OCTOBER 14-17, 2023 Volume 33 - No. 82 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
DFA confirms third Filipino Received a suspicious fatality in Israel-Hamas conflict call? LA authorities DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
advise to drop it ASAP In Los Angeles, receiving a call from a sergeant, deputy, or a detective might be a scam
by ChaRie abaRCa anD ZaCaRian saRao
and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a briefing in Malacañang that the victim was a 49-year MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs old Filipino woman from Negros Occidental who (DFA) on Friday, October 13 confirmed the death of worked as a caregiver. De Vega’s verified information brought to another Filipino in the armed conflict between Israel Inquirer.net
by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net
What you need to know about the 2024 US presidential election WASHINGTON – The 2024 U.S. presidential election promises to be like no other modern U.S. election. Leading the field of Republican presidential candidates is former President Donald Trump, who faces a battery of federal and state criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. If Trump captures the Republican nomination and wins the general election, he will become the first president in 130 years to win the White House after sitting out a four-year term, after Grover Cleveland. Biden, the incumbent president, is the presumptive Democratic nominee. He will be 81 when the election is held in November 2024, making him the oldest American to win a presidential election should he secure a second term. u PAGE A4
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‘I made two of the most difficult phone calls I’ve had to make as president’
DESPERATE times call for desperate measures, and surprisingly, scammers these days have a new strategy—using phone calls, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). There’s a new hustle in town, and it’s got the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s (LASD) hotlines buzzing. In today’s techie world, these LA scam calls pretending to be LASD sergeants, deputies, or detectives aren’t the uninvited guests you’d like to encounter. The LASD warns to “be alert, be advised.” The law enforcement agency will never call and demand money for fines or resolve warrants by “posting bail.” Moreso, they u PAGE A2
The 2024 US presidential election promises to be like no other modern US election
three the number of Filipinos killed since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7. “I regret to inform you that, yes, it is confirmed that there is a third Filipino casualty … her family is aware, the President is aware,” he said.
DIFFICULT CALL. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks to the families of two Filipinos who were killed in the war between Israel and Hamas militants on Wednesday night, Oct. 11, 2023, in what he described as “two of the most difficult phone calls he has had to make” as the country’s leader. Malacañang photo
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos on Wednesday night, October 11 admitted that he made two of the "most difficult phone calls" he has had to make as the country's leader. It was when he phoned the families of two Filipinos who died in the war between Israel and Hamas militants. "Last night, I made two of the most difficult phone calls I've had to make as president. The nation is one in grieving with the families of the Filipinos who were killed in the attacks on Israel," Marcos said in a statement posted on his social media on Thursday, October 12. "We will provide the utmost support to the families they were taken from. This tragedy will not deter our spirit. We will continue to stand for peace," he said. Based on the information of the Department of Foreign Affairs, one of the two Filipinos who died in the conflict was a 36-year-old female from Pangasinan who has been working in Israel for six years, while the other
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Ex-President Duterte faces raps after threatening Sara critic by Dempsey Reyes Inquirer.net
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte may be facing his first criminal complaint in the country after leaving Malacañang as Makabayan lawmakers are likely to file charges for his alleged death threat against ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas on Thursday, October 12 condemned the recent remarks by the former chief executive and reminded him that he no longer enjoys immunity from
lawsuits. Duterte is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for allegedly committing crimes against humanity in his drug war. “Threatening the lives of elected representatives is a blatant violation and a dangerous attack on the rights of individuals who are merely pushing for transparency and accountability in government spending,” Brosas said in a statement, referring to the controversial confidential fund request by u PAGE A5 BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602).
Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy
Marcos drops EDSA People Power Anniversary as holiday PH beefs up naval presence in WPS MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dropped a public holiday marking the anniversary of a revolution that ousted his father, an official document showed Friday, October 13, reigniting accusations he is trying to whitewash his family's past. A military-backed "People Power" revolt in February 1986 ended the brutal rule of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and forced the disgraced family into exile in Hawaii. Critics have described the Marcos dictatorship as a dark period of human rights abuses and corruption that left the country impoverished. A woman stands in front of the People Power Monument during a rally marking the 37th February 25 was declared a anniversary of the “People Power” revolution, which ousted Philippine President Ferdinand "special national holiday" in 2000 Marcos Jr’s dictator father and sent the family into exile, on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, or EDSA, in Quezon City on February 25, 2023. Philstar.com photo by then-president Joseph Estrada.
Rights activists typically hold rallies on the day to commemorate the restoration of democracy. Marcos Jr. was elected to the presidency in 2022 following a massive social media misinformation campaign that attempted to paint his family's history in a more positive light. Many had expected Marcos to abolish the public holiday after taking office. Instead, he moved the date for the "EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary" holiday to February 24 this year, which was a Friday. But a presidential proclamation declaring holidays for 2024 -dated October 11 and released on Friday -- makes no mention of the anniversary at all. Rights group Karapatan said u PAGE A2
by Francisco Tuyay ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippines has deployed another warship to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to build up its presence in the volatile waters in the face of increasingly aggressive incursions by Chinese vessels. The Davao del Sur, a Tarlacclass landing platform, will join the Antonio Luna, a guided missile frigate, in patrolling the waterway. The Western Command (Wescom) said three warships stationed in Palawan have orders to stop foreign ships from conducting illegal activities in the WPS such as collecting corals and other marine resources. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of
Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. underscored the need to project a strong naval presence in the WPS. Brawner said there were no new Chinese reclamation activities in the area, but dozens of Chinese militia vessels have been lingering in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). He said the sea patrols will be complemented by aerial reconnaissance flights. Brawner also said the AFP plans to procure more naval ships, multi-role fighters, and drones "and more importantly develop the Philippine-occupied islands or features in our EEZ." Missile system The military plans to upgrade its installations on the islands of Pag-asa, Parola, Panata, Likas, u PAGE A2
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From The FronT Page
DFA confirms third Filipino... PAGE A1
The DFA official did not name the victim but said she was killed on the first day of the brutal Hamas assault. “On the day of the attack, there was a music festival in the south … what we understand is she was one of the attendees, and a lot of people died there,” de Vega said. Meanwhile, the number of
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive proposals for OP91160-2 Graffiti Abatement Services at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. This project is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) SetAside contract. To participate in this RFP, proposers must be SBE certified with LACMTA prior to proposal due date. For information on the Set-Aside Program, visit: https://business.metro.net/ VendorPortal/faces/home1/ certifications. All proposals must be received on or before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, November 13, 2023 at the address listed above, sent to the attention of Marc Margoni. Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https:// business.metro.net or for further information email Marc Margoni at margonim@ metro.net. 10/14/23 CNS-3747141# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
missing Filipinos rose to four, but Vega said that the fourth reported unaccounted Filipino is still being confirmed. Repatriation assistance Senator Raffy Tulfo, meanwhile, pledged to assist in the speedy repatriation of OFWs who signified their willingness to return to the Philippines amid the raging skirmish in the Middle Eastern region. He also promised to help find jobs for them in the Philippines. “I will also ensure that the government can provide assistance to the affected Filipino communities in Israel to ensure their safety, including speeding up the repatriation of OFWs who have expressed their intention to return home to the Philippines,” Tulfo said in a statement written in a mix of English and Filipino. “My office and I will also contact the government to ensure that the affected OFWs
are given job opportunities in the Philippines if they cannot return to their workplaces in Israel,” he added. The government earlier confirmed the death of two Filipino workers in Israel due to the war. Media reports indicated that Pangasinan-born nurse Angelyn Aguirre refused to abandon her 70-year-old patient even though she had the chance to flee for her own safety. The 33-year-old Filipina reportedly took refuge in a bomb shelter together with her elderly patient as Hamas fighters swooped into Israel in a coordinated air, sea, and land assault. Both Aguirre and the patient were later discovered brutally killed. On the other hand, 42-yearold Paul Vincent Castelvi from Pampanga was abducted by Hamas before his body was found. n
‘I made two of the most... PAGE A1 one is a 42-year-old male from Pampanga. Philippines Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. on Wednesday said the identities of the victims would not be disclosed, "in line with the families' request for privacy at this very difficult time." He said the Philippine government would continue to work closely with Israeli authorities and local contacts to find the three Filipinos who are still missing.
"Despite sporadic rocket attacks and the distressing images you see in the news and on social media, this depicts only certain areas in Israel, particularly the areas surrounding the Gaza Strip," said Laylo, who joined the Palace briefing via Zoom. "The Israeli military has retaken control of the communities infiltrated by the Hamas militants. Rocket attacks have considerably lessened, except in southern Israel. People can move freely in areas far from the combatant zone," he added. n
‘PAROL’. Jovanne Reponte, 45, puts the finishing touches to a Christmas lantern, which will be displayed in Talomo, Davao City starting Friday, October 13. He said his “parol” is made of plastic vinyl sheets and costs PHP8,000. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
PH beefs up naval presence in... PAGE A1
Kota, Patag, Law, Ayungin Shoal and Rizal Reef by setting up digital networks and other communication systems. The Philippine Army (PA) is planning to acquire the Indianmade BrahMos cruise missile system which it would use to defend the country's coastlines together with the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC). "The Marines will be getting the first deliveries of the BrahMos, they will be getting three batteries," Brawner said during a recent media interview. While he did not specify the
number of batteries the Army would be getting, Brawner said it would be higher than those that would be acquired by the PMC. A missile battery typically consists of three mobile autonomous launchers with two or three missile tubes each, along with the tracking systems. Once the PA's acquisition proposal for the BrahMos cruise missile system is approved and funded, the AFP chief said this will be used for coastal defense missions. Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. earlier said the delivery of these weapon
platforms for the PMC will proceed at the end of this year. The BrahMos cruise missile can be launched from a ship, aircraft, submarine or land, and has a top speed of around Mach 2.8 (around 3,400 km. per hour), and is capable of carrying warheads weighing 200 to 300 kilograms. This weapon platform is expected to address the country's military's weaknesses and vulnerability in sea control, anti-access/area-denial, and coastal and island defense operations. (With reports from the Philippine News Agency)
of this digital daylight robbery, here are some street-smart advice from authorities: • Keep any information zipped: Never share any personal details over the phone—no PIN, bank information, or social security numbers. • Scam alert: If your gut tells you it feels off, it probably is—do not send any money. • Verify (endlessly, if you must): Scammers can provide a fake verification like a phone number. These numbers only
go to a voice recording/message when dialed. Be smarter and call your local sheriff’s station. • Never trust right away: Don’t ever send money, give out personal details, and bank information to any caller. In worst case scenarios where you feel like you’ve been a victim of these LA scam calls, call the LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Your calls will be anonymous, and they will be able to help you out. (Inquirer.net)
Marcos drops EDSA People... Received a suspicious call? LA authorities... PAGE A1
its removal showed the Marcos administration's contempt for "meaningful social actions that pursue justice, truth and accountability". "It is on the road to blatantly distorting history by diminishing if not completely erasing any indication that the Filipino people overthrew the Marcos dictatorship and spurned its harmful impacts on the nation," Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said. Project Gunita, which is
digitizing books, films and articles documenting Marcos Sr.'s rule, said it was another "state-sponsored attempt to whitewash the history of the brutal dictatorship". The latest list of holidays does include August 21, which commemorates the assassination of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, who along with his wife, the late former president Corazon Aquino, was revered for leading the struggle to restore democracy in the archipelago. (Philstar.com)
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don’t issue warrants over the phone. If it were a legitimate financial transaction, it will take place in person at patrol stations, custody facilities, and courthouses. Any government agency won’t ever ask for a gift card, money order, or wire transfer. They also will not pay a visit to collect the warrant fee. How to identify these LA scam calls To avoid being the next victim
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What you need to know about the 2024...
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Who are the Republican candidates running for president? Trump, 77, is dominating a large field of candidates who have largely avoided criticizing him for his actions related to the 2020 election for fear of alienating his base of diehard supporters. Many of those supporters believe Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen from him. His Republican rivals, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, instead have argued that Trump’s legal woes will hamstring him in a generalelection fight against Biden. Two notable exceptions are Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who have both condemned Trump’s attempts to subvert the 2020 election outcome. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a newcomer to politics, is running as an inheritor of Trump’s populist, America First agenda, one that is wary of an expansive federal government, corporate power, and international alliances. DeSantis was once viewed as the most likely candidate to deny Trump the nomination, but his campaign has sputtered since launching in May despite having a big war chest. He risks falling into the rest of the pack behind Trump. Opinion polls show that Trump is largely tied with Biden in headto-head matchups, with voters concerned about Biden’s age and his handling of the economy
despite job growth, infrastructure investment, and a slow easing of inflation after last year’s peak. Trump faces indictments in four cases in federal and state courts for his efforts to undermine the 2020 election, his mishandling of classified documents, and his involvement in a “hush money” scheme involving a porn star. He has maintained his innocence and argued that he is the victim of politically motivated prosecutions, an assertion the Biden administration denies. The legal calendars for those cases pose obstacles for Trump’s ability to campaign. Who are the Democrats running for U.S. president in 2024? While voters may not be enthusiastic, Democratic leaders are backing Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris. Self-help author and speaker Marianne Williamson is mounting a long-shot challenge to Biden, but no established Democrat has entered the race. Biden’s pitch for a second fouryear term rests on his stewardship of the economy as it has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, and what he calls the “battle for the soul of America,” a fight against Trump-aligned Republicans. Under Biden, unemployment dropped to generational lows, gross domestic product (GDP) grew faster than expected, and wages have risen. However, inflation spiked last year, and, while it has eased in recent months, voters remain concerned about the high price of staples such as food, fuel, cars, and
housing. Should Trump be the Republican nominee, much of Biden’s campaign is likely to focus on warning voters that Trump poses a mortal threat to American democracy. Who are the independent candidates at the 2024 U.S. presidential election? Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., scion of the famed American political family and an anti-vaccine activist, has launched an independent bid rather than challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination. Kennedy has shown some appeal among both Republicans and Democrats unenthused about another BidenTrump match-up. Progressive activist Cornel West has also said he will run as an independent. The challenge for both candidates will be amassing enough support to land on the ballot in all 50 states next year. When do the 2024 primaries start? Republicans will hold their first nominating contest in January with the Iowa caucuses. New Hampshire will hold a more traditional presidential primary shortly thereafter, followed by Nevada, South Carolina, and Michigan. Democrats plan to hold their first primary in South Carolina in February, with Biden not expected to face a serious challenger. “Super Tuesday”—when more than a dozen states will award delegates to the party conventions, including California and Texas— will be on Mar. 5. Each party will nominate the u PAGE A7
QUICK MEAL. Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. (3rd from left) tries cooking the instant pinakbet ingredients during the launch of the “Adopt-A-Town, Adopt-A-Farmer” program held at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management convention hall in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on Friday, October 13. A product of Farm Fresh Products, the pack contains the basic ingredients of the Ilokano vegetable-pork dish, introduced at the program that intends to minimize, if not totally eliminate, post-harvest losses and wastage of farm produce. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Filipino American heart disease, stroke survivors among thousands participating in a walk to save lives Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk to be held on Oct. 22 LOS ANGELES – Terrianne Butac was at her grandfather’s funeral in Honolulu in July when she collapsed. Family members recognized that she was in cardiac arrest and immediately administered CPR and AED, actions that saved her life. Precious Guan was 28 years
Terrianne Butac and friends at the Oahu Heart and Stroke Walk in August.
old, excited about her budding career as a registered nurse, when she had two strokes. Five years into her recovery, Precious continues her physical therapy with the support of her wonderful, big family. Her goal is to walk on her own again one day. Terrianne and Precious are among the thousands who are participating in the Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk to bring attention to heart disease and stroke and raise funds to support the American Heart Association’s mission to save lives from cardiovascular disease, the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide. The Heart & Stroke Walk, which takes place on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, is expected to draw thousands of people. The event, sponsored by Optum,
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive proposals for PS49398 - Bus Tire Leasing and Maintenance Services. A virtual and in-person PreProposal Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 10:00 AM and an in-person Site Visit will be held the same dayat 1:00 PM. Attendance is optional for both the Pre-Proposal Conference and the Site Visit. All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA in one of two ways: either (1) one hard copy original sealed envelope and marked with the RFP No.: PS49689 of the entire Proposal, including all submittal forms, submitted by mail or hand delivered to the reception desk: One Gateway Plaza, 9th floor V/ CM Department, Los Angeles, CA 90012, to the attention of Shannon Thoene, or (2) submitted electronically via email to bids@metro.net on or before 10:00 AM Pacific Time on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. For a copy of the Proposal specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https:// business.metro.net or for further information email Shannon Thoene at thoenes@ metro.net. 10/14/23 CNS-3747081# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
Precious Guan at the OC Heart and Stroke Walk in April. Contributed photos
UCLA Health, Providence, Keck Medicine of USC and Dignity Health Southern California, includes 3-mile and 1-mile walk route options, a kids zone with giveaways, live mariachi music and a survivor lounge where heart disease and stroke survivors will receive a complimentary special baseball cap. Survivors and their families can also participate in bracelet making and connect with fellow survivors. Leashed dogs are welcome at the walk, and the Pup-arazzi pet photo area offers an opportunity for people to capture fun pictures with their pet. People can register to join the Heart and Stroke Walk at HeartWalkLA.org. “I’m passionate about the American Heart Association’s vision of a world where every person has the opportunity for a full, healthy life,” said Janet Rimicci, Senior Director of the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center at UCLA Health and this year’s chairperson of the Greater Los Angeles Heart and Stroke Walk. “I encourage every Angeleno to join us and take action as a community to better prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease and give people more time to enjoy life’s precious moments.” Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than 870,000 men, women and children every year. Funds raised at the Heart and Stroke Walk support efforts to improve care and outcomes for heart disease and stroke patients, advocate for stronger public health policies and fund innovative scientific research to improve survival and find cures. The American Heart Association has invested more than $5 billion in research, resulting in breakthroughs that save and improve countless lives every day, including CPR, the artificial heart valve, cholesterol lowering drugs, stents and microsurgery. The Association is also committed to improving health equity by changing structures, laws and systems that make it difficult for many people to achieve a full and healthy life. For information about the Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk, go to HeartWalkLA.org. n
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Dateline USa
Ex-President Duterte faces raps after...
PAGE A1 his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. Castro, who is mourning over the death of her father, did not issue any Brosas disclosed that the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives was “looking into possible legal actions” against the 78-year-old former president. Lawyer Kristina Conti of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers said Duterte may be charged with making “direct and grave threats” against Castro. The offense is penalized by imprisonment of up to six months plus a maximum fine of P100,000. In an interview on Tuesday, October 10 with his spiritual adviser Apollo Quiboloy on SMNI television network, Duterte spoke about the secret funds sought by his daughter. The Office of the Vice President (OVP) is asking for P500 million and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she heads, wants P150 million in confidential funds for 2024, the same amounts she got for this year. She received P125 million in secret funds in her first months as Vice President, spending all of that money in just 11 days in December 2022. The former president said he told his daughter to be “frank” about where she would use the money. “Sabi ko kay Inday (Sara Duterte), diretsuhin mo na. Itong intelligence funds na ito is to prepare the minds of the Filipinos itong insurgency na hindi matapos-tapos and the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps), para preparado tayo kung magka-giyera (I told Inday to be frank about the intelligence funds. These intelligence funds are to prepare the minds of the Filipinos on this unending insurgency and the ROTC, so we can be prepared in case of a war),” Duterte told Quiboloy, a staunch supporter of his administration and the vice president. ‘Gusto kong patayin!’ “Pero, ang una mong target sa intelligence fund mo, kayo, ikaw France, kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin (But, the first target of your intelligence fund would be you, France, I want to kill all you communists), he said forcefully. It was Castro who led the Makabayan bloc’s dogged opposition to confidential funds, particularly for the OVP and DepEd, mainly because the two offices did not have specific peace
and order, defense and national security mandates. “We take his threats seriously, especially with his administration’s bloody legacy of extrajudicial killings and political persecution,” Brosas said, but added: “We will not be silenced by threats and intimidation.” Makabayan members and government critics have said that they have been Red-tagged by the government, especially during the Duterte administration. Red-tagging is the labeling of individuals and groups as members or supporters of the communist insurgency, opening them to violent attacks by state agents often resulting in deaths. A “small committee” of the House on Tuesday announced its unanimous decision to remove all confidential funds from the OVP, DepEd and three other departments and diverted the money to agencies directly involved in guarding the West Philippine Sea against Chinese incursions. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Thursday condemned the older Duterte for his “deplorable rhetoric.” “ACT asserts that the real threat to peace and security are fascists and bloodthirsty tyrants like Duterte,” the group said. ACT chair Vladimer Quetua said Duterte’s statements were a direct threat not only on Castro but also other individuals and groups who call on the government to be transparent in spending the people’s money. “We who oppose the confidential and intelligence funds, oppose the embezzlement of public funds, violence and repression,” Quetua said. Rights violators The vice president herself had said that those who opposed confidential funds were against peace and should be considered “enemies of the people.” But according to Quetua: “The real opponents of peace and enemies of the people are the greedy, fascists and notorious human rights violators like the father and daughter Rodrigo and Sara Duterte.” Speaking as the education secretary at the National Literacy Conference in Cebu City on Thursday, the vice president again linked education to national security. “Education provides individuals with tools to understand and resolve conflicts in a peaceful
Rodrigo Duterte
France Castro
Inquirer.net file photos
manner, fostering a culture of dialogue and tolerance. It equips them with critical thinking skills, enabling them to challenge extremism, discrimination and other forms of social unrest,” she said. Surveillance and intelligence In August, she said education was “intertwined with national security” when asked about the DepEd’s request for confidential funds for 2024. She cited the problems faced by DepEd and students like illegal drugs, recruitment by insurgency groups as well as terrorism and violent extremism in justifying her request for confidential funds. The education chief pointed out that “very good surveillance and intelligence” were necessary to come up with solutions and ensure the success of the department’s projects and programs. Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, another critic of huge allocations for confidential and intelligence funds, suggested that President Marcos himself give up at least “a great portion” of those funds to boost spending for health and social services. Lagman cited the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Solicitor General, which respectively gave up P50 million and P19.2 million in confidential funds. For 2024, the Office of the President is seeking P4.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds. (With a report from Jane Bautista)
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Features
‘Unintentional’ allegations THE chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board was suspended because of the allegations of Jefferson Tumbado about corruption in the LTFRB, hurled in a press conference last Monday, October 10. Tumbado, the former head executive assistant of suspended LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III, also insinuated that the payoffs, amounting to P5 million per approval of a franchise application, transport route or special permit, reached all the way up to Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista and Malacañang. Bautista has slammed the allegation. Accusations of corruption in the LTFRB are not new. Some lawmakers pondered the possibility of conducting a congressional inquiry into the latest allegations. Tumbado aired his accusations in a press conference organized by transport group Manibela, during which the group also announced a jeepney strike beginning this Monday over the alleged corruption and the jeepney modernization program. But on Wednesday, October 11, Tumbado publicly apologized to Guadiz, Bautista and the Office of the President. Recanting his accusations, Tumbado declared in a sworn affidavit that his allegations were “unintentional and misguided,” and that “things were just said out of impulse and irrational thinking, misjudgment and poor
decision-making.” One doesn’t hurl such serious accusations unintentionally and out of impulse. There has to be a motivation for it; Tumbado doesn’t look like the type who suffers from temporary insanity. There also has to be a more plausible reason for his recantation. The National Bureau of Investigation, on its own initiative, has launched a probe into the allegations of Tumbado. His recantation will be part of the NBI’s probe, according to the Department of Justice. While the NBI is conducting the investigation, authorities at the same time must consider harsher penalties for perjury, which makes a mockery of the criminal justice system, weak enough as it is. An official remains suspended on allegations of corruption, and the reputation of the transport secretary has been tarnished, thanks to Tumbado’s original story. If someone put him up to it, he should tell the NBI. And if his original allegations about corruption are true, he should stand firmly behind his story, in the name of good governance. The nation deserves to know the truth. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Flea Market of Ideas Joel Ruiz ButuyAn VICE President Sara Duterte can’t seem to do anything right. She has gotten herself embroiled in a succession of controversies, just a little more than a year after becoming a national official. As secretary of the Department of Education, she ordered the removal of all materials from classroom walls, including visual learning aids, as schools were set to open last August. Her directive drew widespread condemnation, even among teachers who were aghast at the indiscriminate and abrupt nature of the order. It didn’t help that the directive was issued with no prior consultations with teachers and students, without research support, and that it came from an education secretary with zero experience as educator. As the country’s vice president, she spent a whopping P125 million in confidential funds in just 11 days in December 2022. It didn’t help that she gained access to such funds even if her office had no such allocation in its budget last year. It also didn’t help that her profligacy was juxtaposed against her predecessor, Leni Robredo, who had not a single centavo
VP Sara’s perfect storm of confidential funds in her six years in office. As the country’s vice president and education secretary, Sara sought to have a total of P650 million in confidential funds in the 2024 national budget. It didn’t help that she was seeking such funds far larger than the allocations for some of our national security agencies whose principal jobs are real intelligence gathering. As mayor of Davao City, she had confidential funds of about P144 million in 2016, P293 million in 2017, P420 million in 2018, and P460 million each year from 2019 to 2022, or a total of P2.6 billion from 2016 to 2022, according to the Commission on Audit. It didn’t help that Sara’s Davao City was being compared with richer cities like Makati City and Quezon City, which had far smaller confidential fund allocations for the same period. These controversies are happening at the worst possible time for VP Sara, and the best possible time for her aspiring rivals and hardened detractors. It is a time when the people are most allergic to corruption because of the current economic difficulties. With people suffering from really high food prices, these exposés on VP Sara’s profligacy with public funds—which are not subject to accounting and which
are most prone to corruption— rubs salt into the wound. At a time when China’s bully behavior in the West Philippine Sea is the national security issue that riles up people, VP Sara’s gobbledygook on her need to pour humongous funds to supposedly monitor communist recruitment among elementary and high school students, equates to a silly joke. VP Sara is caught in a perfect storm of scandals that has caused her approval rating to nosedive. The inertia and volume of biting commentaries, wicked jokes, sarcastic videos, satirical photos, and acerbic memes against her are tremendous. And it has reached a stage where any statement or action she makes, will be fodder for more memes, jokes, and satire. For sure, apart from hardened Duterte detractors, politicians who aim to compete with her in 2028, have joined the bandwagon. We shouldn’t also be surprised if forces loyal to the Marcoses are surreptitiously fanning the flames as a means to divert people’s anger on economic difficulties, and heap it all on VP Sara. It’s also not far-fetched that VP Sara is being trounced to make way for the chosen successor in 2028 of forces close to the Marcos side of the Uniteam alliance.
TWO Filipinos have been confirmed killed as Hamas militants stormed into Israeli villages close to the border, slaughtering on sight. We might find more casualties as the fog of war lifts. In all, about a thousand Israelis and foreign visitors have been confirmed killed in an assault that saw maximum brutality. The militants were primed for maximum beastliness. They slit the throats of babies and casually threw grenades into bomb shelters crammed with horrified civilians. They were obviously ordered to inflict as much casualties as possible before being driven back to their side of the border. Whatever historical injustices animate Palestinian hatred towards Israel cannot possibly justify this murderous orgy. Hamas invalidated the historic claims of the people they say they are fighting for. The violence is not yet over.
Before all these controversies, every politician genuflected before VP Sara, venerating her with blind obeisance. This was due to the perception that, for her, it’s a walk in the park on the way to the presidency in 2028. She has been dragged down from her pedestal, however, with the storm of controversies. And her image has sustained further damage because she has shown herself to be inarticulate, shallow, and onion-skinned during the congressional hearings on the budget and in her retorts to criticisms. How will she survive probing questions during press conferences, and heated arguments during election debates? We’re now starting to see VP Sara’s allies fighting back, questioning the confidential and intelligence funds of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president himself, which both supposedly also run into billions. We’re starting to hear rumblings among legislators about alleged corruption being monopolized by those close to the powers-that-be. For sure, there will be more of this tit for tat. Daggers are drawn, and swords have been unsheathed. Despite the smiles and niceties displayed in public, a war is starting to rage among the political gods aspiring
Vice President Sara Duterte
Photo from the Official Facebook Page of Sara Duterte
for supremacy in 2028. Opponents of the current administration, with the Makabayan bloc in the lead, ignited these current controversies. Now they can sit back and watch bloated egos, inflated ambitions, and avarice
for wealth and power, to do the rest of job. (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Slaughter
First Person
Alex MAgno
ManilaTimes.net photo
Israel pledged to obliterate Hamas as an organization. It is expected that Israeli forces will embark on a heavily armed incursion into the Gaza Strip to rescue hostages taken by the militants and destroy whatever is left of the terrorist group. This is going to be bloodier still. The Gaza Strip is the densest human settlement on earth. Its population of two million is crammed into very limited urban space. Since the attacks began last Saturday, Israel has put the settlement under absolute siege. No food, no water and no electricity is flowing into the settlement. A recent report says Israel bombed the Gaza port, effectively shutting down a vital facility through which humanitarian assistance may flow. There are an estimated 30,000 Filipino migrant workers in Israel and a few hundred in Gaza. Most of them are caught in the midst of fighting. Since its assault began, Hamas is reported to have fired 4,500 missiles targeting Israeli cities. For its part, Israel is said to have bombed 2,000 targets
in Gaza. The barrages are continuing without respite. Several dozen Filipinos in Gaza are desperately asking Manila to repatriate them. While the fighting is intense, we have no means to get to them – let alone to get them out. With Israeli airports partially operational, we expect a surge in Filipino repatriations. We do not know yet how many Filipinos will want to be evacuated. Our resources for rescuing distressed migrant workers will be pushed to the limit. This week, Filipino consumers enjoyed the substantial rollbacks in fuel prices. The joy might not last long. After Hamas began its assault, crude oil prices spiked. Historically, oil prices remain elevated for long durations after each war in the Middle East. Reduced pump prices for fuel gave is hope we could continue decelerating our inflation rate in the coming months. That hope is now dashed. It is possible the murderous Hamas assault on Israel’s southern border could trigger
a much wider conflict. Hamas is calling on Palestinians in the West Bank and in southern Lebanon to join in the war against Israel. So far, the other Palestinian groups have not responded to the Hamas call. A few rockets were fired from southern Lebanon. It seems these were initiated by Hamas units rather than by the Hezbollah. That should be reassuring to Tel Aviv. The Hezbollah, supported by Iran, is estimated to have as many as 80,000 rockets. Most of these are vastly superior to the crude rockets Hamas uses in the south. Israel’s defenses will be stretched thin should the Hezbollah join in the fighting. Should Hezbollah join in the fray, that could draw its patron Iran closer to a direct confrontation with Israel. Israel could preempt Iranian participation in the war by hitting facilities associated with Tehran’s nuclear weapons build-up. These weapons are being developed with the stated goal of obliterating the State of Israel. The Hezbollah is a strong
pillar of the Assad dictatorship in Syria. It could draw Damascus into the fray. One of the major reasons for the timing of the Hamas attack was to derail the impending deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. That deal involves recognition of the State of Israel. It will be a major breakthrough for Tel Aviv. Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other radical Islamic groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a political entity. It is a position that is quickly losing its constituency in the Islamic world. This assault is a last-ditch effort to prevent the looming diplomatic settlement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The U.S. and its allies have thrown full support behind Israel. Washington has moved its carrier battle group in the Mediterranean closer to Israel’s shores to help if the war escalates. The Biden administration also “surged” its delivery of vital weaponry to Tel Aviv. The exact nature of the new weapons delivered was
not disclosed. Although Russia has had good relations with Israel for years, its relations with Iran became closer the past few years. Iran supplies Moscow drones used against Ukraine. Moscow, in turn, is believed to be assisting Iran’s nuclear weapons development program. Moscow might want to see an escalation of the fighting in the Middle East if only to exhaust the western powers supporting Ukraine. Kiev, for its part, has sided with Israel in this battle. In a word, there are enough factors that could produce an escalation of this military confrontation. But the frontline powers – the Assad regime in Syria and the dictatorship in Tehran – seem to be weighing their options very closely. They could lose even more international support by siding with the murderous Hamas. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
BI declares war on passport syndicate by William Depasupil ManilaTimes.net
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has declared war against a syndicate supplying fraudulently acquired but authentic Philippine passports to illegal foreign nationals. Immigration spokesman Dana Sandoval said on Thursday, October 12 that aside from passports, foreign nationals were also able to acquire other Philippine documents such as national IDs, birth certificates, driver's licenses and postal IDs. "We have already forwarded this to the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) as well as to the issuing authority for a thorough and deeper investigation," Sandoval said in a TV interview. "It's really high time for a shakedown against the syndicate who is part of this, whether in the government or from the private sector." BI records showed that there were at least 10 recent cases of authentic Philippine passports used by illegal aliens.
In April, the BI reported the case of Danny Wong, who attempted to depart for Cambodia, claiming that he was of Chinese-Korean-Filipino lineage. However, red flags prompted the officers to further scrutinize his documents, which he later said were acquired for him by a compatriot. He was later confirmed to be a Korean named Kim Ho Cheol. Earlier this month, the BI reported the arrest of Faizan Muhammad, who presented a Philippine national ID. Also arrested was an overstaying Korean, Kwak Dong Hee, 26, who assumed the name Erik Nacis. He was apprehended while trying to leave the country after the immigration officer noticed that he could not converse in Filipino and had trouble communicating in any local dialect. The Korean confessed that he illegally obtained the passport by paying more than
P120,000 to a compatriot in the Philippines. But Kwak refused to divulge who processed and acquired the birth certificate found in his possession. In another incident, a Chinese passenger also presented a genuine Philippine passport bearing the name of Sonny Tamayo Liang upon his arrival from Bangkok at the NAIA Terminal 2. Although his passport appeared to be genuine, it registered a hit in the BI's Interpol database, indicating that it was a stolen and lost travel document. Also arrested by the BI was a 49-year-old Canadian who also presented a genuine Philippine passport but who was also unable to speak Filipino or any Philippine dialect. The Canadian later said it was his lawyer who processed his birth certificate for the application of his passport. All aliens were charged with violations of the Philippine Immigration Act and blacklisted by the bureau. n
War has no impact on PH economy... yet – NEDA by LoueLLa DesiDerio Philstar.com
MANILA — The ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas is not seen to have a major impact on the Philippine economy, but the country may start feeling the effect should the conflict spread and affect the global supply chain, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said. “As of this date, we don’t see any major impact on the economy,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told a press conference at Malacañang yesterday. He said the ongoing conflict and its impact on the economy were discussed in a meeting with President Marcos last Thursday, October 12. “So far, there is hardly any impact because there has been no major disruptions in the supply chain,” he said. While oil prices increased
slightly, he said this may just be an initial reaction. He also said the impact on oil prices is negligible. “I guess the question is, whether will it spread. Will the conflict spread? That is another matter because then if it gets into the supply chain, affecting global movements of trade, the effects can be even more,” he said. He said the country has very little exposure to both Israel and Palestine in all dimensions, may it be in terms of labor, trade or investment. “Unless it will spill to other countries and it affects the supply of oil then, it may have an impact on us. But as of now, we are not seeing that,” he said. Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel last weekend, leaving thousands dead. The Philippine government has said it is working closely with Israel to ensure the safety of Filipinos affected by the conflict.
The growth of the Philippine economy slowed to 4.3 percent in the second quarter of the year from 6.4 percent in the first quarter, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday confirmed the death of one more Filipino following the attack of Hamas militants in southern Israel on Oct. 7. The third victim was a 49-year-old woman from Negros Occidental. The Embassy of Israel identified earlier the two Filipino casualties in the IsraelHamas conflict, a 36-year-old female from Pangasinan who had been working in Israel for six years and a 42-year-old male from Pampanga. On Thursday, Marcos instructed government agencies and the Philippine embassy in Israel to continue working for the repatriation of Filipinos there and to locate the three Filipinos who remain missing. n
What you need to know about the 2024...
PAGE A4
candidate who receives the most delegates at their nominating conventions in the summer of 2024. Republicans will hold their convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while Democrats will stage theirs in Chicago. The general election will be held on Nov. 5, 2024. What are the key issues? Abortion Democrats plan to make abortion central to their 2024 campaign, with opinion polls showing most Americans don’t favor strict limits on reproductive rights. The issue has become more motivating to those who support abortion rights than to those who oppose them, and the party is hoping threats to those rights will encourage millions of women and independents to vote their way next year. The issue has divided Republicans, with some leaders concerned the party has gone too far with state-level restrictions since the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling last year, ending constitutional protection for abortion. Republican presidential candidates are split between those saying abortion laws should be left to the states and those supporting a national ban. The economy Biden’s White House is trying to reassure Americans that the economy is in solid shape, with inflation slowing and unemployment at its lowest levels in a half-century. Republicans say they will cut federal spending, which they blame for stoking inflation and triggering consumer-price spikes, trim back federal regulations, and lower taxes. Democrats argue the economy is healthy, wages are up, and investments in infrastructure are producing long-term job gains. Voters remain unconvinced. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in September found that 27 percent of Biden’s 2020 voters said their finances were “weaker” than they were before the pandemic, compared with 28 percent who said they were “better” and 42 percent who said they were “about the same.” Immigration Since taking office in 2021, Biden has grappled with record numbers of migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, straining resources there
and cities they have gone to, such as New York and Chicago. Republican candidates, including Trump, have blamed Biden for reversing more restrictive Trumpera policies, and have pledged to step up border security. Some Democrats have criticized Biden for turning to Trump-style enforcement measures to reduce illegal crossings, while the White House maintains it is moving to a more humane and orderly system by offering new ways for migrants to enter legally. Crime Violent crime remains at higher levels across the nation than in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest over racial justice. Americans of both parties are concerned, with 88 percent of respondents in a September Reuters/Ipsos poll saying crime would be an important issue for determining who gets their vote. Foreign policy China has emerged as the foreign policy issue in the campaign, with Republicans arguing the Asian power is a growing threat to national security, U.S. corporate interests, and Taiwan’s independence. The Biden administration has said it wants to “de-risk” and not “de-couple” its relationship with China and work to keep the competition between the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 economic powers from escalating into conflict. Ukraine is another major issue, and has split the Republican field.
Trump and DeSantis argue that Biden’s support of Ukraine in its war with Russia is distracting the U.S. from preparing for a possible confrontation with China. Other Republican candidates, such as Pence and Haley, say the United States must continue to back Ukraine. Biden, who has focused on rebuilding relations with allies after Trump’s presidency, has helped build an international coalition to help Ukraine fight Russia, and will likely highlight the importance of maintaining that policy on the campaign trail. After the October attack by Hamas on Israel, Republicans criticized Biden’s recent deal with Iran, which backs Hamas, to free U.S. citizens held there. What are the key states in the 2024 US presidential election? That both parties are holding their conventions in the Midwest says much about the value they are placing on Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, all of which went for Trump in 2016 and flipped to Biden in 2020. Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada have also proven to be closely divided and contain growing populations that could determine the next election. Another key battleground next year could be North Carolina, another Southern state with an increasingly diverse electorate. (Inquirer.net, with reports from James Oliphant, Ted Hesson, Heather Timmons, Ross Colvin, Kieran Murray, Jonathan Oatis and Cynthia Osterman)
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LIFESTYLE CONSUMER GUIDE COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE
Success story: Triple triumphs scored for client on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday PATRICK was petitioned for a green card by his aunt as a cook for her restaurant. Interestingly, not many people are aware that family members can petition other family members for an employment-based green card, provided it is a real job and the employer is earning enough to pay the worker’s salary. After establishing that the position at his aunt’s
restaurant was a bona fide job and after the aunt was able to provide additional evidence and documents, the Department of Labor approved the labor certification application, and eventually, the immigrant petition for an alien worker was approved. Patrick was also able to apply for lawful PAGE B2
Fil-Am artist H.E.R. set to star in movie adaptation of ‘The Color Purple’ Timeless classic ‘The Color Purple’ will soon be brought back to life in theaters
By Hans Carbonilla Inquirer.net
FILIPINO American artist H.E.R. is set to star in the movie musical adaptation of “The Color Purple,” taking on the supporting role of Squeak, a juke joint waitress with aspirations of becoming a singer. Known for her talent and previous role in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” H.E.R. is gearing up for her next cinematic venture, and Warner Bros. has just unveiled the muchanticipated trailer for the film. Based on the novel by Alice Walker, “The Color Purple” is an arresting story of sisterhood and resilience, tracing the journey of three women bound by an unbreakable connection. The movie assures a fresh perspective on this
NEPHEW PETITIONED FOR EMPLOYMENT BASED GREEN CARD ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! This encore episode has three lessons and victories – Family can petition other family members for a green card through an employment-based petition; Patrick was able to get his green card in the U.S. without having to return to the U.S. Embassy in Manila; and Patrick’s green card was approved even without an interview. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 15 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
Bretman Rock: No pumpkin spice ice cream on Fil-Am History Month celebrating Honolulu Pride Month and Filipino American History Month called the “Da NOTHING can ever be basic Fruity Salad.” when it’s Bretman Rock clocking This limited edition ice in at an ice cream parlor and cream flavor isn’t just all about with her uniform on? B*tch, satisfying your Pinoy fiesta she’s slaying it! cravings; it’s also about giving Recently, the fabulous social back. Proceeds from its sales media sensation has teamed will go to the Golden Gays, a up with Wanderlust Creamery for nonprofit founded in Manila in an ice cream flavor collaboration PAGE B2 By Mary Villegas Inquirer.net
Screencap from The Color Purple Official Trailer/Youtube
beloved classic, and it boasts a star-studded ensemble cast. Alongside H.E.R., the film features artists such as Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, and Fantasia Barrino. “The Color Purple” is directed by Ghanaian Blitz Bazawule, known for his work on “Black Is
King” and “The Burial of Kojo.” With Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones as producers, this movie is set to be a mesmerizing cinematic experience. In the Philippines, the film is set to grace the silver screen on PAGE B3
Photo from bretmanrock/Instagram
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Fil-Am artists to celebrate Filipino heritage at Spotify showcase in NYC RINI, Lyn Lapid, MBNel, No_4mat, and P-Lo will join EZ Mil in a melodic fusion of Fil-Am greatness
By Mary Villegas Inquirer.net
WE’RE not even in the middle of October but the series of Filipino American History Month celebrations are here to fill up your calendar. Even Spotify is joining in on this month’s Fil-Am heritage celebration featuring artists with Pinoy blood in an upcoming series of shows in New York City. In case you’ve been living under the rock, October isn’t just about pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween; it’s also Filipino American History Month. And Spotify is paying homage with a fun celebration to be held at SOB’s in New York City from Oct. 20 to 27. The event promises a show hotter than the Manila sun as Fil-Am artists will take the stage throughout the week. Dubbed Jasmine Presents, the first-ever live showcase of Spotify’s “a genreless flagship playlist that highlights Asian and Pacific Islander music communities around the world” will see eight Filipino artists distill their heritage in music form. “October is a special month to celebrate one of the first groups of Asian immigrants to immigrate to the United States.
Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to earn triple victories for Patrick (left) on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy.
Success story: Triple...
Photos from FFPMGMTPR Redux/Twitter; newsroom.Spotify.com
The vibrant and diverse Filipino community is highlighted in the breadth of our playlist and this year’s showcase, with talents in hip-hop, pop, electronic, and more,” says said Ronny Ho, Spotify Head of Dance and Electronic Development, in a release. Spotify’s Fil-Am-infused lineup Kicking off the affairs is R&B singer-songwriter RINI on Oct. 20 before Ez Mil, arguably the
hottest kid on the rap block after signing with Eminem and Dr. Dre, takes us for a ride into his universe on Oct. 23 with fellow rap artist MBNel. “I can say that I’m very proud of my Filipino heritage and it’s evident with my songs I sing in the languages of the Philippines, like ‘Panalo,’ says Ez Mil in the Spotify interview. “I also try to incorporate Filipino sounds and tribal instruments in my music.” The day after, immerse into
the blooming blend of Filipino folk and pop with Lyn Lapid and Ashley Mehta, then cap off the week with P-Lo’s brand of hip-hop on Oct. 26 and some organically alternative tunes with Mndsgn and No_4mat on Oct. 27. “If there’s one aspect of Filipino culture I’d share with the world, it’d be the incredible music that so many Filipino artists make,” says Lapid. And PAGE B4
PAGE B2 permanent status and was able to get his green card in the U.S. without having to return to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, and his green card was approved without an interview. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 15 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
Members of the Filipino American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG-GLAC) were present during the city of Glendale’s proclamation of October as Filipino American History Month. Photo courtesy of Edith Fuentes
Glendale, CA approves resolution to create sister city relationship with Santa Rosa, recognizes Oct. as Fil-Am History Month
GLENDALE, CA — The Filipino American community of Glendale made history as the city council approved a resolution to enter into a sister city agreement with Santa Rosa, Laguna. At a special city council meeting of October 10, Edith M. Fuentes, past president of the Filipino American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG-GLAC) made a presentation regarding recommendations for a sister city in the Philippines. The presentation included a video greeting from Santa Rosa Mayor Arleen Arcillas, while Fuentes shared the destination’s tourist attractions. The city council voted unanimously to approve a resolution by the staff and committee’s recommendation to enter into an agreement with Santa Rosa to become Glendale’s first sister city in the Philippines. The Sister City Recommendations Committee was headed by representatives of FABAG-GLAC and the United Architects of the Philippines UAP (SoCal Chapter), namely
Arch. Edith M. Fuentes together with Arch. Lucille Floresta, Arch. Leilanie Panyawai, Arch. Lowynn Herrera, Arch. Delster Davide and internationally known Philippine Architects Felino Jr Palafox and Arthur Lising. City staff Stephanie Mkhlian coordinated the item for council hearing. On the same day, the FABAG-GLAC group received a proclamation from the city declaring the month of October as “Filipino American History Month” in Glendale. Present at the meeting were FABAG President Marnie Lacsamana, IPP Jo Solomonson, Cora Aragon Soriano, Arleen Lapid Penaflor, Renee Rasper, Lucille Floresta, Leilanie Panyawai, Tess Domingo and Fuentes. FABAG-GLAC announced and invited the community to their upcoming “Making a Difference Day” on Monday, October 23 to celebrate Fil-Am history with a meet-mix-mingle reception to say thank you to members, friends of FABAG and honor first responders. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Glendale’s Adult Recreation Center. n
Bretman Rock: No... PAGE B1 the ’70s by Justo Justo committed to supporting elderly LGBTQIA+. Behind the scenes with Bretman Rock Bretman Rock shared a sneak peek into his time as a Wanderlust Creamery employee on Instagram: “I just be doing side missions nowadays,” he writes. “I had so much fun at [Wanderlust Creamery] serving [my] ice cream flavor[,] which I call ‘Da Fruity Salad’ [to] celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month.” And trust us, there’s never a boring day with this star. Bretman Rock didn’t clock out without delivering some sass. When one customer asked for a pumpkin spice flavor (obviously since fall is coming), our charming seller pulled it without brakes, “Pumpkin Spice?! On Filipino American Month?! Get the f*ck out!” Sorry pumpkin spice lovers, just not this month since Bretman Rock and the rest of the diaspora are all about celebrating Filipino American History Month. In case you haven’t seen it yet, these festivities are lined up across the U.S. This stint at Wanderlust Creamery is one of many recent activities that Bretman Rock has been up to lately. In August, he traveled back to the Philippines for a birthday bash in gorgeous Palawan, where he tried fire dancing. And most recently, Bretman was spotted attending the U.S. premiere of Dolly De Leon and Kathryn Bernardo’s “A Very Good Girl.” From his daily antics with his pets at home to serving ice cream in uniform, we can’t help but stan. Cheers to this philanthropic spirit, and thanks for making this Filipino American History Month a little sweeter. n
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LAFW powered by Art Hearts Fashion to celebrate diversity, inclusion, creativity at runway shows on Oct. 19-22
PH Ballet Theatre presents ‘Music in Motion’ at UCLA campus on Oct. 21 LOS ANGELES – The Philippine Ballet Theatre, the pre-eminent ballet company in the Philippines under the aegis of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, is set to perform “Music in Motion” at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA on Saturday, October 21. The 26-member company will present a stunning program that weaves classical ballet with indigenous and traditional Filipino dances in a presentation that features special appearances by the acclaimed concert pianist Dr. Raul Sunico as well as the Concert King of the Philippines, Martin Nievera. “Act 1 is called ‘Ibalon’, an original Filipino ballet lifted from the well-known Bicolano,” explained Marilou Magsaysay, president of Philippine Ballet Theatre. “It is a story of love and kindness, the very things this world needs most of. It features Ron Jaynario’s choreography of colorful dances from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao accompanied by original music from Paulo Zarate.” Executive producer Rosie Chua is planning an unforgettable night of entertainment. “Our dear friend, Martin Nievera, will be singing some of his most popular songs accompanied by acclaimed concert pianist Raul Sunico,” explained Chua. “And they will be joined by the PBT dancers on stage for a spectacular celebration of the upcoming holiday season!” “I always look for an excuse to sing before an L.A. audience,” confessed Nievera. “And to be able to sing my hit songs, including a Christmas song that I wrote myself and put to dance would be a treat, especially for me!” There are many other surprises awaiting patrons of the one-night-only presentation. A pre-concert VIP reception will showcase the contemporary designs of Cora Manimbo. The self-taught designer creates wearable fashion from indigenous Philippine textiles (piña cloth from Aklan; abel from Ilocos Norte; malong and yakan from Cotabato; Ifugao from the Mt. Province, etc.) and has made a name for herself amongst her Philippine fashion-conscious clientele. The reception will also present traditional Philippine cuisine prepared by Arko Foods. The VIP reception package includes priority seating. “Music in Motion” marks Philippine Ballet Theatre’s third appearance in Los Angeles with a
new presentation. “Their performances are always breathtaking and inspiring, and I know that our audience will be amazed!” said Chua, who is overseeing this special evening of Philippine cuisine and talent. All audience members will be eligible for a raffle drawing with the winners receiving a genuine pearl necklace, domestic airline tickets to destinations of their choice and other prizes. The grand prize winner will receive a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines sponsored by Philippine Airlines, the major sponsor of “Music in Motion.” During the Holiday celebration segment, the stage will be decorated with Philippine made parols especially designed for this performance. Audience members will have the opportunity to purchase these parols after the show and can also enjoy traditional Christmas treats and delicacies from Arko Foods. The evening show will be hosted by ABC7 field reporter Christiane Cordero. “This show is also a small fundraiser,” added Chua. “We will be supporting the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.” “Music in Motion” is proudly sponsored by Asian Commodities, Philippine Airlines, Arko Foods, Island Pacific Supermarket, GTT International, LBC, Ascott Limited Philippines, Ambrosia Delights, One La Salle, Gerry’s Restaurant & Bar, Print Hub USA, Mama Sita’s and Max & Lucy’s along with support from Asian Journal, So Jannelle, US Asian Post and Weekend Balita. UCLA students, faculty, staff and administration can take advantage of a $5 discount on any price tiers by showing a valid UCLA I.D. at Central Ticket Office. “We hope the Bruin campus population can support this fantastic ensemble of artists who are coming from the Philippines to share their talents in this unforgettable show,” said Ted Benito, who is producing the presentation for LXV Enterprises, LLC. “It’s rare for audiences to experience this magical mix of traditional classical ballet and indigenous Philippine dance. It’s going to be a phenomenal performance!” he exclaimed. Tickets are $200 (which includes the VIP-reception package), $100, $75, $50 and balcony seats at $35. Patrons should go to ROYCEHALL. ORG or call 818.859.3108 or 213.458.0582 for tickets and further information. n
Fil-Am artist H.E.R. set to... PAGE B1 Jan. 24, 2024. Meanwhile, H.E.R.’s fans across the United States can anticipate the release on Dec. 25, 2023. For global audiences, “The Color Purple” will be released internationally on Jan. 18, 2024. H.E.R.’s involvement in the project adds an extra layer of anticipation to this remarkable adaptation, and her fans are counting down the days until they can see her shine on the big screen once again. n
LOS ANGELES — Art Hearts Fashion will kick off Los Angeles Fashion Week (LAFW) next week from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22, 2023 in downtown Los Angeles at the iconic Majestic Downtown (650 S Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014) as the company celebrates its 10-year anniversary of putting on the most iconic, diverse, inclusive and creative fashion shows in LA. Art Hearts Fashion was founded and is currently led by Erik Rosete, a prominent Latin American serial fashion entrepreneur and fashion designer (Mister Triple X) who was born and raised in Los Angeles. To celebrate a decade of iconic Los Angeles Fashion Week shows powered by Art Hearts Fashion, the production company is dedicating Saturday’s series of runway shows to leading Mexican and LatinX designers, many of which are also based in Southern California. This will include globally recognized and emerging Latin designers Mister Triple X, Black Tape Project, Giannina Azar, Coral Castillo, and Walter Mendez. “We’re excited to spotlight a variety of creative Latin and LAbased fashion designers at this year’s LAFW while bringing together the fashion industry’s top tastemakers, content creators, celebrities, fashion media and influencers,” said Rosete, founder and president of Art Hearts Fashion. Several of Bravo TV’s successful Project Runway designers will also partake in this year’s Los Angeles Fashion Week, including celebrity fashion designer Michael Costello, along with Bravo TV’s Project Runway S19 Winner and Hulu’s STITCHED designer, Coral Castillo. Other fellow Project Runway designers who are also Ukrainian celebrity fashion designers including Natalia Fedner and NIZIE by Nizie Emirshah will be a part of this epic Project Runway reunion during LAFW. Finally, Project Runway S16’ winner Kentaro Kameyama and Project Runway Season 1 winner, Mondo Guerra, along with Richard Hallmarq will also debut new collections at next week’s four-day runway show festival. LGBTQ+ designers including Richie Rich will debut a new 90’s themed streetwear collection under his new fashion brand, Richerette, while West Hollywood gay celebrity designer Argyle Grant will reveal a new luxury men’s swimwear collection during Los Angeles Fashion Week. Saturday’s Los Angeles Fashion Week runway shows will be dedicated to swimwear favorites from Pink Melon Swimwear and Vichi Swim. This year’s LAFW will have a new runway show with the debut of Tokyo streetwear fashion themed brand, Squadz Place, which PAGE B5
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What is the difference between an annulment and a divorce? Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes WHAT is the difference between a divorce and an annulment? Many people think these concepts are the same and interchangeable. There are many differences between the two concepts. A divorce ends a valid existing marriage. In a nullity, a determination is made about the validity of the marriage itself. When a marriage is annulled, it has the same effect as if the marriage never existed. A nullity results in a void. In California, any spouse can obtain a divorce regardless of the reason. A common basis used is a catchall phrase “irreconcilable differences.” However, anyone who wants to end a marriage can end the marriage and there is nothing the other spouse can do to stop that. However in a petition for nullity, the court will not automatically grant you the nullity. There has to be a legal basis for seeking the nullity as outlined in the family code. Some of the basis are 1) entering into a bigamous marriage 2) incestuous marriage 3)fraud in obtaining the other spouse’s consent to marriage 4) incurable physical incapacity 5) unsound mind among others. The petitioner would have to prove one of these grounds in court to be able to get a nullity. In a Nullity, there is a statute of limitations. That means you have to file your nullity within a
certain time period depending on the basis for seeking the Nullity. Each ground has a different statute of limitation. For example, if you are filing the nullity based on fraud, you have to file within 4 years of discovering the fraud. If you blow the statute of limitation, this can be used as a defense to dismiss your case. On the other hand there is no statute of limitation in a divorce. You can file a divorce at any time regardless of how long you have been separated from your spouse. In a divorce, husband and wife are presumed to be the parents of children born during the marriage. In a Nullity, the marriage has no validity so it will affect the presumption of parentage of the children. The Court will have to make a finding of parentage for the children on a different basis before it can make orders relating to custody, visitation, and support. The treatment of spousal support (alimony) is different between the two. In a divorce, the spouse that has less earning capacity and access to resources may seek an award of spousal support. This is not available in a Nullity since the marriage is invalid and there is no spouse as a result. The division of property is also different. In a divorce, community property is divided equally between the spouses. In a nullity, since there is no valid marriage, there is no community property created and properties are not divided between the spouse. Similarly, neither party can receive survivorship benefits and inheritance rights from the other party in a Nullity. Finally, there are different
immigration consequences between a divorce and a nullity when an immigrant spouse is involved. In a divorce, the immigrant spouse who obtains a greencard from a US Citizen spouse stands a bigger chance of keeping his or her greencard and ultimately become a US Citizen. In a nullity, the immigrant spouse may lose their greencard status when the marriage is found to be invalid since it is the basis for the greencard. It can jeopardize the immigration status of the legal permanent resident spouse. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC 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, APC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Fil-Am artists to celebrate...
PAGE B2 why why not? Filipinos after all are largely musically-inclined (karaoke, anyone?) with notes running through their veins. But the best part of this showcase? Everyone is invited as the show is open to everyone. If you’re ready to raise your Philippine flags this Fil-Am Heritage Month while grooving to music, you can grab your tickets on their website. For now though, we suggest taking your phone out and start listening to these wonderful artists whose music can take you to higher places and
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make you feel more proud about being Filipino. Here are our top recommendations: Lyn Lapid – “In My Mind” with 126.9 million streams RIN: – “ My Favorite Clothes” with 128.8 million streams MBNel – “Feelings” with 30.9 million streams P-Lo – “same squad” with 28.2 million streams No_4mat – “1992” with 11.6 million streams Ashley Mehta – “Don’t Know You” with 9.1 million streams Mndsgn – “Bweyy” with 6.5 million streams. n
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Praying for the end of Israel-Gaza war Pastor’s Notes ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas GREETINGS! I am blessed and happy to be back from leading a Holy Land pilgrimage. I am happy because my group and I arrived home safely after nearly being caught in the middle of the Israeli-Gaza war. We left Israel for Dubai a few days before the initial Hamas attack. However, like everyone else, I am horrified and saddened to see the bombings and destruction of cities, villages, and above all, human lives, including those of innocent men, women, and children, in the news. It feels surreal to me to witness in the news the bombings and destruction of human lives in Israel and Gaza. Just recently, my pilgrimage group and I were peacefully visiting Holy Christian sites and experiencing the festive atmosphere of Jerusalem during the seven-day celebration of Sukkot (Feast of Booths, Festival of Tabernacles). Thousands of Jews from various parts of the world were also there for their Jewish pilgrimage to the Temple of Jerusalem, while Palestinian merchants were busy selling Holy Land souvenirs,
gifts, and other products. Life seemed normal, unaware that Hamas was preparing for this horrifying attack on Israel. When will these decadeslong conflicts between Israel and Palestine come to an end? How can we achieve peaceful resolutions amidst the deep-seated hatred and anger between Israelis and Palestinians? How will the international community and world leaders contribute to putting an end to this war? What will be the global repercussions on our economy and society resulting from this conflict? For now, our task is to pray earnestly for the end of this war and the loss of human lives, and to advocate for a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine. We pray that both countries recognize each other as independent states, putting an end to unjust preoccupation and unequal economic well-being. We should also pray for good political leadership in both nations, free from corruption, savagery, hatred, and greed. In view of this horrific war that affects us all, citizens of this world, and the Scripture Readings this Sunday, let us join together in reciting and meditating on these prayers written by Anne M. Osdieck: Prayer 1: We are running fast to your mountain, Lord. Wipe away tears from our
eyes. Take away the fog of bias, of war, hunger, homelessness, and the web of destructive chaos that obscures your presence. Oh Lord, you have called us all here. Help us care for one another and for the home you have granted us, so that we may all partake in your abundant feast of rich food and choice wines. Prayer 2: O Christ, your father has prepared a banquet for us. He has set the table, prepared the fattened calf, and provided us with the finest wine. He invites us, each and every one, to this table of plenty. Oh Jesus, what shall we wear? Will you be our garment? May we clothe ourselves with your mind and your heart. Then we can relish the morsels, savor the wine, and taste your love, which is the most desired of all sustenance. Let us aid you in nourishing all those we encounter with everything they will ever need. Sending warm blessings to all! *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
Hidden junk fees are bad for consumers
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights atty. C. Joe sayas, JR.
New law makes junk fees illegal in California
A LOT of attention has recently been focused on socalled “junk fees,” hidden fees that often take consumers by surprise in the final stages of a transaction. A new law from the California Legislature, which was recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom have now made such “junk fees” illegal in the State of California. Junk fees came into prominent national attention with complaints from concert goers against ticket sellers, regarding vague service fees, processing fees, and convenience fees that jack up the costs of concert tickets beyond their original advertised price. Large hotel chains have also been criticized for vague resort fees and other surcharges that significantly inflate the advertised nightly rates for hotel stays. The practice of such hidden or surprise fees seems to have become more common in recent years, with anecdotal accounts pointing to similar practices in the car rental, entertainment and hospitality industries. On October 7, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 748, which prohibits “offering a price for a good or service that does not
include all mandatory fees or charges other than taxes or fees imposed by a government on the transaction.” The new law, which will go into effect on July 1, 2024, requires that businesses disclose all fees upfront. This directly addresses the California Legislature’s main criticism of junk fees, namely, that it is a form of deceptive, bait-and-switch advertising that actively hides the true cost of a transaction until it is too late to back out. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is a strong supporter of the bill, noting at its introductory conference “how frustrating it is to get to the checkout and find out something advertised at one price actually costs much, much more.” The Attorney General argued at the bill’s introductory conference that junk fees are “bad for consumers and bad for competition,” and that “[t] he prices advertised should be the price you pay.” The consumer advocacy group CALPIRG agrees, noting in a Los Angeles Times interview that “[w]ithout knowing the true price of a product or service upfront, the process of comparison shopping becomes
nearly impossible.” Starting July 1, 2024, businesses offering goods and services for sale will have to be much more transparent with any fees they seek to charge California consumers. With open disclosures, consumers can better see the real costs of products or services that they pay, and ultimately can make well-informed decisions. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.] (Advertising Supplement)
LAFW powered by Art Hearts Fashion to celebrate diversity, inclusion, creativity at... PAGE B3 is debuting a new collectible doll line with six unique dolls on Target.com across the U.S. This unique interactive runway show will help launch Squadz Place fun and interactive fashion show bringing the dolls to life on the LAFW runway on the West Coast. Innovative, sustainable and ecofriendly fashion brands including Love For Upcycling will also be hitting the runway during this month’s Los Angeles Fashion Week powered by Art Hearts Fashion. “Before and after Love For Upcycling’s runway show, we will be accepting clothing donations which will then be repurposed by the brand’s designer, Jose Alexander, for future fashion collections,” Rosete said. It doesn’t stop there – popular Asian designers based in West Hollywood, Alexis Monsanto, along with other top Asian designers will host
runway fashion shows at this year’s Los Angeles Fashion Week: Kentaro Kameyama, Selenee, and Michael Ngo will present fashion collections that will be sure to stun audiences. Finally, to close Sunday’s LAFW shows, Art Hearts Fashion will celebrate Black designers including Angela Dean Couture, who famously created Madonna’s bullet bra in 1987, along with Cross Colours, and Tell The Truth by Rainy Womack. Plus, Serbian designers Morphium Fashion and Formidable by Mina will also present new collections during LAFW on Sunday evening. De Florencio by Nino Cutraro is another edgy LA-based fashion designer that will offer up creative rockstar streetwear for men at this year’s Los Angeles Fashion Week. A beautiful art gallery pop-up will also be curated by Six Summit Gallery for
this year’s Los Angeles Fashion Week featuring dozens of local LA artists. “Overall, this year’s LAFW will be a massive celebration of art, creativity and fashion!” Rosette said. Innovative and globally recognized beauty, food and spirits brands are teaming up with Art Hearts Fashion for this year’s 10th Annual Los Angeles Fashion Week. Beachwaver is the official hair styling brand for all models. Billion Dollar Brows is the official makeup partner for Los Angeles Fashion Week powered by Art Hearts Fashion while other top sponsors including Empress 1904 Gin, Feel Great Be Great Lifestyle, Koe Kombucha, Japonesque, The Makeup Light, Real Her Cosmetics, Simply Mixology, Smart Water and Coca Cola will provide drinks, refreshments and gifting to front row and VIP attendees. The official 2023 Los Angeles
Fashion Week schedule powered by Art Hearts Fashion is available online. Fashion lovers are encouraged to visit artheartsfashion.com to learn more, sign up for the organization’s email alerts and purchase tickets online. The official afterparty venue for Los Angeles Fashion Week powered by Art Hearts Fashion will be the newly opened Level 8 located in the Moxy/ AC Hotel in downtown Los Angeles at 1254 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Art Hearts Fashion will follow Los Angeles Fashion Week with a VIP twoday Art Basel fashion event in Miami on December 7-8, and then will launch Las Vegas Fashion Week in 2024. Insider industry discount code for EventBrite tickets to Los Angeles Fashion Week powered by Art Hearts Fashion is available – Fashion insider
can use “INDUSTRYLOVE” to get 50% off on seats VIP tickets or free general admission tickets valid until Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/la-fashionweek-2023-powered-by-art-heartsfashion-affinity-nightlife-tickets730695880047?utm_experiment=test_ share_listing&aff=ebdsshios. Art Hearts Fashion is a globally recognized fashion show production organization based in Los Angeles, known for leading the fashion industry with iconic Fashion Week events in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Milan, Paris, and more. AHF has built a reputation for bringing together the most renowned and innovative emerging designers to propel fashion forward since it was founded in 2010 by Erik Rosete. For more information, learn more at https://artheartsfashion. com. n
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Award-winning Fil-Am author releases Removing the conditions of your permanent residence historical novel, ‘The Thomasite’ without your petitioning spouse’s participation
THIS is not the first time Asian Journal has featured Filipino American author Victoria Grageda-Smith, and her literary works. Back in 2016, when her novella, “Faith Healer” (Brain Mill Press, 2016), had just won an award and was launched at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference at the L.A. Convention Center and Beverly Hills Library, Grageda-Smith’s literary works and career were already on people’s radars. Today, Grageda-Smith (who insists on being called “Vicki”) is a multiple-awarded American author published in all the creative writing genres of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. This year, Vicki has released a new novel, “The Thomasite,” which is available at Philippine Expressions Bookshop (479 W. Sixth St., Unit 105, San Pedro, CA), and online retailers like Amazon. “The Thomasite” was published by Orange Blossom Publishing on May 30 and chosen among outstanding debut novelists’ works that the Orcas Island Literary Festival featured in June. The novel is based on the little-known or forgotten history of the more than 500 American teachers who sailed on the U.S. Army Transport Thomas (and thus their name, the Thomasites) in answer to U.S.
Award-winning author Victoria GragedaSmith wrote “The Thomasite” during the pandemic.
President McKinley’s call to go to the then-new U.S. territory in Asia, the Philippine Islands, to teach Filipino boys and girls. The book has begun to earn five-star reviews among readers, especially on Amazon. When asked how she got the idea for “The Thomasite”, Vicki replied, “I was inspired to write the novel as a high school student in the Philippines during a history class about the Thomasites. I was so fascinated by their story that I promised myself I would write a book about them one day. That day is here. I wrote the novel during the pandemic seclusion, and my determination to bring out the Thomasites’ story to the world likewise became my personal story about holding onto one’s dreams and what persistence and perseverance could achieve.” Vicki was born in the Philippines, the eldest of ten children. She started writing her first novel at ten years old – a mystery about a lady archeologist off to an adventurous dig in Egypt. Unfortunately, her handwritten copy of that fledgling book got lost during her parents’ move to their new family home. As a contributor and then editor of her elementary and high school papers, she wrote and published poetry and essays. Vicki’s creative writing took a back seat in college when, compelled to choose a career that could help her support her family, she chose to go to law school. Through full academic merit scholarships, she graduated Magna Cum Laude in her pre-law class and top ten of her graduating law class at the University of the Philippines. She also earned a Master of Laws from the University of Michigan School of Law at Ann Arbor. As an associate counsel in the world-class Manila law firm of Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan, Vicki represented Fortune 500 companies and pro-bono, indigent clients before becoming the only female attorney in
the 25-lawyer legal department of the largest and oldest food, beverage, and packaging conglomerate in Southeast Asia, San Miguel Corporation (SMC). As she set out to start her own law firm, life threw the proverbial wrench at her well-laid plans. She fell in love with, and married the American consultant who had led the gigantic re-engineering project for SMC. The challenges of an immigrant starting over in professional life, including motherhood sans her usual support network of Philippine family and friends amid her husband’s frequent career-related travel, compelled Vicki to choose to be an at-home parent. While raising her young children, she rediscovered her childhood passion for creative writing. As a Filipino American author, Vicki saw it as her mission to celebrate the shared historical and cultural legacy of Filipinos and Americans. In 2004, the first time she submitted to a writing contest, her short story, “Portrait of the Other Lady,” won first place and was published by the Ventura County Star as part of her prize. Vicki is also the author of the Kirkus-acclaimed poetry collection, “Warrior Heart, Pilgrim Soul: An Immigrant’s Journey” (Amazon, 2013). Her poetry appears in various literary journals and has been recognized with distinction in many poetry contests. She is the author of the new story collection manuscript, “Daughters of the Bamboo”, and a second poetry collection, “Mother of Exiles” – both of which she is now marketing to agents and publishers. Among Vicki’s worksin-progress is a novel set in the Pacific WWII that she is writing while leading a nonprofit she recently founded to help improve the quality of life of Filipinos in the Philippines. Readers may follow Victoria Grageda-Smith on VictoriaGSmith.com, Facebook Author Victoria G. Smith, Twitter @AuthorVGSmith, Instagram victoriagsmithauthor, and Amazon Victoria Grageda-Smith. n
Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn A PERSON who obtains his/ her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for 2 years. In order to continue to have permanent resident status after 2 years, the conditional permanent resident and his/her U.S. citizen spouse must file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence during the 90 days before the expiration of the green card. 8 CFR 216.4(a)(1) But what if things don’t work out with the U.S. citizen spouse after getting married, and the conditional permanent resident can no longer get the participation of his/her U.S. citizen spouse in filing the I-751 petition? In such a case, the conditional permanent resident may seek an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement. In order to qualify for an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage upon which his/her status was based was: 1) entered into in good faith, and 2) terminated. 8 CFR 216.5(a)(1)(ii) With respect to the required showing that the marriage was entered into in good faith, the conditional permanent resident must show that his/her marriage was not a “sham.” A marriage is considered a “sham” if, when they married, the couple did not intend to establish a life together. An intent to obtain something other than or in addition to love and companionship (such as a green card) from that life does not make a marriage a sham. Matter of Soltan, A76 888 125 (BIA 2001). Documents such as joint bank and credit card statements, and photos that demonstrate that the marriage
was entered in good faith should be presented. Also, in order to qualify for an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage was terminated. By “terminated,” the USCIS requires a valid, formal divorce judgment. An I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement cannot be approved in cases where the conditional permanent resident is legally separated or in divorce proceedings that are still pending. Also, once the marriage is terminated, the conditional resident may file the I-751 petition immediately, and does not have to wait until the normal 90 days before the expiration of the conditional green card. It is worth noting that if the conditional permanent resident and his/her U.S. Citizen spouse live in California, a valid divorce judgment must be obtained in the California courts. I have had numerous California-resident clients in the past who have obtained a “quick” divorce judgment in Nevada only to face USCIS scrutiny after presenting the Nevada divorce judgment in support of an I-751 waiver request (since one must be a Nevada resident to obtain a divorce in Nevada). The assistance of an experienced attorney in handling the divorce as well as the I-751 waiver request is accordingly recommended. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323-639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Baron Geisler awarded as Asia’s Best Actor at Thailand Int’l Leadership Awards 2023 KAPAMILYA actor Baron Geisler won as Asia’s Best Actor in a Lead Role at the Thailand International Leadership Awards 2023. Baron was recognized for his critically-acclaimed role in the Netflix film “Doll House.” Apart from Baron, “Rated K” director David Chua also won as Asia’s Man of Excellence in Entertainment Productions Award of the Year. In his Instagram account, David expressed his gratitude for the recognition. “What a great honor to have been chosen and recognized by a prestigious award-giving body in Thailand, one of the Asian region’s fast-rising entertainment hubs,” he said. “Thank you to the organizers and jurors of the Thailand International Leadership Awards 2023 for being given Asia’s Man of Excellence in Entertainment Productions Award of the Year,”
Baron Geisler
Netflix / Released
he added. David also accepted Baron’s award. “This award should be a fitting reward for Baron who redeemed himself, not just as a first-rate actor, but also as a man of faith who emerged victorious in his own personal struggles,” he said. (by Jan Milo Severo/ Philstar.com) n
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