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September 14-16, 2016

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 wants U.S. troops out of Mindanao Says the PH “will never have peace” if they remain by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte salutes as he reviews the troops during his “Talk with the Airmen” on the anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at the Philippine Air Force headquarters in suburban Pasay city, southeast of Manila, Philippines. On Monday, President Duterte, in his first public statement opposing the presence of American troops, said he wants U.S. forces out of his country’s south and blamed America for inflaming Muslim insurgencies in the region. Philstar.com photo

USA

DATELINE Gov. Brown expands overtime pay for farmworkers from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

hUNDreDs of thousands of California’s agricultural workers are now guaranteed the same overtime pay as other workers in a historic move by Gov. Jerry Brown. on monday, september 12, the governor signed AB 1066, which will expand overtime pay for farmworkers, a workforce that had long been denied the same overtime pay as other industries. Previously, laws prohibited paying farmworkers overtime pay unless they work more than 10 hours a day or 60 hours a week. thanks to the passing of AB 1066, that threshold will be lowered by a half hour each year for four years starting 2019. this means that by 2022, farmworkers will be guaranteed overtime pay if they work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week — a standard in other industries, but a first in the state’s agricultural workforce. the bill was sponsored by the United farm

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Fil-Am community leaders, activists outline consequences of not voting in U.S. election LoLIt Lledo and many other activists boycotted the 1986 snap elections that led to Philippine President ferdinand marcos’s ouster. they refused to campaign, vote or otherwise take part in what they viewed as a rigged system. In retrospect, she said the decision not to participate was detrimental to the Philippines in the long run. many of the people representing interests from the past regime that she had fought against eventually re-entered positions of prominence. “Because we did not participate we [activists] were left out when Cory was the president,” said Lledo, who now serves as the associate director for Pilipino Workers Center (PWC). “If you have a chance, you have to be a part of the political process.” resentment has characterized the 2016

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PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte has urged the withdrawal of the remaining United states troops from the southern Philippines, acting on this administration’s goal for a more independent foreign policy. Duterte — a vocal critic of the U.s. and its policies — said in a speech that the American soldiers are responsible for inciting tensions within the muslim community. “I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go,” Duterte

told the media in manila. Duterte said that the tensions are so high that insurgents are willing to kill Americans. “If they see Americans, they’ll really kill them. they’ll get ransom and then kill you, even if you are a black or a white, as long as you’re an American,” he continued. the U.s. troops were deployed in 2002 to provide combat and information sharing training and resources to filipino troops to battle Abu sayyaf insurgents in mindanao who were in cahoots with al-Qaeda. most American military personnel withdrew in

february 2015, but a group of advisers remained. Duterte referenced the Bud Dajo massacre of 1906 in which the U.s. Army targeted and killed 994 moro civilians in mindanao. he cited that as a foundation for the ongoing unrest in the region. he showed a jarring black and white photo of American troops standing over moro bodies. “the U.s. is a hypocrite,” Duterte said. “Look at the bodies there...for as long as we stay with America, we will never have peace in that land. We might as well give it up.”

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Palace: Duterte didn’t give green light for Veloso’s execution us that his actual statement and conversation with President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo went like this: he said regarding mary Jane Veloso, ‘follow your own laws. I will not interfere,’” Abella said. he added, “there was no categorical statement, there was no endorsement. he simply said follow your own laws.” the clarification comes after a news report in the Jakarta Post headlined, “Duterte has given green light for mary Jane’s execution.” Citing Antara — an Indonesian

by Christina and

M. Oriel dana siOsOn AJPress

PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte did not give his “go-ahead” for mary Jane Veloso’s execution, malacañang clarified on monday, sept.12. What Duterte told Indonesian President Joko Widodo was that he would not interfere with the latter country’s laws, according to Presidential spokesman ernesto Abella. “the president just informed

news agency — the report said, “President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said on monday that Philippine President rodrigo Duterte had given the green light for the execution of filipina death row inmate mary Jane Veloso.” “President Duterte has given the go-ahead to proceed with the execution,” Widodo stated. the report went on to quote the Indonesian president saying, “I have explained to [Duterte] about mary Jane’s situation and I told him that mary Jane [has

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar Inquirer file photo / Joan Bondoc

Andanar: 9/11 ‘a wake-up call for Pinoys’

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PAL, Cebu Pacific ban use of Samsung Note 7 on flights by rudy

santOs Philstar.com

by MarlOn

mANILA, Philippines — Local carriers banned on tuesday, september 13, the use of samsung Galaxy Note 7 cellular phones during flights, following the lead of the U.s. federal Aviation Administration (fAA) against packing the phones into any checkedin luggage after reports emerged of the device exploding during or after charging. flag carrier Philippine Airlines and leading low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific followed suit starting yesterday, issuing their respective

raMOs Inquirer.net

advisories. “Philippine Airlines is prohibiting the charging and use of samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices on board all its flights, effective immediately. PAL is issuing this directive in line with the recall order made on these products by samsung electronics Company Limited.”

the sept. 11, 2001, terror attack on the United states has made filipinos realize that combatting terrorism should be a shared responsibility of the government and its citizens, Presidential Communications secretary martin Andanar said on sunday, september 11. “this is a reminder that all of us are facing a faceless enemy, the terrorists,” Andanar said in an interview over dzrB state radio. “And we should all be one in battling this. We should all be helping each other.” he said every filipino should take on the responsibility of helping the Armed forces of the Philippines

findings showed that the Galaxy Note 7 batteries and phone units have caught fire during charging, prompting the manufacturer to recall all units sold worldwide. samsung said that only Galaxy Note 7 phones have been recalled due to the factory defect that causes the batteries to explode. PAL said safety remains a cornerstone of its operations, “and

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Imee Marcos seeks forgiveness for father: He’s only human by rOsette

adel

Philstar.com

mANILA, Philippines – Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee marcos, daughter of late strongman ferdinand marcos, asked their family’s critics to forgive her father. Imee made the appeal to their family’s detractors in her speech on the 99th birth anniversary of her father in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. she said her father is only human and prone

to mistakes. “Ngunit laging may mga bumabatikos sa mga marcos at walang humpay at tatlong dekada ang galit sa amin,” Imee said in her speech. “Kung anuman ang sala ng ama ko, at sadyang tao lang namang nagkakamali at nagkakasala, sana’y patawarin na nila. Na sa pagpapatawad nila’y mabigyan ang tatay ko ng kapayapaan at sa kanilang pagpapatawad mapawi sa wakas ang kanilang galit at matagpuan

rin nila ang katahimikan,” she added. the late president’s rule saw countless human rights abuses and marked by massive corruption. marcos placed the country under martial rule from sept. 21, 1972 until Jan. 17, 1981. the older marcos has been the subject of debate after President rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of National Defense to prepare for his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani or Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, daughter of late president Ferdinand

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Marcos, sought forgiveness for her father.

Imee Marcos/Facebook

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A SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Duterte wants U.S. troops out of… PAGE A1 t

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, however, he stressed that the Philippines is not going to cut security ties with the U.S. — or any other ally — in a speech at the 48th anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing at Villamor Air Base. “We are not cutting our alliances — military [alliances] as well,” the president said. “But certainly, we will follow an independent posture and independent foreign policy.” “I’m not anti-American,” Duterte continued. “We’re not severing our military ties. It has been there. Who am I to abrogate [the alliance]? What I’m saying is we’re following an independent [foreign policy].” Malacanang clarified that Duterte’s call for the withdrawal did not indicate that the Philippines is breaking its alliance with the U.S. and reiterated that it was merely a “warning.” “Those statements are not policies set in stone,” Presiden-

tial Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told the media. “These are backgrounders for possible future action. There’s a difference.” He added that the Philippines remains committed to its military agreements with the U.S., such as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). In his speech, Duterte criticized the U.S. for its policies, once again pointing out the rising number of police killings of unarmed black men. He also accused the U.S. of “exporting terrorism” in the Middle East, especially Iraq and Libya. In July, he made a similar proclamation when he blamed the violence ensuing in Iraq on the U.S., as previously reported by the Asian Journal. Following Duterte’s remarks, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said that Manila has not sent an official demand asking for U.S. mili-

tary personnel to leave the area. “We are not aware of any official communication by the Philippine government...to seek that result,” Kirby said in a news briefing, adding that the U.S. remains committed to its alliance with the Philippines. This is not the first time Duterte referenced the Bud Dajo Massacre in an attempt to criticize American policy. He mentioned the “atrocities” in an impassioned speech at last week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. Per Monday’s speech, he did not indicate when he wanted the troops out. He added that he had planned to discuss this with President Barack Obama at the summits, but didn’t do so “out of respect.” Since stepping into office, Duterte has not been quiet or politically correct regarding his distaste for Washington. His recent tirades against the U.S. have

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Police officers knock on a mansion as they took their campaign against illegal drugs to the posh Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City. Thousands of drug users and drug pushers have either been killed, arrested or surrendered since the police started implementing “Oplan Tokhang” in July. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene H. Dilan

Palace: Duterte didn’t give green…

PAGE A1 t

been found guilty] for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin. I also told him about the delay in the execution during the meeting.” Last Friday, Sept. 9, Duterte flew to Indonesia to meet with Widodo to discuss various topics, reportedly including the case of the 31-year-old Filipina. “I had a talk, this one of the topics of this conversation, everybody was excluded and a lot to cover, security arrangements including the Filipinos who are in jail and facing charges in Indonesia,” Duterte said in a press conference at the Davao International Airport. Duterte declined to discuss specifics of the conversation involving Veloso’s case. “There are matters that I cannot tell you now, I’m sorry, I’m not a liberty but maybe, I can talk to the family first,” he added.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the president said that asking for clemency would be hypocritical because his administration has been fighting the issue of drugs. “I said we will respect the judgments of your courts. Period. It would have been a bad taste in the mouth to be talking about having a strong posture against drugs and here you are begging for something,” he said during the 48th anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. He continued to report that, “it’s good that [Indonesia has] the death penalty here, at least you can bring it down to the barest minimum. I said go ahead and implement the law — I never. We never mentioned about Veloso.” Veloso was arrested at Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta and

was charged with drug trafficking in April 2010 for allegedly smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin. Supporters argue that Veloso was falsely promised a job to be a maid in Malaysia and was instead lured to be a drug mule without her knowledge. She was on the execution list but was given a last-minute reprieve on April 29, 2015, after Manila told Jakarta that her alleged recruiter had been arrested in the Philippines. When asked if Duterte had sought clemency for Veloso, Abella replied, “There is no need to plea for clemency as there was no scheduled execution.” He added that “If, and when, the Indonesian Supreme Court decides to act on the execution, that will be time to present (evidence proving) Veloso’s innocence as a justification for a plea of clemency.” n

Andanar: 9/11 ‘a wake-up call for…

PAGE A1 t

and Philippine National Police in putting an end to the activities of the Abu Sayyaf and other local terror groups. Andanar said it was unfortunate that the unimaginable 9/11 incident, which killed nearly 3,000 people 15 years ago, had

“opened a Pandora’s box in terrorism.” “As a matter fact, it developed into something even worse. We now see extremists like IS. Even the Abu Sayyaf became stronger [after 9/11],” he said. Most notorious The Abu Sayyaf has been de-

scribed as the most notorious local terrorist organization. It has allied itself with the late international terror chief Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network, the regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah and recently with the sadistic Islamic State.

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Dateline USa

GOLDEN STATUE Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos leads the wreath-laying ceremony at the golden statue of her father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, in Sarrat town, his birthplace. EV Espiritu / Inquirer.net

Duterte wants U.S. troops out of… PAGE A2 t

led to an uneasy relationship between the two countries, who have shared a solid, long-standing alliance. In August, he came under fire for calling U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg “gay” and a “son of a b****.” In response to the U.S.’ criticism of the escalating drug-related killings in the Philippines, Duterte has defended his policies while criticizing the U.S.

for police brutality and the rise of killings of unarmed black people. Most recently, he went under international scrutiny after a false report that said that he had called Obama a “son of a b****”; but, as the Asian Journal previously reported, he was referring to a reporter, not Obama. The remark led to a cancellation of an anticipated bilateral meeting between the two leaders. In Tuesday’s speech, he said

that being publicly criticized for the rise in killings associated with the war on drugs was uncalled for and that if there was to be a discussion about it, it shouldn’t be done publicly or through the media. “If you want to criticize me, bring it to the UN and allow me to answer. I’m not your subordinate. I’m not your employee. If you do that to me, I’ll really curse you. Who are you to lecture me?” n

PAL, Cebu Pacific ban use of Samsung…

PAGE A1 t

as such, the flag carrier will be ensuring full compliance on board each flight and is seeking the full cooperation of its passengers.” “In addition, these devices are not allowed as check-in items, but may be hand-carried for as long as these are switched off at all times. All Samsung Galaxy Note 7 units - whether used or brand new - will not be accepted as PAL cargo shipment.” In a statement yesterday, PAL said it started the prohibition of the use of such devices since Sept. 9, to comply with a directive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA directive was issued following Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s global recall order on the products last week. The recall is being undertaken as findings showed the Galaxy Note 7 batteries and phone units

have caught fire during charging. Low-cost carriers Cebu Pacific and AirAsia also said they are not allowing passengers to use and charge the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 device while onboard the aircraft. “We sincerely hope for our passengers’ full cooperation, as the safety of everyone onboard our flights remains our utmost priority,” Cebu Pacific said. Cebu Pacific (CEB) said: “In light of the recent recall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices due to safety issues, Cebu Pacific advises passengers that the usage and charging of the device are prohibited onboard all CEB and Cebgo flights beginning Sept. 11 until further notice,” the airline said in a statement. CEB added that Galaxy Note 7 devices must also not be stowed in checked-in baggage, but may be hand-carried as long as the device is turned off at all times

inside the aircraft. AirAsia said their guests might approach any of their ground staff for further information about the new guideline on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 device. American television Fox 10 reported claims that a faulty Galaxy Note 7 had set fire to a family’s jeep. Samsung has said that battery problems were behind the phones catching fire, but that it was difficult to work out which phones were affected among those sold. The phone was launched last August and has been otherwise generally well received by consumers and critics. Live Mint consumer report said: “For Samsung, which prides itself on manufacturing prowess, the scale of the recall, which covers 10 markets including the Philippines, is expected to be unprecedented.” (With Louella Desiderio)

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016

A SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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2 passengers, 4 crew hurt as PAL plane encounters turbulence

Programs Assistant for the Pilipino Workers Center, Teresita Villasenor, attempts to rally potential voters and volunteers at the PWC election forum on Saturday, Septermber 10 AJPress photo by Eric Anthony Licas

clear air turbulence at 6:21 a.m., Tuesday, as it was approaching the NAIA for landing. SIX persons, including two Villaluna said that this caused passengers and four cabin crew injuries to two passengers and members, were hurt on Tuesday four crew members who were when a Manila-bound aircraft given first aid treatment in encountered turbulence just as it the aircraft and further mediwas landing at the Ninoy Aquino cal assistance after it landed International Airport (NAIA). around 6:40 a.m. at the NAIA Among those slightly injured terminal 1. was American singer Anika EllisA report from the NAIA termiMungin, a member of the KC and nal 1 medical officer-on-duty Dr. the Sunshine Band who is in the Lotis Venus Love Casiple said country for a concert on Wednes- that two of the cabin crew memday, September 13. bers, a 29-year-old female and a According to Philippine Air- 34-year-old male, hit their head lines (PAL) spokesperson Cielo hard in the ceiling and were adVillaluna PAL flight PR 1103 from vised to seek further hospital Los Angeles, which had 248 pas- tests, particularly a CT scan, sengers on board, experienced after they complained of neck

PAGE A1 t

by Jeannette

andrade Inquirer.net

and back pain. Two other stewardesses hurt their arm which they used as support from being thrown off their seats. Ellis-Mungin complained of a headache and had a slight contusion. Cold compress was applied on the swollen portion of her head and she was advised to see a doctor should her headache persist. The other passenger, a 43-year-old man, sustained an abrasion on his left leg which was treated and dressed. The members of the PAL cabin crew, particularly those who complained of neck and back pain, were brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center for further medical examination. n

Fil-Am community leaders, activists outline… Gov. Brown expands overtime pay for…

U.S. presidential race. However, individuals, especially Filipinos, who are dissatisfied with this year’s candidates and are thinking of skipping November’s election forget what is at stake. That’s the belief of panelists representing a spectrum of liberal views at a forum held at the PWC in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 10. Speakers challenged citizens and residents to make an impact in this year’s election cycle, and the future of American politics. They noted that a vacant seat on the Supreme Court, vastly contrasting immigration plans proposed by this year’s major party candidates and other emerging topics place too much at risk for Filipinos and other people of color to stay silent in November. “If someone tells you it makes no difference, they’re not living the life you’re living,” said Bill Gallegos, former executive director of the environmental group Communities for a Better

Environment, during Saturday’s forum. He added that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s plans for America would mean sending out “200,000 ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) agents with guns and tanks to round people up.” Along with other panelists, Gallegos, a critic of Trump and former Bernie Sanders supporter, warned against the consequences of enacting Trump’s plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. They also criticized the Republican candidate’s stance on foreign policy, the environment, education, minimum wage laws and other matters of great import to Filipinos and other minority communities. “Democracy takes work. It takes education. It takes commitment,” said Grace Barrios,the vice president of outreach for Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD). “If our voice isn’t heard, they think it isn’t important.” PWC hosted Saturday evening’s

Imee Marcos seeks… PAGE A1 t

Heroes’ Cemetery. Martial law victims opposed the move, seeking for a halt order from the Supreme Court. Hundreds of Filipinos also held demonstrations against the burial at the site, citing “grave injustice” to thousands of human rights victims.

In April, former vice presidential candidate and senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. refused to apologize for the alleged abuses of his father. He said he recognized every administration’s violations against human rights, but he failed to directly refer to those done during the martial law period. n

event in order to engage more Filipino Americans in the political process during a time that may prove to be a pivotal moment in their community’s future. Many members of the community are either unregistered or do not plan on voting, and Fil-Ams have traditionally been reluctant to take part in political action, according to PWC Executive Director Aquilina Versoza. “The actual voting potential of our community is not being realized; we’re below average in turnout,” said Versoza. “This could be seen as negative, but on the other hand, I see a lot of potential in our community.” She and other activists hope to awaken the political consciousness of California’s largest Asian American and Pacific Islander ethnicity. Events like Saturday’s forum serve to introduce members of the community to the national discussion and inform them of their options. Kabataang maka-Bayan: ProPeople Youth (KMB) chair Eddy Gana reminded forum attendees that their choices were for president not limited to Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. “There is no lesser of two evils, only candidates that do or do not better represent your ideals,” said Gana on Saturday. “A vote for a third party is not a wasted vote.” He said widespread disillusionment felt by many voters during the current election cycle is a

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Workers of America, which said that Brown’s passing of the bill was a victory after nearly 80 years of working for the rights of farmworkers. Six years ago, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez of California’s 80th District, who authored AB 1066, praised Brown’s decision to pass the bill. Gonzalez, a daughter of an immigrant farmworker, has long pushed for workers rights, especially immigrants and workers of color. Of the state’s farmworkers, 90 percent are Latino and 80 percent are immigrants, according to the Los Angeles Times. “The hundreds of thousands of men and women who work in California’s fields, dairies and ranches feed the world and an-

chor our economy,” Gonzalez said in a speech following the bill’s passing. “They will finally be treated equally under the law. It is a good day.” Filipino-American Assemblymember Rob Bonta, a fervent supporter of AB 1066 and farmworkers rights, took to Twitter to thank Brown. “Thank you @JerryBrownGov for signing #AB1066 #Farmworker OT pay is a reality for those who put food on our tables!” Bonta tweeted on Monday. Another long time supporter of the bill Thomas Perez, secretary for the United States Department of Labor, shared his support for the bill’s passing in a statement. “People who work on farms and in our homes are some of America’s most vulnerable workers,” Perez said. “We all depend on their work to feed and care

for our families, but far too often they can’t afford to put food on their own dinner tables.” However, the bill’s passing has been met with critics. The Sacramento Bee reported that business groups believe that increasing labor costs will be damaging in a key agricultural state. Other said that the farm workers will be harmed if employers “reduce worker hours to avoid triggering overtime requirements,” the Bee reported. However, advocates for the bill say that the bill is a step towards equality for a historically marginalized group. The state did not grant overtime pay for farm laborers until 1976 when the 10-hour-a-day/60-hours-aweek threshold was established by the state’s Industrial Welfare Commission. (Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)

Andanar: 9/11 ‘a wake-up call for…

PAGE A2 t

The group has denied involvement in the Sept. 2 bomb attack in Davao City that killed 14 people and wounded 67 others. President Duterte has vowed to exact revenge on those behind the bombing in his hometown, warning he would eat the terrorists alive. The attack in Davao happened shortly after the President ordered intensified military operations in Sulu province to run after the Abu Sayyaf. Authorities suggested the attack could also be linked to the administration’s ruthless war

against illegal drugs. Andanar said the government was not taking lightly warnings of bomb attacks in crowded places which were sent through text and e-mailed by unknown individuals. Civic responsibility He urged those who receive threatening messages to immediately call government hotline numbers 911 or 117 and give the information to the proper authorities. “As a responsible citizen practicing your civic responsibility, you should call 911 so that at

least [the information] is on record. It’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said. “Our intelligence agencies can trace the sources of these [threatening] text messages and emails,” he said. “To our countrymen, I hope you don’t make prank calls to our hotlines because it would only worsen the situation.” He said the President’s declaration of a state of lawlessness would help the military and the police conduct operations against individuals out to sow terror in other parts of the country after the Davao blast. n

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Dateline USa

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016

Fil-Am community leaders, activists outline…

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The House of Representatives, voting 218-4, approved on third and final reading last night a bill postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election scheduled on Oct. 31. File photo

sign that Americans are ready to substantially challenge the two-party system. Americans can combat the root cause of that resentment by considering a vote for Green Party Candidate Jill Stein, Libertarian Gary Johnson, or any of the other non-establishment party candidates. However, Carol Ojeda-Kimbrough, an activist in attendance at the forum, suggested that third-party votes could raise the likelihood of a Republican victory in November. As a cautionary tale, she brought up the 2000 presidential race in which Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote, but lost in the electoral college to Republican George W. Bush. Many progressive voters who supported Green Party candidate Ralph Nader that year deeply regretted her decision, especially after the initiation of the Iraq War, according to Ojeda-Kimbrough. KMB and PWC do not support

a particular party, but Gana said he could sympathize with people worried about the implications of a possible Trump presidency. However, he believes that even if the Republican nominee took office, one way or another, either Congress or the American people would not allow the billionaire’s most controversial proposals to be realized. Gana added that a Trump presidency would provide further incentive to move away from the two-party system. Whichever side they may lean towards, panelists say it is

Dateline PhiliPPines Drilon pushes for higher tourism budget by Tarra

Quismundo Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon on Tuesday called for a higher budget for the Department of Tourism (DOT) as he noted a massive funding decline for the agency tasked to promote the country around the world. In a budget hearing, Drilon had to squeeze a response from DOT officials on whether or not they think their proposed P2.40-billion budget for 2017 was enough, noting its 32 percent decline from the current P3.62-billion allocation. The DOT had originally proposed a 2017 budget of P3.9 billion, but it was slashed by the Department of Budget and Management, cutting down on bottom-up budgeting (BUB) allocations, funds for capital outlay and the marketing budget. “Dagdagan niyo (increase it),” said Drilon, during the Senate finance committee hearing led by Sen. Loren Legarda. “I will have no qualms… [if it will help] to highlight the importance of tourism,” Drilon said. To the senator’s remarks Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo responded: “Senator, if we

senator said. “The effects of this negative perception on our tourism remain to be seen, but it will definitely hit us,” he said. The decreased DOT budget would mean a sharp decline in the department’s marketing budget from P1.2 billion this year to P300 million this year. Such funding supports the DOT’s “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign, which is credited for increasing tourist arrivals in the country during the Aquino administration. “How do you plan to achieve this (marketing targets) if you Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon. have no budget?” Drilon asked Inquirer.net file photo / Grig C. Montegrande officials. He also noted earlier reports can get a bigger budget, we that the Duterte administration would appreciate it.” might be planning to change the Drilon noted the importance of enhancing tourism promotion given “recent issues confronting our country, including the vigilante killings, the Davao bombing, etc” which has triggered travel advisories from several foreign countries. “This is a crucial time for the government to step up its tourism efforts in order to counter any negative perception that the international community may have towards our country,” the

tourism slogan, saying: “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon clarified that the DOT is not planning to change the popular and viral slogan, saying: “We’re not necessarily changing “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” The idea is to come up with activities that will build on the gains that we’ve achieved.” Former broadcaster and now Tourism Undersecretary Katherine Chloe de Castro said the department is about to launch a P650-million tourism campaign, which would see television advertisement placements in countries like Germany and India. Tourism accounted for 8.3 percent of the gross domestic product last year, with the arrival of five million visitors. n

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critical for Fil-Ams to speak out more frequently to ensure that the needs of the community are not ignored. Even if they are not eligible to vote, residents can still help the community make an impact through volunteer work. “We want everyone to get involved,” said PWC community organizer, Ian Kamus. “Even if you don’t necessarily like the candidates, there are other issues that are oftentimes bigger than the candidates that you have to look at.” (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)

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OpiniOn

To the President of the Philippines

Features

THE GLOBAL Commission on Drug Policy was born from the recognition that the prohibitionist and repressive “war on drugs,” which has persisted for the past 50 years, has failed. Drugs have always existed and have existed everywhere, and it is illusory to believe that their use can be eradicated completely, particularly through violent methods. Indeed, four members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy were heads of state (Brazil, Mexico, Poland and Portugal) when the United Nations approved in 1998 a 10-year strategy to create drug-free societies. Ten years later, however, drugs produced, trafficked and consumed were more available than when the decision was taken—and that upward trend has continued since. We now admit that a war on drugs will always prove unable to prevent drug supply and use in the long term, leading only to more pain and suffering. For example, the levels of supply of “shabu,” of particular concern in your country, appear to be equally high in Thailand and Malaysia as in the Philippines, despite repressive policies. In contrast, countries as diverse as New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Uruguay, Bolivia, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and West African nations are now considering and even implementing alternatives, including laws regulating the use, possession and/or production of drugs, with marked success in harm and crime reduction. Even the

military regime in Thailand has recognized its failure to reduce drug trafficking, calling it “an unwinnable war.” Mr. President, we believe that your current strategy also constitutes an unwinnable war, at a terrible cost to your population. It is not a question of choosing between human rights and the safety of your people, as you have claimed, but the means employed to address crime must not result in further crimes against individuals whose conduct often causes very little harm. We acknowledge that your people are concerned with high crime and corrupt institutions; there is little evidence to show, however, that drugs represent the root of the widespread corruption and insecurity which your countrymen are concerned about. Repressive and punitive actions, based on the inhumane idea of sacrificing the lives of some to enhance the lives of the majority, are not only ineffective but also undermine the social fabric of your communities, with serious negative consequences: innocent victims killed on mere suspi-

Guest Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

cion, orphaned children, fear of law enforcement and arbitrary justice even among law-abiding citizens, increased HIV transmission rates, and prison overcrowding. An effective drug policy is far more complex than you portray it, and should include investments in drug prevention and treatment, harm reduction, public health, socioeconomic development, criminal justice reform, as well as in secu-

rity. These measures will help address the root causes of drug use and trafficking, and not only respect the needs and rights of all individuals but will also be far more effective long-term than the brutal approach which you currently favor. — Fernando Cardoso, former president of Brazil; Louise Arbour, former high commissioner; and Sir Richard Branson, members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy (Inquirer.net)

Fil-Am group urges kababayans: Unite and support Duterte’s war vs drugs and criminality ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, Fil-Am The Fil-Am group U.S. Pinoys for Real Change (USPRC) Perspective held a prayer vigil in front of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. to declare its support for Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Gel SantoS-ReloS all out war against the drug pandemic in the Philippines, while making sure the Duterte administration follows the rule of law, due process and accountability. In my interview on The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” with Atty. Arnedo Valera, acting chairman of USPRC, I asked him if he believes the rule of law and due process was followed in the more than 2,400 drug-related fatalities since Duterte took office. Valera explained: “The president/PNP and the military were ordered to use force only in self-defense and shoot in self-defense. Generals

and other police scalawags are being investigated and cases will be filed; Non-state actors referring to drug lords, pushers and vigilantes who are now engaged in summary executions among and between them to cover their bases are being arrested and prosecuted.” Valera asserted that the USPRC will also act as a watchdog, saying “to make sure that while we support the drug war to save our nation, especially women and children, we will continue to demand accounting of both undetermined deaths and deaths in the encounter and self-defense. Calling for the full support of the drug war is consistent [with our stand] that it should be done under the rule of law.” Valera is also a human rights advocate with strong ties with the United Nations. He affirmed, “As a human rights advocate, I will demand transparency and respect

for these principles. Unlike extrajudicial killings during the Marcos dictatorship to stifle legitimate dissent, killings today are perpetrated by drug lords, pushers and addicts, and of course deaths in self-defense . If there are evidence to the contrary, then the citizenry should be encouraged to come out and cooperate with the government.” He went on to urge kababayans to not presume that the PNP and the military are killers entirely. “If there are excesses, yes we should condemn them. The Rule of law and due process are non-negotiable and we gave specific demands on this, aside from supporting the peace talks, programs for food, jobs and justice etc.” Will you heed this call for unity and support for Duterte’s all-out war vs drugs? *** 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

In his let-bygones-be-bygones tour, why did Obama skip the Philippines? IN “The Interpreter” op-ed column in the New York Times, Opinion Max Fisher reported that President Obama, during his final year in office, spent time in acknowledging United States’ misdeeds in Yen Makabenta various countries that he has visited. So far this year, Obama has visited Cuba, Argentina, Vietnam and Japan, each time discussing historical trouble spots and decades-old but still sensitive events, framed in the language of reconciliation and expiation. 1.) In March, Obama visited Cuba and President Raúl Castro. He told a Cuban audience that the United States had previously tried to “exert control over Cuba” and treated it as “something to exploit.” By tacitly rejecting past American behavior, Obama signaled that he would not repeat it. By opening himself up to criticism at home, he showed his willingness to make sacrifices for improved relations. 2.) Also in March, Obama visited Argentina. While there, he talked of a 1976 military coup that had received tacit American approval. He said: “The United States, when it reflects on what happened here, has to examine its own policies, as well, and its own past. “Democracies have to have the courage to acknowledge when we don’t live up to the ideals that we stand for.” 3.) In May in Hiroshima, Obama cited the suffering caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Max Fisher wrote, “This signaled not just Obama’s concerns about nuclear weapons and his understanding of Japan’s needs, and US readiness to commit resources to meet them. This could help convince Tokyo that it can count

on American support when it comes to, say, naval confrontations with China. 4.) This September, on the occasion of the Asean and East Asia summits in Laos, the misdeed singled out for reconciliation was the C.I.A.-led bombing and paramilitary campaign that devastated Laos during the Vietnam War. President Obama stopped short of offering an apology in Laos, but his words were clear and appropriately contrite, in “acknowledging the suffering and sacrifices on all sides of that conflict.” Why exclude the Philippines? In this litany of grievance and regret, why did President Obama leave out the Philippines, which is surely as deserving of conciliation as all these countries, if not more so? Surely, it cannot be because President Obama has a crystal ball like that of a fortuneteller who can accurately predict that President Rodrigo Duterte would fly off the handle and bury him in profanities in the two summits in Vientiane. More likely, it was a deliberate decision to exclude the Philippines from consideration, having already gotten our government’s assent to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the disguised return of US military presence in the country – and even the endorsement of our integrity-challenged Supreme Court. These considerations notwithstanding, it is totally baffling that in Obama’s selection of countries with whom to talk of reconciliation and expiation, he forgot the Philippines and the Filipinos. Because it was here in our archipelago, and in 1898, where and when the United States of America embraced its

destiny to become a global and imperial power – at the expense of our people and our newly inaugurated republic. Given this glaring omission, either our foreign affairs department or our embassy in Washington was totally clueless about what was afoot in the Obama administration, or Obama wanted to send a message to President Duterte to mind his mouth and his human rights report card. A turning point in history By any measure in geopolitics and history, the US decision to invade, conquer and annex the Philippines in 1898 was epochal – a turning point, a watershed in history In his book, 1898, The Birth of the American Century (vintage, 1998), the historian David Traxel wrote, “The United States had irrevocably entered the world in 1898, and although a strong isolationist movement would intermittently rise throughout the cen-

tury, there could be no turning back to the country‘s earlier policy of avoiding foreign entanglements.” That is the American viewpoint, and the verdict is shared by most historians. There was another view of events— the Filipino’s viewpoint. To one Filipino historian and political scientist, Dr. Floro C. Quibuyen, in his book, A Nation Aborted (Ateneo University Press, 2008), American conquest in 1898 aborted the Philippine republic, which was the fitting climax of the Philippine revolution of 1896. Dr. Quibuyen wrote: “American conquest deformed, with the wholehearted cooperation of the local elite, the blossoming nationalist hegemony, thereby co-opting the anti-Spanish, anti-colonial movement, and transforming it into a pro- American nationalism. “On the cultural terrain, this was accomplished by the appropriation of

Rizal by the American colonial regime. “The nation – as civil society that Rizal had envisioned – did not materialize. What emerged, instead, was the monstrosity of nation-statism, and a people completely cut off from the spirit of 1896.” Moving beyond the past In a briefing with reporters, Susan E. Rice, Obama’s national security adviser, said, “A hallmark of President Obama’s tenure has been to face and acknowledge our history.” That history has included “points of departure” from the United States’ “overwhelmingly positive” role in the world, Ms. Rice said. “Where that’s the case, we should acknowledge it.” This practice, she added, “serves our interests and our relationships in our ability to move beyond the past in some of these places.” Mr. Obama hints that the United States has caused harm abroad and perhaps even made mistakes. He squares American rhetoric with reality as the world perceives it. Supporters see this as sending a message to foreign states that they can trust Washington to hear their concerns and even compromise, encouraging allies and adversaries alike to invest political capital in the relationship. Despite talk of rock-hard closeness, the US and the Philippines have not moved beyond the past in their own relationship. This is why President Duterte’s unexpected disclosure of a massacre in Mindanao perpetrated by American troops during the PhilippineAmerican War was so shocking and unsettling. Had President Obama not skipped the Philippines in his bygones tour, this unfortunate row might have been avoided. But no one had the wit to remind him of the Philippine-American War. (yenmakabenta@yahoo.com)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A CROSS is tattooed on the back of a drug suspect in a Davao City jail, a testament perhaps to his belief in God, which PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, in a speech before Mimaropa policemen, said is key to the war on drugs. Karlos Manlupig/Inquirer.net

‘Narco vice mayor’ being probed for Davao blast by Jaime Laude and

eveLyn Philstar.com

macairan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) filed drug trafficking charges on Monday, Sept. 12, against Talitay, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Abdul Wahab Sabal, who is also being investigated for the Davao City bombing last Sept. 2 that killed 14 people. The PNP’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) filed the charges against Sabal and three other suspects before the Department of Justice (DOJ). Sabal was flown to Manila from Maguindanao early yesterday morning following his arrest on Thursday at the Cotabato City airport. DOJ prosecutor Gino Santiago said the complaints were filed against Sabal, Mohanna Sabal, Nasser Maulana and Norodin Abas. Santiago said that based on the letter request of the PNP, the investigators filed complaints of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 1992 and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives against the four respondents. The DOJ clarified that it would be decided by next week if a case would be filed against the suspects in the proper court. Aside from the illegal drug trade, police are investigating the possible involvement of Vice Mayor Sabal in the bombing at the Davao City night market. Police released an artist’s sketch of the suspect who was wearing a mask. PNP chief Director General Roland dela Rosa said that the blast could have been perpetrated by narco-politicians in retaliation for the government’s sustained anti-drugs campaign. Santiago said that there was “no mention” that the complaint filed against the four individuals were connected to the Davao blast last Sept. 2. Earlier, President Duterte accused Sabal and his brother Talitay Mayor Montasir Sabal as narcopoliticians for their involvement in the illegal drug

Vice Mayor Abdul Wahab Sabal of Talitay, Maguindanao and three companions arrive at the Department of Justice where drug trafficking charges were filed against them on Monday. Sabal is also being investigated for his possible involvement in the Davao night market blast on Sept. 2. Photo by Edd Gumban

trade. The Sabal brothers earlier surrendered to Maguindanao police director Senior Supt. Nicksdon Muksan and denied their involvement in drug trafficking. They later presented themselves to Dela Rosa in Camp Crame, Quezon City. In Manila, Sabal was initially brought to the AIDG office before he was brought to the DOJ in Manila. PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said that he still has no information regarding Sabal’s arrest and presence at the AIDG. n

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

Duterte highly regarded by Chinese, Asean businessmen

Francis Chua said the toughtalking Philippine president was highly regarded by the Chinese NANNING, China — Despite and ASEAN business communihis recent controversial verbal ties. spat with the world’s most powChua on Saturday night met erful president on issues involv- with his fellow business leaders ing human rights, President from the region and China for Rodrigo Duterte’s popularity the annual CAEXPO supporting continues to soar as he received chambers of commerce confermostly positive remarks from ence and business networking Chinese and ASEAN business activity. leaders. “You’ll be surprised a lot of In an interview during the them was saying that this is opening of the 13th China- the kind of president that the ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) here ASEAN needs. We have the bigyesterday, International Cham- gest problem in Asia, in which ber of Commerce Philippines some countries are not strong founding chairman and Philip- enough. (They said) we really pine Chamber of Commerce pray hard for that president and and Industry chairman emeritus u PAGE B2 by riChMond

s. MerCurio

Philstar.com

Jollibee eyes investment opportunities in US, China by iris

Gonzales

Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) is on the look out for new companies to acquire in the US and China as the company aims to grow even bigconglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) ger, a ranking official Food is on the look out for new companies to acquire said. in the US and China as the company aims to “We continue to look grow even bigger, a ranking official said. for companies to acquire so we’re always working on something,” said JFC chief financial officer Ysmael Baysa. He said the focus was outside the Philippines, particularly China and the US, which are the company’s biggest markets. “Most likely, it’s outside of the Philippines. Our biggest markets are outside such as China and the US so most likely it’s in one of those countries,” Baysa said. JFC also plans to bring Smashburger, the Colorado-headquartered burger giant it acquired last year, to Asia, possibly in the Philippines. “The focus of Smashburger is the US. That continues to be

u PAGE B2

by Prinz

P. MaGtulis Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Economic relations between the US and the Philippines are “unlikely” to suffer as a result of President Rodrigo Duterte’s comments against the country’s long-time ally, lender and development partner. “(It’s) unlikely to have impact,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a text message on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno

agreed. “There is unlikely to be any problem since investors are usually looking at macrofundamentals,” he said in a phone interview. Admitting he is not a “fan” of the US, Duterte said Monday that he intentionally missed a summit with US President Barack Obama but not before he criticized the US president over the possibility of raising human rights issues in the Philippine government’s war on drugs. Obama, as a result, cancelled his first bilateral talks with Duterte, who, upon return-

ing to the country also called for a pullout of US troops in Mindanao. A Palace spokesperson later on clarified that no official policy has been made to such effect. According to separate official data, the US is the biggest source of equity foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, accounting for 61.8 percent of total at $271.72 million. “Most investors will focus more on the economy’s strong fundamentals. For as long as we are performing well, then that will be fine,” Diokno said.

u PAGE B2

PH on track to meet 2016 growth targets by Czeriza

ValenCia Philstar.com

Diwakar Gupta, ADB vice president for private sector and cofinancing operations, said growth is seen to remain strong due to robust domestic consumption even with the expected easing in the second half as the impact of election spending wanes. Paulo Alcazaren

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is on track to attain its full year growth target of between six andseven percent, but the growth momentum may be slowed down by weak export performance, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said recently. Diwakar Gupta, ADB vice president for private sector and cofinancing operations, said growth is seen to remain strong due to robust domestic consumption even with the expected eas-

ing in the second half as the impact of election spending wanes. “Private investment and household spending are expected to expand on positive sentiment from peaceful elections and the new government’s pronouncements to enhance policies to lift FDIs, enhance ease of doing business, accelerate PPPs and address infrastructure bottlenecks,” he said. Gupta, however, noted that weak external demand for Philippine products can create a drag on the country’s economic growth as seen in the continued

u PAGE B3

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PH-US economic relations…

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The US is also the largest holder of Philippine debt at $13.29 billion, equivalent to 17.11 percent as of the first quarter this year, but the Budget official said even this should not be a cause of concern. The country was also the second-biggest source of official development assistance (ODA) in 2014, and the government had already programmed 80 percent of its foreign borrowings from ODA next year. Interest rates on money being lent, the budget chief said, will remain market-driven, adding that the bulk of Philippines’ ODA come from Japan.

“Remember also that by next year we are sourcing minimal amount from foreign borrowings,” Diokno said. Rates of existing ODA are normally fixed. ‘US not a top source of remittances’ In terms of overseas Filipino remittances, he explained that while data would show US as top source, this is in fact a “misnomer”. Central bank figures showed 32 percent or $4.28 billion of total remittances as of the first semester coming from the world’s superpower. “The reality is that most remittances are just coursed through the US, particularly New York,

because of the banks,” Diokno said. “But, actually, our primary remittance source is the Middle East,” he added. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas takes note of such practice on its database. Diokno, however, did not comment on the country’s trade relations with the US, which is the second-biggest export destination and fourth-biggest source of imports. He however maintained that the Duterte administration’s economic program remains intact. “We continue to see strong economic performance,” Diokno said. n

Duterte highly regarded by Chinese… PAGE B1 t

if he succeeds, that’s a story that everybody can follow and can emulate,” Chua said. US President Barack Obama scrapped bilateral talks with Duterte last week during the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane, Laos following the latter’s controversial remarks. “So it’s a total different thing because there are people that keep on hammering on the human rights issue. Human rights is correct, but when it comes to the administration of the country, there is a certain way different presidents and different administrators would like to adhere into,” Chua said. “There are people who might be pro our president, there are some who might be against but I was so surprised that all those ASEAN and Chinese (business leaders) were saying ‘you guys you are so lucky you got a president that was not even worried about his safety.’ They are all so supportive,” President Rodrigo Duterte Chua said. n

Jollibee eyes investment opportunities…

PAGE B1 t

the focus but we’re considering opening it in some international markets. One of them can be the Philippines or some other countries,” Baysa said. Apart from the US, Smashburger is available in Panama, Costa Rica, Canada, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, England and Egypt. It has no presence yet in Asia. Last year, JFC acquired a 40percent stake in the casual burger brand for $100.25 million. Under the deal between the two burger giants, JFC has the option to purchase up to an additional 35 percent of Smashburger between 2018 and 2021 and the balance of 25 percent between 2019 at the earliest and 2026 at the latest. The purchase price for the remaining 60 percent will be based on the achievement of certain financial performance targets agreed by the parties.

Smashburger serves fresh 100-percent certified Angus beef burgers. It has 339 restaurants with sales of approximately $339 million in 2015, equivalent to 12 percent of JFC’s estimated worldwide system wide sales for the same year. JFC reported a net income of P3.06 billion in the first half, up 13.4 percent from P2.7 billion a year ago on strong sales within and outside the Philippines. However, China’s sales fell 5.7 percent due to competitive pressure on Yonghe King, JFC’s largest brand there. But Baysa said the company expects to recover sales in China by the end of the year. “We’re confident we would be able to restore the growth because over the last few years we’ve been enjoying very good growth. Now competitors are putting pressure but we think that’s temporary. It could be as

early as the fourth quarter or early next year,” he said. Baysa said the company was looking forward to continued strong profit growth while preparing for likely higher inflation rate in 2017 in the Philippines and other parts of the world. JFC has earmarked P10.4 billion in capital expenditures this year, more than double the P4.7 billion spent in 2015. Of the amount, P7.5 billion will be used for new stores and renovations of existing stores. The group plans to build at least 200 new stores this year after opening 249 in 2015. The remaining P2.9 billion will mostly go to supply chain operations. JFC operates the largest food service network in the Philippines, with 2,528 restaurants as of the end of June. Its brands are Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and Burger King. n

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Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng ONE of the many problems of owning a business is: getting sued by the employees. Employees always think that employers have deep pockets to pay for lawsuits. Perhaps some large businesses can afford to pay big chunks of money for lawsuits, but most actually, cannot. If you own a small restaurant that is making some money, getting hit with a discrimination lawsuit filed by a handicap guest who wants money because the restaurant did not have wheelchair access, that single lawsuit is enough to kill the business. Even Volkswagen with billions of sales worldwide will be straining to pay off its settlement liability for fooling around with the emission standard compliance of its cars. Of note are the employees of businesses, which require them to provide services that are not that easy to clock. Home care facilities have live in caregivers who may be in the facility the whole day. In fact, they could be living in the facility rent-free. So, the record keeping of when they actually work and don’t work becomes a big deal. The employee lawsuits typically allege that they work a lot of overtime, or are asked to work a lot of overtime, which they are not paid for. Since the employees live in the facility, its difficult to determine the actual hours worked, unless employer has a bulletproof work time record system. If you as an employer want to win this kind of lawsuits, you better make sure that your work time recording system is impeccable, 100% accurate and easily understood by the Court when these are presented in evidence. Otherwise, it will be employee testimony, normally several employees who will testify to the same thing, that they practically work 24 hours a day and only got paid for 8 hours, that will do you in. The Department of Labor looks at employees as saints and victims of employers who are greedy demons. Unfortunately, that’s the truth isn’t it? Just look at the name of the department. It’s called Department of “Labor.” It’s not called Department of “Employers.” That department protects the laborers, the employees, not the employers. There’s a red car-

Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016

$3-M lawsuit against business forces client to consider bankruptcy Senior seeks Chapter 7 to wipe out $40K credit cards

pet that employees walk on to get to the complaint department. For employers, you get to walk on a pile of you know what. Employers will say that they practically treated caregiver as their own daughter. Employees will say that they were treated as modern day slaves. Some employers even end up in jail for being slave owners and for false imprisonment of employees. Therefore, just so you have documentary evidence on your side as an employer, you better make sure that your documentary work time record system is airtight and bulletproof. If your record keeping has been short of this standard, you always have the option of bankruptcy to get rid of these lawsuits, for a fresh start, although the type of bankruptcy you qualify for depends on your asset structure. Client owns three facilities. All three are profitable. Client has gone through several layers of asset protection. The typical asset protection may use an LLC or a corporation to own the businesses while the ownership of the facility is separately held by a different LLC. There could be variations of how the real estate is held and how the shares of the business, that own the facilities are held, but ultimately the purpose is to protect the real estate, which is the facility, from lawsuits that are directed against the business. Although there is some measure of protection provided by asset protection steps, they do not provide absolute protection from lawsuits. The reason is that the LLC’s or corporations are all U.S. corporations even though they may be located in different states. Given the fact that U.S. Courts, particularly Federal Courts have nationwide jurisdiction, they have the power to penetrate or set aside the veils of corporate fiction if it is determined that the corporations were set up fraudulently to avoid judgment. A simple test is to find out when the asset protection corporations were set up. If they were set up after the claims, or knowledge of the claims arose, then this is a big red flag that favors setting aside the corporate veil. On the other hand, if the entities were established long before the claims arose (the longer the better), the stronger the protection they provide. Another point to consider is that if the assets being

protected have no equity, what’s the big deal anyway, there’s nothing to protect. Client has been hit with a $3.0M lawsuit from just several employees that you can count with your right hand. They all claim the same thing. They worked a lot of overtime and never got paid for working overtime. With penalties and unpaid overtime because their employer was as evil as Donald Trump, they have a total claim of $3.0M against client employer. Even if Client’s businesses are profitable, client does not make millions a year, far from it. Her profit is low six figures just enough to pay herself and her husband a reasonable salary every year. Well, of course, employees have also sued client and husband as individuals even though the businesses are owned by corporations and legally separate from the owners. The first thing that needs to be done is to extricate them from the lawsuit based on the ground that there was no intermingling of funds between them and the businesses. If they can have the Court dismiss them as defendants, then that’s a big victory for them because they won’t have to consider personal bankruptcy. But if they can’t, they could lose their residence once the $3.0 M judgment is entered. So, we will have to do this one step at a time. The companies can always do their own bankruptcies; either Chapter 11 of 7 will solve take care of the $3.0 M lawsuits. The next client is a senior who is 66. Her husband died two years ago. She has retirement income of $3K a month, which is good enough. Her adult children live out of state. Her daughter lives in Toronto and she has asked her to move to Toronto. Client doesn’t want to live there because it’s just too cold in winter. Those of you, like me, who have lived in the East Coast, know how unpleasant winter weather is there. We all know how good we have it here in Los Angeles with our mild weather and with the sun shining practically everyday of the year. Although Hawaii weather is still better than ours, California climate is really very good. We just can’t complain about how good the weather is here. Living in California is as close as we can get to paradise on earth. Client has $40K of credit cards that she has been paying for 12

years. She pays $1200 minimum a month, or $14,400 a year. For 12 years, she has paid $172,000 and still owes the same $40K. If her husband were still alive, maybe she would not even think about getting rid of these cards that require her to give 40% of her retirement income to keep current. But since she really has to get serious now and decide whether she should get rid of these cards now that she is retired and living on a lot less income than before, there is really no real dispute on what the right

decision is, is there? Client decides for Chapter 7 to discharge $40K of credit cards. Without these cards to worry about, she can save $1200 a month, that’s a no brainer. Besides, her credit score will keep on going up every year after she files bk. Three years from now she’ll be at 650 which is a good score. She will get new credit cards again a few months after she gets her discharge, although I suggest that she just pays them up in full every month, just to build up her score faster. On the 10th year,

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there is no record of the bankruptcy filing. On the 7th year, her score will be about 730. “Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 *** 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

America

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CAC to celebrate Town Fiesta The Cabatuan Association of California will celebrate their Annual Town Fiesta in honor of their Patron Saint, San Nicolas de Tolentino on September 10, 2016 with a mass at 11:00 am at Nati Matitu-Mercado’s residence - 15255 Knapp St. North Hills, CA, 91343. Please invite four friends and relatives. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa. For other inquiries, please call Esoy Tavarro, president, (714) 797-0073; Sally Bilbao, adviser (951) 8785589; Boboy Mosqueda, adviser (714) 519-8973; or Nati Matitu-Mercado, adviser at (818) 894-5142.

Free citizenship workshop in Orange County On Friday, Sept. 16, Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD) will help local green card holders take the first step towards becoming citizens through free events as part of the New Americans Campaign. This workshop will provide lawful permanent residents with free naturalization application assistance by professional and trained volunteers. Individuals will also receive legal counsel by pro-bono attorneys and legal experts. Services are available in Spanish, Korean and English. The workshop will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at Century High School, 1401 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705. Registration is required; please call 714-621-0919, ext. 13.

SEPTEMBER 17

The Filipino USPS Retirees Club of Los Angeles reunion The Filipino USPS Retirees Club of Los Angeles is having its 3rd anniversary reunion on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 12 p.m. to dusk. It will be held at Romy Vidal’s residence at 1998 Big Oak Ave., Chino Hills, CA 91709. To RSVP, please call Romy (951) 733-7140 or Lito (909) 263-4167.

Lorenzo Ruiz: A musical play On Saturday, September 17, the St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Parish Community will present a musical play entitled Lorenzo Ruiz: the First Filipino Saint. This play will star Mat Ranillo III, a Filipino TV, film and stage actor. Purchase your tickets today, for a donation of $20 for one event or $25 for both events. Seats are limited so get your tickets early. For ticket sales, please contact St. Lorenzo Ruiz Parish office at (909) 595-9545. St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Parish Community is located at 747 Meadowpass Rd., Walnut, California 91789.

27th annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Penafrancia Come and celebrate the 27th annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Penafrancia, the patroness of Bicolandia. The grand fiesta will be on Saturday, Sept. 17, beginning with a concelebrated mass at 1 p.m., followed by a Fluvial Procession. It will be held at Liberty State Park, Morris Pesin Drive, Jersey, City, New Jersey 07305.

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AAPA’s leadership symposium Join the Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) for an all-day event from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with exceptional and diverse keynote speakers and panelists, as well as multiple workshops on diversity and leadership topics. The symposium is open to everyone, and will be held at the Pacific Palms Hotel, 1 Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744. For more information, please visit http://aapamentoring.com/.

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PASCPA-Los Angeles dinner dance event Philippine American Society of Certified Public Accountants (PASCPA) is celebrating 30 years of promoting excellence for the future leaders! Join PASCPA on Saturday, Sept. 24 as it installs officers & board members and inducts new members of the organization. Networking will begin at 4:30 until 6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Pickwick Gardens, 1001 Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91506. Attire is formal and there will be no host bar. A donation of $65 is required. For more information, please visit http://pascpa. org/.

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.

Annual celebration of Sr.San Miguel Archangel The Association of Iligan City & Lanao del Norte of Southern California (AICLNSC) invites everyone, Iliganons, Lanaons and friends to come and celebrate the annual celebration in honor of Senior San Miguel de Archangel, Patron of Iligan City. The Diyandi 2016 Fiesta Celebration will be at Carson Park, 21411 South Orrick St., Carson, CA 90745 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be a Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m. and followed by Sinulog/ Procession at 11:30 a.m. On September 24, 2016, a Dinner Dance/Induction of new set of Officers 2016-2018 to be held at St. Philomena Parish Hall, 21900 South Main St., Carson, CA 90745 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For details, please call Lenard Castillo (310) 8869374 or Edna Cabreros (562) 316-9541.

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Bataan Legacy Historical Society multimedia presentation Bataan Legacy Historical Society, a non-profit educational 501(c)(3) organization, will hold a multimedia presentation at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please visit www.bataanlegacy.org.

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weak export performance. “Net external demand was a drag on GDP growth as merchandise exports were sluggish, though partly mitigated by brisk services exports parricularly business process outsourcing,” Gupta said. Merchandise trade fell 6.6 percent in July as exports extended its decline and imports contracted after a four-month

upswing. Hit by a sluggish demand caused by a still-recovering global economy, revenues from exports fell 13 percent in July to $4.67 billion from $5.37 billion in the same period in 2015. The decrease was attributed to lower outbound shipments of machinery and transport equipment; woodcraft and furniture; other mineral products; chemicals; electronic products; articles of

apparel; and clothing accessories; ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircraft and ships; and metal components. Exports have been on the downturn since July 2015. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said exports were hit by diminished demand from traditional markets such as Japan, China, Hong Kong and US. n

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016

$3-M lawsuit against business forces client to consider bankruptcy Senior seeks Chapter 7 to wipe out $40K credit cards

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B SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 2 of 2)

IN the media and online, we have seen a parade of scandals: from political scumbags, depraved men of the cloth, big-time con artists to scandalplagued, shameless celebrities who trade on their image to push depraved agendas useful only to the elite class they have created for themselves. We seem to be breathing their toxic fumes when they self-destruct into flames. Honor, decency, civility and respect are in short supply these days. And we heave a heavy sigh and shake our heads in disbelief. Our zeitgeist is characterized by distrust and cynicism. It’s been building up for a long time. Zeitgeist is that fancy schmancy $20 word of Germanic origin sociologists use to refer to the spirit of the age. There seems to be a collective negative energy that hovers about and affects the thoughts and feelings of many who are affected by these dark times. Per-

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA AFTER an audit of your tax returns by the IRS and you disagree with the determination, you have the option to either accept the assessment and settle the tax you owe by signing the agreement form or request an appeals conference by writing a protest to Appeals Office. The appeals process is an administrative means to resolve your problems without resorting to court trials. Here are some basics on the appeals process: 1. Go to appeals if an IRS agent with an attitude had just put you through a treadmill. If you feel that there were errors in the handling of your case or that you weren’t adequately represented in the audit, go to appeals. It’s cheaper, faster, and more equitable. You go before an experienced Appeals Officer who has a broader mind and a better understanding than the agent who put

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Community Journal

Bringing moxie back “You just might be the person who can brighten up a room simply by leaving it.” haps, this is somewhat similar to the dark mood and feelings of helplessness that afflicted many who slogged through the long years of the Great Depression. IT IS TIME TO SHAKE IT OFF. For us to get back on track, we have to refuse to live in fear and zap out of this paranoia that can paralyze us into immobility. We need to take courage. Someone once said, “A brave person is someone who takes positive action after he has said his prayers.” Time and again, it’s been found that tough survivors believe in a God who cares. They believe in themselves. They believe in the correlation between luck and hard work. They believe in the greatness of their country and have decided on a unified front, to muster enough MOXIE to engage the enemy within. In some ways, we can influence good fortune with the attitude, motivation and oftentimes, with sheer moxie, with which we

face our individual daily lives. If you expect bad things to happen to you or if you yourself confirm that you are unlucky, more than likely, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might as well admit it. You’re a sad sack Eeyore with a permanent, heavy and dark rain cloud hanging over your head. The negative energy you emit repels people who would otherwise be of help to you. You just might be the person who can brighten up a room simply by leaving it. Perhaps, it’s your personality and there’s nothing you can do about it, not even if you’ve soaked up the brightness of the sun. You were wired to be negative and pessimistic and no motivation outside of yourself can undo you. You’re one tough customer for the Holy Spirit to work wonders with. Fine. But for as long as you think that you have nothing to do

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Basics of IRS appeals process you through a ringer. 2. You practically have a nice advantage. The Appeals Officer acts like a mediator. Another advantage that you have: your opponent is not there. It is just you and the Appeals Officer. It frees your senses as a result, from adversarial feelings against the previous agent creating an air that is conducive to settlement. 3. Your objective is to settle and resolve. And your chance to settle increases if a broadminded tax veteran can see it your way. 4. An Appeals Officer in most cases is a CPA, lawyer, or both, who may find critical issues that may have been overlooked by the previous agent. If this is your case, stay away from appeals. 5. After the audit of your returns, you receive a notice from the IRS examination division asking you to agree or disagree. They send a 30-day letter. This is your ticket to appeals. 6. Writing a protest is your initial step. Be persuasive. Focus on issues in your favor. Counter arguments on matters that are not in your favor. 7. The protest will be forward-

ed to the original agent who will file a response. Obtain a copy of that response from either the Appeals Officer or through FOIA Freedom of Information Act so you may prepare for rebuttal. 8. Prepare well for the conference. It is critical that all relevant information were provided to the auditor prior to appeals. Any new information will generally result your case back to the auditor for consideration. This could cause delays in resolving your tax matters. 9. The appeals conference is one of negotiation. Up to this point, your forum has been an informal proceeding, one of mediation. It remains as a non-docketed case. 10. If no settlement can be reached, the Appeals Office sends a Notice of Deficiency (also known as a 90-day letter or 150 days if addressed to you outside of the United States). Your case becomes a docketed case. The chief Counsel of the IRS becomes involved. It becomes more costly to defend as your case moves from informal mediation to the formal jurisdiction of a court

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AC 21: Changing the employer of your employment-based green card application Dear Attorney Tan, I have an approved I-140 immigrant petition which was filed by Company A on my behalf. Company A would like to employ me as a bookkeeper. Based on that approved I-140 petition, I filed an application for green card (I-485 adjustment of status) in August 2014. Since that time, my green card application has been pending, as USCIS has requested additional documents in support of my application. Recently, another company, Company B, has expressed interest in hiring me for a payroll clerk position. Company B is a more established company based in the Midwest and pays $10,000.00 less but offers much better benefits. Is there a way I can substitute Company B as the employer in my green card application? — P.T. Dear P.T. Under INA Section 204(j), commonly referred to as AC 21, an approved I-140 employment-based immigrant petition filed by one employer can be used by or “ported” to another employer providing certain requirements are met. First, a green card (I-485 adjustment of status) application must have been filed and must be pending for at least 180 days. Second, the “new” job offered by the second employer must be in the same or similar occupational classification as the job for which the first employer filed the I-140 petition. In your situation, you meet the first requirement in that your application for green card (I-485) was filed in August 2014. Your application has been pending for over 1 year, which is more than the required 180 days under AC 21. In depth analysis in your case is needed as to whether Company B’s job of “payroll clerk” is considered a “similar occupational classification” to Company A’s job of “bookkeeper,” for which Company A petitioned you. In determining whether one job is similar enough to another job for AC 21 purposes, the USCIS takes into account the totality of the circumstances, including the job duties of both positions, the Standard Occupational Code (SOC) from the approved I-140 and the SOC code for the job offered by the new prospective employer, as well as the offered wages for each position. In your case, analysis would begin with the job duties of each position. The more similarity in job duties between bookkeeper and payroll clerk, the greater the likelihood that USCIS would consider them similar. Also, the SOC code for the 2 jobs would be taken into account. In addition, the wages offered by each employer would be considered. The existence of a big disparity in wages offered by each employer is not by itself a reason to conclude that the jobs are not similar. In your case, the fact that Company B is offering $10,000 less than Company A has to take into account the fact that the Midwest has a lower cost of living, as well as the fact that better benefits are being offered by Company B. If it is considered a “similar occupational classification,” Company B may be substituted in as the employer in your pending green card application, and Company B will not have to start the process from the beginning by filing a labor certification application and by obtaining an approved I-140 petition. The analysis of whether you can use or “port” your approved I-140 requires additional analysis, and consulting with an experienced attorney is recommended. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)

where lawyers and CPAs fight in trial before a judge. 11. It will be classified as a small case and can remain in appeals if the deficiency is $50,000 or less; otherwise, it will be forwarded to area counsel where it will be calendared for trial in Tax Court. 12. CAUTION: Do not represent yourself unless you know what you are doing. You are no match for the experienced officers. You could be trying to save

a few hundred dollars in fees only to lose thousands in potential savings of tax, interests, and penalties. You may also use appeals for levies, liens, claims for refund, seizures, and rejections of OIC (offers in compromise) or installment agreements (payment plans). It cannot be used for bankruptcy cases or fraud. In accordance with IRS Circular 230, this communication

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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. *** Sy Al-os Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and ta x s e r v i ce s to i n d i v i d u a l s, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by

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Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2016

Getting around the six month residency requirement to file a divorce in California

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes

residency requirement to filing time the petition was filed purGENERALLY, you must have an Annulment or a legal separa- suant to CCP 395(a). Once the parties have satresided in California for at least tion. The advantage of this strategy isfied the residency requiresix months in order to file a divorce in this case. Under Family is you would immediately have ments, the Petition may be Code Section 2320, a judgment access to the courts and can ask amended from legal separation of marriage dissolution (di- the court for immediate tempo- to Dissolution without permisvorce) may not be entered un- rary orders needed to maintain sion from the Court as long as less one of the spouses has been the status quo or preserve the notice is provided the opposing a “resident” of California for six marital assets. If domestic vio- party under Marriage of Dick. months and of the county where lence is involved in the case, the The Petitioner would also be the proceeding is filed for three domestic violence issue can be in a safer position if the intent to amend from legal months immediately to preceding the filing of Under Family Code Section separation/nullity a divorce is stated in the petition. This poses 2320, a judgment of marriage the initial Petition. a problem for divorcing *** couples that has not redissolution (divorce) may not be sided in California for Attorney Kenneth Ursua at least 6 months. Cou- entered unless one of the spouses has Reyes is a Certified ples that moved to CaliLaw Specialist. been a “resident” of California for Family fornia from other states He was President of or other countries are six months and of the county where the Philippine American faced with this probBar Association. He is the proceeding is filed for three lem because they cana member of both the months immediately preceding the Family law section and not get divorced until they satisfy the resiImmigration law section filing of the petition. dency requirements. of t h e Los A n g e l es Even a bigger problem is when heard in the same court room County Bar Association. He has they need immediate temporary by the same judge that would be extensive CPA experience prior orders from the California Court hearing the divorce case. In ad- to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF regarding child custody, child dition, service on the legal sepa- KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at support, management and con- ration petition (to be amended 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los trol of community businesses later to a divorce) will also start Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388the clock on the six-month “wait- 1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com and property. The solution for this type of ing period” for finality of a judg- or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw. problem is filing nullity or legal ment terminating marital status, com. separation petition rather than optimizing the time-frame with*** a divorce and amending the pe- in which the parties will be le- Please note that this article is not legal advice tition later on to convert it to a gally restored to “single” status. and is not intended as legal advice. The article divorce once the residency re- As far as the county where to file is intended to provide only general, non-specific quirement has been met by one the legal separation or nullity, legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. of the parties. Millar v. Millar. venue is proper in the county The specific facts that apply to your matter Unlike a divorce, there is no where either party resided at the may make the outcome different than would be

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Bringing moxie… PAGE B4 t

with the ill fortune that seems to bedevil your life, you can just live with the dire consequences of fear, anxiety and unhappiness which result from being toxic and always believing the worst of everything. Particularly during these uncertain times, no one can afford the luxury of a negative thought. But much more so for all those on survival mode, an optimistic can-do attitude is a MUST. With this current economic morass, a big chunk of the population along with many more in the middle class, will regress back to survival mode, quite by default. Many who have moved

to more comfortable levels but were caught by the real estate slump and lost their homes, may find themselves sliding back to square one and engaging in the daunting prospect of finding a job. Do take heart. Most of us who come from poverty-stricken nations have what it takes to survive times such as these. Most of us came as immigrants and have gone through the long and tedious process to become fullfledged citizens of our adoptive country. Most of us have had plenty of practice. We have the scars to prove the battles we have survived. We have learned to hunker

down, to batten down the hatches during the storms. But there seems to be a change in the air and just perhaps, even with a deceptive lull just before more upheavals up ahead, the future is looking good. There is that faint light growing brighter at the end of a long dark tunnel. This slump, experts claim, is longer and deeper, than anyone can imagine. But as in everything else under the sun, THIS TOO SHALL PASS. And hopefully, very soon. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.

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The Asian Journal

MDWK

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 14, 2016

The auTomobile:

a symbol of innovation by Klarize Medenilla / AJPress In just over a century, the automotive industry has accelerated, making it one of the most evolutionary industries. The nature of the car industry is that it’s always evolving and improving on its latest innovation. When the automobile was first introduced, the world changed, ushering a new era of modernity. How did it begin? The concept of the automobile was born from French and German designers. Inventor Karl Benz of Germany invented a three-wheeled “Motorwagen.” Then in 1901, engineers Wilhelm Maybach and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft designed the Mercedes which was the first

modern motor car with all the fixings, including an lightweight 35-horsepower engine that performed a speed of 53 mph. But it was the Americans who perfected the industry as a whole. Bicycle mechanics J. Frank and Charles E. Duryea designed the first successful gasoline automobile in 1893. By 1899, 30 American manufacturers produced 2,500 cars. Come the 20th century, there were more than 485 U.S. companies entering into the booming industry. Americans were also the first to introduce the car dealership. In 1896 in Detroit — which would be known as the birthplace of the automobile industry

— William Metzger established the first independent car dealership. Then the tide shifted which not only propelled the car industry, but modern invention as a whole. In 1913, the assembly line — developed by Model T inventor Henry Ford — allowed for mass production and became a standard in manufacturing. Cars became more affordable and more widely accessible, and American manufacturers produced about 485,000 of the more than 606,000 automobiles made in 1913. “One hundred years ago, my great-grandfather had a vision to build safe and efficient transportation for everyone,” Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said. “I am proud he was able to bring the freedom of mobility to millions by making cars affordable to families and that his vision of serving people still drives everything we do today.” A focus on safety Although its history is brief, the automobile industry has seen exponential advancements with a strong emphasis on improving safety features. The Mercedes, the first modern car designed by Wilhelm Maybach and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft in In the 1940s, inventor Samuel 1901. Photo from www.mercedesbenz.com W. Alderson invented the crash test dummy which allowed car manufacturers test the reliability of safety equipment and protocol. Then in the 1950s, Swedish engineer nils Bohlin invented the three-point safety belt which would become the modern standard of automobile safety belts. First introduced in Volvo’s automobiles, the Y-shaped design was considered revolutionary and responsible for saving many lives. In the 1960s, manufacturEngineers Wilhelm Maybach and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft Photo from www.autowallpaper.de ers started seeing the value

Being on the right side of the road: Tips on how to buy a car

Industrialist Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, developed the first assembly line. Photo from Wikipedia

and necessity in safety belts. In 1964, the Studebaker-Packard Corporation became the first company to introduce seat belts as a standard in all of its cars. Four years later, Allen Breed introduced the world’s first electromechanical automotive airbag system with his “sensor and safety system.” In 1973, General Motors would be the first company to include the passenger airbag as a standard in their commercial automobiles. Asian manufacturers emerge For a while, American car companies were seen as the leaders in the industry, but manufacturers in the Far East were making big moves. Toyota and nissan were toe-to-toe in Japan’s domestic market, but both companies would be favorites in the U.S. by the 1990s. Americans saw Japanese cars as more valuable as they tended to last longer and were more reliable. By 2000, Japan became the largest nation to produce cars, but saw competition from South Korea, China and India throughout the decade. However, when Continued on Page 5

PLAY NOW TO DECEMBER 18

YOUr vehicle is one of the most important purchases you will do in your life, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are some tips that not only help make the process quicker and stressfree, but can also save you a few bucks. • Know your vehicle needs. not sure what car you want yet? First your have to determine why you need a car and what are you going to use it for. Weighing factors like low mileage and high fuel efficiency over style, brand and model features will help you decide the car you want to buy. • Determine your budget. Get approved for a car loan. Ask around about financing and go over your monthly expenditures and income. These will be important so you know the maximum amount of money you can spend on a car. • Go “window” shopping.” Do your research — go online, get a Kelley Blue Book, or test drive cars at dealerships to be able to get a “feel” of different models, makes, and years of cars. This will not only help you learn about the specific car you are eyeing, but can also change your mind about other car brands. • Search through car listings online. Whether you are looking to buy a new vehicle or a used one, the Internet is there for you to take advantage of. Look through car listings on websites to com-

pare prices and features, like warranties, vehicle histories, condition, and mileage. • Don’t purchase the add-ons. Buying a new car is a major purchase, and you may be paying it off over the next several years. If you finance the car, the overall costs for accessories will skyrocket, so keep the add-ons to a minimum. You don’t really need heated seats, and you can buy a portable GPS navigation unit online for much less than expensive builtin systems. rustproofing is another add-on you don’t need despite what the salesperson might tell you. VIn etching, a rear camera, and a dealership maintenance plan are more add-ons that you don’t really need. • Negotiate. While most people perceive negotiating for a new car as an extremely difficult experience, if you look at it purely from a negotiator’s perspective, you find something quite surprising. negotiating for a new car is actually simpler than almost any other negotiation that you will ever undertake. You will be able to get the best deals on price, features and warranties since you’ve done your research. • Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Whether you are buying the traditional way or online, always make sure that you understand every aspect of the process. This way, you won’t get stuck with a vehicle that you don’t want. (AJPress)

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entertainment

The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 14, 2016

Kris Aquino leaves ABS-CBN, joins producer of ‘Eat Bulaga’ The guessing game is over. After keeping her silence for months, TV host-actress Kris Aquino has finally confirmed that she is leaving ABS-CBN. In a series of Instagram posts early Monday, Aquino explained her reason for her departure from her home network for 20 years. “We were set to renew our contract February 2016, it was a generous, less demanding agreement but at that time there was a threat to my life we needed to take seriously, I had to regain my health, and I needed time for my family (and) me,” Aquino’s post read. Former President Benigno Aquino III disclosed in April that terrorist group Abu Sayyaf plotted to kidnap his sister Kris and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. This was confirmed by the TV host. “We didn’t sign then, I went to hawaii, came back to campaign, then left again. Our agreement was we’d talk when I got back. That is the

risk of taking time for yourselfwhen you come back there’s no guarantee that a space will be held for you. We spoke in July but there was no definite show (and) no assured time frame of my return on air. I perfectly understoodas much as I wanted to believe I was a pillar of the network, everybody is dispensable. And I say that with no bitterness- just hONeSTY,” she continued. “So to all of you saying please don’t leave- it wasn’t a choice that was just mine to make. I take my share of the responsibility. And I say that w/ so much gratitude in my heart.” Prior to leaving ABS-CBN, Aquino hosted shows like “KrisTV,” “Today with Kris Aquino,” “The Buzz,” and “Game KNB?”. She also starred in the movies “Feng Shui” and “Sukob”, which she described as “iconic.” Without announcing that she is jumping ship to GMA, Aquino said that she is now working with Tony Tuviera of TAPe and APT entertainment, producer of the TV show “eat Bulaga,” which airs on ABS-CBN’s chief rival network. Tuviera also handles the careers of prized GMA talents Marian Rivera and Maine Mendoza. She said it was actually her good friend, TV host Boy Abunda, who reached out to Tuviera on her behalf. “Our plan was initially just a digital initiative- I know you miss my #foodtrips (and) my

#cooking #recipes #roadtrips(and) #travel… But maybe my guardian angel in heaven (could it have been you, Mom?) was working overtime (and) what was an attempt at something new (and) experimental, evolved into a vision & a presentation that felt perfect for who I am now & for our TV collaboration,” she said in a separate Instagram post. The collaboration, she said, was 30 years in the making. “Mr. T actually remembered coming to our home in Times Street in 1986 to meet my Mom to produce a show for me when I was 15 years old. 30 years after- dumating na ang TAMANG PANAhON (the right time has come).” Despite her exit from ABSCBN, Aquino said there is not bad blood between her and her former network. “This is the 1st (and) last I shall say about this chapter of my life. You deserved the true story (and) I gave you my truth, so that we may all move forward… So here’s a shoutout of ThANK YOU to the Kapamilya Network ABS-CBN for all that was, and here’s a shoutout of ThANK YOU to my new APT family for all that will be. And most of all my ThANK YOU to all of you for allowing me to just be me,” she said in another Instagram post. Aquino’s departure from ABS-CBN came after the return of Sharon Cuneta and Aga Muhlach to the network. (Inquirer.net)

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features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 14, 2016

Philippine “Concert King” Martin Nievera to debut at the historic Ford Theatres Concert to benefit the Apl.de.ap Foundation International LOS ANGELES -- Filipino-American History Month kicks off with the much anticipated concert debut of Martin Nievera at Hollywood’s newly renovated Ford Theatres. Presented by PAE Live!, “An Evening with Martin Nievera” brings the Philippine entertainer center stage on Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. as he performs his greatest hits, traditional Filipino love songs and an eclectic, upbeat mix of Broadway and standard pop tunes. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Apl.de.ap Foundation, a project of the Asian Pacific Community Fund established by Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas. For more than three decades, Martin Nievera has been the unofficial ambassador of Philippine pop music to a global audience selling out concerts from Dubai to London, Melbourne to Vancouver and almost everywhere in between. Affectionately dubbed the “Concert King of the Philippines” by his fans, Martin has performed before packed houses to audiences who have followed his career from its inception and meteoric rise in Manila to his headlining showcase residency in Las Vegas. He has hosted “ASAP” (All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party), the longest running musical variety show on Philippine television, since 1995 and is seen each week by millions of Filipino fans around the globe. Along the way, he has earned several platinum albums, hosted several talk shows, appeared in many television specials and

movies and has received several awards. The concert begins the celebration of Filipino-American History Month in October, a nationally recognized commemoration of the history of Filipinos in America as established by the Filipino American National Historical Society, the California State Senate and the U.S. Congress. The internationally acclaimed a cappella group Prime Note Ensemble, originally formed in Saudi Arabia and who are recipients of several international vocal competitions, will give an exclusive performance thirty minutes prior to the concert. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Apl. de.ap Foundation, a nonprofit

Coco Zhang-Miske: How a former dancer made her mark in the car industry Global technology planning manager for Buick, GMC and GM China Strategy at General Motors

By Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

GROWING up in Chongqing, China, Coco Zhang-Miske organization established thought she would have a profesby Apl.de.ap, co-founder sional career in dancing. of Grammy-winning Her early training in gymnaship-hop group The Black tics — beginning at the age of Eyed Peas. The mission 6 — soon segued into the art of dance years later. From there, she of the Apl.de.ap Founmoved to Beijing to study classic dation is to empower children, especially in the Chinese dance at the Beijing Philippines, through edu- Dance Academy and was an operatic dancer with the China cation and technology. Operatic Dance Troupe. “We’ve built When she migrated to the schools and classrooms United States, she continued and music centers and dancing by teaching lessons at have provided scholarstudios owned by friends. ships for students to However, a point came when complete their college she realized she was meant to education,” said Apl. pursue something else. de.ap. “Last October, She jumped into fashion design during her first year at Michiwe provided the medigan State University because it cal equipment to help was related to her background doctors diagnose and in arts. But, she found herself attreat retinopathy of tracted to math and science, and prematurity. We want to changed her major to mathematgive the tools and the ics. opportunity for children “When I started [college], to succeed in life.” one of my professors called me The foundation into the office within the first also provides assistance month because I only learned to communities in times math and science to an extent of natural disasters. The in China because I was dancing. Apl.de.ap Foundation I was struggling during the first month or two of college. It was is a project of the Asian Pacific overwhelming having all those Community Fund, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. technical terms in English. I had a very difficult time,” Zhang-Miske “PAE Live! believes in giving back to the community,” told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. “He asked, ‘are you said producer Rex Sampaga, sure you want to do this?’ and “which is why we are donatI knew this is what I wanted to ing to Apl’s Foundation…we do.” believe in his efforts to help the From mathematics, she people in the Philippines.” eventually changed her major to “An Evening with Martin electrical engineering. Nievera” is proudly sponsored Despite her lack of practiby Leelin Bakeries, Island Pacific cal knowledge in the field, she showed up to an engineering Supermarkets and Kalayaan Incorporated of Southern California with LA18 and the Asian Journal as official television and print media sponsors. Ticket prices for “An Evening with Martin Nievera,” start at $48; Reserved Seating tickets are available atFordTheatres. org or via phone at 323-4613673 (for non-visual media 323GO-1-FORD). Buick Cascada

job fair with her résumé — filled with art and dance jobs — in tow anyway. Most of the companies did not give her the chance to explain her background or they told her to come back the following year after she gained more experience. However, one pivotal conversation with an engineer from General Motors (GM) changed the course of her future. “He was very curious about why I changed from dancing to engineering. He was fascinated with my background and saw my potential. He ended up offering me an internship, which was very exciting, especially being a first-year student with no background,” she said, describing her first internship in the manufacturing controls department. The following summer, she was offered another manufacturing internship at the vehicle corporation. Her performance as an intern was impressive enough that when she graduated from college, she was immediately hired as a manufacturing controls engineer, a position she held for three years before transitioning as a design release engineer. While working, she was also able to receive a master’s degree in energy systems engineering at the University of Michigan, which exposed her to the world of alternative fuel and energy and electric vehicles and gave her the knowledge to move to the global hybrid battery system engineering department. “I’ve been very fortunate during my time at GM because the company gave me the opportunity to experience completely different divisions,” she said. Today, Zhang-Miske marks her ninth year at GM and is currently the global technology plan-

Coco Zhang-Miske at the Asian American Journalists Association conference with a Buick Cascada in the background

ning manager for Buick (one of the company’s brands), GMC and GM China strategy. Under this position, she manages the technology strategy for the brands and develops ideas based on technology intelligence and trends. The achievements in her role have garnered accolades, including a 2014 Crain’s Detroit Business 40 under 40 award and a place on Detroit TechWeek100’s list in 2015. She also gets to do a lot of traveling: to China several times a year to promote the brand and ensure that the products made in that country are of equal quality and performance to those manufactured in the U.S.; and to California to meet with suppliers and the research & development team to discuss new technologies. “Right now GM is a big global company. A lot of car parts are manufactured in the U.S. and we do a lot of collaboration overseas. Even though cars are built in China, it is important that since we are under one big global umbrella, all of those manufacturing processes are similar,” she said. According to a Washington Post report earlier this year, Buick sold 1.2 million vehicles around the world in 2015, with 80 percent being sold in China. The Continued on Page 6

features

Lav Diaz wins top prize in Venice Int’l Film Festival by Bayani

San Diego Jr.

Harana and the Age of Innocence

Inquirer.net

LAV DIAZ’S colleagues, like fellow award-winning filmmakers Brillante Ma. Mendoza and Joel Lamangan, and actors Charo Santos and Nonie Buencamino, are rejoicing over Philippine cinema’s latest triumph. Diaz continues the winning streak abroad of Filipino filmmakers by bagging on Saturday the Golden Lion, the top prize at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, for “Ang Babaeng Humayo” (The Woman Who Left). Diaz, 57, has described “Humayo” as a testimony to the struggles of the Philippines after centuries of colonial rule. “This is for my country, for the Filipino people, for our struggle, for the struggle of humanity,” he said as he accepted the Golden Lion award at the world’s oldest film festival for his black-and-white movie. “Humayo” is a story about the absurdity of human existence. A wrongly convicted schoolteacher plots retribution against the former boyfriend who framed her, disguising herself in a bid to get close to her prey. Gaining freedom in the late 1990s after 30 years behind bars, Horacia (Santos) discovers her loved ones are either dead or gone, and the former boyfriend, now a wealthy underworld boss, becomes the target of her simmering rage. Winning streak With Diaz’s latest win, the Philippines has scored major awards from the top three A-list film festivals in the world—Berlin, Cannes and Venice—this year. In February, Diaz brought home the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for the eight-hour historical epic, “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis,” at the Berlinale. In May, Jaclyn Jose was declared best actress for her role in Mendoza’s gritty urban drama, “Ma’ Rosa,” at Cannes. Diaz is no stranger to international awards, particularly at the Venice fest. In 2007, he got the special mention citation in the Orizzonti section for “Death in the Land of Encantos.” The following year, he bagged the Orizzonti award itself for “Melancholia.” Orizzonti is a special section in Venice that highlights “new trends in cinema.” In 2014, Diaz won the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, for “Mula sa Kung

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 14, 2016

MOUNTING a show like this is an act of faith. All around, the commercial theater and concert scenes are full of imports, both the ideas and the actual productions. When we at the Philippine Opera Company decided to make a tradition of our Harana series, we said to ourselves: “This is going to be a tough job. But we want to do it because we need to be reminded of how beautiful our music is, and how much our souls can be enriched by hearing these sung again.” So, with a cast of eight dedicated singers we set out to create the production. The stirring arrangements of multi-awarded arrangers were more than enough basis for the staging and the choreography. As the production took shape, we felt more and more inspired and encouraged by the overall picture that we were painting for an audience: a picture of an Age of Innocence that we Filipinos so badly need to return to. From children’s songs to tribal chants, from planting songs to courtship ditties, from stirring kundiman to the

BEST FILM Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz’s Golden Lion award for his movie “Ang Babaeng Humayo” during the 73rd Venice International Film Festival in Italy continues the winning streak of the Philippines in the top three A-list film festivals in the world—Berlin, Cannes and Venice—so far this year.

Ano ang Noon.” Award collection His menagerie is almost complete, having won a Golden Leopard, Silver Bear and Golden Lion in two years’ time. Four hours before the Venice awards ceremony, “Humayo” won best foreign language film at the 6th Smile Awards, also held in Venice. The award seeks to honor Venice competition films that shed light on the struggles of marginalized people. A day before the Venice main competition awards ceremony, Eduardo Roy Jr.’s “Pamilya Ordinaryo” won the BNL Audience Award in the 13th Venice Days tilt. Also on Saturday, Allen Dizon won best actor for his role in Mel Chionglo’s “Iadya Mo Kami” at the 13th Salento International Film Festival in Tricase, Italy. Mendoza, best director for “Kinatay” at Cannes in 2009, said he was very happy for Diaz, describing his victory as “a historic moment for Philippine cinema. We should all celebrate Lav’s achievement because it has raised Filipino movies to another level again.” Lamangan, whose film “The Flor Contemplacion Story” won the Golden Pyramid award at the Cairo International Film Festival in 1995, said Diaz’s triumph was a great honor for the country. “Truly, it’s a shot in the arm for our movie industry. Congratulations to Lav!” Unanimously acclaimed Diaz’s latest work was unanimously acclaimed by critics, as well. Dubbed “marathon man” by Screen International for his protracted films, Diaz has shrugged off such criticisms, saying, “My cinema is free.” He has insisted that he takes an organic approach in filmmaking. “If a film is complete at

three hours then it would end at three hours.” Diaz, also the cinematographer and editor of “Humayo,” said he would not hesitate to delete a “beautiful shot” if it were superfluous. In “Humayo,” he took a more philosophical route—unlike his earlier works that were overtly polemical and political. Diaz said he was working on a trilogy on reclusion perpetua. “Stories on prison as a metaphor for the curse of living.” Inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s short story “God Sees The Truth, But Waits,” Diaz recalled that writing “Humayo” was a breeze. “The story just flowed naturally.” Logic of living He asserted: “Existence is so fragile and, in the end, we don’t know anything. The film’s story is simple and complex at the same time. Where’s the logic of living?” Exclaimed producer Ronald Arguelles of Cinema One (which produced “Humayo”): “I am overjoyed that we got to experience all this.” Actor Nonie Buencamino, who is in the cast, said: “I am proud, happy and feel very fortunate to be part of this film.” Santos was similarly ecstatic: “I feel so honored and proud to be part of this special project. What a privilege! God has always been good to me.” She received rave reviews for her performance. Variety’s Guy Lodge even tweeted that she should’ve won best actress over Hollywood star Emma Stone who brought home the trophy for her role in Damien Chazelle’s musical “La La Land.” There were reports that the Venice jury couldn’t give other major awards to the Golden Lion winner. Lodge tweeted: “Stone’s win is a mirage … Santos is the real Oscar frontrunner.”

works of the three C’s—Canseco, Cruz and Cayabyab— the portrait we paint is a race that is inherently good, inherently strong and kind and noble. The music we need to hear, again and again, has painted the portrait of a people we need to be reminded we once were. And that is why we wanted to push through with “Harana,” despite the financial constraints, despite the constant struggle to find sponsors and sell tickets, despite the seeming foolhardiness of doing a Pinoy Musical revue when every

other Pinoy seems interested in listening to anything but his or her own traditional music. Now, more than ever, we need to believe in ourselves. The songs that have served us well in the past will also serve as well as we go bravely into the future. Why do we need to do “Harana”? We at Philippine Opera Company have chosen to do it because now more than ever, when globalization is the future of the world, we need to remind ourselves of who we are, where we are, where we have been, and what we held dear. The songs you will hear in “Harana” are our legacy and our best gift to the world. In singing them again, we say to the world, “This is who we are”, “This is our heritage”, “This is the musical journey all Filipinos should take”. We say: love and support your own. Let us work hand in hand in bringing back the sense of pride of being FILIPINO. (Contributed by Errol Mendoza, artistic director of the DreamAge Group)

The automobile: A symbol of innovation From Page 2

the recession hit in 2008 and the American automobile industry took a major toll, Toyota surpassed General Motors to become the world’s largest manufacturer. Ushering in the green car Environmentally conscious vehicles date back to the 1800s, but the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle was perfected in the 21st century. Interest in hybrid cars jumped in 2008 as consumers began choosing cars that consume less fuel and contribute less to the pollution. Typically, hybrid cars have at least two power sources: standard fuel and an electric motor that recharges. Toyota makes a wide range of hybrid cars including the Yaris, Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid and the ever-popular Prius. Other hybrid cars include the Ford Escape, Chevrolet Vault and Lexus RX 400h. Now on the rise are electric cars, which are propelled by one or more electric motor that

uses energy from rechargeable batteries or other devices that store energy. As of December 2015, there are more than 30 models of all-electric cars available at retail, but with the industry’s propensity to change, they may soon be the standard. “I’ve actually made a prediction that within 30 years, a majority of new cars made in the United States will be electric. And I don’t mean hybrid. I mean fully electric,” said Elon Musk, CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors, a leading manufacturer of energy storage and electric automobiles. More than just transportation As cars evolved, their use as a status symbol became just as important as its function as a means of transportation. As more and more brands became available, one’s car became an extension of his or her socioeconomic status and personality. What you drive says a lot about you, much like the music you listen to or the

clothes you wear. If you’re cruising down the road in a luxury car like a Rolls-Royce or a Cadillac, you’re perceived to belong on the upper echelon of society. If you drive a Toyota Prius or any other hybrid vehicle, you are seen as a more environmentally conscious person. The automobile industry today and tomorrow Today, the automobile industry is more expansive and innovative than ever. Drivers may enjoy the convenience of a sensible used Toyota Camry or splurge on a brand new Tesla Model 3. The options for automobiles are endless and every driver is bound to find a set of wheels suited to their unique needs. Due to its innovative nature, the industry is constantly moving towards more efficiency and safety. In the future, all-electric and self-driving cars may become an industry standard just as yesterday’s innovations like the seatbelt or the airbag.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 14, 2016

Coco Zhang-Miske: How a former... From Page 4

Envision, which is Chinese-made, has particularly been a successful model. With cars these days being more and more innovative, Zhang-Miske noted that it makes her job even more thrilling. (She even gets to own a new car every six months to test it out.)

“I’m very excited about the future of the vehicle. Right now, people are [embracing] autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles. A few years ago, people were concerned about electric vehicles, whether they’d run out of battery or how to charge them. It was only a matter of three to four years with the

progression of electric vehicles,” she said. She added that car sharing, especially in China, will also continue to be a widespread transportation method to ease traffic and improve air quality. As an Asian American woman, Zhang-Miske said she was quickly embraced by the GM culture from the get-go. “Ever since day one, I’ve been comfortable. I really like people — I like to meet and interact with them and ask questions. They haven’t looked at me different because I’m female and Asian. Sometimes, I struggle with the English language because of my accent, but everyone has been patient,” she said. Another positive aspect of her role at GM is how she’s been able to share her culture. Her experiences include past president of GM’s Chinese Employee Resource Group, board member of the Detroit Chinese Engineers Association and founder of Michigan’s first National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) chapter. By sponsoring events like Asian culture festivals and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) and NAAAP conferences, it shows how GM is committed to reaching out to the Asian American community, Zhang-Miske said. “Through those organizations, we do a lot of seminars, community outreach and diversity initiatives to introduce the Asian culture and connect them to the local GM strategy,” she said. “Unfortunately a lot of people in the Asian community are not familiar with American vehicles. They are more experienced and have a mindset about Asian and European models. We are trying our best to introduce to them a new side of GM products. We give the audience the opportunity to check out vehicles, ask questions and drive our vehicles.” As for advice for Asian American professionals, she said to not be afraid and limit oneself. “In Asian culture, it’s a habit to hold back. Ask questions and don’t hold back,” she shared. “Trust yourself and believe in yourself.”

by Mylah de

leon

BEVERLY HILLS — The essence of boxing is what we seek to capture and record. It might be the decisive moment which makes the bout last in your memory, or perhaps the mood of place they have not seen except a photograph of the story we convey. We already know that people look up to the senator-boxer, hearts filled faith, hope, the pain and their needs, he says no to no one. But that started a couple of years back in his boxing odyssey. Just recently, at the Beverly Hills Hotel kick-off press conference for his upcoming November fight, we realized the essence of Sen. Manny Pacquiao as we see his new world — new accomplishments, expectations, possibilities, goals and dreams that sustain him. An international press conference has the same ingredients, whether it is at Beverly Hills, MGM Hotels or the Wild Card Gym. The usual heaps of sports photographers, broadcast and TV journalists, and wires from all over the world gather, creating a jubilation that epitomizes a mix of the old and new of sports media. He is the centerpiece. Just look at him; the camera adores him. Caught in one picture-perfect situation after another, with a splash of color, knock-out images, and behind the scenes. He doesn’t feel exhausted or invaded as cameras keep snapping. Lensmen are more flamboyant than us print people. We are more calm and creative in our ways. But that doesn’t change the fact that we are not on the top of the list for one-on-one interviews in the boxing field. It’s a salty pain of injustice! He arrives without much fanfare when his security blinked. I threw a question which is a no-no. He answered and smiled even said, “O sige may interview pa ako (Go, I still have an interview)!” The small sensation of power that a press pass can give ebbs quickly once you’re cocooned in a bullpen even that as huge

Sen. Manny Pacquiao: ’Public service is my calling but boxing is my passion’

Pacman: “As always, I fight to bring glory to the Philippines.”

as the Coral Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. The usual announcement barked: no posing for photos, no asking for photographs, or face immediate banishment from the huge media convergence. Bob Arum, still astonishingly handsome and oozing with chutzpah, introduced the boxers and the entourage, then he declared open the silent riot of question and answer. “Senator, what have you done outside the ring you consider the most worthy?” “Ang pagtulong ko sa kapwa at paglilingkod sa Diyos (Helping people and my service to the Lord),” said Pacquiao. His trainer Freddie Roach is at peace with the sport that he loves, one that had robbed him of his ability to speak, function normally without some pills a day. “I don’t let it bother me,” Roach said. “Once Manny is out there on the ring, he is on his own. Nothing much I can do.” Pacquiao’s opponent, Jessie Vargas, had this to say: “When I was younger and watched what Manny did to my two boxing idols – Erick Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera – two great Mexican warriors, I told myself someday I will get into the ring against Manny and avenge what he did to them. Now, I will fight for them as well as myself. “To me, this fight isn’t about

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

a friendly ring rivalry between our countries. This fight is about payback.” Vargas’s chief trainer Dewey Cooper said he considers this fight “the passing of the torch, and it will be their moment, their time for a ‘younger’ world champion to shine and learn the admiration of the fighting world.” Roach said he is looking forward to returning to Manila and training Pacman for a very big challenge. He said he respects Vargas, having seen what he did to Saddam Ali to win his second world title. He is prepared to shoot the works for Pacquiao against Vargas to become world champions again like a mandate. In the pugilistic arena, good stories are good stories, regardless of who tells them. Sportswriters cobble these groups of juicy pieces of fistic delights — vivid, immediate, firsthand — reported with the gluttony of an explorer, the doubts, the fears and the trials. These seasonal sportswriters use the tip of the wedge in their stories. I’ve always done my athletic meanderings from a different view, soft and caring like a warm glove. While everything about the feel of the press conference brimmed and sparkled, it was old news, but it was all there. ***

com

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 14, 2016

WORLD’S LARGEST SERVICED RESIDENCE OWNER-OPERATOR INKS PARTNERSHIP WITH CEBUANO FIRM The Ascott Limited, the world’s largest owner-operator of international serviced residences and Worldwide Central Properties, Inc., the developer of Sundance Residences in Banawa, Cebu City recently forged a partnership for THE SUITES at GORORDO. The mixed-use residential condominium project, which will open in 2021, will be comprised of 172 residential condominium units and 150 serviced residences, which will be under The Ascott Limited-managed Somerset international serviced residence brand. This will be the first Somerset property outside of Metro Manila and the first in Cebu City and the Visayas region. The new property will rise at Gorordo Avenue corner Archbishop Reyes Avenue steps away from the bustling business and commercial district of Cebu Business Park.

THE SUITES AT GORORDO is the latest luxurious development project in the center of Cebu City, a landmark avenue where one finds a mix of old and modern Cebu - cultural and heritage sites such as old homes dating back to post-war history set amidst the thriving business and commercial modern landscape, a long stretch of commercial establishments and institutions in education, religion, medical facilities, as well as hotels and restaurants.

For inquiries, contact Gerry Palabyab at 650-393-9306 or e-mail sales@worldwidecentralproperties.com.

The Ascott Limited’s Somerset brand is known for its stylish units, which primarily caters to business executives and their families. The company currently has more than 290 properties in over 100 cities across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region. With over 40 years of experience and expertise in the steel and construction supply business, Worldwide Central Properties, Inc. further raises the bar of development with its partnership with The Ascott Limited. This world-class development project continues to reinforce Cebu’s standing as one of the most progressive investment havens in the country. Taking inspiration from the iconic Flat Iron Building in New York City, THE SUITES AT GORORDO will be as luxurious. A distinctive advantage of owning a unit here is that owners will get to experience the premier services and facilities of a hotel while enjoying the benefits of residential living as the entire building will be managed by The Ascott Limited. They can avail of housekeeping services, concierge, use of facilities, etc. at a minimal fee. Investors also have the option to have their units managed and reap profits. Privacy and security are never compromised with the security card system, well-trained Security and 24-hour closed-circuit TV surveillance. The facilities and amenities cater to a lifestyle of contemporary living for business and leisure travellers, tailored to meet their discerning tastes and needs be it a business trip, leisure vacation or relocation. Somerset serviced residences offer business and leisure travelers various apartment choices with contemporary interiors and all the conveniences of a modern home such as a well-equipped kitchen, separate working and living areas, home entertainment system and broadband internet connection. The property will also have a Business Centre to cater to business travellers. The facilities include: a Fitness center, Jacuzzi, Outdoor swimming pool, Residents' lounge with recreational facilities and Restaurant & bar. As part of The Ascott Limited’s renowned Ascott Host programme, there will also be special activities for long-staying guests such as scheduled Residents’ gatherings, Neighborhood Tour, etc.

Project Details. The Ascott Limited Philippines and Thailand general manager Arthur Gindap (second from right) tells reporters what to expect from The Suites at Gorordo, a project with Worldwide Central. The Suites is Worldwide’s second project after Sundance Residences. It will have 322 luxury units, with 150 serviced apartment units to be managed by The Ascott’s Somerset brand. Present at the press conference are (from left) Worldwide Group VP-Marketing Sharon Anne Ong, Founder Francisco Ong, Lina Ong and Ascott Philippines development manager Danielle Feliciano.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 14, 2016

Valid Sept 15-21, 2016

Valid at Island Pacific West Covina•Panorama·Canoga Park•N. Vermont Los Angeles• S. Vermont Los Angeles •Oxnard•Cerritos•Rancho Cucamonga• Long Beach.

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