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W E E W K EE N EWD K EE ENKDE N D M I D W E E K
E D I T I OE ND I T I O NI T I O N ED
EJune DIT ION 25-28, 2016
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T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r
Volume 26 - No. 51 • 4 Sections – 36 Pages
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DATELINE
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
US to support PH under any president the United states has vowed to continue its support to the Philippines under any president. speaking before the local business community in a forum yesterday, former Us ambassador to the Philippines and Us-Philippines society co-chairman John Negroponte assured the country of continued American support in trade, investment and security. “With solid foundation taking place, we see every reason for new leaders in both the Philippines and the Us to commit to more progress as partners in trade and investment, peace and stability, innovation and people-topeople exchange. Let me assure you we will continue to do our part,” Negroponte said. Both the Philippines and the Us are changing their respective presidents this year. President-elect rodrigo Duterte will be inaugurated as the 16th president of the Philippines on June 30 while the American presidential elections will be held in November. “there is much to build on as we move forward. the Philippines has been on an upward trajectory with steady high rates of economic growth and commitment to good governance, development and enhanced security. We understand the incoming administration
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Supreme Court arrives at deadlocked decision on Obama’s immigration orders by Eric anD
anthony LicaS KLarizE MEDEniLLa AJPress
the supreme Court arrived at a deadlocked decision on President Barack obama’s contested immigration policies on thursday, June 23, leaving the fate of as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants in the U.s. uncertain. A 4-4 vote delays definitive judgment on the matter and leaves in place a ruling from a lower court that blocks
the president’s executive order. A tie would not have happened if not for a vacant ninth seat on the bench left by former Justice Antonin scalia, who passed away in february. “this is a consequence of the republican failure, so far, to give a fair hearing to mr. merrick Garland, my nominee to the supreme Court,” said obama during a press conference at the White house on thursday. the split ruling halts the implementation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Us Citizens and Lawful Perma-
nent residents (DAPA) program, and expansions to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but does not establish legal precedent for future cases. In 2013, a bipartisan bill passed the senate, which would have offered undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship while doubling the Border Patrol. the GoP-controlled house of representatives, however, refused to bring it to a vote. Bypassing Congress, obama then introduced a series of executive ac-
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
SCOTUS rules in favor of affirmative action
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Incoming Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process Jesus Dureza accompanies Maritess Flor to the Davao City Police Office on Friday, June 24. Flor has just been released by the Abu Sayyaf after nine months of captivity. Inquirer.net photo by Karlos Manlupig
Abu Sayyaf releases Filipina captive unharmed
ZAmBoANGA CItY — the Abu sayyaf group freed unharmed the filipina hostage thursday night, June 23 in sulu but kept its Norwegian captive to assert their P300-million ransom demand. Abu sayyaf spokesman muammar Askali alias Abu rami said they freed marites flor about 8 p.m. thursday and turned her over to an emissary.
the victim was released by the Abu sayyaf group under mujer Yadah. While flor was freed, Norwegian Kjartan sekkingstad was left in the custody of the Abu sayyaf group. the two were among the four captives taken from samal Island off Davao del Norte last september 21 and were brought to sulu.
World reacts to UK’s exit from the European Union US, PH markets plunge
by cybELE
zhanG
AJPress
IN a referendum on thursday, June 23, the United Kingdom voted to exit the european Union (eU), prompting political and economic uncertainty worldwide. fifty-two percent voters chose to leave the eU, while 48 percent elected to remain. According to BBC, the voter turnout was high, reaching nearly 71.8 percent with over 30 million people voting. this was the highest turnout in a UK-wide vote since the general election in 1992. the nation was divided over the is-
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PH military: Don’t dignify ISIS video
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the U.s. supreme Court unexpectedly ruled in favor of upholding the University of texas’s race-conscious policies on thursday, June 23, a ruling that has already been dubbed a landmark case for affirmative action. the case in question was fisher v. University of texas at Austin, which centered on Abigail fisher’s claim that Ut Austin unfairly rejected her because she is white. she argued their use of race as a factor for consideration violated the equal protections clause of the fourteenth Amendment. the supreme Court ruled that Ut Austin’s use of race as one of many factors of consideration in their admissions process was constitutional and was a “narrowly tailored” means to promote racial diversity in its student body. “Considerable deference is owed to a university in defining those intangible characteristics, like student body diversity, that are central to its identity and educational mission,” Justice Anthony m. Kennedy wrote in the Court’s majority opinion. Justices ruth Bader Ginsburg, sonia sotomayor and stephen G. Breyer also voted in
tions in November 2014 — including DAPA and expanded DACA — which would have granted work authorization and protection from deportation to nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants. “for more than two decades now, our immigration system, everyone acknowledges, has been broken,” said the president. “the fact that the supreme Court wasn’t able to issue a decision [thursday] doesn’t just set the system back even further; it takes us
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Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach takes public HIV test, encourages global HIV testing by MoMar
sue. most of england and Wales, 53.4 and 52.5 percent, voted to leave the eU at 53.4 and 52.5 percent, respectively. meanwhile, the majority of Northern Ireland and scotland, 62 and 55.8 percent, supported remaining in the bloc. In a statement less than 10 minutes before U.s. markets opened on friday, June 24, President Barack obama said, “the people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision.” “the United Kingdom and the european Union will remain indispensable partners of the United states even as they begin negotiating their ongoing re-
their two other companions, Canadians John ridsdel and robert hall, were separately beheaded in April and June after failure to pay the P300-million ransom for each captive. According to a source, Abu rami said they allegedly received P20 million for the release of the filipina captive, who was later on brought to
the Islamic state (also known as IsIs) released its first propaganda video for the Philippines, persuading muslims to unite and wage war against the Philippine government and non-muslim people. “Kaya kapatid ko, ‘wag kang mag-alinlangan. Bombahin mo sila. Bombahin niyo ang kanilang mga bayan. Patayin niyo ang kafir saan man sila naroroon. Wag kayong magkaroon ng awa sa kanila. saksakin niyo sila ng patalim (That’s why my Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla brothers, do not doubt. Set bombs in their towns. Kill non-muslims wherever they are. Don’t have mercy. Slit them with knives),” said a filipino-speaking jihadist on the video. he also encouraged them to join ranks in syria or join Isnilon hapilon, the person believed to be the leader of Abu sayyaf group in mindanao, if they can’t travel outside the country. Abu sayyaf is one of the smallest and violent jihadist groups in the southern Philippines. reports from The Manila Times stated that the group had “officially” pledged an allegiance to the caliph of the Islamic state of Iraq and syria earlier this year. the unidentified man in the video also called war against the national government and told fellow fighters to be wary of President-elect rodrigo Duterte and his ‘deceptive’ tactics. however, the Philippine military denounced the vid-
G. ViSaya
AJPress
NeW YorK—miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach took time off her busy schedule to take a public hIV test at New York City’s Apicha Community health Center monday, June 20 to get the word out and encourage others to get tested and know their status. “over one million people in the United states are living with hIV and this number continues to increase each year by 50,000. one in eight people who have hIV don’t even know it yet because they don’t get
themselves tested and because of that, they are not getting the right kind of care and treatment that they deserve and should have,” miss Wurtzbach said. the public test took place in advance of National hIV testing Day on monday, June 27 when special testing events will be held around the United states. “It is vital to get tested at least once in your lifetime. the risk is in not knowing,” the reigning miss Universe added. ending the stigma associated with testing that exists in many parts of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
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AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
A JUNE 25-28, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Supreme Court arrives at deadlocked… PAGE A1 t
further from the country we aspire to be.” However, opponents of the administration’s actions say the president overstepped his authority. They say sweeping changes to immigration policy require the approval of Congress because they would incur costs and consequences for numerous
states. On February 16, 2015, 26 states, led by Texas, won an injunction blocking the president’s orders. The decision from US District Judge Andrew Hanen of Texas came just two days ahead of the DAPA program’s scheduled debut. “[Thursday’s] ruling is a victory for the rule of law and our
democracy,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus in a statement. “The Supreme Court … has reaffirmed that only Congress has the power to make laws.” Effect on November elections The court’s non-decision moves the focus of the immigration debate to the upcoming presidential elections. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump praised the Supreme Court’s decision, saying it has blocked one of “most unconstitutional actions ever undertaken by a president.” Trump previously proposed deporting all of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. To accomplish this, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would need to stop prioritizing the removal of serious criminals in order to exponentially increase the rate of deportations, according to a New York Times report.
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BRAVE WARRIOR KID Sen. Cynthia A. VIllar congratulates wheel-chair bound Edward “Jersey” Lipana for his public “debut” during the Brave Warrior Kids’ “Colours of Hope” exhibits wherein the senator led the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Villar was also one of the buyers of the “flora and fauna” renditions in water of Lipana held at the North Greenhills Clubhouse, San Juan City. The event was possible by the Brave Warrior Kids, a highly-motivated group of young men whose mission is “to inspire, hope and uplift the lives of kids with cancer and rare genetic diseases by providing them with life-improving and life-saving assistance.” Senate photo
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eo as mere ‘propaganda’. “Huwag na po sana natin i-dignify, ‘wag na natin bigyan ng importansya. Gawin ang nararapat: i-delete at ‘wag ipasa sa iba (Let us not dignify nor give it importance. Let us do what is right: delete and don’t pass it around),” Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told Inquirer.net. At the end of the video, another man stated that they will continue on waging war, addressing the message to Indonesia, Malaysia, and “ worshippers of cross in the Philippines.” “Today we are slaughtering these murtad (Muslims who rejected Islam) but tomorrow, our brothers on your own land will slaughter you,” the man said before beheading the three hostages. “We will continue on fighting and waging war up on you, terrorizing you, casting fear on your hearts...” Rita Katz, director of Site Intelligence Group, said in her Twitter account that the video was aired in the following languages: Arabic, English, Filipino, Indonesian and Malay.
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From the Front page
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 25-28, 2016
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Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach takes… PAGE A1 t
the world is critical to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as it is estimated that 17.1 million of the 36.9 million people living with HIV worldwide do not know they are infected. “The most important thing about getting an HIV test today is to destigmatize the whole idea of knowing your HIV status,” said Therese Rodriguez, Apicha’s CEO. “She will hopefully inspire more people to have the courage to get themselves tested.” Rodriguez explained that knowing one’s status is crucial in the process of getting the necessary help one needs. In New York, HIV tests are provided for free by health care centers such as Apicha, which specializes in care for the LGBT community. In other states and centers, there is a sliding scale in terms of the cost of the test. “Every government should invest in it (HIV testing) because it is more expensive to cure people rather than to prevent it,” Rodriguez said. “We are going to continue our educational work and bring resources to the issue of HIV and AIDS. The stigma has to be on the forefront of our struggle and those are the only ways for us to end the epidemic,” she added. HIV Awareness in the Philippines Upon her arrival, Miss Universe went to a pre-test counseling with a community health educator from the center. Shortly thereafter, she was given the latest form of test, which can detect a new infection within four weeks of transmission. And instead of waiting for weeks or days, the results were available a few minutes after the test was conducted.
PH military…
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Earlier this June, Armac News Agency, an Islamic State news outlet, released an infographic showing the jihadists’ group activity in the Philippines, according to Long War Journal. The infographics showed that ISIS had 10 fighting battalions in five different locations inside the country. It also stated that 289 Filipino troops were killed from April 2015-2016, with 100 on April 2016 alone. The Philippines, however, denied these claims. n
“I volunteered to be tested because I didn’t know my status. I’m curious about the statistics in the Philippines and globally and now, six months into my reign, I realized that I had to get myself tested,” Wurtzbach told us after the test. “We’re all at risk, we’re all the same. But that risk will be reduced if you get yourself tested. It is very important.” She also lamented about the alarming rate of HIV infections in the Philippines. According to the UNICEF, the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines is growing at an alarming rate and the country is one of only seven countries globally where the number of new HIV cases has increased by over 25 per cent from 2001 to 2009. New infections are largely concentrated among key populations with specific risk behaviors, such as unprotected male-to-male sex, transactional sex and intravenous drug use. “It makes me wonder why they are not talking about it. I can’t really blame it on just one thing. Saan ba tayo nagkulang? Where are we going wrong? Why is this happening to us?,” she said.
Data from the Philippine Department of Health’s Epidemiology Bureau reveal that the number of individuals with HIV newly diagnosed per day rose to 22 in 2015, from just one in 2008, four in 2010, nine in 2012 and 17 in 2014. Health Secretary Janette Garin projected a sharper increase in the number of HIV cases in the Philippines in the next seven years. “If we do not slow down our HIV epidemic, if we do not invest in preventing new HIV infections, the number of people living with HIV will reach 133,000 by 2022,” she said at the HIV Partners’ Forum Summit in Manila, according to Philippine Star. Wurtzbach then said it is about lack of education on the issue. “People don’t know about HIV and AIDS. They do not know where to get themselves tested. They don’t know how they can acquire it. They don’t know that when they share needles, that’s a way of transferring HIV,” she elaborated. “I think and I hope that with our new administration, we can put some light into HIV. Let’s not forget about it. I don’t want to put it in the shadow.” n
TRIBUTE. Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile (fourth from left) pays his last respects to former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, who passed away last Monday at the age of 81. Enrile recalled fond memories of Maceda, a man he calls a friend and a patriot, “one who carried the torch of good and righteousness, a true Filipino, full of brilliance, full of courage and candor.” Senate photo by Joe Arazas
Supreme Court arrives at deadlocked… PAGE A2 t
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton, who is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has vowed not to deport any undocumented immigrants except violent criminals and terrorists, according to a report from the Washington Post. In a statement released Thursday, June 23, Clinton called Thursday’s ruling “purely procedural” and has pledged to stand by DAPA and DACA. The former secretary of state repeated her promise to introduce comprehensive immigration reform featuring a pathway to citizenship during her first hundred days in office if elected. “These are our friends and family members; neighbors and classmates; DREAMers and parents of Americans and lawful permanent residents,” Clinton said. “They enrich our communities and contribute to our economy every day. We should be doing everything possible under the law to provide them relief from the specter of deportation.” In his statement, Trump also attacked Clinton by saying she “has pledged to expand Obama’s executive amnesty, hurting poor African-American and Hispanic workers by giving away their jobs and federal resources to illegal immigrant labor — while making us all less safe. It is time to protect our country and Make America Safe Again and Great Miss Universe getting her HIV test at Apicha, a health care center that caters to the LGBT Again for everyone.” community in New York. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya Filipino DACA recipient and
policy advocate for Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Anthony Ng, said the program has allowed him and other talented immigrants make greater contributions to society. Ng, who graduated from the University of California, Irvine, said if it weren’t for DACA, the risk of deportation might have prevented him from entering the workforce. “This ruling sends a strong message to make our voices heard,” said Ng. “We need to make sure we have elected officials who will put forth policies that benefit our communities.” Over 40,000 Filipinos face deportation The Pew Research Center estimates that of the nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants facing deportation. This includes approximately 500,000 undocumented AAPIs and more than 40,000 Filipinos. There were 20,000 Filipinos eligible for the DACA program in 2013, according to the Philippine Embassy. Thursday’s ruling will not affect the existing DACA program enacted in 2012. People may still receive protection from deportation and work authorization if they came to the U.S. before they turned 16 years old, among other requirements. Had they been implemented, DAPA and the expanded DACA and would have allowed eligible participants to obtain driver’s licenses, health care, and bank accounts and keep resident stu-
dents from having to pay out-ofstate tuition fees, according to a statement released by Advancing Justice-LA. “These programs would allow our families to stay together and not live in fear,” the organization said in the statement. According to a report from the Migration Policy Institute, of the 10 million people who live in a household with at least one DAPA eligible person, 4.3 million are children under the age of 18. Thirty-seven percent of undocumented immigrants in the country are parents of minors who are US citizens, according to data from the Pew Research Center. The Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) in Los Angeles was “saddened” upon learning about the decision because of the impact of DACA and DAPA on the lives of many undocumented Filipinos, according to Lolita Lledo, associate director and lead organizer of PWC. Lledo emphasized the importance of these policies because it promotes open conversation about immigration and the obstacles that undocumented immigrants face upon coming to the U.S. She said that many undocumented Filipinos are hesitant to reach out for research because of stigmas tied to being labeled an undocumented immigrant. “I think most of our kababayans don’t know the process and they’re still living in fear and [try
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A JUNE 25-28, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
From the Front page
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World reacts to UK’s exit from… PAGE A1 t lationship to ensure continued stability, security, and prosperity for Europe, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the world,” he added. Obama had previously spoken out about his desire for Britain to remain in the EU. “If you start seeing divisions in Europe, that weakens NATO. That’ll have an impact on our collective security,” the president said, according to Bloomberg. The American stock market plunged following the UK’s exit. According to Reuters, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped as much as 538 points on Friday. NASDAQ had its worst day since January and the S&P 500 dropped by over 3 percent. Although currently unstable, in the future the United States may economically benefit from Brexit — British exit from the EU — according to Forbes. Many suspect Europe will be reluctant to trade with the UK, forcing the British to trade more with the U.S. “The U.S. should benefit from more exports as well as possibly a chance to get some good deals on imports,” Jeffrey Dorfman wrote for Forbes. “In particular, bilateral trade between Britain and the U.S. would likely expand given the common language and close historical relations.” Global markets reacted similarly, including the Philippines. Rappler reported that on Friday that the Philippine Stock Exchange index lost 100.06 points
to settle at 7,629.72. Additionally, the peso depreciated against the dollar. “Brexit should not hurt [the Philippines] so much,” Harry Liu, chief of brokerage firm Summit Securities Incorporated, told Rappler. “It will only hurt us in terms of investments in Europe. We import more from the UK, so it would be cheaper.” U.S. presidential candidates also shared their reactions. “This time of uncertainty only underscores the need for calm, steady, experienced leadership in the White House to protect Americans’ pocketbooks and livelihoods, to support our friends and allies, to stand up to our adversaries, and to defend our interests,” presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said. “It also underscores the need for us to pull together to solve our challenges as a country, not tear each other down.” During a visit to Scotland, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump said, “[The British have] taken back their independence and that’s a very, very important thing.” Brexit’s success may be a bad sign for Clinton’s campaign and beneficial for Trump. According to CNN, the Brits “snubbed President Barack Obama’s warnings against voting to leave Europe,” which will “dampen the hopes of his chosen successor, Hillary Clinton.” Trump’s campaign platform echoes many of the ideas Brexit
supporters felt strongly about: nationalism, jobs and immigration, and this may signal a global swing towards such ideals. Purpose of the EU The EU was formed after World War II to encourage codependence within Europe to avoid going to war again. It allows the 28 countries that are members to form economic and political partnerships to foster progress in all countries. As a “single market,” the 28 nations have been able to move people and goods easier, acting as if one country. Nineteen of the countries use a common currency, the Euro, while Britain uses the pound. The bloc has its own parliament that among other things can pass laws that affect all 28 countries, according to the European Union website. Recently many Brits have been dissatisfied with legislation regarding jobs and immigration, specifically the refugee crisis. Those who supported the Brexit argued that the EU forced borders to be too open, had immigration that was too relaxed, imposed many regulations on businesses and charged high membership fees, according to BBC. The UK paid billions in pounds per year. However, advocates who pushed remaining in the bloc believed that the EU held advantages like open trade between nations, positive flow of immigrants
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DFA ANNIVERSARY. President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 118th Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Foundation Anniversary and Conferment of Presidential Awards at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini of the DFA Main Office in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Thursday, June 23. Malacañang photo by Rolando Mailo
SCOTUS rules in favor of affirmative…
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favor of upholding UT Austin’s affirmative action policies. President Barack Obama hailed the decision at a White House press conference on Thursday, June 23. “I’m pleased that the Supreme Court upheld the basic notion that diversity is an important value in our society,” he said. “We are not a country that guarantees equal outcomes, but we do strive to provide an equal shot to everybody.” Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. denounced the decision on the
grounds that the University of Texas (UT) has failed to thoroughly explain how the existing race-based policies actually promote racial diversity. “If UT is truly seeking to expose its students to a diversity of ideas and perspectives, its policy is poorly tailored to serve that end,” the conservative-leaning justice said in his 50-page dissenting opinion. He argued that the university’s admissions policies actually do a disservice to minority students, particularly Asian American students. “Perhaps the majority finds discrimination against Asian American students benign, since Asian Americans are ‘overrepresented’ at UT,” Alito said in his dissent. Alito pointed out that UT’s use of racial and ethnic labels is trou-
bling. For example, all students of Asian descent are lumped into a single “Asian American” label, which is too broad and promotes racial generalizations, according to Alito. “It would be ludicrous to suggest that all these students have similar backgrounds and similar ideas to share,” said Alito. “And UT makes no effort to ensure that it has a critical mass of, say, ‘Filipino Americans’ or ‘Cambodian Americans,’” “As long as there are a sufficient number of ‘Asian Americans,’ UT is apparently satisfied.” The Campaign for College Opportunity (CCO) hailed the ruling in a statement saying that it sends “a clear message that there is no proxy for race when it comes to ensuring a diverse student body
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Abu Sayyaf releases… PAGE A1 t
the house of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur “Totoh” Tan II. Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), confirmed the release of Flor but said they have no details yet. Tan said Flor was turned over to the custody of the Joint Task Force Sulu Friday noon and brought to the trauma hospital for medical check. The military official said they are still trying to get details from the victim on how she was freed. Abu Rami said they decided to
release Flor, citing her condition after the two Canadians were executed. “Palaging umiiyak na lang. Baka ano pa ang mangyari dito (She is always crying. Something might happen here),” the source said quoting Abu Rami. However, when asked about the fate of Sekkingstad, Abu Rami said they will continue to assert their P300-million ransom demand. The Abu Sayyaf gave no further detail on the present condition of the Norwegian captive. (By Roel Pareño / Philstar)
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CSU grants $142K to educate ex-cons by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
PH DEBATE TEAM. UP Diliman team A’s Leomar Doctolero (IV - BA Political Sience), Leslie Torres (IV - BA Business Administration) and Miguel Ventura (II - BS Economics) finished as semifinalists during this year’s United Asian Debating Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo courtesy of UP Debate Society
THE California State University system has given Cal Poly Pomona and California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) $142,000 in grants to provide educational opportunities to exconvicts. The funds come from a $500,000 grant from Opportunity Institute, a Berkeley-based non-profit organization that advocates for the expansion of educational opportunities. The grants were issued in hopes of reducing the rate of prisoner re-incarceration, also known as recidivism, and helping reintegrate former convicts in an educational setting. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, more than 60 percent of ex-convicts in California
are re-incarcerated within three years. But according to a joint press release from CSUSB and Cal Poly Pomona, that percentage is cut in half when former inmates participate in educational programs like San Francisco State’s “Project Rebound�, which the CSU is trying to replicate in its universities. “Project Rebound� was created in 1967 as a way to ease former prisoners into a college setting by providing counseling, career guidance and vocational resources. Since then, other universities have established their own Project Rebound. The percentage of Project Rebound students that are reincarcerated was only 3 percent, according to the press release. Both CSUSB and Cal Poly Pomona plan to establish their own Project Rebound programs on their campuses by fall 2016.
“Project Rebound offers a great opportunity to help individuals who want to transform their lives but may not normally have the opportunity to attend a college or university and earn their degrees,â€? said CSUSB President TomĂĄs D. Morales in a statement. “Education will play a vital role in helping them to better themselves and CSUSB is dedicating its efforts to making it happen.â€? The grant covers program funding for three years, in which both universities will be working with the California Institute for Men in Chino, the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, the California Institute for Women in Corona, the Santa Fe Springs Custody to Community Women’s Transition Facility as well as local community colleges. “No one wants to be judged by the worst mistakes they made in
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US to support PH under any‌ Filipino producer in Guam faces trafficking, visa fraud charges
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intends to continue policies that have underpinned vast success as it tackles issues in citizen security, regional development and more inclusive growth,� Negroponte said. The US is one of the country’s major and longest economic partners. Last year, total goods traded between the US and the Philippines reached more than $18 billion, while services traded exceeded $6.8 billion in 2014. Investments from the US, meanwhile, accounted for about 19 percent of total foreign direct investment inflow in the country in 2014. The Philippines has also secured the backing of the world’s largest economy in its planned accession to the US-led Trans-
Pacific Partnership. “The Philippines has also been helpful in strengthening ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ties with the United States,� he said. But aside from trade and investment, Negroponte said the US would likewise remain a steadfast Philippine partner in issues concerning security, particularly in the latter’s territorial disputes in the South China Sea against China. “On the United States-Philippine relations, regardless of the election outcome in America, our two countries will stand together against a range of global threats and challenges including terrorism, cyber threats, climate change, narcotics and people trafficking,� Negroponte said. (By Richmond Mercurio / Philstar.com)
President Aquino (right) and US-Philippines Society co-chairman and former US ambassador John Negroponte had a conversation at MalacaĂąang on Thursday, June 23. Philstar.com photo
Supreme Court arrives at‌
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to be] invisible and not catch any attention,� said Lledo, who mentioned instances where parents don’t want their children to apply for DACA in fear that they will be deported once they reveal their status. Lledo added that helping undocumented immigrants along the path to citizenship does not mean “immediately rewarding them with amnesty,� but rather
giving them the chance to “fall in line� and go through regular protocol and procedure to become naturalized citizens. “It’s just like, ‘Why can’t we not help these undocumented immigrants that need our help?’� said Lledo. “They just want to be citizens. They’re not terrorists. They just want to work and contribute something to our society, so why don’t we help them?� n
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SAN FRANCISCO – A Filipino entertainment company producer in Guam is facing 29 felony counts of visa fraud, conspiracy to commit visa fraud, alien trafficking and harboring undocumented aliens and using female members of Filipino music bands to sell alcohol at Guam clubs and bars, a violation of a federal immigration program regulating such bands. Jemuel Luciano, 46, was arrested Saturday, June 18, in Tamuning and appeared Monday at the U.S. District Court of Guam. Luciano was the executive producer of Royal Entertain-
ment Productions, which stages artists and talent for television and concert entertainment in Guam. Under a federal visa program, foreign performers, artists, bands or national athletes can temporarily work and perform on U.S. soil. From April 2011 through about 2014, Luciano allegedly recruited two bands from the Philippines to work in Guam venues where he told them to perform unauthorized work, violating the visa program, according to the federal indictment. In 2011, the Gems Band came to Guam under a visa and worked
at Stargazer Bar, according to a report by the Pacific Daily News. Luciano allegedly told female band members to sell drinks at the bar, knowing it violated the band’s visa status, reportedly profiting about $10 from every $30 in drinks sold. The Gems Band did the same at Josie’s Tavern and Club Underpass for over a year. Another group, Faith Cuneta Band, with 11 performers who entered Guam under the visa program to perform at Chic. Boy in October 2013 was allegedly told that selling drinks was part of the job. Luciano allegedly used the
money from the drink sales to pay the band members’ monthly salaries and band-related expenses such as apartment rental fees. He could forfeit any property obtained directly or indirectly from the drink sales in addition to at least at least $9,258, if found guilty of the charges, According to the Pacific Daily News, Luciano in January 2015 was to star in Filipino production of “San Pedro Calungsod: The Musical,� about a Filipino martyr killed in Guam while doing missionary work with Father Diego Luis de San Vitores. (Inquirer.net)
Dateline USa
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SCOTUS rules in favor of affirmative…
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that is essential to our nation’s economic future.” “Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is a message to
California and all states that the consideration of race in college admissions is essential to protecting and ensuring access to higher education,” said Michele
thiS Week in RevieW US Democrats hold congressional sit-in, cannot pass gun-control legislation DEMOCRATS in the House of Representatives led a sit-in for 24 hours starting Wednesday morning, June 22, in an attempt to pass stricter gun-control legislation. The event was sparked by Democrats who insisted on voting before Congress’ weeklong recess for the Fourth of July holiday. Democrats, the minority, did not have the numbers in the House nor Senate to pass legislation of their own, making it imperative that they sway Republicans — who tend to side with the National Rifle Association (NRA). Throughout the sit-in, Democrats covered the chamber floor, spoke about victims of gun violence and sang “God Bless America.” However, Democrats were unable to convince Speaker Paul Ryan to call a vote; the sit-in concluded Thursday morning, June 23 when Ryan abruptly adjourned and left the Capitol.
Los Angeles reaches new heights CALIFORNIA’S tallest open air observation deck, the OUE Skyspace located 1,000 feet high in the U.S. Bank Tower, opened Saturday, June 25. It provides 360-degree views of Los Angeles from two platforms, contains interactive technology and has a “Skyslide.” The slide connects the 70th and 69th floors with a 45 foot long glass slide, which allows the rider to view Los Angeles below them. According to its website, “OUE Skyspace LA will honor the culture, community and people that make Los Angeles unlike any other city in the world.”
Asian-owned firms growing faster, generating higher revenues in US A NEW analysis of recently available U.S. Census data finds that businesses owned by Asians are growing faster in number and generating higher average revenues than ‘total’ businesses in the United States, California, and Inland Southern California. Within the Inland region, average per firm revenue at Asianowned businesses exceeded average revenue at total firms in the area by more than $20,000 (6.6 percent) during the study period. The analysis, released this week by the UC Riverside School of Business Administration Center for Economic Forecasting and Development, examines data from the U.S Census Bureau’s newest Survey of Business Owners, which is published once every five years and provides the most current snapshot of the nation’s proprietors. The most recent survey includes data on business owners through 2012 and was released this past December. The analysis finds that from 2007 to 2012, revenues grew by nearly 40 percent at Asian-owned businesses in the United States as a whole and in Inland Southern California, and grew by nearly 30 percent at Asian-owned businesses in California. That compares to much lower single-digit revenue growth among total businesses in the Inland region (9.1 percent), the state (8.2 percent), and the nation (9.3 percent). (AJPress)
Siqueiros, president of CCO. “The ban on affirmative action in California has hurt the ability of Latinos and Blacks to find their rightful spots at our state universities and that hurts our state’s economic future.” But not everyone is happy with the court’s ruling. A Boston-based organization called Asian Americans Against Affirmative Action (AAAAA) denounced the ruling, calling the decision “a step backward, not a step forward toward a more just and equal society. “Race-based [affirmative action] supporters are still indulging in social engineering and self-righteous mindset. The practice will backfire,” AAAAA wrote on their Facebook page. The case was first brought to the Supreme Court in 2013, but it deferred the case back to the Fifth Circuit court, which they said failed to provide the necessary facts. In 2015, the Supreme Court agreed to hear another challenge to the university’s admissions policies. Justice Elena Kagan recused herself from the 2016 case because she had been previously working on the 2013 case as solicitor general, leaving seven justices to make the rule in what is now considered a landmark case for affirmative action. The death of Justice Antonin Scalia, a staunch opposer of affirmative action policy, was monumental in the court’s decision. Before he died in February, he said that he would have dissented, most likely resulting in a tie. That, however, would have affirmed the lower court’s decision upholding the program; UT Austin’s race-conscious admissions process would likely have been upheld either way. (By Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)
DOH ANNIVERSARY. President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Health Secretary Janette Garin upon arrival for the 118th Department of Health (DOH) founding anniversary and awarding ceremony of the Bayani ng Kalusugan at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in One Rizal Park, Manila City on Thursday, June 23. Malacañang photo by Joseph Vidal
Fil-Ams bid farewell to outgoing Amb. Cuisia SAN FRANCISCO—Members of the Filipino community bid a warm goodbye to outgoing Philippine Ambassador to the US Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. at a farewell reception for him June 20 at the Kalayaan Hall, Philippince Center here. A similar farewell last week feted the popular Cuisia in Washington, DC, where he reportedly has been dubbed a “rock star” by colleagues in the international diplomatic corps and by “Philippinists” in the US capital. Consul General in San Fran- Filipino Americans listening to Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia at the farewell reception for him cisco Henry S. Bensurto called at the Philippine Consulate. Cuisia the “hardest working Philippine ambassador to the US” in memory. The envoy reportedly visited Filipino communities in 44 states while seeking trade re-
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their life,” Renford Reese, professor of political science at Cal Poly Pomona, said in a press release. “Project Rebound will support our students in fulfilling their dreams and reaching their potential.” Cal Poly Pomona plans to use the funds to establish a fully staffed student center for formerly incarcerated students as well as special student orientation programs, The Sun reported. Reese, also director of Project Rebound at Cal Poly Pomona, said that the program will scale up by 10 ex-convicts each year the program is effective. They hope to have at least 30 former felons taking classes by 2019, Reese told The Sun. He added that students will benefit from the program because the center will go beyond just providing educational and career resources. “Beyond the academic advisement and career-development advisement and tutoring, they have a place where they have a space space and can feel free to generate this kind of camaraderie with each other because they’ve had similar experiences,” Reese said. n
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Early in the day, Ambassador Cuisia was hosted by the World Affairs Council at a luncheon. He is seen here with Susan Siskel, executive VP and COO of Asia Foundation. Inquirer.net photo by Esther Chavez
sources for the Philippines. Cuisia, Bensurto said, was the day-to-day face of Philippine interests in the US Congress where Ambassador Jose Luis Cuisia Jr. bidding goodbye to the Filipino community in the the envoy would go “office by San Francisco Bay Area. Behind him is Deputy (congressional) office to explain Consul Jaime Ramon Ascalon and to his left the Philippines’ views on key issues. “That’s what it takes to win is Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. Inquirer.net photos by Rodel Rodis allies for the Philippines” among
US lawmakers, he said. “Next to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Ambassador Cuisia was responsible for making the US more active in the West Philippine Sea issue,” said Bensurto, the country’s foremost legal expert on the territorial conflict with China. (Inquirer.net)
World reacts to UK’s exit from…
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to fuel the economy and higher status in the world by being allied with 27 other nations. According to the European Commission, English will remain the official language of the EU, though, no country remaining in the EU uses English as its official language. Prime Minister David Cameron, an avid supporter for remaining in the EU, announced that he would step down from his
position in October, which he has held for six years. Boris Johnson, a leader in the movement to leave the EU, is considered a likely frontrunner for the next Prime Minister, according to NBC. The UK is still a member of the EU until the Prime Minister invokes an agreement called Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which will begin the withdrawal. The treaty has not been used before and will give the UK two years to
negotiate, said BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman. In a statement, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the decision to exit was “democratically unacceptable” and added it would be “highly likely” that Scotland would seek independence to remain in the EU. According to NBC, Brexit could signal other countries exiting the EU too. Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Sweden would be most likely to leave. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
A
PH Ambassador wins seat in UN Treaty Body
ENTITLED. After decades of waiting and more than a year of plans and attempts, 23 farmer beneficiaries in Barangay Sumangga, Ormoc City finally spent Monday night camped on land awarded to them under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Gillian Cruz, media officer of agrarian reform advocacy group Kaisahan (Kaisahan tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan), said Tuesday the Sumangga farmers were installed on their land on Monday with the help of Department of Agrarian Reform officials and members of the Philippine National Police.
Roxas’ mom lost P110-M in his poll bid dential candidate was submitting his Soce to the Comelec on the last day of a 14-day grace period MOMMY is poorer by P110 given to him and the LP after million. But she has a chance of they failed to meet the deadline recovering her losses, that is, if on June 8. she plays the lotto. Roxas’ report showed that of How did Judy Araneta-Roxas the P487 million he poured on lose P110 million? By bankroll- his failed run for Malacañang, ing her son’s presidential ambi- P469.29 million were cash and tion. in-kind donations and P18 milUnfortunately, her son, Mar Roxas, the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party (LP) in May’s presidential election, is not cut to become president of the Philippines. The graduate of Wharton College spent P487 million on his campaign for Malacañang only to be trounced by a graduate of San Beda College, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, at the polls. And at lesser expense. His statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce), finally submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, June 22 showed his mom was the biggest contributor to his campaign, giving him P90 million at the start of the campaign in February and P20 million as the race for the Palace went into the homestretch in May. Once secretary of transportation and communications and head of the interior department, he is now private citizen Mar Roxas. His last official act as presiby Jocelyn
R. Uy
Inquirer.net
lion came from his own pocket. The report showed that Roxas was the second-biggest campaign spender, after Sen. Grace Poe, who reported spending P510.84 million. The winner, Duterte, reported spending P371 million. The bulk of the cash contributions to Roxas’ campaign came
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PHILIPPINE Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo won a seat in the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in elections held today at the United Nations Headquarters. Ambassador Manalo, one of the Philippines’ most accomplished diplomats, was among 25 candidates vying for 11 seats in CEDAW for the term 20172020. The Philippines’ victory is a testament to the country’s active advocacy and leadership on women’s rights. President Benigno S. Aquino III himself is a champion for gender equality, being one of the UN’s 10 HeForShe IMPACT Heads of States recognized by UN Women for his efforts in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality. CEDAW is a body ofindependent expertsthat monitors implementation of theConvention on the Elimination of All Forms
PH Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo
of Discrimination against Women. The Convention, adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. It defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda
for action to end such discrimination. Ambassador Manalo served as Chairperson of CEDAW in 20052006 and the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 1984-1986, which became the Preparatory Committee for the 1985 Nairobi Third World Conference on Women. After her previous stint in CEDAW, she brought the Convention’s concepts to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “The human condition and the human spirit of the women in this lovely corner of the world will have to cross, sooner than later, to achieve a better life for the people of Southeast Asia. Let us in the Philippines start this journey and lead ASEAN to greater heights in peace, in equality, in prosperity and in the exercise of social justice,” Ambassador Manalo said. A graduate of the University
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Features
On dangerous ground THE Philippines consistently ranks among the most “murderous” countries for journalists, and among the five worst in terms of impunity as most of the killings remain unsolved. Now the country has another dubious distinction. International non-government organization Global Witness, in a report called “On Dangerous Ground,” ranked the Philippines second only to Brazil in a list of the deadliest countries for environmental activists. The non-profit NGO reported that of the 185 people worldwide who were killed last year while defending their lands, forests and rivers from industrial activities that harm the environment, 33 were Filipinos. Global Witness explores hidden links between environmental destruction and demand for natural resources, corruption and armed conflict. The NGO said that in many countries, governments, companies and criminal gangs were seizing land from residents to meet a growing demand for products such as minerals, palm oil and timber. Around the world, vulnerable communities find themselves targeted by private security personnel, government forces and contract killers, according to Global Witness. In the Philippines, among the communities that have suffered in defending their
lands are indigenous or lumad groups. Environmental activists who go into journalism are also vulnerable. Relatives of broadcaster Gerry Ortega, former director of the Crocodile Farm in Palawan and an opponent of mining in the province, are still waiting for justice. Ortega, a veterinarian-turned-politician, was assassinated in January 2011. His political foes, former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and brother Mario Reyes Jr., former mayor of Coron town, are facing trial as the accused masterminds. The case may move faster under the Duterte administration, whose incoming environment secretary, known anti-mining advocate Gina Lopez, heads the foundation that counted Ortega among its members. Relatives of many other slain environmental activists, however, have little hope of getting justice. As in the unsolved murders of journalists, this failure has guaranteed impunity and more attacks. (Philstar.com)
Guest Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Supreme Court ruling puts a stop to Obama’s executive order on immigration: What now? THE 4-4 vote by the Supreme Court was a big blow not only to President Barack Obama’s legacy, but to the hopes and dreams of many undocumented immigrants — including many kababayans and their families. Because it was a tie, the highest court’s ruling leaves in place an appeals court decision which ruled that Obama overstepped his executive authority with the expanded version of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). This decision effectively puts a stop to the implementation of Obama’s executive order that hopes to allow almost 5 million undocumented immigrants to come out of the shadow, and be given a temporary permit to work and travel without fear of deportation. 11 million undocumented immigrants are estimated to be living in America, and nearly half of them could have potentially benefitted from programs President Obama announced in November 2014. As the New York Times reported, Obama’s pro-
grams for parents and children – DAPA and expanded DACA The Fil-Am – would have protected three categories of unauthorized im- Perspective migrants: DAPA (parents) Unauthorized parents of children who are United States citizens or legal permanent resi- Gel SantoS-ReloS dents born on or before Nov. 20, 2014. To qualify, parents must have been in the United States since Jan.1, 2010. DACA (children) Unauthorized immigrants born after June 15, 1981, who were brought to the United States before their 16th birthday and have been in the country since June 15, 2007. Expanded DACA (children) Unauthorized immigrants brought to the United States as children before January 2010. Obama’s plan executive measure granted DAPA-eligible immigrants authorization to work in the United States for three years at a time.
The Times explained further that the president’s executive actions also expanded the DACA program, which allows eligible young people to apply for deportation deferrals and work permits, to include unauthorized immigrants who entered the United States before January 2010, from the current cutoff of June 15, 2007. This expansion also eliminated the requirement that applicants be younger than 31 years old. To clarify, those undocumented young people who had qualified for the initial DACA program created in 2012, would not be affected by this Supreme Court case. However, the Times pointed out that they could have also benefited from the decision because the 2014 initiative increased the deferral period to three years from two years. In my interview with Pinoy Panawagan legal counsel of The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America, Atty. Lou Tancinco said that the reason behind this turn of events is because 1) it is
Simon
[Note from columnist Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D.: Since we recently celebrated Father’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase a father, Dodjie Simon, who wrote this essay about his daughter, Grace Ysabel Simon, for my column this week] “BREAKTHROUGHS happen when raw talent is greeted with appreciation, recognition and encouragement. Parents and siblings who say, ‘Wow, that’s a beautiful artwork.’ Teachers who give us encouraging words like, ‘That’s an excellent idea. Go for it.’ Classmates who greet us in the hallway with ‘I really love your painting or drawing.’ Friends who show their wide-eyed fascination over our artwork. Every encouraging word is fuel to our artistic engine.” – Ysabel Grace Simon, 2016. Ysabel Grace Simon thinks she is just an ordinary teenager who lives in New York City. This 18 year old Filipina is nowhere near ordinary. For one, Ysabel or “Y” to classmates, attends the prestigious La Guardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts (La Guardia HS). This school requires each applicant to demonstrate strong academic record and go through a highly competitive audition. Parents in NYC prepare their children as early as 5 years old for the La Guardia HS auditions. Ysabel only had one summer to prepare for it. Throughout high school, this young Filipina maintained strong academic performance (GPA of 94/100) and continued to wow both faculty and students with her artworks (drawings, sculptures and recently, oil paintings) consistently making it to the La Guardia semi-annual art exhibits. When Ysabel was a third year student, while attending an awarding ceremony for graduating seniors, she was surprised to be given the James Bama Award for Realistic Art. During her senior year, as part of the high school curriculum she tried oil painting for the first time. She embarked on a theme around idiosyncrasies of her close relatives and family members. Her first painting “Tito” is about her uncle, Rev. Eleazar Simon, who has a habit of looking at his fingernails in a unique way. Her second painting entitled “Tinik” is about her maternal grandmother, Rosita Nazal. In a parent-teacher meeting, Ysabel’s art teacher, Mrs. Lombardi, excitedly mentioned to Ysabel’s
Dodjie Simon (left), his wife and daughter, Ysabel (far right) pose with Ysabel’s painting.
parents that she has “big plans” for Ysabel’s paintings. Weeks later, the painting “Tinik” was submitted to the annual PS Arts competition sponsored by the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). Ysabel’s painting won the PS Arts 2016 competition together with several other artworks that are now on display at The Met until October 23, 2016. On June 22, Ysabel delivered a speech at the NYC Times Square Plaza (Military Island, in front of Hard Rock Cafe) on behalf of the secondary school students. In her speech, Ysabel thanked all the parents, siblings, teachers, school administrators, The Met, PS Arts organizers and the Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) for the recognition and encouragement they have given to budding artists like her. She said, “Every encouraging word is fuel to our artistic engine.” (Full text of her speech can be found at the bottom of this column). For several days after June 22, images of “Tinik” and 20 other artworks were shown on the Times Square big electronic screens for first three minutes every top of the hour. This showcase of selected PS Arts 2016 winners on big screens at Times Square was made possible through The Met’s cooperation with the Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC). A panel of arts specialists from the Department of Education and Studio in a School selected 420 semifinalists from 1,205 submissions. A jury of distinguished members of the New York City arts community, including staff of The Met, chose the works on display in P.S. Art 2016.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
Duterte and the CPPNPA protection racket
Teenage Filipina’s oil painting goes to The Met in NYC by DoDjie
a tactical move by Republicans to file the case in a lower court in Texas that is dominated by Republican-leaning judges, joined in by 25 other states governed by the same conservative principles; 2) the vacancy left by Justice Scalia had not been filled up because of the refusal of the Republican-led Senate to even touch the appointment made by President Obama, who could have potentially broke the tie in favor of the president’s executive order. Tancinco said the fight is not over. The Amercian Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) will appeal the case to the Supreme Court for reconsideration. On the other hand, many kababayans who followed the rules, got in line and paid the fees, lauded the court’s decision. This ruling by the SC just highlights the importance of the November elections. ***
IF taxes are to be collected only by the government, then Rodrigo Street Duterte, incoming president of the Republic of the Philippines, actu- Talk ally acknowledges the existence of another government within the country: the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s GreG B. MacaBenta Army. You see, the CPP-NPA also collects “taxes” from businesses and Duterte has publicly urged companies operating in Davao province and the rest of Mindanao to pay this additional imposition on them, on top of what they pay the Bureau of Internal Revenue. It may be assumed that this Duterte Doctrine will be applied nationally when he assumes the presidency. We know that if we don’t pay taxes to the government, we’ll find ourselves in trouble, pay a hefty fine, see our earnings garnished or even go to jail. What about the “taxes” – referred to as “revolutionary taxes” - imposed by the CPP-NPA? How much is collected and what are the consequences if a business doesn’t come across? The following is a report on CPP-NPA “taxation” in Davao province from a 2011 Asia Report by the International Crisis Group entitled, “The Communist Insurgency in the Philippines, Tactics and Talks”: “The NPA obtains significant amounts of money from the Davao region. The military estimates that the NPA collected 39.5 million pesos ($890,000) there in 2010, nearly half of the 95.5 million pesos ($2.15 million) it raised from revolutionary taxes throughout the country during the year. Most of the funds are collected in the Compostela Valley, where there are many mines. “In 2009, the military estimated that the province could provide the group with as much as 20 million pesos ($460,000) per month. This is sufficient for guerrillas to allocate surplus funds for their dependents, a luxury units elsewhere cannot afford. The NPA can raise large amounts from the Compostela Valley because of its relationship with small-scale miners. These men resist government efforts to establish larger mines, instead turning to the NPA, which approves the opening of smallscale operations. NPA regulars may even be mining themselves. The CPP, while officially opposing destruction of the environment, considers such limited extraction acceptable as it is not used for export. The NPA targets small businesses as well. The own-
er of a fleet of trucks transporting gravel and sand from a quarry in the Davao area pays 5,000 pesos ($115) per year for each truck. The NPA also levied a tax of four pesos (ten cents) per kilogram on banana vendors in New Bataan in the Compostela Valley, until the military increased its presence. Other businesses may be taxed a percentage of their total profits. “In December 2010 seven large mining companies in Caraga threatened to pull out of the region over NPA ‘taxes’, underscoring how control over resources is at stake in the conflict. According to the 4th infantry division, the NPA has increased tax levied on mining companies from 15 million pesos ($340,000) to 20 million pesos ($450,000) a month. The group has also demanded the firms supply computers, radios and guns… “Dole Food Company’s banana plantations in Surigao del Sur were regularly attacked in 2010. On 26 November, the NPA destroyed around 22,000 plants, with an estimated value of $250,000 in Tago town. Further south in the same province, the NPA cut down around 1,600 plants in Barobo town on 13 December. Both areas had been attacked earlier in the year as well. The NPA argues that because firms such as Dole exploit the region’s resources and people, its attacks are justified.” Of course the CPP-NPA will always find a way to “justify” the “taxation” and the “penalties.” In fact, as reported by the media, only recently, Fidel Agacoili , spokesman of the National Democratic Front (NDF) declared in a forum at the Ateneo de Davao University, “You have to understand [that] revolutionary movements, meron silang political power operating in the countryside and elsewhere. And they have the right, [as] any state…they have the right to impose tax on any form of business that operates within its own territory.” To support his rationale, Agcaoili added: “Di ba sabi ni President Duterte, ‘Bayaran na lang ninyo!’ Siya nagsabi noon, hindi ako (Wasn’t it President Duterte who said, ‘Just pay it!’ He said that, not me).” Agcaoili was referring to a statement Duterte made at a trade expo in Davao City in 2013. In that speech, Duterte attempted to rationalize his being “cooperative” with the CPP-NPA: “Crimes I can
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OpiniOn & Features
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 25-28, 2016
Teenage Filipina’s oil painting… PAGE A8 t
Ysabel Simon shared the speech she gave at Times Square: Breakthroughs happen when raw talent is greeted with appreciation, recognition and encouragement. Parents and siblings who say, “Wow, that’s a beautiful artwork.” Teachers who give us encouraging words like, “That’s an excellent idea. Go for it.” Classmates who greet us in the hallway with “I really love your painting or drawing.” Friends who show their wide-eyed fascination over our artwork. Every encouraging word is fuel to our artistic engine. And so as we celebrate the creativity of New York City’s budding artists like myself, we say to you our parents, siblings, teachers, classmates and friends: “Thank you for every word of encouragement that you have given us. It is a gift that we will treasure in
our hearts and minds forever. And to the PS Arts 2016 organizers and sponsors, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and TSAC, we are deeply grateful to all of you. -Dodjie Simon is the father of Grace Ysabel Simon. He is a music composer and lyricist of many popular songs, like “Kung Alam Mo Lang,” “Buti Na Lang,” “Can Find No Reason,” “Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Can’t Find the Reason,” “Close Your Eyes,” “Hanggang Kailan,” “Hintay Hintay,” “If I Could,” “ikaw lamang,” “Isang Dugo Isang Lahi Isang Musika,” “Kahit Minsan,” “Kung Alam Mo Lang,” “Langit Ka Kaligayahan Ko,” “Larawan,” “Pangako,” “Till the End,” “To Love Again,” “You Lift Me Up,” and “Can’t Stop Loving You.” These songs were sung by Lani Misalucha, Martin Nievera, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Jed Madela, Louie Heredia, Jay R, and many more. He is the Vice President and Technology Lead for Enterprise Data Management, American International Group, Inc. n
Duterte and the CPP-NPA…
PAGE A8 t
deal with it. But with the revolutionary (groups), I give it to the (national) government.” Duterte made that statement as mayor of Davao City. In effect, he admitted that the problem was much bigger than his capabilities as a local executive. But what happens now that Duterte is about to take over the reins of the national government? How will he deal with the situation? Or is it possible that the much-feared crime fighter – the one who has vowed to get rid of criminality in six months from his assumption of the presidency – does not consider “revolutionary” taxation a crime? How different is the CPP-NPA “revolutionary tax” from the operations of the Mafia in the US and in Sicily, where 80 percent of businesses reportedly pay “pizzo” or protection money to the gangsters? And how different is the CPP-NPA from the drug cartels in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico which, according to Wikipedia, collect protection money from businesses with the threat of “burning down the business, kidnapping the owners or killing everyone inside with assault rifles” To quote a comic paraphrasing Juliet’s line in “Romeo and Juliet:” “Utot by any other name would smell bantot.” (Fart by any other name would still stink). You can say that about the CPP-NPA “revolutionary tax.” The name is simply an attempt to deodorize what, in fact, is a bigtime protection racket. Wikipedia adds: “Protection rackets tend to appear in markets where the police and judiciary cannot be counted on to provide legal protection, either because of incompetence (as in weak or failed states) or illegality (black markets).” In a media report, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, the outgoing chief of the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and reportedly a “strong contender” for the post of Chief of
Staff, was said to have told his troops to “continue their military pressure on the NPA.” According to Visaya, “Until no official and clear-cut guidelines have been issued, until no formal talks have been made, we continue with our current operations in Bicol.” In this regard, what can Visaya say about the CPP-NPA claiming parts of the country as their “territory” for which reason it has the ”right” to collect taxes? Before Visaya attempts to answer that question, he should perhaps read this excerpt from the 2011 “Asia Report.” It had this to about Visaya’s prospective commander-in-chief: “In Davao, the Duterte family is a powerful third force in the conflict between the military and the NPA. Rodrigo Duterte, the current vice-mayor, was first elected mayor in 1988, at a time when the ‘sparrow’ units were carrying out killings on the streets of Davao, and the military-backed anti-communist vigilante squads known as the Alsa Masa meted out punishment in return. He subsequently served six terms, and when he could no longer stand for office, his daughter Sara Duterte stepped in and was elected mayor in 2010… Although violence has dramatically declined under Duterte, and the numerous urban squatter communities that served as the communists’ support base no longer exist, the CPP-NPA continues to operate within Davao City… Duterte, who used to employ a former member of the NDF as his chief of staff, in effect grants the guerrillas permission to operate in certain areas of the city. He also ensures leftist activists are safe from extrajudicial killings; in exchange, they do not protest against the ‘Davao death squad.’” In other words, Rodrigo Duterte, incoming president of the Philippines, has been and could continue to be the biggest protector of the CPP-NPA as it continues to operate its highly profitable protection racket. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)
Roxas’ mom lost P110-M…
Mining magnate Francis Enrico Gutierrez donated P40 million to Roxas’ campaign, and real PAGE A7 t aunt, Ruby Roxas, P10 million; estate executive Melesa Dy Chua from the Araneta and Fores clan, cousin Jorge Fores, P10 million; gave him P10 million. with his mom as the top donor. sister Maria Lourdes Ojeda, P10 The other donors were former Roxas’ uncle, Jorge Araneta, million; his restaurateur cousin Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., who donated P70 million; aunt Ma- Margarita Fores, P7 million, and gave P5 million; former Trade ria Fores, P60 million; another uncle Manuel Roxas, P5 million. u PAGE A10
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A10 JUNE 25-28, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline PHiliPPineS
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Aquino govt insists: ‘DAP was good’ by JoeL
M. sy egco ManilaTimes.net
QUAKE DRILL. Members of the Bureau of Fire and Protection in Makati City use a high ladder to simulate a rescue operation in case the “Big One” strikes. Thousands participated on Wednesday, June 22 in the nationwide earthquake drill, an exercise that aims to teach what to do when a powerful quake hits Metro Manila. Camp Aguinaldo, the military’s main headquarters located in Quezon City, served as the ceremonial venue and the national command post. Inquirer.net photo by Yuji Vincent Gonzales
Arroyo faces new plunder probe by LLanesca
T. PanTi ManilaTimes.net
ANOTHER plunder complaint has been filed against former President Gloria Arroyo, this time in connection with the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds. Laurence Arroyo, the former president’s counsel, said the case is different from the P366 million plunder raps also filed against the former leader for the alleged misuse of PCSO funds. The case pending at the Sandiganbayan covers 2008 to 2010. “It’s a new complaint for plun-
der and malversation in connection with the PCSO intelligence fund, filed by the FIO (Field Investigation Office of the Ombudsman). The Ombudsman is conducting a preliminary investigation. It covers the years 2004 to 2007,” Arroyo, who is not related to the former President, told The Manila Times in a text message. On May 25, the Supreme Court tasked the Sandiganbayan to “give prompt and preferential attention” to the directive to present the records of the plunder cases involving the PCSO. In April, the Supreme Court also extended a Status Quo Ante Order on the pending P366 mil-
lion plunder raps against Arroyo which put her plunder trial on hold until June 20. Arroyo’s counsel, however, is confident that his client will not be indicted again for plunder. “We’re confident that this will not prosper because former President Arroyo did not amass a single centavo of those intelligence funds,” the lawyer said. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he is in favor of granting house arrest to Arroyo, who was re-elected as Pampanga representative. Duterte’s PDP-Laban party has inked a coalition pact with Arroyo’s Lakas-CMD party. n
PH Ambassador wins seat in UN Treaty…
PAGE A7 t
of the Philippines, where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts in Public Administration; and Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, where she earned her Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, Ambassador Manalo became the first Filipina to pass the Philippines’ career foreign service officers examinations. She has an unbeatable 57year record of service in the Department of Foreign Affairs performing in various capacities in multilateral fora and bilateral relations. Ambassador Manalo was assigned to her first diplomatic posting as Ambassador to the European Economic Commu-
nity in Brussels (1979-1987). She later served as concurrent Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (1985-1987). After a two-year secondment (19881990) as adviser to the DirectorGeneral of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, she was named Philippine Ambassador to the French Republic (1990-1994), with concurrent accreditation to Portugal. She was also Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. From 1994 to 1997, Ms. Manalo was Philippine Ambassador to Sweden and the Nordic States, and the Baltic States. Ambassador Manalo was Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
from 1997 to 2002, in charge of International Economic Relations. She was concurrently Secretary-General of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines. She currently teaches at the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde, Miriam College, Philippine Women’s University, University of Asia and the Pacific, National Defense College of the Philippines, the Foreign Service Institute, and the University of the Philippines. The other 10 candidates who also won a seat in CEDAW were from Bahamas, China, France, Ghana, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, and Norway. n
EVEN up to its last remaining days in office, the government of President Benigno Aquino III maintained that the controversial budget measure, Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), was good for the economy and that its implementors acted in “good faith.” In an interview at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, June 23, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the DAP, which was partly declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court two years ago, was in line with the administration’s policy of “good governance.” “We have to look at the positive elements of our good governance program. And with regard to the (DAP), the (SC) itself declared that the DAP spurred economic growth,” he explained.
Coloma stressed that Filipinos should be proud of this legacy. “We also recall that after the SC decision on the motion for reconsideration filed by the government, the magistrates of the High Court upheld that the authors, proponents and implementors of DAP ‘are presumed to have acted in good faith and with regularity unless otherwise proven’,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, Coloma said the president is “all packed and ready to go” on June 30, when he officially bequeathes the presidency to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. “He is all set to step down on Thursday, June 30, next week,” he quipped, noting that Aquino’s last public appearance as president will be as commencement speaker at the Ateneo De Manila University. Coloma said the outgoing leader’s greatest contribution could be that of steering the country to
become “Asia’s rising star” from being the “Sick Man of Asia.” “We have repeatedly stated: ‘Good governance translates into good economics.’ We could not have attained our position as an investment grade country, the high ratings by Transparency International and we could not have lowered our position on the Corruption Index if we were not able to establish good governance,” the Palace official pointed out. On the non-passage of the Freedom of Information measure, which was among Aquino’s campaign promises in 2010, Coloma said the administration has put in place equivalent programs that promote transparency. “There is the Citizen’s Charter, the websites of all government agencies, there is electronic procurement, Open Data where the public can access to get information regarding national budget and budget disbursements,” he explained. n
Roxas’ mom lost P110-M in his poll bid PAGE A9 t
and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, P5 million; and Karina David, who played a role in the campaign, P1 million. The LP’s Alfonso Umali Jr. contributed P72.39 million in television ads, according to Roxas’ report. In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Gutierrez said the contributions made by Roxas’ relatives were “not surprising,” as they came from a well-established family, running multiple businesses for decades. A large part of Roxas’ expenditures, P407 million, or 87 percent, went to campaign ads, mostly on television, said Gutierrez, who filed the Soce on behalf of Roxas. 50 boxes of documents Gutierrez carried Roxas’ report, supported by voluminous documents placed in 50 boxes and transported in an Elf pickup, to the Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. He said Roxas’ camp had tried to meet the June 8 deadline, but decided to ask for an extension to make sure his report would be “accurate and truthful.” “Every cent that was spent per [rally], per campaign event, every action made during the elections we submitted to the Comelec,” he said. “We have scanned and dis-
Mar Roxas is flanked by wife Korina Sanchez and mother Judy Araneta Roxas. Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande
closed everything down to the last receipt in keeping with the spirit of the law for full transparency,” he said. “Based on our experience, if you break down all of our expenses, it was really going to take 50 boxes of documents.” Extension controversy Voting 4-3 last week, the Comelec granted Roxas’ and the LP request for a two-week extension of the deadline. Election Commissioner Christian Robert Lim voted to deny the request, as the law prohibits extending the deadline, and resigned as head of the Comelec’s campaign finance office. On Wednesday, incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez urged the Comelec to release its resolution granting the extension so that interested parties could question its legality in the
Supreme Court. The party of Alvarez, PDP-Laban, earlier indicated its intention to ask the Supreme Court to strike down the Comelec resolution. “Right or wrong, there seems to be a public perception that the release of the resolution is being held in abeyance until after the sought-for 14-day extension lapses so it may no longer be questioned [in the Supreme Court],” Alvarez said in a statement. “If this is true, the Comelec may end up as a damaged institution, as it will be a party to two very serious violations—extending a non-extendible deadline in the filing of Soces and depriving the people of the right to question that extension [in the Supreme Court],” he said. (With a report from DJ Yap)
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 25-28, 2016
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A12 JUNE 25-28, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 25-28, 2016
SHOWBIZ&STYLE
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Journal
Tom Rodriguez, the once reluctant Jodi Sta. Maria on Jolo Revilla: We’re no longer together actor, relishes stardom and its perks by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
Tom Rodriguez—a FilipinoAmerican born in Subic Naval Base who grew up in Samar and lived in Yuma, Arizona, where his family migrated—was once a shy young man. A self-confessed introvert, Tom admitted he was reluctant to join showbusiness at first but once he was in, he realized the myriad of opportunities that opened up for him. He was in New York City recently after an Independence Day event in Toronto and he used the opportunity to meet up with the local media to chat about anything. Yes, anything. And everything. “I couldn’t help but be emotional since I remember when I was still back in Yuma, and the community would come together to celebrate Philippine Independence Day,� Tom said. “Seeing all the Filipinos there was a beautiful thing. It reminded me of home.� He and his manager decided to cut their trip short to return to manila so he could start preparing for a new show, another teleserye from his home network GmA. This is Tom’s fourth teleserye with the network after starring in the controversial and groundbreaking series “my Husband’s Lover� along with Dennis Trillo and Carla Abellana, “my Destiny� also with Abellana and the remake of marimar with miss World megan Young. For the new show, Tom said he will be playing a role of a married man who will suffer from an early onset of Alzheimer’s, a degenerative disease. He is thankful and excited to be given another opportunity to tackle a challenging role which he said he will prepare for by reading up on the topic as much as he could. A few months ago, the actor also starred in an indie film called “magtanggol,� where he played the role of Sen. Juancho magtanggol who comes from an ideal patriPAGE B3
AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
JoDI Sta. maria admitted that she’s no longer in a relationship with Jolo Revilla. “No, we’re no longer together,� she said in an interview in ABSCBN’s late-night talk show “Tonight with Boy Abunda� on Tuesday, June 21, confirming the previous reports about their breakup. Despite the end of their relationship, the Kapamilya actress said that “we’re friends.� When asked if she believes in second chances, which is related to her character as Chinggay in the movie “The Achy Breaky Hearts,� Jodi Sta. Maria admitted that he’s no longer in a relationship with Jolo Revilla. she replied, “Possible.� Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez “Puwede kasi may mga ku- wento naman akong naririnig na she explained. dalawang magkasintahan nagkahiHer film “The Achy Breaky walay, tapos sa huli nagkabalikan,� Hearts� together with Richard Yap
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and Ian Veneracion will be in cin- Antoinette Jadaone and produced emas on June 29. It’s directed by by Star Cinema. (Philstar.com)
B juNE 25-28, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN jOuRNAL
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TRAVEL DIARIES:
36 hours in Cebu, the Queen City of the South by Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
WHAT time is it? What day is it? While plopped on a lounge chair positioned on a white sand beach, watching the clock move and having eyes and fingers glued to the smartphone — as the barrage of e-mail and text message notifications swirled in — were far from the day’s top priorities. For an overly technologicallyconnected professional, trading an afternoon of meetings for catching waves and sun rays was a lesson in relinquishing control of a structured schedule and simply reveling in being present and unbothered. The messages and responsibilities could wait when I re-emerged and plugged back into the outside world 36 hours later. Earlier that morning, the tour group and I departed Taipei (where we spent the previous day hitting major tourist spots) for Cebu via a three-hour EVA Air flight. For one last taste of Taiwan before leaving, the airline’s lounge serves dumplings, egg buns and noodles to satisfy that request. As this was my first visit to the Philippines during the summer season, I received warnings from family and friends about how ‘hot’ it would be, though they never elaborated on the intensity. Upon stepping out of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the heat and humidity crept up and slapped me; even with the weather-appropriate attire, face mists and fans, I wasn’t prepared to sweat buckets and have frizzy hair. What I did value and take a mental note of was how smooth my arrival into the country was. It’s natural to compare it to Metro Manila, where my previous travels always began. At Cebu’s airport, which is slated to become a “resort” in the next two years, there was no long wait for baggage nor was there bumper-to-bumper traffic. So for those coming from Los Angeles, the option to fly into the southern city without needing to connect from Manila is appreciated and sheds off another burden in the travel process. Dubbed the Queen City of the South, Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines, rooted in rich history and culture. In recent years, Cebu City has been undergoing urbanization with business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, technology start-ups and high-rise condominiums springing up. It is an economic center in itself and is largely becoming
Magellan’s Cross
A trip to Cebu would not be complete without visiting some of these spots:
a place for young professionals to move to and overseas Filipinos to invest and retire in. But to juxtapose the modern developments, pristine beaches and rich marine biodiversity that make the island a must-visit destination are accessible miles away. The Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa (about 20 minutes from the airport) would be our tour group’s escape for the next three days. I checked into a room in the resort’s Ocean Wing and marveled at the spaciousness and astonishing balcony view of palm trees and the Mactan Channel. Of course, the Shangri-La brand is known for its world-class hospitality and luxury. A basket of fruits and a plate of various Filipino desserts l i k e sapin-
Top right: Cebu lechon parade; Bottom photo: Lounging at Shangri-La’s white sand beach AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel
EVA Air flies daily from LA to Cebu with a stopover in Taipei.
The EVA Air fam tour group
AJPress photo by Noel Ty
Photo courtesy of EVA Air
A6EJ"A6EJ H=G>C: 6C9 BDCJB:CI — If you happen to be checked in at the Shangri-La, this monument is less than 10 minutes away. This shrine includes a bronze statue of LapuLapu that towers 20 meters high. Kadaugan sa Mactan (The Battle of Mactan) is a colorful event showing the invasion of the Spanish colonizers and the battle between Magellan and Lapu-Lapu. The battle is celebrated and re-enacted annually in April. 6A:<G: <J>I6G ;68IDGN — Filipinos are known for being musically inclined, and in Cebu, the artistry of guitar making and playing are highlighted. At Alegre, watch the instrument being made and purchase a souvenir of your own. We were even treated with a short perforsapin (colorful sweet rice cake) mance by four guitar markers. were arranged on the coffee table Truly a display of Filipino talent! when I got there. L’occitane and 8:7J =:G>I6<: BDCJLa Prairie toiletries were stocked B:CT — This monument in the bathroom, which are treats features sculptures of the Bafor skincare enthusiasts. silica del Santo Niño, the Cebu Inside the 13-hectare propMetropolitan Cathedral, the erty, the array of activities Saint John the Baptist Church, and amenities make it the Magellan’s Cross, and a impossible to get bored. Spanish Galleon. By the beach, you can N6E"H6C9>:<D 6C8:Hhang out, tan, imbibe, IG6A =DJH: — This private snorkel or dive. There home has been opened to are two swimming the public as a museum with pools, a six-hole golf antique furniture, dining ware park, yoga classes and clothing. on the garden, ten- Top left: Alegre Guitar Factory; Top right: souvenir @:CC:I= 8D7DCEJ: H=DLGDDB — For furninis courts, gym, kid- shopping; Bottom: Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House ture and design aficionados, this place is for you. Kenneth friendly areas, among AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel Cobonpue is a multi-awarded Filipino furniture designer, many others. At CHI, whose clientele includes HollyThe Spa, you can hide three days. At dinner, the meal wood celebrities and members in one of the private vil- wasn’t complete without a servof royalty. Even if you’re not in las to rejuvenate and get ing of the famous Cebu lechon a shopping mood (the pieces (roasted suckling pig), which pampered. would make heavy souvenirs!), There are four restaurants: arrives during a parade spectacle it is a delight to test them out Acqua (Italian), Cowrie Cove (sea- that shouldn’t be missed. and admire how they were asSurely, staying within the confood), Tea of Spring (Cantonese) sembled. and Tides, and the international fines of the Shangri-La is justified; B6<:AA6CÉH 8GDHH — buffet to satisfy any type of crav- after all, its accolades, including Perhaps the most recognizable ing. The themed stations at Tides, the third best resort in Asia by attraction in Cebu, Magellan’s from Filipino to Japanese to Ko- Condé Nast Traveler, are wellCross is what the Portuguese rean to Western, were enough to deserved. explorer planted in Cebu when Whether you’re in Cebu for keep us coming back during the he arrived in the 16th century. To prevent visitors from destroying it, it is believed that the original cross can be found Tides, Shangri-La’s international inside the center of the nearby chabuffet pel. The ceiling of its small housing AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel shows a painting of the arrival of the Spaniards in Cebu, bearing flags and the cross. 76H>A>86 B>CDG: 9:A H6CID C>CD — This church is one of the oldest and most famous in the Philippines. It features the revered statue of the Santo Niño, dating back to Magellan’s time. Be prepared to wait in line if you want to take a closer look at the statue. Even if you’re not religious, it’s still a sight to visit for the architecture and people watching. E6H6AJ7DC< HDJK:C>G H=DEE>C< — Don’t leave Cebu without picking up some dried mangoes, which is the province’s most famous export. Some brands also sell them dipped in chocolate for that added sweetness. For fish lovers, danggit (dried fish) can be found at stores or public markets. Acknowledgements: A special thank you to EVA Air; Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Early morning yoga at Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa Spa in Cebu, Philippines; GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporathree days or a week for whatever AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel tion; Ms. Rowena Lu Montecillo of the Philippine Department of reason (be it beach bumming or Tourism for the city tour; and Ms. Charlene Lontoc-Del Rosario of sightseeing), you’ll return to your Jeron Travel for the transportation. More details on EVA’s inflight hectic everyday routine refreshed hospitality, services and schedule are available at www.evaair. and sun-kissed— at least that’s com. For information on Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa, please what happened to me. visit http://www.shangri-la.com/cebu/mactanresort/.
CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa
AJPress photo by Noel Ty
Features
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A gathering of courage and determination Moonlighting by Mylah de
leon
THe Southern California Filipino Dental Society (SCFDC) is a world unto itself. As the energy level started going up and up, the dentists moved, talked, laughed and think — and the brain power within the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library patio/garden became formidable, cell phones ringing as the sun went down dramatically into the evening. This was the fruit of their endless brainstorming — working and persevering against all odds on their parallel efforts, anchored on a common goal, in the last fifty years. In every report and idea are their dreams of becoming good at their assigned tasks: of doing best with their lives’ chosen career, of changing the world of dentistry (or at least small corners of it), where they found themselves settled. They also imagined that a hundred years from now, their accomplishments would be told, with their true picture of how these men and women felt and reached in response to circumstances prevailing at their time... the mind boggling crisis restriction of their chosen field. They were ready, working and generating the confidence. There was no time to wait, these were the dentists who acted rather than talked. every challenge was going to be done. They had no doubts in their capacity to answer that. These are determined individuals who worked hard and long to achieve positive results where others failed to get. Firm and competent, always on the trail of what was novel and workable. They are sterling entrepreneurs making it to a good cause to be shared by others to serve on the world of dentistry in this country. Led by their President, Dr. Rene Calugcuran, SCFDC’s golden boy, they gathered themselves together, disparate, empirical good men, young and old. They are more linked to one another through their schools, sacrosanct values, social class and their concerns in public service. The mix-
Proud awardees of the evening.
FAKE TOURIST VISA RESULTED IN BEING SENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES “A TO A�, AND LATER JEOPARDIZED HIS IMMIGRANT VISA DUE TO FRAUD– ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY! Johnnatan (second from left) got a tourist visa through a newspaper ad that advertised “Non-Appearance� Visas for $2500. He entered the US in 2002 without any problems, but when he returned in 2003, he was held at the airport and sent back to the Philippines, after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accused him of using a fake or counterfeit tourist visa. That meant a possible lifetime ban. Years later, his mother’s petition became current, and he was afraid how his fake tourist visa would affect his and his daughter’s chances of immigrating to the US. Watch how a family was able to overcome a fraud charge and be reunited, on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – this Sunday, June 26 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.
The SCFDF 50th Anniversary setting
Tom Rodriguez, the once reluctant actor... PAGE B1
The keynote speaker, Dr. and Mrs. R. Del Brunner, and Dr. and Mrs. Rene Calugcugan and the Moonlighter.
Dr. and Mrs. R, Del Brunner with SCFDF’s President Rene Calugcugan
tures were good personally and professionally, and the idea they would shake the earth and world, even recession’s inevitable assault on the economy. The idea honed is that they could service and complement one another, shoulder to shoulder in the dental world, each for the other. Dr. Calugcuran stood smiling, swathed with that told world elegance of great breeding and
taste, which to this day still kissed the elderly’s hand in that time honored Filipino tradition of a wordless “mano po.� Born to fascinate, charm, confuse and mesmerize a wild card off his socks with his mastery of his craft, he can win over a patient on a dreaded dentist chair. His bedrock principle are the rightest and of public knowledge. PAGE B7
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otic family. He described the film as one that was crafted with love and heart for the Filipinos. “I’ve met Filipinos all over the world and you always see happy, smiling faces and when you see them—the overseas Filipinos specifically, akala mo yung pinagdadaanan nila, yung being away from their families—which is already hard as it is,� he explained. All around man Not many people know that Tom is an artist. He is also an aspiring app designer. He codes, too. He reads a lot and his memory is sharp. How many actors do you know who can recite the distance of the earth from the sun? Or the sun from the moon? His curiosity about these things reached fever pitch and at one point, he bought a telescope and studied learning about parallax and visual perception. “We have too much down time when we’re shooting whether it’s a movie or a teleserye,� he revealed. Instead of catching up on sleep, he reads stuff that interest him or plays with his phones and doodle
on his phone writing apps for kids. And whenever he’s not at work, he’s studying—anything he can get his hands on. From mathematics to physics to chemistry to quantum mechanics and politics, his range of interests is varied. Add cryptography and programming and you get an idea how diverse his arsenal is. In our interview, he also talked about the Kardashev Scale, a method of measuring a civilization’s level of technological advancement, based on the amount of energy a civilization is able to use for communication. We’re currently at Type Zero, he said, which means that our civilization harnesses the energy of its home planet, but not to its full potential just yet. Then, there’s the Multiplication Table Tool Kit, a fun and engaging app that he is developing for kids so they can appreciate mathematics and patterns more. Not bad for someone who “only� studied digital animation at the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe. History Tom was interning in Hong Kong for an art firm since he
wanted to be a conceptual artist. When he went back to the States in 2008 to return to the company that initially sent him to Hong Kong, he saw an American economy that was in a slump. “I couldn’t afford to be an unpaid intern, it wasn’t feasible. I was thinking of going to the military but my sister knew it wasn’t what I wanted. She told me she saw a plug on TV about a reality show in the Philippines,� he recalled. He auditioned and got in and one thing led to another. He appeared on the Philippine version of Big Brother and did a few shows with ABS-CBN, including the network’s daytime hit “Please Be Careful With My Heart�. Then another turning point happened and an opportunity presented itself. His manager told him to audition for a new GMA show, and luckily, he got the part. That show was “My Husband’s Lover�. Doing MHL was a defining moment for the actor’s career as he took on a role many of his contemporaries would either kill for or avoid like a plague. During the show’s duration, Tom was known as Vincent, the gay, titular PAGE B4
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Hmart opens newest branch in Torrance While hmart has made a name for themselves as America’s number one Asian supermarket chain, the South Bay region of los Angeles county welcomed hmart to Torrance for the first time on Wednesday, June 22 in Torrance, California. Shoppers packed the aisles at the grand opening, both inquisitive, yet excited to experience what the supermarket has to offer. Torrance Mayor Pat Furey, hmart CeO Brian Kwon, and members of the business and civic community welcomed the brand’s 53rd store with a ribbon cutting ceremony. They are confident the market will be welcomed by the neighborhood and find success. “This will become the top, or within the top three locations in the chain in the next six months,” said Furey. The mayor’s optimism was
validated by the large crowd of residents at Wednesday’s event who were eager to become the store’s first customers. Vince Colatriano, hmart’s vice president of procurement headquarters, said the brand’s reputation helped draw the crowd for the opening. “The know us for our quality, our value, and our assortment of goods,” said Colatriano. hmart does not rely on outside importers, which allows the company to reduce costs and pass those savings on to their customers, according to Colatriano. hmart also operates its own wholesale seafood business, which ensures that their products are always fresh. “everything is special every week,” said Jason Park, store manager. The latest hmart location offers more than just groceries. inside, the market also houses a branch
of BBCN Bank, Tous le Jours Bakery, and a food court offering Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese cuisines to cater to the diverse surrounding community. Chef harrison Ono of Soup Noodlehouse recommends patrons to try their deep fried rendition of Bao with pork and rice. The restaurant serves uncommon, northern style Vietnamese food that Ono expects will be a big hit in the neighborhood. “This store represents a new standard going forward,” said Colatriano. The company is in the midst of tremendous expansion, he added, with plans to open four more locations in California this year alone. Visit hmart’s newest branch at 4340 Pacific Coast highway, Torrance California during regular business hours from 8 am to 10 pm. (Advertising supplement)
Tom Rodriguez, the once reluctant actor...
dium is so powerful. Any type of creative medium that could incite emotions and open yourself up to a PAGE B3 role or if i could show the depth added. “i wish there were more different point of view, that’s such husband. projects like this, so they can a powerful thing. it’s a beautiful of the character.” “it was the first drama i ever This was also when he realized bridge these gaps that make us art form.” did and when i auditioned, i didn’t that what they were doing was all disjointed because in essence, For young Filipino-Americans feel that i was qualified enough,” beyond entertainment. we’re all the same.” thinking of exploring a career in Tom revealed, adding that he did Falling in love with the craft “There were implications pala, showbusiness in the Philippines, not want to make the role into a may social responsibility that “i never imagined in a million Tom has a few thoughts. caricature. “i did not want to of- came with it. There’s so much years that i’d be in this position “Whatever it is that you want to fend a group of people that’s why more and i give credit to GMA for now. i love it. i have fallen in love do in your life, it has to be from the i questioned if i could carry the coming up with that project,” he with it,” Tom shared. “The me- heart. There’s no type of work that
you can do easily or in a breeze. That’s not the right way to approach it,” he said. “i’m nowhere near where i want to be now but having the chance to work with brilliant and amazing people who i have learned from throughout my career so far, it gave me a glimpse of what’s possible.” he is excited to grow and learn more. he has only been in the business for six years now—he has done drama and comedy, he has
been in a musical (Aladdin) and he sings on the side as well—and he knows that there is so much more to learn in the industry. “Overall i’m just thankful that i was given this opportunity and i feel so blessed to be able to work with brilliant and talented people in the industry,” Tom said, relishing the fact that he has a long way to go and he intends to stay and learn from the upcoming projects that will come his way.
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 25-28, 2016
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Getting to know Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, Ms. Maxine Medina
By Monet
Lu
JUST a little over two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Maxine Medina, our lovely candidate for Ms. Universe. Maxine is in LA for a short vacation and to spend some time with her family over here. We had a private party at my friends, Hydee and (her husband) Akima Abrahan’s pad. It was a night of fun with some of our friends, Jonas Gaffud of Aces & Queens (whom I also featured in my column some months ago) and Janine Tugonon, who also competed for Miss Universe in 2012. Watching Maxine charmed everyone in the room, I was stunned at how this lady carries herself and how beautiful she is even without makeup. I am pretty confident that we have a great chance at grabbing the crown again. I got to talk to Maxine that night and she shared with me the pressure she’s under for being the next Filipina to try to win the Ms. Universe pageant after just having
Monet Salon moves to a new location
won the crown last year. She said there’s much pressure especially when some are hoping—or even betting—that it’s going to be a back-to-back win for the Philippines. And I definitely understand where she is coming from, because not only did we (Philippines) win last year, Philippines has held a terrific record at Miss Universe pageant for the last six years. Since 2010, we placed four times in the Top 5 finalists, once in Top 10 semi-finalists and has won its third crown after 42 years through the courtesy of Pia Wurtzbach.
I asked her how she handles the pressure and she said she just wants to do her best and try not to prove anything but do what she can to make the country proud. I couldn’t agree more. I told her that when I was watched in the Binibing Pilipinas competition, she was actually my bet for Ms. Universe. I knew from the start that she will make it to top 5. I am sure it wasn’t only I who had the same thought. I’m pretty sure a lot of people saw the potential in her. Maxine hopes that she will PAGE B7
Programming of Kababayan Today, June 27-July1, 2016
The Global Kababayan G. TönGi Monday, June 27 - High schoolers from Farrington High School in Hawaii build a canoe called “Amihan.” Learn about this inspiring story and the voyage of Amihan with our Kulturahan Correspondent Giovanni Ortega. Tuesday, June 28 - Researchers from the UCLA Labor Center will present findings from a comprehensive study about the Profile, Practices, and Needs of California’s Domestic Work Employers. The study found that two million households in California hire domestic workers for housecleaning, childcare, and homecare services. It also found that these employers need additional domestic work support and also guidance in establishing AJ Ads 68_Layout 1 5/6/16in4:49 PM employment standards their homes. Pilipino Workers Center
(PWC) speaks about how this relates to the Filipino community. Wednesday, June 29 - Midweek News Updates from the Asian Journal and Mia Mcleod of McLeod and Associates gives real estate advice. Know History Know Self features Ancient Filipino Notions of Time and an update on the settlement for the 11 Ex L’Amande Bakery workers and the 15.3-million dollar default judgement. Thursday, June 30 - Kat Iniba shares the happennings from Pechanga Casino. We will also feature Wedding Videographers called Wedding Shock for our June Bride Theme. Friday, July 1 - Spanning fifty years and charting a path across three continents, Ricky Carranza’s film “Beyond The Block” weaves 1 aPage thoughtful, personal account of Hip Hop and Contemporary
Dance in the Philippines. From the Dance Halls of “Penthouse 7” in the 70s to the struggles of Filipino contingents in today’s biggest international dance competitions, the film lovingly showcases the place of dance in modern Filipino Culture and how it affects - and continues to affect - individual lives. Filmmaker, Ricky Carranza comes to Kababayan Today to share exclusive excerpts! *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.
age gracefully
Buffalo Sliders Yields 8–10 Sliders
BY GRACE O
Americans love hamburgers. In this country many people eat burgers every day. We all know that fastfood chains make overly processed, greasy versions that don’t do us any good. But burgers don’t have to be unhealthy. By choosing good meat, adding some extra nutrients, and topping with plenty of healthy veggies, burgers can be downright healthful. I often choose buffalo meat for my burgers because buffalo are almost always raised on grass. Grass-fed meat (whether buffalo, steer, or lamb) is higher in the good omega-3 fatty acids, lower in the bad omega-6 fatty acids, and leaner overall. You can use any grass-fed meat or even ground turkey (organic if possible) for My Buffalo Sliders recipe, which I created for my new cookbook, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook, which is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Because I like to work nutrient-dense ingredients into my recipes whenever possible, I decided to add cranberries to the ground meat. This idea dates back to Native Americans, who ate patties of pemmican: dried buffalo meat stuck together with dried cranberries. These early power bars accompanied the Indian hunters on long trips away from camp. Dark red fruits—such as cranberries and cherries— really complement red meat. Plus, cranberries are very high in antioxidants. I knew that if I left the dried cranberries whole, they might make the patties fall apart, so I ground them up. If you grind them by themselves they will form a sticky mass, so I ground them together with flaxseed meal and breadcrumbs. They help low-fat meats stay tender while cooking over high heat.
Goat-cheese spread ¼ cup goat cheese 1 tsp. minced parsley ½ tsp. roasted garlic ½ tsp. fresh thyme ½ tsp. fresh dill
1. Pulse the cranberries, flaxseed meal, and breadcrumbs in a food processor or blender for 1–2 minutes or until you have a coarse meal. 2. Combine with the meat, egg, salt, garlic, and vinegar. Shape into 8–10 patties, about 3 inches each. 3. Spray each patty with the olive oil spray and grill over medium heat (or broil under high heat) for at least 4 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook another 4–5 minutes or until they are no longer pink in the middle. 4. While the meat is cooking, mix the goat-cheese spread ingredients and set aside. 5. Place the patties on the buns. Top them with the cheese spread (or whole-grain mustard) and pickles (if using).
GRACE O – Combining her passion for food and a commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle, GRACE O has created FoodTrients®, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. Grace O is a fusion chef and cookbook author with a mission: to introduce delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry. Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com
© 2016 by FoodTrients.com
Buffalo Sliders Take a Shot at Burgers
Ingredients ½ cup dried, sweetened cranberries ½ cup flaxseed meal ½ cup whole-wheat (or regular) breadcrumbs 1 lb. ground buffalo (bison) meat 1 egg (organic, free-range or Omega-3 enriched) 1 tsp. salt or salt substitute 1 tsp. crushed garlic 2 tsp. red wine vinegar Olive oil spray as needed 8-10 whole-grain slider buns or rolls Pickles, as garnish (optional)
MONET Salon is excited to announce its new location at 20113 Vanowen St. Canoga Park, CA (across Canoga Bowling). Spreading its hair care and makeover expertise, Monet Salon is thrilled to add another beauty haven for the San Fernando Valley locals. As it celebrates 30 years of making beautiful beginnings, they are proud to offer updated hairstyles and bang-for-your-buck promotions! Enjoy these hair services and don’t forget to put in your reviews! Cut & Style plus Hair Reborn Promo for only $49.95 Before heading back to school, why not give your hair a muchneeded rejuvenation with a hair reborn treatment? For only $49.95, you get shampoo, blow dry, and
styling – and a spa treatment for your hair a.k.a. Hair Reborn. It restores your hair’s natural shine and sheen, strand by strand. First-timers times two! Is it your first time to visit Monet Salon? How about taking someone to a salon date? Yup, you heard us! Go to Monet Salon with your date and a get $35 hair and style for you and your date! This double treat will ensure that your first time will definitely not be the last. Rebonding Granted! Ever wished you had straight, sleek and shiny hair? Your wish is granted! Get rid your unruly wavy locks for only $150 with Monet Salon’s Rebonding treatment. Now who says fairytales don’t come true? Brazilian for $99
We kid you not! For just $99, you will leave the salon with gorgeous looking hair sans the damage! This Brazilian craze has taken the salon world by storm and we are about to take a blow by giving you a blowout! Repair your hair damage, and improve the overall appearance of your hair with Monet’s Brazilian Blowout. Time for a “Color Change” Need some change in your life? And by that, I meant color-change. It is about time you pay a visit to your hair colorist at Monet Salon. FYI, they moved to a new location to better meet your hairstyling needs. Speaking of needs, they offer a huge selection of colors that go with your every mood. For as low as $70, you get a haircut plus style and a full color. Now how’s that for change?
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Wi Spa: an urban sanctuary in the heart of La
THINK of a spa and the immediate perception is an air of pretense and privilege that only a select few can indulge in, given the exorbitant prices. However, if you live in Los Angeles, Korean spas have sprouted up, contributing to the idea that pampering oneself and affordability are not mutually exclusive. Though the options are abundant, among the best is Wi Spa, known as the “Disneyland of Korean day spas.” While there are no shiny bells and whistles to it, the spa certainly lives up to its reputation as an urban sanctuary, and it’s family-friendly too. Prior to venturing into a Korean spa, one must understand the significance it plays in Korean culture: a communal place for friends and families to gather, bathe and receive the therapeutic benefits rooted in ancient bathhouse traditions. Conveniently located in between Koreatown and Downtown, Wi Spa itself is an expansive, multi-level facility (48,000 square feet, to be exact) that blends the bathhouse tradition with the modernity of marble and glass interiors. It is open 24/7, so you can go anytime, even on a whim. Enter Wi and the process of unwinding begins. For starters, valet parking is complimentary to relieve you of the stress of having
to find parking, especially when there are a lot of guests checked in. With the $25 admission fee, you gain full access to amenities like a fitness room, pools, showers, saunas, a restaurant, and the rooftop deck. A wristwatch is given as your locker key and form of identification during your stay. The rush of cramming in the day spa experience and trying out all the rooms is practically gone, as you are welcome to stay for hours on end. There are spaces to lounge in between services and even designated “sleeping rooms” for those who want to doze off in peace. Wi is divided into gender-specific floors, where the spa and other facilities are located, as well as locker rooms and changing areas. For Korean spa newbies, it’s best to take a shower once you get settled in to wash away the day’s grime (dirt and the tubs do not make a great combination) and to ensure you get the maximum benefits of anything you decide to do, like sweating it out in the sauna. Outside the bathing areas, you’ll find changing rooms, complete with vanities and toiletries. And take this as a fair warning to expect nudity from guests of the same gender, but any judgments and awkwardness should be left at the door.
Getting to know Bb. Pilipinas-Universe... PAGE B5 also get the same support the the country gave Pia when she competed. “Sana full heart po kayo to support me. Hindi n’yo po alam ang feeling ng first timer, talking to everyone, thousands of people. Yung time na iyon super nervous ako and I admit that,”(I hope you’ll support me with a full heart. You don’t know what the feeling of a first timer is, talking to everyone, thousands of people. At that time I was super nervous and I admit that.), she said during an interview on TV Patrol. Maxine has a background in interior design and graduated from the Philippine School of Interior Design and De La SalleCollege of St. Benilde. She designs residential condominiums. She started modeling since the age of 18, and is a member the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP). Like her 2016 batchmates Kylie Verzosa (Bb Pilipinas International) and Jennifer Ruth Hammond (Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental). Members of the organization include models Kelsey Merritt, Katarina Rodriguez, Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann, and more. Long before joining Bb Pilipinas, Maxine made her way to the limelight through numerous product endorsements, TV commercials, and print and runway modeling gigs. This gorgeous lady who stands 5’8 tall came from a family of models and beauty title-holders. Her father, Maximo Guillermo Medina, is a former commercial model and a flight attendant, whilst her mother, Maria Fe Medina, is a former model and a senior bank manager. Her aunt,
If you want to treat yourself further, the spa offers a menu of body treatments at the fraction of the price tag you’d find at a spa elsewhere in the city. Better yet, if you purchase a treatment worth $110 or more, the entrance fee is waived. The usual spa treatments, like acupressure massages, facials, manicure/ pedicure, can be booked by reservation. But one must try the full-body scrub, perhaps Wi’s signature offering. Based on the traditional Korean technique of buffing, the scrub entails a procedure of sloughing off dead skin cells with an exfoliating towel, as you lie down on a table and get doused with water every so often. It may take a few minutes to get accustomed to the intensity, but the person (of the same gender) administering the service repeatedly asks you if you’re doing fine. The service can last 35 minutes ($30) or can be reserved as a $90 package complete with the scrub, aroma oil massage, a face mask and hair shampoo, which all lasts for 90 minutes. Depending on one’s pain tolerance, the impression afterward may vary, but you’ll feel cleaner after the dead skin is washed off to make way for the lasting effects of radiating, supple skin. On the co-ed floor (called the Jimjilbang, which translates to “bathhouse”), guests are required
out your tab. Whether you stay for an hour or the whole day, it’s nearly impossible to not feel rejuvenated and make you itch for another visit. Good thing, Wi won’t leave holes in your wallet. (AJPress)
Wi Spa is located at 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057 (on the corner of Rampart). Visit http://www.wispausa. com/ for more details on spa services and specials.
nity, respect, and courage. Beneath the weight of responinterpretations, prayer and songs sibility, every member carried from opera singers — all in an on. They were a compendium unbridled celebration of sight, of able and dependable doers sounds and scene. It was a life with stamina, grit imagination changing celebration about dig- — a tale of heroes, of folks that
refused to be beaten. In one shining bright moment, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, a marvelous portion of marvelous dentists, accomplished the impossible. They were one!
A gathering of courage...
PAGE B3 model Gem Padilla-Thomas, was The fun filled 50th anniversary also a former Bb Pilipinas titleholder as Miss Universe Philip- celebration of dentists all over California was filled with lots of pines 1990. Maxine also told us that she surprises, experience in dance tried to join Binibing PIlipinas in 2012 due to contractual obligations, it didn’t push true. This was also confirmed her mentor, Jonas Gaffud. “Third time’s a charm” may have worked for most of the Binibining Pilipinas candidates, yet it wasn’t the same for Maxine. While she has a lot of things in common with former candidates as far as wit, poise and beauty are concerned, unlike Janine Tugonon and Pia Wurtbach, Maxine won the pageant in her first try (not including the one in 2012). Maxine is in a steady relationship with actor and model Marx Topacio, who is also part of PMAP. They have been together for 5 years. Well, to our beautiful candidate, Maxine Medina, it was a pleasure getting to know you. You can rest assured that I, along with your friends and Kababayan from this side of the world, will support and cheer for you when you walk on that stage. Good luck and stay as humble and charming as you are. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
to wear the yellow T-shirt and khaki shorts received upon checkin. There you’ll find families and couples convening at one of the five specialty sauna rooms, noshing on Korean cuisine staples at the full-service restaurant, or taking in fresh air on the rooftop deck. The floor also features a kid’s area, a library and computer room. It’s worth noting that the five sauna rooms—Bulgama, Salt, Clay, Jade and Ice—boast unique characteristics that contribute to the detoxification and healing powers. The Bulgama is set at 231 degrees, inviting guests to lie down somewhere between 10 to 15 minutes to sweat out toxins from the body; Salt features minerals to purify and strengthen the body; layers of clay improved from Korea are placed in the Clay sauna to aid in lymphatic stimulation and heavy metal detoxification; the Jade room is hot to relieve any tension and stress; and the Ice sauna is recommended to end your visit to cool the body’s temperature, tighten the skin and improve circulation. If you felt like you’ve detoxed enough from technology, free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the building to bring you back from your moment of zen, as are TVs in lounge areas. Before you leave, don’t forget to take another shower and close
(Advertising Supplement)
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COMMUNITY Journal
Why do you need a lawyer in immigration court?
Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller ONE of the worst moments in an immigrant’s life is when he receives a Notice to Appear in Immigration Court. All his hopes and dreams for a life in this country flash before his eyes. As they begin to fade away he asks himself “Is this the end of my life in America?� “What do I do now?� The answer to the first question may very well depend on how he answers the second. An alien receives a Notice to Appear because Immigration & Customs Enforcement (the prosecutorial arm of the Department of Homeland Security) has decided that the person should be removed from the United States. There are many reasons for such action. Maybe the alien has stayed longer than his nonimmigrant visa allowed. Maybe he has entered the United States without any visa at all. Maybe he misrepresented some material fact in order to obtain either a non-immigrant visa or a green card. Maybe he is a green card holder who has committed a crime. These and other reasons can result in a person being placed in removal proceedings. At that point, it can feel like the full force of the United States government is directed toward seeing to it that the person is forced to leave the US. An alien who feels that way is not far from wrong. The full prosecutorial arm of the Department of Homeland Security (in the form of an assistant chief counsel) is focused on removing that person. The immigration judge, who answers to the Attorney General and the Chief Immigration Judge in the Department of Justice, is there to judge the evidence placed before him. He cannot find evidence. He cannot prepare or present a case. A well-presented case by an assistant chief counsel of ICE must be met by an equally-well or better prepared case by the alien or his representative. It takes someone knowledgeable in immigration law to deter-
mine if the alien is eligible for any relief that will stop deportation from happening. However, that is just the beginning. Just because a person may be eligible for relief does not mean he will get it. It is necessary to present sufficient documentary evidence and oral testimony to convince the immigration judge that the immigrant is eligible for that relief. That evidence must clearly convince the judge that the person meets all the elements for the relief he wants. Once he has presented all the evidence to support statutory eligibility, he must convince the judge that she should exercise her discretion to grant the relief. In other words, he must present more evidence to show the judge why, despite having overstayed or lied or committed a crime, he should be given the benefit of the doubt and a second chance at a life in America. A recent article appearing in a large metropolitan newspaper cited statistics that showed quite clearly that the majority of cases in immigration court are denied. The statistics also clearly showed that aliens who were represented by competent counsel fared far better than those who attempted to represent themselves. In fact, the article said that aliens who were represented by lawyers were five times more likely to be granted relief. The reasons for this are obvious. In addition to knowing what elements have to be met, a knowledgeable attorney also knows the most effective way to present that evidence. She knows the most persuasive evidence to prove
extreme or exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. She knows how to present evidence of rehabilitation or good moral character. She is familiar with what is necessary to show that the alien will be persecuted in his home country. She knows how to present negative as well as positive facts. And if negative facts are out there, they must be dealt with. They must be presented by the alien in the least harmful manner before the government presents them in the way likely to cause the greatest damage. All of these hurdles must be met if an immigrant is going to be able to remain in the United States. At first thought, it may be tempting to try to save money and represent oneself in immigration court. However, the price of losing the case is much higher than a reasonable attorney’s fee. Don’t place your life and future in the hands of inexperience. Place those precious assets in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer. Your future depends on it. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 795-8009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
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(OMEOWNERS 3TOP STRESSING EVERY MONTH WITH PAYMENTS YOU CANNOT AFFORD ,OWER MONTHLY PAYMENTS BY OR MORE TYPICAL 2EDUCE INTEREST RATE WITHOUT REFINANCING 2EDUCE PRINCIPAL BALANCE IF QUALIFIED !PPLY EVEN IF YOU VE BEEN DENIED BEFORE OR APPROVED AND THEN DEFAULTED AGAIN
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Warning: Should you trust a debt settlement company?
IF you are delinquent on your debts, you may be able to avoid dealing with the bill collectors for a few months but sooner or later, you will still need to face the reality of your debt problems and do something to protect yourself. For example, creditors will probably wait until you are 60 days late before they hand over your account to their internal collections department. If you’ve had a loss of income, your creditors may even tell you about their hardship program that will allow you to make lower payments at a significantly reduced interest rate. Others will close your account which means that you can no longer use your credit card until the debt is paid in full. No matter what you are offered by the creditor at this point, however, it is only temporary and will not help you if your hardship continues for longer than a few months. Once you’re 90 days late, creditors start to become more aggressive. Some creditors will turn the account over to an outside collection agency. Of course, by this time, your debts continue to snowball as the creditors continue to add interest and penalties to the original amount owed. Federal and state collection laws prohibit abusive collection tactics but the reality is that a lot of bill collectors do not follow these laws and will make
your life miserable by harassing you for payment. If the creditor decides that you probably will not pay back the debt, they may write it off their books and report the account as a “charge off” to the credit bureaus. To recoup the creditor’s losses, the account can then be sold to a third-party collection agency who buys the account for a fraction of the original amount owed. At this point in the collection process, you may be able to negotiate a drastic reduction of the debt amount and pay the creditor 20-50% of the amount owed. Should you do it yourself, hire a lawyer or is hiring a debt settlement company a good idea? If you don’t feel confident dealing with creditors yourself, you may be tempted to hire a debt settlement company to avoid the expense of hiring an attorney. Don’t do it! Remember that a debt settlement company cannot legally represent you if you are sued and thus, they cannot protect your legal rights. Also keep in mind that some creditors will flat out inform you that they refuse to work with a debt settlement company and if this happens, that means you leave them no other option but to file a lawsuit against you! I have seen a lot of unscrupulous debt settlement companies who misrepresent their services
Minding Your Finances
Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA
NEITHER one, actually. You see, IRS conducts field audits where the books and records of a business are maintained. This, of course, is your home, office, warehouse, factory, or store. But I don’t like any of these locations. What I like is my own accounting office. After representing taxpayers in IRS disputes for decades, I prefer that your memorial services…I mean your audit, be conducted at my office—as your power of attorney. Let me tell you why:
to the public and offer false hopes to unsuspecting consumers who are desperate for a solution. A lot of these debt settlement companies do not clearly explain to you how their debt settlement program works before they ask you to sign a contract with them. Their advertising sounds so good and once you call them, they tell you nothing but lies just to suck you in. They do not tell you anything about the potential downfalls of hiring them and often make big promises that they cannot deliver. Be careful in hiring a debt settlement company or you may end up in a worse situation with your credit with no solution to your debt problems. If you are in debt and think debt settlement or filing bankruptcy may be a solution for you, we are here to help you figure out your best option. For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 and we will help you step by step in finding a solution that’s right for you. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
Where should IRS conduct field audit – your home or office? 1. I do not want a Revenue Agent snooping around your place of business. 2. I do not want the agent interviewing your employees. 3. I do not want your customers or clients noticing an IRS agent in the premises. It’s not good for business. It’s not good for employee morale. It’s not good for you. Here are tips to manage IRS Field Audits. Establish an internal team before the IRS meeting. Assign a “contact person” to assemble and regulate the flow of information
with the IRS. The contact person should review all information before it is turned over to the IRS and be present during tours and interviews of employees. This setup will increase the likelihood that the information provided to the IRS is organized, complete, and focused. So how do we move the audit to our office? IRS regulations state that if conducting the audit at the place of business would essentially require the business to close or would unduly disrupt business operations, the agent
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Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe sAyAs, Jr. Q: MY workplace installed a new time recording system where employees are required to provide our photos and fingerprints to be able to clock in and out for work. I am concerned about all the personal information my employer already has about me – my name, address, phone number, Social Security number, bank account, my photo, and now my fingerprints. What if these information fall into the wrong hands? How can we protect ourselves? A: It used to be that palm or fingerprint scans only existed
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes DOMESTIC violence is abuse perpetrated against a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, the mother or father of your child, your child. Family Code Section 6211. Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault. Family Code, § 6203(b). A court may issue an order enjoining specific acts of “abuse” (§ 6218, subd. (a)), which are defined as, among other things, behavior that could be enjoined under section 6320. (§ 6203, subd. (d).) Section 6320, in turn, permits a court to enjoin a party from engaging in various types of behavior, including “disturbing the peace of the other party.” (§ 6320, subd. (a).) “[T]he plain meaning of the phrase ‘dis-
Community Journal
in science fiction. But because of great advances in technology, sophisticated devices are increasingly taking over our lives. New devices provide ease, convenience, speed, and accuracy. But with the advantages also come disadvantages. One major concern of emerging technology is its impact on our privacy rights. The use of so-called biometric systems in the workplace is becoming increasingly common. Biometric systems are designed to obtain biometric information, which are information generated by automatic measurements of an individual’s biological characteristics that are used to authenticate an individual’s identity. Such information include a fingerprint, voice print, eye retinas or irises, facial recognition, voice
prints, or other unique biological characteristic. Given that employers possess several private personal information of their employees, what are the employees’ rights as to how employers use these information? First of all, the United States and California Constitutions guarantee the right to privacy. Privacy protection allows a person to control information about herself/himself that is made available to the public. The right to privacy imposes limitations on an employer’s improper use of information, even where such information was properly obtained. Invasion of privacy claims may be made where there is improper disclosure of the reasons for an employee’s termination, protected medical information,
baseless drug tests, or unreasonably intrusive investigations. Aside from constitutional guarantees, California law also prohibits employers from providing their employees’ biometric information, such as photos or fingerprints, to third parties where these information could be used to harm the employee. Additionally, employers must provide safeguards so that none of its managers or employees accidentally disclose this information to third parties. Thus, employers must ensure that such sensitive biometric information are safely stored and protected. Current California law requires any business that maintains personal information about a California resident to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices, to
protect the personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure. The list of personal information include one’s Social Security number, driver’s license number, financial information and others. There was a recent push in the legislature to expand this protection to include medical information, health insurance information, geophysical location information, biometric information, and signature as also protected information. But so far, the bill has not been signed into law. Employees are right to be concerned about an employer’s request for more private information such as fingerprints, voice exemplars, photos and even DNA, and the possible misuse of these private data. Clearly, the law needs to catch up with
the many advances of workplace technology use. Employees who are concerned about their privacy at work are smart to consult with an experienced employment attorney to protect their rights. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant recoveries for thousands of employees and consumers. He is named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum. (Advertising Supplement)
Disclosure of text messages, e-mails, and Facebook info of a spouse or significant other may constitute domestic violence turbing the peace of the other party’ in section 6320 may be properly understood as conduct that destroys the mental or emotional calm of the other party.” (In re Marriage of Nadkarni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1497, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723 (Nadkarni ).) The phrase includes “destroying the mental or emotional calm of [a former spouse] by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails.” (Id. at p. 1498, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723.) The expansion of the term “disturbing the peace” to cover accessing, reading, and publicly disclosing electronic communication has profound effect in every divorce and family law case. In Nadkarni, a former wife alleged that her ex-husband had accessed her private e-mail account while she was away on a business trip, then attached copies of the e-mails to documents filed in proceedings regarding
custody of their teenaged children. In re Marriage of Nadkarni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1497, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723. She sought a permanent restraining order, but the trial court denied it without a hearing after finding that the DVPA did not cover situations in which there was no physical harm alleged. The appellate court reversed and remanded the matter to the trial court for a hearing. It held that the definition of abuse under the DVPA is not limited to the infliction of physical injury or assault. Id. at pp. 1498, 1501, 93 Cal. Rptr.3d 723. In Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney, husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining order. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Swee-
DEAR Attorney Tan, My US Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has been approved. She filed the I-130 petition after I came to the US in 1999 as a tourist from the Philippines. Since my arrival, I have lived in the US and have been out of status. Since I was petitioned as an unmarried adult daughter, I was advised that I had to wait several years to get a green card. Recently, my mother passed away. Can I still get a green card through my mother’s petition? -Apparently In Limbo Dear Apparently In Limbo, When your mother passed away, the I-130 that was approved on your behalf was revoked by operation of law pursuant to 8 CFR Section 205.1. However, depending on the facts of a particular case, all is not lost. You may be eligible to get a green card pursuant to INA Section 204(L). Under INA Section 204(L), relief from an automatic revocation of an I-130 petition is available to certain surviving relatives. Surviving relatives who are eligible to seek 204(L) relief include a 1) principal or derivative beneficiary of an I-130 petition that was filed by a deceased permanent resident or U.S. Citizen, and 2) derivative beneficiary of an I-130 petition that was filed by a permanent resident or U.S. Citizen where the principal beneficiary has died. Section 204(L) relief is also available to derivative beneficiaries in I-140 employment-based petitions where the principal beneficiary has died. Another requirement for Section 204(L) relief is that the person seeking relief must have “residence” in the US. What is meant by “residence?” It is your primary home or principal actual dwelling place. At least one beneficiary must have resided in the U.S. when the petitioning relative died, and must continue to reside in the U.S. when seeking Section 204(L) relief. It is worth noting that all beneficiaries of a petition can benefit from Section 204(L) relief as long as at least one of the beneficiaries meets the residence requirement. Further, although “residence” is required, Section 204(L) does not require actual physical presence in the U.S. when the relative died. In your case, it appears that you are eligible to obtain a green card. You are a principal beneficiary of an I-130 petition filed by your US Citizen mother. Further, you appear to meet the residence requirement in that you have been in the US since your arrival in 1999—you resided in the US when your mother passed away, and currently reside in the US. A check of the USCIS visa bulletin indicates the priority date for the I-130 petition filed by your mother on your behalf is current, so you can file an I-485 adjustment of status application, requesting reinstatement of the I-130 petition filed by your mother pursuant to Section 204(L). As a sidenote, Section 204(L) relief is also available if one’s relative died while the I-130 was pending, not only after the I-130 petition was approved. Section 204(L) relief therefore is broader than Humanitarian Reinstatement of a petition under 8 CFR Section 205.1, which can only be requested by the principal beneficiary when the petitioner him/herself has died, and after approval of an I-130. Relief under Section 204(L) is discretionary, and can be denied if factors in support of relief are not presented properly. It is accordingly recommended that you seek the assistance of an experienced attorney. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@ dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Where should IRS conduct field…
can change the place of the exam to an IRS office, but this only my second choice. My first choice is our own office. This shifts the audit venue from your office to mine. We do not have to worry about the agent overhearing employees talking or observing business operations. I can control the flow of information, the timing of interviews, and the general course of the audit at my office. The agent will resist the change so we just have to be persistent. One way is to request for a site where the main books and records are located. The main books are sales journals, cash receipts journals, cash disbursements journals, general ledger, and trial balances that are all located in my office. Backup records such as receipts and invoices are at your place of business and can be produced as
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My employer keeps my personal information – should I be concerned about my privacy?
Reinstatement for surviving beneficiaries of an I-130 petition filed by a deceased relative
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 25-28, 2016
requested. It may not work but if you are persistent enough, the agent and his/her manager may permit the change of venue. The agent will then request a “tour” (on-site inspection). That is fine. The Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) requires agents to do so. Here are a few tips: 1. Ask your rep to visit your site to get it ready for the tour. 2. Remove expensive collections including paintings or photos of cruises. 3. Your representative should accompany the agent. 4. Your presence will be requested, but make it brief. 5. The tour should be brief and general, no looking in every room or closet, no thumbing through files. 6. Look out for any vengeful employee who may take this opportunity to blurt out a comment that can start a fire. Important Tip: Make sure that
requested invoices, receipts, bank statements and other documents are at my office; otherwise, the rationale for the change of venue is blown. This would be embarrassing. In the meantime, conduct your business as usual and let me take care of your audit at my office. Under my supervision. Under my control. Good day.
*** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com. (Advertising Supplement)
ney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) Phrase “disturbing the peace of the other party” in injunction provision of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA) includes destroying the mental or emotional calm of a former spouse by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails. Cal. Fam. Code § 6320. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal. Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) Husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining order under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA). Cal. Fam. Code §§ 6218(a), 6300, 6320(a). In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) In Evilsizor, Ms. Evilsizor testified that it had been “incredibly incredibly difficult to deal with” the dissemination of her personal information, stating, “I have sleepless nights. I’m sick to my stomach. My friends are mad at me, embarrassed as if I let him. I didn’t know he was even doing any of this. My parents are upset, you know. Why did I marry him?
I didn’t know that things were going—I didn’t know. Yeah. It’s been incredibly challenging to live with.” She further testified that she had suffered shock and embarrassment and feared for her safety because of the disclosure. Evilsizor also was concerned about Sweeney’s threats to reveal information to the Internal Revenue Service about “things [she] didn’t do.” The court concluded in the Evilsizor case that even if Sweeney legally obtained Evilsizor’s information, an issue left unresolved, it was authorized under the DVPA to enjoin the disclosure or threats of disclosure of the information to protect Evilsizor’s peace of mind. The court ordered Sweeney be “prohibited from using, delivering, copying, printing or disclosing the messages or content of [Evilsizor’s] text messages or e-mail messages or notes, or anything else downloaded from her phone or from what has been called the family computer except as otherwise authorized by the court.” Sweeney also was prohibited from trying to access or otherwise interfere with Evilsizor’s internet-service provider accounts or social-media accounts. Text messages, E-mails, Social media, and other electronic communication has become a common and inseparable part of today’s lifestyle. Accessing, reading, and publicly disclosing electronic communication
of an ex, spouse, or sgnificant other has profound effect in every divorce and family law case. A finding of domestic violence against a party can affect the rulings on custody and spousal support issues. If your divorce or family law matter involves your ex, spouse, or significant other downloading and disclosing confidential electronic communication, one has to consider taking appropriate action in the case to be protected from conduct which is regarded as abuse under the California domestic violence statute. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. (Advertising Supplement)
C JUNE 25-28, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 50. This is his financial picture: He has been working as a truck driver for a furniture company for 15 years. Before that, he worked in the warehouse of that company for 5 years. He is married with a 10-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. His wife is a licensed vocational nurse who has gross income of $4,800 a month. They rent a single-family house for $1,800, and pay $520 a month on new E350 Mercedes Benz car lease. Last year, he decided to stop working as a truck driver to become a business owner. The business opportunity presented itself by way of a turnkey franchise. It’s a retail outlet that provides a service to the public. Client also has credit card debt of $100K. From experience, I know that there has to be some connection between the business and credit card debt. I asked him if he used the credit cards for the business. He said affirmatively that he was required to put a down payment of $50K on the business. What happened was that client used credit cards to pay the $50K down payment? How he was able to do this, escapes me. Apparently, the franchisor operated another company whose purpose is to use buyer’s credit cards to fund the $50K down payment. That’s another story altogether. That’s like going to a car dealer
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Business owner seeks to discharge $100K credit cards used to buy business Clinton beats Trump to become first woman president of America
and using ten credit cards to pay for a $50K car. I know there’s some finessing going on because 20 years ago, I offered to use one credit card with a $20K credit line to make a $10K down payment on a car, and the dealer told me that they could only used a max of $2,500 using the card. So this tells me that if you can use credit cards to pay for a $50K car or to make a down payment of $50K to buy a franchise, there has to be a lot of back door finessing going on to actually get money from all the credit cards to total a $50K payment. Let’s just put it mildly as a “grey” area. In any event, $50K was transferred from client’s credit cards to the franchisor pursuant to a purchase agreement between client, buyer, and franchisor, seller. The total purchase price of the business was $100K. How was client going to pay for the other $50K? It was financed by a promissory note where client agreed to pay $2.5K a month until $50K was paid in full, interest at 12% p.a. Thinking that he had just acquired a very profitable business, client believed that he would have no problem paying himself a salary of $3K, the rent of another $3K, and the monthly payment to the franchisor of $2.5K, plus the $1.5K minimum monthly payments to keep the $50K credit cards current, until the business would be able to rake in profits by the truckloads to pay off the
$50K of credit cards. Eager to become a business tycoon, client opened his store at 7 a.m. and closed it at 7 p.m., seven days a week. In the first month, his gross receipts were a grand total of $3K. In the second month, his gross receipts were $2K. And on the third month, his gross receipts were $4K. After 12 months of hard work, his business was losing an average of $4 to $5K a month. He kept the business afloat by using credit cards to finance the monthly losses. So at the end of 12 months, he owed a total of $100K. But all good things come to an end. He has maxed out his credit cards and there’s nowhere else to borrow money. So now the credit card dogs are barking at the door. They want their pound of flesh. Client then realizes how foolish he was in buying this stupid franchise. Considering all these circumstances, does client qualify for Chapter 7 relief? Of course, he does. His intent was to pay every single cent of his credit cards from the truckload of profits from the business. Instead, he got truckload of losses. Blame that on his lack of experience in business, not on malice aforethought. Why will Hillary beat Trump? Yes, because Americans by and large, are inclusive. And by and large, Americans are a just and fair people. Americans are made
up of different ethnicities from all over the world; who believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That’s why America can have a black president for two terms despite the fact that America’s majority is not black. In America, we can talk freely about our ideas, which may differ from each other. I can say don’t vote for Trump because this man is a demagogue. Indeed, if he becomes president of our great nation, a civil war between different
To Live With Faith reverend rodeL g. BALAgtAs TWO young brothers in their 20s joined me during one of my pilgrimages to the Holy Land at the encouragement of their parents. Being young, they had many questions about their Catholic faith. And so, after supper during that pilgrimage, we would still spend long hours together engaging in deep thoughts about life and faith. One night, the older one asked me, “Father, what has been your most difficult and challenging work as a priest?” For a while I could not answer him — I’ve always enjoyed my calling and have developed pastoral and administrative skills to overcome difficulties. “It’s not the work that I find hardest,” I told him. “It’s my struggle in dealing with
American ethnicities could ensue. This is not far fetched when it is the prospective president Trump himself who incites these feelings of hate towards others who look different. That is so fifties and sixties and has no place in America of the 21st century. Even Pope Francis said that Trump was not Christian in spirit. Even though the Pope did not claim infallibility when he said that, that was a very big negative against Trump. I’m voting for
Hillary, she’s my president. “We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” — Psalm 33:20 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
The radical way of Jesus
self-effacement, which is forgetting to be somebody of higher rank and being the least of all.” “Even in Church,” I explained to him, “there is a tendency among us priests to seek recognition, prestige, title, and popularity.” “This was the same struggle of a rich young man in the Gospel who asked Jesus what else he could do to enter the Kingdom of God after following all the commandments,” I told the two young men. “His biggest struggle was to forget his very self to follow Jesus. If he wanted to be great in the kingdom of God, then he must be the least and the servant of all.” “Do you remember the words of Jesus in the Gospel?” I asked the young pilgrims. “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God,” the younger brother responded. “That’s right,” I said. “Here, Jesus was using a familiar sight of his time — camels hardly passing through the gates of the Jerusalem. Their owners would have to remove baggage from the camels’ backs for the animals to enter through the narrow gate, making the owners victims of theft, thereby losing their possessions.” “To be a disciple means to abandon one’s life into the hands of God by letting go of all worldly attachments,” I further explained. Then the two young men shared
how they realized this when they prayed the Stations of the Cross by walking through Via Dolorosa toward the Holy Sepulcher. They understood that Jesus had to empty himself and carry the Cross to Calvary to fulfill his Father’s mission of saving humanity. “I sensed this radical way of life that Jesus preached as I travel through the Holy Land,” I told the young pilgrims. “It calls for letting go of hatred, of forgiving and loving enemies, of sharing one’s wealth, and of giving up ambition.” “Perhaps, our political and religious leaders would find enlightenment in solving the problems of violence and conflicts in the world by adhering to the teachings of Jesus, which calls for humility, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness,” I continued in my conversation. The two young men nodded in profound thoughts, agreeing to the insights that I was sharing with them. *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of ImmAaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
Shouldering the share of cost by Andrew
PArAnAl, eSQ
WHEN it comes to Medi-Cal , one of the concepts that our office gets the most questions about is something called Share of Cost. Share of Cost seems simple: it functions like an insurance deductible, the amount that a Medi-Cal beneficiary must pay to healthcare providers before receiving benefits from the state. Although it sounds straightforward, this deceptively simple payment can cause all sorts of trouble for a Medi-Cal beneficiary’s family if the proper Medi-Cal planning has not been executed, especially if the beneficiary is in long-term care. How is Share of Cost calculated? It is based off the beneficiary’s total income, but it also depends on where the Medi-Cal beneficiary is living. If the person receiving Medi-Cal is residing in the “community” (not in a facility) then they have a “maintenance need” of $600. This means if the Medi-Cal recipient is at home, Medi-Cal will pay for medical services after the recipient has paid for medical costs equal to his or her income minus $600. If the person is living in a long-term care facility, the “maintenance need” is only $35, meaning that most of the institutionalized person’s income will end up going to the facility (they can keep a whopping $35). An easier way to think about the maintenance need is that it represents the amount of money that you get to keep from your income and the rest gets paid towards healthcare providers. Many of our clients have an initial bout of panic when we explain Share of Cost during the initial consultation. “How am I going to survive on $600 a month?” they always ask us. Luckily, for community based Medi-Cal you only need to pay the Share of Cost if you actually use medical services in that month. Very often, our clients don’t need medical services for a month and get to keep all of their income. If you do need to use Medi-Cal benefits, there’s things you can do to maximize Medi-Cal’s utility: try and have all of your necessary medical needs met in the month you use the benefits to make sure your Share of Cost goes further (have multiple doctor visits, prescribe months of prescriptions, try to have all procedures done at the same time, etc.). Additionally, if after the maintenance need ($600) is subtracted from the income and the total income equals $1,220 for an individual or $1,645 for a couple, there will be no Share of Cost! This means if your income is low enough, you can effectively use Medi-Cal benefits for free. If the Medi-Cal beneficiary is in a nursing home or facility, things can be tad more difficult. As the beneficiary only gets to keep $35, we often have kids or spouses asking us “How are we
Andrew Paranal, ESQ
supposed to pay the mortgage? How are we supposed to pay taxes?” While it sounds pretty unforgiving, you must keep in mind that Medi-Cal is potentially helping pay for thousands of dollars of healthcare above the Share of Cost. If the beneficiary has private health insurance or outstanding medical bills we can reduce the Share of Cost one time for each expense, but this does not really solve the problem of meeting recurring bills. If the long-term care Medi-Cal recipient is married, we can use a set of rules called Spousal Impoverishment laws or a probate proceeding called a 3100 petition to allow the spouse to keep more income/lower the Share of cost, or to allow the spouse to keep more assets. Both options help the family pay expenses but can be quite complicated and may require the services of an attorney (a 3100 petition requires going in front of a probate court judge). Although the above techniques can help ease the burden of paying the Share of Cost for Medi-Cal, they are no substitution for smart and properly executed long-term care estate planning. If done correctly, you and your spouse can protect thousands of dollars or more and still qualify for Medi-Cal benefits, meaning that you will have plenty of assets saved in the event that you or your spouse needs to pay the Share of Cost for healthcare services, especially if long-term care benefits are required. A qualified estate planning attorney can protect this money legally and within Medi-Cal regulations, leading to no Periods of Ineligibility. A little planning before a medical emergency can save you and your loved ones from experiencing financial hardship stemming from the problematic Medi-Cal Share of Cost. *** Elder Law Services of California is proud to announce that attorney Andrew Paranal has joined its trust department. Mr. Paranal began his career in estate planning in 2013 and has since expanded into asset protection and Medi-Cal planning. He became interested in Elder Law after helping care for a family member who experienced a debilitating event. Mr. Paranal is excited to join an established law firm and hopes to educate his Filipino community about the tremendous benefits of proper estate planning. For more information, please visit elderlawcalifornia.com or call 1-800-411-0546 (Advertising Supplement)
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Batangas to boost tourism
Marian Shrine and development in Montemaria soon to be new iconic destination by Dana SioSon AJ Press
BATANGAS — Tourism officers, government officials, and various individuals from private and public sectors gathered to promote the province’s tourism last Wednesday, June 15, at the Montemaria Shrine, Brgy. Pagkilatan in Batangas City, Philippines. The Batangas Tourism Festival is led by Governor Vilma SantosRecto and incoming Governor Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas. In his opening remarks, Mandanas described the qualities of Batangas City and its potential as an international tourism destination of the country. Destinations in Batangas include the Taal Volcano, Taal heritage houses, religious houses like Taal Basilica, mountains for hiking, and beaches that surround the area. Another renowned attraction in the province is the Verde Passage, which has the largest concentration of marine biodiversity in the whole world. According to outgoing Governor Santos-Recto, there were approximately 4.6 million tourists who visited Batangas in the first quarter of 2016, and more are expected to visit as tourism is further developed in the province. She also added that the opening of Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway made these destinations more accessible to the public. The province is now looking
forward to the completion of a new tourist destination — the Marian Shrine in Montemaria. The monument is expected to attract millions of tourists not only from the Philippines but also from other countries. NEW ICONIC DESTINATION The 315 feet (96 meters) statue of Virgin Mary, Mother of All Asia, is built at the heart of Montemaria, Batangas City and will primarily serve as the country’s pilgrimage center and an international spiritual tourist destination. The monument is expected to attract millions of global tourists every year. The Marian shrine nestles on top of a 25-meter tall podium dedicated for unity and peace of all countries in the world. It is scheduled to be completed by December 8, 2016. Internationally renowned sculptor and Philippine National Artist Eduardo “Ed” Castrilo sculpted the bronze hands and face of Mama Mary, and developed by the Montemaria Asia Pilgrims, Inc. (MAPI), a non-profit organization. The statue is made of highly durable concrete material by shotcrete machine, and will be taller than Brazil’s Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and United States’ Statue of Liberty in New York. The eight-hectare sanctuary also offers chapel, retreat facilities, meditation gardens, seminar and conference rooms, scala sancta, view decks, and the Way of the Cross. It will also house an exhibition hall and gallery of
all images of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The surrounding area of Montemaria, more than 100 hectares, will include a mixed use center with residential, retirement village, hotel, condotel, recreational, marina, fisherman’s wharf, institutional, wellness, commercial, office and retail components; and activities like Chairman of the Board of Montemaria Asia Pilgrims, Inc. and scuba diving and sailing to serve Incoming Governor Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas of Province millions of tourists anticipated to of Batangas visit. The area is expected to be the city’s commercial district and self-sustaining community that is similar to Italy’s St. Mark’s Square and San Francisco’s Ghiradelli Square. A joint venture development of Montemaria were signed by Mr. Toti Carino, President and CEO of Carino Development and Management Corporation and Governor Elect Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas during the event, with the Marketing Group, and Mr. Rene Cinco and Mr. Roger Oriel as witnesses. Roger Oriel and Rene Cinco, Father Marco Lajara, Holy Mass Celebrant Chairman of the Board and CEO of Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development, Inc., respectively, are the partners of Noel “Toti” Carino, in the development, sales and marketing and financing services for the Montemaria project in Batangas City. Their target market are locals and balikbayans from other Asian countries, the Middle East, Europe and from major cities in US and Canada (North America).
Photo taken during the signing of the Joint Venture Agreement between Governor Elect Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas, Chairman of the Board of Montemaria Asia Pilgrims, Inc., and Noel “Toti” Carino, President and CEO of Carino Development and Management Corporation, with Rene Cinco, Roger Oriel and marketing group as witnesses.
Outgoing Governor and Incoming Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto of Lipa City, Batangas
Ms. Emelie Katigbak, Emcee and Provincial Tourism Officer
Lahing Batangan Dance Group
Pauline Agupitan, Tawag Ng Tanghalan winner
Photo taken at 7th floor, future Marketing and Admin office of Montemaria Asia Pilgrims, Inc. (From left to right) Engineer Art Magtibay, Andrew Sumulong, Gerry Palabyab, Roger Oriel, Governor Elect Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas, Noel “Toti” Carino, Rene Cinco and Architect Mark Donato.
Rowel Riel, Tenor
Ms. Siselle Zyra Maranan Fajardo, Mutya Ng Batangas 2015 AJPress Photos by Noel Ty
Community Journal
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The Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown had its annual promotion/demotion ceremony on Thursday, June 23 at the Silver Lake Medical Center. Picture shows (from left to right): Incoming President Atty. Roman Mosqueda; Perla Santos; Mr. Josue Jose of Tribal Cafe, business owner of the year awardee; outgoing President Cecile Ramos; Dr. Caroucel Chuateco, professional of the year awardee; Rotary District Governor Greg O’Brien and wife Carolyn.
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“We at Enchanted Kingdom are both delighted and honored to have been given the opportunity to host the 18th Philippine Eagle Week celebration at our park,� said Mamon. “The continued and vigorous advocacy for the preservation of this much endangered species us also an advocacy for the continued protection of the environment within which all of mankind depend on.�
UST medical alumni grand reunion on July 3-5
LOS ANGELES — The UST Medical Alumni Association of America will go back to sunny Southern California for its 24th Grand Reunion and Medical Convention after almost two decades. The event will be held on July 3-6 at the Hilton Long Beach at 701 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90831. All the jubilarian years ending in 1 and 6 will be the major celebrants but all Thomasian medical alumni are invited to participate in the grand celebration.
The convention chairmen are Dr. Lino J. de Guzman, president of the USTMAAA of Southern California; Dr. Marilou J. Buendia, president of the USTMAAA Foundation; and Dr. Cecilia B. Vallejo, president of the USTMAA of America. The University of Santo Tomas Medical Alumni Association in America is an organization composed of medical alumni of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. It
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was founded in 1987 by a group of pioneering Thomasian physicians as an umbrella organization that coordinates the different regional organizations in the United States. The grand reunion promises to be a fun event for everybody. Participants can showcase their talents during the traditional “USTMAAA Got Talent� and “Dancing with the Thomasian Stars� in the evening of July 4 and even sport a costume depicting the earlier years of the Mexican-Californian heritage of Southern California. There will also be a Fun Run/ Walk/or even crawl by the banks of the bay across the hotel on July 4, and join the Zumba dance exercises to the beat of pulsating Latin music on July 5. Also scheduled are the jubilarian marches and presentations during the Formal Gala Dinner with a theme of the “OSCARS.� Dr. De Guzman and Dr. Marilou Dichoso, president-elect and current secretary, will emcee the opening ceremony. Dr. Dichoso is calling on all medical alumni in California to attend the opening ceremony on July 3 and the gala night on July 5. The event starts on Sunday, July 3, with a mass at 1 p.m. and the opening ceremony from 2 to 3:30 p.m. For more information call the USTMAAA Executive Office at (812) 238 1216 or (248) 626 2878. n
Batangas Forum: Integrity Against Corruption by Dana SioSon AJ Press
Dr. Ma. Lourdes Arellano Arandang stressed out the importance of ‘Integrity’ to fight against corruption in her talk during the Batangas Forum Symposium held last Wednesday, June 22, 2016 in Tanauan, Batangas. With the theme “Creating Circles of Integrity to fight Corruption,� Dr. Ma. Lourdes Arellano Arandang discussed the importance of integrity and how to build circles of integrity to prevent any forms of corruption. She emphasized that integrity is not just simply being honest but also about having strong and solid moral principles. She also expressed that it can be acquired by three steps: reflecting and discerning what is right from wrong, acting on what you discerned, and being unashamed of doing what is right. “It’s very important that the leader gives the example to all people,� Arandang told the invited guests. “Napakahirap gawin nito kahit gusto nating gawin (It’s very difficult to do even if we want to do it).� After the talk, Batangas governor-elect Hermilando “Dodo� Mandanas gave a reaction speech. “Fighting corruption ay napa-
kalaking bahagi ng ating good governance (Fighting corruption is a great part of our good governance),â€? he said. By summarizing the points into 6C’s, he also stressed out that integrity must begin with one’s self; Clean honesty, Competent, Commitment, Courage, Compassion, and Consistency are the characteristics he laidout. “The first C is Clean honesty. But that is not enough. One also has to be Competent,â€? Mandanas said. “To fight corruption, kailangan maging competent tayo‌ Hindi maaari na honest ka pero wala kang alam. Mali iyon. (To fight corruption, we need to be competent‌ It’s not okay to be just honest but not knowing anything. That is wrong.)â€? Third C includes Commitment, where one must be devoted in doing what is right. Mandanas also pointed out that we need to be brave and have enough Courage to stand firm in our morals and reject any temptation of wrong. He also mentioned that we need to have a heart and Compassion, and we need to have Consistency in solidifying our morals. “Hindi tayo ningas-kugon lamang (We must not only be good in the beginning). We
have to persevere. Kailangan tuloy-tuloy (It needs to be continuous). Batangas Forum is a non-government, non-sectarian, non-political, non-partisan, and non-profitable organization that discusses national and global issues, and was incorporated in 2015. The members are from the academe, business and banking community, retired military, police officers, retired government officials, and people from farming and fishing sectors. “Corruption is always enough but it never vanishes. And because of this, Batangas Forum decided to hold this symposium,� Batangas Forum president Francisco Lirio said in his introduction. Invited guests includes all elected officials in Batangas, parish priests and pastors, heads of religious and other organizations, as well as student leaders. “This symposium will be the Batangas Forum’s modest contribution to the efforts to address the corruption in our country,� he added. According to Lirio, Batangas Batangas governor-elect Hermilando “Dodo� Mandanas shared the 6C’s of integrity as he gave his reaction speech after the talk. Forum will participate in the forthcoming great debate on the proposed shift to Federal system of government and the proposed reimposition of the death penalty.
Speaker Dr. Maria Lourdes Arellano Carandang shares guests how to build circles of integrity to fight corruption. Batangas Forum president Francisco Lirio introduces the Batangas Forum and the symposium’s rationale.
“Never ask for anything.� Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan told guests in his welcome remarks. AJPress Photos by Noel Ty
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& Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
DESPITE having only limited knowledge or understanding of immigration laws, some people attempt to strategize and handle their immigration case on their own. They follow the advice of friends or relatives or listen to Votes are sorted into remain, leave and doubtful trays as ballots are counted during the gossip or rumors they hear on EU Referendum count for Westminster and the City of London at the Lindley Hall in London the streets or at parties. Friday, June 24. On Thursday, June 23 Britain voted in a national referendum on whether to Partial or incomplete informastay inside the EU. tion about immigration law and benefits can have devastating effects, resulting in denials, deportation, or many additional years of separation from your family. Recently, a woman came to my office for assistance for her by PatriCia lourdes Viray daughter, who was refused a visa Philstar.com because the daughter had “aged out.” The woman wanted to OUTgOIng Finance Secretary know if her daughter was eligible Cesar Purisima on Friday said the under the Child Status ProtecPhilippines is in good stead foltion Act (CSPA). After doing the lowing Britain’s vote to leave the mathematical computation, the European Union (EU) but cannot daughter was considered mathbe overconfident. ematically over 21 and not CSPA “The improvement in (Philipeligible. As a result, the mother pine) fundamentals over the past will need to file a new petition six years will put us in good stead for her daughter, which could but should not lull us into overtake another 10 years before the confidence,” Purisima said in a statement posted on his Twitter account. Purisima noted that the British exit, or Brexit, from the EU On Wednesday, June 22, outgoing President will affect all countries to varying Benigno Aquino III awarded Cesar Purisima, degrees. his Finance chief, with the Order of Lakandula “It is true that we are less vul- with the rank of Grand Cross or “bayani.” nerable than others but we are not Purisima thanked Aquino for his vision and immune and therefore we should leadership making good governance deliver continue to build on the gains of great economics for the past six years. (President Benigno Aquino III),” votes were at 48 percent. Voter Purisima said. The outgoing Finance secre- turnout was at 72 percent. Bank of England gov. Mark tary suggested that the country should continue to strengthen its Carney said the institution is macroeconomy and build on the prepared to deal with the market volatility that is under way followconfidence of markets. Philippine Chamber of Com- ing Britain’s decision to leave. Carney said the bank has “enmerce and Industry chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis earlier said that gaged in extensive contingency the Brexit vote will only affect the planning” and he is in close conPhilippines if the United States, tact with Treasury chief george the largest economy in the world, Osborne. He added that capital requirewill be affected. Britain has voted to leave the ments for Britain’s largest banks 28-nation European Union in a are 10 times higher than before historic referendum. Fifty-two the start of the 2008 financial percent voted for the country’s de- crisis. (With reports from Associparture from the union, while stay ated Press)
Finance chief: PH can’t be overconfident after Brexit vote
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said China, India and the United States remain the preferred destinations for foreign direct investments (FDIs) between this year until 2018. Hong Kong and Singapore were bumped off from last year’s list and were replaced by the Philippines and Myanmar. Philstar.com photo
PH among top 15 FDI destinations in next 3 years by Czeriza
ValenCia Philstar.com
THE Philippines is now among the top 15 preferred investment destinations of multinational enterprises in the next three years, according to the latest World Investment Report 2016 of the United nations Conference on Trade and Development (UnCTAD). UnCTAD said China, India and the United States remain the preferred destinations for foreign direct investments (FDIs) between
this year until 2018. Hong Kong and Singapore were bumped off from last year’s list and were replaced by the Philippines and Myanmar. The top investment host destinations for the three-year period are ranked as follows: United States, China, India, United Kingdom, germany, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, France, Australia, Myanmar and Vietnam. UnCTAD noted the Philippines PAGE D5
Legislation bolstering small business loans passes Assembly Committee
SB 936 allows state IBank to back more private lending to small businesses that need it, stimulating economic development
Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys)
SACRAMEnTO—The legislation by Sen. Bob Hertzberg (DVan nuys) allowing the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) to expand the private lending it guarantees for small businesses that cannot qualify for standard loans was passed on Wednesday, June 22 by the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee. SB 936 makes more private loans possible through the IBank’s Small Business Loan guarantee Program by adopting the federal standard for leveraging the financPAGE D5
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A little knowledge can be dangerous
daughter can finally immigrate to the US. Had they obtained proper legal advice from an attorney at the outset, both this woman and her daughter could have been in the US as far back as 1995! Instead, by relying on partial information, the daughter now must wait again for decades to immigrate. In this woman’s case, she was single, and was petitioned by her US citizen mother in 1994, just after the mother had naturalized. Assuming the mother got her green card in 1989 (five years before her naturalization in 1994), the mother could have already filed a petition for her, as a single adult child of a green card holder parent (F-2B), the F-2B would have included the daughter. Instead, the family thought it would be “faster” to wait for the mother to become a US citizen and then file the petition. That is wrong! Had the mother filed an F-2B petition for this woman while the mother was still an immigrant in 1989, visas would have been available for both the woman and her daughter as far back as 1995. Instead, by waiting until the mother naturalized, and only then filing a petition, by the time
the priority date became current, the daughter had already aged out. My point is that people think, “What’s so difficult about petitioning a family member? I can just do it on my own, because it is simple and straightforward.” But there may be faster ways to bring family members to the US, which a person may not be fully aware of. Instead, they rely on partial information, which, as you can see from the above example, can have devastating effects. That is why you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, to make sure you are going the fastest, most direct route, to accomplish your immigration goal. ***
Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
Business Quote of the Week “The reality is that business and investment spending are the true leading indicators of the economy and the stock market. If you want to know where the stock market is headed, forget about consumer spending and retail sales figures. Look to business spending, price inflation, interest rates, and productivity gains.” - Mark Skousen, economist and investment analyst
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Next government urged to prioritize airport infra Billboard ramps up Asian expansion as it enters PH by Louise
Maureen Philstar.com
siMeon
MANILA—As the biggest hurdle to growth and development, infrastructure should be the utmost priority for the Philippines to sustain tourism growth momentum, a global hospitality consulting firm said. In an interview, Asia-based C9 Hotelworks said the incoming administration should have decisive actions in creating airport plans. “The main gateway airport is a national tragedy. This has to become a national concern and priority since there is disconnect
between the public and private sectors,” C9 Hotelworks managing director Bill Barnett said. “There should be interaction with the private sector, a greater cooperation between the two sectors. Address niche products such as sports tourism, wellness and medical tourism, the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) market,” he added. The expansion of airports near resort destinations is also considered a catalyst for growth of the hotel industry that would further drive the tourism sector. The ongoing development upgrades at the Caticlan Airport and
Puerto Princesa Airport would not only help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport but would also boost tourism footprint in Boracay and Palawan. Meanwhile, Barnett noted the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign which he considered very successful, has given the face and created a positive image to local tourism. “But the question is, how are they gonna address that in the coming years. You do not just create a slogan but you should ask what the next generation is gonna be. You can’t just sing an old song, you have to sing something new and relevant,” he said.
MANILA — Billboard, the global leader for charts, news and innovations in music, announced a strategic expansion into the Asian media markets in partnership with the AlgoRhythm Communications Inc, based in Manila. AlgoRhythm was founded by Jun Sy, CEO of the Tao Group, and Manny de Luna, CEO of ActivAsia Inc., both well-established Philippine companies. It is a communications syndicate involved in content creation, curation and data analysis for the music, film, and digital platforms. Under the terms of the partnership, Billboard will offer the Philippine market a full suite of media products and services, ranging from Philippine-focused digital content, including social media and apps, internet radio and Billboard-branded licensed conferences. John Amato, president of Billboard said, its partnership with AlgoRhythm is ideal. “We believe they are a perfect fit
“The Billboard name has long resonated in this country, and now we can bring it directly to the Philippine audience.”
for us, as we enter this compelling music market. Their years of experience, strong team and understanding of the local market—and of the Billboard brand—makes them an ideal partner.” Jonathan Serbin, head of Asia for Billboard said the Philippines is an “exciting market for Billboard.” “With over 100 million people and an extremely strong music culture, it is a natural step for the next phase of our Asian expansion. With AlgoRhythm, we hope to be the leader platform enabling fans to discover great music and follow the artists they love,” he added. Jun Sy, chairman of Algo-
Rhythm, said forging partnership with Billboard will allow them to bring the incredible music brand into the country. “The Billboard name has long resonated in this country, and now we can bring it directly to the Philippine audience,” Sy said. Manny de Luna, president and CEO of AlgoRhyhm added: “We plan to launch a full range of Billboard media services, including a music news and information website, mobile applications, social media, and other complementary platforms. We hope to quickly become the “go to” place for both international and Filipino music.” (Philstar.com)
MVP: PH needs $30-B investments in power by Danessa
rivera Philstar.com
MANILA—The Philippines needs to invest $30-billion worth of power projects in the next 15 years to meet growing demand amid economic expansion. However, government needs to The expansion of airports near resort destinations is considered a catalyst for growth of the hotel industry that would further drive the come out with clearer policy ditourism sector. Philstar.com photo rection on the appropriate energy
mix power developers will have to follow, businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan said. The country’s power demand could double in the next 15 years as the economy continues to grow by at least six percent per year, Pangilinan said during the Asian Institute of Management for Change media roundtable discussion. “If you project it, say up to 2030, consensus view is demand could, from the current 12,000 MW, could rise to as much as 20,000 to 24,000 megawatts (MW). Clearly the country needs more capacities to be built in the next 15 years or so,” Pangilinan said. According to Pangilinan, this means the country needs to add at least 10,000 MW of capacity, from the current installed capacity of 16,000 MW to meet growing demand and replace old oil-fired power plants. “We do know we have to build at least 10,000 MW more plants, [costing] at least $2 million per MW. You’re talking $20-30 billion of investments needed in the next 15 years or so,” he said. But Pangilinan raised the question of what type of power should be constructed and that calls for a clear-cut policy direction from government on the right kind of power fuel mix the country needs as it pushes for cleaner technologies. “We need a policy direction [on] what is the appropriate fuel mix for our people. And once that’s decided, businesses will build the plants, whether it’s a gas plant, coal plant or renewable plant. So we just need a direction,” Pangilinan said. Under the Aquino administration, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a fuel mix policy stating the country should source 30 percent of its energy requirements from coal, 30 percent from renewable energy and another 30 percent from natural gas. The remaining 10 percent will come from oil-based power plants. But in the current power mix, more than half is dominated by coal-fired and diesel-fired power plants, 30 percent from natural gas plants and 10 percent from
The country’s power demand could double in the next 15 years as the economy continues to grow by at least six percent per year, businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan said during the Asian Institute of Management for Change media roundtable discussion.
renewables which include geothermal, wind, hydropower and solar. With calls to revisit the fuel mix policy, the DOE is working on a clearer policy but has left it to the next administration to decide and implement the direction for the power industry. While the country is bent on pushing for renewable energy (RE) development, renewables cannot support all of additional capacity needed in the long term given the high cost of technology, which would in turn translate to higher electricity prices, the businessman said. “The seduction for renewables is there. But can you build RE to build enough renewables to fill up this 10,000 to 12,000 MW of additional capacity? And, more importantly, how much would it cost?” Pangilinan said. But if government sets direction toward renewables, businesses are more than willing to follow, Pangilinan said. “If that’s accepted, then fine, business will follow that direction. You just have to say, ‘this is what we want’,” Pangilinan said. “You just have to tell the people, look, we have to protect your environment and the cost is, in broad terms, is like this. But we have to do this because we need to protect our environment.”
E-payments boost 5-yr PH GDP by $100-M by MayveLin
CarabaLLo ManilaTimes.net
INCREASED use of electronic payments in the country boosted the Philippine economy over the last five years, according to a Visacommissioned research study by Moody’s Analytics. The Moody’s Analytics study said the increased use of electronic payments, including credit, debit, and prepaid cards, added $100 million or about P4.6 billion to the Philippine economy from 2011 to 2015. Increased electronic payment usage also created the equivalent of 3,460 jobs in the Philippines per year on average in the same period, it said. The study also found out that electronic payments are a key gross domestic product (GDP) driver for many regional economies, although the Philippines still lags behind the trend. Asian countries experienced an average GDP increase of 0.06 percent resulting from increased card usage in the past five years, compared to the Philippines’ 0.01 percent. Within Southeast Asia, Thailand (0.19 percent), Vietnam (0.14 percent), and Singapore (0.1 percent) experienced the largest weighted average increase in GDP contribution. Benefit to governments Findings from the study were
shared the report, “The Impact of Electronic Payments on Economic Growth,” which also indicated that the electronification of payments benefited governments and contributed to a more stable and open business environment. Additionally electronic payments helped to minimize what is commonly referred to as the gray economy, economic activity that is often cash-based and goes unreported, it said. As a result, electronic payments provided a higher potential tax revenue base for governments, while also bringing the added benefits of lower cash handling costs, guaranteed payment to merchants and greater financial inclusion for consumers. “These findings reinforce the many positive benefits that electronic payments bring to local economies not just in the Philippines but all over the world,” Stuart Tomlinson, Visa Country Manager, Philippines and Guam, said. He said the research also suggests that the right public policies can create an open, competitive payment environment, and contribute to economic growth and job creation. “While electronic payments’ contribution to the national economy is sizeable, there are untapped opportunities for the nation,” he added.
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WIN Hyundai and WIN Chevrolet: Three giant locations to serve you There’s no better place for kababayans to shop for hyundai vehicles than WIN hyundai in Carson, Calif. established in 2011, the young dealership started with the goal of becoming the premiere hyundai dealership. since then, it has lived up to its aim by consistently ranked among the top five dealers in the district. In 2012, the dealership, which is also equus Certified, was also ranked No. 1 in district sales. WIN is proud to carry hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates ranked the automaker No. 2 among nonpremium automakers in the 2015 Automotive Performance, execution and Layout (APeAL) study. “Finishing among the top two non-premium brands in this year’s J.D. Power, the APeAL study shows hyundai takes design, technology, features, and performance seriously across the entire lineup. having the bestselling sonata ranking among the top two in its class is a remarkable accomplishment and we are committed to delivering the highest customer experience possible to our owners,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning at hyundai. WIN hyundai offers a wide selection of quality hyundai vehicles and extends its offerings across the Los Angeles area with its two locations: one in Carson and another in el Monte. On both sites, customers can find new and certified pre-owned vehicles – including the santa Fe, sonata, elantra and Genesis Coupe – to meet a variety of budgets and preferences. Because the Carson and el Monte locations serve just about anyone and everyone in southern California, its experienced sales representatives are prepared and eager to help customers find the cars that best fit their preferences and needs. When it comes to purchasing a hyundai, WIN specializes in working with all types of credit, good or bad, and has the ability to refinance current loans. Additionally, although it sells hyundai cars, the dealership services vehicles of all makes and models and currently has an oil change special of $19.95 For Chevrolet owners and
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shoppers in Los Angeles, you may check out WIN’s third location at WIN Chevrolet, which will make sure to handle everything from helping you purchase a new or used Chevy. schedule an appointment or just stop on by to take any of our 2015 Chevrolet models for a test drive including the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, 2015 Chevrolet Impala, and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. Beyond the highly-praised brand WIN offers southern California residents, it has departments dedicated diverse groups found throughout the Los Angeles region, including Chinese, Korean, hispanic and Filipino communities. “ We w a n t t o m a k e t h e buying process as easy as possible, so we understand communicating in your native language can be important to completely understanding the purchasing and financing of your vehicle,” said Munir Younis, general sales manager of the dealership. Younis, who is of Middle eastern descent, grew up in the Philippines and can speak Tagalog fluently, just as the Filipino sales representatives at the dealership. “We have a dedicated team that serves the largest Filipino community in the U.s. We believe in giving back to the community and have participated in multiple sponsorship opportunities with multiple Filipino groups and organizations, including the Philippine Independence Day Foundation,” he said.
Among Filipino members of the WIN hyundai Carson team include long-time car industry veterans Jun Milan and Jay Trinidad. “WIN is a great dealership and customer service is the best it can be,” Milan said. Also on the Filipino team is Franklin Magarro, the dealership’s internet sales manager. In addition to its on-location offerings, those shopping for hyundai cars can browse WIN’s inventory online with userfriendly filters. Whether you know specifically what make and model you’re looking for, are trying to shop based on a budget, or simply want to browse through what is available, the dealership website makes it easy to shop around from home. Live chat is also available and sales representatives are happy to assist customers via phone. WIN Hyundai Carson 2205 e 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (877) 354-4253 Monday through saturday: 9am to 9pm sunday: 10am to 8pm WIN Hyundai El Monte 3462 N Peck road el Monte, CA 91731 (877) 290-2164 Monday through sunday: 9am to 9pm www.winhyundai.com Win Chevrolet 2201 e. 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (818) 639-1216 www.winchevrolet.com 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek
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Longo Lexus offers the ultimate conveniences in customer amenities
We all know that the process of buying a car is not just as simple as buying a new pair of shoes at the mall. It is a long process that involves careful comparison between vehicle models, reviewing the car’s specifications with regards to the needs of the buyer, and of course, the negotiations for the financing packages and promos. As such, it is very important for Longo Lexus that its customers are supremely comfortable and well-pampered if they are going to make that important decision of which Lexus they will drive home. As a car dealership, there are many reasons why Longo Lexus has been an elite of Lexus dealer since 1992. One of those reasons includes the ultimate conveniences that they offer in customer amenities. As one of the leading Lexus car dealerships, Longo Lexus provides not only pre-sales conveniences, but also noteworthy post-sales services. Longo Lexus is known for the unique amenities that they offer to dealership customers. One of those unique amenities include an on-site Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) center. The AAA branch offers DMV services, airline, car, and hotel reservations, discounted movie and local attraction tickets, AAA membership application processing, OnBoard Teen Safe Driver Program, auto and home insurance, and more. Sign up at our AAA branch in Longo, and you’ll receive a special $13 discount off the original membership price. Aside from from the on-site AAA branch, Longo is also the first dealership in the US to offer Verizon Wireless and Verizon Wireless Neighborhood services on-site. Offering the latest technologies in telecommunications, mobile accessories, and services, Longo’s on-site Verizon branch makes it even more convenient for customers to stay connected with the world. Our Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer is open from Monday to Friday, 7am-7pm; Saturday, from 7am to 5:30pm; and Sunday, from 8am to 4pm. Please call (888) 8115201. While waiting for your car to come out of our premium carcare service lines or while you’re going through our wide inventory of luxurious Lexus vehicles, you can enjoy a quick bite at Sub-
way or a nice refreshing drink at Starbucks. If you want to pamper your car, you can also shop at the Longo Lexus Parts Boutique, which carries a wide selection of genuine Lexus parts and accessories for your vehicle. M`Zkfi I\p\j With over 31,000 parts and accessories in stock, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. The after-sales services of a dealership is just as important as the pre-sales amenities. And it these after-sales services that make buying a vehicle at Longo Lexus a truly rewarding experience. We offer complimentary loaner vehicles for your use while your car is in our service center. For inquiries, on our loaners, please call our coordinators at 1-800-5970813. For your convenience, we also offer complimentary shuttle service to take you to your office, home, or even the mall—basically anywhere within a 15-mile radius—while your vehicle is being serviced. If you don’t have time to make the drive to our dealership, our Longo Lexus Mobile Service Van and Truck can provide routine maintenance services, such as oil changes and tire rotations, right at your home or office. Appointments can be made up to 6 months in advance. Similarly, if your service requirements need the car to be physically present at our Longo service center, we offer complimentary flatbed truck pick-up and delivery of your vehicle to and from our dealership. Our Longo Lexus Mobile Service Van and Truck, and our complimentary flatbed truch pick-up and delivery service are exclusively for cars that are purchased from Longo Lexus, and are located within 60mile radius from Longo. Please call 1-800-597-0813 to schedule your appointment. Also, for every service appointment, each vehicle receives a complimentary car wash in our Longo Lexus Car Spa. For our clients who wish to use other cars, aside from those among our fleet of loaner Lexus cars, they can avail of the services of our enterprise Rent-A-Car offices.
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With two branches on the Longo Premises, enterprise is ready to address all your car rental needs. Please call (800) 969-6519 for more information. We understand that life’s daily grind requires our customers to be always on top of everything while keeping up with an onthe-go lifestyle. Which is they are more than welcome to work at our Longo Business Center where they can work on our computer terminals, free of charge. We also offer complimentary Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) to our customers throughout the facility. This is particularly useful for our customers with mobile devices, laptops, and tablets. While you wait for your car to come out of our service center, your kids can enjoy and have a good time at our Children Play Area, where we offer video games and other activities for the young ones. Longo Lexus customers will also be offered complimentary use of our iPads while they are waiting for their vehicle. For more information on our Longo Lexus Guest Services, please log on to www.longolexus.com/GuestAmenities or call (626) 539-2956. Longo Lexus is located at 3530 North Peck Road, el Monte, CA 91731. 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek
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A day at The Heights at Five Knolls in Santa Clarita on Saturday, June 25 Santa Clarita—it’s time you discovered a place that rises above the ordinary. today, Saturday, June 25, you’re invited to Day at the Heights at Five Knolls, Brookfield residential’s newest community in Santa Clarita. Come out from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to enjoy refreshing treats, music and fun for the kids and explore three of Five Knoll’s most distinctive new home collections at Highlen, Monterra and Brighton. this is your chance to tour the new models and embrace the comfort of an exclusive gated setting with luxury home designs. Visit today to see how Five Knolls is your place above it all. Five Knolls brings a great range of new home options and opportunities to the Santa Clarita Valley, offering homes that are well built, well priced and in demand. Home shoppers can enjoy a location that caters to a lifestyle of both recreation and convenience with a new home that delivers style, innovation and function. Five Knolls is simply one of those rare opportunities to have it all. along tree-lined streets, the six new home collections at Five Knolls provide a host of choices from an all-star lineup of homebuilders. With timeless architectural styles, including Santa Barbara, Spanish, american Farmhouse, Monterey and more, each home is defined by elegance. Highglen at the Heights by Brookfield residential welcomes two-story detached homes behind gates, with floorplans ranging from approximately 3,788 to 4,235 square feet. With up to six bedrooms and five-and-one-half baths, Highglen also offers threebay garages as well as a host of desirable features. Highglen is priced from the $700,000s. Monterra at the Heights by Christopher Homes presents gated living with beautiful two-story detached homes. Priced from the $700,000s, designs span from approximately 3,583 to 3,858 square feet with up to seven bedrooms and six baths as well as two- and three-car garages. Priced from the $600,000s, Brighton at the Heights by Brookfield residential delivers twostory detached homes in a gated neighborhood. a variety of options offer from approximately 3,116 to 3,470 square feet with up to six bedrooms and four-and-
one-half baths. Brighton residents also enjoy three-bay garages and premium appointments. Everett by Meritage Homes pleases homebuyers with an array of floorplans to choose from. two-story detached designs feature approximately 2,724 to 3,131 square feet in addition to up to five bedrooms and four-and-onehalf baths. Priced from the high $500,000s, Everett also provides two-bay to three-car tandem garages and stunning interiors. new two-story detached residences at Grayson by tri Pointe Homes are designed for homebuyers. With approximately 2,121 to 2,470 square feet, up to five bedrooms and three baths and twocar garages, Grayson is priced from only the $500,000s. Haywood by KB Home affords a new collection of two-story detached residences priced from the high $400,000s. ranging in size from approximately 1,856 to 2,388 square feet, designs include up to five bedrooms, up to three baths and two-car garages in addition to a multitude of great features. at Five Knolls, the great outdoors is just outside your door, from the array of walking and biking trails to the five signature knolls the community is named for. Golden Valley Park brings a mixture of open spaces and gathering places as well as picnic enclaves, a shaded playground, basketball half-court and big and small dog park. and the Club is a haven for all things fun, where residents can splash around in the pool, relax in the spa or meet up with friends for wine tastings, get-togethers or celebrations. to live at Five Knolls in Santa Clarita is to be close to everything.
Connecting Golden Valley road all the way through to Bouquet Canyon road means a faster, more direct route to everyday destinations from shopping and dining to entertainment, great schools, employment and more than 25 city parks. and the Metrolink and local transit make just about anywhere within reach. residents are close to all the things they love, from the easygoing community to the bustling world beyond. Five Knolls is the place to be. Models are open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more details on Five Knolls, please visit FiveKnolls.com. Brookfield residential los angeles is a premier lifestyle provider comprised of a dedicated, knowledgeable team of professionals with the passion and experience to craft exceptional new homes, neighborhoods and communities. From the goals of first-time buyers to the prestige of luxury homes, we are proud to offer opportunities that embrace a diversity of aspirations. respected as an award-winning innovator, we are recognized for delivering consistent quality, design details and an outstanding customer experience. Brookfield residential Properties, inc. is a leading north american land developer and homebuilder. We entitle and develop land to create master-planned communities and build and sell lots to third-party builders as well as to our own homebuilding division. We also participate in select strategic real estate opportunities, including infill projects, mixed-use developments and joint ventures. For more information, please visit Brookfieldresidential.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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‘PH to benefit from ASEAN expansion’ THE Philippine economy stands to benefit greatly from the integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which will expand in terms of population, organization, and its middle class segment by 2020, the head of Citibank Philippines said on Wednesday, June 22. “Despite the current macroeconomic environment, Asean is still expected to show positive growth,” said Aftab Ahmed, CEO and Citi country officer of Citibank Philippines. “In 2015-2016, it is projected to grow by about 4.3 percent,” he added Speaking at The Manila Times’ 4th Business Forum held at Marriott Hotel Manila, in Pasay City, Ahmed said Asean’s demographics would continue to drive long-term growth, with the region’s population projected to grow from 630 million
today to 699 million by 2020. The “organization,” or financial companies, would also continue to grow from about 46 percent to 57 percent by 2020, he said, while the region’s middle class segment will grow from 190 million to 400 million by 2020 to 2030. This will result in $2 trillion worth of financial transactions in the region, translating to 40 million new jobs, he said. With this, Ahmed noted that opportunities for the Philippines are very rich, noting that by 2020, the country’s population is projected to grow by 1.7 percent, organization may grow 2.1 percent, and the middle class will expand by 2.4 percent. These developments will open a wide range of opportunities for sectors such as real estate, transport, logistics and tourism, among others.
To realize these opportunities, Ahmed said the Philippines should focus primarily on infrastructure development, economic performance, human capital, and development of financial markets. “The primary focus should be infrastructure development. I think the Philippines already has infrastructure, it also has strong macroeconomic scorecard, and has a very good story on human capital with strong remittances and business process outsourcing,” he said. He added that the insurance sector must be developed in Asean and the Philippines, which are highly underinsured. “Even though insurance premiums in both the life and nonlife businesses are growing at a faster pace in developed markets, the base is still very small,” he said.
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are most bullish on making investments in information and communication industry, agriculture, food and beverages and utilities. “Extractive industries do not appear among the most promising in any region,” the report said. These industries are closelylinked to meeting emerging economies’ development goals, and catering to the consumption needs of a “burgeoning, urbanizing consumer market,” the report added. UNCTAD said global FDI flow is expected to decline 10 to 15 percent this year and resume growth in 2017. Foreign investments are then expected to surpass the $1.8-trillion
mark in 2018. “The expected decline of FDI flows in 2016 reflect the fragility of the global economy, persistent weakness of aggregate demand and a slump in MNE (multinational enterprises) profits,” said the report. UNCTAD said global gross domestic product is expected to expand only 2.4 percent in the near term. “A tumultuous start to 2016 in global commodity and financial markets, added to the continuing drop in oil prices, have increased economic risks in many parts of the world,” said the report.
The Gardens Casino: Southern California’s PH among top 15 FDI destinations in... newest premier entertainment destination after state-of-the-art renovation For over 19 years, Hawaiian Gardens Casino has served as an integral part of the Hawaiian Garden community; yet, what was once a quaint, low-key casino has transformed into The Gardens Casino with its two-year renovation, which has brought brand new, state-of-the-art amenities, all of which are set to create a captivating experience for its guests. The $90-million renovation began in March 2014 with the casino’s vision of bringing an elevated gaming and dining experience to its guests, through the 200,000 square foot, two-story facility. The building houses 220 new flat-screen televisions, 100 new card tables and more than 300 tables. Special amenities include a 12,365 square foot meeting and events space where the casino can host a variety of public and private events. The premium casual restaurant led by Food and Beverage Director Peter Lydon will feature variety of cross-culture fusion foods, which integrate California’s robust selection of seasonal, fresh and sustainable ingredients. The menu touches on a variety of cuisines, ranging from Vietnamese and Thai to American, Mexican and Italian. Additionally, the new casual restaurant on-site can seat over 100 guests and includes an upscale bar and lounge with handcrafted cocktails, locally sourced wine and over 24 California craft beers on tap. The renovation is expected to increase guest capacity by up to 50 percent from the 5,000 to 7,000 guests per day prior to opening the new casino. The Gardens Casino is the largest employer in the city of Hawaiian Gardens, with over 1,800 employees in its current workforce. As a result of the renovations, the casino plans to add an additional 400 new jobs to meet the growing demands of both the casino and its guests. “With the opening of our new building, we hope to provide even more jobs and financial support to our local citizens, charities and community organizations,” said Ron Sarabi, general manager of The Gardens Casino. “With a population of approximately
As the “friendliest card club” in the Los Angeles area, The Gardens Casino welcomes guests for an elevate experience in California card playing. While guests can avail of the numerous amenities the casino has to offer, the full renovation of the outdoor areas and additional parking lots is slated for completion later this year. For more information on The Gardens Casino, visit the website at www.thegardenscasino.com.
Ron Sarabi, general manager of The Gardens Casino
Food and Beverage Director Peter Lydon
15,000 residents, The Gardens Casino is pleased to sustain the majority of the City of Hawaiian Gardens’ annual budget. Showing our support both physically and fiscally to our local community is extremely important to The Gardens Casino, and we value our strong working relationship with the City of Hawaiian Gardens.” The Gardens Casino is committed to being a responsible corporate and community citizen and supports a number of local organizations including the ABC Unified School District, Tri-City Health Group, Children’s Hospital (Long Beach and Orange County), and Hawaiian Gardens holiday events and youth sports, among others. The Gardens Casino believes that its success depends upon the sustainability of its local communities and is dedicated to giving back.
Legislation bolstering small... PAGE D1 ing, which means less money is required to back the private loans than under the current state standard. In essence, the change allows the state and federal funding used to guarantee the loans to go further. “Small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy,” Hertzberg said. “This legislation makes more assistance available to small businesses, which generate jobs and drive the economy of communities throughout California.” The bill is sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). “I am delighted that SB 936 was approved by the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy. This bill is vital to having funds available well into the future to support loans to small businesses,” said Teveia Barnes, IBank Executive Director. “Small businesses with big dreams are our innovators and visionaries, pace-setters and disrupters. When small businesses prosper, California prospers.” The state-backed small business loans are especially beneficial in economically depressed areas where loans with favorable interest rates are hard to come by. For the year ending June 30, 2015, the state-funded portion of the program made a total of 124 loans, with $21.1 million of loan guarantees supporting $37.4 million in small business loans, according to IBank’s Annual Report
to the Governor and Legislature. This guarantee activity contributed to a total of $197.4 million of overall capital that was injected into the state’s small business community, which, in turn, supported 2,813 jobs, the report said. The federally funded portion of the program issued 252 additional loans resulting in $92.8 million of loan guarantees and supporting $130.1 million in small business loans, and that injected $211.6 million of overall capital, which supported 11,781 jobs. In total for the year ending June 30, 2015, the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program supported 376 loans for $113.9 million of loan guarantees supporting $167.5 million in small business loans and 14,594 jobs. The program uses state and federal funding to create a loan loss reserve. This loan loss reserve reduces the risk of lending to small businesses, thereby stimulating investment that helps create and retain jobs that are often in low- to moderate-income communities. Current state law limits IBank’s leverage ratio to 5:1, meaning that 20 percent of the private loan must be backed by the loan loss reserve fund. Under SB 936, the leverage ratio will rise to the federal standard of 10:1, meaning that only 10 percent of the private loan must be backed by the loan loss reserve fund. The bill passed on a bipartisan 7-0 vote and goes next to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
implemented several “noteworthy measures” such as removing foreign ownership restriction on lending firms, investment houses and financing companies. The report said multinational firms have their eyes trained on long-term trends such as rising urbanization and developing and developed countries because of the expanding consumer market. Other considerations in investing include the development of digital economy, energy security, food security and overall peace and order. By industry, multinational firms
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