Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Volume 18 - No. 29 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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AUGUST 2-8, 2019
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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
Lotto resumes operations as Duterte lifts suspension order by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJ Press
MALACAĂ‘ANG on Tuesday night, July 30, announced that the suspension order imposed on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) lotto operations has been lifted by President Rodrigo Duterte. “The suspension of lotto operations is lifted immediately,â€? said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo in a TV interview.
However, the rest of the PCSO’s games with franchises, licenses and permits, such as the Small Town Lottery, Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan will remain suspended. Panelo said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was the one who relayed the information to him. “Only with respect to lottos. The rest of the gaming operations are still undergoing investigation. Pending results of that, per the executive secretary, the suspension on the lotto operations
is lifted,� he said. Medialdea, in a text message, confirmed the lifting of the suspension order. “Investigators found no [irregularities] in the conduct of its operation, its sanctity remained untainted and proper regulatory rules followed,� he said. On July 26, Duterte ordered the suspension of gaming activities operated, licensed and franchised by the PCSO due to alleged “massive corruption� in
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DILG orders mayors to clear roads in 60 days by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
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DURING the first Democratic debate in early July, 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
DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo AĂąo on Monday, July 29, ordered mayors nationwide to clear roads of illegal structures and illegally obstructing activities within 60 days. “All local officials are enjoined to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads which are being used for private ends and in the process, rid them of illegal structures and construction,â€? said AĂąo in his order. “Within 60 calendar days, significant results must be achieved, documented, and reported together with the efforts of the lgus to sustain the same,â€? he added. AĂąo urged Metro Manila mayors to prioritize the clearing of primary and arterial roads that contribute to vehicular congestion on main roads — Commonwealth Avenue, OsmeĂąa Highway, Aurora Boulevard and C5 Road in particular.
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Presidential hopefuls Sanders, Yang join ethnic media to discuss immigration, health care and the economy
Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
911TESDA. President Rodrigo Duterte strikes his signature pose with Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Taguig City Representative Maria Laarni Cayetano, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Isidro LapeĂąa, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Christopher “Bongâ€? Go, Taguig City Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano, TESDA ofďŹ cials, and the guests during the launch of the 911TESDA at the TESDA Complex in Taguig City on Tuesday, July 30. Appreciating innovation, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, July 30, led the launch of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) 911TESDA Program aimed at opening thousands of employment opportunities to TESDA graduates. MalacaĂąang photo by Ace Morandante
Poe now keen on supporting divorce bill Philippines protests ‘swarming’ of Chinese ships by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, July 31, said she is now more inclined to support the proposed divorce bill, after having a change of heart. The senator admitted that she initially supported making annulment more accessible, instead of legalizing divorce, but reconsidered after learning about the unfortunate cases of other women. “Subalit sa ngayon, pag nakikita ko na rin na marami sa ating mga kababaihan ang medyo naagrabyado at saka hindi makapagsimula muli sa kanilang buhay, parang naiisip ko na rin na siguro maganda na ngang pag-usapan yan, napapanahon na (When I learn of cases of many women who are disadvan-
taged and can’t start a new life, perhaps it is time to think of, and discuss the divorce law),â€? Poe said in an interview on dzMM. “Ang pinag-iingatan lang natin ay hindi ito [divorce] abusuhin at gawing nakapadali‌ (We just want to make sure that the divorce law will not be abused),â€? she added. Poe also stressed the need for a thorough study of the proposed legislation, specifically pertaining to safeguards. “Pero kung tatanungin mo ako ngayon ha, ano ba talaga‌parang mas gusto ko nang mayroon [divorce] (If you ask me now, I am more partial to having divorce in the country),â€? she said. “Kasi kapag sinabi mo ring annulment, ang dami pa e, may iba-iba pang mga question so tingnan natin. Pero kung bibilan-
Palace open to make Dengvaxia usable as dengue cases spike
vador Panelo said on Wednesday, July 31 that President Rodrigo Duterte is “open to anything that MANILA — MalacaĂąang is will benefit the Filipino peopleâ€? open to making the controversial after former Health Secretary JaDengvaxia vaccines available in nette Garin urged the government the market again in the wake of to “listen to real expertsâ€? and alcontinuously rising cases of den- low the vaccines accessible to the gue in the country. public anew. Presidential spokesperson Salu PAGE A2 by NESTOR
CORRALES Inquirer.net
near Pag-asa, warship passage in Tawi-Tawi by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com
VIRAY
MANILA — The Philippines’ top diplomat confirmed that a diplomatic protest had been filed against China in connection to the hundreds of vessels deployed in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. “Diplomatic protest fired off,â€? Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tweeted on Senator Grace Poe Phlstar.com ďŹ le photo Wednesday, July 31. Locsin’s tweet was in response gin mo na rin ang inclination ng mga mambabatas, mas inclined to National Security Adviser Herpo ako na suportahan yun sa mogenes Esperon Jr. who said ngayon (Because if you say an- he had recommended diplomatic nulment, there’s a lot, there are action on the matter. It is not clear if this is a new different questions so let’s see. But if we’d count the inclination protest aside from the one filed u PAGE A2 in April following reports of hun-
dreds of Chinese ships “circling� Pag-asa Island, one of the largest features in the Spratly group. In the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum�, Esperon bared that Chinese fishing vessels have increased from 61 in February 8 to 113 in July 24. The Chinese vessels, however,
decreased as of July 30, which Esperon attributed to the weather in the area. “Iisa na lang ang (China) coast guard vessel doon, fishing boat tatlo na lang,� Esperon said, noting that the ships might have gone to Subi Reef, one of China’s
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AUGUST 2-8, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page Lotto resumes operations as Duterte... Philippines protests ‘swarming’ of Chinese... PAGE A1 the agency. The order led to the closure of more than 30,000 gaming outlets since July 27. Alternative sources Following the closure of all gaming outlets of the PCSO, the government said it would look for other sources of funds to continue providing medical assistance to the poor. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III pointed out that new funding sources must be identified by the administration’s economic managers to augment PCSO funds.
“They have to be imaginative on where to get the funds. The PCSO funding is huge and can render anemic the capacity of the Malasakit centers to be able to maximize support to poor patients,� Duque said. “The shortfall must be filled,� he added. Duque noted that one of the possible fund sources could be revenue collection from sin taxes. He also said the Department of Health (DOH) could lend a hand through its medical assistance programs for the poor. According to the health chief,
nearly half a million people receive financial support from the PCSO yearly for their hospitalization and other medical needs. He added that the charity agency provides P1.5 billion yearly for the implementation of the UHC law as well. Duque said he would have informed MalacaĂąang of the possible impact of the suspension of PCSO gaming outlets on healthcare services had the Palace consulted him. He remains hopeful that the closure of small town lottery (STL) draw centers would be temporary. n
PAGE A1 of lawmakers, I am more inclined to support [divorce] now),� Poe added. Two other female senators namely Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros have also refiled separate measures to legalize divorce in the Philippines.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, on the other hand, thinks it is not yet time to pass the measure. “Kasi we’re predominantly a Catholic country. Medyo ‘di ba ayaw ‘yan ng Simbahan, madaming gulo (Because we’re predominantly a Catholic country. The Church does not want it, there
are many issues),� Villar said on Tuesday, July 30. “But I think it will be filed every Congress and there will come a time that we will pass it. But I don’t think this is the time that we will be able to pass it. It’s a matter of adjusting the mind of the people,� she added. n
Poe now keen on supporting divorce...
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Photo taken in 2017 shows Chinese ships anchored near a reef as seen from Pag-asa Island. The Philippines has protested a fresh ‘swarming’ of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa (above), considered part of Palawan where Filipino civilians and Marines reside. Pag-asa is the country’s biggest and most strategically important outpost in the West Philippine Sea. AFP File Photo
PAGE A1 militarized artificial islands which is just over 12 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island. The national security adviser also noted that there are many possibilities on why the number of Chinese vessels operating in the area have been increasing. “When we look at the composition of the vessels that are there we saw seven cargo vessels pero wala namang laman na pangconstruct... It could be to prevent you from patrolling in that area or it could be a dry run,� he said, adding that the Chinese ships could also be conducting resupply missions. According to Esperon, the Phil-
ippines had also sent a note verbale over the passage of Chinese warships through Sibutu Strait in the waters of Tawi-Tawi. “That incident happened about two months ago but it has been a subject of diplomatic action,� he said. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier confirmed that Chinese warships have passed four times in Sibutu Strait in four instances. Taiwanese media reported that Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning passed through the Sibutu Strait first before entering the West Philippine Sea via the southern Palawan in June.
The Philippine military, however, cannot confirm whether Liaoning passed through Philippine waters as the warship’s Automatic Identification System might have been turned off. Echoing Lorenzana’s previous pronouncements, Esperon stressed that military vessels passing through the country’s archipelagic sea lanes must seek diplomatic clearance. “In our customs and traditions and our agreements with other countries we always advise the country — the host country — and ask for diplomatic clearance and if there is diplomatic clearance we even welcome them to dock in our ports,� Esperon said. n
PAGE A1 “We’re always open to anything that will benefit the Filipino people. We’re not closed to any suggestion,â€? Panelo told reporters in MalacaĂąang. But Panelo said Garin’s call “has to be discussed thoroughly, extensively.â€?’ “We need experts to support any call for the return of Dengvaxia,â€? he noted. The administration of former President Benigno S. Aquino III had used Dengvaxia, a vaccine manufactured by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, in the government’s mass anti-dengue vaccination
program that started in 2016 and carried on under the Duterte administration. In November 2017, Sanofi released results of its long-term follow-up study showing that Dengvaxia could cause an increased risk to patients who received it without a prior history of being infected with dengue. Subsequently, the government, under incumbent Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, stopped the nationwide anti-dengue inoculation campaign and thereby pulled out Dengvaxia vaccines from the local market. Following Garin’s recommendation, Panelo cited conflict-
ing claims of experts regarding Dengvaxia’s efficacy. “If you will notice ‘yung mga experts hindi nagkakasundo diyan. May nagsasabing pwede, may nagsasabing hindi pwede. So we need to thoroughly investigate exactly the situation involving the Dengvaxia,� he said. “If the weight of findings show that there is benefit using Dengvaxia against dengue, then certainly the government should consider it,� he said. On July 15, Duque declared a “national dengue alert� as 106,630 dengue cases have already been reported nationwide from January 1 to June 29, 2019. n
Palace open to make Dengvaxia usable as dengue...
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 2-8, 2019
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Presidential hopefuls Sanders, Yang join ethnic... PAGE A1 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 offices 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 industries 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, lament-
Fil-Am mail bomber...
PAGE A1 t infatuation with Trump initially started off 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)
ing 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 do our best to bring our countries together to fight climate change and to solve global conflicts without violence.” The 2020 Democratic hopefuls returned to the debate stage this week in Detroit on Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
BRINGING GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO CITIZENS. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño speaks on behalf of Secretary Eduardo Año during the Dagyaw: Open Government and Participatory Governance Townhall Meetings held at Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City on Tuesday, July 30. The Dagyaw 2019 series of events aims to communicate the good governance reforms of the Duterte administration; provide a platform for citizens to clarify “Issues of the Day” and raise concerns through direct interfacing between senior government officials; and provide a venue for citizens to access a one-stop-shop of frontline government services and national programs down to the regions. PNA photo by Gil Calinga
DILG orders mayors to clear roads... PAGE A1t The DILG order came from President Rodrigo Duterte who asked local chief executives nationwide to reclaim public roads which have been used for private purposes. “My request, my pleading to the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) and all concerned local officials in Metro Manila to undertake immediate action to ensure smooth flow of traf-
fic…Reclaim all ublic roads that are being used for private ends,” Duterte said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22. According to Año, “significant results” will be measured in the clearance of roads, with the priority for high-traffic roads. He also warned mayors who would fail to reclaim roads of administrative complaints, using the Local Government Code.
“There is no room for compromise on this issue. It’s either black or white. I will not hesitate to submit to the president the names of stubborn local chief executives. If it all leads to a suspension, so be it. It is for the benefit of the people anyway,” Año said. He also reminded mayors to take measures to provide alternatives for the displaced persons that would be affected with their clearing operations. n
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AUGUST 2-8, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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Philippines named ‘deadliest’ country for environmental defenders – Global Witness
by Divina
nova Joy Dela Cruz Inquirer.net
LONDON-based watchdog Global Witness has named the Philippines as the “deadliest” country for environmental defenders with the most number of deaths recorded in 2018. In its annual report, Global Witness documented 30 people killed in the Philippines, including the victims of “Sagay 9” in Negros Occidental. The Philippines has surpassed Brazil, which has held the top spot since 2012. “Sagay 9” refers to the nine sugarcane farmers who were gunned down and their tents burned by unknown assailants on October 20, when they occupied a plot of land at hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City where there was an ongoing regional land dispute. Among the victims, were three women and two teenagers. POOL IN A FLASH. Children play and swim on a flooded street in Manila, one of the cities pelted by monsoon rains on Sunday, July 28. “Theirs is not an isolated case. ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia The Philippines has consistently ranked as one of the deadliest countries in the world for people protecting their land or the environment,” Global Witness said. “The ecological agriculture that landless farm workers have “We’re really excited about this painstakingly carved out of the very first years, if you can estabby Christina Marie raMos lish those good habits of reading, program, we think it’s gonna be vast monoculture plantations of Iquirer.net of literacy, of interest in math- tremendously successful and if it Negros sugar barons have been The United States has given ematics as well as…social skills, is [successful], we wanna build irrigated with blood and bullets. P2 billion to aid the Department kids are gonna have a successful on that success, and I’m sure the Since 2017 to date, at least 87 of education (Deped) in imple- educational experience,” he fur- Philippine government would land and environment defenders want to build on that success as menting innovative approaches ther explained. The program will be imple- well,” he added. to ensure quality early education In achieving its goal, the projto at least two million young stu- mented from July 2019 to June dents in the Bicol and Western 2024 throughout schools in the ect would invest in professional Bicol and Western Visayas re- development and support for Visayas regions. teachers to achieve improved inThe program, which was gions. “The focus is on fundamental struction and learning delivery. launched at the Bulwagan ng The program would also introKarunungan at the Deped Main literacy—I think the challenge in by Gaea Katreena CabiCo Philstar.com Building in Pasig City on Tues- Bicol and Western Visayas is we duce innovative approaches to day, July 30, is dubbed as the have so many languages—also teaching materials development ABC + Project: Advancing Basic fundamental mathematical litera- to make them available in a variMANILA — It is unclear whethcy, numeracy, an ability to work ety of languages. education in the Philippines. er the Philippine government is “Indeed it takes a village to “winning” the “war on drugs,” a The five-year program will be with numbers because that opens supported by the U.S. Agency up a whole world of science and raise a child…Partnerships with US-based think tank said, adding various sectors of the community however that it is apparent the for International Development technology as well,” Law said. The said project, which would are essential to helping our chil- campaign that has killed thou(USAID). “education has always been ensure access to quality educa- dren reach their maximum poten- sands has had an immediate imone of the big components of the tion for children in areas of great- tial, together we put our stakes in pact on the lives of many. work that AID is doing here and er need, seeks to improve basic the future of our children, transIn a 2019 report on contempothrough their work with the De- life skills of children in grades 2 forming them, making them rary drug policies in Asia, Rand dream differently and achieve,” Corp. — a non-profit research partment of education, they’ve and 3. “This program is focused…in Deped Assistant Secretary Salva- group based in Santa Monica, identified one of the most important areas [and that is] obviously two regions to start off, but we’re dor Manala III said in his closing California — stressed there is when kids are little,” U.S. em- really looking forward to have a remarks during the launch. no empirical basis for the effec“We look at ABC+ as a potent tiveness of the violent sweeps of bassy in the Philippines Chargé tremendous impact on those inid’Affaires John Law told reporters tial years when kids are learning, tool and as a vehicle to improve urban poor communities under that’s just gonna catapult them to basic life skills of our children President Rodrigo Duterte’s antion the sidelines of the launch. “When you can get them in success as they’re older, we be- and thus help us bring about a narcotics campaign. stronger society,” he added. n their kindergarten years, in those lieve,” Law said. “It is unclear what impact aggressive law enforcement efforts have on drug markets. Given that such extreme measures are rarely adopted, such a policy is not well researched,” Rand Corp. said in a report published in May. It added: “Furthermore, the threat and use of violence against those accused or convicted of drug law violations lack any empirical evidence base when compared with effective treatment and innovative crime-reduction initiatives.” Latest government data showed the number of drug personalities killed in 134,583 antidrug operations stood at 5,526. The count is significantly lower than the estimates by human rights watchdogs of as many as 27,000 killed. Authorities have countered that the operations have also resulted in 193,086 arrests and more than 1.5 million who surrendered. “In addition to creating opportunities for law enforcement to extort compromised individuals, the policy of recording the names and details of suspects might violate rights and create a stigmatizing and fearful environment,” Rand Corp. said of the “Tokhang” or “knock-and-plead” anti-drug operations. “Although these surrenders
US gives P2B to boost quality early education in Bicol, W. Visayas
have been murdered by military, paramilitary troops, and other state forces for carrying out land occupation and cultivation campaigns across the island,” Leon Dulce, national coordinator of local environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network for the environment (Kalikasan PNe) said in a statement. “The killing fields of Negros is the single biggest driver of environmental defenders in 2018. Scores more are being killed by the military rampage as we speak,” Dulce said. Global Witness also highlighted said that 15 of the killings were linked to agribusiness. Following the Philippines in the “deadliest” list were Colombia with 24 killings, India with 23, and Brazil with 20. A “massacre” in India, which killed 13 people in a protest over a copper mine in Tamil Nadu, catapulted it to the top 3 deadliest countries. Global Witness has documented a total of 164 land and environmental defenders killed worldwide in 2018, which could translate to more than three in a week. Most of the killings were linked to the mining sector “with 43 defenders killed protesting against the destructive effects of mineral extraction on people’s land, livelihoods and the environment,” the report said. It also noted the steep increase in killings related
to water sources and dams with 4 people killed in 2017 to 17 in 2018. Other cases were linked to agribusiness with 21, logging with 13, poaching with 9, fishing with 2, and wind power with 1 case. Global Witness said impunity has made it difficult to identify perpetrators and found that 40 of the cases were linked to state security forces. Some 40 other cases were linked to private sectors such as hitmen, criminal gangs and landowners as suspects. It also found that “criminalization” and “aggressive civil cases” were “being used to stifle environmental activism and land rights” defense globally. “This year, for the first time, Global Witness also sounds the alarm about the criminalization of activists and their communities. evidence from across continents shows that governments and companies are using countries’ courts and legal systems as instruments of oppression against those who threaten their power and interests,” Global Witness said in a separate statement. “As detailed in Global Witness’ report, for example, indigenous activists in the Philippines have faced death threats, been thrown in jail and had their homes demolished for opposing the use of their land to grow bananas for sale on global markets,” it added. n
Winning the drug war? US think tank says effectiveness of violent campaign ‘unclear’
In this Feb. 30, 2018 file photo, police officers visit homes in Tondo, Manila to ask drug users to undergo rehabilitation at the relaunch of Oplan Tokhang. The STAR/Edd Gumban, file
are voluntary, it is unclear how much autonomy suspected drug users or dealers have in the matter; some surrender in hopes of entering treatment.” The Rand report said that while the drug crackdown has not been evaluated to determine its impact on drug dealing and use, it stressed that “early counts of those killed in the street and detained in prison indicate that costs have been substantial.” “Although effects in the Philippines have not been empirically evaluated in terms of changes in drug distribution and use, early reports suggest substantial impacts on rehabilitation services, human rights, prison overcrowding, spread of contagious disease, and a general fear of government officials,” the Rand Corp. report said. Inmate overcrowding Rand Corp. stressed that inmate overcrowding is a “serious problem” in the Philippines and the surrender of hundreds of thousands suspected drug personalities to authorities has contributed to the issue. “International groups report increasing incidence of such communicable diseases as hIV and tuberculosis in inmate populations,” it said.
The Philippines topped the World Prison Brief’s list of the most overcrowded incarceration systems in the world. It was followed by haiti, el Salvador, Guatemala and Comoros. As of May 2018, there were 188,278 prisoners — 144,871 in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-manned jails and 47,707 in Bureau of Correctionsmanned prisons — in facilities capable of housing only 40,610 individuals. This puts the occupancy level of the country’s prison system at 464.6%. According to its website, the World Prison Brief is a “unique database that provides free access to information about prison systems throughout the world.” Country information is updated monthly using data largely derived from governmental or other official sources. “There seems to be no official effort to evaluate these policies in terms of their effectiveness or harms caused. Furthermore, it is unclear what consideration has been made to measures of success or to the opportunity costs of utilizing scarce public security and health resources to round up suspected drug-involved persons,” Rand Corp. said. n
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Robredo hopes for better ties with Duterte
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 2-8, 2019
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Honasan assumes post as DICT chief
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AUGUST 2-8, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
OPINION
While we’re sleepin
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IT was a tragic, dramatic illustration of the importance of being prepared for disasters, especially in the most unguarded moments. Last Saturday, as authorities carried out what was touted as a nationwide “shake drill” at 4 a.m., a real earthquake rocked the country’s northernmost province of Batanes. Like many other people across the country, most of the Batanes residents were still asleep. The quake at 4:16 a.m. lasted only a few seconds. But with a magnitude of 5.4, followed by a magnitude 5.9 temblor about three hours later, the quakes were powerful enough to destroy a Catholic church and several dwellings, some of them heritage houses in picturesque Itbayat town. Eight people were killed while about 100 were injured. On Monday, July 29, a ninth fatality was found in a cave. Fearing aftershocks, families fled to safety, learning belatedly the inadequacy of the mass evacuation capability of their province. July is the same month in 1990 that the magnitude 7.7 earthquake devastated large swaths of Luzon, killing at least 1,621 people mostly in Nueva Ecija and Baguio City. Some areas felt the quake at up to Intensity 9. The quake was so powerful it created a ground rupture 125 kilometers long from the province of Aurora to Cuyapo in Nueva
Ecija. Soil liquefaction partly swallowed residential and commercial structures in Pampanga. Since the catastrophe, there have been improvements in earthquake preparedness. The impact of the recent quake in Batanes, however, shows that more can be done. Structural experts are reminding residents or custodians of buildings made of limestone – a typical material used in heritage churches across the country – to fortify the buildings against earthquakes. The inadequacy of evacuation centers in Batanes also gives urgency to proposals for the upgrading of such facilities across an archipelago that is visited regularly by powerful typhoons and earthquakes, torrential floods and killer landslides. The Batanes earthquake is just the latest reminder of seismologists’ warning that Metro Manila and neighboring areas are ripe for the so-called Big One along the East and West Valley Faults. The fault system runs from Doña Remedios Trini-
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS TWELVE YEARS ago, my family had just settled in California, coming from Minnesota where we lived for four years as my husband completed his training in surgery. I thought my career in broadcasting was over after I said goodbye to my very fulfilling career in radio and television at ABS-CBN headquarters in Manila to immigrate to the United States with my family in 2001. I started my real estate business while raising my kids in the United States without yayas, a driver, and extended family support to help my husband who was then just getting a humble stipend as a resident in surgery. On the side, I also ventured into the distribution of The Filipino Channel (TFC) satellite and subscription. TFC then was just growing after it was launched in 1994 in the United States and based in California, giving kababayans access to Filipino television programs from ABS-CBN, the parent company of TFC. I would even give my Filipino clients — mostly Filipino nurses in Minnesota — TFC satellites as gifts for their new houses and they were so grateful as it helped ease away their homesickness and kept their parents longer to take care of their kids as husband and wife worked. During this time in 2002-2005, I would also file stories for the weekly “Balitang America,” which was launched on September 28, 2002, post 9/11 tragedy and in preparation for the upcoming elections in the United States,
Philstar.com photo
dad in Bulacan through parts of Rizal and Metro Manila up to Cavite and Canlubang, Laguna. When the faults finally move, experts estimate that some 35,000 people could die in Metro Manila alone from the earthquake itself apart from the fires that are bound to break out, with thousands more injured and displaced. Millions would suffer from
disruptions in basic services and supply chains, and health facilities could be overwhelmed. Local government units play a critical role in disaster preparedness and mitigation around the clock. The earthquake in Batanes is the latest sad reminder that disaster can strike, even while we’re sleeping. (Philstar.com)
Revealing inside story of Gel Santos Relos’ 12 years as anchor of ‘Balitang America’ and 25 years as kapamilya at TFC under the leadership of Ms. Ging Reyes, who was then the North America News Bureau Chief. When my husband finally finished his surgical training in 2005, my family moved to Northern California upon his acceptance of a job with Kaiser Permanente. His service area then was in Stockton, where I also eventually practiced real estate. But before this, we visited the Philippines for the first time since we left in 2001. Our visit to Manila coincided with the “Hello Garci” scandal of the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presidency. When my colleagues at ABS-CBN knew I was in town, they invited me to be a guest on a talk program where I shared how kababayans in Minnesota felt about the chaos in politics in the Philippines. Little did I know that this TV appearance would open the doors for me to go back to my first love — broadcasting. Upon returning to California from our visit to Manila, I was contacted by one of TFC’s production bosses Maritess Militar to invite me to co-host “Citizen Pinoy” with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel. Even earlier than this, TFC chief Rene Encarnacion called me and talked about the future plans of TFC to produce more local programs and he said he could see me moderating town hall meetings and hosting talk shows. When I heard this, something lit up within me, fired up my belly and made me feel like flying. This was how I knew where my passion was even after my hiatus from broadcasting. And so that started my comeback to ABS-CBN as an on-cam
Commentary
personality after four years, cohosting “Citizen Pinoy” from 2005 to 2008. But I did not know then something bigger was coming. During the first quarter of 2007, Ging Reyes and ABS-CBN big boss Gabby Lopez had a teleconference with me to invite me to anchor “Balitang America” daily newscast, which they wanted to launch in the second quarter of that year in the new studio and headquarters of TFC in Redwood Shores, California. While I was thrilled by the prospect of anchoring the news daily again as I used to do in Manila, I had some reservations within me. My family just bought a house in Stockton and the TFC studio was more than 90 miles away from Redwood Shores. And, I had a booming career in real estate in Stockton which I was doing full time. I had to decline the offer. BUT Ging Reyes was relentless and even pleaded with me to just help establish the daily newscast and then I could leave anytime. She said I should just look at it as a “long lunch break” from my real estate day to day grind. TFC offered to help me in every way possible to make it worth my time and effort to anchor the news again albeit the distance. AND SO on May 7, 2007, we launched the “Balitang America” daily newscast, starting off with just 15 minutes airtime. I would drive from Stockton to Redwood Shores, every day from Monday to Friday, around noon time, traversing more than 180 miles round trip, taking me easily about a four-hour round trip commute amid all the road constructions
and traffic, passing through so many hills and valleys — all this for 15 minutes of taping every day. And then the newscast became 30 minutes in length, and we started doing town halls and specials in the service to the Filipino American community. That light in my spirit, that fire in my belly, that feeling that I could fly when Rene Encarnacion talked to me about the future of TFC — they all manifested not just with a vision, but with the realization of that vision. And so, I left my real estate business. We moved to the San Francisco Bay Area near TFC. With the support and blessing of my husband, I put my wholehearted commitment to my relationship with TFC and the shared mission we have — to be of service to the Filipinos in America, empowering them with news and information, giving them a platform to make their voices heard. For 12 years I had been a part of the evolution of “Balitang America,” recalibrating, reinventing and keeping up with the demands, challenges and opportunities of the changing times — from the end of the George W. Bush years to Barack Obama’s two terms as president to Donald Trump being catapulted to the presidency. “Balitang America” has been serving the Filipinos in North America daily for more than 12 years, through recession and recovery, through the failures and triumphs of our kababayans in America, through the changing culture brought about by leaps and bounds changes and innovations in technology, through
analog to digital. And now 12 years hence, “Balitang America” has to change with the times, and maximize the use of digital technology to expand our reach to even more Filipinos in America and around the world. Hence, on July 26, I taped my last episode as the anchor for “Balitang America,” as the newscast transitions to being taped and anchored in Manila using news stories gathered by our reporters in different parts of North America. This is a strategic business decision so that beyond the newsroom and the conventional newscast, TFC can venture further into digital news, creating new ways of storytelling that cater to the younger generation as well. HOWEVER, TFC carries on with its strong commitment to be of service to our core audience, who has been our loyal subscribers and viewers of our programs for decades. This is how my partnership and collaboration with TFC continues and evolves beyond “Balitang America,” maximizing the use of digital technology to serve our Filipino American community and help them even better as they navigate their new life here in the United States. I have almost come full circle in TFC’s 25 years of service - being watched by Fil-Ams through my programs produced in Manila like “Hoy! Gising!”, “Tatak Pilipino”, “Compañeto y Compañera”, “Pulso”, “Headlines”; on TFC’s locally produced programs “Citizen Pinoy” and “Balitang America; and listening to me on radio DZMM while they
were still living in the Philippines for news and information. Moving on and looking forward to the future, I will reach out to our kababayans through this new platform and format that will deliver all the value and service of the programs I have been a part of on radio and television in the past to serve our kababayans using digital technology. ABANGAN: A podcast/teleradyo para po sa inyong lahat, mga Kapamilya! We will talk about information you need to help you in your day to day challenges in America, all the heartaches and pains and worries that keep you up at night, and all the problems we are facing hoping to find help and solutions. 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 adapt to your new life in the United States. Send your topic requests, messages to: Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos. You may also email me: gelrelos@icloud.com. That light in my spirit, that fire in my belly, that feeling that I could fly — they are all here in me burning stronger than ever as we embark on this new adventure together. “Change is inevitable but growth is optional”. Let us continue to grow together, Kapamilya. Maraming salamat po! *** 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
Reincarnating the death penalty
vengeful anger. When it’s the government that’s confronted with the question, however, the query beJOEL RUIZ BUTUYAN comes secondarily an emotional inquiry, and primarily a probe IF your wife or daughter is into policy. The objective of obraped or murdered, would you taining retribution or revenge in behalf of the victim’s famnot want to kill the culprit?” This is the leading question ily remains a crucial purpose usually asked by advocates of in imposing a penalty against the death penalty by way of con- the offender. But the overridfronting those who are against ing consideration for the state it. “Of course I would want to” is whether the penalty imposed would be my ready answer. But is an effective instrument of dethat’s my answer, because the terrence against future commisquestion solicits an emotional sion of the crime. There’s an abundance of reresponse. The question is no different search findings showing that from this: “If you are punched in the imposition of the death penthe face, wouldn’t you feel like alty has never been an effecpunching back?” I will not only tive deterrence against heinous punch back, but I will also kick crimes. These findings are valiand stomp on the offender in dated in studies across nations.
Death penalty supporters rely on two grievously wrong assumptions. First, they sweepingly assume that criminals are always caught red-handed, or the evidence against them is airtight. However, so many cases are filed based mainly on testimonial evidence. Many policemen are either indolent in gathering forensic evidence that is more reliable than verbal evidence, or they have inadequate equipment, budget and training to gather such evidence. Consequently, judges rely on “he said, she said” evidence that is so prone to manipulation. It’s very difficult to distill truth from oral statements laden with the imperfections of the witnesses’ behavior, education and morals, as well as the
competence or incompetence of the lawyers, prosecutors and judges. Second, death penalty advocates fatally assume that our courts are infallible when they convict a criminal and impose the death penalty. However, our Supreme Court has essentially revealed that our justice system is a dreadfully imperfect institution unworthy of being given the power to divine life or death for accused criminals. In the case of People v. Mateo (July 2004), our Supreme Court disclosed that in 71.77 percent of lower court decisions imposing the death penalty, the judges were wrong. That’s a staggering number of errors. The Supreme Court made these revelations: “Statistics would disclose that within the
eleven-year period since the reimposition of the death penalty law in 1993 until June 2004, the trial courts have imposed capital punishment in approximately 1,493, out of which 907 cases have been passed upon in review by the Court. In the Supreme Court, where these staggering numbers find their way on automatic review, the penalty has been affirmed in only 230 cases comprising but 25.36% of the total number. Significantly, in more than half or 64.61% of the cases, the judgment has been modified through an order of remand for further proceedings, by the application of the Indeterminate Sentence Law or by a reduction of the sentence. Indeed, the reduction by the Court of the death penalty to reclusion perpetua has been
made in no less than 483 cases or 53.25% of the total number. The Court has also rendered a judgment of acquittal in sixtyfive (65) cases. In sum, the cases where the judgment of death has either been modified or vacated consist of an astounding 71.77% of the total of death penalty cases directly elevated before the Court on automatic review that translates to a total of six hundred fifty-one (651) out of nine hundred seven (907) appellants saved from lethal injection.” So why do the President and Congress insist on giving our courts the power to impose the death penalty, when our highest court has confessed that hundreds of lives came very close to being erroneously put to death? (Inquirer.net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Dateline PhiliPPines Damaged Batanes heritage homes face demolition by Michael
PunonGbayan Philstar.com
MANILA — Initial damage to infrastructure caused by the earthquakes that hit Itbayat island in the province of Batanes on Saturday, July 27 has been placed at P72 million, while hundreds of houses may be demolished because these are no longer habitable. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other government agencies have yet to assess the damage to other public and private properties. Another aftershock, measuring magnitude 3.4, shook Itbayat on Monday, July 29. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the tremor happened at 2:03 p.m., with its epicenter traced 18 kilometers southwest of Itbayat. During a briefing on the situation in areas hit by the earthquake, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said failure to comply with the building code was one of the gaps observed while officials were responding to the effects of the disaster. “I would like to commend the LGUs (local government units), particularly the provincial government and their governor Marilou Cayco and (Itbayat) Mayor Raul de Sagon, for immediately acting and getting response. They were able to convene the local DRRMC and designated an emergency operation center,” Año said. “But we have seen some gaps. Like for example, most of the houses were actually (built during the) Spanish era... and they did not follow the building code. So aside from the 15 houses, probably some of those houses will not be livable anymore. We have to assess the structural integrity and ensure that the building code will be followed,” he added. Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chief Eduardo del Rosario agreed, saying some houses in the province do not have any steel because they were built more than five decades ago. The HUDCC also warned Itbayat residents that damaged houses declared condemned due
Cayetano sees smooth passage of OFW department bill by Glee Jalea ManilaTimes.net
HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano sees the smooth passage of the bill seeking the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), which was certified urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte. The former Foreign Affairs secretary cited the need to have a department that will look after the welfare and protection of OFWs. “I was able to prove when I was at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that no matter the care of the DFA secretary, the President to the OFWs, someone has to be in charge to ensure their welfare and protection, and
File photo shows a traditional stone house in Batanes. Several of these houses, made of limestone, wood and thatch and constructed to withstand typhoons, were damaged during the quakes that hit Itbayat town last Saturday, July 27. Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas
to the earthquake would be demolished. “Yes definitely, they will not be allowed to live there anymore because if something happens, we will be having casualties,” Del Rosario told reporters on the sidelines of the 7th Asia Pacific Housing Forum in Makati City. Philippine Navy spokesman Capt. Jonathan Zata revealed yesterday that estimated damage to infrastructure so far is at P72 million, according to the joint task force of the NDRRMC, Department of Health (DOH) and the Batanes provincial government. The NDRRMC, in a separate report, said P47 million in infrastructure damage refers to the Itbayat District Hospital and Itbayat Rural Health Unit. Among the other structures damaged were the Mayan Elementary School and Itbayat National Agriculture High School but damage costs are yet to be assessed. The death toll remained at eight, with one missing and 63 others injured. The NDRRMC said 911 families or 2,963 individuals affected by the earthquakes from five different barangays are at the Itbayat Plaza. Zata said the government has been assisting residents and the
Philippine Navy has led the relief and restoration of affected areas. Displaced families have received food and other items from the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and provincial and local disaster risk reduction management offices. Also helping in relief operations are private firms and nongovernment organizations like Meralco, Globe Telecom and GMA Kapuso Foundation. Tent plaza Governor Cayco said electricity and communications were restored in the island municipality of Itbayat yesterday morning. Cayco said President Duterte made an aerial survey of Itbayat on board a helicopter last Sunday. She said most of the 3,600 residents of the island are living in tents at the town plaza. The governor appealed to tourists visiting Batanes to avoid Itbayat that has no facilities to accommodate visitors. Itbayat is famous for its 19th century structures and limestone houses. Duterte reminded local officials to comply with the building code to minimize damage caused by earthquakes. n
to help them seek better work opportunities, hence we have a House version of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers and Foreign Employment,” Cayetano said in a mix of English and Filipino on Sunday, July 28. “If we hold job fairs, operate the Public Employment Service Office programs, then we should have an agency looking for opportunities for Filipinos to work abroad,” he added. Out of over 2,000 House bills and resolutions tabled in the first week of the regular session of the 18th Congress, House Bill 2, or “an Act creating the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers and Foreign Employment,” had been tabled for first reading.
The bill defined the department’s powers, fund appropriation, organization and functions. The measure was authored by Cayetano, his wife Taguig First District Rep. Maria Laarni Cayetano and Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte. Cayetano expressed confidence that the Senate version of the measure would be approved in no time. “This is also a priority by Sen. [Christopher Lawrence “Bong”] Go in the Senate. The President said that he wants this. So, now, we are looking at least three departments: the Department of Disaster Resilience, the Department of Water and the Department of OFWs,” he said. n
BI: More Chinese barred from entering PH by evelyn
Macairan Philstar.com
MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has barred the entry of 2,351 foreign nationals, including 1,129 from China, during the first six months of this year. In a statement, BI Port Operations Division (POD) chief Grifton Medina reported to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente that the foreigners were stopped at the different international airports in the country. Statistics from the BI-POD travel control and enforcement unit showed that almost half of those turned away were Chinese, followed by 106 Indians, 87 Americans, 52 Taiwanese and 67 Koreans. “They were turned back after undergoing primary and secondary inspection by our immigration officers and were declared unfit for admission into our country for a variety of reasons. They were issued exclusion orders and booked on the first available flight to their ports of origin,” Medina said. These aliens were barred after they were found to be either registered sex offenders, wanted fugitives, suspected international terrorists or blacklisted and previously deported. The entries of others were denied for being “public charges”
Philstar.com file photo
or classified as persons without visible means of supporting themselves and whose purpose of coming here was doubtful. Morente said those excluded for being a public charge or whose entry is a threat to public order and safety would be barred from re-entering the country. Several others were turned back for being rude and disrespectful toward immigration officers and for having incomplete travel documents. Out of the 2,351 foreigners, Medina said, 1,920 were turned away at the Ninoy Aquino Inter-
national Airport while the rest were stopped at the airports in Mactan, Clark, Kalibo, Aklan and Davao. “Our immigration officers are working hard day and night to protect our borders from these threats. We are serious in our drive against illegal aliens and we are doing the best so we can stop them from entering the country,” Morente said. He added that the BI is “not targeting specific nationalities” but is instead “targeting illegal and undocumented individuals who try to enter the Philippines.” n
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AUGUST 2-8, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019
Friday, August 2, 2019
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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019
This Filipino chocolatier wants the Philippines to be known globally as a great source of chocolates los), and you get Theo & Philo, chocolate and love. this year, the Philippines had Now, his goal for Theo IT was a sweet victory a pavilion called Food Philip& Philo is for it to become a for five Philippine chocolate pines. global Filipino brand. brands at the 2019 AcadBefore he became a “That is the ultimate emy of Chocolate Awards in chocolatier, Chua was in the dream, that when people think London last June when they Information Technology (IT) about the Philippines, they also garnered a total of 24 awards field, working as a programmer think about our chocolates, across various categories. in Pittsburgh. While writing specially our brand,” he said. AuroChocolate (Davao), something on the side about Summer Fancy Food Show Dalareich Food Products 2019 (Bohol), Malagos Agri-Ventures chocolates, he learned in his CITEM, the marketing arm Corporation (Davao), MS3Agri- research that the Philippines is one of the few areas in the of the Philippine Department Ventures (Davao), and Theo world where cocoa trees grew of Trade and Industry curated and Philo Artisan Chocolates and that inspired him to know the list of ten companies, (Davao) impressed more than more about it. including Theo & Philo that 100 expert judges who make That was his “aha moment” joined in this exhibition at the up the panel. This year’s board as he pondered on the single Fancy Food Show. of judges include leading origin chocolate bars that he In the course of our chocolatiers and some of the saw in stores and why there interview, a number of peoUK’s most prominent food was nothing like that from the ple passed by the booth and writers and bloggers. Philippines when there’s plenty complimented Philo for the These five brands bested of cacao over there. beautiful packaging of the over a thousand entries from History chocolates, and when they close to 50 countries. Their After years of working in tried some of the variants, chocolates were judged not the United States, he eventuthey all expressed their hearty just on the taste but were marked for appearance, depth ally returned to the Philippines approval. in 2007 and just after a couple Chua shared that he made of aroma and flavor, length, of years of trial and error a conscious effort to come up and complexity over a rigorous 25 session judging process there, he started Theo & Philo, with a great product, and that making premium artisanal included beautiful, artsy and over a three-month period. chocolates. classy packaging. Theo & Philo, one of these “It became a hobby of “When I was younger, I was PH brands, made it to this mine when we started,” he into arts and design. Part of year’s Summer Fancy Food said, laughing. “I really wanted the thing that also attracted Show at the Jacob Javits Conme here was you could express vention Center where we had a to go back home and maybe your creativity not just with chance to chat with its founder do something with food, medyo nagsawa na rin kasi ako the chocolates but also on the Philo Chua. For the first time sa IT.” packaging,” Philo explained. He took a chance and “From the get go, we really gambled. wanted to show something “If it failed, okay lang. At different, so the flavor, the least I tried,” he said. packaging reflected that.” Fortunately for him, it Theo & Philo has been in worked out, eventually. Theo & existence for about nine years Philo became the first beannow and year after year, it has to-bar, single-origin chocolate been pushing Philippine chocmaker in the Philippines. olate in the tough and highly Theo comes from theobro- competitive global market. ma cacao, which is the cacao “We’ve been improving tree’s scientific name. That, every year, and the chocolate combined with Philo, which industry in the Philippines has also means love in Greek (phibeen growing every year as The design of the chocolates well. We can see more improvement, and more people getting into the chocolate industry in the coming years,” he said. “The government is doing a very good job in promoting the industry and the cacao industry is beginning to boom.” Chua considers making a mark in the history of the chocolate world in the Philippines as his biggest achievement in the past nine years or so. They are the first one to do the “bean to bar” concept there, creating premium chocolate bars using only the local cacao beans. Looking back, he said he is happy that Theo & Philo’s display at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya he was able to help start this by
MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress
Theo & Philo became the first bean-to-bar, singleorigin chocolate maker in the Philippines.
particular movement of chocolate from the Philippines that can compete globally. Theo & Philo started back in 2010 with just two variants: 70% dark and milk chocolates. The other flavors came about during the Christmas season the same year when they decided to make something special for the holidays. They realized that people responded to their special flavors so they decided to continue them and make them a staple. He takes pride in saying that their chocolates are distinctively and Filipino, some of them inspired by classic Pinoy dishes and snacks such as adobo and turon. Now, they have about a dozen variants, including ginger & mint, black sesame and barako coffee. His personal favorite is the dark chocolate with calamansi and their bestseller is green mango & sea salt. “I am also proud of our adobo because it is something very unique,” he stated. The idea was to come up with an iconic Filipino flavor, so what could be more iconic than adobo, the Philippine national dish. Using soy sauce in chocolate was a bold step, something unheard of before, but Chua took the risk and it paid off. People gravitated towards this flavor because it is savory and sweet, like bacon and chocolate, and he realized that his clients are getting used to this kind of combination. “It’s not anymore as weird as before so we decided to give it a chance,” he quipped. Two of the variants that
Theo & Philo has about a dozen variants, such as adobo, dark chocolate with calamansi, and green mango & sea salt.
The chocolate company’s founder, Philo Chua.
Chua mentioned (adobo and green mango & salt), along with their labuyo, cashew & pili and pili nuts & pinipig, were among the award winners at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London, considered the Oscar Awards for chocolates. Locally sourced Tony Meloto, in a speech he made in Boston about 15 years ago, talked about how Switzerland is most famous for their chocolates but they don’t produce a single cacao bean. He then asked, how is it that the Philippines, which produces a lot of cacao, is not able to come up with chocolate that could compete with other world class chocolates? “Exactly! That’s true. We’re the first one in Southeast Asia to have cacao because of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade,” Chua exclaimed.
AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
Theo & Philo chocolates are all locally sourced from farmers in the Davao region of the Philippines, where majority of the cacao comes from. The company has been working with Gawad Kalinga communities through the years. They source their raw cacao and other ingredients from GK communities in the Malabog area of Davao province, helping provide a sustainable livelihood for farmers and others who work on the farm. “After being in the U.S. for seven years, I saw the stark contrast of how differently some Filipino people were living and how they could use help,” Chua told NetSuite in an interview. “Growing up and in school, I was always involved in organizations that helped people out, so it was a natural thing.”
Catriona opens up on dealing Donny: Yes, there’s life after DonKiss with recent ‘low moments’ by ricky lo Philstar.com
by Niña V. GuNo Inquirer.net
CATRIONA Gray exudes light and positivity as Miss Universe 2018, but she confessed to experiencing “low moments” recently. The beauty queen said in an Instagram post on Monday, July 29: “It’s been a really challenging last couple of weeks, I’ve felt really low in my spirit. I just wanted to write this post to share that low moments happen to all of us.” Gray gave advice on dealing with situations in which she feels “down and overwhelmed”: “It helps to remind myself that the only person I can control is myself, to count all the things I have to be grateful for and to plan and look forward to the dawn of a new day.” She also left reassuring words to anyone facing tough times: “So if you’re feeling down in the dumps, you’re never alone. Situations and life are tough…but so are you. #KeepCalmAndLavaWalk.”
busy with photoshoots and promoting advocacies. On the weekend of July 20, she was in Las Vegas to fly the Philippine flag for boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Keith Thurman. In July, she was hit with body-shaming comments from a Thai beauty queen. She did not directly address it, but when asked about the issue of body-shaming, she said on Twitter, “Obviously I stand firmly against any form of bullying and bashing—online and off. It is never, ever okay to put someone down for Catriona Gray the sake of ‘expressing your Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray opinion.’” After the Pacquiao-ThurHer latest Instagram post man fight, a video of her on Monday shows that she is and Narvacan mayor Chavit rising above the negativity as she posted a picture of herself Singson went viral as he was strutting on a New York cross- caught falling asleep beside her. The moment has been walk. teased as Singson attempted To say Gray has a hectic a move on her, though he has work schedule would be an understatement. After her visit apologized for it because he to the Philippines in June, she was “jet-lagged.” President Rodrigo Duterte has also headed to Thailand for the weighed in on the video, to Miss Universe competition in which he said, “May the next the country. She then flew to mission be accomplished.” New York where she keeps
UP to now, even with DonKiss gone (hopefully not forever but for the meantime?), the ardent fans of Donny Pangilinan and Kisses Delavin continue to shed tears, not quite above hurling darts here and there while lamenting over what-might-havebeen. Sadly, it’s Donny who is getting much of the “blame” even as he claimed that he gave “my very best” to the team-up. But fans shouldn’t fret. Even if Donny and Kisses are pursuing different directions, big things are for sure waiting for them. Yes, there’s life after DonKiss. Let’s get to know Donny better in an exclusive post-DonKiss interview. So now that DonKiss is over, can you share about that experience? How would you now tag your relationship with Kisses? “I gave my very best to the partnership, as Kisses herself did. I think everyone saw that, solid fans and ‘ships,’ too. As my management and I have shared, it seemed like we had different expectations from the LT (Love Team), and so projects ended as Star Magic reviewed the partner-
ship.” When was the last time you talked to Kisses, and how would you now tag your relationship with her? “I haven’t spoken to Kisses recently…not sure how to tag the situation at present, but my friendship with her will stay forever.” I think many people don’t know you very well. Let’s talk about your family. How much are you like your mom (Maricel Laxa) and how much like your dad (Anthony Pangilinan)? “I am a mommy’s boy. I got my physical features mainly from my mom. We are both naturally introverted as well. I think my personality though is a lot like my dad. Many of my friends who know my dad personally would say that I act a lot like him, like my gestures and the way I talk. “My dad likes to compete as well, and he pushes himself to test his potential. I’ve seen that in me, too. Both my parents want to put God first, but admit it isn’t always so. I think that’s what I cherish the most, and I hope I really embrace that for always.” How were you and your siblings raised by your parents? “They raised us with love and of course discipline. ‘Love
and Logic,’ they call it. Stuff they learned over time. They were the right amount of ‘strict.’ Growing up was a roller-coaster ride because we were four siblings who all slept in the same room as kids. There were times when we’d all play and have fun, but there would also be times when we would fight and our parents had to step in. Well, sometimes, they fought, too! “We traveled a lot and did sports such as triathlon as a family. I am grateful for my parents and siblings. We are not a perfect family, but I would not trade them for the world. As my co-managers with Star Magic, my parents give my career a new dimension. We are constantly testing, redefining boundaries. Sometimes, we find ourselves in conflict. But in the end, I think the whole experience prunes us all.” How would you describe your showbiz journey so far (mention what you think are the “upside” and “downside” of showbiz)? “It has been a crazy ride so far. Obviously, there are plenty of ups and downs in showbiz just like almost all things in life. When I decided to jump into it, Continued on Page SF4
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ 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 employmentbased 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 familysponsored 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
HR 1044 would hurt and help Filipinos
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. HR 1044 would eliminate the per-country allocations of employment-based visas, and instead people would receive their immigrant visas on a first-come, first-served 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 employment-based 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 family-based 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 re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES
Have you become comfortable with being a public figure? “Once you become a public figure, the more you’ll realize that you really can’t please everyone. And that’s okay. It’s important to allow yourself to be sad. Most people see what’s onscreen and online, not backstage and discussions behind closed doors. Sometimes, you just want
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019
CAN WE REINSTATE OUR SON’S PETITION FROM 1999 SINCE HE IS NOW SINGLE AGAIN AFTER HIS MARRIAGE WAS ANNULLED IN 2018? THIS QUESTION AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” More Kapamilya who came to the “Citizen Pinoy” taping in Illinois will get the chance to have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out what is the fastest way to petition children from a previous marriage. What can one do if her visa renewal was denied because she overstayed on her first trip? A woman was petitioned by her first husband, but she has since remarried. She discovers that her first husband passed away in 2010. What are her chances of being a U.S. citizen now that the petitioner has died? Can her second husband petition her? 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)
Postmortem on Rustom; long live, Miss BB Gandanghari! by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
A FEW days ago, two (non?)issues erupted on social media. One was about now U.S.-based Miss BB Gandanghari and the other about the alleged breakup between Gerald Anderson and Bea Alonzo. One hit the world with a thud and the other was a dud. I’m not saying which is what. Bea simply hinted at it in a (Advertising Supplement) cryptic message on her Instagram (you know: You can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it’s not a mistake anymore, it’s a to tell people all, but you choose choice. ENOUGH.) heard ‘round not to since you will break trust, the world and, as expected, and hurt more hearts along the spawned a horde of sawsaweros way. and sawsaweras. You might be “I’ve learned a lot of lessons wondering: was Bea referring from my family through the many to the rumor about Gerald and years we’ve been in showbiz. Pia Wurtzbach during the shoot One of them is to focus on posi- of Gerald and Pia’s movie My tivity. I am blessed to be given Perfect You as the first “misan amazing support system, take,” and to the Gerald and Continued on Page SF6 Julia Barretto “closeness” on
Donny: Yes, there’s life after...
From Page SF2 it shocked my parents because I was the last they expected to join, me being introvert and all. I am thankful for the breaks given to me to start my career. But breaks don’t make you, they only make you stronger. I worked and studied hard to get initial roles. My parents insisted I did my best, and it’s an ongoing thing.”
community
Mico Palanca and Zanjo Marudo. In a TV interview, Bea asked, “He said that?” when told that Gerald, hinting that he was already fancy-free, allegedly asked the permission (consent?) of Dennis Padilla to court Dennis’ (estranged?) daughter Julia. Hmmm, is Bea the last to know? Anyway, the much ado about BB needs a clarification for anybody (still?) interested. Before I left Monday (July 22) last week for an HBO junket (for its four new shows, more on them in later issues) in Los AnNow based in Los Angeles, BB Gandanghari is shown in three photos attesting to HER current geles, I texted Mariel Rodriguez, happy state of being. Robin Padilla’s wife, Hi Mariel. Photo from Instagram/@gandangharibb May I have Rustom’s number in and off the set of their movie LA? Mariel replied, I will have to Between Maybes as the second ask first. I texted back, Please tell “mistake.” him I am going to LA and I want A friendly unsolicited advice to see him. No more reply from to Bea: next time naman, make Mariel. yourself clear, name names, My nephew Raymond de pinpoint the “suspects” and Asis Lo (this paper’s LA correexonerate the “innocent.” If spondent), immigration lawyer memory serves, Gerald is (was?) Jemela Nettles and I were having Bea’s third boyfriend (and the a leisurely dinner at Blue RibContinued on Page SF5 longest in terms of years) after
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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019
celebrity world
Happily married couple Dingdong, Marian Dantes head August celebrity birthday celebrants
By Ferdie Villar ONE of the Philippine silver screen’s happily married couples and GMA Kapuso Channel 7 Primetime King and Queen Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, who tied the knot on December 30, 2014, heads the roster of birthday celebrants for this summer month of August. Lead actor in GMA 7 teleseryes Dingdong Dantes celebrates his birthday on Friday, August 2, while his wife, Marian Rivera Dantes, celebrates her birthday on Monday, August 12. Other celebrities who celebrate their birthdays this month are: August 1: Action star Cesar Montano, Daly City community leader Vilma Guinto Peoro, former Club Royale queen Maria Clara Mendoza Viray; August 3: Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha, who now resides in the Philippines; August 4: Former US president Barrack Obama, who turns 58, and dance choreographer Maribeth Bichara; August 6: Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano; August 7: San Jose busi-
nesswoman Meriam Charisma; August 10: Former TV host and actress Mariel Rodriguez, who is now happily married to action star Robin Padilla; August 12: Actor Aga Muhlach, actress Iza Calzado (who is now with ABS-CBN Channel 2); August 13: State Farm insurance agent Ramon Petros; August 15: Filipina caregiver Elaine Estabrooks; August 19: Fashion model Jessica Apolinario Devine, and restaurateur Ludy Noguera of Karilagan and Ongpin; August 20: Actress and former beauty queen Jean Saburit; the late undisputed King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe Jr, realtor Raquel Mapote; August 22: Actress Jean Garcia, former beauty queen Carolyn Masibay; August 23: ABS-CBN Corporation chairman emeritus Eugenio Gabriel “Gabby” Lopez III; August 24: Senator Francis (Kiko) Pangilinan; August 27: Actor-singer Ogie Alcasid, former movie
queen Amalia Fuentes, comedienne Pokwang; August 28: San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa; August 31: Broadway star Rachelle Ann Go, who turns 33, veteran actor Karim Kiram, Daly City political leader Tony Bayudan. To all birthday celebrations, many more Happy Birthdays to come!
Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, one of the happily married couples in the Philippine entertainment word, head the list of August birthday celebrants. Dingdong celebrates his birthday on August 2, while Marian celebrates her birthday on August 12.
Derrick Monasterio, a handsome actor of GMA Pinoy TV, celebrated his 24th birthday on August 1.
Gary Valenciano, known as Mr. Pure Energy in Philippine entertainment circles, celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, August 6.
Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales, celebrates her birthday on Thursday, August 22.
San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa celebrates his birthday on Wednesday, August 28.
Ludy Noguera, proprietress of Filipino restaurants Karilagan and Ongpin in South San Francisco, celebrates her birthday on Monday, August 19.
Pokwang, a comedienne with ABS-CBN Channel 2,
Daly City political leader Tony Bayudan celebrates his birthday on Saturday, August 31.
Jean Garcia, a multi-awarded actress of GMA Pinoy TV, celebrates her birthday on Thursday, August 22.
Elaine Estabrooks, a caregiver in San Francisco, celebrates her birthday on Thursday, August 15.
Postmortem on Rustom...
From Page SF3 bon Sushi Bar & Grill inside The Groove when Ahwel Paz texted if I wanted to air “my side” about BB on his and Jobert Sucaldito’s program Showbuzz on DZMM. That’s how I learned that “something” was trending on social media. I begged off and told Ahwel, “Huwag na lang.” I would learn from BB’s In-
stagram that BB posted Mariel’s text messages --- Hello Aunt bb!!! Tito Ricky Lo sent this – Hi Mariel. May I have Rustom’s number in LA? I didn’t want to give unless you say it’s okay…A ok. Please tell him I am going to LA and I want to see him. – Ricky Lo Still on BB’s Instagram, BB proceeded to educate me about
“misgendering” which should be a new addition to many people’s vocabulary. What is misgendering? For people who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming, coming into their authentic gender can be an important and affirming step in life. Sometimes, people continue
Continued on Page SF5 celebrates her birthday on Tuesday, August 27.
community
SF5
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019
Postmortem on Rustom...
From Page SF3 to refer to a person who is transgender, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming using terms related to how they identified before transition. This is known as misgendering. Misgendering occurs when you intentionally or unintentionally refer to a person, relate to a person, or use language to deCommunity members, family members of featured heroes, and guests at the unveiling of the mural in front of the Bayanihan Community Center. scribe a person that doesn’t align Photo by Anthony Bongco with their affirmed gender. For example, referring to a woman as “he” or calling her a “guy” is an act of misgendering… …With all due respect, Tito Ricky, but I don’t think I can allow anyone to misgender me or even call me by my former name. My preferred pronoun is HER and SHE, and you may call me BB or by my LEGAL name Binibini… Oops! I owe BB an apology SAN FRANCISCO, CA for my having gotten used to –– Over the past four months, addressing HER by HER former 18-year-old Ramon Bonifacio name that was…oh, never mind! would spend his Saturdays Now, I remember. Back visualizing, sketching, stenciling, in 2013, The STAR published priming, and painting at the a landmark story titled “The Bayanihan Community Center, Day BB Gandanghari killed at the corner of Mission and Rustom Padilla” in connection Sixth Streets. The recent high with the play Halik ng Taranschool graduate is among a tula, a Filipino adaptation of the group of artist-activists, educaPulitzer-awarded novel Kiss of tors, and community members the Spider Woman directed by dedicated to the creation of the late Soxy Topacio, in which a mural that depicts and pays BB played the titular role. (Sorry, homage to eight Filipinx-AmeriBB, but I have to mention your can community leaders and “former name” to be accurate SOMA heroes, each with special about the time and circumstancA community artist paints a portrait of artist and activist Al Robles. Contributed photo Continued on Page SF6 es relating to the story.) Here’s the relevant portion of that 2013 exclusive interview alendar of Events with BB: It’s a case of murder that would baffle Perry Mason. The victim’s body was never found and the suspect remains scotfree. How did it happen? The victim: Rustom Padilla. The suspect: BB Gandanghari. So how did BB dispose of Rustom’s corpse? “I refuse to reveal it lest I be incriminated. No body, no crime, see!” But BB (who will hereon be referred to in the feminine
New mural celebrates Filipino American heroes and community leaders ‘Heroes’ project reflects aspirations of a long-standing immigrant community
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across
America
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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, businessto-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.
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Piña-Seda (Pineapple and Silk Cloths from the Tropics) Traveling Exhibition in San Francisco, CA The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in cooperation with the National Museum of the Philippines, the Office of Congresswoman Loren Legarda and the Philippine Center Management Board, invites the community to the exhibit of Philippine indigenous textiles entitled, “Hibla ng Lahing Filipino” (The Artistry of Philippine textiles) Traveling Exhibition at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center (447 Sutter Street, San Francisco) featuring Kalibo, Aklan piña-seda weavers Anna India Dela Cruz and Nelia Rogano, as well as Lumban, Laguna piña-seda embroiderers Salvador Yasoña and Angela Yasoña. The exhibition, which highlights the piña-seda (pineapple and silk cloths) as a traditional and unique source of Philippine fiber cloth, will run from August 5 to 30, and will include lecture series, weaving demonstrations and embroidery workshops. These corollary activities to be conducted by resource speakers, master weavers and embroiderers from the Philippines, will showcase Philippine traditional handloom fabric. An opening reception will be held on August 5 at 6pm. For more information, contact the Cultural Section of the PCGSF by sending email to cultural@ philippinessanfrancisco.org.
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
gender) remembers the day she made public her new persona. “It was in 2008 when I attended the Urian Awards dressed as a woman for the first time in public,” speaking of the late Rustom Padilla in the third person. Was it a pre-meditated murder? “Oh yes, it was. In 2006, right after he came back from an extended stay in L.A., Rustom was outed as a gay man in Pinoy Big Brother (PBB, the ABS-CBN reality-TV show). That same year, Rustom appeared as a gay man in Zsazsa Zaturnnah, billed in the movie as Rustom Padilla. “In 2008, Rustom again played a gay role, fully made-up, and it was at that time when I planned to kill Rustom because I felt that I was fast drifting away from the Rustom that I used to know. Suddenly, he was a stranger to me. So when I attended the Urian Awards to present the Best Actress award which I won the previous year for Zaturnnah, that was the precise time that I killed Rustom Padilla. In 2008. “After that, I disappeared to New York and then I came
back three months later, in 2009. There, I introduced myself as BB Gandanghari. That’s when I announced, ‘RUSTOM IS DEAD!’ when reporters interviewed me at the airport.” It took BB’s mom Eva Carino and siblings three years to recover from shock, with Robin still in the denial stage. (Brother and sister haven’t met or avoid crossing each other’s paths.) “My mom has gotten used to calling me BB, although sometimes nadudulas siya at tinatawag akong Rustom, hahahaha!” There you are, loud and clear — a “postmortem” on Rustom Padilla. Long live, Miss BB Gandanghari! Oh, by the way, in that interview I asked BB if she was writing a tell-all book and she said, “Not now. Baka maraming mag-demanda, hahaha! Maybe in due time, sa takdang panahon.” And what would the title be of that expectedly controversial book to which similar autobiographies (including Mark Bautista’s Beyond The Mark) would appear like a nursery rhyme? ”BB Uncut,” blurted out BB. “Nice, di ba? May double meaning, hahahaha!!!”
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people & events The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019
Donny: Yes, there’s life after...
From Page SF2 and supporters that are there for me through thick and thin. I met a lot of new friends that I now call family, and experienced a number of new things that I never thought I’d ever get to do. Right now, it’s more of me improving my craft, and trying out new projects. I have a lot of things to work on. I want to be the best version of myself and by God’s grace, I am in process.” When did you realize that you are the son of a popular celebrity couple? “Growing up, I knew my parents were somewhat (popular) in the business. We shot commercials as a family when we were really young. I also used to go with my mom to her set and just observe. And we were often in interviews on TV, print and radio. But, one thing for sure, we were brought up just like other regular kids.” You and Kisses have been raised well, God-fearing and respectful. It’s a pity that your “LT” didn’t prosper. “But as I’ve said, my friendship will stay forever.” (Trivia: Donny is 21 and Kisses is 20. Both of them are engrossed in their studies, Donny at UP Open University taking up Multi-Media Studies and Kisses at La Salle
Donny Pangilinan
taking up Accountancy. Also, they are too busy pursuing their goals to have time for love. Donny is NGSB [No Girlfriend Since Birth] and Kisses is NBSB [No Boyfriend Since Birth]. Sayang, they would have been a perfect match.) Like your parents, you are health-conscious. Let’s do a lit-
The CTV Files
Just Say No: Legal Advice from the Internet
tion could lead to the issuance of a Notice to Appear (NTA)? In September 2018, changes in policy were put in place al“MY brother’s neighbor’s girlfriend’s uncle had the same lowing immigration officers to reject visa applications immediexact case and it got apately due to missing or inacproved and they did not use curate information. Previously, an attorney.” I’ve heard this many times to USCIS will issue “Requests for Evidence” (RFE) if there are have developed a well-curated missing information, allowing response: Nothing. A person applicants to address gaps who has set out to hear only in their paperwork. “Notices what s/he wants to hear can hear nothing else but what s/he of Intent to Deny” were also wants to hear. Reason and logic issued, as per prior guidance, which gave applicants a 30-day be damned. warning that their application For the most part, technolwould likely be rejected. ogy has allowed us to gather Applications affected by as much information as we these policies and its recent are able to handle at the tip changes in policy apply to: (i) of our fingertips. Yet, neither applications and renewals of Google nor Siri nor Wikipedia can stand in front of a Judge as temporary (non-immigrant) visas, and (ii) permanent resiyour advocate. Most attorneys dent status (immigrant) visas. cannot speak about cases they Securing such visas are required have not handled. Each case is in order for non-U.S. citizen forunique – one tiny fact, one tiny eign nationals to legally live and detail could change the course work in the United States. of a case. And, in immigration Photo from Instagram/@donny Can USCIS refer a file to cases where the threat of deportation is very real why would deportation for the issuance tle “body talk” for a breather. of a Notice to Appear after you gamble with your life? Or What kind of diet do you the case has been denied? your family’s life? follow? Yes. The U.S. Citizenship New Policy for Rejecting “Hahaha!!! I eat anything I and Immigration Services want and all the McDo I can con- Incomplete or Inaccurate Fil(USCIS) may also issue an NTA ings. sume! I eat so much but never when it finds a noncitizen has Do you know that a single gain weight for some reason. I not complied with regulaerror could mean a rejected guess it’s a stage of growth and tions governing admission or application? And, more impormy metabolism. My dad went maintaining lawful status after tantly, that a rejected applicathrough it, too.” Atty. LiLLi BAcuLi coLLins, EsQ
admission. Consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before filing anything. First things first, do not file anything with USCIS or any other government entity without first seeking advice. Filing for applications “frivolously” can and will come back and haunt you. While certain applications are available online making it easy to access, individuals must nevertheless proceed with caution when filing for any application with USCIS. Just because it is easier now to file for an application does not mean that you should. We urge individuals to pause and take the time to consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before submitting any application with USCIS. *** Atty. Lilli Baculi Collins is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full-service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; lbaculi@ctvattys. com; www.chuatinsayvega.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Family members of featured heroes, artists, and representatives at the mural unveiling program at the Bayanihan Community Center. Photo by Anthony Bongco
New mural celebrates...
From Page SF5 significance and/or outstanding contributions to SOMA’s Filipino community: Major Demetrio M. Cariño, World War II veteran; Al Robles, poet and activist; Dr. Dawn Bohulano-Mabalon, historian and professor; Dr. Mario Borja, physician and founder of FADF; Bullet X Marasigan, social worker and social justice advocate; Carlos Villa, artist and educator; Victoria Manalo Draves, U.S. Olympian diver and multiple gold medalist; and Bill Sorro, community activist. On Saturday, July 13, the Filipino-American Development Foundation (FADF), South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN), along with members of the community, volunteers and the family of these eight outstanding community members celebrated the completion of the “Heroes in Our Windows” mural at the Bayanihan Community Center 1010 Mission Street. From 6-8 p.m. participants unveiled the mural, discussed the s/heroes, enjoyed food, and commended the hard work of the volunteers responsible for its creation. The Bayanihan Community Center is a Filipino community center located in the South of Market (SOMA), a neighborhood which has been home to generations of Filipino immigrants since the early 1900s.
In 2016, the South of Market gained recognition as a Filipino Cultural Heritage District, to be known as SOMA Pilipinas. The Bayanihan Community Center, located in the heart of SOMA, might have been easy to walk by without notice in the past, but now this mural is an important reminder and inspiration to the community of SOMA. The mural artists, Mel Vera Cruz and England Hidalgo, have promoted the collective goal of achieving this project completely through volunteer community efforts. The heroes and sheroes were chosen collectively by the SOMA and Filipino communityat-large. Each hero holds a dear place in the South of Market, and has all in his/her own ways fought for and shaped the Filipino community into SOMA Pilipinas with a lasting 100year impact in San Francisco. The mural is to give overdue recognition and visibility for achievements including advancing veterans equity, immigrant rights, tenant & housing rights, social justice, and the lasting influence of artists and activists from the I-Hotel struggle. The mural hopes to create a beacon of inspiration, hope, empowerment, a sense of belonging and reminder of collective power in a neighborhood that has undergone rapid changes since the turn of the century.
Bernadette Borja Sy and family receives a plaque of appreciation for her father and featured hero Dr. Mario Borja. Photo by Anthony Bongco
Artists and volunteers at the painting of the mural in front of the Bayanihan Community Center. Contributed photo
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 2, 2019