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D E C EM BER 6-12, 2019 Volume 13 - No. 5 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858
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Duterte accuses water firms of ‘economic plunder’ by CATHERINE
VALENTE ManilaTimes.net
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, December 5, renewed his tirades against Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc., accusing the concessionaires of committing “economic plunder.” During his visit to Legazpi, Albay, Duterte again slammed the concession agreements entered into by the government with the water firms,
DATELINE
which he said, were tantamount to the country giving up its sovereignty over its water resources. “Alam mo (You know) in that contract pag nabasa mo (if you read it), our country surrendered everything to Manila Waters and to Maynilad, everything, including the sovereignty… Kung malugi sila (If they lose) attributable to the government, what animal is that? It is not stated in the contract,” Duterte said. “This is a classic case of
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Maria Ressa selected as Princeton University’s Baccalaureate speaker RAPPLER CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa has been chosen as the speaker for Princeton University’s 2020 Baccalaureate ceremony, the university announced this week. The Baccalaureate ceremony is an end-ofyear interfaith service that is one of Princeton’s oldest traditions, with its speaker selected by the Committee on Honorary Degrees and approved by the Board of Trustees. According to the letter of invitation to Ressa, her record of civic leadership makes her “a superb role model for our students, and throughout your career you have demonstrated values of humanity, community engagement and social responsibility that we hope our students will exemplify in their lives.” Ressa graduated from Princeton in 1986 with a degree in English. Juston Forte, president of the senior class, expressed his excitement to have Ressa speak to the graduating class. “In her work as an accomplished journalist
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economic plunder. Wala lang nakasilip dito (But no one was able to look into this). I can only assume money really talks,” he added. Duterte made the statement as he reiterated that he has no plans of paying Ayala-led Manila Water the P7.39 billion the government owed based on a recent decision by an arbitration court. “‘Pag dinemanda nila tayo — hindi ako magbayad ng P7 billion, letse ka. Pakainin ko
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NEW CHINESE ENVOY. President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, December 4, welcomed in Malacañang China’s new ambassador to the Philippines along with other envoys from Sri Lanka, Denmark, Myanmar, Greece, and South Africa. Ambassador Huang said it’s a great honor for him to be appointed as ambassador of China to the Philippines vowing to continue cultivating strong ties between the two countries. Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano
Philippine tourism revenue hit record-high $7.29-B in September January to September this year. “Beyond the headcount, of course, I’d also like to mention the revenue MANILA — The country’s tourism because this has been an increasindustry surged by 25.66 percent in ingly important indicator. $7.29 billion. the first nine months of 2019, the Again, a record-high for the first nine Department of Tourism (DOT) said on months. $7.29 billion, the first time that Monday, December 2. we ever reached this level,” Bengzon Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said said in an interview. the Philippines aggregated revenues of This figure is significantly higher $7.29 billion or P379.21 billion from u PAGE 4 by LEILA
SALAVERRIA Inquirer.net
PH among countries worst hit by extreme weather in 2018 NBA’s Brooklyn Nets host
Fil-Am community members participate in the Filipino Heritage Night at Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets.. Photo courtesy of PCGNY
by GAEA
Trash washed up on the shore in Manila Bay as heavy monsoon rains poured and caused floods in Metro Manila. Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales
KATREENA Philstar.com
CABICO
MANILA — The Philippines—a country regularly exposed to tropical cyclones— placed second in the list of nations most affected by extreme weather events in 2018, according to a report of an environmental think tank. The Philippines took the second place in the Global Climate Risk Index published by Bonn-based Germanwatch.
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Filipino Heritage Night
NEW YORK — Over 2,000 Filipino and Filipino-Americans from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut went to the Barclays Center to cheer for the Brooklyn Nets as it took on Miami Heat on Sunday, December 1 in a game billed as 4th Annual Filipino Heritage Night. A pre-game cultural per-
formance of the Philippine traditional “tinikling” dance was presented by the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey. Young Fil-Am basketball enthusiast got to stand in the court in front of Brooklyn Nets players during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner which was Fil-Am artists.
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december 6-12, 2019 • NeW YOrK ANd NeW JerSeY ASIAN JOUrNAL
Ressa selected as Princeton... PAGE 1 and executive editor of Rappler.com, Maria Ressa continuously fights against disinformation and fake news. Ressa’s work to share the truth and raise awareness of unjust situations despite its consequences embodies Princeton’s informal motto, ‘Princeton in the nation’s service and the service of humanity,’ by showing a dedication to humanity and an extraordinary level of social responsibility,” Forte wrote in a statement. “I am confident Maria Ressa will impart wisdom and inspire the Class of 2020 as we continue to grapple with injustice in our lives and in our future journeys beyond the gates of Princeton,” he added. Prior to becoming Rappler chief, Ressa has been a journalist in Asia for more than 30 years, with two decades nearly spent as a lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia for CNN. In 2012, she co-founded Rappler and saw it grow to become one of the leading online news organizations in the Philippines. Ressa has received various
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From the Front Page
Duterte accuses water firms...
PAGE 1 ‘yung pera sa kanila (If they sue us — I won’t pay the P7 billion, you idiot. I’ll make them eat the money),” the President said. To Ay a l a C o r p o ra t i o n , Duterte said, “‘Wag mo ako bolahin, letse ka, don’t f–k with me. Linaro ‘nyo Pilipino Rappler chief Maria Ressa speaks to Princeton University students in April 2019. sa pera (Don’t fool me, you Photo by Denise Applewhite / Princeton idiot, don’t f–k with me. You awards around the world for ing what’s happening in the are playing with the Filipinos’ her fight for press freedom Philippines, both the drug money).” and against disinformation, war, the information war and such as the prestigious Gold- the attacks against Rappler,” en Pen of Freedom Award she added. Princeton’s Baccalaureate from the World Association of PAGE 1 Newspapers and News Pub- service focuses on members Several groups of young lishers and the 2018 Gwen of the senior class. It includes Ifill Freedom Award from the prayers and readings from Filipino and Filipino-American Committee to Protect Journal- various religions and philo- basketball players were given ists. She was also named as sophical traditions. The ear- the opportunity to play in the “Person of the Year” by TIME liest recorded Baccalaureate Brooklyn Nets court during address — titled “Religion halftime. The short game of the Magazine in 2018. “The only defense journal- and the Public Spirit” — was kids from the local basketball ists have is to shine the light,” delivered by University Presi- teams FABLI, JSAG, NJ Ballers Ressa said in a Princeton “She dent Samuel Davies to the 11 and FALCON showcased the members of the graduating Filipinos’ innate love and pasRoars” podcast. “And part of what’s keep- class of 1760. The Baccalau- sion for basketball. Philippine brand Tanduay ing us safe is because of reate ceremony for the graduthe coverage that interna- ating class of 2020 is sched- Rum is a sponsor of the Brooklyn Nets was prominently distional news groups are giv- uled on May 31. (AJPress) played in the venue throughout the game. One of the events organizer’s second generation FilipinoAmerican Mark Anthony Agbuya who also organized the successful Filipino Heritage Night from 2016-2018 thanked everyone who came to support the event. After the game, FilAm Miami Heat Coach Eric Spoelstra greeted the Filipino fans and supporters. Deputy Consul General Kerwin Tate and Consul Arman Talbo were invited for the ceremonial turn-over of the basketball to the referee before the
“Sabi ko (I said) I will pursue this if this is the only thing I can achieve in this administration. Birahin ko talaga, economic plunder,” he added. A Singapore-based arbitration court had directed the government to pay billions of pesos to the two water companies for losses over disapproved rate adjustments. Manila Water is a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation
while businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corporation owns a controlling stake in Maynilad. The two private companies distribute water in Metro Manila and other parts of the country under agreements signed with state regulator Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System during the Ramos administration in 1997. n
NBA’s Brooklyn Nets host Filipino...
Philippine traditional “Tinikling” dance performance from the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey. Photos courtesy of PCGNY
Halftime game between FABLI, JSAG, NJ Ballers and FALCON young Fil-Am
start of the game. The Philippine Consulate General in New York actively
engages the Fil-Am community particularly the young generation through sports. n
Deputy Consul General Kerwin Tate and Consul Arman Talbo turn-over the basketball before the game Photos by Lambert Parong
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 6-12, 2019
december 6-12, 2019 • NeW YOrK ANd NeW JerSeY ASIAN JOUrNAL
Outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce THE Center for Disease Control (CDC), public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California, growing region. The CDC advises that consumers not eat and retailers not sell any romaine lettuce grown in this growing region. This includes all use-by dates and brands of romaine lettuce from this region. This advice includes all types of romaine lettuce grown in Salinas, California, such as whole heads of romaine, organic romaine, hearts of romaine, romaine in salad wraps, and packages of precut lettuce and salad mixes which contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad. Most romaine lettuce products are labeled with a harvest location showing where they were grown. Hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine, which is voluntarily labeled as “indoor grown,” from any region does not appear to be related to the current outbreak. If you have romaine lettuce or packaged foods containing
romaine at home: • Look for a label showing where the romaine lettuce was grown. It may be printed on the package or on a sticker. • If the label says “grown in Salinas” (whether alone or with the name of another location), don’t eat it. Throw it away. • If it isn’t labeled with a growing region, don’t eat it. Throw it away. • If you don’t know if the lettuce is romaine or whether a salad mix or wrap contains romaine, don’t eat it. Throw it away. • Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where romaine lettuce was stored. If you are buying romaine lettuce at a store: • Look for a label showing where the romaine lettuce was grown. It may be printed on the package or on a sticker. • If the label says “grown in Salinas” (whether alone or with the name of another location), don’t buy it. • If it isn’t labeled with a growing region, don’t buy it. • Restaurants and retailers should check the label on bags or boxes of romaine lettuce, or ask their suppliers about the source of their romaine lettuce. Look for a label showing where the romaine lettuce was
grown. It may be printed on the package or on a sticker. - If the label says “grown in Salinas” (whether alone or with the name of another location), don’t sell or serve it. - If it isn’t labeled with a growing region, don’t sell or serve it. - Suppliers, distributors, and others in the supply chain should not ship or sell romaine harvested in Salinas, California. Take action if you have symptoms of an E. coli infection: • Talk to your healthcare provider. • Write down what you ate in the week before you started to get sick. • Report your illness to your local health department. • Assist public health investigators by answering questions about your illness. • Wash your hands thoroughly after changing diapers, using the toilet, and before and after preparing food to lower the chance of infecting others. A total of 67 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 19 states. Six people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. (With reports from HHS.gov)
Fil-Am named new president of city college in California SAN JOSE, California — San José City College (SJCC) has appointed Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng as its next president. Tomaneng is currently the president of Berkeley City College (BCC) and has been an educator in the California Community College system for nearly 25 years. “With SJCC preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2021, now is an opportune time to set a course for the next 100 years and Dr. Tomaneng has the skills and experience to do so in collaboration with the dedicated team of professionals at the college already,” said SJCC chancellor Clift Breland. During her tenure at BCC, Tomaneng advanced the school’s Undocumented Community Resource Center and BCC’s Learning Communities, which provide culturally responsive services and curriculum for low income and firstgeneration students of color. A first-generation immigrant from the Philippines,
Dateline USa
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FIRST GOLD. Teammates throw Jylyn Nicanor in the air to celebrate the Philippines’ first gold medal in fencing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Thursday, December 5. Nicanor came from behind to beat Indonesia’s Diah Permatasi, 15-14, in the women’s individual sabre event. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
PH among countries worst hit by extreme... PAGE 1 The annual ranking measures the damage done by storms, floods and heatwaves to humans and economies. Last year, the Philippines was hit by the Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut). The powerful typhoon tore across Northern Luzon in September 2018, triggering deadly landslides and displacing a quarter of the country’s population. In 2017, the Philippines ranked 20th. Japan was identified as the most weather-affected country in 2018. The East Asian nation was hit by torrential rains, an intense tropical cyclone and severe heatwave last year. Germany, also affected by extreme heat, placed third. Completing the list of most affected countries by extreme weather in 2018 were Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Rwanda, Canada and Fiji. Long-term climate-impacted countries The 15th edition of the Global Climate Risk Index also identified the Philippines as among the nations most impacted by extraordinary catastrophes from 1999 to 2018. The country ranked fourth. Puerto Rico once again
topped the index, followed by Myanmar and Haiti. Other countries most affected by extreme weather events in the last two decades include Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, Nepal and Dominica. “Countries like Haiti, Philippines and Pakistan are repeatedly hit by extreme weather events and have no time to fully recover. That underlines the importance of reliable financial support mechanisms for poor countries like these not only in climate change adaptation, but also for dealing with climate-induced loss and damage,” David Eckstein, Germanwatch policy advisor on climate finance and investments, said. The annual index was presented in the 2019 UN Climate Conference—known as COP25—in Madrid, Spain. The crucial climate conference aims to finalize the rules for the 2015 Paris Agreement, which calls for blocking global warming at well below 2 degrees Celsius and 1.5 degrees Celsius, if possible. ‘Urgent action needed’ The Global Climate risk report should prompt the Philippine government to
acknowledge that the Philippines is in a climate emergency and act with utmost urgency, environmental group Greenpeace said. “We have been in a state of climate emergency for decades now and the situation is not getting any better—and it will not get any better unless the world leaders gathering for the COP25 in Madrid show concrete commitments toward the promises they made in Paris,” Yeb Saño, Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director, said. Greenpeace is one of the organizations urging President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a climate emergency in the Philippines and hold the fossil fuel companies accountable for the harms they cause. “We need urgent action if we are to address the root causes of the climate crisis and achieve climate justice for our people,” Saño said. He added: “This would only be possible if tackling climate change and its impact on the lives of Filipino people is given top priority by government and placed at the center of policy- and decision-making on local and national levels.” n
Philippine tourism revenue hit record-high... PAGE 1
Dr. Rowena Tomaneng will be the new president of San Jose City College. She is currently president of Berkeley City College. Photo courtesy of San José City College
Tomaneng holds a bachelor’s degree in English from University of California, Irvine; a master’s degree in English from University of California,
Santa Barbara; and a doctorate in international/multicultural education from the University of San Francisco. (Inquirer.net)
than in the same period in 2018, which posted a $5.80billion or P305.2-billion tourism revenue. “The $7.29 billion can be attributed basically to a longer length of stay and higher total expenditure per visit,” Bengzon said.
According to DOT’s data, a visitor spends $139.44 while in the country and stays for about 9 and a half days on the average. DOT recorded $686.60 million or P35.78 billion of tourist spending for the month of September alone. Visitors from Korea record-
ed the highest tourist spending in September with a total of $193.55 million followed by visitors from China with a total of $163.61 million. High spending markets for September also include US with $77.99 million, Japan with $37.35 million, and Taiwan with $30.12 million. n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 6-12, 2019
OPINION
FEATURES
Communities make the difference TWO laws have been passed related to the spread of the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus. The first one aims to prevent its further spread, and the latest one promotes the welfare of persons living with HIV and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. In the past decades, awareness of HIV/AIDS has risen among Filipinos. More people are getting themselves tested, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment. These, however, have not stopped the country from recording the fastest rate of HIV infection not only in the Asia-Pacific region but in the world, according to the joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS or UNAIDS Philippines. As the country joined the international community in marking World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, the numbers remain grim. Last year, UNAIDS recorded 13,384 new HIV infections nationwide – up by 203 percent from the 4,419 registered in 2010. The highest rate of infection is recorded among men having sex with men, with up to 80 percent of those infected in the 15 to 34 age
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group, according to UNAIDS. The new law lowers the age requiring parental consent for HIV testing, but the potentially fatal virus continues to spread. UNAIDS estimates that there are now 77,000 people living with HIV in the Philippines, but only 62,029 of them had been diagnosed as of October this year. While the figures are low compared to those in several other countries, the rate of infection is fastest in the Philippines. This gives urgency to measures that will slow down the spread of the virus and help persons living with HIV/AIDS remain productive, protected from discrimination, and able to live as normal a life as possible. World AIDS Day 2019 aims to mobilize communities along these lines. As in any public health problem, a holistic approach is needed to improve understanding of HIV/AIDS, promote safe sex and prevent the spread of the virus, and protect persons living with the affliction. The theme of World AIDS Day emphasizes this thrust: communities make the difference. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Philstar.com photo
SEA Games hosting helps build nationalism The perils of an impulsive presidency Commentary
RIGOBERTO TIGLAO I CAN’T remember anything recently quite like it. But there was inarguably so much joy among Filipinos who saw — directly or through videos — the opening ceremonies of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2019 in New Clark City the other night. What was amazing was that two words were often used to describe their feelings: “goose bumps” and” tears.”
Veteran journalist Jay Sonza, whom one would expect to be so jaded with his long career, posted in his Facebook time-line: “Noong sindihan ni Pacquiao iyong cauldron at magliyab ito, kasabay ng world-class fireworks sa loob ng Class 1A Olympic Track and Field sa Athletes’ Village, New Clark City, nanindig ang balahibo ko, sabay nangilid ang aking mata sa tuwa at kagalakan. We have built a monument, a work of art, and a remembrance of good governance.” “Goosebumps and tears! World-class ceremonies indeed! So proud to be a Filipino! We win as one! Go Philippines!,” wrote TV presenter
Gretchen Fulido. “Naiiyak ako with pride seeing the entire Team Philippines take center stage,” renowned singer Gary Valenciano said. It was also sheer genius for the organizers to have our eight ‘legendary’ sports heroes carry in a dramatic way the SEA Games federation flag. That made it an event in which we were reminded that the Filipino could be world-class. Rare moment What is so significant is that the goose-bump-and-tears remarks were almost always followed by a reference to the nation: “I’m proud to be Filipino.” PAGE 10
Public Lives
RANDY DAVID THIS is my fourth column on recent events that unexpectedly thrust Vice President Leni Robredo into the limelight. Even if some may think the issue it deals with has become stale, I believe we shouldn’t let go of it easily as though it signifies nothing of importance. That’s exactly how the Duterte administration wants us to treat this entire affair — a joke over which
everyone has had a good laugh. But let’s pause and consider even for a minute what has just happened, and what it tells us about decision-making under a Duterte presidency. A short recap of the events would be useful. VP Leni gives an interview to Reuters News, in which she criticizes the brutal conduct of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. She makes the case that the killings and the arrests that have occurred in this so-called drug war amount to a war against the poor. This brutal campaign, she says, has remarkably spared the big-time drug lords.
These criticisms are not new. They have been made before by many other observers. But coming from the vice president, the leader of the opposition and, more importantly, a woman, these points appear to have stung Mr. Duterte. He seethes in anger, but he does not think she is worth taking seriously. He’s torn between treating her dismissively and teaching her a lesson by daring her to take over the government’s antidrug campaign, an obvious bait she could run away from like a coward. In my initial column on this PAGE 10
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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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 6-12, 2019
Dateline PICChiliPPines junks Morales, del Rosario complaint vs China’s Xi Jinping
Anti-graft court orders Marcos cronies to return ill-gotten wealth by Ratziel
san Juan
Philstar.com
MANILA — The Sandiganbayan have directed the heirs of Marcos cronies Jose Africa and Manuel Nieto Jr. turn over their shares in Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Incorporated (ETPI) to the government. In a 142-page ruling dated Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan Special Third Division deemed the shares to be illgotten wealth of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos and ordered these to be reverted to the Philippine government. The anti-graft court determined that Nieto and Africa transferred the said shares to Polygon Investors and Managers Incorporated and individual shareholders. The Sandiganbayan ordered Aerocom Investors and Managers Incorporated and Nieto, substituted by his heirs, to pay the government P68.167 million, equivalent to the value of ETPI shares transferred or conveyed to ISM Communications Corporation. “[T]he evidence exceedingly
Reyes ManilaTimes.net
TYPHOON “Tisoy” (international name: “Kammuri”) left 17 people dead as it lost steam and weakened into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday, December 4. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) lifted all signals as authorities scrambled to repair downed power and communication lines in the Bicol region. Officials said five people died in Mindoro, three in Camarines Sur, two in Sorsogon, two in Marinduque, three in Quezon province and one in Ormoc City, Leyte. Two missing persons were reported — one in Maayon, Capiz and one in Divicalan, Isabela. Typhoon Tisoy also wreaked havoc on islands and provinces south of Manila on Tuesday, sending nearly 600,000 people fleeing from their homes. Civil Defense official Mark Timbal said the impact would have been worse if not for the preparations made by commu-
pabico Inquirer.net
lalu
MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has junked the communication made by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario against China and its president, citing lack of jurisdiction on the case. ICC said in its report on preliminary examination activities issued on Thursday, December 5 that the crimes against humanity complaint lodged against Chinese officials led by Chinese president Xi Jinping cannot be acted upon as China This April 2019 photo was taken when a settlement deal on the Marcos family’s ill- is not a state party to the Rome gotten assets was approved by the Office of the President, the PCGG, and the New Statute — the treaty that estabYork federal judge. Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos lished the ICC. Morales and Del Rosario show that the shares of AERO- and should, therefore, reconpulled off a surprise move in vey them to the rightful owner, COM and the small individual March 2019 when they, both shareholders originated from the Republic.” retired government officials Nieto and Africa’s heirs were the defendants Africa and and whose last posts came durNieto, Jr. Just like POLYGON, also ordered by the high court ing the former administration’s AERCOM was merely used to pay the government P1 milterm, filed a case against Xi. as a conduit to further hide lion “as exemplary damages.” It was on behalf of fishermen The Sandiganbayan, howdefendant Ferdinand Marcos’s allegedly disadvantaged by ill-gotten wealth,” the decision ever, junked the case against China’s fishing and poaching Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos read. activities in the West Philippine “Anent (concerning) the with former Defense Minister small individual sharehold- Juan Ponce Enrile “for failure ers, the Court finds that they of the Republic to establish did not acquire any lawful or preponderance of evidence vested right over their shares against them.” n
Typhoon ‘Tisoy’ kills 17, blows out by Dempsey
by GabRiel
nities and local governments. “We saw an improvement in the behavior of the people who were now more willing to participate in evacuation procedures,” said Timbal, who is the spokesman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. “Social media was a factor, while people also became more concerned over their safety in light of the series of deadly earthquakes that hit the country in recent months,” he added. “Preemptive evacuation was the key,” said Sher Saises, a Civil Defense official in the central city of Tacloban, ground zero for Super Typhoon “Haiyan,” the country’s deadliest on record, which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013. Other Civil Defense officials described how residents, including about half a million from the Bicol region, sought safety from high waves, floods and landslides days before the storm made landfall. Manila’s airport shut down for 12 hours Tuesday as a precaution, affecting nearly 500 flights, while half the day’s
program at the Southeast Asian Games, hosted by Manila and nearby cities, was rescheduled over safety concerns. The typhoon damaged 6,761 houses, according to the regional Office of Civil Defense. In Bicol, damage to agriculture was initially pegged at P667.3 million. In Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, an estimated P156.5 million worth of crops were destroyed. Tisoy weakened into a severe tropical storm as it moved westnorthwest towards the West Philippine (South China) Sea on Wednesday, Pagasa said. It had maximum sustained winds of up to 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. It was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility either later Wednesday or early Thursday. The weather bureau said Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region and Central Luzon would have moderate with occasional heavy rains because of the northeast monsoon. n
Sea (WPS). “The crimes referred to in the communication were allegedly committed by Chinese nationals in the territory of the Philippines. China is not a State Party to the Rome Statute. Accordingly, the Court lacks personal jurisdiction,” ICC said. The court also said that while it may exercise jurisdiction if the alleged crime was committed on territories that are state parties to the Rome Statute, the activities in question were not within the territory, but only on the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “The information available confirms that the alleged conduct in question occurred in areas that are outside of the Philippines’ territorial sea (i.e., in areas farther than 12 nautical miles from its coast), but nonetheless within areas that may be considered to fall within its declared EEZ,” ICC noted. “In this context, the Office’s analysis has been conducted ad arguendo without taking a position on the different disputed claims with respect
to these areas. However, the Office has concluded that a State’s EEZ (and continental shelf) cannot be considered to comprise part of its ‘territory’ for the purpose of article 12(2)(a) of the Statute,” they explained. The two officials claimed that thousands of Filipino fisherfolk have been persecuted and injured by China’s aggressive island-building and occupation of the disputed islands in the WPS. They also used the boat ramming incident, where a local fishing boat sunk after a ‘collision’ with a Chinese ship that left 22 fishermen at sea, to boost the complaints. However, ICC said that it is also well outside their jurisdiction as the supposed actions were committed inside a Chinese boat — a country, again, not a party to the Rome Statute. “[…] While article 12(2)(a) also extends the Court’s jurisdiction to crimes committed on board vessels registered in a State Party, this condition likewise is not met, given that PAGE 10
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500,000 PH voters abroad deactivated - DFA SEA Games hosting helps build nationalism THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deactivated 578,185 overseas voters for failing to participate in the 2016 and 2019 national and local elections. The Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) revealed this on Thursday, December 5, as it urged the concerned individuals to re-register. “In this regard, the deactivated voters are urged to re-register in order for them to be able participate in the 2022 presidential elections,” the DFA said in a statement. The DFA said that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as well as immigrants, seafarers, and students who were about to leave for abroad, and who were not yet registered overseas voters, may enlist from Dec. 16, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2021. The OFWs may re-register at any Philippine embassy, Consulate General, Mission, or Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and overseas
voter registration centers designated by Comelec. “All Filipino citizens who expect to be abroad from April 9, 2022 to May 9, 2022 during the overseas voting period for the 2022 presidential elections, and are at least 18 years old on May 9, 2022 and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register as an overseas voter at the abovementioned locations,” the DFA said. There is a total of 1,822,173 Filipinos abroad registered in the overseas absentee voting (OAV). Former Makati representative now Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. authored the OAV law. During the May 2019 midterm elections, the Comelec suspended voting in Syria, Iraq, and Libya to ensure the safety of Filipino voters there amid the political unrest in these Middle East countries. Automated elections were held in 41 Philippine posts abroad – Agana, Calgary, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New
York, Ottawa, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, Brunei Darussalam, Canberra, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Wellington, Athens, London, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, AlKhobar, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv. Postal voting was allowed in 29 posts. These are Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Mexico, Santiago, Bangkok, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Islamabad, Port Moresby, Yangon, Ankara, Berlin, Berne, Brussels, Budapest, Geneva, Lisbon, Moscow, Oslo, Paris, Prague, The Hague, Vienna, Warsaw, Abuja, Cairo and Pretoria. Personal voting was allowed in 13 other posts in Dhaka, Dili, Jakarta, Manado, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, Shanghai, Vientiane, Xiamen, Vatican, Amman, Nairobi, and Tehran. (Bernadette Tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)
The perils of an impulsive... PAGE 5 subject, I said that no sensible person could possibly take Mr. Duterte’s “offer” seriously. Dripping with contempt, it was made in a moment of pique. The president could barely conceal his exasperation over the way the drug war has been derailed by a corrupt police force. He seemed exhausted, drained not just by the drug problem but by the demands of the presidency itself. In fact, he sounded like he was calling for help. I think his own people were confused. On one hand, the boss did sound as if he was taunting the vice president who, in their view, had no right to speak about a subject she knew nothing about. But, on the other hand, they suspected that the president was up to something naughty and interesting. And so they went along, conjuring a charade that was designed not only to put her in her place but to embarrass her. Such is their belief in the Duterte myth that men like presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo are completely incapable of telling him what he can and cannot do. They take his incoherent musings as emanations of a genius too deep for ordinary minds to grasp. Thus, they indulge him, willfully acting as enablers of a childish capriciousness never before seen in the nation’s highest office. As events in the past week
have shown, it did not take long for Mr. Duterte and his men to realize that it is they, not Leni, who got stuck in a quagmire of their own making. Because she would not quit, they had to fire her. Though we have her to thank for accepting a dare she knew she had little chance of winning, and not blinking, this is not at all just about Leni Robredo. One finds in this unfortunate incident a pattern of impulsive decision-making that is as reckless as it is thoughtless. Two instances quickly come to mind — the banning of rice imports for the duration of the harvest season in response to the pleas of affected local rice farmers, and the order to ban vaping products and arrest users caught vaping in public. The president had to recall his order suspending rice importation after he was told that this populist gesture was against the law he himself had signed. As for vaping, the police said they would comply with the president’s orders, but only to the extent of confiscating the products. They were told that the existing law against smoking does not give them the right to arrest vapers. The same policy confusion resulting from spur-of-the moment orders was visible in the abrupt closure of Boracay, the short-lived shutdown of lotto outlets and the Small Town Lottery, the initial ban-
ning of online gaming operations or Pogos, etc. Behind all these is the penchant to act boldly without the benefit of careful study. Far from being a strategic thinker, the president operates entirely by the hit-and-miss method of a local strongman. Sometimes, it works, as in the case of Boracay. But a lot of times, it creates and leaves a mess. Look at Marawi; look at the state of the peace talks with the armed left. Look at the drug war. The wonder of it all is that, as far as the public is concerned, this president is incapable of committing a mistake so grave as to make them turn to the opposition for succor. The high approval ratings he continues to get in public opinion polls practically eliminate the need for self-examination. As his spokesperson puts it: The high ratings speak for themselves. I don’t think they do. To me, they speak more of the depth of the public’s disenchantment with previous administrations than of any unwavering commitment to Mr. Duterte’s impulsive presidency. More than three years after catapulting him to the nation’s highest position, populist resentment borne of decades of perceived elite betrayal continues to drive our people’s responses to political events. We need a different kind of politics if we are to put a stop to the dragon seed of authoritarianism. (Inquirer.net)
PAGE 5 We are witnessing a rare moment in history, of the same kind when we from Metro Manila had been mesmerized by the drama of the Yellow Widow, and were with EDSA I. The SEA Games ceremonies, significantly with President Duterte there and wildly cheered, was an event that was a communion of the community we call the nation. The President was the High Priest of that ritual, as any leader of a nation should be, or its value would be much lesser. To agree with me that I’m not exaggerating with this column’s title, one has to understand the groundbreaking insights on nationalism of the late Cornell University political scientist and historian Benedict Anderson, which he explained in his academic bestseller, the 1983 book Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. For starters contrary to what an unfortunately growing number of “globalists” claim, it is nationalism, or the intensity of a people’s sense of belonging to this association called the nation, that has been the biggest factor in all countries’ growth and prosperity. This is an incontestable fact of history around the globe. It is only when these countries have become rich nations that they have espoused “globalism,” a tactic one Korean nationalist economist claimed was a form of “pushing the ladder away” after they’ve reached the summit of their countries’ development. The nation The nation is the most important organization any human being belongs to in this era, since its situation mostly determines his fate. Just think of the grossly contrasting fates of an ordinary Filipino worker’s family if he stays here or migrates to the U.S. Anderson pointed out though how difficult it is for a people to be nationalistic, since the nation is really an “imagined community.” It is
different from “real communities” such as the family, the clan, the tribe, or even the fraternities to which it is just natural to have an allegiance to, since we get to be acquainted with each and every member of these organizations. These are after all simply collections of relatives or friends we know. A Filipino will never ever meet each of his 110 million kababayan (countrymen). But in his mind, when he recognizes and greets somebody, say, in a strange foreign land and calls him kabayan, he does so because from his childhood, he was taught to imagine a community called the Philippines. To imagine a community is not easy, even if the necessary but insufficient conditions exist, such as a shared territory, language, history and nuanced but similar genetic features. There has to be myriad rituals (e.g., the singing of the national anthem at the flag-raising ceremony), martyrs (who make the supreme sacrifice to further the community’s aspirations, as Rizal did), and events (which remind us that we share the same fate, that we are in the same “boat”). These are intended to wrench us out of our ego-centered (or clan-centered) consciousness, and merge it with the community. Imagine Hosting the SEA Games and its crucial opening ceremonies are such events that helps us imagine the nation. This is the reason why countries for such global sports events as the Olympics compete fiercely to win the bidding to host. (For the SEA Games, one of the 10 Southeast Asian countries is assigned a year to host it, although a country can waive such assignment, as we did in 2017 on grounds that funds at that time were better used for the rehabilitation of the wardevastated Marawi City. ) Marxism, with its view that society is divided into irreconcilable exploitative and
exploited classes, could not explain the emergence and strength of nations starting in the 19th century. How could nations ever survive if it is torn by class struggles? Anderson’s theory of imagined communities filled this lacuna in Marxist theory. As he put it, “regardless of the actual inequality and exploitation that may prevail in each, the nation is always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship. Ultimately it is this fraternity that makes it possible, over the past two centuries, for so many millions of people, not so much to kill, as willingly to die for such limited imaginings.” The goose bumps felt and tears of joy shed by Filipinos proud of the SEA Games’ opening ceremonies are indications of that nationalism, that sense of comradeship among citizens of one nation is a good feeling to have. That therefore should make it easy for a state to develop among its citizens. Indeed, the venom and inanity that reveals their wretchedness was shown by comments by a few Yellow commentators — such as that one Raissa Robles who claimed that ceremonies were like a “perya sa probinsya,” referring to the native dances featured in the show such as northern Luzon’s “La Jota Moncadeña” and Mindanao’s “Singkil.” But then Raissa also wrote that it was like the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which at the time was considered the most awesome opening ceremony so far — planned by the best German architects and filmmakers of that time — of that global event. I hope our slogan for the SEA Games — We win as one! — will eventually be understood in the sense of that truth of history globalists have tried to bury in our minds: That we win — grow to be a prosperous country — only if we are united as one, with each citizen imbued with a deep sense of nationalism. (ManilaTimes. net)
ICC junks Morales, del Rosario complaint... PAGE 7 the alleged crimes were purportedly committed on board Chinese registered vessels,” ICC reiterated. “Finally, as previously highlighted, the remaining basis for the exercise jurisdiction (active personality) under article 12(2)(b) is also not met, given the Chinese nationality of the alleged perpetrators in
question. Accordingly, the Office concluded that the crimes allegedly committed do not fall within the territorial or otherwise personal jurisdiction of the Court,” it added. Under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines and China enjoyed stronger relations — despite being damaged years prior by complaints filed at the International
Arbitral Tribunal, which ruled that China’s nine-dash line territorial claim has no historical and legal basis. However, the renewed ties have alarmed critics as the Asian superpower continued to assert its presence in the country, with several advanced structures being built on several islands at the WPS. n
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COMMUNITY JOURNAL
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UNDERSTANDING MBA TOOLS
People, Product, Process One Global Academy JONATHAN OBOZA PETALVER A CREWMAN TRIED TO FOLLOW THE LAW TO GAIN LEGAL STATUS, BUT FELL INTO A “FRAUD TRAP” AT THE U.S EMBASSY WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE PHILIPPINES ON A PROVISIONAL WAIVER. Albert (left) entered the U.S. and jumped ship in 2007. His U.S. citizen wife, Cherrie (center), petitioned him. Although the petition was approved, Albert was not eligible to adjust status in the U.S. because he did not have 245(i). However, he qualified for a provisional waiver, which was approved, thereby “forgiving” him for overstaying, waiving the 10-year bar. He went back to the Philippines, thinking that he would be able to obtain his immigrant visa from the Embassy, only to be shocked when he was charged with fraud based on violating their new 90 Day Rule for deciding to overstay back in 2007. His provisional waiver was considered void, and he was required to file a fraud waiver and a 10-year bar waiver while he waited in the Philippines. Watch how leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel helped Albert—- on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ MANY people want to retain an attorney to assist them with their immigration case, represent them at hearings or interviews, etc., especially during this era of Pres. Trump, where USCIS is taking a very hard line on immigration. People understand now, more than ever, it is helpful to have attorney representation, rather than trying to handle
Explaining attorney fees and charges
their case on their own. But there is mystery and confusion with people about attorney fees: how will they be charged? Do they have to pay all cash up front? Can payments be spread out? There are two main ways attorneys charge for their services: hourly and flat fee. For hourly, the attorney charges the client based on the amount of time the attorney spends on the case, at the attorney’s hourly rate.
This type of billing can be problematic for some people, if they want to budget, plan, or save for the attorney fees. With an hourly rate, it’s hard to know how much the attorney fees will be because they don’t know how much time the attorney will spend on their case. Most immigration attorneys bill at a flat rate, including me. This is where the legal services are listed in a written PAGE 12
Crewman with approved provisional waiver charged with fraud on a brand new episode of ‘Citizen Pinoy’ ALBERT entered the U.S. on a crewman’s visa and jumped ship in 2007. His U.S. citizen wife petitioned him, which was approved. However, since Albert lacked 245(i), he was not eligible to adjust status in the U.S., he applied for and was approved for a provisional waiver, so he would not be subject to the 10-year bar. With an approved provisional waiver, Albert went back to the Philippines for immigrant visa processing,
expecting to obtain his visa without any problems, as there have been many crewmen who were granted immigrant visas in Manila on approved provisional waiver. However, the Embassy charged Albert with fraud by imposing a new rule to his past conduct, by stating he committed fraud when be began working within 90 days of his arrival in 2007. He thus fell in a “fraud trap” and was required to file a fraud waiver and a new 10-year bar
waiver. Suddenly, everything seemed so complicated. Watch how the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to prepare a new waiver package for fraud and the 10-year bar, and how Albert was able to reunite with his wife, Cherrie, back in the United States on a brandnew episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – this Sunday 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)
INTRO to MBA tools These Entrepreneurial Leadership STEM Articles are like taking your Masterclass in Strategic Entrepreneurship that will serve as a strong business and entrepreneurial management learning framework for you and become a Strategic Entrepreneurial Manager by understanding the 3Ps (People-Process-Profit). It aims to enable you to understand the significance and relevance of Business
Management and Entrepreneurship (Profitable Decision) in business creation and development amidst a disruptive world. The key take away is for you to always gain and sustain your competitive advantage. You will be guided through each P-topic that will be instrumental in your journey as an entrepreneur whether as corporate, start up or creating new strategies for your business. All these 3Ps are strategic in nature and will serve as a strategic management tool for you whether you are looking for new and innovative business strategies, the right business opportunity, starting to set up a business, looking for new products and services or looking for
new strategies to expand its business. After reading the 3Ps, you are expected to: 1. Create a strong Brand Value that offers unique business propositions in gaining and sustaining your competitive advantage 2. Continuously develop and strengthen PULL strategies in positioning your products and services to the right market 3. Strategically position yourself as a Strategic Entrepreneur knowing both the seller and buyer process to build brand loyalty to customers. People There are 3 things I would like to share to you when it comes to People or sometimes called your Human PAGE 12
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DECEMBER 6-12, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA AT a breakfast after mass at the Holy Family Church during a school fundraiser in Glendale California one beautiful fall morning five years ago, a statuesque, well groomed lady holding her breakfast tray asked my husband, my sister Olga and myself, if she could join us. We said yes of course. There weren’t enough tables and chairs in the auditorium at the time. After a few pleasantries and the frost among strangers had thawed, the woman indicated that she was from the East Coast and she was visiting her son who lived in the city. She was staying in a hotel for a few days and had checked online for the nearest church where she could attend mass. She remarked that the Glendale Holy Family Catholic Church with Spanish architecture built in the 1920’s was beautiful. The conversation around the table was light at first, meandering around innocuous, safe topics. Out of nowhere, she asked us to pray for her son. Startled at first, I asked what her son’s name was and we all must have made a mental note of it. It seems that her 36-year old son who is an engineer, with so much going for him, had a major relapse in his bid to overcome his alcoholic addiction — yet again. His poison of choice – vodka. She was in town to check him in to a rehab facility and taking a chance on a new drug that would have adverse, irreversible ramifications if there is recidivism or if he ever went back to the bottle. In short, it was a last ditch attempt to end his addiction. Over breakfast we had a glimpse of the turmoil the woman was going through in seeing a loved one going through the repeated cycles of addiction and rehabilitation, only to go through it over and over again– a seemingly hopeless struggle that many battle with these days. It is like Sisyphus of Greek mythology who was punished by the gods for chronic deceitfulness and wickedness. He was cursed for eternity to roll a rock uphill only to have fate roll it back downhill just when success at lodging it safely on top
The power of prayer
Community Journal
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin of a steep hill seemed like a sure thing a sure thing. She let slip that another son had died in the last year, the reason for which, she didn’t mention. And she would have to come again and visit in December because her alcoholic son has an ex-girlfriend who is pregnant and is due by then. You can’t make this stuff up. Life is just so tough that her face was etched in pain. Yet there was also a brief glimpse of hope for the baby about to be born. Grief, just like joy, has way of welling up within and spilling over. We listened to her over breakfast aware that she just wanted to ease up some of the heavy burden that was troubling her. A lot of us are like this woman. We each have problems that seem too much to bear until we reach out and ask others to pray for us, even strangers we will never ever see again. We ask others to knock and bang on the doors of heaven with a battering ram, if need be, to beg for help on our behalf. In many ways, each one of us can be a prayer warrior. Often, we come to church just to be with others who are a bit like us, searching for one another’s company in seeking God’s help in many ways, big and small. We know deep down, by ourselves, we can do nothing. Just as gravity holds the physical universe together, prayer draws the spirit universe together among kindred souls. The power of prayer is boundless among those whose faith is built on solid rock. If you can, please pray for this anonymous woman Mrs. B and her son G. Mother and son both need prayers so badly; for the son to break the bonds of addiction once and for all and for the mother or the strength and the fortitude to endure her trials and finally, for both mother and son to find the peace, serenity and just maybe, hope and joy even during a deeply personal season of darkness.
And while we’re at it, we might as well decide to make time for prayer ourselves. We need to grit our teeth and cut off the extremely intrusive electronic leash that is so much a part of our lives these days. We know we are in deep trouble when we have to post the latest “selfies” on FB even while we are in the restroom. Isn’t it time we weaned ourselves from having to spend too much time tethered to our gadgets? Our obsession with our tech toys may very well be another form of addiction. Dwell in the silence for that is where God is. How can God speak to us if our ears are stuffed up, our hearts are not right and our minds are cluttered with non-essentials all the time? Modern life is much too full of inane, sometimes insane, distractions assailing all our senses during our waking hours to make time for God. Dwell in prayerful silence for that is where God is. Perhaps we can even pray for complete strangers and those in our immediate orbit who we know are in dire straits but are either too timid or too proud to ask for help. There are people who feel diminished if they ask for help. They label themselves as proudly independent. The truth is that they are poor, unfortunate fools severely afflicted with hubris. Hubris, that extreme form of pride, the same brand that brought down the fallen angels, always prevents humans from seeking help. When we pray, we need to learn how to delete specifics. God knows specifics — our blood type, our DNA, even the number of hair on our heads. God knows what we are asking for. The how, what, why, when and where of answers to prayers will have to be his call and his alone. God’s love for us is beyond all telling. It will be between God and each one of us alone in the silence of our hearts. It will be that space
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Explaining attorney fees and...
PAGE 11 retainer, and a total/flat rate is given for those services, regardless of how much time the attorney spends providing the services. The client is given a fixed amount, enabling them to better save and budget to pay the fees. They would also be advised of the estimated expenses outside the Retainer Agreement, such as filing fees, etc. Ordinarily, attorney fees are not paid all cash up front. (Of course, there could be exceptions where the client might have a deportation hearing the next day.) Usually, attorney fees require down payment and monthly payments. The monthly payments could be calculated based on the amount of time it would take the attorney to perform or complete the services. If the case will take three
or more years (such as a labor certification or family petition case), the payments could be spread out for several months or years. Before signing the retainer, the client will know what services are included and how much the total cost will be. If they want to retain the attorney, they can do so. If they do not, they can walk away. I hope this has removed some of the mystery about attorney fee or charges, and if you believe your case requires attorney representation, at least now you know it’s not all cash up front, and you could be billed at a flat rate. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervi-
sion of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
People, Product... PAGE 11 Capital. When starting your own business enterprise consider the people who will form part of your organization. Over the years, I have the 3 important “S” that you need to consider to have a strong Business Foundation. And these are the following: 1. Structure. Just like any other building, whether it is low rise, mid rise or high rise, Structural Integrity or its basic foundation comes first. Same with any business, big or small, its structure, its people should come first. So the question is how do you build a strong foundation? How would you know this is the right team for your business? The answer. You need to match their WHY and your WHAT (Company Vision) so the HOW (you and them) would come easier and will just be the end result day in day out. During the interviews, ask them directly as to WHY do they want the job, what is their short term and long
term objective? If they can answer this passionately and it directly relates to your VISION, which is your WHAT, hire them immediately. They are more than your employees. They are your generals who are willing to go the extra mile and make things better everyday and serve your customers with passion and integrity. 2. System. What is a system? By definition, a system is a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network. Applied in business, it is basically when people assigned to do a task deliver results perfectly. Imagine a watch. A watch, whether ordinary or extraordinary is composed of thousands of mechanisms that have to work together perfectly every second to give the right time. It is the same in doing business. The biggest mistake you can do is to give job responsibilities to the wrong person in the organization. It is the system that will determine the success of your business.
Nowadays, it is just no longer a question of how good your product or service is but more so a strategic positioning of the kind of Business System which relies heavily on how you match the right system with your structure. Wrong assignment of duties and responsibilities to good people will ruin the whole system. So better design a system that works best with the kind of people you have. If dealing with people is not their strength, do not assign them to customer facing duties, else, it will look like a System Failure and you will not attract customers. In the next articles, I will be sharing with you the remaining 2 remaining Ps of the STEM Article which are the 3 Potential Impact Areas critical to your business and entrepreneurial journey. *** Jonathan Oboza Petalver is the Founder and CEO of Petalver Management Consultancy Services. He is also the President and Dean of One Global Academy U.S.A. (Advertising Supplement)
and time where there is no FB, no Instagram, no Snapchat, no Twitter — none of the things that tend to make pompous asses of ourselves demanding attention and approval from others. The answer to prayers is God’s call alone. We ask for help but end our prayers in humble supplication saying as Jesus said in agony as he prayed to the Father, “ …
yet not my will, but yours be done.” We are simply conduits, pipelines of the flow of good that comes from God. But there is a residual effect when we suit up and become prayer warriors. The prayers we pray build layer upon layer an intangible aura of light and goodness that soak us, permeate and envelop us. And just like in the physical universe,
what goes around always comes around. The laws of cause and effect also govern the spiritual universe. It is uncanny but most of us who try our best to nurture a spiritual life even as we take care of our bodies, have that instinctive gift for detecting which among us emanate this invisible shield of energy and light. They PAGE 13
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EntErtainmEnt
Aiko on getting married again: It comes in 3’s By Ricky Lo
Philstar.com
Aiko Melendez with her boyfriend Zambales Vice Gov. Jay Khonghun Philstar.com photo
has a seven-year-old son with his estranged wife. “Sabi nga nila, it comes in 3’s so I’m sure my third marriage will be for good, forever. Jay and I are in the same direction, alam namin pareho ang aming patutunguhan, so we really click.” Having been a public official (as councilor of Quezon City), Aiko proved to be an asset to Khonghun during last May’s elections. Also showbiz savvy, she shrugged off tsismis about her private life and even filed a case against their opponents. “Jay and I understand each other very well,” confessed Aiko (who is into a plant-based diet). “Giveand-take kami. We do fight but only over petty things; nothing serious. In the beginning, the trouble didn’t come from us but from outside forces, from people around us who thought na hindi seryoso ang relationship namin ni Jay, and they stopped when they realized kung gaano kami ka-seryoso. All is fine now.” Aiko showed up at the Theobroma event with her
left arm in cast. Oh my, did she hurt herself during a fight with the vice governor? She was teased by Your Funfarer who was a ninong at Aiko and Martin’s wedding. “I fractured my forefinger during a boxing workout,” laughed Aiko who let loose a loud OUCH(!!!) when I accidentally touched the cast as I took a picture of it. “I’ve been boxing as workout for four years now. I also run. Jay doesn’t box or run. He plays basketball.” At the time of this interview, Jomari was in the news, accused by his girlfriend of “womanizing” and abandoning her and two little kids. (Jomari is welcome to air his side anytime he wants to.). Asked for comment, Aiko begged off. “I am friends with Martin and his wife but not to Jom. I haven’t seen him in three years. Ang daming nasa puso ko pero sa akin na lang yon. I have so many things to say but I’d rather not say them. I leave it to Andre kung may gusto siyang sabihin.”
The power of prayer...
PAGE 11 are usually the ones with the quiet or sometimes effusive, contagious joy about them. Strangely, we tend to gravitate towards such people. After all, as humans, we are all in this together, from one generation to the next. As the Jesuit priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin once so astutely said of humanity: “We are not human beings having a spiritual
Dimples opens up about family’s tragedies By RatzieL San Juan
Philstar.com
THE title of the Sarah Geronimo-John Lloyd Cruz starrer aptly describes Aiko Melendez’s current state of the heart — finally found someone which, incidentally, applies to Sarah (happily engaged to Matteo Guidicelli... wedding bells ringing middle of next year?) but not to JLC who is reported to have broken up with Ellen Adarna after barely three years of a relationship blessed with a son. Asked how long she has been going steady with Zambales Vice Gov. Jay Khonghun, Aiko replied with a sparkle in her eyes, “Two years and two months to be exact.” Are they bound for the altar to exchange vows for better or for worse ’till death do them part (just as Aiko did not just once but twice and sadly didn’t live up to the vows)? Keeping her fingers crossed, Aiko wished, “Sana, sana. That’s what I am praying for...hopefully.” Now lighter (33 pounds shed) with her blood pressure stabilized (from 150/100 to 110/70, all thanks, she claimed, to the F2N Theobroma Superfood she is endorsing), Aiko has survived two marriages, first to Jomari Yllana (with whom she has a son, Andre, 21) and then to Martin Jickain (they have a daughter, Martina), and she’s confident that her third, well, “attempt” will be successful. She and the vice governor are seriously planning to get married as soon as the legal blocks are cleared. Aiko’s two marriages were annulled while Khonghun’s case is pending in court. Jay
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 6-12, 2019
experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” I have the strangest feeling that with faith and unceasing prayer, both mother and son and his new family will be just fine in the end. There is no doubt it will be a long tough slog but they won’t be alone. The woman has faith. She reaches out and asks for prayers and the ripple of powerful heartfelt prayers builds up like a tsu-
nami wave that will burst open heaven’s door for the graces they need. Will we ever know for certain of the outcome? Perhaps not, but that is what faith does. We do not need to know. We simply trust in God’s ways. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com.
ACTRESS Dimples Romana last week recalled family tragedies early in her life that forced her to grow up quickly and take care of her family. “Coming from a very simple family… nung mga bata pa kami, lumaki ako na ang papa ko ay postmaster. Namatay siya at 42 years old, aneurysm. Sa post office mismo siya namatay,” Dimples shared during the JuanLife Personal Accident Insurance media launch recently. (When we were young, I grew up with my dad working as a postmaster. He died from an aneurysm at 42 years old. He passed away at the post office itself.) Dimples was only 16 at that time. “And my mama had to make sure na ma-cover na lahat ng kailangan namin – tatlo kaming magkakapatid. Nu’ng namatay si papa, namatay na rin ‘yung kapatid ko no’n eh. Leukemia naman
Dimples Romana
ABS-CBN photo
ang ikinamatay niya,” Dimples narrated. (My mom had to make sure that all three of her children’s needs were covered. A sibling of mine had also died by the time my father passed away. She died of Leukemia.) Dimples entered show business at only 12 years old to support her mom and take
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care of her sister Sarah who had Leukemia. She, like many household “panganays” (firstborns), became the breadwinner of her family and gave all her savings to her mom. The actress gained her first television break at a young age with the primetime Kapamilya hit series “Esperanza” in 1997. “So you can imagine lumaki ako sa isang pamilya na survivors kami.” (So you can imagine I grew up in a family of survivors.) Recently, Dimples proudly surprised her mother, Virgie, and siblings Bam and Angeli. “We found a lovely, cozy home close to where I live, had rooms enough for my Mama and siblings, with a huge backyard and front yard. Sakto. The Lord made way,” the actress’ Oct. 28, 2018 Instagram post read. During the press con, Dimples also shared that her husband recently underwent a surgery to correct his sleep PAGE 15
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Cultural resilience through food: The rising popularity of Filipino cuisine by MARISSA
GUIANG
N
EW YORK CITY is no stranger to Filipino cuisine, thanks to a strong presence of Filipino communities in Queens and Jersey City. Small family-run restaurants serving up traditional dishes, bakeries with ube-filled pastries, and the existence of a Jollibee are not out of the norm in these areas. However, this hasn’t been the case in Manhattan – perhaps until recently. Last year, the New York Times ran a story called Filipino Food Finds a Place in the American Mainstream, a positive sign that cultural representation of the second-largest Asian ethic group in the US (second to Chinese) has been starting to become more visible. Despite Filipinos composing approximately a fifth of all Asian-Americans, a Filipino restaurant can still be difficult to come by in comparison to finding Chinese, Japanese, or Korean restaurants. It’s a well-known and difficult reality that many new res-
Fried squid made ready to eat at Johnny Air Mart. Photo courtesy of Bionic Bites
taurants fail in their first year of operating. Even well-established New York City restaurants are forced to close their kitchens after multi-year runs. With the increasing cost of food, labor, and rent, it takes more than just a strong customer base and wide-enough margins to make a restaurant successful. Layer these factors on top of the intense competition and challenging regulations, and the chances of success are even slimmer. However, resilience is a common trait for Filipinos both in their values and in the Philippines’ history, and that resilience is no different for these new Filipino establishments. Although there certainly aren’t Filipino restaurants on every block like you might see with Chinese restaurants, there has been a recent uptick in Filipino establishments within Manhattan’s competitive restaurant scene, specifically in the East Village and Lower East Side neighborhoods. PAGE 15
Photo courtesy of The New York Times
Asin: How a suburban New Jersey Filipino restaurant found its footing by MOMAR
Kabisera Kape’s open-faced breakfast sandwich selection. Photo courtesy of Eater NY
Jeepney’s chori burger
An assortment of dishes from Tsismis
Asin is slowly making its mark as a Filipino dining destination in Caldwell, New Jersey. AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya
Photo courtesy of The Infatuation
Different types of sisig served in cast iron skillets at Mama Fina’s. Photo courtesy of UberEats
G. VISAYA /AJPress
ONE of the newcomers at the Filipino Restaurant Week this year is Asin, a restaurant in Caldwell, New Jersey, a borough in Essex County, located about 20 miles away from New York City. It is a relatively small town of 1.2square-mile with 8,000 or so residents. Asin is located along Bloomfield Avenue, the main shopping and dining street, which pretty much looks like Main Street USA, where locals go out for some fun and entertainment. Queenie Banez, a dentist by profession, co owns the place with her husband, Dr. Vincent Banez. She is also the resident chef. Passion overtook when she
moved to the United States in 2012 to join her husband. Having won in national cooking competitions back home, Queenie had the opportunity to showcase Filipino cuisine in Malaysia, Bangkok and Singapore. She started by doing some catering work until she and her husband found the right place, and eventually the right timing to open the place they have always dreamt about. The restaurant’s bestsellers are ukoy, kare kare and crispy pata. For Filipino Restaurant Week, they introduced pinangat (crab meat wrapped in collard greens and cooked in coconut) to PAGE 15
Vincent & Queenie Bañez
Pinangat, one of Asin’s specialties and bestsellers, is a certified Bicolano classic.
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EntErtainmEnt
Cultural resilience through... PAGE 14 The rise of Filipino food in lower Manhattan can be attributed to a variety of factors. For one, Filipino cuisine is very dynamic – satisfying in its traditional form but also easily reimagined with a modern fusion twist. With this, the cuisine’s malleability can provide good value along a range of price points. Additionally, in a world where social media is very influential, Filipino food is said to be photogenic – from the rich purple hues of ube to over-the-top kamayan spreads. Filipino communities are increasingly using digital platforms such as Instagram, podcasts, and online magazines to give visibility to Filipino culture and enhance support for Filipino-owned businesses. Digital content is often powered by proud Filipino locals who are passionate about sharing their favorite comfort dishes by spreading the word. Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan opened Cendrillon back in 1995, which claimed its stake as one of the very first Filipino restaurants in Manhattan. Even though the restaurant closed its doors in SoHo after 13 years, Besa and Dorotan remained resilient in their passion for bringing Filipino food to New York’s masses and opened Purple Yam in Ditmas Park (which is still bustling with business today – we’ll feature Brooklyn’s Filipino restaurants in a separate article). However, Nicole Ponseca is often credited for pioneering the major Filipino food movement in Manhattan with the opening Maharlika and Jeepney in 2012, creating a well-received culinary experience for Filipinos missing home and curious non-Filipinos alike. Since the opening of Maharlika and Jeepney in the East Village, many other establishments have followed suit around the area, contributing to the prevalence of Filipino food. Beyond restaurants, other types of Filipino establishments such as cafes, dessert shops, and even small supermarkets have claimed their space in the lower Manhattan food scene, increasing the visibility and popularity of Filipino cuisine. If you’re ever in the East Village or Lower East Side, below are some Filipino establishments that you should definitely try, if you haven’t already. Kain na tayo! Grill 21, 346 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010 Grill 21 has all of your classic Filipino favorites, and
more. The restaurant offers everything from silogs, different types of pancit, and a variety of dishes highlighting every type of protein. Order the sago gulaman to accompany your savory meal. The restaurant can only fit around 20 people at most, so be sure to call ahead of time to reserve a table if you plan on going on a Friday or Saturday night. Mama Fina’s, 167 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 Mama Fina’s is also very traditional in its offerings, boasting a robust menu of classic dishes and of course its signature sizzling sisig. Most of Mama Fina’s patrons are Filipino, and the walls are adorned with big wooden forks and spoons – reminiscent of your grandparents’ dining room. The atmosphere is bustling and busy but can accommodate large parties if you call ahead of time. Make sure you save room for dessert and order the turon (both the banana and yam versions) along with the halo halo. Jeepney, 201 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003 1st Avenue in the East Village is lined with restaurants one after another, but you can’t miss Jeepney’s big yellow sign. The restaurant is characterized as a “Filipino Gastropub” and has an assortment of snacks (if you’re craving chicharon bulaklak), small plates, entrees, and tiki cocktails. Jeepney also serves an award-winning “chori” burger consisting of an 8-ounce sirloin beef and longanisa patty, spicy banana ketchup, brioche bread, atchara pickles, and hand-cut kamote fries. Jeepney also has a nice outdoor area in the back to enjoy your meal during the warmer months. Ugly Kitchen, 103 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003 Ugly Kitchen may not seem like a Filipino restaurant when you pass by it, since it has a bar scene on weekends. However, Ugly Kitchen has a sizable menu of sometimes hard to find dishes such as lechon kawali and crispy pata, amongst other meat-heavy entrees. The restaurant is definitely loud and lively with late hours and DJs on the weekend, but if you don’t mind the music, it’s a great place to dine with friends before a night out. Maharlika, 111 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003 Maharlika is the sister restaurant of Jeepney and offers a slightly more traditional menu – to the point where you can actually get balut if you’re up for it. If you’re craving some-
thing with Filipino flavors but not necessarily a Filipino dish, order the chicken and ube waffle, topped with anchovy-bagoong butter and caramelized macapuno syrup. Maharlika also offers a creative cocktail menu, as well as non-alcoholic Filipino-inspired beverages. Tsismis, 143 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002 Tsismis, the newest Filipino restaurant in the area, just opened this year. Showcasing an eclectic wine and cocktail menu alongside Filipino dishes with a Mexican twist, Tsismis is an example of a dynamic Filipino restaurant that’s rapidly garnering attention. Recently featured in the New York Times, Tsismis has also been written about by Eater, The Infatuation, and Time Out. The restaurant also promotes the use of local ingredients – a feat that is difficult for Filipino cuisine made in New York. Pig and Khao, 68 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002 Pig and Khao is more of a Southeast Asian fusion restaurant, but with a particularly heavy Filipino influence. The atmosphere is young, trendy, and bustling (in true Lower East Side form) – perfect for a weekend dinner with friends before hitting the bars. Additionally, Pig and Khao has a $55 five-course tasting menu on weekdays, which will give you a full sampling of the different cuisines the restaurant has to offer. Kuma Inn, 113 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002 The name “Kuma Inn” is a play on the word “kumain” (Tagalog for “to eat”) and offers a variety of meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes. The menu is Filipino-Thai fusion and everything is served tapas-style. If you usually have a difficult time deciding what to order, or you’re not a particularly heavy eater, Kuma Inn’s small plate format is ideal. The restaurant itself is cozy, and a good option you’re looking for a low-key atmosphere. Kabisera Kape, 151 Allen St (South Store), New York, NY 10002 Kabisera has an unassuming storefront, but inside, the establishment offers breakfast and lunch items alongside Filipino-inspired cafe drinks (such as the matcha ube latte) and an assortment of Filipino baked goods (the line-up changes each day, but think along the lines of ensaymada, hopia, and ube pandesal). There are quite a few tables next to outlets if you want to bring your laptop and spend hours being productive with easy access to
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 6-12, 2019
Asin: How a... PAGE 13 comply with this year’s theme highlighting coconut as an ingredient. “We want to set our identity apart and we would like to be known as a place that serves really good, authentic, home cooked Filipino food. We just want to bring out the best in Filipino cuisine,” Banez said then. The response to the dish has been so great that they decided to include it among their regulars and since then, it has joined their bestseller list. But how exactly did they come up with their version of this Bicolano classic? Vincent’s family comes from Bulacan and Bicol, and in one of their recent road trips in the homeland, they stumbled into this restaurant in Daraga, Albay that counts pinangat as their specialty. That was where the first shots of inspiration happened. The couple realized that the dish could be a winning dish for them. Traditionally, pinangat is a fish dish but they decided to ramp it up and added crab meat to the fish. In the Philippines, gabi leaves are used but since they are hard to find here locally, they used collard greens instead. It is then cooked and simmered in thick coconut sauce. And the result is amazing. History “We came up with the name
when we were conceptualizing the restaurant. My husband suggested Asin since it is a basic seasoning for cooking and baking, and our bodies need salt, without it we get weak,” Queenie shared. They highlight the most popular dishes from the various regions in the Philippines like laing and the previously mentioned pinangat, which are among the dishes the Bicol region is proud of. They have also ventured into offering healthy fare, including fish and tofu sisig and steamed vegetables. “We have customers who are health conscious and we offer them our Go Filipino Light dishes,” she shared. The secret to their dishes? No shortcuts, no instant mixes. “I do everything from scratch and it does not matter if it takes hours to do so. My lolas from both sides taught me how to cook and they told me that good cooking has no short cuts. You have to do it the right way,” she explained. In the end, Asin hopes to become that place that serves authentic Filipino cuisine, serving the taste people grew up with back home. And indeed, among the best compliments that Queenie treasures are those diners who tell her that what they ate tasted like their grandmother’s cooking or that the adobo tasted like how their mom used to
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make it. “No matter how tired I get, hearing those compliments make me happy,” she said. Right Timing The Banez couple waited for the right time to open Asin. Prior to opening, Queenie was already busy working on her catering and they realized that there was a growing interest in Filipino cuisine. “It was really our goal to have our own restaurant and she initiated it by doing catering at first. Subsequently we have friends who were willing to venture into the business as well,” Vincent shared. “It is my passion, I love to cook. And it makes me happy when people appreciate that. That’s why I do it with love,” she added. People say that the first year of a restaurant is the most crucial of all and the Banez couple couldn’t help but agree, calling their first year as restaurant owners as a struggle. They are thankful to have found support along the way, from friends supporting them to diners who keep on returning and have become regulars. They have clients who drive from Princeton and Toms River but the regulars come from Caldwell and the neighboring towns of Livingston, Montclair and Bloomfield. “It has come to a point that when I see them here, I already know what they are going to order,” Queenie said, describing some of the clients who have become familiar to them already.
Dimples opens up... PAGE 13 apnea before it becomes serious. Because of the tragedies she experienced in her family, the mom of two makes sure to follow the adage “prevention is better than cure.” As such, she has invested in insurance
plans. “Dimples is a relatable brand endorser for JuanLife because she represents our target market: family nurturers who are central in every Filipino family and will do anything to ensure their loved one’s security and suc-
cess.” said Roselle C. Masirag, General Manager of Agile Insurance Agency and Business Technologies Inc. “They are resilient, problem-solvers, solution-seekers and entrepreneurial by heart, who lives day-by-day making decisions for their family.”
Filipino treats and really good coffee. Order the longanisa quesadilla if you’re craving a particularly flavorful meal, or the purple rice bowl if you’re leaning towards the healthy side. Angela’s Ice Cream & Desserts, 151 Allen St, New York, NY 10002 Right next-door to Kaibsera is Angela’s Desserts, which specializes in Filipino-inspired ice cream. Here’s where you’ll find flavors such as ube, pandan, calamansi, macapuno, and jackfruit. Angela’s also offers pre-packaged desserts for you to take home (such as
buko pandan), and also serves warm taho during the colder months if you’re not in the mood for ice cream. Johnny Air Mart, 214 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 Looking to make your own Filipino meal at home? Johnny Air Mart is a small supermarket in the East Village that’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. Stocked with packaged snacks, noodles, seasonings, and other goods, Johnny Air Mart is your best bet if you’re looking for ingredients specifically from the Philippines. They also offer frozen versions of your favorite dishes if you
haven’t quite perfected your parents’ recipes. In addition, Johnny Air Mart carries pandesal, puto, suman, and jeprox (amongst many other items). *** Marissa Guiang resides in New York City, where she works in the financial services industry. As a freelance journalist on the side, she enjoys writing about business, food, and culture. Marissa graduated from Cornell University with a major in Hotel Administration and she is also Level 1 certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers. In her spare time, Marissa enjoys running and is training for her fourth marathon as an active member of Adidas Runners NYC. You can find her on Instagram at @theguiangster.
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