JULY 27-30, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 58 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages
Duterte stops all PCSO gaming activities Cites corruption within office by DARRLY JOHN
ESGUERRA
Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all gaming activities including lotto stopped due to alleged “massive corruption” in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). In a video message posted by Malacañang on Facebook, Duterte lamented how courts supposedly got into corruption by issuing injunctions to stop the government from going after the perpetrators of fraudulent activities. “I have today ordered the clo-
sure, the stoppage of all gaming schemes or whatever nature however done that got the franchises to do so from the PCSO. The ground is massive corruption involving all…pati the courts who repeatedly issued injunctions to paralyze government and to allow corruption to thrive,” Duterte said in the video posted late Friday night, July 26. Duterte’s order includes PCSO’s Lotto, Small Town Lottery (STL) and Peryahan ng Bayan. “Pending investigation, lahat ho ng laro ng lotto, STL, Peryahan ng
Bayan, or whatever nature, there’s one that ‘yung (that) gambling machine, Keno, I said all gaming activities. ‘Yung (that) gambling, that got the franchise from (the) government through PCSO, are, as of today, suspended or terminated because of massive corruption,” he said. The president ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde and the military to arrest anyone who would continue to operate beginINFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. President Rodrigo Duterte drives through the Candon City Bypass Road in Ilocos Sur during its inauguration ning Saturday, July 27. “I am ordering the PNP, PNP on Thursday, July 25. The P717-million project aims to decongest Candon City’s commercial center and propping up economic activity in Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi u PAGE A2 the region.
SWS: Fewer Filipinos expect economy, quality of life to improve
USA
DATELINE Presidential hopefuls Sanders, Yang join ethnic media to discuss immigration, health care and the economy FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
DURING the first Democratic debate earlier this month, a handful of the candidates shared their stances and policies related to a variety of issues, including guaranteeing free college education, legalizing marijuana and combating the restrictive immigration policies laid out by the Trump administration. It was the first official face-off among the candidates, and though specific plans vary among the candidates, there is a percolation of further left-wing, progressive policies being adopted by historically moderate candidates. For example, four years ago discussions on free public education would have been deemed far too radical to work, but it is now a salient issue supported by a growing number of, not just presidential candidates, but Democrats in Washington and in public ofu PAGE A3
Fil-Am mail bomber Cesar Sayoc was obsessed with Trump and mentally ill, say new court filings THE Filipino American man who pled guilty for mailing explosives to high-profile Democrats and President Donald Trump’s critics suffered from mental illness and had a years-long obsession with Trump, his lawyers claim. In a 39-page sentencing memo to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York, attorneys for 57-year-old Cesar Sayoc pointed to a troubled childhood, isolation, and steroid addiction as having played a role in his obsession and ultimately mailing the explosives. “In this darkness, Mr. Sayoc found light in Donald J. Trump,” wrote defense attorney Sarah Baumgartel in the memo, adding that the infatuation with Trump initially started off u PAGE A4
by AJPRESS
Thousands of job seekers troop to a job and business fair in Quezon City Hall. PNA file photo by Avito C. Dalan
A SOCIAL Weather Stations survey released Thursday, July 25 said fewer Filipinos expect their lives and the Philippine economy to improve in the next 12 months. According to the survey, which was conducted from June 22 to 26, the net personal optimists score in the second quarter fell to +42 — a number five points lower than the
+47 recorded in the first quarter. SWS noted that the decrease was influenced by the two-point increase in Metro Manila (from +42 to +44 ) combined with declines in Balance Luzon (from +52 to +42), Mindanao (from +47 to +46) and the steady number in the Visayas (+37). On a similar note, the survey found that fewer Filipinos believed their lives improved, with the June net gainers score of “very high” +13 being four points lower u PAGE A5
Duterte calls for death by hanging as an execution method by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night, July 25 said he prefers using ropes to execute criminals instead of bullets, following his call earlier this week to reinstate the death penalty. Hanging is a cheaper alternative to execute criminals instead of employing a firing squad or using lethal injection, the president said. During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this week on Monday, July 22, Duterte urged Congress to revive the death penalty on crimes related to il-
legal drugs and plunder. Malacañang said it supports the death penalty by hanging or through lethal injection as methods of execution for crimes committed under the influence of drugs and plunder. PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde expressed his support for the revival of the death penalty and said he wanted lethal injection as the method of execution for criminals — a preference that goes against Vice President Leni Robredo listens as President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his State of the the wishes of his predecessor Sen. Ronald Nation Address on Monday, July 22. Also in photo are former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi dela Rosa who wanted firing squad as the Joseph Estrada. execution method. He said those who traffic kilos of illegal u PAGE A5
Jollibee stock prices drop after LA-based Coffee Bean acquisition by AJPRESS STOCK prices for Philippine food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) dropped 8 percent this week, following the announcement that it will acquire the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for $350 million. Investors were unimpressed with Jollibee’s purchase of the Los Angeles-based coffee company as its stock price closed at P251 on Wednesday, July 24. The following day, shares were down 4.38 percent to P240, extending losses from the decline at the close of u PAGE A2
Robredo, 35 others summoned by DOJ for sedition charges by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE Philippine Department of Justice on Friday, July 26 has sent out subpoenas for Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 others in connection to the “Bikoy” narco list videos. DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement the preliminary investigation will be set on August 9 at 10 a.m. This comes after the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on July 18 filed a complaint alleging incitement to sedition, libel, cyber libel, and obstruction of justice against Robredo, opposition Senators A Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, which is Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiamong the 1,189 outlets it has worldwide. Inquirer.net photo veros, former Senators Antonio
Trillanes IV and Bam Aquino, as well as priests, bishops, lawyers, and Liberal Party staff and allies. The complaint is based on the statements of Peter Joemel Advincula, allegedly the “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos who accused Robredo and several other opposition personalities of being involved in the supposed plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde initially dismissed Advincula as an “information peddler” for making allegations against Duterte and his family and allies. Later, the PNP held a press conference for Advincula where he recanted his previous allegations and claimed he was following a “script” made by the opposition. u PAGE A2
A July 27-30, 2019 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN JOuRNAl
Robredo, 35 others summoned...
PAGE A1 t Robredo is prepared to face the sedition complaint filed against her and 35 other individuals, her lawyer said on Thursday. “‘Di pa namin nakikita ‘yong affidavit. Ayaw naming pangunahan kasi ‘di pa namin nababasa (We have not seen the affidavit yet. We do not want to preempt it because we have not read it yet). But definitely the vice president is ready to face whatever
trumped up charges na mailalagay sa kanya (that will be thrown her away),” Gutierrez said. He added, “Her legal team is already in place and they will take the appropriate steps at the right time.” Robredo, who denied the allegations before, dismissed the sedition complaint as “laughable.” She rebutted by saying she is “not stupid enough to imagine we can oust a popular president with
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
From the Front Page high ratings...by using someone who is obviously lying.” Drop sedition charges The Human Rights Watch on Thursday, July 25 said Philippine authorities should drop the sedition charges. “The preposterous complaint against the vice president and the others is a transparent attempt to harass and silence critics of President Duterte’s bloody ‘drug war,’” Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, said. HRW noted that the Duterte administration targets political opposition figures and critics of the “drug war” like Senators Leila de Lima, Antonio Trillanes IV, and popular news website Rappler and its editor, Maria Ressa. Possible impeachment Advincula’s lawyer, Larry Gadon, said Robredo may face impeachment for being behind the ouster plot. However, Gadon stressed he would wait for the preliminary investigation results from the Department of Justice before filing an impeachment case against the vice president. “If the DOJ finds probable cause to indict her for sedition or inciting to sedition, that could be used as a ground for impeachment because that would fall under betrayal of public trust,” he said. Gutierrez, for his part, believes the sedition complaint was “politically motivated.” “This morning, I saw in the news that Advincula’s lawyer said that if the process will result in the filing of charges, it would lead to her impeachment. I think this is a clear indicator of their true objective,” he said. “This is not an ordinary criminal case. This is not based on a proper investigation. This is clearly politically motivated,” he added. Meanwhile, Malacañang is keeping its distance from Gadon’s plan to impeach Robredo. “It’s up to him. That’s his move. Every citizen has the right to do anything legal under the Constitution. But whether it will succeed or not, it will prosper or not, that’s another thing,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo at a press briefing. He added that the decision over the impeachment complaint would depend on Congress. “Let Congress decide. That’s their job. We’ll just watch in amusement,” Panelo said. n
BACK TO BAKUNA. Department of Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo administers measles vaccination to a pupil of Sta. Rosa Elementary School Central III during the launching of the “Back to Bakuna: School-Based Immunization Program for Calabarzon in Santa Rosa City, Laguna on Thursday, July 25. The DOH has renewed its appeal to the public to have their children vaccinated. Looking on are Provincial Health Team Leader, Dr. Gigi Janairo (center), and Family Health Unit Head Dr. Felices Emerita Perez (left). Photo courtesy of Glen S. Ramos
Duterte stops all PCSO gaming...
PAGE A1 t Chief Albayalde, to arrest anybody, and goes also for the military, to arrest people engaged in gambling activities in connection with the franchises, licenses, concessions granted by the PCSO,” he said. “I will give them 24 hours to remove them from public places. Tomorrow, beginning tomorrow at sunrise, everything, all transactions and gaming, wager of bets, becomes illegal,” he continued. The Chief Executive stressed that he would also not honor any court order from now on that would stop the government from investigating the corruption allegations in the PCSO. And if he would have his way, Duterte said he would close all
Duterte’s order includes PCSO’s Lotto, Small Town Lottery (STL) and Peryahan ng Bayan. Philstar.com photo
forms of gambling in the Philippines but he will first talk to Congress leaders about it. “If I were to give my sentiment about gambling, mas gusto
ko mawala ito lahat (I want them all gone). Kung meron naman (If there’s some)… I will, maybe, confer with leaders of Congress muna,” he added. n
Jollibee stock prices drop after LA-based...
PAGE A1 t trading Wednesday. JFC’s initial investment in Coffee Bean amounts to $100 million for an 80% stake through Jollibee Worldwide Pte Ltd, its Singaporebased subsidiary. The other 20% will be handled through its Vietnamese partner, Viet Thai International Joint Stock Co. It will also spend $250 million to complete the acquisition.
“I believe this is what investors fear. Jollibee is taking in a losing company,” noted Philstocks analyst Japhet Tantiangco. He said investors are worried Coffee Bean would weigh on Jollibee’s earnings like the company’s purchase of Smashburger (which was for $210 million) did on first-quarter results. After Jollibee consolidated burger chain Smashburger into
its financial statements in 2018, its net income dropped by 14.7 percent to P1.5 billion in the 1st quarter of 2019. Jollibee would have grown by 9 percent for the quarter, without Smashburger, according to analysts. Coffee Bean has 1,189 outlets spread across the United States, Southeast Asia and the Middle
u PAGE A5
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Dateline USa
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 27-30, 2019
A
HRW hits ‘heavy-handed’ anti-’fake news’ bill by Gaea
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) held a roundtable with ethnic media reporters in Los Angeles on Friday, July 26. He spoke about health care, immigration and other issues relevant to the city’s ethnic populations. AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla
Presidential hopefuls Sanders, Yang join ethnic... PAGE A1 t
fices all over the nation. The current pool of Democrats running for president is the most progressive in United States history. It signals the emergence of a party that embraces grassroots campaigns that promise to deliver far-left values and principles and that appeal to younger generations of American voters. Two such candidates include Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, both of whom shed more light on their stances and policies in respective roundtables with ethnic media this week. Immigration has proven to be the principal issue for Democrats given the crisis at the southern border and the detention centers as well as the Trump administration’s threats to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and family reunification programs. Democrats have also been using the president’s incendiary rhetoric regarding immigrants as ammo to push forth that the Democratic Party is one that values unity, equity and social justice. “We believe that we have a hell of a lot more in common as human beings than we do because we came from different countries or the color of our skin,” Sanders said at a meeting in the Larchmont district of Los Angeles on Friday, July 26. “We bring people together not only to appreciate and respect and enjoy our diversity, but also to come together to fight for an economy and a government that works for all of us.” As a way of fusing his support for immigrant rights and universal health care, Sanders confirmed that under his Medicare-For-All plan, undocumented immigrants would be eligible for free health care coverage. “No matter where you come from, last I heard everybody at some point in their lives is going to need health care,” Sanders told the Asian Journal. Sanders noted that the U.S. spends “twice as much per person on health care” than Canada, which has free health care, and despite “that expenditure, we have 80 million who are uninsured or who are underinsured.” “I think time is long overdue for the United States to do what every other major country on Earth does and that is guaranteed health care for all people as a human right, not a privilege,” Sanders, 77, said, adding that, if elected, he plans to revamp American health care and “not have a system that is primarily designed to make insurance companies and drug companies billions of dollars.” Yang, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, shared in a teleconference on Wednesday, July 24 hosted by Ethnic Media Services that he values immigrants and promises to expand the ways in which Asians can enter the country legally. “I am very pro-immigrant, and we’ve seen that the U.S. has historically benefited from immigrants, and I would greatly expand H1-B visas because the U.S. needs to compete for outside talent,” Yang said. The cornerstone of the campaign for Yang, a 44-year-old venture capitalist in the start-up space and first-time candidate, is a proposal to impose a form of universal basic income (UBI) for every American citizen 18 years old and older. What he calls his “Freedom Dividend” promises a monthly stipend of $1,000 to all eligible individuals and is a response to the projections and widespread fear that workers in various in-
do our best to bring our countries together to fight climate change and to solve global conflicts without violence.” The 2020 Democratic hopefuls will return to the debate stage next week in Detroit on Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31. (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)
Andrew Yang
dustries will soon be replaced by technological automation, i.e. robots. “If Americans get our fair share, there’s lots to go around,” Yang said, explaining that the Freedom Dividend would be funded through taxes on big corporations like Amazon that Yang says “doesn’t pay taxes though it’s a trillion-dollar company.” Combatting comments that the Freedom Dividend is “too communist” and would disincentivize unemployed Americans from seeking work, Yang said that UBI would cover an individual’s basic needs and offers flexibility to allow them to search for better education and employment. Yang pointed out that Alaska has a program similar to UBI in which every resident receives an annual dividend — between $1,000 and $2,000 — through the state’s oil royalty program which generates revenue from oil and mining leases. On climate change, Yang described it as “an existential threat” and insisted that the federal government “needs to do much more” and “needs to be engaged in making communities more resilient. He noted that the National Parks System — which has been threatened by the Trump administration by cutting funds — only invests about 5% of the necessary resources to maintain forests and parks and prevent natural disasters like wildfires. “The federal government is the natural leader,” Yang said, lamenting that the recent fires all over California last year could have been averted “if we provided better resources.” Sanders noted that climate change should not only be a federal issue to be taken seriously in Washington, but one of the most pressing global issues that would require negotiation with other world leaders. But the Vermont senator also noted that as president, he would “call out” authoritarian leaders who threaten human rights and democracy, adding that Trump’s “comfortable” relationships with authoritarians like Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Kim Jong-Un of North Korea are among his “deepest concerns.” “In my view, what the United States has historically been about at its best has been a beacon of hope for poor people and struggling people, and that includes people who live in oppressive, undemocratic societies,” Sanders affirmed. “What I will do as president is call out authoritarianism and dictatorships wherever it exists, and that doesn’t mean war and it doesn’t mean you don’t negotiate, but our goal and our vision for the future is human rights and democracy. So whether it’s Duterte in the Philippines or Kim Jung-Un in North Korea or Putin in Russia, we’re going to
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
THE proposed legislation on “false content” is sweepingly broad and threatens internet freedom and free exchange of ideas, New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch said Friday, July 26, as it urged Philippine lawmakers to reject the proposal. HRW made the statement as a reaction to the bill filed by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, which makes the creation and spread of false information a crime. “A ‘fake news’ law would open the door for the government to wantonly clamp down on critical opinions or information not only in the Philippines but around the globe,” Linda Lakhdhir, Asia legal adviser at HRW, said, noting the bill should be revised to meet international free expression standards. Lakhdhir also pointed out that the bill does not clearly define what kind of content is prohibited. “The proposed ‘false content’ law poses real risks for activists, journalists, academics and ordinary people expressing their views on the internet. By proposing this heavy-handed regulation, the Philippine government threatens both internet freedom and the free exchange of ideas that lies at the heart of the democratic process,” she said. In 2018, the Senate discussed a bill seeking to penalize government employees who publish or disseminate false news or information. The proposal was criticized because it could lead to
censorship and failed to hurdle the upper chamber. Sen. Grace Poe, then chair of Senate public information and mass media panel, said Congress “cannot legislate thought control.” Sotto’s Anti-False Content Act If Senate Bill 9 becomes a law, the Department of Justice Cybercrime Office will be authorized to direct individuals, owners of online platforms and internet intermediaries to rectify, take down or block access to content deemed to contain false information. Failure to comply with the department order will lead to imprisonment of at least 12 years and/or a fine of P2 million or both. The following acts will constitute the offense punishable under the proposed law: • Creating and/or publishing on one’s personal online account or website a content knowing or having a reasonable belief that it contains information that is false or what would tend to mislead the public; • Use of a fictitious online account or website in creating and/ or publishing a content knowing or having a reasonable belief that it contains information that is false or that would tend to mislead the public; • Offering or providing one’s service to create and/or punish a content online knowing or having a reasonable belief that it would be used to deceive the public, regardless whether it is done for profit or not; • Financing an activity which has for its purpose the creation
and/or publication of a content online containing information that is false or that would tend to mislead the public; • Non-compliance with any of the counteractive measures, whether deliberate or through negligence. In explaining his proposal, Sotto said Filipos have “fallen prey to believing most of the clickbaits, made up quotes attributed to prominent figures and digitally altered photos.” “This bill seeks to protect the public from the adverse effects of false and deceiving content online,” he also said. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the Philippines ratified in 1986, governments may only impose restrictions on freedom of speech if those restrictions are provided by law and necessary for the protection of national security, public order, public health or morals, or the rights of others. Other countries in Southeast Asia are also confronting the spread of false information either through new legislations or campaigns to improve citizens’ media literacy. Cambodia passed a “fake news” law, punishing anyone posting misinformation on social media or websites with up to two years in jails and fine of $1,000. In May, Singapore’s parliament approved a bill that would grant government ministers powers to demand corrections, order removal of content or block websites deemed to be propagating falsehoods. n
A July 27-30, 2019 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN JOuRNAl
Dateline USa
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
Locsin: I refuse to renegotiate MDT renegotiate the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States despite the DeFOREIGN Affairs Secretary partment of National Defense Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tues- (DND) seeking a review. “I refuse to renegotiate the day, July 23, said he refuses to MDT to make it more specific as DND wants because I believe with sound authority based on long learning of deterrence theory that in vagueness lies its greatest strength. Keep ‘em all confused so they don’t stir lest they trigger World War 3,” said Locsin in his tweet. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, on the other hand, has been pushing for a review of the MDT. According to him, the treaty is ambiguous on coming to the defense of the Philippines in cases of threats related to maritime domain in the South DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. China Sea. Inquirer.net photo Secretary of State Michael by RitcHel
Mendiola AJPress
Pompeo, for his part, assured the Philippines that the U.S. obligations under the MDT are “real.” “As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific, any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft, republic vessels in the South China Sea would trigger mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty,” Pompeo said during his visit in Manila last March. Under the MDT, the Philippines and the U.S. are required to come to each other’s aid in case of an armed attack. Locsin in April said the Philippines’ military ally remains to be only the U.S., implying that the two countries alliance is still strong despite the former’s growing relationship with China. Lorenzana noted that the country lacks forces to join the Photo shows mail bomber Cesar Sayoc at a campaign rally for Donald Trump, whom defense lawyers say Sayoc had a longstanding obsession
u PAGE A5
with before Trump was elected to the presidency.
Why not Crawford for Pacquiao? Fil-Am mail bomber Cesar Sayoc was obsessed... by Joaquin
Henson
Philstar.com
MANILA — Although newlycrowned super WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao isn’t expected to return to the ring until next year, the buzz on whom he’ll fight next continues to reverberate along cauliflower row. FOX Sports recently conducted a survey among fans to track their preference. The winner of the Sept. 28 unification showdown between IBF titlist Errol Spence and WBC beltholder Shawn Porter is the majority’s choice to face Pacquiao, taking in 52 percent of
the votes. Floyd Mayweather Jr. pulled in 27 percent and Keith Thurman six percent with others accounting for the balance of 15 percent. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons recently said Danny or Mikey Garcia will also be considered. But Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, a former heavyweight fighter from Australia, brought up someone from the “other” camp – WBO welterweight ruler Terence (Bud) Crawford who’s linked to Top Rank. It’s no secret that Top Rank and Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions
(PBC) aren’t on friendly terms. Pacquiao broke off from Top Rank and joined Haymon’s stable after losing to Jeff Horn in 2017. Spence, Porter, Mayweather and Thurman are also with the Haymon group. “Why not Crawford?” wondered Fortune. “I know he’s with Top Rank and Manny’s with PBC. But when Manny was with Top Rank, he fought Mayweather who was with PBC and the fight made tons of money. I think Manny fighting Crawford will be a big money fight if Top Rank and PBC can get together.
u PAGE A5
PAGE A1 t as something personal. She added that Sayoc often relied on taped self-help books, including those written by the businessman and former reality TV star. “Mr. Sayoc relied on self-help books on tape to keep going,” read the memo. “Donald Trump’s books on success and business were his favorites.” With the goal of getting a minimum sentence of 121 months, Sayoc’s attorneys said that a “series of traumatic events” including abandonment by his father and sexual abuse by his Catholic school teacher as a child, pushed him “further and further into the
margins of society.” Having become more isolated as he grew older along with increased anxiety and paranoia from his excessive steroid use, it wasn’t until Sayoc came across the community of ardent Trump supporters that he “found a sense of community that he had been missing for so many years,” said his attorneys. “He conflated his personal situation with the perceived struggles of Trump supporters across the country, and even the President himself,” it continued. “His paranoia bled into delusion and Mr. Sayoc came to believe that prominent Democrats were actively working to hurt him, other Trump supporters, and the country as a whole.” The memo said Sayoc became politically radicalized as he began watching Fox News religiously and closely following social media accounts of Trump supporters and conspiracy theorists online. “Mr. Sayoc was an ardent Trump fan, and when Trump announced he was running for President, Mr. Sayoc enthusiastically supported him,” read the memo. “He began watching Fox News religiously at the gym, planning his morning workout to coincide with Fox and Friends and his evenings to dovetail with Hannity.” As for the 16 explosive packages that were sent to 13 political targets and public figures including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, and current 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, Sayoc’s attorneys said that while the devises “were designed to look like pipe bombs,” he had “no true grasp of the severity of his crimes” due to his mental state. Also included in the sentencing memo from Sayoc’s attorneys were photos of the
explosive devices, photos from the accused’s childhood, of his medications, and of his van and Trump memorabilia. Sayoc pleaded guilty in March to a total of 65 felony counts from four sets of charges including illegally mailing explosives with intent to kill or injure another, and using weapons of mass destruction. With a sooner sentencing scheduled for August 5 rather than the original date of September 12, prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have maintained the request that Sayoc get the maximum sentence of life in prison. To “adequately deter acts of domestic terrorism aimed at silencing and intimidating government officials.” In response to the claim that Sayoc did not have the intention that the devices explode, prosecutors said that such claims were a “hoax” and a “desperate effort to avoid accountability.” Acknowledging that the explosives would not have exploded as they were, prosecutors highlighted that real dangerous components were included. “Deficient as the defendant may be as a bomb maker, hoaxes do not involve real explosives, real shards of glass, and real toxic chemicals, as the defendant’s IEDs did,” wrote the prosecutors. “Thus, in addition to the seriousness of the offense conduct, a life sentence is necessary to protect the public from the defendant due to his lack of remorse and lengthy criminal history,” they added, referring to previous run-ins with the law, including a 2002 conviction for making bomb threats. “Such a sentence is also appropriate in order to promote respect for the law and to achieve general deterrence of others who may contemplate similar acts of domestic terrorism.“ (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) crew members observe the stars from Bertholf’s flight deck as the cutter and crew patrol the South China Sea last April 21. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew S. Masaschi/U.S. Coast Guard
US presence in South China Sea modelsmaritime governance, says US coast guard chief by PatRicia louRdes Philstar.com
ViRay
THE presence of the U.S. Coast Guard in the disputed South China Sea is meant to model maritime governance, an American admiral said. Adm. Karl Shultz, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, noted that their operations in the area have surged upon the request of Indo-Pacific commander under the U.S. Department of Defense. The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed its cutters USCGC Bertholf and USCGC Stratton to the region from January to midJune. “What we think we bring is appropriate behavior,” Schultz said in a telephone briefing on Tuesday, July 23. Schultz added that the presence of their ships in the region seeks to reinforce a free and open rules-based mindset. “I think what we would champion is transparent engagement,” Schultz said, taking a swipe at China. Beijing has increased the number of its ships in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, lately.
Hundreds of Chinese vessels, believed to be part of its maritime militia, have been swarming Subi Reef, which is 12-nautical miles from Philippine-controlled Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. Schultz said the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, as well as the People’s Liberation Army Navy, are not consistent with the rules-based order. “I think the coast guard voice, the U.S. Navy voice, allied partners, regional partners, neighbors, I think there needs to be an international push-back to say you know, we reject the types of behaviors, the antagonistic, aggressive behaviors that are not consistent with the rules-based order,” the admiral said. The U.S. Coast Guard earlier confirmed that they have been keeping tabs of Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea. Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, said they would continue monitoring Chinese militia in the contested waterway. “We obviously are aware and have been following the militia and some of the activity,” Fagan said in June. n
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Why not Crawford for... PAGE A4 t Crawford’s not a big guy. He’s a natural 140-pounder. He’s not as big as Thurman or Spence or Porter. It’ll be a competitive fight.” Crawford learned how to box when he was seven, the year Pacquiao turned pro in 1995. He has a 35-0 record, with 26 KOs. Crawford has stopped his last six opponents – John Molina Jr., Felix Diaz, Julius Indongo, Horn, Jose Benavidez and Amir Khan. Crawford, 31, held the WBO lightweight and WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO superlightweight titles before capturing the WBO 147-pound diadem. He’s one of only seven fighters in history to hold a world title simultaneously recognized by the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO. Also in the list are Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor. A switch-hitter, Crawford has beaten fighters from 14 countries in his pro career but never faced a Filipino. Three of his victims were former Pacquiao sparmates Viktor Postol, Raymundo Beltran and David Rodela. He has figured in only two pay-per-view events, generating $14.1 million on a total of 200,000 hits. In compari-
son, Pacquiao has made 25 payper-view appearances with close to 20 million subscriptions and revenues of more than $1.2 billion. Fortune said he was surprised by Thurman’s performance against Pacquiao in Las Vegas last weekend. “He fought 10 times better than I’ve ever seen him fight,” said Fortune. “It was clearly Thurman’s best showing in his last four fights. The guy came to fight. Manny was prepared and in condition. He had a great training camp. If he wasn’t in shape, it would’ve been a problem.” Pacquiao started strong in the fight and floored Thurman in the first round. He dominated the first five rounds then slowed down in the middle rounds as Thurman roared back. In the 10th round, Pacquiao broke Thurman’s momentum with a left hook to the body. Thurman nearly fell, doubled up, put his mouthpiece in his glove and ran for dear life. He survived the blow but was never the same again as Pacquiao went on to win by a split decision. “The body shot was a terrific
Dateline USa
body shot,” said Thurman quoted by Milan Ordonez in SBNation. “I took my mouthpiece out of my mouth just so I could breathe a little deeper. We stayed on our feet, we kept fighting. It was very unexpected once again. That’s why my name is One Time. It’s always those one punches in a round that really can change the pace. One Time isn’t just something I do. One Time is something that could happen to me. I got a few more times than One Time, maybe about two good shots in this fight. I tried to retaliate but Manny held his composure. I know that I got his respect in the ring but he held his composure well, he held his hands up well and he’s just a more relaxed fighter with all the experience he’s had.” Referee Kenny Bayless should’ve given Thurman a warning for spitting out his mouthpiece. It wasn’t clear if Thurman put the gumshield back in his mouth or dropped it on the canvas. What was clear was Thurman was hurt and with blood clogging his nose, he released the mouthpiece so he could take in more air from the mouth. n
Locsin: I refuse to renegotiate... PAGE A4 t
U.S. for a military coalition to protect oil tankers from being seized by suspected Iranian military units in the Persian Gulf. When asked if the Philippines, as the U.S.’ ally, is prepared
to participate in the coalition in the wake of the developing maritime tension in the Strait of Hormuz, the defense secretary answered: “They can ask for assistance but we don’t have any assets to send there. We can’t
send any ship.” “We only sent observers and soldiers for peacekeeping operations, but not for activities that require capital assets like ships that we don’t have,” he added. n
Duterte calls for death by hanging as...
PAGE A1 t
drugs should face the death penalty as should the people who maintain and operate drug dens and laboratories. Albayalde also maintained that the death penalty is not anti-poor and emphasized that capital punishment should be imposed on high-value drug dealers. Where senators stand on death penalty Several senators have voiced their support for the passage of the death penalty bill. Among them include Sen. Tito Sotto, who first sought the revival of capital punishment through lethal injection in 2014; Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who filed a bill that imposes death penalty on crimes related to the importation and manufacture of
illegal drugs; Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, who proposed plunder to be included as a capital punishment; and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who also proposed to impose a fine ranging from P1 million to P10 million to those guilty of importing and selling illegal drugs. Senators Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Francis Tolentino, and Cynthia Villar are all for the restoration of the death penalty if it will only be used for heinous crimes and drug-related offenses. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, wanted to include treason, qualified piracy, qualified bribery, parricide, murder, infanticide, rape, kidnapping and
illegal detention, robbery with violence and intimidation of persons, destructive arson and human trafficking as crimes punishable by death. On the other hand, those who expressed opposition to the death penalty are Sens. Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Leila De Lima, Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Nancy Binay. Sen. Grace Poe, who was initially in favor of the death penalty when she ran for president in 2016, had a change of heart in 2017. According to Drilon, no justice will be served if it involves taking a life. Meanwhile, Pangilinan maintained that the death penalty is cruel, degrading and inhuman. n
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 27-30, 2019
A
Jollibee stock prices drop after LA-based...
PAGE A2 t
East, as of December 2018. “The acquisition of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be Jollibee’s largest and most multinational so far with business presence in 27 countries,” said Jollibee Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong in a statement on Wednesday. The purchase is poised to add 14% to Jollibee’s global systemwide sales and 36% international business contribution to worldwide sales, bringing the company “closer to its vision to be one of the top 5 restaurant companies in the world in terms of market capitalization,” Caktiong added. The drop in the share price also caused Caktiong’s net worth to fall more than $200 million, bringing it to an estimated $3.3 billion, Forbes reported. The magazine ranked the Jollibee founder as the sixth richest person in the Philippines last year and No. 529 in its annual list of the world’s billionaires. Regina Capital managing director Luis Limlingan also pointed out that Coffee Bean has been posting net losses in the past two years. It recorded losses of $21 million on revenues of $313 million in 2018 amid a revenue growth of only 4.1% year-on-year. “Even though it usually takes around three years for Jollibee to turn its acquired businesses around, it does add challenge considering that the firm is still in the midst of rationalizing Smashburger’s operations,” Limlingan said. Meanwhile, Philstocks research analyst Claire Alviar said the acquisition of CBTL delayed the planned initial public offering of Highlands Coffee, Jollibee’s other coffee business, which was supposed to happen in July.
SWS: Fewer Filipinos expect... PAGE A1 t than the +17 in March. The figure was influenced by the decreases in Metro Manila (from +21 to +18), Balance Luzon (from +19 to +14) and Mindanao (from +16 to +9). Meanwhile, the score went up in the Visayas from +12 in March to +17. The SWS survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults. It has sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. n
“Let’s see what Jollibee can do to Coffee Bean if it can turn it to profits,” Alviar said. JFC was named the largest Asian restaurant company in 2013. With 3,200 stores, including over 600 stores found in 13 countries overseas, its expansion still shows no sign of stopping. In 2018, it acquired Mexican chain Tortas Frontera, which serves pulled pork, chorizo and beef sandwiches with sides of guacamole and cilantro salsa;
Tim Ho Wan, which is famous for its barbecue pork buns; and U.S. chain Smashburger, which serves burgers in 351 stores across the U.S. Jollibee also created joint ventures with Panda Express and Vietnamese noodle soup chain PHO24 to bring their popular menus to the Philippines. Locally, JFC owns several wellloved brands like Greenwich, Chowking, Red Ribbon, ang Mang Inasal. It is also the official local franchisee for Burger King. n
A july 27-30, 2019 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN jOuRNAl
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
D ateline PhiliPPines National ID system rolls out in September – Lacson by Bernadette
tamayo ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will implement the national identification (ID) system in September, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson. The senator, author and sponsor of the law in the Senate, made the remark since the enactment of the National ID Law will mark its first year on August 6. President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on Aug. 6, 2018 Republic Act 11055, which integrates some 33 government IDs into a single system. It will speed up the delivery of basic government services, and help fight crime and terrorism.
“Ang full implementation, sabi ng PSA, September. Tama ‘yan, by August 6 tapos na IRR (The full implementation, according to PSA, will be in September. That’s right, by August 6 the [crafting of the] implementing rules and regulations is finished),” Lacson said. “Mauna rito ang PWD (persons with disability), senior citizens, ‘yan ang mga uunahin (The PWD and senior citizens will be prioritized in the registration),” he said in a radio interview. Lacson said the government allotted P25 billion for its implementation over the five-year period. “We have nothing to worry about its implementation because
The PhilID is a nontransferable card that will carry the PSN, full name, facial image, date of birth, address and fingerprints of the bearer. Contributed photo
the PSA and DICT (Department of Information, Communication and Technology) will coordinate [for its enforcement]. The DICT is active and has the capability to focus on its implementation,” he added. The senator said he did not foresee any problem in the implementation of the program. “Doon sa dami ng mag-rerehistro, doon masusukat ang success ng implementation ng National ID system (The success of the implementation of the National ID system will be measured by the number of those who will register),” he added. Under the law, a foundational ID system dubbed “PhilSys” will be in place. It will have three components: the PhilSys Number (PSN), PhilID and PhilSys Registry. The PSN is a randomly generated identification number for each individual to be incorporated in all identification systems of government agencies. The PhilID is a nontransferable card that will carry the PSN, full name, facial image, date of birth, address and fingerprints of the bearer. The PSA will be the repository and custodian of all data. To protect the individual’s right to privacy, the PhilSys would only be released with the consent of the registered person, upon order of the court, or when there is risk to public health and safety. n
‘Anti-terror drive to be more bloody’
THE government will further intensify its campaign against terrorists and, this time, it will be bloodier, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said on Thursday, July 25, the President informed local executives of his plan to go hammer and tongs against extremists. President Rodrigo Duterte met governors and city and municipal mayors on Tuesday night, July 23, and prodded them to help in the campaign against terror, drugs and corruption. “Talagang madugo ito. I will order the Armed Forces to invade Basilan, Tawi Tawi, Sulu, if needed,” the DILG chief quoted the President as saying. On Thursday, the military con-
ducted air raids in Pikit, North Cotabato to flush out the group of Cmdr. Abu Taraife of Dawla Islamiyah, which is affiliated with the Maute terror group. Año said Duterte also prodded the local chief executives to intensify their campaign against communist terrorism in their areas of jurisdictions. “Do not support the NPA (New People’s Army). Do not give money to the NPA or any of their front organizations,” he said. The NPA was declared a “terrorist” group in 2017 under a proclamation signed by the President. Año said the administration would also boost its drive to stop the communist insurgency. “The national task force to end communist armed insurgency
is laying the foundation for this fight. The hard approach is being administered by the military, police and other law enforcement agencies,” the DILG chief added. Año urged local officials to conduct localized peace talks and implement the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which provides communist rebels who laid down their arms a “holistic” package of benefits, including livelihood and medical assistance, education and housing. “We have been conducting a series of provincial action-planning workshops, so as heads of your own local task forces, I urge you to be on top of the process — from planning to implementation,” he added. (ManilaTimes. net)
In this file photo, protesters hold placards and banners for the May Day rally in Mendiola, Manila near the Presidential Palace. Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo
What’s next for anti-endo bill after Duterte’s veto? by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CaBiCo
MANILA — After President Rodrigo Duterte rejected a proposed legislation seeking to end the practice of labor-only contracting, some lawmakers and labor groups vowed they would again push for the approval of a Security of Tenure Bill in the 18th Congress. But others see this move would end up as a futile attempt without the support of the current administration—whose leader had boldly promised to end short-term hiring once he assumes the presidency. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Congress— which he described as “dynamic”—can re-file for the anti-endo bill to be amended and re-pass it. This means the bill will go back to square one. Sen. Joel Villanueva, the principal author of the bill, vowed to continue pushing for the bill, which has been languishing in the legislative mill for over two decades. “Despite everything, we will continue to push for this proposed measure until all forms of endo are stopped,” Villanueva said in Filipino. Senators actually have another choice aside from refiling the bill. Under the Constitution, a presidential veto will return the bill where it originated within 30 days—in this case, the Senate. The upper chamber can reconsider the bill by a vote of two-
thirds of its member. After the reconsideration, it shall be sent to the lower chamber, which can enact it into law if approved by two-thirds of its members. Labor group Federation of Free Workers also committed to continue lobbying a bill that would address the abusive practice of contractualization, which is affecting millions of Filipino workers. ‘Futile’ attempt While some quarters are refusing to give up, others are seeing the attempts to push the bill again would end up “futile.” “With the veto message, it seems like the policy direction has been set. Any attempt to refile the bill could be an exercise in futility without the administration’s support,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said. Duterte vetoed the Security of Tenure bill a day before it lapses into law. In explaining his veto, the president said the proposed measure “unduly broadens the scope and definition of prohibited labor-only contracting.” Another reason he gave is that businesses should be allowed to determine whether they should outsource certain activities or not. The move of the president did not surprise some labor groups. Nevertheless, they are outraged by government’s “extreme display of insensitivity and insincerity” to the workers. “We have no hope that President Duterte will put into law a
Security of Tenure bill that will genuine end contractualization in the country… We do not expect President Duterte to drop his position to veto the bill or take a similar action in the coming days,” Kilusang Mayo Uno said. It should be noted that Duterte even certified the necessity of the immediate passing of the bill in September last year only to slash the hope of Filipino workers by vetoing it months later. The chief executive made no mention of the anti-endo bill during his fourth State of the Nation Address Monday. In a post-SONA interview, Duterte did not make a categorical answer on whether he would sign the bill or not, saying he was still “studying the bill.” Prior to Duterte’s veto, chief economic planner Ernesto Pernia said Wednesday the proposal needs some tweaking to ensure that it would benefit both the business and labor sectors. Ending contractualization was among the campaign promises of Duterte. In 2018, he signed an executive order supposedly ending endo but labor groups called it “useless” as it failed to end the abusive practice. Now that Duterte delivered a major blow to workers with his veto of the anti-endo bill, workers “can only rely on our unity and collective action for genuine regularization of contractual workers to be realized,” KMU said. n
‘Bikoy’ wants to be state witness – PNP by darwin
PesCo ManilaTimes.net
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde on Thursday, July 25, confirmed that Peter Joemel Advincula, alias “Bikoy,” would apply for the witness protection program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Advincula had filed an affidavit that accused Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo and 35 others of plotting to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. “I think he’s about to apply for the WPP,” Albayalde said. “Probably in some portions of his affidavit, the vice president was mentioned [to have been] present during some of the meetings [with the other ‘plotters’] and that probably prompted the CIDG (the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) to file a case against her,” the PNP chief added. It was up to the court, Albayalde said, to determine the credibility of Advincula, adding that their only focus in the PNP was seeing
the possibility of commission of a crime. “With regard to the credibility of the witness, that is the sole responsibility or discretion of the court, not the police,” he said. “Remember, during the first time that Bikoy went out during his first video message, they were all saying the PNP should investigate. We investigated it. First, he was a like a ghost saying things about the president, right?” according to Albayalde. Bikoy’s affidavit claimed that Robredo and the 35 other “plotters” wanted to remove Duterte from the Office of the President before June 30, 2019. The PNP-CIDG and the DoJ has filed libel, cyberlibel, inciting to sedition and obstruction of justice charges against Robredo and other critics of the President for allegedly producing the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos. The six-part video, narrated by Bikoy, links Duterte, his family and close allies to the illegal drug trade. Respondents included oppo-
sition senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima; former senators Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th and Antonio Trillanes 4th; Otso Diretso candidates in the May midterm elections Jose Manuel Diokno, Romulo Macalintal, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Samira Gutoc and former congressman Erin Tañada; and church leaders. Based on the complaint, the respondents planned to spread false information against President Duterte’s family and administration officials in order to agitate the general population into holding mass protests with the possibility of overthrowing the president and allowing Robredo to instantly succeed him. But the Vice President laughed the accusation off and her camp debunked the complaint, calling it as harassment and kwentong kutsero (hearsay). The Communist Party of the Philippines has denounced the sedition case filed by the PNPCIDG and the Justice department. n
Supreme Court orders Tulfo to pay P1.7-M damages, fee for libel by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CaBiCo
MANILA — The Supreme Court ordered media personality Raffy Tulfo and executives of a tabloid newspaper to pay P1.71 million over a libelous article he had written more than a decade ago. In a decision dated April 10 but made public only recently, the SC Third Division ordered Tulfo and the representatives of Abante Tonite’s publisher to pay the complainant Michael Guy P500,000 in moral damages, P1 million in exemplary damages and P211,200 in attorney’s fees. The damages that Tulfo and the Abante Tonite publisher and editors have to pay reflected an increase from the amount previously set by the Court of Appeals in 2014 at P500,000 in moral damages and P211,200 in attorney’s fee. Aside from Tulfo, the executives ordered to pay were Allen
Macasaet, Nicolas Quijano Jr., Janet Bay, Jesus Galang, Randy Hagos, Jeany Lacorte and Venus Tandoc. The High Court reminded journalists to observe high standards, as expected, especially in the age of digital media. “This case comes at a time when the credibility of journalists is needed more than ever; when their tried-and-tested practice of adhering to their code of ethics becomes more necessary, so that their truth may provide a stronger bulwark against recklessness in social media,” said the decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. It added: “This court can only hope that respondents appreciate the privilege their fame has brought them and in the future, become more circumspect in the exercise of their profession.” Guy sued Tulfo and the executives of Abante Tonite over the media personality’s March 24, 2004 column published in the
tabloid. Tulfo accused Guy, a businessman, of approaching a government official over an alleged tax fraud investigation. Makati City Regional Trial Court convicted Tulfo and the other respondents of libel in 2010. The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s conviction but reduced the award of actual damages from P5 million to P500,000. Guy then elevated his case to the high court to seek the reinstatement of the RTC judgement, noting the amount of P5 million is a reasonable compensation for the grief and suffering he has endured. But the SC Third Division, agreeing with the CA, said the “petitioner failed to substantiate the loss he had allegedly sustained.” Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Andres Reyes, Jr., Ramon Paul Hernando and Rosmari Carandang concurred with the decision. n
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Dateline PhiliPPines
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 27-30, 2019
A
No second thought for Dela Rosa in supporting martial law extension in Mindanao by Cathrine
Gonzales Inquirer.net
MANILA — A senator fiercely loyal to President Rodrigo Duterte quickly answered “yes” to a proposal to extend martial law in Mindanao for a fourth time. Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday, July 26 said martial law in his home region, however, can’t last for “eternity.” “I’m in favor,” he said. “I’m from Mindanao and I know the situation there,” said Dela Rosa, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa former Philippine National Police martial law because he said he (PNP) chief and architect of the believed that criminals and ternow controversial anti-drug cam- rorists still roamed Mindanao. An paign “Oplan Tokhang (Knock and extension of six months to a year This Nov. 28, 2018 photo shows El Nido, Palawan when Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, and Plead)” which is being blamed for was perfectly fine with him, Dela Interior Secretary Eduardo Año conducted a surprise inspection. Photo courtesy of DOT hundreds of summary killings. Rosa said. “I am from Mindanao,” Dela Duterte in May 2017 declared Rosa, one of Duterte’s closest al- martial law in Mindanao after lies, said. “No one can question homegrown terror groups which me if I would be in favor of ex- had pledged allegiance to Islamic tests. MANILA — The Department have high fecal coliform levels. The closure of some areas in tension because I felt the positive State tried to set up an IS base in “It was found that Bacuit Bay of the Interior and Local Government recommended the three- and Corong-Corong Outfall are El Nido is the latest in the gov- effects of martial law as far as Marawi City, leading to a fivemonth closure of some parts of in a dreadful condition with ernment’s clean-up efforts after peace and order is concerned,” month war that all but erased the Philippines’ only Muslim city El Nido town in Palawan for re- one outfall’s fecal coliform level the six-month shutdown of Bo- he said. He said he would agree if the from the map. reaching more than 3.4 most racay in 2018 and the rehabilitahabilitation. military or PNP recommended The Constitution limited the efThe closure, if approved by probable number or 100 mil- tion of Manila Bay this year. Palawan recently made it to to Duterte another extension of fectivity of a declaration of martial the environment and tourism liliters. This is compounded by departments, will cover Brgy. the presence of informal settler Lonely Planet’s list of best placCorong-Corong and three ba- families, non-enforcement of es to visit in Asia-Pacific, where easement regulations on outfalls El Nido was specifically menrangays along Bacuit Bay. This means no water activi- and regulated dry-docking and tioned. “The crown jewel is El Nido, ties in these parts of El Nido “to mooring activities,” DILG said. SERVING MY FELLOW KABABAYANS FOR DILG Undersecretary Epima- where skyscraping karst forpreserve the area and prevent the tourists and locals from con- co Densing, however, clarified mations rise out of blue water CIVIL AND PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION that 20 island destinations in El in Bacuit Bay,” Lonely Planet tracting diseases.” • Breach of Contract and Fraud DILG said the waters at Bacuit Nido will not be shut down since said. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/ Bay and Corong-Corong Outfall they have passed water quality Philstar.com) • Auto and Other Injury accidents
DILG recommends 3-month closure of parts of El Nido
Inquirer.net photo
law to not more than 60 days or two months. Before the current martial law in Mindanao ended in July 2017, Duterte asked Congress for an extension until December of that year. The president, for a second time, requested another extension from Congress until December 2018, citing continuing threat and, this time, the communist rebellion in parts of Mindanao. Duterte, for a third time, again requested for another extension in December 2018 which was swiftly granted by Congress and to last until December 2019.
LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN
Palace thumbs down ‘piecemeal’ Cha-cha by Christina
Mendez, Philstar.com
Jess diaz and ratified by the people, or by
MANILA — Initiating Charter change (Cha-cha) through a mere concurrent congressional resolution will not be enough, presidential spokesman and chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said on Thursday, July 25. He was reacting to Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’s filing Concurrent Resolution No. 1 seeking changes in some political and economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Panelo said the lawmakers should stick to the acceptable modes of amending the Charter if they want their effort to gain ground. “You amend it by way of a constituent assembly – introducing amendments to the Constitution
a constitutional convention, or by the initiative of the people. That’s the only way or three ways to amend it,” Panelo said. “There is no such thing as concurrent only, it’s just a resolution. You do not amend the Constitution by concurrent resolution,” he said. In his resolution, Rodriguez proposed that the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” be inserted in 11 parts of the Constitution that limit foreign ownership of land and businesses, including telecommunications and mass media. He is the first to file an economic Cha-cha resolution. He also filed a second resolution seeking a shift to the federal system. “If that is just a proposal by him, then it’s a proposal. But he
cannot do it by way of passing a law, amending the provision of the Constitution,” Panelo said, referring to Rodriguez’s proposal. President Duterte’s avoiding discussion of Charter change in his latest state of the nation address (SONA) has spawned speculations he has lost interest in the issue. “But anything that will benefit the Filipinos by way of amending certain provisions of the Constitution, we will always be in support of that,” Panelo said of fresh efforts to change the Constitution. He said the Palace would also leave it up to lawmakers to decide on proposals to extend the terms of lawmakers and increase the number of senators. “We will leave it to the judgment of the people in a plebiscite
u PAGE A10
OVER 17 YEARS
IMMIGRATION
• Family and employment based green cards • Business and Investor Visas • Deportation defense • Motions to Reopen • Appeals • Humanitarian Reinstatement of revoked petition • Naturalization • H-1B and student visas
FAMILY LAW • Divorce/Separation/Nullity • Property Division • Spousal Support • Child Custody and Support • Restraining Orders
CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010
323-639-0277
Email: info@dtanlaw.com • Website: www.dtanlaw.com
Darrick V. Tan, Esq. Licensed in California for over 17 years Licensed in Nevada for over 12 years* UCLA, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science with Cum Laude honors Southwestern University Law School, Juris Doctor Admitted to U.S. District Court, Central District of California Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association Member, Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles Former Member, Board of Governors, Philippine American Bar Association *Inactive
A8 JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
OPINION
Reviving capital punishment
FEATURES
THE opposition to the measure is still there. But with the new composition of the Senate, the leadership of the chamber believes the proposal to restore the death penalty can “squeak” through the 18th Congress. In the previous Congress, the measure had hurdled the House of Representatives. The current super majority in the chamber is expected to do the same, especially after the revival of capital punishment topped the legislative priorities mentioned by President Duterte in his fourth State of the Nation Address last Monday. It’s the Senate that has always blocked the reimposition of the death penalty. With the current Senate membership, however, it looks like the measure is certain of approval, although there could be resistance from lawmakers to the inclusion of plunder among the offenses that will warrant state execution. For ordinary citizens, the inclusion of plunder might in fact make the return of capital punishment more acceptable. Those accused of plunder are typically politicians and other government officials who handle public funds and projects involving at least P50 million – the threshold amount for corruption to become the more serious offense of plunder. A major criticism of the death penalty is
that it puts indigent defendants at a disadvantage, because they cannot afford the best lawyers who can protect them from erroneous judicial determination of guilt. There’s also the question on the deterrent impact of capital punishment. If the drug menace persists, as President Duterte himself has declared, after nearly 6,000 people have been killed in the brutal war on drugs, will state executions work any better? If Congress pushes through with the restoration of the death penalty, there should be accompanying measures – and not just on the part of the legislature – to improve the administration of justice. The weakness of the Philippine judicial system contributes to public support for short cuts to law enforcement and the election of Dirty Harry types to public office. With the inefficiency and corruption plaguing the criminal judicial system, every effort must be made to ensure that if ever capital punishment is restored, there will be minimal risk of a miscarriage of justice. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
ABANGAN: What is Gel Santos Relos up to with the new changes at The Filipino Channel? The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THIS just in — after 12 years of delivering the daily news from the studios of The Filipino Channel (TFC) in California, “Balitang America” will be taping its daily newscast from the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in Manila, Philippines, joining other news bureaus like “Balitang Middle East” and “Balitang Europe.” While the daily news stories will still be gathered by its news correspondents from different parts of the United States,
“Balitang America” will be anchored by news personalities from ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) in Manila. The transition will begin on July 29, 2019. This means you will no longer watch me on the anchor’s chair daily as you used to in the past 12 years. This change in the organization will then help the news bureau in North America expand its audience and reach out to younger generations who are born and raised here, using new digital platform programs. Under the leadership of “Balitang America” (BA) Executive Producer Troy Espera, ABS-CBN International and TFC have rolled out “TAYO” (a Filipino word that means “we” or “us”) - a new digital brand that offers fresh storytelling of
uplifting and positive stories that make Filipinos in North America proud of their rich heritage. “TAYO” features stories that are relevant to both FilipinoAmerican and Filipino-Canadian communities, serving to also unify news brand across the North America region. Our San Francisco Bay Area Correspondent Rommel Concara has also started working on a podcast, so Filipinos will get to know kababayans who have made a mark in the community. TFC will also continue to give platforms where kababayans in North America will have a chance to air out their opinion on issues that matter to us. Townhall meetings will continue especially as Filipinos in North America exchange
perspectives and information that will help the community in making informed choices as we make consequential decisions during elections and other civic exercises. HOWEVER, this change will also allow TFC in North America to expand and strengthen its reach and service to its core audience — our kababayans who immigrated to the United States, including the Lolos, Lolas, and other immediate members of the family who have been loyal viewers of the programs from the Philippines to keep them connected to the Motherland and ease away their homesickness. In my continued commitment to the Filipino American community, I am also working with TFC on a new digital brand that will help Filipinos
navigate their new life in the United States, empowering YOU with information that will help you know, understand and adapt to your new way of life as immigrants, citizens and members of the workforce in the U.S. Equally important — this program will be like “family” to YOU — to which you can ask questions, air out concerns, exchange perspectives and opinions in matters that truly touch you and your families on a personal level. I will continue to serve you as a true Kapamilya — your “Ate”, “Tita” or simply your kapamilya “Gel,” who will strive to make you feel you are not alone as you start and adapt to your new life in the United States. ABANGAN: A podcast/tel-
eradyo para po sa inyong lahat, mga Kapamilya. And so if you have anything you want us to talk about in our teleradyo, information you need to help you in your day to day challenges in America, heartaches and pains and worries that keep you up at night, share them with me so we can address your concerns in our new teleradyo. Send your messages to: Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos. You may also email me: gelrelos@icloud.com. ABANGAN! Malapit na malapit na! ***
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
SONA 4: Incredible in its incoherence and laziness
Commentary
YEN MAKABENTA WHETHER you listened to President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) as delivered on Monday, July 22, at the Batasan, or read it in the papers or online as published, you come away from the address bewildered. You may credit it as unpretentious, candid and surprising. But then you cannot escape the sense of its incredible incoherence and laziness. For an event that the entire government labored for months to get right, Mr. Duterte groped like a boxer who could not find his corner in the ring after absorbing some hard punches. For a president and administration that had many creditable things to report during its first three years in office, DU30 did not bother to organize his presentation of the record of achievements and the policies and programs. He merely recalled some names and programs as they flitted through his mind. For an administration that will have formidable challenges and uncertainties to confront during the next three years, the president did not take time to construct a full legislative and policy agenda to present to the Congress. He merely recited policy needs as they occurred to him while standing on the rostrum. This is to say that SONA 4 was a rambling and disjointed oneand-a-half-hour spectacle. The president went to the opening of the 18th Congress about an hour late because of the
weather. He also went to the Batasan with no clear idea of what he would request from Congress in the way of legislation, or what he wanted to tell the nation. Most important presidential address The non-performance is all the more incomprehensible because the SONA and the opening of Congress is the most important date on the republic’s political calendar. Of all the president’s speaking engagements during the year, the SONA is indubitably the most important and the most consequential for the success of the administration. Lawmakers and guests, particularly the women, dress to the nines for the event, hoping to be caught on camera. They prepare and rehearse what they will say in comment on the president’s address, before hearing a single word. Dignitaries of the diplomatic corps, all top officials of the branches of the government, and the top military brass attend the event without fail. A constitutional obligation The event takes place by command of the Constitution under the following provisions: In Article VII, Section 22: “The president shall submit to the Congress within thirty days from the opening of the regular session, as the basis of the general appropriations bill, a budget of expenditures and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures.” Article VII, Section 23: “The president shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any other time.” In doing so, the president
gives to the Congress the state of the nation and recommend legislative measures for consideration and approval by the Congress. A US tradition The tradition of the State of the Nation Address is modeled after the State of the Union (SOTU) address by the U.S. president at the start of every calendar year. What is strictly followed and observed in U.S. practice is similarly adopted by the Philippine presidency and the Philippine Congress. The entire ritual and tradition are designed to help ensure the success of constitutional government and a presidential administration. For those who want to read in detail the core of this tradition, there is an informative article online by the deputy director of the Congressional Research Service, Colleen J. Shogan. It explains the history and the unparalleled platform that the address provides a sitting president. The State of the Union address, as well as the State of the Nation address in the Philippines, is a communication between the president and Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current conditions of the country and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year. In recent decades, the U.S. president has expanded his State of the Union audience, addressing the speech to both the nation and members of Congress. Over time, the State of the Union address has evolved considerably. The format and delivery of the speech have changed, and its length has fluctuated widely; each president uses the State of the Union address to outline his administration’s pol-
DUTERTE’S SONA. President Rodrigo Duterte urges the 18th Congress for the reimposition of death penalty for heinous crimes in his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, July 22. He vowed to “fight” illegal drugs problem till the end of his term. Also in photo are elected Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
icy agenda. Good opening, nothing follows President Duterte’s 2019 SONA opens promisingly enough with some finely crafted words: “Few men imbued with the will and the courage to do what he believes is right and just and whatever be the opposition in terms of numbers and noise, makes a majority. For it is not the eagle in the fight but the fight in the eagle that matters. Believe me, I will end my term fighting. “It has been three years since I took my oath of office, and it pains me to say that we have not
learned our lesson. The illegal drug problem persists. Corruption continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery initiatives…. “We, in government, talk too much, act too little, and too slow…We are long on rhetoric but short on accomplishments. It’s either you Congress or even the Executive department and maybe me. So, I am here to rectify my own error. “That is why, I implore those who occupy positions of power and authority, to let your deeds and accomplishments do the talking. Lead by example. Words ring hollow when not followed by positive and prioritized ac-
tion.” He continues: “Our accomplishments for the past three years and the plans for the next three are discussed in detail in my mid-term report to the people, copies of which shall be made available before the day ends. “Let me repeat what I said many times before. Honestly, I have identified the enemy who dumped us into this quagmire we are in. I have met the enemy face to face and sadly, the enemy is ‘us’…We are our own tormentors—addressing the Filipino people—we are our own demons; we are as rapacious
u PAGE A9
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES
Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Boulevard Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 Fax: (818) 502-0858 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com
Manila Office: 2nd Floor Units D&E, Fort Palm Springs 30th St., Cor 1st Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858
Northern California: New Jersey office: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel: (212)655-5426 • Fax: (818)502-0858 Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879
ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board
CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President
CHRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief
MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor
IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal
MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal
DING CARREON Videographer
ANDY TECSON Photographer
Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases. Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation. Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication. Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material. AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement. Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.
ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively. Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions. Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Dateline PhiliPPines
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 27-30, 2019
A
House bill seeks to simplify marriage annulment in PH PNP to public: Nothing to worry
A BILL at the House of Representatives seeks to fast-track the dissolution of marriage in the Philippines by recognizing the civil authority of a church annulment. Majority Leader Martin Romualdez of Leyte and Tingog Sinirangan Partylist Yedda Marie Romualdez filed House Bill (HB) 1157 or the Church Nullity Act of 2019, which has been tabled for first reading in the first regular session of the 18th Congress. “The Family Code of the Philippines recognizes as valid a
marriage solemnized under the laws of the Church. If marriages so solemnized are recognized by the State, it is only proper that the very church that solemnized the marriage should also have the power to rule that attendant infirmity that rendered a marriage null, and its effects binding on the State,” the Romualdezes said in their explanatory note. “If a marriage can be legitimately contracted under the laws of the Church, then it follows that under the same laws, such marriage can also be nulli-
fied or annulled,” they said. The Romualdez couple clarified, however, that the bill would still safeguard the sanctity of marriage, following reforms to simplify the annulment process, which has been introduced in the Catholic Church through the document “Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus.” Before the 17th Congress adjourned, the House approved on third and final reading HB 7303 or the absolute divorce bill, but the measure was rejected by the Senate. (Glee Jalea/ManilaTimes.net)
about influx of Chinese in Philippines by Cathrine
Gonzales Inquirer.net
MANILA — The public has nothing to worry about in terms of security especially with the influx of Chinese nationals in the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday, July 26. “Walang dapat ikabahala ang ating kababayan dahil ang ugnayan ng bansa at China ay patuloy na lumalakas. Ang kalakaran at turismo ay lalo lang lumalakas (The public has nothing to worry about because the relationship between our country and China considered merely an “informa- continues to be stronger. Trade tion.” and tourism are just becoming earlier this month, the mili- stronger),” PNP Spokesperson tary and the police confirmed Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in that the June 28 suicide bomb- an interview at Camp Crame. ing in Indanan, Sulu, was carAccording to Banac, Chinese ried out by a Filipino named nationals must be flocking the Norman Lasuca. country since it is a known desLt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, tination for foreign tourists and commander of the Western Chinese workers. Mindanao Command (WestMinNational Security Adviser Com), earlier confirmed that Hermogenes esperon earlier exseven foreign terrorists were linking up with the local terrorist group. “Once a foreign terrorist comes inside the country and by elizabeth marCelo Philstar.com cooperates with the local terrorists, it becomes an internal MANILA—Ombudsman Samproblem already. So, according to the WestMinCom command- uel Martires has ordered a thorer, there are seven foreigners,” ough probe on the supposed massive corruption in the Bureau he said. Lorenzana was the guest of of Customs, following a directive honor, along with Transporta- from President Duterte during his tion Secretary Arthur Tugade, 4th State of the Nation Address during the turnover and bless- (SONA) for the suspension or dising of new assets of the Philip- missal of erring BOC officials. “The Office of the Ombudspine Coast Guard. n man has ordered an in-depth investigation into alleged graft and corrupt practices perpetrated by officials and employees of the the President. He does not care (BOC), which may lead to crimimuch for public speaking or for nal and administrative charges,” finely crafted policy speeches. the ombudsman said in a press He prefers extemporaneous talk- statement issued on Thursday, ing. July 25. A lost opportunity The anti-graft agency explained But he is missing here the fact that under Republic Act 6770 or that the SONA is part of history. the Ombudsman Act of 1989, it What will be remembered of has the power to launch a motuthe 2019 SONA of this president, propio or self-initiated investigais how he threw away an incal- tion against any officer or emculable opportunity to make a ployee of a government agency coherent case for the Duterte suspected of committing illegal presidency at midterm. acts. For the rest of his presidency, “During the course of its investhe nation will wonder what was tigation, the ombudsman may orreally on his mind, as he stood at der the preventive suspension of midterm at the center of our na- any officer or employee under his tional life. (ManilaTimes.net) authority if, in his judgment, the
Entry of foreign terrorists being verified –DND by Dempsey
reyes ManilaTimes.net
DePARTMeNT of National Defense [DND] chief Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday, July 25, said he received “substantial” information about the presence
Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana ManilaTimes.net photo
of 100 foreign terrorists in Mindanao, but their exact whereabouts or their nationalities have yet to be determined. A report from a source indicated that there were “new arrivals” of foreign jihadists in the country, particularly in Mindanao. Of the 100 foreign extremists, 45 are Indonesians, 10 Malaysians, 10 Arabs, seven Sri Lankans, three Thais, five Chinese Uyghurs and the others are from Bangladesh, Singapore, Turkey, Morocco and even from europe, according to the source. Lorenzana said the details pertaining to the “new arrivals” would have to be confirmed first. “We still do not know their nationalities. The report says that they are in central Mindanao,” the Defense chief said. He clarified that until the military confirmed the presence of these terrorists and their nationalities, the report would be
SONA 4: Incredible in its incoherence... PAGE A8 predators preying on the helpless, the weak and the voiceless. We find corruption everywhere in government with every malefactor watching his cohort’s back in blatant disregard of his oath when he assumed public office…. “Catharsis is what we, individually and collectively, need to do today — not tomorrow but today. Self-purgation followed by the resolve to do what is right and proper, is good for the nation’s health.” Then at about a third of the way of his address, the President lost interest in delivering a
serious SONA. He sets aside his prepared remarks. He goes extemporaneous for the rest of the way, saying anything that flitted through his mind. Whatever plan there was for discussing the record of the government and its policy agenda was shelved. It appears that there will be a more serious and substantive rendering of the record in the President’s midterm report, and a discussion of policies in the proposed national budget which will be submitted by the executive in 30 days. But the SONA itself appears to have been waived away by
PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac
Inquirer.net photo
pressed concern over the number of Chinese nationals here, which he said could reach hundreds of thousands. esperon said some of these Chinese nationals are undocumented and not registered as workers. “Have they contributed to the economy, have they become threats?” esperon said as quoted
in a media report. Banac, however, assured that the PNP will arrest any foreigner who violates the law. “Kung sino man, maging turista o manggagawa, kapag lumabag na batas ay pinapanagot natin (Whoever the person is, whether he is a tourist or a worker, if he violates the law, we will hold him liable),” he said. n
Ombudsman orders probe of BOC corruption evidence of guilt is strong,” the ombudsman said. The ombudsman may also order the preventive suspension of BOC officials and employees who will be placed under investigation if the charge against them involves dishonesty, oppression, grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty; if the charge would warrant removal from the service; or if the respondent’s continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation. The ombudsman said the BOC officials and employees who would be found administratively liable of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty or conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service may face suspension or dismissal from service. “The penalty of dismissal from the service carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, bar from taking the civil service examination and cancellation of (civil service) eligibility,” the ombudsman said. Martires’ order to investigate the BOC came just two days after Duterte called for the cleansing of the BOC. In his SONA last Monday,
Ombudsman Samuel Martires
Duterte said he wants the erring Customs officials and employees out of the bureau, recounting that he learned just two weeks ago that there were 63 employees facing criminal charges while 61 were under investigation. Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla on Tuesday, July 23 said the BOC will abide by the directive of the President. Maronilla said about 52 BOC officials and personnel suspected to be engaged in corrupt activities are set to report daily to Congress to aid in paperwork until they are officially removed from government service. n
A10 july 27-30, 2019 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN jOuRNAl
Dateline PhiliPPines
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
Duterte signs law creating National Commission of Senior Citizens by Nestor
CorrAles Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law creating the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to provide service and activities beneficial to the elderly. Duterte signed Republic Act 11350 on July 25, a copy of the law was released to the media on Friday, July 26. The new law also abolished the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board, which was created by virtue of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
Under the law, the commission would be composed of a chairperson and six commissioners from different regions appointed by the President. The NCSC will appoint an executive director who will be responsible for implementing the policies, regulations and directives of the body. The law transferred “all functions, programs, projects and activities” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development “for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged senior citizens” to the NCSC. Among the functions of the
Commission are to “establish and maintain cooperations and consultations with local government units and national government agencies on all matters pertaining to the general welfare of senior citizens,” “formulate policies for the promotion and protection of the rights and well-being of senior citizens,” “ensure the full implementation of laws, policies and programs of the government pertaining to senior citizens.” The law said the funding of the Commission shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. n
Aquino on WPS: We asserted our rights without war by AureA
CAliCA Philstar.com
MANILA — Despite the Chinese seizure of Panatag Shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippine Navy, former president Benigno Aquino III said his administration was never remiss in its duty to protect the country’s territory, citing Manila’s victory against Beijing before an international arbitral court. In an interview with Eagle News Service, Aquino said he understands the difficulty of defending domestic interest from machinations by a superpower, but war need not be waged over it. He was reacting to President Duterte’s pronouncement in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22 that the country lost Panatag Shoal to the Chinese when the Philippines pulled its forces out of the area. The move allowed China to take hold of the shoal. The former president reiterated that China suddenly backed out of a U.S.-brokered agreement that Filipino and Chinese forces leave
Former President Benigno Aquino III
the shoal simultaneously, in what should have been a face saving tack for both parties. “What’s painful is that we left and they did not,” Aquino said. Bad weather also prompted his administration to order a pullout of Filipino forces from Panatag, he added. He said China would later deny agreeing to any arrangement brokered by the U.S. or any other party. Beijing also refused to join the arbitration proceedings initiated by Manila in 2013. Apparently, Aquino said China looks only after its interest and whatever is right or wrong depends solely on its judgment. Aquino maintained there are ways to deal with sea disputes without going to war. For instance, he noted that Argentina and Indonesia had been dealing with Chinese incursions strongly but their actions had never ignited full-scale war. Duterte has been repeatedly saying that the Philippines would be obliterated if war with China erupts and that it’s not yet time to assert the country’s rights even
Philstar.com photo
if the West Philippine Sea “is ours.” While it may be difficult for the Philippines as a small country to deal with China’s provocations, Aquino pointed out that there is also a lot at stake for a superpower if it acts like a bully. Aquino said it is likewise important to determine if China could be trusted when it enters into agreements with other countries. When it comes to the South China Sea dispute, Aquino explained there are mechanisms in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other agreements that could be used to settle the matter. Like all other countries in the world, Aquino said China needs access to markets, especially raw materials for its people and economy, and that trading partners would only want to deal with responsible members of the international community. “If you show that you’re a bully, then you just took the initiative to make things hard for yourself,” Aquino said. The former president also said fighting for rights is inevitable when they are trampled upon — otherwise the offender would be emboldened to commit further abuses. “If we are friends, then friends must show respect for the rights of one another,” Aquino said. The former president also noted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had been working on a Code of Conduct with China to avoid tension in the South China Sea but instead of exercising self-restraint, Beijing built islands and put up facilities even in disputed areas. n
CULTURAL DANCE. Residents of Las Piñas City perform a cultural dance during the 14th Waterlily Festival Annual celebration held at C5 Extension in Las Piñas City . Water lily-inspired costumes and gowns, and water lily-made handicrafts were showcased during the event. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Duterte signs tobacco excise tax bill into law
the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, the president has signed into law House MANILA — President Rodrigo Bill no. 8677 / Senate Bill no. Duterte on Thursday, July 25, 2233 increasing the excise tax signed into law the bill raising the on tobacco products,” Executive excise tax on tobacco products to Secretary Salvador Medialdea support the government’s health said in a text message on Thurscare program, Malacañang said. day. The law will increase the exRepublic Act 11346 will hike tobacco excise tax rates and will cise tax slapped on cigarettes impose taxes on heated tobacco from P35 to P45 per pack next and vapor products. The mea- year. The tax will be raised to sure, which was transmitted to P50 per pack in 2021, P55 per Malacañang last June 27, would pack in 2022 and P60 per pack have lapsed into law on July 27 if in 2023. From being excise-free, heatDuterte did not act on it. “To address the urgent need to ed tobacco products or e-cigaprotect the right to health of the rettes will be levied P10 per back Filipino people and to maintain beginning next year. The tax will a broader fiscal space to support increase by 5% every year effecby Alexis
romero Philstar.com
tive Jan. 1, 2021. Vapor products, individual cartridge, refill, pod or container of its liquid solutions or gel will be charged P10 per 10 ml. Products that are more than 50 ml will be slapped with P50 excise tax plus P10 per additional 10 ml. The taxing of e-cigarettes is seen to raise an additional P2 billion in state revenues. The Finance department has said the tobacco excise tax law would generate P15 billion in revenues during the first year of its implementation. The government has been raising taxes on tobacco products to discourage the public from consuming them and to generate additional revenues. n
Most Filipinos trust US, Japan; distrust China, Russia – poll MOST Filipinos trust the U.S. and Japan while a bigger number have shown distrust towards Washington’s rivals, China and Russia, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey released on Friday, July 26. The survey, conducted from June 24 to 30 among 1,200 Filipino adults nationwide, showed that 89 percent of Filipinos trust the U.S. while 79 percent trust Japan. Majority of Filipinos also expressed trust for Australia (76 percent), Canada (71 percent), Malaysia (63 percent), the United Kingdom (56 percent), Indonesia (56 percent) and Vietnam (53 percent). “More particularly, the prevailing opinion among Filipinos is that the Philippines should extend a fair amount of trust in Australia (63 percent), Canada (59 percent), Japan (59 percent), the U.S. (56 percent), and Malaysia (51 percent),” Pulse Asia said. “Meanwhile, big pluralities are of the view that the Philippines should show a fair amount of trust toward the United Kingdom (47 percent), Indonesia (47 percent), and Vietnam (44 percent),” it added. The nationwide survey, conducted through face-to-face interviews, had a ± 2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. On the other hand, 74 percent of respondents believe that the Philippines should not trust China at all, while 57 percent said Russia should not be trusted at all.
Of those who distrust Russia, 40 percent said the Philippines should not show too much trust for the emerging world power and 18 percent said it should not be trusted at all. More Filipinos believe China should not be trusted at all, with 39 percent of them saying this, and 35 percent saying that it should not be trusted too much. Distrust for China jumped by 14 percentage points from 60 percent in December, while distrust for Russia increased by three percentage points from 54 percent. Only 42 percent of Filipinos trust Russia, and a smaller 26 percent said they trust China. The U.S. and Japan are the foremost allies of the Philippines. The two powerful countries, once rivals during the World War Two, are now major allies. The result of the survey is in contradiction with the attitude of President Rodrigo Duterte towards the U.S., China and Russia. Since assuming the presidency, Duterte lashed out at the U.S. for its criticisms to his war on drugs, which has claimed thousands of lives. He was also angered by Washington’s supposed moves to cut aid to Manila and a U.S. senator’s threat to block arms sale to the Philippines. Early this year, Duterte said the Philippines would no longer buy weapons from the U.S., which threatened to impose sanctions on countries procuring
arms from Russia but softened his stance last month, saying he will reconsider in light of a change in American policy. However, the President clarified he would not abandon agreements made with Russia and China, since the two countries gave arms “practically [for] free” when the Philippines needed them. Duterte has established closer ties with the two U.S. rivals as part of his foreign policy pivot. In particular, Duterte has sought to enhance the country’s ties with China despite the unresolved dispute over the West Philippine Sea, where Beijing has stepped up militarization and island-building activities, encroaching into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Duterte has also refused to flaunt the Philippines’ victory against China in a United Nations-backed arbitration court in 2016 which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims to the waters. But the President defended his approach, saying Manila cannot yet stand up to Beijing, whose military and economy are far superior. Recently, Duterte said he would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. and ask the country’s long-time ally to send its Seventh Fleet to the disputed waters for a confrontation with Chinese forces. The Philippines claims parts of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone and calls it the West Philippine Sea. (Catherine Valente/ManilaTimes.net)
Palace thumbs down ‘piecemeal’... PAGE A7
when such proposed amendment is submitted to them for ratification,” he said. “It’s the people who will decide whether or not they will extend the term or limit the term of senators and members of Congress,” Panelo said. House leaders, meanwhile, said a “surgical” change in the language of the economic provisions of the Constitution has greater chances of succeeding than a wholesale revision of the basic law of the land. “I think most sectors of the nation agree that there is a need for economic Charter change. I believe that the Senate and the business community will support it. So it will most likely succeed,” deputy speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said. He expressed confidence that the House would be able to convince senators to go for economic Cha-cha. “It’s less controversial than revising the Charter’s political provisions,” he said. Gonzales has filed the second economic Cha-cha resolution in the House. Business support Another House leader, Rep. Mikee Romero of party-list group 1-Pacman, said he has no doubt that the business community would support the effort to install a mechanism to relax the Constitution’s economic provisions if the situation requires it. Romero, a billionaire-businessman who heads the 54-member Party-list Coalition, said Filipino and foreign businessmen have been suggesting that foreign
ownership restrictions of land and businesses be eased to allow the entry of more foreign investments. “I am sure that this proposal, if it materializes, will enable our country to attract more foreign investments, which will translate into more jobs and income for our people and sustained economic development for the nation,” he said. In Joint Resolution No. 4, Gonzales limited his surgical Cha-cha to changing the language of two economic provisions on the national economy and patrimony, and one political proviso on the term of office of House members. He suggested that private corporations or associations, “whose shares of stocks are owned or controlled at least 60 percent by Filipino citizens,” be allowed to lease “alienable lands of the public domain” for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years. Gonzales’ second proposed economic amendment puts a qualification on the 60-percent Filipino ownership of a public utility enjoying a franchise grant from Congress. The recommended new provision requires that such ownership be based on “voting” capital, instead of voting and non-voting capital. It also limits the life of the franchise to 25 years, instead of 50 years. However, the suggested amendment authorizes Congress to “change the voting capital requirement and the period of the franchise…considering national welfare and security, and for this purpose, such entities shall be
managed by the citizens of the Philippines.” As for the term of office of House members, Gonzales is proposing a change from three years with two reelections, or a total of nine consecutive years, to five years with one reelection, or a total of 10 years. His resolution does not touch the tenure of senators, which is six years with one reelection for a total of 12 consecutive years. Joint Resolution No. 4 is a departure from Resolution of Both Houses No. 8, which Gonzales and then representative Eugene de Vera of party-list group ABS filed in the last Congress and which advocated a comprehensive revision of the Constitution to give way to a federal system. Rodriguez, meanwhile, has proposed that the term of office of House members, senators and local officials be fixed at four years with two reelections. He suggested that the Senate be composed of 27, instead of 24, members to be elected from nine regions, instead of at large, with three senators per region. A congressman who did not want to be named said he does not like the idea of allowing lawmakers to relax or lift economic restrictions in the Constitution. “That means lobbying by big businesses, and lobbying means corruption,” he said. He said some business groups, wary of the prospect of lobbying and corruption, are proposing that lawmakers, in doing Chacha, should directly relax or lift the restrictions instead of authorizing themselves or their successors to do it. n
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 27-30, 2019
A11
A12 july 27-30, 2019 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN jOuRNAl
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019
SHOWBIZ&STYLE
B
Journal ‘Goin’ Bulilit’ stars say Fil-Am dancer Bailey Munoz advances goodbye to 14-year-old show to ’So You Think You Can Dance’ top 20 by Billy
De lA AJPress
by Deni Rose M. AfiniDAD-BeRnARDo Philstar.com
AFTER a 14-year run, ABSCBN has announced that it is pulling the plug of its hit sitcom “Goin’ Bulilit.� The TV network made the announcement in an episode teaser for its last two weeks. As tribute, some of the show’s stars shared anecdotes and throwback images. “’Di ko makakalimutan ‘yung unang audition ko for ‘Bulilit’,� tweeted actress Miles Ocampo. “Nandoon si Direk B (Edgar ‘Bobot’ Mortiz). Madami tinanong sa amin pero tandang tanda ‘yung isang tanong niya na, ‘Paano magalit nanay mo sayo?’ Eh laging galit nanay ko noong bata ako, na perfect ko ata! #KwentongBulilit #GoodbabyeBulilit,� she wrote in an Instagram post. One of the sitcom’s pioneers, Sharlene San Pedro, also presented her audition video and pictures of fond memories in
The current cast of the ABS-CBN’s hit kiddie gag show “Goin’ Bulilit.�
the show. Meanwhile, One of the show’s directors, Badjie Mortiz, gave a sneek peek of the finale, saying in the caption: “For always. #GoinBulilit.� A sketch comedy featuring child actors portraying adult roles in different funny situations,
ABS-CBN photo
“Goin’ Bulilit� first aired in ABSCBN on Feb. 6, 2005. Created and directed by seasoned comedian and director Edgar Mortiz, the show has spawned stars such as Kathryn Bernardo, Nash Aguas, Alexa Ilacad, Jane Oineza, CJ Navato, Bugoy Carino and Ella Cruz.
Bea breaks silence on rumored breakup with Gerald claiming that her boyfriend, Gerald Anderson and actress Julia Barretto, were seen being ACTRESS Bea Alonzo has sweet together at the birthday finally come out to reveal the party of actor Rayver Cruz. real score between her and Bea posted on her Instagram boyfriend Gerald Anderson. account a photo with nothing In a tweet by ABS-CBN News but black. on Friday, July 26, the actress “’You can’t make the same was quoted as saying: “To my m i s t a k e t w i c e , t h e s e c o n d understanding, we did not time you make it, it’s not a break up. He just started not mistake anymore, it’s a choice’ talking to me.� ENOUGH,� Bea wrote. Bea began making headJulia’s love team partner and lines last Sunday after posting ex-boyfriend Joshua Garcia a cryptic message on her Ins- liked Bea’s post. tagram account after she liked In her Instagram story, Bea Alonzo Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo a post of an Instagram user PAGE B3 by Deni Rose M. AfiniDAD-BeRnARDo Philstar.com
CRuz
FOLLOWING Filipina American dancer Hannahlei Cabanilla’s win on “So You Think You Can Danceâ€? Season 15 (SYTYCD) last year, another Fil-Am talent is set to make a splash in the American dance contest’s ongoing 16th season. On its 7th episode, Filipino American dancer Bailey Munoz from Las Vegas, wowed the judges as he danced to “Begginâ€? by Four Seasons during the Academy Round of the competition. He received the golden ticket making him part of the top 20 hopefuls out of 64 contestants who will move on to the next round. Fellow Filipino American dancer John John Tarrayo failed to make the cut, however. Also known as “BailRok,â€? 19year-old Munoz is no stranger to the spotlight. In an interview with ABS-CBN News’ Bev Llorente, BailRok gave the news crew a tour to his house in Las Vegas. He proudly showed his wall of fame, a collection of his childhood photos with A-list celebrities he has worked with and met through dancing. “When I toured with Bruno Mars, it was such an amazing experience. He is the coolest guy. He is a good person to look up to,â€? he shared. In 2010, then 9-year-old BailRok landed a spot on the semi-finals of “America’s Got Talent.â€? “I started at a very young age. It was such a blessing for me being on ‘America’s Got Talent’ when I was younger,â€? he told ABS-CBN News. “I’ve been lucky enough to perform with Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber. I got to dance with BeyoncĂŠ, Megan Trainor.â€? His other notables performances include an appearance in Chris Brown’s music video, in “Dancing with the Stars,â€? and at a New York Knicks’ game. As for his current journey on SY-
TYCD, BailRok hopes that his love and passion for dancing will help him through the tough competition ahead. He promised to give it his all as he considers getting the golden ticket not only a dream come true, but a chance of a lifetime as well. “Learning all the [different genres of] of dance is so hard because everything has a certain technique whether it be ballroom, ballet or contemporary. I’m just stepping in that mindset like if I’m learning choreography of contemporary, I have to pretend that I am a contemporary dancer besides just being a B-Boy,� Bailrok shared. “B-boying/girling� is a form of hip-hop dancing which has evolved into a highly demanding type of dance physically and mentally. Behind BailRok’s success, and his SYTYCD journey, are his proud parents, Ferdie and Barbra Munoz, and her younger sister Faithe. “We haven’t really digested what he has experienced through dance,� Ferdie Munoz told ABSCBN News. “I know how hard he works when he’s performing at something. Specifically for SYTYCD, he’s spent months training. I know that this is something he is preparing for,� Barbra Munoz shared. “During that audition, I was not necessarily
Bailey “Bailrok� Munoz made it to the top 20 of “So You Think You Can Dance� season 16. Photos by Bev Llorente
scared or nervous, it’s a combination of both because I know he really wanted it and worked so hard for it.� Next week, BailRok and the rest of the top 20 performers will partner with SYTYCD “All-Stars� to compete for a spot in the top 10. “So You Think You Can Dance� airs on Fox on Monday nights at 8 p.m..
Bailrok with his parents, Fredie and Barbra, and younger sister Faither.
Tapping Into the Marvels of Maple Syrup By Grace O
Despite the fact that it was imported from far away Vermont and Canada, maple syrup was one of those things we always had on hand in the Philippines when I was growing up. My mother would give it to us with pancakes and use it as a glaze for her famous fruitcake. Maple syrup is the concentrated sap from sugar maple trees that grow only in New England and Eastern Canada. It’s collected, usually starting in March, when the nights are still near freezing but the days are starting to warm. The sugar in maple V\UXS LV FRQVLGHUHG XQUHÀ QHG DQG FRQWDLQV VPDOO EXW VLJQLÀ FDQW QXWULHQWV WKDW FRQWULEXWH WR JRRG health. After all, the sap of a maple tree contains minerals and antioxidants that nourish the tree and keep it healthy, and so it does for us. Just like WKHUH DUH UHÀ QHG DQG XQUHÀ QHG JUDLQ EDVHG LWHPV PDSOH V\UXS LV DQ XQUHÀ QHG IRUP RI VXJDU MXVW OLNH honey. In fact, maple syrup has a glycemic index of 54 and is considered a low glycemic food, which means it affects blood sugar less than white, UHÀ QHG VXJDU *, DQG KRQH\ *, DFFRUGLQJ to the International Maple Syrup Institute.
QXWULWLRQDO VXSHUVWDUV FDEEDJH WRPDWRHV DQG FDQWDORXSH DQG MXVW XQGHU FDUURWV As for using maple syrup, think beyond pancakes and French toast. Put maple syrup in oatmeal, sweeten coffee and tea or try one of these delicious recipes from the Coombs Family Farms.
Maple Meatball Hors d’oeuvre
In a quarter cup of maple syrup, there are:
Ingredients
‡ FDORULHV YV IRU WKH VDPH DPRXQW RI KLJK IUXFWRVH FRUQ V\UXS DQG IRU KRQH\
1 medium onion chopped
‡ RI WKH GDLO\ YDOXH '9 IRU PDQJDQHVH which helps the formation of connective tissue, bones, blood clotting and brain function ‡ '9 IRU ULERà DYLQ D % YLWDPLQ WKDW KHOSV convert food into fuel ‡ RI '9 IRU ]LQF ZKLFK KHOSV ERRVW WKH immune system. Maple syrup also has an Oxygen Radical $EVRUEDQFH &DSDFLW\ 25$& SHU JP RI ZKLFK PDNHV LW KLJKHU LQ DQWLR[LGDQWV WKDQ
ABOUT GRACE O
2 lbs. lean ground beef 2 eggs 1 tsp. salt Bread crumbs 1 1/2 cups chili sauce 1/2 cup Coombs Family Farms organic maple syrup
Instructions Combine beef, onion, eggs, salt in a bowl. Mix well and add enough bread crumbs to bind mixture. Shape in small balls. Brown in skillet. Pour rest of ingredients over meat, gently mix together and simmer for 25 minutes. Serve with wooden picks.
Note: l @Ÿ Y g recipe by adding 1 Tbs. of parsley and 1 Tbs. of garlic
GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooks — The Age Gracefully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, which recently won Gourmand’s ‘Best in the World’ Award for Innovation. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry. Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com
B JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
Team Philippines triumphs again at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Long Beach, California. The team is bringing home a total of 390 medals and awards: diamond and superior director, Gerry Mercado; 1st place production group competition, 2nd place in best in national costume, three New York Film Academy Scholarships, 120 gold medals, 86 silver, 76 bronze, 16 finalist medals, 36 semi-finalist medals, and 49 division winner plaques.
Team Philippines brings home the largest number of medals at 2019 World Championship of Performing Arts The 165-strong Philippine delegation came to Long Beach, California for the 2019 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) with the mantra “LABAN PILIPINAS.” The Filipino talents delivered on that mindset, as they are bringing home a total of 390 medals. Coalixon, a group of three boys from the Sultan Kudarat province, bagged the Senior Grand Champion Dance Group of the World award. The humble and soft-spoken boys transformed into fierce dancers on stage, displaying their skill, discipline and precise movements during their routine, making them the runaway winners for the Star Trophy. Last Saturday, July 12, Team Philippines won 25 gold medals for Group Production, a medley of well-loved Disney songs complete with authentic Disney costumes, defeating Germany and France for the Gold. The Disney Princes and Princesses, along with 17 other members, formed the ensemble cast by Team Philippines’ Creative Director, Annie Mercado (also the manager and aunt of celebrity artist
Jed Madela) and were trained by Team Philippines officers: Frances Anne Virtudazo (vocals) Raven Pedron and Geca Morales (choreography) and Kevin Hermogenes (music production). The performance was so moving and convincing that there was not a dry eye in the audience. They received a rousing standing ovation from the judges and teams from over 60 countries. At the Opening Ceremonies, Team Philippines came in colorful and intricate national costumes depicting their heritage: the various tribes of the Luzon region, the festivities of the Visayas region and the Royalties of Mindanao. The beautiful presentation won for them the silver medal. This year, the exceptional National Director of Team Philippines, Gerry Mercado, not only won the Superior National Director again, which he has won since 2013. But he was also awarded the Diamond Award, which is the most sought-after award by all national directors. This award is given to a director who can bring 100 or more entries into WCOPA. Mercado
Jegad Dail, Welhart Hacosta, Chris Jann Lloyd Jaugan of Coalixon, the senior grand champion dance group of world. The trio also won gold in the open and hip hop dance categories and silver in the contemporary dance competition.
made history by being the very first national director to achieve this. WCOPA gave him a diamond-studded emblem ring to mark this unparalleled achievement. Through the untiring efforts of the regional directors of WCOPA Team Philippines — Abby Mercado (Luzon) Jed Madela (Visayas), Ann Casteel (Davao), Dr. Samuel Ramos (Soccsksargen) and the able supervision of Officers Danielle Mercado, Regie Blanco, Daphne Jontarciego, Flordiliza Paclib, Karen Ventura — the very organized Team Philippines 2019 is bringing home a total of 390 medals and awards. Each delegate of Team Philippines contributed to the total number of medals and awards won by a single country: three New York Film Academy Scholarships, 136 Gold medals, 86 Silver, 76 Bronze, 36 SemiFinalist medals, and 49 Division Winner Plaques. This is the largest number of medals won since Team Philippines joined in Delegates of Team Philippines 2019 after the WCOPA finals show on Friday, July 19 in Long Beach, California. 2005. The delegation continues to instill Filipino pride and inspiration for future talents to come.
Team Philippines director Gerry Mercado and the WCOPA Diamond and Superior National Director (1st place in production group competition) awards.
Six out of the nine Grand Finalists from Team Philippines this year (L-R): April Abegail Chiu, female Junior Grand Finalist for Modeling; Karl Jade Ventura, male Junior Grand Finalist for Modeling; Jasmine Heart Domingo, also a Female Junior Grand Finalist for Modeling; Gerry Mercado, WCOPA Team Philippines National Director; and COALIXION, Jegad Dail, Welhart Hacosta, Chris Jann Lloyd Jaugan, Senior Grand Champion Dance Group of the World.
WCOPA Team Philippines 2019 in their National Costumes during the Parade of Nations where they won 2nd place for Best in National Costume.
AJPress photos by Andy Tecson and Ding Carreon
Features
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019
B
Gabbi gets new soap in place of ‘Rosang Agimat’ by lhar
Santiago ManilaTimes.net
IT’S confirmed! GMA Network has given Gabbi Garcia an all new series headliner after her original solo project, “Rosang Agimat,” was shelved following veteran Eddie Garcia’s unfortunate accident on its set. The buzz is this soap’s a big one and pairs the 20-year-old actress and commercial model with one of the network’s hottest leading men, Derrick Monasterio. Titled “Beautiful Justice,” it is an action drama series where both lead stars will be required to do a lot of action routines. Making the series more exciting is a star-studded support cast led by Yasmien Kurdi, Bea Binene, Gil Cuerva, Valeen Montenegro, Bing Loyzaga and Victor Neri. According to production, the lineup of actors is still incomplete with several roles still up for casting. Beautiful Justice will see Gabbi and Derrick working for the first time and thankfully, there was instant rapport between them during the initial story conference. Speaking with Showbuzz, Derrick noted, “I like Gabbi’s bubbly personality. We’ve known each other for some time now but we never got to be close since we never got to work together. But when we started talking during the story conference, she was so nice talaga. She’s the type na magiging at ease ka agad.” In turn, Gabbi said of her new leading man, “Whenever Derrick and I bumped into each other at GMA, it would always be a simple ‘hi, hello.’ Wala
Gabbi Garcia Photo from Instagram/@gabbi
naman kasi kaming pag-usapan because we never worked together. At least with Beautiful Justice, we’ll finally have something to talk about di’ba? I have a feeling na sobrang magaang katrabaho si Derrick because it’s fun talking to him.” At the moment, Gabbi and Derrick are neither at liberty to talk about the story and their characters in detail. “One thing that we can say is that we’re very excited about it,” Derrick enthused. “This kind of story is something very new to us, and when we talked about our characters during the story conference, ang dami naming gustong gawin. Basta kakaiba siya.” Training will be key when it comes to preparing for the series. “The role is very physical so we will have to really prepare ourselves beforehand,” Gabbi
chimed in. “I’ve already arranged my schedule in a way that I can prioritize the series. Kasi story con pa lang, we were told we’d be having one of the trainings real soon. Ako naman, I’m leaving my schedule open because I really want to be ready for the demands of my character.” True enough, Gabbi and Derrick found themselves called to a firing range to work on their shooting skills two days later. Committing their hundred percent to the soap, they arrived very early for the session, which also had a few of their co-stars joining them. The day started with a detailed lecture on gun use and safety, they soon found themselves putting on protective earphones and goggles, and being taught how to handle a firearm, all the way to changing magazines and of course, shooting. Making sure they had the proper form and concentration every time, the stars were soon hitting the target. “It’s not easy to get the hang of it right away but I have to say I really had fun when they switched water balloons for the target,” chuckled Derrick. For Gabbi, the entire day was one unforgettable experience. All praises for her firing instructor Dindo De Jesus, she added, “I felt this certain confidence knowing that the one teaching me is an expert. I placed my trust in him because he really knew what he was doing. Sa mga sinasabi niya, sa mga movements niya, you know he’s got you covered.”
Yassi speaks up on rumored love triangle with Coco, Julia by Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
ACTRESS Yassi Pressman has finally addressed rumors linking her to “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” co-star Coco Martin. In an interview with the media during the recent Greenwich Lasagna launch, where she is the endorser, Yassi said there is no romantic relationship between her and Coco. “Hindi po. I think, feeling ko po, nadadala sila sa kuwento po namin, at masaya kami kung ‘yun ang nararamdaman nila, at para po sa akin that’s a good
thing,” Yassi said. She also added that she does not mind the controversies because she knows what is true. “Wala naman po kasi akong ikaka-guilty. Pag meron akong naririnig, hindi naman totoo, okay lang,” she added. Yassi refused to give comments on the rumored childbirth of Coco’s rumored girlfriend Julia Montes. “Pagdating po siguro dun, sila na lang po ‘yung tanungin niyo, kasi hindi naman po ako kasali dun. Wala naman po akong karapatan magsalita,” Yassi Pressman Yassi said. Photo from Instagram/@yassipressman
Matteo tells Sarah on her birthday: ‘We are bulletproof together’ by
KriSSy aguilar Inquirer.net
ACTOR-athlete Matteo Guidicelli wore his heart on his sleeve as he wrote a message for girlfriend Sarah Geronimo on her birthday. Guidicelli took to Instagram to pen a message for Geronimo who just turned 31 on Thursday, July 25. “My love, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You are the most beautiful woman to ever cross my life. We keep our relationship very private but before the day ends let me say that I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH,” Guidicelli wrote. “No one and nothing can stop me from loving you more and more each day. We are bulletproof together love, keep that glow in your eyes and that magical heart. You’ve touched my life in ways that I cannot explain,
Sarah Geronimo
thank you. Keep being you and shine forever! I love you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” he continued. Personalities like Angelica Panganiban, Angel Locsin and Tim Yap likewise sent greetings to Geronimo under Guidicelli’s
Photo from Instagram/@matteog
post. The couple have kept their relationship away from the limelight since confirming it in 2014, with Guidicelli posting photos of them occasionally on social media.
No Kim in Xian’s surprising foray into filmmaking by
Marinel r. Cruz Inquirer.net
“THIS is something really personal. I’d rather not use Kim to promote it,” said Xian Lim, who is directing the indie movie “Tabon,” when asked why he didn’t include rumored girlfriend Kim Chiu in the cast. “Tabon,” the screenplay of which Xian cowrote with Eseng Cruz, is an entry in the 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. Xian Lim with Kim Chiu PAGE B4
Photo from Instagram/@xianlimm
Bea breaks silence on... PAGE B1 Bea also wrote, “Something I learned about people… If they do it once, they’ll do it again.” According to another ABSCBN report, Bea declined to answer when asked about her
third anniversary plans with Anderson, who is rumored to be having an affair with Julia, his “Between Maybes” co-star. Following Bea’s posts, Julia’s mother, Marjorie, has commented on social media,
saying that Julia and Gerald are just friends and that they are planning to take legal action against the Internet user who posted Julia and Gerald’s photos from Rayver’s birthday bash.
IS THERE A WAY TO EXPEDITE THE PETITION FOR A 42-YEAR OLD SPECIAL CHILD SINCE HER GRANDMOTHER WHO USED TO CARE FOR HER HAS ALREADY PASSED ON? THIS QUESTION AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” The first batch of Kapamilya who came to the “Citizen Pinoy” taping in Illinois have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out if the petition for a married son, that has dragged on for 15 years, can be expedited since he is needed by his aging parents to care for them. Can a U.S. citizen petition her mother who has married twice, but her first marriage has not yet been annulled? Get answers to these questions and more on an encore episode of — “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday at 6:15 p.m .PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/ Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)
Bea Alonzo is moving on and so should we By Monet
Lu
THIS just in: After being silent amidst the controversies surrounding her relationship – or “supposed breakup” – with actor Gerald Anderson, actress Bea Alonzo has opened up. These were her exact words, “Honestly to my understanding, we did not break up, he just started not talking to me.” Hateful comments in 3… 2… 1… Correct me if I am wrong but “to my understanding” (and maybe to everyone who read or heard her response), the guy pretty much ghosted her? Am I right or am I right? I am not the first person who has said this but if the guy didn’t have the guts to formally break up with his girlfriend of several years, then what the heck are we still doing talking about him? So let me echo what thousands of netizens are saying, “Bea deserves better.” And I think she knows it too. But to further prove my point, allow me to point out the facts that would perhaps remind our dear Bea that famous line in
Gerald Anderson and Bea Alonzo
her movie, “One More Chance,” that was ironically said by her character partner Popoy to his friend Chino. “...kaya tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal natin kasi baka may bagong darating na mas okay, na masmamahalin tayo. Yung taong di tayo sasaktan at paaasahin. Yung nagiisang taong magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin, ng lahat ng mali sa buhay mo (The reason
ABS-CBN photo
that people we love leaves us is because maybe someone better will come along. The One who will not hurt or make us hope for nothing. The one person who will right the wrongs in our life).” Point number one: Bea was spared from a lifetime of hurts. The way she supposedly PAGE B4
FEATURES
B4 JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Bea breaks silence on... PAGE B3 “Kim will always be an inspiration in anything I do. She knows that this is something that I want to do for myself. She congratulates me all the time for my journey as a filmmaker,” Xian told the Inquirer. Xian did let on that Kim would be at an ABS-CBN-organized event in San Francisco, California, when “Tabon” has its gala screening on Aug. 7, 6:15 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philip-
pines, the venue of the annual Cinemalaya fest. “She promised to make time to watch this when she gets back,” he declared. “Tabon,” which Xian described as a whodunit film, is the result of his longtime fascination for mystery. “Ever since I was a kid, my pastime, as well as my mom’s, has been watching films of that genre, like ‘Rosemary’s Baby,’ and reading books by Ray Bradbury or Sydney Sheldon.” For him, the challenge of mak-
ing a film for the first time was “how to gather the courage and confidence to begin shooting. I was honestly surprised that my material was chosen. It seemed such a long time ago when I submitted my script. I totally forgot that I did it.” To make things easier for him, Xian said he got help from people who were good at what they do. “When they first told me the news that my film was among the finalists, I called up the directors I’ve worked with before. First was Direk Joyce (Bernal). She said, ‘Halika! Maglakad tayo. Pagkwentuhan natin ’yan.’ Then, I also spoke with Direk Mae (Cruz). They’re my go-to persons.” Xian claimed to have always wanted to direct since 2009, when he acted in his first movie, “Two Funerals,” by the late Gil Portes. “I remember that I kept asking him, ‘Direk paano po ba?’ He simply said, ‘Just do it. A lot of people will try to discourage you, but do it anyway.’ Now, I understand what he meant. If you want to direct, there are a lot of ways to learn how to do it. What’s important is that you are able to express your own ideas,” Xian explained. “I consider being part of Cinemalaya a great opportunity to share the stories I want to tell.” Directing “Tabon” has changed Xian in the sense that “I now have a totally different opinion on the people who work behind the camera. I realized that actors have it easy. We’d go to the set, follow instructions, then go home. Filmmaking goes way beyond that. I am responsible for everyone on the set.” In terms of working with the cast, Xian got actors he wasn’t ashamed to ask help from. “I told them that this was going to be a collaboration. I’ve worked with them before, so I already know what they’re like on the set,” he pointed out. The film, about a son’s journey back to his hometown to uncover the mystery behind his father’s murder, features Christopher Roxas, Ynna Asistio, Benjie Felipe, Menggie Cobarrubias and Dexter Doria. With his experiences in making “Tabon,” will he still direct movies in the future? “Definitely! The fight doesn’t end with the release of this film. I’m so happy with it. It’s hard to explain. And I wish viewers would give it a chance,” Xian declared.
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
The ballad of the significant boxer MOONLIGHTING by MYLAH DE
LEON
LAS VEGAS – The odyssey of foibles and fallibility starts from the time they were lightweights, who labored in the anonymity of boxing vineyard — from the greatest names in the pugilistic arena, to the backyard of fighters who once were light as a cucumber in their salad years, to old ages credential couriers. Boxing is a brutal, abominable game, the human beast hitting itself. Yet as much as you reject or condemn it, boxing always excites in the end. When you’re there at the ringside, you get more and more excited, until you find yourself caught up in it, taking part, urging them on. There’s a tremendous fascination in boxing. It lasts only some few minutes and afterwards, you’re ashamed that you let go! We should have known that the champ north of 40 would trade in his gloves to focus on being a senator. But he stood across from a dismantled Thurman, in a way that defies logic. The world awaits, and saw his amazing longevity. The weigh in was one of the sports most dramatic pre-fight events. Four hours before, the line to see it snaked down hallways, past stores, a quarter mile of humanity. The reward is to be able to watch Pacquiao, Thurman and some other men stand on a scale in their underwear. On my ringside seat, it left nothing to the imagination. The Pacquiao victory It is old news. But it was all there. The night sang. There were more reasons for Filipino pride when fans swarmed to get a look at the fl exed, sculpted physique of this hero, defending his crown once more. Pacquiao, who is capable of punching with both hands, stood on the left of a middleweight which proved ablest to inflict relentless punishment against skilled warriors. One by one, boxing greats dropped to their knees before Manny — Barerra, Marquez, Morales, Solis, Diaz. Didn’t he dismantle De la Hoya into humiliation? Reduced Diaz’s handsome face to a bloody pulp? Hatton, the pride of England, was left out cold in round 2 before his head hit the canvas. Cotto’s pretty face swelled up like a pumpkin. Nothing prepared me for last Saturday, July 20. Everything collided for attention: the flashing lights — racing on and off, bizarre and beautiful, glittering and blinding. They were meant to confuse you, to make you think that there is no time in this city, no night or day in the future. It gave one a distinctly heady feeling of being on stage, or a carnival, or being part of a pageant – it’s flamboyance and extraordinary vigor, a world
Pacquiao lands a right hook on Thurman in the first round.
Sweet victory from a roaring 14,356 sold-out crowd.
apart so vibrantly decadent. The interview Mylah De Leon (MDL): Senator, what I’m going to ask you is no less serious. It concerns the possibility that one day you may govern the country. The possibility that you might become president of the Philippines. May I speak about it? Sen. Manny Pacquiao (SMP): Yes. MDL: Good. Until today you have never wanted to speak of it. SMP: No MDL: You have always avoided the question as if it implied shame, you ignored it. Why? SMP: Because, I wanted to become senator not president. Because I wanted to concentrate my energies in the fi eld that interested me at that time, just to work on that, the Senate. At the present time, I am not working in the field of the presidency. At present, becoming president is not the problem that concerns me. That field, that problem, is beyond my immediate programs. Far beyond, in the future. The present is the senate. The future is the future. The future will take care of itself. MDL: Certainly…you are very, very, young senator. SMP: Yes. MDL: (You have) All the time to become president. SMP: Thank you. MDL: And when your term as senator comes to an end, what will you do then? SMP: I shall run again for reelection as senator. There is no doubt of it. MDL: The election for the presidency of the Philippines is in 2022. A senator can stand, can he not, for the presidency
AJPress photos by Noel Ty
Wheeled around as crowds parted with security saying, “Make way, make way, HANDICAP!”
of the Philippines? SMP: Yes, certainly. Certainly a senator can stand for the presidency of the Philippines. Naturally! MDL: Well, senator, in our country too, there are those who think that one day you’ll be president of the Philippines. SMP: Thank you. Yes, thank you. MDL: You’ve been asked this before senator, did you expect this success? SMP: I hoped for it. When you trust completely in God, and you’re sure you do well in your job and share that success. So what does it mean that now? I am successful, (but) there are so many degrees of success. (Ending the conversation) Well, I’ll see you at the Bible study tonight. Stay healthy and be blessed Mrs. De Leon. MDL: Of course, senator, thank you. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com.
Bea Alonzo is moving on and so...
PAGE B3 found out about the alleged affair is so common nowadays — so common that we wish this didn’t happen when social media is in full swing and that one post can launch a thousand “likes” and with just a single like, you can already put the pieces together without looking for clues or knowing the whole story. After Bea made a series of cryptic posts on Instagram implying that she had been betrayed, her celebrity and noncelebrity friends have chimed in to show their support. And that is just one single cryptic post. At the same time, netizens noticed that Bea had liked an Instagram post showing Gerald and his “Between Maybes” co-star Julia Barretto, walking together outside a bar where they attended the birthday party of actor Rayver Cruz. The next thing you know, the story is conclusive: Gerald had been cheating on Bea with Julia. And there’s more. Julia’s ex-boyfriend, Joshua Garcia, has likewise posted a cryptic post on social media, only saying, “I’m mute.” And he apparently “liked” Bea’s cryptic post. You see, this was all going on under the prying eyes of netizens and as much as I hate to say this, I think this is the one time that I believe the truth wouldn’t have been revealed if none of those posts and likes surfaced. Hence my point that Bea was, in fact, spared from a lifetime of hurt. Imagine if she never found
out and maybe spent the rest of her life with someone who seems to keep forgetting that it’s not nice to just move onto the next girl you meet without ending the previous relationship first, which brings me to my next point. Point number two: History doesn’t lie and if he’s had the habit of going after his leading ladies — simultaneously so it seems — it would not hurt to be cautious. If one is to look back at all of the women who have been publicly linked to Gerald, Bea would definitely have second thoughts of entertaining the guy. First, there was Kim Chiu who was his on-screen partner for several movies before they eventually became a couple in real life until they broke up in 2010. After his four-year relationship with Kim, the actor grew close to Bea who asked him to wait and heal. Still, Gerald continued to woo her, and eventually, the relationship became official. But it didn’t last very long. In 2011, Gerard starred in the romance flick opposite Sarah Geronimo. The actor showed interest in Sarah and started to court her—going as far as visiting their family home and meeting her parents. Around a year later, Gerald stopped wooing Sarah. Then he started a relationship with Maja Salvador in 2013. This relationship drove a wedge between Maja and Kim Chiu, who used to be the best of friends. Gerald and Maja broke up in 2015. In 2016—after six years—Gerald is back in Bea’s
arms and now here we are. I could say that Gerald is just someone who falls in and out of love easily but that wouldn’t be fair. Even if it’s the case, he should still do the proper thing and officially end a relationship before starting another one. But the best thing he or anyone could do is NOT fall for someone else while you are in a relationship. I mean seriously. As for Bea, she is a beautiful, strong and talented woman. And she has a lot of people supporting her, especially during this emotional turmoil. She will get over this and she will survive. As I read on the news recently, Bea put on a brave face in her interview as she said: “I feel like I’m a strong woman and feeling ko pinalaki ako ng ABSCBN na professional (ABS-CBN trained me to be professional) and I always have to show up regardless of whatever’s happening in my life.” When asked if she was ok, she said, “I’m moving forward.” That’s right Bea. You are and we should too. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com.
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019
B
B JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019
COMMUNITY Journal
C
SouthBay Pavilion in Carson gears up for second Long Beach Bacolod Association announces small business annual Travel, Trade and Consumer event Two-day event features an array of businesses, entertainment and activities
awardee for Masskara Festival
Sample of booths highlighting Philippine-made products at the Travel, Trade & Consumer Roadshow.
ALL roads will lead to the SouthBay Pavillion on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4 in Carson, California as industry players from both the U.S. and the Philippines are poised to participate as exhibitors and resource speakers at the second annual Travel, Trade and Consumer (TTC) expo. The TTC is a multi-zone event that is open to the public, who can freely explore exhibitor booths throughout the mall, attend informational business talks and seminars, and discover Filipino food items and other products. Confirmed exhibitors include Philippine Foodtrade Corporation, the makers of the Tropics Brand of food items and groceries; SMDC Realty, Megaworld, International Package Shipping, AE & Associates, LLC: Health Information Management and Medical Record Coding, and PNB Remittance Centers, Inc. EC Ferrer Customs Broker and Asia Pacific Container Line Inc. facilitated the arrival of goods from the Philippines, including Nutridense’s Rice Mongo Curls. EC Ferrer is also spearheading Import/Export, Procurement and Fulfillment at the B2B Area on Saturday, August 3. Also participating are Planet 63, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA, the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce, and
Auntie Dees’ Pan De Manila. More Speakers for B2B on August 4 Ferdinand Soriano has been a TTC Business Consultant since its inception. This year, Soriano will speak on marketing products and services to meet global standards. Soriano is focused on consistently improving valued skills as an Event Marketer and Organizer. He is a Product Presenter/Speaker, Social Media Marketer, Relationship Builder, and Business Development Analyst. He also works in Logistics Management, Product Procurement and Fulfillment. Ellen Samson, the current President of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles, is one of the dynamic founding board of directors of the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce. She is a successful businesswoman herself, as an owner of American Geriatric, which provides health coordination, professional caregiving and family dynamic support services to families of seniors faced with progressing health and memory problems. In pursuing her business, Samson realized the power of working with a Chamber network. She will discuss how to get the most out of a Chamber of Commerce. Katherine Bercasio is an accomplished and indefatigable graphic designer and visual strategist whose works have left an indelible imprint across the
Romeo Garcia of Romeo Chocolates Ribbon cutting for the 2018 Travel, Trade and Consumer Roadshow, which will return again this August 3 and 4 at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, California. AJPress photo
globe. She began her career in the Philippines, designing the local editions of Cosmopolitan and Maxim magazines, and as Art and Creative Director for Summit Media and ABS-CBN. Bercasio will speak on strategies for visual impact that she has effectively uses to help businesses develop their image and branding. Redy Babasa-Thompson is a Business Loan Officer at the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE). He specializes in Commercial and Consumer Lending, and SBA 7a & 504 Loan Programs. He will help demystify applying for business loans, and proved information on what programs are available for business owners, and how to qualify for
them. Entertainment Local artists will be gracing the stage at the Atrium including the Union Band, who specializes in danceable Original Pilipino Music, rock vocalist Malou Toler, and up and coming Kim Pidazo, who will be one of the front acts in Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez’s highly anticipated reunion concert tour, “TwoGether Again� in at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles on August 10. During the two days, attendees can expect a schedule of activities, including the raffle of a Philippine Airlines roundtrip ticket from LA to Manila.For more information about the TTC on Aug. 3 and 4, visit www.traveltradeconsumer.com. n
THE Long Beach Bacolod Association will present the Small Business Award to Romeo Garcia during its MassKara Festival on Sunday, August 4 at Recreation Park. Entrance is FREE and attendees can expect an array of food and entertainment, including a stunning performance direct from Bacolod, by the award-winning MassKara dancers! It’s easy to fall in love with chocolate. Chef Romeo Garcia certainly did when he discovered a passion for chocolate making while taking cooking classes 10 years ago in San Francisco during the weekend to unwind from a fastpaced career in higher education. In his search for re-centering and relaxing from long work days,
Photo by Sara Hickman
Romeo became enamored with the artistry of design, the balance of flavors, and the richness of the story of cacao and chocolatemaking. An avid learner, Romeo decided to take a creative sabbatical and a career change. He enrolled and graduated from Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts, completed the Master Chocolatier Program in Belgium, and toured boutique chocolate shops in Paris, Rome, & Brussels. He continued his studies with Chef Russ Thayer in Chicago Chocolate Academy and with Chef Melissa Coppel and Chef Gabriele Riva in Las Vegas Atelier d’ Coppel. Starting with pop-ups in 2014, Romeo began sharing his creations around Long Beach while taking courses with the Small
u PAGE C3
FOOTSTEPs OF ST. ANTHONY mary CLARET 6HSW WR ĹĄ Spiritual Director: REV BILL CAO
6DLQW $QWKRQ\ &ODUHW \ &ODUÂŁ ZDV ERUQ LQ 6DOOHQW %DUFHORQD 6SDLQ RQ 'HFHPEHU +H ZDV WKH ˉ IWK RI HOHYHQ FKLOGUHQ RI -RKQ &ODUHW DQG -RVHSKLQH &ODUÂŁ +H ZDV EDSWL]HG RQ &KULVWPDV 'D\ 7KH ȢVSLULWXDO IDWKHU RI &XEDČŁ ZDV D PLVVLRQDU\ UHOLJLRXV IRXQGHU VRFLDO UH IRUPHU TXHHQČ V FKDSODLQ ZULWHU DQG SXEOLVKHU DUFKELVKRS DQG UHIXJHH +H ZDV D 6SDQLDUG ZKRVH ZRUN WRRN KLP WR WKH &DQDU\ ,VODQGV &XED 0DGULG DQG 3DULV DQG WR WKH )LUVW 9DWLFDQ &RXQFLO +H PDGH WKUHH VHSDUDWH SLOJULPDJHV WR 2XU /DG\ RI WKH 3LOODU SDWURQHVV RI 6SDLQ WR WKH 9LUJLQ RI 0RQWVHUUDW SDWURQHVV RI &DWDORQLD DQG WR 2XU /DG\ RI )XVVLPDQ\D QHDU KLV KRPH YLOODJH +LV IRRWVWHSV ZHUH OHIW LPSULQWHG RQ DOO WKH URDGV 7KH FDWKHGUDOV RI 6ROVRQD Sept 7, 2019 (Sat) Day 1 - LAX – Barcelona, Spain 7UDQVDWODQWLF ËŠ LJKW IURP /$; WR %DUFHORQD 6SDLQ 0HDOV VHUYH RQ ERDUG Sept 8, 2019 (Sun) Day 2 Barcelona, Spain 8SRQ DUULYDO LQ %DUFHORQD &OHDU ,PPLJUDWLRQ WKHQ FROOHFW RXU OXJJDJH LQ WKH EDJJDJH FODLP DUHD 2XWVLGH DUULYDO ZKHUH \RX ZLOO EH JUHHWHG E\ \RXU WRXU JXLGH DQG RU GULYHU LI HDUOLHU ZH FDQ GR VLJKWVHH LQJ EHIRUH JRLQJ WR WKH KRWHO LI ODWH DUULYDO ZLOO SURFHHG WR WKH KRWHO 8SRQ DUULYDO \RX ZLOO FKHFN LQ DQG KDYH IUHH WLPH WR UHVW DQG UHIUHVK RU H[ SORUH 7KLV HYHQLQJ \RX ZLOO HQMR\ D ZHOFRPH GLQQHU Sept 9, 2019 (Mon) Day 3 Barcelona, Spain )ROORZLQJ WKH )RRWVWHS RI 6W $QWKRQ\ 0DULD &ODUHW ,QVLGH YLVLW RI WKH IDQWDVWLF 6DJUDGD )DPÂŻOLD FKXUFK 7KH PRVW SRSXODU DWWUDFWLRQV LQ %DUFHORQD DWWUDFWLQJ QHDUO\ PLOOLRQ YLVLWRUV HDFK \HDU &RQVWUXFWLRQ EHJDQ LQ DQG FRQWLQXHV WKURXJK WRGD\ PDNLQJ LW WKH ODUJHVW XQˉ Q LVKHG &DWKROLF &KXUFK LQ WKH ZRUOG *DXGL WRRN RYHU DV DU FKLWHFW WKH IROORZLQJ \HDU DQG ZRUNHG RQ LW XQWLO KLV GHDWK LQ 7KHQ ZH ZLOO GHSDUW WR ZDUGV 0RQWVHUUDW :H ZLOO YLV LW WKH VDQFWXDU\ RI 0RQWVHUUDW DQG H[SORUH WKH PRQDVWLF FHQ WHU RI &DWDORQLD 7KH VDQFWXDU\ KDV EHHQ WKH FHQWHU RI SLOJULP DJH IRU DOPRVW \HDUV IRU WKRVH ZKR ZDQWHG WR VHH WKH IDPRXV 9LUJLQ RI 0RQWVHUUDW 2XU /DG\ RI 0RQWVHUUDW RU WKH 9LUJLQ RI 0RQWVHUUDW &DWDODQ 0DUH GH 'ÂŤX GH 0RQWVHUUDW LV D 0DULDQ WLWOH DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK YHQHUDWHG VWDWXH RI WKH 0D GRQQD DQG &KLOG YHQHUDWHG DW WKH 6DQWD 0DULD GH 0RQWVHUUDW PRQDVWHU\ RQ WKH 0RQWVHUUDW
0RXQWDLQ LQ &DWDORQLD 6SDLQ 6KH LV WKH 3DWURQ 6DLQW RI &DW DORQLD :LOO DWWHQG 9HVSHUWLQH +RO\ 6HUYLFH 2YHUQLJKW 'LQQHU 0RQWVHUUDW Sept 10, 2019 (Tues) Day 4 Montserrat/ Zaragoza, Spain :H ZLOO YLVLW 6DOOHQW SODFH RI ELUWK RI 6W $QWKRQ\ DQG &DVD GČ (VSLULWXDOLWDW &ODUHW &ODUHWLDQ +RXVH RI 6SLULWXDOLW\ 6W $QWKRQ\ XVHG WR ORYH JRLQJ RQ D SLOJULPDJH DQG KH HYHQ HQFRXUDJHG SHRSOH WR GR LW +H XVHG WR JR RQ 3LOJULPDJH WR 2XU /DG\ RI 3LOODU :H ZLOO DOVR YLVLW WKRVH SLOJULP VLWHV KH XVHG WR YLVLW GXULQJ KLV WLPH :H ZLOO GHSDUW WRZDUGV =DUD
JR]D =DUDJR]D LV WKH FDSLWDO RI QRUWKHDVWHUQ 6SDLQČ V $UDJRQ UHJLRQ 2YHUORRNLQJ WKH (EUR 5LYHU LQ WKH FLW\ FHQWHU LV ED URTXH 1XHVWUD 6HÂłRUD GHO 3LODU %DVLOLFD D IDPRXV SLOJULPDJH VLWH ZLWK D VKULQH WR WKH 9LUJLQ 0DU\ DQG PXOWLSOH GRPHV :H ZLOO YLVLW WKH VKULQHV RI 2XU /DG\ RI 3LOODU 6SDQLVK 1XHVWUD 6HÂłRUD GHO 3LODU LV WKH QDPH JLYHQ WR WKH %OHVV HG 9LUJLQ 0DU\ DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK WKH FODLP RI 0DULDQ DSSDULWLRQ WR DSRVWOHV 6W -DPHV EHIRUH KHU DVVXPSWLRQ LQWR KHDYHQ 'LQQHU DQG RYHUQLJKW +RWHO LQ =DUDJR]D Sept 11, 2019 (Wed)
Day 5 - Zaragoza/Madrid, Spain,Lisbon Fatima, Portugal :H ZLOO KDYH D YHU\ HDUO\ EUHDNIDVW $P $P ZLOO GHSDUW =DUDJR]D WRZDUGV 0DGULG 6SDLQČ V FHQWUDO FDSLWDO LV D FLW\ RI HOHJDQW ERXOHYDUGV DQG H[SDQVLYH PDQLFXUHG SDUNV VXFK DV WKH %XHQ 5HWLUR LQFOXGLQJ WKH 5R\DO 3DODFH DQG 3OD]D 0D\RU ,WČ V UHQRZQHG IRU LWV ULFK UHSRVLWRULHV RI (XUR SHDQ DUW LQFOXGLQJ WKH 3UD GR 0XVHXPČ V ZRUNV E\ *R\D 9HOÂŁ]TXH] DQG RWKHU 6SDQLVK PDVWHUV :H ZLOO YLVLW WKH $OPXGHQD &DWKHGUDO WKH VHDW RI 5RPDQ &DWKROLF $UFKGLRFHVH RI 0D GULG )O\ WR /LVERQ 7UDQVIHU %\ &RDFK WR )DWLPD 3RUWXJDO $W WHQG FDQGOH OLJKW SURFHVVLRQ DIWHU GLQQHU 2YHUQLJKW GLQ QHU )DWLPD +RWHO (VWUHOD Sept 12, 2019 (Thurs) Day 6 Fatima, Portugal $IWHU EUHDNIDVW YLVLW WKH 0XVH XP GHGLFDWHG WR WKH %OHVVHG 9LUJLQ RI )DWLPD )XOO GD\ *XLG HG WRXUV LQ $OMXVWUHO DQG 9D OLQKRV \RX VHH WKH WZR KRPHV RI WKH VKHSKHUGV VLWH RI 2XU /DG\Č V IRXUWK DSSDULWLRQV 6WRS DW WKH 3DULVK FKXUFK ZKHUH WKH VHHUV ZHUH EDSWL]HG DQG WKH FHPHWHU\ ZKHUH )UDQFLVFR DQG -DFLQWD ZHUH RQFH EXULHG /XQFK %UHDN DIWHU ZLOO GR WKH VWDWLRQ RI WKH FURVV 5HVW RI WKH DIWHUQRRQ IUHH IRU SULYDWH GHYRWLRQ $WWHQG &DQGOHOLJKW SURFHVVLRQ DIWHU GLQQHU 'LQ QHU RYHUQLJKW +RWHO (VWUHOD GH )DWLPD Sept 13, 2019 (Fri) Day 7 Fatima )XOO GD\ *XLGHG WRXUV RI WKH 6KULQHV JURXQG YLVLW WKH %DVLO LFD RI +RO\ 5RVDU\ WRPEV RI 6W )UDQFLVFR DQG 6W -DFLQWD LQ WKH %DVLOLFD DQG DOVR /XFLD ZKHUH KHU UHPDLQ LV EXULHG +RO\ (XFKDULVW FHOHEUDWLRQ $S SDULWLRQ &KDSHO RIˉ FLDWHG E\
*HURQD 7DUUDJRQD /HULGD %DUFHORQD DQG WKH FKXUFKHV RI RWKHU FLWLHV )XQ )DFWV +H ZDV DOVR DQ DXWKRU WKDW SXEOLVKHG VHYHUDO &DWKROLF ERRNV +LV PDMRU VKULQH LV ORFDWHG LQ 9LF %DUFHORQD 7KH OLEUDU\ KH IRXQGHG WKH /OLEUHULD &ODUHW LV RQH RI WKH JUHDWHVW UHOLJLRXV OLEUDULHV OR FDWHG LQ %DUFHORQD 7KH +4 RI KLV UHOLJLRXV RUGHU FDQ EH IRXQG LQ 5RPH +H GLHG LQ )RQWIURLGH )UDQFH
)U %LOO &DR $IWHU 'LQQHU DWWHQG &DQGOH /LJKW SURFHVVLRQ 'LQ QHU RYHUQLJKW +RWHO (VWUHOD GH )DWLPD Sept 14, 2019 (Sat) Day 8 Fatima, Porto, Santiago de Campostela :H VD\ *RRGE\H WR 2XU /DG\ RI )DWLPD :H WKDQN KHU IRU KHU LQYLWDWLRQ WR YLVLW KHU VKULQHV DW )DWLPD &RQWLQXH WR 3RUWR QG ODUJHVW FLW\ LQ 3RUWXJDO NQRZQ IRU LWV UHYHUHG ZLQH QDPH 3RUW &RQWLQXH WR 6DQ WLDJR GH &DPSRVWHOD NQRZQ LQ (QJOLVK DV WKH :D\ RI 6DLQW -DPHV DPRQJ RWKHU QDPHV LV D QHWZRUN RI SLOJULPVČ ZD\V RU SLOJULPDJHV OHDGLQJ WR WKH VKULQH RI WKH DSRVWOH 6DLQW -DPHV WKH *UHDW LQ WKH &DWKH GUDO RI 6DQWLDJR GH &RPSRVWH OD LQ *DOLFLD LQ QRUWKZHVWHUQ 6SDLQ ZKHUH WUDGLWLRQ KDV LW WKDW WKH UHPDLQV RI WKH VDLQW DUH EXULHG 0DQ\ IROORZ LWV URXWHV DV D IRUP RI VSLULWXDO SDWK RU UHWUHDW IRU WKHLU VSLUL WXDO JURZWK 'HSHQGLQJ RQ RXU WLPH RI DUULYDO ZH ZLOO YLVLW WKH 0DJQLˉ FHQW &DWKHGUDO RI 6DQ WLDJR GH &DPSRVWHOD :H ZLOO NQRZ PRUH DERXW 6W -DPHV RI 6DQWLDJR GH &DPSRVWH OD 'LQQHU 2 Y H U Q L J K W +RWHO *UDQ /RV $EHWRV %% '
Sept 15, 2019 (Sun) Day 9 Santiago de Campostela )XOO GD\ 6DQWLDJR $WWHQG QRRQ +RO\ 0DVV DW WKH &D WKHGUDO RI 6W -DPHV 6HH PRUH
SODFHV LQ 6DQWLDJR GH &DPSRV WHOD 'LQQHU RYHUQLJKW *UDQ +RWHO /RV $EHWRV Sept 16, 2019 (Mon) Day 10 - Santiago De Campostela / Madrid / Las Palmas 7UDQVIHU WR WKH DLUSRUW IRU WKH $P ËŠ LJKW WR 0DGULG ,% WKHQ ,% WR /DV 3DO PDV WR ([SORUH WKH SODFHV 9LV LWHG E\ 6W $QWKRQ\ ZKHUH KH GLG KLV SUHDFKLQJ +HDOLQJ DQG FRQYHUVLRQ RI WKH SHR SOH LQ WKH ,VODQG Sept 17, 2019 (Tues) Day 11 Canary Island & R Q W L Q X H I R O O R Z L Q J WKH )RRW VWHS RI 6W $QWKRQ\ &ODUHW 'LQQHU RYHU QLJKW /DV 3DOPDV Sept 18, 2019 (Wed) - Day 12 6:40 Am departure from Las Palmas /Madrid / Paris ,Q 3DULV WR FRQWLQXH WKH )RRW VWHSV RI 6W $QWKRQ\ &ODUHW $IWHUQRRQ YLVLW RI 6DFUH FRHXU XVLQJ IXQLFXODU LI WLPH SHUPLW ZLOO JLYH WLPH IRU VKRSSLQJ 'LQQHU RYHUQLJKW 3DULV Sept 19, 2019 (Thur) Day 13 Paris,France 9LVLW (LIIHO WRZHU XS WR QG ËŠ RRU FRQWLQXH WR 5XH 'H %DF &HOHEUDWH +RO\ (XFKDULVW DW WKH 0LUDFXORXV 0HGDO 6HH WKH XQFRUUXSW ERG\ RI 6W /RX LVH 0HUULODF DQG 67 &DWKHULQH /DERXUH 9LVLW 6W 9LQFHQW WKH 3DXO &KXUFK QRW WRR IDU IURP 0LUDFXORXV 0HGDO 9LVLW 1R
WUH 'DPH &DWKHGUDO YLVLW 7KH 6DLQWH &KDSHOOH WKH ˉ QHVW UR\ DO FKDSHO WR EH EXLOW LQ )UDQFH DQG IHDWXUHV D WUXO\ H[FHSWLRQ DO FROOHFWLRQ RI VWDLQHG JODVV ,W ZDV EXLOW WR KRXVH WKH UHOLFV RI 3DVVLRQ RI &KULVW ([SORUH SODFHV ZKHUH 6W $QWKRQ\ &ODU HW YLVLWHG DQG VWD\HG 'LQQHU RYHUQLJKW 3DULV Sept 20, 2019 (Fri) Day 14 Paris, France 9LVLW &KDUWUHV &DWKHGUDO DOVR NQRZQ DV WKH &DWKHGUDO RI 2XU /DG\ RI &KDUWUHV )UHQFK &DWKGUDOH 1RWUH 'DPH GH &KDUWUHV LV D 5RPDQ &DWKR OLF FKXUFK LQ &KDUWUHV )UDQFH DERXW NP PLOHV VRXWK ZHVW RI 3DULV 0RVWO\ FRQ VWUXFWHG EHWZHHQ DQG LW VWDQGV DW WKH VLWH RI DW OHDVW ˉ YH FDWKHGUDOV WKDW KDYH RFFXSLHG WKH VLWH VLQFH &KDU WUHV EHFDPH D ELVKRSULF LQ WKH WK FHQWXU\ ,W LV LQ WKH *RWKLF DQG 5R PDQHVTXH VW\OHV ,W LV GHVLJQDW HG D :RUOG + H U L W D J H 6LWH E\ 8 1 ( 6 & 2 Z K L F K calls it ȢWKH KLJK SRLQW RI )UHQFK *RWKLF DUW :LOO GR UHVW RI WKH SURJUDP IUHH WLPH IRU VKRSSLQJ EHIRUH KHDGLQJ WR RXU +RWHO 'LQQHU RYHUQLJKW 3DULV Sept 21, 2019 (Sat) Day 15 Paris , France , Madrid/ USA (QG RI RXU ZRQGHUIXO 3LOJULP DJH +RSH HYHU\ERG\ NQRZV PRUH DERXW RQH RI WKH *UHDW HVW 6DLQWV IURP 6SDLQ
Please call QTS Tour and Travel NOW at
1 (714) 288-0800 or (714) 761-6280 1095 N Main St. Suite O, Orange, CA 92867
C JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Tax & Stock Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA
1. Start with safer stocks. Buy stocks that tend to be less volatile (meaning more stable with less up and downs in price). Consider consumer staples stocks that people still need products like food, clothing, and medical supplies even in tough economic times. This may be your safest strategy while you’re getting your feet wet. 2. Don’t fall for “hot” stocks. What’s great for you neighbor may not be good for you. Even if the stock is hot, the company may have reached a peak and is coming down in price. Sellers may want to lock in their profits. You may be entering just as others are unloading. Malo. These companies may have lost much
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
First baby steps for beginner traders of their ability to produce big returns. It may be better to concede that you’ve missed out potential gains than rush into a hot tip that you have not researched well. 3. Consider starting with Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF). It may be tough to select stocks with good value and growth potential so consider Exchange Traded Funds (ETF). These funds buy a bunch of stocks for a pool of people who may not have time or knowledge to pick individual stocks. It’s ideal for students, good for young families raising kids, and great for investors in need of diversification. 4. Find the right broker at the right price. Your choice of broker directly influences fees, types of investments, research that you’ll have access to, and eventual returns.
Some brokers make investing for beginners easier to understand. Some don’t. Consider discount brokers and mutual funds or exchange traded funds with low or no commissions. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Removal of conditions on green card KAPAG ang green card ay nakuha sa pamamagitan ng kasal sa isang US citizen (USC) at ang kasal ng mag-asawa ay wala pang 2 taon noong naaprubahan ng USCIS ang green card, ang green card na makukuha ng dayuhan ay conditional green card na may bisa na 2 taon. Ang dayuhan ay tinawag na conditional permanent resident (CPR). Ang conditional green card ay binibigay dahil sa mga pag-aalala na may mga dayuhan na magpapakasal sa mga USC upang makakuha lamang ng green card. Ayon sa US federal government, ito ay pagtatangkang lumabag sa US immigration laws. Ang layunin ng conditional green card ay upang maiwasan ang sham marriages o mga pekeng kasal kung saan ang mag-asawa ay magpapakasal lamang para makakuha ng green card ang dayuhan, at pagkatapos nito, sila ay maghihiwalay na sa pamamagitan ng pag-file ng divorce. Kaya naman, para matanggal ang mga condition ng green card, ang CPR ay kailiangang magpakita na ang kanyang kasal ay totoo at siya ay may intensyon na maging kasal sa asawang USC nang matagalan. Upang magtanggal ng mga condition sa green card, ang CPR ay kailangang mag-file ng I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence sa loob ng 90 araw bago ang ikalawang anibersaryo
Tapat Sa Batas Atty. RheA SAmSon niya bilang conditional resident. Ito rin ang 90 araw bago mawalang-bisa ang kanyang conditional green card ayon sa petsa na nakalagay mismo sa green card. Kapag ang CPR ay nag-file ng I-751 Petition, kailangan niyang magbigay ng mga ebidensya at mga dokumento na magpapatunay na ang kanyang kasal sa USC ay totoong kasal at ang kasal ay hindi naganap upang lumabag sa US immigration laws. Ayon sa dating policy ng USCIS, karamihan sa mga CPR ay hindi kinakailangang pumunta pa sa USCIS para sa personal na interbyu. Hangga’t sapat ang ebidensya o mga dokumentong ibinigay kasama ng I-751 Petition para ipakita na ang kasal ay totoo, hindi na kailangan ang interbyu sa USCIS. Subalit, sa Revised Interview Waiver Guidance for Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence na naging epektibo noong Disyembre 10, 2018, ang interbyu ng CPR ay bahagi na ngayon ng I-751 adjudication.
Sa bagong policy na ito, ang mga interbyu ay kinakailangan dahil ito ay magbibigay sa USCIS ng pagkakataon upang i-verify ang mga impormasyon na nakalagay sa I-751 Petition. Maaari ding makatuklas ang USCIS ng mga bagong impormasyon na mahalaga sa pagdesisyon ng I-751 Petition o para madetermina ang kredibilidad ng CPR. Maaaring magkaroon ng waiver ng interview sa mga sumusunod na sitwasyon: (1) Ang USCIS ay maaari nang magdesisyon ayon sa mga edidensya at dokumentong naibigay kasama ng I-751 Petition dahil sapat na ang mga ito para masabing ang kasal ay totoo at hindi naganap upang lumabag sa US immigration laws; (2) Para sa mga I-751 Petition na natanggap noong Disyembre 10, 2018 at pagkatapos ng petsang ito, ang USCIS ay nakapag-interbyu na ng dayuhan sa I-130/I-485; (3) Walang indikasyon ng fraud, misrepresentation o panloloko sa I-751 Petition at sa mga dokumentong ipinasa kasabay nito; at (4) Walang mga kumplikadong mga isyu na kinakailangan ng interbyu upang maresolba. *** When a green card is obtained through marriage to a US citizen (USC) spouse and the couple is married less than 2 years during the adjudication of the green
The Prophetic Voice ReVeRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAS “YOU were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:12) You might not remember the date of your baptism, but it is one of the most important days of your life. For on that day, you were born again; you received new life in Jesus Christ through the water of baptism and the Holy Spirit. Baptism washed away your original sin and infused your soul with sanctifying grace. It left an indelible spiritual mark (character) of belonging to Christ in your soul. Indeed, it’s the priceless gift that you received from God. On the day of your baptism, you put on Christ and received
You belong to Christ the power of the Holy Spirit. You received the call to be like Christ—to be a priest, a prophet, and a king. By your Christian baptism, you join Christ in commemorating his eternal sacrifice to his Father to give God honor and glory, particularly when we celebrate the Eucharist together. You take part in spreading Christ’s teachings and testifying to the power of his actions in the church and the world. And you put your faith in Christ to practice by your love, compassion, and service to the People of God, especially those who are poor, sick, lonely, and persecuted. As a Christian, you show your trust in God’s providence, mercy, and forgiveness. You do it more concretely when you pray the Lord’s Prayer that our Lord, Jesus Christ taught us. So you mean what you say when you address God as Our Father who provides for our daily bread, seek his forgiveness, and wills to for-
give others who wronged you. You are willing to persevere in faith and prayer. You firmly believe in the words of Jesus: “Ask and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” So, celebrate and live your baptism every day of your life! Give thanks to God for giving you new life in Christ. Trust him at all times. Persevere in prayer. You might want to know the exact date of your baptism, so look for that baptismal certificate and put it in a special place to remind you of this priceless gift, this indelible mark in your soul of belonging to Christ! If you’re a true Christian, live your faith to the fullest degree! *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads
ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code 7610. Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child. Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child. A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father. Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend. One way a presumption of Pau PAGE C4 ternity is created is by executing
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth URSUA ReyeS a voluntary declaration of paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary declaration Family.Code. 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485 If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps 7611 presumptions discussed below. A post 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis
for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.” Family .Code 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re J.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33. Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code 7611: (a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court. (b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or with-
u PAGE C3
u PAGE C3
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019
C
Mocking an employee’s accent Rescinding a removal or deportation order may constitute work discrimination to allow you to apply for a green card
FILIPINO registered nurse, Nancy Ortiz, worked for Dameron Hospital in Stockton, CA for about 10 years. Born in the Philippines, English is her second language and she speaks with a thick Filipino accent. Ortiz is over 40 years old. Towards the ninth year of her employment at the hospital, and at this time working as a unit coordinator, Ortiz started reporting to a new department director. This new director oversaw the unit coordinators, 99 percent of whom are Filipinos. Every time the director met with the unit coordinators, she provided “negative feedback,” and “humiliate[d]” them. She insulted unit coordinators on their accents and derided their supposed poor English language skills. Singling out Filipino unit coordinators, she told them during a meeting, “I don’t know how Dameron gets you guys. Your accents are thick. You don’t know what you are doing.” She stated that “those of you with a thick accent, those of you that cannot speak English ... need to go back to school and learn how to read and write grammar.” The director also stated that “she was tired of attending meetings where Filipinos and minority workers over 40 were present.” She told the unit coordinators that they could “step down, step up or step out,” and handed them job openings in other departments. A clinical manager named Bassey Duke testified that the director repeatedly told him that the Filipino nurses were “too old and had been there too long.” She said that “the unit coordinators are old dummies and they don’t speak English and I want to get rid of all of them.” At some point, the director provided Duke with names of unit coordina-
Debt Relief
Atty. LAwrenCe yAng THE client is a 70-year-old widow who lost her beloved husband five years ago. She owns a house with a reverse mortgage of half a million, which she took when her husband died. The mortgage accumulates at the rate of $2,000 a month or $24,000 a year. You can keep the balance from increasing if you pay the interest portion only every month. The client did not pay any mortgage payment for the last five years so the reverse mortgage balance has ballooned to $500,000. She can live in the house until she dies even if she hasn’t paid any mortgage from the time she took the reverse mortgage until death. So it lets you live in the house until you are gone without having to pay anything but the mortgage balance goes up every month by the amount of mortgage payment due. Of course, it can eat up even a large equity by the passage of time. This works for many seniors since you can’t bring anything with you to heaven when you die, right. You don’t need a house in heaven because Jesus has prepared a mansion for each one of us there. However, the client is still alive and kicking and beset with credit card problems of $60,000. She pays at least $1,500 a month to keep these cards current. What is her income now at 70? Social security gives her $1,900. And she has a pension of $200 from a previous employer. Her total income is $2,100. She doesn’t have to pay rent or mortgage since she is on a reverse mortgage. Her total living expenses is $1,600. So if you
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. tors she wanted to get rid of, including Ortiz, because they were “dumb,” “didn’t speak English,” and “ma[d]e too much money.” She told another manager that the Filipinos are “stupid” and said, “I don’t even know what they are saying half the time,” and “I don’t even know how they got the job speaking the way they do.” Duke said the director pressured him to say that he had seen Ortiz sleeping on the job so that she could “go ahead and fire her,” but he refused to lie and was later terminated. Duke told Ortiz and several other unit coordinators about the department director’s desire “to get rid of the minority nurses over 40 years old at Dameron, especially the Filipino nurses whom she specifically expressed hatred towards.” The director gave Ortiz poor evaluations and placed her on performance improvement plans. She also went ahead and falsely accused Ortiz of sleeping on the job. Ortiz felt she had no choice but to resign because she was about to have a mental breakdown from all the stress. She sued the hospital and the department director for employment discrimination based on her national origin and age. Defendants argued that it did not fire Ortiz because she quit. However, the appellate court ruled that Ortiz was constructively discharged. A constructive discharge occurs where the employer either intentionally created or knowingly permitted the intolerable working conditions,
such that a reasonable employee faced with those conditions would have felt compelled to resign. The court also ruled that Ortiz presented enough evidence to show that the director had a discriminatory motive when she focused her derogatory comments on the Filipino nurses’ accents, their supposed poor English language skills, and the fact that they’re Filipinos. Discrimination on the basis of an employee’s foreign accent is a sufficient basis for finding national origin discrimination. California law provides several remedies for victims of employment discrimination, including: back wages; front pay (for future lost earnings); reinstatement; damages for emotional distress; punitive damages (where the employer’s conduct was oppressive or malicious); and attorney’s fees and costs. In some cases, an injunction order may be obtained to stop the discriminatory practice. Since discrimination law can be complex, employees who believe they were terminated from work due to their race or age may want to consult with an experienced employment attorney to explore their legal options. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 2910088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com” www.joesayaslaw.com. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas in 2018.] (Advertising Supplement)
Senior with $60K credit cards wants debt relief
add $1,500 a month for minimum credit card payments to living expenses without rent or mortgage of $1,600, total income needed to meet credit card payments and living expenses is $3,100. But her income is only $2,100. So she is upside down by $1,000. If she discharges the $60,000 of credit cards, she will free herself of $1,500 a month and her $2,100 income can easily pay her $1,600 of living expenses. Without credit card debt she would still be saving $500 a month! It’s clearly to her benefit to get a Chapter 7 discharge of the $60,000 credit cards now. However, if the current fair market value of her house is such that her equity is a lot more than $175,000, even if she is on a reverse mortgage, she would be better off with a Chapter 13 so as to eliminate any risk of having a problem with a Chapter 7 trustee that would be wanting to sell her house even if her house is on a reverse mortgage. This client’s case needs a novel approach but definitely, she needs immediate debt relief from $60,000 of credit card debt. Chapter 7 trustee stipulates to dismiss adversary against client before trial Client no. 2 is a foreign company that has been supplying a California company with merchandise for eight years on open account. The client gave the company a line of credit of $2 million for the purchase of their product. The company lost a major lawsuit and was forced to file for bankruptcy, leaving the client holding the bag for $300,000. A Chapter 7 trustee filed an adversary complaint against the client for $80,000, representing a preferential payment by the company to the client 90 days before the company filed for bankruptcy.
Under bankruptcy law, the trustee can get the $80,000 back from the client; unless the client can prove that ‘new or contemporaneous value,’ was given by the client for the $80,000 This adversary case against client adds insult to injury. The client is already owed $300,000 by the company and here comes the trustee who wants to get the $80,000 that was paid to the client 90 days before the company filed for bankruptcy. It’s like a horror story. This would definitely push N. Korea to let their missiles with miniature nuclear bombs fly off over the Pacific Ocean into the office of the Chapter 7 trustee, wouldn’t it? I was all prepared for the trial this month after giving all the client’s evidence to the lawyer of the trustee to prove that the client did indeed supply “new or contemporaneous value” to the company 90 days before it filed for bankruptcy. But I received counsel’s advise that the trustee is now willing to stipulate to dismiss the adversary complaint against the client. That’s good news for the client and myself. I certainly hope that the N. Korea situation ends up favorably like my client’s case. I pray cooler heads prevail and the dogs of war are not let loose. If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** 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)
resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative. (f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied. An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v. Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998)
17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877 The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code 7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code 7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the child’s birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code
How to obtain custody and visitation rights...
PAGE C2 t
in 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce. (2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation. (c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate. (2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order. (d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child. (e) If the child was born and
u PAGE C4
WE have all heard the popular saying, “Timing is everything.” Unfortunately, this saying often adversely applies to those persons who have found an avenue from which to obtain a green card, only to be prevented from doing so because he/she has a prior removal or deportation order. A typical scenario involves a person who entered the US years ago on a B-2 tourist visa, overstayed, and was ordered removed by the Immigration Court. Fast forward to today, that person who was ordered removed finds true love and marries a US Citizen. Seemingly close to finally obtaining permanent resident status, he/ she is precluded from doing so because of the prior removal or deportation order. What options does one have in such a case? A motion to reopen the removal/deportation proceedings and rescind the removal/ deportation order can be filed in Immigration Court. If the motion to reopen the proceedings and rescind the removal/ deportation order is successful, the alien can pursue whatever relief from removal/deportation that is available to him/ her. For the case mentioned in the first paragraph, the relief would be adjustment of status to permanent resident via marriage to a US citizen spouse. The relief would be presented in Immigration Court, with the Immigration Judge to decide the merits of the adjustment of status application. Alternatively, if an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can be obtained to terminate the proceedings,
Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn a decision on the adjustment of status application can be made outside Immigration Court, by the USCIS. Generally, a motion to reopen removal/deportation proceedings must be filed within 90 days of the date of entry of the removal/deportation order. However, a motion to reopen may be filed past 90 days exist in some circumstances, and are discussed below. Under 8 CFR § 1003.23(b)(4), a motion to reopen can be filed at any time if notice of the proceedings was not received by the person subject to the removal/deportation order, and a removal/deportation order was entered in his absence. Written notice of the time and place of removal proceedings must be given in person to the alien, or shall be given by certified mail to the alien or to the alien’s counsel of record. INA §242B(a)(2)(A). Further, written notice of the proceedings, if provided by certified mail, must be provided at the most recent address reported by the alien. Matter of Grijalva, Interim Decision 3246 (BIA 1995). The requirements for notice of removal/deportation proceedings are strict, and careful analysis of a person’s immigration court file often results in finding evidence that DHS did not comply with required procedure, which can be the basis for
reopening the removal/deportation proceeding. Further, the Immigration Judge has discretionary authority to reopen or reconsider cases on his or her own motion (“sua sponte”) at any time providing a valid basis can be shown. 8 CFR § 1003.23(b)(1). Careful analysis of not only the immigration court file, but also the specific facts and circumstances of a person’s case is necessary to convince the Immigration Judge to reopen the proceedings. Some bases upon which cases I have been able to reopen cases include improper section cited by the DHS attorney in the charging document, insufficient evidence presented by the DHS attorney in proving up the case against the alien, and hardship and humanitarian concerns. If you have a prior removal/deportation order which is preventing you from adjusting status and getting your green card, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney to determine whether a motion to reopen can be filed. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Long Beach Bacolod Association... PAGE C1 t
Business Development Center, The Downtown Long Beach Alliance, and creating meaningful relationships with other local artisans & small business owners. Through a successful Kickstarter campaign, capacity building funds from Long Beach Economic Development, and through the gracious support of volunteers. Romeo Chocolates opened
on 460 Pine Ave in June 2017. Since opening, Romeo Chocolates has received awards from the International Chocolate Salon in 2017, the distinction of Best Dessert Long Beach in 2018 from Long Beach Home & Living, listed as one of the Most Romantic Restaurants by Beach City Food Tours, top 10 chocolate shops by the LA Times, and an honor from Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia with the Long
Beach Small Business Award. Originally from Batangas, Philippines, Romeo now calls Long Beach home, and you can try his various creations as he carefully sources local ingredients and chocolate from various regions around the world. The MassKara Festival will be held on Sunday, August 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Recreation Park (4900 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, CA) n
C4 JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Calendar of Events across
A
merica
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
People and Events
5th annual POW! WOW Long Beach returns
J U LY 26 -AU G U ST 1 0
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 26 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.
AU G U ST 1 - 9
University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International Convention & Alaskan Cruise The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc. (UPNAAI) will have its 40th convention on a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The theme will be “In the New Millennium - UPNAAI at 40: Evolving and Emerging Nursing Roles.” On Aug. 1. it will be UPNAAI Volunteers Service Day in Seattle, then 2-9 will be a cruise from Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes, Victoria, and back to Seattle. Convention Fee $100 for Alumni in addition to cruise pricing. No convention charge for friends and family members. Contact Hours will be provided for the educational conference. For more information/to register and view cruise rates, please visit https://www.upnaai.com/.
AU G U ST 2
Masskara Festival in Long Beach, CA The Long Beach Bacolod Association (LBBA) will be having its second annual Masskara Festival event in Long Beach, CA at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel on Friday, August 2 located at 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach from 6 p.m. to midnight. As a sister city organization, dignitaries from both Bacolod, Philippines and Long Beach will be in attendance. The dinner ball will also feature live entertainment and Masskara dancing. For tickets please call Malou Mariano at (562) 335-2587.
AU G U ST 3 - 4
Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo in Carson, CA The second annual Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo is back on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4 at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, CA. The two-day event is Southern California’s largest B2B expo showcasing tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in the USA and Philippines. It will feature networking opportunities for business-to-business, business-to-government, and business-to-consumer. The event is powered by the Asian Journal and Balikbayan Magazine. For more information, please visit https://traveltradeconsumer.com/.
AU G U ST 5 - 9
SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program in LA Happening from August 5-9, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans’ (SIPA) Filipino Summer Program is a fun, week-long experience that enriches, educates, and engages youth about the Filipino Culture! Youth will get to learn more about Filipino food, language, dance, arts, and music! Children ages 6-13 are able to participate, while older youth can volunteer. The program will be held at SIPA (3200 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Drop-offs and pick-ups are at the SIPA parking lot at Dillion St. and Temple St. Each day is $30 for the first child. Every additional child will be $3 less a day (e.g., the second child will be $27/day, the third child would cost $24/day, and so on). If your family cannot fully afford the cost of SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program, the FEE CAN BE LOWERED depending on the financial situation. Families can pay by cash, credit/debit card (2.75% fee), Venmo (1% fee), or check!If interested, contact Maria Carmel Valendez by phone at 213-382-1819 ext. 107 or email at mvalendez@esipa.org.
AU G U ST 1 5 -1 8
NaFFAA’s National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA Registration is now open for NaFFAA’s 2019 National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA on August 15 to 18. The NEC is the premier gathering of community leaders uniting to engage in dialogue about issues affecting over four million Filipinos across the United States, while building a clear and unified vision of community empowerment for 2020 and beyond. Register before April 30 to qualify for discounted Early Bird registration prices for the full conference pass (3-day pass + gala ticket) which are $80 for students; $180 for NaFFAA members; and $200 for regular. For more information on the 2019 National Empowerment Conference,
AU G U ST 1 7-1 8 / 1 9 -3 0
Liliw Association of East Coast USA Celebrates 30th Anniversary Registration is now open for NaFFAA’s 2019 National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA on August 15 to 18. The NEC is the premier gathering of community leaders uniting to engage in dialogue about issues affecting over four million Filipinos across the United States, while building a clear and unified vision of community empowerment for 2020 and beyond. Register before April 30 to qualify for discounted Early Bird registration prices for the full conference pass (3-day pass + gala ticket) which are $80 for students; $180 for NaFFAA members; and $200 for regular. For more information on the 2019 National Empowerment Conference,
AU G U ST 1 8
Liliw Association of East Coast USA Celebrates 30th Anniversary Registration is now open for NaFFAA’s 2019 National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA on August 15 to 18. The NEC is the premier gathering of community leaders uniting to engage in dialogue about issues affecting over four million Filipinos across the United States, while building a clear and unified vision of community empowerment for 2020 and beyond. Register before April 30 to qualify for discounted Early Bird registration prices for the full conference pass (3-day pass + gala ticket) which are $80 for students; $180 for NaFFAA members; and $200 for regular. For more information on the 2019 National Empowerment Conference,
AU G U ST 3 1
University of the Philippines Alumni Association of New Jersey Annual Picnic UPAA-NJ cordially invites all UP alumni, families and friends to its annual picnic on Sunday, August 18, 2019 from 1:00 pm until dusk at the Liberty State Park, Pavilion B, 20 Theodore Conrad Dr., Jersey City, New Jersey. Enjoy an afternoon of fellowship, games, prizes, music, dancing and of course savory Filipino food as we celebrate the summer outdoors. For more details please contact: Daisy Macadaeg, (201) 446-7767, keanemac@yahoo.com; Lani Benedicto, (201) 745-6829, benedicto78@yahoo.com; Minnie Corpuz-Castillo, (551) 587-2815, mcorpuzcastillo@gmail.com, Grace Concepcion, (201) 281-6271, feynman834@gmail.com or Johnny Ferrer, (201) 323-1303, juancferrer09@yahoo.com.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
LONG Beach, CA — POW! WOW! Long Beach returned for its 5th summer on July 2128, 2019. The public art festival brought together local and visiting artists from around the globe. This year, 20 more murals and art installations were added to the already 70 plus roster of walls covering nearly 40 square miles of the city. Artists for the public art event will include visiting artists Caratoes, Crash, Fortoul Brothers, Tran Nguyen, Max Sansing, Kayla Mahaffey, Debe, Dina Saadi, Luise Ono, Spenser Little, and Hilda Palafox. Local artists include Cynthia Lujan, Tida Whitney, Steve Martinez, Woes Martin, Nevermade, Jason Keam, Bodeck Hernandez, Criselle Mendiola, Allison Bamcat, ABCNT, Balloonski and Nat Iosbaker. Various events and activities will be held throughout the week including a Pop-Up Shop located at MADE by Millworks, outdoor film screenings, artist Talks/ Q&A’s, an exhibition curated by Thinkspace, The Art of Bloom at Edison Theatre, and KCRW x POW! WOW! Long Beach Summer Nights Closing Party. The first-ever partnership between POW! WOW! Long Beach and SoCal favorite KCRW Summer Nights brings music to Long Beach by KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez and Mathieu Schreyer. Patrons can enjoy food from local eateries, beer from Beachwood BBQ, wine from Hops & Vine, dancers from Homeland Cultural Center, live art by Tooth & Nail and much more. A big thank you to our partners Downtown Long
Beach Alliance, Long Beach Transit, and Long Beach Public Works in helping make the event possible. New this year is POW! WOW! School of Photography led by director and noted photographer, Ja Tecson. The students will showcase their work from the week of POW! WOW! at Port LBC during 4th Fridays on Retro Row. POW! WOW! School of Music will again be a part of the program, with student performances scheduled throughout the week. Information regarding POW! WOW! School of Music and auditions can be found at www.pwsom.com . “It is well documented that art and culture are highly influential and a powerful tool for building identity for cities and regions. As we celebrate the economic growth in Long Beach through various developments throughout the city, continuous support for POW! WOW! demonstrates that the City of Long Beach understands the importance of
culture and how it enhances the landscape and value of a city in a different way,” said Julia Huang, President CEO of Intertrend and an Advisor to POW! WOW! Long Beach. Among the events during the week were panels about the art business, movie screenings and photography and art shows. On Saturday, July 27 from 7 to 11 p.m., there will be a closing party at the Promenade featuring KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez and Mathieu Schreyer, food from local eateries, beer from Beachwood BBQ, wine from Hops & Vine, and other vendors. On Sunday, July 28, there will be a 21+ pool party at the Renaissance Hotel, where guests can enjoy music by the Swim Skool resident DJs, refreshments, and a great view of Long Beach from the 3 floor pool. The presenting sponsors this year are: City of Long Beach, Long Beach Convention Center, Port of Long Beach, and Intertrend. ■
How to obtain custody and visitation rights... PAGE C3 t 7611 and 7612. Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d
669, 675. Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different
than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto:kenneth@kenreyeslaw. com” kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Removal of conditions on green...
PAGE C2 t
card, the green card that the alien will receive will be a conditional green card, valid for 2 years. The alien is considered as a conditional permanent resident (CPR). The conditional green card is issued due to concerns that some aliens may get married solely to obtain a green card, which the US federal government considers to be an attempt to evade US Immigration Laws. The purpose of the conditional green card is to weed out sham marriages where couples get married only to get a green card, and after getting the green card, subsequently get divorced. Hence, in order to have the conditions on the green card removed, the CPR must be able to prove that he got married in good faith and with the intent to remain in the marriage. To remove the conditions on the green card, the CPR must file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence during the 90 days before his 2nd anniversary as a conditional resident. This is also the 90-day period before the expiration of the conditional green card as indicated in the green card. When submitting the I-751 Petition, the CPR must submit the required initial evidence that establishes the bona fides of
the marriage and that the marriage was not entered into for the purpose of evading US immigration laws. Under a previous policy of the USCIS, most CPRs were not required to attend an in-person interview in order to obtain a permanent resident card. As long as enough evidence or documentation was submitted with the I-751 Petition to show that the marriage was bona fide, no interview is necessary. However, in the Revised Interview Waiver Guidance for Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence effective December 10, 2018, the interview of the CPR is now part of the I-751 adjudication. Per this new policy, interviews provide USCIS with the opportunity to verify information contained in the petition, as well as to discover new information that may be relevant to the adjudication or to determine the credibility of the CPR seeking to remove the conditions of his lawful permanent resident status. USCIS may consider waiving the interview if they are satisfied that: (1) They can make a decision based on the record because it contains sufficient evidence about the bona fides of the marriage and that the marriage was
not entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws of the US; (2) For I-751 cases received on/after December 10, 2018, USCIS has previously interviewed the principal petitioner for I-130/I-485; (3) There is no indication of fraud or misrepresentation in the Form I-751 or the supporting documentation; and (4) There are no complex facts or issues that require an interview to resolve questions or concerns. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is a Partner at LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM. Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson are both licensed to practice law in California and in the Philippines. Both Attorneys were also professors. LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM aims to provide excellent and efficient legal representation to clients, and support clients in achieving their goals and dreams. As professors, Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson wish to educate the younger generation, as it is through education and continuous study that one can achieve success and serve others. Please visit our office: LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010 Call or text us: (213) 381.5710 Email us: attorneys@lindainsamsonlaw. com. (Advertising Supplement)
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019
C
C JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019
MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM
&
HR 1044 would hurt and help Filipinos ON July 10, 2019 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 (HR 1044). To become a law, it would still have to pass in the Senate and be signed by President Trump. Its provisions would increase the waiting time for green cards through Filipino employment-based petitions, and decrease the waiting time for Filipino family-based petitions: • it would eliminate the percountry limit for all employmentbased immigrants; and • it would increase the per-country limit for all family-sponsored immigrants from 7% to 15%. Each year, the U.S. government allocates a certain number of world-wide immigrant visas, and the various countries get equal allocations. It is like a pizza pie: each slice of pie is exactly the same size for each country, regardless of how many people may have applied from a particular country. A person is eligible for their visa when the “priority date” on their case finally becomes current for their country on the monthly Visa Bulletin. Some countries, with large populations, have a tremendous backlog for employment-based immigrant visas, especially China and India. There are some estimates that because there are so many Indians applying for immigrant visas, the waiting time could be up to 60 years, based on their priority date. Other countries, where not so many people have applied, have a very short waiting time, even though their priority date may have been much later than the priority dates of Indians or Chinese.
Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ HR 1044 would eliminate the per-country allocations of employment-based visas, and instead people would receive their immigrant visas on a first-come, firstserved basis. This would result in Chinese and Indian cases with older priority dates moving ahead of many other countries with more recent priority dates, such that the average waiting time for an employment-based visa may increase to up to seven years. Countries that did not previously have a significant wait time in employmentbased preference categories will undoubtedly see an increase in their wait time. Many high-tech companies favor this change, because they want to hire Indian and Chinese high-tech workers, but the wait is so long. This could result in Filipinos and applicants from other countries now having to wait longer, so that the Indian and Chinese immigrant visa applicants will move ahead in the line. As for family-based petitions, HR 1044 proposes to increase the amount of visas from 7% to 15%, which represents an increase from 15,820 to 33,900 family sponsored green card that any single country could receive in a fiscal year. This proposal would benefit the Philippines, as the backlog for familybased petitions is very long, and it
would mean the Philippines would receive more family-based visas and a shorter waiting time. Again, this is only a proposal, and must still pass the Senate and be signed by President Trump. However, I would urge people who are thinking about pursuing an employment or family-based petition to file them before this law takes effect, as there is a “do not harm” provision in HR 1044 which provides that these new allocations may not apply to employment-based petitions that have been approved. For family-based cases, it means that the backlog or waiting time will be much shorter for Filipinos. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
Business Quote of the Week “Don’t get distracted. Never tell yourself that you need to be the biggest brand in the whole world. Start by working on what you need at the present moment and then what you need to do tomorrow. So, set yourself manageable targets.”
— Ben Silbermann, Founder of Pinterest
D1
Corporate tax reform to attract foreign medical devices investment — Fitch unit by IAN
NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com
PASSING the Duterte administration’s proposed corporate tax reform could help the Philippines corner foreign medical devices investments and boost the country’s competitiveness, a Fitch unit said Wednesday, July 24. In an industry analysis sent to reporters, Fitch Solutions said the bill seeking to reduce corporate tax could promote a “more business friendly environment” in the Philippines, boding well for medical device companies. Fitch solutions added that higher investments, a large population and robust economic growth should fuel expansion in the Philippines’ medical device market, which is expected to grow 10.8 percent in local currency terms
to P43.2 billion ($827 million) over the 2018-2023 period. Free trade agreements in the region should also improve the Philippines’ competitiveness and ease the trading process for businesses, making it a more attractive destination for medical device companies. “Foreign investment in the country is somewhat hindered by a high fiscal burden through the high tax rates, which pose operational headwinds to firms and create barriers to investment,” Fitch Solutions said. The Duterte government wants to pass a bill reducing the corporate income tax rate on a staggered basis from the current 30 percent to 20 percent while removing redundant fiscal incentives. However, business groups
have expressed concerns over the proposed removal of some tax perks, saying the bill could force investors to relocate and result in job losses. In his fourth State of the Nation Address last Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to pass reforms in the corporate tax system along with the remaining packages of his administration’s comprehensive tax reform program. “The extent to which companies will benefit from the tax reforms will be limited by the proposed changes in investment incentives,” Fitch Solutions said. “We note that there have already been reports of some firms putting on hold their planned investments amid concerns of the proposed changes in the incentives regime,” it added. ■
Amro cuts 2019, 2020 growth forecasts for PH IMF also tempers expectations for Asean+3
by BEN
O. DE VERA Inquirer.net
THE regional macroeconomic surveillance organization Asean+3 Macroeconomic and Research Office (Amro) has slashed its 2019 and 2020 growth projections for the Philippines to 6.3 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. This was contained in Amro’s Asean+3 Regional Economic Outlook July update which was released Tuesday, July 23. In its previous report, Amro projected a 6.4-percent growth for the Philippines for 2019 and 6.6 percent for 2020. The slower growth forecasts were attributed by Amro to the “unexpected growth slowdown in the country’s first quarter growth due to the delay in the approval of the national budget.” For the entire Asean+3, which, besides the 10-nation grouping, also included China, Japan and South Korea, Amro slashed its
Inquirer.net file photo
2019 growth forecast to 4.9 percent from 5.1 percent previously “following continued weakness in manufacturing and export outturns.” “The region’s export value continued to contract in May, with the exception of some countries, such as Vietnam and the
Philippines,” Amro noted. In a separate report, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) also cut its 2019 growth projection for “Asean-5” to 5 percent from 5.1 percent previously. Asean-5 groups the PhilipPAGE D2
D JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
Neda to score PH on devt plan aims
Banks step up battle vs cybercrime
Manilatimes.net file photo by AnnA LeAh
e. GonzALes
ManilaTimes.net
The 2018 socioeconomic report, which measures the performance of the government in terms of hitting its target under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), is expected to be released by end-July or early next month, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said. “We are completing the socioeconomic report which takes the score of the administration’s performance in 2018 relative to our PDP 2017-2022,” NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia said during the post-SONA briefing at the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday. “This socioeconomic report looks at the accomplishments,
the hits and the misses of the administration vis-a-vis the targets set in our PDP in 2018 and on the basis of this analysis we are going to midterm update of the PDP,” he added. The PDP 2017-2022 which was launched in 2017, is the government’s blueprint for the country’s development. It seeks to lay the foundation to achieve inclusive growth and a globally competitive economy. Pernia said the socioeconomic report will be the basis of the midterm update of the PDP. “The socioeconomic report will be basis of the update of the PDP which will be produced by November so that we will have a fresh start in terms of the second half of the administration, what are the adjustments needed on the basis of accomplishments,
the hits and the misses that were marked in 2018,” he said. Pernia said among those included in the socioeconomic report are the investments in human capital, education, health and nutrition, employment data, and poverty matrix. “These will be the basis for to what extent more efforts will have to be exerted so that the targets for 2022 can be achieved starting this midterm,” he said. “We are also going to look at what are the infrastructure projects that need to be pushed harder to be accelerated so that as many as possible these infra projects will be completed by the end of the term of the president or well underway in terms of getting them started so that the succeeding admin can complete them on time,” added Pernia. n
Amro cuts 2019, 2020 growth forecasts... PAGE D1 t pines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update report released Tuesday also lowered the 2020 growth outlook for Asean-5 to 5.1 percent from 5.2 percent in its April report. The IMF sees global growth slowing to 3.2 percent this year and 3.5 percent next year from 3.6 percent last year and 3.8 percent in 2017. “Global growth remains subdued. Since the April WEO report, the United States further increased tariffs on certain Chinese imports and China retaliated by raising tariffs on a subset of US imports. Additional escalation was averted
following the June G20 summit. Global technology supply chains were threatened by the prospect of US sanctions, Brexit-related uncertainty continued, and rising geopolitical tensions roiled energy prices,” the IMF explained. “GDP releases so far this year, together with generally softening inflation, point to weaker-thananticipated global activity. Investment and demand for consumer durables have been subdued across advanced and emerging market economies as firms and households continue to hold back on long-term spending. Accordingly, global trade, which is intensive in machinery and consumer durables, remains sluggish. The projected growth pickup in
2020 is precarious, presuming stabilization in currently stressed emerging market and developing economies and progress toward resolving trade policy differences,” it added. “Risks to the forecast are mainly to the downside. They include further trade and technology tensions that dent sentiment and slow investment; a protracted increase in risk aversion that exposes the financial vulnerabilities continuing to accumulate after years of low interest rates; and mounting disinflationary pressures that increase debt service difficulties, constrain monetary policy space to counter downturns, and make adverse shocks more persistent than normal,” according to the IMF. n
The Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) launched its online campaign Be Aware, Be Cybersafe to help raise public awareness on cybersecurity amid growing concerns of cyberattackers shifting their focus to the Asia-Pacific region. Philstar.com file photo by LAwrence
AGcAoiLi Philstar.com
PHILIPPINE banks continue to step up their campaign against cybercrime in support of the efforts of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to strengthen the industry’s resilience to cyberattacks. The Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) launched its online campaign Be Aware,
Be Cybersafe to help raise public awareness on cybersecurity amid growing concerns of cyberattackers shifting their focus to the Asia-Pacific region. BAP president Cezar Consing said the campaign is the group’s way of raising awareness and partnering with the general public to prevent cybercrimes. “The world is so wired now that cybersecurity is everyone’s concern,” Consing, who is also
president and chief executive officer of Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), said. The campaign aims to promote awareness through regular posting of online content about tips and need-to-know concepts, giving the public a better appreciation of cybersecurity. The association, Consing added, is bullish that the online campaign would help the public PAGE D3
Economy shielded from external risks – Diokno much of these tensions, which stemmed from U.S. President Donald Trump accusing Beijing THE Philippine economy relast year of engaging in unfair mains insulated from the impact trade practices. This led the of external headwinds that other world’s two leading economies economies continue to reel from, to impose tit-for-tat tariffs worth according to Bangko Sentral ng billions of dollars on each others’ Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Bengoods, rattling markets. jamin Diokno. Trade negotiations between During The Manila Times Washington and Beijing to re2019 Midyear Economic Review solve this were held late last in Makati City on Tuesday, July year, but stalled in May. Trump 23, Diokno warned that escalatand his Chinese counterpart Xi ing trade tensions among major Jinping agreed to resume these economies continue to pose a during the Group of 20 meeting downside risk to both growth in Osaka, Japan, in late June. and inflation. Fortunately, the central bank “Uncertainty over trade poli- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin chief said, the country’s growth Diokno Manilatimes.net file photo cies dampen global demand and narrative over the past three dectemper international commodity in 2020, citing as reasons those ades has been anchored on the prices,” he said. same tensions — which it said strength of strong household His warning came just be- were hurting investments and consumption and a resilient profore the International Monetary manufacturing — and continued duction base. Fund (IMF) reduced its world uncertainty. “We project a steady recovery economic projection to 3.2 perThe trade war between the in household spending as comcent this year and 3.5 percent United States and China caused PAGE D3 by MAyveLin
U. cArAbALLo ManilaTimes.net
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019 D
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Duterte signs tobacco excise tax bill into law Robots to invade PH industries, but won’t be terminators—DTI
Inquirer.net file photo President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 4th State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 22, 2019. Presidential photo by King Rodriguez by Alexis
RomeRo Philstar.com
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, July 25, signed into law the bill raising the excise tax on tobacco products to support the government’s health care program, Malacañang said. Republic Act 11346 will hike tobacco excise tax rates and will impose taxes on heated tobacco and vapor products. The measure, which was transmitted to Malacañang last June 27, would have lapsed into law on July 27 if Duterte did not act on it. “To address the urgent need to protect the right to health of the Filipino people and to maintain a broader fiscal space to support the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, the president has signed into law House Bill no. 8677 / Senate Bill no. 2233 increasing the excise tax
on tobacco products,” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in a text message Thursday. The law will increase the excise tax slapped on cigarettes from P35 to P45 per pack next year. The tax will be raised to P50 per pack in 2021, P55 per pack in 2022 and P60 per pack in 2023. From being excise-free, heated tobacco products or e-cigarettes will be levied P10 per back beginning next year. The tax will increase by 5% every year effective Jan. 1, 2021. Vapor products, individual cartridge, refill, pod or container of its liquid solutions or gel will be charged P10 per 10 ml. Products that are more than 50 ml will be slapped with P50 excise tax plus P10 per additional 10 ml. The taxing of e-cigarettes is seen to raise an additional P2 billion in state revenues.
The Finance department has said the tobacco excise tax law would generate P15 billion in revenues during the first year of its implementation. The government has been raising taxes on tobacco products to discourage the public from consuming them and to generate additional revenues. Two years ago, Dutetre signed into law the first package of the tax reform program which raised tobacco excise tax rate from P31.2 per pack in 2018 to P32.5 per pack between January to June 2018, P35 per pack from July 2018 to December 2019, P37.5 per pack in 2020 and 2021 and P40 per pack in 2022 and 2023 and a 4 percent annual indexation onwards. In 2012, former President Benigno Aquino III signed a law restructuring the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco. n
Economy shielded from external risks... PAGE D2 t modity prices continue to stabilize,” Diokno added. Years of structural reform also continue to facilitate investments and generate employment, according to the Bangko Sentral governor. “Together with a financeable external payments position and our sizeable international reserves, the economy should be well-cushioned against significant external shocks,” he said. The Philippines’ external payments position, as measured by
the balance of payments, posted a $4.788-billion surplus in the first half of 2019, erasing the $3.257billion shortfall in the same period last year. It was higher than the BSP’s upwardly revised forecast of a $3.7-billion surplus for this year. “The surplus may be attributed partly to remittance inflows from overseas Filipinos during the first five months of the year and net inflows of foreign direct investments during the first four months of the year,” the Bangko Sentral explained.
Meanwhile, the country’s gross international reserves surged to a 33-month high of $85.379 billion in June on the back of higher gold prices, the government’s foreign-currency deposits, and the Bangko Sentral’s foreign-exchange operations and investment income. It was enough to cover 7.4 months worth of imports, and also equivalent to 5.1 times the country’s short-term external obligations due within one year and 3.7 times based on residual maturity. (With a report from AFP) n
by Roy
stephen C. CAnivel Inquirer.net
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is already preparing for the impact of automation on the Philippine labor force, anticipating a massive loss of jobs and finding ways to keep Filipinos employed amid fierce competition from robots. A ranking department official, however, said there’s no need to fear these robots, like those killer machines in movies called “terminators.” A report prepared in 2017 yet by consulting firm Mckinsey & Company estimated that 48 percent of work in the Philippines, equivalent to 18.2 million jobs, would be automated, eliminating the need for human workers. Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba had cited this report at a press briefing in Malacanang earlier this month as
she discussed steps being taken by the government to prepare job automation and counter its impact on the Philippine labor force. Aldaba, however, sought to ease fears about job automation, saying it could actually bring benefits like create new jobs. “Recall when ATM machines were first introduced and automation alarmists thought that this would lead to massive unemployment for bank tellers,” she said in a Viber message. “But this did not happen, new activities were actually created for service maintenance and cash reloading. With ATM machines, cost of operations dropped which enabled banks to build more branches requiring more tellers,” she added. She said the Department of Trade and Industry is working with the academe, the private sector and other government agencies, like the Commission on
Higher Education, Department of Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to prepare for the era of robots in the work force. One way Philippine workers could prepare for the onslaught of automation was to upgrade skills, retrain and for training schools to revise curricula to include subjects on digital and other skills that job automation would require. The Philippines, she said, should not fear the advent of new technology because it would allow the country to improve its competitiveness, develop new industries and even create new jobs. “Robots would need operators, service maintenance, and manufacturers. AI activities would require not only data scientists but also relatively low skilled workers to do data cleaning and data annotation,” she said, using the acronym for Artificial Intelligence. n
through proper and accessible education. We are optimistic that the Cybersafe campaign will be an important tool to empower our customers and clients to become more conscious before clicking suspicious links online,” Bautista explained. The BSP said cybersecurity remains one of the biggest threats in the banking industry as they become more sophisticated and pervasive, while costs and possible economic impact of cybercrimes remain high. The regulator has enjoined banks to participate in the BAP Cybersecurity Incident Database
(BAPCID) to strengthen resilience to cyberattacks. Apart from involving financial institutions in strengthening cyberresilience, the BAP said that engaging the banking public is important in building a more holistic approach to cybersecurity. The BAP also released three cybersecurity videos in both English and Taglish on phishing, malware and mobile and online banking. BAP managing director Benjamin Castillo said the online campaign is among the initiatives in the pipeline to strengthen the industry’s cyberresilience. n
Banks step up battle vs cybercrime PAGE D2 t become more cyber literate and vigilant. Breaches in private information systems are one of the main factors that discourage Filipinos from engaging in digital payments. BAP cybersecurity chairperson Edwin Bautista, president and CEO of Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines, said the rise of cyber-related crimes shifted the banking industry’s approach to cybersecurity, adding more emphasis on public education. “Our goal is to build a more vigilant banking community
D JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
ANNOUNCEMENT
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
FOR RENT
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-30, 2019 D
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Palace vows innovative business environment in Philippines by nestor
Corrales Inquirer.net
THE government would continue to provide an innovative and business-friendly environment in the Philippines, Malacañang said Thursday, July 25, after the country leapfrogs in the 2019 Global Innovation Index. The Philippines has jumped to 54th place among 129 countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2019 from 73rd place in 2018. “We commend those depart-
ments and agencies responsible for the improvement of our country relative to its economy’s innovation development,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing. “May this good news further motivate them in creating an environment that nurtures innovation and creates business opportunities as we become one of the fastest growing economies in the globe,” Panelo added. The Palace official said “the very institution has commented
in its report that the Philippines is among the new entrants to the group it calls the innovation achievers and has defined our country’s better innovation performance as one of the few notable changes this year.” “We foresee that the Philippines will further improve its rankings with higher scores in all of the aspects for innovation following President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s signing of the Philippine Innovation Act and the Innovative Startup Act into law,” he added. n
Economic team pushes ‘fair’ security of tenure bill
DoF: 10K TINs given to alien workers
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia by ben
o. de vera Inquirer.net
Department of Finance-Revenue Operations Group (DOF-ROG) Undersecretary Antonette Tionko explains how the government can gain revenues from the implementation of the Republic Act No. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law during a press briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on January 8, 2018. Also in photo is DOF-Strategy, Economics, and Results Group (SERG) Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua. Presidential photo by Toto Lozano by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo Manilatimes.net
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) already issued about 10,000 tax identification numbers (TINs) to foreign workers of offshore gaming operators, according to the Department of Finance (DoF). Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tiokno revealed the number in an interview on Tuesday night, July 23, telling reporters that the tax bureau had begun receiving TIN applications from alien employees of Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firms after it issued notices to employers. The BIR had sent these notices that require employers involved in online gaming operations to pay withholding tax discrepancies amounting to about P4.4
billion to date. “Once they have TINs, then the employer can already withhold their income taxes,” Tionko said. She admitted, however, that because of some limitations, the tax bureau had only issued TINs to those workers based in the cities of Parañaque, Manila and Pasay. Nevertheless, the Finance official assured that the BIR would soon issue TINs to all those who applied. The POGO sector has been the subject of government scrutiny after investigations revealed that it has become a conduit for undocumented workers from China. Since they are undocumented, these foreign workers are also not paying taxes to the government.
The BIR said it had matched the list of foreigners hired by local companies with records provided by government agencies, which showed big discrepancies on the number of foreigners employed and reported by them to the bureau. Most of these foreign workers, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd had said, are from the POGO industry, to which the government is losing about P2 billion a month for every 100,000 foreign workers. At P2 billion a month, the amount of taxes to be collected from the industry would hit P24 billion a year — a revenue source that was non-existent some four of five years ago, before President Rodrigo Duterte handed over control of these POGO companies to the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. n
The economic team is pushing for a “fair” security of tenure bill to ensure that the interests of both employers and workers are protected. “We support [Socioeconomic Planning] Secretary [Ernesto M.] Pernia’s position, and would like to add that the law should not negatively affect the competitiveness of the Philippines as an investment destination,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said late Wednesday when asked about the Department of Finance’s (DOF) position on the bill. In a press conference Wednesday, July 24, Pernia—the country’s chief economist and head of the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)—said the pending security of tenure bill awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature needed to be tweaked in order to be fair to both the business and labor sectors. For his part, Dominguez, who heads the Duterte administration’s economic team, added: “Be mindful that the Supreme
Court in several occasions has ruled that while the Philippine Constitution provides that the state should protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare, such constitutional policy is not intended to oppress or destroy capital and management.” As for Pernia, he said Neda’s view was that “the legislation should be something that will benefit not only the employers but also the workers.” The country’s biggest local and foreign business groups earlier asked the President to veto the bill as they claimed its passage would negatively impact on the Philippine economy and to workers themselves. Pernia said the business groups already met with President Duterte, who in turn had asked them to substantiate their claims. After his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, July 22, Duterte told reporters that he was still studying if he would sign the bill, as it will lapse into law on July 27 if left unsigned. For the part of Neda, Pernia said it already submitted to Malacanañg its comments three weeks ago, wherein “essentially
Inquirer.net file photo
there is a need for tweaking to address some of the provisions.” “It has to benefit not only the workers but also the employers because if investments are deterred and they shy away because of the security of tenure, then it’s not good for the workers—there will be less job opportunities,” Pernia explained. “It has to be fair between workers and employers because if you want jobs to be available, you need investments,” he added. “We have a very high labor force growth. We really have to keep up with so many workers coming into stream,” according to Pernia. The Neda chief said the bill seemed lopsided or one-sided, but when asked if it was deemed unfair to the business sector, he declined to comment, only saying that “I think the security of tenure bill is not perfect. “Also, even from the employees’ side they said it’s not adequate,” Pernia noted. Unlike the business groups asking Mr. Duterte to veto the bill, Pernia said it may be revised and sent back to Congress just like what the President earlier did to the coco levy fund bill. n
D JULY 27-30, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797