October 14-17, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 83 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages
Palace: No directive to expel EU envoys from PH by Dana
SioSon AJPress
inaccurate premise. Abella said that Duterte was mANILA - the Philippine gov- merely “reacting to what he was ernment has no plans to expel reading” with the “assumption” european Union (eU) ambas- that the reports were correct. sadors from the country despite “so basically it’s a lesson for us President rodrigo Duterte’s also for the need for critical rerecent threat to send them off, porting and reading of the news. malacañang has clarified. so the president reacted as any In a press briefing on friday, leader would when national sovoctober 13, Presidential spokes- ereignty is violated,” the Palace person ernesto Abella admitted official added. that the chief executive was “behe then called on the media ing fed the wrong information” to “heed” Duterte’s request “for and made a threat based on an correct reportage.”
A day earlier, Duterte told eU ambassadors to leave the country after being critical towards the administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. the president slammed the bloc for supposedly lobbying for the Philippines’ removal from the United Nations (UN). “You leave my country in 24 hours. All of you,” an enraged Duterte said on thursday, october 12. “You must have taken the filipino for granted…Do not come to this country again, we do
not need you. You want to expel us? You try.” But when asked if european ambassadors should leave the country, Abella said that “there is no directive to do that.” After Duterte issued the threat, the eU immediately denied its involvement in the visit made by members of the Progressive Alliance, which was acknowledged by malacañang. eU clarified that it “was not part of the organization or planning of PAGE A2 Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella
Overseas Filipino Bank to open in January 2018
USA
DATELINE Cayetano extends US trip to attend IMF, World Bank meetings
by AJPress
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
After being out of the country for more than three weeks now, Philippine foreign secretary Allan Peter Cayetano is set to extend his United states visit to a month before returning to manila. Philippine Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) spokesperson robespierre Bolivar on monday, october 9 said the country’s top diplomat still had “some events and work to attend to in New York.”
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Trump’s order advances GOP go-to ideas to broaden insurance choices, curb costs
Inquirer.net photo
SCOUT RANGERS HOMES. President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, October 11, led the groundbreaking ceremony of a housing project in San Miguel, Bulacan for the Scout Rangers. The National Housing Authority project, under the AFP/PNP Housing Program, will provide 1,000 housing units for the members of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment. The president also announced that aside from the houses, the soldiers will also receive P70,000. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez
mANILA - A bank that caters specifically to overseas filipinos is set to start operating by January next year, the Philippine Department of Labor and employment (DoLe) said thursday, october 12. DoLe made the announcement weeks after Philippine President rodrigo Duterte signed the executive order (eo) 44 on september 28, which approves the Land Bank of the Philippines’ (LBP) acquisition of the Philippine Postal savings Bank (PPsB). Under eo 44, the PPsB will be converted into the “overseas filipino Bank” (ofB), a policy bank dedicated to providing financial services to overseas filipinos. the eo noted that filipinos abroad “should be given provision of priority support for their growing financial needs.” “there is a need to establish a policy bank dedicated to provide financial products and services tailored to the requirements of overseas filipinos, and focused on delivering quality and efficient foreign remittance services,” the order read. PAGE A2
Duterte accepts Bautista resignation
the trump administration thursday, oct. 12 advanced a wide-ranging executive order aimed at expanding lower-cost insurance options, allowing employers to give workers money to buy their own coverage and slowing consolidation in the insurance and hospital industries. Critics said that, if implemented, the changes could result in more bare-bones coverage and pull healthier people out of the already struggling insurance markets, leading to higher premiums for those who remain in more-regulated coverage. President Donald trump’s action, which will not take effect in time to affect the upcoming open enrollment for coverage in 2018,
by LeiLa
B. SaLaverria Inquirer.net
PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte said he has accepted the resignation of Andres Bautista as Commission on elections (Comelec) chair, and believes that it would be better if he leaves his post so that there would be no trouble. the house of representatives impeached Bautista the same day he announced that he has PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa tendered his resignation, which would be effective on December
Philstar.com photo
Philippine drug war: Stockton’s Filipino community center vandalized PNP out, PDEA in u PAGE A3
Comelec chair Andres Bautista
Inquirer.net photo
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during Filipino-American History Month by rae
ann varona AJPress
a statement issued by the Little manila Center Board. Brian Batugo, a teacher and the Little manila Center in stockton, California was vandal- arts director at the center, was ized on monday, october 9, as running a bit late to dance practhe filipino-American commu- tice when he received a facebook nity joins others throughout the message by one of the student’s United states in celebrating fil- parents, notifying him of the vandalism. shortly after, a student Am history month. “We do not know why some- sent him a photo. “one of my students had tears one would deface our windows and rip the historic photographs in her eyes,” Batugo told the of our community from the Little Asian Journal, detailing that he Police are investigating the vandalism as a possible hate crime because the words “white” and manila Center entrance,” reads Inquirer.net photo u PAGE A3 “brainwashed bigots” were used, according to the center’s staff.
by LeiLa
B. SaLaverria Inquirer.net
PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte said he had directed police to move away if they see any anti-drug operation and just leave the matter entirely up to the Philippine Drug enforcement Agency. mr. Duterte, in an interview over said he himself would no longer “interfere” in the anti-drug operations. his move was in response to criticism over the deaths in the drug war. “You know why? Because that is what you want, you are blaming the
government for almost everything,” he said. “If there are drug operations, I told police do not interfere. If you see a chase and they say it’s drugs, you leave. Let them be. so if somebody dies, the priests, you go to PDeA,” he added. he himself doesn’t want to have anything to do with the drug war anymore and leave it all to PDeA. “I will not anymore interfere. Di hugas kamay. Ayaw ko talaga, di ako naghugas, ayaw ko na (i am not washing my hands. i just don’t want to be involved anymore. i am
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From the Front Page
Palace: No directive to expel... PAGE A1 t
that visit – neither the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines nor the European Union institutions in Brussels.” “The statements made by the Progressive Alliance during its visit to the Philippines were made solely on behalf of the Progressive Alliance and do not represent the
position of the European Union,” the bloc said. Earlier this week, the delegation — which includes members from Sweden, Germany, Italy, Australia, and the United States — cautioned that the Philippines risks trade repercussions if it fails to immediately stop drug-related killings and political persecution
of critics. It warned that the Philippines may lose the General System of Preference (GSP+) deal, a preferential trade deal that allows 6,200 of its products to enter the EU duty-free. “If the human rights standards are not upheld, then there may be consequences in the Philippines’ inclusion in the special trading instrument of the EU,” said German parliamentarian Arne Lietz. Malacañang blasted the delegation’s statement protesting the alleged killings under the Duterte administration, saying that it “demeans” the Philippines’ status as a sovereign nation. “The president’s expression of outrage is in reaction to statements by a seven-member delegation of the International Delegates of the Progressive Alliance which has falsely portrayed itself as an EU mission,” Abella said. n
ANDY’S SINS. Former Negros Oriental representative Jacinto Paras holds a copy of a report thatcontains the alleged anomalies committed by Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista. With his is Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque. The Senate will convene as an impeachment court to try Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Juan Andres Bautista, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Thursday, Oct. 12. ManilaTimes.net photo by Nica Gallardo
Overseas Filipino Bank to open in...
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According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, satellite offices of the OFB will be established in all of the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) globally. During a media briefing at Malacañang, Bello noted that the
establishment of the OFB is only “proper and fair” for overseas Filipinos who greatly contributed to the country’s economic growth through their remittances. “The intention here is to cover not only the overseas Filipino workers but also the overseas
Filipinos. Because just like our OFWs, our overseas Filipinos are also contributing a lot to [the] Philippine economy,” he said. Government data showed that Filipinos abroad brought $28 billion dollars in remittances alone last year. According to the Philippines Statistics Office, there were around 2.2 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the period of April to September 2016. “The plan is to capture the market of the remittances from abroad exclusively through the OF Bank,” the labor secretary added. According to Bello, the OFB will become a subsidiary bank of the LBP and will have a nine-man board chaired by the Land Bank president. “One to represent the Department of Labor; another to represent the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, OWWA for short; and the third would be a nominee coming from the ranks of the OFWs,” he said. The members representing DOLE, OWWA, and overseas Filipinos will be appointed by the president. Bello said the establishment of the OFB was one of the promises Duterte committed to migrant Filipino workers during the cam-
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III Inquirer.net photo
paign period. “Ito ay isang pangako na natupad (It a promise fulfilled) after so many years and so many presidents making the promise. As early as martial law days, itong OFW bank eh na-conceptualize na ‘yan (was conceptualized),” Bello remarked. He added that the bank will “become a reality because of the sincere desire of our President to service the OFWs.” In August last year, the government opened the first One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO), where they can avail of all government frontline services. n
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Stockton’s Filipino community center... PAGE A1 t
NIGHTMARE. Vehicles and motorbikes clog EDSA, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare, during rush hour on Wednesday, Oct. 11. The daily traffic jams prompted the Metro Manila Council to consider banning cars without passengers from the highway. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
Philippine drug war: PNP out, PDEA...
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not washing my hands, I don’t want it),” he said. Asked about whether he thinks the PDEA could take on the drug network on its own, he said it’s the human rights advocates who win. “Human rights should help the PDEA. They should go after [the drug lords],” he said. In a speech in Dumaguete, Mr. Duterte said his decision to make the drug war the sole responsibility of PDEA could have grave consequences. He said he had done this because that was what the people wanted. Anyway, the law says the PDEA should be the lead agency in drug operations, he added. “Now, if the PDEA can do it, well, that’s what you want, to pinpoint the responsibility and anyway, the law says it’s the PDEA who would
be the lead agency. Okay. But that is fraught with so many grave consequences. But it’s being appreciated by the priests, by the human rights,” he said. He did not elaborate on what these consequences were. He said he took a risk with his decision. “I gambled on that, but everybody knows, the military and the police, the consequences of that could be far more serious,” he said. PNP kills ‘Tokhang’ With the Philippine National Police demoted from the lead role in President Duterte’s war on drugs, PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, folded “Oplan Tokhang” and “Project Double Barrel” on Thursday. Oplan Tokhang is the police door-to-door campaign to con-
vince drug users to surrender for rehabilitation. Project Double Barrel is the intensified campaign against the narcotics trade, characterized by police sweeps of the slums in which the PNP says officers have killed more than 3,800 suspects who resisted arrest since Mr. Duterte launched the campaign after taking office in June last year. More than 2,000 others have been killed by unknown assailants, who human rights groups believe are hired guns working for the police or are policemen themselves working for rewards promised by their superiors. Public anger over the killings, especially of minors, pulled down Mr. Duterte’s approval and trust ratings in opinion polls, forcing him to demote the PNP from the lead in his antinarcotics program. n
Duterte accepts Bautista resignation
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31, 2017. “Mukhang pinirmahan ko kasi mas mabuti maalis siya diyan di pa kayo nag announce ng resumption (I think I signed it, because it would be better if he leaves the post before there was an announcement [of the impeachment]),” Mr. Duterte said in an interview over PTV 4 aired
on Friday, Oct. 13 but taped on Thursday, Oct. 12. He said he had nothing to do with the impeachment of Bautista and was not told by congress members of the move. When he received Bautista’s resignation letter, he said he thought that the earlier, the better. The impeachment came be-
fore the effectivity of Bautista’s resignation, he noted. “For me, I did not know that there was a resumption [of the impeachment]. The earlier it goes away, the better,” he said. “But what was on my mind, really was, the other day, if Bautista goes, then it would be more orderly, there would be no more trouble,” he added. n
found his students — many of whom were also taking an ethnic studies class at the center — shocked and upset. Rather than going straight into rehearsal, Batugo allowed his students to reflect and document the event on social media. Batugo himself did a live video showing the damage to those on his social media networks. Stockton’s Mayor Michael Tubbs picked up on the social media outcries and called the incident “unacceptable” in a tweet. He then called the city’s police chief out to the scene. As of Wednesday, police have classified the incident as an act of vandalism and not a hate crime. According to Dillon Delvo, executive director and co-founder of the Little Manila Foundation, no other businesses on the street
were vandalized. Words like “brainwashed” and “bigot”, along with seemingly misspelled words like “whittie” and “prop”, were marked on one of the center’s front windows. The vandal, who a witness described as possibly homeless, also ripped down donated banners portraying historic Filipino American stories. The door’s decals that once read “Little Manila Center” also had letters taken off. “Things like this make me so mad. Destroyed our donated pictures and messed up our windows, and called us “bigots” this is a hate crime,” read a tweet by Twitter user @celiiry. Delvo told the Asian Journal that a recent quote for the damage was $1,200 — more than they had originally thought. Donations are being accepted on
the foundation’s website. Fil-Am History Month context The incident came as the center was busy preparing for activities and projects for Fil-Am History Month, an annual celebration of Fil-Ams’ history and experiences in the U.S. observed every October. One of the center’s projects is a series of short documentaries commemorating first-generation manongs (older male relatives) who passed away at the Daguhoy Lodge in Stockton. The project looks to tap into the manongs’ experiences at the time, through what was left behind in their trunks. “As we celebrate FilipinoAmerican History Month this October, we know that discrimination against Filipino Americans is nothing new,” reads the
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Trump’s order advances GOP go-to ideas... PAGE A1 t signals a shift in the administration’s strategy, which relied on Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Trump is now using the force of his executive rule-making authority to implement longfavored GOP policy alternatives. “With Congress the way it is, I decided to take it upon myself,” Trump said in remarks at the White House earlier in the week. Senate Republicans failed within recent months to pass legislation to overhaul the ACA. The executive order directs many agencies, including the Department of Labor, to consider proposing rules or new guidance to loosen current restrictions on what are called “association health plans” and on selling lowcost, short-term insurance. Such rules could potentially exempt such plans for a number of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. This order will “help millions of Americans who have been harmed by Obamacare,” said Andrew Bremberg, director of the Domestic Policy Council, who briefed the press. The directive also instructs agencies to consider new regulations or guidance to: • Permit the practice of providing a tax-free employer contributions through health reimbursement accounts that workers could use to buy individual market plans. The Obama administration had barred that practice.
This adjustment might result in more employers dropping jobbased coverage and simply giving workers money to buy their own plans. • Report on steps federal and state governments could take to “increase choice and reduce consolidation” in the health care market. A senior administration official said Trump is concerned about the growing number of regions served by only one or two insurers or hospital systems. The pros and the cons Associations are generally membership groups based on a profession or business. Proponents say allowing consumers to buy insurance through these organizations gives them more clout with insurers than they’d have buying their own plan on the individual market — and results in lower premiums. But the real savings in premiums is likely to come because the policies could offer fewer benefits than more regulated ACA plans, and the associations would have more leeway to set premiums based on the health of the group. Trump’s order is likely to please some groups, including the National Federation of Independent Business. This organization has long supported association health plans, which it says allow small businesses to buy coverage across state lines. Not all small businesses back association health plans, though, or the idea that they need help
banding together to buy coverage. “The truth is, that’s how they get insurance today and it’s called the small group market. Every state has one,” said David Chase, spokesman for Small Business Majority, a group that supports the ACA. “What association plans would do is actually pull people out of those small group pools and start a bunch of new pools. That doesn’t band people together,” he added. Critics also warn that such plans, with pared-down coverage and lower premiums, could siphon off the healthiest consumers. Older, sicker people would be left to seek health insurance through more regulated plans available through state and federal insurance marketplaces. That could cause premiums to rise more rapidly for those groups. The combination of allowing less-regulated association plans, making it easier for employers to send workers to buy their own coverage and making short term plans more broadly available “is a concerted effort to undermine the individual market” by drawing out the healthiest consumers, said Kevin Lucia, a research professor at Georgetown’s Health Policy Institute. Still, some employers now sitting on the sidelines might end up adding workers to that pool, countered Chris Condeluci, a
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Stockton’s Filipino community center... PAGE A3 t
statement on the incident. For much of the 1920s to 1930s, Filipinos in the United States were accused of taking jobs, being criminals, and fraternizing with white women, thus being subject to many mob attacks and raids. The areas of Watsonville, California — just two hours away from Stockton, for example — became a hotspot of friction where mobs ultimately led to the death of a Filipino worker named
Fermin Tobera. In response to the anti-Filipino aggressions happening throughout the West Coast, Philippine officials organized a “national day of humiliation� in Manila — thousands were said to have gathered in the capital’s Luneta Park to commemorate Tobera. On September 28, 2011, the state of California officially apologized to Filipino Americans through an Assembly resolution (ACR-74) authored by Assemblyman Luis A. Alejo.
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“Filipino Americans have a long and documented history of suffering discrimination, prejudice, and animosity in the State of California,� read one line of the resolution. “Filipino Americans endured past transgressions and wrongs committed against them through the implementation of state policies and the passage of certain laws,� read another. The city of Stockton itself, once had the largest population of Filipinos outside of the Philippines between the 1920s to 1960s, according to the Little Manila Center. Main Street, on which the center is located, was once the city’s dividing line for people of color in the 1930s. Filipinos were consequently not allowed to go north of the street, and signs saying “Positively no Filipinos allowed� were openly displayed, according to the center. The weekend just before the incident, students took photos with a replicated sign at a community event in remembrance of the street’s history. The sign now hangs over the center’s ripped banners for the same reason. “Yeah, this is a real tragedy, but we need to see how we can turn this tragedy into a prospect,� said Delvo who chooses to use the incident as a learning tool, and hopes that those who see it learn a bit about the early experience of Filipino Americans in California. “We’re just adding to this history of what was happening in the past — we can’t just wash it off,� he added. And it’s not just the histories and aggressions against Filipino Americans Delvo wants to shed light on. “Ripping down some signs is kind of like we got the lesser evil side,� he said referring to the overall racial climate that has been affecting other ethnic groups. “If anything, this incident serves as a reminder for all Filipinos and all Asian Americans that we should be in solidarity with the oppressed,� said Delvo. “We are not excluded from that.� As for the young students that first discovered the damage, they are not letting it get in the way of their Fil-Am History Month performances — their next one is slated for Saturday, October 14. “The show must go on,� said Batugo who encouraged his students to channel their positive energy into their art. n
SENATOR ANGARA RECEIVES COURTESY CALL FROM FIL-AM YOUTH LEADERS. Senator Sonny Angara gave an inspirational message to this year’s delegates of the Filipino-American Young Leaders Program (FYLPro) led by Marjorie Baltazar, Amanda Bernardo, Ryan Dalusag, Eric John David, Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, Rebecca Elmore, Ireneo Reus III, Christal Simanski, Ryann Tanap and Ray Villanueva. FYLPro affords these young Filipinos based in the United States the opportunity to dialogue with policy makers, industry leaders, artists, social entrepreneurs and innovators in different fields with the end-goal of molding future leaders of the Filipino community in the U.S. Senator Angara, having once lived in the U.S. to pursue his Master of Laws in Harvard Law School, urged our young US-based kababayans to be politically empowered to serve and to pursue advocacies that will promote a positive image of the Philippines in the United States. Senate photo
Cayetano extends US trip to attend IMF... PAGE A1 t
According to him, Cayetano will attend the annual meeting of the board of governors of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which will take place from October 13 to 15 in Washington, D.C. “The Secretary will be part of the Philippine delegation to the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington DC this week,� Bolivar said. Cayetano flew to New York last month to represent Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the 72nd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, which opened on September 19. In speech on September 23, Cayetano defended the Duterte administration’s heavily criticized campaign against illegal drugs as a “necessary instrument to preserve and protect the human rights of all Filipinos.� The top diplomat also met with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on September 27 in his official visit to Washington, D.C. Cayetano told Tillerson that the Philippines welcomes the support of U.S. in combating drug menace. But calls from Washington, D.C. and other human rights
Secretary Alan Cayetano with event moderator Ambassador Frank Wisner Photo by PCGNY
organizations for impartial investigation on the deaths of drug suspects were deflected. Following September 29, the top diplomat flew back to New York City and met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. During their meeting, Cayetano told Guterres that the Philip-
pine government is ready to welcome “unbiased� experts from the UN who would conduct an objective assessment of human rights situation in the country. Cayetano has repeatedly assured the international community that the Philippine government values human rights. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)
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Amnesty International: PDEA as lead drug war agency a ‘PR’ move by Audrey
MorAllo Philstar.com
MEDIA SECURITY. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II delivers his message during the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) 1st anniversary celebration held at the National Press Club in Manila on Wednesday, October 11. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
Section 8 housing choice voucher waiting list lottery open from Oct. 16 to 29 eARLIeR this month, Los Angeles mayor eric Garcetti, along with other elected officials, joined the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) to announce the opening of the section 8 Waiting List Lottery. People will be able to apply online starting at 6:00 a.m., monday, October 16, 2017, through 5:00 p.m., sunday, October 29, 2017 (Pacific time), by going to HACLA.hcvlist.org. the section 8 program provides rental assistance to eligible individuals and families by paying a portion of rent directly to private landlords. “Angelenos deserve housing they can afford, no matter their income,” Garcetti said. “People who are eligible should apply for the section 8 rental subsidy program — and we’ll keep fighting to build more affordable housing that gives every family the opportunity to find safe, stable places to live.” Interested families and individuals can apply online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the application period using a smartphone, mobile device or computer with Internet access. Applicants will be required to have a valid, working email address. Free email accounts are widely available online, and free
Internet access and email setup assistance is available at local Los Angeles City public libraries. no applications will be handed out or accepted in-person, by mail, email, or fax at any HACLA office. At the end of the application period, HACLA will use a computer-randomized lottery to select up to 20,000 applicants for placement on the section 8 Waiting List. A preference for assistance will be given to applicants who live or work in the City of Los Angeles and to applicants who are veterans or have a household member who is a veteran, released from such military service under conditions other than dishonorable. As funding is available, HACLA will contact applicants for program eligibility determinations. “We are very pleased to be opening our section 8 waiting list after 13 years. Rental subsidy programs reduce poverty, housing instability and homelessness. the opening of HACLA’s section 8 Wait List lottery will help thousands of families who struggle to pay for housing on a fixed-income,” said Douglas Guthrie, HACLA President and CeO. “We’ve ensured that the online application is easy to access and complete, and we’ve
Trump’s order advances GOP... PAGE A3 t Washington, D.C., attorney who previously worked for sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and served as counsel to the U.s. senate Finance Committee during the drafting of the ACA. “some will want to give workers a chunk of change to make sure they get coverage, but not be in the game of sponsoring a [group] plan themselves,” said Condeluci. Administration officials said thursday that they had not studied the effect of the changes on the marketplace but might do so in the future. some consumer advocates also warn that association plans and short-term policies are generally less generous with benefits — and could leave some unwary consumers stuck with large medical bills. such plans might not cover maternity care, for example, or prescription drugs. Additionally, short-term plans can exclude paying for any preexisting medical conditions, either upfront or upon renewal, something the ACA bars for all other types of insurance. Legal challenges to the executive order could result from these issues. For one thing, policy experts question whether the trump administration can allow associations broad leeway to sign up individuals, rather than following the Obama administration’s strict definition of “rare instances” in which an association would qualify as an employer offering group coverage. trump administration officials said that issue would be studied as part of the consideration around setting new rules, but that the law may allow self-employed individuals to join associations. Associations want to be designated as a large group because a complex mix of laws cover employment-based insurance coverage, and rules can differ from those governing small-group or individual coverage. Large-group plans need not cover all 10 of the ACA’s “essential health benefits,” which include things like hospitalization, drug coverage, maternity care and substance abuse treatment. they would have to follow other rules, however, such as the ban on setting annual or lifetime limits and the rule allowing parents to keep their children on the policy until age 26. But insurers could vary premiums for large groups based on medical claims history of the overall group, so younger, healthier groups would likely get lower premiums. In the individual market, insurers cannot base a premium on a
policyholder’s health. A speckled past Association health plans are not new. they’ve been around for decades, and Republicans have traditionally eyed them as a means to make it easier for small businesses and individuals to band together to buy insurance. In the past, though, some had solvency problems and went bankrupt, leaving consumers on the hook with unpaid medical bills. In several states, regulators investigated whether the plans were advertising that they had comprehensive coverage when, in fact, they provided little or no coverage for such things as chemotherapy or doctor office visits. the ACA answered some of those concerns by setting minimum standards for coverage on most insurance policies, including association plans, which prevent them from skimping on such things as doctor visits or prescription drugs. their numbers fell after the sweeping law went into effect. meanwhile, the trump proposal also would allow people to buy short-term plans that last up to 364 days, overturning an Obama administration rule limiting shortterm policies to 90 days. Advocates of the change have always argued that this limit simply meant people had to renew more often — and then face their deductibles all over again. But how will associations plans fare? Joe Antos, at the conservative American enterprise Institute, questions how popular such plans would be with both consumers and insurers. “the people on the left who say this will doom the exchange marketplace are, as usual, exaggerating the likely effects of this,” said Antos. that’s because many of the approximately 9 million people who currently buy coverage through federal or state insurance marketplaces get a premium subsidy to help them purchase. they are unlikely to switch from that, he said. the main group that it would appeal to are the additional 10 million or so who buy coverage because they don’t get it through their jobs, and don’t get a subsidy. Key will be just what the plans cover — and what they exclude. “they’ll only be attracted if these association plans actually provide them coverage they want at a price that is better than the exchange plans,” said Antos. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n
also provided information on the website to assist applicants, such as how-to-apply videos and answers to questions that applicants may have about the program and their eligibility.” Applicants can visit hacla.hcvlist.org to submit an application during the open application period and to find additional resources for partners providing application assistance. Applicants needing assistance in applying due to a disability can call (213) 205-5585 or 1-888-816-6955 (toll free), between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time every day during the application period. n
Amnesty International said on Friday, Oct. 13 that the recent decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to shift the responsibility of pursuing his ferocious campaign to eradicate narcotics to the country’s anti-drugs agency could just be a “short-term” public relations move meant to appease the growing opposition to it. Duterte this week signed an order designating the Philippine Drug enforcement Agency as the main office in pursuing drug operations and relegated the Philippine national Police to a supporting role. James Gomez, the watchdog’s international director of southeast Asia and the Pacific, said that the decision to put PDeA in charge of the government war on drugs was just meant to squelch public furor over the mounting number of dead people most of whom are poor and young. the AI official said that the president had done this before when the police were temporarily ordered to cease conducting anti-drugs raids following the outrage over the discovery that cops belonging to the PnP’s antidrugs unit were involved in the kidnapping, extortion and killing of a south Korean businessman inside its national headquarters in Camp Crame. He added that the announce-
ment would have little “meaningful” impact and urged the president to discard altogether “the government’s fundamental policy of supporting extrajudicial executions of drug suspects.” “President Duterte has pulled police off drug operations once before, in January this year, only to reinstate them a few weeks later,” Gomez said in a statement reacting to the Philippine leader’s announcement. “We are concerned that this too may be nothing but a shortterm PR move in response to growing public outrage about the drug war’s many victims, which are overwhelmingly poor, and include children,” he added. Based on the latest survey of polling firm sWs, the president’s approval ratings plunged by 18 points in september. the president’s office said that this plunge was because the survey was conducted just days after Duterte declared a national day of protest to allow Filipinos to air their grievances against the government. Another survey by rival Pulse Asia however demonstrated that Duterte had maintained trust and approval ratings of 80 percent. the announcement of the president also came in the wake of a string of police killings of teenagers in August sparked a widespread public condemna-
tion of brutality and disrespect for due process, something that the 15-month-old administration of the former Davao City mayor had never seen. Gomez said that what the government should do was to end its “murderous ‘war on drugs’” and adopt a policy that would respect and protect human rights. “It is also crucial that there is accountability for the thousands of killings carried out already, many by police officers, and that those responsible are held to account,” he said. the AI official warned that the killings, which may constitute a crime against humanity, would continue as shooters just happened to be doning different uniforms. the AI and Human Rights Watch, a new york-based rights campaigner, have both released early this year excoriating reports on the government’s war on drugs that detailed police shortcuts and payments to kill drug suspects. Duterte in response blasted these international groups and governments for what he saw as “interference.” On thursday, he mistakenly blasted the european Union and threatened to cut diplomatic ties to its member-states over statements by a group parliamentarians warning the government that it risked losing preferential trade arrangements if it would continue with the campaign. n
A october 14-17, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JoUrNAL
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US heads of posts to intensify provision of frontline assistance to nationals THE Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and heads of Philippine Consulates General in the U.S. held a Command Conference on Assistance-toNationals and other frontline services in New York last Oct. 2 Chaired by DFA Office of Migrant Workers Affairs As-
sistant Secretary Reynaldo A. Catapang, the Heads of Post discussed means of streamlining assistance efforts to overseas Filipinos, updating contingency plans in light of new challenges and immigration policy developments, forging closer partnerships with U.S. government part-
Assistant Secretary Catapang (3rd from left) leads the discussions at the Command Conference Photo by NYPCG
ners, civil society organizations, and advocacy groups, extending legal and other assistance, more effective information dissemination, and speedier responses to human and labor trafficking cases. The participants likewise briefed Foreign Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano on developments in their respective areas as common concerns of posts in the U.S. The heads of Post also attended the Speaking Engagement of Secretary Cayetano at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), one of the oldest international affairs and foreign relations organizations in the United States. The following Heads of Post took part in the Command Conference: Consul General Generoso Calonge (Chicago), Henry Bensurto (San Francisco), Adelio Angelito Cruz (Los Angeles), Gina Jamoralin (Honolulu), Marciano De Borja (Agana), Theresa Dizon- De Vega (New York), and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Patrick Chuasoto (Washington, D.C.) n
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CLEAN LITTLE HANDS. Children from Baseco Compound in Manila hold up their newly washed hands during the celebration of the global hand washing day on Thursday, Oct. 12. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma
Philippine economic team confident of growth, reveals plans in New York briefing NEW YORK – Armed with a promising medium-term development plan and building further on sound macroeconomic fundamentals, the Philippine Economic team delivered a presentation at the Morgan Stanley offices in Manhattan, New York on Wednesday, October 11. The Philippine Economic Briefing was organized by the Philippine Government in cooperation with CITI, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Standard Chartered. Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez III, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Ernesto Pernia, Secretary of Budget Management Benjamin Diokno, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo presented their respective department’s action plans before international business and finance leaders in the US. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter S. Cayetano opened the program, reiterating the Philippines’ independent foreign policy which recognizes traditional and new allies as partners in economic and overall development. Setting the tone for the briefing, Secretary Dominguez shared the Philippine growth narrative stating that the country’s economic performance has been as anticipated, with a growth rate projected to hit the target range of 6.5% to 7.5% by the end of the year. He enumerated steady overseas re-
mittances, investment-led activity, and increased industry and agricultural production as factors for success. He noted proposed policy changes to facilitate ease of doing business in the country, and a proposed tax reform program designed to further raise the profile of the Philippines as a preferred investment destination. Secretary Pernia introduced the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, which aims to place the Philippines at uppermiddle income status by 2018, and even better by the end of the Duterte Administration He emphasized the importance of private sector participation in bringing management expertise and technological solutions to government programs. For his part, Secretary Diokno relayed the government’s plan to adopt an expansionary fiscal policy to free up resources for the country’s development priorities. He disclosed the government’s plan to embark on the most ambitious infrastructure development program yet in Philippine history, citing its multiplier effect on domestic growth, and impact on industry. Summing up the positive outlook of the sustainability narrative, Deputy Governor Guinigundo provided the monetary context for the country’s forward movement. He assured the audience of the resilience of the economy and monetary conditions amid external challenges.
During the open forum, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chair and CEO of Ayala Corporation, stated his satisfaction at the performance of the Philippine economy and noted that the Philippines continues to be a great place to invest. Mr. Zobel noted that the private sector is bullish on the many investment opportunities in the Philippines including the bold infrastructure program. Some questions from the attendees revolved around the tax reform program being deliberated in the Senate, the monetary outlook, investment plans in Mindanao, sustainable energy production, developments in the Philippine export strategy, manufacturing sector upswing, the independent foreign policy direction of the government as well as the positive outlook for the agricultural sector. The briefing was also attended by the Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega and officials of the Philippine Consulate General New York and Philippine Trade and Investment Center and Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Teodoro L. Locsin with officers of the Philippine Mission to the UN. A Non-Deal Roadshow delegation from the Philippines likewise proceeded to Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, Boston and Philadelphia for business presentations and one-on-one meetings with businesstand finance institutions. n
(L-R) Jamie Augusto Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Group, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Joanne De Asis of Morgan Stanley, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Drausio Giacomelli of Deutsche Bank, and Lynette Ortiz of Standard Chartered. Photo by NYPCG
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Pulse Asia: Duterte keeps high approval, trust scores by aJPress PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has maintained his “big majority” approval and trust ratings amid the series of controversies surrounding his administration, results of a recent survey by Pulse Asia showed. Based on the poll results made public on Friday, October 13, four in five Filipinos continue to approve of and trust Duterte. The president obtained 80 percent trust and approval ratings—which is only a little lower compared to his 81 percent trust and 82 percent approval in June. But given a ±3 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level, his rating can be considered unchanged. Only 6 percent of Filipinos said they have small trust or no trust at all, while the remaining 14 percent were undecided. Likewise, only 7 percent disapproved of Duterte’s presidency, while 13 percent are undecided on his performance. In a statement, Malacañang welcomed the president’s steady trust and approval ratings amid the “multi-faceted political noise.” “We hope these survey results inspire us in the government that despite odds and challenges we continue to provide a comfortable life for all Filipinos in an environment free from illegal drugs and criminality,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said. He added, “This is the way we
Vice Pres. Leni Robredo Inquirer.net photo
return the overwhelming confidence and trust bestowed by our people in the president.” The non-commissioned poll was conducted from September 24 to 30, using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents nationwide. It was released days later than a similar poll conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS). While both surveys were conducted around the same time, the September SWS poll results showed that 67 percent of Filipinos are “satisfied” with his performance—lower compared to 78 percent in June. 14 percent said they’re “undecided,” while 19 percent said they are “dissatisfied.” His net satisfaction rating has dropped 18 points from +66 or “very good” rating to +48 or “good.” Duterte’s trust rating likewise suffered a 15-point drop from the previous +75 or “excellent” rating to +60 or “very good” during the same period. In September, only 73 percent said they had “much trust” in Duterte, 15 percent were “undecided,” and 12 percent had “little trust.” Despite the lower score, Malacañang earlier said the “honeymoon phase” is not yet over and the Filipinos’ “love” for the president is “still there.” The SWS poll was conducted from September 23 to 27 nationwide, with a bigger sample size of 1,500 and a margin of error of ± 2.5 percent. Among the notable events last month was the “National Day of Protest” on September 21, which allowed citizens “to freely vent their grievances about the excesses and shortcomings of the government.” Major news around that time also included the death of minors during police operations in Caloocan City that fanned public outrage; as well as Senator Antonio Trillanes’ latest claims concerning the alleged hidden wealth of Duterte and his family. Robredo’s ratings Vice President Leni Robredo also continues to enjoy the majority support of Filipinos in September despite a slight decline from her previous ratings, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey. Robredo obtained a 57 percent approval rating, which was four points lower than her 61 per-
cent in June 2017. Meanwhile, her trust rating fell by five points from 60 percent to 55 percent during the same period. The SWS survey results, on the other hand, showed that 62 percent were satisfied with Robredo’s performance while 21 percent said otherwise. Her satisfaction rating went up by five points from +36 in June to +41 or President Rodrigo Duterte salutes to Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Adelaide Captain Jonathan Earley as the president boards the Australian “good” in September. n Navy’s largest vessel which is docked at the Port of Manila on Tuesday, October 10. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez
A OctOber 14-17, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL
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OpiniOn
Learning from Tokhang
Features
PULLED out of the drug war for the second time this year, the Philippine National Police announced yesterday the end of its anti-drug operations code-named Tokhang and Double Barrel. In place of the PNP, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will take the lead role in the war against illegal drugs – a top priority of President Rodrigo Duterte. PNP officials admitted that the moves were made after the sharp fall in the President’s latest satisfaction and trust ratings were attributed by pollster Social Weather Stations largely to the brutal methods employed in the war on drugs. The PNP, which insists that there has been no extrajudicial killing in the course of the anti-drug campaign, will henceforth focus on fighting other crimes. In a speech yesterday, during which his audience at Malacañang replied “no” when asked three times if they were willing to take up arms and shoot drug personalities themselves, the President indicated misgivings about the PDEA takeover as he railed against the “bleeding hearts” who have criticized his drug war. The president can take heart in the fact that surveys have shown general public support for
fighting the drug menace, although not for the vicious methods that have led to the killing of thousands of suspects. His campaign can still rack up victories, if he gives the PDEA the support that it will need to carry out its work. PDEA officials have said that the agency lacks the resources and manpower of the PNP. In going after drug personalities, the PDEA must be able to tap the resources and personnel of other law enforcement agencies including the PNP and National Bureau of Investigation as well as the Bureau of Customs police. Pronouncements from the President and the PNP chief yesterday, however, indicated that the PDEA would be left to do the job on its own. PDEA officials surely understand the need to and Double Barrel. The PDEA must show that a avoid the abuses and mistakes under Tokhang successful campaign against illegal drugs need
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
not be characterized by a killing spree. (Philstar.com)
4th Fil-Am International Book Festival: Its significance in stoking vibrant imaginations
Rhizomes
Prosy aBarquezDelacruz, J.D. “It is in our literature that our history is kept safe from revisions. For literature is our true memory, our country’s memory, the world’s memory of us. If we do not write our stories, who will? If we do not read them how will we know ourselves? Because it is in our literature that we pay full attention to ourselves, that we imagine and dream ourselves. As long as our literature exists, we will not disappear from our own thoughts, from the thoughts of the world. If history is our biography; literature is our autobiography, containing the memory of our spirit, the reflections of our existence, the promise of what we can become: literature is our attempt to understand ourselves, to recover lost destinations, to preserve the thoughts and feelings and hopes too deep to utter. Giving us roots and meaning and direction, our literature is what we are: what we were and what we
can be.” – Linda Ty-Casper, 86, author of 16 books. Four community and cultural events stood out for me this October 2017, also known as FilipinoAmerican History Month, as they methodically reoriented Fil-Ams to their indigenous culture and the beauty of their heritage and traditions. Notable are: the 4th FilipinoAmerican International Book Festival, The Hinabi Project’s Weavers of Peace and Dreams: Textile Arts of Mindanao (on exhibit from Sept. 18 to Nov. 24 at the Mills Building in San Francisco), the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), now in its 26th year of existence on Saturday, October 14 at Echo Park, Los Angeles, and the recent 25th anniversary of Kayamanan ng Lahi at the Ford Theater in Los Angeles. These festivals have converged to assert the Filipino-Americans’ contributions in creating cultural assets here in America, using their social traits of bayanihan (a cultural value of teamwork, that it takes a village to harvest crops or move a house or even relief efforts
after natural disasters) and their collective regard for kalinangan (a way of life with diverse cultural expressions). Filipinos came from the Philippines and migrated to America since 1587, as citizens of colonized narratives (300 years of Spanish occupation, the American occupation from 1898 to 1907, then the Japanese Imperial Army during WWII), resulting in their muted imaginations as colonized subjects then. When in America, they have to create their lives and use a decolonized consciousness, asserting who they are, replete with smarts, knowledge and abilities. Some merely survived, while others focused on community building, advocacy for better working conditions and better housing including the pursuit of the arts, photography, writing, literature, poetry, painting, dancing, and service to faith communities. Lisa Lowe wrote in “Immigrant Acts,” that Franz Fanon directed our attention that one’s possession of a language, its syntax, its morphology, means to assume
HOT OFF THE PRESS Literary Reading #1: Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, Kristina Casper-Denham, Renee Macalino Rutledge, M.Evelina Galang, Eliza Victoria, Cecilia Brainard, Myles Garcia, Mia Alvar, Veronica Montes, Brian Roley, and Marie Deaconu-Baylon (Courtesy of James and Lu Sobredo)
the culture, even to the point of the “paradoxical fluency of the colonized subject in the colonial language and culture.” So to have fluency in American English meant fluency in this language and its American culture. She wrote that Fanon astutely names the internalization of the “superiority of the colonizer” and the “inferiority of the colonized
subject,” while “it attempts to evacuate the subject of “native” language, traditions and practices. At the 4th book festival in San Francisco, vibrant imaginations of Filipina and Filipino authors were in full bloom. 4th Fil-Am International Book Festival in San Francisco The festival felt like a dream,
once shared by then NVM Gonzalez, who was a Regents Professor at UCLA, when he was in Los Angeles in 1997. He wanted to see a gathering of Filipino writers in a literary conference. “Limited to Filipinos in America?” I asked. He smiled, the quintessential smile of NVM signaling you to
u PAGE A9
The post-Marcos, post-martial law generation
Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta CURRENT developments in the Philippines are bringing back the specter of martial law. President Rodrigo Duterte has given nottoo-subtle hints about declaring it. And while he has been quick to take back those hints — in his trademark flip-flopping style — the threats he has made against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Ombudsman leave no doubt about his dictatorial tendencies. What is alarming is the seeming lack of concern among those who refer to themselves as millennials and whom I classify as the post-Marcos and post-martial law generation. These are people who were either not old enough to understand the horrors of martial law and the abuses of the Marcos regime, or who had not even been born at the time. Those who have been following their postings on social media may have noted that many of these young people are cheering on Duterte and rationalizing the thousands of extra-judicial killings since he took office. They are also not averse to the prospect of Bongbong Marcos becoming vice president or even president. I think it serves a good purpose to apprise them of these horrors and how martial law will impact their own lives. On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1081, imposing a
military dictatorship in the country. Congress and media were shut down, civil liberties were suspended and those identified as “enemies of the state,” were rounded up and jailed in military camps. Others simply disappeared, never to be heard from. Those who could manage it made their way out of the country, some through the back door in Mindanao. Still, others who were already overseas, schooling, working or on vacation, decided to stay where they were. This wave of immigrants became asylum seekers in the countries that they had escaped to or found themselves in. It is conjectured that most went to the United States. In fact, there were many who went to mainland China because of their leftist connections, and others who decided build a new life in countries in Asia and Europe, as well as Australia. Martial law decimated the journalistic community in Manila. Many members of the working press left for abroad, partly because they were being hounded by the Marcos military, but also because there were few jobs available. The fate of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the virtual sword of Damocles currently hanging over ABS-CBN is déjà vu to those of us who witnessed the suppression of press freedom and the takeover by Marcos cronies of the media establishments. Following the declaration of martial law, the Daily Express, a Marcos mouthpiece, became
the leading newspaper. ABSCBN was taken over by Marcos cronies and operated as RPN 9, Radio Philippines Network. The Lopezes, headed by the late Geny Lopez, Jr., sought exile in America, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. They returned to the Philippines only after the People Power revolt. Many of ABS-CBN’s top executives also fled the country, mostly heading for California. Today’s millennials who may have some romantic notions about a Duterte-declared martial law should learn from the experience of those who were as young as they when Marcos assumed dictatorial powers. At first, martial law seemed like a boon to peace and order. In an environment where packing a gun was de rigueur, martial law forced good behavior on troublemakers and the trigger happy. The most benign impact of martial law on our lives was the curfew and the threat of being hauled off to Camp Crame if caught during the verboten hours. That certainly made a lot of housewives happy, seeing their husbands come home early from work, instead of having several drinks for the road. Urban legend had it that TV host and advertising man Ariel Ureta reportedly cracked a joke about the martial law slogan, “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan” (For national progress, discipline is needed), substituting “bisikleta” (bike) for “disiplina.” He was reportedly penalized by way of several laps on a bike
around the PC camp. I never confirmed if this story was true. But military abuses soon became prevalent and mysterious disappearances of young activists became more and more frequent. In this regard, the EJKs under the Duterte government is déjà vu. In the San Francisco Bay Area, lawyer Rodel Rodis loves to recall how his parents managed to get him to leave the Philippines on a pretext. In fact, they had learned that Rodis was on a list of First Quarter Storm activists who were marked for pick-up by the military. Rodis made America his home, became a U.S. citizen and a lawyer, ran for public office and became the highest-ranking elected official of Filipino descent in the City and County of San Francisco. He also became the president of the San Francisco Community College Board, and is a noted newspaper columnist and a highly respected community leader. Jacqui Lingad-Ricci, former president of the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Commission, was young, unmarried and vacationing in America at the time that Proclamation 1081 was issued. Daughter of Governor Jose B. Lingad of Pampanga, she was advised by her family to remain in the US and seek political asylum. On December 16, 1980, her father was assassinated. Press accounts describe him as “the first of the Marcos political opponents to fall at the hands of the military, preceding a list of political mar-
tyrs that would include Ninoy Aquino and Evelio Javier of Antique.” Cris Aranda was a student activist and was among those who were picked up by the military. He subsequently managed to get out of jail and make his way to the U.S. where he applied for asylum. Aranda mastered the complexities of immigration and eventually helped many immigrants and asylum seekers like him legalize their stay in America. This is not to say that today’s youth don’t care about civil liberties or freedom of speech and of the press. The recent demonstrations against Duterte’s bloody tenure have seen young people joining in large numbers. But, with due respect to them, they seem to lack the passion and the fervor that exploded during the historic First Quarter Storm. From January to March 1970, or the first quarter of the year, a series of demonstrations, protests and marches against the Marcos led mostly by student activists gave Marcos, who was serving his second term as president, an excuse to declare martial law, claiming the threat of the communist insurgency. The reported threat was further dramatized with the “ambush” staged against the convoy of then-Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile – an incident that Enrile subsequently admitted was staged. He admitted this at the height of the EDSA revolution, although he flip-flopped years later in his autobiography and claimed that the attempt on
his life was real. The oldest of them are in their early 30s. Many have raised another generation with even less appreciation of the travails of their forebears. Ironically, many in this martial law generation have Marcos to thank for their comfortable lives in America. Their parents and grandparents may also have reason to be thankful for the new life they found overseas. But the call of the Motherland never ceases for them. And, for their children, there eventually is the harsh realization that they need to seek their roots, to reach back to the land of their parents’ birth. In the U.S., one reason given by these second and third generation Filipino-Americans is that, upon reaching young adulthood, they begin to realize that they are “not American enough” – because they equate being “American” with being Caucasian. Yet, they do not feel “Filipino enough.” They do not speak the language of their elders and they have very little knowledge of the Philippines. As the former refugees and asylum seekers watch with growing concern the developments in the Philippines, fearing another declaration of martial law that will unleash another wave of people like them, their children and grandchildren fail to appreciate their fears. Indeed, one has to experience losing freedom to fully prize it. *** (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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4th Fil-Am International Book Festival: Its significance... PAGE A8 t
politely vacate the communication space, paused and replied, “where ever Filipinos reside and write, but to come together.” No longer a dream, Gemma Nemenzo, the pioneering founder of the book festival, along with Penelope Cruz, and the festival committee, which includes in part: Michael Gonzalez (NVM Gonzalez’s son), Juanita Tamayo-Lott, Mila De Guzman, and the hard-working Lisa Suguitan Melnick, who all have made NVM’s dream a reality, with Philippine American Writers and Artists (PAWA), for the fourth time. Ed Lozada, PAWA President, greeted the participants warmly, about 200+ on opening night and said, “For FilbookFest4, we have very talented and respected authors and artists coming from the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Canada and the United States who have published in the last two and half years.” Jimmy Abad, a septuagenarian poet who teaches at the University of the Philippines, brought down the house with his poem, reciting all three from memory. The audience kept asking for more. Even Tony Robles, a poet in the Bay Area, learned a lot from him: “Being in the conversation with Filipino poets panel (Jimmy Abad, Barbara Jane Reyes, Angela Peñaredondo) was a real treat. Mr. Abad’s insights were poignant and cut to the heart of why we engage in this endeavor, that is poetry. He posed the question, “When does one write at all?” To illustrate this in our collective human experience, he used Nelson Mandela’s word, “Ubuntu” (I am, because we are). We were being schooled by one who truly knows the path to grace in writing. He told us that writing must be “True to yourself before it can be beautiful.” What a beautiful way to articulate beauty. It was a privilege to be on the panel with him.” What touched me was the audience’s applause for Abraham Ignacio, the “perfect fit” librarian of the Filipino American Center at the San Francisco Library. He was hired last August, and now at the forefront of this well-organized book festival. A perfect fit, as Abe has a passion for archival research, and is an author himself and a very committed Fil-Am community leader. Abe said: “So this is our Pamana — past, present and future artists and writers, and public institutions like the library — continually enriching our cultural legacy so that
Filipino and Filipino-American Women Writing Contemporary History Panel: Mila De Guzman, Karina Africa Bolasco, Cindy Domingo, M. Evelina Galang, and Raissa Robles. Photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
our community can appreciate, celebrate, and pass on this wealth to future generations.” A nice surprise is to find out that Penguin Classics has republished Jose Rizal, Jose Garcia Villa and Nick Joaquin for mainstream literary consumption, all currently available in the East Wind Bookstore in Berkeley and PAWA. The festival attracted 64 panel participants, mostly authors, editors, poets, and publishers. It also included, a first for the festival, graphic/comic arts and a documentary was shown, “Komikero Chronicles, which traced the evolution of graphic artists in the Philippines, quite credibly, with a mosaic of master-artists voices, to a community of animation artists now based in America. M. Evelina Galang, an author and a professor, captured the audience with her first-person account of interviewing 40+ lolas (grandmas), who were raped by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Of the 40, 16 first-person accounts are now part of her book, Lola’s House, which took her 18 years to write. She had a persuasive message, “Come and Meet My Lolas,” using a video snippet of the rallies that she attended, the lolas she interviewed, with Charmaine Clamor, singing a Visayan lullaby in the background. Her book sold out and when it did, other books picked up in sales. I was part of a panel with distinguished authors, led by Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard, who has written and edited 20 books. She moderated two hot off the press panels in the book festival. Her book excerpt illustrated how she wrote a beautiful scene, replete with carefully chosen words, colors, textures and delicate lace fabrics, reminiscent of French origins and of course, a relationship. I shared, as the author of “Even the Rainbow Has a Body,” which Mike Gonzalez describes as “a collection of vignettes of 31 play-
wrights, musicians, photographers, writers and artists give testimony to the creative spirit of the Filipino, wherever they may be. Their stories remind us that artistry is not only about mastering the medium at hand, but is also made meaningful by acts of charity or advocacy.” In this book, I shared how NVM Gonzalez released my writing voice when he gave me a writing assignment and a title that became my first published essay in UCLA’s Amerasia Journal, “A Man in the Outhouse: How Western Colonization Silenced the Filipino Imagination,” Vol. 25, No.2, 1999. How he came to be my mentor is in my book, including how NVM revered Leonard Casper, whose daughter, Kristina Casper-Denham, (coincidentally was in the audience), read an excerpt of her mom’s writings, Linda Ty-Casper, quoted above. “In 1961, Leonard Casper (Kristina’s dad) wrote a book of essays on modern Filipino literature. I shall demand that she (one of his students) reads this word for word. It is, in fact, rich in literary information. To read is to know, really know, our literature from the thirties to the sixties, and that would suffice for now,” NVM wrote to me, just before he passed away on Nov. 21, 1999. *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.
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House OKs mental health bill by Jess
Diaz Philstar.com
MANILA — The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill providing for a comprehensive national mental healthcare program and its integration with the country’s primary healthcare delivery system. The committee on health chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelita Tan and committee on appropriations headed by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles endorsed House Bill 6452 or the Comprehensive Mental Health Act. The measure is a consolidation of several related bills. Tan and Antipolo Rep. Chiqui Roa Puno, author of one of the bills, sponsored the measure. Also approved on second reading is another proposed law authored by the Quezon congresswoman. It seeks to provide scholarships to medical students in state universities and colleges provided they This requirement will make more doctors available in rural areas, Tan said. Tan, a community doctor before seeking public office, said the approval of the mental health bill is timely because of the increasing number of Filipinos
with mental illnesses. “We have to have a comprehensive program to deal with these ailments. Through the bill, the government should be able to provide mental healthcare not only in specialized institutions but in big state-owned hospitals in the provinces,” she said. Puno said the measure seeks “to promote mental wellness, prevent the progress of mental health problems through intervention and properly address existing mental disorders.” “We need to ease the pain of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos with mental health conditions who often suffer in silence, so that they no longer feel alone and helpless in dealing with their mental health woes,” she said. According to Lourdes Ignacio of the UP College of Medicine, one in three Filipinos has a mental health problem. The proposed mental health law mandates the Department of Health (DOH) to formulate a national mental healthcare program in coordination with persons with mental disability and their organizations, their families, caregivers and mental health professionals.
The DOH would also be tasked to develop an extensive delivery system that could provide mental healthcare up to the regional and provincial levels. Local government units would be asked to upgrade their hospitals and recruit competent staff so they could provide mental health service. The bill defines the responsibilities of all concerned government agencies and mental health service providers. Funds needed for the envisioned comprehensive national mental healthcare program would be included in the DOH budget. Violators of the proposed law face imprisonment of six months to two years or a fine of P10,000 to P200,000 or both, at the discretion of the court. The DOH will be mandated to issue implementing rules and regulations. Other authors of the consolidated bill include Romero Quimbo of Marikina, Pia Cayetano of Taguig, Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list, Jericho Nograles of Puwesa ng Bayaning Atleta and Tom Villarin of Akbayan. n
Arroyo joins ruling party PDP-Laban by Ralph
VillanueVa ManilaTimes.net
FORMER President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo and Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap on Wednesday, October 11 joined the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDPLaban) coalition in the House of Representatives. “My joining the PDP-Laban is to consolidate support for the President. It is a matter of
course as we have been talking about this for quite some time,” said Arroyo, who was formerly of the Lakas-CMD coalition. “We just wanted to support the President by joining his party,” Yap said in a text message to The Manila Times. The PDP-Laban earlier said it will stop accepting new members by the end of this month. “PDP Laban is a party for
those who believe in its principles, whether it is in power or not. We are not a party of political convenience,” Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban. “By stopping recruitment, we will have time to indoctrinate and train our members, screen possible candidates, and absorb our new members into our grassroots infrastructure,” Pimentel added. n
SHE’S IN. Former President Gloria Arroyo takes her oath as PDP-Laban member before Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas. Manilatimes.net photo
SOLIDARITY. Agricultural workers from different regions join farmers from Bukidnon and Davao del Norte in a protest caravan demanding genuine agrarian reform. ManilaTimes.net photo by Nica Gallardo
Groups urge Apple to take down apps related to drug war by Gaea
KatReena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANILA, — More than a hundred civil society organizations worldwide wrote an open letter to Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook for the company to remove applications promoting President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on illegal drugs. In a letter, 131 organizations— among them human rights and drug policy reform groups—asked the tech giant to immediately take down applications that normalize extrajudicial killings and violence. “These games valorize and normalize the emerging tyranny of Duterte’s presidency and his government’s disregard for human rights principles. In virtual reality, these games may seem harmless and fun. But when they are placed within the context of existing realities, of real murders of people and the impunity of law enforcement, then these games become offensive and distasteful,” the October 10 letter read. The applications, among others, include “Fighting Crime 2,” “Duterte Knows Kung Fu: Pinoy Crime Fighter,” “Duterte Running Man Challenge,” “Tsip Bato: Ang Bumangga Giba!” and “Duterte vs. Zombies.” The groups said these games violate the App Store Review Guidelines. “Where Apple is a staunch proponent of human values, community and connectedness, your promoting, through the App store, of the killing of people who use
The groups also requested the tech giant to review the applications and issue an apology for hosting “insensitive” content. Photo from Asian Network of People Who Use Drugs
drugs is in clear contradiction of your values as an organization,” it read. The groups also requested Apple to review the applications and issue an apology for hosting “insensitive” content. “It is entirely inappropriate for Apple to be promoting the actions, policies and discourses of a politician and state that have resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent people,” the letter read. It added that the inclusion of these applications was “unacceptable that Apple is tolerant to making profit out of people’s unjust deaths and misery.” The letter was sent through the Asian Network of People Who Use Drugs, a Thailand-based foundation representing drug users. Apple has yet to respond to the letter. Duterte’s drug war According to the latest statistics released by the Philippine National Police, there have been 6,225 drug-related deaths since
July 2016. The PNP said 3,850 have “died in police operations,” suggesting these are drug suspects who engaged arresting officers in shootouts. The authorities also noted that Filipinos should not be worried for their lives as the possibility of being an extrajudicial killing victim is “very remote” as there is no case considered as an EJK as of now in the country. However, human rights groups estimate a higher death toll, with some approximations going as high as 13,000 individuals killed in the course of the administration’s anti-narcotics campaign. Last month, 39 nations expressed concern over the rising number of drug-related killings and called on the government to end these deaths According to the 2017 Global Impunity Index, the Philippines has the highest level of impunity among 69 countries after scoring 75.6 points. n
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Dave Bautista stars in ‘Blade Runner 2049’ by Mark
‘Your Time With Thomas’ brings a fresh perspective on millennial life in LA
Fil-Am Thomas Orlina shares personal stories, discusses pop culture, fashion and dating in new web series by klarize
Medenilla AJPress
WE live in a world where content creation and digital storytelling is becoming more accessible for filmmakers, musicians and aspiring entertainment moguls. one of those dreamers is Filipino-American Thomas orlina, who decided to utilize all the available tools of the trade to make his mark in the entertainment world. Best known for being an on-air host of AfterBuzz TV and a red carpet correspondent, orlina currently works with Warner Brothers as a corporate communicationsÂ
Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador
representative. previously, he worked as an executive assistant at Telepictures productions and as publicist’s assistant at TMZ. His current side venture as an entertainment influencer comes in the form of a brand new show of which he is the creator and executive producer, called “Your Time With Thomas.â€? it is an eight-part docu-series on YouTube where orlina puts a light on a wide range of topics from pop culture and fashion to relationships and sexuality. He also shares glimpses of his life and puts an emphasis on his cultural heritage. “i’m extremely proud of being Filipino-American,â€? orlina, 29, told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. “i think there’s a huge void in the Filipino-American community. i’m at a point in my life where there’s hardly any Filipinos in the spotlight that i can look up to, and that saddens me. in this day and age, with all this talk of diversity, i think there should be more and i want to be one of the first ones.â€? He films his episodes all around the City of Angels, taking viewers on an expedition across the world’s biggest playground for ambitious creatives. Since the show premiered in July, orlina has enjoyed growingÂ
online success, garnering more than 20,000 views from all over the world. Through his show, he’s been able to connect with people from all over the United States as well as Hong Kong, Australia, the U.K and, of course, the philippines. Each episode acts as its own stand-alone piece that tells its own story. in the second episode, orlina recounts his experience in coming out as gay, a poignant episode that has resonated with his viewers, where the next episode discusses friendship. “The fans, they’re really diverse and it’s truly an honor to be able to deliver my show to such a wide range of people,� orlina said. “it really means a lot to me that my show has already impacted so many people in this positive way. The real message of the show is to dream and to be inspired and to really go after what you want in life.� orlina produces the show and said he takes his time with every detail. However, orlina emphasizes that it’s not a one-man show and he owes a lot to the collaborations with director and editor, Myles Yaksich and marketing strategist consultant, Stephen M. Thornton. orlina says that he eventually PAGE B5
Xavier Bautista AJPress
Filipino-American Hollywood star and former WWE champion Dave Bautista co-stars in the much-anticipated movie “Blade Runner 2049�, a sequel from the 1982 hit movie “Blade Runner� that was directed by Ridley Scott and starred by Harrison Ford. Three decades after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, lApD officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former lApD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. oscar-nomi-
Filipino-American Hollywood star and former WWE champion Dave Bautista Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures
nated director Denis Villeneuve (“Arrivalâ€?) directed the much-anticipated sequel. Blade Runner 2049 was produced by oscar nominees Andrew A. Kosove & Broderick Johnson (“The Blind Sideâ€?) and three-timeÂ
Emmy winners Bud Yorkin & Cynthia Sikes Yorkin. Multiple oscar nominee Ridley Scott is the executive producer. Bill Carraro served as executive producer and unit production manager. PAGE B3
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B october 14-17, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JoUrNAL
EntErtainmEnt
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Nadine Lustre asks for respect by Jan
MiLo SeveRo Philstar.com
spreading stories of her weakness. “And to everyone who’s been sharing me stories of weakness.. I’m reading. wait for me. I got you.” A few days ago, Nadine posted a semicolon with a hashtag #KeepGoing. Nadine’s on and off-screen partner James Reid also posted this symbol and hashtag, expressing his support. Celebrities and netizens also expressed support to Nadine. last year, the department of Health, in partnership with the world Health organization and the Natasha Goulbourn FoundaNadine Lustre Photo from Instagram/@nadine tion, launched “Hopeline Project” which aims to provide a support she wrote. In the same post, she likewise system for those suffering from warned those people who are depression.
oN Thursday, oct. 12, actress Nadine lustre broke her silence about the reported death of her brother. on her Instagram stories on Thursday, the actress asked for respect. “Hi. May I request to please refrain from posting/reposting photos and videos of me from the President Rodrigo Duterte does his signature pose with Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, Council for Philippine Affairs (COPA) Secretary funeral. let’s give respect. This is General Pastor Saycon, actor Steven Seagal, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Councilor Luis Singson, Special Assistant for everyone. Thank you,” the “It’s to the President Christopher Lawrence Go and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez at the Malacañang Palace on Thursday, October 12. Showtime” host posted. Malacañang photos by King Rodriguez Nadine also has a message for her detractors. “To everyone who’s been judging me for the past few days, remember this. you will always by LhaR Santiago see me up but never down. So ManilaTimes.net wag niyong hanapin. Get lost,” Hollywood action star Steven Seagal has been to the Philippines countless times, he says, but this is the first time he is in the country for work. by Ricky Lo Philstar.com Seagal arrived in Manila from los Angeles on Sunday, oct. 8 to ReMeMBeR the Funfare “breaking news” about shoot his 12-part television series a rift that occurred between Vice Ganda and Coco “General Commander.” Martin? The story is set in Southeast In an update, the same VdPA (Very deep PenetraAsia but most of the scenes will tion Agent) said that the “cold war” between the be shot in Manila and other parts (former) bosom buddies has gotten worse. Guess of the country. what is causing the widening gap — yes, the Metro Sitting down with the global Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this december. Both action star, he told Showbuzz he and his team will spend much of Martial artist and Hollywood actor Steven Seagal will spend much of his visit to the country stars have entries: Coco’s is “Ang Panday” (which he produces and stars in) and Vice’s is “The Rethis visit to scout the perfect loca- scouting the perfect locations for his TV series. some business partners are even different places in luzon, Visayas vengers” (with daniel Padilla and Pia wurtzbach). tions for the series. Steven further shared he is planning planning to build infra- and Mindanao. “My favorite is Neither would give way to the other, especially not thankful his friend, former Ilocos structure in the country that can Vigan, Ilocos Sur,” he revealed. “I Vice who wants to strengthen his “reign” as Queen Sur Governor Chavit Singson, be used for their future projects like the old town feel. I love stay- of MMFF (which he missed last year, but released ing there. It’s a city that was built his movie, Star Cinema’s “Beauty and the Bestie,” is always ready to help him. In both for movies and TV. with Coco as co-star, second week of december, “Besides General Commander, 200 or 300 years ago!” fact, Gov. Chavit even met him Because he is shooting a 12- and grossed more than the total gross of the indieat the airport when he arrived in I am also finishing my movie ‘Attrition.’ It’s in post production now episode series, Steven is happy he dominated MMFF). Manila. “It seems that Kapamilya bigwigs are ‘siding’ “we will be going to different but I’m reshooting some of the has a longer time to spend here. Vice Ganda and Coco Martin Philstar.com photo places on his plane. He knows a scenes here in the Philippines,” He, in fact, is ready to experience with Coco and it’s hurting Vice,” added the VdPA. How soon, if ever, will Vice be “totally” a Viva lot of good places here where we the action star continued. “I know the famed Philippine Christmas “Thus, Vice’s decision to sign up with the Viva can shoot. we need forests and I won’t have a hard time working because he plans to work even Group which was his original ‘home’ anyway, the artist? Stay tuned. It might not be long from, now. same company that produced his first solo starrer. mountains and also the city of here because the people are very during the holidays. Remember, in showbiz as in politics, there are Vice is still with ABS-CBN/Star Cinema, with louie Meeting with Duterte good.” Manila,” Steven said. President Rodrigo duterte (Andrada) taking care of his schedule but it’s now no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent As such, it was but natural for In General Commander, Steinterests...ho-hum!!! ven plays the role of former CIA Steven to say he likes the Filipino met on Thursday, oct. 12 Seagal Viva minding his endorsements.” agent Jake Alexander who is out people most of all when he comes in Malacañang. Seagal, who flew into the Philto bring to justice the person to visit. “I really think the people are ippines to look for a location for responsible for the death of a friend and colleague. The fellow this country’s biggest asset. They his new movie, was accompanied PAGE B1 of the Galaxy” films) and oscar movie and explore it with my own CIA agent was a vital member are very good; they treat us nicely. by former Ilocos Sur Gov. luis The film which stars Ryan Gos- winner Jared leto (“dallas Buy- sensibility.” of his Alexander’s team but No wonder the Philippines is “Chavit” Singson. Seagal’s new movie is about ling (“la la land”) and Harrison ers Club”). For Fil-Am actor Batista, it is all killed during a sling operation in called the ‘Pearl of Asia.” Further proof that he likes com- illegal drugs and other crimes, Ford (“Star wars”) also includes director denis Villeneuve was about the pride of being a part of Southeast Asia. After being told he cannot pursue plans to find ing here is that Steven can no lon- a Malacañang press release said. an international cast, among them asked by the press what interested a great film. It said duterte told Seagal “that Ana de Armas (“war dogs”), him in taking this film and he re“when I first got the role, I the person who killed his friend, ger remember how many times he Alexander and his crew resign has been to the Philippines. To be movies are a reflection of life” Sylvia Hoeks (“Renegades”), Rob- plied, “The idea that as human be- didn’t realize how important the from the organization and form sure, the first trip was in the ‘80s, as the President reiterated “his in wright (“wonder woman”), ings we are reprogrammed with character was to the plot of the a rogue security unit funded by and after that, he would come over strong stance against illegal drugs Mackenzie davis (“The Martian”), our genetic background and film. I’m proud to be part of the for vacations, quietly slipping in because these enslave people to a Carla Juri(“Brimstone”), and len- education and how we can free film,” he said. a rich friend. form of synthetic chemical.” (With nie James (“The walking dead”), from that. Also to bring back that Blade Runner opened in theSteven says he is very excited and out of the country. Naturally, actor has been to reports from Inquirer.net) with dave Bautista (the “Guardians beautiful career from the first aters on october 6, 2017. to shoot in the Philippines. He and
Steven Seagal to shoot TV series in PH
Why Vice Ganda decided to return to the Viva Group
Dave Bautista stars in...
Sgt. Clarete | U.S. Army Recruitment
Growing up in a Filipino family as the youngest of eight, Sergeant Robin Clarete experienced first hand what it meant to work to provide.
“I could go on all day,” raved Clarete on the many benefits he’s received.
“He had no time for himself, he was always working,” said Clarete of his father who graciously supported four kids in the U.S., and four in the Philippines.
He’s had many reach out to him, wanting to learn of what additional benefits they could get such as the current offer of up to $40,000 in bonuses.
With tight resources, Clarete found himself working straight after high school, but quickly decided he wanted more. With two family members who had served in the U.S. Army, including a WWII Veteran grandfather, Clarete decided to seek information. “Everything that I was looking for, the army had,” said Clarete who has been in the U.S. Army for 15 years. Whether it was being part of a winning culinary team in Hawaii, travelling around the world for free, or connecting with different people, joining the U.S. Army opened a world of opportunities and experiences for Clarete. Not only was he able to obtain his degree for free, along with basic pay, free meals, housing allowance, and 30 to 40 days of fully paid vacation — Clarete was further able to secure a stable future for him and his family. He was able to own a home without putting a down payment, provide full medical and dental coverage for his wife and daughter, and even set up a college fund for his daughter, among many other things.
Clarete has already enlisted six young Filipinos in just two months, from Eagle Rock.
“They’ve been great. They’re happy,” shared Clarete, adding that one enlistee even became a U.S citizen after just four months in the states. “Now he’s putting all his pictures on Facebook of his car… Just having fun — being young.” One enlistee recently wrote to Clarete, thanking him for everything he’s done. That reminded Clarete of when he first joined and sent a similar letter to his recruiter. “That’s what I did to my recruiter,” said Clarete. “That’s one of the purest joys I can get from what I do.” While there can be ups and downs, that’s just part of life in general, said Clarete. Joining still remains one of the best decisions he’s made in life, and he is always eager to share his experiences with those interested. “Everything that I have done in the army has put me in the right path to where I need to be in this world.”
If you or anyone you know would like information on what it’s like to be a part of the U.S. Army, feel free to contact Sergeant Robin Clarete at (323) 252 - 8185 or visit your local U.S. Army Recruitment Center.
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Filipino animators work their magic in ‘My Little Pony’ series, movie by Nathalie
tomada Philstar.com
FiliPiNo animators have worked their magic in the “My little Pony: Friendship is Magic” series and the “My little Pony: The Movie.” Unknown to many, the My little Pony franchise, which has become a pop-culture phenomenon, especially after the 2010 series reboot My little Pony: Friendship is Magic, has been tapping the services of the homegrown animation studio Top Draw Animation, inc. for all of the popular cartoon show’s seven seasons. The Filipino artistry is now on full-length display in the movie adaptation, which is on its second week of showing in cinemas. it’s the first-ever feature film for the 19-year-old ortigas-based animation company. Top Draw acquired the bigscreen job being a longstanding outsourcing studio for the Vancouver-based DHX Media. The latter was commissioned by the My little Pony franchise owner Hasbro, a US multinational toymaker that has expanded into gaming and entertainment. About 80 percent of the film was made in the Philippines. it took a crew of at least 70 people and a year to finish not only key animation, but also other production services like layout, background and rigging or the process of modeling characters for animation. Top Draw senior EVP Stella Dearing (who co-founded the studio with her husband, former Hanna-Barbera executive Wayne Dearing, in 1999) told The STAR, “With this movie, we’re trying to highlight Filipino talent. it’s testament to what we can do, and all we can hope for is that it’s not going to be the first. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities not just for Top Draw but also for other studios in the Philippines to do something like this.” To celebrate its latest achievement, Top Draw Animation treated its employees to an advance screening of the film. Upon seeing My little Pony in its entirety, animation director lean lagonera couldn’t help but feel emotional. “i felt very happy and super proud. i was even more overwhelmed seeing everything there — the sound effects, the 3D assets that they added, the texturing to the characters. our work has leveled up so much. it really came to life!” Dearing added, “The entire crew was very proud. The biggest reaction came when the end credits rolled and the entire theater burst into cheers when they saw their names. (Hasbro) really gave us the space to enumerate all the artists and production people that helped in the making of the film.” During the special screening, they were joined by My little Pony fans, including the Bronies, which refer to the adult male followers
ofMy little Pony. lagonera shared that some of them, who have long known about Top Draw’s involvement in My little Pony, “thanked us, ‘Sir you’ve changed my life.’ All the while, we thought it was just work for us, but little did we know that what we were working on had made an impact on a lot of people.” Dearing said that while My little Pony targets an audience of young girls, she first learned during an animation festival in France that it has a cult following among grown men. in fact, there’s a documentary titled, A Brony Tale, about this unlikely, global community of regular dudes who were introduced to it either through their daughters or nieces, but have somehow connected with the magical adventures and friendship of these pastel-hued ponies of the Kingdom of Equestria. in the film, Ponyville — the hometown of the leading characters — is being threatened by dark forces. Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash Applejack and Fluttershy (a.k.a. Mane 6) journey out of their comfort zones to go on a quest on how to use the “magic of friendship” to save their kingdom. Animating song-and-dance sequences that featured as many as 70 characters proved to be daunting for Top Draw. For lagonera, the most complex of them all was the opening scene that showed flying ponies. When the material was done, they had to divide it into four sections before sending it to their client because the software couldn’t handle the whole thing. Nevertheless, cliché as it may sound, love for the job beats challenges of varying degrees anytime. it’s also the advice lagonera, who has had overseas job offers but chose to stay in the country to pursue animation, will give to those wanting the same career path. He said, “if they have the passion for drawing, the passion for animation, go ahead. Di naman kailangan college graduate dito, or yung diploma or anything. As long as the skills are there and the heart, go for it.” For Dearing, drawing skills are very important more so in this digital age. “Artists like lean and many of our contemporaries, we started animation with pen and paper, they didn’t do anything, except to draw, erase, throw the paper out, draw again for eight to 12 hours,” she said. “When the digital age came, you have a lot of software, shortcuts, templates available. The kids, they want to do animation and with the help of some tools, they’re able to create animation. There came a time, it was oK. Clients could lower their budget. if we were doing traditional animation 30 years ago, one project would probably be done by 200 to 300 people. Now, we need 60 to 70 per project because of the digital tools.”
During the transition to digital, she said many creators and producers embraced it “to a point na oK yung look, alam mo yung digitalna yan, kasi hindi na siya kasing lambot, kasing organic yung feel (the look was oK, you know it was digital because the feel wasn’t as soft or as organic). But many years later up to the present, these creators and producers are finding ways to use the tools and yet make them look traditional. That’s the challenge now and this is what we’re faced with: how do you use the digital medium to create something that looks like the old? Sometimes, they say, they want the traditional, paperless method… That makes the work of our animators difficult.” To date, Top Draw has supplied animation services for many TV series aside from Hasbro’s My little Pony: Friendship is Magic, such as Transformers: Rescue Bots, Dreamworks’ The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Warner Bros.’ The Tom and Jerry Show, Cartoon Network Asia’s Exchange Student Zero and Disney’s Penn Zero: Part Time Hero. There are other Philippine studios as big as Top Draw which currently has 500 employees. However, it’s been touted as the country’s leading animation studio in terms of the volume of shows it’s doing — close to 250 half-hours per year. “We run as much as 12 projects all at the same time,” said Dearing. The company also has a frontrow seat to the growth of the animation industry in the country. “Animation has been in the Philippines for 30-something years. We’ve grown old in this business,” said Dearing, who together with lagonera, started their careers in Fil-Cartoons. “There are two schools of thought (as to the direction of the industry). one is that for us at Top Draw, our main core is to continue where we are, providing services or maybe coproducing with other countries. our license to operate is really for export. We may be going to related businesses later on, like gaming and apps, as that has always been our dream. However, the 2D arena has been keeping us busy and growing for the past 10 years.” “But gaming is gaining ground,” she added. “Some other studios are developing their iPs (games). i know the government is also strongly supporting that.” Although the country is facing competition from other Asian countries, particularly China and india, for animation outsourcing work, Dearing expressed high hopes that the industry here can still do so much and attract more opportunities. “i firmly believe that the Filipino are very good artists, we understand western gags, we have the sense of humor. The other side is, we’re also very reliable, we can communicate, we can provide services as what the client expects.”
About 80 percent of the film was made in the Philippines. It took a crew of at least 70 people and a year to finish not only key animation, but also other production services like layout, background and rigging or the process of modeling characters for animation. Philstar.com photo
TWICE HE APPLIED FOR AN IMMIGRANT VISA. TWICE, HE WAS DENIED. FIND OUT THE FINAL SCORE THIS SUNDAY, ON “CITIZEN PINOY”! Joseph (center) was initially petitioned as a minor child of a green card holder, but his visa was refused at the interview because he admitted to drug use. When he aged out, his petition was reclassified to F-2B. At his second interview, he was denied for the same reason. His mother, Josie (right), and his sister, Evelyn (left), felt hopeless. They were running out of options, and were desperate. It felt like Nanay Josie’s promise of having the family reunited in America would just remain a dream. Mother and daughter consulted with leading U.S. attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, after seeing a case similar to Joseph’s that was featured on Citizen Pinoy. Atty. Gurfinkel went to the U.S. Embassy in Manila and becomes a major contributor to a landmark decision and policy change that benefitted Joseph and many more. Watch a mother’s promise fulfilled on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.
A mother’s promise cannot be fulfilled, until a ‘miracle’ takes place on ‘Citizen Pinoy’ WHEN Nanay Josie left for the U.S. many years ago, she promised her children that she would do everything she could so they can all be reunited in the U.S. Years passed and she was able to file petitions for her children, but her son, Joseph, was denied both times: first as a minor child of a lawful permanent resident; and then years later, when he aged out and the petition was reclassified to F2B. Joseph was denied because he admitted to drug use. This meant a lifetime ban. Nanay Josie was devastated. Even Joseph’s younger sister, Evelyn, was so disappointed and heartbroken. The tears would not stop. How will Nanay’s promise for the family to be reunited come true? After mother and daughter saw an episode on “Citizen Pinoy” that featured a case like Joseph’s, they decided to consult with leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. Atty. Gurfinkel visited the U.S. Embassy in Manila and convinced them to reverse their policy of imposing a lifetime ban for admitting drug use
Watch a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday and find out how Atty. Gurfinkel’s efforts led to a landmark policy change that benefitted Joseph and many others. This was the
“miracle” that the family had been waiting for all these years. “Citizen Pinoy” airs this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).
B october 14-17, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JoUrNAL
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What can we learn from Harvey Weinstein’s victims By Monet
Rachel Donaire
Health & Wellness iMee Ong-MaghanOy “BEINg alive in all aspects of it is making sure that you’re present in the moment and feeling what it feels like to be you. Making sure that when you are going through these things (weight-loss journey)…, you understand that the end-goal is for you to feel alive every single day and that all the ups and downs are worth it once you reach your goal ‘coz those are what will make you feel alive. Be yourself. Don’t fit into anyone’s cookie cutter. It’s your body. You know the right weight for you. Lastly, Be strong – mentally and physically. And not just in losing weight but in everything that life throws at you…” Such precious words by Rachel Marcial-Donaire, a Taekwondo World Champion and wife of four-weight world boxing champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire. That is a lot of titles in one statement but what can I say? This strong and confident woman just has it all together, and raising two wonderful kids (Jarel, 4 and Logan, 2), basically makes her “Superwoman” title the toughest one to beat. Rachel has been a client of Image Spa for over two years. During our lovely lunch date in Vegas back in 2015, we talked about a weight-loss plan that we could put her into after she gave birth – she was still very much pregnant with her second child then. She started her weight-loss program a couple of months later after Logan was born. Fast-forward to this day when all the hard work has paid off. Sitting across my table from size ten (10) to a double zero (00) and sharing with us her fitness journey is the Superwoman I truly admire, Rachel Donaire. “Yes, it was the weekend of my baby shower when we had lunch. We started talking and we hit off and at that time I believe I was about 175 lbs. But when I started the program with Image Spa, I was at 158 lbs., that was around September. My target weight was to be at 120 lbs. by February. There was this awards show, The Filipino Sports Award, that [was] happening in February so I wanted to be fit by then,” Rachel said as she recalled how we first met. I remember telling Rachel about the Image Slim Shots Protocol. The program is designed to develop a customized weight-loss plan for every client by determining their food intake, calorie requirement (and how much they don’t need), as well as a detailed assessment of the client’s overall health and lifestyle versus his/her target weight goal. Then we determine how he/she can get there realistically. This Slim Shots Protocol is combined with intramuscular (IM) injections containing Human Chorionic gonadotropin (hCg), we call “Slim Shots.” This protocol originated from Dr. Simeons’ revolutionary approach to weight loss and his discovery of how pregnant women are able to give birth to full-sized,
‘Be Alive, Be Yourself, Be strong’
Rachel Donaire on achieving her weight goal
Rachel’s before and after photos
healthy babies despite being malnourished and severely underweight. This is possible through a polypeptide hormone called hCg that pregnant women produce. HCg draws fat from the body’s secondary fat reserves to feed a developing fetus so that it will not become malnourished. Dr. Simeons’ research revealed that hCg triggers the body to release this secondary fat reserve. He then discovered that putting patients on a low-calorie diet while the abnormal fat was being released caused the body to take this fat and use it as fuel for energy. Taking hCg will not only help you lose weight but by pulling from secondary fat reserves it will also reshape and re-sculpt your body. While it is guaranteed that hCg yields results, the results may still vary from one person to another. Most people are hesitant when they hear about “hCg diet” because they automatically associate it with a 500-calorie diet. With our Slim Shot Protocol, it’s highly unlikely that we put you on a 500-calorie diet without assessing your bodily nutritional requirements and capabilities. The calories would depend on how active they are. In addition, men and women are different too in terms of how much calories they need on a daily basis. All of this will be determined during the consultation wherein we take the time to know the clients’ activities or lifestyle, then we design the program to fit their needs. Some may end up having to portion their food intake without having to deprive themselves of what they normally eat. While for some, it is just a matter of adding more vegetables and cutting back on sugar. So really, it depends. You’re not in this program to starve yourself, you’re here to make your body work to its optimum state. At Image Spa, our “Slim Shots” which are IM shots packed with hCg are given to the client while maintaining a “customized” meal plan (some of them eat as much as six small meals a day). It has been proven effective because we customize the protocol/program depending on what suits the clients, what’s realistic and what works best for them. This helps them stay in the program with little to no “backsliding” tendencies. The protocol is basically programming your lifestyle such as your eating habits and training yourself to eat right not little. Plus, it doesn’t involve workout unless your goal is to gain muscles. Rachel continued: “My program was fairly easy because you pretty much walk me through what’s expected of me, what I can and can’t do as far as eating and you were available for any questions that I might have during the program. I think if you are planning to lose weight you have to have that mentality that you have to start somewhere. Some people get frustrated when they don’t see any results in the first two months. With Image Spa, the program is customized specifically per client. With the program you had me on, the results weren’t that immediate but it was visible in a reasonable amount of time like when I step on the scale from one week to the next, I saw a five to seven pound difference. I started with the slim shots and consuming only 500 to 800 calories a day. Combined it
with the Slim Shots, no strenuous workout during the first few months, I’ve already reached my goal of 120 by February. I also went on and off the Slim Shots to see how much lower I can get. After that I started with the ketogenic diet which is high-fat, moderate protein and zero to low carb ‘coz I wanted to gain muscles. Then I was on L-carnitine and the metabolism booster (b12) shots. I was around 112-115 lbs. The last thing I did was went through a test by Life Science, in the Philippines. It is designed to test you for foods that you are intolerant to. So they gave me a list of foods that I cannot eat, that also helped me a lot. So from my goal of 120, I went down to 109 in a couple of months! So I am a lot lower than I thought I could be and it all started with the Slim Shots.” With Rachel’s program, our initial goal was to get her back to her pre-pregnancy weight which is (as she said) 120 lbs. We did that by starting her off with the Slim Shots Protocol. Once she reached her target weight of 120, she decided she wants to gain muscles so we put her on the L-carnitine shots which helps in muscle formation. We also gave her metabolism boosters since she was losing more weight while burning more energy at the same time. Rachel is the kind of client that you want to work with because you know she will really cooperate. And it shows because of how she is still able to maintain her program until now. A lot of people ask if the program works. I say, yes it does work, but the question is if they are ready. At Image Spa, we need to evaluate our clients and make them aware of everything that’s going to happen to make sure that they are up for it and they are determined. This is what made Rachel a very good candidate for the program. She just went for it and look at her now! She doesn’t only look beautiful and amazing, but she, in fact, looks healthy! I’m just glad that she trusted us to help her. I asked her what made her choose Image Spa and she said: “First of all, I am very comfortable with you. Deciding to endorse Image Spa is like entering into a relationship with them – with you, not just the product, but as a person. The friendship that we’ve established was key to me. Secondly, I like how the ads of Image Spa are based on the person and not like a general thing. The message was personal in a way that it encourages you to be your best and not to fit into just one category or image. Each person has a different body type, a different story and is entitled to different best versions of themselves. That’s how the ads spoke to me – like your image is your own.” It is always fulfilling whenever we see positive results. It makes our job – my calling – worthwhile. As I share Rachel’s journey I remember how she started it all by having the right mindset. And she has three words to leave us today: “Be Alive, Be Yourself and Be Strong.” *** Imee is an established aesthetician, a business owner and a managing partner for Image Spa MD and CEO of Image Body SPA. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. Image Spa is now one of the most reputable medical spa facilities in LA and has branches in Rancho Cucamonga and Encinitas for Image SPA MD and Image Body SPA-West Hollywood. Imee has been in the aesthetics
Lu
POLITICS and show business seem like two sides of the same coin. Both filled with scandals, power struggle, hypocrisy, lies, deception and sex offenders. While there’s a lot to gain from both of these sectors, there is, sadly, also a lot of disgrace that is just too disturbing for our sanity. I’ve been in the entertainment industry for as long as I can remember and yet it still shakes me to the core whenever I hear horror stories resulting from the series of malady I have just mentioned. I wasn’t surprised when I learned about the sexual harassment and assault grievances that women (both actresses and employees alike) have been throwing at Harvey Weinstein, who by the way, is the co-founder of the productionand-distribution companies Miramax and the Weinstein Company, that helped to reinvent the model for independent films, with movies such as “Sex, Lies, and Videotape,” “The English Patient,” “Pulp Fiction,” “The Crying game,” “Shakespeare in Love,” and “The King’s Speech.” I was not surprised because I’ve heard stories and witnesses talk about how dirty show business can be. What shocks me is why we haven’t done anything about it for years. It was reported that for more than twenty years, Weinstein has been trailed by rumors of sexual harassment and assault. In fact, they say, it has been an open secret in Hollywood and beyond. There were attempts to investigate and expose the misdemeanor but because too few people were willing to speak, much less allow a reporter to use their names, it was buried like it never happened. Now here we are. And finally, women have been coming out to speak about the sexual advances and harassment that this man did. Amidst these allegations, according to The New Yorker, “On October 5th, in an initial effort at damage control, Weinstein responded to the Times piece by issuing a statement partly acknowledging what he had done, saying, ‘I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.’ In an interview with the New York Post, he said, ‘I’ve got to deal with my personality, I’ve got to work on my temper, I have got to dig deep. I know a lot of people would like me to go into a facility, and I may well just do that—I will go anywhere I can learn more about
Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS What are renal calculi? Renal calculi (kidney stones) are chemical crystals that form into a hard salt solid structure that looks like and feels like a common stone we find on the streets. They vary in size, shape, and consistency, according to their chemical composition. They could be calcium oxalate stone, cystine stone, uric acid stone, infection stone, or even a combination. Where do these stones come from? Our two bean-shaped kidneys are important blood filters which eliminate chemical waste from our body and excreted into the urine. Without our kidneys, the build up of chemical waste in our body could reach a poisonous, even deadly, level within a few days. In people who have a high risk of forming stones, these chemical crystals solidify in the kidney calices (cup-shaped areas of the kidney). Some of these stones could travel down the ureter (a small muscular tube the connects each kidney to the bladder), causing severe colicky pains from ureteral irritation and spasm. how large are these stones? Renal stones vary in sizes, from the size of a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Many small stones (silent stones) are passed naturally. Medium stones are often crushed with ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy), popularly known as Lithotripsy for short. Large stones may need Percutaneous Lithotripsy. Very large stones may need surgical removal, especially the staghorn calculus, which “staghorn” shape and large size lodge it in the kidney pelvis (main chamber) and prevent it from entering and passing down the small ureter. Some stones have round, smooth, surface, and could pass down the ureter to the bladder with lesser pains. Others have sharp, jagged edges, causing more pains when they travel down, or get caught, in the ureter.
myself.’ Weinstein went on. But before we get into how “sorry” Weinstein really is, let’s go back to the number of stories (complaints) that have been going around as more and more women are starting to speak up. Many of the stories bear similarities: Weinstein would arrange a hotel meet-up under the guise of business, he would request a massage, make intimidating sexual advances or masturbate in front of his subject. According to New York Times, the following incidents took place: Actress Ashley Judd recalled a hotel breakfast meeting with Weinstein while shooting Kiss the girls. Mr. Weinstein soon issued invitation after invitation, she said. Could he give her a massage? When she refused, he suggested a shoulder rub. She rejected that too, she recalled. He steered her toward a closet, asking her to help pick out his clothing for the day, and then toward the bathroom. Would she watch him take a shower? she remembered him saying. In 1997, Weinstein reached a settlement with actress Rose Mcgowan. The $100,000 settlement was “not to be construed as an admission” by Mr. Weinstein, but intended to “avoid litigation and buy peace,” according to the legal document, which was reviewed by The Times. gwyneth Paltrow said Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was 22 years old filming Emma. “I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified,” she said in an interview, publicly disclosing that she was sexually harassed by the man who ignited her career and later helped her win an Academy Award. Angelina Jolie recalled Weinstein making sexual advances in a hotel room. On another outlet, The New Yorker, the following were also reported: Italian actress Lucia Stoller (who now goes by Lucia Evans) said Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex during an office meeting. “At that point, after that, is when he assaulted me,” Evans said. “He forced me to perform oral sex on him.” As she objected, Weinstein took his penis out of his pants and pulled her head down onto it. “I said, over and over, ‘I don’t want to do this, stop, don’t,’” she said. “I tried to get away, but maybe I didn’t try hard enough. I didn’t want to kick him or fight him.” In the end, she said, “He’s a big guy. He overpowered me.” A few more have recently come out with their sickening stories of sexual advances from Wein-
Harvey Weinstein
stein. Among them were Heather graham, Cara Delevingne and Kate Beckinsale who said that Weinstein offered her alcohol in his hotel room when she was 17 and that she repeatedly declined his sexual advances over the years. Five days after the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal exploded, the movie producer’s wife announced she’s leaving him. “My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions. I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time,” Marchesa designer georgina Chapman told People in a statement. The split was separately confirmed by Us Weekly. So what can we learn from this nightmare? How do we avoid it? I honestly don’t know how women have endured such behavior but it’s about time we make a stand. Sexual harassment is everywhere and part of it is because, we are so afraid to call it out. Whether it’s our fear of our lives being threatened or our reputations ruined, or even our careers. While all of these are valid, we have to understand that if we let abusive people continue on while we sit in the corner paralyzed in fear, we are participating in their evildoings one way or another. It’s time we put an end to this and if there’s one thing we can take away from all this, it’s that. In closing I sincerely hope that justice will be served and that Weinstein will truly learn from this and prove that he’s worth the second chance he is asking for. *** 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 all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
Painful renal calculi What increases the risk for stones ? Not drinking enough fluids, dehydration, eating certain foods, urinary tract infection, living in hot climate, and family history of kidney stones are the more common factors that increase the risk of kidney stone formation. Metabolic or endocrine problems are more rare causes. how much water should one drink a day? In a normal average daily situation, it is advisable to drink about 8 glasses of fluids (water, juices, preferably not pop) a day, whether one had kidney stones before or not. Those who had kidney stones in the past are advised against cola drinks, tea, chocolate, spinach, and peanut, which are high in oxalate, and dairy products which are high in calcium. Those with cystine stones are advised against eating foods high in Methionine, like fish. Is renal colic really more painful than childbirth? Yes, women who had kidney stone colics and had given birth say so. The pain is most excruciating, and in men, it could radiate down to the lower abdomen and to the scrotum of the affected side where the stone is. One thrashes around to find a more comfortable position, only to find none. Narcotic shots are given for the relief of the severe renal colic. Sometimes, renal colic could mimic, or be confused with, acute appendicitis. In some patients, there could be blood in the urine, from the irritation of the ureter where the stone is lodged. What are the diagnostic tests for kidney stones? After a thorough history-taking and physical examination, your physician may order urinalysis, urine culture (for bacteria), blood count, blood chemistry (including calcium, phosphorus, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, and electrolytes) a KUB (plain x-ray of kidney, ureter, bladder), an IVP (intravenous pyelogram, x-ray with dye to see locate the stone), an Ultrasound (a “3-Dimensional” picture of the kidney); and/or a CT Scan (Computed Tomography, an X-ray technique showing cross-sectional
images of the abdominal area to locate and identify the stone). Twenty four-hour urine samples may also be taken to find out the levels of stone-related chemicals in the urine. Provocative Tests may also be done to see how the kidneys handle chemicals. Stone analysis is essential to determine the chemical composition of the stone, which will help identify the cause of the stone formation and aid in the preventive treatment in the future. are some stones dissolved by medications? Yes, bicarbonate/potassium citrate may dissolve uric acid stones and cystine stones. This is why it is important strain the urine when one suspects kidney stones, to find out what the chemical composition of the stone is. Medications prescribed to dissolve kidney stones are taken for a lifetime. Unfortunately, not all stones are dissolved by medications. However, many kidney stones are passed naturally. Sometimes alpha blocker drug is used to relax the muscles of the ureter to allow passage of larger stones. Newer extracts to dissolve all types of kidney stones (and gallstones also) are being researched in laboratories around the world. how does one prevent renal stones? Uric acid stones are found among those who overproduce uric acid (gout), and can be worsened by a high-meat diet (high in purines), especially pork and beef. Allupurinol is one drug that reduces uric acid. Cystine stones come from too much cystine (amino acids) in the body, caused by an inherited condition. Penicillamine or Tiopronin reduces cystine. Prevention in this case includes diet low in methionine (a normal chemical found in fish). Infection stones, as the name suggests, is caused by a rinary tract infection. Antibiotics are given before the stones are removed. In all these three conditions, drinking lots of water helps a lot in preventing recurrent kidney stones. Popular old-fashioned lemonade is effective in reducing kidney stone formation. PAGE B5
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Following Jesus’ footsteps on the Via Dolorosa by EMIL
Thomas shares a meal with his niece Annalynn at Max’s Restaurant in Glendale, California.
THE Holy Land has witnessed many remarkable moments of Christ’s time on earth. Perhaps the most significant was when Christ took His final steps to the cross, thus reminding generations to come of God’s love, and His plan of redemption. The Via Dolorosa — Latin for “way of sorrow/suffering” or “painful way” — is a path pilgrims and travelers alike take Contributed photo to commemorate the journey Jesus took, carrying His cross, on the way to His crucifixion and burial. While Good Friday is celebrated with a lively processhe really knew this was my passion,” Orlina recalls. “Now when my mom and my family visit me at my job at Warner Brothers and they see what I do they know that this was what I was meant to do.” The desire to become involved in the entertainment world came naturally to Orlina. At a young age, he was inspired by reality television, particularly MTV’s “The Real World.” Since then he’s been on the forefront of all things entertainment and celebrity, adding more ventures to his already solid entertainment oeuvre. Orlina, who has said that he’s always wanted to be the Ryan Seacrest for the Fil-Am community, added, “I’ve always been very ambitious and I’ve always wanted to represent the Filipino community, and I hope ‘Your Time With Thomas’ resonates well with our community.” Episodes of “Your Time With Thomas” can be found on http:// thomasorlina.com/.
‘Your Time With Thomas’ brings a fresh... PAGE B1 wants to take “Your Time With Thomas” to the small screen, and has been pitching the show to television studios. “I think there’s a story and I think the topics would resonate with a huge audience,” Orlina said. “There [are] 3.4 million Filipino Americans in the United States and the fact that there is not one Filipino male TV personality is really a shame. I think there’s a huge market for us out there and I want my show to be the first ground-breaking show for our community.” Obsessed with pop culture growing up, Orlina always knew
that he wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment world. As many young Fil-Ams know, parents usually prefer their child to have a profession that guarantees financial stability. Orlina’s mother originally wished for her son to enter the medical field, but steadfast Orlina saw a different path for himself. “I always knew in the back [of] my mind that I was going to make something of myself in entertainment and I think when she saw when I was in college and I was working really hard in my night classes and do everything I can to make it in the industry at that point
Photo by Dalmiro Quiroga
Painful renal calculi
PAGE B4 What is ESWL? If the stone or stones cannot be dissolved by medications or are too large to pass down the ureter, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy is an option. There are several types of ESWL but the principle is the same for all. The patient lie down or sits up in a water bath, high-energy shock waves from the high-tech machine are precisely aimed at the stone (with pin-point accuracy). The waves, passing through the water cushion, travel at a high speed, pass through the soft tissues of the body without harming them and “shatter” the stone (only) into very fine sand. The procedure is done with mild sedation, and may last about an hour and done as an outpatient or on an overnight stay. What is the surgical treatment? If all of the above therapies fail, invasive or surgical approach
is the final option. This includes fishing out the stone in the ureter with a Ureteroscope. Percutaneous Lithotripsy is used for stones larger than one inch in diameter and where ESWL did not work. A small skin incision is made in the affected flank and the stone is shattered by painless ultrasound, or removed by Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. With the available modern technology today, open surgery is now reserved only for those with very large or oddly located kidney stones. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com
PERITO
sion, millions of people from all over the world come to make the pilgrimage year round. The route begins by the ancient ruins of the Antonia Fortress, and winds its way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — a site many believe to be where Christ was crucified and buried. Inside, you’ll find an altar regarded as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, and The Edicule said to preserve the location of His tomb. Marking the path are fourteen stations symbolizing fourteen events that took place along the path to Golgotha hill. These stations provide a timeline of hum-
bling moments like when Jesus first accepted His cross, when He fell for the first time, and when He met His mother Mary. The Via Dolorosa is a symbol of Christ’s final odyssey on earth and is sure to be a memorable journey to all who visit. Come see why many have made the journey, and experience the many other momentous locations the Holy Land has to offer. Air Plus Travel specializes in religious travel. Join us in one of our organized trips to the Holy Land. For more information, contact Air Plus Travel at (562) 863 - 0624, or visit us at www. airplustravel.net.
B october 14-17, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JoUrNAL
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Your Immigration Solution
The importance of an immigration attorney
worse than a denial – it may lead officer may aggressively question to being deported, perhaps within the applicant, they may pressure them to answer questions to which a matter of hours. THERE are countless numbers After eligibility is established, they do not know the answers, of people who dream about law- the applicant must submit a well- and they may also allow the apfully living and working in the “More important than the forms though is that an United States. Making this dream a reality is a possibility for many of applicant should carefully review their eligibility them, but only if they are able to for the requested benefit before submitting any successfully navigate the United States’ confusing and complex im- application to the USCIS. This assessment requires migration laws. Given the increda review of many things, including dates of entries ible importance placed on being granted permanent resident status and exits from the U.S., type of visa (if any) held at (green card) or U.S. citizenship, it entry to the U.S., the immigration status and history is surprising how many people atof the applicant and their family members, etc.” tempt to achieve their immigration goals without the assistance of an experienced attorney that special- documented request for an immi- plicant to make statements that are izes in immigration law. It is true gration benefit. The submission of harmful to their case. Saying the that some do succeed, but many sufficient documentary evidence, wrong thing during an interview others fail. And this failure may ranging from a birth or marriage can make it significantly more lead to their ultimate nightmare certificate to complex medical difficult to ever lawfully reside in — being deported. records, is vital since it is the the U.S. And while the applicant A person that is presently living applicant who has the burden of may later realize they misspoke in the United States must file their proving that they are eligible for or that they did not actually unrequest for immigration benefits the requested benefit. Since it derstand the questions they were with the United States Citizen- is the applicant who must prove being asked, it may too late to fix ship and Immigration Service admissibility, they should do the problems created. The ap(USCIS). However, do not think everything they can to maximize plication may already be denied that the process merely requires their chances of being granted the and the Department of Homeland the completion of a simple form. requested benefit by submitting Security may have already begun First, the forms are not always evidence that is thorough and the process of deporting them to easy to understand. Many of persuasive. their native country. As you can the forms contain complicated It is clear that an assessment see, the personal interview is exquestions that require a person to of eligibility is important, as are tremely important. understand terms and language properly completed forms and In conclusion, it is always adviswhich have a precise meaning sufficient supporting documents, able for immigrants to retain the unique to immigration law. This but perhaps the most important services of an experienced and meaning may differ from what reason to retain an experienced knowledgeable attorney who is many people expect it to be. Thus, immigration attorney is to be dedicated solely to the practice of a person may deprive themselves adequately represented at your immigration law. Hiring the right of lawfully residing in the United personal interview before a USCIS attorney may be the difference States simply because they did not officer. A decision on the applica- between obtaining a green card understand the question they were tion will frequently be made based and being deported. It is therefore being asked. off statements made by the appli- one of the most significant deciMore important than the forms cant during their interview. sions that a person will make in though is that an applicant should These interviews can be stress- their lifetime. carefully review their eligibility ful, nerve-wracking experiences, *** for the requested benefit before but the aspiring immigrant needs Reeves, Miller, Zhang & Diza Law Corporation’s submitting any application to the to do everything possible to en- offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San USCIS. This assessment requires sure their personal interview is Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City. a review of many things, including successful. That is not always easy Telephone: (800) 795-8009 dates of entries and exits from the though. It may be the applicant’s E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com U.S., type of visa (if any) held at first time attending a personal Website: www.rreeves.com. entry to the U.S., the immigration interview for an immigration ben*** status and history of the applicant efit with the USCIS, and they are The analysis and suggestions offered in and their family members, etc. The likely to be questioned by an ex- this column do not create a lawyer-client failure to make this assessment perienced USCIS officer who has relationship and are not a substitute for the before submitting the applica- conducted many of these types of personalized representation that is essential tion may lead to something much interviews. In addition, the USCIS to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
DEVIN M. CONNOLLY
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 14-17, 2017
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The Prophetic Voice REVEREND RODEL G. BALAGTAS THIS Sunday’s Scripture readings provide us a clear vision of the richness and the promise of the Kingdom of God. In the Book of Isaiah (25:6-10), it is a feast of “rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines” where God will “destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations” and where “he will destroy death forever” and “wipe away the tears of every face.” How consoling and appropriate are these words in these troubled times of hurricane, earthquake, fires, and another massacre, this time in Las Vegas. In the midst of pain and confusion from these experiences of destruction and death, our temptation is to get depressed, fearful, and discouraged — to lose sight of God’s promise and vision for the world and all his people. Our temptation is to stop working together to achieve a vision of peace and well-being for all nations and citizens of the earth.
Minding Your Finances ATTY. RAYMOND BULAON ONE of the things that stop people in finding a solution to their debt problems is the fact that they are just too embarrassed to tell others about their problems especially if it involves something very personal such as their finances. They fear being judged by family, friends and others who might find out about what they are going through. Oftentimes I meet people who tell me that on the outside, everything looks great so no one has the slightest suspicion about the insurmountable debt problems that they are dealing with. These people often have good jobs, live in nice homes, they drive fancy cars and they own expensive things. They look financially successful in the eyes of the world. So what
COMMUNITY JOURNAL
To gaze at the promise and hope of God’s kingdom “ The garment that we need to wear when God invites us to his “wedding banquet” is hope. We can be religious and righteous, but if we don’t have hope for ourselves and others, our faith becomes shallow.” I tell people that the enemy of God wants us to despair, to destroy our peace, and to bring division among us. If we listen to his dark voice, we will perish, but if we listen to God in the Person of Jesus Christ, who embodies His kingdom, we will remain hopeful. Our Responsorial Psalm in this Sunday’s Mass expresses this hope in God: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.” St. Paul also communicates this hope in his famous words, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” The garment that we need to wear when God invites us to his
“wedding banquet” is hope. We can be religious and righteous, but if we don’t have hope for ourselves and others, our faith becomes shallow. Hence, we need a positive attitude in the church and the world. We need leaders who can transmit optimism and encouragement, especially for people who suffer. Unfortunately, there are leaders today who put down people with their harsh and hateful words instead of encouraging and inspiring them to become better. They and their allies use social media as the pulpit for destructive and divisive languages. At a certain point, some people think that the use of abusive and profane words is the right thing to do to wake up people for reform of politics and government. But in the end, this culture of violence in words and the media does not work. There is nothing more
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Drowning in debt but too embarrassed to ask for help? “If your finances are out of control, you need to do something about this situation- the sooner the better. You don’t need to face debt problems alone. Help is available but you need to take action.” will their friends and family say if they ever found out that they are actually keeping a “secret” that no one knows about? To them, that will just be too humiliating and they can’t even stand the thought of it. So they suffer in silence even when the law has a remedy for their situation. The sad reality is that every day, I see people who have mortgaged their futures and have trapped themselves in a lifetime of debt. The total credit card debt has now surpassed $1 trillion nationwide. Once people realize that they have borrowed more than they can ever repay in their lifetime, they get this sick feeling in their stomach. That’s
when reality hits them like a ton of bricks and they know that they can no longer sustain their current lifestyle. Something has to give and changes have to be made quickly in order to turn things around. At the end of a long day, people buried in debt can’t even get a good night’s sleep because they are worried sick about how their next paycheck will cover all their bills. Their blood pressure goes up as soon as they see the pile of bills on their kitchen table that they haven’t been able to pay. The world thinks that they are financially successful so how can they let anyone down? They
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Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” Family Code §760. This becomes a problem if you are the spouse that has the substantially higher income or the one who accumulates the majority of the assets during the marriage. You are called in family law lingo “the in spouse.” The other spouse (or in our lingo also called the “out spouse” gets a half interest on everything accumulated during the marriage even if the asset is under your name alone or it was accumulated solely due to your sweat and hard work. The out spouse, who stayed at home most of the marriage, gets a one half interest on all the accumulations during the marriage under California community property law. For example, if you opened a savings account during the marriage under your name alone for which you religiously and diligently stash away 25% of your earnings during the marriage while your spouse blows away his/her salary during the marriage, your spouse still gets a half interest in the money you saved in your savings account. Another example
Do I need a premarital agreement before getting married? would be if you purchase a piece of real property during the marriage under “your name alone” and have your spouse sign a “quit claim” deed, your spouse may still have a claim for a half interest in your real property. Another example would be if you owned a business prior to marriage, but due to your hard work, long hours of labor, and efforts, the business grew exponentially during the marriage, your spouse may still have a claim for an interest in the business. Signing a premarital agreement may serve as added protection to the future “in spouse” and a hurdle for the future “out spouse” by avoiding or altering the applicability of California community property law to assets 1) already owned by each and 2) to property and income to be acquired or earned during their marriage. Marriage of Grinius (1985) 166 CA3d 1179, 1186, 212 CR 803, 807 Premarital agreements may validly provide that the earnings and accumulations of each party during marriage will remain that party’s separate property, free of any claims, community property or otherwise, of the other party. Marriage of Dawley, supra, 17 C3d at 350, 131 CR at 8; Cheney v. City & County of San Francisco Employees Retirement System (1936) 7 C2d 565, 569, 61 P2d 754, 756. Premarital agreements may also serve to preserve a person’s estate for his or her heirs, free of the other party’s inheri-
Calendar of Events across
tance claims. Estate of Wamack (1955) 137 CA2d 112, 115, 289 P2d 871, 872. Pursuant to Family Code §1612(c ),“ Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to all of the following:(1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located. (2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property.(3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event.(4) The making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement.(5) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy.(6) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement.(7) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty. However, the right of a child to support may not be adversely affected. Family Code §1612(b). Premarital agreements that are entered into voluntarily by parties who are each represented by independent counsel and aware of the effect of the agreement, a
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America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS O C TO B E R 1 4 -1 5
Award-winning journalist Raissa Robles holds speaking tour in Los Angeles As part of a six-city U.S. tour, Raissa Robles, a Manila-based award-winning investigative journalist, will share her insights into the significance of the rise of the Marcoses and the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Robles is the author of “Marcos Martial Law: Never Again, a brief history of torture and atrocity under the new society,” nearing her the International Award for Excellence in Journalism by the Geneva-based International Christian Organization of the Media (ICOM). The community special events will take place followed by a Q&A. These events are free and open to the public: Saturday, October 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pilipino Workers Center (153 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026) and Sunday, October 15 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church (6657 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028). For more information, call (323) 606-1322 or email mrjaimeg@ hotmail.com.
NaFFAA to celebrate 20th anniversary in Washington, DC The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) turns 20 years old this year. This October, several events are being planned to celebrate this milestone, which coincides with the national observance of Filipino American History Month. They will culminate with NaFFAA’s 20th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 21. With its theme “NaFFAA 2.0: One Voice, Four Million Strong,” NaFFAA will recognize the legacy and accomplishments of the organization over the past 20 years, and highlight its comprehensive vision to unite and amplify the voices of the four million Filipinos living in the United States. “NaFFAA 2.0” represents how NaFFAA is honoring its past while forging a new forward-thinking and balanced approach in uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse Filipino American individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy. To learn more about NaFFAA or to purchase tickets for the 20th Anniversary Gala, please visit www. naffaa.org.
Mutya ng Lahi in Santa Clarita, CA To celebrate Filipino-American History Month, the Fil-Am Association of SCV, Inc. proudly presents Mutya ng Lahi (Jewel of Ancestry) on Saturday, Oct. 21. It will be held at the Centre at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 from 6 to 10 p.m. The program will showcase traditional folk dances, songs, national costumes and an exhibition of Philippine Centennial. Tickets for the dinner and show are $35 for adults, $20 for children (4-12), and free for under 3 years. For ticket sales, please contact the following no later than Oct. 13: Emie R. Carrillo at (661) 877-2699, Zeny Justiniano at (661) 294-0181, or Zony Gordon at (661) 312-3422.
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FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce - Greater Los Angeles (FACC - GLA) invites members and guests to its Halloween Dance Party on Friday, October 27 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Best Western Canoga Park Hotel. Come in with your scariest attire as there will be special gifts for the best costume attire. Food & drinks will be included. Tickets are limited and entry will only be allowed for those who paid online or through check on or before Tuesday, October 24. Payment can be made through the website www.filamchambergla.org. Strictly NO payment will be accepted at the door.
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3rd annual Larry Itliong Day parade & festival in Los Angeles Join the Larry Itliong Day Committee (LIDC) in honoring the legacy of Filipino American Labor Leader Larry Itliong on Saturday, October 28. There will be a parade followed by a festival with cultural music, dance performances, food vendors, art exhibits, health screenings and various vendors. Parade starts at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast, opening ceremony and line-up at 8 a.m. at Unidad Park (1648 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026). The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Columban Church at 125 Loma Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90026. There will be film screenings of “Delano Manongs” by Marissa Aroy at the church at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. For more information on sponsorships, parade registration, exhibitor opportunities, and volunteering, please email larryitliongdayLA@gmail.com.
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Franchise Expo West in Los Angeles Franchise Expo West, the premier franchise event in the western U.S. is returning to Los Angeles after a five-year absence, to provide the strongest business opportunities for potential franchisees in this dynamic, growing region. Attendees can engage with over 200 franchise brands in every industry at every investment level, access over 60 free educational sessions where in depth answers are provided to any franchising questions, and meet with lenders and consultants to learn about financing options. It will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 from Thursday, Nov. 2 to Saturday, Nov. 4. For more information, please visit: www.franchiseexpowest.com. For free registration, use promo code AJ here: https://r1.events-registration.com/franwest2017/.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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Community Journal
Sexual harassment at Hollywood’s workplace
THe media is awash with reports regarding Harvey Weinstein, the co-founder of movie companies Miramax and the Weinstein Company. Weinstein is accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault by employees and actresses. The complaints came from women both unknown (a temporary employee for one) and famous (Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, and Ashley Judd). As of this time, over 25 women from across several decades have come forward to tell of their experiences. According to the reports, Weinstein’s misconduct followed a pattern: Weinstein would invite young women to his hotel rooms for a business meeting, and made sure he was alone with the women.. Once in his room, Weinstein would come out in a bathrobe and ask for massages, or would invite the woman to watch him in the shower. In one recorded incident in 2015, Weinstein admitted to groping the breasts of a Filipina-Italian model named Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. Other allegations include a woman being forced to perform oral sex on Weinstein, and rape of at least three others. Weinstein reportedly made it clear to each of these women that if she accepted his sexual advances, he would boost her career. If she refused, there would be negative consequences, such as not being given work. Weinstein denied the allegations of non-consensual sex and denied that there were any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Despite these denials, Weinstein was fired from his company. Many of the women who
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. c. Joe SAyAS, Jr. told their stories said that they were victimized when they were younger and did not know what was happening to them was illegal. So how does one know when one is being sexually harassed? Courts have recognized two types of sexual harassment. The first type involves claims of quid pro quo harassment. The second type involves harassment created by a “hostile environment.” Quid pro quo harassment occurs when the harasser makes unwelcome sexual advances or solicitations for sexual compliance on an individual. Submission to or rejection of the unwelcome sexual conduct is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting that individual. It typically exists when submission to sexual conduct is made a condition of concrete employment benefits, such as a promotion, a pay increase, or a job itself. A classic example would be the boss who threatens to fire an employee if the employee refuses to have sex with him (or her). A hostile environment claim may arise where unwelcome sexual conduct unreasonably interferes with an individual’s job performance or creates an intimidating working environment, even if it does not lead to tangible job consequences. Such an environment is created when
the harasser engages in verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature, that were unwelcome and persistent or severe. An example of this would be the person who keeps inappropriately touching a fellow co-worker despite repeated requests to stop. even if there is no threat of firing or job demotion, the inappropriate touching is likely to either create an offensive working environment or affect the co-worker’s job performance or both. Sexual harassment by an employer or supervisor is wrong. This misconduct causes serious and lasting harm to the victim. It should not have any place at work or anywhere else. It is by fighting back, even against powerful employers like Harvey Weinstein, that we can put an end to this reprehensible conduct at the workplace. employees found to have been sexually harassed are entitled to various civil remedies, such as lost wages, past and future medical expenses, damages for emotional distress, and punitive damages. ***
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) 2910088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.] (Advertising Supplement)
Should you conduct your business as a sole proprietorship? Tax Tips Victor Sy, cPA, MBA
UPON deciding to form your own business, the next question is - what type of entity should you operate - as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, or LLP? Which entity is most beneficial for you? Choosing the wrong form could cause unnecessary taxes, increased liability, and unnecessary exposure to lawsuits. What you should not do is listen to your neighbor or friend because each one has a different set of circumstances calling for a different set of strategies, a different form of entity. What you should do is seek professional advice to help you understand the attributes of each form and evaluate a whole multitude of confusing tax, legal and personal issues. The objective here is to set you up with a form that is tailored to your particular needs, your particular industry, and your particular business. Let me describe for you the nature, advantages, and disadvantages of each form of entity. We start with sole proprietorships in the article and move to corporations, partnerships, and LLCs in succeeding articles. Sole Proprietorship is the simplest form of doing business. The business is your own
alter ego. It does not require any legal filing with the California and most other states... It does not file a separate return. You merely include form Schedule C with your individual income tax return. This is often referred as a “DBA” (Doing Business As) that is rather inaccurate because a partnership or corporation can also have a DBA. The need for a DBA occurs when you decide not to use your name and instead opt to use a fictitious name to hold your business out to the public. For example, John Smith decides to run his auto parts retail business as Acme Auto Parts. This name has to be registered in the county where the business is located. Caveat: The most common error of sole proprietors that I have encountered over 23 years of practice is the commingling of personal and business assets, income, and expenses. You need to open a business checking account to which all business revenues are deposited and from which all business expenses are paid. Take a periodic draw. Deposit a check from the business account to your personal account from which you pay mortgage, grocery and other personal expenses. read on to review the pluses and minuses of being a sole proprietor. A. Benefits: 1. It’s simple. Administration and organizational needs are less complicated. 2. It’s less expensive to organize because there are no legal papers except minimal DBA filing costs.
3. Federal and state taxes are usually lower (no double taxation for regular corporations). 4. You save on FICA (Social Security tax) on the wages of your children under 18 years old. 5. You save on FUTA (unemployment tax) on the wages of your children under 21 years old. B. Drawbacks: 1. You are exposed to personal liabilities from businessrelated lawsuits. So is your business from personal-related lawsuits. A successful plaintiff against the business can come after your personal assets; so can a plaintiff against you go after your business assets. 2. You have a high risk of being audited by the IrS. Schedule Cs are a prime target for audits. 3. You have to pay self-employment tax (social security tax) of about 15 percent. 4. Your fringe benefits are limited (compared to other forms of entity). *** 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)
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need to keep up with the image that the world has of them and they don’t want to disappoint anyone or to embarrass themselves. So day after day, they continue to live with this “secret” that nobody knows. Deep inside, it’s driving them crazy and they feel helpless. If you or someone you know is in this situation just remember that sooner or later, you will need to do something about your debt problems. Your situation may seem hopeless but I guarantee you that it’s not the
end of the world. But if you don’t take action, things will only get worse and you will only have yourself to blame. We all make mistakes and if you have made some bad financial decisions in the past that have led you to your present predicament, there is nothing you can do to change the past. But there is something that you can do right now to change your future. If your finances are out of control, you need to do something about this situation- the sooner the better. You don’t
need to face debt problems alone. Help is available but you need to take action. For a free attorney consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. We have offices 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)
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hopeful than the age-old culture of genuine statesmanship, in which respect, kindness, and decency are the norms for dialogue. Undoubtedly, we need to confront one another with things that are not right—we must not be afraid to deal with conflicts—but we must persevere in the hope that we can resolve issues based on justice, mutual respect, and
the protection of the dignity of the human person. The Lord continually invites us to this banquet of hope. May we respond to this invitation instead of living in self-pity, despair, cynicism, and anger! May we keep gazing at the beauty and promise of God’s Kingdom in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. *** 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 (1991-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate 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.
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 14-17, 2017
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Common misconceptions about bankruptcy
Debt Relief
Atty. LAwrence yAng
(This article is part 2 of 2 parts) Here are some more misconceptions about bankruptcy that we did not discuss last week: 1. Will I lose my house? Normally, debtors get to keep their residence as long as their equity in the house does not exceed the applicable homestead exemption. If the equity of the house is within the limits of the homestead exemption, then the house does not become part of the bankruptcy estate that is subject to trustee administration for the benefit of creditors. In other words, there is no risk of losing the house to the trustee in a Chapter 7 case. real estate values are high now after losing half their values between 2007 and 2009 during the mortgage crisis created by Wall Street greed with their bundle mortgages. If you recall, it was easy to buy a house for a couple of years before the mortgage crisis. You could buy a house with zero down with no income qualification. All you had to do to buy a house then was have a name and social security number. You didn’t even have to be alive. even if you were buried six feet underground, as long as you had a social security number, there was a house of your dreams waiting for you to move into. In fact, a lot of dogs with fake social security numbers were able to buy houses too. I kid you not. I had many clients back then with minimum wage jobs who were able to buy $1 million mansions. The idea was to keep the house for a few months then sell it for a profit. Since house prices kept on going up, the $1-M mansion that you bought with zero down would be worth $1.2-M in three months. After deducting holding costs of $30,000, there was a cool profit of $170,000 to be made in three months. Practically everyone and their mothers became mini Trumps. Some would buy 10 rental properties with the intention of selling them in a couple of months for a profit of $50,000 each. With ten rentals, you could make $500,000 in six months. Do it twice in a year, and you could be a cash millionaire in one year. I had clients with rentals in Texas, Arizona, Florida, and of course, here in California. They
all became landlords. Then, the bubble exploded and real estate lost more than half their values at their peak. Well, real estate values are now back up even surpassing their peak just before the bubble burst. So debtors now have to pay attention to what the current values of their houses are. It’s easy to get an appraisal of the current value of your house. You can go online and have an e-appraisal done in less than two minutes. The homestead exemptions in California are $75,000 for a single person, $100,000 for a person with a qualifying relative who lives in the house, and $175,000 for seniors who are at least 65, or 55 but who earn less than $35,000 with the spouse. For instance, your house is now worth $500,000 and the balance of your first mortgage is $325,000. You just turned 65 yesterday. Then, your house is exempt because the entire equity of $175K is covered because you are 65. If you the equity of your house in just in excess of the homestead exemption, the better part of caution requires that you file a Chapter 13, not a 7. Chapter 13 trustees do not have the power to sell debtor houses but Chapter 7 trustees do have that power. 2. What happens to the cars? There are two systems of exemption. You choose one of them. You cannot mix them both. System one allows $3,050 for the equity of one car while system two allows $5,100 for the equity of any number of cars. Let’s say you have a 2015 Mercedes Benz e 350 with a loan balance of $38,000 while the current value of that car is $35,000. You also have 2015 SUV Land rover with a loan balance of $45,000. That SUV is currently valued at $40,000. Will you be able to exempt these two luxury vehicles if you filed for Chapter 7? Of course you can. Why? Because both cars have zero equity. In order to keep these two cars, you have to continue making timely payments even if you filed for bankruptcy and you may have to reaffirm the car loans. Some creditors do not require reaffirmation. Some do. For creditors who require reaffirmation, even if you are current on the car payment, they have the right to repossess if no reaffirmation was timely filed and approved by the Judge. 3. Can you keep your retirement accounts? Generally speaking, retirement accounts are exempt up to $1.0M. So most debtors do not have
any problem exempting their retirement accounts. Most people do not have $1.0-M of retirement funds. I tested the retirement exemption once a couple of years ago when the client had almost $920,000 of retirement funds. He was given an early retirement at the age of 55 and he opted for a lump sum retirement of $920,000. His retirement account had ballooned into $920,000 because the stock market was on the rebound from the 2007 market crash. Once the money was paid to him he had 60 days to roll it into an IrA. Since the money was large and was had not yet been rolled into an IrA, I was concerned that the trustee might dispute the status of the funds as not being retirement funds since the $920,000 had not yet become an IrA, although debtor’s intent was to make it an IrA. He was still in the process of looking for a financial advisor. Fortunately, the trustee did not dispute the applicable exemption that we used to cover the $920,000. 4. Can you continue operating your business? In Chapter 13, operating a business is absolutely no problem. In Chapter 7, you can continue operating your business if certain conditions are met. If the business is a sole proprietorship, the debtor must exempt the net worth of the business and must have liability insurance for the business that is enough to satisfy the trustee that the insurance is big enough to cover any potential liability from a third party. If the business is an S or C corporation, LLC or partnership, the debtor must exempt the value of his shares in the corporation, LLC or partnership. “MAY THe GOD OF HOPe FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PeACe AS YOU TrUST IN HIM, SO THAT YOU MAY OVerFLOW TIH HOPe BY THe POWer OF THe HOLY SPIrIT.” rOMANS 15:13 Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader. There is no attorneyclient relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with the attorney. The first general consultation is free. *** 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.
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People and Events Santa Clarita, CA marks October as Fil-Am History Month THE City Council of Santa Clarita proclaimed October as Filipino-American History Month during a ceremony on Tuesday, October 10. Emie Carrillo (middle, left), president of the Fil-Am Association of Santa Clarita Valley (SCV), along with several board members received the proclamation from Mayor Cameron Smyth
(center) and city councilmembers. The Fil-Am Association of SCV, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has served the FilAm community in the city for over three decades, and hosts various social, cultural and civic activities throughout the year. The organization will host “Mutya ng Lahi” (Jewel of Ancestry), a celebra-
tion of Fil-Am History Month on Saturday, October 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Centre (20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91351). There will be traditional folk dances, songs, national costumes, and an exhibition of Philippine Centennial. For more information, please visit www.filamofscv.org. ■
Photos by Leomar Carrillo
Do I need a premarital agreement before... PAGE C2 t post 1985 premarital waiver of post dissolution support does not offend contemporary public policy and is not per se unenforceable. Fam.C. § 1612(c); Marriage of Pendleton & Fireman (2000) 24 C4th 39, 53–54, 99 CR2d 278, 288–289; Marriage of Facter (2013) 212 CA4th 967, 981, 152 CR3d 79, 90. Under both the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act and prior law, the spouse claiming the agreement is invalid or not enforceable bears the burden of proof on that allegation. Family Code. § 1615(a); Marriage of Bonds, supra, 24 C4th at 27, 99 CR2d at 269; Marriage of Iverson (1992) 11 CA4th 1495, 1502, 15 CR2d 70, 74–75; However, the UPAA (as amended effective 1/1/02) deems that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily unless the court makes five prescribed findings provided for under Family Code. § 1615(c) (1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the
agreement or after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. (2) The party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed. (3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations he or she was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party’s rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a docu-
ment declaring that he or she received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information.(4) The agreement and the writings executed pursuant to paragraphs(1) and (3) were not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into the agreement.(5) Any other factors the court deems relevant. In addition, the parties are required to provide each other with full disclosure of all material financial information. A premarital agreement may be unenforceable if found to be unconscionable when it was executed and the requisite disclosures were lacking and not waived Additionally, a spousal support provision in a premarital agreement executed under the UPAA, whether before or after January 1, 2002, is not enforceable if found to be unconscionable at the time of enforcement. Family Code § 1612(c). If you are the higher earning spouse and have assets to protect, it is important to seek the represen-
tation of experienced counsel in drafting a premarital agreement to make sure that all statutory requirement are met which increases the likelihood that your premarital agreement will be deemed enforceable when attacked in court in case of a divorce. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.
*** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail. com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM Immigration Appealing a visa denial Corner
&
ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ ORDINARILY, there is no appeal process for visa refusals at the Embassy. Under the doctrine of “consular non-reviewability,” a person cannot even sue the embassy or appeal their visa refusals in U.S. federal courts. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Embassy is not even required to provide a “detailed explanation” of the reasons for the visa refusal. So what can a person do if their visa was refused, and they believe the consul’s decision was wrong? There could still be hope. It is possible, in some limited situations, to seek reconsideration from the Embassy or to “appeal” a visa refusal to the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. The limited situations deal with whether the consul’s “interpretation or application of immigration law” was correct. The State Department will only entertain requests for reconsideration in-
volving legal issues, not factual determinations. Immigration law can be complex, and subject to several possible interpretations concerning eligibility. If a visa refusal was based on an incorrect application or interpretation of immigration law, the State Department has the ability to clarify the legal issue with the Embassy, possibly clearing the way for visa issuance. If a visa refusal involves decisions made by a consular officer about a person’s eligibility for a visitor visa, it is a factual determination, not subject to review by the State Department. However, interpretation of a child’s eligibility under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), or other types of situations, could involve “legal questions,” and if a child’s visa is refused, the case could be “appealed” to Washington, D.C.’s if the refusal involves legal issues or legal interpretations of the law. Again, most visa refusals are final, and cannot be appealed, especially if based on factual determinations. However, if you,
or someone you know, had their visa refused, and it involved a legal issue, you may want to seek the advice of an attorney, who can evaluate if your case can be submitted to Washington, D.C. for reconsideration. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and 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 re-enactments) 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 attorney-client 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)
Focus on Philippine growth, not political noise, US investors urged by BEN
O. DE VERA Inquirer.net
DESPITE lingering political noise, economic managers urged U.S. investors to focus on the Philippines’ growth story and enticed them to take advantage of increasing business and investment opportunities here. “The Philippine economy is delivering the performance we anticipated, notwithstanding the political noise and a significant terrorist event in Mindanao. We
have become an engine of growth for this part of the world,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told participants of the Philippine Economic Briefing in New York City last Wednesday, October 11. “We are also expecting more investments coming in as we modernize our infrastructure and reform our economic policies to spur business activity. Investment-led growth will make our domestic economy more inclusive and create quality jobs for our
people. This will help bring down poverty incidence. Our entire economic strategy seeks to bring down poverty incidence from the current 21 percent to 14 percent by 2022,” Dominguez said. In a statement, the government’s Investor Relations Office (IRO) said economic managers expressed confidence that the Philippines is poised to be “Asia’s next powerhouse,” hence invited American businessmen to look PAGE D2
Business Quote of the Week “The PC has improved the world in just about every area you can think of. Amazing developments in communications, collaboration and efficiencies. New kinds of entertainment and social media. Access to information and the ability to give a voice people who would never have been heard.” - Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corporation
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 14-17, 2017
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The Kite Runner Prof. EnriquE M. Soriano SAN FRANCISCO—Governance is everywhere. I am slated to deliver a talk related to Ownership and Succession today to the students, faculty members and business owners at the Community College of San Francisco Ocean Campus (CCSF). This will be another interesting exchange of ideas with business owners and the academia similar to the one I did exactly a year ago when the University of San Francisco College of Business (USF) core faculty invited me to lecture on a topic as diverse as the ASEAN Integration and Its impact on the US Economy. Next month, I will resume my family business initiatives in Africa organized by the World Bank/IFC Group and then proceed to Southwest Asia to run another governance campaign in collaboration with the country’s stock exchange. If I get “unlucky”, I will end up doing another North American engagement before or after the year ends. It will be winter so advisory work can get really challenging. Just as I thought my business coaching engagements will taper off as the year is almost at the tail end, in comes invitations to actively promote governance and succession in emerging economies like Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda in Africa and India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in South Asia.
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Why banks love governance Governance is a top lending metric There is no doubt that creditors, lenders, VC’s and financial institutions are clearly biased towards businesses that are devoted to best practices or whose business and operating model revolve around corporate governance. The Asian and Global financial crisis in 1997 and 2008 revealed severe shortcomings in corporate governance. Quoting an OECD report, “when most needed, existing standards failed to provide the checks and balances that companies need in order to cultivate sound business practices.” Right after the 2008 debacle, the OECD and several global institutions launched an ambitious action plan to develop a set of recommendations for improvements in priority areas such as remuneration, risk management, board practices and the exercise of shareholder rights. The changes happening now is a result of the global wave of governance standards put in place especially in the most vulnerable sector, the start-up businesses and family- owned enterprises. Hopefully, the collaborative and active intervention efforts will encourage founders of businesses to step up to the plate not just in their profit strategies but in establishing a structure where sound business practices can become the norm. It is a fact that one of the major hurdles for business owners is the issue of transitioning from an owner mindset (where there is weak governance structures and systems) to the new model of stewardship management (where governance is written and there is compliance
of best practices). Why do creditors/banks prefer businesses that espouse governance? The answers point to a very important ingredient in lending money... the ability to use the fund for the right purpose and the responsibility to pay the creditorbank on time. Corporate governance structure builds a strong family foundation and banks are naturally receptive in lending capital to a stable enterprise especially if they see a family constitution in place that captures the following: • Vision-driven and valuesbased that prepares the family and the business for the future • Aligning the family’s relationship with the business by way of meritocracy • Defining the family member’s rights and responsibilities • Ownership alignment covering the next gen leaders are welldocumented • Effective plan for ownership including key family leadership role and succession • A Communication platform to minimize conflict and misunderstanding for active and non-active owners • The creation of Family Council to manage Family and personal issues. ***
Corporate Governance: Outstanding Performance, Higher Profits, Expanded Market Reach and the like FAILS to protect a company which has put good governance & ethics at the back burner. Only the culture of strict adherence to good compliance can keep a company ahead on sustainable basis, bring in larger profits. Corporates should act like honey bee which suck the nectar of the flower without effecting its fragrance and produce honey for the well–being of society.
PAL expands domestic, international services by LoueLLa
DesiDerio Philstar.com
MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) continues to expand its domestic and international services in line with efforts to further strengthen its foothold and boost its profitability. PAL will start direct flights to Bangkok in Thailand from Cebu on Dec. 2, using 199-seater Airbus A321. The service will be available thrice per week. It decided to offer the service Prof. Soriano is a National Agora Awardee for “amidst pubic demand for direct Marketing Excellence, an ASEAN Family Business non-stop flights from Asian destinaAdvisor, Book Author and Executive Director of tions to Central Visayas.” ASEAN-based Consulting group, W+B Strategic Flight PR578 will depart Mactan, Advisory. He has close to three decades of real Cebu at 9:25 p.m. every Tuesday, estate experience and is currently the Program Thursday and Saturday and arrive Director for Real Estate at the ATENEO Graduate in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport School of Business at 12:10 a.m. local time.
The return flight PR579, meanwhile, will leave Bangkok at 1:30 a.m. local time every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and touch down in Cebu at 6:15 a.m. In addition to providing a direct link to the Queen City of the South to travelers from Thailand, PAL’s new service would also connect passengers to other domestic destinations currently being served such as Bacolod, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan, Caticlan, Davao, Camiguin, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legaspi, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao and Tacloban. From Cebu, passengers may also take PAL flights to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka in Japan, Seoul (Incheon) in South Korea, Singapore, as well as Chengdu and Beijing (Peking) in China. On the homefront, PAL is expanding operations in Clark with the launch of flights to Virac in Catanduanes beginning Dec. 15 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “This latest pioneer route en-
ables us to serve the flight needs of our ‘kababayans’ in the province of Catanduanes. It will be our pleasure to serve the Clark – Virac route and provide them our trademark heartfelt service on this short hop. “The new flights expands our domestic route network and our hub at Clark International Airport giving travelers the flexibility to choose from our wide array of domestic services,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said. The Clark-Virac link was pushed by Catanduanes’ lone district representative and concurrent chairman of the House Committee on Transportation Rep. Cesar Sarmiento as he held talks with airlines for expanded air links to Virac. Flights will depart Clark at 6 a.m. and arrive in Virac at 7:30 a.m. Departures from Virac will be at 8 a.m. and arrival in Clark is 9:30 a.m. PAL will utilize the 76-seater Bombardier Q400 fleet for the Clark to Virac flights.
IMF retains 6.6% growth forecast for PH this year by Lawrence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
MANILA — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has retained the Philippines’ economic growth target at 6.6 percent for this year. “We see continued robust domestic demand driven by investment and consumption, and fiscal policy is supportive of growth. Hence no change to our forecast,” IMF resident representative Yongzheng Yang said. For 2018, however, the IMF lowered the country’s growth forecast to 6.7 from the original target of 6.8 percent. This year’s growth target was faster than the ASEAN-5 average of 5.2 percent and that of Thai-
land’s 3.7 percent, Indonesia’s 5.2 percent, Malaysia’s 5.4 percent, and Vietnam’s 6.3 percent. “In the ASEAN-5 economies (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam), growth is expected to strengthen in 2017 to 5.2 percent (from five percent in April), partly because of strongerthan-expected external demand from China and Europe,” the IMF said. The Philippines emerged as the fastest growing economy in the region last year with a gross domestic product growth of 6.9 percent from 5.9 percent in 2015, aided by one-off gains from election related spending that boosted consumption as well as higher investments.
Focus on Philippine growth... PAGE D1 into opportunities in the agriculture, connectivity, countryside development, education, financial services, health services, housing and urban development, manufacturing as well as tourism sectors. “While the Philippines and the United States already enjoy significant economic relations—with the U.S. being one of the Philippines’ biggest trading partners and among the major sources of remittances and investments—the officials believe there is much room for business ties between the two countries to grow,” the IRO said. For Dominguez, “the Philippines, which has become one of the fastest growing and among the most resilient economies in Asia, faces even more promising times ahead on the back of the government’s massive investments in infrastructure and human capital development along with its steadfast commitment to sound economic management, and the country’s demographic advantage arising from its young and highly educated workforce.” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo told U.S. investors that the country’s healthy external payments position as well as price stability augur well for the economy. “Stable inflation contributes to the overall positive investment climate in the Philippines. Our latest estimates up to 2019 show that inflation, aided by the conduct of prudent monetary policy, will stay well within the target range of 2-4 percent. In addition, our healthy external payments position, marked by manageable balance of payments and ample foreign exchange reserves, gives investors comfort about the Philippines’ resilience to any external risks in the future,” Guinigundo said. For the country’s chief economist, the ambitious “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program will support sustained robust economic growth. “The Philippine government is pursuing transformative initia-
tives, led by a pipeline of gamechanging flagship infrastructure projects that will significantly ease mobility and develop alternative growth hubs across the country’s pivotal urban and rural centers. The current administration is committed to pursuing this aggressive infrastructure investment program over the medium-term to raise the country’s competitiveness and boost the economy, reaching up to 7.3-percent share of GDP [gross domestic product] by 2022. Investors, both foreign and local, are expected to benefit from the wide-ranging income opportunities now and in the years to come.” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said. Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the government “will use its fiscal space as well as proceeds of the proposed comprehensive tax reform program to support our bold infrastructure development agenda.” “We are keen on hitting upper middle income status by 2022 and making our economic growth more equitable partly through infrastructure development. This while we exercise fiscal discipline,” Diokno added. For his part, tycoon Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala was quoted by the IRO as saying that “as the Philippines continues to be one of the best performing economies in the region and as fiscal measures such as the tax reform bill makes progress, business sentiment in the country continues to be positive.” “We are pleased to see the consistent efforts of the government’s economic team to foster closer trade and investment ties with international partners,” added the chair and chief executive of Ayala Corp., among the biggest and most diversified conglomerates in the country. As such, “foreign investors, including those from the United States, are very much welcome to explore income opportunities in our business-friendly country and be part of our exciting growth story over the medium to long term,” Dominguez said.
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Econ managers still upbeat on investments by Mayvelin
U. CaRaballo ManilaTimes.net
FOREIGN investors remain optimistic about the Philippines despite a continued slump in net inflows, economic managers said. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign visits, in particular, had generated about $59.3 billion in economic benefits for the country. “The trips resulted in various deals such as $37 billion worth of investment pledges between business to business through the signing of memorandum of understanding/letter of intents,” he told reporters. Dominguez added that the presTIEZA General Manager/Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., Culture Center idential trips also raised $18 billion of The Philippines President Arsenio Lizaso and CCP Chairperson Emily Abrera formally sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the Manila in official development assistance Port Cruise Master Plan and Feasibility Study. AJPress photos and $4.3 billion in trade. Duterte has so far visited countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Japan, Malaysia, by Rian Mendiola The signatory included TIEZA seafood market as well as various Cambodia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, AJPress Chief-Operating-Officer Pocholo concessions. The cruise port and facilities Qatar and Russia. TO harness the potential of Paragas, DOT Undersecretary Socioeconomic Planning Seccruise tourism as an emerging for Tourism Development Benito will pave the way to meet tourtourism product in the Philip- Bengzon Jr., CCP President Ar- ism demands, attract tourism pines, a cruise port facility will be senio Lizaso and CCP Chairperson investments and upgrade tourism service in the country. Emily Abrera. implemented in Manila. According to DOT, internationTIEZA has been designated by On Tuesday, October 10, the Tourism Infrastructure and En- the DOT as the lead agency re- al cruise calls to the Philippines terprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), sponsible in the construction and have been growing at an average the Department of Tourism development of the cruise-dedi- rate of 27.8 percent over the past by doRis dUMlao-abadilla Inquirer.net (DOT) and the Cultural Center cated port in Manila and in other years, with 56 calls in 2014, 70 calls in 2015 and 72 calls in 2016. of the Philippines (CCP) formally priority ports in the country. THE group of tycoon Andrew The agency’s goal is to develop This year, an estimated 140 port Tan has submitted an unsolicited signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the formulation of an accessible cruise port to major calls is expected primarily due to proposal to build a two-kilometer the feasibility study and master tourist attraction in Metro Manila the international cruise line Star monorail that will link Fort Bonifaplan for the development and and its environs. TIEZA COO Para- Cruises’ Superstar Virgo having cio to the MRT Guadalupe Station, operation of a cruise port within gas also envisions a state of the made Manila its home port last seeking to boost connectivity for art cruise port that will feature a March 19 to May 23. the area. commuters amid worsening traffic conditions in the metropolis. The proposal was submitted by INFRACORP Development Inc., a new company created by conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) to handle infrastructure projects, particularly to participate in the government’s private-public partnership (PPP) projects. This diversification into infrastructure is in line with the Duterte administration’s promise to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure” in the country, the conglomerate said. INFRACORP submitted the unsolicited proposal “Skytrain” this week, pitching to benefit around 60,000 to 100,000 passengers daily, based on AGI’s disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, October 11. The project, which will utilize the automated cable-propelled TIEZA General Manager and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pocholo Paragas and Cultural Center of The Philippines President Arsenio Lizaso monorail technology, will reduce travel time from Fort to MRT Guashake hands after the successful MOA signing.
TIEZA, DOT and CCP to build the Manila Cruise Port
retary Ernesto Pernia, meanwhile, said that foreign equity placements, which Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon pointed out as a source of concern, were only a component of total foreign direct investments (FDI). “Senator Drilon narrowly looks at so-called ‘new’ FDIs only,” Pernia said. “[W]ith reinvestments reckoned as well, drop in total FDIs was only 14 percent by [the end of the]second quarter, not 90 percent [as claimed by the senator],” he added. Pernia said reinvestments were just as good as an expansion of operations and also create. Drilon last week expressed concerns over “a deceleration in the influx of new investments” during a hearing on the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) 2018 budget. Citing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data released last month, Drilon said there was a 90.3 percent decrease in foreign equity placements to just $141 million in the first half from $1.448 billion in
the same period last year. “This is very alarming. Why such a huge drop? Is this an indication of anything?” Drilon asked. While net FDI grew by 182.7 percent in June from a year earlier, the six-month tally of $3.59 billion was down 14 percent compared to the same period in 2016. On Tuesday, October 10 meanwhile, the BSP reported that net FDI for July had slumped to the lowest level in over a year on the back of a steep drop in funds channeled into debt instruments. At $307 million, the net FDI inflow for the month was 37.9 percent lower compared to July last year and was also the smallest since June 2016’s $238 million. July’s slump weighed on net FDI flows for the first seven months of 2017, which fell by 16.5 percent — steeper compared to the first semester slump — to $3.9 billion from a year earlier. Net equity capital, at $131 million in July, rebounded with a 470 percent growth from the $23 million posted a year earlier.
Tycoon Andrew Tan proposes 2km Fort Bonifacio-Guadalupe ‘Skytrain’
An artist’s rendition of AGI’s proposed SkyTrain.
dalupe to only five minutes, the disclosure said. Under the proposal, a station will be built in Guadalupe, Makati near the MRT station and another in Uptown Bonifacio, a township development of AGI’s real estate arm Megaworld, at no cost to the government. “Given the country’s strong and stable economy, we see a huge opportunity to invest in infrastructure. We are excited to participate and optimistic about the government’s aggressive push for infrastructure developments,” said AGI executive director Kevin Tan, who is also appointed president of INFRACORP. If and when approved, the Skytrain monorail project will take
Inquirer.net photo
three years to construct. It is also proposed to be interconnected with the government’s planned subway system project passing through Fort Bonifacio. “Funding of the project will be internally-generated as part of AGI’s existing capex (capital expenditure) program. We cannot disclose the exact amount of the investment yet until the government gives us the gosignal to proceed. We will follow the rightful process of this exercise,” Tan said. INFRACORP is also looking into other potential infrastructure projects, particularly on transport solutions, in several business districts around Metro Manila and in key growth areas around the country.
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