Issuu

November 7-9, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 87 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

USA

DATELINE Trial begins over citizenship question on 2020 Census FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE trial over the issue of whether people will be asked about their citizenship in the upcoming 2020 census began Monday, November 5, at a federal court in New York City. Advocates pushing for an accurate count maintained that the question will turn out a “systematic undercount” of immigrants who may refrain from responding out of fear data would be used against them. The addition of the citizenship question was announced last March by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who in an eight-page memo said that the question on citizenship would help administer the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 which is supposed to prevent voter discrimination against of minorities. The question though, has not been included in the decennial census since the VRA was passed into law, or in the past 70 years in total. The Trump administration has added that the Constitution allows the government to decide how the census should be conducted, thus making the question addition lawful. Advocates against the question—including the states of New York, Illinois, Iowa,

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Fil-Am pipe bomb suspect held without bail in NY Suspect Cesar Sayoc made first appearance in Manhattan federal court after court hearing in Florida

A FEDERAL judge on Tuesday, Nov. 6 has ordered the man suspected of sending more than a dozen explosives to high-profile Democrats to be held without bail in his first appearance in New York federal court. Cesar Sayoc, Jr., who is half-Filipino and half-Italian, was transported from Florida to New York on Monday and made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Kim referred to Sayoc as “a serious risk of danger to the public and a flight risk.” Sayoc wore a navy blue prison uniform over a beige T-shirt and conferred with his assigned counsel, public defender Sarah Jane

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HRW meddling by calling for probe into police ‘hitmen’, Palace says by GAEA

KATREENA Philstar.com

CABICO

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, November 6, slammed Human Rights Watch for “intruding” in the country’s

affairs after it called on the Philippine government to create an independent commission to probe the alleged involvement of cops in killings under the administration’s war on drugs. The New York-based rights orga-

nization made the call after Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, regional police director for Central Visayas, was quoted as saying in a Cebu Daily News report that hitmen hired to kill people allegedly involved in the illegal

drug trade might be retired cops. HRW said the proposed sion should be independent Office of the President and

or active commisfrom the the PNP

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CHR hails approval of Senate bill on funds for Marcos martial law victims by CHRISTIA

MARIE Inquirer.net

RAMOS

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hailed on Tuesday, November 6, a Senate panel’s approval of a bill extending the validity and availability of funds for victims of rights abuses under the Marcos dictatorship. Earlier, the Senate justice and human rights committee approved Senate Joint Resolution No. 13 filed by Sens. Francis Escudero and Ralph Recto extending the availability of funds for the indemnification of rights abuse victims until December 2019. Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee, also asked his colleagues to approve the measure without amendments through his committee report filed on Oct. 10. With this, CHR said it would continue to pursue efforts to guarantee that martial victims would be granted the right to get compensation and recognition. “On our part, the Commission continues to push for

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FIRST PHILIPPINE LANDPORT. President Rodrigo Duterte takes a tour inside the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City during its inauguration on Monday, November 5. Duterte noted that PITX is one of the three intermodal terminals to be developed by the government in cooperation with the private sector that aims to address the trafﬁc congestion in Metro Manila. Duterte described PITX as a landmark project – a “landport” that feels and functions like an airport. It would offer the Filipino commuters a safer and convenient terminal experience with state-of-theart amenities. Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano

OFWs should not pay travel tax – Bello Sara Duterte: Davao folk proud of city’s inclusion on richest list by WILLIAM

DEPASUPIL ManilaTimes.net

AIRLINE companies continue to collect travel taxes and terminal fees from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in violation of existing laws, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said on Monday, November 5. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the collection of said fees was “illegal” because under Presidential Decree 1183 and Republic Act (RA) 8042, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, as Amended by RA 10022, OFWs are exempted from paying travel tax and terminal fees. Bello said departing OFWs only need to present their overseas employment certificates (OEC) and working visas to avail of the exemp-

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III

Inquirer.net photo

TOLENTINO ManilaTimes.net

MAKATI City has edged out Quezon City as the Philippine’s richest city. With assets of P196.57 billion, it was the richest city in 2017, based on the Commission on Audit’s 2017 Annual Financial Report on Local Government. Makati City saw more than a three-fold increase in its assets —from P49.494 billion in 2015 to P54.85 billion in 2016. Quezon City dropped to second place with P68.33 billion MAGICAL. Ayala Avenue, Makati City’s main thoroughfare, comes alive as dazzling lights were switched on Monday in total assets. In 2016, its assnight, a signal that Christmas is near. The switching of street lights and the Festival of Lights at the Ayala Triangle sets was valued at P59.556 bilGardens are two pre-Christmas events awaited every year. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina lion.

Inquirer.net

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, said her constituents were pleased her city was among the 10 richest in the country. She said such u PAGE A3 honor spelled huge potentials for urban centers outside the capital. “The DabawenManila remained on third Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Inquirer.net photo yos are proud that place with P38.677 billion in toDavao City made it to the top 10 richest cities in the tal assets. Of the provinces, Cebu was country,” Mayor Duterte said. “It says a lot about the the wealthiest in 2017 with as- promising future of cities outside Luzon, especially sets totaling P34.139 billion, up the ones from Mindanao,” she added. Davao maintained its ninth rank among the counfrom P32.429 billion in 2016 and try’s ten richest cities as its assets jumped to P13.18 P30.331 billion in 2015. Compostela Valley, a newbie billion last year, a P3.38-billion increase from the on the list, placed second with same period in 2016, a Commission on Audit report P18.95 billion, while Batan- showed. President Duterte’s hometown is the only metropogas climbed to third spot with P15.568 billion in total assets lis from Mindanao to land on the list. Duterte said the city was also working to be debtfrom its previous fourth ranking free in the next two years. in 2016 with “Despite this recognition, we are trying our hardP8.694 billion assets. Meanwhile, Cainta in Rizal est to ensure that we identify and reach out to those province was the richest town in who are poor and take them out of poverty. Only 2017 with assets totaling P3.988 then can we be truly happy about being a rich city,” u PAGE A2 she said. ■

Makati is PH’s richest city by REINA LEANNE

by FRINSTON LIM

A November 7-9, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JoUrNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

From the Front Page Trial begins over citizenship question... PAGE A1 and Virginia; and cities like New York and Philadelphia—maintained that the question would discourage a significant amount of people from participating in the census, thus making it possible for certain communities to be misrepresented. “These well-documented risks of adding a person-by-person citizenship demand to the de-

cennial census are heightened in the current political climate because of President Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and this Administration’s pattern of policies and actions that target immigrant communities,” wrote the lawsuit plaintiffs. Duke University political scientist Dr. Sunshine Hillygus on Monday, testified for the advocates by saying that the

citizenship question “will lead to systematic undercount of Hispanic and non-citizen households” which is an issue advocates for an accurate count have already been addressing. “A citizenship question is going to make conducting the census a heck of a lot more difficult,” said Dr. Hillygus. The decennial count not only looks for population changes and other information about who makes up the United States— citizens and non-citizens alike— but more importantly, uses the derived data to address the nation’s needs like determining how seats in Congress are set, and how funding allocations for certain programs are made. Over $600 billion is allocated through federal programs based on census data. Among the many programs dependent on the census are those regarding education, assistance for veterans, hospitals, and transportation. Dr. Hillygus referred to recent reports showing how the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics have led some eligible immigrants from participating in social programs. She also pointed to a recent Pew Research Center report that showed a majority of Latinos reporting fear that they, or a family member of close friend could be deported. The trial commenced Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court last Friday, declined the Trump administration’s requests to postpone it. The case which is led by New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood and is to be decided by federal Judge Jesse Furman, will most likely be appealed to the Supreme Court. (Rae Ann Varona /AJPress)

Makati is PH’s... PAGE A1

billion. It was also the wealthiest in 2016 and 2015 with P3.511 billion and 3.176 billion, respectively. It was followed by Sual town in Pangasinan with P2.528 billion. Limay town in Bataan came in third with P2.42 billion in total assets, down from its P2.54 billion in 2016. n

PAROL MAKER. A hard-working grandmother makes more “parol” to meet orders and earn extra income for the coming Christmas season at the Plaza Quezon in Las Piñas City on Sunday, November 4. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

HRW meddling by calling for probe... PAGE A1

and should include investigators from the Commission on Human Rights and representatives from non-governmental organizations. ‘Reckless proposal’ But presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo dismissed the call of the human rights group. “Its inference from an interview of a lone police official cannot be a valid ground for such reckless proposal. This is not new and is no different from those hurled by desperate [critics] of this administration since Day One of the president’s war against illegal drugs,” he said. Panelo, moreover, accused HRW of resurrecting an old issue to undermine the integrity of the Philippine government. Government data showed than 4,854 individuals have been killed in “legitimate anti-drug operations” since President Rodrigo Duterte was elected into power. But rights groups have higher estimates—more than 12,000 people dead. The police force has been heavily criticized for being at the forefront of the deadly government campaign—from allegedly planting weapons and illegal drugs on suspects’ bodies and claiming that killed drug personalities resisted arrest.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo accused HRW of resurrecting an old issue to undermine the integrity of the Philippine government. Malacañãng photo by Toto Lozano

‘Functioning’ mechanisms Panelo, who is also the chief presidential legal counsel, assured HRW that the government has mechanisms to look into reports that some policemen are involved in the alleged killings of drug suspects. He said the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP acts on cases of errant cops, while the Commission on Human Rights and the Congress conduct probes into reported abuses of

authorities. “These, among other governmental bodies engaged in counterbalancing measures, are functioning. We thus reiterate our position that we don’t need schooling from outsiders on how to run the country,” Panelo said. This, despite the Duterte administration repeatedly denying claims of abuses in the drug war and attacking critics of the campaign. n

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Robredo: Fox ‘more Filipino’ than many of us kalungkot na iyong pagpahayag ng mga saloobin, parang, kailangan parati mong pagbayaran (It is saddening how politics became the reason behind all this. It is saddening how voicing out one’s opinion against the government has to pay for it all the time),” the vice president said. Fox left the country on Saturday, November 3, and headed back to Australia after months of legal battle with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that ordered her deportation and downgraded her missionary visa. President Rodrigo Duterte had accused Fox of “meddling with internal politics” from her participation in a series of protests in Mindanao. The 71-year-old nun, who has stayed in the country for 27 years, previously reiterated that participating in assemblies of

farmers and workers, who demand for just wages and humane work conditions, are not political VICE President Leni Robredo activities but moves to help prowas dismayed over the deportatect the rights of the poor and the tion of Australian nun Patricia needy. Fox, whom she believed was Robredo, on the other hand, “more Filipino” from her desaid that Fox’s departure will cades of missionary work in the likely be temporary. country. “Parating sa huli, kabutihan ang “Nakakalungkot na pinaalis mananaig. Kaya tingin ko dadatsiya dito sa atin. Sabi ko nga, paing iyong panahon na babalik din rang mas Pilipino pa siya kaysa sa si Sister sa atin at ipagpapatuloy marami sa atin (It is disappointiyong misyon niya para tulungan ing that she was deported from iyong mga Pilipino (In the end, our country. In my opinion, she the good always prevails. That is seemed more like a true Filipino why I think that there will come a than many of us here),” Robredo time when Sister will come back said in her weekly radio show. to us and continue her mission to Robredo added that she was help the Filipinos),” she said. disappointed with the “political” Rights and labor groups also decision of the government to thanked Fox for her “exemplary expel Fox out of the country. service” dedicated to their sec“Nakakalungkot na pulitika tors. iyong naging dahilan. Naka“Sister Pat’s exemplary service to the Filipino people through her missionary work among the country’s poor communities cannot be denied. Only those who detest the poor would want [her] out of the Philippines,” Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights said in a statement. Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao added that Fox’s advocacy for “a just Filipino society” will continue even after leaving the country. “Definitely this is not the end but rather another chapter of her advocacy for further advancing not only human rights but also needed social reforms for the After the Bureau of Immigration (BI) downgraded her visa to that of a temporary visitor, Australian poor sectors of our country,” he nun Sister Patricia Fox had to leave the country on Saturday, November 3. Inquirer.net photo added. n by Glee Jalea ManilaTimes.net

OFWs should not pay travel... PAGE A1 tion. “I am wondering why they continue to collect. In fact we already wrote them a letter that they should not collect. This is illegal extraction and they may be liable [under the law]. So we are writing them again to remind them of this exemption of OFWs,” he said in a news briefing. Bello also reminded the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to remit to the

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) P500 million, the money collected from OFWs since 2015. “They (airline companies) have to account to us how much they collected for the last three years and how much they have remitted to CAAP. We will also ask the CAAP to account to us how much has been remitted to them by the airlines, and then ask them to remit this amount immediately OWWA,” he said.

Bello said while some OFWs were given refunds, many failed to get a refund either because they had no time to process their claim or they did not know that they can get their money back. The labor chief instructed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and OWWA to coordinate with CAAP on the implementation of a mechanism for the automatic exemption of OFWs from paying travel tax and terminal fee. n

CHR hails approval of Senate bill... PAGE A1 efforts in favour of remedies that would grant victims of the dictatorship the reparation and ac-

knowledgement they deserve,” lawyer Jacqueline de Guia, CHR spokesperson, said in a statement.

The CHR recalled that the House of Representatives passed its version of the joint resolution in August 2018. n

COURT APPEARANCE. Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima, under heavy guard, arrives at the designated Court of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City on Tuesday, November 6 to attend the resumption of hearing on the trumped-up drug charges filed before the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206. The hearing lasted about nine minutes only after Judge Lorna Navarro-Domingo presented an Order announcing that she is inhibiting herself from hearing the case. Senate photo

Hello? It’s I, Robot, and have I got an insurance plan for you! by

BarBara Feder OstrOv Kaiser Health News

“ANNA” will not stop calling. She really, really wants to sell you health insurance. What a lot of consumers really, really want is to smack Anna upside her robocalling head. As health insurance open-enrollment season gets underway in California and nationwide, automated phone calls offering Affordable Care Act or other health plans are spiking — and driving many consumers to the brink. California residents may have it worst, because its open-enrollment period is twice as long as in other parts of the country. “It’s at epidemic levels at this time of year,” said Aaron Foss, founder of Nomorobo, who estimates his spam call-blocking service, based in Long Island, N.Y., headed off more than 850,000 health-related robocalls in October alone — nearly five times their interceptions for September, Foss said. Nomorobo tracked about 820 different robocall pitches for health insurance in the last week of October. More than 100 of them were from the robot Anna. Almost all of these calls are illegal, according to rules published by the Federal Trade Commission in 2009. Many offer skimpy

health plans that don’t cover what you might need, insurance regulators and consumer advocates say. Others, they say, are downright fraudulent, with unscrupulous insurance “brokers” taking payment and promising insurance that never comes through. Alice Cave, 62, a retired data analyst from Alexandria, Va., who spends winters in Tucson, said she’s gotten so many of these calls that she typically won’t answer her phone unless she recognizes the number. On Monday, expecting a call from a California reporter, she answered her cellphone. It was “Anne.” (Anna’s robot cousin? Other relatives include “Jordan,” “Allison” and “Mandy,” though variants on Anna remain most prevalent.) “She was saying, ‘I really need to talk to you — we’ve got deals on health insurance.’ I thought, ‘God, what a crock,’” Cave said. “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Anything that comes in on the phone, I’m going to be skeptical. Why would they offer me this deal? I already have great insurance. It’s crazy.” Some fed-up consumers try to stymie robocallers, with amusing results. Twitter user Jon Heise in June confounded his robot by insisting, after whatever it said,

that he was a “meat popsicle.” Eventually, it hung up. It’s not all fun and games. In California, the Department of Insurance is investigating health insurance robocalls, said Janice Rocco, deputy commissioner for health policy and reform. In late August, the agency filed a court order against Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings LLC, accusing the Florida company of deceptive and misleading practices in selling “Obamacare” plans that didn’t comply with the health law. The company could face fines of up to $10,000 per violation, Rocco said. In this case, the company’s robocalls featured “Anne,” according to the court order. In its legal response, the company did not admit to the agency’s allegations and denied responsibility. A hearing date has not yet been set, Rocco said. (Arkansas’ insurance commissioner issued a cease and desist order against the company in 2016.) Under federal law, calls using prerecorded messages are legal only for such things as doctor appointment reminders, flight cancellations, credit card fraud alerts and political candidates. Calls to sell products and services are not. In a typical robocall sales pitch, PAGE A4

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Young people vulnerable to Prison destroys future of children — UNICEF exec fake news, says US professor by Janvic

mateo Philstar.com

by Bernadette

tamayo

ManilaTimes.net

AN expert in social media on Monday, November 5 said some people, especially the young, are susceptible to wrong information or “fake news” due to long hours spent online. “Fake news is timeless. Fake news exists in a new [media] world. Media use today involves a lot of content,” Dr. Stephanie Edgerly, a journalism professor at the Northwestern University Illinois, said in her seminar-lecture on fake news at The Manila Times College. Edgery’s lecture titled “Getting Real About Fake News” was attended by students from The Manila Times College Subic, Cavite State University, Emilio Aguinaldo College (Dasmariñas, Cavite), City of Malabon University, and Polytechnic University of the Philippines. “Social media is taking a lot of our time,” she said, adding that long hours spent on social media put netizens in a “vulnerable

state of mind.” “Be careful. There are a lot of wrong info out there,” Edgerly warned. She said that social media “is big” in several countries. She noted that 67 million Filipinos have active Facebook accounts. They represent 63 percent of the Philippine population, 23 million of whom belong to the 18 to 24 year-old bracket. According to 2018 Hootsuite Digital Report, they spend an average of three hours and 57 minutes using social media. “A lot of fake news spread because it seems like this is something that make sense or can possibly happen,” Edgerly said. “Fake news has so many meanings, we need to break out those meanings and give them new names.” Edgerly said the elderly is also susceptible to fake news. She said that disinformation targetted older people “because they are unlikely to fact check.” Disinformation intentionally spread wrong information to

achieve commercial motivation, to sell a particular product or service, to gain political power, or to persuade people. She said fake news can be in the form of satire or parody, misleading information (due to poor reporting), manipulated visuals, imposter content (i.e. fake websites), and fabricated content. “Satire in itself is not problematic. Satire can be super useful. But it must not be confused as real information. You have to learn to know the original source,” Edgerly said. She said fake news may lead to “loss of trust in the news media, loss of trust in political group, and confusion.” Fake news, she added, spreads due to technology and human nature. “Be certain the news you consume is true,” she told her audience. She urged netizens to cross check data, inspect headlines, and to beware of excessive punctuation marks. n

LOWERING the minimum age of criminal responsibility would have dire consequences on the future of children placed in prisons, the Philippine representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned. Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, October 31, UNICEF Philippine representative Lotta Sylwander said putting children in prison enhances their criminal behavior. “We have global evidence about this. It doesn’t keep the child out of criminality. In fact, it enhances the child’s criminal behavior. They are sort of groomed into being criminals when they are put into prison,” she said. “There are hardly any examples showing children returning to a normal life after they are thrown into prison as children,” she added. Instead of putting children in prisons, Sylwander said children in conflict with the law should be put through a restorative justice procedure that it already provided under the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Sylwander called for additional resources to enable the full implementation of the law, which sets the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 15. A proposal is pending in Congress to lower it to at least 13 years old. But according to the UNICEF official, it is unfair to put the

Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, October 31, UNICEF Philippine representative Lotta Sylwander said putting children in prison enhances their criminal behavior. Philstar file photo by Boy Santos

blame on children, given that many of them are forced to commit criminal acts by the adults around them. “Giving the child the blame and responsibility for actions is very unfair because they do not understand, they do not have that cognizant capacity,” she said. “We as adults should put the effort into actually helping these children into a normal, stable life. Taking them out of a bad family situation, take them out of gangs and restore their right to a proper and fair life,” added Sylwander. Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, who was also at the forum, agreed with the UNICEF official that criminalizing acts of young children is not the solution to the problem. However, she stressed the need

to understand officials, including President Duterte, who saw that the higher minimum age of criminal responsibility has resulted in more minors committing crimes. “There is a belief that because we increased it to 15, that created boldness in the criminal minds to use the children,” she said. “We have to understand the causes to understand the frame of mind of people.” Cayetano stressed the need to address the root causes of the problem, including poverty and teenage pregnancy. “One, we need to get the children out of the streets and number two, make them accountable or make them understand that what they are doing is not acceptable,” she said. n

Fil-Am pipe bomb suspect held without bail... PAGE A1 Baumgartel. He did not wear handcuffs or shackles and answered, “yes, sir” to Lehrburger’s routine questions. The defense did not challenge the federal government’s denial of bail. Prior to his transport to New York, he appeared before a federal judge in Florida on Monday, Oct. 29. The 56-year-old faces five criminal counts: interstate transport of explosives, mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents, making threatening interstate communications and assault of current or former government officials. He allegedly mailed at least 15 pipe bombs to known critics of President Donald Trump, including high profile Democrats like Barack Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as news organizations like CNN and prominent Democrat donor George Soros. After he was identified, it was revealed that Sayoc was a regular attendee of Trump rallies. A Twitter account believed to be run by

Cesar Sayoc Jr., the suspect who mailed the bombs to various Democratic officials last week. Photo courtesy of the Broward County Sheriff

Sayoc expressed allegiance to Trump as well as harassment towards other accounts who criticized the president. On the day he was arrested, federal officials uncovered a van allegedly belonging to Sayoc that was adorned with pro-Trump stickers and posters as well as

incendiary messages towards Clinton, Obama, CNN and other parties Trump has repeatedly attacked. If convicted, he’ll serve up to 48 years in prison. As previously reported by the Asian Journal, Sayoc had compiled a list of about 100 targets and had prepared the list before he was first arrested on Friday, Oct. 26. Federal officials have not publicly released the names on the list but have been privately contacting those listed. In addition to Obama, Clinton and Soros, Sayoc had allegedly mailed pipe bombs to former Vice President Joe Biden; former Attorney General Eric Holder; Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California; Rep. Maxine Waters of California and actor Robert DeNiro. None of the explosives that were mailed detonated and did not injure anybody, according to officials. Sayoc has been ordered to return to court next Monday, Nov. 12.. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Hello? It’s I, Robot, and have I got... PAGE A3 a friendly female voice comes on the line. Sometimes the call appears to originate from major insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna or from a local number a caller might suppose is a school or neighbor. Often, the voice will ask the consumer to dial “1” to enroll or “2” to opt out of future calls. Both options can be a trap, experts say. “If you pick up, you become a lead that’s sent to health insurance agents or brokers,” Nomorobo’s Foss said. And option 2 doesn’t put you on a do-not-call list; it merely lets the spammers know they’ve hit a working number, he added. A reporter from Kaiser Health News connected with one of the insurance brokers behind one of these robocalls by pressing the dreaded “1.” A man identifying himself as “Ray Khan” said he’s a licensed insurance broker and provided a National Insurance Producer

Registry number. The reporter was unable to locate Khan in that national registry with that number, which was not assigned to anyone. Khan asked for the reporter’s Social Security number and other personal information. He said he did not have an office and that enrollment needed to be done over the phone. He referred the caller to a website that does not provide information about plans offered but is a platform for consumers to be contacted by brokers. “It’s a legitimate company. We work for different insurance carriers,” Khan said. “You have to trust someone if you want to do it.” That’s exactly what you shouldn’t do — trust folks who call you out of the blue, according to the Department of Insurance’s Rocco. “Someone selling a comprehensive medical plan is not going to be reaching you via a robocall,” Rocco said. Most of what’s sold through

these automated calls are socalled skinny plans that don’t comply with Affordable Care Act requirements, or are short-term insurance plans, which typically offer coverage for only a few months and often don’t cover preexisting conditions or prescription drugs. Such plans have been outlawed in California, starting Jan. 1. Despite state and federal crackdowns — some involving multimillion-dollar fines — robocalls aren’t going away anytime soon. So the best thing for consumers to do when they receive one is to just hang up or, like Virginia resident Cave, not respond to unfamiliar numbers, advises the Federal Communications Commission. Instead, check out the federal Obamacare exchange, healthcare.gov, or your state’s marketplace. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. Sen. Bam Aquino receives the prestigious IBPAP-PLDT Azure Flare for Industry Luminary Award in recognition of his contribution to develop and strengthen IT and BPO sector through his legislative work during Monday night’s awarding ceremonies at The Peninsula Manila. Also in photo are (from left) Miguel del Rosario (president of Animation Council Philippines), Vic Tria (First VP and head of PLDT Alpha), Jovi Hernandez (head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Group), and Beng Coronel (HIMAP President). Senate photo

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Boracay rehabilitation to continue, says DENR by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — Rehabilitation of the world-famous Boracay Island will continue even after it was reopened to tourists on October 26, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said on Monday, November 5. Cimatu said the agency would continue to monitor the quality of water in the resort island to ensure safety of tourists and residents. He said the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), an attached agency of the DepartTSUNAMI WARNING. Fishermen rest at the fish port in Navotas, one of the cities that may be hit by a tsunami if a strong quake hits Metro Manila. ment of Environment and Natural The cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, Manila, Pasay, Las Piñas and Parañaque may also be hit by a tsunami that may be triggered by the movement of Resources (DENR), has installed the Manila Trench, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) said. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo a state-of-the-art monitoring system to ensure water quality. The DENR will ensure compliance by all establishments with the rules stipulated in the enviby evelyn mAcAiRAn ronmental compliance certifiPhilstar.com cates (ECCs). “The government continue to MANILA — The campaign receive application for compliagainst corruption is newly apance from different establishpointed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s top priority. Guerrero attended his first flag-raising ceremony yesterday morning and told BOC employees that he is bent on implementing reforms and would be working hard toward addressing the corruption problem in the agency. “First of all, I want to announce that there would be reforms in the agency and we would intensify our efforts to become better Newly appointed Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero Philstar.com photo public servants,” Guerrero said. “But the fight against corrup- but our agency is again at the bility of public service,” the new tion and cleansing of the BOC of center of another big controver- Customs commissioner said. Guerrero warned them that corrupt officials will be my top sy. When will we start fixing our priority as your commissioner. agency? There have been many he would not hesitate to use the For this reason, it is ordered that commissioners who came to the authority and powers as comwe put a stop to the ‘tara’ (bribe BOC but up to now, we have not missioner in order for him to accomplish his mission. per container) system and other yet fixed the system,” he said. For more than 30 years of Guerrero, who previously means of soliciting or receiving (bribe) money for transactions in served as Armed Forces of the serving the country, Guerrero Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, has protected his name and repthe bureau,” he added. Guerrero issued the order at told BOC officials and personnel utation because he believes that a time the agency is gripped by to always remember the vow they this is a treasure he will leave his its latest controversy involving make before the Philippine flag family. He also said he would not al1.6 tons of shabu, estimated to every Monday morning: to work be worth P11 billion, which al- to the best of their ability and to low the good name of the agency and reputation of many of the legedly passed through the Ma- faithfully serve the people. “Illegal activities have no place Customs employees to be tarnila International Container Port in the Bureau of Customs, and nished by the illegal activities of (MICP) undetected last July 14. He pointed out that there have all the more that illegal activi- a few employees. Guerrero reminded his subbeen many commissioners who ties and employees engaged in entered the doors of the bureau illegal acts have no place in any ordinates to be one with the but they failed in their mission to government agency… Let us agency and that the successes serve with honesty and integrity. and failures of the agency are rid the agency of corruption. “Painful it may be to accept, Let us keep the dignity and noPAGE A7

Fighting corruption is Customs chief’s priority

ments,” Cimatu said. One of the conditions in applying for an ECC is a service connection to a sewage treatment plant. Prior to its reopening last month, the EMB said that 717 of 1,258 establishments in Boracay were given certificates of compliance. At least 155 hotels and other establishments with a total of 7,308 rooms have been allowed to receive guests since Oct. 26. Cimatu said Boracay would no longer be called a cesspool as business establishments are now cooperating with the government in maintaining cleanliness on the island. The Boracay interagency task force earlier said it would limit the number of tourists to 19,215 per day, based on the carrying capacity recommendation of the DENR. According to the carrying capacity study, the island and its swimming areas can only sup-

port 55,757 people per day, including 36,542 residents and workers, and 19,215 tourists. Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año earlier said the task force was studying the possibility of closing Boracay for one month every year to allow the island to heal itself. Barge sinks off Boracay A barge loaded with sand sank as it was sailing toward Boracay yesterday morning. The LCT Bato Twin had just left Sambiray Port in mainland Caticlan town when it figured in an accident at past 9 a.m., according to Lt. Cmdr. Joe Luviz Mercurio of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Aklan station. A speed boat and two inflatable boats were deployed to rescue the barge’s 12 crewmembers. Mercurio said a squall hit the barge, causing it to take in sea water. “The sand quickly absorbed PAGE A7

A6 NOVEMBER 7-9, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Unsustainable

FEATURES

DESPITE appeals from environment groups, truckloads of trash were collected from the different cemeteries in Metro Manila as the holidays for remembering the dead ended on Friday, November 2. Garbage, however, litters the National Capital Region even on ordinary days, clogging drainage, aggravating flooding, and providing breeding grounds for disease-causing mosquitoes and vermin. The piles of garbage are just among the indicators of the unsustainable state of Metro Manila. In the 2018 Sustainable Cities Index, which is drawn up by Arcadis NV, an Amsterdam-based global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, Manila ranked 95th out of 100 mega cities worldwide, and 21st out of 23 Asian cities included in the list. The latest index, released this week, ranked cities based on three factors: people, which includes quality of life and social sustainability; planet, which covers pollution and sanitation; and profit, which is measured in terms of productivity based on economic growth, innovation and infrastructure. The Philippines ranked 93rd in the people sub-index, 91st in the planet and 98th in the profit pillar. London was ranked as the world’s most sustainable city. Swedish capital Stockholm followed; Scotland’s capital Edinburgh came in third. In

Asia, city-state Singapore was rated the most sustainable. It also placed fourth globally, ahead of Austrian capital Vienna. Hong Kong and Seoul also ranked high among Asian cities. The Arcadis report, however, categorized Manila as one of the “evolutionary cities” where there are “opportunities” for improving sustainability. These are cities that change rapidly as new circumstances arise, according to the report. Although Metro Manila remains mired in urban blight, there have been positive developments recently, such as the rehabilitation of the Pasig River — a successful program that has received international recognition. Energy and water efficiency together with other sustainable elements are being designed into new property developments. Manila may rank low in the sustainability index, but there is hope for dramatic improvements. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Voter sentiment poll: A majority of Americans say America is headed in the wrong direction

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS NOVEMBER 6, 2018 will be recorded in political history as the day of the most consequential midterm elections of our time. As of press time, we now know that a record number of Americans voted in the polls, sent in, and dropped off their ballots ahead of time, to make their voices heard two years since President Donald Trump took office. As The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” reported, the stakes couldn’t be higher, with 35 Senate seats, 435 House seats, and 36 gubernatorial seats up for grabs. This election will also determine if the Republican Party will keep the majority in the Senate and the House of the Legislative branch of the U.S. government, especially after the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as Justice of the Supreme Court, tilting the

balance of power leaning conservative. The winner of the gubernatorial races will have consequences in future elections, especially the redistricting of states. All these have a lot to do with the concern about the balance of power and the need for the checks and balance to function as it should as mandated by the Constitution to protect the integrity of our democracy. Democrats need to win 23 seats to win back the majority in the House. The US Senate has 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. To win back the Senate majority, all incumbent Senate Democrats need to win and flip two more. Republicans also have control of most governorships all over the nation, holding 33 to the Democrats’ 16 seats. Ahead of the midterm elections, Real Clear Politics released findings that may in-

dicate how the election may change the political landscape in America. RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling aggregator that looks into the results from major polls of all political colors — conservative, liberal, centrist, etc. For the period October 14 to November 3, 2018, just within a little more than two weeks before the November 6 Midterm Elections, RealClearPolitics reported that a majority of Americans — 54.3 percent — feel the country is headed in the wrong direction. Only 39.5 percent believe the United States is going in the right direction. President Donald Trump’s closing message in his campaign trail: a vote a Republican is a vote for Trump. Contrary to requests of the Republican Party leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, for Trump to focus on the economic gains

in the past two years under Republican control, Trump chose immigration as his closing argument because he said “it works” to push Republicans to vote. Trump has been criticized for fabricating a border crisis, painting a picture of “invasion” of America by more than 3,500 asylum seekers from Central America— men. women, children — walking through Mexico to try the legal recourse of applying for asylum in the United States to flee from violence and hunger in their countries. Trump sent 15,000 active duty troops to the border, a move responded to by military officials with obedience to the commander-in-chief even though they expressed there is no imminent border crisis and that the U.S. military would not have anything to do anything with asylum seekers at the border. The president also doubled down in the use of scare tactics

and vilification of asylum seekers saying they are criminals, drug peddlers, gang members, and are infiltrated with terrorist Middle Eastern without offering solid proof. He is using the same scare and hate tactics that catapulted him to the presidency in 2016, blaming the Democrats and the free press alongside the asylum seekers and immigrants. On the other hand, the Democrats’ closing argument focused on delivering health care coverage, protecting those with a pre-existing condition — issue #1 for voters which has been the subject of the GOP’s obsession to repeal in almost 10 years. The Democrats also campaigned on repealing the permanent tax breaks Trump and his Republican cohorts have given to the richest of the rich Americans and Corporations, give more tax breaks to the middle class, and protect social

services including education, Social Security and Medicare. They also vowed to fight for higher wages, and better benefits for all workers; protections for consumers and the environment; equality for all, ending discrimination against people regardless of their race, gender, who they choose to love, and continued to campaign on passing a comprehensive immigration reform to strengthen America. DID YOU VOTE? Did you vote for a red wave or a blue wave? We would know today and in the next few days how Americans voted to help steer the country in the right direction. *** 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

The role of the Cabinet and who matters there

Opinion

YEN MAKABENTA IT startled me to read in the papers some weeks back that the chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) had called for resignation of the Secretary of Finance, Carlos Dominguez, because of his alleged silence on the scandal and controversy wracking the Bureau of Customs (BoC). It was an astonishing display of effrontery by an office that we normally do not hear about very much, and was created by executive order only a year ago. And the missile was directed against a Cabinet official who is nominally the second most important member of the president’s Cabinet. For perfectly good reason, the Palace simply brushed aside the resignation call. And no further mention of the matter would probably have been made — but for my present curiosity about the matter. I want to use this incident to write a few words about the President’s Cabinet, its role, and the relative ranking of its members. This matters now because the President is currently on a hiring

spree, and he means to hire retired military officers to positions in the Cabinet, all if he can. There is word that another general will soon become the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). And there is also talk that Sen. Gregorio Honasan will be named secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), because he will soon be termed out of the Senate. The President also has a penchant of giving freely cabinet rank to some of his new appointees. Role of the Cabinet The fact of the matter is that Cabinet members are not all alike. Some are more equal than the others. The Constitution places executive authority in the President alone. The Cabinet is not formally recognized by the Charter. There is only passing mention that the vice president may be appointed as a member of the Cabinet. Then follows a section on presidential appointments to the executive branch of the government. The Cabinet has no constitutional identity as a collective decision-making body. The notion of collective lead-

ership — which is typically found among Cabinet members in parliamentary systems — is incompatible with constitutional reality in a presidential system. The president is not first among equals; he is the person in charge. Cabinet members are presidential appointees, serving at the president’s pleasure. The president is not obliged to consult them as a group or act according to their preferences. Cabinet’s political significance This is not to say that the Cabinet has no political significance. Cabinet members are the principal spokespersons for administration policy. They are also the top political executives expected to provide direction for the fulfillment of the government’s commitments. There is a hierarchy of importance in the Cabinet. The secretary of foreign affairs is the highest-ranking member of the presidential Cabinet. He is also fourth in the line of succession to the presidency behind the vice president, the speaker of the House and Senate president. After the foreign affairs secretary, the secretary of finance comes next in the line. Then comes the secretary of defense. Irony of resignation call The resignation call of the

PACC, because of its extravagance and lack of substance, had the effect of focusing public attention on the importance of Dominguez’s work in the Duterte administration. The so-called watchdog group that made the call did not present a persuasive case for Secretary Dominguez’s departure, be it in terms of 1) his direct or 2) command responsibility for the mess at Customs and the inexcusable entry through the bureau of billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs. The watchdog’s main criticism of Dominguez is that he chose to be silent about the troubling developments at Customs, and has offered no ideas on how the problematic situation can be resolved. Wait a minute. There seems to be a sensible reason for the secretary’s reticence, because the President has already taken a direct hand in addressing the Customs mess, and he has even gone as far as ordering the military to take over the bureau and effect a system-wide cleanup. There is room for argument on whether a military takeover is the correct solution to the problem. Indeed, I foresee litigation at the Supreme Court on whether the President’s move is constitution-

al or within his authority as head of the Executive branch. National attention is better focused now on solutions that will truly avail and lead directly to the process of building a better and more responsible customs bureaucracy. It makes no sense for the nation to be distracted now by a debate over the merits or demerits of Secretary Dominguez’s stewardship of the Finance department. The public and the media should rather take guidance from certain supervening realities about our economic and fiscal situation today, such as: 1. The country is enjoying today a hard-earned record for exemplary economic performance, including the highest or secondhighest GDP growth in Asia. And this is due in no small part to steady and effective performance by our Finance department. 2. The Bureau of Customs is the second biggest and most important revenue–generating arm of the government, second only to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). It has recently been recording higher revenue collections that are vital for the government’s fiscal position. 3. The Finance department under Dominguez is spearhead-

ing the passage of a highly important and consequential tax reform package through the Congress. The nation needs him to be in place as one of the principal architects of this reform measure. 4. Finally, the administration of President Duterte has launched the most ambitious infrastructure modernization program ever attempted in the country, which will literally require billions, if not trillions, of dollars to finance. The program is so far-reaching the Philippines will be a new and supermodern country by the time it is completed. This will surely not happen without a competent and effective finance secretary, who enjoys the confidence and trust of international financial institutions and lenders. Marcos and his Finance secretary It is striking that during the time of President Marcos, he accorded the highest importance to his Finance secretary, Cesar Virata. Indeed, when we switched to parliamentary government under the 1973 Constitution, he chose Virata as his prime minister and virtual successor. That may have set off the epic conspiracies and dissensions that eventually toppled his presidency. (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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Palace: No tyranny, just ‘reign of fear’ for lawbreakers by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — There is a “reign of fear” for lawbreakers in the Philippines but no tyranny as Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox claims, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said. Panelo, in a press briefing, said that Fox, whom Immigration ordered to leave the Philippines last weekend, might be referring to a “reign of fear” on law violators, and not a “reign of terror, tyranny” in the country when she was interviewed upon her arrival in Australia. After a legal battle with the Immigration bureau that lasted for months, the elderly nun left for Australia on Saturday night after the Bureau of Immigration threw out her plea to extend her temporary visitor’s visa. Fox was greeted in Australia by Filipino supporters and by media agencies. In a video posted by Advanced League of People’s Artists Melbourne, Fox said: “At present, the Philippines, the human rights abuses are just increasing and it’s a reign of terror. Of tyranny.” But Panelo said: “Perhaps what she refers to is a reign of fear on part of those who violate the law. They know for a fact that there is a reign of strict enforcement of the law against violators of the law, there is a reign of fear on the

minds of hearts of those violators because they know that the law is running after them.” The presidential spokesman stressed that Fox was a violator of the laws. “That’s precisely why she departed from this country.” Duterte ordered probe vs Fox Fox was in the country for 27 years, helping land reform advocates, labor groups, indigenous peoples and people behind bars. Last April, agents of the Bureau of Immigration detained her for nearly 24 hours over an intelligence report that she had violated an Immigration order banning foreigners from engagement in partisan activities and political assemblies. Duterte later admitted to ordering the investigation into Fox for “disorderly conduct.” “It is not the military who arrested the nun. It was upon my orders implemented by the Bureau of Immigration,” the chief executive said in a speech last April 18. He would vent his ire against the elderly nun in several of his later speeches, accusing Fox of having a “shameful mouth” and of treating the Philippines like a “mattress to wipe your feet.” Fact-finding mission, meetings with farmers Fox apparently earned the ire of Duterte by taking part in a factfinding mission in April to probe

reported rights abuses committed by state forces against farmers in Mindanao, parts of which are affected by a decades-long communist insurgency. She also reportedly met with farmers in Duterte’s hometown of Davao City after they were arrested on charges of possessing explosives. Fox bought her deportation case to the Department of Justice, but it has yet to rule on her Petition for Review. She also said that the culture of impunity is getting worse in the country. She recounted: “Every day you hear, ‘I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you.’” These have been mimicked even by kids, the Australian nun who spent decades going around the Philippines for humanitarian work. “There’s been a culture of impunity for a long time and it’s getting worse,” Fox added. Fox testified against Duterte at the International Peoples’ Tribunal in Belgium last September. The tribunal’s verdict finding Duterte guilty of rights violations is non-binding, but organizers said it would be forwarded to the International Criminal Court. The Philippines is leaving the ICC after its prosecutor opened a preliminary examination into alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the government’s capaign against drugs. n

Manila mulls protest against China by Catherine

valente ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines is considering taking diplomatic action against China over reports that Beijing had started operating weather monitoring stations on its artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Malacañang said on Monday, November 5. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would take the necessary action once the report was confirmed. “Certainly, the DFA will do its work and make the necessary diplomatic protest,” Panelo told reporters. “Again, these are news reports. We have not validated it. But if they are validated, I’m sure the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Teodoro Locsin Jr.) will do his job,” he added. On November 1, Hong Kongbased South China Morning Post published a report titled “Beijing opens weather stations on artificial islands in South China Sea.” The report quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang confirming that Beijing had started operating a maritime observation center, a meteorological observatory and a national environmental and air quality monitoring station on the Spratly Islands. China had conducted land rec-

BELENISMO SA TARLAC 2018. Tarlac Heritage Foundation Inc. Co-Founder Dra. Isa Suntay (4th from right), Major General Gilbert Gapay (3rd from right), Chief of the Mechanized Infantry Division Phil. Army and Major General Filemon Santos Jr., (3rd from left) lead the ribbon cutting of the Philippine Army Belen during the formal opening of the 11th Belenismo sa Tarlac 2018 at the Camp Servillano Aquino McArthur Highway in Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City on Monday evening, November 5. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH inflation stays at 6.7 percent in Oct, still at 9-year high — PSA by Mayvelin

Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

PHILIPPINE headline inflation rate was steady at 6.7 percent in October, unchanged from September but still at a nine-year ruling, insisting that it lamation projects on several reefs nize the UNI_CB-94416 high, the 1 Philippine Statistics Asian_Journal CRA Ad.pdf 7/18/18 10:06 AM in the resource-rich sea. Military has “indisputable sovereignty” Authority (PSA) reported on and civilian facilities were built over 90 percent of the waters. n Tuesday, November 6. on its artificial islands including airports, docks for large ships, solar power stations, water desalination plants, and hospitals among others. Panelo, however, downplayed the effect of Chinese activities in the disputed sea even after an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China. “It can never be too late when you protest on a particular thing, especially when the award is yours,” Panelo said, as he defended anew President Rodrigo Duterte’s soft stance on China’s reclamation projects. “We’ll have to leave it to the President’s judgment on when and where the perfect time would be made. He has six years to do it,” he added. Since assuming the presidency, Duterte has sought to downplay Manila’s maritime dispute with Beijing in exchange for improved ties with the world’s second-largest economy. Duterte has also refused to flaunt the Philippines’ victory against China in 2016 when a United Nations-backed tribunal invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims to disputed waters. The president said he would bring up the arbitration ruling at the proper time. Beijing has refused to recog-

CMY

The October inflation fell within the 6.2-7.0-percent forecast range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). It, however, exceeded the 6.5 percent estimate of the Department of Finance (DoF) and matched the 6.7 percent average forecast of economists polled by The Manila Times.

“Mixed movements in the annual growths were posted among the commodity groups,” national statistician Lisa Grace Bersales said in a news briefing. For the year to date, inflation remained above the Bangko Sentral’s 2.0-4.0 percent target for 2018, at 5.1 percent. n

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Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo

ManilaTimes.net photo

Fighting corruption is Customs... PAGE A5 also the successes and failures of everyone in the bureau. “In this regard, concerns and transactions in the bureau should follow official channels and the regular process. Everything should be documented, reported and transparent,” he said. Guerrero also mentioned that he did not authorize anyone to use his name to conduct any legal or illegal transactions at the BOC, and that anyone illegally using his name should be immediately reported to the proper agencies.

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the PhilippinesPublic Affairs Committee (CBCPPAC) executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano was open to the suggestion of Senate President Vicente Sotto III to place “graduates of seminaries” at the BOC. It was reported that Sotto was not convinced that sending soldiers to take over the BOC was the best solution and instead proposed that the corruption-ridden agency be privatized. He also made passing mention of putting graduates of seminaries in the BOC. n

Boracay rehabilitation to...

PAGE A5 the water until it became too heavy for the barge,” he said. Mercurio said a team of divers was deployed in the area to check any oil spill. Meanwhile, 11 persons including four children were rescued

from a yacht that developed engine trouble in the waters off Subic at around 5 a.m. yesterday. The passengers of M/Y Fusion were taken to the Subic Port by a responding team of the PCG and crewmembers of a tugboat. n

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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 7-9, 2018

Moody’s report: ‘Opportunities abound for PH insurance sector’ Risk-based Capital Framework “will improve the industry’s resilience and capacity to support GLOBAL credit-rating agency future premium growth.” Under the amended InsurMoody’s Investors Service said the Philippine insurance indus- ance Code, existing insurance try had plenty of opportunities companies were required to for growth, but cautioned that have a minimum net worth of P550 million from the previous challenges remain. In its “Sectors In-depth” re- P250 million in 2016. The capitalization requireport on Thursday night, November 1, Moody’s said the sector ment will again increase to would “be underpinned by the P900 million in 2019 and P1.3 country’s high catastrophic billion by 2022. Moody’s also said the Duterte exposure, higher capital and reserving requirement, and in- administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program dustry consolidation.” It noted in particular the would also drive non-life precountry’s proposed solution to mium growth. However, it believes that manage natural catastrophe exposure. This includes a P10-bil- regulators’ promotion of marlion catastrophe-risk insurance ket consolidation will reduce program launched by the Gov- competition in the industry. “Foreign firms dominate the ernment Service Insurance System and the World Bank to cov- Philippines’ life insurance marer losses for damage wreaked ket, but the number of insurers has decreased because of reguby typhoons and earthquakes. The agency said the Insur- lations that that promote marance Commission’s higher ket consolidation. capital requirement under the u PAGE B2 by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO Manilatimes.net

Philippines largely compliant with exchange of info standards — DOF by MARY GARCE PADIN Philstar.com

THE Philippines has been cited for its compliance with internationally agreed standards on the exchange of information on request (EOIR), according to the Department of Finance (DOF). It has maintained a “largely compliant” rating based on a peer review done by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (the Global Forum). “This means that the Philippines remains to be largely compliant with the internationally agreed standards on EOIR and the country’s legal and regulatory framework are in place, but some aspects, like ensuring

availability of beneficial ownership information for all relevant legal persons and arrangements, need improvement,” the DOF said. Several jurisdictions have undergone an in-depth peer review process conducted by the Global Forum, which is currently in its second round of reviews covering the period of April 2014 to March 2017. This follows the first round of reviews conducted in 2013, in which the Philippines also emerged as “largely compliant (LC).” The DOF said it successfully defended the LC rating of the Philippines during the meeting with the Peer Review Group (PRG), which discussed, evalu-

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Economists see faster growth in Q3 Inquirer.net ﬁle photo by BEN

O. DE VERA

Inquirer.net

THE economy likely grew at a faster pace in the third quarter as robust government expenditures on public goods and services, especially infrastructure, offset the impact of higher prices on consumer spending. Seven economists polled by the Inquirer last week projected the gross domestic product (GDP) to have grown by more than 6.1 percent during the July-to-September period, faster than the three-year low 6-percent expansion posted in the second quarter. Economic managers had blamed the slower-than-expected second-quarter growth rate

to high inflation as well as the implementation of a number of environmental policies that affected the agriculture and services sectors, including the six-month closure and rehabilitation of top tourist destination Boracay Island. The government will announce the thirdquarter GDP performance on Thursday, November 8. But Bank of the Philippine Islands vice president and chief economist Emilio Neri Jr.’s forecast was only 5.9 percent year-onyear growth during the third quarter as “net exports will continue to be a drag owing to elevated oil prices and the surge in capital goods just as merchandise exports remain

soft.” “Slowing agricultural output and decelerating electricity sales also indicate sustained softness in third-quarter production. Thus, despite sustained strength in government and private sector capital outlays providing a boost for construction and the trading sectors in the third quarter, weaker demand for nonfood and nonfuel consumer items likely remained a damper on overall spending during the quarter, more so that the dollar value of cash remittances continue to slow down,” Neri said. The highest forecast, meanwhile, was 6.7 percent by Land Bank of the Philippines market economist Guian Angelo Dumalagan, cit-

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Foreign investments seen to hit new high by MARY

GRACE Philstar.com

PADIN

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) sees foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Philippines reaching another record high this year, exceeding the $10 billion recorded in 2017. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno is bullish that FDI inflow to the Philippines will continue to sustain its growth and surpass the record achieved last year. “This year, year-to-date, we’re already up by 52 percent. So we’re optimistic that our

FDI will be much higher this year,” Diokno said in a press briefing. Diokno highlighted the FDI growth in the Philippines during his recent visit to Geneva, Switzerland for the 2018 World Investment Forum. “They were surprised that while global FDI is declining, ours has increased. Average FDI during the time of Aquino was $4.5 billion. Last year it was $10 billion,” he said. Net inflow of FDIs hit a record high of $10.05 billion in 2017 on the back of posi-

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Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno is bullish that FDI inﬂow to the Philippines will continue to sustain its growth and surpass the record achieved last year. Philstar.com ﬁle photo

B NOVEMBER 7-9, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

AI, not tax reform, poses threat to BPOs – DoF chief by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo Manilatimes.net

ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI), not the government’s tax reform measures, is the real threat to the Philippines’ business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, according to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. In a recent interview, Dominguez said that, in his view, the sector “is more threatened by AI than any tax measure that we will pass.” He also said the development of AI around the world was very rapid and would certainly hit the industry, “and I think we have to accept that.” “I told this to the BPO industry in July 2016. I don’t know how they are preparing for this inevi-

What’s New

table hit…,” he added. The Investopedia website defines AI as “a term for simulated intelligence in machines” that “are programmed to ‘think’ like a human and mimic the way a person acts.” Other government officials have raised the threat AI posed to the industry in the past. Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said in March that 1.4 million BPO jobs in the country were at risk because of AI and automation. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez warned in September 2017 that these jobs would be wiped out if the industry fails to innovate and modify their trainings to address the threat. Dominguez’s remarks came after the sector expressed its oppo-

of another home. You can avail of this exclusion once every two years. 3. Ownership and use test: You YOU may exclude from gross must meet the five-year period income gain from sale of prin- ending on the date of sale. You cipal residence under Internal must have : (a) Owned the your Revenue Code Section 121. principal residence for at least 1. You may be able to exclude two years, and (b) lived in your gain of $250,000 or $500,000 if principal residence as your main you are married filing a joint re- home for at least two years. turn. 4. Only a principal residence 2. To be eligible for the bigger used as main home is eligible. $500,000 exclusion for joint fil- Second homes and vacation ers, must meet the three require- homes are not. ment: (a) at least one spouse 5. Exclusion determined on must pass the ownership test; individual basis: If one spouse is (b) both spouses must pass the eligible for the exclusion and the use test; (c) during the two-year other spouse have used the experiod ending on sale, neither clusion during the two-year pespouses excluded gain from sale riod ending on sale, the eligible

Manilatimes.net file photo

sition to House Bill 8083, or the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) measure. The second package of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, the bill aims to lower corporate income taxes from the current 30 percent to 20 percent by 2029. It also aims to streamline tax incentives for investors, espe-

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This trend should reduce competition in the industry,” Moody’s claimed. It also emphasized that the country’s strong economic growth would continue to support insurance demands. “Our baseline scenario assumes that real GDP (gross domestic product) growth will stay at 6-7 percent, which has prevailed over the past decade,” the debt watcher said. It also said that, despite ample growth opportunities, the industry has to deal with a number of constraints.

Moody’s noted that investment-linked policies dominate product mix, while growth in traditional life policies, which typically contain more protection elements than variable life policies, have been virtually flat. “This suggests [that] the industry is still lagging in expanding its core protection function. The penetration rate for life insurance was a modest 1.23 percent in 2016,” it said. The credit watchdog also said the lack of long-dated assets hindered growth in long-duration insurance products, revealing that total bonds outstanding account-

IT is November. And we are coming full circle. Again. A circle is perhaps the perfect geometric structure there is. Although some would claim the triangle or a square to be better structures because of their stable nature, the circle and all its derivatives — the orb, the sphere, the globe and every structure on earth and in the universe with a core, circumference and radii emanating from the core — can teach and even help us to understand much about nature, human life, its cycles and seasons, and ultimately, ourselves and perhaps, our place in all these. From the micro to the macro levels, every creative urge in every level —in both the intellectual and the physical realms— begins as a thought and if tenaciously pursued and fleshed out by one’s strength of will and purpose, proceeds from concept to completion as a circle. Even in the mundane reality of living an ordinary life from day to day, circles and cycles mark the patterns of our lives. Note nature’s seasons and cycles of birth and death, of sleep and wakefulness, of sunrise and sunset, of the waxing and waning of the moon and of the quarter mil-

spouse is entitled to a maximum exclusion of $250,000. 6. If you use two homes, the property that you use majority of the time will be considered your principal home. There are relevant factors to determine which one is your principal residence, including: your place of employment and principal place of abode of family members, address on your income tax, driver’s license, DMV auto registration, mailing address for bills and correspondence, and location of banks, church, and recreational clubs. 7. Gain attributable to nonqualified use: Any use other than PAGE B1 t as your principal residence is ing “faster gains in most spending components.” u PAGE B4 “Government spending picked up, along with investment spending, supported by the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the government. ed for only 35 percent of Philip- The recovery in exports also conpine GDP in 2017, compared with tributed to faster growth. While 81 percent for Singapore and 95 consumption spending improved, its rate of increase was tempered percent for Malaysia. “This led to insurers’ higher by the surge in consumer prices, holdings on loans for asset and which weighed down on houseliability duration matching, and holds’ purchasing power. On stock and fund investments for the production side, the services backing their large in-force book and industry sectors remained of variable life policies,” it add- as growth drivers, offsetting the downward pull coming from the ed. According to Moody’s, under- agricultural sector,” Dumalagan writing profit for non-life insur- explained. Oxford Economics senior econers has led to a high dependence on investment income, which omist Beatrice Tanjangco projectalso implies that insurers’ profit ed 6.5-percent growth in the third will be sensitive to market inter- quarter as rising inflation should still weigh on private consumption est rates. n

Moody’s report: ‘Opportunities abound for PH...

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

Exclusion of gain from sale of home

Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Circles, cycles and the season of our lives “To everything – turn, turn, turn. There is a season – turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven.” –A song by The Byrds (based on the Book of Ecclesiastes) lion year rotation of the solar system around the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way and in the grandest of levels, the movement of a nearly infinite number of galaxies in the universe, the edge of which only the Creator knows. On the minutest level, the astounding movement of electrons around a nucleus and the wondrous flow of the human bloodstream from and to the heart are cyclical. As science has found out, blockages, either man-made or natural to the flow or movement in the processes existing in nature at all levels, can create anomalies, abnormalities and mutations, resulting in pain and illnesses in the human body and if uncorrected, result in diseases, debilitation and ultimately, DEATH. This presents a strong argument for regular exercise and physical movement, which pumps the smooth circulation of blood flow down to the tiniest capillaries in our eyes and strengthens the muscles of the heart. Nature moves in cycles. While

the earth’s atmospheric cloak adheres to the surface because of the gravitational pull of the earth’s mass, the hydrologic or water cycle will continue to maintain our seas and give us rain to sustain all planetary life — that is, for the time being —unless something unforeseen and catastrophic upsets and upends this delicate homeostaticlike balance. In a way, the life of our living, breathing planet is reflective of human life itself. “Life,” according to Einstein, “is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” And on that point, we are finding out Einstein is absolutely right. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition” http://issuu. com/asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before agenda-driven google.

Economists see faster growth... and overall domestic demand, but the ongoing government infrastructure drive should provide some support, with faster public sector investment and a pickup in government consumption. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.’s Michael Ricafort sees third-quarter GDP growth within the range of 6.3-6.5 percent, partly with election-related spending kicking in ahead of the midterm elections in May next year. ING senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa’s forecast was 6.3 percent, but cautioned that “we may have to see the other sectors of the economy ‘step up to the plate’ with consumption seen to take a backseat with households bearing the double whammy of accelerating inflation and elevated borrowing costs after Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas hiked [interest rates by] 150 basis points in only a

matter of months.” Moody’s Analytics economist Katrina Ell said her projection of 6.3-percent third-quarter expansion reflected drag from slower manufacturing, although partially absorbed by the “still upbeat” performance of investments as well as exports. For Ateneo de Manila University economics professor Alvin Ang, the economy likely grew 6.1 percent during the July-to-September period, “as consumption slowed down and the government cannot fully fill up the slack.” “Also, the storms that passed us have further weakened agricultural output,” Ang added. As for Maybank Investment Bank group chief economist Suhaimi Bin Ilias, GDP growth for the entire second half would likely average 6.3 percent, the same as in the first semester.n

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

BUSINESS NEWS

Will incorporating a separate property business during marriage make it community property? YOU own a successful business, as a sole proprietor, prior to marriage. You later meet the love of your life and decide to marry her. Years into the marriage, you decide to incorporate the business. A common question when the couple later divorces becomes 1) did your separate property business become community property by virtue of incorporating it during the marriage? 2) Was your separate property business “transmuted” to community property by incorporating it during the marriage? No Community Property Presumption Family Code §760 defines “Community property” as “Except as otherwise provided by statute, all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property. However under Marriage of Koester, the Court held that the community does not “acquire” a separate property business simply because the business is incorporated during the marriage. The mere incorporation of a business operated by spouse is not a change in its character, for purposes of division of community estate following divorce. In Koester, the Court stated that he incorporation simply effects a change in the legal form under which the business is conducted and property does not change its character merely because of a change in form or identity. Marriage of Koester (1999) 73 CA4th 1032, 1035, 1038, 87 CR2d 76, 79, 81. The Court in Koester also stated that “In contrast with the way title is taken when a married couple own residential property, the in-

Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG THE client is 53 and recently widowed. She works as a caregiver and met her now-deceased husband through her job. At first, the husband was her patient. She provided caregiving services to the man in his house. He was 70, divorced and lived by himself. As part of caregiving, she drove him to eat at various restaurants that he wanted to go to. While they ate at those restaurants, he would talk to her about his life and eventually popped the question, saying that if she would marry him and take care of him, he will be a good husband to her. The client was previously divorced but felt an affection towards him so she said yes. Apparently, they were pretty happy living together as husband and wife until he slipped and fell in their house, hitting his head on the floor. He fell into a coma and never recovered. After a week, he died in the hospital. The husband had placed her name as the joint tenant on the house, which was almost fully paid. The current fair value of the house was $400,000 while the unpaid balance of the mortgage was $150,000, leaving $250,000 of equity. The client automatically became the sole owner of the house because, upon the death of the joint tenant, the surviving joint tenant owns the other half that was owned by the deceased joint tenant. As a result, the client now owns 100 percent of the $250,000 equity of the house. The adult children of husband complained about being left out in the cold as far as the ownership of the house was concerned, but the client’s claim of ownership is clear because the husband who was of sound mind, quitclaimed the house to himself and client when they got married. It’s almost impossible for children to prove that it was not their father’s intent to give the house to

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES corporation of a sole proprietorship business is typically done for reasons extrinsic to the marital relationship. To say ... that an asset was ‘acquired’ by the community ... because some aspect of corporate formation took place during the marriage is to elevate semantics over substance” No Transmutation Incorporation of a sole proprietorship business during the marriage can trigger a family code § 2640 tracing right of reimbursement only when it is also accompanied by an unambiguous express written transmutation of the business to community property as required by Family Code § 852. Marriage of Koester, supra, 73 CA4th at 1036–1037, 87 CR2d at 79–80 & fn. 5. Under Family Code §852, a transmutation of real or personal property is not valid unless made in writing by an express declaration that is made, joined in, consented to, or accepted by the spouse whose interest in the property is adversely affected. In Koester, the act of changing the legal form under which a business is conducted does not meet the requirements of family code § 852 for a valid transmutation. Marriage of Koester (1999) 73 CA4th 1032, 1037, 87 CR2d 76, 80 & fn. 5. Incorporation of a sole proprietorship business is typically done for reasons extrinsic to the marital rela-

tionship. Although the mere act of incorporating a separate business during the marriage does not change the character of the business to community property, the community may still acquire an apportionment interest if the value of the business substantially appreciated during the marriage due to the labor and hard work of the managing spouse during the marriage. The apportionment calculation is done using the formula in the Pereira or Van Camp case where the contributions of effort and return on capital are separated from the value of the business. *** 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)

Widow needs Chapter 13 to handle $40K credit cards

the client. The client’s problem right now is that she has too much debt. She owes $40,000 of credit card debt. The mortgage on the house is $1,500 a month. Her net income from her caregiving services is not a lot. She nets about $2,500 a month. After paying the mortgage there is $1,000 left before food and other monthly necessities. But minimum credit card payments alone are $1,200 a month. Obviously, the $40,000 credit cards have to be wiped out. It’s becoming clear that the choice she has to make is to be able to make the mortgage payment or the credit card payment. The house gives her shelter and has equity of quarter million dollars while credit card debt is just a heavy burden to carry forever. Although the client wants a Chapter 7 discharge of the $40K of credit cards, I cannot recommend a Chapter 7 for her. In Chapter 7, she would lose the house and keep only her exempt equity of $100,000. A chapter 7 trustee has the power to sell debtor’s house if the net proceeds will yield an amount that will yield a distribution to unsecured creditors such as credit cards. In the client’s case, the trustee can sell her house at least for $400,000, pay off the mortgage of $150,000, give client $100,000, leaving a surplus of $150K of cash. The trustee will use the $150,000 to pay himself for his trustee services for administering the bankruptcy estate, pay his lawyers and other professional services incurred, and will use the unused balance after these expenses are paid to pay the $40,000 of credit cards, in exchange for a discharge order for the client. The Chapter 7 trustee can rack up trustee, legal and other professional fees in no time. Just to hire a broker to sell the house can cost $10,000 to $15,000 in legal fees for the trustee, separate from the selling commission of the broker. The right choice for the widow is Chapter

13, which will allow her to pay $40,000 over 60 months without interest. The plan payment will be about $700/month. After 60 payments, the court will enter a discharge order to wipe out all of her debts. No more minimum payments forever. And her house is protected from judgment liens by the bankruptcy court as long as she is current on the plan payments. Widower seeks Chapter 13 for $50K credit cards The next client is 66 and a widower. His house worth $400,000 is almost fully paid, except for $25,000 of the 2nd mortgage. He owes $50,000 of credit cards. He has been paying $1,500 a month on these cards for the last 10 years. He has paid more than $180,000 to keep them current but still owes the same principal of $50,000 today. At 66, he is just tired of paying for these cards that never diminish in principal. He cannot file a Chapter 7 because he has the same problem as the widow in the first paragraph. His equity in the house is over $175,000, way over it. He sees no problem paying about $900 of plan payment for the next 60 months and looks forward to the last payment on the 60th month when the court enters a discharge order saying that he doesn’t owe any credit card debts anymore. Compare that to $1,500 a month for minimum payments only such that he would pay $90,000 in the next 60 months but still owe the same $50,000. At 66, he sees very clearly the advantage of Chapter 13 for him now to get rid of his credit card debts. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than ﬁve thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)

Foreign investments seen to hit new...

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tive investor sentiment amid the country’s sound macroeconomic prospects, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). This was 21.4 percent higher than the $8.28 billion recorded in 2016. Data showed that FDI-to-gross domestic product ratio has also doubled to 3.2 percent in 2017 from 1.6 percent in 2005. From January to July this year, FDI inflows jumped 52.1 percent to $6.67 billion from $4.38 billion in the same period last year.

For the month of July, alone, inflows surged 165.5 percent to $914 million from the $344 million recorded the same month in 2017. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez earlier said the reforms implemented by the Duterte administration have deepened investor confidence, as reflected by the rise in foreign investments. The finance chief said investments have fueled the country’s economy, which grew by six percent in the second quarter of the

year. For 2018, economic managers have adjusted the country’s economic growth target to a range of 6.5 to 6.9 percent, lower than the previous goal of seven to eight percent amid headwinds in both the global and domestic landscape. Despite this, Dominguez remains confident the Philippine economy is strong and resilient enough to overcome these difficulties, especially with measures in place to ensure sustained economic expansion.■

Philippines largely compliant with exchange of info... PAGE B1 t

ated, and approved the peer review report of the Philippines. Other jurisdictions with a LC rating, based on the second round of reviews, include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Ja-

pan and India, among others. The Global Forum is a multilateral framework which focuses on te transparency and exchange of information. It consists of 126 membercountries, which includes all G20 countries, Organization for Eco-

nomic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, and other jurisdictions. The Global Forum has developed and promoted standards on transparency and exchange of information through various publications. ■

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 7-9, 2018

Calendar of Events across

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 7- 9

FASGI presents FAIR art exhibit in Los Angeles FASGI is pleased to announce FAIR – FASGI Artists Impressions & Reflections – an art exhibit to be held from October 9, 2018 to November 9, 2018 at the FASGI Bayanihan Center (135 N. Park View St., Los Angeles, CA 90026). FAIR is presented as part of FASGI’s Arts Incubator Program. FAIR will showcase five internationally-acclaimed artists who will unveil new and original artworks: Rafael Maniago, Cesar Devera, Johnny Otilano, Mat Relox, and Tiinz Taruc. FASGI’s Arts Incubator Program was created in 2016 to promote and uplift Filipino and Filipino American arts and culture. The program’s mission is to: (1) help Filipino American artists to be properly recognized and given economic opportunities for advancement; (2) enable Filipino Americans to get in touch with their culture; and (3) to educate mainstream America on Philippine/American art. The program currently includes a permanent gallery, special exhibits, portraiture, parol-making, and an artist-in-residence program. Art workshops, instruction, and live projects are currently being planned for commencement in 2019.

N OV E M B E R 7 - D EC E M B E R 1 2

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles features Sou Fujimoto: Futures of the Future exhibition JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is pleased to announce the upcoming SOU FUJIMOTO: FUTURES OF THE FUTURE exhibition, taking place Oct. 27 - Dec. 12, 2018 at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, located at Hollywood & Highland. Named the Wall Street Journal’s Architecture Innovator of The Year in 2014, Fujimoto has designed public and private buildings around the world since establishing his atelier in 2000. This exhibition is a showcase of over 100 models and large-scale photographs of past and current projects by the celebrated Japanese architect. Fujimoto addresses many opposite concepts, including the recurring theme the “primitive future.” This apparent contradiction refers to the primordial, intuitive moments that reconnect us with our own humanity, and open us up to new possibilities. His designs often feature juxtapositions of outside and inside, nature and urbanity, objects and spaces, public and private. And, his work considers the macro and micro: when does an object become a space? Exhibition dates from Oct. 27 to Dec. 12 are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving Day 11/22). JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (inside Hollywood & Highland). Admission is free. For more information, please call (800) 516-0565 or visit https://www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles/events/.

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Art exhibit inspired by Filipino food movement in Santa Ana, CA In “Super Sarap” — from November 3 to December 15 at Gallery 6/67 — three artists Mik Gaspay, Jeanne Jalandoni, and O.M. France Viana revisit commonplace objects and food within Filipino cooking. Through sculpture and photography, the artists elicit personal and collective memories and offer cultural connections that go beyond the Philippine diaspora. The exhibition title, “Super Sarap,” fuses both English and Tagalog together, to hold multiple meanings. It can convey something that is extremely delicious, an expression of excitement and affirmation. Artists in “Super Sarap” play with these definitions and mutate symbols, making them both strange and familiar, challenging the expectations of cultural norms. It is guest curated by Patricia Cariño Valdez, an independent curator based in Oakland, CA. In addition to the exhibit, there will be two art and culinary events: an intimate four-course gourmet dinner prepared by acclaimed Orange County Chefs, Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar on November 15 and Chef Ryan Garlitos of Irenia Restaurant on December 9 combined with an exhibition walk-through. The opening reception for Super Sarap will be on Saturday, November 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery 6/67 is located at 404 West 4th St., Suite K (2nd floor), Santa Ana, CA 92701. Gallery visits are by appointment. For more information about the exhibit and related events, visit https://www.gallery667.com.

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2nd annual Cinematografo International Film Festival in San Francisco The second annual Cinematografo International Film Festival will be held from November 8 to 11 in San Francisco. The Cinematografo International Film Festival is the premier event for Filipinos abroad to tell their stories and the platform to bring these films to the world stage. The festival is an annual celebration of film and culture, highlighted by Cinematografo Originals – a co-production initiative to help filmmakers realize their stories on the big screen. On its second year, the festival’s theme is “Breaking Down Walls,” which refers not only to divisions along global political lines but also aims to empower storytellers in breaking through barriers in film and story whether in terms of subject matter, representation and cultural limitations. For more information, please visit https://cinematografofilmfestival.com/.

N OV E M B E R 1 0

LA Department of Public Works to host recycling event for used oil and ﬁlters in Alhambra, CA Attention all Alhambra residents — Free Oil Filter & Motor Oil Recycling Event! 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. So don’t miss out – we’re making it easier for you to keep your car running smoothly and efficiently. It will be held on Saturday, November 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at O’Reilly Auto Parts (800 E. Valley Blvd. Alhambra, CA 91801).

PUPAA-USA Inc. to host dinner/dance and installation of ofﬁcers in Glendale, CA The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association-USA, Inc., (PUPAA-USA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will hold its installation of officers and board members on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at the Pacific Community Center (501 S. Pacific Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204). This will be a dinner and dance and membership night, holiday celebration. The net proceeds from this fundraising event will go to the PUPAA Scholarship Fund. This is a great opportunity to get together with former classmates, colleagues, friends, families and supporters. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and get inspired of what PUPAA, USA Inc. has done and contributed to our Alma Mater and what it can offer for you! The Officers and Board Members to be installed are: Chairman of the Board, Dr. Oscar Jornacion, Vice Chairman of the Board, Dr. Henry Divina; President, Monette Santillan-Rivera; Executive Vice President, Vee Cristobal; Vice President-Job Placement, Honeylette Deleon; Vice President-Finance, Jun Mapoy; Vice President-Public Relations, Rosemarie Mejia; Vice Presidents-Membership, Evangeline Codilla and Sandra Dollano; Vice President-Ways and Means, Aimee Sarmiento; Secretary, Marissa Palanca; Treasurer and Accountant, Dr. Gerry Fernando; Auditor, Linda Santos; and Assistant Public Relations Officers, Connie Acosta and Virginia Herbito. For other related questions, please contact Monette Santillan-Rivera at (818) 970-8317, Sandra Dollano at (213) 570-3179 and Vangie Codilla at (818) 468-3386.

Cecile Licad performs at Basilica beneﬁt in San Francisco In San Francisco, Cecile will be performing live at the Centennial Piano Fundraising Concert for the Mission Dolores Basilica on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7p.m. Mission Dolores Basilica Church will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary of completion in December 2018. As part of the celebration it is the Basilica’s goal to purchase a Steinway concert piano worthy of the its reputation and to support our ongoing concert series, as well as the worship life of the Parish. The Basilica Church, built between 1913 and 1918, features outstanding acoustics that have made it a premier performing arts destination for numerous Bay Area and international concerts artists and ensembles. Its existing piano needs replacement due to years of heavy use for worship services and concerts. For Tickets, visit: https://www.cityboxoffice.com/ordertickets.asp?p=10336&src=eventperformances. Cecile Licad is one of the youngest musicians to receive the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal. Cecile displays her daring musical instinct and superb training with every performance. As an orchestral soloist, this legendary master pianist boasts a repertoire spanning centuries of classical music. She has performed with the world’s most prestigious orchestras throughout four decades. More recently, Cecile received critical acclaim for her volume Anthology of American Piano Music album. She continues touring North America, Europe and Asia. Released this month of November, “American Landscapes” is Volume 3 of the highly acclaimed three-volumne Anthology of American Piano Music recorded by Cecile. Works by Aaron Copland, Anthony Philip Heirich, Percy Grainger, William Mason, Edward MacDowell, Arthur Farwell, Leo Ornstein, William Grant and Arthur Farwell are featured in Cecile’s latest CD. To purchase Cecile’s CD, contact St. Paul Alumnae USA at spmausa@gmail.com.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

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People and Events

Infected Asian citrus psyllid discovered in Duarte Exclusion of gain from sale of home PAGE B2 t

nonqualified use. This includes vacation home, renting it out, vacancy, and allowing someone’s living in it. The allocation of the gain for the nonqualified use is the amount of the gain multiplied by the fraction of aggregate periods of nonqualified use during the period of ownership divide by the total period of ownership.

8. Nonqualified use do not include: temporary absence by reason of (a) change of job location, (b)Health considerations, and (c) unforeseen circumstances includes foreclosure or voluntary conveyance.

a thorough, in-depth analysis of speciﬁc issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufﬁcient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, *** LLCs and business entities. The Firm has Disclaimer: Any accounting, business a niche in defending taxpayers audited or tax advice contained in this by the IRS and other governmental communication is neither intended as agencies. (Advertising Supplement)

AI, not tax reform, poses threat to BPOs... PAGE B2 t A TINY insect no bigger than a grain of rice called the Asian citrus psyllid; carrier of the Huanglongbing or HLB disease has been detected in the City of Duarte. While not harmful to humans, the disease kills citrus trees and has no cure. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is currently going door to door in the community to inspect citrus trees for the disease. Residents will be able to recognize the members of the

EMPLOYMENT

Department in several distinct ways; the official California Department of Food and Agriculture patch, tan shirts and CDFA badges. The California Department of Food and Agriculture tracks the presence of the pest and disease, and establishes quarantines to help protect California citrus trees. The insect feeds on citrus leaves and stems. Without proper inspection and treatment, the disease may go unnoticed on

your citrus trees, and could have devastating consequences. Learn what you can do to protect California citrus by visiting the CDFA website at www.cdfa. ca.gov/plant/acp/regulation. html. It is important to remember that it is illegal to bring citrus fruit or plant material into California from other states or countries, and to move it out of quarantine areas. To report a siting in your area, contact the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. ■

EMPLOYMENT

cially companies registered under Republic Act (RA) 7915, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995. The first package, RA 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), raised excise taxes on fuel, cars, sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco in exchange for reduced personal income tax rates. It was implemented at the start of 2018. Revenues collected under this law are expected to fund the Duterte administration’s ambitious “Build Build Build” infra-

structure program. The Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc. had warned that the removal of incentives would intimidate potential foreign investors. “The government has no contractual obligation to give any incentive to anybody. That is a privilege and [it is] the sovereign right of the government to change its tax incentives when [the] tax system no longer works,” Dominguez argued. Nevertheless, the Finance department had assured the sector

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that it would maintain its global competitiveness in the export market, despite the implementation of a progressive tax reform program. Contrary to apprehensions expressed by certain industry stakeholders, BPO companies’ foreign services in special economic zones in the country will still be exempt from value-added tax, it said. Those outside such zones, including those registered under the Board of Investments (BoI) will retain their zero-rated status, the department added. ■

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mdwk The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 7, 2018

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 7, 2018

The Lei Company: Community building and cultural preservation through entrepreneurship by AJPress

A LEI or a flower garland is more than something you wear around your neck, as it is a message of welcome, congratulations, love, sympathy and many more. Used around the world, the earliest record of flower garlands being sold in Egypt was shortly before the birth of Christ. However, the proliferation of leis in the United States is due partly to the colonization of Hawai’i and the appropriation of lei through Tiki culture. Filipino-American Tiffany Rose Naputi Lacsado saw an opportunity not only to continue the preservation and evolution of the lei, but also to get people in the community to uplift the quality of their lives economically. “I had a long career in public health. I worked in HIV/AIDS prevention education and then later as a certified lactation educator with the Marin County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program,” said Lacsado in an e-mail interview with the Asian Journal. “At some point, I had an ‘aha!’ moment where I realized that the biggest barrier to health for all of my clients across the spectrum was their inability to participate in the economy. For different reasons their job prospects

The School Houz Carnation Lei.

were slim to nil or as in the case of my WIC, they worked in an environment and under circumstances that hindered their ability to make healthy choices. When I left public health I knew that I wanted to be a job creator but I didn’t know how to do that so I enrolled in an MBA program at Meridian University. Meridian University MBA program was a school that really wanted to shift business in a way that was non-extractive and regenerative to the universe, the planet and all of its inhabitants.” In June 2017, Lacsado founded The Lei Company (TLC) Cooperative, Inc., a California worker-owned corporation based in Oakland. By June 2018 she was selling her products across the continental United States and wanted to expand the marketing, sales and distribution capacity of her cooperative, develop products for the death care and wedding industries, and start to cultivate her commercial lei garden. However, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations were cumbersome and advertising was strictly prohibited under a private equity offering, but she was able to meet her investment need through Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. This allowed her to publicly advertise that she was seeking investment and could receive investment in smaller amounts from unaccredited investors. Prior to Title III’s implementation in 2016, private businesses were only able to accept investment from accredited investors. So she turned to regulation crowdfunding’s newest platform – Crowdfund Mainstreet to craft her new securities offering and launch a Direct Public Offering via an investment crowdfunding campaign. Her cooperative’s investment crowdfunding campaign along with four other women-led businesses and the platform itself went live on August 24, 2018, in front 300+ audience who attended the

Tiffany Rose Na’puti Lacsado, CEO and Founder of The Lei Company Cooperative.

The Lei Company Cooperative with Crowdfund Mainstreet Founders.

Crowdfund Mainstreet launch party held at the Oakland Impact Hub. “Every business needs funding to operate, however, The Lei Company Coop launched a direct public offering via the Crowdfund Mainstreet platform in hopes that others who have enjoyed lei and used lei as a universal expression of love could become part of our story as investors and share in our success. “In addition to the economic, cultural, social and environmental impacts that we are choosing to make, the cornerstone of our business model and the way that we intend to scale is to become the national brand for school districts – public, private and charter schools, colleges and universities, as well as becoming the preferred brand in the wedding and funeral industries,” Lacsado shared. Leis have also been made popular as in the case of graduations, by the tastemakers that are the Pasifika community and others who have migrated from all across Oceania to the continental United States. Lacsado said, “It just made logical sense to me that the economic benefits of the lei as we know it in the United States should return to the communities whose culture it comes from. The graduation retail industry generated $5.7B in 2017 and although there are no statistics on how much of that number is from lei sales, from anecdotal evidence we know that millions of dollars in lei transactions occur in the marketplace and in the unsanctioned-black market.” Lacsado also added that they “wanted to disrupt the industry by creating business ownership opportunities that had low barriers to entry.” “The Lei Company is a cooperative corporation because cooperativism does not isolate but encourages and affirms the communal, collaborative and reciprocal values that the Pasifika community holds dear which are values that are very similar in the Filipino community,” she explained. “Cooperativism also provides

Photo by Leilua Malieitulua

the scaffolding that allows for members to build their capacity in business development and administration, skills that members can bring with them when they decide their time as a coop member is complete.” Of course, TLC goes more than economics, as the company cares about the cultural preservation and evolution of lei and other weaving and textile arts. “Our research within the confines of the Bay Area showed that second and third generations of the Pasifika community born in the United States did not know how to make botanical lei with flowers and leaves,” Lacsado shared. “Everyone we surveyed knew how to make candy and other non-perishable lei but they didn’t know how to work with natural materials. We also exist to not only return the economic benefit of lei to the Pasifika community but we also exist [to] preserve and evolve the art lei-making.” TLC looks into the future with plans on offering licensing and/or franchising opportunities. Currently, the products are sold on Amazon or on its website (www.leicompany.com). Admitting that it is a grand vision that involves a substantial amount of money to become a reality, Lacsado believes that it is time for TLC to exist because of the feedback they have received from schools about lei sales during graduation being unregulated. “A company like ours limits harm and liability to schools because we go through their procurement process and meet their standards of excellence. In 2017 we became the approved lei vendors for the Oakland Unified School District and to service all 127 schools in addition to smaller charter and private schools, our web store and our branded Amazon store requires quite a bit of overlay of cash. On Amazon our sales are primarily from our money lei which also requires cash to make the product. Our claim to fame is that we were the first company to essentially sell money to consumers on

One of The Lei Company’s top seller and most laborious lei is the Dolla Dolla Bill, an origami lei made completely of $1 bills.

The Pinay Pride Solidarity Lei is a unique way to show homage to the Philippine flag.

the Amazon platform,” shared Lacsado. Although of mixed heritage (Filipina and Chamorro) and that TLC is a PasifikaMelanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian women’s workerowned lei-making cooperative, Lacsado believes that the community should see it as another example of a “purpose-driven company spearheaded by a Filipina-American that is ‘mabait, matalino at

masipag.’” “What is also important to note is that the Fil-Am community are huge consumers of lei. Fil-Ams buy lei for various occasions throughout the year, not just at graduation time and we hope that when choosing a company to purchase their lei, that they would purchase from us and help support our economic, cultural, social and environmental aims,” she said.

What’s stopping Zanjoe and Maja from Benjamin Alves taking friendship to the next level brushes off excitement by Dolly

Anne CArvAJAl Inquirer.net

SOMETIMES, friendship is better than love. Lovers come and go, but friends remain. So, it’s quite tricky to fall for a best friend. Romance could ruin the friendship when Cupid plays tricks on a couple. Maja Salvador and Zanjoe Marudo’s movie, “To Love Some Buddy,” tackles what it’s like when two friends get the urge to merge. They make quite an interesting onscreen pair since Zanjoe’s ex (Bea Alonzo) and Maja’s ex (Gerald Anderson) are officially a couple. Is crossing the demarcation line between friendship and love worth the risk? Or is it better to stay friends to avoid complications that intimacy brings? Platonic or erotic? Let the story of Julius (Zanjoe) and Faith (Maja) help your heart decide. Here’s my chat with Zanjoe: Would you fall for a best friend? Never say never. I would rather not preempt the situation. It would be nice and exciting, though. What makes a girl best friend material and wife

Zanjoe Marudo and Maja Salavador

material? Best friend: Supports you in everything you want to do, even if it’s stupid. Wife: You will just feel it

Photo from Instagram/@iammajasalvador

when she’s the one you want to spend forever with. No basis. What’s stopping you and Maja from taking your

friendship to the next level? Maja and I are just starting to build a beautiful friendship. It’s too early to be thinking of romance. We will just let nature take its course. What do you find hard to understand about women? Mood swings. But, what the heck, men still go crazy for women. Would you take an ex back? Haven’t done it. Maybe or maybe not. It will depend on a lot of factors like why we broke up and our willingness to correct our past mistakes. Are you open to the idea of working with your ex, Bea, and her boyfriend, Gerald? I’m fine with it. As long as the story is good and the role I will portray is one that I can give justice to. What will it take for a girl to pin you down? She must be smart, fun to be with and [be able to] cook well. If your life story would be made into a movie, what would the title be? “World War Z” As a post-All Souls’ Day question, whose death impacted you the most? Fernando Poe Jr. and Marlon Brando. I have always wanted to meet them.

on Quezon role

by MJ

MArfori ManilaTimes.net

BENJAMIN Alves is slated for bigger things to come for his career but he does not want to get too excited about it. After blockbusters “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” he is set to headline the trilogy finale as former President Manuel L. Quezon which he already played in the previous film. Although that is already set in stone as far as the production is concerned, Benjamin does not want to keep his hopes up. “I don’t want to get too excited because three years namin binuo itong Goyo, and we want to enjoy this first, but yes, that is in the horizon… in time,” he told Manila Times. The archives of information and encounters of people with Manuel Quezon is far richer in depth compared to the first two instalments of the hero trilogy. As early as now, Benjamin is already doing his homework. “Inaral ko na talaga. I want

Benjamin Alves

GMA photo

to imbibe his character. Marami na rin ako nakausap and what is good is that totoong tao namin ipapakita si Manuel Quezon. The good and the bad. The reality of how he was,” he revealed. “May vision na si Jerrold and the TBA production about Manuel Quezon. I’m excited for what they have in store but again, all I can do as an actor is prepare for reading materials and fight the good fight via Manuel Quezon,” Alves added. We are all looking forward to it! Until next week! Ta-ta!

entertainment The Islanders: Film retraces Filipino hoopsters who placed fifth at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 7, 2018

by Edmund

SilvEStrE Philstar.com

1936: The Islanders in Berlin will pay tribute to the Filipino hoopsters who placed fifth overall at the 11th Summer Olympics. Up to this day, it’s the highest finish of any Asian team in Olympic basketball history. The little-known saga of the Philippine basketball team that endured historical injustice at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, is the subject of the Philippines’ first historical sports feature film which will start rolling anytime now. Veteran sports anchor and writer Bill Velasco, who is the film’s co-producer and writer, said that the movie 1936: The Islanders in Berlin will pay tribute to the Filipino hoopsters who placed fifth overall at the 11th Summer Olympics. “It is up to this day the highest finish of any Asian team in Olympic basketball history,” he stressed. Award-winning indie filmmaker and writer Arlyn dela Cruz-Bernal will direct and coproduce under her Blank Pages Productions. The Filipino squad — called The Islanders from what was then known as the Philippine islands before it became a Republic — was the darling of the German media as well as adoring blonde girls, who sent them scented love letters mainly due to their exotic looks and agility when basketball was played outdoor on a dirt court and without shot clock. “What we wanted to do was to somehow honor this team and bring to light the historical injustice committed against them,” said Bill, who is venturing into feature film after producing documentaries for international cable networks since 2010. “It’s well-documented that the Olympic basketball rules were changed when the Philippines was winning and while the tournament was going on,”

Veteran sports anchor Bill Velasco is co-producer and writer of the upcoming movie.

Bill during a recent audition he conducted for the historical sports film.

The late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla had served as team captain.

Bill pointed out in a detailed account based on extensive research and recorded interviews, including one with the late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla who, at 26, served as team captain. “There was really no opportunity for people to raise hell about it because the war broke out and there were no Olympic games in 1940 and 1944, so it got forgotten,” Bill explained. “What Filipinos remember now was Caloy Loyzaga’s era which was already the 1950s.” The rules of basketball were totally different when it made its debut in the Berlin Olympics, Bill noted. “At the time, you had the jumpball after every made basket so the game was so slow and boring,” he said. “And because of that rule, everybody had to be the same height. The height limit

Philstar.com photos

was set at 6’3 and everybody complied.” However, Germany, under Adolf Hitler, allowed the Americans to violate the rules as a political accommodation to avoid a boycott by the U.S. over the banning of Jewish and black athletes, according to Bill. They let the U.S. double the number of its players and let four athletes over 6’3 in height to play; the tallest was 6’8. “This made everyone else an underdog,” Bill said. “On the third day, organizers declared a change in format that whoever lost from that point would be eliminated. As luck would have it, the Islanders’ next opponent was the U.S. And with numerous jumpball situations, the Philippines was knocked out…yet they comContinued on Page 5

Piolo Pascual focuses on self-love

entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 7, 2018

Regal finds a new diva in Jessy Mendiola

by riCky

CAlDeron ManilaTImes.net

REGAL Films Ad-Prom (advertising and promotions) people swear Jerssy Mendiola

fits to be called a diva — not the true meaning which is a famous female opera or pop singer but the modern meaning of “a self-important woman who is temperamental and dif-

by Mj

MArfori ManilaTimes.net

WHILE everyone is swooning and snooping around who our favorite showbiz heartthrob is dating, Piolo Pascual reveals to In The Know that he’s actually busy doing things for himself. Gone are the days when Piolo pressures himself to be with someone because now, he is just busy with no one but himself. He no longer entertains queries about the last woman he was linked with, which was Shaina Magdayao. “A lot has been said already. Puro he said she said and it’s better to clear things and kung kami na lang nag-uusap hindi yung sa iba namin naririnig kung anong sinabi namin. Right now

Piolo Pascual

ABS-CBN photo

I’m single and very happy being single,” he said. The actor is busy with his son Iñigo Pascual, who he

carefully moulds to be a very responsible young personality, “I am so proud of him and how he chooses his projects but, of course, I am [always] here to guide him in life.” Besides this, Papa P as we all love to call him, is now open to talk about politics and even use his celebrity influence to educate people about what the real deal is in our country and what the fans should actually care about, but was firm to say that he does not need to run for a post to do so. “Yes, lagi ako nililigawan pero I don’t need that because I am already heard in my platform which is to be this celebrity with a voice. So if I’m going to influence it would be through my production house Spring Films,” he averred.

OPM greats pay tribute to Rico J by Dolly Jessy Mendiola may learn a thing or two from her ‘future mother-in-law’ on how to deal with fans and production crew. ManilaTimes.net photo

ficult to please.” Roving Eye learned that the first time the Ad-Prom people came to the shoot, they requested Jessy (who was resting in her van) if she can grant their request for a pictorial since the set-up for was ready. Jessy reportedly said, “Bababa ako. Kukunan ninyo ako ng picture tapos babalik ako sa sasakyan para maghintay na naman na matapos yung setup. Ayoko, wala sa schedule ko ang promo shoot na yan.” The crew could only sigh. Jessy also had another “emo moment,” this time concerning her fans who visit her on the set. She reportedly instructed her make-up-artist that in case a fan (or anybody for that matter) would like to have a picture with her, the makeup artist should come to her and say she needs a retouch. The makeup artist would allegedly literally drag Jessy away from the fan (or fans) just to prevent them from having a picture with her. Doesn’t Jessy realize that being nice to the crew and fans is part of her job as artista? Maybe she can a learn a thing or two from her “future mother-in-law” who truly is the Star For All Seasons.

Anne CArvAjAl

Inquirer.net

IN a business full of copycats, Rico J. Puno was an original. Nobody sounded and grooved like Coriks (his pet name) did. The Total Entertainer’s raspy voice, unique style and naughtiness set him apart. Rico J’s timeless hits comprise the soundtrack of our lives. OPM could very well stand for “Original Puno Music” because his songs reverberate in our hearts. My fondest memory of Mr. Macho Gwapito is his ribbing me about an ex of mine every time we see each other. I shot back: “I have moved on from that controversial chapter of my love life. It seems you are the one who has not moved on from it.” We both had a good laugh. Rico J’s son, Rox, is a friend of mine. Just like his dad, he is a great performer. During one of Rox’s gigs, he called up his dad so I could chat with Coriks. Thank you for the music and the laughter, Rico J. “May Bukas Pa” ang OPM because of the incredible legacy you left behind. OPM greats pay tribute to Rico J NOEL CABANGON. Rico J made me laugh so hard that I almost couldn’t breathe. Ben-

Rico J. Puno

Inquirer.net photo

tang-benta sa akin ang mga green jokes niya. Never a boring moment with him at the dressing room while waiting for your turn. I will never forget how downto-earth he was and how he loved to tell stories about his struggles. Spindle was where I first met him in the ’80s, where I had some of my gigs. His life is an inspiration. I never thought I’d meet an OPM legend like him. JIM PAREDES. I have many memories of Rico J. He was a funny guy who was great to have around. He always had a joke to share. We did a few concerts together. One that stands out was when we were all still young. Must have been at least 30 years ago, probably more.

We were attending an OPM afternoon party. There were musical instruments there. I picked up the guitar. Ric Segreto picked up the bass. Martin Nievera and Rico J volunteered as singers. We sang our hearts out that afternoon. WENCY CORNEJO. Coriks and I were part of a Valentine show two years ago. He didn’t show up for rehearsals. He was three hours late for the call time on the day of the show, and when he finally showed up, he wanted a key change to one of his songs (not an easy thing to do, considering he did not attend rehearsals). Definitely a male diva. We all were just waiting for him to implode during the show, but like the consummate artist that he was, he delivered a flawless performance and stole the night from right under all the other performers’ noses. The music industry definitely lost a genius with his passing. HAJJI ALEJANDRO. Rico J was one of my closest friends. We started in the business at the same time in the mid-’70s. I’ve always enjoyed his company because he was such a fun person to be with. He led a colorful life, which explained his never-ending, exciting, Continued on Page 5

entertainment The Islanders: Film retraces...

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 7, 2018

From Page 3 peted with total sportsmanship and set records that still stand today.” Bill said casting for the film has been completed following a grueling audition. Signed up were character actors, aspiring actors and athletes who have knowledge in basketball, he said. He revealed that one actor being considered for a major part is Jhong Hilario to play Padilla’s co-team captain, Jacinto Ciria Cruz, the Islanders’ best player who later became a World War II guerilla and was beheaded by the Japanese in 1944. “Jhong and Jacinto have the same built, same height, color and everything…but Jhong is too busy with TV projects (Ang Probinsyano, It’s Showtime!) and as Makati City councilor,” Bill said, adding that he has already talked to the actor-host. Bill said the 1936 Olympics has over 4,000 hours of footage commissioned by Hitler himself and which can be used for the film since they are now public domain. The biggest challenge, he said, is the set design, of which “everything has to be recreated.” “We found a supplier of 1930s cars in Kamuning, and we found locations like the Court of Appeals complex in Baguio City that looked like Germany in the 1930s,” Bill said. “Finding the ball is the hard part because they don’t manufacture them

(Left) The Islanders competing at the 1936 Olympics. (Right) Poster for the film to be directed by Arlyn dela Cruz-Bernal. Philstar.com photos

The Philippine Olympic Basketball Team to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

anymore wherein the leather was hand stitched and the inside inflatable part was separate from the skin of the ball.” Bill added that one of the film’s highlights is the unimaginable travel of the squad to Europe at a time when there was no commercial flight yet. They spent three weeks on a ship to get to Paris — enduring seasickness, boredom and lack

of rice — and another week crammed into tiny compartments on a train to Berlin. Bill said he has sought the help of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas to make representations to the International Olympic Committee and FIBA to honor the Islanders, all of whom are already gone now.

OPM greats pay tribute to Rico J...

From Page 4 funny stories just about everything under the sun. There’s no idle moment when you’re with him. He was passionate about everything he did, be it singing, politics, playing golf or his recent love for interior designing. Even before becoming a public servant, he touched the lives of so many people in the most positive way. That’s why everyone I know has a good story to tell about Coriks. I believe, even at 65, he had lived a full life. His songs and

memory will live forever in our hearts. CHAD BORJA. In the ’90s, we had a TV guesting at Metropolitan Theater, along with Ariel Rivera and Hajji Alejandro. Our production number was one that we had prerecorded, which meant that the actual show would be lipsynched. Rico J was notorious for not attending rehearsals or blockings, because he liked everything to be spontaneous and unscripted.

During our segment, I was signaling to him that his part was coming, but it was too late because by the time he brought the mic to his mouth, the track was already playing someone else’s voice. Right after our number, Rico J told our director, Al Quinn, “Direk, sa susunod huwag mo akong isama sa mga ito ha, kasi hindi ako marunong mag-lip-synch.” He somehow turned the situation to make it seem like it was our fault, and not his. That’s how humorous he was.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 7, 2018