Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Volume 18 - No. 19 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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Senate cancels hearing on Bikoy’s allegations DATELINE USA by NATHALIE
O Canada: Duterte sets May 15 deadline to take trash back
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. “Awayin natin ang Canada (Let’s start a fight
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AJPress
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
THE scheduled Senate investigation on Friday, May 10, regarding the allegations presented by Bikoy, the hooded figure in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos will no longer push through. In a Twitter post on Wednesday, May 8, Senate Committee on Public Order Senator Panfilo Lacson announced the cancellation of the said Senate hearing noting “enough of this nonsense.” Bikoy, who was recently identified as Peter Joemel Advincula, claimed in his videos that drug money was funneled into the
bank accounts of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte. “We are now recalling the letter of invitation sent to Advincula. Notices will be sent out for the cancellation of the committee hearing on Friday. The problem with asking Bikoy who are the people behind him is if we will believe him,” Lacson said. In the videos that circulated online, Advincula claimed that the president’s sonin-law Atty. Manases Carpio and former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who surfaced and claimed to be “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong and senatorial candidate Christopher Go Narco-list” videos that linked several relatives of President Duterte to the illegal drug trade
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in the country.
‘For the nth time,’ alleged plotters dispute Malacañang’s ‘matrix’
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Unicef sounds alarm on decline of PH’s measles immunization coverage 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 in 2013 and 73 percent in 2017, Unicef added. The UN agency said the decline 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,” Uni-
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Philstar.com photo
THANKSGIVING DINNER. President Rodrigo Duterte and his long-time partner Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña strike the President’s signature pose with the guests during a dinner hosted by the president at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, May 7. Many of the stars who attended either backed Duterte’s campaign or have been spotted in political sorties alongside senatorial candidate Bong Go, Duterte’s former presidential assistant. Malacañang photo by Valerie Escalera
THE latest allegation floated days before the midterm elections accusing opposition groups and media outfits of allegedly conniving to discredit President Rodrigo Duterte is just the latest in unfounded conspiracy theories, those accused as plotters said Wednesday, May 8. Citing supposed intelligence information that he provided little proof of, Panelo said the Liberal Party, the Magdalo party-list and media companies are seeking to “discredit the administration and to boost the candidacy of the opposition.” “This is the nth time that the administration, when confronted with controversy, falsely accuses the LP of being involved in ouster plots. Gawa-gawa lang ‘yan (That’s all made up),” Sen. Francis Pangilinan, LP president and Otso Diretso campaign manager, said in a message to reporters. “Ang hindi gawa-gawa na dapat nilang ipaliwanag ay bakit walang nahuhuli na mga drug lord o pinaparusahan na opisyal ng Customs sa paulit-ulit na pagpuslit ng toneladang shabu sa [Bureau of Customs]. Yan ang
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New law waives fees for first-time jobseekers by AJPRESS
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte released on Tuesday, May 7, a copy of Republic Act 11261 or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act signed into law last April 10. The recently signed law would waive the government fees for documents that the employers would normally require from firsttime job seekers. Documents include Police clearance certificate, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance, Barangay clearance, birth certificate, marriage certificate, Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID). Transcript of academic records issued by state colleges and universities and other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from
job applicants were among the other documents that will be issued with no charge. Medical certificate from a public hospital was also included in the law. However, fees and charges for laboratory tests and other medical procedures will not be waived. Exceptions to the said law include the fees to file an application to take a professional licensure examination from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and application for a Career Service Examination from the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Aside from that, application for the Philippine passport authentication and red ribbon documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will not be waived, along with the application for a driver’s license from the Workers arrange ballot boxes before they are distributed to designated polling precincts for the elections on Monday, May 13. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban Land Transportation Office (LTO). In order for a first-time job seeker to avail
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West Philippine Sea faces new problem — garbage Marine scientists explains how our activities is the biggest threat on ecosystems by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
cal Connectivity of Threatened ecosystems in WPS, left Manila THE sight of plastic waste and on April 22 with the aim of lookother floating garbage greeted a ing at the “connectivity” of the team of young marine scientists ecosystems in the WPS and its when they sailed the Kalayaan impact on Luzon and Palawan Island Group in the West Philip- province. pine Sea (WPS) to study its bioPlastic bottles, cigarette packs, diversity. discarded fishing equipment, Led by the University of the rubber slippers and even fluoresPhilippines’ Marine Science In- cent lamps were among the polstitute (UP MSI), the 74-member lutants that the researchers saw During a recent marine science expedition, researchers from the University of the Philippines “Protect WPS” expedition, or floating in the waters. The labels found plastic bottles, sachets, cigarette packs and fluorescent lamps, among other garbage, Predicting Responses between from the bottles revealed that on sandbars in the Kalayaan Island Group, areas in the South China Sea claimed by Manila. Ocean Transport and EcologiPhotos courtesy of UP Marine Science Institute
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Comelec ready for May 13 elections by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, May 7, began its final testing and sealing (FTS) of the 85,000 vote counting machines (VCMs). This will determine if the VCMs can count the votes accurately as well as if
the results will be transmitted to the canvassing centers from the polling precincts. “We are ready,” said James Jimenez, spokesman for the Comelec. “The delivery of election materials is almost 100 percent complete.” Members of the media were PAGE A3
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From the Front Page
Senate cancels hearing on Bikoy’s...
PAGE A1 were also involved in illegal drug activities. Sotto: Bikoy is not credible Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III revealed before the media that Advincula reached out in his office back in 2016 to link former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to a purported drug syndicate. “Doon sa sinumpaang salaysay niya (Advincula) nung 2016, meron siyang tinatawag na mga patron. Ito yung mga bigshot. Ito yung nasa ibabaw ng drug syndicate according to his description 10-M TREES CHALLENGE. Senate President Vicente Sotto III (2nd right) leads the tree planting ceremony during the launching of the Luntiang in his affidavit (In Advincula’s 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 sworn statement in 2016, he said Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Maria Lourdes Binay, Camille Villar representing her mother Sen. that there were patrons. These Cynthia Villar, and Luntian nominee Michael Ubac. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan are the bigshot individuals. These are the people at the top of the drug syndicates according to his description in his affidavit),” PAGE A1 IV, and Communist Party of the volvement in the supposed ouster Sotto said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. dapat nilang aksyunan (What isn’t Philippines (CPP) founding chair- plot. “Dun sa mga patron na sina“This is just foolishness… When made up and what they should man Jose Maria Sison. Trillanes and Alejano, both for- you’re asked to produce evidence, sabi, sa listahan, may mga codeexplain is why no drug lords have been arrested and why no Cus- mer military officers, are outspo- they have nothing to produce,” toms officials have been held to kenly anti-communist. In 2017, Lacierda said. Lacierda called the new diaacocunt for the repeated entry of Trillanes called on Duterte to retons of shabu through the BoC. move leftist officials whom he de- gram a “grade school matrix” as PAGE A1 That’s what they should take ac- scribed as “communist leaders in he denied his involvement in the cef Representative Julia Rees said. supposed ouster plot. his Cabinet.” tion on),” he also said. While Unicef recognizes that Re“This government seemed to public Act 10152 or the“Mandatory Trillanes said then, without Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list), a candidate for senator proof, that New People’s Army have discovered a new technology Infants and Children Health Imand whom the Palace alleges is cadres had infiltrated government called The Grade School Matrix as munization Act” makes immuniinvolved in the ouster plot, said in agencies under those officials. this is the third time this govern- zation free at health centers and a statement that he “categorically “Moreover, these communists are ment employed a matrix to refute government hospitals for children states” that he has no involvement using the resources from these charges against them,” he said. up to five years old, the organizaLacierda said his name was in- tion said that it “advocates that in the “Bikoy” videos” nor did he government offices to stockpile conspire with anyone to produce arms and ammunition, which they cluded because he is an “active the unfinished business of immuwould use later on against our sol- liker” of Alejano’s posts. “If that nization is every child’s right and them. “I do not know Bikoy and have diers,” the senator also said in July is true, this government has aban- everyone’s business.” doned its sanity.” 2017. not met him ever,” he said. “Unicef has been relentless in ‘Imagined’ destablization ef- saving children’s lives through The Palace rejected Trillanes’ Alejano added that “Malacañang has a long history of of re- call, saying the Cabinet officials fort immunization against preventable VERA Files president Ellen childhood diseases,” the statement leasing unvalidated information still enjoyed the president’s trust. Trillanes said that Duterte him- Tordesillas, also tagged in a previ- read. “The UN Children’s agency to the public” and that they “backtrack or change tune in the middle self—not the groups or personali- ous “matrix”, called Panelo’s pre- has helped the Philippine governties the Palace is implicating in the sentation an “imagined” destabili- ment eradicate polio and maternal of the issue.” He said: “Their allegations are supposed plot—is the one discred- zation effort. The National Union of Journalclearly false, malicious and irre- iting the government through his ists of the Philippines (NUJP), policies and pronouncements. sponsible.” “Si Duterte ang nagpapatay ng which was included in the Palace’s He said the new “matrix”, which PAGE A1 the Palace says shows a conspira- libu-libong Pilipino, may bilyun- diagram, called the allegation “a with Canada). I will declare war cy to discredit the administration bilyong pisong tagong yaman, piece of unadulterated crap.” “At best, this is yet another against them. Kaya man natin and boost the LP-led Otso Diretso gumigiba sa mga democractic inslate’s chances in next week’s stitutions, minumura ang Diyos, at badly concocted fiction meant to ‘yan sila. Isauli ko talaga ‘yan. elections, “is meant to destroy the nag-iimbento ng mga akusasyon scare their perceived enemies but Ikarga mo ‘yan doon sa ano sa image of the opposition before the sa mga kritiko niya, tapos kami which only ends up making them electorate as what the president ang nagdi-discredit [sa govern- look ridiculous. At worst, and this has been doing in campaign sor- ment] (Duterte ordered the kill- is a real concern, we cannot imaging of thousands of Filipinos, has ine what pressures [Rodel] Jayme PAGE A1 ties.” He claimed the government multi-billion pesos worth of hidden might have undergone or be made of the said privileges, they must does not need anyone to discredit wealth, destroys democratic insti- to undergo to underpin this fal- present a barangay certificate statit since “they are the ones who are tutions, curses God and invents lacy,” NUJP said, referring to the ing that the individual is indeed a allegations against his critics, and webpage administrator of metro- first-time applicant. Government destroying themselves.” Magdalo, Joma Sison in same now we are the ones discrediting balita, whom the government has agencies would regulate the said [the government]?),” he said in a indicted for inciting to sedition. ‘matrix’ benefits to ensure that the appli“We stress again this govern- cants could only avail the benefits Among those named in Malaca- statement. Lacierda listed as ‘active liker’ ment’s criminal endangerment of once. ñang’s “matrix” are Rep. Gary AleIn an interview on CNN Philip- people it accuses of serious offensjano (Magdalo party-list), former The Department of Information presidential spokesperson Edwin pines, Lacierda called the new es without an iota of evidence,” it and Communications Technology Lacierda, Sen. Antonio Trillanes “matrix” stupid and denied his in- also said. (Philstar.com) (DICT) is to keep a database of all
‘For the nth time,’ alleged plotters dispute...
code pa siya (Those patrons, in the list, they have codes) former President Benigno Aquino, former DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary Mar Roxas, former DOJ (Department of Justice) Secretary Leila de Lima,” he added. Sotto said that Advincula consulted his staff member Hutch Altavaz who documented the entire thing with a sworn affidavit. Altavaz and Sotto said that there are similarities in the 2016 sworn affidavit and the one submitted before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). “We pieced this together already. [May] affidavit na ginawa ni Peter Joemel Advincula. Dito sa sinumpaang salaysay niya. Makikita ninyo yung pagkahawig doon sa Bikoy series at saka doon sa statement niya dun sa IBP (We pieced this together already. There is an affidavit made by Peter Joemel Advincula. Here in the sworn statement, you can see the resemblance with the Bikoy series and the sworn state-
ment he submitted to the IBP),” the Senate president said. The IBP, on one hand, rejected the request for free legal assistance of Advincula. DOJ: Advincula may be charged with sedition The Department of Justice may include Peter Joemel Advincula in the inciting to sedition complaint against Rodel Jayme, the supposed website administrator of metrobalita, whom the National Bureau of Investigation took into custody last week. “The NBI is waiting for Advincula/Bikoy to show up and submit his complaint with supporting evidence against the persons he implicated in the illegal drug trade,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters. “Should he fail to do so, the DOJ will consider his possible inclusion in Rodel Jayme’s inciting to sedition case or indictment for other criminal charges after proper investigation,” he added as reported by The Philippine Star. n
Unicef sounds alarm on decline of PH’s measles...
A health worker administers vaccines at Ama Dome, Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
and neonatal tetanus, proving that fective.” (Katrina Hallare/Inquirer. vaccines work and are safe and ef- net)
O Canada: Duterte sets May 15 deadline to take... 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 I will advise Canada that your
garbage is on the way. Prepare a grand reception. Eat it if you want to,” the president said. (Darryl John Esguerra/Inquirer. net)
New law waives fees for first-time... these individuals. Under the RA 11261, government agencies whether national or local entities — must not collect fees or charges from a first-time jobseeker if they seek such documents in order to be employed locally or abroad. Senate Labor Committee Chair Senator Joel Villanueva lauded the signing of the said law noting that such a move is a timely
graduation gift for fresh graduates who would be set to seek for employment in the coming months. “We warmly welcome the signing of our bill into law as this will financially aid our youth in finding employment. The law would benefit around 1.3 million first time job seekers annually,” Villanueva said as reported by The Philippine Star. n
West Philippine Sea faces new problem... PAGE A1 they had come from the Philippines, Vietnam and China. “Those are things that you wouldn’t expect to be there,” Deo Florence Onda, the team’s chief scientist, said. “We have such a rich biodiversity in the area, but you also have this problem, this threat that accumulates over time,” he added. Aside from the open sea, the man-made wastes were also found on several sandbars in nearby reefs. They had amassed into a mound of garbage in the middle of a sandbar on Kota (Loaita) Island. “For a place [as far away] as that, we wouldn’t expect anything like this,” said Kevin Labrador, a graduate student who volunteered to join the expedition.
Based on the researchers’ calculations, it would take over a day for a boat from the nearest city to reach the islet. The information about the distance and travel time gave them an idea how much and how far the man-made wastes are covering parts of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “We were really taken aback,” Labrador added. The team collected at least five crates of trash from the area for research and concluded that the garbage had been on the water for a long time based on the dried biofilms that surrounded them. Onda added that the garbage is not only a danger to marine mammals like whales and dolphins, but to ecosystems as well since it could carry pathogenic
invasive species that could affect the local biodiversity of where they might settle. “It really indicates that the problem is transboundary,” he said. “Even if it’s already far away, our activities still impact these ecosystems,” Onda added. Wilfred John Santiañez, an assistant professor of UP MSI who was also with the team during its two-week expedition, also noted that the reefs in the Kalayaan Island Group had suffered from other threats as well. According to the team’s observations, the craters at certain reefs indicated cyanide fishing. There were also some pounded corals. Bleached corals near Pagasa (Thitu) Island, meanwhile, were the result of the warming ocean waters, worsened by cli-
mate change. Onda said continuous human activity, like China’s island-building, could have an impact on the fragile reefs and the ecosystem in the WPS. “You cannot exclude these activities, but we still do not know at this point its direct influence and its extent,” he said. The chief scientist expects the results of their study would have significant contribution to effective management of marine environment especially since the government is eyeing the Kalayaan Island Group as the next marine protected area. “It would be difficult to protect and craft policy and management plans if we don’t know what is in there and what we are protecting and managing,” Onda said.n
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 10-16, 2019
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OWWA denies giving money to OFWs at airports by neil
arwin Mercado Inquirer.net
THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) denied on Monday, May 6, claims that they are giving returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) cash upon their arrival at airports in the country. In an advisory, OWWA said a Facebook post claimed that OWWA has a program that gives cash to OFWs who arrived in the country. OWWA, however, said the post was fake and that they do not have a program that simply gives OFWs money in airports.
“Hindi po totoo ang kumakalat na post sa Facebook tungkol sa pamimigay ng OWWA ng pera sa airport (The post circulating on Facebook about the money being given by OWWA at the airport is false),” OWWA said. “Wala pong programa o serbisyo ang OWWA na ganoon (OWWA has no program or service like that),” OWWA added. Another netizen asked OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac regarding the post and said that OFWs will receive P20,000 upon their arrival and an additional P12,000 if they decide to stay in the country
for good. Cacdac denied the news and advised the public not to believe everything they see on social media. “Hindi po totoo ang kumakalat na balita. Hindi po lahat ng nasa Facebook ay dapat paniwalaan. Maging matalino po (The news going around is not true. You should not believe everything you read on Facebook.We should all be smart about that),” Cacdac said in a tweet. OWWA advised the public to contact their office or social media accounts to avail of the agency’s programs. n
BI’s anti-trafficking drive: Over 7,000 barred from leaving in Q1 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
PH, US plan bigger joint army exercises in 2020 by Frances
Mangosing Inquirer.net
THE armies of the Philippines and United States are planning to stage bigger joint exercises next year with the presence of more American troops. The military drills will involve the brigade combat teams or mobile maneuver force of the Philippine Army and U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC). A brigade is usually composed of around 1,500 soldiers. “There is a proposed concept to expand the Salaknib through the participation of more troops from the USARPAC. Under the proposed expansion, they shall send a whole brigade composed of about 1,700 troops for Salaknib 2020,” Army public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said Wednesday, May 8. “As part of the Mutual Defense Treaty, this is a way to prepare for large-scale conflict should it happen,” he added. Salaknib is an annual, bilateral exercise between the Philippine Army and USARPAC aimed at enhancing the interoperability in
conventional warfare and counterterrorism operations. Held since 2015 in the Philippines, the Salaknib is a preparation for the annual large-scale exercise Balikatan. The USARPAC sent less than 1,000 troops for the exercises carried out early this year, while the Philippines sent around 1,500 soldiers. The Philippine Army is looking at its rapid deployment force, the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT), to participate in next year’s Salaknib. “It’s a complete force. It has infantry, artillery, armor, signal, aviation. It’s complete and across the board… We hope to learn from the Americans how they structure their brigade command team and we can learn from their best practices. We want to adopt that because for long, we’ve been infantry-based only,” Zagala said. The 1st Brigade Combat Team was activated in late 2018 and is based at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. Another brigade combat team will be activated this year. The proposed larger exer-
Comelec ready for May 13... PAGE A1 toured by the Comelec around the PICC-The Forum facility, where the national canvassing of ballots will be held. The Comelec expects to announce the winners in the local elections within 24 to 36 hours after voting closes at the polling precincts. For the proclamation of the Magic 12 in the senatorial race, meanwhile, the target is within two weeks after the elections. Both the Comelec and Philippine National Police (PNP) are hopeful that the midterm polls will have peace and order. According to Jimenez, fewer areas are considered poll hotspots. Less than 550 areas fall under Category Red, which is the highest stage among the hotspots, due to the presence of armed groups and history of election-related violence. “I think this is important because at the start of the year or even before the election period, many people have been killed. But in recent days, election-related violence decreased,” he noted. PNP spokesman Col. Bernard Banac said they expect the peace and order situation in the run up to the polls would continue until Election Day. During a forum at the Comelec, he said: “The PNP along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines is on full alert. So we are not taking any chances.” “We assure the public that the PNP will remain apolitical and impartial as we are mandated to protect the will of the electorate toward honest, orderly and peaceful elections,” he added. As stated by the The Philippine Star, some 149,830 policemen and 98,000 soldiers will be working together to keep all polling places and other areas of concern safe before, during and even after election day on May 13. PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, for his part, assured the whole PNP is on full alert status. “We are already on full alert and as of this time, we have partial deployment in the different hubs,” he said after the send-off ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo. The ceremonial deployment was spearheaded by the Comelec, represented by Commissioners Luie Tito Guia and Al Parreño. It was participated by 809 personnel and 28 military vehicles, 778 personnel and 23 police vehicles, and representatives from other stakeholders like DepEd and Department of Health (DOH). “The send-off ceremony is a fitting testimony of our firm aspiration for a peaceful and successful
conduct of the national and local elections next week. This also signifies that we are all prepared and ready to be deployed in the different areas where our services and assistance are very much needed,” said AFP chief Gen. Benjamin General Madrigal. According to Albayalde, more than 36,000 polling centers nationwide will be guarded with at least two uniformed police officers especially in hotspots or critical areas in Mindanao where quick reaction teams will be on standby. “For polling centers we’ll be probably deploying around 100,000 of our personnel, that includes the police assistance desks,” Albayalde said. “As of this time, we see no threat whatsoever but of course we don’t want to put our guard down, and especially so in Mindanao,” he added. Albayalde allowed policemen to use their cellphones for workrelated matters such as sending updates on the status of the conduct of elections in their respective areas while they are on duty during election day. Other measures launched PNP also launched its National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) on Tuesday. This will allow real-time monitoring of polling centers nationwide. Albayalde said about 60 police personnel will run the center, which will remain active a few days after the elections. “This will give us real-time situation on what is happening on the ground, as well as the delivery of VCMs to different polling centers,” he said. “If we want to know what’s the situation in polling centers, we will just click the specific polling center and then we will know who the person deployed in that center is,” he added. The NEMAC will also inform police officers whether voting had started or ended at polling centers and if ballot boxes have been delivered to proper offices. The Comelec, meanwhile, announced there are procedures in place should an earthquake happen, as well as whether a failure of elections should be declared in the affected area. “The policy is being studied now on whether or not to declare a failure of elections. Of course, what is a strong earthquake? We have a lot of common sense (to know this),” Jimenez said during a press briefing. “The safest bet here is to either suspend or declare failure of elections. That decision is still being made,” he added. Jimenez also said the Comelec is prepared to secure the VCMs and other election paraphernalia during an earthquake. n
cise was one of the topics discussed by Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto and USARPAC deputy chief Maj. Gen. John Johnson’s meeting last Monday, May 6, at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. “This is all about making us more ready, and whatever challenges the future might hold. We are committed to this region, the design of [Salaknib 2020] exercise is purposeful in demonstrating that commitment,” Johnson was quoted as saying. n
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 overseas-bound 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)
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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
Filipinos in Alaska also known as “Alaskeros.�
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
Photo courtesy of Kababayan Weekly
LAND OR RIVER? Water hyacinths cover the surface of Marikina River. As these plants clog waterways, a locally-developed machine scoops 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
Ex-IBP exec tells Bar passers: Help Filipinos even those outside PH
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 interA FOrMEr Integrated Bar of act with whites – especially white the Philippines (IBP) commiswomen.� n sioner 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 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 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 forward-looking and futureproof,� added Belaro. (Inquirer. net)
Filipina charged for stealing $3.5-M from cruise company
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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 that Abellanoza, while she was branch accounting supervisor, transferred $3.5 million into seven bank accounts under her control and used a downloadable genera-
tor to create fake invoices. “Ms. Abellanoza fell under suspicion in February 2018, when she told a senior executive she had fallen victim to an online scam and offered to reimburse the company,� Sydney Morning Herald said. It added: “An investigation by a forensic accountant uncovered the alleged discrepancies, an expert telling the court that the size 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 the cruise company’s vessels as part of her $88,000 employment package. 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-daysa-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. (Philstar. com)
Australian writer apologizes for insulting Filipino food by Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
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AN Australian writer based in Jakarta, Indonesia drew flak online from Filipinos after she said that Filipino food is “bland� and “worst� in Southeast Asia. Feminist activist Kate Walton commented: “Filipino food is definitely worst in the region� on Cornell University professor Tom Pepinsky’s tweet about the ranking of Southeast Asian food. Tom also ranked the Philippines in the bottom of his list,
while Vietnamese, laos, Malaysian and Singaporean top the list. “lol Filipino Twitter saw my reply to @TomPepinsky about Filipino food and now they’re mad. Sorry Filipino food is bland. I’ll choose spicy food over it any day,� Kate tweeted after Filipinos bashed her. Though Kate apologized for her “wrong choice of words� in her tweet, she said she will not delete her tweet. “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
Rights activists protest drug war at Portugal policy conference HUMAN rights defenders from around the world rallied in Porto, Portugal to send a message to the Philippine government: Stop the killings associated with its campaign against illegal drugs. The protest was staged on the sidelines of the 26th Harm reduction International Conference (Hr19) on May 1, where the participants showed solidarity for the victims of the brutal war on drugs and demanded an end to it. The global conference, held every two years, tackled the latest research and discussions on best practice in drug use, harm reduction and human rights. “The Philippine government’s barbaric campaign against the drug trade is severely harming the health and security of its communities. The evidence that punitive drug policies don’t work is irrefutable. People around the world have sent a clear message to the government today—stop the killings and invest in the health and human rights of your people,� Naomi Burke-Shyne, Harm reduction International executive director, said. The Philippine government acknowledges 5,375 deaths of “drug personalities� in police operations since July 2016. But human rights groups claim the figures are higher, citing unresolved
Human rights activists stage a protest in Porto, Portugal to demand an end to the war on drugs in the Philippines. Photo by Steve Forrest/Harm Reduction International
killings under the administration of President rodrigo Duterte. Kristine Mendoza of StreetlawPh earlier in the conference warned that the Philippines’ “war on drugs has unravelled into anything but a war on illegal substances,� according to an article on TalkingDrugs, a platform that provides news and analysis on drug policy and harm reduction. StreetlawPh is an organization of lawyers and advocates seeking to provide access to justice and protection for the rights of persons who use drugs. “[Duterte has created a] long-term, institutionalized and well-funded pseudo-war which centralized all governmental powers into one strongman
who—through effective social control—was able to damage our democratic principles, such as checks and balances, accountability and transparency, the civilian nature of our police force, the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and respect for human rights,� Mendoza was quoted as saying. A study presented by the Ateneo School of Government and the Ateneo Human rights Center last week showed that the administration’s war on drugs, enforced through the police’s Oplan Tokhang, risks violation of at least eight citizen’s rights enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar. com)
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Be a state witness, Napeñas urged on SAF 44 case Court allows De Lima to vote in 2019 midterm polls by Kristine Joy
by Catherine
a. Modesto Manilatimes.net
RELATIVES of some of the police commandos killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao four years ago urged Getulio Napeñas, 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 chopped up. Please, have pity on us, mothers. We feel like the SAF 44 had been abandoned,” Telly Sumbilla, mother of Police Officer(PO) 3 John Lloyd Sumbilla, said. Sumbilla was among the 44 SAF troopers who died on Jan. 25, 2015 in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano during a police operation aimed to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir, alias Marwan. Marwan died in the operation along with 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and five civilians. In July 2017, the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas with graft and usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. A police investigation of the Mamasapano clash showed that
Philstar.com
The SAF 44 painting that Aquino didn’t want to see. A widow of one of them, Roselle Nacino, 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 was portrayed exactly as they looked in real life on to the canvas based only on their file photographs). ManilaTimes.net photo
the operation tagged “Oplan Exodus” was poorly planned. Felicitas Nacino, mother of another SAF 44 member, PO2 Nicky Nacino Jr., believes that Napeñas could help them get the justice they deserve. “Unang una palang po, tinanong kita bakit di ka nagsalita, ilang hearing na po ang nangyari sa atin sa Senado. Sagot mo po sa akin, ‘Nanay sabi po nila, ‘wag na akong magsalita (I asked you why you did not say anything during the Senate hearings that we attended. And your response was, ‘Mother, they told me to stop talking),” Nacino said. She urged Napeñas to speak out and tell the truth. “Kailangan po namin ikaw.
Sabihin mo po ang buong katotohanan. Wala pa rin po kaming nakakamit na hustisya (We need you. Please tell the whole truth. We have not gotten justice),” Nacino added. “Magsalita ka na (Please speak up), you are our only hope,” said Julie Danao, mother of PO2 Walner Danao. The families of some of the commandos, with the help of the Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption filed 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide before the Supreme Court, citing the respondents’ “inexcusable lack of precaution.” The complaint was accepted by the high court’s First Division on Feb. 26, 2019. n
Duterte calls for peace, change as Ramadan starts by Catherine
Valente Manilatimes.net
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. n
Patag
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 vote. Presiding Judge Liezel 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, Parañaque City. “Security procedures must be observed to ensure a safe and secured voting process for her by coordinating with the police and 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
Sen. Leila M. de Lima was escorted by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as she arrived today, Nov. 16, at the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 to answer the trumped-up illegal drug trading charge filed against her. Philstar.com file photo
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.” 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
Go again denies drug allegations by deMPsey
reyes Manilatimes.net
FORMER special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go again denied allegations of ties to illegal drug syndicates after a man claiming to have personal knowledge of payoffs surfaced on Monday, May 6. Peter Joemel Advincula, who revealed himself as the hooded “Bikoy” in a series of online videos accusing Go and members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s family of pocketing drug money, claimed he wanted to testify and sought help from a lawyers’ group. Go, who is seeking a Senate seat, said Advincula — who had accused him and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte of having tattoos signifying syndicate membership — shouldn’t have gone to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, but instead had himself admitted to a mental facility. “For me, he should have gone to a mental hospital. He should go there first,” the Senate aspirant
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
said in a statement. “May sinabi siya noon na kapag ipinakita ko ang aking likod ay titigil na siya. Hinubad ko na at ipinakita ang aking likod, wala kayong nakitang tattoo (He previously said he would stop if I showed my back. I already showed my back and you did not see a tattoo),” Go added. The “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos sought to portray Duterte’s war against drugs as a sham, but Go said it was “black propagan-
da.” “Gaya ng ipinangako namin ni Pangulong Duterte, ipagpapatuloy namin ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga, korapsyon at kriminalidad (Like what President Duterte and I promised, we will continue the war against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality),” he added. “We are being painted black here… demolition jobs are common during the election season,” Go said. n
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MAY 10-16, 2019 • NORCAL 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
petition filed by the Philippine government before the United Nationsbacked 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 nine-dash-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
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
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
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! 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
Commentary
ANTONIO P. CONTRERAS
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
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, the
statement — 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
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 anti-communist attitude that became the foundation of an antiChina 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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Incumbent Metro Manila officials lead survey by Janvic
Mateo Philstar.com
MANILA — Voters appear to prefer re-electionists or incumbent mayors in most cities in Metro Manila, according to a recent survey conducted by a private group called RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. The survey, conducted from April 27 to May 1, showed some candidates pulling away from their opponents days before the midterm polls. In Quezon City, 60 percent of the respondents said they would vote for Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, who solidified her lead against Rep. Vincent Crisologo with 32 percent and former lawmaker Ismael Mathay III with four percent in the mayoralty race. Re-electionist Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail Binay obtained 64 percent, almost double the 34 percent obtained by her brother, former mayor Junjun Binay. In Pasig, re-electionist Mayor
Roberto “Bobby” Eusebio took the lead with 66 percent, against the 33 percent obtained by councilor Vico Sotto. Also leading were re-electionist mayors Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela (95 percent), Edwin Olivarez of Parañaque (62 percent), Lenlen Oreta of Malabon (65 percent), Carmelita Abalos of Mandaluyong (97 percent), Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan (93 percent), Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa (57 percent), Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas (94 percent), Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina (93 percent) and Miguel Ponce III of Pateros (73 percent). The case is different in Manila, where former president and reelectionist Mayor Joseph Estrada is trailing behind former vice mayor Isko Moreno. Moreno obtained 50 percent, followed by Estrada with 33 percent and former mayor Alfredo Lim with 15 percent. In San Juan where the top post is to be vacated by Mayor Guia Gomez, former vice mayor Fran-
cis Zamora is slightly ahead with 53 percent against incumbent Vice Mayor Janella Estrada with 47 percent. In Taguig, Lino Cayetano – a former lawmaker and brother-inlaw of outgoing Mayor Lani Cayetano – is leading with 67 percent against Rep. Arnel Cerafica with 30 percent. Incumbent lawmakers who are seeking to replace relatives as mayors also lead in the survey. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, who is running for the seat to be vacated by his brother threeterm Mayor John Rey Tiangco, is leading with 76 percent against councilor Dan Israel Ang with 20 percent. 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 on Sunday, May 5. The event promotes fun outdoor activities for kids, away from playing tech gadgets and online games. Pasay Rep. Imelda Calixto PNA photo by Joey O. Razon Rubiano, who is also running to replace her brother Mayor Antonino Calixto, is leading with 74 percent against Chet Cuneta, son erty and security of the petition- ron Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin of former mayor Pablo Cuneta, by edu Punay ers because it is an expression Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief Philstar.com with 15 percent. of a government policy directed Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. and The non-commissioned survey MANILA — More militant against legitimate civil society presidential spokesman Salvador had 8,000 registered voters in Metro Manila as respondents. n groups are seeking relief from the organizations, activist and human Panelo, among others. On May 3, the SC ordered Supreme Court (SC) against al- rights defenders in this case,” the Duterte, as commander-in-chief leged harassment and threats by groups alleged. Karapatan cited the killings of of the Armed Forces, to comgovernment security forces. Officers and members of their rights workers and parale- ment on the writ of amparo and Karapatan, Gabriela and Rural gals, including Mariam Uy Acob habeas petition filed by NUPL, Missionaries of the Philippines in October 2018 and councilor which sought protection from alfiled a petition yesterday seeking Bernardino Patigas of Escalante, leged harassment and violence protection from the high court Negros Occidental on April 23, against officers and members of through issuance of writ of am- as evidence of the attacks against the rights group. their ranks. The high court gave the responparo and writ of habeas data. “From 2001 to 2019, at least dents until tomorrow to comply The petition was filed after the SC acted on a similar petition of 48 rights defenders of Karapatan with the order as it referred the the National Union of Peoples’ have been killed by state forces. case to the Court of Appeals (CA) Lawyers and issued the writs Most, if not all, of our human for hearing and resolution. rights workers, even our forThe CA was directed to hear the sought in a special session. Petitioners asked the SC to is- mer colleagues, are subjected to petition on May 14 and to decide sue a writ of amparo to protect threats, surveillance, harassment, the case within 10 days after subthem from “threats to life, liberty red-tagging and judicial harass- mission of the case for decision. In its petition, the NUPL said and security, amid accusations of ment. We have been publicly vilibeing fronts of the Communist fied even in online spaces, and we their rights to life, liberty and frequently receive death threats security have been violated and Party of the Philippines (CPP).” They also sought issuance of a through text messages. These at- continue to be violated through writ of habeas data for the disclo- tacks can only come from those the persistent threats and harasssure and destruction of all files or who see our work and advocacy ment and red-tagging. The group alleged that these record of the petitioners gathered for people’s rights, our monitoring and documentation of human were being done to vilify, inby respondents. Petitioners claimed there have rights violations, our direct assis- timidate and prevent them from been “worsening attacks, terror- tance to victims and kin and our pursuing their profession as ist-tagging by the military and the provision of platforms for human members of the Bar and from ongoing smear campaign against rights education as threats to the practicing their advocacy as peohuman rights defenders.”?They current status quo,” the petition- ples’ lawyers serving the poor and ManilaTimes.net file photo said President Duterte and the ers said. the marginalized. They cited incidents of redThey said some NUPL memmilitary’s “dangerous rhetoric nals. The PNP will deploy 190,000 of labeling the organization as a tagging allegedly perpetrated by bers have died in the line of police personnel in different parts CPP-NPA front has resulted in nu- Duterte himself, in six record- duty. The asked the SC to comof the country to assure the safety merous killings and other human ed and live telecast speeches, pel the respondents, under the and security of the public during rights violations against its rights wherein the President maliciously writ of habeas data, to provide tagged Karapatan as a “commu- them with copies of all the facts, workers.” the May 13 elections. information, statements, records, “The red tagging and labeling, nist front.” They also trained 1,404 police Just like the NUPL, the latest photographs and other evidence, personnel to replace teachers who which emanated from the nawould not render duty as election tional task force to end local com- petitioners also named as respon- documentary or otherwise, perboard officers. (Roy Narra/Mani- munist insurgency, aggravated dents Duterte, National Secu- taining to each of them in the rethe threats against the life, lib- rity Adviser Hermogenes Espe- spondents’ files and records. n laTimes.net) n
PNP launches technology-driven poll monitoring center
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday, May 7, launched the National Election Monitoring Action Center (Nemac) to receive real-time updates from its men deployed in polling centers for the May 13 elections. Nemac will be manned by 60 police personnel, led by Brig. Gen. Florencio Ortilla, head of the PNP National Operations Center. PNP Chief General Oscar Albayalde told reporters that Nemac would monitor the situations in all polling centers from Camp Crame, including the arrival of vote counting machines (VCMs), counting of ballots, and delivery of ballot boxes. “This will give us real-time situation on what is happening on the ground, including the delivery of VCMs in different polling centers and from here, if we want to know the situation there, we could just click on a certain polling center and we will know who are deployed there and we can call directly to that police officer who is deployed in that specific polling center,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. In the new Nemac, Albayalde said, PNP personnel don’t have to be physically present in the polling stations but they would still be able to monitor using technology. “With the technology that is available, we use everything even
PNP Chief General Oscar Albayalde
social media. We take advantage of the technology,” he said. With the internet, police officers can also send videos and pictures of the situation in polling centers. In areas where the signal is weak, Albayalde said police personnel would just have to go to the nearest precincts where they have been assured of strong sig-
More groups seek SC relief from gov’t harassment
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MAY 10-16, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 10, 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; Multitaskin g; 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 lifelong 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 pop-ups 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 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-athome 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 full circle 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 your 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
Caroline Kostiuk, popularly known as Caroline Adobo Cakes, makes made-to-order cakes, such as halo-halo tres leches and ube flan.
Caroline Kostiuk and her sons Luri, Andre and Evan
Charina Vergara recently opened Tita’s of Manila, a Filipino comfort food restaurant in West Covina, California.
Charina Vergara (middle) with her daughters Missy and Isabella working at their Filipino street food stand at 626 Night Market.
Fiona Hilario, president and managing member of Lay Bare Franchising — a waxing salon that originated in the Philippines — and her daughter Noelle.
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 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 fam-
ily 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-
Hilario’s teenage daughter Noelle has expressed an interest in being involved in her mother’s business one day.
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 equipment, 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 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.” Continued on Page SF3
Time to unwind: Tips for busy moms before your family to give some time for yourself. Of course, this AJPress might present some difficulties NO matter how reward- seeing that a busy mom needs ing motherhood is, it can all the sleep she can get, but still be a tad too stressful and having even a short amount of overwhelming. Taking care of alone time can be beneficial for the family is always the top your entire day. Use this oppormost priority, but sometunity to meditate or exercise times in doing so, you’re — do some stretchings, take stretching yourself too thin. a couple of minutes to get on However, taking the the stationary bike, or try yoga time to relax seems like a — to increase focus and clear waste of time nowadays your mind. It’ll make you better — especially when you equipped to handle stress when can be using that opporit suddenly decides to rear its tunity to accomplish more work head during the day. instead. Luckily, de-stressing Listen to relaxing music doesn’t have to be time consumThanks to streaming plating. There are plenty of ways to forms like Spotify and Youtube, unwind without them taking a everyone now has access to huge chunk of your time. Here thousands of music tracks are some of them: that suit any and every mood. Wake up early Curate a playlist or find one that Jennifer Louden, author of caters to you and let it play in The Woman’s Retreat Book, rec- the background as you do your AJPress Illustration by Kendrick Tan ommends waking up 15 minutes work. Mellow and atmospheric
by ritChel MendiOla
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 SF MAGAZINE - May 10, 2019
Fees to NVC are application fees, not visa issuance fees
DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I’m a U.S. citizen and petitioned my married son many years ago when my grandchildren were still very young. When the priority date became current, the National Visa Center (NVC) sent us various forms and had us pay various fees, which included all my grandchildren. When the family went for their interview at the U.S. Embassy, the consul said my son, his spouse, and my youngest grandchild were eligible for visas. My other grandchildren were not eligible because they had “aged out” or turned 21 years of age. How come we paid all those fees for my other grandchildren, only to be later told they don’t qualify? If we paid the visa fees, shouldn’t they be entitled to their visas? Very truly yours, RB Dear RB: When an applicant pays certain fees, those are application fees, not visa issuance fees. In other words, the person is paying fees merely to APPLY for a visa. It is only when they are at the window for their interview that the consul determines whether they are eligible. However, in
order to get up to the window for the consul to make that determination, you first have to apply and therefore, pay the application fee. If the person is found eligible, they then pay a “delivery fee,” which would be for the embassy’s messengers to deliver their passport with the visa. However, just because you apply for a visa does not mean you’re entitled to it. The consul has to make that determination. For example, many people apply for a visitor’s visa. They pay the application fee and are scheduled for an interview. Just because they paid the application fee does not mean they will be issued the tourist visa. They could still be refused the visa. When a person files a petition with the USCIS, they also have to pay the filing fee. Just because they’ve paid the filing fee does not mean that the petition will automatically be approved. The petition could still be denied. Or even if USCIS approves the petition, and they “apply” for their visa at the embassy, the consul could still refuse to issue the visa, even though the petition has been approved and the person paid the fee to apply for the visa. In your case, when the NVC charged you various fees, it was for your family members to “apply” for their immigrant visas. If the consul later found them eligible, the visas could be issued. But if the consul determined they were not eligi-
ble for whatever reason (such as aging out, fraud, crimes, no petitionable relationship, etc.), the visa could still be refused even though the application fees were paid. If you are about to apply for a visa, but you have questions or concerns about whether you or any family member are eligible for the visa, you may want to consider consulting with an attorney, who could determine eligibility before you pay all those application fees. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES
‘why.’ Your why has to be bigger than your fears. First focus on your 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
with all your heart. We may not have a partner or a husband but God is with us. He is directing all our ways. Every good gift comes from Him. Make Him first place and you will go places.” “If they have it in their
heart, it is only a matter of time before they can achieve it. Just be patient — try and try and try. Never be afraid to fail because you learn more from your failures. Always put passion, excitement, fun and love to it,” she added.
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
FRAUD WAIVER DENIAL TURNED AROUND TO APPROVAL WITH NO FRAUD WAIVER REQUIRED, ON THIS SUNDAY’S “CITIZEN PINOY!” Wilma entered the U.S. on a C-1 “transit” visa, on her way to work in Guantanamo, Cuba. She remained in the U.S., married a U.S. citizen, and filed for adjustment of status. A “consultant” gave her hope and said he would take care of Wilma’s papers. Unfortunately, the consultant altered Wilma’s documents and put down false information (that she entered on a visitor’s visa), to cover up that she actually entered on a C-1 transit visa. Her case ended up being denied because of fraud! Wilma then consulted with the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, who took over the case, and filed an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) in Washington, DC. Atty Gurfinkel convinced them that Wilma committed no fraud, and was eligible for a green card, despite her entry on a transit visa. Watch how Atty. Gurfinkel’s determination won the day for Wilma, when her name was cleared, and she got her green card with no fraud waiver required, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
Best of both worlds... From Page SF2 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 my-
self 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 put me in a calm zone 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 to now, my sister helps out with picking my daughter up. Her school doubled up as a daycare so I had the opportunity to leave her until 6 p.m,” Hilario said. “But once she turned 13 and it was legal to leave her, I started leaving her at home so that worked out for us and that taught her how to
become very independent and responsible. That’s what we’ve done for the past seven years.” “Vergara credits her mom, sister and brother-in-law for stepping into the responsibilities as well. My brother-in-law is retired and I owe half of it to him because he stood up as a physically present father to my kids. He is there emotionally and physically by driving and picking them up from school,” she noted. “My mom prepares meals for my daughter Missy still. All the support that I could ever think of, they are within reach. That is why I am thriving and flourishing because my wings are fully spread. I know I can always count on their support financially as well.” Best advice for other single moms and mompreneurs “Best advice I’ve received as a parent is to focus on the positive, relax and take it one day at a time. I find that also applies to having a business,” Kostiuk said. For Hilario, she said, “What I’ve learned is that being a single mom strengthens your
(Advertising Supplement)
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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 10, 2019
celebrity world
How celebrity moms balance family and work
By Ferdie Villar IT’S Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 12, and we like to thank all our mothers out there — whether single, married, new, or soon-to-be — for their sacrifices in raising their children and keeping the family together. In showbiz, we often see actresses who are mothers who continue to work and yet still make time to be with their kids. One actress to admire is Ai-Ai de las Alas, who has three kids she has practically raised on her own. In an interview with The Philippine Star entertainment columnist and editor Ricky Lo, the actress shared that her greatest achievement as a mother is raising God-fearing children. “My greatest achievement is having raised my children well na may takot sa Diyos at marunong makipag-kapwa-tao. I provided them with good education,” Ai-Ai said. Her son Sancho, who appears in the ABS-CBN teleserye “FPJ’s Ang Probisyano,” is also a Culinary Arts graduate, daughter Niki works as a machinist in Los Angeles; while youngest Sophia is a Child Education graduate from La Salle. The actress added that she has a very good relationship with her kids. “We are just like a barkada, pero with respect,” she said. “I never run out of reminders and disiplina.” At present, Ai-Ai is married to Gerald Sibayan and the couple are planning to have a child of their own. *** Another personality who became a mother recently (in an unconventional way) is multiawarded broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez-Roxas. Together with husband, senatorial candi-
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date Mar Roxas, they worked on a surrogate mother and now have twins, Pepe and Pilar. Even with her busy schedule and feisty personality on camera, Korina is making sure that she gets to spend time with her children, and that she instills the right values. “I really want my kids not to grow up entitled,” she said in an interview with PEP. “Yun na nga ang tanong ko, how do you inflict harship on your own kids? Because not everything was easy in my childhood,” Korina said reflecting that although her parents gave her the best that they could, there were other things that
they can’t afford. “And yet, when I look back, nakadagdag yun sa akin,” she said. Korina added that for now, she’ll enjoy them while they’re still young, but of course, when they’re growing up, she wants them to stand on their own. “...It can’t always be easy for kids so that they learn how to innovate and to be creative and to imagine and to want more,” she said. “I think that’s the trickiest part of all, that’s why I don’t want to be a crutch to my kids. How will I do that? I’ll take it a day at a time.” Happy Mother’s Day to all moms!
Ai-Ai delas Alas and husband Gerald Sibayan with children (from left) Nicolo (Niki), Sophia and Sancho (rightmost), with Sancho’s girlfriend Shanna Retuya (second from right) and Seth Andre: ‘I have no regret as a mother. There have been trials and I learned lessons from all of them.’ Philstar.com photo
Model and actor Mikael Daez will star in GMA Network’s newest morning comedy series, “Alex and Amie.”
Multi-awarded broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez-Roxas and husband senatorial candidate Mar Roxas with their twins Pepe and Pilar. Instagram photo
Filipino American actress Max Collins is one of the lead stars in GMA Network’s newest series, “Alex and Amie” together with actor Mikael Daez.
Grae Fernandez, son of actor Mark Anthony Fernandez (who is the son of actress Alma Moreno and the late action star Rudy Fernandez) is one of the stars of ABS-CBN’s “Hiwaga ng Kambat.”
“Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Andre Brouillette revealed that he wants to keep learning Tagalog because he wants to be an actor. The 21-year-old model from Hilo, Hawaii is part of the adult finalists of “PBB Otso Big Four” together with fellow housemates Lou Yanong, Fumiya Sankai and Yamyam Gucong. Instagram photo
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Rose Palma, a dialysis nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City, became the bride of Gideon Mohler, who is also a nurse at the same hospital. The couple recently tied the knot at San Agustin Chapel in Jaro, Iloilo City. Shown in photo are (L-R) Mary Jean Henson, Elsie Villaruz, Dorie Cachuela Paniza, Marilyn IryPalmares, the newly-married couple, Andry Jamora, Valerio III, Edwardo, Leonilo Palmares and Judge Pepito Gellana. Reception was held at the Sheridian Resort.
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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE old cliché that health is wealth is timeless, always pertinent and relevant and a scientific truth many of us have taken for granted…until we later discover (sometimes too late) that, indeed, health is truly wealth. Steve Wynn, 77, with a net worth of $3 billion, owns six 5-star casinos in Las Vegas and one in Macau. He is “going blind” from his incurable retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease of the eyes. He would surely be happy to give away one or two of his casinos (Bellagio, Mirage, Treasure Island, Wynn, Encore, Wynn Macau) to any one who could cure his illness and bring back his health. There are other countless rich and famous who would have gladly paid millions to get a cure for their cancers or other deadly diseases, which had prematurely ended their life and stopped them from earning more. Yes, indeed, health is wealth, a personal commodity we cannot afford to lose, a treasure we must protect and nurture with care. Below are some queries from our readers I have collected and grouped together by topics with my reply: Do we really have bacteria in our hands? Unwashed hands have about 3,200 bacteria from 150 different species. Yes, that’s no typo: 3,200. Surprised! Among them are Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus wameri, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staph aureus, and Enterobacter cloacae, S. hominis, coryneform bacteria, and the fungus Pityrosporum Malassezia, etc. How dirty is money? Money is definitely dirty and I am not figuratively talking about plundered money by amoral politicians or drug blood money. Coins and paper money have tons of germs, like those found in human hands, plus E.coli (from toilet users who do not wash their hands). Money goes around millions of times
Is health really wealth?
from person to person in the same city, other cities or States, or even countries. And not all persons are hygienic. There are over 100 strains of bacteria on dollar bills circulating around. Two of them are Propronibacterium acnes (acne-causing bacterium) and Streptococcus oralis found in the mouth. In some paper bills traces of cocaine are found on about 80 percent of them in some major cities, and also traces of amphetamines, heroin, morphine, and peoples’ DNA. How often should we wash our hands? The rule of thumb is at least 8 times a day: Before and after each meal (6), after using the bathroom (at least twice). Added to this are hand washing following activities such as cooking, gardening, house cleaning (indoor and outdoor). Touching handrails, door knobs, other surfaces in public areas also contaminate our hands. If you are washing your hands less than 8 times a day, then you are allowing those 3,200 germs to thrive and contaminate food you eat with your bare hands. Surgeons scrub their hand for no less than 10 minutes by the clock, using germicidal soap solution, followed by alcohol wash, to prevent infection in their patients. Are hand sanitizers better than soap and water? No. Hand washing with regular soap and water even for 10 seconds is much better. The idea is to reduce the “dose” (number of bacteria) in the hands to allow our own immune system to fight the remaining few bugs. This is the same principle in surgical scrubs. After 10 minute scrub, surgeons hands could still have a few remaining bacteria. Hence, the added alcohol wash and use of sterile gloves. If hand washing in public places is not possible, hand sanitizers are acceptable temporary substitutes. Remember, these solutions are harsh drying agents. Use of skin lotion helps. Can measles be transmitted by hands? The main mode of transmission of the measles virus is by droplet (particles of virus
floating in the air from patient’s breath inhaled by others) but this virus could also thrive on surfaces (tables, chair, spoons, etc) and records show that the examining room could still be infectious two hours after the measles patient has left. If you touch any surface with infected droplets, and touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you could get infected yourself if you are not vaccinated, and spread the virus to other people by contact also. By the way, the MMR (MeaslesMumps-Rubella, or German Measles) vaccines are protective for at least 20 years, but others get lifetime immunity from them. If in doubt, get tested for antibody, to find out if you are still immune. If not, re-vaccination is recommended, because measles could have deadly complications. How much bacteria are in our mouth? Yes, all orifices and our entire body have germs. As long as our protective skin and mucosa (shiny lining membrane of the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc) and skin are intact, no bacteria can get in and cause infection. Those who do oral hygiene have about 1,000 to 100,000 bacteria on EACH tooth, and those who do not, have between 100 million to one billion on EACH tooth. More than 700 varying strains of germs have been detected in human mouth. At any given moment, there are between 34 to 200 species of germs in our mouth. Most are harmless and are beneficial bacteria which act as probiotics to help in the digestion. Others cause tooth and gum diseases. What causes bad breath? Bad breath or halitosis comes from sulfur gas, which is produced when bacteria in the mouth act on protein that is in saliva and in the decaying foods (especially meats). The Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) are resistant to many mouth washes, except to Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide which comes in various brand names here and abroad, and which are effective, in together with brushing and flossing at least 3 times a day. Some mouth rinse solutions only mask the odor but Stabilized Chlorine
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 10, 2019
Sharon: Professed horror fan headlines first fright flick 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 Dioxide actually neutralizes VSCs and garlic breath, etc. Brushing alone is not enough; food stuck between the teeth, especially meat, rot over time. The halitosis, if neglected, could be so severe as to smell like decaying dead animals. Gross, indeed. How many times should we brush our teeth? Brushing (meticulously) and dental flossing after each meal including snacks, followed by
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
ba? And since this is my first allout 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 horror movie and merong mga hinahanda hindi naman natuloy. But when Direk Erik came, nagusap 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. Continued on Page SF7
a mouth rinse that contains Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide, plus regular dental check-up at least every 6 months, provide good oro-dental health. Dental and gum diseases increase the risk for cardiovascular illnesses, which include heart attack and stroke. Any inflammation in the body is bad for overall health. These two habits (handwashing and comprehensive oral hygiene) are wise
investments that yield great dividends. Health is a priceless wealth. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)
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people & events The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 10, 2019
The CTV Files
ATTY. LILLI BERBANO BACULI, ESQ
CALIFORNIA divorce – “No Fault.� California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) or, in some instances, to get a judgment of divorce. What needs to happen is that the other party (your soon-to-be ex-spouse) needs to be served with process. In proceeding in an action for divorce, there are procedural requirements dictated by law that must be followed to ensure that the other party has notice of the action (that is, that s/he is being brought to court for an action of divorce) and that s/he is given time to respond. However, there is no requirement for the other party to respond. There is no requirement that s/he sign any document at all. All that needs to happen is that s/he is properly served with process according to the rules. What if I do not have legal papers, and my spouse is abusive? If safety is a concern, we urge people to seek help first, particularly if there are minor children who may also be at risk of abuse. For nonemergency calls, individuals may dial 2-1-1 to seek help finding resources for health, mental health, or temporary shelter. Options available for victims of abuse: VAWA Self-Petition. The spouse or child of a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident, or the parent of a U.S. citizen, who is battered or subject to extreme cruelty may file a selfpetition independently of the
California divorce, domestic violence, and US immigration laws abusive U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. The spouse or child must demonstrate that he or she resided with the U.S. citizen or Lawful permanent spouse or parent; was battered or subject to extreme cruelty during the marriage (or, in the case of a spouse self-petitioner, the child was battered or subjected to extreme cruelty); the marriage was entered into in good faith; s/he is otherwise eligible for immediate relative or preference status; and has good moral character. In certain cases, though an individual has not suffered any physical harm, abuse can still be argued depending on the circumstances, since “abuse� is not limited to physical harm. Each application will be reviewed and examined on a case-by-case basis, and given the whole picture, an individual might just be able to show that he or she is a battered spouse or has suffered extreme cruelty from their U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident husband. If so, a VAWA Self-Petition will enable her to adjust her status without having to rely on their spouse. Deportability issues for green card holders with domestic violence conviction(s). A non-citizen, even if a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) for ten years, is liable to be deportable if s/he commits or is convicted of certain crimes, even if it’s “just a misdemeanor.� A conviction for domestic violence can make a non-citizen deportable. A criminal conviction’s negative impact on immigra-
tion status. The Record of Conviction (ROC) details an individual’s criminal history – his/her arrest, what s/he plead to, and the final judgment/sentence. The relief(s) available to an individual facing removal/deportation proceedings will depend largely on that individual’s record of conviction. If you are a non-citizen, it is best to consult both with a criminal attorney and with an experienced criminal immigration attorney who handles deportation defense before pleading to anything in criminal court. No two cases are exactly the same. Consult with an experienced and competent family law and immigration attorney immediately, and more importantly prior to filing any applications with the USCIS, or prior to pleading to anything in any court, in order to explore their options and possible legal ramifications that they might be facing. As always, be wary of online tools that offer immigration help or notarios who are not licensed to practice law. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; lbaculi@ctvattys.com. Visit www.chuatinsayvega.com for more information and other articles. (Advertising Supplement)
Ivan Padilla: Imported from Hollywood by RICKY LO Philstar.com
“THE Padilla blood runs in my veins,â€? 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.â€? 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,â€? Ivan said in an exclusive Conversation. “I want my relatives to be proud of me.â€? 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,â€? 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 death anniversary. My mom never remarried. I am an only child.â€? 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 name was Rosie Yabut. I got to meet my relatives on the Yabut side only recently. There are so many of them. But I got closer to Lola Gloria because I grew up with her along her children from her first marriage.â€? (To Mat Ranillo who died in a plane crash. Among Gloria and Mat’s children are Mat Ranillo III and Suzette who both followed in their parents’ footsteps.) During the birthday celebration of Robin’s mom Eva CariĂąo last year, Robin was making an amazing speech to his mom who interrupted her to make an announcement. “She said, ‘May bagong
Ivan Padilla
Philstar.com photos
Padilla sa industriya,’ and then she introduced me. Robin looked at me and said, ‘O, may special mention? Tumayo ka, pinsan!’ That was the first time I met my relatives on the Padilla side. Robin’s mom is so nice, sobrang mabait.� Told that the Padillas are known for being, ehem, “ladies’ men,� Ivan smiled. “Well, I’m not a saint, at hindi rin naman ako demonyo. 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. 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
Calendar of Events across
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 U.S., 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.
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35th annual Los Angeles Asian PaciďŹ c Film Festival The 35th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 2 - May 10, 2019 at select cinemas in the Los Angeles area. A key highlight of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month activities, the Festival is produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, and enjoys broad support from cinema artists and audiences alike. For more information and the schedule, please visit https://festival. vcmedia.org/2019/.
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Sagalas at Santacruzan in Los Angeles
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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.
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Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii The Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Association (SMISGA) and the Santa Marians of Hawaii are sponsoring the Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 17-19, 2019. The festivities will start with a meet and greet on May 17 at 5 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom to be followed by a gala night on May 18 at 5 p.m. at the Dole Cannery Pomaikai Ballroom. A picnic is also scheduled at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on Sunday, May 19 starting at 10 a.m. The ticket to attend all the events is $130.00 per person. Due to limited space, reservations must be made not later than March 31, 2019. Hats and t-shirts 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) 789-8324. Leave a message if there’s no answer. Additional information is also on SMISGA.com and Facebook @ SMISGA19FB. Proceeds from the events will be for various projects in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur and in Hawaii. Donations are tax deductible since SMISGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
CAAMFest37 features Filipino and Filipino American films and filmmakers SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CAAMFest37, presented by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), will highlight a handful of Filipino and Filipino American stories and creatives in this year’s Festival. CAAMFest’s Narrative Centerpiece film is the new musical “Yellow Rose,” directed by Filipina American Diane Paragas. The cast features the rising Broadway star, Filipina American Eva Noblezada, as well as Filipino born Princess Punzalan and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga. “Empty by Design” is a Filipino production directed by British Filipina filmmaker Andrea A. Walter. Two strangers rediscover the Philippines after life abroad and connect over their difficulties struggling to reassimilate. The film is produced by acclaimed actor, Filipino American Dante Basco. The Filipino Channel University (TFCU) and CAAMFest will present TFCU Talks, a panel of Filipino American artists working in the film and entertainment world. From Daly City to the Philippines, “Flip the Script” is a vibrant collection of short films that celebrate the fearless creativity and distinct voice of the Filipino and Filipino American Communities. “Cherry,” directed by Eugene Kim, follows a downon-his-luck singer who’s on a mission to retrieve his car from the tow yard, as well as a woman’s phone number that was left inside. “In this Family,” directed by Drama Del Rosario, follows a son revisiting his home life in the aftermath of being outed as gay. “Lumpia Campesina,” by Robert Karimi, parodies how to make community-uniting lumpia. “Man of Pa-Aling,” directed by E Del Mundo, takes a glance at a retired manong fisherman struggling to fill his time. “Manila is full of Men Named Boy,” directed by Andrew Stephen Lee, is a Filipino narrative about an estranged
people & events SF Jasmine Curtis calls on Filipinos to ‘love our own’ The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 10, 2019
by MJ Marfori ManilaTimes.net
Yellow Rose
Empty By Design
Flip the Script
American who purchases a child to impress his father, but the patriarch unexpectedly embraces the child. Outside of the “Flip the Script” program, “Baraha (It Runs in the Family Shorts Program),” directed by Gretchen Carvajal and Violet Wang, is a visual chapbook that combines visual storytelling and poetry to uncover the layered identities of a Filipino American girl. For more information on the festival or to buy tickets, please visit http://www.caamfest.com. CAAMFest, formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), celebrates the world’s largest showcase for
new Asian American and Asian film, food, and music programs. Annually presenting over 120 works in the Bay Area, CAAMFest presents its 37th year from May 9-19, 2019. For more information, please visit http://www. caamfest.com. CAAM (Center for Asian American Media) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. CAAM does this by funding, producing, distributing, and exhibiting works in film, television, and digital media. For more information on CAAM, please visit www.caamedia.org.
IT’S been a while since we last saw Jasmine Curtis-Smith busy with showbiz commitments, a situation which was a hundred percent her choice. The actress went on the down low some two years ago after her contract with TV5 expired. Her reasons? To embrace the importance of rest, her personal life and all around life realignment — aspects of being that most celebrities tend to ignore. Her fans rejoiced when she reemerged in April and signed up with GMA Network. They had after all loyally followed her career since “Anne Curtis’ little sister” was launched way back in 2010 under director Perci Intalan’s now defunct TV5 Entertainment. Since then, Jasmine, who has already won numerous acting awards made a name of her own, and is now ready to go full swing in showbiz again. As one of GMA’s newest treasures, the talented and beautiful Kapuso has impressed both executives, colleagues and of course audiences alike with her acting prowess in the series “Sahaya,” which she did all over again with her latest movie, horror flick “Maledicto,” that’s still showing in cinemas.
“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 Jasmine Curtis-Smith going head-to-head with the Photo from Instagram/@jascurtissmith record-breaking global blockAs she revs up her career buster “Avengers: Endgame.” anew, Jasmine continues to Admitting it hasn’t been an take on a very careful attitude easy feat, Jasmine being the in booking projects. Rather crusader actress that she is, than accept the next offer just has been calling on Philippine like that, she slowly but surely cinema goers to “love our determines if a particular role own” both in social media and is right for her. conversations with media. But when Maledicto came “Worldwide trend sila pero knocking at her door, she said malay mo tayo rin maging it was a no-brainer and said worldwide phenomenon tayo yes right away. if we love our own.”
Sharon: Professed horror...
From Page SF5 “The guy’s a master of cinematic language and the horror genre is unquestionably 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 napaka-emosyonal 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.
SF8
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 10, 2019