111618 - San Francisco Edition

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 17 - No. 46 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Elections 2018 Update on Fil-Ams in Calif. local races by JOSEPH

L. PERALTA

AJPress

WITH the elections more than a week behind us, some statewide and local races in California continue to be too close to call. While the battle for majority of the top positions in the California state government have all been decided, the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction is still a toss-up between Tony Thurmond and Marshall Tuck. According to the California Secretary of State (SOS) website, Thurmond leads Tuck 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent, as of Tuesday, November 13. The difference between the two candidates is currently 76,408 votes. The position of Superintendent of Public Instruction, along with the U.S. Representative for District 39, U.S. Representative for District 45, State Assemblymember for DisPAGE A2

Ambassador Kim cites unbreakable US-PH bond by MATTHEW

REYSIO-CRUZ Inquirer.net

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Sunday, November 11, saluted the two nations’ enduring military alliance, “from the crags of Corregidor to the streets of Marawi,� as he led the twin commemorations of Veterans’ Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. “The Philippines is our oldest treaty ally in Asia and our strong bond remains unbreak-

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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Lawmakers: Imelda Marcos not exempt from arrest FORMER first lady Imelda Marcos, widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is not exempt from being arrested and jailed despite her advanced age, the lawmakers said on Tuesday, November 13. According to them, the police should enforce any order from the court to take her into custody after she was sentenced by the Sandiganbayan to up to 77 years in prison for graft last week. Senator Francis Escudero, in a television interview, expressed his thoughts about the matter, saying he disliked the comments made by Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde who appeared ready to provide special treatment

to the 89-year-old former first lady because of her age. “I dislike the comment of Albayalde,� Escudero said. “He has no business actually commenting on those things because as a member of the police force, he’s just supposed to just either implement the law or to obey the order of the court,� he added. Escudero also said that if the court orders the arrest of Marcos, Albayalde’s opinion on her “age and other things are completely immaterial.� “And I find it, to say the least, out of place to be

commenting on such a thing when everything is in the hands of the court — whether she will be arrested or not and whether she will be allowed to be out on bail or not,� he concluded. Marcos was found guilty by the Sandiganbayan on Friday, November 9, in seven graft cases filed against her from 1991 to 1995 in connection with Swiss foundations she and her husband established and used to stash more than $200 million abroad while serving as a government official. ‘No legal anchorage’ By the time former president Marcos was toppled PAGE A2

DENR sets an El Nido cleanup before 2019

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday, November 13, is set out to remove business establishments that violate environmental rules and guidelines in El Nido by the end of 2018. DENR for Region IV-B Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado said that such move is done to protect the area and to keep it from becoming Boracay. “We are eyeing to clear errant establishments off Bacuit Bay, hopefully by the end of the year,� Adornado said as reported by Rappler. In February, DENR Mimaropa formed Task Force El Nido and issued 407 eviction notices to structures built on declared easement zones and forestlands. “There were times demolition activities were put on hold due to high tide or because dump trucks and heavy equipment

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ASEAN SUMMIT. President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo with the leaders from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries during the opening ceremony of the 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore on Tuesday, November 13. MalacaĂąang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo

Trump administration faces another Duterte on Balangiga bells: It ain’t here until it’s here legal setback on DACA termination A PANEL of federal judges in California on Thursday, Nov. 9 halted the Trump administration’s termination of an Obamaera program that granted benefits to certain eligible undocumented youth including protection from deportation. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is to stay in effect; last year, the Trump administration announced its plans to terminate the program after claiming former President Barack Obama’s executive order putting DACA into effect violated the constitution.

“We conclude the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their claim that the rescission of DACA — at least as justified on this record — is arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise not in accordance to law,� Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw wrote in her opinion. On Sept. 5, 2017 the Trump administration announced its plan to end the Obama-era program, opening up the possibility of the long-awaited passage of the DREAM Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship to DACA recipients. Many recipients of DACA — and undocumented youth in general — were brought to the United States as children, and

Beijing: Finish sea code in 3 years CHINESE Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday, November 13, said a rulebook to settle disputes in the hotly contested South China Sea should be finished in three years. He also insisted that his nation does not seek “hegemony or expansion.� Talks about the code of conduct have dragged on for years, with China accused of delaying progress as it prefers to deal

with less powerful countries on a one-to-one basis. Li’s comments appeared to be the first clear timeframe for finishing the book. Ownership of islands and waters in the South China Sea is disputed by the Philippines and several other nations. The country’s “principled positions� on the dispute over the

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with DACA, were given certain benefits that would have never been available to them before, including protection from deportation, work authorization, wider education opportunities and driver’s licenses. (Specific benefits vary from state to state.) The Center for American Progress released a study last year that found that, through DACA’s work authorization piece, undocumented youth contributed positively to the overall American economy. DACA recipients reported positive results like greater access to higher education and financial security, as well as social mobil-

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REPORTS about the U.S. returning the Balangiga bells to the Philippines were welcomed by the Malacaùang Wednesday, November 13. But officials have yet to comment until the actual arrival of the bells that were seized by American troops during the Philippine-American war in 1901. In a report by The Philippine Star, it was said that the bells — which were taken from local churches by American forces as war trophies following the massacre in Balangiga — would be formally turned over to te Philippines in a ceremony on November 15 at the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. According to historian Rolando Borrinaga of the committee on historical research of National Commission for Culture and the

Arts, the event would mark the beginning of the journey of two bells to the Philippines. The third Balangiga bell, which was located at a U.S. Army museum in South Korea, has been crated and is ready to be shipped back to the country. In a statement, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo

said they welcome any movement towards the return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines. “Given that possession of the bells has not yet been turned over to the Philippine government, we are withholding any further comment on the matter until the last bell has been properly delivered

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NOVEMBER 16-22, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Ambassador Kim cites unbreakable...

PAGE A1 t able,” Kim said at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City to an audience that included Filipino and American veterans, military officials and former president Fidel V. Ramos. Kim’s remarks were the latest in a tenure full of public expressions of confidence in the durability of U.S.-Philippine ties, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s sidling up to China and Russia and his brash rejection in August of a U.S. offer to sell “useless” F16 jet fighters to the country. Time to remember Speaking to reporters, Kim said the day’s celebration was a fitting time to remember not only those who fought in World War I, which unofficially ended in an armistice on Nov. 11, 1918, but also the “strength of the partnership between the United States

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim

Inquirer.net photo

and the Philippines.” “We have shared sacrifices, and I’m convinced every day that our partnership grows stronger because of the dedication and commitment of generals like [US Army Pacific Commander Gen.

Robert] Brown and [Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito] Galvez,” he said. Kim also hailed Ramos as one of his favorite examples of those who “placed their countries and loved ones above themselves.” n

exempted from incarceration whether one has held a high position in the government before or is an incumbent official of the government,” Lagman said. He reiterated the Supreme Court’s reminder to lower courts to observe “grave caution” in granting bail to convicted offenders, as well. The Sandiganbayan said Marcos’ absence appeared to be “unjustified” when it handed down its verdict and ordered her arrest Under Rule 120 of the Rules of Court, a convict who fails to appear without justifiable cause would “lose the remedies available in these rules against the judgment and the court shall order his arrest,” as reported by the Inquirer.

A motion for leave of court was filed by Marcos’ lawyer, Manuel Lazaro, on Monday, November 12, to avail the defense of postconviction remedies, which could include staving off her arrest and justifying her absence from the promulgation. However, a pending motion would not prevent the release of the arrest warrant. Victims of the dictatorship led by Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) denounced the continued absence of an arrest warrant for Marcos. The guilty verdict was welcomed by Selda chair Trinidad Herrera-Repuno, but demanded Marcos’ immediate arrest. (AJPress) n

Lawmakers: Imelda Marcos not exempt...

DUAL STRENGTH PRESIDENTIAL SUPPORT. Senatorial aspirant Bong Go receives a show of support from both President Rodrigo Duterte and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III for the former Special Assistant to the President’s bid for a seat in the Senate in the 2019 elections. Go’s legislative agenda includes bills focused on malasakit sa kapwa (concern for others), with programs aimed at uplifting the lives of Filipinos everywhere. Malacañang photo

Trump administration faces another legal setback... PAGE A1 t ity. The Trump administration’s decision to terminate DACA sparked intense outrage among immigrant rights’ advocates, lawmakers and the families of DACA recipients, and that outrage reached federal court rulings. Like this week’s ruling, many

federal judges across the country have halted the termination of DACA using the same exact language as this week’s ruling: “arbitrary” and “capricious.” Though the appeals court ruling is a win for DACA advocates, the nationwide injunction is likely to face the Supreme Court, which now clearly leans Republican

after the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh in October. “The good news is, by rejecting DACA in the 9th Circuit — finally, we’ve been waiting for that — we get it to the Supreme Court,” Trump said at the White House on Friday. “We want to be in the Supreme Court on DACA.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

DENR sets an El Nido cleanup before... PAGE A1 t units used to knock down structures were used for more urgent reasons, like the cleanup of typhoon debris,” Adornado said. The regional executive director also shared that 253 out of 289 establishments were found in violation of environmental laws in the said tourist spot. Such violations involve the failure to secure discharge permit, permit to operate and hazardous waste generator’s identification, and to designate a pollution control officer. “They are also strictly monitored if they have corrected their violations and met the conditions

set provided by the laws,” Adornado added. Adornado said that erring establishment owners were facilitated by the regional Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) through technical conferences facilitated to correct their disregard for DENR protocol. “While improvements as a result of clean-up drive can now be seen and felt in El Nido there is still much to be done in the town,” Adornado said. “Yes, we are not near the finish line but what is important is that we keep an eye even on possible violators to ensure the protection of the environment and conser-

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vation of the rich biodiversity of El Nido,” he added. DENR Mimaropa also created similar task forces in Coron and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro. They are now following what is done in El Nido to further improve the environmental integrity of the said tourist spot. “The task forces are likewise helping the local government unit and concerned agencies in the preparation of an identified sanitary landfill area in Coron; and in the construction of a sewerage collection system and central wastewater treatment facility in Puerto Galera,” Adornado said. (AJPress) n

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PAGE A1 t in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, their secret deposits had deposits had ballooned to $680 million. In a news conference, Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman said there was no law that exempted Marcos from serving her prison sentence. According to Lagman, a human rights lawyer who fought the dictator, a convict aged 70 or older was “only entitled to a mitigating circumstance.” Marcos’ advanced age was a “nonissue” in determining whether she should be arrested, he said, and added that not imposing the jail sentence because she was old “has no legal anchorage.” “After a conviction, no one is

Elections 2018: Update on Fil-Ams... PAGE A1 t trict 16, State Assemblymember for District 38, and State Assemblymember for District 60, are currently deemed as close contents by the office of the California Secretary of State, with margins between candidates less than 2 percent. The California SOS site says county elections officials plan to complete their work by December 7, 2018. One Filipino-American candidate in Northern California has found himself experiencing a change in fortune as county elections offices continue their work and count votes. In San Mateo County, Rod Daus-Magbual has moved to the third position in the race for the three city council seats in Daly City after trailing in initial results on election night and in a subsequent updated vote count release. Daus-Magbual currently has 6,606 votes (22.3 percent) leading Gabriella Makstman (6,292 votes, 21.2 percent) by 314 votes, according to semi-official results posted in the San Mateo County elections website as of November 13. Elsewhere, results continue unchanged for many Fil-Am

candidates in local contests who found themselves inside the magic circle after initial election results. Here’s a rundown of current results for those Fil-Am candidates as of November 13 from the different county elections websites: San Mateo County • Daly City Council (three seats open) – Ray Buenaventura (first), 9449 votes (31.9 percent); Rod Daus-Magbual (third), 6606 votes (22.3 percent) • Colma City Council (two seats open) – Joanne del Rosario (first), 125 votes (51 percent) • South San Francisco City Council (three seats open) – Mark Nagales (second), 4850 votes (18.4 percent); Flor Nicolas (third), 4817 votes (18.3 percent) • Jefferson Elementary School District Member, Governing Board (three seats open) – Maybelle Manio (third), 6137 votes (26.5 percent) Santa Clara County • Los Gatos City Council (three seats open) – Marico Sayoc (second), 7818 votes (28.53 percent) • Berryessa Union School District (three seats open) – Thelma Boac (second), 9613 votes (23.53 percent)

Alameda County • State Assemblymember, 18th District – Rob Bonta, 115306 votes (88.31 percent) • New Haven Unified School District Member, Governing Board (two seats open) – Linda Canlas (first), 10443 votes (38.18 percent) • Alameda City Council (two seats open) – Tony Daysog (second), 10697 votes (22.92 percent) • Emeryville City Council (two seats open) – Dianne Martinez (first), 2592 votes (49.19 percent) • Oakland City Council, District 2 (1 seat open) – Nikki Fortunato Bas (first), 8645 votes (52.62 percent) • Union City City Council (three seats open) – Pat Gacoscos (third), 4868 votes (13.46 percent) Solano County • Vallejo Unified School District (three seats open) – Tony Ubalde (third), 13611 votes (15.81 percent) Contra Costa County • El Cerrito City Council (two seats open) – Gabriel Quinto (second), 6714 votes (50.97 percent) Yolo County • Mayor, West Sacramento – Christopher Cabaldon (first), 5187 votes (52.8 percent). n

Duterte on Balangiga bells: It ain’t here... PAGE A1 t to the country. In the words of the president himself: ‘It ain’t here until it’s here,’” he said. Duterte himself expressed his desire for the return of the bells during his second State of the Nation Address last year, Panelo noted. In his SONA, Duterte mentioned that the bells form part of Philippine patrimony and were taken at the cost of bloodshed of thousands of Filipinos. A U.S. Air Force plane would

bring the three bells to Villamor Air Base, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez told CNN Philippines. However, no specific date has been set for the arrival of the bells. It was believed that the tolling of one of the church bells in Balangiga, Eastern Samar signaled an attack by Filipino guerrillas on American troops from the 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment. A total of 48 US servicemen died during

the assault. More than 25,000 Filipinos were later killed when the U.S. forces retaliated by launching an offensive that sought to turn Samar into a “howling wilderness.” The three bells were then removed from the church and taken as war trophies by American troops. The Philippines under then president Fidel Ramos urged the US. to return the bells in 1994, but Washington did not act on it. n

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Customs eases rules on balikbayan boxes THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has eased the guidelines for qualified Filipinos availing themselves of the duty- and taxfree privilege of consolidated balikbayan boxes. Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 18-2018, issued on Oct. 11, 2018, reduced the documentary requirements needed to obtain the duty- and tax-free privilege for balikbayan boxes. It supersedes CMO 04-2017. Under the new directive, the submission of a copy of one’s Philippine passport as proof of Filipino citizenship will no longer be mandatory and other IDs will be accepted, including: permanent resident ID or equivalent document in other countries; Overseas Employment Certificate/OWWA Card; work permit; Unified Government ID issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), or any other equivalent document except the birth certificate. Qualified Filipinos availing themselves of the duty- and taxfree privilege will no longer be required to submit the commercial invoices of the goods con-

Liza Macaranas, parcel section chief at the Manila Post Office, starts organizing stacks of boxes sent in by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from all around the world. ManilaTimes.net photo

tained in the balikbayan box. Invoices are to be submitted only when these are available. Aside from proof of citizenship, qualified Filipinos, through their freight forwarders or deconsolidators, are only required to submit three copies of the information sheet that serve as the packing list of the balikbayan box.

The first copy of the information sheet, which can be downloaded from the BoC website, is to be placed on the topmost portion of the box. The second copy will be kept by the sender, and the third copy will be given to the consolidator to be forwarded to the bureau together with other documentary requirements. n

PH gets failing mark in ‘rule of law’ by Ben de

Vera Inquirer.net

WHILE the Philippines is not applying for any financial grant from Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), the U.S. aid agency has given the country a failing mark in “rule of law” on its latest scorecard. MCC, however, gave the Philippines passing marks in “control of corruption,” “democratic rights” and more governance indicators. On MCC’s fiscal year 2019 scorecard released on Nov. 5, the Philippines gained passing grades in 14 of the 20 indicators: fiscal policy, inflation, regulatory quality, trade policy, gender equality in the economy, and land rights and access under “economic freedom”; political rights, civil liberties, control of corruption, government effectiveness, and freedom of information under “ruling justly”; as well as natural resource protection, girls’ secondary education enrollment rate, and child health under the “investing in people” category. Improvement over 2017 This year’s scorecard for the Philippines showed an improvement, as the country failed in control of corruption last year, and got passing marks in only 12 indicators. But the country again garnered a failing grade this year in rule of law in the “ruling justly” category, which MCC said it based on the World Bank and Brookings Institution’s 2018 update of the Worldwide Governance Indicators data set mostly reflecting performance in 2017. In the “economic freedom” category, the Philippines also

failed in access to credit and business startup. It also failed in health expenditures, primary education expenditures as well as immunization rates in the “investing in people” category. In August last year, MCC identified the Philippines as one of the countries in the running for eligibility for funding this year. The Philippine government, however, declined the proposed fresh grant from MCC. In December last year, MCC announced that the Philippines had withdrawn from the planned second grant to build better roads along the coast of Eastern Luzon. First compact achievements “The government of the Philippines has decided not to move forward with the development of a second MCC compact. MCC is proud of the achievements of our first compact with the Philippines, and both MCC and the United States are proud of our long-standing positive relationship,” the corporation said. In its Sept. 10 report, MCC included the Philippines among 65 low-income countries that were candidates for Millennium Challenge compact eligibility in 2019. “A country will be a candidate country in the low-income category for fiscal year 2019 if it has a per capita income that is not greater than the World Bank’s lower middle-income country threshold for such fiscal year ($3,895 gross national income per capita for fiscal year 2019); is among the 75 countries identified by the World Bank as having the lowest per capita income; and is not ineligible to receive United States

Beijing: Finish sea code... PAGE A1 t South China Sea will be “reiterated” by President Rodrigo Duterte during this week’s summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Singapore, according to Malacañang on Tuesday. In a statement, the Palace said, “The president will reiterate the Philippines’ principled positions on matters concerning the South China Sea and transnational and trans-boundary issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, trafficking in persons, illicit drugs and disaster risk reduction and management.” “The Philippines looks forward to exchanging views on Asean community-building as well as discussions on regional and global developments that impact regional peace, security and stability,” it added. Duterte in the past has talked about his preference to set aside the Philippines’ 2016 victory in an international arbitration court, which invalidated Beijing’s claims on the disputed waters, in the meantime in favor of boosting economic ties. Slow progress China has established military positions on disputed outcrops and intimidates fishermen and naval vessels from rival countries, as reported by The Manila Times. Tensions are ever-present with fellow claimants such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan, as well as the United States. Li, speaking in Singapore ahead of the opening of an Asean summit, said that it is China’s hope that the code of conduct consultation will be finished in three years’ time in order to contribute to enduring peace and stability in the South China Sea. “We are not and we will not seek hegemony or expansion. That is something that we will

never do,” he said. “What we hope is to have a harmonious relationship with our neighbors,” he added. Warships and drills Small signs of progress can be seen in recent months. In August, China and Southeast Asian nations announced that they had agreed on their initial bargaining positions as they work towards a code. Both sides had hailed this as a vital step, however, critics pointed out that some of Beijing’s proposals in the agreement were clearly aimed at expanding its influence in the region at the expense of Washington. First joint drills by navies from China and Southeast Asia were also staged last month in the South China Sea in an effort to ease tensions. Many parts of Southeast Asia have weakened their opposition to to China’s aggressive behavior in the waters in recent years as they are keen to attract investment from Beijing. They are also worried about U.S. commitment to the region under President Donald Trump. Washington and other western allies like Britain and Australia, for their part, have ramped up freedom of navigation exercises in recent months. A stance that infuriates Beijing, however, is the sailing of warships through the strategic region. It is bid to enforce the idea that the sea is international waters and open to all. According to National Security Advisor John Bolton, any code of conduct deal struck between China and Southeast Asian nations should not be allowed to restrict access to the sea. “It also has to be acceptable to all the countries that have legitimate maritime and naval military rights to transit and other associated rights that we don’t want to see infringed,” he said. (AJPress) n

economic assistance under Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (the Foreign Assistance Act), by reason of the application of the Foreign Assistance Act or any other provision of law,” MCC said. MCC also listed down five lower middle-income countries as possibly eligible for a compact next year. n

GETTING READY. A woman arranges various sizes of Santa Claus inside the House of Santa located at Policarpio St. in Mandaluyong City. The house draws thousands of visitors during the Christmas season every year. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Data of 102,209 Filipinos hit by Cathay Pacific data breach THE National Privacy Commission has issued an order on Cathay Pacific Airways in relation to a notification it submitted last October 25 about a data breach that affected 102,209 Philippine data. Cathay Pacific said last month it had suffered a major data leak affecting up to 9.4 million passengers. The airline admitted data including passport numbers, identity card numbers, email addresses and credit card details were accessed. Roughly 35,700 passport numbers from the Philippines were exposed due to the breach, while over 100 credit card numbers were compromised, the Hong Kong flag carrier told the NPC.

The NPC said there appears to be a failure on the part of Cathay to report to the privacy commission what it knew about the data breach at the time it confirmed unauthorized access, and what the affected data fields are. In an order dated October 29 but was released to journalists on Saturday, November 10, the NPC asked Cathay Pacific to: • Explain within ten days why Cathay should not be held liable for its apparent failure to timely notify the commission about the occurrence of a data breach. • Submit within five days further information on the measures taken to address the breach. The leak comes as the troubled airline battles to stem major losses

as it comes under pressure from lower-cost Chinese carriers and Middle East rivals. It booked its first back-to-back annual loss in its seven-decade history in March, and has previously pledged to cut 600 staff including a quarter of its management as part of its biggest overhaul in years. “We take personal breaches seriously. Under the Data Privacy Act non-disclosure of a breach is a serious offense, that is why we remind data controllers of their obligation to properly notify the NPC whenever breaches occur. We expect every one to abide by this provision,” Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro said. (Ian Nicolas Cigaral/Philstar.com with reports from AFP) n

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NOVEMBER 16-22, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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US Navy plane crashes in Philippine Sea issues forced the pilots to eject from Carrier Air Wing 5 F/A-18. The pilots were rescued and A plAne of the U.S. navy brought to the Ronald Reagan on board aircraft carrier USS for medical evaluation. Ronald Reagan crashed into the The aircraft is part of the U.S. philippine Sea while conducting 7th Fleet area of operations in routine operations Monday, no- support of security and stability vember 12. in the Indo-pacific region. The U.S. navy said mechanical Cmdr. Jonathan Zata, naval by Michael

Punongbayan Philstar.com

public affairs office chief of the philippine navy, said he has yet to receive official word on the crash. “normally they operate outside our territorial zone... they do not give their specific location,” he said. Zata said they have not also received any request for assistance from the U.S. navy. n

US Army Pacific chief highlights PH-US alliance in 4-day visit OFF TO KOREA. Philippine Navy holds a send-off ceremony at Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila for its landing dock ship, BRP Tarlac, with helicopter attachment afloat on board for a conduct of port visit to Vladivostok, Russia, and participation in International Fleet Review, at Jeju Island, South Korea. Several troops were currently in South Korea to undergo training for the arrival of eight amphibious assault vehicles from the same country later this year or early 2019. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Fil-Am mail bombing suspect indicted on 30 counts, faces life in prison

A FeDeRAl grand jury in new York has indicted Cesar Sayoc on 30 charges on Friday, november 9, after he was suspected of mailing over a dozen pipe bombs to highprofile Democrats last month. Cesar Sayoc, Jr., who is half-Filipino and half-Italian, faces life imprisonment following the charges, which include the use of a weapon of mass destruction, interstate transportation of explosives, illegal mailing of explosives, threatening interstate communications, use of explosives to commit a felony, and use of a destructive device during and furtherance of a crime of violence. The 56-year-old, who was arGeneral Brown, Commander of USARPAC, shakes hands with General Carlito Galvez, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. rested on October 26 in Florida, Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila allegedly mailed around 16 pipe bombs to known critics of presiphilippine people,” Brown was dent Donald Trump, including november 13. by Frances Mangosing Brown, who leads the U.S. quoted as saying. Inquirer.net “Together, Americans and Army forces in the Indo-paU.S. Army pacific commander cific region, was in Manila from Filipinos have fought valiantly Gen. Robert Brown took the op- november 10 to 13, where he in defense of their nations, loved portunity to emphasize the phil- attended the pH-U.S. Veter- ones, and way of life. We honor ippine-U.S. ties to the Indo-pa- ans Day, the Manila American their sacrifices by continuing to cific during his four-day visit to Cemetery in Taguig City, and support a free and open Indo-paa speaking engagement at the cific alongside our friend, partManila. The visit focused on reaffirm- national Defense College of the ner, and ally, the philippines,” he added. ing the U.S. Army’s close ties philippines. by JoMar canlas He also met with Defense “It’s a privilege to visit the with its philippine counterparts MnailaTimes.net and the increasing interoper- philippines for Veterans Day and Usec. Cardozo luna, AFp chief ability of the two militaries in the to recognize both our countries’ Gen. Calito Galvez Jr. and Army THe national Bureau of Invescoming year, the U.S. embassy militaries and their decades of chief lt. Gen. Macairog Alber- tigation (nBI) has filed criminal said in a statement on Tuesday, service to the American and to. n charges against former Customs commissioner Isidro lapeña over alleged anomalies in the release of 105 containers of ceramic tiles worth at least p69 million from China in March 2018. nBI legal Service Division Chief Joselito Amon and Assistant Director leo edwin leuterio recommended the filing of graft and administrative charges against the former police official before the Department of Justice (DoJ). A 35-page report recommended that lapeña and several John Does be “charged and prosecuted for violation of Sec. 3, par. (e) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt practices Act,” and “administratively charged with gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct.” Administrative and graft charges are within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman, but such may be filed with the DoJ for case buildup and may be referred later on to the Ombudsman. Lapeña violated own memo? Customs whistleblower lourdes Mangaoang earlier exposed the possible entry of shabu into the country through the containers. The withdrawal from the port of Manila of the 105 containers

high profile Democrats like Barack Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as news organizations like Cnn and prominent Democrat donor George Soros. According to the indictment, the charges on Friday are only for the pipe bombs sent to Soros, Clinton, actor Robert De niro, James Clapper and John Brennan. “As alleged, Cesar Sayoc deliberately targeted 13 individuals with 16 improvised explosive devices, attempting to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation from California to the eastern seaboard,” FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said in a statement. “The FBI remains steadfast in our mission to protect the American public, and we will move with speed to bring justice to anyone seeking to harm our com-

munities.” As earlier reported by the Asian Journal, Sayoc was transported from Florida to new York on Monday and made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert lehrburger. 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; and Rep. Maxine Waters of California. none of the explosives that were mailed detonated and did not injure anybody, according to officials. Sayoc is set to make a court appearance on Monday, november 12. (AJPress) n

Dateline PhiliPPines

NBI files graft raps vs Lapeña from China without the proper release clearances and documents was discovered on March 19. The shipment was the subject of customs alerts. The nBI also asked the DoJ to review the arrangement between the government and port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI). “It is also respectfully recommended that Office of the Solicitor General, which office is tasked to review contracts under investigation by the nBI, review the Contract for Cargo Handling and Related Services entered into by and between the philippine ports Authority and Asian Terminals, Inc.,” the nBI report stated. The nBI said it wanted to unearth smuggling and other illegal activities inside the Bureau of Customs (BoC), which could have allowed the entry of illegal drugs into the philippines. “It is clear that even if the ATI personnel are engaged in smuggling and illegal activities, the ppA could not, motu proprio (on its own), institute a case for violation of Tariff and Customs laws. Instead, it will allow the contractor to take action over the case,” it said. Under their existing agreement, the ppA cannot take any action against ATI in the event that its personnel fail to exercise due diligence in the performance of their duties, “as the enumeration provided in the contract is exclusive, [and] the failure to exercise due diligence is not one of them,” the nBI pointed out.

Processing system ‘by passed’ The investigating bureau pointed to the supposed lapses on the part of lapeña when he bypassed the bureau’s computerized processing system known as e2M. “lapeña also deliberately violated the memorandum that he himself approved when he issued the memorandum where he interpose[d] no objection to the release of the shipments to the consignee in the port of Cebu, despite being the subject of the continuing alert and the absence of any documents to support or be the basis for its release. Further, lapeña did not cause any alert order when the e2M became operational,” the document reads. “It is worth noting that flagrant disregard of the rules is considered a gross misconduct where the elements of corruption, clear intent to violate the law, or flagrant disregard of an established rule must be manifest,” the nBI said adding that “to additionally affix his signature despite the lack of supporting documents only shows a gross and inexcusable disregard of the consequences of his act as approving authority.” Moreover, the nBI stated that “the acts of lapeña and those under him (whose identities were still unknown), constitute Gross negligence and Grave Misconduct that would warrant their dismissal [from] service.” n

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DILG: ‘Palawan tourist sites may be closed’ by PAOLO

ROMERO Philstar.com

MANILA — Other travel destinations – including those in Palawan – might go the way of Boracay and be shut down if major violations of environmental laws and local ordinances are found in these tourist areas, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Tuesday, November 13. Año issued the statement after President Duterte warned local officials in Palawan that they could face sanctions for violation of environmental laws. “If we find major violations of the law, we’ll really shut them down,” Año told reporters.

He also warned local officials to make sure tourism establishments in their respective jurisdictions follow local and national sanitation and environmental laws. Local officials who allow such violations to happen would be prosecuted and recommended for preventive suspension, Año said. He said he has yet to send inspectors to Palawan and other major tourist attractions but the President’s repeated warnings have already prompted many local officials to start removing illegal structures in resorts in their respective areas. He said he is set to meet with Palawan officials to discuss the

matter. “We’ve been receiving reports of illegal sewerage systems and wastes dumped directly into the sea,” Año said. In a related development, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the heads of the Boracay Interagency Task Force (BIATF) are set to meet with the mayor of El Nido, Palawan tomorrow. “This Wednesday, the mayor of El Nido is coming here and hopefully, she starts to listen to us or else – my suggestion to the President is not to close El Nido, but to close only those that are not compliant,” Puyat told reporters on the sidelines of the Duty Free Luxe Christmas lighting. ■

Taguig voter questions Cayetano couple’s bid for separate House seats MANILA — A complaint has been filed before the Commission on Elections against the candidacies of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and wife Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, who are both gunning for seats at the House of Representatives. Alan Peter has filed a certificate of candidacy for representative of the first district of TaguigPateros. He was congressman of the lone district of Taguig-Pateros from 1998-2007. Lani will run in the second district in the 2019 midterm elections. She was the districts representative in Congress from 2007-2010. ‘Married couple can only maintain one legal residence’ Taguig voter Leonides Buac Jr. filed the petition to deny due course or to cancel certificate of candidacy against the spouses, according to a report from ABSCBN News. In his COC, Alan Peter declared that he is a resident of Barangay Bagumbayan while Lani declared that she lives in Barangay Fort Bonifacio. The petitioner pointed out that a married couple can only maintain one legal residence at any given time. “The usual place of abode of the husband and wife, as jointly fixed by them, is their one legal residence for the purpose of running for public office,” the petition read. Section 6, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution states that among the minimum require-

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano Inquirer.net file photo

ments for members of the House Representatives are that they should be “a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected, and a resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election. The petitioner also noted that the eldest of the Cayetano siblings, Rep. Pia Cayetano (Taguig), is running for senator while their younger brother Lino Cayetano is running for mayor to re-

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place sister-in-law Lani. “This may not surprise anyone, but this election, the Cayetanos have crossed the lines of decency, now plumbing the depths of shamelessness,” the petition read. Cayetanos: We are simply continuing public service In a statement, the Cayetano couple said they “have been serving for many years now the residents of Taguig and Pateros” and that their running in both legislative districts in the city “would simply continue our public service.” They said: “We are running because our constituents trust us that their interests would continue to be promoted and protected. The disqualification cases, from the correct perspective, are irrelevant to our constituents’ desire.” “That said, we would like to assure the electorate of Taguig and Pateros of our absolute preparedness to answer point by point the issues raised in these disqualification cases,” they also said. Alan Peter, who relinquished his post as secretary of Foreign Affairs to run for Congress, earlier insisted that their family is not a political dynasty. “You have to understand the dynamics. Our opponents in the first district mayor and congressman are siblings. Our opponents in the second district are father and son,” Alan Peter said in an interview with ANC’s “Headstart” last month. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com) ■

PRIDE OF CEBU. Sen. Grace Poe accompanied by GMR Megawide Chief Executive Advisor Andrew Harrison tours the world-class structure and facilities of the Terminal 2 of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). Poe says that the new terminal should serve as an example for future Public-Private Partnerships in the country. Senate photo

Hontiveros wants inquiry into Miss Earth sexual harassment allegations by GAEA

KATREENA Philstar.com

CABICO

MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros has called for an inquiry into the alleged incidents of sexual harassment during this year’s Miss Earth pageant that victimized at least three candidates. Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 932 after Miss Earth contestants Jaime VandenBerg of Canada, Abbey-Anne GylesBrown of England and Emma Sheedy of Guam detailed in separate posts that a male sponsor of the international beauty contest asked them for sexual favors in exchange for bringing home the crown or getting further in the competition. Miss Guam identified the sponsor as Amado Cruz. “This inquiry seeks to shed light on the true events of the case and to aid the future protection of women from sexual harassment. No woman should ever be a victim, whatever country they come from,” the senator said. ‘Zero tolerance for sexual harassment, violence’ Hontiveros—who chairs the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality—stressed that zero tolerance should be given

Philstar.com file photo

to acts of sexual harassment and violence. “Sexual harassment has no place anywhere, especially in a pageant that claims to uphold the value and power of women. At a time when women and girls are battered by rape jokes, sexual violence and sex-for-freedom cases, it is imperative that sexual harassment of any kind, shape or form be brought out into the open,” she said. Hontiveros said both Cruz and the pageant organizer should be held responsible for the incidents. She also expressed disappointment that Cruz was able to attend the preliminary event and the coronation night even

after Miss Earth Vice President Lorraine Shuck had assured the candidates that the sponsor would not be attending succeeding events. “This shows disregard for their welfare and a flippant attitude toward the handling of this case. This cannot be allowed to pass unaddressed,” Hontiveros said. Shuck earlier said in a television report that the testimonies on the alleged sexual harassment incidents had been collected for review. But she denied the accusations and claimed the candidates were given security. Miss Cuba Monica Aguilar also maintained there was no instance of sexual harassment during the course of the pageant. ■

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Robredo is successor under draft charter

THE House committee on constitutional amendments has reinstated Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo as the first successor during the transition period to the planned federal government. Rep. Vicente Veloso, head of the panel, confirmed to The Manila Times that the amendment to the Resolution of Both Houses

(RBH) 15 has been approved. Article 17, Section 4 of the Transitory Provisions of RBH 15 previously named the Senate President as the successor. The amended measure now reads as follows: “In case a vacancy arises by reason of removal, resignation, permanent incapacity or death of the incumbent President, the incumbent Vice

President shall act as President until a President shall have been chosen and qualified.” Section 8, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution recognizes the Vice President as the first in line in the Philippine presidential succession, followed by the Senate President and the House Speaker. (Glee Jalea/ManilaTimes.net) n

Senators oppose China Telecom

THE Senate minority bloc on Monday, November 12 questioned the selection process employed by the government in choosing the Mislatel consortium as the “provisional” new major player (NMP) in the telecommunications industry. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon as well as Senators Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, Francis Pangilinan and Antonio Trillanes 4th, in a joint statement, discredited both the selection process and the Mislatel consortium as the third telco (telecommunications company) to operate in the country. “Why were the other bidders booted out? Simply to show that the government went through the process?” the opposition senators asked. They also raised issue the reported “involvement of Malacañang” in ensuring that China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom) can begin its operations by the first quarter

of 2018. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte did not intervene in the selection of the third telco. “There was a transparent, fair, public and open selection process, done in accordance with laws, as well as with pertinent rules and regulations,” Panelo said. Senators Francis Escudero and Joel Villanueva, in a separate statement, corroborated Panelo’s statement that the selection process for the NMP was “orderly and transparent.” They lauded the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Sen. Grace Poe, on the other hand, expressed concern on the presence of China Telecom in the consortium. She said that the issue should not be sidestepped and that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other intelligence agencies should weigh

MANILA — House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga) on Tuesday, November 13, said speculations that she’s eyeing to take the helm of the Department of Finance are “so hypothetical.” Arroyo, president from 2001 to 2010, made the remarks when asked by reporters about rumors she will replace Carlos Dominguez III as Finance chief during a chance interview after a congressional hearing on the DOF’s proposed tax reform. A transcript of the interview was sent to journalists. The DOF is responsible for the sound and efficient management of the government’s financial re-

sources of the government. Arroyo, who has a doctorate in economics and is an old friend of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been playing an important role in the current administration’s fight against inflation, which stayed at a nine-year peak in October. She was elected as the country’s first woman House speaker following the dramatic removal of Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao del Norte) from the post last July. In 2016, the political heavyweight Arroyo was freed after being detained for five years for graft and election fraud. She said she has no plan to seek any public office when her third and

by BeRnadette

e. tamayo

Manilatimes.net

TAX TOBACCO TO THE MAX. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, dances with health workers and cancer survivors advocating the Tax Tobacco to the Max at the Senate grounds in Pasay City on Tuesday, November 13. About 300 elderly , youth, urban poor groups and other advocates called for the passage of pending bills increasing tobacco tax as proposed by Senator JV Ejercito and Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Military to recommend another extension of Mindanao martial law by Roel

PaReÑo Philstar.com

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, will recommend that President Rodrigo Duterte again extend martial law in Mindanao. Galvez, who was in Zamboanga City for a briefing, said most local government officials he had consulted want martial law, meant as a temporary emergency measure, to stay. He said that based on the assessment of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, “the LGUs are recommending for the extension because they saw the impact has been very positive in terms of tourism, investments.” He said areas in Eastern Mindanao have been relatively peaceful in terms of attacks by the communist New People’s Army. The declaration of martial law in May 2017 was premised on an attack on Marawi City by the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group but the president has since declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA as terrorist groups. Congress has readily agreed to two extensions of martial law in Mindanao. With supportive supermajorities in both chambers, another extension will likely be approved when the current declaration expires on December 31. “We were shown the sentiments of the different provincial

governors and majority said they wanted martial law stay in the whole of Mindanao,” Galvez told media minutes before his security assessment meeting officers of the Western Mindanao Command. “We will bring this up to the president,” Galvez, a former Westmincom chief, said. Galvez said he is also expecting similar feedback from the LGUs in Western Mindanao. The AFP chief said last week he would meet with the Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of National Defense on the sentiments local executives from Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao, who he said also support continued martial law. “Yes, we will recommend it,” Galvez said, referring to the expected extension. The Philippine National Police has already said it will support another extension. Human rights concerns Business groups and chambers of commerce were quick to welcome the declaration of martial law in 2017, saying the checkpoints and curfews would lead to a better environment for commerce and investment. The experience of martial law has not been the same across Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island after Luzon, although measures like curfews and “No ID, No Entry” policies are common. Parts of Mindanao where rebel

groups and terrorists operate had been militarized long before martial law was declared. Rights groups claim to have documented cases of abuses and extrajudicial killings since the declaration in May 2017. In September, lawmakers at the House of Representatives called for an inquiry into the deaths of seven young men in Patikul, Sulu whom the military said were Abu Sayyaf militants but a local activist group said were “husbands of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Patikul who were shot” while picking fruits that they had asked for permission to harvest. ‘Extension needed because of NPA, terrorists’ The AFP chief maintained that the reason of extending martial law is the persistent threat of terrorism and the NPA. He said martial law has also diminished the terrorist threat, citing the near collapse of the Anzar Khalifa Philippines, a local terror faction allied with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. He also said 11,333 NPA rebels have surrendered in Mindanao. He said 786 of those who have surrendered were regular armed members. Galvez said the Eastmincom has also recovered more than 1,000 firearms from the rebels. He said that is progress continues “by the mid of 2019 our gains will be irreversible gains against the CPPNPA.” n

in on the qualifications of China Telecom. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. assured the public that the AFP played a role in the selection of the third telco player. In a recent Kapihan sa Senado media forum, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said it would be unfair to imply that China Telecom’s presence in Mislatel consortium would be a national security concern. “I believe China Telecom is a publicly listed firm in mainland China. The books are open, they are transparent,” he said. National Economic Development Authority chief Ernesto Pernia and Rep. Lito Atienza agreed that the third telco would not only improve internet connectivity and mobile services, it would bring in investment partnerships and capital spending. Pending confirmation of the provisional NMP, the First Point Group, through the Linkedin platform, had called for job applicants interested to work for the projects of Mislatel consortium. n

Arroyo brushes off rumors she’ll be appointed Finance chief

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Philstar.com photo by AJ Bollando

last term as representative of Pampanga’s second district ends in June next year. (Ian Nicolas Cigaral/Philstar.com) n

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Business news

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Philippines internet speed to become faster with 3rd telco by RichaRd

MeRcuRio Philstar.com

INTERNET speed in the country may rise to third fastest in Southeast Asia from being among the slowest at present with the provisional third telco player’s commitment in its first year of operations, but telco giant PLDT has advised the public to temper their expectations for at least two years with the arrival of the new major player. Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio told The STAR that Mislatel consortium’s promised minimum average internet speed of 27 megabits per second (Mbps) on its first year would be the third fastest among those offered across ASEAN. “In just its first year, they (Mislatel) have committed 27 Mbps. That is double the speed of Globe and Smart, which have been operating for 20 years,” Rio said. With its commitment to bring it up to at least 55 Mbps on its second year, Rio said this would bring it to the same level or sec-

Philstar.com file photo

ond to speeds in Singapore. However, PLDT is doubting that the provisional new major player, a consortium composed of Dennis Uy’s Udenna and Chelsea Logistics, China Telecommunications, and Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co., could deliver their commitments in its first two years. “First question you have to ask is how long will it take them to build that network? From what I hear, people seem to be thinking that they will be operational a year from now. I don’t think so,” PLDT chief corporate services of-

SWEDISH LABOR DELEGATES. A labor delegation from Sweden visited the Senate of the Philippines on Monday, November 12 and met Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros where they discussed women, human rights and democracy issues. The delegation is led by the Olof Palme International Center (OPIC), the umbrella organization of the broad Swedish labor movement that works for democracy, human rights and peace. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

ficer Ray Espinosa said. “For them to achieve the minimum speed or the average speed that they have committed, and the 33 to 34 percent coverage that they also committed, it will take them several years before they can put that network in place by anna Leah e. GonzaLez and become operational. By our Manilatimes.net estimation, it would be optimistic if they can have that network in THE government is targeting place in two years, maybe around to launch on February 2019, the three years because just like us, prototype app for business registhey will have to look for sites for tration. their towers, for antennas, etc.,” The app will allow new business Espinosa said. n registrants to apply for business permits using a mobile phone. “We are pleased to report that business registration at your fingertips will soon be a reality. A multidisciplinary team composed of private/public sector representatives from DTI, DICT, SEC, QC LGU, and PHILHEALTH, with help from our friends from New Zealand Creative HQ, has just finished a prototype that enables end-to-end business registration on a mobile device. We are happy The National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, venue of the first China International to note that the prototype is a viImport Expo (CIIE), which took place from Nov. 5 to 10, 2018. able concept. But more tests are Photo from the CIIE Facebook page being completed in order to furfresh fruits category in China’s hibitors were able to participate, ther validate,” said Trade Secrehuge market,” said DTI Secretary according to a previous DTI state- tary Ramon M. Lopez, also the Chair of the Ease of Doing BusiRamon Lopez. ment. “The figures exceeded our tarApart from this, there was also ness/Anti-Red Tape Advisory get sales for this participation, a 136-square meter Philippine na- Council (EODB/ARTAC). Department of Information and which was $50 million. tional pavilion, which featured 10 But Philippine products, known partner government agencies and Communications (DICT) Underto be of quality to foreign buyers, companies as well as 11 universi- secretary Denis Villorente said since the ease of doing business received overwhelming approval ties. at CIIE,” the trade chief added. DTI is looking forward to bring- 2020 survey will start in February, This is despite sending fewer ing a bigger delegation to next the government must make sure exhibitors than earlier expected year’s CIIE. According to Lopez, to finish the app before the survey since the event was allegedly DTI is eyeing to set up 100 booths starts. “Our 2020 [survey] will be overbooked. The country previ- for next year and to double its ously planned to send over a hun- sales, targeting to bring a wider starting in February so we should dred exhibitors. variety of local fresh fruits. (In- push this to be available before that,” said Villorente. Instead, only 36 Filipino ex- quirer.net) n

Govt to launch prototype app for business registration next year

PH exceeds sales target in China’s first import expo by MaRy

GRace Philstar.com

Padin

PHILIPPINE companies sold $124 million worth of sales in China’s first import expo, hitting twice the target earlier set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). In a statement issued on Monday, November 12, DTI noted that it had exceeded its $50 million target sales at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai. The expo only features foreign exhibitors, giving thousands of foreign companies a chance to sell to Chinese buyers. The total Philippine sales include $108 million of signed orders for various agricultural products such as bananas, avocados, and oranges. It also included $16 million of direct sales from exhibitors. “This is a big win for Filipino companies — especially those in the agriculture industry — as we push for greater promotion of our

Department of Information and Communications (DICT) Undersecretary Denis Villorente Photo from www.igov.ph

The Design Sprints Team successfully created a streamlined process for business registration, providing an excellent opportunity for the Philippines to become one of the first countries to adopt a business registration process that can be completed (end to end) on a smartphone. The One Central Business Portal is being developed as an alternative registration channel that is easy to use. DTI said it will significantly reduce the time, steps and costs plus the inconvenience of business registration particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises. The One Central Business Portal is expected to significantly make it easier for someone wanting to start a new business in the Philippines by consolidating government requirements in one application form. By making the portal available online and through the mobile

phone, its transforms the registration experience into a convenient facility that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Through the development of this portal, someone interested in putting a new corporation will no longer have to visit and transact with several government agencies separately. It also spares the applicant from having to contend with numerous face to face interactions, as well as queues to obtain a service. “We do not just automate the process but transform the way government is doing business by offering a feasible, viable and desirable solution for the customer. The exercise we did this week reengineered the “starting a business” process using a whole of government approach”, Lopez said. He said the DTI shall turn over the prototypes for the One Central Business Portal, including the framework of the Philippine Business Number (PHBN) and the end to end registration to the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) for possible integration with other government systems. “Under the newly enacted Ease of Doing Business law, the DICT shall be primarily responsible in establishing, operating and maintaining a central business portal or other similar technology,” said Lopez.n

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OPINION

FEATURES

But will she go to prison? OVER three decades after her family was forced into exile by a popular revolt, Imelda Marcos has been convicted of crimes committed during her husband’s dictatorial regime. The Sandiganbayan found Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft in connection with private organizations she set up in Switzerland when she was a government official from 1968 to 1986. Each count carries from six to 11 years in prison. Victims of the Marcos regime, however, know the country’s judicial system well enough not to celebrate prematurely. The case is expected to be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, and the former first lady and her family have a formidable stable of lawyers known to be influential with the courts. At 89 – and much older if ever the conviction is affirmed with finality – Marcos might also be spared by sympathetic magistrates of incarceration. The conviction for simple graft allows her to post bail. She is also expected to pursue her bid for reelection as congresswoman representing the second district of her husband’s bailiwick, Ilocos Norte, even if the sentence permanently disqualifies her from holding public office. Still, the conviction sets a precedent for other cases pending against the heirs of dictator Ferdi-

nand Marcos. The world, for example, has been confounded by the seizure of millions of dollars established to be ill-gotten and deposited in Swiss banks, and the Philippines’ failure to hold anyone accountable for the crime. Switzerland has turned over the deposits to the Philippine government, but no one has been brought to justice for the plunder. The former first lady is still fighting efforts of the government to seize her collection of priceless paintings by the Masters. No president of this republic and his wife can ever earn on an honest wage in their entire lifetime the enormous sums needed to buy even one of those paintings. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also has in its safekeeping a king’s ransom in jewelry confiscated from the Marcoses as they fled the country. And yet Ferdinand Marcos is buried at the heroes’ cemetery, and no Marcos has ever been convicted of corruption – until now. The question is whether Imelda Marcos will ever actually suffer the penalty for graft, or if her conviction will turn out to be nothing but a farce. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS OUR Founding Fathers had the foresight to protect the democracy of the new union they just built when they were drafting the Constitution of the United States. They knew then that with the power vested upon elected and appointed officials, there could be some who would try to abuse this power for their personal gain and aggrandizement, and so they instituted the system of checks and balances. The U.S. Constitution mandated that there be three co-equal branches of government: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary. Each branch checks on

Philstar.com photo

Americans elected Democrats to lead the House as a message to Trump: You are not above the law the others to make sure no institution or individual abuses such power, and has provisions of law to serve as guide for centuries to protect our democratic institutions and processes. The election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States, however, has challenged the checks and balances requirement of the Constitution. Trump’s popularity with the Republican base has casted a spell on the party of Lincoln and Reagan that has caused so many members of the Legislative branch of government to abandon their faithfulness to conservative values of adherence to the Constitution, the rule of law, and accountability for po-

litical expediency. Many of the leaders of the Republican Party, who were up in arms in criticizing Trump’s character, temperament, and qualification during the primary election up until he was sworn in, have morphed from rabid wolves to meek lambs who have given Trump a pass in everything he has said and done that have gone against true Republican and conservative principles in his performance of his job as president and Commander-inChief. They failed to call out the president for his rhetoric, decisions and actions — for fear of losing support of the Republican base. The confirmation of Trump’s

nominee Brett Kavanaugh as Justice of the Supreme Court, despite all allegations against him, tilted the balance of power in favor of the party of Trump, causing concerns among many Americans that Trump could indeed continue to assault our democracy with the failure of the Legislative and Judiciary branches of government to fulfill their obligations of checks and balances to the Executive. Trump said during his closing arguments campaigning for Republicans running for office in the midterm elections that “a vote for a Republican is a vote for Trump”. Indeed, the results of the midterm elections had been a

referendum on Trump, revealing that a majority of Americans reject the culture of impunity deepening in Trump’s tenure, and voted out the Republicans who have been enabling and condoning the president’s abuse of power. Democrats were able to regain the majority in the House of Representatives, which means the oversight function of Congress will now be functional again. The House will cease to serve the interest of the President and the GOP, and will now do its job to make the president accountable. Moreover, the midterm elections also reveal the diminishing margin of the victory of the Re-

publicans in the Senate, and in races in the House that the GOP won, even in districts and states that Trump won by double digits in 2016, and where he campaigned so hard for in the midterm elections. We have so much to look forward to, and to be following vigilantly, in order for us to do our part in protecting our democracy — government of the people, by the people, for the people. *** 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

Imelda today, PNoy and DU30 tomorrow? Opinion

FRANCISCO TATAD WILD partisan cheering greeted the Sandiganbayan’s recent ruling against the 89-year-old Imelda Marcos on several counts of graft when she was Metro Manila governor in the 1970s. Although the sentence is not yet final and executory, and could still be reversed on appeal to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court, there is already so much gloating on the part of Marcos’ political enemies. They seem determined to show not only that the Marcoses committed serious crimes during martial law, but that his most unforgivable crime was to try to turn back the communist rebellion in 1972 by declaring martial law. We have not heard anything from the former first lady but sources close to her say she remains hopeful and confident she’ll overcome the challenge, given her record of winning her court cases. So far she has won most of them, including the hardest. In 1990, without having to call a single defense witness against 95 prosecution witnesses, she was acquitted in a New York grand jury trial together with Adnan Khashoggi, the Saudi Arabian financier, who was accused of providing legal cover for her allegedly extravagant purchases in the U.S.

The name Khashoggi has since resurfaced in the world press, following the murder of Adnan’s celebrated nephew, the 59-year-old journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul last October 2. This has triggered global speculation that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, could be dethroned because of his alleged involvement in the murder. Exploiting the verdict Marcos’ political opponents will certainly exploit the Sandigan decision to try to bring down Imelda and her daughter Imee, who are both candidates in the May 14, 2019 elections. But there’s no sign this campaign will gain much traction. Imelda, who is on her third term as congresswoman of Ilocos Norte, is running for governor of the province, vice the incumbent Imee, who is running for the Senate. Both candidacies appear to be a shoo-in. Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who ran for vice president in 2016, is not running for anything now, but is eagerly awaiting the results of his electoral protest against Vice President Leni Roberto before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). If the PET upholds his protest, he would become the vice president, and possibly a presidential candidate by 2022, when President Rodrigo Duterte steps down. The Sandigan conviction is the first major setback for the Marcoses since Marcos fell in a ci-

vilian-backed military mutiny in 1986 and died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. If the Sandigan decision is appealed and upheld by the appellate court, the former first lady will most certainly not be able to outlive her cumulative sentence of up to 70 years. But it would create a precedent of putting a former president or former first lady in jail long after leaving office. In South Korea, former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were convicted of corruption and treason during the administration of President Kim Young-sam. But they were pardoned before Kim Young-sam left office, on the recommendation of President-elect Kim Dae-jung, the Nobel Prize laureate, who also amnestied all political prisoners and removed the criminal conviction of pro-democracy protesters. Will PNoy and DU30 follow? For us, the question that needs to be asked is this: If Imelda’s conviction is affirmed, will not DU30 pardon her? Even more important than this, if Imelda goes to jail today, will B. S. Aquino III and DU30 go to jail tomorrow? Putting Smartmatic, the Venezuelan election provider, in charge of our otherwise sovereign elections is a continuing crime which has installed venal and corrupt de facto officials in our midst. In a normally functioning democratic order, Aquino should have been made to pay for all this. Obviously not too many citizens fully appreciate the gravity of this crime, but do they also

Former first lady Imelda Marcos, former Pres. Benigno Aquino III and Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

Philstar.com file photos

if the next government punished Aquino or DU30 for their unpunished crimes? That would certainly mean an improvement in our state of governance, but we need to be able to look forward to something more, and better. We have a civic duty to make sure that no serious crimes go unpunished, but we have a much graver duty to prevent the commission of crimes which cannot be punished just because their perpetrators are in power. These include the killing of drug suspects without due process; the presidential takeover of the three branches of government without any protests from members of the legislature and the judicial branch; the military takeover of a civilian agency of government without any effort on the part of the legal community to stop it and DU30’s lawless railroading of proposed constitutional amendments to “federalize” the unitary Republic of the Philippines in violation of the Constitution, which excludes the president from any such process, and in violation of common sense and economic realities. Enter JPE At 94, former senator Juan

Ponce Enrile has decided to run again for the Senate, specifically to oppose DU30’s mad rush toward federalism, among other things. He considers federalism the most dangerous idea ever proposed by anyone, which could totally destroy the Republic. I had Enrile on my TV program “Una Sa Lahat” with broadcaster Ariel Ayala on Sunday evening, and he expounded on the perils of the proposal. He also spoke of how the poor are overtaxed, and how the raging inflation threatens to wipe out our economic system. The day before, on Saturday afternoon, I listened to members of the Lay Society of St. Arnold Janssen, affiliate society of the Divine Word, following a lecture by Charles Avila on the “Modern Rise of the Laity.” We are the Church, Charles pointed out, and we have the primary duty of leading the society in making the right choices. It became obvious that DU30’s “federalism” presents the most dangerous threat to the country at this time, and that the laity must work to save the country from DU30 and DU30 from himself. (ManilaTimes.net)

not appreciate the plunder of at least P200-billion “Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP)” funds, which Aquino and his budget secretary Butch Abad illegally siphoned off from the national treasury in order to, among other things, bribe the members of the Senate impeachment court, with at least P50 million each, to convict and remove the late Chief Justice Renato Corona at his impeachment trial? This did not only involve the plunder of billions. It also involved the illegal use of those billions to corrupt and destroy a vital organ of our Constitution, the Congress, as well as the principle of checks and balances and the separation of powers. It created the unconstitutional and lawless precedent which DU30 would follow when he personally attacked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as his “personal enemy” and made her SC colleagues remove her from office through an unconstitutional quo warranto proceeding, despite their lack of jurisdiction on any official who may be removed by Congress only in an impeachment trial. Should it surprise the nation

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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SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 16, 2018

Friday, November 16, 2018

SF

cover story T he Asian Jo ur na l SF M A G A Z I NE - N ov em be r 1 6 , 2 0 1 8

What we eat: Favorite staples on your Thanksgiving dinner and how they’re changing than quadruple that of last year, and are skyrocketing to the highest they’ve ever been. ance during Thanksgiving dinFOR years, no ThanksgivThe general idea behind ners, with alternatives for those ing dinner spread has been looking to avoid meat, dairy, or the popular model is that complete without the centergluten becoming more accessi- instead of scouring for recipes piece turkey, sides of mashed ble outside of specialty markets. before collecting and preparpotatoes, green beans, gravy, ing ingredients yourself, literal Recipes for vegan options and cranberry sauce, and the meal kits with pre-portioned that are still holiday worthy like assortment of pumpkin, apple, ingredients and instructions to vegan gravy and vegan scaland pecan pies. curated recipes are sent to your loped potatoes can easily be But while Thanksgiving found online, as can recipes for door for you to get straight to dishes have stayed the same cooking. The upside is that it gluten-free versions of cornat the core, it’s natural that provides that same homemade they’ve picked up some chang- bread, bread stuffing, pies, feel without the extra time. cakes, and more. es and influences throughout And yes, such modifications The downside? The conventhe years. Think deep-fried ience does often come with a have applied to Thanksgiving or brined turkeys that became high price tag. turkeys as well with companies popular in the mid-1990s, trufMeal kit company HelloFlike Tofurky, Gardein, Quorn, fled mashed potatoes and saresh offered a Thanksgiving vory bread puddings during the Harvest Celebration, Vegetarmeal kit for eight to 10 people ian Plus, and even Trader Joe’s transition to the 21st century, for $159 and came complete and the use of kale in almost all (who makes a more reasonably priced alternative) making mock with the classic turkey, and vegetable dishes in the more everything needed for ciabatta meats stuffed with things like recent years. wild rice, traditional bread stuff- stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, Here are some ways garlic mash potatoes, green Thanksgiving dinners have been ing, vegan sausages, and even beans with shallots, and apple a faux wishbone among other changing in today’s times. ginger crisp. They also offered things. Healthier holiday mashups While mock turkeys aren’t as a Sides and Desserts Box, esIn regards to food, new as some may think (Tofurky sentially everything without the Thanksgiving is a holiday asturkey, for $99 or about $9 per first came out with their holisociated with unapologetic person. day roast in 1995), data from indulgence. Kraft Foods even Longtime household brand Nielsen Product Insider and came out with limited-edition Williams-Sonoma offered a Label Insight found that vegan elastic “Thanksgiving Dinner complete Thanksgiving dinner and vegetarian products sell Pants” that sold out in about a for eight to nine people that faster during the three weeks day. leading up to Thanksgiving that also covered the essentials But while the holiday has in with an organic turkey from during the weekly average. ways marked the beginning of Willie Bird Ranch, and sides “Specialty diets don’t re“cheat days” that go on until that upped the scale like green strict consumers from creating the new year, more and more bean casserole with Gruyere delectable dishes and desserts people have been making the cheese sauce and crispy shalto celebrate the holiday,” read commitment of making their lots, mashed potatoes with rich the insight report. Thanksgiving meals healthier butter and fresh chives, and Meal kit dinners or more specialized to certain pumpkin pie made with homeThanksgiving usually entails diets. made pastry, all for $250. multiple trips to the market Take mashed cauliflowers For those looking for a and hours of meal prep before in place of mashed potatoes more intimate meal with just getting down to the actual for instance, which have been two to three people, meal kit cooking, but with the growing seeing an obvious uptick in trend of meal kits, Thanksgiving delivery company Blue Apron searches everytime Thanksoffers for its customers all has become a prime time for giving comes around. Even mainstream markets like Trader pre-prepped and mail-delivered the ingredients like a turkey leg and breast, green beans, meals. Joe’s, Sprout’s, and Vons cranberry, potato, and bread to Nielsen reported that 32 among others have picked up make for a cozy at home dinner percent of Americans said they on the trend, making heat-tofor $50. preferred using meal kits in serve mashed cauliflower readDiversity on and around ily available in the freezer aisles. making their holiday meals. On the table Google, searches for ThanksSpecialty diets in general While Thanksgiving has meal haveAJbeen making an 2015_Layout appear- 1 giving Ads Thanksgiving 11/12/15 2:20kits PM this Pageyear 1 more by

rAe Ann VAronA / AJPress

Unsplash photo by Priscilla Du Preez

Unsplash photo by Gabriel Garcia Marengo

desserts throughout the years. When it comes to pies, purple sweet potatoes or ube have become a popular alternative in traditional sweet potato pies, giving a unique deep purple hue and perhaps an ode to multicultural cuisine. “Brûléeing” pumpkin pies have also been popular during Thanksgiving, with numerous recipes and techniques posted online. And because pies in general are a thing of Thanksgiving tradition, it’s become acceptable to add different filled pies to the table. At the Filipino food stall Sari Sari Store in Downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Central Market, pastry chef Margarita Manzke has been making what some call the buko pie in Los Angeles. In place of sweetened condensed milk, their pie uses silky pastry cream with slices of fresh, young coconut, a layer of coconut jam, all under a streusel-like topping. Despite transitions into

cooler weather, ice cream has also proved to be popular during the holiday. McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams for example, is just one of the many brands that have been offering holiday flavors. Taking a step further, the ice cream maker has continued its tradition of making their pumpkin ice cream pie available for pre-order during Thanksgiving. At artisanal ice cream shop Salt & Straw that has locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Anaheim, and San Diego, customers have been indulging in scoops of their Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey ice cream which consists of sweet and buttery turkey brittle folded into turkey fat caramel ice cream. Other Thanksgiving flavors are their Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecans, Salted Goat Cheese and Pumpkin Pie, Roasted Peach and Sage Cornbread Stuffing, and their vegan Roasted Cranberry Sauce Sorbet.

Thanksgiving traditions that stay

age gracefully

How To Have a Healthy and Happy Thanksgiving! BY GRACE O

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a carb-loaded, overeating frenzy. You can make satisfying, anti-aging food choices for this holiday that will leave you feeling thankful for indulging. Take turkey, for example. I cook at least four turkeys each Thanksgiving because I usually have about 30 people over for dinner. Turkey contains tryptophan, which produces niacin, giving us energy. Turkey also contains selenium, a detoxifying antioxidant. You don’t have to drown your turkey in fatty gravy. It can be deliciously sauced using healthier ingredients. I like to marinate my turkeys in a mixture of red wine, soy sauce, and lemon juice before roasting. By the time the turkey is done roasting, the marinade has become a rich sauce. Resveratrol is present in another classic Thanksgiving ingredient: cranberries. Every year I make Cranberry Bread Pudding. I add walnuts to my bread pudding because they are high in antioxidants like Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E—both of which reduce the risk of heart disease. Instead of butter, I use a butter substitute, Smart Balance®, so that this dessert stays heart-healthy. Wild rice is another holiday staple that is really good for us. It’s a whole grain that provides the FoodTrient fiber for great digestion and Omega-3s, which also is good for our skin. It can be cooked with plenty of herbs and tossed with lightly sautéed bell peppers for a colorful side dish. You can also add some healthy holiday vegetables like red cabbage and leeks. The trick is to load your table with delicious healthy options while

been reserved for gathering around with family, “Friendsgiving” has in ways become an additional holiday itself, giving people more chances to celebrate and take in more servings of food with close friends. While Friendsgiving emerged around the early to mid 2000s with its first mentioning on Twitter in 2007, it’s become a phenomenon particularly among the millennial generation. Over 950,000 posts on Instagram have been dedicated to the holiday, most being photos of smiling groups of friends, and of course food. It comes with no surprise that numerous companies have jumped on its popularity for marketing, with some like Baileys and Butterball even trying to make Friendsgiving their trademark. And despite it being a relatively new “holiday,” it is tradition that Friendsgiving dinner be served in a pot-luck fashion. Not only has this given people opportunities to show off their favorite family recipes, it’s also opened opportunities for other to taste meals around the world. Nielsen reported 39 percent of Friendsgiving celebrants in 2016 made plans of adding a side dish from another culture, to the table. Thirtytwo percent planned to make the their cultural dish a main dish, 32 percent planned it to be a dessert, and 38 percent planned to make a traditional American dish with international flavors. There is one big rule to Friendsgiving though which is that the host provides the turkey or faux turkey, and the gravy. Unique spins on desserts Sticking with the simple dessert classics is arguably part of what makes the night’s meal so satisfying, but more room has been opening up to creative takes on traditional

minimizing exposure to foods—such as mashed potatoes, white rolls, or creamy gravies. Mashed sweet potatoes are a better choice than mashed white potatoes because the orange tubers contain carotenoids, a FoodTrient that supports the immune system. Whole-grain rolls (as opposed to white ones) will provide fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, and selenium. Pumpkin is another healthy Thanksgiving tradition. Be sure to use evaporated milk in your pumpkin pies instead of cream and a sugar substitute like Xylotol. In the crust, you can substitute Smart Balance® for the shortening. That way, you will reap all the benefits of pumpkin’s carotenoids and fiber without taking in too much fat or sugar. The same rules apply to apple pies. Just remember to leave the skins on the apples so that you will get some quercitin, an anti-inflammatory that can reduce allergy symptoms and keep arteries from becoming inflamed. I make a beautiful Pear and Apple Tart with plenty of cinnamon, an antioxidant-rich holiday spice that makes me feel good about eating dessert. All of these recipes and more are available on FoodTrients.com

GRACE O – Combining her passion for food and a commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle, GRACE O has created FoodTrients®, a unique program for optimizing wellness. Grace O is a fusion chef with a mission: to cook up recipes for a long and joyful life that are built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 15 years in the healthcare industry. Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com © 2015 by FoodTrients.com

by

AJPress

FOR most Americans, Thanksgiving is associated with gathering around a table with family and devouring a hearty meal with the turkey at the center. Though families across the country who celebrate the holiday may have developed their own traditions — whether going on a yearly family vacation during Thanksgiving week or scrapping home cooking altogether and eating out instead — here are a few that continue to be observed: Expressing gratitude Like the holiday’s name itself, the day is about giving thanks. Before digging into the meal, those around the table go around and share what they are grateful for. It usually can be one thing or multiple things, but the amount of sharing depends on how many people are around the table or how quickly everyone wants to start eating. Finding the wishbone Many families partake in

searching for the turkey’s wishbone, which is located within the breast meat. Once found and cleaned, two participants take on end of the bone, make a wish, and pull. The lucky one with the larger section of the bone is supposed to have their wish come true. Pardoning the lucky turkey(s) One live turkey makes it to the White House, where the president “pardons” it, meaning it is spared from becoming a cooked dish. There are generally alternate turkeys along the main one who also get pardoned and get to roam on a farm, according to National Geographic. Watching the Macy’s Parade/a football game While the meal is being prepared — and anticipation builds as the bird is in the oven — those at home gather around the TV to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an annual celebration since 1924 held in New York. The parade featuring massive

balloons, performances, and special guests is now broadcast to the homes of millions across the U.S. Later in the day, those who are football fans may take over the remote and flip to one of the games being played that day. For some families, watching either of these events in person may be their own traditions too! Scouring Black Friday deals As the food coma subsides and hunger calls for leftovers, those who love deals and want to get started on Christmas shopping participate in the Black Friday phenomenon. The truly devoted may start lining up as soon as possible, like right after the Thanksgiving meal or even do that all day, just to get a prime spot to run into the store once midnight hits or whenever it opens. Thanks to the internet, however, you can now search for deals on various websites that day or on Cyber Monday, which is a day for technology sales.

Thanksgiving is all rolled up with this dish! by GrAce o IF you don’t feel like roasting a big turkey for Thanksgiving, or want to try a great dish for holiday entertaining, you might want to try my Stuffed Turkey Rolls. I pack these turkey cutlets with my Savory Stuffing, roll them up, and secure them with kitchen twine. The finished rolls are sliced and fanned out on a plate to make a beautiful presentation, and you can serve them with cranberry chutney or cranberry sauce for a nice added touch. Because I marinate the turkey before cooking, it’s juicy and flavorful. The selenium in

turkey can increase your resistance to infection. The red wine (I use a Pinot Noir) adds a bit of resveratrol to the selenium’s antioxidant power. Stuffed Turkey Rolls SERVES 6 ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbs. lemon juice (about ½ lemon) 2 Tbs. red wine Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 6 turkey cutlets or butterflied turkey breasts 1 recipe Savory Stuffing 2 Tbs. butter 2 Tbs. olive oil 1. To make the mari-

nade, combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, red wine, salt, and pepper in a large re-sealable plastic bag. 2. Add the turkey cutlets to the bag. Squeeze out the air, seal the bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. 3. Remove cutlets, reserving the marinade. Pat each cutlet dry with paper towels. 4. On a work surface, lay one cutlet so it slightly overlaps a second one. Pound the seam together with a mallet. You should have one fairly large, thin turkey round. Repeat with the remaining cutlets until you Continued on Page SF7

Rico J. Puno: Remembering the ‘legend’ By Monet

Lu

HE was known throughout the Philippines as the largerthan-life “total entertainer.” His charm, which seeps through his hit songs earned him the moniker, “Macho Gwapito.” He was loved by many, adored by his fans and respected by his constituents in Makati as their beloved councilor for nine years. He is Enrico De Jesus Puno – aka Rico J. – and he IS a Legend. Rico J was credited as a pioneer-promoter of original Filipino music (OPM). A singer, composer, comedian, actor and television host who has been known to have started the trend of incorporating Tagalog lyrics in his rendition of foreign songs. He became known as a singer who regularly infused his on-stage performance with tongue-in-cheek comedy and adult humor. Rico J became famous in the 1970s by covering American hits — including Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” and Marvin Gaye’s “Baby I’m for Real” — in a mix of English and Tagalog. Those recordings put him in the vanguard of the Manila Sound, Filipino popular music from roughly the mid-1970s through the end of the Ferdinand Marcos era, in 1986. I’ve followed his musical career and I have always been a fan of his wit and his talent. He was actually here in the U.S. for a concert tour with fellow legends, Hajii Alejandro, Rey Valera and Marco Sison last April. Rico’s hit songs included “Kapalaran,” “Buhat,” “Macho Gwapito,” “Lupa,” “Damdamin,” “May Bukas Pa,” “Ang Tao’y Marupok,” “Magkasuyo Buong Gabia duet with Elsa Chan - and his Filipino rendition of “You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)” One of his recent albums was Aliw by Sony BMG Records. His carrier single was

entertainment SF Immigration after the midterm elections

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 16, 2018

Your Immigration Solution Devin M. Connolly

“Kay Hirap Mong Limutin” by Lito Camo. Rico starred in films: Instant Mommy (2013), Who’s That Girl? (2011), Asboobs: Asal Bobo (2003) - Capt. Palma, Pakners (2003), A.B. Normal College (2003), Alas-Dose (2001) – Congressman, Juan & Ted: Wanted (2000), Matalino Man ang Matsing na-iisahan din! (2000), Alyas Boy Tigas: Ang Probinsyanong Wais (1998), Sailor’s Disaster (1994) – Bruno, Tom & Jerry: Hindi Kaming Hayop (1993), Dr. Potpot Travels to the Moon (1991) – Enzio, Isang Platitong mani (1986), Annabelle Huggins Story (1982). As I have mentioned earlier, Rico J also represented Makati City, in the Manila area, as a city councilor from 1998 to 2007, and was reelected in 2016 after losing a 2010 race for vice mayor. According to a short biography posted on his website, Enrico Puno was born on Feb. 13, 1953. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration, he tried to find work as a bellboy. But when he failed to get the job, he ended up singing folk songs in Manila nightclubs. His biggest break was a deal with Vicor Records — was precipitated by an encounter in the 1970s with the Motown band the Temptations at the Palazzi, a club where Mr. Puno played regularly. It was during this period that he recorded his signature version of “The Way We

Were,” among other popular American songs. Rico J made American music his own by adding bawdy lyrics and banter in Tagalog. One of his best-known covers was “You Don’t Have to Be a Star,” by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. And he embellished it with this line: “Even if you’re ugly, I still need you.” Over the years, Mr. Puno performed solo and with the Hitmakers, a group that included the Filipino musicians Rey Valera and Hajji Alejandro. There is so much that can be said about Rico as a musician, an artist, a politician, and most of all, a friend. Yet one thing remains as the common denominator. He is and always will be an icon. He may have left this world too early but he left us with iconic memories and a legacy that can only come from a true legend. To the legendary Rico J, rest well and rest assured that your legendary status continues on. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

THE 2018 midterm elections are now over, and we have a split Congress. Democrats are in the majority in the House of Representatives while Republicans still control the Senate. What does that mean for immigration laws and policies? Are we any closer to seeing comprehensive immigration reform? There is a broad consensus that the country’s immigration system needs to be revamped. It is commonplace to hear complaints that the laws are outdated, confusing, and full of loopholes. Does a viable solution exist to this problem? And if so, will Republicans and Democrats be able to work together to find it? After all, President Trump is interested in border security, Democrats want a permanent solution for the Dreamers, etc. The reality is that we may not see any major immigration reform passed for at least the next two years. While a majority of Americans do not want to see more family separations, that may be just about the only thing on which we can agree. So, what should you do now if you are still hoping to be granted permanent resident status? Instead of continuing to wait, it is advisable to explore options that may be available to you right now. Here are just a few of the many ways to immediately obtain a green card. One option available to undocumented immigrants is Cancellation of Removal for Non-Permanent Residents (“Cancellation”). Cancellation allows qualified individuals to obtain a green card if they have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, have good moral character, and can show that their U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident parent, spouse or child would suffer exceptional and ex-

tremely unusual hardship if the applicant were forced to leave the United States. Applicants are eligible to obtain employment authorization as soon as their application is filed. With work authorization, one may apply for a social security number, work legally and even obtain a stateissued driver’s license. Another option for those patiently waiting for comprehensive immigration reform to pass is filing a family-based immigrant petition. In conjunction with an approved immigrant visa petition is the possibility of obtaining a provisional waiver if the foreign citizen is not eligible for adjustment of status. A provisional waiver helps intending immigrants who are unable to adjust their status but will invoke the 3-year or 10-year unlawful presence bar upon leaving the United States. Most waivers require that the immigrant submit the application for any waiver from outside the United States. Provisional waivers allow the applicant to submit the request from inside the U.S. and wait for the decision here. Once approved, the applicant departs for their immigrant visa interview at a U.S. embassy abroad. This pre-approved waiver avoids lengthy separation of family members. It is also important to remember that the provisional waiver does not only apply to family-based petitions. It has been expanded to also apply to petitioners from employers. Therefore, if you have an approved I-140 with a current priority dates, a provisional waiver might be an option. There are also lesser-known options that may also be a viable way of obtaining a green card. One such option applies to people who have been physically or emotionally abused. The “Violence Against Women Act,” (“VAWA”) applies to both men and women and it allows certain

spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to file a petition for themselves without any assistance from their relative. This self-petition allows victims to immediately seek both safety and independence from their abuser. And their abuser will not be notified about the self-petition. Finally, for permanent residents, now is the time to consider applying for naturalized U.S. citizenship. Having a green card is a wonderful thing, but it does not carry with it the rights of U.S. citizenship. In addition to things like not being able to vote, permanent residents can lose their lawful status and be deported. While it is true that permanent residents are most commonly deported for criminal offenses, that is not always the case. It is also possible to lose your green card for innocent mistakes, such as spending too much time outside of the U.S. Remember that more than one million individuals obtain permanent resident status each year. The ways in which they do so varies, but they all have a willingness and desire to improve their immigration status in the U.S. Consult with a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney today to find out what options are available to you.

*** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China. For more Information please call (800) 795- 8009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 16, 2018

celebrity world

Filipina beauty queen is 1st runner up at Miss International 2018

By Ferdie Villar FILIPINA beauty queen Ahtisa Manalo placed 1st runner up at the recent Miss International 2018. The 20-year-old was crowned last Friday, November 9, in Tokyo, Japan. Miss Venezuela Mariem Velazco was proclaimed as this year’s Miss International. Aside from her beauty, Ahtisa also showed her intelligence during the speech deliberation round. “Miss International is a celebration of youth and empowerment. I’d always believe that age is not a barrier to reach our dreams or to have an impact on others. “At 15, I started to to help programs in my community for street children. At 19, I graduated college. At 20, I realized that I can speak for good causes to a wider audience-that’s why I joined our national pageant. “If I become Miss International, I would countinue to be the voice of the youth, in showing that nothing is impossible with hard work and determination. And with these beautiful ladies with me tonight, a family of beauty queens, all beautiful young dreamers and achievers. “We will show the world that it is love, peace and beauty that we truly care about and together, we shall make a difference,” Ahtisa said in her speech. Although she failed to bring home the title, Ahtisa still extended her utmost thanks to those who supported her along the way. These included her glam team, fans and Filipinos all over the world that cheered her on. Ahtisa posted on her social media account: “My crown and my whole-

hearted thanks goes to: The Filipinos, all over the world, for the love and support. Quezonians for cheering me on ever since. The Miss International Organization, for giving me a new set of family and a great stay in Japan. Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. headed by Mrs Araneta, for giving me the honor of representing the Philippines. Also to Miss Liliana and Sir Gines for taking care of us queens. My Aces and Queens team especially Mama J, Mama Ru and Tito Nad, for all the encouragement, training and help. The Ahtistahins and my support team, especially Oyelle, Ian, Tim, Dale, Sir James, Meng and Nico- for being my happy and chill pills. “Vhee Co and Francis Chee, my stylists, for putting together my looks throughout my stay in Japan. And all the designers that lent me their creations especially Mark Bumgarner, Cheetah Rivera and Rosenthal Tee. Amir Sali, for making me a phenomenal traditional costume. Michael Cinco, for the impalpable evening dress. Jojo Bragais for my pageant shoes. Albert Kurniawan, for training me on how to look my best. Mama Lourd for giving me the Japanese silky hair. Dr. CRB for taking care of my skin. CAD for my smile,” wrote the beauty queen. She also extended her gratitude to her family, mentors and friends. “Tatay Wendell Capili and Doc Gene Navera, for all the lessons and cultural training. Tita Lavinia and Tita Belay, for giving me tips on how to transform to a social media butterfly. My friends who are there to cheer me up the whole way, especially Michael. My family for

always being so understanding and supportive. And to everyone who believed in me, supported me and never doubted me, maraming salamat po!” Former Miss International 2005 and now actress Precious Lara Quigaman believes that Ahtisa was the right choice to represent the country in the pageant. “Birthday kasi ni Miss Venezuela, binigay tuloy sa kanya. Naisip ko lang naman yon kasi Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo won 1st runner up at this year’s Miss International 2018 held in Tokyo, Japan. Miss International website photo sabi niya birthday niya, pero puwede naman,” Precious Lara said. She also added, “Kumbaga, mahirap talagang pagpilian yung dalawa. In fairness naman kay Venezuela, magaling siyang magsalita at maganda rin naman talaga siya.” “Nagkataon lang na birthday niya kaya sa kanya tuloy nabigay yung korona. Dapat birthday na lang din ni Ahtisa, pero sobrang galing ni Ahtisa talaga. Sobrang ganda ng performance niya, sobrang ganda niya.”

Filipina insurance agent in Northern California Michelle Esteron celebrated her birthday recently at the San Bruno Social Hall. Shown in photo above is Susan Pacifico handing a bouquet of roses to the celebrant.

Former Miss International 2005 and actress Precious Lara Quigaman believes that Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo was the perfect choice to represent the country in this year’s pageant. Ahtisa was crowned 1st runner up last weekend in Tokyo, Japan.

Well-known Filipina party planner Susan Tanedo celebrated her birthday last Saturday, November 10, at her residence in Hayward. Shown in photo with the celebrant (center) are (L-R) Riel, Fernand and Jarry Tanedo.

Gavin Newsom, the 49th Lt. Governor of California since 2011 and the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, was elected Governor of California recently. He will be sworn in on January 7, 2019. Newsom is shown in photo with beauty impresario Ferdie Villar and beauty queen Ginger Conejero taken at one Filipino community event years ago.

Talented veteran actress Gina Pareno portrayed the role of a grandmother in the GMA/Pinoy TV series, “Magpakailanman” last weekend.

Ester Dabo (seated, center), 2018 Afasar Queen of San Jose, celebrated her birthday last Saturday, November 10, at the Grange Social Hall. Shown in photo with the celebrant are (standing, L-R) Edsel, Brenda, Edwin and Eren Grace Padilla.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA HOW has 2018, which is about to come to a close, treated you thus far? Has it been smooth sailing? Or has there been an unfair volume of challenges, glitches and bumps that tend to overwhelm and capsize that little boat you are navigating in the sea of life? For many of us, the challenges tended to test the limits of human endurance. They say trouble only makes us stronger. They say God would only give you a load He knows you can carry. But sometimes, we wonder if God overestimates our ability to deal with suffering. At the extreme end, troubles can break us. But if we’ve made it thus far, still standing albeit a little stooped and weary, this should be a testament and assurance that although the road ahead may pose even greater challenges to our exceedingly limited human abilities, we know that from a deep wellspring of faith and abiding trust in God’s mercy and love, we will continue to persevere and endure and in accordance with God’s will, live the full measure of our lives. Perhaps, now is a good time to begin mulling about the end. It is a grim thought on cold and dreary November mornings, I admit, but it seems appropriate when taking stock of the year about to be filed away in some distant cosmic memory bank and we are given a new, clean slate in 2019. Just as sure as the sun rises in the morning, the end will come. No one knows the day or the hour. It is a sobering thought to contemplate the end. But somehow, it sets our moral compass and values straight knowing for certain the end does come. It makes sense to plan for the inevitable. Long ago, while driving one day on the freeway headed west in late afternoon while the summer sun in all its crimson splendor slowly sank in the hori-

Cycling to the End Game “Nothing is more important than THIS DAY!” — Goethe zon, I commented to my young daughter who was seated beside me that the sun will die too someday, like everything else. Alarm showing in her face, she asked when it was going to happen and I smiled, patted her on the knee and said that it isn’t going to happen anytime soon, at least not in our lifetimes or the lifetimes of many generations yet to come. Then, I added, to tamp down her visible concern, the sun will still be there, maybe, for another five to nine billion years or so, nearly twice the length of time it took to form the solar system and all its planets in its present form, if the educated guess of scientists are to be believed. We are fortunate that the sun belongs to a class of stars that slowly and steadily burns its fuel and holds the promise of a full life. And provided of course, that there is no largesized meteor or cosmic debris careening off its track hurling itself helter-skelter onto earth as many believe happened some 65 million years ago, wiping off the dinosaurs and making the earth a new tabula rasa for a new thinking, feeling life form, called humans, to take shape. We realize that our tomorrows have a finite number and each year-end, brings home that point that much more clearly. Alan Watts wrote perhaps to explain the results of man’s creative urges as a means to preserve itself, “It is because men know they will die that they have created the arts and sciences, the philosophies and religions.” What perhaps separates us from other life forms is that we become aware of our own mortality, our own inevitable ending and seeks, as a matter of self-preservation to extend it, not only by passing on genetic material to our own progeny but by the

expression of thought. Everything that exists — whether natural or man-made — has an end. Whether it is a car, a pacemaker embedded deep in one’s heart, a computer, a tree, an ant or anything else on earth, there is a definite end. Most men in developed, wealthy countries with better standards of living, better health-care programs and barring unforeseen circumstances like accidents or murder, have an average life expectancy of about 28,000 days. In ideal conditions, the planned obsolescence for man is to reach the ripe old age of 115 years, at which time, death could only be caused by natural causes, all worn out body parts simply too old and emaciated to function any longer. Should we at all care or worry about the end? Worry can only finish us off to an untimely end. Live as though each day were your last. To live in the moment is not only both art and science, it is a determined 24-hour mind-set you have to adopt out of your own free will. A few get it only after they have a clear brush with death. Sadly, many never get it at all. Some wise anonymous soul once described how best to live one’s life very aptly in terms of money — something that is universally understood, “Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is ready cash — USE IT.” *** 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 or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 16, 2018

Immigration Corner

December 2018 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

February 15, 2008

February 15, 2007

(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder

December 01, 2017

October 08, 2016

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

December 15, 2007

June 08, 2007

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

June 01, 1997

July 08, 1995

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

April 22, 1997

July 15, 1995

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

FAMILY CATEGORY:

atty. MiChael GurFinkel, eSQ

ABANDONED BY HER BIRTH PARENTS, WILL NIKKA BE LEFT BEHIND AGAIN WHEN USCIS CHALLENGED HER ADOPTIVE PARENT’S ELIGIBILITY TO PETITION HER? Lilia (right) and her husband Peter filed a petition to adopt Nikka (left) when the child was 12 years old. The adoption decree was issued six (6) days before Nikka turned 16 years old, and the certificate of finality came out two (2) months after Nikka’s 16th birthday. When Lilia and Peter filed an Immediate Relative Petition for Nikka, the USCIS served a Request for Evidence (RFE), challenging them eligibility to adopt Nikka. Lilia and Peter were devastated, depressed, and in despair. Would this mean losing the chance to be reunited with their adopted child - whom they loved and considered their own? Watch how leading U.S. immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL came to the rescue and secured approval of their petition in a mere two months, on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHAT is Lactobacillus acidophilus? L. acidophilus is the most popularly used probiotic or “friendly bacteria.” They live in the intestines and vagina and prevent the entrance and proliferation of disease-causing organisms, thus protecting the individual. Are there other friendly bacteria in the body? Yes. Actually there are several trillion friendly bacteria (over 400 species) in the human gastrointestinal tract. Literally, we carry about four pounds (1.8 kilos) of microbacteria in our guts. A healthy predominance of the good bacteria over the bad bacteria spells well being for the person. If the bad or pathogenic bacteria “outnumber” the friendly ones, ill health occurs. How does L. acidophilus do it? There are a variety of mechanisms through which L. acidophilus accomplish its good job. Example: the breakdown

Lacto A: Friendly germs? of food by this probiotic results in the production of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and a few other by-products that create a hostile environment for the bad bacteria. Lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose (milk sugar) into simple sugars for proper digestion and absorption, is produced by L. acidophilus too. Those with lactose intolerance or lactase deficiency may be helped by L. acidophilus. Who develops lactase deficiency? While it is possible that some people could be born with lactase deficiency state, most of those with lactose intolerance (lactase deficiency) develop the condition secondary to lifestyle. People who, during childhood, do not drink milk or do not eat dairy products regularly, acquire lactase deficiency. Lack of this enzyme prevents milk and dairy products (cheese, ice cream, even beans) from being digested and absorbed and properly. This leads to what is known as lactose intolerance, where the milk sugar (lactose) is not effectively broken down to simple sugars, a process needed for proper digestion.

How prevalent is lactase deficiency? To some degree or another lactase deficiency is found in 75 percent of adults worldwide. Among Chinese, it is 100 percent. Twenty five percent of the U.S. population has some degree of lactose intolerance. About 90 percent of Asian Americans, 80 percent of Afro-Americans, 53 percent of Mexican-Americans, about 80 percent of Native Americans, and 15 percent of Caucasians suffer from lactose intolerance of varying degrees. The incidence for southern Italians and Ashkenari Jews is 70 percent. A high prevalence is also reported among the majority of Meditarranean Arabs. Exception includes northwest Europeans, where the incidence is below said to be 20 percent. It has been postulated that those with lactose-intolerance also have a higher risk of stroke, colon cancer, hypertension, osteoporosis. Whether decreased calcium intake (as a result of lactase deficiency) is a predisposing factor in the development of these diseases is still not known. What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance? Diarrhea and abdominal

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card.

*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or

legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook. com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @ GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES

discomfort/distention, nausea, bloating, passing a lot of flatus, intestinal cramps following ingestion of lactose-containing food items, like ice cream, cheese, even salad or beans. Children who have lactase deficiency will fail to gain weight. The symptoms of lactose intolerance could be mild to severe, depending on the degree of lactase deficiency.

Are there pills for those with lactose intolerance? Yes. One popular brand in the U.S. is Lactaid, an overthe-counter medication that has really been effective for those individuals with lactase deficiency. Taking this pill allows them to drink milk and eat dairy products in moderation. For children, pretreated milk (where commercially prepared

lactase has been used to predigest the lactose) are available, labeled as lactose-free milk. For infants, strict glucose-galactose-free diet is a must, and where fructose becomes the main carbohydrate. For those people on lactose-free diet because they have lactose intolerance, calcium supplementation is highly recommended. Continued on Page SF6

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

August 01, 2017

June 15, 2017

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

August 01, 2017

June 15, 2017

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The Asian Jo ur na l SF M A G A Z I NE - N ov em be r 1 6 , 2 0 1 8

Recent USCIS policy changes The CTV Files

Atty. LiLLi BerBAno BAcuLi, eSQ

NEW guidance on NTA issuance. In June 28, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens Policy Memorandum (PM). Beginning October 1, 2018, USCIS will take an incremental approach to implement this memo. In simple terms: USCIS will issue an NTA where, upon issuance of an unfavorable decision on an application, petition, or benefit request, the alien is not lawfully present in the United States. A Notice to Appear, or an NTA, is a document that instructs an individual to appear before an immigration judge and is the first step in starting removal proceedings. According to this Policy Memorandum, USCIS may issue NTAs on denied status-impacting applications, including but not limited to Adjustment of Status Applications and Application to Extend or Change Nonim-

migrant Status. The June 2018 NTA Policy Memo will not be implemented with respect to employment-based petitions and humanitarian applications and petitions at this time. Existing guidance for these case types will remain in effect. USCIS will continue to prioritize cases of individuals with criminal records, fraud, or national security concerns. There has been no change to the current processes for issuing NTAs on these case types, and USCIS will continue to use its discretion in issuing NTAs for these cases. New policy for rejecting incomplete or inaccurate filings. In September, changes in policy were put in place allowing immigration officers to reject visa applications immediately due to missing or inaccurate information. Previously, USCIS will issue “Requests for Evidence” (RFE) if there are missing information, allowing applicants to address gaps in their paperwork. “Notices of Intent to Deny” were also issued, as per prior guidance, which gave applicants a 30-day warning that their application would likely be rejected. Applications affected by these policies and its recent changes in policy apply to: (i) applications and renewals of temporary (non-immigrant)

visas, and (ii) permanent resident status (immigrant) visas. Securing such visas are required in order for non-U.S. citizen foreign nationals to legally live and work in the United States. Now more than ever, we urge people to seek legal and competent counsel especially with regard to their immigration concerns, and in particular, in their immigration applications. It is important to be vigilant and understand how immigration policy changes may affect you or your loved ones. It is important to consult with a licensed, competent, and experienced immigration attorney who will be able to walk you through your and your family’s immigration questions. ***

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a healthy flora in the digestive tract, and that it prevents cancer. While there are some probably positive preliminary studies on the first three claims, the last one has yet to be proven. Is it effective for bacterial vaginal infection, diarrhea? L. acidophilus, when taken by mouth (like yogurt) or as a vaginal douche, tablet or suppository, has been proven effective in treating vaginal in-

by Ricky caldeRon ManilaTimes.net

EVERYONE is talking about Tony Labrusca and want to have a piece of him these days. The trailer of his digital movie with Angel Aquino in a May-December romance titled “Glorious” on iWant TV has become viral since it was uploaded on November 4. The film directed by Concepcion Macatuno is set for release this month in the ABS-CBN streaming service. His compelling performance in the Cinema One Originals entry “Double Twisting Double Back” in October has made him one of local filmdom’s hottest properties. Now his fans can enjoy watching his debut film, “ML.” Written and directed by Benedict Mique, the Cinemalaya boxoffice hit in August opened in mainstream theaters last week. At the movie’s presscon, Tony said the beautiful script of ML, which won for Eddie Garcia his nth Best Actor award, was one of the reasons why he accepted the project. “We liked the story and secondly, who would ever pass on a chance to work with Mr. Eddie Garcia,” said the hottest male star of the hour. Although considerably new in the biz, Tony is making such a great impression. He has just a few goals in mind—first and foremost is to provide for his family and secure for himself a bright future. But in terms of seeking attention, he doesn’t

Tony Labrusca Photo from Instagram/@tony.labrusca

go for it. “Of course, we all enjoy the attention that we get but I don’t like that to affect my values. I don’t want to focus on the showbiz side. I want to lead my life as a normal person,” said the all-too-sudden hot dude. It was Direk Benedict who reached out to him and offered him the lead opposite Eddie Garcia in ML. “They told me about the story and I was really interested because I will be working with Tito Eddie. And it just seemed right and the film was to be an entry pa sa Cinemalaya,” he told Roving Eye. He said didn’t have any expectations the film will cre-

ate such kind of a buzz when he accepted the role. “It was really beyond my expectations. I just wanted to work and show to people the art that we had been making. I just hope that the audience will like it.” He is super excited that ML is now showing in theaters. “I am excited for direk. Sana mabawi niya ang pera niya. And then, sana the millennials will watch and like the film. It is an important part of our country’s history that we should not forget.” ML also stars Liane Valentin, Henz Villaraiz, Jojit Lorenzo, Rafa Suguion-Reyna, and Chanel Latorre.

disease, heartburn, hives, indigestion, infections, stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, urinary fections caused by bacteria. For tract infection, thrush, asthma, chronic or recurrent diarrhea, and many others. The studies this “friendly bacteria” may be done on some of them were of some help but further clinical flawed and scientifically not sigstudies are needed to deternificant and worthless. There is mine the safe and effective no medically validated study to dosage. date that proves L. acidophilus How about for other illis effective in any of those nesses? conditions listed above, or any L. acidophilus has also been other illnesses, except for the tried in dozens of other condibacterial vaginal infection and tions, like acne, AIDS, cancer, some form of diarrheas. canker sores, constipation, Is L. acidophilus safe? cardiovascular illnesses, Cohn’s As aptly reported by Natu-

ral Standard in cooperation with Harvard Medical School, “there is limited scientific evidence about the safety and effectiveness of L. acidophilus in humans”. Interactions with other drugs or herbs have not been adequately studied. Some people with weak immune system may be at risk of acquiring serious infections when taking L. acidophilus. Before taking any lactobacillus preparation, consult with your physician. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS,

Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indianwa and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua. com; comments questions: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

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Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorneyclient relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www. chuatinsayvega.com. (Advertising Supplement)

Lacto A: Friendly germs...

From Page SF5 Some of the non-diary sources of calcium include green leafy vegetables, fish (especially salmon, tuna and sardines, where the bones are soft and edible), brussels sprouts, tofu, and broccoli. What are the claims about Lactobacillus? The major claims include the assertions that L. acidophilus lowers cholesterol, boosts the immune system, maintains

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JM and Rhian entangled in a different kind of love story

community

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T h e As ian Jou r n al S F MAGAZ IN E - No ve mbe r 1 6 , 2 0 1 8

by Gabbie TaTad Philstar.com

EVERY now and again, it happens. You see a familiar face and run through your mental Rolodex trying to remember their name and place exactly where you met or how you know them. But what if you were physically incapable of establishing that imprint, and every face was entirely forgettable, regardless of your relationship to them? What if every time you saw that same person — your mother, your father, or even someone you’re initially attracted to — they looked entirely different, even if they sounded the same and had similar mannerisms? In Joel Ruiz’s “Kung Paano Siya Nawala”, JM de Guzman’s character deals with an uncommon affliction called face blindness. It’s not a fantastical disease (even though it sounds like one), and its proper name is prosopagnosia. Those diagnosed with the neurological disorder have an inability to recognize faces, and in extreme cases even their own faces are foreign to them. And while this sounds like a disorder that is ripe for movie writers’ picking (I mean, haven’t we, at this point, heard of every possible heart ailment, terminal illness, and congenital disease in the book), “Kung Paano Siya Nawala” doesn’t just use it as a plot point or a means to propel the story forward. It gives prosopagnosia some room and explores how such a disease affects a person in their everyday life, how insecure or small they might be prone to feeling, how introverted and private they might tend to be, and how it affects the creation of memories without having visuals as an anchor. “Some of my character’s insecurities stemmed from that,” says Rhian Ramos who plays Shana. “Like she’ll never really know if the guy she’s with found her physically attractive or not, she’ll never know if her face is something he craves. And there’s a real fear of being forgotten.” She says it’s led to some reflection on the value of the physical aspect, one she’s never thought about before

Jolo Revilla

JM de Guzman and Rhian Ramos star in “Kung Paano Siya Nawala”. Photo from Instagram/@whianwamos

because she herself has never had a “type” when it comes to men. “It’s important, but it’s not everything. Iba ’yung ramdam mo ’yung tao. It’s how they make you feel, even about yourself, how they make you feel about yourself. When you find someone that you really connect with, it just changes the entire environment.” De Guzman also says that face blindness can be a metaphor for any sort of imperfection or issue or trait we feel about ourselves that are undesirable, which in turn become obstacles when it comes to trying to achieve a certain level of intimacy with a partner. “Kaya mo ginagawang secret kasi,” he starts to say as Rhian interjects, “Alam mong hindi mo ikapopogi.” De Guzman agrees and adds, “Oo, ‘yung ikababasag ng ego mo, confidence mo, pagkatao mo, baka tumigil ka o maparalisado ka. Ibibigay mo doon sa kanya, tapos matatakot ka every second. Aalagaan mo ’yun, iisipin mo, ‘tanggap ba niya talaga ’yun,’ o kaya niya ba talaga ’yung mga parts na kahit ikaw mismo hindi mo matanggap sa sarili mo.” On vulnerability It’s impossible to discuss both relationships and acting without discussing the idea of professional vulnerability versus personal vulnerability. De Guzman is quick to quip, “Doon nga nagkakatalo eh,” to the laughter of the room. “’Yung level of trust din para

Thanksgiving...

From Page SF2 have 3 rounds. 5. Spread about 1/2 cup of Savory Stuffing evenly onto each turkey round, smoothing almost to the edge. Roll up the turkey, pinwheel style, and secure with kitchen twine. 6. Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy bottomed sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the turkey rolls and sear until a golden crust develops, about 1–2 minutes per side. 7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place turkey rolls in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Spoon the reserved marinade and any remaining stuffing around the rolls. Cover with foil and bake until the turkey is cooked through, about 20–30 minutes. 8. Before serving, remove the twine and cut each turkey roll into 5 slices. 9. Serve with a cranberry sauce or cranberry chutney if desired. Savory Stuffing Homemade croutons, fresh celery and onion give this stuffing its unique flavor and texture. It can also be served on its own as a side dish if you spread the stuffing in a greased baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. YIELDS 2-3 cups 4 Tbs. olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 lb. ground turkey 2 slices cubed whole-wheat bread Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning 1 cup turkey or chicken broth 1/4 cup chopped celery 1. Heat 3 Tbs. of the olive oil in a large pan over medium high-heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. 2. Add the ground turkey and cook until done. Set aside.

3. To make the croutons, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season the bread cubes with the salt and pepper, drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and the Italian seasoning, bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. 4. Add the broth, croutons, celery, and sausages, if using, to the turkey mixture and mix well. Season to taste. Shrimp and Moringa Curry Shrimp and coconut milk are a classic Asian combination. I’ve added moringa powder to this very mild dish in order to increase the health benefits. If you want to dial up the heat a notch or two, use Serrano or other hot peppers in place of the mild red Anaheim chilies. If desired, serve over brown or jasmine rice. Ingredients: 1⁄4 cup peanut oil 1 tsp. minced garlic 1 inch peeled and thinly sliced gingerroot 1⁄2 cup sliced red onion 2 red Anaheim chilies, seeded and cut into strips 1 can (19 oz.) coconut milk 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips 1 lb. peeled tiger shrimp (devein, if desired) Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 1 Tbs. moringa powder dissolved in 1 Tbs. warm water 1. Heat the peanut oil in a nonreactive saucepan, such as copper or enamel-coated cast iron, over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and onion slices and sauté for 5 minutes. 2. Add the chilies and cook for 2 minutes. 3. Add the coconut milk, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. 4. Add the bell pepper, shrimp, salt, pepper, and Moring a powder and simmer for 5 minutes.

maging kumportable tsaka maging vulnerable sa isa’t isa, matindi. ’Yung personal vulnerability, choice mo ’yun, napipili mo ’yun. Pero ’yung risk as actors is rurupok ka. Kailangan marupok ka eh.” For Ramos, however, the difference is distinct. “I find it easier to be professionally vulnerable, because whatever I put out there, it’s easier to get it back when I hear the word ‘cut.’ It’s so much harder to do it in real life, but that being said, it was particularly Continued on Page SF8

Photo from Instagram/@jolo_revilla

Jolo Revilla finishes leadership course at Harvard Kennedy School by Krissy aGuilar Inquirer.net

CAVITE Vice Governor and actor Jolo Revilla has completed his leadership course at the Harvard Kennedy School. Revilla announced this milestone in an Instagram post on Monday, November 12, and said: “Finally received my certificate of completion for my stint in Harvard.” “I can feel the euphoria of accomplishing something I’ve

worked hard for,” he added. In a previous Instagram post, he shared that he will “partake in the Executive Education for Emerging Leaders of Harvard Kennedy School.” According to Harvard’s website, most executive programs last for one week or less and grant executive certificates in public leadership, economic development, and nonprofit leadership. “Spent a lovely evening

with the creme-dela-creme of academicians, and felt very enlightened to engage in discussions about world poverty and hunger, economics, politics and other important issues that impact mankind,” he wrote in another Instagram post. Revilla holds the record as the youngest vice governor in the country to be elected in office. He was only 25 when he first took oath as Cavite vice governor in 2013.

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entertainment The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 16, 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 1 6 - 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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Larry Itliong celebration in Los Angeles The Pilipino Workers Center and Larry Itliong Day Committee proudly present, “Siklab!” Larry Itliong Day 2018 — a five-hour celebration on Saturday, November 17 of music, art, education and food highlighting the life and legacy of Filipino farm worker and labor rights movement leader, Larry Itliong. Set at the heart of Historic Filipinotown, this FREE event will take place at Unidad Park (1644 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. With this year’s theme, “Siklab,” the organizations aim to entertain Filipinos and Filipino-Americans about the Filipino culture, the history of the Filipino labor movement in the U.S. and its impact on workers today. There will be activities such as musical performances from local artists, art workshops, a scavenger hunts, food booths, a bazaar, and much more.

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Healing Mass with Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi in La Puente, CA Come experience the healing power led by Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi on Friday, November 30 at 7 p.m. It will be held at St. Martha Catholic Church (444 N. Azusa Ave., La Puente, CA 91744). Contact Rainier Valenzuela at (626) 964-4313 for more information.

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Healing Mass with Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi in Los Angeles Come experience the healing power led by Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi on Monday, December 3 at 7 p.m. It will be held at St. Bernard Church (2500 W. Ave 33, Los Angeles, CA 90065). Contact Puri Narvaez at (818) 543-1831 for more information.

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Healing Mass with Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi in Montebello, CA Come experience the healing power led by Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi on Tuesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. It will be held at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (820 N. Garfield Ave., Montebello, CA 90640). Contact Frenz Rivera (626) 338-7898 for more information.

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Healing Mass with Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi in Reseda, CA Come experience the healing power led by Rev. Fr. Corsie Legaspi on Wednesday, December 5 at 7 p.m. It will be held at St. Catherine of Siena (18115 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335). Contact Divinia Encina at (310) 212-6083 or Rosalie Corpuz at (626) 825-5327 for more information.

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UP Alumni Association Berkeley Chapter Celebrates 50th Anniversary The University of the Philippines (UP) Alumni Association (Berkeley Chapter) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee with a luncheon party from 11am to 4pm on December 29, 2018 at the Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton, California. All present and former members are invited, including alumni or graduates of the university’s high schools in Manila and Diliman, and the different institutes, colleges and campuses of the University. Interested parties are requested to get in touch with the following: Daisy Rodriguez (916) 768-9955, Henrietta Fajardo-Boyd (925) 433-3359, Diosy Rey (707) 315-2351 or Jay Castro (925) 899-8881.

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

JM and Rhian entangled... From Page SF7 easy to do it in this film, because I trust JM completely. He makes it so easy for me to get there, and I just trust him with everything I throw at him.” “Hindi kami papayag na mediocre, na pwede na o maitawid lang. Gusto naming maramdaman ’yung isa’t isa,” De Guzman says. Ramos responds with, “Ako gusto ko ’yung feeling na nakaka-

takot na ’yung ginagawa ko. Alam mo ’yung feeling na, ‘Makakabalik pa ba ako from this?’ Pero iri-risk mo siya.” De Guzman nods, with the most satisfied look on his face, as though savoring the most delicious meal. But putting so much emotion and sanity on the line begs the question of how one copes with a job and a calling that requires the constant tapping into highly emotional

experiences. They talk about everyday coping mechanisms such as stress eating or working out, but both discuss their need to see professionals in order to maintain a balance, especially when things get overwhelming. “I’m glad that people are much more open,” says Ramos. “It’s not like before where everyone just expects you to deal with it. You have to get the help that you need, and you have

Asinganians to hold Christmas party on Dec. 8

The potluck christmas celebration planned for Asinganians living in Northern California will be held on Saturday, December 8, starting at 11 a.m. at the Weekes Park Community Center on 27182 Patrick Avenue, Hayward, California. All Asinganians - former residents

of Asingan, Pangasinan - from anywhere who happen to be in the region during the affair are encouraged to attend as well. For additional information, please contact Marides Manansala at (510) 456-5058 or Letty Malalang Romero at (510) 304-1970.

Make a lasting, positive impact this holiday season: Give family and friends gifts from the Arbor Day Foundation CELEBRATE this year’s holiday season with friends and loved ones while supporting conservation and tree planting with the help of the Arbor Day Foundation. • Returning for the ninth season in a row, Give-A-Tree cards from the Arbor Day Foundation offer a unique holiday giving opportunity with conservation benefits that will endure for generations. And again, this year, Give-A-Tree cards can be purchased individually and with customized text. Cards can be purchased for $5.95. • Purchasing the Arbor Day Foundation’s coffee helps preserve rain forests in Central and South America.

The Foundation’s coffee, a part of the Rain Forest Rescue program, is shade-grown under the canopy of Latin American rain forests. Unlike sun-grown coffee farms, this traditional shade-grown method gives the coffee a rich and delicious flavor. Cost per bag is $16.44, including shipping. • The Foundation’s Trees in Celebration program allows the giver to honor loved ones while supporting crucial conservation efforts. For each dollar donated, one tree is planted in a high-need forest, and recipients are given a certificate showing them where the trees were planted. • Give the gift of member-

ship with the Arbor Day Foundation and recipients will be sent 10 free trees, which will be shipped at the right time of year for planting. Membership levels vary and begin with a $10 contribution. “The holidays are a time for thinking about others, and as you do, take a moment to think about what you can do to protect the beauty and splendor of the earth,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We encourage everyone to give gifts that will have a lasting impact for generations to come.” To purchase holiday gifts that give back to the planet, visit arborday.org.

Be the first to know: Online COLA notices

WE are constantly expanding our online services to give you freedom and control when doing business with us. Our new online cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notices are another example of our commitment in this area. Soon, you’ll be the first to know your new benefit amount! Later this year, we will post the Social Security COLA notices online for retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries with a my Social Security account. The COLA announcement usually occurs in October, but final benefit amounts won’t be calculated and available until December, when we send COLA notices that contain the benefit amount for the next calendar year. These COLA notices will now be available to view and save via the Message Center

inside my Social Security. The Message Center is a secure, convenient portal where you can receive sensitive communications we don’t send through email or text. This year, you will still receive your COLA notice by mail. In the future, you will be able to choose whether you receive your notice online instead of on paper. Online notices will not be available to representative payees, individuals with foreign mailing addresses, or those who pay higher Medicare premiums due to their income. We plan to expand the availability of COLA notices to additional online customers in the future. Remember, our services are always free of charge. No government agency or reputable company will solicit your personal information by email

or request advanced fees for services in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. Avoid falling victim to fraudulent internet “phishing” schemes by not revealing personal information, selecting malicious links, or opening malicious attachments. You can learn more about the ways we protect your investment, personal information, and my Social Security account at https://www. ssa.gov/myaccount/security. html. Be the first to know. Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today at https://www. ssa.gov/myaccount and choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive your COLA notice online! (By Eric Phillips/Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Sacramento, CA)

San Mateo County first to embrace statewide law for emergency alerts

In wake of deadly wildfire season, new state law provides counties greater opportunity to notify residents about natural disasters and emergencies REDWOOD CITY – San Mateo County Supervisor David J. Canepa in partnership with San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos Bolanos and the Office of Emergency Services will introduce a resolution Tuesday, Nov. 13 that will allow OES to further expand upon its existing alert notification system, to send emergency alerts to a greater number of residents in the county. Currently, only about 10 percent of San Mateo County residents are signed up for SMC Alert. “I’m proud that San Mateo County will be the first in the state to adopt this protocol. During the state’s deadly wildfire season, we heard too many times that residents felt they did not have adequate access to information that could

have saved lives,” Canepa said. “With the San Andreas Fault running right through the middle of the county, we know another big quake is looming. Being on the same page as a community during any natural disaster is the greatest way to preserve public safety.” Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 821 into law Sept. 21, 2018. It allows counties to work with public utilities, for the sole purpose of emergency notifications, to provide their customers with important information in the event of a major disaster. While the intent is to garner a greater audience for notifications, customers will still have the ability to decline the service. “We know natural disasters or other emergencies can

strike at any time,” Sheriff Bolanos said. “During these events, emergency alerts and timely information can save lives. SB 821 improves our ability to connect with the community whether it’s a major fire, earthquake, tsunami or other threat. We may not know when Mother Nature will strike, but this resolution will improve how we communicate when she does.” SMCAlert is San Mateo County’s alert and warning notification system for first responders and emergency management agencies to send emergency alerts to the community. For individuals who live and/or work in San Mateo County, they may go to SMCAlert.info to sign up and register for this free service.

to be self-aware enough to know when you’re slipping into something a little dark.” The producers The film has been in the making for several years. Ramos was involved from the beginning, and they were ready to shoot early on, but scheduling issues led to a string of compromises that would have changed the nature of the film altogether. Ramos, already in love with the story, decided to speak against rushing the making of the film and in asserting

herself, offered to be a coexecutive producer. De Guzman has a producer credit as well, but openly declares that Ramos is much more involved and that this film is truly her baby. “It’s not even the lines or the script that we were really involved with, but we as a group kept going back and forth the whole time we were shooting about what the final scene should be,” says Ramos. De Guzman laughs, “Ang ending, wala namang nangyari, nag improvise kami sa

last day ng shoot.” The final outcome for these two is not just an ending they’re happy with, but a film they feel has universal themes for anyone who’s ever loved before. “You don’t need to have face blindness to know what it’s like to be scared, to be insecure, to be in over your head in love,” says Ramos. “Face blindness is his trigger, but the rest are things we’ve all gone through or that are necessary to go through before we’re ready to be in a real relationship.”

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 2, 2018

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 16, 2018