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DATELINE Federal courts block Trump administration’s ‘public charge’ rule from going into effect

Palace says Duterte is perfectly healthy by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJ Press

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

FEDERAL judges in three states have blocked the Trump administration’s controversial “public charge� rule, days before it was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, October 15. The rule expands the definition of who may become primarily dependent on the government through public cash assistance or long-term institutionalized care funded by the government, or essentially who may be considered a “public charge.� Originally published by the Department of Homeland Security in August, the public charge rule gives U.S. immigration officials

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Trump phone call to Duterte among many that ‘horrified’ White House staff, says US paper U.S. President Donald Trump’s phone call to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in April 2017 congratulating Duterte for an “unbelievable job on the drug problem� was one of Trump’s many phone calls with world leaders that “genuinely horrified� White House staff, according to a report of the Washington Post. Duterte and Trump had heaped praises on each other with Trump, according to reports quoting Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., describing Duterte as “Frank Sina-

Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

MALACAĂ‘ANG on Monday, October 14, assured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte is healthy following his revelation that he has myasthenia gravis, a chronic auto-immune neuromuscular disorder that affects the muscles in his eyes and limits his ability to control eye movement. “It’s not life threatening, it depends on the degree. Saka nag-mumura pa siya e (he’s still cursing),â€? said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo during during an interview with the “The Chiefsâ€? on Cignal TV’s One News. “Ang tao naman sanay na sa kanya, kayo lang na-

man hindi nasasanay sa kanya (People are used to him; only the media aren’t),� he added. According to Panelo, if Duterte’s cursing can be considered as a sign of his health then the president “is very healthy.� Duterte once again drew concern for his health condition after a public appearance where one of his eyes was visibly smaller than the other. “It is a nerve malfunction,� Panelo explained to the Filipino community in Moscow. Aside from his eye condition, the president also encounters problems with his spine and that he frequently suffers from migraine. He also has Barrett’s esophagus, which affects his throat; as well as Buerger’s disease from the

heavy smoking he did in his younger years. Under the Constitution, information about the state of the president’s health should always be available to the public in case the chief executive has a serious illness. Panelo dismissed rumors about Duterte undergoing dialysis or cancer treatment, which causes his face to darken, saying that it is impossible for the president to undergo these procedures. “Botched skin yun. Kasi pag inayos mo ata yung skin mo tapos nainitan ka, naku may problema ka. Yun ata ang nangyayari sa kanya (When you undergo skin treatments and you go under the sun, you get problems. That’s probably what happened to him),â€? he said. â–

Gov. Newsom signs arbitration bill giving California’s workers, consumers a big win SACRAMENTO – Delivering a big victory for California workers and consumers, Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday, October 13, signed SB 707, jointly authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg (DVan Nuys), to deter companies that have forced their customers and employees into arbitration from obstructing the process by refusing to pay the required arbitration fees. “I applaud the Governor for signing this important bill that expands the rights of workers and consumers and cracks down on companies who shirk their responsibilities when people exercise their alreadylimited rights in arbitration,� said Wieckowski, a strong advocate for transparency and legislation to bring more balance into the arbitration process. “The companies write the arbitration clauses. Now, they are breaching their own written clauses to tip the scales of justice even more in their direction. SB 707 will stop these abuses

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OUTSTANDING ATHLETES. President Rodrigo Duterte is assisted by Senate Committee on Sports Chair Senator Christopher “Bongâ€? Go as he distributes the incentives to the Filipino athletes who have brought home medals from various international competitions during their meeting at the Malago Clubhouse in MalacaĂąang on Wednesday, October 16. Duterte gave a P1 million incentive each to gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxer Nesthy Petecio during their courtesy call in MalacaĂąang on Wednesday. Yulo, who earlier booked a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, beat seven other ďŹ nalists to claim the men’s oor exercise crown in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Hans Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart, Germany last Saturday, Oct. 12. Petecio ruled the featherweight division in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships after beating hometown bet Liudmila Vorontsova of Russia on Sunday, Oct, 13. MalacaĂąang photo by King Rodriguez

Marcos: I was robbed of 3 years as VP; Locsin calls for boycott over ‘Abominable’ movie Robredo: I’m not the thief between us by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

by GABRIEL

PABICO Inquirer.net

LALU

THE son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos continued to assert he was cheated in the 2016 vice presidential race, saying Vice President Leni Robredo had already robbed three years of what could have been his sixyear term. Ferdinand “Bongbong� Marcos Jr. , talking to reporters after the Supreme Court approved the release of initial recount results in Marcos’ election protest against Robredo, said he was a victim of massive cheating. Robredo won the vice presidential race by a margin of 280,000 votes over Marcos, whose family had gone into exile in Hawaii af-

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, October 15, called for a “universal boycott� of the animated film “Abominable� due to the appearance of China’s nine-dash line in one of the scenes. In a Twitter conversation with Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, Locsin said: “What about cutting out that scene? You’re a lawyer, on what ground can we ban — and which agency has that power — an implicit message, assuming any Filipino will Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Bongbong Marcos Inquirer.net photo assert his First Amendment right ter his father’s regime was top- in the 1985 snap elections called in the case? For me, call a unipled by a popular revolt in 1986 by the elder Marcos and which versal boycott of all Dreamworks fuelled in part by massive fraud u PAGE A3 productions from here on.�

DOJ starts preliminary probe into ‘ninja cops’

prosecutors, led by Senior AsPhilstar.com sistant State Alexander Suarez, conducted a preliminary invesTHE Department of Justice on tigation into the case where 13 Wednesday, Oct. 16, officially re- cops were accused of making off opened its investigation into the with shabu worth P648 million, 2013 Pampanga drug raid led by at the time, and setting free alsuspected “ninja cops.� leged drug lord Johnson Lee. The three-member panel of u PAGE A2 by KRISTINE JOY

PATAG

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim. China, however, refused to acknowledge said ruling. Apart from the Philippines, other countries that have claims in the South China Sea are Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Viet-

nam, which recently pulled out the film from cinemas. “Abominable,� a joint production by Dreamworks and China’s Pearl Studio, tells the story of a Chinese teenager helping a yeti return to his home. “Agree this is a slippery slope, but think we should push back

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From the Front Page

Federal courts block Trump administration’s...

GREEN GALLERY. Cecile Guidote Alvarez (third from left), her husband Unesco Artist for Peace Heherson Alvarez (fourth from right) and Chile’s Ambassador to Manila Jose Miguel Capdevila (fifth from left) pose along with some Miss Earth candidates at the Gallery of the Sea exhibit of the Manila Yacht Club, which features artworks with environment causes. . Manilatimes.net photo by Enrique Agcaoili

DOJ starts preliminary probe into... PAGE A1 In the preliminary probe, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which stands as complainant, asked the panel of prosecutors for additional time to file additional evidence in the case. All the respondents, except Police Major Rodney Baloyo, were present in the preliminary investigation. The Senate cited Baloyo in contempt for “lying” and being “evasive” by the committees conducting a legislative inquiry into the Good Conduct and Time Allowance law and “ninja cops.” Baloyo is detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Police Senior Master Sergeants Alcindor Tinio and Eligio Valeroso and Police Corporal Anthony Lacsama also asked the panel for more time to submit additional evidence for their defense. The panel gave the two parties until October 21 to submit their respective pleadings. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the reinvestigation of the CIDG’s drug complaints against the 13 over the 2013 raid.

PAGE A1 discretion in deciding whether an immigrant should be granted a green card or entrance into the U.S. depending on whether they’d be self-sufficient. Among the 20 factors the officials would use include looking at whether applicants use certain public benefit programs like food stamps, housing vouchers, cash assistance, and most forms of Medicaid. But on Friday, October 12, Judge George B. Daniels of the Southern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s rule, temporarily barring it from going into effect. “The Rule is simply a new agency policy of exclusion in search of a justification,” wrote Daniels while granting the request. “It is repugnant to the American Dream of the opportunity for prosperity and success through hard work and upward mobility,” he added. “Immigrants have always come to this country seeking a better life for themselves and their prosperity. With or without help, most succeed.” Critics of the new public charge rule have said that its implementation would punish immigrant families and would result in many families being forced to choose between maintaining immigration status or meeting basic needs like food. Heng Lam Foong, senior policy manager with the Health Access Project at Advancing Justice Los Angeles, told the Asian Journal last October when the rule was first proposed, that about 3.8 million Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants relied on some form of public benefit to make ends meet. A study by the Urban Institute published in May found that 1 in

tage of our generous but limited public resources reserved for vulnerable Americans.” “These injunctions are the latest inexplicable example of the Administration being ordered to comply with the flawed or lawless guidance of a previous administration instead of the actual laws passed by Congress,” read the statement. Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, also released a statement on Friday defending the public charge rule. “Longstanding federal law requires aliens to rely on their own capabilities and the resources of their families, sponsors, and private organizations in their communities to succeed,” said Cuccinelli. “The public charge regulation defines this long-standing law to ensure those seeking to come or stay in the United States can support themselves financially and will not rely on public benefits,” he added. “Through faithful execution of the law, we will ensure immigrants are able to successfully support themselves as they seek opportunity here. An objective judiciary will see that this rule lies squarely within longheld existing law.” Despite the temporary blocking of the public charge rule, the federal court moves came a week after Trump signed a proclamation barring legal immigrants unable to prove that they will have health care coverage or means of paying for it within 30 days of their arrival. Starting November 3, immigrants will be allowed entrance to the U.S. only if they can show that they are already covered by health insurance, or have the ability to pay for “reasonably foreseeable medical costs.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress) n

Trump phone call to Duterte among many...

PAGE A1 tra” after Duterte sang for Trump Some of the policemen implicated in the “ninja cops” controversy have arrived at the Department at an event during the Philippines’ of Justice for preliminary investigation, October 16. Philstar.com photo by Evelyn Macairan hosting of the Asean summit in The complaint, however, was 2017. The CIDG filed complaints of Citing anonymous White House violations of sections 27 (misap- dismissed, and is now subjected sources, Washington Post said propriation), 29 (planting) and 32 to a Petition for Review. Guevarra gave the prosecu- the call to Duterte was just one of (custody and disposition) of the Republic Act 9165 or the Com- tors 30 days to complete its re- many that Trump made to world prehensive Dangerous Drugs view of the case. (With Evelyn leaders who are either outright authoritarian or display authoriMacairan) n Act of 2002 against the cops. tarian tendencies and which were so outrageous and bordered on sellout. These leaders included China //", 9Ê /Ê 7 President Xi Jin Ping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Pandering Some of the calls, the WaPo report said, were simply pandering by Trump to the foreign leader he was talking to. One example cited was when he discussed a chocolate cake with Xi. Another call by Trump, to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was goaded by what his critics said was his narcissism. Trump, the WaPo report quoted one of its sources as saying, “pestered” Abe “for help in recommending him for a Nobel Prize.” Trump’s pandering to Duterte was just one of many instances of what could be the two leaders’ affirmation of their many similarities which Philippine government officials appeared to flaunt as a badge of honor for Duterte. Salvador Panelo, Duterte spokesperson, said in a Sept. 27, 2019 report that Trump had shown that he “loved” Duterte and that Duterte loved the U.S. president in return. But Panelo, the same report said, pointed out that Duterte was the original. 7 7 7° 6 1 6 7° " “Long before Trump, there was

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7 adults in immigrant families reported avoiding public benefit programs in 2018 out of fear that they’d possibly endanger their future green card status. Also blocking the rule on Friday, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in the Northern District of California emphasized the repercussions of the rule, particularly when it came to public health. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Hamilton wrote, “made no attempt, whatsoever, to investigate the type of magnitude of harm that would flow from the reality which it admittedly recognized would result — fewer people would be vaccinated.” She said Trump administration officials further violated the Administrative Procedure Act in that they “acted arbitrarily and capriciously during the legallyrequired process to implement the changes they propose.” U.S. District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson in the Eastern District of Washington, also issued a nationwide injunction and ruled that the DHS had “not cited any statute, legislative history, or other resource that supports the interpretation that Congress has delegated to DHS the authority to expand the definition of who is inadmissible as a public charge or to define what benefits undermine, rather than promote, the stated goal of achieving self-sufficiency.” The three federal rulings were among nine legal challenges to the public charge rule. In a statement on Friday, the White House said the rulings prevented the nation’s immigration officers “from ensuring that immigrants seeking entry to the United States will be self-sufficient and instead allow non-citizens to continue taking advan-

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already a Duterte,” Panelo said in that report, referring to the two presidents’ leadership styles. Trump congratulating Duterte for doing a good job in handling the Philippines’ struggle against the illegal drug trade came amid allegations of massive human rights violations that included summary killings of suspects, warrantless arrests and killings of people based on so-called drug watchlists that are not backed by evidence. Philippine police acknowledge as many as 6,000 deaths in Duterte’s war on drugs, which continued to rage and bring mostly civilian fatalities. Many of the deaths were results of what police described as legitimate operations where “nanlaban (fought back)” has become an overused term to explain the killing of police targets. But human rights groups, including the highly respected Human Rights Watch, estimated the death toll, mainly civilian, to exceed 20,000. Many killings are unsolved with relatives of the dead, in most cases, refusing to demand investigations, much less file charges against police out of fear they would be targeted next. Tacit approval Critics of the killings associated with Duterte’s bloody campaign against drugs had likened Trump’s congratulatory message to a tacit approval and endorsement of Duterte’s alleged disregard for due process and human rights in the pursuit of his main law enforcement mission–slay or mangle the Philippines’ illegal drug network. “There was a constant undercurrent in the Trump administration of [senior staff] who were

genuinely horrified by the things they saw that were happening on these calls,” said the WaPo report, quoting one of its sources, a former White House official. “Trump’s phone calls with foreign leaders were an anxiety-ridden set of events for his aides and members of the administration, according to former and current officials,” the report said. Trump’s calls to world leaders came into focus following a whistleblower complaint that led to an impeachment hearing by the U.S. Congress on abuse of power allegations against the U.S. president. The complaint, supported by a rough transcript released by Trump himself, showed Trump dangling release of military aid to Ukraine in exchange for dirt on his likely opponent in the November 2020 presidential elections, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. The call to Duterte came just months before Trump landed in the Philippines to attend the Asean summit in November 2017. At the summit, Duterte and Trump gushed with praises for each other, according to accounts of their several meetings. The gooey flow of praises continued months after the Asean meeting between Duterte and Trump in Manila. In reports some two years after the summit in 2019, Panelo was quoted as saying that U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo had found Duterte and Trump to be so alike in temperament and style of governance. Same language The reports cited Panelo as recounting the encounter between

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Gov. Newsom signs arbitration bill...

PAGE A1 and I am pleased that Governor Newsom is standing up for workers and consumers.” Mandatory arbitration provisions are ubiquitous in America. They prevent workers and consumers whose rights have been violated from pursuing their claims in court. Instead, they must go through an arbitration process that overwhelmingly favors businesses. By withholding payment of arbitration fees, the businesses obstruct the process with the hope the claims will be abandoned. SB 707 affirmatively gives consumers and employees a choice whether to instead proceed in court, continue the arbitration, or compel the business to pay up. It also includes another important component that requires arbitration firms to provide demographic information. A 2015 survey of practicing employment arbitrators, found 74 percent of those surveyed were male and

92 percent were Caucasian. SB 707 seeks to obtain better data on the ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, and veteran status of arbitrators. With more cases being adjudicated in arbitration, it is critical that the pool of private arbitrators better reflects the diverse backgrounds of the people who are bringing the claims, Wieckowski said. “SB 707 is a critical reform to California’s rigid arbitration process, which too often gives companies an advantage over individuals locked into binding arbitration agreements,” Hertzberg said. “This marks an important step toward providing workers and consumers with meaningful remedies when companies try to game the system and coerce them into abandoning their claims.” It is Wieckowski’s fourth arbitration bill signed into law during his tenure in the Legislature.

“We applaud the Governor for signing SB 707 into law. This bill will allow consumers and employees to fully vindicate their rights should companies try to obstruct the arbitration process by refusing to pay their share of the arbitration fees,” said Mariko Yoshihara, policy director of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA). “SB 707 provides much-needed clarity in the event that a company’s nonpayment of fees puts the proceeding in limbo.” In addition to CELA, SB 707 is supported by the Consumers Attorneys of California, the California Labor Federation, the Service Employees International Union California, UNITE HERE, United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Utility Workers Union of America, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers International, among many others. n

Robredo’s camp to submit an answer to Marcos’ bid to recount votes in yet another area, this time the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Taking a swipe at the Marcoses without naming any of them, Robredo said she became vice president because of “hard work.” “I do not have fake diplomas,” she said, apparently referring to accusations that Sen. Imee Marcos falsely claimed to be a graduate of Harvard. Marcos, Robredo said, “should not say those things because between the two of us, I know that I’m not the thief.” Marcos expressed frustration at being made to wait for too long to take over as vice president. “Of course, it’s frustrating but what are you going to do?” he said. “You have to trust the wisdom of our justices. Also the case is complicated. It is the first time that any presidential protest has reached this stage,” Marcos said. The SC en banc, according to

Marcos, had rejected adopting a draft decision penned by Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, recommending a dismissal of Marcos’ election protest. “I am happy that the case continues,” said Marcos. “So the case lives and it continues,” he said. “We will fight until all of the evidence we have are presented to the tribunal,” he added. Marcos said if he had his way, his electoral case would be decided in just two days. “Every additional day is a little bit more frustrating but, again, we abide by the system,” Marcos said. n

Marcos: I was robbed of 3 years as VP... PAGE A1 the late democracy icon Corazon Aquino won. Marcos said by cheating him in the elections, “they robbed the proper Vice President, myself, of three years of service.” Robredo countered by saying she was not the one suffering from a reputation of fraud. “It’s funny that he is the one saying it,” the vice president said at a press briefing in her office in Quezon City. “Between the two of us, it’s not me who has the habit of robbing,” Robredo said. The high court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), released copies of initial recount results in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental where the former senator claimed he was cheated. The recount was demanded by Marcos but the camp of Robredo had demanded the release of its results. The Supreme Court also asked

Locsin calls for boycott over... PAGE A1 vs. CN propaganda tactics nonetheless,” Batongbacal replied. “MTRCB [Movie and Television Review and Classification Board] technically has power to require deletion of objectionable portions of films for reasons that include being ‘injurious to the prestige of the Rep. of the Philippines or its people’ (PD 1986, sec. 3, para. c) (which) is what this does if we quietly allow it to be shown without

some form of protest,” he added. According to Batongbacal, if “Abominable” were “allowed to be shown without offending portion” then a “call for boycott should still be made as a strong statement against such tactics.” “Also so as to not contribute to CN [China’s] coffers by seeing the movie, and send message to U.S. companies partnering with CN propagandists to stop enabling such moves,” he added. n

Photo courtesy of Filipinotimes

KICK IT. David Beckham trains children during the AIA Philam Life Football Clinic held at the McKinley Stadium in Taguig City. This was Beckham’s third visit to Manila. Manilatimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

Trump phone call to Duterte among many... PAGE A2 Duterte and Pompeo when the two met during Pompeo’s visit to Manila in March 2019. “You’re just like our president!” Panelo quoted Pompeo as saying after that meeting with Duterte. The similarity lay in the two president’s penchant to use cuss words, according to Panelo. In a Newsweek article in September 2018, Duterte was quoted as saying that Trump “speaks my language.” The mutual admiration chain between Duterte and Trump appeared to have suffered a small

cut in September 2018 when, according to news reports, Duterte blamed Trump, although indirectly, for launching a trade war with China with its hail of bullets reaching the Philippines. “Because America…Trump wanted it. Even taxes, they raised it. Even import duties,” Duterte was quoted as saying in a South China Morning Post report. The Philippine ruler, however, quickly slipped his gun back into the holster. “I will talk to friend Trump…I have nothing against the Amerian people, not the slightest misgiving against Trump,” the report further quot-

ed Duterte as saying. Aside from their foul mouths, another thing that could be connecting Trump and Duterte, according to a USA Today report, might be their dislike of former U.S. President Barack Obama whom Duterte once called son of a whore for commenting that the rule of law should prevail in any law enforcement program, including Duterte’s war on drugs. Duterte, however, had already apologized to Obama in September 2018, saying during a visit to Israel that he was “sorry for uttering those words.” (Tony S. bergonia/Inquirer) n

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OCTOBER 18-24, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Major credit agency upgrades California’s credit rating Millions dead by 2050 due to

SACRAMENTO – Recognizing California’s decisions to build the state’s fiscal reserves and pay down long-term liabilities, as well as continued economic growth, a major credit agency – Moody’s Investors Service – has upgraded California’s outstanding general obligation bonds to Aa2 from Aa3. The agency has also upgraded the rating on the state’s outstanding lease debt, its outstanding appropriation debt and outstanding school fund apportionment lease revenue bonds. According to the agency, the upgrade “recognizes the state government’s disciplined approach to managing revenue growth indicated by its use of surplus funds to build reserves and pay down long-term liabilities.” “While Washington balloons the national debt to pay for tax cuts for the rich, California is showing that it is possible to take bold action to tackle the affordability crisis, climate change, and other challenges all while living within our means,” said Governor Newsom. “We are advancing progressive values while growing our rainy day fund, paying down pension liabilities and eliminating

antimicrobial resistance — WHO

Photo courtesy of debt.org

our state’s wall of debt.” In August, Fitch Ratings also upgraded the state’s credit rating, writing that California has improved its ability to weather an economic downturn. The 2019 Budget Act signed by the Governor made a series of investments in expanding the state’s financial security. The Budget will end the year with total reserves of $19.2 billion, of which $16.5 billion is in the Rainy Day Fund, $1.4 billion in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties, $900 million in the Safety Net Reserve and nearly $400 million in the Public School System Stabilization Account. The budget makes an extra payment of $9 billion over the

next four years to pay down unfunded pension liabilities. This includes $3 billion to CalPERS and $2.9 billion to CalSTRS on behalf of the state, and $3.15 billion to CalSTRS and CalPERS on behalf of schools. The budget invests $4.5 billion to eliminate the Wall of Debt and reverses the decade-old deferral undertaken during the last recession. The budget prioritizes one-time investments, with 88 percent of new expenditures being temporary rather than ongoing. This addresses the affordability crisis Students of Mariano Marcos Memorial High School wash their hands in observance of Global Handwashing Day on Monday, October 14. facing Californians while miniPhilstar.com photo by Edd Gumban mizing ongoing commitments to threat to the future.” director Gerardo Legaspi, “90 by Sheila CriSoStomo avoid putting the state at fiscal WHO cautioned that “without percent of bacteria that is presPhilstar.com disadvantage in the future. n additional action,” an estimated ent in the hospital are on the By 2050, some 10 million peo- 10 million people are expected surface, so it is easily transmittable by touching objects.” ple globally are expected to die to die due to AMR by 2050. “AMR threatens to reverse Because of this, he said it is due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with some 4.5 million hard-fought gains in fighting important for everyone, especoming from the Asia Pacific, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV and cially those dealing with pathe World Health Organization many common infections as well tients, to observe precautionary (WHO) said Monday, October as, broadly, the achievement of measures like handwashing. universal health coverage and “So, everytime you touch 14. In a statement, the WHO the Sustainable Development something, a patient or bed of a patient, when you do your noted that AMR was one of the Goals,” the agency maintained. During the meeting, health handwashing it eliminates the health issues raised during the 70th session of WHO Western leaders also brought up con- bacteria and you don’t carry it Pacific Regional Office in Manila cerns over hospital-acquired in- around,” he told reporters in fections in some countries. line with the celebration of the recently. Meanwhile, the Philippine Global Handwashing Day on The agency added that delegates “recognized that efforts to General Hospital (PGH) remind- Monday. As part of the celebration, combat AMR need to be stepped ed all of its personnel, especialup, as so-called superbugs – bac- ly those handling patients, to PGH officials have spearheaded teria, viruses, parasites and fun- strictly observe handwashing to simultaneous washing of hands in their wards and outpatient gi that have become resistant to combat infection. According to PGH medical clinics. n treatment – pose an ever-greater

Palace unsure yet on planned US visit by Duterte by Julie

m. aurelio Inquirer.net

EVEN after enduring near freezing temperatures during his five-day trip to Russia, has President Duterte changed his mind about visiting the United States? Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo doesn’t think so, since it’s so much colder in the United States “In Russia, it was a good thing that he survived [the cold climate there]. We experienced almost freezing [temperatures] there,” said the Palace official in a radio interview last Friday, October 11. Pressed if President Duterte

was still unsure about going to the United States on the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, Panelo said: “you know, that would be difficult because it’s very cold there.” He made the remarks days after the president returned to the country last week after his second official visit to Russia, particularly Moscow and Sochi. During his stay there, the president was photographed wearing thick coats to keep himself warm while outdoors. The temperature in Moscow during the first week of October reportedly ranged from 3°C to 8°C. Upon his return to Davao City last week, the president told at a

press conference that he came down with a “very bad case of colds” due to the chilly weather in Russia. Earlier this year, Panelo said the Chief Executive was wary of cold weather and long flights, reasons why a visit to the United States was not yet on the table. “The problem with the president is he cannot stand the temperature in the U.S., it’s too cold and too far. He doesn’t like long-haul flights,” Panelo said in March. In July, Philippine ambassador to the United States Jose Romualdez said the president had “indicated he would like to go, but it’s just a question of timing.” n

untreated,” Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said. He added that the number is unacceptable because “these conditions could have been corrected overnight with cataract operation or by providing access to a pair of glasses.” Increased time spent indoors or “near work” activities, diabetic retinopathy or people living with diabetes Type 2, and late detection are also among the factors. People living in rural areas, especially those with low income, women, older people and people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and indigenous people suffer the most,

the report said. It said cataract and trachomatous trichiasis, a highly contagious disease spread through contact with eyes, nose and throat secretions, were higher among women, particularly in low to mid-income countries. People living in low- to middle-income regions, including the regions of western and eastern sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, are more likely to develop eye problems, the report added. The organization also cautioned that eye conditions like dry eye and conjunctivitis, which does not typically cause vision impairment, should not be overlooked. n

2.2B suffer from eye problems – WHO eva CaSalJay ManilaTimes.net

by

AT LEAST 2.2 billion people live with vision impairment or blindness worldwide, but more than 1 billion could have saved their eyesight had they gotten the care they needed, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. In its first world report on vision, the WHO found that aging, lifestyle changes and limited access to eye care are among the main factors in the rising number of the people living with vision impairment. “Eye conditions and vision impairment are widespread, and far too often they still go

One-third of world’s food wasted each year — UN by Pia lee-Brago Philstar.com

ONE-THIRD, or 33 percent, of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted every year even as more than 820 million people in the world go hungry every day, according to the United Nations agriculture agency’s latest annual report. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published its annual State of Food and Agriculture report that contains fresh estimates on the scale of the problem, enabling a better understanding of the challenge and suggesting possible solutions by looking into why and where food loss and waste take place. “How can we allow food to be thrown away when more than 820 million people in the world continue to go hungry every day?” asked FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu in the foreword to his agency’s report. The FAO makes a distinction between food losses, which occur at the stage when food is harvested up until the moment it is sold; and food waste, which occurs during the sale and consumption of food. Although there may be an economic loss, food diverted to other economic uses, like animal feed, is not considered as food

Photo courtesy of Facebook

loss or waste, nor are the inedible parts of food products. Food loss and waste occur at the farm, storage, transit, shop and home. Important causes of on-farm losses include inadequate harvesting time, climate conditions, practices applied at harvest and handling and challenges in marketing produce. Significant losses are caused by inadequate storage, as well as

decisions made at earlier stages of the supply chain that cause products to have a shorter shelf life. Good infrastructure and efficient trade logistics are key to preventing food loss. Processing and packaging play a role in preserving foods, and losses are often caused by inadequate facilities, technical malfunction or human error. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

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7,281 children given polio vaccines — Philippine Red Cross On Rural Women’s Day, peasant groups call

on military to pull out of communities

Polio Camapign, door-to-doot vaccination for children by Neil

ArwiN MercAdo Inquirer.net

A TOTAL of 7,281 children across Metro Manila and Mindanao have been given polio vaccines so far during the doorto-door vaccination drive of the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported Tuesday, October 15. PRC volunteers joined the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign which kicked off Monday, October 14 and conducted door-to-door vaccination for children with ages 0 to 5.

As of October 15, Tuesday, 3 p.m., a total of 7,281 children have been vaccinated in the following areas: • Manila – 377 children • Pasay – 1,523 children • Quezon City – 906 children • Navotas – 220 children • Las Piñas – 599 children • Valenzuela – 315 children • Taguig – 769 children • Muntinlupa – 594 children • San Juan – 178 children • Malabon – 304 children • Davao City – 1,458 children • Davao del Sur – 38 children According to the PRC, a total

Inquirer.net file photo

of 550 volunteers have been deployed to join the campaign, with each vaccination team composed of four members—a team leader, a health educator, a recorder, and a vaccinator. Citing the health department, the PRC said a 95 percent decline in polio vaccination among children below five years old was recorded in 2018. “It is through the power of [our] pool of volunteers that the Red Cross can help our partners in fighting polio in the ‘Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio,’” said Sen. Richard J. Gordon, the Chairman and CEO of PRC. n

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to mint P20 coin by MAyveliN

u. cArAbAllo ManilaTimes.net

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will launch a new P20 coin in December, which will be circulated in 2020. The central bank said the official photographs and specifications of the coin would be presented by BSP Gov. Benjamin E. Diokno during its launch. The Bangko Sentral explained that “the issuance of a coin in lieu of a banknote is more cost efficient.” It said a study conducted by the University of the Philippines revealed that the P20 banknote is the most-used denomination across the country. n

Manilatimes.net file photo

The National Federation of Peasant Women (Amihan) and other farmers groups on Oct. 15, 2019 marked the International Day of Rural Women by protesting in front of military headquarters Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to speak out against the militarization of peasant communities. Photo from Amihan Women Facebook Page by rAtziel

SAN JuAN Philstar.com

THE National Federation of Peasant Women (Amihan) and other farmers groups on Tuesday, October 15, marked International Day of Rural Women by protesting in front of Camp Aguinaldo, the military headquarters in Quezon City, to speak out against militarization in rural communities. “While the world recognizes the invaluable contribution of peasant women to development, the Duterte regime does the opposite. Already engrossed in chronic landlessness, poverty, and hunger, Duterte worsens it by direct fascist attacks legitimized by his various authoritarian issuances,” Amihan National Chairperson Zenaida Soriano said in a release. Soriano said that aside from increased military presence in peasant communities resulting from the implementation of martial law in Mindanao and Memorandum Order 32 in Sa-

mar, Bicol, and Negros, troops also occupied places frequented by farmers, such as schools, daycare centers, barangay halls, barangay health centers, plazas, houses, and fields. “Kung kaya’t nangangamba ang mga kababaihang magsasaka sa kanilang buhay at sa buhay ng kanilang mga anak na pumapasok sa mga eskwelahan (This is why women farmers fear for their lives along with their children’s just for attending class in military-occupied schools),” Soriano told Philstar.com. Human rights group Karapatan has said the farming sector has seen 216 extrajudicial killings and seven enforced disappearances between July 2016 and June 2019. The figure includes 31 women, 29 elderly, and 10 minors, Soriano claimed. Karapatan also tallied over 40,000 cases where educational, medical, and religious public places were used for military purposes. Soriano also cited attacks that

she said women in the provinces endure, such as sexual harassment and being forced to perform humiliating acts. “Lahat ng ito ay nagreresulta ng sikolohikal at pisikal na trauma sa mga kababaihan at pamilyang magsasaka sa kanayunan (All of this results in psychological and physical trauma among women and peasant families in the countryside),” Soriano said. Sen. Leila de Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development in a Tuesday release said the government needs to support the plight of rural women. “I call on our government to provide them all the opportunities in their community to uplift themselves and their families so they will not think that social mobility is only possible in urban areas,” the senator said. “Their hard work, fortitude and sacrifice for the betterment of their families and communities pave the way for the progress not only of their locality but also of the global village.” n

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OCTOBER 18-24, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

With SC skittish, the nation is hostage to fortune

FEATURES

IT sounds melodramatic to put it in these terms, but we believe that after three years of hemming and hawing about the electoral protest on the contest for the vice presidency in the 2016 elections, the Supreme Court (SC) owes it to the nation and our people to bring this issue to full resolution. Not because we favor one side or the other, but because we want to know the truth of the 2016 balloting, we make bold to intrude on today’s deliberations of the high court to urge it to do its duty by our people. In 1578, the great English essayist Francis Bacon wrote in the essay “Crimes and criminals”: “He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune” — meaning that he places his loved ones at the mercy of fortune or luck, with all its uncertainties and cruel surprises. We think of Bacon’s words today, as we await the court’s decision on the election protest. We are made conscious again of the incomprehensible delay and repeated procrastination that has attended the hearing of the election protest by the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

Our nation and our people, we daresay, have become hostages to fortune because of the sword of uncertainty that has been hung over our national life by this unresolved question, and by the reluctance of our honorable justices to complete their work on this issue. The delay is troubling, first, because it is now three years since the PET received the protest. The delay is tormenting, second, because without a firm resolution of the question of succession to the presidency, our country’s political fortunes will be placed at the mercy of the unknown and possibly hostile forces that could wreak havoc on the nation. Finally, we are fairly warned against the possi- find closure to this question. Many times in the past, we have heard the Subility that the high court may again kick the can further down the road, and that our people would preme Court authoritatively and firmly act on great then have to wait again for who knows how long to questions of national life, and its rulings proved de-

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS “HOAX” and “witch hunt” — that’s how President Donald Trump has always called any investigation into him. He has gone further by instructing officials and staff in his administration NOT to cooperate with and ignore subpoenas from the Constitution-mandated congressional impeachment inquiry/investigation. He has been attacking and accusing Democrats and the media of being behind this so-called plot to remove the power from the people by trying to oust him from office and to abort his socalled “sure victory” in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. He contends that the American people do NOT want him impeached and are so happy with his performance as president that they want him re-elected. Unfortunately, Trump’s actions, decisions, and words in public have already betrayed him, and have given Congress the probable cause to launch an impeachment inquiry, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution. As Newsweek reported, the Democrat-led Congress finally launched an impeachment inquiry after a whistleblower for-

New Fox News and other polls show a majority of Americans now say Trump should be impeached, removed from office mally submitted a complaint in accordance with the rule of law. It alleged “that Trump asked a foreign leader to investigate a potential political rival. In a July phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump mentioned Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden, and his son Hunter, according to a summary transcript of the call released by the White House.” The report added that “despite Biden being mentioned in the call, the president insisted there was no pressure put on Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, and no ‘quid pro quo’ discussion, despite aid to the country being held up around the time of the conversation.” Seventeen of the former special prosecutors who investigated the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon wrote an oped for the Washington Post to declare that they believe “Trump should be impeached”. “We, former members of the Watergate special prosecutor force, believe there exists compelling prima facie evidence that President Trump has committed impeachable offenses. This evidence can be accepted as sufficient for impeachment, unless disproved by any contrary

(Part 2 of 2)

WE were then a young aggressive entrepreneur, and decided to bid as prime contractor for the Port of Jeddah, the largest then in the Arab world, which was opened for bidding to manage the port, Saudi Arabia’s main entry point in the Red Sea. We had signed a joint venture agreement with the Singapore Port Authority, and created the PhilippinesSingapore Ports Corporation, which was quite successful. We won the bid, acquired a large ship without engine in the Port of Piraeus in Greece, and had it towed across the Aegean Sea and into the Suez Canal and into Jeddah. As we had written before, the vessel arrived in Jeddah in early morning as some ten commercial 707 jets just flew in from Manila with stevedores and port executives for immediate deployment in the Jeddah port. We won the bid for the Jeddah port, not because we were the best but the big port operators from the U.S., U.K., Italy, South

evidence that the president may choose to offer,” they wrote. They continued, “The ultimate judgment on whether to impeach the president is for members of the House of Representatives to make. The Constitution establishes impeachment as the proper mechanism for addressing these abuses; therefore, the House should proceed with the impeachment process, fairly, openly and promptly. The president’s refusal to cooperate in confirming (or disputing) the facts already on the public record should not delay or frustrate the House’s performance of its constitutional duty.” “In reaching these conclusions, we take note of 1) the public statements by Trump himself; 2) the findings of former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation; 3) the readout that the president released of his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; 4) the president’s continuing refusal to produce documents or allow testimony by current and former government employees for pending investigations, as well as for oversight matters; and 5) other information now publicly available, including State Department text messages indicating that the release of essential military aid to Ukraine was conditioned on

Ukraine’s willingness to commence a criminal investigation designed to further the president’s political interests,” the former prosecutors argued. Following news about the Ukraine scandal, recent polls reveal growing support for the impeachment inquiry, compared to previous polls involving other Trump scandals, including the Mueller probe. The Washington Post poll: 58 percent of respondents supported the impeachment inquiry; Quinnipiac poll: 53 percent of people supported the impeachment inquiry itself, and 45 percent also felt that the president should be impeached and removed from office; NBC/Wall Street Journal poll: 55% of people back the inquiry; Politico/Morning Consult poll: half of registered voters would back removing Trump from office; NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll: 52% say they approve of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump. BUT the poll that really made Trump furious was at the recent poll taken by Fox News, the cable news channel perceived by most Americans as a propaganda machine for Trump. Trump’s statements and tweets suggested he was not

happy with polling results from Fox commenting to reporters at the weekend: “Fox has changed. My worst polls have always been from Fox.” The Fox News poll conducted on October 6-8 revealed the following, among others: Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as president? A: Approved 43%; Disapproved 55% Q: Do you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one? A: Favorable 43%; Unfavorable 56% Q: Do you think the Trump administration is more corrupt than previous administrations, less corrupt, or is the Trump administration about as corrupt as previous administrations? A: More corrupt 51%; Less corrupt 27%; About as corrupt 18%; Don’t know 3% Q: Please tell me how much confidence you have in Trump (among others): A: Confidence 43%; No confidence 56% Q: How troubling do you find the situation surrounding President Trump’s dealings with the Ukrainian president — extremely, very, somewhat, or not at all? A: Extremely 38%;

Very 13%; Somewhat 18%; Not at all 26%; Don’t know 5% Q: President Trump has made allegations about Joe Biden and his son’s business dealings in Ukraine and China. How troubling do you find those allegations — extremely, very, somewhat, or not at all? A: Extremely 19%; Very 17%; Somewhat 26%; Not at all 32%; Don’t know 6% Q: Do you think President Trump should be impeached and removed from office, or not? A: YES 51%; NO 43% THESE POLLS do not even cover the latest Trump decision to abandon our Kurds allies in Northern Syria that cleared the way for the attack of the Turks forces. At least 104 Kurdish fighters and 60 civilians have been killed since Turkey’s attack on Wednesday, putting hundreds of thousands of families at risk and benefitting the interests of the Russian and Syrian dictators. ABANGAN ANG SUSUNOD NA KABANATA. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Chirac and the Muslim mosque in the south; brief Qatar visit and tension in Persian Gulf

PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR.

cisive in keeping our ship of state safe and steady. We pray then today that the Supreme Court will again use its voice to calm and strengthen our troubled nation. (Manilatimes.net)

Korea, and Japan could only start operations in Jeddah after two years since they first had to build permanent housing barracks for their large workforce. We outwitted them and won the bid by promising to start operations soonest with our 3,000 Filipino stevedores and an array of Filipino, Singaporean, and English port executives, backed by our multi-million bid bonds and performance bonds following stiff international competition. After a few weeks our ship, the largest pre-war luxury liner, renamed the Villa Magna by the Greeks, docked in Piraeus, Greece, without engine, was pulled by giant tugboats we hired from the Netherlands, crossed the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea to our cheering employees, 3,000 stevedores from the Philippines, to our port of destination, Jeddah. The project was so successful that the Saudi Government this time awarded to us without further bidding our second port, the Port of Jubail in the Persian Gulf or Arab Gulf to the Arabs,

on the other side of the peninsula. Perhaps the rest is history and after our successful projects in Jeddah and Jubail, smaller O&M projects in Gizan also off the Arab desert, housing projects in Kuwait, smaller projects in Iraq’s Basrah and Baghdad, we ended our Arab journey after striking oil in Ajman, the United Arab Emirates, where we — Basic Energy and Landoil — brought our own oil rig which we leased from Andres Soriano’s PODCO in the Philippines. Drilling was supervised by the late experienced Mario Nieto of Isabela whom we engaged as drilling superintendent. The drilling location was chosen by our Dr. Fran Gidson, the celebrated Amrican who helped discover in earlier days the giant oil field in Iraq and a celebrated geologist. We organized the drilling and raised drilling funds from our Arab friends and our subscribers from the Philippines and we had a substantial oil strike in Ajman, one of the smallest Emirates in the UAE, the United Arab

Emirates, whose most popular centers are Dubai and the capital Abu Dhabi, where overall we have today perhaps more than two million Filipinos in the Arab world since our pioneering days from the mid-1970s to the 80s. Our successful ventures in the Arab world came to a close with the Iran-Iraq war as we had to close shop with significant losses and then we had to come home to return to our old love, run for public office in the Philippines, after the end of Martial Law. Last week, as we boarded the plane in Qatar, we envisioned going back to the Middle East and talk to the rulers of Ajman and the UAE about perhaps allowing us to redrill our old well there and adding new wells to establish our oilfield, beginning with the first oil well we drilled there which was a success. This may be difficult to accomplish now but who knows. We are still active with Basic Energy in the Philippines with brother Oscar and nephew Carey de Venecia and son Joey III. They have small projects in Myanmar,

Thailand, and Japan with major Thai partners. We do not know how to go about it now, but after almost 40 years, we could inquire and try. For our return home from France, instead of flying to London from Paris to catch the direct Philippine Airlines London-Manila non-stop flight, we decided to take the return flight home via the Arab route, in Qatar along the Persian Gulf, Arab Gulf to the Arabs, despite the dangerous tensions in the Gulf region. The week before, rockets destroyed some of Saudi Arabia’s richest oil fields, hit by missiles from Yemen or Iraq but suspected by Saudis as fired from Iran. There will be many charges and counter-charges from both sides of the Gulf. Last week there were missed opportunities for U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran President Hassan Rouhani to meet at the U.N. General Assembly. We believe the U.N. Secretary General and the President of France or Chancellor of Germany could take the lead in initiat-

ing negotiations, with say, Asian counterparts, from India, Japan or ASEAN to restrain the Iranians, the Saudis, and the U.S. to help put an end to the crisis in the Gulf which threatens more than 50% of the world’s petroleum supply which include the bulk of Philippines’ oil imports. The Catholics and Protestants of Europe, after decades of conflict and bloodshed, following the Biblical days in Israel had long reconciled and live in peace. The Sunnis led by Saudi Arabia and the Shiites led by Iran, both followers of Islam, should likewise reconcile, keep their beliefs, until in God’s chosen time, like the Catholics and Protestants at least reconcile, and unite as one family under God. The U.N. Secretary General Antonio Gutierres, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, an ASEAN leader-designate, a Chinese or Russian representative should get-together and journey to Tehran and Riyadh to set a sustained peace process in motion until the work is done. ■

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Sara Duterte asks Congress, DND support to exempt Davao City from martial law

THE BETTER TO SEE YOU WITH, MY DEAR. A senior citizen has her eye checked during the Medical, Dental, Legal, Optical Mission of the National Press Club in partnership with sectoral groups on Saturday, Oct. 12, in Delpan Sports Center, Tondo, Manila. Manilatimes.net photo

PH named Asia’s leading dive destination

country,” Puyat said. In its recent report, the DoT indicated a 14.08-percent yearon-year increase in international inbound traffic. It said a total of 5,554,950 foreigners visited the country between January and August 2019. With this feat, the Tourism department edged out its counterparts from other countries, which were also nominated for the award. Since 1993, the World Travel Awards has recognized brands from the travel, tourism and hospitality industries in an annual series of gala ceremonies held per continent. (PNA) n

Photo courtesy by Department of Tourism

THE Philippines was recognized as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards for Asia and Oceania held in Vietnam on Saturday, October 12. The Department of Tourism (DoT) was also hailed as Asia’s Leading Tourism Board for the significant increase in the country’s visitor arrivals in the past year. “It is joyous news that the country’s diving scene is getting the attention it deserves. This award only adds to our motivation to promote a world-class Philippine dive tourism that is anchored on sustainability and inclusivity,” Tourism Secretary

Bernadette Romulo Puyat said. The Tourism department identified dive tourism as one of the key areas in the National Tourism Development Plan 2016-2022 that can positively affect industry growth in terms of increased visitor count, extended length of stay and higher tourism revenue, among others. “We are greatly honored and thankful for this recent recognition for the Philippines at the World Travel Awards. A triumph as great as this simply could not be possible without the combined hard work from the government, industry partners and tourism stakeholders in realizing a more upward tourism industry for the

Cybercrime on the rise over the last 6 years

Inquirer.net file photo by Catherine

GomzaleS Inquirer.net

AS the number of internet users in the country increases, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has also recorded a consistent upsurge in cases of cybercrime over the last six years. Data from the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) showed that online libel cases soared from only 22 incidents in 2013 to 661 from January to June 2019; as well as online scam cases from 42 to 550; photo and video voyeurism cases from 10 to 356; and computer-related identity theft cases from 23 to 258. Cases of online threat, meanwhile, rose from 29 to 217 during the period; system interference or hacking from 12 to 193; unjust vexation from one reported case to 148; cases of illegal access from zero incident to 133; automated teller machine (ATM) and credit card fraud from one reported case to 59; and robbery with intimidation from three to 35 incidents. Maj. Levy Lozada, spokesper-

son of the PNP-ACG, attributed the swelling figures to the rising number of internet users in the country. “Of course kapag maraming gumagamit ng internet, ‘yung vulnerable community mas dumadami, lalo na kung hindi sila aware kung ano ‘yung mga do’s and don’t’s sa internet (Of course when the number of Internet users increase, the vulnerable community also spreads, especially if they are not aware of the do’s and don’t’s in the internet),” he said in an interview with Inquirer.net. Lozada’s statement supports the results of a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations for the first quarter of 2019. The survey released in June, showed that 46 percent of Filipino adults are internet users. In January, the Digital 2019 report by the creative agency We Are Social and social media management platform Hootsuite likewise showed that the Philippines ranked as the top country worldwide in time spent surfing the internet and social media. n

Mayor Sarah Duterte by Julian

Suarez Inquirer.net

MAYOR Sara Duterte is calling for the support of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Department of National Defense (DND) to exempt Davao City from martial law. “We already sent a letter on August 17 to the Office of the President where we also attached supporting documents pertaining to our request for the city’s exemption from martial law,” Duterte told reporters on Monday, October 14.

Inquirer.net file photo

“Yesterday (October 13), we also discussed it and then I said, it would be better if we also send these documents to the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Department of National Defense,” she added. Earlier, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro were not included in their recommendation of areas to remain under martial law. “We really thank the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have the city

exempted from martial law,” Duterte said. The Davao City Council passed a resolution in August this year asking President Duterte to lift martial law here. Police in the region cited the city’s declining crime volume in support of the proposal, assuring that the city was already “fully secured and safe from any form of terrorism.” President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, following the siege of Marawi City by Islamic State-inspired terrorist groups.n

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OCTOBER 18-24, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019

Friday, October 18, 2019

SF

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019

Fil-Am actress Rinabeth Apostol brings life to ‘The Chinese Lady’ by

AJPress

MAGICTheater is proud to present the Bay Area Premiere of Lloyd Suh’s “The Chinese Lady,” directed by Mina Morita. Performing the lead role of “Afong Moy” — who is believed as the first Chinese woman to immigrate to the United States — is Filipino American thespian Rinabeth Apostol. “The Chinese Lady” follows Afong Moy after she is brought from her hometown in Guangzhou, China to New York City in 1834 by Nathaniel and Frederick Carne and put on display for an eager public to learn of the exotic East. The true story of Afong Moy, however, is only partly known. Some say she was reportedly sent by merchants who wanted to use her as an ambassador for China to entice the public for Chinese items,

other reports suggest that her family was paid for her time. After New York, it was said that Afong Moy toured the U.S. Nobody knew what happened to her after that, though many speculated that she either went back to China or faded into obscurity in the U.S. Apostol, admits that not a lot of people, including her, knew about Afong Moy, sharing that after she got the part, she tried to do some research on her character. “I went to go look through all my old Asian American Studies books and I found like two or three sentences about her,” she said in an interview with Inquirer.net “Basically, just saying who she was and what she did, but not really what purpose she served. It had more to do with: she was put on display; these

Rinabeth Apostol as “Afong Moy” in Lloyd Suh’s “The Chinese Lady” at Magic Theatre, directed by Mina Morita. Photo by Adam Tolbert

were the people that put her on display. Not much more context in that. She is there for a very specific job and that is to be put on display,” she added. The absence of more information led playwright Lloyd Suh to write a book about her. “He could not find any information about her. It was not until during the process of the first production of this play that he and historian Nancy Davis started sharing more information and she eventually came out with a book after the world premiere of the play,” Apostol shared. This absence also pushed Apostol to learn how to embrace her character to give it justice and life. With “The Chinese Lady,” she was able to share the common goal with Suh in telling Afong Moy’s story. A native of San Francisco, Apostol’s love for the arts started in a dance class when she was barely four years old, to correct her pigeon toes. She shared in an interview with San Francisco Chronicle that she loved it more than her Filipino

parents bargained for. Although they encouraged her appreciation for the arts and both sides of her family are very musical, they really didn’t think that being an artist is what she will end up pursuing as a career. “[For] Asian parents in general, especially Filipino parents, that is not a career path that is the norm to choose. They also fault themselves because they were the ones who exposed me to the arts and at the same time. I think for them, it comes from the immigrant mentality that you do need to work hard and you do need to find success. And this is not the way that people who look like us ever find success,” she said in an interview with Inquirer.net Aside from the stage, Apostol has numerous acting credits that include independent films, TV and commercials. She is also an educator, teaching dance and theater. Joining Apostol in “The Chinese Lady” is actor Will Dao as the handler/translator “Atung.” “The Chinese Lady” will be onstage until November 3 at

Rinabeth Apostol plays “Afong Moy,” the first Chinese woman to set foot in America in the play “The Chinese Lady.” Photo by Jennifer Reiley

Will Dao as “Atung” and Rinabeth Apostol as “Afong Moy”.

the Magic Theatre, Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd., Building D, 3rd Floor, San Francisco. Performance schedules are Tuesday-7 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday-8

Photo by Jennifer Reiley

p.m., and Sunday-2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $75. For tickets you can go online at MagicTheatre.org, or call (415) 441-8822.

Aljur from the heart by boy AbundA Philstar.com

ALJUR Abrenica speaks straight from the heart and with sincerity. He talks about life with wife Kylie Padilla with so much love and pride. Kylie is seven months pregnant with their second child. Their eldest, Alas Joaquin, is now two years old. On the hot seat of “Tonight with Boy Abunda” a couple of nights ago, Aljur didn’t deny that he expected their second baby to be a girl after having observed how Kylie would always want to look beautiful and maintain her weight during the first trimester of her pregnancy. She, too, would arrange their home from time to time. “When she was pregnant with Alas, bargas s’ya kumilos, very masculine. That’s why, I really thought that it will be a girl but during the gender reveal,

boy pala. Of course, I am happy whatever the gender (of the child) is.” Another source of happiness for both Aljur and Kylie is the former’s latest drama series “Sandugo.” Aljur said that Kylie is doubly excited about his role and even told him that she also wishes to do the same kind of role in the future. “I play Leo Balthazar who is on the bad side but eventually the televiewers will know the reason why as the soap progresses. I am thankful to ABS-CBN for this. In fact, ka-sing-edad ng unang anak ko when I had my first day in ‘Ang Probinsyano’ so it’s already been two years since I first came here.” His “Sandugo” co-star Ejay Falcon is one of his closest friends in the Kapamilya network. No wonder, Aljur just smiled upon learning that Ejay branded him as a chickboy. “I

He also thanked Kylie for all the love and support after reading the letter. must say na mas chickboy si “We’ve been together for Ejay. Tahimik lang s’ya pero big- nine years and I saw your jourlang nawawala tapos babalik at ney from man to father and man mawawala ulit, hahahaha!” to husband. We both know that Kidding aside, Aljur said he it’s not easy but you do your and Ejay share many things in best, we do our best. Thank common “like we both like mar- you for your patience, for your tial arts and fitness. Parehas din understanding…Thank you at kaming probinsyano at parehas niligawan mo ko ulit at hinabol panganay although Ejay is the noon,” part of the letter read. breadwinner of his family while I Aljur and Kylie first became somehow help my dad.” an item in 2011 but parted ways Asked who between them is in 2014. They rekindled their richer, Aljur quipped, “Mayaromance two years after, and man sa babae, s’ya ‘yun (laughs) then tied the knot in 2018. at mas mabait ako.” “Now, we have a family. And Indeed, Aljur has become always remember that we are mature when he started a famhere for you. We love you. I love ily. He realized that being a you,” Kylie added. dad is not simple. “All the dads Aljur equally expressed his out there know that being a love for Kylie by telling how father is not really easy because he appreciates her efforts to there’s always a pressure of, show her love every single day as they say, always thinking of and he assured her that he will providing for the family even if always try to be the best version you have enough. Now, I under- of himself “para sa ‘yo, para sa stand what every father feels, sarili ko bilang asawa at bilang Aljur Abrenica talks about life with wife Kylie Padilla and their two kids with so much love and pride. especially my dad.” ama.” Photo from Instagram/@ajabrenica

Janine takes on a psycho-thriller Drew: Hosting is where his heart is by izA iglesiAs ManilaTimes.net

SHOWBIZ royalty Janine Gutierrez is about to stun audiences, not with her bewitching beauty, but with her naturally inherited acting skills that will keep them at the edge of their seats. Known for taking on strong and fierce female roles on television, the 30-year-old actresscum-high fashion model is eager to showcase her versatility via “Babae at Baril,” a proud entry to this year’s QCinema International Film Festival under the Asian Next Wave Competition. In the gripping psychological thriller, Gutierrez portrays a hardworking saleslady who’s had enough of being an underdog. Just as she decides to take things into her own hands, she mysteriously finds a gun on her doorstep. With it, she can do whatever she wants, talk back to whoever she wants and even hurt those who have wronged her. Empowered by the weapon, her bitter past comes rushing back to her and rather than wallow in it, it angers and transforms her. “Wala pa akong character na quite like this,” Gutierrez excitedly shared at a media conference on Monday, October 14.

din eh. Bawal kang masungit, bawal kang magsabi ng mali. I especially felt that kasi puro artista ang kamag-anak ko. So kahit anong gawin ko, magre-reflect sa nanay ko, sa lola ko, sa tita ko — lahat sa kanila if I don’t put my best foot forward. So dun ako nakarelate sa pagiging saleslady niya kasi hanggang saan ka magtitiis bago ka pumitik?” Needless to say, the script Janine Gutierrez of “Babae at Baril” locked her Photo from Instagram/@janinegutierrez into the project; while such new experinces as shooting in shady “Lagi kong sinasabi na ito talaga places complete with a gun chalyung pinangarap kong role. Para lenged her to no end. siyang galing probinsya na wala “Sobrang na-pressure din pa masyadong alam sa Manila ako kasi napakaganda ng script. and very out of place. Pero may Pressured para magampanan mo, mangyayari sa buhay niya na sobrang magfi-flip yung character mapantayan mo ang ganda ng kuento on paper — hoping na niya.” lumabas din siya onscreen,” GutAccording to the talented tierez continued. daughter of ‘80s stars Ramon “Pero dapat siyang abanChristopher and Lotlot de Leon, gan kasi I think in a way lahat the movie will be an eye opener tayo makaka-relate na may mga for those who frequent departnangyayari sa buhay natin na ment stores. talagang naiiba sa pagkatao natin “Nag-shoot talaga kami sa gustuhin man natin o hindi,” she loob ng mall and this is the side shared. the public doesn’t see — kung “And aside from that yung ano talaga yung totoong buhay pangalawang gusto ko sa project ng saleslady. And siguro nakana to is super female-led siya relate din ako sa fact na yung saleslady, pag nagtatrabaho, kai- which is something I am very passionate about as you know langan nakangiti, bawal magalit. Continued on Page SF3 Bilang artista parang ganoon ka

by ChristinA AlPAd ManilaTimes.net

IT is common practice for the networks to trumpet prized artists’ contract renewals, gathering topmost executives for signings, well as a grand media conference immediately after. It is therefore not surprising that GMA Network’s long-time travel host Drew Arellano felt overwhelmed when he received such a treatment commonly reserved for “Kapuso” prime time talents. On October 8, Arellano — who has been with GMA for 14 years — renewed his exclusive contract with the network. Present during his contract renewal were no less than GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon, Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores, First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon, and Asian Artists Agency representative Rowena Salido, among other executives. “I told them it’s not necessary to have all of these but I am thankful,” the 39-year-old said at his media conference. But in his statement, Gozon

Drew Arellano has hosted his popular travel show for 14 years now.

emphasized his network’s appreciation for the award-winning TV personality and host. “Yung nandito siya sa atin for 14 years is well-appreciated. Isa siya sa magagaling nating talents sa Public Affairs. At tayo naman ay talagang galak na galak na pinili na naman niyang manatili sa ating istasyon,” Gozon said. Hosting progression For those who have followed Arellano’s career, they can easily remember that his gateway to show business was actually acting. In 2005, he joined the youth-oriented show “Click” where he also met his eventual wife, host-actress Iya Villania. Fourteen years later, not only is he still a loyal contract artist of

GMA photo

the network — he and Villania are now parents to three-yearold Primo and one-year-old Leon. Aside from Click, Arellano was also part of the longest running morning show “Unang Hirit.” Also in 2005, Arellano hosted QTV’s travel show “Balikbayan” which later had an offshoot program “Weekend Getaway” on GMA News TV. Five years later, he further showcased his versatility in hosting via “AHA!” — a GMA Public Affairs’ award-winning infotainment show. “You know what they say. If you love your job, it doesn’t seem like a job. I get to travel with the entire ‘Biyahe Ni Drew’ crew or make kids learn Continued on Page SF5

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ MANY people believe that once their case is denied, that is the end of the line. No more hope or chances. There is nothing more they can do, and the case is now dead. However, depending on the reasons for a denial, it could still be possible to salvage the case and get it approved. IS THERE A WAY TO EXPEDITE THE PETITION FOR A 42-YEAR OLD SPECIAL CHILD SINCE HER GRANDMOTHER WHO USED TO CARE FOR HER HAS ALREADY PASSED The first thing that should be ON? THIS QUESTION AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” The first batch of Kapamilya who came to the “Citizen done is a thorough and detailed Pinoy” taping in Illinois have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out if the petition for a married son, that has dragged on for 15 years, can be expedited since he is needed by his aging parents to care for them. Can a U.S. citizen petition her mother who has married twice, but her first marriage has not yet analysis as to WHY the case was been annulled? Get answers to these questions and more on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select denied. What were the legal Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement) and factual bases relied on by the government to support that denial? Were the proper legal standards and burdens of proof utilized by USCIS or the U.S. Embassy in supporting the denial? Were there any misunderstandgusto namin from her, and From Page SF2 “Yung ‘Babae at Baril’ ay ings or miscommunications that — women empowerment. Kasi tungkol sa isang girl na napuno more pa. Super relaxed on created confusion and resulted set, wala akong na-feel na director namin, writer namin, na sa buhay tapos gusto lang ere. She’s always there and in a denial? (For example, the DOP (director of photography) niyang isa-isahin yung mga kinakaabang na siya sa next person was nervous, didn’t namin, producers namin puro naiinisan niya. So I think parang scene kahit hindi pa kami understand a question and gave babae. Yung kuento tungkol sa lahat tayo may ganuong punto prepared and nakikisama siya a wrong answer, etc.). Did the isang babae na hindi mo aakalain sa buhay na gusto mo na lang with the other staff. Sobrang person fail to fill out the forms na kaya niyang gawin ang mga mag-explode. And I think nagpuring-puri sila sa kanya kasi nacorrectly or include the required magagawa niya. So I think it’s a ing influence din yung family ko ngangamusta pa siya sa kanila, documents or information? really important project especially because I came from a family kaya everyone loves her,” Red The next thing to evaluate is considering everything that’s hap- of filmmakers and mostly yung said. WHAT can be done to overcome pening now.” mga ginagawa nila mga gangIn ending, Gutierrez said the denial. Is a waiver availAll natural ster films or semi-action din. So there is so much more to the able to overcome the denial? Asked how she fared doing I think I got my inspiration sa story once people watch it. Could additional documents or her action scenes, the ever candid pinaghalo kong experiences,” “Siguro ang pinaka other evidence prove eligibility actress replied, “Wala akong Red shared. message niya is hindi mo training na ginawa dito in terms and overcome the denial? Is it “We wanted Janine to do kailangang magtiis. You of the action scenes. Yung charpossible to seek reconsideration this film because maraming shouldn’t have to settle. Lalo acter ko diba may mapupulot na names ang binigay sa akin or reopening of the case? Can na dito sa Pilipinas. Minsan baril but ang pagkatao niya, wala tapos bawat name na naor should the case be refiled? naman talaga siyang alam about suggest, I watched their videos bilang babae pinalaki tayo na Can the case be appealed, and guns. So ayaw ni direk na magon YouTube. Tinitignan ko yung dapat mahinhin, dapat tahimik what would be the grounds for at sumusunod lang — padaanin appeal? training pa ako para natural na mga acting pieces nila before. kung ano lang yung alam ko, yun Nag-stand out si Janine kasi the mo lang yan mawawala din yan. There are several reasons a “Pero I’ve learned also from case could be denied, including lang din yung alam ng character role requires a certain level of a lot of women and a lot of ko. That’s why makatotohanan intellegence, maturity. Tahimik the following, where it could be younger women — especially yung paghawak ko ng baril at lang ang character. Halos possible to get the case appagkapa ko sa baril,” she said. walang linya, so kailangan idaan now yung Gen Z — yung proved: walang makakalusot na mali. According to the film’s direc- sa facial expressions. May naChild aged out and thereI think it’s very important to tor Rae Red, the film is inspired feel akong depth sa acting ni fore not included under a by people who usually hide their Janine kasi sa soaps madaming know that bilang babae, may petition. However, it could be kapangyarihan ka to say no, to inner anger. Red, who comes nag-iiyakan, nagsisigawan possible the child could still be ask for more, to realize that you eligible under the Child Status from a family of prominent filmpero yung kanya may certain do deserve more at hindi mo makers, said she picked Gutierrez level and yun yung eksaktong Protection Act (CSPA). kailangan magtiis dahil babae to portray the main character be- hinahanap ko,” she enthused. Marital petition denied beka,” Gutierrez ended. cause of the depth in her acting. “Also, nakuha namin ang

Janine takes on a psycho-thriller...

Is there hope after a denial? Part 1

cause USCIS thought the marriage was fixed. If a couple truly married for love, the petition should be approved. However, in some cases the couple does not fully document or prove the bona fides of the marriage (they may not have enough joint documents, they live apart because of work, etc.). If they receive a notice of intent to revoke or the case is already denied, it could be possible to better document the case, refile with a far better packaging of the bona fides of the marriage, etc. The denied family petition could also be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). In a future article, I will discuss more situations where there could still be hope despite a denial. Although there cannot be any “guarantees” of success, if your case was denied, you should consider consulting with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, and determine if there is hope in overcoming that denial and assisting in helping you reverse the denial and your

case approved. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019

celebrity world

Gabby Concepcion: Reunion movie with Sharon Cuneta will push through

By Ferdie Villar ACTOR Gabby Concepcion has confirmed that the reunion movie with former love team and ex-wife Sharon Cuneta will push through. “Okay na, nakapag-usap na kami, positive naman,” Gabby said in an interview with PEP.ph during the launch of a product he was endorsing. “Hinihintay lang namin na matapos ang mga shows niya,” the actor added. According to Gabby, he always wanted to fix whatever friction they had with each other, but the timing was not always right. “Noong araw ko pa naman na ginugusto kong maging okay na kami, nagkakaroon lang ng misunderstanding, misinterpretations, mixed emotions, different feelings, pasok dito (left ear) labas dito (right ear), pero ngayon, nagkapag-usap na kami ng kami lang dalawa, wala nang iba, kaya nabuo ang plano namin na sana matuloy, “ Gabby explained. The actor also said that he and Sharon will produce their most-awaited reunion movie, with help from a major movie outfit. “We don’t know yet, pero pinag-uusapan namin na kami na lang. Pero of course, kailangan rin namin ng ibang producers, para everybody happy, magkakatulungan, hindi mo naman pwede solohin so magkakaroon ng major producers,” he said. Gabby and Sharon’s last movie together was “Tayong Dalawa” in 1992. *** Our deepest condolences to the Barretto family, for the

passing of Miguel Barretto last Tuesday, October 15. He was 85 years old. Miguel is the father of actresses Gretchen, Claudine and Marjorie Barretto; and grandfather to Julia Barretto. Claudine confirmed the sad news, but did not disclose the cause of his demise. Sister Marjorie also paid tribute to their father on her Instagram account, recalling her fondest memories with him and their mother, Estrella “Inday” Barretto. “Oh Dad. “It’s so painful losing you. I feel so broken. Thank you for loving me and

being the greatest grandfather to my children. Rest now in heaven where you can breathe freely, sing, dance and play golf. Please watch over my children. I love you so much. I love you I love you I love you Daddy. I will miss you everyday,” she wrote. Claudine, on the other hand, posted on her Instagram, “Never knew I Could Actor Gabby Concepcion recently confirmed that the reunion movie with former love team and ex-wife HURT like this. GoodBYE Sharon Cuneta will push through. DADDY.” Miguel Barretto is survived by his wife Inday, and children Mito, Michelle, Jay-jay, Gia, Gretchen, Marjorie, Claudine and his grandchildren.

Beautiful young actress Thea Tolentino is one of the lead stars of the newest teleserye on GMA Pinoy TV, “Madrasta.”

Miguel Barretto, father of actresses Gretchen, Claudine and Marjorie Barretto; and grandfather of young actress Julia Barretto, passed away last Tuesday, October 15 at the age of 82.

ANNOUNCEMENT

BANKRUPTCY

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Eunice Bejar-Lee, president of New Haven Care Home here in Northern California, will celebrate her 60th birthday with a dinner and dance party on Saturday, November 2, at the Cliff House in San Francisco.

Handsome actor Alvin Abrenica is one of the lead actors in the newest teleserye, “Lukso ng Dugo” on The Filipino Channel.

Christian Bautista, known as Asia’s Romantic Balladeer, will celebrate his 38th birthday at GMA Pinoy TV’s “Classic All 4th You” concert on Saturday, October 19 in Los Angeles.

Queen of All Media Kris Aquino announced on her social media with a statement from her legal team last October 16 that she and former business manager Nicko Falcis have “fairly settled all financial issues and amicably worked out all personal differences.”

FOR RENT

Amalia Fuentes and Jojit Paredes: Farewell to the pillars of Philippine entertainment

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

(Continued from last week …) By Monet Lu Trust your own instincts. Your own personal experience IT’S the end of an era as will color the lens with which giants of Philippine cinema and you view and relate with your entertainment, Amalia Fuentes personal guardian angel. God and Jojit Paredes, both passed so loved the world, He sent His away recently Amalia Fuentes ABS-CBN photo Jojit Paredes Manilatimes.net photo only son to redeem us from sin Dubbed as the local filmand death so we may gain eterdreamboat who, along with his dom’s Elizabeth Taylor during From her introductory nal life. Angels are sent to help childhood pal Ronnie Henares, her prime, Amalia Fuentes died role in “Lydia” with Juancho toured various campuses as the us during our time here on earth on Saturday, October 5. She was Gutierrez, and her first starring towards this arduous journey to guitar-strumming duo Twofus. 79 years old. Former matinee role in “Movie Fan,” her movie Jojit had known Ronnie since eternal life. idol and singer Jojit Paredes career rose steadily alongside The Holy Spirit came to age 5 because they were neighdied of a brain aneurysm last her rival, the demure-looking guide us and enlighten us. But bors in Pasay City. As teeners, September 24. He was 68 years Susan Roces. Amalia and Susan on the micro, day-by-day level, Jojit formed a band with Ronnie old at the time. Both were quite did several movies together God sent us our personal guardand his cousins—including Jim known in the 50s and 60s. for Sampaguita, among them ian angels from conception, Paredes, who later joined Apo Amalia Fuentes light comedies such as “Amy, birth, throughout our life and Hiking Society. Considered among the coun- Susie, & Tessie” and “Amaliang our passage from death to eterThe other band members try’s most beautiful actresses Mali-Mali vs. Susanang Daldal,” soon dropped out, but Jojit and nal life as a constant presence. during their era, Amalia earned which fans watched in droves, Come to think of it, every the title “Elizabeth Taylor of making them big box office hits. Ronnie stuck it out, belting out time an unborn life is cut down, tunes for family and friends. It the Philippines” because of her The Romeo Vasquez-Amalia the murder deprives an angel was in one such gathering, while resemblance to the Hollywood Fuentes love team was one of of his purpose. There must be jamming in front of a campfire actress. the most popular in its heyday, some cosmic angst and turmoil at Matabungkay Beach in BaShe was among the elite a union that eventually led to a in the heavens. There must be tangas, that they were “discovactresses under local movie wedding in 1966. anguish and pain, a disturbance, ered,” leading to a recording production powerhouse Amalia later established her not only on earth but also in contract with Villar Records. Sampaguita Pictures who has own film company, AM Prothe celestial realm. Some say They waxed singles, covers enthralled movie fans of several ductions, with the help of her of popular American songs like generations. She first lit up the brothers Alexander and Alvaro. “Snowqueen of Texas,” “Where 1973. He eventually got to share silver screen in 1956. AM produced many memorable Born Amalia Margarita movie hits from the 1960s to the You Lead” and “Wake Up Little the silver screen with Vilma in “Tok Tok Palatok” in 1974. (He Susie.” Amador Muhlach in Manila on 1970s. also acted opposite Gina Alajar After a show in St. ScholasAugust 27, 1940, she was the As a freelance actress, in “Cofradia” in 1973.) tica’s, Jojit’s sisters Carol and eldest of three children of Alvaro Amalia appeared mostly in Jojit, for his part, signed up Gerty introduced him to Isang Muhlach, Sr., a movie booker of prestige drama movies proas a recording artist with Vicor, del Rosario, whose brother-inFrench-Spanish-German ancestry duced by Premiere Productions, where he was groomed as the and Concepcion Amador, a Virgo, LEA, Juan de la Cruz, and law, Art Vergel de Dios, hosted a noontime show, “The Musical next Victor Wood. His bigBicolana of Chinese ancestry. later on, Regal and Viva Films. gest hit was a cover of Daniel Extravaganza,” on ABS-CBN. She was 15 when she was Among her most memorable Boone’s ‘Beautiful Sunday.’ The two scored their first TV discovered for the movies in movies were “Ibulong Mo Sa After graduating from La appearance, which led to more 1955 while attending an event Hangin,” which won for her the Salle (with a degree in Hisopportunities, culminating in a entitled “Hollywood in MovFAMAS Best Actress Award in tory and Political Science), Jojit regular gig on “D’Sensations,” ieland” organized by the Big 1967; “Ang Uliran”; “Imelda”; branched out into TV producwhich aired on ABS-CBN from Three studios. She joined and “Pag-ibig, Magkano Ka?”; tion. His first venture as a prowon the Miss Number One Con- “Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae, and 1970 to 1972. ducer was a Sunday noontime Coincidentally, Jojit’s childtest along with Mister Number Aguila,” where she famously variety show, “Germside,” hosthood crush Vilma Santos was in One, Juancho Gutierrez, and refused to age onscreen while ed by German Moreno, in 1978. the cast of “D’Sensations.” was immediately signed up for playing the role of Fernando He was then known as Nora’s In a twist of fate, Jojit’s first an exclusive contract by Sampa- Poe Jr.’s mother. movie was with Vilma’s screen ri- sidekick and co-host on “Superguita Pictures, which became her Jojit Paredes val, Nora Aunor, “Super Gee” in star.” I studied the ratings of rahome studio for several years. Jojit Paredes was a certified

Angels Among Us (Third of 4 Parts)

“I think we all do have a guardian angel. I believe they work through us all the time, when we are thoughtful and good and kind to each other.” —Roma Downey God created so many angels, one cannot count the number of angels that can stand on the head of a pin. But there is a caveat to this gift from the Almighty. One must accept the gift and use the gift of the presence of angels in one’s life for good and only good. One must be humble of heart to know that by ourselves we can do nothing of real value to ourselves or our loved ones and ultimately find God in our lives without asking in earnest for help from the spiritual, unseen realm of angels. Yes, the key is to ask for help for one to receive it. Also, one must never take the gift of a personal guardian angel for granted. An angel is an invisible

presence that must be acknowledged to become ever stronger. God sends angels to keep watch over human beings and help them in every human challenge. There is, however, the element of free will in humans. You can acknowledge the presence of angels or deny it. It is your choice ultimately. The more angels are acknowledged and become a conduit to heaven, they become a hovering, guiding reality in one’s life growing ever stronger in their influence to shape every thought, word and deed in one’s life. (to be continued …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

dio shows and Germs’ program was a consistent top-rater. After rebranding the show, another producer, Gil Balaguer of Geebees, bought the show and renamed it “Germspesyal” after two years. The network decided to produce it, and it became “GMA Supershow” in 1984 and ran until 1997. Germs’ show was the Sunday habit to beat for years and served as the training ground of such luminaries as Jackie Lou Blanco, Lani Mercado and Megastar Sharon Cuneta. In 1985, Jojit, armed with a law degree, moved to the United States, where he worked as a paralegal until his retirement a year ago. He would still perform for the Filipino com-

munity every now and then. He recently staged a reunion concert with his good friend Ronnie Henares. Though we have said goodbye to Amalia Fuentes and Jojit Paredes, may we remember them through the work they left behind. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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people & events The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019

Love and deportability: Divorce, domestic violence, and immigration laws The CTV Files

Atty. LiLLi BAcuLi coLLins, EsQ

WHAT if I do not have legal papers, and my spouse is abusive? If safety is a concern, we urge people to seek help first, particularly if there are minor children who may also be at risk of abuse. For non-emergency calls, individuals may dial 2-1-1 to seek help finding resources for health, mental health, or temporary shelter. Options available for victims of abuse: VAWA SelfPetition. The spouse or child of a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident, or the parent of a U.S. citizen, who is battered or subject to extreme cruelty may file a self-petition independently of the abusive U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. The spouse or child must demonstrate that he or she resided with the U.S. citizen or Lawful permanent spouse or parent; was battered or subject to extreme cruelty during the marriage (or, in the case of a spouse self-petitioner, the child was battered or subjected to extreme cruelty); the marriage was entered into in good faith; s/he is otherwise eligible for immediate relative or preference status; and has good moral character. In certain cases, though an individual has not suffered any physical harm, abuse can still be argued depending on the circumstances, since “abuse” is not limited to physical

harm. Each application will be reviewed and examined on a case-by-case basis, and given the whole picture, an individual might just be able to show that he or she is a battered spouse or has suffered extreme cruelty from their U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident husband. If so, a VAWA Self-Petition will enable her to adjust her status without having to rely on their spouse. California divorce – “no fault.” California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) or, in some instances, to get a judgment of divorce. What needs to happen is that the other party (your soon-to-be ex-spouse) needs to be served with process. In proceeding in an action for divorce, there are procedural requirements dictated by law that must be followed to ensure that the other party has notice of the action (that is, that s/he is being brought to court for an action of divorce) and that s/he is given time to respond. However, there is no requirement for the other party to respond. There is no requirement that s/he sign any document at all. All that needs to happen is that s/he is properly served with process according to the rules. Deportability issues for green card holders with domestic violence conviction(s). A non-citizen, even if a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) for ten years, is liable to be deportable if s/he commits or is convicted of certain crimes, even if it’s “just a misdemeanor.” A conviction for domestic violence can make a non-citizen deportable.

A criminal conviction’s negative impact on immigration status. The Record of Conviction (ROC) details an individual’s criminal history – his/her arrest, what s/he plead to, and the final judgment/sentence. The relief(s) available to an individual facing removal/deportation proceedings will depend largely on that individual’s record of conviction. If you are a non-citizen, it is best to consult both with a criminal attorney and with an experienced criminal immigration attorney who handles deportation defense before pleading to anything in criminal court. No two cases are exactly the same. Consult with an experienced and competent family law and immigration attorney immediately, and more importantly prior to filing any applications with the USCIS, or prior to pleading to anything in any court, in order to explore their options and possible legal ramifications that they might be facing. As always, be wary of online tools that offer immigration help or notarios who are not licensed to practice law. *** Atty. Lilli Baculi Collins is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full-service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 9556277; (415) 495-8088; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www.chuatinsayvega.com. (Advertising Supplement)

FIL-AMS ORGANIZE MEET & GREET WITH SF MAYOR LONDON BREED. Some leaders in the Filipino American community organized a Meet & Greet with San Francisco Mayor London Breed last October 5, 2019 which was held at the “Iloilo House” along Sutter Street, close to the Japantown district. Mayor Breed, who is running for reelection to the city’s mayoral post in the November 5 elections, talked briefly about the steps being taken by the Mayor’s office in addressing critical issues in the city, including affordable housing, mental health and drug use. Mayor Breed also took time to address her appointment of Suzy Loftus as the acting District Attorney after current DA George Gascon’s sudden departure. Photo above shows Filipino American community leaders with Mayor Breed (4th from left, front row), who was accompanied by Senior Advisor Marjan Philhour, herself a Fil-Am, as they hold placards in support of Proposition A, which authorizes the city to increase its debt by issuing up to $600 million in bonds to fund affordable housing. Prop A is also in the ballot in the Nov. 5 elections. Photo and Text by Joseph Peralta/AJ Press

Drew: Hosting is where his heart...

From Page SF2 through AHA!,” he said with every bit of contentment. With a job that enables him to explore islands, jump from the highest cliffs, and eat the most exotic dishes in his travel program, Biyahe Ni Drew, Arellano is aware that most people think of his as a dream job. “I guess I am just a lucky guy to have a show that’s still running for many years. And for us, we really have to continue our job and strive for the best while we try to produce really good travel videos for the country.” Nevertheless, Arellano is also aware of the responsibility he and his show now holds. “We’ve been pushing for this for a couple of years ago because we felt that there’s a need to create awareness pa rin. We see a lot of pollution and sometimes it is also our fault because when we feature different destinations, we feel responsible that people are gonna flock there and whatnot. “As such, we try as much as possible to talk to the local go-

vernment and try to ask them, ‘Are you guys ready, if ever, for the influx of tourists?’” Arellano also divulged that they are also focusing their efforts on sustainable tourism. “The new generation now, and I think it’s also because of social media, they are aware. It’s a great thing that, remember, what happened to Boracay is such as sad thing, it got closed down. But what’s happening in Siargao now, is such a great thing because they know what happened to Boracay. The kids are running Siargao now. They know that we gotta work together, we gotta sustain this, make this [Siargao] as beautiful as long as possible.” Asked why they chose awareness and sustainability when they can just be like most travel videos that solely promoted tourism, Arellano answered, “Kasi why do we have to feature this kung tayo mismong mga Pilipino hindi rin natin maa­ lagaan yung lugar natin.” Fitting job for a bigger role Besides his passion for

tourism, one thing that made Arellano stick to hosting is his family. Even before getting married, Arellano said he knew he wanted to be a good father, something that his current work, which is scaled down to three times a week of shooting, afforded him. “I was pretty contented and happy. My goal is not to reach the A-list level but rather just be happy with my job and have a lot of time with my kids,” Arellano added. Nevertheless, a payoff of his “dream job” is leaving behind his adorable kids. “When I leave Wednesday morning, tsine­check ko na agad old videos ng mga anak ko and Thursday, wala na, I wanna fly back to them already so it’s always hard to leave the house with the kids going, ‘Papa, where are you going? Can I go with you? Can I also ride the motorcycle with you?’” he candidly shared. “But yeah, work is work,” he ended.

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 18, 2019