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M I D W E E K M I D W E E K
EDITION
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E July D I 27-29, T I O2016 N
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Volume 26 - No. 60 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r
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Duterte in first SONA: ‘All of us want peace’ by Eric
MINDANAO TRIUMVIRATE. President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). Mr. Duterte, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (top left) and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez—the country’s top three elected officials—are all from Mindanao, a first in the country’s history. Inquirer.net photo by Joan Bondoc
DATELINE
USA
THe announcement of sen. Tim Kaine (DVirginia) as Hillary Clinton’s running mate was met with mixed reactions. Critics felt the generally unknown junior senator was an underwhelming pick for the high profile Democratic presidential nominee, and numerous headlines called Kaine “boring,” a label which the VP candidate has embraced. Meanwhile, proponents felt it was a “safe” choice and the progressive senator’s largely uncontroversial political career would be advantageous for Clinton. His connection with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community fits in with Clinton’s campaign and her call for diversity. During his senate race, Kaine garnered nearly 72 percent of Virginia’s AAPI voters, according to exit polls from the Asian American Legal Defense and education Fund (AALDeF). When Clinton announced Kaine as her running mate, Asian American delegate steven Yeung from Virginia told NBC News that he supports the pick and thinks the senator can provide a stark contrast to the current political
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ASEAN fails to reach compromise on South China Sea ruling oN sunday, July 24, the Association of southeast Asian Nations (AseAN) failed to come to a consensus on conflicts in the south China sea (West Philippine sea) during a conference in the Laotian capital of Vientiane. Foreign ministers of the Philippines and Vietnam urged their AseAN counterparts to cite the July 12 ruling in favor of the Philippines and the importance of abiding by international law in each of their statements, which are issued after each meeting. Cambodia, China’s closest ally, failed to mention the ruling against China in their statements, according to the diplomats. Before the meeting, Cambodia argued against the wording in the statement which established a deadlock in the dispute. This is AseAN’s first deadlock since 2012,
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AJPress
PResIDeNT Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire of military operations against communist insurgents while committing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the elimination of jihadist rebels during his first state of the Nation Address. The president’s speech on Monday, July 25, at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives in Manila elaborated his intentions on a wide range of issues including a transition to a
federalist system of government, corruption, the war on drugs, regional diplomacy, tax reform and reproductive health. In addition, Duterte called for an end to hostilities between the the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA). Duterte told the Moro people of the Philippines leaning towards secession that they should expect greater independence under his vision of a federal-
ist government. He expressed sympathy for Muslims caught in the middle of conflict in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) “All of us want peace,” said Duterte. “To our Muslim brothers ... let us end the centuries of this mistrust and warfare. To the CPP/NPA/NDF(P), let us end these decades of ambuscades and skirmishes. We are going nowhere.” The president told television viewers and the roughly 3,000
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DNC2016 goes in full swing in Philadelphia Sen. Sanders: Hillary must become next president
by MoMAr
FRoM THe AJPRess NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
Democratic VP nominee Tim Kaine: an AAPI advocate
Anthony LicAs
G. VisAyA
AJPress
President Rodrigo R. Duterte chats with Former President Fidel V. Ramos during the Testimonial Dinner Reception organized by the San Beda Law Alumni Association at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino in San Juan City, Manila last July 14. Inquirer.net photo by King Rodriguez
FVR accepts offer to head China talks
FoRMeR President Fidel V. Ramos has accepted the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to head the team that will open bilateral talks with China following the decision of an international tribunal invalidating Beijing’s claim on the West Philippine sea (south China sea). Ramos accepted the offer when he met with Duterte at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City on saturday, July 23. The meeting took place a few days after Duterte named Ramos as the Philippines’ special envoy to China, explaining his post-arbitration predicament
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PHILADeLPHIA - “Based on her ideas and her leadership, Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United states,” said Vermont sen. Bernie sanders in his much-awaited speech at the Democratic National Convention which wrapped up day 1 in the City of Brotherly Love on Monday, July 25. “Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president, and I am proud to stand with her tonight.” sen. sanders received an extended ovation from the audience when he emerged onstage to the point where he could not even start his speech. He began saying ‘Thank You’ and repeated it many times over until the chants of “Bernie! Bernie!” mellowed down. “I understand that many people here in this convention hall and around the country are disappointed about the final results of the nominating process,” sanders said. “I think it is fair to say that no one is more disappointed than I am.”
Filipino-Americans for Hillary gather in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention AJpress photo by Christina M. Oriel
The cameras then pan out to numerous sanders supporters and delegates who are crying as they listened to him. Bernie or Bust supporters staged protests outside the Wells Fargo Center. For day 1, the DNC paraded a strong lineup of speakers at the Wells Fargo Center. New Jersey sen. Cory Booker and Massachusetts sen. elizabeth Warren both came out with impassioned speeches that
SC rules with finality: EDCA is constitutional by PAtriciA LourdEs Philstar.com
VirAy
MANILA - The supreme Court (sC) on Tuesday affirmed its earlier decision that the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA) between the Philippines and the United states is constitutional. Voting 9-4, the high court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) against the decision of the sC upholding the eDCA. on January 12, the sC ruled that the executive agreement between the Philippines and the Us is constitutional and does not require senate concurrence. Bayan filed an appeal before the high court to reverse its decision on the eDCA, citing that it violates the sovereignty of the Philippines. As part of the eDCA, the Philippines has allowed the Us to use five military bases in the country where their troops
moved the audience inside the arena. “I take particular interest in the fact that Trump says he’d would run our country like he has run his businesses. Well, I’m from New Jersey. I’m from the great Garden state, and we’ve seen the way he leads in Atlantic City,” sen. Booker said, with the arena booing when Trump’s name was mentioned. “He got rich while
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Solons file first house bill seeking to restore death penalty by PAtriciA LourdEs Philstar.com
The Philippines has allowed US troops to use five military bases as part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
and supplies can be stationed. The military facilities identified were the Antonio Bautista air base on the western island of Palawan, Basa air
base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva ecija, Lumbia airport in Cagayan de oro and the Mactan-Benito ebuen air base in Mactan.
1
VirAy
MANILA - Members of the House of Representatives will deliberate on the re-imposition of the death penalty on its second day of regular session for the 17th Congress on Tuesday, July 26. House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro co-authored House Bill 1 which seeks to impose the death penalty on heinous crimes. The proposed measure repeals the purpose of Republic Act 9346 which prohibits the imposition of death penalty in the Philippines. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, Camarines sur Rep. Rolando
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A JULY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Duterte in first SONA... PAGE A1 t people invited to watch his address in person that, effective immediately, the AFP would adhere to a ceasefire prohibiting future assaults against the CPP, NPA, and NDFP. He appealed to communist groups in the Southern Philippines to respond in kind. However, the unilateral ceasefire did not include protection for elements of the jihadist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to the terms of the ceasefire. “Our country continues to be confronted with internal security threats aggravated by the existence and activities of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf,” said Duterte.”The full force of the AFP will be applied to crush these criminals who operate under the guise of religious fervor.” The president said his administration would work to improve ties with its neighbors, Indo-
President Rodrigo Duterte’s speech was supposed to last 38 minutes but got extended to more than an hour and a half due to deviations. AJ Bolando
nesia and Malaysia, and enact anti-terror and cyber-crime programs to bring an end to ASG kidnappings and attacks that have plagued trading and fishing vessels in the South Pacific for decades.
Duterte also doubled down on promises he made during his campaign to stem corruption, crime and the illegal drug trade in the Philippines, and said he would establish an inter-agency
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STOP CARDBOARD JUSTICE. A few hours before President Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 25, student leaders called for an end to extrajudicial killings and summary executions in front of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Quezon City. Around 20 members of UP Alyansa and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) lay down on the sidewalk of Commonwealth Avenue, carrying pieces of cardboard bearing the messages “End the Killings,” “Stop Cardboard Justice” and “Batas Hindi Bala (Law, not Bullets).” Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma
DNC2016 goes in full swing... PAGE A1 t his companies declared multiple bankruptcies.” First Lady Michelle Obama then delivered a speech that was one for the books. Her eloquence and grace highlighted her talk as she praised Hillary Clinton and her commitment to public service, particularly to children and women. She also asked the crowd not to believe their opponent’s pronouncements. “Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great,” Mrs. Obama said. “This, right now, is the greatest country on earth.” Party members believe that Sanders’ endorsement of Clinton was essential in order for the party to move on from a fractious and divisive primary contest. “Tonight was a testament to the party’s goal of representing American families and progressive family values,” said Romeo Ymalay, KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress National CoChair. “Under the leadership of Secretary Clinton, we will become stronger together and we will rise together as our government becomes more responsive to the needs of all families.” Day 2 of the DNC convention focused on Clinton’s life-long fight to make a difference in the
lives of children across the country. Among the headliners were President Bill Clinton and the mothers of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael brown, and Sandra Bland, who were all victims of excessive policing and police brutality against unarmed black men and women. For people attending the event and other meetings held on the sidelines in Philadelphia this week to coincide with the Democratic National Convention There were caucuses and briefings held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The AAPI Caucus happened on Monday with AAPI community leaders announcing their support for Clinton. Among the guests who spoke were Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Mike Honda, Rep. Mark Takano, and Fresh Off the Boat star Constance Wu. APIA Vote held a briefing and reception to discuss the importance of the AAPI electorate in influencing the results of the November polls. Along with organizations such as the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), APIA Vote called on for more AAPI political participation. Among the elected officials
FVR accepts offer... PAGE A1 t that “war is not an option,” and peaceful talks are the way to go. However, it was not known when the talks will start since the Philippine government had rejected China’s condition that the tribunal’s ruling will not be discussed in the bilateral talks. In his speech in Maguindanao on Friday, the President said he is considering following Ramos’ suggestion to set aside the court’s ruling when the Philip-
PAGE A1 t
pines talks to China. “Ramos said that it’s all right if we take out the arbitral judgment from the talks,” Duterte said. “If it’s really the will of the people, especially Congress, maybe this will lead to progress.” “If we can just have a settlement with them despite the arbitral judgment, I think that we can get many benefits,” he added. Duterte was referring to possible investments from China that may flow to his home island of Mindanao if Ramos succeeds
who attended the briefing were Hawaii Governor David Ige, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Judy Chu and Rep. Mike Honda. Luisa Blue, the first ever Asian American Pacific Islander to serve as an international officer of the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) talked about the need for higher wages, something that Clinton said she will push when she gets elected. “Think about your parents and how hard they worked. Think about the salaries they had. Some of them didn’t have benefits and that still happens to this day. Fifty percent of workers in this country make less than $15 an hour. How can you actually survive and raise a family of four on $15 an hour,” Ms. Blue said. An activist in the Filipino community, an organizer and founding member of SEIU’s Nurse Alliance, founding member of APALA, Chief Elected Officer of SEIU Local 521, Ms. Blue is currently the highest ranking AAPI at SEIU. “We have to stand united not only in November but in the years to come. Let’s lift arms and join forces with other communities of color so all our families can be raised in dignity,” Ms. Blue added. “Let.s get out the vote this November. Don’t sit this one out.” in repairing the strained ties between the two countries. “It’s China that has money, not America. America doesn’t have money. So, I really pray that we are able to settle our fundamental [problem], the China Sea,” the President added The arbitral tribunal had ruled that China has no historic rights over the South China Sea and that it violated the rights of the Philippines with its actions in the disputed waters. But China rejected the ruling and said that it will push on with its construction works in disputed waters. (ManilaTimes.net)
Solons file first house bill seeking...
Andaya Jr., Rizal Rep. Michael John Duavit, Tarlac Rep. Carlos Cojuangco, Masbate Rep. Elisa Kho, Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, Cebu Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe also co-authored the death penalty bill. Lawmakers will also deliberate on House Bill 2 which reverts the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to nine years old. These are among the top priority measures that Alvarez mentioned in his inaugural speech upon winning his speakership bid. Alvarez noted that among ASEAN nations, only the Philippines and Cambodia have no capital punishment.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez co-authored House Bill 1 which seeks to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes. Philstar.com photo by AJ BOlando
“As the president has said, it is a simple universal law of karma: if you borrow from me a thousand pesos, then you must pay back the same amount plus inter-
est. If you take a human life especially if you do it deliberately and with premeditation, you must pay with your life,” Alvarez said in his speech.
Democratic VP nominee Tim Kaine... PAGE A1 t atmosphere. “He honestly is a very normal guy, compared to the race that we’re having now with all the drama everywhere,” Yeung said of the senator from Virginia, which touts the ninth largest FilipinoAmerican population in the country. Kaine was one of the three members of Congress who pushed to award Filipino World War II (WWII) veterans the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor for civilians. “[The] bill awarding Filipino WWII veterans a Congressional Gold Medal has passed in the Senate! Glad we are finally honoring their sacrifice,” Kaine tweeted on Friday, July 15 when the bill was passed.
Kaine was also a part of the team that announced the implementation of the long-awaited Filipino WWII Veterans Parole (FWVP) program that allows family members of veterans to come to the U.S. through immigration parole. The FWVP program was implemented on Thursday, June 9. “For too many years, Filipino veterans who fought valiantly alongside the United States in World War II – including many who call Virginia home – have been waiting for the promise of reunification with their families to be fulfilled,” Kaine said in a statement. In 2015, Kaine held a discussion with Asian American business owners in his home state in which he listened to their concerns on health care, the econo-
my and immigration, according to the Roanoke Free Press. At the roundtable, he said that he advocates raising the minimum wage, albeit gradually rather than in large, immediate upturns that negatively affect small businesses. In January, he spoke at a launching of a super PAC called AAPI Victory Fund, which seeks to improve political engagement and voting among AAPI voters. Asian Americans have the lowest voter turnout among other ethnic subgroups, according to data from the U.S. Census. “The AAPI population is growing fast in Virginia and its members are enriching communities all across the Commonwealth,” Kaine said at the event. “I am happy to join this effort to expand
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Fil-Ams for Hillary challenges the community to register and vote by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
PHILADELPHIA - Members of Fil-Ams for Hillary has issued a challenge to the Filipino-American community to register and vote in the upcoming November elections for the future of their children. “We are the second largest Asian American population here in the U.S. and it is about time that we exercise our right to vote. Let’s start to organize and be a force in communities where we live,” said Loida Nicolas Lewis, challenging the Fil-Am community to action. BACK AT WORK. Pampanga Representative and former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrives at the opening of the session “This election is so important of Congress on Monday, July 25. Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon to our lives as Americans and Filipino-Americans. On the one over uninhabited features in the hand, we have somebody who South China Sea, according to a is a demagogue, a congenijoint statement released. PAGE A1 t ASEAN will meet with Wang that it has sole possession of the which was also had to do with waters. In response to the ruling, Yi, foreign minister of China and Cambodia’s opposition to lan- Beijing said it made no differ- United States Secretary John guage regarding the South China ence to its rights to the sea and Kerry to discuss the South Chiby Klarize Medenilla na Sea. Kerry was in Vientiane AJPress Sea. its resources. “We have been here before, An ASEAN diplomat told Re- on July 25 to participate in the A RAgINg wildfire has so far and I hope they can solve it,” uters that the group has until ASEAN talks and urge the diviconsumed more than 37,000 sive Southeast Asian nations to an official from the Indonesian Tuesday, July 26, to come to a acres in the Santa Clarita area ASEAN Secretariat told Reuters. compromise on the statement. come to an agreement. On Tuesday, Kerry said he since Friday, July 22. “It is the same story again, a re- If not, it would be the second According to the United States peat of the meeting in 2012.” time the group has been unable would urge the Philippines to Forest Service, more than 3,000 continue talks with China regardThis was the first time the for- to send out a statement in its 49ing the sea. He added that it was firefighters from different departeign ministers from ASEAN – year existence. which is comprised of 10 nations On Monday, July 25, the time for the U.S. to “move away ments are battling the fire, which – have met since the Permanent ASEAN and China said they from public tensions and turn has affected the Santa Clarita Court of Arbitration (PCA) in agreed to avoid actions that the page” over the disputes and Valley Mountains in the northThe Hague ruled in favor of the would escalate the conflicts with handle conflicts with peace and west region of the Angeles NaPhilippines on July 12. The rul- the waters. This includes from diplomacy. (Klarize Medenilla/ tional Forest. On the morning of Tuesday, ing denied Beijing’s argument eschewing from attempts to take AJPress) July 26 the LA County Board declared a local state of emergency due to the fire. The fire started along the 14 Freeway near Sand Canyon but on the case, Kaine released a branch of government believes PAGE A2 t statement denouncing the split it can gain political advantage quickly escalated with the help AAPI political participation in vot- decision, calling it a “setback” by undermining another branch. of powerful winds and dry bush, ing and running for office nation- for families across the country. If nothing else, the Republican officials said. Smoke was visible wide.” He cited the Republican Party’s blockade on the Court could from miles away all weekend as Like Clinton, Kaine’s stances “destructive” blockade on Presi- show all Americans what’s truly the temperatures soared to the 100s in the North Los Angeles on immigration coincide with dent Barack Obama’s nomination at stake in November.” the ideas that President Barack of Democrat Merrick garland to Apart from countering Clinton’s County area. As of press time, the fire has Obama has put on the table. fill the vacant seat on the bench celebrity stature, Kaine serves A supporter for the Deferred which would have prevented a the crucial swing state of Virginia been 25 percent contained, and
ASEAN fails to compromise...
tal liar, someone who is just concerned about himself. And on the other, we have Hillary, and she has been for children, women, equal pay, disabled and education.” Lewis was reacting to a discussion that Filipino-Americans have had traditionally low voter turnout through the years. “Maybe because most of us are first generation, our thoughts mostly are still to the Philippines. We send money through our remittances. More than $25 billion was sent last year and of that amount, $25 billion was sent last year and 40% of that amount comes from FilipinoAmericans,” Lewis explained. “Our thought then is, ‘It doesn’t matter to me who the President and Vice President are. As long as we have a job, it’s okay.”
But things should no longer be that way, since America is facing a very important election, every single vote counts. “We are slowly being recognized as a community, whether it is about organizing or about campaigning for causes and personalities. With our number alone, we can really swing votes,” said Rob Bonta. Bonta is the first Filipino American to be elected to the California State Legislature. “We have the talent, the genius, the acumen. We have the willingness to roll up our sleeves and we’ve done that, but we could also do more,” Bonta added. “Let’s continue to bring more impact. It was fantastic when our community broke that glass ceiling in California, but we need more.”
Sand fire scorches North LA County
Democratic VP nominee Tim Kaine...
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), Kaine signed an amicus brief – or an impartial witness’s testimony – with other senators in support of the programs in the recently tied U.S. v. Texas Supreme Court case. When the Supreme Court tied
tie. “President Obama made a decision to ensure law abiding families will not be torn apart because of Congress’ refusal to address our broken immigration system, and I will continue to do everything I can to support this effort,” he said in the statement released on Thursday, June 23. “It is a sad day when one
which Clinton won by 64.3 percent during the primaries. Kaine became the junior senator of Virginia in 2012, but before that he served as the chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2009-2011. He served as Virginia’s governor from 20062010 and lieutenant governor from 2002-2006, and before that he was mayor of Richmond from
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY (SCRRA) PAUNAWA SA PAMPUBLIKONG PANDINIG SA PANUKALANG PAGTANGGAL NG CASH TIKETS SA ILANG MGA ISTASYON NG METROLINK Ang Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) ay magtitipon tipon para sa pampublikong pandinig sa pagpupulong ng Lupon ng mga Direktor (Board) sa Setyembre 9, 2016 upang suriin ang mga pagbabago sa maaaring gawing pagkokolekta sa pamasahe, na may layunin na pagbutihin ang pagsasagawa ng mga pamamalakad, gawing makabago ang karanasan ng kostumer at ibaba ang mga gastusin sa operasyon. Ang pagdinig ay tungkol sa panukalang pagbaba o pag-alis ng paggamit ng cash sa mga istasyon ng Metrolink . Nirepaso ng Lupon ang Hunyo 24, 2016 na pan-labingtatlong agenda ng Lupon (makikita sa SCRRA website, www.metrolinktrains.com/meetings) na may kaugnayan sa proseso ng pagrerepaso ng publiko sa paksang ito.
Ang pampublikong pandinig ay ililista sa talaan ng pag-uusapan sa pagpupulong ng Lupon ng mga Direktor ng SCRRA sa: Setyembre 9, 2016 ng ika-sampu ng umaga Metro Board Conference Room One Gateway Plaza, Ikatlong Palapag Los Angeles, CA 90012 Isasaalang-alang din ng pandinig ang anumang may kaugnayan sa mga pangangailangan ng Batas sa Kalidad ng Kapaligiran ng California (Kasama na ang mga Seksiyon 21080(b) (8), 21065, 21080.32 ng California Public Resources Code at mga may kaugnayan sa regulasyon), at ang pagpapasya kung ang establisamyento, pagbabago, kayarian at ang pagbabago ng kayarian ng mga pamasahe at/o kaya’y isa o higit pa nitong pagbabago ng serbisyo ay bubuo ng isang “proyekto”, ang pagtakda ng pagresponde hangga’t kailangan, sa mga mungkahi ng publiko sa pagbabago ng serbisyo, at mga resulta ng biglang pangangailangan sa pananalapi na napapaloob sa kahulugan ng Seksiyon 21080.32 ng Public Resources Code, upang makamit ang kinakailangang kabawasan sa badyet. Ang mungkahing pag-alis o pagbawas sa paggamit ng cash sa istasyon ng Metrolink, di kasama ang Istasyong Unyon, ay naghahangad na matupad ang mga nabanggit na layunin habang binabawasan ang masamang epekto nito sa mga pasahero at sa pisikal na kapaligiran. Ang mga impormasyon tungkol sa aksyong ito ay makikita sa Metrolink website sa www. metrolinktrains.com o sa punong tanggapan ng SCRRA, sa One Gateway Plaza, Floor 12, Los Angeles, CA 90012 tuwing regular na oras ng opisina Lunes hanggang Biyernes, mula alas otso ng umaga hanggang alas kwatro ng hapon. Maaari nyong sabihin o isulat ang inyong mga komento o mungkahi sa Pampublikong Pandinig. Ang lahat ng mamamayan ay maaaring repasuhin ang impormasyon at magbigay ng katugunan bago ang Pampublikong Pandinig sa pamamagitan ng pagklik sa opsyong “eComment” upang magbigay ng agarang komentong electronic sa www.metrolinktrains.com/ecomments, o sa pamamagitan ng koreo kung natanggap ng maaga sa pampublikong pandinig sa atensyon ng Metrolink Ticketing sa punong tanggapan ng SCRRA, o ifax sa (213) 452-0421 sa atensyon ng Metrolink Ticketing bago ang pandinig. Lahat ng komento ng publiko bago ang Pampublikong Pandinig, kahit na ano pa mang uri ng komunikasyon, ay kailangang maibigay at matanggap hindi lalampas ng Miyerkules, Setyembre 7, 2016 ng tanghali. Ang ilan o lahat ng ito ay maaring ituloy ng Lupon sa mga susunod pang oras o sa petsang ito lamang ang tanging makapagpapasya.
1998-2001. However, one significant thing about Kaine is that he has a perfect election record. “I’ve never lost an election,” he said during Clinton’s VP announcement on Thursday, July 22 in Florida. “I’m not about to let that change.” (Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)
at least 18 homes have been destroyed. Officials said that a man’s body was found in a burnt car but are unsure whether the cause of death was from the fire or something else. The LA County Coroner identified the man as 67-year-old Robert Bresnick, who went back to his house to save his dog, a neighbor told CBS News. Unpredictable conditions and powerful 30 to 50 mph winds prompted officials to implement mandatory evacuations of more than 20,000 people living in the affected areas. Officials are uncertain about the cause of the fire, but drought conditions, dried bush and increasing temperatures facilitated the fire’s spread to about 57 square miles, which is larger than the city of San Francisco, according to a CNN report. On the evening of Monday,
July 25, a majority of the evacuees were allowed to return home, according to officials. Most evacuation orders have been void except for those living in the following areas: Placerita Canyon Road from Running Horse Lane to Pacy Street, Little Tujunga Canyon Road from the Wildfire Way Station to Sand Canyon Road, Placerita Canyon Road and Agua Dulce Canyon Road. Evacuation centers that are still open are Hart High School in Santa Clarita, Lake View Terrace Recreation Center in Lake View Terrace and Highland High School in Palmdale. The fire also charred areas of the Sable Ranch, which was a popular shooting location for film and television shows. Officials have dubbed the fire the “Sand Fire” because of its location in the Sand Canyon.
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Filipino in Florida admits int’l 15 Filipinos stranded since April on ship seized by US Marshals credit card and bank fraud SAN FRANCISCO – A Filipino national confessed to running an international cashing operation that monetized stolen credit and debit card information obtained through computer hacking and ATM skimming operations, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Angelo Virtucio, a/k/a “ZaiR,” a/k/a “ZaiRe,” a/k/a “Omega,” a/k/a “Omega10,” 30, of Quezon City, Philippines, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Virtucio was arrested in the Southern District of Florida on January 29, 2015 and was extradited to the District of New Jersey on February 11, 2015. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Virtucio monetized millions from stolen credit and debit card data using a global network of “cashers” that he employed to enter into unauthorized financial transactions using stolen account information. The stolen credit card data was primarily obtained through computer hacking. The stolen debit card data was mostly obtained through ATM skimming operations. After purchasing the stolen data from other cybercriminals, Virtucio and his conspirators encoded it onto counterfeit credit and debit cards. The cashers then used the counterfeit cards to make
SAN FRANCISCO – A Greekowned ship with 15 Filipino crewmen has been anchored six miles off Tybee Island in Georgia for nearly four months, waiting to be auctioned off. A bank foreclosed on the ship because the company that owned it defaulted on its loan. The ship, Newlead Castellano, will be auctioned off August 8 at a federal courthouse. Until then the Filipino sailors are not allowed to come to the Georgia mainland because they don’t have the proper documents, and the ship must remain anchored off Tybee Island. US Marshals seized the NewAngelo Virtucio, arrested in Florida last year, lead Castellano when it was admitted bank and credit card fraud. delivering sugar at Imperial Photo courtesy of Essex City Corrections Sugar on April 19 so the crediunauthorized ATM withdrawals tor could repossess the ship. The company in default is and purchases at physical retail Newlead, a Greek firm that locations. The conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge is punishable by a potential maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is schedby Dino Maragay uled for Oct. 24, 2016. Philstar.com U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the special agents of the FREDDIE Roach said he was U.S. Secret Service, Newark not caught off guard by news of Division, under the direction of Manny Pacquiao’s planned reSpecial Agent in Charge Mark turn to the boxing ring. McKevitt, with the ongoing inIn a recent interview with Steve vestigation. Kim of boxingscene.com, Roach The government is represent- insisted he always knew that his ed by Assistant U.S. Attorney prized ward would fight again. Andrew S. Pak of the Computer “100 percent yes,” Roach told Hacking and Intellectual Prop- Kim when asked about his cererty Section of the Economic tainty of a Pacquiao comeback. Crimes Unit. Virtucio’s defense Roach recalled Pacquiao tellcounsel: Kathleen Theurer Esq. ing him he felt good about fightand A. Paul Condon Esq. (In- ing on after dominating Timothy quirer.net) Bradley last April, despite an-
deals with dry bulk commodities. Officials said Newlead had not only stopped making payments on the ship, but they also stopped paying its crew. A maritime official said the creditor is now making sure the crewmembers are getting paid and that they have enough food, water and fuel on the ship. Meanwhile, in Bermuda, the police identified the Filipino crewman who died July 20 as a result of a cruise ship safety training accident as 41-yearold Filipino national Diogenes Carpio. A police spokesperson said, “Mr. Carpio, a Filipino national, was one of four crewman involved in an incident that occurred onboard the cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway berthed at King’s Wharf in Dockyard
US Marshals seized the Newlead Castellano, with 15 Filipino sailors on board, because its owners defaulted on a bank loan.
around 11:59 a.m. Wednesday, when a lifeboat broke from its
tethering and fell into the water. (Inquirer.net)
Roach not surprised with Pacquiao comeback nouncing his retirement afterwards to focus on politics. “Manny told me after last fight he felt really good. He looked really good in the fight and he said ‘Freddie, I’m going to fight a couple of more times.’ That was before he left for the Philippines. So I already knew, this isn’t a surprise to me,” the multi-titled trainer added. Now a Philippine senator, Pacquiao will reportedly step on the ring again on November 5, with his promoter Bob Arum already booking the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas
as the venue. Roach, for his part, welcomes the schedule. “This is a little bit sooner than I thought but the thing is, we like that date,” he continued. No opponent has been announced, although unified WBC
Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach
and WBO super lightweight champion Terence Crawford is a strong candidate for Pacquiao. Crawford routed Viktor Postol, who incidentally was trained by Roach, last Sunday to make a strong case for a showdown with Pacquiao.
Photo by Troi Santos
Duterte in first SONA... PAGE A2 t
committee to coordinate efforts against the spread or drug trafficking and addiction. “The fight against criminality and illegal drugs and corruption will be relentless and sustained,” promised Duterte on Monday. “ We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier, and the last pusher have surrendered or been put behind bars or below the ground, if they so wish,”said the president, eliciting a hail of applause. He said he would hasten National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) investigations of police officers with alleged links to the drug trade, and warned that there were still “big fish” in the government collaborating with criminals. The president promised increased scrutiny of members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) both on and off duty. Duterte said his administration would also focus on rehabilitating people suffering from addiction, in addition to punishing those who profit from it. He announced he would convert some AFP military camps into addiction recovery centers and employ reserve soldiers to perform outreach on government services. While the President laid out plans to help addicts find treatment, he expressed indifference towards widely circulated photographs of a crying woman, Jennelyn Olaires, cradling the body of her partner, Michael Siaron, a pedicab driver and alleged drug dealer who was killed by unidentified gunmen in Pasay on Saturday, July, 23. “Eh yan yang mga yan magdadramahan tayo dito (this [just] creates drama for us), said Duterte during an unscripted portion of his address. “We have millions of people to see that
they are healthy. It’s a question of drugs, it’s a question of public interest, public order. Kita mo, lesser crime (What you see here is a lesser crime).” A growing number of alleged drug pushers killed by police, as well as instances of apparent vigilantism following Duterte’s election have drawn concern from human rights groups and the Catholic Church. Partly in response to their criticisms, the president said that human rights ought to “uplift human dignity,” rather than act as “shield or excuse to destroy the country.” In order to improve the welfare and opportunities of Filipinos, Duterte said he would promote reproductive rights so couples could better manage the costs and challenges of starting a family. He also intends to implement policies to entice foreign investment, support entrepreneurship in rural areas, and promote the development of infrastructure and agriculture. In addition, Duterte promised to preserve the Philippines’ natural resources and environment by cracking down on illegal fishing, mining and logging operations. Duterte also reiterated his intention to empower Philippine communities at the local level by moving towards a federalist system of government. He announced that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is currently exploring partnerships and possibilities with a variety of civic and faithbased organizations. “Punta muna ako dito ha, itong federalism. Ewan ko kung tama. (I’m the first to go there, this federalism. I don’t know if it’s right),” admitted Duterte. However, “we cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back,” according to the President.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Duterte signs executive order for FOI bill by Joseph
Almer B. pedrAJAs AJPress
MANILA – Faster than expected, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a landmark executive order (EO) for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill last Saturday, July 23, mandating all government offices under executive branches to make their transactions transparent to the public. In less than a month, the president was able to grant the public’s request to have access to government files and transactions, which had been pending for 29 years. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced the signing on Sunday, July 24, in a press conference and boasted that “it is already a record-breaking speed of a cornerstone, a milestone, or a landmark executive order being signed.” The said EO will be entitled “Operationalizing in the Executive Branch the People’s Constitutional Right to Information and
the State Policies of Full Public Disclosure and Transparency in the Public Service.” It is yet to be updated as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) are still making the order’s exceptions. According to Andanar, the order states that every Filipino, upon formal request and requirements, shall have access to information, records, and documents to official government transactions as well as research data. “Abangan nyo po, asahan nyo po na yung mga impormasyon tulad ng kontrata kung saan napupunta yung pondo ng bayan (Please expect that you will be informed on how the public funds are spent),” he added. The FOI covers all government offices under the executive branch including departments, bureaus and instrumentalities. It will also be implemented in state-run firms, universities and colleges. It will include SALNs and life-
style checks of executive officials and legislators, in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations, and in case, from the letter of the order. Also, the public should expect that the request should be granted or denied within 15 days only. Andanar said that those who fail to comply or refuse to disclose information will be penalized with administrative cases. The period of response may just be extended depending on tolerable circumstances. Meanwhile, government officials who will receive requests are required to provide free “reasonable assistance” to all requesting parties. However, although the order gives access to the public, there are still exceptions and chances that the request might be denied. The EO can restrict and deny the request if the information sought “falls under any of the exception enshrined in the con-
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Fourth server ‘can’t overturn’ VP victory by lAnescA
T. pAnTi ManilaTimes.net
THE existence of an additional server won’t nullify the victory of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo in the May 2016 elections, her camp said on Tuesday, July 26. Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s counsel, noted that servers have nothing to do with results of the elections for any position because servers have no means of changing the results, either to add to or deduct from the votes of any candidate. Macalintal was responding to claims of the camp of defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that there is a breakthrough in Marcos’ protest because of the fourth server, whose existence was not disclosed to the public prior to the conduct of the May polls. “Former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos and his supporters are dreaming if they believe Marcos would win in his election protest against Vice President Robredo on the basis of alleged ‘secret servers’ used by the Smartmatic and the Comelec in the May
9, 2016 elections. All he has to do is present even just one of the 94,000 election returns generated by the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) that does not tally with the 30 other authentic copies of the election returns,” Macalintal said in a statement, referring to the Commission on Elections. Under Section 22 of Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election Law, 30 copies of Election Returns (ERs) are printed per precinct by the VCMs and distributed to all political parties, candidates and accredited citizens arms and additional 30 copies of same ERs could be requested by any candidate. “If Marcos could show even just one genuine ER of one precinct in his possession that does not match with the genuine ER of same precinct issued to other parties, then that would be the time for him to claim a ‘major breakthrough’ in his case,” Macalintal pointed out. “There were 50 million ballots cast into the VCMs in the last elections. If Marcos could show just one ballot from just one precinct where the VCM credited his vote in favor of Robredo, then that
would be a ‘good day’ for him,” he said. Robredo of the Liberal Party beat Marcos in the nail-biting vice presidential race by 263,473 votes. Macalintal then cited that to this day, Marcos’ camp failed to show a single ER or ballot to prove any discrepancy in any ER generated by the VCMS or any ballot inaccurately read by the machines. “If Marcos insists on proving said alleged election anomalies through these ‘secret servers,’ then the Presidential Electoral Tribunal should suspend proceedings because Marcos also claimed that he was ‘cheated’ due to vote-buying, terrorism and pre-shading of ballots. These are inconsistent grounds because the alleged frauds through ‘secret servers’ would appear to be machine-generated while the others are supposed to be man-made irregularities,” he said. “Indeed, Marcos should wake up to reality. Said ‘secret servers’ have nothing to do with the results of the elections. Marcos did not and could not even say that Robredo benefited from that,” Macalintal added.
FATHER’S BLESSINGS. Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. gives his blessing to his son Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III after the latter took his oath as Senate President during the Opening of the 1st Regular Session of the 17th Congress, on Monday, July 25. Pimentel assured everyone that as the new Senate chief, he will be guided by fairness and democratic principles. “I pledge before all of you today that I will be fair in carrying out the mandate you have given me as Senate President,” he said. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo
Pimentel elected Senate president, Cayetano absent by JAime
r. pilApil ManilaTimes.net
SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III was elected Senate President as the 17th Congress opened Monday morning, July 25, vowing to pass legislation for the poor and to support the Duterte administration’s anticrime drive. Pimentel, son of former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., was sworn in by neophyte Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao. Mindanaoans now occupy the three highest posts in the land: President Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte and Pimentel of Cagayan de Oro City. It was the first time for the son of a former Senate President to also lead the chamber. Pimentel got the support of the blocs led by Sen. Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party (LP) and Senators Vicente Sotto III and Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
In a dramatic turn, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, a returnee to the chamber, rose to nominate Pimentel. The friendship between the two Mindanaoan legislators was marred by their fight for the 12th and last senatorial slot in the 2007 elections. Zubiri was proclaimed winner but had to quit in 2011 before he could be unseated by the Senate Electoral Tribunal over charges of election fraud. Twenty senators voted for Pimentel while his closest rival, Sen. Ralph Recto of the LP, got three votes from Senators Antonio Trillanes 4th, Francis Escudero and Pimentel. As a result, Recto became Minority Leader. Drilon became Senate President Pro Tempore and Sotto, the Majority Leader. ‘Poorest first’ Pimentel, the 1990 bar examination topnotcher and graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Law, thanked his colleagues for electing him
Senate President despite the fact that he is the lone member of PDP-Laban Party in the chamber. Pimentel said he will be fair as Senate President. He vowed to support the anticrime campaign, taxation and budget reforms, the rule of law, inclusive growth and environment protection, among others. “The poorest first, the poor second then we will never go wrong,” he said. He pointed out however that good governance is not only the function of elected officials but also of the governed. Pimentel thanked his father, saying “I can now join the list of the country’s Senate Presidents just like you.” Cayetano a no-show Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who ran for vice president under Duterte but lost, was a no-show at the opening of the Senate session. Pimentel said Cayetano will be offered the Committee on For-
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A JULY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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OpiniOn
Features
Promises
IN his 98-minute speech on Monday, July 25, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte made his administration’s agenda clear in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the joint session of the 17th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City. What was supposed to be a rehearsed 38-minute delivery in english, extended as Duterte opened his speech with informality at the outset. he congratulated fellow Mindanaoans, Senate President Koko Pimentel and Speaker of the house Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, for securing the top seats in Congress. This makes all three of the country’s top elected officials from Mindanao—a first in Philippine history. “We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back. Finger-pointing is not the way. That is why I will not waste precious time dwelling on the sins of the past or blaming those who are perceived to be responsible for the mess that we are in and suffering from,” the President said as he proceeded with his SONA. Duterte vowed to “extract a lesson or two from its errors, we will not tarry because it is the present that we are concerned with and the future that we should be prepared for.” Prior to his first SONA, Duterte was already facing political roadblocks and jeers from his critics following a recent spate of killings in relation to his government’s anti-drug campaign. “During my inauguration last June 30, 2016, I said that the fight against criminality and illegal drugs and corruption will be relentless and sustained,” Duterte reiterated. “We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered or are put, either behind bars or below the ground, if they so wish.”
The President also promised a “a human approach to development and governance” to improve the “people’s welfare in the areas of health, education, adequate food and water, housing, environmental preservation, and respect for culture.” Duterte then proceeded to deliver a detailed report on how intends to deliver the change he has promised, a positive transformation for the country within his administration. he also gave a stern warning to intransigent government officials and erring agencies to not hamper his goal of an inclusive growth: until his regime is over, more heads will roll and will be held accountable. The President has prepared the groundwork. But, there is more to be done. The lasting solution for this country’s problems must come from within. From an individual’s sense of responsibility, each family’s structure, and the community’s sense of togetherness. “While the government is always ready to help you, you must first help yourself. We cannot legislate financial and economic progress for you. It is you and you alone who can do that. You can chart your fate, but do it within constitutional and legal means,” Duterte said. “We are imbued with resiliency that has been tested and proven. More difficult times As in the past. We have a bond to act together. We have to help each other. For then and only then can we truly prevail. And the Filipino, disciplined, in-
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
formed, involved, shall rise from the rubbles of sorrow and pain. So that all the mirrors in the world will reflect the face of a passion that has changed this land,” Duterte said as he ended his speech. In the past administrations, Filipinos were generally disappointed when most promises comprised in the past leaders’ SONA, never saw the light. But in the current government assessment, the nation achieved within the first month: intensified anti-drug campaign, reforms in budget processes, reduced prospects for corruption, in-
creased public vigilance to daunt and defy commission of graft, and improved meritocracy in the public service. By utilizing this opportunity to speak to the nation and the world, Duterte has captured the real essence of SONA. he was able to go beyond political party divides by highlighting predicaments challenging the country, and instigating policy initiatives to tackle such challenges. With six years still ahead for Duterte’s presidency, more tangible and reliable results of his leadership are yet to be seen. (AJPress)
Post-convention goal: How to unite the parties after a contentious primary election The fierce and contentious debates, criticisms and attacks among candidates of both parties and their supporters in the age of a 24/7 news and social media cycle present a very real challenge for both the Democratic and Republican parties: how to unite their voters who supported different candidates during the primary season and rally behind the party’s nominee. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has found himself embroiled in this problem, with no less than the party bigwigs like the Bushes, former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, former presidential candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich, among many others — refusing to give in and endorse him. The same is the challenge faced by the Democratic Party, after the heated battle
between hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. After the Republican The Fil-Am National Convention, Perspective Trump overtook Clinton in the polls, and this just underscores how much the Democratic nominee needs the help Gel SantoS-ReloS of the party, and especially of her rival Sanders, to make sure the supporters of his political movement/ revolution — all very passionate about Sanders — unite together with Clinton supporters, campaign for her and make sure she defeats Trump in November. The task to persuade his supporters became even more challenging after the Wikileaks report revealed what Sanders’ camp felt all along — that the Democrat-
ic Party establishment had been undermining the Sanders campaign and favoring Clinton. During the first day of the Democratic National Convention, Sanders talked to his followers, many of whom were crying as he spoke, and made his case as to why they should rally behind Clinton. With the powerful convention speeches of First Lady Michelle Obama, Sen. elizabeth Warren, Pres. Barack Obama, and former Pres. Bill Clinton, Sanders communicated this message to help unite the party and elect Clinton to be the next president of the United States. Here are the excepts:
“We have begun a political revolution to transform America and that revolution – our revolution – continues. Election days come and go...But the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the one percent – a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice – that struggle continues. And I look forward to being part of that struggle with you. This election is not about, and has never been about, Hillary Clinton, or Donald Trump, or Bernie Sanders or any of the other candidates who sought the presidency... This election is about – and must be about – the needs of the American people and the kind of future we create for our children and grandchildren....
We need leadership in this country which will improve the lives of working families, the children, the elderly, the sick and the poor. We need leadership which brings our people together and makes us stronger – not leadership which insults Latinos, Muslims, women, African-Americans and veterans – and divides us up... By these measures, Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States. The choice is not even close.” *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are 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
Winning the South China Sea battle A refreshed foreign outlook for the Philippines Community Voice Faith BautiSta and JeFF “nino” lim MORe than two weeks have elapsed since the international tribunal from the hague unanimously decided in favor of the Philippines in the South China sea dispute with China. Much credit for the Philippine victory goes to former President Benigno Aquino who initiated the dispute at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013. Recent developments in China, including from its President Xi Jinping, demonstrate that this victory could be meaningless and possibly counterproductive. however, President Rodrigo Duterte, in reaching out to the communist rebels in Mindano, and in urging alternatives to military action could pave the way for a bloodless military victory As Filipino American nonprofit and business leaders who are deeply concerned about the economic, military, and political future of the Philippines, we believe that there is strong and growing sentiment for alternative peaceful solutions. Specifically, President Duterte should continue reaching out to China while avoiding a non-ultimatum effort to achieve what no international judicial decision is likely to achieve.
In negotiating with China, President Duterte’s objectives should be to develop long-term economic and political relationships with China that minimize the importance of the South China Sea disputes. For example, the Philippines and China theoretically should be strong economic and trade partners. China wishes, for example, to readily maintain its position as the second largest economic power in the world, and possibly within a generation to be as powerful as the U.S. The Philippines, in contrast, wishes to move from near the bottom of Asian nations in economic power to near the top, as befits an increasingly welleducated population. Therefore, both nations should develop a list of mutually beneficial economic objectives, including preferential trade agreements that can achieve these mutual objectives only through peaceful measures. Some argue that the U.S. would prefer that the Philippines rely solely on the U.S. for military protection and primarily on the U.S. for economic relationships. This is a strategy that could backfire, specifically for 110 million Filipinos who no longer wish to be pawns in a “cold war” stand-off between the two largest military giants in the world, China and the U.S. Increasingly Filipinos want their great nation to be able to effectively compete in the near future with China, Japan, Vietnam, and other increasingly strong and independent Asian nations. They want to compete in eco-
nomic development, job creation, international trade, and in independence from the agenda of any other nation, even when its agenda appears benign. To support President Duterte in his efforts for long-term peaceful resolutions with China, we urge as a first step that America’s four million Filipino Americans follow in part the longstanding principles of America’s five million Jews in generally supporting Israel’s independence. Specifically, we urge the formation of a Committee of 25 representative Filipino Americans who will generate support for President Duterte’s peaceful efforts. This is essential despite the clamor of some that he declare a legal victory over China and seek to enforce what we believe to be an elusive gambit. Our dream and expectations are that under President Duterte’s leadership that we follow peaceful and patient practices while maintaining both the U.S. and China as major allies who strongly compete for our allegiance and respect. Should this occur, the Philippines will no longer be faced with being ignored, both in Asia and throughout the world. We have the ability and the potential, particularly in a world where both China and Japan are desperately seeking to find new workers in the future, to be one of Asia’s strongest nations and economies. And we can do so without military aggression or engaging in unnecessary verbal assaults and challenges.
Commentary
ei Sun oh I FLeW to California to further my studies in the early 1990s. I chose a window seat on the plane, as I wanted to be able to rest without being unduly disturbed during the flight. That was not the first time I went to the United States, but when the plane landed at San Francisco International Airport and taxied to its docking gate, I looked out the window and what I saw almost made me think that I landed in Manila. For most of the ground crew, from luggage handlers to fuel refillers and technicians, all donned with noise-reducing headsets, looked distinctively like Filipinos. And, indeed, they were mostly Filipinos. As I then settled down in California, I met many Filipino classmates and made many Filipino friends from all walks of life. They told me many wonderful tales about the Philippines and Filipinos around the world, and I have been impressed with the various colorful elements that formed the Philippine narrative. For example, I am recently pleased to learn that the Chief Justice of California is of Filipino descent and went to the same law school as I did. The purpose for briefly recounting above my main encounters with Filipinos outside the Philippines is to continue with
my wish list for the new presidential administration. Boosting the Philippine economy by opening up more sectors for foreign participation as well as reducing the Byzantine web of regulations is, of course, the absolute priority. Tackling safety and security concerns both domestically and in surrounding areas, most notably the Sulu Sea, will also create an environment more conducive for investment and tourism. With these fundamental issues to be settled to a large extent, a safe and vibrant Philippines could play an even more active and constructive role on the world stage. There is no denying that in foreign affairs the Philippines is unenviably situated between an America bent on “pivoting” to Asia on the one hand—albeit after having dithered for too long away from this part of the world and largely focused on the Middle east, and not just economically—and, indeed a comprehensively rising China wishing to rejuvenate its former glories on the other hand. As a former US colony, the Philippines has undergone a complicated relationship with the US in at least the last half century. The thenhosting but subsequent removal of US military bases in the Philippines and the present intensification of military cooperation between the two countries testify amply to the uniquely rocky road. The Sino-Filipino relations in recent times have also seen bumpy ride, although the Philippines was one of the first South-
east Asian countries to reach out to a then-isolated China in the early 1970s. The sovereignty disputes over the maritime features and territories spanning the vast sea, which separates the two countries, are, of course, chiefly responsible for the currently rather soured bilateral relation. The new administration was wise in not gloating over the opinion of The hague arbitration case, for geopolitical reality dictates that it would not change the entrenched status quo in the high seas. No party is likely to, thus, advance or retreat short of armed confrontation, which would inevitably heighten regional tension to the detriment of all. I am, of course, not in a position to advise the Philippines as to take side with either of these two superpowers. But I would urge Manila to conduct foreign affairs in manners that would best serve the Philippines and, by extension, regional interest. Sometimes this may mean not taking side with either of the superpowers, as with matters of absolute sovereignty, or taking side with both the superpowers, as in participating in free trade and economic cooperation initiatives championed by either of the or both superpowers. The Philippines should also participate more closely in Asean affairs, especially those that are economic in nature. With its vast experience trading and engaging in service provision with many advanced countries, the Philippines should take a more frontal role
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Dateline PhiliPPines
LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-29, 2016
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Arroyo returns to Congress by Catherine
S. Valente ManilaTimes.net
AFTEr four years in detention, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now representing the second district of Pampanga, returned to the House of representatives on Monday, July 25 for the opening session of the 17th Congress. Arroyo, wearing a polo barong and a neck brace, joined the traditional breakfast of congressmen. She later went to her office on the second floor before proceeding to the session hall for the election of House officials. In the afternoon, the former leader attended the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President rodrigo Duterte. Arroyo was under hospital arrest at the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for plunder in connection with the
alleged misuse of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds from 2008 to 2010. She was released on Friday, July 22 after the Supreme Court dismissed her plunder case for lack of evidence. Arroyo, in a television interview, lamented that she was a victim of political persecution. “I mentioned that… you know, a lot of injustice. To begin with, the detention itself was unjust, so to me, that’s the most important thing and what I learned from that is this whole thing of political power to persecute political enemies, that must stop,” she told ABS-CBN television over the weekend. “I must be the last victim. Let me be the last victim. I’m not saying that political figures should be immune from prosecution. What I’m saying is that the process
Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
should be fair and even-handed. So, let me be the last victim of political persecution using the justice system,” she added. Despite her detention, Arroyo retained her seat at the House, winning a third threeyear term as representative of her district.
Duterte signs executive order... PAGE A5 t stitution existing law or jurisprudence.” Within 30 days from the effectivity of the order, DOJ and OSG must provide a list of exceptions that will be submitted to the Office of the President. They will serve as deciding bodies on complicated requests, and should ensure that the information asked will not affect national security. The order defined “information” as “records, documents, papers, reports, letters, contracts, minutes and transcripts of official meetings, maps, books, photographs, data, research materials, sound and video recording, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data, computer stored data or other like or similar data or materials, recorded stored archived or whatever format.”
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Not complete, but a start Since the EO only covers government agencies under the executive branch, Senator Grace Poe, sponsor of the FOI bill in the 16th Congress, said that “law is still needed to institutionalize the freedom of information.” On Twitter Poe posted, “Simply put, EOs are most often regarded as internal or simply within the confines of the executive department at the most.” She also added that since other branches of government are not covered, it is important to have a law in place to assure that if anyone is caught violating the punishment will commensurate the crime. “It should be heavy to there’s no way out,” she said in a separate interview with rappler. However, Poe, along with a number of her fellow senators, believe that the order is a good start toward transparency. The
next step is to work harder to pass a “full-fledged” FOI law. Senator Francis Pangilinan explained that their job is not complete, since the EO only covers the executive branch. “Kailangan pa natin ng batas sa Freedom of Information na sakop ang lahat ng antas ng burukrasya (The executive order covers only the executive branch (There is still a need for a freedom of information legislation to ensure transparency at all levels of the bureaucracy),” he said in an interview with rappler. Newly-elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said, “This will forever institutionalize accessible mechanisms for the free flow of information between government and the People. Personally, I pledge to lobby for the swift passage of a comprehensive and powerful FOI law in the Senate.”
Pimentel elected Senate president...
eign Affairs to prepare him to become Foreign secretary when the one-year ban on the appointment of losing candidates to positions in government expires. The Senate chief said Sen. Cynthia Villar will get the Environment Committee, while the Public Services panel will go to Sen. Grace Poe.
The powerful Blue ribbon investigating committee will be chaired by Sen. richard Gordon, while the Trade and Industry panel will go to Zubiri. National Defense will go to Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Tourism to Sen. Nancy Binay, Public Works to Pacquiao, Finance to Legarda, Education to
LA PIETA. Jennelyn Olaires holds her partner and alleged drug pusher Michael Siaron 30, a pedicab driver, who was shot and killed by unidentified riding in tandem suspects along LRT Pasay Rotonda, Edsa on Friday, July 22. There has been a surge in the killing of suspected criminals after President Rodrigo Duterte took his oath of office on June 30, 2016 and declared war on crime. Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma
PNP told to triple efforts in drug war by Jaymee
t. Gamil
Inquirer.net
EXPECT the Philippine National Police to redouble—and “triple them if need be”—initiatives against illegal drug activities that have so far left nearly 400 dead— mostly barefooted and slippered slum dwellers described as drug pushers and drug lords. Following President rodrigo Duterte’s call for an even more intense campaign, the PNP said it was feeling the heat, while the Commission on Human rights (CHr) said it was actually “encouraged.” In a press briefing yesterday, Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the pressure was on for law enforcers after Duterte ordered them “and all those occupying seats of power and authority, not to lower your
guard” on the war on crime and illegal drugs. “Double your efforts. Triple them, if need be. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier, and the last pusher have surrendered or [have been] put behind bars or below the ground, if they so wish,” Duterte said in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 25. “It’s now a directive coming from the Commander in Chief so definitely now we will triple the efforts… Those who will truly be pressured are commanders on the ground, because they are the ones who will really deliver,” said Carlos, the PNP spokesperson. PNP Director General ronald “Bato” dela rosa makes sure the PNP delivers “every day that passes” in the first six months of
A refreshed foreign outlook...
transform the economic landscape of most Southeast Asian Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, in helping shape the free-trade nations for the better. Ways and Means to Sen. Juan Ed- agenda of the region. Asean has And the huge Filipino diaspora gardo Angara, Local Government evolved from a primarily security- working and living in the various to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Labor oriented association of nations corners of the world are also citito Sen. Joel Villanueva, Justice to into one that is more economi- zen-ambassadors for the PhilipSen. Leila de Lima and Health to cally driven. And the Philippines pines. Even in the Middle East Sen. risa Hontiveros. should grasp this opportunity in and in my own country, MalayEscudero is being offered the conjunction with fellow Asean sia, Filipinos are heavily engaged Energy chairmanship, while countries in ensuring the Asean in the hospitality and service inTrillanes has yet to decide which Economic Community’s eventual dustries. In some other countries committee to handle. success, which could hopefully like the US, many of them are, of
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Duterte’s administration, Carlos said. Carlos said there would be an assessment after one month, three months, and six months, and commanders found lacking “may be replaced.” “The first month ends this coming Sunday, so we will see if there will be changes done by our Directorate for Operations just to be able to deliver that triple effort that’s required of us by the President in this country,” Carlos said. From July 1 to July 25, an Inquirer count showed 392 drugrelated deaths. Carlos said 293 people were killed in police operations. Mr. Duterte has vowed to stamp out the drug menace, criminality and corruption in three to six months of his assumption of the presidency. course, naturalized and are even subsequent generations of immigrants. But I know many of them still retain fond feelings for their original or ancestral homeland. They could be the volunteerbridges for the Philippines in bettering international ties. Neighboring countries such as Malaysia would dearly like to see the Philippines succeed in its nation-building process, and we are more than willing to be of help in the process, for the common good of all in the region. (ManilaTImes.net)
A JULY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 27-29, 2016
BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
PH likely to remain world’s contact center capital by riChMond
MerCurio
Philstar.com
MANiLA - Sorry india, but the Philippines is likely to keep its crown as the world’s contact center capital for more years to come. industry experts told The Star there is a very slim chance the Philippines would be dethroned as the global leader in call center operations over the next five years. “The Philippines at least for the foreseeable future will continue to be leader in the voice segment. i don’t see that going anywhere. Five years definitely, but 10 to 15 years i don’t want to bet on that because you don’t know how technologies will change and how the new generation of people will use communication,” said Nitin Bhat, senior partner at Frost and Sullivan, the consultancy firm crafting the roadmap with information Technology and Business
Process Association of the Philippines (iBPAP). “That’s our intention (to sustain our number one spot) and i think it’s not unrealistic,” Contact Center Association of the Philippines president and iBPAP executive committee chairman Benedict Hernandez added. Hernandez said the Philippines snatched the world’s biggest call center title from india in 2010 and the country has not let go of it since. At present, india remains second behind the Philippines while other market are also growing. “You have india and the Philippines, but Philippines is positioned much better because of English language skills, the customer service orientation that they see in the Philippines, as well as the English accent which is a bit more familiar to that which the US customers have been looking at,” said Bhat, noting that some
MANiLA - The Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking into the possibility of removing or at least reducing the travel tax to make traveling more affordable and convenient for Filipinos. Tourism Undersecretary for Advocacy and Public Affairs Katherine De Castro told The Star over the weekend that the DOT is reviewing the country’s travel tax system to determine if it could scrap or lower the travel tax imposed on individuals who are leaving the country. “it still needs a lot of review. Not right now, definitely, you know it’s an ambitious part from the end of the DOT,” De Castro said in a phone interview. “Traveling in the Philippines is not cheap. if we can’t remove it (travel tax) totally, we want to at least lower it,” she added. Airline passengers departing from the Philippines are levied a
Duterte SONA sparks business optimism
Inquirer.net photo by Joan Bondoc
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DOT eyes removal of travel tax travel tax of P1,620 for economy class passage and P2,700 for first class passage. Half of the proceeds from travel tax collections go to the Tourism infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TiEZA), 40 percent to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA). “We’re looking at the fact that a percentage of the travel tax goes to CHED, which is in no way connected to traveling at all,” De Castro said. The DOT’s review of the travel tax system has so far led to the removal of the P200 processing fee charged for the issuance of certificates of Travel Tax Exemption and Reduced Travel Tax, which is effective today, July 25. in the meantime, De Castro said the DOT and its attached
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by Kristyn
niKa Lazo and MayveLin CarabaLLo ManilaTimes.net
THE business community welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise on Monday, July 25 to lower both corporate and personal income tax and relax the bank secrecy law. Delivering his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the joint session of Congress, the President who assumed office 25
days ago said, “We will lower personal and corporate income tax and relax bank secrecy.” The president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Henry Schumacher welcomed the initiative, saying that lowering corporate income tax “is badly needed.” Describing the tax rate in the
Philippines as “ uncompetitive” relative to other countries in the Asean region, Schumacher said the President’s initiative was “great news.” Another foreign business executive, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Julian Payne, also welcomed Duterte’s move to reduce corporate tax. “The Canadian Cham-
ber of Commerce welcomes the intent to reduce corporate income tax. We are confident this initiative, along with other measures, will encourage increased domestic and foreign investment which in turn will increase the tax base and total corporate tax revenue even with a lower rate,” Payne said. According to the executive di-
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‘PH should honor Paris climate deal’ by JaMes
Konstantin ManilaTimes.net
GaLvez
DESPiTE President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier pronouncement that the Philippines will not honor climate change commitments it made under the Paris agreement, Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson Heherson Alvarez stressed that the deal will be a powerful pillar towards the administration’s industrialization goal. The Philippines was among 195 naPresident Duterte is given a tour by Green Earth Insurance Corp. chair Lim Chan Look inside the Buluan Biomass Power Plant on Friday, July 22. Malacañang photo tions that pledged last December in
Paris to cut down carbon emissions to contain global warming to below two degrees Celsius. The deal comes into force when 55 countries covering 55 percent of global emissions formally join. The Philippines accounts for less than 1 percent of the world’s emissions, and has yet to ratify the deal. Duterte has said that he will not honor the international climate pact, stressing that it would stifle the country’s development. The new administration earlier
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B JULY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA IF you do not agree of the IRS results of examination, your options are: request a meeting or telephone conference. If after the meeting or conference you still do not agree, appeal your case to the IRS Appeals Office. If you ignore and do nothing, a notice of deficiency will be issued which allows you to go to tax court or IRS will continue collection. Here are some of the benefits and drawback of going to the Appeals. Benefits of going to Appeals: 1. The Appeals Officer is impartial. 2. The Appeals Officer is independent from IRS compliance function. 3. The appeals process is faster. The IRS emphasizes quick resolution of tax cases by delegating more authority to frontline Appeals Officers to quickly resolve cases. 4. The goal of every Appeals Officer is to settle tax controversies without litigation. 5. The officer is more openminded to the merits of your case to avoid litigation disputes. 6. Your bargaining position is enhanced as you will no longer in contact with the aggressive agent who may have been locked into certain positions on unagreed is-
Business news
When is the right time to appeal? sues. 7. Moving to appeals may force a difficult to deal with agent to rethink a position. 8. Compared to government attorneys, the Appeals Officer is more open and candid during formal discovery procedures. 9. The appeals process provides sufficient time to find out about the IRS position. 10. You will have enough time to decide which trial forum you want to exercise - Court of Federal Claims, the Tax Court, or US District Court. 11. Until the case is settled, penalties, tax, and interests need not be paid. 12. You can collect attorney’s fees if a court determines that the IRS position was not justified. Drawback of going to appeals: 1. New information in Appeals might result in Appeals discharging jurisdiction and sending off the file to compliance. 2. Interest accrues as your case continues to drag. 3. The strain of an unsettled IRS audit may serve as too much of a burden to you. You may just prefer to pay. 4. An attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent representation incur additional fees. These fees, however, may be offset by savings in reduced tax, penalties, and interest
charges when you are adequately represented. 5. Compared to docketed tax court rulings, non-docketed settlements with Appeals Office have less finality. In our practice, going to Appeals is by far the best forum to settle tax controversies. The Appeals Officer acts as a mediator, not an opponent. Appeals Officers are a welcome sight in comparison to office auditors and field revenue agents. It is quite expensive to litigate in tax court. In our experience, Appeals Officers are usually CPAs or Attorneys with Master’s degrees and are easier to deal with. They have a wider outlook on running a and are more understanding. They understand how we survive to make ends meet. They are more practical in putting your case to rest. Good luck! In accordance with IRS Circular 230, this communication is not to be considered a “covered opinion” or other written tax advice and should not be relied upon for IRS audit, tax dispute, or any other purpose. ***
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Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes
MARRIAGE for many persons status. Removal of the conditional is the culmination of one’s life. label is initiated by filing an I-751 Getting married signifies the be- Joint Petition to Remove Condiginning of a new phase in life, tion to Permanent Residence both socially and economically. (“Joint Petition”). The Joint PetiFor those persons who lack per- tion provides an opportunity for manent residency in the United the United States Citizenship and States and have married a Unit- Immigration Services (“USCIS”) ed States citizen, marriage also to inquire as to the legitimacy of presents an opportunity to obtain the marriage after conditional permanent residency. However, permanent residence is granted. although the opportunity to ob- Accordingly, documentation evitain permanent residency arises dencing that the marriage was in such situations, one must be entered into for bona-fide reasons aware of and comply with proce- should be submitted as part of the dures in existence to obtain such Joint Petition. The Joint Petition status. Due to concerns that per- must be filed with the USCIS sersons were becoming married to vice center in the 90 days immediUnited States citizens merely to ately prior to the second anniverobtain permanent residence sta- sary of the granting of conditional tus, a two-step procedure under permanent residence. Typically, upon the filing of the the Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 (IMFA) was Joint Petition, a one-year extension set up to ensure such status was of the conditional permanent resigiven to those only in marriages dence is granted. The extension that are bona-fide and not entered affords the USCIS time to schedinto simply for immigration pur- ule an interview with the person seeking permanent residence, poses. Under step one of the proce- and to make a determination as to dure, if a person is petitioned by whether unconditional permanent Sy Al-os Accountancy Corporation provides his/her U.S. citizen spouse within residence will be granted for a accounting and tax services to individuals, 24 months after becoming mar- ten-year period. In cases in which corporations, LLCs and business entities. The ried, that person is given only documentation submitted as part Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited conditional permanent residence. of the Joint Petition clearly show by the IRS and other governmental agencies. Such conditional permanent resi- that the marriage is bona-fide and (Advertising Supplement) dence status lasts for two years not merely for immigration purfrom the date on which it is grant- poses, INS may approve a Joint Petition without an interview. ed. The procedure described Step two of the procedure involves the removal of the condi- hereinabove applies in situations tional label to permanent residence where the marriage has not been digenous peoples,” he said. “We look forward to the implementation of his vision, and MBC stands ready to contribute to this task of nation-building,” Perfecto PAGE B1 t added. t The Tax Management Associa- agency, TIEZA, are also working PAGE B1 tion of the Philippines (TMAP) said on how the travel tax can be in- call center companies in India are it was pleased to hear the Presi- corporated in airline tickets. now moving to the Philippines. dent statement about the lower “There is a requirement from “Basically, that’s what we’re income taxes. This, said TMAP doing right now, to have it (travel Asian countries for certain lanpresident, Benedict Tugonon, was tax) incorporated in all airline tick- guage skills like Japanese, Ko“what tax payers have been wait- ets regardless if you are a national rean, and they are looking at loing for a very long time.” carrier or a low cost airline,” she cations which can offer that, but Lowering personal and corpo- said. I don’t think that’s something rate income taxes, said Cid TeroAccording to De Castro, some the Philippines cannot also do. sa, the University of Asia and the airlines still have not included So with that I will say it would Pacific economist, was a strong the travel tax within their ticket continue to be the leading destimove to stimulate more business charges. nation for voice. I don’t see any and investment activities. “It’s inconvenient in such a other competition coming up,” “Consumption activities can be way that you think you’re already he added. spurred further. The easing of the checked in, but in fact, you are According to Hernandez, sevbank secrecy law will encourage not, so you would still have to line eral smaller destinations in Asia, greater transparency and discour- up in another booth to pay for Latin America, and parts of Africa age illicit financial activities,” he your travel tax,” she said. (Phil- are currently on the rise offering added. n their unique value propositions. star.com)
Duterte SONA sparks business...
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rector of the Makati Business Club, Peter Perfecto, President Duterte’s speech was “very comprehensive” and detailed “a clear vision for the next few years.” The President, said Perfecto, “set a strong tone from the top,” particularly emphasizing that abuse of authority will not be tolerated while taking a strong stance against criminality and drugs. “We welcome the inclusion in the SONA of priorities critical to doing business and furthering the country’s competitiveness, including significant reduction in red tape, tax reform, massive infrastructure investments, and improvement of current macroeconomic policies,” he said. Perfecto also spoke of Duterte’s commitment to dialogue and partnership and noted the inclusion in his speech of the recommendations from the Sulong Pilipinas
consultations in his policy address. “We hope that this process continues and that it will be expanded to include civil society and other cause-oriented groups,” he said. The essential ingredients to economic progress—peace and order—were also present in the speech, Perfecto said, referring to Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels. He described the President’s call to correct historical injustices as a very bold move, saying it sends “a strong signal that the government is serious about ensuring permanent and lasting peace.” “Significantly, he was able to effectively show that he cares for improving the people’s welfare, whether in the small aspects of eliminating long lines, extending the validity of licenses and passports, and opening communication outlets for Muslims and in-
What to do with conditional greencard status in troubled marriages
DOT eyes...
terminated. Often, the Joint Petition cannot be filed or approved because the marriage, although bona-fide when entered into, has been terminated by divorce. May aliens become threatened of falling out of status once their marriage is in trouble because the spouse often refuse to cooperate or has filed a divorce petition. In such cases there is still hope and the prospect of obtaining unconditional permanent residence status still remains. A waiver of the joint petition requirement may be sought in such cases. *** 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. *** 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. (Advertising Supplement)
PH likely to remain... The Department of Trade and Industry, for its part, has identified countries like Vietnam, Turkey, Egypt, and Canada as emerging destinations that may give the Philippines’ voice services sector a run for its money in the future. “When you look at what’s uniquely to the Philippines, it’s our service orientation or service authenticity. English speaking and education, not easy to replicate but the most difficult is the service culture that we have unique to the Philippines,” he added. For this year, CCAP sees call center revenues growing to $16 billion and employment at about one million. n
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Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 59 and single. He has a decent job where he makes $4K a month gross. He doesn’t owe any credit card debt. He only owes 3 secured debts. He owes a mortgage on his house for $400K plus he has arrears of $83K on this mortgage. His mortgage payment is $2K a month, which means that he has not paid his mortgage for 41 months or 3 ½ years. He tells me that he has been working with a non-profit consumer advocacy group (whatever that means) to get the bank to give him a loan modification on his mortgage. Apparently, he’s been trying to get the loan modified since 4 years ago and received multiple prior denials. This explains why he hasn’t paid his mortgage for 4 years. Finally, the bank sets the foreclosure sale date for July 6, 2016. Whoever he is talking to at the non-profit consumer advocacy group tells him that he has to file a Chapter 13 to stop the foreclosure on July 6. Unfortunately, he is not told that he has to do credit counseling first before he can file for Chapter 13. On July 1, without a lawyer, he files his incomplete emergency Chapter 13 petition. The clerk looks for the credit counseling certificate and he says he doesn’t have one. Nevertheless, the clerk accepts the incomplete petition, which doesn’t have credit counseling, and has no schedules and gives him a list of deficiencies that have to be filed within 14 days otherwise his case will be dismissed. So today, he ends up in my office and asks me to take over the case as his lawyer. Although I agree to help him out, I had to explain to him that he has to give a satisfactory explanation to the court why he did not do credit counseling before he filed his
Community Journal
Homeowner files last minute Chapter 13 without credit counseling Senior files chp 7 to discharge $35k credit cards
case. If the court believes that the facts he alleges amount to exigent circumstances, the court may let him proceed with the case. Otherwise, his case will be dismissed for lack of pre-filing credit counseling. On the other hand, if client had a disability that prevents him from taking credit counseling, he would be exempt from requirement. Although client is legally blind, that may not qualify as a disability to exempt him from the requirement to take the course because this course is also given over the phone. To be sure, many judges do not consider a foreclosure an exigent circumstance because the foreclosure process takes at least four months to complete before the house can be auctioned off in a non-judicial foreclosure proceeding. In any event, aside from explaining why he did not do credit counseling within 14 days from filing date, client still has to do credit counseling within 30 days from filing date assuming the court agrees that he was faced with exigent circumstances that prevented him from doing credit- counseling pre-filing. As you can see, you have to go through a lot of hoops if you don’t do credit counseling pre-filing so why even get into this dire situation in the first place. Therefore, make sure you do credit counseling first before you file for bankruptcy, any kind of bankruptcy so you don’t have this kind of problem to deal with. And avoid filing incomplete petitions. If you fail to file in one missing document, your case will be dismissed on the 15th day. So why even assume this kind of risk by filing an incomplete petition.
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAgLAyA
bared plans to create industrial zones all over the country to usher the Philippines into “a golden era of development.” The president, however, despite his skepticism, called on Congress to provide him with a clear understanding of the treaty. Alvarez, who is also a former
secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said that the Paris Agreement would be a powerful pillar towards the Duterte goal – a strongly industrialized but healthy nation. “Ultimately, its impacts would allow Filipinos to study, live, work and enjoy cleaner cities with a
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Hubris “The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.”
— Alfred North Whitehead
LONG ago in the island of Crete, there lived a man named Daedalus, who was famed for his skills as an inventor. He worked for King Minos. Foremost among his many achievements was building the labyrinth in which the king kept the Minotaur, a fearsome, legendary beast which was half-man and half-bull that fed on human flesh. It was said that anyone who went into the labyrinth never came out of it again because of its complex, undecipherable winding walls and corridors. Daedalus was brilliant and this was a problem for the king. Although Daedalus had been giving the king great and loyal service all his life, Minos was deeply insecure and feared that Daedalus who was wise, celebrated and ingenious would, one day challenge him to become king. As a preemptive move, Minos imprisoned Daedalus and his son, Icarus in a prison tower. The king underestimated Daedalus, for one dark night, father and son escaped from their prison tower. They found out however that it was well nigh impossible to escape the island with the paranoid King Minos sending out an all points bulletin to his mindless minions. Minos’ soldiers carefully searched every boat that left the island. Father and son took cover in a remote cave along the shore hidden from the watchful eyes of Minos’ soldiers while Daedalus figured out a way to escape. Watching the seagulls for hours soaring and diving for food on the shore, Daedalus was struck with the idea of flight as an escape route. He caught one bird and studied the structure and form of its wings and after careful thought, decided to copy how a
wing is made. He instructed Icarus to catch seagulls and pluck their feathers. When there were enough feathers, he sewed them together and used melted wax to bind the feathers on a wooden framework. He created the contraption so skillfully that they looked like a giant replica of a bird’s wings. He customized two pairs of wings for himself and for his son, careful to take each of their individual body weights into consideration. But having wings was one thing, knowing how to use those wings to fly was another. So Daedalus strapped his wings and still taking his cue from the seagulls on how to soar, swoop, dive and glide, he proceeded to learn how to fly so that the wings felt like a seamless part of his arms and his body. He studied wind currents, the waters of the sea and the heat of the sun. Having gained the skill, he proceeded to teach his son patiently. At first, Icarus stumbled and fell and when he got past the first few fumbles, the youth learned quickly, his lithe, svelte form seemingly destined for flight. He learned to fly like a bird, swooping and diving, gliding and circling about, looking down below at the blue waters and their island prison, now a mere speck from above, and frolicking about overhead, chasing the seagulls and rolling in the clouds. Freedom was a heady drink. Icarus felt complete elation, knew the incredible lightness of being and tasted the sweet freedom of flight. Then came the day when Daedalus and Icarus were to fly out of Crete. The sun was up, and the wind was mild and Daedalus decided it was an auspicious day to
make the great escape. Daedalus sat his son down and looked him in the eyes for serious pre-flight instructions knowing that once in the air, there would be little chance for communication. “Pay attention, Icarus. Stick close behind me and watch your altitude. Fly too low and the sea with its moisture will make your wings too heavy. Fly too high and the heat of the sun will melt the wax in your wings. Take heed and stay close.” Icarus nodded agreement but he was far too excited and his mind was already in the sky. Daedalus took off flapping his wings faster and faster to get vertical lift-off and escape gravity. Icarus followed suit and took off shortly after. As they flew, the people on the ground in Crete watched in amazement wondering whether the winged creatures are the gods themselves flying. Icarus trailed his father closely at first, following his flight pattern and struggling to take heed of his father’s admonitions. But feeling an overwhelming sense of growing power in his ability to fly, reveling in his freedom and giving in to his impetuous, youthful nature, Icarus deviated a little at first, taking little swoops and side trips and catching up with his father who was intently flying on a steady speed and altitude. As Icarus swooped, dived and indulged frivolously in his aerial acrobatics, Icarus soon forgot his father’s words and flew higher and higher towards the noonday sun. Then the wax in his wings melted, the wooden framework broke apart and the feathers blew away. Wingless and pan-
ly contributed to the growth of our economy—agriculture, industry, the environment and our people,” he added. healthier environment,” he said. Alvarez explained that the cli“The challenge is to pursue massive industrialization while mate change pact works on the simultaneously protecting our principle of common but differpeople – the Philippines being entiated responsibilities (CBDR). identified as the most vulner- The premise is that all nations, able country in the world – from whether developed or developthe disastrous impacts of climate ing, large or small, emit varying change most especially the threat- amounts of greenhouse gases. ened sectors that have significant- Different countries would therefore take on different kinds of actions to reduce emissions based on their capabilities and their current economic circumstances. Anchored on the CBDR principle, honoring the Paris Agreement is both a moral and legal obligation of all 197 member nations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of which the Philippines is a member, Alvarez said. “This principle compels us to share in the upkeep of the United Nations, the same principle why every Filipino who earns an income pays taxes, in varying percentages based on their rate of income, to support the government. Our country will be most comfortable with this principle because
it largely reflects the ‘bayanihan’ spirit in the Filipino culture,” he said. The Philippines has long been engaged in a wide variety of mitigation programs to reduce CO2 emissions, including solid waste management, reforestation, air pollution reduction – in our energy, transport, industry, and agriculture sectors – and imposing new standards and green technologies in the building sector. Alvarez said that the low carbon program is an essential strategy for stimulating the economy, creating more jobs and moving us rapidly to a clean energy future. He added that investments towards reduced CO2 emissions would spur growth in a broad range of manufacturing sectors and environmental services, as has already been experienced by countries that pursue massive renewable energy investments. The Philippines is fortunately abundant in alternative energy, including solar, wind, hydro, and especially geothermal. The country is the second biggest producer of geothermal in the world. “Coal seems to be the cheapest energy source in the market.
However, once the externalities of coal are factored in — such as the costs of pollution and healthcare — the price of coal would be extremely high and uneconomic,” he added. In fact, Alvarez said that there is a cry now to price carbon appropriately, apply corresponding taxes, and remove subsidy that makes carbon artificially cheap all over the world. The Philippines commitment of a 70 percent emission reduction is conditioned on financing resources, technology development and transfer, and capacity building. The 70 percent commitment will be a slow transition up to the year 2030. All INDC of the 197 nations signatory to the Agreement will be subjected for review every five (5) years and will be continuously updated, depending on economic growth and development. The Paris agreement makes clear that developed countries will continue to provide and mobilize the UN Green Climate Fund to support developing countries, with developed countries agreeing to continue their 2020 commitment of mobilizing $100 billion a year, at least until 2025. n
The other client is 70. He owes $35K of credit card debt. According to him, he is “sick” of paying for these cards. He has been paying for 20 years. He has been paying $1K a month for 20 years. He has paid only $240K in the last 20 years! But he still owes the same $35K! But he is now 70 and living on social security, which is less than half of what his salary was. I told him that he should have filed at least ten years ago and saved $120K. And he would still have perfect credit now at 70. I mean, file at 60, at 67 credit score will be 730 and on year 10, at 70, the credit bureaus remove the fact of filing from their credit reports as required by law; but better late than never. With Chapter 7, client will have peace of mind at 70, because all of his $35K credit cards will be discharged. Who wants to have credit card debt when you now rely on social security? With social security income, credit card payments are a big drain on your budget. Getting rid of credit card debt with Chapter 7 is like surgery to remove a cancerous growth. It has to be done as soon as possible. Otherwise, you lose the capacity to save money every month. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” — Proverbs 18:10 *** 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)
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Cainta Catholic College 3rd Bi-annual Global Alumni Reunion Cainta Catholic College, formerly Cainta Catholic School, of Cainta, Rizal Philippines will hold its 3rd bi-annual global alumni reunion with Fiesta Filipiniana Theme on Saturday, July 30, 2016 in Anaheim, California. The Anaheim alumni reunion reconnects alumni from USA, Canada, Australia and Philippines. It is a reunion of high school alumni from the ’50s, ’60s, 70s, 80s, ’90s and 2000s. The global alumni reunion started in 2012 in Toronto, Ontario Canada. In 2014, the second reunion was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. It takes place every two years. The Anaheim Reunion will begin on Saturday morning, Meet and Greet Event, from 9 am to 12 pm at Pearson Park in Anaheim, California. The Reception, Dinner and Dance will start at 6 pm at Embassy Suites-Anaheim South, 11767 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove, California. Santacruzan festival parade participated by alumni will open the evening’s reunion and gala events. For information, contact the Reunion Planning Committee at ccs.ccc.international@gmail.com.
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42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) invites everyone, Bicolanos, devotees and friends to come and celebrate the 42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivities will start on Sept. 9, with the translacion at 5pm at the Immaculate of Mary Church (4954 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. A nightly novena Mass follows from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 at 6 PM except on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2;30 PM and culminates on Saturday, Sept. 17, with the ninth day novena at 8am, foot & fluvial procession at 9 AM, and a Concelebrated Mass at 10 am at Lincoln Park, 3501 Valley Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Main celebrant will be HE Most Rev Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon. For details, please call Lanie Berrei (818) 281-3169 or Gene Leano (818) 439-6896.
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8th Regional Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region invites everyone to the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint. Festivities will be on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at this year’s host parish, Holy Family Church - Glendale (209 East Lomita Avenue, Glendale CA 91205). Procession starts at 4:30 PM , then Mass at 5:30 PM with Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, as Principal Celebrant. Reception , fellowship and program will immediately follow at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium across the church. For more information, please contact Ping Bayani at(913) 558-4332 or bayani0950@yahoo.com.
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St. Paul Manila alumnae hold LA reunion
ALUMNAE of St. Paul Manila held a reunion in Vegas Seafood Restaurant in Glendale on July 17, 2016. Some --- high school and college graduates belonging to different batches and a number of husbands got together to welcome Mrs. Marionette OcampoMartinez, Alumni Relations Officer of the school, and Mrs. Sherry Lara-Alingod, President of the St. Paul Manila Alumni Foundation, Inc. The two visitors from Manila are in the US to attend reunions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Virginia, and New York. Mrs. Martinez updated the alumni on the university programs and activities. She also explained the K-12 Program, its rationale and advantages, as well as its attendant difficult consequences. She told the group that St. Paul
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Manila has opened Senior High School and accepted over 200 Grade 11 students from the public schools. Each of these students is given a government voucher for P22,500 a year, but will need a sponsor to shoulder a balance of P12,500 per year or P25,000 for Grades 11 and 12. She communicated the appeal of Sr. Evangeline Anastacio, University President for the alumnae to donate funds for these SHS students to avail of a Paulinian education. The attendees pledged their support for this endeavor, in the Paulinian spirit of “The Charity of Christ Urges Us.” The reunion was planned and coordinated by Sonia Calleja, Rose Amor, Cora Maceda, Cora Pacificador, Daisy Tenorio and Harriet Ruiz. n
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Hubris
icking, Icarus plunged headlong like deadweight into the blue waters. Daedalus swooped down in hot pursuit to save his son but it was much too late. All he saw were a few feathers floating on the surface. Daedalus, with a heavy heart at the tragic loss of his beloved Icarus, managed to fly to Sicily. In his grief, Daedalus retired his wings, lost his love for life and never flew again. Over and over again through the generations, we see this tendency of some of the young ones to “forget” the things they have been taught and allow hubris and folly to rule. Some throw away everything they have learned and painstakingly worked for in one impetuous decision or action. It is as if their overwhelming sense of freedom, newly-attained independence and sense of power goads them to “fly close to the sun.” Humility gets torpedoed and overweening pride rules. They feel they no longer need guidance from anyone. Sometimes a good scare or a tiny thorn of bad experience can be humbling
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and worth more than a lifetime of warnings, advice and admonitions to nudge prideful youth back to reality and on the straight and narrow. While we may think that this tendency of the youth today is unique to our times, we only have to look back several thousand years to know that the scenario may have changed, the cast of characters in every generation in every nation may be different, but the predilection for hubris and folly in some of the youth remains the same. We need to be reminded too that as adults, we were once just as young and just as foolish, perhaps even more so. But we were lucky and got a pass because life was magnanimous enough to let us get past this harrowing stage with barely a scratch and live long enough to see the cycle repeated in our children. And on and on until the sun dies, the cycle goes. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 27, 2016
A trip through Edsel Godwin Sotiangco’s
‘Time Machine’ by Carina Oriel / AJPress
T
AkE a walk down memory lane: Elvis Presley left the building, Michael Jackson moonwalked his way through fame and Eddie M. Sotiangco took a time machine and journeyed to the year 2016. Through the years, Eddie led his life as a prominent Filipino businessman by day and as a singer, magician and concert producer by night. And to this day, he is actively involved in his multifaceted businesses, specializing in taxes and licensing services. He is the owner and licensee of residential facilities for the elderly. With all his accolades, he still finds time to produce concerts. Now, he has stepped away from the limelight as a performer to make way for his 19-year-old son Edsel. Edsel, dubbed the “Golden Boy with a Golden Voice”, followed his father’s musical footsteps and has been singing since the age of 7. He immediately captivated the attention of the Filipino community with his mellifluous voice, singing renditions of Filipino love songs and Broadway and movie classics alongside top Filipino artists in the likes of Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Nora Aunor, Apl.de.ap, Jed Madela, Regine Velasquez and many more. His talent brought him to new heights with awards including “Best Male Child Vocalist” by the Celebrity Chronicle at the MGM Theatre, winner of the 2008 Hollywood’s Best New Talent Award besting over 1000 competitors worldwide and “Best Young Entertainer in America” by the Reflection International. As part of the boy group, W3 the Future, Edsel performed onstage as “EdgeOne,” and signed on to Young Money Entertainment, a record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. At the age of 15, he and his group members went on a three-month tour across 40 cities. Later, the group joined MTV’s “Artist to Watch” 10-city tour featuring artists Austin Mahone, Becky G and Midnight Red. These tours forced Edsel to grow up fast as he journeyed from city to city, leaving behind his family and friends. “I was exposed to a lot of adult commitments when I was just starting high school because of the whole tour. I had a lot of waves of realiza-
tions,” he said. Two national tours later, he is settled in his hometown of Los Angeles to pursue his education. After graduating high school last year, Edsel has helped his father’s accounting firm when needed, especially during tax season. But for now, he is doing what any teenager does, like hitting the gym, binge-watching shows on Netflix and hanging out with friends at intimate concerts or art shows. But above all, he still dedicates most of his time to singing, songwriting and has started taking piano lessons. This Saturday, July 30, Edsel will go back to his FilipinoAmerican community roots and pay homage to his dad’s performances through “Time Machine - Back to the Future”
at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo. Eddie’s Time Machine concerts were once annual traditions for the Los Angeles Fil-Am community throughout the late-80s and 90s. During these two-hour performances, Eddie used the music as a medium for self-expression and explored the problems he faced throughout his lifetime. “[My dad] was known solely as Filipino Elvis. You can kind of see it, but definitely more back then. A lot of his performance outfits from back then are very Elvis, James Brown, sparkles, glitter, [and] open chest,” Edsel shared. “The show itself is a time capsule. What is more interesting is that we still have a lot of the original cast from the ‘80s and ‘90s, you can see the transformation of their age and character,” Edsel said. Original cast members include Toots de Jesus McMillian, Glynis Sotiangco, Andy Tecson, Al Rapisura, Cyril Cabison, Louise Cornillez, Erika de los Santos, Allyson Cantibuhan, Lianna Gutierrez, the De Jesus sisters and Fenny G. Pangan. Even though the concert does bring back old memories, Eddie will not be performing alongside his son. “I want it to happen sometime,” Edsel said. “One day.” While The Time Machine
portrays his own personal journey, Edsel will reference monumental moments in music -- like Elvis Presley’s Shake, Rattle and Roll dance and Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk -- dating back to as early as the 1940s. “The show is called ‘The Time Machine’ because it plays around with the whole time travel aspect, and it’s a little cliche, but we use the past and future to learn about ourselves,” Edsel said. Concert director Annie Nepomuceno has worked with the father-son duo to create the vision they share for the show. She was able to come up with a story and script for the concert in a way that is consistent with how the concerts were put together decades ago. Although Edsel will not be sporting the notable brown Justin Bieber wig he once sported for his 2014 “Heart & Soul” concert, 11-year-old Michael keith will be, as he plays the role of young Edsel. “Michael is literally me when I was his age. This young boy has the same haircut with the bangs. He wears the same stuff, sings the same music. Part of the reason we’re having him in the show is for him to portray the younger me. It’s pretty funny,” he said. As Edsel continues to learn about himself as a person and as an artist beyond the stage,
he hopes to instigate change, reflection and growth through his music. Looking forward down the line, we will just have to take a time machine to see what else is in store.
Edsel in “Time Machine - Back to the Future” will create an impact on the Fil-Am world of entertainment and the international audience in attendance.
Maine Mendoza: ‘We are not born to please everybody’ by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com
“WE are not born to please everybody.” This is the Maine Mendoza’s sentiments about the showbiz world, in her first year in it, which she expressed on her blog. In her blog entry, the Kapuso star said that “pleasing people” is something she does not aim for. “I do not need and want to pretend to be someone I am not and do something I am not willing to do just to be loved and ‘accepted’ by the people in this ‘barbie world,’” the Kalye-serye star said. The “Barbie World” she was referring to is the entertainment industry. Maine said that she would rather not be like the people who “have really mastered the art of pretension.” Rather than follow what other people want her to do, Maine said she would rather be real with herself. “I would never change who I am just to conform to the norms of this industry,” she said. “Sure, ‘that’s how it works’, but I am who I am; and it’s up to people if they will like me or not.”
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The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 27, 2016
Celebrities support Rocky Gathercole’s ‘Rock The Runway’ Fashion Fundraiser for Bantay Bata on July 28
HOLLYWOOD—When Queen of Latin Pop Paulina Rubio tweeted about “Rock The Runway”—avant-garde Filipino designer Rocky Gathercole’s benefit fashion show for Bantay Bata (Child Watch), a program addressing the needs of abused kids in the Philippines—it showed how the event has reached the awareness of international celebrities. Maine Mendoza aired her sentiments about Gathercole, Lifestyle Netpleasing everybody in the showbiz world. work and For The Stars Fashion House joined hands for their first In the end, she reminded collaborative fashion fundraiser everyone that it is okay to be to benefit ABS-CBN Foundatrue to oneself, even if others tion International’s Bantay Bata will criticize. program via “Rock The Runway” “As long as you know that this July 28, Thursday, starting you have done nothing wrong at 6pm, at the landmark Avalon to anyone then I don’t think Hollywood. there’s something for you to be The fashion show, which will worried about,” she explained. “Live your life the way you want feature Gathercole’s eccentric genius seen in his creations for to be and stop seeking for stars like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, people’s approval in everything Gwen Stefani, Paulina Rubio, you do.” Jennifer Lopez, Thalia, Carrie “Remember that there will Underwood, among others, will always be people who will love you; but it’s best to be loved for be directed by award-winning who you really are than who you film, concert and TV director John-D Lazatin, also currently are trying to be,” she added. ABS-CBN global head of theatricals, overseeing the successful distribution of Filipino films for ABS-CBN worldwide. Co-hosting the pre-show on July 28 are Hollywood actor and voice talent Dante Basco (Hook, Take The Lead, Biker Boyz, The Debut, Nickelodeon’sAvatar: The Last Airbender) and Emmy award-winning writer and producer for television, Keesa Ocampo. Performers for the pre-show comprise an eclectic selection of talents: Vice Ganda with ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. managing director Mark Yambot and ABS-CBN Publishing president Ernie Lopez. Matthew John Ignacio, a prodigy described by Oscarwinning composer Maestro Andrea Morricone as a “musilaunch by a Filipino celebrity AFTER establishing himself cal genius”, is a virtuoso on the author last July 15. with high-rating TV shows, piano, accordion and cello. He Vice Ganda had a grand sold-out concerts and recordbecame the youngest cellist for meet-and-greet event and book the Filipino-American Symphony breaking movies, Vice Ganda launch of his debut book titled, Orchestra, a protégé of the has once again added another “President Vice: Ang Bagong milestone in his career after setinternationally acclaimed cellist ting the record for biggest book Continued on Page 4 Dr. Richard Naill at the Colburn
Vice Ganda launches new book
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Co-hosts Dante Basco and Keesa Ocampo; musical prodigy Matthew John Ignacio; fashion designer Rocky Gathercole with ABS-CBN Foundation International Managing Director Jerry Bennett; versatile singer Francesca Camus; The Dose with Ralph Alexander and Indio Downey.
Invited celebrities include (from left) Maestro Andrea Morricone, apl.de.ap, Tia Carrere and Jessica Sanchez.
School of the Performing Arts and a celebrated prodigy of Maestro Morricone, making a name for himself with his ingenious virtuosity, sensitivity to music, and versatile musicianship. Francesca Camus has captivated international audiences with her eclectic ability to perform a wide range of repertoire that encompasses Soul, R&B, Blues, Jazz, Country, Opera and Rock. She performed for years with the super luxury cruise line Silversea aboard its ocean liners Silver Spiritand Silver Shadow, travelling across Europe, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and Alaska. She has also performed at various luxury casino resorts in Las Vegas. The Dose -- Indio Downey (vocals, guitar) and Ralph Alexander (drums, bass) – are natives of Los Angeles, California who aspire to be the biggestsounding two-piece band they can be. Inspired by the likes of
Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Tame Impala, and The Sword, The Dose unlocked a robust signature sound without adding any other members, resorting to digital playback, or employing backing tracks.Alexander plays bass synth pedals with his foot while drumming. This year, they released their self-titled debut EP. The first single “Cold Hands” builds with airy guitar and a breathy hook that’s chillingly catchy. The band’s name? “It’s a play on words,” explains Alexander. “In Spanish, ‘Dos’ means two. At the same time, you’re getting a dose of our brand of rock ‘n’ roll,” claims Downey. If the surname sounds familiar, yes, he is the son of actor Robert Downey, Jr. But with The Dose, Downey and Alexander shoot to be a remedy for today’s rock ‘n’ roll needs. Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell and Disney and Broadway actress-singer Anna Maria Perez
Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell (top photo) and Disney and Broadway actress-singer Anna Maria Perez de Tagle were also invited to “Rock The Runway”
de Tagle were also invited to “Rock The Runway”. Other celebrities who have been invited to the event are Maestro Andrea Morricone, film and TV actress Tia Carrere, singer and songwriterJessica Sanchez, first Filipino American finalist in the Oscar Design Challenge Alan Del Rosario, Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell, Emmy-winning producer Marc Anthony Nicolas of CBS’ “The Talk” and host of Lifestyle Network’s “On Your Marc”, actresssinger-host Giselle “G” Töngi, Disney and Broadway actress and singer Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, hip hop recording artist, producer and musician apl. de.ap, among others. The wellknown Alee Cao, founder and CEO at CAO Cosmetics USA and Paul Mitchell The School, will oversee make-up and hair for the show. For more information and to buy tickets now to the show on July 28, visit www.eventbrite. com.
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Bea Alonzo & Gerald Anderson uncensored
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 27, 2016
The ‘Probinsyano’ meets ‘Bato’ by ERic John
SaLut ManilaTimes.net
FINALLY, at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 22, the meet and greet between FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano” lead actor Coco Martin and PNP Director General ronald “Bato” dela rosa took place. the much awaited face to face happened at the Camp Crame office of the new Police Chief. Coco, who plays a dedicated police officer on the leading primetime series, had personally requested to be introduced to one of his real life idols. During the meeting, Coco could not hide how happy he felt. he took the opportunity to personally express his gratitude for the achievements of the PNP’s fight against crime, illegal drugs, and the drive to eradicate corruption within the PNP. “I almost couldn’t speak in front of him but I’m glad to have met th simple and down-to-earth chief. I thanked him for PNP’s support to our show,” the new generation action star narrated. Despite the general’s very busy schedule, he warmly welcomed Coco into his office and could not hide the fact that he was also a big fan of the show. “Will Jaime Fabregas die?” he immediately asked Coco. the
PNP Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and Coco Martin
“Ang Probinsyano” star gamely updated the general without giving away spoilers to the story. General dela rosa also congratulated “Ang Probinsyano” for its success and for honoring the police force. Also present during the meeting were the show’s production manager Dagang Vilbar, directors Malu Sevilla and Avel Sunpongco, and assistant director Kevin De Vela. the “Probinsyano” team expressed its commitment in continuing to help teach positive values to Filipinos on how to become law abiding citizens and how to help solve crime. they also related to the general that if there is a mes-
Vice Ganda launches... From Page 2 Panggulo ng Pilipinas,” under ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. (API) at the Skydome of SM City North Edsa. It was attended by thousands of fans of the It’s Showtime! and Gandang Gabi Vice host. In the book, Vice Ganda gives his answers on how to solve the country’s problems — from new traffic management rules to mandates on cheating beaus. he said the book was partly inspired by Pres. rodrigo Duterte and his message of change. It is a wacky look into a world where Vice Ganda becomes the next president of
the country. readers can find Vice Ganda’s fictional cabinet members, his new national bird and his punishment for cheaters. the book is jam-packed with Vice Ganda’s straightforward solutions that are hilariously witty. Also included in President Vice is his State of the Nation Address (SoNA), part of which was also performed during the book launch. the audience in the Skydome was laughing out loud as Vice Ganda delivered punchline after punchline during his SoNA. Joining him in the event were Pooh, MC and Lassy, DJ Jai ho of Mor 101.9 and ryan Bang. (Philstar.com)
sage or story concept that the PNP wishes to relay to viewers through the teleserye, their team is open to it. As the country’s most consistently watched show on television, “Ang Probinsyano” reached a viewership high of 45.7-percent on July 20 beating “Encantadia’s” 20.1-percent based on Kantar National’s ratings. that same day at the Lycean Choice Media Awards at Lyceum of the Philippines University in Batangas, the show won Best Primetime Series, and Coco won the Best tV Actor award. FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano executive producer hazel Parfan was present to receive the awards.
by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
Short but sweet. that sums up the romance between Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson rudely interrupted by career moves that brought them away from each other. “I was young then, immature,” admitted Gerald, now 27, who let himself be swayed by people against the relationship. “Maraming intriga.” (Gerald has just been named Squadron Lieutenant of the Philippine Coast Guard, and his dad Gerald Sr., Captain of the Philippine Coast Guard, and Gerald’s brother Ken Lieutenant of the Philippine Coast Guard.) “It was so short that I didn’t have time to discover more about him, to know him better,” said Bea with a tone of undisguised regret. “I was also young then, carefree. I wish we could go back to those carefree years.” they didn’t even have time for closure. But since then, they would cross paths and get wind of each other’s affairs of the heart. Gerald has been linked to other actresses (Kim Chiu, Sarah Geronimo and Maja Salvador among them) and so was Bea (Mico Palanca, John Lloyd Cruz and Zanjoe Marudo, among them). Art seems to imitate life in their first movie together, Star Cinema’s “how to Be Yours.” Gerald plays Niño who initially chooses career over love until he meets Bea’s character Anj whose choice is career over love. reel life takes up where real life has left off. Niño and Anj
The ex-sweethearts are paired for the first time in Star Cinema’s How To Be Yours playing art-imitateslife characters that take up where they left off in real life.
journey through the various stages of loving and living, and all the ups and downs of falling in love, something they didn’t have a chance to experience during their “short but sweet” romance. Asked by the press if they didn’t feel awkward working together, Gerald admitted that it felt “surreal” and that he never thought this kind of team-up would come up. “Even before I entered show-
biz,” added Gerald, “I had a crush on Bea. She’s a very good actress. Being paired with her is a blessing.” Bea said that being together on the set gave her the chance to do what she had failed... to bond with Gerald. “We are okay so we were comfortable working together, no awkwardness at all. Gerald and I could talk about the past without being conscious about it.”
Kris Aquino meets with T.A.P.E exec thE netizens were abuzz after Kris Aquino was spotted having a meeting with t.A.P.E. executive tony tuviera and his son Michael tuviera. the photo of the meeting was first posted by Instagram user “iamphildada,” and eventually made rounds in different ABS-CBN photo social media sites. All she revealed was they met that afternoon. “Sa sobrang daming napagusapan umabot kami sa dinner,” Kris said. Some of her followers assumed that the Queen of All Media will move to the Kapuso network despite her recent meeting with ABS-CBN executives. While some of them think that she’s planning to do
Kris Aquino was spotted having a meeting with T.A.P.E. executive Tony Tuviera on Sunday, although both parties didn’t reveal the purpose.
a movie with the love team of Alden richards and Maine Mendoza. this was after Kris watched
the love team’s film “Imagine You & Me” and was all praises for their performance. (Philstar. com)
Why Kean Cipriano, Chynna Ortaleza remain private about their daughter?
Kean Cipriano and Chynna Ortaleza mutually decided to keep their family life private.
KEAN Cirpriano said he and his wife Chynna ortaleza mutually decided to keep their family life private. the couple surprised the public on Dec. 31, 2015 when they announced on Instagram that they’re already married. they elicited the same reaction when they didn’t announce that Chynna already gave birth to their daughter named Stellar in April. “Yeah, we live in an environment na public… pero hindi kami mapi-pressure sa isang bagay na desisyon namin,” said Kean about having a private family life, Philippine Entertainment Portal reported. “We’re
not hiding anything, it’s just that we’re private, we’re careful.” “We’re talking about family now, it’s not just the artists, it’s a family thing already. I’m sure you’ll protect your family as much as you can. You don’t give out information,” Kean said. Kean added that instead of talking about their family, he and his wife would rather talk about their craft to the public. the singer-actor stars in the regal Film “that thing Called tanga Na” which will be in cinemas on August 10. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)
Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola react to bashers by ERic John
SaLut ManilaTimes.net
UNLIKE most celebrities, Luis Manzano is not one to remain passive when it comes to his bashers on social media. the Minute to Win It host has been posting screen grabs of hate tweets referring to his relationship with Jessy Mendiola. In a series of screen grabbed profiles of the bashers, Luis also questioned the use of God and Bible quotes in their profiles despite their rampant trolling. “If you are rude to me, I’ll be rude to you,” he warned. the barrage of hate tweets started when Luis became vocal that Jessy Mendiola is someone special in his life right now. What added fuel to the fire was also a recent interview where Jessy defended herself after being accused as the reason behind Luis and Angel Locsin split earlier this year. In an interview after the
Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola
story conference for new movie “Extra Service” under Star Cinema, Jessy bravely answered all the issues and accusations. But during the latter part of the interview, she could no longer hide her emotions. Jessy for the most part just wanted to clarify that Luis was already single when they started going out. “My heart is pure. I would
never, ever destroy a relationship,” she swore. It’s been months since the Luis and Angel break up but it seems that both their fans and haters have yet to move on from the issue. Can’t we all just get along and be happy for Luis and Jessy? Luis’s ex, Angel, is known to be a brave lady so we are sure she has moved on as well.
Moonlighting
Jed Madela, the voice
by Mylah de
leon
IntervIewIng Jed Madela is like having a fun conversation at a party with someone you may never run into again. It is filled with the possibility of random pleasures. It is hard to keep in mind that Jed had so much and as long as he is in the public eye, you feel you know him deliberately. You prepare extensively as you start thinking about ways to push the boundaries of what he might be willing to discuss. On the other hand, if a question elicits a testy response, you get a hard slog ahead. You’re meeting a person, not a media creation or the product of your research. He needs to be interpreted, observed, profiled and quoted in context, in order to get him to be willing to open himself up and to have a more genuinely conversational feel. we already know he is John edward tajanlangin in real life. Jed is a Filipino recording artist and tv host who rose to stardom when he became the first Filipino to win the 2005 world Championship of the Performing Arts (wCOPA), a world grand champion title, so known for his uniquely wide vocal range. His professional list of major achievements in the music world are so enormous it defies enumeration. His musical career would ameliorate into a continuing stride with a litany of “champion.” At the Mainhill Awards of Kazakhstan, he was awarded as the “Best of Asian Male Singer of the Year 2003.” when he managed to hold the last note for a good 18 seconds of “Be My Lady,” he drew a standing ovation and loud wild applause from the audience and spectators at the coliseum. He created convulsions during the wCOPA here in Hollywood, when he romped away single handedly, all major industry awards. He bested over 3,000 contestants from 52 countries to win the grand
The Moonlighter with Jed Madela
prize with Aerosmith’s “I Don’t wanna Miss a thing.” no one yet has equaled his two “Champion of the world” plaques – one star trophy as grand Champion of the world in the singing division and a huge diamond trophy for the most credited grand Champion Performer of the world – a splendid musical history. It is easy interviewing famous people: they have no insecurities. I don’t ask trick questions, I hate “cute” interviews, and I stay away from questions that are suggestive and provocative. we had a friendly chat for thirty minutes over dinner at the wako wako tokyo (hosted by Fernandico Q. gonong)
note, that is the overall. when I sing I have to feel good, its something within you…not dictated by anything or anyone...it is inside, your own decision. M: When you first came here in the US were you curious to see some of the place that had generated the music you’d been looking to? J: I probably thought about that, those were years, years back, that was probably part of the game then. But then we had our own stuff our composers were grand, I did not think of a place at all – just enjoying everyday what was coming through [not geographical place]. I did not loom as large as you, not at all. M: [Do] You sing as it comes, Jed? It seems that in your singing (even then and today) you’re trying to convey something that is beyond words, beyond melody, beyond anything you could just say, something deeper than just the great lyrics. Is that how you feel your particular vocal style works? J: It is also the every words are being sung. the oral tradition is the closest to what something actually is, because it’s the way somebody is singing it, it is the way its being conveyed. now, I am saying or saying things – which in print will look entirely different – because you before the championship event don’t hear the actual tones all of that lyrics in a page are that turned out to be gratifyas close as you can get to the ing. none of which led to stupefied, one word replies, or be- songs but its not the real thing – just a description, that could fuddled response like, “whaat be something else. was the question again?,” M: What kind of things nor articulate an avalanche of would you say to a young words. the conversation flourished singer who wanted to know what stance your years had with my first question: taught you? Moonlighter: Do you still J: Your influential stance pay attention to what people needs something else as well. write about you? You have to do something Jed: You have to acknowlelse – you cant just rely on edge that these thoughts belong to them, you just proceed that. Hobbies, other interests, to get on with whatever’s com- other angles, even as you keep the great passion is your ing out, not what is projected life. those are just personal on it, just knowing that it is right. If the magic of the music opinions. now whether that’s going to influence people or is right, then it’s right. even not, all I can do is talk about it if somebody played a wrong
features 5
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 27, 2016
though my own experience. that’s all I can do. M: At this point in your career, Jed where does your inspiration come from? J: I am not one of those guys that wait for inspiration to come - what I do is put the hours in work. I am learning all the time, that’ what feeds my inspiration. I learn something
from someone better than me and that sparks me. You have to work. At his level of activity, he wants to keep singing, make more records, inspire the young. If he wants to do these, they’ll keep on listening. ***
E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com
6
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 27, 2016
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