July 17-19, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 55 • 2 Sections - 20 Pages
PH won’t withdraw from UNHRC – Locsin by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, July 16, said the Philippines will remain in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) despite the Council’s approval of a resolution calling for an international review of the country’s war on illegal drugs. “UNHRC vote is a small and harmless matter,” Locsin said on Twitter. “We’re staying in UNHRC as a pedagogical duty to teach Europeans moral manners. We’re NOT severing diplomatic relations with any country. If we did, where’s the conversation? How do you insult those who insulted us if you cut them off?” he added. Locsin on Sunday, July 14, floated the idea of the country’s withdrawal from the Council following
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Inquirer.net photo
USA
Robredo on impeachment case against her: No comment, not important by GABRIEL
PABICO Inquirer.net
DATELINE ICE raids targeting 2,000 quietly go underway FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
No signs of massive raids in Los Angeles, other major cities OVER the weekend, the Trump administration said that federal immigration officials have begun a nationwide operation targeting undocumented immigrants in 10 cities who have been given a court order to be deported. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, targeted operations were planned in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. ICE agents were expected to detain an estimated 2,000 undocumented immigrants in raids that the Trump administration said started Sunday, July 14 for an undetermined amount of time. ICE officials emphasized that those targeted already had orders by immigration courts for deportation and undocumented immigrants who have violated immigration law. “As always ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of unlawfully present aliens who pose a
Vice President Leni Robredo
Inquirer.net photo
FILIPINO priest Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III has been elected the new Master of the Order of Preachers (OP), more popularly known as the Dominicans. Timoner, now the first Asian Master of the Dominican Order, was elected on Saturday, July 13, in Bien Hoa in Vietnam where Dominicans from more than 80 countries are holding their general chapter or world conference until Aug. 4. Timoner will succeed the Very Rev. Bruno Cadore, a French physician and bioethicist who has been serving as OP Master since 2010. An OP Master is elected to a nine-year term without reelection. With his election, Timoner becomes the 88th successor of St. Dominic de Guzman, the Spaniard who founded the mendicant friar movement with the Italian St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century.
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LALU
VICE President Leni Robredo has refused to dwell on suggestions that she can be impeached for supporting a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted resolution seeking a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines. Robredo, on the sidelines of an Angat Buhay program in Panglao, Bohol on Tuesday, July 16, initially just laughed off requests
for her comment on the belief of Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Manuelito Luna that she could be impeached for expressing her support to the Iceland resolution. But due to reporters’ insistence, Robredo eventually gave her reaction on the matter – no comment because “it is not important.” “Hindi na. Hindi ko na iyon kocomment-an kasi wala namang – hindi naman siya mahalaga (No comment. I won’t give comment on it because there’s nothing – it’s not important),” Robredo said.
Previously, Luna said: “Vice President Robredo’s expression of support to the UNHRC resolution against the Philippine government may cause her to be impeached.” The vice president could be impeached by backing the Iceland resolution, which was approved by 18 out of 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The Iceland resolution calls for greater scrutiny of the Philippines’ human rights situation,
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Duterte signs bill that punishes ‘sexist’ remarks ‘Anti-bastos’ bill seeks to prevent sexual harassment, including catcalling
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the anti-bastos bill, which seeks to prevent gender-based sexual harassment from occurring in streets, public places, online workplaces, and educational and training institutions. Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the law’s principal authors, said in late May that the bill had lapsed into law, but a copy of the new law that Malacañang released to the u PAGE A3 public on Monday, July 15, reveals that Duterte signed it last April 17. Under the Republic Act 11313 or the
Filipino priest elected head of Dominican Order worldwide
ON A MISSION. President Rodrigo Duterte chats with Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and actor Robin Padilla upon his arrival at the Jolo Airport before heading to Camp Bud Datu in Indanan, Sulu on Monday, July 15. Duterte visited the 1st Brigade Combat in Indanan town where eight were killed and dozens more were injured, including civilians. Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain
“Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act,” those who commit any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person will be fined P1,000 to P10,000, and may also be imprisoned for 1 month. Among these unwanted and uninvited acts include cursing, wolf-whistling, catcalling, leering and intrusive gazing, taunting, as well as saying misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs. Meanwhile, those who make offensive body gestures, expose private parts, and
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President Duterte greets guests during the ‘Araw ng Pasasalamat’ for overseas Filipino workers held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City last Friday, July 12. Philstar.com photo
DOH declares national dengue alert Duterte wants Department of OFWs up by December by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, July 15, declared a national dengue alert after 450 people, including infants and a centenarian, died in the first six months of the year due to rapidly increasing cases of dengue in several regions. “This is the first time we’re declaring a national alert because the objective is clear: We want to raise awareness among the public and, more importantly, in communities where signs of early dengue increases are evident,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III at a press briefing. DOH records show that from DENGUE BRIEFING Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Gundo Weiler, country representative of the World Health Organization, give an update Jan. 1 to June 29, 106,630 cases of the dengue incidence in the Philippines and globally on Monday, July 15.
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by EDITH
REGALADO Philstar.com
A SEPARATE Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) should be established within six months to address the persistent woes of OFWs with regard to illegal recruiters and other labor malpractices, according to President Duterte. The proposed department will ban recruitment of OFWs abroad and will put Philippine-based recruitment agencies under strict government regulation. “Kaya apurahin ko ‘yang Department of OFW. Bawal na ang recruitment sa abroad... sa labas. So, under the supervision of govInquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez ernment at walang horrendous
charges. By December… buong Pilipinas ‘to (I will fasttrack that Department of OFWs. Outside recruitment will be banned. So, under the supervision of the government and with no horrendous charges. This will be in the entire Philippines by December),” Duterte said during the Araw ng Pasasalamat for OFWs ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo last Friday, July 12. The president further warned illegal and abusive recruiters that their days are numbered, as they could no longer operate without direct government supervision. He urged those who want to work abroad to engage the services of legal recruiters.
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Robredo on impeachment case...
PAGE A1 including the war against illegal drugs, which started upon the assumption of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. Government data said that over 6,000 drug suspects have been killed in legitimate antidrug operations, but critics claim that the number could be higher. The UNHRC on July 11 approved the resolution with 18 of its 47 members voting for its adoption. Fifteen states abstained
while 14 voted no. Malacañang, however, distanced itself from the PACC official’s statement, saying they “have better things to do.” “You know, we have better things to do. There are so many problems in this country. I will leave it to those who would want to initiate whatever they want to initiate against whomsoever,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Meanwhile, lawmakers said that while chances of an impeachment complaint prospering in the House is bleak, the case of former Supreme Court Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should be an example. “But you know, you can never say (anything) for sure dito sa House. Alam mo naman sa 17th Congress, ‘yong impeachment complaint kay Chief Justice Sereno ay na-file dito, para sa isang fishing expedition (You know in the 17th Congress, the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Sereno was filed here and was just a fishing expedition),” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said Tuesday. “Alam mo naman ‘yan (You know how it is), while impeachment is an accountability mechanism, it is also a political process. So dahil political process ‘yan, kung sino ang may control ng House […] ay pwede nilang gawin (So because it’s a political process, whoever controls the House can do it),” he added. Earlier, Robredo’s spokesperson lawyer Barry Gutierrez said they won’t back down from such measures, especially since she supposedly has done nothing wrong. “Paulit-ulit na ring sinabi ni VP Leni: ‘Kung gusto ninyo magfile ng impeachment, sige lang. Handa akong harapin iyan.’ ‘Di ba? Dahil naka-angkla iyan sa Konstitusyon (VP Leni has said it repeatedly: ‘If they want to file and impeachment [against me], go ahead. I am ready to face it.’ Right? Because it is in the Constitution),” Gutierrez said Sunday, July 14. n
Duterte signs bill that punishes... PAGE A1 grope will be fined P10,000 to P20,000, and may also be imprisoned for six months. For those who stalk, make sexual advances, or touch any part of the victim’s body, they will be fined P30,000 to P100,000, and may also be imprisoned for 6 months. Local government units shall pass corresponding anti-catcalling ordinances, while the Philippine National Police and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will apprehend those who violate the law. (AJPress)
CLEARING, CLEANING ESTEROS. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu (center), Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso (right), and DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda (left) inspect the estero (estuary) under the demolished houses in Barangay 718 Estero de San Antonio Abad Malate in Manila on Saturday, July 13. The local government of Manila, with the help of other government agencies, is starting to clear and clean water channels in the city to mitigate flooding, especially with the onset of the rainy season. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
PH won’t witdraw from...
PAGE A1 the vote. “No embassy in Iceland. Nor does Iceland have an embassy here. Iceland took the place of the U.S. after it withdrew from the Human Rights Council. I think we need to follow America more,” he said. Left to our own devices Senator Panfilo Lacson, for his part, cautioned the government against any plans to withdraw from the UNHRC. “At the rate we are withdrawing from the UN bodies, it could only be a matter of time when we will be left to our own devices,” Lacson said Monday. “We would not know when, what and how, but being a developing country, we may need to ask for help from the community of nations sooner or later,” he added. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, expressed his support for the move. He said the possible withdrawal of the Philippines from the UNHRC could benefit the body as it will be forced to review its rules, particularly on the voting on motions and resolutions. “We will be saving the country P445 million a year if we detach ourselves from the UN,” the senate president added, referring to the Philippines’ $8.2 million mandatory contribution to the UN.
Up to Duterte On Monday, July 15, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the decision on whether or not the country would withdraw from the Council would be made by President Rodrigo Duterte. “Final, final decision on this matter [will be up to him, because] he is the architect of the country’s foreign policy,” he told reporters, adding that the decision would be made based on the “best interest” of the Philippines. Panelo also said the country should “take a serious look at our relationship with Iceland.” According to him, there would be minimum consequences should the Philippines cut ties with the country. “How will it affect us? What are our relations with Iceland in the first place? We do not even have an embassy there and them, here,” he said. Sen. Francis Tolentino shared Panelo’s sentiment, saying everything depends on the president. “Everything depends on the president as the chief architect of our diplomatic relations under the Constitution. Our standing and reputation as a sovereign state in the community of nations must be anchored on national interests and dignity,”
DOH declares national... PAGE A1 were reported nationwide, including 456 deaths. “This is 85 percent higher compared to the same period last year, which is 57,564,” Duque said. The biggest number of reported dengue cases came from Western Visayas (13,164), Calabarzon (11,474), Central Visayas (9,199), Soccsksargen (9,107) and Northern Mindanao (8,739). Duque also announced that Code Blue Alert has been raised as well for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) health cluster. With this, there will be heightened surveillance by the DOH’s regional offices for dengue and heightened implementation of anti-dengue strategies. Half of all hospital personnel will also report for duty. Regions that have exceeded the epidemic threshold are Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Western
Visayas (Region VI), Central Visayas (Region VII) and Northern Mindanao (Region X). Meanwhile, regions being monitored after having exceeded the alert threshold are Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Cordillera Administrative Region. A global issue According to World Health Organization (WHO) country representative Gundo Weiler, the Philippines must brace for severe dengue this year. He said the rise in dengue can be attributed to various factors such as migration and climate change. “Dengue globally is a huge issue. More than half of the world’s population is living in areas where there is exposure to dengue,” he said.
Tolentino said. The Philippines was elected to the UNHRC in October 2018. It will sit on the Council until 2021. Not legally binding According to Malacañang, the UNHRC resolution was not legally binding. “How can that be legally binding? It is not,” Panelo said Monday, adding that it was up to the Philippine government if it would allow probers inside the country. He also said it is up to the government if it would respond to the UN panel that would investigate the war on drugs. “If we feel that the question is legitimate, we will respond,” he said. “But if the question is only designed to fish information that it will use — by the inquiring country — to embarrass this government, certainly we will not oblige,” he added. According to Panelo, the government has been transparent with everything happening on the drug war. “We are not hiding anything, even before. What more can we show them? Like what we have said, everything that is happening in the anti-drug war is recorded. So, all they have to do is to ask us, not to prejudge us,” he said. n
“There are lots of efforts we can do and we can alleviate severity of dengue outbreak. Like if we pursue some of the simple community measures – search and destroy the breeding sites of mosquitoes and self protection against mosquito bites,” he added. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Monday proposed that screened windows and doors be installed in public schools to prevent the spread of dengue. “During school days, one in four Filipinos are in public schools,” Recto said, citing his computation from 27 million students taught by 830,000 teachers in about 47,000 schools this year. “If Filipinos congregate there, then we should make sure that mosquitoes don’t go to school with them. Aedes aegypti should not be enrolled, or if they’re there, they should be expelled,” he added. n
Duterte wants Department of OFWs...
PAGE A1 Former presidential aide and current Senator Bong Go supported Duterte’s proposal by filing Senate Bill 202, or the Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019. “The president wants OFWs to avoid illegal recruiters. Many of their victims have approached us. This has to stop,” Go said in Filipino. The senator’s measure proposes the establishment of a Department of Overseas Filipinos to serve as the umbrella agency to address all the issues and concerns of Filipinos abroad. Once passed into law, the functions of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the International Labor Affairs Bureau will be transferred to this department. Currently, OFWs need to go to different government agencies to secure needed documents and present other concerns such as employment and technical education. Go emphasized the need to streamline services for migrant workers. “They shouldn’t be
passed around from one agency to the next. They don’t have to go through confusing government processes. One department will answer all of their needs.” Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI), echoed Go, saying the proposal of the President to set up a Department of OFWs intends to create a “one-stop shop” that would spare those planning to work abroad from going to several government offices at different locations. “We at CBCP-ECMI support and encourage the creation of an OFW Department,” said Bishop Santos. The measure further creates an Overseas Filipinos Assistance Fund to provide financial support to Filipino migrants in distress, inclusive of repatriation and provisions for life-saving funds in times of great emergency or distress, and provides training and livelihood loans to OFWs returning to the Philippines for good. Go added that the bill also mandates the creation of “OFW Malasakit Centers” in all provinces and major cities to ensure prompt and efficient provision of services to OFWs and their families such as acquisition of government per-
mits, validation of overseas job offers, grievance and complaints desks and reintegration services. Duterte instructed Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to coordinate with lawmakers and immediately work on the requirements for the establishment of the said OFW department, which he wants done by December. The president also mulled the creation of a separate department for maritime workers as they have also been abused by their recruiters and managements. Duterte revealed other plans towards OFW welfare, including deploying more police attachés to countries with a huge number of Filipino workers. He said OFWs can approach the police attachés if they encounter abuses or security concerns abroad. The president further added he would provide a budget to equip a hospital intended for OFWs, located in Nueva Ecija, with state-of-the-art medical equipment such as MRI and CT Scan machines. When asked about the likelihood of the proposed measure passing, Go had high hopes that the president will certify the OFW Department Bill as urgent to get it passed into law before the year ends. (With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Christina Mendez, Evelyn Macairan)
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ICE raids targeting 2,000 quietly...
PAGE A1 threat to national security, public safety and border security,” an ICE official told CNN over the weekend. But despite the White House’s announcement that the raids were underway, immigrant advocates from the cities listed reported no such activity over the weekend. “The way we see it with all the rumors and hysteria, we’re telling the community that ICE is always conducting operations. This is nothing new. It’s a daily reality for us,” Jennaya Dunlap of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice in Ontario, Califor-
nia told CNN. The deportation operation was previously postponed after congressional Democrats urged the president to delay to delay the raids last month. Trump said he would delay them until two weeks or until Congress agrees on a solution for the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Since the administration’s threat to undergo these raids, leaders from sanctuary states and sanctuary cities — jurisdictions that prohibit law enforcement and officials from cooperating with and aiding immigration officials in operations — have
Dateline USa
pledged support for immigrant families. “Our president has failed to build a wall, so instead he’s going to go back to his old play book of trying to rip families apart. Here in Los Angeles we will not participate in that,” Garcetti said last month. According to a piece in the LA Times on Monday, July 15, residents in immigrant communities have noticed less people on the streets due to fear of the publicized raids. News of the raids left many undocumented immigrants in fear of leaving their homes, and many have skipped work. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
Filipino priest elected head of Dominican Order...
PAGE A1 Together, the Dominicans and Franciscans helped reform the Church. During the Age of Conquest in the 15th and 16th centuries, the two friar-orders were among the first missionaries to evangelize the “New World,” such as the Americas and, eventually, the Philippines. Timoner is Cadore’s socius or assistant for the Asia-Pacific and has been based in Santa Sabina church, the Dominican curia in the Aventine Hills in Rome, since 2017. Since 2014, Timoner has also been the lone Philippine member of the International Theological Commission (ITC), an advisory body to Pope Francis. The last Filipino member of the ITC was Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Bicol roots Father Timoner was born on Jan. 26, 1968, in Daet, Camarines Norte. He earned his philosophy degree at the Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies in Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City in 1991, and his theology degree at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 1994. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1995. He obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Theology and Master’s in Intercultural Theology from the Catholic University of Nijmengen in the Netherlands in 2004. In Nijmengen, Timoner met Fr. Edward Schillebeeckx (19142009), the controversial Belgian Dominican who dominated theological thought in the last quarter of the 20th century. After his ordination, Timoner
was assigned to UST, where he served several posts, including rector of the UST Central Seminary. In 2012, he was elected prior provincial of the Philippine Dominican Province. Influential order As Master of the Dominican Order, Timoner will oversee the various ministries worldwide of the Dominican friars, who number some 6,000 across more than 80 countries. He will also be the father of the “Dominican family” of active sisters, contemplative nuns, tertiary order of laymen and clerical fraternities numbering in the thousands. In Vietnam alone, the Dominican lay order has at least 40,000 members. The Dominicans run parishes, schools and universities, hospitals, think tanks, philosophical and theological formation houses, and pastoral ministries. In the Philippines, Dominican friars run UST, Asia’s oldest university, and Letran College, which will mark its 400th anniversary next year. Dominicans also run two general hospitals (UST and Aquinas in Legazpi), a charity hospital (San Martin de Porres in San Juan). They have been chaplains at Tala Leprosarium. Founded during the medieval ages, the Dominicans saw the rise of universities in Europe and often occupied influential academic chairs. Because of their intellectual stress on “contemplation and sharing the fruits of contemplation,” Dominicans became known for their learning and scholarship.
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PH among most violent places for civilians — NGO by ALEXIS
AND
ROMERO EDITH REGALADO Philstar.com
THE Philippines is a dangerous place for criminals and the corrupt, according to Malacañang, as it countered a report stating that the country is one of the most dangerous places in the world in terms of violence that target civilians. A report by the United Statesbased non-government organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) Project said the Philippines has the fourth highest number of civilian-targeting events so far in 2019. The Philippines had a total of 345 violent incidents, just behind India’s 1,385; Syria’s 1,160 and Yemen’s 500, according to the report. The group recorded nearly 7,700 violent events targeting civilians from Jan. 1 to May 17 across the globe, resulting in over 8,200 reported fatalities. “I agree, our country is dangerous to criminals, to the corrupt, including the drug syndicates,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Monday, July 15, when asked to react to the report.
“Our law enforcers will not stop their fight against criminals and drug lords, pushers who are destroying the fabric of our society. It’s really dangerous here if you are a criminal or a member of a syndicate,” Panelo added Panelo also disputed claims that the drug war deaths have reached 27,000, saying the data included those who were killed in accidents and homicide incidents perpetrated by ordinary civilians. He reiterated that the killings are not state-initiated. “Almost 100 policemen have died. More than 700 others are in serious condition... I can’t understand why they are not considering these (data). If (they) were self-initiated, no policeman would be killed,” he said. Panelo also expressed support for official police data, which pegged the number of drug-related deaths at more than 6,000. ACLED’s ranking ‘unfounded’ Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde on Monday, July 15, branded as unfounded ACLED’s findings, saying the analysis has no basis, given the country’s improved peace and order situation. “I think that is unfounded. That
cannot be covered by data. I really don’t know what is their basis,” Albayalde told reporters at a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. The ACLED said the Philippines is among the countries unsafe for civilians because of the drug war. Albayalde, however, disputed ACLED’s ranking, saying another survey conducted by HSBC Expat placed the Philippines 24th in the list of countries safe to live in and do business, just a notch below the U.S. The crime volume, which went down by six percent in the first semester of the year, is another proof that disputes ACLED’s findings, according to Albayalde. “There should be chaos if we are ranked fourth,” he said. Albayalde believes the research firm probably based its report solely on the allegations by critics of the administration. “They probably based ’yung mga sinasabi nila roon lang sa mga maninira na, unfortunately, ay kapwa natin Pilipino (what they’re saying is based from those who are critizing, unfortunately, they are our fellow Filipinos),” he said. (With Emmanuel Tupas, Ramon Efren Lazaro)
Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III has been elected the new Master of the Order of Preachers (OP), more popularly known as the Dominicans. Inquirer.net photo
Eminent Dominican thinkers include St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great, the mystic Meister Eckhart, Cardinal Tomas Cajetan (who crossed intellectual swords with Martin Luther), and Fray Francisco Vitoria, the father of international law and human rights, whose bust graces the United Nations in New York. During the Age of Conquest, Dominicans defended the conquered natives from the excesses of colonization, such as Fray Bartolome de las Casas in the Americas and Bishop Domingo Salazar of Manila. In the 20th century, the Belgian Dominican Fr. Dominique Pire was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1958 for his work with refugees. Polish Pope now Saint John Paul II, who helped end the Cold War and was instrumental in the collapse of the Soviet Union and communism, was a product of the Dominican pontifical academy in Rome, the Angelicum. (Lito B. Zulueta/Inquirer.net)
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DATELINE PHILIPPINES
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Army chief on coup plot: It’s all talk ‘A hungry stomach knows no law’: Estrada
defends allowing vendors on Manila streets
by JAIME LAUDE Philstar.com
MANILA — It’s just all talk with no substance. This was how Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto described the reported coup plot against President Duterte’s administration. “It’s all talks. Only from these talks that we heard of it,” Alberto said before the weekend on the reported coup plot claim that originated from Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo entertained Sison’s idea claiming a possible plot against Duterte. The Army chief explained that events and conditions in the past that pushed some members of the military to destabilize governments have entirely changed for the better under the present dispensation. “I can assure you that 100 percent of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are loyal to the flag and Constitution,” Alberto said. And if there are indeed people plotting the ouster of the president, he said they are those who simply want to throw the country
President Rodrigo Duterte with Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto Philstar.com photo
in chaos again, just to advance their own personal interests. He was apparently referring to Sison, who recently claimed that the political situation in the Philippines is ripe for the United States government to order its followers in the AFP and the Philippine National Police to launch a coup and unseat Duterte. Insofar as the Philippine Army is concerned, Alberto said there have been no reports that soldiers are being recruited to destabilize the government. “Our soldiers are more professional and are highly satisfied
with the current political leadership. Our soldiers will never attempt to join any military adventurism against the government,” Alberto said. In an event that some individuals will have the courage to recruit soldiers to destabilize the government, these people run the risk of being unmasked immediately. This is because the soldiers themselves will report them to higher authorities, he said. “They cannot sweet-talk our soldiers anymore because they will be reported immediately to us,” Alberto said. n
Sotto files bill punishing spread of fake news SENATE President Vicente Sotto III wants a law that will criminalize the creation and spread of “fake news.” The senator recently filed Senate Bill (SB) 9, which prohibits the publication and proliferation of false content on social media. Under the bill, violators face imprisonment and a fine ranging from P200,000 to P2 million. He noted that a Social Weather Stations survey conducted during the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018 showed that 67 percent of Filipino Internet users said there was “a serious problem” of fake news in the internet. “Filipinos have fallen prey to believing most of the click-baits, made up quotes attributed to prominent figures and digitally altered photos,” Sotto said. “This bill seeks to protect the public from the adverse effects of false and deceiving content online. It also seeks to promote
MANILA— Former Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada on Monday, July 15, defended his administration’s efforts to clear the capital’s streets. With his performance being compared against that of his successor, Francisco “Isko” Domagoso Moreno, Estrada said he did not drive vendors away from the capital’s busy streets out of consideration for their welfare. “Kung ‘yung sasabihin mo sa’kin na yung mga vendors nalinis, naayos lahat e hindi ko kayang gawin yun hangga’t walang kapalit na hanap-buhay sila (If you will tell me that the vendors are no longer on the street... I couldn’t do that unless they had alternative livelihood),” Estrada said in an interview with GMA News’ “24 Oras”. “Kayang-kaya. Utusan mo lang hindi ba puwedeng sumunod sa mayor ang pulis saka mga bumbero? Orderan mo lang ‘yan. Sandali lang ‘yun, pero isipin mo naman yung damage na kawawa naman yung mga mahihirap dun lang umaasa sa pagkain nila (It’s very easy. Just order them, can’t the police and firemen follow the order of the mayor? Just order them to clear the streets. That will be done quickly, but you have to consider the damage... the poor who rely on that for their food will suffer),” he added. Now just an ordinary—except he is wealthy— citizen, Estrada, said he salutes Moreno but stressed that “a hungry stomach knows no law.”
‘I also did clearing operations during my time’ Estrada said he also conducted clearing operations while he was mayor. “’Di na ako magpakita pa pero may ginagawa ako, (I don’t publicize the things I am doing),” Estrada said. In July 2017, Estrada drew flak from online users after an ABSCBN report showed that a scene of him joining the Manila Bay cleanup drive was staged. The video showed a woman intentionally throwing garbage into the bay and two divers ensuring that the trash floated near the boat Estrada was on so he could pose for pictures while “cleaning” the bay. Estrada, however, said that what happened was “sabotage.” Meanwhile, Moreno, who was Estrada’s vice mayor during his first term as local chief executive, has been reaping praise as well as criticism for his aggressive move to clean up the Philippines’ capital. He recently removed the vendors from known shopping areas and busy streets such as Divisoria, Quiapo, Blumentritt, Lagusnilad Underpass and the areas near Bonifacio monument. Some lauded him for decongesting these areas while others worry about the clearing operations’ effect on the livelihood of the vendors. ‘Vendors in clearing ops are not poor’ Moreno, however, defended his move saying it is not anti-poor because most of the vendors removed from the street can afford
rent. “Let’s be honest, 95 % sa kanila hindi mahirap (Let’s be honest, 95% of them are not poor),” Moreno said in a separate interview with “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” which aired on Sunday, July 14. The new Manila mayor said these vendors can afford to pay up to P30,000 for a table and for rights to sell. He also claimed they can afford to pay P350 and P500 a day to “Eddie and Patty.” Asked who Eddie and Patty are, Moreno replied “Eh ‘di siya…Pati mga kasama niya,” referring to corrupt syndicates collecting money. Moreno explained these syndicates are now called “organizers.” Estrada said he also heard of the so-called organizers during his term. He added that there were even barangay officials involved in the bribery system but he said they already stopped the illegal acts. “Nawala naman dun…nu’ng panahon ko, ewan ko wala (They are now gone. During my term, they disappeared),” he said. For his part, Moreno said his administration has a plan for the Manila vendors removed from the sidewalks. “Paghahanda naman ng Maynila which is mangyayari… hindi madali, hindi agad na meron naman kaming lugar base sa infrastructure projects namin na kung saan namin sila ilalagak (Manila has a preparation plan which will happen, not easy, not fast, but there are areas based on our infrastructures where they [vendors] will be placed),” he said. n
MANILA — Former Vice President Jejomar Binay filed an electoral protest to challenge the win of Rep. Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. (Makati City) in the Congress. In a statement, the defeated Makati representative said his lawyers filed on Tuesday, July 16, a verified election protest against Peña before the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal. “Binay’s lawyers sought the nullification of Peña’s proclamation as a member of the House of Representative in the first dis-
trict of Makati by the Makati City Board of Canvassers last May 14,” the statement read. Binay’s camp asked the tribunal to “order the conduct of manual recount of ballots cast and other election documents in all of the 235 clustered precincts.” The former vice president lost to Peña by around 6,000 votes. The former vice president garnered 65,229 votes. Peña got 71,035 votes. This is the Binay patriarch’s second election loss after failing to
win the presidential seat in 2016. Last May 20, days after the midterm polls, Binay said that they will reveal “facts, data and evidence that would show why the election result does not reflect the true will of the voters” in Makati City’s First District “at the proper time.” He stressed that surveys by independent and reputable firms also showed that he would win against Peña who was then former acting mayor of Makati. (Kristine Joy Patag/Philsatar. com)
by GAEA
responsible use of the internet,” he said. The senator said false information continued to circulate and had become prevalent worldwide, prompting some countries to introduce anti-fake news laws. Under SB 9, any person found guilty of knowingly creating or publishing false information “to mislead the public” should be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of P300,000 or both. Persons found guilty of using a fictitious online account or website in creating and or publishing false information to mislead the public face imprisonment and/or a fine of P500,000 or both. Any person who knowingly offered or provided his or her expertise to create or publish a content containing information to deceive the public, whether it is done for profit or not, must be imprisoned and/or slapped with a fine of P200,000 or both. Sotto said any person who fi-
nances an activity, which has for its purpose the creation or publication of online sites containing false information would face imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding P1 million or both. “Any person who fails to comply with the government’s order to take down the content containing the false information, issue necessary corrections to the published content containing false information or block users’ access to its websites and social media platforms face imprisonment and/or a P2 million-fine or both,” he said. Once the bill is passed into law, the Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime would have the power to issue rectification or takedown order. The Cybercrime Division of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation meanwhile, will enforce the provisions of the law. (Bernadette tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)
KATREENA Philstar.com
CABICO
Ex-VP Binay files poll protest vs Makati Rep. Peña
A6 JULY 17-19, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
The benefits of ecotourism
FEATURES
ONCE again, Palawan has earned recognition from travelers. Readers of Travel+Leisure magazine ranked Palawan second among the world’s best 15 island destinations — an improvement from last year’s sixth place. Earlier this year, Palawan’s El Nido together with Boracay were also named among the best beaches in Asia by TripAdvisor’s 2019 Traveler’s Choice Awards. The accolades are well deserved. Palawan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Subterranean River National Park in Puerto Princesa and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Sulu Sea. El Nido and Coron have world-class snorkeling and diving sites. Limestone formations that dot Palawan waters provide spectacular sceneries. The challenge is to prevent the province from becoming a victim of its own success. Following the rehabilitation of Boracay Island, a similar effort is underway notably in El Nido, to clean up the beach, modernize the sewerage system and enforce coastal easement rules. Access to the top destinations in the province is being regulated, but there are lesser known destinations that also need to be protected from overdevelopment. Uncooperative local government officials must face sanctions.
Sustainability is always a challenge. This year’s second place ranking is down from Palawan’s top spot in the same magazine in 2013 and 2017. The slide may be due to the emergence of other attractive destinations, but the goal must always be to hold on to the top spot. Apart from protecting the environment, ecotourism should include promoting the welfare of indigenous communities. They should be given opportunities to participate in tourism programs and to reap the benefits of a highly profitable industry. Preserving their culture should be part of any tourism development program in the province. Palawan residents are also custodians of rich biodiversity. With ecotourism as the lifeblood of the province, residents can understand that their livelihoods depend on protecting their natural blessings, from the extensive coral networks to the lush forests and mangrove areas. There are threatened wildlife and hornbill. Those who are tempted to maximize that need nurturing, such as pangolins, the bear cat commercial profits should realize that the long-term
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
viability of their business depends on the health of the environment. (Philstar.com)
Dear Filipino Americans: When are you going to call out President Trump for racism and discrimination?
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS MGA KABABAYAN, many of you are Republicans, holding onto conservative principles, especially those anchored on our Christian faith which is very important to us. This is one of the reasons why many Filipinos support the Republican Party and Republican President Donald J. Trump. But where and when do we draw the line between our support to the conservative principles we hold dear to the core of our soul, and to the rhetoric, action and values of the president when there are clear dissonance and incongruence between the two? When will you call out racism and discrimination that this president has emboldened among Americans who still have deepseated disdain, hatred and resentment against immigrants because of the color of our skin through his own examples in shameless violation of the very principles of “all men are created” equal” enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the U.S. Constitution in the 14th Amendment mandating equal protection of laws for ALL Americans — the very foundation of the Rule of Law that Republicans and Conservatives defend and protect? George Conway, the Filipino American lawyer who is one of the leaders and defenders of
conservatism in the Republican Party and also happens to be the husband of Trump’s senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, penned an op-ed in the Washington Post on July 15, which profoundly intimated his childhood experience as a person of color. Many kababayans and other immigrants can relate to his experience, especially during the Trump presidency. These are our brothers and sisters who have experienced the hatred, disrespect, discrimination, now being normalized by the president who just told four people of color in Congress, “Go back to your country.” George Conway wrote: “To this day, I can remember almost the precise spot where it happened: a supermarket parking lot in eastern Massachusetts. It was the mid-1970s; I was not yet a teenager, or barely one. I don’t remember exactly what precipitated the woman’s ire. But I will never forget what she said to my mother, who had come to this country from the Philippines decades before. In these words or something close, the woman said, ‘Go back to your country.’ “I remember the incident well, but it never bothered me all that much. Nor did racial slurs, which, thankfully, were rare. None of it was troublesome, to my mind, because most Americans weren’t like that. The woman in the parking lot was just a boor, an ignoramus, an aberration. America promised equality. Its constitu-
tion said so. My schoolbooks said so. The country wasn’t perfect, to be sure. But its ideals were. And every day brought us closer to those ideals. “To a young boy, it seemed like long ago that a descendant of slaves had prophesied, five days before I was born, that his “four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” We would be there soon enough, if we weren’t there already. I couldn’t understand why colleges required applicants to check boxes for race or ethnicity. I’m also part Irish and Scottish. What box should I check? Should I check one at all? Will that help me or hurt me? Never mind, not to worry, those boxes would someday soon be gone. “How naive a child could be. The woman in the parking lot — there were many more like her, it turned out. They never went away. Today they attend rallies, and they post ugliness on Facebook or Twitter. As for the victims of historic racial oppression, no matter how much affirmative action (or reverse discrimination, or whatever you want to call it) the nation offered, they, too, had resentments that never went away — in part because of people like the parkinglot woman. Those resentments often led to more, not fewer, charges of racism as the years passed — charges of institutional racism and ‘white privilege.’”
Trump’s fans argue that this president is not racist, but his bullying of the brave women of color who would not kiss his a$$ and instead called him out for his rhetoric and behavior that goes against the Constitution is not an isolated case. Trump’s long history even before he was catapulted to the presidency would prove this. Let Conway’s piece refresh your memory: “And how naive an adult could be. The birther imaginings about Barack Obama? Just a silly conspiracy theory, latched onto by an attention seeker who has a peculiar penchant for them. The ‘Mexican’ Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel incident? Asinine, inappropriate, a terrible attack on the judiciary by an egocentric man who imagined that the judge didn’t like him. The white supremacists’ march in Charlottesville? The president’s comments were absolutely idiotic, but he couldn’t possibly have been referring to those self-described Nazis as ‘good people’; in his sloppy, inarticulate way, he was referring to both sides of the debate over Civil War statues, and venting his anger about being criticized. “No, I thought, President Trump was boorish, dim-witted, inarticulate, incoherent, narcissistic and insensitive. He’s a pathetic bully but an equal-opportunity bully — in his uniquely crass and crude manner, he’ll attack anyone he thinks is critical
of him. No matter how much I found him ultimately unfit, I still gave him the benefit of the doubt about being a racist. No matter how much I came to dislike him, I didn’t want to think that the president of the United States is a racial bigot. “But Sunday left no doubt. Naivete, resentment and outright racism, roiled in a toxic mix, have given us a racist president. Trump could have used vile slurs, including the vilest of them all, and the intent and effect would have been no less clear. Telling four non-white members of Congress — American citizens all, three natural-born — to “go back” to the “countries” they “originally came from”? That’s racist to the core. It doesn’t matter what these representatives are for or against — and there’s plenty to criticize them for — it’s beyond the bounds of human decency. For anyone, not least a president. “What’s just as bad, though, is the virtual silence from Republican leaders and officeholders. They’re silent not because they agree with Trump. Surely they know better. They’re silent because, knowing that he’s incorrigible, they have inured themselves to his wild statements; because, knowing that he’s a fool, they don’t really take his words seriously and pretend that others shouldn’t, either; because, knowing how damaging Trump’s words are, the Republicans don’t want to give succor to their po-
litical enemies; because, knowing how vindictive, stubborn and obtusely self-destructive Trump is, they fear his wrath. “What’s just as bad, though, is the virtual silence from Republican leaders and officeholders. They’re silent not because they agree with Trump. Surely they know better. They’re silent because, knowing that he’s incorrigible, they have inured themselves to his wild statements; because, knowing that he’s a fool, they don’t really take his words seriously and pretend that others shouldn’t, either; because, knowing how damaging Trump’s words are, the Republicans don’t want to give succor to their political enemies; because, knowing how vindictive, stubborn and obtusely self-destructive Trump is, they fear his wrath. “But none of that is good enough. Trump is not some random, embittered person in a parking lot — he’s the president of the United States. By virtue of his office, he speaks for the country. What’s at stake now is more important than judges or tax cuts or regulations or any policy issue of the day. What’s at stake are the nation’s ideals, its very soul.” *** 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
Asserting sovereignty through the rule of law
Commentary
ANTONIO P. CONTRERAS PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo and other government officials, and practically every pro-Duterte netizen and blogger I know, have condemned the resolution passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) authorizing an inquiry into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. The reaction was almost immediate in attacking Iceland for initiating an action even if it had allegedly very little knowledge about the actual conditions in our country. Mexico, which voted for the resolution with Iceland and 16 other countries that included Australia, Austria and the UK, was accused of hypocrisy for having the audacity to do so despite of its own record of human rights violations. The main bone of contention for our leaders and their sympathizers is that the UNHRC
resolution is an unwarranted intervention into our sovereignty. Their defense is that we have robust mechanisms to adjudicate abuses by government authorities, and that we continue to uphold the rule of law in relation to the war on drugs. At the outset, nobody is questioning our right to adopt our own national policy in relation to the drug menace. This is a right emanating from our sovereignty, which cannot be diminished by any other country or any international body such as the UNHRC. However, sovereignty is not only manifested externally as we assert our status as an independent state. It is also expressed internally through a system of laws. The State is supreme through the law and the Constitution. No one, not even the President, is above the law. Modern states now exist within the constraints of limited government, with modern constitutions expressed as limits to governmental authority and power. The system of checks and balances is in place to ensure that the citizens are protected from abusive governments, and where
internal sovereignty is expressed not as the absolute power of the President to enforce laws, but as the supremacy of the law and the Constitution. The President is not the sovereign. It is the people through the Constitution. When we assert our sovereignty against intrusion from any country, or from an international body like the UNHRC, what we are in effect using as a line of defense is that external intervention is not necessary since our internal sovereignty is robust and that we have made steps to ensure that rules and processes are followed, and rights are accorded to our citizens. Beyond the bravado and the colorful language of our protesting leaders, this is exactly what we are telling the UNHRC, that our internal sovereignty manifested in a system or laws and constitutional processes is operational and supreme and higher than anyone, including the President. Incidentally, this is also the same line of argument used by China in its response to allegations made by Western countries about the way it treats the
Uighurs, the Muslim minority in Xinjiang province, which we supported. The Philippines, with 35 other countries, signed a letter commending China’s supposedly remarkable record in human rights, belying accusations about the presence of concentration camps allegedly designed for the forced assimilation of the Uighurs, claiming that these are perfectly legal vocational and training centers. The UNHRC is not actually questioning our right to have our own anti-drug policy. What it seeks to inquire into is whether we are following our own laws and the Constitution. It is a fact that the death penalty is outlawed in our country. Hence, the existence of 6,600 drug-related deaths, which is the number admitted by the Philippine National Police (PNP), would require justification, because they became exceptions to the law. The only instance that any death can be justified is when the killing was done to protect the lives of the police when the one being apprehended had fought back in a manner that be-
came life-threatening. It is only here that state violence is justified as legitimate, and is warranted. But we have to face the challenge of defending those thousands of cases of our police feeling threatened, some of whom by men who are even already in handcuffs. It raises many questions and makes you wonder also why majority of the dead have bullet wounds in their heads and backs. And many of them are children and the youth. It also puts into doubt the technical capability of our police authorities to skillfully engage the apprehended suspects. The burden of proof is always on the State to prove that any death is warranted. This is because we have a law that disallows capital punishment. Even in the event that it will be restored, it can only be applied after due process and after automatic review by the Supreme Court. Thus, the State has the burden to prove that each of these 6,600 deaths surpassed the minimum bar for justifiable state ac-
tion. The question, therefore, is whether the State has provided such proof. It is not enough to say that our judicial system is robust to address abuses of power. We can’t simply rely on the case of Kian Loyd de los Santos’ executioners being punished after going through the legal process. What we need to secure is a robust internal investigative mechanism within the PNP that would clearly and credibly ascertain that these deaths were acts of the State to defend itself as allowed by our laws and the Constitution. We also need to make sure that our judicial process is summoned not only after government authorities have already abused their power and when suspects have already died, but also to ascertain whether these suspects are in fact guilty after being arrested lawfully. We cannot afford to use the robustness of our system of laws as our line of defense against the probing eye of the international community, if we are unable to show that they actually work. (ManilaTimes.net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 17-19, 2019
A
LTFRB: No more old jeepneys by 2020 Only 4k of 170k units modernized
by RICHMOND
MERCURIO Philstar.com
GETTING READY. A worker cleans the Senate Session Hall in preparation for the upcoming opening of the 18th Congress on Monday, July 22. The senators, composed of 20 from the administration and 4 from the opposition, have started filing their priority bills ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Build bridges, new Philippine diplomats told by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com
MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. asked the new diplomats of the country to “build bridges” and decide whether to obey blindly or defend the country when the two are in contradiction. Locsin, called out by lawmakers for his insults and impertinence, emphasized the role of the 29 new Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) in the conduct of diplomacy, building bridges and the value of honesty in the foreign service. “Build bridges — I hate that cliché, but it is a true one; I have seen it at work. Establish your contacts and nurture networks. The work is international; not solitary. Be the best diplomats you can be,” Locsin said in his keynote address at the closing ceremony for the FSO Cadetship Course (FSOCC) Batch XXVI earlier this month. For many years to come, the new diplomats will find that the Foreign Service will be a series of thresholds, according to the foreign affairs chief. “I urge you equally to pay the most careful attention to whatever task you are given; the devil of diplomacy is in the details; and the satisfaction will come from doing the best you can with the task — small or big, important or not — at hand. Call it mindfulness, living fully in the moment of a particular task: the Zen of diplomacy,” he said. Locsin added that the FSOs would assume greater responsibilities when they assume their respective positions at Foreign
Service posts. “You are not expected to express, let alone act on your own opinion of a diplomatic issue; but try to form an intelligent one and then keep it to yourself,” Locsin said. “The day will come when you must make a decision: to obey blindly or to defend your country when the two are in contradiction.” The secretary stressed that being honest is important when dealing with representatives of other nations even if it means saying things they would dislike. As fellow diplomats, they will understand that while diplomats may disagree, honesty is deemed necessary for the nation that one represents. “And never lie for your country. The man who described diplomacy as the art of lying abroad was a lousy diplomat. What your foreign counterparts will respect is candor. They will understand why you had to take a position they dislike,” he said. The diplomats were also reminded that they are expected to perform their best at all times, and in all possible scenarios. Locsin witnessed the closing ceremony of the Foreign Service Institute’s intensive training program for the latest batch of the newly commissioned FSOs. Twenty-nine new FSOs completed the FSOCC Batch XXVI, which was held from Jan. 7 to June 27. The group has taken Hinabi as its batch name, as it is composed of 29 individuals from diverse backgrounds, including lawyers, journalists, educators, government workers, economists and a registered nurse. “Hinabi,” the Filipino word for weave or wo-
Garin faces 100 more Dengvaxia cases by EDU
PUNAY Philstar.com
MANILA — Iloilo Rep. and former health secretary Janette Garin stands to be charged with about 100 more cases involving deaths of schoolchildren inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine. Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta bared this after filing the fourth batch of criminal complaints against Garin and others that brought to 44 the total number of cases filed so far before the Department of Justice (DOJ). “We already completed forensic exams on 142 cases, so there will be 98 more cases to be filed,” she revealed to reporters in an interview. In the latest batch of cases, another group of parents whose children allegedly died from the dengue immunization vaccine sought the indictment of Garin, former health officials and executives of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur and distributor Zuellig Pharma for charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act. The latest cases involving the deaths of six schoolchildren – Angelica Pulumbarit, 11 years old, of Bulacan; Maricel Manriza, 12, of Laguna; John Marky Ferrer, 11, of Tarlac; Charmel Flordeliz, 10, of Quezon; Jonell Dacquel, 13, of Nueva Ecija; and Kenchie Ocfemia, 11, of Makati City – brought to 44 the number of cases filed so far before the DOJ. Just like in the previous cases, the complainants accused Garin and other respondents of negligence for their failure to obtain the consent and inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents or families of the dangers and risks related to the vaccine. They cited the failure of the health officials led by Garin to conduct proper screening of Dengvaxia recipients and implement active and aggressive monitoring and surveillance. Last February, the DOJ resolved the first batch of Dengvaxia cases and indicted Garin and nine other former health officials in court for reckless imprudence
Iloilo Rep. and former health secretary Janette Garin Philstar.com photo
resulting to homicide. Preliminary investigations showed “sufficient evidence that Garin and other respondents circumvented various regulations in the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccine which constituted proof of their reckless imprudence.” The first batch of cases involved the deaths of nine schoolchildren – Aejay Bautista, Angelica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno and Alexander Jaime. The DOJ has also completed the preliminary investigation on the second batch of cases involving eight victims – Clarissa Alcantara, Christine Mae de Guzman, Erico Leabres, Roshaine Cariño, Naomi Nimura, John Paul Rafael, Michael Tablate and Christine Joy Asuncion. It has also completed the preliminary investigation on the third batch of cases involving 15 victims – Wiljen Alcontin, Eleazar Brigoli Jr., Trishanne Asona, EJ Christian Apa, Joaniña Cortes, Gladimeir Juevesano, Kianah Mae Racuya, Adeline Castroverde, Jessica Viaros, Senior Police Officer 2 Vicente Arugay, Shiela Mae Guerra, Gillian Vasquez, Kristen Jean Martira, medical doctor Kendric Gotoc and Zarah Mae de Luna. There were six other cases filed by PAO that have not yet undergone preliminary investigation and will be consolidated with the latest cases – Aldred Aberia, Ana Lisa Silverio, Eira Mae Galoso, Leiden Alcabasa, Riceza Salgo and Micaella Mainit. n
ven material, boasts of colorful and beautiful designs symbolizing unity and hard work. Each member of the batch is likened to a thread, each with his or her own color, working together, just as how threads complete an intricate design when woven together, as interpreted by batch member Paola Belle Ebora. In her opening remarks, FSI officer-in-charge Celeste VinzonBalatbat congratulated the FSOs for completing the cadetship course and reminded them to take to heart all the lessons they learned during the six-month intensive training. n
MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) warned jeepney operators nationwide of the looming deadline to comply with the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program. LTFRB board member Ronald Corpuz assured commuters that they would no longer see old jeepneys plying the streets by July 1, 2020. “The deadliest deadline is June 30, 2020. By then, all polluting and dilapidated jeeps will be gone,” he said. Corpuz said “if the existing units are not changed and the existing operators do not consolidate by June 30, 2020, their routes will be opened to those willing operators that would want to run new compliant units.” Under the government’s PUV modernization program launched in 2017, old jeepneys are required to be replaced with modern PUVs that are powered by either brand-new Euro 4-compliant diesel engines or electric motors. The program is part of efforts to provide a safer transport system for commuters while mitigating the effects of climate change. However, LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano said there are only 4,000 modern jeepneys operating at present, far from the government’s target of replacing
LTFRB board member Ronald Corpuz assured commuters that they would no longer see old jeepneys plying the streets by July 1, 2020. Philstar.com photo
170,000 units nationwide. LTFRB officials said there are certain groups and operators who continue to oppose and reject the PUV modernization plan of the government. “Accepting and understanding a message depends really on the receiver. There are really those who just refuse to accept and understand. And that is really one of the main challenges in implementing this program,” Corpuz said. Corpuz also criticized groups saying that they should be allowed to adjust and adopt gradually to the shift.
“This started in 2017. Isn’t that considered gradual? Three years already and it is not still gradual?” he said. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said there is no stopping the PUV modernization program despite a few who are opposing it. Tugade earlier instructed the Office of Transportation Cooperatives to fasttrack approvals of transport groups intending to modernize their fleet and consolidate into cooperatives to further strengthen the country’s shift towards the utilization of modern public utility vehicles. n
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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL
Philippine investment climate has ‘improved’ ‘Pogos less beneficial to economy’ but ‘constraints’ remain — US report by JULIE
M. AURELIO Inquirer.net
In its 2019 Invest Climate Statement for the Philippines released Thursday, the State Department said the Southeast Asian country continues to experience high levels of net foreign foreign direct investments even as inflows dipped in 2018. Philstar.com file photo by IAN
NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com
OVERALL investment climate in the Philippines has “improved� in the past decade, but challenges like caps on foreign ownership, poor infrastructure, corruption and red tape continue to fray investors’ nerves, the U.S. State Department said in a new report. In its 2019 Invest Climate Statement for the Philippines released Thursday, July 11, the State Department said the Southeast Asian country continues to experience high levels of net foreign direct investments even as inflows dipped in 2018. However, FDI in the Philippines remains relatively low in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ranking fourth out of 10 Southeast Asian countries in terms of total FDI in 2018, the U.S. said. FDI net inflows totaled $9.802 billion in 2018 from $10.256 billion the preceding year, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. The outcome was below the central bank’s $10.4billion forecast, mirroring the decrease in FDI globally in the past two years. FDI pledges — which indicate future inflows — grew 69.2 per-
cent to P178.97 billion last year from P105.75 billion in 2017, government data showed. In the region, Singapore has been the top investment magnet since the 2008 global financial crisis, while the Philippines and Indonesia still get a relatively small chunk of inflows. The Philippines’ sovereign credit ratings remain investment grade. According to Washington, the Philippines’ protectionist constitution that limits foreign ownership in several sectors of the economy continues to “constrain� investments. The charter bars foreigners from owning mass media companies and limits foreign ownership of public utilities to 40 percent. Last year, Duterte signed Executive Order 65 promulgating his much-awaited foreign investment negative list that shows sectors where restrictions have eased, although some business leaders said the new list bares modest gains. Foreign ownership caps cannot be all lifted administratively as several prohibitions need legislative action. ‘Working to address constraints’ In the same report, Washington
also flagged poor infrastructure, high power costs, slow broadband connections, regulatory inconsistencies and corruption in the Philippines as “major disincentives� to investment. Investors often describe the business registration process as slow and burdensome, the report also noted. Meanwhile, the Philippines’ “complex, slow, and sometimes corrupt� judicial system prevents the timely and fair resolution of commercial disputes, the U.S. added. While a tax reform bill seeking to reduce the corporate income tax would be positive for business investment, the State Department noted that some foreign investors have concerns about a possible reduction of investment incentives proposed in the measure. “The Philippines is working to address investment constraints,� the U.S. said. “There are currently several pending pieces of legislation which would have a large impact on investment and unleash investment within the country,� it added. “Finally, the Philippines plans to spend about $180 billion through 2022 to upgrade its infrastructure through the Build, Build, Build program.� n
OFFSHORE gaming operations in the Philippines may do more harm than good to the country’s economy. Sen. Joel Villanueva issued this warning on Friday, July 12, as he called out the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for the apparent lack of regulation on Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogos). A lot of stress In a statement, Villanueva said the new industry is “causing a lot of stress in the real estate market, to the detriment of Filipino businesses and workers renting in urban areas to be near their work- Senator Joel Villanueva Inquirer.net file photo places.� He pointed out that “while ana- requiring foreign workers to get a lysts hedge their bets in the grow- tax identification number and the ing offshore gaming operations creation of an interagency datasector, it is actually less beneficial base of foreign workers. However, Villanueva pointed to the domestic economy.� “With the way developments in out that the new industry still the industry are unfolding, we fear needed closer scrutiny and monithat we are becoming the sin city toring, which the Pagcor should of China with very little benefit to have done. Rising rent prices Filipinos and our economy,� the He intends to file a resolution in senator said. Villanueva is the chair of the the 18th Congress to closely exSenate labor committee that inves- amine the regulation of Pogos. “Pagcor’s work begins when tigated the influx of illegal foreign it issues Pogos the necessary liworkers in the 17th Congress. He made the remarks after an censes to operate. They should interagency task force inked a do a better job in regulating offmemorandum circular that ex- shore gaming firms, just as what panded the guidelines and regula- they do with conventional gaming establishments such as casinos,� tions governing foreign workers. he said. Closer scrutiny Villanueva also warned that ofThe memorandum circular adopted several recommendations fice lease prices were on the rise from the Senate inquiry, such as due to the increasing demand
from Pogos. He said the same was true with residential rent prices with condominium rental spiking upward, making it more expensive for Filipinos to rent units near their places of work or in business districts. He cited several reports of Filipino office employees choosing not to renew their rents in Makati City, Taguig City and Pasay City because their rent had doubled or tripled due to demand from foreign workers. “One report we received came from an office worker who paid P25,000 for a condominium unit in Pasay. She did not renew her contract because the unit owner planned to raise rent to P60,000,� Villanueva said. He added that the sector also did not create jobs for Filipinos because it hired primarily Chinese workers, as the industry required native Chinese speakers to cater to clients in China. Illegal activities Villanueva said the industry was also prone to illegal activities, noting that it took three years before the government began collecting taxes from the said sector. “We are already set back at least P60 billion in foregone revenue,� he said. “What worries me is if we can’t even tax them properly, how can we assure the public that these Pogos are not being used for illegal activities like money laundering?� Villanueva said as he urged the Anti-Money Laundering Council to closely monitor the flow of money in the sector. n
BPO projects affected by ban valued at P160B by ROY
STEPHEN C. CANIVEL Inquirer.net
NEARLY P160 billion worth of IT-BPM office spaces might no longer become economic zones after MalacaĂąang banned new ecozones in Metro Manila last month in an order that caught many by surprise. Data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) showed that this was the total value of 131 economic zone proposals that failed to make the cut when the ban took effect on June 22.
Economic zones in Metro Manila are essentially buildings and office spaces that cater to IT-BPM firms that want to get tax perks such as years of income tax holiday. In a letter to MalacaĂąang dated July 1, PEZA Director General Charito Plaza asked the Office of the President to give these proposals at least six months to complete their respective requirements. A six-month transition period is longer than what is currently allowed under Administrative Order No. 18 (AO), which slapped the moratorium in Metro Manila in an
effort to push for countryside development. The AO gave a grace period of only one month for Metro Manilabased economic zone proposals that have already been endorsed to MalacaĂąang. Peza said there were only 22 of these proposals worth a combined P34 billion. “As the IT developers might find the transitory provision (i.e., 30-day period) in AO 18 to be arbitrary and given the longer processing time for ecozone proclamations, we respectfully request for at least six months transition period,â€? she said. n
billion from P21.111 billion a year ago. Domestic interest payments fell to P15.775 billion, while foreign ones surged to P3.894 billion. Amortization expenses plunged by 94.3 percent to P7.738 billion from P4.674 billion a year ago. No domestic amortization were recorded during the month, while foreign amortization jumped by 5.2 percent to P7.738 billion. Year-to-date, debt payments dropped by 21.7 percent to P301.426 billion from P385.142 billion in the same period in 2018.
Interest payments increased by 6.7 percent to P150.975 billion in January to May, while amortization expenses declined by 38.2 percent to P150.451 billion in the same period. The government’s outstanding debt stood at P7.915 trillion in May, up over P128 billion from a month ago because of the net issuances of both domestic and foreign loans and foreign-exchange fluctuations. Last year, the government forwarded P775.589 billion to creditors, a 13.9-percent increase from P680.466 billion in 2017. n
Gov’t debt payments down in May – BTr
by MAYVELIN
U. CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net
DEBTS paid by the government dropped to P27.407 billion in May on the back of lower interest payments and amortization, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). Data released by the bureau over the weekend showed that the May amount was an 82.7-percent decrease from P159.096 billion in the same month last year. Interest payments, which accounted for 71.7 percent of the total, slid by 6.8 percent to P19.669
Remittances jump to 5-month high in May by LAWRENCE
AGCAOILI Philstar.com
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THE increase in the amount of money sent home by overseas Filipinos to their loved ones in the Philippines accelerated in May, with both cash and personal remittances hitting their highest levels in five months, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said personal remittances grew faster at 5.5 percent in May from April’s 3.7 percent to hit a fivemonth high of $2.89 billion. The latest inflow was the highest since the $3.16 billion recorded in December. For the first five months, Diokno said personal remittances – composed of cash and non-cash items that flow through both formal or via electronic wire and informal channels such as money or goods carried across borders – rose by 4.1 percent to $13.71 billion from $13.17 billion in the same period last year. Diokno said the steady growth in personal remittances from January to May was driven largely by remittance inflows from landbased overseas Filipino workers with work contracts of one year or more. This particular group remitted $10.5 billion from January to May, 2.9 percent higher than last year’s $10.2 billion. Likewise, Diokno said compensation of sea-based workers and land-based workers with shortterm contracts also contributed to the growth, rising 7.4 percent to $2.9 billion from $2.7 billion. On the other hand, the BSP chief
BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said personal remittances grew faster at 5.5 percent in May from April’s 3.7 percent to hit a five-month high of $2.89 billion. Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales
said cash remittances coursed through banks increased by 5.7 percent to $2.61billion in May from $2.47 billion in the same month last year. This was slower than the four percent increase recorded last April and the amount was the highest since $2.85 billion in December. From January to May, cash remittances went up by 4.5 percent to $12.35 billion from $11.82 billion in the same period last year. Remittances from land-based workers went up by 3.2 percent to $9.7 billion, while inflows from sea-based workers rose by 9.2 percent to $2.7 billion in the first five months. According to Diokno, the US registered the highest share of overall remittances in the first five months, followed by Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Qatar and Kuwait. “The combined remittances from these countries accounted for 78 percent of the total cash remittances from January to May
2019,� the BSP chief said. The BSP has retained the growth target for both personal and cash remittances at three percent for this year. Remittances usually fuel personal consumption, helping sustain a steady economic growth. The amount of money sent home by overseas Filipinos usually account for 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Strong inflows from remittances, earnings of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector as well as tourism receipts continued to boost the peso that recovered strongly late last year. Diokno is confident that the country would achieve its GDP growth target of between six and seven percent this year after slowing down to 6.2 percent last year from 6.7 percent in 2017. The GDP expansion slowed to its slowest level in four years at 5.6 percent in the first quarter of the year from 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter of last year due to the delayed passage of the 2019 national budget. n
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
From skin-colored ternos to Philippine-inspired scents: Pulo Project rolls out second wave of art and design installations in LA masks. “They were a beautiful aid in the grieving process so we made Ritual Mask BurnFILIPINO exhibition series Aquino, who also serves as firsthand the skin whitening Pulo Project is back until August store director for Please Do Not products sold at drugstores and ers to honor this act,” Sawyer with a new set of art, design Enter, told the Asian Journal. “I the one-dimensional images on said. Bayabas(guava) leaves from local wellness company and fashion from Filipino and was aware of what was needed, billboards and advertisements Filipino American creatives. which was more so the descrip- that don’t accurately portray the Herbalaria are also sold as a recommended smudging tool, Born as a “passion project” tions and how to tell the stories diverse appearances and skin as those were used in ancient by Filipina American curator of the artists. That was the big tones of everyday Filipinos. Filipino practices similar to sage and designer Michelle Aquino, learning curve.” “All of that just validated or palo santo. Pulo Project popped up at the Inside the Please Do Not the concept that there is still “We hope our line can show downtown Los Angeles flagship Enter flagship store are pieces this colonial mentality that that Filipinos are on the design of luxury retail store Please Do by Filipino American designer white skin is deemed better,” map. We grew up as Filipina Not Enter, as well as The Lab, Carlyle Nuera and MAAARI, an Nuera said. “But it’s not about Americans who were curious its gallery inside the NoMad accessories and home goods denigrating pale skin, typically hotel starting in May. The brand by three Filipina Amerithose thought of as pretty ones, about the Philippines and what we could do to support the series was further supported cans. because they’re still Filipino talent back there consciously so after a trip Aquino took to the “What I would like guests also. The point is to bring all of we’d like to merge those two Philippines with Please Do Not to experience is a different take us to the forefront.” Enter’s French owners, Nicolas on Filipino American designers, He hopes that his terno col- worlds,” Sawyer said. Zacarapata (Zacarias 1925 Libert and Emmanuel Renoird, where I feel we are all trying lection will start conversations earlier this year. to figure out our roots and amongst non-Filipinos who may x Garapata) Meanwhile, a few blocks The first round featured connect with Filipino culture not “have a frame of reference Aquino’s Bohol-inspired outand have it in our products and for colorism” and for Filipinos to down is The Lab, Please Do Not Enter’s gallery and gift store fits, furniture and accessories designs,” Aquino said. see that it is possible to pursue at the bottom of the NoMad by Kenneth Cobonpue and Carlyle Nuera a career in the creative field. Hotel. Luisa Robinson, installations by Nuera, lead designer for Nuera’s Mutya Barbie doll, “When working with the contemporary artist-designer Barbie Signature at Mattel, which was part of Mattel’s GloLeeroy New, jewelry by Ken makes his debut as an individual bal Glamour Collection in 2015, Filipino artists coming in from the Philippines, they’re all trying Samudio and clutches by Neil artist and designer with ‘Panit’ as well his original sketches are to go outside of the country Felipp. — the Waray word for skin — a also on display at Please Do and are going toward a more “This show was also a chalcollection of five ternos showing Not Enter. contemporary thrust. There are lenge to the American audia range of Filipino skin tones. “This project has given me two different dynamics at play ence, meaning what do you “The range of skin tones is a inspiration and momentum to here,” Aquino noted. know about the Philippines? common experience for all Filicontinue to explore my Filipino Zacarapata is a collaboraAre you ready to go and learn pinos. If you’re dark, your family identity through using fashion tion between Filipino street about it? People are really tells you to stay out of the sun. as the medium,” Nuera said. artist Dex Fernandez, known as impressed,” Libert previously But when you’re light, you are “Hopefully, if this collection Garapata, and Zacarias 1925, told the Asian Journal. “It’s upheld as a vision of mestizo sells, I can use that money to a handbag line by creative also a challenge to the Filipino beauty,” Nuera told the Asian invest in the next collection.” director Rita Nazareno. The line designers because we asked Journal. “In my work, whatever MAAARI debuted at Aphro in Manila last some of them to work on the it may be, I always want to have “When I learned about year as a commentary on “the show as a tribute to the Filipino some kind of meaning behind MAAARI, I was interested global infestation and coupling aesthetic and the craftsmanship it. It’s not just visually arresting, because for me, it definitely of art/design/fashion world and to give us their own vision but emotionally arresting too.” speaks to traditional Filipino and what they could bring to The ternos, which are made design in a more contemporary commercialization,” the artists said. the table. That’s something from silk organza, are posiway,” Aquino said of bringing Fernandez’s multi-legged that connects the Philippines to tioned in a row of mannequins the brand on board for Pulo caricature of the garapata (tick) America.” “within a context with each oth- Project. is emblazoned on Nazareno’s The second chapter of Pulo, er” and are intended to be sold Founded by Filipina wicker bags and other objects, which debuted on July 9, again all together (priced at $6,500) American high school friends such as lamps, fans and desk takes over both the flagship and as more of an art piece to show Jeanette Sawyer, Ivy Ocampo ornaments. NoMad locations and runs until that there is no one singular and Samantha Roxas, MAAARI “Garapata has simple line August 4. idea of what the Filipino/Filipina is a “uniquely Filipina” modern drawings and mixing those “The feedback was good should look like. accessories and home goods with a 3-D bag becomes this for the first round as the clients Going to the Philippines for brand that pays homage to intricate object born out of definitely gravitated more the first time this past June con- traditional design and cultural simplicity,” Nazareno, whose toward the accessories and firmed Nuera’s notions about practices. grandmother started famed it prepped me for this one,” ‘colorism’ and he witnessed MAAARI partners with PhilFilipino brand S.C. Vizcarra in ippine artisans and designers, such as La Roca in the Romblon 1925, said. “A big part of what province and the T’Boli commu- I do, why I do it and how I live nity in South Cotabato, to hand my life is trying to find the fun in produce the line’s pieces with a everything. I hope there’s a wit mindful and sustainably-focused to the bags that I make.” All of the pieces are made at approach. Zacarias 1925’s workshop in the “By taking and preserving Philippines and are influenced traditional Filipino craftsmanby her global travels, art, archiship, we give them a new martecture (e.g. one bag modeled ket access so they can sustain after the Frank Gehry-designed their livelihoods,” said Sawyer, Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao) a graphic artist and exhibition and cinema. designer based in LA. “We “My bags have different present elevated and modern shapes and weaves, they’re very pieces that we would wear architectural, but the mateourselves but in a respectable rial itself connotes beach bags manner.” or nostalgia. The people who Sawyer, together with jeweler Misty Summers, crafted buy my bags have a discerning quality where they see the wit a special Lunar Jewelry line for or reference behind the bag Pulo Project, using healing and grounding stones like onyx that or perhaps get the unusual shapes,” Nazareno said. are for “empowering women” The designer said Pulo and absorbing negative energy. Some pieces on display and for Project visitors will learn about the “skill and creativity of our sale include the Lunar Collar, Rita Nazareno of ZACARIAS 1925 during the opening night of Pulo Project on Tuesday, July 9. weavers” as well as “how FiliLunar BBS (lunar stud earPhoto by Adrian Martin rings), Lunar Drops (pendulum pino Americans are bridging the arts and culture between their earrings) and ethically sourced two identities.” mother of pearl hoop earrings “Our craftsmanship in the made by women in southern Philippines is bar none and Cebu. there are so many examples Ocampo, a creative based of that,” Nazareno said. “It’s a in New York who handles the branding for MAAARI, designed very creative country. The work we make by hand has character the ceramic products for the and soul. You hope more of brand, such as the Banga Collection that is available at Please that energy comes out for more people to enjoy. Our products Do Not Enter. The vases and are global and well-designed pots — traditionally used for that can speak to people becooking, water, food storage yond with race or with where and bartering — are a testayou were born.” ment to the Filipina spirit. Barratt Riley & Co. MAAARI’s funeral masks Los Angeles-based candle were exclusively made for and aromatherapy brand BarScent stations by Barratt Riley & Co, a Los Angeles-based brand that created custom scents, using Pulo Project, drawing upon ratt Riley & Co. — founded by sampaguita, kalamansi and other botanicals inspired by memories of the Philippines. the centuries-old indigenous psychologist Dr. Tyler Barratt AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel ritual of covering the faces of deceased loved ones with gold and Beverly Hills beauty guru by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL / AJPress
Bags, home goods and lamps by Zacarapata, a collaboration between ZACARIAS 1925 and Garapata, as a commentary on “the global infestation and coupling of art/design/fashion world commercialization. Photos by Adrian Martin
MAAARI’s Ritual Mask Burners, which honor the Mindanaoan indigenous funeral masks ritual.
Inside The Lab at the NoMad Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles are handwoven bags by ZACARIAS 1925, pieces by Zacarapata under the brand’s collaboration with artist Garapata, and scents by Barratt Riley & Co. AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel
Jeanette Sawyer, co-founder and chief design officer of MAAARI, poses next to the Lunar Jewelry Photo courtesy of MAAARI collection
Carlyle Nuera, lead designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel, debuts ‘Panit,’ a collection of five skincolored ternos to represent the skin tone range of Filipinos. Photo by Peter Jung
Carlyle Nuera’s Mutya Barbie and original sketches are on display at Please Do Not Enter’s flagship store alongside MAAARI’s Banga ceramics. AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel
Christian Fitzgerald Riley — introduces four custom scents evoking the Philippines to tie the visual experience inside The Lab with an aromatic dimension. “I wanted to create an experience where the minute people come inside the space, they feel something, a sense of the Philippines,” Aquino said of working with the artisanal brand for this limited-edition line. “The only way I felt that you could do that besides visual is by smell.” Inside The Lab, visitors can find stations, adorned with plants common to the Philippines, inviting them to smell and share reactions to the scent creations. Though they haven’t been to the Philippines themselves, Barratt and Riley have been exposed to Filipino culture and food through friends over the years. “We’ve been around elements of Filipino culture and through the experience of making these scents and research, the culture has become part of our own too,” Riley said. The four scents — Pulo, Manila, Kalamansi and Sampaguita — are the results of research on the flora and fauna of the Philippines (one book called “Flora de Filipinas” by Spanish friar and botanist Francisco Manuel Blanco was particularly helpful) and interviews with Aquino and other Filipinos who shared stories of the country and growing up Filipino. In the Pulo blend, ylang ylang, jasminum sambac (also known as the national Philippine flower, Sampaguita) and green herbs were used and are naturally fragranced by 100% pure botanical essential oils. The Manila scent — which has a smoky element to it — captures
the hustle and bustle of the capital city using palmarosa, labdanum and cedarwood. Kalamansi, considered the Philippine lime, has a blend of different citruses, basil and elemi essential oil. The Sampaguita, which is a blend of essential oils and perfume grade fragrance, fuses the flower with honeysuckle and white musk. They are sold in botanical mist (perfect to use anywhere to cleanse and relax), candle, body oil, salt scrub and essential oil forms. “These are interpretations of the stories people entrusted with us, whether it was the emotions or the smells they remembered from their grandma’s house or their travels back to the Philippines,” Barratt added. “Through the line, they’re experiences and memories, not just products.” With the warm feedback on the inaugural Pulo Project, Aquino promises that it’s just the beginning with a second phase coming in summer 2020, organized alongside Clarissa Esguerra, associate curator for the Costume Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). We can expect an experience that will combine Filipino and Fil-Am “wellness, fashion and culinary elements,” Aquino said. ** Pulo Project can be viewed at the Please Do Not Enter Flagship from Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 549 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 and the Please Do Not Enter / The Lab / inside NoMad Los Angeles from Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 649 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014. More information can be found at https://puloproject.com/
Eugene is happy with LDR romance by BOY
ABUNDA
Philstar.com
WHILE many agree that maintaining a long-distance relationship (LDR) is often a herculean task, Eugene Domingo finds it easier to make her love life with Italian Danilo Bottoni a happy and rosy one even if they are thousand miles away from each other. Technological advancement has helped in keeping their communication line open at all times. “These days, there are different (digital) applications where you can regularly communicate so it’s (distance) not a problem anymore,” said Eugene, also popularly known as Uge, after the media gathering for “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken”. “Plus, ipon-ipon lang din ng pamasahe to be with him (laughs).” Kidding aside, Eugene also believes that being creEugene Domingo says she has a smooth-sailing romance with Italian boyfriend Danilo Bottoni for ative is another way to make three years now and she is willing to settle down with him in Italy some day. Photo courtesy of Eugene Continued on Page 5 Domingo
entertainment 3 Rico bares the real reasons behind his self-imposed two-year break The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
by ALLAN
POLICARPIO Inquirer.net
FOR the first time in a long while, during his self-imposed, two-year break, Rico Blanco found himself listening to music—not to pick it apart or as a creativity exercise—but for the sheer joy it brings. “I was like a kid all over again. And because there wasn’t any pressure on me, I actually ended up writing more songs than usual,” he said in a recent interview. As a result, his voice notes app is filled with hundreds of songs, completed and otherwise. One of those is “Nagbabalik,” his latest single that features the pop-funk group, IV of Spades. The song talks about capitulating to feelings that are
supposedly already buried. But its title could also be construed as an apt representation of his current mindset. “It’s about me … the music scene in general. It’s the song that made me want to come back. I didn’t decide to come back and then write a song about it… I sort of stumbled upon it. And I thought, ‘Why not do this song with Spades?’” recalled the rock musician, who has nothing but good words for the burgeoning young band. “They’re so full of imagination,” he said of IV of Spades’ Zild Benitez, Blaster Silonga and Badjao de Castro. It has been almost four years since Rico released his last album, “Dating Gawi.” But he’s not in a rush to produce Rico Blanco Photo from Instagram/@ricoblanco100 Continued on Page 5
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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
Team Philippines 2019 on stage receiving the 25 Gold Medals for 1st place during the WCOPA Team Competition at the Long Beach Center for Performing Arts. AJPress photos by Ding Carreon
Team Philippines participates in this year’s World Championships of Performing Arts
the opening ceremonies A TEAM of Filipino and parade of nations talent is back again to during which Team compete in this year’s Kris is cast as the ghost of an obsessed woman who haunts the family of her ex-lover portrayed by Rayver Cruz and his wife played by Megan Young. Philippines paraded in World ChampionGMA photo ships of Performing traditional costumes. This Friday, July 19, Arts (WCOPA) in Long the finals show will be Beach, California. held at the Long Beach Considered the “Talent Olympics,” WCOPA has Performing Arts Center and will feature a panel (Kim Domingo). But their bliss talagang pinag-aralan ko kung over a week of comby IZA IGLESIAS of judges and perforpetitions and activities quickly turns to fear as Naomi ManilaTimes.net paano siya laruin, kung paano mances from various for contestants hailing (Bernal), Matteo’s ex-girlfriend, maging isang kontrabida at local talent, including from 70 countries. On FOR over 12 years in the does everything in her power multo at the same time,” she JNS, the first Filipino Sunday, July 14 at the entertainment industry, Kris to break them apart, in life and added. dance group to be in Long Beach PerformBernal has steadily built a rep- death. Bernal admitted that while the finals of America’s ing Arts Center Plaza, utation as a worthy dramatic Yes, Bernal will portray the she is easily scared by horror Got Talent. attendees witnessed actress on television, portrayspirit of an obsessed woman Team Philippines director Gerry Mercado films, she forced herself to go ing over 20 different roles who haunts the family of her through endless titles to help in successive GMA Network beloved. Besides the peculiar- her deliver Naomi’s character. series to date. And she’s not ity of the role, however, what “I watched horror movies about to stop any time soon. makes it challenging for the like ‘Shutter’ kahit mahirap One of the four grand actress is the fact that she is para sa akin kasi matatakutin winners of reality-based talent portraying antagonist for the ako. Pero I needed to do that search “StarStruck” in 2007, very first time. para makahanap ng inspiration the 30-year-old feels fortunate “This time, hindi na ako and sa guidance ni Direk Jorto have starred in a teleserye inaapi. Parang kontrabida ako ron (Lee Montroy) at suporta every year since breaking into ngayon in a whole new genre. ng napakagaling naming cast, the biz. From supporting roles Kasi never naman ako nakaga- na-ibibigay ko si Naomi.” to lead, her most memorable wa ng horror or mga dark charAnd as quirky as the premcharacters include Tinay in acters for 12 years with GMA ise of the series may be, Bernal “Little Nanay” (2015), her dual until now. So talagang buong assures audiences of a riveting role as the evil Rosette and the puso ko din siyang nagustupsychological feature in the tragic Nimfa in “Impostora” han at tinanggap kasi ito yung story. (2017), and Rachel in “Asawa hinahanap ko ngayon. Ayaw ko “Very complex ang charac- Team Philippines wears traditional Filipino costumes. Ko, Karibal Ko” (2018). nang gumawa ng inaapi ako ter ko and mahirap i-deliver. Halfway through 2019, kasi parang hindi na ako para Nandyan yung nababaliw ako, Bernal wants to up her game dun. Yung mga iyak-iyak ko, nawawala sa sarili, and of even more and challenge her yung para akong anak na bata, course, it shows the reality of a versatility to the hilt in the intapos na ako sa roles na yon,” very sensitive issue on mental triguingly eerie romantic series Bernal explained at the media health. Tapos ihalo mo pa yung “Hanggang sa Dulo ng Buhay launch of the new series. element ng horror doon sa Ko.” “Ngayon, gusto ko na psychological drama, talagang The offbeat story revolves gumawa ng characters na kaikaiba siya.” around Yvie (Megan Young) ma-recognize ako, mabibigyan Also lending their talent and Matteo (Rayver Cruz) ng award. Gusto ko din na to story are seasoned artists — childhood sweethearts matawag na versatile. Kaya ta- Boots Anson Roa, Sharmaine who fall in love and marry. lagang ang saya ko na sa akin Arnaiz, Francine Prieto and Together with their adopted napunta itong character na ito Beverly Salviejo, along with son, they excitedly move into kasi ibang-iba yung kailangang Denise Barbacena, Analyn a new home, along with Yvie’s ibigay ko. Dahil hindi naman Barro, Joaquin Manansala and During the parade of nations featuring 70 countries on Sunday, July 14, Team Philippines received the second place Silver Medal for national costume. best friend and cousin Katya po sa pagmamayabang pero Euwenn Mikael Aleta.
Kris is unstoppable
Alex laughs off offer of breast implants by NIÑA
V. GUNO
Inquirer.net
ALEX Gonzaga found humor in an offer from a Korean medical plastic surgery agent. The actress and YouTube star shared on her Instagram Stories on Monday, July 15, an email requesting for a collaboration regarding breast implants. Gonzaga placed laughing emoji on a screenshot of the email and said, “Nakaka-hurt!! Why would you think I need [one]!! Hanggang sa Korea nakarating ‘to!? (How hurtful! Why would you think I need [one]!! This reached even Korea?)” Gonzaga previously poked fun at her being flat-chested. During her 2015 concert at the Araneta Coliseum, her bra was seen sliding down under her crop top. Later in the show, Vice Ganda poked fun at the wardrobe malfunction, stating that her hair was thicker than her chest. Gonzaga joked back that she was wearing her mom’s bra. Although the email stated that there would be no plastic surgery involved, it seems
Alex Gonzaga
Gonzaga would rather focus on other funny topics for the
ARCADIO Inquirer.net
ANNE Curtis stood up for members of the LGBTQ+ community, after portraying a transgender man on the drama anthology, “Maalala Mo Kaya”. “Love should always come first,” the “It’s Showtime” host said in her Instagram post last Saturday, July 13. “No matter the gender or how people identify themselves as,” the actress stated. “At the end of the day, we are all humans who deserve to live in a world of LOVE and RESPECT.” She also expressed her gratitude to Marzz Balaoro, the transgender man whose life she portrayed on the show. “Maraming Salamat Marrz Balaoro sa pagpayag [niyo] po na gampanan ko ang kwento ng buhay [niyo],” Curtis added. “At sa @mmkofficial sa tiwala na binigay [niyo] po sa akin sa special episode na [ito]. (Many thanks Marrz
Anne Curtis
Balaoro for your permission to let me portray the story of your life and to @mmkofficial for the trust you gave me, for this special episode).” Balaoro is a transgender man who started the FilGuys Association in Hong Kong. He is also an advocate for the rights of the LGBT commu-
Lauren questions legality of Chinese-only resto in Subic by KRISSY
AGUILAR Inquirer.net
Lauren Young
ACTRESS and model Lauren Young took to social media to ask her followers if Chinese-only restaurants are legal. Young shared Monday a photo of a restaurant’s storefront with an “Only for Chinese customer” sign. “Is this even legal?” Young captioned the photo posted via her Twitter account. “My fave resto in Subic has been sold and this sign is up. I really want to know if business owners are allowed to do this,” she added. Young also asked if she would be allowed to put up a restaurant exclusive for dogs GMA photo and Filipinos only.
“If I had a restaurant am I allowed to put up these signs for example: ‘Only for dog Customers’ ‘Only for Filipino Customers’ LMK [Let me know],” Young sarcastically said. In May, a Chinese-only food park in Las Piñas City went viral on social media. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ordered the city government to suspend the food park’s operations after discovering it did not have necessary documents, including business permits. The incident was also frowned at by several senators, while Malacañang vowed that the government would investigate Chinese-run establishments that only caters to Chinese nationals.
Rico bares the real reasons...
From Page 2 one. “I’m not hearing an album in my head at the moment— not for myself, at least. I’m hearing something, but for a different persona. Not for Rico Blanco,” the singer-songwriter pointed out, perhaps referring to a concept similar to Fiesto Bandido, the alter-ego he assumed onstage for his “Galactick Fiestamatik” album, early in this decade. For the meantime, he will be taking the singles route in releasing new material, which has become more prevalent with the advent of music streaming. The former vocalist and chief songwriter of the iconic 1990s alternative rock band Rivermaya recently assigned his catalog of some 70 songs—including those from Rivermaya’s 2000 album “Free” onward—to Viva Music Publishing, which will be managing it for the next couple of years. And one of the side deals, Rico related, was a string of collaborations with
Viva artists. “I’m meeting with Sarah Geronimo soon. I have this song I wrote 20 years ago, which I don’t think I can do,” Rico said. “But I think it would suit Sarah. Her or maybe someone like Gary Valenciano.” Meanwhile, he clarified that it was not burnout, fatigue or a dwindling love for music that prompted him to go on a lengthy hiatus. He simply wanted to slow down and recalibrate, do all the things he had put on the backburner, and map out his life beyond the daily grind of the music industry. “I was doing more shows, more songs … an album. These are all good things and I had nothing to complain about. But it was just more of the same; there was no real shift in my life,” he said. “So sometime in 2016, I thought it was time to put on the breaks and do the things—simple things—I have always wanted to do.” “I wanted to spend more
time with my family and friends. I wanted to travel, explore the country and the world; now is the best time to do it because I’m getting older. I wanted to finally get my diving certification, which I had been putting off for the longest time due to my schedule,” he added. Now, Rico returns to the scene with a “peace of mind” that comes with knowing what to do with his life, should he finally hang up his guitar. “I was able to plant seeds for the long-term during those two years: In a few months, I’m going to move to La Union and, ultimately, to El Nido. I want to live near the beach,” he said. “And perhaps build a studio.” He can say that he’s at his happiest and most content at the moment. He’s not exactly rich, but he has been able to build a safety net for his family. All Rico ever really wanted was to hear his song on the radio. And he did just that—and more.
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
Eugene is happy with LDR...
From Page 3 LDR successful “because sometimes, it’s not really the distance that causes problems in the endurance of your love life or relationship.” She is hoping that her now three-year romance with the Italian film critic will lead to swapping of “I do’s” in the future. “Lahat naman tayo di ba nangangarap ng kapayapaan pagdating sa aspeto ng settling down. But as of this moment, I am very happy and I’m very thankful na, ayun na nga.” The actress revealed that she has not experienced yet having a Filipino boyfriend from showbiz or being in a relationship as serious as what she has now. But she often hears people telling her that she’s meant to find true love in a foreigner. “I don’t understand why they keep on telling me, ‘Alam mo ikaw kaya hindi ka Photo from Instagram/@cathygonzaga nagkakaroon ng boyfriend na entertainment of her 3.8 million Filipino, kasi pang foreigner ka. Hindi ko maintindihan YouTube subscribers. ‘yun. I didn’t plan this. I base on my (gut) feeling regardless if he’s a Filipino or Italian. When I saw him, I knew that he’s the one.” She is certainly happy and truly in love with her boyfriend. The two met during the Far East Film Festival where Eugene’s film Barber’s Tales was featured. “Ang saya, ang sarap saka tamangtama lang. Hindi naman kami masyadong nagmamadali sa lahat ng bagay. Sakto lang. We are still young,” she quipped. However, Eugene neither confirmed nor denied about being engaged to Danilo. She was initially at a loss for better words to explain, and later on she said, “We’re almost there. It’s like he is my life.” Asked what if her boyfriend would decide to propose to her, Eugene replied that she would say Photo from Instagram/@annecurtissmith “Yes” right away. “I’m in the right age to marry. Ano pa nity, as per a video posted bang iniingatan n’yo sa akin on the Instagram page of (laughs)?” “Maalala Mo Kaya” last Friday, July 12. Filmmaker Barry Gonzalez directed the episode starring Curtis alongside actress Bianca King. The episode entitled “Embracing Me” aired last Saturday, July 13.
Anne on playing transgender role: ‘Love should always come first’ by RYAN
entertainment Would she also be willing to live in Italy? “Of course,” she responded quickly, adding, “But I’m not saying I’m gonna retire as an actress because an actor never retires. It’s not like work that when you reach 60 years old,
you’ll stop and then receive your pension. You can act until you reach 100 (years old). But if it will call for more time to be spending in Italy, then yes.” Speaking of acting, Eugene didn’t hesitate about Continued on Page 6
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Eugene is happy with...
entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
From Page 5 reprising her role as a megalomaniacal and egotistical version of herself in “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken” knowing fully well that it will be part of the digital series of the streaming content platform iWant. The first two installments of Ang Babae sa Septic Tank became hits among moviegoers. Eugene is aware that digital series is the trend these days so “kailangan sumasakay, sumasabay in order to reach a lot of people. We need to reach those people whose only time is to watch movies or series through iWant. So, sali tayo d’yan.” Although it’s a pressure to be at her acting best in “Septic Tank 3,” Eugene said she’s more excited knowing that it will reach a wider market “at mas makapal ang pupuntahan dahil series ito na aabot sa seven episodes.” Written by Chris Martinez and directed by Marlon Rivera, the mockumentary Photo from Instagram/@ericjohnsalut series documents the step-
Judy Ann to join Coco in ‘Ang Probinsyano’ by JAN
MILO SEVERO Philstar.com
ACTRESS Judy Ann Santos will join ABS-CBN’s longestrunning teleserye “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” ABS-CBN AdProm manager Eric John Salut posted on his Instagram account a photo of Judy Ann with the series’ star Coco Martin. “Ang pinakaabangang pagsasama ng hari at reyna! Abangan sina Coco at Juday sa ANG PROBINSYANO!!!” Eric wrote in the caption. An Instagram page dedicated to Judy Ann, @officialjudayph, also posted a photo of the two stars. “Good morning! On the set of FPJ AP! Abangan!” the fan page wrote. ABS-CBN entertainment reporter MJ Felipe also posted photos of the two celebrities on the set of the series in his Twit-
EMPLOYMENT
ter account. “LOOK: Coco Martin and Judy Ann Santos discussing about Juday’s character as she enters primetime TV series ‘Ang Probinsyano’,” MJ captioned his post. It is not clear, however, what kind of role Judy Ann will play in the series. The “Queen of Pinoy Soap Opera” also played in an action teleserye, “Basta’t Kasama Kita,” in 2003 with Robin Padilla. Her last teleserye was “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala,” a melodarama series aired in 2013. She was joined by Sam Milby, KC Concepcion and John Estrada in the show. Judy Ann and Coco at the set of ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
FOR RENT
by-step process in making a historical biopic. Eugene’s character pushes the boundaries of her talents and dares to direct, portray the lead character and produce her own film about the Irish mestiza Bracken known as the great love of Jose Rizal. Eugene is joined by Tony Labrusca, Joanna Ampil, Mylene Dizon who will portray as Jose Rizal, Narcisa and Saturnina, respectively. Director Joey Reyes portrays himself and as direk Uge’s screenwriter who becomes her unwilling partner in crime. Direk Chris, in the press release, stated, “In this era of fakery, fake news and faking history, “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken” is easily the funniest, most relevant and most entertaining series you can find on iWant.” Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo will provide historical facts to ground viewers on the true stories and shocking trivia surrounding the historical characters.
Get out of debt, simplify your life
Minding Your Finances ATTY. RAYMOND BULAON HAS your life become too complicated due to excessive, burdensome debt? Do you want to simplify your life, reduce stress and regain control over your financial future? If you are one of the millions of people in this country who are drowning in debt, maybe you are feeling a sense of urgency and desperation about your situation but don’t know what to do. We are living in a society afflicted with “affluenza�- which one author defined as a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste- resulting from the relentless pursuit for more. Perhaps you recognize the symptoms. Today, our worth is defined by the financial success we achieve and the material possessions we accumulate. Our pursuit of the “American Dream� has caused an epidemic of stress, overwork and excessive indebtedness, in my opinion. Look around you and you’ll know what I’m talking about. We want big houses, expensive cars, big screen TV’s and all the latest toys and gadgets, hoping that having all these things will make us happier. The media, of course, constantly bombards us 24/7 with advertising messages reinforcing
this idea. The message they’re trying to get into your head is: “Have more- and you’ll instantly be happier!� Simplifying your life can be a simple process but it will take some discipline. First, you need to stop living beyond your means. Cut up your credit cards and don’t sign up for new ones no matter how tempting it may be. Next, you need to learn how to distinguish between “needs� and “wants�. You may want a big house but maybe it’s not what you need because you can’t afford the mortgage payments. Not because “everyone’s doing it� means that you also need to jump on the bandwagon and do what everyone is doing. Did you know that 95% of the population will never achieve financial independence? That’s right! According to statistics, only 5% of the population will make it so if you are doing what 95% of the people are doing, you will end up exactly where they will end up. So being financially free requires that you have a different mindset and that you go against the so-called “crowd mentality�. If you find yourself working harder and harder, earning more money but falling further behind, you are probably frustrated and wondering what you’re doing wrong. What you need to do is to stop and examine your lifestyle. If you let your
lifestyle control you, you will never get ahead no matter how much you make. I am speaking from experience as a bankruptcy attorney. Over the last 20 years, in counseling thousands and thousands of people seriously in debt, I have seen how the lack of self-discipline has destroyed people’s lives. In Proverbs 13:7, the Bible says: “One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.� Remember that the only things that you truly own are the things that you have already paid for, not the things that you have purchased on credit. You can fool yourself and pretend to be rich but true wealth is what you have in your savings account, not the money you are forced to borrow just to sustain a lifestyle you can’t afford. If the above speaks to you, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you are in debt and need to find out what your legal options are, please call TOLL FREE (866) 4777772. 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)
community 7 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
Romantic comedies and that thing called love
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA IF you’re a woman who believes in secret in such things as love-at-first sight and happilyever-afters, TAKE HEART. Even during this cynical, jaded Age of Information when nothing seems sacred or mysterious any more, there are still countless women (and maybe some men) the world over just like you, who believe in the magic and mystery spun by that ancient, invisible force called LOVE. It is written in our DNA. So don’t fight it. It’s just that modern women (and some men) probably won’t admit being romantic in public, for fear of ridicule. They will say, “Bah, humbug!� with a straight face and then watch every romantic comedy on the sly. That is probably why the Hallmark Channel is at the forefront of this storytelling genre. Some have cheesy, predictable plotlines completed in about an hour and twenty-two minutes viewing time. Women are a captive audience and these women, in turn, drag their partners, more than likely,
“The past is prologue.� —Shakespeare
What is the difference between Debt Relief an annulment and divorce?
Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES WHAT is the difference between a divorce and an annulment? Many people think these concepts are the same and interchangeable. There are many differences between the two concepts. A divorce ends a valid existing marriage. In a nullity, a determination is made about the validity of the marriage itself. When a marriage is annulled, it has the same effect as if the marriage never existed. A nullity results in a void. In California, any spouse can obtain a divorce regardless of the reason. A common basis used is a catchall phrase “irreconcilable differences.� However,
anyone who wants to end a marriage can end the marriage and there is nothing the other spouse can do to stop that. However in a petition for nullity, the court will not automatically grant you the nullity. There has to be a legal basis for seeking the nullity as outlined in the family code. Some of the basis are 1) entering into a bigamous marriage 2) incestuous marriage 3)fraud in obtaining the other spouse’s consent to marriage 4) incurable physical incapacity 5) unsound mind among others. The petitioner would have to prove one of these grounds in court to be able to get a nullity. In a Nullity, there is a statute of limitations. That means you have to file your nullity within a certain time period depending
on the basis for seeking the Nullity. Each ground has a different statute of limitation. For example, if you are filing the nullity based on fraud, you have to file within 4 years of discovering the fraud. If you blow the statute of limitation, this can be used as a defense to dismiss your case. On the other hand there is no statute of limitation in a divorce. You can file a divorce at any time regardless of how long you have been separated from your spouse. In a divorce, husband and wife are presumed to be the parents of children born during the marriage. In a Nullity, the marriage has no validity so it will affect the presumption of parentage of the children. The Court will have to make a finding of parentage for Continued on Page 8
Part 1 of 2 After you have seen a few, you kicking and screaming because they would rather watch violent can very well interchange the movies oozing with blood and characters and the plots and subgore. Yeah, yeah. Talk about plots like pieces of Lego. It’s a women coming from Venus and formula that keeps on giving: girl men, from Mars. That’s what meets boy; a delicious attraction makes the chemical attrac- sizzles; a situation sets up a series tion between straight genders of conflicting, seemingly comso compelling and fascinating plicated twists and turns made — repelling and binding at the more tenuous by a third opposing character, just like Bluto, in same time. Deep within most women, de- the Popeye, Olive Oyl triangle. There is always that horrible spite all that they’ve seen and antagonist that prevents the girl and the guy from coming together. The couple almost gives up trying but then an unexpected twist happens, some deus been through, some, despite ex machina, a manipulation by being scarred beyond belief by the love god, that resolves the past toxic liaisons, if they don’t conflict and zaps away all oblet bitterness and acrimony per- stacles e.g. a can of spinach that meate their hearts, that thing rolls from nowhere, that energizcalled LOVE, still rules and does es Popeye to pummel Bluto; guy gets girl or whoever is doing the so mightily. Romantic comedies churned hot pursuit; and finally, the way is out fairly regularly from the then made clear for the de riguer Hollywood story factory seem wedding scene. Sigh. THE END. Disney has pretty much to come from a well-worn template, copy-fitted in about 90 scoured the bottom of the barrel minutes of predictability. After in spinning out modern versions a while, they taste like prepack- of animated stories from ages aged burgers, food enough for past. In medieval times, when the starving romantic soul, but marriage, the nunnery or spinhardly satisfying. Continued on Page 8
Chapter 7 or 13: Which is better?
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG I’VE recently gotten a couple of clients who have been on debt consolidation and are now ready to jump into Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. First, let’s distinguish debt consolidation from debt settlement. No, they are not the same thing actually. However, both debt consolidation and debt settlement require negotiations with creditors because the aim of both is to either reduce payment by reducing the interest rate, or settling the debt owed by less than what is owed. Does this sound complicated? It’s not really. Let’s take a look at one client’s
case. He owes $60,000 of credit cards, to 10 different creditors. He pays a minimum of $1,900 monthly to keep all these cards current. The interest rate on average for these cards is 21%. If the client keeps on paying the minimum of $1,900 at 21% p.a., it may take him more than 30 years to pay the principal down to zero. In other words, he would have paid $684,000 in 30 years to pay off $60,000 of credit cards off in full. You don’t need to be a “stable genius� like you know who, to figure out that that’s a bad deal for you and your family. Paying $684,000 over 30 years to pay off $60,000 of credit card debt is just plain stupid as stupid does according to Forrest Gump. As someone would say, “Sad!� That’s the same as cutting off your two arms and two legs plus
your two ears and a nose to pay $60K of credit cards. In consolidation, the consolidator will try to get each one of your creditors to accept a lower monthly payment by agreeing to accept a lower interest. The effect of the lower interest is to shorten the amount of time it takes to pay off the principal because more principal gets paid with every payment. You pay the consolidator a lump sum amount, which he distributes to each creditor after the creditors have agreed to reduce their interest rate. Debt settlement, on the other hand, is where the negotiator, negotiates with your creditors to accept an amount that is less than what you owe as a final settlement of your debt. You then pay the negotiator who pays off Continued on Page 8
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What is the difference between...
community The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
Chapter 7 or 13: Which is better?
From Page 7 the creditor. So both consolidation and settlement are done by negotiation with your creditors. There is no court or judge involved in the process. Thus, both are done by mutual agreement with the creditors. One problem with consolidation or settlement is what happens when not all your creditors agree to consolidation or settlement. Those who do not agree can just decide to sue you directly to collect their money and thereafter, levy your bank accounts, garnish your wages and put a lien on your house and cars. So who wants this kind of legal hassles? There is no peace of mind. It’s like an open wound that keeps on festering. And, any amount reduced or saved becomes your income, so you’ll have to answer to the IRS for the additional income you made by reducing debt payment. Nobody wants to have this kind of problem with the IRS. Failure to disclose the income so derived may subject you to audit and penalties. Another set of problems arises. On the other hand, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are bankruptcy procedures that discharges the debt. The discharge order wipes out your debt and gives you a fresh start in life in Chapter 7, or reorganizes your finances by allowing you to pay less than what you owe, through the bankruptcy court system. Upon filing Chapter 7 or 13, the court issues an automatic stay order against all of your creditors. It says that your creditors cannot call you, file a lawsuit against you, stop wage garnishments, stop bank levies, stop liens against your house and personal assets. The stay gives you immediate peace of mind by ordering all your creditors to stop whatever they are doing to collect their money as soon as the case is filed. No more calls in the middle of the night or early morning. No more letters and lawsuits to collect. No more wage garnishments. No more creditor harassment day or night, forever. Peace of mind im-
mediately. What happens is the bankruptcy court comes in and protects you and your assets from creditors and eventually, the court discharges or wipes out your legal liability to pay the debt. What can be better than this? You need to exempt your assets, however. There are two legal systems to exempt assets in bankruptcy. Check with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer. He or she knows what to do to exempt your assets. You get to keep your house, your cars, your retirement accounts, and pretty much ev-
to all of your creditors. You pay only 16% of your total debt of $60,000. And the trustee cannot run away with your payments. There is no such thing as a Chapter 13 trustee absconding and running away with your money. Whatever you pay under your plan is guaranteed to pay your creditors, and the court will wipe out the rest of the unpaid debt as long as you finish your plan payments on time. Once you’re done with your bankruptcy, as long as you pay your new debts on time, your credit score will improve very fast. On the second year from filing, your credit score may already reach 600. On the third year from filing, your credit score may already reach 670. That’s how fast your score will improve as long as you handle new debt with timely repayment. You can buy a car as soon as you obtain your discharge. Most car dealers finance debtors who have just emerged from bankruptcy. You need to bring your discharge order. Expect a higher car loan interest if you buy a car as soon as you get your discharge, maybe 19%. It’s a no brainer. Even Walt Disney filed for Chapter 7 twice before his Disneyland business succeeded. The owner of Hershey chocolates, the world’s largest chocolate business, also filed for Chapter 7 once before his business succeeded. Bankruptcy is the best and most effective way to get rid of debt and to start fresh in life without accumulated debt. Just ask Mr. Disney and Mr. Hershey. They both became billionaires after starting fresh in life without debt through bankruptcy. Without Chapter 7, there would be no Disneyland or Hershey chocolates. Our world would be a sadder place indeed!
“Debt settlement, on the other hand, is where the negotiator, negotiates with your creditors to accept an amount that is less than what you owe as a final settlement of your debt. You then pay the negotiator who pays off the creditor. ” erything you own as long as you are able to exempt them legally. So, you keep all your assets, but discharge or wipe out all your debts in one stroke. Before the discharge order is issued, and after the case is filed, your creditors cannot touch you or your assets. They can’t even call you. It’s like having Bruce Lee as your bodyguard. You become invincible. You then get a fresh start in life with no debt while keeping all your assets. In Chapter 13, you might pay a portion of your debt, depending on the value of your nonexempt asset. In the above example, if you had a house with non-exempt equity of $10K, you would only pay $170 a month for 60 months. After making all payments, the court will wipe out the balance of $50K. In other words, instead of paying $1,900 a month for 30 years, you only pay $170 a month for five years, or a total of $10,000. You pay the $170 to a courtsupervised Chapter 13 trustee, an officer of the court. He or she distribute or pays the $170
*** 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)
From Page 7 the children on a different basis before it can make orders relating to custody, visitation, and support. The treatment of spousal support (alimony) is different between the two. In a divorce, the spouse that has less earning capacity and access to resources may seek an award of spousal support. This is not available in a Nullity since the marriage is invalid and there is no spouse as a result. The division of property is also different. In a divorce, community property is divided equally between the spouses. In a nullity, since there is no valid marriage, there is no community property created and properties are not divided between the spouse. Similarly, neither party can receive survivorship benefits and inheritance rights from the other party in a Nullity.
Finally, there are different immigration consequences between a divorce and a nullity when an immigrant spouse is involved. In a divorce, the immigrant spouse who obtains a greencard from a US Citizen spouse stands a bigger chance of keeping his or her greencard and ultimately become a US Citizen. In a nullity, the immigrant spouse may lose their greencard status when the marriage is found to be invalid since it is the basis for the greencard. It can jeopardize the immigration status of the legal permanent resident spouse. *** 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
From Page 7 sterhood were the choices that were available, most young girls dreamt about that rich, dashing knight riding on a horse, that would slay the dragon, overcome overwhelming forces, sweep them off their feet, ride out into the sunset and live happily ever after. For a few centuries, that was how it was. But we all know, real life tells far different stories. The fairy tales turn out to be more like Gothic novels. Girl and guy don’t always end up happy. The depressing d’s descend on every life: divorce, deceit, despair, discouragement, disillusionment, darkness and death. And we’re left disappointed. But for all that, hope springs eternal in the human heart and
keeps the romcom writers busy. We have this need to believe even if we begin to view with a jaded eye that the concept of happily-ever-after is just a myth, long after the harsh facts of reality beat us into submission in a staredown. Slowly, warily, we learn to separate fact from fiction. Our world has changed from the simple to the utterly complicated present times. We now live with ubiquitous social networks available to our fingers where we can engage electronically in our pajamas and unmade beds, engage with one another instead of what used to be face-to-face interpersonal relationships when we need to be right where we need to be to make our case. We facebook and twitter all day long electronically creating,
than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Romantic comedies and that thing...
Calendar of Events across
maintaining or killing off disposable internet relationships, that can defy space and time constraints, that can either bloom and thrive or take shallow roots and die in an instant. It doesn’t really matter. The next thing is just a click away. It remains to be seen what will come out of this relatively new phenomenon that is rewriting how this generation and the succeeding ones will find their mates that are right for them. There is no precedent, no formulas, no template, no books to copy from. (To be continued in the next issue …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
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International San Beda alumni grand reunion in Las Vegas The 3rd International San Beda Alumni Grand Reunion will take place on July 19 to 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bedan alumni from all over the world are invited to join the celebration. The highlight of the weekend affair is the Gala Night on July 20 at the Nevada Ballroom of Harrah’s Hotel & Casino. Other activities include welcome socials at The Piano Bar of Harrah’s, a golf tournament at Bali Hai Golf Club, tour of the Hoover Dam, lunch at the D’Pinoy Joint and mass at the Guardian Angel Cathedral. Organized by the San Beda Alumni Association of Southern California, this grand reunion will bring together Bedan alumni from different cities in the United States and other countries, including Manila, to reconnect with fellow Bedans and renew ties with their alma mater, San Beda University. This international grand reunion is made possible by Duty Free Philippines, Jun Castillo, and the GS ’72 & HS ’76 Batch of San Beda University. For inquiries and reservations, interested parties may call Philip Policarpio at (818) 536-9898 or Rey Castillo at (714) 749-2971.
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Tagalog classes in Los Angeles This Filipino Language & Culture Pilot class is hosted by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and is organized by the Filipino Language Movement led by Ms. Ivy Daulo. This is the only community-based Filipino language & culture ADULT program in the City of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Filipino Language Movement. This is a 5-session program that starts July 13 to August 10, 2019. (*Schedule is subject to change based on the number of enrollees). Come and bring your entire family and learn Tagalog together! Student benefits include certificate of completion, handouts / workbook provided, learn with other peers (adults and youth are not mixed); family learning opportunity; taught by university Filipino language instructor and lifetime member of Council for Teaching Filipino; practical language learning tips & application each week Limited slots! Hurry and register now! Prices are for all 5 sessions: Individual Adult: $150 each for 5 sessions; bring a [artner: $250 for 5 sessions ($125 each adult); parent + child: $200 for 5 sessions ($150/parent + $50/child). We urge everyone to do the whole program so you can learn more but if it’s not possible to attend all 5 Saturdays, you can choose the dates you want to join us. $30 / session for adults or $10 / session for children. Payment methods: Cash, Check (payable to: SIPA), Venmo (SIPALA) and Credit/Debit Cards are accepted. Send check payments to: SIPA at 3200 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026. Please register by emailing Fidji Victoriano (fidji@sipacares.org) if paying outside of Eventbrite. SIPA is located 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Limited free parking on surface lots along Robinson St. and Dillon St. Street parking is also available around the area. Please see posted signs for details.
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The Ibaan Association USA-Canada gala dinner in LA The Ibaan Association USA-Canada will hold its 32nd Annual Gala Dinner & Dance July 20, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City - Ballroom A at 555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, California 91608. For reservations call Monica Benitez at (323) 697-3731 / email: monica_benitez03@yahoo.com or Irene May Villafranca at (323) 4232299 /email: imay02@yahoo.com. Tickets are $85 for Adults and $40 for Children (3 to 10 years old). Please make checks payable to: Ibaan Association USA-Canada and mail to: Merly Pagunsan at 5025 Heintz St. Baldwin Park, CA 91706. For sponsorship information on our 2019 Souvenir Program please contact President Noli Reyes at homesbynoli@gmail.com or call (818) 458-7888. Please RSVP by April 12, 2019.
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FACRC’s Pentecost Celebration in Granada Hills, CA The Filipino American Charismatic Renewal Community (FACRC) will have its pentecost celebration on Sunday, July 21 at St. John Baptiste De La Salle Church in Granada Hills, CA. With the theme “Holy Spirit, Set Our Hearts On Fire,” there will be a mass with Auxiliary Bishop Alex Aclan beginning at 1:30 p.m., followed by a speech by keynote speaker Fr. Ramon Valera and healing led by Bro. Robert Canton. The program will last until 7 p.m. Registration is $10 per person. St. John Baptiste De La Salle Church is located at 10738 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Granada Hills, CA 91344. For more information, please contact Ging Mangaliman at (213) 453- 2595 or May Mallari at (323) 401-0886.
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 17, 2019