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September 24-27, 2016
Volume 26 - No. 77 • 4 Sections – 34 Pages
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UN, EU invited to probe summary killings in PH
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PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte extended an invitation to his international critics to come to the Philippines to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings in his campaign against illegal drugs. In his speech during the opening of a power plant in Villanueva, misamis oriental, the chief executive said he asked executive secretary salvador medialdea to draft the letter of invitation to the United Nations (UN) and the european Union (eU). “I am inviting the United Nations, Ban Ki – I don’t know the name of that fool, Ban Ki-moon, Ban Ki-sun – I am inviting the eU, send the best lawyer of your town and even the rapporteurs, [to] go to the Philippines. I will write them a letter to invite them
President Rodrigo Duterte
to an investigation,” Duterte said on thursday, september 22 however, the president presented one condition. “But in keeping with the timehonored principle of the right to be heard, after they ask me questions, I will ask them questions.
USA
DATELINE Persevering through challenges to become a US citizen from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
for so many individuals and families, the naturalization ceremony is an unforgettable day that signifies the start of a brand new chapter as American citizens. on thursday, september 23, more than 5,000 individuals gathered at the West hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center eager for the oath taking: the final step to becoming an American citizen. this was a momentous day for filipina rosadell Bay, who was all smiles after braving the ceremony despite her sickness. “even though I’m sick, I would just like to feel the spirit of becoming a citizen today,” Bay told the Asian Journal after the ceremony. In 2009, Bay was diagnosed with scleroderma, or chronic hardening or thickening of the skin and tissues, which has caused
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Fil-Am singer Jessica Sanchez makes waves for Clinton campaign JessICA sanchez’s latest single “stronger together” was a hit at this year’s Democratic National Convention, so much so that the song has become the unofficial anthem of Democratic presidential nominee hillary Clinton’s campaign. Legendary songwriters Carole Bayer sager, Bruce roberts and Kenneth “Babyface” edmonds wrote the song and asked the halffilipina, half-mexican popstar to record it. Without hesitation, she agreed to it and the next day she recorded the catchy, upbeat pop song. Just days after recording, “stronger together” premiered at the DNC. sanchez describes hearing her voice at the DNC as a “crazy experience” and is proud to contribute her talents to the campaign. “It was insane, and I still can’t believe I’m
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Philstar.com photo
In an open forum, you can use the senate or the folk Arts center. everybody will be invited,” Duterte added. “You watch. see how I demolish them.” the president also stressed
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OUST DUTERTE PLOT BEING HATCHED IN NEW YORK?
Yasay denies he is source of Andanar info by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
Secretary Martin Andanar
“I Do not know whether those reports are true, I deny having said those things and I am sure sec. ernie Abella would not say those things,” said Philippine Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. when asked at the town hall meeting with the filipino-American community in New York on Wednesday, sept. 21 if he knew about the alleged plot to oust President rodrigo
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Yasay with Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. at the town hall meeting with the Filipino community held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 21. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
Sec. Yasay engages Fil-Am community
Presidential spokesperson, other cabinet secretaries also in New York national policy commitments and foreign policy directions as well as how it relates to the global NeW YorK – Department filipino diaspora. of foreign Affairs secretary sec. Yasay arrived in the Perfecto r. Yasay, Jr. met with United states last week and in a packed crowd of filipino- Washington, DC, he met with ofAmerican community leaders ficials to promote Philippine-Us and members for a town hall- bilateral relations. he also met type meeting at the Philippine with state Department secretary Consulate General’s Kalayaan John Kerry to discuss Philippine hall on Wednesday, sept. 21. relations with one of its closest the meeting was meant to allies. discuss the Philippines’ interhe also met with about a by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
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Amb. Yparraguirre denies maid’s abuse charges family as she had worked as house staff with family members for a total of almost 15 years, including as serNeW YorK – Ambassador vice staff for 5 years in the official Lourdes Yparraguirre has denied residence of the ambassador who abusing her former maid, 59-year- was assigned in Vienna from June old milagros Braza, who filed a 2000 to April 2015 and in New York complaint of maltreatment against for almost a year. the ambassador. Braza’s contract of employment According to reports, Depart- was “terminated for cause” on Dement of foreign Affairs spokesman cember 31, 2015 and Yparraguirre Charles Jose said they were looking had executed and submitted to the into the allegations made by Braza DfA on february 5, 2016 a sworn against Yparraguirre, the Philippine statement denying Braza’s allegapermanent representative to the tions. United Nations. susan ople, president of the Blas Yparraguirre said Braza was con- f. ople Policy Center, broke the sidered and treated as a part of the u PAGE A3 by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
Duterte from power. Presidential Communications secretary martin Andanar said on monday, sept. 19 that the administration has a list of filipino-Americans in New York who are planning to oust President Duterte from power come January 2017. Andanar didn’t name his source but he said his information came from a cabinet secretary who is currently in New York. he told radio station DZrh, “I was just talking to
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hundred members of the filipino community in the nation’s capital at a program called talakayan sa Pasuguan where he, along with Charges d’Affaires Patrick Chuasoto responded to questions from the audience. the former chairman of the securities and exchange Commission lived in New York in the late 70s and early 80s and was active in the fil-Am community then while worked as a
Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre
Action-packed fight card promises exciting evening in Carson by Eric
Longtime reigning WBO light flyweight Champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes weighs in at 112 pounds for his first bout against former WBC champion Edgar Sosa at the Eagle Rock Plaza on Friday, September 23. Contributed photo from Dr. Ed Dela Vega
anthony Licas AJPress
ALL eyes will be on Carson, California on saturday, september 24 as edgar sosa tests Donnie “Ahas” Nietes in his first flyweight bout for the vacant World Boxing organization (WBo) championship, while fellow ALA boxers will compete in the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. mark “magnifico” magsayo of tagbilaran City, Philippines will attempt to retain the WBo featherweight title against Guanajuato, mexico’s ramiro robles. meanwhile, Asia Pacific
Bantamweight Champion and Bago City native, “King” Arthur Villanueva, will face off in a rematch against Juan “el Penita” Jimenez. “sa last fight kasi, naging careless ako kaya bumagsak ako sa round two. so seguro this time magiging defensive ako (in our last fight, i acted carelessly; that’s why i went down in the second round. i will definitely be more defensive),” Villanueva told the Asian Journal ahead of a press conference on thursday, september 22. however, he added that “sa
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From the Front Page
UN, EU invited to probe summary killings… PAGE A1 t
that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not behind the tortures and unwarranted deaths of drug personalities. “I asked the police to go after them and if they present a violent resistance, kill them. With those words, many were killed but they were the ones who fought, he said. “With regard to those who
were killed with their hands tied, those were the handiwork of coconspirators in the drug trade.” Duterte’s invitation comes after several UN officials and rapporteurs publicly criticized the administration’s war against drugs, and after the European Parliament call to “put an end” to extrajudicial killings. “My question to the rappor-
teur will be, ‘If I killed thousands, what was the name of the first victim? What, where, and for what reasons? How was it done? What time was it?’” The president criticized the U.S. and Europe for lecturing him about human rights when the U.S. themselves “failed” to stop the killing of African-Americans. He also criticized the European nations for allegedly oppressing Arabs and Muslims and went on to tag the Middle East “a destroyed part of the planet.” “Even the rapporteur of the (UN), why are you complaining so much about me threatening the criminals of the drug syndicates if you consider the fact that we have now three million and 700,000 drug addicts?” Duterte said, stressing that threatening criminals and syndicates is not unlawful. “You know there is no crime at all in the Philippines which says I cannot threaten criminals or else I will go to prison.” n
WHO IS SALI MAKDUM. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (standing in the rostrum) questions Edgar Matobato on the true identity of Sali Makdum during the public hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, on the recent rampant extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals. In the previous hearing, Matobato alleged that Makdum was killed by the Davao Death Squad for being a terrorist. Also attending the hearing are Senators Sonny Angara, Migz Zubiri, Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, Ping Lacson, Leila De Lima and Antonio Trillanes. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo
Sec. Yasay engages Fil-Am…
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litigator in many corporate, civil and criminal cases during this time. “I come here as a balikbayan, having practiced law in New York state in various federal, appellate
and district courts in the United States,” Yasay said, recalling his life during the 80s. “It brings me immense joy to see the tremendous upliftment of Filipino Americans in the United States. It is encouraging to see a grow-
ing number of kababayans who are taking positions of leadership in government.” The foreign affairs secretary talked about elected Filipinos in the Northeast, including four council members in various cities and towns in New Jersey and a mayor in Pennsylvania who was elected in 2012. Yasay then segued to the ongoing presidential campaign and asked who the audience was voting for. “Being the second largest Asian community in the United States, our numbers matter and we can make a difference in US elections. With 10% of the four million Filipinos living in the United States northeast, your unified vote will be in a position to influence policy issues that are of interest to the Philippines,” Yasay said. Community Dialogue The secretary then fielded questions from the local FilAm media and the community. Among the hot topics discussed were the administration’s war on drugs, extrajudicial killings, foreign policy and even destabilization plot rumors. “We have now for the first time a president who has shown us the political will to ensure that the fight against corruption will succeed,” Yasay said, responding to a question on the Duterte’s campaign promise of eradicating corruption in the government. “He displayed without any hypocrisy his strengths and weaknesses. The people loved him
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From the Front page
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Yasay denies he is source of Andanar…
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somebody in New York now who is also a member of the Cabinet – I won’t mention his name. But he also heard of the Fil-Ams in New York who are planning. They are hatching a plan to oust the President by January 2017. There is this kind of report.” “I’m glad you asked that because I heard about it, too,” Sec. Yasay said, addressing the Asian Journal. “The information alleg-
edly came from two Cabinet secretaries who are now presently in the United States, particularly in New York, and these cabinet secretaries are Secretary Yasay and Secretary Abella, who is right in front of me.” Yasay expounded that while he heard about the Oust Duterte Movement from Manila, “the rumors about the assassination attempt certainly to me is a part of a bigger conspiracy to discredit
our president.” According to the Manila Bulletin, operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested a veterinarian last month in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City on charges of arms smuggling after retrieving from him a balikbayan box containing weapon parts shipped from the United States worth P4.5 million. n
Sec. Yasay engages Fil-Am… PAGE A2 t
sul General Mario De Leon. Also present were Charge D’affaires Patrick Chuasoto from The Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz and about a dozen Fil-Am press practitioners. Spokesman Abella started his message by describing the President’s three-pronged approach to fulfill his vision of a better Philippines: 1) reduce poverty by 26%; 2) address and eliminate crime, corruption and drugs; 3) bring final and lasting peace in the country (by negotiating to CPP-NPA, NDF, MNLF). He related how the President’s actions come from a very personal standpoint, and always works towards the good of the people, a trait that he has developed from being a Mayor of Davao for more than 20 years. He quoted the President’s statement during his inaugural speech, “What I promise you is a comfortable life.” Several issues came up during the dialogue, including human rights, the image of the Philippines in the international stage, the Presidents’ strengths and weaknesses. When asked about his role in defending the Presidents’ statements, he quipped, “I don’t try to defend him. My job is to make his intentions clear. I try to bring in the larger picture.” He added of the President’s messaging, “His narrative is consistent. He talks about the common good.” He recognized the contribution of overseas Filipinos through their remittances, thereby extending economic support, but also appealed to promote patriotic support. The Spokesperson urged the media to present a positive image of the Philippines. DFA Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. delivers his speech at the Town Hall meeting with the “Makiisa. Be patriotic. Do not Filipino community held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York on Wednesday, be adversarial; be critical but Sept. 21. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya be constructive.” n for who he is. He never minced words, including using expletives. Our people in general did not listen to the words that he said, did not listen to the expletives that he uttered, but listened to the message of hope and change that he had offered,” the secretary added, his pronouncements punctuated with loud applause from members of the audience who wore shirts printed with “Du30”. The secretary also talked about the issue of West Philippine Sea and how the Philippines looks at its relations with China. On the president’s “colorful personality”, Yasay said he does not need to defend the president in front of the international community. “President Duterte is a unique person. He oftentimes uses expletives, but I do not have to explain what Mr. Duterte means when he says those words other than to say that these are always uttered in anger, frustration and disappointment and these are not directed at any personality,” Yasay added.
At the community meeting in Washington, DC, Yasay said he has grown accustomed to hearing Duterte say “Putang ina” because he has been hearing him say those words even when they were just roommates at the YMCA in Manila decades ago when they were pursuing higher education. It even came to a point where Yasay said he felt that Duterte says those words as a “term of endearment”. “Public policy is clear, when the president says we will have no joint patrol in the area of South China Sea, he only means that that area is still international waters and anybody can patrol the area. The United States can patrol that area, China can patrol that area,” he emphasized. Presidential Spokesperson While in New York for the UN General Assembly, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella got acquainted with the FilipinoAmerican members of the media at a meet and greet session and informal forum at the Boardroom of the Philippine Center last Monday, Sept. 19, hosted by the Con-
MATOBATO’S AFFIDAVIT. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano during Thursday’s hearing on the recent rampant extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals asks Edgar Matobato to confirm that he executed an affidavit with the National Bureau of Investigation in 2015 where he claimed that Sali Makdum was going to be “liquidated” by President Rodrigo Duterte through Arthur Lascañas “because he was a suspected terrorist.” Senate photo by Joseph Vidal
Amb. Yparraguirre denies maid’s abuse… PAGE A1 t
news at a media forum on Saturday, Sept. 17 that Milagros Braza has filed a complaint with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against her former employer, Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre. Accoding to GMA News, Ople said the complaint was filed as Braza was still affected by the verbal abuse she allegedly suffered from Yparraguirre. “Dalawa yung gusto niya: yung una, gusto niya talaga mapursue yung case kasi hanggang ngayon, hindi niya makalimutan yung nagawa sa kanya,” Ople explained. “Milagros was also with the ambassador in Vienna. Doon pa lang, meron nang kakaibang nangyayari sa kanya. [But] her sworn affidavit focused mainly on what happened to her while in the US. Ang gusto lang niya, I guess, to hold accountable yung kanyang employer.” In her statement, Ambassador Yparraguirre repudiates in the strongest terms the accusations against her by Ms. Braza as misleading, blown out of proportion and definitely untrue. In accordance with US laws, Braza was paid a monthly salary of $2,000 with medical/health insurance, free board and lodging and paid vacation leave while she worked as a service staff in the official residence of the ambassador in New York. According to Yparraguirre’s statement, Braza was assigned in the three-bedroom residence “a room with a bay window with
a good view of the East River and the New York skyline, and adorned with paintings and pretty wall paper. The room is provided with a 42” television, a computer desk with executive chair, airconditioning and heater, and a toilet and bath with a jet massage shower.” Upon her arrival at the official residence, Ambassador Yparraguirre advised her that she might be requested to temporarily vacate the room if several guest relatives stay in the official residence. And this happened once on December 25, 2015. Braza wrote an email to then DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario, detailing her situation that started when she joined the ambassador in June 2015. The twopage affidavit detailed how Braza was lent to the ambassador’s relatives without extra payment. She was reportedly made to work for Yparraguirre’s niece in New Jersey from October 25 to 29, 2015 and she continued working despite having a fever. During Thanksgiving week, Braza claimed she was also lent out to another relative in New York. Yparraguirre, in her statement obtained by the Asian Journal, denied this allegation that she was lending Braza to her relatives. Yparraguirre said that she, accompanied by Braza, went to visit her niece in Morristown, New Jersey during a 3-day weekend after the latter gave birth prematurely and they helped prepare the baby’s room. On another oc-
casion, the Ambassador requested Braza to go to her niece in Manhattan to help attend to her three (3) young boys (while one of her two (2) nannies was away for a few hours to run errands) and two (2) nephews (whose Mom was rushed to the hospital). Aside from Braza, there were three other adults watching over 5 boys for 5 hours. Because she was tired of doing the household chores during the holidays and she didn’t want to sleep on an airbed in the living room, Braza reportedly asked Yparraguirre if she could find a cheap hotel where she would stay for the night. “Lantang-lanta na po sa pagod ang katawan ko, hindi pa ako makatulog sa sala dahil dinadaan-daanan ako ng mga tao,” Braza said. Braza claimed that her statement angered Yparraguirre and she began to shout at her and asked her to leave immediately. “Habang nagliligpit po ako ng mga gamit ko, sinabihan niya ako na tinawagan niya isang colleague niya na papupuntahin ang pulis sa bahay kaya sobrang takot ko, tumawag po ako ng 911,” she added. “Tapos sinabihan pa po niya ako na within 30 minutes, dapat makalabas na ako sa bahay, ayaw na daw po niya makita pagmumukha ko,” Police officers arrived at the scene and asked the ambassador if she had a housekeeper. Although under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Re-
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FORUM ON FEDERALISM. Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (4th from left), was the keynote speaker in a forum entitled “From Decentralization to Federalism: The Next Stage of Philippine Democracy?” held at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City, September 22, 2016. Posing for a souvenir photo with Pimentel are guest speakers (from left) Paul Hutchcroft, Governance Specialist, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Julio Teehankee, Dean, De La sale University College of Liberal Arts, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman of the Senate, Government of Pakistan, Rupak Chattopadhyay and Georg Milbradt, President and Chairman of the Board of the Forum of Federations, respectively, Edmund Tayao, Executive Director, Local Government Development Foundation, Jonathan Malaya, Executive Director, PDP-Laban Federalism Institute, and Francis Manglapus, event facilitator. Senate photo by Ariel Cagadas
Persevering through challenges to become… PAGE A1 t the hardening of her lungs. Relying on oxygen tanks, she rarely leaves her home and has to travel with several tanks. Because of her condition, she could have completed the oath taking with a federal judge in the privacy and comfort of her home through homebound processing offered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). But because the timeline for that was unpredictable, Bay wanted to attend the September 23 ceremony to make sure she had time before voter registration ended. For her the ability to vote is Rosadell Bay (center) brought her closest friends and attorney Christine Chen (far left) to one of the driving factors in her celebrate her oath taking at Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday, September 22.
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AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla
Amb. Yparraguirre denies maid’s abuse…
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lations the official residence is inviolable, Ambassador Yparraguirre allowed the police officers to enter the residence and talk to Braza and they told her that if she did not want anymore to work for the ambassador, then she should leave. Yparraguirre told the police officers that Braza can leave anytime. Fearing for her own safety and
security of the official residence and personal property after the guests left to watch a Broadway play, Yparraguirre told Braza that she can leave that same night after asking Braza to call up her relatives in Queens and in New Jersey to pick her up from the official residence. Braza left with her personal belongings and her official and regular Philippine passports, Im-
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migration/G5 visa documents, US Social Security Card, Aetna Medical/health Insurance Card, Bank of America ATM Card, and her Philippine Social Security System Card. On the first working day of January 2016, the Ambassador Yparraguirre’s executive assistant informed Braza that she will be provided with return plane tickets for Manila and assisted at the JFK airport on her departure. n
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Fil-Am singer Jessica Sanchez makes…
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out here doing this stuff,” Sanchez, 21, told the Asian Journal. “It’s a huge opportunity to be out here, and it’s so amazing to be a part of this campaign.” In addition to providing the voice for the campaign’s theme song, the American Idol alum has been on the ground campaigning for Clinton. Earlier this month, Sanchez was at the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) with Hillary for Nevada registering voters and garnering support. Sanchez feels that Clinton has the people’s interest on the forefront. She added that a Clinton presidency would greatly benefit young Americans because of her plans to make college affordable and limit student debt. “I really feel like she’s for the people, and she’s really here to HOT HATS. A vendor sells souvenirs to a foreigner in Fort Santiago in Manila’s Intramuros district on Sunday. Tourist arrivals apparently help our future and I feel like she have not been affected much by concerns about the safety of visitors from overseas. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada will improve the country,” Sanchez said. “I’m excited to be a part of this and support her and actually vote her this election, which is the first election where was “very easy” because she had just has a really great attitude I’ll be able to vote.” PAGE A4 t desire to become a citizen. the necessary documents. Her she’s incredibly optimistic and The campaign’s message also “If you can vote, you’re alive. condition also enabled her to very grateful. I learned a lot from I’m sick and the best thing you speed the process since the US- her, and she’s an inspiration,” can do as a citizen is to vote, and CIS provides accommodations Chen added. I would like to vote in this elec- for special circumstances like Bay’s story is one of resilience tion because I don’t know if I’ll Bay’s. and dedication, and she attri- by Lorenzo Antonio MendozA still be alive next year,” Bay said, Through the Filipino Ameri- butes her closest friends as her ManilaTimes.net who will find out in the coming can Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), biggest support systems. She weeks if she is a candidate for a she received the help of attor- met her best friend Emma Obut SIX new Zika virus cases were lung transplant. ney Christine G. Chen of Asian while at work and has been by confirmed by the Department of Bay was born in Batangas City, Americans Advancing Justice - her side through all the chal- Health (DOH) on Tuesday, Sept. Philippines in 1960. She decided LA (Advancing Justice-LA), who lenges Bay has faced. If granted 20. to come to the United States in assisted her through the citizen- a lung transplant, Bay would like The DOH said four of the pa2002 in search for greener pas- ship process. to visit the Philippines and travel tients are from Iloilo City, while tures, like so many Filipino imthe two others are from Laguna “She was really eager to reg- to Europe with Obut. migrants. She currently resides ister to vote and wanted to make “We became friends in 2005 and Cebu City. in Los Angeles. This brought to nine the tosure she registered in time to and will be until forever,” Obut “The U.S. is a First World vote this year, so she was very said, smiling. (Klarize Medenilla tal number of locally transmitcountry so everything, especially brave to come today to partici- / AJPress) ted Zika virus cases, where the the culture, is very good for ev- pate in the process,” Chen told eryone,” Bay said with a smile. the Asian Journal. She began the citizenship pro“She’s really wonderful, and I cess in March of this year, which was really happy to help her. She
Persevering through challenges to become…
Photo from Jessica Sanchez’s official Facebook page
resonates with Sanchez, who believes in uniting Americans together is the solution to many of the nation’s problems. “I don’t want to name names, but I feel like [Clinton’s] mes-
sage is better than other people’s messages,” Sanchez said with a laugh. “I think bringing the community together is really important.” (Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)
DOH confirms 6 new Zika cases
“I am very happy,” Bay said after the oath taking ceremony. Dedicated to becoming a citizen, Bay made sure she got to attend Thursday’s ceremony to be able to register to vote in this year’s election. AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla
Action-packed fight card… PAGE A1 t
Sabado pag may chance na ma ka knock-down or knock-out, yun po ng gagawin ko (On Saturday, if there is a chance for a knockdown or a knock-out, that’s what I’m going to go for.)” During the first time they fought, Villanueva appeared to recover well after Jimenez dropped him to the canvas with a second round flurry. “King” was awarded a knockout victory in the fourth after he managed to pressure his opponent into a corner, but replay footage revealed that the two fighters heads had col-
lided, and that impact was what actually brought down Jimenez. The two fighters aim to set the record straight on what promises to be a dramatic matchup. For his first fight in a heavier unexplored weight-class, Nietes will go up against a boxer with almost 20 more fights on his professional record. However, “Ahas” hasn’t lost a fight in almost 12 years, and says he’s undaunted by his opponent’s experience. “Ang importante hindi naman yung experience (What’s impor-
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‘King’ Arthur Villanueva (left) says he looks forward to a proper rematch with Juan ‘El Penita’ Jimenez (right) this coming Saturday
Asia Pacific Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (left) said he plans on feeling out the aggressive style of Ramiro Robles and utilizing his uppercut to halt his advances when they square off at the StubHub Center in Carson on Saturday, September 24. AJPress photos by Eric Anthony Licas
patients are between 9 and 49 years old. Six out of the nine patients are women. The six new patients had no history of travel to other countries within a month preceding the onset of illness, according to DOH spokesman Eric Tayag. Tayag read from a statement made by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, who is in China for a meeting and heading to New
York for another meeting. He said Ubial has sent quick response teams to gather more information about the new cases and to show support to affected areas in their drive against the Zika virus. At present, the DOH said, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine can carry out tests for over 1,000 suspected cases. The Health department itself
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Number of Asian American voters more than doubles
WASHINGTON, DC — The number of identified registered Asian Americans more than doubled from 3.2 to 7.2 million after the most extensive ethnicity modeling was provided by the AAPI Victory Fund in partnership with VEDA Data Solutions. “Our biggest national databases are missing crucial details and do not provide a clear picture of voters,” said Shekar Narasim-
han, chairman and founder of the AAPI Victory Fund. “When voter files list ‘unknown,’ it becomes challenging to engage with voters on issues that will resonate with them. This data will allow us to meet our goal of increased engagement with the growing Asian American community,” he added. “Micro-targeting at this level changes the outcome of elec-
tions. The system can more effectively target, research and communicate with over 7.2 million Asian American voters, including 1.4 million potential new voters,” explained Narasimha. Through data modeling, more than 7.2 million Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, South Asian and Vietnamese Americans were identified nationally, including over 1.4 million potential new voters. Prior to this model, organizations had ethnicity information on fewer than 3.2 million of the 18.5 million Asian Americans in the United States. “Increased naturalization rates and increased civic engagement have resulted in an unprecedented growth of new Asian American voters,” said Varun Nikore, AAPI Victory Fund vice chair of strategy & operations. “Our goal is to ensure that all eligible Asian American voters are registered and exercise their right to vote in this critical election.” The Asian American electorate is the fastest growing demographic group. The primary tool used by unions, progressive groups and even the national parties to target and engage voters — the national databases known as “voter files” — fail to capture a critical data point for our community — ethnicity. At the state level, AAPI Victory Fund was able to model ethnicity for:
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UNITY GAMES 2016. Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III, a Philippine Army Reserve Command Lt. Colonel, holds the basketball in a ceremonial toss during the AFP-PNP Inter-Financial Institutions Sportsfest dubbed the “Unity Games 2016” held at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gym inside Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Senate photo by Ramon A. Lopez
Fil-Am TV reporter tries to spotlight Asian-American issues lomat Larry de Venecia Zabala, is now in her 20s, has indeed survived and risen to a full-time SAN DIEGO, California — Her reportorial position in a major father named her “Liberty” be- news outfit in this city, NBC7. An Emmy-nominated reporter, cause she was born one day before Independence Day and her Zabala previously worked as one immigrant parents loved this of four reporter trainees selected country. Her middle name is from across the country for the “Angel” because she survived as NBC Reporter Development Program. a three pound premature baby. Under the program, she went Liberty Zabala, daughter of the late expatriate Philippines jour- through intensive multimedia nalist and foreign-service dip- training alongside NBCUniversal’s top media executives, talents and coaches at NBC5 Dallas, NBC10 Philadelphia, and NBC4 by CeCile
C. OChOa
Inquirer.net
New York under the direction of The Poynter Institute’s Al Tompkins. All-around journalist She writes, shoots, edits and reports enterprise stories for three live newscasts a day on NBC7. San Diego County, according to the Filipino American Center of San Francisco Public Library, has the second largest Filipino American population of any county in the nation, growing to 182,248 in 2010. Los Angeles County has the largest with more than 374,000 in the last census. n
11/01/16
Liberty Zabala’s family; she is the youngest child (right).
1SFQBSJOH :PVS
Contributed
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Pacquiao: Other nations shouldn’t meddle with PH by Maila
ager
Inquirer.net
“I’m moving up in weight for the chance to fight bigger names,” sand Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (left) during a press conference on Thursday, September 22 ahead of his first flyweight match against former WBC champion Edgar Sosa (right) AJPress photo by Eric Anthony Licas
Action-packed fight card…
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tant isn’t experience),” Nietes said on Thursday. “Na sa gawa yun. So kaya gagawin ko din (It’s what you do, and I’m able to do it).” He later added that he feels comfortable at his new weight, especially since he hasn’t had to cut rice out of his diet. But Sosa said what he has learned during his years in the ring gives him a definite advantage, and he is not intimidated by boxing history’s longest-reigning Filipino champ. “I’ve fought against former and reigning world champions,” Sosa said via the interpretation of his agent, Jose Camarillo, on Thursday. “I know what it’s like to be compete in this division.” Meanwhile, the undefeated Magsayo will fight to protect his recently acquired WBO featherweight belt against Ramiro Robles, who holds a professional record of 13 wins, 5 losses, and a single draw. Both fighters have fought champions and earned most of their victories via knockout. “Sobrang ready na talaga at tsaka pinaghahandaan na namin ni coach itong laban na ito,
so ready one hundred percent (I’m totally ready, and our coach has prepared is well for these fights),” said Magsayo. “Magnifico” added that “fighter siya, sugod ng sugod (He (Robles) is a fighter, he likes to press forward and attack.)” Magsaya said he plans to feel Robles out in the early rounds, and then utilize his uppercut to prevent the aggressive boxer from commanding the fight’s pace. Despite the preparations, none of the ALA champs were willing to offer definitive predictions on Thursday for their upcoming bouts. However, they intend to deliver an action-packed performance when they host their second fight night in the city of Carson. “[Last year] we were all excited, proud to watch the Filipino champion boxers represent the Philippines,” Carson councilmember Elito Santarina told the Asian Journal on Thursday. “It puts us on a pedestal as well.” Undercard fights begin at 5 p.m. at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Tickets, directions and parking information can be found online at www.axs.com. n
Number of Asian…
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– Over 250,000 in Virginia – Almost 200,000 in Georgia – Over 160,000 in Ohio – Nearly 100,000 in North Carolina – Over 70,000 in Nevada “VEDA’s machine learningbacked models use thousands of inputs, including individual-level, household-level, neighborhoodlevel and regional-level data on demographics, consumer behavior, political interests and U.S. Census data, enabling us to un-
derstand the subtle differences between cultures and help the AAPI Victory Fund reach out to members of their community,” said Meghan Gaffney Buck, founder and CEO of VEDA Data Solutions. “Our patent-pending technologies help organizations like the AAPI Victory Fund to find fast and accurate ways to better connect with individuals and to use data to gain better insights about their constituencies or their customers,” she added. (Inquirer.net)
NO other country can interfere with Philippine affairs, neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday, Serpt. 21 reacting to Senator Leila de Lima’s call for the United Nations to come to the Philippines and look into the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings here.
“It’s a very wrong move na gagawin natin no? Walang pwedeng makiaalam dito sa atin, sa problema natin. Sa atin ito. Hindi pwedeng makisawsaw ang ibang bansa,” Pacquiao told reporters. (That will be a wrong move on our part. No one can interfere with us, with our problems. We should be the ones to take on these issues. Other countries cannot meddle.)
He said President Rodrigo Duterte wanted nothing else but what is only good for the country. “Hindi naman naging Pangulo ‘yan para sa kanyang sarili. Ayaw nga n’ya ng corruption, ayaw n’ya ng drugs. Kung baga ang ginagawa ng Pangulo ay para sa kabutihan ng ating bansa,” said the senator. (He did not become president
just to serve himself. He is upset with corruption and drugs. He does things with the good of the country in mind.) “Meron talagang dapat disiplinahin dahil may mga matititgas ang ulo e. Ngayon kung sumunod naman lahat, hind naman siguro ganun mag-disiplina rin ang ating Pangulo (We need discipline because there are those
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A SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline PHiliPPineS
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GRANTING EMERGENCY POWERS. Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, and Senator Panfilo Lacson (right) listen to officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) during the resumption of a Senate hearing on a proposal to grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to solve the country’s transportation crisis. “Metro Manila residents spend 1,000 hours a year in traffic, while other countries in the world spend only 300 hours. Our traffic woes should not be used as a blanket excuse to grant emergency powers without making sure that these powers are FOI-compliant, time-bound, fiscally-responsible, detailed, and partic lar,” Poe said at the start of the hearing. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo
DOH confirms 6 new Zika…
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has ample supply of mosquito nets and insecticides that are available for distribution to local government units. It focuses its efforts to prevent and control spread of the virus through the 4S strategy: Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites; Self-protection measures like using insect repellent and mosquito nets especially at day time, as well as use of condom for protection against this sexu-
ally transmitted infection; Seek early consultation for skin rashes, fever, joint pains or red eyes; and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak. Contracting the virus through mosquito bites, patients exhibited skin rashes and suffered from joint pains but they are expected to have recovered at this writing. Tayag said initial information showed that the four new cases in Iloilo City were not connected to Zika virus cases in areas
Pacquiao: Other nations…
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who are obstinate. Now if we follow laws, I don’t think the president would take those measures to discipline us),” he said, apparently referring to the President’s marching order to go all out against illegal drugs. “So pangit na makiaalam ‘yang ibang bansa (It’s not good for other countries to meddle),” Pacquiao added. De Lima earlier filed a resolution, urging the executive branch through the Department of For-
eign Affairs to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killing and Summary Executions to visit the country and look into the alleged rampant killings here. The lady senator was head of the Senate committee on justice and human rights investigating the killings until Pacquiao moved on Monday to declare the chairmanship and membership of the body vacant. De Lima was replaced by Senator Richard Gordon. n
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where they were earlier reported to have occurred because these areas are more than 10 kilometers apart. The Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus or tiger mosquitoes, species that are found in subtropical tropical and tropical regions like the Philippines. It is blamed for causing microcephaly, which is characterized by unusually enlarged heads in babies, and other birth defects. Tayag earlier said they have not recommended any travel restriction to Iloilo City, even for pregnant women. He added that they did recommended that pregnant women ask their doctors for any instructions about their pregnancy. Iloilo City, the DOH spokesman said, can be declared Zika virusfree if no new case is reported in the next 45 days. Gundo Weiler, World Health Organization representative in the Philippines, said the rise in the number of cases only means the Health department is proactively testing for the Zika virus. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016
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Duterte eyes visiting China to resolve fishing rights by Dana
SioSon AJPress
IN REMEMBRANCE. On the eve of the anniversary of the declaration of martial law, flowers and candles are placed by activists at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani’s Wall of Remembrance in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 20 to honor those who fought against the Marcos dictatorship. Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon
Trillanes: Matobato’s inconsistencies are ‘trivial’ by Dana
SioSon AJPress
IN his statement on Friday, September 23, Sen. Antonio Trillanes came to Edgar Matobato’s defense, suggesting that the latter was not necessarily lying in his testimony regarding his involvement with the Davao Death Squad (DDS). Hitting his colleagues in the Senate for allegedly taking advantage of the “language barrier,” Trillanes alleged that there were instances when what Motobato said was “lost in translation” because he barely speaks and understands English and Tagalog. “The inconsistencies, if any, were trivial as shown by the transcript. And, despite the badgering, Matobato was consistent about the events and other details he was sure about,” Trillanes said. “But I must admit, there was a language barrier and a few of my colleagues took advantage of that. They showed they were better than someone who only finished grade 1.” Matobato’s main spoken language is Bisaya. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who hails from Bukidnon, translated Matobato’s answers at one point during the hearing. Matobato, a self-confessed hitman, claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte was the mastermind behind the extrajudicial killings in Davao City during Duterte’s term as the city mayor. Last week, Matobato testified that Duterte ordered the death of alleged terrorist Sali Makdum.
PACMAN VS HITMAN. Senator Manny Pacquiao (right) talks to confessed ‘Davao Death Squad’ hit man Edgar Matobato at the resumption of a Senate inquiry on alleged summary killings on Thursday, Sept. 22. Pacquiao was among those who grilled the former militiaman who claims President Rodrigo Duterte was behind the killings of 1,000 people between 1988 and 2013. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.
But when grilled by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Richard Gordon during the fourth hearing on Thursday, September 22, Matobato said it was a police officer named Arthur Lascañas who ordered the killing. Matobato also made conflicting statements over the details of Makdum’s death. In his affidavit, Matobato said they stabbed Makdum but during the September 15 hearing, he said the victim’s throat was slit. During the fourth hearing, he said Makdum was strangled. Later on, he cleared that it was Lascañas who stabbed and later, chopped Makdum. Matobato said he only strangled Makdum. “How will we – the Senate and the entire country – believe you if the things you say constantly change?” Senator Manny Pacquaio asked Matobato, express-
ing his belief that the latter was a “coach witness.” Matobato, however, insisted that he was telling the truth and that nobody coached him. The Senate hearing on drugrelated killings will resume on Wednesday, September 28. Duterte: ‘I don’t know him’ When asked if he personally knew Matobato, Duterte denied that he personally knew the selfconfessed hitman. “No,” Duterte answered during an ambush interview in Davao City on Thursday, September 22. Matobato earlier claimed before the Senate committee that Duterte personally knew him. “I don’t remember…when I was the mayor, the one providing the security were the police,” he said, adding that his security detail was composed only of police or Army officials. n
DURING his speech in Misamis Oriental, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, September 22, revealed that he plans to visit China soon to conduct talks with Beijing officials with hopes to resolve the dispute on fishing rights between the two nations. “You will see me more often in China,” Duterte said. “One of the things that I would demand if I go to the mainland China is, ‘Give us back our fishing rights.’ That’s one, so our fellow Filipinos can make a living” he said. Duterte added that he would also raise the United Nations ruling that favored the Philippines in maritime claims during the talk but not in an aggressive manner. “If we are the only ones there, I will present this problem, here is this piece of paper, our arbitral award, we do not go out of the 4 corners of this paper. We talk. But we would not be too aggressive,” he said. Last July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the The Hague ruled that China has no legal basis over its territorial claims in South China Sea, favoring the Philippines. The president also made it clear that he intends to pursue peace, not war, with China, over the territorial disputes.
President Rodrigo Duterte
Duterte added that he would not solely depend on the Philippines’ treaty alliance with the United States. “I do not expect you, U.S., to die for us so we just have to navigate our way around,” he expressed. Reports said Duterte might possibly visit China by October of this year. On the other hand, Duterte is scheduled to visit Vietnam on September 28 and 29 to enhance the trading relationship between the two Asian countries. According to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, the South China Sea dispute is also likely to be discussed during the chief executive’s visit in Hanoi. n
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A10 SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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Features
Balancing act AFTER four decades, memories of martial law should have receded from the national consciousness. Instead even young students are staging protests and warning against a return to authoritarian rule. Officials of the Duterte administration have told the nation that the President does not intend to declare martial law. But the President may have to do more to reassure Filipinos that he is committed to democratic values. He may also have to reassure advocates of freedom and civil liberties that despite his decision to allow the burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, it does not necessarily mean he intends to do a Marcos and place the nation under military rule. The Constitution bars the imposition of martial law in the same manner that Marcos did on Sept. 21, 1972. But the unprecedented spate of drug-related killings, with nearly 2,000 attributed to state forces, has raised valid concern about threats to human rights. As the 44th anniversary of martial law approached, the concerns were stoked by reports that loquacious chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo was toying with the idea of the Chief Executive declaring a “constitutional dictatorship.” Among other things, this would allow
the President to compel Congress’ cooperation in his reform agenda. But the President already enjoys a “super majority” in the House of Representatives and majority support in the Senate. Duterte won on a platform of being tough on crime. But his administration may want to present his public safety programs in less menacing terms. Earlier this month the President declared an indefinite “state of national emergency due to lawless violence.” While it initially triggered fears about what a “state of emergency” might mean for the rights of ordinary law-abiding citizens, it eventually became clear that it was chiefly a response to the deadly terrorist bombing in Davao City. The world is grappling with terrorism and other security threats, and governments are trying to balance the need for tough security measures against respect for civil liberties. The anniversary of the imposition of martial law is a good time for the nation to commit to maintaining that delicate balance, leaving no room for the abuse of state power. (Philstar.com)
Guest Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Kababayans react to De Lima’s ouster as chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights IN the previous edition of this column, I presented the position that would probably resonate well with Filipinos in America who are used to seeing government officials embroiled in controversies resign to protect the integrity of their post and the public’s trust in whatever investigation their office is duty bound to undertake to seek the truth. The rationale behind this is the concern that their holding on to their post might cast doubt their capacity to be impartial in the way they discharge their duties in public office. This writer opined that Leila de Lima should not have been ousted, but instead, should have inhibited herself from being chairman of the Senate Justice Committee even before any of the hearings started. After all, she has also been accused of being part of the drug syndicate while she was still justice secretary during Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s term. This writer presents this opinion not because of what the pro-Duterte senators who voted to strip De Lima of that power, which she allegedly used to smear President Rodrigo Duterte’s name and leadership. De Lima should have inhibited herself from presiding over any hearings and investigations in the Senate Justice Committee because of delicadeza. Kababayans from different backgrounds and political affiliations shared their comments on social media and here are some of their impassioned commentaries: If the probe didn’t happen, the world would have missed the opportunity proving that the Davao Death Squad existed? The pattern of killings that has taken 3,500 nationwide thus far, is consis-
Anyone who cannot appreciate tent with the way the then Mayor the following developments do Duterte run the city. Davao then, The Fil-Am not deserve to live in this counthe nation today. Who has the try. Get out of the Philippines, courage to expose? Only De Lima Perspective you have no right to live here and very few remaining Senators. - you don’t care a bit for this — Ago Pedalizo country but only for your own That wouldn’t have saved her. goddamned agenda: The President had already made 1. The indefinite ceasefire up his mind to destroy her. He Gel SantoS-ReloS between the MNLF, MILF, CPP fears her HR advocacy. No One has done more HR work. Decades of fearless work. NDF and the government (held in Norway) 2. The centralised complaint and action hotlines She has crossed path w/ Dut, Ping,Villanueva, enrile, etc. If she did it wouldn’t have proceeded with - 911 and 8888 3. The one stop shop for OFW in POEA which is Sen KahiAno using every trick to stall or stop it. way better than before — Jim Paredes 4. The opening of the DAR gates which where Given Duterte’s open animosity against De Lima, her ouster as orchestrated by Duterte allies were closed for 18 years 5. The distribution of the long overdue Hacienda in Senate appears as payback. Her ouster as Justice Committee chair did more to harm the Sen- Luisita to the farmers 6. The distribution of the agricultural equipment ate’s integrity than her inquiry into state-abetted that were purchased by the previous government murders. — Jego Ragragio De Lima, former chairperson of PH Commission but weren’t distributed for some political reasons 7. The immediate repatriation of stranded OFWs of Human Rights, was replaced by Gordon who wants to suspend writ of habeas corpus. Integrity? in Saudi Arabia (which if I remember it right, one Kuya was crying when he finally touched base — Nieves Buscayno Nonsense. The charges against her was brought simply because he could now be reunited with his up to stop her from investigating the EJKs. To in- loved ones because those who were sent by the hibit herself was to stop the investigation. — Alan previous government only visited them to have some selfies with them.) De Luzuriaga 8. The laglag bala at the airport has finally D5 at this time is our light in this time of darkness, not perfect but at least somebody confronts stopped right after PRRD took office. I personally experienced that worry free moment and noticed D30 — Tess Cruzado that no more luggages with plastic wraps. Allen Calalang: 9. The services in the government agencies Repost from Mr Paloma: Some people are so consumed by their hatred towards Duterte that are much faster and employees have started their eyes are blinded to see the PLAIN TRUTH. to treat the people with some respect and even
with a smile. The transactions are much better these days. 10. The legit balikbayan boxes are no longer mishandled. 11. The irrigation projects for the farmers have already started and nationwide - not to mention the distribution of many boats for our fishermen too. 12. The almost 700,000 surrenderees who have realized that drugs won’t give them the future they’re hoping for 13. The removal of processing fee on travel tax exemption 14. The 2,000 pesos SSS pension raise 15. The much empowered servicemen who are now willing to serve the country with pride and higher self esteem 16. The servicemen’s one in a million dinner at Malacanang opportunity 17. The rounds in all of the defense camps to see what each station needs so that they can give better service to the country 18. The shutdown/closure of some mining companies that destroy the country’s natural resources 19. The removal of the fishing fences in Manila Bay to give other small fishermen a fair chance to use it for their livelihood 20. The new buses from the airport to many major hubs in nearby cities 21. The one sack rice added to 4Ps cash assistance to our less fortunate fellowmen 22. The salary increase of the servicemen which is bound to happen any moment soon - and the soon to be state of the art equipped hospital
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Gimlet-eyed vigor for Life “A MAN driving through a town deep Rhizomes in the country stops his car and calls to a farmer sitting on a bench in front of the General Store. “Can you help me? Prosy AbArquezI’m completely lost.” DelAcruz, J.D. The farmer called, “Well, do you know where you are?” “Yes, I saw the name on the sign as I drove into town.” “All right, do you know where you’re going?” The driver named the town he was trying to find. The farmer shrugged. “Shoot, you ain’t lost; you just need some directions.” The next time you find someone who is lost, help them find their Point A and Point B, then nudge them in the direction of what is truly important.” – Joan Bang’s email on Thursday, Sept. 22 Allow me to share about Jose C., who knew his life’s purpose was to love and to love some more. He was a 98-yearold patriarch when he died in his sleep. We drove to Mexico to attend his wake and cremation. It might seem strange to regard these events as inspiring, yet I am most certain it was how the family pulled together which made the difference. They focused more on who Jose C. was: a man full of love, who devoted his life to his family and lavished them with his loving and kind presence, a family
which grew to include his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Like the ‘old man’ the family stayed present to one another and to about 40 who came to mourn with them. His grandson told me that Jose C. wanted a simple ceremony. The wake lasted one evening and the next day, a procession of 12 cars accompanied the hearse to the cremation site. His body was encased in a gray casket, inside a beautiful funeral home, whose backyard carried the sounds of water from a manmade waterfall with a shared open courtyard common to six halls. Next to his casket was a spay of two dozen red roses and two wellplaced large wreaths. It conveyed both privacy and togetherness in the courtyard, symbolic of how the family handled their grief privately yet, relied on their family’s circle of trust and love. Folks could see other mourners as they came in and that too was comforting. Inside the hall, a Swiss-American meticulously gave each person a hug. He made an effort to reach out and to convey his personal condolences. Folks then formed a trust circle, hands on one shoulder onto to the next shoulder, with heads bowed in prayers, in front of the casket. “A prayer is a spiritual offering,” I
heard one say. Last summer, Jose C. and his five daughters drove for two weeks along the coast of Baja, Mexico. Months earlier, he watched his two great grandchildren as they played together, that one senses his “gimleteyed vigor for life,” or a deeper wisdom about life. His faith anchored him and would remind his daughter, Nancy: “Do not worry, God’s providence will come.” He loved fountains. He installed one in his Ensenada house and another at his daughter’s house in Los Angeles, symbolic perhaps of his overflowing capacity to love his family. He worked mostly with his hands and learned late in life to cook so he could take care of his wife, who died 30 years earlier. His memory card touched us: ”When a loved one is going, it becomes a memory and that memory becomes in turn a treasure. His love leaves an indelible mark in our memories.” (Cuando un ser querido se nos va, se convierte en un recuerdo y ese recuerdo se convierte a su vez en un Tesoro. Su amor déjà una huella imborrable en nuestra memoria.) Teshuvah: Coming back to being God’s beloved There is a saying in Judaism, a form of mindfulness, a fundamental Jewish idea of turning or returning, called Teshuvah. On holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, that theme means, “we come back to our attention, our
own sense of being worthy or being beloved or in God’s presence. Coming back to attention is meditation practice,” according to Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg’s interview with Garrison Institute in 2008. Try sitting still for a moment. Look outside to nature. Be amongst the sounds of waterfalls you hear, whether in an urban city or in the mountains. Exhale out your worries and breathe in the presence of God. Do it several times and then a gratitude prayer. Reflect on our blessings, on what God’s favor has been in our lives as it is quite evident in our history. In America, after close to eight years, in 2016, we are now in much better shape than before. In Los Angeles alone, at least a dozen construction projects are progressing within a radius of 15 miles. Construction workers are busy and are able to feed their families. Stores are busy with shoppers. Restaurants and movie houses are teeming with customers. Lines are longer and cashiers are busy. Gas prices are at $2.49 a gallon. Contrast that to 2009-2011, when banks did not extend small business, housing and construction loans. The banks ended up with $6 trillion cash reserves, former President Bill Clinton said. The banks drew funds from the Federal Reserve, at interest rates of close to nothing. Jobs losses were right and left. 7,500,000 Americans had lost their jobs in 2013, with a growing increase in fore-
closure of homes. Gas prices inched up to almost $4 a gallon. Restaurants and movie houses were empty, as nearby bakeries. Car wash businesses suffered from the lack of customers. Streets felt like ghost towns in the evenings. Folks stayed home mostly and travel for leisure stopped. Fear set in. Amidst gloom, folks hoped Folks changed their behaviors. Shared communal tables were set up in restaurants. Shared cab rides using Uber apps were resorted to. Uber was officially founded in 2009 and the app was launched in 2011, and by year’s end, its funding has grown to $44.5 million. By mid-2016, America had a surge in revenues from national parks, federal deficits went down by 2/3. 90 percent of Americans are now insured. With the Affordable Health Care Act, new businesses were started to provide levels of care to these newly insured sectors. Gay marriages, once forbidden, are now happening. Couples in California no longer feel the threat of being gay, unlike before when their identities caused employers to fire them, consequently, they lost their health care coverages and their homes. Now we know that banks’ greed for superprofits and their push to give housing loans based on stated incomes (not verifiable) transformed the mortgage loan industry into gambling scams, wherein banks made money if
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Dateline PHiliPPineS
Kababayans reaction to De Lima’s ouster as…
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for them. 23. The hastened benefits claiming of the family of our fallen men 24. The increased allowance of our olympics delegates 25. The immediate signing of Freedom of Information 26. The exposés against local executives, police generals, judges and other top officials in government 27.The now better looking cleaner Baclaran, Divisoria and other public places 28. The employment increase and unemployment decrease 29. The exposés against olligarchs who have been evading to pay taxes 30. The lower street crimes because most of the nutters who are more likely to commit the crimes have already surrendered and therefore identified 31. The Mindanao peace process that has resumed again in Malaysia 32. The bilateral talks with China over the WPS dispute 33. The launch of Oplan Tokhang which has more positive results - including the not so good ones 34. The cooperation and openness of fenced elite subdivisions for Oplan Tokhang as they show support to the war on drugs campaign 35. The billions worth of drugs seized in the op-
eration 36. The closure of so many drug labs all over the country 37. The more regulated and SAF manned BUCOR 38. The no VIP treatment for government officials in airports 39. The ongoing improvements of MRT/LRT service and other major thoroughfares 40. The customs installation of CCTVs all over the place to promote transparency 41. The crackdown of Bilibid Drug Trade and the expose’ of Lielie de Lima 42. DFA is now faster in processing passports. 43. Fixers are now out of sight 44. End of Contractualization 45. No more age limit requirements to all job seekers. 46. The closure of online gambling. From 4 thousand outlets during the arroyo admin, to 8 thousand outlets during Aquino admin 47. OEC exemption for OFWs returning to same employer! Finally no need to pay and go through the troublesome process of acquiring OEC. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
Gimlet-eyed vigor for… PAGE A10 t
consumers defaulted on their loans and banks still made money on interest earned from those who kept paying down their mortgage balances. The crisis led to deeper reflections on what caused this freefall. It got folks questioning on what creates and brings value to our economy. It helped Americans examine their consumption habits and how they can promote recycling, reuse and repurposing of commodities into new functions and uses. New cars came out with greater fuel efficiency and alternative sources of power, no longer limited to gasoline, but inclusive of ethanol and electricity. It is now customary to find recycling bins divided into recyclable foil, plastic, and trash in many large institutions, hotels and sports arenas. The consciousness to take care of Mother Earth is broadened. We are now being called to task to be conscious that we are linked together and our actions become our common humanity, and where in the future, we come back as God’s beloved! Much like 17,000 people from 60 countries donated $384,000 in 12 days to retire Fidencio Sanchez, an 89-year-old Mexican popsicle vendor in Little Village, Illinois who sold popsicles for 23 years; on Sept. 21, he got that check from GoFundMe, started by Joel Cervantes Macias. Or 6-year-old Alex of New York who wrote to Pres. Obama about Omran Daqneesh, a Syrian boy rescued from the rubble in Aleppo last month. Alex said he wanted Omran to come live with him and his family. “Since he won’t bring toys, I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it. I will teach him addition and subtraction. My little sister and I will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him. We
can all play together. We will give him a family and he will be our brother,” the letter said. At 6 years old, Alex is not lost, he knows his direction clearly, that of claiming Omran as God’s beloved, as much as he is! Do you sense his gimlet-eyed vigor for life as well, much like Jose C’s? But what about us? Are we lost or do we simply need directions? *** 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.
Magnitude 6.5 quake jolts southern, central Mindanao TAGUM CITY – A magnitude 6.5 earthquake shook several areas of southern and central Mindanao around 6:53 a.m. Saturday, September 24, the US Geological Services said. The quake’s epicenter was in Barangay (village) Bobon in Mati, Davao Oriental and had a depth of 69 kilometers, the USGS said in its initial report. It was felt in Davao Oriental, Davao City, Digos City, North Cotabato and South Cotabato. There were no reports of damages and injuries as of this posting. (Frinston Lim, Karlos Manlupig/ Inquirer.net)
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016
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FilAmARTS presents:
C E L E B R AT I N G 2 5 Y E A R S : T H E A N N UA L F E S T I VA L O F P H I L I P P I N E A RT S & C U LT U R E
SA M U ’ T SA R I : S H O W C A S I N G T H E D I V E R S E C R E AT I V E TA P E S T RY O F T H E F I L҃A M CO M M U N I T Y F E AT U R I N G
APL.DE.AP
FROM THE BLACK EYED PEAS
K AT I P U N A N P O E T R Y S L A M • T I N I K L I N G B AT T L E • S TA H Y L (J A B B AW O C K E E Z / M Y D I G I TA L K I D S ) D J S E T J O N J O N B R I O N E S • O D E S S A K A N E • M A L AYA F I L A M DA N C E A R T S K AYA M A N A N N G L A H I • PA K A R AG U I A N K U L I N TA N G E N S E M B L E • D I G I TA L M A R T Y R S • M A M A B A R E S A D A P O N S I S T E R S • R A N E L L A F E R R E R • R O C K S T E A DY R O N D A L L A • J H I N G S I L L O N A M AT T A L M O D I E L • C H R I S A L A N I S • Z I G Z A G T H E O R Y B A N D • A S I A A R A G O N A N D V E RY S P E C I A L S U R P R I S E G U E S T S
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Dateline PHiliPPineS
UP DANCE CREW. Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, along with Senators Grace Poe, Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquaio and Joel Villanueva, present the UPeepz dance crew with Senate Resolution No. 105 commending them for their 1st place victory in the recently concluded 2016 World Hiphop Dance Championship during Wednesday’s plenary session, September 21, 2016. The Upeepz, a professional dance group based in the University of the Philippines Diliman, bested dance crews from 49 other countries to win the competition, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo
Freed Norwegian hostage flies home by Cynthia and
Balana Jeannette i. andrade Inquirer.net
ABU Sayyaf gunmen have released an Indonesian captive in Sulu province, the military said, as freed Norwegian captive Kjartan Sekkingstad flew out of the Philippines on Thursday, September 22. Herman Bin Manggak, 32, was released to the Moro National Liberation Front and later handed over to concerned Joint Task Force Sulu members. The Abu Sayyaf abducted Manggak in waters off Sandakan in Sabah on Aug. 3, 2016. A report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western
Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said the victim was brought to Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for medical examination and debriefing before being turned over to Wesmincom authorities. Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, joint task force commander, said the release was a result of the continued military offensives of the joint task force against Abu Sayyaf members, who have split into smaller groups to evade the pursuing soldiers. The good news came as freed Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad left on Thursday, days after the Abu Sayyaf group freed him from nearly a year in captivity. Two Canadian nationals
kidnapped with him in the southern city of Davao have been beheaded, while a fourth victim, a Filipina, was freed months into captivity. The lanky Norwegian, now clean-shaven, boarded at around 1:30 p.m. Thai Airways flight TG-621 to Bangkok at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. Escorted by Norwegian Embassy officials, Sekkingstad was headed to catch a connecting flight to Oslo. Sekkingstad was abducted on Sept. 21, 2015, from a resort in Samal Island along with Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, as well as Filipino Tess Flor Hall. n
Tagle opens Church’s doors to help drug addicts recover MANILA — Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has welcomed drug dependents to Church to help them recover from addiction. Tagle promoted the Manila archdiocese’s Restorative Justice Ministry, a community-based rehabilitation program to be set up in different parishes. He expressed hope that the program will be able to support anyone battling drug addiction as it designed to help anyone in need of spiritual, formation skills formation and livelihood support. “We are here for you. Let us not waste life. It is important and it has to be protected and nurtured,” Tagle said. The Restorative Justice Minis-
try has tied up with other organizations and concerned government agencies to provide drug dependents the treatment and recovery services they need. The partner agencies and groups include Center for Family Ministries, UST Graduate School Psycho-Trauma, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police. The community-based rehabilitation program started last Tuesday, September 13, at the San Roque de Manila Parish in Sta. Cruz, Manila to reach out to people who have been excluded by the church or severely judged. “We, in the Church failed to address the issue. We failed to
be a companion to these people. So now, we are trying what we can do given the urgency of the need,” parish priest Tony Navarette said. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the archdioceses of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro have also offered help to drug dependents who are seeking rehabilitation and healing. Last month, the CBCP called on the faithful to unite against drugs but said sinners must be given hope and not dead. “Our weapon is love not vengeance. The blood of the Lord is enough,” CBCP president Socrates Villegas said. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com)
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016
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A14 SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016
SHOWBIZ&STYLE Journal
Apl.de.Ap set to headline FPAC25
Janine Tugonon makes it to global model search final casting
Other artists include Jabawockeez member Stahyl, Bambu, and many more FiLiPino-American hip-hop artist and philanthropist Apl.de.Ap is set to headline the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Philippine Arts & culture which will be held on october 8, 2016 at the historic echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, calfiornia. Apl.de.Ap, real name Allan Pineda Lindo, is best known as member of the Grammy-winning group The Black eyed Peas. The group popularized hit songs like “Where is the Love?�, “Pump it�, and the Pinoy fan-favorite “The APL Song.� Apl.de.Ap did not hesitate to to get involved with FPAc25 when the opportunity presented itself. He said in a statement that FPAc, as the longest-running and largest Philippine arts and culture festival in the US, is important because it highlights the best in our food, arts, and culture. “i’m excited to be a part of this year’s celebration, especially that
[FPAc is] celebrating its 25th year, returning to echo Park. it will be a historic moment,� Apl said. As an appointed ambassador for the Philippine Department of Tourism, Apl continuously works to encourage others to get involved by supporting and giving back the Filipino community here in the US, and across the world. He has spearheaded philanthropic initiatives such as the Apl.de.Ap Foundation,
among others, and has used his influence to draw attention to the Filipino-American diaspora. other performers include Stahyl of Jabawockeez/My Digital Kids, Bambu, Jon-Jon Briones, odessa Kane, Malaya Filam Dance Arts, Kayamanan ng Lahi, Pakaraguian Kulintang ensemble, Digital Martyrs, Mama Bares, the Adapon Sisters, ranella Ferrer, rocksetady rondalla, Jhing Sillona, Matt Almodiel, chris Alanis, Zigzag Theory Band, and other surprise guests. Sponsors, vendors, artists come together for FPAC25 As 2016 marks the silver anniversary of FPAc, many are expecting this year’s iteration of the festival to be the biggest Pinoy party LA has seen in recent memory. And to ensure that FPAc will be no less than a rousing success this time around, many arts and culture organizations PAGE B4
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Since Janine Tugonon became the first Filipina to appear in a Victoria’s Secret advertisement, many of us have been wondering what else is this 5’8 stunner up to. Her instagram posts show that Tugonon is slated for more milestones in her modeling career as she qualifies for the final casting of nU Muses, a brainchild of the founder of treats Magazine, Steve Shaw and photographer David Bellemere. From the pool of 30 models, only 12 will be featured in its first calendar. Aside from the calendar feature, the winners will also receive $10,000 and will star in a
Janine Tugonon is the first Filipina to be featured in a Victoria’s Secret
documentary film for a major US cable network. in an exclusive interview with Preview, the former beauty queen revealed she had to drop everything she had in Manila in 2013 to pursue her acting and modeling career in the US. She also admitted facing many rejections before finally booking her first gig. “There were a lot of rejections, and there were times that i even worry about how to pay rent and bills. There’s a lot of struggles but, like i said, i have faith. That’s what keeps me going. This is my passion, and i’m not giving up,� she told the fashion magazine. (Philstar.com)
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Alden Richards in “The Road�
‘The Road’ starring Alden Richards to show on Oct. 7 at LAPIFF cArSon — “The road,� a GMA Films thriller movie, will be the gala night movie at the Los Angeles Philippine international Film Festival (LAPiFF) at 6 p.m. on Friday, october 7 at cinemark carson at South Bay Pavilion. Starring Alden richards, “The road� is a suspenseful movie with a supernatural tale. it is a story of a cold case, which was recently reopened when three teenagers went missing while traversing an infamous and abandoned road. As investigators try to
find leads to the whereabouts of the missing teens, they also unearth the road’s gruesome past that spans two decades – a history of abduction, crimes and murders. Although the road is isolated, anyone who tries to pass through it can be sure that he is not alone. Lingering in the dark and desolate pathway is a vengeful ghost who makes sure no one leaves the road – alive! Jeannette catsoulis of the New York Times wrote that the film is “a powerfully atmospheric blend
of ghostly encounters, horrific situations and missing-persons mysteries from the Philippine director Yam Laranas.� robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times remarked, “The film’s threepronged narrative does a fair job of laying a spooky groundwork for the revelatory emotional sadism that lies behind most acts of evil; it just takes a bit of clunky exposition to get there.� Philbert ortiz Dy of click The PAGE B2
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Features
B SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Moonlighting by Mylah de
leon
IT was my first police beat assignment and we felt that we had no right to do what we were doing. The killing of a fellow human being was repulsive and hideous — like performing some iniquitous farce. These were the thoughts that flashed in my mind.
Inside the death chamber
The boundaries of this narrative (from that one moment years ago in May) are necessarily arbitrary — like an artificial grid of days, weeks, months, years imposed on the long and true arc of the lives of men who violated women. The death chamber suddenly was brimming with blank faces. We are all arranged at the edges of the room, neatly divided into tens. At the center, the electric chair exerted a certain centripetal force amid the dry heat of the room. We intently watched then pris-
on’s superintendent Gen. Vicente Raval, who launched into the standard exposition, telling the grieving family what they should and should not do. We marveled the way he handled the grieving families, with that perfect touch of patriarchal gravity. By what right was all that done? How could such a shocking routine be allowed? It was like a performance, a spectacle, but didn’t have a trace of the so called “instructions spectacle,” Ivan Turgenev thought. And of capital punishment: could it be justified? On the surface, the execution resembled a nightmare. But digging deeper only saw the perverse eloquence of the whole thing. It was nothing but the unending inner city comedy of crime and punishment. Head tilted slightly, hands folded together at the waist, the priest expressed his most heartfelt sorrow in a slow, measured tone. He asked us to pray the Holy Rosary. Relatives of the condemned men looked around for any signs of a phone call from Malacañang. They were in utter discomfort of a lifetime. Attempts at conversation spelled out words that were thick and incoherent. “Bring in the condemned man!” The rites commenced with Gen. Raval’s glum voice that slightly shook, though conducted at no emotional cost. Yet, the effect was that of a .357 Magnum Smith and Wesson barrel in a sea of silence. The condemned man was escorted into the death chamber by two attendants. He stepped on a rectangle adobe block covered with wet rags that dripped with water as his feet touched them. Three feet away from him, I stood, shaking like a leaf. Standing beside the prison physician didn’t help cool my frazzled nerves, like the rest of my colleagues. To my right was foreign affairs star reporter, the suave and dashing Romy Mapile. To my left was feisty police reporter, Ruther Batiguas. When another wet circular headdress that looked like a bishop’s cap was placed on the condemned’s shaven head, he looked at me and gave me a warm smile. Then in a slight, endearing stutter, kicked in by last-minute stress and anxiety of a man facing death, he looked straight into my eyes and PAGE B3
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Age Beautifully Cookbook wins Gold in Living Now Awards Recognizing the year’s best books for better living
LOS ANGELES—The 8th Annual Living Now Awards for the year’s best books for better living were announced by the Jenkins Group this week, and “The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World” (Skyhorse Publishing; April 5, 2016; 978-163450-797-4) has been awarded Gold in the Specialty Cookbook category. Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients, dedicated “The Age Beautifully Cookbook” to delicious age-defying recipes because eating well doesn’t mean sacrificing the foods you love or satisfying meals. Grace O’s recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. She combines exotic ingredients like moringa, baobab, ashitaba and more to add agefighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites. The Living Now Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to the year’s very best lifestyle books and their creators. Lifestyle publishing categories such as home, family, wellness and personal development are the fastest-growing segments of book publishing today. The Living Now Book Awards help demonstrate the importance of these books to readers and their vitality in the marketplace. The Awards celebrate the innovation and creativity of newly published books that enhance the quality of people’s lives, from cooking and fitness to relationships and mature living. The awards are open to all books written in English and intended for the North American market. The gold, silver and bronze medalists in this year’s Living Now Book Awards offer a list of books representing some of the fastest-growing seg-
ments of book publishing today. The awards are presented by Jenkins Group of Traverse City, Michigan. Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since 1988, and is dedicated to promoting books that improve readers’ lives and bring families together. “The Age Beautifully Cookbook” is available to order on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Grace O has been cooking and baking professionally all of her adult life. As a young adult in Southeast Asia, she managed her family’s cooking school and eventually opened three restaurants. Grace has also worked more than twenty years in the healthcare industry and is the owner and CEO of three skilled nursing facilities in California. In addition to writing “The Age Beautifully Cookbook,” she is the author of “The Age Gracefully Cookbook” and lives in Pasadena, California. Visit Grace O’s website at www. FoodTrients.com Combining her passion for food and a lifelong commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle, Grace O has created FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness. A FoodTrient is her name for the natural anti-aging properties of food. Grace O is a fusion chef with
‘The Road’ starring Alden Richards... PAGE B1 City said, “The film runs a little long, but part of that is due to the film’s patience. The film isn’t just trying to shock people. It builds atmosphere and constructs horrific situations that are meant to genuinely disturb. It isn’t just about ghosts popping out of nowhere. It’s more about the creeping realization that there are some things in this world that aren’t quite right,
and people are going to get hurt because of it. Laranas’ meticulously composed frames make great use of the interplay between light and shadow, setting up an eerie atmosphere that permeates every second of the film.” The movie stars Alden Richards, TJ Trinidad, Rhian Ramos, Marvin Agustin, Carmina Villarroel, Barbie Forteza, Louise delos Reyes, Derrick Monasterio,
a mission: to cook up recipes for sustaining a long and joyful life that are built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her work in the health care industry. Mixing foods and unique flavors culled from a lifetime of travels in Asia, Europe, and America, Grace O encourages young and old to celebrate a full life that embraces diversity. Lifestyle tips, age-defying recipes, and secrets of the healing properties of food are the centerpiece of FoodTrients– all available through cookbooks, the website, e-newsletters, and much more. For more information, visit www.Foodtrients.com and www.facebook. com/foodtrientsagegracefully. The Age Beautifully Cookbook Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World By Grace O Skyhorse Publishing hardcover 280 pages | ISBN-10: 1634507975 | Price: $24.99 The Age GRACEfully Cookbook The Power of FOODTRIENTS To Promote Health and Well-being for a Joyful and Sustainable Life By Grace O Skyhorse Publishing hardcover 152 pages | ISBN-13: 978-163450-378-5 | Price: $19.99 EBook ISBN-10:1634503783 Price: $13.99 (Advertising Supplement)
Lexi Fernandez, Ynna Asistio, Renz Valerio, John Regala, Lloyd Samartino, Gerald Madrid, Allan Paule and 2016 Cannes Best Actress Jacklyn Jose. The movie, a brainchild of internationally acclaimed film director Yam Laranas, will be shown as the opening film of the LAPIFF at Cinemark South Bay Pavilion. GMA Films is the movie production arm of media giant GMA Network, Inc. For more info, on the LAPIFF, check out www.lapiff.org. (Fe Koons)
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What to do when your house has water facilities & stairs centrally located By Sean
Shono
A HOUSE with water facilities and stairs centrally located means that fortune declines and the family might be affected. It is said the energy from the main entrance is once converged at the center (of the house), then dispersed to all directions. If water facilities like the kitchen and bathroom are at the center of the house, all of the energy will be washed away. The stairway also disrupts the stream of the energy whenever people go up & down, and fortune declines. “Treasure Agate” should be placed closed to the center (of the **ALL Feng Shui items must be house) to create a new power spot. purified by the TAOIST way. Hang a “multifaceted crystal ••• ball” to circulate energy throughout Feng Shui master Sean Shono the house. owns Dragon God, a Feng Shui store
in Gardena, California. He is the U.S. Chief of the International Feng Shui Association. For more information, please call Sean Shono at (310) 7871891. Dragon God is located at 1580
GET THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS ANSWERED IMMEDIATELY WHEN ‘CITIZEN PINOY’ GOES LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 25! Kapamilya, we are excited to bring you yet another LIVE telecast of your favorite immigration program – CITIZEN PINOY. Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel is “excited about being able to answer your questions in real time.” Viewers are already encouraged to send in questions at www.facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw. The live telecast of “Citizen Pinoy” – will be seen
Los Angeles celebration underway Turning your luck around with Dragon God Feng Shui for Filipino American History Month
GARRY Prado felt hopeless. He was broke, struggling to maintain his personal relationships, and stressed out. But then an unexpected conversation with a stranger rekindled his fascination with the principles of Feng Shui. Fortune led Prado to Master Atsushi “Sean” Shono, the head of the International Feng Shui Association’s U.S. Branch and proprietor of Dragon God Feng Shui. The lifelong practitioner of the ancient tradition was a student of Grandmaster Raymond Lo, and has evaluated major projects like the Tokyo Tower in Japan. With the aid of Shono’s expertise Kayoko Ogura and Master Atsushi “Sean” Shono and the specialty items from his shop designed to optimize the flow of energy throughout a person’s home, Prado started to see his luck turn around in just a few weeks.
“It can work if you allow it to,” Prado said Shono’s guidance has said Prado, a clinical research co- helped frame his life with positivity ordinator. “It helped me find inner and left him better equipped to peace.” handle its challenges. Because circumstance and energy are always in flux, he regularly consults with Shono, and, over time, has gotten to know him. “Sometimes he’s so funny, but when it comes to giving advice he takes it very seriously,” said Prado. “They’re very genuine, They will really help you.” For more information visit Dragon God USA at 1580 W Artesia Sq. #A in Gardena, California, or its website at www.dragongodusa. com. You can also direct questions to dragongod4@gmail.com or dial (310) 787-1891.
Kulturang Pinoy JOSE Santiago and his wife Josie, and two children packed their bags for a promising new life overseas. With a wide grin on their faces, they set foot on the LAX International Airport in Los Angeles. At last they had arrived at this pulsating metropolis of four million people--a melting pot of diverse world cultures. An immense landscape of migrant faces. A spectrum of a universal world. What will their lives be from now on? Josie and Jose wonder. What will their future be? With eager anticipation they gaze at new beginnings. A new era of their lives has begun. With a lingering feeling of sadness, they had left their home, relatives, friends and family behind. Albeit unconsciously, however, they did not leave behind their bags of cultural heritage, their emotional belongingness, their spiritual attachment to the homeland they had left behind. What will become of them? Economically, they have been assured by their sponsoring American company of a bright financial future. But what would become of their cultural heritage? The legacy of their Filipinoness? The link to their roots?
The importance of that link for migrant workers abroad cannot be overstated. It is an anchor they cannot afford to lose amidst a sea of other cultures. That Filipino soul manifested in its unique culture and arts must be nurtured if these Filipinos are not to lose their bearings. For with that soul comes their identity, without which they
Inside the death...
PAGE B2 jested: “O, bagay ba?” I almost expired! Before I could blink, I knew the electric lever was switched on because the rosary he wore on his neck suddenly sparked and glowed into a hundred little sparkles. As his body jerked forward, the acrid smell of burnt flesh assailed my nostrils. I fainted! Ruther Batiguas carried me out of the room in disgrace, before my yelping and heckling colleagues and a sea wave of humanity. In time, the tragedy of the four boys’ execution was consigned into
(Advertising Supplement)
will toss neither hither in the uncertain waters of their new-found homelands. Threatening their own unique identity are the multifarious, complex and myriad cultures of American and global environments--which the Santiago’s and other Filipinos of their kind need to engage in the PAGE B5
could we have derived from that depraved day (it was like a circus) the bowels of the penitentiary’s and the hideousness of it all? Would my male colleagues go record drawers. They became nothing but 3” back into the bosom of their work, by 4” index cards, filed with a hating vice more than before? What about me? What did I get thousand others. They will mean nothing and only their offenses will from it? Apart from feeling involuntary be remembered — nothing of what astonishment over an execution they did right. That they had families and were and contempt for savages who violated women, what moral purpose human. That they could have been good can one possibly talk about, after so kids with good parental supervi- many refutations were confirmed by experienced lawgivers? sion. The fact remains: capital punThat they were raised in an atmosphere conducive to charac- ishment is one of the most urgent ter-building and sterling behavior. questions that humanity needs to What benefit, however small, solve at the moment.
LOS ANGELES — October is Filipino American History Month, and thousands of Filipino Americans from the Los Angeles area are expected to take part in one of the city’s biggest events celebrating their culture and history. The Filipino American History Month Los Angeles (FAHMLA) Coalition will host a diverse array of intergenerational and trans-intercontinental talent at the newly renovated Greek Theater on Sunday, October 23rd presented by Frontier Communications. “We make up one of the fastest growing Asian American groups in the United States,” said Joel Jacinto, appointee of Mayor Eric Garcetti and the first Filipino American Commissioner for the City of L.A. Department of Public Works. “It’s important for the rest of L.A. to know who we are, and I think there is no better way to do that than through this exciting event for attendees of all ages.” Filipino music legend Gary V will headline the evening, and for the first time his son Gab Valenciano will join him onstage. Dance-pop artist Jocelyn Enriquez, R&B group Kai and others, who helped start the Filipino American music movement during the 1990s, will reunite after more than 15 years. And for the millennial crowd, YouTube sensation AJ Rafael and The Voice Season 9 artist Tim Atlas are among those who are expected to perform. Actor Nico Santos from NBC’s new sitcom “Superstore” will
help host the show, and culinary masterminds including Kristine de la Cruz and Lynne Tolentino will be onsite whipping up delicious Asian food for the attendees. “This is a family-friendly gathering intended to bring together all Filipino Americans,” said event co-chair James Santa Maria, who helped establish the planning committee for this historic event. “Filipino Americans make up the largest Asian American group in California,
and they have a rich history in our city. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase their talents and contributions.” Also in honor Filipino American History Month, the Department of Public Works and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell have led the effort to install 54 Filipino designed streetlights throughout Historic Filipinotown, home to the largest population of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. PAGE B5
B SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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Programming of Kababayan Today, September 23-30, 2016
The Global Kababayan
McLeod and Associates gives real estate advice. Kristine Surla of Artisan Made Monday, September 26 - Our Philippines comes to the show to Kulturahan correspondent Giovanni share details about an event on SatOrtega shares about Kasama from urday, Oct. 1. the Claremont Colleges. Thursday, September 29 - Kat Tuesday, September 27 - Meet Iniba shares with us the specials from our Trans-Pinay Panel and join us as Goldilocks in Southern California. we talk what it is like being a Trans- Ninoy’s Pastries also joins us to talk Pinay on our program. about the Filipino Food Movement. Wednesday, September 28 Friday, September 30 - Get to Midweek News Updates from the know the Filipino Cultural School, Asian Journal and Mia McLeod of an organization that aims to bring
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Philippine heritage and culture to the youth. *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are
Why my heart breaks over Brangelina’s split By Monet
Lu
WhAT could have been a wonderful day to welcome the fall season became a day of mourning. It was indeed the start of the “fall”– only, I wasn’t talking about crisp leaves and beautiful autumn colors. It’s the fall of my all-time favorite power couple. T h e e n d o f a n e ra : I t ’s “Brangelina” no more. I speak for most people when I say it was shocking to learn about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt calling it quits. After 12 years and six kids together, and after their two-year wedding anniversary, Jolie filed for divorce. The news left so many fans (including me) heartbroken while we remember the once-happy-you-and-me-against-the-world romance that the couple shared. The divorce document was filed in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 19, which cites “irreconcilable differences,” the usual boilerplate language in divorce proceedings, with no details about what the differences entailed. It says the two separated last Thursday, Sept. 15. It indicates Jolie is not seeking spousal support. She lists “miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects,” and earnings from and after the separation as “separate” property, and indicates community and quasi-community property are to be determined. It lists their six kids (Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8). In addition, she wants Pitt to have joint legal custody of the kids but she wants their sole physical custody.
Divorce attorneys say that’s rare, even in celebrity divorces. Celebrity divorce lawyer Neena Tankha, a partner at the New York firm Warshaw Burstein says, “They’ve been co-parenting for so many years, it’s unusual and surprising to see one parent asking for sole custody at this late stage. It suggests there was some incident or series of incidents that made Angelina think to question his parenting. It’s a very aggressive move for someone who has co-parented in the way this family has been accustomed.” When asked what makes this divorce different, Tankha says, “They have six children and that’s not typical for celebrity couples at all — in fact, I can’t think of another celebrity couple with six children. But in the end, even a celebrity divorce is still a divorce.” True enough, just like any celebrity divorce, speculations and gossip are going around. Some say an affair has caused the split (not that it’s unusual in hollywood); some say it’s substance abuse. A report confirmed that Pitt is under investigation for child abuse by the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services following an incident on a private plane in which he allegedly got “verbally
abusive” and “physical” with one of the couple’s kids in front of Jolie and at least some of their other children. Later, Pitt, 52, issued a statement to People, saying, “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.” Whatever the reason for their divorce, it doesn’t matter anymore. None of it will change what has been decided. I just hope it will not be a messy one and they’d still end up civil towards each other. What saddens me most is that Jolie and Pitt had gone through a lot together. They are like the ultimate hashtag #marriagegoals. They are both multi-millionaire movie stars, both famous human-rights activists, owners of luxury properties in the USA and abroad, and the parents of six children. They’ve shown the world that a celebrity marriage can work if you are willing to make it work. That gave people hope. It gave me hope that love can truly conquer all despite the odds. But that’s just how life is: relationships end, marriages fail. It doesn’t matter if you have all the money in the world, have a gorgeous spouse PAGE B5
A look inside Wi Spa’s sauna rooms
A
T Wi Spa in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, it’s impossible to ever be bored or feel unrelaxed.
For a $25 fee, guests gain entrance to the multi-level, state-of-the-art facility, which houses pools, a fitness room, a restaurant, sleeping rooms and various saunas. Once you enter, you are given a wrist watch as a locker key and a yellow t-shirt and shorts, which are to be worn on the communal co-ed floor. On the gender-specific floors, however, clothing is not allowed for most amenities. (It’s important to note that Korean spas aren’t exactly the place for modesty.) There are many options to unwind at Wi — from getting one of the spa treatments to indulging in a hearty Korean meal — but a trip is not complete without spending time inside the five sauna rooms located on the co-ed floor (called the Jimjilbang, which means “bathhouse” in Korean). Saunas have long been touted for their health and wellness benefits, including stress relief, detoxification, clearer skin and weight loss. The five-themed rooms — Bulgama, Salt, Clay, Jade
and Ice — each have their own healing powers. Spending a few minutes making the rounds at each of them can do wonders for your body. (You can ask the front desk for more information about the numerous benefits.) Resembling a ceramic brick oven, the Bulgama is the hottest among them, as it is set to 231 degrees. This you’ll notice immediately because you’ll be dripping sweat upon entering. It’s recommended to spend between 10 to 15 minutes inside to
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let the toxins sweat out the body and to loosen the muscles. Don’t forget to come in equipped with a towel because lying down on the wooden floor can get unbearable without some sort of protection. Once you leave, it’s essential to rehydrate before moving on to the next room. In the Salt room, the minerals are said to help blood circulation and toxin excretion within the body. Those who use this room regularly boast about having more radiant skin, more energy
and a stronger immune system. Inside the Clay sauna, it is like jumping into a heated ball pit. To get the maximum benefits, such as anti-aging and a faster metabolism, you can bury yourself in the clay balls and close your eyes for a brief meditation. The longer you stay, the more you’ll feel the heat. The Jade sauna — which is named that because the walls are lined with the stone — is said to increase brain activity, relieve any tension and balance hormones. Lastly, many Wi Spa-goers like to end the sauna tour with the Ice room. Though it is not overly freezing inside, it helps to cool down the body’s temperature and improve circulation. Even if you intend to stay for an hour or the entire day or want to go in during at middle of the night, Wi Spa is open 24 hours, ready to take you in for your personal wellness journey. (AJPress) Wi Spa is located at 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057 (on the corner of Rampart Blvd). Visit http://www. wispausa.com/ for more details on spa services and specials.
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Apl.de.Ap set to headline... PAGE B1 from the private and public sector have pledged grants for ‘FPAC 25 – Samu’t Sari: Showcasing the Diverse Creative Tapestry of the Fil-Am Community.’ Arts councils and organizations that have given support to FPAC include the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, LA County Arts Commission, the Getty Foundation, the California Arts Council, the Office of LA City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, and California Humanities among others. Corporate sponsors include household names like Toyota, McDonald’s, Wells Fargo, and Western Union among others. Toyota, which returns has been supporting FPAC for a few years now, said in a statement that they
are looking forward to being a part of this year’s festivities. “This is the 3rd year for the Southern California Toyota Dealers Association to be a proud sponsor of FPAC. We are very excited to be sponsoring this great event, in celebration of the Filipino community and culture,” Toyota representatives said in a statement. Other key partners for FPAC25 are Asian Journal and Kababayan LA, who got on board as media partners. FilAm Arts interim executive director Tina Salonga-Bluchand also praised media outfits for their generous assistance to the FPAC cause by way of exposure and coverage. “Asian Journal and Kababayan Today are both integral in our thrust to spread Filipino art to the greater
Kulturang Pinoy
PAGE B3 21st century. Unless these overseas Filipinos are exposed regularly and constantly to the best that exists of their historical ancestry and legacy, that treasure of their uniqueness could be eroded slowly but surely. The new environments could be a behemoth, a monster from the deep that will swallow them whole. This treasure of Filipino culture must therefore be accessed constantly through regular programs on Filipino heritage. Filipinos and their children in the many foreign countries where they now live must continue to learn, understand, and love their cultural roots, the cohesive force that bonds Filipinos together. On the present crop of overseas Filipino workers rests this
responsibility never to forget these roots and to keep them alive among their children and their children’s children in their turn. How can this be done? I propose that an aggressive initiative be waged to bring about a continuing mixture of innovative, original, and artistically creative projects, of varied presentations and events in different art forms that foreground Filipino culture. While traditional Filipino arts are protected, nurtured and disseminated among Filipino communities abroad, there should come as well a morphing and exploring of new forms and avenues of artistic expression. May they be in the field of the performing arts, literature, and visual arts. These cultural programs and
Los Angeles celebration...
PAGE B3 Local artist Roel Punzalan’s designs symbolizing Filipino culture and the ethnic diversity of Historic Filipinotown will transform the lighting fixtures along Temple Street next month. “We’re so excited to put our Filipino pride on full display,” said event co-chair Hildy Aguinaldo. “October 1587 was when the first Filipino immigrant was documented in America. I encourage all Filipino Americans to take time out this month to celebrate our roots.” Ticket sales begin September 27th and start at $15. The event will take place from 4pm-10pm on Sunday, October 23rd at the
Greek Theater in Los Angeles. FAHMLA is sponsored by Frontier Communications, Shangri-la Construction, CMFA, AMG, Airbnb, Mobilite, Southern California Gas Company, Philippine Airlines, The Filipino Channel and Department of Tourism Philippines. For more information, please visit www.fahmla.org or facebook.com/ events/188464001586912. Filipino American History Month Los Angeles (FAHMLA) is a community-based coalition of supporters of the Filipino American community committed to sharing and celebrating the diverse history of Filipino Americans in Los Angeles and beyond.
Why my heart breaks...
PAGE B4 and talented children. I realized now that these Hollywood stars are just like us. When things get tough, they deal with it the way most of us, regular people, do. And just like Tankha says, at the end of the day, a celebrity divorce is still a divorce. Now that it is in the hands of their lawyers, the harrowing events will inevitably follow. And just like any other divorce, it will be painful and unsettling. The only difference between their divorce and regular people’s is that everybody will be watching. People will talk and they will be brutal. And this, I believe, is what the couple should be prepared for.
My heart breaks over this news, and I know I am not alone. But like any heartbreak, it will mend. I sincerely hope that after all of this, ‘Brangelina’ fans will find another couple to root for and maybe, make them believe again that “forever” can (still) be found in Hollywood. ***
Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning 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
Filipino-American community. AJ and Kababayan Today are excellent platforms for promote our art because of their wide reach and substantial following,” SalongaBulchand said. *** FPAC25 – Samu’t Sari: Showcasing the Diverse creative Tapestry of the Fil-Am Community will be on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, form 10am-8pm, at the Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles. Echo Park Lake is on 715 N Echo Park Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.filamarts.org or call 213-380-3722. For sponsorship and vendor opportunities, please email info@filamarts.org. projects will enrich Filipinos who live in the vibrant and changing technological environments in Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. But these initiatives must be undertaken by both public and private agencies if they are to be sustained. It would be a betrayal of Josie and Jose and their children should their lives be anchored only on the written contract of economic and financial rewards, setting aside the unwritten contract of nourishment for the Filipino culture which they bear. It is therefore imperative that the Philippines’ unwritten promise be kept to Jose’s family, a promise that a loving mother gives to a helpless child in her arms. It is a promise unsaid and unsung, the spiritual bond and commitment to protect her child from destructive forces of contemporary life. (Errol Mendoza)
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016
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Ryan Cayabyab on US Concert Tour in October
The Maestro performs with his mentored vocal group, The Ryan Cayabyab Singers RYAN Cayabyab, one of the purveryors of Original Pilipino music, if not the originator of OPM, is coming for a long-awaited concert tour which brings the Maestro and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers to New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu. The prolific composer, arranger and music director, reknown for his hit songs, does not only gather accolades for himself. To those close to him know him as an inspiring educator who continuously mentors aspiring musicians. His works, produced at almost breakneck speed, make up a vast catalog that represents the Filipino, in culture and psyche. Beloved for his songs with distinctive melodies, Maestro Ryan was the first to be honored in the TV show ASAP’s Songwriter Series. The master orchestrator gave us the karaoke staples “Tuwing Umuulan” and “Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang” by Basil Valdez, “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” by Hajji Alejandro, “Paraiso,” and “Kailan” by Smokey Mountain, to name a few. His works for the stage are as varied and impressive. His opera “Spoliarium,” about Filipino painter Juan Luna was staged in New York last year. Kuh Ledesma’s first hit “Magbalik Ka Na, Mahal” was culled from his ballet-musical Rama Hari. Maestro Ryan’s partnership with Celeste Legaspi, a popular concert artist in the 80-90’s resulted in royal command performances, sold out concerts and concept albums like “Koleksiyon” with reinterpreted kundiman. But more importantly, they produced much restaged musical “Katy!”, and “Larawan,” which has been turned into a film, which is
in its final stages of production. With a multitude of film scores under his belt, including “Hello Joe, Goodbye” from a Rosanna Roces movie, Maestro Ryan continues to break ground. His score for the highly anticipated film “Ignacio De Loyola” was performed by a live orchestra at its premier. The score is now available in iTunes. At 62, Maestro Ryan shows no signs of slowing down. Even while nursing a cold, he was able to complete a commissioned symphonic piece, and record with with a live orchestra. He continues his advocacy for Original Pilipino Music though mentoring the ongoing Elements Songwriting Camp, PhilPop Songwriting Competiton and Akapela Open. All his activities are headquartered at The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab, which has been operating since 1988. The school is often where he rehearses his artists and shows, and holds auditions for singing groups he had directed and written for, such as 14k and Smokey Mountain. He established the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) in 2007, soon after the end of The San Miguel Performing Arts Foundation, of which he was Executive and Artistic Director. In the fashion of his other projects, Maestro Ryan recorded
extensively with the San Miguel Orchestra “Great Filipino Love Songs,” and with the San Miguel Master Chorale “Pasko I & II.” Maestro Ryan debuts RCS’ 3rd album “Sa Panaginip Lang” on this US tour. The group performs his beloved hits and new songs co-written with the members. A highly anticipated album, celebrity well-wishers took to Youtube to extend their greetings at the launch. Los Angeles will get to enjoy Maestro Ryan’s work, as he accompanies RCS in a song and dance program that celebrates 100 years of song. The concert is on October 23 at the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall of the Valley Performing Arts Center at CSU-Northridge. Tickets are available at ww.ticketmaster.com for $75, $60, $45. Student discount of 50% off are available at the VPAC Box Office.
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COMMUNITY Journal
Your Immigration Solution Ben Loveman and nancy miLLer EVERY week clients consult with us who erroneously believe that they are not eligible for adjustment of status simply because they entered on a C-1 visa. The prevailing understanding of the C/D visa category is that the use of a C-1 visa to enter the United States results in a bar to becoming a permanent resident from within the United States (a process also known as ‘adjustment of status’). However, this understanding is flawed. In hopes of dispelling this pernicious myth, we devote our discussion this week to the nuances of the C-1 visa category. Let’s start with the most typical use of a C-1 visa by a bona fide crewman. A person entering the U.S. with a C-1 visa to pursue employment aboard a vessel (a ship or airplane) is a bona fide ‘crewman.’ Crewmembers are ineligible to adjust status in the United States. If they are eligible to get a green card (such as through their marriage or other family relationship), they must complete the process through the U.S. Consulate in their home country. It is from the application of this section of law that many have come to believe that all C-1 entrants are barred from adjusting status. However, the C-1 visa category is not exclusively for crewman and exceptions to the general rule apply. In addition to being given to crewmen, C-1 visas are also issued to those in continuous transit through the United States en route to another international destination. “C-1 in-transit” holders are not prohibited on that basis from adjusting status. So, if one is traveling from their home country to a third country and has a “layover” in the United States, they are likely to be issued a C-1 transit visa. This will allow them to remain in the U.S. for no more than 29 days. If, for some reason, they don’t leave
Opportunity overlooked? Don’t judge a C-1 visa by its cover and later become eligible to get a green card, they will be able to adjust their status in the U.S. Of course, USCIS will look very closely at why they did not leave to determine whether they had a preconceived intent to remain in the U.S. at or before they entered. If CIS concludes that they did, they could be denied in the exercise of discretion. Just because one works on a ship does not mean he is a crewman. The law defines a crewman as one who is required to perform duties for normal operation and service aboard a vessel. While this does include persons employed by concessionaires (e.g. beauticians), it does not include persons not needed for normal operation or where numbers are in excess. The Board of Immigration Appeals has ruled that the “focal issue in determining whether an alien qualifies as a crewman is whether the person entered the United States in pursuit of his calling as a seaman. The Board further clarified that the “substance rather than the form [of the entry] which controls.” On that basis, the argument has been made that one who misrepresented his intention to work on a vessel is not barred from adjustment under 245(c). However, persons misrepresenting their intentions will require a waiver of inadmissibility to be eligible for adjustment of status. They will need to show that their
U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent or spouse will suffer extreme hardship if they are not permitted to remain in the U.S. Bona fide crewmen are able to adjust their status too if covered by INA §245(i). 245(i) applies to persons who had a petition or labor certification filed on their behalf (or on behalf of certain relatives) prior to April 30, 2001. If such a petition was filed prior to between January 14, 1998 then the filing alone satisfies the requirements. A petition filed after January 14, 1998 but on or before April 30, 2001 requires further showing physical presence in the United States on December 21, 2000. Satisfaction of §245(i) allows adjustment of status for bona fide crewman. Crewmen who cannot adjust may benefit from the ‘provisional waiver’ program. Crewmen were never prohibited from departing to obtain an immigrant visa abroad. However, one who leaves after having been unlawfully in the U.S. for a year or more is barred for 10 years from returning. The bar is waivable upon a showing of extreme hardship to their qualifying relative. The “provisional waiver” allows for preapproval of the waiver eliminating lengthy separation and uncertainty from the process. If you or your loved one en-
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Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon HAVE you ever faced a situation in your life where you needed help so badly but you were just too afraid or embarrassed to ask for it? Perhaps you felt confused and overwhelmed with the problem that you spent sleepless nights trying to figure out what to do. Over the years I have met a lot of people who were simply too embarrassed to seek help with their debt problems even though they desperately need it.. Of course, this is perfectly understandable. After all, financial matters are often too personal that we don’t even share this kind of information with our family or closest friends. So what happens is that instead of getting the help that they need badly, some people end up doing nothing to change their situation for the better. Does this describe anyone you know, perhaps you? On the outside, everything might look great. Maybe no one
Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA
THERE are three basic types of audits: correspondence, office, and field examinations. Correspondence audits are the simplest ones – W2s, 1099s and other items that can be easily resolved by mail. Office audits are more complicated and involve small businesses and individuals with difficult issues. The exams are conducted at IRS offices (not your office). Let’s now discuss Field Audits—the most complex of the three. Field audits are more problematical and are conducted at your place of business. The audits are done by Revenue Agents who have many years of experience and hold advanced degrees. Many are CPAs and attorneys. Revenue Agents are the elite of the crop. They undergo intensive audit training to act as detectives looking for clues. Field audits are different from
Community Journal
Need debt help but too embarrassed to ask? has a clue about what you are going through and as much as possible your pride tells you to keep it that way. But how is that going to help you? I’m here to tell you that it’s OK. There is no shame in getting the help that you need. Everyone goes through the same problems that you are going through at some point in life. And like most problems, what you are going through is only temporary. There are brighter days ahead. If there is one thing in life that’s certain, it’s this: Things always change. Someday you will look back to where you are now and realize that what I’m telling you is true. If you are struggling with debt problems and don’t even know where to being in finding a solution, it’s time to consult with an attorney who will take the time to understand your situation and recommend possible solutions. If you need to file bankruptcy, perhaps that’s what you should do if you have no other way out. But sometimes bankruptcy is not the answer, and it can still be avoided if with proper planning. What
is at risk if you don’t take action now? Are you feeling a sense of urgency because of what’s at stake? How can you protect yourself and give yourself a chance to recover financially? What are your priorities and financial goals and what is the price you are willing to pay to attain them? These are the questions that require serious thought and the help of an experienced and knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney will be invaluable. Since 1997, I have counseled thousands of clients who are in need of debt relief. I can help you if you give me a chance. For a free CONFIDENTIAL attorney consultation, please call TollFree 1-866-477-7772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. ** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL
10 tips to handle a field audit at your place of business correspondence and office audits and should be monitored closer because this type of audit is done right at your home or place of business—office, store, shop, or warehouse. You have to be more careful because you have employees and possibly customers in your premises. It gives the agent a chance to see and feel how you operate your business. With this in mind, let me give you 10 tips on how to handle field audits. 1. Plan the engagement with your representative—CPA, Enrolled Agent, or Attorney (don’t attempt to handle field audits yourself). It is far too complicated for you. You are no match for a Revenue Agent. 2. Designate a contact person to act as a liaison between you, your rep, and the auditor to assemble and regulate the flow of information with the IRS. The contact person should review all information before it is turned over to the IRS and be present during tours and interviews of
employees. This setup will increase the likelihood that the information provided to the IRS is organized, complete, and focused. 3. The agent should deal only with this one person. The agent should not be allowed to chat with employees or request any document from anybody. Everything should be coursed through this contact person. 4. The agent should not be allowed to conduct a tour of the facilities without your CPA, enrolled agent, or lawyer. This should be done at the beginning of the audit with your rep. 5. Designate a room for the agent. Clean up all files beforehand. Keep the door closed so the agent cannot overhear business discussions. This room therefore should be as far as possible from financial areas. 6. If no room is available, place the agent far from sensitive areas. Tell workers not to discuss business issues within hearing
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On being tech-savvy
10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” “Jesus, first of all, I empty myself before you. I ask forgiveness of any wrong doings IT is so nice to see that the world I may have done or maybe I unknowis advancing at a very fast pace comingly profaned your name. I surrenpared to the discoveries by our forefader my life to you now and confess thers from centuries ago. Of course, I that you are my Savior and Lord and am not discounting the discoveries of that you are the Son of God. I receive our great lolos and lolas. Thanks to You now in my heart, take full control them for they laid out the foundation of me, lead me towards Your direcfor all of us in this present age. And tion. I am only led astray like a sheep that most of the discoveries today are in the wilderness if I follow my own improvements or modifications from direction. Please guide my thoughts original discovery or design ergo- Henjie Pimenta and my heart. This I pray in your nomically speaking. An example of this that easily comes to my mind name, Jesus. Amen.” My friends, do not be afraid if the presence of is the development of the telephone, from an operator-assisted call to real-time video communi- the Lord has descended on you, just let Him be. He cation. Now we have hands-free, voice-activated brings peace in you that no amount of words can gadgets, television on the go, remotely operated ever be expressed. And some may say, “what are household appliances and vehicles, among many you talking about, I didn’t feel a thing?” That is absolutely alright, but I am trusting that other products. Also, fascinating to see are the “seasoned citizens”—as I’d like to call the elder- Jesus is going to reveal His presence in a very sweet ly—who have engaged themselves into these ad- way to you, in a time when and where you do not vancements, swapping traditional crochet kits and expect it. I remember the time I kept resisting the chessboards for selfies and social media. This new very thought of surrendering and confessing His way of spending their leisure time gives them a name. I do not see the reason why I need to confess and surrender. When in fact, I was diligent in good memory exercise. Welcome to the future! Every Sunday I go to a church that loves to give going to church and was raised in a school run by biblical text readings as a reference of preaching and the church. Attendance at a church gathering alone I noticed that there are numerous people who are us- doesn’t guarantee my entrance to heaven—fully suring Bible apps to follow along with the pastor’s Pow- rendering to Jesus unlocks so many breakthroughs erPoint outline. I myself have access to that as well but in all areas of my life, but the most important thing is I have not given up my old Bible yet for reason that I I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and love to write side notes and underline verses. In fact, no one can snatch me from His palm. God blesses I got used to it that if I forget my Bible, I get the same you and God loves you unconditionally. Going back to the main road, Psalm 119:105 feeling as we do when we misplace our cellphones or get dizzy looking for the TV remote control. Our says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light lives have depended on our devices so much that for my path.” It illuminates our walk in this earth and a good roadmap to life. A manual for this life— they feel incomplete without them. But my real point for this issue is whether you how to build, how to walk in life, to properly act have an electronic Bible or traditional hard copy, and react in proper timing and so much more. Continue reading the Word of God and fully imthe Word of God will not change. Jesus said in the book of Matthew 24:35—“Heaven and earth will merse yourself in it, an ocean of grace awaits you. Spend time with Him as you would with your gadpass away, but my words will never pass away.” In my previous article entitled “Mightier than the gets and social medias. Would you accept Him as Sword,” some of you may remember that I gave quite your friend and log-in to his account? Would you a few verses pertaining to the Sword of the Spirit, blog and chat with Him through prayers? Our social which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), and that media accounts entail so many things about us, to the Word of the Lord is like a double-edged sword some it is the window of our hearts, soul and mind. What information do we want Jesus to see in our (Hebrews 4:12), and the Word is Jesus and is God Himself (John 1:1-5,14) so, therefore – “the Word is account? Is he glorified in there? The intention of this is not to push guilt and make us feel bad and mightier than the sword because He is Jesus.” I am just recapitulating for a smooth continuity clean up our mess. No, not that! But just as who we about the credibility of “The Word” and the im- are, we can come to Him and let Him do the rest. Let God do what He does best—making miracles in our portance of reading it in our lives. And to us, who depend our lives and salvation, lives, transforming us into a person that He wants us hope and future that await us after our earthly jour- to be. Trust me, His ways are better than ours. And all who agree say, Amen! ney, we need to know more of Jesus and enjoy His If you need prayers, please do not hesitate to call presence already through the Holy Spirit. Personal relationship with Jesus starts now, not when we de- or visit us on any Sunday at: Praise Christian Fellowpart from this earthly vessel. Allow me to side step ship of the Valley, 9051 Woodman Avenue, Arleta, a little bit here before I go back to the main road of CA 91331 (inside Helping Hands ADHC,behind the this article. John 1:12-13…. “ Yet to all who received CVS drugstore and Vallarta Supermarket at the him to those who believed in his name (Jesus), he back alley) at 4:30 p.m. or call Pastor Emmanuel gave the right to become children of God—children Madeja at (818) 813-3971; or at Praise Christian born not of natural descent, nor of human decision Fellowship, Los Angeles, 2235 Beverly Blvd. (on or a husband’s will, but born of God.” We are not the corner of Roselake/Rosemont) in Los Angeles, just going to believe in his name but we are going CA 90057 at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. or call to confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord—Romans Pastor Courtney Hall at (213) 484-8294. n A Dash of Salt and Pepper (A simple thought of inspiration with biblical encouragement) by Henjie Pimenta
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Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: THANK you for keeping us updated on the latest employment laws. I work as a caregiver/ housekeeper for a senior couple in Los Angeles. Back in 2014, they started paying me overtime because they said it was the new law. But I heard from another caregiver friend that this new overtime law is only temporary for caregivers and starting 2017, we will not be entitled to overtime again. Is this true? A: Not anymore. It is true that on January 1, 2014, the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights took effect, which entitled personal attendants (such as caregivers and nannies) working in private households, to overtime pay if they work more than 9 hours in a day or more than 45 hours in a week. Before 2014, personal attendants were not entitled to overtime. (They were entitled to be paid at least the minimum wage but not overtime.) After the 2014 law took effect, California lawmakers had three years (or until 2017) to either revoke the overtime pay for personal attendants or make it permanent. After studying reports regarding the effects of the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights on the affected employees and their employers, lawmakers decided to make the overtime law for personal attendants permanent. This new law was then signed by California’s governor on September 12, 2016. So personal attendants do not have to worry. They will still be entitled to overtime after 2017. This new law making personal attendants permanently entitled to overtime is welcome news for domestic workers everywhere
Community Journal
Good news for domestic workers (especially caregivers and nannies)
in California. UCLA Labor Center reports that about 2 million households in California hire domestic workers for housecleaning (54%), homecare support for seniors and disabled persons (27%), and childcare (19%). Many of these domestic workers are live-in, and a significant number work 24-hour shifts. Personal attendants are some of the most exploited and underpaid of domestic workers. As one California lawmaker put it, “Domestic workers who care for property such as landscaping or housekeeping are generally entitled to overtime. Those domestic workers who care for children, the infirm, the elderly, and those with disabilities [are] not.” The Domestic Worker Bill of Rights is aimed to correct this injustice and to provide personal attendants equal treatment under the law. Thus, starting 2014, personal attendants became entitled to overtime pay of one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay for all hours worked over nine hours in any workday and for all hours worked more than 45 hours in the workweek. Personal attendants are those domestic workers who supervise, feed, or dress a child, or a person of advanced age, physical disability, or mental deficiency who needs supervision. In our years of practice, however, we have found that many persons who say they are “caregivers” or “nannies” really have other work tasks that are not related to being a personal attendant. Many of these workers actually spend several hours on housekeeping duties, such as cleaning the house, doing the
laundry, cooking food for the entire family, or buying groceries for the entire household. Under the law, “personal attendants” who devote more than 20% of their work hours to housekeeping work (not just feeding, dressing, or supervising someone), are entitled to overtime pay, even if these tasks occurred before 2014. Another important issue to consider is that live-in caregivers and nannies are often made to stay at home even during supposedly off-duty hours, or are required to wake up at night, to attend to their charges. These personal attendants do not get any day off, or at least 5 straight hours of sleep. This effectively puts them on a 24-hour shift, 6 to 7 days per week. The problem is that even with this round-theclock work requirement, they are not paid for all of the hours they worked. In the above situations, it is best for the domestic worker or caregiver to consult with an experienced employment attorney to find out if they are entitled to additional back wages and how such wages can be paid to them. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant recoveries for thousands of employees and consumers. He is named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently Aselected as
Protecting your parents
by Andrew
PArAnAl, eSQ
SINCE its inception three decades ago, the ombudsman program has investigated elder abuse and other complaints on behalf of residents of California’s 1,300 nursing homes and more than 8,000 assisted living facilities. Many of the extraordinarily vulnerable people living in long term care facilities have no family or friends who visit or advocate for them. Ombudsman staff and hundreds of state–certified volunteers fill this void by making regular visits to facilities and responding to residents’ complaints and concerns. Their front-line work has exposed countless incidents of neglect and abuse and often helps residents protect important rights that might otherwise be ignored. In 2008, then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated all state funding ($3.8 million) for California’s long term care ombudsman program. That represents about half of all funding for the ombudsman services. The severe cuts are having a devastating impact on the network of about three–dozen nonprofit and county agencies that provide ombudsman services throughout California. Small programs in rural California are at risk of closing, while larger programs are laying–off many staff and drastically reducing services. Due to the cuts, the programs are unable to comply with various state mandates involving the protection of residents. Now, more than ever, every person who has friends or relatives living in a nursing home should take seriously the responsibility of visiting them. Not only to make sure the staff is taking good care of them, but visits from family and friends give residents a special gift that they treasure. No matter how much staff and volunteers care for the residents, none of them can replace the family and friends that have been part of their lives. If you are not happy with the nursing home your loved one is currently in, or if you have not
Andrew Paranal, ESQ
placed your loved one in a nursing home yet (but anticipate the need to soon), remember that all nursing homes are not alike. Nursing homes vary in the quality of care and services they provide to their residents. Reviewing health inspection results, staffing data, and quality measure data are three important ways to measure nursing home quality. This information gives you a “snap shot” of the care individual nursing homes give. To help you, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a web-site that will help you compare nursing homes more easily. Visit “https://data.medicare. gov/data/nursing-home-compare“ and you’ll see a Five-Star Quality Rating System , much like the “A”, “B” or “C” posted outside your favorite restaurant. Nursing homes with 5 stars are considered to have much above average quality and nursing homes with 1 star are considered to have quality much below average: (1) Health Inspections – The health inspection rating contains information from the last 3 years of onsite inspections, including both standard surveys and any complaint surveys. This information is gathered by individuals who go onsite to the nursing home and follow a specific process to determine the extent to which a nursing home has met Medicare’s minimum quality requirements. The most recent survey findings are weighted more
than the prior two years. More than 200,000 onsite reviews are used in the health inspection scoring nationally. (2) Staffing – The staffing rating has information about the number of hours of care on average provided to each resident each day by nursing staff. This rating considers differences in the level of need of care of residents in different nursing homes. For example, a nursing home with residents who had more severe needs would be expected to have a larger nursing staff than a nursing home where the resident’s needs were not as high. (3) Quality Measures (QMs) – The quality measure rating has information on 10 different physical and clinical measures for nursing home residents - for example, the prevalence of pressure sores or changes to resident’s mobility. This information is collected by the nursing home for all residents. The QMs offer information about how well nursing homes are caring for their residents’ physical and clinical needs. More than 12 million assessments of the conditions of nursing home residents are used in the Five-Star rating system. No rating system can address all of the important consideration that go into a decision about which nursing home may be best for a particular person. Since visits can improve both the residents quality of life and quality of care, it may often be better to select a nursing home that is very close, compared to a higher rated nursing home that would be far away. *** Elder Law Services of California is proud to announce that attorney Andrew Paranal has joined its trust department. Mr. Paranal began his career in estate planning in 2013 and has since expanded into asset protection and Medi-Cal planning. He became interested in Elder Law after helping care for a family member who experienced a debilitating event. Mr. Paranal is excited to join an established law firm and hopes to educate his Filipino community about the tremendous benefits of proper estate planning.
10 tips to handle a field audit at your place…
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distance of the agent. Instruct workers to remind each other of the agent’s presence. 7. If you think of placing the agent with the contact person for convenience and monitoring, don’t. This will create an atmosphere for talking. And when they talk, you could have problemas mas grande. 8. Provide only data that are requested. Not more. 9. The contact person should notify your rep if additional issues arise. 10. Make sure that the contact person understands his/her role: a contact person with no authority to argue issues or settle things with the agent. And most important, tell employees to treat the agent with
the courtesy and respect. No IRS jokes, por favor. Remember: • Field audits are more rigorous than correspondence or office audits. • About 15% of all audits are field audits and about 90% result in an assessment. This is high. • Revenue agents encourage you to talk, especially about yourself, your vacations, your lifestyle, listening for clues of undeclared income. Don’t fall for it. • The Internal Revenue Manual requires the officer to tour your place of business or home. • They look for time cards (worker reclassification audit), calendars on walls (3rd party verifications), or vending machines (unreported income). I always
conduct a trial run before the tour to remove expensive works of art such as paintings or photos of cruises and lavish parties. I also observe workplaces where a vengeful employee can utter a remark to spark a fire.
*** 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
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016
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Preventing abandonment of your green card due to travel abroad A GREEN card holder can travel outside the US and return with some limitations. If a green card holder is outside the US for an extended period of time, he may be considered to have abandoned his permanent resident status. Brief travel (such as for a vacation) normally will not affect permanent resident status. However, abandonment of permanent resident status is a potential issue for green card holders who have to leave the US for an extended period of time (over 1 year) for one reason or another, such as to finish studies or work abroad. In such situations, how can a person avoid losing his green card? If a person plans to be outside the US for an extended period of time (over 1 year), an application for a reentry permit must be filed. A reentry permit establishes that one did not intend to abandon his green card, and it allows one to apply for admission to the US after being outside the US for up to 2 years without having to obtain a returning resident visa. Reentry permits are normally valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. A permanent resident can re-apply for subsequent reentry permits. Each subsequent reentry permit would be valid for 2 years. As aforementioned, if one is outside the US for an extended period of time without a reentry permit, he may be considered to have abandoned his green card. If a permanent resident has been outside the US for more than 1 year and attempts to re-enter the US, he may be referred to an Immigration Judge to determine whether he has abandoned his permanent resident status. An application for reentry permit should be filed at least 60 days prior to the contemplated extended trip outside the US. While a person does not have to be present in the US at the time his reentry permit application is approved, it is important to file it with sufficient time prior to the trip to allow time to receive the biometrics notice after the application is filed, and have biometrics taken. An applicant must provide his biometrics while in the US. If an applicant leaves the US before biometrics are taken, the USCIS may deny the application. What if a permanent resident has already left the US and either has 1) been outside the US for over 1 year or 2) been outside the US for over 2 years with an expired reentry permit? The Department of State on its website advises to apply for a Returning Resident Visa. To qualify for a Returning Resident Visa, you must show a valid reason why your stay abroad was extended, and that the reason for the extended stay was beyond your control or for which you were not responsible. Another (perhaps better) option would be to re-enter the US--if US customs denies admission due to abandonment of your green card, you will have an opportunity to argue before an Immigration Judge here in the US that you did not abandon permanent resident status. Obtaining a green card often is a difficult process. For some, it takes many years. It is accordingly important to take all steps necessary to maintain permanent resident status once attained. If you plan to be away from the US for an extended period of time, or have been away from the US for an extended period of time without a reentry permit, or a reentry permit that has expired, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Barrister’s Corner
Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuses to sign?
order to get a divorce. What is more important is being able to properly serve your spouse with the divorce petition and satisfy the THERE seems to be a miscon- jurisdictional requirement of the ception in the general public that Court by showing that either you you can only obtain a divorce in or your spouse resided in the State California if your spouse will sign for at least 6 months prior to filing the divorce papers. I get this the petition and in the County for 3 question a lot from our family law months prior to filing the petition. clients. The fact is that California When you file a divorce peis a no fault state and you do not tition, you have to serve your need your spouse’s signature in spouse with the summons and
Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS
petition. Your spouse then has 30 days to file a response after being served with a divorce petition. If your spouse fails to file and serve you with a response, you can file a request for default against your spouse after 30 days. You can also file a proposed judgment for the court to approve. The default procedure can be done even if there are issues of property division, custody, visitation,
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Community Journal
Client files adversary against debtor for $370K
Debt Relief atty. lawRence yanG CLIENT is a foreign company doing business with a California company since 2012. Client is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of a certain kind of equipment, which CA Company sells and distributes in the United States. Business was good reaching low-million dollar figures until - CA Company was sued; by a person whose relationship to the CA Company is not clear. But this plaintiff was able to get a judgment against the CA Company for $1.0M and proceeded to levy the bank accounts of the CA Company. The company appealed the judgment saying that the state court judgment was based on fake documents then filed a Chapter 11 case to shield itself from the judgment levy on its bank accounts so that it could continue operating. Client’s interest in the case is that client gave CA Company a credit line of $3.0M for trade financing of its shipments to the CA Company. When CA Company filed for Chapter 11, it owed client about $400K unpaid. Client continued to do business with CA Company despite it’s being on Chapter 11 and continued shipping it merchandise. The CA Company continued paying client until the trustee forced the conversion of the Chapter 11 case to Chapter 7. When the case was converted to Chapter 7, client was still owed $250K, and CA Company had not yet executed the transfer documents for a trademark that client had bought and paid for in the amount of $120K. So, we filed two claims against the Chapter 7 trustee. One claim was for $250K of unpaid merchandise, which we claimed was secured because there was a title retention agreement for unpaid merchandise, and a claim for ownership of the trademark, or $120K. A lot of litigation ensued between client and the Chapter 7 trustee, and the plaintiff who had a $1.0M judgment against the debtor. The Court eventually ruled in favor of client on the issue of the trademark ruling that since client had bought and paid for it, client owned the trademark. Trustee agreed to not challenge this, and considered it as a final disposition of that matter. So, the trustee transferred the trademark to client. However, the unpaid inventory is still at issue and the trial is next month. There are specific steps that a creditor can take to protect itself in bankruptcy. The first is to make sure that your claim is secured because
Senior files chapter 7 to discharge $40K credit cards
secured creditors are treated differently from unsecured creditors. Secured creditors have priority over unsecured creditors in bankruptcy. If there is money left in the bankruptcy estate, secured creditors get paid in full first; then, if there is money left, unsecured creditors share equally proportionately. The legal problem that normally surfaces a secured creditor is whether or not its claim is actually secured in the legal sense of the word. For instance, a mortgage that is signed by both parties but not recorded is not a secured debt. It is an unsecured debt. But if the mortgage is recorded, the mortgage becomes a secured debt. Even if there is a bankruptcy, the mortgage holder can ask permission from the Court to proceed with foreclosure on the property if the post-petition mortgage payments are not being made. So, in Chapter 13 if the post petition mortgage payment has not been made, the creditor can file a motion for relief from the automatic stay. This motion is normally heard in 30 days. If debtor does not pay the post petition default on or before the hearing date with certified funds, the Court will grant the relief motion and allow the creditor with State law foreclosure remedies. Next client is a 62. He still works as a radiology technician and makes about $70K a year. He is single and doesn’t own a house. He has several dependents: his sister and two nieces. He also sends money abroad to another sister who has a large family because his brother in law does not work. In other words, client has a good heart and all his income is spent to care for his family. The choice now is there is a conflict between money that has to be sent to his sister abroad, or to pay for minimum payments on his $40K credit cards. He sends $1,200 a month to his sister abroad, while he also needs $1,200 a month to keep his $40K credit cards current. It’s hardly a choice is it? The right choice is to continue sending $1,200 a month to his sister with the large family because they have to continue having a roof over their heads and food to eat. Some of the money sent goes to the college education of his nieces and nephews, which is also good. On the other hand, $1,200 a month to keep $40K credit cards current is a luxury that client can no longer afford. He has paid it for at least ten years, which is a grand
Calendar of Events across
total of $144,000. $144K is more than enough to pay off $40K of credit cards, isn’t it? But that’s not how it works. After paying $144K for ten years, clients still owes the very same $40K of credit cards! It’s totally unfair. But who ever said that the world has to be fair? Instead of paying for credit cards, client could have bought a house instead, here or abroad so that the house can be used as a family home for his relatives. Client wants to continue working until forever. I can understand that. As long as one is healthy, one will feel the same even in the sixties, one still feels young. It’s all in the mind. I started counting backwards a long time ago. Truth be told, I don’t feel a day over 28 but that was a long time ago, yet it feels like that was only yesterday. So this is life. We are only here temporarily and only for a short period of time. To live for eternity in paradise, we have to believe in Jesus Christ who said that “I am the way, the truth and the light; No one gets to the Father, except through me.” That’s pretty simple and clear, isn’t it? If you don’t believe that the Bible is the word of God, consider this: It was written by 11 apostle of Jesus Christ who witnessed his death and resurrection from the dead.” Jesus said He would die for us, then He would resurrect on the third day, and that’s exactly what He did 2000 years ago as written by the 11 witnesses and their account of what happened is in the Bible! I mean, it’s just totally awesome and amazing. When Jesus resurrected He walked again among the living in Jerusalem and hundreds and thousands of people saw him again walking among them, when He already died! I mean, just think about it. It’s mind-boggling. Client decides to get a Chapter 7 discharge, then buy a house here after two years when his credit score is about 650. He’s still paying for a new car, so as long as he pays the car loan on time, his credit score should be over 600 by the second year. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John:14:6H
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To Live With Faith ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas “ONCE our wealth reaches a certain point we need to begin to give some of it away—not because others need it but because our own health and happiness will begin to deteriorate if we hoard all of those possessions to ourselves.” — Fr. Ron Rolheiser, In Exile, Center for Liturgy, St. Louis University This quote from Fr. Ron Rolheiser brings light to our Gospel reflection this Sunday on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The story is that while a rich man dines sumptuously each day in his mansion, dressed in purple garments and fine linens, his poor neighbor, Lazarus, sits at the gate of his residence, languishing in hunger and suffering from the pain of skin sores. The miserable fate of Lazarus does not move his heart with compassion; he remains complacent. A twist of fate happens after both died. The rich man perishes in the netherworld while Lazarus sits at the bosom of Abraham, enjoying eternal bliss in heaven. The parable serves as a warning to all of us: We cannot remain complacent about seeing the needs of the poor people around us. Otherwise, we will suffer the painful consequence
SKT Immigration
Giving is good for the soul of not being welcomed in the Kingdom of God in the next life. Matthew 25: 42-46 reminds us of this consequence: “For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me… Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Fr. Ron Rolheiser’s insights, however, point that the terrible consequences of our greediness and disregard for the needs of poor occur even in our present earthly life. These selfish attitudes and behaviors alienate us from people, rob us of true happiness, and disintegrate our spirits and souls. True joy happens in our lives only when we give some of our riches away to the needy, whether these treasures are money, time, or talents. Very often we hear of rich people who do not have genuine friends who care for them. Their lives are empty and dull, devoid of meaning and fulfillment; their happiness entails fleeting moments of prestige and recognition; and their sadness is hidden behind glamorous clothes and well-painted faces. Indeed, money cannot buy all the happiness we want. It’s the sharing and giving of ourselves
America
Insurance Matters
S E P T E M B E R 24
Kita Tayo sa SIPA: Community Resource Fair Join the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 12 to 5 p.m. for its 3rd annual Kita Tayo sa SIPA: Community Resource Fair. SIPA and its many partners will be giving away food, books, gift cards, and raffle tickets for Magic Mountain tickets, Nike apparel, and more! SIPA will also feature free yoga and arts lessons as well as information about free and low-cost jobs and services. SIPA is located at 3200 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. For more info, please contact Edward Moreno at (213) 3821819 x125 or emoreno@esipa.org.
PASCPA-Los Angeles dinner dance event
Philippine American Society of Certified Public Accountants (PASCPA) is celebrating 30 years of promoting excellence for the future leaders! Join PASCPA on Saturday, Sept. 24 as it installs officers & board members and inducts new members of the organization. Networking will begin at 4:30 until 6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Pickwick Gardens, 1001 Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91506. Attire is formal and there will be no host bar. A donation of $65 is required. For more information, please visit http://pascpa.org/.
8th Regional Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region invites everyone to the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint. Festivities will be on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at this year’s host parish, Holy Family Church - Glendale (209 East Lomita Avenue, Glendale CA 91205). Procession starts at 4:30 PM , then Mass at 5:30 PM with Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, as Principal Celebrant. Reception , fellowship and program will immediately follow at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium across the church. For more information, please contact Ping Bayani at(913) 558-4332 or bayani0950@yahoo.com.
Joseph doRatan, MBa, cFp® SENIORS who are 65 and older have 5 ways of getting health insurance. What are they? Employerbased insurance, Covered CA, outside of Covered CA (also known as Off Exchange), MediCal and Medicare solutions. Employer-based insurance is an employer offered health plan available to employees and their dependents. If a senior has one like this, the coverage of which is as good as what Medicare offers, and he is comfortable with the premiums and medical cost sharing, he does not need to explore the other ways. The Covered CA way is available to seniors who have legal presence for less than five (5)
Once the petition is approved, the beneficiary may apply for a visa at the United States Consulate or Embassy abroad where he or she resides. The last step will be an interview at the United States Embassy or Consulate at which point the visa will be approved and the beneficiary can travel to the United States. Beneficiaries, who are lawfully present in the U.S., may apply to adjust their immigration status to a green card holder without having to return to their home country. U.S. immigration law promotes family unity. However, obtaining a family-based green card can be lengthy and frustrating without the help of experienced attorneys and staff. Our seasoned team can assist and guide you through the family-based green card application process. *** Eliot Krieger is a Partner at Sullivan, Krieger, Truong, Spagnola, and Klausner, LLP. He is a former Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Department of Justice. He has a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Website: www.sullivankrieger.com Contact us at any of our offices: Long Beach + 1 (562) 597-7070 Irvine + 1 (949) 390-5270
Series for seniors: Part 15 ways to get health insurance years and whose income is more than 138% of the Federal poverty level but still qualified for government subsidy towards their insurance premium. The Off Exchange way is available to seniors who have been here for less than five (5) years and have Social Security or TIN number. This is the counterpart of Covered CA for seniors who are not qualified for government subsidy, or do not want government subsidy. MediCal, Mediaid in California, is health insurance program for people including seniors with very limited resources. There are different kinds of MediCal, each offering different benefits. Recently, MediCal is moving into Managed Care plans, whereas beneficiaries can only see providers within a limited network. Lastly, Medicare is the most
common way seniors get their health insurance. It is available to seniors who have legal presence here for five (5) years or more. The 2 main parts of Medicare are Part A for inpatient services and Part B for medical services. Having only these 2 main parts are incomplete. Aside from these 5 ways, senior veterans may continue to keep their VA benefits or certain military retirees may have TRICARE as their health insurance. More articles in the upcoming weeks will talk more Medicare and its related programs. ***
by “trial.” However, you do not have to settle all the issues in the case at once. Under the concept of divisible divorce, you can settle some of the issues and set the other issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on for trial. Our office try to resolve cases through settlement because it is more cost effective and the parties are usually happier with the outcome. In that situation, the parties may avoid the cost and uncertainty of going to trial by executing what is called a stipulated judgment which is in essence an agreement as to all the issues in the divorce case. For issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on, you will have to go through the litigation process which involves obtaining discovery, exchanging declarations of disclosures, and preparing the case for trial. Ultimately, you will obtain your divorce at trial in addition to adjudication of the distribution of community assets and
debts amongst other issues. It is in the best interest of the party to retain the representation of competent counsel who will assert his or her rights under the family code. ***
I f yo u h ave m o re q u e s t i o n s regarding the enrollment periods or other insurance questions, feel free to ask the author for answers. A good telephone number to reach him is 855-955-1800. You can also check out www.
Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuses…
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and support. However, the Court will still review your proposed Annual celebration of Sr.San Miguel Archangel judgment and property division The Association of Iligan City & Lanao del Norte of Southern California (AICLNSC) invites to make sure it conforms to the policy towards equal division of everyone, Iliganons, Lanaons and friends to come and celebrate the annual celebration in honcommunity property. Meaning, or of Senior San Miguel de Archangel, Patron of Iligan City. The Diyandi 2016 Fiesta Celebrayou have to propose a division tion will be at Carson Park, 21411 South Orrick St., Carson, CA 90745 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 of community property that is p.m. There will be a Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m. and followed by Sinulog/Procession at 11:30 a.m. pretty much equal between the On September 24, 2016, a Dinner Dance/Induction of new set of Officers 2016-2018 to be held spouses. If your proposed propat St. Philomena Parish Hall, 21900 South Main St., Carson, CA 90745 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 erty division is one sided such as p.m. For details, please call Lenard Castillo (310) 886-9374 or Edna Cabreros (562) 316-9541. distributing all community property to you and giving all the comIf you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the munity debts to your spouse, the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com Court would probably not grant your judgment. The Court would probably set a hearing for you to explain why this is an equal division of community property. The only time you may need Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one Telephone: (800) 795-8009 PAGE C1 t tered the United States with a of the oldest, largest and most E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com your spouse’s signature is if your spouse files a response to C-1 or D visa, consult with an experienced immigration firms in Website: www.rreeves.com. your divorce petition. This is *** experienced and knowledgeable the United States with offices in Los immigration attorney to deter- Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas The analysis and suggestions called “contesting” the divorce. mine what options exist to allow and Manila. For more Information offered in this column do not If your divorce is contested by please call (800) 795-8009 or visit create a lawyer-client relationship your spouse, you can resolve the you to legalize your status. www.rreeves.com. and are not a substitute for the case either by “settlement” or ***
Opportunity overlooked? Don’t judge…
From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of ImmAaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted
Family-based green cards – who is eligible?
bers fit into various preference categories, which determine the waiting time for an available visa. eliot KRieGeR Depending on the preference catIF you are a United States egory, the waiting time may span citizen or green card holder, you several years. The family-sponmay be able to petition for cer- sored preference categories are: • First Preference Category: tain members of your family to come and live permanently in the Unmarried sons and daughters United States (U.S.). Your rela- of U.S. citizens, and their minor tive’s eligibility and waiting time children (if any) • Second Preference Category: depends on your U.S. status and Spouses, minor children, and unthe familial relationship. Immediate Relatives of U.S. married sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of LPRs Citizens • Third Preference Category: Immediate relatives have special immigration priority and do Married sons and daughters of not have to wait in line for a visa U.S. citizens, and their spouses number to become available for and minor children • Fourth Preference Catthem to immigrate to the U.S. *** This means that as an immediate egory: Brothers and sisters of Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes relative, you are eligible to re- U.S. citizens, and their spouses in bankruptcy, business, real ceive a green card immediately. and minor children, provided estate and civil litigation and has The definition includes “immedi- that U.S. citizens are at least 21 successfully represented more than years of age ate relatives” include: five thousand clients in California. The process starts with filing • Spouses of U.S. citizens; and Please call Angie, Barbara or • Unmarried children under a petition with the United States Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an the age of 21 of U.S. citizens; Citizenship and Immigration Serappointment at 1000 S. Fremont vices (“USCIS”) demonstrating and Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite • Parents of U.S. citizens who the familial relationship between the U.S. petitioner and the forare over the age of 21. eign beneficiary. The spouses Family Preference Category If you are a U.S. citizen or Law- and unmarried children under ful Permanent Resident (“LPR” or the age of 21 of the principal “green card holder”), then your beneficiary may also apply for other relatives may be eligible for permanent residence as derivasponsorship. These family mem- tive beneficiaries.
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that would give us joy and fulfillment. It’s our deep sense of care and generous love that would bring purpose to our lives. Hence, we give because we have a need to give. Giving is good for our emotional and spiritual health and defines us as human beings. Giving is good for our souls. Fr. Ron Rolheiser further explains: “The poor do need us, but we also need them. They are, as Jesus puts it so clearly when he tells us we will be judged by how we gave to the poor, our passports to heaven. And they are also our passports to health. Our health depends on upon sharing our riches.” May we never lose sight of this great wisdom that Jesus, our Lord, exemplified in his life and ministry! As the Prayer of St. Francis says, it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying so that we are born to eternal life! ***
Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw. com. *** 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
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016
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C SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 24-27, 2016
MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM
& Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
Women’s Entrepreneur panel (L-R) Annie Choi, Found Coffee; Ginger LimDimapsok, Cafe 86; Khiow Hui Lim, iDigbrand; and CSC program manager
Women entrepreneurs share recipes to success at 17th annual Asian Small Business Expo by aJPress
OVER 500 individuals participated in the 17th Annual Asian Small Business Expo in Alhambra, California to network and learn about resources that could help their small businesses. The annual expo, which had the theme “Recipes for Growth,” was organized by the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP) and featured numerous workshops — from opportunities in financing to finding your target market — and an entrepreneurship
panel with three successful women business owners in Southern California. “This year’s expo was a smashing success. We’ve drawn are largest crowd in years with well over 500 attendees. Entrepreneurs had access to a lot of great information to help start or grow their small businesses, and our sponsors and exhibitors were very pleased to be of assistance to so many people,” API SBP Executive Director Ron Fong told the Asian Journal. Jerome Horton, a member of the PAGE D5
Socioeconomic planning Secretary Ernesto pernia—in photo here with Consul General mario L. De Leon, Jr.—explains that the philippines with its second quarter GDp growth of 7.0 percent makes it the fastest-growing
Sec. Pernia: Duterte administration will target more inclusive growth by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
SOCIOECONOmIC Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia met with members of the community Tuesday, Sept. 20 in an informal round-table meeting to discuss the Duterte administration’s economic agenda. “We have had high economic growth for the past six years averaging 6.2% from 2010 to 2015, resulting in credit upgrades from moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s,” Pernia said. “The Aquino administration was responsible for this good macro-economic performance. New administrations tend to criticize the previous administration. Not us, because we credit the previous administration’s economic policies that resulted
in a sharp upward growth trajectory,” he added. The country’s GDP grew 6.8 percent in the first quarter of 2016 and 7.0 percent in the second quarter and remains one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. The average growth rate of 6.2 percent in the last six years has been the highest since the 1970s. However, despite the high growth rate, the Philippines still has the highest poverty incidence in the Asean region at 26.2 percent as of 2014. myanmar (25.6%) and Laos (23.2%) are the two other Asean countries with more than 20 percent poverty incidence rates. The Duterte administration has come up with a 0 to 10 point socioeconomic agenda designed PAGE D2
PLDT’s new mobile app targets OFWs by LoueLLa
DesiDerio Philstar.com
mANILA - PLDT Inc. has rolled out a new mobile application called SmartLife Global to provide digital content as well as other services such as bills payment to overseas Filipinos. The new app offers carefully curated digital content such as Philippine movies, music, and news that enable overseas Filipinos to stay in touch with home. It also features other relevant services such as bills payment for utilities and load sharing for families in the Philippines. “Smartlife Global provides Filipinos abroad with a lively digital connection to home,” PLDT chairman and CEO manuel V. Pangilinan said in a statement. The app is being delivered through PLDT’s international marketing and operations unit PLDT Global Corp. and being made available initially in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong, macau, Singapore, malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Guam and Australia. SmartLife Global is free upon download and users can enjoy a 30-day trial period during which they have unlimited access to local news and free access to a rich library of Filipino movies, concerts, original Pilipino music and premium magazines.
the new app offers carefully curated digital content such as philippine movies, music, and news that enable overseas Filipinos to stay in touch
After the 30-day trial period, users can continue enjoying content from the app for only $2.99 per month for music, and $4.99 per month for movies and concerts. To date, the app has over 20,000 downloads, with more than 3,000 movies watched, more than 2,000 songs listened per day, more than 600 magazines downloaded, and more than 15,000 news feeds read. PAGE D2
PEOPLE are justifiably concerned, anxious, and even terrified over Donald Trump’s proposed plan to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. However, let’s remember that the executive branch does NOT pass laws, nor is the president in charge of funding or the budget. Those powers, duties, and functions belong to Congress, as the legislative branch of the Government. So let’s say Trump proposes the massive deportation. He would need to have both the House and Senate pass a law, which he can sign. (After all, Donald Trump is against “executive action”, and so he would likely act based only on a law proposed and passed by Congress.) Congress has the ability to oppose or even block various proposed pieces of legislation. If you recall, a few years ago, Pres. Obama, along with a coalition of Democrat and Re-
D
Congress could always block Trump’s immigration plan
publican lawmakers, proposed comprehensive immigration reform, which passed in the Senate. However, the House blocked that legislation, and would not even bring it up for a vote. As a result, that piece of legislation, urged by the president, went nowhere. So, if Trump proposes a piece of legislation, the House or Senate could always block it, or Senators could “filibuster,” which would also result in the proposed legislation going nowhere. Congress is also in charge of the budget and funding. There are estimates it would cost over $400 billion to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants. This might include the cost of building new courtrooms, hiring new judges and their staff, building more detention facilities, transportation for the mass deportation, etc. Congress may not be willing to spend that amount of money for such an unnecessary endeavor. If Trump can’t get the money to carry out his
plan, the plan would go nowhere. While Trump talks tough about immigration, he must take a step back and consider the practicalities (or impracticalities) of his plan, and we must always remember Congress could always block his attempts or refuse to fund it. *** michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State bar of
California. Each case is different. the information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No 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:
Business Quote of the Week “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” - Vince Lombardi, executive of National Football League (NFL)
D September 24-27, 2016 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL
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New US government critical to BPO, OFW cash flows What to expect when the unexpected happens Moody’s warns of policy shift
by Lawrence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
remittances from the Americas declined 2.9 percent to $5.47 billion from $5.64 billion. MANILA - Moody’s Investors Moody’s pointed out the counService said cash remittances and try’s current account surplus as the income of the business prowell as the gross international cess outsourcing (BPO) sector in reserves (GIR) would help cushion the Philippines would be affected the potential loss in remittance by a shift in US policies under the revenues. next administration. “In addition, given the size of In a research note Moody’s remittances, only a sharp slowsaid the outcome of the Nov. 8 down associated with a severe presidential elections in the US and broad tightening of US immicould range from a continuation gration rules, which we consider of the status quo to a gradual unlikely, would have a material retrenchment from trade and impact on private consumption,” investment ties, and curbs on it said. immigration. Moody’s pointed out Asian The rating agency said reeconomies whose exports to the mittances to Asia including the US are focused on high valuePhilippines could weaken if US added manufacturing products tightens immigration rules. are more vulnerable to policies “Immigration has been another that disincentivize foreign sourcmajor focus of the US election ing of business services. campaign. A tightening in immiIt said Malaysia, Taiwan, and Korea would be most vulnerable to efforts to repatriate high value-added manufacturing jobs, while India and the Philippines would be exposed to any policies that discourage US businesses from foreign sourcing of services. Over a longer period of time, the rating agency said a more insular climate in the US could crimp foreign direct investment flows, as expansion of production facilities refocus on domestic locations. However, the very small stock of US manufacturing foreign moody’s Investors Service said cash remittances and the income of the direct investment in Asia Pacific business process outsourcing (bpO) sector in the philippines would be implies negligible exposure in this affected by a shift in US policies under the next administration. philstar. respect. gration rules in the US would over time dampen growth in remittances to other countries, which are significant for some Asia-Pacific sovereigns,” Moody’s said. Moody’s said remittances from the US accounted for 3.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 9.2 percent of the current account (CA) surplus last year. Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed cash remittances from overseas Filipinos inched up three percent in the first seven months after contracting 5.4 percent in July alone. Money sent home by Filipinos abroad reached $15.32 billion from January to July, $449 million higher than the $14.87 billion in the same period last year. During the period, data showed
HOSPITALS can be busy, highpressure places. Often, just the stress associated with being in the Emergency Department can hinder the healing process. That’s why at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, we believe in delivering excellent clinical care in an environment that cares for the whole person. If you are ever admitted to a hospital for an emergency, here’s what you can ask for and expect. Hospital staff should always make the effort to know you as a person and not just as a patient. This means doctors and nurses should work together with you to discuss your plan of care. Additionally, your experience should leave you feeling empowered by staff members who educate you on what to expect for upcoming procedures and medications. No matter what, safety and comfort is always a priority. Staff should be attentive to your needs and respond quickly to your requests for managing pain. “From the first encounter to
brigeli Westerband, mD, Glendale memorial emergency medicine Division
discharge, patients and families of Glendale Memorial are truly an integral part of their own care plan,” says Brigeli Westerband, MD, Glendale Memorial Emergency Medicine Division Chair. Again, no one anticipates a trip to the emergency room, but
if you arrive at Glendale Memorial Hospital, you can expect to be in good hands. For a free referral to a Glendale Memorial Hospital-affiliated physician, call our Doctor Finder service at (818)502-2378. (Advertising Supplement)
PH is 3rd top ASEAN destination for growing US companies by raadee
SauSa ManilaTimes.net
released on Friday, Sept. 23. The “2017 Asean Business OutTHE Philippines has emerged look Survey” found that the Philipas one of the top markets for pines comes third after Vietnam future business expansion by US and Indonesia, eliciting the biggest companies in the 10 member the jump in terms of interest among US Association of Southeast Asian Na- firms in the region. tions (ASEAN), according to a study About 27 percent of the 519 US senior executives polled this year indicated that their companies are thinking of expanding in the Philippines, up from 20 percent in 2015, according to a report published by the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Vietnam continues to be the top priority market, with the number of American businesses expecting to expand into the country up at 40 percent from 31percent. Indonesia is second with 38 percent, up from 31 percent. Other countries that attracted strong interest from US enterprises were Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. The respondents cite a variety of reasons regarding their expansion plans, including diversifying their customer base, leveraging the availability of trained personnel, and capitalizing on reasonable production costs. The majority of respondents (63 percent) reported expanding in current countries of operation. About 70 percent of those polled expected to beef up local operations in the Philippines. Executives in Myanmar almost universally expect to expand (96 percent), followed by Vietnam (80 percent), and Laos (75 percent). Other countries with high scores
in this area include Indonesia (68 percent) and Cambodia (65 percent). Respondents from the consumer goods sector least expect their companies to expand, while consulting industries expect most for an expansion to happen. The survey also solicited views on the current investment climate in the region, asking them to rate the Asean countries based on 16 business environment factors. The Philippines came out strong in four areas: 50 percent in terms of sentiment towards the US (77 percent), availability of low-cost labor (72 percent), availability of trained personnel (68 percent), and stable government and political system (51 percent). The Philippines weak in the areas of infrastructure (74 percent), tax structure (58 percent), corruption (53 percent), laws and regulations (49 percent), and ease of moving your products through customs (45 percent). For US firms with roots in the Philippines, 19 percent expressed plans to expand, while 55 percent expect their workforce in the country to increase this year. On profit outlook, about 79 percent say they expect to reap a profit in 2017, while 11 percent anticipate no change, and 4 percent expect to register a decline in earnings. On their belief that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte will be able to sustain the reforms instituted by the Aquino administration, 43 percent are optimistic while 15 percent are pessimistic and 40 percent are neutral.
Sec. Pernia: Duterte...
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to address this quandary. “We have an impatient president, he wants action agad. He is results-oriented. He demands action and speed in the delivery of results,” Pernia said. In order to provide a significantly better investment climate for potential investors, the government is ramping up its programs on peace and order, massive infrastructure upgrades, cut red tape and ease constitutional restrictions on foreign direct investments. To respond to the uneven growth among the cities and regions, Pernia said that the administration hopes to push for regional and rural development in order to come up with more pro-poor economic growth and building up socio-economic resiliency. “We have just recently approved nine infrastructure projects covering the first two months
of the Duterte administration, a record speed in terms of project approval,” Pernia said. Plans are also in place, from raising farm productivity to ensuring full, rapid and sustained implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law to promoting science and technology and creative arts for self-sustaining inclusive growth and increasing the country’s participation in the global knowledge economy. Sec. Pernia also discussed the Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022, currently being crafted with the administration laying down the foundation for inclusive growth looking at a more long-term plan. “This is our plan for the next generation of Filipinos and we can start by achieving 6.5 to 7.5% growth in 2017 and stabilizing with a growth rate of 7 to 8% from 2018 to 2022,” Pernia said.
PLDT’s new mobile app...
PAGE D1 “We are seeing increased adoption of the digital lifestyle by our overseas Pinoys as most of them are already using smartphones and tablets. With SmartLife Global, we are giving them a convenient way to connect back home using their digital devices,” Ernesto Alberto who serves as PLDT executive vice president and head of enterprise, international and carrier business said. Earlier this year, the SmartLife mobile app was launched in the Philippines so Android smartphone users can enjoy free digital content and exciting perks. “Through the SmartLife app, we want Filipinos to explore the best mobile entertainment and perks available out there and ultimately empower them to live a richer digital life,” Ariel Fermin, PLDT executive vice president and head of consumer business said.
Last June, PLDT also established its first full data Mobile Virtual Network Operator in Japan where a mobile data SIM bundled with a pocket Wi-Fi in a monthly prepaid subscription was introduced to serve Filipinos living there. The bundle allows users to remit up to 100,000 Japanese yen a month without charges, as well as to make calls and text messages to the Philippines and other popular international destinations for free. PLDT Hong Kong has likewise launched the PayMaya payment solutions of Smart Communications Inc.’s digital innovations unit Voyager Innovations Inc., to enable subscribers to do online shopping, pay bills for Manila Electric Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc., purchase airline tickets, as well as send remittances even without a debit or credit card.
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WIN Hyundai and WIN Chevrolet: Three giant locations to serve you There’s no better place for kababayans to shop for hyundai vehicles than WIN hyundai in Carson, Calif. established in 2011, the young dealership started with the goal of becoming the premiere hyundai dealership. since then, it has lived up to its aim by consistently ranked among the top five dealers in the district. In 2012, the dealership, which is also equus Certified, was also ranked No. 1 in district sales. WIN is proud to carry hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates ranked the automaker No. 2 among nonpremium automakers in the 2015 Automotive Performance, execution and Layout (APeAL) study. “Finishing among the top two non-premium brands in this year’s J.D. Power, the APeAL study shows hyundai takes design, technology, features, and performance seriously across the entire lineup. having the best-selling sonata ranking among the top two in its class is a remarkable accomplishment and we are committed to delivering the highest customer experience possible to our owners,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning at hyundai. WIN hyundai offers a wide selection of quality hyundai vehicles and extends its offerings across the Los Angeles area with its two locations: one in Carson and another in el Monte. On both sites,
customers can find new and certified pre-owned vehicles – including the santa Fe, sonata, elantra and Genesis Coupe – to meet a variety of budgets and preferences. Because the Carson and el Monte locations serve just about anyone and everyone in southern California, its experienced s a l e s re p re s e n t a t i v e s a re prepared and eager to help customers find the cars that best fit their preferences and needs. When it comes to purchasing a hyundai, WIN specializes in working with all types of credit, good or bad, and has the ability to refinance current loans. Additionally, although it sells hyundai cars, the dealership services vehicles of all makes and models and currently has an oil change special of $19.95 For Chevrolet owners and shoppers in Los Angeles, you may check out WIN’s third location at WIN Chevrolet, which will make sure to handle everything from helping you purchase a new or used Chevy. schedule an appointment or just stop on by to take any of our 2015 Chevrolet models for a test drive including the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, 2015 Chevrolet Impala, and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. Beyond the highly-praised brand WIN offers southern California residents, it has departments dedicated diverse groups found throughout the Los Angeles region, including Chinese, Korean, hispanic and Filipino communities.
Among Filipino members of the WIN hyundai Carson team include long-time car industry veterans Jun Milan and Jay Trinidad. “WIN is a great dealership and customer service is the best it can be,” Milan said. Also on the Filipino team i s Fra n k l i n M a g a r ro , t h e dealership’s internet sales manager. In addition to its on-location offerings, those shopping for hyundai cars can browse WIN’s inventory online with userfriendly filters. Whether you know specifically what make and model you’re looking for, are trying to shop based on a budget, or simply want to browse through what is available, the dealership website makes it easy to shop around from home. Live chat is also available and sales representatives are happy to assist customers via phone. WIN Hyundai Carson 2205 e 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (877) 354-4253 Monday through saturday: 9am to 9pm sunday: 10am to 8pm WIN Hyundai El Monte 3462 N Peck road el Monte, CA 91731 (877) 290-2164 Monday through sunday: 9am to 9pm www.winhyundai.com Win Chevrolet 2201 e. 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (818) 639-1216 www.winchevrolet.com 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek
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Choosing the right place to Largest selection of smart choices that are fun to drive at Subaru of Glendale diagnose and repair your vehicle Nick Shell Service and its reliable repair professionals can handle everything from services such as cooling system, battery, performance oil chance, tire pressure monitoring system (TMPS), brake, fuel injection system, computer diagnostics, drive line, power steering, and transmission. Nick Shell Service only use quality parts to ensure that your vehicle is returned with like-new performance and durability. At Nick Shell Service you may also have your car checked
AssociAtes at subaru of Glendale understand every person’s needs are unique, and work closely with car shoppers to ensure they move painlessly through the process of making one of their most important purchases. their staff pay close attention to the needs of their clients in order to pair them with a car that compliments their lifestyle at a good value. they also offer the largest inventory of vehicles from the carmakers who won the Kelley Blue Book’s awards for best overall brand and most trusted brand for 2016. the Japanese car manufacturer’s reputation and collection of affordable options make its cars an easy pitch for chris Garchitorena, internet sales and Leasing consultant at subaru of Glendale.
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at for: coolant level, brake fluid level, power steering fluid level, transmission fluid level, condition of shocks and struts, condition of brakes, condition of tires, serpentine and drive belts, and engine air filter and cabin air filter. Enjoy a 10% discount on your next visit at Nick Shell Service if you bring this coupon from the Asian Journal. For more information, you may call (562) 865-5555 or visit Nick Shell Service at 17325 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia cA 90701.
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“there’s no reason to beat around the bush about certain things; we just give out straight information,” said Garchitorena. He added that “we don’t charge an arm and a leg for safety.” subaru’s eyesight system — which is available on select models — uses some of the most advanced technology to help many of its vehicles deliver the highest possible scores in front-end crash prevention tests and earn the top safety pick recommendations from the insurance institute for Highway safety (iiHs). All-wheel drive is also standard on every model except the rear-wheeldrive, sport-inspired BR-Z. the dealership ranked second in sales in southern california is also prepared to act as a resource for owners of cars with the market’s highest resale value, according to KBB. Between its full-service maintenance department and network of trusted bodywork mechanics, subaru of Glendale can provide everything needed to ensure their cars’ award winning performance. subarus have a “go anywhere
type of mentality,” according to Garchitorena, a 10-year veteran of the auto industry. He said their excellent handling and superb traction on difficult terrain make them safe and reliable vehicles in all situations, and a good option for people pursuing an active lifestyle. Andrew Marilla, sales and leasing consultant, also shared his own experience owning a subaru. “i drive one. i own one. i’ve been very happy with the performance, safety and reliability. the best part is that i’ve had two subaru vehicles prior to even working here. We have a stress-free, friendly, no pressure customer service here which is why people love us. so to all our kababayan, ang dito kami para tulungan kayo!” he said. Fo r m o r e h e l p f i n d i n g the right model for you, visit subaruofGlendale.net. For additional information on their lineup or financing, expert insights, or test drives, call 855-230-1547, or drop in at 1308 s Brand Blvd, Glendale, cA 91204. 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek
IFC launches certification system for green buildings by Czeriza
ValenCia Philstar.com
MANiLA - The international Finance corp. (iFc), a member of the World Bank Group, has launched a certification system for green buildings that would guide property developers in attaining the most cost-effective design and aid in obtaining financing for their projects. iFc recently launched its EDGE green building certification system in partnership with the Philippine Green Building initiative (PGBi). The system is supported by a free software that can guide property developers in creating houses and buildings that curb energy and water consumption by as much as 20 percent. PGBi vice president for operations Ramon Aguilos said EDGE would also give developers access to a database containing information on green buildings in more than 120 countries to compare design trends and costing. it also has a mechanism for determining
the corresponding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions with improvements in design and changes in materials used. “We are glad to have this technology. Architects and engineers can use this to evaluate green buildings constructed in 120 countries. This database can provide comparisons for current practices. it makes green buildings accessible and affordable,” he said. Aguilos said at present, only a handful of developers are pursuing green projects because of the perception that constructing green buildings entails steep costs. With sustained campaign, however, they see this number expanding to 20 percent of the nationwide count for new buildings and improvements in the next seven years. “Gone are the years when green buildings are expensive,” he said, noting there are designs that are even applicable for socialized housing.
Amado de Jesus, president of PGBi said developers should view green buildings as investments despite of the higher initial costs. “Filipinos are used to looking at the cheaper options but we gave to think of it in terms of its lifecycle cost. it entails upfront costs but it’s actually savings in the long term,” he said. PGBi, is a non-profit group of professional associations that promotes energy-efficient and environment-friendly design and construction, is the certification provider for EDGE projects in the Philippines. iFc current does not provide direct financing for green buildings in the country but it helps scale up lending for such projects by providing advisory services and risk guarantees to its partner banks to support their loans. These guarantees are currently provided for projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation.
FILIPINO PROGRAMMING
ONLYON LA18 All New “LolaBasyang.com” begins Sept.13th
3:00 PM
Lola Basyang.com
Boots Anson-Roa comes to LA18 via TV5’s LolaBasyang.com , playing Lola Basyang , who shares classic stories
Keeping You Connected
na may modern-day twist for our viewers! In this modern-day version, Lola B is a tech-savvy grandma, and she shares her stories with children via blogs and a webcam.
3:30 PM Kababayan Today with G Töngi 4:00 PM Aksyon News (Produced by TV5)
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G Töngi
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Women entrepreneurs share recipes to success...
PAGE D1 California Board of Equalization, and California Assemblymember Ed Chau also appeared at the expo to give remarks. On the women’s panel, Annie Choi (owner of Found Coffee), Khiow Hui Lim (founder of iDigBrand Inc.) and Ginger Lim Dimapasok (owner of Café 86) shared how they began their businesses and the challenges that came during the process. The three women detailed how they did not come from business backgrounds beforehand. Choi, a Korean American, was an assistant editor for reality TV shows, but pursued her dream of opening up a coffee shop. She interned at Demitasse Coffee Roasters and worked her way up to manager of one of the stores, before eventually starting her own shop in Eagle Rock. Dimapasok, who had experience in the property tax industry, was a stay-at-home mom prior to starting Café 86 — a bakery/cafe featuring Filipino-inspired desserts — with her husband and two business partners. Instead of going out to eat all the time, Dimapasok and her husband thought of opening their own place “that would make everyone in our family happy and [where] we could introduce a little bit of our Filipino heritage.” To date, Café 86 has locations in Chino Hills and Pasadena, with another one on the way in Cerritos. Lim, who is from Malaysia, shifted from editing and producing commercials to the technology industry. All three entrepreneurs agreed that even though they think about their businesses 24/7, it’s important to take breaks, because it enables them to be more productive, cre-
Audience at Women’s Entrepreneur panel
Ron Fong, Jerome Horton & Victor parker welcoming guests to the Expo
ative and the best versions of themselves. “As entrepreneurs, we tend to run ourselves into the ground. We’re always thinking about our business. Even when I took vacation this year, I was thinking about my business…,” Choi said. “I think something that I have learned to not feel guilty about is to actually take a break once in a while because you’re always going to think about your business. You’re always going to think about what you’re going to do next [and] how to improve.” API SBP is a 501(c)(3) organization that works as a collaboration of Chinatown Service Center, Little Tokyo Service Center CDC, Koreatown Youth and Community Center, Search to Involve Pilipino
Guests are lined up to ask questions of the marketing workshop
Americans and Thai Community Development Center. The organization is also funded in part by the SBA as a Women’s Business Center. Event sponsors included US Bank (Title Sponsor), Wells Fargo, Cathay Bank, Pacific Premier Bank, Union Bank, UPS, Bank of Hope, Bank of America, Boston Private, First General Bank, City National Bank, Comerica, The Port of Los Angeles, HSBC, California Bank & Trust, Southern California Edison, Wing Hop Fung, CTBC Bank, Chase and Hanmi Bank. Media sponsors were LA-18 and The Korea Daily, while the Asian Journal was the exclusive FilipinoAmerican print media sponsor of the expo.
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