November 22-24, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 94 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Duterte warns of revolutionary gov’t if ‘things go out of control’ by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
This map shows the location of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Mauritius and Seychelles where law firm Appleby holds offices. The latest dump from the Paradise Papers leak by the ICIJ lists bankers, businesmen and politicians from the Philippines. Infographic by Jonathan Asuncion/Philstar.com
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, Nov. 18, warned anew that he would declare a revolutionary government if things have gone “out of control” and the government is at risk of being overthrown violently. “If things go out of control and [the] government is weakened—that is my predicate,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City.
“If my country is weakened and I see revolutionaries bringing firearms on the streets, well, maybe you shouldn’t have second thoughts, I will declare a revolutionary government,” he added. The president also pointed out that he prefers to declare a revolutionary government instead of martial law, as the latter has “many restrictions.” He went on to say, “I will take it to the hilt. So do not do something that will cause or even attempt to topple [the] government, I will not allow that.”
Last month, Duterte warned that he would not hesitate to set up a revolutionary government in order to avert the country from falling into chaos amid the alleged destabilization efforts by his political enemies. The president accused then that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the elite, the terrorists, and even the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), were working on his ouster.
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Filipinos named in Paradise Papers leak
SEVERAL Filipinos were included in the so-called Paradise Papers—one of the world’s largest leak of financial documents showing how personalities manage to keep from paying higher taxes—according to a report from the Philippine Star. The recent leak detailed how some politicians and business personalities use complex structures to launder money, fend off sanctions, and evade tax. The controversial documents were first obtained by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, and were shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The ICIJ is now overseeing
Sen. Francis Pangilinan
Revolutionary gov’t would be just as ‘abusive’ as war on drugs, says Pangilinan by PATHRICIA
ANN V. Inquirer.net
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Bill to stop outsourcing of American jobs passes Judiciary Committee Closes loopholes in H-1B Visa system
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Darrell Issa’s (R-Vista) bill was recently approved by the House Judiciary Committee, a legislation he introduced to curb abuse of the nation’s H-1B Visa system and stop the outsourcing of American jobs. His bill, the Protect and Grow American Jobs Act, closes loopholes used by outsourcing companies to undercut American workers with cheaper workers brought in under H-1B, as seen in recent high-profile cases and highlighted in a recent “60 Minutes” profile. By curtailing abuse, the reforms approved ensure that employers seeking to recruit high-skilled workers through H-1B are not crowded out in the application process by outsourcers gaming the system. The chang-
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Inquirer.net photo
ONLY IF THINGS GO OUT OF CONTROL. President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the troops of the Eastern Mindanao Command during his visit at Camp Panacan Station Hospital in Davao City on Saturday, November 18. Duterte has denied plans of establishing a revolutionary government, saying that he was misquoted by media. Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo
Martial law extension needs justification, says Drilon by PAOLO
ROMERO Philstar.com
ROXAS
THE revolutionary government that President Rodrigo Duterte has been threatening to impose would be as “abusive” as his war against drugs, Sen, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Monday, Nov. 20. “Just like the excessively abusive war against drugs, rev gov will be abusive as well,” Pangilinan said in a statement. “Rev gov and dictatorship are one and the same,” he added. Pangilinan, who is the Liberal Party president, said democracy, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech would be curtailed under a revolutionary government.
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MANILA — The possible extension of martial law in Mindanao will require credible justification before it can be approved by Congress, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Monday, Nov. 20. Drilon said Malacañang should go back to Congress armed with evidence to convince lawmakers that the martial law President Duterte declared over Mindanao until the end of year should be extended. “Let us decide on the basis of evidence. They said the problem has already been addressed, but now they’re asking for an extension,” Drilon said over dzBB. “We’ll ask what’s their basis why this martial law has Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Malacañang should go back to to be extended,” he said. Congress armed with evidence to convince lawmakers that the martial law Drilon is among four senators who voted against the President Rodrigo Duterte declared over Mindanao until the end of year House Speak Pantaleon Alvarez and Chief Justice Maria
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should be extended.
Philstar.com photo
Church seeks humanitarian response vs poverty by EVELYN
MACAIRAN Philstar.com
MANILA — With almost 90 percent of those who fall in “extreme poverty” in Southeast Asia living in Indonesia and the Philippines, the Catholic Church is calling for a better humanitarian response to combat poverty through its AlayKapwa program. “Over one-half of the world’s population (more than three billion people are) living in extreme poverty. The pope’s initiative to honor the poor is both a challenge and a celebration,” said Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, director of National Secretariat on Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines. He said World Day of the Poor last Nov. 19 Juanita Espinosa sits and enjoys a sunset in front of her house in the slum “Smokey Mountain” in Manila. Philstar.com photo was essentially a time for #AlayKapwa, when
people are asked to “offer and empty ourselves for the sake of our neighbors.” “The initiative is a challenge for us Christians to be mindful of our actions towards the less fortunate, the underprivileged, the vulnerable and marginalized. Let us examine how our words and inactions affect those without voice and power,” said Tirona. In the country, farmers, fisherfolk and children, or 21.9 million Filipinos, consistently are the poorest sectors, according to the 2017 poverty report of the Philippine Statistics Authority. “We cannot continue to be blinded by this injustice. That is why NASSA/Caritas Philippines strives to strengthen its advocacy for the integration of humanitarian responses
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Lourdes Sereno
Inquirer.net photos
Alvarez tells Sereno to face accusers in hearing by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
PHILIPPINE Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should personally attend hearings and refute the impeachment case against her instead of “trying to divert the issue,” according to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. In a DZRH interview on Monday, Nov. 20, Alvarez insisted that he would not allow Sereno’s lawyers to attend the hearing if the chief justice herself failed to show up. He stressed that Sereno should not be afraid to face her accusers in hearings if she is really innocent. “Please tell her (Sereno) to just argue
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From the Front Page
Duterte warns of revolutionary... PAGE A1 “’Pag ang destabilization ninyo patagilid na at medyo magulo na (If your destabilization slips into chaos), I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term,” Duterte told state-run television network PTV 4 last October 13. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, has repeatedly claimed that there were no
current destabilization threats against the president. Critics have accused Duterte of wanting to extend his term by declaring a revolutionary government, but the president has repeatedly denied seeking to perpetuate himself to power. Misquoted Duterte also accused the media of chopping his statements on their news reports and leaving out his conditions on declar-
Revolutionary gov’t would be... PAGE A1 “No more safety in life and livelihood from corrupt police officials. No more elections because there will only be term extension for incumbents and appointments to the obsequious in politics. No more hindrance to sell our lands and seas to China,” he added. Pangilinan said those who
oppose the government and Duterte would be “imprisoned so that no one can express dissent to wrongdoings.” He also believes that the controversy on the P6.4 billion shabu shipment that slipped past the Bureau of Customs would totally be forgotten once a revolutionary government takes over.
ing a revolutionary government. “[A] revolutionary [government]? Then we should have a revolution first. Until there is a revolution, that’s unlikely,” Duterte clarified. “It wasn’t an outright statement that we should establish a revolutionary government. What I said…they (media) would really cut my message. That’s why I said I won’t engage on media’s whims,” he added. n
“Unparalleled abuse, killings, and corruption will be the result,” he said. “These are our misgivings to the proposed rev gov. Stop the illegal and dictatorial rev gov, now!” The senator issued the statement a month after Duterte warned he would declare a revolutionary government if his critics’ alleged attempts to destabilize his administration would escalate. n
A CALL TO JUSTICE. Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Roberto Cadiz (4th from left) is joined by lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and various alternative legal groups such as the Free Legal Assistance Group (Flag), Alternative Law Groups (ALG), Artikulo Tres, Center for International Law (Centerlaw), National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), Association of Law Students of the Philippines (ALSP), and the Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (Ideals), gathered on Monday to urge fellow lawyers to take a more active role in standing by their solemn oath to be advocates of justice and human rights. Inquirer.net photo by Pathricia Roxas
Martial law extension needs justification... PAGE A1 extension of martial law in July, which included Senators Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Francis Pangilinan. He said he is reserving judgment on the matter until Duterte formally seeks the approval of
the Senate and the House of Representatives in a joint session and his Cabinet present their arguments. He said under the Constitution, the power to possibly extend martial law rests on Congress.
Alvarez tells Sereno to face accusers... PAGE A1 on the merits and appear before the committee on justice,” the Davao del Norte congressman said. “If Sereno ignores our summons, we will continue with the committee hearing. We will consider the evidence, all the official documents, as we will be the prosecutor in the impeachment case in the Senate,” he added. The House speaker was reacting to a query on Sereno’s apparent refusal to attend the hearing set for Wednesday, Nov. 22 amid her camp’s plea to allow her lawyers to cross-examine the witnesses against her. Pointing out that Sereno’s lawyers “have no business being there,” Alvarez maintained that he will “not allow her lawyers to appear at the committee
hearing.” “They’re not the ones being impeached. If Sereno were there, then they can accompany her,” Alvarez continued. In an earlier television interview, Sereno said Alvarez likely have a hand in the ouster move against her, as she cited the case of the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (PIATCO), builder of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 3 (NAIA 3). “I testified against the onerous terms of the contract that was signed between the government and PairCargo (later named Piatco), and Speaker Alvarez at the time was part of the committee that approved the terms of reference for the contract,” Sereno told ANC’s “Headstart”. According to her, Alvarez, who was then the senior assistant
Drilon said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar’s statement that the Armed Forces’ proposal to extend martial law was “deemed accepted” by Duterte has weight as far as the executive branch is concerned. n general manager of Manila International Airport Administration (MIAA), was implicated for awarding the NAIA 3 build-operate-transfer contract to Piatco. In 2001, the MIAA-NAIA Association of Service Contractors filed a plunder case against Alvarez and other officials and accused them of gaining from the contract. “Speaker Alvarez had a lot to do with the result of that bidding, and one of the cases in fact that was filed against him was precisely for the conflict of interest situation that he finds himself in. A company that his wife owned was the subcontractor for the construction (of NAIA-3),” Sereno added. The chief justice further expressed hoped that the impeachment case was not fueled by “vengeance or personal agenda.” PAGE A5
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How a Filipina educator in LA inspires kids through social justice by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
FREE EYE CHECK-UP. A resident gets an eye check-up for no out-of-pocket cost during the forum, “Konsultasyon at Talakayan Hinggil sa Disabilidad at Karapatan”, held at the multipurpose hall of Barangay Pinyahan in Quezon City. The forum was held as part of government measures to address the rights of persons with disabilities. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
Rowdy, overstaying American faces deportation by Pathricia
ann V. Inquirer.net
roxas
AN overstaying and undocumented American faces deportation amid numerous complaints of rowdy behavior by residents and business owners in Ermita, Manila, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente on Sunday identified the American as Victor Didenko, 47, who was accosted last Friday near the corner of M.H. Del Pilar and Salas Streets, Ermita by members of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (BI-FSU). Morente said Didenko, who is being held at the BI ward facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, will be deported for being “undesirable, overstaying and
undocumented” alien. “Aside from being a notorious troublemaker, he will be deported for holding an expired U.S. passport and overstaying his tourist visa,” Morente said in a statement. The immigration chief added that the American has become a burden to society as he had been the “perennial subject of complaints by citizens who saw him frequently roam the streets of Manila and Pasay, begging for money from strangers and engaging in acts that disturb the peace.” “We cannot allow unruly foreigners like him, who have no means of support, to stay in our country any longer, lest he becomes primarily dependent on the government for subsis-
Filipinos named in Paradise... PAGE A1 the investigation on the leak. The Paradise Papers is of composed of 13.4 million files, covering seven decades from 1950 to 2016. Most of its leaked documents were from offshore law firm Appleby, and other 19 tax havens. In a statement, Appleby, one of the world’s most prestigious offshore law firms, insisted that it “does not tolerate illegal behavior.” “Appleby has thoroughly and
vigorously investigated the allegations and we are satisfied that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, either on the part of ourselves or our clients,” it said. “We refute any allegations that may suggest otherwise and we would be happy to cooperate fully with any legitimate and authorised investigation of the allegations by the appropriate and relevant authorities, it added. Having “researched the ICIJ’s allegations,” Appleby said it believed the allegations are “un-
tence,” Morente said. According to BI-FSU chief Bobby Raquepo, Didenko was charged in July before a Manila court for disturbing the peace. Authorities arrested him along Mabini Street in Ermita for shouting insults against Filipinos and challenging people to a fight. “We also heard that he had been begging from passersby on the pretext that he was robbed of his money and passport,” Raquepo said. Didenko reportedly arrived in Manila in September 2016 and he had been overstaying since March when his tourist visa expired. The United States embassy confirmed that his passport expired last Oct. 25, making him an undocumented alien. n founded and based on a lack of understanding of the legitimate and lawful structures used in the offshore sector.” There are reportedly 169 Filipinos and major entities included in the list. The ICIJ, meanwhile, emphasized that “there are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts.” “We do not intend to suggest or imply that any people, companies or other entities included in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly,” the group said. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)
Look Maganda
OUTSIDE of Elizabeth Kleinrock’s 4th-grade classroom hangs a sign that welcomes undocumented people hangs outside by the entrance. Inside, the classroom walls are decorated with charts that define fairness, justice/injustice, race/ethnicity and gender inequality and what being an ally and advocate mean. This isn’t your everyday 4thgrade classroom. Kleinrock, known as Ms. Liz, teaches fourth graders at the Citizens of the World Charter School - Silver Lake (CWC - SL), a network of schools committed to socio-economic, cultural and racial diversity. CWC - Silver Lake prepares transitional kindergarten through 8th grade (TK-8) students for academic success, but what separates them from traditional schools is a particular focus on social justice. Since 2012, CWC - Silver Lake has embraced nontraditional methods of teaching students some rather nontraditional topics taught in schools like race, gender, cultural diversity and socio-economic disparities. One of the founders of the school is Filipina-American Maureen Lamorena-Tatsui, who serves as TK-5 co-principal. According to Lamorena-Tatsui, CWC is preparing students to become responsible citizens who understand what justice means and who are able to have healthy conversations about race and gender among other issues. Moreover, CWC teachers encourage deep, critical thinking over mere memorization of right answers to encourage students to develop active reasoning skills. “Yes, we’re preparing them academically, yes we’re preparing them socially and also emotionally,” Lamorena-Tatsui told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. “But if they leave us and they go into a world which they don’t know how to navigate around or how to have discussions with people who are different from them and they don’t know how to embrace difference then that’s a problem because then we’re just going to be replicating the problems we see in our country today. So that’s why it’s important for us to teach it and address it.” CWC - Silver Lake takes on a constructivist learning model which seeks to build experiences around students’ existing knowledge. Rather than just have students learn everything from textbooks, study guides and teacher lectures, teachers seek to understand the students and build lessons around that, promoting active learning. “In the classrooms, learning is social,” Lamorena-Tatsui explained. “That’s also where that diversity really comes into
play because it’s great that the schools are diverse, but if we’re not taking advantage of that and kids aren’t learning from each other’s different experiences, it’s all for naught.” An educator from the beginning The inherent desire to revolutionize education for LamorenaTatsui — whose 8-year-old son is a 3rd grader at CWC - Silver Lake — began in college. A native of Los Angeles and daughter of Filipino immigrants, she was heavily involved in the Filipino organization Samahang Pilipino as an undergraduate at UCLA. There, she founded an outreach organization called Samahang Pilipino Advancing Community Empowerment (SPACE), which provided counseling and tutoring to local high school students with the goal to increase access to college for Filipino Americans. She then realized that she’d always been engaged in school, and after college, she joined Teach For America which provided training for prospective teachers. Teach For America brought her to the Bronx, where she received training and taught kindergarten alongside four other teachers. Here she met Ramona Patrick who would approach her years later to co-found CWC - Silver Lake. After Teach for America, she taught at Dickison Elementary School in Compton, California for 10 years. It was at Dickison where she saw the effects of a good education has on a disenfranchised community. “The inequalities start from birth,” she said of the students she taught at Dickison. “The things my students and their families were up against in that environment was really challenging, but I learned how incredibly resilient the children are and how, regardless of where they go to school, they can achieve great things.” In 2012, while she was still teaching at Dickison, she was approached by Teach For America colleague Patrick, who had been hired by CWC to start a new chapter in Silver Lake. Originally approached to be a dean and then a teacher, Lamorena-Tatsui became the assistant principal of the newly-formed charter, taking care of transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. She described starting CWC - Silver Lake as an entrepreneurial endeavor and compared the experience to launching a startup company. Although challenging many times, the enthusiasm that she and Patrick shared has continued, and both saw a need for a school like CWC. As co-principals, LamorenaTatsui and Patrick both enjoyed the freedom and flexibility when choosing a teaching diverse staff who are “mission and visionaligned” with CWC and have the drive to incorporate non-tra-
ditional teaching methods into their lesson plans. “There’s a need for our schools. If you look at what’s going on in the world, you’ll know that there’s a need for schools like ours. I think CWC schools are founded and start-up in communities that are already diverse and CWC schools are diverse by design. It’s a unique model because you don’t have a lot of schools today that are intentionally integrated.” A need to teach social justice Teaching young students about things like race, gender, immigration and socio-economic injustice is not easy, “Through this work, we realized it’s going to be really tough to talk about and really tough to address, and people are going to have differing opinions on how it should be done, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done,” Lamorena-Tatsui said. “When you talk about what it means to be a citizen of the world, we’re not trying to do business as usual here. It is going to ruffle of some feathers and it certainly has.” Some of the teachings did concern some parents who questioned if teaching elementary school children about touchy subjects like race and gender disparities was appropriate. Lamorena-Tatsui, Patrick and a group of parents met to discuss some of the more controversial subject topics that teachers were incorporating into their teaching material, including racism and white privilege. Most parents are on board with the school’s mission because they want their kids to learn alongside kids who aren’t like them, Lamorena-Tatsui said. However, some parents disagreed with some of the school’s teachings regarding some of the more touchy subjects; for example, the co-principals found that some parents didn’t think racism should be discussed at all. “I struggled with that,” Lamorena-Tatsui recalled about the meetings. “We’re in very liberal Los Angeles, we attract very progressive families so for even that to emerge, and to hear someone say that, I was taken aback.” It’s an ongoing challenge, she lamented, to get these parents to engage with CWC’s mission, but she and Patrick are determined to continue their mission to incorporate these “necessary lessons” to prepare students for navigating through “an unjust world.” “We do have students of color here who are hurt. They hear things from other children so it’s important for us to address it because the school should be a safe space for children,” she said. “At this young age children are so open to learning these things and it’s an opportunity. It doesn’t mean we’re brainwashing them, but we’re just bringing to light that these are things that exist out in the world.” n
Bill to stop outsourcing of American jobs passes... PAGE A1
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workers who applied for the job; the number of such workers who were offered the job, whether the workers accepted the offer, and for each worker who was not offered the job, the reason why the job was not offered. • Bolsters transparency of the program. The legislation would require the Secretaries of Labor and Homeland Security to annually publish a report on the use of the H-1B program including lists of H-1B dependent employers, occupations, wages, worksites and the status of any on-going or completed investigations into misuse of H-1B programs. • Improves oversight of H1B dependent employers. The legislation authorizes the Department of Labor to conduct periodic investigations of H-1B dependent employers and requires the Department of Labor to review at least five percent of such employers annually. It also ensures that current H-1B penalties, including fines and debarment from the H-1B program, can be levied against any H-1B dependent employer that uses the program to displace American workers. n
Church seeks humanitarian...
Priced from $55-$199.
626•918-2020
es ensure that the limited slots under H-1B will instead be available for their intended purpose: to help American companies recruit employees with special skillsets not available in the United States. “Highly skilled individuals that come to America through the H-1B visa program add tremendous value to the U.S. economy. We have a responsibility to ensure this important program isn’t being abused by employers to undercut American jobs,” said Congressman Darrell Issa. “Unfortunately, loopholes in the program have allowed a small handful of employers to game the system to displace American workers and crowd out others who legitimately need the limited slots available to recruit individuals with unique skillsets not available here at home. The Protect and Grow American Jobs Act is a common-sense update that will go a long way to protecting American workers while helping companies access to the talent they need to grow their businesses and create new jobs
here in America.” The legislation approved by the Judiciary Committee includes compromise language negotiated by Congressman Darrell Issa on a bipartisan basis. Among other changes, the bill: • Updates wage requirements to better align with local market averages. The legislation replaces both the $60,000 wage exemption and the advanced degree exemption in favor of a new formula that is equal to the lesser of $135,000 or the mean wage for applicants’ occupation in their area (but subject to a floor of no less than $90,000). The bill would also require the wage levels in this formula to be indexed for inflation over time. • Increases accountability for H-1B employers. H-1B dependent employers currently need to merely “attest” that they’ve taken good faith effort to recruit U.S. workers before seeking an H-1B visa for the open position. Under the new legislation, H-1B employers would be required to submit detailed a recruitment report summarizing the steps they have taken to recruit U.S. workers; the number of U.S.
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PAGE A1 and development programming, just like what we are doing now in Marawi,” said NASSA executive secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez. The poor should not be treated as “beggars of our assistance,” said Gariguez. “They should be regarded with dignity, with the same importance we give ourselves.” He added that the government should improve the delivery of services by “doing away with dole-out mentality and by engaging the most vulnerable during decision and policy-
making.” “It cannot be business as usual when dealing with our poor brothers and sisters. The government and the church must combine their resources to truly improve (the plight of the poor). We can start by establishing better coordination lines during disaster response and by being more accountable to our people,” he said. The observance of the 1st World Day of the Poor coincided with the publication of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-China-United Nations Development Program Report
on Financing the Sustainable Development Goals in ASEAN: Strengthening Integrated National Financing Frameworks to Deliver the 2030 Agenda. It showed that while extreme poverty has fallen across the region from 17 percent in 2005 to seven percent in 2013, many of the working poor remained vulnerable to falling back into poverty. An estimated 36 million people in the region still live below the international poverty line, with almost 90 percent of them living in Indonesia and the Philippines, the report said. n
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 22-24, 2017
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Dateline PhiliPPines
PNP to return to drug war if problem worsens by Edith
REgalado and Edu Punay Philstar.com
DAVAO CITY — It may not be long before the Philippine National Police (PNP) takes back the lead role in the war against illegal drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte has said. “The drug problem, if it becomes worse again, the police have to enter the picture,” Duterte said during the launching of the farmer’s market of the Department of Agriculture in Davao City on Saturday, Nov. 18. Duterte said he is set to review the anti-illegal drugs operation a month after tasking the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to lead the war against drugs. Facing stiff opposition and outcry over the thousands killed in the drug war, Duterte pulled out the PNP and assigned the PDEA to take over the campaign. Duterte was forced to appoint the PDEA to take the lead in the drug war following street protests triggered by the murder of two teenagers allegedly by Caloocan City police. Duterte in January made a similar move apparently sidelining the PNP, describing the police force then as “corrupt to the core” and giving PDEA the lead role in the drug war. This was in response to revelations officers kidnapped a South Korean businessman under the guise of a drug raid, then murdered him inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. However Duterte quickly reinstated the PNP without making any major reforms. Police then announced they were back fighting the drug war with a campaign named: “Double Barrel Reloaded.” The president said even if he keeps his hands off PDEA operations against those involved in the illegal drug industry, he said will have to review the entire setup one of these days. Duterte said he doesn’t care about human rights issues, stressing the fight against illegal drugs is a campaign against organized crime. “I’m sorry. I want it eradicated if possible. I don’t care because we are fighting an organized crime,” he said. Duterte said the act of one is the act of all in illegal drugs. “The liability of one is the same
liability for all. That is the problem… a lot of us never really understood the problem about drugs. Drug is a merchandise for the poor. They would ask ‘why is it Duterte is targeting the poor?’ Because the rich do not use shabu because they know it is made up of chemical component which will drive them to insanity,” Duterte said. “Unlike cannabis, heroin, cocaine – it’s a poppy. It’s organic. It will not really destroy the brain just like that overnight. But this shabu is a chemical mixed very deadly. It shrinks the brain,” he said. Duterte warned those hooked on shabu should bid their lives goodbye. “So you create insane people and new slaves. You turn citizens into slavery to ache for a chemical everyday. If you do not have the money, you have to steal. If you do not have the money, you have to kill,” he said. Duterte lamented how the human rights advocates continued to ignore the victims of rape and abuse by drug addicts. Duterte has said he would be “happy to slaughter” three million drug addicts, and repeatedly vowed that police would not go to jail for killing in his drug war. Rights groups have warned Duterte may be orchestrating a crime against humanity. Relatives of people killed by police filed a case in the Supreme Court calling for the drug war to be declared illegal, likening events in the Philippines to the holocaust in Nazi Germany. The drug campaign has also led to wider violence in which thousands of people have been murdered in unexplained circumstances. Justified The PNP has defended before the Supreme Court its controversial war on drugs highlighted by the thousands of drug suspects killed. Through Solicitor General Jose Calida, PNP chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa and other police officials sought the dismissal of two petitions filed last month by human rights groups Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and Center for International Law (CenterLaw) assailing the PNP’s “Oplan Double Barrel.”
In a 63-page comment filed last Friday, Nov. 17, Calida argued the assailed policy does not violate the constitutional rights to life, to due process of law, to be presumed innocent and to a fair trial – contrary to the allegation of petitioners. Calida denied Oplan Double Barrel mandates the killings of drug suspects. He said the petitions against it were merely based on “speculations, unfounded information, and unsubstantiated arguments.” Calida urged the Court not to give due course to what he called “patently baseless petitions,” that he said “would only serve to countenance harassment suits and ‘fishing expeditions’ that distract law enforcement agencies from their principal duties or, worse, dampen their zeal in the pursuit of criminal elements.” “Ultimately, the ones who will benefit from the grant (of) these petitions will be those who are engaged in the illegal drug trade. This should not be countenanced by this honorable court,” Calida warned. Calida lamented the “unfortunate” loss of lives from police operations, but stressed that such killings “do not automatically render the anti-drug operation conducted by the respondents unlawful.” He argued the petitions against war on drugs were filed “under the guise of human rights protection.” Calida also argued the petitioners are not entitled to writ of amparo, which provides protection to any person whose rights to life, liberty or security is violated or threatened. He said the petitioners failed to establish substantial evidence of an actual violation of or threat to petitioners’ rights to life, liberty and security that would entitle them to the grant of the interim reliefs prayed for. The government counsel also stressed that Oplan Double Barrel under Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016 should be presumed legal as it was issued within the authority of the PNP. “The PNP’s function to serve and to protect necessarily encompasses not only responding to crimes already committed but also preventing their commission,” Calida added. He further cited the PNP chief’s
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ART DIALOGO ‘17. Angono Mayor Gerardo Calderon leads the ceremonial ribbon cutting and launching of Art Dialogo 2017, held at SM Center Angono, Rizal. Art Dialogo is an international platform that is initiated by a budding organization called Art Dialogo Asia, which aims to promote culture and tourism in arts. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Alvarez tells Sereno to face accusers... PAGE A2 But reacting to Sereno’s remark, Alvarez claimed that the chief justice’s camp was just trying to create distractions. “They’re raising so many issues. They’re just trying to divert the issue. Speaking as a lawyer, I would simply argue on the merits if I had a strong case,” the House speaker said. ‘Checks, balances important to democracy’ Asked if thinks that President Rodrigo Duterte may also have a hand in the ouster move against her, Sereno said she hoped that the chief executive understands
the importance of of checks and balances for any democracy. “I wish him success as a president but I hope he understands that checks and balances are very, very important for any democracy,” the chief justice said. While noting that Duterte previously called on her and Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales’ resignation, Sereno maintained that she and the president had “no personal skirmish at all.” “Of course everybody knows what he (Duterte) said during those moments and I think at one time, he thought that Atty. [Larry] Gadon’s complaint re-
garding my extravagant lifestyle had some basis and then he kept quiet about it,” she said. Sereno went on to say, “So let’s just say that I understand that he has also asked me and the Ombudsman to resign at the same time. So does he have a hand in this impeachment, well I go by his official pronouncements.” In a speech before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Davao City Chapter last month, Duterte dared Sereno and Morales to resign with him. “I now challenge Carpio to resign with me at itong si (including) Supreme Court Justice [Sereno],” the president then remarked. n
China, ASEAN sign 10-year pact on marine protection by Janvic
MatEo Philstar.com
ronment protection in the South China Sea signed by Chinese MANILA — China has agreed Premier Li Keqiang and leaders to work with its Southeast Asian of the Association of Southeast neighbors to protect marine and Asian Nations (ASEAN). The declaration, which sets coastal biodiversity in the South 2017 to 2027 as the Decade for China Sea. The Department of Foreign Protection of Coastal and MaAffairs (DFA) recently released rine Environment in the South a copy of the declaration on a China Sea, was among the docu10-year coastal and marine envi- ments approved in the recently
concluded ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Manila last week. It was signed by the leaders during the 20th ASEAN-China Summit, held on Nov. 13 in time with the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
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A6 NOVEMBER 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Rehabilitating criminals
FEATURES
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has scrapped a plan to set up a mega prison facility in Nueva Ecija. The DOJ estimated that such a facility would cost some P150 billion over 20 years. Instead, according to DOJ officials, the funds earmarked for the facility would be used to construct additional prison buildings in existing penal colonies and another regional prison in Pangasinan or one of the Ilocos provinces. of the Interior and Local Government’s jail management bureau and provincial governments. Local jails were already congested even before the Duterte administration launched its intensified crackdown on illegal drugs. The system was not prepared for the flood of drug suspects tossed behind bars, apart from those arrested for other offenses. The government may also consider constructing additional prisons for women as well as special facilities for juvenile offenders and those convicted of white-collar crimes. The state must make it clear that crime does not pay. Many convicted criminals, however, deserve a second chance to become productive members of society. Alongside punishment, the thrust of modern penology is corrections. This starts with the provision of adequate prison facilities. (Philstar. com)
Building additional prisons around the country would make it easier for people to visit incarcerated relatives, DOJ officials said. They have apparently taken into account the case of the mega rehabilitation facility donated to the government by controversial Chinese tycoon Huang Rulun. The 10,000-bed center in Laur, Nueva Ecija remains underutilized. The former head of the Dangerous Drugs Board attributed this to the inaccessibility of the facility to families with members needing drug rehabilitation. The facility may be converted into an academy for drug enforcement units, with smaller rehabilitation centers instead set up in other parts of the country. This is the same approach now being considered by the DOJ in constructing more national prisons. While the department ponders its final move, the government should also consider building additional local jails, which are under the Department
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Thanksgiving challenge: What is your gratitude inventory?
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY! Amid the stress at work and at home, preparing for a Thanksgiving feast, planning for Black Friday shipping, thinking about the Christmas holidays and gift-giving, our year-end review of goals met and those still pending, the bank, credit card, auto, rent and mortgage payments, tuition fees, money to be sent to help family back in the Philippines — the list goes on and on... and we feel overwhelmed by them all that we forget the very essence of Thanksgiving Day. Of course, as a nation, this holi-
day is meant to collectively give thanks for our liberty, freedom, and graces we receive as one people in this great experiment that is America. But this day is also a perfect time to slow down and reflect about the things we are thankful for in our own lives. Unfortunately, this ritual of counting our blessings has been taking a back seat as we worry about life. So this week, let me share with you this “gratitude inventory” that I got from Psychology Today, written by Dr. Barton Goldsmith, and challenge you to make your own gratitude inventory. Are you up to it? Here it goes: “As Thanksgiving approaches, I think it’s important to take a gratitude inventory. A number of things in life can make us
uncomfortable or even a little miffed. But sometimes they are gifts in disguise. With that in mind, here are my top ten things to be thankful for. 1. Be thankful for growing older. Not everyone gets this opportunity. Aging with health and grace is a rare and beautiful gift. 2. Be thankful that you can read these words. It is a very sad thing that many people do not have the ability to read. 3. If you have to wait in line at the supermarket for your Thanksgiving dinner, be thankful that you can afford what you want to eat and have a convenient place to buy it. We are all aware of the many people waiting in line to have a meal at the local homeless shelter. 4. Be thankful for the ability
to pay your bills, even if it means that you have to give up some things that you want. Remember that having basic needs met is a luxury for many people. 5. If you have to get up before dawn to get to work, be thankful that you get to see another sunrise and have a job to go to. Think about what it would be like if you slept everyday until noon and spent the rest of your waking hours wondering what to do with your life. 6. When you’re stuck in traffic, be thankful you have a car to get where you need to go and money to buy gas. Standing in the rain while waiting for a bus is, at the very least, uncomfortable. 7. When the kids are screaming at each other, be thankful that you have children to love
Trump’s Asia strategy
Commentary
DAN STEINBOCK PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s critics claim that he lacks a comprehensive approach to Asia. In reality, his current approach is aligned with moderate ‘America First’ goals. But what did Trump really achieve in Asia? While former President Barack Obama’s Asia pivot was based on multilateral trade agreements, which were mainly geopolitical and predicated on exclusionary politics against China, Trump’s interest is in bilateral trade deals, which are fueled by U.S. exports, foreign investments in U.S. jobs and foreign purchases of American military weaponry. That’s what Trump was after in the grueling 12-day Asia tour. Deals with Japan Outside of North America, Japan is America’s third-largest export market and second-largest source of imports. Japanese firms are the second-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S., and Japanese investors are the largest foreign holders of U.S. treasuries. After Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the White House’s focus has been on a redefined bilateral trade deal with Japan that would also include significant arms deals. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pursues controversial strategic initiatives, including re-militarization, the U.S.-style security legislation, and re-nuclearization. However, the share of Japanese trade covered by free trade deals or economic partnership agreements remains less than a third now (and would only rise to 34 percent even
with the EU deal), which is half of that of South Korea (68 percent). Also, Japan lacks deals with its largest trade partners, China and the U.S., as well as India. With his quest for a bilateral trade deal with Japan, Trump wants more U.S. exports and arms sales to Tokyo, and Japan’s military buys from Pentagon. Abe seeks a trade deal to assist support structural reforms at home and U.S. security assurances against China. Tensions with South Korea Since the 1950s, the Mutual Defense Treaty has allowed the U.S. to dominate South Korea’s defense. However, after the Park impeachment, South Korea opted for a strategic U-turn in economy and strategic relations. Elected in May 2017, President Moon Jaein supports the U.S. anti-missile system (THAAD) and sanctions against North Korea, but only as long as it may bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table. South Korea is the U.S.’ seventh-largest trading partner and the U.S. is South Korea’s secondlargest trading partner. The two economies are joined by the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). While the Trump administration has stated its intent to review and renegotiate the deal, it has not specified what it would like to amend. During his visit, Trump offered strategic security assurances in return for deals that would generate more jobs in the U.S. and reduce the bilateral trade deficit. South Korea is likely to purchase advanced strategic assets, including nuclear-powered submarines and reconnaissance assets. Strategic patience with China In East Asia, Trump’s priorities are secondary to his China
agenda. In 2016, U.S.-China trade amounted to $579 billion, while Trump’s focus is on the $368 billion trade deficit. Yet, merchandise trade is only one aspect of the bilateral economic relationship. China is America’s fourth largest services trading partner, third-largest services export market, and U.S. has a major services trade surplus with China. The combined annual U.S.China investment passed $60 billion in 2016, and China remains the second-largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury securities ($1.2 billion as of August 2017), which help keep U.S. interest rates low. In Beijing, Trump’s more moderate approach toward China paid off, as evidenced by the historic $254 billion deals. Some of these buys, including Boeing’s $37 billion aircraft order, were negotiated previously, while other pacts extend over long periods, including a 20-year shale gas and chemical project in West Virginia. Nevertheless, the volume of bilateral deals will ease tension between Washington and Beijing for some time to come. Tributary deals with ASEAN Trump seeks to renegotiate many of the existing trade deals. So, several Association of Southeast Asian Nations (SEAN) countries that were not included in the current tour sought to preempt pressures. During a recent visit, Premier Najib Razak announced that Malaysia’s national pension and provident funds would invest several billion dollars in equity and infrastructure projects in the U.S. Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha promised Thailand would buy Blackhawk and Lakota helicop-
ters, a Cobra gunship, Harpoon missiles and F-16 fighter jet upgrades, plus 20 new Boeing jetliners for Thai Airways. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong showcased Singapore Airlines’ deal with Boeing for buying 39 B787 and B777-9 aircraft. That is the regional way to offer dollar-tribute to the US hegemon. ‘Strategic partnership’ with Vietnam While Obama’s goal was to push a “strategic partnership” with Vietnam, Trump’s objectives are more economic. Following the post-1986 Vietnamese economic reforms and U.S. extension of normal trade relations (NTR) status in 2001, bilateral trade soared from $220 million in 1994 to $45 billion in 2015, which has turned Vietnam into the 13th largest source for U.S. imports (but only 37th largest destination for US exports). According to Trump, the U.S. got a $12 billion order from Boeing, but critics claim that the deal with Vietnam’s VietJet airline was a result of Obama’s visit in 2016. Nevertheless, Trump sees Vietnam as a deficit risk and the latter sees the U.S. as a captive of agricultural interests. Obama and his Pentagon dreamed of permanent U.S. military installations in Vietnam. Trump might concede – if the price is right. Strategic continuity with the Philippines During the Aquino III years (2010-16), increasing cooperation with the U.S. resulted in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the return of US forces, rearmament supported by the Pentagon and the escalation of maritime conflicts with
and who love you, and remember that at least some of the time, they do get along. There will always be bumps in the road, but they are usually followed by easier times. 8. When your mate is acting grumpy or giving you a hard time, be thankful for having love in your life and someone to grow old with. A life partner is something that less than half the population has. Having your partner is a blessing that needs to be counted several times. 9. When your parents are telling you how to run your life, be thankful that you still have them around. If they are no longer with you, take a moment to be thankful for the time you had with them.
10. When you sit down with your loved ones for your Thanksgiving dinner, be thankful for everyone and everything that makes it possible. Look your family and friends in the eye and express to them your gratitude for sharing this wonderful time together. Thanksgiving is a very special holiday. Embrace those around you and your ability to give thanks with the people you love.” WHAT IS YOUR GRATITUDE INVENTORY?? ***
China. However, close U.S. ties also coincided with deep strategic dependency on U.S., economic polarization within the country and the spread of drugs, corruption and alleged “narco ties” with the pre-2016 regime. With Duterte, the U.S.-Philippine relationship has been subject to a recalibration and, at the end of the Obama era, alleged U.S. efforts at destabilization. Duterte’s sovereign foreign policy maintains U.S. security guarantees but benefits from economic ties with China. Now the Philippines is linked to China’s One Road One Belt (OBOR) initiative, which supports the government’s infrastructure program to triple the Philippine per capita incomes in the next 25 years. Concurrently, U.S.-Philippine tensions have been eased as Duterte has developed more constructive personal ties with the Trump White House. Free trade prospects Trump also attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Danang, Vietnam, followed by the 50th anniversary of Asean in Manila. While trade ministers from 11 countries announced they would push ahead with a TPP without the U.S., the latter is a shaky TPP lite that will serve as a face-saving measure to Japan and as a hedge option to other nations. The best APEC may hope for is long-term U.S.-Chinese cooperation for the Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which focuses on trade and investment and has room for both the U.S. and China. In effect, the Asean nations’ integration plan AEC 2025, which would be undermined by a “America First” policy, stands to benefit from China’s OBOR plans, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment initiative (AIIP).
New risks, new opportunities Except for China, Trump’s Asian tour was largely a hard sell of military assets across the region. While the conventional wisdom is that Obama achieved America’s pivot to Asia, the reality is that the pivot was mainly military and sought strategic gains. This is why: During the Obama military pivot to Asia, Asia/Oceania received most of global imports (43 percent), according to SIPRI. The U.S. continues to dominate imports to its key security allies in Australia, Japan, and South Korea. But while the Obama pivot contributed to maritime conflicts in the region thus fueling demand for weapons, the Pentagon did not cash the profits. Instead, today Russia accounts for most arms deliveries to Asia and Oceania (37 percent), followed by the U.S. (27 percent) and China (10 percent). What about the economic realities? Trump said that the Asian tour generated “at least $300 billion worth of deals,” which will more than “triple in a fairly short period of time.” Yet, the bottom line is $253 billion from deals with China and perhaps a total of $300 billion — if ASEAN deals that were negotiated prior to the tour are included. That may be far more than any post-Cold War U.S. administration — including Clinton, Bush and Obama — ever achieved in Asia. If U.S.-Chinese economic ties prevail, China’s rebalancing and the rise of emerging Asia could contribute to far greater economic gains with the US and in the region. (ManilaTimes.net) ***
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
Dr Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served as research director at the India, China and America Institute (USA) and visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see https://www. differencegroup.net/
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Duterte on Mocha as Senate bet: ‘Let the people decide’ by ALEXIS
ROMERO Philstar.com
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is leaving it to the public to judge his party’s possible 2019 senatorial line-up announced last week by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. A partial list of the possible senatorial bets of the ruling PDPLaban party contained the names of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, presidential political adviser and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman and Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez. PDP-Laban President and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has clarified that the ruling party has not yet made a final decision on the matter. Asked last Saturday if he has spoken to Alvarez about the possible senatorial ticket, Duterte said: “Let the people decide. It’s not a one-man story or critique. Let the people decide. If they like it that way, then that’s it. It will be honored by all, including the military and the police.” “If that’s the choice of the Filipino, you might not like her; her
Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson
ways might not suit your values. But if that guy or woman is elected by the people, then you have to honor that choice,” he added. Pressed if he had a personal choice to become candidate for senator, Duterte said he wanted someone who can help Filipinos by lowering food prices and ensuring adequate food supply. “Whoever can help his fellow Filipino and who has the best of the ideas, I might get them or I might also nominate them. It’s a party decision so maybe just a give and take there,” he added. Duterte went on to mention Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
Malacañang photo
as possible senatorial candidates. The two were with Duterte during last Saturday’s launch of the Tienda farmers and fisherfolk outlets in Davao City. Piñol said Duterte floated his name as a possible senatorial bet in jest. “He (Duterte) was just joking. Also, I told him I would like to remain as agriculture secretary and retire after his presidency,” Piñol told The STAR in a text message Sunday. Roque has said that he does not have the resources to launch a senatorial campaign. Uson has admitted being offered to run for senator but maintained that only Duterte could convince her to do so. ■
HIGANTES FESTIVAL. Townsfolk of Angono, Rizal celebrate their fiesta with the Higantes Festival, in which 12-feet papier mache giants are paraded on the streets in honor of San Clemente, Patron saint of fishermen. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada
China, ASEAN sign 10-year pact on marine...
PAGE A5 The declaration on biodiversity protection was on top of the agreement between ASEAN and China for the crafting of a Code of Conduct in the disputed waters. In the declaration, the leaders of ASEAN and China recognized the need to continue developing and sustaining environmentallyfriendly mechanisms to mitigate the effects of climate change and transboundary marine environmental pollution and degradaset to lead the party’s bid for the tion. They noted that the current enelections. (Rosette Adel/Philstar. vironmental situation in the South com)
Alvarez to endorse Aguirre’s inclusion in PDP-Laban Senate slate MANILA — House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday, Nov. 20, said he would endorse the inclusion of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to the 2019 senatorial slate of the ruling party, Partido Demokratikong PilipinoLakas ng Bayan. “I will highly recommend the inclusion of Secretary Vit Aguirre in the ticket of the administration–in PDP,” Alvarez told reporters. Alvarez said Aguirre is fit to become a senator as becoming one would further help President Rodrigo Duterte. “Susuportahan ko po yung kandidatura ni Vit Aguirre. Kakausapin ko po ang ating pangulo kung pwede ipahiram muna si Sec. Vit Aguirre sa Senado upang bumilis–bilis naman ang pagpasa ng mga batas doon (I will support the candidacy of Vit Aguirre. I would speak to the president and ask him if he could allow Secretary Aguirre’s run to hasten the passage of laws in the Senate),” Alvarez said. The House speaker said the lower chamber of the 17th Congress has approved over a hundred bills but the Senate only
enacted 10 endorsed bills into laws during the First Regular Session. Alvarez added that the House sent to the Senate 70 approved bills for the opening of the Second Regular Session. He shared that he already informed Aguirre about his nomination and the justice secretary just responded with a smile. Last Friday, Nov. 17, Alvarez named presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson among the eyed senatorial bets of PDP-Laban in 2019. Alvarez also mentioned the inclusion of: Rep. Karlo Nograles (Davao City), Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Negros Occidental), Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan) and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino. He clarified that PDP-Laban officers would decide on the party’s final line-up for the 2019 mid-term polls. Alvarez said Senate President and PDP-Laban President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel is automatically included in the slate as he is
PNP to return to drug war... PAGE A3 power to direct and control tactical as well as strategic movements, deployment, placement, use of police personnel, facilities and resources. Calida also defended Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s Memorandum Circular 2017-112 or the “Masa Masid” project, which allows citizens to report any person who may be involved in narcotics through drop boxes put up in some barangays. Petitioners also questioned this policy, which they likened to the practice of the Japanese imperial army during their occupation in the country and the secret police of Nazi Germany during World War II. But Calida stressed it is within the mandate of PNP to conduct house-to-house visitations and persuade possible illegal drug personalities to turn themselves in. “The purpose of Project Tokhang is to persuade the surrender of suspected drug personalities, not to effect their arrest. It is undeniably a valid police measure,” read the comment. Calida also raised procedural grounds in seeking dismissal of
the petitions, specifically citing the impropriety of a class suit, the misjoinder of causes of action and the lack of proper verification and certification against forum shopping. FLAG filed the petition for two victims of extrajudicial killings identified as Ryan Dave Almora and Rex Appari and a survivor identified as Jefferson Soriano in police anti-narcotics operations. In the same petition, FLAG sought issuance of writ of amparo and temporary protection order prohibiting police authorities from getting near the residences or workplaces of the families of petitioners. Almora and Aparri were shot dead during a drug sting operation, while Soriano survived an alleged summary execution attempt. CenterLaw, on the other hand, filed its writ of amparo petition for families of 35 alleged drug suspects killed in anti-narcotics operations of police over the past year and other residents of San Andres Bukid district in Manila. The PNP has recorded over 6,000 deaths under investigation since June 2016, while human rights groups put the death toll under the administration’s drug war at 13,000. ■
China Sea requires collective attention and action to protect the marine ecosystem and biodiversity, including coral reefs, cold water habitats, hydrothermal vents and seamounts. “(We emphasize) the need to promote responsible fishing practices, environmentally friendly fishing methods and combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to ensure sustainable fishery resources and achieve food security,” read the declaration. “(We recognize) the importance of protecting the South China Sea as a natural resource
base for economic and social development for the present and future generations and recognizing the benefits that would be gained from having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity,” it added. China is facing criticisms over its land reclamation activities in disputed waters, which experts said had extensively damaged the marine biodiversity and ecosystem in the South China Sea. Its fishermen also regularly harvest giant clams, corals and other endangered and protected marine species from areas in the South China Sea. ■
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CHRISTMAS IS HERE. As other children enjoy their weekend break, this boy is preoccupied doing some finishing touches to a lantern which his family sells along Quirino Ave. in Las Pinas City. Lanterns sell like hotcakes during this time of the year in the Philippines. PNA photo Avito C. Dalan
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 22-24, 2017
BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
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Bankers team up to develop digital ID by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
THE Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) has collaborated with a technology and consulting company in establishing an industry-wide facility that will further enhance the country’s digital-identity technology. In a statement on Friday, November 17, the bankers group said it has upped the ante of digitization in Philippine banking as it convened with Amihan Global Strategies over a project that is set to revolutionize validation processes in the banking industry. With this, the Philippines is said to be one of the first few countries in the world to employ a powerful and sophisticated technology for identity management, the association added.
“We are committed to pursuing the Philippine banking roadmap we have crafted with the support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). This initiative will enable the banking industry to provide a more convenient and faster way of delivering banking services to the clients,” BAP President Nestor Tan said “With the rapid development of technology on our side, banks must use this opportunity to constantly improve, innovate and provide better
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Job prospects abound in tourism — expert by Catherine talavera Philstar.com
THE growing tourism industry in the country is teeming with job prospects as stakeholders plan on employing 6.5 million Filipinos in the sector by 2022. “To encourage more Filipinos to work in the local tourism sector, there should be more meaningful jobs that have to be created with decent salaries,”John Paolo Rivera, associate director for the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Dr. Andrew Tan Center for Tourism told The STAR in an email. He said meaningful jobs are those wherein compensation is not just based on tips and commissions. He identified the generation of meaningful jobs and the
implementation of a decent incentives systems as the current challenges in the country’s tourism employment sector. “There should be sufficient incentives that will entice Filipinos to work in the tourism industry and actually stay,” Rivera said. According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the tourism sector employed an estimated 5.2 million Filipinos as of end-2016. The Department of Tourism (DOT) is projecting tourism sector employment to hit 6.5 million by the end of the Duterte administration in 2022. This is based on the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP). In addition, Rivera cited the availability of training for tourism practitioners regarding re-
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PH’s ‘Build, build, build’ seen to benefit from closer ties with China, Japan File photo by Inquirer
by ben
o. de vera
Inquirer.net
“BUILD, Build, Build” would be felt not only in the Philippines but also across the so-called “tiger cub” economies of Asean as governments ramp up infrastructure development to sustain economic growth, UK-based Oxford Economics said Friday, November 17. “Philippine President Duterte’s phrase ‘Build, Build, Build’ can be aptly used to describe the vast growth potential and opportunities of the Asian construction sector over the next 10 years in the Asian century,” Oxford Economics said in a report titled “Asia to ‘Build, Build, Build’ as a regionwide construction boom gathers pace.” Oxford Economics noted that Asean ti-
ger cubs—which besides the Philippines include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam—are now among the fastest-growing economies globally, even outpacing expansion in mature Asian tigers such as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. “And with China’s once-booming economy slowing, the ‘cubs’ may also soon be growing faster than the region’s dominant economic powerhouse,” Oxford Economics said. “To maintain their current, strong growth trajectory, and fulfill their long-term economic potential, these [tiger cub] countries need to invest heavily in infrastructure such as transportation and utilities like power generation and distribution, water, and sewage networks. While underpinning con-
tinuing strong economic expansion, these expected investments will simultaneously boost the living standards of the people of these populous nations,” according to Oxford Economics. In the case of the Philippines, it will likely benefit from closer ties with both China and Japan, according to Oxford Economics. “Japan’s government is increasingly competing to invest in infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia. In one example, the Philippines recently signed a deal with Japan to build the Philippines’ first subway for $6 billion,” it noted. “But whether investment flows from China or Japan, the overall impact is further fuel for the Southeast Asian construction sector,” it added.
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‘PH growth to top 6% in medium term’ risks, however, ‘are increasingly weighted to the downside’ – BMI by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilTimes.net
PHILIPPINE economic growth is likely to stay strong over the next few years but downside risks appear to be rising, a Fitch Group unit said. “Although we remain positive on the Philippine economy over the medium term, underpinned
by strong demographic trends supporting savings, Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ strategy, and deeper economic ties with China and Japan, risks are increasingly weighted to the downside as the business environment deteriorates,” BMI Research said in a report released over the weekend. The 2017 gross domestic
product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines was raised to 6.7 percent from 6.3 percent previously and BMI said” “We expect growth to average above 6 percent over the medium term, which is still a solid figure by regional and historical perspectives.” The revision followed last week’s announcement that the
economy had expanded by a better-than-expected 6.9 percent in the third quarter. Results for the second quarter were also re-
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B NOVEMBER 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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Volunteer banks can swap old bills — BSP Will incorporating a separate property business by Lawrence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the public can exchange or swap old bills demonetized almost five months ago with volunteer banks. BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. issued Memorandum 2017 – 036 laying down the guidelines on the voluntary acceptance by banks of the new design series (NDS) banknotes from the general public for replacement or exchange with new generation currency (NGC) bills. He explained banks could act as agent of its clients in exchanging NDS banknotes with BSP in the performance of other banking services under Section 30 of Republic Act 8791 also known as the General Banking Law of 2000. Espenilla said the exchange may be undertaken according to the banks’ internal rules for operationalization. “Should a bank undertake NDS exchange with its clients, such bank shall likewise surrender all NDS banknotes to the BSP on or before Dec. 29,” he added. Late last month, the BSP’s Monetary Board allowed the exchange of NDS bills until Dec.
What’s New ArLene AL-os, cPA, MBA BEGINNING January 2018, the IRS will start certification of individuals with delinquent tax debt to the State Department. How will the IRS certification impacts you? • Upon receipt of certification. The State Department will either deny application or revoke current passport or both. • You are overseas. Limited validity passport for direct return to the US maybe issued by the State Department if you are overseas. • Serious delinquent tax debt. IRS tax debt of more than $50,000 inclusive of penalties plus interest for which all administrative remedies has been exhausted, and federal tax lien and levy notices have already been issued. A tax debt is not considered serious if there is: a) installment agreement; b) offer in compromise; c) timely collection due process
29 in response to numerous requests from the general public. Long queues have been a familiar site especially at the BSP complex in Malate, Manila since the extension was announced. The BSP completed the demonetization of the NDS banknotes last June 30 after several deadline extensions. The NDS bills launched in 1985 lost its monetary value last July 1. The old design banknotes were no longer accepted in dayto-day transactions last Jan. 1 this year but were exchanged in banks and BSP offices. The original deadline was set on Dec. 31, 2016 but extended to March 31 and eventually to June 30 due to public clamor. The BSP launched the NGC banknotes in the market in 2010 replacing the NDS bills. The NGC series is user-friendly and allows easy identification of each denomination because of the dominant color that uses
during marriage make it community property?
File photo by Philstar
distinct and primary inks. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo earlier said the central bank has no update on the amount of NDS bills that remained unchanged as most of the old banknotes have already been shredded or destroyed. He explained the life expectancy of the banknotes is very short at one year for the P20 and P50 bills, about two years for the P100 to P200 banknotes, and five years for the P500 and P1,000 bills. The BSP under Republic Act 7653 or the new Central Bank Act of 1993 could call in for replacement notes of any series or denomination that are more than five years old and coins that are more than 10 years old. n
Delinquent tax debt could mean revocation of your passport? hearing related to the levy; d) innocent spouse relief under IRC § 6015 has been requested and collection is suspended. • 90-Days hold of application. You will be given 90-days to resolve and enter into payment options with IRS to resolve certification issues by the State Department and will hold your application prior to denial of passport application. • Be aware of Notice CP 508C. You will receive notice CP 508C upon certification of IRS to the State Department of serious tax debt, by mail. • Certification reversal CP 508R. The State Department will be notified within 30-days by the IRS to reverse previous certification of serious tax debt once assessed tax debt is no longer serious in 3. above or due to erroneous certification. • Passport application is denied. You will be notified in writing by the State Department if your passport application is de-
nied or revoked. • You owe taxes and cannot pay in full. Apply for installment agreement or offer in compromise if you qualify, to reverse the certification and for issuance of passport. • Disagreement with the tax amount. Call the number provided on notice CP 508C. For proof of payment, mail to the address on the notice. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies. (Advertising Supplement)
YOU own a successful business, as a sole proprietor, prior to marriage. You later meet the love of your life and decide to marry her. Years into the marriage, you decide to incorporate the business. A common question when the couple later divorces becomes 1) did your separate property business become community property by virtue of incorporating it during the marriage? 2) Was your separate property business “transmuted” to community property by incorporating it during the marriage? No community property presumption Family Code §760 defines “Community property” as “Except as otherwise provided by statute, all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property. However under Marriage of Koester, the Court held that the community does not “acquire” a separate property business simply because the business is incorporated during the marriage. The mere incorporation of a business operated by spouse is not a change in its character, for purposes of division of community estate following divorce. In Koester, the Court stated that he incorporation simply effects a change in the legal form under which the business is conducted and property does not change its character merely because of a change in form or identity. Marriage of Koester (1999) 73 CA4th 1032, 1035, 1038, 87 CR2d 76, 79, 81. The Court in Koester also stated that “In contrast with the way title is taken when a married couple own residential property, the incorporation of a sole pro-
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes prietorship business is typically done for reasons extrinsic to the marital relationship. To say ... that an asset was ‘acquired’ by the community ... because some aspect of corporate formation took place during the marriage is to elevate semantics over substance” No transmutation Incorporation of a sole proprietorship business during the marriage can trigger a family code § 2640 tracing right of reimbursement only when it is also accompanied by an unambiguous express written transmutation of the business to community property as required by Family Code § 852. Marriage of Koester, supra, 73 CA4th at 1036–1037, 87 CR2d at 79–80 & fn. 5. Under Family Code §852, a transmutation of real or personal property is not valid unless made in writing by an express declaration that is made, joined in, consented to, or accepted by the spouse whose interest in the property is adversely affected. In Koester, the act of changing the legal form under which a business is conducted does not meet the requirements of family code § 852 for a valid transmutation. Marriage of Koester (1999) 73 CA4th 1032, 1037, 87 CR2d 76, 80 & fn. 5. Incorporation of a sole proprietorship business is typically done for reasons extrinsic to the marital relationship.
Although the mere act of incorporating a separate business during the marriage does not change the character of the business to community property, the community may still acquire an apportionment interest if the value of the business substantially appreciated during the marriage due to the labor and hard work of the managing spouse during the marriage. The apportionment calculation is done using the formula in the Pereira or Van Camp case where the contributions of effort and return on capital are separated from the value of the business. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplemen
Seniors raid retirement accounts but still require Chapter 7 relief
Pray to our God for good THE clients are seniors. The health as you retire and long life! wife is 67 and had just retired Debt Read Psalm 91 “…whoever refrom a lifetime of being a reg- Relief mains under the protection of the istered nurse. She has social Almighty…God says ‘I will save security benefits of $2,100. The those who love me and will prohusband is 67 and has social setect those who acknowledge me curity of $700. as Lord. When they call to me, I So together, they have social Atty. LAwrence yAng will answer them; when they are security of $2,800. They don’t own a house. They live with their of funds are completely exempt in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. daughter and they pay her rent of in Chapter 7. In other words, if they filed I will reward them with long $1,000. The $1,000 covers utilities, except food. The daughter Chapter 7 last year, they would life; I will save them.” How do is a single mom with two daugh- still be able to keep their $37,000 you know this is true? Because ters aged 10 and 8. She works of retirement accounts, plus still the Bible is the word of God, as a hairdresser. I understand keep the $20,000 of disability in and God doesn’t lie! Of course, that she makes about $2,000 cash. So now, they would still have this Psalm was actually written a month after deducting rent $57,000 of cash in the bank. My maybe 3000 years ago by Moses, of $200 for a station.. She has next question is so how much do who was really close to our God. her own clientele. So she takes you still owe of credit cards after So that’s good enough. Pray to home about $1,800 a month. paying $57,000? They said that our God, the God of Moses and She makes some extra income they still owe about $100,000 of Israel, cry to him in your distress, by selling her clients hair prod- credit cards! One hundred thou- and your cry for help will reach ucts including shampoos that sand of credit cards requires at his ears in his sanctuary! I think are sold only through hairdress- least $3,000 of minimum month- it must have been the prophet ers. She makes another $300 a ly payments. Even if the wife Samuel who said this in Psalm month profit on those products. were still working as a registered 18. When you cry to our Lord in your distress, He For a single mom hears you! That with two kids, is really good to her net income of know, is it not? $2,100 is hardly So let’s say enough to make you got sued for ends meet. So, breach of conthe $1,000 of rent tract for backthat clients give to ing out of the daughter is more marriage proof a contribution to posal that you their household of three adult and two young chil- nurse, she would gross about made of to Kim Jung Un’s sister. $8,000 a month and net about She sues you for $1.0M. Your dren. Their household’s income is $6,500. Three thousand dollars a 401K would be $1,122,000; yes therefore $2,800 from the clients’ month or credit cards is almost that’s right; your retirement acsocial security plus $2,100 from 50 percent of the wife’s net take count is over $1.1M. You don’t the net income of the daughter home pay if she were still work- have to go to N.Korea and ask as a self-employed hairdresser. ing. But now her social security your brother-in-law that never So the household income for of $2,100 is not even enough was for his forgiveness for not this family becomes $4,900, less to cover the $3,000 to keep the marrying his sister. You just file rent of $1,400, and yields a net $100,000 of credit cards current. a Chapter 7 in Los Angeles and I told them that they should you discharge or wipe out the of $3,500 for necessary monthly living expenses for a family of have seen me last year before $1.0M lawsuit while keeping infive. The clients are paying for using up their retirement ac- tact your 401K of $1.1M. Sounds two cars of about $400 each. counts and disability. They good, right? No; sounds great in They decide to return one car would have saved the $57,000 fact. Only in America can you do but keep the other, thereby cut- and still discharged all of their this. But will it stop your brotherting car ownership expense by credit cards. But now of course in-law from aiming his nukes at $400 a month.. They return the they can still discharge all of LA? Well, that’s another story. If you need debt relief, set 2016 Honda Accord, but keep the $100,000 of credit cards the 2014 Camry, which has three left after they paid off $57,000, an appointment to see me. I will but all of the $57,000 is gone! analyze your case personally. more years of payments to go. “I WILL SAVE THOSE WHO “Yes, we really regret liquidatThe clients seem to be doing ok if you don’t dig further into ing our retirement accounts and LOVE ME AND WILL PROTECT their financial situation. I check using the rest of the disability to THOSE WHO ACKNOWLEDGE their 2016 tax returns and it im- pay the credit cards…” If we still ME AS LORD…I WILL REWARD mediately jumps out that there had the $57,000 today, after dis- THEM WITH LONG LIFE;” was $37,000 retirement account charging the $100,000, we would PSALM 91h *** liquidation -- $25,000 was a probably just pay off the car loan liquidation of wife’s 401K and of $12,000 on the 2014 Camry Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expres$12,000 was a liquidation of so we don’t have to pay the $400 sion of opinion and is not meant to be husband’s IRA. In addition, there anymore. legal advice to any reader. There is So the lesson here is that no attorney-client relationship estabwas $48,000 of disability pay that went to wife. So, I’m won- you should never use your re- lished by this article with the reader. If dering where did the $48,000 tirement accounts to pay off you want to discuss your situation, you plus the $37,000 went to. your debts. At this time, retire- have to set an appointment to consult I asked them what happened to ment accounts up to $1.2M with the attorney. The first general the $85,000 of disability and re- are exempt in bankruptcy. consultation is free. In other words, you can keep tirement account liquidation that *** you received last year? They said as much as $1.2M of retirement Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes that all $37,000 of the retirement accounts as exempt assets when account was used to pay credit you file Chapter 7! That’s a lot of in bankruptcy, business, real estate cards, and the $48,000 of disabil- retirement account money! Even and civil litigation and has successfully ity was used for living expenses at a measly 5 percent income in represented more than five thousand and whatever was left over prob- a managed portfolio, you can use clients in California. Please call Angie, ably another $20,000 was also $60,000 a year without reducing Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for used to pay credit cards. I said, the $1.2M of principal! That ex- an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, “you’re kidding, right?” Why use tra income in addition to social Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, retirement and disability to pay security makes for a comfortable Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey credit cards when both sources retirement. Just don’t get sick. Road, Walnut, CA 91789.
“So the lesson here is that you should never use your retirement accounts to pay off your debts.”
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BUSINESS NEWS
LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 22-24, 2017
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The curious case PH’s ‘Build, build, build’ seen to benefit... of Stephen C. Davis
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
PAGE B1 t
A ghost story
MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA JUST for kicks during my halcyon days as a full-time working /full-time grad student at the University of the Philippines long ago, I had agreed to act as medium for a séance or a hypnotic session to conjure or call the spirit or spirits that were causing a disturbance. I took over from another medium in a previous session weeks earlier conducted by a Jesuit priest from the Ateneo, Fr. Bulatao. There were repeated paranormal disturbances at the old building where I worked, a stone’s throw from the Institute of Mass Communication (now called by another name) where I was a grad student at night while working during the day as a full time research associate of what was then the Institute of Environmental Planning, now called the School of Urban & Regional Planning. That haunted building has been razed and there stands a newer multi-story building. At night, the custodian claimed that when all the rooms were locked up and no one was inside, there were eerie noises that would make the hair on the back of one’s neck stand on end. The occurrences were so frequent and so disruptive, ignoring them and pretending life was normal was no longer an option. Someone finally did something about it and called on Fr. Bulatao to help shed light on the mysterious goings-on at the institute. I simply avoided the rest rooms and steered away from isolated areas of the building and never stayed in the building past sundown. Professor Cynthia Turingan was the first medium. Under hypnosis, she revealed that an American soldier, an enlisted man, by
“...In memory of one american soldier...”
Part 1 of 2 the name of Stephen Davies (his one night and was robbed of his name was spelled with an e in the money. The ghost revealed desurname) was murdered at the tails about his murderer: his aslocation right smack dab where sailant’s name, the exact address the building stood. Details of a where he lived, describing him murder story flowed out of her as an old man by that time, lanlike a gusher. But then it came guishing in jail for other crimes to an abrupt halt when the door he committed and that the house to the room where the session where the murderer used to live was being held, for no appar- on J.P. Rizal Street in Makati ent reason, suddenly burst open. was eventually destroyed by fire. He was asked about the name The medium snapped out of the hypnotic trance feeling extreme- of his wife and where she lived, ly limp and exhausted as though questions upon questions which she had traveled many miles the ghost said were “not imporacross a desert. I stood up and tant” but pressed further, he with a nonchalant shrug of my said that his wife had remarshoulders calmly closed the door. ried and pleaded not to bother Dissatisfied with the aborted his wife anymore. He said that session, the group decided to he was not the only spirit hovhold another. Professor Tur- ering in the area and that there ingan was unavailable for the were many others. Asked about next session and I was drafted how he felt, he said that he was to act as medium, a role which lonely and that he just wants to I accepted on a lark and a dare. be remembered. Over and over There was a thunderstorm again, he said he wanted to be raging outside but I don’t re- remembered. He ignored quesmember much of what I said tions about his past brushing when I went on a trance. I do them aside for the one thing he remember feeling very light, as wanted — that he be rememthough weightless, while some- bered. His bones, he said, lay one gently whispered things to scattered and mixed with the soil my ear. Later, I learned that un- in the same area which was levder hypnotic suggestion, I was eled years earlier by a bulldozer. instructed to go back to 1945, The ghost of the dead soldier rethe year that the medium re- quested that a mass be said on vealed when the alleged murder a sunny day in his remembrance of the American soldier occurred. — a request the group readily I described the place as I saw granted him. Shortly after, the eeit — an open field, a moonless rie occurrences seemed to stop. (To be continued in next night, quonset huts and a heavy sense of foreboding in the air. week’s issue …) During the session, the same *** Stephen Davies revealed the Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP name of his murderer. He said he of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send was hit on the head by a piece of comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ wood while he was out on patrol asianjournalinc.com
Job prospects abound in tourism...
PAGE B1 t cent trends and practices in tourism as another area the industry needs to improve on in line with growing its employment figures. Several tourism stakeholders earlier said the problem lies in the lack of qualified employees, and not the availability of jobs. “There might be some disconnect in terms of the skills that are being taught vis-a-vis what is expected in the real world,” Rajah Tours president Jojo Clemente earlier said. Clemente said sometimes its
not really the lack of skill that is creating the disconnect, but rather the attitude of candidates, especially those fresh out of college. “We hire for attitude because the skills can be taught. We can always augment, we can always enhance what you have learned in the past. But attitude is something you cannot change,” Clemente said. Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort vice president for sales and marketing Margie Munsayac earlier said the tourism industry, especially the accommodation sec-
tor, will be needing to fill a lot of job posts in the coming years due to the rising number of tourists. Based on the NTDP, the tourism sector is targeted to grow the tourism sector in the next five years by reaching 12 million foreign arrivals and 89.2 million domestic travelers in 2022. For this year, the DOT is expecting foreign arrivals to hit the seven million mark. In the first eight months of the year, foreign arrivals have hit 4.4 million, a 10 percent rise from the same period last year. ■
Bankers team up to develop... PAGE B1 t services to the banking public,” BAP Operations Committee Chairman Abraham Co said. Centered on “self-sovereign identity,” BAP said the facility would enable an individual to have the sole control and discretion of sharing his or her personal information to whoever he or she chooses. Using this platform, the onboarding process of clients will become easier and more efficient, as the individuals themselves, through participating banks and accredited agents, would be able to upload personal information immediately through mobile phones. Once the uploaded information is validated and vetted by a participating bank, clients will be able to open a new bank account and access banking services of other participating banks in a
much faster and easier way, the association said. The facility is powered by blockchain technology, which enables a permanent and distributed ledger of transactions that cannot be tampered with. “We welcome this development for the Philippines. The BAP joins a global movement to benefit consumers using blockchain technology,” said Brian Behlendorf, executive director of Hyperledger. “We’re proud that the banking community is using open source software from Hyperledger technology to enrich data privacy and finance,” he added. BAP said that, while the project is still in development, several major banks, including Asia United Bank (AUB), Banco de Oro Unibank (BDO), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Citibank, EastWest Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank)
and Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) have already signed on to accept and verify customer data on the platform. Other banks are soon expected to follow. The group said that, as of 2017, there are only 44 million out of 100 million Filipinos who deposit money into bank accounts. However, with the Philippines’ rapid growth of the economy and influx of digital technology, it should be noted that more and more Filipinos will expect to have easier access to financial services, according to BAP. “Digital is the best solution for financial inclusion in the Philippines,” said Winston Damarillo, founder and executive chairman of Amihan Global Strategies. “We are excited to collaborate with Hyperledger and the BAP to deliver inclusive innovation for the Philippines,” he added. ■
People and Events
Burbank Police Department receives grant for special traffic enforcement and crash prevention THE Burbank Police Department has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcement and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries. The Burbank Police Department will use the grant funding as part of Burbank’s ongoing commitment to keep roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education. “The safety of motorists and pedestrians on our roadways is a top priority for the Burbank Police Department,” said Chief of Police Scott LaChasse. “This grant supports our mission to continue educating the public through various enforcement campaigns throughout the year in order to reduce the number of injuries and deaths attributed to traffic collisions and unsafe driving habits.” After falling to a ten year low in 2010, the number of persons killed on roadways has climbed nearly 17 percent across the state, with 3,429 fatalities in 2015. Particularly alarming is the rise in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities that now comprise nearly 25 percent of all traffic deaths, along with the growing dangers of distracting technologies and the emergence of drug-impaired driving. This grant funding will provide
opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as speeding and crashes at intersections. “Unsafe behaviors account for 94 percent of traffic crashes,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “This grant emphasizes the two most effective ways to change behaviors – education and enforcement. The Burbank Police Department, with assistance from the Office of Traffic Safety, will use these tools to help keep City of Burbank streets safe.” The grant will fund a variety of activities, including educational presentations, DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols, bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement, motorcycle safety enforcement, distracted driving enforcement, and seat belt and child safety seat enforcement. While alcohol remains the worst offender for DUI crashes, the Burbank Police Department supports the new effort from OTS which aims to drive awareness that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription medications and marijuana can also be impairing by themselves, or in combination with alcohol, and can result in a DUI arrest. Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ■
In Asean, “rising living standards and increasing incomes for the region’s 639 million people will fuel demands for better quality housing and public facilities, including for healthcare and education, as these nations see a burgeoning of their better-off middle class,” Oxford Economics said. “At the same time, even with rising incomes, the region’s growth is also being buoyed by its evolution as a key regional and global manufacturing hub supported by its large supply of still relatively cheap labor. This increasingly powerful trend is attracting a strong flow of inward business investment from both local and multinational manufacturers. In turn, this is stoking demand for commercial and industrial buildings and improved transport connectivity across each country and the wider region,” it added.
Also, “with all Asean membercountries (except already heavily developed Singapore) still undergoing rapid urbanization, there are huge requirements for new built structures (beside infrastructure construction) to accommodate the increasing demand,” it said. “In terms of residential development, across the Asean region there is equally a large undersupply of housing. When combined with the need for commercial real estate and infrastructure to service both sectors, we expect the region’s construction sector to remain on a strongly upward growth path over the next five years,” according to Oxford Economics. It helps that China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative is aggressively aiming to connect the mainland and Southeast Asia with the rest of the continent and as far as Africa and Europe, Oxford Economics said.
For Oxford Economics, “the Southeast Asian region is a pivotal element in the One Belt, One Road initiative, and China has the financial muscle to develop these projects aggressively while they are keenly embraced by countries in the region lacking the resources to develop such muchneeded infrastructure projects.” As such, “the resulting increased scale of development (from the China-led initiative) looks set to prove to be win-win for all in the region, it said. In the next five years, Oxford Economics estimated construction investments across Asia to average $1.61 trillion yearly and exceed the projected $890 billion in the European Union as well as $697 billion in the United States. Last year, Asia’s construction industry, as measured by gross value added in real terms, reached $1.4 trillion, surpassing the EU’s $831 billion and the U.S.’s $648 billion. ■
‘PH growth to top 6% in medium... PAGE B1 t vised upwards and year-to-date growth, at 6.7 percent, kept the country on track to hitting the 6.5-7.5 percent target for 2017. BMI said that favorable demographics trends, a strong public investment drive and deepening economic cooperation with China and Japan were expected to continue supporting economic growth. However, it noted that equity market trends were showing signs of fatigue and the Philippine peso remained one of Asia’s worst performing currencies. “This signals weak investor
sentiment, which is likely to act as a headwind to further growth acceleration,” BMI said. It added that the Philippines had also fallen 14 notches to 113th in the World Bank’s 2018 Ease of Doing Business rankings, with particularly poor showings in terms of starting a business, getting credit and protecting minority investors. “It seems that economic reform momentum is sputtering as President Rodrigo Duterte has shifted his attention to the war on drugs, and more recently the war against terrorism in the Southern Philippines,” it said.
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BMI said Duterte’s poor track record with regard to human rights and his volatile nature had also created a political backlash against his administration, both domestically and internationally, despite still-high personal approval ratings. “Meanwhile, his harsh rhetoric against western countries and international organizations like the EU, U.S., and United Nations has put his country at odds with many western investors, which are the contributors of the massive $25 billion business process outsourcing sector,” it noted. ■
America
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13th annual mayor’s luncheon in Woodland Hills, CA The United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley presents the 13th annual mayor’s luncheon with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday, November 29 at the Warner Center Marriott - Grand Ballroom (21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367). Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the program is from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be complimentary self-parking, while valet is $16. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, please call (818) 981-4491 or email marian@unitedchambers.org.
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Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA Global Law Centers in association with Civicminds Recruitment presents an immigration forum on Thursday, November 30 at the Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801). Candidates and employers with H-1B, TN, F-1, OPT & other visa issues are encouraged to attend this FREE Q&A session from 6 to 8 p.m. Civicminds Recruitment will offer tips on how to find employers for green card and work visas after graduation, job placement assistance for qualified applicants and free resume evaluation. To register, please email admin@globallawcenters.com or call (714) 657-7460. For more information, please visit www.globallawcenters.com.
D EC E M B E R 1
Historic Filipinotown parol parade and festival in Los Angeles The Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HFNC) announced that the annual parade and festival will be on Friday, December 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will start with the assembly of parols and vehicles at 250 N. Union St. at the Our Lady of Lorreto Catholic Church courtyard. The parade will start at 5 p.m. and will go westward from Union to Beverly, and will eventually end up at the FCC/FACLA compound at 1740 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. The HFNC is calling for volunteers who will serve as security, ushers, for registration and monitors for the parade. To volunteer, please call Art at (213)318-9065. For more information, please contact Cecile at (213) 503-8176.
D EC E M B E R 2
Pasko Na Naman in Glendale, CA The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups will sponsor a fundraiser entitled “Pasko Na Naman 2” on Saturday, December 2 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium (1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208) starting at 4 p.m. The presentation’s theme is Salo-salo at Pagdiriwang” which means “getting together joyfully.” The show will provide a glimpse on how Filipinos celebrate Christmas in the Philippines, which will be depicted through choral singing and folk dancing. The performers are Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, St. Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Choir, Monique Magpayo and Kurt Winterhalter. Benefactors of proceeds include but are not limited to: Channel of Charity, Filipino Priests Association of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, feeding programs and FFRG faith formation events. Come one! Come All! Feel the scents and sights of Filipino Christmas. The audience will also enjoy “merienda cena” during the intermission. Ticket donation is $45.00 per person. For souvenir ad and ticket information, please contact Tess Domingo at (909) 855-2208 or Carol Evangelista at (909) 969-3316.
Free oil filter exchange in Alhambra, CA Attention all Alhambra residents! Free oil filter & motor oil recycling event on Saturday, December 2! Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one FREE new oil filter. Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AutoZone located at 1100 W. Commonwealth Ave., Alhambra, CA 91803.
D EC E M B E R 3
Arnel Pineda in Los Angeles Arnel Pineda, the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed rock band JOURNEY, will be in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 3 at the famed Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The show begins at 6 p.m. VIP ticket ($200) includes CD, concert tour shirt, meet & greet. Other ticket prices are $150, $100, $75 or $50. For sponsorship and tickets, please call or text: Trini Foliente at (626) 818-7147; Cora Soriano at (213) 999-1993 or Andy Tecson at (323) 467-5096.
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Arcadia named most business-friendly city by LAEDC THE City of Arcadia was announced as the 2017 Eddy Award winner for the Most Business-Friendly City by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) for cities with a population under 68,000 at its annual awards gala on Thursday, November 9, 2017. This is the first time that the City of Arcadia has won this prestigious award. Finalists for the Eddy Award are selected by a blue ribbon panel that evaluates and recognizes Los Angeles County cities that are doing the most to encourage job cre-
ation and facilitate the ease of doing business within their communities. “This is a tremendous honor for the City of Arcadia,” said Mayor Peter Amundson. “Let it be known far and wide that Arcadia is open for business. Our city is home to some of the finest businesses and entrepreneurs in Los Angeles County, and our community will go above and beyond your expectations.” Over the past several years, the City has taken great strides to cut red tape, streamline processes, and enhance customer service through a business assistance program,
and a new pro-business Development Code. The Award is recognition that the City of Arcadia is without peer in our efforts to foster economic development in Los Angeles County. The Eddy Awards began in 1996 to support the fulfillment of the LAEDC’s mission to recognize excellence by celebrating individuals, organizations, and cities that demonstrate exceptional contributions to economic development in the region. For more information, please visit the LAEDC website at www.laedc.org/eddy-awards. n
Thanksgiving fire safety tips THANKSGIVING is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. The Culver City Fire Department encourages you to be safe when preparing your holiday meal. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: • The leading cause of fire in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Stand by your pan when you are cooking on the stove top. If you leave the kitchen for even a short time, turn off the stove. • Watch what you are cooking. Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or
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the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Then no one can bump them or pull them over. • Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. • Stay in your home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently. Set a timer so you will not forget about the bird as you watch the parade or football. • Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The
steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns. • Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
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• Keep anything that can catch fire (e.g., oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packages, towels and curtains) away from your stovetop. Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button. • If you are frying your turkey, use a fryer with thermostat controls to ensure the oil does not become over heated. Thaw your turkey completely; ice on the bird will cause oil to splatter. Don’t’ overfill the pot with oil. Always use a turkey fryer outdoors. For more information, visit the Culver City Fire Department’s Fire and Life Safety Tips page. We hope you have a SAFE and Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy 72nd birthday Loida McBrayer! Loida celebrated her special day at Mayflower Seafood Restaurant in Los Angeles alongside friends, including Leone Gumabon, Lani Sapphire, Luzviminda Marcos, Trinity Foliente and Priscilla Marte.
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B NOVEMBER 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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TRAVEL DIARIES
A first-timer’s guide to Melaka & Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Christina
M. Oriel
AJ Press
This year, I crossed off three new countries on my travel bucket list — a feat, I’d say, given that 2017 seems to have flown by quickly. One of the countries was Malaysia for four days as part of the “twin destinations” program that pairs a stop to another Asian country after the Philippines. [Editor’s note: I wrote about my trip to Vigan and surrounding areas in the Ilocos region of the Philippines in the LA Weekend Edition, Nov. 18.] Along with about 20 highperforming travel agents from Southern California and Michelle Narvaez of Philippine Airlines — which re-opened its daily Manila to Kuala Lumpur route in June — I boarded a three-hour flight to KL on a Wednesday morning. Day 1 Once we landed at the airport, we were greeted by our tour guide named Steven, a young Malaysian man who, for the next few days, would pour out historical facts with hints of dry humor. We settled onto the tour bus for a 40-minute drive to Putrajaya, the federal administrative capital of Malaysia that houses the major government agencies (their version of Washington, DC) for lunch. The buffet spread featured staples in Malaysian cuisine like roti canai (Indian-influenced flatbread), satay, beef and chicken curries, and nasi goreng (fried rice with shrimp paste and chili). Meanwhile, the sweets table had some desserts that resembled those found in the Philippines, from ais kacang (similar ingredients to halo halo) to rice and cassava-based cakes. Afterward, we headed to the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism and Culture office, where we received a welcome from tourism officials and a briefing of what the country has to offer. During the presentation, I mentally added Penang and Borneo to my ever-growing travel list. For the next day and a half, we stayed in Melaka (also spelled Malacca), a historic port city and UNESCO World Heritage site two hours south of Kuala Lumpur that has traces of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and European influences. While it isn’t a sleepy town per se, as high-rises and more modern structures like hotels and malls have sprung up sporadically, it is a welcome respite from a large, congested city. With our indulgent lunch not yet fully digested, dinner was held at Seri Nyonya inside the Equatorial Hotel, which serves Peranakan/Nyonya cuisine that stems from Chinese immigrants in the 15th century. Malaysians with Chinese ancestry are called Baba (males) Nyonya (females), Steven explained. Across the course of the stay, we began to learn more about this infused culture. The meal was multicourses, featuring stuffed egg spring rolls, sup hee peow (fish
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soup), telur dadar (omelette), and Sotong Madu (deep-fried squid). Day 2 Our Thursday morning itinerary required wearing comfortable shoes as we would be walking around Jonker Street, the main thoroughfare of Melaka’s Chinatown, and its surrounding areas for several hours. During our visit, it was not crowded with pedestrians on this street where you can find cafés, pharmacies, food stalls, and souvenir shops. According to Steven, Friday and Saturday nights are when Jonker is abuzz for the night market. We stopped at a small store selling mixes of teh tarik (pulled tea) and coffee (white coffee is a popular choice), which was a big hit with our group as each individual bought bags in bulk. We made our way to the Red Square that serves as a center in Melaka along the river. Within the square is Stadthuys — considered the oldest Dutch building in the East, now carrying historical artifacts recounting the city’s long history of being colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and British — Christ Church, and Queen Victoria’s Fountain. Along the street, one can see
ornately-designed trishaws (bicycle-powered rickshaws) that take and play loud pop music as they ride around the area. I rode in a “Frozen” inspired trishaw, while others were in ones decked out with Hello Kitty, Spongebob Square Pants or “Despicable Me” minions. An hour-long ride costs around $12, but thankfully, we don’t use one of the trishaws for more than 20 minutes because having someone cycle you around, while it’s humid and the streets are not flat, is laborious. The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, adjacent to the Jonker Street, is easy to pass by, but is worth spending an hour inside. Owned and maintained by a family, the museum is composed of three restored townhouses that give an overview of Baba Nyonya culture, from how they entertained guests, celebrated weddings or used the bathroom. Photography is not allowed inside for maintenance purposes, but every inch of the structures is a feast for the eyes especially if you appreciate architecture. Other sites to visit in Melaka include the Cheng Hoon Teng temple (Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism), Maritime Museum & Naval Museum, Sultanate
Palace, and Porta de Santiago. By mid-afternoon, we were hosted for lunch at Ramada Plaza Melaka — yes, another buffet. Though there was an abundance of options to choose from, having Nasi Ayam (steamed chicken with rice) and a glass of teh tarik were enough for me as I had been looking forward to trying local versions of these. Afterward, we boarded the bus for the two-hour ride back to Kuala Lumpur, which we collectively had been awaiting. Day 3 When you’re on a trip, it’s easy to lose track of what day it is. This particular Friday in late September is perhaps one of the most memorable days for me in 2017. By 8 a.m., we departed for Batu Caves Temple, a limestone cave and Hindu temple in the Gombak District just outside of Kuala Lumpur. Before getting off the bus, Steven told us not to hold anything in our hands as monkeys inside the cave may mistake it for food. At the entrance is a 42.7-meter high golden statue of Lord Murugan; once you pass it, there are 272 concrete steps to climb before you reach the inside of the cave. Inside, we enjoyed watching monkeys running around, some eating bananas. Next, we were off to the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, a museum for one of the world’s largest pewter manufacturers. I didn’t know what to expect from this visit and thought it would be another tour with an overload of information, but I was proven wrong.
After listening to the company’s history and looking at silverware products in glass cases, we were taken into the “School of Hard Knocks” workshop place that had a long table for all of us to hammer out and engrave our own pewter bowl. Thirty minutes or so later, we shifted to the Foundry for an hour, which required us to wear aprons and gloves as we would be employing our creative talents to create souvenirs using melted pewter. The instructor showed us how to scoop the piping hot pewter and we were then free to put it into a mold for a pendant or keychain or craft something freehand. If you made a mistake, you could throw it back into the pewter bowl, where it would instantly melt away. Once our creations cooled down, we were taught to clean and buff them. I personally made a few key chains and wrote a pendant with my name on it. Though we had time to create more, we were only allowed to take three items with us as part of our entrance fee. The interactive and creative activities didn’t cease there. The next site was Jadi Batek Gallery to learn batik, a textile art form on fabric using molten wax for the drawing and brush painting for the colors. Typically, the paintings depict flowers and plants. Given the time constraint, we were given canvases with the wax drawing made beforehand so we just had to paint it in. I selected a sunflower outline (my favorite type of flower) and painted away. After less than an hour, we all meandered around the handicraft shop as our paintings dried. I appreciated these two visits because I was able to be handson and make my own souvenirs that make for good stories when I return back home, and not merely be a passive observer. Finally, our Kuala Lumpur experience culminated in visiting the Petronas Towers, the iconic 88-story twin towers that were once considered the world’s tallest buildings (from 1998-2004). However, they are still the tallest
twin towers. It’s best to book tickets in advance, as they are limited daily. To control the crowd, the observation experience is spread out by first taking a souvenir photo before entering the elevators to the 42nd-floor Skybridge, which had a view of the sides of both towers. After 15 minutes, we were then instructed to take another high-speed elevator to the 88th observation floor. Each group is given about 20 minutes to walk around and take photos. During our visit, as the sun was setting in an hour, the sunlight was not too photo-friendly, but nonetheless, it was amazing to cross off another tall, iconic edifice from my travel bucket list and take in a sweeping view of the Malaysian capital. We ended the night at Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur with its impressive dinner buffet with more options besides local Malaysian cuisine. Though there were no other activities planned, a few group members and I walked from our hotel (Swiss Garden) to Jalan Alor, a night market featuring street food — perfect for the adventurous foodies. We made our way to Bukit Bintang, the shopping and entertainment district of the city with high-end and bargain shops. To observe people out and about is one of the best ways to experience a culture and was a fitting end to our Kuala Lumpur stay. Day 4 After a jam-packed schedule the day before, our final moments in Malaysia were spent taking photos in front of Putrajaya and shopping for last-minute souvenirs at an outlet mall next to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The airport itself is a mini-mall for those who want duty-free items and have some time to spend before their flight. Three hours later, we were back in Manila, as most of the tour group connected on another Philippine Airlines flight back to Los Angeles, while others like myself stayed behind for a few more days. It was an activityfilled week taking us from Vigan to Kuala Lumpur, and I’m ever so grateful to collect these memories and write about them. Thank you to Eliza Chung and Manny Ilagan of GTT International/Majestic Vacations, Tourism Director Purificacion Molintas of the Philippine Department of Tourism’s San Francisco office, Philippine Airlines’ Area Managers Michelle Narvaez (Los Angeles) and Delia Merano (San Francisco), and Azilina Azni Zainal Abidin, the vice president of the Los Angeles office of Tourism Malaysia, for making this Philippines and Malaysia tour possible.
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2017
Fil-Am Artist FrAncis cAlimlim
Connecting with his history, community and identity by
FILIPINO-AMERICAN interdisciplinary artist Francis Calimlim believes that you should always have conversations with yourself. Some may think it’s crazy, but from his experience, doing such can open the avenue to discover who you are and want to be. As an interdisciplinary artist, Calimlim’s practice focuses on “the process of making,” meaning he doesn’t categorize himself in any particular style or medium. “Whether it be drawing, installation, video or performance, it really depends on what I’m trying to figure out,” he explained. “I’ve stopped myself early on to jump straight to an end-goal or outcome, and allow my work to take the forms it needs to be, usually ending up in places I did not expect in the beginning stages. I like the
“W/alis,” 2016.
Malou liwanag-bledsoe / AJPress
process of the game, play, setting rules and limitation to start a project off with, and I basically just go for the ride.” Born in Quezon City, Philippines, Calimlim was only three years old when he and his family immigrated to the United States. His mother was from Nueva Ecija; while his father was from Baguio. He grew up mostly in San Diego, California, although he traveled back to Manila almost every year. Being an only child, Calimlim spent most of his time at The artist doing work on “A Lala.” home watching TV and drawing. “My mom, who was an always thought of different engineer, would bring home career paths such as animation old navy ship schematics as or illustration.” scratch paper for me to draw on He graduated from San where I would sketch my own Diego State University, majorversion of the cartoons and TV ing in Multimedia. Although shows I watched,” he shared. “I he pursued photography and never got out of that practice moved through many differof drawing and inventing, and ent phases — film, illustration and sculpture — he eventually found himself focused on painting. Insider/outsider: Finding the connection as a Fil-Am Calimlim gradually shifted his focus during the two years before he began his graduate studies at the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) in 2014. “...I took three trips to the Philippines. I shot a lot of photos and really focused on my experiences of now being there as an adult. It really started to sink in that going back home [to Manila] felt both welcoming and extremely foreign to me “Peaces,” 2016, in plaster cast. — I became very aware of my positionality as a Filipino-American, and how that affected my interactions with the people and places I passed through.
“The Three That Made It (Were Left Behind,” 2017.
“Without A [(Be)C/P(I)]ause.”
“Bumalik ka na, ha ha ha,” 2017”
“Lazarus,” 2017.
Francis Calimlim
“The last phase of my paintings described those feelings of being an outsider in the Philippines, painting landscapes depicted through various kinds of windows and frames in the foreground; looking out into the scenery from the inside of some sort of vehicle or house, to express feeling like a tourist,” he said. Halfway through his graduate program, Calimlim left painting and began to focus more on interdisciplinary approaches, including what he felt during his trip to the Philippines. “ I was still thinking about depicting this “insider-outsider” experience, while also including other issues such as diaspora, social and cultural contradictions, and (dis)connection. “I am still currently focused on these ideas, although they are angled from a more subjectivity-focused orientation. I am interested in the individual subject and the idea of community that is both longed and searched for – more specifically,
“Mmm, ano? K! Manok, man. OK: Chickens,” 2017.
“A Lala,” 2017.
Filipino-American communities,” he said. In 2016, Calimlim made the nine-sculpture installation project entitled, “Balikbayan.” Each sculpture was a balikbayan box that has been cut in a particular angle, arranged across the gallery floor. It was a continuation of his previous project, “For When You Welcome Me (2015),” which was a series of 132 ink drawings on featuring at least one figure protruding a part of their body out of the box. Calimlim’s artist statement reveals his eagerness to explore “subjectivity within Fil-Am diasporic communities and its (neo/post) colonial symptoms.” Through mixed media, he focuses on the subject of the balikbayan (overseas Filipino) entangled in intergenerational collisions and trauma. He is “interested in the individual residing within and who form these communities, who are often times generalized under the focus of communal healing, resistance, and solidarity.” However, including his Filipino heritage in his work is important to “very specific extent.” “It’s all about intention — and if more obvious Filipino signifiers are required to fill certain holes of content then they certainly should be used, but very intentionally and responsibly,” he explained. “I don’t believe in using materials for just the sake of being more easily legible and indicative of who I am and where I’m from. I think to do that ends up misrepresenting and backfiring in the long-run, resulting in potentially tokenizing myself in some regards, as if saying, ‘I’m Filipino because I’m using Filipino things!.’ It can really narrow the perspective of the Filipino(-American) experience for others to understand by redirecting the focus to just these particular objects, closing the scope to just a few aspects, and
blocking a lot of our complexities and history.” Sharing his struggles during his early years as an artist, Calimlim explained that he continually face these — though at a different level — today. “It was tough going through school and never taught about Filipino artists, or even artists of color in general. It was a mostly white, male and Eurocentric art history, which conditioned me to only know how to learn from and try to emulate in the beginning. I had to do a lot of my own research and digging to find artists and figures who I can really connect with. “My particular struggles personally as an artist reflect a lot of issues that I face on a regular basis. Living in San Francisco with a brutal economic environment, being a person of color that potentially reads as ethnically ambiguous, and a presidency that targets many forms of racial queerness and identity, are just some of the things that I struggle with that affects my practice and how I think about my work. In a lot of ways, I work with and through my art as a way of coping with and understand these issues that I’m a part of. Art can be a way of figuring things out, a way of processing that is already inherently a struggle,” Calimlim said. At present, Calimlim is currently teaching an Experimental Drawing class at the SFAI’s Public Education Program. He was also part of “APAture,” the annual Asian & Pacific American arts festival, presented by Kearny Street Workshop at the Arc Studios and Gallery in San Francisco. For more information on Francis Calimlim and his work visit his website at www.franciscalimlimart.com. *Cover photos: Installation, “Balik” (2016), medium: balikbayan cardboard boxes, rope, duct tape. All photos courtesy of Francis Calimlim.
Rachel Peters wears Sarimanok-inspired Christian Bautista on engagement with national costume for Miss Universe girlfriend: ‘About time we settled down’ by Patricia lourdes Philstar.com
Miss Universe-Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters Photo from Instagram@rachelpetersx
Viray
MISS Universe Philippines Rachel Peters showed off her Sarimanok-inspired national costume during the preliminaries of the 66th Miss Universe competition in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 18. Peters’ national costume depicts the legendary Sarimanok, a legendary bird of the Maranao people from Mindanao. Dubai-based fashion designer Val Taguba designed Peters’ golden swimsuit with a trail while Jojo Bragais designed her knee-high shoes. The Philippines’ bet would also be wearing Taguba’s creation for the evening gown competition. The coronation night of the Miss Universe pageant would be held at the AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, November 26.
by ricky lo Philstar.com
HE’S 36 and she’s 33. And they’ve been going steady for two years (since Nov. 18, 2015), long enough for them to know each other pretty well. “About time we settled down,” Christian Bautista told The Star. The soon-to-be Mrs. Christian Bautista is Kat Ramnani, one-fourth Filipino, one-fourth American, one-fourth Irish and one-fourth Indian. An amazing mix as you can see in the pictures on this and the “jump” pages, taken during the sweethearts’ journey around Europe, with a sojourn in Venice where Christian popped the de rigueur
Christian Bautista with fianceé Kat Ramnani
question “Will you marry me?” to which Kat readily said, “Yes!” That was last Oct. 30. As the excited Christian posted on his Facebook, “I
Photo from Instagram/@xtianbautista
wanted a picturesque spot to make the proposal. Should it be the cliffs of Santorini, the ancient sites of Athens or the Continued on Page 4
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Rhian Ramos on moving on: ‘Focus on other areas of life that need improvement’
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2017
by DoLLy
Anne cARvAjAL Inquirer.net
SiNce Rhian Ramos is from GMA 7 and Zanjoe Marudo is from ABS-cBN, it’s quite a treat to see them together for the first time on the big screen. They set aside the “network war” and declared a truce by starring in cineko Productions and Star cinema’s “Fallback.” A fallback guy or girl is sort of an “insignificant other” or, to put it bluntly, a “spare tire.” When our heart is in limbo after a breakup, we try to have fun with the wrong ones until the right one comes along. That’s what “fallbacks” are for. The characters that Rhian and Zanjoe portray in their screen rom-com will take us on a topsyturvy journey to “happy-neverafter.” Here’s my chat with Rhian: Did you ever have a fallback guy? i was once a fallback girl for a guy who had a girlfriend but still courted me. i was into him, but i couldn’t take him seriously knowing he was already in a relationship. i eventually got over it—or so i thought—and had a different boyfriend. Then, i found out that he and his girlfriend broke up. i didn’t realize it at the time but, subconsciously, he became my fallback. We ended up becoming a couple when my boyfriend and i broke up. Does “love on the rebound” work? i’m not sure about the potential of a rebound lasting. What people get from a rebound is the restoration of the confidence that they lost during their last heartbreak. What are your tips on mending a broken heart? The healthiest way is to focus on all the other areas of life that you can improve. Work out a lot, spend time making family happy, make more money, or if you’re an artist, write more/ paint more. What did you discover about Zanjoe? At first, i found him quite mysterious and a challenge to get to know. We didn’t instantly click, and we were quite shy with each
Said to being eyed as Kisses’ new partner are either Tony Labrusca (left, a head-turner in the Kapamilya adventure series La Luna Sangre), who presented Kisses with a bouquet of roses during her debut album launch last week, and Donny Pangilinan (far right), son of Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan who escorted Kisses during her debut early this year. Philstar.com photos
Kisses: Goodbye, Marco! Hello, Tony... or Donny? by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
Rhian Ramos
other for the first few shooting days. i like his unique, subtle sense of humor. Sometimes, he randomly delivers a punchline that only the people who know him will be able to catch, and it almost makes me feel lucky to connect. What are your thoughts on jealousy and infidelity? i’m not a particularly jealous person, which tends to make my patience towards jealousy very short. i don’t want to spend time worrying about infidelity, either, because the Philippines is just so small and we’re all chismosas and chismosos, so if someone were to be unfaithful to me, the chances that i won’t find out are slim. Would you consider transferring to ABS-CBN? i usually answer all the “what ifs” with “never say never.” What i appreciate is that the movie scene is expanding, and i’m lucky enough that my home network allows me to work with actors from ABS-cBN. Which relationship is harder
ASked in a recent interview with The Star what her ideal guy was, kisses delavin enumerated the many qualities that could win her nod, foremost of which is “respect for elders.” Taking a cue from that, it’s believable that kisses was hurt when Fil-italian Marco Gallo, her loveteam-mate since their “PBB (Pinoy Big Brother)” GMA photo days, “ignored” her parents, Gilbert and carrie, in one octo save: when the guy wants out, or when the girl wants out? casion so she decided to drop him (like the proverbial hot it’s harder when the guy wants out. They’re pretty relent- potato?). it’s understandable because less about the things they want. Girls can try to make certain situ- kisses, known as PBB’s “Miracle Baby of Masbate” (she was ations work, even if they aren’t conceived after her mom sufideal. But, in the same way, when a guy falls in love, they fall fered eight miscarriages), probably values the feelings of her pretty deep, and they can’t be parents more than anybody’s. stopped. For someone like you who’s An only child, kisses is so precious to Gilbert and carrie so poised, have you had any that they handle her with care “wa-poise” moment? (like a dresden doll) and, even Truthfully, i’m not poised if kisses has turned 18 early at all. The joke is that i have a 20-minute allotment of poise per this year, they accompany her anywhere she goes. day, then “kukuba na ako.” “Someone who respects What do you find hard to and loves his parents no matter understand about men? That many of the guys i know what,” kisses added. “Someone who loves God more than can’t take what they dish out. he loves himself; someone who They want to make fun of you, but if you do the same, they take is full of himself; someone who has no pretension, who won’t it personally. fool a girl; and who is sincere, What don’t people know consistent, kind and good-manabout Rhian Ramos? nered.” if you want to hear somedid her loveteam-mate (rething light, here goes: i always ferring to Marco) possess most, wear black, love math, i can’t jump rope, and i have been writ- if not all, of those qualities? “Only time will tell,” said ing songs lately (laughs).
kisses. Well, time “has told” whatever, and kisses confirmed to Funfare during a casual chat last Saturday, Nov. 18, “Marco and i are no longer a pair. We will have our own partners soon daw but no names yet.” kissables (how her fans are called) can perhaps choose between two “kissable” eligibles: Tony Labrusca or donny Pangilinan who, according to kapamilya sources, both have the qualities of kisses‘ “ideal guy.” When kisses launched her eponymous debut album (which had sold more than 15,000 copies before the
launch) at SM North’s Skydome last week, Marco was not present (neither expected nor invited). it was Tony (a headturner in the kapamilya adventure series La Luna Sangre) who showed up and offered kisses a bouquet of roses. The son of Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan, donny is “sincere, consistent, kind and good-mannered” just like her other siblings who were raised to “respect their elders.” it was donny who escorted kisses as she walked to the stage during her debut and they made a handsome pair. Okay, kissables, take your pick.
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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2017
Bianca King knows she made the right move by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
IN her almost 13 years in show business, Bianca King has learned the true meaning of ups and down. With most of her career spent at GMA Network where she starred in over a dozen soaps, she had
a two-year stint in TV5, which wasn’t too memorable radarwise, finally transferring to ABS-CBN in 2016. Immediately, the dramatic actress was cast in the afternoon series “Pusong Ligaw” as lead antagonist Marga, and the show has turned out to be
H Mart Arcadia grand opening on December 8
H MART, a leading international supermarket chain has made a final announcement of H Mart Arcadia Grand Opening and is set to open its doors at 10:30am on Friday, December 8. A number of community leaders and representatives are set to participate and celebrate the Grand Opening. The Grand Opening will feature a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony followed by a Korean traditional Folk dance and Chinese Lion Dance. A variety of FREE GIFTS will be given out to new and current Hmart Smart Card members (while supplies last) as well as all shoppers, purchasing over $30 (thirty dollars). In addition, face-painting events will be held for children (Weekends Bianca King Photo from Instagram/@bianca_king only). her longest television project H Mart is an upscale ever. supermarket with more than “Actually, from the story 90 stores in U. S nationwide. conference in October 2016, It serves both traditional Asian a whole year had passed since and international food, with I joined ABS-CBN. And then fresh produce, meat, poultry, with ‘Pusong Ligaw’ starting in April, this has definitely been my longest soap so far. And hindi ko naramdaman na duby Rosette adel maan yung panahon because Philstar.com I’m really enjoying myself,” King happily said, clearly grateTOP celebrity endorsers of ful she made the right move to clothing line Bench on Saturher present network. day, Nov. 18 evening made the “I’ve been a Kapamilya for runway hot as they flaunted a year, but it only feels like their fit and toned bodies. I’ve only been here a month, The celebrity endorsers meaning to say all my experigathered at the Mall of Asia ences still feel fresh. I feel Arena and shared one runway at home as well because of to celebrate the 30th anniall the lovely people I work versary of Bench in a fashion with,” the 32-year-old actress and underwear show dubbed continued. “Under the Stars.” The hit afternoon series Among the celebrity enbegins its second chapter dorsers who slayed the runway today and King is very excited were Kapamilya stars Coleen over the exciting turn of events in the gripping and sexy love story that also stars Beauty Gonzalez, Joem Bascon, Raymond Bagatsing, Diego Loyzaga, Sofia Andres and Enzo Pineda. “Expect a lot more intense scenes,” promised King as she invites the public to watch Pusong Ligaw weekdays after “It’s Showtime”.
and fishery. H Mart is also known as the ‘One-Stop Shopping’ place for all shoppers in different ethnicities, backgrounds and ages. H Mart Arcadia is over 40,000 square feet of retail space and will be placed in 1101 W Huntington Dr. Arcadia, CA 91007. By directly providing products directly from its CA warehouse and local farms, Hmart Arcadia will retain and elevate its freshness to meet customers’ needs. “On behalf of the residents of Arcadia I welcome H Mart. We are excited and honored that H Mart has chosen our great town for a location for their grocery store. It is a winwin, great for the community and great for H Mart. I wish them many many years of success here in Arcadia,” said Arcadia Mayor, Peter Amundson. H Mart President Brian Kwon said, “As H Mart would like to give special thanks to Arcadia and the surrounding
communities for loving our Arcadia store, we will prepare hard everyday to serve customers and go beyond any expectations of our opening.” And added that Hmart Arcadia will be a new destination where customers can truly enjoy ‘Good for all’ H Mart is a 34 years old supermarket chain, which started with first store in Woodside, NY in 1982, offering robust and unique cultural foods that also promote a rich and healthy lifestyle. Today H Mart operates more than 90 stores in 14 states and in one of the leading international supermarket chains in the United States. In 2014, Hmart was recognized as one of the fastest growing retailers in the National Retail Federation’s HOT 100 RETAILERS (#13 Hmart). In 2016, Supermarket News has listed Hmart as one of the Top 50 Small Chains and Independents in the United States & Canada. (Advertising Supplement)
Celebrities sizzle in ‘Under the Stars’ runway Garcia, Julia Barreto, Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino, Enrique Gil, Richard Gutierrez, Dominic Roque, Enzo Pineda, Julia Montes, Marco Gumabao, Iñigo Pascual and Albie Casiño. On the other hand, Kapuso stars who fired up the runway were Lovie Poe, Solenn Heusaff, Kim Domingo, Maine Mendoza. Andrea Torres, Sanya Lopez, Tom Rodriguez, Rocco Nacino, Derrick Monasterio and real-life couple Max Collins and Pancho Magno. Well-loved pairs Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla,
Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo
Julia Montes
Photos courtesy of SM MOA Arena
Maine Mendoza
as well as Ruru Madrid and Gabbi Garcia, also caught attention. Beauty queens who represented the Philippines to the Miss Universe in 2013, Ariella Arida, in 2014, MJ Lastimosa, and in 2016, Maxine Medina, also graced the runway. Even Reina Hispanoamericana beauty queen Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez emerged as a crowd favorite. Model Pietro Boselli dubbed as the “world’s hottest Math teacher” served as the finale guest of the show.
Kim Chiu
Julia Barretto
Christian Bautista on engagement with... From Page 2
romantic city of Florence? Places that were too public. So when we were back at the hotel eating cold pizza when it was just the two of us, that was where I asked her. No frills. Just real truth and real love. And she said yes.” And, may I hasten to add, no drama, so unlike other celebrity proposals made at a crowded mall, on national television during the taping of a show, at the basketball court, at the airport or anywhere calculated to draw people’s attention. For four years now, Kat has been Globe Telecom manager for Content and Strategic Partnerships of the Mobile Data Service division. After tucking up a Business Marketing & Communications degree from Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit university in Silicon Valley, California, Kat worked in the U.S. for Google, and then at Apple and Facebook before she came home and joined Globe. Christian talked about “how it all happened” in this exclusive conversation. Why did you choose Venice for the proposal? “I didn’t really choose a destination. I chose a time that felt right to do it. It so happened that we were in Venice at that time. After a long day of mishaps (caught late train, missed our boat), we had a
really special moment where everything felt so right. That’s when I asked her.” What were you in Venice for? “We were there for vacation; we had been planning this holiday for a year. We explored Greece and Italy. We visited Athens, Santorini, Venice, Florence and Milan. We went to see the sights, ate good food, and shopped till we dropped.” People might suspect that you just wanted to go with the “trend” of showbiz couples proposing. “I believe proposing is not a trend. It never is. It is a serious commitment.” How did you meet and fall in love? “We met a few years ago through common friends. We became friends at first. After a year and a half of being friends, we started dating and eventually, officially became a couple. “We met in an Escape room (in Breakout Paragon Plaza, a recreation center in Mandaluyong City). It’s a game room where you and your friends discover ways and clues to reach the next room. It just so happened that later on in life we would find out that we were looking for each other.” When did you realize that you were compatible and ready for marriage? “There’s a feeling in your
gut, deep down, that will tell you that it’s time. Compatibility is all about finding someone that interprets love the same way you do. You both do your best to stick together and love each other despite different personalities and backgrounds. As for being ready for marriage, I believe it’s always about putting in the effort that both of you want to make it work all the time.” What do you have in common (likes and dislikes, etc.)? “We both like eating good food and sourcing out the best restaurants when we travel. We love traveling. We love to talk about tech news and invest and support in kick-starter companies. “We love animals and really corny jokes, and we love working out. We love to surf. She actually was the first person to teach me how to surf during a La Union birthday trip that she organized and planned for my family, friends, and me.” What kind of wedding do you plan to have? “We haven’t started with wedding planning yet. There’s so much that we need to do and we are still at the stage of asking advice and guidance from friends about it. But we want an intimate wedding with loved ones filled with lots of good food, love and laughter.”
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2017
As we celebrate another Thanksgiving, We pay tribute to our co-founders, whose vision paved the way for the success of Unistar Foods today. Our longevity is based on the determination and dedication of our founders to provide quality food products to the Filipino-American community in the West Coast. Owners Alvin and Carol Yam, along with Alvin’s brother Calvin, started this business from scratch. During the early days of the business, Unistar kicked off with Alvin as the sole employee. Back in July of 1986, he ran the company while occupying a garage. From there, the sole proprietors rolled the business into a leading purveyor of quality meat poultry, seafood and other food product line, housed in our own 30,000 square foot-facility in downtown Pomona, California. The Unistar processing facility allows us to more efficiently and effectively serve our clientele in the food service industry in Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire. We also serve San Diego, Las Vegas and Northern California. To professionalize the trade was the grand vision of the Yams. We follow strict quality control. Seeing to it that there is temperature control from our warehouse to our delivery trucks. Our high quality products come with very competitive and affordable prices. The company has really gone a long way since we started in 1986. Our business has earned the respect of both the consumers and competitors including our American counterparts over the years. But, we know in our hearts that the only way we could have come this far was because of the commitment we made from day one - to build our business by helping others build theirs.
Maraming Salamat Po!
Los Angeles • San Diego • Las Vegas • San Francisco 128 N. Gibbs St. Pomona, CA 91767
1 (800) 2-UNISTAR www.unistarfoodsinc.com
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2017