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DECEMBER 20-26, 2019 Volume 13 - No. 7 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858
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Andal Ampatuan Jr., kin guilty for Maguindanao massacre of 57 people by TETCH
TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net
Jail guards stand next to a crowd of accused waiting the promulgation at the trial venue inside a prison facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Photo courtesy of Supreme Court Public Information Office
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
What’s next for DACA recipients and their families? After the Supreme Court oral arguments, immigration experts shed light on facts regarding the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate DACA
WHEN the Trump administration announced on Sept. 5, 2017 that it would phase out Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the world turned upside down for hundreds of thousands of program recipients and their families. Since it was enacted in 2012 by former President Barack Obama, DACA has provided work authorization and protection from deportation for eligible undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as young children. Specific benefits varied from state to state; in California, DACA recipients are eligible for driver’s licenses, for example. What followed was a turbulent two-year
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MANILA — After almost 10 years of trial, the Maguindanao massacre case verdict has been laid down and the Quezon City Regional Trial Court has found Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., a former Maguindanao town mayor, his siblings and several others guilty for the murder of 57 people. Aside from Ampatuan Jr., also found guilty are his brothers former Autonomous Region
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JUSTICE SERVED. Relatives of the Maguindanao massacre victims accompanied by lawyer Harry Roque (3rd from right) flash the victory sign after the promulgation of the decision on the case in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City on Thursday, December 19. A decade after the incident, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court found Datu Andal Unsay Ampatuan, Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan, Sr., and several others guilty of 57 counts of murder and were sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years imprisonment). PNA photo by Joey Razon
CHR on Marcos case dismissal: Public might think martial law atrocities are ‘fake news by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday, December 17, said that the public might cast doubts on martial law and its atrocities following the Sandiganbayan’s recent dismissal of a P200-billion forfeiture case filed against the Marcos family.
On Monday, December 16, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division dismissed Civil Case No. 0002 filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in July 1987 against the Marcoses due to lack of evidence. According to the Fourth Division, the PCGG merely presented photo-
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OFW remittances higher than Pope Francis celebrates incomes of recipients – report ‘Simbang Gabi’ in the Vatican Pope Francis
CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net
Inquirer.net photo
by MAYVELIN
by RITCHEL
THE value of monthly remittances from overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) now average more than 2.5 times higher than the monthly incomes of recipients in the Philippines, according to a report released on Monday, December 16, by a United States-based payments company. OFW’s queue at Central, Hong Kong to send remitanses and exchange
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Hong Kong Dollar to Philippine peso.
Inquirer.net photo
MENDIOLA AJPress
WHILE Simbang Gabi (night mass) has been held four times at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, it was the first time that it was led by Pope Francis on Sunday, December 15. In his homily, the Pope acknowledged the role of Filipino migrant workers in the growth
of Catholicism, saying that while the Simbang Gabi has been held in the Philippines for centuries, “in recent decades, thanks to Filipino migrants, this devotion has crossed national borders and has arrived in many other countries.” “You, dear brothers and sisters, who have left your land in search of a better future, have a special mission. Your
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What’s next for DACA recipients... PAGE 1
period in which multiple federal courts across the country placed injunctions on the administration’s termination of the program, allowing DACA to remain in operation. The Trump administration has maintained that DACA — which was signed into law through executive order — was enacted unlawfully by the Obama administration, a claim that the federal courts have deemed “capricious” and “arbitrary.” During this two-year period, DACA recipients across the country have been essentially placed in a state of limbo, unsure whether or not their DACA benefits would be taken away by the Trump administration. But last month on Nov. 12, the highest court in the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court, began hearing oral arguments for and against the continuation of DACA, leaving the fate of more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants hanging in the balance. “The Supreme Court has not yet decided the outcome of DACA,” emphasized Tom Saenz, president and general
counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) at a press briefing of immigration experts and DACA recipients held in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 11. And because the court has yet to make a decision on DACA’s fate, experts want to remind DACA recipients and would-be DACA recipients that the program is still open and accepting new and renewal applications. “The DACA program is still open and this is a really big myth that we’re trying to bust. You can still apply for and renew your DACA status, and there is a network of non-profits here in Los Angeles that are ready to help you,” reiterated Tiffany Panlilio, legal advocate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, who wanted to quell fears that recipients are experiencing as they await the Supreme Court decision. Panlilio noted that some immigrants have set up GoFundMe pages in order to help pay the $495 renewal fee, which the Trump administration is
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From the Front Page
looking to increase to $765. “It’s not a surprise that a lot of these folks are scared. They’re very stressed, and it’s already hard enough for a lot of them to come up with the $495 [fee]; they either have to choose between paying rent and feeding their children or just putting this together.” Confusion surrounding DACA and the precarious situation it’s currently in often revolves around who DACA recipients actually are. Opponents of DACA have painted a grim picture of who DACA recipients actually are and where they come from. (The president tweeted in September that “many of the people in DACA, no longer very young, are far from ‘angels.’ Some are very tough, hardened criminals.”) A majority of DACA recipients hail from Central America, but a strong contingent is of Asian descent; there are about 3,888 Filipino DACA recipients in the U.S., according to 2017 data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. California — in which 1 in 5
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MOBILE MEDICAL CONSULTATION. Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon director Eduardo Janairo (3rd from right); Globe Business Senior Vice President Peter Maquera (3rd from left); Mayor Rodel Espiritu of Jomalig, Quezon (right); Mayor Gaudioso Manalo of Lobo, Batangas (left); Global Telehealth Inc. CEO Maridol Ylanan (2nd from right); and Globe Telecom VP for Sales Marianne Quiambao; show the mobile phones to be used in the medical consultation project in Calabarzon after the agreement signing held at Globe BGC Building, Taguig City on Monday, December 16. Janairo said the Medical Call Consultation (MCC) Service Project can provide better medical treatment and care to patients in remote and far-flung areas of the region. PNA photo by Ben Briones
Andal Ampatuan Jr., kin guilty for... PAGE 1
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Datu Zaldy “Puti” U. Ampatuan and Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr. The court also found guilty Datu Anwar Sajid “Datu Ulo” Ampatuan and Datu Anwar “Datu Ipi” Ampatuan Jr. guilty. Also convicted are the following: • Inspector Saudi Mokamad • Patrolman Jonathan Engid • Abedin Alamada a.ka. Kumander Bedi • Talembo “Tammy” Masukat a.k.a Talembo Kahar Abdulrakman • Theng P. Sali a.k.a. Abdullah hamid Abdulkahar • Manny Ampatuan • Nasser Esmael a.k.a. Nasrudin Esmael • Police Major Sukarno Dicay • Supterintendent Abusama Mundas Maguid • Superintendent Bahnarin Kamaong • Tato Tampogao • Mohades Ampatuan • Mohamad To Datumanong a.k.a. Nicomedes Amad Tolentino • Misuari Ampatuan • Taya Bangkulat • Salik Bangkulat • Thong Guiamano a.k.a. Ibrahim Kamal Tatak • Sonny K. Pindi a.k.a. Joven Salazar Piang • Armando Ambalgan a.k.a. Jamil Bulatukan Kayansang/Bolatokan Omar • Kudza Masukat Uguia a.k.a. datu Teng/Mustapha Ibrahim • Edres Kasan a.k.a. Edres Gogo Alip, • Zacaria P. Akin • Samaon Andatuan
They are all meted with the penalty of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment without the benefit of parole. Applause followed the reading of the verdict in a packed and heavily secured courtroom, where some relatives of the victims and their lawyers were present. The case involves more than 100 detained suspects led by members of the Ampatuan family and many police officers and government militiamen. It had dragged on in a high-profile test of the Southeast Asian nation’s notoriously clogged and vulnerable judicial system. About 80 suspects remain at large. While the mass killing has largely unraveled as an offshoot of a violent electoral rivalry common in many rural areas, it has also showcased the threats faced by journalists in the Philippines. Thirty-two of those gunned down were local reporters and media workers in the worst single attack on journalists in the world. “If I have the power to kill them all in a blink of an eye, I would have done it. But I realized in the end that I’m not a demon like them,” said Mary Grace Morales. Her husband, a reporter of a local provincial newspaper, and her elder sister, the paper’s publisher, were among those killed mostly in a blaze of automatic rifle fire as they begged for their lives. “What I can accept is a 100% conviction of all the accused,” Morales told The Associated Press in an interview on the eve of the court verdict. “An acquittal of even one of the principal suspects will be
unacceptable.” Morales, her daughter and a handful of close relatives of the slain journalists were flown to Manila with the help of a media watchdog, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, to hear the judgement. In a candlelit protest Wednesday night in a park, they held portraits of their slain relatives and joined reporters in calling for justice, the defense of press freedom and the conviction of the Ampatuan family members, led by Ampatuan Jr., who is also known by his nickname Unsay. Then a town mayor, Ampatuan Jr. allegedly led nearly 200 armed followers who blocked a seven-vehicle convoy carrying the wife, sisters and other relatives and lawyers of Esmael Mangudadatu, a politician who decided to run for governor of Maguindanao province. He challenged the powerful Ampatuan clan, who held sway over almost every aspect of life in the impoverished region wrecked by a Muslim insurgency, witnesses testified. The journalists joined the convoy on Nov. 23, 2009, to cover the filing of candidacy of Mangudadatu in an election office in Maguindanao’s capital. Mangudadatu, now a legislator in the House of Representatives, was not in the convoy for security reasons. The gunmen commandeered the convoy, including the passengers of two unsuspecting cars that got stuck in the traffic, to a nearby hilltop, where a waiting backhoe had dug huge pits to be used in burying the victims and their vehicles. n
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Gender equality: Philippines out of Top 10 OFW remittances higher than incomes of... by Richmond
meRcuRio Philstar.com
WITH fewer women in key government positions, the Philippines has dropped out of the top 10 most gender-equal countries for the first time. The report found that the political empowerment gap in the country has widened considerably over the past two years, which caused its ranking to drop from 13th to 29th. “This downgrade is almost entirely attributable to lower female representation in the Cabinet, which declined from 25 percent to 10 percent between 2017 and 2019,” the World Economic Forum (WEF) said. WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020 showed the country fell eight spots to rank 16th out of 153 economies, from last year’s eighth spot out of 149 countries. This is the first time that the Philippines ranked lower than 10th in the Global Gender Gap Index. The country’s lowest rank in the countries to achieve such a feat. It has also closed both its educational attainment and health and survival gender gaps. WEF said women in the Phil-
In this Feb. 14, 2018 photo, St. Scholastica’s College students dance in unison during the “One Billion Rising” global movement as part of their advocacy against all forms of discrimination and violence against women and children. Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman
ippines could expect to live in good health five years longer than men. A significantly larger share of women is also enrolled in secondary education and tertiary education compared with men. “Female representation in the parliament was also slightly down and stood at 28 percent at the beginning of 2019,” it added. Overall, Iceland remained the world’s most gender-equal country, followed by Norway,
Finland, Sweden and Nicaragua. Completing the top 10 in this year’s index were New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Rwanda and Germany. The Global Gender Gap Index was first introduced by the PAGE 1 WEF in 2006 as a framework for capturing the magnitude of copied documents without gender-based disparities and proof of the existence of the tracking their progress over originals and that no witness time. It benchmarks national was presented to testify on gender gaps on economic, the execution or preparation education, health and political of a few documents which were already admitted by the criteria. n defense as faithful reproduction of the originals. “It’s sad because while we respect the decision of to removal, and always know the court because they had that if you are in either of to dismiss it on grounds of these situations that you are technicality dahil nga yung not alone. pinakitang ebidensya (be“You have millions of people cause the shown evidence) behind you ready to work with was not in conformity with you and support you in as- the best evidence rule,” said serting your right to a court CHR spokesperson Jacquehearing and ultimately and to line Ann de Guia. remain in this country,” Saenz “There might be a danger affirmed. that the public might think Saenz added a call to action that martial law never really that goes beyond DACA to all happened and the atrocities residents of the United States committed is fake news,” she regardless of citizenship: par- added. ticipate in the 2020 census to The CHR expressed hope ensure everyone gets counted and vote in the 2020 election for lawmakers and leaders who “are reflective of the views of all of us” and would PAGE 1 enact a long-term solution for faith should be leaven in the parish communities to which all undocumented youth. “In the end, we know what you belong. Today I encourwe’ve always known, which age you to increase opportuniis we need leadership in the ties for meeting to share your United States Congress and in culture and spiritual wealth the White House to exercise while at the same time allowtheir authority responsibil- ing yourselves to be enriched ity and to move forward with by the experiences of others,” a legislative solution to our he added. The Pope also told the FilipiDACA recipients, a solution that would provide them the nos to “continue being smugright to continue to thrive and glers of faith,” referring to to contribute to our economy, how overseas Filipino workers society and to our country by “smuggle” their faith even to being provided legal status,” places where it is dangerous he said. (Klarize Medenilla/AJ- to be Catholic like the Middle East. Press)
What’s next for DACA recipients...
PAGE 2 DACA recipients is Asian — is home to the largest and one of the most diverse populations of DACA recipients in the country, and they are doctors, business owners, college students, Uber drivers, teachers, and waiters. In other words, they are contributors to the American economy. A 2017 study from the Center of American Progress showed that 91% of DACA recipients are employed and that 69% were able to move to a job with better pay. Notably, 94% reported that they were able to pursue educational opportunities “that [they] could previously not” without DACA. Pundits from media outlets including the New York Times, Vox and CNN postulated that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of the Trump administration which will lead to the de facto termination of DACA. But Saenz reiterated the fact that the Supreme Court will have until the end of June 2020 to make a decision, and any postulations that could instill anxiety and confusion within the community of DACA recipients and their families could and should be avoided. “You cannot predict the outcome of any Supreme Court
case by any questions posed by justices during the oral arguments,” Saenz said, referencing the media reaction after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in April regarding the census citizenship question. Many commentators were adamant that the Supreme Court would allow the question to appear on the census, but two months later, the court decided otherwise. The current makeup of the Supreme Court — which has five conservatives and four liberals — is not necessarily a reliable determinant for how the court will vote. Further, “irresponsible” punditry and opinionating that posits one way or another before a decision is made can result and has resulted in widespread fear and confusion among immigrant communities, Saenz noted, adding that the decision may come as early as February to the end of June. He added that DACA recipients should remember three things: know your rights, which include exercising the right to contest removal in the event of an arrest or detention by federal immigration agents; never waive your rights and voluntarily agree
PAGE 1 UniTeller, in a report titled Both Sides of the Coin: The Receiver’s Story, said it researched the behaviors and attitudes of low-income remittance recipients in the Philippines, India, Indonesia and Vietnam regularly receiving money from senders in Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States. The paper found that average monthly remittance value sent back by low-income overseas Filipino migrants is $446, compared to their receiver’s average monthly household income of $175. Half of remittances received by Filipino households are used for day-to-day family needs (25%) and bill and loan repayments (25%). The report said smaller sums are being allotted to education (13%) and savings (13%),
while bigger sums are spent on non-essential luxury items (7%). This poor financial planning led to remittance recipients in the Philippines, saying they regularly run out of money. The paper also highlighted that nearly three-quarters (72%) of Filipino recipients say they will reach out to the sender when they run out of money. “The survey further finds that a reliance on remittances may also place increasing stress on the relationship between senders and receivers,” Uniteller said. The report also mentioned that two in five (41%) reported that the expectation of receiving remittance places emotional stress on their family and over half (54%) say that it impacts their relationship with the sender.
“Although the report highlights that receivers do not allocate enough of the remittances to savings, there are untapped opportunities to increase their capacity in building sustainable wealth,” UniTeller pointed out. The publication showed that three-quarters (75%) of regular remittance recipients in the Philippines are eager to learn and cultivate good financial habits. As a sign of growing digitalization of financial services in the Philippines, 78% of respondents have a mobile wallet account and 97% have a smartphone. Despite this, the most common method of receiving international money transfers is still via cash pick-ups (67%), followed by bank transfer (41%) and mobile wallets (29%). n
CHR on Marcos case dismissal: Public might... that the remaining 17 civil cases pending before the Sandiganbayan will not be dismissed as well. “The challenge is for PCGG and OSG to really build-up their cases, make sure that the remaining cases will not be dismissed on mere technicality. Magaling ang mga abugado sa PCGG at OSG, so naniniwala tayo na kailangan pa nilang magpursige (Lawyers of PCGG and OSG are excellent, so we believe they still have to work further),” De Guia said. Senate to grill PCGG Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday was not happy with PCGG failing to pursue its cases against the Marcoses, saying he would initiate a Senate inquiry and summon PCGG Chair Reynold Munsayac and the other officials organized to recover the alleged ill-gotten wealth
of the Marcos family. “Let’s fix [the PCGG] because there seems to be something broken in it,” he said. “They have to explain… It would appear that they are very cavalier in preparing for the [prosecution of] cases. There’s a case of urgency here. [They] are sending the wrong message to our country, that people get away with [their crimes], and that if you’re patient enough, your cases will be dismissed,” he added. Gordon also said more competent lawyers should be hired by the agency as well as strengthen its legal research. “They should get more qualified lawyers because the trick here is in the [legal] research and having good lawyers… those who will do the job,” he suggested. n
Pope Francis celebrates ‘Simbang Gabi’... Father Ricky Gente, chaplain of Filipinos in Rome, expressed his gratitude to the Pope before the end of the mass. “Almost 500 years ago, European missionaries planted the seed of faith in our beloved Philippines. We are happy and blessed because after 5 centuries, we are here in Europe and throughout the world, transmitting the joy and the beauty of the Gospel,” he said. “Yes, it is true, we carry with us, wherever we go, the torch of faith of the Gospel in the world — the same faith and Gospel that has been transmit-
ted to us,” he added. This was the first time a pope led a Simbang Gabi, highlighting even further the mark the Philippines is making on the global Catholic map after Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was appointed as the new prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples by Pope Francis. “In many spots on the Catholic map, including parts of the U.S., Filipinos today are the new Irish, meaning missionaries who keep local churches alive,” Veteran Vatican analyst John Allen had noted after Tagle’s appointment. n
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OPINION
FEATURES
Cell phone ban THE school kids might stage a revolt, but a proposal to ban students from 10th grade and younger from using cell phones and other electronic gadgets in the classroom is worth considering. Rep. Rida Robes of San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan has filed a bill in the House of Representatives, seeking the ban, which aims to cover students up to 15 years old. Robes said studies have linked children’s use of phones and other electronic gadgets in school to diminished academic performance, cyber bullying, teenage depression and even suicide. In contrast, she cited a 2015 study conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science, which showed a significant improvement in students’ test scores in schools that banned mobile phone use. Robes also noted that last year, France imposed a nationwide ban on cell phone use among students
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in primary and middle schools to improve academic performance and promote healthy social development. Her bill allows students to use their cell phones for emergencies, during special learning sessions, or if the gadgets are needed for medical purposes such as the monitoring of a child’s health indicators as recommended by a physician. The phones and other electronic gadgets are to be deposited with school authorities for safekeeping until the end of the school day. It’s a different world and a different generation, for whom the use of electronic gadgets is intuitive. This proposal does not intend to deprive children of the use of such gadgets, but to allow them to concentrate better on using the faculties they were born with for learning within the controlled environment of a classroom. This ban is a proposal worth considering. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Profound loss and grief when a loved one dies: The agony of living away from the motherland The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS MALIGAYANG PASKO. This Christmas will be bittersweet for our family as we just lost one very important pillar on my husband’s side of the family. My father-in-law was called back to heaven on December 5 — just when Advent has just started. He was 86. I know many of you who have mourned the passing of a loved one in the Philippines will be able to relate to and un-
derstand the profound grief I am writing about. My father-in-law Manolo Relos had a heart attack and then a stroke and pneumonia all in one week. My husband, being the doctor in the family, had been guiding my in-laws, including his two siblings also living in America, through FaceTime in explaining to them the treatment options, particularly the angioplasty to remove the blockage in the heart and later, the thoracentesis that would remove the water in his chest cavity to make him breathe better. Unfortunately, two days after the procedure, we were told he would just sleep and not be responsive at all. Our
hearts skipped a beat and were worried he might slip into a coma or just die and we were all thousands of miles and an ocean away. My husband, my brother-in-law in Portland, and sister-in-law in Boston all agreed it was time to go home. I was supposed to host “Global Pinoy Idol” for The Filipino Channel and DZMM in Las Vegas the following week but I made the decision to be there for my husband and my in-laws during this most uncertain and difficult time. Hard as it might be to back out from a job I love to do, cognizant of the fact that my role in the show had been widely adverPAGE 10
Philstar.com photo
Update on the US socio-political scene Postscript
FEDERICO PASCUAL JR. WE share some of the noteworthy findings in 2019 of Pew Research Center, a Washington-based non-partisan think tank, on varied topics, from demographic and political changes reshaping the United States to the attitudes and experiences of people in other countries. •The American public renders a harsh judgment on the state of political discourse in the U.S. today. Large majorities of Americans say the tone and nature of political debate
has become more negative in recent years, as well as less respectful, less fact-based and less substantive. President Trump appears to be a major factor in people’s views: A 55-percent majority says Trump has changed the tone and nature of political debate in the country for the worse. Fewer than half as many (24 percent) say he has changed it for the better, while 20 percent say he has had little impact. • The most active 10 percent of adult Twitter users in the U.S. produce 80 percent of all tweets sent by these users. The median adult user of the platform tweets only twice a month, but a small group tweets much more frequently, according to an April study. In a follow-up study that looked
at tweets about national politics, 97 percent of tweets that were created by U.S. adults and mentioned national politics came from just 10 percent of users. • Newspaper circulation in the U.S. has fallen to its lowest level since at least 1940, the earliest year with available data. Total daily newspaper circulation — print and digital combined — was an estimated 28.6 million for weekday and 30.8 million for Sunday in 2018. Those numbers were down 8 percent and 9 percent, respectively, from the previous year. • Despite economic troubles facing the news industry, about 7-in-10 Americans (71 percent) believe their local news media organizations are doing well PAGE 10
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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D ateline PhiliPPines PCGG ready to cooperate with Senate by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) on Wednesday, December 18, said it is ready to cooperate with the Senate after Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon announced he would initiate a probe into PCGG’s failure to recover the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family. “The PCGG welcomes Senator Gordon’s pronouncement that he intends to initiate a Senate inquiry on the recent Sandiganbayan decisions involving PCGG,” said PCGG acting chairman, Reynold Munsayac. “The PCGG will cooperate with the Senate and submit all available data regarding the cases,” he added. however, Munsayac insisted
that most of the cases in the Sandiganbayan were filed and litigated before President Rodrigo Duterte became the country’s chief executive. “Some of (these) were already submitted for decision as early as 2010,” he said “In any event, the PCGG will closely coordinate with the Office of the Solicitor General to ensure that all available remedies will be availed of to protect government interest,” he added. The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division on Monday dismissed Civil Case No. 0002 filed by the PCGG in July 1987 against the Marcoses due to lack of evidence. “The bulk of the documentary evidence offered by the plaintiff (PCGG) are mere photocopies, most of which are barely readable. Thus, even if the Court were to defy
the best evidence rule, it still could not fully ascertain the contents of these documents and make an intelligent evaluation therefrom,” said the 58page decision. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said former PCGG officials should be summoned if a Senate probe into the agency’s string of failure pushes through. “If there’s any legislative intent to strengthen the PCGG, I welcome the Senate inquiry. For purposes, however, of knowing how the PCGG handled the Marcos cases, it should be the past PCGG leaderships who should be summoned to explain,” he said. “The current officials of the PCGG had hardly any involvement in the cases except to await the rendition of judgment,” he added. n
by daRwin
Pesco ManilaTimes.net
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will allot P3 billion for the Universal health Care (UhC) program next year, its general manager, Royina Marzan Garma, said on Wednesday, December 18. “Nagagalak na ipaalam na effective next year, 100 percent we support universal healthcare (We are glad to inform you that effective next year, our support to universal healthcare
will be 100 percent),” Garma told reporters. She explained that 40 percent of PCSO’s charity fund would go to the UhC. But the PCSO’s medical assistance program would be limited, and only those needing chemotherapy and dialysis would be given help. Garma clarified that other patients would still be given assistance but this time, it will be through the Philippine health Insurance Corp. The PCSO also allotted P3.1
Bongbong Marcos likely to run in 2022 by JavieR isMael ManilaTimes.net
FORMeR Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is “definitely interested” in running in the 2022 national elections. But he refused to reveal if he would run for president or for vice president. Marcos made the revelation during an interview with Kim Bernardo Lokin, host of the weekly talk show “hot Seat” aired on The Manila Times Television. he said he would also have to consult his family and supporters before finalizing his plans. The former senator added that the presence of Smartmatic in the 2022 elections would be carefully looked into before he makes his final decision. Marcos ran for vice presi-
Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
dent in 2016, but was defeated by Maria Leonor Robredo. he filed an election protest against Robredo before the Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential electoral Tribunal. he challenged the election results in 39,221 clustered precincts in 25 provinces and five cities in the country. Marcos had claimed that the votes obtained by Robredo were “products of electoral
‘We have our own docu’: Palace plays down Oscars shortlisting of ‘The Nightcrawlers’
MANILA — Malacañang played down the inclusion of a documentary that depicted the government’s anti-drug campaign as a “deadly crusade” in the shortlist for one of the categories of the prestigious Academy Awards. “The Nightcrawlers,” a National Geographic documentary about journalists that cover President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war” on illegal drugs, has been shortlisted for the 92nd Academy Awards documentary short subject category. The documentary was described as “an unflinching exposé of Philippines President Duterte’s war on drugs, in which some claim over 20,000 people have been killed.” It also claimed to have uncovered “a harrowing twist” behind what it described as “Duterte’s deadly crusade.” Asked to comment on the shortlisting of “The Nightcrawlbillion for Malasakit Centers. ers” in one of the categories of “Doon namin idadaan medi- the Academy Awards, presical assistance program ng dential spokesman Salvador PCSO (Our medical assistance will be coursed through [Malasakit Centers]),” Garma said. “’Yan ang magiging direction ng PCSO next year ito po ay naaayon sa charter (That will be the direction of the PCSO next year and this is in accordance with our charter),” she added. Next year, PCSO aims to generate P52 billion in revenues. n
PCSO to allot P3-B for universal healthcare program
ManilaTimes.net photo
fraud, anomalies and irregularities.” Asked on the status of his petition, Marcos told The Manila Times that he expects his case to move faster next year. “We have just completed the comment that we are going to submit to the Presidential electoral Tribunal and we expect the case to start moving faster in January or February next year,” he said. n
Panelo said he believes the documentary was not judged on the truthfulness of its claims. “I think the judgment on a particular movie or film is based on certain criteria, not necessarily the truth. It’s how you depict how the producers do their films,” Panelo said in a press briefing. According to the Special Rules for the Documentary Awards for the 92nd Academy Awards, “an eligible documentary film is defined as a theatrically-released nonfiction motion picture dealing creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subjects.” “It may be photographed in actual occurrence, or may employ partial reenactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stopmotion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction,” the rules also read. “It’s the same as fiction. Some of them win awards even if the story they are presenting
is not true. So I don’t think... it has any relevance,” Panelo claimed. Panelo said it would be up to the jury of the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, to assess the merits of the film. “It’s an independent body of international experts on cinematic film. So, we’d rather not—it’s not our turf then let them judge on the basis of whatever standards or guidelines they have imposed on them,” the Palace spokesman said. Panelo noted that the Duterte administration also has its own documentary that tackles the effects of the drug menace in the Philippines. The documentary titled “Gramo” was intended to counter the negative portrayal of the drug war in the local and international media. “We have our own docu. For all we know baka makapasok din ‘yun ‘pag ‘yun inilabas (it may also be shortlisted if it is shown),” Panelo said. (Alexis Romero/Philstar.com)
december 20-26, 2019 • NeW YOrK ANd NeW JerSeY ASIAN JOUrNAL
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‘Sad’ day for kin of Ampatuan massacre’s 58th victim
SHINY AND BRIGHT. The country will welcome 2020 with fresh money — the newly minted P20 and enhanced P5 coins. The coins were launched on Tuesday, December 17, by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). ManilaTimes.net photo
Profound loss and grief when a loved one dies...
PAGE 5 tised and promoted, I knew in my heart I had to go home and help ease the burden of my husband and his family. Family would always come first for me. For the first time in 13 years, all five children of Manolo and Norma Relos were together again with their parents. Miraculously, my father-in-law woke up, and had been responsive and started talking again. He was so happy to see us all together by his bedside in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. My father-in-law said, “wala nang kulang sa mga kaboodle”. “ I feel we are really one family.” In the ICU, he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren who took care of him, reminisced about the past with him, and laughed at his jokes. His health improved remarkably as his vital signs became stable. He was allowed to be transferred to a private room where he could be visited by even more family and friends. On his second day in his private room, my husband and I were awoken by a frantic call from my sister-in-law who stayed with him overnight in the hospital. She said Daddy Manolo had been asking for my husband, and was saying “Pasakay na ako”. This, of course, could be interpreted as he was being picked up (sinusundo na) to be in his journey back to heaven. My father-in-law then drifted into unconsciousness again and had not been responsive the whole day. My mother-inlaw called in the priests of the Sacred Heart Shrine, where Daddy Manolo and Mommy Norma have been serving for decades, to give him the sacrament of extreme unction. My sisters-in-law, especially the youngest who had not been home for 13 years, were in-
consolable. And then, another miracle. He woke up and said “Great things are happening... Miracles are happening!” He grew stronger and had been able to lift his arms and move his hands. His doctors were happy about his progress as we all were, and was given discharge clearance to go home. Daddy Manolo had always wanted to go home. And so we prepared the house for him, bought him a hospital bed, oxygen tank, and private caregiver service for day and night to help Mommy Norma and my two sisters-inlaw take care of him. We got Daddy Manolo settled at home on the Feast of Christ the King. Daddy said when he had a heart attack, the image of Christ the King with the heart of Sacred Heart came to visit him in his dreams and asked him, “Handa ka na ba?” and he said not yet, requesting for a little more time. Then it was time for us to go back to the United States. My husband had a very solemn talk with his father, affirming he has accomplished his mission, that he had been a good father and husband and servant of the Lord. My husband told him that it was okay to heed the call of Jesus if He calls his name again, and to follow the light. My husband reassured his father that we would all be okay, and gave him the promise we would all take care of Mommy Norma. Ten days after we left for the U.S., Daddy Manolo went to be with the Lord. My husband and his siblings were all grateful and blessed to have spent time with their father before he passed, to let him know and feel how much they love him while he was still alive. We did not wait for him to die to fly back home and bury his remains. I was not able to do this
with my own father when he passed away in 2014. We all thought he was getting better, having been discharged from the hospital to be at home. He died three days after he came home. It would seem that many people want to be in their own home when it was time for them to go back home to heaven. I went home to hug the lifeless body of my own father and had him cremated. Of course, not everybody would have the opportunity, resources or option to go home during these difficult times. Some do not have immigration papers to leave the United States without the risk of being banned entry for staying in the country illegally. One man without papeles lamented how painful it was that he was in the U.S. as a caregiver taking care of old people when he did not have the chance to take care of his own parents in their dying days because he had to stay in America so he could support his children. Ahhh... the painful choices we have to make. So this holiday season and Christmas, I pray for our kababayans who have lost their loved ones while they were away from the Motherland. May you find peace in your hearts knowing our departed loved ones are in a better place now — no more pain and suffering, only eternal life, love, peace and joy in Paradise with our Creator. Have a merry and blessed Christmas! *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@ icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos. Relos.
MANILA — As the nation celebrates a rare triumph of justice with the conviction of most of the principal accused in the Ampatuan massacre, one victim’s family is frustrated with the decision. A Quezon City court on Thursday, December 19, found 43 people guilty as principals or accessories to 57 counts of murder led by Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his brother Zaldy Ampatuan. Officials said 58 people—32 of them media workers—were slaughtered on November 23, 2009. But the count for the murder of photojournalist Ronaldo Momay was dismissed because his body was not found save for his dentures. All persons accused of killing Momay were also acquitted. “Sad day for me and my family. Justice for my dad!” Momay’s daughter, Ma. Reynafe Castillo, said on Facebook. The decision of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes noted that while it
was established that Momay was part of the convoy of journalists with the Mangudadatus on the way to Commission on Elections office in Shariff Aguak, he could no longer be found after 10 a.m. of November 23, 2009. The prosecution failed to establish that the dentures belonged to the 58th victim. “Simply put, there is no sufficiently relevant proof connecting the object evidence— the denture –with the person
of Momay. The mere say-so of the prosecution witnesses that the victim wore the subject denture will not amply establish its identity,” the ruling read. Lawyer Harry Roque, who represents Momay’s family, said a notice of appeal on the civil aspect of the case will be filed. “I need justice for my dad. Justice is incomplete when the number is not complete,” the slain photographer’s daughter said. (Gaea Katreena Cabico Philstar.com)
A court employee reads the verdict for the 2009 Maguindanao massacre at the trial venue inside a prison facility in Manila on Thursday, December 19. Photo courtesy of Supreme Court Public Information Office
Update on the US socio-political... PAGE 5 financially. This belief persists even though only 14 percent of U.S. adults say they personally have paid for local news in the past year, whether through subscriptions, donations or memberships. When asked why they do not pay for local news, 49 percent of non-payers point to the availability of free content. • The foreign-born share of the U.S. population is at its highest point since 1910. Nearly 14 percent of people living in the U.S. in 2017 were born in another country, extending a steady increase over the past few decades. More than 44 million immigrants lived in the U.S. This foreign-born share, however, is far from the highest in the world. In 2017, 25 countries and territories had higher shares than the US, including Australia (29 percent), New Zealand (23 percent) and Canada (21 percent), as well as European countries such as Switzerland (30 percent), Austria (19 percent) and Sweden (18 percent). • Hispanics are projected to be the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the 2020 electorate, overtaking the black voters for the first time. Hispanics are expected to account for just over 13 percent of eligible voters, slightly more than the black electorate. A projected 32 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in 2020, compared with 30 million black adults. Asian voters will
number some 11 million, more than double their 5 million in 2000. Asians will account for 5 percent of next year’s electorate, while all nonwhites will be a third of eligible voters. • The U.S. no longer leads the world in admitting refugees. While Canada resettled 28,000 refugees in 2018 — similar to its total in 2017 – the U.S. welcomed only 23,000, down from 33,000 the year before. It was the first time the U.S. was not the world’s top haven since the Congress created the refugee program in 1980. The U.S. previously admitted more refugees each year than all other countries combined. The number of refugees resettled in the U.S. is likely to drop further: The Trump administration has set a new cap of 18,000 refugees in fiscal 2020. • The number of people living in the U.S. without authorization has decreased over the past decade, driven by a sharp decline in unauthorized immigrants from Mexico who used to account for the majority of unauthorized immigrants. By 2017, there were 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants, including 4.9 million Mexicans. While the number of unauthorized immigrants from Mexico has decreased, the numbers from two regions — Asia and Central America — have risen. There were 5.5 million unauthorized immigrants from countries other than Mexico in 2017. • Two-thirds of Americans
support the legalization of marijuana, a reversal from two decades ago. Legalizing the drug — which is banned under federal law — has the backing of a majority of men and women; white, black and Hispanic adults; and Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and Republicans and Republican leaners (though Democrats remain far more likely than Republicans to favor it, 78 percent vs. 55 percent). An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (91 percent) say marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use (59 percent) or that it should be legal just for medical use (32 percent). Some 8 percent prefer to keep marijuana illegal in all circumstances. • The share of Americans with an unfavorable view of China reached a 14-year high amid a protracted trade dispute between the two countries. Six-in-10 U.S. adults have a negative opinion of China, up from 47 percent in 2018 and the highest share since Pew began asking this question in 2005. Around a quarter of Americans (24 percent) name China as the country or group that poses the greatest threat, double the share who said this in 2007. China is tied with Russia as the country or group most cited by Americans as a threat. The only other country to measure in the double digits is North Korea (12 percent). (Philstar.com)
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COMMUNITY Journal
IS THERE HOPE FOR A PERSON WHO WAS SENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES, AIRPORT TO AIRPORT, FOR ADMITTING THEY WORKED IN THE U.S. ON A PREVIOUS VISIT? THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION AND MORE ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” The first batch of Kapamilya who attended the Citizen Pinoy taping in Virginia get the chance to have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out whether someone who jumped ship 16 years ago, but who now has a U.S. citizen son, can acquire her green card. Get answers to these and more on an encore episode of — “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
January 2020 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY: First Preference
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. a priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. Beginning in October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and UScIS indicates on its website it will use the application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance or Final action Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card.
Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
September 15, 2009
January 15, 2009
(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below November 01, 21 years old) of green 2019 card holders
Current
(2B) Unmarried sons October 01, and daughters (21 years old or older) 2009 of green card holders
February 01, 2009
Third Preference
Married sons and daughters of US Citizens
September 01, 1999
January 01, 1999
Fourth Preference
Brothers and sisters of US Citizens
November 01, 1999
March 01, 1999
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
LABOR CERTIFICATION:
Second Preference
Advanced Degree (Masters)
Current
Current
Third Preference
Professional/ Skilled Workers
January 01, 2019
March 15, 2018
Other Workers
Non-Skilled Workers
January 01, 2019
March 15, 2018
*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty,
guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/ GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @ GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 20-26, 2019
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DECEMBER 20-26, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA JOSHUA was excited with his new job at the inn. It sure beats having to herd sheep this time of the year when the cold nights chilled his bones on the hillside pasture where he tended his family’s small herd of sheep and cattle. The job fell to his younger brother this time. Jacob, the owner of the inn was his father’s friend who had asked if Joshua could help him mind the inn for a little while as he and his wife will be going on a long journey. Jacob liked and trusted Joshua like the son he never had. The young man was a good worker and a natural who quickly picked up the ropes of the business. Not long after, Jacob and his wife left for their journey to the town north of the country where they were born many miles away to comply with the Roman emperor Augustus’ decree that everyone be counted for the census. Few, if any, in Israel dared disobey the mighty Roman Empire. The inn was busy. People for miles around were on the move going back to their own hometowns. The brisk business brought by overnight travellers in their otherwise sleepy town tired him out. Yet, he felt pretty proud of himself of the work he was doing. Today, just before sundown, he had filled the 12 modestly furnished rooms with tired and hungry travellers. He thought of meeting up with his shepherd friends in the pasture once he had turned over the inn’s affairs to the night attendant. He had heard his shepherd friends on night watch talk about an unusually bright star that has been moving in the heavens for many nights now. They said it was a spectacle to behold and he wanted to see it for himself. The rumor buzzing around town was that the soothsayers in King Herod’s palace studying the unusual heavenly display were cowering in fear, loathe to tell the king the meaning of the unusual star. Eventually, they had to tell the king for nothing escapes him. Herod did not suffer fools gladly. The prophecy will come to pass. The king to rule all kings was to be born very
A Christmas Story: The Innkeeper’s Untold Tale “As he told the story of that wondrous night to Luke, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone.” soon within the kingdom. It was no wonder King Herod was in a vicious mood. Joshua thought the ruthless king would remove all threats to his kingship by all means fair or foul. It was bad enough he had to bow to the superior might of the Roman conquerors who had allowed him to be king within his territory. Just as Joshua was about to lock up for the night, a couple came in. The man, visibly tired and leaning on his staff with one hand, was supporting the woman who was heavy with child with his other hand. The woman looked to be in some pain. Still, Joshua noted the stately calm, grace and beauty about her. There was this mysterious glow. The man asked Joshua for a room and told him his wife was about to give birth. Alas, the last room has been let and Joshua told him so. Joshua glanced at the woman and his heart was filled with pity. He thought quickly of his own home for them to stay for the night but it was some distance away. He had to think and act quickly. It looks like the woman was about to give birth at any moment. Joshua had seen to his own mother at childbirth. He had helped his own father deliver some of his brothers himself. “Maybe, I have something for you. It’s not much but it would get you through this cold night at least,” he told the couple. “Come with me.” Joshua gathered some blankets and sheets quickly. He gave instructions to his attendant to heat water. He then gathered food and other provisions. He moved in haste leading the couple to an empty stable a few yards at the back of the inn. Earlier in the day before the sun was up, he took to clearing the stable himself. He didn’t know why he did it. But now he was glad he did so. He thought the squalid stable with its walls and roof can shield this poor couple from the cold night as the
woman delivers her child. Joshua gave the man the blankets and clean sheets, the warm water and some extra oil for the lamp to burn through the night. He set a makeshift table for the bread, fish and wine and lit the lamp in one corner. He moved quickly as he helped the man make his wife comfortable. He could see the woman’s face etched in pain for the birth pangs seem to be stronger now. Beads of sweat lined the woman’s brow. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to meet up with his friends tonight. Somehow he knew his place was right here where he was needed for the long night ahead. Just before he went back to the inn to fetch a few more things, he said to them, “I’m Joshua. Let me know if you need anything else.” The man replied, “I’m Joseph and this is Mary. Thank you. You have done more than you can possibly know. The Lord’s light burns bright in you.” Mary looked up at Joshua and smiled through her pain. For as long as he lived, Joshua will never forget that smile. Mary’s child was born that night. Joshua could not remember a night more filled with wonder, mystery and myriad points of light. It was a night like no other. Joshua’s entire being was engulfed with the mystery happening before his very eyes. He remembered Mary wrapping her child gently in swaddling clothes and placing the child in a manger. The child was bathed in light. The whole stable was filled with warmth. Soft, sweet music seem to emanate from a choir of angels above the stable and a sweet heavenly fragrance wafted through the air. Joshua’s shepherd friends came to visit the child. How could they have known? His friends told him that an angel told them about the good news. They were led to the stable where they found the child. PAGE 13
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Look and feel good: How two US-based Pinay beauty brands give back to the Philippines By CHRISTINA M. ORIEL AJPress
BEAUTY products are often considered individually beneficial as they are intended to make one look and feel good. But certain brands take it a step further and help others as well. With the season of giving in full swing, purchases from two Filipina-owned beauty and skincare brands in the United States support causes back in the Philippines, from feeding school children to supporting mothers in need postpartum. Prim Botanicals The story: With $3,000 of her own money and mixing and packing products by hand, Stefanie Walmsley started Prim Botanicals from her New York apartment as a passion project. Today going four years strong, Prim Botanicals is now sold at all U.S. Anthropologie stores, certain natural beauty storefronts, and online on its website. Each month, the company sets aside an amount to donate to Philippine-based organizations, but customers can also add an extra donation while checking out. “Whatever free time I had, I would play around and study all kinds of essential oils and got really lost in it,” the Filipina American founder recently told the Asian Journal. “It was a great outlet.” Walmsley had been working in TV and film as an actress and producer (one project she produced, “God of Love,” won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short in 2011) and was experimenting with ingredients, many of which came from her native Philippines to treat her various skin concerns. “The more I owned my story as a Filipina from the Philippines and reflected that in Prim’s products and branding, the more attention the brand got,” she said. “I wasn’t just another brand — I was a brand with a real identity, story and full culture behind it.” The offerings: Prim Botanicals offers products predominately using Philippinefound ingredients that can be used on hair, lips, body and face. Prices range from $12 to $60. Her first concoction was a Face Oil that took a year to create and then was
Disco nap and siesta spray aura mists by Prim Botanicals Photos courtesy of Prim Botanicals
A former TV and film professional, Stefanie Walmsley started Prim Botanicals in 2013 as a hobby and officially launched it in 2015. Each month, the brand supports a non-profit back in the Philippines.
Sara Meredith of Kaya Essentials displays her products at a local farmersʼ market. Photos by Nailah Barcelona
Coconut oil-based body balms and lip balms from Kaya Essentials come in seven different flavors, from calamansi to honey.
Kaya Essentials, founded in 2017, uses high-grade coconut oil from a fair trade farm in Davao.
sent to different women to test out and provide feedback. It’s now one of the signature brand products using cold pressed sea buckthorn, black cumin seed, wild moringa from the Philippines, Polynesian tamanu and African marula to address inflammation and blotchy skin. There’s also the Hair Oil that has Virgin Coconut Oil from the Philippines, camellia,
moringa, marula, and black seed; the Debauchery Detox Body Scrub using Activated Charcoal, Philippine Barako Coffee, Hawaiian Black Lava Salt; Aura Mists to energize you; and CBD-infused products from body lotion to a roll-on for period pain. “The question I ask myself each time is, ‘Is something that I confidently feel PAGE 13
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Look and feel good: How two...
PAGE 12 is better than whatever else on the market?’ ‘What could I sell that I would buy and confidently get my friends to buy it?’ But I also need stuff that’s affordable. Trust my gut, know my customer and know what I would like to see and so far, that formula has been working really well,” she said. Not so proper: The product formulas at the beginning used a lot of evening primrose oil so the brand name is a play on that ingredient, as well as Walmsley liking “how nice and clean the name sounded,” she said. “But we’re not so prim and proper...and we try to highlight all of that in our copy. It’s a brand effort to keep the writing accessible, snarky and more tongue-incheek. With everything that I do with Prim, I want to take away any sense of intimidation and make the language like if a friend is talking to you.” Embracing womanhood: With Prim Botanicals’ products, Walmsley wanted to bottle the excitement a woman gets in the moment before she uses a product. Each product
EMPLOYMENT
is not meant to be mindlessly used. “It’s not meant to be a prissy brand. But I wanted to fill this white space that was decidedly and unapologetically feminine and celebrated womanhood,” she said. “It’s not unisex...I wanted something that felt really feminine and was also clean and something you would keep on your bathroom shelf. I know there are so many products that are hidden behind, I love that a lot of our customers come from seeing a Prim product in someone else’s shower or on their shelf.” Teaching Pinay beauty rituals: Rooted in the beauty and wellness rituals Walmsley grew up following — whether using coconut oil as a mask or barako coffee as a skin scrub — she said Prim Botanicals is a way to teach others about the ingredients the country is rich in and its resourceful, inventive traditions. In the coming months, expect more basic, day-today products from a cleanser to body wash too. “In 2020, I plan to go harder on wellness as a whole and I’m happy that trend is occurring. Back home in the
Philippines, you don’t even think about it. When you get a sunburn, everyone says to put aloe vera. If you have a stomachache, they say to drink ginger tea. These are things we have taken for granted but the rest of the world... I’m very that most of our ingredients come from the Philippines,” Walmsley said. “Younger generations are now paying homage to our roots — I see it in fashion, design. It’s such an exciting time and I’m glad this generation is looking more at our own history and own traditions instead of constantly looking at what the rest of the world is doing.” On paying it forward: Since 2015, Prim Botanicals has identified several Philippine-based non-profits to give back to, including the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation which builds boats for kids in flood-affected areas so they can get to school and Glory Reborn in Cebu that helps marginalized pregnant women receive medical and childcare support. Walmsley announced that the next non-profit the company will support for the next eight
PSYCHIC
The power of prayer...
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PAGE 12 Filled with awe, they knelt before the child who was to be king. Later on that night, three men garbed in royal splendor and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh travelling from afar, came to pay the child homage. They had been following the bright star hovering about the heavens for many nights leading them to that dusty town called Bethlehem. Many years later in his old age, the memory of that night still stayed with Joshua. He
had remained the innkeeper. He had struck a friendship with a man called Luke, a physician who was a regular guest at the inn. He observed that the thoughtful, quiet Luke was always writing in rolls of papyrus in his room. Not wanting to keep the wonders of that night to be forgotten when he passed, Joshua told the story to Luke. As he told the story of that wondrous night, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone.
Joshua’s life was never the same again. The light of that bright night burned in his soul forever. He could not have known at the time he was witness to the unfolding of the greatest mystery on earth. May the true Spirit of Christmas live in our hearts all year round! *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc. com.
months is Tiny Blessings, which provides food, shelter and basic needs to homeless children in Manila. “It’s 2019 and there’s so much going on. I don’t think it’s enough to just sell a product for profit anymore. At one point, it was enough that we’re natural and sustainable, and we know where everything is coming from and we’re transparent,” Walmsley said. “Now, those values are pretty common. How else can I give back and what more can I do? Even within the green beauty and natural, organic world, it can start to
feel like any other business, especially when these really big companies are getting into the game. For Prim, we give back all year long and I feel really good about that.” Kaya Essentials The story: Sara Meredith was a college student at University College London when she heard Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto delivering a talk about alleviating poverty in the Philippines and building social enterprises toward that goal. She soon took on a three-year internship with the Filipino organization’s Europe chap-
ter and spent time on GK’s Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. “That was my first introduction into a social business, the idea that the business model did good, rather than it being an afterthought,” the half-Filipina, half-British entrepreneur said in a recent interview. “What I originally thought of as a business doing good or charity was giving a percentage of the profit. It made me think how your sourcing and business model have a true impact.” DIY: Her experience with PAGE 15
SERVICES
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FIL-AM JOURNALIST LEEZEL TANGLAO, 2020 WOMEN INPOWER FELLOW
Inspiring to empower women
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MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPress
2ND Street Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact announced last week the 2020 class of Women inPower, a fellowship program to help senior-level women advance to the highest levels of leadership across sectors.
Among the fellows selected is Leezel Tanglao, a New York-based Fil-Am journalist and media consultant and a current Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) delegate. This group of 28 Fellows was selected from a pool of nearly 250 applicants and this year’s Fellows include leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions, including business, nonprofits,
law, medicine, media, technology, arts, education, philanthropy, and science. “In this fast-paced media industry that’s in total disruption, there’s strength in community. In the past year, I’ve been a part of several different cohorts from different parts of my life, both professional and personal,” she told the Asian Journal. This one-of-a-kind free program provides women with
Tanglao with her fellow delegate Philjay Solar from Boston
The number of FYLPRO delegates this year was increased to 15. Tanglao, describing the group said, “The big part of it was the other delegates -- itʼs rare to be with a group this large and bond so deeply. We talk to each other every day, no matter where we are or timezone. They are really like family - I didnʼt choose them, fate put us together.”
professional development, executive mentorship, CEO workshops, and membership in an active community of female leaders. The initiative also includes a social impact component, encouraging Fellows to think ambitiously about their role in creating not only more success and power for themselves, but a healthier and more egalitarian society for all. “Regardless of the focus, there’s something deep and impactful to be part of a network that supports and empowers women. This program is an amazing opportunity to learn from women leaders at the top of their game and give back. You can’t be what you don’t see,” explained Tanglao, who considers herself as a “bridge journalist at the intersection of editorial, product, business development and sales”. Tanglao is currently a senior editor at HuffPost and she consults with companies through her company, StatFury. She is also currently a Reynolds Journalism Institute
Non-Residential Fellow and is working on developing a tool to measure impact. The fellowship is now on its fifth year and the program has already served more than a hundred Fellows. Over a dozen Fellows have reached the C-Suite or equivalent in their field and many more have made career moves that deepen their influence. FYLPRO Experience The Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) is a joint initiative of the Philippine Embassy under the leadership of Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, Consulates General in the United States, and the Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI). To reflect the growth of the Filipino-American population and the expansion of the FYLPRO program, 15 FYLPRO delegates were chosen to participate this year and Tanglao was one of them. “I didn’t know what to expect when I was selected for the FYLPRO program. I did know it would be my first time PAGE 15
Tanglao with (from left) Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, and FYLPRO President JR Calanoc. Photo courtesy of Ayala Foundation
Leezel Tanglao in Manila during the recent FYLPRO trip.
Photos courtesy of FYLPRO
As part of the immersion program, the delegates had meetings with their mentors to discuss their legacy projects and come up with an action plan. Along the way, they visited various communities, including an indigenous Aeta tribe in Pampanga. They also met with representatives from the Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Trade and Industry, before meeting the Mayor of Manila, Isko Moreno. Photos courtesy of FYLPRO
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Piolo bares why he loves Christmas PIOLO Pascual may be one of the most reputable and recognizable actors in the industry today but away from the limelight, he is just like any other family guy. This is truest every Christmas, that special time of the year when his priority is his family— above all. As a father, son, and tito, Piolo says family is the top reason he loves Christmas. “I always make it a point to spend my Christmas with my family,” he told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview, adding that this year, their celebration will be different. According to the awardwinning actor, his family will spend Christmas Day in the Philippines. On how
he can find time despite his busy schedule, he said that he blocked off his schedule early on in the year. “I believe in the importance of family so they have to be prioritized, especially during the holidays because this is the only time that everyone gets together. You don’t just get to exchange gifts but you also get to share your time with each other,” he added. Making others happy Piolo will also allot his free time to son Iñigo, who is also a fast-rising star of ABS-CBN. The father and son tandem will attend the annual and star-studded Christmas special of their network. After this, they are set to hold a Christmas out-
reach as their way of giving back. For Piolo, this is another reason that makes Christmas special for him every year. As of this writing Piolo and his foundation, the Hebreo12:1 Foundation, are already looking for beneficiaries. “We try to look for other indigenous areas where we can spread love and share the gift of Christmas and my foundation with my family—they’re the ones in charge of finding or looking for places where we can do outreach,” he said. Established in 2009, Hebreo 12:1 Founda-
Look and feel good: How two...
PAGE 13 ing a percentage of the profit. It made me think how your sourcing and business model have a true impact.” DIY: Her experience with Gawad Kalinga — coupled with her childhood of making products with her mom and noticing how there were hardly any Filipino-owned coconut brands in the market — led her to founding Kaya Essentials in 2017, an organic skincare line using cold-centrifuged coconut oil from a fair trade farm in Davao. “My mom is a super DIYer. She would make her own beauty, skincare and a lot of cleaning products at home so I always grew up making organic products. One thing we always did was use coconut oil as a hair mask where we would put the coconut oil all around ourselves from root to tip and we’d leave it for three hours. She would make the coconut oil from scratch, from coconut meat and make it into an oil,” Meredith recalled. Kaya spirit: Her first products were the calamansi and lemongrass lip balms, using essential oils from a Filipino family-owned business called Casa de Lorenzo. As a part-time commercial model, Meredith would sell the lip balms to people she met on sets. “I started with the lip balms because those were something everybody could use. My focus was not so narrow. I was looking at it more like, what is something is for every age group, male or female, and is a small way
that could do good?” Meredith said. “Starting with calamansi came from wanting to introduce a product that was proudly Filipino so I wanted it to capture the Filipino culture and essence. I always knew the [brand’s] name would have a Filipino affirmation in it. That’s where Kaya comes from.” Now based in Los Angeles, Meredith makes each product by hand and in small batches. The brand is sold online, at select retailers and special farmer’s markets and pop-ups in LA. Prices range from $5 for balms in seven flavors, $16 for a 2 oz jar of extra virgin coconut oil, and $26 for body balms ranging from calamansi to tea tree flavors. The products don’t contain fragrances nor long, unidentifiable ingredients. “I wanted it to be minimalist so there are only seven flavors. We don’t do different blends. You know exactly what you’re getting so that puts you more in control of your skincare,” she added. In the coming months, Kaya Essentials is expanding its line to include clay masks, candles, and limited edition jewelry, which will be made by Filipina artisans through Gawad Kalinga. One for one: Kaya Essentials uses the ‘one for one’ model, meaning that for every product sold, one school meal is provided to an elementary school student through Gawad Kalinga’s feeding program. This model, Meredith argues, allows more transparency for customers to know the direct
tion has been helping underprivileged children and communities for a decade already. Known for his kindness and generosity, Piolo reminded everyone that giving back must go beyond Christmas. “You know a lot of people don’t get to celebrate the way they want to celebrate because they don’t have much. So if you are sensitive enough to their needs then we’ll make a lot of people happy—just by being there for them and sharing what you have, not just materially but also your time,” he said. (Philstar.com)
recipient of their purchases. To date, the company has fed over 5,000 students. “People innately want to give back... but there’s a distrust in how much is going and what it’s really helping. With one for one, it’s tangible and transparent because you can imagine what a lunch school meal looks like and everyone knows the importance of education. It’s a small way to give back, but I would argue that it’s big because you’re helping nourish a child who can then continue going to school,” she said. Meredith will be launching a partnership with No Kid Hungry to bring the giveback model to local LA schools, a way to reflect the “Filipino American experience” of sourcing from the Philippines, yet producing and selling the products here in the U.S. “I felt like it was time the give back really reflected the making of our balms,” she added. “Purchasing with a purpose, voting with your dollars, and our new tagline in 2020 is ‘small acts of kindness together have a big impact.’ Sometimes when you talk about making a difference or contributing, it can feel overwhelming so I really love the message of even kindness to one another and any little act can make a difference. Just because you’re not some huge corporation making a huge donation doesn’t mean your impact isn’t there. In fact, I would argue that it’s even stronger,” Meredith said.
Piolo Pascual
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Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual
Fil-Am journalist Leezel Tanglao... PAGE 14 back to the motherland in 11 years. It would also be the first time going alone without family,” she shared. “Walking on the land of my ancestors and knowing the sacrifices they made to ensure their legacy lives on is something worth innovating and carrying forward. It’s the first step towards connecting deeply with kababayans, no matter where they are in the world.” The 15 leaders have carried out inspiring work in their communities driven by their passions for the Filipino culture and the advancement of Philippine interests and advocacies in the United States. They now join a prestigious network of 85 young, Filipino-American leaders across the nation to collaborate, exchange ideas, and continue to inspire a wave of diplomatic innovation. The 2019 FYLPRO delegates traveled to the Philippines last month in a weeklong immersion trip to Manila, and were provided with the opportunity to interact with Philippine Government officials and leaders in the fields of business, arts and culture, and civil society. Tanglao described her memorable trip as a transformative experience. “I’m still processing the experience but it was a transformative experience that reignited the fire and pride I have as a Filipino American and desire to build ties to the motherland and with our fellow kababayans in the diaspora,” she said. “It’s inspiring to see what a very diverse group
of individuals can do together -- united by a shared love of family and identity.” Tanglao has also worked at CNNMoney (now CNNBusiness) as Assistant Managing Editor of Programming where she led a global team and launched proprietary social metric Surge. Among her other previous stints include: Associated Press, CBSNews. com, VICE News, NowThis, ABCNews.com, KCBS/KCAL and Press-Enterprise. She received her BA at Loyola Marymount University and an MA at UCLA. She was named 2018 Member of the Year by the Asian American Journalists Association. “We are deeply impressed with the number and quality of applications received this year and the selected delegates all represent the dynamism, passion to serve and contribute, and leadership prevalent among the next generation of Filipino-Americans,” said Ambassador Romualdez. “All of us at the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General take great pride in the current and previous batches of FYLPRO delegates. We are also proud of our continuing collaboration with the Ayala Foundation, Inc., Department of Foreign Affairs, and FYLPRO non-profit alumni organization in designing a transformative and impactful immersion program.” Established in 2012 by the Philippine Embassy in the United States in cooperation with the Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI), FYLPRO annually identifies outstanding young professionals in the Filipino
communities across the United States and provide them invaluable community, business, and government insights and access to a distinguished network captains of industry and government. For the Women inPower, a fellowship program, the Fellows will be mentored by a group of over 45 leaders in NYC that includes: Jimmie Briggs, Co-founder and Executive Director Emeritus, Man Up Campaign; Katy Clark, President, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music); Zain Habboo, Chief Digital Officer, Fenton; Polly Klane, Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel, Capital One; Gillian Lester, Dean Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law, Columbia Law School; Tim Maleeny, President and Chief Strategy Officer, Havas; Terri McCullough, Chief of Staff, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House of Representatives; Henry Timms, CEO, Lincoln Center; Mai-Anh Tran, Chief Financial Officer, The Ford Foundation; and Kristy Wallace, CEO, Ellevate Network. “Women inPower is about much more than the development of individual leadership skills. Our goal is to foster a community and culture in which Fellows act as champions for one another as they ascend into positions of power and, once there, create real change,” said Jessica Schneider, Director of Strategy at 92Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. “We are thrilled to welcome our fifth cohort of Fellows and can’t wait to see all that they accomplish this year and in the future.”
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