November 1-3, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 88 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
US proud of helping PH retake Marawi by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
THE United States is proud to have supported the Philippine government in liberating Marawi City from Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute terrorists. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city liberated on October 17 after insurgent leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed by the government troops. Following October 23, the country’s Department of National Defense (DND) declared Marawi siege over.
Since the terrorist group’ attack on May 23, the U.S. has provided intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance support to the Philippine army. They also donated at least P2.84 billion worth of equipments, which include drones, guns, and ammunitions. Speaking before the before the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim hailed the Philippine military’s victory in its battle against Maute terrorists. “We are proud to have supported the Armed Forces of the Philip-
pines (AFP) as they defeated the terrorist insurrection in Marawi City,” Kim said. “As [U.S. Defense] Secretary Mattis made clear earlier this week, we commend the outstanding work of the Philippine military in retaking Marawi. They deserve great respect and appreciation,” he added. Mattis earlier lauded the AFP for its effort in reclaiming Marawi, saying its triumph has sent a “very strong message” to terrorists. The U.S. government likewise expressed anew its condolences
to the victims of the conflict as they reiterated their support for the rehabilitation of the city. “I also would like to again offer our deepest condolences to the people of the Philippines for the suffering and the loss of life during the five months’ ordeal,” Kim said. “We will continue to support the Philippines’ government as it begins to rehabilitate Marawi and the surrounding area,” he added. The U.S. government has donated P730 million ($14.3 million) for the rehabilitation of Marawi
City. According to Kim, these include 153 million pesos in humanitarian assistance and more than 577 million pesos “to support the early recovery, stabilization, and rehabilitation of Marawi and the surrounding area.” The U.S. government further expressed support to “educational programs that bring together students and women leaders to explore innovative ways to address the challenges facing the people of Marawi and the Mindanao region.” ■
USA
by AJPRESS
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Judge finds president’s ban not ‘supported by any facts’
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STATE VISIT. President Rodrigo Duterte walks as he is accorded with welcome honors upon his arrival at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan on Monday, October 30. President Duterte declared that the Philippines and Japan are embarking on their “golden age of strategic partnership,” as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised maximum support for Marawi rehabilitation and fleshed out the details of the 1 trillion yen aid package he promised the Philippines back in January. Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo
US running out of Bongbong Marcos nurses, Philippines scores in new PET a historical source order vs Comelec
AN editorial by The New York Times once expressed in 1956 that, “The nationwide shortage of nurses is likely to reach crisis proportions.” Now over six decades later, the shortage again seems far from being resolved due to a rising elderly population, a large amount of retiring nurses, and the challenge to recruit new nurses. With over three million registered nurses (RNs), and over 800,000 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in the United States, nursing is said to be among the nation’s fastest-growing occupations.
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PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
USAID programs in PH ‘not conditional’
DATELINE Federal court blocks Trump’s ban on transgender troops A FEDERAL judge on Monday, October 30 blocked President Donald Trump’s policy that banned transgender individuals from serving in the military, citing a lack of fact-based reasoning behind the presidential memo. The order by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is preliminary injunction to halt the ban that Trump first announced in a tweet in July, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. The Pentagon will temporar-
Philippine Navy armored personnel carriers join the convoy upon arrival in Manila from Marawi City. The Fleet-Marine contingent that saw battle in Marawi was given a heroes’ welcome at its headquarters along Roxas Boulevard on Monday, October 30.
TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net
by DANA
THE Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has ruled that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should pay for the cost of the overseas storage of election materials related to the protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo. The PET made the ruling in a resolution made public Monday, October 30. The poll body earlier told the PET that Marcos Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong”
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Marcos Jr.
Inquirer File by Joan Bondoc
De Lima supports Duterte’s call to pass BBL
Sen. Leila de Lima said the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law only needs some tweaking or fine tuning of provisions to hurdle any constitutional challenge. For her, Filipinos cannot afford to miss this big shot at peace and stability in Mindanao. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez
KATREENA Philstar.com
CABICO
MANILA — Sen. Leila de Lima supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the immediate passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law amid threats of terrorism and extremism. “While not a perfect piece of document, the draft BBL represents a huge and monumental first step at addressing, in very concrete terms, the long-standing aspirations of our Muslim
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Incoming Presidential Spokesperson Roque warns: Palace can get ‘explosive’
by TETCH
by GAEA
THERE are no conditions attached to the programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Philippines, Washington’s top diplomat said last week. U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim In a forum Philstar.com photo with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim affirmed that the USAID programs are also unaffected by the U.S.’ concerns over the alleged human rights issues in the Philippines. “Our USAID program is not conditional,” Kim said on Thursday, October 26. “In fact, we have a long history of providing very
brothers and sisters. Their core aspiration is of course genuine autonomy and meaningful selfgovernance,” de Lima said in a statement Tuesday, October 31. The detained senator believes the draft BBL only needs some tweaking or fine-tuning of provisions to hurdle any constitutional challenge. For her, Filipinos cannot afford to miss this big shot at peace and stability in the re-
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SIOSON AJPress
WITH a tough-talking president soon having a fiery litigator as his mouthpiece, things may get “explosive” in Malacañang, incoming Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque himself warned. Roque, a human rights lawyer known for his tirades and outspoken opinion, is set to replace Ernesto Abella as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson on November 6. Speaking to reporters on Mon-
Incoming Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Inquirer.net photo
day, October 30, Roque said he has warned the president about his personality. “I think it’s because I’m even more controversial than him (Duterte) so together we could be explosive. I warned the president about that and he says fine,” said Roque, who’s also the Kabayan Party-list representative. Last week, Duterte confirmed that Roque will succeed as his new spokesperson. The president remarked that the solon fits in his new role since both of them “speak in a playful language.” He added that Roque will also be given a rank of “secretary.” Duterte, however, failed to cite specific reasons for dismissing Abella, who has a rank of undersecretary and is a pastor by profession. He insisted that changing his spokesperson was his “personal decision.” “That is my personal decision. I am not about to explain why I did it,” a tight-lipped Duterte said. Roque served as the lawyer of the victims of the Maguindanao
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From the Front Page
Incoming Presidential Spokesperson... PAGE A1 massacre in 2009, wherein 58 people killed—32 of which were journalists. He also served as the legal counsel of the family of transgender Jennifer Laude, who was killed by American Joseph Scott Pemberton in Olongapo in 2014. Likewise, Roque represented the Malaya Lolas—who were victims of systematic rape and abuse by the Japanese Imperial Army—as well as the family of
murdered Palawan-based environmentalist and media practitioner Gerry Ortega. Same human rights conviction Even with his new post as Duterte’s spokesperson, Roque said he would continue to advocate human rights. Duterte, who assumed presidency last year, has been criticized by local and international organizations over the alleged human rights abuses in his antiillegal drugs campaign. He was
also accused of endorsing the killings of drug suspects. For his part, Roque made clear that his “mandate as an advocate of human rights is to protect and promote human rights.” “You cannot change overnight. You cannot be a completely different person. I am the same person. My convictions remain the same. I accepted the post thinking this could be the best avenue for me to influence this administration on matters involving huPAGE A4
Bongbong Marcos scores... PAGE A1 should shoulder the storage fees for ballot boxes and other election materials kept abroad because those could not be shipped back to the country following the Precautionary Protective Order (PPO) issued by the PET. For New York and Hong Kong
alone, the incurred storage fee has amounted to over P4.5-million, Comelec said. Comelec claimed that since the PPO instructed them to preserve and safeguard the integrity of the ballots and other election materials, they could not bring them back to the Comelec office in Manila within
the required period and so the same had to be stocked in the foreign posts which resulted in additional costs. But the PET rejected Comelec’s argument saying the PPO did not prohibit them from transferring the ballots and other election-related materiPAGE A4
DADDY’S HOME. DADDY’S HOME A Marine soldier kisses his baby upon his arrival at Manila’s south Harbor on Monday, Oct. 30. Five hundred soldiers returned to Manila after fighting the Maute Group in Marawi city for five months. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma
USAID programs in PH... PAGE A1 significant foreign assistance to the Philippines.” While maintaining that Washington’s stances on human rights, rule of law, and due process remain unchanged, Kim reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to helping the Philippines, especially the war-stricken city of Marawi. Earlier in September, Kim announced that the U.S. government has donated P730 million ($14.3 million) for the rehabilitation of Marawi City in the southern Philippines—which was besieged by Islamic State (IS)inspired militants for five months since May—under its USAID programs. “The work of rehabilitation is critically important,” the ambassador added, saying that the U.S.
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wanted to “support the Philippine government as much as we can.” He also affirmed that the U.S. will continue to provide assistance to the Philippine army in addressing security threats. “We continue to provide very important assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in terms of training, equipment and sharing intelligence,” he said. While USAID programs in the Philippines are not conditional, the U.S. envoy noted that the reported human rights issues affect Washington’s provision of firearms to Manila. “What has been affected by our concerns over human rights issues is that we have been much more cautious about providing lethal weapons to the Philippine National Police (PNP), elements that are directly involved in the anti-drugs campaign,” Kim said.
A few weeks ago, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to be the “sole agency” to conduct all the government’s campaigns and operations against illegal drugs. Under the new order, Duterte once again removed the PNP from the forefront of the so-called drug war amid public outrage over alleged police abuses and deaths of thousands of suspects. More recently, the Philippine government announced that it would no longer accept grants with conditions perceived to affect the country’s sovereignty from the European Union (EU) and other nations. Duterte has slammed the EU over criticism from a seven-member delegation of international parliamentarians on the administration’s war on drugs. The bloc later clarified that the delegation does not represent the EU. n
De Lima supports Duterte’s...
gion. “The urgency in actualizing the proposed changes in the governmental, political, fiscal and justice structures for the Bangsamoro people, to supplant the discarded, deficient ARMM set-up, is most felt now, hence,
imperative, given the lingering and worsening threats of terrorism and extremism in the area,” de Lima said. She added: “Time is indeed running out. I don’t see any other option, except chaos and more suffering for the people, Moros and Christians alike, in
the region.” On Sunday, Oct. 29, Duterte called on Congress to expedite the passage of the proposed BBL. “If we do not act on it expeditiously, I think that we are headed for trouble. We must PAGE A4
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US tightens monitoring of countries receiving trade benefits by Richmond
meRcuRio Philstar.com
HONORING THE DEAD. A boy lights a candle on the grave of a relative buried at the Barangca Public Cemetery in Marikina City two days before hordes of the living descend on the places of the dead. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
Duterte to tell Trump: Avert NKorea nuclear crisis by LLanesca
Panti ManilaTimes.net
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte plans to ask US President Donald Trump when they meet in Manila next month to tell Kim Jong-Un of North Korea to calm down. The Philippine and U.S. presidents will meet for the first time on the sidelines of a regional summit around mid-November. “I will deal with the U.S. President in a righteous way. I will welcome him as an important leader. I will listen to what he has to say. My response to him will be calibrated to what he would ask,” Duterte said on Friday, October
27 before leaving for Japan. “I haven’t met him personally, but our mouths move in the same cadence,” Duterte added. But while Duterte acknowledged that he and Trump do not mince words, he called on the U.S. President to sit with the North Korean leader to avert a possible nuclear crisis. “A nuclear war is unacceptable. Somebody has to talk to him (Kim), to tell him to lower his aggressiveness. All the leaders agree that he is a dangerous man. America, Japan and [South] Korea could convince him to sit down in a roundtable, tell him that nobody is threatening him,”
MANILA, — The U.S. is tightening its monitoring of countries currently receiving trade benefits, with plans to start these new efforts with beneficiaries in Asia. This is not seen as a problem for the Philippines, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who says that the country is continuously combatting child labor while worker rights are being protected. “Our Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) was even expanded to include travel goods. And we are now starting to explore a free trade agreement, attract more locators, producers, and create more jobs,” Lopez said. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said new efforts would be undertaken to ensure that all countries receiving trade benefits are meeting the eligibility criteria of the GSP program. “This new effort includes a heightened focus on concluding outstanding GSP cases and a new interagency process to assess beneficiary country eligibility. This interagency process complements the current petition receipt and public input process for country practice reviews, which will remain unchanged,” the USTR said. “The new additional process will involve a triennial assessment by USTR and other relevant
Duterte said. “He needs to be told to tone down; stop the threats. The U.S. can assure him that nobody is after you, that the U.S. is not ready to destroy a generation or a nation of people,” Duterte added. Trump said in his speech before the UN General Assembly in September that should the U.S. be forced to defend itself or its allies, the U.S. would have no choice “but to totally destroy North Korea.” Kim responded by saying he would “surely and definitely PAGE A1 tame” Trump whom he de- ily be prohibited from enforcing scribed as mentally deranged. n the ban. In late August, transgender groups sued the Trump White house on behalf of transgender military personnel, arguing that the president’s proposal wrongly make a similar move on the discriminated against the trans ballot materials in the custody community and violated their of foreign posts. constitutional right to due process “As to why it would treat equal protection under the law. differently materials and paraThe case, Doe v. Trump, chalphernalia in the custody of the lenges the transgender troops Posts escapes this Tribunal as ban and was brought forward by the PPO did not make such the National Center for Lesbian distinction. Indeed, the Come- Rights (NCLR) and the GLBTQ lec could have simply secured Legal Advocates and Defenders permission from the Tribunal (GLAD). for their transfer to the ComKollar-Kotelly said the changelec Central Office. The Com- es to the transgender policy elec made no such request,” it within the Defense Department said. n were “not genuinely based on legitimate concerns regarding military effectiveness or budget constraints, but are instead driven by a desire to express disapproval of transgender people generally,” she wrote in her ruling. The judge added that the president’s reason for implementing the ban “do[es] not appear to be supported by any facts.” As of now, the status quo is intact and transgender troops are still allowed to serve and re-enlist, pending the outcome of the case.
als to Manila. “There is nothing in the PPO that prohibited the physical transfer of the election materials and paraphernalia; the Comelec was merely required to preserve and safeguard their integrity. Thus, the Comelec’s proffered reason that its faithful compliance to the PPO has no basis,” the PET resolution stated. It further ruled, “(a)s mentioned, the PPO is clear in that the Comelec and its agents were
ordered to preserve and safeguard the integrity of the election materials and paraphernalia which could be done even if they needed to be transmitted to Comelec Central Office.” In fact, on several occasions, according to the Tribunal, the Comelec despite the PPO, had moved and was granted permission by the Tribunal to move election materials. This is the reason why, stated the Tribunal, it could not understand why the Comelec did not
gram. To qualify for the trade preference scheme, a beneficiary country must meet 15 eligibility criteria such as combating child labor, respecting internationally recognized worker rights, and providing adequate and effective intellectual property protection. The Philippines is among the beneficiary countries of the U.S. GSP program. Last June, the U.S. approved the Philippines’ application to expand its current GSP coverage to include travel goods. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), for its part, has assured its trading partners globally that there are no sweatshops in the country. The DTI and the Department of Labor and Employment has previously signed a joint department order for the accreditation guidelines of garment firms that would highlight the country’s compliance to global labor standards. This order helps promote labor laws compliance and standards in the garment industry via certification and decertification mechanisms for companies who want to avail preferential tariff under the GSP. The country’s efforts in intellectual property rights protection have also been bearing fruits as it has managed to stay out of USTR’s watch list for four consecutive years now. n
Federal court blocks Trump’s ban...
Bongbong Marcos scores... PAGE A2
agencies of each GSP beneficiary country’s compliance with the statutory eligibility criteria. If the assessment of a beneficiary country raises concerns regarding the country’s compliance with an eligibility criterion, the Administration may self-initiate a full country practice review of that country’s continued eligibility for GSP,” it added. The USTR said the first assessment period will focus on GSP beneficiary countries in Asia, which includes the Philippines. Assessment of GSP beneficiary countries in other parts of the world will follow in the second and third years of the process, it added. “Countries receiving U.S. trade benefits must meet the eligibility criteria established by Congress,” U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said. “By creating a more proactive process to assess beneficiary countries’ eligibility, the United States can ensure that countries that are not playing by the rules do not receive U.S. trade preferences. This sets the correct balance for a system that helps incentivize economic reform in developing countries and achieve a level playing field for American businesses,” Lighthizer said. Certain products from 120 beneficiary developing countries and territories can enter the U.S. duty-free under the GSP pro-
However, the ruling upheld a White House provision that eliminated federal spending on sex reassignment surgery for transgender troops. In his initial announcement of the ban, Trump sent a series of tweets in July that the military “cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,” claiming he was consulted by “my Generals and military experts.” Following the unexpected announcement, the RAND Corporation released a study that, based on a 2011 survey of 6,546 trans military personnel, the estimated medical costs for transgender troops would only amount to 0.004-0.017 percent of the Defense Department total health care spending. After the president first tweeted in July, the Pentagon, saying they didn’t receive any notice beforehand, rejected the notice and allowed transgender military personnel to continue serving. Pentagon officials were blindsided by the announcement and announced days after the president’s memo that the military will not modify its policies. Currently, there is no official registry that keeps count of how many transgender people serve
US running out of nurses... PAGE A1 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is expected to see a growth of 15 percent from 2016 to 2026 — a growth the bureau says is “much faster than the average for all occupations.” The current outlook, though, has many worried that the supply of registered nurses won’t even be able to keep up with the demand. At the forefront of issues driving the shortage are Baby Boomers. Once spiking in births between 1946 and 1964, the baby boomer generation is again showing a significant rise in numbers of those entering retirement. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people ages 65 and older in the U.S. is projected to increase to 55 million in 2020, around 70 million by 2030, and to 88.5 million (or 20 percent of the population) in
2050. As put by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the U.S. population of adults aged 65 plus will have almost doubled from 37 million to 71.5 million between 2006 and 2030. The bureau also found in 2010 that the 65 and older population in the U.S., who had a growth increase of 15.1 percent, grew at a faster rate than the whole U.S. population which grew at 9.7 percent. From 2000 to 2010, the 65 and older population saw an increase of 5.3 million people. These numbers are especially alarming to the healthcare industry as it prepares to provide care to the growing demographic. Eighty percent of adults 65 or older have at least one chronic condition, while 6.8 percent have at least two, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Top chronic conditions are hypertension, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease
in uniform; up until former President Barack Obama’s 2016 policy change that allowed transgender troops to serve openly, they faced discharge for disclosing their sexual identities. A 2014 report from UCLA Law School said there are an estimated 15,500 transgender individuals on active duty or in the Guard or Reserve forces. Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling was seen as a significant win for transgenders’ rights activists and the LGBTQ community at large. GLAAD, the largest LGBT advocacy organization, applauded the federal court’s ruling, calling it a “step forward” in combating the perceived “full-scale attack on LGBTQ Americans” from the Trump White House. “The U.S. District Court’s temporary halt of the trans military ban is a major step forward in exposing President Trump’s policy as a hate-fueled attack on some of the bravest Americans who serve and protect our nation,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD. “Today’s victory reflects what a majority of Americans have been saying: that transgender service members should be thanked and not relegated to second-class citizenship.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress) (ischemic heart disease), and diabetes. Patients aren’t the only ones aging. Many current U.S. registered nurses are reaching retirement age as well, and are in turn leaving behind many job vacancies. Statistics by the American Nurses Association (ANA) projected that an estimated 690,000 nurses will leave the workforce through 2024, resulting in a net nurse vacancy of around 1.2 million. In a survey of over 130 healthcare facilities from 29 states, nurse recruitment and retention firm NSI Nursing Solutions Inc., found that facilities have been experiencing increasing vacancy rates since 2013. While close to 50 percent of facilities had a vacancy rate of five percent or less in 2013, 18.2 percent did in 2017. In other words, close to 80 percent of facilities were finding vacancy rates over five percent.
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Incoming Presidential Spokesperson... PAGE A2 man rights,” the solon said. “As long as I have questions to answer from the media on human rights, I would continue asking them (security forces) questions as well,” he added. Despite this, Roque warned critics that he will not tolerate any disrespect to the president. “If, in the past, you were able to throw stones without anyone
hitting back, be warned that if you throw stones, I won’t just throw stones but hollow blocks,” he said. “Just wait for the adobe and hollow blocks that I will throw at you.” Concerning his relationship with the press, Roque expressed optimism as he noted that he has not had a negative history with members of the media. Noting that he “believed in
the free marketplace of ideas,” he remarked that the “free market of ideas” must be allowed to “flourish.” He went on to say, “I have been working with the media for the past 15 years at the very least. I’ve represented media in libel cases. I’ve represented heirs of media victims when they were killed. I look forward to this kind of partnership.” n
De Lima supports Duterte’s... PAGE A2 continue to talk and I will urge Congress to fast-track it because they are getting impatient,” he warned during the media briefing before departing for Japan. Duterte said he had committed to both the Moro Islamic Libera-
tion Front and the Moro National Liberation Front to pass the BBL. “That is a commitment. Not even a promise but a commitment to the Moro people,” Duterte said. Duterte said that enacting the BBL would help boost peace in Mindanao alongside the gov-
ernment’s efforts to rehabilitate the war-torn city of Marawi. The draft BBL that the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) submitted to Duterte last July 17 reached Congress in August but its transmittal did not indicate it was urgent. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
PH, Japan sign $6 billion business deals by Dana
SioSon AJPress
The Philippines has signed 18 business deals with Japanese firms that will yield at least $6 billion worth of new investments, Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez announced. Lopez said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was present during the signing of agreements on Monday, October 30, in Tokyo. According to the trade secretary, firms will invest through joint ventures and the expansion of operations in the Philippines in manufacturing (shipbuilding, iron, steel); agribusiness, power, renewable energy, transportation, infrastructure, mineral processing, retailing, information technology, among others. “[Duterte] met several Japanese companies and witnessed several B-B MOUs (business-to-business memoranda of understanding) and letters of intent on Investment plans, joint ventures and expansion of operations in the Philippines,” Lopez said. “Total new investments (are expected to reach) $6 billion,” he added. Among the Japanese companies that pledged investments to the Philippines were Marubeni Corporation; Itochu Corporation; Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.; Taiheiyo Cement Corpora-
President Rodrigo Duterte and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands after delivering their joint press statement following the summit meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday, October 30. Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo
tion; Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.; Japan Tobacco Inc.; Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.; Ministop Co., Ltd.; and Lawson Inc. Also included were Ubicon holdings, Inc.; Advanced World Solutions, Inc.; Densan System Co. Ltd.; hitachi Asia; hitachi Ltd.; Subic Smart Community Corporation; Nomura Real estate Development Co., Ltd.; Isetan Mitsukoshi holdings Ltd.; Federal Land, Inc.; and Yamato Kogyo and Itochu Corporation. Meanwhile, Philippine firms which expressed intention to en-
gage in joint ventures with Japanese companies were Alsons/ AWS Information Systems, Inc.; CIS Bayad Center, Inc.; Meralco; Newcoast Southbeach Realty, Inc.; Federal Land, Inc.; SteelAsia Manufacturing Corporation; and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. Lopez added that he also met with his Japanese counterpart hiroshige Seko and discussed ways to improve market access and lowering tariff for Philippine agricultural products like banana, PAGE A7
Alvarez to Sereno: Show up at impeachment hearing by Dana
SioSon AJPress
hOUSe Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should personally appear during Congress hearings so she could be given the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses in the impeachment complaint against her. In a statement, Alvarez claimed that Sereno’s failure to appear before Congress amount to the waiving of her right to cross-examine witnesses. Citing the rules of procedure in impeachment proceedings, Alvarez insisted that defense lawyers cannot cross-examine witnesses themselves. “She should appear because she is the accused. Otherwise, her right to cross-examine the
witnesses would be waived. If she does not appear, her lawyers have no right to crossexamine the witnesses,“ the house speaker said over the weekend. Sereno’s camp recently filed a motion asking the house Committee on Justice to allow her lawyers to question the witnesses in the impeachment proceedings against her. In the motion filed last week, the chief justice’s counsel asked the panel to “recognize her constitutionally guaranteed rights to be represented by a legal counsel and to confront the witnesses against her through lawyers representing her.” “The right to be heard and be defended by counsel in all stages of a criminal proceeding is a very basic right of an individual, which not even this
honorable Committee, indeed Congress, can take away from a respondent in an impeachment proceeding,” the motion further read. expressing disagreement with the house speaker, Sereno’s camp insisted that her lawyers have the right to crossexamine the resource persons as a matter of due process. Defense counsel Josa Deinla, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, warned that the impeachment proceedings against the chief justice might turn into “onesided” affair if their camp would be barred from cross-examining witnesses. “What will happen is that the determination of probable cause will be a one-sided affair and we think that it should not be the picture seen both by the PAGE A7
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OPINION
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Asian allies THE Philippine economy is booming. With more foreign players starting to invest in the country, there is no better time to harness the good prospect of doing business in the Philippines than now. Despite some tough times, the country is still able to offer the best investment opportunities. The country is entering a “golden age of strategic partnership” with Japan, as both sides have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in various areas of mutual concern. This was how Pres. Rodrigo Duterte described his recent two-day sojourn to the Land of the Rising Sun on Oct. 30-31, where he met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to reaffirm bilateral partnership between the two Asian nations and deepen their cooperation in areas of mutual interest. When he returned home on Tuesday, Oct. 31, Duterte brought home with him multi-billion dollars worth of pledges of assistance and investments from Japan. The Japanese government reiterated its full commitment to assist the Philippines in its economic and infrastructure development in the next five years by pledging close to $9 billion through a special fund. “This covers huge impact and high-value infrastructure projects that my country needs to sustain and spur our economic growth. There will be some of the most ambitious and groundbreaking projects, including the Metro Manila Subway project, and major developments in the regions and prov-
inces,” Duterte announced. Prime Minister Abe also vowed “maximum support” for the restoration of Marawi and further strengthen support for Mindanao’s peace and development and its efforts toward the establishment of an autonomous government. He said it was a great honor to welcome Duterte whom he described as “dear and cherished friend.” “I conformed with President Duterte that we are both maritime nations sharing basic values and strategic interests. And as such, Japan and the Philippines will cooperate to address common issues such as North Korea nuclear and missile issue and the only resolution of the abduction issue and realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific and also counter measures against terrorism and illegal drugs,” Abe said. Aside from the whopping amount worth of investments, the two leaders also vowed to further promote bilateral cooperation in energy, employment creation, information and communication technology, environment, agriculture and disaster reduction. Six decades have passed since the reconciliation of the Philippines and Japan after the dam-
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
age brought upon by the Japanese Military in the country during World War II. Since then, Japan has been one of the Philippines ’ top donors by continuously providing the country with grants and soft loans. Duterte’s recent trip from Japan brought not only
good news but also generated a certainty about the future path of cooperation between the two countries. Japan—being an adherent of globalization—expressed its confidence in the Philippines and has always provided ways to help the country gain its full economic potential. (AJPress)
Russia collusion case vs Trump campaign moves forward with indictments and a guilty plea THE TRUMP administration has claimed The Fil-Am that the independent probe by Special Perspective Counsel Robert Mueller on the alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign to interfere in GEL SANTOS-RELOS the 2016 U.S. presidential election is ending because of lack of evidence. However, the fact is: the case has moved forward with the indictment of Trump’s former top campaign aides and his one-time foreign policy adviser pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his Kremlin-related contacts. President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of this development and his administration said this has nothing to
do with the campaign and proves nothing about its alleged conspiracy with Russia to influence the elections by hurting Hillary Clinton’s chances in order for Trump to win. Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the latter’s business associate, Rick Gates, pleaded not guilty to charges against them which include money laundering. Trump used Twitter to call this development “Fake News,” stating that according to Manafort’s lawyer, there is no collusion and that what was being charged against his former campaign chief took place before he joined his campaign. However, according to BBC News, the
indictment of the Mueller investigation alleges that Manafort and Gates conspired on financial crimes from 2006-2017, which covers the period over the summer when Manafort played the important role as campaign manager of the Trump campaign. Trump also lambasted the credibility of George Papadopoulos through Twitter, calling him a “liar” and a “low-level volunteer” when in the past he would describe him as an “excellent guy” when he served as his campaign’s foreign policy adviser. BBC News reported further that Papadopoulos was in a photo that Trump tweeted of himself in March of 2016 hosting a national security meeting with his foreign policy team. According to NBC News, court documents in the case revealed that based on
evidence gathered by the Mueller investigation, the Trump campaign officials were aware that Papadopoulos was trying to set up a meeting between Trump and the Russians, with one of them being Manafort, who wrote a key email about what Papadopoulos was trying to arrange. The Manafort email stated in the court documents stated, “We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal”. As NBC News reported, the court documents revealed how Papadopoulos lied when questioned by the FBI regarding communications with foreign nationals with ties to the Russian government who were seeking to establish a relationship with at least one Trump campaign offi-
cials, offering “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. THEREFORE, for the Trump and his administration to continue to say the charges against the Trump campaign is a witch hunt and that the Mueller investigation is folding for lack of evidence is FAKE NEWS. Mueller will weigh how this and the other evidence regarding the communications and ties of other Trumpan campaign members with Russia tell the whole and factual story. We, the American people, deserve to know no less than the truth. *** 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
America faces deadliest drug crisis in its history. Why is the world not butting in? Opinion
YEN MAKABENTA LAST Thursday, October 27, according to The New York Times and news agencies, U.S. President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency, taking long-anticipated action to address a rapidly escalating epidemic of drug use. Speaking from the White house, Trump said: “No part of our society—not young or old, rich or poor, urban or rural—has been spared this plague of drug addiction and this horrible, horrible situation that’s taken place with opioids.” The elaborate and emotional ceremony was attended by families affected by opioid abuse, members of Congress and administration officials. Facts of US drug crisis It’s useful even for Filipinos to understand the ramifications of the U.S. drug crisis, because it can help us understand our own embattlement. Trump said in his announcement: “Effective today, my administration is officially declaring the opioid crisis a national public health emergency under federal law. I am directing all executive agencies to use every appropri-
ate emergency authority to fight the opioid crisis. “We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic.” Opioids are a type of drugs that include illegal substances, such as heroin, and legal painkillers—medications such as oxycodone, codeine and morphine are all types of opioids. According to the latest figures from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), deaths from opioid overdoses—either prescription or illegal—have quadrupled in the US since 1999. The CDC recorded 33,091 deaths in 2015.Since 2000, more than 200,000 Americans have died from overdoses of prescription opioids. The opioid epidemic or opioid crisis is the rapid increase in the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in the United States and Canada in the 2010s. Opioids are a diverse class of moderately strong painkillers, including oxycodone (commonly sold under the trade names OxyContin and Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and a very strong painkiller, Fentanyl, which is synthesized to resemble other opiates such as opium-derived morphine and heroin. The potency and availability of these substances, despite their high risk of addiction and overdose, have made them popular both as formal medical treatments and as recreational drugs. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, “overdose deaths, particularly
from prescription drugs and heroin, have reached epidemic levels.” In 2016, 62,000 Americans died from overdoses, 19 percent more than in 2015. Mention of the drug Fentanyl will ring a bell with Filipinos. The drug is being used by DU30. A newer synthetic opioid painkiller, Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. In 2016, the medical publication STAT reported that while Mexican cartels are a main source of heroin smuggled into the US, Chinese suppliers provide both raw fentanyl and the machinery necessary for its production. In British Columbia, police discovered a lab making 100,000 fentanyl pills each month, which they were shipping to Calgary, Alberta. Silence of the meddlers Now, here’s the remarkable part. As America struggles against its deadly drug crisis, the United Nations has not noticed. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have not said a single word in comment. The European parliament has kept it silence. Here in the Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the existence of an alarming drug crisis here at home, and then decided to use state powers to wage war on illegal drugs, by arresting or even killing people engaged in the drug trade and taking into custody drug users, they took notice. After he started to show results,
with casualties in the drug war, they got even more interested. They started taking part in home-based efforts to stop DU 30 and his campaign. I am mystified why the drug epidemics in America and the Philippines have produced totally contrasting responses from foreign countries and groups. With one, they are unconcerned and do not care. With our problem, they have no hesitation in meddling and even prescribe what we should be doing instead. Is this the recrudescence of colonialism? I think it has more to do with the difference in our political cultures and the current state of national politics in our two countries. Americans unite against epidemic In the U.S., both Democrats and Republicans support Trump’s declaration of a health emergency because of the opioid crisis. Democrats were disappointed only by the fact that Trump did not appropriate federal funds to combat the crisis. “America is hemorrhaging lives by the day because of the opioid epidemic, but President Trump offered the country a Band-Aid when we need a tourniquet,” said Sen. Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts. Republicans stand squarely behind the emergency declaration. The chairperson of the Republican national committee
issued a strong statement: “Last year more than 64,000 Americans in every corner of our country were lost to drug overdoses. That’s 142 people each day. For too long we have not faced this growing crisis head-on. And while we’ve lost so many, we must also remember the innocent children born to addicted parents who are exposed to the dangers of this crisis from their first breath. According to a Center for Disease (CDC) report, the number of babies born addicted to opioids has tripled in the US in 15 years. It won’t be easy, but we can be —and must be—the generation that puts an end to this crisis, and that starts with our politicians in Washington. Because addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, we must treat it as such. Every moment we wait to act, the crisis gets worse.” Why foreign groups meddle in our affairs Foreign countries and international NGOs meddle in Philippine efforts to combat the drugs epidemic, while shying away from intervening in the US, not because Americans will only laugh at them, but because the Filipino political opposition actively lobby for them to intervene and make life miserable for Duterte and his administration. Foreign intervention in our affairs may be the only card of the opposition now. They once had hopes in the CIA doing some mischief, but now it’s out of the business of regime change
under Donald Trump. What the opposition relies more on now is the noise that can be readily provided by human rights groups, that seek mainly to raise funds from donors. Some countries, especially in Europe, can be counted on to issue statements. And then there are the international media organizations, which are always in the hunt for a good story and a cause to champion. The Philippine drug war has become a convenient target of criticism and propaganda. It’s a sign of the superficiality of the criticism that international critics and agitators do not see the drug problem in the Philippines at all. They are fixated on the so-called extra-judicial killings (EJKs), which have not been documented. It‘s only Duterte’s oftentimes wild statements that give them currency. The opposition looks overmatched in the battle for hearts and minds. When the Liberal Party shifted colors from yellow to white, it was seen by most Filipinos as the waving of a white flag. Administration communicators have only to remind the public about Noynoy Aquino to rev up government support. When the AFP and the government ended the IS-inspired siege of Marawi this month after five months of urban warfare, they recorded a victory that will translate to a new reserve of strength for the Duterte presidency. No one will meddle in Philippine affairs for a while. (ManilaTimes.net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 1-3, 2017
A7
New group vows fight vs fascism by RALPH
VILLANUEVA ManilaTimes.net
SPOOKY. Kids go on trick or treat at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Saturday, Oct. 28, three days before Halloween, a Christian feast that has become associated with ghosts and scary pranks. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.
US running out of nurses...
PAGE A4 It doesn’t help that the recruitment of new RNs has been challenging. The average time to recruit an RN ranges from 55 to 119 days, depending on specialty. The longer a vacancy remains open, the more quality of care becomes an issue — fewer nurses usually means higher patient loads. A report by Reuters that interviewed more than 20 hospitals including some of the largest chains, said that many hospitals have resorted to spending billions of dollars collectively in recruiting and retaining nurses to avoid risking patient safety or closing down departments. It wasn’t uncommon for hospitals to offer higher salaries, make retention and signing bonuses, offer incentives like student loan repayments, or provide free housing in order to stay afloat. Many hospitals, especially those in regions where the demand for nurses can be exceptionally dire, further shelled out money for temporary nurses and travel nurses whose assignments typically range from 13 to 26 weeks. Global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions Staffing Industry Analysts, found that the cost for travel nurses in 2017 almost doubled over three years to $4.8 billion. Philippines’ long history of supplying a needed demand Foreign nurses often provide relief. A June 2016 report by the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University and the Immigrant Learning Center, found that foreign-born nurses made up 15 percent of registered nurses in the U.S. The Philippines has long been a source of nurses, and has been since the country’s colonization by the U.S., as explored by Catherine Ceniza Choy, professor of
Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at the University of California Berkeley, in her book “Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History”. Filipino nurses first arrived in large numbers through The Pensionado Act of 1903 which allowed pensionados (government sponsored scholars) to study in the U.S. through a government subsidized scholarship. Nursing students either stayed in the U.S to work, or returned to the Philippines where they helped establish nursing schools. Many graduates who would again immigrate to the U.S. to work. In 1928, the Philippine Nurses Association of New York was founded — Its first president, Marta Ubana, completed her B.S. in Nursing at Teachers College, Columbia University. More nurses came in 1948 through the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, also known as the Smith-Mundt Act, which allowed interchanges of students, trainees, teachers, guest instructors, professors, and leaders “in fields of specialized knowledge or skill” between the U.S. and other countries. By 1961, the Philippine Nurses Association of Northern California was created just a few years before many nurses again came to the U.S. in numbers as a result of laxed immigration laws. Since then, many Filipinos have continued to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), or complete Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) qualifications in hopes of working in the U.S. By 2007, the number of Philippine-educated nurses in the U.S. reached its peak and accounted for more than 30 percent of the U.S. foreign-educated nurses, ac-
cording to a study by Health Services Research. Yet as soon as the wave went up, it was followed by a drastic decrease in the following years. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found in 2016 that while approximately 10,000 nurses came to the U.S. in 2007, less than 2,000 have been recorded each year from 2011 to 2013. The decrease may have been attributed to the U.S.’ own attempt at churning out nurses. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), close to a million nurses graduated from U.S. nursing schools from 2006 and 2011. But in light of the current shortage situation, foreign-sourced nurses may once again be needed to provide relief. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
A NEW opposition coalition on Sunday, Oct. 29 vowed to resist and oppose all efforts of the Duterte administration to enforce authoritarian rule. During its first general assembly held at the University of the Philippines’ Bahay ng Alumni, the Laban ng Masa coalition pledged to combat the “fascist” moves of President Rodrigo Duterte, who, according to former Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello, one of the leaders of the group, is leading the country to an open dictatorship and fascist rule. The creation of the coalition came a week after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte launched a coalition called “Tapang at Malasakit,” which aims to fight moves to destabilize the Duterte administration. Bello has clarified that the coalition is not pushing for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte. “The need for a genuine and credible opposition to authoritarian rule is one reason we have come together in Laban ng Masa. But there is another reason. That other reason is that we offer the only alternative that our people can take to break from the repression, poverty, and inequality that engulf them. That alternative is system change. This is change oriented in a socialist direction,” Bello said. “There may be differences among us as to whether we should call the current regime fascist, authoritarian, or de facto
interest rate of 0.1 percent per annum and repayment period of 28 years after a 12-year grace period. The subway—which seeks to help address the traffic congestion in Metro Manila—is expected to run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to FTI complex in Taguig City, with an additional line extending towards the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals in Pasay City. Meanwhile, about 9.399 billion yen will be used to fund the third phase of the arterial road bypass project, which has an interest rate of 1.5 percent per annum and repayment period of 20 years after the grace period of 10 years. The bypass project aims to relieve traffic congestion in Plaridel City by constructing a highway directly linking Central Luzon and Metro Manila. Japan will also provide 15.928 billion yen loan to fund the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project, which seeks to reduce flood damage in the province. It has an interest rate of 0.3 percent per annum and repayment period of 30 years after a 10-year grace period. ■
Alvarez to Sereno: Show up... PAGE A5 public and the members of the committee,” Deinla said in a radio interview. Deinla said they would insist on their motion to recognize Sereno’s “constitutionally guaranteed rights” when the hearing resumes on November 20. “Under our Constitution, since she is the accused, Sereno has the right to be defended by her lawyers,” he pointed out. “Only she has the right to decide whether or not to exercise this right since she is a respondent, who is similar to an accused, and not just a witness or resource person invited by Congress,” he added. Last month, the House justice committee found the impeachment complaint filed by Lorenzo
“Larry” Gadon to be sufficient in form and substance. He accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes and betrayal of public trust. Among the grounds in Gadon’s impeachment rap include Sereno’s “whimsical” and “excessive” purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser amounting to P5.1 million, and misuse of judiciary funds when attending local and foreign conferences. He also accused Sereno of failing to be truthful in declaring her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), as well as obstructing justice when she ordered Muntinlupa judges to not to issue arrest warrants against Senator Leila De Lima, among others. ■
nomic reform. Instead of outlawing contractualization, he has made it legal. He has made no effort to promote agrarian reform. He has not given coconut farmers the coco levy funds, as he promised during the campaign,” Bello said. “[Duterte] allowed the big mining lobby to oust Gina Lopez when a phone call to his allies in the Commission on Appointments could have save her. He has become the [best friend]of big capitalists like Ramon Ang and Manny Pangilinan. Nearly a year after he assumed office, nearly all fractions of the ruling class stand solidly behind him, and he stands solidly behind them. The only difference of substance from past regimes is that his main base within the elite are the warlords and clans that control local politics throughout the country,” he added. Bello said the socialist coalition they just launched will meet the demands of the Filipino people and battle the authoritarian rule of the Duterte administration and the “oligarchic” democracy. “The only response that we can make to this swift movement towards absolute rule is resistance. However, it cannot be resistance in the name of restoring what I have called the EDSA system of elite democracy, for one of the chief reasons why Duterte is in power is because of the failure of that 30-year-old system to deliver on its promise of bringing about genuine democracy and the redistribution of wealth,” Bello said. ■
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PH, Japan sign $6 billion... PAGE A5 pineapple, and mango. They also discussed Japan’s support for Industrial Cooperation Dialogue and improving supply chain for the benefit of small and medium enterprises in the Philippines. $1-billion loan The Japanese government likewise pledge $1.143 billion or 129.857 billion yen worth of loans to fund key infrastructure and development projects in the Philippines. According to a statement released by the Japanese foreign ministry, the loan will partly fund three Philippine projects, which include the Metro Manila Subway Project; the arterial road bypass project; and the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project. Citing the robust ties between the two countries, Lopez said the terms of loans are friendly. “It’s really development assistance. It’s like giving a friend a very good deal,” Lopez told reporters. “It’s like a friend helping another friend.” Japan is providing as much as 104.53 billion yen to support the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway Project, which has an
dictatorial rule, but there can be no doubt that the direction is toward the consolidation of absolute power, whether this comes in the form of martial law, the de facto subjugation of all the other branches of government to the President, a so-called revolutionary government, or charter change along the lines of ‘federalism,’” Bello said. He cited Duterte’s drug war, which he described as the third deadliest “war” in the South East Asian region. “President Duterte is what I call a fascist. But he is a fascist original. The usual textbook model of how fascism comes about is that of “creeping fascism,” like that of (former president Ferdinand) Marcos, where the first phase is marked by violations of political and civil rights, followed by the grab for absolute power, then by massive, indiscriminate repression,” Bello said. “Duterte’s brand of fascism is what we might call “blitzkrieg fascism,” wherein the order is reversed: first indiscriminate murder in the form of thousands of extra-judicial executions of poor people, then with all sectors thoroughly intimidated, followed by the grab for absolute power and the abolition of democratic institution and political and civil rights,” he added. Bello warned that the President may declare a dictatorship as his trust and popularity rating plummet. He slammed Duterte for abandoning some of his campaign promises. “[Duterte] has shown his true colors when it comes to eco-
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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
B
More tourism infra projects underway
by catheRine
talaveRa Philstar.com
THE Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has approved a number of tourism infrastructure projects. Among these projects are the beautification of the coastal road network of Legazpi Boulevard in Legazpi City, Albay and the restoration of the Saint Joseph the Patriarch Church, a baroque church in Aguilar, Pangasinan. The TIEZA board also approved the construction of tourism assistance centers (TACs) in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Tanay Rizal, and the Garden City of
Legazpi Boulevard
Samal in Davao del Norte. “These projects are part of the initiative of TIEZA’s project D.R.E.A.M.S which aims to build targeted tourism infrastructure specializing in destination, restoration, eco-sustainability, agri-tourism, medical assistance, and security and accessibility,” the TIEZA said. In earlier interview, TIEZA
u PAGE B5
Philippines now 95% self-sufficient in rice supply by KaRl
R. ocampo
Inquirer.net
THE country’s rice self-sufficiency ratio in 2016 improved to 95.01 percent from 88.93 percent in the previous year, a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. This meant local production accounted for 95.01 percent of the total rice supply in the local market. This development resulted in further reduction in the country’s dependence on rice imports last year to 4.99 percent of total supply from 11.07 in 2015. With a favorable trend in the country’s average rice production per hectare, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said the Department of Agriculture’s rice self-sufficiency target could be achieved in 2019, or a year earlier than its original time frame. The DA is hoping to reach an average of 6 metric tons (MT) per hectare production or about 19 million MT of unmilled rice or palay per year from the current level of 4.38 MT per hect-
are per harvest. However, the PSA said that despite the higher SSR ratio, the country’s annual per capita production in 2016 fell by 3.12 percent to 111.66 kilograms from the 2006 record of 115.35 kg which serves as the basis for the index. This meant the farm sector was not able to produce enough of the commodity to keep in pace with the country’s population growth. Pinol said the DA had been pushing for the planting of hybrid seeds to boost yield. The DA is expecting to cover about one million hectares for the program at an estimated cost of P15 billion while providing small farmers with easy access to credit. The DA’s credit arm Agricultural Credit Policy Council was given a budget of P970 million for 2018. Earlier this month, a United Nation’s market monitor reported that conditions for growing the staple in the country remained favorable despite the tightening of the global rice market. n
PAL to submit plan for $400-M new terminal Photo from travelblog.com by Reicelene Joy ignacio ManilaTimes.net
FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said on Friday, October 27, it plans to submit its proposal to build a $400-million passenger terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the government before year-end. “We are expecting that we will submit our unsolicited proposal before the end of the year,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime Bautista said in a press con-
ference during the Philippine Aviation Day. “Maybe it will take a few months for the Department of Transportation and the Manila International Airport Authority to study [the proposal],” Bautista said. “Maybe it will take a few months for the Department of Transportation and the Manila International Airport Authority to study [the proposal],” Bautista said. Bautista said if PAL is allowed to begin construction of the new terminal in 2018, they can finish it by 2020. Bautista explained that the new terminal
would only be used for international operations, leaving the existing Terminal 2 for domestic flights. The new terminal will also be open for use by other airlines besides PAL. “We are hoping that other airlines can also operate there. It will not be for [PAL’s] exclusive use,” Bautista said. The new terminal will be designed to accommodate 12 million passengers annually, Bautista said. Currently, NAIA accommodates an estimated 40 million passengers per year, far
u PAGE B5
US apparel, footwear firms show renewed interest in PH
Association (AAFA) officials. The AAFA represents more than 1,000 famous name brands with APPAREL and footwear firms retail sales in the U.S. amountfrom the U.S. are showing re- ing to $384 billion annually. Lopez said easier market acnewed interest in the Philippines following the expansion of the cess to another country encourU.S. Generalized System of Pref- ages producers and exporters erences (GSP) coverage and a to locate in the source country. “Having the trade concespotential free trade agreement (FTA) between both countries, sions will encourage more inthe Department of Trade and In- vestors to put their production facilities in the country,” he said. dustry (DTI) said. Lopez said the expansion of The DTI said more investment interests were generated during the GSP, which is a trade ara recent meeting between Trade rangement that allows dutySecretary Ramon Lopez and free entry of specific Philippine American Apparel and Footwear products to the U.S., as well as by Richmond
meRcuRio Philstar.com
the plan to explore further the possibility of having a more permanent FTA with the U.S. bode well for producers and exporters. He said members of the AAFA stressed the value of Philippine labor which is capable of producing quality output. Photo from fasttrackph.com According Lopez, the AAFA also believes that as the U.S. an FTA with the Philippines conducts FTA discussions with which has been a strong partother countries, there is no ner and ally since World War II. reason why U.S. will not do u PAGE B5
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Anti-smuggling effort must focus on key goods
Clark airport too far from Manila – IATA
San Miguel gets original proponent status for Bulacan proposal by Reicelene Joy ignacio ManilaTimes.net
CLARK airport is too far from Manila to be an alternative to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, a senior International Air Transport Association official said on Friday, October 27. “Clark is too far to be the key hub for the city,” IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said in a press conference during the Philippine Aviation Day held in Makati Shangri-la. “Clark is too far to be the key hub for the city,” IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said in a press conference during the Philippine Aviation Day held in Makati Shangri-la. “We should build a third airport closer to Manila,” de Juniac added. Asked if the construction of
What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA IN series 1 we talked about the factors you need to consider before you decide choosing OIC, and meeting the compliance requirements before proceeding. If your offer is accepted, congratulations! What happens if your offer is rejected? Here’s what you need to do if you offer is rejected and you have disagreed items: • Offer was rejected. You received a letter notifying your offer was rejected. You have 30-days to request for appeal of the decision. • Items you do not agree. Prepare a list of specific items you do not agree. Explain you do not agree on each item. Gather and submit only valid supporting documents for the items you do not agree. • Review information previously submitted. 1) Review Form 433-A collection information statement for wage earners and self-employed individuals you submitted. For the past three months has there been any changes in your monthly income and expense statements, social security, pension, other income, liens and encumbrances for your home and other properties, payments for utilities, mortgage,
a railway connecting Manila to Clark would help in making the Clark International Airport (CRK) as a good alternative, de Juniac replied “we don’t think so.” He said that ideally, an alternative airport should be at most 60 kilometers away from a city. Clark is nearly 100 kilometers from Manila. De Juniac said that NAIA — which IATA has said is in need of a major upgrade along with Jakarta and Bangkok’s main terminals — should instead be expanded and updated. “If the infrastructure is implemented, the economic impacts would be the following: aviation would support 3.4 million jobs, it would generate $23 billion of GDP (gross domestic product,” he said. Bulacan alternative
As this developed, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said that a proposal to build a new airport in Bulacan had been submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for final evaluation. The announcement was a boost for San Miguel Corp., which was given original proponent status, but Tugade also said that he was open to another proposal to build an alternative to NAIA in Sangley Point, Cavite. If approved by the NEDA, the Bulacan airport project will be subjected to a Swiss challenge. “Please respect the three conditionalities: Bs sure there is no govenrment guarantees and assure us that there will be no govenrnment subsidies, and do not transfer moving airlines to the new airport,” Tugade said. n
property taxes, taxes you owed from other government agencies, insurances, out of pocket costs from your insurances, health condition, recent personal income tax return Form 1040, court-ordered payments, etc. From the most current past three months statements, analyze those that have detrimental effect on your finances and health conditions; 2) The OIC denial letter asset-equity (AET) and income-expense (EIT) tables provided to you, review and compare with the following standards: Collection Financial Standards, National standard expense allowed for food, clothing and miscellaneous monthly expense, National standard expense allowed for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, Housing and utilities expense allowed for housing and utilities monthly expense, Transportation expense allowed for monthly transportation expenses; 3) Read through again the instruction of Form 433-A and identify any changes and updates; 4) Have you provided complete and detailed supporting documents, schedules, and other required attachments? • Form 13711 or a letter. You may request for an appeals conference by completing a) Form 13711 (Request for Appeal in Offer in Compromise) or b) A letter with the following information: • Name, address, SSN, and
daytime telephone number • A statement that you want to appeal the IRS findings to the Appeals office • A copy of your rejected offer letter • Tax period or years involved • A list of the specific items you don’t agree with and a statement of why you don’t agree with each item • Any additional information you want Appeals to consider • The facts supporting your position on any issue that you do not agree with • The law or authority, if any, on which you are relying • Sign the written protest, stating this it is true under the penalties of perjury • Other self-help tools. You may explore the IRS website and look for Self-Help Tool for Appealing a Rejected Offer in Compromise (OIC) or visit: https://www.irs. gov/compliance/appeals/appeala-rejected-offer-in-compromiseonline-self-help-tool-start.
OIC Basics: Series 2
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Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties. ***
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by angelica
BallesteRos ManilaTimes.net
ANTI-SMUGGLING efforts by the tax and customs bureaus should focus on commodities such as rice, fuel and cigarettes, a Cabinet official said. In a statement, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said that he had directed Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay to work together in a bid to revitalize the government’s anti-smuggling campaign. In a statement, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said that he had directed Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay to work together in a bid to revitalize the government’s anti-smuggling campaign. “I think [they]should focus on fuel, rice and other agri-
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a matter of whether you depart this world prepared or unprepared. If you pass away with at least $150,000 in gross assets and you do not have a living trust (even if you have a will), your beneficiaries would have to open up a probate case before title to the assets can pass to them. When I say gross asset, I mean regardless of how much debt you owe on them. For example if you own a house valued at $350,000 at the time of your death, it does not matter that your mortgage balance is $300,000, a probate case has to be opened in order to pass title to that property. The same is true with other types of assets such as owning a business, a professional practice, bonds, equities, etc. This is a very low threshold to exceed specially in California where real estate prices, even after the economic crisis, remains in the upper end of the curve among the 50 states. Commencing a probate case
cultural products, including chicken, onions, garlic. And then there is steel, and then cigarettes,” Dominguez said. “I’m sure the smuggling of cigarettes will go up now,” he added, noting reports that traders were scrambling to fill a void left following the sale of tobacco firm Mighty Corp. to Japan Tobacco. Mighty — the country’s second-largest cigarette manufacturer — was forced to sell its
assets to the Japanese firm as part of a settlement that also led to the government’s dropping of tax evasion charges. Both the tax and customs bureaus worked together to unearth Mighty’s use of fake tax stamps, which allowed the firm to sell its cigarettes at significantly lower prices and deprive the government of much-needed revenues. Lapeña, who was appointed chief of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) just last August, has proposed the creation of a joint task force with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that will focus on curbing smuggling. Last week, the Finance department reported that the BIR and the National Bureau of Investigation had raided a warehouse in Cabanatuan that was found to be storing smuggled cigarettes.n
How important is it to have a living trust? is expensive and a very slow process. Someone qualified will have to file a Petition with the probate court to have someone appointed as executor or administrator. The Petitioner’s attorney gets paid a statutory rate for attorney’s fees commencing with 4% of the gross estate. The probate referee will have to be paid for appraising the assets of the estate. If it is necessary to post bond, the premium on the bond would have to be paid as well. There is also the cost of administering the estate such as selling some of the assets to satisfy the estate’s obligations and to divide the estate according to the will or the intestate line of succession if there is no will. The entire process could take up years specially if certain beneficiaries and creditors file certain claims. The probate court file would be public record. On the other hand if you have a living trust, your estate can avoid the entire court system and court supervision. In certain situations, the process may also save you estate taxes which may be substantial if your assets exceed a certain threshold. Basically, you and/or your spouse can be named as the initial trustee of the trust while you are alive. The
trustee is the person who manages the trust. This means you retain control of all your assets the same way as if you never had *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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Client with bank account levied seeks Chapter 7 relief
LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 1-3, 2017
Calendar of Events across
Client receives notice of default on house, pursues Chapter 13 relief
THE client is 60 & his wife is 58. He issued his check to pay rent of $1,200 but the check was dishonored for insufficient funds. The landlord called him to tell him that his rent check bounced. The client was surprised that his check bounced because he had at least $5,000 in the checking account. He went to the bank and asked why his check bounced when he still had $5,000 in the account. The teller informed him that there was no money in his account because the bank received a notice of levy from his judgment creditor for $11,000 and so the sheriff took all the money in his bank account. Client explains that he had consolidated his credit card loans of about $30,000 through a business providing that service and he had been paying in monthly installments and was surprised to find out that his account was levied and all his money taken. He said he only owed the creditor $3,000 so how come the judgment is $11,000? Well, if you add interest and attorney fees and some time, it $3,000 of debt can become $11,000 of judgment. It’s not unusual. Can he get his $5,000 that was levied back? Yes, he can, how? By filing a claim for exemption in the court that issued the judgment and levy, on the ground that the funds taken are necessary for his basic necessities. He must also attach a declaration and financial statement showing his gross and net income for the household vs. monthly living expenses and conclude that the funds taken are required for his basic necessities. He must file the claim in with the supporting documents, get a hearing date and time form the clerk of court, then serve the claim of exemption on the creditor and file in the proof of service to the creditor. The creditor is given the opportunity to object to the claim of exemption and appear at the hearing. The hearing will be set at least 30 days after the claim of exemption is filed but the claim of exemption and all supporting documents must be filed within 10 days of the levy date. If the judge agrees with the client, the judge will issue an order to have the $5,000 returned to the client. The client has also decided to file for Chapter 7 re-
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (Continued from last week...) ON the night of October 1st 2017, Stephen Paddock, 64, a self-made millionaire who made his money largely through video poker gambling, mass murdered 58 country music concert goers and injured over 500 from a crowd of 22,000 from his vantage point of 2 adjoining corner suites on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel along the Las Vegas strip. His motive is still unknown. With the official narrative and the timeline changing every which way like the shifting sands of the Sahara, it looks like the truth will be held hostage in the biggest domestic terrorism on US soil. Many seem to think that a coverup seems likely. A lesser known incident in 2015 was the mass murder of 9 Christian students in Umpqua Community College in rural Roseburg in Oregon by a demented, twisted young man. In both instances, left leaning politicians with an agenda were quick to make political hay of these tragic events. This is why career politicians may be going the way of the dodo. Empathy and sympathy, the genuine kind, are quickly set aside to push gun control with the thinly disguised end game of subverting second amendment rights mandated by the Constitution. This makes a good argument to impose term limits and put an expiration date on political careers of the same group of elites and families of both Democrat and Republican parties who have gravitated, banded together and colluded over the last three decades with agendas to destroy middle America while enriching themselves and preserving their multigenerational political influence. In Oregon, the college where the perpetrator carried his heinous, dastardly deed was a gunfree zone. Does it occur to most that gun-free zones are the habitat of the deranged, which in effect, make sitting ducks out of intended victims? Unless and until the world becomes a utopia where everyone is an angel with no evil thought and there is no further need for law
Debt Relief
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG
lief as he and wife still owe about $25,000 of credit card debt and he wants all of those discharged once and for all to avoid another levy or wage garnishment situation. If the judge denies the claim of exemption, then the client has lost the $5,000 for good. He doesn’t feel good losing the $5,000 because he only owed $3,000 and says it is unjust that he now owes $11,000 for a $3,000 debt. Can he keep the $5,000 in Chapter 7 if the judge orders the refund? Yes. He can keep the $5,000 because in his case, he can exempt the entire $5,000 under 703.140(b)(5) of the California Code of Civil Procedure. So, with Chapter 7, he and his wife get a fresh start in life without the burden of any debt while keeping all their assets, all their retirement accounts, all their cards, and all their cash. No worries anymore and they don’t have to keep paying installments on a consolidation through a business service that probably keeps the money in their pocket. That’s why client’s bank account was levied despite the consolidation because who knows where the installment payments are going. It’s not like a Chapter 13 where the court-appointed trustee distributes the plan payments to all creditors and there is a court order that prohibits further collection efforts against the debtor while the Chapter 13 is still in effect. The next client is 52. He doesn’t work. His wife makes about $88,000 a year as a registered nurse. They own a house but the mortgage has not been paid for eight months. The mortgage is $2,500 a month so he owes about $20,000 in arrears. He received by certified a notice of default with a recording date of June 27, 2017, informing him that the bank has decided to commence foreclosure proceedings and that he has 90 days to pay the arrears in full plus all legal fees and penalties otherwise
a foreclosure sale date will be set approximately 21 days after the 90 days expires. So the client is worried that he may lose the house to foreclosure after September 27, 2017. Well, I think he should worry more about his wife asking him to explain why the mortgage is 8 months past due when she has been giving him her net income of $6,000 a month? That’s a perfectly valid and legitimate question to ask don’t you think so? At any rate, the client now needs to file for Chapter 13 to save his house from foreclosure. Chapter 13 will freeze the default at $20,000 and allow client to pay that off in 60 months, that’s about $340 a month. In addition, he has to resume the current mortgage payment a month after the case is filed. The foreclosure process stops immediately upon the filing of the Chapter 13 case. I told him that it may help if he actually got a job to help with the additional expense of the plan payment for the arrears because wife’s income is good at net $6,000 but the mortgage has not been paid for 8 months, so something else must be going on that is draining the funds, right? I mean, we weren’t born yesterday, money doesn’t just disappear, its going off somewhere where its not supposed to. The math doesn’t add up. If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. “GLORY IN HIS HOLY NAME; LET THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD REJOICE!” PSALM 105:3 *** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader. There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with the attorney. The first general consultation is free.
*** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.
Whatever happened to ‘happily ever after’
“...All the lonely people Where do they all come from? ... All the lonely people Where do they all belong?… — Eleanor Rigby, Lennon-McCartney
(Part 1 of 3) enforcement, walls and locked ing weapons when they do go doors, everyone should be given through those dark periods in evthe chance and the wherewithal, ery season of life. The darkness both physical and spiritual, to can range from just being lonely defend themselves from the tyr- and isolated for periods of time to the more extreme and detrianny of evil. There is a consistent pattern mental negative emotions that here for those with a keen sense drive people to insanity or worse, of historical perspective, plain to suicide. We want to have those weapcommon sense, and more importantly perhaps, with no self-serv- ons to deal with those inner struggles in order to do battle ing agenda to push. These people are sick. At the with deep, dark depression and root of the matter of every atroc- fend off those eerie voices that ity in recent times that deranged urge the afflicted to inflict selfgunmen who had no qualms harm or even worse, to kill othabout killing others before they ers as well. We would like to become coukill themselves is the deplorable state of mental illness so many rageous, even bold, as we come people are afflicted with for a out swinging with our blessed swords slaying our dragons evlong time now. This is, perhaps, the reason ery time they rear their ugly there are so few happily-ever- heads. Until finally at the end of after stories these days that can all earthly struggles, we become make the collective heart of the happy and content as we stride human race glad. In just one off into the sunset, victorious and act, one sick, demented soul fulfilled. Well, there you have it can cause so much incalculable – the final frame of a movie of one’s life story. There’s that hapgrief. Stories make up the fabric pily-ever-after ending to the life of human life. Each life story is stories we seek. Alas! How we wish most of one thread in this vast cosmic tapestry of billions of stories all life’s stories end happily. Instead of humanity is weaving from one of happily ever after endings, we have sad stories, cautionary generation to the next. We are born in this world with tales, even horror stories like our own unique set of circum- these mass murders to drive us stances. We like to believe that out of our wits’ end. There’s just each of us is created for a pur- no rhyme or reason. It’s like bepose wired into our DNA, like a ing trapped in our seats, strapped GPS directing us to a destination tight, in the Theatre of the Maca— a state of being — whatever bre and watching grim Tim Burton stories unfolding onscreen that may be. In the age old fairy tale of on repeat mode. What causes all this darkness, “Sleeping Beauty,” Princess Aurora’s life was protected by all this loneliness that seems to Three Good Fairies: Flora, Fauna affect a number of people in the and Merriweather. They have world today? Who let those rabid gifted her and her Prince Charm- monstrous creatures out from the ing with the weapons to fight off gates of hell? The gates seem to the evil of the villainess, Malefi- have swung wide open, unleashing all the evils that can be concent. In real life, from princes to jured from a witch’s brew simpaupers, most people like to mering in a big black cauldron think that they too have been over the fires of hell. All the evils given gifts that serve as shinu PAGE B5
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America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS N OV E M B E R 2- 4
Franchise Expo West in Los Angeles Franchise Expo West, the premier franchise event in the western U.S. is returning to Los Angeles after a five-year absence, to provide the strongest business opportunities for potential franchisees in this dynamic, growing region. Attendees can engage with over 200 franchise brands in every industry at every investment level, access over 60 free educational sessions where in-depth answers are provided to any franchising questions, and meet with lenders and consultants to learn about financing options. It will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 from Thursday, Nov. 2 to Saturday, Nov. 4. For more information, please visit: www.franchiseexpowest.com. For free registration, use promo code AJ here: https://r1.events-registration.com/franwest2017/.
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Free oil filter and motor oil recycling event in Gardena, CA Attention all Gardena and West Carson residents! There will be a free oil filter & motor oil recycling event on Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AutoZone (1361 W. 190th St., Gardena, CA 90248). Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one FREE new oil filter. Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean.
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AAPA’s achievement awards & graduation gala in San Gabriel, CA Celebrate the 2017 class of Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) Mentorship and Board Leadership Program participants, and this year’s Achievement Awardees on Monday, Nov. 6 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a banquet dinner, entertainment, and keynote speech from Brigadier General Mark Toy! It will be held at the San Gabriel Hilton (225 W. Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA). For more information, please visit https://aapagala2017.org/
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Filipino indie film “1st Semester” screening in Los Angeles Catch the Hollywood premiere screening of the award-winning Filipino indie film, “1st Semester” on Wednesday, November 8. “1st Semester” is a Filipino coming-of-age comedy movie about a young boy who is sent to college by his mother with their entire clan but goes home immediately after experiencing separation anxiety. It explores a boy’s rite of passage to manhood and a mother’s strong will and determination to uphold the best for her family. “1st Semester” stars Allan Paule, Darwin Yu and award-winning actress Lotlot de Leon. It is written and directed by Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez and Allan Michael Ibanez. The Hollywood Premiere will be held on Wednesday, November 8 at the American Film Institute (AFI), 2021 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. Showtimes are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Come and meet the writers and directors of this internationally-acclaimed film. Parking is free For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please email 1stSemAFI@gmail.com.
PWC 20th Anniversary Celebration in Los Angeles The Pilipino Workers Center will have its 20th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, November 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pico House and Courtyard (424 N Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). Attire is smart casual or Filipino-inspired fashion. Honorees include Sen. Connie M. Leyva, Jose Antonio Vargas, and PWC Council of Leaders. The program will be hosted by Giselle “G” Tongi. There will also be special performances and a feast of Filipino delicacies. Tickets are $100 each. For tickets and sponsorship details, call (213) 2504353 or visit www.pwcsc.org. com.
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Diva 2 Diva concert in Pasadena, CA The Philippines’ Pop Diva, Kuh Ledesma, and the Divine Diva, Zsa Zsa Padilla, are back in Southern California with DIVA 2 DIVA on Saturday, November 11! They will be joined with comediennes Nanette Inventor and Mitch Valdez. The show will begin at 7 p.m. at the “PazNaz” First Church of the Nazarene (3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena, California). For tickets, you may purchase them online at diva2diva2.eventbrite.com or you may call Henry at (818) 612 4500 for more details.
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13th annual mayor’s luncheon in Woodland Hills, CA The United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley presents the 13th annual mayor’s luncheon with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday, November 29 at the Warner Center Marriott - Grand Ballroom (21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367). Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the program is from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be complimentary self-parking, while valet is $16. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, please call (818) 981-4491 or email marian@unitedchambers.org.
D EC E M B E R 1
Historic Filipinotown parol parade and festival in Los Angeles The Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HFNC) announced that the annual parade and festival will be on Friday, December 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will start with the assembly of parols and vehicles at 250 N. Union St. at the Our Lady of Lorreto Catholic Church courtyard. The parade will start at 5 p.m. and will go westward from Union to Beverly, and will eventually end up at the FCC/FACLA compound at 1740 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. The HFNC is calling for volunteers who will serve as security, ushers, for registration and monitors for the parade. To volunteer, please call Art at (213)318-9065. For more information, please contact Cecile at (213) 503-8176.
D EC E M B E R 2
Pasko Na Naman in Glendale, CA The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups will sponsor a fundraiser entitled “Pasko Na Naman 2” on Saturday, December 2 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium (1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208) starting at 4 p.m. The presentation’s theme is Salo-salo at Pagdiriwang” which means “getting together joyfully.” The show will provide a glimpse on how Filipinos celebrate Christmas in the Philippines, which will be depicted through choral singing and folk dancing. The performers are Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, St. Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Choir, Monique Magpayo and Kurt Winterhalter. Benefactors of proceeds include but are not limited to: Channel of Charity, Filipino Priests Association of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, feeding programs and FFRG faith formation events. Come one! Come All! Feel the scents and sights of Filipino Christmas. The audience will also enjoy “merienda cena” during the intermission. Ticket donation is $45.00 per person. For souvenir ad and ticket information, please contact Tess Domingo at (909) 855-2208 or Carol Evangelista at (909) 969-3316.
D EC E M B E R 3
Arnel Pineda in Los Angeles Arnel Pineda, the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed rock band JOURNEY, will be in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 3 at the famed Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The show begins at 6 p.m. VIP ticket ($200) includes CD, concert tour shirt, meet & greet. Other ticket prices are $150, $100, $75 or $50. For sponsorship and tickets, please call or text: Trini Foliente at (626) 818-7147; Cora Soriano at (213) 999-1993 or Andy Tecson at (323) 467-5096.
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B4 NOVEMBER 1-3, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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People and Events
FABAG’s successful Philippine Arellano High School ’68 50th reunion Heritage-Arts and Culture celebration
L-R: Joy Quiza, Marlene Cagatao, Edith M. Fuentes, Hon. Mayor Vartan Gharpetian, Nini Maldonado, GUSD Board Member Armine Gharpetian and Ruby Devera.
Paco and Vic of Introvoys received Certficates of Recognition from Legislative Offices, with Hon. Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Mayor Vartan Gharpetian, Edith M. Fuentes and Joy Quiza.
GLENDALE, Calif. – The Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG), Glendale Library and Alexis Louise Quiza Foundation jointly sponsored “Philippine Heritage - Arts and Culture Celebration” at the Glendale Central Library on Saturday, October 28, 2017 was a huge success.. It was standing room. The event was co-emceed by Joy Quiza and Edith M. Fuentes. The program included the Holy Family Filipino Chorale singing the national anthems, plus another Filipino song. Clarita and Ethel Alejo followed with another song. Carl Andrada’s Filipiniana-inspired creations during the fashion show Carl Andrada with his Filipiniana-inspired creations. was loved by all! The Malaya Filipino-American Dance Arts performed 5 lovely folk dances, ending with the tinikling and audience participation. Video of tourist spots and attractions in the Philippines was shown. And last but not least, Paco and Vic from Introvoys did some great songs. Everyone got to enjoy the whole event and a plate full of Filipino food. City and Legislative Offices were also present: Hon. Mayor Vartan Gharpetian, Hon. Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Rep Evette Kim from Senator Anthony Portantino, Councilmembers Paula Devine, Vrej Agajanian, and GUSD Board Member Armine Gharpetian. FABAG would like to extend its gratitude all the planning committee members, donors and spon- The Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts doing the tinikling with audience participation. sors. It was an event to remember. ■
CALLING all Arellano High School batch 1968 members, their families, friends and guests! There will be a 50th anniversary homecoming/reunion on January 21, 2018 at the Manila Hotel, Roxas Blvd.,
Manila in the Philippines, at 4 p.m. (registration at 3 p.m.). Attire is smart casual to formal. Ticket price is P2,000 per person. For more information, contact Tony M. Lacanilao at (818) 813-2834. ■
Meet Santa Claus at the tree lighting ceremony
WELCOME the holiday spirit at the City of Bellflower’s Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, December 1st at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Square in Downtown Bellflower. Bellflower City staff, residents and neighboring communities come together for a festive event filled with music and warm drinks. Santa Claus will serve as guest of honor at this holiday event. Santa will meet with children one-on-one to take a photo and listen to their holiday wishes! The Mayfair High School Vocal Ensemble will entertain the crowd with a special performance of favorite holiday songs. A holiday skating rink for scooters and skates (children are encouraged to wear a helmet to enter the rink) will be available, along with the landscapes waste water and in- Bellflower Recreation In Motion (BRIM) program, Photo from bellflower.org crease the number of pollutants and holiday crafts. This year, four sledding slides flowing into storm drains. Water that require 100 bales of hay and 30 tons of real Rebs’ Restaurant.The event is free and open to is mostly wasted in your garden snow will be open for children to enjoy at no cost. the public. in months prior to or just after Coffee and hot cocoa will be served, along with For more info on all City’s holiday programs the rainy season when intermit- complimentary peach cobbler donated by Johnny call (562) 804-1424 ext. 2261.■ tent rains occur and you water plants that do not need the water. Schedule a free irrigation audit by calling the Public Works Services Department at (626) 254-2700. ■ CERRITOS City Hall, the City 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Adult Lap the Community Safety Division Clerk’s Office, Cerritos Library Swim will be held from 7 a.m. to will be closed on Thursday, Noand the Cerritos Senior Center 2 p.m.; Recreational Swim will be vember 23 and Friday, Novemat Pat Nixon Park will be closed held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and ber 24. on Friday, November 10 for Vet- the Community Centers will be City Hall, the City Clerk’s Oferans Day. The Cerritos Center open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. fice, Cerritos Library, Cerritos Also in observance of the Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park for the Performing Arts (CCPA) Ticket Office, City parks and Thanksgiving holiday, the follow- and the CCPA Ticket Office will recreation facilities will be open ing City facilities will be closed remain closed on Friday, Novemregular hours. Cerritos Library on Thursday, November 23: City ber 24; however, all park facilities will also be closed on Saturday, Hall, the City Clerk’s Office, the will be open normal hours. Cerritos Senior Center at Pat November 11. There will be no trash pick-up In observance of the Thanks- Nixon Park, Cerritos Library, the or street sweeping on Thanksgivgiving holiday, the Cerritos Li- CCPA Ticket Office, all Communi- ing. Thursday and Friday schedbrary and the Cerritos Senior ty Centers, the Community Gym- ules will be delayed by one day Center at Pat Nixon Park will nasiums at Cerritos and Whitney for the remainder of the week. close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, High Schools, the Cerritos Olym- There will be no enforcement November 22. The Cerritos pic Swim and Fitness Center and of the street-sweeping parkSports Complex and community the Cerritos Sports Complex. ing restriction from Saturday, On Thursday, November 23, November 18 through Sunday, gymnasiums will be open regular hours on Wednesday, November Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf November 26. There will also be 22, and the following facilities Course will be open from 6:30 no Cerritos on Wheels service on will be open with modified hours: a.m. to 4 p.m. The Cerritos Sher- Thanksgiving and the day after the Golf course will be open from iff’s Station will remain open, but Thanksgiving. ■
Arcadia’s winter watering schedule takes effect in November STARTING on November 1 through April 30, the allowed outdoor irrigation days are Tuesdays and Saturdays before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. The best time to irrigate your lawn is early morning or late evening. Avoid irrigating your lawn during the middle of the day through the late afternoon when heat and evaporation are at their highest. If you find your trees, flowers or shrubs still
thirsty, hand watering is allowed within the time frame by bucket or by hose, with a shut-off nozzle attached. To avoid water waste while keeping your plants hydrated, walk the line when your system is on to ensure valves and sprinkler heads are not broken or clogged. Additionally, the City of Arcadia offers a free irrigation audit for its residents. Poorly functioning sprinklers and over-watered
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.
And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
City of Cerritos observes November holidays
America Recycles Day
THE City of Diamond Bar is hosting its annual America Recycles Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 4 in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) parking lot. Eventgoers will have an opportunity to do the following: Donate: Bring clothing, footwear, and household textiles (towels, bedding, table linens, and curtains) that you do not need or want anymore. Dispose: Get rid of e-waste and confidential documents. Examples of e-waste (short for electronic waste) are outdated
or obsolete appliances or electronic devices such as television sets, computers, keyboards, printers, cellphones, radios, and hair dryers. Confidential documents include old tax forms, financial statements, and medical records. Take Part In: Check out environmentally-themed displays and exhibits, take part in fun arts and crafts, and visit the City’s Environmental Services booth and that of local waste haulers, utility companies, and organizations with information and giveaways to help you adopt a “greener” lifestyle.
Take Home: Get your free garden mulch and used oil recycling kit. While supplies last, one member of each household in attendance may request a free oil recycling kit (funnel, shop towel and reusable container) and collect up to two large trash bags of mulch. Come prepared with your own tools and bags to collect and load the mulch onto your vehicle. AQMD is located at 21865 Copley Drive. For more information, contact the City’s Environmental Services Division at 909.839.7012 or greendb@diamondbarca.gov.■
IN order to meet the State Water Quality Conservation Board’s (SWQCB) mandatory conservation requirements the City of Compton has chosen to enact its Phase I Water Shortage plan of its conservation ordinance which was previously adopted via Ordinance No. 1851 on March 12, 1991. Per Section 23-1.32(e)(2) of the Compton Municipal Code, Phase I Water Shortage Plan stipulates the following mandatory restrictions: 1. There shall be no hose washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas or other paved surfaces, except as is required for sanitary purposes; 2. Washing of motor vehicles, trailers, boats and other types of mobile equipment shall be done only with a handheld bucket or a hose equipped with a
positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses, except that washing may be done at the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or with reclaimed water. 3. NO water shall be used to clean, fill or maintain levels in decorative fountains, ponds, lakes or other similar aesthetic structures unless such water is part of a recycling system. 4. NO restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria or other public place where food is sold, served or offered for sale, shall serve drinking water to any customer unless expressly requested. 5. ALL customers of the Compton Water Department shall promptly repair all leaks from indoor or outdoor plumbing fixtures. 6. NO lawn, landscape, or other turf area shall be watered more often than every other day.
Specifically, all customers with an even address number shall water on even calendar dates of the month, and all customers with an odd address number shall water on odd calendar dates of the month. On the thirty-first (31st) of the month, there shall be no watering, unless reclaimed water is used. No watering shall be done between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; except that the provision shall not apply to commercial nurseries, golf courses and other water-dependent industries. 7. NO customer of the Compton Municipal Water Department shall cause or allow the water to run off landscape area into adjoining streets, sidewalks or other paved areas due to incorrectly directed or maintained sprinklers or excessive watering.■
Compton mandatory water restrictions remain in effect
B NOVEMBER 1-3, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
Community Journal
PAL to submit plan for $400-M...
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higher than its designed capacity of 30 million passengers. Bautista said PAL will have a strategic partner for the construction of the new terminal, which it proposes to build on a 15-hectare land where the former Nayong Pilipino park once stood. “We will have a partner who will help us. Of course they will have equity contribution and we can borrow the balance… If we get the approval, construction of the terminal will be financed through equity and borrowing. Most probably 25 or 30 percent
equity and the balance through borrowing,” Bautista said. But PAL will need to settle certain issues first with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) for its proposal to move forward. “We have discussions with PAGCOR [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.], but the contract may change if the government approves our proposal,” Bautista said. According to PAL, it entered into a contract of lease with PAGCOR covering the property at a monthly rent of P40 per square
meter on July 30, 2014. The contract is effective until July 11, 2033. Last month, PAGCOR said it only recently learned that it had “no absolute authority” to lease out the property and that PAL’s monthly rental of P40 per square meter was “grossly disadvantageous to the government.” “Since PAGCOR has no absolute authority to lease out the property, PAL does not acquire any right to the possession or enjoyment thereof, notwithstanding the contract of lease executed between the two parties,” PAGCOR said. n
US apparel, footwear firms show...
gram under President Duterte’s Lopez said the garments and administration which aims to textiles sectors are labor inten- accelerate job and income gensive and could generate more eration activities especially in the stable and decent jobs for Fili- countryside and help reduce inpinos, while also creating busi- equality,” he said. The DTI said the industry curness opportunities for small and medium enterprises servicing rently employs around 300,000 the sectors, such as producers and has the potential to increase of key raw materials, indigenous to over four million like in other woven products, accessories, ASEAN countries if the counservice and logistics providers. try is able to attract more loca“This is considered very im- tors to produce in the country. The agency reported that the portant in our economic pro-
garments and textiles sector has steadily declined since the mid1990s, as export of the sector decreased from an annual average of $2.4 billion between 1995 and 2006 to an average of $1.6 billion over the past five years. “Now is the time to bring back the role of the sector as a contributor to job generation and economic development. Good relations will translate to good business, thus, generating jobs for the Filipinos,” Lopez said.n
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
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http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
Whatever happened to... PAGE B3t
are unleashed from Pandora’s box with just one thing left at the bottom of the box — HOPE. And yes, HOPE springs eternal. There are strong indications the tide of unspeakable evil may have turned. Silently, millions of Christians worldwide have been doubling down on their Christian faith in a merciful God. Untold millions are getting down on their knees with unceasing prayers that are being heard and responded to, sometimes slowly but if you observe quietly, of-
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tentimes quickly like lightning bolts. The barbaric persecution of Christians particularly in the Middle East and elsewhere has not been seen since the Middle Ages. Do take heart. Then as now, it is said that the blood of martyrs only spawns, breeds and spurs the resurgence of an even stronger and deeper Christianity that will shape humanity for the better, hopefully, for several thousand more years. For years, there has been an onslaught of terrifying events from just about everywhere,
facilitated by the startling phenomenon of social media and the ease of anything going viral and trending through the internet. Social media, like any other invention during modern times, has become a double-edged tool. It can be used for good or ill, depending on the user and his motivation. (Continued next week…) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
More tourism infra projects...
chief operating officer Pocholo Paragas said the agency was exploring ways to streamline the approval process of TEZ applications. “What we want to do now is look at the filtering [of applications] and look at the methods of how we can fasttrack everything,” Paragas said. Paragas said there were around 32 to 39 TEZ applications on the table earlier this month. “So we’re trying to coordinate
with the local government units where the TEZs are located. And look into what specific packages we can do,” the COO said. Paragas said the agency is looking to break ground on its first tourist assistance center before the end of the year. The TIEZA is eyeing to build TACs in targeted tourism areas that will house basic facilities and services. Apart from the TACs, Paragas also said the agency hopes to launch its first floating dock, par-
EMPLOYMENT
PRAYER
ticularly in Palawan, before the end of the year. “We want to do a floating dock system, so it’s closer to the boat and it’s safer. There’s no danger pertaining to slippage or something like that,” Paragas said. Paragas said it would only take about two weeks to install a floating dock. He added, that moving forward, the installation process could even be done faster. Estimated costs for the construction of the docks is P40,000 per square meter. n
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 1-3, 2017
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 1, 2017
‘The Girl Who Sees’: First-ever video game on Filipino culture and mythology by
GivEN the lack of Filipino representation in the international gaming industry, a group of Filipino-Americans is seeking to change that with the development of a Filipino fantasy video game. Set during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War ii, “the Girl Who Sees” is a 2D point-and-click adventure role-playing game (RPG) that follows Quina laban (the tagalog word for fight), a young Filipina girl living in a fishing village. She encounters mythological creatures, like a duwende (dwarf) or kapre (tree giant), and embarks on quests, such as translating a mysterious ancient scroll. With the scroll, Quina hopes to uncover “this secret [to] explain why she suddenly gains the power to see tagalog words everywhere she turns,” according to the game’s creator and project lead, Pattie Umali.
Christina M. Oriel / AJPress
Umali shared that “the Girl Who Sees” looks to make strides as the first game of its kind — including the first internationally-released, kid-friendly adventure game about ancient Philippine mythology and the first game in the United States to focus on Filipino culture. Reconnecting with Filipino culture the idea of the game first came about sometime in 2016 when Umali was pursuing a master’s degree in international and intercultural communication at American University in Washington, DC and had taken some courses at the Game lab. later that year, she participated in the Global Game Jam, where she met Cherisse Datu and Nathan hahn, who are both now part of the design and development team of “the Girl Who Sees.” “i was looking for a quick summer project to do and it
Cherisse Datu (left), Pattie Umali (right), and lead programmer Nathan Hahn (far right) during a work session.
“The Girl Who Sees” team includes Filipina-Americans Cherisse Datu (game design and media communications) and Pattie Umali (creator).
turned into a much bigger thing with a life of its own,” Umali told the Asian Journal. Others behind the game are Jerald Dorado (game and promotional art), Joshua Marquez (music), tristan Espinoza (animation and story), Andrew Pendergrast (music), and Brittany Williams (video). in conceptualizing the game, Umali thought about a period of time in the Philippines — World War ii — that could spark interest in younger generations of Filipinos and even non-Filipinos to learn about the country’s history. her previous research found that there had not been any game whose title or main focus was on Filipino culture or the Philippines. “there is a social good edge to it, which is to learn more about Filipino culture that no one has ever really delved deep into in terms of media, unless you’re talking about war zones and someone shooting up things in the Philippines,” Datu said. Datu, whose media background includes working at Al Jazeera and ESPN, remarked that she was attracted to Umali’s project because of the opportunity to bring more visibility to Filipino culture and compel second and third generations of Filipinos to learn their parents’ native tongue. “i think to be a Filipino-
American in America, it’s kind of like a revolutionary act to love yourself or to say like, ‘Oh, my language is important,’” Datu said. the main character Quina and the setting of the game were heavily influenced by Umali’s maternal grandmother Ofelia, who grew up in Pigcawayan, a municipality in the Cotabato province of the Philippines, during the war. (the fictional town in the game is named Pigcaway.) twelve years old when the war began, Ofelia and her family hid in the forest after their home was burned down. With the help of a local tribe, the family was able to build a house using supplies and materials they found. “that really impacted me as such a different life experience that i’m never going to have to encounter, God willing,” Umali said. “it was something i really wanted to highlight about how so many people in the Philippines who were of the older generation had experienced such trauma and such cruelty…they are only a couple of generations away and we should be aware of those differences and experiences.” With choosing a young girl as the heroine — inspired by games from the early 2000s that featured “a kid running around on an adventure” — Umali and
Illustrations & graphics by Jerald Dorado Quina Laban, the heroine of “The Girl Who Sees”
Angel Locsin on friend Neil Arce: ‘He’s my source of happiness’ by Katrina
hallare
Inquirer.net
Still remaining hush-hush on the real status of their relationship, “la luna Sangre” actress Angel locsin said that her friendship with film producer Neil Arce is doing great, even citing him as her “source of happiness.” in her appearance on “tonight with Boy Abunda”, she gushed that given the eight years she has known him, she’s thankful for what they have now. But when talk show host Boy Abunda asked locsin about a supposed incident wherein Arce told her “i love you”, locsin simply said she did not want to assume anything because of their tight-knit bond. “Alam namin na hindi siya basta-basta pinapasok kasi ayaw namin masira ‘yung friendship. So ‘yun yung naging usapan namin na kung ano man ang mangyari dito sa napaka-exciting na journey natin, basta ‘di tayo pwede mag-away,” locsin said. (We know that it’s not something that we could just get into, just like that, because we don’t want to ruin the friendship. So that’s what we decided on, that whatever happens in our exciting journey, we won’t fight.) locsin also noted that her family is good with Arce, especially her father. She values her family’s opinion about her friends and relationships, as she explained, “Pag hindi ka gusto ng pamilya ko, sorry talaga.” (If my family does not like you, I’m really sorry.) And when Abunda asked who is the lucky guy etched on her heart, she replied, “Neil.” Fans have been keeping tabs on Arce and locsin, hoping to know the real status of their
Datu hope Filipinas will be motivated to play the game. “i really hope that it shows them that they don’t need any boys’ help to explore. i hope that they build plenty of confidence. And frankly, one thing that Cherisse and i have sort of talked about is that there is definitely not going to be any romantic interest in this game because you know we want to show that a girl can do all this on her own without anyone’s help,” Umali said. Datu added that throughout the game, Quina has to navigate and communicate in a “male-influenced world.” the team anticipates that young boys will be receptive as well to playing as a female character because of the types of adventures and challenges Quina encounters along the way. “For me, i would love to get boys to experience playing a female who isn’t completely sexualized like lara Croft or you know any other game in which there’s a female character,” Umali said. Added Datu, “And recognize that you know, girls can be as bad ass and kick ass too. And she’s doing a lot of kick-ass things that boys enjoy doing as well. there’s nothing really gendered too much about her, just like she’s wearing a dress.” Tool for social change though the target audience is 10 to 30 years old, the team says it can transcend generations and age groups — kids can play it with their parents and other older relatives and start conversations their own stories— and cater to those who don’t have much experience playing video games. “i hope that people who don’t traditionally play games will give this a chance and check out our demo. Something that i’m really focused on is making this game accessible to people of all types of ages and all levels… because as i said, i do think that this is something that could really bond people of
Illustrations & graphics by Jerald Dorado different age groups together,” Umali said. “they don’t have to be scared of it just because it’s a video game. it is fun to play and it will teach you some things.” to coincide with FilipinoAmerican history Month in October, the team launched the game’s demo and a crowdfunding campaign on indiegogo with a $30,000 goal. As of this writing, nearly $8,000 had been raised with a month left. Before the campaign ends, the team is reaching out to the Filipino-American community, either through online or live events, to preorder and donate to the campaign. “i can say it’s that interesting so far in sort of engaging the Filipino community online and we have been seeing the awesome sharing and exposure…but one request and plea that our team has is that interest should be accompanied by action. We have had a lot of interest, but people aren’t necessarily going and donating to our campaign. they don’t have to go and give $100. i mean even just expressing their support in the form of $5 or $10, this could be a world of help to us,” Umali said. this funding will go toward developing, promoting and publishing the game with four chapters by December 2018 available for Windows and Mac computers. those who donate will receive a copy of the full game, which has features like learning tagalog through translating an ancient scroll with Quina and completing quests for Manong Kapre, such as interacting with Japanese soldiers and hidden guerrilla fighters. “there are a lot of brilliant Filipino artists and Filipino musicians. And so, for me, after we reach our funding goal, i’d be totally open to getting back to the community and talking through what it takes to sort of make the game. hopefully, this won’t be the only Filipino game; this will be the beginning of more games about Filipino culture,” Datu said.
Getting to know more about Matteo by DOlly
anne Carvajal Inquirer.net
WhEN Matteo Guidicelli’s heart is in it, the sky’s the limit. he pursues his passions relentlessly, whether on the race track, on camera, or on the concert stage. the Kapamilya heartthrob is all revved up for his concert, a followup to his sold-out concert in Cebu last year. Not too many people know that Matteo has been into musical theater. Back in school, he played the lead role in the musical, “Pippin.” he also took a course in Musical theater in Columbia College. the singer-actor is handson with the preparations for his concert. he will be performing covers inspired by the music that he grew up with and original songs from his soon-to-be-released second album. So, get ready to swoon over Matteo and be giddy(celli). As for his love life, Matteo politely declined to answer any Angel Locsin Photo from Instagram/@therealangellocsin questions about Sarah Geronimo relationship. the two have been regularly sharbecause he’d like to keep their ing via instagram pictures showing their mutual relationship low-key lest it goes support for each other, whether in their respecoff-key. tive projects or in special occasions, such as My chat with Matteo: when locsin celebrated her 32nd birthday in What kind of fulfillment do April. you get from singing, compared the last time they were spotted together in to acting and racing? Singing public was on the premiere of the Empoy Maris freedom, honesty and telling quez-Alessandra De Rossi box office hit “Kita your story. While acting is getting Kita”. into a character and relating it
Matteo Guidicelli
to yourself. Racing taught me determination. If you had to choose just one, which would you pick and why? Singing, because i have the most fun doing it. What do you find hard to understand about women? Women in general are hard to understand. their quirks and moods. But men can’t live without them. they complete a man’s life. What’s your most embarrassing moment to date? When i was the only one in class who failed the math test in middle school. What’s the cheesiest thing you’ve done? I love saying “i love you.” What’s on your bucket list? to travel the world, and motorbike around the Philippines, United States and Europe. to be
Instagram/@matteoguidicelli
a part of change in Cebu … by solving its traffic, flooding and garbage problems. What’s your song for yourself these days? it’s an original song included in my new album, “10,000th Day.” it’s about creating change and being yourself. Did you ever want to take a break, like John Lloyd Cruz? it’s important to find balance. Especially when i do a movie or a soap, i get burned out. i take a break, physically and mentally. If you could travel back in time, what would you do differently? i would take piano lessons seriously. If your life story were a movie, what would the title be? “All or Nothing.” i want Enrique Gil to portray me, but he must work out and get some abs first (laughs).
entertainment 3
Maine Mendoza releases first autobiographical book by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
MaiNe Mendoza is a paradox in many ways. She does the wackiest things on national television, yet remains shy in real life. She is all over billboards and the media, yet seems unspoiled by her fame. Mendoza shot to fame in april 2015 when she uploaded a video of herself lip-syncing as Kris aquino via a mobile app Dubsmash on Facebook. Within 24 hours, the video reached one million views and almost 60,000 likes on Facebook, which prompted her to continue making Dubsmash videos with the plain intention of making people happy. it wasn’t long before the team behind noontime show “eat Bulaga� became aware of the social media star and invited her to audition. in July 2015, she made her debut on the show’s “Juan For all, all For Juan� segment as Yaya Dub, and the rest is history. With her phenomenal rise to fame, she gives her millions of fans a chance to get to know the real her—the Maine Mendoza who comes out when the cameras aren’t rolling. Mendoza has launched her very own book titled “Yup, i am That Girl� which reveals the real story of the bubbly newcomer in show business. From her family life and growing-up years to her showbiz journey and life’s hopes and dreams, she dished heartfelt truths in the book, written in conversational prose with jokes generously thrown in—as people would expect from one of the most loved celebrities today. The book, according to the short description, is an unfiltered version of her personal blog “Pessimistic Optimist Bella.� in just four hours after one bookstore announced its availability, the autobiography was sold out. “This is a dream come true for me, sharing to people the inner writer in me. i dedicate this to all my supporters because they are my inspiration in doing this book,� Mendoza told members of the press during her book signing at TriNoma activity Center on October 26. “i felt that aside from my
went to the venue as early as the night before the event. “it was crazy. i saw on Twitter that some of them came here at 10 pm last night. i hope everyone got to sleep well. i am very flattered,� she said. “Since they were here since the day before, i will sign as many books as i can. They have sacrificed their time, effort and money. Ano ba naman yun sa akin, pirma lang ‘yun,� she added. Some 500 lucky fans were able to have their book signed. When asked if she has given her onscreen partner alden Richards a copy she shared, “i will give alden a personal copy. i wanted it to be wrapped Through her book, gives her millions of fans properly, of course with my a chance to get to know the real her—the Maine Mendoza who comes out when the cameras aren’t dedication. i have allotted copies rolling. ManilaTimes.net photo to those people who are very special to me.� blogs online, i really wanted as the launching of the book to produce a published work because not everyone is updated was a resounding success, Mendoza is hoping that she will have and has internet access. at least through this book, they can have another book to write. “i hope there will be a book a hard copy which they can bring two. i have a lot of things yet to anywhere,� the now-proclaimed unveil. Maybe about love life, author added. During the signing, the Kapu- or maybe literary works like poems,� the 22-year-old ended. so star turned emotional as she Yup, i am That Girl is available saw thousands of fans cheering in support. The activity center up in newsstands, bookstores, convenience stores and supermarkets to every level of the mall turned into a sea of yellow shirts just like nationwide which comes with free the cover of her book. Mendoza exclusive mini-photos of Mendoza for fans to collect. learned that some of her fans
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 1, 2017
Isabel Granada shows improvement iSaBel Granada is still in coma but now responds to conversations through hand movements, her mother and her former husband confirmed. The singer-actress has been in a hospital in Qatar after suddenly collapsing during a meet-andgreet event on Tuesday, Oct. 24. in a Facebook post on Saturday, Oct. 28, Jericho Genaskey aguas, Granada’s former husband, wrote, “isabel’s heartbeat went down from 156 to 98, when Mama and Hubert arrived and spent time in her room. That’s a good sign. The normal heartbeat is 60 to 100. God performs miracles. Continue praying. ‘Malapit na hong magkamalay si isabel. Gigising ang anak ko, alam ko yan, nanay ako, sabi ni Mama Gwapa [Guapa Castro-Granada] paglabas ng room.� Before leaving the country
“Ituloy n’yo ang pagdarasal para sa anak ko. [Na] mabuhay siya, magising siya,� CastroGranada, who flew to Qatar with the actress’ son Hubert aguas, pleaded. Meanwhile, in a separate interview with the aBS-CBN late-night news, “Bandila,� the actress-singer’s husband, arnel Cowley, updated that Granada is still in critical but stable condition. “She remains unconscious and doctors are looking to Isabel Granada and Arnel Cowley perform an operation on her ManilaTimes.net photo once her condition normalizes,� Cowley shared. for Qatar, Granada’s Spanish isabel’s father, Humberto mother, dearly called Mama Granada, was a chief marine Gwapa in showbiz, told “24 engineer who died in 1995. She Oras� reporter and The Manila Times’ Showbuzz entertainment holds an aeronautical engineering degree from PaTTS (Philipcolumnist lhar Santiago that she needed to be strong for her pine air Transport and Training Services) College and has daughter. She also bewailed speculations and fake news that earned her private pilot license. her daughter was already gone. (Arlo Custodio/ManilaTimes.net)
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An endless ‘harvesting’ season for Allen Dizon
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 1, 2017
Kim Chiu recalls having a ‘ghost bride’ in her family by Jan
MilO SEvErO
Philstar.com
SiNger-actreSS Kim chiu has a new movie titled “the ghost Bride,” to be shown on November 1 in cinemas nationwide. this is her first solo movie without a partner or leading man.
by Edgar
O. Cruz
Philstar.com
at the rate allen Dizon “harvesting” awards not only lo“this is my first solo movie cally but also internationally, he for my entire showbiz career badly needs another showcase kaya sobrang kinakabahan (eskaparate) to accommodate talaga ako,” the actress revealed them all. in a recent interview with PhilJust recently, he bagged a star.com. Special Jury Prize for “Bomba” “’Pag tapos n’yong dalawin at the 33rd Warsaw international ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay, Film Festival (WiFF) together dalawin nyo naman ako sa sinewith angeli Nicole Sanoy. considered the Best actor and the Best actress, they beat nominees that included Mexican actor gael gabriel garcia (star of Pedro almodovar’s “Y tu Mama tambien” and alejandro gonzalez inarritu’s “amores Perros”). in “Bomba (the Bomb)”, allen plays Pipo, a deaf-mute in his 40s having an affair with a 16-year-old girl (angeli), compared to a “ticking bomb” being pushed over the edge by an Actress and recording star Kim Chiu. Philstar.com photo by Jonathan Asuncion unjust society. as is always the case, angeli (17, a sophomore han!” she enthused. at Sti who started as a child acthe movie’s writer and tress at gMa) proved to be the director, chito roño, said the best (actually, the third) choice movie is perfect for Kim. after the managers of two other “Para akong nasa cloud 9 ‘pag sinasabi nyang ‘Ikaw talaga actresses (therese Malvar and first choice ko dito, ikaw talaga, Barbara Miguel) turned down the role deemed to be “not ikaw talaga,’ so parang ako, good for the (girls’) image.” hindi kita ifa-fail, i’ll try my best “i don’t really mind being para hindi ka I-fail’,” Kim said. the third, or even fourth or fifth “the ghost Bride” is a chinese tradition about getting choice, as long as i am the one who gets the role,” said angeli married to a departed one. who, at 11, was discovered by Since Kim has chinese blood, allen’s manager Dennis evanshe said she can relate to this gelista and cast as allen’s sister movie. “’Yung cousin ng lola ko, isa s’yang ghost bride, kinasal sa patay, so alam ko talaga ‘yung tradition na ‘yun,” Kim shared. tWeNtY-two-year-old alisah according to chinese Bonaobra won UK’s heart and custom, an unmarried woman made it back to the live shows agrees to become a ghost bride on “the X Factor UK.” for several reasons. among Viewers were asked who them is to choose to remain they want to come back from unmarried, to have a continued the eliminated acts from the family lineage, or to provide Judges’ House round and progeny to a man who died vote for their bets. the voted without descendants. contestant is allowed to return Kim affirmed that being a and compete in the live shows. “ghost bride” can make a girl On its episode on Sunday, instantly get rich, especially if Oct. 29, it was a battle between the woman was paid by a deceased man’s family to continue the boys and the girls categories with the theme “express Yourthe dead man’s line. “Kapalit nun, mayaman ka, marami kang self.” “the X Factor UK” hopefuls performed a song of their pera!” choice related to the theme. While introducing her wildcard winner, Sharon Osbourne was very thankful to the public for bringing alisah back. alisah performed “this is My Now” by Jordin Sparks, which greatly impressed the judges and the audience. after her performance, the judges were on their feet and had nothing but compliments for her. “that song is absolutely perfect for you because this is your now and you deserve to be back on the show. You always should have been on the show!” said Louis Walsh. “it’s almost like a winner’s song, and i love a power ballad with a key change from a great singer and you are a great singer! You’re a great performer. You got great soul and i love the way you fight
in Patikul, a cinemalaya entry directed by Joel Lamangan. “Si Vilma Santos ang peg ko kay angeli,” said Dennis. “She won for Best Breakthrough Performance from the golden Screen awards.” it was Dennis who charted allen’s career from a bold star to a serious actor, putting allen in a class by himself. allen didn’t disappoint. He has proven his mettle by, that’s it, winning awards (picking apples, as they would say) along the way. actually, allen has lost count of his wins and Dennis said the Warsaw trophy is allen’s 28th. aside from a gawad Urian, allen has won several Best actor awards: 10 for Paul Laxamana’s “Magkakabaung”; four for Mel chionglo’s “adya Mo Kami”; three for Joel Lamangan’s “Dukot”; two for Lawrence Fajardo’s “imbisibol”; one for Mel chionglo’s ”Lauriana”; and one for Vic acedillo’s “Lando at Bugoy”. and for Best Supporting actor, one for Joven tan’s “Paupahan”; one for Sigwa; one for “Migrante”; and one Best ensemble award for alvin Yapan’s “eDSa 1.” “Bomba” director ralston gonzales Jover (who shared the spotlight with allen at the Warsaw event) is all praises for allen. “allen has mastered the art of ‘indie acting’,” said ralston. “he does it with absolute subtlety and profound intensity…effortless, subdued and
Allen Dizon as a deaf mute and Angeli Nicole Sanoy as the 16-year-old girl with whom he’s having an affair in Ralston Gonzales Jover’s Bomba (The Bomb) which won for the stars Best Actor and Best Actress at the just-concluded Warsaw International Film Festival (WIFF).
heartfelt.” “Playing a deaf-mute was my hardest job so far,” admitted allen who dedicated his awards and success to his family (wife crystle and their children Nella, 15, a good friend of angeli; ixia, 12; Lucas, 9; and allene, 4). “i had to do it with only my eyes and hand gestures.” allen has just finished doing Brillante Mendoza’s tV series “aMO” and movie “right to Kill”. He will resume shooting ralston’s “Persons Of interest”. Said allen, ”i may not be a big star but i am proud of my work. in international film festivals, i am on equal footing with world-class actors. it’s a humbling experience for me.”
Eliminated Filipina singer returns to ‘The X Factor UK’
Look Maganda
Alisah Bonaobra performing “This is My Now” by Jordin Sparks.
back!” he added. Nicole Scherzinger agreed with Louis and referred to alisah as her little Disney warrior princess. “You just hiya-d and karate chopped all through that song! But you did it with grace. You did it with poise. You did it with strength. i freakin’ adore you!” she expressed. “i look at you and i’m like that’s my little ninja Filipina sister up there! You were meant to be up there, like [what Louis] said, this is your now, because that’s your stage, and you just took it tonight, honey!” she added. “everybody says in this contest that they really want this, and they really need to be here. i know your story. i know what you’ve gone through. and you know what? With a voice
The X Factor UK released
like yours, you’re gonna be here ‘til the end, Miss! i am so happy for you, so, so happy!” said judge and girls category mentor Sharon Osbourne. On the taped interview, alisah called herself the “comeback queen.” She looked back at her journey where she was let go but asked to come back and fight for her spot at the Six chair challenge. Now she is back again as the wildcard winner. When host Dermot O’Leary asked the judges who they thought won the night, the lady judges Scherzinger and Osbourne both favored alisah. alisah survived week one of the live shows and will continue with her journey on the competition. (Philstar.com)
Angelica Panganiban bashed for allegedly cutting immigration line Price Guarantee
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actreSS angelica Panganiban and her companions have been criticized on social media for reportedly cutting the line in immigration. angelica, together with hairstylists Jing Monis and Juan Sarte iii, were reportedly on their way to taiwan last weekend. according to a post by a netizen identified as Jc Valenzuela, he was allegedly at the immigration line in the airport when the actress, Monis and Sarte barged in to cut the line. Dismayed, Jc reportedly posted a photo of the actress and her companions with the caption: “You know why the Philippines is poor? it’s because local hairstylists like Jing Monis, Juan Sarte and ‘celebrity’ angelica Panganiban cuts (sic) the line in immigration. good human behavior is free. assholes.” Sarte then commented on the post, explaining that he was in front of Valenzuela when six people left the queue, so he suggested to angelica and Jing to join him in the line. “angelica, Jing and i were traveling as a group, among others. We got there at the same time but took different immigration queues. Jing and angelica’s line was very slow-moving compared to mine. as i was waiting
for my turn, about six passengers with no departure cards left their slots in the queue beside mine. Naturally, passengers from other queues rushed to take over the slots. angelica and Jing did the same but missed. as a courtesy to angelica, who is female, a friend and a colleague, i offered to let them go ahead of me,” Sarte narrated. Netizens have mixed reactions over the incident. in Sarte’s instagram account, a certain @kayvperez commented: “i used to admire you and i know you belong to a family of lawyers but your excuse on the immigration issue is so lame and stupid, you should not have just defended angelica because you said “pina una ko Dahil babae” and “akala ko normal Lang Kasi nakikita ko ginagawa ng Iba” is ridiculous!” “You know very well that you cannot do this action in other country. You are a frequent flyer and you must have travelled in so many countries, you know that a line is a line, even if the people behind you agreed to let you cut the line. in short, bastos mga kasama mo as they should not have agreed to cutting the line. Well mannered and educated people won’t do this. try doing this in the U.S, you guys will
Angeica Panganiban
Philstar.com photo
get it from the people on queu (sic). again, you should not have given a statement as this issue received very negative comments from netizens. Wag masyadong gawing tanga mga tao,” @kayvperez added. in defense of Sarte and company, a netizen named @shutterflyelms said: “Just ignore the bashers! they were not there when it happened. they should just zip their mouth!! @juansarte! Pilipinas talaga sawsaw pa more!!! if you were not there during the incident , you have no right to bash them!!! Wag masyadong Oa bashers!” angelica has not yet released a statement on the issue. as seen on Sarte’s posts, angelica is in taiwan to film the comedy “ang Dalawang Mrs. reyes,” in which she stars with Judy ann Santos. (Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar.com)
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 1, 2017
Janine Gutierrez on playing a ghost in ‘millennial’ horror movie
Johnny’s Kambingan hosts lunch for Romero Duno
by Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
Kapuso actress Janine Gutierrez admitted she feels nervous about her role in the upcoming movie “spirit of the Glass 2: The Haunted” because she considers her mom, Lotlot de Leon, as an expert when it comes to horror. “Nape-pressure ako kasi magaling siya sa horror kaya kailangang ibigay ko talaga lahat,” Janine told philstar.com in an interview. Nonetheless, the “Legally Blind” lead actress said she enjoyed every moment shooting the film. “Na-enjoy ko ‘yung pag gawa ng horror. Napaka supportive po n’ya (Lotlot). Kumukuha ko ng tips sa mga role na ginawa nya. Sobrang classic po kasi nung mga yon.” Janine said her role, sabrina, a famous actress in the 1960s, is very challenging to her. “’Yung period kasi. Dapat iba ‘yung itsura mo. Dapat pasok noong ‘60s lahat pati kilos at pagsalita mo. At higit sa lahat, medyo madrama po kasi ‘yung mga eksena. Very physical. May fight scenes, puro sigawan. so mahirap po talaga for me,” she confided. Janine admitted she never had an encounter with the supernatural, unlike her co-star in the movie, beauty queen Maxine Medina, who narrated her eerie experiences on “Rated K.” Janine said she has been watching horror movies to be desensitized to the supernatural, because if she sees a ghost, she thinks she would be scared to death. Never toy with the unknown because it might just come back to haunt you. This is the lesson from “spirit of the Glass 2: The Haunted,” the latest horror movie set to hit Filipino theaters in time for Halloween.
“Spirit of the Glass 2: The Haunted” star Janine Gutierrez.
Three fashionista friends who are popular on social media attempt to have some offline fun by trying to contact spirits using the age-old spirit of the Glass game and this opens up to a series of horrific haunting experiences. Bea is a lifestyle editor of a popular magazine, Lisette is an up-and-coming young actress, and Chelsea is a sought-after model. They are the “Girls of the Moment,” living blissful lives basking in their popularity. one night, together with their love interests, Enzo, Jag, and andre summon a trio of vengeful spirits with Bea’s ouija Board, and this triggers a succession of disturbing supernatural events in relation to a crime committed 50 years ago. The spirits haunt the girls and their partners until they are forced to connect with a blind medium named anita to help the spirits seek justice and eternal peace. The movie is written by Jose Javier Reyes as a nod to the first “spirit of the Glass” movie which he also directed. The first movie came out in 1994 with an ensemble cast including Rica peralejo, Marvin
Philstar.com photo by Jan Milo Severo
agustin, Drew arellano, paolo Contis, alessandra de Rossi and Dingdong Dantes. “spirit of the Glass 2 : The Haunted” stars Cristine Reyes, Daniel Matsunaga, Maxine Medina, Benjamin alves, ashley ortega, Enrico Cuenca, Janine Gutierrez, Dominic Roque, and aaron Villaflor. With fresh new faces and the latest in special effects and filming technology, together with superb storytelling, this latest installment in the horror genre promises to give a new generation of Filipino moviegoers another screamfest full of thrills and chills. The movie’s director, Jose Javier Reyes, pleaded not to compare his opus to other horror films showing on November 1. “Iisa lang ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino. Maliit lamang ito. Hindi naman wasto para ipagsabong ang dalawang pelikula at sabihing mamatay ang isa at ang isa ay magwagi. Dapat magwagi pareho dahil iisa lang ang industriya,” the award-winning director said. “This is not a competition. This is a celebration of horror movies!”
Photo taken during the visit of Romero Duno at Asian Journal Publications’ office in Glendale, California. From left to right: Moises, LaraAJPress Photos by Ding Carreon mie Pagdanganan, Johnny Guanzon, Romero Duno and Jimmy Calungsod.
Duno and his team including Coach Rodel Mayol (left of Duno)
Food catered by Johnny’s Kambingan
Romero Duno signing gloves for Johnny Guanzon
USA candidate selection held for Miss Asia Pacific International 2017
AJPress Photos by Ding Carreon
by AJ Press Candidate selections were held last weekend, October 29 at the Asian Journal Glendale office for the Miss USA representative at the Miss Asia Pacific International 2017. It was organized by Pageantry Global, Inc. headed by Cora Soriano and Trini Foliente. Miss Asia Pacific International is an organization that enables women to embrace, express, and exercise their individuality. A woman who can be confident and proud of her unique traits as well as appreciate and value those of others, can help pave way to a better and brighter future. The organization serves as a pedestal for women who want to be the voice of celebrating beauty and harmony in diversity. May it be in the form of culture, race, belief, or opinion, believing that all women are distinctly beautiful and one of a kind. Last year, Tessa le Conge of the Netherlands was crowned as the Miss Asia Pacific International. The coronation was held at
From left: Joaquin Gregorio, Roselle Madlangsakay, Erica Rose Madlangsakay, Jeddah Barry, Nathalie Barry, Lowina Adelfa Cabanos, Jessica Cabanos, Lena Mafnas, Jena Masero, Trinity Foliente, and Cora Soriano.
Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines on November 23, 2016. Candidates all over the world will arrive in Manila on Novem-
ber 10, 2017. The coronation night will be at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre, Resorts World Manila on November 29, at 8PM.
Selections of Miss Asian Pacific International USA hosted and coordinated by Pagentry Global, Inc headed by Cora Soriano and Trini Foliente.
The candidates for USA representative of Miss Asia Pacific International 2017 (from left) Nathalie Barry, Erica Rose Madlangsakay, Jessica Cabanos, and Jena Masero with one of the judges, Joaquin Gregorio (center), who came all the way from New York, is in business of production, styling, casting and scouting.
The candidates who attended the selection with their mothers.
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 1, 2017