MAY 25-28, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 40 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act introduced in Congress NEW legislation has been presented in both the Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 22 to expedite the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act was introduced by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Reps. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and Don Young (R-Alaska) in the House. Currently, estimates show that there are less than 6,000 Filipino World War II veterans still living in the United States who could potentially benefit from the Act. “During World War II, Filipino soldiers stepped up and answered the call to service, fighting and sacrificing alongside American servicemembers,” Hirono said in a statement.“However, because these family members have been stuck in a decades-long visa backlog, they have not been able to reunite with their relatives in the United States. The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act would fulfill our nation’s promise to honor Filipino World War II veterans’ service to our country and reunite these families.” More than 260,000 Filipino soldiers followed America’s call to fight under the American flag in World War II. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush granted U.S. citizenship to about 26,000 Filipino nationals in recognition of their service to the United States during u PAGE A4
Filipino murder suspect deported to PH A FILIPINO murder suspect who lived in the Bay Area has been deported back to the Philippines. Ezra Dave Maling, a Philippine national and fugitive, was accused by Philippine officials of strangling his partner, Rebeny Vergara, to death in March 2003. Shortly after, Maling fled to the United States and obtained a religious visa through the Bay International Church in Hayward, California for which he worked as a musical director. According to the Internet Movie Database, Maling worked on the soundtrack for the 2003 Filipino movie “Ngayong nandito ka.” u PAGE A3
Comelec preps for impending Senate probe by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
FOLLOWING the proclamation of winners, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to face a Senate investigation on the technical glitches reported during the recent midterm polls. Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said on Thursday, May 23, that the commission will have a postelection assessment in preparation for the Senate investigation. However, he maintained that the
polls were credible and successful. “We will just rest for a while and then we will prepare to answer those issues before the Senate. We want to assess where we had problems and what would be our proposals for 2022,” Abas said. Despite the reports of defective secure digital (SD) cards and vote counting machines (VCMs), the Comelec chair remained confident that they can “clear the air” once they were questioned by the legislators. “To us, we cannot just focus on the two percent
that malfunctioned. We will also look at the 98% that were successful. We cannot just place all our resources on the ones malfunctioning. The bottom line for us is there was no cheating,” Abas added. Nearly 2,000 SD cards were reported to be defective, while around 1,000 vote counting machines (VCMs) were also ruled defective. The Comelec system also experienced a seven-hour data blackout during the initial transmission of votes right after the polls closed last May 13. u PAGE A2
Peter Joemel Advincula speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday, May 23. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina
Palace: The truth will come out on ‘Bikoy’ videos by JAIME LAUDE Philstar.com
MALACAÑANG “will just watch” for developments after the Liberal Party (LP) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV — the administration’s staunchest critics — were accused of orchestrating a series of viral videos linking President Rodrigo Duterte’s family to the narcotics trade. Peter Joemel Advincula, who introduced himself as u PAGE A3
NEW SENATORS PROCLAIMED. The National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) proclaims the 12 senators who won in the just concluded midterm elections at the PICC Tent Forum in Pasay City on Wednesday, May 22. In the photo are Senators-elect Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, Ronald “Bato dela Rosa, Bong Go, Cynthia Villar; NBOC Members Marlon S. Casquejo, Rowena V. Guanzon, Al A. Parreño, Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff M. Abas, Luie Tito F. Guia, Socorro B. Inting, and Antonio T. Kho Jr.; Senators-elect Grace Poe, Pia Cayetano, Edgardo Angara, Imee Marcos, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Nancy Binay. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
SWS: More Filipinos say lives improved in first quarter of 2019 by RALPH
VILLANUEVA ManilaTimes.net
THE total number of Filipinos saying their lives improved in the country rose in the first quarter of 2019, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found. The SWS poll found that 38 percent of Filipinos considered themselves as “gainers,” while 21 percent said their lives worsened in the last 12 months. This resulted in a net gainer score of
+17, which the SWS classified as “very high,” even higher than in December when Filipinos’ net gainer score was at +12. The March survey was conducted from March 28 to 31, 2019 among 1,440 Filipinos aged 18 years old and above. It had sampling error margins of ±2.6 percent for national percentages, and ±5 percent each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao. ■
Pacquiao unfazed by Thurman’s PH-US must maintain words ahead of July 20 bout military alliance - US envoy Welterweight world titlist Thurman vows U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim
to “retire” Pacquiao in Las Vegas
by RAE
Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman hold a press conference on Wednesday, May 22 at the Beverly Hills Hotel ahead of their July 20 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. AJPress photo by Noel Ty
ANN VARONA AJPress
AT the packed Crystal Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, legendary Filipino boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and welterweight world titlist Keith “One Time” Thurman set out goals ahead of their upcoming July 20 fight set to happen at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In front of reporters on Wednesday, May 22, Thurman vowed to be the fighter to send Pacquiao into retirement, while
the Filipino senator made it clear that his boxing career was nowhere close to being finished. Bill Wanger, FOX Sports Executive Vice President of Programming, Research, and Content Strategy, appropriately described the upcoming fight as being between “a living legend” and a “legend in the making.” At 40 years old, Pacquiao (617-2, 39 KOs) remains boxing’s only eight-division world champion, and has amassed an impressive career by fighting and defeating some seven current or u PAGE A3
by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
UNITED STATES Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Thursday, May 23, said maintaining the good relationship between U.S. and Philippine forces is essential for the stability of the region. Though the United States is not directly involved in the claims, Kim told reporters that the country has a “very serious interest” in the area. “[W]e take a very serious interest in what’s happening in the South China Sea, and that’s why we work very hard to protect freedom of naviga-
Philstar.com photo
tion, freedom of overflight,” Kim told reporters. In a forum at Quezon City, the U.S. envoy highlighted the advantage of having comprehensive freedom of navigation program (FONOP). The program permits the U.S. to fly, sail and operate “wherever international law allows.” “These are principles and values that are important for all of us, not just for the Pacific region, but for the international community, that’s why we’re carrying out a freedom of navigation operations,” Kim explained. He added that the U.S.’ duty u PAGE A2
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From the Front Page
PH-US must maintain military alliance... PAGE A1 t under the Mutual Defense Treaty would be applicable to the South China Sea since it is in the Pacific. Kim also noted that the concerns of the U.S. stemmed from China’s aggressive and unilateral actions in the South China Sea. The U.S. warned the developing country that
those actions could possibly have a “very direct effect” on the sovereignty and interest of the Philippines. The industrialized country has long urged other claimants in the region namely China, Taiwan, and ASEAN memberstates Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam to refrain from exhibiting actions that
would compromise international laws. The U.S. has pledged to continue its support to the country’s defense and military department. Kim expressed his interest in a dialogue between the military leaders of the Philippines. “This is a very close alliance relationship so there’s constant communications between the two sides. Just last year, we had over 250 joint military activities so there are many, many occasions, opportunities for us to discuss various aspects of the alliance and I look forward to continuing that through dialogue with the Defense secretary and leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said. Kim said the coast guards of the Philippines and the U.S. are also expected to carry out more activities together following joint search-and-rescue exercises on May 14 as they deploy a California-based 418-foot national security cutter named Bertholf for a mock rescue scenario. “We had a terrific visit by the U.S. coast guard last week and they conducted very productive exercises with the Philippine coast guard, and I do expect that cooperation will continue. I’m talking to both our coast guard and the Philippine coast guard, and there’s a tremendous satisfaction to the quality, caliber of cooperation last week, and there’s a strong interest in doing more in the future,” Kim added as reported by ABS-CBN News. Kim also shared his country’s concerns about the Shenzhen-based telecommunication equipment Huawei as it was placed in a trade blacklist after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a national emergency to ban its sales and use due to risks to national security. “We believe it is important as a friend, as a partner and as an ally to share our concerns with the Philippines and other partners in the region and beyond. These are very serious concerns. Frankly, it’s not just concern of the United States. I think many countries share those concerns,” Kim said. n
FLAG DAY. Workers show off a huge Philippine flag on Thursday, May 23, ahead of Flag Day on Tuesday, May 28. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
Comelec for impending Senate...
PAGE A1 t
Sen. Koko Pimentel earlier announced that the joint congressional oversight committee on the automated elections system would conduct a hearing on the technical glitches that occurred during the midterm elections. Comelec has admitted that the number of VCMs that bogged down tripled in this year’s vote compared to the 2016 polls. Abas said the glitches should not be taken as proof of irregularities in the elections. NAMFREL to Comelec: Reveal central server for transparency The existence of a ‘meet-meroom’ was explained in an ANC interview with National Citizens Movement for Free Elections’ (NAMFREL) Gus Lagman. According to Lagman, the votes were transmitted to the said room before being transferred to different servers. “There’s this ‘meet-me-room,’ the VCMs or the vote-counting machines transmit to the meetme-room, the meet-me room then transmits to the different servers, to the Comelec server, the media server, the transparency server. So they’re doing it differently from what the law says,” Lagman said.
Teachers celebrate on Monday, May 21 after handing over ballot boxes containing election returns from Compostela Valley and Davao City to the Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers at the PICC in Pasay City, exactly a week after the midterm elections. Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande
“It’s not in the law. The law says you have to transmit directly to the Comelec server, the citizens’ arm, and media. That’s what the law says,” he added as reported by ABS-CBN News. The poll commission denied the existence of a separate server, stating that there was only a router to make sure data coming from the vote-counting machines (VCM) will flow smoothly into the transparency server.
Lagman then challenged the Comelec to reveal the central server to prove to the public that the 2019 midterm elections were credible and transparent. “They think of security by keeping it obscure from the public. But there’s also the opposite of that. It becomes secure when everybody knows what it is is. Because everybody knows how it’s supposed to be done, then you can’t change it,” he added. n
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 25-28, 2019
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US Coast Guard airlifts Filipino captain stricken in San Francisco Bay SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard medevaced the 54-yearold captain who clutched his chest and collapsed on the bridge of his ship as it was entering the San Francisco Bay on Monday evening, May 20.
A harbor pilot aboard the 738foot vessel Vittoria reported that the captain, a Philippine national, collapsed as the ship was headed to its anchorage south of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Island. A Coast Guard crew came with
a Dolphin helicopter and airlifted the stricken captain from the ship and flew him to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California. His identity and condition are were not immediately available. (Inquirer.net)
Pacquiao unfazed by Thurman’s words...
PAGE A1 t Pacquiao’s junior and has been future Hall of Famers like Oscar described as one of the most De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Bar- dangerous boxers in the welterrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, weight division. He’s also curTHANKSGIVING PARTY. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte strikes his signature pose with Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and their Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley, and rently the longest reigning welsupporters during a thanksgiving party at the Arcadia Event Center in Davao City on Thursday, May 23. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr. Juan Manuel Marquez. terweight world champion and is Also a senator in the Philip- hungry to become the top boxer pines, Pacquiao has been named at 147 pounds. a three-time Fighter of the Year Of Thurman’s 30 professional WASHINGTON, D.C. – The ally turned over sixty (60) SD therefore apprised of develop- and is the Boxing Writers As- fights, the only non-recorded win Philippine Embassy on May 21 is- cards and election returns for ments in the canvassing of votes sociation of America’s reigning comes from a No Contest with Fighter of the Decade. Mexico’s Francisco Garcia back the sixty (60) clustered precincts in the U.S. sued the following statement: Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs), in 2009, which resulted from an We wish to clarify that contrary under the Consulate’s jurisdicThe reports of the canvass, into reports, the delay in the can- tion, to the SBOC in Washington, cluding the Certificate of Canvass, on the other hand, is 10 years accidental head clash. vassing of votes from the United D.C. were transmitted to the COMEIn the case of LA PCG, the first LEC on May 21 at 10:45AM EDT. States of America was mainly caused by the malfunction of four SD card (Precinct 129) malfuncOut of the 228,470 registered tioned on May 6 and LA PCG voters in the jurisdictions of the (4) SD cards. Below are the facts regarding contacted OFOV-COMELEC on Embassy and the Consulates in the the canvassing of votes from the the same day. The replacement US (except Guam), 39,511 actually SD card arrived on May 13. Apart voted, marking 17.29% voter turnUnited States of America: The Special Board of Canvass- from being labeled for another out for the 2019 midterm election. ers (SBOC) at the Philippine Em- precinct, this replacement SD card This exceeded voter turnout in the bassy in Washington, D. C. is also did not work so LA PCG had midterm election in 2013, which mandated to consolidate and can- to request and wait for another re- stood at 10.55%. vass the votes from the US, except placement SD card, which arrived The SBOC Chairman, Consul on May 20. Guam. General Renato Pedro Villa, is Another of LA PCG’s SD cards scheduled to depart Washington SBOC can only transmit the results of the canvass after (Precinct 122) malfunctioned on DC for Manila today, May 21, to 248 SD cards representing 248 May 13. The replacement arrived personally deliver the Certificate clustered precincts have been on May 17. of Canvass and SD cards to the After “close voting” protocols National Board of Canvassers. (In- Pacquiao makes an entrance during the media day to announce his fight against undefeated scanned by the Consolidation/ were completed and election quirer.net) Canvassing System (CCS). Keith Thurman. AJPress photos by Noel Ty In the course of ballot feeding, returns were generated for LA two (2) SD cards for precincts PCG’s fifty-four (54) clustered under the jurisdiction of the Phil- precincts in the evening of May ippine Consulate General in Los 20, Vice Consul and SBEI Chair Angeles (LA PCG), and two (2) SD Rainier Casis took the last flight cards for precincts under the juris- out of Los Angeles to personally diction of the Philippine Consulate deliver the SD cards and election General in San Francisco (San returns to SBOC in Washington, D.C. SBOC received the SD Francisco PCG) malfunctioned. It should be noted that the cards and election returns from Consulates immediately re- Consul Casis at 7:15AM EDT on ported (same day) the SD card May 21. From the time the SBOC malfunctions to OFOV-COMELEC and reIn the case of San convened on May 13, 6:00AM Francisco PCG, the first SD card EDT, the SBOC’s Consolidation malfunctioned on May 10. The and Canvassing System operasecond SD card malfunctioned tor, Mr. Joey Macatula, has been on May 13. San Francisco PCG in constant coordination with received the replacement SD COMELEC, specifically Technicards on May 15 and 17, respec- cal Director Rouie Panalba and tively. On May 19, San Francisco Ms Jessa Janelle Padilla who also PCG Consul and SBEI Chairman handles technical issues for U.S. Dominic Xavier Imperial person- and Canada. The COMELEC was
PH Embassy explains delay in canvassing of votes from US
Palace: The truth will come...
PAGE A1 t “Bikoy,” surrendered to the Northern Police District on Wednesday, May 22. On Thursday, May 23, he recanted his previous allegations wherein drug money was being funneled into the bank accounts of Duterte’s son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, his sonin-law Atty. Manases Carpio, and former aide and now Senator-elect Christopher Go. Advincula also claimed he was merely following a “script” made by Trillanes and the LP. Both Trillanes and the LP denied the allegations. “It is easy to say that it is the LP. The LP has denied that it knows Advincula. Advincula should provide the evidence to prove his allegation,” LP President for External Affairs Erin Tañada said. In response, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said: “People will always deny. We’d have to wait for Advincula to substantiate his charges. After that, let’s see. If there are charges to be filed in court, then the truth will come out.” “I don’t know what they will do with themselves. It’s their hide, they’re being accused by this person of conspiracy against the administration. It’s between them and Bikoy. We will just watch and look for whatever development,” he added. ‘Clean my name’ In his statement, Advincula said he was playing a role in the viral videos as part of LP’s alleged bid to oust Duterte and put Vice President Leni Robredo in power. “Everything that happened in the Ang Totoong Narco-list, from video episodes 1 to 5, these were all scripted, they were all lies,” he said. “There is no truth to all that and it was orchestrated by the opposing party,” he added. Advincula further claimed that
he met Trillanes through a priest, and that he was promised money, a government post, and absolute pardon in exchange for appearing in the viral videos. However, Trillanes allegedly ceased contact with him after the May 13 elections where the opposition candidates failed to secure Senate seats. “I can’t stand by my scripted stories. Now that their candidates have lost, I feel that they are slowly letting me take the fall and I fear that they will eliminate me eventually because I am already useless,” Advincula revealed. He also said he surrendered to “clean my name, and start a new life.” ‘A proper investigation is in order’ Following Advincula’s latest revelations, Davao City Congressman-elect Paolo Duterte called for an investigation to probe further into the issue. “And now that many names have also surfaced, to include Senator Risa Hontiveros and several lawyers, I believe a proper investigation is in order,” he said. The presidential son also said he knew from the beginning that “the Bikoy videos were fabricated with a narrative taken straight from the playbook of people whose desire is to destroy our name and our reputation” as well as “to crush the trust of the Filipino people in the government and the Duterte administration.” “It was obviously designed to inspire public disgust against the government,” Paolo added. Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, in a separate statement, said: “Bikoy is a scam created by people who oppose the Duterte administration.” “This group is so disorganized they cannot even get to first base because the path to their objective is in disarray,” she added. n
Filipino murder...
Ezra Dave Maling, a fugitive Philippine national, was deported Tuesday due to violations of Philippine law pertaining to murder. He is accused of strangling to death his female ‘live in’ partner with a leather belt in March of 2003. Photo from ice.gov
PAGE A1 t Maling was arrested in 2015 after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was notified of an arrest warrant for Maling (The DHS had received the warrant in 2011). He was arrested for violations of federal law relating to immigration fraud and was later ordered for deportations by an immigration judge. After his deportation on May 14, Maling is currently in the custody of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine National Police. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
Boxer-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao
Coming out to the fitting song “We Ready” by Archie Eversole, Thurman had a lot of strong things to say about the upcoming fight. Acknowledging Pacquiao’s impressive boxing career, Thurman did not hold back in reiterating his ambitious plans of sending Pacquiao into retirement on July 20. “Like I’ve been saying all week long, I’m destroying the legend of Manny Pacquiao. His legacy PAGE A4
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Amazon asks court to press Filipino to pay $26-K for ‘click farming’ SEATTLE — Amazon Digital Services asked the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington to confirm an arbitration award against Nilmer Rubio, a Filipino man who the company alleges abused the Kindle platform to increase reviews and royalties on a number of ebooks. In 2017, Amazon filed claims against Rubio accusing him of trying to “manipulate and abuse the Kindle Direct Publishing service for financial gain and to the detriment of KDP authors,” violating the Kindle Store and Ama-
zon terms of use, Amazon’s petition to the court states. Rubio allegedly proposed to authors that he could artificially inflate their page reads in return for a share of their additional profits — as a kickback,” according to Legal Newsline. The official arbitrator chosen by the American Arbitration Association asked a nearly $27,000 award from Rubio in in May 2018. Amazon complained that “despite repeated adequate notice,” throughout the arbitration proceedings, Rubio and any of his counsel failed to appear for
the deliberations. Under the Federal Arbitration Act, Amazon would be entitled to the award because of Rubio’s reluctance to challenge it. Amazon also requested the court to enter judgment in its favor against Rubio regarding the original lawsuit. The lawsuit is one of many Amazon has filed against users of the Kindle service who allegedly posted fake reviews and used “click farming” to artificially boost publisher ratings and general profits, according to Legal Newsline. (Inquirer.net)
US ban on Huawei to have little impact on PH telcos – DICT THE U.S. government’s moves against Chinese telecom giant Huawei would have little effect on the Philippine telecommunications industry, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier issued an executive order prohibiting American firms from engaging with foreign companies believed to threaten their national security. The DICT noted that though
Trump’s order did not specify blacklisted companies or persons, Huawei was affected. “With the executive order, U.S. companies are prevented from supplying Huawei with software and hardware components,” the DICT said in a statement. While it may affect the supply chain of Huawei, Trump’s order would have little impact on the Philippines. “The local telcos have made pronouncements that they will
diversify in their present and future procurements of equipment to make their networks more robust and future proof,” the statement read. According to the DICT, local telcos have not reported any incident of a national security breach from their Huawei equipment. The agency said it will continue to require local telcos to monitor their networks using world-class cybersecurity audit teams.
u PAGE A5
Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act introduced... PAGE A1 t World War II. However, the 1990 law did not confer citizenship or residency to the veterans’ children, who remained separated from their par-
ents. Due to a visa backlog, Filipino applicants must wait more than two decades before their applications are considered. Actions taken to address the family separation in recent years
have included the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program in 2016, which intended to reunite veterans and their surviving spouses with adult children and certain other relatives. In addition to Senators Hirono, Murkowski, and Jacky Rosen (DNev.), the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). “The time to reunite our brave Filipino American World War II veterans with their families is running out,” Brendan Flores, National Chairman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, said. “We commend Senator Hirono for her unwavering commitment to these veterans, as she reintroduces the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act in Congress. We remain prepared to support any efforts to ensure that this time-sensitive legislation comes to fruition.” (AJPress)
40-year-old Pacquiao tells the media that his age won’t hinder his triumph against Thurman.
Pacquiao unfazed by Thurman’s words... PAGE A3 t ends on July 20th, and my legacy begins,” said Thurman. Thurman’s most recent win came earlier this year by majority decision over Josesito López, despite having come from a 22month hiatus resulting from a couple hand and elbow injuries. “Manny is just a world class fighter. He’s a gentleman in the ring and out of the ring, and I look forward to trading punches with the man, the living legend, the senator, and any other title that’s been given to him,” Thurman said rather respectfully. “But one thing for sure is that he’s not walking away with my title,” he added. Not overlooking Pacquiao’s proven capability of staying at the top of the boxing scene, Thurman said that he’s unlike any fighter Pacquiao has ever gone up against. “This is a big fight as far as the stage goes, but it’s a big fight against a little guy. He’s a veteran and I’ve dismantled veterans in the past. I believe I would have destroyed Manny Pacquiao five years ago. I’ve always been ready for this fight. He’s never fought someone like me with this kind of lateral movement, speed and power,” said Thurman. Pacquiao — who entered the room to an also fitting song, “Legendary” by Welshly Arms — seemed calm, collected, and unfazed by Thurman’s words. In response to Thurman’s promise of sending him into retirement, Pacquiao said he’s become used to his opponents saying a lot of “useless words”
Team Pacquiao is back together to prep for the July 20 fight.
before fights. “But when we get to the ring, it changes,” said Pacquiao, adding also that size has never been an issue when it came to defeating his opponents. “He said he’s young, but we’ll see who looks young in the ring on July 20. I’m going to let my fists say everything for me,” added Pacquiao. Pacquiao has consistently proven that when it comes to his professional boxing career, age has been nothing but a number. Boxing fans saw that during Pacquiao’s last fight in January 19 when he retained his WBA “Regular” Welterweight title via a unanimous decision victory against the 29-year old former four-division titlist Adrien Broner at the same venue. He told the Asian Journal before his Broner fight that training has, for the most part, remained the same. To reporters, he assured that the “fire in his eyes” was still there.
AJPress photos by Noel Ty
“At age 40, I feel like I’m 29,” said Pacquiao on Wednesday. “Do you think I’m 40 years old and not enjoying it?” But despite Pacquiao’s victory over Broner, boxing fans were left unsatisfied and disappointed from the fight’s lack of excitement. Pacquiao said on Wednesday that he picked Thurman because he expected him to be more of an exciting and challenging fighter than Broner — the perfect opponent to help him show that he still has what it takes. Claiming experience to be on his side, Pacquiao added, “I want [Thurman] to experience losing for the first time.” “I hope that come July 20, he will stand by what he’s saying and fight toe-to-toe with me,” said Pacquiao. The Pacquiao-Thurman fight will take place on Saturday, July 20 (Fox PPV, 9 p.m. ET) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. n
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2-meter sea level rise ‘plausible’ by 2100 – study
PROTEST. Environmental activists stage a rally urging Canada to take back garbage in the Philippines and to ratify the Basel Ban amendment. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
Philippines no dumping ground, Greenpeace stresses as new trash shipment blocked THE reported dumping of garbage from Australia is “unacceptable and deplorable,” Greenpeace Philippines said as it stressed the country is not a dumping ground for foreign trash. GMA News reported that seven container vans of shredded municipal waste were intercepted in Tagaloan, Misamis Oriental. The shipment’s broker was the same company that handled the importation of 51 misdeclared and garbage-filled containers from South Korea. Abigail Aguilar, Greenpeace Philippines campaigner, said foreign waste has no place in the country. “Why do we need to repeatedly remind the world that WE ARE NOT A GARBAGE DUMP? Illegal waste dumping to developing countries should be stopped at all costs. We refuse to be treated as rich countries’
trash dumps,” Aguilar said, noting the country is still reeling from the Canadian waste issue. Palace: Government offended by dumping In a press briefing Thursday, Malacañang said the government is “offended” by the reported dumping of garbage from Australia. “It will be offensive to this government to be a recipient of trash. We are offended by that. We will not allow it. We’ll send them back,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said. Panelo, in the same press briefing, rejected Canada’s latest move of hiring a private company to repatriate the 69 containers of waste illegally dumped to the country years ago. He said President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow the process to extend until next month. Waste as alternative fuel
The same GMA News report noted the consignee of the shipments from Australia—declared as processed engineered fuel— is Holcim Philippines. The company reportedly said the PEF made from processed trash is an alternative fuel for its cement production. Aguilar, however, said that Holcim’s statement “should be further scrutinized.” “The use of waste-to-energy is illegal in the Philippines under the Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act,” she said. The Greenpeace campaigner said: “Waste-to-energy technologies harm our people and our environment and further contribute to the destruction of our climate. These types of technology have no place in a country that struggles from the effects of the climate crisis.” (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)
US ban on Huawei to have little impact on... PAGE A4 t
Local telcos, including the incoming third telco, were also directed to assure the government that their respective networks “will not be compromised or they may suffer losing their license to operate.” Earlier this week, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte
will wait for any recommendation from the Department of National Defense and the National Security adviser on the Huawei ban. The Chinese government, on the other hand, decried Washington’s “economic bullying” against Huawei. “Some people in the United States do not want China to enjoy the legitimate right to develop,
and seek to impede its development process,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement. “This extremely presumptuous and egocentric American approach is not able to gain the approval and support of the international community,” Wang added. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/ Philstar.com)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Global sea levels could rise by two meters (6.5 feet) and displace tens of millions of people by the end of the century, according to new projections that double the UN’s benchmark estimates. The vast ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica contain enough frozen water to lift the world’s oceans dozens of meters. The expansion of water as oceans warm also contributes to sea level rise. But predicting the rates at which they will melt as the planet heats is notoriously tricky. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said its 2013 Fifth Assessment Report that under current emissions trajectories — a “business-as-usual” scenario known as RCP8.5 — would likely rise by up to one metre by 2100. That prediction has since been viewed as conservative, as the levels of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise year on year, and satellites showing accelerated rates of melt-off from massive ice sheets atop Antarctica and Greenland. A group of the world’s leading ice scientists this week released a expert judgement on the situation, drawing on their own experience and observations. While there was still a significant margin of error, they found it “plausible” that under the business-as-usual emissions scenario, sea-level rises could exceed two meters by 2100. The authors said the area of land lost to the ocean could be equivalent to that of France, Germany, Spain and Britain combined and would displace more than 180 million people. “A sea-level rise of this magnitude would clearly have profound consequences for humanity,” they said. The Paris climate deal, struck between nations in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit), and encourages countries to work towards a 1.5C cap. In October the IPCC released a landmark climate report that called for a drastic and immediate drawdown in coal, oil and gas consumption in order to arrest the rapid rise in the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Earth has already heated 1C since pre-industrial times, contributing roughly 3mm to sea levels each year. The authors of the new study,
released in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, argue that the IPCC’s sea-level rise prediction was too constrained by focusing on what was “likely” to happen. At wider probabilities — 5-95 percent likelihood — they found that under 2C of warming seas could rise 36-126 cm by 2100. In world that has warmed by 5C — unlikely but certainly not impossible given projected fossil fuel demand in the coming decades — they calculated a five percent risk of sea levels surpassing two
meters higher, topping out at 238 cm. Willy Aspinall, from the University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences, said he hoped the study could provide policymakers with a more accurate worst-case scenario “crucial for robust decision making.” “Limiting attention to the ‘likely’ range, as was the case in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, may be misleading and will likely lead to a poor evaluation of the true risks,” he added. (ManilaTimes.net with reports from AFP)
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D ateline PhiliPPines Duterte tells military: No coup d’etat, tell me if you want me out by nestoR
coRRales Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Rodrigo told the military to tell him directly if they want to oust him rather than stage a coup d’ etat. Duterte said the military could oust him if they want Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo to replace him. “Takot ako na i-coup d’etat ako ng police pati military? (Am I afraid of a coup d’etat?) If you want me out, tell me,” Duterte said in a speech during the thanksgiving party of incoming Senator Christopher “Bong” Go in Davao City on Thursday night, May 23. he said he would rather go home than see the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the military fight each other. “hindi tama ‘yang ginawa na every president. Kung ayaw ninyo, magbaba ako. Bakit kayo magbarilan? hindi ako papayag na ‘yung
Vice President Leni Robredo and President Rodrigo Duterte
PSG magbarilan, kalokohan (It’s not right that you do that to every president. If you don’t want me, I’ll step down. Why are you going to shoot each other? I am not going to tolerate that),” he said. “Ayaw ninyo ako? Okay. Uwi na ako. Sige… ‘Yung babae na ang presidente niyo. Kung mahusay siya eh di wala akong ano — wala akong ano… Tatakutin
Philstar.com photo
ako ng coup d’etat. Ah kalokohan ‘yan (You don’t want me? I’ll go home. The woman will be your president. If she’s good, then I don’t have any…But for you to threaten me with a coup d’etat? That’s nonsense),” he added. The 74-year-old president was apparently referring to Robredo. n
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PH Navy’s first missile warship launched in Sokor by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
The Philippine Navy’s first missile warship BRP Jose Rizal on Thursday, May 23 was launched in South Korea at a ceremony spearheaded by the top defense and military officials from both countries. Officials of hyundai heavy Industries (hhI), who built the Navy’s semi-stealth frigate, attended the launching as well. “This project is very close to my heart because I believe that [the] Philippines should have a strong navy as well as robust maritime industry because we are an archipelagic country. This should be the cornerstone of our territorial defense,” Undersecretary for finance and material Raymundo elefante said on behalf of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The acquisition of BRP Jose
Rizal is a shining symbol of the Filipinos being a seafaring people, Lorenzana said, as well as boosting the country’s ability to defend its maritime domain and territorial seas. The Jose Rizal is at par with the most modern warships across the world with its anti-air, anti-submarine and surface-tosurface weapons and surveillance capabilities. For primary weapon, it is armed with OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid Gun; Aselan SMACh 30mm remotecontrolled naval gun for secondary weapons. The ship, with its maximum speed of 25 knots, can travel for 4,500 miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots and sustain operational presence for 30 days. Other capabilities include withstanding rough sea conditions up to 10-meter waves, firing and hitting enemy targets as
far away as 250 kilometers, and firing 180 rounds a minute that can stall and hit incoming missiles with its Oto Melara primary automatic weapon. BRP Jose Rizal is bringing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) closer to attaining a more credible defense posture, according to Top Navy officials led by Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Robert empedrad. The ship is now the centerpiece of the defense department’s efforts in rebuilding the country’s territorial and external defense capabilities. “For the first time in our nation’s history, this acquisition project gives us the chance to own our modern state-of-theart military hardware to raise our defense capabilities and the capacity to the level required to protect our territory,” Lorenzana said. n
Philippines losing patience on Canada garbage by evelyn
MacaiRan, chRistina Mendez Philstar.com
MANILA — Malacañang maintained on Thursday, May 23, it has lost patience with Canada and rejected anew Ottawa’s assurance that it would get back the tons of garbage dumped in the country several years ago. And while the issue on trash from Canada remains unresolved, garbage from South Korea and hong Kong also came into the country and would have to be shipped out. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo dismissed the announcement of Canadian Minister of environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna that Ottawa awarded a contract to Bolloré Logistics Canada to safely bring the waste back to Canada as soon as possible. “hindi ba ang sabi nila (Didn’t they say) it will take about end of June pa,” Panelo noted. “The President will not agree to that. And I understand from Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez… that the trash will be sent back the soonest.” he said Manila would push through with its plan to tap a private contractor to do the job. On Wednesday, May 22, Panelo had warned that the government might just dump the trash on Canadian shores. According to McKenna, preparation for the shipping of the garbage will begin in the coming days and “the removal will be complete by the end of June, as the waste must be safely treated to meet Canadian safety and health requirements.” McKenna said the costs associated with the preparation, transfer, shipment and disposal of the waste will be assumed by the Canadian government. “Canada values its deep and longstanding relationship with the Philippines and continues to work with that country to ensure a swift resolution to this important issue of promptly repatriating waste exported to the Philippines by a Canadian company,” the statement said. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said the two countries have a deep and valued relationship underpinned by the hundreds of thousands of Canadians of Filipino descent. She said the Filipino-Canadian community has made huge contributions to Canada. In 2016, Canada amended its regulations to prevent future exports of such material without a
permit. Canada is also looking at ways to hold the responsible parties to account. Panelo said he does not see Filipinos in Canada getting affected by the spat over garbage, while Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez expressed hopes that the political issues will not destroy the two countries’ trade relations. Trash from South Korea, Hong Kong Meanwhile, the Department of Finance (DOF) said yesterday South Korea committed to take back 5,176.9 metric tons of waste materials illegally imported into the country by the Cebubased Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp. last year. In a report to the DOF, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the South Korean government is willing to retrieve the waste should the importer fail to follow the order of re-exportation issued by the Port of Cagayan de Oro. Guerrero said an initial batch of the waste materials consisting of plastic flakes was shipped back to South Korea in January, while 5,176.9 MT are still stored at the Verde Soko compound within the PhIVIDeC Industrial Authority premises in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Bureau of Customs-Mindanao International Container Terminal collector John Simon also said yesterday that one container van of e-waste arrived from hong Kong at their port last February. Simon said the container was intended to be a “test case,” meaning “if one container successfully entered the port, there would be 70 other containers that would be delivered to the country.” he said that the e-waste, such as computer and gadget parts that are grinded, is the worst kind of garbage because it is “hazardous to the people’s health.” “When they learned that we stopped their one container, they aborted their plan to bring in 70 other container vans into the port,” Simon said. Do it soonest Panelo said the Philippines wants the garbage from Canada removed from Philippine shores soonest and “definitely not the end of June.” “Ayaw natin ‘yun. Ang tagal tagal na masyado (It’s too long),” Panelo said, noting Duterte is upset and disappointed. On Wednesday, Panelo said the President is not thinking twice on the plan to dump the waste on Canada’s shores.
“If Canada will not accept their trash, we will leave the same within its territorial waters or 12 nautical miles out to sea from the baseline of any of their country’s shores,” Panelo said. Asked on the possibility that Canada might use the Basel Convention against the Philippines, Panelo said Manila is not a signatory to the agreement aimed at controlling transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. But reports said the Philippines became signatory to Basel Convention on March 22, 1989. It was ratified by Manila on Oct. 21, 1993 and came into force on Jan. 19 of the following year. In a hastily called a press briefing at Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon, Panelo said the expenses for the return of 69 of the 103 container vans of garbage from Canada will be shouldered by the Philippines. “We do not mind,” he said. China’s clearance As this developed, the Department of environment and Natural Resources (DeNR) said there is a need first to secure clearance from China before shipment of garbage from the Philippines to Canada can be made. DeNR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said securing clearance from China is one of the reasons why there is a delay in the shipment of trash that originated from Canada. “We need to go through this process. We just can’t skip it because it is necessary. The tons of garbage can’t be shipped directly to Canada. There will be a stopover in China,” Antiporda said in an interview. he explained that securing clearance from China is part of the agreement under the Basel Convention that if such type of garbage will be shipped, there is a need to get clearance from the country where it will pass through. Apart from securing international clearance, Antiporda also cited the need to fumigate the garbage to ensure that there will be no health risks to the crew of the ship and to those who will handle the trash. Amid Duterte’s frustration over Canada’s delay in taking back its trash, Customs spokesman erastus Sandino Austria yesterday said that they have completed all the necessary preparations for the return of the tons of garbage. (With reports from Pia Lee-Brago, Rhodina Villanueva and Mary Grace Padin/Philstar.com)
Senators to push sin tax bill OK a text message. he said sponsorship will start on Monday, May 27. earlier, Senate President ViAFTeR saying that no tax bill cente Sotto III told reporters that would be passed before Conthe measure seeking to raise the gress closes on June 7, senators excise tax on tobacco products on Thursday, May 23, agreed to may have a rough time in the push the passage of the sin tax Senate. bill before the end of the 17th Several measures have been Congress. filed in Congress seeking to raise Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said sin taxes, especially tobacco tax. the senators had a change of Senate Bill 1599, introduced by heart after meeting with Finance Sen. emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, proposes to increase the unitary cigarette tax to P60. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1605, written by Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” ejercito, sets the excise tax to P90. Both measures remain pending at the committee level. The Senate ways and means committee, chaired by Sen. Juan edgardo Angara, conducted hearings on the bills raising sin taxes to determine whether the revenue generated could fund the proposed universal health care program. “Sin taxes have been crucial in funding health programs of the Cigarettes are sold at a sidewalk eatery in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday, May 23. government,” Angara said in a ManilaTimes.net photo by Enrique Agcaoili statement. n by JavieR isMael ManilaTimes.net
Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd who reiterated the need for additional funding for the Universal health Care (UhC) program. “We discussed only sin taxes particularly tobacco tax. The Secretary reiterated the need for additional funding for our new Universal health care measure as we have a large budget deficit for that program. We the senators all agreed to do our best to pass this before the break,” said Zubiri in
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A
DOST chief remains highest paid Cabinet secretary Robredo denies Liberal Party links to Bikoy, ouster plot by Janvic
MatEo Philstar.com
by ElizabEth
MarcElo Philstar.com
MANILA — Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña has retained his spot as the highest paid member of President Duterte’s Cabinet, a report by the Commission on Audit (COA) showed. Based on the COA’s “Report on Salaries and Allowances” or ROSA of government officials for 2018, Dela Peña received P4.138 million, consisting of P2.378 million as basic salary, P24,000 as additional compensation and honorarium, P888,768 in allowances, P496,463 in bonuses, P336,000 as discretionary funds and for miscellaneous expenses, and an additional P14,432 from “prior years’ adjustment.” Dela Peña also topped the ROSA list for 2017 with total pay of P3.292 million. The 2018 ROSA list includes 8,625 officials from 989 national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges (SUCs) and water districts. Excluded from the report were elected government officials such as the president, senators and congressmen. Closely behind Dela Peña was Education Secretary Leonor Briones with total pay of P3.95 million from P2.68 million in 2017 when she placed 20th on the list. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III landed in third spot with P3.715 million from P1.757 million in 2017. Duque replaced former health secretary Paulyn Ubial in November 2017. In fourth spot was Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III with a total pay of P3.706 million from P2.730 million in 2017 when he was in 17th place. Meanwhile, despite a slight increase in his pay as energy secretary, Alfonso Cusi slid to fifth place with P3.529 million from second in 2017 when he took home a total of P3.209 million. The COA report, however, showed that Cusi also received additional compensation from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) amounting to P312,800 as its board chairman and from the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) amounting to P353,000 as board vice-chairman. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade was sixth highest paid Cabinet member for 2018
Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña
with P3.527 million, while Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III got P3,492,189.18 and P3,492,144.97, respectively. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol landed in ninth spot with P3.491 million, followed by chief presidential legal counsel and spokesman Salvador Panelo with P3.489 million. Duterte’s other Cabinet members and the salaries and allowances they received in 2018 are: 11. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez – P3.468 million 12. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno – P3.442 million 13. Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones – P3.434 million 14. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana – P3.412 million 15. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar – P3.371 million 16. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia – P3.35 million 17. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu – P3.329 million 18. National Security Council (NSC) director general Hermogenes Esperon Jr. – P3.321 million 19. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar – P3.292 million 20. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Danilo Lim – P3.140 million 21. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza – P3.081 million 22. Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. – P2.928 million 23. National Anti-Poverty Commission secretary Liza Maza – P2,890 million (January to November 2018); Noel Felongco – P437,737.10 (December 2018)
Philstar.com photo
24 Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra – P2.866 million (April to December 2018); Vitaliano Aguirre – P995,066.89 (January to March 2018) 25. Political Adviser (former) Francis Tolentino – P2.764 million 26. Former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. – P2.723 million 27. Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. – P2.706 million (January to October 2018) 26. Former foreign affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano – P2.702,099.33 (January to September 2018); Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. – P812,049.16 (October to December 2018) 27. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año – P2.65 million 28. Former presidential assistant Christopher Go – P2.632 million 29. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat – P2.115 million (May to December 2018); former secretary Wanda TulfoTeo – P1.192 million (January to April, 2018) 30. Higher education secretary (former) Julian Prospero de Vera III – P923,942.89 (October to December 2018) 31. Technical Education Secretary Isidro Lapeña – P501,293.04 (November to December 2018) ; Guiling Mamondiong – P2,786,972.00 (January to October 2018) 32. (Former) Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairman Noel Felongco – P1.792 million (January to October 2018) ; Alvin Feliciano - P232,217.36 (November to December 2018) 33. Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista – P368,055.74 (November to December 2018) n
MANILA — The Liberal Party has nothing to do with the socalled “Bikoy” videos that tagged President Duterte, his close relatives and allies as leaders of a drug syndicate, party chairperson Vice President Leni Robredo said. “I can speak for the party: wala kaming kinalaman dito sa (we have nothing to do with the) Bikoy issue,” Robredo said at a press conference to belie the claim of Peter Joemel Advincula — supposedly the man behind the videos — that the opposition concocted a plan to oust the President prior to the midterm elections. She said she is ready to face her accuser in any forum or investigation to clear her name and that of her partymates. She recalled asking party president Sen. Francis Pangilinan about the matter and the latter vehemently denied knowing Advincula – much less meeting with him to plot Duterte’s ouster. “Kaya tingin ko unfair na isali ulit iyong LP dito (That’s why I think it’s unfair to again link LP here),” she added. The Vice President maintained she would never take part in any plot to oust Duterte. “I will never be part of any destabilization,” she emphasized. “I’ve always said my entry in politics was accidental. I’ve been saying the presidency is destiny – not planned or plotted,” she added in Filipino. Plotting the ouster of an administration, she added, is a “waste of time” and a “subversion of the will of the people.” She called Advincula a liar for claiming she had personally met with him to plot Duterte’s ouster. “I’m sure he’s not credible, especially when he said we met at the Ateneo. I’ve never met him in my life,” Robredo said. She said she knew nothing of any meeting or event at the Ateneo where she met Advincula. “Now if he keeps on claiming we had met, then he’s a liar.” Robredo also clarified that Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, whom Advincula claimed to be the mastermind behind the videos, is not a member of LP but of the Magdalo party. “Magdalo is part of our coalition because of congressman Gary Alejano. I met Senator Trillanes a few times during the campaign for campaign-related meetings,” she said.
Alejano was among the senatorial candidates of the opposition Otso Diretso, which failed to win a seat in the recent midterm polls. “In all of our meetings, there was no mention of destabilization, no mention of Bikoy. We only talked about the campaign,” Robredo added. Pangilinan, in a statement, said the administration always links the LP to ouster plots to cover up the administration’s failure as well as the corruption involving
top officials. He said that after more than three years in power, Duterte has yet to arrest, prosecute and put behind bars even a single drug lord. The administration, Pangilinan added, could not even explain the smuggling of shabu through the Bureau of Customs. What meeting? Alejano, for his part, also denied knowing or meeting Advincula. “I deny the allegations of
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A8 MAY 25-28, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
FEATURES
Money laundering haven
THE Anti-Money Laundering Council’s report that the country is a haven for dirty money did not come as a surprise. The government was forced to pass anti-money laundering laws only after the country faced the threat of an international financial blacklist years ago. Even then, it took many more years before offenses such as corruption were included in the predicate crimes covered by the AMLC. Today the country remains a prime destination for dirty money earned particularly from human trafficking, terrorism, smuggling, ransom kidnapping and environmental crimes, the AMLC reported. The AMLC based its assessment on 161,650 suspicious transaction reports involving a total of P17.9 trillion submitted by financial institutions supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, such as banks and money service businesses, from January 2013 to December 2017. Philippine authorities have also expressed concern about drug money being laundered for activities including election campaigns. The weakness of campaign finance regulation makes this kind of money laundering relatively easy. The Anti-Money Laundering Act has had to be
amended several times to expand the coverage of the AMLC, with terrorism, tax evasion and corruption-related offenses among the last to be included. Even with the addition of predicate crimes, the AMLC still needs a lot of inter-agency cooperation and official support to perform its mandate effectively. The AMLC is pushing for the swift referral of suspicious transaction reports to appropriate supervisory authorities and law enforcement agencies. After the referrals, swift and thorough investigation is also needed for the filing of criminal charges. The law imposes tough penalties on money laundering. What’s missing is enforcement, and the political will to launch a no-nonsense crackdown on dirty money. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
How Fil-Ams voted in the midterm Senate race compared to their kababayans back home
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS in the Philippines have just concluded with the official announcement of the winners of the national senatorial race. How did the Fil-Am vote’s list of Top 12 senators compare with the overall winners in the Philippines? Despite protests among FilAm activists, community leaders and ordinary dual citizens and Filipino nationals living in the United States against President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs, the Duterte administration’s cozy relationship with China and the threat to the checks and balances constitutional requirement if Duterte allies win control of the Senate — only a few senatorial candi-
dates made it to the Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV) top 12 list in the United States. The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” (BA) reported the following results of the Fil-Am Vote for Senator: Rolando “Bato” De la Rosa, Dutere’s top cop architect of his controversial war on drugs captured the No. 1 spot with 21,578 votes across 10 Philippine Consulate Regions. Pia Cayetano returns to the Senate and got the number two spot with 21,332 votes among Fil-Ams. Dr. Willie Ong, a social media star and health advocate, placed third with 20,750 votes. Other candidates who won the vote of Filipinos in America are: 4. Cynthia Villar 5. Grace Poe
6. Bong Go 7. Imee Marcos 8. Sony Angara 9. Francis Tolentino 10. Koko Pimentel 11. Bam Aquino 12. Mar Roxas Of these senatorial candidates who made it to the Top 12 of the Fil-Am vote, only two came from the opposition party branded as “Otso Diretso” — Aquino and Roxas. Duterte supporters claim this shows Fil-Ams have thrown their support behind the president, despite the protests against and criticisms of Dutere’s governance and policies. Duterte critics, on the other hand, contend that the low voter turnout — 17.29 percent of the 228,470 registered voters could be the factor why the general sentiments of Fil-Ams
No one is above the law
Rhizomes
PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “It is more proper that law should govern than any one of its citizens.” – Aristotle ON Feb. 21, 2019, “The Rachel Maddow Show” team uncovered a telegram sent by then-Vice President Spiro Agnew seeking Saudi Millions to fight the ‘Zionists’. Agnew had then pled guilty to tax evasion charges, paid a $10,000 fine and “resigned from office with disgrace.” But, the criminal enterprise he headed was not proportional to the punishment he obtained as he was still able to live as a private citizen. Agnew had sent a telegram as a private citizen seven years later to the Ahmad Abdul Wahab, Chief of Royal Protocol, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, seeking an audience with Crown Prince Fahad for his “personal emergency” and got a response to see the Crown Prince on August 15, 1988. On August 25, 1988, he wrote the Prince to obtain financial support of $2,000,000 in a secret account for a political campaign against the Jews, using the interest of $200,000 for three years. Isn’t it nuts that this former VP secured a loan from Saudi Arabia, living off from the interest to fight the Jews? NBC’s historian validated these documents that Rachel Maddow obtained from Greg Schneider as true. Agnew later thanked the Saudi Prince for the financial help he obtained.
Agnew then became an advisor to then-U.S. Presidential Candidate George Herbert Bush in October 1988. Bush had chosen Dan Quayle to run as VP and one who was ridiculed by the media for spelling potato as ‘potatoe.’ Why should these historical facts matter today? Folks mistakenly believe that a sitting U.S. president cannot be subject to indictment. There is no such protection that is written in the U.S. Constitution. Instead, there is a 1973 memo written by Robert Dixson, head of the Office of Legal Counsel. J.T. Smith, who was then working with Attorney General Elliott Richardson, affirmed that the memo was written to expressly support the indictability of Agnew to remove him from the line of succession, given Nixon and Watergate. Smith, in an interview with Rachel Maddow, said that the intent of the memo was not on the question of indictability of the president. It was focused on the indictability of the vice president. At that time, Agnew was getting cash and kickbacks for government contracts as the top city official of Maryland and continued getting kickbacks as governor of Maryland. The criminal enterprise continued while as VP inside the White House, according to “The Rachel Maddow Show,” as Agnew was literally taking cash bribes in envelopes, while a 40-count indictment was waiting to be served on him. From that 1973 memo written
specifically to support the indictment and removal of Agnew, it somehow got stretched to support the conclusion that a U.S. president cannot be indicted and a conclusion that there is a de facto immunity from prosecution for country’s top office. So where does this historical artifact-digging lead us? In fact, what we know is that the president can be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanor. Yet there is a distinction between an indictment and an impeachment. Indictment, as you know, is arrived at by a grand jury voting on a proposed felony charge, witnesses’ testimony and other evidence presented by the District Attorney, while impeachment is a process coming from the legislature against a government official and is based on a statement of charges. It is like an indictment with the charges listed, but only it is coming from Congress. So now we await the current Special Counsel’s Robert Mueller report, unredacted to be shared with congressional oversight committees. We still foresee that those who committed felonies, traceable to all the president’s men will face justice. Just like those who have been arrested, indicted, pled and have served their jail time: Roger Stone, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Rick Gates, Alex van der Zwaan, George Papadopoulos, Richard Pinedo, 13 Russian nationals and three entities, 12 Russian
might not have been reflected in the OAV results in the United States. As “Balitang America “ reported, some would even speculate the delays and glitches in the OAV process might have caused voter disenfranchisement. BA further reported that “Consulates all over the United States are appealing to FilAm voters to remain optimistic and proactive in their voting duties by always making sure they are still registered to vote and have the proper address on record.” “ABS-CBN News and BA enjoin the concerned groups and Consulates in the call for more Filipino Americans to participate in future elections and exercise their rights to help shape the future of the Philippines.”
Here are the 12 winning senators: Cynthia Villar - 25,283,727 Grace Poe - 22,029,788 Bong Go - 20,657,702 Pia Cayetano - 19,789,019 Bato dela Rosa - 19,004,225 Sonny Angara - 18,161,862 Lito Lapid - 16,965,464 Imee Marcos - 15,882,628 Francis Tolentino 15,510,026 Koko Pimentel - 14,668,665 Bong Revilla - 14,624,445 Nancy Binay - 14,504,936 According to Comelec, only four oppositions members will remain in the 24-member Senate as a result of this midterm elections. The Washington Post reported that “Duterte’s three children also won races for mayor, vice mayor and a congressional seat representing their southern home region of Davao city. Vot-
ers also decided congressional, gubernatorial, mayoral, and city and township races. Nearly 75 percent of more than 63 million registered Filipinos cast their votes in a strong turnout.” The Post further said “Analysts say many Filipinos seem more open to authoritarianism due to failures of past liberal leaders. Such a mindset has helped the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos make a political comeback, the latest example being his daughter, Imee Marcos, one of the winning Senate candidates who was endorsed by Duterte.” *** 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
Criminally-tainted candidates
Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA
OUR Marian pilgrimage group had just checked in on Sunday night at the Grand Hotel in Assisi, the town of St. Francis — after whom San Francisco, California and Pope Francis are named — when we tuned in to CNN. Fareed Zakaria, one of the network’s more incisive commentators, had a very interesting special report. It was about the recently-concluded elections in India, the results of which had started to come in. According to him, as many as 40 percent of the candidates are facing criminal cases and up to 29 have criminal records. Zakaria, who is Indian American, said that this was not unusual in Indian political contests. Although not necessarily proven guilty, these candidates have gained notoriety for their unlawful — or, at least, legally questionable — public behavior but that hasn’t stopped them from “courting” the voters. In fact, a blurb for the report reads, “In court today, courting voters tomorrow.” And another quip states, “Law breaker today, law maker tomorrow.” I thought that sounded familiar. Just like the Philippines, I told myself. What clinched this perception was the rest of the report. These tainted candidates usually win. Yes, indeed, just like the Philu PAGE A9 ippines.
Zakaria hypothesized that the reason for the political anomaly in India is the caste system and the fact that the rich are able to do anything they want, including controlling politics, because the poor can’t or don’t care to do anything about it. Well, that may be a hypothesis in India, but that is a harsh reality in the Philippines. The rich and powerful own and can buy anything, including the poor and their votes. They can also buy the vote counters and those tasked with protecting the ballots. In fact, with the Comelec finalizing the tabulation of the votes in the May 13 midterm elections, the results of the senatorial race, not surprisingly, could have been copied from the Indian political playbook. Actually, the similarity between the Philippines and India is replicated in many Third World countries. Even in the U.S. where elections are generally clean, vote-buying happens, although Americans use a euphemism: “lobbying.” If Zakaria had cast a wider net in fishing for facts and political trivia, he could have found out that the Philippines has had a more “liberal” or “tolerant” or blind-as-a-bat attitude towards criminally-tainted candidates. Does anyone still remember — or cares to remember — that President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, their children Ferdinand “Bongbong” Jr. and Imee, and high officials in the Marcos government were forcibly ejected from Malacañang and whisked
out of the country by the United States just ahead of the rampaging EDSA One revolutionaries? Well, Imelda ran for president and pulled in an impressive number of votes in the 1992 elections. She subsequently ran for Congress and has been serving in the lower House, first as a representative of her home district in Leyte and then as a congresswoman for Ilocos Norte. Bongbong easily won a seat in the Senate in 2010 and, but for Comelec magic (according to his supporters), should have become the vice-president in the last presidential polls in 2016. Now Imee appears to have clinched her senatorial berth. And between their return from exile in Hawaii and the present, the Marcoses have pretty much controlled all the juicy positions in their home province of Ilocos Norte (this, aside from the fact that the Romualdezes also control Leyte or at least Tacloban politics). Of course, the precedent was set by the elder Marcos when he was convicted and then acquitted for the alleged killing of a political enemy. In fact, when Marcos, then a congressman, ran for senator in the 1959 midterm elections, he was portrayed in the Liberal Party campaign video reviewing for the bar exams behind bars. He topped the exams and the senatorial contest, as well. It’s highly possible that if Marcos had survived his illness and had been allowed to return to the Philippines and also allowed
u PAGE A9
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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OpiniOn & Features
SENATE HONORS FILIPINO SCIENTISTS. Senate President Vicente Sotto III (2nd from right) hands out Senate Resolution No. 882 to four of the eight honorees of 2018 edition of Asian Scientist 100 (AS100) Tuesday, May 22. ASA 100 had recognized the Filipino scientists for their exemplary work in science and technology. Also in photo are Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri (right) and Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV (left), chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology. Senate photo by Joseph Vidal
No one is above... PAGE A8 t
military intelligence officers and Konstantin Kilimnik, according to Andrew Witherspoon of Axios. If all the president’s men have been indicted, arrested, served time, could his inner circle be reached, as well as the president himself? What we know is that, from the history of U.S. governance and its adherence to the rule of law, U.S. President Richard Nix-
on resigned because of Watergate, and a vice president paid a $10,000 fine and resigned with disgrace from his office. Would any of these be the fate of this sitting U.S. President Donald Trump? *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in
science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.
Criminally-tainted... PAGE A8 t
to run for president again (or at least for congressman), he could have won. EDSA II saw President Joseph “Erap” Estrada ousted and then “punished” with a rest house arrest (a variation on the usual hospital arrest reserved for people in power). But even while still “incarcerated,” his wife, Dr. Loi Ejercito, ran for senator and won. His two children Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito also won Senate seats. After Erap was “pardoned” by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he ran for president and garnered more votes than Manny Villar in spite of the latter’s humongous campaign chest. Then he ran for mayor of Manila and won. Well, it looks like luck has run out on the Ejercito-Estrada political dynasty. Erap lost the Manila mayoralty and both his sons failed to make it back to the
Senate. It’s really no surprise that Jinggoy Estrada ran for senator in spite of a pending plunder case. What is surprising is that he lost. However, another senator similarly accused and “jailed” for plunder, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., has not only succeeded in gaining “acquittal” he appears to have recovered his Senate seat in the recent election. Not to be outdone in the spectacle of criminally-tainted candidates is former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who, despite being “punished” with hospital arrest by President Benigno Aquino III, ran for Congress and won. She is now Speaker of the House. Although she will be out of office by the new, 18th Congress, don’t count her out of the race for prime minister, if her allies succeed in amending the Constitution, or even Queen, assuming that President Rodrigo
Duterte has no plans to be King or Emperor or Dictator. In Philippine politics, the rules and the law are meant for bending. Otherwise, how could my friend Romy Jalosjos have won as congressman while serving time in Muntinlupa? In fact, the cloud of moral turpitude does not seem to affect the political fortunes of the rich and powerful in the Philippines. So what can one expect from elections in which criminals usually win? Invariably, a government runs like the Mafia and where most officials are involved in the rackets. There are, of course, idealistic candidates and public servants who remain clean. These do-gooders eventually lose their seats. Quips one pundit: “These dogooders are giving Philippine politics a bad name.” (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 25-28, 2019
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A10 May 25-28, 2019 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL
Dateline PhiliPPines
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Pope Francis says he will pray for bishop critical of Duterte by Consuelo
Marquez
Inquirer.net
MANILA — Pope Francis has acknowledged the situation of Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who is a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, and said he would pray for the bishop. In a Facebook post titled “Confirmed by Peter’s Embrace,” David narrated his experience meeting Francis. David said he approached the Pope and asked for his prayers. “He [Pope Francis] looked into my eyes as I spoke. I was surprised when he interrupted me in the middle of my sentence and said, ‘I want you to know that I know your situation; I know what you are going through. I am pray-
ing for you. Please continue,’” David wrote on Friday, May 24. David then said Francis’ words made his eyes “blurred with tears” and that he had to clear his throat to continue speaking. After their brief conversation, David also gave Francis his personal gift, which is a book titled, “ El Evangelio del Amor De Acuerdo a Juan/a.” The book is the Spanish version of “The Gospel of Love According to Juan/a,” which David co-authored with Nina Tomen. Before departing, David said Francis’ told him: “I want you [David] to know I am with you as you face trials in your ministry in your diocese.” Duterte has criticized David many times during his speeches
and accused him of many things, including stealing Church donations for personal use. He also called the bishop’s mother a whore. David, who criticized the drug-related killings under the Duterte administration, has also been receiving death threats and even decided to skip the Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights Awards at De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila in February this year. In November 2018, Duterte threatened to kill the Caloocan bishop and even accused him of doing drugs. “David! I’m beginning to suspect why you’re frequently roaming around at night. You could be into drugs,” the 74-year-old president said in a speech in Davao City. n
PATROL SHIP. BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), one of the Philippine Navy’s two modern frigates which will be deployed to patrol the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), was launched at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. The event was attended by HHI executives and top Philippine military officials. Contributed photo
1.8 million children at risk due to conflict in Mindanao Chinese, Korean businesses in Boracay ordered closed by rainier
allan Philstar.com
ronda
MANILA — The conflict in Mindanao continues to threaten some 1.8 million children, according to international child welfare organization Save the Children. Albert Muyot, Save the Children Philippines chief executive officer, said these children face uncertainties in their war-torn homes and schools while their parents struggle to find stable jobs and livelihood. “We have begun emergency response... since February due to pockets of gunbattles in Maguindanao, Surigao del Sur, Lanao
del Norte and Lanao del Sur,” Muyot said. The Marawi Response Office of Save the Children Philippines joined local government officials, communities and families in commemorating the second anniversary of the Marawi siege. Save the Children has launched a global campaign “Stop the War on Children” to raise awareness on the condition of 420 million children in conflict areas worldwide. Muyot said prolonged conflicts across Mindanao aggravate hunger and malnutrition among children, especially those aged five years and below. Save the Children global data
showed that 870,000 children five years old and below died due to armed conflicts between 2013 to 2017. Only 175,000 adult fighters died during the same period. Last year, 16 children were killed and 17 others were wounded in crossfires in Mindanao. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said it continues to provide transitory family support packages to people affected by the fighting in Marawi. Each package contains cash grant worth P53,000; P20,000 in livelihood settlement, and pabaon relief packs worth P1,359. At least 15,677 families are beneficiaries of the project. n
by louise
Maureen Philstar.com
siMeon
MANILA — At least 10 establishments in Boracay owned or managed by Chinese and South Korean citizens have been ordered closed for operating without the necessary permits. The Boracay Interagency Task Force, through the Malay local government, padlocked Bella’s Bar and Restaurant, Old Captain Cuisine, Ken Minimart, Ken St., Island Staff Restaurant, Coco Spa, Kim Ji Man, W Hostel Boracay Dragon, VIP Souvenir Shop and YH World Network Service Inc. that were among the 49 establishments inspected from
May 7 to 9. “I once said that Boracay will never be a cesspool again... We need the support and cooperation of everyone to sustain our gains... from the massive rehabilitation... of the island,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said. Natividad Bernardino, Boracay Interagency Rehabilitation Group general manager, said the crackdown on erring establishments was ordered amid reports that Chinese businesses have proliferated on the island, with signages and menus written only in Chinese characters and catering exclusively to Chinese tourists. “It was also observed that there is an increasing number of Chinese and Korean citizens working as tour guides, chefs and restaurant staff,” Bernardi-
no said. An ad hoc committee was created last month to inspect establishments run by foreigners and determine if there are foreigners staying and working in Boracay without work permits and visas. The list of non-compliant foreign-owned businesses was endorsed by Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing to Malay Mayor Abram Sualog for closure. “We cannot allow flagrant violation by foreign citizens of our country’s laws and regulations, especially on the island, which we have painstakingly rehabilitated,” Densing said. Data showed that Chinese and Korean tourists account for 56 and 37 percent, respectively, of the total number of foreigners who entered the country in the first quarter of the year. n
Compostela Valley now Davao de Oro PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill renaming the province of Compostela Valley as Davao de Oro. Republic Act (RA) 11297 was signed by the President on April 17, but was only released to the media on Thursday. “The renaming of the province of Compostela Valley as the province of Davao de Oro shall be subject to ratification by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters in a plebiscite to be conducted in the present province of Compostela Valley,” the law states.
The plebiscite will be conducted and supervised by the Commission on Elections. RA 8470, creating the province of Compostela Valley, was amended by the new law, which will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Compostela Valley is the only province in the Davao Region without “Davao” in its name. The province was created in 1998 through RA 8470 that divided the province of Davao del Norte. (ManilaTimes.net)
Filipinos refuse to leave Tripoli THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, May 23, expressed concern that around 40 Filipinos might get trapped in the worsening clashes in the outskirts of Tripoli. Charges d’Affairs and Philippine Head of Mission to Libya Elmer Cato said almost 40 Filipino nurses and engineers “refused to relocate from areas in the outskirts of Tripoli, where heavy fighting continues to rage.” “Another 400 are at risk if the fighting enters Tripoli proper itself,” Cato said on Twitter. There are about 1,000 Filipinos in Trip-
Vice President Leni Robredo
oli working in hospitals and various service sectors. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on May 1 ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Tripoli. Cato said the Philippine embassy in Libya would not give up on Filipinos “who insist on staying in Tripoli despite the looming danger.” “We will continue to reach out to convince them to opt for repatriation or move to safer grounds before fighting gets closer to their homes or work places,” he said. (ManilaTimes.net)
Philstar.com photo
Robredo denies Liberal Party links... PAGE A7 t
Bikoy. I don’t know him and have never met him. Further, the Otso Diretso did not meet Bikoy ever,” Alejano, a former Marine captain, said in a statement. “His claim that the Otso Diretso is planning to bring down the administration to have VP Leni sit as president is a lie,” he added. Alejano said he could not understand why some people believe Bikoy’s latest “exposé,” considering that he had already admitted making up the narcolist videos. “The PNP should have thoroughly investigated first the issue before giving a platform to this certain Bikoy to spew out lies after lies. The IBP was precisely criticized due to the same treatment to Bikoy,” Alejano lamented, referring to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. “I will consult with the Magdalo group, Otso Diretso members and my lawyers regarding the appropriate legal actions that I could take against Bikoy,” he warned. Otso Diretso candidates also
assailed Advincula for telling lies just to save himself. “I do not understand these allegations against Otso Diretso candidates and the Liberal Party, why I am being implicated and what this political harassment is for,” human rights advocate Samira Gutoc said in a Twitter post. “But in every dark place, the light and the truth will always prevail.” Gutoc said she does not know Advincula and has never met or talked to him. “I have met thousands of people during the campaign, but I have and will never meet somebody on such matters,” she added. Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said their organization, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), does not represent Advincula, contrary to claims made by the latter. He admitted Advincula first approached FLAG but the latter was advised to seek help from the IBP instead. “Lawyers do this usually when they turn down a case,” he said. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 25-28, 2019
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There Finally Is A Preeminent International Asian Art Maestro Whose Exhibition Greatly Astounds the Art World And Requires Visitors’ Flow Control
The art of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang is sending shock waves through the art world. Over the past few decades, Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang has worked quietly and diligently on her art with determination and dedication. Suddenly, she rises to the pinnacle of the art world, and become a preeminent international maestro in the art. She is an American citizen of Asian descent. her art exhibition opened ceremoniously in the Shanghai exhibition Center. The exhibition is organized by the Shanghai International Cultural exchange Association Gallery, and co-organized by Shanghai Xu Beihong Art Research Club, Shanghai University International exchange Art Center, and Rare Art Inc. of U.S.A. The opening ceremony was a grand occasion attended by government officials, renowned artists, critics, and distinguished members of society. Art lovers and the public eagerly visited the exhibition in an overwhelming number. During his remarks, Lu Ximing, Vice President of Shanghai International Culture and Art exchange Association expressed his best wishes for the perfect success of the Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang Art exhibition. In his congratulatory remarks, the Director of Shanghai International Cultural exchange Association Gallery Wu Shufang said: “As the Director of the Gallery, I have pondered on many things. First of all, this exhibition has brought the highest number of visitors since the opening of the Gallery. People come here enthusiastically in large numbers but they also behave very orderly. At one point, we even have to place a sign outside the entrance of the Gallery to manage the visitors’ flow. This rarely happens… The art of Dr. Wang brings together paintings, artistic skills, and the art of the east and the West. her skills are exquisite and profound. As a result, the effects are magnificent. The China Review News reported on May 20 about the opening of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang Art exhibition on May 18. The review stated: “Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang’s artistic achievement is at the highest level of the Class of ease. her paintings are both super-realistic and of abstract, surrealistic style. The physical forms emanate a spiritual dimension. Dr. Wang’s skills are exquisite and profound, and her works carry a strong scholarly spirit. She is a preeminent international maestro in the arts. early 2019, the New York Academy of Art formally recognized the outstanding artistic accomplishment of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang and determined that she is a preeminent international artist of first class standing. The Academy presented Dr. Wang with a certificate jointly signed
by the President and the Provost. In the same year, a small painting Pomegranates in a Bamboo Basket of the size 18 by 27 inches was auctioned at the highest price of US$1.27 million during the Spring Auction at the Gianguan Auction house in New York. Seventy of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang’s artworks of first class international standing are presented in this exhibition, including ink paintings of distinguished style, super-realistic paintings, and surrealistic paintings of abstract colors. These artworks reflect how Dr. Wang is recognized with the status of a preeminent international artist of first class standing. her substantial and exquisite skills are the reason she has attained such an accomplishment.” Professor Gu Xingyi of Guangzhou University School of humanities, who is a master student supervisor, a member of the Guangdong Writers Association, and Director of the Guangdong Province Collectors Association, made the following determination: “each of Dr. Wang’s artworks carries the likeness of ‘form’ and the likeness of ‘spirit.’ She arrives at natural ease by using simple brushstrokes that fully capture the forms. each of her works is refreshing, memorable, and leaves the viewers with a wonderful aftertaste. These artworks are exceptionally rare and precious, and extremely collectible. The artworks in this exhibition are of the highest quality of the Class of ease…Ancient scholars were of the opinion that the quality of a person’s art reflects the quality of their personality…The excellence of the Class of ease that Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang’s paintings have attained is precisely a reflection of her noble character. … As a Chinese American, Dr. Wang is truly deserving of the determination by the New York Academy of Art that she is an international preeminent artist of first class standing; and the recognition by the United States Congress that she is “a great artist and sculptor.” In the world, Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang is the only international preeminent artist of first class standing in all of Asia. She is of the same standing as artists such as Cezanne, Gauguin, Monet, and Van Gogh.” The art review in Lang Mo states: “With the suspending strokes of the brush, ink splashes in a dancing rhythm, merging with the white space in the composition. In the Qing Dynasty, a poem of the philosopher Wang Chuanshan says: ‘A piece of cloud takes on the color of the sun. The light comes neither from within nor without, has no shape and no details. It gives the impression of infinite passion, yet once the passion is dissipated, one does not retain any recollections.’
Mr. Zhong Baihua once said that the ultimate ideal and the highest accomplishment in Chinese art is when an artist can use the swiftness of brushstrokes to capture the imagery while manifesting the essence of the universe from within one’s heart. In Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang’s landscape, flower and bird paintings, not only can we experience such a state, we can also experience the candor of the modern art of painting, and the spiritual impact when art connects directly with our inner mind. The paintings of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang radiate brightness. This is not the brightness from light, or from the perception of light in Western oil paintings. This brightness is all-encompassing. Dr. Yuhua Shouzi Wang’s paintings are rooted in the vigorousness of eastern philosophy while incorporating the modern elements of Western painting. her art emanates the inner beauty of her spirit and a greatly generous state of mind. Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang’s inscriptions are penned in a graceful manner and an elegant style. her penmanship is delightful and profound, emanating the radiance of nobility. her calligraphy marvelously blends in with the painting composition, transcending the form to manifest the essence. Dr. Wang is highly achieved in manifesting the deeply meditative quality of Chinese art. The painterly charm of the calligraphy is condensed in the boundless white space upon which a flower, a bird, a tree, a stone, a mountain, or a river illusively appear to deliver the message of boundless deep passion and the immensity of meditative contemplation. The art reflects the greatly universal love of this maestro of fine culture who treats all beings and all matters in the universe with the great love of equal-mindedness. every detail of the grass, the trees, the mountains and the rocks are created by wondrous brushstrokes. The rendition of the brushstrokes in the style of ease emanates marvelous subtleties and nuances.” Cheng Lanmei, Chairperson of the World Council of Women Artists said: “I am deeply touched after viewing several paintings consecutively. Initially, I thought that the works were painted by a male artist because of the power, the bold spirit, the way the artist uses dry brush and wet brush, and the superb control over light and dark ink colors. Truly speaking, as an oil painter, I paint as if I am creating ink painting in a very clean cut and precise manner. But truly, the difficulties in creating oil paintings cannot be compared to the difficulties in creating ink paintings. It is tremendously difficult to create ink paintings. That’s why I deeply admire Dr. Wang’s accomplishment in these paint-
Eager viewers packed the whole exhibition venue, this is unprecedented.
Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang Art Exhibition Opening Ceremony guests Gong Xinhan, Former Minister of the Propaganda Department, Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; Cheng Lanmei, Chair, World Council of Women Artists; Tenure Professor Vincent Robbins of the Art Center College of Design and Artistic Director of Rare Art Inc. U.S.A.; Virginia Robbins, formerly interior designer for Raymond Fernand Loew; and Lu Ximing, Vice President of Shanghai International Culture and Art Exchange Association
ings.” Vincent Robbins, Tenure Professor at the renowned Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles and the Artistic Director of Rare Art Inc. U.S.A., said in his opening speech: “Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang’s paintings are sought after by insightful people in the West. Dr. Wang has lived and worked in the West for a long time, she is familiar with the creative characteristics of Western paintings. Dr. Wang applies Chinese inkwash painting techniques with ease, adopting their strengths in her own creations. Dr. Wang has skillfully integrated the detailed fine brushwork in Western oil paintings and the freehand brushwork in Chinese paintings, as well as the colors of Western oil paintings and the lines of Chinese paintings. Both the Chinese and the Western cultures are blended in her paintings. They are bold and innovative. Dr. Wang’s paintings give the viewers a refreshing feeling.” Renowned Shanghai artist Yan Kang Wen evaluated: “After viewing all the paintings of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang, I can only say one thing. her art is unprecedented by any artists before her, and is inspiration to later generations. her foundation is profound and her skills are exquisite. Dr, Wang has originated a new generation of painting style. She is internationally renowned. She is uniquely magnificent in the audaciousness, infinite variations, and vivaciousness of her art. her style and energy are powerful. her paintings are breaking new ground and are truly great works… Dr. Wang’s paintings have surpassed the Class of Divinity, and have reached the pinnacle of the Class of ease. These works are truly worthy of our learning and appreciation. Other distinguished guests who attended the opening ceremony include: • Gong Xinhan, Former Minister of the Propaganda Department, Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; • Virginia Robbins, formerly interior designer for Raymond Fernand Loew who was one of the most renowned industrial designer in the 20th Century; • Wang Guofu, Vice President of Shanghai International Culture and Art exchange Association; • hong Yongqing, Director of the Shanghai Office of SouthSouth Cooperation Promotion Association, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, and Chinese Science and Technology Diplomatic Counselor to hungary, Finland, and Canada; • Wang Yun, Office Director of Shanghai Office of China-europe Technical and economic Coop-
Supreme Court finds more wet ballots by Jomar
Canlas ManilaTimes.net
MORe “wet ballots” from Bicol were discovered as the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential electoral Tribunal (PeT), continues the revision of ballots in the election protest filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo. The high court confirmed the findings of the PeT Ad hoc Committee that wet ballots were discovered and the election returns and ballot boxes were indeed violated. The wet ballots came from Camarines Sur. The PeT said the wet ballots were under clustered precinct 2 in Barangay Ayugan, Ocampo under revision table 40; clustered precinct 28 in Barangay Igbac, Buhi under revision table 12; clustered precinct 54 in Barangay San Isidro, Buhi under revision table 6; and clustered precinct t 58 in Barangay San Ramon, Buhi under revision table 9. These were all revised on
eration Association; • Wu Shufang, Director and Legal Representative of the Shanghai International Cultural exchange Association Gallery; • hu Shengliang, writer, Member of the editorial Committee of the Labor Newspaper; • Pan Zhiqiang, Deputy Secretary of Shanghai International Culture and Art exchange, and Representative to the 13th National People’s Congress of Zhejiang Province; • Chen Jialing, first researcher of the National Painting Institute, Member of China Artists Association, and Professor of the School of Fine Arts of the Shanghai University; • Chen Yiming, contract artist of the hammers Galleries, New York; • Xu Maoping, Member of the China Artists Association and a famous artist living in Japan; • Zhang hao, International horse Culture Scholar, artist and Co-chair of the China-Canada Cultural exchange Promotion Association; • Wang Xiyin, Vice President and Secretary of China Traditional Craft Research Association; • Chen Ketao, Vice President of Shanghai Collection Association, expert and Consultant of Shanghai Famous Art Appraisal and evaluation Center, General Manager of Shanghai International Collection Company, and Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai International Cultural exchange Association; • Wu Wanrong, Chief editor of the Delightful China Magazine; • Qi Tiekai, Deputy Dean of Shanghai Painting and Calligraphy Academy; • Lin Baoguo, owner of the Baoguo Parlour at Da Ke Tang; • Yan Kangwen, famous painter; • Wang Sheng, Deputy Director of Wenzhou Calligraphers Association; Former Commissar of Lucheng District Public Security Bureau in Wenzhou. • Zhu Laikou, renowned art critic, senior media personality; • Lu Yongliang, Art Director of the Outlets Museum in the United Kingdom; • Zhao Yinghua, former Party Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau; • Chen Ping, Vice President of the Wenzhou Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and Researcher of the Wuyuan Culture Research Institute; • Wang Fusong, President of the Bang Calligraphy Academy; • Ye Daoming, Former and first Director of the Shanghai Yushi Sculpture Factory; • Shen Xueqin, Chairman of the Board of Shanghai huaxia Modern International Communi-
AMLC: Philippines a destination of illicit funds by mayvelin
Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
This file photo shows former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., talking to reporters after he and his supporters held a candle lighting event outside the Supreme Court in connection with the electoral protest he filed against Vice President Leni Robredo. ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia
Feb. 8, 2019 using decrypted ballot images. Other irregularities were also found such as the absence of election returns in Barangay Tubtubon, Sibulan, Negros Oriental where the certified true copy of election returns (eRs) from the Commission on elections was unreadable.
Meanwhile, there were no eRs inside the ballot box from clustered precinct 42 in Barangay Sagbang, Valencia, Negros Oriental under revision table 2. The head revisor requested for said eRs, but none were issued. In his protest, Marcos assailed the election results in 39,221 clustered precincts.
Marcos, who lost to Robredo by only 263,473 votes, accused her of massive electoral fraud such as preshading of ballots, mounting of preloaded Secure Digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning vote counting machines, and an “abnormally high” unaccounted votes/undervotes for the position of vice president. n
cation Center; • Liu Yongbo, actor, special portrayer of Chiang Kai-shek; • Wang Rongxiang, Director of Shanghai University Art exchange; among others. In 2013, President George On. Christophides of the World Federation of UNeSCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations (WFUCA) led a group of experts to visit the International Art Museum of America. Upon examining the 77 artworks of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang that were on view at that time, they highly commended Dr. Wang’s art and immediately named the artworks “2013WFUCA.” Professor Stephen Farthing, an art scholar of world authority— Royal Academician of the Royal Academy of Arts in the United Kingdom, and the former Rootstein hopkins Research Chair of Drawing at the University of the Arts in London—once commented that “Dr. Yuhua Wang’s paintings may draw heavily on the traditions of eastern art but today they present themselves as extraordinarily Western ideas and images. Free of perspective, Dr. Wang’s paintings reach across cultures to celebrate the space that exists intellectually and emotionally between representation and abstraction, between a fact and an idea.” In 2008, the artworks of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang were exhibited in the Gold Room at the United States Capitol. The United States Congress recognized her as “a great artist and sculptor” for her outstanding accomplishments, and officially chronicled such recognition in the Congressional Record. The same record also mentioned that Dr. Wang “takes great pleasure in helping others, is a selfless person whose moral character is noble, and has made great contributions to the development of cultural exchange between the east and the West.” This exhibition showcases the works of the one and only Asian who is an “international preeminent artist of first class standing.” The artworks of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang exhibited this time are of the highest level of artistry as described in the saying: “The time when one abandons all skills is the time when one is perfectly skilled. As an experienced artist, one returns to a childlike state of mind, bringing a sense of comfort to the art.” Dr. Wang’s paintings are filled with vivaciousness, surpassing the Class of Divinity, and reached the pinnacle of the Class of ease. This exhibition offers art lovers and the general public the opportunity to comprehend art through the experience of appreciating, viewing and emulating the exhibited works of Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang. n
The Philippines has become a destination of illicit funds generated from criminal activities including terrorism, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said in its latest risk assessment report. The AMLC on Wednesday, May 22, said the assessment was based on 161,650 suspicious transaction reports (STRs), received from January 2013 to December 2017, that involved a total of over P17 trillion in funds. “The study indicates that . . . illicit funds from … the following unlawful activities: violation of environmental law; illegal trafficking of persons; kidnapping for ransom; and terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism” were sent to the Philippines, it said. Financial activities involving terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism accounted for 268 STRs or 50.19 percent of the total transaction value.
The majority of external transactions — 172 STRs or 32.2 percent of the total transaction value — transpired from 2015 to 2017 and comprised remittances from Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, the United States and Indonesia. “Said transactions are allegedly related to the Abu Sayyaf Group and ISIL/ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Islamic State in Iraq and Syria)linked groups or were based on referrals from FIUs (financial intelligence units) and LeAs (law enforcement agencies),” the agency said. It said the main channel used to finance terrorism was commercial banks (77.18 percent), while money changers and remittance agents accounted for 11.94 percent. “Since the characteristics of financing of terrorism involves frequent sending of funds in small amounts, it is apparent that remittance agents are being utilized because of their feasible locations and affordable services,” the AMLC said. n
A12 May 25-28, 2019 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 25-28, 2019
SHOWBIZ&STYLE
Journal Netflix to adapt Fil-Am author Erin Entrada Kelly’s novel “Hello, Universe” into live-action film Kelly’s 2018 Newbery Award-winning novel will be adapted by fellow Fil-Am writer Michael Golamco
Salinas who ends up at the bottom of a well because of the antics of a school bully named “HELLO, Universe,” the 2018 Chet Bullens. This leads to a Newbery Award winner and New search for Virgil by a fellow York Times bestseller by Filipina middle schoolers: self-proAmerican writer Erin Entrada claimed psychic Kaori Tanaka Kelly is about to be adapted and Virgil’s crush Valencia into a family film on Netflix, the Somerset, a deaf girl. streaming service announced on The story is told through the Wednesday, May 22. perspectives of these four char“Hello, Universe” tells the acters and explores themes of heartening story of a middle friendship, bravery and social school Filipino boy named Virgil isolation as each character by
Klarize Medenilla AJPress
navigates their own journey through the confusing period of adolescence. As of press time, there have been no announcements on who will be directing the adaption or actors who have been casted, but given the diversity of the characters (e.g. Virgil is a Filipino American boy) it’s likely the cast will feature young actors of color. In a 2018 interview with the National Endowment for the
Arts’ Art Works Blog, Kelly wrote that diversity is “something that I’m aware of, but I’d never want to force some kind of character into a book unless it makes sense to the story.” As a young Filipina American who grew up in Louisiana, Kelly has said she was the only Filipino kid in her community, which brought forth feelings of isolation that mirror the themes in her writing. As an Erin Entrada Kelly and her Newberry Award-winning book, “Hello Universe.” PAGE B2
Matteo talks about his and Sarah’s dream wedding ricKy lo Philstar.com
by
WHILE Sarah Geronimo plays coy when asked about her love life, her boyfriend (fiancé?) Matteo Guidicelli is the opposite. Asked by Funfare once and for all, in all honesty, if he and Sarah have started discussing about marriage, Matteo said without batting an eyelash, “Of course, of course, marriage has been a topic,” adding in a Freudian slip, “we’ve been together for several years now.” (Sarah admitted that she and Matteo were going steady in 2014. A Fil-Italian, Matteo at 29 is two years younger than Sarah.) There were reports that during a trip to Europe, just the two of them, he and Sarah got engaged. Was it an engagement ring that Sarah was wearing in a photo that spread on social media? To both questions, Matteo neither confirmed nor denied, but simply said, ”Secret!” (In showbiz parlance, “secret” could be interpreted as yes.)
Sarah Geronimo plays coy when asked about her relationship with Matteo Guidicelli who unabashedly speaks up. Photo from Instagram/@ISGFan
But Matteo is vocal about the kind of wedding he hoped to have. “Just a simple and small wedding with family,” he said. But that would have to wait, especially now that Matteo has joined the Philippine Army as a reservist. Starting on Sunday, May
26, Matteo will undergo a 45-day Scout Ranger training at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan. Before that, Matteo will be kept busy with the promo of Sundo, his new single under Viva Records, his new record label. It will be formally launched on Friday, May 24, PAGE B2
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Celebrities back ABS-CBN amid Jimmy Bondoc’s tirades by KRISSY
AGUILAR Inquirer.net
CELEBRITIES aired their support for ABS-CBN after singer Jimmy Bondoc said he was excited to see the closure of the “biggest television network.” While Bondoc did not name the network, personalities thanked and defended ABS-CBN for the opportunities it has given to them and other artists. Actress Sunshine Cruz expressed thanks to the network for helping her rebuild her career in 2013.
MOONLIGHTING by MYLAH DE
LEON
THE most notable about time in an ocean voyage is that it is so purely relative. While fragment is in space, a moment is in time. We sailed in the lightness on an early fall evening: the sky fresh, the sea quiet and calm. The ship ploughed into open seas, a shade of vivid indigo as the horizon narrowed and widened, dipped and rose. The moon was illuminating the deck with its whiteness. Like a distant voice, the sea hushed, almost to a sigh, in a rhythmic exhalation as though it were asleep outside the gate of sound. Oh, the elegance of nature, the wonder of space and fragrance of the ocean! It was a Sunday night and everywhere there were people who came in long rows, some of them singing their heads already feeling light after a few drinks. Tequila and beer were flowing You’re on the water and you’re seasick. The waves rocking you in their hammock back and forth up and down. At first, it was a sweet cradling motion — until you start feeling like you have a hangover as big as Mount Everest. You tried pure will power, convincing yourself “I wont get sea sick.” But nothing helped as your inside turned round and round, losing all your sense of balance, flooding all your senses. Nothing worked, as the sea made sport of you, without any right in their making. Mark that as you first evening, meant to start with unadulterated fun
“Year 2013. Nung panahong lugmok ako, walang pera, walang matirahan, ABS-CBN ang nagbigay ng tsansa na makabalik ang isang katulad kong bagsak na bagsak ang moral. I will always be GRATEFUL to them,” Cruz wrote Thursday in a Facebook post. Cruz also pointed out she will never be happy about thousands of people losing their jobs should the network shut down as Bondoc wished. “Hindi ako kailanman magagalak na mawalan ng trabaho o pangkabuhayan ang nakararaming tao na nagtatrabaho ng maayos
para matulungan ang kanilang pamilya dahil kailanman ay hindi ito tama,” she said. “Hindi dapat ipagbunyi ang pagkawala o pagsasara ng isang company na nakakatulong sa maraming tao at pamilya,” she added. But Bondoc earlier clarified he is not happy to see people losing their jobs and explained that closing down can mean “change of ownership,” hence employees will be retained. Kapamilya singer Angeline Quinto was saddened by Bondoc’s post whom she considered
Aboard a floating carnival with my first born
as a colleague and friend. “Bilang isang singer, hindi ko kinakaya ang nakikita kong post galing sayo Kuya. Hinahangaan pa naman din kita bilang katrabaho at bilang kaibigan,” Quinto said. “Nalulungkot ako kasi ABSCBN ang naging pangalawang tahanan ko. Oo hindi pa ako kasing tagal ng ibang nagtatrabaho sa estasyon na ito, pero para ganun ang maging hiling mo para sa ABS-CBN hindi ko kaya Kuya,” she added. Singer Ronnie Liang, on the other hand, outright disagreed with Bondoc and said they should instead be thankful to the network. “I Disagree w/ Jimmy Bondoc, bro we should thank #abscbn for helping people to achieve their dreams giving them hope&chance to share their talents,we should be grateful as well to them for being productive & serving the filipino people worldwide providing us a lot of awesome shows,” Liang said in a tweet. Meanwhile, Bondoc said he
Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS
With my daughter, Milkah Elaine who took me on a Mexican cruise.
Still, there is nothing like a good cruise as it provides entertainment, solace, humor; a respite from the hurry-scurry of the everyday routine. However, the element of surprise is you meet a person of the moment, who live for the moment; but the effect is cumulative, minor characters and minor entertainment little pathos. Who knows romance if is in the air? There will always be opportunities and the importance of a moment a single event or connection. It teems with indigenous life, in a pace of living that is accumulated. You see life as a server of swift impressions rather than a coherent whole. Life seems richer, without its breadth and depth you see it multiplying with little impressions. You walk and settle on a chair around the deck and reflect for
a moment. An excruciatingly handsome face flash by and you’re “crushed” for a moment. Someone jostled you, and you’re angry for a moment; then someone smiles at you, and you’re glad for a moment. Such are the daily feelings inside a ship, unlike the lingering precious, ductile feeling in your routine. A cruise provides a sure “escape.” There’s freshness, spontaneity and surprise. The very soul of a cruise are slices of life that do not make life itself. The bits and color put together that do not make pictures, or a dissonance make music — just spectacular meanderings that have been briefly glimpsed. Since there has no beginning or end, simply viewing of life in passing could be grand or drab to grab. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.com
IS eating eggs totally safe? Eggs have been around for eons, even before man discovered they were edible. In many households around the world, eggs have been a routine part of breakfast. One of the concerns about eating eggs (yolk) is its cholesterol contents, the reason some health conscious people eat only the egg white. One Harvard report about five years ago states that the choline in eggs (126 mg per egg) may induce and aggravate inflammation, the initial process in the causation of most, if not all, illnesses, including cancer. A new study of more than 1000 men with early stage of cancer of the prostate “found that men who consumed two and a half or more eggs per week — that’s just like one egg every three days — had a two-fold increased risk of cancer progression and an 81 percent increased risk of lethal prostate cancer.” A study published in the “New England Journal of Medicine,” the Cleveland team who did the famous study on carnitine fed research participants hard-boiled eggs instead of steak, and found that the egg-eaters had a spike in the level of carnitine, choline, and lethicin (same TMAO compounds found in red meat) and increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and death. Although our DNA is unique and there are other factors in our make-up in play, the inference in these recent studies should make us more cautious. How much alcohol is healthy? A couple of decades ago, the medical recommendation was not more than two drinks for women (zero for pregnant ones) and not more than three for men. This usually referred to wine, preferably red wine. Pinot Noir was the favorite for its high resveratrol (cardioprotective) content. More recently, studies have asserted that there is actually no safe level for alcohol
Jimmy Bondoc
was surprised his post reached celebrities and shared an employee of the network even dared him to a fist fight. “Nagulat ako na umabot na sa mga antas ng mga sikat na bitwin na yung mga nagrereply. At ayokong babuyin o bastusin yung kanilang reaksyon,” Bondoc said Thursday in a video on Facebook. “May isang ABS employee na hinamon pa ‘ko ng suntukan. Tinawagan ko at nung nagkausap kami, nag-sorry naman siya at nag-sorry din ako. Sabi ko, ‘Pare
ABS-CBN photo
pag binasa mo naman ‘yung post ko malinaw naman na ito ay tungkol sa organisasyon at hindi doon sa mga empleyado,’” he added. Actress Angel Locsin also earlier called out Bondoc regarding his post and said he should not “wish ill of others.” President Rodrigo Duterte previously threatened to block ABSCBN’s franchise renewal that will expire in 2020. This was after the network allegedly did not air his campaign advertisement that was already paid during the 2016 presidential election.
Queries from readers
consumption. Your physician, who is familiar with your health, could expound on this matter and advise you accordingly. Why did you write soft drinks are toxic? Soft drinks (which I call liquid candies) are all toxic to the body, especially for children, because consuming them increases the risk for metabolic syndrome. Soft drinks, over time, cause drinkers to have high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart attack, stroke, and even increases the chances of cancer development. If we, as parents and guardians, are not preventing our children from drinking these toxic beverages, then we are contributing to their unhealthy behaviors, illnesses, and premature death. The book on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention from the cellular (DNA) level, entitled “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (philipSchua.com, amazon.com, central.com.ph) expounds on this subject. Is vaping (e-Cig) a better alternative? Vaping (vapour products) or use of electronic cigarettes, is advertised as the healthier option to smoking tobacco. This almost 3 billion-dollar industry around the world, up from $4.2 billion five years ago, has the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom as its largest markets. The e-cigarette devise contains nicotine-based liquid which is vaporized and inhaled, as in smoking, is a dangerous alternative to conventional cigarette smoking. Its fumes are like second-hand tobacco smoke that causes cancer among those exposed to that smoke. One of the hundred harmful chemicals in vaping is formaldehyde, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Studies have shown that switching to vaping (to help in quitting cigarette smoking) only prolongs the nicotine habit and definitely a deadly option. How did the U.S. measles outbreak start? The recent measles epidemic is a resurgence of the very virulent, rapidly transmissible, disease in
the United States since 2000, when the CDC declared that “measles was eliminated in the U.S.” The current outbreak was attributed to travelers who brought measles back to the USA from Israel, where there currently is a massive epidemic. These infected individuals transmitted it to unvaccinated and under-vaccinated communities in New York State. From January first of 2019 to May 10, 2019, there were 839 cases of measles confirmed in 23 States, an increase of 75 cases the week before. Measles are potentially deadly from complications causing encephalitis (brain inflammation). MMR vaccines are very effective in preventing measles. It has been proven not to cause autism, and declared safe by the CDC. Are expired drugs unsafe? According to the United States military studies on expired drugs, most drugs are still potent even after reaching, and beyond, their “expiration” date. The only exceptions are vaccines, tetracycline, nitroglycerine, insulin, liquid antibiotics. Their potency, according to the military studies, “may decrease over time, but much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date.” Drug companies are mandated by a 1979 U.S. law to stamp an expiration date on medications, a date at which they can guarantee the full potency and safety of the drugs. The U.S. military, with a massive and expensive stockpile of drugs, did a comprehensive study to prevent waste, and “found 90 percent of more than 100 drugs, prescription or over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date.” Keeping medications refrigerated helps prolong their potency. What in weed killer Roundup causes cancer? The World Health Organization reported in 2015 Glyphosate, the main in Roundup, causes cancer. In August last year, a jury awarded $289 million to a man after he was diagnosed to have Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, following repeated use PAGE B3
Netflix to adapt Fil-Am author Erin...
PAGE B1 adult, Kelly wrote a collection of short stories of characters (all of whom were from the ages 8 to 12) who also felt invisible as a way to help kids feel seen and heard. “I think it’s really important
for people to be introduced to many different cultures, and unfortunately, I mean, the tide is changing a little bit, but Filipino culture isn’t something that’s necessarily prevalent in western literature, especially for kids,” Kelly said.
The Netflix adaptation will be penned by Filipino-American screenwriter and playwright Michael Golamco (“Always Be My Maybe”) and will be produced by Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi of Significant Productions.
Matteo talks about his and... PAGE B1 at Music Hall at Metrowalk, Pasig City. As she was during Matteo’s recent concert with Carlo Aquino at the Music Museum, Sarah will surely be there to give Matteo moral support. An upbeat pop/rock rendition made popular by Imago, Sundo is about “searching high and wide for a special someone” as expressed in this line: Kay tagal kong sinusuyod and buong mundo para hanapin, para hanapin ka.” (No doubt he’s referring to Sarah, although it could refer to his finding a new home in Viva.) And this: Asahan mo mula ngayon, pag-ibig ko’y sa’yo. (Definitely, he means Sarah.) After the recent presscon announcing the release of Sundo, Funfare did a one-on-one with Matteo. What made you decide to join the army? “I guess it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I feel like I have to do it. It’s another way to serve my country. I can do a lot through the army. We have a lot of projects with the army for the youth.” What military activities are
you participating in? “Right now, we’ve been going around different schools, talking about ROTC, encouraging students to be a reservist because it trains them to develop discipline and a sense of nationalism and patriotism. So I think this is very important. And on May 26, I’ll be entering the military school. I’ll be gone for more than one month.” Are you going to engage in combat (war, etc.)? “When you join, they prepare you to be ready for an event of war. But that’s not the main objective. The main objective is to help out, to serve the country in national disasters, humanitarian efforts, feeding programs, and in inspiring the youth. You can do a lot of things as a reservist.” Is it true that some people close to you (including Sarah) are against your joining the army (and how were you able to convince them)? “In the beginning, you know, of course, my parents and Sarah were all hesitant for me to join the army because they thought that it meant going to war, etcetera, all the stuff. In reality, in my position, it’s not about going to war, it’s
about giving back to the country. It’s about my advocacy which is spreading nationalism, spreading patriotism. It’s showing the kids that this is also important. It teaches discipline and self-respect, and respect for the country. It’s a different avenue to give back to the country and support the soldiers who have been serving us and protecting us.” Speaking of Sarah, did you and she get “secretly” engaged abroad (is she wearing an engagement ring)? “Secret. Hehehe!!!” Once and for all and honestly now, have you been discussing about marriage? “Of course, of course. Marriage has been a topic. We’ve been together for several years now.” If and when, what kind of wedding do you want? “Just a simple and small wedding with family.” Now that you are with Viva, can we expect a project with you and Sarah together? “I don’t know…maybe in the future, we’ll see...The opportunities and the things we can do in Viva are endless and limitless. Let’s see what will happen.”
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Life Coaching in a Different Perspective Stargazer AS a recap, a medical doctor named Mario was diagnosed with Hepatitis B and with liver cirrhosis in the late ’90s. He got over the disease and lived comfortably for another 11 years. The ailment came with such rebound that nothing else could be done. Mario sought alternative healing but to no avail. He died a year after his cancer recurred. It is always with deep sorrow when a family or friend passes on to the next life. And it is also with greater pain to think about the loved ones who will be left behind to experience the void left. So many lessons can be recognized in Mario’s plight. The first lesson is that of acceptance or being open to the realities of life. It is man’s nature to have denials when something deemed unacceptable comes. Understandably, denial is a way of showing fear and helplessness. We move into blaming people, situations and even God. We ask God, “Why me Lord?� We had forgotten that we are what our choices or decisions were. We simply became a product of what we did and the kind of lifestyle we led. Then a false level of positivity replaces the denial, and we somehow forget to become more objective. Mario turned to alternative healing. That is good so long as we practice realistic positivity. With an open mind, we try new techniques but we must not solely depend on them. And for the so-called healers, who made Mario believe that healing will be successful, let us not make the supernatural or paranormal as a lame excuse for something that is medical in nature just to be patronized. I don’t understand why some healers can make people believe in concepts like “kulam� and “barang� when there is actually none. Be responsible for what you say. And for the others that believe that they are experiencing “kulam or barang� when something goes wrong in their lives, wake up! Analyze first if it is simply the law of cause and effect (also known as karma). Though I personally believe there are people capable of black magic, but it
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 25-28, 2019
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On death and dying: How can I comfort you? (Part II of II)
doesn’t happen to everyone though. Next lesson learned, be wary of believing promises of healing and know what is true and real. To the practitioners, be truthful in what you say. You are not God and only God is the better healer. Mario was a very loving husband and father. He did everything for his family and this is ideal. But he made everyone dependent on him, serving his family and everyone else to the best he can. His death was a big blow and made everyone helpless. Ellie felt helpless since Mario had not let her be independent. For a while, Ellie could not stand up on her own nor go to her own clinic because she didn’t know how to drive. Mario took care of paying the bills and doing some chores. He pampered his family as if he would stay for a lifetime. Lesson learned — learn to stand on your own and never be dependent on anyone. But how could I really have comforted you, Mario? A year after your death, I had sleepless nights when all I did was think about how else I could have probably helped you. I even dreamt of you hugging me while I was saying thank you to all the help you had given to my family and the valuable friendship we’ve had for the 14 years. Mario, I prayed hard to the good God to extend your life, so that you can still help a lot of people. I had given up my own wishes just to give way for your light to shine more. And that’s because I love you as a friend and brother. You are a blessing to many, but you have forgotten to take care of yourself. That is not selflessness. You forgot to take care of that vessel God has given you and took yourself for granted. I wished you could have loved yourself more. A lot of people nowadays seem to be afflicted by diseases or ailments that once were so rare. It is how we conduct our lives, food that we eat, the kind of stress we undergo each day and the effects of the so-called modernization that we had forgotten how it is to live clean and simple. We lived as if there was no tomorrow. And what did some of us get? Indeed, our tomorrows
were radically reduced because we contracted so many ailments that could have been avoided if only we took care of ourselves. Cancer is such a normal “disease� that is proliferating among the young and old. The answer lies obviously within us. We enjoyed complexities. We’d rather drink and be merry when we can have a quiet night strolling down the park or simply listen to good music and read a book. We’d rather eat fast food rather than enjoy the old native chicken tinola our lolas used to cook as comfort food. I also remember as kids, after we took a nap, we’d enjoy nilagang mais (corn) or saging (banana) as a meryenda. Kids nowadays would rather sit and play with their computer games while gobbling down hamburgers or hotdogs. Aren’t we all living a dangerous life? The consequences are inevitable. Amidst these trials, how do we really comfort each other? Hold a person’s hand and assure him that there is still hope and love around them. Help them pray to the Almighty and ask for more graces and strength to cope with the adversary. Offer your shoulder for them to lean on and your ears to listen to their woes. Pat his back and assure them of your support and build his faith to be able to move mountains. Stay by their side and be their true friend. Mario, I whispered to God my wish that He keeps you well and happy in His Kingdom. You are always in our hearts. *** Stargazer is a life coach, aura reader, psychic/clairvoyant, and lecturer on the paranormal. She uses the aura, energies & vibrations as focal points of her psychic readings. Using several techniques involving the psychological, spiritual, paranormal and her own experience of the intricacies of life, Stargazer makes one get in touch with his inner and understand life in a positive manner. Faith in God and belief in self is what Stargazer emphasizes on. Currently, Stargazer is a radio anchor of DZMM Teleradyo, the radio arm of ABS-CBN. Her show “Pinoy Vibes� has been airing every Sunday morning since Sept. 2007. She can be reached at stargazerphils@gmail.com. For more information, please visit http:// stargazer.ph/.
TRUE LOVE FOUND OVER A CUP OF COFFEE RESULTED IN MARRIAGE, A GREEN CARD, AND A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER’S REUNION. Magoy (center) had been separated from her first husband for over 17 years, and was lonely and guilty for having left her children behind in the Philippines, when she arrived in the U.S. She found love at a random stop in a coffee shop, where she met U.S. citizen Daniel. Magoy was able to get a divorce from her first husband, which allowed her to marry Daniel (without having to obtain an annulment in the Philippines), which, in turn, enabled Daniel to petition Magoy in the U.S. and Magoy’s daughter, Kara, from the Philippines, without having to adopt Kara. Watch this heartwarming story on an all-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy� – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
True love (and green card) the second time around on a brand-new episode of ‘Citizen Pinoy!’
MAGOY had been separated from her first husband for over 17 years. She sacrificed those years working in the Middle East to support her children, while also missing them, feeling the guilt of being away for the important milestones in their lives. During one opportunity to go on vacation, Magoy took her daughter, Kara for bonding time in the U.S. Little did she know
that a random Starbucks coffee break would change her destiny forever. It was at Starbucks that Magoy met Daniel, a U.S. citizen. It was a chance encounter where love was sweeter the second time around for Magoy. Magoy was able to get a divorce from her first husband in the U.S. (An annulment in the Philippines is not necessary to marry in the U.S.) Her divorce allowed her
to marry Daniel, which, in turn, allowed Daniel to petition Magoy and Magoy’s daughter, Kara. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel did not just focus on getting Magoy her green car, he went beyond that. Watch this success story on an all-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy� –– on Sunday 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).
(Advertising Supplement)
Queries from readers...
PAGE B2 of Roundup weed killer. The claims against Bayer and Monsanto, makers of Roundup, were based on its failure to warn consumers about the risk of using their product. A California elderly couple who used Roundup for years each developed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was handed an unparalleled $2.055 billion verdict against Monsanto. This herbicide is also linked to kidney disease, infertility, diabetes, Parkinson, Multiple Sclerosis, liver
disease, leukemia, brain, lung, testicular, thyroid cancers and birth defects. All chemicals (car and home air fresheners, disinfectants, cleaners, detergents, etc.) we have at home are real hazards to health. Their use also pollutes our environment (air, land, and sea), the air we breathe, the food and drink we ingest every day. Safer and cheaper alternative: ½ cup white vinegar, 1 pint alcohol, and 1 teaspoon dishwashing soap, plus water to make a gallon of spray for
general cleaning (not for granite, varnished hardwood, or anything made of rubber). *** 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 NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)
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COMMUNITY Journal
The gift of the Holy Spirit HAVE you recently received a gift? One that moved your heart in sincere gratitude to the person that gave it? Was it a watch, a concert ticket, some cash, a jacket or a pretty dress? Whatever it was, what overwhelmed you and touched your heart was not merely the gift, but the generosity, kindness, and thoughtfulness of the giver. This Sunday’s Gospel speaks of this kind of giver. He’s Jesus, our Lord, who promised his disciples and all of us who would believe in him his abiding presence. And so, he gave us the most precious gift: his Spirit dwelling within us, which satisfies beyond all human expectations. H o w did Jesus manifest this gift? We can simply ref lect on the lives of the disciples and all the saints and martyrs that followed, who gave their lives to the mission of spread i ng the Gospel. What moved them to dedicate their lives to the service of the Gospel? What kept their faith? It was the Spirit of Jesus that lived within them—God’s indwelling. As Jesus said to his disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel (John 14:23-29), “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” Moreover, he told them, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” In the First Reading this Sunday (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29), the Holy Spirit empowered
The Prophetic Voice ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas and emboldened Paul, Barnabas, the other apostles and followers of Jesus to bring the Gospel to far-f lung lands, not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. They faced many oppositions and made hard decisions, but the Holy Spirit guided them. It is always our hope then
his breath comes forth the Spirit, who fills the sails of the ecclesial barque. In the glorified Christ, whom the people of his country love to honor as King, may you together kindle and be filled with the light of his presence which is never extinguished; breathe deeply the wholesome air of his Spirit. It falls to you to sow Christ in his land, to keep alive his humble light which enlightens without causing confusion, to ensure that in his living waters the thirst of your people is quenched; to set the sails so that the Spirit’s breeze may fill them, never allowing the barque of the Church in Mexico to run aground.” As faithful Christians, may we nothing on earth discourage us from fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ to keep sowing love, peace, and justice in the world. Like a ship that survives many storms, may our Church continue to sail peacefully and courageously through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1991-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
“He’s Jesus, our Lord, who promised his disciples and all of us who would believe in him his abiding presence. And so, he gave us the most precious gift: his Spirit dwelling within us, which satisfies beyond all human expectations.” that the Holy Spirit would give wisdom and courage to our pope, bishops, priests and other leaders as our Church faces the challenges of this age, particularly those that affect her moral teachings, destroy family values, and misguide the minds of children and youth. In his visit to Mexico on February 12-18, 2016, Pope Francis reminded the Mexican bishops of the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives as leaders of the Church. He told them: “We do not need ‘princes,’ but rather a community of the Lord’s witnesses. Christ is the only light; he is the wellspring of living water; from
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Client seeks Chapter 13 relief for mortgage default and credit cards THE client is 48, married and has a good job paying him $100,000 gross a year. A family emergency has caused him some financial hardship because money meant to pay for the house and credit cards were used instead for the medical expenses of his brother abroad. His brother is only 35 and single and lives abroad, waiting his turn to receive his visa to migrate here to the United States. He has another four years to wait. The brother has a good job abroad working as a representative in a call center. He makes about $700 a month. For a single person making $700 a month, and just waiting for his visa to come to the Promised Land, life can’t get much better. No responsibilities; enough money to spend; and good health. What else can a guy ask for? On weekends, he goes scuba diving about 40 miles off the capital. He says it’s very enjoyable because going underwater with a lot of live corals and fish to see is “like traveling to another planet.” However, lately, brother noticed that his legs were getting “fatter.” The doctor says that his legs are starting to retain water because he has some kind of heart problem. Thoracic and cardiac surgery had to be performed immediately as otherwise his physical condition would rapidly deteriorate and he could very well die from cardiac arrest! Not cool. The brother had no medical insurance to pay for the surgery and medical expenses estimated at $20,000. The family depends on the client for financial help because, at $100,000 gross a year, the client does have the resources to help. And since he loves his younger brother, the client sends the $20,000 by not paying his mortgage and using $10,000 of credit cards. So that’s done. The surgery is performed and brother has a new lease on life. Thanks be to our God Almighty, Yahweh, and His beloved son, Jesus Christ! Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to Him, “You are my defender and protector. You
Debt Relief
Atty. lAwRence yAng are my God; in you I trust.” He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases. This is what Moses said in Psalm 91 so it is true. Moses was as close as a man could get to our God. After the family emergency, the client is now behind three mortgage payments and is faced with $20,000 of credit cards. He also owes $5,000 to the IRS for 2016. He has sent this month’s mortgage payment to the bank. But that payment has been returned to him with a notice that the bank will be sending him a notice of default with intent to foreclose soon if he does not send the bank for payment of $12,000. The best relief for this kind of financial situation is Chapter 13. Why? First, Chapter 13 will stop the foreclosure process upon filing. So the client does not have to worry about losing his house to foreclosure. Second, the client will be given five years to pay the default of $12,000 without interest. Third, he will also be given five years to pay the $20,000 of credit cards and the $5,000 of back taxes. So, Chapter 13 gives the client a breathing time of five years to handle his mortgage default, his credit cards, and his back taxes. During all this time, the client is immune from all collection efforts of creditors, including foreclosure of house, lawsuits, garnishment, and liens. Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $40K credit cards The second client is 74. She has been a widow for five years. Her single daughter lives with her and they help each other. Her income is still ok. She receives social security and a work-related pension that gives her a combined gross of $2,400 monthly. She still works fulltime as a caregiver and is paid $1,800 gross monthly. So, she has $4,200 monthly. Not too
bad. The problem is that she owes $40,000 in credit cards. She needs $1,500 to make minimum monthly payments on these cards, which she has kept for the last 10 years. To make a long story short, she has paid $180,000 on $40,000 of credit cards for the last 10 years but still owes today the same $40,000. This is why Visa is a good stock to own. It makes tons of your money! As a result, everything that she makes from the full-time job goes to pay her credit cards. Chapter 7 will wipe out all of the $40,000 credit cards so she can start saving her net takehome pay from her caregiving job. It’s about time. At 74, she certainly needs to be able to save all of the money she makes. She really should have filed for Chapter 7 10 years ago. If she did, then she would have $180,000 in the bank saved up today, wouldn’t she? If you are saddled with debt, now is the time to get them discharged. Better now than later when you are about to retire. But if you have not yet gotten rid of your debts yet and you are now a senior, believe me, you need to get rid of your debts now that your income is less than half of what it was when you were younger. If you need bankruptcy relief, please call my office for an appointment and I will analyze your case personally. *** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader. There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with Attorney Yang. The first general consultation is free. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 2841142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789. (Advertising Supplement)
Tax Tips VictoR sy, cPA, mBA
THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Act”) makes changes to the general business credit by adding a new Paid Family And Medical Leave Credit and changing the Rehabilitation Credit and the Orphan Drug Credit. 1. Paid Family And Medical Leave Credit: The Act introduces a new component credit for paid family and medical leave which is available to eligible employers for wages paid to qualifying employees on family and medical leave. The credit is available as long as the amount paid to employees on leave is at least 50% of their normal wages and the leave payments are made in employer tax years beginning in 2018 and 2019. The maximum leave allowed for any employee for any tax year is 12 weeks. There must be a written policy in place. Qualifying employees are those who have been employed by the employer for one year or more. Paid leave provided as vacation leave, personal leave, or other medical or sick leave is not considered family and medical leave. 2. Rehabilitation Credit: Old law allowed a taxpayer to take the entire credit in the year the structure was placed in
Three changes to the general business credit
service. The Act changes the rehabilitation credit for qualified rehabilitation expenditures paid or incurred by eliminating the 10% credit for expenditures for qualified rehabilitation buildings placed in service before 1936, and retaining the 20% credit for expenditures for certified historic structures, but reducing its value by requiring taxpayers to take the credit ratably over five years starting with the date the structure is placed in service. The Act also provides for a transition rule for buildings owned or leased at all times on and after January 1, 2018. 3. Orphan Drug Credit: The Act changes the orphan drug credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions. For clinical testing expense amounts paid or incurred in tax years beginning in 2018, the former 50% credit is cut in half to 25%. Taxpayers that claim the full credit have to reduce the amount of any otherwise allowable deduction for the expenses regardless of limitations under the general business credit. Similarly, taxpayers that capitalize, rather than deduct, their expenses have to reduce the amount
charged to a capital account. The credit has been reduced and now equals 25 percent of qualifying clinical testing expenses. However, the Act gives taxpayers the option of taking a reduced orphan drug credit that if elected allows taxpayers to avoid reducing otherwise allowable deductions or charges to their capital account. The election for the reduced credit for any tax year must be made on a tax return no later than the time for filing the return for that year (including extensions) and in a manner prescribed by IRS. Once the reduced credit election is made, it is irrevocable. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Modifying down child and spousal support obligation after a divorce
DIVORCED parties are sometimes ordered to pay child support and spousal support in the divorce judgment. The support orders are generally based on the parties’ financial situation and custody arrangements at the time of the settlement or trial. However, what if your income decreases after the divorce or what if your spouse’s income increases after the divorce due to a promotion or a better paying job? Do you have the right to modify your support obligation? If your income has gone down substantially from the time that the child or spousal support determination, you may be able to file a modification of your support obligation. Losing a job or having less income constitutes a material change of circumstances that would allow the court to modify down your support obligations. Child support in California is based on guideline formula. One of the factors that is considered in the guideline formula is your gross income. Usually the court would look at several months or even an average of the last 12 months income. If your average income has decreased, you may be able to modify your child support to a lower amount. Bear in mind that there are other factors that come in the equation such as the amount of actual timeshare you spend with your child and the income of the other parent.
Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon I WAS in line at the grocery store the other day and noticed the man in front of me smiling and looking at me as if he wanted to say something. I only had a couple of items in my hands so he proceeded and asked: “Do you want to go ahead of me?” I appreciated the gesture and thanked him. Then he said, “Your welcome, Mr. Bulaon.” I was surprised to hear my name from someone I didn’t recognize. He then proceeded to tell me that he was a past client of mine about 5 years ago. I was a bit embarrassed because I didn’t recognize him right away. After all, 5 years can be a long time and I’ve dealt with hundreds of clients in the past 5 years. He continued: “I just wanted to thank you again for helping me and wife get through our bankruptcy. It was a very difficult decision for us to do it. We were so stressed out being in debt and we started fighting over our financial problems. You literally saved us not only from financial destruction but you also helped saved our marriage. We realized that sooner or later, we had to file bankruptcy to start a new life. So we did and we thank you so much for making it as easy for us as possible.” I was happy to hear what he said because as a bankruptcy attorney, that’s what I try to do in every case I handle- to make a difference in my clients’ lives. I also found out that he and his wife had moved and recently bought a new home in Northern California. He said that they were just in town
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRsuA Reyes If the other parent’s income has gone down, this may adversely affect your child support obligation. Spousal support may also be modified unless you stipulated in a divorce judgment that it is non modifiable. However, spousal support are usually calculated differently than guideline. The court will look at other factors in deciding whether to modify this. Those factors are listed in family code section 4320. If you are unemployed, the other party may be expected to try to impute income on you. However in light of the recent cases in California, they would have to prove that you had the ability and the opportunity to obtain employment. If your income has gone down or your spouse’s income has increased as a result of a new job, a promotion, or you got laid off or hours cut, it may be possible to modify both your child support and spousal support obligation. Without modifying the order, the current order will continue to be in effect and the same
amount will accrue regardless of whether your income declined or your spouse income increased. It is important to file a post judgment request for order to modify support as soon as your financial situation changes. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Filing Bankruptcy: Sooner or Later?
visiting for a couple of days. The words he said, “sooner or later” comes to my mind as I write this article. There comes a time in a person’s life when their debt burdens become too heavy to bear that nothing short of filing bankruptcy can make things better. People realize that “sooner or later”, they need to make a decision or they will remain stuck where they are. I always tell people that bankruptcy is a serious decision to make and that while it does help a lot of people get a fresh start, it is, of course, not the instant solution to all debt problems. But when done right and appropriate for your situation, it could mean the difference between forever struggling in debt and having a more secure financial future for yourself and your family. Nothing can be worse than being financially devastated and not being able to recover from it. Over the last 20 years now, I have counseled thousands and thousands of people who are seriously in debt. They know deep inside that they need to do something about their situation but the first step towards a solution always seems to be the hardest. So sometimes, they suffer NEEDLESSLY for years trying to do what they can with no success when they could have done something sooner to get the relief that is right under their nose. A lot of people think that once they file bankruptcy, they will forever be a financial outcast and they will never be able to get credit again. But this is simply not true. Most people who file bankruptcy can regain their good credit standing in as little
as 3 years and like my client in this story, would be able to buy a home which they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise if they had remained in excessive debt. Most people can’t even save a couple of hundred dollars a month for a down payment on a home when they can’t even keep up with their credit card minimum payments. Go figure. Fear of the unknown can sometimes be your greatest enemy if it paralyzes you to the point that you don’t take any action to change your life for the better. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Most of the fear disappears when you begin to understand that bankruptcy laws were created to help you, not to hurt you and it is not as bad as what you may initially think. Once you’ve reviewed the pros and cons and can make an intelligent decision based on that information, imagine how your life could change by finally getting that monkey off your back. My office can provide you a free confidential evaluation of your situation to determine whether Bankruptcy relief may help. If there are other alternatives to filing bankruptcy, I will help you explore them. To schedule an appointment please call TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia.. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
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Employees must be paid for all hours worked
Off-the-clock and “Unapproved” Work Hours are Still Compensable Q: I work as a nurse at a hospital that has a strict policy of no unapproved overtime. We don’t ask for approval since we risk being written up for “too much overtime.” We just clock out and go back to work to finish our charts. We are also not allowed to go on breaks unless we are relieved by another nurse. We are often forced to skip our breaks because we are understaffed and there is no reliever. We are not paid for breaks we missed even though hospital policy says we should be. Do we have remedies? A: Yes. You should be paid for the extra hours you worked even if they are “off the clock.” If these extra hours go beyond 8 hours per day, then you are entitled to the overtime rate of 1½ times your regular rate. Those who work beyond 12 hours per day are entitled to twice their regular rate. Also, you should be paid an extra hour for any missed meal break, and another extra hour for any missed rest break. (If you work in the health care industry, you are also likely working on alternative workweek schedules (AWS). If so, all work performed in any workday beyond the schedule established by the AWS agreement up to 12 hrs a day or beyond 40 hours per week shall be paid “time and a half.” All work performed beyond 12 hours per day shall be paid “double time.” Also paid double time are hours worked beyond eight (8) hours on those days worked outside the regularly scheduled number of workdays established by the AWS agreement.) The above scenario is not uncommon in the healthcare industry. Consider the following case reported in the news recently: Robert Shaw worked as a travelling nurse for AMN
Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA SAmSon NOONG isang linggo ay aking tinalakay ang pagkuha ng green card sa pamamagitan ng kasal sa isang US citizen (USC). Ngunit may mga pagkakataon na may karahasan na ginagawa ang USC sa kanyang asawang dayuhan at ang dayuhan ay nagtitiis at nananatili sa kasal dahil sa kanyang immigration status. Noong 1994, isinagawang batas ni Pangulong Bill Clinton ang Violence Against Women Act o VAWA. Kinikilala ng VAWA ang epekto ng karahasan sa mga asawang dayuhan at sa kanilang mga menor de edad na mga anak. Sa ilalim ng VAWA, may mga paraan pa rin ang mga dayuhang biktima ng domestikong karahasan para maging legal ang kanilang immigration status kahit hiwalay na sila sa USC. Ang dayuhan ay maaaring mag-VAWA self-petition kung kanyang maipapakita na siya ay may good faith marriage sa asawang USC, at noong kasal, siya ay napailalim sa mga pang-aabuso o kalupitan sa kamay ng USC. Kinakailangan ding ipakita ng dayuhan na sila ng USC ay nagsama bilang magasawa, at ang dayuhan ay may good moral character. Ang dayuhan na may divorce decree na sa USC ay maaari pa ring magVAWA self petition kung itong self-petition ay kanyang ifile sa USCIS sa loob ng dalawang taon mula sa petsa ng divorce decree. Ayon sa batas, maipapakita ang karahasan o kalupitan kung ang dayuhan ay biktima ng mga akto ng karahasan mismo o kaya mga pagbabanta ng karahasan, mga pisikal o mental na pinsala, sikologikal na pang-aabuso, abusong sekswal tulad ng panggagahasa, pagmomolestya o prostitusyon. May mga pang-aabuso rin na maaaring isaalang-alang bilang karahasan tulad ng pangaabusong emosyonal dahil ito ay parte ng kabuoang karahasan. Ang mga pang-aabuso, kalupitan o karahasan ay kailangang ginawa ng USC sa dayuhang asawa o sa anak nitong menor de edad, at ang mga ito ay dapat naganap noong sila ay kasal pa at nagsasama pa bilang mag-asawa. Ang VAWA self-petition ay kailangang may kasamang edidensya ng citizenship ng USC at ebidensya ng good faith marriage. Ang pangunahing ebidensya ng kasal ay ang marriage certificate na galing sa county recorder, at mga patibay na ang mga dating kasal ng USC at dayuhan ay tapos na o wala nang bisa. Ang good faith marriage ay maipapakita sa pamamagitan
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Healthcare, which is a company that recruits and places nurses at healthcare facilities nationwide. One of its clients is Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in California. Shaw sued AMN and Kaiser in a class action on behalf of himself and other travelling nurses, claiming that they were not paid for all the time they worked before and after their scheduled shifts. These include time spent on patient hand-offs, charting, and other work-related activities. The nurses also alleged that AMN and Kaiser failed to provide adequate meal and rest break periods that were truly off-duty. Nurses were provided copies of policies instructing them that Kaiser has a “strict policy against overtime.” Handbook provisions expressly stated that overtime is not authorized. Other policies provided an approval process for overtime that was too burdensome because it required the preapproval and signatures of two different managers. Nurses testified that they were exhausted after a 12hour shift and that it was often “impossible” to track down a manager or charge nurse to authorize overtime. So nurses end up doing off-the-clock unpaid work. Kaiser required its own nurses as well as the traveling nurses to perform the same core duties with respect to patient care. However, Kaiser’s overtime policy for its own nurses permits them to work up to two hours of overtime each week without supervisor approval, while travel
nurses must have pre-authorization for any overtime. This policy seems to have created a situation where traveling nurses are not paid overtime. California law requires employers to compensate employees for all time they are “suffered or permitted to work, whether or not required to do so.” Management must make every effort to enforce a rule against uncompensated work, including taking reasonable steps to investigate suspected work that is done without compensation. Employers cannot sit back or simply stand by while employees do uncompensated work. AMN and Kaiser denied that they violated any law. The court granted approval for the employees to proceed to trial as a class. Rather than continue with litigation, the employers agreed to pay the nurses $20 million. There are about 8,200 class members. Given the rights accorded by law to employees, efforts should be made by them to keep records documenting their off the clock work to justify any claim for wages. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award, and is a Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas in 2018.] (Advertising Supplement)
VAWA self-petition ng mga dokumento tulad ng insurance policies, kasunduan ng pag-upa, tax returns, bank accounts, at mga testimonya tungkol sa panliligaw, kasal at pagsasama ng mag-asawa. Mabuti ring ebidensya ng good faith marriage ang birth certificate ng mga anak, mga dokumento galing sa police, doctor at korte at mga sinumpaang salaysay ng mga taong may kaalaman tungkol sa relasyon ng mag-asawa. Ang mga ebidensya naman ng karahasan at kalupitan ay mga police report, medical report, mga sulat galing sa eskwelahan, simbahan o social worker. Kung ang dayuhan ay kumuha na temporary restraining order sa kanyang asawang USC o kaya ay tumira sa battered women’s shelter, ito ay mga matibay din na patunay ng pang-aabusong naganap. *** One of the most common ways to get a green card is by familybased petition through marriage to a US citizen (USC). However, sometimes there is abuse perpetrated during the marriage by the USC spouse and the alien feels that he or she is forced to stay with the USC spouse because of immigration status. The immigrant provisions of VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) provide legal remedies that permit victims of domestic violence to legalize their status independent of their abusers. An alien who is the spouse of a USC may self-petition for immigrant classification under VAWA if the alien demonstrates that he or she entered into the marriage with the USC spouse in good faith and that during the marriage, the alien or a child of the alien was battered or subjected to extreme cruelty perpetrated by the USC spouse. In addition, the alien must show that he or she is eligible to be classified as an immediate relative, resided with the abusive spouse, and is a person of good moral character. An alien who has divorced an abusive USC may still petition under VAWA if the alien demonstrates a connection between the legal termination of marriage within the past 2 years and the battering or extreme cruelty by the USC spouse. The phrase “was battered by or subject of extreme cruelty” includes, but is not limited to, being the victim of any act or threatened act of violence, including any forceful detention, which results or threatens to result in physical or mental injury. Psychological or sexual abuse or exploitation, including rape, molestation, or prostitution shall be considered acts of violence. Other abusive actions may also be acts of violence in-
cluding acts that, in and of themselves, may not initially appear violent but that are a part of an overall pattern of violence. The qualifying abuse must have been committed by the USC spouse, must have been perpetrated against the self-petitioner or the self-petitioner’s child, and must have taken place during the selfpetitioner’s marriage to the USC spouse abuser. A self-petition filed by the abused spouse must be accompanied by evidence of citizenship of the USC spouse abuser. It must also be accompanied by evidence of the relationship. Primary evidence of the relationship is a marriage certificate issued by civil authorities, and proof of termination of all prior marriages of the self-petitioner. Evidence of good faith marriage may include, but is not limited to, proof that one spouse has been listed on insurance polies, property leases, income tax forms, or bank accounts; and testimonies or other evidence regarding courtship, wedding ceremony, shared residences and experiences. Other types of evidence include birth certificates of children born to the marriage, police, medical or court documents providing information about the relationship; and affidavits of persons with personal knowledge of the relationship. Evidence of abuse may include, but is not limited to, reports and affidavits from police, judges and other court officials, medical personnel, school officials, clergy, social workers, and other social service agency personnel. Persons who have obtained an order of protection against the abuser or have taken other steps to end the abuse are strongly encouraged to submit copies of the relating documents. Evidence that the abuse victim sought safe haven in a battered women’s shelter, documents of physically injured self-petitioner and affidavits would be also be relevant. *** Atty. Rhea Samson is a partner at Lindain & Samson Law Firm. Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson are licensed attorneys both in California and the Philippines. They are also professors. Lindain & Samson Law Firm aims to provide excellent and effective legal representation to their clients, and support them in achieving their dreams. As professors, Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson strive to educate the younger generation as they believe that education is the way for progress and to attain success in life in order to serve other people. Visit us at our office at 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010 or contact us by telephone at (213) 381-5710 or email attorney@ lindainsamsonlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500.00 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K. Dear K.K., The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave. The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.” Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident cases on their own, or with the assistance of inexperienced counsel. Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Dam-
Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn ages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury.
time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings. Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident. If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim. ***
“The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave.” CACI No. 3903C. How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider. After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of
Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@ dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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People & Events
UCLA Pilipino alumnus spearheads gala brunch in honor of alumni awardees and scholars WITH over 100 attendees registered, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Lambda LGBTQ Alumni Association (Lambda) held its
Annual Gala Brunch on Sunday, April 28 to recognize Lambda alumni’s accomplishments, raise scholarship funds for deserving UCLA students, and
recognize alumni who have gone on to become prominent community leaders. The gala brunch was spearheaded by Lambda Board Member and Gala Chair Bobby Rimas. Rimas, a UCLA Pilipino Alumnus, is also an Associate Professor at California State University, Los Angeles and a Paralegal for a bank in Pasadena. Rimas has also chaired several galas for the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association. The Lambda Gala Brunch program was emceed by Lambda Co-Presidents Kaya Foster and Devon Dickau and took place in the garden of the UCLA James West Alumni Center where attendees enjoyed mimosas and a fabulous brunch with tables strewn with sunflower and rose centerpieces. The Lambda Alumna of the Year, Sheila Kuehl, and Young Alumna of the Year, Natasha Case, presented moving and inspiring speeches to the crowd that demonstrated their individual resilience to move forward with their fascinating careers. Alumna of the Year Sheila Kuehl ‘62 – Before her service on the Board, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kuehl served 8 years in the California State Senate and 6 years in the California State Assembly. She was the first women in California history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly, and the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the California legislature. Young Aluma of the Year Natasha Case ‘08 founded Coolhaus in 2009 with Freya Estreller after she worked in architecture at Walt Disney Imagineering. They launched their architecturally-inspired unique ice cream sandwich company at the Coachella Music Festival and have been featured in many national publications, television shows, and radio such as Cosmo, Bon Appetit, Barefoot Contessa, and National Public Radio. After the awards presentation, Lambda scholarship recipi-
ents Camille Serrano and James Cabrera spoke to the audience regarding their touching experiences, overcoming various adversities, and the importance of Lambda scholarships. Last but not least, Lambda Co-President Devon Dickau and Lambda Board Member Clinton O’Grady did an excellent job of doing an “ask for donations” and managed to raise over $12,000 in less than 20 minutes for deserving UCLA students. Formally established in 1989 by Doug Walters and Corinne Lightweaver, the UCLA Lambda Alumni Association is one of the oldest and most well-established LGBTQ+ alumni organizations in the United States. The UCLA Lambda Alumni Association sustains a network of LGBTQ+ alumni and friends to support one another, UCLA students, and the greater LGBTQ+ community through social and professional networking, student support, and external community engagement. For future UCLA Lambda LGBTQ Alumni Association events, please contact lambda@alumni. UCLA Lambda Alumni Board Members Harold Sarmiento (left) and Bobby Rimas (right) at the UCLA Lambda Alumni’s Gala Brunch. ucla.edu. ■
From left: UCLA Lambda Gala Chair Bobby Rimas, Alumna of the Year and L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and Lambda Co-Presidents Kaya Foster and Devon Dickau.
Calendar of Events across
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“Tagolilong: Hidden in Plain Sight” exhibit in San Pedro, CA An interactive homage to Indigenous California Habitat will be on exhibit from May 18 to June 29, 2019. Created by LA-based artists-collaborators, champoy and Sarita Doe, it will open on Saturday, May 18th, 2019 from 3:00pm-6:00pm at Pinta*Dos Philippine Art Gallery which is located at 479 W Sixth Street, Suite 108, Historic Arts District, San Pedro, CA 90731. Tagolilong: Hidden in Plain Sight will be the sixth exhibit at Pinta*Dos Gallery since it was inaugurated in June 2017. The Gallery is open from Wednesday to Friday, 3:00pm to 6:00pm except on First Thursdays when it is open until 8pm. It is also open by appointment. For further information, email Linda Nietes-Little, Founder of the gallery at info@pintadosgallery.com Also visit their website: http://www.pintadosgallery.com , facebook and instagram pages.
M AY 25
Marist School Marikina to celebrate 55th anniversary in Buena Park, CA Marist Alumni Abroad, coordinated by Arthur ‘Jojo’ P. Armada ‘77, invites alumni, family and friends, and the public who are interested, to the 55th anniversary grand reunion of the Marist School Marikina, to be held on Saturday, May 25, at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (7675 Crescent Ave., Buena Park, CA 90620). The event’s theme is “Celebrating Our Marist Life... The Legacy Continues,” hosted by Marist Alumni Abroad. Dinner and dance: 6 pm to 11 pm; donation: $55/pax (per person). Contact person is overall chair Jojo P. Armada at (626) 2163529 or email: armadaarthur@yahoo.com.
M AY 25 -26
Bulacan high schools reunite in Rosemead, CA The 2019 Global Gathering of Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School (MHPHS) of Malolos, Bulacan will be held on May 25-26, 2019 at the Double Tree Hotel in Rosemead, CA. For further information, please contact any of the following: Lourdes Ople-Smith at lourdesosmith@ gmail.com / (310) 662-1948; Charito Aldaba-Gabriel atchato_gabriel1019@yahoo.com / (818) 653-6047; Leni Flor Cruz-Florentino at lenflorcruz529@yahoo.com / (818) 282-0928; Tristan Zafra at tristan@trisoftco.com / (714) 686-3345; Gerry Torres, Jr. at gerrytorres50@gmail.com / (213) 249-1633; and Perfecto T. Martin at perfecto.martin@gmail.com.
JUNE 1
7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival in LA The 7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival Committee (7KPFC) announced that it will holding the 7th Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 1, 2019 in commemoration of the 121st PH Independence Day on June 12, 1898. This will be the 7th Kalayaan Parade and Festival in Historic Filipinotown, as the first was held in 2013 in cooperation with the PH Consulate General in Los Angeles. This is the only Independence Day parade and Festival in Los Angeles and is held every year in Historic Filipinotown. For more information, please call Freddie at (818) 220-2075 or email at jfavusa8@gmail.com.
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Employer-sponsored green cards are still available despite H-2B ban Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ THE USCIS has “de-listed” (or banned) Filipinos from applying for the seasonal/ temporary H-2B visa. (This visa allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fi ll temporary nonagricultural jobs, such as housekeepers at hotels during the busy summer season.) However, this ban DOES NOT APPLY to Filipinos seeking green cards through the labor certification or PERM process. That avenue for green cards or legalization is still available to Filipinos, as long as it is a legitimate job opportunity and you follow the rules and abide by the law. The USCIS and U.S. Embassy concluded that Filipinos were abusing and/or being abused under the H-2B program: The Philippines has a high H-2B overstay rate, where nearly 40 percent of H-2B visa holders from the Philippines overstayed their visa and went TNT. Nearly 40 percent of the worldwide visas for family members of victims of traffi cking (T-visas) were from Filipinos who came to the U.S. as H-2B visa holders and then claimed they were victims of trafficking. In other words, DHS and DOS are now concerned about the high volume of trafficking victims from the Philippines who were originally issued H-2B visas and then became victims of trafficking. So, it appears it is not safe for
Filipinos to apply for H-2B visas, as so many claim they were abused. “The Philippines’ continued inclusion creates the potential for abuse, fraud, and other harm to the integrity of the H-2A or H-2B visa programs.” It also may be that many Filipinos were taking advantage of, or abusing, these programs by entering the U.S. on an H-2B visa but violating the visas by overstaying. Then, in an attempt to remain in the U.S., made up stories about being abused or traffi cked, so they can remain in America and bring their family from the Philippines to join them. However, even though Filipinos are banned from applying for H-2B visas (except on a case by case exception), they can still apply for green cards under labor certification or PERM. In fact, I have had several Filipino clients consult with me, who were eligible to be petitioned by an employer, but mistakenly thought they were now banned from doing so. That is not true. Filipinos can still be petitioned for green cards through an employer. The basic requirements are: A financially stable employer in the U.S. with a real job position, where the alien will work once they obtain their green card. It need not be a Fortune 500 company. It can even be a six-bed board and care facility, sole proprietorship, etc. Typically, the net income on the employer’s tax return should equal the alien’s salary in order to demonstrate an employer’s “ability to pay” the wage. An alien who is qualified for the particular job position either through education or experience. It need not be a collegelevel job. In fact, caregivers are also eligible for green cards through employer sponsorship, and right now it takes about the same amount of time as profes-
sional or skilled workers (approximately 2-3 years.). The employer must first make a good-faith effort to locate qualifi ed U.S. workers for the job. If there is no qualified U.S. worker ready, willing, and able to perform the job duties, the job can be “certified” for the alien. Even if a person is out of status, they may still be eligible to get a green card if they were grandfathered under section 245(i) or qualify for a provisional waiver. Therefore, if you believe you are eligible, or know someone (such as a relative in the Philippines) who may be eligible, and there is an employer who willing to sponsor the alien, you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate the case and assist in processing it. But don’t miss out on a green card through an employer based on the H-2B ban, as it does not apply to labor certification green cards. *** 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 (Advertising Supplement)
According to a research, the Philippines remains among emerging economies vulnerable to slowing global economic activity resulting from an escalating trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban
Accommodative monetary policy supports PH economy, says think tank day, May 21, the research firm said the country remains among emerging economies vulnerable AN accommodative monetary to slowing global economic activpolicy can be expected to support ity resulting from an escalating the Philippine economy this year trade war between the world’s two in the face of external headwinds largest economies. As the Philippines is an oil imthat include the worsening U.S.China trade war and rising oil pric- porting country, its growth proses, said London-based think tank pects are threatened by rising global oil prices, the result of U.S. Oxford Economics. In a research brief issued Tues- sanctions on Iran. by CZERIZA
VALENCIA Philstar.com
The firm noted that while the country’s economic growth slowed to 5.6 percent in the first quarter of the year amid delays in public spending, the enactment of this year’s national budget will provide support to the economy as export growth falters. “With the budget impasse over, government spending and public construction are expected to pick PAGE D2
MIAA remittance up 50% in 2018 THE Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) saw a solid fiscal performance last year as it remitted a record P3.42 billion in dividends to the national government. In a statement on Tuesday, May 21, the MIAA said the amount is 50 percent higher than its remittance in 2017. Given its fiscal autonomy, the agency is required to remit at least 50 percent of its earnings to the national government. Arlene Britanico, MIAA assis-
tant general manager for finance and administration, said the dividends were buoyed by “the increase in flights, passengers, additional concessions coupled with the strict implementation of the Point Of Sale system, imposition of variable parking rates at terminal as well as opening of additional parking areas.” “The gain on sale of MIAA property to DPWH for C5 extension largely contributed to the increase in MIAA’s net income for the year 2018,” she added in the statement.
Corporate income taxes remitted to the government also reached P5.4 billion. “The MIAA remains committed in improving its fiscal management, as we also work on improving the infrastructure and operations of NAIA. Ultimately, our fiscal performance should resonate in our efforts in making each airport passenger satisfied beyond expectations,” MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal was also quoted as saying in the statement. (Lisbet K. Esmael/ManilaTimes.net)
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Tax-free status of small miners’ Fitch Solutions cuts PH growth forecasts on US-China trade tensions, gloomy global outlook gold sales to BSP restored by DaxIm
l. lucas
Inquirer.net
SMALL-SCALE miners may now sell gold sourced from their mining operations to the central bank tax free after President Duterte enacted a new law meant to boost the dwindling supply of the precious metal held by the government. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the new law—“An Act to Strengthen the Country’s Gross International Reserves�—would cover the sale of gold by smallscale miners to accredited traders for the eventual transfer to the central bank. “The tax regime under Republic Act No. 11256 would allow the BSP to increase its purchases of
domestic gold to further build up the level of the Philippines’ gross international reserves, which serves as the country’s primary buffer against external economic shocks,� the central bank said. The law, cleared Congress last March and signed recently by Mr. Duterte, exempts from excise and income tax the sale to the BSP of gold sourced from small-scale mining activities. The central bank said the new law aimed to remedy the 99percent drop in BSP’s domestic gold purchases from more than 900,000 fine troy ounces (FTO) in 2010 to around 10,000 FTO in 2019 as a result of the taxation of the sale of gold to the central bank beginning July 2011. “An increase in BSP’s gold purchases using pesos leads to
a net increase in the gross international reserves, thereby improving the country’s economic standing and lowering the cost of both funding for the republic as well as doing business for the private sector,� it added. More importantly, the new law will also help prevent the smuggling of Philippine gold through the black market to other countries and allows small-scale miners and traders to sell gold at international market prices. While the national government would forego only about P35 million annually from its income on BSP’s gold purchases, the Philippines as a whole is expected to benefit from keeping the gold right in the country for sale to the BSP, the central bank explained. n
NEDA joint panel OKs changes to 3 projects by anna leah
e. gonzales ManilaTimes.net
A NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) joint committee led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has approved changes to three projects that the government is currently implementing. In a statement on Tuesday, May 21, NEDA said its Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) approved changes in the first phase of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) Project, the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (Nisrip), and the Metro Manila Wastewater Management Project (MWMP). On the first project, which is handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the implementation period of its first phase is extended from June 2017 to April 2021; and the validity of its loan from July 2019 to July 2022, inclusive of a one-year defects liability period. “This will allow the DPWH to complete the remaining works that were hobbled by issues over right-of-way acquisition and delivery of aggregate supply,� NEDA explained. “The implementationperiod extension will not entail an increase in total project cost.� Regarding Nisrip, which the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is implementing, its loan validity is also extended from its
Chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, the ICC-CabCom approved changes in the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Project, Phase I; the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP); and the Metro Manila Wastewater Management Project (MWMP). Photo courtesy of NEDA
original July 2019 closing date to July 2021, and the end of its project implementation period for civil works and other activities — which began in February 2012 — moved from June 2019 to June 2021. The total project cost was also revised, from the previously approved P4.01 billion to P3.13 billion, representing a 21.78-percent reduction. So was its coverage, from the original 35,670 hectares to 34,216 ha. According to NEDA, the estimated number of farmers who stand to benefit from the project would rise to 26,683 from the previous 22,563. And on the MWMP, the joint panel moved the closing date of the loan the project took from June 2019 to June 2020 and approved the replacement of the four Pasig
Project Contract Packages under the account of Ayala-led Manila Water Company Inc. with three Marikina North Project Contract Packages and four University of the Philippines Project Contract Packages. Once fully implemented, the wastewater project is expected to benefit up to 850,000 people within Manila Water’s concession area and up to 1.87 million people within the concession area of the Maynilad Water Services Inc., an MPIC-DMCI joint venture. State-run Land Bank of the Philippines is the MWMP’s main proponent, together with the two water companies. In addition to these projects, the ICC-Cabcom also noted changes in the Access to Sustainable EnerPAGE D3
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by Ian
nIcolas cIgaral Philstar.com
THE Philippine economy will likely expand below the government’s target in 2019 amid external headwinds, according to a Fitch unit that also announced Wednesday, May 22, a downward revision to its growth outlook on the country. In a research note, Fitch Solutions said it cut its 2019 growth projection on the Philippine economy to 5.9 percent from 6.1 percent previously. If realized, this would fail to meet the state’s 6 percent7 percent annual expansion goal for 2019 and would be slower than 6.2% actual growth rate in 2018. Fitch Solutions said the weak external backdrop will prove a drag on domestic growth, owing to ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and slowing global growth. However, an expected pick up in government spending and easing monetary policy should support growth over the coming quarters, the Fitch unit added. For 2020, Fitch Solutions said the Philippine economy will likely rebound “modestly� at 6.3 percent — which was lower than the Fitch unit’s previous estimate. “Despite the still-positive domestic consumption outlook, slowing global growth and persistent Sino-American trade tensions will continue to weigh on growth over the coming quarters,� Fitch Solutions said. “The U.S. and China accounted for 15.6 percent and 12.9 percent respectively of exported goods from the Philippines in 2018, with Hong Kong and Japan also key markets accounting for 14.2 percent and 14.0 percent of exports
In a research note, Fitch Solutions said it cut its 2019 growth projection on the Philippine economy to 5.9 percent from 6.1 percent previously. Philstar.com file photo
respectively. The slowdown in global growth was already providing a less supportive backdrop for exports in 2018, with growth slowing to 6.5 percent from 9.9 percent in 2017,� it added. “However, increased trade tensions between the U.S. and China has had a ripple effect across the Asia region, weakening demand across the supply chain and dampening business confidence in H119,� it continued. Gross domestic product — or the value of all finished goods and services produced in the country — expanded 5.6 percent in the first three months of 2019, slower than 6.3 percent in the previous quarter and 6.5 percent recorded in the comparable period last year. The latest reading was the slowest since 5.1 percent registered in the first quarter of 2015 and settled below the state’s annual target for 2019. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia blamed
Congress’ failure to pass the 2019 national budget on time for the economy’s disappointing performance in the first quarter. A spat among lawmakers delayed the approval of the new outlay, leaving fresh projects unfunded and crimping state spending, which accounts for a fifth of the country’s GDP. The budget bill was signed into law in mid-April. In a bid power growth amid cooling inflation and tight liquidity conditions, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas this month cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent from a decade-high of 4.75 percent, and announced a threestep reduction in bank reserves to 16 percent from 18 percent. To reach the state’s full-year target, Pernia said the economy would have to expand by an average of 6.1 percent over the next three quarters, adding that the government is pinning its hope on election-related spending to charge growth. n
Accommodative monetary policy supports... PAGE D1 t up in the coming months and support growth,� the firm said. With inflation finally falling within the target range, it expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to cut policy rates by a cumulative 50 basis points within the year. The BSP has already slashed policy rates by 25 basis points early this month, after economic growth slowed to a four-year low. “With inflation in target range, monetary policy is expected to become more accommodative,� Oxford Economics said.
The firm said the recent increases in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have added downside risks to global growth which is already expected to slow down from 3.2 percent in 2018 to 2.7 percent this year and 2.8 percent in 2020. U.S. President Trump recently raised tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports to the U.S. to 25 percent, a sign that the trade war between the world’s top two economies will not end soon. As the U.S. has also ended waivers on oil imports from Iran beginning this month, effectively stopping most countries in the world
from buying Iranian oil and tightening global supply. “Supply concerns across oilexporting economies means the prospects of higher Brent prices is back on the cards, which would add a drag to global growth and make inflation spike,� the firm said. It reiterated its earlier expectation of Brent crude prices reaching $100 per barrel by the end of 2019. “The hardest-hit economies in 2020 are emerging markets such as the Philippines, China and India,� Oxford Economics said. n
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Gifts, decor industry gets more gov’t help Shamed customers rap 48 lending apps by Tyrone Jasper
C. piad
ManilaTimes.net
THE government seeks to further ramp up the gifts, décor and houseware (GDH) sector to support its growth. Despite the decline seen in the Philippines’ total export sales last year, the GDH sector realized a 23.9 percent boost in exports to $206.34 million from 2017’s $166.54 million. “The continuous growth of the country’s GDH sector is largely boosted by the collaborative efforts of government and private sector stakeholders to further push the competitiveness of the industry through various initia-
tives such as industry policy interventions, product development, strengthening the supply chain, and promotion activities,” the Department of Trade (DTI) said in a statement released on Wednesday, May 23. The agency particularly noted the relaunch of MA’I Lifestyle, the industry’s official brand, which helped bolster its presence in the global arena as “a primary source of reliable GDH products.” “Initiatives to further boost the country’s gifts, décor and houseware are finally paying off as the Philippines continues to carve a niche in the international market
as the preferred source of globally-competitive, innovative, and quality GDH products,” DTI also said. The government is also eyeing potential partnerships with the DTI Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) for a possible participation in trade expositions in other foreign markets. “For this year, the BOI (Board of Investments) will continue supporting the sector through partnerships with relevant agencies in identifying training opportunities that can further capacitate the industry,” DTI added. n
by Tyrone Jasper
C. piad
ManilaTimes.net
THE National Privacy Commission (NPC) is currently hearing 235 alleged harassment and shaming complaints against 48 online lending applications. The complaints were filed by borrowers whose privacy rights and reputation were allegedly violated and damaged by the lenders. In a press briefing on Tuesday, May 21, Liboro said the concerned online applications allegedly asked for access to contact information, photos, files and documents in mobile phones to process the loan. Should the borrower fail to settle payments, the application operator would send text messages or call people in the contact list, informing them of the former’s full name and outstanding balance. “Technology has enabled individuals to have access to loans. However, [there is] a downside,” he lamented. He said this could be comparable to cyber bullying if the borrower information would be posted on the internet for public shaming. Liboro declined to name the online lending applications but pledged to provide the list of violators “in due time” as hearings are still ongoing. He clarified the violators are not associated with major banking institutions. Meanwhile, Liboro revealed some of the violators have no data privacy officer, which is mandated by the Data Privacy Act of 2012. “The complainant could petition for temporary ban. It could lead to a permanent ban for processing
NEDA joint Hot money outflow hits $299-M in April panel OKs... The BSP said outflows of foreign portfolio investments went up by nearly 18 percent to $1.29 billion in April from $ 1.09 billion in the same month last year, while inflows fell by 28 percent to $989.96 million from $1.37 billion. Philstar.com file photo
by LawrenCe
agCaoiLi Philstar.com
MORE foreign portfolio investments or speculative funds exited the Philippines for the second straight month as net outflow reached $298.8 million in April, reversing the $279.29 million net inflow recorded in the same month last year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The BSP attributed the pull out of more foreign portfolio investments or hot money to the delayed passage of the 2019 national budget as well as the dam-
age caused by the earthquake last April 22. “Investors also stayed cautious amid the lack of fresh catalysts in the market and ongoing trade negotiations between the U.S. and China,” the BSP said. The BSP said outflows of foreign portfolio investments went up by nearly 18 percent to $1.29 billion in April from $ 1.09 billion in the same month last year, while inflows fell by 28 percent to $989.96 million from $1.37 billion. About 79.2 percent of investments registered in April were in
securities listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) particularly in property firms, holding companies, banks, transportation service providers as well as food, beverage and tobacco companies. On the other hand, about 20.8 percent went to peso government securities, while less than one percent went to peso time deposits. By instrument, net outflows were recorded for peso government securities with $238 million, PSE-listed securities with PAGE D5
PAGE D2 t gy Program of the Department of Energy. These include a two-year implementation period extension from Dec. 18, 2019 to Dec. 18, 2021; a two-year validity extension of a grant from the European Union (EU) from Dec. 18, 2021 to Dec. 18, 2023; and a reallocation of grant proceeds from contingencies to technical assistance. “These were approved through Department of Finance’s signing of an addendum to the financing agreement between the EU and the Philippine government [in] December 2018,” NEDA said. n
information,” he said. If needed, Liboro said the complaint could be elevated to the Department of Justice for unauthorized processing, unauthorized purpose or malicious disclosure. “Individuals are entitled to indemnification if warranted. They can be indemnified by [erring] companies,” he said. Further, he said complainants could avail settlement, with the fee subject to negotiation of both parties. Liboro said individuals should be more careful in read-
ing the privacy notices or terms of agreement. They should be “specific, freely given and again, informed,” he said. The NPC is currently checking if the privacy notices of the alleged violators are valid in the first place and compliant to the policies. It said the cases being heard are part of the 485 complaints the commission received last year. Despite the complaints, Liboro said he was seeing a “silver lining” as many individuals become aware of their privacy rights. n
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ADB: Malolos-Clark Railway plan to Debt-to-GDP ratio rises to 44% in Q1 cut Manila-Clark travel time to 1 hour by Mary
Grace Philstar.com
by Ben
O. de Vera
Start of operation eyed in 2022
Inquirer.net
TRAVEL time between Blumentritt in Manila and Clark International Airport in Pampanga would be slashed to less than one hour when the 53.1-kilometer MalolosClark Railway Project starts operation in 2022, thanks in part to a $2.75-billion loan to be extended by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The board of the Manila-based multilateral lender on Thursday, May 23, approved its biggest loan for the Philippines to date to construct the Malolos-Clark Railway, which will be co-financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The ADB loan will cover civil works such as bridges, stations and viaducts for the elevated railway alignment as well as the tunnel going to the underground station for Clark International Airport, ADB principal transport specialist for Southeast Asia Markus C. Roesner told a press conference. Meanwhile, JICA’s counterpart financing worth $2 billion will be used to buy trains as well as put up electrical and mechanical systems, he added. Roesner said bidding was already ongoing for six contracts covering elevated alignment, depot, and stations. The Malolos-Clark Railway will have seven stations: Blumentritt, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, and Clark International Airport – all of which will be partially operational starting 2022 using a limited number of trains in order to cater to 350,000 commuters per day, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran
said. By the time it is ready for full operations, the rail system will serve one million passengers a day, Libiran added. This railway project has two components, the main of which was the 51.2-kilometer section connecting Malolos City to Clark across six stations. Malolos, in turn, will be connected to Tutuban in Manila by the ongoing Jica-financed rail system, which will also be connected to the Blumentritt Station of the Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1) by the second section of the MalolosClark Railway project. Under the second phase will be the construction of 1.9-kilometer Solis-Blumentritt extension, where the elevated interchange station for LRT-1 will also be built. “The rail stations will include multimodal facilities, allowing commuters to easily transfer from public buses and jeepneys to the trains. The underground station at the Clark International Airport will provide a short connection to upcoming and future airport terminals,” ADB said in a statement. “The project will be built on an elevated alignment, helping reduce the impact on communities, avoid disruption of activities, and mitigate flood risks along the route. It will use innovative construction methods such as pre-fabricated viaduct segments, which limits the need for land acquisition and accelerates construction. High-quality construction methods will be used to achieve the maximum rail speed of up to 160 kilometer per hour,” it added. According to Roesner, the train will cut travel time between Manila and Clark to just less than one hour from two to three hours by
car or bus at present. “Our co-financing partnership with JICA allows both our institutions to combine our expertise and knowledge in building a worldclass railway in the Philippines,” Roesner said. As a whole, ADB said this project “will help ease the current chronic road congestion in Metro Manila, reduce air pollution, cut the costs of transport and logistics, spur economic growth in central Luzon, and encourage a population shift from the capital to growth centers in the north, such as Clark in Pampanga.” “The ADB’s partnership with the Philippines has always been strong, and it has become stronger in the last three years. The government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program is clearly steering the much-needed acceleration in infrastructure spending, from less than 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) a decade ago to 6.3 percent now, well on track to achieve the 7 percent target by 2022,” ADB president Takehiko Nakao said. “One of the key flagship projects of the ‘Build, Build, Build” program is the Malolos-Clark railway. It will be the ADB’s single largest infrastructure project financing ever, and from a development perspective, we are pleased this investment is taking place in the ADB’s host country. The project, combined with other investments in light rail transit, metro rail transit, and subway systems, will bring back the culture of rail transport in Metro Manila,” Nakao added. The “Build, Build, Build” pipeline included a total of 75 projects aimed at ushering in “the golden age of infrastructure.” n
Hot money outflow hits $299-M in April PAGE D3 t $61 million, other peso debt instruments and other portfolio instruments with less than $2 million. The BSP said the United Kingdom, U.S., Singapore, Hong Kong and Luxembourg cornered 84.8 percent of the total gross inflows, while the U.S. remained the biggest recipient of foreign portfolio investments pulled out from the
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Philippines with a share of 71.1 percent. For the first four months, the BSP said the Philippines booked a net inflow of $64 million, down compared to the $1.05 billion in the same period last year. Gross inflows slipped by nearly five percent to $6.19 billion from January to April compared to the $6.51 billion inflows in the same period last year, while gross out-
flows booked a 12 percent increase to $6.13 billion from $5.47 billion. The BSP expects the Philippines to register a net outflow of foreign portfolio investments amounting to $200 million this year. Last year, the net inflow of foreign portfolio investments hit a five-year high of $1.2 billion, reversing the net outflow of $195.4 million in 2017. n
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Padin
THE proportion of the national government’s debt to economic output rose to 44 percent in the first quarter of the year due to the increase in domestic borrowings, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Thursday, May 23. In an economic bulletin, Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said the debt-to-GDP ratio expanded to 44 percent as of end-March 2019 from 42.6 percent in the same period last year. He attributed this to the government’s shift to local sources of borrowings, which increased the domestic debt-to-GDP ratio to 29.3 percent from 27.6 percent in the same quarter of 2018. This outpaced the drop in external debt, whose share to GDP declined to 14.7 percent from 14.9 percent. With this strategy, Beltran said the government was able to reduce foreign exchange risks. However, he said an alternative measure called the net debtto-GDP ratio, which nets out the national government’s cash balance from the debt level, dropped to 39.2 percent in the first quarter from 39.6 percent in the same period last year. “Net debt or debt net of cash balance is a stronger determinant
of emerging country spreads than gross debt based on the IMF (International Monetary Fund) Working Paper ‘Does Gross or Net Debt Matter More for Emerging Market Spreads?’ by Metodij Hadzi-Vaskov and Luca Antonio Ricci published in Dec. 2016,” he said. Debt-to-GDP ratio is an indicator used by debt watchers and credit rating agencies to assess a country’s debt sustainability. A lower ratio indicates the government is generating more resources than debt, giving it more payment capacity. Meanwhile, Beltran said the country’s net debt-to-revenue ratio in the first quarter dropped to 238.3 percent from 249.7 percent last year. Net debt-to-expenditure ratio likewise slid to 203.7 percent from 214.6 percent. On the other hand, he said interest payments as a percentage of GDP climbed slightly to 2.56 percent from 2.48 percent due to higher interest rates following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s move to normalize monetary policy. Beltran said interest payments as a percentage of revenues went down to 15.67 percent from 15.68 percent, but went up to 13.85 percent as a percentage of expenditures due to the delayed approval of the 2019 budget. Lastly, the DOF official said debt service as a share of GDP in the
first three months of 2019 went up to 5.23 percent from 5.06 percent a year ago. “Proactive debt management has afforded the Philippines an expanded fiscal space as the level of debt has declined significantly from 87.2 percent of GDP in 2006 to 41.8 percent in 2018 – a 45.4 percentage point decline. Net debt shows a bigger decline from 84.8 percent of GDP to 37 percent – a 47.8 percentage point decline,” Beltran said. “In general, first quarter 2019 debt statistics show continuation of the favorable trend toward debt reduction. These favorable numbers indicate that fears of a forthcoming debt crisis are unfounded,” he added. In the first quarter of the year, the Philippine economy grew by 5.6 percent, its slowest pace in four years. At the same time, the national government’s outstanding debt as of end-March jumped to another all-time high of P7.802 trillion due to currency adjustments and the net issuance of government securities. Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed domestic debt rose by 6.1 percent to P5.197 trillion, accounting for 66.6 percent of the total debt stock. External debt likewise increased by two percent to P2.605 trillion. n
Gov’t eyes microinsurance coverage for 50-M Filipinos THE government wants microinsurance coverage among Filipinos to jump to 50 million by 2022 by making these already cheap insurance products more available to farmers and those living in disaster-prone areas, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said. During a meeting organized by the German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Beltran noted that the number of Filipinos covered by microinsurance increased to 38.9 million from less than three million in 2009. The regulator Insurance Commission (IC) had attributed the 18.8-percent increase in microinsurance penetration last year to higher sales of more mutual benefit associations as well as life and nonlife insurers selling these cheaper but short-term insurance policies. “Since 1997, the DOF (Department of Finance), together with the National Credit Council, began to
develop policies on financial inclusion through the National Strategy for Microfinance. Through this, the Philippine government has set the stage for market-driven provision of both microfinance and microinsurance—leaving itself with a enabling, supporting role through policy, regulation and capacitybuilding,” Beltran noted. Beltran, who is also the DOF’s chief economist, likewise highlighted how microinsurance coverage helped when natural disasters like Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) that flattened central Philippines in 2013, strike. “In the aftermath of Yolanda, those covered with microinsurance claimed an estimated P500 million almost immediately. Claims were made mostly from nonbanking institutions like pawnshops and remittance centers—both of which cater and are more accessible to those in the lower classes. These claims have been vital in the rehabilitation of survivors,” Beltran said.
FOR RENT
This shows that beyond accomplishing the goal of financial inclusion, microinsurance also took on the role of social safety net for vulnerable segments of the population, he added. Beltran told reporters that one way to jack up microinsurance penetration was by introducing products for farmers. In 2016, the IC came out with microinsurance frameworks for agriculture, health and preneed products, making the Philippines widely regarded as a microinsurance model in the region. However, Beltran said the government did not intend to make microinsurance coverage mandatory as had been proposed for products aimed at covering disaster risks. “We don’t want to do that—we are like forcing people to eat something they might not want. Sometimes the market develops by itself; no country has tried to impose” microinsurance coverage, Beltran said. (Ben O. de Vera/ Inquirer.net)
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