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August 21-23, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 65 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

USA

DATELINE Lacson pushes treaty to help Filipino convicts abroad FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

‘Transfer of Sentenced Persons’ to give convicts option to serve time in their home country

DILG: Duterte is different from Marcos by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday, August 19, defended its proposal to restore the law against subversion. According to DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya, the Duterte administration is different from the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, who used the law to prosecute thousands of critics.

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Monday, August 19, called for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to pursue more Transfer of Sentenced Persons agreements with other countries, pointing out the efforts of the government to help Filipino drug convicts abroad while it is “killing people” in the Philippines. “How do you reconcile [the fact that] here in our country we’re killing people and then we’re saving drug convicts detained in another country. I’m just curious,” Lacson asked Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. during the hearing of the Senate foreign affairs relations Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. committee. “Going back to the repatriation of Filipino convicts, maybe you should pursue more Trans-

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Maritime domain awareness in South China Sea top priority of US Air Force

“This is not the authoritarian martial law which is of the Marcos period where when someone is arrested and not heard of, and then suddenly he’s dead. This is a different context,” said Malaya during a Rappler Talk interview. The Anti-Subversion Act or Republic Act No. 1700 was passed in June 1957 during the tenure of former President Carlos Garcia. It was expanded through Presidential Decree (PD) 885 in 1976 and PD 1835 in 1981 during the martial law period, making it a subversive

and criminal act to be affiliated with a group and take part in activities meant to overthrow the government with the open or covert assistance and support of a foreign power. During President Corazon Aquino’s term, she issued Executive Order 167, series of 1987 repealing PDs 1835 and 1975 and reviving RA 1700. However, in 1992, then President Fidel Ramos signed RA 7636 repealing RA 1700. Under this, subversion is no longer a criminal offense but sedition

remained a crime. The DILG stressed that reviving the law would help crush the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has been in a longstanding on-and-off peace process with the Philippine government. “If we revive the Anti-Subversion law, we will be able to dismantle the urban mass movement in the cities that fuels the armed struggle in the mountains. We will be able to stifle their so-called

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Inquirer.net photo

Locsin orders diplomatic protest vs Chinese ships spotted in Sibutu Strait by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday, August 19, ordered the filing of a diplomatic protest against China over the passage of its warships in Philippine waters. In a tweet, Locsin directed the Department of Foreign FOREIGN VISITORS. President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines Igor Khovaev THE U.S. Air Force has been playing a big Affairs’ Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs to file the pro- and Joint Stock Company (JSC) Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev who paid a courtesy call on the president at the Malacañan Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal role in maritime domain awareness in the u PAGE A2 Palace on Monday, August 19. South China Sea to ensure that the disputed waterway will remain free and open. U.S. Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Charles Brown said they are supplying “accurate information” for the decision-makers and to their partners in the region to have a broad situational awareness that they can use by GLEE JALEA for their own needs and missions. ManilaTimes.net “One of our key goals with our partners here IN commemoration of her husis to provide domain awareness, both in the air band’s seventh death anniversaand in this case, in the maritime. So we have ry, Vice President Maria Leonor a good understanding of what’s going on,” “Leni” Robredo thanked not just he said in a telephone briefing with reporters his supporters, but also the local while in Manila. officials who have honored his “So, in negotiations in support of our diplomemory by acquiring his leadermats, they have accurate information based on ship skills. our ability to provide it to them, to ensure we Even when former Interior can have that access to the global commons secretary Jesse Robredo died as well as ensuring a rules-based international in 2012 in a plane accident, Ro- An anti-dengue mural at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila reminds people about the government’s order is adhered to,” he added. bredo stressed that the officials ﬁght against disease-carrying mosquitoes. Recently, the Department of Health declared a national Beijing claims most of the South China Sea who succeeded her husband, a alert due to the increasing cases of dengue. based on its mythical nine-dash line, which Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

Robredo on husband’s 7th death anniversary thanks local officials who preserved his legacy

‘Fortress vs dengue:’ Gordon Palace disputes ‘na-Duterte’ urban dictionary entry wants PH research on mosquito-borne disease u PAGE A2

Vice President Leni Robredo posing for a photo with a portrait of her late husband Jesse Robredo. Photo from the Ofﬁce of the Vice President

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, August 20, sought to counter the meaning of “duterte” in a crowdsourced online dictionary, wherein the president’s surname was defined as fake, scam and treacherous, among other negative words. The definition of ‘duterte’ was uploaded last month by an internet user in the Urban Dictionary, which posts definitions of slang words based on votes it gets from volunteer editors. ‘Duterte’ as a verb was defined as “to scam, trick, con, or use unscrupulous means to an end; to betray.” As an adjective, it was defined as “deceptive, sly, fake, corrupt, crooked; treacherPhoto screengrabbed from urbandictionary.com ous; of low quality.”

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The word, as a noun, was defined as “a scam, sham, or rip-off; a traitor.” Another internet user went as far as defining ‘duterte’ as “that leftover sh** that you wipe off your anus after pooping.” A neutral user of the website defined it as “a colloquial word for anything that relates to Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the definitions of ‘duterte’ are “exact opposites” of the traits of President Duterte. “Well, if that dictionary definition refers to the President, then we have our own definition of the man which is exactly the opposite of what that dictionary means,” Panelo said in a press briefing.

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by CHRISTIA

MARIE Inquirer.net

RAMOS

MANILA — Senator Richard Gordon believes the Philippines could become a “fortress against dengue” should extensive research on the mosquito-borne disease be conducted in the country. “Why can’t this small country with so many doctors…why can we not use our doctors to examine kung ano ang impact nito at para magkaroon tayo ng panlaban sa dengue. We should be the dengue research capital of the world,” Gordon said when he delivered his privilege speech at the Senate

session on Tuesday, August 20. “We’re facing a crisis, but I believe we have an opportunity before us to become a fortress against dengue,” he further said. Earlier this month, the Department of Health declared a national dengue epidemic that has so far claimed the lives of at least 622 people since January. Dengue, which is caused by a virus carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has four strains and can be fatal. There is no known cure. “Who knows baka may isang Pilipino na makadiskubre talaga

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From the Front Page

DILG: Duterte is different...

PAGE A1 ‘legal front organizations’ that provide sustenance to the underground mass organizations. It will be the beginning of an inevitable end,” DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año had said on Thursday, August 15. Malaya also said the DILG wants to prioritize coordinating with Congress in outlawing CPP

membership — a move that they expect would choke funding and mass support for the guerrillas, as stated by Rappler. He cited Mindanao currently under Duterte-style martial law as the case study to look at when analyzing the revival of the antisubversion law. “We have seen how martial law is implemented in Mindanao un-

der this administration. There is no closure of Congress. There is no arrest of political opposition,” Malaya said. He added that prosecution is not their priority, but ending Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency is. “[The] government must be given the tools to end this,” Malaya said. n

NEW MEMBERS. Lawmakers from the Senate and House of Representatives take their oath as new members of the Commission on Appointments of the 18th Congress at the Session Hall of the Senate on Tuesday, August 20. In photo are senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (center), Francis Tolentino (second right), and other legislators. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo Inquirer.net photo

Palace disputes ‘na-Duterte’...

PAGE A1 “‘Duterte’ to us means honest, incorruptible, politically-willed person, courageous, selfless, honest, transparent and all good things... and other synonymous terms,” he added. Panelo suspects anti-Duterte groups may be behind the negative definition. He admitted that he has not heard of Urban Dictionary before. “We do not even know if Duterte refers to the president or to the family’s name,” the spokesman said. Pressed what he would do if the definition indeed refers to the president’s surname, Panelo replied: “I’ll make my own dictionary also with that kind of meaning.” “We will say that for us, the meaning of ‘duterte’ is the opposite,” he added. It was not the first time a president’s name was given a negative meaning online. During the time of former president Benigno Aquino III, his nickname “Noynoy” was used to denote inaction on important matters. According to Wikipedia, ‘Noynoying’ involves “posing in a lazy manner, such as sitting idly while resting the head on one hand and doing nothing.” n

Locsin orders diplomatic protest vs Chinese... PAGE A1

test after it was reported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that Chinese warships were spotted passing through waters off southern Mindanao without informing local authorities. This is the fourth diplomatic protest filed by the country against China this year. “Fire diplomatic protest over Chinese warship; drop the diplomatic crap; say it is ours period; they’re trespassing,” he said. “If we did it already, fire another. We won’t run out. And don’t wait for formal intel. This is the Secretary of National Defense no less. Fire at will,” Locsin added.

There have been 13 reports from the AFP about Chinese warships passing through Philippine waters with neither permission nor prior notice to the government since June 2019. Among these instances include the two warships spotted along Sibutu Strait in July and another three in August. The Sibutu Strait in Tawi-Tawi is an internationally recognized sea lane where foreign ships have the right of innocent passage. According to Lt. Gen Cirilito Sobejana, AFP Western Mindanao Command chief, the Chinese vessels that passed through were not hostile; however, they were not innocently passing due to the

curved path they took. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said that the Department of National Defense is “getting irritated” over the series of Chinese incursions in Philippine waters. “I hope the matter will be taken up in order to put an end to all these, because our people are asking why they (Chinese warships) are there,” he said. Lorenzana also noted that Beijing appeared to be “taunting” Manila by having their warships deployed in Philippine territorial waters without their Automatic Identification Systems turned on and prior notice to Philippine authorities. n

‘Fortress vs dengue:’ Gordon wants PH...

PAGE A1 ng tunay na rason kung bakit nagkakaroon ng ganyang mga sakit (Maybe there’s one Filipino who discovered the real reason why there’s such sicknesses exist)…that is not farfetched. And I am not ruling that out,” Gordon went on. Dengvaxia mess The DOH stopped its massive dengue immunization program using Dengvaxia in late 2017 after its manufacturer, the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, said patients who had no prior exposure to the dengue virus could suffer severe symptoms. By the time the P3.5-billion immunization program was halted, more than 800,000 public school children had already been inoculated The program began under the Aquino administration.

Sanofi later reimbursed P1.16 billion to the government for the unused vaccines. “Importante na alisto tayo (It’s important that we are alert). We now say that there is now an opportunity for us to examine…lahat no’ng mga nagkaroon ng dengue ngayon at alamin natin kung sila ay naturukan no’ng wala pa silang dengue, kung wala (those who’ve had dengue now and find out if they’ve been vaccinated before acquiring dengue, and discover, if they haven’t), it presents a very great opportunity for us that, for the first time, meron tayong ebidensya na malinaw na pwedeng managot ang Sanofi sa Pilipinas, sa mga taong naturukan at dapat magbayad sila sa perwisyo sa mga namatay at mga nasakatan (we have clear evidence that we can’t have Sanofi accountable in the Philippines to

the people who have been vaccinated [with Dengvaxia] and have them pay for damages done to those who died and were hut),” Gordon further said. The senator, who is also the chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, stressed that it is the duty of the government to promote the right of the people towards health consciousness. “It is the duty of the government to protect its citizens, especially kung sila ang may gawa ng pagtulak nitong dengue vaccine na ito,” Gordon said. “We took an oath, this is a golden opportunity upon which we can help these parents na matulungan sila kung nagkakasakit ang kanilang mga anak (help them if their children are getting sick). We wanna be able to learn from these research,” he added. n

Maritime domain awareness in South China... PAGE A1 had already been rejected by an international court in 2016. Its claims included territories also being claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. It has turned reefs and islands into military outposts, deployed warships and maritime militia to reinforce its territorial claims in the contested waterway. While the U.S. is not a claimant, it is making itself felt in the region to relay a message that it would not waiver in supporting allies in its commitment to protecting them against Chinese aggression. ‘No let-up in FONOPS’ U.S. Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein in the same briefing vowed that the US has no plans to cut down its freedom of navigation patrols in the

South China Sea, which prompt rebukes from China. “There will be no let-up in our willingness or our ability to fly or sail where we need to and when we need to,” he said. “We are absolutely doing freedom of navigations both in the air and at sea. They are coordinated and they are focused on ensuring that we all maintain access,” he added. Brown, meanwhile, said these FONOPs are also meant to deter those that do not follow rulesbased order. “We have to highlight the facts when those that don’t follow rules-based international order, no matter who might that be, we do highlight that. So part of our operations (is) to deter, or also prove the fact that you should be able to fly, sail, and operate

no matter what nation you are, where international law allows,” he said. “I think quite frankly any activity that we see both at sea and in the air, and increasingly now we’re also having the same conversation in space and in cyber, has got to adhere to some international rules of order that we all live by. So, anybody in the region that violates those, it’s concerning,” Goldfein said. Goldfein and Brown were in the Philippines from August 15 to 18 to meet defense and military officials, including AFP chief Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez. The visit comes a few months after Brown’s first official visit to Manila. (Frances Mangosing/Inquirer)

Lacson pushes treaty to help Filipino...

PAGE A1 fer of Sentenced Persons treaties, just like what we have with Spain. I’m just wondering if they would agree to be transferred to Muntinlupa [that is, the New Bilibid Prison] from where they are being detained abroad,” he added. According to the Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, individuals tried and convicted in a foreign country would have the option to serve their time remaining their sentence in their home country. Lacson’s statement came following the data released by the DFA during the meeting that showed that most Filipinos overseas were detained due to drug charges. Normally, the DFA offers financial and legal aid to Filipinos abroad through the assistance to nationals (ATN) or the legal assistance fund (LAF). DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said P1 billion is allotted for the ATN while the LAF has a P200 million budget. She added that the DFA has spent P483 million, or 48%, of its ATN fund and P81 million, 41%, of its LAF from January to July 2019. Arriola also noted that overseas Filipinos on death row due to conviction in drug cases had been provided with lawyers “since the

Senator Panfilo Lacson

Philstar.com photo

inception of the case.” “It’s just that many of them are drug mules or some of them, like in the case in Mexico we have constructive possession of drugs in a ship, but we make representations with the countries of destination that we ask for due process and speedy resolution of the case,” she explained. Filipinos first, convicts second In response to Lacson’s question, Locsin said: “Frankly, I used to wonder about that. That’s why I continue to support the abolition of death penalty because I cannot see how, now that we abolished it, if we restore it, how can we appeal if we feel that there is a possibility of miscarriage of justice in a foreign country.” “How can we appeal for mercy

or a commutation of sentence? That’s a completely unresolved issue as far as I’m concerned,” he added. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, for his part, said it does not mean that Filipinos who violated another country’s laws should not be punished. “We are not saying that they [Filipino convicts abroad] should not be punished, but since they are our nationals, we take care of them, we monitor how they are treated, we look at their condition. So is that a way to rationalize?” said the chair of the Senate foreign relations committee. “Cause we will never ask a foreign country, do not punish our countryman who is involved in drugs because we also will jail him here if he violates our loss. But when you incarcerate him and you punish him, we should be allowed to take a look and pay a visit to our countryman and look at his condition or situation,” he added. Lacson noted that a possible justification for the DFA effort to assist convicts overseas is that the government will treat them as Filipinos first and convicts second. “If our intention is to really take care of our own nationals, it would be better if they were here. So maybe in coordination with hose foreign countries, we can pursue that path,” he said. (AJPress)

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DATELINE USA

MOTHER’S MILK. Breastfeeding moms gather at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Sunday, August 18, to celebrate National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Organized by Breastfeeding Pinays in coordination with the private sector and government and non-government organizations, the ‘Hakab Na!’ seeks to spread awareness on the beneﬁts of breastfeeding. ManilaTimes.net photo by Enrique Agcaoili

BI to deport nabbed American, British sex offenders by NEIL

ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net

THE Bureau of Immigration is set to deport the recently nabbed American and British sex offenders who have pending cases in their home countries. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the sex offenders as American national Shane Edward Scism, 45, and British national William James Neville Ireland, 68. Scism is wanted in New York in the United States for his failure to register as a sex offender while Ireland is wanted in the United Kingdom for pedophilia back in 1996. The immigration bureau ar-

rested Scism in Marikina City last August 16 pending his arrest warrant released by the State of New York last July 30. Ireland, meanwhile, was arrested last August 14 in Lubao, Pampanga following his inclusion in the UK National Crime Agency’s wanted list and the Interpol’s red notice as he faces seven counts of indecent assault of a female and two counts of gross indecency with a child. “We will immediately deport them as their continued stay in the country poses a serious threat to our women and children. Both are undesirable aliens who must be expelled from our country without delay,” Morente said in a state-

ment. Further, Morente said that the two will be included in the immigration’s blacklist and will be banned from re-entering the country. BI intelligence officer and FSU chief Bobby Raquepo found that Ireland arrived in the country back in October 2013 as a tourist in a move to avoid questioning from British authorities. Meanwhile, Scism arrived in the country in 2017 to relocate and escape his liabilities in the United States. Scism and Ireland are both detained at the BI’s detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig while they wait for their deportation. ■

Robredo on husband’s 7th death anniversary...

PAGE A1 former mayor of Naga City, have preserved his legacy by showing exemplary governance and leadership style. “Iyong sa akin, mas pasasalamat sa ngalan ng aming pamilya, pasasalamat sa lahat na nakakaalala pa din, pumupunta. Mayroong mga pumupunta dito kahit hindi taga-dito, yearly talaga pumupunta para makiisa. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa city officials ng Naga, kasi sila iyong naging pamilya ng asawa ko na napakatagal (For me, in behalf of my family, we would like to thank those who still remember and visit him. There are those who visit him yearly even if they’re not from the city. I also thank the city officials of Naga because they were really the ones whom my husband treated like family for a long time),” Robredo told reporters in a chance interview

on Sunday, August 18, in Naga. “Kapag tinitingnan ko ngayon iyong mga sumunod sa kaniya dito sa city government of Naga, sobrang…sobrang natuwa ako na, parang nangyari iyong ginusto ng asawa ko: na iyong mga nakapalibot sa kanya dati, lalo pang humusay. Mas mahusay pa sa kanya na lalong mapalawig iyong kanyang legacy, iyong mga aral na naibigay niya sa governance, sa leadership (Whenever I look at those who followed his footsteps in the city government of Naga…I am elated that they seemingly fulfilled what my husband wanted: Those who surrounded him before have shown better skills. They are performing better and are taking after the lessons which he had given on governance, leadership),” she said. Last Thursday, August 16, Robredo launched the Gawad Jesse

M. Robredo award in collaboration with the Young Leaders in Good Governance and Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership to recognize mayors who have shown good governance embodied by the late interior secretary. Nominees who have completed at least one term will be assessed based on their effective measures and accountability in their local government units, track record of integrity, innovation in governance, and engagement and empower of constituents, among others. Winners will be announced on January 2020. The interior secretary’s death had pushed Robredo into the political limelight when supporters and Liberal Party members had urged her to run for representative of the 3rd District of Camarines Sur in 2013, and then for vice president in 2016. ■

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Dateline USa

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Trump administration hits brakes on law to curb unneeded Medicare CT scans, MRIs by Phil

Galewitz Kaiser Health News

GIFT-GIVING. Actress Susan Roces and Senator Grace Poe distribute gifts to indigents during the 80th birthday celebration of the late actor and Philippine movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. at the North Cemetery in Manila on Tuesday, August 20. The late Poe, known as FPJ and “Da King”, died in December 2004. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Governor Gavin Newsom signs use-of-force bill

SACRAMENTO – On Monday, August 19, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 392 by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego). The bill enacts one of the strongest useof-force laws in the country. AB 392 modernizes standards for use of deadly force by officers. Specifically, this bill updates the existing deadly force standards to provide that deadly force may only be used when necessary. AB 392 also requires officers to use other techniques to address threats instead of using deadly force when safe to do so, encouraging law enforcement to train on and use de-es-

calation techniques like verbal persuasion and other crisis intervention methods. “This is a time for healing, progress and looking forward. The bill goes to the heart of some of our most sacred principles, in which force should be exercised judiciously, with respect for human life and dignity. The bottom line is that deadly force should only be used when absolutely necessary,” said Governor Newsom. “With the Governor’s signature, we are closer to a culture of policing in California that values and preserves human life,” said Assemblymember

Weber. “Working on this policy has been a high hill to climb, but what has lifted me up is the energy and the devotion of the families who have lost loved ones to these shootings. Our hope all along has been to save lives and to finally establish trust between law enforcement and communities of color.” The provisions in AB 392 will be reflected in both law enforcement agency policy and officer training statewide, and will further ensure that all officers in California are trained to a higher legal standard. Use-of-force policies have remained largely unchanged since 1874. n

FivE years after Congress passed a law to reduce unnecessary MRis, CT scans and other expensive diagnostic imaging tests that could harm patients and waste money, federal officials have yet to implement it. The law requires that doctors consult clinical guidelines set by the medical industry before Medicare will pay for many common exams for enrollees. Health care providers who go way beyond clinical guidelines in ordering these scans (the 5% who order the most tests that are inappropriate) will, under the law, be required after that to get prior approval from Medicare for their diagnostic imaging. But after physicians argued the provision would interfere with their practices, the Trump administration delayed putting the 2014 law in place until January 2020, two years later than originally planned. Even then, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) slated next year as a “testing” period, which means even if physicians don’t check the guidelines, Medicare will still pay for an exam. CMS also said it won’t decide until 2022 or 2023 when physician penalties will begin. Critics worry the delays come at a steep cost: Medicare paying for millions of unnecessary exams and patients subject to ra-

diation for no medical benefit. A Harvard study published in 2011 in the Journal of Urology found “widespread overuse” of imaging tests for men on Medicare who were at low risk for prostate cancer. And a University of Washington study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology that reviewed 459 CT and MRi exams at a large academic medical center found 26% of the tests were inappropriate. “These delays mean that many more inappropriate imaging procedures will be performed, wasting financial resources and subjecting patients to services they do not need,” said Gary Young, director of the Northeastern University Center for Health Policy and Healthcare Research in Boston. “if this program were implemented stringently, you would certainly reduce inappropriate imaging to some degree.” Doctors order unnecessary tests for a variety of reasons: to seize a potential financial advantage for them or their health system, to ease fears of malpractice suits or to appease patients who insist on them. The law applies to doctors treating patients enrolled in the traditional fee-for-service Medicare system. Health insurers, including those that operate the private Medicare Advantage plans, have for many years refused to pay for the exams unless doctors get authorization from them beforehand. That process can take days or weeks, which irks physicians and patients. CMS Administrator Seema verma has sought to reduce administrative burdens on doctors with her “patients over paperwork” initiative. CMS would not make verma or other officials available and answered questions only by email. A spokeswoman said CMS has no idea how many unnecessary imaging tests are ordered for Medicare beneficiaries. “CMS expects to learn more about the prevalence of imaging orders identified as ‘not appropriate’ under this program when we begin to identify outlier ordering professionals,” she said. ‘It takes four clicks on a computer’ An influential congressional advisory board in 2011 cited the rapid growth of MRis, CT scans and other imaging and recommended requiring doctors who order more tests than their peers to be forced to get authorization from Medicare before sending patients for such exams. in the 2014 law, Congress tried to soften the effect by asking doctors billing Medicare to follow protocols to confirm that imaging would be appropriate for the patient. A growing number of health systems have used clinical guidelines to better manage imaging services, studies show. The University of virginia Health System found that unnecessary testing fell by between 5% and 11% after implementing such recommendations. virginia Mason Health System in Seattle in 2011 set up a system requiring its physicians — most of whom are on salary — to consult imaging guidelines. it would deny claims for any tests that did not meet appropriate criteria, except in rare circumstances. A study found

the intervention led to a 23% drop in MRis for lower back issues and headaches. Dr. Craig Blackmore, a radiologist at virginia Mason, said he worries that, unlike the efforts at his hospital, many doctors could be confused by the Medicare program because they have not received the proper training about the guidelines. “My fear is that it will be a huge disruption in workflow and show no benefit,” he said. in 2014, AtlantiCare, a large New Jersey hospital system, began grading physicians on whether they consult its guidelines. “Some doctors see this tool as additional work, but it takes four clicks on a computer or less than a minute,” said Ernesto Cerdena, director of radiology services at AtlantiCare. Not all Medicare imaging tests will be subject to the requirements. Emergency patients are exempt, as well as patients admitted to hospitals. CMS has identified some of the most common conditions for which doctors will have to consult guidelines. Those include heart disease, headache and pain in the lower back, neck or shoulders. Robert Tennant, director of health information technology for the Medical Group Management Association, which represents large physician groups, said the law will unfairly affect all doctors merely to identify the few who order inappropriately. “For the most part, doctors are well trained and know exactly what tests to perform,” Tennant said. The association is one of several medical groups pushing Congress to repeal the provision. American College Of Radiology’s role The law required the federal government to designate health societies or health systems to develop guidelines and companies that would sell software to embed that information into doctors’ electronic health record systems. Among the leaders in that effort is the American College of Radiology, which lobbied for the 2014 law and has been issuing imaging guidelines since the 1990s. it is one of about 20 medical organizations and health systems certified by CMS to publish separate guidelines for doctors. The college wanted “to get ahead of the train and come up with a policy that was preferable to prior authorization,” said Cynthia Moran, an executive vice president of the radiology group. About 2,000 hospitals use the college’s licensed guidelines, more than any others, she said. And the college profits from that. Moran said the licensing money helps the college defer the costs of developing the guidelines, which must be updated regularly based on new research. She said the college gives away the guidelines to individual doctors upon request and sells them only to large institutions, although she notes they are not as easy to access that way compared with being embedded in a doctor’s medical records. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

Mayweather claims receiving $2.2M for video on Pacquiao rematch by Dino

MaraGay Philstar.com

LiviNG up to his “Money” moniker, Floyd Mayweather Jr. claims he released an old video about a planned rematch with Manny Pacquiao only because he was paid to do so. The video, which made rounds in social media over the weekend, shows Mayweather revealing a plan to make a trip to Saudi Arabia to talk to interested parties about staging MayweatherPacquiao 2 in the oil-rich country. With various local and international media outlets picking up the video and fuelling talks about a rematch between the two superstars, Mayweather then told U.S. boxing website fighthype. com that the clip is an old one. He then insisted that there will never be a rematch between him and Pacquiao, who Mayweather outpointed in their megabuck clash in 2015. On Tuesday, August 20, Mayweather took to instagram and revealed that he received a payment of $2.2 million (over

Php115 million) just to release the eight-month-old video. “There is a video circulating that i made 8 months ago about a “MAYWEATHER - PACQUiAO” REMATCH. i got paid $2,200,000 to make the video,” Mayweather wrote in the caption. The retired boxing star also posted two screenshots of what appears to be separate money transfers amounting to $1,000,000 and $1,200,000, respectively. “The truth is, the fight will never happen again. Now, swipe left and look at the money that got wired to me for the video. Now, who’s the smart one ? i’m making millions just for 10 second video drops,” he added. Pacquiao, for his part, chided Mayweather for “using my name again to get himself some attention.” Mayweather hasn’t fought professionally since stopping UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017. He claims to be enjoying retirement, often touring the world and showing off his prized possessions such as cash, jewelry and luxury cars among others. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Military to deploy troops in schools Sara on presidency: Leave it to God by Dempsey

reyes ManilaTimes.net

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, August 20, said it would deploy troops in universities and colleges to counter the recruitment program of groups suspected to be linked to the New People’s Army (NPA) in schools. But Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs chief, said soldiers who would be deployed in schools would not be armed and would respect academic freedom. Detoyato said the deployment would be arranged between the Department of National Defense and the Department of Education. “The best way to combat a man with the wrong information is a man with the right information. So, what we will only bring [during deployment in schools] would be information, we just want to inform [the students] so they won’t be victimized by deceitful recruitment,” he told reporters in an interview. The military official said troops would also be deployed in schools in the provinces. He maintained the sending of troops would not curtail academic freedom.

“It’s a way of checking in coordination with local authorities, if there is no need [for the military], then we won’t go there anyway, we are not deploying soldiers as if we will be guarding a mall or something like that,” Detoyato pointed out. He said soldiers would hold civil-military operations only in schools where NPA recruitment had been reported. Detoyato said the deployment of soldiers would not be permanent, as he slammed leftist groups who used the issue to “poison” the minds of students. President Rodrigo Duterte’s peace adviser on Tuesday backed the proposal to increase police visibility in schools to deter the recruitment efforts of leftist groups. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. said the police “should not be restricted to enforce the law.” “The PNP (Philippine National Police) is mandated to serve and protect, if it is not allowed to enter a certain area, it will deprive them,” Galvez told reporters. Galvez, said the presence of policemen in campuses would “deter” the recruitment of col-

lege students by the NPA. “We have to allow. Kasi if we will not allow it, the people will be deprived of the security. Lalo na ngayon, andaming recruitments sa mga student (Especially now when student recruitment is rampant),” he said. Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said Executive Order 70 could be invoked to increase police presence in schools “infiltrated” by communist insurgents. On Tuesday, students of the University of the Philippines (UP) walked out of their classes and marched to Mendiola in Manila to protect academic freedom, and to assert their right to organize and protest. Members of Gabriela Youth, Anak-Pawis party-list, and various university organizations and other sectors joined the rally, dubbed by the UP Office of Student Regent as “UP Day of Walkout and Action.” The rally was organized following proposals to revive the Anti-Subversion Law, which, according to Student Regent John Isaac Punzalan, would lead to extensive surveillance of students, professors and organizations that are critical to the government. n

Countries spy on each other – Palace by Catherine

valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte believes it is “natural” for countries, including China, to engage in espionage, Malacañang said on Monday, August 19, after the country’s Defense chief warned that workers in Chinese-manned gaming hubs might “spy” on military camps. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte was “not worried” about the presence of Chinese online gaming hubs near military camps. “The president and I were talking about it and he was saying that — you don’t even have to be near any military camp if you want to gather intelligence. He said that [with technology], even if they are far away, if they want to spy on

us, they can,” Panelo said “In fact, all countries as he correctly said are spying on each other, natural lang iyon eh (it’s natural),” he added. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza had expressed concern that Chinese online gaming hubs near military camps could be used for espionage in the country. Lorenzana recommended that the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs be moved away from the camps to where finance and immigration authorities could monitor them, a plan being pushed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). Panelo, however, said the president was not worried “because we have the intelligence capability of knowing what they are doing.” He added that online gaming

hubs also generate revenues. But Panelo said the decision to transfer gaming hubs away from the military facilities would come from Pagcor. Panelo also insisted that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China were not spies. Senators Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros and Aquilino Pimentel 3rd echoed the Palace view. “Our OFWs are not spies. They have no history of espionage. Filipinos abroad are valued both for their skill and unique blend of hard work and care. They pose no threat. In fact, in China, our workers are employed in areas that are nowhere near military and security facilities. To insinuate that they could be committing espionage is not only insulting, but plainly false,” Hontiveros said. n

by Catherine

talavera ManilaTimes.net

AMID fresh talks of her possibly succeeding her father President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Saturday said she would leave the presidency issue to God. This, after Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo said having another Duterte as president would not be surprising, given the prevalence of political dynasties in the country. Duterte-Carpio, who heads the Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional political party, said she was not opening or closing the possibility of her running for president in the next elections. “We live a life that is controlled by God. I am not open or closed, basta kung saan ako ilagay ng Diyos doon ako (where God leads me there I’ll be),” Duterte-Carpio told The Manila Times in a text message. The Davao mayor has been touted by several key figures of

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ManilaTimes.net photo

the administration and its allies as the president’s possible replacement when he steps down in 2022. But the president had warned his daughter against seeking his post, saying the presidency could “destroy” her. The president’s eldest daughter earlier told The Times that she was “not thinking” about seeking the presidency. But she later said she would decide by January 2021. On Friday, August 16, Robredo

said she was keeping her options open for a possible presidential bid in 2022, while acknowledging that “another Duterte” could emerge as president. “If you ask me now, I have no plans, but I am leaving everything open,” Robredo said in an interview with Bloomberg. “I wouldn’t have run for the vice presidency if I didn’t feel I was ready for the presidency.” “A lot can still happen. If you look at the history of many of our elections, one year spells a lot of difference. When I ran for the vice presidency, filed my certificate of candidacy in October of 2015. Two months before that, it was still not in the plan,” Robredo said. The vice president said being president “is a destiny.” The president had said he did not want Robredo to be his successor. “I don’t think she can ever be ready to govern a country. Reason? Incompetence,” the Chief Executive said. n

A6 AUGUST 21-23, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Subversion as a crime

FEATURES

OVER three decades have passed, but memories remain indelible of how the Marcos dictatorship used anti-subversion laws to crack down on political dissent. This is the biggest problem faced by proponents of the revival of laws against subversion. Led by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, a former military chief and Army commander, the proponents stress that any revival of the law would target mainly those waging an armed struggle nationwide to overthrow the government and the democratic way of life, specifically the New People’s Army. Because the NPA is taking instructions from the Communist Party of the Philippines, the proponents want the CPP outlawed again, as it was under the original anti-subversion law or Republic Act 1700, passed in 1957. And if the mother unit is outlawed, according to the proponents, so should its political arm the National Democratic Front as well as communist front organizations that represent various sectors. The left-leaning front organizations, currently in the political mainstream, are actively indoctrinating and recruiting youths, according to the proponents of the anti-subversion law who want to put a stop to such activities. Along with the revival of the law, the proponents want police presence in state-run universities. Youths like to explore new ideas, and the spirit

of exploration is particularly strong during the university years. If they tend to succumb to “indoctrination” and embrace certain ideas, it’s unlikely that police presence on campus will prevent them from doing so. Considering the rebellious streak in the typical college student, any state security clampdown will likely even have the opposite effect, driving the youths closer to what authorities will consider as subversive. Policy makers must consider this as they deliberate on proposals to deploy police personnel in university campuses. Because of recent developments, there are also valid concerns that a new anti-subversion law may be used against political opponents of the administration. Already, members of the opposition as well as clergy and the legal profession have been slapped with sedition charges, based mainly on the say-so of a man whose story changes dramatically depending, it seems, on his circumstances. Martial law in Mindanao has been nothing like the martial law of the dictatorship. Proponents are insisting that this will also be the case in the revival of the anti-subversion law. They will have to contend with constitutional guarantees against laws that impinge on civil liberties. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Will you be a ‘pabigat’ to America and be denied a green card? An attorney explains the Trump Administration’s expanded ‘public charge’ ruling

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has defined “public charge” as an individual who is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense. This has been a policy of the U.S. government: to make sure the foreign national who is filing for immigration benefits will not be “pabigat” to America. The USCIS further stated that since the 1800s, Congress has put into statute that individuals are inadmissible to the United States if they are unable to care for themselves without becoming public charges. Since 1996, federal laws have stated that foreign nationals generally must be self-sufficient. On August 14 of this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule which provides guidance on how to determine if someone applying for admission or adjustment of status is likely at any time to become a public charge. I interviewed Filipina immigration lawyer Atty. Lou Tancinco about this “Final Rule” to help us better understand this new ruling of the Trump administration. Q: Atty. Lou, how does this “final rule” published by the DHS determine if someone applying for admission or adjustment of status is likely to become a public charge at any time in the

future? What is the difference between this new ruling and what have been followed by the USCIS for so many decades? A: Prior to this new rule, an applicant for green card may submit an Affidavit of Support accomplished by the Petitioner or a co-sponsor to indicate that the applicant will not be a public charge. This was sufficient under the prior rules. Now with the new public charge rules, an affidavit of support is just one of the factors taken into account. Instead, a totality of circumstances will be examined and the USCIS may now look into other factors such as employability, age, health and prior receipt of public benefits by the applicant as indicative that the applicants are more likely to become a public charge and be denied the green card application. Another difference, is the expansion of the meaning of public charge. This rule redefines the term ‘‘public charge’’ to mean an alien who receives one or more designated public benefits for more than 12 months in the aggregate within any 36-month period (such that, for instance, receipt of two benefits in one month counts as two months). This rule defines the term ‘‘public benefit’’ to include cash benefits for income maintenance, SNAP, most forms of Medicaid, Section 8 Housing Assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, and certain other forms of subsidized housing. Q: What kind of applicants will be directly affected by this new ruling published by the DHS? A: Those who will be directly

affected are the applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas or those seeking to apply for green cards or immigrant visas through adjustment of status or through consular processing. Also important to note, are green card holders who are seeking admission or have been out of the country for at least 180 days and re-entering the U.S. They will be examined also if they are considered public charge. Q: Any kinds of applicants exempted from this new ruling? A: The published regulation excludes from the public benefits definition: public benefits received by individuals who are serving in active duty or in the Ready Reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, and their spouses and children; public benefits received by certain international adoptees and children acquiring U.S. citizenship; Medicaid for aliens under 21 and pregnant women; Medicaid for school-based services (including services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act); and Medicaid benefits for emergency medical services. Q: The USCIS website says “Any alien who, in the opinion of the consular officer at the time of application for a visa, or in the opinion of the Attorney General AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for admission or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible[…] In determining whether an alien is excludable under this paragraph, the consular officer or the Attorney General shall at a minimum consider the alien’s(I) age; (II) health; (III) family

status; (IV) assets, resources, and financial status; and (V) education and skills .” Let’s break this down. What if the applicant has been working in the United States with a working visa, and had been approved for a green card, had a work authorization and had been paying all required taxes taken from his or her paycheck. And then an emergency happened — whether it be losing a job, or a medical emergency, which made the applicant access publicly funded benefits just at the time he could already apply for adjustment of status. Would this cause him to be inadmissible and his application be denied? A. Yes, if an applicant uses public benefits as long as the application is pending, then he or she may be considered inadmissible and application may be denied. However, Medicaid benefits for medical emergency services are exempt from the definition of public benefits. But if this applicant continues to avail of the publicly funded medical services as defined in the regulation, s/he would likely be considered a public charge and this fact is a ground to deny the application for adjustment of status. Q: I want to focus now on the clause that says “, the consular officer or the Attorney General shall at a minimum consider the alien’s-(I) age; (II) health; (III) family status; (IV) assets, resources, and financial status; and (V) education and skills . .”. How are these measured? Or are these solely dependent on the impression or subjective determination of the consular

officer or Attorney General? A: While admittedly the consular officers or USCIS examiners have wide discretion in determining public charge, there are also parameters on what weigh heavily in examining the applicants. For example on age, applicants under 18 not accompanied or following to join a parent or guardian and or applicants advanced age is a negative factor. On the health factor, applicant’s chronic health conditions with high medical costs or that may prevent the applicant from maintaining employment are viewed as negative factors. Q: What repercussions would this expanded public charge rule have on immigrants including the Filipino American community? A: This new public charge rule was designed to create fear and confusion among our immigrant communities. It is targeted against legal immigrants who are forced to avoid much needed medical help at the expense of their health just to keep their families together. In short, this policy places at risk the health and safety of families throughout the nation and that includes our Filipino immigrant community. Q: Critics of the new ruling contend that the public-charge provision has long been a weapon of racism and classism in the United States, and has been used and abused by anti-immigrant administrations throughout US history. They also argue that the mostly white Foreign Service — which is only 5.4 percent African American and 5.6 percent Hispanic — is being tasked with making such value

judgments on a mostly brown and black immigrant population. Immigrant rights advocates say this Trump Administration ruling should not just be rolled back, but that the public charge rule should totally be abolished. But would you agree that there are indeed some immigrants who abuse the system and just totally rely on the government for their needs? How should this be addressed? A: The current rules are fine as they are and there is no need to change them. I do not want to see current public charge rule abolished but also I do not wish it be changed either. There is no need for this new public charge rule. Expanding the rules to prevent deserving immigrants from entering the United States to be with their family is simply cruel and unjust. Q: Would this Final Ruling be in effect immediately? Is there anything the people can do to voice out their opposition to or support for this expanded public charge ruling? A. The rule takes effect on October 15, 2019. There is a 60-day rule from publication before it takes effect. Those who are opposed to the public charge rules must contact their respective legislators to voice their opposition. Or they can also contact and support organizations that have filed lawsuits to abolish these new rules. *** 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

Remembering heroes, dead and alive

Commentary

RINA JIMENEZ-DAVID TODAY (Wednesday, August 21) is a day to remember, to honor and to celebrate the lives of Filipino heroes. One of them is Ninoy Aquino, whose assassination is the reason for today’s holiday, his death setting off a series of events that brought our nation out of the shadow of martial law and whose legacy we still strive to live out. The other hero is Gina Lopez, who served as secretary of the environment and natural resources before her colleagues in government denied her confirmation. But long before that, she had been an environmental champion, as well as the driving

force behind many advocacies, including protecting abused women and children, and working with communities to promote livelihoods while protecting their natural resources. One thing notable about Lopez was her capacity for reinvention, moving from being the pampered daughter of a wealthy family, to a missionary in the poorest parts of the world, to a homegrown activist who took on entire industries in her lifelong mission to “clean up” our world. We can do no less than follow her example and blaze our own trails even as we strive to follow in her footsteps. Another woman warrior in a lovely, gentle but steadfast package is Sen. Risa Hontiveros. Her record in crafting, legislating and negotiating for passage a remarkable number

of women-friendly and socially progressive laws is truly astounding, especially given the misogynistic and violent bent of the Duterte administration and the silence and complacency of many of her colleagues, other women senators included. Speaking at the “Kwentong Kabaro” (Women’s Stories) last Saturday, August 17, Hontiveros asked rhetorically: “What do we do in the face of an unrelenting storm?” Her reply: “We continue forward because the storm will end.” Currently, Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate committee on women and children, is battling headwinds blocking passage of her priority legislation. The Senate leadership, she said, asked for each senator to list three priority bills and three “pet” bills. Her priorities: the Sogie (sexual

orientation and gender identity and expression) Equality Bill, legalization of divorce and expanding the Solo Parents Act. Her favorites: reduction of teenage pregnancies, raise the age of sexual consent from 12 to 18, and strengthening children’s rights. Certainly, a most daunting list of proposed controversial laws that promise a tsunami of social change. But looking back, who knew we would have, in speedy succession, an expanded maternity leave law, a “bawal bastos” law that pushes the borders of the legal definition of sexual harassment, a law addressing the problem of mental health, among many others. Given the vocal opposition even now from her colleagues, and the firestorm in social and traditional media ignited by the case of Gretchen Diez, a trans-

gender woman denied use of a women’s rest room in a mall, Hontiveros certainly faces tumultuous times ahead. But as she said, it’s in times like these that one should unfurl one’s sails and power forward! Two men — a fading male star and a failing stunt man/ factotum — confront the inevitable in the film “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood.” The biggest thing about this ninth film by Quentin Tarantino is that it stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. Their luster is certainly far from fading, but I’m sure the movie also “spoke” to them about their fast-approaching fadeout. In the meantime, there’s fun and frolic in this fond homage to midcentury Hollywood, not least of which are the retro dress styles and hairdo’s and

the pop music of the late ’60s. Certainly the most thunderous event of that era was the massacre of actress Sharon Tate and her house guests by a gang of anarchists mesmerized by the so-called head of their dysfunctional family, Charles Manson. This also makes a cameo appearance in the film. “Once Upon a Time…” has an air of melancholy about it, a sense of innocence on the brink of permanent loss, of a world changing and morphing in ways unforeseen and unbidden. It is on the whole seemingly loose and lackadaisical, until events race toward the shocking conclusion. Audiences would do well to remember that it is called “Once Upon a Time,” and that some fairy tales can and do end on a dark, mordant note. (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

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21-23, 2019

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

Telco competition ‘stabilizing’ – Fitch Alcoholism costs government P200 billion yearly – study by Lisbet

K. esmaeL ManilaTimes.net

COMPETITION in the Philippine telecommunications sector is “stabilizing,” as seen in the strong first-half financial performance reported by its two major players ahead of the entry of the third one, according to Fitch Ratings. In a report released on Thursday, August 15, the global credit ratings agency said it expects the telco industry to continue performing robustly for the rest of 2019, projecting it to record mid-to-high single-digit growth in revenues. Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. registered an 8-percent increase in revenues in the period, compared with Pangilinan-led PLDT Inc.’s 5 percent. Despite this, Fitch Ratings is optimistic about PLDT’s capacity to bounce back, saying a “firmer re-

covery is underway” after its wireless business posted 6-percent growth year-on-year. “We expect [that] PLDT will benefit from an acceleration of subscriber take-up in its fibrebroadband services, which had been affected since mid-2018 by a regulatory ruling on outsourced services,” the debt water said, adding that the P3-4 billion it earmarked to hire installation workers and technicians would help bolster its home broadband customer based. Fitch Ratings also expects Globe to remain dominant in terms of service-revenue figures amid its “larger post-paid subscriber base and continued market-share gains in mobile.” It noted, however, that Globe and PLDT should expect Dito Telecommunity Corp. to disrupt the market oce it begins its opera-

tions. “Competition is likely to intensify in the medium term with the entry of the third mobile operator Dito Telecommunity. Competition in the mobile sector is greater than in fixed-line, and therefore, we believe diversification into fiber broadband is advantageous for fixed-mobile convergence and in capturing the long-term demand for fibre backhaul,” Fitch Ratings said. Dito, backed by Davao Citybased businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp. and Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and Beijing-owned China Telecommunications Corp., bagged last month the permit and frequencies it needed to operate, officially making it the challenger to the so-called duopoly in providing telecommunication services in the country. n

Tax measures seen boosting PH credit ratings by ben

O. De Vera Inquirer.net

THE lower House’s passage of the higher levy on alcohol and ecigarettes as well as its ways and means panel’s approval of the proposed new corporate income tax regime augured well to securing another credit rating upgrade for the country within the next two years, the head of the Duterte administration’s economic team said. “We thank Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, the sponsors of the Citira bill and members of the House ways and means committee, for heeding the call of president Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the swift approval of this measure, which represents package 2 of the comprehensive tax reform program,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said in a statement, referring to the approval of the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act last week. Dominguez had also welcomed the House approval on second reading of the bill jacking up the excise taxes slapped on alcoholic drinks, alcopops, heated tobacco products, and vapes last week,

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III

which Chua said would generate P17 billion in additional revenue. The Finance chief was hopeful that passage of the remaining tax packages in Congress would “help bring the Philippines closer to its goal of attaining the coveted ‘A’ investment grade credit rating in two years’ time.” The Philippines currently enjoys investment-grade credit ratings from the top three debt watchers, namely, Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and S&P.

Inquirer.net file photo

Credit ratings are a measure of a government’s creditworthiness. As the stability of state finances is also related to a country’s performance, credit scores serve as a proxy grade for the economy. Improved ratings would allow the government to demand lower rates when it borrows from lenders, which could translate to lower interest rates for consumers and businesses borrowing from banks using government-issued debt paper as benchmarks for their loans. n

by Jess

Diaz Philstar.com

ALCOHOL House of Representatives ways and means committee and the Department of Finance (DOF). The government spends the bulk of that amount in treating and caring for millions of Filipinos with liquor drinking-related ailments. Part of it is “law enforcement cost” and funeral and burial expenses for those dying of too much booze. There are at least 39 diseases associated with alcohol consumption. These include psychotic disorder, degeneration of the nervous system, fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatic failure, gastritis, pancreatitis, and behavioral disorders. Upon the recommendation of its ways and means committee chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and the DOF, the House has approved a bill increasing taxes on beer and other intoxicating drinks starting next year. The study shows that out of every 100,000 Filipinos with alcohol addiction, 4,431 would die due to liver cirrhosis in 2020, 2,714 from mouth, colorectal and breast cancers, 16,418 from hypertensive diseases, and 8,526 from tuberculosis. It predicts that fewer Filipinos would die from booze with higher alcohol taxes. However, the 43-page document does not give any reason why the government, Congress in particular, waited for seven years before planning to adjust liquor levies. The last increase was in 2012. For tobacco, taxes were increased under the controversial

The government spends the bulk of that amount in treating and caring for millions of Filipinos with liquor drinking-related ailments. Part of it is “law enforcement cost” and funeral and burial expenses for those dying of too much booze. Philstar.com file photo

Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, which took effect in January last year, and again under a new statute President Duterte signed two weeks ago. Liquor and tobacco are what the House and the DOF label as “sin” products. Of total collections from these products, tobacco accounted for 70 percent in 2015. With higher liquor levies proposed by the DOF, tobacco’s share of revenues would go down to 58 percent. The DOF-recommended rates are significantly higher than those approved by the House last Tuesday, August 13,. For instance, in the case of beer, the DOF is proposing P40 per liter (about three bottles), while congressmen approved only P28, or a difference of P12. DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, the administration’s poster boy for tax reform, is hoping he could convince senators to go for much higher rates.

The House-DOF study also shows that liquor prices in the country are among the lowest in Southeast Asia. For instance, in the case of beer, Vietnam has the cheapest, followed by Cambodia and the Philippines, with Indonesia and Malaysia having the most expensive product. The study notes that since the last adjustment in 2012, consumption of alcohol products had been on the rise. “Increasing alcohol volume levels indicate that there is room for further excise tax increases,” the document states. Higher levies have not hurt the pockets of liquor makers because they pass on the entire amount of taxes to consumers. The revenues of manufacturers between 2012 and 2017 were all in the tens of billions, with dominant player San Miguel Brewery reporting P63.8 billion in 2012, soaring to P101.8 billion in 2017. n

BSP reports foreign currency surplus of $248M by maxim

L. Lucas

Monday (Aug. 19). In a statement, the central bank said the overall position of the MORE dollars entered the Phil- country’s balance of payments — ippine economy than left it in July the net tally for all the economy’s thanks to inflows from the central overseas transactions — posted bank’s foreign currency operations a surplus of $248 million in July as well as foreign investments in 2019. This was a reversal from the $455 government bonds, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on million balance of payments deficit Inquirer.net

in the same month last year. A balance of payments surplus means the Philippine economy is earning more dollars than it is spending, whether for trade and services from abroad or in terms of investments in the financial markets. A surplus also supports the value of the peso against the U.S. dollar. n

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 21, 2019

Celebrating the beautiful and memorable life of Gina Lopez by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

TO say that Gina Lopez led a colorful life would be a severe understatement. The former environment and natural resources secretary passed away on Monday, August 19, due to multiple organ failure after a brave battle with brain cancer. She was 65. The second of seven children of Eugenio Lopez, Jr. and Conchita La’O, Regina Paz — fondly known as Gina — was born with the proverbial silver spoon and grew up in an environment where she was pampered and sheltered. At the age of 18, she moved to the United States to study. It was while at the Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Boston where she learned more about spirituality, meditation and Ananda Marga, which radically changed the course of her life. “Eventually I left home. Not because things were not good, but because I had this urge to do something. Looking back at it now, I still marvel at how I did all that I did. Leaving home, renouncing everything, having two to three sets of clothes, and taking a vow of celibacy— at 18! It’s almost like a segment of my life was cut dead,” Lopez wrote in a revealing essay published by Rogue Magazine in March 2016. For the next 20 years, she served as a full-fledged yoga missionary in Portugal, India and Africa, among the poor and underserved, far from the rich enclave of her growing up years in Forbes Park. It was while doing these where she learned the values that would come in handy in her future life as an advocate for the environment and children’s rights, among others. It was while serving in Africa when she met her now ex-husband, Sona with whom she has two sons, Roberto and Benjamin. She lived for six years in Kenya and two of those years were in a slum area. This was where she learned to value water. She revealed that they had to stand in line for hours for a bucket of water and she had a

pail, for bathing herself and for washing her clothes. “When one doesn’t have much, one treasures every little bit. I lived as the poor lived, so I learned how not to be wasteful—a trait I carry to this day where I use every bit of everything. I learned how to value empty containers, because they can be of use eventually,” she wrote further. Returning to Manila Lopez eventually decided to return to the Philippines with her husband. Missionary work forbade them from having relationships with the opposite sex. On the day of her return, she found out that she was pregnant and that’s when she knew the door of going back to Africa and the missionary life had closed. Armed now with the knowledge and values she learned in the two decades she dedicated to missionary life, Lopez decided to focus on uplifting the lives of the poor in her own country, the Philippines. She found her heart and place in the ABS-CBN Foundation, the public service arm of ABS-CBN. She spearheaded and instituted projects that focused on communities in crisis, educational media (TV and radio), Bantay Bata, Bantay Kalikasan, among others. In June 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed her as the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “Integrity, public service and common good are the key deciding factors for any decision that will be taken,” Lopez had said upon her appointment. “Any industry must bear in mind that the common good is paramount in their operations and not the money they make.” During her short-lived stint as environment chief, Lopez ordered the shutdown of 23 mines and suspension of five others. She canceled 75 contracts for mining projects located in watersheds, as well. She was the secretary for 10 months until the Commission

Lopez, secretary for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 2016 to 2017, spoke at a Greenpeace-led candlelight vigil in front of the department’s central office in May 2017 following the Commission on Appointment’s rejection of her appointment to head the agency.

Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, Sagip Kapamilya, and the reforestation of the La Mesa Watershed. She also served as the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission chairperson. These are the projects that have left indelible marks in the lives of millions of Filipinos and this is the legacy that Lopez, the woman in a hurry, left. Lopez inspired a lot of people as a champion for the environment, child protection, and the disadvantaged. She exemplified a life of service to humanity with a deep desire to improve people’s lives, rallied for social justice and sought to bring hope and change to poor communities. In a 2011 interview with the Asian Journal’s Balikbayan Magazine, Lopez said: “Nothing can stand in the way of a people united for a noble cause.” “I have a deep resonance with the environment. My spiritual practice is feeling the divine, entering stillness, then feeling the Higher Worlds. When one does this, one develops a very keen affinity with nature. Divine Energy is in Nature,” she continued. Her program Bantay Bata 163 became the first rescue hotline for children in Asia. It also bagged the United Nations Grand Awardee for Excellence in 1997, besting 187 countries all over the world. Among the Foundation’s major programs was Educational Television (ETV) and under it were shows that tackled the subject matters in public schools like science (Sine’skwela), mathematics (Math Tinik), history (Bayani), values educations (Hirayamanawari) and Epol/Apple (English). Through her initiatives, more than 10,000 public elementary schools nationwide received ETV sets for their school libraries. She also founded Bantay Kalikasan, a program that advocates for the protection of the environment. Among its most Lopez was in the Bay Area in January 2019 to present the i.L.O.V.E. (Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies) organization to Filipino notable achievements include Americans, which aims to lift communities out of poverty through the creation of environmentally-conscious businesses at the grassroots level. She also the successful reforestation of launched the Quest for Love, which pairs eight loving organizations with their respective mentors to work together to support a community. AJPress photo by Joseph Peralta the La Mesa Watershed and the on Appointments voted 16-8 through secret balloting to end her tenure. She went on to host an environmental show on ABSCBN called “G Diaries,” which focused on environmental conservation, area development and innovations. She also became the first Filipino to be awarded the prestigious Seacology Prize in Berkeley, California back in October 2017 for her “exceptional achievement in preserving island environments and culture”. Advocate In a statement, ABS-CBN said: “Gina was the pillar of strength that pushed ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) to achieve what seemed to be impossible. Her caring heart and selfless kind of love inspired people within and beyond the organization to help and serve others.” “[She] was a champion for the environment, child protection, and the disadvantaged. She exemplified a life of service to humanity with a deep desire to improve people’s lives, rallied for social justice, and sought to bring hope and change to poor communities,” it added. Through her advocacies, Lopez launched numerous projects such as Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan, Kapit

Gina Lopez devoted her life to various environmental and social causes.

eventual rehabilitation of 17 estuaries or esteros of the Pasig River. Because of this, thenPresident Benigno S. Aquino III appointed her in 2010 as the chairperson of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. Lopez recently established Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies (iLOVE) Foundation, as well, which seeks to lift communities out of poverty through the creation of environmentally conscious businesses at the grassroots level. Testimonials Friends, family and netizens took to social media with tributes to Lopez and the life she lived. In an Instagram post, former ABS-CBN big boss Charo Santos Concio mourned the death of her friend. “This is how I will remember my dear friend, Gina... always so passionate When she is on to something, she will definitely do it with all her heart, mind and soul, whatever it takes. When she would tell me her vision... the next thing I know, she’s already in the field doing something about it. No wasted time... no wasted opportunities... for the love of the people, the country and the environment. Gina, may your selfless heart inspire many more!!! Thank you for the unconditional love Rest now, my friend! #MaramingSalamatGinaLopez,” Santos-Concio wrote in the caption. “Gina’s spirit, passion and energy were boundless. There was criticism that she was combustible, all over the place. But that’s because she wanted to do so much,” said actor Audie Gemora, who worked on several educational TV programs that ABS-CBN Foundation produced.

Ging Reyes, head of ABSCBN’s Integrated News and Current Affairs, couldn’t agree more. “Now we realize why she was always in a hurry to finish something; she was a woman possessed every time she took up a cause. Nothing was impossible, everything was doable,” Reyes posted on her Facebook wall. Purpose “At an age when people are just figuring out what they want to do in life, she already knew her purpose. She left a comfortable life to devote her time and energy to help uplift other people’s lives,” ABSCBN’s chairman Mark Lopez said. “When she returned to join ABS-CBN, she instilled in her people the same drive to help. For her, nothing cannot be done, no effort is too small, anybody can — and should — do their part in making the world a better place,” he added. Mark is a cousin of the former environment secretary. According to the ABS-CBN Foundation, Lopez’s family has requested that donations be made to the foundation in lieu of flowers and Mass cards. A public memorial service will be held at the La Mesa Ecopark — which rehabilitated through Bantay Kalikasan — on August 22 and 23. Though Lopez has departed, her legacy and love for social justice issues, the environment, and her home country of the Philippines live on. “If we in this country dream and hope the common good and commitment to integrity, I have no doubt in my heart and in my mind that our country will see the light of day,” she said in Metro Society interview.

Gina Lopez’s legacy: Social-impact environmentalist for Pasig River’s revival Rhizomes

Prosy AbArquezDelAcruz, J.D. [EDITOR’S Note: A full version of this article was previously published in Balikbayan Magazine’s October-November 2011 issue] “Water is a great teacher that shows us how to move through the world with grace, ease, determination, and humility. When a river breaks at a waterfall, it gains energy and moves on, as we encounter our own waterfalls, we may fall hard but we always keep moving on. Water is brave and does not waste time clinging to its past, but flows onward without looking back.” —Anonymous Dreamers know no bounds and see only possibilities. They are grounded in God’s infinite grace and envision no limitations to their dreams. They keep on no matter what, and step by step, they see that what they committed to do, defines them, and inspires the organizations they lead. First, there is Tony Meloto, who imagines the poor can be middle class in the Philippines,

while producing high-value goods that anchor a sustainable economy in the Philippines. Today, his partnership with Philippine Development Foundation (formerly Ayala Foundation) and the Philippine government has created a research consortium, involving seven universities, aggregating their scientific capacities. Fourth, there is Vicky Wallace who imagines a bed and breakfast in Panglao, Bohol, using local crops and local labor. She is much ahead of her times when she conceived it a decade ago, when organic cooking and baking was not in vogue yet in Bohol. Now, her visionary thinking for Bohol Bee Gina Lopez with clean up volunteers Farms gives jobs to hundreds of who keeps on, despite the odds Boholanos, while she raises her and conflicts he faced. Today, own bees, farms her own proGawad Kalinga gets worldwide duce and makes new dips using donations and has built homes malunggay, with food technolofor 2,000 communities. Second, gists as new uses for fruits and there is Loida Nicolas Lewis who vegetables. imagines a school, so SorsogoJoining this circle of spiritunian children can be educated ally–grounded visionaries is in moral values, technology and Regina “Gina” Lopez who imagentrepreneurship, then jobs or ines the Philippines as the ecobusinesses as productive citizens tourism capital of the planet. in a global economy. The Lewis “We are not Singapore College now has close to a thou- or Hong Kong, we are 7,000 sand enrolled students from K amazingly beautiful and specto college. Third, there is Dado tacular islands. Many of us do Banatao who imagines strategic not even know the beauty that philanthropy as a significant exists in our country because bridge amongst Filipino Amerithese islands are not comfortcans and Filipinos, funding sciably accessible, to discover the ence and technology researches, magnificence of Sibuyan Island

in Romblon and to even [get] more saddened to find that a people living amidst such magnificence could be so poor, “ she said. “Envision it like Hawaii,” I told her. “Yes, yes,” she replied! Gina’s transformational cleaning up of the Pasig River, a river long dead, like a landfill in one section, filled with mattresses, plastic bags, diapers, tires, bottles, and a dead carcass stench, has opened up collective imaginations and collective energies that kaya pala natin ito. Used to making a big splash, as part of a media-conglomerate family, she was raised to look at the problem in a stra- The once polluted Estero de Paco in Manila, near the Paco Market tegic way. Watching her dad, Eugenio Lopez, by example, she learned from him the importance of integrity and vision. Gina was asked to take over the Pasig River cleanup by former First Lady Ming Ramos. But, before taking it on, she sought partnership with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR). DENR agreed, so she accepted. Later, she was officially appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino to chair the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, under the DENR, along with Metro Manila Development Authority, Office of Executive Secretary of the President of the Philippines, Department of The Estero de Paco, a tributary of the Pasig River, after the cleanup efforts led by Lopez. Continued on Page 3 Photos courtesy of ABS-CBN Foundation

Anne not pressured to have kids but ready anytime it happens

Meanwhile, Curtis expressed excitement about soon being an aunt as sister-in-law Solenn Heussaff recently announced she WHILE she refuses to presis expecting her first child with sure herself and husband Erwan husband Nico Bolzico. Heussaff on bearing a child, “Of course, I’m excited to be actress Anne Curtis said she is an aunt. Magiging tita ako so I’m ready should it happen anytime very excited for Nico and Solenn. soon. And si Erwan also sobrang “Feeling ko in God’s time, it excited din kasi siyempe may will happen. Ayaw kong magbiadded family, hindi ba, and may gay ng pressure sa sarili ko or kay baby. So nakakatuwa bagong Erwan kung kailan mangyayari blessing,” Curtis said. ‘yon,” Curtis said when asked It was last week when Solenn about her plans on having child and Bolzico shared the news in an interview at “Magandang of expecting a new baby. The Buhay” aired on Monday, August couple has been married for 19. almost three years. “Who knows baka next year “Sabay kaming sinabihan ni na ‘yan, di ba? It could be this Erwan. So sobra kaming happy year, next year, we don’t know. Anne Curtis para sa kanila because we know But let’s just say I think I’m at Photo from Instagram/@annecurtissmith it was one of the things they that age naman na talaga na were looking forward to, hinihinCurtis tied the knot with anytime that it happens ay ready tay nila. So happy kami para sa na akong maging momshie,” she restaurateur and vlogger Erwan kanila,” Curtis shared. Heussaff in November 2017. added. by Krissy

AguilAr Inquirer.net

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

KATRINA Halili hasn’t been in a serious romantic relationship in seven years, but she doesn’t mind. In fact, she said she’s starting to appreciate life being single. “I realized that I’m happy even if I’m solo. I’m also enjoying work. Maybe it’s because I’m becoming more mature and I know myself better,” the actress told reporters at a recent press conference. While she’s open to dating, Katrina said she has yet to meet someone she could see herself spending time with on a long term basis. “At this point in my life, I’m looking for something serious,” she said. “However, I’m honestly not used to dating. I prefer starting out as friends with someone; I think that’s a good foundation to have.” Katrina’s last boyfriend was R&B singer Kris Lawrence, with

Gina Lopez’s legacy...

From Page 2 Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Department of Interior Local Governments, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, Department of National Defense, Department of Transportation and Communications, GMA Network, ABS-CBN Foundation/ Bantay Kalikasan and Unilever. The commission’s goal was to have a viable river of Class C quality, fit for fishing, boating and manufacturing water supply for food processing. Mind you, this is a 15-year effort of cleanup and revival. Many unsuccessful attempts have been made in the Pasig River, including the relocation of top polluting industries, like chemicals and petroleum, which have since relocated. But, the unprocessed domestic wastes, to which only 7% of the households in Metro Manila are connected to sewage treatment, make the problem quite insurmountable. But not Gina! Estero de Paco became the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission’s demonstrative project. It was the largest estero, the dirtiest and presented the most challenge. What once was a slum-dwelling estero, it is now bordered by agapanthus and rubber plants, complete with what Gina calls “island reactor, with coco coir to filter the water, and man-made waterfalls.” Next to it is a newly built Paco Market, with stabilized rents. She is currently seeking donors to help former vendors the first rights to go back to the stalls, at $1,500 a stall. It is now a state of the art facility, with better managed and cleaner stalls, and no longer with an added stench from the nearby Pasig River. I asked her what gives her a unique perspective in seeing the Filipino potential of healing Mother Nature and their capacity for change. While she grew up a child of privilege to the Lopez family (who owns prime real estate, utilities and biggest media network in the Philippines) and received a high school education at Assumption College, then college at Newton College of Sacred Heart in Massachusetts, she dropped out to become a yoga missionary for Ananda Marga, dedicated to the self-realization and service to humanity. Her commitment of 20 years led her to India, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and Nigeria. She credits this part of her life as opening up her sights that poverty can be removed in the Philippines, “especially in the places which are beautiful, in these places, agriculture and eco-tourism is the way to go.” Her politi-

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 21, 2019

Catriona assures everybody she’s OK by MJ

MArfori ManilaTimes.net

IT’S her fifth time back in the Philippines since starting her reign but Miss Universe Catriona Gray is still as energized as ever with her advocacies. Friday morning, August 16, we caught up with the beauty queen after she watched a 45minute life-changing cleft palate surgery of a young patient of Smile Train Philippines at the Philippine Band of Mercy in Quezon City. “It’s my first time ever to see it live but you know what? It was so informative because when I advocate for a certain cause I want to have that firsthand experience. Without that, how can I even pull people to the cause if I hadn’t seen the good it can do myself.” Another advocacy that is very close to Catriona’s heart is the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB). She is fervently praying it will be passed and signed into law especially after last week’s Farmers Market bathroom fiasco. Queen Cat couldn’t help but voice out her concern for transwoman Gretchen Diez who was refused her basic right to use the female restroom. “It’s a conversation that we really need to be having. There is not a one-all solution to this problem, especially when it comes to the rest room situation, but my whole point in that issue was that victim shaming is not right. No one should be subKatrina Halili Photo from Instagram/@katrina_halili jected to that type of treatment, to that type of shame, to that And the ex-couple does whom she has a 7-year-old type of discrimination, and that daughter named Katrence. Per- have a healthy coparenting will only come from being able relationship. haps there’s a chance of them “I have never deprived him to educate each other on how getting back together? to properly treat people first off of seeing his daughter. If he’s “Wala na. We’re just with respect.” free or if I have work, somefriends. There are people Catriona never holds back times I call him up, so they you’re better off just as on any issue whether social or could spend time together,” friends,” she said. “Huwag political so long as she sees that she said. nang ipilit.” it can educate people, which she adds is one of her most imporShe shared her work in tant goals for the remainder of Estero de Paco, next to Paco her reign in Miss Universe and Market, to a group of Filipino beyond. cal will to see transformational Americans gathered in GolIncidentally, Cat also change amongst the poor came dilocks in Cerritos, California launched 500 copies of a limited about when she learned survival one evening in 2011. We were edition book series published skills as a missionary in Africa. all riveted to her presentation She found herself without that most folks did not leave a safety net of being part of a until close to midnight. Housmedia conglomerate nor the ing for the informal settlers connections of a well-placed who lived on the banks of the family. She learned that “when waterways or esteros was first there is a will there is a way.” secured. They were relocated to “That as long as one had a development called Bayan ni faith in one’s convictions, one Juan, where concrete row houscan build dreams. I ended up es were built, with a school and with land, a house, a children’s clinic in Calauan, Laguna. She is home, a school. To survive, I the first to say that she cannot would go to businesses and do it alone, but together with a tell them what I was doing and team of students, military, cominvariably I would get support. I munity volunteers, “where the learned how the poor live. I lived cleanups were always a source in the slums of Africa where one of joy and kinship,” nothing had to stand in line for hours for seems impossible. water, taking a bath and washGina is the first to admit that ing with a bucket, where there more investors are needed to are no toilets. I had to sleep set up businesses which will emon the floor. It was hard but I ploy local folks, much like the videveloped an affinity with the sionary Vicky Wallace, who did it poor…I know what it is like,” she in Bohol for her province-mates, continued. and much like Loida Lewis who Indeed she knows. She apis educating her fellow provinceplied the first principle in doing mates in Sorsogon. Gina had projects for the impoverished, prevented more respiratory dismalnourished children. eases and a new imagination has When she came back to the sprung from these new Calauan Philippines, she took on these residents. projects that made a splash, Now, the second principle of not with fame and glamour, equal opportunities for all has to but with social impact. Bantay be satisfied. At the Paco Market, Bata is child welfare program most of these retail vendors of the ABS-CBN Foundation, are provided opportunities to with eight regional offices that inhabit the new market stalls. provide rescue and relief for “Nothing can stand in the abused and sick children, while way of a people united for a giving them quality home care noble cause,” Gina said: “I have and therapy, until they are a deep resonance with the enreunited with their families or vironment. My spiritual practice referred to appropriate childcare is feeling the divine, entering agencies. For her work in destillness, then feeling the Higher signing an all-around safety net Worlds. When one does this, for the abused Filipino child, she one develops a very keen affinity was recognized as one of the with nature. Divine Energy is in AAA awardees of the Asian InNature.” stitute of Management. She was As to the third principle of a UNESCO Kalinga Awardee for reverence for all, Gina sucpopularizing science through her ceeded in eradicating poverty innovative media work on math, in Puerto Princesa, where she sciences, national heroes, seekhelped the community residents ing help from the Department in building trails, a waterless of Education to show these toilet, a visitor’s center, and modules in the classrooms. In other visitor-friendly improveclassrooms where they were ments. With this communityshown, dramatic improvements based tourism, the community were achieved in math and read- benefited. She has eliminated ing scores. poverty in this area in just a Her social-impact environperiod of two years with very mentalism appears to follow minimal investment in five comthree principles in Van Jones’ munities living amidst these Green Collar Economy’s book: gorgeous surroundings. “It has first, equal protection for all, even reached the stage where where the pain is minimized the profit is big enough to roll for the impacted group and over to another community,” their gain maximized; second, she added. equal opportunity for those in Like water, moving with pursuit of equity, where all are grace, ease, determination and included; and third, reverence humility, Gina has indeed been for all creation. She states her a social impact environmentalprinciples as: “commitment to ist, a peace-builder, healer and integrity, compassion to care for nurturer of Mother Nature by each other, to work together, cleaning dead rivers and installreverence for the environment ing community-based eco-tourand healthy lifestyle.” ism!

Katrina happy being single by AllAn

entertainment

Miss Universe Catriona Gray gamely grants a selfie request from a lady soldier after she was feted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Saturday, August 17. Gray received Command Plague which bears the Chief of Staff’s appreciation and recognition of her work and achievements and for representing the best of the Filipino to the world. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

in partnership with FrontRow officials and RS Francisco. All proceeds for this project will go to Young Focus Philippines. Besides Catriona, Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart is also in the country right now for meetings. She had an ocular at Philippine Arena in Bulacan as a possible venue for Miss Universe 2019. Initially, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Korea were lined up as candidate venues but no deals have been made due to pageant restriction issues in each one. When we asked Catriona about the possibility of passing on her crown to the next Miss Universe in the Philippines, she replied, “I would love it. I think we would have a celebration like no other but of course nothing is confirmed yet.” Fans, however, are of the opinion that it will be more difficult to bag a back-to-back win with our candidate Gazini Ganados if the pageant were to be held in Manila. Finally, Catriona also put an end to speculations about her controversial post a few weeks back when she said she felt she was at a low point in her life. Without pinpointing any issue in particular, she nonetheless assured her followers that it’s alright to feel that way sometimes

Due to her controversial post where she shared she was at a low point in her life, Catriona Gray noted that she is not a perfect Barbie that does not go through life’s trials. Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

even for her who rarely posts about personal emotions online. “I know everyone got worried but it’s also because I don’t usually share those types of things on social media. Honestly, I just wanted to prove that no matter where you are in life, no matter what success you achieve, there will always be moments of doubt and challenges that you need to overcome. No one becomes perfect and there is no stage in life where you won’t have any worries. I wanted to share that with people because this is me. I am not a perfect Barbie that does not go through life’s trials.”

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 21, 2019

community

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 21, 2019

Hail to the ordinary

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Part 1 of 2

Monette AdevA MAglAyA IN 2010, a young boy who climbed Mount Everest gained a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. He was on TV for his 15 minutes of celebrity status. I had to flip the channel. Abby Sunderland, a California teenager who set out in January 2010 to circumnavigate the world solo and who eventually sent out distress signals that had three countries scrambling to launch rescue missions in the dangerous South Indian Ocean. She’s alive and well apparently. Ian Kiernan, an Australian record holder for the same feat says, “I don’t know what she’s doing in the Southern Ocean as a 16-year-old in the middle of winter. It’s foolhardy.” Abby’s brother had achieved the feat a few years ago. And it was enough to make the younger sibling decide, hey me too. Back in April 1996, a 7-year old named Jessica, died together with her father and flight instructor, their plane crashing after take-off in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Jessica was trying to become the youngest person to fly an airplane across the US. And who can ever forget the insane inanity of the “balloon boy’s” parents? Such stunts have been met with criticism, some loud and harsh and some with just a mute shaking of the head. I, for one, am deeply suspicious about the values that generate this kind of vainglorious dreams that badly skews our perceptions of what matters in life. As others are finding out, celebrity can be a curse. When

“ There are definitely some enemies in my life I definitely would wish celebrity on...” — Gary Coleman Star of the sitcom, ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ who suffered a reversal of fortune and died at 42 will this insanity of glory hounds end, both these young ones and their parents? Does the lure of making it on the books, celebrity, money and endorsements and feeling superior overtake common sense? Do parents feel the need to bask in the reflected glory of their children’s achievements? Surely there has got to be more to life than satisfying one’s ego. Surely, there are more worthwhile things in the world such self-absorption can be redirected to. In the interest of providing a view that may knock some sense to some of us with pie-in-the sky longings for recognition and celebrity, here’s an article that attempts to provoke thought. This addresses the same tendency that in Greek mythology, had Icarus’ wax wings melting in the heat of the sun as he flew higher, the same thing that doomed the fallen angels and the same thing that may have driven Adam and Eve from Eden. Here it is – an attempt to show appreciation for what simply is. The world we live in is conditioned to emulate extremes. We delight in the most beautiful, the tallest, the largest, the richest, the brightest, the fastest and anything else you can think of, as well as pay attention to extremes at the opposite end of the spectrum: the ugliest, the shortest, the smallest, the poorest, the darkest, the slowest. You get the idea.

We’re conditioned to pay no mind to the ordinary, the middle ground, the average run-ofthe-mill, the shades of gray, the humdrum of everyday life or the predictably dull and boring. The heroes and heroines made immortal in books and movies were extraordinary characters. We do not particularly care for bland characters who live lives of quiet desperation. We want to live vicariously through the lives of characters who are defiantly shaking their fists at the gods and beating all odds. We are tempted to look at movie stars, fat cats and other luminaries who dare defy conventions basking in the public limelight pursued by TMZ cameras as people worthy of awe and respect. And if you let it, a tiny tinge of envy gnaws at our souls when you see their images commanding megabucks. They appear as titans walking among ants. Granted a select few of them deserve the attention we give them but most can be reduced to fodder for the gristmill of entertainment. The truth is, those who deserve our awe and respect are the ones who orbit our daily life. (Continued next week …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Senior wants Chapter 13 to stop foreclosure by 2nd mortgagee for $50K and annul judgment lien of $60K THE client is 72 and appears to be a widow. She previously operated a business, which closed down in 2006. She borrowed $50,000 from her friend in 2004 secured by a second mortgage on her residence for the business. Unfortunately, the business failed in 2006 and it stopped operating. The client did not pay the monthly payment of $500 monthly plus interest on the $50,000. Her friend did not collect the monthly installments for several years. This month, the client received a recorded notice of default to foreclose her residence, if the $50,000 was not paid in full in the next 90 days. The notice of default (NOD) is the first step to foreclose the house. It gives homeowners 90 days to pay the default before the foreclosure sale date can be set. The foreclosure sale date cannot be set earlier than 21 days from the expiration of the 90 days from the date of recording of the NOD. The client shows me the NOD and I verify that there is a recording date. The recording date means that this notice has been recorded with the recorder of deeds, and thus the 90 days pre-foreclosure has commenced. Without this date of recording, the foreclosure does not begin. So any other document that you receive that says you are in default on your mortgage and giving you a computation of what you owe is not the formal recorded document required to start the foreclosure process. For instance, you are three months in arrears on your mortgage. You receive a letter from the bank entitled default with intent to foreclose. The letter does not have a recording date. Four months from your date of receipt of that letter, can the bank foreclose your house? NO, because the official recorded NOD does not exist. The client says she wants to save her house from foreclosure by the second trust deed holder, and her friend who is no longer her friend. Or, let’s just say, her friend wants her house because she did not pay her back the $50,000. The problem is that her house is worth $600,000. It doesn’t seem fair. Further, the client says that there is also a judgment lien of $60,000 on her house. I ask her, which came first, the $50,000 second, or the $60,000 judgment lien. According to her, the judgment lien came later. Therefore, the judgment lien is the third lien on her house. She wants to prevent the foreclosure by the second trust deed, and she wants to get rid of and invalidate the judgment lien of $60,000. Can she do this? My first impression was that

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Atty. lAwrence yAng paying off the $50,000 while at the same time avoiding the judgment lien of $60,000 was going to be impossible given the fact that residential values today are sky-high. But lo and behold, after determining the current fair market value of the house and what is owed by client on the first mortgage even though she was on loan modified mortgage where $200,000 was deferred but nevertheless owed, plus the second mortgage of $50,000, there was zero equity left to support the judgment lien, meaning on Chapter 13, a motion to avoid the third lien of $60,000 while paying off the second of $50,000 through the Chapter

Is this correct? The company still owes the future rent of $200,000 even though it has stopped operating and has moved out of the leased premises. Yes, it is correct because client-company signed a lease contract that is still valid for two more years. The landlord has the right to demand that the future lease of $200K be paid. Nonpayment of the lease is a breach of the lease contract; therefore, the landlord can sue the clientcompany for $200,000 of future lease payments. The client just received an out of state lawsuit for $200,000 for unpaid commercial lease. It decides to file for Chapter 7. What happens to the lawsuit for $200,000? The lawsuit stops and the plaintiff can file a claim in the Chapter 7 case. The Chapter 7 trustee administers the case. If there are assets, the trustee liquidates those assets into cash and the cash is distributed to all creditors of the bankrupt company pro-rata. If there are no assets, creditors collect nothing and an order of NO ASSET is entered. With the bankruptcy filing, the out of state lawsuit stops and the landlord is required to file its claim in the bankruptcy. The company bankruptcy does not affect the officers or stockholders in any way. Fortunately for the president of the company, he only signed the commercial lease as an officer of the company. He did not execute any personal guaranty of the lease. The best news for him: the landlord cannot sue the president for the $200,000 as an individual guarantor, therefore, he has no liability whatsoever for the lease. As I said many times before, do not personally guarantee commercial leases or promissory notes of the company, just sign as an officer of the company. This is very important for your financial well being in the future in case your company fails. Your company’s business failure should not affect your personal assets in any way. Follow this principle and never forget it. Otherwise, you will have to see me twice, once for the company bankruptcy and a second time, for the personal bankruptcy. If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally.

“This is very important for your financial well being in the future in case your company fails. Your company’s business failure should not affect your personal assets in any way.” 13 plan would be successful indeed. She would not have to pay any part of the $60K judgment lien that would just be invalidated because her plan would be a zero percent plan to unsecured creditors. Upon granting of the motion to avoid the judgment lien, the $60,000 becomes unsecured, thus it does not have to be paid a single cent. The only problem is that client’s social security is only $1,000 a month. However, she says that her son is a doctor and he will help her pay the first mortgage and the plan. So that takes care of the shortage of funds because son can participate as a family contributor to make the plan feasible. Her son takes care of her. That’s good. Company receives $200K lawsuit by landlord & files for Chapter 7 The next client is a California company doing business out of state. It was in the import distribution business, which was good until last year. The company leased a large warehouse out of state. The business became so bad that it could not pay the lease of the warehouse. The company closed its doors recently and stopped doing business. However, it still owed the landlord two years of the future lease at $100,000 a year. So it owed the landlord $200,000 for the next two years lease.

*** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes CERTAIN aliens are barred from adjusting to legal permanent residents by virtue of having entered the United States under the following conditions: Entering the US as an alien crewman (C-1 visa/ jumpship) Accepting unauthorized employment Entering the US without inspection (No I-94 or crossing the border without a visa) Remaining in the US past the expiration of their status (overstays) Status/ Visa violations Admitted in the US in transit without a visa Admitted in the US as a non immigrant visitor without a visa These bars will prevent an alien from getting their green card inside the US even if they are eligible to receive a green card through a Petition that is current. Aliens that with the above issues who try to adjust may encounter problems with the USCIS. INA section 245(i) waives these inadmissibility grounds for aliens that are grandfathered (covered) by INA section 245(i). How does someone get grandfathered by section 245(i)? An alien is grandfathered if the alien is a beneficiary of a qualifying petition filed prior to April 30, 2001 and the principal beneficiary was physically present in the US on 12/21/2000. For petitions filed on or before 1/14/1998, no physical presence in the US is required. Qualifying petitions are I-130s, I-140s, some I-360s and I-526s, labor certification applications, that are filed and approvable when filed. In addition, under Matter of Jara RIERO and Jara ESPINO L, 24 I&N Dec. 267(BIA 2007), the applicant must demonstrate bona fide marriage for I-130 filed based on marriage. Derivative beneficiaries that existed at the time the qualifying petition was filed are independently grandfathered under section 245(i). They may adjust under a separate petition. After acquired dependents may adjust under 245(i) but are not independently grandfathered. After acquired dependents must adjust pursuant to the original qualifying petition that grandfathered them under section 245(i). If an alien

How can INA section 245(i) benefit you? is covered by section 245(i), the alien can adjust to a legal permanent resident by paying a $1,000 penalty and submitting evidence that the alien was a beneficiary of a qualifying petition. Being covered by section 245(i) makes a lot of difference for aliens who lost their I-94. It is a common situation for aliens not to have their I-94 and passports if they entered the US many years

ago. Sometimes, the I-94 and old passport are lost through the years when the alien move from one residence to another. The problem with this is the alien might have problem proving inspection into the United States specially if the alien is unable to obtain a replacement I-94 or present other proof of inspection such as the immigration admisContinued on Page 6

PNB Remittance Centers rocks it at TTC expo

people & events The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 21, 2019

How can INA section 245(i) benefit... From Page 5 sion stamp or a copy of the visa. Another common situation are crew men under a C-1 visa that were inspected but admitted as “in transit.” Many of these crew men never make it to their final destination. The crew men instead decides to remain in the United States. What they do not realize is that they cannot adjust to legal permanent residence even if they end up marrying a US Citizen. However if they are grandfathered by section 245(i) such as if their parents were petitioned when they were minors, the crew men will be able to adjust inside the United States and get their green card by paying a

$1,000 penalty and presenting evidence of the qualifying petition. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a

Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com

Smart preparation and enthusiasm are the keys to success. They certainly were in the case of PNBRCI’s booth participation in the EXPO. Seen left to right in front of the stage during the Saturday event are: Carl Esguerra- Corporate Staff; Evangeline Nery- Corporate Staff; Wilmyn Armas- Carson Branch Manager; Nelson Javier, PNBRCI President & CEO; Emilene Javier, Corporate staff; Barbara Lanier, Operations Officer and Kevin Banas, IT staff member. Annie Nepomuceno, EXPO Coordinator and Emcee is seen onstage.

(Advertising Supplement)

Ramon Padernal, PNBRCI Artesia Branch Manager, Nilfa Ortiz, West Covina Branch Teller and Chito Esguerra, Internal Audit Assistant, ( not in the photo) were on hand to staff and man the balloon-festooned, very popular PNBRCI booth at he EXPO.

Bags, pens, toasters and various other promotional give-aways galore were given away by enthusiastic PNBRCI staffers who enjoyed their stint at the EXPO. Participants took turns to spin the tambiolo to see which prize they won. The highlight of the 2-day event includes 2 units of 32 inches flat screen TV for which many lined up and stayed for the draw. For the Saturday draw, the winner of the 32 inches TV was Quintin Villaruel of Torrance, California. Nelson V. Javier, PNBRCI President & CEO was on hand to award him the coveted prize for the day.

on the West Coast, New York/ New Jersey in the East Coast as well as Las Vegas in Nevada. It also publishes the quarterly Balikbayan Magazine featuring the beauty of the Philippines and the people who make it so. Balikbayan is distributed internationally to cater to expatriates around the world. Unlike most remittance companies that entirely depend on a website and an impersonal online presence and operations subject to the omnipresent and virulent real dangers of hacking and virus attacks on the internet, PNBRCI’s cutting edge remains its personal, face-to-face interaction that has earned the trust of thousands of community members over the years. As Nelson Javier, President and CEO of PNBRCI has emphasized, TRUST is the one thing, among many others, that the company has kept as a valued

and time-honored corporate culture. PNBRCI makes good on every transaction thus delivering a highly satisfactory, consistent performance and the loyalty of many who are wary of disclosing personal and financial information over the internet for their regular money transfers. Its strategic locations cater to thousands of Filipinos in America that have come to depend on this company thus earning an enviable sterling reputation built painstakingly over time. Like other companies in the industry, PNBRCI also offers the convenience of online transactions but its physical locations which are staffed by kababayans, many of whom have been with the company for years, including its President & CEO Nelson Javier, provide a tangible recourse should any glitch in money transfers come up. This feature is most reassuring for many remitters.

PNBRCI pulled out all the stops to be a vibrant part of this event — and with great results! Longtime customers and new, prospective ones were able to meet the faces behind the company that many have come to know and trust. Plus, they had a lot of fun winning prizes. The Travel, Trade and Consumer (TTC) community event is annually sponsored by the Asian Journal Group of Companies and was held at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, California last August 3 & 4, 2019. Asian Journal, together with many community leaders, serves as a vital source and conduit for businesses to succeed and thrive ever more strongly in today’s booming American business environment. AJ has been serving the community for nearly 3 decades since 1991 publishing 5 weekly editions with digital copies online in 4 states, California

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For the Sunday draw, the winner of the 32 inches flat screen TV was Jovy Johnson from Hawthorne, California. With her in the photo is Chito Esguerra, Internal Audit Assistant, representing PNBRCI.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 21, 2019

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE -August 21, 2019