May 8-10, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 34 • 2 Sections - 20 Pages
USA
DATELINE O Canada: Duterte sets May 15 deadline to take trash back FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte gave Canada until May 15 to ship out the garbage it illegally shipped to the Philippines around five years ago, Malacañang said Tuesday, May 7. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said if Canada fails to comply with the deadline, the government will be shipping out and throwing the trash on Canada’s beaches. “They were given—the president gave May 15 as the deadline. If they cannot get that, then we will be shipping them out and throw them to the shores or beach of Canada,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing. The issue was tackled during the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Monday night, May 6, where the Foreign Affairs department said the Canadian government vowed to shoulder all the expenses in shipping out the tons of garbage, Panelo said. Last month, Duterte lashed out at Canada, even threatening to declare war against the North American country if it would not take back its trash.
Lacson to ‘Bikoy’: ‘Truth is never time-bound’ by MAILA
AGER Inquirer.net
MANILA — Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be “Bitoy,” cannot dictate on the Senate Committee on Public Order that would look into his own allegations. “He cannot dictate on the committee,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the committee, said in a text message on Tuesday, May 7.
“Truth is never time-bound. If he can’t be spontaneous, the only logical conclusion is he has not yet weaved his lies,” he added. Lacson made the remark when sought for comment on Advincula’s reported statement that he could only testify in the Senate after the May 13 elections. In the said news report, Advincula also requested Lacson to give him more time to prepare for the hearing. The committee has already
sent a formal invitation letter to Advincula through the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for a hearing slated at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, 10. It was at the IBP office in Pasig where Advincula surfaced and identified himself as the “Bikoy” who appeared in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos. In the videos, Bikoy accused President Rodrigo Duterte’s fam- Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be “Bikoy,” reads his statement at the ily and allies of involvement in il- multi-purpose hall at headquarters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
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CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom wants the state to provide health coverage to low-income young adults who are in the country illegally, but his plan would siphon public health dollars from several counties battling surging rates of sexually transmitted diseases and, in some cases, measles outbreaks. Public health officials describe the proposed reallocation of state dollars as a well-meaning initiative that nonetheless would have “dire consequences” to core public health services. There have been 764 confirmed cases of measles this year through May 3 in 23 states, including California, the highest number since 1994, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday, May 6. State public health officials also are struggling to address record rates of sexually transmitted diseases, with more than 300,000 cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis reported in 2017. The reallocation of state money “would exacerbate our already limited capacity to respond to outbreaks and public health emergencies,” said Jeff Brown, director of Placer County’s Health and Human Services Department,
Inquirer.net photo by Edwin Bacasmas
Duterte ‘in good health,’ Palace assures public by CATHERINE
VALENTE ManilaTimes.net
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A plan to cover immigrants would divert public health dollars
in Pasig on Monday, May 6.
PAYS HIS RESPECTS. President Rodrigo Duterte pays his last respects to former House Speaker Prospero Nograles as he visits the wake at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City on Sunday, May 5. Nograles, 71, died on Saturday morning, May 4, due “respiratory failure, secondary to pneumonia.” Duterte and Nograles were once political rivals that lasted for almost two decades. Malacañang photo by Alfred Frias
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is “in good health,” Malacañang assured the public, even after the Chief Executive was out of the public eye for nearly a week. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte had plenty of work, including courtesy calls and private meetings, and deserved to rest once in a while. “Alam mo (You know) he is in good health, otherwise he cannot be taking that kind of punishing schedule,” Panelo said during an interview with dzBB radio. “You noticed eh palaging madalas ang kanyang mga speaking engagement, sunod-sunod (he has many speaking engagements); apart from that marami siyang mga (he has) courtesy calls and private meetings. Talagang masipag, hindi mo talaga mapigilan ganoon talaga ang nature niya (He is really hardworking. You can’t stop him, that’s his nature),” he said.
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Palace on ‘Chinese-only’ establishments: We cannot allow that to happen
MALACAÑANG said reports that some Chinese establishments are keeping Filipino customers out should be investigated. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government cannot allow this to happen. “They cannot be discriminating against Filipinos. It’s public business and therefore should cater to all,” Panelo said in a press briefing Monday, May 6. Sen. Panfilo Lacson had called for the closure of “Chinese only” establishments in the country. In an earlier interview with radio dzBB, Lacson said Filipinos appear to be secondclass citizens in their own country when Chinese restaurants bar them from entering. “It’s bad enough that there is discrimiu PAGE A3
nation when we go to western countries you can see that there are some countries that still have a strong racial discrimination whether they admit it or not,” Lacson said in Filipino. “But we are here in our own country, you will not be allowed to enter and eat in a Chinese restaurant? And you are Filipino? That should be closed,” the senator added. Panelo said Malacañang would ask Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to look into reports of establishments that are excusively for Chinese nationals. Malacañang also advised Filipinos to avoid confrontation if ever they encounter “Chinese-only” establishments. “The better step, or thing to do, is to file a complaint. [If] you engage the owner or try Chinese workers walk past posters showing images of home as they begin the day’s work on
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the China-funded Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila. Inquirer.net photo by Joan Bondoc
Journalists linked to ‘Oust Duterte’ Unicef sounds alarm on decline of PH’s measles immunization coverage matrix vow to ‘never go down’ by KATRINA
HALLARE Inquirer.net
by GLEE JALEA ManilaTimes.net
JOURNALISTS who were linked to the so-called “Oust-Duterte matrix” reiterated the need to stand together in fighting for the truth amid alleged threats from the government. In a public forum hosted by the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center at the UPDiliman in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon, May 7, journalists and professionals converged to tackle the contingency plans and long-term solutions that must be done under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte where
media and various organizations were seen as constantly under threat. The forum dubbed as “This is The Matrix: A Free Public Forum” was a take from the controversial matrix, which was published last April 22 by The Manila Times. Written by Dr. Dante Ang, The Times chairman emeritus, the matrix linked a hooded “Bikoy,” who accused members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s family of illegal drug activities in a series of videos entitled “Ang Totoong Narcolist”, to a number journalists, among them Ellen Tordesillas, president of VERA Files and Maria Ressa,
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MANILA — The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has expressed alarm over the decline of the country’s measles immunization coverage. In a statement to celebrate World Immunization Week, Unicef said the Philippines’ measles immunization coverage declined “in an alarming rate,” with a record of less than 70 percent, which is far below the required 95 percent. The coverage was 88 percent A health worker administers vaccines as part of the Department of Health-organized in 2013 and 73 percent in 2017, immunization program to celebrate the World Immunization Week 2019 at Ama Dome, Baseco Unicef added. compound in Tondo, Manila. Celebrated every last week of April, World Immunization Week aims The UN agency said the decline to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against preventable diseases. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez in the immunization coverage
leaves 2.9 million Filipino children vulnerable to diseases such as measles, rubella, and polio. “Public hesitancy, vaccine stock-outs, the lack of aptly trained health workers and accessibility of hard-to-reach areas put many children susceptible to diseases,” the statement read. “This leads to more outbreaks and put more children at risk of getting sick from life-threatening diseases.” “Every child has the right to the best possible health care and access to disease protection through timely vaccination. Vaccines are the safest and most effective way of saving lives,” Unicef Representative Julia Rees said.
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From the Front Page
Duterte ‘in good health,’ Palace assures...
PAGE A1 The Palace official also said Duterte decided to stay at his home in Davao City as he wanted “to focus on his work.” “You know, when a member of the Cabinet, especially the president, is not in his office for a few days… matatambakan. Ganyan siguro nangyari kay presidente (It will pile up. That’s what hap-
pened to the president). Sa dami ng mga papeles na dapat niyang binasa, pipirmahan, natambakan kaya (Because of too many paperworks that he needs to read, sign, it was piled up that’s why he) decided to stay in the house and work on them,” Panelo said. “The only reason why pinakita niya ‘yung picture na watching
siya at nag-babasa ng diyaryo (he showed a picture of him watching and reading newspaper) at the same time eh para ma-ease ‘yung concern na may sakit siya. Ibig sabihin, okay ako (is to ease the concerns that he is sick. It means that I am fine),” he said. Duterte ended his week-long absencewhen he visited the wake of former Speaker Prospero Nograles at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Sunday night, May 5. The president was last seen at the opening rites of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa at the Davao City Sports Complex on April 28. Also, Duterte, who usually attends the campaign rallies of his ruling political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan, did not attend its three scheduled sorties last week. The Chief Executive’s sixday hiatus came amid concerns about his state of health. The 74-year-old Duterte has been open about his health condition, admitting previously that he is suffering from chronic back pains and migraine. He has also admitted to having Barrett’s esophagus condition and Berguer’s disease. In September 2018, Duterte revealed that he underwent endoscopy and colonoscopy because of his doctor’s suspicion that the “growth” in his digestive tract had developed into cancer. But in October 2018, Duterte assured the public that he tested negative for cancer based on medical results. Meanwhile, Panelo dismissed Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s statement criticizing Duterte for watching Netflix at home after the public missed him at work for a week. He said Trillanes was obviously describing himself when he claimed that Duterte was lazy and acting like a king. Duterte on Saturday, May 4, sent Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat a photo of him watching “Django Unchained” on Netflix at home. “Oh, I’m sure he was referring to himself. Obvious naman. Ano bang ginagawa niya ngayon (It’s really obvious. What is he doing right now)?” Panelo said of Trillanes. n
10-M TREES CHALLENGE. Senate President Vicente Sotto III (2nd right) leads the tree planting ceremony during the launching of the Luntiang Pilipinas partylist’s “10 million trees challenge” at the Calamba City Hall on Monday, May 6. Also in photo are Kathryna, wife of re-electionist Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Maria Lourdes Binay, Camille Villar representing her mother Sen. Cynthia Villar, and Luntian nominee Michael Ubac. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Lacson to ‘Bikoy’: Truth is...
PAGE A1 legal drugs. Advincula also repeated the allegations at a press con held at IBP office.
Despite this, Lacson still wants Advincula to personally presents a sworn affidavit and evidence to back his claims before he proceeds with the probe.
Sen. JV Ejercito, meanwhile, questioned the timing of Bikoy’s appearance “The timing of Bikoy’s coming out is suspect,” Ejercito said in a Twitter post. n
Palace on ‘Chinese-only’ establishments... PAGE A1 to force yourself [in], you will only trigger a fight,” Panelo said. Earlier this year, there have been concerns over the influx of Chinese workers in the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte, however, said Chinese workers should be allowed to remain in the country for fear that Filipino
workers in China might also be affected. The Chinese Embassy in Manila later on clarified that it would not be enforcing a “tit-for-tat” policy on deporting illegal workers, as earlier stated by Panelo. “The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines did not say that Beijing would adopt ‘tit-for-tat’
approach should the Philippine government deport Chinese nationals found working illegally in the country,” the Chinese Embassy said. Malacañang also declared that the Philippine government would be enforcing immigration laws against violators. (Philstar. com)
O Canada: Duterte sets May 15 deadline...
PAGE A1 “Awayin natin ang Canada (Let’s start a fight with Canada). I will declare war against them. Kaya man natin ‘yan sila. Isauli ko talaga ‘yan. Ikarga mo ‘yan doon sa ano sa barko (We can take them down. I will really return [the trash]. Load it all on a ship), load it — the containers to a ship and advice Cana — and I will advise Canada that your garbage is on the way. Prepare a grand TRASHY BUSINESS. Heavy equipment is used to unload freight boxes containing trash from reception. Eat it if you want to,” Canada at a sanitary landfill of Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC) in Capas, Tarlac the president said. (Darryl John province. MCWMC file photo Esguerra/Inquirer.net)
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Journalists linked to ‘Oust Duterte’ matrix...
ALL SET FOR MAY POLLS. Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) during the send-off ceremony and interfaith prayer held at the Lapu-Lapu Grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, May 7. The PNP-SAF will be deployed to several areas for the 2019 mid-term elections. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
A plan to cover immigrants would divert...
PAGE A1 which has responded to three measles cases so far this year. California already allows eligible immigrant children up to age 19 to participate in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, regardless of their immigration status. The current budget sets aside $365.2 million to pay for the coverage. In his 2019-20 budget plan, Newsom proposes expanding eligibility to unauthorized young adult immigrants from age 19 through 25. His office estimates it would cost nearly $260 million to cover them in 2019-20. While state and federal governments usually share Medicaid costs, California would have to bear the full cost of covering this population. To help pay for it, Newsom proposes to redirect about $63 million in state funds from 39 counties, arguing they would no longer need to provide health benefits to low-income young adults covered by the state. “As the state takes on responsibility for providing health care to undocumented adults, counties’ costs and responsibilities on indigent health care are expected to decrease,” Jenny Nguyen, a budget analyst at the state Department of Finance, told lawmakers at a recent legislative hearing. Under the governor’s 201920 budget plan, which requires legislative approval, 35 mostly small and rural counties expect to lose about $45 million in state money that funds health services for uninsured residents, including undocumented immigrants.
Those counties — which participate in something called the County Medical Services Program — aren’t expected to feel an immediate financial impact because the program has a budget surplus. But four counties — Placer, Sacramento, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus — would take big and immediate hits to their public health budgets, officials say. The amount of money the governor wants to divert from them to cover unauthorized immigrants under Medi-Cal is far more than the counties now spend on comprehensive health services for those immigrants, local health officials said. “The idea that these dollars would be offset is just not accurate,” said Mary Ann Lee, managing director of Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, who described the governor’s budget proposal as “alarming.” For example, Stanislaus County estimates it would lose $2.5 million under the governor’s budget plan. When officials studied the population served by their health centers, they found only 18 individuals were young adults who might not have legal immigration status. The total cost to provide care to them: just $1,700 a year. Sacramento County, which reported a 300% increase in syphilis cases in the past four years, would have to shutter its newly opened STD clinic if the county loses an estimated $7.5 million in state funding, Dr. Peter Beilenson, the county Health Services Director, told lawmakers.
And while Sacramento County provides primary health care to an estimated 4,000 undocumented immigrant adults, just 100 are ages 19 to 25, and they are the least expensive to cover, Beilenson said. “We agree with the idea behind this, increasing coverage for [those who are] undocumented,” Beilenson said. But losing those funds would force the county to close its STD clinic and terminate some communicable disease investigators “at a time when we now have measles cases in the region and we don’t want to be shutting those services down.” The 40 confirmed cases of measles reported in California as of May 1 include three in Sacramento County. As a result of the reduced funding, Sacramento County also would have to slash health services to its unauthorized immigrant residents — the very people Newsom aims to help — by an estimated 75%, Beilenson added. Whether lawmakers will approve the governor’s proposal is unclear. Several already have expressed concern, including state Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), who said, “I think it is clear that this would be terrible for those counties.” Officials with the Department of Finance told lawmakers at the hearing that they were aware of counties’ concerns but that the “governor’s budget stands as it is.” The governor is scheduled to PAGE A4
PAGE A1 Rappler CEO and executive director. “Our goal is to never go down,” said Ressa who is also facing tax evasion charges from the government. Luis Teodoro, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility trustee, said that a journalist’s task was to always provide context and give further meaning to his or her story and expressed dismay over The Times matrix for “having no context.” “Anong klaseng data yung ginamt nila (What kind of data was used here)? There was a lot of imagination involved,” said Ramon Guillermo, Faculty Regent of UP. “Sisirain talaga nila (administration) kasi ang media ay one of the pillars of democracy. There can be no democracy hangga’t walang freedom of the press so kailangang patayin yung malayang pamamahayag (The administration will really destroy the media because it is one of the pillars of democracy. There can be no democracy until there is no freedom of the press, that is why they want to kill independent reporting),” Tordesillas added. “[The matrix alone] demonstrates the administration’s lack of respect for the rule of law,” said Ephraim Cortez, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers. When asked for specific solutions to threats against press freedom, the speakers cited the importance of being on the lookout for familiar patterns of vilification, not just in media, but in various institutions. “A long term solution: Education; medium term: Media literacy; short term: Demand action from social media platforms,” Ressa said, adding that Rappler was building communities that are vigilant when it comes to threats of disinformation. Tordesillas added that as factcheckers, trolls should not be given the attention that they seek to prevent the spread of misleading or inaccurate stories. “Trolls want attention so we don’t give them the attention that they crave for. There are those who post fake news, who use lies to deliberately deceive. That’s what we do as fact checkers. We [also tag stories] as false or misleading,” she said. The Department of Justice (DoJ) recently said that there has been no investigation on the matrix. Palace spokesperson Salvador PAGE A4
PAUNAWA NG PUBLIC HEARING Awtoridad sa Transportasyon ng Kalunsuran ng County ng Los Angeles Ang Komite ng Metro ng Panukalang R na Nangangasiwa sa mga Independiyenteng Mamamayan na Nagbabayad ng Buwis ay magsasagawa ng isang pampublikong pagdinig sa Hunyo 5, 2019 ng 11:30 ng umaga, sa Awtoridad sa Transportasyon sa Kalunsuran ng County ng Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro) Boardroom na matatagpuan sa One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles. Ang Komiteng Nangangasiwa ay itinalaga sa ilalim ng Panukalang R, na kilala rin bilang Ordinansa sa Ginhawa sa trapiko at Pagpapalawak ng Riles, na nagpapataw ng karagdagang kalahati ng isang bahagdan ng mga transaksyon at gumagamit ng buwis upang pondohan ang mga pagpapabuti ng transportasyon sa County, na inaprubahan ng mga botante noong 2008. Naitaguyod ang Komite ng Nangangasiwa at nagbabantay ng proseso upang matiyak na ang Metro at mga lokal na subrecipient ay sumusunod sa mga tuntunin ng Ordinansa. Ang proseso ng pangangasiwa ay nangangailangan na ang isang taunang audit ay isagawa upang matukoy kung sumusunod sila sa mga probisyon ng Ordinansa na may kaugnayan sa pagtanggap at paggasta ng mga kita sa buwis sa pagbebenta sa taon ng pananalapi. Ang mga audit ay dapat ibigay sa Komite ng Nangangasiwa upang makagawa sila ng mga report kung sumunod ang Metro at ang mga lokal na subrecipient sa hinihingi ng Panukalang M. Sa pagsunod sa Ordinansa, ang Metro ay nakipagkontrata sa BCA Watson Rice, LLP (BCA) upang isagawa ang independiyenteng audit ng Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang R at kinontrata ang Vasquez & Company, LLP at Simpson & Simpson upang i-audit kung sumunod ang 87 lungsod ( Lungsod) at County ng Los Angeles (County). Ang layunin ng pagdinig na ito ay upang tumanggap ng mga komento mula sa publiko tungkol sa mga resulta ng mga independiyenteng audit na isinasagawa sa Iskedyul ng Mga Kinita at Gastusin para sa Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang R at Pagsunod sa Mga Hinihingi na Naaangkop sa Mga Panuntunan sa Local Return ng Panukalang R mula Hulyo 1, 2017 hanggang Hunyo 30 , 2018, at ang taunang ulat ng Komite sa mga audit na ito. MGA REPORT NG MGA INDEPENDIYENTENG AUDITOR Audit sa Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang R Ang BCA ay nagsagawa ng audit ng pagsunod na alinsunod sa mga karaniwang tinatanggap na pamantayan sa pag-audit sa Estados Unidos ng Amerika at ang mga pamantayan na naaangkop sa mga audit sa pananalapi na nakapaloob sa Mga Pamantayan sa Pag-audit ng Gobyerno, na inisyu ng Pangkalahatang Comptroller ng Estados Unidos. Ang mga pamantayang iyon ay nag-aatas na magplano at magsagawa ng pag-audit ang BCA upang makakuha ng makatwirang katiyakan tungkol sa kung ang mga Iskedyul ng Mga Panukalang R sa kinita at gastusin ay walang materyal na mali sa pagpapahayag ng halaga. Nakita ng audit na sinunod ng Metro, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, ang mga hiningi na naaangkop sa mga kita at gastusin ng Panukalang R para sa taon na natapos, Hunyo 30, 2018. Mga Audit ng Pagsunod ng mga Syudad at County sa Panukalang R Isinagawa ng Vasquez & Company, LLP at Simpson & Simpson ang mga audit ng pagsunod sa Mga Panuntunan sa Local Return alinsunod sa mga karaniwang tinatanggap na pamantayan sa pag-audit sa Estados Unidos ng Amerika at ang mga pamantayang nakapaloob sa Mga Pamantayan sa Pag-audit ng Gobyerno, na ibinigay ng Pangkalahatang Comptroller ng Estados Unidos . Iniatas ng mga pamantayang iyon ang Vasquez & Company, LLP at Simpson & Simpson na magplano at magsagawa ng mga audit upang makakuha ng makatwirang katiyakan kung may mga pangyayaring hindi pagsunod sa mga hinihingi ng Ordinansa na maaaring may direkta at malaking epekto sa programa ng Local Return ng Panukala R. Ang Vasquez & Company, LLP ay nagsagawa ng audit ng 38 na Lungsod, at ang Simpson & Simpson ay nagsagawa ng audit ng iba pang mga 49 na Lungsod at County. Natuklasan sa ulat ng Independiyenteng Auditor sa Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang R na ang Metro ay sumunod, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, sa mga hinihingi na naaangkop sa mga kita at gastusin ng Panukalang R para sa taon na natapos, Hunyo 30, 2018. Ang mga audit sa pagsunod sa Mga Panuntunan ng Local Return ng 87 Lungsod at County ay may natuklasang 23 lokal na hurisdiksyon na may mga problema sa pagsunod. Lahat ng nakitang problema ay nalutas, o nasa proseso na ng paglulutas. Ang mga natuklasan sa audit ay ang mga sumusunod: •
• • • • • •
Labing-isang lungsod ang hindi kumuha ng approval bago ginawa ang mga gastusin. Ang mga lungsod ay kinakailangang makakuha ng approval ng proyekto bago ang pagpalabas ng mga pondo sa pamamagitan ng pagsumite ng isang Form One na naglilista ng pangalan ng proyekto, ang halaga ng mga pondo ng Local Return ng Panukalang R na ibabadyet para sa proyekto, paglalarawan ng proyekto, at pagbibigay-katwiran. Ito ay mahalaga upang ang proyekto ay masuri ng Metro para sa pagiging karapat-dapat ng Local Return ng Panukalang R ayon sa Mga Panuntunan ng Local Return. Siyam na lungsod ang nadiskubreng hindi nagsumite ng kanilang mga form sa oras. Ang mga form, maaaring Form One o Form Two, ay kinakailangang isumite ng mga lungsod sa LACMTA para sa paglilista ng kanilang badyet at gastusin. Dalawang lungsod ang may mga problema sa mga suweldo, pag-iingat ng rekord at hindi sinusuportahan na dokumentasyon na may kaugnayan sa naturang mga singilin. Ang isang lungsod ay sumobra sa direct administration ng 20% ng pinakamataas na limit. Ang tatlong lungsod ay hindi ganap na ginastos ang mga pondo sa tamang oras. Ang isang lungsod ay walang sapat na katibayan na sinunod ang mga patakaran at pamamaraan ng pagbili. Ang isang lungsod ay nadiskubre na walang pagsusuring isinagawa upang suportahan at patunayan ang pagkamakatuwiran ng pangkalahatang mga gastos sa seguro sa pananagutan.
Taunang Ulat ng Komiteng Nangangasiwa ng mga Independiyenteng Mamamayan na Nagbabayad ng buwis ng Panukalang R Nadiskubre ng Komite na: 1) ang mga audit ay isinagawa alinsunod sa Ordinansa na inaprobahan ng mga botante noong 2008; 2) Sumusunod ang Metro, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto , sa mga hinihingi na naaangkop sa mga kita at gastusin ng Panukalang R para sa taon ng pananalapi na nagtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2018; at 3) ang lahat ng mga Lungsod at County ay sumunod, maliban sa Lungsod ng Compton, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, sa mga Ordinansa ng Panukala R at mga panuntunan na naaangkop sa programang Local Return ng Panukala R para sa taon ng pananalapi na nagtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2018; gayunpaman, nadiskubre ng audit ang 28 mga kaso ng di-pagsunod ng 23 lokal na saklaw nito kabilang ang 6 na materyal na kahinaan at 5 malalaking kakulangan sa pagsunod sa internal kontrol. Ang mga nakasulat na mga komento tungkol dito ay tatanggapin hanggang sa Hunyo 5, 2019. Ang lahat ng mga komento ay dapat na naka-address sa Pangasiwaan ng Lupon, LACMTA, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-3-1, Los Angeles, CA 900122952. Ang mga kopya ng Mga Ulat ng Independiyenteng Auditor at ang Taunang Ulat ng Komite ng Nangangasiwa ay makukuha sa Metro.net, at ang mga hard copy ay maaaring makuha mula sa Records Management Management ng Metro sa LACMTA Plaza Level sa (213) 922-2342. Makikita din ang mga dokumentong ito sa bawat aklatan na matatagpuan sa loob ng County ng Los Angeles para sa pampublikong pagsusuri. Ang mga miyembro ng publiko na nais magbigay ng pampublikong komentaryo ng personal habang dinidinig ang pampublikong pagdinig sa Hunyo 5 ay hinihikayat na makipag-ugnayan kay Michele Jackson, Kalihim ng Lupon, sa (213) 922-4605. CNS-3250260#
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Filipina charged for stealing $3.5-M from cruise company A FILIPINA accountant working for a luxury cruise company in Sydney, Australia was charged with 98 fraud offenses for allegedly stealing $3.5 million from her employer. Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday, May 6, that Mary Ann Abellanoza was accused of stealing millions from Silversea Cruises in an allegedly “deliberate and calculated fraud” believed to have been perpetrated over four years in the cruise company’s Sydney office. According to the same report, there were two separate legal cases against Abellanoza, a 53year-old mother from Plumpton in New South Wales: a criminal case before the Downing Center Local Court and a civil case filed by the cruise company before the New South Wales Supreme Court. NSW Supreme Court heard OUTDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS. Kids roll a big dice at the Unplugged and Play outdoor playground for kids at SM City Masinag in Antipolo City that Abellanoza, while she was on Sunday, May 5. The event promotes fun outdoor activities for kids, away from playing tech gadgets and online games. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon branch accounting supervisor, transferred $3.5 million into seven accounts into seven bank accounts under her control and used a downloadable generator to create fake invoices. the country for good. OFWs money in airports. by Neil ArwiN MercAdo “Ms. Abellanoza fell under susInquirer.net Cacdac denied the news and picion in February 2018, when “Hindi po totoo ang kumakalat na post sa Facebook tungkol sa advised the public not to believe she told a senior executive she THe Overseas Workers Welfare pamimigay ng OWWA ng pera everything they see on social had fallen victim to an online Administration (OWWA) denied sa airport (The post circulating media. scam and offered to reimburse on Monday, May 6, claims that on Facebook about the money “Hindi po totoo ang kumaka- the company,” Sydney Morning they are giving returning over- being given by OWWA at the air- lat na balita. Hindi po lahat ng Herald said. seas Filipino workers (OFWs) port is false),” OWWA said. nasa Facebook ay dapat paniwaIt added: “An investigation by cash upon their arrival at airports “Wala pong programa o ser- laan. Maging matalino po (The a forensic accountant uncovered in the country. bisyo ang OWWA na ganoon news going around is not true. the alleged discrepancies, an exIn an advisory, OWWA said (OWWA has no program or ser- You should not believe every- pert telling the court that the size a Facebook post claimed that vice like that),” OWWA added. thing you read on Facebook.We OWWA has a program that gives Another netizen asked OWWA should all be smart about that),” cash to OFWs who arrived in the Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac Cacdac said in a tweet. country. OWWA advised the public regarding the post and said that OWWA, however, said the post OFWs will receive P20,000 upon to contact their office or social was fake and that they do not their arrival and an additional media accounts to avail of the have a program that simply gives P12,000 if they decide to stay in agency’s programs. n
OWWA denies giving money to OFWs at airports
This photo shows the pool deck and jacuzzi area of a Silversea vessel. Photo from Silversea’s website
and frequency of the transactions was ‘indicative of a deliberate and calculated fraud.’” Sydney Morning Herald also reported that Abellanoza received a free voyage each year on of the cruise company’s vessels as part of her $88,000 employment package. No charges vs husband While the court said that Silversea could pursue whatever means appropriate to recoup from Abellanoza the $3.5 million allegedly taken, it ruled the company could only recover $1,829 from Abellanoza’s husband, Perven. He allegedly received $811,565. “Justice [John] Sackar accepted Mr. Abellanoza’s version of events: that he believed his wife’s newfound wealth was ‘pure luck’ after she developed a seven-days-a-week gambling habit,” Sydney Morning Herald said.
It added: “Mr. Abellanoza, who worked in refrigeration, is not facing any criminal charges. He told the court his wife had full control of the household finances, he was ‘hopeless with technology’ and did ‘not know how to use an ATM.’ He was never allowed to gamble beside his wife because that was ‘bad luck.’” Silversea is appealing the decision, saying that Perven had “wilfully shut his eyes to the obvious” or “recklessly failed to make such inquiries as an honest and reasonable person.” The couple, who have two children, migrated from the Philippines. They returned to the country up to 10 times since 2014. Surfers Paradise, Cairnes, Darwin, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Singapore, Fiji, Taiwan, Brisbane and Melbourne were also included in their travel itinerary. n
Ex-IBP exec tells Bar passers: Help Filipinos even those outside PH
Unicef sounds alarm on decline of PH’s...
PAGE A1 While Unicef recognizes that Republic Act 10152 or the“Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act” makes immunization free at health centers and government hospitals for children up to five
years old, the organization said that it “advocates that the unfinished business of immunization is every child’s right and everyone’s business.” “Unicef has been relentless in saving children’s lives through immunization against prevent-
able childhood diseases,” the statement read. “The UN Children’s agency has helped the Philippine government eradicate polio and maternal and neonatal tetanus, proving that vaccines work and are safe and effective.” n
A plan to cover immigrants would divert... PAGE A3 release a revised budget proposal by May 14, before the legislature votes on it this summer. “I hope there will be some re-
consideration,” said state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “There’s a disconnect there.” (Samantha Young/
A FORMeR Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) commissioner advised those who recently passed the Bar exams to utilize their skills and knowledge in the law profession to help not only the people in the Philippines but also the Filipinos overseas who are needing legal assistance. A veteran lawyer of more than 20 years, 1-Ang edukasyon Rep. Bong Belaro told the Bar passers to hone their craft in several fields like international law to
Kaiser Health News) This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n
Overseas Filipino workers.
provide their services to OFWs who need help in terms of legal matters. Belaro said the legal profession of today and the future is no longer confined geographically as legal services are now among the most sought after profession, even in the business process outsourcing industry. The said “law practice in the Philippines is already deeply influenced by jurisprudence and legal research overseas.” “Many decisions of the Supreme Court for example draw inputs from cases ruled upon in europe and Asia,” the former law dean said. “Developments overseas also affect laws and legal practice in our country, in the same way other professions feel the impact of technology and freer movement of people, information, and commerce,” Belaro said. “When we in Congress craft new laws and update old ones, we look for international and global benchmarks and best practices, so the new laws are forwardlooking and future-proof,” added Inquirer.net file photo Belaro. (Inquirer.net)
reach out to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Filipino lawyers must fine tune their mastery and competencies in international law, business law, transportation law, and information technology law,” said Belaro, who earned his Master of Laws degree from Cornell University in New York. The 2018 Outstanding UP Alumnus for Public Service and Good Governance honoree pointed out that Filipino lawyers, using modern technology, can
Filipino ‘Alaskeros’ featured in Hong Kong by JAN
Milo Severo Philstar.com
HONG KONG-based South China Morning Post has featured Filipinos living in Alaska called “Alaskeros.” The article said that the coldest U.S. state has been home to Filipinos for more than 200 years and currently, there are about 30,000 Filipinos who make up the largest immigrant minority in Alaska. “They have settled in the state since the late 1700s, many intermarrying with local Native Alaskans, creating dishes such as beaver adobo and salmon lumpia,”
part of the article read. According to the article, Filipinos arrived in Alaska on 1788 from merchant ships that came to trade furs. “The arrival of Filipinos to Alaska dates back to 1788, according to local media, when crew from merchant ships came to trade furs with the natives. eventually, whaling ships brought still more Philippine crew. Many settled and married women of the Aleut, eskimo and Tlingit tribes,” the article said. “In the early 1900s, almost 1,000 Filipinos — mostly single men — came to work in Alaska’s
commercial fishing industry, a sector that remains the state’s largest private-sector employer. They toiled in fish canneries, where they were often the lowestpaid workers and endured impoverished conditions,” it added. Gabriel Garcia, Filipino-American associate professor of public health at the University of Alaska Anchorage, explained that Filipinos came to Alaska to seek opportunity for a better life. He stressed that Filipinos then fought racism in Alaska when they “were not allowed to interact with whites – especially white women.” n
BI’s anti-trafficking drive: Over 7,000 barred from leaving in Q1
THe Bureau of Immigration (BI) has barred more than 7,000 Filipinos from leaving the country in the first quarter of the year amid its intensified campaign against human trafficking. BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said that 7,311 Filipino travelers were prevented from leaving the country for failure to comply with requirements for overseasbound travelers. “We have been very careful in assessing these travelers as we wanted to ensure that they will not be victimized by human traffickers and illegal recruiters,” Medina said in a statement. “Passengers whose departures were previously deferred will be allowed after complying with requirements based on the
DOJ guidelines,” Medina said, clarifying that being disallowed to leave does not mean perpetual denial to leave the country. “These requirements were set by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to ensure that our kababayans are protected from being victimized abroad,” Medina added. BI Travel Control and enforcement Unit (TCeU) head erwin Ortañez said that 84 percent or more than 6,000 travelers were stopped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). The other travelers were barred at the Mactan, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo and Davao airports. Most of the passengers have “doubtful purpose of travel, while others were guilty of misrepresentation and submitting spurious supporting docu-
ments,” Ortañez said. Among those barred from leaving were 13 underage overseas Filipino workers who falsified their birth dates on passports, as well as scores Filipinos who presented fake overseas employment certificates. “We will continue our drive to protect our countrymen from these syndicates who keep on sending workers abroad illegally, making them prone to abuse and exploitation in foreign lands,” BI chief Jaime Morente said. “The fight against human trafficking and illegal recruitment is a priority for this administration,” he added. “Modern-day slavery has no place in this world, and we will make sure that Filipinos are protected from this threat.” (Katrina Hallare/Inquirer.net)
PAGE A3 Panelo previously released the matrix on the same day that it was published by The Times, claiming that the information came from the Office of the President. He later backtracked on his claim and said that he merely received a copy via
text from an “unknown number.” Meanwhile, Bikoy identified himself on Monday, May 6, as Peter Joemel Advincula who sought legal assistance from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). The National Bureau of Investi-
gation (NBI) also filed charges of inciting to sedition against “Ang Totoong Narcolist” web developer Rodel Jayme, who put up MetroBalita.net where the videos were uploaded. Jayme was arrested two weeks ago and has since been under the custody of the NBI. n
Journalists linked to ‘Oust Duterte’ matrix...
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 8-10, 2019
Dateline PhiliPPines
A
Court allows De Lima to vote in 2019 midterm polls by PatriCia Lourdes Philstar.com
Viray
MANILA — The Muntinlupa court handling the government’s drug case against Sen. Leila de Lima has allowed her to vote in the 2019 midterm elections. Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 allowed De Lima to exercise her right to vote on Monday, May 6, granted that she would do so from noon to 2:00 in the afternoon—including travel time—and that she would not give interviews to the media before and after she casts her LAND OR RIVER? Water hyacinths cover the surface of Marikina River. As these plants clog waterways, a locally-developed machine scoops vote. Presiding Judge Liezel up the plants and put them into good use, such as raw materials for handicraft, biogas, and animal feeds, among others. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon Aquiatan also ordered that De Lima would bear all expenses for her transport from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame to her polling precinct at Santa Rita School, by Catherine Modesto ParaĂąaque City. ManilaTimes.net “Security procedures must be observed to ensure a safe and seRELATIVES of some of the pocured voting process for her by lice commandos killed in Mamacoordinating with the police and sapano, Maguindanao four years ago urged Getulio NapeĂąas, former commander of the Special Action Force (SAF), to be a state witness in the case filed against him, former president Benigno Aquino III and former police chief Alan Purisima. “Sir, please be a hero like your men. Do not be a coward. Have courage. Your men are to be pitied. You know what they did to them. My son’s body was The SAF 44 painting that Aquino didn’t want to see. A widow of one of them, Roselle Nacino, chopped up. Please, have pity with their baby in her arms, looks pensively at the image of her husband, Nicky, in sniper camouflage. (The genius of this piece is the haunting beauty with which each of the 44 troopers on us, mothers. We feel like the was portrayed exactly as they looked in real life on to the canvas based only on their file SAF 44 had been abandoned,â€? photographs). ManilaTimes.net photo Telly Sumbilla, mother of Police Officer(PO) 3 John Lloyd Sum- the operation tagged “Oplan Ex- Sabihin mo po ang buong katotobilla, said. hanan. Wala pa rin po kaming odusâ€? was poorly planned. Sumbilla was among the 44 Felicitas Nacino, mother of nakakamit na hustisya (We need SAF troopers who died on Jan. another SAF 44 member, PO2 you. Please tell the whole truth. 25, 2015 in Tukanalipao, Mama- Nicky Nacino Jr., believes that We have not gotten justice),â€? sapano during a police operation NapeĂąas could help them get the Nacino added. aimed to capture Malaysian ter- justice they deserve. “Magsalita ka na (Please speak rorist Zulkifli Abdhir, alias Mar“Unang una palang po, up), you are our only hope,â€? said wan. tinanong kita bakit di ka nag- Julie Danao, mother of PO2 WalMarwan died in the operation salita, ilang hearing na po ang ner Danao. along with 18 members of the nangyari sa atin sa Senado. The families of some of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Sagot mo po sa akin, ‘Nanay commandos, with the help of (MILF) and five civilians. sabi po nila, ‘wag na akong the Volunteer Against Crime In July 2017, the Office of the magsalita (I asked you why you and Corruption filed 44 counts Ombudsman found probable did not say anything during of reckless imprudence resulting cause to charge Aquino, Puri- the Senate hearings that we at- in homicide before the Supreme sima and NapeĂąas with graft and tended. And your response was, Court, citing the respondents’ usurpation of authority under ‘Mother, they told me to stop “inexcusable lack of precauArticle 177 of the Revised Penal talking),â€? Nacino said. tion.â€? Code. The complaint was accepted She urged NapeĂąas to speak A police investigation of the out and tell the truth. by the high court’s First Division Mamasapano clash showed that “Kailangan po namin ikaw. on Feb. 26, 2019. n
Be a state witness, NapeĂąas urged on SAF 44 case
military in the area where she will cast her vote,� the two-page order dated April 30 read. De Lima filed her motion before the court after the Commission on Elections rejected her request to establishing a special polling place in her detention. The poll body instead suggested that De Lima still exercise her right to vote through the “escorted detainee voting system,� by seeking the courts. The prosecution did not oppose De Lima’s plea, but submitted conditions such as limiting the voting time to two to three hours, including travel time, and restrict media interviews. The court granted De Lima’s motion stressing that “it is the policy of the State to ensure that all qualified voters, including persons deprived of liberty found in jails, prisons and other detention facilities are provided with access to exercise their right to suffrage.�
Sen. Leila de Lima
Philstar.com photo
Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256, where De Lima is also facing a charge, earlier granted her furlough and allowed her to vote. De Lima has been detained at the PNP headquarters for more than two years over the government’s case of conspiracy to commit drug trading against her. The senator has denied all accusations. n
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A6 MAY 8-10, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
A writ for the marine environment
FEATURES
THE Supreme Court has had a mixed record in its orders related to protecting the environment. In April 2012, it issued a writ of kalikasan, stopping a multibillion-peso project to reclaim Manila Bay. The area covered by the special order has since been declared as a protected wetland — the last of its kind in Metro Manila. It is now a thriving marine ecopark and bird sanctuary along the Las Piñas-Parañaque coastline. On the other hand, it took a decade before the government enforced a Supreme Court order for several agencies to clean up Manila Bay. This could be because the SC order was seen as an encroachment upon the powers and functions of the executive agencies led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Following the cleanup of Boracay, however, President Duterte turned his attention to Manila Bay and ordered the agencies to finally implement the SC order, in line with his policy of eliminating marine pollution. The cleanup is a work in progress. Now the SC has issued another writ, directing the government to protect the marine environment in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef off Palawan and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales in the West Philippine Sea. Will the national government comply with the SC order this time? The three areas happen to be covered by the pe-
tition filed by the Philippine government before the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which sought a definition of the country’s maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. China had ignored the deliberations of the arbitral court. In 2016, the court awarded the Philippines sovereign rights over Panganiban, Ayungin and Recto (Reed) Bank. The ruling declared Panatag a common fishing area over which no country has controlling rights. It also invalidated Beijing’s ninedash-line claim over nearly the entire South China Sea. The latest SC order was issued in response to a petition filed by fisherfolk from Palawan and Zambales, amid reports that groups of Chinese believed to be maritime militias were harvesting endangered giant clams in Panatag. The SC order gives the national government a legal basis to send teams to protect the marine environment in the three areas. With the goodwill generated by President Duterte
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
in his policy toward Beijing, compliance with the SC order should not prove to be daunting even in Panganiban Reef, where the Chinese have built an artificial island housing a multistory structure that
looks like a military garrison. Implementing the SC writ is an opportunity to test whether the Philippine government’s rapprochement with China is bearing fruit. (Philstar.com)
Defending Trump over the Constitution: Attorney General William Barr and all of Trump’s enablers have to resign or be voted out!
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE U.S. CONSTITUTION mandates that there are three coequal branches of government — the executive, legislature and the judiciary — all tasked to provide checks and balance on each other to make sure that not one person, nor institution will abuse its power and put democracy at risk. It is the same spirit of the law that has kept the norms and practices that since Watergate have emerged within the Executive branch with Richard Nixon abusing the power and public trust vested in his position as president. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which operates under the DOJ, is supposed to be the top law enforcement agency of the government tasked to uphold the law and enforce justice for ALL Americans, and not just to a privileged powerful few, including the President of the United States of America. This spirit of the law is especially true if the person being investigated for alleged abuse of power, corrupt intent in defiance of the rule of law is the president of the United States, who has sworn to protect and defend the Constitution and the laws of the nation. This is the same spirit of the law that guides the Senate in requiring judicial independence from
appointees of the president for Supreme Court Justice and other justices in the judiciary. It is also the same spirit of the law that requires from presidential appointees — especially the attorney general who heads the DOJ and the FBI director — independence from the president and from other political and personal interests in making decisions to uphold and execute the laws of the United States. President Donald Trump’s appointee to head the DOJ — Attorney General (AG) William Barr — has just proven through his words, decisions and actions, that he is serving and protecting the man who appointed him to power and not the American people. This negates what he said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate last January that serving in his post as AG “was not the same” as representing and protecting President Trump, and even pledged to make law enforcement decisions based only on facts and the law. Why did Trump appoint Barr to be AG? Because this is what he expects from his nominees — loyalty to him more than anything else. This was why the president was so mad at former AG Jess Sessions when he recused himself from overseeing the Russia investigation out of delicadeza. Trump even asked Sessions to reverse his recusal. Trump also
said had he known that Sessions would recuse himself, he should have not appointed him as AG. This turn of events lead to Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein overseeing the Russia probe, who then appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller to head the probe in the alleged conspiracy between the Trump Campaign and Russia when Trump fired FBI James Comey with Russia in his mind, and because Comey would not give him the loyalty he was demanding from him. Trump then appointed Matt Whitaker to be acting AG, bypassing seniority ranks within the DOJ, all because of Whittaker’s public statements that a sitting president should not be indicted. Whittaker became a ‘good soldier’ for Trump and reported to him all he knew about the Russia probe. Then came Bill Barr, whom Trump appointed because of his public statements that the President could and should not be indicted for Obstruction of Justice. Trump was very happy about Barr and even said publicly that if he appointed Barr from the beginning, he would have not had to deal with the Russia “witch hunt.” Now Barr is really living up to Trump’s expectations and has been parroting Trump’s narrative in defending the man who appointed him instead of the rule of law and the Constitution, es-
pecially when he “exonerated” Trump in his summary of the much anticipated Mueller report. Barr conveniently edited out in his summary the reason why Mueller could not charge Mueller of obstruction of justice was because of a longstanding DOJ policy of not indicting a sitting president. Mueller, instead, discussed in detail 10 ways by which Trump may have obstructed justice for Congress to investigate further on within their mandate, and memorializing his findings so that Trump may be indicted when he leaves the highest office. Don’t take my word for it. Ask the people who did the investigation and made the report. Ask the people knowledgable of prosecution. Ask the people who take Barr’s advice as AG. DIDN’T Special Counsel Robert Mueller write a letter to Barr in late March complaining that a four-page memo to Congress describing the principal conclusions of the investigation into President Trump “did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance” of the Mueller investigation and his 448-page very detailed report with accompanying evidence? As the Washington Post reported, “at the time Mueller’s letter was sent to Barr on March 27, Barr had days prior announced that Mueller did not find a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian of-
ficials seeking to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. In his memo to Congress, Barr also said that Mueller had not reached a conclusion about whether Trump had tried to obstruct justice, but that Barr reviewed the evidence [which turned during his testimony in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that Barr did NOT even review the evidence] and found it insufficient to support such a charge.” “The summary letter the Department sent to Congress and released to the public late in the afternoon of March 24 did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance of this office’s work and conclusions,” Mueller wrote in his letter. “There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation. This threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Department appointed the Special Counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations.” DIDN’T more than 450 former federal prosecutors who worked in Republican and Democratic administrations have signed on to a statement asserting special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s findings would have produced obstruction charges against President Trump — if not for the office he held as President of the United States? According to the Post, he state-
ment — signed by myriad former career government employees as well as high-profile political appointees — offers a rebuttal to Attorney General William P. Barr’s determination that the evidence Mueller uncovered was “not sufficient” to establish that Trump committed a crime. DIDN’T Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tell House Democrats he will not turn over Trump’s tax returns despite their legal request, because AG Barr told him not to? What about Trump’s objection to Mueller testifying before Congress? Or Trump’s objection to former White Counsel Dan McGahn who testified before Mueller that Trump asked him to fire Mueller and to lie testifying before? Or Trump’s brazen move to order his staff and officials to ignore Congress’ subpoenas? Barr sure knows this is against the principle of checks and balances mandated by the Constitution. WILLIAM BARR NEEDS TO RESIGN. And the American people need to vote out of office Trump’s enablers in Congress. And must I add, the president himself has to go? *** 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
Culture, conflict, diplomacy and the West Philippine Sea
Commentary
ANTONIO P. CONTRERAS FOR many, culture is a peripheral issue in conflict and diplomacy. When one speaks of cultural diplomacy, the image that quickly comes to mind is tourism and international relations. In fact, cultural diplomacy is broadly defined in the context of soft power, where a government uses culture to entice nationals from other countries to have a positive view of its people, culture and policies. This is why cultural diplomacy is predominantly focused on image-building, and on social marketing. It actively sells images and representations about a country’s people and scenes, and the overall ambience of a place that is worthy of being trusted. Broadly speaking, selling sights, sounds and tastes to a foreign audience becomes a venue for confidence-building. However, culture is not like instant noodles that you simply douse with boiling water for it to
be cooked. It is a complex array of symbols, images, representations and meaning systems that are built over long periods of time. And the way citizens of a country would image other countries is largely a function of history and of how that other country has presented itself in their worldviews and imaginations. It is in this context that one needs to understand the way ordinary people look at the issue of the West Philippine Sea in the context of how the ordinary Filipino looks at China and the United States. Conversely, it is important to understand how the Philippines is likewise perceived by the ordinary citizens of these countries. In an SWS survey released in March, the United States was the most trusted country by Filipinos with a net trust rating of +60. Other countries that received positive net trust ratings were Japan with a +34 and Australia with a +31. On the other hand, China obtained a net trust rating of -7 percent, which is actually an improvement from its -16 percent rating in September of last year. It
should be pointed out that China obtained a positive net trust rating only in 9 out of the 45 times similar surveys were taken since 1994. The worst rating was a -46 percent obtained in September of 2015. It is easy to understand how the ordinary Filipino would have a positive attitude towards the United States. This would be deeply rooted on the colonial mental constructs which ordinary Pinoys would hold towards anything American, from its popular culture to its government policies. What is interesting, however, is the fact that despite the absence of any adverse colonial encounter with China as an occupying force, and while Chinese influences are as solidly embedded in the habitus and cultural landscapes of Filipinos, from food to popular culture, China as a country remains not worthy of trust by ordinary Filipinos, even perhaps by those that bear Chinese surnames or have Chinese ancestry. In the absence of a systematic scientific study of this phenomenon, one can only offer several educated guesses to
explain this cognitive dissonance. It is certainly perplexing that tens of thousands of Filipinos died at the hands of American and Japanese occupying forces in separate periods in our history, and none did so in a Chinese invasion, and yet decades after, Filipinos trust the U.S. and Japan more than China. Historically, one can possibly attribute this mistrust to how China has been associated with communism, and that the red scare became so deeply embedded in the collective psyche of the Filipino people. It is ironic that the anticommunist attitude that became the foundation of an anti-China sentiment festers among ordinary people, many of whom are also pro-Duterte supporters. Meanwhile, the left-leaning opposition groups, most of whom adhere to Maoist doctrines, have also lately expressed an anti-China stance, thereby diminishing the potency for sustaining the use of ideology as a basis for explaining the culture of mistrust prevailing among ordinary Filipinos. If at all, China is no longer imaged, at least by
the intellectual elites and activists, as a communist country, but simply as an authoritarian, capitalist superpower. However, the stereotype that it is still governed by the kind of communism that scared Filipinos during the Cold War remains strong among ordinary Filipinos. Foreign development assistance has become the means by which former occupying forces like the U.S. and Japan have repaid their historical debts to the country, through massive inflows of loans and grants. China has embarked on this too, with its own Belt and Road Initiative. However, what is interesting is that in an age where the image of a colonial power invading other countries has become a thing of the past, China is now painted by its critics — and with good reason citing the case of Sri Lanka — as one that is showing an aggressive stance in using debt trap diplomacy to acquire territory from other countries. It has been propagated in popular Chinese media that the Philippines is the one seen as stealing
land from China. For many ordinary Chinese nationals, it would not be farfetched to assume that they regard the Philippines is a mere province of China. On the other hand, the popular cultural representation of China among ordinary Filipinos is seen no longer in pancit or siopao, or Chow King, or in Ongpin, or in the rich Taipans, but as an invading force now actually swarming the seas around Pag-Asa, or as illegal Chinese workers now crowding out not only work opportunities but also the real estate space available for Filipinos. Filipinos trust the U.S. and Japan, even if they invaded us, simply because they are no longer invading us now. In fact, we are the ones physically migrating into their territories. If there is any future in building confidence between the Philippines and China, then it must seriously consider affecting cultural transformations in the manner each country is imaged in the ordinary and everyday lives of people in the other country. (ManilaTimes.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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IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal
MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal
DING CARREON Videographer
ANDY TECSON Photographer
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A
Duterte calls for peace, change as Ramadan starts
ELECTION SECURITY. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. (left) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Oscar Albayalde jointly sign the Joint Letter Directive (JLD) 01-2019 during the National Joint Security Coordinating Center meeting at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The JLD, with the concurrence of Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas, stipulates the delegation of specific tasks and other coordinating instructions for the units and troops of the AFP and PNP to ensure peaceful, orderly, and secure national and local elections this coming May 13, 2019. Photo by SN1 Donald H Viluan PN / PAOAFP
Go again denies drug allegations instead had himself admitted to a mental facility. ManilaTimes.net “For me, he should have gone FORMER special assistant to to a mental hospital. He should go the President Christopher Law- there first,” the Senate aspirant rence “Bong” Go again denied said in a statement. allegations of ties to illegal drug “May sinabi siya noon na kapag syndicates after a man claiming to ipinakita ko ang aking likod ay tihave personal knowledge of pay- tigil na siya. Hinubad ko na at ipioffs surfaced on Monday, May 6. nakita ang aking likod, wala kayPeter Joemel Advincula, who ong nakitang tattoo (He previously revealed himself as the hooded said he would stop if I showed my “Bikoy” in a series of online vid- back. I already showed my back eos accusing Go and members and you did not see a tattoo),” Go of President Rodrigo Duterte’s added. family of pocketing drug monThe “Ang Totoong Narcolist” ey, claimed he wanted to testify videos sought to portray Duterte’s and sought help from a lawyers’ war against drugs as a sham, but group. Go said it was “black propaganGo, who is seeking a Senate da.” seat, said Advincula — who had “Gaya ng ipinangako namin ni accused him and former Davao Pangulong Duterte, ipagpapatuCity vice mayor Paolo “Pulong” loy namin ang kampanya laban Duterte of having tattoos signi- sa iligal na droga, korapsyon at fying syndicate membership — kriminalidad (Like what President shouldn’t have gone to the Inte- Duterte and I promised, we will grated Bar of the Philippines, but continue the war against illegal by Dempsey
Reyes
Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go bares his back for the second time to prove that he has no tattoo as claimed by “Bikoy.” ManilaTimes.net photo
drugs, corruption and criminality),” he added. “We are being painted black here… demolition jobs are common during the election season,” Go said. n
Australian writer apologizes for insulting Filipino food Tom also ranked the Philippines in the bottom of his list, while Vietnamese, Laos, MalayAN Australian writer based sian and Singaporean top the in Jakarta, Indonesia drew list. flak online from Filipinos after “Lol Filipino Twitter saw my she said that Filipino food is reply to @TomPepinsky about “bland” and “worst” in South- Filipino food and now they’re east Asia. mad. Sorry Filipino food is Feminist activist Kate Walton bland. I’ll choose spicy food commented: “Filipino food is over it any day,” Kate tweeted definitely worst in the region” after Filipinos bashed her. on Cornell University profesThough Kate apologized for sor Tom Pepinsky’s tweet about her “wrong choice of words” in the ranking of Southeast Asian her tweet, she said she will not food. delete her tweet. by Jan
milo seveRo Philstar.com
“Dear Filipinos: I apologise for offending you. My comment was about food preferences and poorly-phrased. What I meant was that Filipino food is my least favourite in the region. I apologise for my bad wording,” Kate said. “I’m not going to delete the main tweets because then I’ll be accused of hiding. I won’t be engaging any more on this topic, though. I’ve apologised and there’s not much else I can do. Cheers,” she added in another tweet. n
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte called on Filipinos to pray for peace, solidarity and understanding as the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan began on Monday, May 6. In his Ramadan message, the President said he was one with “the Muslim Filipino community here in the Philippines and across the globe in celebrating their faith in Allah.” “Let this also be a solemn opportunity to ask God’s forgiveness for the sins we have committed and to be thankful for all the blessings we have received in the past year,” he added. “I trust that you will offer sincere prayers for peace, solidarity and understanding among our people and all of humanity.” His administration, Duterte said, “strives to unite all Filipinos, regardless of religion, cultural tradition and political belief.” “Together, let us create the change that we have been aspiring for — the social and moral transformation that is real and meaningful and the lasting progress that will uplift the lives of our kababayans (countrymen),” he said. “I wish you an inspiring and blessed Ramadan,” the president added. In a separate statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo urged Muslim Filipinos “to make sacrifices as they journey towards spiritual purification through prayer, fasting and contemplation.” “As we observe the blessed month of Ramadan, we must look at this solemn occasion not only as a manifestation of the great Islamic faith, but a time for reflection not only of our unity in our cultural diversity as a society, but to a realization that we are all parts of one whole,” he said. Ramadan is a holy month for the world’s nearly 1.5 billion Muslims, many of whom practice ritual dawn-to-dusk fasting and prayers. “All Moon-sighting Committees nationwide, including the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta (an Islamic advisory body), have all reported of not sighting the new moon. As such, and as declared by the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta, it is hereby officially declared that the 1440 AH Ramadan will start on Monday, May 6, 2019,” National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan said on Sunday, May 5. (ManilaTimes.net)
PAUNAWA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG Awtoridad sa Transportasyon ng Kalunsuran ng County ng Los Angeles Ang Komite ng Metro ng Panukalang M na Nangangasiwa sa mga Independiyenteng Mamamayan na Nagbabayad ng Buwis (Komiteng Nangangasiwa, Oversight Committee) ay magsasagawa ng isang pampublikong pagdinig sa Hunyo 5, 2019 ng 10:30 ng umaga, sa Awtoridad sa Transportasyon sa Kalunsuran ng County ng Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro) Boardroom na matatagpuan sa One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles. Ang Komiteng Nangangasiwa ay itinalaga sa ilalim ng Panukalang M, na kilala rin bilang Ordinansa sa Plano ng Pagpapabuti ng Trapiko sa County ng Los Angeles na nagpapataw ng kalahati ng isang bahagdan (.5%) ng mga transaksyon at gumagamit ng buwis upang pondohan ang mga pagpapabuti ng transportasyon sa County, na inaprubahan ng mga botante noong 2016. Naitaguyod ang Komite ng Nangangasiwa at nagbabantay ng proseso upang matiyak na ang Metro at mga lokal na subrecipient ay sumusunod sa mga tuntunin ng Ordinansa. Ang proseso ng pangangasiwa ay nangangailangan na ang isang taunang pag-audit ay isagawa upang matukoy kung sumusunod sila sa mga probisyon ng Ordinansa na may kaugnayan sa pagtanggap at paggasta ng mga kita sa buwis sa pagbebenta sa taon ng pananalapi. Ang mga audit ay dapat ibigay sa Komite ng Nangangasiwa upang makagawa sila ng mga report kung sumunod ang Metro at ang mga lokal na subrecipient sa hinihingi ng Panukalang M. Sa pagsunod sa Ordinansa, ang Metro ay nakipagkontrata sa BCA Watson Rice, LLP (BCA) upang isagawa ang independyenteng audit sa Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang M at kinontrata ang Vasquez & Company, LLP at Simpson & Simpson upang i-audit kung sumunod ang 87 lungsod ( Lungsod) at County ng Los Angeles (County). Ang layunin ng pagdinig na ito ay upang tumanggap ng mga komento mula sa publiko tungkol sa mga resulta ng mga independiyenteng audit na isinasagawa sa Iskedyul ng Mga Kinita at Gastusin para sa Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang M at Pagsunod sa Mga Hinihingi na Naaangkop sa Mga Panuntunan sa Local Return ng Panukalang M mula Hulyo 1, 2017 hanggang Hunyo 30 , 2018, at ang taunang ulat ng Komite sa mga audit na ito. MGA REPORT NG MGA INDEPENDIYENTENG AUDITOR Audit sa Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang M Ang BCA Watson Rice, LLP (BCA) ay nagsagawa ng audit ng pagsunod na alinsunod sa mga karaniwang tinatanggap na pamantayan sa pag-audit sa Estados Unidos ng Amerika at ang mga pamantayan na naaangkop sa mga audit sa pananalapi na nakapaloob sa Mga Pamantayan sa Pag-audit ng Gobyerno, na inisyu ng Pangkalahatang Comptroller ng Estados Unidos. Ang mga pamantayang iyon ay nag-aatas na magplano at magsagawa ng pag-audit ang BCA upang makakuha ng makatwirang katiyakan tungkol sa kung ang mga Iskedyul ng Mga Panukalang M sa kinita at gastusin ay walang materyal na mali sa pagpapahayag ng halaga. Nakita ng audit na sinunod ng Metro, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, ang mga hiningi na naaangkop sa mga kita at gastusin ng Panukalang M para sa taon na natapos, Hunyo 30, 2018. Mga Audit ng Pagsunod ng mga Syudad at County sa Panukalang M Isinagawa ng Vasquez & Company, LLP at Simpson & Simpson ang mga audit ng pagsunod sa Mga Panuntunan sa Local Return alinsunod sa mga karaniwang tinatanggap na pamantayan sa pag-audit sa Estados Unidos ng Amerika at ang mga pamantayang nakapaloob sa Mga Pamantayan sa Pag-audit ng Gobyerno, na ibinigay ng Pangkalahatang Comptroller ng Estados Unidos . Iniatas ng mga pamantayang iyon ang Vasquez & Company, LLP at Simpson & Simpson na magplano at magsagawa ng mga audit upang makakuha ng makatwirang katiyakan kung may mga pangyayaring hindi pagsunod sa mga hinihingi ng Ordinansa na maaaring may direkta at malaking epekto sa programa ng Local Return ng Panukala M. Ang Vasquez & Company, LLP ay nagsagawa ng audit ng 39 na Lungsod, at ang Simpson & Simpson ay nagsagawa ng audit ng iba pang mga 49 na Lungsod at County. Natuklasan sa ulat ng Independiyenteng Auditor sa Pondo ng Espesyal na Kinita ng Panukalang M na ang Metro ay sumunod, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, sa mga hinihingi na naaangkop sa mga kita at gastusin ng Panukalang M para sa taon na natapos, Hunyo 30, 2018. Ang mga audit sa pagsunod sa Mga Panuntunan ng Local Return ng 87 Lungsod at County ay may nakitang 13 lokal na hurisdiksyon na may mga problema sa pagsunod. Lahat ng nakitang problema ay nalutas, o nasa proseso na ng paglulutas. Ang mga natuklasan sa audit ay nasa apat na pangunahing mga kategorya tulad ng sumusunod: •
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Wala sa oras nang Pagsumite ng Mga Form: Ang mga nakitang mga lungsod na hindi nagsumite ng kanilang form sa oras ay may kabuuang 6. Ang form, maaaring Form One o Form Two, ay kinakailangang isumite ng mga lungsod sa LACMTA para sa paglilista ng kanilang badyet at gastusin. Hindi wasto ang Naiulat na Balanse ng Cash: Isang lungsod ang hindi inihayag ng wasto ang bahagi ng interes na kinita nitong Pondo ng Local Return ng Panukalang M. Ang mga kita sa interes sa balanse ng cash ay hindi wasto ang pagkakabahagi sa Account ng MMLRF . Mga Wastong Rekord ng Accounting at Dokumentasyon: Ang isang lungsod ay walang kontrata o form ng purchase order upang suportahan ang pagbabayad sa isang vendor para sa iba’t ibang serbisyo. Nagbigay ang vendor ng iba’t ibang serbisyo sa halaga na nangangailangan ng may purchase order. Gayunpaman, ang vendor ay nagpadala ng isang pinagsama-samang invoice upang lumagpas sa threshold na $ 3,000. Ang Hindi pagkuha ng Approval Bago Ginawa ang mga gastusin: May abuuang 6 na lungsod ang hindi kumuha ng approval bago gumastos. Ang mga lungsod ay kinakailangang makakuha ng approval ng proyekto bago ang pagpalabas ng mga pondo sa pamamagitan ng pagsumite ng isang Form One na kung saan nakalista ang pangalan ng proyekto, ang halaga ng mga pondo ng Local Return ng Panukalang M na ibabadyet para sa proyekto, paglalarawan ng proyekto, at pagbibigay-katwiran. Ito ay mahalaga upang ang proyekto ay masuri ng Metro para sa pagiging karapat-dapat ng Local Return ng Panukalang M ayon sa Panuntunan ng Local Return.
Taunang Ulat ng Komiteng Nangangasiwa ng mga Independiyenteng Mamamayan na Nagbabayad ng Buwis Panukalang M Nakita ng Komite na: 1) ang mga audit ay isinagawa alinsunod sa Ordinansa na inaprubahan ng mga botante noong 2016; 2) Sinunod ng Metro, sa lahat ng aspeto sa materyal, ang mga hinihingi na naaangkop sa mga kita at gastusin ng Panukalang M para sa taon na natapos na Hunyo 30, 2018; at 3) ang lahat ng mga Lungsod at County ay sumunod, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, sa Ordinansa ng Panukalang M at mga panuntunan na naaangkop sa programa ng Local Return ng Panukalang M para sa taon na natapos na Hunyo 30, 2017; gayunpaman, natuklasan ng audit ang 14 mga kaso ng di-pagsunod sa 12 lokal na saklaw nito. Ayon sa kawani ng Metro, ang lahat ng nakitang mali ay nalutas na, o nasa proseso na ng paglulutas. Ang mga nakasulat na mga komento tungkol dito ay tatanggapin hanggang sa Hunyo 5, 2019. Ang lahat ng mga komento ay dapat naka-address sa Board Administration, LACMTA, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-3-1, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952. Ang mga kopya ng Mga Ulat ng Mga Independiyenteng Auditor at ang Taunang Ulat ng Komite Nangangasiwa ay makukuha sa theplan.metro.net, at ang mga hard copy ay maaaring makuha mula sa Records Management Center ng Metro sa LACMTA Plaza Level sa (213) 922-2342. Makikita din ang mga dokumentong ito sa bawat aklatan na matatagpuan sa loob ng County ng Los Angeles para sa pampublikong pagsusuri. Ang mga miyembro ng publiko na nais magbigay ng pampublikong komentaryo ng personal habang idinaraos ang pampublikong pagdinig sa Hunyo 5 ay hinihikayat na makipag-ugnayan kay Michele Jackson, Kalihim ng Lupon, sa (213) 922-4605. CNS-3250235#
A MAY 8-10, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
Diokno not worried about CA deficit Economists see April inflation at 2.8 to 3.2% by Ben
O. de Vera Inquirer.net
For 2021, private economists see inflation averaging 3.4 percent. by Lawrence
aGcaOiLi Philstar.com
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is not worried about the widening current account (CA) shortfall as the country has enough buffers to finance increasing importation of raw materials and capital equipment. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the Philippines has strong foreign exchange inflows from foreign direct investments (FDI), tourism receipts, and earnings from the information technology – business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) to pay for imports. “We continue to receive, I think on average about $60 billion from overseas Filipino remittances, IT-BPO income, and plus the increasing receipt from the tourism industry. And to add to that, the Philippines has attracted a lot of interest from foreign investors,” he said. Diokno said FDI inflows averaged about $10 billion over the last two years or three times higher than the average for the last eight years. The CA position measures the net transfer of real resources between the domestic economy and the rest of the world. It consists of transactions in goods, services as well as primary and secondary
income. The Philippines incurred a record CA deficit of $7.9 billion or 2.4 of gross domestic product (GDP) last year, almost four times the $2.1 billion shortfall or 0.7 percent of GDP in 2017 due to a wider trade deficit as a result of the massive infrastructure build up being undertaken by the Duterte administration. The shortfall was the highest on record since the $4.4 billion current account deficit or 5.1 percent of gross domestic product recorded during the height of the Asian financial crisis in 1997. The figure also exceeded the central bank’s full-year deficit target of $6.4 billion or 1.9 percent of GDP. “As I said we have some buffers, hefty buffers. So I am not at all worried about the current account deficit especially because it is less than three percent of our economy,” Diokno said. The BSP chief said the country’s balance of payments (BOP) position with a deficit of 0.7 percent of GDP is manageable and provides resilience against external headwinds. “Running a current account deficit is not necessarily a cause for concern given the underlying trends. Our external position continues to be adequately supported by structural sources of foreign ex-
Philstar.com file photo
change inflows such as overseas Filipinos’ remittances, IT-business process outsourcing revenues, as well as increasing tourism receipts,” he said. In upgrading the country’s credit rating to BBB+ or a notch below the much coveted “A” scale, S&P Global Ratings said another key rating strength for the Philippines is the country’s external position. The debt watcher said the CA deficit rose to a multi-year high due to rising capital goods imports stemming from the government’s continuing ambitious infrastructure push. “Nevertheless, we expect robust services exports mainly tourism, health care, maritime, and business process outsourcing and large remittance inflows will cushion the impact of rising investment, keeping the deficit stable at about two percent of GDP,” S&P said. The rating agency added the proposed rationalization of tax incentives under the Trabaho bill could affect foreign investor sentiment, depending on the final stipulations of the bill and the timing of its implementation. “We believe this poses some downside risk to the outlook on FDI in the Philippines,” it said. For 2019, the BSP sees a CA deficit of $8.4 billion or -2.3 percent of GDP. n
INFLATION likely further eased in April, with a possibility of falling below the 3-percent level for the first time since December 2017. Of the nine economists polled by the Inquirer, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.’s Michael Ricafort had the lowest forecast of 2.8 percent year-on-year. The last time the monthly headline inflation was at the 2-percent level was in December 2017, at 2.9 percent. “Inflation would likely continue to ease in April as well as in the coming months of 2019, largely driven by lower food prices (which account for 35 percent of the inflation/consumer price index basket), especially rice prices (which is about 10 percent of the inflation/CPI basket) more than offsetting any uptick in food/agriculture prices due to the expected mild El Niño dry spell that could last up to August, upward adjustment in electricity prices and the increase in global oil prices at sixmonth highs recently (but already eased to one-month lows recently),” Ricafort said. The government will release the April inflation figure on Tuesday, May 7. Two economists projected the
rate of increase in prices of basic commodities last month at 2.9 percent. “We expect inflation dropped below the midpoint of the central bank’s target for the first time since August 2017. While transport price inflation is likely to have picked up on the back of higher global oil prices, falling rice prices are likely to have continued to pull down food price inflation,” Capital Economics Asia economist Alex Holmes said. “Our inflation call for April is 2.9 percent, factoring in lag effects from improved supply-side conditions for food items. Higher oil prices and El Niño may have lag effects and could probably manifest by May print,” Security Bank assistant vice president and economist Robert Dan Roces said. The majority of these economists expect inflation still at 3 percent or above in April—it was 3 percent for Maybank Investment Bank group chief economist Suhaimi Bin Ilias, and 3.1 percent for Ateneo de Manila University economics professor Alvin Ang, IHS Markit Asia-Pacific chief economist Rajiv Biswas and Nomura economist Euben Paracuelles. Bank of the Philippine Islands vice president and chief economist Emilio Neri Jr. and DBS Bank Ltd. economist Masyita Crystallin
shared the highest end of economists’ projections, at 3.2 percent. With the inflation rate slowing down, most economists believe the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will cut interest rates when its policymaking Monetary Board meets to discuss the monetary policy stance on May 9. The majority of these economists expect inflation still at 3 percent or above in April—it was 3 percent for Maybank Investment Bank group chief economist Suhaimi Bin Ilias, and 3.1 percent for Ateneo de Manila University economics professor Alvin Ang, IHS Markit Asia-Pacific chief economist Rajiv Biswas and Nomura economist Euben Paracuelles. Bank of the Philippine Islands vice president and chief economist Emilio Neri Jr. and DBS Bank Ltd. economist Masyita Crystallin shared the highest end of economists’ projections, at 3.2 percent. With the inflation rate slowing down, most economists believe the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will cut interest rates when its policymaking Monetary Board meets to discuss the monetary policy stance on May 9. In the first quarter, inflation averaged 3.8 percent, already within the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee’s 3-4 percent target range. n
Investment pledges surge by 46% in Jan-April by TyrOne JasPer
c. Piad
Manilatimes.net
INVESTMENT approvals increased by 46 percent in the first four months of 2019, with power projects accounting for most of them, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. In a statement, the department’s Board of Investments (BoI) said it had approved P286.7-billion worth of investments as of endApril, higher than P195.7 billion in the same period last year. Approved energy projects — which made up 65 percent of the total — grew by 78 percent to P185.4 billion in January to April from P104.3 billion in the comparable period. These include the 506-megawatt (MW) natural gas power plant of Vires Energy Corp. in Batangas City, Batangas province, worth P35.2 billion; geothermal plants of Philippine Geothermal Production Company Inc. in Albay and Camarines Sur provinces worth P1 billion; and a 15-MW biomass plant of Cagayan Biomass Energy Corp. in Isabela province. Trade Undersecretary and BoI
Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo said these projects were reviewed by the Energy and Environment departments before securing approval. Tax incentives, he added, would be withheld from these firms if they fail to meet the board’s terms and conditions. Investments for the manufacturing industry came next, rising by 181 percent to P44.6 billion in the period from the previous year’s P15.9 billion. Investments for information and communication surged by 9,669 percent to P33.2 billion from P340 million a year ago; and for hospitality and food services, 733 percent to P8.4 billion from P1 billion. Foreign investments, which accounted for 23 percent of the total, soared by 2,224 percent to P66.9 billion from P2.9 billion in 2018. Singapore is the top foreign investor in the period, with P35.4 billion worth of greenlighted projects. The Netherlands came next with P9.1 billion; Thailand, P8.5 billion; Japan, P5.5 billion; and the United States, P2.2 billion.
“Foreign investors remain confident in the country’s business prospects as foreign capital continue to surge in the country while domestic investors remain upbeat as domestic capital continued its steady growth,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said. He also said that after the country’s credit status was upgraded, “even the Asian Development Bank now [sees] that the Philippines has the second fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia.” S&P Global Ratings raised last week the country’s credit rating from “BBB” to “BBB+” with a stable outlook, citing as reasons the country’s robust economic growth track and the good standing of government fiscal accounts, among others. Approved domestic pledges, meanwhile, reached P219.7 billion, a 14 percent increase from 2018’s P192.8 billion. Among these, Calabarzon raked in the most with P198 billion; Central Luzon, P26.7 billion; the National Capital Region, P7.9 billion; Central Visayas, P5.7 billion; and Cagayan Valley, P4.3 billion. n
DOF eyes ‘A’ credit rating for Philippines in 2 years
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III by Mary
Grace Philstar.com
Padin
THE Department of Finance (DOF) expects another credit rating upgrade from S&P Global Ratings in two years, as the government continues to pursue financial reforms and maintain fiscal discipline while implementing a massive infrastructure program. In an interview with reporters, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the DOF is eyeing an “A-” sovereign credit rating from S&P in the next two years, after the Philippines achieved the highest rating of “BBB+” from S&P last week. “We want to do it in two years. They (S&P) say it’s possible in two years. We’re going to certainly put all our effort to do it,” Dominguez said. S&P upgraded the Philippines’ long-term sovereign credit rating from “BBB” to “BBB+” — two notches above investment grade rating — with a “stable” outlook. This is so far the highest credit
Philstar.com file photo
rating that the Philippines has received. Dominguez said this is at par with the credit rating of Peru, Thailand and Mexico, and is only a notch below the investment grade of economies like Spain and Malaysia. Dominguez said S&P, in a report, laid out the reforms that the government should pursue in order to get another upgrade. “What S&P is saying is this is the roadmap to a second upgrade. It’s right there, all you have to do is follow it: complete the tax reform program, sustain the deficit at three percent, lower your debtto-gross domestic product ratio. It’s all there,” Dominguez said. Dominguez said the DOF would continue to maintain fiscal discipline even as the government substantially increases its spending on infrastructure and human capital development. “We will continue working down our debt service even as we empower progressive governance with our recurrent revenues,” he said.
He said the DOF also expects the approval of the remaining packages of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) despite the upcoming election of new lawmakers in Congress. Dominguez emphasized the achievements of the government in implementing the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, which resulted in a 108-percent achievement of the law’s revenue target. He also mentioned the enactment of the Rice Tariffication Act, which he described as a “politically difficult” reform measure. “While the achievements mentioned are certainly encouraging, we will not allow ourselves to become complacent. Even more work is needed to ensure that we reap the benefits of such accomplishments and continue to institute and implement meaningful reforms – not just to get that sterling ‘A’ rating, but, more importantly, to achieve a more comfortable life for all law-abiding Filipinos,” Dominguez said. n
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 2019
Best of both worlds: Single Fil-Ams moms on managing family and business By Christina M. Oriel / AJPress IT is often said that running your own business is like raising another child. Entrepreneurship is already a massive undertaking, and for some mothers, there’s an extra layer of being a single parent on top of all these responsibilities. Juggling multiple roles, however, hasn’t detracted this group of mompreneurs from recognizing their expertise and creating brands, while running their households and attending to their children’s needs. “Being a single mom is not a handicap. In fact that status comes with an inbuilt capacity for business success. Operating on a budget; Multitasking; Delegation; Management; and Problem-solving are both general skills for a successful mother and a successful entrepreneur,” writes success coach Toby Nwazor in the Huffington Post. In time for Mother’s Day this weekend, the Asian Journal spoke to three Filipina Americans about how they simultaneously manage these 24/7 roles as business owners and single parents. Play on your strengths For Caroline Kostiuk, who has gained a sizable following with photos of her cake decorations and family table spreads under online persona Caroline Adobo, baking has been a life-long hobby. What started off as baking birthday cakes for close family and friends turned into people placing orders. She now has a full-fledged enterprise where she makes custom cakes for any occasion and does special pop-up events. “My husband, who passed away 20 months ago, was always very supportive of my cake baking ventures and he was the first to cheer me on, especially when I would have cake popups and events,” Kostiuk said. “Now that I am a solo parent, I learn every day about myself: my capabilities and strengths, knowing your limits or when to ask for help. I think that’s essential for being an entrepreneur.” Charina Vergara can recall when her entrepreneurial drive kicked in at an early age — from selling snacks to classmates to making her first million at 23 as an account executive for a travel agency. When she separated from her husband and moved to the U.S. with her two daughters in tow, she worked in sales and marketing for a media company and then a grocery chain, before being let go last summer. This moment led Vergara to make a transition as a real estate agent and then venture on her to open Titas of Manila restaurant in West Covina, California earlier this year. “After I was laid off, from July to December of last year, I just relaxed and took a much-needed break because I had been working since I was 17…Then I started baking and cooking for fun, which included developing a recipe for crinkles I was really proud of,” Vergara said. “At the same time, I was going back to real estate because I am a licensed realtor and was asked to find a tenant to occupy this vacant space in West Covina, even for a short period...Long story short, my sister told me to get it, which was around December 29 and we closed the deal on December 31. I publicly posted that I took over the restaurant in January. We are in an exciting time wherein the Filipino food movement is gaining traction.” Own your single mom status While Fiona Hilario was a human resources specialist at the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, she
AJPress Illustration by Kendrick Tan
and her siblings thought of starting a side venture centered around body waxing services using natural products, which became known as Lay Bare. Today, Lay Bare has 50 company-owned and 74 franchised locations across the Philippines. Hilario and her 16-year-old daughter Noelle moved to Southern California in 2012, where Hilario operates one location in Studio City and is overall president and managing member of the franchising side of the business. Hilario, who had her daughter at 28, said that being a single mom shouldn’t be an obstacle to success. “One of the reasons I moved to the U.S. was because there was still a stigma around being a single parent back home in the Philippines,” she said. “People here admire single mothers instead of being looked down on and treated like second-class citizens. The first step is getting out of that thinking that single moms are at a disadvantage.” She added, “I actually feel that if I were married, I wouldn’t have been an entrepreneur and would have probably prioritized being a stay-at-home parent. Being by myself made me more ambitious to achieve something greater to make sure my daughter surpasses everything I have done myself.” Vergara who recently came back to working for herself said that it’s easy to dwell in the ‘what ifs’ and the past. “I was already enjoying entrepreneurial life, but it was a setback because my marriage failed,” she said. “But at the end of the day, I believe it was not a failure — it was actually a set-up for a comeback. I have come fullcircle after 12 years.” “People ask why I don’t date. I’m in love with my kids and my family. I know what I want and I have goals and I am trying to really live up to my dreams,” she added. Take charge of schedule and put a system in place For Hilario, prioritizing and dividing tasks is key to running things as smooth as possible. “Our business is very simple and doesn’t really require a lot of thinking. It’s more customer service and I can delegate most of the tasks,” she said. “There would be weeks where I would go without a single day off but I think now it’s a matter of proper planning.” Vergara shared, “Every day starts with bringing my daughter to school and going to the restaurant once rush hour settles down. When you work here, time is really fast and we have a slow period in the early afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. and that’s when I do my realtor stuff. I used to work on my computer when I got home but now I don’t. I shut down everything... and that’s when I get to chat with my daughter about our day. I’m also more conscious about getting seven to eight hours of sleep daily.” Focus on family relationships At Kostiuk’s household, spending time together, especially during dinnertime, has been a central part of her family. Her sons are
Charina Vergara (middle) with her daughters Missy and Isabella working at their Filipino street food stand at 626 Night Market.
Charina Vergara recently opened Tita’s of Manila, a Filipino comfort food restaurant in West Covina, California.
Caroline Kostiuk and her sons Luri, Andre and Evan
Caroline Kostiuk, popularly known as Caroline Adobo Cakes, makes made-to-order cakes, such as halo-halo tres leches and ube flan.
Fiona Hilario, president and managing member of Lay Bare Franchising — a waxing salon that originated in the Philippines — and her daughter Noelle.
now 19, 17 and 15 years old and have grown up with an emphasis on being independent and contributing to the household. “They knew from an early age that there are rules set at home: school and piano practice before video games, chores like washing dishes and taking out trash that every family members contribute to,” she said. “We also make sure to have our meals together without outside distractions every single day. I think that helps us connect as a family. When I have longer work hours, we plan to have at least one meal together like breakfast before I head to work or a late dinner after.” Hilario added that motherdaughter activities at least once a week and having open communication have helped strengthen their relationship as her daughter has gotten older. “We’re inseparable and have a great relationship…[because] my daughter and I have spent so much time together. With her being an only child and me as a single parent, we kind of grew up together. We have an open relationship and she tells me anything. I’m lucky that she enjoys being with me. I’m not a strict parent and would rather lead by example. I tell her the consequences of actions but I
leave her to make her own decisions. I’m not a helicopter parent and won’t hover over her. I know that she’s very responsible and mature.” Daily check-ins are simple ways to keep constantly up-to-date with her daughters, Vergara said. “Every chance I get, I always say ‘I love you’ to my kids.I get my strength from my girls. They fuel me and keep me going because everything I’m doing right now is for them,” Vergara said. “America is a great place to live so you have to make the most out of what you have here.” Make kids involved in business The three mompreneurs shared that their children have naturally gravitated and voluntarily take part in their businesses after school or during school breaks. Kostiuk’s three sons help out by “preparing baking equipments, measuring ingredients and most of all they come up with great cake flavor combinations. It usually starts out as their birthday cake and becomes part of my cake menu.” For Hilario, her daughter Noelle was still a toddler during the early days of Lay Bare and would have to tag along while she handed out fliers and
Hilario’s teenage daughter Noelle has expressed an interest in being involved in her mother’s business one day.
promoted the business. Now that Noelle is 16, Hilario has entrusted her daughter with administrative and assistant work for the Studio City salon. “I feel that she’s a very reliable assistant and she gets what I mean the first time I say it because she’s had the exposure since she was little,” Hilario said. “She’s very active and actually her goal after college is to be able to take over and bring Lay Bare to greater heights by branching out of the United States and the Philippines. She’s very excited about running the business.” Similar to her own upbringing, Vergara instilled early on that her daughters would have to work if they wanted to buy something. “Being a single mom, the No. 1 hurdle is the financial aspect. I’ve trained them that you have to earn your keep,” she said. Last summer, when she had a Filipino street food-inspired
stall at 626 Night Market, she employed her daughters, now 19 and 12 years old, to handle the sales and was surprised to observe their work ethic and appreciation for putting in the effort toward their financial goals. Allow yourself to take a break There’s constant talk about how to achieve this idea of work-life balance, which many entrepreneurs have their own definitions of. While it may not be feasible to take frequent vacations, finding ways to reset and have some solo time on a daily basis is important as running both a company and household can take its toll. “I try to make time for myself any chance I get! May it be a simple matcha latte at a cafe or enjoying a treat with my sons. Also, cake-making for me is very therapeutic: the measuring and mixing puts me in a calm zone Continued on Page 6
Time to unwind: Tips for busy moms by ritChel
MendiOla AJPress
NO matter how rewarding motherhood is, it can still be a tad too stressful and overwhelming. Taking care of the family is always the top most priority, but sometimes in doing so, you’re stretching yourself too thin. However, taking the time to relax seems like a waste of time nowadays — especially when you can be using that opportunity to accomplish more work instead. Luckily, de-stressing doesn’t have to be time consuming. There are plenty of ways to unwind without them taking a huge chunk of your time. Here are some of them: Wake up early Jennifer Louden, author of The Woman’s Retreat Book, recommends waking up 15
minutes before your family to give some time for yourself. Of course, this might present some difficulties seeing that a busy mom needs all the sleep she can get, but having even a short amount of alone time can be beneficial for your entire day. Use this opportunity to meditate or exercise — do some stretchings, take a couple of minutes to get on the stationary bike, or try yoga — to increase focus and clear your mind. It’ll make you better equipped to handle stress when it suddenly decides to rear its head during the day. Listen to relaxing music Thanks to streaming platforms like Spotify and Youtube, everyone now has access to thousands of music tracks that suit any and every mood. Curate a playlist or find one that caters to you and let it play in the background as you do your work. Mellow and atmospheric
songs work best to soothe and relax if you find yourself having a hard time to stay calm under duress. Have a little stroll If everything gets too much, consider walking out for a few minutes. Walking is the most effective stress-reliever as it releases endorphins and lowers blood pressure, which can skyrocket when stressed. “Physically, the act of walking is very rhythmic and repetitive. That alone has a soothing effect,” says Jackie Keller, a Los Angeles-based nutrition and wellness coach and author of Body After Baby. Soaking up the wonders of nature — the warmth of the sun, the caress of the wind — offers serenity too, which helps in clearing the mind so you’re more relaxed when you get back to your work. Try tea When the going gets
tough, seek solace in a warm cup of tea. A study conducted by psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross at City University London revealed that even a single cup of tea can significantly reduce anxiety levels after a stressful experience. It lowers your cortisol levels — the hormone that regulates stress — as well as your blood pressure. Take a hot bath Before retiring for the night, take time to soak yourself in a hot bath. The heat will help your muscles relax; loosening the kinks and releasing some tension from your body. You can also add things to help you unwind even more such as scented candles or essential oils. Being a mother is sometimes a thankless job, and with you working the whole day and taking care of the family, this indulgence to pamper yourself is not only deserved, but also needed.
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 2019
Sharon: Professed horror fan headlines first fright flick
!NTI AGING IS JUST NOT CORRECTING BUT PREVENTING FUTURE DAMAGE TOO
by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
HEAVY dramas, rom-coms and even all out comedies are undoubted territories of Megastar Sharon Cuneta, whose filmography will show multiple box office hits across these genres. Horror films, however, that’s something the nation’s beloved sweetheart of many generations isn’t easy to picture in. Here’s a bit of trivia though: the accomplished actress is a big fan of horror movies. And she’s thrilled to be starring in one as part of her 40th showbiz anniversary celebration with the very talented John Arcilla and under the direction of multi-awarded filmmaker and writer Erik Matti. Titled “Kuwaresma,� Cuneta plays the role of a mother who is willing to risk everything to end a chilling nightmare that is haunting her family. “I’ve actually been a horror fan since I was a little girl,� the Megastar exclaimed at ‘Kuwaresma’s’ grand media conference. “I’d even memorize some of the lines of horror movies like ‘The Exorcist’ and pag may mga nagpi-pitch ng horror noon and I’d see some similarities, sasabihin ko, ‘Ay napanood ko na yan!’ Or ‘Ay, parang nakita ko na yan sa ganitong movie’,� the wellloved actress added, bursting out in her famous hearty laugh. “But I really like it lalo na pag natatalo yung bad. May spiritual warfare kasi talaga pag horror, di ba? And since this is my first all-out horror film, yun talaga ang ni-request ko. Sabi ko talaga since I am a Christian, gusto ko talaga panalo si Lord.� And because she is a horror fan, she excitedly accepted Regal Entertainment’s offer to do “Kuwaresma� despite her tight schedule given the very gripping story written by Matti and Katski Flores. “I’ve always wanted to do
-$ 3KIN #ONSULTS 3PECIALIZED -$ 3ERVICES \ !NTI !GING -EDICINE 4EEN !CNE 4REATMENTS \ 3URGICAL #OSMETIC $ERMATOLOGY 3KIN #ANCER 3CREENINGS 2EMOVAL -INIMALLY )NVASIVE .ON SURGICAL 4HREAD ,IFT -).4 The Megastar is excited to offer moviegoers a whole new experience via ‘Kuwaresma,’ just in time for her 40th anniversary in showbiz. Photo courtesy of Reality Entertainment
horror movie and merong mga hinahanda hindi naman natuloy. But when Direk Erik came, nag-usap kami about ‘Kuwaresma’ and I was in na agad. I got my scheduled cleared right away and wala pang one month yata we were shooting already,� the Megastar recalled. “I have done 57 movies already, and I have to say — from beginning to the end — this is one of the most physically, mentally, and emotionally draining experiences I have ever had as an actress. But it was such a happy set kahit horror because Direk is such a happy pill,� Cuneta laughed again. All praises for Matti, the Megastar further revealed she’s been hoping to work with the director for some time now, which also added to the project’s come-ons. To make it happen, she even agreed to stay in Baguio City for over a month to perfect his vision. “The guy’s a master of cinematic language and the horror genre is unquestion-
your
ably his domain. I’m so glad to come back to my craft in this way,� Cuneta declared. “Creatively, this is one of the most rewarding, satisfying collaborations I have had in my career. He’s a director who knows what he wants, whose passion and integrity for a film will inspire your own well of creativity to keep flowing, who will not compromise his vision while allowing and protecting your own.� Floored by the Megastar’s praises, Matti expressed his gratitude to the actress for trusting him in bringing every part of the story to life. “Ang dami niyang ginawang pisikal and napakaemosyonal din, sobra!� the director exclaimed. “Yung iyakan, ang dugo talaga! And ang maganda kay Sharon, mataas ang respeto niya sa mga direktor. Kapag umoo siya sa project, ibibigay niya ang sarili niya.� Besides Cuneta and Arcilla, real-life siblings Pam and Kent Gonzales play introductory roles in the movie as their children.
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entertainment Ivan Padilla: Imported from Hollywood The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 2019
by ricky Lo Philstar.com
“THE Padilla blood runs in my veins,” insists Ivan Padilla who started his acting career in the U.S. and is aiming to make a name hereabouts. “I want my relatives to be proud of me.” While most local talents dream of making it in Hollywood, Ivan Padilla is doing the reverse. “I want to make a name where my relatives are,” Ivan said in an exclusive Conversation. “I want my relatives to be proud of me.” That’s why he is using his real name instead of Germaine De Leon, his Hollywood screen name. Those relatives include Robin Padilla and his siblings, plus several relatives, and the late Amado Cortez (who served as a Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco during the Cory Aquino administration), father of Ivan’s mother Grace Padilla. “He was my Lolo Amado,” volunteered Ivan. “My dad, Scott Grimes, was an American car salesman. He died 18 years ago when I was 11. Last Easter Sunday (April 21) was his 18th
Ivan Padilla
death anniversary. My mom never remarried. I am an only child.” What Ivan remembers about his Lolo Amado was his sense of humor and his love for boxing. “He was fond of making jokes. We watched a lot of boxing shows. It was our favorite hobby. We also talked about movies. He was a good actor. As a kid, I watched most of his movies. My mom and I lived at the house of Lolo Amado and Lola Gloria (Sevilla), my step-grandma. I am closer to her than to my biological grandma who was in Pampanga all the time. Her
Bad Saint’s Tom Cunanan wins ‘Best Chef’ at James Beard Awards by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
THE third time’s a charm for Filipino American chef Tom Cunanan of Washington, DC’s Bad Saint who finally won as Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic at the James Beard Awards held Monday night at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. He was also previously nominated in 2017 and 2018. The awards, presented to recognize culinary professionals in the United States, are sometimes called the “Oscars” of the food world. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be up here,” Cunanan said during his acceptance speech, according to the Washingtonian. Cunanan co-owns the Philstar.com photos restaurant with Genevieve Villamora and Nick Pimentel and name was Rosie Yabut. I got collectively, they came up with to meet my relatives on the Yabut side only recently. There the menu that has captivated are so many of them. But I got both diners and food critics alike. Bad Saint is named after closer to Lola Gloria because St. Malo, Louisiana, where the I grew up with her along her first Filipinos settled in the children from her first marUnited States. riage.” (To Mat Ranillo who He was one of four Filipino died in a plane crash. Among Americans in the running for Gloria and Mat’s children are Mat Ranillo III and Suzette who James Beard Foundation’s both followed in their parents’ 2019 Restaurant and Chef Awards, along with Répubfootsteps.) lique’s Margarita Manzke who During the birthday celmade a return appearance in ebration of Robin’s mom Eva the Outstanding Pastry Chef Cariño last year, Robin was category, Top Chef alum Shelmaking an amazing speech to don Simeon’s new restaurant in his mom who interrupted her Hawai’i called Lineage, which to make an announcement. Continued on Page 6 was up for Best New Restau-
Tom Cunanan
Photo from Instagram/@beardfoundation
rant and Maharlika & Jeepney owner Nicole Ponseca who was nominated for I Am Filipino, the book she wrote with Chef Miguel Trinidad. In an Instagram post, the official account of Bad Saint congratulated their beloved Cunanan and said, “His creativity, vision, and superlative food are the beating heart of this restaurant.” Bad Saint announced last March that they will be open for dinner seven days a week in April. This announcement came after the news that it is now accepting limited reservations, which means that diners do not have to wait outside for hours, although there will be seats available for walk-in customers. Cunanan was also named Star Chefs D.C.-Chesapeake Rising Star in 2018 and Eater named Bad Saint as one of America’s 38 essential restaurants.
The Eater blurb mentioned the challenge to this 24-seater dining destination: its no reservations policy. That aside, eating at Bad Saint is a must and as Bill Addison, the new Los Angeles Times food critic wrote last year, “The payoff: Tom Cunanan’s peerless Filipino cuisine. Inspirations like piniritong alimasag (fried soft-shell crab in spicy crab-fat sauce) also brilliantly signal the Chesapeake region in which he cooks.” On May 18, Cunanan will participate in the Los Angeles Food Bowl’s “Filipino Garage Party,” hosted by Angela Dimayuga, the creative director of food and culture at Standard International, along with other Fil-Am chefs, including LAbased Russell Victorioso (Café Birdie) and Manila-based JP Anglo (Sarsa). On May 20, he and Sarsa will be part of “Tres Pares” at Ma’am Sir with its chef/owner Charles Olalia.
Jasmine Curtis calls on Filipinos to ‘love our own’
Since then, Jasmine, who has already won numerous acting awards made a name of her own, and is now ready to go full IT’S been a while since we swing in showbiz again. last saw Jasmine Curtis-Smith As one of GMA’s newest busy with showbiz committreasures, the talented and ments, a situation which was a beautiful Kapuso has impressed hundred percent her choice. both executives, colleagues The actress went on the and of course audiences alike down low some two years ago with her acting prowess in the after her contract with TV5 series “Sahaya,” which she did expired. Her reasons? To emall over again with her latest brace the importance of rest, her personal life and all around movie, horror flick “Maledicto,” that’s still showing in cinemas. life realignment — aspects of As she revs up her career being that most celebrities tend anew, Jasmine continues to to ignore. take on a very careful attitude Her fans rejoiced when she in booking projects. Rather reemerged in April and signed than accept the next offer just up with GMA Network. They like that, she slowly but surely had after all loyally followed determines if a particular role is her career since “Anne Curtis’ right for her. little sister” was launched way But when Maledicto came back in 2010 under director Perci Intalan’s now defunct TV5 knocking at her door, she said Entertainment. Continued on Page 6 by MJ
Marfori ManilaTimes.net
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 2019
Ikalat ang balita! Haven’t filed your taxes yet?
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FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE! Filipino dance group VPeepz
Photo courtesy of NBC
VPeepz finishes 4th in US ‘World of Dance’
by KRISSY
AGUILAR
Inquirer.net
FILIPINO dance group VPeepz finished in fourth place in the American competition “World of Dance.” The group received an average score of 93.7 with their dance routine of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us.” “The synchronicity, the intricacy. You had stepping in there. You had locking in there. There were so many styles, the energy was off the charts. Well done guys. Amazing final routine. Great job,” judge Derek Hough said after the group’s performance.
Judge Ne-Yo, on the other hand, pointed out the group’s fast moves, saying “The V in VPeepz stands for very fastmoving group.” “You guys should be proud. You guys swept your division and now you’re up against the adults,” judge Jennifer Lopez said. VPeepz was named as the Junior Team Division Champions last week which paved the way for them to be among the competition’s finalists. In a Facebook post on Monday, the group said it was an honor to represent the country in the competition and expressed thanks to those who have supported them in the
journey. “SURREAL. To make it to the World Final of World of Dance is such a huge opportunity to showcase our brand of dance and Filipino talent. It’s an honor to go up against the best dancers at the highest level of competition,” the group wrote. “We thank all our supporters for staying with us all throughout this journey,” it added. “IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE. Moving forward to greater things ahead.” Meanwhile, Indian dance crew The Kings won the competition with a perfect score of 100 and took home the prize money of one million dollars.
More successful than Kathryn, Liza? Nadine Lustre reacts by JAN
MILO SEVERO Philstar.com
ACTRESS Nadine Lustre reacted to people’s assertions that she is more successful than contemporaries Kathryn Bernardo and Liza Soberano. In a press conference after she won Best Actress
in the recently concluded Famas Awards, Nadine said she does not look that way because they have their own strengths. “I don’t look at it like that. Sa akin po parang lahat kami may iba’t ibang strength. So maybe this year sa akin, next year sa kanila. Hindi po ako
‘yung klase ng tao na tumitingin sa success ng ibang tao e. I’m just really happy with what I have. I’m really thankful for it, always,” Nadine said. Nadine bagged the Famas Best Actress trophy for the movie “Never Not Love You,” Continued on Page 6
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entertainment Best of both worlds...
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 2019
From Page 2 while the decorating part lets me be more creative. So being around cakes in a way is time for myself,” Kostiuk said. Recognize your support system The three mompreneurs acknowledge that it takes a village
to raise a family on top of the demands of the business. Fortunately, other family members, whether their own mothers or sisters, have helped these moms along the way. “When we first moved to the U.S., we lived with my sister so that was a big plus and up
Filipino, Chinese heroes face off at sea by Janvic
Mateo Philstar.com
IN what could be a reference to the ongoing territorial dispute between the Philipto now, my sister helps out with pines and China, Marvel’s new picking my daughter up. Her Filipina superhero will have school doubled up as a daycare a tense encounter with a so I had the opportunity to Chinese counterpart in the leave her until 6 p.m,” Hilario upcoming comic book series said. “But once she turned 13 “War of the Realms.” and it was legal to leave her, I Filmmaker and comic book started leaving her at home so writer Greg Pak yesterday that worked out for us and that shared a teaser for Marvel’s taught her how to become very “War of the Realms: Agents of independent and responsible. Atlas #1” that is expected to That’s what we’ve done for the be released next week. past seven years.” It featured Filipina super“Vergara credits her mom, hero Pearl Pangan, also known sister and brother-in-law for as Wave, who investigates stepping into the responsibilities “something wrong” in the as well. waters in the north Pacific. My brother-in-law is retired She encounters Chinese and I owe half of it to him besuperhero Lei Ling, also known cause he stood up as a physically as Aero, who confronts her present father to my kids. He is with being outside her territory there emotionally and physically in the Philippine sea. by driving and picking them Wave retorts, saying the up from school,” she noted. area is not part of Chinese “My mom prepares meals for waters. my daughter Missy still. All the A tremor interrupts the support that I could ever think confrontation, with Aero sayof, they are within reach. That ing she went to the area to is why I am thriving and flourinvestigate a disturbance in the ishing because my wings are wind. fully spread. I know I can always An unidentified character, count on their support financially who appears from the sea, latas well.” er attacks the two superheroes Best advice for other single after Wave tries to part the moms and mompreneurs waters to investigate further. “Best advice I’ve received as Other characters also feaa parent is focus on the positive, tured in the teasers released relax and take it one day at a by Pak, include Cindy Moon time. I find that also applies to (Silk), Kamala Khan (Ms. Marhaving a business,” Kostiuk said. vel), Kung-Fu Master Shang For Hilario, she said, “What Chi, Amadeus Cho (Brawn) and I’ve learned is that being a single Atlas leader Jimmy Woo. mom strengthens your ‘why.’ War of the Realms: Agents Your why has to be bigger than of Atlas #1 is slated to be your fears. First focus on your released on May 8. kids and find a passion that you think will change the world and everything will flow in from there.” Vergara shared that “Keep praying, pray unceasingly...and From Page 4 with all your heart. We may not “She said, ‘May bagong have a partner or a husband but Padilla sa industriya,’ and then God is with us. He is directing all our ways. Every good gift comes she introduced me. Robin looked at me and said, ‘O, from Him. Make Him first place may special mention? Tumayo and you will go places.” “If they have it in their heart, ka, pinsan!’ That was the first it is only a matter of time before time I met my relatives on the Padilla side. Robin’s mom is so they can achieve it. Just be nice, sobrang mabait.” patient — try and try and try. Told that the Padillas are Never be afraid to fail because known for being, ehem, “layou learn more from your dies’ men,” Ivan smiled. failures. Always put passion, “Well, I’m not a saint, at excitement, fun and love to it,” hindi rin naman ako demonyo. she added. Yes, I have a girlfriend,” adding in haste, “but I don’t have a love child.” And being a Padilla, Ivan was naturally inclined toward showbiz. “Being an actor has always been in my mind,” he said. “My mom would always talk about the Philippine movie industry but it never occurred to me to start a career here. I didn’t want to leave my mom alone and come to the Philippines. She didn’t take my dad’s death very well. She was very lonely. She was working with Sanrio and she didn’t really have many friends. She has moved to L.A. from San Francisco.” Ivan was 19 when he began his career after graduating from Calstate University in L.A.
Preview panels from Marvel Comics’ “War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1” shows Filipina superhero Wave facing off with Chinese heroine Aero after a disturbance in waters being disputed by their homelands. Photo courtesy of Marvel Comics
Filipino Twitter users were among those who had the most number of posts about “Avengers: Endgame,” which has become the most tweeted movie in history. Twitter said the Philippines was in third spot among countries that tweeted the most about Avengers: Endgame, following the United States and Brazil. Completing the top 10 were Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Indonesia and France. The social media platform
said Avengers: Endgame, the 22nd installment in the Marvel cinematic universe, became the most tweeted movie ever with more than 50 million tweets this year, Half of those were posted in the past week after the worldwide release of the movie. Among characters, Twitter said villain Thanos was the most tweeted, followed by Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Loki, Spiderman, Black Widow, Groot and Nebula.
Ivan Padilla: Imported... with a degree in Psychology. “I had a girlfriend who was an actress and she pushed me into acting. I started taking acting lessons and doing indie films, winning a few awards along the way from local film festivals where I got an agent.” His claim to fame includes appearances in U.S. TV shows such as CSI (Crime Scene Investigation, in the NY, Miami and NBC episodes), Lucifer (Fox), Castle, ER, The Closer, Criminal Minds and Dexter (in six episodes). “I think I’m one of five actors who have guested in every CSI. Did I experience any racial discrimination? No, I did not. The roles I played were not really Asian, described ‘ethnic ambiguous.’ They couldn’t pinpoint my race. Some people said that I looked American or Latino or Russian.” Here for almost two years as a Viva contract star, Ivan has starred in “Isang Daang Tula” (as Bela Padilla’s other boyfriend), “12” (Alessandra de Rossi’s live-in partner) and “Maria” (Cristine Reyes’ maiden foray into the action genre, as an assassin), plus two episodes of MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya), in one as the abusive foreigner husband of
Ria Atayde and in the other as an HIV-carrier foreigner who infected his wife played by Empress Schuck). As the villain (a hustler in the Kapamilya soap Playhouse with Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo), Ivan got a big scare when he received death threats. Ivan just laughed it off. “Unlike in the States, the fans here take what they see in movies and in TV shows seriously. Sometimes, they cannot draw a line between the reel and the real. Death threats are something new to me. In the US, I have played kontrabida but I never got death threats.” For over a year now, Ivan has been working non-stop but he’s not complaining. “I’d love to do a bida role one of these days,” Ivan hoped, adding with a laugh, “para wala nang death threats,” and then thinking aloud, “I want to take a little break, though.” Used to living independently in the U.S., Ivan lives alone at a pad he’s renting somewhere in Quezon City. Since he doesn’t have a car, he takes Grab all the time. “I’m getting used to the Philippine lifestyle,” he assured.
Jasmine Curtis calls on Filipinos to...
From Page 4 it was a no-brainer and said yes right away. “When I got the script it was initially slated to be a series, but I still said yes knowing it was Direk Mark Meily who I’d be working with. It’s also a big deal that this is the first production of Cignal with Fox Entertainment and Unitel.” Jasmine plays the role of Sister Barbie in the movie who has the gift of charism, thereby helping Father Xavi (Tom Rodriguez) expel evil spirits from a troubled girl named Agnes (Miles Ocampo). Noting that exorcism has not been tackled in Philippine cinema for quite some time now, the actress believes the film opens new conversations and ideas in storytelling. “We hope that Maledicto starts a new direction for Filipino horror movies,” she added. Maledicto has been in theaters since May 1, bravely going head-to-head with the record-breaking global block-
Jasmine Curtis-Smith
buster “Avengers: Endgame.” Admitting it hasn’t been an easy feat, Jasmine being the crusader actress that she is, has been calling on Philippine cinema goers to “love our
Photo from Instagram/@jascurtissmith
own” both in social media and conversations with media. “Worldwide trend sila pero malay mo tayo rin maging worldwide phenomenon tayo if we love our own.”
More successful than Kathryn...
From Page 5
in which she starred with onand off-screen partner James Reid. Since Liza backed out from the Darna role after her finger injury, Nadine also said in the press conference that she is willing to undergo audition for the role if she will be asked by her management. “‘Pag sinabihan po ako, gagawin ko. I’m very open to everything… Hindi pa po,
but if they ask me, of course I would want to do it. Sino naman pong ayaw maging Darna, ‘di ba?” Nadine said. She added that she is ready to suit up for the iconic role and admitted that being Darna is a big responsibility. “Siyempre po, kasi malaking responsibilidad po ‘yun, e. Siyempre si Darna ‘yun, Filipino icon. Hindi ka puwedeng magkamali talaga,” Nadine said.
Famas 2019 Best Actress Nadine Lustre Photo from Instagram/@nadine
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA HOW about a double scoop of stories about the kindness of the human heart? The first story is that of Lou Xiaoying. Lou is one remarkable Chinese woman who is a beacon of light, a ray of hope and a surge of warmth in a world that is sometimes overpowered by the forces of darkness. Her story needs to be retold over and over again in light of the fact that recently in the state of New York, it has become legal (yet utterly amoral and starkly depraved) to terminate the life of the unborn at full term. A few states are following suit. Yet other states are enacting preemptive laws to prevent such evil becoming law. May God have mercy on all of those evil lawmakers in New York and other states as they get their comeuppance. I wrote about Lou a few years back to shine a light on the life of a woman, who despite humble circumstances, managed to save the lives of babies salvaged from the trash heap, apparently discarded by women in compliance with China’s then draconian onechild policy to curb its population growth. She lived in the rural countryside in Eastern Zhejiang province. Picture her home as it was then. It is a humble hovel, its small yard littered with debris and recyclables. A little boy of 7 plays in the yard. Lou lived in that home with her husband Lin until he preceded her in death more than 20 years ago. When I first wrote about Lou in 2012, she was 88 years old and
Debt Relief
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG CLIENT is 72. He still works his normal job and makes about $3K a month. He also receives social security of $1K. So, his total income right now is $4K. He tells me that he is tired of working. His wife doesn’t want him to work anymore. His wife retired ahead of him at age 65, and now receives her social security of $800. She doesn’t work anymore. I ask him what’s the problem? He says they have the following debts: 1. He owes $30K of credit cards 2. He owes $10K of car repo deficiency 3. His wife owes $12K of credit cards Minimum payment on his credit cards is $1K a month. Minimum payment on wife’s credit cards is $400 a month. Total minimum credit cards payment for the household is $1,400 a month. Net income for the household is $4,400 a month. They don’t own a house. They rent for $1200 a month, just
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-
community 7
Making a difference Two stories of kindness to warm the heart
lay languishing of kidney failure in a hospital. Despite pain and impending death, Lou looks beautiful in repose. Her eyes sparkle with joy. A calm peacefulness is etched in her face. Lou and her husband made a living scavenging the village trash for recyclables. It was a tough, backbreaking way of life trudging through the streets and sifting through other people’s often filthy and smelly discards. Over the years, they picked up 30 abandoned babies from the trash heap. Of the 30 foundlings
erty. She didn’t start out wanting to rescue foundlings but in 1982, her heart was touched when she found the first child, a baby girl, who was lying helpless and abandoned amongst the trash. “Watching her grow and become stronger gave us such happiness and I realized I had a real love of caring for children … These children need love and care. They are all precious human lives. I do not understand how people can leave such a vulnerable baby on the streets. I realized if we had strength enough to collect garbage how could we not recycle something as important as human lives?” Since 1978, the Chinese communist government has enforced, with few exceptions, its one-child policy. Families were prevented from having more than one child under pain of penalty. Those who abide by the rule are given bonuses and incentives. Boys are preferred in Chinese culture so that couples who want a son feel compelled to throw away infant girls. It is claimed that the policy prevented the birth of 400 million babies. It seems that presently, China may have relaxed that social engineering policy for the time being, perhaps realizing the inadvertent negative effects on their society and culture over the long term. Lou’s life story bears resemblance to the story of the little boy and the jellyfish that is doing its rounds in the internet these days. There was once a little boy walking on the beach. He noticed that as the tide receded, there were thousands of jellyfish being washed up and lay stranded PAGE B8
“…The boy looked at him, shrugged his shoulders and went back to throwing one more jellyfish back to the water, and told him, ‘...Made a difference to that one...’” they saved, the couple kept 4 babies to raise themselves and the rest, they gave away to friends and relatives. They have one biological child, a woman, who is now past 50 years old. When Lou was 82 and already a widow, she saved one more baby from the trash. She said, “Even though I was already getting old I could not simply ignore the baby and leave him to die in the trash. He looked so sweet and so needy. I had to take him home with me … My older children all help look after Zhang Qilin … I named him after the Chinese word for rare and precious.” Lou’s story is riveting for its simple, unquestioning reverence for life despite living in stark pov-
Seniors need Chapter 7 relief for $50K various unsecured debt
a one-bedroom apartment. Utilities and food is about $700. They have a 2013 Lexus 250 IS that is fully paid. They only have one car. They had a new SUV but that was repossessed last year, thus the $10K repo deficiency. Car insurance is $120 and gasoline and car maintenance is $400. Cable TV and cell phone is $200. They contribute to their church $100. They send $1000 a month for the medical expenses of their adult son who lives abroad. He doesn’t have medical insurance, and has diabetes T 2. His illness has taken a bad turn recently. Although only 45, he now has to have dialysis 3 x a week. And, last month, his foot was amputated due to gangrene from a wound that would not heal. He accidentally cut himself while cleaning his backyard. He stepped on a nail that went through his flip-flop. The nail was rusty and made a nasty wound on the sole of his feet. The wound became infected with MRSA, which is a kind of bacteria that does not respond to antibiotics. The wound and infection became full of pus, then, it became gangrene. Panic time.
Doctors suggested that they amputate his foot to save his leg. Is there a choice? What a difficult position to be in. Lose your foot to save your leg. So, with the $1K that they send to their son, their total monthly expense for necessities is $3,800 vs. their net household income of $4,400. Hence, they still have an extra $600 a month, BEFORE they make the minimum payment for their credit cards of $1,400. Well, at this point, their short $800 because they need $1400 for minimum card payments but they only have $600 left. And who knows, their son may need more than $1K a month for medical expenses with his rapidly deteriorating health. We pray to our God Almighty through his Son, Jesus Christ, we’re never faced with this kind of sad situation. Imagine having your son or daughter having to choose with amputation of the foot to save a leg and being on dialysis. That’s too much to bear. You would probably cry your heart out everyday. I refer you to Psalm 91: Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, PAGE B8
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)
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 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 8 -1 0
35th annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival The 35th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 8 - 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 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 1 8
Free oil filter & motor oil recycling event in East Los Angeles ATTENTION ALL EAST LA RESIDENTS – Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters in exchange for a free new oil filter on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held at O’Reilly Auto Parts (722 S. Atlantic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90022). Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean. So, don’t miss out – we’re making it easier for you to keep your car running smoothly and efficiently.
Pan Asian Citizenship Event in Monrovia, CA Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-LA) will be hosting a free Pan Asian Citizenship Clinic on Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Santa Anita YMCA (501 South Mountain Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016). The clinic will provide attendees free citizenship services, including: eligibility screenings, application assistance, and legal review by qualified immigration attorneys. Services will be offered in seven Asian languages and Spanish. Appointments are required - for more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call: (888) 349-9695 for English or (855) 300-2552 for Tagalog.
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.
Diva2Diva concert in Arcadia, CA The JIR Foundation enthusiastically presents Diva2Diva on Saturday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Arcadia Performing Arts Center (188 Campus Drive, Arcadia, California 91007). The concert will feature Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Mitch Valdes and Nanette Inventor. Ticket prices are $145, $100, $75, $60 and $50. Call or text (818) 726-6333 or (818) 612-4500 or visit ladiva2. eventbrite.com.
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Fiesta ng Calamba in Carson, CA The Association of Calambeños of Southern California invites everyone to the Fiesta ng Calamba, St John the Baptist Feast Day on Saturday, June 22. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Veterans Sports Complex ( 22400 Moneta Ave., Carson, CA 90745 ). For more information, please contact Ed Lim at (949) 285-1403 or connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/Calambenos/ or the website: www.acasca.org.
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 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 2019
Making a difference...
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helpless on the shore. He picked them up one by one and began tossing each jellyfish back into the water, into the sea where they can survive and live. A man also walking along the shore watched the boy in utter disbelief. To him, the boy was trying to do the impossible. Shaking his head, the man approached the boy and asked, “Hey, kid, what do you think
you’re doing? You can never make a difference. There are thousands of jellyfish. You’ll only save a few of them.” The boy looked at him, shrugged his shoulders and went back to throwing one more jellyfish back to the water, and told him, “Made a difference to that one …” Each precious human life saved certainly made a difference to that one life.
If the Lord gives us just one chance to make a small difference everyday in someone’s life, by all means take it. The world becomes an infinitely better place with every quiet act of kindness that we take. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Free legal assistance clinic at Monterey Park Library VOLUNTEER attorneys will be on hand at the Monterey Park Library-Library Friends Room at 318 S. Ramona Ave., Montery Park, CA 91754 to answer legal questions at a free legal assistance clinic sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) on Tuesday, May 14. Assistance will be available from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions about immigration, criminal law, civil matters, estate planning, government benefits, labor and employment. For more information and to register for the free clinic call the Reference Desk at (626) 3071368.
Seniors need Chapter 7 relief for $50K... PAGE B7 t
whoever remains under the protection of Almight, can say to Him ‘You are my defender and my protector. You are my God; In you I trust... When they call to me, I will answer them; When they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. I will reward them with long life; I will save them. Obviously, something else will now have to be chopped off. The credit cards have to be chopped off to free them of having to pay $1400 a month. Anyway, they have paid this minimum of $1400 for the last 10 years. They have paid a total of $168k for the last 10 years to keep $42K of credit cards current. So why do they still owe the same $42K of credit cards today? Because that’s the way it works. It’s a great deal for mastercard and visa but it SUX to tally for clients. If they had wiped these cards out with Chapter 7 ten years ago, they would not only owe $42K today in cards, they would have at least $250K in savings that will give them extra income of say 7%, giving them income of $17,500 a year, or $1,500 a month, which they can use to travel around
the world, or just reinvest the income. I forgot to ask if their son has children. If he does, clients may need to help their daughter in law take care of their grand children if their son dies. It would certainly help to have an extra $1,500 a month for the care of their grand children abroad. $1,500 a month
“ You don’t have to be an accounting major to figure out what the loss of that income will mean.” abroad in a third world country goes a very long way towards good care of their grand children abroad. Their son will appreciate this very much since he won’t be able to take care of his children anymore. Here’s the other problem clients are facing. He is about to stop working his regular job that gives him a gross of $3K a month. You don’t have to be an accounting major to figure out what the loss of that income will mean. There will just be no money available to make the minimum payment of $1400 a month to keep
Photo courtesy by montereypark.ca.gov
Glendale Senior Street Fest to celebrate May as Older Americans Month ON Wednesday, May 15, the City of Glendale celebrates the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month with the 3rd Annual Senior Street Fest at the Artsakh Paseo, located between Broadway and Wilson Avenue. The two-hour street festival recognizing the contributions of older Americans begins at 10:30 a.m. and features live music, a delicious lunch, prizes, and health and wellness booths for health screenings and other resources. The City of Glendale Community Services & Parks (CSP) department organizes this annual event in cooperation with event sponsor, Adventist Health Glendale. CSP provides a wide variety
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of activities and programs to enhance quality of life and self-sufficiency among older residents. Three community centers serve as central hubs for senior programs, services, and activities. These centers are the Adult Recreation Center at 201 E. Colorado St., Sparr Heights Community Center at 1616 Glencoe Way, and Pacific Community Center at 501 S. Pacific Ave. At the centers, senior can access legal assistance by appointment, health services, transportation services, free meals, and a case management program for residents over 60 years of age. The Administration for Community Living in the U.S. De-
partment of Health and Human Services leads the celebration of Older Americans Month each May. The Older Americans Month theme for May 2019 is “Connect, Create, Contribute” to encourages older adults and their communities to connect with friends, family, and services that support participation; create by engaging in activities that promote learning; and contribute time, talent, and life experience to benefit others. For more information about Glendale’s 3rd Annual Senior Street Fest, contact Community Services Supervisor Aylin Isayan at (818) 937-7404 or ayisayan@ glendaleca.gov.
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the credit cards of $42K current. No way, just, no way. It’s time to get rid of the $42K with a Chapter 7 wipe out. Should have done it ten years ago. Now, clients really must file to get rid of the $42K. It’s like the foot has to be chopped off to save the leg. Such is life. So I refer you to Psalm 91 again because that Psalm was written by Moses who is much beloved by our God. So it carries a lot of weight and truth in it. If you need debt relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. “For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receieves; And he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; And to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.” Luke 11:10 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 8, 2019
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE -May 8, 2019