July 7-10, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 55 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages
96 politicians now on Duterte’s narco list by ROMINA
CABRERA Philstar.com
MANILA — There are now 96 narco politicians in President Duterte’s drug list from the original list that included 83 politicians, the head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said. PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said three more politicians have been added to the narco list, which includes vice mayors, mayors, governors and congressmen. The number of narco politi-
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PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said three more politicians have been added to the narco list, which includes vice mayors, mayors, governors and congressmen. Philstar.com photo Boy Santos
Two PH mayors shot in same week, prompting DATELINE calls to action Drug war helped cut crime rate in Metro Manila - Police American missionary R A V R M deported from Philippines over ‘political activity’
USA
‘HANDOG TITULO’ BENEFICIARY. President Rodrigo Duterte leads the awarding of the land titles to one of the beneficiaries of the Handog Titulo Program during the 31st founding anniversary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at the Biodiversity Management Bureau Amphitheater, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City on Wednesday, July 4. Joining the president is DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu. Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
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AN American missionary was deported back to the United States from the Philippines on Wednesday, July 4, for allegedly engaging in “political activities.” Adam Thomas Shaw, an American missionary of the United Methodist Church, took a flight to the U.S. on Wednesday morning, July 4, according to the Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI). Shaw was one of three missionaries ordered to leave, with the others coming from Zimbabwe and Malawi. The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) confirmed that Shaw had arrived in Ohio on Thursday, July 5.
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Court rules in favor of California’s sanctuary state policy State survives first round of Trump administration’s suit against the sanctuary law
A FEDERAL judge in California this week ruled in favor of the state’s sanctuary state policies, denying the Trump administration’s request to impose a halt on the law that prohibits state officials from helping federal agents enforce certain immigration practices. U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez of the Eastern District of California on Wednesday, July 4 declined to block SB 54, the state’s sanctuary state bill, in a 60-page ruling in which he said, “[The] Plaintiff’s (the Trump administration) argument that SB 54 makes immigration enforcement far more burdensome begs the question: more burdensome than what?” Mendez ruled that the state may prohibit its law enforcement from aiding federal agents, saying that the “laws make enforcement more burdensome than it would be if state and local law enforcement provided immigration officers with their assistance.
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AE
NN ARONA AJPress
TWO Philippine mayors were killed in separate back-to-back shootings within two days, fueling more fears in the country as it deals with the publicized problem of extrajudicial killings stemming from the administration’s war on drugs. One of the mayors was previously said to be linked to illegal drugs. Mayor Ferdinand Bote, 57, of northern General Tinio, was riding an SUV in the northern Nueva Ecija province on Tuesday, July 3 when he was shot by a man riding a motorcycle, police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. No clear reason for his murder was immediately known, as of press time. A day before on Monday, July 2, Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan was shot by a sniper during a weekly flag-raising ceremony. The 72-year-old mayor was notorious for rounding up criminals and parading them around his city on “walks of shame,” but was also accused of being involved with drugs. Since coming into office in 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign has reportedly left thousands dead with Philippine police claiming the death toll to be roughly over 4,200 resulting from clashes with law enforcement. But human rights groups hold the death toll higher, with estimates past 10,000. Duterte has made clear that his war on drugs would not exclude public servants, including mayors, judges, and police officers. Shortly after becoming president, Duterte revealed a list of 150 judges and
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ITCHEL ENDIOLA AJPress
ONE of the main factors for the 25 percent decline in Metro Manila’s crime rate in the first half of 2018 is the government’s war on drugs, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) cited. Metro crime incidence has been reduced under the government’s Oplan Tokhang, an anti-illegal drugs campaign spearheaded by the Philippine National Police (PNP), as stated by NCRPO. The campaign has seen 48,886 suspected drug users and pushers arrested; 1,590 neutralized; and 233,896 surrendered. “Evidently, the less number of drug addicts on the street
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that the country’s peace and order situation has improved. It added that while there are incidents of killings, it would also be proper for the public to determine how far peace and order situation in the country has improved by looking at objective data. Philstar.com photo
US working on Duterte-Trump meeting at White House AFTER U.S. President Donald Trump’s historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month, could a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte be next? United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim this week said the U.S. government is set on facilitating Duterte’s visit to Washington. “As you know, President Trump has already invited President Duterte to visit Washington but obviously there had been lots of important development here in the Philippines and
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U.S. President Donald Trump talks with PH President Rodrigo Duterte during the gala dinner marking ASEAN’s 50th anniversary in Manila last November 12, 2017. Malacañang photo
US immigrant visas for Filipinos decline by JOSE
KATIGBAK Philstar.com
Analyzing State Department data, the Washington Post said the most affected were Muslim-majority countries, but the number of immigrant visas granted to people from the Philippines, Mexico, China, India, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Pakistan and Afghanistan has also declined. Philstar.com photo
WASHINGTON – The number of visas granted to people from countries that typically receive the largest number of immigrant visas from the U.S., including the Philippines, has declined and is on pace to drop 12 percent in U.S. President Donald Trump’s first two years in office, The Washington Post said. The newspaper in an analysis of State Department data said the most affected were Muslim-ma-
jority countries, but the number of immigrant visas granted to people from the Philippines, Mexico, China, India, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Pakistan and Afghanistan has also declined. The flow of legal immigrants from Europe, however, has increased slightly. The analysis does not include temporary visas such as H-1B visas for skilled workers and H2B visas for seasonal workers or
student visas. The Post report published last Tuesday comes on the heels of a public outcry against Trump’s efforts to discourage illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, separating children from their parents awaiting proceedings for removal or improper entry. Following the outcry, Trump signed an executive order last month that replaced the controversial measure with a policy of
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From the Front Page
96 politicians now on Duterte’s... PAGE A1 t cians has been increasing, from 86 in December to 93 in April, and the list now contains 96 names, whose involvement in illegal drugs is all verified, Aquino said. City mayors account for the majority of narco politicians.
“Validated na lahat. Tapos na. Ang total ay 96 officials,” he told The Star. However, Aquino said that he is no longer keen on revealing the names of those in the narco list. “Maraming complication when you reveal names. That happened, maraming naging
problema, tulad sa barangay. I want to work silently, dito lalo sa mayors and congressmen,” he added. The president had ordered the release of the names of 207 barangay officials in the drug list in time for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last May. Duterte himself revealed some of the names on the narco list, including slain mayors Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte; Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. of Ozamiz City and Antonio Halili of Tanauan City. Aquino said the involvement of these mayors in illegal drugs could not be denied, especially that of Halili. Halili had gone to the office of the PDEA chief about two months ago to clear his name of his alleged involvement in the drug trade. “He was here in PDEA trying to clear his name. He knows exactly that he is in the narco list, alam na alam niya yun. Open na open ako kay mayor, sinabi ko na hindi ako makikipagplastikan sa iyo talagang positive ka sa listahan namin,” Aquino said in a separate interview with ABSCBN News. Aquino refuted Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s statement that Halili was not involved in the drug trade and said the mayor’s links had been validated by the four law enforcement agencies. Halili’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs and his inclusion in the narco list did not necessarily mean he was killed over those motives, Aquino said. He argued that mayors have many death threats, be it political motives, grudges or involvement in illegal drugs, and that it is now the Philippine National Police’s duty to find out the motive. He denied that there has been a “pattern” of killing local executives bared on the narco list despite the fact that four named mayors have been killed, including Espinosa, Parojinog and Samsudin Dimaukom. Aquino denied that the inclusion in the narco list is equivalent to a target or death list, but added that many local government officials have been trying to take their names out of the list. n
CON-COM REVIEW. Consultative Committee member General Ferdinand Bocobo gives the overview of the proposed constitution draft during the Presentation and Consultation of the 1987 Constitution Review to the officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday, July 5. PNA photo by Joey Razon
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Drug war helped cut crime rate...
equates to lesser criminal activities and criminal incidents,” the NCRPO said before explaining that drug abuse and addiction lead to crime because of the constant need to purchase substances. “To some extent, they are forced to steal, rob shops and innocent people on the streets, barge into homes, in worst cases have to assault, hurt and even kill their victims to get money to buy illegal drugs,” it added. The steady police presence in the streets, strict implementation of local ordinances and national laws as well as PNP’s information dissemination were also cited by the NCRPO as important measures to prevent crime and ensure public safety.
NCRPO further said that the continuing internal cleansing of the PNP also helped the drive against crime. “On the first day of the new ‘I-SEND mo SMS/TEXT’ based system of the NCRPO, 31 messages or 21 percent were complaints against police scalawags. The feedback from the community shows that the NCRPO is on the right track with its priorities in fighting illegal drugs and internal cleansing,” it said. The increase in the salaries of police have also helped, according to NCRPO, since it has boosted the morale of the police force, especially those in the rank and file. Moreover, crime prevention has been greatly assisted by technology through CCTVs, GPS
systems, tracking devices, and smart phones, among others. “With the advent of technology and social media, the accomplishments, plans and programs of Team-NCRPO have gained trust and confidence from the public. Netizens are even more cooperative and supportive in giving relevant information and reports,” it said. NCRPO Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar implored the public to trust and support the efforts of NCRPO, stating that they are always committed to “serve and protect.” “Magtulungan po tayo upang mapanatili ang kapayaan at kaayusan sa ating rehiyon (Let’s help each other in order to maintain the peace and order in our country),” he said. n
US immigrant visas for Filipinos... PAGE A1 t detaining entire families together with their children. Some public officials and immigration experts have expressed concerns that the administration’s approach on immigrant visas targets certain nationalities, discriminating those from poorer and non-white countries. Trump has consistently emphasized his intention to transform the U.S. immigration system into one based on merit rather than family ties, which he has labeled as chain migration.
The Post noted that during president Barack Obama’s eight years in office, immigrant visas surged to 617,752 – the highest level in decades. The surge occurred almost entirely in the last two years of the Obama presidency. It is unclear, The Post said, if part of the drop in immigrant visas reflected a declining interest in immigrating to the U.S. or a tightening of the vetting process. On another front of the immigration debate, democratic activists alleged that the government
was holding up the naturalization applications of eligible permanent residents or green card holders to prevent them from voting in this year’s midterm elections. Newly naturalized citizens generally vote for Democrats. The conservative The Washington Times said in a report last Tuesday that there was no evidence of a slowdown in processing naturalization applications. It estimated the pending cases at fewer than 730,000 as of the end of last year. n
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Legal aid fund for migrant children in LA expanded
WITH the ongoing immigration debate, the Los Angeles City Council and county Board of Supervisors voted this week to expand a fund to provide legal aid for migrant children who have been separated from their parents. First introduced in 2017, the LA Justice Fund is a public-private partnership that gives legal assistance to those who are detained and are facing deportation. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti worked with members of the City Council to expand eligibility for the program, with a motion that permits use of funds for the legal defense of families separated under the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance policy� and are now in Los Angeles. “No child should endure the trauma of being separated from their parents or the terror of not knowing if they will ever see their families again,� Garcetti said in a statement. “I am grateful for the City Council’s partnership and swift action, because we must do everything possible to reunify these families now. Los Angeles is answering cruelty with compassion — by giving hope and assistance to people in desperate need.�
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The council voted 11 to 0 in favor of the motion on Tuesday. “When we created the LA Justice Fund we looked to help provide legal representation for people whose only crime was looking to create a better life for their family,� said Councilmember Nury Martinez, who authored the motion. “No one could have imagined we would need it to defend children separated from their families. As a mother and an elected representative for this city, I can think of no better purpose than to use this Justice Fund to reunite families separated by this abhorrent policy.� The county Board of Supervisors also voted 3 to 0 to include children under the protections. According to data from the California Community Foundation, more than two-thirds of people appearing in immigration court don’t have legal representation. Since last year, the fund has awarded $7.45 million to 17 LA-based nonprofit legal service providers, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Los Angeles, the USC Gould School of Law, and Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights. (AJPress)
LA not yet decided over federal ‘anti-terrorism’ grant by RAE
ANN VARONA AJPress
THE City of Los Angeles has not yet decided on whether or not it will take in a $425,000 grant from the federal Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program which was scheduled to be voted on at the Tuesday, July 3 City Council meeting. While the mayor’s office has planned to accept the grant meant to build community resistance to extremism, CVE opposers say that the program is yet another way to surveil and target Muslims. In a room full of civil rights and community group members holding signs reading “CVE is Islamophobia,� and “CVE does not make us safe,� LA City Council President Herb Wesson sent the issue back to the public safety committee for further discussion, giving advocates against the program a temporary sigh of relief. CVE was formally initiated under the Obama administration in 2008, which also drew criticism, but critics against the program say they are much more concerned over how the program would be directed under the current Trump administration. Having been arrested a day before while rallying outside an Immigration and Customs En-
American missionary deported...
Prior to his departure, Shaw thanked Filipinos, including those from Mindanao, for “welcoming me and for giving me a home.� “A part of me will forever be here left behind,� said Shaw. NCCP tweeted on Wednesday, July 4, “We consider Adam Shaw and his fellow missionaries as a living example that our Christian mission knows no borders.� According to the BI, Shaw was deported for “engaging in missionary work without a visa, overstaying, and for involvement in leftist activities.� No specifics on said activities were given in the BI statements. BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said that Shaw was in the Philippines since 2011 and admitted to having done missionary works without a visa from 2011 to 2013. She said that Shaw was given a missionary visa upon returning to the Philippines in 2017, which ex-
pired on April 26. As for the other two missionaries, Zimbabwean national Tawanda Chandiwana was deported Thursday, July 5, while Malawian national Miracle Osman remains in the Philippines as of this writing as the BI checks on her status. She was ordered to leave last June 18. The BI quoted a text by Sandoval saying, “Chandiwana was caught in flagrante, without a valid visa. His visa expired already when we receive intelligence information about him that he is overstaying alien, hence the Mission Order (MO).� The New York Times reported a UMC bishop in the Manila area, Bishop Ciriaco Francisco, denied that the missionaries were involved in any illegal or unconstitutional acts. Francisco said the three missionaries were investigating alleged human rights violation against residents of southern Mindanao’s Lake Sebu area, re-
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 7-10, 2018 A3
ported the New York Times. Military troops were said to have killed members of a tribal group in fighting last December. The BI said that all of them were subsequently put on the bureau’s blacklist following reports of them engaging in said leftist activities. “Alien missionaries in the Philippines must be actually, directly, and exclusively engaged in religious work. They must not engage in any endeavor that is not consistent with their religious or missionary work,� Sandoval previously said. The missionaries’ deportations come a few months after a 71-year old Catholic nun from Australia, Sister Patricia Fox, won a deportation reprieve after the BI also accused her of joining political activities. There are currently over 500 missionary visa holders in the Philippines, according to BI records. (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)
forcement (ICE) detention center, Councilmember Mike Bonin was present at the council meeting and expressed his concern over the program’s intentions. “They actually tried to rename it a Countering Radical Islamic program, or the Countering of Violent Jihad program,� said Bonin of the Trump administration. “They backed off, but they also backed off and pulled funding for programs under the CVE program umbrella to address white supremacy and threats of white terrorism in this country.� Describing the program as having “misplaced focus,� he added that the program was addressing the wrong threat. “As much as it has been dressed up and modified, this is still about targeting Islamic and communities of color when the real threat — which we all know in this country is terrorism, whether this administration chooses to refer to it as terrorism or not — is white guys with guns,� said Bonin. Joumana Silyan-Saba from the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety said that the mayor’s office is aware of the “optics in the unfortunate rhetoric� coming out of the
Representatives of civil rights and community groups appeared at an LA City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 3 to voice opposition against a $425,000 grant from the Trump administration for the city to carry out Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs. At the meeting, the council postponed the scheduled vote and sent the issue back to the public safety committee for further deliberation. AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona
Trump administration, but said that such rhetoric is what the fund would fight against. Repeatedly referring to the issue as complex, Silyan-Saba said the program would be used to support prevention of hate and bias “of all its forms.� “This includes white supremacists, Islamophobia, bullying,� said Silyan-Saba.
The mayor’s office said funds from the grant would also support things like youth leadership, promoting mental health services, and community network building. Bonin also urged the council to consider the current political and racial climate and mentioned that the Supreme Court had just upheld the travel ban last week,
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Trump rolls back Obama-era diversitybased school admission guidelines The president plans to revoke policy aimed at diversity in education by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
PRESIDENT Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, July 3 that he will be rescinding Obamaera guidelines that encouraged schools and universities to promote racial diversity in admissions, further signaling the effec-
tive end of affirmative action amid a transitioning Supreme Court. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) — along with the Dept. of Education — is rescinding 24 guidance documents implemented by the Obama administration that asked school administrators to consider race
in its student admissions, staying true to a November 2017 memo Sessions sent prohibiting the DOJ from implementing rules without “procedures required by Congress.” “In the Trump administration, we are restoring the rule of law. That’s why in November I banned this practice at the Department [of Justice] and we began rescinding guidance documents that were issued improperly or that were simply inconsistent with current law,” Sessions said, alleging that the Obama administration acted against “constitutional principles” in imposing rules “without any public notice.” However, a number of civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, do address the issue of race in school admissions, and the stipulations of those laws will will not be affected by the Trump administration’s retractions, which only affect the new rules put in place by Obama. The rescission of diversitybased guidelines means that the administration will promote raceneutral methods in admissions, although the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that colleges and universities may use race as a holistic marker for admissions, as long as its use is “narrowly-tailored.” But with the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy (who has voted in favor of affirmative action practices), those rulings may present a legal change as Trump is set to appoint a new justice next year. Several universities, despite Trump’s reversal, have announced that they would still be promoting diversity in their admissions policies. “Four decades of case law make clear that race and ethnicity can be one of many factors that universities can consider during the admissions process,” President of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Peter McPherson said in a statement. “Public universities will continue to operate in accordance with the Constitution, state law, and past court rulings to ensure they appropriately foster a diverse campus to the benefit of all.” The prestigious Harvard University, which has been embroiled
OATH-TAKING. Department of Health-Calabarzon Director Eduardo Janairo (left) administers the oath of the officers of the Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines (AMHOP) – Cavite Chapter, also known as the Cavite Association of Public Health Physician Incorporated headed by Dr. Ruth Punzalan (2nd from left) held at the Bayleaf Hotel, Governor’s Drive, General Trias, Cavite City on Thursday, July 5. PNA photo by Ben Briones
Cops nab Filipino wanted for brutal murder in LA County LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement authorities Monday, July 2 have arrested a Filipino wanted for the brutal beating death of a 20-year-old man in the Azusa area in May. Matthew Martin Capiendo Luzon, 21, had been at large since Julian Hamori-Andrade was killed on May 28. He had a 9-year-old boy and another baby on the way. Three other suspects, all of them 19 years old, have been charged with the killing: Francisco Amigon; Hercules Balaskas; and Jacob Elmendorf. The suspects and the victim were acquaintances, police said. The motive behind the killing is still
evening after being spotted near a movie theater in Montebello, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. He booked into jail without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday. According to a report by KTLA, police believe HamoriAndrade was beaten at a home, where suspect Luzon lived, along Goodway Drive, where a “large amount of blood” was found. The victim was apparently then Matthew Luzon, wanted in connection with dragged onto the bed of one of a brutal murder, was apprehended by LA the suspects’ truck, beaten again Country sheriffs. and then thrown off the side of Photo courtesy of LA City Sheriff Dept. San Gabriel Canyon Road. His body was found two days later. unknown. Luzon was arrested Saturday (Inquirer.net)
US working on Duterte-Trump meeting... PAGE A1 t
I think it’s a question of scheduling as to when President Duterte would make a visit to the US,” Kim said in an interview on Tuesday, July 3, as reported by People’s Television. “I think there is strong interest in both sides in facilitating the visit to Washington so we’ll continue to work at it,” he added. Following the election of Trump in 2016, Duterte congratulated the businessman for winning the presidency. In April of last year, Trump extended Duterte an invitation to the White House after “a very friendly conversation” discussing the Philippines’ issues with illegal drugs. u PAGE A6 The two leaders first met in person in Manila during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit last November. In the conversation, which Trump deemed “very successful,” they reportedly discussed drugs, ter-
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with the drug problem,” Kim said. The U.S. has been providing Manila support in demand reduction and drug rehabilitation efforts. It was also one of the first nations to assist the Philippines when ISIS-inspired local terrorists seized Marawi City last year. “We worked together to defeat the terrorist attack on Marawi City and now we’re supporting the government’s efforts to rebuild Marawi,” he said. In addition to this, Kim noted the “very strong” economic partnership between the two countries. “We welcome the Philippines’ interest in doing a free trade agreement with the U.S. and of course, President Trump had a wonderful visit to the Philippines in November, so I think the relationship is in great shape and I think the future of the relationship is very bright,” he said. (AJPress)
Court rules in favor of California’s...
But refusing to help is not the same as impeding.” SB 54, which was authored by state Senate President pro Tempore and senatorial candidate Kevin de Leon, was signed into law in October by Gov. Jerry Brown. The law also protects unauthorized immigrants who live in cities that have established their own sanctuary policies like Los Angeles and San
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rorism, and trade. On Tuesday, Kim noted that the two have forged a “very strong relationship” due to their similar opinions on upholding the rule of law. “The two gentlemen have shared much in common including on the importance of rule of law even as the Philippines continues to pursue the serious challenge of illegal drugs in the Philippines,” he said. The U.S. envoy added that the U.S. will “continue to work with the Philippine government” as they understand that “the drug issue is a huge challenge for the Philippines” and “President Duterte is so focused on that big problem.” “I think our robust law enforcement cooperation will continue and it is important both sides agree on the importance of rule of law and respect for human rights as we proceed with efforts to deal
Francisco. Earlier this year, the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the state in which it was seeking an injunction to halt the state from enacting SB 54; many jurisdictions within the state, including Huntington Beach and other Orange County cities, sided with the Trump administration and joined the lawsuit. After Mendez’s ruling, California Attorney General Xavier
Becerra celebrated the court’s decision in “ruling against federal government overreach.” “The Constitution gives the people of California, not the Trump Administration, the power to decide how we will provide for our public safety and general welfare,” Becerra said in a statement. “California’s laws work in concert — not in conflict — with federal law.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)
LA not yet decided over federal...
affecting mostly Muslim-majority countries. “This is not the right time,” he said. “Now of all times with what is happening in this country, this is the wrong time to embrace this program and participate with it.” “I don’t think we can form a partnership with the Trump administration on terrorism when they are very clearly determined to racially profile in this country,” added Bonin. Transparency concerns Just days before the Tuesday meeting, a coalition of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against the city for not fully answering Public Records Acts requests for information on how the funding will be used and what conditions are to be imposed by federal officials. Filing the lawsuit were Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA), the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) - Greater Los Angeles Chapter, and the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. Islamophobia fighting group Vigilant Love Coalition serves as plaintiff. Among issues voiced at the council meeting was that of the role of law enforcement agencies which the mayor’s office has said would not be involved in programming funded by the grant. Aware of the concern, SilyanSaba said that giving back the grant “will leave a vacuum for law enforcement solutions only.” She added, “Giving back this money will put the money back in the U.S. Treasury which will essentially leave it open for this administration to do as they please with it.”
But critics say they have still have reason to be concerned. “When you look at it nationally, the majority of the grants being given out are being given to law enforcement agencies,” Asmaa Ahmed, policy manager/policy and advocacy coordinator of CAIR-LA, told the Asian Journal. According to Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, it found that the amount of CVE funding going to law enforcement under the Trump administration’s changes has tripled, from $764,000 to $2,340,000. “So there is really no way to isolate the LA program from what is going on nationally,” she added. Laboni Hoq, litigation director of Advancing Justice - LA, said that the CVE program is part and parcel of a related CVE project that has been going on with the Los Angeles Police Department for years. In December of 2016, the “Recognizing Extremist Network Early Warnings” or RENEW approach was rolled out through a partnership by the FBI and the LAPD which critics said was the Los Angeles manifestation of the CVE program. “So to say this is not aligned with law enforcement is not accurate and is not being honest with the public,” Hoq told the Asian Journal. Advocates against CVE also at the meeting voiced contempt with the mayor’s office claim of having wide support. “CAIR is the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the country, and we are against this,” said Ahmed, adding that they have a petition with over 1,500 signatures asking the city to vote no on
CVE, and an organization sign-on letter with approximately 70 organizations against CVE. Among institutions and organizations said to be in support of CVE include the UCLA School of Public Health, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, Muslims for Progressive Values, and the American Jewish Foundation, said Silyan-Saba. Hearing certain institutions like UCLA mentioned surprised many opposers against CVE. Hoq explained that it was a misnomer to say that UCLA, as an institution, supports CVE. While an individual from the UCLA School of Public Health has expressed support, Hoq said it doesn’t necessarily mean that UCLA or the department endorses CVE. Impact on greater minority community At the meeting, many also held signs saying “CVE is anti-Black” and “CVE criminalizes black and brown youth,” as public comments expressed concerns of the program’s effect on other minority groups. According to the Brennan Center, at least 85 percent of CVE grants, and over half of CVE programs, now explicitly target minority groups, including Muslims, LGBTQ Americans, Black Lives Matter Activists, immigrants, and refugees. Hoq said aside from continuing to push for a no-vote from city council members, they will be working on further educating communities about what they know about the program. “[This] should cause everybody to pause — to think whether or not they need to stand up against this as well,” said Hoq. n
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Money for housing Californians with mental illness heads to ballot box by Alex
leeds MAtthews Kaiser Health News
SENATE INQUIRY. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (right) shares a discussion with Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, prior to the start of the Senate inquiry on the alleged irregularities involving the DOH’s P8.1 billion barangay health stations (BHS) project on Wednesday, July 4. The BHS project, first implemented during the Aquino administration, was supposed to build 5,700 school-based rural health units throughout the country, to ensure easy access to primary health care. Senate photo by Jun David
US Congress: No funds for Philippines’ drug war by PAtriciA
lourdes Philstar.com
VirAy
THE United states government may stop extending assistance to the Philippine National Police if its anti-drugs campaign would not be consistent with international human rights. In its appropriations report for the U.s. Department of state, the U.s. House of Representatives suggested that funds appropriated for the Phillippines’ counter-narcotics campaign be made available if secretary of state Mike Pompeo would determine the Philippine government’s compliance with international human rights standards. The U.s. secretary of state would have to report first to the Committee on Appropriations if the Philippines had adopted policies consistent with human rights such as “investigating and prosecuting individuals who are credibly alleged to have ordered, committed, or covered up extrajudicial killings and other gross violations of human rights in the conduct of narcotics operations.” The limitations of the fund, however, would not apply to funds for drug demand reduction or maritime programs of the Philippines. Meanwhile, the U.s. senate appropriations noted that provisions of the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement may prohibit counternarcotics assistance to the Philippines with certain exceptions. The U.s. senate also took note the “absence of the adoption and implementation of a counternarcotics strategy that is consistent with international rights” within the Philippine National Police. The U.s. senate committee stated that Washington, through the U.s. Agency for International
Development, could still continue funding national and communitybased drug treatment and reduction program under the Philippines’ Department of Health. “such funds shall be made available on a cost-matching basis, to the maximum extent practicable,” the U.s. senate said. The U.s. senate also required Pompeo to submit a report assessing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ compliance with human rights and rule of law. While the U.s. senate commended the Philippine military’s efforts in combating terrorism, it stressed that the AFP must be a “legitimate defender of the state and all the people of the Philippines.” The report, which will be submitted to appropriate congressional committees, must also assess the possible involvement of the AFP in extrajudicial killings and investigation on military personnel who commit gross human rights violations. “The report shall also include a description of the steps taken by the AFP to implement policies and reforms to prevent such abuses,” the U.s. senate said. sponsored by sen. Lindsey Graham (R-south Carolina), the Us senate’s budget proposal for the Department of state and foreign operations has been placed on the legislative calendar since June 21. The latest recommendations of the U.s. Congress are for the next fiscal year, which runs from oct. 1, 2018 to sept. 30, 2019. This is not the first that the Us government has shifted away its assistance from law enforcement since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office. In 2016, the U.s. Department of state shifted its focus from narcotics control to maritime security efforts in the Philippines. n
Two PH mayors shot in same week... PAGE A1 t politicians he said were linked to drug trades. Just days before Halili’s death, Duterte jokingly told an audience in Bohol, “The earlier you do away with your mayor, the earlier you become the mayor also.” Following his death, he said he suspected it to be related to drug involvement. “Kanina si Halili sa Batangas. Kunwari ipa-procession ang mga addicts, siya pala — siya ‘yun. (Earlier, Halili was in Batangas. He pretended to shame addicts by parading them, but he was involved — it was him),” said Duterte. Halili, who once called himself the “Duterte of Batangas”, had his powers to supervise local police taken away in November 2017 as a result of being linked to illegal drugs. According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bote was not on any drug suspect list. The government of Nueva Ecija has offered a P1 million bounty for leads to his killer. Calls to action Philippine senator Antonio Trillanes said the killings came as a result of the president’s “culture of violence” in what he said was the “murder capital of Asia.” “Duterte’s culture of violence is upon us,” said Trillanes. “No one is safe now. Regardless of whether Mayor Halili is involved in the illegal drug trade, nothing justifies this murder.” “Now for someone who promised to restore peace and order in our country during the campaign, it is ironic for a lot of people that Duterte has actually turned the Philippines into the murder capital of Asia,” he added. other senators also voiced out concerns of whether killings were becoming normalized in the country. senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said in Filipino, “We strongly condemn all forms of violence and killings in the country. The worsening violence in our society is truly alarming, with killings
committed left and right, even in front of the public.” Like Trillanes, Aquino said, “No one is being spared. Government officials, priests, loiters — no one is safe anymore. No one is safe anywhere, no one is safe.” senate President Vicente sotto III pointed to the country’s history of killings which have been documented in past administrations. “Criminality in the country has always been alarming, that’s why we want the government to come down hard on the criminals and not contradict efforts. [Criminals] have always been bold,” said sotto. senator Panfilo Lacson on his part said, “The killing of priests, prosecutors, and former and incumbent local officials in broad daylight and in full view of the public may be suggestive of the impunity and brazenness of those responsible for such acts.” Being a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, he further urged the PNP to buckle down on their efforts, and called on them to enact stricter gun control. “The Philippine National Police should feel challenged, if not taunted. And they must immediately consider stricter firearms control strategies before similar killings could reach ubiquitous levels,” he said. senator Juan Edgardo Angara also pushed the PNP to get to the bottom of the killings. “We condemn the killing, whatever the motive may be, and we ask the PNP and the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) to exhaust all means to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Angara. To TIME, Carlos Conde, Philippines researcher for the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said that the mayor killings have made fearful the “politicians, especially in the provinces, who are then forced to toe Duterte’s line.” He said that strongmen in the country have long turned to as-
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Los Angeles County is facing a public health crisis: More than one-quarter of its 53,000 homeless residents struggle with mental illness. “When you’re homeless on the street, your life is about survival. It’s hard to be focused on mental health,” said Maria Funk, a county mental health clinic program manager. “We are failing in many ways.” Funk pointed out that the county has been waiting two years for $700 million to build about 3,600 housing units for homeless people with mental illness. The units would come with access to health and social services. so far, not a penny has been distributed. That’s because the source of the money, a state program called “No Place Like Home,” has been tied up in court with a lawsuit. Under the program, the state would issue $2 billion in bonds, which would be distributed to counties. The bonds would be repaid with proceeds from the state’s Mental Health services Act, which levies a 1 percent tax on personal incomes of $1 million and above. opponents argue that’s an illegal use of the money. Rather than waiting for a legal resolution, state lawmakers agreed in their recent state budget deal to let voters decide. The question will be on the ballot in November. “All of the counties that we deal with, from teeny-tiny ones to L.A., were … eager to apply for the funding,” said Farrah McDaid
Ting, a legislative representative for the California state Association of Counties. The Mental Health services Act, which was approved by voters in 2004, has raised billions for mental health treatment and services. Under the law, the money is distributed to counties, where about 80 percent of the revenue must be spent on treatment of severe mental illnesses and the remaining 20 percent earmarked for early intervention and prevention. If voters approve the No Place Like Home program in November, the state would issue the bonds and repay them later by skimming about 7 percent off counties’ annual MHsA budgets for the next 20 to 30 years. “You can’t recover if you’re unsafe and you’re homeless,” said Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania professor who researches homelessness. Culhane published a study in 2002 revealing that people suffering from severe mental illness who live on the streets each use an average of $40,000 in acute care services annually, such as inpatient psychiatric beds. But Mary Ann Bernard, a retired attorney who filed the lawsuit shortly after the program was adopted in 2016, argues that it constitutes an illegal use of MHsA money. she said she believes the law could be interpreted to allow people who don’t have severe mental illnesses, such as those with drug addictions or victims of domestic violence, to move into housing units funded by MHsA dollars. “I truly believe that the severely mentally ill will see very
A man sleeps on Sixth Street near Skid Row on May 18, 2015. Photo by Heidi de Marco/Kaiser Health News
little of this housing, but it will be harder to fund hospital beds or other forms of treatment because they’re taking away the money to house people who aren’t sick,” she said. The case is pending in sacramento superior Court, with its next hearing scheduled for July 23. Craig Cornett, who was the senate finance director when the bill passed, explained that the program is designed to give counties the large amount of capital needed for expensive housing projects upfront. “It’s like trying to get out of an apartment and into a home. It would take years’ worth of your income to buy a home,” he explained. Counties are “excited” by the prospect of getting a cash infusion for housing this population, said Maggie Merritt, executive director of the steinberg Institute, a nonprofit that advocates for poli-
cies that help people with mental illness. “There are lots of people who maybe could be in housing receiving services who are languishing on our streets,” Merritt said. some counties have already made plans to use the money: • san Diego County, which has a homeless population of about 8,500, is expecting about $140 million to build housing for those with mental illness, said David Estrella, the county director of Housing and Community Development services. • santa Clara County, which has a homeless population of more than 7,000, hopes for $100 million to build 1,800 units for the same population, according to Ky Le, director of the county’s office of supportive Housing. The program requires the housing units to come with supportive services such as counseling and case management.
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Palace disputes NY-based group’s remark on human rights calamity by Alexis
RomeRo Philstar.com
MALACAñANG disputed the claim of a New-York based human rights group that President Duterte’s two years in office was a “human rights calamity.” Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a statement released in time for the second anniversary of the Duterte administration, has accused the President of unleashing a “human rights calam-
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque
ity” and carrying out summary killings. HRW also claimed that the government has “systematically” silenced meaningful opposition and calls for accountability. The group urged the United Nations and the International Criminal Court to probe the killings in the Philippines, which it said “may well constitute crimes against humanity.” Presidential spokesman Harry
Inquirer.net photo
Roque dismissed HRW’s claims as “kalokohan (foolishness).” In an interview with dzRH radio, Roque said Duterte upholds human rights by providing social services and livelihood to Filipinos. “Kalokohan po iyan (The claims are foolish). The free tuition, that is a human right – the right to education; free food, that is a right of the youth, a right of the child, the free irrigation, that is part of the right to livelihood, the right to life,” Roque said. “The people seem to forget that there are different kinds of human rights. None of them are more important than the others. All of them are equally important and are being pushed by the President,” he added. Roque also justified the administration’s war on illegal drugs, saying it was intended to promote public health and the people’s right to life. About 4,000 suspected drug offenders have died since Duterte waged a war against narcotics, a problem that he said threatens the next generation. Critics of the campaign claimed it encourages extrajudicial killings and other forms of human rights abuses. According to latest police data, a total of 91,704 anti-drug operations were conducted by law enforcement agencies from July 2016 to March 20, 2018. The operations led to the arrest of 123,648 drug suspects. Officials claimed the war on drugs also resulted in the dismantling of 189 drug dens and clandestine laboratories in the country. The operations also led to the seizure of a total of P13.46 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and P19.67 billion worth of drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, and laboratory equipment. More than 6,000 barangays have been declared drug-free, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Some critics, however, claimed that the war on illegal drugs is antipoor. A recent study by researchers from Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University also found that the poor are the most vulnerable to the government’s crackdown on illegal drugs. n
BRINGER OF HOPE. Fire victims living in evacuation centers after fire razed their homes in a residential area in Vasra village, Quezon City, break into smiles upon seeing plywood sheets donated by supporters of Special Assistant to the President Christopher ‘Bong’ Go. ManilaTimes.net photo
‘China quietly testing warfare assets in disputed sea‘ CHINA has been quietly testing its electronic warfare capabilities on its bases in the South China Sea, according to reports. American television network CNBC reported that this is the first known use of such equipment since Beijing deployed electronic jamming equipment in the Spratly Islands. The CNBC report was based on sources who have seen U.S. intelligence reports. Beijing’s electronic warfare assets in the Spratly Islands have the capability to confuse or disable communications and radar systems. This move comes amid China’s installation of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi Reefs.
China’s coastal defense systems and electronic warfare equipment in the South China Sea further strengthen the country’s military portfolio in the region, the report said. Beijing, on the other hand, have been insisting that it is not militarizing the disputed South China Sea. “China is only building civilian and some necessary defense facilities on our own islands. That is the right to self-defense and preservation of every sovereign state,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier said. Aside from the Spratly Islands, China also has 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands, including Woody Island, its largest military headquarters in the area. Beijing has built an airstrip,
helipads and 20 hangars that can accommodate combat aircraft, J-10 and J-11 fighter jets, HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles and antiship cruise missiles on Woody Island. The Chinese Air Force’s deployment of a nuclear-enabled bomber on Woody Island raised alarms as the bombers could reach almost the entire South China Sea. The U.S. Department of State withdrew its invitation to China in the biannual Rim of the Pacific Exercise, the world’s largest multinational naval drills. China, meanwhile, accused the U.S. of “hyping” the South China Sea issue and pointed out that U.S. military presence in the region exceeds the total military strength of Beijing. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/ Philstar.com)
Two PH mayors shot in same week... PAGE A5 t sassination as a way of maintaining control, and suggested that Duterte’s war on drugs and normalizing of killings may be a cover up to go after political opponents. “An illustration of this is the fact that most local politicians hitherto aligned with the Liberal Party are now with Duterte’s party,” Conde told TIME.
At least 10 mayors are said to have been killed since Duterte entered office. Mayors themselves have spoken out as both the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) said they found the recent killings alarming and are hoping to engage in dialogue with the president. Presidential spokesman
Trump rolls back Obama-era...
PAGE A4 t
in a court battle for its admissions policies, pledged this week to “continue to vigorously defend its right, and that of all colleges and universities, to consider race as one factor among many in college admissions, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court for more than 40 years.” As expected, civil rights organizations that advocate for racial diversity in education have expressed concern over the move due to the increasing socio-economic disparity that systemically
doesn’t admit certain students of color. “If the Trump Administration insists on rolling back guidance on diversity practices in admissions, it will add another line item to its already staggering record on undermining our education system,” National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) National Director Gregg Orton said in a statement on Thursday. The “model minority myth” — which posits that all Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students excel academically — is
Harry Roque said that the government was confident in PNP Chief, Director-General Oscar Albayalde’s ability to conduct “a fair and thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.” “We assure everyone that we would discharge the state obligation for every murder. We will spare no effort in getting to the bottom of this latest violent crime,” said Roque. n
often applied to the culturally and socio-economically diverse AAPI student body, and it alienates AAPI students who may not have the grades, income or other resources required to get into a four-year university and could benefit from affirmative action guidelines. “To assume that [AAPI] success is universal, reinforces the same tired ‘model minority myth’ that opponents of affirmative action have used to wedge our community between others for decades,” Orton said. “Millions of AAPIs continue to struggle and their experiences are erased when these assumptions are made.” n
Money for housing Californians with mental... PAGE A5 t But residents aren’t required to utilize them, and opponents fear they won’t. Lauren Rettagliata, a mental health advocate in Contra Costa County, worries that people with severe mental illness will shut themselves in their units while their conditions worsen. “It’s much more complicated than ‘Give someone a house and it will make it better,’ ” Rettagliata said. “When you go to San Francisco and see some guy urinating in public and talking about all
kinds of paranoid things, putting him in an apartment … isn’t going to work.” A scathing state audit released earlier this year faulted counties for sitting on $157 million to $274 million worth of MHSA funding. In addition to those reserves, the counties also hoarded $231 million they should return to the state, the audit said. “Why are we doing this when the counties already have the money?” Bernard asked. “Developers in our larger cities are going to get the biggest benefit from
this.” But advocates argue that housing is an essential part of treatment — and that it’s needed urgently. If it weren’t for the lawsuit, “we probably would have units coming online already,” said Funk, of Los Angeles County. “Even if it’s on the ballot and is passed in November, we will have lost two and a half years.” This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n
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A
More Filipinos expected to visit Taiwan this year Morales to Duterte: ‘Prove that I’m corrupt’ by Catherine
talavera Philstar.com
MANILA — Over 350,000 Filipino tourists are expected to visit Taiwan this year, prompted by the visa free entry of Filipinos and as well as Taiwan’s aggressive marketing campaign in the country. On the sidelines of the Fun Taipei music video launch Tuesday, July 3 deputy commissioner of Taipei City’s Department of Information and Tourism YuShin Chen said Taiwan has seen a surge in Filipino tourist arrivals this year. Chen reported that a total of 190,791 Filipino tourists arrived in Taiwan from January to May, a 60.36 percent rise from last year’s figures. In 2017, the number Filipinos who visited Taiwan grew an estimated 68.6 percent to 290,784 in 2017 from 172,475 in 2016 after the implementation of the visafree policy for Filipinos which
started in November 2017. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) deputy representative James Chu said the visafree entry for Filipinos approved last November is only on trial basis and is set to end on July 31, but its extension is still under review. “The trial period will end this month, so that means we are going to announce our new decision, whether we are going to extend or we will terminate it,” Chu said. He said that while the decision on the policy is still under review, he sees a strong chance of it being extended. “We are still under the review process, but my sense is that the probability is 95 percent that we are going to extend because we found out that this policy is very helpful to enhance the mutual understanding between the Filipinos and Taiwanese,” he said. Meanwhile, in line with attracting more Filipinos to visit
Taiwan, Taipei City’s Department of Information and Tourism launched a music video in collaboration with Filipino Youtube star Mikey Bustos which promotes the city’s travel and food. Chen said the music video mainly targets young travellers. “However, we know the Philippines puts importance in family, therefore we also target families,” she said. The agency has invited more than 40 local travel agencies and tour operators to meet with Taipei business delegates in a bid to attract more Filipinos to visit Taiwan. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau earlier said it would set up a Taiwan Pavillion at the “Travel Madness Expo (TME) 2018” – at the SMX Convention Center from July 5th to 8th – which will showcase the country’s offerings such as gourmet food, shopping options, and flower harvesting. n
DOH declares leptospirosis outbreak in parts of Metro Manila by Cathrine
Gonzales Inquirer.net
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, July 5 declared leptospirosis outbreak in some parts of Metro Manila following the spike of cases in the recent weeks. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III revealed this in an interview with CNN Philippines, citing that the current number of leptospirosis cases is higher than the average in the last five years. Affected barangays include those in Quezon City, Taguig, Pasig, Parañaque, Navotas, Mandaluyong, and Malabon, Duque said. “These are already considered outbreaks because they have already breached the epidemic threshold, which means that the cases reported now in these cities and barangays – as I have stated them one by one – they have already gone past the number or the average number for the last 5 years,” the Health Secretary added.
by ariC John
Cua
ManilaTimes.net
OMBuDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales on Thursday, July 5, dared President Rodrigo Duterte to show evidence that she was corrupt. Morales, an outspoken critic of the President, will retire this month. “I cannot understand why he went berserk and telling me that I am corrupt,” she said in a television interview. “It hurts, because I know who I am, unless he has evidence to show that I am corrupt and I accept that challenge. Show me that I am corrupt,” she added Morales said her comments against the President were merely her personal opinion, especially those about killing people, which she said was “unacceptable.” Her office is also investigating Duterte’s son, Paolo, who has been linked to the P6.4 billion smuggled shabu from China.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales Philstar.com photo
On Thursday, Morales expressed hopes that her successor would sustain the reforms instituted in the Office of the Ombudsman under her term. “If the next leadership would not turn the current order of the existing initiatives, please let it not be reinvented,” Morales said in a policy forum in Pasig City.
“We believe in the reforms that we have instituted. To see them sustained until their impact can be harnessed is a dream of this transitioning leadership. As the fifth Ombudsman, I am confident of the reforms and the people I will be leaving behind,” she added. Morales thanked the public, which she called “our partners.” “The office has a tough job but you did not hesitate…In the coming years, I hope that you will be the same unfaltering advocates of good governance. Do not abandon the institution. It is your voice,” she said. According to Morales, the prosecution’s conviction rate at the Sandiganbayan was 41 percent in 2011 and this rose to 75 percent in 2015 and 68 percent in 2016. According to statistics posted on the Office of the Ombudsman’s website, a conviction rate of 77 percent was reported in 2017. n
LUNGSOD NG CARSON PAUNAWA NG ELEKSYON ANG PAUNAWA AY IBINIBIGAY SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO na isang Pangkalahatang Eleksyong Munisipal ang idaraos sa Lungsod ng Carson sa Martes, Ika-6 ng Nobyembre, 2018, para sa mga sumusunod na Opisyal: Dalawang (2) Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod
(Buong terminong apat na taon sa bawat isa)
Klerk ng Lungsod
(Buong terminong apat na taon)
Ingat Yaman ng Lungsod
(Buong terminong apat na taon)
Ang panahon ng nominasyon para sa mga katungkulang ito ay magsisimula sa Lunes, ika-16 ng Hulyo, 2018 sa ika-7 ng umaga at magsasara sa Huwebes, ika-9 ng Agosto, 2018 sa ika-6 ng gabi. ANOTHER LEPTOSPIROSIS OUTBREAK? Medical staff attend to leptospirosis patients at a makeshift ward inside the National Kidney Transplant Institute Hospital gymnasium in Quezon City on Thursday, June 28. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
At least 234 leptospirosis cases have been reported in Metro Manila since January this year, higher than 146 cases recorded in the same period last year, the latest data from DOH revealed. The same data showed that as of June 16, a total of 1,040 cases have been recorded nationwide, and 99 reportedly died. Of the reported number of fatalities, 38
were from Metro Manila. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of leptospirosis in humans can include: high fever, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), and diarrhea, among others. The illness may last from a few days, or weeks, or even months, if not treated. n
PANAHON NG EKSTENSYON SA NOMINASYON (KUNG ANG KASALUKUYANG NANUNUNGKUKAN AY HINDI NAG-FILE) Kung ang mga dokumento sa nominasyon para sa kasalukuyang nanunungkulan ay hindi nai¿OH VD R EDJR mag-ika-6 ng gabi sa ika-9 ng Agosto, 2018, ang panahon ng nominasyon ay palalawigin hanggang sa ika-15 ng Agosto, 2018 sa ika-6 ng gabi, para sa mga taong maliban sa kasalukuyang nanunungkulan. Ang mga lugar ng botohan ay magbubukas sa pagitan ng mga oras na ika-7 ng umaga at ika-8 ng gabi. Donesia Gause-Aldana, MMC Klerk ng Lungsod / Opisyal ng Eleksyon Pinetsahan:
Ika-28 ng Hunyo, 2018
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Brazen attack
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SEVERAL months ago, Mayor Antonio Halili got himself and his city of Tanauan in the news after he began parading around the city center’s streets drug suspects including several of those who had registered as drug personalities under Oplan Tokhang. Amid the concerns raised over human rights violations, Halili said he would not stop his “Walk of Shame.” As he was singing the national anthem together with other city personnel during the Monday morning flag ceremony at the city hall grounds, a shot rang out. Halili managed to take a few steps before slumping to the ground with a fatal gunshot to his chest. Probers said the shot was fired apparently from a clump of foliage several meters away. Because of the enemies Halili made as mayor, police must cast a wide net to pin down his killer. Halili came under fire for depriving drug personalities of due process and violating their rights as detainees. At the same time, however, President Duterte said that Halili himself was into illegal drug deals – a charge that was hurled against the mayor even when he was conducting his “Walk of Shame.” The brazen attack on a mayor, during a gathering at city hall where there are police and private
security guards, is an indictment of the peace and order situation in Tanauan, one of the big cities of Batangas. If the city’s chief executive couldn’t be safe, how much more ordinary folk? Brazenness has in fact characterized other killings in recent months, thanks to the ease by which guns are obtained in this country. Motorcycles also offer a convenient way of getting away quickly, with helmets ensuring anonymity even if an area is surrounded by closed-circuit television cameras. Combined with the general weakness at every step of the criminal justice system, it is easy to believe that in this country, one can get away with assassinating the mayor during Monday morning flag ceremony at city hall. Dispelling that belief is the challenge now faced by law enforcers. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Under the Trump presidency, fewer US adults are extremely proud to be an American than at any point since 9/11 The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS INDEPENDENCE DAY taken a different feeling year for many Americans, recent polls have revealed
has this and just
how much the presidency of Donald Trump has eroded the extreme pride we collectively feel about our country and our democracy. According to the latest Gallup poll released last Monday, July 2, fewer U.S. adults are extremely proud to be an American since the height of patriotism after the attack on U.S. soil in 9/11. Only 47 percent said they feel that way about being American, and
this was down from a majority 51 percent last year. According to Newsweek, the surge was at 70 percent in 2003, and the numbers went down when U.S. went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, Gallup polling history would show a majority of Americans remained extremely proud to be American all through the Bush and Obama years, until Trump came along.
Corollary to this finding was the result of a Washington PostUniversity of Maryland poll released last Fall that revealed the share of Americans saying they are NOT proud of democracy in this country is increasing. Thirty six percent of Americans described their sentiments as such, which is double the number found in the 2014 General Social Survey, when 18 percent said they were not proud of
our democracy, and four times as high as the 2002 polling results. Americans were not the only ones with eroding pride in the United States. A June 2017 Pew Research Center revealed that the rest of the world’s opinion of the U.S. has also declined since Trump became president. A Newsweek report citing Pew Research stated that, “both confidence in the U.S. president and
views of the U.S. had declined in just a few months since Trump entered the White House.” IS THIS MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN? *** 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
Gratuitous cruelty to children from the 45th US President’s zero tolerance policy met with national resistance and humanitarian initiatives Rhizomes
PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “Love is who you are. When you don’t live according to love, you are outside of being. You’re not being real. When you love, you are acting according to your deepest being, your deepest truth. You are operating according to your dignity.”- Richard Rohr, founder of the Center for Contemplation and Action in
New Mexico, 2018. “Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented” – Elie Wiesel “Stop pretending your racism is white nationalism.” “It is un-American and grossly inhumane, brutal and unconscionable.” “It is unspeakable, gratuitous cruelty, that even animals in the wild or domesticated are not capable of doing.” “Take a look at young birds, do you see them nurtured?” “As part of a pack, cared for by God?” THESE were some of the broadcasted messages from news programs’ coverages of
Toys collected for migrant children separated from their parents
Photo by Christine Oshima
rallies to resist the family separation of over 2,300 children. On Saturday, June 30, over 700 rallies were held in 50 states, and photos were shared on social media and publicized by major newspapers. Take a look at “Unaccompanied: Alone in America” by Linda Freedman, a short video clip of four minutes and 20 seconds that depicts young children appearing before an immigration judge. When asked if they know a lawyer, they simply say no. Even the face of the judge changes, formal to empathetic and seemingly teary. And why not? These are very young children whose important work is to play and who in their right mind would compel them to court hearings? They have no mental capacity to understand the court proceedings. How absurd can our present federal government be to require unrepresented, young children to appear in courts? These children’s experiences would forever be marked by gratuitous cruelty and trauma, permanently scarring them for life. It is even made more difficult as some of these children speak in indigenous languages, and not the mainstream version of the Spanish language, spoken by most. NBC broadcasted a border supervisor, in conversation with a reporter on June 30, that there is a policy to separate the children from their parents when they get to Southern Border. He said, “It is to make the parents afraid and not to cross the border to America.” A reactive move, isn’t it? When in fact, he also said that border crossings have decreased, whereas, during President Bill Clinton’s time, NBC reported 500,000 crossed this border a year to now, 26,000. It
An estimated 70,000 people gathered in Downtown LA on Saturday, June 30 as part of the nationwide immigration protests. Photo courtesy of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Facebook page
has been decreasing since Pres. Barack Obama’s tenure that the crossings have averted, but a new humanitarian crisis of separating children was created by Trump’s zero tolerance policy towards migrants at the border seeking asylum. A U.S. president with no moral center The New Yorker’s Margaret Talbot wrote: “The policy of separating children from their parents at the Southern Border was the purest distillation yet of what it means to be governed by a President with no moral center.” On June 19, over 600 Methodists accused Attorney General Jeff Sessions of child abuse, racial discrimination and dissemination of doctrines contrary to the United Methodist Church and filed a canon law complaint. Talk to relatives, neighbors,
community friends, and the reported news of toddlers and small children in foil blankets inside cages will likely raise their blood pressures, as yours. “God please take care of this president. His evil actions exceed our human capacities,” a friend said. She is not alone; four living former first ladies have the same outcry. On June 19, the New York Times reported that four living former first ladies condemned the Trump border policy. Laura Bush wrote, “Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tents cities. These images are reminiscent of the Japanese American internment camps of WW II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history.”
“Every parent who has ever held a child in their arms, every human being with a sense of compassion and decency, should be outraged,” Hillary Clinton wrote. “We should be a better country than one that tears families apart, turns a blind eye to women fleeing domestic violence, and treats frightened children as a means to a political end.” What makes this unprecedented is we have had four living former first ladies join their voices as one, to speak against separating children from their families. Even Melania Trump tweeted that she believes that the rule of law should be followed, but governance must be done with the heart. Yet, Sarah Huckabee Sanders continued to lie in her official capacity, and claimed falsely: “Frankly, this law was
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Gratuitous cruelty to children from...
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actually signed into effect in 2008,” to which the New York Times reported: ”No law actually requires that families be separated at the border. Pres. Trump ordered the stiffer effort last month.” Still unconvinced that there is a White House policy of family separation? A community member shared that parents are at fault, kidnapping their children to travel to the borders. Can you imagine what mentality and heartlessness one has to believe these lies? He was not joking. Sessions claimed it is biblical to take actions to protect the American borders, prompting this response from Fr. James Martin, “It is not biblical to treat migrant and refugees like animals. It is not biblical to take children away from their parents. It is not biblical to ignore the needs of the strangers. It is not biblical to enforce unjust laws. Do not use the bible to justify sin.” Nearly 750 resistance rallies in 50 states USA Today on June 30 had reported: “Hundreds of thousands of people turned out from coastto-coast Saturday in ‘Families Belong Together’ rallies to protest the Trump administration’s ‘zero tolerance’ immigration policy and implore their fellow citizens to turn out to vote in November’s midterm elections. While the thrust of the near 750 marches and rallies was to de-
Protester holds up “In Our America” sign
Mom and daughter hold up signs at an immigration rally
fend the 2,000 children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, the tone was decidedly political.” David Bacon, a photographer posted on Facebook: “A demonstration of 3,000 people outside the Richmond Detention Center, where immigrants are incarcerated before being deported. Part of a national day of protest, called Families Belong Together - Let Our People Go, people called for ending the separation of immigrant mothers and children, and the detention of immigrants in centers like that in Richmond.” I asked his permission to publish the photo for this column, as it captures the national sentiments of non-separation of families. He agreed. Separation of families, inten-
tionally done with callousness and mercilessly, have created these visceral reactions. The New Yorker wrote on June 30, “Protests, like Saturday’s against Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy, allow a person’s individual croak to melt into a collective scream.” In that collective scream, we reclaim our human dignities and we hear our spirits alive and understand the yearning for the same freedoms as those refugees who come to the U.S. borders. They simply want to feel safe, as gangs have made it impossible to live their daily lives. One Honduran friend of mine, whose mom and sister still live in the country, described that the gangs pester folks daily: “You are in a bus, they take your watch, or if you own a small store, they impose a $5 fee on you, and that is your whole day’s earnings. Life in the land has become dangerous, that anything outside of the land presents a hopeful, brighter future for families.” Their lives on land have become dangerous that they dare to cross the borders, the waters, ride the trains, and go to the U.S.-Mexico border, as in Texas, so they can apply for asylum. Instead, their children are taken from them, many of whom are under 6 years old. After they are separated from their parents, the latter are detained or deported back to countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Parents and children travel using human coyotes (smugglers) to whom they pay their life savings to be transferred through a
Photos by David Bacon
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Sotto asks PNP to allow de Lima to hold hearings inside detention center
Senate President Vicente Sotto III Philstar.com photo
SENATE President Vicente Sotto III has formally asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership to allow detained colleague Leila de Lima to conduct committee hearings inside the premises of the custodial center. In a letter addressed to PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde dated July 2, 2018, a copy of which was released to the media on Friday, July 6, Sotto requested that de
Lima be allowed to exercise her functions as a senator of the country by conducting hearings on pending measures referred to her committee inside the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame. De Lima is currently the chairperson of the Committee on Social Justice Welfare and Rural Development where seven bills for deliberation have been pending. “As the Senate president, I am giving Sen. De Lima full authority to discharge her duties as chair of the committee, particularly to conduct and personally preside over its hearings — similar to what Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th had done during his detention,” Sotto said in his letter. Trillanes ran his campaign and was elected senator in 2007 while detained at the PNP Cus- AVSEGROUP ANNIVERSARY. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde inspects a rifle and other high-powered todial Center for leading a coup equipment during the 27th Aviation Security Group (AVSEGroup) anniversary celebration at the grounds of the Ninoy Aquino International PNA photo by Avito Dalan against then president and now Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City on Thursday, July 5. Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was allowed by the PNP leadership to conduct committee hearings inside the premises of by Alexis RomeRo prices of goods, including the zon regions. the custodial center. Philstar.com unconditional cash transfers However, Roque said jeepney Sotto assured Albayalde that and fuel vouchers for jeepney fares may still go down if fuel the Senate contingent would MANILA — The implementa- operators. prices decrease. abide by the internal rules and tion of Tax Reform for AcceleraThe P1 increase for the first “It’s a result of the increase regulations of the institution tion and Inclusion (TRAIN) law four kilometers raised the miniand that necessary coordina- will push through amid the in- mum fare for jeepneys to P9. The in oil prices but we assure you, tion would be made prior to the crease in jeepney fares, Malaca- fare hike, which was approved if the price of petroleum goes down, there will be correspondscheduled hearing. on Wednesday by the Land ing adjustments,” he said. ñang said on Thursday, July 5. The Senate president made Presidential spokesman Harry Transportation Franchising and Critics have blamed the TRAIN the request following his visit to Roque Jr. said the government Regulatory Board (LTFRB), covlaw for the rising fuel prices. But de Lima on June 28 to check on is implementing measures to ered jeepneys in Metro Manila, her condition and discuss mat- help the poor cope with rising Central Luzon and Southern Lu- officials said the price adjustments were caused by higher oil ters related to their work in the prices in the international market Senate. and a weak peso. Sotto, in a separate text mesTRAIN, which took effect last sage, said that de Lima did not January, lowered income tax but ask him to make such a request, slapped new taxes on diesel, liqadding that it was part of their uefied petroleum gas, kerosene mutual concern to act on several and bunker fuel for electricity bills referred to her committee. generation as well as higher taxProposed measures pendes on other oil products. ing before de Lima’s committee The law was passed to generwere the Public Solicitation Act, ate funds for the government’s National Rotary Day, February P8.4-trillion “Build Build Build” 23 of every year, Magna Carta infrastructure program. of the Poor, Magna Carta of The government, Roque said, Day Care Workers, Emergency is also importing cheaper diesel Volunteer Protection Act, Social from Russia. Welfare and Development Agen“The good news is the implecies Act and Rural Employment mentation of the (importation of) Assistance Program Act. Russian diesel is ongoing. The “She did not exactly ask for problem is we don’t have enough it (committee hearings), it was depots, but I think the governpart of our mutual concern to facilitate the House bills referred A jeepney barker holds up a sign informing passengers of the new P9 minimum fare at a ment is encouraging the private to her new committee,” Sotto terminal in Manila. The LTFRB, which approved the new fare the other day, stressed that the sector to build depots because we are focusing on energy secuhike could be implemented only when an official order is issued. said. (ManilaTimes.net) Philstar.com photo by Miguel de Guzman rity,” he added. n
TRAIN to continue amid jeepney fare hike
Gratuitous cruelty to children from...
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ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
series of transports, taking three weeks and when they reach the Southern Border, they apply for legal asylum. But instead of processing their asylum claims, they are apprehended, the kids are deemed unaccompanied minors, as their parents have not yet attained legal status. Kids are then taken from their parents, on the pretext of giving these children a bath, but the children are shipped to places, 2,000 miles away from their parents like New York. Do you sense double or triple doses of cruelty here? We are not this America: We are better than this Nana, a 95½-year-old woman who has seen U.S. presidents change 15 times to this current one, wondered when will “The Law of Karmic Debt kick in for this 45th U.S. President? She has seen Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, Harry Truman, Franklin D. Roosevelt become presidents in her lifetime, since she was 10 years old. She added two Kennedys have been assassinated in her lifetime. I wanted to add Martin Luther King and even Malcolm X, but she switched the conversation on how her heart bleeds for these children. “We are not this America,” she added. She describes that her heart is for the migrants, as she and her family had to wait for their resettlement into America, when no countries would accept Jews as immigrants in the late 1920’s. How did we get here, America? In his interview with Chris Matthews, University of Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins said, “Families are fundamental blocks to a society, when the state intervenes, it strikes at our values. The rhetoric about these people is demeaning and treats them as animals. You can think what you want about immigration reform but you have to start at decency, you have to treat them with decency!” But, who stands to benefit from detaining these children? Are foster parents who are paid handsomely per month when these children are placed in their
homes by the government? The immigration lawyers? The federal government in imposing hefty bond fees to claim their children? The New York Times reported on June 19 that $458,000,000 would be spent to detain these children. “Currently Southwest Key has nearly 5,100 children in 26 shelters in Texas, Arizona and California, accounting for nearly half the unaccompanied minors being held in facilities all over the country. Most of them are older children who weren’t taken from their parents but instead tried to cross the border on their own,” The Associated Press reported on June 27. The report added, “The nonprofit organization has booked $458 million in federal contracts during the current budget year — half of what is being handed out by HHS for placing immigrant children who came to the U.S. unaccompanied or were separated from their families after arriving.” Humanitarian initiatives The American people responded swiftly with mercy and compassion. On June 28, a 6-year-old Atlanta boy sold lemonade and made $13,000 to benefit these separated children, CBS.com reported. Here in Los Angeles, Keep Families Together Rally & Toy Drive was organized on June 23 at the Federal Bldg. in Westwood; Christine Oshima agreed to share a photo she took. Thousands attended. As of 7:15 p.m. on July 1, a fundraiser initiated by Charlotte Willner and Dave Willner on Facebook weeks ago has raised $20, 578,199 from 533,587 folks to reunite an immigrant parent with their child, which included nearly a hundred Filipino-Americans donating. As of 7:36pm, it grew to $20,578,724 from 533,594 folks, an increase of $525 from seven new donors in 21 minutes. The funds raised would benefit RAICES, which “will directly fund bonds to allow parents to reclaim their detained children. This group will ensure legal representation for every separated family and every unaccompanied child in Texas’ immigration courts.” Their current goal is $25,000,000. Janne Martin-Godinez, a 7year-old Guatemalan girl was
reunited with her mother after nearly a two-month separation. “She and her father were detained at the Arizona border in mid-May, a week after her mother had arrived with her baby brother. The family fled their home in western Guatemala because they were threatened by gang members demanding money from them. Martin-Godinez, 29, a nurse, said she was also threatened by a supervisor at the clinic where she worked,” The Washington Post wrote on July 2. Meanwhile, the Trump administration changed its zero tolerance policy to the indefinite detention of families while their asylum claims are processed. The 45th president’s administration has yet to demonstrate its respect to human beings regardless of national origins. After all, he took an oath,with his hand over a Bible, to uphold the U.S. Constitution, which provides equal protection to citizens, resid ents and immigrants, as all are deemed “persons,” entitled to a full measure of human rights and should not be presumed to be criminals. Perhaps, Mr. Trump needs to learn lessons from 8-year-old Diego, “who came up with his own signs for his first public protest: 1) Don’t separate families 2) Don’t make kids cry, make kids happy 3) Broken Families = Broken World 4) We all need = rights 5) Free children and the world will be happy and 6) Help free kids.” Thanks to Cheryl, his mom, who allowed his messages to be shared. #SouthernBorder #Immigrants #UnaccompaniedMinors #Refugees #NotoFamilySeparation #FamiliesBelongTogether *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 7-10, 2018 A11
The American Flag Is Raised to Honor H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Members of the Constitutional Committee who drafted the proposed federal constitution pose for a photo after voting on the draft charter at the Philippine International Convention Center. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina
‘Not a second longer’ in Palace for Duterte by Catherine
Valente ManilaTimes.net
Malacañang on Friday, July 6 said President Rodrigo Duterte would not go beyond his six-year term that ends in 2022 over reports that he can stay in power until 2030 under a proposed charter for a federal government. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. reiterated that Duterte has no desire to extend his rule under the proposal. “PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] has repeatedly said: not a second beyond his term in 2022,” Roque told reporters in a text message. “He has said what he said: not a second longer,” the Palace official said. Roque made the statement after Julio Teehankee of the consultative commission (concom) said there is no provision that prohibits Duterte, or even Vice President Maria leonor “leni” Robredo, from seeking reelection under the proposed federal charter.
“Their terms will end in 2022. There’s no ban. They can run under a new constitution,” Teenhankee, chairman of the concom’s sub-committee on political reforms, said during an interview over cignal TV’s One news. In the proposed charter, all elected officials will be given a four-year term with possible reelection. Duterte will be allowed to run for a new four-year term, and then another reelection for another term that will end in 2030, if the new constitution would take effect on 2022. Teehankee, however, clarified that there will be no term extension for any official during the transition to the proposed federal government. Under the 1987 constitution, Duterte and Robredo cannot seek reelection. Duterte, 73, has repeatedly said he was willing to give up the highest position in the land, if a new federal state pushes through.
critics have warned that the proposed shift in the system of government would allow Duterte to extend his presidency. christian Monsod, a framer of the 1987 constitution, questioned the Duterte administration’s push for a change into a federal form of government, saying this might just be a “Trojan horse” for the President’s possible intention to perpetuate his term beyond 2022. “But if [Durterte] wants to stay in power beyond 2022, the only legal way to do it is by charter change, with a new constitution that allows him to run again… In other words, the question is: Is federalism a Trojan horse to stay in power?” Monsod asked. On Thursday, the concom tasked to propose amendments to the 1987 constitution approved a final draft of its proposed federal charter to be submitted to Duterte. The President is expected to endorse the draft in his State of the nation address on July 23. n
Robredo camp asks PET: Direct Marcos’ lawyer to name people complicit in magnifying lens incident by
Kristine Joy Patag Philstar.com
ManIla — The camp of Vice President leni Robredo has asked the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to direct lawyer Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., to name persons aware of their revisor bringing in of a prohibited object inside the recount area. Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s lawyer, filed an Urgent Ex-Parte Motion in connection with their earlier manifestation of grave concern that raised that a “revisor” from Marcos camp brought in a plastic magnifying lens inside the revision area. according to the Robredo camp, in the morning of June 14, nestor Borromeo brought in the prohibited item inside the revision area despite rules saying that only papers are allowed.
Revisors are the persons in charge of recounting the contested ballots from the pilot provinces in the recount. Robredo’s camp pointed out that Rodriguez, in his statement to the media, said that “other people on the revision floor were aware that the plastic magnifier was being used and never complained.” This, Robredo’s lawyer said, indicates that some personalities are “complicit” with Borromeo’s actions. “Plainly speaking, these persons, fully aware that the use of magnifying lens is prohibited, allowed Mr. Borromeo to not only bring the said item inside the revision area but worse, use it as well,” the motion read. Macalintal also noted that the tribunal ordered Borromeo to explain why his accreditation should not be withdrawn. Their
fresh plea, Macalintal said, will help “unearth the truth and serve as guide in resolving the said incident.” “More importantly, this will dispel any wrong information being fed to the media and the public regarding this election protest,” Macalintal added. Philstar.com sought for a comment from Rodriguez but he has yet to reply as of this story’s posting. Marcos, the son of the ousted Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has accused Robredo of cheating her way to the second highest office in the land. He lost to the former camarines Sur representative and human rights lawyer by a slim margin of about 260,000 votes in the 2016 national elections. The recount officially started on april 2, with ballots from camarines Sur. n
California, USA - In 2010, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III received the World Peace Prize. In 2013, the Senate of the United States Congress unanimously passed a Senate Resolution affirming the nature of the World Peace Prize and the correctness of the decision to issue that prize. The resolution recognized the accomplishments and status of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, as well as the contributions His Holiness the Buddha has made to humanity. On June 24, 2018, World Buddhism Association Headquarters held a “Celebrating the Birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III” dharma assembly at Holy Heavenly Lake in California. During the assembly, it was publicly announced to thousands of Buddhists from all over the world that on May 15th, at the United States Capitol in the nation’s capital, the American flag was raised to honor H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, the supreme leader of all of Buddhism. That raising of the American flag in the United States capital to celebrate the birthday of the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III enabled Buddhists from all over the world to know the greatness and supreme status of His Holiness the Buddha. According to our understanding, a number of senior congressional members from both the House and the Senate, including heads of congressional committees and the Speaker, sent letters to congratulate H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III on the flag raising. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was present at the site of the dharma assembly held by World Buddhism Association Headquarters. Heavily guarded by the police force, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III walked onto the red carpet toward the lakeside. The seven types of Buddhist disciples attending the assembly knelt on both sides of the carpet, raising their khatas to welcome the Buddha as they loudly chanted “Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.” During the dharma assembly, the sun shone brightly high above. The temperature remained as high as around 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the whole time. Yet miraculously, both inside and outside the pavilion, it did not feel hot at all; it even felt soothingly cool.
Venerable Mozhi, the person in charge of World Buddhism Association Headquarters, said during the opening address of the dharma assembly, “We should thank our great America. On May 15th, the American flag was raised at our United States Capitol building, where it waved in the wind. This was done to specially wish H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III a happy birthday. The congressional flag-raising document read, ‘This flag was flown in honor of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, Supreme Leader of all Buddhism, on the occasion of his birthday.’ The flag you see here fluttering in the wind is the flag that was raised on Capitol Hill in Washington DC and was delivered to and received by the Office of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.” Venerable Mozhi gave an introduction to Holy Heavenly Lake to the thousands of Buddhists attending the dharma assembly, saying that the lakeside of Holy Heavenly Lake where the attendees were gathered is an extremely wonderful and remarkable mandala that is full of auspiciousness. He said, “Right below where we are standing now is a huge crystal lake. Under Holy Heavenly Lake, there is also an underground river, which is one of the two great rivers in the world that flows from south to north. This place is truly auspicious.” He went on to say that eminent monastics and people of great virtue are welcome to come and build Buddhist centers here. This city of Buddhist centers will be developed with the best effort, and it will be comparable in scale to the Vatican. The “True Dharma Temple,” where H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III will reside, will also be built here. This entire Buddhist city will be surrounded by walls. Inside the walls will be a holy Buddhist land. The inside of this Buddhist city will be an extraordinarily wonderful Buddhist treasure-land of the world! In the future, everyone will be welcome to come to this place, which will be the most majestic, flourishing Buddhist center in the world. Venerable Mozhi also explained that as of now only Holy Heavenly Lake, LLC and World Buddhism Association Headquarters own land at the lakeside of Holy Heav-
enly Lake. No other individual or organization owns any such land. There are also some people who are intentionally paying much higher than the market price to buy real estate in the area surrounding the property of Holy Heavenly Lake. In doing so, they have caused the construction cost of this Buddhist city to go up. Not only is this kind of selfish conduct inflating the market price, it is also damaging to the true dharma. The Venerable Mozhi continued to say, “I am responsible for the work of World Buddhism Association Headquarters. Naturally, I have become a cultivator at World Buddhism Association Headquarters to benefit the public. Serving the public and bringing benefits and happiness to living beings, contributing to the prosperity and strength of the country, contributing to world peace, and adding to the dharma realm one more liberated living being after another; that is my job.” After addressing the congregation, Venerable Mozhi knelt and prostrated to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. In a sonorous a voice, he beseeched His Holiness the Buddha to expound the dharma for all Buddhist disciples. He also said, “May our United States be prosperous and flourishing. May our United States be successful in all respects. I wish all of the countries from which each of you have come abundant harvest and favorable weather. I wish all of you great joy and benefits in the dharma. May you achieve perfect good fortune and wisdom, and soon realize enlightenment!” H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III ascended to the platform to expound the dharma to everyone, emphasizing the importance of cultivating oneself and the fundamental principles of learning from Buddha. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III also blessed the participants by giving each of them a holy nectar pill. Just as His Holiness the Buddha had vowed in the past, His Holiness the Buddha selflessly benefitted living beings and did not accept one cent of any offering. All seven types of Buddhist disciples rejoiced. Everyone was filled with joy from the dharma. The dharma assembly concluded in perfect success.
Congress asked to convene as constituent assembly for new Charter after SONA
cOngRESS should immediately convene as a constitutional assembly (conass) to amend the 1987 constitution after President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his third State of the nation address (SOna), Deputy Speaker Fredenil castro of capiz told The Manila Times. castro said that amending the charter by instituting a federal government composed of independent regions, each with the authority to manage its resources and craft its laws, including taxation, should no longer be burdensome for congress since the constitutional commission (concom) panel, which the President constituted to draft a new constitution, finished its output.
“If ever the draft constitution is submitted to congress, perhaps only minimal matters need to be discussed. congress can convene as conass immediately after SOna,” castro said in a text message. “convening congress as conass therefore is advisable and appropriate so that the draft constitution is finalized and submitted to the people for ratification,” castro said. Former chief justice Reynato Puno heads the committee whose members include former Senate president aquilino Pimentel, Jr.; Fr. Ranhilio aquino, Dean of San Beda college of law; former associate justices of the Supreme court antonio nachura and Bienvenido Reyes;
former dean Julio Teehanke of the De la Salle University college of liberal arts; political analyst Edmund Tayao, among others. But while the concom panel submitted its proposed new constitution for the President’s approval, its copy has yet to be released to the public. The Senate is also opposed to a joint voting under a constituent assembly, considering that the 1987 constitution did not have an explicit provision reThousands of Buddhist disciples held khatas and devoutly knelt on the ground to welcome His Holiness the Buddha as they loudly quiring one on charter change. chanted “Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.” a joint vote will render the Senators’ vote irrelevant, considering that there are only 24 Senators against over 200 members of the House. (Llanesca Panti/ManilaTimes.net)
DepEd, PDEA postpone meeting on student drug tests ManIla — Officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement agency (PDEa) have postponed their scheduled meeting this week to discuss the proposed mandatory drug testing on students. Education Undersecretary nepomuceno Malaluan said the meeting was reset to next week to invite other agencies to join the discussion. “Mutually agreed to include the Dangerous Drugs Board and possible the Philippine national Police (PnP) because of earlier issue on locker (inspections),” he said. Malaluan said officials are still trying to find a common schedule for the meeting. DepEd Secretary leonor Briones earlier sought a meeting with PDEa chief aaron aquino to discuss the latter’s proposal for
mandatory drug testing for grade 4 students and above. The DepEd has expressed reservations over the proposal, noting that the anti-illegal drug law only allows drug testing on high school and college students. Briones also noted the cost of the mandatory drug testing, as well as its lasting impact on the students. “What is important is the impact on the life of a 10-year old child,” she said in a recent interview with The chiefs on cignal TV’s One news. “We have to make sure that our children are protected from overexposure, shock, trauma and all this that is required in testing.” The meeting with PDEa would focus on existing programs implemented by DepEd to address the illegal drug problem, according to DepEd Undersecretary annalyn Sevilla.
“Drug testing is just one of the components of a bigger program of DepEd,” she said in Filipino. In addition to the existing random drug testing on high school students, Sevilla said drug prevention and education are part of the basic education curriculum. She also stressed that there are other extra-curricular activities that are being implemented to ensure that schools are drugfree. DepEd officials have also sought a meeting with the PnP to discuss its proposal to conduct surprise locker and bag inspections on students. Police said the inspections could be a deterrent to illegal drug use among students, although the DepEd warned that such a program has to be carefully studied as it may result in the violation of the privacy of the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III ascended to the platform to expound the dharma for thousands of Buddhist disciples, emphasizing the students. n importance of cultivating oneself.
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Filipino star of ABC’s ‘Take Two’ Xavier de Guzman shares his start in acting How the young actor went from background roles to starring in the main cast of a primetime drama by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
Filipino actor Xavier de Guzman stars as Berto in ABC’s “Take Two.” Photo courtesy of Disney ABC Press
As hollywood begins to take serious strides to diversify its casts, ABC’s new crime drama “take two” has added the Filipino-Canadian actor Xavier de Guzman in a co-starring role as an investigator’s assistant. “take two”, which premiered on June 21, follows a former star of a fictional hit cop show (Rachel Bilson, “the O.C.”, “hart of Dixie”) who teams up with a private investigator (Eddie Cibrian, “Csi: Miami”) as research for a new role. De Guzman, 30, plays Roberto “Berto” Vazquez, Cibrian’s character’s assistant, a tech expert who helps with solving crimes. his big break on a primetime drama follows a short but fruitful trajectory which included roles in short films and theater. “it’s huge because it was the first audition i had when i landed in Vancouver….when i found out i got the job on ‘take two’, i was jumping up and down on my bed!” de Guzman shared with the Asian Journal in a recent phone
interview. the son of Filipino immigrants who moved to Canada, de Guzman said his first love was sports, which led him to a successful career in Muay thai fighting. As a fighter, he was based out of southside Muay thai in toronto and went on to win multiple lightweight titles in Canada. his success as a fighter brought him his first acting role on the Canadian cop drama show “Rookie Blue” in 2010 despite having no experience in acting. it was here he discovered his love for acting and saw it as a viable career path. “For me, it was this struggle of ‘what’s next?’ because as a fighter, your career is pretty limited,” de Guzman remarked. “so once i was on set, the first thing that hooked me was the magic of what was happening in front of me and how this turns into something you could watch on t.V.” he began by playing background roles in Canadian tV and short films, where he was often cast in gangster and thug roles that required him to fight against
Should transgender candidates be allowed to compete in pageants for women? by ricKy
lo Philstar.com
this question cropped up after Angela Ponce, a transgender, won 2018 Miss spain as the country’s bet in the 2018 Miss Universe pageant with the Philippines’ Catriona Grey among the contenders. Ponce was not the first transgender to win in a pageant for girls. in 2012, Jenna talackova, a model and tV personality, created a stir when she waged a legal battle to be allowed to compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant after being initially disqualified for PAGE B3
Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969
Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973 Philstar.com photos
the main characters, which, as a young actor, was fine at the time, he says. But as his filmography grew and as he gained more experience, he wanted something more. “At one point, i kind of didn’t want to be thug No. 1 or Gangster No. 1 anymore, so i started delving more into classes and learning more about the craft and the art and i started branching off into developing other characters that i could probably play,” he said. in addition to screen acting, de Guzman has also delved into performing on stage in local and regional play productions like “A Flea in her Ear”, the Georges
Feydeau play centered around Paris at the height of the Belle Époque. As he continues to build his career and branch out into a diversity of roles, he looks to sir ian McKellen, sir Patrick stewart, Benedict Cumberbatch and samuel L. Jackson as inspirations who have mastered the versatility of the craft and can transition among different mediums, whether that’s in front of a camera or a live audience. De Guzman’s uphill climb from being a two-dimensional extra as a gangster to nabbing theatre roles and finally making a break onto primetime television is a PAGE B5
From Terri Edda Miller and Andrew W. Marlowe, the creator and executive producers of ABC’s highly popular series “Castle,” comes “Take Two,” a crime comedy-drama starring Rachel Bilson and Eddie Cibrian.
EntErtainmEnt
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How rejection inspired Kyline’s rise to stardom Anne Curtis answers netizen questioning sincerity to do charity By nathalie
toMada Philstar.com
by Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
Kapamilya actress anne Curtis defended herself after a basher criticized her for allegedly doing charity works for publicity. The “it’s Showtime” host posted on her instagram account a photo of her collecting change from passengers of a commercial flight for the Change for Good program of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNiCEF) philippines. “i was able to collect 3 full bags! Salamat sa Lahat ng passengers and thank you for renewing this program with us! i truly hope this becomes a liFETimE partnership! To all CEBUpaC passengers, next time you’re on a flight and the lovely F.a’s come around with this bag know that you are helping children that benefit from the first 1000 days program of UNiCEF your loose change goes a looooooong way. Salamat po!” anne said in the post. But a netizen commented on her post, saying: “i was going to comment on here that how about anne just give her own money to help UNiCEF? instead of going around collecting money from low income citizens? Tsk tsk..Cant help but think that these act of ‘kindness’ that celebrities do is all for publicity....SmH.” anne immediately replied to the netizen and defended herself by saying that she also donates from her own pocket.
Anne posted a photo of her collecting change from passengers of a commercial flight for the Change for Good program of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines. Photo from Instagram/@annecurtissmith
“With all due respect madam, trust me, i do my own part and donate from my own pocket on may other different occasions to UNiCEF and my own foundation Dream machine BUT for this specific project, the main goal is using where i am to iNSpiRE others to do good and donate loose change- ONly iF THEy CaN,” anne wrote. “Mukha naman po silang masaya sa picture dahil nakatulong sila sa kapwa Pilipino nila. That’s why if you read my caption, i even pointed out na sana on future flights in Cebu
pac when you see flight attendants passing around this bag and do you have the extra change, kahit piso, it will go a long way in helping Filipino children. This program is all about inspiring others to join the change for good movement and lend a helping hand to Filipino children that benefit from the first 1000 days program of Unicef,” she added. The actress-host was appointed by UNiCEF philippines as its celebrity advocate for children last 2015.
Ai-Ai is a proud Catholic by allan PolicarPio
online discussions sparked by president Duterte’s controversial remark about God being “stuai-ai delas alas clarified that pid”—said it’s her duty as a papal her recent social media post awardee to defend her faith. about being respectful of different “One day, i woke up and saw religions was merely a “generic” that a lot of people are fighting reminder to everyone, and not on Facebook; some were saying directed at anyone in particular. bad things about priests. and i On instagram, she said she’s was hurt seeing that … let’s just “proud to be Catholic” and pointed respect one another,” ai-ai said. out that “insulting someone’s in October 2016, the comedireligion” was tantamount to “in- enne formally received her pro sulting something meaningful to Ecclesia et pontifice medal, which them. Everyone must be conscious is given by the Roman Catholic and respectful,” she wrote. “you Church to lay people who have don’t have to agree with other offered “distinguished service” to people’s beliefs, but you don’t the religious institution. need to disrespect them.” “When i was given the honor, i in an interview at a press con- made a vow to defend the church. ference for Gma 7’s new singing i have to fulfill my duties to God, Broadthink AJ Ad_June2018_112_Layout 6/20/18 4:29 PM Page tilt, “The -Clash,” ai-ai—who and 1make sure i abide by 1His posted the message amid heated teachings,” she said. Inquirer.net
Ai-Ai delas Alas
GMA photo
The 53-year-old celebrity likewise stressed thata she can’t and won’t “judge anyone.” “That’s what my priest reminded me. i’m PAGE B5
age gracefully
4 Super Reasons to Eat Strawberries
4. In a study done by the Institute of Biochemistry in Ancona, Italy, researchers found that when subjects consumed strawberries daily for two weeks, an average 3.4% increase in serum folate levels was observed, meaning regular strawberry intake could have a beneficial effect on folate status and heart health. In addition to being delicious, strawberries are also very high in vitamin C and flavonoids, which is just one more reason I have included them in my StrawberryAvocado Relish, which I often serve with my Summertime Grilled Chicken recipe. However, the relish also makes a great topping for any grilled fish or chicken, and it’s a satisfying dip for whole-grain tortilla chips. No cooking is required for this condiment.
Strawberry-Avocado Relish Yields about 2 cups 1 1/2 cups diced strawberries 1 diced medium-size avocado 1/4 cup minced red onion 1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 limes) 1 Tbs. chopped cilantro 1 tsp. sugar Sea salt and ground pepper to taste
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well with a wooden spoon.
© 2018 by FoodTrients.com
BY GRACE O Strawberries are one of the most popular berries in the world, and they are also one of the top superfoods when it comes to fighting a vast array of diseases and health issues. From fighting inflammation and controlling diabetes, to protecting brain function and improving heart health, strawberries can boost your health in countless ways. I love to find reasons to incorporate strawberries into a variety of dishes including smoothies (see my Immunity Boosting Blend), salads, or just as a snack by themselves. If you need more reasons to eat strawberries? Here are a few: 1. Strawberries are loaded with antioxidants, which help defend cell structures in the body and protect the body’s organs. Strawberries are second only to plums as the richest fruit in phenols and antioxidants, and are especially high in cancer- and heart diseasefighting flavonoids, quercetin, catechin, and kaempferol. 2. Strawberries can offer enhanced protection against crippling inflammationrelated diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 3. Strawberries have shown an ability to inhibit tumor growth and to slow the progress of tumors as they begin to develop, according to a study using rats with esophageal cancer.
GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients®, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooks — The Age Gracefully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, which recently won Gourmand’s ‘Best in the World’ Award for Innovation. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry. Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com
pansin because dati may salamin kami sa Bicol, tapos i’d be actONE year ago, Gma 7’s “Kam- ing in front of the mirror. i’d be bal Karibal” star Kyline alcantara changing emotions, nagiging was feeling down and discour- mataray ako, umiiyak ako, tumaaged, wondering why she wasn’t tawa ako.‘ Baliw ata yung anak getting a regular acting project for ko.’ They thought, i was crazy (laughs). i was three years old almost three years already. The 15-year-old (real name is at that time. When i was about Kyline Nicole aquino alcantara; six, nag-ki-critique ako ng mga not related to the aquino po- teleserye: Bakit wala siyang luha? litical clan though, interestingly, So, parang dun nila nalaman her lola is also named Corazon na ah, may passion ito sa pagaquino) started out as a child aartista. So, they pushed me to actress and showed promise after become an artista. The good thing being cast either as the mean girl with (my parents), they didn’t stop or the younger version of the lead me from going after what i wanted to become.” stars in soap operas. Thus, when work became However, Kyline found herself confined to guest appearances particularly scarce a year ago, in her former network. She was the articulate teen confessed, thankful for these occasional as- her voice turning softer, “Di signments, but for someone who alam ng parents ko ‘to, pero didn’t exactly have the means in sinasabi ko sa ‘yo, i became life, it certainly wasn’t the most depressed po. Because this is my craft and i really want to ideal situation to be in. “Yun po yung time na pinalayas- work… i got depressed because layas kami,” recalled Kyline to The (i felt) nobody appreciated what Star, referring also to a scene from i was doing, nobody appreciated a “magpakailanman” episode my hard work. Parang nakakathat dramatized her life story. depress naman talaya yun.” it became a TV ratings winner To cheer herself up, “i would and Twitter trending topic the watch videos — that’s how the first time it was aired. internet can help also — videos Said episode had a replay that are inspiring. and, of course, recently due to a public demand. through the support of my parents “it was true po. (We got evicted and i talk to God.” from home) not only once, but Then the “Kambal Karibal” ofthree times because we couldn’t fer came. Gma 7’s top-rating, pay the rent,” she added. supernatural-themed primetime From that episode, you can drama has been running for nine glean as much that this petite, months to date, extended several bedimpled girl went through a lot. times already and might — just problematic family life (although might — last until the end of the her parents have since reconciled year. and happily accompanied her to Kyline said, “‘Kambal Karibthis interview), financial struggles al’ helped me a lot. Matagal akong (they would hitch rides on delivery nawalan ng trabaho… maybe two trucks owned by a family friend or three years. i had guestings but from their hometown in Bicol these were not enough to help me going to manila for auditions) and financially. When i transferred to rejection. Or make that rejections, Gma, i didn’t expect that people because she wasn’t good enough, would appreciate me in ‘Kambal talented enough or pretty enough Karibal’. i’m very happy po.” to make it in the entertainment Kyline initially auditioned for biz, she was told. a smaller role, the young Jean “it’s all true. Hindi lang isang Garcia, before she was made to tao, madami pa. i had relatives audition for one of the main charwho would tell me these things. acters — the scheming Cheska, i don’t know why, maybe they who comes in between the BiGuel just didn’t have that much faith (Bianca Umali and miguel Tanfein me po,” reflected Kyline. “But lix) love team. i didn’t use it (as a reason) to give it’s a role that has since grown up. i used it to become stronger big and very important, and the as a person and as an artista na plot of the story had her eventually din.” assuming triple characters Crisan/ as young as three years old, Cheska/Criselle. Her portrayal of Kyline was showing signs of all three has been earning praise someone who could be an artis- from fans and pundits. ta someday. “Thank you (for the com“Sila (parents) po yung naka- pliments) but for me, it’s re-
Kyline Alcantara
Philstar.com photo
ally teamwork and kung w a l a a n g p ro d u c t i o n , w a l a ang artists, wala ang crew, di naman magiging successful yung ‘Kambal Karibal,’” she said. “i read the comments (online) because i want to know their reactions to what i show them (onscreen). yes, may compliments… May nagsasabi sa akin pero para hindi lumaki yung ulo ko, well, i’m not avoiding them, but i try not to put them in my head.” and she just relishes the opportunity of being a kontrabida, with the legendary screen villain Bella Flores as her idol. “Napanood ko po ang video niya sa isang website, and she said, ‘Walang bida kung walang kontrabida.’ and she’s one of the queens of all kontrabidas. i want to be a bida-kontrabida na may pagka-action star. That’s my dream!” With her increasing popularity (she broke the million-mark in terms of instagram followers since “Kambal Karibal” with 1.4m), Kyline feels the responsibility of being someone looked up to and takes it seriously. She said she can’t show anything negative to the public. “Because if i become negative, someone na parang ni lo-look up na, how much more… (they might think) yung idol ko (ganun) so ako din. yes, (i take PAGE B5
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Life Coaching in a Different Perspective STARGAZER (Part 3 of 3)
AFTER assessing and taking note of your successes and failures, it’s time to contemplate. Where to now? Take another blank sheet of paper and look at the whiteness. There is nothing written on the blank sheet. Gaze on the emptiness. Meditate and ponder. What do you want written on this blank piece of paper? Now rewrite your goals for the next 10 years of your life. More questions may come up in your mind as you do this activity. Am I where I am supposed to be right now or did I even get near to the goals I set 10 years ago? Where to now? Your thoughts may settle on relationships — the good and the bad ones. Review each one of them. Do you let go of people who eat up your energies or become parasites, clinging on to the last exposed skin you have? Do you keep the ones who seem to really care? Should you start again or simply take another turn to avoid bumps along the way? Do you change jobs or stick to where you currently are but change the approach to situations surrounding you? Are you happy? Do you feel the mediocrity of things? Or do you simply exist and move without a specific goal, no specific direction in life? It will made you think really
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Resetting your life hard. Now make up your mind and start rewriting your goals. But first, discard the negative. GO LIGHTEN UP YOUR LOAD. EMPTY YOUR BAGGAGES. MAKE YOUR JOURNEY LIGHTER. Make peace with those who have hurt you. Forgive but never forget the lessons it has taught you. Make them your inspiration, of what not to be. Some hurtful situations cannot be avoided and there is always a chouce on how they can be tackled. Some can be resolved peacefully while the others may be left untouched. You will always have that choice. The choice to move and do something about your life or the choice not to effect change and simply not do anything. Tell yourself to let go of what doesn’t serve the highest purpose and let God take over. Now GO PUSH THAT BUTTON and RESET. REWRITE YOUR LIFE MISSION. Take that pen and rewrite everything. Start anew. In one column, reconfigure what you want to change in the way you look or your lifestyle. In another column, focus on relationships and people around you. Then reassess your work, career or business. Lastly, about your spirituality. What else do you need to do to undertake your life’s mission or be closer to God? Go over everything and make changes if you have to. Then bring out the first paper you wrote your failures and disappointments on, get an old plate and a box of matches. Ready? Now let us begin to do the ritual of CHANGE. Close your eyes and breathe in and out for
seven counts. As you breathe in, you inhale peace and exhale all the negativity inside you. Inhale…Exhale…seven counts Say these affirmations in your head: I am a being of light and nothing can penetrate my peace. I am a conscientious person and balance the good and the bad. I am fair. I am just. I am honest. I am full of gratitude in my heart. I am humble and kind. I am full of love... I am love. I am with God. Then take the paper where all the negativity was written and burn them. While burning, say these: I let go of all that has hurt and caused me suffering. I send love to those who pained me. I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you and I love you. All is well. All is forgiven. Peace. *** 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. For more information, please visit http://stargazer.ph/.
Alden Richards, Derrick Monasterio and Kristoffer Martin
HER “AMERICAN DREAM” SHATTERED WHEN HER CASE WAS DENIED AND HER TWO ATTORNEYS TOLD HER THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS JUST “HIDE.” Mariel (left) was devastated when her adjustment of status was denied after USCIS concluded she was out of status. Distraught and lost, especially after her first two lawyers’ only advice was to “hide,” Mariel decided to consult with “Attorney-of-Last-Hope” Michael J. Gurfinkel who sought reconsideration and was able to get Mariel her elusive green card in record time. Watch Mariel’s dream come true on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
GMA photos
ALDEN RICHARDS, DERRICK MONASTERIO AND KRISTOFFER MARTIN by LHAR
‘Kapuso’ brothers forever
SANTIAGO ManilaTimes.net
IT was almost seven years ago when Alden Richards, Derrick Monasterio and Kristoffer Martin starred together in GMA Network’s teen-oriented Sunday show, “Tween Hearts.” Alden and Derrick were showbiz neophytes getting their big break on TV, while Kristoffer was starting anew from another network. It was also at that time when these then rising stars formed very close friendships. Since they were together on the set all the time, they got to telling each other about their crushes, their goals, and even more personal matters. “We were inseparable that time. Kami na magkakasama sa set, kami pa rin magkaka-usap sa phone pag walang work,” Kristoffer recalled laughing to Showbuzz. After “Tween Hearts,” GMA recognized that the three young actors were ready to tackle individual projects, and were im-
mediately given lead roles in soap operas. They also became regulars on the Sunday noontime show “Party Pilipinas,” which now serves as their chance to see each other more regularly. After all, so much has happened to their respective careers since their “Tween Hearts” days, and they are all happy for each other’s success. When Alden’s popularity went sky high because of AlDub (with Maine Mendoza), Derrick and Kristoffer were very supportive of their friend. “We’re like brothers always there for one another and one thing that I can say is that Alden never changed,” Derrick volunteered. “He was the same Alden that we knew even after AlDub and nakikipagkulitan pa rin.” “Wala naman akong dapat ipagbago,” avers Alden. “Kami ni Derrick at ni Tun [Kristoffer’s nickname], we’re like brothers witnessed each other’s struggles in our careers. But whatever we’ve reached in this industry, it will
never change our friendship. We’ll forever be brothers.” The three Kapuso brothers have indeed gone far in showbiz. Needless to say, Alden is already one of the industry’s biggest stars, while Kristoffer and Derrick have both delivered notable performances as actors both on TV and the movies. Moreover, Kristoffer has successfully crossed over as a recording artist with the hit single “Paulitulit,” with Derrick maintaining the appeal of his loveteam with Barbie Forteza, so much so that their rom-com series, “Inday Will Always Love You” consistently tops the ratings chart. Catching up with these three bankable celebrities, therefore, no matter how rare it is to find them all together nowadays, is always a pleasure. For besides seeing just how much they’ve grown in their professions, their bond is strong and real as ever. No jealousy, no pretense, and no complications. Now even that is a rarity in showbiz.
Should transgender candidates be allowed... PAGE B1 being a transgender. She reached the Top 12 but failed to land in the Top 5. That was two years after she competed in the 2010 Miss International Queen pageant for transgender and transsexual women in Thailand. Should transgender be allowed to compete in pageants for girls? Funfare fielded seven beauty experts to answer that ticklish question. • Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969: You know, times have changed. Now, we see older and worldly almost professional contestants, enhanced and more adjusted. Somehow, I know that one day it will be acceptable but for now, maybe they (transgender) have their own contests to join. And mind you, many transgender are gorgeous! • Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973: There was a time when women joining beauty pageants were natural beauties untouched by doctors. This time, not only are contestants physically enhanced, transgender can join and win. The Miss Universe pageant should be exclusively for women. Transgender should have their own (contest) simply because they were not born women. • Lorraine Schuck, former beauty queen and executive vice president of Carousel Productions which is behind the yearly search for Miss Earth-Philippines (this year won by Fil-Italian charmer Celeste Cortesi) and Miss Earth: Cool and good luck to Angela Ponce! • Joel Lamangan, award-win-
B3
Lorraine Schuck, former beauty queen and executive vice president of Carousel Productions which is behind the annual search for Miss Earth-Philippines and Miss Earth
Cory Quirino, former national director of Miss World Philippines
ner director: I think it is not fair game! Miss Universe must only be a competition among women, original women, born a woman! But I am not against a Miss Universe contest for transgender. It will be an exciting beauty contest! • Renee Salud, fashion designer and beauty-queen discoverer: Miss Universe is a traditional beauty contest for heterosexual, so let the tradition live. LGBT has its own platform to present its beauty and talent so they should just make their contest bigger and more prestigious than the Miss Universe pageant. It should be beautiful transgender against beautiful transgender from all over the world! • Jonas Gaffud, member of Aces & Queens (the team that grooms beauty queens that bring home crowns from abroad): Angela Ponce’s win is a trailblazer. First, her win is an actualization of a progressive rule of Miss Universe that does not prohibit transgender
to compete in the pageant. This has been allowed years back, but this is the first time that one has won a national pageant. Second, that win is also symbolic and is a triumph for the struggle of transwomen for acceptance. Sure, she will create a buzz, but I hope people will see her for who she is, and will listen to her story. And in the end, when she competes in the Miss Universe pageant, she will be treated fairly, just like the other candidates. • Cory Quirino, former head of the annual search for Miss World-Philippines: There was a time when men were men, and women were women. But the phenomenon of the 21st century is the diversification of genders. Thus, the emergence of LGBTQ. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes gender dysphoria, the fact that a person may not feel like the sex they were born in. This will soon dramatically redefine beauty pageants from PAGE B5
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B juLy 7-10, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN jOuRNAL
Features
Six ways to get your body summer ready
Dawn Zulueta, Anton Lagdameo keep love alive with words of appreciation by Cody Cepeda Inquirer.net
DeSPITe being one of the most iconic actresses of her time, these days Dawn Zulueta seems to be spending more of her time with her family than on the big screen. A glance at Zulueta’s Instagram account shows manifold pictures of her travels with her two young children, Jacobo and Ayisha, and
husband, public servant Anton Lagdameo. Zulueta and Lagdameo tied the knot two decades ago back in December 1997 at the University Club in Manhattan, New York City. Such a long and prosperous marriage is bound to have some wondering how the two have managed to stay in love with each other all these years, but Zulueta proved that when
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By Monet
Dawn Zulueta with husband Anton Lagdameo Photo from Instagram@dawnzulueta
it comes to a lasting marriage, that showing appreciation for your significant other may just be one of the non-negotiables. Zulueta took to her Instagram account yesterday, July 4, to share a short but sweet message she wrote for her husband. She accompanied the post with a candid photo of the two of them holding each other close, with Zulueta’s arm around her husband’s neck. “You hold my hand when I am afraid, console me when I am sad, love & protect me…” wrote Zulueta. “I love you forever, @aflagdameo. Thank you for always making me feel like the luckiest woman in the world.” Zulueta said in the end, too, that sweet messages to one’s partner aren’t just reserved for special occasions. “Appreciation posts can’t wait until the next birthday or anniversary,” said Zulueta. It’s a truth that seemingly doesn’t get repeated enough. It’s undeniable that during Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, as well as Valentine’s Day, a barrage of appreciation posts pervade social media accounts, with many expressing their appreciation for their loved ones. But these words of love, according to Zulueta, shouldn’t just be uttered during such occasions but whenever one gets the chance. Lagdameo, a man of few words, replied to Zulueta’s post with, “Love you darling.” On his end, Lagdameo recently shared photos of their family enjoying their time in London. More than just a loving husband, Lagdameo, too, is a doting father. “enjoying London with my angels @dawnzulueta @jacobolagdameo @ayishalagdameo,” wrote Lagdameo. The pictures showed the family of four dressed fancily, with the gentlemen wearing suits and top hats. The family, too, took pictures with wax figures of Muhammad Ali and Michael Jackson, among others, at Madame Tussauds and also smiled widely for the camera while inside the train.
Lu
SUMMer is here! everybody’s heading to the beach and we all know the ‘scenery’ during beach season, don’t we? Now, don’t you go bailing on some summer fun just because you don’t feel confident wearing a swimsuit. Besides, after your hashtag #balikalindog project failed (for the nth time this year), this is the best moment to get your groove back again and achieve your ultimate ‘summer bod’ goals! I’ve rounded up six ‘realistically-achievable’ ways to help you start: • If you don’t have time to work out, make time I know this is easier said than done but you have to start if you want to have a bikini body this summer. My tip is to try working out in the morning to get your metabolism revved up for the rest of the day. Commit to a workout routine that you’re comfortable with and stick to it! Once you’ve built the habit, perform exercises that use more than one muscle group such as squats, pushups, rows, and lunges in a circuit to make your workouts most efficient. Again: make time for exercise, no excuses! • Manage your appetite for unhealthy foods by using an app This is one of the many benefits of modern technology, and I am not just talking about diosa (goddess)-transforming filters that you use when posting your selfies or Snapshot that make you look cuter when you’re a bunny or a fairy. You can now make use of your brand new iphone7 to download a mobile app that keeps your diet on track. A recent study in the journal Obesity found that dieters who track their progress using mobile apps drop more pounds than those who keep paper logs. The Weight Watchers mobile app (free with membership) also lets you download recipes, in-
cluding faves from spokeswoman Jennifer hudson. • Replace unlimited-rice with more green and leafy food options I know “rice is life” but you’re going to have to make the compromise if you want to rock that tank top. Start by cutting back on processed, starchy carbohydrates such as bagels, cookies, breads, pastas, and crackers. Most of these foods are loaded with extra sodium and preservatives that can contribute to water retention and bloating. Instead, opt for more fresh fruits and veggies, as well as lean protein to keep you satisfied. • Lay low on the alcohol It’s always a good idea to reduce your alcohol intake, especially during summer. Not only is it advisable (for a better and sober you), you will also reduce your total calorie intake and set yourself up for a better night’s sleep to energize you for your workout the next day (note: read tip no. 1 repeatedly). If you’re used to having a glass of wine or pint of beer every night, try cutting back to two or three nights a week. When you do indulge, always sandwich your drink with a glass of water before and after to avoid alcohol’s dehydrating effects. • Keep yourself hydrated – with H2O Since we are on the subject of drinking, I might as well remind you that while drinking too much alcohol is a no-no, drinking more water is a yes-yes-yes! The best way to rid yourself of excess water weight is to flush your body
with water. Skimping on water can reduce the effectiveness of your workouts because even mild dehydration can affect your performance and fat-burning potential. You should drink at least half your body weight in ounces each day (e.g., a 150-pound woman should drink 75 oz. or the equivalent of about four and a half 16.9 oz. bottled waters a day). • Get more snooze time. research says that sleep deprivation is one of the major causes of obesity. That in mind, you should reconsider the time you put into putting yourself to sleep – the longer the better. Getting a good night’s sleep is an important part of shedding those extra pounds, so be sure you are getting 7-9 hours of sleep. Summer is such an exciting season. And with such a highenergy season, comes (an even) higher demand to make sure our bodies are summer-ready and in tip-top shape. I hope these six steps would help flaunt your body confidently in front of your friends and family. It’s never too late to get fit and fab! ***
and prevent them from acquiring diseases as they grow older in spite of all the information easily accessible today, then we are hurting PhiliP S. Chua, them by unwittingly, albeit uninMD, FaCS, FPCS tentionally, contributing to their There are eight (8) groups unhealthy lifestyle, which will inof edible items in the stores, and crease their risks for diseases and perhaps in our kitchen pantry, that shorten their life. hence, the title we should stay away from because of that book which is a primer and they cause havoc on our body and home reference in disease prevenincrease our risk for the develop- tion and healthy lifestyle. This book ment major diseases as children of health wisdom, together with and when we grow older. Un- my weekly column, is part of my fortunately, their adverse impact personal public health educational on health and longevity happens campaign for a healthier society. Practical garden and housegradually and not immediately evident, until it’s too late. The de- hold tips Most of these tips and pointers bilitating illnesses they cause including diabetes, hypertension, are truly interesting, very useful, arthritis, heart attack, stroke, and and quite easy to follow, besides being money-savers. cancer, are mostly preventable. Microwave cooking corn on the Among these unhealthy items are tobacco, alcohol, processed cob: remove husk, wrap a corn meats and processed vegetables, cob in a paper towel and wet thorregular red meat, soft drinks of any oughly. Place in microwave oven and all kind, yogurt, cereal bars, for 5 minutes. Wait for 2 minutes and other items with wheat and before taking it out. For potatoes: Wash thoroughly high fructose corn syrup. healthy foods include: a lot of and wrap in paper towel. Wet vegetables, green-leafy and multi- fully and microwave for 4 minutes; color varieties, avocado, olives and longer, if needed. Adjust according olive oil instead of vegetable oil to size. Skin of potato is edible too and corn oil, wild-caught smaller and nutritious. home cleanser for kitchen fishes (salmon, sardines, mackerel, not huge albacore tuna, swordfish, top, bathroom, etc.: Instead of and other giant fishes). Avoid expensive harsh chemicals, which farmed fishes which are loaded are toxic also, mix 1 cup vinegar with antibiotics, hormones, etc. (acetic acid), 3 cups water, 1 tsp. eat a handful of nuts (almond, wal- dishwashing soap. Besides being nuts, etc.) daily. The pescatarian antibacterial, this is also anti-fundiet (vegetable and seafood diet, gus, anti-mold/algae. Another option: Mix 1/2 cup no animal meat at all) appears to be gaining popularity because it white vinegar, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, and 1 teaspoon liquid is healthier. Many fast food restaurants of- dishwashing liquid. Add enough fer breakfast menu 24/7 because water to make a gallon. Pour into today, they recognize the concept a spray bottle and use as cleaning that we eat when we are hungry agent. To unclog a drain: Pour 1/2 cup and eat what we eat for nutrition, without the old rigid rule that each vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda meal, like breakfast, should have down the drain. rinse with water. To clean microwave oven: Mix “standard” items. This could also help in dieting. Calories (quantity) one cup vinegar and one cup water and specific food items (quality) in a glass bowl and boil on high for and their nutritional and health about 10 minutes. Toothpaste could be used to value are the current recommendation. The caveat I propose: Push clean and shine faucets and showyourself away from the table less erheads, silver, bronze or gold. rinse with water well and dry with than full. I cannot overemphasize the a towel. regular Vinegar alone can be health benefits of physical exercise, at least 5 times a week, used in spray bottle to clean the even simple brisk-walking for 30 kitchen and bathrooms, etc. Safer minutes a day. exercise is not and cheaper than toxic chemical only good for losing excess weight cleaners Coke and Pepsi are toxic to the but it boosts the immune system, provides brain and psychological body, and must be used only to health, and also prevents cancer clean toilet bowls to remove stains. The chemicals in cola drinks are and Alzheimer’s. To prevent all diseases listed good as rust remover, pesticide, above, we must start our pre- window cleaner, dishwasher, bug emptive and pro-active health killer, insect bite pain remover, strategy in the cellular (DNA) level metal (coins, etc.) cleaner, and as illustrated in my book of living paint remover. When your cellphone falls in a a healthy lifestyle beginning in the womb and dieting initiated in the pool of water, do not turn it off or crib, entitled Let’s Stop “Killing” on, and immediately place it in a Our Children (view at philipSchua. zip-lock or any plastic bag full of uncooked rice, or silica gel desiccom). If we do not protect our children cant that comes with some medi-
cation bottles, electronic packing or luggage. The same thing with tablet/laptop. For infected plant leaves, mix 1 tablespoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and 8 ounces of water, and use this as a spray. This is also anti-fungus. To improve seed germination, immerse seeds in 3 percent peroxide for 5 minutes before planting. Scraping the seeds a little will also help. epsom salt may be used to sprinkle around plants, like fruits trees, to improve its health, every two weeks. Save used coffee and mix with potting soil as fertilizer. Baking soda could be used for insect bites and splinter wound disinfectant. Baking soda paste could also be used for cleaning and making toe nail shine. For severe sun burn, ½ cup baking soda in a tub of water for 10-20 minute bathing soothes and prevents infection. Baking soda plus vinegar could be used for 15-minute, twice a day, foot soak to fight athlete’s foot. Baking soda may also be used as facial cleanser. epsom salt may also be used a foot soak to clean and remove odor. Full strength regular vinegar could be used as a weed killer. Aspirin, which is used by florist to keep flowers fresh, could be used for plant health by dissolving 4 tablets in a gallon and use it for irrigation of plants. To scare off animals (racoons, rats, cats, dogs, deer, etc.), mix garlic, pepper and water then blend and strain. Spray the solution around plants and nearby areas. To clean dirty cookies sheet, pour baking soda-vinegar solution in it and leave for 5 minutes. If you run out of toothpaste, combine baking soda and lemon, and make a thick paste of it. Warning: The following must NOT be mixed: bleach and vinegar, bleach and ammonia, bleach and alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, and baking soda and vinegar. A caveat: Natural, organic, non-processed, wild-caught are key words that we should always remember and be conscious of for health maintenance and preservation.
Health@Heart
Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
Health and household tips
*** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
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Features
Filipino star of ABC’s ‘Take Two’ Xavier... PAGE B1 sign of the times in Hollywood, where diversity and complexity in characters of color are becoming more prevalent. “I think it’s amazing because, especially now that everyone is trying to have a voice and get a platform representing their culture, I think it’s definitely something to embrace knowing that I’m one of the few Filipinos
out there that are at this level. But it’s not just for Filipinos, it’s a win for all people of color, really, so I hope it’s inspiring for people to see,” De Guzman said. If the young actor’s casting in “Take Two” is a signal of what’s to come for Hollywood, then we may be seeing more Filipinos and actors of color in starring roles. He said that, as an actor, his
goal is to do everything from chamber dramas, superhero films and love stories, and given the tenacity he’s demonstrated in his career already, it’s hardly a far-fetched dream. “Take Two” airs every Thursday night at 10 p.m. on ABC. De Guzman will also star in the upcoming horror film “Our House” which will be released in theaters on July 27.
How rejection inspired Kyline’s rise... PAGE B2
it seriously, being seen as a role model) especially among the youth because maraming tumatakbo sa isip ng mga kabataan ngayon like suicide and things like that. Ako may mga ni-lo-look up din na sobrang positive nila. Gusto ko maging ganun.” In local showbiz, Kyline fangirls over actresses Julia Montes, Kaye Abad and Marian Rivera. Of fellow Kapuso Marian, she related seeing her for the first time when she was just an extra on the set of the primetime queen’s TV series Darna almost a decade ago. “The first time I saw her, I thought she was Barbie,” she said. “Now that we’re working together in ‘Sunday PinaSaya,’ binibigyan
niya po ako ng advice like don’t get tired, ’wag mapagod, because I still have a long way to go. One time, I was interviewed on TV and she DM-ed (direct-messaged) me a screenshot of it. Then she told me, ‘Whenever you need my help, I’m just here.’” Kyline is turning 16 in September with a concert (yes, she can also sing and has struck a recording deal). Her only wish is to have more work. Kyline, who has signed a fiveyear contract with GMA Artist Center, said, “(I told my manager) I can manage myself, I can manage my health, I can support myself, bigyan lang ng bigyan niyo po ako ng work. Just give me more work and I won’t ever complain. Maybe I’ll just say,
I’m sleepy, but I will still wake up for it!” If there are other youngsters who also want to pursue acting dreams, this is what she has to say: “If you love your work, you will really work hard on it even though there will be people telling you, hindi mo kaya yan, hindi mo maabot yan kaya tigiltigilan mo na yan or mag-aral ka nalang. Well, yes, mag-aaral ako, I can multi-task,” said Kyline, an eighth grader and scholar in a Christian School in Cainta. “So learn to multi-task, learn to be patient also, you need to wait because marami din gustong makaabot diyan sa pangarap na yan. But once you’ve reached it, treasure it, that’s what I’m doing right now.”
Ai-Ai is a proud Catholic
PAGE B2 a sinner, so I can’t judge. It’s all up to Him,” said Ai-Ai, who wants to focus her energy on her show biz projects and responsibilities. In “The Clash,” which airs Saturdays and Sundays starting July 7, she will sit as a judge, together with singers Christian Bautista and Lani Misalucha. Though she’s not a full-fledged recording artist, she believes she’s well-equipped for the task, having judged other reality talent searches in the past.
What is she looking for in an aspiring singer? “Vocal quality and stage presence. You need to have heart and passion, which can help you shine,” she said. “More importantly, you should have star quality—that one thing that mesmerizes viewers and draws them to you like a magnet.” “I have seen some of the contestants, and it’s heartening to see them dreaming of building a career in the industry,” she added.
And after winning international acting awards for her performance for the indie film “Area,” Ai-Ai is set to star in yet another heavy drama titled “School Service”—an entry in this year’s Cinemalaya film festival. Both movies are directed by her friend, Louie Ignacio. Teased if she feels she has a chance of winning best actress, Ai-Ai said: “What’s important is that I give my best. If I don’t win an award, then I guess my best wasn’t good enough!”
Should transgender candidates be allowed... PAGE B3 hereon after Angela Ponce’s win as Miss Universe Spain. What a historic victory! That means that the judges saw her as the epitome of a Spanish woman. During the six years that I was national director of Miss World Philippines, the international organization was silent on the issue of transgender. Although no formal and official statements
were released, there was a general sentiment in place which supported the practice of accepting biologically-born women as contestants. As I understood it, Mireia Lalaguna beat Ms. Ponce in the national pageant of Miss World Spain. Mireia went on to win the Miss World crown in 2015. Our bet then was Hillarie Parungao who placed in the Top 10. It was
disappointing because she won a major award, Best in Multimedia, that normally allowed the winner into the Top 7. Did the Miss World Organization know that their national director in Spain allowed a transgender in the competition? I can only guess. Perhaps not. Most definitely with Miss Universe trailblazing the way for transgender, this will pose a challenge to Miss World.
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 7-10, 2018 B
Visiting Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first National Park, with Super Vacation WITH summer holiday just around the corner, many are beginning to materialize plans of what to do during the warm weathered break. Why not spend the sunny months outdoors in some of the United States’ — and even the world’s — most famous and beautiful national parks? Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming continues to be among the most visited national parks in the U.S., reaching over 4.1 million visitors in 2017, making last year the second busiest on record, according to the United States’ National Park Service. Established on March 1, 1872 by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park, with numerous beautiful and awe-inspiring attractions within it’s 3,472 square miles. Visit its world known geysers, including the legendary “Old Faithful” geyser which propels hot water roughly 150 feet into the air every 60 to 90 minutes. Also make a visit to its Yellowstone Waterfalls, its Mammoth Hot Springs, and Yellowstone Canyon among others. And make sure you don’t miss out on seeing some of its many
wild animals like birds and bison which begin to come out starting in July. With Super Vacation, exploring and experiencing Yellowstone National Park is easy through their numerous travel package options which also brings travelers to other famous destinations like Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Grand Teton National Park, and the photogenic Antelope Canyon with its unique vermilion-colored rock formations and Ponderosa pines. Those looking for a shorter trip may want to check out their YMA-6 option which lasts six days and covers five locations with two relaxing days in Yellowstone National Park. Their most popular packages though are their YSB-7 which lasts seven days covering seven destinations including two nights on the Las Vegas strip, and their YMB package options which can last up to eight days covering up to fifteen destinations with a start at the historic Route 66. So as summer quickly approaches, consider checking off many of the nation’s most famous destinations off your travel bucket list with Super Vacation! Established in 1981, Super Vacation specializes in travel packages throughout the U.S. and Canada. To book, or get more information on their tours and rates, call them at (626) 571 - 2988, or visit them online at www.americaasia.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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Strict requirements eliminate victims of gang and domestic violence from claiming asylum THE Trump Administration continues to muddy the immigration landscape in the United States through United States Attorney General Sessions’ June 11, 2018 decision on Matter of AB by determining that victims of domestic violence and gang violence no longer generally qualify for asylum in the United States. Under United States immigration law, asylum provides protection for individuals who fear persecution in their home countries. Any person who has suffered persecution or fears suffering persecution in his home country based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion may seek protection through asylum in the United States. When the persecutor is a private actor, the asylum applicant must demonstrate that the government is either unwilling or unable to control the private actor. Of the five protected grounds established under United States asylum law, membership in a particular social group has experienced extensive litigation and varying legal interpretations. As a result, the particular social group category continues to develop and is a flashpoint in United States immigration law. In 2014 seminal case of Matter of A-R-C-G, the Board of Immigration Appeals recognized new particular social group based on private violence – “married women in Guatemala who are unable to leave their relationship.� Then in Matter of A-B, the Board of Immigration Appeals granted an El Salvadorian women asylum based on her being a victim of domestic violence. The woman was granted asylum based on her membership in a particular social group as a victim of domestic violence. The Attorney General’s new decision on Matter of A-B addresses whether a victim of private criminal activity constitutes
Your Immigration Solution Atty. MichAel Bhotiwihok a particular social group for asylum and withholding of removal. The decision spells out a two prong test for an asylum applicant to establish persecution on account of membership in a particular social group. First, membership in a particular social group must be demonstrated. This requirement is met through a group composed of members
fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes- such as domestic violence or gang violence- or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim.� Prior to releasing his new decision, the Attorney General spoke at an Immigration Judge training seminar where he indicated that legitimate asylum cases are buried by the high volume of invalid asylum claims. Presently, there is a growing backlog of 700,000 cases at asylum offices across the United States. The Attorney General’s new decision severely impacts thousands of domestic violence victims seeking asylum in the United States, especially those with pending cases for the immigration courts. Equally as disturbing is that fact that many women and children could be sent back to their countries to face their abusers and criminal gangs. While the Attorney General’s new ruling is binding on Immigration Judges and USCIS Asylum Officers, it can be overturned by a federal appellate court if a legal challenge is mounted. This more stringent shift in asylum requirements comes after the new Zero Tolerance policy for illegal entry on the United States’ borders as well pressure of Immigration Judges to complete a certain number of case per year. The Attorney General has stated that “the world will know what our rules are, and great numbers will no longer undertake this dangerous journey.� Collectively, these changes in immigration policy and enforcement represent the shape of things to come from the Trump Administration’s restrictive and unwelcoming immigration policy. Asylum is a complex area of immigration law that requires careful legal analysis. An indi-
“This more stringent shift in asylum requirements comes after the new Zero Tolerance policy for illegal entry on the United States’ borders as well pressure of Immigration Judges to complete a certain number of case per year.� who share an immutable characteristic, is defined with particularity and is socially distinct. Second, the applicant’s membership in the group must be the central reason for the persecution. The Attorney General’s action significantly changes the policy on asylum for victims of domestic violence and gang violence, impedes due process and access to the asylum system in the United States. In the Attorney General’s decision he states that “generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-government actors will not qualify for asylum.� He goes on to justify his position by writing “ the mere
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Madaba,Mt Nebo,Petra,Aqaba,Jordan
(Tiberias, Ceasarea, Haifa, Meggido,Magdala, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Carmel, Capernaum, Mt Beatitude, Jericho, Bethany, Mt.Tabor, Mount Zion, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Masada Dead Sea,Allenby Bridge, Madaba, Mt Nebo Petra, Aqaba Jordan)
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Pilgrimage to Some of ITALY’s Highlights and Miracles of the Eucharist Nov 12, 2018 to Nov 22,2018 Spiritual Director REV.JOEL BUGAS
OCTOBER 18 to Nov 1, 2018 SPIRITUAL CHAPLAIN: REV. ANTONIO FLORES
Oct 19, 2018 (Fri) Day 2 – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv/ Tiberias Ćž "/ 4" )" / **&$/ 1&,+ +! 201,*0Çž 4" 4&)) *""1 ,2/ ), ) $2&!"Çž 4%, 4&)) " 4&1% 20 !2/&+$ ,2/ 01 6 &+ ,)6 +!Ç˝ "+',6 1%" - +,/ *& 3&"4 ,# 1%" "!&1"// +" +Ç˝ " 4&)) 0-"+! ,2/ Ćœ /01 +&$%1 in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight (D). Beach Holy Eucharist Oct 20, 2018 (Sat) Day 3 – Tiberias/ Meggido/ Nazareth/ Cana/ Mt Tabor We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of Armageddon, known in Hebrew as Meggido, a giant fortress and City built by King Solomon.
+ 1%" "4 "01 *"+1 ,,( ,# "3") 1&,+Çž &1 &0 /"#"//"! 0 1%" 0&1"0 ,# 1%" ČŠĆœ + ) 11)"Č‹Ç˝ /,* 1%"/"Çž 4" 4&)) ,+1&+2" ,2/ !/&3" &+1, Nazareth, where we will have Mass in the Church of the Annunciation ,the Cave of the Annunciation and and visit Joseph’s Work0%,- +! %"+ 4" 4&)) *,3" ,+ 1, + ,# )&)""Çž 4%"/" 2/ ,/! -"/#,/*"! &0 Ćœ /01 *&/ )"Çż % +$&+$ 4 1"/ &+1, 4&+" 1 1%" 4"!Č’ ding feast. We will invite couples to Bless their marriage vows,Con1&+2" 1, ,2+1 ,/ Çž0&1" ,# "020 / +0Ćœ $2/ 1&,+Ç˝ Ćž "/4 /!Çž 4" will head to Tiberias. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D). Oct 21, 2018 (Sun) Day 4 – Tiberias/Mount Beatitude/ Multiplication / Primacy/ Capernum/Boat Ride “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heavenâ€? Early AM departures to Mt. Beatitude Drive up to Mount Beatitudes, visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people., Eucharistic Celebration . "+',6 0 "+& , 1 /&!" /,00 1%" " ,# )&)"" 1, -"/+ 2*Çž %,*" ,# 2/ ,/! !2/&+$ %&0 *&+&01/6Ç˝ Ćž "/ 3&0&1&+$ 1%" 6+ $,$2" where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the ), 3"0 +! Ćœ 0%"0Ç˝ %"+ 1, 1%" %2/ % /&* 6 ,# 1 "1"/0Ç˝ Č› Çž Čœ Oct 22, 2018 (Mon) Day 5 – Magdala 2)) ! 6 /"1/" 1Çž , 20 4&)) + )2!" -/,$/ *0 0"! ,+ 1%" %&01,/&Č’ ) +! ")&$&,20 3 )2" ,# 1%" $! ) 0&1"0 More info coming up as we get closer to the dates Çž 0/ ") Č” Ç—Ç•Ç•Çž &0 ,3"/&"0 #/,* +"4 / % ",),$& ) !&$ are creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the %,*" ,# /6 $! )"+"ǽȋ %" )&3"! %"/" +! 0%" *"1 "020 %"/" and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue dating back to the 1&*" ,# "020Ç˝ ,/!&+$ 1, / % ",),$&010Çž &1ȉ0 1%" Ćœ /01 ,+" !&0 ,3Č’ "/"! &+ 1%" )&)""Ç˝ Oct 23, 2018 (Tues) Day 6 – Jordan Valley/ Jericho/ Bethany/ Jerusalem Mass at the Church in Bethany Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" %" ! 1, "/& %,Çž 1%" ,)!"01 &+% &1"! &16 &+ 1%" 4,/)!Ç˝ &"4 1%" ,2+1 ,# "*-1 1&,+Çž 4%"/" "020 0-"+1 ǙǕ days fasting in the desert. We will visit the ancient ruins of the wall. We will continue to Bethany and will have mass to celebrate Holy 2 % /&01 1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ 7 /20Ç˝ %"+ 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" -Č’ 1&0* ) 0&1" &+ &3"/ ,/! +Ç˝ -,+ //&3 ) &+ ,2+1 ,-20 *" +&+$ Mount of the Watchmen/Sentinels, is a mountain in northeast Je/20 )"*Ç˝ +',6 1%" Ćœ /01 3&"4 ,# "/20 )"*Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" ! 6ȉ0 1,2/Çž 4" will check in at our hotel in Jerusalem (B/D) Oct 24, 2018 (Wed) Day 7 – Jerusalem (Old City)/ Via Dolorosa/ Mount Zion Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place ,# 0(2))Çž 4%& % &0 ))"! &+ 1%" " /"4 ,)$,1% ǽȋ Č› ,%+ Ç–ÇžÇżÇ–ÇœČœ We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem and will follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and say the Station of the Cross to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, 3&0&1 ,)$,1% +! 1%" ,* ,# 2/ ,/!Ç˝ Ćž "/ * 00Çž 4" /"12/+ 1, the hotel for breakfast. Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) "+1"/ 1%" )! &16Çž 0&+$ %6*+ &+ 1%" Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda. Then we will 3&0&1 1%" % -") ,# ) $")) 1&,+Çž &1%,01/ 1,0 Č›4%"/" 1%" 0,)!&"/0 -) 6"! 1%" *" ,# &+$0Čœ +! 1%" / % ,# 1%" ČŠ " ,*,Č‹Ç˝ Dinner/Overnight
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FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS Oct 18, 2018 (Thur) Day 1 – Lax to Tel Aviv, Israel / +0Č’ 1) +1& Ć? &$%1 #/,* 1, "+ 2/&,+ +1"/+ 1&,+ ) &/-,/1Çž ") 3&3Çž 0/ ")Ç˝ Č› " )0 0"/3"! &+Č’Ć? &$%1Čœ
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Oct 25, 2018 (Thurs) Day 8 – Jerusalem Mass at the Holy Eucharist Church of St Peter in Gallicantu ČŠ %" ,/! " *" Ć? "0% +! !4")1 *,+$ 20ǽǽǽȋ Č› ,%+ Ç–ÇżÇ–Ç™Čœ " 4&)) 4 )( 1, 3&"4 1%" ,*" ,# 1%" , ( #/,* 1%" ,210&!"Çž +! visit the Western Wall,( Wailing Wall ) the only part of the Herodian Temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for "40Ç˝ %"+Çž 4" 4&)) !/&3" 1, 1Ç˝ &,+Çž 1, 3&0&1 1%" --"/ ,,*Çž /"Č’ 3"/"! 0 1%" 0&1" ,# 1%" 01 2--"/Çž 1%"+ 02/3"6 1%" ,/*&1&,+ "6Çž +! 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ "1"/ &+ ))& +12Çž %" 0&1" 4%"/" "1"/ !"+&"! "020 1%/"" 1&*"0Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" ! 6ȉ0 1,2/Çž we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem (B, D) Oct 26, 2018 (Fri) Day 9 – Mount of Olives/ Gethsemane/ Bethlehem/ Jerusalem (New City)/ Ein Karem Mass at the Church of Nativity ČŠ *,2+1 &+ ,# ,!Çž /" "&3" *"Çž *,1%"/Çž 4&1% *6 %&)!ǽȋ Č› /,1,Č’ "3 +$")&2* ,# *"0 Ç—Ç—ÇżÇ˜Čœ " 4&)) //&3" 1 1%" ,2+1 ,# )&3"0Çž 1, "+',6 +,1%"/ 3&"4 ,# "/2Č’ salem, visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the ,*&+20 )"3&1 țȊ ,! 4"-1Č‹Čœ 0 + 12 /6Ç˝ "51Çž 4"ȉ)) 4 )( 1%" )* 2+! 6 , ! 1, 1%" /!"+ ,# "1%0"* +"Çž +! 3&0&1 1%" , ( ,# $,+6 +! 1%" %2/ % ,# )) 1&,+0Ç˝ + 1%" Ćž "/+,,+Çž 4"ȉ)) !/&3" to Bethlehem, a city whose name is recognized around the world. Ćž "/ ")" / 1&+$ 00 1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1&3&16Çž 4" 4&)) 0"" 1%" +$"/Č€ 3&0&1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ 1%"/&+"Çž 1%" /,11, ,# 1Ç˝ "/,*" +! 1%" %"-%"/!0ȉ &")!0Ç˝ Then we will return to Jerusalem (New City), to view the Temple Model to see how it looked during the time of Jesus. Here, we will gain a better understanding between the old and new cities of "/20 )"*Ç˝ - +"51 &0 1/&- 1, &+ /"*Çž &/1%-) " ,# 1Ç˝ ,%+ the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church, where Mary proclaimed %"/ # *,20 ČŠ $+&Ćœ 1Č‹Ç˝ " 4&)) "+! ,2/ ! 6 6 /"12/+&+$ 1, ,2/ Hotel. (B/D) Oct 27, 2018 (Sat) Day 10 – Jerusalem/ Dead Sea/ Qumran/ Masada Mass at the Church of all Nations Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) ")" / 1" * 00 1 1%" %2/ % ,# )) 1&,+0 and then we will drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last 01/,+$%,)! $ &+01 1%" ,* +Ç˝ "12/+ 1, "/20 )"* #,/ !&++"/ and Overnight (B, D) Oct 28, 2018,(Sun) Day 11 – Jerusalem/ Allenby Bridge/ Madaba /Jordan/ Mt. Nebo/ Aqaba Mass at Mount Nebo On this day, we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We 4&)) $, 1, 1%" -1&0* ) &1" 1 "1% +6Çž 4%& % ,-" ,%+ 2)
3&0&1"! &+ Ç—Ç•Ç•Ç•Ç˝ %"+Çž &1ȉ0 ,+ 1, ,2+1 " ,Çž 4%"/" ,0"0 3&"4"! 1%" /,*&0"! +!Ç˝ 2/ +"51 01,- 4&)) " 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ ",/$" &+ ! Çž 4%& % %,010 1%" # *,20 *,0 & * - ,# 1%" ,)6 +!Ç˝ Then we will drive down to Aqaba. Overnight in Aqaba (B/D). Mov"+-& ( "0,/1 Ç” "0&!"+ "Ç˝ Oct 29, 2018 (Mon) Day 12 – Aqaba/Petra Mass at Stella Maris Church – Aqaba Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) ',2/+"6 1%/,2$% 1%" &.Çž 2+1&) 4" $"1 ,2/ Ćœ /01 $)&*-0" ,# 1%" % 7+"% Č› /" 02/6ČœÇ˝ %"+ 4&)) 4" 4 )( !,4+ 1, visit the Temple and view the many caves all around the Theater. At the end of the tour, we will drive back to Aqaba for overnight and !&++"/ Č› ČĄ ČœÇ˝ ,3"+-& ( "0,/1 Ç” "0&!"+ " Oct 30, 2018 (Tues) Day 13 – Aqaba/ Jerusalem We Cross the Jordanian Border to return to Jerusalem. Dinner/ Overnight Oct 31, 2018 (Wed) Day 14 – Jerusalem /Yad Vashem Museum/ TLV/ LAX Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" ! 0%"* 20"2*Çž&0 0/ ")ȉ0 ,Ć› & & ) *"*,/& ) 1, 1%" 3& 1&*0 ,# 1%" ,), 201Ç˝ 1 &0 !"!& 1"! to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought $ &+01 1%"&/ 7& ,--/"00,/0 +! "+1&)"0 4%, 0")Ć? "00)6 &!"! Jews in need; and researching the phenomenon of the Holocaust in particular and genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding 02 % "3"+10 &+ 1%" #212/"Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" "01"/+ ))Çž ! 0%"* &0 1%" 0" ,+!Č’*,01Č’3&0&1"! 0/ ")& 1,2/&01 0&1"Ç˝ "12/+ 1, 1%" %,1") #,/ )2+ % +! /") 5 1&,+ &+ -/"- / 1&,+ #,/ ,2/ /"12/+ Ć? &$%1 ( 1, 1%" Ćž "/ !&++"/ 4&)) " 1/ +0#"//"! 1, 1%" &/-,/1 #,/ ǖǿǕǕ * )&$%1 ,3 ǖǞǗǕǖÇ? Č› %2/0! 6Čœ
Day 1 – 12 Nov 2018 – (Mon) Day 2 – 13Nov 2018 – (Tues)
- USA - ROME - Rome -,+ ,2/ //&3 ) &+ ,*"Çž our Tour Escort will wel,*" 20 1, 1 )6Ç˝ ,*" &0 the heart, home and the spiritual capital of over one billion Catholics all ,3"/ 1%" 4,/)!Ç˝ Ćž "/ short panoramic orienta1&,+ ,# 1%&0 1"/+ ) &16 1, 20 ,* + 1%,)& 0Çž 4" 4&)) have our dinner and overnight rest at this great ancient City.
Č› Çž Čœ Day 3 – 14 Nov 2018 (Wed) – Rome / Papal Audience/ Rome
This morning before we continue with our tour, we will % 3" - ) 2!&"+ "Ç˝ %"+ Ćž "/Çž 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" # Č’ *,20 ,)&0"2* +! 0"" 1%" ,/2*Çž 1%" /"3& ,2+1 &+ and the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St Peter Basilica St Joseph Chapel .Short stop in Trevi ,2+1 &+Çž "#,/" %" !&+$ 1, ,2/ ,1")
Č› Çž Čœ Day 4 – 15 Nov 2018 (Thurs) – Rome / Basilicas We will visit the Vatican Museum this morning and the Sistine Chapel to admire the awesome masterpieces of Michaelangelo, +! "3"+ + &"+1 /""( +! ,Č’ man artists. the largest church &+ ,* + 1%,)& &0*Çž 1Ç˝ "1"/ȉ0 Basilica. Holy Eucharist at ST Mary ',/Çž ,)),4"! 6 3&0&1 ,# 1%" Č’ silica. We continue to visit the rest ,# 1%" * ',/ 0&)& 0 4&1%&+ 1%" 4 ))0 ,# ,*"Çž +! 1Ç˝ ,%+ 1"/Č’ an, St Paul Outside the Wall. We will also pray at the Scala Santa or the Holy Stairs. St. Helena transported the steps from Jerusalem; the same 01"-0 1% 1 %/&01 0 "+!"! 1, /" "&3" &) 1"ȉ0 2+'201 ,+Č’ demnation.
Č› Çž Čœ Day 5 – 16 Nov 2018 (Fri)–Rome /San Giovanni Rotondo Ç—Ç•Ç–Ç? &0 1%" Ç–Ç•Ç•1% ++&3"/0 /6 ,# 1%" 01&$Č’ matization of St Pio. Church Will have Monthly Pastoral Program of Activities for the whole year . + &,3 ++& ,1,+!,Çž 1%" %,*" ,# 1 Č’ !/" &, ,# &"1/") &+ #/,* Ç—Ç? 2)6Çž ǖǞǖǛ 2+Č’ 1&) %&0 !" 1% ,+ Ǘǘ "-1"* "/Çž ǖǞǛÇ?Ç˝ +',6 1%" !/&3" $,&+$ 1, + &,3 ++&Çž Ćž "/ 4" check in our Hotel. We visit the Shrines of St Padre Pio of Pietralcina as well as the places associated 4&1% %&* Çž 02 % 0 1%" %/&+" ,# 2/ !6 ,# / " 1% 1 contains his tomb. Here, we spend some time meditat&+$Çž 0"" %&0 /,,*Çž %&0 ,+#"00&,+ ) ,5 +! 1%" /2 &Ćœ 5 that gave him his supernatural Crucifying stigmata, Cel" / 1" ,)6 2 % /&01 Č› ,1") / + / !&0, Čœ
+ &,3 ++& ,1,+!, (BB,D) Day 6 – 17 Nov 2018 (Sat) – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO This Morning we visit the new and Modern Basilica of St Padre Pio, See his uncorrupt body .Celebrate Holy Eucharist Spend some time meditating in this awesomeBasilica.
Č› ,1") / + / !&0,Čœ Day 7–18 Nov2018 – (Sun) – San Giovanni Rotondo / Lanciano /Loreto Ç˝ " //&3" 1 + & +,Çž # *,20 #,/ 1%" &/ )" ,# the Eucharist. Near the Piazza Plebiscito, the Miracle is inside the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. The mira)" 1,,( -) " !2/&+$ 1%" Ç?1% "+12/6 when a Basiline monk doubted the " ) /"0"+ " ,# ,2/ ,/! &+ 1%" 2 % /&01Ç˝ " #,2+! %&*Č’ 0")# %,)!&+$ 1%" %,01 1% 1 % ! % +$"! &+1, " ) )"0% +! 1%" &+" ,+ 1%" )1 / % ! % +$"! &+1, " ) ),,!Ç˝ We continue our pilgrimage to the great Marian shrine ,# ,/"1, 1, 0"" 1%" # *,20 0 /"! %,*" ,# 1%" *,01 ,)6 *&)6Çž "020Çž /6Çž +! ,0"-%Ç˝ &+ " ǖǗǞǙ 1%" %,)6 %,*" % 0 ""+ ), 1"! &+0&!" 1%" 0&)& ,# ,/"1,Ç˝ ")" / 1" ,)6 2 % /&01 &+ + & +, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN Assisi Day 8 –19 Nov 2018 – ( Mon) Loreto/ Assisi ,! 6 4" "5-),/" 1%" %&))1,- &/1%-) " ,# 1 / + &0 ,# 00&0&Ç˝ + 1%" /6-1 ,# 1 / + &0 0&)& )&"0 1%" 1,* ,# one of the most humble and beloved Saints of all times, 1Ç˝ / + &0 ,# 00&0&Çž ,)6 2 % /&01 1 1%" /6-1 ,# / + &0 "" 1%" 0&)& ,# 1 ) /"Çž 4&1% %"/ &+ ,//2-1 body, and the little Church of St. Damiano and its Cru&Ćœ 5 #/,* 4%& % "020 0-,(" 1, / + &0 ,21 %&0 *&0Č’ 0&,+ &+ ǖǗǕǛǿ ČŠ ,Çž / + &0Çž +! /" 2&)! *6 %,20"Çž 4%& % 0 6,2 0"" &0 # ))&+$ &+1, /2&+ǽȋ " 3&0&1 1%" 0&)& ,# 1Ç˝ Mary of the Angels, located in the lower plains of Assisi, and the place where the miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi 1,,( -) " &+ ǖǗǙǕǽ %" 0* )) %2/ % ,# 1%" ,/7&2+ ,Č’ ) &0 &+0&!" 1%" 0&)& &10")#Ç˝ ,-" ,+,/&20
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a plenary indulgence for those entering this humble %2/ % ,+ 2$201 Ç–01 +! Ç—+! "3"/6 6" /Çž 4&1% ,+#"0Č’ sion, reception of the Eucharist and no attachment to venial sins. (BB,D) Day 9 – 20 Nov 2018 – (Tues) – Assisi / Siena / Florence We will spend half day in Siena. Begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built &+ 1%" ǖǘ1% "+12/6Çž &1 &0 1/" 02/" %"01 ,# 1%" "+ &0Č’ sance art and dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. You will learn about the city’s history while admiring it’s cathedrals, Museum, and libraries .Also you will admire the famous piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great *"!&"3 ) 0.2 /"0Ç˝ ,+1&+2" 1, ),/"+ "Ç˝ Č› Çž Čœ " 01 /1 4&1% $2&!"! 4 )(&+$ 1,2/ ,# ),/"+ "Çž 1%&0 # 0Č’ cinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria !") &,/"Çž &,11,ȉ0 ")) ,4"/Çž 1%" -1&01"/6 ,# 1Ç˝ ,%+ the Baptist. "01 ,# 1%" ! 6 #/"" Č› Çž Čœ Day 10 – 21 Nov 2018 (Wed) – Florence / Rome " 3" ),/"+ " /,2+! Ç— //&3"! ,*" )*,01 !&++"/ time (BB.D) Day 11 – 22 Nov 2018 (Thurs) – Rome / USA End of our wonderful Pilgrimage .
Please call QTS Tour and Travel NOW at 1 (714) 288-0800 or (714) 761-6280 1095 N Main St. Suite O, Orange, CA 92867
C jULY 7-10, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Community Journal
Do you know that some IRS forms attract audits? SOME IRS forms attract audits. Merely filing them causes the Agency to look at your tax returns. Here are some of them. Form 1099: You may have had a side job that paid you more than $400 but you missed to report or did not receive because you moved. Failure to report 1099s activates IRS matching program that detects a missing 1099 or W2. It generates letter CP-2000 when IRS computers detect missing form 1099-MISC, 1099-R, Form 1099-C Cancellation of Debt, or any 1099 form. Schedule C for Sole Proprietorship Business: If you run a business as a sole proprietorship (as opposed to corporation or partnership), you need to file Schedule C. This form increases your chances of an audit. Any person who files Schedule C is about four times more likely to receive questions. Many audits that I handled for new clients over 40 years were caused by Schedule C. Bad form. Schedule C for Uber, Lyft, or AirBNB:
The Prophetic Voice ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas YOU must be bold and brave to exercise your prophetic role nowadays. You must be willing to suffer, to undergo hatred, condemnation, ridicule, and persecution. For your beliefs and principles may not go along with the popular ones, with any political party or religious leanings. They may not even be in congruence with the views and positions of president and the senators of your country. They may not even agree with the opinions of your family members and friends. But if in your heart and conscience you know that you are right, then you must speak up! If you are a Christian and you know the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus Christ, then the words you speak and write must come from the Person of Christ and the Gospel he preached. You know very well that Jesus came to bring mercy and forgiveness to sinners and help for the poor. He came to bring healing and compassion to those who suffer
Tax Tips victoR sy, cPa, MBa
Driving for Uber or Lyft or renting your residence to AirBNB generates Form 1099. IRS receives a copy of that form, so if your tax return doesn’t match the 1099 figures, it prompts IRS to send you a notice of mismatched numbers. Schedule C for Hobby: Filing Schedule C is bad enough. Claiming a loss is worse. Using Schedule C to deduct hobby loss is the worst. It’s like begging the IRS to come get you. Form 5213 for Hobby Loss: You may want to avoid an audit of your hobby loss by filing Form 5213 to prevent the IRS from auditing you for the first five years – a period typically used when transitioning a hobby into a business. This form creates a safe harbor for you to
claim losses from your hobbyturned-business. However, once that five-year window is closed, IRS can come calling if you still incur losses. Schedule C to Maximize the Earned Income Tax Credit: IRS can determine if you file Schedule C with just the right amount to maximize your Earned Income Tax Credit. Some taxpayers find it interesting to get a credit in excess of $6,000. The IRS could also find your tax returns interesting for an audit. *** 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)
Be bold! Be brave! from all forms of sickness. He came to grant hope and consolation to those who feel alienated from the society. You know that Jesus came to bring life, not death, unity, not division, and peace, not rebellion. He came to show his love and care for people of all races, religions, languages, and cultures. So why would you have doubts and fear about what you think, say, and write? Why would you be concerned about those that do not agree with your viewpoints? Be bold! Be brave! You speak up in the name of Christ, on behalf of God. That’s what a prophet does. If your mighty and the not-tomighty works bring smiles and hope in people, if they alleviate their sufferings even for just a bit, then, by all means, keep proclaiming these testimonies of faith. If your deeds have the power to inspire people to love and to be kind to others too, then keep preaching about these actions and the meanings they convey. It’s what Jesus did in this Sunday’s Gospel. He kept teaching his people and reaching out to their needs despite their rejection and doubt. As long as the
sick got healed and the people felt loved and cared for, he bravely continued with his mission and purpose. You may not be perfect. You may be a sinner like others. You may have faults. You may have made mistakes in your life. Own your imperfections and keep on loving, caring, and being kind. Anyway, it’s the grace of God that empowers you. Remember these words from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Once again, be bold and brave! Christ’s power is with you! *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
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Minding Your Finances atty. RayMond Bulaon IF you are searching for debt reduction solutions, no doubt you’ve been inundated with advertisements for various debt management programs, companies and solutions. The choices seem confusing to the average consumer. The truth is that every situation is different and what may work perfectly for others is not necessarily going to work the same way for you. So what do you do before your debt problems get worse? If you know your finances are a mess and you’re struggling with a mountain of debt, then you need to create a plan of attack to help you get rid of your debt properly. If you’ve ignored your debt problems for a while and you are now at a point where credi-
Are you sinking deeper into debt every month? tors have taken legal action to collect what you owe, self-help debt reduction may be out of the question and you may need to immediately take the legal steps necessary to protect what you have. Many times, people come to our office with wage garnishments, bank levies or a lien filed by a creditor against their home and they don’t know what to do to stop it. These are the situations where filing bankruptcy may be the only way to get out of debt as quickly as possible and to protect yourself from further creditor actions. It is important for you to have an accurate picture of your current financial situation before you embark on implementing a solution. This means understanding exactly how much income is coming in and how much you pay out in expenses. As a starting point, you should also write down your outstand-
ing balances on all your current debts and add up the totals. The total figure might shock you at first but it’s important for you to know where you’re starting in order to create a plan of attack. Alongside each debt balance, write down the amount of interest you’re being charged and how much you’re paying each month on that debt. Sadly, most people who are buried in a mountain of debt have lost track of what they owe. And because they have stopped paying their creditors, the bill collectors are now demanding the full amount which, of course, makes it even harder for the person to catch up on their delinquent debts. If you’re on a very tight budget or if your income is not even enough to cover your living expenses, it may be impossible for you to get out of debt without having to file bankruptcy in or-
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Waiver of joint petition to remove conditional permanent residency on a marriage entered less than 2 years THE Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 (IMFA) requires an alien obtaining a green card through a marriage less than two years old to come back at the end of that two years with the petitioning spouse and show that they are still married or, if the marriage was terminated, to show that the marriage was entered in good faith before the USCIS will issue them a permanent (unconditional) green card. Any alien who obtains a green card through a spousal petition by virtue of a marriage entered less than twenty four months before the status is obtained will only receive a conditional green card under INA §216(d). To remove this condition, both spouses must file a form I-751 with the USCIS within 90 day period preceding the expiration of the conditional green card along with other supporting documents showing the marriage was entered in good faith. However, sometimes alien spouses are not able to file this Joint Petition to remove the condition on their green card because the couple got divorced or are in the process of filing a divorce and is having difficulties getting the cooperation of the US
Barrister’s Corner atty. Kenneth uRsua Reyes citizen spouse. When the alien spouse falls into this situation, it is still possible for them to obtain their permanent green card by filing a waiver. The waiver must be based on one of the following reasons 1) Extreme hardship would result if such alien is removed 2) The qualifying marriage was entered in good faith by the alien spouse, but … has been terminated (divorce or annulled), and the alien was not at fault in failing to timely file the joint petition and attend the interview; or 3) The qualifying marriage was entered into in good faith by the alien spouse and during the marriage the alien spouse or child was battered by or was the subject of extreme cruelty perpetrated by the US citizen parent or permanent resident spouse or parent and the alien was not at fault in failing to file the joint petition and attend the interview. INA §216(c)(4); 8 CFR 216.5
If you have a conditional green card and your are having difficulty obtaining cooperation from your US citizen spouse in signing a joint petition to remove this conditional green card, you should consult an attorney to assist you in planning for and obtaining a waiver. *** 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 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) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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Community Journal
Fired employees are entitled to final paycheck immediately Q: TWO weeks ago I was fired from work. My employer told me my last paycheck will be mailed to me by next payday. I have not received it yet. When I called the company to ask where my check is, I was told it was on the way. I waited again but still no paycheck. What are my rights? A: Your employer should have paid you immediately all wages due to you when it fired you. Making you wait for your final paycheck until “next payday,” which was several days away, is a violation of the employer’s legal obligation to you. Under California law, employers must immediately pay all compensation due to discharged employees. Aside from pay for all regular hours worked, compensation owed to employees may also include pay for all work performed beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. It may also include additional pay for lunch or rest breaks that the employer did not provide. If the employee was eligible for vacation, he or she may also be owed payment for unused vacation time. (Note: “Use it or lose it” vacation pay policies are illegal.) Generally, discharged employees should be paid “at the place of discharge.” If the employer tells you that they will mail the check, you must consent to such an arrangement. If the employer sent the final paycheck by mail without your consent, and the check was not received, it is considered that no payment was made. You may also authorize the employer to pay the wages into your bank account. The employer has the obligation to make sure that you receive
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. c. Joe SAyAS, Jr. your payment. If employees quit (this means they were not discharged), they should be paid at the office or agency of the employer in the county where they worked. If they resigned from work, the employer must pay all compensation due to them within 72 hours of the resignation. If they gave more than 72 hours’ notice of resignation, then all compensation due to them must be paid on the last day of their work. If an employer willfully fails to pay all wages due to an employee after the termination, the employee’s wages continue as a penalty until paid, for up to 30 calendar days. This is called “waiting time penalties.” Hence, if the employee worked 8 hours per day and was regularly paid $15 per hour, the employer may be held liable to pay up to $3,600 in penalty for not paying the terminated employee on time. Even if the employee only waited two weeks to receive the final paycheck, based on the $15 per hour rate, the employee will still be entitled to receive $1,680 in waiting time penalties. These amounts may not all be that significant if one considers the hassle factor of trying to claim these penalties. But what if the employer has implemented a company-wide practice of delaying the wages of all its terminated employees? Then the harm is not just to a single employee but a large number of former employees could have been vic-
timized. Consider the case of former employees from Bank of America: A class of Bank of America (BOA) employees sued their employer, claiming that BOA violated California law by failing to pay them immediately all wages due, when BOA fired them from their jobs. BOA’s paychecks were often late. For example, the class representative said that when he was fired, he did not get his paycheck until two weeks later. BOA’s practice of delaying the final paychecks for fired employees apparently affected about 29,500 former employees in California. Rather than continue to litigate the case, the parties agreed to settle with BOA agreeing to pay $8,000,000. If an employee thinks that his or her rights have been violated prior to, during, and even after a termination, it would be smart for that employee to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced employment attorney to protect his or her rights. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at nocost. 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, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.] (Advertising Supplement)
Unemployed senior converts Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 in fight to keep house WHEN I say the client is a young senior, I mean 60. She’s a single mom with two adult daughters who are over the age of 21. One daughter is still in college but has a part-time job. The other works full time. Both daughters live with the client in her home, but she does not claim them as dependents on her income tax returns. When we filed her Chapter 13 three years ago, she had disposable income of $900. However, at that time, her job security was already in question as another company had just purchased the employer and heads were rolling. The client was able to keep her head for three years but lost her employment recently. Without work, she no longer has disposable income. Our first attempt to end her case was filing a motion to pay off the 33 percent plan by liquidating $10,000 from her retirement account. The Chapter 13 trustee objected to our motion to pay off the plan unless the pay off was 100 percent. Well, that wasn’t a good deal because her unsecured debt was about $100,000, which meant that client had to come up with $90,000 more to get a Chapter 13 discharge — that’s a 100 percent plan pay off. The client had two other options dismiss the Chapter 13 case, or convert it to Chapter 7 and get a discharge of $90,000 of unsecured debt. The problem is that for the last three years, the value of her house, just like most houses in Los Angeles and Orange County, have been appreciating significantly. We checked Zillow, which estimated the value at $400,000, and REDFIN estimated it at $440,000. Whereas her house only had $30,000 of equity when she filed for Chapter 13 in 2013, now she has equity of $160,000. The other problem was that she had testified at the Chapter 13 hearing last week that her daughter was independent, although she lived with her. And she did not mention that she had a second daughter who also lived with her, a full-time college student. So, the trustee concluded that her claim of homestead exemption should only be $75,000, not $100,000. We refused to reduce the exemption claim to $75,000 because the trustee was not on
Debt Relief
Atty. LAwrence yAng
solid ground with her argument that the debtor had testified that daughter was independent, therefore, she is not considered to be part of the family unit. We argued that the other daughter was a full-time college student, therefore, unable to take care of herself. So by definition, she is part of the debtor’s family unit. As a result, the homestead exemption of $100,000 is correct. Settlement offers and counteroffers were made. The negotiations were fruitful and the trustee settled for a reasonable amount
debt The second client is 72. Her husband passed away some time ago. She has a daughter who has just started college. She now receives only social security and has no other income. However, she owes $70,000 in credit cards, which requires $2,100 of monthly minimum payments. Her social security is $1,600. Let’s not even go further. The client doesn’t own a house. She rents for $1,000. Well, with $600 left after rent is paid, and a daughter in college, let’s just say that there’s tremendous pressure on her to budget her expenses. Obviously, there is no money to pay $2,100 for credit cards every month, is there? So, she chooses to make the $70,000 credit cards disappear with a Chapter 7 petition. Just imagine the number of calls she gets every day from these cards trying to get their pound of flesh from her. That’s no way to live no matter how old or young you are. $2,100 a month for credit cards is equal to a mortgage of $400,000. I mean you can literally buy a house, condo or townhouse for $400,000 with nothing down, instead of carrying $70,000 of credit card debt. Think about where you want your hard earned money to go. Would you rather be the proud owner of a house or the proud owner of $70,000 of credit cards? At 72, the client finally realized that she should have gotten rid of her credit card debt a long time ago. If she got rid of them 10 years ago, she would have saved up $252,000 now. Instead, she gave $252,000 to her credit cards of $70,000, and she still owes the same $70,000 after 10 years! Think hard what you should do now because the earlier you get rid of credit cards, the faster you can save money and be productive again. Even at 72, it’s not too late to get rid of them because better late than never.
“ Even though the debtor was not employed, she was willing to liquidate a part of her retirement account to pay for the settlement to keep herhouse.” to allow the debtor to keep her house. Even though the debtor was not employed, she was willing to liquidate a part of her retirement account to pay for the settlement to keep her house. The daughters were willing to buy the house from her later on, so she gets her settlement payment back. Nowadays, the correct value of the residence is critical to keeping the house safe from the clutches of the Chapter 7 trustee because house values are at their peaks again. Mortgage rates have been kept very low by the Feds for a long time. The last time house values peaked was 2007, just before the mortgage crisis, which bankrupted a lot of big banks. When the crisis hit, house values dropped by more than half. Now, all of that has been recovered, and new highs are being achieved. Therefore, a lot of factual and legal analysis must be done before deciding which path to take, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Senior files Chapter 7 to discharge $70K in credit card
*** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
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vidual who fears returning home because of past persecution or a fear of persecution in his or her native country, should consult with an experienced immigration attorney to determine whether a claim for asylum should be pursued before the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services and/or the Immigration Court. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com
website: www.rreeves.com *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 7-10, 2018
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Reinstatement for surviving beneficiaries of an I-130 petition filed by a deceased relative DEAR Attorney Tan, My US Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has been approved. She filed the I-130 petition after I came to the US in 1999 as a tourist from the Philippines. Since my arrival, I have lived in the US and have been out of status. Since I was petitioned as an unmarried adult daughter, I was advised that I had to wait several years to get a green card. Recently, my mother passed away. Can I still get a green card through my mother’s petition? -H.P. Dear H.P., When your mother passed away, the I-130 that was approved on your behalf was revoked by operation of law pursuant to 8 CFR Section 205.1. However, depending on the facts of a particular case, all is not lost. You may be eligible to get a green card pursuant to INA Section 204(L). Under INA Section 204(L), relief from an automatic revocation of an I-130 petition is available to certain surviving relatives. Surviving relatives who are eligible to seek 204(L) relief include a 1) principal or derivative beneficiary of an I130 petition that was filed by a deceased permanent resident or U.S. Citizen, and 2) derivative beneficiary of an I-130 petition that was filed by a permanent resident or U.S. Citizen where the principal beneficiary has died. Section 204(L) relief is also available to derivative beneficiaries in I-140 employment-
Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn based petitions where the principal beneficiary has died. Another requirement for Section 204(L) relief is that the person seeking relief must have “residence” in the US. What is meant by “residence?” It is your primary home or principal actual dwelling place. At least one beneficiary must have resided in the U.S. when the petitioning relative
”In your case, it appears that you are eligible to obtain a green card.” died, and must continue to reside in the U.S. when seeking Section 204(L) relief. It is worth noting that all beneficiaries of a petition can benefit from Section 204(L) relief as long as at least one of the beneficiaries meets the residence requirement. Further, although “residence” is required, Section 204(L) does not require actual physical presence in the U.S. when the relative died. In your case, it appears that you are eligible to obtain a green card. You are a principal beneficiary of an I-130 petition filed by your US Citizen mother. Further, you appear to meet the residence requirement in that you have been in the US since your arrival in 1999—you resided in the
US when your mother passed away, and currently reside in the US. A check of the USCIS visa bulletin indicates the priority date for the I-130 petition filed by your mother on your behalf is current, so you can file an I-485 adjustment of status application, requesting reinstatement of the I-130 petition filed by your mother pursuant to Section 204(L). As a side note, Section 204(L) relief is also available if one’s relative died while the I-130 was pending, not only after the I-130 petition was approved. Section 204(L) relief therefore is broader than Humanitarian Reinstatement of a petition under 8 CFR Section 205.1, which can only be requested by the principal beneficiary when the petitioner him/herself has died, and after approval of an I-130. Relief under Section 204(L) is discretionary, and can be denied if factors in support of relief are not presented properly. It is accordingly recommended that you seek the assistance of an experienced attorney. *** 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) 6390277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Are you sinking deeper into debt...
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der to wipe out what you can no longer afford to pay. For many people, this may be the only realistic way to get rid of debts hanging over their head instead of trying to pay their creditors slowly or even worse- not paying them and having to face the legal consequences later on. Working out the right debt elimination or debt reduction plan to help you get out of debt can be tricky. Everyone seems to have all kinds of advice and they’re all convinced that their solution is the best. How can you
know which one is the right one to help you? If your debts are mounting up and becoming uncontrollable, maybe you also need to take a current look at your current lifestyle (ouch!) and how much it costs to maintain your standard of living today. In order to become debt-free, you first need to fix your spending leaks. This means finding the discipline to stop charging anything else on your credit cards and only buying those things you have the cash to afford. If you need help in figuring
out your options, please call TollFree 1-866-477-7772 and let us review your situation. We 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)
C4 jULY 7-10, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Calendar of Events across
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U LY 6 -26
Solo exhibit of Fil-Am Artist Lynda A. N. Reyes in Burbank The Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center, the municipal gallery of Burbank, is proud to present the Solo Exhibit of artist Lynda A. N. Reyes from July 6 to the 26,2018. The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday, July 6 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 1100 West Clarke Avenue, Burbank, California 91506. The exhibit will highlight her watercolor and oil paintings that have been featured in museum exhibits in California, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Montana and in national juried shows in Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Sta. Monica, Glendale, Brea in Orange County and in international shows in Kentucky, Canada, Maryland, Wisconsin, Colorado and New York. Paintings that have given her recognition, as well as new works will all in one big venue. For more information about the artist, visit www.lyndaanreyes.com or contact her at lyndaanreyes@gmail.com. For information about the gallery, call 818-238-5397 or visit www. burbankca.gov/cac. The gallery hours are Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
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Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA celebrates 40th anniversary in Long Beach, CA Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA (PB-USA), one of the oldest non-profit and tax-exempt umbrella organizations in the U.S., will celebrate its 40th foundation anniversary coinciding with the induction of its officers on Saturday, July 7 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Marriott Hotel Long Beach on 4700 Airport Plaza Dr. This year’s PB-USA theme is, ”Believe it can be,” and will present the induction of new officers. Proceeds of this gala night are earmarked for the social programs of the organization that includes charitable projects, supplemental scholarship grants, Gawad Kalinga affordable homes, livelihood programs, disaster relief and youth projects, among others. For further inquiries, interested parties may call Bong B. Soriano at (909) 851-1493 and Jackie M. Ferrer at (714) 757-3502.
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LA Veterans Resource Expo in Pomona, CA On Friday, July 13, LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis presents the LA Veterans Resource Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pomona Fairplex Bldg. 4 (1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768). The day will feature information on jobs, health & resources. FREE admission and parking at Gate 17 entrance. Participant registration also available the day of the event. For more information about the event, please visit www.LAVetExpo.com.
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COFACC to host SoCal Family Picnic in San Dimas, CA The SoCal Family Picnic organized by the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) will be held at 4 p.m. at J. Bonelli Park, San Dimas, CA. Friends and family are invited to join in some fellowship and camaraderie to strengthen bonds with the five Filipino-American Chamber chapter members from Greater LA (FACCCGLA), Orange County (FACCOC), San Bernardino, LA and Riverside (FACC-Tri-County), San Diego (FACC San Diego) and Hollywood (FACCHollywood).
7 Mile House presents: 2nd Annual Adobo Cook Off For A Cause in Brisbane, CA 7 Mile House’s famous pork adobo will be challenged by other adobo recipes nominated by customers for the second annual “7 Mile House Adobo Cook Off”! The event will be held on Saturday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 7 Mile House Sports Bar & Grill (2800 Bayshore Boulevard. Brisbane, CA 94005). The ticket price ($25) includes all you can drink San Miguel beer, all you can eat jasmine rice, tastings of each adobo entry, including 7 Mile’s, and one vote for your favorite adobo. Last year, all proceeds from the event benefited Salupongan International (SI), and helped provide educational tools and supplies to Salupongan’s READ (Right to Education, Autonomy and Dignity) Program. This year the Adobo Cook-off 2018 will benefit St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church. To purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-adobo-cook-off-for-a-cause-tickets-47011120527. For more information, please visit https://www.7milehouse.com/ or contact Vanessa Garcia at (415) 467-2343.
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FACC Tri-County to hold presentation in Ontario, CA The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Tri-County (Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties) will host a ‘Land Banking Presentation,’ a free workshop on July 18, 6 p.m., at the Inland Valley Church of Christ Conference Room (1550 N. Palmetto Avenue, Ontario, CA 91762). “Southern California’s next major land boom is underway!” says speaker Tony Taverrite, Director of Sales & Marketing-Professional Land Corp. “Don’t you owe it to yourself to learn more?” added another speaker, Femie Cupit, Land Banking Sales Agent, a member of FACC Tri-County. For more information, contact Femie (858) 220-5487 or FACC Pres. Merwynn Montenegro (909) 319-3145.
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FACCGLA hosts import and export seminar in Sherman Oaks, CA Join the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) on Thursday, July 19 for the e-commerce, logistics, and compliance seminar. Learn how to import and export to and from the Philippines! This will be a prelude to the Trade, Trade & Consumer Roadshow on Aug. 4-5 at the SouthBay Pavilion. It will be held from 6:30 to 8:20 p.m. at 5121 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. To join and register, please go to www.faccgla.org or call (888) 670-7717 or visit www.ecferrer.net / call (562) 422-6492.
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UPAAGLA Boodle Feast Fiesta in North Hills, CA University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) welcomes alumni of the University of the Philippines and their friends and family to meet, mix, mingle at this fun afternoon at 4 p.m. at 15255 Knapp St, North Hills, CA. Register on eventbrite.com or call President-Elect Ethel Rubio (818) 640-2946 or (800) 611-5705. Connect with UPAAGLA on Facebook or visit www.upaagla.org.
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Valentine in July concert in Los Angeles This two-and-a-half hour concert on Sunday, July 22 will feature two of the music industry’s best Singer-Songwriters then and today, David Pomeranz and Rey Valera. Their timeless and classic love songs became the movie/tele-serye themesongs in the Philippines. The event will be held at the Aratani Theater (244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available via www.thesgprod.com or by calling (424)232-6781.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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People and Events Angelenos advised to use city cooling centers during record heat LOS ANGELES Mayor Eric Garcetti reminded Angelenos that the city has a network of cooling centers for people who lack access to air conditioning and need a place to escape dangerous, higher-than-normal temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 6 until 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 6 — in anticipation of record temperatures of over 100 degrees in Downtown LA and up to 113 degrees in Woodland Hills. “Extreme heat can be dangerous — especially for young people and seniors,” said Garcetti. “When temperatures rise this high, our libraries, recreation centers, and senior centers give Angelenos who need to escape
the heat a friendly, welcoming, safe place to stay cool and healthy.” The city’s recreation centers, senior centers, and libraries will be open during regular operating hours, and the 32 locations with Summer Night Lights programming will be open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. A list of cooling centers and hours, along with tips for staying cool, is available at emergency.lacity. org/heat or by calling 311. Tips for saving energy to help avoid electricity shortages are available at saveenergyla.org. LADWP is installing temporary water fountains for public use at these locations: Tujunga Wash area North side of Foothill Bl. across
from 9500 Foothill Los Angeles, CA 91040 San Julian Park Southwest corner of E. 5th St. and San Julian St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 Gladys Park Southwest corner of Gladys Ave. and E. 6th St. Los Angeles, CA 90021 La Plaza De Culturas y Artes Southeast corner of Spring St. and New High St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 La Plaza De Culturas y Artes Northeast corner of Spring St. and Arcadia St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 Exposition Park area Southwest corner of W. 39th St. and S. Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 ■
LEGO® CITY: Deep Sea Adventure Submarine Ride takes its maiden voyage at LEGOLAND® California resort LEGO® champagne bottles were bursting with streamers and the crowd of media and special guests cheered as the submarines were christened for LEGO® City: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride at LEGOLAND® California Resort on Monday, July 2. The interactive ride will feature more than 2,000 sea animals including several species of sharks, rays and other tropical fish amid new LEGO® models all themed around a ship’s sunken treasure. “We’ve really passed the industry benchmark with this ride,” said LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager Peter Ronchetti. “I’m so excited to see the looks on guests faces when they experience Deep Sea Adventure for the first time because they honestly don’t know what to expect as there is nothing to compare it to in North America!” LEGO® CITY: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride is Merlin Entertainments’ single largest investment for a ride in any LEGOLAND® Park. For the first time in the United States, LEGOLAND California Resort brings guests onboard a real submarine where they’ll go underwater to discover a truly amazing world
filled with real sea animals. Through the use of interactive touchscreens at each porthole inside the sub, guests can help the LEGO® minifigure dive team identify LEGO® gems, pearls, gold coins and more throughout the more than four minute journey. Guests can reach one of three levels during each ride: Junior, Senior and Master Explorer. Being around submarines is nothing new for Senior Project Manager, Thomas Storer, who was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy stationed in San Diego earlier in his career. “The biggest difference between the submarines I’ve been on and the ones families will experience here at LEGOLAND California is they’ll be able to see the beautiful sharks, rays and tropical fish on the other side of the portholes!” he said. Five species of sharks and several species of rays including a southern stingray with a five-foot wing span, are among the sea animals guests will discover. The interactive touch pads aren’t the only feature that utilizes technology within Deep Sea Adventure. Before guests board the 22,000 pound submarines, they are given a briefing on the
mission that awaits them by a 3-foot-tall LEGO diver whose face, with the help of a projector screen, is animated as he gives instructions to the explorers. As guests exit the ride, they enter the retail space where they can build their own virtual fish from LEGO and “release” it into the virtual ocean. If they’d like to build their own LEGO fish at home, all of the LEGO elements are available for purchase. More than 30 children and their families from the Los Angeles and San Diego chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities® were treated to an exclusive day at LEGOLAND® California Resort to embark on the maiden voyage. The children were among the first to experience the interactive underwater adventure following a check presentation as LEGOLAND California Resort donated $80,000 to help the chapters continue their programs that keep families of hospitalized children together and near the medical care and resources they need. The submarine ride will be included in the price of admission this summer at LEGOLAND California Resort. For more information and to sign up for insider updates, visit LEGOLAND. com/deepsea2018. ■
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PeoPle & events
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Philippine-American friendship: A day to remember acts of courage and uncommon valor Contributed by the Filipino Veterans reCognition and eduCation projeCt (FilVetREP)
ON July 4, 1946, following Japan’s defeat in World War ll, the United States granted independence to the Philippines, a U.S. possession since 1898. Since then, the 4th of July is observed in the Philippines as PhilippineAmerican Friendship Day, a day that pays tribute to the long partnership between the two countries. This partnership began on July 26, 1941, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered to duty the Philippine Scouts, the Philippine Commonwealth Army, and the Philippine Constabulary to defend the Philippines and the United States against the Imperial Japanese military forces. More than 260,000 Filipinos fought during the four-year campaign that resulted in some 57,000 killed and thousands more wounded. The Japanese invasion resulted in the capture of some 76,000 American and Filipino Prisoners of War who endured the Bataan Death March. Despite the fall of the Philippines to Japan, Filipinos remained loyal to the U.S., with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and citizens forming guerrilla regiments during the occupation to engage in sabotage and intelligence work and help lay the groundwork for the U.S. return in 1944. Magdalena Leones, ‘a soldier with a distinguished record of service.’ Among these brave citizens was Magdalena E. Leones. Born in the mountains of Kalinga, she was a 22-year-old teacher studying to be a nun. She and her family served with American missionaries prior to the war. When Corregidor fell on May 6, 1942, she was incarcerated along with the missionaries in prison camps, where she learned to speak Nippongo, the Japanese language. After her release seven months later, she joined the guerrillas and became an intelligence officer for the United States Army Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NIL). For her “tenacity, determination and uncommon courage,” Col. Volckmann formally enlisted Leones into the Philippine Army with a rank of Corporal, and later promoted her to Lieutenant. Operating mostly by herself, Leones infiltrated behind enemy lines, exchanged information with resistance leaders, carried medical supplies and, more importantly, collected information on enemy dispositions and installations. She took note of the names of enemy ships, their content and the names of their skippers docked in La Union. She was also credited for blowing up planes on an airstrip in Tuguegarao. Although she was detained by Japanese Forces three times, she escaped to continue with her tasks. She witnessed the execution of Filipinos and intervened to save the lives of others through her knowledge of Niponggo, which she learned while she was in jail. At one point, she explained to a Japanese commander who was ready to fire upon a group of returning Filipino evacuees that they came from a wedding. On October 22, 1945, Lt. General O.W. Griswold of the U.S. Army awarded Corporal Magdalena Leones the Silver Star medal. She is the only Asian woman awarded the Silver Star during World War ll, the third highest honor for valor in the U.S. Army. The citation read: “For gallantry in action at Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 27 February to 26 September 1944. During the period cited, Corporal Leones repeatedly risked her life to carry important intelligence data, vital radio parts and medical supplies through heavily garrisoned enemy-held territory. Although she knew that detection by the enemy would result in torture and execution, Corporal Leones fearlessly continued her perilous missions between guerrilla forces throughout Luzon with notable success. Through her intrepidity and skill as a special agent, Corporal Leones contributed materially to the early liberation of the Philippines.” After the war, Leones moved to California in 1969 where she worked as a clerk at Pacific Bell. She kept a low profile and never talked about her war exploits. One of her sons only learned about it when he started doing research. “She always kept it a big secret,” her son said. Her granddaughter once wrote a school report about her and had to bring the medal to school be-
cause her teacher didn’t believe that her grandmother was a war hero. Leones died in her home in Richmond, Calif. on June 16, 2016. She was 95. Her body was flown to the Philippines where she was buried in full military honors at the Heroes Cemetery. She is survived by her three sons, 13 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. While Leones was an unsung hero in the Philippines whose achievements were not written about in history books, she was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal, the World War II Medal, and the Philippine Independence Ribbon. She has also earned the title, “Lionness of the Filipina Agents.” In a tribute to Leones on Memorial Day last year, FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba said: “All too often, we present men who were recognized for gallantry and intrepidity in the face of the enemy. This woman is clearly extraordinary, a soldier with a distinguished record of service fighting the Japanese Imperial Forces in the Philippines.” Master Sgt. Aaron Kliatchko Master Sgt. Aaron Kliatchko, known as the “Rabbi of Cabanatuan,” was honored on June 28, 2018 with a formal military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941, Kliatchko volunteered as an American intelligence agent, fighting the invading Japanese on the Bataan peninsula. He was on Bataan when U.S. forces surrendered on April 9, 1942, surviving the Bataan Death March. In June 1942, after the Japanese released the captured Filipino soldiers, the surviving American POWs were moved to the Cabanatuan Prison Camp, where Kliatchko remained until December 1944. At the prison camp, Kliatchko helped lead Jewish services and funerals, comforting Jew and Gentile alike. With his long white beard and impressive singing voice, he soon became known as the “Rabbi of Cabanatuan.” At the camp, the Japanese assigned him to shepherd carabaos (water buffalo) that transported supplies from the town to the POW camp. The task took him outside the camp where he would smuggle notes, money, and medicines for his fellow prisoners. Unfortunately, his Japanese captors eventually discovered his courier service and subjected him to months of solitary confinement with reduced rations. On December 13, 1944, Kliatchko was among more than 1,600 prisoners, mostly officers and medical personnel, who were boarded on the hell ship Oryoku Maru, destined for slave labor in Japan. It was the last hell ship from the Philippines to Japan. This ship was sunk near Subic Bay by American bombers off the carrier USS Hornet shortly after leaving Manila. The survivors including Kliatchko were put aboard two other hell ships to continue the voyage north. Kliatchko died from his wounds on December 31, 1944 aboard the Brazil Maru as it arrived in Takeo Harbor, Formosa. It is unknown where his body rests. In 1948, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the U.S. can give a civilian. Born in 1887 to an Orthodox Jewish family in Minsk, the capital of today’s Belarus, Kliatchko was a teenager when he was forced to serve in the Russian Imperial Army during the RussoJapanese War (1904-05). After the war, he studied to become a Cantor, a singer of Jewish liturgical music. In 1907, he immigrated to the United States and later enlisted in the U.S. Army, becoming a U.S. citizen in July 1913. When the U.S. entered World War I, he joined the American Expeditionary Forces. In November 1915, he was aboard the troop transport USAT Thomas to the Philippine Islands. His regiment was stationed there to help modernize the fortress island of Corregidor in Manila Bay. He remained in the Philippines during World War II and helped in the country’s liberation. ‘Tell their stories’ “Today, we remember with gratitude Corporal Magdalena Leones and Master Sgt. Aaron Kliatchko,” Taguba said. “One way to honor them is to tell their stories and remember their courageous acts and uncommon valor.” To ensure that their stories are preserved for posterity, the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) is creating a national program in partnership with the Smithson-
Master Sgt. Aaron Kliatchko
Magdalena Leones
ian Institution, Department of Education, U.S. Army, colleges and universities, education and nonprofit organizations, and community organizations. The goal is to educate the public and raise public awareness of the Filipino and American Soldier experience and outstanding contributions during World War II.
FilVetREP Region 2 Director Jay Cabacar, FRA President Rey Regis and Col. Cedric Jasmin joined family members on June 28, 2018 to honor Master Sergeant Aaron Kliatchko with a formal military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal will be the focal point and centerpiece of this program. To make this undertaking
possible and make it accessible to schools and the public, FilVetREP is appealing for support from the community. “This is an American story, with historical
)ROORZ XV RQ
and educational significance in U.S. history and culture,” Taguba said. To donate, go to www.filvetrep.org. n
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Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ IN a previous article, I wrote about how the USCIS assembled a task force to start reviewing cases of people who may have obtained their green cards or U.S. citizenship through fraud. They would then take steps to revoke their citizenship and have them removed/deported. This could include people who entered the U.S. under an assumed name and obtained a green card under that assumed name. When filing for U.S. citizenship, they may have asked to have their name “changed” to their real name and may have started petitioning their family. Or, they were in a fixed marriage, or were sponsored by an employer, but never worked for that employer after getting their green card. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) is following a similar policy. However, the DOS is simply revoking the person’s U.S. passport, and the person has to request a hearing in Washington DC to defend themselves against the passport revocation. In one actual case, a Filipina received a letter from DOS in 2018, advising that her passport was revoked. (Thankfully, she was not in the Philippines at the time, as she would not have been able to return to the U.S., since her passport was no longer valid.) According to DOS, years ago, she entered the U.S. on a tourist visa under a different name. She married a U.S. citizen who petitioned her under her assumed
State Department revoking US passports of people who obtained citizenship through fraud
name. She was able to get a green card and eventually U.S. citizenship under that assumed name. She later went to state court and had her name legally changed back to her real, true name, and applied to DOS for new a passport under her new “legal” name, which was issued. Seven years later, DOS sent her a letter, advising that DOS conducted a “subsequent investigation” which uncovered her true identity. Accordingly, because she made “false statements of material fact on her passport application,” her passport was being revoked. She can no longer use or travel with that passport. And DOS’s position is since she obtained her green card through fraud, she was not entitled to the green card. If she is not entitled to the green card, she is not entitled to U.S. citizenship. In these times of strict immigration enforcement, people who obtained green cards or citizenship have to be especially cautious when applying for U.S. citizenship, or if they are already U.S. citizens, petitioning family members. Homeland Security as well as DOS are now going after those people and seeking to either revoke citizenship or immediately revoking their U.S. passports. That is why it is important that if you have any issues with the way you obtained your green card, you
should consult with an attorney, who can advise you of options or consequences. Don’t have a philosophy that because you “got away with it” in the past, you could never “be touched”. The U.S. government is now not only going after green card holders who obtained their green cards through fraud, but also against naturalized citizens.
*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar 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. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does 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: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
Business Quote of the Week “Even the accomplished suffers setbacks sometimes. The more bitter the lessons, the greater the successes will be.” - Lucio Tan, Chairman and CEO of Philippine Airlines
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FAO: Importation a boost to food security in PH by Karl
r. OCampO Inquirer.net
At the signing ceremony, ADB reaffirmed its commitment to support the government in raising the country’s growth trajectory and reducing poverty and income inequalities. Philstar.com photo
ADB to extend $7.1-B loan to Philippines by Czeriza
ValenCia Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Wednesday, July 4 that it has signed with the Philippine government a memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering an indicative $7.1 billion sovereign lending program to the Philippines from 2019 to 2021. The government was represented by the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) and Department of Finance (DOF). At the signing ceremony, ADB reaffirmed its commitment to support the government in raising the country’s growth trajectory and reducing poverty and income inequalities. ADB said the Philippine government’s Build Build Build (BBB) program would be supported by the proposed lending program, with two-thirds of the ADB pipeline, or about $4.5 billion, allocated for projects that connect regions and communi-
ties and manage urbanization, such as railways, bridges, roads, and flood management. The remaining one-third of the pipeline would be dedicated to the provision of policy support and social assistance in the areas of inclusive finance, capital market development, local government development, and youth employment. The agreement covers an indicative three-year rolling program that would be revisited annually. ADB’s Country Operations Business Plan 2019–2021 would
focus on the strategic priorities of accelerating infrastructure and long-term investments, promoting local economic development, and investing in people to support the government’s objective of lowering poverty to 14 percent of the population by 2022, from the current 21.6 percent. “ADB is committed to working closely and collaboratively with the Government of the Philippines to ensure that we deliver on our pipeline of projects,” said ADB Country Director for the Philippines Kelly Bird.
THE Philippines and Indonesia are expected to report the largest improvement in food security in the whole Asean region over the next decade, according to the latest outlook from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The FAO, which published its agricultural outlook for the year 2018 to 2027 on Wednesday, July 4 said both countries were seen to benefit the most from the region’s continuing market integration. This meant a reduction in the countries’ undernourished population by 5 percent. “The 5 percent fall in undernourishment accounts for both the benefits from price falls in some countries and costs from price rises in others,” the report said. The integration of regional rice markets, specifically, was seen to help mitigate weather risks. The Philippines’ and Indonesia’s increased access to rice imports “could offset the food insecurity impact of a regional El Niño or of domestic crop failure.” These two factors, according to FAO, were the largest risks to food security for both countries.
Based on the study, the shift to larger import volumes would depress domestic prices of rice in Indonesia and Philippines, which are projected to decline by as much as 39 percent and 45 percent, respectively, over the decade—the highest across the region. Nonetheless, it noted that both countries’ domestic consumption would continue to be provided locally. Indonesia and Philippines’ reliance on domestic rice output is seen to decrease to 89 percent and 73 percent, respectively, from the current levels of 99 percent and 86 percent, respectively. The organization said “this highlights that in both countries, regional integration and a vibrant and internationally competitive rice sector can indeed coexist.”
More hotel, resort-condo projects expected in Cebu by Catherine
talaVera Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — Cebu is expected to see a more pronounced development of hotels and resort-oriented condominiums over the next three to six years driven by the growth of its tourism sector and fueled by its improving road infrastructure network complementing the expanded airport, a property services firm said. “The completion of the second terminal of Mactan-Cebu International Airport(MCIA) should boost Cebu’s attractiveness as a tourist destination,” Colliers International said in a report.
The report said the opening of the new terminal also comes at an opportune time given the national government’s decision to close Boracay for six months to allow for the rehabilitation of the island. In 2017, Cebu registered an estimated 4.9 million foreign and domestic arrivals, which sustained hotel occupancy of 78 percent, higher than the 70 percent occupancy in 2016. The Cebu hotel market is projected to post an occupancy between 70 to 75 percent over the next 12 to 36 months, which will be sustained by the MCIA. “Colliers believes that aside from the influx of local and foreign tourists, the demand
for more leisure investments such as hotels and serviced residences should be fuelled by Cebu’s thriving outsourcing and industrial sectors,” Colliers said. Aside from developing leisure estates, Colliers said local and national developers could capture opportunities in the booming Cebu tourism sector by bringing in more foreign brands and building more hotels along the nodes of new road infrastructure projects. It added that existing hotels should improve loyalty programs, expand meeting facilities, and consider integrating health and retirement facilities. “Colliers believes Cebu has
the potential to be at par with neighboring destinations such as Bali and Phuket in terms of hotel and resort development,” the property services firm said. At present, Cebu only has a fifth of Bali and Phuket’s room count with only 10,600 rooms compared to Bali’s 50,000 rooms and Phuket’s 47,475 rooms. “But we see Cebu becoming a major leisure investment destination in the region given its improving infrastructure backbone and sustainability of traditional demand drivers such as outsourcing and industrial operations,”Colliers added. The property services firm identified a number of national developers that are expected
to benefit from Cebu’s thriving leisure sector. Among these are the Udenna Group, Filinvest, Ayala Land, Rockwell Land, Megaworld, Robinsons Land and SM Prime. “The tourism demand drivers in Cebu compel national and local hotel developers to either bring in foreign hotel operators or maximize homegrown hospitality brands,” Colliers said. It added that a number of local developers such as Cebu Landmasters, Grand Land, Tanchan Corporate Group and AppleOne Properties have already teamed up with international brands. “Leisure investors in Cebu have been successful in employing these strategies and we see
the continued implementation of these plans moving forward,” Colliers said. Aside from the modernized and expanded airport, Colliers said Cebu’s tourism sector is also expected to surge due to a number of infrastructure projects which should open opportunities in the countryside. Among these projects are the Cebu-Cordova bridge, Metro Cebu Expressway, Cebu-Negros Link Bridge, Cebu-Bohol Link Bridge, and the Bus Rapid Transit(BRT) system. “The completion of these projects should spur demand for more accommodation facilities outside of the Metro Cebu corridor,” Colliers said.
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Government still lukewarm to PPP by Philstar.com MANILA, Philippines — The country’s economic managers remain lukewarm to pursuing more big-ticket projects via public-private partnership (PPP) even as the shift in financing mode from official development assistance (ODA) to other modes is being considered. In a briefing Wednesday, July 4 Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said should government pull out some projects from ODA financing due to the long approval process, it would still largely prefer to build the hard infrastructure using government funds and auction off the operations and maintenance (O&M) to the private sector. He said, however, that government would continue to entertain unsolicited proposals that have already been put forward. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said last week there has been a consensus among economic managers to entertain possible shifts from ODA financing to other modes of project delivery — such as PPP and general appropriations — if the processing of ODA loans take too long. This is meant to fasttrack the delivery of projects within President Duterte’s term. The processing of ODA loans typically takes months, even years, because of varying bureaucratic processes in donor countries. Pernia said the government is prepared to change the financing of projects originally meant for ODA financing “ as deemed necessary.” Dominguez said the government remains wary of the complications that usually accompany PPP projects such as the long time requirement for negotiations and the lawsuits that have in the past ensued between private firms. “PPP is also very long. We have done a study on how long PPP is. From project submission to start of project is also 30 months. The negotiating time that is required by our laws take a long time. With PPP, we also experience that the private sector guys sue each other,” he said. He noted that some projects that were originally drawn up as PPPs before moved to the construction phase faster when financing was changed to government appropriations and the
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 7-10, 2018 D
Bb. Pilipinas contestant is now DOTr’s new face of ‘Build, Build, Build’ by Ben
O. de Vera Inquirer.net
In a briefing on Wednesday, July 4, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said should the government pull out some projects from ODA financing due to the long approval process, it would still largely prefer to build the hard infrastructure using government funds and auction off the operations and maintenance (O&M) to the private sector. Department of Finance file photo
O&M component was auctioned off to the private sector. The Finance chief also said this is an opportune time for the government to build a solid base of state assets using its own resources when it is enjoying good credit rating and access to favorable financing. “While we are doing all these projects ourselves, the government is building up an asset base that is going to be very large. This way, if the future governments need money, they can privatize them. I think the time to build our own government assets is right now,” he said. Economic managers also frown on the minimum revenue guarantee scheme in which private proponents can require the government to guarantee their revenue shortfalls in PPP projects. “The government, although it does not guarantee the loan itself, it guarantees the revenue. If the revenue falls below so much, the government says we will top it up. So that is like a loan guarantee but in another form. The banks like that because they (project proponents) do not take the risk. I think if you are in the private sector, you should take the risk to make a profit. You should not ask the government to take the risk from you. So that is why we are also looking at another system of doing it,” said Dominguez. While financing via the ODA route is more arduous, economic managers still consider it to be a
vital component of financing for its ambitious Build Build Build program that aims to overturn decades of neglect in the country’s public infrastructure. This is largely because concessional financing can still be extended to a developing country like the Philippines and with longer tenor for loans. “We can borrow money at lower rates than the private sector. So if its a PPP, why charge the user a higher rate because of financing cost when we can afford the lower rate,” said Dominguez. He said the economic team is how having more frequent meetings with their Chinese and Japanese counterparts to expedite the processing of ODA loans. “We are just trying to go as fast as we can,” said Dominguez. Pernia also urged the public to be more patient as government projects still have to hurdle a full project cycle after approval by the NEDA Board. The government’s project cycle is divided into six processes: project identification, appraisal and approval process (ICC , DBCC, NEDA Board clearance), budgeting and funding, implementation (detailed engineering and design, procurement, and construction), monitoring and evaluation, and post-evaluation. “This is why projects are implemented but we have not seen them on the ground, projects become more visible under implementation when they really break ground and construction starts,” he said.
CAPAS, TARLAC – Sandra Lemonon’s beauty and poise made her stand out in a sea of white hard hats and reflectorized green safety vests during the economic managers’ briefing on the “Build, Build, Build” program Wednesday, July 4. And who would have thought that after her boo-boo at the Bb. Pilipinas 2018 pageant last March, where she missed the chance to win a crown after admitting during the questionand-answer round that she knew nothing about the Duterte administration’s ambitious infrastructure program, she would still land a job at the Department of Transportation, and to promote the build program. Lemonon confirmed to the Inquirer that she now works at the DOTr, after she signed a contract with the agency two weeks ago. According to a DOTr communications officer, Lemonon’s new task was to become “the ambassador for ‘Build, Build, Build.’” In a chance interview, Lemonon said it was actually her third time to attend a briefing on the infrastructure program. “It’s a really good experience because you know my incident from Binibini—I was
Photo from Sandra Lemonon’s Instagram story
really unaware of this program. But thanks to the DOTr, they really taught me what’s going to happen in ‘Build Build, Build,’” she said. “So I’m really excited for everything that’s happening because, of course, it’s about to change the lives of everyone,” she added. The government plans to roll out 75 “game-changing” flagship projects alongside spending P9 trillion until 2022 to usher in the “golden age of infrastructure.” During the pageant last March, this was Lemonon’s response during the crucial interview portion: “Actually you know what, I studied so much for this Q&A, but sadly that’s something that I don’t know really much about. But at least I’m here trying to answer a good question. Thank
you.” The question was asked by judge Edgar Saavedra, who chairs the infrastructure conglomerate Megawide Construction Corp. On her Instagram account, Lemonon posted a so-called “IG story” that she was “very excited to witness the future of our country” and used the hashtag “#buildbuildbuild.” She also posted a video of the economic managers on-site, as well as a photo with Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade and other officials during her “first official team meeting with the DOTr.” Lemonon said she was “very excited to learn more about the infrastructure projects happening and happy to be part of the DOTr team.”
Tugade: Subic airport to reopen in H1 of 2019 by Ben
O. de Vera Inquirer.net
CAPAS, TARLAC—The government plans to start passenger operations for the Subic Bay International Airport by the first half of next year, Transport Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said Wednesday, July 4. “We’re closely looking at making the Subic airport operational again,” Tugade said during the economic managers’ press briefing on the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program at the site of the soonto-rise National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City.
The revival of the airport at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone will complement development at the Clark Freeport Zone, as these two economic zones will be connected by a railway, Tugade said. The transport chief said the planned reopening of the airport was in response to the request of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the investment promotion agency that administers the free port. To recall, the airport was abandoned by courier FedEx in 2009 after it relocated its Asian hub to China. Tugade said the airport’s structure was still sound, but in
terms of aviation safety standards, new airport equipment had to be acquired. The Department of Transportation-attached Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will fund the provision of navigation equipment, he said. Operations will start by the first or second quarters of 2019, Tugade said. Later asked by the Inquirer if the airport would cater to commercial or passenger operations, he said it would serve air passengers. Last year, the SBMA said the upgrade of the equipment of Subic Bay International Airport would cost about $40 million.
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Philippines is 2nd worst auto market in 4 months
by rIchMond
MercurIo Philstar.com
Among President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises was to bar the abusive practice of hiring employees on short-term contracts. Philstar.com photo by Joven Carande
All workers are regular, says Jollibee by Ian
nIcolas cIgaral Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee Foods Corp. on Tuesday, July 3 maintained it is compliant with labor laws and regulations months after the Department of Labor and Employment ordered the homegrown food giant to give more than 7,000 workers permanent employment status. “All of our workers are regular — either through direct hiring or DOLE-licensed service providers,” JFC told the stock exchange. “They have security of tenure, proper wages and benefits such
as 13th month pay, paid leaves, health insurance and other benefits that they are entitled to under the Labor Code,” the company added. Among President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises was to bar the abusive practice of hiring employees on short-term contracts. On Labor Day, Duterte signed a much-awaited executive order prohibiting “illegal contractualization,” which various labor groups rejected and described as “pro-employer.” The government is still to amend any of the labor laws.
Last April, DOLE told JFC “to regularize 6,482 workers” as well as 704 others employed by contractors operating branches of Burger King, which is one of the brands under the same company. JFC said it would appeal DOLE’s decision. JFC—which has a market capitalization of more than P282 billion—has allotted P12.0 billion in capital expenditures for 2018, up 33.3 percent from last year. As of 2016, there are 978 Jollibee stores nationwide that serve the company’s hugely popular sweet-style spaghetti and fried chicken.
MANILA, Philippines — Vehicle manufacturers have cut production by over a third as the Philippines slid to being the second worst performer in Southeast Asia in the first four months of the year. Latest data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation showed the country posted the second largest drop in vehicle sales among eight economies in the region monitored from January to April this year. It was a total reversal for the local automotive industry compared to the same period last year where it was the second fastest growing market in Southeast Asia. Vehicle sales in the Philippines recorded a 9.3 percent decline during the four-month period which was credited mostly to the new tax reform law that imposed higher excise taxes on automobiles. Preventing the Philippines from becoming the worst performer in the region was Singapore, which saw sales plunge 19.8 percent year-on-year. With the persisting lower demand, manufacturers in the country have significantly cut production, data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation showed. Vehicle production in the
Latest data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation showed the country posted the second largest drop in vehicle sales among eight economies in the region monitored from January to April this year. Philstar.com photo
country fell 34.5 percent to 31,064 units in the first four months of the year, from 47,392 units in the same period last year. The Philippines was the only market with significant local production in the region that registered a decline for the period. Production in Thailand, the region’s hub, grew 11.3 percent year-on-year to 674,469 units, while Indonesia and Malaysia posted 6.8 percent and 12.7 percent increase to 446,855 units and 198,053 units, respectively. Vehicle production in Vietnam also improved 1.2 percent yearon-year to 65,977 units. Automotive manufacturing is among the 12 major industries that is being prioritized under the country’s new industrial development plan called the In-
clusive Innovation Industrial Strategy, or the i3S. Major manufacturers in the country such as Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. and Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. have already invested a total of P10.7 billion so far in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence (CARS) Program. Both Toyota and Mitsubishi said while the industry continues to face challenges, they are optimistic in complying with the requirements of the CARS program and hope that government authorities and the industry will find a “workable balance” to support the program and at the same time generate much needed revenues in the wake of the second phase of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
Upcoming iPhones may ABS-CBN, GMA hold on have 5 new color versions to ratings lead by alfred
by MIguel
r. caMus
Inquirer.net
MEDIA giants ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. mainly held on to their respective leads in national and urban television ratings. On Tuesday, July 3 the two companies announced ratings data for June 2018, citing data from different third-party research firms. ABS-CBN said it had a nationwide ratings lead of 45 percent against GMA’s 32 percent, based on data from Kantar Media. For its part, GMA said it had a total day people audience share
EMPLOYMENT
average of 41.6 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) versus ABS-CBN’s 38.3 percent. GMA uses data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. Between the two companies, GMA’s has historically highlighted its performance in heavily populated areas, in particular, urban Luzon and mega Manila. In Urban Luzon, GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 46.4 percent, more than ABS-CBN’s 32.6 percent. In Mega Manila, it cornered a share of 48.1 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 29.5 percent. ABS-CBN, meanwhile, sought
to underscore its lead in Metro Manila. ABS-CBN said it got an average audience share of 43 percent against GMA’s 29 percent. It was also ahead in Total Luzon, with 41 percent against GMA’s 36 percent. ABS-CBN also said that for June 2018, it cornered 54 percent in Total Visayas against GMA’s 24 percent. In Mindanao, it was 53 percent for ABS-CBN against 26 percent for GMA. ABS-CBN also said it won the ratings war in the prime-time block, saying it got an audience share of 48 percent compared to GMA’s 33 percent.
FOR RENT
Bayle Inquirer.net
UPCOMING iPhone models expected to be released later this year may have five new color variations including red, orange, blue, white and gray. KGI Securities analyst MingChi Kuo reported that an entrylevel line of 6.1-inch LCD display iPhones may sport these new color schemes. Meanwhile, a larger and more high-end 6.5inch iPhone may be offered in black, white and gold, as reported by 9to5Mac. Kuo estimated the 6.1-inch line would be priced around $700, or about P37,000, and resemble the
iPhone X’s design. Apart from new colorful iPhones, Kuo also reported on a new “iPhone X Plus,” which sports a 6.5inch OLED screen. At the same time, the analyst also predicts a smaller 5.8-inch iPhone X. Kuo capped off his report with a prediction that favored a significant growth in iPhone sales. He noted the new
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Photo by Apple
colorful $700 LCD iPhones may account for 55 percent of sales when they launch.
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