December 12-14, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 98 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
Duterte urges martial law extension until end of 2019 by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
PHIlIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte urged the two legislative chambers — the Senate and the House of Representatives — to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2019. In a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dated December 6, Duterte noted that it is still necessary to implement the military rule in the region. “Security assessment submitted by the President Rodrigo Duterte takes a bow before scout ranger troopers, as he takes AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) center stage during the awarding ceremony of 500 housing units to the personnel and PNP (Philippine National Police) BALANGIGA BELLS ARRIVE IN PH. Military personnel arrange the Balangiga Bells upon their arrival at the Philippine Air Force Grandstand of the First Scout Ranger Regiment (1st SRR) at the Scout Ranger Ville in San Miguel, Bulacan on Monday, December 10. Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo
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in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, December 11. The three Balangiga Bells returned after 117 years when taken as war booties by U.S. troops during the height of the Philippine-American War. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Filipina reporter Maria Ressa lands TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’ cover
USA
DATELINE ‘Return of Balangiga bells time for healing, closure’
by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
THE return of three church bells taken as war booty from Balangiga, Eastern Samar more than a century ago symbolize “something precious” to both the Philippines and the United States, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday, December 11. The historic bells landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City aboard a U.S. Air Force C130. U.S. Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim officially turned the bells over to the Philippines during a handover ceremony. “They are going back to where they belong. It is time for healing, it is time for closure, it is time to look ahead as two nations should with shared history and as allies,” Lorenzana said in a speech. In his speech, Lorenzana also acknowledged American businessman Henry Howard for playing a major role in the efforts to return the Balangiga bells. Howard, who is Philippine Honorary Consul in Miami, Florida, shouldered the cost of bells’ refurbishing the bells and transporting them
This screenshot from TIME Magazine shows Rappler CEO Maria Ressa (right), who is one of the journalists it has picked as Person of the Year. On left are photos representing imprisoned Reuters reporters Kyaw She Oo and Wa Lone of Myanmar. Photo courtesy of TIME
ON Tuesday, Dec. 11, TIME Magazine has released its yearly “Person of the Year” issue, and the magazine has chosen “The Guardians” — journalists who have been persecuted for their work. Among the journalists given a black-andwhite cover included Maria Ressa, chief executive of Philippine news site Rappler; whose consistent, formidable reporting on the extrajudicial killings in the county, to put it lightly, caused a kerfuffle in the Duterte
administration. TIME writes, “In the Philippines, a 55year-old woman named Maria Ressa steers Rappler, an online news site she helped found, through a superstorm of the two most formidable forces in the information universe: social media and a populist President with authoritarian inclinations. Rappler has chronicled the violent drug war and extrajudicial killings of President Rodrigo Duterte that have left some 12,000 people dead, according to a January estimate from Human Rights Watch.”
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Duterte warns 2019 poll bets: ‘Do not Lacson: 2019 is ‘Year of Pork’ intimidate, let them choose who they want’ by JAVIER ISMAEL ManilaTimes.net
by AJPRESS
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 10, warned all candidates for the 2019 midterm elections not to intimidate Filipino voters into voting for them or their allies regardless of their political affiliations to the president. u PAGE A4 “Ke kasama kita sa gobyerno, kasama kita sa partido o kalaban kita sa politika (Whether you’re a colleague in government, a political ally, or a political opponent). Do not terrorize, do not intimidate, do not create fear in the voters,” Duterte warned. Duterte made it clear during the military THE woman arrived at the University of South Florida’s navigator office in Tampa a few housing project in San Miguel, Bulacan weeks ago with a 40-page document describing a short-term health insurance plan she was considering. She was uncomfortable with what the broker had said about the coverage, she told Jodi Ray, a health insurance navigator who helps people enroll in coverage, and she wanted help understanding it. The document was confusing, according to Ray, who oversees Covering Florida, the state’s navigator program. It was hard to decipher which services would be covered. “It was like a bunch of puzzle pieces,” she said. Encouraged by her wife, the woman eventually opted instead for a marketplace plan with comprehensive benefits. The annual open-enrollment period for people who buy their own insurance on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces ends Dec. 15 in most states. Enrollment in states that use the federal healthcare.gov platform has been sluggish this year compared to last. From Nov. 1
Need health insurance? The deadline is Dec. 15
SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Monday, December 10 said the coming year would be a happy one only for those who would continue to benefit from the pork barrel system, but would be burdensome for Filipinos. Lacson said every Filipino was saddled with a whopping P71,000 debt, no thanks to the corrupt pork barrel system. “2019: Year of the Earth Pig. Brace yourselves for more pork,” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account. “I do not know if it is a coincidence that next year is the Year of
that he will not tolerate nor permit any candidate to bully their voters into choosing them for a certain government position. “I would just like to inform, I want to tell the candidates and that goes for the entire Philippines, during my watch, in my time, I will not allow you,” the president added as reported by Rappler. Aside from offering to arrest politicians himself, the strong-mouthed leader delivered some threatening remarks to those who dare not to follow his orders. He presented his punishment in mind in a graphic and detailed manner. “‘Pag ginawa ‘nyo ‘yan, ako mismo pupunta doon at ako mismo mag-aresto sa ‘yo at ako mismo maghila sa inyo. Talian kita sa
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Sen. Panfilo Lacson
ManilaTimes.net photo
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Sandiganbayan sets 2019 trial for Enrile plunder case
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Former senator Juan Ponce Enrile
Inquirer.net photo
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE plunder trial of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly receiving P172.8 million in kickbacks from projects funded by his office’s pork barrel will finally start in 2019 by the Sandiganbayan Third Division. It is set to begin on February 19, 2019 by the anti-graft court’s third division. Due to the Supreme Court granting the former senator’s request for a Bill of Particulars, which required the prosecution to specify to the tiniest details its evidence against Enrile, his
plunder case has been stuck at the pre-trial level for years. It has caused years-long worth of pre-trial conferences at the third division. The Supreme Court also granted him bail, which gave Enrile his freedom for more than three years. Enrile is also charged for 15 counts of graft over the scam. Two women are crucial links to Enrile — his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes, and socialite Ruby Tuason who said she got kickbacks for Enrile from Janet LimNapoles, and she coursed them through Reyes. Reyes, who allegedly signed
endorsement letters to Napoles NGO, has has been detained for four years; meanwhile, Tuason has been turned into a state witness. Estrada trial For former senator Jinggoy Estrada’s plunder case, the defense is set to start its presentation of evidence after the prosecution rested its case. Estrada is charged for 11 counts of graft for allegedly receiving P183.793 in kickbacks from his pork barrel, as reported by Rappler. Supposedly, some of it were personally delivered by Tuason to his San Juan City home.
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A december 12-14, 2018 • Socal ASIAN JOUrNAL
Lacson: 2019 is ‘Year... PAGE A1
our borrowings have ballooned. the Earth Pig,” he added in a radio Worse, we have to borrow more just to pay off our past debts,” he interview on Monday. Lacson said the practice of law- said. “It would have been better if the makers to make insertions in the budget for pet projects, without borrowings resulted in developconsulting the agencies concerned ment projects whose benefits we has resulted in projects being im- can actually feel. But if taxpayers’ money is lost due to corruption plemented inefficiently, if at all. “All Filipinos, even those born and inefficiency, that is sad,” he just now, are already saddled with added. As it was, the government has a debt of P71,000 each, because
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From the Front Page been forced to impose new taxes to generate the additional revenue to pay off the debts, he said. Lacson noted that only three to four years ago, each of the 90 million Filipinos owed “only” about P60,000. Had development projects been properly implemented, each of the 100 million-plus Filipinos today would have a much lighter debt. “Aren’t you angry that because some people played around with the budget, all of us Filipinos are made to bear the burden of debt?” he said. To illustrate his point, Lacson cited findings of the Commission on Audit (CoA) for 2017, where some P583 billion in funds for implementing projects was tagged as questionable. “Why did CoA tag such an amount as questionable? There was no consultation between the executive and legislative in implementing projects,” Lacson said. Duterte not behind ‘pork’ insertions Malacañang on Monday insisted that President Rodrigo Duterte was not behind the supposed insertions in next year’s P3.757-trillion national budget. Earlier, House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr. said it was Duterte and his Cabinet members who asked for the additional budget. Andaya earlier said that the budget was delayed because of Duterte’s “very unusual” and belated requests. In a news briefing, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte does not meddle with the affairs of the House of Representatives given the separation of powers. “[The president] did not ask for the additional budget. He does not even meddle with the affairs of the departments, and agencies,” Panelo said. He also said the president did not have any hand on the P2.4-billion allocation of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Panelo also said that the Executive Branch should not be blamed for the delay of the passage of the budget. “Well, you must remember that the national budget has been submitted on the day the State of the Nation Address was delivered so I do not think that you can fault the Executive Branch. It’s the duty of Congress to deliberate on the matter,” he said. n
PROPOSED BUDGET DELIBERATION. Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon (left) discusses with Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar (right) the merging of the two government printing offices under PCOO during the Senate deliberations of the proposed 2019 budget on Monday, December 10. Also in the photo is PCOO Undersecretary George Apacible. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Duterte urges martial law... PAGE A1 highlights certain essential facts which indicate that rebellion still persists in Mindanao and public safety requires the continuation of martial law,” Duterte said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. According to the president, while rebels and terrorist groups “continue to defy the government by perpetrating hostile activities,” the military and the police force will continue to fight for peace to prevent the terror from reaching other parts of the Philippines. “(The extension of martial law) will enable the AFP, the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to finally put an end to the on-going rebellion in Mindanao and continue to prevent the same from escalating in other parts of the country,” the president explained. “We cannot afford to give the rebels any further breathing room to regroup and strengthen their forces. Public safety indubitably requires such further extension in order to avoid the further loss of lives and physical harm, not only to our soldiers and the police but also to our civilians,” he added.
Several bombings in the region specifically in Lamitan City, Basilan, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, and in General Santos City were reported in the past few months in his request for another martial law extension. Martial law extension: Necessary or not? The Senate deliberated on whether or not to grant the said extension for a third time as the Senate president stated that “they were able to present some compelling reasons to really consider the extension. However, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino expressed his disagreement noting that the reasons were not “compelling” enough since no fighting is seen in the said region. Instead, he pushed for a “time for rehabilitation, for ensuring peace and safety and better governance.” “Tama pa bang i-extend ang martial law kung wala na namang bakbakang nakikita (Is it right to extend martial law if there is no fighting)?” Aquino asked. In fact, successful na eh, ‘di ba? Di ba natigil na nga natin ‘yung Maute? Napalayas na natin sila sa Marawi, kaya dapat siguro, tama na ang martial law
(In fact, it was successful, right? We have stopped Maute, right? We have taken them away from Marawi. This is why martial law must stop),” he added. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 2017 after the Maute brothers laid siege to Marawi City. They waged a five-month war against the government, causing casualties on both sides, driving residents away from their homes, and destroying infrastructure, some of the historic landmarks. Under the Constitution, martial law can only be imposed for a maximum of 60 days. But before it expired in July 2017, Duterte asked Congress for its extension until December 2017. Even after the war, Duterte requested a second extension of martial law until the end of 2018, citing continuing terror threats. The president again requested that martial law in the region be extended until December 31, 2018, citing the continuous insurgency of the New People’s Army in the region. A joint hearing of the Senate and House of Representatives is set on Wednesday, December 12. n
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Filipino skateboard champ makes TIME’s 25 influential teens by Faye
Orellana Inquirer.net
AsiAn Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal is among TIME Magazine’s “25 Most influential Teens of 2018,” making the sole Filipino included on the list. “This summer, the 19 year old from Cebu City, Philippines, won the gold medal in women’s street skateboarding competition at the Asian Games —and became a national hero in the process,” TIME said. Those included on the list were determined by “accolades across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news.” BACK IN TOWN. Former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., gets a warm welcome from his supporters during his first public appearance Didal rose to prominence afat the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite on Monday, December 10, after he was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder. Also in the photo is his wife, Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan ter bagging the gold medal in the women’s street skateboard competition during 2018 Asian Games held JsC skateBoard stadium in Palembang last April. Didal finished with an average mark 30.4 points, 5.4 more than silver medalist isa Kaya of Japan A RAnKinG Chinese military are provocations against Beijing was then conducting a freedom who had 25. official called for a more aggres- and interference in the country’s of navigation operation near the sive approach against United sovereignty, the Global Times Paracel islands. According to a report from states warships conducting free- reported. Dai also claimed that China the south China Morning Post, PAGE A1 dom of navigation operations in has never influenced U.s. opera- China’s southern Theatre Comthe disputed south China sea. it was recently ruled by the Dai Xu, president of the insti- tions in international waters but mand claimed that the U.s. warsupreme Court that the santute of Marine safety and Coop- they should not enter Chinese ship entered the waters around the Paracels without approval of diganbayan can use explosive eration and a senior colonel in waters. Anti-Money Laundering CounThe U.s. has been increasing the Chinese government. the People’s Liberation Army Air Beijing then deployed navy cil (AMLC) report as evidence, Force, said Beijing should not al- its operations in the south China low American warships to “cre- sea, where several countries, in- and air forces to monitor Uss which shows Estrada under decluding the Philippines, China, Chancellorsville and warned it to clared his cash assets from 2006 ate disturbance.” to 2012. “if the U.s. warships break Malaysia, indonesia and Viet- leave the area. U.s. Pacific Fleet spokesperinto Chinese waters again, i sug- nam have overlapping claims. The most recent confrontation son nathan Christensesn said gest that two warships should be sent: one to stop it, and another between Washington and Beijing the U.s. warship sailed near the one to ram it,” Dai said in a con- was in november when the Chi- islands to “challenge excessive PAGE A1 ference organized by Chinese nese navy sent its forces to warn maritime claims and preserve a U.s. warship sailing through access to the waterways as gov- leeg, doon sa gilid ng eroplano state-run tabloid Global Times. erned by international law.” (If you do that, I myself will go to The Chinese air force official the contested waterway. The U.s. navy’s guided-mis- (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar. you and arrest you and drag you. added that Washington’s freeI will tie you around the neck. I dom of navigation operations sile cruiser Uss Chancellorsville com) will tie it to a wheel of a plane and take off),” he warned. He urged the candidates to leave the decision to the voters. PAGE A1 amid the ongoing ostracization also landed a cover for continu- He noted that even if they would Last month, the Duterte admin- and discrimination against the ing to “press on” after a gunman not like the attitude of those who istration indicted Rappler with minority group in Myanmar. entered their newsroom on June will win they must deal with it charges on tax fraud, which could Also featured in the issue — 28 and gunned down five of their because those are the government officials the people have send Ressa to prison for up to 10 called “The Guardians and the colleagues. years. “For taking great risks in pur- chosen. War on Truth — was investigative “Hayaan mo ang tao kung sino Ressa wasn’t the only Asian Washington Post journalist Jamal suit of greater truths, for the honoree of the esteemed cover. Khashoggi, whose mysterious imperfect but essential quest for ang piliin nila — maski piliin nila Young Reuters reporters Kyaw killing continues breed specula- facts that are central to civil dis- yung parang aso ‘yung ugali. E soe Oo and Wa Lone are cur- tion into abuse of power among course, for speaking up and for pasensiya tayo (Let the people rently in prison in Myanmar for those who may be involved. speaking out, ‘The Guardians’ choose who they want – even if their consistent reporting on the The staff at historical Maryland are the Person of the Year,” TIME they choose someone who behaves like a dog. That’s just too deaths of 10 Rohingya Muslims newspaper The Capital Gazette editor Ed Felsenthal wrote. n
Chinese military official suggests attack against US ships in South China Sea
Margielyn Didal
TIME said that Didal’s win paved a way for the public to consider skateboarding as a serious sport in the Philippines. “i want to build a new generation of skaters for the future,” she told Time. Apart from Didal, actresses Millie Bobby Brown, storm Reid, Kiernan shipka, Joey King and
ManilaTimes.net photo
Korean boy group nCT Dream were also included on the list. Also part of the annual list of the magazine were French footballer Kylian Mpabbe and American snowboarder Chloe Kim. in 2017, two Filipino teens were included in the annual listing of influential teens around the globe. n
Sandiganbayan sets 2019 trial for Enrile... Estrada was also shown in the report withdrawing a total of P76.446 million from four bank accounts in september 2013, at the height of the exposé on the pork barrel scandal. The report also shows that Estrada transferred millions of pesos to accounts under the names
Gregorio (P42.849 million), Rolando Francisco (P20.7 million), Juan ng (P29.904 million), and Reynaldo Pazcoguin (P11.9 million). After the special 5th division granted him bail, Estrada has been free since september 2017. n
Duterte warns 2019 poll bets: “Do not...
Filipina reporter Maria Ressa lands TIME’s...
bad for us),” Duterte said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. He emphasized the importance of giving in to the call of democracy which is surrendering the selection of leaders to the will of the people. He said that the choice of the majority should dictate who will be the rightful person in public office. “That’s the will of the people. it’s the will of God. iyon ang pinili ng tao. Eh, di pasensiya (That’s who the people chose. That’s just too bad for us). You might not like him, but if it’s their free will, it’s the choice of the people. Do not mess it up,” he said. The commander-in-chief also
issued an order to government officials and members of the military — soldiers and police alike, not to express favor towards any politician, even if they are allied with the administration. “One thing also is we are observing the election period. i would like to remind everybody in government, everybody especially the Armed Forces and police. Do not take sides either for or against any party. Don’t interfere,” he said. “Huwag kayong magkampanya (Don’t campaign for) and do not favor any candidate whatsoever,” he added. “That is the mandate of the Constitution. And we will stick by it,” Duterte added. n
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A december 12-14, 2018 • Socal ASIAN JOUrNAL
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Palace accuses UN expert of ‘assaulting Philippine sovereignty’ sion charges against Ressa. “Without the benefit of factual information, Mr. Kaye, UN MALACAñANG has accused Special Rapporteur on freedom a United Nations expert who of expression, has called on called for the dropping of charg- the government to drop the tax es against journalist Maria Ressa evasion charges against Rapand her website Rappler of “as- pler and its head, Maria Ressa, saulting” the Philippines’ sover- contending falsely that the same eignty and “politicizing” a seri- constitutes censorship,” Panelo ous crime. said in a statement issued on Presidential spokesman Salva- Saturday, December 8. dor Panelo said UN special rap“We expect the UN represenporteur on freedom of expres- tative to be more circumspect sion David Kaye had barged into instead of politicizing a crime the country’s legal and judicial and ignoring its gravity and asprocesses when he urged the saulting the sovereignty of our CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING. The Villar family, led by former Senate President Manny Villar (right) and Senator Cynthia Villar (2nd right), celebrates government to drop the tax eva- country,” he added. by Alexis
RomeRo Philstar.com
their annual Christmas gift-giving get-together with some 150 kids from Barangay Baseco in Tondo and Barangay Iruhin in Tagaytay City at the Christmas Village in Crosswinds, Tagaytay on Sunday, December 9. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (left) and his wife, Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Villar (2nd from left), sang and played with the kids in the annual gift-giving affair. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Need health insurance? The deadline...
PAGE A1 through Dec. 1, about 3.2 million people had chosen plans for 2019. Compared with the previous year, that’s about 400,000 fewer, or a drop of just over 11 percent. The wider availability of shortterm plans is one big change that has set this year apart from past sign-up periods. Another is the elimination of the penalty for not having health insurance starting next year. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that as many as 3 million people who buy their own coverage may give it up when they don’t face a tax penalty. And a study in California has suggested that nearly half a million residents there might go without coverage in 2020. But experts who have studied health insurance enrollment say that surveys so far indicate that the penalty hasn’t typically been the pivotal factor in people’s decision on whether to buy insurance. They also caution against reading too much into the preliminary enrollment totals. “There typically is a surge in enrollment at the end,” said Sabrina Corlette, research professor at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. “It’s hard to know whether it will make up for the shortfall.” If they don’t pick a new plan, people who are enrolled in a 2018 marketplace plan may be automatically re-enrolled in their current plan or another one that is similar when the open-enrollment period ends. About a quarter of
people who have marketplace plans are reassigned in this way. Another factor that may be affecting enrollment is tighter federal funding for the health insurance navigators, like Jodi Ray in Tampa, who guide consumers through the complicated process. With fewer experts available to answer questions and help fill out the enrollment forms, consumers may fall through the cracks. Across the country, funding for navigators dropped from $36 million in 2017 to $10 million this year. In Florida, federal funding for the Covering Florida navigator program was slashed to $1.25 million this year from $4.9 million last year, Ray said. The program was the only one to receive federal funding in the state this year. The Covering Florida program reduced the number of openenrollment navigators to 59 this year, a nearly 61 percent drop, Ray said. Navigators this year are available in only half of Florida counties; the organization is offering telephone assistance and virtual visits to people in counties where they can’t offer in-person help. “It’s all we can do,” Ray said. So far, the group’s navigators have enrolled about half the number of people this year as they had last year. It’s unclear the extent to which the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce health care costs by expanding access to shortterm plans is affecting marketplace plan enrollment.
These plans, originally designed to cover people who expected to be out of an insurance plan for a short time, such as when they change jobs, can be less expensive. Unlike marketplace plans, short-term plans don’t have to provide comprehensive benefits or guarantee coverage for people who have preexisting medical conditions. The Obama administration limited short-term plans to a threemonth term. But in August, the federal government issued a rule that allowed their sale with initial terms of up to a year, and the option of renewal for up to three years. Ten states either ban shortterm plans or restrict them to terms of less than three months, said Sarah Lueck, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Many people are seemingly not focused on their options this open-enrollment season, however. According to a recent survey, about half of adults under age 65 who were uninsured or who buy their own coverage said they planned to buy a plan for 2019. But only 24 percent of people in that age group said they knew what the deadline was to enroll in health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s November health tracking poll. (Michelle Andrews/Kaiser Health News) This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n
Rappler Holdings, the parent firm of news website Rappler and Ressa are facing five tax evasion cases. The justice department has accused them of not filing a value-added tax return for the second quarter of 2015. Kaye has called on the Duterte administration to drop the charges against Rappler and Ressa, claiming the cases were being used as a “censorship tool.” The UN expert has also described the charges as “a serious threat against independent and investigative journalism in the Philippines.” n
PH ranks 73rd in worldwide freedom index by DARRyl John
esgueRRA
Inquirer.net
THE Philippines ranked 73rd out of 162 countries in the Human Freedom Index (HFI), a study by Canada’s Fraser Institute, Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Cato Institute in the United States showed. The country slid two spots from its previous ranking in the fourth edition of the annual index, which uses a 10-point scoring system. The index “captures the degree to which people are free to enjoy important rights such as freedom of speech, religion, association, and assembly, and also measures freedom of movement, women’s freedoms, crime and violence, and legal discrimination against
same-sex relationships.” HFI ranks the countries based on 79 distinct indicators of personal, civil, and economic freedom, using data from 2008 to 2016, the most recent year for which sufficient data are available. In the 2018 Index, the Philippines registered a score of 6.92, at par with the global average Human Freedom rating of 6.89. The country scored 6.50 in the “Personal Freedom” category, 7.34 in the “Economic Freedom” and 6.92 in the “Human Freedom” category. Its aggregate score of 6.92 was 0.13 points below its previous ranking in 2015-16, the study noted. New Zealand topped the rankings followed by Switzerland,
Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative director Gregory Poling.
Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada. Among the South Asian countries, the Philippines ranked third, just behind Singapore (8.16) and Cambodia (7.20). The Philippines was also named 100th in Personal Freedom, 49th in Economic Freedom, and 73rd in Human Freedom, In the foreword of the report, authors claimed that “aspiring authoritarian rulers in nations such as Poland, Hungary, and the Philippines may have little interest in imposing their despotic vision of ‘good governance’ outside their borders—but the real evangelists of authoritarianism are emerging elsewhere. It’s a bit like cancer—all cancer is bad, but metastasizing cancer can be lethal.” n
Inquirer.net photo by Frances Mangosing
US urged to clarify scope of Mutual Defense Treaty in sea dispute by FRAnces
mAngosing Inquirer.net
THE United States should clarify how its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines applies to the situation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). For Gregory Poling, director of the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, it’s a high time for the U.S. to settle the questions surrounding the scope of the 66-year-old treaty. The South China Sea expert said “one of the biggest strategic mistakes” of the Obama administration was the failure to sort out how the treaty comes into play when push comes to shove in the disputed waters. “I would argue that one of the biggest strategic mistakes of the Obama administration was the failure to clarify the Mutual Defense Treaty and how it applies in the South China Sea. That remains a gross mistake the U.S. needs to get done but it was only a political issue then,” Poling said at a security forum in Makati on Friday, December 7. “Today, there’s a concern that if U.S. did offer clarification, it would not be able to back it up. Right now, as of this year, the Chinese have three naval air bases in the Spratly Islands. They are 12 miles from Pagasa (Thitu) and 20 miles from Sierra Madre (Second Thomas Shoal). The closest U.S. air assets are 1,300 miles away in Okinawa,” he added. The Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bru-
nei have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. But China claims most of the waters with their so-called nine-dash line, and has asserted its claims by building huge, artificial islands with military capabilities. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told INQUIRER.net that a clarification from the U.S. was important, “because it would specify how far they would back us up.” At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis dodged questions on the scope of the MDT. “We stand by our treaty allies but this is a discussion between the current administrations in the Manila and in Washington DC and it’s not one that can be answered as simply as your question would indicate,” he said in the Q and A after his speech. “To simply turn it into a military and non-military response is a shortchanging of the issue. Diplomacy is all about taking contrary perspectives and finding common ground and we’ve got to try to do that in this world,” he also said. The Philippines and the U.S. signed the MDT on Aug. 30, 1951, agreeing to come to each other’s defense against an armed attack. As the U.S. needs to clear the questions about MDT, Poling said the Philippines should also recognize the importance of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. But four years after
it was signed and two years after it was cleared by the Supreme Court, it has yet to be fully implemented. “Here we stand in 2018: So far we have a warehouse and a command and control center built at Basa Air Base and another at Fort Magsaysay,” he said. Under the EDCA, the U.S. military would have access to five agreed locations in Philippine military bases. It also allows U.S. forces to construct facilities and preposition assets in the said locations. The five initial locations chosen for EDCA were Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City, Mactan-Buenito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. But the closest location to the South China Sea, the Antonio Air Base in Palawan, is still facing setbacks to start the construction of facilities, thus delaying the implementation. Poling said the alliance would counter provocations in the disputed waters more effectively if the U.S. would offer a clarification of the MDT and the Philippines would recognize that EDCA is necessary. “The Philippines’ greatest leverage here remains the U.S. alliance. It is what prevents China from using force. It is what makes Beijing think twice about the cost if it might have to pay if it does things like build in Scarborough Shoal.” n
‘Return of Balangiga bells time for healing... PAGE A1
from Wyoming to Philadelphia. Two of the bells were initially displayed as a memorial at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming while the third one was at a U.S. Army regiment in South Korea. Other than being spoils of war, the Balangiga bells symbolize unity and national identity, according to Lorenzana. “How could mere three church bells evoke so much intense emotion among Filipinos and Americans? Maybe because we human beings live by symbols such as our national flag and, in this instance, these bells,” Lorenzana said. Replicas of the historic bells will replace the original ones that were repatriated to the
Philippines. Closure to ‘painful episode of history’ The Defense secretary expressed hopes that the return of the bells would serve as closure and would no longer remind both countries of “that painful episode of our joint history.” Lorenzana also quoted U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis who previously said, “To those who think that we are losing something by returning the bells, please hear me out when I say that the bells mark time but courage is timeless. It does not fade in history in dimly-lit corridors nor is it forgotten in this history of conflict. For Washington, the return of the Balangiga bells reflect the
Philippines-U.S. relationship, which Ambassador Kim described as “enduring and deeply personal.” “The bells’ return reflects the strong bonds and mutual respect between our nations and our peoples. It demonstrates our determination to honor the past and the sacrifices made together by Filipinos and Americans. And it heralds our bright future as friends, partners, and allies,” Kim said during the handover ceremony. Following the ceremony at Villamor Air Base, the bells are expected to be returned to their original home, the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir in Balangiga, Eastern Samar. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)
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Dateline PhiliPPines
House OKs expanded VAWC bill by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
CUTTING THROUGH THE WATERS. The Philippine Navy paddles away from its competitors to clinch the top spot during Race 23 of the fourth leg of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation’s Dragon Boat Regatta 2018 at the Manila Bay in Pasay City on Sunday, December 9. ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia
Palace to continue anti-crime drive amid flak from critics by aJPress PhiliPPine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 9, promised to continue his campaign against illegal drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and insurgency campaign despite being labeled as the “biggest threat to human rights” by activists and human rights group. Presidential human Rights Committee and executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a statement on the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of human Rights stating that the government’s goal is to safeguard its citizens. “To protect the lives of the innocent, law-abiding citizens of the country, this administration remains unrelenting in its crusade against criminality, corruption, terrorism, insurgency, and the proliferation of illegal drugs that destroy families and the future of the young,” he said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. human rights defenders took their sentiments to the streets as they gathered in different parts of Metro Manila, Central luzon and major cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. They condemned the president’s bloody war on
drugs, deadly attacks on militants, the imposition of martial law in Mindanao and the plan to establish Duterte Death Squad to counter rebels. Senator Risa hontiveros, along with the other members of the opposition, also voiced out their criticisms towards the administration in commemoration of the human Rights Day of the United nations. “We cannot continue treading this path. i call on the people to push back and stand up against the threat to our human rights. When the institutions we build to protect us are used against us, we prove aspiring tyrants wrong and take them back,” hontiveros said. “By unleashing a bloody and abusive war on drugs, he has set into motion the killing of thousands, most of whom are poor people, while big-time drug lords like Peter lim continue to be free and billions of pesos worth of shabu are smuggled into our country aided by corrupt government officials,” she added The senator also emphasized the importance of human rights in today’s setting. According to her, human rights should be applicable to all and should not
be used by selective few to fuel their agenda. “human rights are not suggestions or ornaments. They are fundamental anchors to a society of fairness for the many, and not tools to be used by the privileged few,” hontiveros said as reported by The Philippine Star. “The president has singlehandedly rolled back human rights safeguards and made the country a haven for human rights violators,” she added. Senator leila de lima, a known critic of the Duterte administration, who is also detained for charges related to drugs, noted that there is an apparent “growing absence of human rights leadership in the world today.” “Some governments themselves, led mostly by populist demagogues and autocrats, have actually attacked their own people. And far too many politicians and so-called leaders, including those in my country, the Philippines, seem to have forgotten the [Universal Declaration of human Rights],” De lima said. however, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo was quick to defend the chief executive insisting that the leader respects human rights. Panelo, PAGE A7
The house of Representatives on Monday, December 10, approved on third and final reading the expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (e-VAWC), a measure that criminalizes electronic violence and involves the use of information and communication technology. With 207 affirmative votes, lawmakers unanimously approved house Bill 8655, which seeks to amend Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The bill provides definitions of electronic VAWC, protective measures and penalties for violations of the law. Under house Bill 8655, committing psychological violence through the use of electronic devices or information communication technology-related means are punishable by imprisonment for minimum of six years and a
day and maximum of 12 years. in addition, the perpetrator will also be penalized by a fine of not less than P300,000 but not more than P500,000. Spreading of explicit videos to harass women and their children, harassing via text messages, stalking, and creating fake social media accounts with ill intent and malice that will cause distress on the part of women all fall under electronic violence. house Bill 8655 also widens the composition of the interAgency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children to include the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of information and Communications Technology (DiCT), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Commission on Overseas Filipinos, and 2 representatives from civil society organizations, as reported by ABS-CBn news.
The Gabriela Women’s Party welcomed the bill’s approval, describing it as “ray of good news” amid looming approval of repressive measures and a “historic advance of the #labananAngAbuso campaign.” “This is a much-awaited development by women abused by their partners, as the measure expands the definition of VAWC to include forms of electronic violence, with corresponding penalties,” Gabriela party-list Rep. emmi de Jesus, one of the principal authors of the expanded VAWC bill, said. “We are pushing the e-VAWC to address the loopholes in Republic Act 9262 of 2004, which failed to mention electronic violence that could cause more damage but are not as visible as the manifestations of physical violence,” she added. Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas in a statement on Facebook said, “With the approval of the measure, we hope to give PAGE A7
A6 DECEMBER 12-14, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Not so guilty
FEATURES
THE prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. But the Sandiganbayan found sufficient basis to order former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to return, together with his co-defendants, P124.5 million in connection with the pork barrel scam. The anti-graft court found accused scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and Richard Cambe, a member of Revilla’s staff in his Senate office, guilty of plunder and sentenced them to life in prison. But the court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that Revilla actually received over P224.5 million for endorsing funds from his pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund to nine bogus non-government organizations set up by Napoles. Also given weight by the court was the testimony of a handwriting analyst presented by the defense, who declared that Revilla’s signatures on the letters of funding endorsements were forged. Set aside by the court were the documented money trail provided by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the unwavering testimony of scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy, as well as
Editorial
the fact that the charged offense involved a conspiracy, in which there may be no direct line leading to the head of the office where the plunder of public funds was
committed. An acquittal can no longer be appealed, so Revilla is home free. His lawyer stressed that the burden of proof rests on the accuser. But he may appeal his conviction on the civil aspect all the way to the Supreme Court, so he may even be spared from returning the P124.5 million. While Cambe must prepare to spend the rest of his life in prison, Revilla was released from detention yesterday, and can now freely move around in preparation for the official start of his bid to return to the Senate. The court of public opinion can deliver its own verdict on his case in May. (Philstar. com)
Philstar.com photo
Sorry President Trump: Journalists you call “Enemy of the People” and Special Counsel Robert Mueller beat you in TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s response to reporters last November when asked about who should be Person of the Year: “Trump…I can’t imagine anybody else other than Trump, can you imagine anybody else other than Trump?” His bubble of self-aggrandizing must have painfully burst when the very people he has been denigrating, demonizing and undermining have been the ones who got the distinction he has been obsessing about for a long time. TIME Magazine’s 2018 Person of the Year went to “The Guardians,” the honor awarded to journalists who, in their pursuit of the truth, had paid the sacrifice of being harassed, imprisoned, and even killed. According to the reporting of NBC News, the age we we live in now is a dangerous time to be
journalists with what has been happening to the world. “With a record number of reporters behind bars around the planet — the Committee to Protect Journalists documented 262 cases in 2017 — an avalanche of misinformation on social media and government officials from the United States to the Philippines dismissing critical, real reporting as “fake news.” In the TIME Magazine cover are four pictures of these courageous journalists who have all been targeted for doing their job. Among them is the Philippines’ very own, Maria Ressa of Rappler. According to NBC News, “The former CNN bureau chief started the online news site ‘Rappler’ in 2012 and has reported critically on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.” According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, that coverage earned the site a “campaign of legal harassment” from Duterte’s Department of
Justice.” Another journalist honored, albeit posthumously, was Jamal Khashoggi, whose brutal killing had been widely talked about internationally. As NBC News reported, “The Washington Post columnist and United States resident penned columns critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — and was brutally killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in October.” The CIA has concluded with “high confidence” that bin Salman ordered his murder, although Trump has seemingly dismissed that assessment, saying, “It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” Also honored are four journalists and sales associate who were gunned down in a mass shooting at Maryland’s state capital newspaper, The Capital Gazette, in June. According
to NBC News, authorities said the assailant — who had sued the newspaper and lost after it reported on his guilty plea in a criminal harassment case — targeted the paper in a “coordinated attack.” “The Guardians” also included Myanmar journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. As NBC News reported, “A judge in Myanmar sentenced the pair of Reuters journalists to seven years in prison in September. Their crime? Breaking a colonial-era state secrets law while reporting on the military’s mass killing of Rohingya Muslims.” RUNNER -UP: Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the man tasked to head the independent probe investigating the alleged conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia in damaging Clinton’s campaign to help Trump win the presidency. Trump has been characterizing Mueller as “conflicted,” “not the man you think he is” and the
Returning the Balangiga bells
Commentary U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES
SUNG KIM
THIS morning (Tuesday, December 11), a U.S. Air Force plane bearing three historic bells from San Lorenzo de Martir Church in Balangiga landed at Villamor Air Force Base. These bells were taken 117 years ago; it was my honor to return them. Their safe return is thanks to the efforts of U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, supported by President Trump, and is driven by respect for the Philippines, our friend, partner, and ally. It has been a long road home for these bells, which were caught up in the aftermath of the tragic conflict that raged across this archipelago at the turn of the last century. The U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Regiment, whose C Company was garrisoned at Balangiga, returned with one of the bells to its home garrison in Sackets Harbor, New York. This bell followed the Regiment to subsequent assignments, most recently residing at a U.S. Army base in South Korea. The two other bells were sent to Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming with the 11th Infantry Regiment, where the bells were displayed as part of a memorial to fallen U.S. service members. Good hearted individuals and groups labored for decades to bring the bells home. Former presidents, Cabinet secretaries, Philippine and U.S. ambassadors, historians, philanthropists
and many others worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the history of the bells and to advocate for their dignified return. Others viewed the bells in a very different light. In the state of Wyoming, some U.S. military veterans expressed their belief that the two bells housed there were an integral part of a war memorial that should not be deconstructed or disturbed. In the fall of 1999, Congress passed legislation that made it unlawful to remove the two bells from the memorial on the base, challenging efforts to lobby for their return. The turning point in this century-long saga came in October of this past year during the 2017 ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Clark. Secretary Mattis met with Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana to discuss security cooperation and opportunities to further strengthen the U.S.-Philippine defense relationship. At this meeting, SND Lorenzana raised the issue of the “Balangiga Bells.” Later that day, in a meeting with President Duterte, Secretary Mattis stated definitively that it would be his personal initiative to find a way to return these religious artifacts. In the Secretary’s words, “all wars end,” and it was time to heal a wound that had strained the U.S.-Philippines relationship for too long. Following this important meeting, I maintained direct communication with the Secretary and my colleagues and I worked with his outstanding staff to ensure the bells’ swift return. In Washington, Secretary Mat-
tis sought legislation that would make it legally permissible to return the bells. Members of Congress and senior officials in the Department of State and National Security Council endorsed returning the bells. The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars both passed national resolutions supporting the bells’ return. These unambiguous expressions of support clearly demonstrate the special bond veterans and the U.S. public share with the Philippine people.
On August 9, Secretary Mattis announced his intent to return the bells, which began a legallyrequired 90-day waiting period. On Nov. 14, the Secretary traveled to F.E. Warren Air Force Base and, in a solemn ceremony, officially informed Philippine Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez that the bells would at last be returned to the Philippines. At the culmination of his moving speech, he turned to Ambassador Romualdez and asked him to “bear these bells home, back to the
Russia probe a “witch hunt.” According to TIME, “Mueller has spoken only through his work: in the hundreds of pages of known court filings, some of which laid out Moscow’s alleged plots to help Donald Trump win the presidency; in the 34 people and entities he charged with crimes this year; in the plea deals he made with Trump’s former lawyer, former campaign chairman and another top campaign aide. Beyond that: Nothing. No interviews. No press conferences. No tweets. No leaks.” “Mueller’s silence has invited noisy speculation from partisans. To critics on the right, he is an overzealous prosecutor drunk on power and roaming beyond his mandate in a bid to drum Trump out of office. To liberals, he is a crusading hero who won’t quit until he brings the president to justice. The public narrative of Mueller’s investigation this year has often
described its central character more as myth than man.” TIME’S commentary comparing Trump and Mueller is spot on: “Trump and Mueller could hardly be more different. One created a public persona as the embodiment of gaudy capitalism; the other is a reticent patrician, driven and serious, who’s devoted his life to institutions. One embodies disruption, the other consistency. One flouts the rules, the other enforces them. One is the avatar of disorder, the other the personification of order. Nothing less than core principles of American justice and self-government are at stake in their struggle.” ***
Catholic Church, confident that America’s ironclad alliance with the Philippines is stronger than ever.” And so the bells began their journey home. This decision to return the bells is consistent with our values and overwhelmingly viewed as the right thing to do. From World War II to today’s struggle to defeat ISIS and the scourge of terrorism, our militaries have fought together, bled together, at times died together. As your ally and friend, we will forever honor and respect this shared history. Today we do not focus on looking back or relitigating a
painful chapter in our past but investing in our shared future. In Secretary Mattis’ words, “In returning the Bells of Balangiga to our ally and our friend – the Philippines – we pick up our generation’s responsibility to deepen the respect between our peoples.” Ours is a close friendship, and we do not take it for granted. Strengthening and maintaining it requires sustained commitment and investment. To these bells — the Bells of San Lorenzo De Martir — welcome home. We wish you safe onward travel to Samar and your church in Balangiga. (Philstar.com)
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
After 117 years, the three Balangiga Bells, taken as war booties by U.S. troops during the height of the Philippine-American War, have returned on Tuesday, December 11. The Balangiga Bells were brought by U.S. Air Force C-130 Spirit MC Arthur at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
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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Dateline PhiliPPines
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 12-14, 2018
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Comelec sets longer voting hours for 2019 elections by AJPress
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ANNIVERSARY. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Acting Secretary Enrique A. Manalo delivers his message during the Philippines observance of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) held at the DFA office in Pasay City on Monday, December 10. This year’s theme is: “Protecting Human Lives, Uplifting Human Dignity, and Advancing People’s Progress.” PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
Trillanes leaves PH for speaking engagements in Europe by Kristine Joy
Philstar.com
Patag
MANILA — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV left the country for europe for speaking engagements on Tuesday, December 11. his office said that the senator left for europe at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The senator’s office refused to divulge more details regarding his trip. No court has issued a hold departure order against the senator before he flew on Tuesday. The government withdrew its plea—and was subsequently granted—before a Pasay court, while the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 upheld its order to temporarily lift the hold departure order against the senator. Trillanes paid P200,000 as travel bond before the Makati court last Friday, December 7. Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 54 has yet to rule on the government’s motion for travel ban against Trillanes as the senator’s camp was given until De-
The Commission on elections (Comelec) has extended the period of casting votes for the May 13, 2019 elections by an hour, making it end at 6 p.m. instead of the usual 5 p.m. As reported by the PNA, the decision is contained in the 49page Comelec Resolution No. 10460 or the General Instructions for the electoral Boards issued on Dec. 6, 2018, regarding the process of voting, counting, and transmission of election results in the upcoming national and local elections. “The casting of votes shall be from 6 o’clock in the morning up to 6 o’clock in the evening of election Day,” the poll body said.
The resolution also noted that voters, who are within 30 meters from the polling place by 6 p.m. on election day, would still be allowed to cast their votes, provided that they are listed on the list prepared by a poll employee. “The poll clerk shall promptly prepare a complete list in duplicate, containing the names of said voters, numbered consecutively. The voters so listed shall be called to vote by the poll clerk by announcing near the door of polling place, in a tone loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place, each name three times in the order in which they are listed,” it said. “Any voter in the list who is not present or does not respond when called shall no longer be allowed to vote. The said list shall be attached to the Minutes,” it
House OKs expanded VAWC...
PAGE A5 women an increased chance to fight forms of violence and abuse as we educate them on their rights.” “We urge the Senate to do its Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV posts bail at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 for four part and fast-track the counter-
part measure amending the AntiVAWC Act. If signed into law, this will be a very valuable legacy of the 17th Congress to women long suffering from all kinds of abuse and harassment,” Brosas added.
added. According to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, the Commission decided to extend for another hour the casting of votes to accommodate voters. “To accommodate voters. 1,000 maximum voters/one vote counting machine (VCM), so we’re anticipating that there might be some queuing,” he said in a text message. Polling precincts, during the 2016 national elections, were open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Comelec has noted that more than 2.5 million Filipinos registered as new voters during the last registration period from July 2 to September 29. Meanwhile, the projected number of overseas voters for the 2019 elections is 1.9 million. n
Brosas urged the Senate to pass its version of the bill, saying the enactment of the proposed policy “will be a very valuable legacy of the 17th Congress to women long suffering from all kinds of abuse and harassment.” The measure was first filed by Gabriela Women’s Party during the 15th Congress. n
libel cases filed against him by ex-Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte. ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia
cember 12 to file their comment or opposition to the plea. The Davao court issued arrest warrants against the senator, and Trillanes paid a total of P96,000 of bail bond before Pasay court on Monday noon, December 10. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Monday that he directed the Bureau of Immigration to allow the senator to leave the country if there is no hold departure order against him.
“The court is not expected to issue an hDO until it has received and evaluated Sen. Trillanes’ comment/opposition,” the Justice secretary said. “The matter of getting the Davao court’s permission to travel abroad is between Sen. Trillanes and the court,” Guevarra also said. “If he travels without court permission, that is his own lookout,” he added. n
Palace to continue anti-crime drive... PAGE A5 also the president’s legal counsel, considered the critics’ insights noting that they are “entitled to (their) opinion.” “We have been saying so and we have shown it. We prosecute people who violate human rights,” Panelo said. Medialdea supported Panelo as he explained that every presidential rule varies in their approach towards addressing the issues under their control. “every administration has its own emphasis and approach in its efforts to make human rights real for our people. Today, we further human rights in the era
of Mr. Duterte along relevant paths reflected in our theme for this year’s observance: ‘Protecting human Lives, Uplifting human Dignity, and Advancing People’s Progress,’” Medialdea added. Along with the relatives of alleged extrajudicial killing victims, the groups who were in protest reverberated the call to “further human rights” under Duterte’s administration. The data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that the killings in police operations reached 4,999 drug suspects from July 1, 2016, to Oct. 31, 2018. however, but rights
groups claimed that it was over 20,000. According to the group Movement Against Tyranny, there were four killings, seven frustrated killings, four disappearances, 47 trumped-up charges, 43 illegal arrests and detentions, 32 arbitrary arrests, 567 victims of threat, harassment and intimidation, and 927 victims of fake surrenders in 2018 alone. The president said last week that he was taking full responsibility for the killings, and vowed to press his war on drugs, which he swore would be no less harsh than when it started after he took office in 2016. n
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A december 12-14, 2018 • Socal ASIAN JOUrNAL
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Filipinos are digital native leaders regionally, globally by LOUELLA
DESIDERIO Philstar.com
ready to be part and shape that journey,” said Ronnie Latinazo, country general Manager, Dell IN a study commissioned by EMC Philippines, which reDell Technologies revealed that cently hosted Dell EMC Realize Generation Z (Gen Z) entering 2018, a flagship annual event the workforce with a technol- for its customers and partners ogy-first mentality will propel in the Philippines to meet, conbusiness further into the digi- nect and get insights from Dell tal era, while at the same time, EMC’s business leaders and could potentially deepen the di- experts to help accelerate their vide among five generations in digital transformation journey. “It is a very encouraging dethe workplace. According to the research, velopment but also creating post-millennials, those born af- challenges for these businesses ter 1996, have a deep, universal as they need to have the right understanding of technology strategy and technology to inand its potential to transform vite the right talents while at how we work and live, and Fili- the same time find common pino Gen-Z have the most confi- ground for multi-generation dence in their technology skills workers in the workplace.” The study looked into 730 among their peers in Southeast Asia and global (Philippines: Filipino high school and col68 percent; SEA: 62 percent; lege students, while globally Global: 52 percent) and are op- more than 12,000 high school timistic that they have the tech- and college students in 17 countries were interviewed. A nology skills employers need. “While digital transformation total of 4,331 students across journey in the country is unique six Southeast Asia countries — for every business, this survey i.e. the Philippines, Indonesia, shows that Filipino youth are u PAGE B2
More pinoy households with savings in Q4 – BSP
by MAYVELIN
U. CARABALLO Manilatimes.net
THE number of Filipino households with savings increased slightly in the fourth quarter of 2018, data from a nationwide Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) poll showed. According to the latest Consumer Expectations Survey (CES), 32.8 percent of the 5,411 respondents said they had money set aside, up from 32.5 percent in the previous quarter. “The percentage of household savers rose in the NCR (National Capital Region) but was unchanged in the AONCR (areas outside the NCR),” the Bangko Sentral said. Also, the number of respondents who said they had bank accounts rose to 68 percent from 66.2 percent a quarter ago.
However, 46.2 percent still keep their savings at home while 26.5 percent put their money in cooperatives, paluwagan (rotating savings and credit association), other credit/ loan associations and as investments such as microfinance and insurance. Respondents said their savings were intended for emergencies, health and hospitalization, education, retirement, purchase of real estate, and business capital and investment. The proportion of Filipinos willing to save 10 percent or more of their monthly income grew to 40.2 percent from 37.3 percent in the third quarter of 2018. Likewise, the proportion of those that could set aside 10 percent or more of their month-
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Philippines logistics sector to create 7.5 M jobs by 2022 Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association Inc. president Marilyn Alberto said the target employment was set by the government as logistics is seen as a key employment generating sector. Philstar.com photo by Miguel de Guzman by LOUELLA
DESIDERIO Philstar.com
THE Philippine logistics sector may help create 7.5 million jobs and achieve five percent employment by 2022. Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association Inc. president Marilyn Alberto said the target employment was set by the government as logistics is seen as a key employment generating sector. “There is no data at present. That is why we are pushing them to come up with more monitoring of the data, so that we know where we are and where we are going,” she
said. To achieve the target and allow the logistics sector to serve as an enabler of manufacturing, agriculture and service industries, logistics players and the government have made 10 commitments. Among the commitments is to prioritize initiatives for a globally competitive logistics sector providing service to customers with the right product at the right time, price and quality, and in a reliable manner. The industry and government will also work together to cut red tape and eliminate corruption through automation, streamlining and decentralization of permit issu-
ances, and reportorial requirements across government agencies. There will likewise be a platform for dialogue between government and industry players to discuss policies and regulations to promote a globally competitive logistics sector. Both parties have committed to abide by the Ease of Doing Business Act which provides required processing time for issuance of permits and other government transactions. The parties will also encourage and develop government investment commitments
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PH seen becoming 18th biggest economy by 2037 by BEN
O. DE VERA Inquirer.net
THE Philippines will move up to become the 18th biggest economy in the world by 2037, partly to be boosted by a continuously growing labor force population, according to London-based Capital Economics. In its Long-Term Global Economic Outlook 2019 report last week, Capital Economics projected the Philippines would have a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $1.414 trillion by 2037, just behind the economies of the United States, China, India, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Cana-
da, Australia, Italy, Indonesia, Russia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia by that time. Ranked 25th in terms of nominal GDP in 2017, the Philippines will overtake Turkey, Poland, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia, South Africa and Argentina two decades from now, based on Capital Economics’ projections. Across South and Southeast Asia, Capital Economics described the economic outlook over the coming decades as “brighter.” “Thailand is the only one among these countries where the working age population is forecast to contract. Meanwhile, working age populations will still grow at
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Inquirer.net file photo
Business news
B DECEMBER 12-14, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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Taking the time to just be this Christmas FATCA reminder for US persons IT’S that time of year again. And every year, whether we like it or not, we all go through the same rituals. This is a time of winnowing and thinning, just like the fall season when we prepare for hibernation and rest and when balance must to be restored by slowing down the pace to bring back equilibrium. For now, Christmas gives us a major reprieve. We have a solid excuse to find joy, peace and contentment and even rediscover what Christmas really means. Perhaps, stripped of the material layers, the Christ-centered core values of a truly meaningful Christmas will come to the fore. Going through the motions, we assume that the emotion of joy should follow. We do the lists, mass email the e-cards, shopping for presents, the decor, the cooking, the parties — hoping that by doing all these we would have an infusion, a dose of the Christmas spirit within us. Some people have it down to an art and science. They know the secret of being joyful in all kinds of weather and you can see it in the glimmer in their eyes, the extra bounce in their gait and the aura that they exude about them. A great many, however, still feel empty even if they fill their time with activities and max out their cards at the shopping malls or on online purchases. Deep down, they know that things are just stuff, no matter how beautiful or how pricey. The spirit of Christmas is a mystery. It cannot be pinned down. It cannot be put on. It is only when we dwell within the deep recesses of our souls that the true spirit of Christmas comes slowly, quietly, enfolding us in its warm embrace. That somewhat elusive spirit
night, turn off the boob tube, get out of the rut of the insipid details Immigrant and mundane activities that seem to pass for real life and look heavLiving: 101 enward. If you are patient, the and Beyond sight of shooting stars and meteor showers might reward you. Better yet, make a beeline for that awesome telescope at Griffith Monette Observatory and prepare to be AdevA MAglAyA amazed. Stargazing can leave you will come and alight upon us like breathless in the same way it has a butterfly during quiet moments moved generations of men before when our senses are sharpest. us. The best part about it is that Take a deep breath and experi- like the air we breathe, the sight of ence Christmas with your senses. the heavens is absolutely free. The Lose the remote control. Break most awe-inspiring nightly galacfree of the electronic leashes for a tic shows are at about this time of little while. Take the time to just the year. Some nights, you might want to search the heavens for be yourself. We can use our sense of sight that one shining star that the Magi used as a guide to steer them by through the desert looking for the Christ Child more than two thousand years ago. It might just happen that during one of these nights while stargazing, you might rise above our puny mortal concerns and see, as though for the first and stand in awe of the majesty of time, the splendor of nature all creation. That we are a part of it all puts around us — of trees garbed in vermilion red, yellow and gold everything in perspective. We putting on their finest raiment in may be tiny and insignificant but quiet anticipation of some glori- we are part of creation. We come ous event about to happen. A can- to realize that human life is a gift opy of blue skies with light wisps and that what we do with that life of fluffy clouds provide a backdrop is our gift in return. As best as scientists can figure for the verdant hills and mountains bathed in shafts of golden out, the universe is some thirteen light. At night, houses and apart- and a half billion years old. Bements on the street where you live ing aware of this mind-boggling are ablaze in twinkling icicle lights space-time continuum can take a simulating the glow of millions of huge bite out of our ego and our sometimes obsessive-compulsive fireflies. Though a sight to behold, our self-absorption. The sight of the puny human efforts pale in com- heavens can cut down our bloated parison with a glimpse of the uni- egos down to size. Even if we live verse just above our heads — stars to be a hundred, human life is just that seem to shine brightest on a blink of an eye in eternity. The nose knows. That probosthe clearest skies about this time of the year. Step out during a clear u PAGE B4
“...Lose the remote control. Break free of your electronic leashes for a little while. Take the time to just be yourself...”
Commentary
IN this week’s column, we will address T nonimmigrant status, commonly known as the “T Visa.” This temporary immigration status may be available to human trafficking victims who are willing to assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of their traffickers. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, in which traffickers may lure individuals with false promises of employment and a better life. For example, an agency in the Philippines may have promised the victim
An overview of the T Visa for trafficking victims
employment in California earning $2,000 a month. However, once the victim arrives in California, the employer pays her $400 a month and makes threats to have her deported and that she and her family will suffer harm if she stops working for the employer. Generally, immigrant communities tend to be vulnerable to human trafficking due to a variety of factors, including language barriers, separation from family and friends, lack of understanding of U.S. laws, fear of deportation, and cultural differences. It is very important to remember that the information below is not a substitute for legal advice. Assessing T visa eligibility and
procedural requirements as well as the current risks to applying for a particular individual can be complex, so it is critical that you consult with an experienced, trustworthy immigration attorney before proceeding with any application. The T visa is a form of immigration relief allowing victims of human trafficking and qualifying family members to remain and work temporarily in the United States. The T Visa also eventually creates a path to obtain a green card. The basic requirements for a T visa are: 1. You are or were a victim of a
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THE Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires foreign financial Institutions and other non-financial foreign entities to report on the foreign assets held by their U.S. account holders or be subject to withholding on certain payments. 1. Form 8938 Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets: U.S. taxpayers holding financial assets outside the United States must report those assets to the IRS on Form 8938. There is penalty for not reporting financial assets. This is in addition to FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) (formerly TD F 90-22.1), in addition to Form 8938. 2. FATCA and foreign financial institutions: FATCA may require foreign financial institutions to report directly to the IRS information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers or by for-
What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA eign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest. These institutions include banks, investment entities, brokers, and certain insurance companies and certain non-financial foreign entities may have to report of their U.S. owners. 3. Outside of US new account set up: Foreign financial institution may ask you for information about your citizenship. 4. Service Account Holders: If you are mainly maintaining a service account, FATCA provides special reporting requirements of U.S. account holders of
some financial institutions that do not solicit business outside their country of organization. 5. Threshold: The threshold varies depending on your filing status or if you live abroad. 6. Outside of US: You are live abroad if you are a U.S. citizen whose tax home is in a foreign country and you have been present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 days out of a consecutive 12-month period. 7. Single or married filing separate: You must submit a Form 8938 if you have more than $200,000 of specified foreign financial assets at the end of the year and you live abroad; or more than $50,000, if you live in the United States. 8. Married filing joint income tax return or live abroad: You must submit a Form 8938 if you have more than $400,000 of specified foreign financial assets at the end of the year and you live
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Filipinos are digital native leaders regionally... PAGE B1 t
Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia — also participated in this study. Technology-first mentality, yet socially aware The Philippines’ first batch of Filipino students under the K-12 education system have recently graduated in 2018; as such, there will be 1.25 million grade 12 students who can choose to pursue tertiary education or now apply for work. According to the Department of Education (DepEd) a significant majority of these senior high graduates took the K-12 Academic Track, which means they have two years of specialized training on areas like Accountancy, Business and Management and IT. The Gen Z research revealed Philippines is one out of two countries that implemented technology as part of formal education with 76 percent of Filipino students rated their education as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ in preparing them for the workplace. Gen Z Filipinos have a technology-first mentality but also seek more than just money for their work. 84 percent believe technology and automation will create a more equitable work environment by preventing bias and discrimination; 60 percent want jobs that allow them to use technology to help others or the environment; 67 percent believe their work must give them refreshed skillsets and new experiences on the job; 53 percent want to work for an organization that is social-
ly/environmentally responsible. Gen Z still values the human element Rather than being replaced by machines, an overwhelming 94 percent of Filipino respondents recognize that we are entering the age of human-machine partnerships; 35 percent Filipino youths believe that humans and machines will work as integrated teams, while 59 percent see machines as tools for humans to use as needed. Although they have interacted with electronic devices practically since birth and grown up with social media, Filipino Gen Z-ers still yearn for human interaction in the workplace. Interpersonal communication and collaboration are very important for Filipino Gen Z-ers, with 77 percent expecting to learn on the job from coworkers or other people — not online; 53 percent said in-person communication is the preferred method for communicating with coworkers, compared to phone (18 percent) or messaging apps and texting (10 percent); 91 percent say that social media can be a valuable tool in the workplace; 60 percent prefer to go to a workplace versus working from home, and 74 percent prefer to work as part of team rather than independently. Workforce readiness, potential generational rifts Despite Filipino Gen Z-ers being the region’s most confident respondents in their technology skills, they are also the most worried about their employability (96
percent). 60 percent of respondents saying they lack the working experience employers look for;68 percent are confident they have the tech skills that employers want, but not necessarily the non-tech skills. At the same time and by contrast, senior professionals are concerned they are being outpaced and that a majority of leadership roles in the future will be filled by digital natives. With up to five generations now in the workplace, businesses must help workers find common ground while they push to create a digital-first culture. Among the Filipino youth respondents, 86 percent would be willing to mentor an older coworker who was not as comfortable with technology. Up to five generations are now in the workplace and businesses must help workers find common ground as they push to create a digital-first culture. With Gen Z willing to be tech ambassadors, organizations can create cross-functional teams with complementary skill sets to encourage knowledge-exchange and initiate a fresh approach to problem solving. Internships, rotation programs and other earlycareer development opportunities can help young professionals gain experience and develop soft skills on the job. And, reverse mentorship programs can enhance technical competencies throughout an organization, with Gen Z leading the way. (Manilatimes.net) n
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BUSINESS NEWS
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Senior wants Chapter 7 to An overview of the T Visa for trafficking... discharge $30K in credit cards
Debt Relief
PAGE B2 t
ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG THE client is 64, a young senior. I say young because I consider seniors in their 60s as still active and robust. Except for more white hair, they still feel like they are 30. The problem with being in the 60s is that 70 is just around the corner. Now when one becomes 70, after 10 years, you become 80. The client says that his net income is $3,500 and that he is separated from his wife. His rent is $600 for a room. He sends money to his brothers and sisters in his country of origin. The problem is that he owes $30,000 in credit card debt. He pays a minimum of $1,000 a month for the credit cards. He also has a car payment of $350. We don’t have to do more calculations here. The minimum payment of $1,000 for credit cards is almost a third of his next income. That is just way too much. He wants to get rid of his credit cards now that he is 64 so he can start saving some money. Well, it’s a little late to start saying money now but at least with the discharge of all of his credit cards, he can save $12,000 in the next 12 months, and $24,000 next year, then $36,000, and then $48,000. So when he turns 69, just before he becomes 70, he can have $50,000 saved up which he can use any way he wants. This is a lot better than keeping these cards, paying them $50,000 for the next four years, then still owing them the same principal of $30,000 when he turns 70. So, this is really a no-brainer, isn’t it? Would he rather have $50,000 in cash and not owe anything at the age of 69, or throw away $50,000 in minimum payments and still owe $30,000 credit cards at age 69? He asks if his brother, whom he used as a reference for a personal loan and did not sign a personal guaranty, is legally liable for his debt if it is discharged in bankruptcy. Of course not. The brother can only be made liable for his debt if the brother signed a writ-
ten personal guaranty. Without a signed personal guaranty, the brother used as a reference cannot be sued because he has no legal liability to the creditor of the client. Chapter 7 to discharge $45K credit cards Next, the clients are husband and wife who are 72 and 71, respectively. The wife made sure that I understood that she was only 71 and is one year younger than her husband who is 72. Yes, I got that. One year makes all the difference. I told her that I stopped counting 20 years ago and advised her to do the same. It’s useless to keep counting, what’s the big deal anyway? Who wants to know that you are now one year closer to leaving this earth; certainly not yourself. Look at the picture of the Indonesian guy who is the oldest man alive at 145. I mean what can you do at 145? You’re practically a cadaver and blind. Can’t hear anything. The quality of life is just zilch. The clients owe $46,000 in credit card debt. Their social security is $3,000 a month. Rent is at $1,200. They have $1,800 left but their credit cards need a minimum of $1,500. How are they going to eat and pay for other necessities if they continue to pay $1,500 for credit cards? They can grow their own vegetables in their backyard — if they had one. They rent an apartment with no backyard. The husband says that he has all kinds of muscle pain and has a pacemaker, so that kills his plan to drive for Uber so he can raise another $1,500 to pay for their credit cards. He says they have already lived a full life, having traveled all over the world, using the cards. But they have paid the cards for the last 20 years a total of $360,000, yet they still owe the very same $46,000 of credit cards today. I told them that they should have done their Chapter 7 20 years ago, so today they would have $360,000 in their portfolio earning them at least 5 percent or $1,500 a month, or $18,000 a year. That certainly helps now, instead of paying them a small fortune and still owing them the same amount of $46,000. They should have gotten rid of these
cards a long time ago. They immediately decide to file for Chapter 7 to discharge the $46,000 of credit cards. Peace of mind without credit card payments is what they need now at 72 and 71. Business owners need Chapter 7 to discharge $200K loans and wage garnishment by SBA The last clients were business owners. They are also seniors at 60 and 61. The owned a business that closed down in 2007. When the business closed, the company, which is an S corporation, owed an Small Business Administration (SBA) loan of $49,000, which is now $89,000 because of the accrued interest. The SBA started to garnish the wife’s wages last week. She didn’t like the garnishment. I can’t blame her — who wants to get your hard-earned wages taken at the rate of 25 percent of gross? As the POTUS says, that is a “bigly” deduction, NOT FAIR! And NOT NICE! In addition, they owe $90,000 of credit card debt plus another $30,000 of unsecured business debt. They ask if it makes sense to settle the accounts owed. I say what for? With a Chapter 7, you can wipe out all of the $210,000 debt, start fresh again with zero debt, all it costs is the attorney & filing fees, which are very reasonable. The settlement in half, for instance, would still cost $120,000, which they don’t have. I mean, the settlement is very expensive compared to Chapter 7 legal fees. You wipe out $240,000 for almost no cost except for legal fees. That’s the American way. Look at the POTUS, his companies filed bankruptcy four times and he still the commander-in-chief. That is one smart dude. VERY SMART!
*** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads
ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code 7610. Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child. Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child. A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father. Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend. One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary declaration. If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed
Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES after 1996, it is not characterized as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps 7611 presumptions discussed below. A post
separation is entered by a court. (b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce. (2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation. (c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate. (2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order. (d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child. (e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Sec-
“One way presumption of paternity is created by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity.” 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.” Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611: (a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of
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More Pinoy households with savings...
PAGE B1 t
monthly gross family income was higher at 32.8 percent from 31.6 percent a quarter ago. Families with savings from remittances sent by relatives abroad also increased in the fourth quarter. Of the 470 included in the survey, the percentage of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) households that used remittances for savings was higher at 35.5 percent from 32.7 percent in the third quarter. “The higher quarter-on-quarter percentage of OFW households that allotted remittances for savings is consistent with the upturn in the percentage of nationwide households with sav-
ings and those who could set aside money for savings for the current quarter,” the BSP said. The survey showed that 98.5 percent of the OFW households used the remittances received to purchase food and other needs. The proportion of households that allotted part of their remittances for education (67 percent), medical expenses (52.6 percent), savings (35.5 percent), and investment (5.1 percent) rose compared to the previous quarter’s survey results, the Bangko Sentral added. Meanwhile, it also reported that a lower percentage of OFW households apportioned their remittances for purchases of appliances/consumer durables (18.7
percent), houses (10.4 percent) and car/motor vehicles (6.4 percent), which are consistent with the less favorable nationwide buying conditions for big-ticket items. “By geographical area, a bigger percentage of OFW households in the NCR allocated part of their remittances to purchase food and other household needs, education, medical expenses, savings, purchase of consumer durables, purchase of house, and other miscellaneous goods/services compared to their counterparts in the AONCR,” the central bank said. The latest CES was conducted from October 1 to 13, 2018 with a sample size of 5,609 households nationwide. ■
Philippines logistics sector to create 7.5 M... PAGE B1 t
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 12-14, 2018
services sectors. They likewise commit to find long term solutions to issues affecting the logistics sector. The parties have also committed to adopt high standards on regulatory practices, promote knowledge sharing and benchmarking, encourage investments in the sector, and develop a fu-
ture-ready workforce. A study of the Department of Trade and Industry and World Bank has shown the Philippines has the highest logistics cost compared to other Southeast Asian countries. In particular, the Philippines has the highest level of logistics cost with 27.16 percent of sales of firms going to logistics services.
Other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia had a logistics cost over sales of 21.4 percent, while Vietnam had 16.3 percent, and Thailand had 11.11 percent. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has said the government would want to reduce logistics cost over sales in the country and bring it to 21 percent. ■
severe form of trafficking in persons (which may include sex or labor trafficking), as defined by federal law; 2. You are physically present in the U.S. or at U.S. port of entry on account of trafficking; 3. You have complied with any reasonable requests from a law enforcement agency for assistance in the investigation or prosecution against your traffickers; and 4. You would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed from the United States. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will review the victim’s application, which includes Form I-914 as well as the Form I-914B or other evidence of the victim’s cooperation, the victim’s declaration, and other supporting evidence.
Supporting evidence may include court documents, witness affidavits, medical reports, and any other credible evidence to show that the victim meets eligibility requirements. In addition, in California, trafficking survivors who are taking steps to pursue a T visa may be eligible for benefits, including eight months of case assistance, Medi-Cal and food stamps. Also, the T visa allows eligible victims to temporarily remain and work in the U.S., generally for four years. If certain conditions are met, an individual with T nonimmigrant status may apply for a green card after three years in the United States, or upon completion of the investigation or prosecution, whichever occurs earlier. If you have questions about your situation or need legal assistance, please contact Advanc-
ing Justice - L.A.’s Tagalog helpline at 855-300-2552.
*** Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice LA) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). Founded in 1983 as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Advancing Justice - LA serves more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year. Through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, Advancing Justice - LA focuses on the most vulnerable members of Asian American and NHPI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice. For more information, please visit https://www.advancingjusticela.org/.
FATCA reminder for US persons
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abroad; or more than $100,000, if you live in the United States. 9. Exception: 1) If you are not required to file a U.S. income tax return for certain year then you do not have to file Form 8938. 2) If you report interests in foreign entities and certain foreign gifts,
you may just list the submitted avoid tax-related penalties. forms on Form 8938 without the *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy details. *** 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
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JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles features Sou Fujimoto: Futures of the Future exhibition JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is pleased to announce the upcoming SOU FUJIMOTO: FUTURES OF THE FUTURE exhibition, taking place Oct. 27 - Dec. 12, 2018 at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, located at Hollywood & Highland. Named the Wall Street Journal’s Architecture Innovator of The Year in 2014, Fujimoto has designed public and private buildings around the world since establishing his atelier in 2000. This exhibition is a showcase of over 100 models and large-scale photographs of past and current projects by the celebrated Japanese architect. Fujimoto addresses many opposite concepts, including the recurring theme the “primitive future.” This apparent contradiction refers to the primordial, intuitive moments that reconnect us with our own humanity, and open us up to new possibilities. His designs often feature juxtapositions of outside and inside, nature and urbanity, objects and spaces, public and private. And, his work considers the macro and micro: when does an object become a space? Exhibition dates from Oct. 27 to Dec. 12 are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving Day 11/22). JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (inside Hollywood & Highland). Admission is free. For more information, please call (800) 516-0565 or visit https://www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles/events/.
D EC E M B E R 1 2 - D EC E M B E R 1 5
Art exhibit inspired by Filipino food movement in Santa Ana, CA In “Super Sarap” — from November 3 to December 15 at Gallery 6/67 — three artists Mik Gaspay, Jeanne Jalandoni, and O.M. France Viana revisit commonplace objects and food within Filipino cooking. Through sculpture and photography, the artists elicit personal and collective memories and offer cultural connections that go beyond the Philippine diaspora. The exhibition title, “Super Sarap,” fuses both English and Tagalog together, to hold multiple meanings. It can convey something that is extremely delicious, an expression of excitement and affirmation. Artists in “Super Sarap” play with these definitions and mutate symbols, making them both strange and familiar, challenging the expectations of cultural norms. It is guest curated by Patricia Cariño Valdez, an independent curator based in Oakland, CA. In addition to the exhibit, there will be two art and culinary events: an intimate four-course gourmet dinner prepared by acclaimed Orange County Chefs, Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar on November 15 and Chef Ryan Garlitos of Irenia Restaurant on December 9 combined with an exhibition walk-through. The opening reception for Super Sarap will be on Saturday, November 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery 6/67 is located at 404 West 4th St., Suite K (2nd floor), Santa Ana, CA 92701. Gallery visits are by appointment. For more information about the exhibit and related events, visit https://www.gallery667.com.
D EC E M B E R 1 5
Art exhibit inspired by Filipino food movement in Santa Ana, CA In “Super Sarap” — from November 3 to December 15 at Gallery 6/67 — three artists Mik Gaspay, Jeanne Jalandoni, and O.M. France Viana revisit commonplace objects and food within Filipino cooking. Through sculpture and photography, the artists elicit personal and collective memories and offer cultural connections that go beyond the Philippine diaspora. The exhibition title, “Super Sarap,” fuses both English and Tagalog together, to hold multiple meanings. It can convey something that is extremely delicious, an expression of excitement and affirmation. Artists in “Super Sarap” play with these definitions and mutate symbols, making them both strange and familiar, challenging the expectations of cultural norms. It is guest curated by Patricia Cariño Valdez, an independent curator based in Oakland, CA. In addition to the exhibit, there will be two art and culinary events: an intimate four-course gourmet dinner prepared by acclaimed Orange County Chefs, Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar on November 15 and Chef Ryan Garlitos of Irenia Restaurant on December 9 combined with an exhibition walk-through. The opening reception for Super Sarap will be on Saturday, November 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery 6/67 is located at 404 West 4th St., Suite K (2nd floor), Santa Ana, CA 92701. Gallery visits are by appointment. For more information about the exhibit and related events, visit https://www.gallery667.com.
4th annual TIKIM Filipino Food Fun Run in Los Angeles During this holiday season, the TIKIM Filipino Food Fun Run in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 15 highlights the fuzzy feels and the festive flavors of Christmas. Open to all ages, gender and races, ABS-CBN TFC presents another platform for Filipino cuisine to shine in. With Filipino taste stations at every kilometer of this 5K fun run, and a picnic and entertainment past the finish line, there is a lot to savor for every member of the family. A great selection of food trucks and restaurants like Silog, Nova’s Grill, Thai-Mex Cocina, Paella Paella, Ateh’s Pinoy Pusion, Heavenly Ice Cream, White Rabbit, and Goldilocks will be participating. Fun and nostalgic games will bring back childhood memories, and five choral groups battle it out on the TIKIM stage for A Merry Christmas Choir Competition. Winning group gets $1,000. One of the best things is that by registering and joining the TIKIM fun run, each adult participant would have provided meals for 10 malnourished children in the Philippines. Run starts at 10:00 a.m.; Food Festival starts at 12:00 p.m. It will be held at Los Angeles State Historic Park (1245 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). For more information, visit TIKIM at https://mytfc.com/tikim.
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PH seen becoming 18th biggest...
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India,” it said. across South and Southeast Asia, By 2037, the Philippines’ nomiCapital Economics described the nal GDP per capita would be economic outlook over the com- $10,437 as the country’s popuing decades as “brighter.” lation is expected to balloon to “Thailand is the only one among 129 million from 102 million last these countries where the work- year. ing age population is forecast to For the period 2018 to 2022, contract. Meanwhile, working Capital Economics expects the age populations will still grow at a Philippines’ GDP growth to averfairly rapid pace in countries such age 6 percent, below the governas the Philippines, Malaysia and ment’s medium-term target range
of 7-8 percent. From 2023 to 2027, real GDP growth will sustain an average 6percent growth, before slowing to 5.5 percent in 2028-2037, Capital Economics’ forecasts showed. Average inflation for 20182022 is seen at 4.5 percent— above the 2-4 percent target range—before easing to 3.5 percent in 2023-2027 and 3 percent in 2028-2037.n
about work or play. Sometimes, we simply need to just be. If you have time, that glorious, welcome gift of all for most of us with far too many hats to wear OR if you can beg, borrow or steal just a few hours to allow you to meander about your days and nights and deliberately trudge paths off the beaten track of shopping and carousing during this season, take in more of the smells that lift you. They call it aromatherapy. But in the unpretentious days of old, it was merely the simple act of smelling what smells good to make you feel good. Lavender is great. So is rosemary. Try crushing some of their leaves from the garden between your fingers and sniffing it. Lemon verbena’s dainty smell is sheer delight though passing
and transient. Like glorious moments, the lemon verbena’s scent is so ephemeral but the delight to the senses while the scent lingers makes it all worthwhile. Find out what beguiles your senses and let these bring you the delights of this blessed season. Don’t strain yourself or try too hard. Picture the Christmas spirit as an elusive little butterfly that alights on you only when you are very still. Let your senses soak it all in. The Christmas spirit, once it dwells in you and suffuses your being stays on autopilot. It stays on to warm your heart all year round like embers that just need a little stoking from time to time to keep it burning. ALL YOU ARE, with all your senses, is all you need to JUST BE. n
Taking the time to just be...
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cis jutting out of our faces does a truly important function. Do handle it with real care particularly during this season of colds and flu. Well I did catch it and tried to stay away from people. It could have been worse if I didn’t get my flu shot. Catching a cold or worse, the flu, deprives us of the enthralling, beguiling smells of cooking and baking and sabotages our sense of taste as well. I have been taking gobs of Vitamin C, bundling up, wearing a hat, gloves and scarves, sipping my chicken soup and catching up on my ZZZZZZZsss. We need all the help we can get particularly when depression strikes our weary souls, battered minds and tired bodies. We need to listen to what our bodies tell us. It can’t be all
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How to obtain custody and visitation... PAGE B3 t
tion 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative. (f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied. An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or ge-
netic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the childs birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code 7611 and 7612. Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would
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also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 12, 2018
Feed2Succeed: How three high school students found a way to feed young students in the Philippines by
Rae ann VaRona / AJPress
“I think that LA can kind of be like a bubble sometimes. We don’t really realize how the world is,” said Caroline Raquel, a Fil-Am junior at the University of Pennsylvania. “Luckily, LA is really diverse and I’m very lucky to have grown up in LA, but I think keeping an awareness is something that my parents have always tried to impress on me and my sisters,” she continued. Caroline is one of the people behind Feed2Succeed, a nonprofit she co-founded in high school with her sister Carmina Raquel, and their friend Tiffany Sato. Carmina is currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, and Sato, a junior at Vanderbilt University. While making a positive and lasting impact on a stranger’s life is something all should strive to do, the three girls found a way to impact the lives and trajectory of many young Filipino students by starting the nonprofit with a mission to give young children in the Philippines a chance to be educated by implementing and funding feeding programs. Feed2Succeed sprouted from a trip to the Philippines in the spring of 2014 when the sisters went on a family trip to the country as a reward by their parents for their good scholastic achievements. The trip was designed to not only be a fun vacation exploring
the white beaches of Palawan, but a way to bring civic awareness, which in this trip happened in Vigan, Philippines. The girls had an aunt who was very involved with community service there and allowed them to shadow her. One of the events that ended up inspiring Feed2Succeed was a feeding program at an elementary school where the girls met kids that were around their age, living lives very different to theirs. “You always hear about it, but seeing it up close is definitely a very eye-opening experience,” said Caroline. What really struck them was the fact that you only need $4 to feed a child for an entire month. “I was a high schooler at the time and I felt very inspired because four dollars is something I could contribute to someone else’s life,” she added. Upon coming back to Los Angeles, the Raquel sisters who were then students at the Marlborough School, shared their experiences with Sato. From there, the girls began the brainstorming process of not only figuring out a name for their project, but a solid mission to stand by. That mission was to give the children “a chance to be educated by implementing and funding feeding programs in elementary schools,” said Sato. From small scale high school fundraisers, Feed2Suc-
Caroline Raquel and Tiffany Sato at one of Feed2Succeed’s yard sales in Los Angeles.
ceed has grown into a fullfledged nonprofit organization with club chapters run in different U.S. schools helping eleven sponsored elementary schools in the Philippines. They’ve also taken on the sponsorship of a number of high schoolers that were once a part of Feed2Succeed’s original elementary school feeding programs. “It’s been really great to go back to the schools and see familiar faces and see the kids progress,” said Carmina, adding that they try to go back as often as they can which is typically once a year. “Being able to watch them go through elementary school, middle school, and high school is a great experience and its made the experience so much more enjoyable — to be able to know and have an actual connection to the kids,” added Carmina. Being that Vigan is where the girls’ parents grew up, the whole experience also gave the girls a deeper sense of connection to the country. One of the schools Feed2Succeed adopted was one that their mother and all her siblings attended, and where their grandmother was a principal at. “To be able to really help people so close to home is Singer Stephanie Reese headlined Feed2Succeed’s holiday concert in 2015. She will be back to perform something that really allowed again at the concert on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Photos from Feed2Succeed us to have that connection back to the Philippines,” said Caroline. On challenges and new opportunities Starting Feed2Succeed as young high schoolers naturally came with challenges, but nothing the three girls couldn’t turn into positive experiences such as growing the high school club to official nonprofit status. “It was a lot of paperwork and we had to hire a lawyer, and as high schoolers, we were very unclear on the process. Luckily we got a great lawyer, Atty. Nabeel Zuberi, who instead of just doing Vanderbilt University’s Feed2Succeed chapter held a fundraiser at Cycle Bar and raised around $1,000 the work for us and handing it off to us, walked us through for students.
Carmina Raquel, Corrie Phillips, and Jordan Trester meet Feed2Succeed fund students at Silang Elementary School in Ilocos Sur during their July 2017 trip to the Philippines.
The Archer School for Girls’ raised money to fund a feeding program at Nagsangalan Elementary School.
Caroline Raquel, Tiffany Sato and Carmina Raquel
a lot of the paperwork and actually walked through the process so we were actually to learn about how it really happened,” said Caroline. “Growing it from a club all the way to an actual business was definitely something that we weren’t thinking about initially, but of course as we spoke to more donors and volunteers, everyone was suggesting to us we get tax exempt status and we realized we could a lot more support if were an official nonprofit,” she added. Another challenge, Carmina added, was dealing with the transition to running Feed2Succeed separately as the three girls went on to pursue university life. It’s different, Carmina said, “not being together in LA, always being ten minutes away from each other, and being able to plan and really engage our community.” Both Raquel sisters play on the University of Pennsylvania varsity volleyball team in addition to pursuing their degrees, and Sato is pursuing majors in Human and Organizational Development and Medicine, Health, and Society in addition to her minors. But the challenges of branching out have of course opened doors to newer opportunities. Sato, for example, has been able merge her new community with Feed2Succeed by bringing its presence across the country to Vanderbilt this year. “I think the mission and values of our organization is something that is easy to become passionate about once hearing about the children we help and how healthy they have become over the years,” shared Sato. At Vanderbilt, Feed2Succeed has leadership positions specifically for its university students such as Head or Risk Management, Head of Marketing, and Head of Public Relations among others. Its current Vice President is Sarah Gordon who Sato said has gone above and beyond in putting in work for the organization. Sato said there are now about 23 students passionate about Feed2Succeed and are excited to grow its presence in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Most recently, the club raised close to $1,500 from a CycleBar fundraiser. They’ve also raised about $1,000 for typhoon relief. For the next school year, the group is planning a Fall Festival Concert
with various talents around Nashville and on campus. “I am so grateful to have found a group of people who are passionate about these children and our cause,” said Sato. Kids helping other kids On what their favorite experiences have been throughout their Feed2Succeed journey to date, the girls said it has all have been about the close connections built with the kids being helped. “Meeting the kids is best part of it all. At the end of the day, they’re the reason we’re all doing this,” said Caroline. Through the program, the girls have developed a personal relationship with not only the kids, but the kids’ immediate community. During her last trip to the Philippines during which she brought some of her high school friends, Carmina was not only able to meet the Feed2Succeed high school scholars, but their parents and siblings as well — all of them wrote to them thank you notes and read them out loud. “It was very touching for me,” said Carmina. “Being able to hang out with them, and not even through computer of letters, but just being able to talk to them face to face and thank them was just a humbling and powerful experience for me.” Caroline shared of a special moment during her senior year in high school when all of the students in the Philippines sent handmade Christmas cards to their Marlborough School club — a moment Feed2Succeed turned into a pen pal opportunity. “Carmina and I have the privilege of going back to the Philippines, but for our club members and LA supporters, they don’t necessarily get to have that connection like we do, so it was really cool to see the Marlborough club members read these letters and see what the kids are actually saying and then writing back a response,” said Caroline. “I like seeing that connection.” Small acts, big impacts Having started Feed2Succeed in their teenage years, the girls cited much of their success to the fact that people saw the passion they had at such a young age. The girls said that in addition to expanding their network and service, they’ve been looking for younger girls who share their mission and want to get involved. “I didn’t even realize what a difference we could make
and how such a small act of giving kindness could turn into this,” said Caroline. She added, “I think inspiring kids to involve themselves early on in community service is a value I hold very close to my heart and I think that’s something I always try to help other people my age realize.” Going back to the initial realization of what four dollars could do for a kid in the Philippines, she said, “that amount is just something that every person my age has.” She equated the amount to giving up one Starbucks drink in order to help one kid’s life. On Saturday, December 15, Feed2Succeed will be having their Holiday Donor Appreciation Concert as a way to give thanks to all who have been donating and supporting the cause. Stephanie Reese, a Filipina-American singer who will be featured at the concert, has been very passionate about the cause and was even able to visit the kids in Vigan during a recent trip last year. The Feed2Succeed cofounders — who will all be together at the concert — are hoping that they event will be a way to celebrate the helping community and show their gratitude for all the donations and work that have put in. Looking back at the first trip to Vigan and the beginnings of Feed2Succeed as a small club headed by young high schoolers, the girls said they hope that their organization can further encourage people to open up their awareness about their communities and feel compelled to give back. “My parents always taught me the importance of giving back and this club turned nonprofit is something that I am incredibly passion about even today,” said Sato. “One of the really impressive things that realized was that, had something even just changed slightly, I could have been one of these kids in the elementary schools back in Vigan” said Caroline. “I hope that people can understand that passion behind our mission and how I think we just want to help as many kids as possible, and I think kids helping kids is a very powerful effect that we can have,” she added. “There are so many ways to help, and creating a community and surrounding yourself with people that also just want to help I think is something that we are trying to push forward with Feed2Succeed.”
entertainment
Filipina-American newcomer H.E.R. nabs 5 Grammy noms, including Album of the Year
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 12, 2018
by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
THE Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 61st Grammy Awards and 21-year-old R&B singer Gabi Wilson — known by her stage name H.E.R. — received five nominations, including Album of the Year. Wilson — who is halfFilipina, half-African American — was also nominated for Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance (for the song “Best Part” feat. Daniel Caesar), Best R&B Song (“Focus”) and Best R&B Album for her self-titled compilation album. In response to her Grammy nominations, Wilson posted on Instagram last week with an all-caps caption, “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREATEST TEAM IN THE WORLD. IT’S BEEN A LOOONNNG [sic] TIME COMING! GOD IS GOOD.” Wilson emerged in 2016 when, through her record label Sony’s RCA Records, she released her first extended play (EP) “H.E.R. Volume 1” as H.E.R. (which stands for Having Everything Revealed). Wilson — whose identity was revealed in late 2017 — was 19 years old when her that first EP was released, and she said she wanted to remain anonymous because “I feel like maybe some people wouldn’t have accepted the music if they knew I was 19. Some people, they make these assumptions before they even listen to the music,” she told NW Asian
Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga.
Philstar.com photo
Lea Salonga gets Grammy nod for ‘Once On This Island’
“Has to actually go to Grammy.com to see if it was true. And it’s true! I am ofPhotos courtesy of Instagram/@hermusicofficial INTERNATIONALLY-acficially a Grammy nominee!!! claimed Filipino singer-actress It may be a while before I get Weekly. the anti-star,” she added. “I And there may be some really just wanted it to be about Lea Salonga got her first Gram- any sleep tonight! So thrilled my nomination. to share this with my Island truth to that reasoning. Her the music, and get away from, On her social media acfamily. And that at 47 years body of work mainly consists ‘Who is she with?’ and ‘What is counts, Lea announced the old, one can still have a first!” of dreamy, yet low-tempo R&B she wearing?’” nomination of the “Once On she wrote. ballads, and the soft maturity For the slew of extended The theater actress was a in her voice and lyrics make for plays (EPs) the young Bay Area This Island” cast album in the prestigious award-giving body principal soloist in the album what Apple Music described as native received praise from for music. and she shares the nomina“downcast post-breakup mate- industry juggernauts Usher, “Pardon me for screamtion with other principal rial that sounded vulnerable Pusha T, Wyclef Jean as well as ing but... THE ONCE ON THIS soloists Phillip Boykin, Merle and assured at once.” RCA Records labelmates Alicia ISLAND CAST ALBUM JUST Dandridge, Quentin Earl DarThe enigmatic nature of her Keys and Bryson Tiller. GOT NOMINATED FOR A rington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita work also has to do with who In October 2017, she reR. Miller, Alex Newell and she is as an artist seeking to leased the Grammy-nominated GRAMMY!!! OHHHH MYYYYY GODDDDDD!!!! We did it, Isaac Powell, and producers separate her art from celebrity, self-titled compilation album Island Family!!!” she wrote. Lynn Ahrens, Hunter Arnold, explaining on NPR, “This projwhich peaked at No. 47 on In another post, Lea said Ken Davenport, Stephen Flaect came from an emotion, and the U.S. Billboard 200 and No. she could not believe that she herty and Elliot Scheiner. that’s what I want it to be about 24 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hiphas been nominated, so she On her Facebook account, — not what I look like or who Hop Albums chart. It also won shared that she went to the Lea shared the music video I’m with, but the raw emotion Album/Mixtape of the Year Grammy website to confirm of “We Dance,” the musical’s and support for women.” at the 2018 Soul Train Music the news. opening number. “I feel like this is the era of Awards. by Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
“Celebrating our #GrammyNomination by playing this, the opening number of the show!!!” she wrote. Lea played the goddess of love Erzulie in the Broadway musical “Once On This Island.” She received a standing ovation from the audience on her last performance last June. The musical was awarded as Best Musical Revival at the 2018 Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall, while Lea received an award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical from a website’s annual Theater Fans’ Choice Awards. At the 2019 Grammy’s Best Musical Theater Album category, “Once On This Island” will compete against the albums of “The Band’s Visit,” “Carousel,” “Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert,” and “My Fair Lady.”
Louie Del Carmen: The man behind ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’
player in the MCU, is bringing it all back home. Coming out Dec. 12, “Spider-Man: Into the INCLUSIVENESS is someSpider-Verse” is an animated thing the Marvel Cinematic entry introducing Brooklyn Universe has strived towards African-American/Puerto Rican since the “Avengers” rollout be- teen Miles Morales, coming gan, culminating in the universal face to face with the unlimited mash-up that was “Infinity War”. possibilities of the Spider-Verse, Now, that inclusiveness is set originally birthed in the 2011 to cross over to the multiverse, Marvel comic by Brian Michael and “Spider-Man,” a sometime Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli. by Scott
Garceau Philstar.com
Miles, bitten by a radioactive spider, finds he has special talents, just like Peter Parker did. Parker shows up as an older, half-baked mentor (“like Mr. Miyagi, if Mr. Miyagi doesn’t know anything,” says screenwriter Phil Lord) and Miles quickly learns there are an infinite number of mask-wearing webslingers out there, in the multiverse.
As it happens, yet another talented Fil-Am is part of this multiverse: he’s Louie Del Carmen, sibling to Rick Del Carmen (storyboard artist for “Family Guy,” “Dilbert” and others) and Ronnie Del Carmen (storyboard artist at Pixar, Oscar nominee for “Inside/ Out”). Together, these three Fil-Ams have been living the
Shameik Moore is the voice of Miles Morales, who discovers he has Spidey Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios
Continued on Page 4 powers.
entertainment Louie Del Carmen: The man...
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 12, 2018
From Page 3 comic artists’ wet dream for decades. Louie worked on the most recent entry to the “Spider-Man” cinematic saga — the most ambitious yet, with 140 animators onboard, screenwriting/production team Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“The
Lego Movie,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”) handling the snarky, fun dialogue (expect plenty of Easter eggs and hidden gags), plus a multiverse of production credits under its belt (basically, Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation did it in association with Marvel En-
tertainment). With cutting-edge animation and a youthful vibe, it all looks to be a huge smash, and we shot a few questions to Louie, born in Cavite City and now situated at Sony Pictures Animation, on how this all came together. The Star: Two of your brothers — Rick and Ronnie — are also story artists. Did you see all this coming, growing up together? Did you bond over artwork and comics? Is there any rivalry? Louie del Carmen: As far as working together in animation? No, we didn’t see that coming. Nor did we even dream of actually making a living as artists. What we did have was a love for art, comics, movies, television and cartoons. Telling and sharing stories was very much a part of us growing up in Cavite City. I always said that it really felt like we had our own club with a membership of three. I think to anyone looking from the outside in, we probably sounded like aliens (or nerds, really). And no, there is no rivalry. We looked out of each other and inspired each other. That bond continues today The last “Spider-Man” entry, “Homecoming,” was live action. Is this a total pivot from that storyline? It’s a brand new standalone, and a mash-up of Marvel multiverses in which the Miles Morales origin story is front and center. As a story artist, how much voice do you have in the look and aesthetic tone of the movie? If it’s early in the process, you sometimes work with early concepts from the art department. But generally, aesthetics and tone evolve during the entire process with the director, art department and story; there’s constant dialogue. Why did they decide to spin off into animation for “Spider-Man” at this point? (Of course, it’s good for you!) I can’t speak for the studios as for the decision to go animated, but I know it was strongly championed by producers Avi Arad and Amy Pascal and, of course, Chris Miller and
Expect a multitude of mask-wearing webslingers in the new animated entry, “Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse.” Photos courtesy of Marvel Studios
Hailee Steinfeld is the voice of Gwen Stacey.
Sony Pictures Animation storyboard artist Louie Del Carmen: “Telling and sharing stories was very much a part of us growing up in Cavite City.” Philstar.com photo Chris Pine voices Peter Parker Phil Lord had such a great take on it. Consequently, their take could only be done as a fully animated feature. How is this different from the TV and film work you’ve done before? I’ve done superhero fare before in television and each one is a lot of fun to do, but certainly when a project has the potential to be a game changer as “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” can be, you really look forward to it. I have to say that working on Spider-Verse has been one of the highlights of my career. Stan Lee just passed away. Did you get a chance to meet him? Unfortunately, I did not meet him personally, but having attended a multitude of comic book conventions over the years, Stan was always very visible. The impact he had was not
only in comics, but culturally, where his creations have really become household names and icons. I didn’t get to hear him speak until I watched “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” but his affable and approachable personality really came through even in those early comics. One of the things Stan Lee said was that to help viewers identify with the characters, you have to make them personal. How were you able to inject a little of your personality into the characters here? What really made “SpiderMan” unique when he was first introduced was the fact that underneath he was just a teenager coping with all the pressures and insecurities of growing up. Characters become more real to audiences the more they are flawed and unsure of themselves. Peter Parker was
that kind of a character and the same goes for Miles Morales. With anything I work on I always put myself in the characters’ shoes, so to speak. What are they thinking and feeling? What are they trying to suppress emotionally? It’s that inner conflict that really gives scenes a very appealing complexity. You were a DJ for a while. Does that help you in imagining the voices of your characters while writing/designing a story? Part of working in story is being able to act out your characters. It’s one of the really fun aspects of the craft. I’ve always had an overactive imagination and that short stint as an on-air personality was just an extension of that. The idea that you can transform into someone else and get to step in their shoes is such a huge part of storytelling.
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 12, 2018
Fil-Am wins as Miss Supranational 2018 first runner-up Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) Los Angeles sales office held an office blessing and holiday gathering for on Thursday, December 6. The office is located at 5757 W. Century Blvd., Suite 751, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Tel is (310) 3387197.
Philippine Airlines Los Angeles sales office hosts office blessing and holiday gathering
Philippine Airlines’ Los Angeles and Department of Tourism teams congratulate Menard Leelin (center) (L-R) Department of Tourism-LA Director Richmond for winning the grand raffle prize: a roundtrip business Jimenez, Deputy Consul General Ambrosio Encisco class ticket to the Philippines, a domestic destination, III, LAX Airport Station Manager Rex Aldanese, Father and three-day hotel stay in Manila. Robert Victoria, PAL Finance and Admin Manager Joseph Recio, PAL-LA Area Manager Michelle Narvaez, and PALSF Area Manager Del Merano.
PAL-SF Area Manager Del Merano, PAL-LA Area Manager Michelle Narvaez, Maricell Wall, and a member of PAL Father Robert Victoria leads the PAL-LA sales office Sales team with two winners of roundtrip plane tickets blessing on Dec. 6. to the Philippines.
The PAL-LA sales team
AJPress photos by Noel Ty
by Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
APART from Philippine representative Jehza Huelar, another Filipina beauty queen stole the spotlight at the recently concluded Miss Supranational 2018 held in Poland. Katrina Jayne Dimaranan, a Filipino-American beauty from San Juan City in the Philippines who grew up in Bay Area, California, finished as first runner-up at the prestigious beauty contest. Although she represented USA in the pageant, Katrina expressed how proud she is of her Filipino roots and wrote on her Facebook account that she hoped she made her countries proud. “Yes I’m FULL Filipina. Yes I was born in San Juan, Manila, Philippines. Yes I grew up all
over the Bay Area, California. Yes I speak FLUENT Tagalog. And YES, I am very very proud of myself and I really hope I made my country USA proud, as well as all my Filipinos all over the world!” she wrote. Apart from her supporters, the beauty queen also thanked her bashers for pushing her to do her best. “Maraming salamat po talaga sa mga nag supporta at pati narin sa mga bashers kasi you both did the same thing for me, PUSH ME TO DO MY ABSOLUTE BEST! Love you, Love God,” she said. The Filipino-American beauty was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2012, where she also received the Best in Talent award. She was crowned alongside Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2012 Janine Tugonon and Binib-
From left: Miss Supranational 2018 first runner-up Katrina Jayne Dimaranan; Katrina with Miss Supranational 2017 when the winner was still going to be announced. Facebook/Miss Suprational ining Pilipinas International 2012 Nicole Schmitz.
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 12, 2018