio West Ranch High School’s Instrumental Music Program is excited to announce their inaugural Golf Tournament fundraiser to be held on Monday, April 22 at The Oaks Club at Valencia, CA. Check-in and breakfast starts at 10 a.m. with a 12 p.m. shotgun start. The $125 per player
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Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii The Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Association (SMISGA) and the Santa Marians of Hawaii are sponsoring the Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 17-19, 2019. The festivities will start with a meet and greet on May 17 at 5 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom to be followed by a gala night on May 18 at 5 p.m. at the Dole Cannery Pomaikai Ballroom. A picnic is also scheduled at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on Sunday, May 19 starting at 10 a.m. The ticket to attend all the events is $130.00 per person. Due to limited space, reservations must be made not later than March 31, 2019. Hats and tshirts will also be on sale for $20. For further information, call Nena Empleo at (808) 384-0394, Carlito Soria at (808) 487-3370, Alex Pena at (702) 373-9522 or Orlino Baldonado at (865) 7898324. Leave a message if there’s no answer. Additional information is also on SMISGA.com and Facebook @ SMISGA19FB. Proceeds from the events will be for various projects in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur and in Hawaii. Donations are tax deductible since SMISGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located. (2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property.(3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event.(4) The making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement.(5) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy.(6) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement.(7) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty. However, the right of a child to support may not be adversely affected. Family Code §1612(b). Premarital agreements that are entered into voluntarily by parties who are each represented by independent counsel and aware of the effect of the agreement, a post 1985 premarital waiver of post dissolution support does not offend contemporary public policy and is not per se unenforceable. Under both the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act and prior law, the spouse claiming the agreement is invalid or not enforceable bears the burden of proof on that allegation. Family Code. § 1615(a); Marriage of Bonds, supra, 24 C4th at 27, 99 CR2d at 269; Marriage of Iverson (1992) 11 CA4th 1495, 1502, 15 CR2d 70, 74–75; However, the UPAA (as amended effective 1/1/02) deems that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily unless the court makes five prescribed findings provided
for under Family Code. § 1615(c) (1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the agreement or after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. (2) The party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed. (3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations he or she was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party’s rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a document declaring that he or she received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information.(4) The agreement and the writings executed pursuant to paragraphs(1) and (3) were not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into the agreement.(5) Any other factors the court deems relevant. In addition, the parties are required to provide each other with full disclosure of all material financial information. A premarital agreement may be unenforceable if found to be unconscionable when it was
executed and the requisite disclosures were lacking and not waived Additionally, a spousal support provision in a premarital agreement executed under the UPAA, whether before or after January 1, 2002, is not enforceable if found to be unconscionable at the time of enforcement. Family Code § 1612(c). If you are the higher earning spouse and have assets to protect, it is important to seek the representation of experienced counsel in drafting a premarital agreement to make sure that all statutory requirement are met which increases the likelihood that your premarital agreement will be deemed enforceable when attacked in court in case of a divorce. ***
repay. Well, let’s see what happens. We have to pray to God for a successful resolution of this case so Client gets a discharge. The client needs His help. The client needs a fresh start in life without this $300,000 hanging on her neck. She made the mistake of getting into this business that had no chance of reasonably succeeding. But she must be given a chance to start her life again without this debt, otherwise, how can she become productive again? Just think about it. Minimum payments on $300,000 of cards are at least $10,000 a month. She doesn’t own a house yet, and she just stopped working because she has a new baby. It’s ridiculous for her to be saddled with this debt just because she made a mistake in getting into a
lousy business. Just like Walt Disney who filed for Chapter 7 twice before Disneyland became a viable business, the client deserves a fresh start in life without accumulated debt. If you need debt relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 2841142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.
Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto:kenneth@kenreyeslaw. com” kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Young client seeks Chapter 7 discharge...
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Wards, KMart, Fedco, Gemco? These department stores existed for a long time then went bankrupt. The latest victim of Amazon is Sears, which is in bankruptcy court right now. So if all these big businesses can fail, my young client can fail too, right? What is the threshold question that the Chapter 7 trustee will ask the client? Did you intend to pay these cards back? And to this question, the answer is that if the client’s business was successful, then she would have and could have easily paid her credit cards back. This is called the “intent to repay.” It’s possible that her creditors will argue that if you look at the totality of circumstances, she had no intent to
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - APRIL 2, 2019
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New parking lot opens at LAX
LOS Angeles International Airport (LAX) officially opened its new long-term parking option on Thursday, March 28 at Economy Lot E, with an initial offering of approximately 2,000 parking spaces. Economy Lot E is located at 5455 W. 111th St., between Aviation and La Cienega boulevards. “Access to affordable, reliable and hassle-free parking options is a must for many travelers, which is why we are excited to open Economy Lot E and provide a great new option for our airport guests,� said Keith Wilschetz, Deputy Executive Director, Operations and Emergency Management, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). “As we enter into a new phase of our LAX modernization program, we will be making a number of changes
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to meet construction needs while at the same time staying focused on ensuring an exceptional guest experience.� Economy Lot E is located closer to the I-105 and I-405 freeways than the current long-term facility, Lot C, which will close on Monday, April 1. When fully opened later this spring, Economy Lot E will offer approximately 2,700 spaces. Economy Lot E will feature free shuttle service to and from LAX, 24 hours a day. The ride between Lot E and the airport is expected to take 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The daily parking rate at Economy Lot E will be $12, the same price that parking at Lot C has been since 2009. Payment options will include cash, credit card, and mobile payments (Ap-
ple Pay, Google Wallet and Samsung Pay). Parking ambassadors will still be available to help customers who have issues such as lost tickets or discrepancies. Guests who have parked in Lot C will have until April 19 to move their cars. They will be able to reach their vehicle on the Lot E shuttle buses by informing the driver that they are parked in Lot C. Vehicles left in Lot C after April 19 are subject to removal. Later this spring, Lot C will be converted into lay-down space for construction activities and employee parking, which is also in heavy demand around the airport due to construction activities. In 2021, a 4,700 space parking structure is scheduled to open as part of the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP). n
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DACA flight attendant: Small Peso seen weakening to P53:$1 by year end misunderstanding causes big problems RECENTLY, there were news reports from many media outlets about a Texas flight attendant enrolled in DACA who was told by a supervisor that it was safe for her to fly to Mexico and safely return to the U.S. Unfortunately, upon her return, she was detained by immigration officers and held in detention for over five weeks before being released and then put in deportation proceedings. Now, she faces a host of problems for what was described as a small misunderstanding. According to the news stories, this flight attendant entered the U.S. illegally over 25 years ago, when she was three years old. Eventually, she enrolled in the DACA program, which defers deportation proceedings against certain young people who entered the U.S. at an early age and allows them to obtain work authorization. She eventually married a U.S. citizen, got a job at an airline, and was assigned to international flights. She expressed concerns about traveling outside the U.S., but the airline assured her she would be fine, and it was safe for her to travel. However, upon her return from a trip to Mexico, she was detained and put in removal proceedings. Here are some of my observations about this case and potential issues/problems she will be facing: • DACA recipients cannot leave the U.S. (They used to be able to obtain “advance parole,” which is permission to travel outside the U.S. and then return. However,
Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ the Trump administration stopped granting advance parole.) • By departing the U.S., her DACA protection was “automatically terminated.” • She also triggered Bill Clinton’s 10-year bar. (Bill Clinton signed a law in 1996 where, if anyone had been out of status for more than one year and departed the U.S., they are banned from coming back for 10 years. Therefore, she is subject to that 10-year bar. • If she had entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI), and was not “grandfathered” under section 245(i)‘, she would not be able to get a green card in the U.S., even if she is petitioned by her U.S. citizen husband (unless he has been in the military or on active duty). She would instead have to return to her home country, either on the basis of a provisional waiver, or if she triggered the 10-year bar, apply for the waiver in her home country. • It appears in the articles she has already been placed in removal proceedings (after having been held in detention for five weeks), and could face the possibility of being deported/removed. • The husband should already think about petitioning her and filing for a waiver of the 10-year
bar, so she can return to her home country and obtain a visa. This goes to show the importance of consulting with, and obtaining advice and guidance from an attorney, rather than relying on friends, relatives, or even employers, who may not know the law, and give the wrong advice. In this case, she was told that she would have no problems in traveling outside the U.S. because she was a DACA recipient. That advice was wrong and now has created big problems for her. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-4873465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINE (Advertising Supplement)
Business Quote of the Week “Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation…. There are going to be priorities and dimensions of your life, how you integrate them is how you find true happiness.” — Pete Cashmore, CEO of Mashable
Manilatimes.net file photo by MAYVELIN
U. CARABALLO Manilatimes.net
MONETARY policy easing and continued imports growth could lead to the peso closing weaker against the dollar by yearend, ANZ Research said. “We expect the Philippine peso to weaken to 53 [to the dollar] by end 2019,” it said in a report on Wednesday, March 27. The research firm’s latest exchange rate forecast is a down-
grade from the previous P52:$1 outlook. In particular, ANZ Research warned that expectations of interest rate and reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cuts “will undermine the local currency.” “Policy easing is supportive for growth, but this also increases the risk of stoking inflation,” it noted. After five consecutive rate hikes in 2018 to address above-target inflation, the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas’ (BSP) policymaking Monetary Board has since kept key interest rates unchanged and is widely expected to begin relaxing policy as early as May. “A more benign inflation outlook will allow the BSP to ease the overnight reverse repurchase rate (RRP) to counter recent tightening in monetary conditions while providing some support to growth,” ANZ Research said. It expects a 25-basis points PAGE D2
PH consumers, businessmen turn bullish for first half of 2019 by DAXIM
L. LUCAS
ness confidence surveys released simultaneously on Thursday, March 28, by the Bangko Sentral FILIPINO consumers and busi- ng Pilipinas (BSP), which showed nessmen turned more upbeat in a broad improvement in economic the first quarter of the year and sentiment after last year’s high inexpect the next three months to flation-induced pessimism. be even better for them due to imAccording to respondents, their proving income and more jobs for improved outlook during the curthe former and expected improve- rent quarter was mainly brought ment in sales for the latter due to about by their expectations of election spending. additional or higher income; imThus revealed the results of provement in peace and order; separate consumer and busi- availability of more jobs; and good Inquirer.net
governance. “Improvement in the consumer sentiment was carried to the subsequent reference periods as the next three months’ confidence index reverted to positive territory at 10.7 percent from -0.8 percent in the previous quarter, and the year ahead index rose to 28.4 percent from 10.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018,” the BSP said. Meanwhile, business outlook on the economy improved for PAGE D2
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DOTr eyes award of Bulacan Gov’t taps UNDP to speed up free Wi-Fi project airport concession in Q3
Inquirer.net file photo Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Tamayo said the terms of reference (TOR) or the guidelines for the Swiss challenge are now being finalized, with the hope of getting it published by next month.Philstar.com file photo Philstar.com file photo by RICHMOND
MERCURIO Philstar.com
CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. (SMC) may receive the concession to develop and operate a new international airport in Bulacan by the third quarter, assuming that there would be no company or group that could top its offer. Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Tamayo said the terms of reference (TOR) or the guidelines for the Swiss challenge are now being finalized, with the hope of getting it published by next month. “Hopefully within April we can publish the TOR for the Swiss challenge for the Bulacan airport,” he said. Once the TOR is published, other groups or companies would then have 60 days to give better offers than that of SMC’s
proposal. Should there be an offer that is better than that of SMCs, the conglomerate led by tycoon Ramon Ang, having been granted the original proponent status by the government, has the right to match the offer. Tamayo said the awarding of the concession agreement for the Bulacan airport may take place by the third quarter. Ang earlier said his group is hopeful that it could hit the ground running on actual construction of the project this year. Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso earlier said the development of the Bulacan international airport would be undertaken in phases by SMC, with the group committing to make the first phase of the project operational in three to four years, which would include two runways and a capacity of 35 million
passengers. The development of the Bulacan airport is part of the DOTr’s multi-airport strategy to decongest NAIA which serves as the country’s main international gateway. The P754 billion airport development of San Miguel Holdings Corp. in Bulacan province, dubbed as the New Manila International Airport project, was granted approval by the NEDA chaired by President Duterte in April last year. The concession agreement for the project secured the approval from the NEDA board last December. The project involves the construction of a world-class, major international gateway with four to six parallel runways, modern terminals, a seaport, an industrial zone, and necessary infrastructure such as expressways. n
PH consumers, businessmen turn bullish... PAGE D1 t the first quarter of 2019, with the overall confidence index rising to 35.2 percent from 27.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2018, the central bank said. This marks a significant reversal after the metric declining for four consecutive quarters last year. “According to respondents,
their more upbeat outlook was due primarily to expectations of more business activities during the start of the campaign period for the forthcoming midterm elections; increased orders and consumer purchases with the easing of inflation; higher government infrastructure spending; the introduction of new and en-
hanced business strategies and processes; and the expansion of their businesses and new product lines,” the central bank said. They were also optimistic that their business operations would benefit from the favorable macroeconomic conditions in the country, particularly lower inflation and interest rates. n
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) sealed a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to hasten the rollout of the government’s free Wi-Fi project. The move will support the free Wi-Fi program formally known as the Pipol Konek—Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places Project, which was criticized for its slow implementation. “Today as we set to seal this meeting of minds, the [DICT] is optimistic that our goals of providing free internet access and promoting knowledge building among our citizens will soon be realized,” acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. of the DICT said.
The DICT said it tapped the help of the UNDP on Sept. 26, 2018. The UNDP partnership will aid in the free Wi-Fi program as well as other capacity building initiatives, which it did not detail. The UNDP is also involved in the exploration of international partners through proposed convergence initiatives, the DICT said. “Access to the internet is access to services and information. UNDP is pleased to assist DICT to meet the national objective of bridging the digital divide and leaving no one behind,” UNDP Philippines country office resident representative Titon Mitra said in the same statement. Following the project document signing, the UNDP will conduct area-based network analysis of target sites, oversee monitoring
of project impact and continue to provide technical training. The DICT’s free Wi-Fi project aims to provide internet access to public place such as schools, airports, public hospitals and parks as well as other state facilities. The DICT was earlier targeting to hit 200,000 sites by 2022. As early as 2011, the government laid out a five-year program to provide free internet through its Internet-for-All project. In 2016, the project underwent tweaks under the administration of President Duterte and was renamed Pipol Konek. With an initial fund layout of P4.8 billion, Pipol Konek was started in January 2015. However, the Commission on Audit noted that as of December 2017, the project achieved a “very low-performance rate.” n
PAGE D1 t (bps) rate cut to be ordered during a May 9 policy meeting, to be followed by two more 25-bps cuts that would bring the RRP to 4.00 percent by the end of 2019 from 4.75 percent. The research firm also said the BSP could quicken the pace of reducing banks’ RRR by as much as 400bps over the next four quarters. The RRR is the proportion of deposits that banks need to keep with the Bangko Sentral against
the sum they can loan out to borrowers. Currently at 18 percent following two cuts last year, it is still considered as one of the highest in the region. There is also a risk that import growth will stay strong and delay the correction in the country’s external imbalance, ANZ Research continued. “These ultimately will result in further Philippine peso weakness,” it added. Latest available data showed
that imports were up 5.8 percent to $9.03 billion in January, resulting in a trade gap of $3.76 billion. A wider trade gap last year dragged the country’s current account deficit to an all-time high of $7.9 billion. The currency ended 2018 at P52.58 versus the greenback, down sharply from its 2017 close of P49.93:$1. It closed 17 centavos weaker at P52.61 to the dollar on Wednesday. n
by MIGUEL
R. CAMUS
Inquirer.net
Peso seen weakening to P53:$1...
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Airport rehab talks over if deal not reached soon BAP eyes 2019 launch of digital banking IDs by MAYVELIN
U. CARABALLO Manilatimes.net
A DIGITAL banking ID registry that will allow for data storage and exchange among members is expected to be launched later this year by the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP). In a statement on Tuesday, March 26, the industry group said the initiative would be spearheaded by its new leadership under Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) President and CEO Cezar Consing. During a recent annual membership meeting, Consing expressed gratitude to his predecessor, Nestor Tan, under whose leadership the BAP developed the foundation for the ID registry and increased its focus on cybersecurity. “The Philippine banking indus-
Manilatimes.net file photo by LISBET
K. ESMAEL Manilatimes.net
DoTR sets April 30 deadline for agreement with NAIA Consortium Talks for the rehabilitation of the Philippines’ main gateway will be called off if a deal is not reached by the end of next month, the Transportation department said on Tuesday, March 26. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters that the NAIA Consortium, composed of 7 of the country’s top conglomerates, had been delaying discussions regarding its proposal to redevelop the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. “Tumatagal yung usapan. Gusto kong gawan ng cap. By April 30, ‘pag hindi pa tayo nagkasundo-sundo, eh gagawin na namin itong mga proyekto (The talks have been dragging on. I want to set a cap. By April 30, if we have not come to an agreement, we will do the projects by ourselves),” he said. “Sinasabi nila delayed daw kami. Hindi kami ang nagde-delay. Sila ang humihingi ng extension kung kelan magmi-meeting (They say we are delayed. We are not the ones causing the delay. They are the ones calling for extensions as to when we will meet),” he added. “Lagyan na lang ng deadline para ipakita na hindi kami ang nagde-delay (Let’s just set a deadline to show that we are not
the cause of the delay).” The NAIA Consortium is composed of AC Infrastructure Holdings, Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., Alliance Global Group, Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. It bagged original proponent status status last September for its unsolicited proposal to upgrade, operate and expand the airport over a period of 15 years. The original plan called for a 35year concession and a project cost of P350 billion but this was later cut to 15 years and P102 billion. Tugade claimed the government had yet to see the complete details of the proposal. Asked if they would entertain rival offers if the consortium missed the April 30 deadline, he replied “The decision will come when the situation asks for it.” The Transportation department had favored the NAIA Consortium proposal over that of GMRMegawide, which last year also offered to undertake the project for P155.9 billion over 18 years. Sought for comment, NAIA Consortium spokesperson Jimbo Reverente told reporters in a text message that they would “comply with the stated deadline of Secretary Tugade.” If a deal is reached, the proposal will still have to be cleared by the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte. It will then be subjected to a Swiss challenge, where competing offers will be solicited and the consortium allowed to match them. NAIA has been operating beyond capacity and Terminal 1 — the second oldest — at one point was rated the worst airport in the world. Designed to accommodate 31 million passengers, it handled 42 million in 2017 and the figure is expected to hit 47 million by 2020 and 52 million by 2022. Alternative gateways have been proposed, among them the P735.6-billion Bulacan International Airport being pushed by another top conglomerate, San Miguel Corp., that has already been approved by the NEDA Board. Also on Tuesday, Transportation Undersecretary Manuel Tamayo said the terms of reference for a Swiss challenge were being finalized. “Hopefully within the next two weeks we can publish it. Then we will give 60 days to give other groups the chance to match SMC’s proposal,” he said. San Miguel last year said that groundbreaking could be held sometime in 2019. Last month, Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso said the project would be undertaken in phases, which would allow the facility to be partially operational by 2020.n
try is transforming itself so as to continue to be relevant to one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Digitalization, cybersecurity, and financial liberalization are issues foremost on bankers’ minds,” Consing was quoted as saying. The BAP said the ID registry would set the foundation for eKYC or electronic know-yourcustomer and future use cases. “This facility, powered by blockchain technology, will make it easier and faster for clients to open accounts and avail of banking services with BAP’s member banks,” it added. Several member banks are already developing systems to be able to interface with the ID registry, the BAP continued. The industry group also espoused the Government Securities Roadmap for more cost-ef-
ficient trading of fixed income instruments and sustained regular dialogues with regulators for the liberalization of the foreign exchange market. The BAP, the lead organization of universal and commercial banks in the country, includes Asia United Bank, BDO Unibank Inc., BDO Private Bank Inc., Bank of Commerce, BPI, China Banking Corp., CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp., Development Bank of the Philippines, East West Banking Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, Maybank Philippines Inc., Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Philippine Bank of Communications, Philippine National Bank, Philtrust Bank, Philippine Veterans Bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Robinsons Banking Corp., Security Bank Corp. Union Bank of the Philippines, and United Coco Planters Bank. n
Think tank sees soft landing for Philippine economy
For the country, this entails a transition from a fast growth trajectory to a slower or flat growth path while avoiding recession. Philstar.com file photo by CZERIZA
VALENCIA Philstar.com
AMID the slowdown in the global economy, a soft landing can be expected for the Philippines this year, UK-based Oxford Economics said in a research brief Wednesday, March 27. For the country, this entails a transition from a fast growth trajectory to a slower or flat growth path while avoiding recession. The macroeconomy research firm attributes this to the resilience of the economy and less internal risk compared with other emerging economies.
“Most emerging markets have reasonable prospects to secure a soft landing, even if external conditions deteriorate,” said Oxford Economics. “Our soft landing scorecard suggest India and the Philippines are the most secure, and Argentina and South Africa the least,” it added. As the global economy enters its third slowdown since 2010, the firm said its cyclical indicator suggests a slowdown is still more likely than a recession. “While some recent shocks are still working their way through the system, the negative momen-
tum looks insufficient to tip the world into recession — that would require further major shocks or policy errors,” Oxford Economics said. The firm noted that recent tightenings in monetary policy worldwide has raised the risk of recession but this is balanced by less stress in emerging markets, “less severe” rise in oil prices, and low inflation. “It may be premature to declare the onset of happy days for the global economy, but our trawl through the various drivers of weakness over the last year or so suggests PAGE D5
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EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
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PH corn output seen rising Government trims domestic borrowings to P315 billion in 2019 2nd quarter in 2019-2020 market year by MARY
GRACE Philstar.com
by EIREEN JAIREE
GOMEZ
Maniltimes.net
THE United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects corn production in the Philippines to increase by 2.5 percent to 8.1 million metric tons (MMT) in the 2019-2020 market year due to high prices. In the Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report of its Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Manila, the USDA said the figure would be 200,000 MT higher than the 7.9 MMT recorded in MY 18/19. Last year, total corn output reached 7.8 MMT, a 2-percent drop from the 7.9 MMT in 2017, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. This was due to decline in harvest area of about 6.5 percent to 2.5 million hectares from 2.6 million hectares in 2017, while yields marginally improved to 3.09 tons per hectare from 3.07 tons per hectare. The major corn producing ar-
EMPLOYMENT
eas last year included the Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, and Central Mindanao. In 2018, the average farm gate prices of yellow corn posted a 22percent increase to P14.01 per kilogram from a year ago level of P11.52 per kilogram, reflecting the decline in production due to typhoon losses, particularly from Typhoon Mangkhut. However, the USDA said the country’s corn stocks would likely rebound to 452,000 MT in MY 19/20, a reversal from the 352,000 MT recorded in MY 18/19. The majority of corn stocks are with private traders and large integrated operations. Due to improved grain production and adequate feedgrain stocks, corn imports are expected to be flat in MY 19/20, according to USDA. Citing exporter data from the Global Trade Atlas, the USDA said 2018 corn imports reached 724,000 MT, up 39 percent from 522,000 MT in 2017. Indonesian corn accounted for 37 percent
PADIN
THE national government is planning to borrow P315 billion from the domestic market through the issuance of Treasury bonds and Treasury bills within the second quarter, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said Thursday, March 28. In a memorandum addressed to all government securities eligible dealers (GSEDs), National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon said the BTr is set to float P195 billion worth of T-bills and P120 billion worth of T-bonds from April to June, for a total domestic borrowing program of P315 billion in the second quarter. Based on BTr data, this is lower than the domestic debt program of P360 billion in the previous quarter. This is likewise below the P325 billion program set in the same quarter last year. National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon said the BTr decided to go for lower borrowings in the next three months, considering the government’s strong cash position amid public underspending. “(We lowered the program due to) strong auction results, including RTB. But spending (is) Manilatimes.net file photo behind program without budget passed,” De Leon said in a text of the total imports, followed by message. Thai corn and U.S. corn with 29 Last March, the national govpercent and 24 percent share, re- ernment raised P235.935 billion spectively. from the sale of five-year RTBs at Meanwhile, demand for feedcorn will increase to 6.7 MMT while food consumption will decrease to 2 MMT due to the shift- PAGE D3 t ing diet of the Filipino consumer, the worse is behind us,” it said. It noted that policy stimulus in the USDA said. “The domestic feed milling in- China is already showing signs dustry continues to consolidate of increased lending and the and modernize, servicing the euro zone economy is showing feed needs of the growing live- signs of improving. Emerging economies that stock, poultry, and aquaculture include the Philippines were industries,” it added. To satisfy the growing demand assessed based on a soft-landfor yellow corn, the Department ing scorecard based on five inof Agriculture was banking on dividual measures: economic Sorghum Development Program resilience, exchange rate sensiwhich aims to produce an esti- tivities, past policy over-tightenmated 10 MMT of additional feed ing, trade openness and internal grains in 100,000 hectares of an- risk. The measures were scored one cestral domain areas. Sorghum is a grass variety up to five with five as the highest which produces protein-rich score, suggesting the least risk grains which could also be an for a hard landing, which leads alternative to corn for animal to recession. Among the indicators, ecofeeds, thus, support the growing livestock and poultry industry. n nomic resilience weighed the
most (55 percent weight), exchange rate sensitivities (10 percent weight), past policy overtightening (five percent weight), openness to trade (20 percent weight), and internal risk (10 percent weight). In the scorecard, India had the highest final score of 3.45 while the Philippines had the second highest at of 3.44. Across indicators, the country scored between three and four. The resilience of the domestic economy and less internal risk figured most prominently with scores of four for both measures. “Most major emerging markets appear to be in a reasonably strong position based on this metric, with India, the Philippines, Poland and Hungary be-
FOR RENT
FOR RENT
National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon
a coupon rate of 6.25 percent. The BTr has also opened its tap facility and over-the-counter facilities for some T-bills and bonds. These are on top of the regular auctions being done by the bureau. Meanwhile, government spending last January fell by seven percent to P212.2 billion from P228.7 billion in the same month last year. As a result, the Philippines’ budget surplus during the month reached P44.5 billion, four times the P10.2 billion surplus recorded in January 2018. The national government borrows from both local and foreign creditors to plug its budget deficit, which is currently capped at 3.2 percent of the gross domestic product for 2019. Based on the schedule posted by the BTr, auctions for T-bills will be held every Monday of the second quarter starting from April 1 to June 24.
Philstar.com file photo
Each auction will have a total volume of P15 billion, lower than the weekly volume of P20 billion in the previous quarter. This will comprise of P4 billion in 91-day securities, P5 billion in 182-day and P6 billion in 364day T-bills. Meanwhile, T-bond auctions will be held on Tuesdays of every other week, starting from Jan. 9 to June 25. Second quarter T-bond offerings involve longer tenor buckets, including seven years, 10 years and 20 years, each with a total size of P20 billion. For 2019, the Philippines’ borrowings are programmed to increase to P1.19 trillion from this year’s P986 billion in expectation of the higher fiscal deficit. Of the amount, P891.7 billion is expected to come from domestic lenders, while the remaining P297.2 billion will be sourced from foreign creditors. n
Think tank sees soft landing for Philippine...
ing the most robust,” said Oxford Economics. The score of four for past policy overtightening also indicated that monetary authorities responded to inflation with just enough tightening of monetary policy. Oxford Economics said the policy tightening seen across emerging economies for the past two years “does not seem to be a major concern.” The country performed weaker in exchange rate sensitivities and trade openness with scores of three for both. Other countries covered by the scorecard were China, Indonesia, Poland, Hungary, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, South Africa and Argentina. n
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