May 1-3, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 32 • 2 Sections - 20 Pages
USA
DATELINE Los Angeles has most to lose in Census undercount, study finds FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
For first time, state could lose a congressional seat and electoral college vote
Bilateral talks to resolve South China Sea ‘irritants’ - Palace by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
MALACAÑANG on Monday, April 29, said China is open to bilateral talks to resolve the territorial incursions raised by President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jingping last week. According to Presidential spokesperson Salvador
Panelo, Xi expressed willingness to discuss “irritants,” such as the increased presence of Chinese vessels in disputed areas, despite reiterating Beijing’s claims to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “What the president mentioned [were] the irritants. [They refer] to everything there. From the presence of the ships, from the alleged harassment, all of it — the irritants,” said Panelo at a press briefing. “Both sides repeated their previous positions on the
CALIFORNIA is welcoming newcomers every day, but some regions are growing fast enough to take political power away from slower-growing ones. In today’s California, the most-populous county, Los Angeles, with more than 10 million people, is losing ground to the San Francisco Bay Area and the Inland Empire of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. In its recent report, “Winners and Losers: The 2020 Census and California’s 2021 Redistricting,” Claremont McKenna College’s Rose Institute of State and Local Government looks at population trends up and down the state and explains how changes play out in the political realm. Overall, the state is projected to show an 8.7% population increase from 2010, while within California, the San Francisco Bay Area is expected to show 11.9% growth overall, with San Francisco County growing 14%, Alameda 14.5% and Contra Costa 13.4%. San-
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday, April 29, repeated his stand that the United States is the Philippines’ only military ally following President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to China. Locsin made the statement after a netizen disagreed with a remark made by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo that China and the Philippines are allies. oreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday repeated his stand that the United States is the Philippines’ only military ally following President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to China. Locsin made the statement after a netizen disagreed with a remark made by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo that China and the Philippines are allies. “Yes, they are allies of each other. It is the headline of the great Financial Times. Along with a lotta EU countries and UK,” Locsin said in a tweet.
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Mark Steven Domingo, 26, a Fil-Am U.S. Army veteran was arrested on Friday, April 26 on suspicion of plotting a massive terrorist attack in the Los Angeles area. Photos courtesy of the FBI
Fil-Am arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in LA area
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Locsin: China is a PH ally, but US is only military ally
matter, and they both agreed that whatever irritants, challenges, [these] can be resolved through negotiation,” he added. He also quoted Duterte, saying the irritants arose from the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s claim over nearly the entire South China Sea. “And both of them agreed that the mechanism of bilateral relations will be used to resolve the conflict,”
DUTERTE LEADS PALARONG PAMBANSA OPENING. President Rodrigo Duterte bangs the gong to officially declare the opening of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex on Sunday, April 28. Malacañang photo by Joey Dalumpines
More journalists seek to join Rappler’s legal challenge vs Duterte coverage ban by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com
VIRAY
MORE journalists and columnists sought to join online news site Rappler and its reporters in their legal challenge to the government’s ban on coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte. Journalists, represented by Theodore Te of the Free Legal Assistance Group, asked the Supreme Court to be allowed to join Rappler as petitioners. They asked the SC to hold an oral argument on the case. A total of 41 journalists across different platforms affixed their signature to signify their intent to join the news website in their
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Theodore Te of the Free Legal Assistance Group
Mark Steven Domingo of Reseda, Calif. faces federal charges in alleged plot meant to avenge the mass shootings at New Zealand mosques in March by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
A Filipino American Army veteran from Reseda, California was arrested on Friday, April 26 on suspicion of plotting a massive terrorist attack in Los Angeles after a lengthy investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to records unsealed on Monday, April 29. On Friday night, 26-year-old former U.S. Army infantryman Mark Steven Domingo received a package from an undercover FBI informant which he believed to be a live bomb but was actually an inert explosive device (IED) that he planned to use for “retribution” for the recent terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand in which an alleged white supremacist killed dozens of Muslims in two mosques. According to the Department of Justice, Domingo is a U.S.-born citizen of Filipino descent. As stated in a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors on Saturday, Domingo was charged with aiding terrorists with “material support” to carry out the planned attack. An affidavit in support of the
Philstar.com photo
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Pew poll: 69% of Filipinos satisfied Poe, Villar share lead in Pulse Asia senatorial survey for April with how democracy is working by PATHRICIA
ANN V. Inquirer.net
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
A RECENT survey released by Washington-based polling firm Pew Research Center revealed that a majority of Filipinos are satisfied with how democracy works in the Philippines. The study, which measured satisfaction with the performance of democracy in different parts of the globe, was released on April 29 and showed that across the 27 countries polled, 51 percent are dissatisfied with how democracy is working in their country, while 45 percent are satisfied.
ROXAS
Pew noted that Asia-Pacific nations tend to be satisfied with the state of their democracy — including the Philippines with 69 percent of Filipinos saying they are satisfied, while 31 percent admitting they are not. Japan seems to be the only exception as results showed 56 percent of Japanese claiming they are dissatisfied. In Europe, large majorities in Italy, Spain and Greece are dissatisfied. Meanwhile, in the subSaharan African and Latin American countries surveyed, around half or more answered they were
MANILA — Reelectionist Senators Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar share the lead in Pulse Asia’s April senatorial survey, the major pollster revealed on Tuesday, April 30. Villar and Poe shared the 1st and 2nd places, with 51.7 and 50.5 percent of votes, respectively, Pulse Asia’s April 2019 “Ulat ng Bayan Survey” said. The poll results came barely two weeks before the May 13 midterm elections, and with 11 campaign days left for the contenders. With his voter preference of
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Senators Cynthia Villar and Grace Poe shared the top spot in Pulse Asia’s April 2019 “Ulat ng Bayan Survey”
Inquirer.net photo
A May 1-3, 2019 • SoCal aSIaN JOURNaL
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From the Front Page
More journalists seek to join Rappler’s legal... PAGE A1 plea and argue before the court that they were “directly affected by the abridgment of their freedom.” They told the court that the ban that Duterte articulated on March 1, 2018 “extends not only to Rappler and to its reporters and staff but also to any journal-
ist who would write or broadcast anything that the president deems to be ‘fake news.’” The journalists also claimed that the ban is “arbitrary and based only personal discomfort or displeasure,” as seen in the main petition centered on the account on Rappler’s Pia Ranada, covering Malacañang.
The Malacañang first banned Ranada from covering a Duterte event in the Palace in February 2018. A member of the Presidential Security Group told Ranada on Feb. 20, 2018 that an order was issued to prevent her from entering the premises. Harry Roque, presidential spokesperson at the time, said that Duterte got “irritated” with Ranada, whom the chief executive supposedly treated like his own granddaughter, and with Rappler. The Palace order against Rappler was issued a day after former Christopher “Bong” Go, then special assistant to the president and now running for senator, said Rappler delivers “fake news”— a comment often used for reports that are seen as critical of the administration. Although the ban has been implemented for more than a year, no document containing the order has been made public. The journalists told the court: “Absent any substantial interest, a ban on coverage that displeases the reader or listener constitutes impermissible prior restraint. This is the situation here.” Among those who intend to become petitioners in the case include Melinda de Jesus, Vergel Santos and Luis Teodoro of Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, broadcasters Tina-Monzon Palma, Solita Monsod, Lourd de Veyra and columnists John Nery and Ceres Doyo. n
AFP ABSENTEE VOTING. Troops cast their votes during the Local Absentee Voting (LAV) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 30. Over 20,000 soldiers are expected to participate in the LAV, which runs until May 1. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Bilateral talks to resolve...
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Panelo said. He noted the government’s optimism over “positive” results; however, he admitted that there is still much to be done. “The next movement will be the negotiation. They already talked about the irritants. But, if you were to ask me, we have to wait for their official response about our complaints,” he said. Duterte, who previously set aside an international arbitral ruling that upheld the Philippines’ claims, recently became adamant
about his stance against continued Chinese incursions as Chinese vessels reportedly circled the Philippine-held Pagasa (Thitu) Island. He also demanded that the Chinese fisherfolk to stop harvesting the giant clams in Scarborough Shoal. “We raised certain protests. We still do not know if they are affirming or disputing it. Because if they dispute it, we will talk and [insist that] it is not true,” Panelo said. “What is that? Who is that? Why is it there? What are they doing there? We do not know the an-
swers to that yet,” he added. Panelo, however, confirmed that the two leaders have made an agreement to discuss the specifics of the maritime row as well as the arbitral ruling in the next session of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea, which the Philippines and China set up in 2016. “That would be discussed there, it will be more specific there. Bilaterals usually dwell on general issues, both of them are reading their messages,” Panelo said, referring to Duterte and Xi. n
Poe, Villar share lead in Pulse Asia senatorial... PAGE A1
45.7 percent, former Sen. Lito Lapid found himself in 3rd to 4th places. He was followed by Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano at the statistical ranking of 3rd to 6th places with 43.9 percent voter preference rate. Close behind Cayetano are former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go (40.8 percent) who is ranked 4th to 8th and Senator Juan Edgardo Angara (40.4 percent) who has a statistical ranking of 4th to 9th places. Completing the list of prob-
able winners according to the survey are former Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr. (38.1 percent, 5th to 9th places), former Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa (36.7 percent, 5th to 9th places), Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay (36.2 percent, 6th to 9th places), Senator Aquilino Pimentel III (31.8 percent, 10th to 14th places), Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos (29.6 percent, 10th to 14th places), former Senator Jinggoy Estrada (28.8 percent, 10th to 14th places), Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino
IV (28.8 percent, 10th to 14th places), and Senator JV Estrada Ejercito (28.1 percent, 10th to 16th places). Of the probable winners, 10 are running under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago coalition, while one is running as an independent candidate (Poe). The other three are running under three different political parties – the Nationalist People’s Coalition (Lapid), the United Nationalist Alliance (Binay), and the Liberal Party (Aquino). Only Aquino of LP and the Otso Diretso opposition slate
made it to the poll’s “Magic 12.” Opposition’s Mar Roxas was out of the top 12 and figured in the survey’s 14th to 17th rank. Pulse also said only about one out of every three voters or 35 percent has a complete senatorial slate for the May 13 midterm elections. The survey, conducted April 10-14, 2019, was based on a multistage probability sample of 1,800 likely voters 18 years old and above. Pulse Asia’s nationwide survey has a ± 2.3 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. n
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Dateline USa
VOLUNTEERS. Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Manuel B. Felix, and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Guillermo T. Eliazar (center foreground) lead the group photo after the mass oath taking of “KALIGKASAN” Volunteers at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila. The Kaligkasan program is a project of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which taps local volunteers in ensuring security and environmental protection in tourist destinations of the country. PNA photo by Gil Calinga
DOH orders probe of complaint on foreign doctors by Sheila
CriSoStomo Philstar.com
PHILIPPINE Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has ordered an investigation into the employment of foreign doctors in some hospitals without the necessary permits. Duque directed the Human Resource for Health Development Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH) to look into the issue, which was raised by Sen. Richard Gordon. “I have instructed the bureau to investigate immediately, based on a letter sent to me by Senator Gordon last week. We looked at
the content of the letter, we will address the points raised,” Duque said Monday, April 29. Duque said that as a policy, foreign doctors cannot be allowed to practice in the Philippines unless there is a reciprocity agreement with their countries of origin. This means that Filipino doctors will also be allowed to work in these countries in exchange for their physicians working in the Philippines. Duque said the Philippines does not have such agreement with the countries mentioned by Gordon. The senator discovered that there are Pakistani or Nepalese doctors working as medical con-
sultants at the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital, a governmentrun facility in Olongapo City. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will investigate reports that a “syndicate” is behind the employment of foreign doctors in the country. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau will coordinate with Gordon, who revealed the information over the weekend, as well as with the Professional Regulation Commission, the agency in charge of issuing licenses to professionals. Sandoval said the bureau is bent on ridding the country of illegal aliens. (With Evelyn Macairan)
Pew poll: 69% of Filipinos satisfied with how... PAGE A1 discontent with the democracy in their countries. “Dissatisfaction with democracy is higher in emerging than advanced economies,” the study revealed. It also showed the distinctions in democratic dissatisfaction between 2017 and 2018, with the Philippines remaining the same with 31 percent. Apart from
our country, other nations who did not experience significant change were Greece, Kenya, Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria, Hungary, Poland, Australia and Israel. The survey was conducted using telephone and face-to-face interviews during the the fourth quarter of 2018. Pew stated that the poll results were based on national samples, unless otherwise noted.
1,181 adult respondents were surveyed in the Philippines from May 28 to July 7, 2018. “For results based on the full sample in a given country, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus the margin of error. The margin of error is larger for results based on subsamples in the survey,” Pew said. n
Locsin: China is a PH ally, but US is only...
PAGE A1 “But the U.S. is our only military ally,” the foreign affairs secretary added. This is not the first time Locsin said that China and the Philippines are not military allies. Earlier, Locsin said the country’s relationship with China is friendship and “never a military alliance.” “The U.S. is and will remain our
only military ally. You can’t make an ally out of a near power — too close for comfort,” Locsin said in an earlier tweet. “Natural allies are U.S. across Pacific and Russia behind China. With China friendship is wisest; never a military alliance. The logic of balance of power,” he added. In his visit to China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Duterte
had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which they discussed pressing issues — such as the maritime dispute on the West Philippine Sea where Chinese fishermen were reportedly poaching giant clams. The two leaders agreed to settle the issue through diplomatic means without sacrificing their countries’ ties. (Neil Arwin Mercado/Inquirer)
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Dateline USa
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WHO: Responsible reporting on vaccination key to saving lives benefits of vaccination and that is really important to counter on some of the false information PHILIPPINE media must en- circulating on social media,” sure responsible reporting on WHO representative to the Philthe benefits of vaccination and ippines Dr. Gundo Weiler said in prevent the spread of misinfor- the 2019 World Immunization mation and misconceptions on Day press briefing in Manila on the government’s immunization Tuesday. program, the World Health OrgaWeiler also expressed dismay nization (WHO) said on Tuesday, over lives lost due to infectious April 30. diseases which could have been “Here in the Philippines we prevented by vaccinations. need responsible reporting of “We must remember that evthe mainstream media on the ery life lost due to measles is by consuElo
MarquEz
Inquirer.net
unexpected because these are diseases and infections that can be prevented by inexpensive and effective vaccination,” Weiler pointed out. The Department of Health , World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized the World Immunization Day in the Philippines. The event focused on promoting the essential benefits of vaccines in protecting the public from preventable illnesses. n
Is insulin’s high cost keeping diabetes patients from taking their medicine? by shEfali luthra Kaiser Health News
TRIBUTE TO PACMAN. A street artist creating a mural with boxing superstar, Sen. Emmanuel ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, as its centerpiece at the Meeting of Style Philippines 2019 at Anonas, Quezon City. ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote
BOC has until May 15 to return Canada trash by EvElyn
Macairan Philstar.com
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has until May 15 to ship Canadian garbage back to its country of origin. BOC spokesman Erastus Sandino Austria Monday, April 29, said they received orders from Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to return the containers of trash back to Canada by May 15. Austria added they are in the process of making arrangements for the containers of waste, consisting of household trash, diapers, electronic garbage and nonrecyclable waste, to be returned to Canada. “We are doing everything now to make this possible,” the BOC official said. The Department of Finance gave the order to the BOC after President Duterte said he would declare “war” on Canada if it would not take back its garbage. The Canadian government responded by saying that it is working to resolve the issue, as the shipment was a contract between private parties. A total of 103 containers of garbage arrived in several batches at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from 2013 to 2014. Out of the 103 containers, it was reported that trash from 34 have been buried in
a landfill in Tarlac. The rest of the containers filled with garbage are temporarily stored at the Port of Subic and the MICP. In earlier news reports, in one of the batches of garbage that consisted of 50 containers, the shipment was reportedly misdeclared to contain homogenous plastic scraps, or one kind of plastic, that was later found to be filled with heterogenous or an assortment of scrap plastic materials. The shipment was consigned to Chronic Plastics, a company based in Valenzuela City, while the shipper was listed as Chronic Inc. in Ontario. Meanwhile, Malacañang on Monday, April 29, sought to downplay Duterte’s statement that he was ready to declare war on Canada over the garbage sent to the Philippines, saying it was just a “figure of speech.” Last week, Duterte ordered the BOC to return to Canada the garbage shipped to the Philippines six years ago, saying he was ready to declare war on Ottawa if the issue is not acted upon. The president continued his tirades against the Canadian government last Sunday, April 28, as he threatened to dump garbage on a Canadian beach if the waste is not returned to Ottawa this week. Presidential spokesman Salva-
dor Panelo said Duterte’s statements about waging war and throwing garbage on a beach should not be taken literally, but his demand to send the trash back to Canada was serious. “It was just a figure of speech. But the trash should be returned,” Panelo said in a press briefing. Asked if he thought it irresponsible of Duterte to deliver the remarks, Panelo replied: “No, why would it be irresponsible. If the garbage has been in the country for years, would you not deliver such statement?” Panelo could not say what triggered Duterte’s tirades against Canada but claimed that the issue really made him angry. Panelo said the waste has been in the Philippines for years but nothing was done to send them back to Canada. “I don’t think any country would want to trigger another world war because all of us will be annihilated. It will lead to a nuclear war. Diplomatic negotiations can resolve whatever conflict,” he said. Despite the president’s tough talk, Panelo said the decades-old ties between the Philippines and Canada would not be severed because of the garbage controversy. “I said it would be disruptive. I did not say it would be severed. It will be an irritant,” the spokesman added. (With Alexis Romero)
HIGH prescription drug prices are fast becoming a leading political topic, with medications like insulin emerging as a poster child for the issue. Nearly doubling in price from 2012 to 2016, the diabetes medication has commanded bipartisan attention on Capitol Hill and even a shoutout in a recent Netflix comedy special. Voters say curbing such prices should be a top priority for lawmakers — and Democratic presidential candidates are paying attention. At an April 22 CNN town hall, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), among the field of Democrats vying for the 2020 nomination, responded to a health care question by spotlighting insulin’s spiraling price tag. “One out of 4 diabetes patients in our country cannot afford their insulin,” she said. That would be a shockingly high number, researchers point out, and could become a talking point Democrats return to throughout the campaign season. The cost of insulin particularly resonates given diabetes’ incidence rates. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 1.25 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes —less common than Type 2 — and cannot live without insulin. With that in mind, we decided to dig in to see if Harris’ statement checks out. Three different datasets back Harris’ claim When asked about this particular statement, Harris’ campaign first cited a peer-reviewed study published in December, which looked at people with diabetes being treated at the Yale Diabetes Center in New Haven, Conn. Of 199 participants, 51 people — just over 25% — reported they either reduced or stopped taking insulin because of the cost. The study is small and limited to one metropolitan area. But it likely paints a more-or-less ac-
curate picture nationally, three health care academic researchers said. “The characteristics of the people that were included look reasonably well-distributed across measures we’d be thinking about, like age, insurance type, race, ethnicity,” said Stacie Dusetzina, an associate professor of health policy at Vanderbilt University. “They probably are pretty much on target.” The study also corresponds with other surveys, though they too have limitations. One, commissioned by the American Diabetes Association and made public last May, polled about 530 people online whose demographics corresponded to the national data of people with the illness. About 27% of respondents suggested the price of insulin had “affected their past year purchase or use of insulin.” There is also an online opt-in survey administered by T1 International, an advocacy group for people with diabetes. Its 2018 results and methodology are undergoing peer review and have not yet been published in full, said James Elliott, one of the organization’s trustees. He suggested it would likely ultimately support Harris’ “1 out of 4” talking point. There’s some extrapolation, but the point is ‘more true than not’ The caveat is that Harris’ comment is based on limited data, and only one of the papers has been peer-reviewed. Though insulin’s price has skyrocketed in recent years, no sizable national survey or study has tracked insulin affordability, said Dr. Jing Luo, an instructor at Harvard Medical School who was involved with the Yale study and has researched insulin pricing more generally. That perhaps limits any effort to make an argument about insulin access nationwide, or at the very least requires some extrapolation. That said, the 1-in-4 figure is “more true than not,” Luo said.
“It’s as accurate as the data available allows,” Luo said. “It’s a reasonable estimate. Really, there’s no data to suggest otherwise.” We also asked about Harris’ specific word choice: “cannot afford their insulin.” All the research examining this issue doesn’t ask that precise question, but rather, asks if the cost has resulted in a patient’s purchasing or using less medication. That, analysts said, is, in fact, a good proxy for whether people can’t afford insulin. And it may understate the problem, said Dr. Kasia Lipska, the endocrinologist who led the Yale study, since it doesn’t account for people who keep buying medication but skimp on groceries or other necessities as a result. Our ruling The lack of a national study is an issue, for sure, and to some extent limits the extent to which we can put stock in Harris’ 1in-4 figure. It’s also important to remember that it refers to a narrower group — only patients with Type 1 — rather than all people with diabetes. But experts broadly suggested that the findings in the three reports referenced — one peerreviewed academic paper and two surveys — amply support her claim. And the broad meaning of the phrase “cannot afford” means the problem could be more significant than these datasets suggest since they measure only people going without medication, not those for whom insulin prices maybe create other financial issues. This statement is accurate but needs some additional information. We rate this claim Mostly True. A related story from our PolitiFact partners: “Does Half the U.S. Population Have Diabetes or Prediabetes, as Tim Ryan Claimed?” PolitiFact National (Valverde, April 29). This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n
Fil-Am arrested on suspicion of planning a... PAGE A1
complaint said that the young Filipino American “planned and took steps to manufacture and use a weapon of mass destruction in order to commit mass murder.” Through conversations online, Domingo expressed alliance with radical jihadism and offered willingness to martyr himself to carry out the attack. He considered carrying attacks on the Jewish community, churches, a military facility or police officers, but court papers said that he decided to detonate an IED at a white nationalist rally in Long Beach last weekend. “There were mosque shootings in new Zealand [sic],” Domingo wrote to a private online group. “[T]here must be retribution.” Court papers released on Monday also found that Domingo boasted about owning weapons as well as 80 pounds of
nails and shrapnel that “would be long enough to penetrate the human body and puncture internal organs,” the affidavit said. Additionally, during the planning process of the attack, Domingo asked his conspirator, the FBI double agent, to locate someone who knew how to craft bombs. “This investigation successfully disrupted a very real threat posed by a trained combat soldier who repeatedly stated he wanted to case the maximum number of casualties,” U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna for the Central District of California said after Domingo’s arrest. “Protecting Americans from terror attacks is the number one priority of the Justice Department, and anyone who plots to use a weapon of mass destruction will be held to account.” Domingo has been in federal custody since his arrest and
made his first appearance Monday in the U.S. District Court. As an U.S. Army infantryman, Domingo finished a four-month deployment to Afghanistan in January 2013 and became interested in obtaining an IED after he learned of an FBI informant who knew about them. “I’ll be honest. I’m smart in history but I failed chemistry. Science is not my forte...If he doesn’t want to make it, don’t force him. But ask him how,” Domingo said in one conversation, per court papers, which also alleged that Domingo expressed support and allegiance for the radical jihadist group the Islamic State. If Domingo is convicted with the charge of “providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists,” he would face a “statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison,” according to the Department of Justice. n
Los Angeles has most to lose in Census undercount... PAGE A1 ta Clara, Solano and San Mateo counties also are experiencing double-digit population growth. In Southern California, Riverside County is up 15.2%, San Bernardino and Orange counties 8.6% each and San Diego 11.2%. But most of Los Angeles is growing at a less than 5% rate. Political districts are intended to include equal numbers of people. So when the Census shows that one region has more people than it used to, and another has fewer, district boundaries are redrawn to balance out their respective populations. But, just as Los Angeles stands to lose representation in Sacramento, the same principles that apply to state legislatures also come into play when seats in the U.S. Congress are apportioned. California, and the South and Southwest in general, have consistently gained seats. But in 2020, California could, for the
first time, lose a seat in Congress. Four central Los Angeles Congressional districts – each controlled by a Democrat of either Hispanic or Asian descent – would nonetheless be consolidated into three districts to allow another congressional seat to go to a faster-growing state, such as Texas or Florida. The methodology of how Congressional seats are apportioned is bizarrely byzantine and impossible to explain. But basically, every state gets one seat and then the remaining 385 are distributed according to population. The four Congressional districts seen as most likely candidates for contraction are Judy Chu’s 27th, in Pasadena; Grace Napolitano’s 32nd, in El Monte; Linda Sanchez’s 38th, in Lakewood; and Lucille Roybal-Allard’s 40th in Downey. While in the past, redistricting efforts attempted to preserve a
district’s ethnic identity, those four districts are all surrounded by others with similar demographics, so if California were to lose a seat in Congress, it seems certain that it would be one belonging to a Democrat of color, Douglas Johnson, one of the report’s authors, told Ethnic Media Services. However, he said, a difference of as few as 40,000 more Californians being counted in the Census could keep that from happening. The report’s projections are based on data gathered by the Census Bureau in its annual American Community Surveys up to 2017 and extrapolated forward from there, then compared to 2010 Census data. Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties have all signed on to form Complete Count Committees to ensure all their residents are enumerated in next year’s census. (Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services)
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Dateline PhiliPPines
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Filipinos likely to say there are opportunities to improve living standards in country - poll by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANiLA — Filipinos are likely to say that most people in the Philippines have the opportunity to advance their standard of living, according to a new global poll of Pew Research Center. The survey released Tuesday, April 30, showed 86% of Filipinos saying there is a good chance to improve their own standard of living. Only 13% saw few opportunities to improve their standard of living. Filipinos with ages 18 to 29 (90%) are more likely than those with ages 30 to 49 (87%) and DEADLY BLAZE. An elderly woman died while six others were injured as a fire hit the upper floors of the Pacific Coast Plaza building in ages 50 and older (79%) to say people can improve their stanParanaque City on Monday, April 29. The blaze, which started at noon, was declared under control two and a half hours later. ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote dard of living. Pew stressed a median of 57% across the 27 countries surveyed agree that most people have a good chance to improve their
Duterte seeks int’l support for sustainable, peaceful use of seas by Doris
Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net
PReSiDeNT Rodrigo Duterte has sought international support for “sustainable and peacefulâ€? use of oceans and seas “in accordance with international lawâ€? — a prelude to a plan of his administration to declare parts of the West Philippine Sea as a marine sanctuary. “As an archipelagic state, the Philippines seeks to improve our collective capacity to manage and protect marine resources,â€? the president said on Saturday afternoon, April 27, at a leaders’ roundtable during the Belt and Road Forum. He spoke in a session that focused on green and sustainable development. “As channels of transportation and communication, and a vital source of sustenance and livelihood, our oceans and seas connect and sustain us. it is thus our collective duty to promote their sustainable and peaceful use in accordance with international law,â€? he said. in an interview earlier on Saturday, National Security Adviser Hermogenes esperon said MalacaĂąang was studying the
declaration of the West Philippine Sea as a “marine-protected� area, similar to what was done for a portion of Benham Rise in 2018. China, the host of the Belt and Road Forum, is a rival maritime claimant in the West Philippine Sea but an earlier bilateral meeting between Duterte and China’s President Xi Jinping affirmed the willingness of both countries to work together in other areas while continuing to address their differences in territorial claims through diplomatic channels. Duterte, who is implementing an aggressive infrastructurebuilding program, said China’s Belt and Road Forum presented an opportunity to explore avenues of mutually beneficial partnerships for inclusive sustainable development. He reported that 75 big-ticket infrastructure projects worth $41.6 billion dollars would be implemented by the Philippines in the medium-term. “Our goal is to promote new growth centers outside the already congested urban-industrial region surrounding Metropolitan Manila. This will create more job opportunities for our
own standard of living, adding this sentiment is slightly more widespread in the nine emerging economies surveyed than in the 18 advanced economies. “Filipinos, South Africans and Nigerians are especially likely to describe their countries as ones in which people can improve their economic situation; about four-in-ten or more in each country says this describes their country very well,� the Washington D.C.-based think tank said. But in italy, Spain and Greece, only about one-quarter of people say their country is one in which it is possible to improve their standard of living. About 3 in 10 Pinoys say it’s dangerous to walk at night The same study showed that 62% of Filipinos said the statement “most people live in areas where it is dangerous to walk around at night� does not de-
scribe the Philippines well. The remaining 36% said it is dangerous to walk around at night. Pew noted that most of the respondents said their countries are generally not dangerous for walking around at night. “A median of 35% believe most people live in areas where it’s dangerous to walk around at night. But opinion diverges somewhat across advanced and emerging economies. in advanced economies, a median of only 30% say most people live in areas where it is dangerous to walk around at night, compared with a median of 45% across the nine emerging economies surveyed,� it said. in the Philippines, 1,181 adult respondents were surveyed from May 28 to July 7, 2018. The poll has a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points. n
people,� he said. For its part, China has supported a number of big-ticket infrastructure projects in the Philippines since Duterte came to power in 2016. “We also aim to enhance cooperation in green technology. That is why we want to accelerate our transition to low-carbon development pathways,� the president said. “We will also ensure our infrastructure systems should be clean and green. We will strengthen our policy framework for green financing in order to attract investments in renewable energy.� Noting that agriculture is an important driver of growth, he said said he would welcome economic investments that would help the Philippines improve its economic productivity with the entry of relevant production and post-harvest technologies. The president stated that the Philippines, along with the rest of Asia, was “on the path of economic resurgence.� “The Philippines in particular is set to join the ranks of upper middle-income countries as it is projected to become the 25th PAGE A7
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OPINION
Leaders for Heritage
FEATURES
HEIRTAGE Month is starting with several heritage churches ruined or slightly damaged by the recent powerful earthquakes. In the old districts of Manila such as Binondo and Intramuros, there are old structures that deserve to be preserved and restored but are in danger of being demolished. The old train station in Paco has been razed. In other countries, many cities have Old Towns — historic sections where buildings, landmarks and even original pavements and street lamps are preserved. There are also traditional villages outside urban centers where the art, architecture, public works, local culture and traditional lifestyles are preserved as living history. Some of these villages have been declared as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO has listings even for traditional celebrations, or Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, such as Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead, which is a more elaborate version of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days in the Philippines. There are heritage listings for traditional food such as Turkish coffee and Washoku or Japanese cuisine. Then there are nature’s blessings, which the
Philippines has in abundance. The country is home to some of the world’s most extensive wetlands, which are protected by an international convention. The newest – the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area in Manila Bay – deserves nurturing. Manila Bay itself, where the view of the sunset is a source of national pride, deserves to be saved from further pollution and reclamation activities. Forests, coral reefs, the rich biodiversity, beaches – these are as much part of our national heritage as the man-made structures that need protection and expert restoration. We’re all custodians of our national heritage. It’s a responsibility that the country cannot afford to take for granted. Celebrated since 2003, this year’s theme for this special month is “leaders for heritage.” Every Filipino can be a leader in preserving the heritage not just of the country but of humanity. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Trump defies Constitution by blocking subpoenas in probes on him: What is he hiding? The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has been claiming he is the most transparent president in U.S. history. Any selfrespecting U.S. citizen committed to the truth knows this is a lie. Transparency and accountability are values upheld by the principles of checks and balances mandated by the U.S. Constitution so that not one person nor institution accorded with public trust may abuse power. Yet the 45th president of the United States has been desperately doing everything to block all calls for him to come clean. Even worse, he orders government officials to ignore subpoenas to testify under oath before Congress in pursuit of the truth on the allegations of criminal intent, abuse of power and obstruction of justice as laid out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report. In addition to these are subpoenas by the courts to investigate cases referred by Mueller
to the judiciary outside of the purview of the mandate given to him in the Russia probe. It revealed more cases of alleged campaign finance violations, cover-ups, use of the Trump Foundation for his family’s personal gain and benefit, defrauding and scamming the government in attempts to pay his equitable dues in taxes, and so much more. Trump likewise failed to release his tax returns, unable to beat the deadline given to his appointed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who, like his appointed Attorney General William Barr, appears to be serving Trump’s interest and not of the American people as mandated by law. Recently, Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to block congressional subpoenas seeking their banking and financial records. As the Associated Press (AP) reported, this lawsuit is in response to the House Financial Services and the House Intelligence committees that have subpoenaed Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions as part of investigations into Trump’s finances. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff says
the subpoenas are part of an investigation “into allegations of potential foreign influence on the U.S. political process.” House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, says “the potential use of the U.S. financial system for illicit purposes is a very serious concern,” and says her committee is looking into those matters, including whether they pertain to Trump, according to the AP report. The New York Times reported, that for more than 20 years, “Deutsche Bank lent Donald J. Trump billions of dollars, even as his tarnished financial record put him off limits for most of Wall Street.” The Times further said Deutsche Bank is now putting the president on the defensive after its lawyers “have spent months cooperating with investigators from two Democratic-controlled congressional committees, which issued what one lawmaker called a ‘friendly subpoena’ to the bank in mid-April.” The bank could end up sharing decades of his personal and corporate financial records, according to the Times. The report said the prospect of having Trump’s financial records be finally revealed has “prompted Mr. Trump to file
U.S. President Donal Trump
a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan on Monday [April 29] in an attempt to block Deutsche Bank and another financial company, Capital One, from sharing documents.” Playing the victim role and branding all calls for accountability as “presidential harassment,” the lawsuit filed claimed “The subpoenas were issued to harass President Donald J. Trump, to rummage through every aspect of his personal finances, his businesses, and the private information of the President and his family, and
White House photo
to ferret about for any material that might be used to cause him political damage.” As TIME reported, Reps. Schiff and Waters issued a joint statement accusing the president of trying to “put off meaningful accountability as long as possible.” “The meritless lawsuit filed today by President Trump to block duly authorized subpoenas to non-governmental entities is another demonstration of the depths to which President Trump will go to obstruct Congress’s constitutional
oversight authority,” the statement said. Has Trump really been transparent as he claims to be? What is he hiding? Does he think he is above the law in defying the Constitution he has sworn to uphold? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos. Relos
China’s place in today’s world
Public Lives
RANDY DAVID IN just one generation, China has achieved through capitalist development what it could not accomplish by exporting Maoist socialism. Credit for this unprecedented global clout is generally given to Deng Xiaoping, who once reminded his people that “to be rich is glorious.” This heresy, which became a popular slogan, was a turning point in China’s ideological transformation. From the doomed effort to form the socialist human being through agrarian socialism, the Chinese Communist Party sought instead to create a robust economy using the tools of market capitalism. Rather than view it as a reversal of the socialist vision, however, the Party interpreted the modernization of the Chinese economy through capitalism as building the precondition for a socialist society, in which prosperity — not poverty — is democratized.
No better confirmation is there of Deng’s genius than to see China today preside over a gathering of world leaders and top business executives to discuss how to spread the benefits of capitalist development through the integration of the world’s trade, manufacturing and communication infrastructure. This is what the so-called Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is about — at least on paper. Launched in 2013, the BRI has generated interest from at least 150 countries. At the second BRI Forum in Beijing this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the assembled guests: “The Belt and Road cooperation involves new ways to improve opportunities for common prosperity and economic globalization. We should keep the parties motivated in the spirit of multilateralism. In going ahead, we should focus on opportunities.” This sounds more like standard IMF-World Bank-ADB rhetoric than the fraternal assurances typically given by a
socialist leader to visiting comrades from communist parties and movements. No talk of revolution here, only of promoting the gospel of globalization. Having succeeded in gaming the world capitalist system, the new China seeks to open all doors and lift all barriers to trade and investment. Together with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping has become a leading critic of protectionism. Armed with its tremendous economic capacity, China today behaves more or less like the United States at the end of World War II, or surplus-rich Japan in the 1980s. It leverages its economic clout not just to create more wealth for itself and its companies, but to extend its sphere of influence to other areas. The use of economic aid or official development assistance is key to this strategy. It is certainly not unique to China. The old term for it is neocolonialism. Having succeeded in establishing a firm foothold in the global capitalist system, China is inescapably caught in its
logic no matter how much the communist party leadership tries to regulate its insertion into the system. The big question is how long it can sustain the dynamism of its open economy, while keeping its political system closed. The communist party’s tight grip on China’s political system, and, in turn, the Chinese state’s control of its market economy remains a kink in the country’s economic modernity. The close intertwining of economic interests with political objectives introduces a complexity that other countries’ business enterprises are not comfortable with when dealing with Chinese companies. The lack of transparency breeds distrust, fosters corruption and raises concerns about “debt traps” and other hidden agendas. These negative perceptions inevitably seep into the politics of countries that receive Chinese aid and loans or host Chinese investments, often blending dangerously with existing anti-Chinese prejudices. Yet,
there is no denying the fact that the rise of China as a global economic power has raised economic productivity worldwide. It has made the world’s wealthy people richer than before. But, it has also made many commodities, hitherto only dreamed about, available at cheap prices to poor people in low-income countries. China’s rise, on the whole, has been good for world capitalism. And, perhaps, no one knows this better than the big capitalist conglomerates themselves that saw their profits rise beyond imagination when they started relocating segments of their production to China. China was no fool to merely allow foreign companies to exploit its cheap labor. It saw in this the opportunity to learn new techniques of production, to transfer technology and to gain access to new markets. But, while it has phenomenally succeeded in actualizing its vision of the Chinese future, the country continues to grapple with image problems. And these pertain not only to
the Chinese state, but also to its people. Flush with cash and eager to see the world outside, mainland Chinese are only beginning to learn the norms of international travel. Their reputation for unruly behavior precedes them. These perceptions do not die easily. They manifest themselves in nearly every public opinion survey. Like the almost blanket trust they reserve to the United States, Filipinos’ distrust for China is axiomatic and unexamined. Of all the unconventional positions President Duterte has taken, it is his declared pivot to China that is potentially the costliest in political terms. That public approval of his presidency remains high despite his obsequious pro-Chinese pronouncements only shows the public’s general indifference to foreign-policy issues. But the moment Filipinos begin to feel that mainland Chinese are taking over their neighborhoods and their jobs, the political equation could change overnight. (Inquirer.net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
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A
PH thanks Akihito for ‘advocating peace during 30-year reign’
THE Philippines on Tuesday, April 30, expressed its gratitude to former Japanese emperor Akihito for fostering goodwill and friendship between Manila and Tokyo. The Philippine government is thankful for Akihito’s “invaluable role in advocating peace during his 30-year reign,” said DFA Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Fernandez on the occasion of Akihito’s abdication on Tuesday, ending his three-decade reign.
WORLD IMMUNIZATION WEEK 2019: A health worker administers vaccines as part of the Department of Health-organized immunization program to celebrate the World Immunization Week 2019 at Ama Dome, Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila on Monday, April 29. Celebrated every last week of April, World Immunization Week aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against preventable diseases. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
Sotto: Sara Duterte free to oppose federalism by Javier ismael ManilaTimes.net
SENATE President Vicente Sotto III said he respects Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s opposition to the proposed shift to federalism that her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, has been pushing since he assumed office. “Everyone is entitled to his/ her opinion,” Sotto said when reached for comment on DuterteCarpio’s statement that she was not in favor of federalism. Duterte-Carpio told reporters on the sidelines of Hugpong ng Pagbabago’s (HnP) campaign sortie in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi that she was opposed to federalism, because wider political and fiscal autonomy, when granted to areas long held by political clans, could spell trouble. “If you can see, Mindanao is filled with ‘kingdoms’ of local politicians, local warlords. I don’t think it’s right that we grant them wider powers,” she said. The president’s daughter, however, noted that the decision to shift to federalism rests with Congress and the president. President Duterte has said from the start of his term that a federal form of government will benefit local government units that have long relied on the central government for funding. Duterte-Carpio leads the HnP
Senate President Vicente Sotto III
which fielded 13 Senate candidates for the upcoming midterm elections, who are expected to support the president’s legislative priorities if they win. Asked whether the shift to federalism was one of such priorities, she said the regional party “does not have a collective stand” on the matter. The Palace has formed a consultative committee that recommended a draft federal charter. The president, however, has not yet officially endorsed the committee’s draft to Congress, which introduced its own version of a proposed revised Charter which, among others, removed term limits for elective officials.
ManilaTimes.net photo
But Sotto, said he did not see the need, to prioritize federalism especially Since the Bangsamoro Organic Law has just been implemented. The Senate chief said that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao created under Republic Act 11054 could be an experiment on whether or not federalism would work for the country. “We will monitor closely how it will work. It could be a model for the federalism proposal that they are pushing. It’s a region of its own, that’s why we don’t really need to prioritize federalism at this point when we have a good experiment, if I may call it that,” Sotto said. n
“His Majesty the Emperor was the first member of the Japanese Imperial Household to visit the Philippines, doing so twice – as Crown Prince in 1962, and as Emperor in 2016,” he said. “As the Heisei era draws to a close, the Government and people of the Philippines convey their sincerest best wishes for the good health and wellbeing of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress,” Fernandez said. Presidential Spokesperson
Salvador Panelo, in a statement, said “the Palace feels melancholic about the abdication of Japanese Emperor Akihito, who is considered a good friend of the Philippines.” “But he has made a decision and we can only respect it and wish him well with whatever awaits him after he leaves the throne,” he said. Prince Naruhito, 59, will ascend the throne on Wednesday, May 1. (Bernadette Tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)
Pangilinan believes surprise win possible for Otso Diretso bets MANILA — It is still possible for senatorial candidates from the Liberal Party-led Otso Diretso slate to pull off a surprise win in the coming elections even if few of them are doing well in preelection surveys. Sen. Francis Pangilinan, LP president and the coalition’s campaign manager, said this Tuesday after the release of Pulse Asia’s April 10 to 14 survey, which showed that Otso Diretso bets continue to lag behind administration candidates. “Sabi nga nila ang pinakamahalagang survey ay ‘yung araw ng halalan. At sa aking labingwalong taon bilang senador, ilang eleksyon na rin ang nadaanan natin bilang campaign manager at bilang kandidato, nakita natin, may mga pangyayari na sa huling dalawang linggo ng eleksyon, ‘yung mga nasa labas ng Top 12 pagdating ng araw ng halalan ay ‘come from behind’ ika nga at naipapanalo nila. Surprise victory ika nga (They said the most important survey is election day. In my 18 years of experience as a campaign manager and as a candidate, I saw instances that those outside the Top 12 will
‘come from behind’ and end up winning. Surprise victory, as they say),” he said. Voters will elect 12 senators to the 24-member Senate in the coming polls. Pangilinan added: “Mula Number 12, magiging Number 1. Mula Number 13, nagiging Number 2. Mula Number 17, nagiging Number 6. So hindi pa tapos ang boxing, ika nga. Ipaglalaban natin ang bawat boto hanggang sa huli. (The number 12 becomes number 1. The number 13 becomes number 2. The number 17 becomes number 6. So the fight is not yet over. We will fight for every vote until the end).” The Otso Diretso campaign manager is optimistic that voters will reject “corrupt and dishonest” candidates in the end. Opposition bets in pre-election surveys According to the Pulse Asia survey, Sen. Bam Aquino was the only one from the opposition slate who has a statistical chance of winning, settling at the 10th to 16th bracket. He has a voter preference rating of 28.8%. Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas,
who previously made it to the winners’ circle, dropped to the 14th to 17th bracket with a voter preference of 24.5%. Civic leader Samira Gutoc placed at the 24th to 29 bracket with a 5.9% voter support, while lawyers Chel Diokno and Romy Macalintal tied at 25th to 31st bracket with a 5.3% and 5.2% voter support, respectively. Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano (5%) is at the 25th to 32nd spots and former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada (3.6%) together with former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay (3.2%) at the 27th to 40th spots. Sen. Cynthia Villar (51.7%) climbed to the top spot of the latest Pulse Asia survey, sharing the lead with fellow re-electionist Sen. Grace Poe (50.5%). Pulse Asia noted that “practically all of the probable winners are current or former members of Congress and among them, 10 are running under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago coalition,” referring to the slate being managed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the president’s daughter. (Philstar.com)
Duterte seeks int’l support for sustainable...
PAGE A5 largest economy in the world in PPP (purchasing power parity) terms,” he said. By 2020, the president projected that the combined economies of Asian countries would be larger than that of the rest of the world. “Asia’s future is indeed
promising, but this is not preordained. For our region to remain an economic powerhouse, for us to be there, growth and prosperity must be inclusive, equitable, and sustainable,” he said. The Philippines’ ultimate goal is to provide a comfortable and secure life to all law-abid-
ing citizens in a country that is stable, peaceful, and resilient, he said. “My government will do all that is necessary to realize this vision. We will build strong partnerships with like-minded states, multilateral institutions, and other stakeholders that share our vision,” he said. n
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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
Inflation seen falling within 2 to 4% target ‘More infra investments needed for PH regions’ by anna Leah
e. gonzaLes Manilatimes.net
For 2021, private economists see inflation averaging 3.4 percent. by Lawrence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
PRIVATE economists expect inflation this year to fall within the two to four percent target set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), according to a survey conducted by the central bank. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said inflation expectations of private sector economists are now lower and aligned to the inflation target. “Analysts expect inflation in 2019 and 2020 to settle within the target range, with downward pressures seen to dominate the risks to the inflation outlook,” Diokno said. Dennis Lapid, director of the BSP’s Department of Economic Research (DER), said the survey showed a lower inflation forecast of 3.3 percent for 2019 and 3.4 percent in 2020. For 2021, private economists see inflation averaging 3.4 percent. “Possible downside risks to inflation include the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, which is expected to improve domestic rice supply and stabilize
prices, and lower global crude oil prices,” Lapid said. Lapid, on the other hand, said key upside risks to inflation are seen to emanate from adverse weather conditions such as the El Niño, volatile global oil prices and foreign exchange market, and possible interest rate cut. He also cited the higher domestic demand due to the upcoming mid-term elections and school enrolment as well as higher electricity rates. Gotianun-led East West Banking Corp. has the lowest inflation forecast of 2.2 percent for this year followed by state-run Land Bank of the Philippines with 2.6 percent, Yuchengcoled Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) with a range of 2.6 to three percent, Standard Chartered Bank with 2.7 percent, Bank of Commerce with 2.89 percent, UBS with 2.9 percent, and Ayalaled Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) with 2.9 percent. On the other hand, Korea Exchange Bank has the highest inflation forecast of 5.2 percent followed by Al-Amanah Islamic Bank with four percent, BDO Unibank with 3.6 percent.
TO spur economic growth in other regions of the country, economists recently called on the government to boost investments in its critical infrastructures. Doing so would pave the way for new economic hubs outside of the national capital region (NCR), research firm IHS Markit said. The firm made the statement after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said last week economic growth in the NCR including Metro Manila lost pace in 2018. The region, however, still contributed the largest to the country’s economy, it added. Data released by the agency said the NCR had the largest share of gross domestic product (GDP) at 36 percent, but its growth slowed to 4.8 percent from 6.2 percent in 2017. “The latest data highlights the importance for national economPhilstar.com file photo ic and industrial policies to foster For 2020, Metropolitan Bank the economic development of & Trust Co. (Metrobank) has the other regions, in order to create lowest inflation forecast with 2.5 percent followed by EastWest with 2.6 percent and Maybank ATR-KimEng with 2.8 percent, while Korea Exchange Bank has the highest with 5.2 percent. Based on the probability distribution of the forecasts provided by 21 out of 26 respondents, Lapid said there is an 81 percent probability that average inflation for 2019 would settle between the two and four percent range, while there is a 16.1 percent chance that inflation would exceed four percent. For 2020, he said the respondents assigned a 9.8 percent probability that inflation will fall within the target range and 17 percent chance that inflation would breach the upper end of the target. Diokno said the BSP would remain data-driven at all times in policy decision-making and actions would be determined by inflation outlook as the central bank remains focused on safeguarding and promoting price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable economic growth. n Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III
new hubs for economic growth and reduce the overall dependence of the national economy on the NCR,” Rajiv Biswas, chief economist for Asia Pacific of IHS Markit said. Biswas said a key national strategy to help improve industrial competitiveness of other regions will be public investment in critical infrastructure such as ports, airports, roads and power projects to attract foreign and domestic investment into new regional growth hubs. “The creation of industrial infrastructure such as office parks and industrial parks are also important policies to facilitate the emergence of second tier and third tier cities as commercial hubs,” he added. The PSA further said that while economies of all 17 regions grew in 2018, some regions posted slower growth. Regions with faster growth include Bicol (8.9 percent), Central Visayas (7.6 percent), Calabarzon (7.3 percent), Northern Mindanao (7.0 percent), Ilocos Region (6.5
percent), Zamboanga Peninsula (6.3 percent), and Eastern Visayas (5.9 percent). Despite being among the fastest growing economies in 2018, the growth of Davao Region slowed down at 8.6 percent. The following regions’ economies also grew, but at a slower pace as compared with the previous year: Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) grew by 7.3 percent; Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), 7.2 percent; Central Luzon, 7.1 percent; Soccsksargen, 6.9 percent; Western Visayas, 6.1 percent; National Capital Region (NCR), 4.8 percent; Cagayan Valley, 3.3 percent; and Caraga, 3.2 percent. Robert Dan Roces, assistant vice president and economist of Security Bank said the slow down in NCR could be attributed to the high inflation last year. “The slowdown perhaps reflects the combined effects from inflation and the resulting policy rate hikes by the BSP last year,” said Roces. n
Dominguez wants World Bank ADB redundancies eliminated
by Daxim
L. Lucas
Inquirer.net
THE country’s top economic manager wants two of the world’s biggest multilateral lenders to work closer together to eliminate overlapping functions, reduce costs, and be more effective in promoting development among member nations. In particular, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) should align their efforts toward coming up with a “coordinated country program” especially for smaller members. “As governor of both institutions — the World Bank and ADB – I feel that there is a lot of room for reduction of overheads for both institutions at least in Asia.” he said during a meeting with newly appointed World Bank president David Malpass. “Why do we have to get two economic reports from ADB and World Bank?” Dominguez said. “Maybe there’s a way to work together and to reduce overheads. I put myself in the place of a small country, why do I have to deal with two bureaucracies that do
World Bank President David Malpass
virtually the same thing?” Malpass has welcomed Dominguez’s proposal for multilateral lenders to closely coordinate their development efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, and said closer ties with ADB would be a good starting point. The World Bank chief also encouraged Dominguez to come up with more proposals on how the bank, in particular, can perform better in helping the Philippines accelerate its sustainable growth. Malpass, who assumed the World Bank Group presidency on April 9, also took the opportunity to congratulate the Philippines on the reforms it has been implementing, especially its tax reform program, which, he said, “is working well.” During his meeting with Malpass, Dominguez reiterated his call for World Bank and ADB to coordinate their work in the region to help reduce overhead costs not only for both institutions but also for countries seeking development assistance, in terms of lowering their operational expenses and borrowing rates. In response, Malpass said a coordinated country program,
Inquirer.net file photo
which should start with a coordinated economic outlook, is now being worked out to begin doing away with redundancies, such as the economic reports that Dominguez had pointed out. Dominguez first broached his proposal during the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ 23rd Finance Ministers Meeting in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Aside from Dominguez, the finance ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam also called on ADB and World Bank to work in synergy and complement their efforts in alleviating poverty in the region. The newly elected World Bank Group president noted that coordination, as pointed out by Dominguez, is necessary to avoid one institution absorbing high front-end costs for a particular project and another institution offering a lower financing package and ending up getting the credit. Malpass suggested that the two institutions create a subgroup that would focus discussions on a specific aspect of development assistance, such as infrastructure, to avoid redundancies and ensure that projects are done efficiently. n
Easing of digital payment rules to boost e-commerce by Daxim
L. Lucas
Inquirer.net
DIGITAL commerce in the country is seen to get a big boost after the central bank released the first set of rules that would make it easier for banks and other parties to register as electronic payment operators. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Wednesday, April 24, that firms covered by the new National Payment Systems Act (NPSA)—whether financial institutions or nonbank entities, like merchants—would have “streamlined” documentary requirements “to promote efficiency and ease of doing business. The new rules were contained in a draft circular providing for the implementing rules and regulations of the NPSA, which aimed to promote the maintenance of a safe, efficient, and reliable payment system. “As the first comprehensive legal and regulatory framework governing the payment systems in the Philippines, the NPSA can
Inquirer.net file photo
well support the twin objectives of maintaining a payment system that is necessary to control systemic risk and providing an environment conducive to the sustainable growth of the economy,” the BSP said in a statement. “Through a safe, efficient and reliable payment system through which funds are transferred among banks and other institutions to discharge payment obligations arising from economic and financial transactions across the entire economy, the cost of exchanging goods and services is reduced,” it added.
It is, likewise, an essential tool for the effective implementation of monetary policy and the smooth functioning of money and capital markets. Since the use of payment systems is not limited to banks and nonbank financial institutions, the scope of the regulatory powers of the BSP was also expanded under the NPSA to cover nonfinancial institutions. The draft circular is part of the first phase of the implementation of the NPSA, which prioritizes the creation of a baseline inventory of all operators of payment systems. n
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
Shifting to self-care: A nurse’s guide to well-being BY RAE ANN VARONA / AJPRESS THIS year, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has chosen the Nurses Week tagline of “Four Million Reasons to Celebrate” to be an ode to the nation’s 4 million registered nurses who daily represent the nation’s healthcare system and dedicate themselves to providing quality care all clinical settings. According to the ANA, nurses make up the largest group of health care professionals in the nation and it’s no doubt that Filipinos make up a large number of the profession. In California alone, 20% of registered nurses are said to be Filipino. For 17 consecutive years, nurses have been ranked as having the most honest and ethical profession as a testament to their role and impact both in and outside hospital settings. But despite their hard work, many compromise their own personal health in doing so. It isn’t uncommon for example, to hear of nurses working over their 12-hours shifts, or keeping themselves on-call in case they’re needed in the hospital. A 2015 report by the American Journal of Nursing pointed to a number of studies unsurprisingly showing that nurses who work extended hours of 12 or more hours in a 24-hour day or over 40 hours in a week, are less likely than the general population to have an adequate amount of quality sleep. Lack of sleep combined with long hours shifts, the report added, have been found to be associated with health problems that not only affect performance or memory, but contribute to diseases like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. The ANA in 2014 made it a point to release a statement to nurses and their employers “to carefully consider the need for adequate rest and sleep when deciding whether to offer or accept work assignments, including on-call, voluntary, or mandatory overtime.” Anita Nacion-Vita, the Filipina American registered nurse (RN) behind the new Nurses Rise wellness service, experienced the stresses of the job firsthand. As a result, she often experienced burnout syndrome, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and other symptoms of “workaholism.” As a former night shift worker, there was also insomnia, and the regular need for caffeine, sugar, and sleeping aids. Coping with stress
outside of work, there was shopping, excessive drinking, partying and TV binge watching. “I thought I had to have it all together all the time, which led to all the suffering I endured. I used to feel that taking breaks would cut into my time for charting and make me fall behind. There were times I took them feeling guilt and shame,” Nacion-Vita shared with the Asian Journal. “What I didn’t realize was that breaks are there for reason. They’re meant for
the ground. Back is slightly curved, not rigid. Shoulders rolled back and relaxed. Hands with palm facing downwards to ‘ground’ your energy.” Next comes setting your intention: “Spiritual quality such as love, kindness, it is whatever you want to focus on and receive from your meditation. Close your eyes and start to arrive and start to let go of external stimuli.” Breath: “Allow your breath to guide you. Take an initial cleansing deep breath to start. Inhale for four seconds. Hold it at the top for four seconds and then exhale all of your breath for four seconds. Then do this sequence again with equal and even breaths for two rounds. Then do the last one just as the same as the first one. A cleansing closing breath. Take the deepest breath you have ever taken from the week and day.” The final step is expressing gratitude: “Honor and thank yourself for showing up for yourself. Give thanks for the gifts you are receiving from meditation.” End your meditation session by pausing and taking three more slow and deep breaths. Exercise Nacion-Vita also found regular exercise to be a big help in increasing her blood flow and waking up her body. One of the programs offered by Nacion-Vita’s group is a Mindfulness Running Program that includes group runs by the beach. Being an avid runner, she picked up running to combat the fact that she was always very sleepy. She eventually set a goal to run a half marathon, and made running a part of her regular routine. “It kept me on a good routine to move my body, which also added the benefit of getting better sleep and quick bursts of energy during my working hours,” said Nacion-Vita. Make the most out of breaks “Take breaks without guilt or shame,” said Nacion-Vita, adding that breaks are a great time to put in a meditation session, getting blood flowing, and just setting aside time to fully recharge. She also recommends stepping away from the work space and making a change of environment to help shift energy in a better direction.
“What I didn’t realize was that breaks are there for reason. They’re meant for us to fill up again and finish the rest of our shift with more energy and ease and less anxiety,” added Nacion-Vita. “You can’t go 100% from start to finish. It is not sustainable.” us to fill up again and finish the rest of our shift with more energy and ease and less anxiety,” added NacionVita. “You can’t go 100% from start to finish. It is not sustainable.” Wanting to make a change, Nacion-Vita made it a point to be an advocate for self-care for nurses. She shared with the Asian Journal some of her personal tips for finding balance and personal well-being. Meditate “Meditation is my number one tip. It’s free and can be done in as little as five to 15 minutes,” said Nacion-Vita. As night shift worker especially, Nacion-Vita like many, found herself in a cycle of not getting enough rest on her days off, struggling to stay awake during the day, and relying on coffee and sleep aids just to find a rhythm. “It made me feel like I was always in fog,” she said. “My sleep was broken up into a nap session, versus sleeping a full six to eight hours a day.” But through meditation, she was able to get the relaxation and freedom she needed. She shared five simple steps, starting with creating a quiet environment free of distractions. “Go to a quiet place where you are not to be disturbed for at least five minutes,” said Nacion-Vita. She added that playing instrumental spa music was one easy way to really get into setting. After finding a prefered environment comes body positioning: “Sit in a position power. Feet flat on
“Maybe go to the courtyard if you have access to one, go for a walk, or go anywhere outside your usual setting,” said Nacion-Vita. Unable to get out? Nacion shared that just getting up and walking laps around the unit floor makes a difference. Other easy things that can be done during breaks are listening to music that uplifts and relaxes, or using essential oils. “I can easily shift my mood from chaos to calm with essential oils,” said Nacion-Vita, who brings a small bottle with her wherever she goes. Her personal favorite that is recommended for relaxation is lavender. Take the opportunity to recharge off duty Perhaps more important than resting during breaktime is resting when off the work shift. A self-care rhythm is a great place to start, said Nacion who has a three step “Release, Refuel, and Renew” method to clear energy and fuel back up. Starting with the release
step, the Fil-Am nurse suggests letting go of the things that no longer serve you through again, meditation, but also through things like writing and journaling, working out, or dancing and singing to move negative energy out through the body. Next comes refueling. “Nourish yourself,” said Nacion-Vita. “Eat delicious and nutritious food that fuels your heart and soul. Keep brownies and processed foods to a minimum no matter how tempting. All in moderation. Hydrate. Take a mindful shower or bath honoring your body and what it does for you in a state of gratitude and thanksgiving.” Finally comes the renewal step. “Once you are all filled up, you begin again. From this space you are able to go about your day and tackle the next task at hand in a harmonious way,” said Nacion. “Connect with yourself and loved ones and do something joyful and playful.” Find a community of fellow nurses Joining a community of like hearted nurses that support and lift eachother up is something all nurses could benefit from, according to Nacion-Vita. Unable to find a support community that was focused on nurses was what ultimately led her
to create Nurses Rise. Nurses Rise looks to bring balance to the healthcare paradigm through being a safe place for nurses to connect with each other and learn skills in overcoming the stresses that the nursing profession encounters. “Rise” is an acronym for “Reclaim Intuitive Strength and Empowerment.” “The vision of Nurses Rise is to redefine that paradigm by expressing one’s unique healing potential to become an empowered healer,” said Nacion-Vita. She hopes that by realizing the importance of selfcare, nurses would be able to better show up for family and patients without having to compromise their own health and well-being. Her program includes personal one-on-one coaching, workshops, and retreats. “Nurses are at the forefront of healing, so we must practice what we preach. We have been trained to take care of everyone else except no one has showed us how to do it for ourselves,” said Nacion-Vita. “It is our duty and responsibility to serve from our highest good.”
Exporting care: The history of Filipino nurses in the United States by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
A VAST majority of Filipinos are seen to dominate the field of nursing in the United States, with registered nurses (RNs) making up the largest segment of the country’s health care workforce. Many often attribute such numbers to the common notion that those who hail from the Philippines are hospitable and accommodating. However, beyond that reputation lies a clearer explanation of how the Pearl of the Orient Seas seemingly exported care to the hands of Uncle Sam. In the Philippines, an average RN commonly earns only around five percent of the salary that the U.S. can offer, with an average of P170,960 ($3,301) per year, PayScale reported. From 2012 to 2017, 92,277 nurses left the Philippines in search of opportunities abroad, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. Others would argue that in the United States, RNs could earn more in a day than they’d make in a month back home. The average annual salary of RNs in the United States was
$73,550 in 2017 — about $35.36 per hour. The employment of Filipino nurses in the United States was made more convenient due to the colonial relationship shared by the two countries from 1899 until 1942 during the Japanese occupation but it wasn’t until 1946 when the Philippines was granted independence by the U.S. During the American occupation, several programs ultimately led to the surge of Filipino nurses in the U.S. Pensionado Act of 1903 A sudden need for local health care professionals led the U.S. Army to recruit Filipinos to work as Volunteer Auxiliary and Contract Nurses. Filipinos were sent to the United States as government-funded scholars otherwise known as pensionados. They included those pursuing a nursing degree in the said recruitment. Some of those who stayed for employment as nurses in the U.S. established
the Philippine Nurses Association of New York in 1928. As pensionado nurses returned to the Philippines, they helped set up and manage the 17 nursing schools that were established in the country from 1903 until 1940. Due to this,
pines and the United States settled on an agreement that highlighted the importance of financing educational and cultural exchanges. A large percentage of the exchange visitors came from the Philippines, and many of them were
17 in 1940 to 170 in 1990 to more than 429 at the present time. Many of these nursing schools were diploma mills exploiting the desire of many Filipinos to enter the nursing profession. However, the lax regulation resulted in a problem since only 15-20 percent of the Filipino nurses who immigrated to the U.S. after 1965 could pass the state nursing board exams. As a resolution, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) was established in 1977 to prevent the exploitation of graduates of foreign nursing schools who come to the United States to work as nurses but who couldn’t pass the nursing board exams in the U.S. Today, there are many steps one must pass through in order to become a licensed nurse in the United States, even if they are licensed back
“From January to March of this year, 2,890 Philippine-educated nurses have taken the NCLEX in the U.S. Last year, a total of 10,302 Filipino nurses took the test, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).” most of those who finished their nursing education were inspired to fly to the United States since they can do so with little restrictions. Filipino nurses were considered “U.S. nationals” and even traveled with U.S. passports. Exchange Visitor Program of 1948 As the U.S. State Department set up an Exchange Visitor Program to “combat Soviet propaganda,” more nurses from the Philippines availed of the opportunity. The Philip-
nurses or nursing students. 1965 amendments in the U.S. immigration laws Immigration laws were liberalized to allow Filipino nurses and other professionals to immigrate to the U.S. The said amendments permitted Filipino nurses to come to the U.S. on tourist visas without pre-arranged employment, allowing them to adjust their status once they set foot in the U.S. During this period, the number of nursing schools in the Philippines soared from
in the Philippines. The process includes: meeting educational requirements, such as graduating from an accredited RN program abroad and showing at least two years of work experience in your home country; and then applying to a state’s Board of Nursing and taking the National Council Licensing Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN), which may include an English language proficiency test. Once licensed, the job search begins through a nursing recruitment agency or U.S. employer. Nurses can then apply for a U.S. visa after receiving a job offer. From January to March of this year, 2,890 Philippine-educated nurses have taken the NCLEX in the U.S. Last year, a total of 10,302 Filipino nurses took the test, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). History suggests that the Philippines and the U.S. are linked beyond the nurses that step in to fill the latter country’s demand for that special health care. The connection between the two countries continues to show itself in the present day.
John Lloyd Cruz teases comeback with new TV commercial by Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
ON-leave Kapamilya actor John Lloyd Cruz has made a comeback in showbiz through an endorsement for a shawarma brand. In Turks’ Facebook page, the brand posted a YouTube video of John Lloyd as their new ambassador. In the video, John Lloyd was seen in his new look, with a longer hair and unshaven mustache and beard, while he was walking around and taking photographs. While on showbiz hiatus, John Lloyd made himself busy by taking photographs that can be seen in his Instagram account. Last March, his photographs were featured in an art exhibit in West Gallery in Quezon City. John Lloyd’s comeback in the online video commercial thrilled his fans, who are now asking if he will also return to doing movies and TV shows.
“Grabe namiss ko si Lloyd, nakakaexcite na muli syang makita on screen kahit na nagmatured na sya still gwapo padin. At syempre bagay na bagay talaga ito sa comeback ng small pita doner and may kasama pang doner bowl oh diba bongga? Sana magtuloy tuloy na itong back Returning actor John Lloyd Cruz to back comePhoto screen grabbed from Youtube/Turks back. Excited na kaming mga fans nyo!” a kaming nkakamiss sa kanila. YouTube user commented. Buti nay pa comeback si turks “I like the new look of JL this masaya na naman kaming ng time, yung matured looking guy avid fans! Love it!” another user and may pa mysterious effect. commented. Super namiss ko talaga sya sana John Lloyd took an indefinite magtuloy tuloy na ang appearleave of absence from showbiz ance nya kasi isa sya sa mga last October 2017. It was still best actor na kilala ko. At sana unclear if he will now pursue actganon din ang small pita doner ing after the release of his new and doner bowls kasi madami commercial.
entertainment Nadine Lustre bags Famas Best Actress award The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
by arlo
CuStodio ManilaTimes.net
POPULAR young actress Nadine Lustre won Best Actress for her performance in “Never Not Love You,” opposite reel and real-life boyfriend James Reid at the 67th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (Famas) Awards held on Sunday at the Meralco Theater. For Best Actor, Eddie Garcia and Victor Neri shared the honors for “ML” and “A Short History Of A Few Bad Things,” respectively. Adriennce Vergara was named Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Dog Days,” while Joem Bascon won Best Supporting Actor for “Double Twisting Double Continued on Page 4 Nadine Lustre
Photo from Instagram/@vivaartistsagency
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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
Nadine Lustre bags Famas...
From Page 3 Back.” Emotional in her acceptance speech, Lustre unexpectedly opened up about losing her brother Isaiah in 2017, who was found lifeless in their Quezon City home. “Sobrang laki ng dam-
age na ginawa sa buhay ko (It caused much damage to my life). Ilang beses ko rin po gustong umatras (There were times when I wanted to give up). Kahit po nandun ako sa lowest point ng buhay ko, naitawid ko po with flying colors (But even if I hit the
lowest point in my life, I got through with flying colors),” she said. Independent film “Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus” was named Best Picture, also winning Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Dwein Baltazar. A number of special awards were also given, among them the FPJ Memorial Award to Anne Curtis, the Dolphy Memorial Award to Maricel Soriano, the German Moreno Youth Achievement Award to Maymay Entrata and Bianca Umali. The Lifetime Achievement Awardees were Marilou Diaz-Abaya (posthumous), Laurice Guillen and Charo Santos-Concio. The rest of the category winners were as follows: Best Visual Effects, Blackburst Inc., “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral;” Best Sound, Corinne de San Jose, “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw;” Outstanding Achievement in Editing, Lawrence Ang, “Kung Paano Siya Nawala” and Hiyas Baldemor Bagaboldo, “Pag-ukit sa Paniniwala;” Outstanding Achievement in Production Design, Maolen Fadul, “Oda sa Wala;” Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, Neil Daza, “Oda sa Wala;” Best Original Theme Song, Buhay Teatro, “Paglisan;” Best Musical Score, “Never Tear Us Apart aka Fisting;” and Best Adapted Screenplay, “Tanabata’s Wife.” Finally “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw” and “Never Tear Us Apart aka Fisting” were awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Film.
John Estrada
GMA photo
John Estrada reveals bout with depression by Dolly
Anne cArvAJAl Inquirer.net
THE highlight of my vacation in “Boradise” last Holy Week was bonding with my good friends, John and Pri Estrada, their adorable daughter Anechka, my Migo Boy So and my “sistah,” Tito Boy Abunda. I goofed around with Tito Boy and asked him the two standard questions in the “Fast Talk” segment of his talk show, “Tonight with Boy Abunda.” “Lights on or lights off?” He replied, “On.” “Sex or chocolates?” He chose sex. I could listen to Tito Boy talk all day. He told me that he was working on his third book (though I’m not at liberty to divulge what it’s about just yet) and was revved up for his teaching stint in Hong Kong. While enjoying the sumptuous dinner hosted by Boy So at
our second home, La Carmela de Boracay, Tito Boy told me that his outfits on “TWBA” were mostly his own wardrobe. “Clothes are my only luho. Although I am also into imported brands, I also support young local designers,” he pointed out. “Binabagay ko sa guests ko ang outfit ko for each episode.” He gets a kick out of the memes about him on social media. That only goes to show how down-to-earth the king of talk is. It was so amusing to listen to the fab couple, Pri and John. Pri revealed that John snores so loud. She has tried all sorts of remedies on him, to no avail. “I can hardly sleep,” she laments. “So, when we are in our Cavite rest house on weekends, I stay in the guest room to catch up on my
sleep.” She also revealed that John was like a stalker when he was still pursuing her. At first, Pri was apprehensive because people told her that John was a playboy. This changed when he proposed. A big reveal was John’s bout with depression after “Palibhasa Lalake” folded up. That was the TV sitcom that launched him to full stardom. “I tried to put up a brave front,” he sighed. “I hated it when people asked me if I was OK.” John totally cracked me up with his remark during our night-out in Epic. “These days, it’s hard to tell who the lady boys and the women are,” he noted. Thank you, Tito Boy, Boy So, John, Pri and Anechka for reinventing island fun. You made me so “Bora” happy!
‘Borders on poverty porn’: Erik Matti slams Netflix series ‘Street Food’
research. There are hundreds of original Filipino street food and they chose to show an esoteric eel dish and a goddamn DIRECTOR Erik Matti has chinese fried vegetable lumpia! criticized the Cebu episode Whada?@ck!” Erik wrote. of new Netflix series “Street He continues his rant on Food,” describing it as borderhis Twitter account, saying he ing on “poverty porn.” is not saying eel and Cebuano In a now deleted Facebook Photo from Instagram/@nadine food are not good, but the post, the Filipino director said “eel bakasi is just not IDENTIFIthe episode lacks research for showcasing an esoteric eel dish. ABLY regarded as a quintessential Filipino street food that “The #Cebu episode of can represent our food to the #StreetFood at @netflixph world.” borders on poverty porn. The Erik also suggested Ilocano dishes except for lechon are food that are not really a staple fried empanada as he thinks it is “more truly Filipino.” of Filipinos. All the other Asian “Ilocano fried empanada is countries had their classic much more truly Filipino. I was world-renowned street food really hoping that we at least while we had...bizarre. Bad by JAn
Milo Severo Philstar.com
Nadine Lustre
This image shows some behind-the-scenes footage from the new Netflix original series “Street Food.”
have chosen something widely regarded by most Filipinos and cebuanos too as the street food that can represent us,” Erik said. “Di ko pinapaglaban na Manila food ang ishowcase. Ilonggo ako. Kahit saan galing ok lang yan. Cebu lechon is one of the best in the country. But I don’t think it would hurt to choose a generally regarded Filipino street food to best represent our country to the rest of the world,” he added. Erik was recently recruited by Singaporean director Eric Khoo to lead an episode of HBO Asia original anthology series “Food Lore,” which starts airing in November.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
After 8 years in the biz, Kyline finally gets big breaks by AllAn
PolicArPio Inquirer.net
SHE may be only 16 years old, but Kyline Alcantara, one of GMA 7’s rising young actresses, has already been working in the biz for eight years—a period marked by rejections that unwittingly prepared her for the big breaks she has finally been getting the past two years. “I started doing theater when I was 7, then did television after. As early as then, I was already experiencing a lot of rejections and negative comments from people,” she told the Inquirer in an interview. But such hurdles, the singeractress said, only made her more determined. “The criticisms made me feel weak back then, but now I’m stronger than ever. I was inspired to focus and work harder because I wanted to prove them wrong,” she said. “I became more eager and hungrier—in a good way, of course!” After years of playing supporting roles, Kyline is now getting the plum projects she has been raring for since she was Continued on Page 6 Kyline Alcantara
Photo form Instagram/@itskylinealcantara
entertainment
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
Through decades with Dingdong Dantes
!NTI AGING IS JUST NOT CORRECTING BUT PREVENTING FUTURE DAMAGE TOO
by Tessa
Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net
FOR a man who has it all — fame, fortune and a beautiful family — Dingdong Dantes has only become humbler, more thoughtful and grateful for what he has. And at no other time has he probably felt the intensity of the cosmos’ benevolence than the lead up to Easter week when he became dad anew and refortified his commitment to his home studio of 21 years. Understandably emotional on Easter Monday, just days after his second child Jose Sixto 4th was born and only moments after the ink on his contract renewal had dried, Dingdong expressed, “I’ve been here for 21 years; higit kalahati ng buhay ko I’ve spent with GMA. Dito ko nakilala ang aking napangasawa; dito ako nagkaroon ng panganay at nang pangalawang anak. Bahagi ang GMA ng aking buhay and it is a company na talagang itinuri ako bilang isang anak. “At ngayong alam ko na ang pakiramdam isang tatay — na gagawin ang lahat para sa kanyang anak — ang gusto ko lang po sabihin sa GMA ay hinding hindi ko kayo ipapahiya.� In a joint statement from Dingdong and the network’s top executives, the actor’s latest contract renewal paves way for a deeper partnership between the long reigning Kapuso Prime Time King and GMA. “I am so grateful that way back when I was teenager and starting in showbiz, there was at the very least one person here in GMA na nagtiwala sa akin. And kung sino man ‘yon, hindi ko alam, pero dahil sa isang taong ‘yon, I am where I am today and will be grateful for the rest of my life. “That’s why to be honest, hindi sa akin importante yung title or position or official na trabaho because having spent over half my life at this network, I will do what I can beyond my own shows to return the love, concern and loyalty they have
-$ 3KIN #ONSULTS 3PECIALIZED -$ 3ERVICES \ !NTI !GING -EDICINE Dingdong Dantes
given me. Whether on screen or behind the scenes, kung anong kailangan nila sa akin, I’m there and eager to help with what I’ve learned from being a Kapuso for many years.� But even as the network is only too happy to have Dingdong take a more active and extensive role in creatives, production and the company’s various facets, they will continue to further his ever progressing skills in hosting and acting via his ongoing infotainment program “Amazing Earth� and in giving him the iconic role of Captain Lucas or Big Boss in the highly-anticipated adaptation of the hit Korean series, “Descendants of the Sun.� Clearly the network’s most important talent today, its executives are in fact first to appreciate how grounded their biggest star has remained despite his success. As the company president and COO Gilberto Duavit put in in a recorded message, “Si Dong is one of the very first na lumagda ng exclusive contract with us. And now na nagbabalik tanaw tayo, there’s a great sense of happiness and pride kasi bukod sa hindi siya nagbago, bagamat ang laki na ng itinaas ni Dingdong dito sa industriya, he has remained the same — very humble, very professional, very conscientious, loyal as an actor and as a friend.� And with every angle of
GMA photo
his life picture perfect from “a regular ‘dong’s’ point of view,� The Manila Times finally asked the 38-year-old superstar if anything still worries a man like him today. And again, in all humility, Dingdong replied, “Sa kabila ng lahat na nakikita natin, behind it is a lot of hard work. Of course what the public sees is the glamor of all these things but where I am today didn’t come easy. “And hindi ko pa rin masasabing nakamit ko na yung gusto kong makamit, kasi I’m still in the process of reinventing myself and trying to be a better actor because I believe na we are all a work in progress. “And the worry comes in kapag hindi magtugma ang lahat ng bagay toward your goals and present responsibilities. In my personal life, it’s all the more true with the fear is of course is paano kung hindi ko magagampanan ng tama yung mga tungkulin ko bilang asawa at ama. “That’s why it’s an everyday struggle to always try to be the best version of myself. Hindi siya madali and hindi din siya automatic like what others may think amid all the glamor. “Like everyone else, ganun din ang buhay ko — madaming dadaanan na mahirap pero dahil maraming tumutulong, nagmamahal at nagtitiwala sa ‘yo, saka lang siya dumadali,� he ended.
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entertainment Coco Martin—proud of jeepney driver dad The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
driver friends his father made all these years and applies the same friendship to his tricycle COCO Martin is inarguably drivers now that he, too, is a one of the most popular and tricycle operator. bankable actors in local showPride in one’s roots biz today, but what people Considering his roots as usually say about him is that the son of a jeepney driver, he hasn’t allowed his success Martin has always had high to go to his head. reverence for hardworking For one thing, Martin has public utility drivers who always been proud of his brave the elements and the roots — his beginnings as traffic gridlocks just to earn a a tricycle driver and a dutidecent living for their families. ful son of a tireless jeepney And like these “tsuperdriver. stars” as he fondly refers to Yes, Martin comes from a Coco Martin ManilaTimes.net photo them, Martin considers his fafamily of jeepney drivers and ther as the tsuperstar of their he’s not one to hide this fact. back ride. He would also family who provided for them His grandfather made a living almost always be asked to despite the laborious job he driving a jeepney and was wash and sometimes even fix had to take on every single able to provide for his family the engine of the jeepney his day for decades. and meet the needed exfather drove. “All drivers are deserving penses in raising his children. Martin’s father did not to be considered tsuperstars Coco’s father continued this own the jeepney he was drivbecause it is not easy to particular family legacy and ing and was just paying the drive all day under any road provided for the family by operator the daily “boundcondition and in any kind of driving a jeepney as well. ary” so he could use it to ply weather,” the much-loved and Humble beginnings his route. So, when he was idolized actor said. At an early age, the young already earning enough from “Napakalaki po ng tulong Rodel Luis Pacheco Naciandoing indie movies, the duticeno learned to drive a tricyful son bought his father three sa atin ng mga jeepney drivers, lalong-lalo na po yung cle and took passengers so tricycles as well as a brandhe could earn enough for his new jeepney, which the senior mga padre de pamilya na naghihirap araw-araw para sa school baon. Nacianceno still uses to ply kinabukasan ng kanyang mga His father was also the the same route he has driven anak. Kaya sa pamilya namin one who taught him to drive for the past 30 years. po, ang tunay na tsuperstar ay a four-wheeled vehicle and Martin now says he has ang aking ama,” he ended. would tag him along as his not forgotten the jeepney by ManilatiMEs.nEt
Aubrey Miles on the art of cooking by ErnEst
Gala Philstar.com
EVEN if Aubrey’s immediate and more modest aspiration is to ‘make my own food, even make my own healthy recipe for myself every after I work out — more like a pre- and postmeal,’ she has set her eyes on higher culinary goals. But that’s just the way she’s wired. Unless you religiously follow Aubrey Miles, there are a few things you might have missed from the time she exploded onscreen in the early 2000s as the sexiest star to right now. And right now, she is a hyphenate — in a good way. In addition to remaining an actress — she appeared in GMA’s 2018 daytime romcom, “Ang Pag-ibig Ko’y Ikaw”, alongside Camille Prats — she has also become a personal fitness trainer, a racecar driver, a social media darling with 723,000 followers on Instagram and partner of actor-entrepreneur Troy Montero for the last 15 years and mother of three. Scroll through Aubrey’s Instagram feed and you’ll find she has also become quite the domestic. She shares snaps of her house plants, the surfeit of books she lugs home from family trips abroad, her cutie daughter Rocket Miller, who made her appearance last December, plus, her cooking. One of her life goals, she said last year, was to “learn serious cooking before I turn 40.” Well, she did enroll at Chef de Partie and Sous Chef at GalaS-
The actress showing off the dishes she learned to cook while enrolled at Chef de Partie and Sous Chef at GalaStars Culinary, which the author owns and manages. Philstar.com photo
tars Culinary, the school I own and manage. And, that, by any standards, is pretty serious cooking. For the Level 1 Chef de Partie course, Aubrey completed 20 lessons in three months. Aside from acquiring knife skills, she also learned about kitchen systems, the functionality of ingredients, cooking methods, as well as the principles of baking. She found the latter a bit of a challenge. “Hey, I didn’t realize baking is harder than cooking food,” she captioned an Instagram post showing her with a trayful of chicken and pork baked bruffins. “This is not even major baking pa LOL.” She also learned that baking is all about precision and not oido-oido. Aubey confessed on the same post: “Thanks @ galastarsculinary for not just letting me go. For a beginner like me, I’m good with ingredients to taste. With baking, you need to use the exact measurement if not, it won’t work. Ouch.” She was also required to prepare everything from soup stocks to Greek-style lamb shanks, roast Peking-style chicken to grilling a fish she herself filleted. The student who passes this course can actually head a station or a section in the production line of a kitchen. In the hierarchy of kitchen bosses, the Chef de Partie is third in command after the Chef de Cuisine or Executive Chef and the Sous Chef. Which brings me to the second course she took: Being deputy to the Executive Chef. To complete her training as Sous Chef, Aubrey had to go through 10 lessons in which she learned the rigors of cooking French, French-Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Scandinavian, Italian, Vietnamese and other world cuisines. She did splash her handiwork on IG. Showing off the buffalo chicken and crab cakes she prepared, she said: “Every time I see someone posting food that they made. I just go, ‘OK cute.’ Now that I started culinary school, I totally GET IT. You’re so proud of your creation! You just gotta share it.” Flashing a large smile and holding aloft two types of soups — French onion and Spanish seafood — Aubrey declared: “Do I look happy? YES. One day I realized that I will have enough and I will have no other option than to get better. “I have more to learn in this world, haha. Sorry, guys. I reached this age and ngayon lang ako nakaluto ng seryoso kaya proud naman ako. Home cooking is fun, for me, but culinary skills from @galastarsculinary give me hope to plan something bigger once I become a Chef.” If the captions of her food posts sound like the motivational
texts she intersperses with the workout routines and blissful domestic vignettes she uploads, they are. Quotes like, “Exercise is a blessing, not a chore. I work out because I am grateful that I physically can” and the stark reminder to “GO TO THE GYM” is no different from her declaration about becoming a chef one day: “I CAN BE ANYTHING I WANT TO BE.” Even if her immediate and more modest aspiration is to “make my own food, even make my own healthy recipe for myself every after I work out — more like a pre- and post-meal,” Aubrey has set her eyes on higher culinary goals. But that’s just the way she’s wired. She has a goal. She goes for it. Let another quote she posted speak for who and what she is: “Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” Loud and clear, future Chef Aubrey, a true hyphenate. Does she cook at home? “I used to cook but our housekeeper just always wants to cook for us and just got used to it. It’s somehow good and bad. Good that I’m saving time, I have more time for work. Bad, because we’re getting used to it and just depending on her every day.” What are your daily meals like? “For breakfast, we always have eggs (any kind), pandesal or pancakes, beef/turkey bacon, oatmeal and coffee. “For lunch, we always have Filipino food. Our heaviest meal is lunch. And we only eat brown rice at home. “We hardly cook for dinner, except on weekends. During weekdays, we like fruits, salad, soup or sometimes we make fruit shakes for dinner.” Did you alter your diet when you were pregnant? “I still ate the same, just added more brown rice, fruits and gave in a little bit to my cravings. I don’t drink anything artificial. I just love cold water with every meal. I also drank more milk and took prenatal supplements.” What are the family’s eating habits? “We all eat together as much as possible, especially, on weekends.” Do you eat out often? “Yes, we do eat out, maybe on weekends. We love American or Italian restaurants because of the pizza and pasta, hahaha! Don’t forget their bread. And a good salad for me. “But we really just like to stay home and watch movies on our nice couch. If we go out, most probably because we’re going to watch a movie, so we’ll have a nice dinner before that. More often than not, though, we love just being at home together in our pajamas.”
After 8 years in...
From Page 4 a child: She earned a considerable following after playing the contravida in the drama series “Kambal, Karibal”; she has topbilled a concert; and she’s a regular in the variety shows, “Sunday Pinasaya” and “Studio 7.” Kyline is also one of the lead stars of the ongoing afternoon drama-musical series “Inagaw na Bituin,” which she coheadlines with multiawarded actress Therese Malvar. “I’m happy that the network trusts me to do acting, hosting and singing … I feel so blessed because things haven’t been easy,” said Kyline, whose last theater outing was the Joel Lamangan-helmed musical adaptation of the classic film, “Maynila, sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag.” While she could run the risk of overworking herself somewhere along the way, Kyline is bent on striking while the iron is hot. “I have been waiting for this moment my entire life. I always tell my handlers and managers not to worry whether I’m getting enough rest or not—just give me work and I will take care of my personal life,” Kyline related. “I’m happy, savoring every show I do.” Needless to say, being in a romantic relationship is out
of the question for now. “I’m still young!” she quipped. “I’m focused on work; I don’t want potential distractions.” Unlike in “Kambal,” Kyline plays the good girl in “Inagaw”—a refreshing change, she said. “Playing contravida is my comfort zone. But I was challenged by GMA 7 to step out of that. I hope I’m giving it justice,” Kyline related. “Being kind and api was tough for me at first. But I always try to put my own twist to the character, so that it doesn’t become one-note,” she said. She’s aware that some people are trying to pit her against her costar Therese. But they have been nothing but professional on the set; they make sure to talk with each other before doing shoot confrontations or fights. “I have given her my consent na totohanin. She can do whatever she wants, like if there’s a slapping scene,” said the teen actress, who hopes to do an action movie a la “BuyBust” someday. “We don’t compete with each other. We don’t have that kind of mindset,” she stressed, adding that they make sure to help each other when needed. “If she needs an extra boost of confidence when it comes to singing, I encourage her.”
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA WHAT does it cost to be kind to others? We often think that being kind costs us something — whether it is time, money, connections or any of what we consider to be our personal resources becoming depleted. Being kind does not diminish us. On the contrary, it adds a certain glow to our persona. Have we ever thought at all about the physical and psychological benefits of acts of kindness that flow right back to us? It’s one of those mysteries of the amazing human body and of life itself. Recent medical studies indicate that both the giving and receiving of kindness have positive effects on a person’s well being. It helps produce oxytocin, a naturally occurring hormone in the human body that boosts our immune system and causes other good residual effects on blood pressure and the body’s general homeostatic balance. In women, it has positive effects on childbirth and lactation. Studies now seem to prove that it can help in autism and the ability to handle social anxieties. Another feel-good substance called endorphins is produced in the human body by laughter and exercise. Acts of kindness, specially the pure ones, those that are done without any thought of payback or return, can produce the substance as well. Endorphins running in our bloodstream is good for the heart and the mind as it counteracts the effects of free radicals wreaking havoc in our bodies as
Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES MANY people try to file and open their own divorce case without an attorney in an effort to save on legal fees. Often, the self-represented divorce litigant would seek the assistance of the court facilitator’s office in preparing the papers to open their own divorce case. However once the divorce case is opened, many selfrepresented petitioners are not able to finish their divorce case to judgment for various reasons. The most common reasons are the following: Improper Proof of Service of Divorce Petition Self-represented litigants are not familiar with the code of civil procedures on how initial pleadings should be served on the opposing party and the notice requirements. As such the Court is unable to exercise jurisdiction on the other party until proper service on that party is done properly. Failed to prepare and exchanged required financial disclosures California family code requires that both parties exchange complete and accurate financial disclosures. Proof that these financial disclosures have been exchanged needs to be filed in Court. The court will not enter judgment on a divorce case unless the financial disclosure requirements are satisfied. Default Judgment does not conform with the Petition for dissolution If the respondent has been defaulted and the petitioner is moving for a default divorce judg-
Debt Relief
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG THE first client is 48 and got married in the last four years. Her husband was a foreigner who professed his love for her in so many ways. Unfortunately, his love for her was actually for her U.S. citizenship. The client, who had never been married before, fell head over heels for her newfound Romeo whom she met in a party in her hometown. He looked handsome and dashing in his own peculiar way. Never mind that he was height challenged at 4 feet 4 inches tall and had webbed fingers and toes. He was an athlete and was the fastest swimmer in their town. His nickname was ‘Aqua-Man.’ All of these traits did not bother the client; in fact, it was these traits that endeared him to her. She called him “my BB” for baby “beluga.” She reasoned that he would have no problem getting a job in California. SeaWorld in San Diego would certainly offer him a job to swim with the dolphins and
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The bucket list The power of kindness
“Kind people are the best kind of people.” we go through the ravages of the aging process. It does not mean however, that kindness and endorphins insure us against aging. It just means that we can be happy and perhaps, even content over the long haul. It just means that the residual effects of habitual kindness can substantially slow down the aging process along with a good diet, and regular age -appropriate exercise. Of course, wisely steering clear of moving vehicles, toxic relationships and such known elective, addictive poisons such as cigarettes, drugs and alcohol all help to arrive at a high quality of life in one’s sunset years. In the same way joy shows in our faces specially our eyes, so does GRIEF. Sorrow and pain can become deeply etched and alas, no amount of plastic surgery can erase it. Those of us who live in big cities and are subject to the stresses of the fast pace and killer demands of modern life to “perform and deliver” in our home and work environments are more than likely to suffer from diseases and infections. It’s the curse of big city living and the rat race. Because of such demands that can exceed individual human capacities, many feel exhausted and cannot think beyond their personal needs and wants. Remember too that this technological age has spawned the “Selfies Generation.” The trend these days in social media is to focus on the self. Many are becoming stars in their deluded minds and in the web firma-
ment thinking that the number of “likes” they get is proof positive of their popularity and social status. The result is that many are becoming hardwired and laser focused on just their individual images to the exclusion of others. This self-obsession—today’s equivalent of the biblical golden calf of idolatry—strangely leads to depression. Those who have seen the light, however, and have decided that kindness is beneficial to others and inadvertently, to themselves, practice it quite naturally, most times, without fanfare. After all, genuine kindness is often quiet and does not need to go viral. But when acts of kindness captured on video do go viral because a disinterested third party uploaded the clip on the internet and is viewed by millions around the world, this becomes a teachable moment when kindness gets amplified with the ripple effect. Kindness without an agenda can inspire others to be kind to the people in their immediate spheres of influence. Kindness, like the flu, can be truly contagious. Unlike the flu though, kindness is good all around. Go natural whenever possible. LAUGHTER, EXERCISE and KINDNESS, often at little or no cost, can go a long way in getting back to that wonderful state of happily ever after. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
I filed my own divorce but I can’t finish it ment, the default judgment must conform to the divorce petition. If the two does not conform to each other, the court will often reject the judgment. Child Support requested is not guideline Child support in California is based on guideline. Sometimes the self-represented litigant will try to ignore child support or seek a child support order that is not based on guideline. This will result on the judgment being rejected by the Court. Pension and Retirement plans were not joined Some pension and retirement plans (such as local government retirement plans) need to be joined in the divorce action if there is a community property interest in these plans. Self-represented litigants are not aware of these rules and often ignore this requirement. QDRO was not prepared to divide Pension and Retirement plans Certain pension and retirement plans that are covered by ERISA requires a qualified domestic relations order to be divided (QDRO). Self-represented litigants often ignore this requirement. As a result, the plan is not divided. Unequal division of community property in default divorce cases If there is no settlement agreement, then the court has to divide the community property and debt equally between the parties. Often, self-represented parties will try to propose or prove up an unequal division of community property and debt usually in their favor. Trying to save on legal fees by
handling your own divorce case could turn into a nightmare if your case has issues that needs to be handles a certain way. It is like trying to fix your own plumbing problem if you have no plumbing experience, it could end up costing you more. If you opened up your divorce case but cannot seem to finish it due to some issues, it is best to seek the help of a highly qualified family law attorney. *** 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)
Abandoned wife needs Chapter 7 for $50K credit cards whales. Well, you know how the K-1 fiancée visa works. You have to prove to the USCIS that you met your loved one at least two years before the petition date with evidence consisting of pictures with dates on them, cards, letters, emails, the works. It’s just too bad that there is no camera that can take a picture of the real intent of the human heart. The client petitioned her husband for his green card as soon as they were married. It wasn’t a $15-M wedding like Kanye and Kim’s in 2014. The client’s reception was held in a popular restaurant a block from Trump Towers. All of the client’s family, her brothers and sisters attended her wedding, but tried to convince her not to marry the guy. “Why him?” “You’re better off being single than marrying that human milkfish!” said her older brother. Her guest of honor, FBI director Comey said, “It just makes me nauseous to see you marry this guy, he looks fishy to me!” But despite all of the well-intentioned objections of family, friends and the FBI, cli-
ent tied the knot. She charged their honeymoon, a two-week cruise in the Mediterranean, to MasterCard. That was followed by a romantic river cruise at St. Petersburg in Russia and a threeweek Asian tour of China, Japan, Korea and all the Southeast Asian countries. The honeymoon set her back $50,000 but thanks to MasterCard and Visa, she was given the opportunity to make minimum payments of $1,500 a month for the $50,000 of credit cards. It was money she thought was well spent. It was her dream come true, to see the world with her prince charming. She was a certified nursing assistant who grossed $3,000 a month. Her take-home pay is $2,400 — so 62.5%of her take-home pay or $1,500 is for monthly minimum payments on her $50,000 credit cards. So she has $900 left before rent. They rent a room for $600 so she has $300 left for food. What about her husband? Well, he did not want to work because he said that as PAGE B8
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
Calendar of Events across
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS M AY 2-1 0
35th annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival The 35th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 2 - May 10, 2019 at select cinemas in the Los Angeles area. A key highlight of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month activities, the Festival is produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, and enjoys broad support from cinema artists and audiences alike. For more information and the schedule, please visit https://festival.vcmedia.org/2019/.
M AY 4
Kulintang festival in Oakland, CA As part of the as part of the celebrations of Asian American Heritage Month, Gongster’s Paradise — a kulintang party — will be held on Saturday, May 4 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center where the father of Filipino-American Kulintang music, Danongan ‘Danny’ Kalanduyan was once an artists in residence. This year’s line up will feature a new generation of Maguindanaon Master Artists from Cotabato City, Traditional groups from all over the United States and Contemporary groups from all over the world including Toronto, Philippines, Seattle, Virginia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Alongside non-stop kulintangan, Gongster’s Paradise will feature visual artists, vendors, and dancers to showcase movements related to kulintang music rooted from all over Mindanao. A feast will be served throughout the evening to be prepared and served by Chef Eric Pascual, rising star and owner of Eats By E and will be joined by collaborator and sponsor, Ramar Foods. It will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (388 9th St., Oakland, CA 94607).
Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Tri-County Gatsby Gala Induction in Claremont, CA Roaring ‘20s is an optional attire for the ‘Gatsby Gala Induction’ of FACC Tri-County (Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino Counties) on May 4, at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, 555 West Foothill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711, 6 to 11 p.m. Guest Speaker and Inducting Officer: Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz; and Sierra Madre Councilmember Rachelle Arizmendi, inspirational speaker. FACC Tri-County, under the stewardship of President Merwynn Montenegro, leads to support and enhance businesses that serve diversified communities. Its mission is to advocate for all businesses, provide opportunities for growth, and increase their competitiveness in the market place. For more information, contact Merwynn 909) 319-3145; 1st VP Carmela Giliberto carmela.giliberto@getbeyond.com, or 2nd VP Gregg Vargas (909) 802-0901.
M AY 1 1
Sagalas at Santacruzan in Los Angeles The Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will hold its Archdiocesan SANTACRUZAN on Saturday, May 11 at 2:45 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels (555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). Parishes and civic organizations are invited to join the celebration. Hermana mayores and Hermana menores, sagalas, angels and estrellas will all be in their best attire as they processed towards the altar, honoring our Blessed Virgin Mary. This year’s theme is: “Holy Mary, Handmaid of the Lord, Our Perfect Model In Doing the Will of God.” You are invited to witness one of the most joyful cultural traditions in the Philippines. Come and be with us to celebrate the Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A Reception/ Dinner-Dance will follow after the Eucharistic celebration at Embassy Suites by Hilton/ 800 N. Central Avenue, Glendale, CA 91203. For more information, please call Patty Santiago (818) 362-4864 / E-mail: piesan@hotmail.com or Arnel Bailon (818) 362-4864.
M AY 1 7-1 9
Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii The Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Association (SMISGA) and the Santa Marians of Hawaii are sponsoring the Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 17-19, 2019. The festivities will start with a meet and greet on May 17 at 5 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom to be followed by a gala night on May 18 at 5 p.m. at the Dole Cannery Pomaikai Ballroom. A picnic is also scheduled at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on Sunday, May 19 starting at 10 a.m. The ticket to attend all the events is $130.00 per person. Due to limited space, reservations must be made not later than March 31, 2019. Hats and tshirts will also be on sale for $20. For further information, call Nena Empleo at (808) 384-0394, Carlito Soria at (808) 487-3370, Alex Pena at (702) 373-9522 or Orlino Baldonado at (865) 7898324. Leave a message if there’s no answer. Additional information is also on SMISGA.com and Facebook @ SMISGA19FB. Proceeds from the events will be for various projects in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur and in Hawaii. Donations are tax deductible since SMISGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
M AY 25
Marist School Marikina to celebrate 55th anniversary in Buena Park, CA Marist Alumni Abroad, coordinated by Arthur ‘Jojo’ P. Armada ‘77, invites alumni, family and friends, and the public who are interested, to the 55th anniversary grand reunion of the Marist School Marikina, to be held on Saturday, May 25, at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (7675 Crescent Ave., Buena Park, CA 90620). The event’s theme is “Celebrating Our Marist Life...The Legacy Continues,” hosted by Marist Alumni Abroad. Dinner and dance: 6 pm to 11 pm; donation: $55/pax (per person). Contact person is overall chair Jojo P. Armada at (626) 216-3529 or email: armadaarthur@yahoo.com.
M AY 25 -26
Bulacan high schools reunite in Rosemead, CA The 2019 Global Gathering of Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School (MHPHS) of Malolos, Bulacan will be held on May 25-26, 2019 at the Double Tree Hotel in Rosemead, CA. For further information, please contact any of the following: Lourdes Ople-Smith at lourdesosmith@gmail. com / (310) 662-1948; Charito Aldaba-Gabriel at chato_gabriel1019@yahoo.com / (818) 6536047; Leni Flor Cruz-Florentino at lenflorcruz529@yahoo.com / (818) 282-0928; Tristan Zafra at tristan@trisoftco.com / (714) 686-3345; Gerry Torres, Jr. at gerrytorres50@gmail.com / (213) 249-1633; and Perfecto T. Martin at perfecto.martin@gmail.com.
JUNE 1
7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival in LA The 2019 Global Gathering of Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School (MHPHS) of Malolos, BulacThe 7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival Committee (7KPFC) announced that it will holding the 7th Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 1, 2019 in commemoration of the 121st PH Independence Day on June 12, 1898. This will be the 7th Kalayaan Parade and Festival in Historic Filipinotown, as the first was held in 2013 in cooperation with the PH Consulate General in Los Angeles. This is the only Independence Day parade and Festival in Los Angeles and is held every year in Historic Filipinotown. For more information, please call Freddie at (818) 220-2075 or email at jfavusa8@gmail.com.
Kalayaan Incorporated’s annual Philippine Independence Day gala in LA Kalayaan Incorporated invites the community to its celebration of the 121st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel (5855 W. Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA). Kalayaan is extremely proud to have Honorable Risa Hontiveros, an incumbent senator who assumed office on June 30, 2016, as the grand gala’s guest of honor and speaker. For tickets to the Gala Night, please contact Annie Cuevas-Lim, Kalayaan President at (213) 447-7078. For more information, contact KI PROs Violet Mislang at vmislang@gmail.com or Lady Hope Robillos at lhopepr@yahoo.com.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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people & events Alhambra Eco Fair 2019 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
JOIN the City of Alhambra for the Eco Fair 2019 on Sunday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fair will be located on Main Street between Garfield Avenue and 4th Street. The Eco Fair will feature many family-friendly activities such as games, raffles, free giveaways, and live demonstrations and entertainment. There will also be many eco-friendly vendors on site showcasing a whole host of different environmentally friendly products. The Eco Fair will also coincide with the 626 Golden Streets event and weekly Farmers Market, so attendees will be able to pick up
City of Artesia and CR&R to hold free Bulky Item Drop Off event on May 11
ON Saturday, May 11, 2019 from 8 a.m.-12 noon, the City of Artesia and CR&R Environmental Services will be holding a free Bulky Item Drop Off Event for the community at AJ Padelford Park in North Artesia. Artesia residents may bring acceptable items that cannot be picked up on regular refuse pick up days, and can bring any item that does not exceed 8 feet in length. All residents must show proof of residency by presenting photo identification or a utility bill when dropping off items. Some Photo courtesy by City of Alhambra items that will be accepted at the event include: couches, fresh produce and snacks dur- about the Eco Fair, please contact tables, chairs, refrigerators, miing the fair. For more information (626) 300-1543. crowaves, TVs, computers, batteries, light bulbs, printers, and other similar items. Construction materials, liquids, chemicals, car batteries, and other hazardous items will not be accepted. Photo courtesy by City of Artesia The City of Artesia is committed to keeping the community questions about permissible Customer Service at (866) 949clean and safe. If you have any items, you may contact CR&R 4716.
Abandoned wife needs Chapter 7... PAGE B7 t
the head of family, she should be the one working. He decided he would just stay in the room and watch Disney movies the whole day. So, the client decided to get a second job to pay for monthly necessities and the immigration lawyer fees for husband’s green card. Since the petition was filed before the Trump era, husband beneficiary was not fully vetted. He obtained FBI clearance despite Mr. Comey’s objections, and soon enough he became a legal permanent resident of our country, which at that time was not “great again.” Our country, at that time, was just “so-so.” As it turned out, the beloved husband was actually secretly married in his country of origin. So again, the FBI did not uncover this anomaly so the USCIS allowed a criminal bigamist to become a legal permanent resident. “Bigly Bad!” “That’s a nono!” As soon as he got legalized, he disappeared. The client hired the best private investigator that money or credit cards could buy. It was finally determined that he had gone to another state. He filed for divorce from the client
EMPLOYMENT
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since he already got legalized and the client had maxed out her credit cards. No more honeymoons for free around the world. Thus, being now of sound mind and body, the client decided to forget her fake husband and start fresh without accumulated debt. She decided to discharge the $50,000 of credit cards with a Chapter 7 petition. Finally, she’s making the right decision for herself. Uber driver seeks to discharge $20K credit cards The second client is 45. He owes $20,000 of credit cards. He pays $750 a month for minimum card payments. He is self-employed because he makes his living by driving full time for Uber. By full time, I mean five days a week. He has a late model SUV, which he pays $400 a month. His gas expense is $125 a week or $500 a month. So, if you are wondering how much you can make driving Uber five days a week, you will gross $3,500, less $500 for gas. You can net about $3,000 without considering car insurance and car payments. In the client’s case, he has family abroad and needs to send them money every month. So he
EMPLOYMENT
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decides to discharge his $20,000 of credit cards with Chapter 7, so he can send $750 back to his family monthly. I have another client who drives Uber part-time. He has a full-time job. He makes about $800 a month gross from Uber. If you are saddled with debt, now is the time to get them discharged. Better now than later when you are about to retire. But if you have not yet gotten rid of your debts yet and you are now a senior, believe me, you need to get rid of your debts now that your income is less than half of what it was when you were younger. If you need bankruptcy relief, please call my office for an appointment and 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) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 1, 2019
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE -May 1, 2019