September 4-6, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 69 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Civil rights coalition offers proposals to combat injustice in education LEADERS of a coalition of civil rights organizations have revealed plans to update the 1965 Higher Education Act (HEA), a law that advises on higher education issues. The Leadership Conference Education Fund (LCEF) is seeking an update to the law by “forging a united front to promote policies that address disparities that students of color, low-income students and students with disabilities and other marginalized groups” face in the pursuit of higher education in the United States. The reasoning behind the changes is largely due to “significant changes to the student body in the country” and as such, “every student regardless of what they look like, where they came from or their disability status deserves to pursue their dreams,” said Liz King of the LCEF in a teleconference hosted by Ethnic Media Services on Friday, August 30. The affordability factors to achieving higher education is a main component of the coalition’s mission. The LCEF said that one of the biggest modern challenges of education pursuit is the rising student debt — propagated by for-profit institutions and predatory lenders — that often hinder students’ financial well-being while studying and after graduating. For many of these students who exist in multiple marginalized demographic groups, especially low-income students of color, “the barriers
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US, ASEAN maritime drills ‘not directed to anyone’ AMID Beijing’s latest actions in the disputed South China Sea, Washington maintained that the inaugural ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercise “is not focused or dedicated against or towards anyone else.” China has been deploying survey ships, coast guard vessels and warships on the waters of other South China Sea claimant states, including Vietnam and the Philippines. U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Murray Joe Tynch III, commander of the logistics group in the Western Pacific, stressed that the first-ever ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise, or AUMX, is focused on strengthening skills that would be applicable throughout international waters for maritime security. “It’s to enhance the skills of ASEAN and the U.S. working together,” Tynch said in a telephone press briefing Tuesday, September 3. The U.S. Navy official added that the joint exercise of 11 countries seeks to build capacity, as well as relationships.
Palace: Duterte’s China visit ‘successful, highly productive’ by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
MALACAÑANG on Sunday, September 1, deemed President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to China as “successful” and “highly productive” despite Chinese President Xi Jinping rejecting the 2016 arbitral
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo
ruling that invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. “With the conclusion of President Duterte’s official visit to China, we wish to inform the public that the same has been successful and highly productive,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo
in a statement. Duterte arrived in Manila Sunday morning from his five-day visit, during which he carried out his promise to discuss with Xi several concerns like the South China Sea dispute, among others.
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Philstar.com photo
Panelo to file libel complaints vs Inquirer.net, Rappler over Sanchez clemency reports by GAEA
KATREENA Philstar.com
CABICO
PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced he is filing libel complaints against two media outfits for their reports about his letter referring the plea for executive clemency for his former client, conFRESH FROM CHINA. Police and military officers salute President Rodrigo Roa Duterte upon his arrival at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on victed rapist and killer Antonio Sanchez.
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Sunday, September 1, following his successful official visit to the People’s Republic of China.
Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez
A MATTER FOR CONGRESS
SC turns down plea for same-sex marriage by TETCH
TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net
THE Supreme Court has dismissed the petition to allow same-sex marriage in the Philippines, saying it is a matter best addressed to Congress. At a press conference, SC’s Public Information Chief Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka said the petition filed by Atty. Jesus Nicardo Falcis III also violated the principle of hierarchy of courts just as he failed “to raise an actual justiciable controversy.” Hosaka also said that Falcis has no legal standing on the case. In a petition filed by Falcis in 2015, he u PAGE A2
asked SC to nullify Articles 1 and 2 of the Family Code as well as Articles 46 (4) and 55 (6) of the same law. Articles 1 and 2 limited marriages between man and woman while Articles 46(4) and 55 (6) mention lesbianism or homosexuality as grounds for annulment and legal separation. According to Falcis, the Family Code — in limiting marriage between man and woman — is unconstitutional because it deprives his right to liberty without substantive due process of law and equal protection of the laws, violating Section 3(1) Article 15 of the 1987 Constitution.
Faeldon grilled at Senate DOT, Jollibee launch probe on GCTA law, denies tourism campaign signing Sanchez’s release u PAGE A4
by AJPRESS
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (3rd from left) together with Jollibee Food Corporation officials lead by its CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong (2nd from left) indulge in the Filipino boodle feast during the DOT and Jollibee launch of “Eats. More Fun in the Philippines” at the Islas Pinas Food & Heritage Village, Double Dragon Plaza in Pasay City on Saturday, August 31. The campaign highlights the top dishes the country has to offer. PNA photo by Gil Calinga
Senator Christopher Lawrence Go says he filed Senate Bill No. 1003 to clearly state the intent and policy of the law not to extend the benefits of Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) to prisoners who are convicted of heinous crimes during the Senate hearing in Pasay City on Tuesday, September 3. Inset photo shows Bureau of Corrections Director Nicanor Faeldon (right) and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
by RITCHEL
THE Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with Filipino fast food chain Jollibee, launched the “Eats More Fun in the Philippines” campaign over the weekend in a bid to take the promotion of the country’s food tourism to the next level. The campaign is aimed at inviting food enthusiasts and tourists alike to visit the Philippines and try its unique Filipino cuisine. “We feel that this is an opportune time to put the spotlight on Filipino food and flavors — and we’re more than glad to share the same sentiment with the country’s number
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MENDIOLA AJPress
BUREAU of Corrections (BuCor) director-general Nicanor Faeldon on Monday, September 2, attended the Senate inquiry over the alleged questionable application of the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law. Faeldon was summoned to the Senate after drawing public ire over the news that his agency approved the release of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez based on good conduct while in prison.
Faeldon admitted that he received a memorandum recommending Sanchez’s release last July 20, but denied signing the release order. “I signed a memorandum order that is the signal to process all the papers, but that is after I continuously consulted with the lawyer, ‘Why are we signing this?’” Faeldon told a joint hearing of the Senate justice and Blue Ribbon committees. “I stopped the process of the release of Sanchez because I believe he is not entitled,” he
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From the Front Page
Faeldon grilled at Senate probe on...
PAGE A1 added. The joint hearing in aid of legislation was led by Senate committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon along with the Senate committees on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes; Public Order and Dangerous Drugs; and Finance presided
by Senators. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Sonny Angara, respectively. Faeldon said that the memorandum of release will trigger the process for the freedom of the prisoner when he was questioned by Pangilinan. “The memorandum of release will be received by the superintendent and they will sign the
release order, is that right?” Pangilinan asked in Filipino. “Was there a memorandum of release under your service that the superintendent did not sign or returned to you? “No, your honor,” Faeldon answered. “So it means you have the power and the memorandum of release is the key, while the release order only follows the memorandum of release,” Pangilinan said. “Yes, sir, that will trigger the processing of the release until the superintendent issues the final release order,” Faeldon said. He also clarified that the bureau did not change the way the law was implemented since the release of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) in 2014, explaining that no convict is excluded in the granting of GCTA under the law’s IRR. “That’s why in their computation… all convicted of any crime when they behave well in jail, they were granted GCTA,” Faeldon said. According to him, a prisoner’s GCTA can only be suspended during the month that an infraction was committed based on the law’s IRR. “In the succeeding month that they behaved well, the granting of GCTA resumes regardless of the gravity of these offenses,” he said. This provision in the law’s IRR was cited by Faeldon after critics pointed out that Sanchez’s violations while in jail, apart from being convicted of heinous crimes, already disqualified him from benefiting from the GCTA law. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, noted that BuCor’s interpretation of the law “seems to be the prevailing rule before public outrage happened in the case of Mayor Sanchez.” He said that the DOJ’s review of the law concluded that the proper interpretation of the GCTA law would be to exclude those convicted of heinous crimes from benefiting from GCTA. Resignation calls During the Senate probe on Monday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked Faeldon when he would resign from his post. “With blunders left and right, shortcomings in the implemen-
START OF CHRISTMAS SEASON. Christmas decor fill a shop in Dapitan Arcade in Manila, ready to be displayed on the first day of September, the start of the Christmas season in the Philippines. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina
Palace: Duterte’s China visit...
PAGE A1 According to Panelo, both the Philippines and China have agreed to exercise self-restraint in handling the dispute to avoid untoward incidents. “The close relationship that President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping have been able to foster through the years has enabled the two leaders to have frank exchanges on the respective positions of our two countries with regard to our territorial dispute, with both of them agreeing to exercise self-restraint and observe the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), particularly with respect to maritime navigation and overflight in the South China Sea,” he said. Duterte on Thursday, August 29, raised the arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines during the bilateral talks at the Diaoyutai Guest House. Xi, however, refused to acknowledge the Hague ruling. The two leaders, in the end, agreed to disagree. “The two leaders recognize that despite any dispute that our countries may have, the same can always be resolved through PAGE A4 peaceful dialogue and negotiations, especially given the centuries old familial ties between our
nations,” Panelo said. The spokesman added that China has recognized the immediate need to create a “definitive” code of conduct in the vital waterway “all with the intent of avoiding provocative acts that may impair friendly ties and threaten the peace and stability of the region.” “Acknowledging the importance of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to regional peace and stability, the two Presidents expressed determination to fast track negotiations for the conclusion of an effective and substantive COC at the soonest possible time,” he said. Panelo also noted that Duterte and Xi’s agreement to pursue other areas of cooperation for mutual benefit despite the maritime conflict. “More importantly, the two leaders acknowledge that our bilateral relations have a much wider horizon, and there are vast frontiers where our nations can cooperate and assist each other for their mutual benefit, such as in the fields of education, health, agriculture, science and technology, security, trade, investments, energy, and people to people and cultural exchanges,” he said. No corruption While in Beijing, Duterte met
with Chinese and Filipino businessmen at a forum and urged them to invest in the Philippines. He also assured businessmen that no corruption would be allowed under his administration. “Well, I would like to assure you that during my term, I will not allow corruption. And if you go to the Philippines with your partners or he must have something there as an agent, let him come to me for any of your problems,” Duterte said. He also advised the Chinese businessmen to call “8888,” the Philippine government’s hotline, for complaints. But Duterte had something to say to those who would “destroy” the Philippines. “So for those who are into drugs, crimes, I am just asking them: Please avoid the Philippines because if you destroy my country with drugs, cocaine and everything, I will kill you. Period,” he said. “If you are a law-abiding citizen, if you are a businessman and you are thriving, rich, do not worry we will protect you. We will protect your money. And when the time comes you want to go out, you can bring all your money outside of the Philippines. That is my guarantee and you have my protection and word of honor,” he added. n
Panelo to file libel complaints vs Inquirer.net... PAGE A1 Panelo, who is also President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief presidential counsel, said his office is drafting the libel complaints against news websites Rappler and Inquirer.net. “Those articles are reeking with not only irresponsibility but also with malice and it is libelous in nature because it imputes an act to discredit me in public and to tarnish my honor,” Panelo told reporters Tuesday, September 3. He said he will file “cyber libel at the same time regular libel” against the two media outfits. In an earlier press briefing Tuesday, Panelo confirmed he wrote a letter to the Board of Pardons and Parole last Feb. 26, 2019 to refer a request of the Sanchez family for the executive clemency for the former Calauan, Laguna mayor. But he stressed
that he “never recommended anything.” He said that it is the standard operating procedure of his office to respond to all letters received by it and refer them to appropriate agencies and that the referral of the Sanchez family is “just one of the thousands of referrals.” “The document speaks for itself. The application was referred to the Board of Pardons and Parole. We have nothing to do with it,” the president’s mouthpiece said. In December 2018, the BPP dismissed Sanchez’s petition for executive clemency. The board upheld the dismissal on February 27. ‘Diversionary tactic’ In a statement, Rappler called Panelo’s libel threat a “pure diversionary tactic.” The news website noted that
Duterte’s chief presidential legal counsel “lawyered” for Sanchez and that he met with Sanchez’s family in Malacañang last February “using government resources.” “Instead of shooting the messenger, Panelo should instead answer questions about his possible conflicts of interest,” the news website said. Panelo confirmed meeting with the family of Sanchez in his office at Malacañang but he insisted that he never had “personal communication” with them. Panelo served as a legal counsel for Sanchez, who was convicted for the rape-slay of University of the Philippines Los Baños student Mary Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of her boyfriend Allan Gomez. He earlier said he had withdrawn from the case before the conviction was appealed. n
DOT, Jollibee launch tourism...
PAGE A1 one food chain, Jollibee,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. “And through this campaign we’ll highlight the uniquely Pinoy dishes that will make our country a prime food destination for travelers all over the globe,” she added. During the launch, DOT and Jollibee introduced “The Pinoy’s Table,” an omnibus audio-visual presentation (AVP) that showcases the country’s rich cuisine and dining culture. It headlines notable chefs, JP Anglo and FilipinoAmerican celebrity chef Jordan Andino, as well as YouTube creator and comedian Mikey Bustos.
According to Puyat, this is only the beginning of their three-year campaign, which is fully funded by Jollibee. “We are very proud and happy to support the team of DOT led by Secretary Berna RomuloPuyat on this noteworthy campaign. We believe that Filipino food truly has what it takes to be a globally-known cuisine—this is what we have been championing as a brand as well. Even as Jollibee has been bringing langhapsarap food to countries all over the world, we want to do our part as a proudly Filipino company to make people more aware of the many unique and sumptuous Pinoy dishes we have, and in do-
ing so invite travelers to taste the Joy of eating first-hand,” Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer and PH Marketing Head Francis Flores said. Puyat also said that one of the campaign’s aims is to highlight Filipino cuisines from lesser known destinations. “I’ve always wanted to highlight the lesser known destinations and I think one way is to show the cuisine. People really travel for food,” Puyat said. The tourism chief also said that the partnership with Jollibee is just one of the many partnerships it has with the private sector, which shows a form of nationalism. n
US, ASEAN maritime drills ‘not directed...
PAGE A1 “So, the concept of the AUMX this year is to enhance situational awareness and interoperability for all of ASEAN and for the U.S. as well,” Tynch said. The navies of the U.S. and Southeast Asian countries officially kicked off the AUMX in Thailand on Monday, September 2. Eight warships and four aircraft from seven countries, in addition to more than a thousand personnel from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myan-
mar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The Philippine Navy had sent offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz and its crew to participate in the naval drills. The U.S. Navy and the Royal Thai Navy will be leading the exercises, which will consist of pre-sial activities in Thailand, Singapore and Brunei. The ASEAN and U.S. joint maritime forces will also go through international waters in Southeast Asia, such as the Gulf
of Thailand and the South China Sea. The drills will then end in Singapore. Thai Navy vessel HTMS Krabi (OPV 551) will serve as the headquarters, where representatives from the participating countries will be aboard. During the exercises, the participants will undergo scenarios designed to reinforce interoperability in visit, board, search and seizure; maritime domain awareness; division tactics and maritime asset tracking. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)
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by
illiam epasupil ManilaTimes.net
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) board of commissioners has ordered the deportation of two American fugitives who had been arrested in Pampanga because of large-scale fraud that federal authorities have filed against them in Texas. Immigration Deputy Spokesperson Melvin Mabulac on Sunday, September 1, identified the fugitives as Robert Wayne Boling
Jr., 38, and Allan Albert Velarde Kerr, 30, who were arrested in separate operations in the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat, respectively, by operatives from the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU). The Americans will be deported for being undesirable aliens and because they have become undocumented since their passports expired years ago. “They will be sent home to face trial for the crimes they allegedly committed. Also, their
continued presence here poses a risk to public safety and security,” Mabulac added. Immigration Intelligence Officer and FSU Chief Bobby Raquepo disclosed that Boling and Kerr were subjects of arrest warrants issued by a U.S. district court in Western Texas on July 23 this year. Both of them were reportedly charged before the said court with Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and Aggravated Identity Theft. n
Civil rights coalition offers proposals to combat injustice... PAGE A1 to higher education begin long before they become a high school senior,” which greatly hinder these students’ abilities to pay their bills and raise a family, said Adrienne Elliot of the National Indian Education Association. Millennial and Gen-Z students who belong to minority racial and ethnic groups are often the first in their families to attend a college or university, and in order to fund their admission, must take out loans which pose “serious implications” to their success and “social mobility,” Stephanie Roman of UnidosUS said. For many families of color, higher education is seen as the gateway to securing a well-paying job and ascent on the social ladder, and knocking down the financial, social and political barriers minority students face is “at the center of what the HEA was created to do,” said Roman. Another update that the coalition has proposed to the existing law involves disaggregation of data, i.e. providing a more gran-
ular examination of students’ demographic information . The categorization is often marked by race, and that poses a problem in intersectionality, especially within the vast and diverse Asian student population. Quyen Dinh, executive director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), noted that although data suggests that students who identify as “Asian” are relatively better off, there are “extreme challenges” faced by Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese students, the largest refugee community in the U.S., according to the Migration Policy Institute. “The first step to addressing inequities for these students is to be seen,” Dinh said. As such, one of the recommendations offered by the LCEF involves ensuring language inclusion and culturally competent resources, especially in financial aid information. The LCEF posits that Limited English Proficient students and parents should be able to access financial aid information in the language “with which they
are most comfortable.” These recommendations, if applied, would be the first changes to the HEA since 2008. King noted that the current administration has created “opportunities for exploitation of students” and those who stand in opposition of the LCEF, including Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) who heads the House Education and Labor Committee, continue to undermine “all the issues that we speak to in our principles and in our policy recommendations. “We have seen opposition to the rights of immigrants and the rights of language minorities,” King said. “We have seen opposition to LGBTQ people [in reference to the gendered bathrooms controversy in North Carolina schools] and people with disabilities. We have seen opposition to black people, other people of color and to native peoples’ success in the country. But we are confident that if we all come together, we will be able to advance higher education policy that ensures equity and equal opportunity.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
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Online OFW monitoring system launched by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com
FAMILIeS of overseas Filipino workers can now check the condition of their loved ones online as the government starts implementing an online OFW welfare monitoring system (OWMS). The Philippine Overseas employment Administration (POeA) said OWMS is a web-page system that will be used by local recruitment and manning agencies as a tool to report the condition of OFWs they In a memorandum circular, the POeA ordered all recruitment and manning agencies to submit INQUIRY ON GOOD CONDUCT LAW. Senator Richard Gordon comforts Iluminada Gomez and Maria Clara Sarmenta, mothers of Allan Gomez an initial status of the workers and rape-slay victim Eileen Sarmenta, respectively, during a Senate inquiry on Monday, September 2, on the Good Conduct Time Allowance three months after deployment law and the proposed release of convicted former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez. The two mothers said they oppose a reduced prison abroad. term for Sanchez. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan A regular monitoring report shall be submitted every quarter, but in cases of significant incidents, the agency shall submit a report within five days from its occurrence. PAGE A1 the various ways to assure these bare rudiments of court proceThe POeA gave agencies three Quoting the SC’s ruling, Hosaka fundamental rights. The process dure and decorum] – or worse, months to submit similar reports said the high court “recognized of legislation exposes the expe- to purport to know them, but for OFWs deployed prior to the protracted history of discrimina- riences of those who have been really, only to exploit them by tion and marginalization faced by oppressed, ensuring that this be way of propaganda – and then, the lesbian, gay, bisexual trans- understood by those who stand to jump headlong into the taxing gender, queer, intersex and oth- with the majority,” the SC said in endeavor of constitutional litigaer gender and sexual minorities the decision written by Associate tion is a contemptuous betrayal (LGBTQI+) community, along Justice Marvic Leonen. of the high standards of the legal with their still ongoing struggle “Often public reason needs to profession.” for equality.” “Legislation ideally allows pubbe first shaped through the cruWASHINGTON, D.C. — PhilipHowever, he added, the high cible of campaigns and advoca- lic democratic deliberation on pine Ambassador to the United court likewise said the fight of cies within our political forums the various ways to assure these States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez LGBTQI+ for their right against before it sharpened for judicial fundamental rights. The process conducted an official visit to Andiscrimination for their choice of fiat,” he added. of legislation exposes the expe- chorage, Alaska on August 25-28 relationships and official recogAt the same time, the SC held riences of those who have been to engage with the sizable Filipino nition of their partnerships “may, for indirect contempt Falcis as oppressed, ensuring that this be American community there and for now, be a matter that should well as lawyers Darwin Ange- understood by those who stand explore the possibility of increasbe addressed to Congress.” les Keisha Trina Guangko and with the majority,” the SC said in ing economic exchanges between “Legislation ideally allows pub- Christopher Ryan Maranan. It the decision written by Associate the Philippines and the state of lic democratic deliberation on explained that “to forget [the Justice Marvic Leonen. n Alaska.
SC turns down plea for same-sex...
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said OWMS is a web-page system that will be used by local recruitment and manning agencies as a tool to report the condition of OFWs they have deployed. Photo from Facebook/POEA
implementation of the system. Agencies with an existing POeA e-services account shall simply log on to www.poea.gov.ph to access the help desk facility. An individual monitoring report file will be created for each worker deployed. Reports on significant and critical incidents shall be treated “active” until such time the POeA declares it closed.
The Workers education and Welfare Monitoring Division of the POeA shall manage each report submitted by the recruitment and manning agencies. The WeWMD shall evaluate and submit regular analysis reports to the administrator. Agencies that fail to comply with the requirement shall face administrative sanctions. n
Envoy’s Anchorage visit reaffirms strong ties between PH, Alaska
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez (4th from right) and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (2nd from left) cite the strong relationship between the Philippines and the United States, and the vital contributions of the Filipino-American community in Alaska in the state’s history and progress. Joining Governor Dunleavy are Commissioner Julie Anderson (1st from left), Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; and Deputy Commissioner Nelson San Juan (3rd from left), Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Photo from the Governor’s Office/Austin McDaniel
The official visit was upon the invitation of Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan and facilitated by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, which exercises consular jurisdiction over Alaska, and the Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of Alaska (AAPICA), led by its president Jesse Vizcocho. Joining the Ambassador were Philippine Consul General Henry B. Bensurto, Jr., and officials from the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. and Consulate General in San Francisco. Alaska is home to around 30,000 Filipino Americans who represent the biggest immigrant group in the state. Majority of them are in Anchorage, which is also where 40 percent of Alaskans reside. Filipino Americans work throughout the state in the fisheries industry, the service sector, tourism, the local government, the medical industry, among other fields. “I can tell you that I am very proud to be here in the United States as the Ambassador because everywhere I go and every person that I meet in Washington, D.C. knows a Filipino community that is very reliable and hardworking people,” Ambassador Romualdez told Filipino American leaders at a town hall event. “Alaska is blessed with a strong Filipino community – one of the largest, per capita, in the country,” Senator Sullivan later on tweeted. “The strength of the U.S.-Filipino relationship for decades has been one of the core pillars of security and economic prosperity for the entire Asia-Pacific region. I think that is something that we, as Americans, as Filipino Americans, should all take a lot of pride in,” Senator Sullivan said in his remarks at the town hall event. Ambassador Romualdez and Consul General Bensurto had the opportunity to engage with members of the Filipino American community during a visit at the Anchorage plant of Copper River Seafoods, a premier producer of Alaska seafood and one of the largest employers of Filipino Americans in the state. They also met with Deputy Commissioner Nelson San Juan of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Joy Maglaqi, who works at the Anchorage Mayor’s office. The Ambassador’s delega-
tion likewise dined at the Filipino restaurant Bahay Kubo owned by Filipino American Maricel Medina and engaged with several faculty members and students of the University of Alaska Anchorage. In separate meetings, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Anchorage Mayor ethan Berkowitz likewise noted the vital contributions of the Filipino American community to the history and continued progress of the Last Frontier. For the part of the Philippine Government, Ambassador Romualdez and Consul General Bensurto pledged to further improve the delivery of services to kababayans in Alaska. Ambassador Romualdez also addressed the business community in Anchorage as the featured guest at a “Make It Monday” forum co-organized by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and the Alaska World Affairs Council. The forum included a wide-ranging conversation with Senator Sullivan followed by a Q&A moderated by Lise Falskow, president and CeO of the Alaska World Affairs Council. The Ambassador further pursued economic discussions with Commissioner Julie Anderson of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and economic Development; Jim Szczesniak, Manager of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport; Bill Popp, president and CeO of the Anchorage economic Development Corporation; and Michael Kohan, Seafood Technical Director at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. While in Anchorage, Ambassador Romualdez also met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of energy for International Affairs Theodore Garrish to discuss future energy partnerships between the Philippines and U.S. “Alaska’s strategic location and resources, not to mention the strong presence of the Filipino American community, make it a very attractive and logical partner for us, particularly on key sectors like logistics, seafood processing, tourism, and energy. Our meetings in Anchorage started important conversations about how to realize these potential synergies,” Ambassador Romualdez said. n
Faeldon grilled at Senate... PAGE A2 tation of the GCTA and simple but important questions that you should know the answers to, when will you resign from your position as BuCor head?” she asked in Filipino. In response, the embattled BuCor chief said the “appointing authority” should decide if he should be sacked, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte who appointed him in November 2018. However, on Tuesday, September 3, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said that the president is ready to fire Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon if he is found to have committed serious lapses in ordering the release of rape and murder convict Antonio Sanchez, drug traffickers and other high-
profile prisoners. Faeldon also said he doesn’t believe he should quit from his post, adding that he thinks he is doing a good job. Hontiveros disagreed, saying: “So far, what is coming out in this committee hearing would point to the opposite direction.” Gordon also slammed Faeldon for relying too much on his subordinates and asking someone from his office to answer the questions on the controversial implementation of GCTA. “Why you should be therefore director of prison when you have to rely on others? Why don’t we just appoint the person you’re relying on,” Gordon said. “You’re supposed to know your job. You’re not supposed to pass it,” he added. n
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 4-6, 2019
A
Dateline PSChiliPPines upholds junking of reckless imprudence
Pilot test for national ID begins in Metro Manila by AnnA LeAh
GonzALes ManilaTimes.net
The government on Monday, September 2, started the pilot test for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or the national ID. In a statement, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the pilot test registration involving a small number of individuals from the National Capital Region had begun. The registrants include select Department of Social Welfare and Development beneficiaries and employees of PSA and National economic and Development Authority. “The PSA sees the utmost importance for the PhilSys to first undergo a series of pilot testing before finally launching it to the public. We want to ensure that the processes are efficient, the systems are fully functional and all the [pieces of] information within the system are secure,” National Statistician and Civil Registrar Dennis Mapa said. The pilot test registration will run from September 2019 until June 2020. The first part will involve biometric and demographic capturing processes. Once the system is stable, operations will expand to cover select groups from nearby regions, namely Regions 3 and 4A, based on different geographical typologies. Set to begin in May 2020, the PSA will extend the pilot registration process to test the endto-end system, which essentially involves deduplication, genera-
A sample of the National ID
tion of unique PhilSys Numbers (PSN), and card printing and issuance. Registration will be scaled up and open to the public by July 2020. Overseas Filipinos are targeted to be registered in 2021. Mapa assured that the government was on track to complete the registration by 2022. This year, the PSA finished procuring the registration kits — one of the five major procurement blocks of the program. In the pipeline for PhilSys are the procurements of the Automated Biometric Identification System, System Integrator and registration centers. For card production, the PSA is in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Mapa committed that personal data of Filipinos would be protected. A Privacy Impact Assessment will also be conducted this year to identify potential exposures of
MANILA — The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against former President Benigno Aquino III over the 2015 Mamasapano clash. In a media briefer released on Tuesday, September 3, the SC Public Information Office announced that the SC en banc upheld the Ombudsman ruling that found no probable cause to charge Aquino, former Philippine NationPIA photo al Police chief Alan Purisima and former PNP-Special Action Force the privacy of personal informa- commander Getulio Napeñas, Jr. tion on which data privacy and The court, voting 15-0, junked security frameworks and stan- the petition for certiorari filed by dards will be anchored. the Volunteers Against Crime and Part of this will be the Vulner- Corruption. ability Assessment and Penetra“The court held that the Omtion Testing to test the integrity budsman did not commit grave of the system. abuse of discretion amounting to The PhilSys Data Privacy Man- lack or excess of jurisdiction in ual, as well as the Data Gover- dismissing the complaints for 44 nance Framework, will further counts of reckless imprudence reoutline the privacy and data protection protocols and standards that will govern PhilSys operations. The PSA has also designated Data Privacy Officers — one for the PSA and one solely for the PhilSys. The National Privacy Commission and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, which have the mandate and capability to secure and protect the data of the Philippine Government, have oversight of the program as part of the PhilSys Policy and Coordination Council. n
Group backs Pacquiao’s death penalty proposal by non
ALquitrAn Philstar.com
MANILA, — An anti-crime and corruption group supported yesterday Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s proposal to restore the death penalty. “The death penalty should be implemented by firing squad as proposed by Pacquaio,” said lawyer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr., founder and chairman of the Katipunan Kontra Krimen at Korapsyon (KKK), during a forum in Pasig City.
Malvar said large-scale online investment scams and economic sabotage should be considered heinous crimes. Thousands of Filipino investors are being victimized online because of the absence of a “tough law that will protect them,” KKK director general Melchor Chavez said. The group has asked Senators Bong Go, Ronald dela Rosa and Pacquiao as well as house Pro Tempore Luis Raymond Villafuerte to approve the death penalty bill and include other crimes
The 20th death anniversary of Filipino postal worker Joseph Ileto was marked with a candlelight vigil and performances by local community artists on Friday, August 9 at Advancing Justice - Los Angeles. Photo by Fiona Diec/Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
raps vs Aquino over Mamasapano clash
such as plunder, election fraud, vote-buying, land-grabbing and planting of evidence. Meanwhile, the KKK will hold a crime prevention summit in Batangas next month to coincide with the celebration of the 154th birth anniversary of Gen. Miguel Malvar. Batangas Gov. hermilando Mandanas will be the guest of honor and speaker. Bernardo Villegas, co-founder of the CRCUniversity of Asia and the Pacific, and Go were invited as resource speakers. n
sulting in multiple homicide filed against private respondents,” the high court ruled. The case stemmed from the January 25, 2015 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of over 60 people, including 44 members of the SAF. The operation, which was launched against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin hir—alias Marwan, turned bloody when members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups engaged SAF troopers as they were leaving the area. A PNP board of inquiry formed to look into the Mamasapon operation found that it had suffered from poor planning as well as lack of coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as the MILF, with whom the government has ceasefire protocols. The PNP board of inquiry also said that the inclusion of Puri-
Former President Benigno Aquino III Philstar.com, photo
sima—on preventive suspension over a graft case—in the planning of the operation broke the police chain of command. Last month, the Sandiganbayan granted the motion of the Office of the Ombudsman to withdraw graft and usurpation of authority cases filed against Aquino in relation to the Mamasapano clash. (Philstar. com)
A6 SEPTEMBER 4-6, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Digging for water
FEATURES
SINCE 2003, according to satellite monitoring, Pampanga and Bulacan have been sinking by four to six centimeters or about 1.5 to 2.4 inches every year. The consequences are not confined to the two provinces. The impact is being felt around Manila Bay, where scientists say the sinking is raising the water level so that brackish water is surging inland, inundating entire communities. Even without this problem, the city of Manila has been steadily sinking gradually. Climate change is accelerating the process, and it can only be aggravated by the problem in neighboring Bulacan and Pampanga, where the principal cause has been traced to groundwater extraction. A report last week showed that in some parts of Bulacan, the sinking has become so serious that certain villages are now permanently submerged, displacing thousands. The few people who have remained now rely on boats to move around their communities. In Metro Manila, the government has imposed a moratorium on groundwater extraction through deep wells since 2004. Geologists have warned that foundations are being weakened by the deep wells, causing subsidence or caving in of the ground and threatening communities. The deep wells were common, especially in cities and towns that now constitute southern Metro
Manila, before the two private water concessionaires began upgrading the water distribution network in the National Capital Region. With serious water supply disruptions this year especially in the eastern NCR service area, however, people are again reviving deep wells to augment water supply. Outside the NCR, deep wells are also used for farms, factories and household water needs. In some communities, communal deep wells are the principal sources of fresh water. Most of the wells are unregulated. With an ever-growing population and increased economic activities, and with no corresponding expansion of fresh water services, extracting water from the ground could continue unabated. The National Water Resources Board is tasked to enforce the prohibition on groundwater extraction, with local government units to enforce the moratobut the agency has an acute lack of personnel to do rium on deep wells. this. In areas threatened by subsidence compoundWater, however, is the most basic requirement ed by climate change, the NWRB can coordinate for survival. Unless the government can provide ac-
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
cess to a network of safe water supply, people will seek their own sources, even from the ground. They will likely believe that this can cause the ground to collapse only if it actually happens. (Philstar.com)
Gratitude and giving back to Filipinos from the University of the Philippines’ ‘Mga Iskolar ng Bayan’ The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS I AM proud to be one of these scholars, having graduated cum laude from the UP College of Mass Communication in 1984, and continued on with my Master’s Degree in Communication, though I was not able to finish because my family immigrated to the United States. My husband was also “Iskolar ng Bayan,” having graduated Valedictorian from the UP College of Medicine in 1990, and magna cum laude in BS Psychology. He took his Surgical Residency at the UP-Philippine General Hospital for five years where he was also chief resident. Last Sunday, September 1, my
husband and I had the privilege of joining the reunion of the “Iskolar ng Bayan” who are now living and working in the United States. Some even traveled from different parts of the world to join the reunion in San Francisco, California. The guest of honor was UP President Atty. Danilo Concepcion, who happens to be a good friend of our family. DannyCon, as we call him, was among my volunteer lawyers who helped me serve my listeners on DZMM by giving legal advice and information to our kababayans back home, after the late senator and Compañero ng Bayan Rene Cayetano won a seat in the Senate in 1998. Compañero was also Iskolar ng Bayan, who was a classmate of my late daddy, Atty. Jose Ma. L. Santos at the UP College of Law. During his speech, DannyCon reminded us all about how
we became “Iskolar ng Bayan.” With so many Filipino students vying to be accepted at the premier state university in the Philippines, those of us who were accepted were able to earn our college and postgraduate degrees through the subsidies of Filipino taxpayers’ money. If my recollection is accurate, I remember that years before in the ‘70s, the tuition fee was just 256 pesos, and when during my time in the ‘80s, it went up to 400 to 500 pesos per semester. What a gift of scholarship that has been one of the most important solid foundations of our education and of our careers! But more than the money and the world class education, another important thing we learned and took with us all our life is the mindset and culture of SERVICE. During our college years and as our careers progressed, we were motivated by the quest of how to be of service to our Motherland
by serving our kababayans who are in need. We would reflect and make choices on how to give back using our God-given talents to help in every way we can. My husband and I decided to teach at the UP during the start of our careers. I started as a lecturer in 1984 and then was honored to be an Instructor in Broadcast Communication for almost 13 years, until I became very busy with my radio and television programs on ABSCBN. My husband served at the UP-PGH for six years until he took his fellowship in the United States in 1999. It is quite humbling and heartening to know how my colleagues who graduated from the UP also shared that “service” mindset that we learned from our Alma Mater. Learning facts, figures, skills, strategies, etc — these are all important. But it is the culture of service that we also learned from the UP that became the
“heart and soul” to our careers and our life missions. To mention a few of my colleagues and friends whom you know here in the U.S. are Atty. Lou Tancinco, Henni Espinosa, Ging Reyes, Vivian Zalvidea, Karmina Constantino, Don Tagala, Pia Lopez-Baños, Mike Carreon, Mouse Muñoz, Eric Pugeda, Ms. Olivia de Jesus (TFC executive), Atty. Kiko Pangilinan, Atty. Danny Concepcion and his wife Atty. Gaby Concepcion, Atty. Pia Cayetano, Prof. Cheche Lazaro, Prof. Tessa Jasminez, Prof. Lisa Justiniani, Loida Nicolas Lewis, and many more (Sana walang magtampo). Of course, UP has no monopoly on this culture. I have worked and came to respect other colleagues who graduated from other colleges and universities, (and even those who did not complete any educational degrees) who share the same values and I have learned a lot from them.
UP President Danny Concepcion said “Hindi naman naniningil ang UP [sa mag nagtapos].” He said the university takes pride in how we give back to the community in the Philippines, and the honor we bring to the country when we are guided by the culture of academic excellence, work ethics, and culture of service that we learned from the UP wherever we are in the global community. Thank you for the affirmation, DannyCon. UP NAMING MAHAL, maraming maraming salamat. At sa mga kababayan namin sa Pilipinas, taos pusong pasasalamat mula sa aming mga “Iskolar ng Bayan.” *** 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
Arbitral award vs China: We shot ourselves in the foot
Commentary
RIGOBERTO TIGLAO MORE precisely, not really “us” but former President Benigno Aquino III and his incompetent foreign secretary Albert del Rosario who shot our Republic in the foot by filing in 2013 the arbitration case against China, invoking the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). They didn’t even consult Congress or any other body for this very important foreign-policy move. If not for President Duterte’s bold move to put the brakes on it, it would have resulted, and I am not exaggerating, in an economic disaster for us — to the advantage of our neighbors like Vietnam, which also have territorial disputes with China, but weren’t as stupid as filing such a case against Beijing and adopting an anti-China foreign-policy stance. It is another testament to the tremendous power of US media in molding our people’s minds that the arbitration has been projected as a “victory,” exploiting the embers of anti-China xenophobia here. It is part of a huge propaganda machine to portray China as the evil empire in our region (which I will discuss fully in this series), which is a major component of the American “Pivot to Asia” policy that President Obama started in 2011. It obviously also takes advantage of the “my-country-right-orwrong” thinking of small, or lazy minds. Indeed, there is much truth in that adage, “Patriotism is the refuge of the scoundrel.” But we cannot undertake a cor-
rect and realistic foreign policy based on massive misinformation on such a crucial issue as our territorial dispute with China. I promise to publish unedited in this space the arguments that I hope del Rosario, or any of his ghost writers and highly paid academic mercenaries, will present to disprove the points in this piece. One of the three “core” claims made by the Philippines in its arbitration case was that our Bajo de Masinloc Island (Scarborough Shoal) and the seven reefs in the Spratly Island Group occupied by China are not “islands” and therefore under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea do not have the 200nautical mile exclusive economic zone entitlement. The intention of such a claim was that this would invalidate China’s occupation and ownership of these areas, first since Scarborough Shoal, just 130 nautical miles from our mainland, is clearly within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Two of the Spratly reefs held by China (Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal) are within our EEZ and within our Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which Marcos declared as part of our sovereign territory under his Presidential Decree 1591 of 1978. Five reefs aren’t within our EEZ, but are within the KIG: Fiery Cross, Subi, McKeenan, Johnson and Cuarteron. The tribunal did uphold the claim that the Chinese-occupied reefs are “low-tide elevations,” and within the Unclos definition do not generate entitlements to a territorial zones and EEZs. The only valid EEZ covering two of these reefs — Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal — are
those of the Philippines. This of course, made the Yellows, and their propagandist Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio ecstatic and jumping all around the country, demanding that the Duterte administration enforce the award or, as del Rosario had the gall to say the other day, he would be betraying the public trust. For one thing, a crucial point which all of the Yellow writers and even former chief justice Artemio Panganiban have been missing is that the tribunal was totally silent — as it should be — on China’s territorial claims (as opposed to maritime entitlements, such as EEZs), over the Spratlys which it calls the Nansha Island, made not because of just some medieval era maps, but on the basis of declarations made before World War 2, as well as in its 1950 and 1992 laws. (Our claim on the other hand was made in 1978 by a Marcos decree.) More importantly for this discussion, the Yellows have been absolutely quiet over the arbitral tribunal’s ruling made in connection with the Philippines’ “submission” regarding reefs occupied by China (“Dispotif,” paragraph 1203, section B (7): “a. That none of the high-tide features in the Spratly Islands, in their natural condition, are capable of sustaining human habitation or economic life of their own within the meaning of Article 121(3) of the Convention; b. that none of the high-tide features in the Spratly Islands generate entitlements to an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.” This means that the tribunal ruled that none of our eight islands in our Kalayaan Island
Group — the largest of which, Pag-Asa, have bunkers, semipermanent residents, and an airstrip — are islands, but are mere “rocks” and do not generate a territorial sea nor an EEZ. If we are to comply with the tribunal’s ruling to the letter, we have to rename what we have called islands since 1978, as “rocks.” How can a “group of rocks” constitute a municipality of Palawan? Islands under Unclos are entitled to a 200-nautical mile EEZ. Rocks do not have such a zone and have only a 12-nautical mile territorial sea. If there had been no such arbitration ruling, we could have argued that Pag-asa — the second biggest feature in the Spratlys — is an island and therefore entitled to an EEZ. This would have extended our existing EEZ, which as of now is measured from baselines in Palawan, and ends near to half of the area covered by the KIG. It gets worse. The tribunal’s ruling also means Vietnam’s six islands are not islands; Taiwan’s Taiping Island (the biggest in the Spratlys, with an airport that can accommodate even C-130s, and a tourist hotel) is not an island, and Malaysia’s Layang-layang island (a world-class dive resort) is not an island. But guess what? The tribunal’s ruling applies only to us, as it wasn’t a court but merely an arbitration panel, the ruling of which applies only to the parties involved in the arbitration. (But the other party, China, had refused to join the arbitration.) The ruling therefore doesn’t apply to Vietnam’s six islands, and those of Taiwan and Malaysia.
They can argue in the future that these islands have a 200-nautical mile EEZ, and that the panel of experts the tribunal contracted to decide what is a rock and what isn’t was wrong. The ruling applies only to us. The Filipino idiom to such colossal stupidity is more vivid: Kumuha sila ng bato at pinukol sa sariling ulo. It is as if one landowner brought a case to an arbitration court, to claim that another party has no legitimate claim to an adjacent land he occupies. The arbitration panel upholds his claim, but also rules that the title to his land is just title to a community-held lot he is legally merely overseeing. The ruling though adds to the legal shield needed by one superpower that wants to maintain its hegemony over the South China Sea and Asia: the U.S. It can claim that the tribunal ruled that none of the occupants of the Spratlys — especially China, of course — can claim a 200-EEZ nor even a 12-nautical mile territory. If they were allowed to do so, their EEZs would occupy most of the South China Sea, requiring that U.S. warships would need to ask permission to enter. That would practically leave very little international waters in the South China Sea, restricting U.S. warships’ movement. But that isn’t really the main impact of the arbitration ruling. It is mainly a U.S.-planned, sophisticated and massive propaganda operation to portray that China is an aggressive superpower in Asia (which therefore needs the US to counter it), which absolutely has no valid claims in the South China Sea. The propaganda operation has indeed been so successful. Imag-
ine, one of our highest ranking diplomats — our ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez — wrote, in a breach of diplomatic protocol, in his Philippine Star column what is nearly word for word the U.S. messaging in the arbitration plot: “The Philippines obtained a favorable ruling over a maritime dispute from the UN tribunal which invalidated the sweeping claims of China (premised on its nine-dash line… covering some 90 percent of the disputed waters), saying the giant nation had no legal basis to claim historic rights over the South China Sea.” Duterte should remove Romualdez as a diplomat — by definition his alter ego in the U.S. — for undermining his foreign policy towards China, acting not as an ambassador to the U.S., but as the U.S. government’s spokesman, and an ignorant one to boot. First, it wasn’t a UN tribunal that made a ruling. The arbitral panel had no connection whatever to the United Nations. See my long piece on this: “Fake news? No such ‘PCA decision’ on suit vs China.” Second, the tribunal indeed ruled that China’s “nine-dash line” has no validity within Unclos provisions. But Romualdez did not explain — or perhaps it was beyond his comprehension — that China’s claims in the South China are not entirely based on the nine-dash line which the Kuomintang Party first drew on China’s maps. China can just junk that nine-dash line nonsense and still have arguable claims for its sovereignty over the Spratlys. This issue will be discussed in detail in subsequent instalments of this series. (ManilaTimes.net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 4-6, 2019
BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
PAL ushers in latest phase of fleet upgrade by riChMonD
MerCUrio Philstar.com
FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has ushered in the latest phase of its fleet modernization program with the new Airbus A321neo SR aircraft which will serve as the primary single-aisle jetliner for its Asian regional flights. PAL said the brand new A321neo SR joined its fleet last July after completing flight tests at the Airbus assembly plant in Hamburg’s Finkenwerder Airport (Germany). The aircraft is the first of a batch of 15 that will be progressively introduced into the PAL fleet over the next few years. “Our newest A321neo will become the single-aisle mainstay for regional routes, helping PAL in our mission to boost tourism from the high-producing tourist countries in the region such as China, Japan, Korea and our ASEAN neighbors,” PAL president Gilbert Santa Maria said. Prior to the new batch of A321neo SRs, PAL has completed last Jan. 1 the delivery of six longer-range versions of the A321neo. The longer-range A321neo has been deployed on nonstop routes to Brisbane, Papua New Guinea, Sydney and Sapporo. Meanwhile, PAL’s A321neo SR features the versatile Airbus “cabin flex” configuration designed for short-range regional
PilaPil ManilaTimes.net
THE largest group of the country’s real estate and housing developers has appealed to Congress to exempt housing purchases from the looming value-added tax (VAT) imposition come 2021, fearing that millions of Filipinos would no longer be able to afford the surge in housing prices. The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (Creba) said the impending imposition of new taxes will hurt combined government and private-sector efforts to address the estimated 6.57 million housing backlog, not to mention new housing need of 300,000 units piling up every year. Republic Act 10693 or the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN),” passed in December 2017, recognized the clamor of the housing sector by putting a three-year extension on
flights between the Philippines and East Asian destinations, including airports in greater China, central Japan, Korea, Guam and the rest of ASEAN. PAL said passengers would enjoy notable enhancements in seat comfort and entertainment options onboard the A321neo SR, which is a more advanced update of the A321 Classic that the airline currently operates on domestic and certain regional routes. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM geared turbofan engines. “Our passengers will appreciate the more comfortable layout of the aircraft. The A321neo’s new engines, sharklet wingtips and other innovations also make the airplane quieter, more effi-
cient and kinder to the environment, which is good news for the planet,” Santa Maria said. “Our award-winning inflight service, extensive entertainment selections, comfortable seats and brand new planes are earning the appreciation of more and more passengers. We will extend the same service experience to passengers flying our A321neo SR,” he said. PAL’s current fleet of 98 aircraft includes six Airbus A350900 and 10 Boeing 777-300ER wide body jetliners for long-haul routes, 15 Airbus A330s for highdensity Asia/Pacific, Australian and Middle Eastern routes, six A321neo longer-range versions, 24 A321 Classics, 19 A320s and 10 De Havilland Dash-8-400s, in addition to classic versions of the Q300/400. n
the effectivity of VAT-exemption thresholds of up to P1.9 million for lots only and P3.2 million for houses and lots last adjusted in 2011 in view of prevailing economic conditions and latest consumer price index. By January 2021, the cap slides down to as low as P2 million. Charlie A. V. Gorayeb, national chairman of Creba, said Filipinos will all the more be unable to afford housing loans because of the added price due to tax hike. “VAT is a buyer’s tax which real estate developers have no choice but to fully pass-on to homebuyers. And because a once-in-alifetime housing purchase at the range of P3.2 million and below is usually availed of under long-term loan, the VAT burden is not a onetime impact,” he said. Gorayeb explained that for a housing unit sold at P3 million, for example, the 12 percent VAT of P360,000 per unit actually trans-
lates to P1 million over a 30-year mortgage life. Noel Toti Cariño, Creba president, said housing is globally-recognized for its economic multiplier effects, imposing VAT will negate its benefits and will only stifle the growth the sector is experiencing. “Whatever estimated collection from the additional VAT on housing is not realizable as we expect a massive industry slowdown when buyers can no longer afford to buy and developers can no longer afford to build for lack of qualified takers,” he said. Saying that the already heavilytaxed and highly-regulated housing industry must be spared from any new taxes, the two Creba leaders appealed to lawmakers to preserve the status quo on “VATable” housing packages to provide the millions of yet homeless citizens of the country an equal chance to a dignified quality of life through decent and affordable housing. n
Alcohol makers call for level playing field on tax hike proposal
Manilatimes.net file photo by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
A GROUP representing the country’s top distilleries expressed support for the government’s proposal to raise alcohol taxes, but stressed that the tax measure should promote a level playing field among industry players. In a statement on Sunday, September 1, Distilled Spirits Association of the Philippines (DSAP) President Olivia Limpe-Aw said members were concerned that current tax proposal was imposing a heavier tax on distilled spirits and a lighter levy on wine products. “As we told the Department of Finance (DoF), if you want to increase our taxes, we’re okay with that, as long as you level the [playing] field,” said Limpe-Aw, also the president and chief executive officer of Destileria Limtuaco Inc., the country’s oldest. According to her, the Finance department’s plan to exempt wines from the ad valorem tax is unfair to other alcohol-makers. Under the DoF proposal, the government plans to collect two kinds of taxes from every proof liter of distilled spirits — a P40
l. lUCas
Inquirer.net
Spare housing from VAT, group urges lawmakers by JaiMe
PH mayors laud gov’t for lower rice prices, inflation downtrend by DaxiM
PAL said the brand new A321neo SR joined its fleet last July after completing flight tests at the Airbus assembly plant in Hamburg’s Finkenwerder Airport (Germany). Philstar.com file photo
specific tax and a 22-percent ad valorem tax based on net retail price per proof. For wines, the agency proposes to impose only the first tax and not the second. “We’re currently applying a progressive tax structure for distilled spirits. There’s no reason it can’t be done across categories in the alcohol sector. We just need to look for the right balance,” Limpe-Aw said. If adopted, she added, the department’s proposal will unfairly penalize low-income consumers who cannot afford to buy expensive wines, which cost up to P600,000 a bottle that pay only a P40 excise tax per liter, or equivalent to P30 per 750 milliliter bottle. “Let’s compare: Ginebra San Miguel Gin will be sold at P94 a bottle under this proposed tax, so the tax is P32.66, or a tax burden of 34.74 percent. The most expensive wine — P600,000 — the tax is only P30/bottle, or a tax burden of 0.005 percent,” the DSAP chief said. She admitted, however, that not all distilled spirits cater to the mass market, as there are also brands that cater to affluent
consumers and sell for more than P20,000 a bottle. But Limpe-Aw explained that high-end distilled spirit brands pay a higher excise tax. “Let’s use P20,000/750 ml bottle as our base price to compare taxes: the tax per bottle for this distilled spirit is P2,996.91. That’s still more than 100 times [higher than] the P30 tax on a P20,000/ bottle wine,” she explained. Based on industry data, 91.3 percent of Filipino drinkers who consume distilled spirits mainly come form the “D” and “E” segments. According to Limpe-Aw, alcohol is currently the lowest priority on household spending and continues to decrease every year. From 1.2 percent, based on the Family Income and Expenditure Survey in 2009, it fell to 0.592 percent in 2015. “Assuming our minimum wage is P15,000 a month, the budget now for alcohol is P89, based on that 0.592-percent household income allocation,” she said. For this reason, she added, alcohol manufacturers have to find fresh ways to lower their costs and maintain the affordability of their brands. n
A
THE umbrella organization of city mayors across the country has commended Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the Department of Finance and the rest of President Duterte’s economic team for pushing the enactment of the law liberalizing rice imports, which has led to lower prices of the staple food and a corresponding significant decline in the country’s inflation rate. In a manifesto, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) said since Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law took effect in March, the average retail cost of rice had dropped by at least P7 per kilo or 20-percent less than last year’s peak rates.
The mayors cited, in particular, Dominguez’s efforts “for pushing the approval and enactment of RA 11203.” “We in the League of Cities of the Philippines have seen the huge benefit of this law to our respective constituencies who now enjoy more affordable prices of rice,” the LCP said in the manifesto signed by the organization’s national chair, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella. The LCP also pointed out that as a result of the law’s implementation, the country’s inflation rate had also fallen significantly in June, “from a high of 6.7 percent in September and October 2018.” The June 2019 headline inflation rate fell to 2.7 percent. It further decelerated to 2.4 percent in July. “In this regard, the efforts of Secretary Dominguez, the De-
partment of Finance, and the rest of the country’s economic team should not go unnoticed,” said the LCP, which has 145 city mayors as members. Besides opening rice importation to private traders, the rice liberalization law also benefits palay growers as revenues from rice import tariffs are earmarked for the annual P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Under RA 11203, RCEF would help finance the modernization of the agriculture sector and directly provide farmers with access to credit and training, and funds for mechanization, high-quality seeds, and fertilizers, among other forms of assistance to sharpen their global competitiveness and increase their incomes. n
A SEPTEMBER 4-6, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 4, 2019
In conversation: Philippine Trade Commissioner Eric Elnar on why Fil-Ams should invest in the Philippines by AJPress
IN recent years, studies have shown that the Philippines continues to be an emerging market for economic growth. It is also considered as one of the most dynamic economies in the Asia Pacific region, with increasing urbanization, a growing middle income class and a large and young population. These factors, among others, make the Philippines attractive for investment, and even position Philippine-based brands and companies wanting to crossover to the United States. Eric Elnar, the new trade commissioner for the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Los Angeles, is one of the proponents of investing in the Philippines and bringing more visibility to Filipino brands in the U.S market. Before arriving in Los Angeles in July, Elnar was assigned in the United Arab Emirates for three years, and has held posts in Malaysia and Thailand before that. With over a decade of experience, the trade commissioner comes will be promoting the opportunities to Filipino Americans and the general market in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Hawaii. Elnar spoke to the Asian Journal about possible investment opportunities for Filipino Americans in the Philippines and why the country could take advantage of the U.S.-China trade war.
Asian Journal (AJ): How did you enter public service? Eric Elnar (EE): I was influenced a lot by my father who worked for the government for more than 45 years. His last post was a regional director for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). He started off as a working student and was a janitor and went up the ranks. I saw a career in government service as fulfilling because it’s not just enriching somebody or contributing to a company. It’s all goes down to service to the people. My first job was also with TESDA in the National Capital Region in Taguig, where I stayed for a couple of years. But I wanted to get private sector experience so I moved to a market research company for a year before realizing that the private sector is not for me because it wasn’t as fulfilling. I went back to the government, first at the Philippine Retirement Authority, which encourages foreigners and former Filipino citizens to retire in the country and invest their money there. With a small investment, a foreigner could have a retirement visa; depending on the age, it’s around $20,000 or $50,000. But there are now other programs where they can come into the program with proof of maybe a pension or proof of income or savings from abroad. We want to make sure the foreigner would not be a public charge. During my time, a lot
The FashionPhilippines pavilion at Project Womens 2019 in Las Vegas.
Elnar with officers of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Nevada during the recent FashionPhilippines exhibition at Project Womens in Las Vegas in August.
Los Angeles Philippine Consulate General-Los Angeles Political Economic Officer Consul Rea Oreta and Consul General Adelio Cruz pose with Trade Commissioner Eric Elnar, who was recently assigned to LA in July to head the Philippine Trade and Investment Center. Elnar is accompanied by his wife and two children.
of former Filipino citizens were joining, especially from California, because the Dual Citizenship Law was not yet passed. AJ: How did this experience transition into the Department of Trade and Industry? EE: I joined the Foreign Trade Service Corps as a commercial attache, which sent me to Malaysia and then I covered Singapore for a time. Second was Thailand, also covering Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, all of the Indochina countries. Prior to Los Angeles, I was transferred to Dubai, which also came with a bigger territory of the Middle East and the entire Africa continent. The DTI then assigned me here to LA. As an attaché, we’re tasked to promote Philippine exports so products and services coming from the country to the U.S. We are mandated to encourage investments into the Philippines from the U.S., such as big-ticket investments from Fortune 500 companies and also from the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This past month of being here and in meeting with the Filipino American community, I’ve seen a lot of interest from SMEs and even individual FilAm investors to give back to the country and invest in the Philippines, particularly in real estate or small businesses like a franchise. Basically, we promote and protect Philippine business interests in the U.S. or wherever we are posted. AJ: What were some of the top exports from the Philippines in the Asian countries you were assigned to? EE: In Malaysia and Thailand, a lot of the products are similar to the Philippines. In ASEAN, we are part of a supply chain where some of the parts and raw materials come from the Philippines and are shipped to other countries for the products to be finished and made into consumer goods like cellular phones or tablets. But we were also able to promote some other products like food, especially packaged food and snacks. You’ll be surprised like the Jack and Jill brand under Universal Robina or Oishi under Liwayway were already in Malaysia and Thailand and set up factories for
Jimuel gets lead role offer from Hollywood by JAn
Milo severo Philstar.com
SENATOR Manny Pacquiao’s eldest son, Jimuel Pacquiao, has recently received an offer to do a Hollywood action film. Manny’s business manager, Arnold Vegafria, has confirmed the news to Philstar.com. According to Vegafria, the younger Pacquiao got an offer to portray the lead character in a “Karate Kid”-kind of film. Jimuel, who follows the footsteps of his father in boxing, impressed the Hollywood film’s producer with his skills, according to Arnold. “Kasi, because of the videos yata niya, iyong mga boxing niya. About boxing yata iyong film. So, nakikita iyong boxing skills niya, saka iyong action skills niya. So, nagkainteres. E, guwapo naman si Jimuel! Sana, matuloy. Pag natuloy, better for us,” Arnold said in an interview with Pep. The movie will be shot in Manila, Japan and the United States, Vegafria added. Nonetheless, Arnold said that he does not know if Manny will allow his son to do
snack foods. We also trade raw materials like seafood for them to be packaged or for value adding. There is a lot of trade going on under ASEAN because of the zero tariffs so that’s the advantage. AJ: Since moving here to LA, what are some of the emerging trends in terms of what Fil-Ams are interested in back in the Philippines? EE: I see a lot of growth in franchising, particular in Filipino brands. There is a lot of interest in Fil-Ams and even Americans in general for Filipino food. You see influencers talking about the cuisine being ‘the next big thing’ so I think it also translates to our restaurant concepts, not only those based here in the U.S., but also to other brands that we can bring into the U.S. market. It’ll also draw attention to our food products, maybe snack foods or ingredients, particularly in the mainstream market using easy mixes, like Mama Sita’s for example, to cook their food. Our vision really is to promote it in bigger places like Costco or Target so a bigger chunk of the U.S. population can enjoy them. AJ: How can the Philippines benefit from its longstanding relationship with the U.S.? EE: With the U.S.-China trade war going on, the Philippines can be at an advantage. The Philippines is, of course, a friend of the U.S. and we enjoy a ‘most favored nation’ status wherein we get some of the best tariff rates among exporting countries to the U.S. We are competitive with other countries because we have zero or lower tariffs compared to other countries. AJ: Real estate investing has been promoted for many years, but are there any other opportunities in the Philippines to look into? EE: In Dubai, for example, we saw a lot of emerging Filipino fashion designers and even designers who are catering to Hollywood clients. The Philippines is known for its design and the materials we use — normally a lot of natural materials not available in other countries, like shells and real wood. When you apply these to products, it’s unique in the sense that other countries
Eric Elnar is LA’s new trade commissioner, whose goals are to push investments in the Philippines and increase trade and business opportunities for Philippine brands in the U.S.
Elnar with Gina Frias, KL-based Filipina businesswoman and Carissa Cruz Evangelista, exhibitor and owner of Beatriz.
cannot come up with these designs. This is our advantage when it comes to design-related products. If we have Filipino American businesspeople and professionals who want to start a business in the Philippines, we can help them set up it. We want to be their one-stop-shop to provide the information and resources they would need. For example, if they want to manufacture in the Philippines, we can link them with manufacturers. We see a lot of services being used, not only call centers, but back-office operations like business process outsourcing. Before I left for LA, I visited a company in the Philippines doing California taxes for SMEs here so what they do is transcribe tax forms that are required to be in digital form. These are things we can do in the Philippines. Before, outsourcing was only open to bigger companies but now, smaller ones can avail too by renting out one or two office spaces. AJ: Are there any brands that are planning to break out in the US market? EE: We are working on a number of them, one being a casual-dining family restaurant. But one of my mandates here is to help the small busi-
nesses do businesses in the Philippines. Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan (TNK) - it’s a financial literacy program for the DTI. We will conduct seminars to encourage Filipino Americans to invest or start their own businesses. Franchising is one of the opportunities we can offer them. We work with organizations like the Philippine Franchise Association to help us vet franchises that could be offered. AJ: What are some of your big goals EE: My term is up to six years and I hope to stay here for that time so we can really make a dent on the market. My main goal really is to mainstream Filipino products. Right now, we see these products available at Filipino or Asian markets but we hope to have them crossover to mainstream retail like Costco and Target. Our vision is that the products fit in naturally; for example, if it’s snack food, it should be in the same aisle as Lays or Ruffles. We’ve heard of Jollibee buying Coffee Bean and that’s something we’re proud of. We also hope to bring more Philippine brands here, not just for Filipinos to enjoy but everyone as well. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
PH’s first transgender best actress shares solution to public toilet issue by AllAn
PolicArPio Inquirer.net
“MAYBE I’ll just wear diapers… or bring my own arinola!” That was Iyah Mina—the first transgender woman to win a best actress award in local biz—retorting in jest, when asked about her thoughts on the recent outcries and debates over the discrimination transgender people deal with when using public restrooms. But kidding aside, she underscored the importance of educating people about what being a transgender or part of the LGBTQ+ community Jimuel with his dad Manny Pacquiao during a training. Inquirer.net photo means, so that they could betlines after splitting with former ter empathize with them and the project because Jimuel is understand their plight. “Pinoy Big Brother” housein college. “I was in Leyte a few days mate Heaven Peralejo. “‘Di ko pa alam kung paago and there was this guy who In an interview with Pangpayag si MP Manny Pacquiao. thought of me as bakla. He was Masa, Heaven confirmed the Kung papayagan niya iyong like, ‘Bakla ka lang.’ I asked him anak niya. Kasi, nasa college na split but denied rumors that what his understanding was of si Jimuel. Nasa La Salle na eh.” they broke up because she being a transgender. And he used Jimuel’s credit card to the talent manager said. said they’re those who have albuy groceries for her family. “Kung ma-confirm, malalaready undergone [sex reassignWhen asked what went man natin by this year. Wala ment] surgery,’” she told the wrong in their relationpa iyong final script, e. Then, Inquirer at a press conference ship, Heaven just said to ask siyempre, ano iyong package. for the GMA 7 daytime drama Jimuel: “Siya na lang. Sabihin Kasi siyempre, stop sa paganthology, “Wagas.” na lang natin na ako ‘yung aaral, sa pagte-train.” Jimuel recently made head- nag-let go.” Continued on Page 4 Iyah Mina
Photo from Instagram/@iyah_mina
entertainment
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 4, 2019
Ejay’s life more cinematic than any of his roles by Rito
P. Asilo Inquirer.net
A LOT has changed for hunky actor Ejay Falcon since he was declared winner of the second teen edition of “Pinoy Big Brother” 11 years ago. From a strong lineup of housemates, he bested TV Gabbi Garcia and Yasmien Kurdi as women in love, who seek justice for loved ones. Also in photo are their “Beautiful Justice” co-stars Bea Binene, Gil Cuerva and Derrick Monasterio. GMA photo host Robi Domingo, “Just a Stranger’s” Josef Elizalde and “Kadenang Ginto’s” Beauty Gonzalez, to name a few. The Filipino-French actor won the reality show when he lenges for Gabbi. “Siguro mas ing to fight for their loved ones by JeRRy DonAto was only 17 years old, but the nanibago ako this time, masphysically and emotionally… Philstar.com difficulties he had to hurdle as tutok yung training and masWe’re all female and it’s about a young boy were even more hand-to-hand combat talaga time people should give (it) a YASMIEN Kurdi and Gabbi “cinematic” than his eventual kumpara sa ‘Engka’ (I needed try, watching three girls fightGarcia, along with Bea Biascent to stardom. some time to get used to it ing, and it’s refreshing (to see) nene, are women in love in the It’s a life that’s more colbecause the training was more women (who work as a team). GMA Telebabad drama-acorful than any of the roles he focused and involved hand-to“Usually in a teleserye with tion series “Beautiful Justice.” has essayed so far. hand combat as compared to women, (they get involved) in This love for their loved ones Ejay didn’t have an easy ‘Encantadia’).” kabitan (illicit affairs or extraleads Yasmien’s Alice, Gabbi’s The “Beautiful Justice” nar- life or a comfortable childmarital relationships) (and) Brie and Bea’s Kitkat to break hood because he wasn’t just rative will see Alice, Brie and sabunutan (hair-pulling situathe glass ceiling. The Kapuso estranged from his French Kitkat find leads and ways to tions). This time, they will team actresses continue to espouse understand the tragic death of biological father; his mother up… hindi na kami nagluluto, the positive image of women reportedly left him and his their loved ones — all Philipnagtsitsismisan, pwede na rin through the soap directed by pine Drug Enforcement Agency siblings in Mindoro. At 15, he kaming bumaril (we are no Mark Reyes V. plucked up enough courage (PDEA) agents. It’s a husband longer cooking and gossiping, “Alam naming mga to look for her in Manila, only in the case of Alice, boyfriend we can also fire a gun).” kababaihan ito, ang abilities to find out that she already of Brie and brother of Kitkat. So Alice, Brie and Kitkat do namin (we know our abilities They seek for truth and justice. had another family! not only show women’s love as women),” said Yasmien in a As luck would have it, Ejay What’s also implied is that but also their courage. group interview. “We want to Alice, Brie and Kitkat may form won “PBB” two years later— Asked about their expeshow that what men can do, and the rest is history. a secret group to fulfill their rience in doing action sewomen can do it also.” Ejay, now 29, looks back personal-turned-collective misquences, Yasmien answered, She added, “Iba na ang sion. This is possible since they at that episode of his life “We haven’t done any. We mundo ngayon, lalo na sa with a lot of fondness and will form a professional bond are about to enter the actionkababaihan (The world has with a PDEA agent named Vin, gratitude. He says he owes his sequence (phase). We’ve done changed, especially for womcareer to the reality program, played by Gil Cuerva. Also in our (Krav Maga) training and en), kailangan din (naming) which he says has changed the cast are Victor Neri, Bing we still have to do another malaman kung paano depenhim for the better. Loyzaga, Derrick Monasterio training.” The female leads are sahan ang aming mga sarili, How different was Ejay beand Valeen Montenegro. taught the basics of handling kung paano namin magagawa As Brie, Gabbi is a vlogger, fore he joined the show and guns like the small ones and ang mga ginagawa ng mga more than a decade later? social media influencer and “malalaki at iba’t-ibang pang lalaki (We need to know how an It girl, “May pagka-hacker klase ng baril,” shared Yasto defend ourselves and how I would stop (their arguments) (siya) dito… She can’t accept mien. to do male-oriented tasks). and decide on what are the the passing of her (boyfriend). As for Gabbi, she had It’s a new world, it’s a modern next steps that we will take.” Maarte (siya) na misunderworld. I think this (show) is very fun completing the intense For someone who has done stood, na mabait naman at gun training sessions but got positive, walang lalaki, walang family/relationship-oriented intimidated by the tasks at first, may katalinuhan (She is also babae dito.” kind and smart).” Bea as Kitkat, TV series aired either in late “Di ko alam kung kaya ko (I Appreciating, too, the morning or in the afternoon doubted myself if I could do it), on the other hand, is a streetgender-equality theme of timeslot, Yasmien considered smart beautician, who always but I enjoyed the training.” “Beautiful Justice” was Gabbi, Beautiful Justice a respite from Although her work as Alena engages Brie in discussions. by saying that “actually, nakathe familiar territory she has Coming in between them is in “Encantadia” could have katuwa for they’ve (created) been associated with. Yasmien’s Alice. “I think I’m somehow lessened the jitters an ensemble — (composed “It excites (and thrills) me,” the ate (the older sister),” and given her the heads-up, of) Yasmien, Bea and I — to she said of her latest TV role Yasmien shared. “As their ate, playing Brie posts unique chalrepresent women who are will-
Yasmien, Gabbi break the glass ceiling
Ejay Falcon
Photo from Instagram/@ejaythefalcon
“Very different,” he quipped. “Sobrang laking pagbabago, especially in terms of self-confidence. In those days, you would hardly hear me talk because I was painfully shy… kasi promdi. Pero ngayon, iba na ako. “The show changed so
many aspects of my life. Even if I didn’t finish college, I’m glad I was able to send my siblings to school. I became the breadwinner of the family. Who knows, maybe I can also get a degree in due time. That’s a goal I’m more than willing to pursue.”
and return to the primetime block. “Nagkaroon na ako ng kalyo sa kamay kakakasa ng baril. I’m very excited, I’m very happy but I’m very pressured, too. After five years, lumabas po ako sa box ko, I got out of my box (comfort zone).” Given the “action” in the “drama” series, Yasmien’s husband Rey Soldevilla Jr. and Gabbi’s boyfriend Khalil Ramos just offer their full support.
“Of course, he is very happy and very excited for me, supportive si pangga. You know he supports (every) project I do,” said Yasmien. “Hindi, wala yun sa kanya (He doesn’t worry),” shared Gabbi. That also speaks of their loved ones’ trust, which is reason enough for Yasmien and Gabbi to give their all in “Beautiful Justice.”
entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 4, 2019
1st PH trans best actress’... From Page 1 “I explained that it’s not all about what’s between your legs, but your mind-set and what you identify as,” said Iyah, who won best actress for her performance in the film “Mamu: And a Mother, Too”— an entry in the 2018 Cinema
One Originals film festival. Personally, Iyah has never felt discriminated against when using ladies’ rooms. But she acknowledged that not everyone’s experiences—and the kind of people they encounter—are the same. “Ang hirap lumugar… It
boils down to respect and acceptance,” said Iyah, who lamented the fact that the Philippines is lagging behind other countries when it comes to laws protecting members of the LGBTQ+. “In Japan, for instance, I decided to use the men’s room. But then, an elderly Japanese woman pulled me toward the ladies’ room,” she recalled. She likewise expressed support for the Sogie (sexual orientation and gender identity and expression) bill—which seeks to “prohibit and penalize” discrimination “on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity—despite the many roadblocks it’s facing. “I’m sad because it has yet to be passed … I hope it doesn’t get politicized, though,” she said. Aside from her Cinema One triumph, she also received best actress nominations from the Urian and Famas. “I’m happy that a transwoman like me was recognized… It opened a lot of doors,” said Iyah, who was cast for an upcoming film and a digital feature. “Now, if I have projects, I do tapings during the day, then do shows as a standup comedian at night,” related Iyah, who had worked with the likes of Vice Ganda, Super Tekla and Donita Nose at various comedy bars. “It’s my bread and butter, and I don’t plan to leave it.” Iyah is set to appear in “Wagas’” new, monthlong episode titled, “Throwback Pag-ibig,” which starts airing today before “Eat Bulaga!” In the drama series, Iyah plays Mama Ru, who runs a dress shop with July (Sunshine Dizon), whose relationship with her husband, Ryan (Mike Tan), falls apart after losing their child, Smile (Leanne Bautista) in a tragedy. “I was a big fan of the fantasy series ‘Encantadia,’ so I was excited when I found out that I was working with Sunshine. She’s a great actress, a professional—I want to be like her,” said Iyah, who dreams of having a “tarayan” scene with Cherie Gil.
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Beauty-Seth thriller isn’t just about creatures that go bump in the night
elements or “spirit seekers.” Even scarier, it’s a former hospital that is said to be THE horror genre doesn’t just inhabited by the vengeful spirits of kids and nurses who were saccater to viewers’ need for enterrificed by its owners in exchange tainment and solution to borefor robust business! Simone dom and ennui. It often leads to relief and catharsis after it brings is tasked to inspect its creepy premises twice—at 12 midnight out their worst fears in life. and 3 a.m., when creatures Kip Oebanda’s “Abanknown to go bump in the night doned,” which began streaming are at their “feistiest” and, well, on iWant last Wednesday, Au“bumpiest.” gust 29, doubles up as a horror It doesn’t take long before flick and a psychological drama Simone comes face-to-face that goes beyond cheap tricks with the ghost of her missing and perfunctory jump scares. predecessor Ciel (Barbara Ruaro) It tells the story of a security as she begins to unearth secrets guard, Simone Aragon (Beauty that compel her to revisit her Gonzalez), whose life is turned dark past—from her abusive upside down after she survives father (Roli Inocencio) to her a robbery that takes the lives less-than-ideal former American of a lot of people, including her hubby (Aaron Lapkin). coworker Nestor (Matt Daclan). Are the creepy shadows and Life gets trickier for the cashunfriendly voices just a figment strapped single mom and her of Simone’s overactive imaginaonly son RJ (Seth Fedelin) after tion? the former is reassigned and That being said, she must even “handpicked” to take over the graveyard shift of a colleague come to grips with her fears before she loses RJ, who has been who has inexplicably gone missshowing increasingly strange ing. behavior in school and at home. But Simone’s latest post Sometimes, he even comes isn’t in just another rundown home concealing a black eye! structure. Her new assignment It doesn’t hurt that Simone requires her to keep an eye on an abandoned building known to and RJ are portrayed by the consistently enthusiastic Beauty be frequented by either criminal by Rito
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and the promising Seth, who are made more “relatable” by the bleeding hearts they wear on their sleeves. Despite their “compromised,” rough-around-the-edges delivery—no thanks to some distracting diction gaffes—it isn’t hard to root for the mother-son tandem they eagerly bring to life. “Abandoned” isn’t all that original, however. But at least it cleverly utilizes Oebanda’s ability to dig up more than the eyes can see. Like the compelling “Bar Boys” and the sublime “Liway,” the film is as much about exorcising demons from a person’s past as it is about denigrating power when it isn’t used properly. Moreover, part of the draw of watching horror films like this is the free rein they offer viewers to “interpret” them as they please. “Abandoned’s” threepronged focus even manages to shine the spotlight on mental illness and how we all should work hand in hand to help erase the stigma that comes with it. After all, it’s a condition that requires more understanding and compassion than ridicule.
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 4, 2019
Once upon a time series...
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
Meet Elaine, the rock
Monette AdevA MAglAyA ELAINE placed sunflowers on her husband’s gravesite and quietly said a prayer. She stood alone on a gentle slope on the windswept hill. It was getting chilly and Elaine instinctively wrapped her shawl tightly about her. It was early evening in late spring and the sun was beginning to sink in the horizon. She knew she would have to leave soon. The memorial park will soon be closing its gates to visitors. She caught sight of the roving guards in their vehicle at the corner of her eye. She took one last look at her husband’s gravesite and got into her car and drove down the meandering road downhill to go home before dusk finally sets in. She needed to prep her mind and body for her work tomorrow as quality control chief of semiconductor parts, just as she had done so, for the last two decades in the company that valued and kept her as a great worker. Elaine was a woman of great substance. She was loyal to the bone in both her home and
Part 1 of 2 work life. She did the best she help in the interim. For that one could in every situation empty- act alone, Elaine remains deeply ing herself in the process. She grateful to Neil’s memory. His honestly thought everybody did foresight and love for their famso and was just like her. Elaine ily ran deep. Neil wasn’t perfect — not by never considered herself a rarity — which she was. Elaine just was a long shot — but then she realized, neither was she. It was a that kind of person. It has been 12 years since her struggle during the early years husband Neil passed away after and the recurring friction would sometimes be unbearable. They were a study in contrasts. “Opposites do attract but likes stay together,” her mother used to tell her as a teen-ager. But she was too young, too naïve and very much in love with Neil to understand. She was stubborn and headstrong. When the going got tough as it often did early in their marriage, she wished bitterly she had the hua long bout with lung cancer. mility and the emotional smarts When the end came, she went to remember her mother’s words through the motions of climbing of wisdom. She remembered how their the wall of grief that comes with marriage was rough going for a permanent separation. Elaine didn’t know at the time while and they came very close if she could handle the sole re- to calling it quits quite a few sponsibility of bringing up their times. Their marriage counselor two young children as the surviv- and even her confessor priest ing parent and the sole bread- advised her that it may be in winner. To Neil’s credit, he had their best interest to go their the foresight to buy life insur- separate ways. ance that proved to be of great Continued on Page 6
“ Opposites do attract but likes stay together...”
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes DIVORCED parties are sometimes ordered to pay child support and spousal support in the divorce judgment. The support orders are generally based on the parties’ financial situation and custody arrangements at the time of the settlement or trial. However, what if your income decreases after the divorce or what if your spouse’s income increases after the divorce due to a promotion or a better paying job? Do you have the right to modify your support obligation? If your income has gone down substantially from the time that
EMPLOYMENT
Modifying down child and spousal support obligation after a divorce the child or spousal support determination, you may be able to file a modification of your support obligation. Losing a job or having less income constitutes a material change of circumstances that would allow the court to modify down your support obligations. Child support in California is based on guideline formula. One of the factors that is considered in the guideline formula is your gross income. Usually the court would look at several months or even an average of the last 12 months income. If your average income has decreased, you may be able to modify your child support to a lower amount. Bear in mind that there are other factors
that come in the equation such as the amount of actual timeshare you spend with your child and the income of the other parent. If the other parent’s income has gone down, this may adversely affect your child support obligation. Spousal support may also be modified unless you stipulated in a divorce judgment that it is non modifiable. However, spousal support are usually calculated differently than guideline. The court will look at other factors in deciding whether to modify this. Those factors are listed in family code section 4320. If you are unemployed, the other party may be expected to try to impute income on you. Continued on Page 6
EMPLOYMENT
Minding Your Finances Atty. rAyMond BUlAon ARE you constantly worried about your finances because of debts that you can no longer afford to pay? If you are in more debt that you can repay, you may be overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. If you’ve tried to solve your debt problems on your own but nothing has worked up to this point, the prospect of filing bankruptcy may sound appealing. But perhaps you either don’t know enough about how bankruptcy works or have heard so many bad things about it that you don’t really know if it’s the right solution for you. How can you tell whether bankruptcy is appropriate for your situation? Generally speaking, the answer has to do with your ability to pay (or the lack thereof), your income, expenses, assets and the amount of your debt. You also need to look at the types of debt you have. For example, while most debts are dischargeable in bankruptcy, there are certain types of debts which are not. For example, student loans, back child support and most taxes cannot be wiped out in bankruptcy. Here are a few helpful ques-
Debt Relief
Atty. lAwrence yAng MANY people who need debt relief are afraid to file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 because they fear that life after bankruptcy will be difficult. The fear is that bankruptcy will prevent them from getting new credit cards, buying a car, buying a house. Some even believe that they won’t be able to freely travel in and out of the country after bankruptcy. Or, the bankruptcy may affect their immigration status. All of these fears are baseless. The fact is that life after bankruptcy is great! Whether or not you believe that life is great after bankruptcy doesn’t change the fact that it is great.
Thinking of filing bankruptcy? 5 questions to ask yourself tions to ask yourself to help assess whether bankruptcy may be a good idea: The answers to these questions will not conclusively determine that you are a good candidate for bankruptcy but it is a good starting point. Here they are: (1) Are you struggling to pay even the minimum payments on your credit cards and so end up paying late each time? (2) Have you started borrowing money just to be able to cover your basic living expenses such as rent or mortgage, food, gas, etc? (3) Have you lost track of how much you owe? (4) Are bill collectors calling you because you have accounts in collection? (5) Have creditors taken legal action against you (or are threatening to do so) such as filing a lawsuit, obtaining a judgment and threatening to garnish your wages or levy your bank account? If you said “yes” to any or most of the above, you could be in a “financial danger zone” and may need to take action as soon as possible before your financial problems get worse. It may be time to face your financial reality instead of simply hoping that somehow things will just magically change. The truth is that unlike other problems in life, debt problems usually don’t go away on their
own- unless you take action. Perhaps you’ve been ignoring your pile of bills and the collection calls. But you can only do this for so long. Sooner or later, you will need to face your creditors and the consequences of your inaction. Regardless of the cause of your present financial difficulties, what you need is a game plan to get out of debt before it cripples you. The past is no longer of any consequence unless you let it. And if you act quickly to turn things around, you will realize later that this decision often gives you more options in the long run. If you need some straight talk about bankruptcy and get all your questions answered, I will give you a free initial consultation so we can talk about your situation. Just call 866-477-7772 and schedule an appointment. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
How is life after bankruptcy? If I were to tell you that Hawaii is beautiful, that it’s like paradise, but you have not been there, it’s going to be hard for you to believe that Hawaii is indeed a beautiful place. First, bankruptcy is confidential. Nobody knows about it unless you tell everybody about it. In most bankruptcy cases, the debtor keeps everything that he owns because he is able to exempt them under applicable bankruptcy law. Most debtors keep their houses, cars, furniture, retirement accounts, and everything else that they own when they file for bankruptcy. There is no sign on your door that says you filed for bankruptcy. Second, many successful people have filed for bankruptcy to obtain a fresh start in life without accumulated debt. For instance, Walt Disney filed for Chapter 7 twice before his Disney empire
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became a global success; Star Wars Edge of the Galaxy, anyone? Milton Hershey filed for Chapter 7 before he became the biggest Chocolate business in the world; Reese’s Pieces, anyone? President Trump’s businesses filed for bankruptcy four times in the 90s. Yet, he has been president of the United States of America since 2016. Third, the sole purpose of bankruptcy is to give the debtor a fresh start in life without the burden of accumulated debt and to make the debtor productive again. Just imagine having $50,000 of credit card debt. You need $1,500 a month to keep hem current. That’s $18,000 a year, $36,000 year two, and $90,000 by year five. In other words, the debtor would have paid out $90,000 in five years to keep $50,000 of credit cards Continued on Page 6
Philippines Cultural Day at USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena ON Sunday, September 8, the USC Pacific Asia Museum will have a full day of activities celebrating the cultures of the Philippines. Enjoy performances, art-making activities, a chef conversation, and story time for kids. Free admission all day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event will present a collaboration of performing artists from Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, and Rocksteady Rondalla. Other partners include Bone Kettle Restaurant, Barnsdall Arts, and the Philippine Expressions Bookshop. Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts (Malaya) is a Los Angeles-based company of artists who interpret Philippine culture to educate the American public through dance and music performances. In Tagalog, malaya means “to be free” and the root word alay means “to offer or pay tribute to.” Malaya represents the freedom to choose our identity as Filipino Americans embracing our ancestral and present culture. Led by Anna Lisa De Guzman, Executive Director, and Peter Paul De Guzman, Artistic Director, Malaya is dedicated to the enrichment and artistic practice of traditional folk dance in a new and inspiring way for future generations. Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble (PKE) performs traditional Philippine gong and drum music from Muslim Mindanao and
the Sulu Archipelago. Members of the ensemble include ethnomusicologists and dance ethnologists who have conducted intense study with native practitioners directly from the southern Philippines. Pakaraguian’s mission is to promote the cultural arts of the Muslim societies from the southern Philippines with artistry, integrity, and respect. Led Musical Director Dr. Bernard Ellorin, the ensemble has home bases in San Diego and Los Angeles, California. Rocksteady Rondalla first began in 2006 at Cal State University Long Beach as the PAC Cultural Music Ensemble for the Pilipino American Coalition’s
annual Pilipino Culture Night. Influenced and inspired by local and world renowned Rondalla Club of Los Angeles, Rocksteady Rondalla provides Pilipino music accompaniment for cultural performances at numerous colleges and high schools, including the University of Southern California, California State University, Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of California, Santa Barbara, Whitney High School, Cerritos, and Troy High School, Fullerton. The band also performs at parties and for community events. The USC Pacific Asia Museum is located at 46 N Los Robles Ave Pasadena, CA 91101. n
people & events 6 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 4, 2019
The 2019 Coastal Cleanup Day is almost here
Culver City residents are invited to participate in the world’s largest volunteer day to protect our oceans and local waterways, Coastal Cleanup Day, from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 21, 2019. Culver City residents can register on the official Eventbrite page to become a volunteer. For participants under the age of 18, parental consent is required. This year’s cleanup also leads into the closure of Ballona Creek from September 23-27. Visit the City of Culver City’s website at www.culvercity.org to learn about the project and alternative commute routes.
How is life after bankruptcy? From Page 5 current, but guess what? He still owes the same $50,000 in year five after paying in $90,000 to keep them current. The debtors in this situation are like hamsters in a wheel. They keep on working and running in the wheel but don’t go anywhere because they are no longer productive. Bankruptcy allows them to wipe out the $50,000, start fresh without the $50,000, so they can be productive people again.
In this example, the debtor will save $1,500 a month, and in five years will save $90,000. With these savings, he can buy stocks or invest in real estate. Buy a house. Invest his money wisely. Then the $90,000 will keep on growing until it becomes $1.0M! Then debtor becomes a millionaire! And if the debtor is as smart as Walt Disney and Milton Hershey, he can become a billionaire! No kidding. This is true. Fourth, rebuilding credit score is fast and easy after bankruptcy! As soon as you get the discharge order, and want to buy a Camry, for instance. Just walk into any Toyota dealership but make sure you bring your discharge order because they will ask for a copy of it. Let’s say you got your discharge order today. Bring it to any Toyota dealership tomorrow and they will finance the purchase of your car of choice. Of course, your interest rate will be higher than normal. But if you wait a year or two after your discharge to buy the car, your interest will be much lower. The point is, you can re-establish credit very fast as soon as you get your discharge. In three years, you can buy a house. Many lenders will provide you with a mortgage to buy a house in year three 3. In six months from discharge, you will be getting new credit cards preapproved sent to you in the mail. Yes, you will get new credit cards, no problem. Some banks specialize in giving people who have filed bankruptcy new credit cards because they can’t file another bankruptcy for another eight years. There’s a reason for everything under the sun, right? There’s a time to be born, a time to die, a time to sow and a time to harvest (Ecclesiastes 3:111). Fifth, there’s no restriction on setting up new businesses after bankruptcy. Neither is there any restriction on traveling in and out of the United States. Debtors who file for bankruptcy can freely
set up new businesses like Walt Disney and Milton Hershey after bankruptcy. It’s a fresh start in life without accumulated debt. Let’s say you file for Chapter 7 today and you have to travel to Greenland next week to assure Greenlanders that they don’t have to sell themselves to the United States. Can you do that? Sure you can. Sixth, bankruptcy does not affect your immigration status in any way, shape or form. To get your green card, if your income is not enough, you need a sponsor with enough income to qualify you for permanent residency. If you have enough income and don’t need a sponsor, the fact that you filed for bankruptcy doesn’t affect your qualification for permanent residency. Bankruptcy law prohibits the Federal government from discriminating against someone who has filed for bankruptcy. I have many clients in the process of getting green cards or citizenship in the last 30 years. None of them have been affected negatively by their bankruptcy filing. They are all permanent residents or naturalized citizens now. This fear that bankruptcy will affect immigration status is purely psychological and has no basis in fact or law. So take it from the lives of Walt Disney and Milton Hershey, life after bankruptcy is great, beautiful and productive! Indeed life after bankruptcy is prosperous and abundant! From Chapter 7, Walt Disney and Milton Hershey became, billionaires with global businesses, literally true! *** 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)
Once upon a time... From Page 5 The advice fell on deaf ears. There were these two children whose well-being depended on them. She had this stubborn streak that kept her going. She persisted. She prayed on her knees. And in God’s perfect timing, her prayers were answered. She has no regrets over the choices she made, even if sometimes, she had the nagging feeling, she chose poorly. Others would say, stupidly. There were happy times too when the laughter rang out and she chose to dwell on them. Elaine imagined herself to be like a film editor retaining and splicing together the reels of fun and gaiety they had. She still smiles broadly recalling their wedding, two normal
childbirths, flying kites in the open fields and on the beaches when the children were growing and just countless fun times they shared and recorded in fading photographs and video clips. And like the editor of her life, she chose to gloss over and edit out the ugly parts and leave them on the cutting room floor, swept in a bin and zapped away from memory. Poof. Gone. Forgiven and Forgotten. This is just how I cope and how I choose to remember my life and times, Elaine thought. (Continued next week…) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
How to obtain custody... From Page 5 However in light of the recent cases in California, they would have to prove that you had the ability and the opportunity to obtain employment. If your income has gone down or your spouse’s income has increased as a result of a new job, a promotion, or you got laid off or hours cut, it may be possible to modify both your child support and spousal support obligation. Without modifying the order, the current order will continue to be in effect and the same amount will accrue regardless of whether your income declined or your spouse income increased. It is important to file a post judgment request for order to modify support as soon as your financial situation changes. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all
the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. ***
Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 4, 2019
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 4, 2019