September 27-29, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 78 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages
DFA Sec. Cayetano: Drug war ‘necessary DATELINE USA Trump releases third instrument’ for Filipino human rights version of travel ban FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
by ROSETTE
ADEL
Philstar.com
DHS double down on countries lacking security protocols
ON Sunday, September 24, President Donald Trump strengthened his original controversial travel ban by implementing new restrictions that would completely prohibit almost all travel to the United States from seven countries. A major change that this order makes is adding new countries to its list that face restrictions and prohibitions from traveling to the U.S. Starting October 18, nationals from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea would not be allowed entrance in the U.S. Additionally, certain people from Iraq and Venezuela would face harsh restrictions and heightened security. Trump announced via Twitter the latest edition of the travel ban which includes restrictions which varies by country and will be slowly phased in beginning October. The main vehicle for implementing these changes is collaborating with foreign governments. According to a statement released by the White House, the U.S. — through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — will strengthen its identity-management pro-
MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday, September 24, again defended the administration’s war on drugs before the international community saying it must be done to uplift the human rights of all Filipinos. Speaking at the 72nd United
Nations General Assembly, Cayetano also said the anti-illegal drugs campaign “never violated any individual group’s human rights.” He was discussing President Rodrigo Duterte’s people-centered government when he mentioned the war on drugs, “The Philippines comprehensive campaign against illegal drugs is a necessary instrument
to preserve and protect the human rights of all Filipinos,” Cayetano said in his 25-minute-long speech. Cayetano added that drug trafficking calls for stern measures always consistent with the rule of law. He acknowledged that drug addiction calls for rehabilitation. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano at the 72nd United
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Nations General Assembly.
DFA photo
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is the subject of an impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon. Philstar.com photo
Point by point: Sereno answers Asians projected to be largest immigrant impeachment group in US by 2055 complaint u PAGE A4
ASIANS have become the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., according to a new study released this month on the diversity and population of Asian Americans. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, the Asian population in the U.S. grew a whopping 72 percent between 2000 and 2015 — from 11.9 million to 20.4 million — making them the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the nation. Hispanics, the second fastest growing group, increased 60 percent. Reflecting the fast growth rate, the study projected Asians to become the largest immigrant group in the U.S. by 2055, surpassing Hispanics. Asians are predicted to comprise 38 percent of U.S. immigrants in the next 50 years, while Hispanics are expected to comprise 31 percent. Around 20 million Asian Americans trace back to over 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, making the U.S. Asian population
by KRISTINE JOY
Philstar.com
PATAG
MANILA — Article XI of the 1987 Constitution or the Accountability of Public Officers holds that the president, the vice president, the members of the Supreme Court, members of Constitutional Commissions, and the ombudsman may be removed from office through impeachment upon conviction of treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes or betrayal of public trust. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the highest magistrate of the land, is currently being accused of these grounds by Duterte Youth lawyer and defeated senatorial candidate Larry Gadon. Gadon’s impeachment complaint has already hurdled the House of Representatives’s justice committee, after
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MARAWI HERO. President Rodrigo Duterte salutes to the remains of the late PO3 Alexis Laurente during his wake visit at St. Peter Funeral Home in Davao City last Saturday, September 23. Also in the photo is the wife of the fallen hero, Liezl. Laurente, a member of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), was killed in while fighting the terrorists in Marawi City on September 15, 2017. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Competitiveness: Philippines better, but… by RICHMOND
MERCURIO Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines posted an improvement in its overall competitiveness as it climbed one notch in this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index following a huge 10-notch drop in last year’s rankings. The country, however, was classified as the second worst globally, behind Venezuela, when it comes to the number of procedures to start a business. The WEF Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 showed that the Philippines ranks 56th out of 137 countries this year, up from its 57th position last year.
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The country, however, was classified as the second worst globally, behind Venezuela, when it comes to the number of procedures to start a business. Philstar.com photo
House panel endorses medical marijuana bill PAL offers senior citizen and by JESS
DIAZ Philstar.com
Scientists have found evidence to support marijuana use for medical purposes, such as relief from multiple sclerosis pain or combating nausea after chemotherapy.
MANILA — The House of Representatives committee on health on Tuesday, Sept. 26, endorsed a bill allowing the use of cannabis or marijuana for medicinal purposes. However, the use of marijuana for recreational purposes would continue to be prohibited. The committee on health chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan approved the bill authored by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III. Encouraged by the passage of his measure at the committee level, Albano said he is hoping the
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PWD discount, VAT exemption
FOR domestic flights booked online, Philippine Airlines (PAL) is now offering a 20 percent senior citizen (SC) and person with disability (PWD) discount and a 12 percent value added tax (VAT) exemption. In a statement issued Tuesday, Sept. 26, PAL said the grant of said discount and exemption via the airlines’ online booking portal www.philippineairlines. com expands the available options for said privileges for both sectors of society. The airline has been granting the same
privileges via ticket office transactions for domestic flights. Discounts and exemptions apply to resident Filipino citizens purchasing regular fare tickets and is not applicable to other taxes, fees and charges and ancillary service like extra baggage and to tickets issued as a reward or prize. To avail of the discount/exemption, one must log on to the PAL website and go to the secPhilippine Airlines is now offering a 20 tion ‘Book a Flight’ and click ori- percent senior citizen (SC) and person with gin and destination, class of ser- disability (PWD) discount and a 12 percent
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value added tax (VAT) exemption.
A september 27-29, 2017 • LA mIDWeeK AsIAN JOUrNAL
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From the Front Page
DFA Sec. Cayetano: Drug war ‘necessary... PAGE A1 ‘Drugs connected to terrorism, crimes’ The Foreign Affairs chief claimed that at least 59 percent of the country’s 42,036 barangays are involved in the illegal drug trade, making it an “epidemic.” What agencies like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency actually measures is the number of barangays that are “drug affected”. A barangay is considered drug-affected if there is a reported presence of drug personalities and at least one drug laboratory, drug den or marijuana plantation. Barangays considered slightly affected are those with drug users while those in the moderate category have both drug pushers and users. Seriously affected barangays are those with both drug personalities and clandestine drug laboratories.
PDEA data released in July showed that 49.65 percent or 20,872 of the 42,036 barangays in the country are affected by illegal drugs. “Of these barangays, 66.7 percent or 13,920 are classified as slightly affected and 32.3 percent or 6,744 barangays are moderately affected. The remaining one percent or 208 barangays are seriously affected,” Isidro Lapeña, PDEA director general at the time, said in a statement then. Cayetano, who ran alongside President Rodrigo Duterte in the 106 polls, said: “Where is sovereignty in a country where vast numbers are addicted to drugs and enslaved to their suppliers?” Cayetano also claimed that that the government has also seen “intimate symbiotic relationship between the illegal drug trade, terrorism and poverty.” He said terror groups bring together ex-
tremists, criminals, mercenaries and foreign fighters “who attempted but failed to take over the great city of Marawi.” “We can no more live with drugs than with terrorism, which, the United Nations admits, and as we have discovered is funded by the drug trade. This has created the new phenomenon of criminal insurgency,” he added. Duterte last June said drugs money is fueling the terrorist activities in the Philippines. He claimed that “Christians and the Moro, who were into shabu sought sanctuary amongst the terrorists for protection and to ensure the success of their business.” Media slammed anew Cayetano also criticized media reports which “deny the real scale” of illegal drug problem in the country. He said headlines focus on human rights abuses but neglect headlines on the effects of illegal drugs such as young
people being raped and mothers selling children to feed their drug addiction. “We should never tolerate human rights abuses. But neither should we tolerate misinformation, fake news on and politicization of human rights,” he said. Last May, Cayetano also accused Philippine media of spreading “alternative facts” that have tarnished the image of the government’s war on drugs as the president’s former running mate offered a defense of its human rights record. He made the accusation before the panel of UN Human Rights Council. The Department of Foreign Affairs last Saturday claimed the country “scored a big victory in Geneva” when the UN body “overwhelmingly adopted Manila’s human rights report card.” Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review outcome report, however, does not only cover the Philippines’ report, but also the other states’ positions on its human rights record, which included calls to investigate killings. Several critics have condemned the anti-illegal drugs campaign of Duterte which started in July 2016. n
OUTSTANDING LADY SENATOR AWARD. Senator Loren Legarda receives the Lady Justice Statuette as Outstanding Lady Senator from Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta during the 6th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys held on September 21, 2017 at the Manila Hotel. The award was conferred on Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, and Climate Change, in recognition of the Senator’s excellence and to show PAO’s appreciation of all the support she has shown to the agency. Senate photo
House panel endorses medical... PAGE A1 House and eventually the Senate would approve it. “I have high hopes under the Duterte administration that this bill would be enacted into law. Finally, there is hope for our people, especially our children, who suffer from medical conditions like epilepsy, cancer and multiple sclerosis,” he said. “Unlike many medical professionals, President Duterte has an open mind on medical cannabis,” he said. Albano recalled that shortly after winning the presidency in May last year, Duterte said he was not opposed to the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes but he was against its use for recreation. “Medical marijuana, yes, because it is really an ingredient of modern medicine now. There
are medicine right now being developed or already in the market that (have) marijuana as a component… used for medical purposes,” the then president-elect said. “If you just smoke it like a cigarette, I will not allow it, ever. It remains to be a prohibited item and there’s always a threat of being arrested. If you choose to fight the law enforcement agency, you die,” he said. Marijuana is among prohibited substances under the Dangerous Drugs Act. Albano said cannabis “has been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses to treat chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions.” These include cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe and chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy;
and severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple sclerosis, he said. Under his proposal, he said the use of medical marijuana would be allowed under strict regulations to be issued by the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. He challenged critics of medical marijuana to “shed your fear of the unknown and open your minds to its potential benefits to patients with debilitating ailments who need it.” “Marijuana, even in its raw form, is not harmful, unlike tobacco and liquor,” he said. Doctors supporting the Albano bill have told the House that at least 23 states in America allow marijuana for medicinal use. They said there is no single death in the United States attributed directly to the use of marijuana, unlike smoking and drinking. n
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From the Front Page
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Point by point: Sereno answers... PAGE A1 it was deemed that the complaint is sufficient in form and substance. On Monday, Sept. 25, Sereno’s team, led by seasoned lawyer Alex Poblador addressed Gadon’s allegations in their 85-paged Verified Answer filed before the House of Representatives. Culpable violation of constitution • Gadon says Sereno committed culpable violation of constitution when she “falsified Supreme Court resolutions and temporary restraining order.” • But Sereno says: “For obvious reasons, the Chief Justice cannot ‘falsify’ her own notes. And poor note-taking, even assuming that was the case (this is strongly denied), certainly does not amount to a ‘culpable violation of the Constitution.” • Gadon says Sereno committed culpable violation of constitution when “delayed action of petitions for retirement benefits of justices and judges and surviving spouses.” But Sereno says: “[C]hanges in procedure and processes were adopted to help ensure the prompt action on applications and consistent rulings and grants… Under this new system, there has been significant improvement in the speed, efficiency, and consistency in the processing of petitions for retirement benefits.” • Gadon says Sereno committed culpable violation of constitution when she “failed to truthfully disclose her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)” But Sereno says: “She declared all the fees received in her income tax returns for 2004 to 2009, and she paid the corresponding taxes thereon… All assets and investments bought or acquired from the remainder of these fees are truthfully reflected in her SALNs.” • Gadon says Sereno committed culpable violation of constitution when she “manipulated the Judicial and Bar Council and its shortlists” But Sereno says: “The Chief Justice, as a member and ex officio chairman of the JBC, is entitled to her own opinion on the qualifications of an applicant for a position in the Judiciary. Her expression of such opinion within the confines of the existing JBC rules cannot amount to a violation of the Constitution,
much less one which is ‘culpable’ in nature and for which she deserves to be impeached.” Corruption • Gadon says Sereno committed corruption when she “ordered the purchase of Land Cruiser 2017 as her personal vehicle, amounting to more than Five Million Pesos” But Sereno says: “No less than the Supreme Court en banc itself, in a Resolution dated 28 March 2017 in A.M. No. 17-0306 SC, approved the acquisition of the Land Cruiser for the price of Five Million One Hundred Ten Thousand Five Hundred Pesos… The Land Cruiser was purchased to ensure the safety and security of the Chief Justice, and not because she ‘took fancy at (sic) a luxurious sports utility vehicle.’” • Gadon says Sereno committed corruption when she “used public funds to stay in opulent hotels (Presidential Villa in Boracay).” But Sereno says: “No fee, in addition to what had been paid for the ‘Room Block’ of which the ‘Presidential Villa’ was already part of, was charged and paid for by the Supreme Court for the use of the villa during the 3rd [ASEAN Chief Justices Meeting.]” • Gadon says Sereno committed corruption when she took “business of first class [flights] together with her staff and security.” But Sereno says: “Complainant is apparently unaware that, under Rule XII-19, II.B.6.b of the Supreme Court Human Resource Manual, the Chief Justice is expressly allowed to travel on ‘full business class,’ while the other members of the Court are not allowed to do so. She did not ask for that privilege.” • Gadon says Sereno committed corruption when she “unnecessarily brings ‘huge entourage of lawyers’ in foreign trips.” But Sereno says: “[T]he Chief Justice never brought with her ‘a huge entourage’ of lawyers during her trips abroad. She brought only such number of lawyers as were necessary to assist her given the nature and objective of the official trip.” High crimes • Gadon says Sereno committed other high crimes when she “obstructed justice by ordering the Muntinlupa Judges not to issue warrants of arrest against Senator Leila M. De Lima.” But Sereno says: “This is a
barefaced lie. The Chief Justice has never spoken to any of these three judges on this matter, and neither did she instruct any Supreme Court official to instruct the judges to not issue a warrant of arrest.” • Gadon says Sereno committed other high crimes when she “perverted justice by ,eeting the Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals and instructing them not to comply with the processes of the HOR on Ilocos Six release.” But Sereno says: “Then CA Presiding Justice (now Supreme Court Associate Justice) Andres B. Reyes, Jr. conferred with the Chief Justice in connection with the show-cause order of the HOR. The Chief Justice essentially advised him that the CA Justices should consider their own legal remedies.” • Gadon says Sereno committed other high crimes when she “embellished her Personal Data Sheet in her application for the Judiciary to overstate her credentials.” But Sereno says: “The Chief Justice clearly did not ‘embellish’ or ‘overstate’ her credentials in her 2010 PDS. Granting for the sake of argument that there are errors in the Chief Justice’s 2010 PDS, she cannot be impeached for those errors since they all took place before she joined the SC, and before she became Chief Justice.” Public trust • Gadon says Sereno betrayed the public trust when she “sent a strongly-worded but misplaced reply to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on the Judges linked to drugs thereby inviting a head-on collision between the Presidency and the Judiciary.” But Sereno says: “The 8 August 2016 letter not only demonstrated the Chief Justice’s genuine concern for the welfare of all members of the Judiciary (including those accused of involvement in illegal drugs), but also her willingness, through the SC’s power of administrative supervision over lower courts, to cooperate and work with President in his campaign against illegal drugs.” • Gadon says Sereno betrayed public trust when she “prevented the Justices of the Court of Appeals to do a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte.” But Sereno says: “The Chief Justice cannot ‘prevent’ any PAGE A7
WINE AND DINE President Rodrigo Duterte hosts dinner for members press on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City. Duterte showed them a diagram containing the names of politicians and drug lords who financed the Maute siege of Marawi City. Malacañang photo
Trump releases third version... PAGE A1 tocols and information-sharing practices to limit “risk-factors” when welcoming travelers from certain countries. The statement said that these new protocols were shared with officials from countries that did not present “adequate information-sharing practices” and were allowed 50 days to improve their travel standards. “We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country,” the president said in a statement. “My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation.” Despite the White House’s confidence that the new travel ban, the Supreme Court made an unexpected announcement when it said that it won’t hear oral arguments on the previous version of travel ban that has been scheduled on October 10.
The justices were to hear lawyers representing the Trump administration and immigrant rights groups to make their cases on the ban, which was previously deemed unconstitutional by district court and appeals court judges. In January just days after his inauguration, Trump signed Executive Order 13780, which ordered the DHS to establish a new minimum baseline for the amount of information sharing with other governments is required to determine if certain foreign travelers present security threats to the U.S. This ban included barring nationals from six Muslim-majority nations and toughening up immigration security at airports and at the U.S./Mexico border. The original order — and its updated version released in March — were met with backlash from Americans and lawmakers who dubbed the executive order a “Muslim ban.” This current incarnation of the travel ban was also met with disdain by immigrant rights groups
that argue the ban is xenophobic and is a way to reject travelers based on their race and religion. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) on Monday, September 25, publicly denounced the administration’s expansion of the travel ban, calling it a ploy to ostracize “immigrants, Muslims, refugees and people of color.” “Let us not be fooled by the administration’s guise of ‘Making America Safe.’ This order is yet another attempt of a Muslim Ban and does the exact opposite of making us safe,” APALA National President Monica Thammarath said in a statement. “We look forward to hearing the Supreme Court’s oral argument this October 10 as our labor unions and community partners continue to join together to fight against the Muslim Ban. We have faith in our court system to once again challenge and block this ban as they have done before, and we continue to pressure our elected officials to rescind the ban and protect our immigrant and refugee community.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)
Asians projected to be largest immigrant group... PAGE A1 very diverse. Together, 19 of the largest Asian origin groups comprise 94 percent of the total Asian population in the U.S. While no single group dominates the U.S. Asian population, Filipinos were among the largest. As of 2015, the largest groups were Chinese who made up 24 percent (4.9 million), Indian at 20 percent (4.0 million), and Filipino at 19 percent (3.9 million). Also meeting the one million mark were those with Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese roots. Filipinos were also reported to be among the four Asian countries out of top 15 origin groups with large amounts of unauthorized immigrants. Out of the country’s 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants, 13 percent are Asian with most coming from India (500,000), followed by China (325,000), Philippines (180,000), and Korea (160,000). The study also analyzed the economic data of the U.S. Asian population and found that in general, Asians were more well off compared to the U.S. population as a whole, but economic well-being did vary among
subgroups. Asian American headed households held a median annual household income of $73,060, compared to the median of $53,600. Filipinos were among the Asian subgroups with the highest median income at $80,000, right after Indians who held a median of $100,000, and before Japanese and Sri Lankan who each held medians of $74,000. Asians were also less likely overall to live in poverty in comparison to the general U.S. population in 2015 (12 percent vs. 15 percent), but it again was varied among groups. Eight of the 19 groups experienced saw high poverty rates with the highest being among Hmong (28.3 percent), Bhutanese (33.3 percent), and Burmese (35 percent). Among the lowest poverty rates were Filipinos and Indians (each 7.5 percent), and Japanese (8.4 percent). Around half (51 percent) of Asians ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, according to the study. Indians were found to have the highest level of educational attainment with 72 percent having at least a bachelor’s degree. Also having high levels of education were Sri Lankans (57 percent),
Mongolians (59 percent), and Malaysians (60 percent). On the lower end were Cambodians (18 percent), Hmong (17 percent), Laotians (16 percent), and Bhutanese (nine percent). Filipinos were in the middle with 46 percent having a bachelor’s degree or more. Unsurprisingly, Filipinos were among the groups containing a large majority of proficient English speakers. According to the study, seven out of 10 Asians in the U.S. ages five and older spoke proficient English in 2015. At the top were Japanese (84 percent), Filipinos (82 percent), and Indians (80 percent). The study also reported 32 percent of overall Asian Americans as speaking only English in their homes, and the rest speaking another language. The study used a three-year dataset gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 to 2015 American Community Survey’s public-use files, with additional data on population estimates from the Census Bureau’s 2012 report, “The Asian Population: 2010” (2000 and 2010) and tables from American FactFinder (2015). (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
Competitiveness: Philippines better... PAGE A1 “This is one place higher than 2016 although its overall competitiveness score falls slightly, suggesting other countries’ scores are falling faster,” the WEF said. An annual assessment of the factors driving countries’ productivity and prosperity, the WEF report measures a country’s competitiveness based on 12 pillars: institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation. For this year’s report, the Philippines fared well in the macroeconomic environment pillar where it ranked 22nd worldwide, fueled by a manageable budget deficit and government debt. The country also finished strong in the market size pillar at the 27th spot globally on the back of its robust gross domestic product. The Philippines, however, ranked poorly in the pillars of goods market efficiency (106th), infrastructure (97th) and institutions (94th). In the goods market efficiency pillar, which includes the number of procedures to start a business, the country ranked
136th – second to the worst globally – while in the burden of custom procedures, it placed 125th worldwide. In an Executive Opinion Survey, which was part of the report, respondents cited inefficient government bureaucracy as the most problematic factor for doing business in the country. This was followed by inadequate supply of infrastructure, corruption, tax regulation and tax rates, respectively. Among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-economies, the Philippines now stands as the eighth most competitive in the region from sixth in 2016, with Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam overtaking the country. “It is good to see that we have maintained our overall competitiveness and even moved one notch higher. However, as we implement changes to improve, other countries are doing the same,” Makati Business Club (MBC) chairman Edgar Chua said. “We therefore need to do much more at a much faster pace. We call on Congress to focus on passing priority bills identified by the business sector, especially the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program and not allow itself to be diverted by various political maneuvers like impeachment proceedings,” he added. “The state of Philippine in-
frastructure is in dire need of attention and action. We ranked lowest in ASEAN in terms of quality of overall infrastructure, in quality of roads and in quality of air transport infrastructure,” MBC executive director Peter Perfecto added. The Philippines’ highest position since the WEF began using the current methodology in 2008 was achieved in 2015, when the country registered a ranking of 47th. Its lowest position was 87th in 2009. Overall, Switzerland remained the world’s most competitive economy for the ninth consecutive year, followed by the United States, Singapore, Netherlands and Germany, in that order. Completing the top 10 are Hong Kong, Sweden, United Kingdom, Japan and Finland. “Global competitiveness will be more and more defined by the innovative capacity of a country. Talents will become increasingly more important than capital and therefore the world is moving from the age of capitalism into the age of talentism. Countries preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and simultaneously strengthening their political, economic and social systems will be the winners in the competitive race of the future,” WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab said. n
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Dateline USa
US, Philippine troops simulate hijacking, hostage rescue U.S. and Philippine forces have staged an exercise simulating the seizure of an American plane by ISIS and a hostage rescue, as they look to refocus their military alliance towards counterterrorism. The five-day training exercise which ended Tuesday, Sept. 26, was the first of its kind and saw more than 400 troops, airport police and hostage negotiators create a mock hijack of a plane by an ISIS cell that forced it to land at Clark airport north of Manila, officials said. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the drill was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s wish to refocus the two countries’ 1951 mutual defense pact towards counterter-
rorism and disaster relief. Since coming to power, Duterte has sought to weaken ties with the country’s former colonial ruler and pivot towards China and Russia. He previously said military exercises with America were a “humiliation” for the Philippines and threatened to sever defense ties completely. He has since banned the Filipino military from conducting joint patrols with the U.S. Navy outside Philippine waters and trimmed the number of joint military exercises. The latest drill was held in the shadow of a US-backed military campaign to retake the Philippines’ southern city of Marawi, which was occupied by pro-ISIS
gunmen more than four months ago. “(It) served as a perfect opportunity to assess the needs of the new security environment in the Pacific region, especially now that terrorism has become evident in our current security landscape,” Lorenzana said. Both governments stressed there was no such known plot against aircraft by IS or its supporters. The last hijacking in the Philippines was in May 2000, when a passenger armed with a grenade and handgun tried in vain to force a Manila-bound Philippine Airlines flight to return to the southern city of Davao. (Philstar.com with reports from AFP)
Fil-Am WW II vets to receive Congressional Gold Medal on Oct. 25 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan recently announced that Congress will bestow the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino American Veterans of World War II, in a ceremony to take place on October 25. Coinciding with the observance of Filipino American History Month, this ceremony serves as a symbolic capstone to the decades-long fight for recognition on behalf of the brave Filipino veterans who served with honor to defend the United States. The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) applauds Congressional leaders and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) for their efforts in enshrining this recognition. Approximately 260,000 Filipino and Filipino American soldiers answered President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call to defend the United States and the Philippines during World War II. The bravery and sacrifice of these soldiers
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were integral to American victory in the Pacific. FilVetREP, chaired by retired Major General Antonio “Tony” Taguba, spearheaded a massive campaign to push for the passage of Senate bill 1555, and its companion House bill 2737, which sought to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor the Filipinos who fought alongside the U..S. Military. “This is the culmination of our community’s efforts to secure for our brave soldiers the recognition they rightfully deserve,” say Gen. Taguba. “They made the supreme sacrifice to fight under the American flag, yet they had to wait for more than 70 years for the U.S. to acknowledge their service. At the awards ceremony honoring them, we will take this opportunity as a grateful nation to thank these heroes for their duty to country and to make sure we keep their memories and stories alive.” NaFFAA is proud to have partnered with FilVetREP, along with the Filipino American National Historical Soci-
ety (FANHS) and other community organizations and leaders, in this endeavor. NaFFAA National Chairman Brendan Flores states, “With fewer than 18,000 Filipino American World War II veterans still alive today, this Congressional honor is long overdue. These brave veterans served with honor, and did so selflessly. I applaud Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for spearheading Congressional efforts to properly honor and provide them with the recognition and benefits they so deserve.” The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress. It is awarded to those “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture...” The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at the United States Capitol’s Emancipation Hall. It will begin at 11 a.m. EST, and can be viewed online through Livestream at speaker.gov/live. n
PAL offers senior citizen...
vice and number of passengers. A senior citizen MUST bring at the airport check-in counter an OSCA (Office of Senior Citizens Affairs) ID in combination with any of the following: i.) Philippine passport; OR ii) Any government-issued ID indicating DOB (E.g. Driver’s License voters ID, SSS/GSIS ID, PRC card,
postal ID). A PWD MUST bring at the airport check-in counter a PWD ID in combination with any of the following: 1). Philippine passport, or 2). Any government-issued ID (E.g. Driver’s License, voters ID, SSS/GSIS ID, PRC card, postal ID) Per CAB Resolution No. 41, failure to present the required
identification (IDs) will result in either the collection at the airport of the amount of 20 percent discount and 12 percent VAT based on the current applicable fare at the time of check-in in accordance with the fare restrictions applicable to the ticket, PLUS a fine of Php1,500.00 or forfeiture of ticket. (Inquirer. net)
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OPINION
Fight for survival
FEATURES
ACCORDING to the United Nations (UN), the rate of environmental damage on our planet is increasing at a faster pace than previously thought and seen in the last 10,000 years. This makes it imperative for governments to act now and reverse the damage being done to the planet. Under the “Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6): Regional Assessments,” the UN reported that unprecedented economic growth, which has lifted millions out of poverty in Asia and the Pacific, is putting heavy pressure on ecosystems in the region. “Increasing unsustainable consumption patterns have led to worsening air pollution, water scarcity and waste generation, threatening human and environmental health. Increased demand for fossil fuels and natural resources — extensive agriculture, palm oil and rubber plantations, aquaculture and the illegal trade in wildlife — are causing environmental degradation and biodiversity loss,” the report added. In another report, the UN noted recorded floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts and other weather-related events to have caused 90 percent of the world’s major disasters in the last 20 years. The “Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters” found that five countries hit by the highest number of disasters are the United States, China, India, Philippines, and Indonesia. It added
that Asia accounts for the most share of disaster impacts, including 332,000 deaths and 3.7 billion people affected. Environmental degradation, urban development and population growth, combined with the impacts of natural calamities have increased the risks. Environmental problems caused by impacts of human activities on resources is a phenomenon commonly known as climate change. As time goes by, the planet becomes more vulnerable. Its ability to ward off wastes and destructive effluent is growing thin. About 75 percent of disasters are caused by or related to weather. The world has reached a critical stage in its efforts to exercise responsible environmental stewardship. Despite intentions and some admirable actions done by notable organizations, unsustainable use of the world’s natural resources has left the degradation of the global environment unabated. This calls for governments to initiate groundPeople must be educated on how the world’s current practices is exhausting many of the breaking environmental policies to cushion the planet’s limits — leading to risks of damaging impacts of climate change, improve disaster mitigation, preserve the remaining forests and the ecosystem that is beyond repair.
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
biodiversity, and secure food supply. The world must find a balance between economic and social development with environmental protection—before it’s too late. (AJPress)
Drug addiction in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs: A crime or a disease? Much of the criticism surrounding The Fil-Am Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s Perspective bloody war on drugs can be pointed to how he looks at drug addiction. The administration’s GEL SANTOS-RELOS policies to solve the drug menace appear to be based on the president’s belief that drug addiction is a crime, and criminals need to be penalized, and in many times be killed, even without due process, to protect other people. This policy rationalizes the killings of accused drug addicts, even as young as 9 years old, a policy that strips the accused and those guilty of drug addiction of their prospects of redemption, rehabilitation, and the help they need to start a new life. What is drug addiction? Here is important information as presented by drugabuse.gov: Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. Brain changes that occur over time
with drug use challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. This is why drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop. Relapse indicates the need for more or different treatment. Most drugs affect the brain’s reward circuit by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. This overstimulation of the reward circuit causes the intensely pleasurable “high” that leads people to take a drug again and again. Over time, the brain adjusts to the excess dopamine, which reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as tolerance. They might take more of the drug, trying to achieve the same dopamine high. No single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk
factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. Drug addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction. Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long-lasting. These changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop. The path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs. But over time, a person’s ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised. Seeking and taking the drug becomes compulsive. This is mostly due to the effects of long-term drug exposure on brain function. Addiction affects parts of the brain involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and control over behavior.
Addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior. Can drug addiction be treated? Yes, but it’s not simple. Because addiction is a chronic disease, people can’t simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives. Addiction treatment must help the person do the following: •stop using drugs •stay drug-free •be productive in the family, at work, and in society Principles of effective treatment Based on scientific research since the mid-1970s, the following key principles should form the basis of any effective treatment program: •Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. •No single treatment is right for everyone. •People need to have quick access to treatment. •Effective treatment addresses all of the patient’s needs, not just his or her drug use. •Staying in treatment long enough is
critical. •Counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of treatment. •Medications are often an important part of treatment, especially when combined with behavioral therapies. •Treatment plans must be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing needs. •Treatment should address other possible mental disorders. •Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of treatment. •Treatment doesn’t need to be voluntary to be effective. •Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously. •Treatment programs should test patients for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well as teach them about steps they can take to reduce their risk of these illnesses. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos
What Duterte is doing better than Aquino 45th anniversary thoughts
Opinion
RICARDO SALUDO IT may grab headlines and sell newspapers, but don’t pay attention to all this talk about the people rising up against President Rodrigo Duterte, and backing detractors and destabilizers led by his predecessorBenigno Aquino 3rd’s camp. ‘Get real’ is the message to the yellows and the communist reds from the 80-something percent of Filipinos backing Duterte in survey after survey by Pulse Asia, Social Weather Stations (SWS), EON Philippine Trust Index, and last week, the Pew Research Center, a leading United States pollster. It’s not hard to see why 86 percent of Filipinos back Duterte in the Pew survey, with 41 percent very favorable toward him, and huge majorities approving his handling of the economy (80 percent), illegal drugs (78 percent), crime (68 percent), corruption (66 percent), and terrorism (64 percent). Quite simply, the numbers show that President Rodrigo Duterte is doing better than his predecessor on the big concerns of ordinary people: law and order, corruption, the economy, public services and facilities, and foreign affairs. On the law and order issue that got Duterte elected, the Philip-
pine National Police reports that crime is down by about one-third overall. The latest SWS crime survey done two months ago found that record-low levels of property crime (3.1 percent of families affected), physical violence (0.6 percent), and all kinds of crime (3.7 percent). Compare that to the tripling of lawless incidents under Aquino, from 324,083 in 2010 to more than 1 million a year in 2013 and 2014, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Duterte’s war on drugs makes Aquino’s effort look like a noncampaign, with first-year achievements exceeding those for several years in the past government: 86,984 arrests, 152 drug dens closed, nine methamphetamine labs dismantled, 64,397 police operations conducted, on top of 1.3 million surrenderers and P82 billion worth of narcotics seizures reported. For sure, many Filipinos, not to mention foreign governments and world organizations, are disturbed by more than 3,000 suspects killed in police operations, and thousands of other killings believed to be drug-related. But after the recent youth killings in Caloocan, the narco-carnage is over, with new suspect deaths sure to face massive state and media scrutiny and zero presidential backing. And with the body count dropping, nationwide
killings of all kinds would fall well below the 11,000 to 16,000 a year recorded in past regimes. The race to spend and build Turning to economic programs, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno is pushing hard to avoid Aquino-era underspending. After stepping down in June 2016, Aquino boasted that he left Duterte some P1 trillion in budget funds unspent. Diokno takes no pride in failing to fully utilize state resources. From about 13 percent of annual budgets in 2014 and 2015, he slashed underspending to 3.6 percent last year, and just 0.4 percent in the first half of this year. This drive to implement programs and projects is crucial to President Duterte’s Build, Build, Build public works plan, which aims to double infrastructure spending from the longtime average of 3 percent of gross domestic product, to 5 to 7 percent by 2022. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said this week that the government should finish about half of the 75 flagship projects to be started under President Duterte. Among them: the country’s new main international gateway in Clark, its rail link to Manila, and the first segment of the Mindanao railway in the Davao region. Plus: the long-overdue repair and upgrading of the Metro Rapid Transit 3 system, which fell into
woeful disrepair due to mismanagement and anomalous contracts in the Aquino years. The Duterte administration is now considering an MRT3 takeover and investment proposal from a consortium led by PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan. Bottom line: After years of underspending and slow infrastructure, Filipinos are now seeing their taxes not just collected, but spent. And even more will be harnessed for development under the five-tranche tax reform program to rationalize and boost revenue collection. With more vigorous government and private sector spending, poverty and hunger are falling. Self-rated poverty measured by SWS has averaged 44 percent under Duterte so far, down from about 48 percent in Aquino’s last year. Self-rated hunger in the second quarter of 2017 dropped below 10 percent for the first time since 2004, when SWS changed its survey process, leading to doubledigit ratios. And the hunger fell particularly among the self-rated poor households and in all regions of the country. We’ll look at the security and corruption front on Thursday. Then one can decide if Filipinos have any reason to oust Duterte and bring back the yellow regime they voted out last year. (ManilaTimes.net)
Commentary
ENRIQUE
DE LA CRUZ
LAST week marked the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law over the Philippines by Ferdinand Marcos. While the day itself may not have been as eventful, as say, 9/11, the Marcos declaration, did change the arc of many Filipino lives, both in the Philippines and abroad; it certainly changed mine. While organizing against it, I met my wife Prosy, with whom I have two accomplished children, Corina and Carlo, and a wonderful grandchild, EverIyla. Through the opposition movement, I met progressively minded Filipinos and Americans, including members of the Black Panther Party, who shared precious insights into the struggle of African Americans against racial oppression, and a deeper understanding of racism, and white-skin privilege in America. Marcos justified his imposition of martial rule by exaggerating threats to Philippine national security, and a faking an ambush of his defense secretary. By exaggerating threats to national
security, and staging the ambush of Juan Ponce Enrile, Marcos lied to the Filipino people. As we look back 45 years ago, we realize that the Marcos’ martial rule was actually a deliberate and calculated move to subvert the normal democratic processes of political succession in the Philippines, to stay in power beyond his constitutional term of office. Marcos, in lying to his people, is not unique; other national leaders, including U.S. presidents, have done so, perhaps, not so much to maintain themselves in power, but to justify policies that are unpopular. As we mark the 45th anniversary of the imposition of martial rule in the Philippines, we must pause to reinvigorate its lessons. Through lies and exaggerations, Marcos was able, under cover of his supposed constitutional powers, to suspend civil liberties, and subvert the very same democratic processes from which his power derived. This enabled him to rule by executive decree for almost 15 years until he was deposed by the EDSA revolt. The new Philippine Constitution, drafted post-Marcos, makes it somewhat harder to declare martial law, but democracy continues to be a very fragile thing. Through lies, exaggerations, state-sponsored propa-
u PAGE A7
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Dateline PhiliPPines
After immunity from traffic violations, Fariñas now wants own cops for Congress by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANILA — House Majority Leader Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas sought to create a police force that would protect the members and properties of the Congress a week after wanting lawmakers to have immunity from traffic violations. House Bill 6208 proposed to establish Philippine Legislative Police (PLP), which would be responsible for ensuring lawmakers’ safety and enforcing Congress’ powers of contempt and subpoenas. Attending various meetings and looking after their constituents are indispensable part of their duties. Inherent to their functions as legislators and politicians are part of their duties,” Fariñas said. According to the bill’s explanatory note, the Congress relies on the law enforcement agencies under the executive branch
House Majority Leader Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas Pilstar.com photo
to enforce and execute its contempt orders and warrants as the Congress does not have enough manpower to provide security to its members. “The reliance of Congress on the law enforcement agencies of the executive department in the protection of its members and the enforcement and execution of its powers impairs, to a large extent, the independence of Congress
from the executive department,” he said. The bill also proposed that PLP officers be given the same qualifications, salaries and benefits, retirement age and equivalent rank of members of the Philippine National Police. Last week, Fariñas drew flak for telling the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to accord them with parliamentary immunity whenever they violate traffic laws. To explain the House’s directive, he quoted the constitutional provision stating that senators and congressmen cannot be held liable—or arrested—if the offense committed is punishable with less than six years imprisonment. But Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate reminded Fariñas that lawmakers should not be above the law. “Dapat ay ay maging huwaran ang mga mambabatas para tuparin ang mga ito,” Zarate said in a statement. n
Point by point: Sereno answers...
PAGE A2 member of the Judiciary, much less the CA Presiding Justice, from visiting the President. However, as Head of Judiciary, she may occasionally remind magistrates of the first Canon of the Code of Conduct which is entitled ‘Independence.’” • Gadon says Sereno betrayed public trust when she “attacked the imposition of Martial Law in a commencement address, while the validity of Martial Law was still pending before the Supreme Court, and later continued to participate in the Court’s deliberations.” But Sereno says: “[R]ead in its proper setting and context, the
Chief Justice’s commencement address was far from an ‘attack’ on President Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law… Most importantly, the commencement address was an exercise of the Chief Justice’s right of free speech. It was her view on a matter of public interest and history.” • Gadon says Sereno betrayed public trust when she “issued a Joint Statement with the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals regarding the Ilocos Six issue, which can very well be elevated to the Supreme Court.” But Sereno says: “The Joint Statement was about the HOR’s threat of contempt and/or deten-
45th anniversary...
tion against three members of the Judiciary for acts committed in the performance of their judicial functions. It was not about the legality of the ongoing detention of the Ilocos Six.” • Gadon says Sereno betrayed public trust when she “usurped the mandate of the Court en banc by arrogating to herself alone the running of the Supreme Court and the Judiciary, thereby destroying the Supreme Court as a collegial body.” But Sereno says: “[T]he Chief Justice, by her conduct as described above, has in fact been zealously protecting the independence of the Judiciary as the third branch of Government.” n
bate. To fail in this is to abdicate one of our key responsibilities as citizens of the Pilipinas. PAGE A6 To keep democracy strong, and *** ganda and a complicit media, its leaders accountable, we need Enrique B. dela Cruz, Ph.D. is Professor those in power can manipulate to view political power and those Emeritus at the California State Universitypublic opinion and obtain public who have been given the privi- Northridge. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy consent to executive orders and lege to exercise it, with a healthy (Mathematical Logic) from UCLA and has legislation that constrain and dose of skepticism, subjecting written on Asian Americans, Filipino-Americans undermine basic freedoms and their pronouncements and politi- and Philippine-U.S. relations. You can e-mail civil liberties. cal acts to strict scrutiny and de- him at enrique.dela.cruz@csun.edu
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Hazing ban moves in House
by Ma.
NIGHT BEAUTIES. The winners of the Miss Philippines beauty pageant wave after being crowned at the Manila Hotel on Saturday, Sept. 23. They are (L-R) Shanon Jumayth Tampon, first runner-up; Samantha Arcilla, Miss Philippines Princess of the World; Kellie Dione Camoro, Miss Philippines Queen and Beauty Universe; Jayalea Tumaliuan, Miss Philippines Tourism Universal; Georgette Nicole Coronacion, Miss Philippines Diamond of the World; and Christine Glory Sisno, second runner-up. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada
Duterte says Philippines a drug transshipment point of notorious Bamboo triad by aLexis
RoMeRo Philstar.com
MANILA — Two international syndicates are behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday, sept. 26, as he called on the united states to work closely with the Philippines to address the problem. Duterte said the Philippines now serves as a transshipment of narcotics to the united states because of the “Bamboo triad,” a criminal group based in Taiwan. “I said we are in trouble. This is the first time I would reveal it because we’re talking about the Constitution and the interest of our country and of course the Bill of Rights and due process,” the president said during the 56th anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association in Manila. “The Philippines today is a client state of the Bamboo triad. They have taken over the operations of, sad to say, the Chinese but I do not mean the country and people in a sense that most of them are really into this kind of business,” he added. During the 120th anniversary of the Justice department in Pasay also Tuesday, Duterte said
the Bamboo triad and another group, the 14K triad based in Hong Kong, have taken over the drug operations in southeast Asia. He said those cooking drugs in the country were given “franchise in distribution” by the two groups. “I said they have decided to go international. The Philippines is a transshipment of shabu to America and it behooves upon America to work closely with the Republic of the Philippines especially on this serious matter,” Duterte said. “We are flooded with drugs and the locals here haven’t taken in but they participate in the (production) of, the selling and I think they are happy because they are protected,” he added. Duterte said about 40 percent of barangays in the Philippines are affected by the drug menace, which he called a “disease.” “We have become a narcostate long ago,” he said. Duterte reiterated his warning against drug lords, saying he would not hesitate to kill them if they destroy the future of the country. But he clarified that his crackdown on narcotics would be compliant with the Constitution. “When it comes to this country,
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
Reina Leanne ToLenTino ManilaTimes.net
A House subcommittee has approved a substitute bill prohibiting hazing and regulating initiation rites of fraternities, sororities, and other organizations. If signed into law, the proposed new “Anti-Hazing Act” would repeal Republic Act (RA) 8049, which only regulates hazing and initiation rites. “All forms of hazing shall be prohibited at whatever stage of the initiation rite or practice,” the substitute bill states. “only initiation rites or practices that do not inflict direct or indirect physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury to the recruit, neophyte, or applicant of a fraternity, sorority, and organization shall be allowed,” provided there is a written application to conduct such rites, according to the bill. It states that the application “shall be made to the proper authorities of the school not later than seven (7) days prior to the scheduled initiation date.” under the bill, communitybased fraternities, sororities, and organizations must submit a written application to the chairman of the barangay (village), and the municipal or city mayor where they are based. The application must indicate the place and date as well as the names of those who will undergo the initiation and of the fraternity, sorority, or organization’s officers. Also to be submitted are the names of “persons that will take charge in the conduct of the initiation rites.”
The bill — approved by the House Committee on Justice’s subcommittee on Prosecutorial reforms in a hearing on Monday — substitutes for House Bill No. 3467 introduced by Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy. According to Dy, the substitute bill still has to go through the mother committee. Schools execs liable Dy told The Manila Times the bill would make school officials liable in case hazing or initiation results in death or serious physical injuries. “If the person subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites suffers any physical or psychological injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members of the organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals,” the substitute bill states. Persons who participated in the hazing will suffer 20 to 40 years in prison and pay a P1million fine “if death, including suicide, rape, sodomy or mutilation results therefrom,” it states. The measure provides other penalties in case the victim becomes “ill or incapacitated for the performance of the activity or work in which the victim was habitually engaged.” section 5 of the bill requires the school’s head to assign at least two school representatives to be present in the rites, while section 11 requires the village captain, and municipal or city mayor where the community-based group is based, to assign at least two village,
municipal or city officials. under the bill, the duty of school representatives and local officials is “to see to it that no hazing is conducted during the initiation rites.” They must also make a report on the conduct of the initiation. It also requires organizations with members who are students or plan to recruit students to register with school authorities. ‘Simpler law needed’ At the senate, sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed a bill amending RA 8049 “changing the title of the law from regulating hazing to prohibiting it.” “We will make it simpler and straight forward. There will be no more graduated penalties. We just want two or three penalties: reclusion temporal or 12 -20 years (imprisonment) and reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) and maybe reclusion mayor for other minor cases like the ownership of the building [used in hazing rites],” he said. “The ownership of the building is the key to this law because like the Anti-Drugs Law, the owner of the facility where there is shabu laboratory is liable whether the house is rented or not,” he said. Zubiri added: “It’s the responsibility of the owner of the facility to know what’s going on in his premises even if its not leading to death. so, we are going to put a lot more amendments to the old law. We will also include (imposition of) automatic reclusion perpetua to (fraternity) officers whether they were present during the initiation rites [or not].” n
Philstar.com photo
I could be the most brutal but I do not lose sight of the Constitution… I have been a prosecutor I know what due process means,” Duterte said. “I do not want killing innocent Filipino people… Due process must be observed,” he added. Critics claim that Duterte’s war on drugs has encouraged summary executions and abusive practices. Duterte has denied condoning criminal acts and has promised to “slaughter” policemen involved in extrajudicial killings. Duterte also challenged the opposition to find a single policeman who can prove that he ordered the killing of innocent civilians. n Authorities put up a police line in front of the fraternity office and library outside the UST campus in Manila.
Philstar.com photo
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‘Not all flagship projects will be finished by 2022’ by MayveLin
U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net
JuST half of the Duterte administration 75 flagship projects will be completed before a new government takes over five years from now, a cabinet official said. “By finished [or]completed, probably half. But the rest will be ongoing, because they are not projects that you can do immediately,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters during the weekend. The 75 projects will be implemented under the Duterte government’s ambitious “Build Build Build” program, where it will take the lead in construction using official development assistance. Twenty-two of the projects have already been approved by the National Economic and De-
velopment Authority Board and the cost for the entire program is expected to hit P9 trillion over the administration’s six-year term. One of the most recently-approved projects, the planned Metro Manila Subway, will be among those not expected to be operational by 2022. “The subway will not be finished because for example, a digging machine can dig only 10 meters a day,” Dominguez said. “They are going to employ about 25 machines a day but its total length is 24 kilometers. That will probably take around seven years,” he added. The P355.58-billion subway, which is scheduled to break ground next year, will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City. It is expected to address traffic
congestion in the metropolis. The Department of Transportation wants the subway to be partially open by 2022, with full operations to start in 2025. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno previously also tagged the subway project as unlikely to be finished before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down. He expects completion,however, to take longer. “Our plan is to complete the flagship projects before the end of the term of the Duterte administration except the subway, because it would take 10 years to be completed,” Diokno said last month. Dominguez, meanwhile, said the projects that would be completed before 2022 would include the Kaliwa dam, a portion of the Clark to Manila railway and the Mindanao railway. n
Senate urged to OK Train before October break by charissa
Mae neMis ManilaTimes.net
THE Senate should pass its version of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) bill before Congress takes a break next month, the Finance department said on Friday, to allow for the final law’s implementation starting next year. The Train bill, which will lower personal income taxes in exchange for taxes on cars and fuel, among others, is up for plenary debate at the Senate. The House Revenues from the proposed Train Act, which comprisies the the first package of the of Representatives passed its own government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, will be used to fund “Build Build Build!” infrastructure program. Philstar.com photo version in May. Session will be adjourned from Train Act, which comprisies the ter opportunities, leading to better October 14 to November 12 based the first package of the govern- incomes for their families,” was on the 17th Congress’ legislative ment’s Comprehensive Tax Re- and means committee chairman calendar. Lawmakers will go back form Program, will be used to fund Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said in to work from November 13 to De- “Build Build Build!” infrastructure a sponsorship speech. Senate Bill 1592, differs from cember 15 before taking a break program. “Train will help build not only the House’s Train proposal by reanew from December 16 to Januthe country’s physical infrastruc- vising the proposed implementaary 14 next year. Final Senate approval before ture, but also its human infra- tion schedule of higher oil excise the October break “will allow us to structure. Better roads, highways, taxes and the phasing in of a tax implement the tax reform on Janu- bridges, seaports, airports and on sugar-sweetened beverages, ary 1, 2018, so that the benefits of railways will attract more invest- among others. Differences between the two the reform can be felt at the soon- ments and lead to better indusest possible time,” the Finance de- tries. And when the poor have versions will be settled by a biaccess to education, healthcare, cameral committee that will met partment said. u PAGE B5 Revenues from the proposed and social services, they gain bet-
Stricter authentication for online transactions to start September 30 by Lawrence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
BANKS are set to adopt stricter authentication measures for online transactions starting Sept. 30 to foster a secure digital financial services environment and protect consumers against cyber attacks, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said. BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said the adoption of multi-factor authentication techniques for certain transactions, as contained in Circular No. 958 issued last April, would push through as scheduled. “Looks like the adoption of multi-factor authentication will push through,” she said. The circular was issued due to the increasing propensity and sophistication of cyber-attacks involving fund transfers, payments, and other transactions via online channels. With the ongoing migration to EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) technology, the BSP said cyber-attackers face reduced fraud opportunities in
traditional schemes which require customers to physically present their payment cards or the so-called “card present transactions” in ATM and/or POS terminals. Similar to the experience of other countries that have adopted EMV technology, the BSP is expecting an upsurge of cyber-attacks targeting cardnot-present (CNP) transactions in the Philippines that intends to fully shift to the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) by 2020. CNP transactions are normally done via online through internet or mobile applications such as fund transfers and payment of utility bills; buying airline tickets; online booking of hotels, tours and tickets; online shopping for products and services; and a host of other activities in e-commerce websites and other online or mobile platforms. The stronger authentication controls and measures are aimed at protecting online customers as well as addressing
the increasing cyber-threats. The enhancement to the regulation aims to reinforce the adoption of more stringent security controls for certain types of transactions by BSP supervised financial institutions. In particular, multi-factor authentication is mandatory for those transactions considered as sensitive communications and/or high-risk such as enrollment in transactional e-services, payments and fund transfers to third parties, online remittance, account maintenance and use of payment cards in e-commerce websites, among others. The process makes use of a combination of two or more authentication factors such as knowledge or something the user knows such as password, PIN; possession or something the user has in his/her possession such as payment card, one-time password generated through a security token or sent via SMS; and inherence or something that is inherent to the user such as fingerprint and retinal pattern. n
B SEPTEMBER 27-29, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
Community Journal
Angels among us
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
“All God’s angels come to us disguised.” – James Russell Lowell
Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Last of 4 Installments)
An angel is an invisible presence that must be acknowledged to become ever stronger. God sends angels to keep watch over human beings and help them in every human challenge. There is, however, the element of free will in humans. You can acknowledge the presence of angels or deny it. It is your choice ultimately. The more angels are acknowledged and become a conduit to heaven, they become a hovering, guiding reality in one’s life growing ever stronger in their influence to shape every thought, word and deed in one’s life. On the other hand, if the dark side prevails repeatedly in one’s soul that is made progressively weak by severe addictions of any kind, whether chemical, sexual or the human inclination towards pride, disobedience and evil, then the angel’s influence becomes weak. The human protectee is like a a cell phone that is not receiving signals and becomes dead on a skip zone. Only a direct divine intervention wrought by the most powerful force of intercessory,
unceasing prayers by one or more prayer warriors can avert the cosmic disaster of a soul lost forever to darkness, death and nothingness. There is a study of angels called angelology. In it, it is claimed that there is a hierarchy of celestial beings grouped into three spheres. According to Wikipedia, there is a First Sphere, the highest ranking of all because they are closest to God. This includes Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. The Second Sphere includes Dominions, Virtues and Powers. In the Third Sphere can be found Principalities, Archangels and Angels. Our personal guardian angels fall in the last group. Each human being is believed to be assigned a personal guardian angel, Christian or not. The angels that keep watch over human beings belong to the lowest order of celestial beings and they are the ones concerned with the affairs of human beings. They are holy celestial beings who are agents of God intended as a help to mere mortals. They are powerful but we ourselves need to connect to that power to take
effect. If you acknowledge that you as a child of God was given a personal guardian angel from the time God conceived you in His thoughts, there should be no fear in our hearts to face even the unknown. An angelic relationship can be nurtured daily and can grow wonderfully through time until the end of human life. Who knows? In the end, we might be able to see this yet unseen godly presence, link up face to face, do a high-five, even dance a jig and thank our personal guardian angel, whether you gave him a name or not, whether he revealed his name to you or not, when we transition out to a celestial realm ourselves — finally free of ALL heavy worldly concerns and ALL constraints of time, space and gravity. Just perhaps, that light at the end of a long dark tunnel might give us a glimpse of the face of God himself. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Consequences of failing to disclose materials assets, income, facts and information in a divorce case
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THERE is a natural tendency among divorcing parties to hide their assets from their spouse and understate income. This is a common problem that I have observed from practicing law for many years. A common question I hear from clients is “my spouse doesn’t know I have an account in this bank, do I have to let him/ her know of this account?” Parties to a divorce proceeding have a duty to disclose financial information to each other. This duty arose based on California’s policy (1) to marshal, preserve, and protect community and quasi-community assets and liabilities that exist at the date of separation so as to avoid dissipation of the community estate before distribution, (2) to en-
sure fair and sufficient child and spousal support awards, and (3) to achieve a division of community and quasi-community assets and liabilities on the dissolution or nullity of marriage or legal separation of the parties as provided under California law. To promote the above public policy, the family code requires a full and accurate disclosure of all assets and liabilities in which the parties have or may have an interest be made in a divorce or a legal separation, regardless of the alleged characterization of the property as either community or separate. Parties are also required to disclose all income and expenses of the parties. The parties also have a continuing duty to update and augment that disclosure to the extent
that there has been a material change to their financial position. The purpose of the duty to augment and update the disclosures is so that at the time the parties enter into a settlement agreement, stipulated divorce judgment, or trial, each party will do so with full and complete knowledge of all relevant underlying facts of the case. The disclosures are made by the parties by serving each other with a preliminary declaration of disclosure and a final declaration of disclosure. The preliminary declaration of disclosure should be served within 60 days of serving the divorce, separation, or nullity petition. The commission of perjury on the preliminary declaration of disclosure may
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Town mates and Friends:
Please join us in celebration of our
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Nazario Perlas: Precy Castaneto- Ruedas: Lito Tambo: Ludy Lagmay-Ganzon: Mila Tadina: Josie Dolor Etrata: Mary Ann Arichea–Caunan:
nazario.perlas@yahoo.com pcruedas@yahoo.com lito.tambo@sbcglobal.net lganzon@gmail.com mrtadina@yahoo.com wilpenn@yahoo.com macaunan@ha.ucla.edu
*Discounted Room rates available at Gold Coast Hotel & Casino until September 3, 2017: Code: ABA2017
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
Seniors raid retirement accounts but still require Chapter 7 relief
THE clients are seniors. The wife is 67 and had just retired from a lifetime of being a registered nurse. She has social security benefits of $2,100. The husband is 67 and has social security of $700. So together, they have social security of $2,800. They don’t own a house. They live with their daughter and they pay her rent of $1,000. The $1,000 covers utilities, except food. The daughter is a single mom with two daughters aged 10 and 8. She works as a hairdresser. I understand that she makes about $2,000 a month after deducting rent of $200 for a station.. She has her own clientele. So she takes home about $1,800 a month. She makes some extra income by selling her clients hair products including shampoos that are sold only through hairdressers. She makes another $300 a month profit on those products. For a single mom with two kids, her net income of $2,100 is hardly enough to make ends meet. So, the $1,000 of rent that clients give to daughter is more of a contribution to their household of three adult and two young children. Their household’s income is therefore $2,800 from the clients’ social security plus $2,100 from the net income of the daughter as a self-employed hairdresser. So the household income for this family becomes $4,900, less rent of $1,400, and yields a net of $3,500 for necessary monthly living expenses for a family of five. The clients are paying for two cars of about $400 each. They decide to return one car but keep the other, thereby cutting car ownership expense by $400 a month.. They return the 2016 Honda Accord, but keep the 2014 Camry, which has three more years of payments to go. The clients seem to be doing ok if you don’t dig further into their financial situation. I check their 2016 tax returns and it immediately jumps out that there was $37,000 retirement account liquidation -- $25,000 was a liquidation of wife’s 401K and $12,000 was a liquidation of husband’s IRA. In addition, there was $48,000 of disability pay that went to wife. So, I’m wondering where did the $48,000 plus the $37,000 went to.
Debt Relief
Atty. lAwrence yAng I asked them what happened to the $85,000 of disability and retirement account liquidation that you received last year? They said that all $37,000 of the retirement account was used to pay credit cards, and the $48,000 of disability was used for living expenses and whatever was left over probably another $20,000 was also used to pay credit cards. I said, “you’re kidding, right?” Why use retirement and disability to pay credit cards when both sources of funds are completely exempt in Chapter 7. In other words, if they filed Chapter 7 last year, they would still be able to keep their $37,000 of retirement accounts, plus still keep the $20,000 of disability in cash. So now, they would still have $57,000 of cash in the bank. My next question is so how much do you still owe of credit cards after paying $57,000? They said that they still owe about $100,000 of credit cards! One hundred thousand of credit cards requires at least $3,000 of minimum monthly payments. Even if the wife were still working as a registered nurse, she would gross about $8,000 a month and net about $6,500. Three thousand dollars a month or credit cards is almost 50 percent of the wife’s net take home pay if she were still working. But now her social security of $2,100 is not even enough to cover the $3,000 to keep the $100,000 of credit cards current. I told them that they should have seen me last year before using up their retirement accounts and disability. They would have saved the $57,000 and still discharged all of their credit cards. But now of course they can still discharge all of the $100,000 of credit cards left after they paid off $57,000, but all of the $57,000 is gone! “Yes, we really regret liquidating our retirement accounts and using the rest of the disability to pay the credit cards…” If we still had the $57,000 today, after
discharging the $100,000, we would probably just pay off the car loan of $12,000 on the 2014 Camry so we don’t have to pay the $400 anymore. So the lesson here is that you should never use your retirement accounts to pay off your debts. At this time, retirement accounts up to $1.2M are exempt in bankruptcy. In other words, you can keep as much as $1.2M of retirement accounts as exempt assets when you file Chapter 7! That’s a lot of retirement account money! Even at a measly 5 percent income in a managed portfolio, you can use $60,000 a year without reducing the $1.2M of principal! That extra income in addition to social security makes for a comfortable retirement. Just don’t get sick. Pray to our God for good health as you retire and long life! Read Psalm 91 “…whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty…God says ‘I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as Lord. When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. I will reward them with long life; I will save them.” How do you know this is true? Because the Bible is the word of God, and God doesn’t lie! Of course, this Psalm was actually written maybe 3000 years ago by Moses, who was really close to our God. So that’s good enough. Pray to our God, the God of Moses and Israel, cry to him in your distress, and your cry for help will reach his ears in his sanctuary! I think it must have been the prophet Samuel who said this in Psalm 18. When you cry to our Lord in your distress, He hears you! That is really good to know, is it not? So let’s say you got sued for breach of contract for backing out of the marriage proposal that you made of to Kim Jung Un’s sister. She sues you for $1.0M. Your 401K would be $1,122,000; yes that’s right; your retirement account is over $1.1M. You don’t have to go to n.Korea and ask your brother-in-law that never was for his forgiveness for not marrying his sister. You just file a Chapter 7 in Los Angeles and you discharge or wipe out the
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COMMUNITY JOURNAL
Tips to remember when you owe the IRS What’s New ARLENE AL-OS, CPA, MBA TIPS to remember when you have outstanding tax liability to the IRS: • Receipt of tax bill. If you receive a bill for taxes due, pay the taxes owed including any penalties and interest. If you are not able to pay in full the total amount due, consider getting a loan to full pay the tax bill if rates are lower versus paying on installments with penalties and interest . • Direct pay. Using IRS direct pay, you can now pay your tax bill directly from checking or savings account. You can schedule payments 30-days in advance and cancel scheduled payments 2-days before the scheduled payment date. For more information, visit https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay. If using a mobile device, you can access the IRS2Go app to pay with either Direct Pay or debit or credit card. IRS2Go is the official mobile app of the IRS. Download IRS2Go from Google Play, the Apple App Store or the Amazon App Store. • Pay with credit card. You can pay your bill with a credit card online, by phone or with a mobile device. There is a convenience fee charged by the credit card
processor not by the IRS. For more information regarding convenience fee, visit https://www. irs.gov/uac/pay-taxes-by-creditor-debit-card. • Other ways you can pay. You can pay using: 1) Electronic federal tax payment system (EFTPS) https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/; 2) Electronic funds withdrawal as you e-file your income tax return; 3) same day wire applicable bank fees applies; 4) money order; 5) check; 7) cash at participating retail store. For more information regarding IRS official payment site, visit https://www.officialpayments.com/fed/index.jsp • Need additional time to pay. If you need more time to pay you may be able to pay on installment if you qualify. • Online Payment Agreement. You are eligible to apply for online payment agreement if: 1) Individual: have filed all required returns and the combined tax liabilities is not more than $50,000, or for a short term agreement if combined taxes owed is not more than $100,000 ; 2) Business: have filed all required returns and the combined tax liabilities is not more than $25,000. If you are approved for online payment agreement, there is set-up fees added to your bill unless you are approved for a short-term agreement of no more than 120-days no set-up fee. • Form 9465. Use Form 9465 to request to add the liability for a new period to an existing installment agreement. Beginning
January 1, 2017, the fees for setting up an installment agreement are: 1) $225; 2) $107: make payments by direct deposit; 3) $149: set-up an online payment agreement); or 4) $31: set-up an online payment agreement and make payments by direct deposit. To modify or reinstate an installment agreement, the fee is $89. For low income taxpayers the fee to set up an installment agreement is $43 or $31 if an online payment agreement is set-up and the payments are made by direct debit. • To avoid over and underpayment of federal income taxes withheld from your pay, update FormW-4 withholding allowance certificate with your employer. You may also visit https://apps. irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/. • If you owe alternative minimum tax, self-employment tax, and other taxes, use the instructions in Publication 505 tax withholding and estimated taxes. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies. (Advertising Supplement)
SSS to sell part of real estate assets to help fund pension hike THE Social Security System (SSS) will sell 47 condominium units and 49 parking slots in Mandaluyong City worth a total of at least P344 million as the state-run pension fund disposes of more properties to fund the pension hike approved by President Rodrigo Duterte early this year. In a notice, the SSS invited interested bidders for 17 residential condominium units as well as their respective parking slots at Pioneer West Highlands, whose floor areas range between 122.9 square meters and 436.56 sqm and with minimum bid prices ranging between P6.145 million and P22.265 million. Also up for sale were 13 units and parking slots at Pioneer Madison Suites, whose areas range between 94.84 sqm and 141.2 sqm, with bid prices ranging between P4.742 million and P7.06 million. The SSS was also selling 12 office condominium units and their respective parking at Pioneer Corporate Center, whose floor areas range between 71.66
sqm and 206.8 sqm, and with minimum bid prices ranging between P3.941 million and P11.374 million. At Globe Telecom Plaza, the SSS was selling five office units whose areas range between 108.95 sqm and 123.16 sqm, with prices ranging between P5.992 million and P6.774 million. The SSS was likewise disposing of a pair of 12.5-sqm parking slots worth P500,000 each. In all, the properties for sale at Pioneer West Highlands were valued at least P160.9 million; at Pioneer Madison Suites, a minimum of P75.6 million; at Pioneer Corporate Center, at least P75.1 million; and at Globe Telecom Plaza, a minimum of P31.9 million. The SSS said the deadline for submission of bids as well as the opening of proposals would be on Oct. 20. SSS president Emmanuel F. Dooc earlier said the plan was to sell more than P3.45 billion in properties to augment revenues amid the implementation of the additional P1,000 monthly
cash benefit to pensioners since March, following the president’s approval of the measure in January. The latest SSS data showed its net revenue slid by 60 percent year-on-year to P6.561 billion in the first half mainly due to the pension hike. A second tranche of another P1,000 monthly benefit to pensioners is expected before 2022 or the end of Duterte’s term. The president had also ordered an increase in members’ contribution to compensate for the pension increase. The SSS’s actuarial life will be slashed by 14-17 years to 20252028, from 2042 based on 2016 estimates, if members’ contributions would not be increased. After the first package of the comprehensive tax reform program is enacted into law, the SSS plans to collect an additional 1.5-percentage points to the previous contribution rate of 11 percent, on top of lifting the maximum monthly salary credit to P20,000 from P16,000 previously, to prolong its actuarial life until 2040. (Inquirer.net)
Consequences of failing to disclose materials... PAGE B2 t
be grounds for setting aside the judgment in addition to other remedies available under the law. The preliminary declaration of disclosure is not filed with the court but only exchanged by each party. The preliminary declaration of disclosure shall set forth 1) the identity of all assets and liabilities which the declarant may have an interest regardless of the characterization of community, quasi-community, or separate property; 2)The declarant’s percentage in the asset or liability; 3) the declarant’s characterization of the asset or liability. In addition, the declarant shall also provide the other party with a completed income and expense declaration. The declarations may be amended without permission from the court. The parties shall serve each other with a final declaration of disclosure at the time the parties enter into a settlement agreement, stipulated divorce judgment, or if the case goes to trial, at least 45 days prior to the first assigned trial date. The final declaration of disclosure shall include (1) All material facts and information regarding the characterization of all assets and liabilities(2) All material facts and information regarding the valuation of all assets that are contended to be community property or in which it is contended the community has an interest. (3) All material facts and information regarding the amounts of all obligations that are contended to be community obligations or for which it is contended the community has liability.(4) All material facts and information regarding the earnings, accumulations, and expenses of each party that have been set forth in the income and expense declaration. The parties may agree to mutually waive the final declaration of disclosure requirement but not the preliminary declaration of disclosure. A party who fails to comply with the disclosure requirements under the family code may be
held in breach of the party’s fiduciary obligation to the other spouse under family code section 721, 1100, and Marriage of Feldman. The party that failed to disclose material assets, income, facts, and information may be sanctioned by the court by awarding attorney’s fees and sanctions to the other spouse under family code section 271. When hiring an attorney to represent you in a high asset divorce case with complex property issues, it is important to hire an attorney that understands the disclosure obligation under the family code. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not
intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement) Bouncers Pony rides Ferris wheel Petting zoo
C
Haunted house BINGO
Fair
Grandma’s Attic Facepainting Maze Obstacle Course Horse races Small children’s area
October 28 and 29, 2017 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Grade School and High School grounds 400 S. Louise Street & 400 E. Lomita Avenue Glendale, CA 91205
Musical performances Pumpkin carving contest Costume contests for Kids, Adults & Pets Mediterranean dinner by Raffi’s Catering-Pasadena (Saturday) American and Filipino Breakfast (Sunday) Mexican Food Wine & Beer Garden Baked goods For more information visit our website
www.hfglendale.org or call 818.243.3743
LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 27-29, 2017
Calendar of Events across
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America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS SEPTEMBER 30
PeDRO celebrates its 13th anniversary with a fundraising dinner dance The Philippine Disaster Relief Organization, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation invites everyone to “A Dinner to Remember” with surprise guests on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Crystal Ballroom, Quiet Cannon, 909 N. Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640. Free parking; $55 cost and formal attire. Maricar and the 4700 Band will provide musical entertainment with DJ George Cunanan. For more information, contact President Archerie Calunod (714) 655-4285 or PRO Bettie Francisco (323) 828-7648.
SF Assessor Carmen Chu’s free Family Wealth Forum Free one-on-one counseling with experts. Multi-lingual workshops. Exhibitors hall from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at City College (Ocean Campus), 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112. To register: http://sfassessor.org/familywealthforum or call (415) 554-7434.
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4th Filipino American International Book Festival in San Francisco Join a weekend of fun literary events, performances and activities for book lovers of all ages! The opening gala will be held on Friday, Oct. 6, while the festival will begin on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 8, it will be from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will take place at the San Francisco Main Library at 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco. Admission to the festival is FREE and open to the public. For more information, please visit http://www. filbookfestival.org/.
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A3M Starnight 2017 annual gala in Long Beach, CA In the past 25 years, A3M has given hope and a second chance of life to many patients. Their journeys have inspired and motivated the organization to continue its mission of increasing and diversifying the Be the Match Registry. A3M is committed to supporting patients from the communities that are underrepresented in the Be the Match Registry. To continue its life-saving work, you are invited to support A3M at its Annual Gala Dinner held on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach (200 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802) from 5 to 9 p.m. To purchase tickets, please visit https://www.flipcause.com/secure/ event_step2/MTk3NjI=/13381.
City of Carson’s Filipino-American History Month Kick-Off The City of Carson will kick off this year’s Filipino-American History Month on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the CJMM Community Center at Carson (801 E. Carson St., Carson, CA 980745). From 8 to 9 a.m., there will be refreshments at the Community Center East Parking Lot. It will be followed by a wreath laying at Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s monument from 9 to 9:15 a.m. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. there will be a program at the Carson Dominguez Room. For more information, please call (310) 952-1743.
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Adobo Festival in Los Angeles The 12th Annual Adobo Festival is coming up on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 & 8 at the Silver Lake Medical Center at 1711 W. Temple St. in Los Angeles. The festival starts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is FREE! For details regarding how to join the Adobo Cook-Off Contest, Kiddie Popstar and for booth vendors, call (650) 290-0542 or ( 650) 290-4457 or log on to www.adobofestivalusa.com.
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Glendale Tech Week Glendale Tech Week offers the best of tech from within Glendale and the Greater LA area. Attendees will have access to talent, networking, and business opportunities. Passes, schedule of events, and list of speakers available at Glendaletechweek.com.
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26th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.
18th Annual Asian Small Business Expo in Alhambra, CA On Saturday, Oct. 14, the 18th annual Asian Small Business Expo will be held at the Almansor Court Conference Center (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801), featuring free workshops, exhibitors, networking opportunities, and more! Jonny Hwang, founder of 626 Night Market, is the featured guest speaker with special guest, Jerome Horton, chairman of the California Board of Equalization. It is FREE to attend! The Asian Small Business Expo is the only business-to-business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company and its services. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. For more information, please visit http://www.apisbp.org/expo.html.
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City of Carson’s 8th Annual Larry Itliong Day Celebration Join the City of Carson for its 8th annual celebration of Larry Itliong Day on Saturday, Oct. 21 with a parade and program. Assembly time begins at 8 a.m., with the parade from 9 to 9:30 a.m. The program will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. It will be held at Veterans Park at 22400 Moneta Avenue, Carson, CA 90745. Admission is FREE. For more information, please call (310) 952-1743.
NaFFAA to celebrate 20th anniversary in Washington, DC The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) turns 20 years old this year. This October, several events are being planned to celebrate this milestone, which coincides with the national observance of Filipino American History Month. They will culminate with NaFFAA’s 20th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 21. With its theme “NaFFAA 2.0: One Voice, Four Million Strong,” NaFFAA will recognize the legacy and accomplishments of the organization over the past 20 years, and highlight its comprehensive vision to unite and amplify the voices of the four million Filipinos living in the United States. “NaFFAA 2.0” represents how NaFFAA is honoring its past while forging a new forward-thinking and balanced approach in uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse Filipino American individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy. To learn more about NaFFAA or to purchase tickets for the 20th Anniversary Gala, please visit www.naffaa.org.
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PHII presents Tribute 2017: Recognition ceremony and dinner dance The Philippine Heritage Institute International celebrates its 28th anniversary with its annual recognition ceremony and dinner dance on Saturday, October 28, 6:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 -- 19th Tribute to Outstanding Filipino American Nurses and 11th President’s Award: ‘Profiles in Services, Pillars of Community.’ Cost is $65; attire, formal. PHII’s annual tribute is in answer to the White House Millennium Council Initiative from then Pres. Bill Clinton, who came with his wife Hillary to Los Angeles in January 1998. They created the Council in August 1997, with the theme ‘Honor the Past, Imagine the Future’ and traveled across the United States to promote its objectives -- an agenda with 21 ‘Ways to Commemorate the Millennium.’ “Mrs. Clinton gave a speech, stirring and inspirational,” said the late Mrs. Armada. In 1999, PHII became a partner to the White House Millennium Council selecting the ‘Millennium Recognition Awards’ to pay tribute to outstanding individuals whose contributions have enhanced the quality of life in the community. PHII seeks to improve the quality of life affecting Filipino American communities through research, education and recognition with the youth as its main focus. The foundation sponsors a youth congress annually with featured speakers. For more information, contact President Josie E. De Jesus (714) 272-0300; or Executive Director Anna A. Chickey, M.D. (562) 900-0379 (payments can be mailed to Dr. Chickey, daughter of Mrs. Armada, at 2032 Redfield St., Fullerton, CA 92833); or Email Lydia V. Solis at lvsolis@aol.com.
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In Loving Memory of
Salvador ‘Buddy’ Ponce Diaz August 6, 1940 - September 21, 2017
䨀伀䠀一 䔀刀䤀䌀 䜀䄀夀伀匀伀 䌀伀䴀䤀䄀 䨀漀栀渀 䔀爀椀挀 䜀愀礀漀猀漀 䌀漀洀椀愀 猀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 瀀愀猀猀攀搀 愀眀愀礀 愀琀 栀椀猀 栀漀洀攀 椀渀 䴀漀渀爀漀瘀椀愀 䌀愀氀椀昀漀爀渀椀愀 漀渀 吀栀甀爀猀搀愀礀Ⰰ 匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㈀Ⰰ ㈀ 㜀 愀琀 琀栀攀 愀最攀 漀昀 㔀 ⸀ 䔀爀椀挀 椀猀 猀甀爀瘀椀瘀攀搀 戀礀 栀椀猀 洀漀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 匀栀椀爀氀攀礀 䌀漀洀椀愀 ⠀渀攀攀 䜀愀礀漀猀漀⤀ 猀椀猀琀攀爀猀Ⰰ 䄀最渀攀猀 䌀漀洀椀愀 䘀愀氀氀攀琀琀愀 愀渀搀 䌀礀渀琀栀椀愀 䌀攀挀椀氀攀 䌀漀洀椀愀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀 倀愀漀氀漀 愀渀搀 䄀愀爀漀渀 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 眀椀昀攀 漀昀 ㈀ 礀攀愀爀猀 䰀愀氀愀椀渀攀 䌀漀洀椀愀 ⠀渀攀攀 䰀愀猀愀氀愀⤀⸀ 䠀攀 椀猀 瀀爀攀搀攀挀攀愀猀攀搀 戀礀 栀椀猀 昀愀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 䄀戀攀氀愀爀搀漀 愀渀搀 漀氀搀攀爀 戀爀漀琀栀攀爀 䜀氀攀渀渀⸀
Salvador “Buddy” Ponce diaz. age 77, died at Kaiser Permanente los angeles Medical Center, on Thursday, September 21, 2017. due to heart failure. Born august 6, 1940, in Pagsanjan, laguna. He lived in los angeles, Ca for 30 years. Survivors include his first and forever love, remedios diaz. Buddy will forever be remembered by his beloved daughters rizza diaz and Nelda Fernandez, treasured grandchildren, Josh, Jordan and Kristen, caring in-laws along with countless other friends and family whom were blessed to know him. Salvador “Buddy” loved listening to classical music, he used to play the trumpet at his young age, being with his family, having fun with friends, he loved to dance. visitation will be held at 4p.m - 8p.m., Sunday, october 1 at the Hollywood Frovere Cemetery in Hollywood. Mass will be Monday, october 2 at 11 a.m.. Cremation follows after mass. n
In Loving Memory of
LEANDRA ILAGAN VERDERA February 09, 1930 - September 19, 2017 a MUCH loved Mommy Ely to all. Born in lipa City, Philippines, she is survived by her children, alexander - Chyrell, Noelito - Jane, dulce -rene, Gloria. Grandchildren: Katherine, Maryrose -arthur, Ghenica - Macky, louie, Kristine, Trisha, Kristoffer, rosyel, Gizette, roscius, Janelle and Great Grandchildren: Jace & Giovanna and her 93 year old sister, apolonia. visitation: Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary, Friday, September. 29, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. 11160 Stranwood ave., Mission Hills, Ca 91345 missionhillsmortuary.com/obituary/4380088 Memorial Mass: Saturday, october 07, 2017 at 10 a.m. St Brendan Catholic Church 310 S. van Ness ave los angeles, Ca 90020 Memorial Mass & Inurnment: october 27, 2017 at 4 p.m. St Therese Columbarium Newport Blvd., Brgy. 183, Zone 20 villamor, Pasay city, Philippines n
Seniors raid retirement accounts... 䘀甀渀攀爀愀氀 刀椀琀攀猀㨀 匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㌀ ⠀匀甀渀搀愀礀⤀ ⴀ ㈀ 一伀伀一
䤀洀洀愀挀甀氀愀琀攀 䌀漀渀挀攀瀀琀椀漀渀 䌀栀甀爀挀栀 㜀㐀 匀栀愀洀爀漀挀欀 䄀瘀攀渀甀攀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀爀漀瘀椀愀 䌀愀⸀ 㤀 㘀 倀栀漀渀攀㨀 㘀㈀㘀 ㌀㔀㠀 㘀㘀
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‘Specter of Dictatorship: The Rise of the Marcoses in the Time of Duterte’ An evening with award-winning journalist Raissa Robles
LOS ANGELES – Thirty-one years after the People’s Power revolution ousted the Marcos dictatorship, the Marcoses are vying for political power once again. This time, they are embraced by President Duterte, who refers to Ferdinand Marcos as the Philippine’s “best-ever president” and hero. For many who lived under the Marcos dictatorship, the current attacks on the media and encroachments on human rights and due process are raising fears that authoritarian rule could return. As part of a six city U.S. tour, Raissa Robles, a Manila-based award-winning investigative journalist, will share her insights
into the significance of the rise of the Marcoses, how the same methods used by Marcos to establish authoritarian rule are being echoed by Duterte, and what it portends for the future. Raissa is author of “Marcos Martial Law: Never Again, A brief history of torture and atrocity under the New Society,” earning her the 2016 International Award for Excellence in Journalism by the Geneva-based International Christian Organization of the Media (ICOM). She is currently the Manila Correspondent for the South China Morning Post (HK) and Radio Netherlands. She has contributed to Asiaweek, Asia Inc., and Riyahd Daily, as well as
The Times of London and BBC Radio, with source interviews with Australian News Network and Voice of America. The community speaking events will take place followed by a Q&A. These events are free and open to the public. Saturday, October 14, 5:00 - 8 p.m. Pilipino Worker’s Center 153 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, 90026 Sunday, October 15, 2:00 - 5 p.m. Blessed Sacrament Church 6657 W. Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 For more information, call (323) 606-1322 or email mrjai-
meg@hotmail.com List of sponsors (partial): Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), Friends of Echo Park Library, Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), Sanborn House, People and the Power of Resistance, Alliance Philippines, Knights of Rizal - Historic FilipinoTown (KOR-HFT), Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC), KmB Pro-People Youth, Filipino American Human Rights Alliance -LA (FAHRA-LA), Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), Filipino American Library (FAL), Asian American Studies Center (UCLA), Center for SouthEast Asian Studies (CSEAS-UCLA) and other individuals. n
Submissions now open for AIR and COLA Master Artist Fellowship grants programs THE City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs is now accepting proposals for its 2018-19 Artist in Residence (AIR) and City of LA (COLA) Master Artist Fellowship grants programs. The Artist in Residence RFP seeks community-based/teach-
EMPLOYMENT
ing artists to coordinate multiweek participatory workshops in non-arts venues such as social service agencies, culminating in group presentations. Artist in Residence guidelines can be found here: http:// dcaredesign.org/air/ The COLA Fellowship Pro-
gram honors an assortment of Los Angeles’ best contemporary artists. The awards allow accomplished artists to create new work while DCA organizes a museum exhibition, performing, and literary arts showcase, and an online catalog to document and market the
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selected artists and their new works as one cross-section of the exciting Los Angeles art scene. Guidelines can be found here: http://dcaredesign. org/cola. Applications due Friday, October 27, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. for both programs n
Raissa Robles, award-winning investigative journalist, will be speaking on the Marcoses’ resurgence and the current parallels with the Duterte presidency to the rise of authoritarian rule.
Senate urged to OK Train... PAGE B1 t
once the Senate approves the final version of its tax reform proposal. “We respect the noble intention of the senators to amend the DOF proposal based on their learned judgment and after due consultation with stakeholders,” Finance
EMPLOYMENT
F0R RENT
Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in a statement. “In the coming weeks, this democratic process continues as the Senate debates the tax reform at the plenary level and as the bicameral conference reconciles the House and Senate versions,” Dominguez added. n
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 27, 2017
Fil-Am footwear pioneer Rich ‘One’ Cofinco:
Keeping the vision by Rae
P
urSuing the arts is risky business, but Filipino-American artist, designer, and all-around creative, rich “One” Cofinco made it his business and has been holding it down for over ten years. At the Skyline room at the Cerritos Library in Cerritos, California where Cofinco spent much of his younger years, fans came to listen to his story. The Asian Journal caught up with him sometime after. From his beginnings as a respected street artist, to building a name in the footwear industry, Cofinco has proven to be an unstoppable, freewheeling creative. Already famous for his street art and being the founder of graffiti crew no Art remains After (nASA) — which to this day remains legendary among street art followers — Cofinco found himself landing commercial jobs in the action sports industry due to his dynamic art style. it was during his early days working at skate and street style company
ann VaRona /AJPress
Vision Street Wear that Cofinco was challenged to transfer his talents onto products like t-shirts and skateboards, and eventually onto snowboard boots and skate shoes. Cofinco was immediately hooked and soon his new passion brought him to the iconic skate shoe company Vans, where he further developed a knack for shoe designing. This then lead to his first brand 4ce Footwear and his first taste of industry success. The company blew up between 2000 and 2001, and the Vans’ COO at the time eventually joined the team full time. unfortunately, 4ce Footwear later found out that person had been embezzling money from Vans to invest in their brand. Already feeling stuck and wanting to create different products, Cofinco took the opportunity to pursue something new, and left. Creative Recreation With experience, a young entrepreneur spirit, and a clean slate, Cofinco decided again to
Photos courtesy of Rich “One” Cofinco
disrupt the footwear industry. in 2002, he and longtime friend robert nand, founded Creative recreation, a company with plans of merging the gap between casual and formal footwear. “We wanted to create something you could wear to work, then to the bar, and then to your workout,” Cofinco shared with the audience in the Skyline room. The company’s shoes quickly gained attention from celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Alec Baldwin, robert Downey Jr., and ryan Seacrest, among many others, and were featured in magazines like GQ, Marie Claire, Men’s Health, and Men’s Vogue. Musician, entrepreneur, and now clothing and shoe designer Kanye West, was among the first to be spotted in Creative recreations. Among the many of West’s greatest sneaker moments was the brand’s staple shoe, the Cesario, which had all the makings of a basketball shoe. Dressed with a unique and simple toe strap over the forefoot, it became a statement piece easily adaptable to different environments. Creative recreation’s winged logo soon became established, with people heading
to a wide range of stores like Barneys new York, nordstrom, and Journeys for pairs of their own. The success of the company wasn’t something Cofinco really expected. He said, “Even to this day, i look back and can’t believe something like that happened.” Cofinco’s vision for Creative recreation had been coming to fruition, and after the company’s five-year mark, he was finally starting to realize just how game changing it was becoming. “That’s when i noticed what what we were doing was finally getting accepted as a legitimate category that nobody had done before,” Cofinco told the Asian Journal. But as the company grew, Cofinco found it harder and harder to retain its original vision as the push for volume and money became precedence. in 2012, Cofinco decided to leave Creative recreation to pursue other artistic endeavors. The company sold two years later for $11 million to rocky Brands, a leading footwear company that started off specializing in Western, hiking, and working boots. But in a quick turn of events,
Creative recreation asked Cofinco to come back and become the company’s creative director to help reignite its spark. Knowing the company’s original DnA, Cofinco accepted and focused on a Creative re-Creation campaign with plans to push for newness and reinventing the brand from its historic roots. With an emphasis on the “re,” it was all about recreating, re-innovating, re-styling, and re-doing everything while still staying true to the brand’s original vision. new technology like Vibram outsoles were added, as were new styles like the Scopo crosstrainer, the nittie court shoe, and brand’s first chukka boot, the Dragna. in a story by Footwear news, the company’s CEO David Sharp at the time expressed growth as a result of the campaign, stating that there was “an energy there that wasn’t there before.” But again, visions began to clash as the company found his ideas a bit too advanced. Cofinco decided it was best to leave for good. As seen in the future As expected, Cofinco was in no way finished with the industry. in 2014, Cofinco and business partner nate “res” Harvey created their current company, As Seen in the Future, or ASiF.
“Your blueprint is your sole — no pun intended — of your shoe,” said Cofinco to a laughing audience. As a big part of Cofinco’s artistic “sole/soul” revolves around utility, it is of course evident in his new brand. The difference lies in when the products would be useful. With ASiF, Cofinco still wanted to create utilitarian products, but ones that would still serve its wearers well way into the future. “The irony is that we don’t know what the future has in store for us, but we can prepare ourselves for future survival,” said Cofinco. “The future is an open book for anyone to interpret. it can be futuristic or apocalyptic, good or bad, technologically advanced or back to basics. But if we’re prepared, it won’t matter what the future has in store for us.” The brand’s futuristic and sleek aesthetics have already caught attention of “sneakerheads,” posting on blogs and other social media of their ASiF come ups — a favorite being the brand’s iO. While the shoes can only be purchased online, followers were able to check them out at a pop up at WCSP on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Another pop up at Do not Enter on Continued on Page 3
entertainment 3
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 27, 2017
Discovering more about Kim Chiu by BOY
ABUNDA Philstar.com
YOU see Kim Chiu giggle infectiously on TV during interviews yet her maturity was evident when she gamely shared her thoughts and laid bare the state of her heart by answering questions without any hesitations during her recent guesting The Secretary escapes to Siargao whenever he can to ride the waves. ManilaTimes.net photos in “Tonight with Boy Abunda.” There was sincerity in her tone while admitting that her working relationship with Gerald Anderson is much better these days. “We’re okay,” said Kim with a smile plastered on her face. Time has definitely healed by TESSA MAURICIOA-ARRIOLA whatever pain she felt after their ManilaTimes.net romance fizzled out and went IF there is one skill from their separate ways. “Everything his journalistic career that has is healed; everything’s okay. worked best for Presidential Nagtatawanan kami, ganyan Communications Operations ang buhay. Life goes on.” Office Secretary Martin Andanar, The Chinita Princess was it has to be the ability to distance also generous on talking things his emotions from endless conthat fans are interested to know. troversies hounding the Duterte She finally addressed the rumor administration. on her having a conflict with Touching base with former onscreen partner and rumored colleagues from the entertainboyfriend Xian Lim. Kim said ment press, the news anchorthat everything is fine between turned-government appointee them. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar with President Rodrigo Duterte looked quite relaxed even as “Wala naman, okay naman more serious as questions about I get an understanding of what the National Day of Protest was kami. It’s normal,” she said and social media wars, fake news and they are saying and address that went on to admit that their busy still looming at the time of the if I have to.” Mocha Uson made their way to interview. schedules hinder them from It is also through this same the table. “I’m feeling pretty good spending more time with each process that the secretary The Times asked, “Lots of these days,” he told The Times other. who remarked he had lost some people nowadays have gone off believes the public can sift “fake Speculations of Kim and news” from facts, which can Facebook, fed up with political weight since their last meeting. Xian’s break-up cropped up certainly help lessen divisiveness when Kim starred with ex-boyrant from both sides. You have “I lost 30 pounds from cutamong Filipinos. no choice but read them seeing ting dairy from my diet so I can friend Gerald in the Kapamilya “As chairman of the Informa- daytime series “Ikaw Lang ang that it is your office’s job to get actually surf standing up these tion component of the Asean days. Hindi na masyadong mabi- the president’s message across. Iibigin.” Fans were quick to I initiated a fake news round How do you deal with all the gat!” he laughed. jump into conclusion that Xian table with my counterparts in the was bitten by the green-eyed divisiveness, criticism and negaAndanar, who partly grew other nine countries including Ja- monster resulting to him and tivity?” up in his father’s hometown in “I’ve been the target of such pan and we were able to discuss Siargao, escapes to the island how they address this phenomposts many times,” Andanar acwhenever he can to ride the enon. It was interesting to hear knowledged, going straight for waves. the bull’s eye. “In everything that what’s been going on in their “Happily, more flights have own countries, and we agreed comes out, whether about me, opened up to Siargao because From Page 2 it really is the hottest destination the president or other members it is indeed a challenge in this the same street will happen in age of social media, and that the October. of our office—the PNA includnowadays,” he said with pride. solution is to propagate media “So even if I get called in during ed—I just take a step back and As the event came to a literacy across the population to make an effort to be objective weekends, which happens a close, many were eager to have help the public discern what to about it. I try to see where this lot, madali naman makabalik sa Cofinco answer some questions. believe.” person is coming from—politika Manila.” One question that stood out While concrete steps to ba, pro or anti ba siya, construcWith pleasantries out of the was from a childhood friend who tive ba ang sinabi niya—so that way, the conversation became Continued on Page 4 came all the way from Victoria,
Sec. Andanar on ‘fake news,’ Mocha Uson and surfing in Siargao
Kim Chiu
Kim’s misunderstandings. Until now, they refused to label their relationship. At 27, Kim still doesn’t see herself settling down five years from now. Her answer was a quick, “Wow! Hindi pa, hindi pa,” before adding, “pero hindi mo rin masabi. I don’t know. Let’s see,” as she stood in front of the mirror. In the future, Kim said that she wanted to travel to Iceland alone. “Isa talaga yun sa mga gusto kong puntahan. I want to travel alone although I have this fear of traveling alone. But I want to try.” Discover more of Kim as she faced the golden mirror:
Photo from Instagram/@chinitaprincess
Kausap mo yung girl in the mirror, describe her. “I think (she’s) stronger, tougher and more mature.” What makes her happy? “Family.” What makes her sad? “Marami (like) people. Sad? family din.” You’re still talking to the girl in the mirror, what should she look forward to? “Look forward to each and every day.” Kung magbibigay ka ng isang payo sa girl in the mirror na may kinalaman sa pag-ibig, what is that love advice? “Never stop learning, love yourself more and take it easy.”
Fil-Am footwear pioneer Rich ‘One... B.C., Canada. After reminiscing on days they bonded over hip hop and cars, he asked Cofinco the question many artists get — “Who was your biggest influence?” Cofinco’s response was simple. “Me.”
“You have to believe in yourself at the end of the day,” explained Cofinco. “If anyone is a true believer of what you do and has your back, it’s yourself. Everyone else around here will do that for you as well, but you have to believe in yourself.”
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features
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 27, 2017
Filipino Martial Arts tournament to be held at FPAC 2017 LOS ANGeLeS – The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) is back. The annual arts and culture festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the echo Park Lake in historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles. The popular festival is the largest and longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Los Angeles. Organized by culture and arts nonprofit FilAm Arts, FPAC showcases the best of traditional and contemporary Filipino food, music, performances, arts, and crafts. This year, the festival will feature the 1st Annual Los Angeles Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) Friendship Tournament. It will be hosted by Los Angeles Doce Pares, an LA-based group that teaches and promotes traditional and nontraditional forms of indigenous Filipino fighting arts. LA Doce Pares hopes that their FMA tournament will be entertaining and educational at the same time. Jon Palos, WeKAF Director of Southern California and Doce Pares Sports Director West Coast USA, said that it is important to bring awareness to an art form that is richly ingrained in Filipino culture but at the same time “on the verge of being lost in globalization.” According to Palos, it wasn’t until recently that FMA was even recognized as a cultural art in the Philippines. The WeKAF organization’s founding was signed into existence by a 40 country membership (now 60) as a way to introduce indigenous Filipino fighting arts into the world martial arts scene packaged within a safe and sporting environment and give equal prominence to the founders of all Filipino martial arts styles throughout the globe. This inaugural tournament will be directed by Master erwin Mosqueda, 9th Degree Doce Pares Black Belt and founder of Los Angeles Doce Pares, he
has been the director and main advisor for international WeKAF tournaments local and abroad since 1989. “Bringing an FMA tournament to FPAC creates an opportunity for Fil-Ams to see it for the first time and garner information on how they too can learn and practice [an art form that] has always been part of our history as a people,” Palos said. FPAC Co-Programming Director Nico Nava said that the FMA tournament is in line with their theme of “Bridging Generations.” Nava added that they want to show the “amalgamation between how the founding Filipino masters practiced their indigenous fighting arts and the improvements that today’s generation of practitioners have contributed to the current FMA scene.” Tournament format The tournament is sanctioned by the World eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WeKAF) and will follow the WeKAF rules and regulations. The divisions are: Forms (or katas), Single Stick Sparring, and Padded Stick Sparring. In the Forms division, participants ages 3 and up will showcase their mastery of the different traditional and nontraditional disciplines or kata. Participants will be subdivided into their respective age and experience class. In the Single Stick FullArmor Sparring Competition, participants will wear full armor during fights and will also be subdivided according to weight and experience class. A 3-Man Team exhibition Match will be conducted by Doce Pares during this part of the tournament. In the Padded Stick Sparring Competition, participants will wield padded sticks with no body armor, and will be judged according to a points-based system. According to Palos, there will be no gender-based cat-
Piolo & Toni: Time after time by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
They are done with “patweetums,” leaving it to the younger love teams, and Piolo Pascual and Toni Gozaga have graduated to a higher level of egories, and participants of all rom-com in Star Cinema’s Last styles, disciplines, and levels of experience are welcome to join. Night, their second-time-around team-up, which is described by FMA in FPAC its director, Bb. Joyce Bernal, This will be the first year that an official FMA tournament as “a dark romantic comedy.” will be held at FPAC. According (They actually first worked together in a TV commercial for to Palos, he first got involved Sprite. Remember Toni screamwith PFAC through FilAm Arts ing her lungs out, “I love you, interim executive director Tina Piolo!”?) Salonga-Bulchand. Conversations refrains from Palos, a first generation making a “spoiler alert” by Fil-Am, and a native of Los Angeles, said that it “means the revealing what the story is (written by Bela Padilla, featured in world” for him and his group an accompanying piece). Suffice to give back and honor their it to say that it will make you Filipino cultural roots, and to bring awareness and recognition happy and sad at the same time to an art form that is part of our as two lovers struggle to make their last night together last historical heritage. longer, if not forever. Palos also serves as the The selling point of a Piolodirector for WeKAF Southern California. he said that because Toni movie is the relatable story, not any gimmick that there’s the FMA community is a tight “something” between them circle, much of what they do is since the whole world knows that not seen on an everyday basis. Piolo is “unattached” (by choice) “Actually most Filipinos and Toni is happily married to can’t even identify what is Filipino Martial Arts is,” Palos said. director Paul Soriano by whom she has a year-old son (Severiano he pointed out that because most people at FPAC will prob- elliot, or Seve for short). The movie marks Piolo and ably witness an FMA tournament for the first time, the high Toni’s second coming together, Conversations decided to do a intensity action during the tilt “timely” story by making them will definitely leave a lasting recall their “first times” and “last impression. times.” “I can still recall the first Piolo tournament that I witnessed in • First time/last time he person and the awe that overcame my thoughts. I expect that cried really hard “Last shooting day of our same effect on most if not all film which was just last week, the spectators,” Palos added. I couldn’t stop crying because To register for the tournament, visit https://www.fmatour- of the scene that we shot. I was crying the whole day, actually.” nament.org. For more informa• First time/last time he fell tion about the WeKAF rules, go in love to http://bit.ly/WeKAF-rules. “First time? Ahhh, yeah, ang FPAC is a free event. No tagal-tagal na! Obviously, but admission fee is needed for entry. It will be held on October ...No, that was not the last, but it’s been a while.” 14, 2017, Sunday, at echo Park • First time/last time he Lake in historic Filipinotown in was heart broken Los Angeles. For more infor“First time was, I guess, mation, please visit http://bit. when I was in high school. That ly/FPAC2017 or call (213) 380-3722. For sponsorship and was the time when I thought everything was okay. vendor opportunities, please “The last time was…hmmm, email info@filamarts.org. (Mico I think it was self-inflicted.” Letargo) • First time/last time he got a big wish granted “First time was when my mom allowed me to go back to the Philippines to pursue acting and it was my prayer that she would yes because she didn’t want me away from her. But I stood up for what I really wanna do and that was my wish and she granted it.” • Last time? hmmm, I don’t know. I wish that it would happen every day. I pray every day and you know sometimes it just happens and sometimes it doesn’t. But, ahhh, every day there’s always a wish granted, I should say.” • First time/last time he got so depressed “First time was when I was a kid and my parents would leave home and I was left alone na walang kalaro. “Last time? No, I don’t get depressed. When I feel it coming, I channel it elsewhere.
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.
And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
Three years after their hit starrer “Starting Over Again,” Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga are togetheragain in “Last Night” which is described as ‘a dark romantic comedy’ Star Cinema photo
Whether I do sport, I busy myself with a lot of things. Depression is a state of mind. It’s how you look at it, I guess.” • First kiss/last kiss “First kiss? Aahhh, noong black and white pa ‘yung TV. “Last kiss? Aahhh, with Tin (Toni) siguro sa ‘Last Night.’” • First time/last time he traveled abroad “First time was when I was a teenager and I went to the States. Last time was recently when I went to Paris for the wedding of Vicki and hayden.” • First thing he does as soon as he wakes up/last thing that he does before he goes to sleep “I pray as soon as I wake up. “And I also pray before I go to sleep.” • First time/last time he earned his first million “First and last time was when I was in my early 20s.” • First time/last time he squandered on something “I don’t really squander my money. you know, I’m a very practical person. If I have extra money, I indulge in food and I travel but I don’t necessarily squander my money.” • First time/last time he realized that he was famous “Up to now, it’s not sinking in. Sometimes, when people scream your name, parang, for me, I always take it as part of my work. you have to perform well for the people to appreciate you. But I’m just blessed enough to be in this business this long. It’s not about being popular. I guess, it’s a job.” • First time/last time it dawned on him that stardom is not forever “I’ve always been aware of it. I’ve always been in touch with reality. you know for a fact that you are not young forever so you have to make sure that you don’t bring your work home so that it’s not gonna be hard for you. At the end of the day, it’s all just work.”
Toni • First time/last time she really fell in love “First time and last time was on June 12, 2007.” • First time/last time she was heart broken “I wouldn’t say I was heart broken na super. Technically, kasi paano ka maha-heart broken hindi mo naman naging boyfriend? So…I wouldn’t say I was heart broken.” • First time/last time her big wish was granted “First and last…giving birth.” • First time/last time she got depressed “First and last was after giving birth.” • First time/last time she did somebody a big favor “First and last? Ahhhh, I did it for my husband (director Paul Soriano).” • First thing she does as soon as she wakes up/last thing she does before she goes to sleep “I kiss Seve (son Severiano elliot) before I go to sleep and I kiss Seve again as soon as I wake up.” • First time/last time she earned her first million “My first million? I was 20. My last million? hmmmm…” • First time/last time she squandered on something “Ano, ‘yung binili ko? Uhmm, luxury car.” • First time/last time she doubted the sincerity and honesty of somebody close to her “First and last was when I was 21.” • First time/last time she realized that she was famous “Di ko ma-realize, never kong na-realize. honestly. I don’t know why. Maybe because I am close to reality so I know that everything is temporary. Hindi ko siya mapang-hawakan, eh. Hindi ko siya hinahawakan.” • First time/last time she realized that stardom is not forever “I am aware of that every day…every day since I started in this business.”
Sec. Andanar on ‘fake news,’ Mocha Uson... From Page 3
achieve this have yet to be worked out by the Asean representatives, Andanar’s immediate advice to the public is to first verify if the source of a particular story is credible. “Parang lang yan sa isang barangay. Kapag yung kapitbahay mo, sinabing may lalaki si ganyan, iisipin mo muna kung maniniwala ka. Baka tsismis lang yon.” he went on to say that if the source of the news comes from a respectable member of the community, then it becomes more credible. “We should teach the public to identify bonafide media, even when it comes to blogs. There are many retired journalists who blog now and are therefore very credible too.” “What of PCOO Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s blog?” was naturally the next question. “Si Mocha naman admits she’s not a journalist. She’s an entertainer but a bright entertainer. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have all the five million followers she has,” he replied thoughtfully. “And like I said, I use objectivity in everything I read, and in Mocha’s case, it’s politics—there are people who like her and those who don’t.
With PCOO Assistant Secretary and blogger Mocha Uson
“Mocha’s blog is her personal blog and therefore outside the PCCO. We all know she has always been a staunch supporter of the president, so I try to understand where she’s coming from…” he trailed off. “Isn’t it difficult that you always have to be understanding when it comes to Mocha?” The Times pressed just a bit more. “I do talk to her about the issues [which she gets into]… but no… it’s not difficult.” As of late, Uson seems to be a magnet for trouble for the PCCO. As Assistant Secretary, she is under investigation by the Office of the President for performing in a casino with her girl group; slighted Muslims when she covered the President’s visit to a mosque in shoes and hair
ManilaTimes.net photo
uncovered (she has since apologized and been forgiven), and of course accused of propagating fake news on her blog. [On Friday, Sen. Antonio Trillanes III sued Uson for “cyber libel” over fake news he has bank accounts abroad]. Aware of the tricky position he holds for government today, given the powerful effect of social media—the positive, negative and grave—Andanar takes it all again with objectivity. “I know the [bashing]is not about the person. We’ve seen communication secretaries come and go… it’s about the position. For me, what’s important is that I know what I’m doing, I know my job and I know my objectives. Alam ko naman ang na-a-achieve natin.”
Fresh Catch Seafood Market:
A true one-stop shop
It is located right off the 605 freeway on busy South Street, seconds away from the newly renovated Cerritos regional mall. It is, by design, a center that aims to become the cultural hub for many. What’s not to like? Fresh Catch is a large-scale Filipino supermarket boasting an extensive array of fresh and live seafood selections. Its wide array of live seafood tanks are impressive. they offer live lobsters, crabs, fish, shellfish and many more seafood delights that FilAms crave, not only for parties but in their daily lives. Fresh Catch Market aims to carry on the 20-year tradition of the famous Sea Palace Market, its predecessor, which made a pioneering mark in the live seafood business decades ago. But with a fresh management team that is steeped in both traditional and modern management techniques, Fresh Catch intends to do so in a much cleaner and contemporary environment while fully cognizant of the food needs of the communities it serves. take note seafood lovers! the market provides free seafood frying and steaming services. Particularly for those Fresh Catch offers an extensive array of fresh and This market offers a TAKE-OUT BAR. WOOHOO! Who who are on a healthy living has the time and energy to cook at home after a live seafood selections. Prepare to be impressed binge, the free steaming service long, arduous day at work? This is in complete with their wide array of live seafood tanks. You ought to be big. So check out alignment with the lifestyles of many in a can find live lobsters, crabs, fish, shellfish and the seafood section and have workaday world. many more seafood delights that Fil-Ams crave.
A MOSt welcome addition that enhances the lives of the members of the Filipino American community in the neighboring cities around the Cerritos-Artesia area is Fresh Catch Seafood
Market. these days, Fresh Catch is getting so much attention not just about its unbelievably low and affordable pricing but also because of the many ways it has taken to making the food shopping experience in that part of the busy megalopolis such a great experience. Its great location that is so close and accessible to the Cerritos Mall, its ample parking spaces offers a valuable one-stop-shop convenience to the hurried, harried yet fulfilling lives of many Fil-Ams, who must juggle many roles.
Fil-Am Daniel Wu to star in ‘Geostorm’ AFtER an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything...and everyone along with it. Dean Devlin (writer/producer, “Independence Day”) makes his feature film directorial debut with suspense thriller “Geostorm,” starring Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen,” “300”), Jim Sturgess (“Cloud Atlas”), Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“Rush”), Daniel Wu (“the Man with the Iron Fists,” “Warcraft: the Beginning”), Eugenio Derbez (“How to Be a Latin Lover”), with Oscar nominees Ed Harris (“the Hours,” “Apollo 13”) and Andy Garcia (“the Godfather: Part III”). Butler stars as Jake, a scientist who, along with his brother, Max, played by Sturgess, is tasked with solving the satellite program’s malfunction. Cornish stars as Secret Service agent Sarah Wilson; Lara as Ute Fassbinder, the ISS astronaut who runs the space
station; Wu as Cheng, the Hong Kong-based supervisor for the Dutch Boy Program; Derbez as space station crew member Hernandez; with Garcia as U.S. President Andrew Palma; and Harris as Secretary of State Leonard Dekkom. the film also stars Zazie Beetz (upcoming “Deadpool 2,” tV’s “Atlanta”), Adepero Oduye (“the Big Short,” “12 Years a Slave”), Amr Waked (“Lucy,” “Syriana”), Robert Sheehan (“the Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” “Season of the Witch”) and Eugenio Derbez (“Instructions Not Included”). the film, written by Dean Devlin & Paul Guyot, is being produced by Skydance’s David Ellison, Devlin, and Skydance’s Dana Goldberg. Herbert W. Gains, Electric Entertainment’s Marc Roskin and Skydance’s Don Granger are the executive producers. Rachel Olschan of Electric Entertainment and Cliff Lanning co-produce. Warner Bros. Pictures and Skydance present, a Skydance production, an Electric Entertainment production, a film by Dean Devlin, “Geostorm.” Set to hit theaters October 20, 2017, it will be distributed in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX, by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 27, 2017
seafood entrees ready in time for lunch or dinner. there is a take-out bar. Yay! this is big particularly for weary office and healthcare workers who simply do not have the time and energy to cook at home after a long, arduous day at work. this is certainly a feature that is in complete alignment with the lifestyles of many in a workaday world. Customers can request for items to be grilled at the take-out bar, but this time, for a small fee. Hail to Chef Allan Romeo Cruz! He was formerly with Azon Restaurant. Chef Allan helms the take-out bar with his great variety of Pinoy comfort foods and all-time favorites with that distinctive Filipino flavor. His delicious breakfast feeds the hungry stomachs of Filipino nurses weary from their night shifts. His lunches and dinners are also crowd favorites. And with the Christmas season fast approaching, Fresh Catch is geared and ready for the food demands of the holidays. Let’s face it. Filipinos love to party a lot. the market has a catering menu and is available for pre-orders during the holidays. Aside from the great seafood selection, Fresh Catch carries fresh meat cuts that Filipinos love, farm fresh vegetables and
FRESH CATCH SEAFOOD MARKET is located right off the 605 freeway on busy South Street, seconds away from the newly renovated Cerritos regional mall. So come and make FRESH CATCH SEAFOOD MARKET located at 11618 South Street, Artesia, CA 90701your go-to place for great food shopping experience on a regular basis. You will be glad you did! You can call (562) 402 2133 for more details.
pantry favorites at truly competitive prices. And Fresh Catch doesn’t stop here. Look around the plaza and you find trusted, long-time Filipino brands that answer the needs of the typical Fresh Catch Market patron. this place is well and truly a one-stop shop! • LUISA & SONS BAKESHOP, serving traditional Filipino baked items such as ensaimadas, pan de sal, hopia. A bite reminds you of grandma’s recipes. • PNB REMIttANCE CENtER, (Philippine National Bank) LA’s no 1 Filipino remittance agency boasting of 12 branches in Los Angeles. • CAFÉ 86 pays tribute to American-born Filipinos who look to Filipino favorites and
mashed it with modern American culture. top sellers include its calamansi jasmine tea, ube monster drink, ube tres leches cake, ube bundt cakes, ube crack cookies etc. • AtLAS CARGO, is one of the longest- serving, trusted balikbayan brands in the community. Who can forget family back in the Philippines? So come and make FRESH CAtCH SEAFOOD MARKEt your go-to place for great food shopping experience on a regular basis. You will be glad you did!’ FRESH CAtCH is located at 11618 South Street, Artesia, CA 90701. For information, you can call (562) 402 2133. (Advertising Supplement)