NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
w w w. a s i a n
.com T h e F i l i p i n o A m e r i cA n c o m m u n iT y n e ws pAp e r
Volume 15 - No. 14 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages
1001 Bayhill Drive, Suite 200, San Bruno, CA 94066 • Tel: (650) 616-4150 • Fax: (650) 616-4152 • www.asianjournal.com
APRIL 1-7, 2016
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEw YORk/NEw JERSEY
Catholic charity group calls Roxas’ comic DATELINE USA CA prepares to book ‘shameful, unacceptable propaganda’ from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
raise minimum wage to $15
by Rosette
CALIforNIA Gov. Jerry Brown on monday, march 28, announced a deal reached with state legislators and labor leaders that would raise the minimum hourly wage to $15. the move would make California the state with the highest minimum wage in the nation, although this could change as other states such as New York are also working toward raising wages to that level. It would also boost wages for nearly 6.5 million California workers, or about 43 percent of the state’s workforce, according to UsA today. “I’m hoping that what happens in California will not just stay in California but will be exported to the rest of the country,” Brown said during a news conference in sacramento. California’s current minimum wage, $10 per hour, is one of the highest in the United states. Under the plan, hourly wages would rise to $10.50 in 2017, $11 in 2018, and an additional $1 per hour each until it hits $15 in 2022. Under the proposal, the governor can temporarily pause the hike depending on economic conditions and budget deficits. “this plan raises the minimum wage in a
u PAGE A2
Fil-Am named AAPI outreach director for Clinton campaign
Jason Tengco, deputy director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, was named the new Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) outreach director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Photo courtesy of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Adel
Philstar.com
mANILA — A Catholic charity group on tuesday, march 29, hit presidential candidate mar roxas’s comic book portraying the Liberal Party’s (LP’s) standard bearer a hero during the height of typhoon “Yolanda.” Caritas Philippines executive secretary edu Gariguez, a priest, called roxas’s comic book “hypocritical” and the campaign material a “shameful and unacceptable propaganda.” “In conscience, I need to belie this hypocritical claim of mar roxas claiming to be a hero in the emergency response,” Gariguez said. “We need to bring truth and decency in our electoral process. A call that I dare to make to all candidates,” the priest added. Director of Lipa Archdiocesan social Action Center and priest Jazz siapco also shared the same sentiments as Gariguez, criticizing the comic book by describing it as “misleading” to advance roxas’s political agenda. “he is not a hero. I would consider those who have helped silently in their own little ways the heroes. they are the real heroes,” siapco said.
u PAGE A2
The cover of the comic book of Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II depicts him as a hero during a typhoon.
Roxas on comic book: I didn’t approve it, but it’s accurate
A fILIPINo-American was named the new Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) outreach director for the campaign for Democratic presidential candidate hillary Clinton. the announcement of Jason tengco’s appointment on thursday, march 24 comes nearly a week after Lisa Changadveja stepped down from the position. Changadveja, who was first appointed outreach director last August, is moving to Colorado to take a position with the Democratic Party. Prior to join-
u PAGE A3
by dJ
YAp
Inquirer.net
GeNerAL NAKAr — Liberal Party (LP) standardbearer mar roxas on tuesday, march 29, distanced himself from the creators of a comic book that depicted his role in the aftermath of super typhoon “Yolanda” in a heroic light. roxas said he could not remember seeing or approving the release of the comic book, Mar Roxas “sa Gitna ng Unos” (In the eye of the storm), which he implied was made by his supporters without his knowledge. “I don’t know. many materials are coming out,” he said when asked if he had seen
or approved it. “Comics is part of our culture, of regular and conventional campaigns,” he told reporters in a chance interview here after a visit to a livelihood center. “to those who appreciated it, thank you. to those reacting negatively, they are probably supporting our rivals, and perhaps they are reacting negatively because they see how effective it is,” he said. the former interior secretary became the object of online ridicule after portions of the comic book circulated on social media, with many netizens making fun of or commenting scathingly on its contents. the comic provided details of roxas’ life story and record in public service, culminating in a sensational scene that dramatized where he was and what he did when tacloban City was inundated by storm surges in November 2013. Heroic portrayal some observers were irked at the heroic portrayal of roxas, who had come under heavy fire in the aftermath of the Yolanda devastation for the slow government re-
onG Philstar.com
sAntos Inquirer.net
Manny Pacquiao
Manilatimes.net photo by Cesar Dancel
PH senator: $34M may still be recovered from laundered money by JeffeRson
AntipoRdA ManilaTimes.net
the Philippines may still re-
million of the $81 million stolen by hackers from Bangladesh Bank, according to sen. ralph recto. the senator raised the possibility after learning during the senate hearing that not all of the $81 million was laundered suc-
by Ghio
by tinA
sCore this round for sarangani rep. manny Pacquiao. the Commission on elections (Comelec) on tuesday, march 29, said it was not in a position to stop the boxing match between Pacquiao and American timothy Bradley in the United states on April 9. “that is not really within our control,” Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said when asked if the poll agency would allow the fight to push through. “We are not in a position right now to
Chinese businessman Kim Wong consults his lawyer during a lull in the Senate inquiry.
u PAGE A2 cover 40 percent or about $34
PH health expenditure Pacquiao wins a round; Comelec won’t stop his fight climbs to P526-B
u PAGE A2
Philstar.com photo by Alexis Romero
cessfully in Philippine casinos. recto said that there is a chance that $34 million can be retrieved if local authorities will zero in on the paper trail established during the senate hearings. Kim Wong admitted on tuesday, march 29, when he testified before the senate Blue ribbon Committee that only about $61 million found its way to Philippine casinos.
u PAGE A2
mANILA — the country’s spending on health increased to more than P526 billion with more than half of it coming out of the pockets of filipinos, data from the Philippine National health Accounts (PNhA) show. According to the PNhA, which is under the Philippine statistics Authority (PsA), public health expenditure was over P526 billion in 2013, or 11.7 percent higher than the P471 billion spent in 2012. of that amount, 56.3 percent or P296.5 billion came from out-of-pocket spending. these are expenses paid for by individuals for medicine, medical consultation and hospitalization. the percentage is higher than the ideal 45 percent.
u PAGE A2
Va l i d f ro m M a r 3 1 - A p r 6
Opening Soon in Cerritos & Rancho Cucamonga!
g Presyon lbs forfor WAS
g Presyon
11
22$$
lbs
Sulit!
2
Sulit!
$ 49 WAS
SAVINGS
/lb
SAVINGS
Spring Sulit Savings! g Presyon
Sulit!
g Presyon
2/lb
1/lb
$ 88
$ 49 WAS
Sulit!
WAS
SAVINGS
SAVINGS
$0.99 49%
$3.29 24%
$2.49 40%
$3.99 28%
Chicken Leg Quarter
Pork Belly Rib-On
White Bass
Fresh Tilapia
Valid at Island Pacific Union City, Pittsburg, San Jose, Vallejo, American Canyon, Elk Grove, Fresno.
|
g Presyon
Sulit!
6/lb
$ 99 WAS
SAVINGS
$7.99 13%
Jumbo White Shrimp H/L
w w w.islandpacificmarket.com
A
APRIL 1-7, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
From the Front Page
Catholic charity group calls Roxas’ comic… PAGE A1 t
Last Saturday, March 26, during an LP sortie in Cavite, the 28-page comic book titled “Sa Gitna ng Unos” (In the Middle of the Storm) was distributed. The comics depicted Roxas as an action man risking his life to help the typhoon victims. The comic
book said that it is based on true events. Roxas’s comic book earned negative reactions and was dismissed by critics as an attempt to twist the real happenings during typhoon Yolanda. Gariguez last August said the government’s failure and short-
comings from after the typhoon to the rebuilding stage of Yolanda-hit areas may affect the image of Roxas and his presidential bid. Meanwhile, Roxas thanked his supporters behind the production and distribution of the comics. n
At the end of the interview, he said the day’s real issue was the money-laundering case involving $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh central bank that was funneled into the Philippine banking system. Controversial propaganda Militant lawmakers are demanding that Roxas pull out all copies of the controversial propaganda comic book. Bayan Muna party-list member Neri Colmenares, a senatorial candidate, said the LP’s full-color, 28-page comic book
was a “glaring insult” to the victims of Yolanda because it used “lies not only to prop up his candidacy but also to revise history.” Anakpawis party-list Fernando Hicap described the comic book as “the most disturbing political ad” of Roxas. Hicap claimed that Roxas’ mishandling of the goverment’s preparations and rescue efforts in the Eastern Visayas, particularly Tacloban City, has been widely documented. (With Gil Cabacungan)
Roxas on comic book: I didn’t approve it…
PAGE A1 t
sponse to the calamity. Roxas, however, suggested that the scenes depicted in the comic book were accurate. “I thank our supporters for making [this comic book] and explaining what really happened [during Yolanda],” he said. Asked if he saw nothing wrong, Roxas said: “What do I tell them (supporters)—to stop?” He seemed piqued by the persistent questioning, at one point asking one reporter, “Is this the biggest issue?”
SUED. Maia S. Deguito, center, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) branch manager, arrives to testify before the Philippine Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe into how about $81 million of Bangladesh’s stolen funds were transmitted online to four private accounts at a branch of the RCBC Tuesday, March 15. Deguito and senior relations officer Angela Torres are now facing criminal charges. Philstar.com photo by Bullit Marquez
Pacquiao wins a round; Comelec… CA prepares to raise minimum wage to…
PAGE A1 t
stop it,” he added, citing three reasons—there has been no formal complaint, the fight has not happened and there is no “justiciable controversy” in Pacquiao’s case. Bautista said the poll body came out with a unanimous decision on letting Pacquiao, the current congressman from Sarangani, fight. No formal complaint “The Comelec en banc today decided that, number one, there was really no formal complaint filed in accordance with Comelec rules and procedures… we will
act if and when a complaint is filed,” Bautista said. Former Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello and former Sen. Rene Saguisag had both written the Comelec earlier, urging the poll agency to decide if the boxing match would violate election rules since it would be televised nationally and occur in the middle of the campaign period. Bello, himself a senatorial candidate, said the fight would give Pacquiao an “undue advantage” Manny Pacquiao over his rivals for a Senate seat. Bautista said Bello’s and Sa- which made the recommendaguisag’s letters were forwarded tions to the en banc. “No. 2, the fight has not actuto the Comelec law department, ally occurred yet. And no. 3, the Comelec en banc believes that there is, as of this point, no justiciable controversy since the fight has not happened yet,” Bautista said. In effect, the chair said the Comelec was technically not allowing Pacquiao’s fight but was only not acting on complaints against him. Rights and obligations Pacquiao’s counsel, Romulo Macalintal, said in a statement following the Comelec decision: “It’s better that way. The Comelec should presume that all concerned parties know their rights and obligations. Like other candidates, Pacquiao is expected to know and follow the rules.” Earlier, Pacquiao’s lawyers told the Comelec the boxing match would not give him an undue advantage over the other senatorial candidates since the bout would run for a maximum of 36 minutes. This is broken down into 12 rounds of three minutes each. The Comelec allows national candidates 120 minutes of ad time on television and 180 minutes on radio. n
PH senator…
PAGE A1 t
Wong said about $17 million is still with Philrem Corp., the remittance firm responsible for transferring the stolen money from the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation to different accounts and individuals. Recto said Wong also told the senators that he is ready to surrender to Philippine authorities the entire P450 million or about $10 million that his firm, Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. Ltd., received from the loot. Aside from the $17 million allegedly with Philrem and the $10 million with Wong, Recto noted that almost $7 million of the stolen money had been traced and may be recovered from the casinos. n
PAGE A1 t
careful and responsible way and provides some flexibility if economic and budgetary conditions change,” Brown said. “An Assembly floor vote is scheduled on Thursday, March 31.” Among supporters of the potential legislation were labor advocates, who touted the pact. “This is a very, very significant increase and for the first time would begin to reverse years of falling pay at the bottom” of the income ladder,” said Paul Sonn, general counsel of the National Employment Law Project, USA Today reported. Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, which represents more than 85,000 California hospital workers, said even if the proposal has potential economic downsides, the fact it empowered workers to play a role in the outcome of the minimum wage could be transformative politically, The New York Times reported. “There’s so much cynicism, anger,” Regan said. “To have the governor and legislature re-
sponding in a positive and constructive way to our members is really important. It shows, ‘Wow, what we do really does matter.’” Opponents of the wage hike, including business groups and Republicans, say it will result in fewer jobs for low-skilled workers. Brian Hibbs, the owner of a comic and graphic novel store called Comix Experience, told the Associated Press he favors the idea of a minimum standard of living, but thinks increasing wages will not do that because it will negatively impact small businesses. He anticipates that by 2018, with the wage hike, payroll for six workers will cost an additional $40,000. “I don’t think this was thought through,” Hibbs said, according to the AP. “The cost of labor is so high. It’s very, very difficult to run a profitable business at this point.” The negative impact of a higher minimum wage, however, may not be as severe as some anticipate. Michael Reich, an economics professor at UC Berkeley, said this could be offset by because workers would
have greater purchasing power, which could boost economic activity. Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle have opted to boost their minimum wages to $15 an hour throughout the next few years. In March, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, signed legislation that makes it the first state in the country requiring higher pay in cities than in rural areas. By 2022, the minimum wage in Portland is set to hit $14.75 per hour. Gabe Horwitz, the economic program vice president at Third Way, a left-center Think Tank, called California’s plan “blunt” in comparison to that in Oregon. “Fifteen dollars an hour may work in places like San Francisco or Los Angeles, but it could have very different economic effects in some of the very rural areas in the state,” Horwitz said, according to the Journal. “Oregon took that into effect and adjusted their wage to address fears that a big-city minimum wage would destroy jobs in lowcost small towns.” (Agnes Constante/AJPress)
PH health expenditure climbs to…
PAGE A1 t
Private sources like insurance companies, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and expenses by private establishments and schools accounted for P62.4 billion or 11.9 percent of the 2013 health spending. The PNHA also showed that over P99.7 billion or 18.9 percent of the total health spending came from both the national and local governments in 2013. Health spending through social insurance – composed of the National Health Insurance Program and employees’ compensation for health, both funded by government through premium contributions – amounted to over P60.4 billion or 11.5 percent of the total health expenditure. This was also lower than the 19-percent target. Grants from international funding agencies accounted for 1.37 percent or P7.2 billion. This may be translated to grants for medical supplies and equipment. When translated per individual, this means that every Filipino spends about P5,260 for health. About P2,961 comes from his own pocket, P994 from government and P605 from social insurance. But the total amount is still higher than the ideal per
capita health spending of P2,000 prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH). The 2013 data came from the Commission on Audit, DOH and its attached agencies, private and government insurance companies, HMOs and private institutions. Raquel Sabeñano, PNHA coordinator, said the PSA would release the 2014 data soon. She explained that the process of ob-
taining data takes time, which was why the 2014 data is not yet available. The PNHA would serve as a guide for the government in formulating its health budget and policy. The PNHA is one of the bases for passing Republic Act 10606, which mandates all Filipinos to enroll in health insurance provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. n
(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Dateline USa
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 1-7, 2016
A
NextDayBetter, Doctors Without Borders join forces to reduce price of pneumonia vaccine in PH
(L-R) Gillian Zucker, President of Business Operations, Los Angeles Clippers; Jeanie Buss, President and Co-Owner, Los Angeles Lakers; Dan Beckerman, President & CEO, AEG; Eric Garcetti, Mayor, City of Los Angeles; Adam Silver, Commissioner, NBA; Kathy Schloessman, President, Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission; Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center & L.A. LIVE Photo courtesy of STAPLES Center
Los Angeles to host NBA All-Star 2018 City to host game for record sixth time
LOS ANGELES -- The NBA announced on Tuesday, March 22 that Los Angeles has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2018. The 67th annual game will take place at Staples Center, home of the L.A. Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, on Sunday, Feb. 18. This will mark the record sixth NBA All-Star in Los Angeles, which hosted in 2011, 2004, 1983, 1972 and 1963, and the third All-Star at Staples Center (2011 and 2004). NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement on Tuesday during a press conference at Staples Center, where he was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman and Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission President Kathy Schloessman. “Los Angeles is known for first-class hospitality and entertainment, making it the perfect host for NBA All-Star,” said Silver. “The city is home to some of the most passionate basketball fans in addition to extraordinary facilities, including Staples Center and L.A. Live. We thank Mayor Garcetti, Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer, Lakers President and Co-Owner Jeanie Buss and AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman for their support in bringing All-Star back to L.A.” “We are proud that the NBA has selected Staples Center, L.A. Live and the L.A. Convention Center to host NBA All-Star for the third time in just 14 years,” said Beckerman. “All-Star in Los Angeles will bring worldwide attention, thousands of fans and over $100 million of economic activity to our City. We believe that L.A. Live, with its variety of venues, hotels and other hospitality options, creates a true headquarters district that will be the ideal showcase for NBA All-Star 2018. Finally, on behalf of AEG, we thank our partners at the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission for your commitment to bring back this incredible event and thank Commissioner Silver and the NBA for your faith in our great City.” “Since becoming part of L.A. through my ownership of the Clippers, I’ve witnessed firsthand the passion this city has for basketball and celebrating worldclass talent, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for both players and fans during NBA All-Star 2018,” said Ballmer. “I’m also thrilled that Mayor Garcetti and the city of Los Angeles will be able to show off their vision and
the incredible evolution of downtown L.A.” “All-Star is a premiere event, so it’s fitting that it’ll be hosted by Los Angeles, the premiere sports city in America, and by Staples Center, one of the premiere arenas in the world,” said Los Angeles Lakers President and Co-Owner Jeanie Buss. “2004 and 2011 proved what a great combination this is, and 2018 will prove it again.” NBA All-Star on-court events will tip off on Friday, Feb. 16, at Staples Center with the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, where the league’s top rookies and second-year players take the court. On Feb. 17, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will feature current NBA players showcasing their skills in exciting basketball competitions that include the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, where participants compete head-to-head in a series of passing, shooting and agility drills; the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest; and Verizon Slam Dunk. The weekend concludes on Sunday with the NBA All-Star Game. “Los Angeles is one of the world’s great basketball cities – a place where players become legends and great NBA moments last forever,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Now we will make history again, in 2018, by hosting our sixth NBA All-Star Game, something no other city has done. I look forward to working with the NBA and our local partners on this amazing event at Staples Center, which will bring thousands of visitors to Los Angeles, and generate more than $100 million of economic activity.” In partnership with AEG, the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC) and the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board (LATCB), the NBA will host several events for fans of all ages at venues throughout the city, including the Los Angeles Convention Center and L.A. Live. These events, including NBA All-Star Practice, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Mountain Dew and the NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire, will feature interactive programming bringing fans closer to NBA and WNBA players and legends. “It is exciting and humbling for us to be hosting NBA AllStar again for the third time in 14 years,” said Schloessman. “Events like the NBA All-Star fill our hotels, employ Angelenos and bring direct spending to our restaurants, shops, attractions,
Fil-Am named AAPI outreach… PAGE A1 t
ing Clinton’s campaign, Tengco was deputy director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI). His past roles also include the Initiative’s liaison in the White House Office of Public Engagement and as a senior advisor directing community engagement. “Jason is passionate about engaging AAPIs in the political process, building a pipeline for youth empowerment, and ensuring that the AAPI community’s diverse issues are heard and addressed,” a campaign statement emailed to the Asian Journal said. Among Tengco’s accomplishments are managing the firstever White House Summit on AAPIs and launching the E3! Ambassadors Program for young leaders, the campaign noted. Tengco, whose parents are from the Philippines, was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from UCLA with honors with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
In 2014, he was selected as a delegate for the Philippine Embassy’s Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro), a weeklong immersion trip that brings young Fil-Am professionals to the Philippines. As election season unfolds, both Democrats and Republicans have continued to reach out to AAPI voters, an electorate considered to double by 2040. A 2015 report from the UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies found that the electorate would rise to 12.2 million by then. “Hillary Clinton’s campaign shakeup is a clear indication of her failing effort to win the hearts and minds of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters across the country,” Ninio Fetalvo, the Republican National Committee’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander press secretary, said in an email. “The only consistency with Clinton’s AAPI outreach campaign is that she has and always will take our communities for granted.” (AJPress)
and an economic windfall to our city. Having the unique assets and venues of L.A. Live continues to play an important role in bringing these great high-profile events to our City.” During NBA All-Star 2018, the
u PAGE A4
NEW YORK – Pneumonia is the leading cause of childhood death in the Philippines. There is a vaccine to prevent the disease, but at about US$45 per child, the price charged to the government by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, this price may become unsustainable to vaccinate all children in the future.NextDayBetter – a storytelling platform for creative diaspora communities – announced on Thursday, March 24 that it is joining Doctors Without Borders’s efforts to encourage pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) – the sole manufacturers of the pneumonia vaccine – to reduce the price of the vaccine to $5 dollars per child in the Philippines and all other developing countries. The pneumonia vaccine is the world’s best-selling vaccine, and last year alone, Pfizer brought in more than US$6 billion dollars in sales just for this product. At the lowest global prices, which the Philippines cannot access, it is now 68 times more expensive to vaccinate a child than in 2001, according to a 2015 MSF report, The Right Shot: Bringing down Barriers to Affordable and Adapted Vaccines. The pneumonia vaccine accounts for about half the price of vaccinating a child in the poorest countries. After years of fruitless negotiations with Pfizer and GSK to lower the vaccine’s price for use in its projects, in 2015, MSF launched the ‘FAIR SHOT’ campaign to ask Pfizer and GSK to reduce the price of the pneumonia vaccine to $5 per child (for all three needed doses). “Due to the high price charged by the companies, many countries where millions of children risk getting pneumonia simply can’t afford it, and for countries such as the Philippines the high price threatens sustainability of the vaccination program,” said Dr. Greg Elder, Medical Coordinator for MSF’s Access Campaign. NextDayBetter is hoping to amplify the “FAIR SHOT” campaign and make the pneumonia vaccine more accessible to millions of children in the Philippines. “The Philippine diaspora is very involved in the provision of healthcare on this continent, while being extremely well aware of the situation at home. Together, we think we can put
pressure on Pfizer and GSK to reduce the price of the vaccine, and speak out against high vaccine prices in the Philippines,” said Elder. To increase awareness about the pneumonia crisis in the Philippines, NextDayBetter will be launching a storytelling campaign that humanizes the people affected by this issue and highlights the work of Filipinos who are dedicated to improving the quality of public health in the Philippines. The campaign will be launching on NextDayBetter’s multimedia platforms with the intent of inspiring and empowering the Philippine diaspora to take action in effecting change in their homeland. “The Philippine diaspora is overflowing with incredibly talented nurses, doctors, and other leaders in public health who have pioneered breakthroughs in healthcare. We have saved so many people around the world – now we need to focus on our own community back home,” said CEO of NextDayBetter, Ryan Letada. To sign the petition and learn more about the “FAIR SHOT” campaign, visit http://nextdaybetter.com/afairshot/ or email NextDayBetter at curious@nextdaybetter.com n
A
Dateline USa
APRIL 1-7, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
Filipina in California not guilty of kidnapping own daughters NAPA, California — A Filipina mother charged with child abduction and kidnapping her own daughter in Napa County, California had her hope for a better life revived when a 12-person jury found her not guilty of all the charges. Makati resident Anna Nepomuceno looked greatly relieved and teary-eyed as she turned to her lawyer, Stacy Barrett, after the verdict was announced, then hugged her family and supporters and thanked them profusely. “The mood at the courtroom was very intense as we were also uneasy and nervous,” said Faye Lacanilao of Filipino Community Center worker’s rights program and Migrante NorCal. “When the verdict was announced, all of us found ourselves crying. We joined hands and hugged each other. Before that we were all praying and trying to console each other.” Barrett also looked relieved, overwhelmed with feelings and seemed to be trying to hold back tears although she was heard saying that the verdict had not really sunk in yet. “The support shown by the Filipino community helped her case and uplifted her and my spirit. I have been practicing for ten years and I can say that this was the first time I’ve had protesters supporting my client. So I am grateful for this support and I know Anna is as well,” Barrett stated. Anna’s eldest daughter from a previous relationship, Nichole Nepomuceno, kept consoling, hugging and keeping Anna company. Anna’s own mother, Haydee, was also there to lend muchneeded moral support. Child molestation incidents According to the timeline provided for the case, Anna’s plight began in March 2012 when her erstwhile husband, Jeremy Faust, started showing signs of having lewd intentions on her younger daughter, M, as after Anna reportedly saw Faust’s hand moving around M’s sensitive part. Her suspicion was bolstered after she learned in 2013 that Faust had been giving then 16-yearold Nichole unwanted massages since September 2012 when Anna wasn’t home and especially when she was on business trips. In January 2013 Faust
RULING IN MAY. The Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations is set to issue a ruling on the arbitration case against the Philippines and China by May. Photo from PCA
Nichole and mother Anna Nepomuceno in a tight embrace outside the courtroom after the verdict was read. Migrante Norcal
allegedly started putting his hand under Nicole’s shirt as the massages became intimate. Faust allegedly even asked Nichole not to tell Anna of the massages so Nichole “wouldn’t get into trouble.” Anna also caught Faust looking at Nichole’s posterior. Anna and Nichole reported the alleged molestation to the American Canyon Police Department, leading to Judge Rodney Stone to grant a move out order against Faust and an emergency protection order (EPO) prohibiting him from having any contact with Anna and Nichole, aside from younger daughter M. Divorce proceedings Anna then filed for divorce in March 2013 the succeeding summons of which accompanied an automatic restraining order (ARO) prohibiting either parent from leaving the state with M with-
Man in Baltimore nabbed for buying child porn from PH SAN FRANCISCO — A Baltimore, Maryland man was charged with trafficking in child pornography after he was discovered allegedly paying women in the Philippines to send him images of girls engaged in sexual acts. Federal authorities charged Louis Francis Bradley, 65, of Baltimore with distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Bradley could face five to 40 years in prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography, and up to 20 years for possession. Federal prosecutors allege
young girls engaged in sexually explicit acts. The criminal complaint alleges the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip that eight images had been uploaded to a Google+ Photos account linked to Bradley. Armed with search warrants on Bradley’s social media and email accounts, investigators found Facebook conversations Louis Francis Bailey. MD sex offender with the women in the Philipregistry pines from whom he was buying that Bradley contacted women in the images. They also allege he the Philippines over the Internet sent child pornography to at least and paid them to send images of one woman there. n
PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA TUNGKOL SA PLANONG AKSIYON NG CDBG SA FY 2016-17 Ang Lungsod ng Alameda (Lungsod) ay isang Lungsod ng Karapatan sa Programang Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (Community Development Block Grant, CDBG) ng Kagawaran ng Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Kalunsuran (Housing and Urban Development, HUD) ng U.S. Sa ika-3 ng Mayo, 2016, susuriin ng Konseho ng Lungsod ang iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2016-17. Ang Taunang Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2016-17 ay nagtatatag ng plano ng Lungsod para sa pagtugon sa Mga Pangangailangan ng Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad kabilang ang paggamit ng mga pondo ng CDBG at HOME. Ang mga ispesipikong layunin para sa darating na taon ay tutugunan sa Planong Aksiyon na sasaklaw sa panahon na ika-1 ng Hulyo, 2016 hanggang ika-30 ng Hunyo, 2017. Ang iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2016-17 ay maglalaan ng humigit-kumulang sa $1,059,118 sa Mga Pondo ng Karapatan ng CDBG at tinatantiyang $150,000 na Kita ng Programa ng CDBG at humigit- kumulang $156,659 ng mga pondo ng HOME.
MAKUKUHA PARA SA PAGSUSURI NG PUBLIKO Simula sa ika-1 ng Abril, 2016, ang Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2016-17, kabilang ang mga detalye ng pagpopondo, ay makukuha para sa pagsusuri ng publiko sa lahat ng mga sangay ng Alameda Free Library, sa opisina ng Klerk ng Lungsod sa 2263 Santa Clara Ave, at sa website ng Awtoridad sa Pabahay ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa www.alamedahsg.org.
PAGKAKATAON NA MARINIG Ang publiko ay hinihimok at iniimbitahan na lumahok sa Planong Aksiyon na proseso ng pagpopondo ng CDBG/HOME at upang magkomento sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad, nang pabigkas o nakasulat, sa mga sumusunod na nakatakdang Pampublikong Pagdinig:
5/3/2016
Pulong ng Konseho ng Lungsod, 7:00 p.m., Tanggapan ng Lungsod, Mga Bulwagang Pulungan ng Konseho ng Lungsod. Pampublikong pagdinig na nauukol sa FY 2016-17 na Iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon para sa mga Pederal na pondo ng CDBG at HOME.
Attn: Claudia Young Housing Authority of the City of Alameda 701 Atlantic Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 cyoung@alamedahsg.org Ang mga nakasulat na komento ay maaaring isumite sa address na nasa itaas hanggang 4:00 p.m. sa ika-3 ng Mayo, 2016.
MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN Kung ang sinumang taong may interes sa paglahok sa programang Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (CDBG) / HOME at isang taong may kapansanan gaya ng nilinaw ng Seksiyon 504 ng Batas ng 1974 sa Rehabilitasyon na nag-aatas ng isang kaluwagan upang lumahok o magkainteres, na ang tao ay dapat gumawa ng kahilingan para sa kaluwagan kay Rosemary Valeska, (510) 747-4316 o magpadala ng email sa rvaleska@alamedahsg.org. Ang naturang kahilingan ay dapat kabilang ang isang paglalarawan ng kaluwagang hinahangad, kasama ang isang pahayag ng kapansanan na nangangailangan ng kaluwagan. Anumang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay dapat suriin at ang isang sagot ay ipagkaloob sa loob ng limang araw ng trabaho pagkatapos matanggap ang naturang kahilingan. Ang paunawa ng anumang kaluwagan na iginawad ay agad ipagkakaloob sa humiling. Mangyaring kontakin ang Lungsod sa (510) 747-4316 (Boses), (510) 522-8467 (TDD), o email rvaleska@alamedahsg.org upang humiling ng anumang ibang makatwirang mga kaluwagan na maaaring kailangan. Ang tagapag-ugnay ng Seksiyon 504 ng CDBG/HOME ay si Vanessa Cooper. Si Ms. Cooper ay makakausap sa (510) 747-4325 o vcooper@alamedahsg.org. Ang isang kopya ng 504 na pamamaraan sa karaingan ng Lungsod ay matatagpuan online sa www. alamedahsg.org.
MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG INGLES Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may ugnayan ng mga empleyadong nagsasalita ng 45 wika na maaaring kumilos bilang mga tagasalin para sa mga residente na naghahangad ng impormasyon na nauukol sa mga programa ng CDBG/HOME. Kung binigyan ng paunawa nang maaga ng limang araw ng trabaho, makikipag-ayos ang Lungsod upang makakuha ng isang interpreter. Mangyaring kontakin ang Lungsod sa (510) 747-4316 (Boses), (510) 522-8467 (TDD), o email rvaleska@alamedahsg.org.
PATAKARANG WALANG-DISKRIMINASYON Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay hindi nagdidiskrimina laban sa anumang mga tao dahil sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, bansang pinagmulan, angkan, seks, kasarian, kinikilalang kasaraian, pagpapahayag ng kasarian, oryentasyong sekswal, katayuang marital, katayuang pampamilya, pinagkukunan ng kita, henetikong impormasyon, kondisyong medikal, kapansanang pisikal o kapansanan ng isipan, o anumang ibang kategoryang protektado ng batas.
out the other parent’s permission. It was not clear whether Anna actually ever saw the ARO. In August 2013, the Napa Sherriff Office (NSO) recommended charges against Faust for violations of Penal Code on annoying or molesting a child under age 18 with respect to Nichole, and lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 for M. But these were rejected by the Napa District Attorney’s Office (DA) in September 2013 for lack of sufficient evidence. While the divorce case was ongoing, on July 25, 2014, Anna flew to the Philippines with M from SFO to visit Anna’s ailing father. Both mother and daughter had round trip tickets with a return date of August 25, 2014. Her family lawyer dropped her, citing irreconcilable differences, after Anna informed her she was in the Philippines. In Anna’s absence and without a lawyer to represent her, family court Judge Elia Ortiz granted full legal and physical custody of M to Faust and ordered Anna to return M to Napa County. Anna and M failed to return to San Francisco on August 25, 2014. She was able to obtain a permanent restraining order on February 10, 2015 protecting Anna and M from Faust at the Philippines Regional Trial Court. Judge Ortiz granted dissolution of of Anna’s marriage to Faust on December 12, 2014 in Anna’s absence. Arrested at SFO Anna returned by herself to San Francisco on a February 27, 2015 flight from Manila; she was arrested at SFO airport. She was taken to San Mateo
County Jail in Redwood City then transferred to Napa County Department of Corrections The Napa Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent Anna through then-Deputy Public Defender Stacy Barrett. Anna posted a $100,000 with the help of friends of her family and was released from the Napa County Department of Corrections (NCDC) on March 12, 2015. Deputy District Attorney Holly Quate then moved on November 9, 2015 to amend the original charge of child custody deprivation, which is punishable by up to 3 years in county jail, to a violation of kidnapping with enhancement for purpose of permanently depriving a parent of custody of the child, which is punishable by up to 13 years in state prison. Quate’s motion to amend the charge was granted, and Anna was found not guilty of by the jury before Judge Francisca Tisher in a trial that started February 22, 2016. “We were ready to accept a mistrial outcome as we felt the jurors were taking a long time deciding on a verdict. We were then surprised that there was a unanimous decision that even some of the jurors waited for Anna to come out and hug her,” Lacanilao added. “We are really happy that justice prevailed, that Anna would be reunited with M and we hope that this will no longer happen to any Filipino mother like her,” Lacanilao declared. Several members of Gabriela US came to show support for Nepomuceno. (Jun Nucum/Inquirer. net)
California’s food stamp recipients rise by 123% in last decade PALO ALTO, California –Between 2006 and 2015, the number of California residents receiving food stamps rose 123 percent, from just over two million people to nearly 4.5 million people, according to the latest data on Kidsdata.org. That’s 12 percent of the state’s entire population. According to the California Department of Social Services, more than half of the state’s food stamp recipients are children. Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties all saw more than 200,000 additional food stamp recipients in the last decade. In Los Angeles County alone, more than half a million new recipients received benefits for food stamps during this time period. While it’s no surprise that more Californians would sign up
for food stamps during the Great Recession between 2007-2009, the question remains: Why has the number continued to rise in the five years since the recession ended? Although unemployment rates have fallen, “the historical record shows that declines in poverty and [food stamp] enrollment typically lag behind improvements in the unemployment rate following recessions,” according to an article published recently by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Another major factor is that in 2008, Congress permitted states to relax their eligibility standards for the national food stamp program. Research shows that food insecurity can seriously affect children’s cognitive and physical development. Hunger can also
hinder school attendance, academic achievement, graduation rates, and job readiness. Currently, hunger relief advocates are asking Congress to pass a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, which would provide nutritious food to children at school, in child care, and during weekends and school holidays, and to strengthen the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that provides food for 45 million lowincome Americans (PDF). Other policy recommendations include making it simpler and less stigmatizing for students to access free and reduced-price school meals and ensuring the availability of nutritious, appealing foods at school meals without competition from less healthy foods. n
US: No valid reason for China to restrict navigation in disputed sea by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com
Viray
MANILA – The United States (US) on Tuesday, March 29, stressed that China does not have a valid reason in its attempt to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight in the disputed South China Sea. US Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategy and Multilateral Affairs in the East Asia and Pacific Bureau Colin Willett said that the facilities that China has been building in the disputed waters are not needed to protect civilians or monitor the weather. “The runways that they have built are designed to accommodate strategic bombers, not coddle points for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. We still see radio operators channeling for ships and planes that are operating in accordance to the
international law and warning them to stay away,” Willett said in a telephone conference with members of the press. Willett also hit Beijing’s accusation that the US is militarizing the South China Sea, adding that they found China’s accusation “perplexing.” Earlier this year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei claimed that the patrols by US military aircraft and Navy vessels in the region have escalated tensions in the disputed sea. his follows reports that China had deployed surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island in the Paracel Island chain. Willett emphasized that all American operations in the South China Sea were executed in full accordance with the international law. “We have been transiting and operating in the South China Sea for decades to protect those
rights and it is hard to see why our partnerships and operations can now be characterized as militarizing,” Willett said. The US Department of State official added that the US conducts freedom of operation activities in the region to protect the navigational rights of foreign nations. “These laws, these rules, these rights are important to the stability and prosperity of the neighborhood and to the Asia Pacific,” Willett said. Willett noted that the US is committed to promoting regional security and prosperity as reflected in the “Sunnylands Declaration” signed in February. US President Barack Obama and ASEAN leaders signed the 17-point declaration which agrees to respect the sovereignty of every nation and abide by the rules under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. n
Los Angeles to host NBA All-Star… PAGE A3 t
NBA will continue to celebrate its tradition and commitment to social responsibility with a full schedule of NBA Cares events. Through partnerships with schools, government and local nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, the league will reach thousands of children and families and provide important resources to community-based programs. NBA All-Star Game 2018 will be televised in prime time on TNT for the 16th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 33rd year of NBA All-Star coverage. The game will be broadcast worldwide in more than 200 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages. NBA All-Star 2016 in Toronto featured the highest-scoring All-
Star Game in NBA history; an epic Verizon Slam Dunk won by reigning champion Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves; and an exhilarating Foot Locker ThreePoint Contest won by the Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson, who narrowly beat teammate and 2014-15 Kia NBA MVP Stephen Curry. NBA All-Star 2017 will take place in Charlotte, N.C. NBA All-Star history in Los Angeles Staples Center last played host to NBA All-Star in 2011, when dazzling performances by hometown favorites Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Blake Griffin of the Clippers highlighted the weekend. Bryant was named Kia NBA All-Star MVP for a recordtying fourth time after scoring 37 points as the West overcame LeBron James’ triple-double to
defeat the East 148-143. Griffin played in the game as a rookie, an appearance that followed his memorable victory in Verizon Slam Dunk and his role in helping the Rookies beat the Sophomores 148-140 in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge. NBA All-Star’s return to Los Angeles in 2018 will mark the 55-year anniversary of the first midseason classic in the city. In 1963, Bill Russell finished with 19 points and 24 rebounds to lead the East past the West 115-108 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Russell took home the MVP award, an honor also bestowed on the Lakers’ Jerry West (1972), the Philadelphia 76ers’ Julius Erving (1983) and the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal (2004) in subsequent All-Star Games in Los Angeles. n
(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Dateline PhiliPPines
Poe, Marcos forge ‘tactical alliance’ by
A “TACTICAL ALLIANCE” has been struck between independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., a leading contender for Vice President, sources of The Manila Times said. The agreement was sealed in early March this year, according to the “pro-Chiz” source in Poe’s camp, through Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, eldest sister of Bongbong. Chiz is the nickname of Sen. Francis Escudero, Poe’s running mate who is regarded as Marcos’ closest rival for the vice presidency in the May 2016 elections. In early February, when Poe held a campaign rally in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Gov. Marcos showed up. The governor even joked of a Marcos-Marcos win, alluding to unending rumors that Poe is the daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos. But Poe had denied the rumors, saying her family had been friends with the Marcoses for a long time. Her father, action star Fernando Poe Jr., shot one of his famous movies, “Ang Panday,” in
‘Pasabog t2ma’ disrupts exams day by
Jaymee T. Gamil Inquirer.net
Sen. Grace Poe
Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
the province. The Poe-Marcos merger comes amid a surge in Marcos’ ratings in recent surveys. The latest Pulse Asia poll, whose results were released before the Holy Week, showed that Marcos and Escudero “statistically tied” as the top aspirants for vice president. In past surveys, Escudero always enjoyed an edge over Bongbong, pushing his fellow senator to second place. The source said Gov. Marcos initially met with Poe in Ilocos Norte to forge the alliance. The two continued their negotiations in an exclusive village in Metro Manila, according to an-
other source. The political union seems to have been validated by the proliferation of “Grace-Bongbong” stickers in many parts of Metro Manila. One of the sources said the Poe-Marcos merger has caused friction in the Poe-Escudero camp. Apparently also fueling the silent war between Grace’s group and Escudero’s is that people from “Malacanang and DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government]” are in charge of making Poe’s media presence felt, to the exclusion of Escudero’s, the pro-Chiz source told The PAGE A7
A BOMB threat sent through “jejemon-style” text messages led to the suspension of classes on the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) campus on Katipunan Avenue in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, on Monday morning, March 28. College students were scheduled to take their exams that day. Only they and grade school students were holding classes on the AdMU campus when an employee received the bomb threat. “It’s difficult to determine what the motives are, but you already know [this happens] whenever there are exams,” said Senior Insp. Noel Sublay, chief of Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD). University officials promptly ordered a school-wide evacuation and the suspension of all classes by 10am, resulting in hours of heavy traffic on the northbound lane of Katipunan. A search of the 84 buildings on the 60-hectare campus kept the QCPD-EOD team —backed up by bomb disposal teams from the National Capital Region Police Office, Philippine
National Police and even the Philippine Army—busy until late afternoon. At 2:55pm, the school was declared safe and officials allowed the faculty, staff and students to retrieve any belongings they had left behind in any building, Sublay said. ‘Duguan s2dyante nyu’ By 5pm, the campus-wide search had yet to turn up anything suspicious, prompting Sublay to declare the bomb threat a hoax. According to him, the threat came in the form of SMS messages written in jejemon-style. They were sent at 8:30 a.m. to an employee of the AdMU Loyola Schools Office for Social Concern and Involvement. The first message read, “Pagdating ng 9:00 malaking pasabog t2ma. Dguan mga s2dyante nyu (At 9am, there will be a huge explosion. Your students will be left bloodied.)” The next read: “H2yaan nyu b bhay ng s2dyante nyu (Will you risk your students’ lives?)” “It was ‘jejemon’ text,” a tired Sublay told the Inquirer in an interview, referring to a local youth lingo that shortens words or spells them with numerals and symbols, sometimes alternating
upper and lower-case letters. From this, he surmised the sender may have been young. Like Miriam The text messages warning of bloodshed called to mind the bomb threats sent to Miriam College, AdMU’s neighbor on Katipunan Avenue, in October 2014. The text messages back then went: “Uulan ng dugo… sa Miriam College (Blood will rain on Miriam College)” and “Dadanak ang dugo sa Katipunan (Blood will flow on Katipunan).” The last time a bomb scare was reported on the AdMU campus was in February 2014, when three offices received consecutive threats also sent through SMS. Sublay admitted that tracking the bomb threat sender could prove to be a futile affair, as past SMS scares usually made use of prepaid numbers which are unregistered. “This is why I hope the SIM registration act could be passed,” he said. But Sublay pointed out: “It’s really the students who are put at a disadvantage here. They end up being shortchanged.” Classes and work resumed on the Quezon City campus Tuesday, March 29.
An online viewing of Marcoses’ jewelry by
Jovic yee Inquirer.net
“The commission believes that it is its duty to remind Filipinos, TO HELP the young genera- especially the youth, of the real tion understand the extent of the history. Through this online exMarcos dictatorship’s excesses, hibit of the family’s collection of the Presidential Commission on diamonds, gold, even tiaras, the Good Government (PCGG) re- PCGG hopes that the youth can vicently unveiled a digital exhibit of sualize how the Marcoses abused jewelry from the Hawaii collection the government coffers, part of that could’ve otherwise provided history [that] is not in the history for essential government projects books,” the PCGG said in a recent such as school buildings. statement. The initiative, dubbed “Virtual Among the featured pieces from Jewelry Exhibit, A Story of Ex- the Hawaii jewelry collection are a cesses: What Could Have Fueled brilliant baguette and oval-cut diaA Nation’s Development,” aims to mond coronet in white gold with post regularly on social media sites comb, which the PCGG said could such as Facebook and Twitter im- have financed the construction of ages of select jewelry pieces from eight one-story classrooms; a Belle the Hawaii collection “to show and Époque diamond tiara in platiremind the present generation of num with French marks, which the excesses and extravagance of could have funded the treatment the Marcoses in their two-decade of more than 12,000 tuberculosis dictatorship.” cases; and an 1880 antique Cey-
A
‘Jejemon’ bomb hoax leads to Ateneo lockdown
Romy P. maRiñas ManilaTimes.net
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 1-7, 2016
lon sapphire and diamond necklace mounted in silver and gold that could have provided power to more than 2,200 households in off-grid areas in the country. P1 billion worth While the PCGG did not indicate the individual price of the jewelry pieces, a recent appraisal by auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s valued at least P1 billion the three jewelry collections seized from the Marcoses and their associates in 1986, following the toppling of the dictatorship. The three jewelry collections kept at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas are the Hawaii, Malacañang and Roumeliotes collections. The Hawaii collection, composed of 300 pieces, was seized by the US customs bureau following the Marcoses’ arrival in HaPAGE A7 VIRTUAL DISPLAY. This antique Ceylon sapphire and diamond necklace is among those on display on the Facebook page of the PCGG
A
APRIL 1-7, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
OpiniOn
Features
Deterrents to growth The government has heard this before, but it bears repeating over and over: inadequate infrastructure, economic restrictions and bureaucracy are preventing the Philippines from achieving its full growth potential. This is according to a recent report prepared by the Nordic Business Council Philippines. The NBCP promotes trade, industry and investment between the Philippines and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden plus the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Despite sustained economic growth and sound macroeconomic fundamentals, key challenges continue to hinder the Philippines’ competitiveness as an investment destination and trading partner, according to the NBCP report. The organization noted that the Philippines continues to lag behind the other founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in terms of attracting job-generating foreign direct investment. Other business groups have long called for the easing of economic restrictions imposed by the Constitution on foreign investments. Amending the restrictive provisions will have to wait for a new administration.
Dealing with the other problems does not need Charter change. The NBCP noted the inadequacy of airports, power, roads, seaports and telecommunications facilities – something that can be addressed through executive initiatives. Resolute political will can also remedy the red tape and corruption that investors have complained about for years. The NBCP report lamented the “repetitive, complex, and often conflicting orders and procedures of government agencies on business permits, licensing, entry approval, and an array of regulations.” The Aquino administration has often touted the economic gains achieved in the past six years, particularly the nation’s first-ever investment grade. The positive credit rating, however, has not translated into significant levels of investments that can provide meaningful jobs. Unless the issues raised for several years now by investors are decisively addressed, the gains of the past six years will be wasted. (Philstar.com)
Guest Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Balitang America poll: Duterte surges among Fil-Ams Roxas second, Poe third
AFTER the March 20 Philippine presidential debate in Cebu, The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” asked its viewers in an online poll: “If the Philippine Presidential Election was held today, who would you vote for?”. The results of the poll aired on March 23 was quite a surprise. The “Dirty Harry” of the presidential slate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte topped the list with a whopping 60 percent rating among the viewers who voted online. Duterte has taken over former DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, who used to top Balitang America’s Isyu Ngayon online polls in the past. Roxas got 26 percent, despite being highly favored and endorsed by many Fil-Am community leaders in the United States. Sen. Grace Poe, who got the biggest bump in the SWS survey in the Philippines after the said debate, placed fourth with only 9 percent. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago got 5 percent,
while VP Jejomar Binay got zero vote. The Fil-Am sWs survey in the PhilipPerspective pines The Social Weather Station (SWS) conducted surveys in the Philippines to measure how the ratings of the candidates would be affected by the second presi- Gel SantoS-ReloS dential debate. here are the results: The Bilang Pilipino SWS Mobile Survey of March 22, 2016 has the following new national scores in the Presidential race: Grace Poe 35 percent, Rody Duterte 26 percent, Jojo Binay 18 percent, Mar “Daang Matuwid” Roxas 17 percent, Miriam Defensor Santiago 2 percent, and undecided/others 1 percent. Post-Presidential Debate effects Of the 35 percent who chose Poe in March 22,
Questions they never ask of Mrs. Llamanzares Commentary
FRanCiSCo S. tatad DoomsDAy scenario at Ateneo While terrorist attacks in Brussels and Lahore occupied the world headlines, and suspected ISIS-trained jihadists were reported to have set up camp in Muslim Mindanao, a doomsday scenario momentarily descended upon Ateneo University in Quezon City on Monday after it got a text message at 8:30 a.m. saying a “large explosion” would rip off the campus at 9 a.m. Happily, it turned out to be a hoax. But its effect on the political “atmosphere” cannot be quantified. School authorities promptly sought police assistance and ordered all buildings evacuated at 9 a.m. By 9:55 a.m., the authorities announced, “we are currently on campus lockdown due to a bomb threat.” Police anti-bomb squads and K-9 units swept the entire area not once but twice, and finding no explosive device, declared it safe for occupancy by 2 p.m. Classes resumed yesterday under much more stringent precautionary measures. This was not the first time it happened to this school. A year ago or so, something similar happened, according to some Ateneans. Then, as now, it turned out to be a sick prank. But had the threat been real, the casualties could have been high because of the limited time to evacuate the buildings. The explosion was supposed to occur at 9 a.m. but the evacuation started only at 9 a.m. The Grade School alone finished clearing its
classrooms at 10.30 a.m., according to reports, mainly because the students were all young children who needed to be turned over to their parents or guardians who had to be individually notified. Imagine if there had been a bomb, and it had gone off, as announced! A personal flashback Twice in my life I have figured in a similar “threat” situation, and I can tell you it’s no joke. In 1970, while my wife and I were flying from London to New York on our honeymoon, our PanAm 747 aircraft got an urgent message as it approached Bangor, Maine, saying a bomb had been planted on board and was due to explode in 15 minutes. Without any word to the passengers, the captain brought down the plane to the ground in half that time, and we all had to sit at Bangor’s abandoned airport facility for hours while anti-bomb experts combed every inch of the aircraft. No bomb was found, but PanAm sent a new plane to pick up all the anxious passengers. At home a few years later, my wife and I joined the Indonesian Ambassador and the world-famous Indonesian designer Irwan Tirta, at a Batik fashion show in a major hotel. As the show was about to start, the organizers got a telephone call saying a bomb had been planted under the ramp and was set to go off anytime. The message was passed on to me, and I passed it on to the Ambassador, who was my host. But he put it back to me saying I was the highest ranking Philippine official around (I was presidential spokesman and Secretary of Public Information), and should officially handle it. There was no time to argue, so I took the microphone and without saying a word about the threat, asked everyone to transfer to the adjoining hall while “certain ad-
justments” were being made on the ramp where the models would walk. This was quickly and quietly executed in about three minutes. The anti-bomb squad came, swept the area and found nothing. But having done my part, I thanked the Ambassador and asked to retire. The ISIS did not exist then, and we were not in the middle of any complex political situation threatened by so much disorder at every turn. So that ended rather well. This is not our situation now. The nation seems ready to explode not because the Islamic Caliphate has arrived, but because the campaign for the May 9, 2016 elections has generated more threats than opportunities. A number of scenarios threaten to unfold, but what the major players will do at any particular time is anybody’s guess. After Bongbong, who? People have stopped me at airports, restaurants and even in churches to ask whom to vote for, aside from Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos Jr., who is running only for Vice President. But they throw up their hands in apparent resignation when I ask them in turn whether they are sure we are going to have a clean, honest, transparent and credible election. This remains the most fundamental question, to which there seems to be no easy answer. Just exactly what kind of elections are we going to have? None of the major players (sorry to say this) seem interested in preventing a rigged election. Everyone seems more interested in making sure that they, rather than others, benefit from the cheating. Aside from lunatics like myself, my lawyer Manny Luna, my NTC colleague Glenn Chong, Greco Belgica, and friends at CENPEG, TanDem, AES Watch, National Computer Society, etc., who insist that a clean, honest, transparent PAGE A7
25 percent also voted for her in March 18, while 2 percent were former Binay voters, 2 percent were former Roxas voters, 2 percent were former Duterte voters, and 1 percent were former Santiago voters. One percent used to be undecided, while 3 percent did not respond to the March 18 mobile survey. Of the 26 percent who chose Duterte, 19 percent were solid Duterte since March 18, 2 percent switched from Poe, 2 percent switched from Binay, 1 percent switched from Roxas, and 0.3 percent switched from Santiago. Less than 1 percent used to be undecided, while 3 percent did not respond to the March 18 mobile survey. Of the 18 percent who chose Binay, 15 percent were solid Binay since March 18, 1 percent switched from Poe, 0.3 percent switched from
Duterte, 0.2 percent switched from Santiago, and 0.1 percent switched from Roxas. None of them used to be undecided, while 2 percent did not respond to the March 18 mobile survey. Of the 17 percent who chose Roxas, 14 percent were solid Roxas since March 18, 1 percent switched from Poe, 0.2 percent switched from Duterte, and 0.1 percent switched from Binay. A marginal 0.3 percent used to be undecided, while 2 percent did not respond to the March 18 mobile survey. WILL POE CARRY THE MOMENTUM UNTIL May 9? Or will Duterte be able to overtake her lead? Can Roxas pull an upset and be voted President? *** 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
A call to action: Implementation of AB199 and WWII in the PH in the history curriculum framework in California Community Voice CeCilia i. GaeRlan SINCE 2014 Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS) has been working with the California Department of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to implement AB199, a legislation passed in 2011 (Sponsored by Ma and Yee) by the California Assembly and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown which encourages for the inclusion of the role of the Filipinos during WWII in the history/social sciences curriculum for Grades 7-12. The curriculum framework has been undergoing revision since 2014 and initially, the IQC proposed a twosentence insertion of the role of the Filipinos during WWII in the framework. Today, thanks to your support, it has grown to one and a half pages to include WWII in the Philippines. It is a very complex process involving 10 stages over several years and we are nearing the final stage, which is the approval of the curriculum framework by the California State Board of Education this May. The curriculum framework only gets revised about every 10 years. As far as we are concerned, the current draft curriculum framework still needs a lot of work in terms of historical accuracy and perspective. Two of the most salient points have not been addressed and were NOT recommended by the California History Social Sciences
Project (CHSSP), the organization that wrote the text for the curriculum framework. 1. In the current framework, the Filipino soldiers are referred to as “allies”. In our comments we stated that the Filipino soldiers were more than allies (allies included Great Britain and the Netherlands). The Filipino and American soldiers in the Philippines served under the same army command – the US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). 2. The Greater Significance of the Battle of Bataan - The Filipino and American soldiers of the US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), who suffered massive diseases and starvation as a result of the Europe First Policy and fought with no air support and reinforcement, were able to disrupt the timetable of the Imperial Japanese Army of 52 days and defended the Bataan peninsula for 99 days. This delay enabled the Allied Forces to harness the necessary resources that led to their eventual victory. There were other factual errors that are still in the framework. Some examples include referring to General Edward P. King Jr. as General Ned King. General Douglas MacArthur was referred to in 1941 as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Pacific. It was only on August 14, 1945, that he was appointed as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in the Pacific, following the Potsdam agreement of July 26, 1945. The IQC received letters of support from members of the community and in addition, it received 1,428 signatures on a change.org petition that BLHS
initiated during the 60-day review of the curriculum framework in January and February of this year. We are very grateful for everyone’s help and support in this process. However, we still need to let the IQC know that our concerns must be addressed in order to create an accurate historical curriculum framework that will reflect the perspective of the Filipinos who made up majority of the USAFFE. Meetings last March 24 and 25, provided opportunities when IQC can accept, reject or amend the recommendations made by the CHSSP. There will NOT be another draft of the curriculum framework and based on the comments received during the 60-day review as well as the recommendations made by the CHSSP, they will prepare the curriculum framework that will be approved by the State Board of Education in May. We still have a long way to go before we can implement this curriculum framework as each school district not only needs to create their own curriculum but must also train their teachers on how to teach this seminal point of history. Bataan Legacy has already started steps to prepare the curriculum in anticipation of this huge step. But ultimately, it is up to the history teachers to implement it. This is a rallying call for FilAm communities especially all descendants of the USAFFE soldiers and WWII civilian survivors to unite and fight for the legacy of their ancestors who sacrificed so much for the freedom that we are all enjoying today. Because of the Europe PAGE A7
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com Northern California: 1001 Bayhill Drive, Suite 200, San Bruno, CA 94066 Tel.: (650) 616-4150 • Fax: (650) 616-4152 Las Vegas Sales Office: 3700 W. Desert Inn Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879
Manila Office: 2/F D&E Fort Palm Springs Cond. 30th St., Cor. 1st Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • 856-0397 Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York office: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858 New Jersey office: 449 Hoboken Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306 Tel.: (212) 655-5426. • Fax (818) 502-0858
ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer JOSEPH PERALTA Vice President & General Manager Northern California Asian Journal MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor MALOU LIWANAG-BLEDSOE Editor-in-Chief Northern California Asian Journal
ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES Asian Journal Publitions, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publition by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases. Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applible law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation. Publition of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publition. Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, uses of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material. AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publition of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being ncellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republition of the correct advertisement. Under no circumstances shall Asian Publitions, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.
ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern lifornia Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern lifornia, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively. Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions. Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com
(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Dateline PhiliPPines
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 1-7, 2016
An online viewing of Marcoses...
PAGE A5 waii in 1986. The recent appraisal revealed that an “extremely rare” pink diamond, worth at least P235 million ($5 million), was in this collection. The Malacañang collection is composed of around 400 pieces of jewelry left behind by the dictator’s family as they fled the country, while the Roumeliotes collection was seized from Greek businessman Demetriou Roumeliotes, who attempted to smuggle out of the country a week after the 1986
Edsa People Power Revolution at least 60 jewelry pieces, in violation of the Tariff and Customs Code. The PCGG said that apart from having a virtual exhibit of the jewelry pieces as part of its 30th anniversary activities, it will also mount a Good Governance Caravan in universities nationwide “to give the youth the opportunity to hear first-hand the dark stories of the martial law [era] and the excesses of the Marcos family and [their] cronies.” “It is [our] hope that the youth
Questions they never ask... PAGE A6 and credible election is a conditio sine qua non to the rebirth of our failed democracy, and that Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista guarantee such an election, the rabble seems ready to accept whatever atrocity the oligarchic elite inflicts upon them. They have survived rotten elections before, they will survive another such atrocity again. The VVPAT issue It is now made to appear that our battle will be won or lost on the issue of the voter verification paper audit trail (VVPAT), or voter’s receipt, which is provided by law, but which the Comelec and its foreign partner Smartmatic had removed from the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine in the 2010 and 2013 elections, and do not want to install into the “new” Vote Counting Machine (VCM). The Supreme Court has ordered the Comelec to restore this particular feature, which is but one of several safety features whose removal from the machine had rendered the results of the voting completely unacceptable. But the Comelec has invoked every silly excuse to say that it could only provide a “non-receipt” that contains no useful information about the source and other details about the audit trail. While public attention is focused on this issue, the real play, aside from the Grace Poe Llamanzares issue which we shall discuss later, revolves around control of the National Technical Support Center, which plays a critical role in the transmission of the votes from the voting centers. Smartmatic originally lost the bid for this facility, but did everything to wrest the contract from the winning bidder. The original winner is now trying to recover its contract, against formidable legal and financial odds.
The ViaSat system Equally undiscussed in the media are the efforts of various presidential camps to acquire ViaSat terminals capable of creating a parallel transmission system under their control. Highly reliable sources claim that the Grace Poe Llamanzares camp, for instance, has acquired a large quantity of ViaSat terminals from the United States, to be operated by a group headed by a former director of Smartmatic. For its part, Smartmatic was reported to have acquired a new Brazilian partner, using a local firm allegedly owned by a known supporter of Mrs. Llamanzares, to operate its ViaSat system during the elections. Smartmatic used to work with WIT (We are IT), a Filipino firm that has provided ViaSat connectivity since early 2000, but ditched its old partner in preparation for the 2016 elections. So the Comelec has completely outsourced its ViaSat requirements to foreigners. More massive than RM But as elaborate as the technical preparations for rigging the elections may appear, the more frightening thing has to do with the massive propaganda effort to sell Mrs. Llamanzares as “the next President of the Philippines,” regardless of her lack of character and patriotic worth. From one deceptive survey to another, from one paid interview to another, from one social media post showing her in “deep prayer” while surrounded by photographers inside a church to another, Mrs. Llamanzares is being marketed to the nation with the use of money that cannot be legally or ethically explained, in ways far more sophisticated than Ramon Magsaysay was marketed to a generation of brown Americans by the CIA’s Col. Eduard G. Lansdale.
A
who are too young to have lived or endured the struggles during the dictatorship or those who have comfortably forgotten shall once again relive the fire that burned in the hearts of the Filipino people who marched on Edsa, who desperately but peacefully wanted change. So that young and old can say with knowledge or conviction, never again!” the PCGG said. The PCGG’s virtual exhibit can be viewed at www.facebook.com/ TheNewPCGG and through Twitter @TheNewPCGG. Unasked questions None of the numerous and increasingly frequent and fraudulent propaganda surveys ever bothered to ask whether or not Filipinos believe Mrs. Llamanzares is a natural-born citizen; whether or not the Supreme Court Justices did the right thing in pronouncing her natural-born by statistical probability, a disputable presumption, and by operation of the equal protection of the law and social justice; whether or not a former American citizen with an American husband and children should be considered for the Philippine presidency; whether her personal character reflects her perpetually white garment, or whether she uses white precisely to conceal her personal vices; whether having lied consistently under oath about her personal circumstances, she has a right to accuse anyone of corruption without proof, knowing it was Susan Roces, her adoptive mother, who famously said, “ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw” (the liar is a sister to the thief). None of the alleged surveys ever bothered to ask whether Filipinos believe that one reason Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, for instance, voted to declare Mrs. Llamanzares a bona fide candidate, without any constitutional basis, was because she was afraid of being impeached and removed under a new president, unless it would be Mrs. Llamanzares. It is not the Constitution she wants to preserve but herself. The obvious purpose of the massive all-around pro-Llamanzares propaganda campaign is to prevent honest and curious citizens from asking serious questions about her, and to encourage the Justices who have buried their honor and their heads along with the Constitution, the law and jurisprudence in the desert sand to keep that same accursed posture while doomsday threatens to engulf our republic. (ManilaTimes. net)
Manny Pacquiao runs with friends and fans in a grueling roadwork on Griffith Park Monday, March 28.
Philstar.com photo by Abac Cordero
Comelec will not stop Pacman fight by Sheila
CriSoStom Philstar.com
MANILA—The bout between boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American Timothy Bradley on April 9 in Las Vegas will be broadcast live here after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) made a unanimous decision that it is not within its power to stop the telecast. “That is not within our control. We are not in a position right now to stop it because of the three parameters that we found,” Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said. Bautista said the poll body in full session agreed to allow the April 9 fight broadcast since “there was really no formal complaint that was filed in accordance with Comelec rules and procedures.” Bautista added the fight had not occurred yet. “It’s still contingent. There is a possibility of it happening, but it
has not happened yet,” he said. Bautista said the Comelec believes that there is no “justiciable controversy” to rule against Pacquiao to proceed with the airing of the fight. “Courts are not supposed to rule on hypothetical or contingent possibility. We are supposed to rule on actual controversy involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable,” he said. Former Akbayan party-list representative Walden Bello and former senator Rene Saguisag had asked the Comelec to determine if the telecast of the Pacquiao-Bradley bout would violate election laws, noting that the Sarangani representative is also running for senator in the May 9 polls. They complained that the international and local media coverage of the fight would give Pacquiao undue advantage over other senatorial candidates.
The Comelec sought Pacquiao’s comment, through his lawyer Romulo Macalintal. “It was referred to the Law Department for study and the Law Department came up with its recommendation which was discussed by the en banc during the meeting. After that we came up with our decision,” Bautista said. Bautista, however, did not categorically say if Comelec was allowing the broadcast of the fight. “We are not saying about allowing or stopping the fight… those three parameters speak for itself. This is the Comelec acting in its quasi-judicial capacity. Those who think they are aggrieved, I guess they can take a cue as to what they should do,” he added. Bautista assured the public that Comelec will act immediately on the issue if a formal complaint will be filed.
A call to action: Implementation of AB199 and WWII... PAGE A6 First policy, the defenders of Bataan and Corregidor fought without any air support (destroyed during the early days of the war) or reinforcement. The 75,000 soldiers of Bataan were forced to surrender because of starvation, disease and lack of ammunition and equipment. Approximately 10,000 Filipino and 750 American soldiers died in the infamous Bataan Death March and another 20,000 Filipinos and 1,600 Americans died inside their prison camp at Camp O’Donnell.
Manila became the second most devastated city in the world during WWII after Warsaw, Poland and by the end of the war, approximately 1,000,000 civilians in the Philippines perished. And yet, despite this great sacrifice, the benefits of the Filipino soldiers under the USAFFE were taken away from them by the Rescission Acts of 1946 when their service was deemed as not fulltime. To this day, honor and justice for the Filipino veterans remain elusive. As our WWII veterans and
survivors dwindle in number every single day, we cannot afford to wait for another ten years to rally behind this cause. We have a moral obligation to see to it that their stories of valor and sacrifice are learned by this generation and those to come. And that justice by way of the truth will somehow restore the honor and dignity that were taken away from these Filipino WWII veterans. *** Cecilia I. Gaerlan is the Executive Director of Bataan Legacy Historical Society.
A
APRIL 1-7, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
Thursday - Wednesday • Mar 31- Apr 6
Valid at Island Pacific Union City, Pittsburg, S an Jose, Vallejo, American Canyon, Elk Grove, Fresno.
i n g r p S
Opening Soon in Cerritos & Rancho Cucamonga!
Sulit Savings! it!
g Sul n o y s e r P
ulit!
gS Presyon
$ 2 lbs for 1 WAS
2/lb
$ 49
SAVINGS
WAS
$0.99 49%
SAVINGS
$3.29 24%
Chicken Leg Quarter
Pork Belly Rib-On
Fresh Meat & Seafood! ulit!
1/lb
6/lb
$ 49
SAVINGS
WAS
ulit!
S Presyong
$ 99
1/lb
$ 49 WAS
ulit!
S Presyong
!
Sulit Presyong
S Presyong
WAS
2/lb
$ 88
SAVINGS
$7.99 13%
SAVINGS
$2.49 40%
$2.99 50%
White Bass
Ocean Perch
WAS
SAVINGS
$3.99 28%
Jumbo White Shrimp H/L
Fresh Tilapia
Fresh Produce!
ulit!
S Presyong
2
lbs for
ulit!
69
1
SAVINGS
WAS
$1.99 75%
Chinese Eggplant
ulit!
4
lbs for
SAVINGS
1
SAVINGS
SAVINGS
1
WAS
SAVINGS
$1.69 70%
Green Papaya
Green Cabbage
Big Taro
Brown Onions
Baby Bokchoy
Sulit! Presyong
Sulit! Presyong
ulit!
lbs for
lbs for
lbs for
2
SAVINGS
WAS
SAVINGS
$
$0.59 44%
S Presyong
WAS
99¢
2
lbs for
$0.99 49%
ulit!
1
1
lbs for
$0.69 64%
S Presyong
$
WAS
3
$
S Presyong
$1.49 53%
S Presyong
2
2
lbs for
ulit!
S Presyong
S Presyong
$
WAS
ulit!
ulit!
S Presyong
¢/lb
$
WAS
ulit!
S Presyong
WAS
1
2
$
SAVINGS
WAS
1
$
3
lbs for
SAVINGS
99¢
WAS
2
lbs for WAS
SAVINGS
ulit!
S Presyong
1
2
$
lbs for
SAVINGS
WAS
1
$
SAVINGS
$0.99 49%
$0.99 49%
$0.69 27%
$0.99 67%
$0.79 37%
$0.99 49%
Sweet Potato
Red Yam
Banana Saba
Navel Orange
Jicama
Cantaloupe
Pantry Favorites!
1499
2$
for
WAS
SAVINGS
$9.59 22%
IP Jasmine Brown Rice 10lbs
2
for WAS
5
$
SAVINGS
$3.99 37%
UFC Refresh 100% Natural Coconut Water 1L
2
for WAS
5
$
SAVINGS
$3.99 37%
14.99
$
WAS
SAVINGS
$20.99 29%
IP Jasmine Rice 25lbs
4.99
$
WAS
SAVINGS
$5.99 17%
San Miguel Purefoods Corned Beef 12oz
3
for
99¢
WAS
SAVINGS
$0.39 15%
Lucky Me Pancit San Miguel Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog 16oz Canton 2.2oz
8.99
13.99
$
WAS
$
SAVINGS
WAS
$13.99 36%
2
for
SAVINGS
WAS
$15.99 13%
4.99
WAS
SAVINGS
$5.99 17%
Bestaste Siopao Regular Asstd Flavors
8.99
$
WAS
SAVINGS
$12.99 31%
Pampanga Pork/ Chicken Shanghai 36oz
2
for
SAVINGS
WAS
$2.79 28%
Colusa Calrose Rice Kabayan Milagrosa (White/Brown) 15lbs Rice 20lbs
$
4
$
Del Monte Fruit Juice Asstd Flavors 1L
$1.39 29%
$8.99 33%
WAS
J&J Chippy BBQ Valuepack
2
for WAS
WAS
Twin Dragon/Amber Farms Cookies (almond/pecan/Coco Almond) 8oz
3.99
$
WAS
SAVINGS
4
for WAS
SAVINGS
6
SAVINGS
$3.99 25%
Pampanga Sweet/Hot Sausage 12oz
“WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE SALES PROMO WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. WE ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REPLACE ITEMS WITH PRODUCTS OF APPROXIMATE VALUE. NO RAIN CHECKS. PROMO GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER COUPON OR PROMO. PRICES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. GIVEAWAYS NOT VALID FOR CUSTOMERS WITH DISCOUNT.”
99¢
$10.99 27%
$1.29 23%
WAS
SAVINGS
Gold Medal BBQ Fiesta Pack Asstd Flavors 20oz
SAVINGS
Koikeya karamucho Potato Chips Asstd Flavors 2.01oz
7.99
$
5
$
$1.69 26%
$5.99 33%
Nestea Iced Tea Ajinomoto Gyoza Asstd Flavors Family Pack 24.7oz Lemon 12/.5L
$
SAVINGS
$1.29 23%
Suncrest Cupp Keyk Asstd Flavors 38g
5.99
$
SAVINGS
SAVINGS
$3.29 39%
99¢ WAS
99¢
4
$
WAS
SAVINGS
IP Chicharon Asstd Flavors 2.5oz
COMMUNITY
(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves GReGoRy J. boult And nAncy e. MilleR SECURING an immigrant visa to the United States can be a long and stressful process. After waiting months or even years, an applicant concludes the process with a brief and concise interview with a consular officer. In the best case scenario, the immigrant visa is approved at the time of the interview. However, not all immigrant visa interviews proceed without issue; and for some, the interview can result in the denial of their application. A denial is followed by confusion as the applicant and family members struggle to understand why the visa was denied and what action, if any, can be taken to remedy the situation. An applicant who is denied an immigrant visa must be provided with written notice which specifically identifies the legal grounds for the refusal. Generally, such written notices only identify the section of the law upon which the denial is based. As a result, many applicants are left confused as to why they were denied. In addition, depending upon the specific law cited for the denial, some applicants are informed that they may apply for a waiver which, if approved, would render them eligible for a visa. Others are simply advised that no waiver is available and that the refusal is the final decision. Obviously, either of these outcomes can prove devastating. And the first step, which should be conducted by an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney, is a determination of whether the denial of the immigrant visa application was legally correct. The immigration laws of the United States are complex. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the denial of any immigrant visa application should be thoroughly reviewed to determine whether the relevant law was correctly interpreted and applied to the facts of the case.
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 1-7, 2016
CJ
Journal Immigrant visa denied — what’s the next step?
If the review establishes that an error was made by the denying consular officer, a formal request for reconsideration of the denial can be made. Such a request must be in writing and submitted within one year of the denial, and must be supported by legal argument and supporting evidence which establishes that the denial was erroneous. If a request for reconsideration is unsuccessful, an applicant may then seek an advisory opinion with the Department of State. An advisory opinion is a formal position statement from the Office of Visa Services in Washington, D.C., which will issue a written position regarding any legal issue disputed from the denial of a visa. If such a formal written position is favorable to the applicant, the advisory opinion can be utilized to seek the issuance of a new decision on the denied application. While the first step is to always review, and challenge as appropriate, the denial of an immigrant visa application, there are instances when the refusal to issue an immigrant visa is legally correct. Under such circumstances, the issue then turns to whether the applicant is eligible for a waiver. While consular officers are afforded broad discretion to approve or deny a visa, discretion rarely becomes a factor in denying an immigrant visa. Instead, the denial of an immigrant visa is usually based upon a ground of inadmissibility – a set of laws which preclude certain individuals from immigrating to the United States. Common grounds of inadmissibility include convictions for certain crimes, fraud in an attempt to obtain an immigration benefit, and physical presence in the United States without authorization for certain defined periods of time. Some grounds of inadmissibility do not provide for a waiver. Such grounds of inadmissibility highlight the im-
portance of carefully reviewing, and challenging as appropriate, the denial of a visa application. However, for those who are not successful in challenging a visa denial, but who are eligible to apply for a waiver, the process of applying for such a waiver should begin in earnest. For those eligible applicants, a waiver of inadmissibility must be submitted within one year of the denial of the immigrant visa. An application for a waiver of inadmissibility is filed not with the denying embassy or consulate, but rather with Citizenship and Immigration Services. Such waivers are typically complicated given the required evidence to prove successful, and should be prepared by an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney. If granted, the waiver approval will be forwarded to the embassy or consult which issued the initial denial, and the applicant will be able to proceed with his or her immigrant visa application. The denial of an immigrant visa is a very serious matter, and one which typically requires the professional services of an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to explore and pursue all available options. While the denial of an immigrant visa can be devastating, it may not be the last word. ***
Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
OFW households saving, investing more for investments was steady at 6.5 percent. BSP deputy governor Diwa MANILA — More households Guinigundo said the percentage that received remittances from of OFW households using retheir loved ones abroad allocat- mittances to save as of the first ed portions of the inflows into quarter was almost six times the savings and investments this 7.2 percent recorded in the first quarter. quarter of 2007 when the CES Results of the latest Consum- was launched. er Expectations Survey (CES) Likewise, Guinigundo said the showed an increase in the num- percentage of OFW household ber of overseas Filipino workers’ investing remittances was alhouseholds allocating remittanc- most three times the 2.3 percent es for savings to 43.4 percent in level when the survey was first the first quarter of the year from conducted. 41.4 percent in the fourth quarter The latest survey showed the of last year. overall confidence index imLikewise, the number of house- proved to -5.7 percent in the holds that allocated remittances first quarter from -8.1 percent by Lawrence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
in the fourth quarter of last year, matching the all-time high of 5.7 percent booked in the second quarter of 2013. “They are more optimistic about the outlook and if the economic conditions are improving and the family financial situation is improving and they perceive their family income is improving then you can expect that they will continue to be more optimistic,” he said. “That can be translated into higher savings since they can afford to set aside a higher percentage of their income to save. And for those who have higher savings some have gone into actual investment,” Guinigundo added. n
Banks expanded branch network in 2015 by MayveLin
U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net
BANKS in the Philippines expanded their physical network last year to 10,756 branches and offices overall from 10,361 in 2014, the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shows. Of the total network, 6,060 are universal and commercial banks, composed of 40 head offices and 6,020 other offices. Thrift banks’ physical network reached 2,086 in 2015, consisting of 68 head offices and 2,018 other offices. Lastly, the physical network of rural and coopera-
u PAGE CJ4
CJ
APRIL 1-7, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
The CTV Files Atty. Dennis ChuA, esq. UNDER the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21), an applicant for adjustment of status can change his or her employer or job without the employer filing a new immigrant petition for the applicant if the applicant’s application for adjustment of status has been pending for one hundred eighty (180) days. On March 18, 2016, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new guidelines on how the applicant whose application for adjustment of status has been pending for one hundred eighty (180) days can change his or her employer. Even though the US Employer is not required to file a new petition for the applicant, the US Employer and the applicant must still submit a letter with the USCIS confirming that the US Employer is taking over the immigrant petition filed by the previous employer; agrees to pay the prevailing wage; and that the position offered by the new employer is the same or similar to the position described in the im-
Dr. Val’s Dental Views Dr. VAlerie
De leon
WE’VE all been through it, right? Can you remember when your baby teeth were falling out? Did one of your parents yank them out for you? Or, were you one of those do-it-yourselfers? Our advice: No viral video attempts at pulling teeth in crazy ways Have you seen some of the online videos out there where parents subject their children to absurd tooth-yanking antics? Videos like that raise the question (or should raise the question) of motive. But that’s another discussion for another time… This post is about whether you should let them fall out naturally, let the child pull them out, or pull them out yourself. Here’s some information to help you make that decision. Don’t have children? Share the
Community Journal
Changing employers while the adjustment of status application is pending migrant petition filed by the previous employer. The USCIS will consider the totality of circumstances in determining whether or not the position offered by the new employer is the same or similar to the position offered by the previous employer as described in the immigrant petition. In looking at the two positions, the USCIS may consider the following types of evidence: (1) the job duties of both positions; (2) the skills, expertise, education, training, licenses, or certifications, specifically required to perform both jobs; (3) wages offered for the two jobs; (4) and any other material and credible evidence relevant in the determination. An exception to the requirement that the new position must be the same or similar to old position of the applicant is if in the new position, the applicant will be primarily responsible in managing the same or similar function of his or her old job. An example for this situation is a nurse who has been promoted to that of a nurse supervisor who man-
ages several other nurses in his or her department. Here the applicant can still accept this new position even if it is not the same or similar position to that of his or her old job. With the retrogression of the visa numbers under the third preference employment based category, applicants for adjustment of status must take note of this new memorandum issued by the USCIS in order for them to be able to properly change employers while their adjustment of status applications are still pending.
***
Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an inperson or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; Dchua@ctvattys.com. The CTV Attorneys will be at Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo on October 19, 2009 from 5pm to 7pm to hold a FREE legal clinic. (Advertising Supplement)
What to do with loose baby teeth information below with someone who does. They’ll appreciate it! Five things to consider Most dentists today say not to pull a child’s tooth. Letting the child wiggle the tooth out with their own fingers or tongue may be the better idea. Why? Because only he or she knows for sure how loose (or attached) the tooth really is and how much discomfort it is causing. If the child has waited long enough to pull it, there shouldn’t be much bleeding. Pack a small piece of wet gauze and hold pressure there for a few minutes. The bleeding should stop fairly quickly. Sometimes permanent teeth push the new tooth in an unusual direction which can affect the gums. If this happens, you may want to give us a call. Although not typical, a tooth can come out while eating and may be swallowed. Don’t worry!
It’s very unlikely the child will choke on it. The tooth fairy may be a little disappointed, but a swallowed tooth is not harmful. Some parents offer their child a fresh, crisp, delicious apple! If the tooth is loose enough, it will likely come out. Adults with loose teeth For adults, it’s not normal or healthy for a tooth to be loose. If you have a loose tooth, contact us right away so we can determine the cause and recommend a solution. Thank you for trusting us with your oral health. *** If you have questions, pls call Dr. Valerie de Leon at (650) 697–9000 or visit our website at www.millbraesmiles.com. She is with Millbrae Smile Center located at 15 El Camino Real, Millbrae 94030. She is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of Laser Dentistry, ADA, CDA and SMCDS. Please call for a free consultation. (Advertising Supplement)
Free landscape and composting workshops in Milpitas LEARN smart and innovative ways to have water efficient and beautiful landscapes during a drought! There will be free workshops this April. All workshops will be held at the Barbara Lee Senior center, 40 N. Milpitas Blvd. Workshop schedules: April 2, Saturday • 9am-12pm Water Efficient Irrigation Techniques: Learn hands-on about the components and layout of irrigation systems, common irrigation problems, basic maintenance, and appropriate irrigate of trees while keeping a low water use landscape design. Register at www.BAWSCA.org or call (650) 349-3000. April 16, Saturday • 10am-12pm Composting Basics: Learn to follow the “1-2-3 Basics” to create a rich soil amendment for gardens, landscapes and potted plant. One pound of redworms free to Milpitas residents! Sign up at http://cesantaclara. ucanr.edu/Home_Composting_Education/ Composting Workshops. April 23, Saturday • 9am-12pm Native Plants: Learn hands-on how and why drought tolerant plants need less water, and how to plant and care for them. Discover the role of soil organisms and organic matter in maintaining plant health and improving your garden’s water-efficiency. Register at www.BAWSCA.org or call (650) 349-3000. April 30, Saturday • 9am-12pm Drought Tolerant Landscapes: The class will
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA I AM doubling down and taking my own piece of advice. Unless absolutely necessary, I intend to be logged off for longer periods of time. How else can I SAVOR THE MOMENT except by living real life in real time with as fewer hours as possible spent on the internet? Communication has become efficient, almost done by rote, and sometimes borders on the cold and impersonal. I still don’t enjoy being part of a global network to be used for someone’s purpose or agenda. I REFUSE TO BE A PRODUCT TRADED ON WALL STREET. Yes, I am kicking and screaming. There’s a stubborn part of me that rebels and chafes at becoming part of a statistic. I resent being used for the purpose of advancing some corporate agenda. There are companies who mine data from social networking sites and the gigantic hoard of public information mega databases. These are then sold to interested parties as valuable psychographic information. Companies package, repackage and sell personal information with the sole purpose of manipulating the mass behavior of citizens in a free society. It stinks to high heaven when the powers that be use information for social engineering and political purposes such as skewing election results. With blatant, unlawful NSA snooping on anything electronic by any citizen these days, can the Gestapo thought police be far behind? I doubt if my opinions on a twitter account holds any gravitas to twitterverse users. Saying something by tweeting on anything can and will be held against you. A screen grab of your comment makes it permanent. Why give anyone any ammo? The number of users following you is supposed to be an indication of your fan base. Few things on the net, particularly regarding the ego, are real however. I heard some enterprising company lets you claim thousands of fake twitter followers who purportedly follow your tweets. That goes for a fee, of course. The internet has become the de facto hothouse for growing gigantic egos. We’ve all become easy targets for privacy intruders. Nothing seems sacred or private anymore. There’s more than enough out there in the public records to fill a dossier on anyone with an SSN or a pulse. We are living in the throes of the Information Age and the currencies being traded are bits and bytes of information. It’s like living in glass houses these days. There’s too much na-
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
Log off and enjoy your hot chocolate “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything… They just make the best of everything that they have.”
—Author Unknown
ked transparency. As an ordinary, private individual, I am downright resentful. Celebrity is now a curse rather than a blessing. Witness the public meltdown of Hollywood celebrities whose lives more often than not, serve as cautionary tales. Because obscurity is becoming rare these days, it has become all the more precious. No wonder our sense of mystery and awe at anything in this life is fast eroding. I regard social networking with a bit of trepidation and suspicion. And frankly, who’s got the time? I am probably one of a vanishing breed, always itching to get out of the virtual world and into the real world of doing things in private, without fanfare: creating, fixing, cooking, gardening, making memories and connecting personally and laughing until my sides are nearly split. By choice, I am generally offline and often unwired on the weekends these days. My personal motto: LOG OFF AND LIVE. There’s so much living yet to do: so many recipes to try, seeds to plant, topiaries to shape, weeds to pull, walls and blank canvasses to paint, places to see, photos to shoot, plays to watch, games to play, puzzles to solve and mysteries to unravel, books to read, people to meet, goals to achieve, skills to learn and courses to take, stuff to give away, stories to write, naps to take and a thousand and one more things to feel, see, touch, taste, hear and soak in before the end game. With all that’s in the past, life still feels like a tabula rasa —lots of living to do, so little time. Sigh. I am picking and choosing from the constant flow of messages in my inbox, only this one below. Some of these forwarded messages are for laughs, others inform while some can make you think harder or even move you to take action. Pet peeves are those that are pure drivel and chain emails with a punitive clause, like a curse of bad luck, if you fail to forward. For malevolent messages and all the rest of the junk from scammers promising riches, simplify your cyberlife and hit DELETE. DO NOT ENGAGE. Better yet, mark them as SPAM. Sometimes a golden nugget comes through that deserves to be amplified. So simple, it hits
you right between the eyes. I searched for the author’s name but like many other pieces flung by anonymous, creative beings in Cyberville, authorship is largely unknown and unclaimed. To the originator of this metaphor then, whoever you are and wherever you may be, please accept a profound THANK YOU, from the rest of us. Here it is. The hot chocolate story A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups-porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: ‘Notice that all the nice looking; expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other’s cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything… They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. But first, LOG OFF. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
Bataan Legacy Historical Society leads delegation to Sacramento to implement AB199
discuss elements that go into planning a garden with drought tolerant design. Includes how to do it yourself, work with a designer, and choose a contractor. Register at www.BAWSCA.org or call (650) 349-3000. n
BERKELEY, CA – Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS) led a delegation of Filipino American community leaders during the March 24, 2016 meeting of the History-Social Science Subject Matter Committee (SMC) of the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) in Sacramento. Since 2014 BLHS has been working with the IQC of the California Department of Education to implement AB199, a California bill that was passed in 2011 but never implemented. The bill “encourages for the inclusion of the role of the Filipino soldiers during WWII in the history social sciences curriculum framework for Grades 7-12.” BLHS has gone beyond the mandate of AB199 and was able to expand the initial proposed curriculum framework of two sentences to a page and a half to include World War II in the Philippines. The SMC Committee Members, chaired by Bill Honig, discussed the comments received during the 60-day public review in January and February with the California History Social Sciences Project (CHSSP) which wrote the text of the curriculum framework and made its own recommendations to the SMC. Although the meeting was open to the public, it was not allowed to participate in the discussion until the very end during the public comments portion of only one minute per person. The SMC Committee approved two key points from the BLHS recommendation: that the Filipino and American soldiers served under the US Army and that the retreat to Bataan was a strategic move (based on War Plan Orange 3). Bataan Legacy received numerous letters of support for its recommendations: Mayor Ed Lee of San Francisco, Hydra Mendoza, Commissioner, San Francisco Board of Education, Fiona Ma, Chairwoman, State Board of Equalization and one of the
The BLHS group (L-R): Rick Villarina, Cecilia Gaerlan, Manuel Bella, Al Perez, Gemma De Ocampo, Robert Hansen, Ray Cordoba and Jeanette Adi.
(L-R): Bobby Roy, Perry Diaz, Consul Reggie Bernabe, Judge Betty Bucat, Al Perez, Mona Pasquil, Ruth Asmundson, Gemma DeOcampo, Jeannete Adi, Rick Villarina and Murray Navarro. Back: Robert Hansen, Ray Cordoba, Cecilia Gaerlan and Laymon Jones. Not in the picture, Manuel Bella, Mary Jean Allarey and Dolores Diaz.
sponsors of AB199, Philippine Consul General Henry Bensurto, Jr., Major General Antonio Taguba, Major General Eldon Regua, Brigadier General Oscar Hilman, Filipino American Development Foundation, Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc., Philippine American Press Club and United Federation of FilipinoAmerican Educators Sacramento and Vicinity Chapter. The BLHS delegation led by Executive Director Cecilia Gaerlan included Ruth Asmundson, Former Mayor of Davis, Al Perez, President of Filipino American Arts Exposi-
tion, Ray Cordoba, Former Dean of Lowell High School, Judge Betty Bucat, Philippine Consul Reggie Bernabe and 13 other people. The group also met with California Appointments Secretary Mona Pasquil to apprise her of the current status of the AB199 implementation and to get her advice. BLHS and its supporters will continue to work for its recommendations on the curriculum framework until its approval by the State Board of Education in May, after which it will start work on developing the curriculum template. n
Community Journal
(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ EVERYONE is familiar with Starbucks coffee houses, which are located on virtually every street in every city. In some cases, there may be four Starbucks coffee shops on each of the four corners of an intersection. In other words, Starbucks has locations everywhere. Some people have the impression that in choosing an attorney to handle their case, the attorney must be like Starbucks: the attorney’s office must be located near the person’s home in order for the attorney to handle their case. Many people have asked if I can open a branch office near them, in order that my office could handle their case. (In one situation, while I already have a branch office in San Francisco, the person lived in Daly City, which was only minutes away, yet they wanted me to open a branch office in Daly City). But an attorney is not like a Starbucks coffeehouse. We do not need to be in the same city as you, for us to handle your case. In fact, immigration attorneys can handle immigration cases anywhere throughout the US. This is because immigration law is fed-
eral law, as opposed to state law. Therefore, even if an attorney’s office is in California, and the client is in Florida, the attorney can still represent that person. During a taping of Citizen Pinoy in Minnesota, one of the attendees came up and introduced herself as a former client from years ago. (I had helped her bring her child in from the Philippines although the child’s birth record was registered showing him as the biological son of his Lola.) The Citizen Pinoy taping was the first time I ever met that client in person. Yet it did not affect or hinder my office’s ability to handle her case, even though she was in Minnesota, her child was in the Philippines, and my office was in California. Everything was handled by phone, mail, fax, and e-mail. There was no need for me to have opened a branch office in Minneapolis in order for my office to handle her case. Even for removal hearing or adjustment interviews, everything can be done by phone, mail, email, etc., and we simply drive or fly in for the day of the hearing or interview. We do that
all the time. My point is that if you want to hire a particular attorney for your immigration matter, but that attorney does not have a branch office next door to you, the attorney can still handle the case and represent you. Attorneys need not be like Starbucks, with offices everywhere. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES
S. meRcuRio
Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines is embarking on an ambitious plan to become a regional manufacturing, services and agribusiness hub starting 2022 under the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy (CNIS). The CNIS is the country’s blueprint for overall industrial development strategy covering the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and services. “CNIS links the manufacturing sector with the agricultural and services sectors. In the process, forward and backward linkages will be strengthened, supply chain gaps will be addressed and the industries’ participation in the global and value chains will be deepened,” Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said in a presentation, Monday, March 28. The CNIS outlines a three-phase approach aimed at making the Philippine a manufacturing, services and agribusiness powerhouse in the region by year 2022 to 2025. According to the DTI, the country’s agriculture sector has been declining in recent years while manufacturing has remained stagnant. The services sector, meanwhile, has emerged as the backbone of the Philippine economy. “While the growth in agriculture has been quite challenging in the past years and growth in services has been limited to a few sectors, we should be able to lift these sectors – with agriculture as source of inputs and services as the enabling element – to support broad-based sustained growth in manufacturing,” Cristobal said. “Eventually, we would like to see a Philippine manufacturing sector that is inclusive, with micro, small and medium enterprises at the front
A MOTHER’S AND HER ATTORNEY’S PERSISTENCE RESULT IN HER DAUGHTERS FINALLY BEING ISSUED CSPA VISAS BASED ON “EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES”-- ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Lolita (left) left her two daughters in the Philippines to seek a better life in the US, with the dream that she would eventually have them join her. However, her previous attorney missed the one year “sought to acquire” filing deadline for CSPA eligibility, resulting in the Embassy refusing to issue their immigrant visas. Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was her beacon of hope, as he did not give up in trying to convince the Embassy that the daughters should be entitled to visas, despite missing the one-year deadline. Find out how Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to prove extraordinary circumstances, have the two “aged-out” daughters be issued visas, and reunite this family on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, April 3 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.
Calendar of Events across
(Advertising Supplement)
For manufacturing, services, agribusiness
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS APRIL 1
Eagle Rock High School Monthly Open House Tours and center of the Philippine business activities. A manufacturing sector that is likewise expansive to conquer not just the local markets but also strategic markets beyond our borders,” he added. Under the CNIS, the country is targeted to become hubs in regional and global production networks for automotive, electronics, machinery, garments, and food. The country’s agriculture sector is also expected to be transformed and upgraded from traditional farming to a globally competitive agribusiness sector. Globally competitive services, meanwhile, is projected to create quality jobs, move up the value chain, and enable structural transformation. “The CNIS’ promotion of the big five industries – manufacturing, agribusiness, tourism, infrastructure and logistics, and IT-BPM – will bring us closer to our goal of sustaining high-level growth, creating more and better jobs, economic transformation, and shared prosperity for all,” the DTI said. n
Cheaper hotel room rates seen amid ample supply by catheRine
talaveRa ManilaTimes.net
HOTEL room rates in the Philippines are likely go down this year as a large amount of supply has come into the market, which should put downward pressure on prices, a real estate analyst said. In a recent interview with The Manila Times, KMC Mag Group head of research Antton Norberg said the country’s hotel sector looks to be slowing down as its supply cycle has come to an end. KMC Mag Group is the local associate of London-based real estate advisor Savills. “The hotel sector is also like the residential sector. I think the supply cycle has come to an end now,” Norberg said. He noted that the new supply of hotel rooms entering the market this year will put downward pressure on hotel room rates. “There’s a lot of hotel rooms coming up in Manila, which means that the room rates should go down a little bit. There’s pressure for rates to go down,” Norberg said. “For investors, the hotel sector is slowing down a little bit, but for consumers it’s better” because that it would make hotel stays more affordable, Nordberg said. A report by Jones Lang Lasalle noted that around 2,450 new hotel rooms were added in Manila in 2015. The fresh supply includes 480 rooms from Newport Belmont Hotel, 438 rooms from Grand Hyatt Manila, 401 rooms from Novotel Manila Araneta and 189 rooms from Red Planet Amorsolo. JLL noted that for 2016, several new hotels are set to open. Shangri-La at the Fort Manila recently opened this month, while Movenpick Hotel Makati, Conrad Manila and Sheraton Manila are expected to follow suit also this year.
CJ
Law offices don’t need to be like Starbucks: offices on every corner
PH seen as regional hub in new strategy by Richmond
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 1-7, 2016
laureate Open House Tours, from 8-10am during the spring semester on Friday, April 1. Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School serves students in grades 7-12, and was the first school in the LAUSD to be authorized to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (grades 7-10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12), a project-based program for concept and content-based learning to promote global mindedness and service to others. The IB Open House is open to all interested students, and will include an introductory presentation in the ERHS library, followed by campus tours, classroom visits, and a short question-and-answer period. To register for the Open Houses, please visit www.erhs.la, and click on the “IB Open House Registration” link. Please email Mylene Keipp mylene.keipp@lausd.net for more information. We look forward to your visit!
APRIL 9
Prisoners of War Day at the Filipino Veterans Education Center All WWII veterans and families, please join us as we commemorate the historic 74thanniversary of Prisoners of War Day and the Fall of Bataan, the Day of Valor, on Saturday, April 9th. In the spirit of reconciliation, friendship and international cooperation, let us leave the past behind us as we move forward with joined hands to attain peace for all mankind. The formal Commemoration and remembrance ceremony will start at 2:00pm in the Filipino Veterans Education Center, at the War Memorial Performing Arts Veterans Building (401 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102). This event is open to the public. Please RSVP RudyAsercion@gmail.com; naffaasf@gmail.com. Tel: 415 564 6262.
A P R I L 23
Chino Hills Multicultural Festival Inspired by last year’s successful celebration of the community’s diversity, the Rotary Club of Greater Chino Hills Foundation will host its second Multicultural Festival on Saturday, April 23, from 3 to 9 pm, at the Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, CA 91709). Admission is free. There will be food booths, live entertainment, music, dance and performances by an array of participants. Sponsorship and advertisement packages are available for non-profit organizations to fundraise, and for businesses interested in market their products and services. For more information, contact rotary.chinohills@gmail.com or visit www.chinohillsrotaryclub.org. Contact: Ted Alvarez (909) 456-0359, tedalvarez@verizon.net; Tessie Lightholder (909) 576-4152,tessielightholder@gmail.com, or Ginny Mondonedo (951) 212-4624, vmondonedo55@gmail.com.
APRIL 30
COSC celebrates 27th Anniversary
“The supply pipeline in Manila is expected to show significant growth with numerous brands planning openings in the city,” JLL noted. The report also highlighted that several brands are looking into expanding their hotel portfolios in the next few years, such as Mövenpick Hotels, which aims to triple its presence in the Philippines over the next five to seven years. Robinsons Land also plans to increase its portfolio by 86 percent in 2020 from the current 2,200 rooms to some 4,100 rooms. “The company has identified four sites in Metro Manila for expansion of its Go Hotels brand. SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. is also hoping to break ground on a new Park Inn in 2016,” the report said. JLL noted that international visitor arrivals to the Philippines increased 10.9 percent year-onyear in 2015, with Manila receiving an estimated 70 percent of those arrivals. “The biggest growth in arrivals was registered in September 2015, with an increase of 19.6 percent, due to the positioning of major events and several public holidays,” JLL said. Aside from increased tourist arrivals, JLL said it is the strong
economy and new developments in the gaming industry that are also creating demand for the hotel sector. Meanwhile, JLL head of research and consultancy Claro Cordero Jr. said in a text message that the robust offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) sector is also influencing demand for the hotel market. “The O&O industry creates demand for hotels by housing several expatriate executives who are in the country for a short stay only,” Cordero said. “These expatriate executives are usually on a short-term engagement.” Nordberg echoes this view, saying that most business process outsourcing (BPO) firms are foreign, which require executives to come in and out of the country. “A lot of these BPOs are foreign companies, so they are constantly flying their executives to the Asia Pacific teams,” Norberg said. Cordero believes that the BPO market may serve as a catalyst for the growth of the hotel sector. “As the BPO market continues to grow in the Philippines in the succeeding years, the demand coming from this segment is also expected to grow and will be one of the catalysts of growth for the hotel industry,” Cordero said. n
The Candonians of Southern California (COSC), under the leadership of their newly elected president, Mrs. Elizabeth Gacula Singh, will celebrate their 27th Anniversary on April 30 at the Doubletree Hotel-Monrovia (924 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For questions and those interested, please email thecandoniansofsocal@gmail.com.
APRIL — SEPTEMBER
Pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, Mexico and India Amazing Pilgrimages for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! All are welcome to join Fr. Joe Joseph of Holy Trinity Church for the spiritual and fun-filled experiences of EASTERN EUROPE (April 17- 30): Poland, Czech., Austria, Hungary, Medjugorje; COLONIAL MEXICO/ OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (June 20 - 27): Mexico City, Theotihuacan, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, San Juan De Los Lagos, Cristo Rey, Zapopan, Tonala; and INDIA (September 15 - 29): Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kerala. For more pilgrimage information and detailed flyers, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com OR call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.
M AY 27-29
PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global Reunion Attention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 27-29, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends. For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-5448210 orloiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 orMonette_santillan@yahoo.com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa Sugay-Palanca at 818-281-7460 or marispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at661-7948906 or rmaghari@gmail.com; Sally Mendoza at 323-695-0235 or sally.mendoza616@ yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 orhoney@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 or connieacosta1@ att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808 orvee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
CJ
APRIL 1-7, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
People & Events
Drought allowed San Jose to reach decades-old trash in Creek Bottoms during litter cleanup activities
Migrante Partylist-USA welcomes jury’s decision and vows to continue the fight for Anna to regain rightful custody of her daughter
Jury upholds Filipino immigrant mother’s right to protect her children NAPA, Calif. — On Thursday, March 24, after three days of deliberation, the jury found Anna Nepomuceno not guilty of all the charges made against her by the Napa County District Attorney’s office. Nepomuceno was earlier charged with kidnapping and child abduction after returning from her trip to the Philippines to visit her ailing father in 2014. She learned that while she was away and without proper legal representation, the Napa Family Court overturned its previous decision that initially gave her sole legal and physical custody of her two daughters and granted them permanent restraining orders from her ex-husband, who was allegedly molesting the two children. “We are overjoyed by the jury’s decision and elated that they stood beside Anna today. But this is just the beginning of one battle as we continue to fight for Anna’s right to have custody of her youngest daughter,” says Faye Lacanilao of Migrante - Excelsior in San Francisco, one of the campaign organizers. Migrante Partylist celebrates this important victory and remains ready to mobilize community support for the next phase of the campaign. Nepomuceno’s case has shown the systematic criminalization of mothers who protect their children from sexual violence. “Anna was detained for months for simply keeping her daughters safe from sexual
EMPLOYMENT
abuse. Her criminalization exposes the difficulty mothers and women have to go through in our justice system as they speak up and protect themselves and their families from further violence. We thank Atty. Stacey Barrett, Anna’s defense counsel, and the community for staying by Anna’s side to ensure she obtains justice,” adds Alex Magsano of Migrante Vallejo. This is the situation Filipino migrant mothers face in the US. When they seek the Philippine government’s help, they find their pleas falling on deaf ears. “Despite its Assistance to Nationals (ATN) programs, the San Francisco Consulate failed to provide helpful services to Anna. Instead, she received insensitive and dismissive remarks from some of the Consulate personnels. Unfortunately, this discouraging treatment has been a pattern toward those who ask the Philippine government for assistance, from Filipino trafficked workers to victims of wage theft,” exclaims Bernadette Herrera, Migrante Partylist-USA Spokesperson. “We call on the Philippine government to seriously take up issues faced by Filipino immigrants and provide adequate services to the people they boast as the Philippines’ modern-day heroes. Specifically, for Anna’s case, the Consulate can concretely help by providing a pro-bono family lawyer as Anna takes on her next legal endeavors in her custody battle. This is
one of many ways they can assist and defend immigrants like Anna who are unjustly punished for upholding what is right,” adds Herrera. Migrante Partylist, through its Northern California members, has been at the forefront in mobilizing support for Nepomuceno upon hearing about her situation earlier this year. Migrante Partylist extends its deepest gratitude to friends and allies for rising with Anna and giving her the protection that both the Philippine Consulate and Napa County failed to provide. This victory was a collective victory of Anna, her family, their supporters and the whole Filipino migrant community. “Migrante Partylist uplifts Anna and all mothers fighting an uphill battle to change an unjust system that perpetuates sexual violence and promotes the commodification of women. Migrante Partylist vows to fight with Anna so she can regain legal custody of her youngest daughter and fully attain justice. We salute all mothers, especially migrant women, who have traveled across oceans and sacrificed their lives to provide a better future for their children, at all cost,” ends Herrera. For more information on next steps for the campaign, please visit the Rise With Anna Facebook page or contact our northern California chapter at migrante.partylist.norcal@gmail. com or (650) 491-4993. n
EMPLOYMENT
SAN JOSE, Calif. — With very low water levels in San Jose creeks due to the prolonged drought, San José volunteers have been able to reach trash in local creek beds that had been previously inaccessible for years. Along with volunteer-organized litter cleanups, San Jose conducts annual cleanup and litter sorting activities at 32 creek “hotspot” locations. As a result, last year San José was able to increase trash collection from litter hot spots by 73 percent compared to 2014. Much of this increase is due to “legacy trash” that has been building up for decades. To help clean up trash and create a cleaner community, San Jose has partnered with community groups and volunteers to conduct litter cleanups with a focus on local creeks. Legacy trash included computer monitors from the 1980s, floppy discs, radios with cassette tape decks, old toys, and typewriters. “There aren’t many positive aspects from the California drought, but this silver lining has allowed our teams to make San Jose a cleaner place,” said Kerrie Romanow, director of the San José Environmental Services Department. “It also helps us to better see the long-lasting negative impacts of illegal dumping and litter.” When trash misses the garbage can and lands on our streets, it makes its way to a storm drain and eventually our local waterways. The combined cleanups have had a dramatic impact on the quality of life and environment in the South Bay by removing litter and pollutants that harm creek habitat and cause environmental damage as they move through the Bay to the Pacific Ocean. More than 6,100 volunteers participating at 109 cleanup events collected 626 tons of litter from streets and creeks throughout San Jose in 2015. That’s the equivalent to the volume of about 42 semi-trucks. “The work our cleanup volunteers do is invaluable,” said Steve Holmes, Friends of Los Gatos Creek project manager. “Beyond the immediate impact on local wildlife, a cleaner San José also provides benefits for the environ-
ment throughout the Bay Area.” Cleanups are organized by the San Jose Anti-Litter Program, Downtown Streets Team, Creek Connections Action Group, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, and Friends of Los Gatos Creek. Community groups receive funding from the San Jose Environmental Services Department, San Jose Housing Department, US. Environmental Protection Agency, and Santa Clara Valley Water District. The State Water Resources Control Board in 2009 required all Bay Area cities and stormwater agencies to develop plans to reduce litter from storm sewer systems by 40 percent by 2014, 70 percent by 2017, 80 percent by 2019, and 100 percent by 2022. Currently, San José is on target to meet the 70 percent goal by July 1, 2017. The city’s long-term litter reduction plan calls for more litter cleanup efforts to continue in the coming years. The annual Great American Litter Pickup will take place the day after Earth Day on Saturday, April 23 in multiple locations throughout San Jose. To find
cleanup locations, call 408-9757233. Residents, businesses, and visitors also can get involved by visiting www.sjenvironment.org/ stoplitter. Photos of the legacy trash can be found on SJEnvironment’s Flickr page. About San Jose Environmental Services Department San Jose, Capital of Silicon Valley, is the largest city in Northern California and the tenth largest city in the nation. The San Jose Environmental Services Department manages garbage and recycling services; watershed protection and pollution prevention; municipal drinking water and recycled water; sustainability initiatives; and the operation and infrastructure improvements of the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility. With a mission to deliver world class utility services and programs to improve our health, environment, and economy; the department is committed to being a leader in combating climate change at the local government level. Find more information at www.sjenvironment.org. n
Banks expanded branch network…
PAGE CJ1 t
tive banks reached 2,610, composed of 524 head offices and 2,086 other offices. In its latest Report on Economic and Financial Developments, the central bank said the country’s banking system remained sound and resilient, with total resources having expanded by 10.4 percent in the third quarter of 2015. The industry had resources totaling P11.87 trillion, up 10.4
percent from the P10.74 trillion recorded in the comparable 2014 period. Universal and commercial banks alone had combined resources of P10.67 trillion, growing 10.5 percent from P9.66 trillion a year earlier. Thrift banks, meanwhile, accounted for P979.6 billion, up 13 percent from P866.6 billion in 2014, while rural banks held P218.4 billion. n
FOSTER HOMECARE
SERVICES
(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 1-7, 2016
CJ
Friday, April 1, 2016
SF2
cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - April 1, 2016
Don Ellis Aguillo, graphic artist & illustrator ExprEssing himsElf in a way thE world hasn’t sEEn by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe/AJPress
ONE would think that artists are “a dime a dozen,” creating the impression that when one draws, paints and/or create something, you can be labeled as an “artist.” In reality, only a small number can be called that, and that honor does not come lightly. One’s style and reason for doing such art comes to play. An artist can’t just paint a picture and not know the meaning behind it. It’s like a comic book or a graphic novel — there has to be a story. Graphic artist and illustrator Don Ellis Aguillo defines such style, describing it as “a marriage between graphic novel/ comic book,” adding that it has “painterly sensibility.” His creations are not merely copies of his favorites from the comic book world, but rather an update to pull them into the current times. Born in 1984 in Quezon City, Philippines, Aguillo’s father, Fred, (who is from Cagayan in Northern Luzon) migrated to the United States to work as
an engineer. His mother, Heidi first went to work in the United Arab Emirates before following his father. Later in 1989, Aguillo traveled to the US with his brother to Pennsylvania. The art of Aguillo Art came natural for him at a young age. Explaining that he always had an affinity for it, he found ways to incorporate it into his schoolwork. “The meticulous nature and attention to detail made for a great foray into sciences and so at a young age. Though I was artistic, I was convinced I would follow [footsteps] to pursue something in the medical field,” he said. “It took freshman year at Penn State University to realize I need to let that go and pursue the dream that was in my heart — which was illustration and design.” He also added that his early inspiration was his brother, who was always a step ahead of him artistically in their younger years copying cartoons from TV and comic books. “When he set down his pencil, I contin-
ued on, exploring color, line and composition in a recreational way on my own through elementary, high school and eventually graduating with honors in fine arts.” Today, Aguillo’s influences come from both art worlds— Caravaggio, Leonardo Da Vinci, Edgar Degas and Jack Vettriano from the classical; and Simone Bianchi, Joe Madureira and Chris Bachalo from the modern, comic book world. “Though I pay attention to line, I think my work deals more with color and light, trying to make fantastical creations, situation, environments and characters that are grounded in the familiar physics of this one,” he said. Keeping a connection to his culture and roots In spite of his non-Filipino art inspirations, Aguillo is firmly connected to his roots. Apart from being a graphic designer and illustrator by trade, he is also a 3rd degree black belt martial arts instructor, and a dancer with the Parangal Dance Company of San Francisco. His work has also been part of the dance troupe’s marketing collaterals, and has been part of Kularts’ Kwentohan: Superheroes Edition series in SoMa. “Being Filipino-American definitely factored into my haven taken up part as a chosen field in many ways,” he shared. “There was a lot of pressure, especially being sensitive to my parents’ struggle to come to the US in the first place and observing their full commitment to their life’s work, to eventu-
ally take up law or medicine (or something equivalent) in order to achieve a level of prestige with my professional life. I realized that if I didn’t follow my heart, so to speak, with art, that part of me would die, and it wouldn’t honor or give integrity to their struggle, to pursue something half-heartedly.” It does not mean, however, that there weren’t any challenges along the way. In fact, Aguillo believes that being taken seriously as an artist in this day and age is an everevolving challenge. “Things from anticipating budgeting for freelance work, to evaluating my own work for its worth in a market has been tough for me as I pour my heart and soul into every creation, otherwise I won’t pursue the project. I think it’s also a wonderful challenge to be in such a saturated market because it forces you to continue learning your strengths, new developments and most importantly, where you are weakest in your skill and expression of your sensibilities and perception of the world. It’s a constant, but welcome, struggle, to offer something different, new, fresh, but also cultural important and relevant. You can’t always be successful at it, but continuing
on and developing that ability to offer that perspective to the world is what is valuable to the art.” At the moment, Aguillo and his friend, fellow artist, Rafael Salazar are continuing to develope the Kwentohan: Superheroes Edition series with Kularts, seeing it as a vehicle for giving the disenfranchised and dwindling Filipino population of the SoMa district a voice and a place in its own popular culture. “We want to continue developing that visual world and its characters and narrative and see where that goes in the future,” he said. Also, the two friends and other resident artists in San Francisco are pursuing a publication under the name, “In Hiatus,” which will spotlight snippets of larger graphic novel works that they’ve developed. These graphic novels all follow themes of journeys, near and far, their significance in their lives. It will span several genres — political commentary, sci-fi, sword and sorcery, modern noir and classical superhero tales. “We hope to publish by late summer in time for the San Francisco Comic Con this September at which we will be available to sell the printed publication and other work we’ve developed ourselves.”
he said. As for aspiring artists, Aguillo advises them to continue creating, in spite of the challenges that may come their way. “San Francisco is such a rich hub that is open to developing not only its own melting pot, but also the preservation of existing and classical cultures and modes of creative expression,” he shared and then added, “Though the storm of rising cost of living, difficulty in maintaining residence due to gentrification and other difficult economic sources, it’s important to stay true to the spirit of this city and maintain a strong connection with your cultural and creative roots as they are what makes the day-to-day come alive. Keep creating, and if you don’t feel you are a creator, then try learning a discipline or craft through which you can express yourself in a way the world hasn’t seen yet.” For more information about Don Ellis Aguillo and his work: Web : www.donaguillo. com Facebook: www.facebook. com/donaguilloillustrationdesign/ Instagram: @theinkwellrunsdry / @marvelworld Deviantart: http://daguillo84.deviantart.com
Crying scenes therapeutic for Nadine Lustre: broken-hearted Jessy Mendiola Spread love not hate by Marinel
r. Cruz
Inquirer.net
JESSY Mendiola said crying her heart out on the set has helped speed up the healing of her broken heart. As her character Grace Fontanilla in the recently concluded Kapamilya teleserye of “You’re My Home,” Jessy had a lot of crying scenes, which she considered “therapeutic.” “I remember that there wasn’t a day at work that I didn’t
Jessy Mendiola
have to cry or break down. Luckily, I had something to focus on while I was going through a difficult time in my personal life,” she told reporters. Jessy denied there was something romantic brewing between her and JC de Vera, who plays her lover, Christian Vergara, in the series. Not real “I’m glad people still like our tandem even though nothing is happening between us in real
life,” she said. Jessy insisted that she wasn’t ready for love. “It’s far from my mind right now. I’m discovering a lot of things about myself now that I’m not looking for love. Who would have thought that I’d like scuba diving, kayaking and snorkeling? You’ll know more of yourself when you’ve reached what you thought was the lowest point in your life, and eventually survived it.” In November last year, Jessy broke up for the second time with actor JM de Guzman, whose family reportedly decided to send him to a rehabilitation facility due to drug dependence. (They were together for two years before their first breakup. They got back together in April 2015.) Traumatic “The experience was very traumatic,” the actress admitted. “You move on, one step at a time. I’m slowly getting there. Of course, you have to believe in yourself in order to love again. I came to a point where I doubted Continued on Page SF3
by JoyCe JiMenez Philstar.com
NADINE Lustre asked her fans to “stop bashing,” after the article “How to be Nadine Lustre” was published in Preen Online. Many of her fans believed the article was “badly written” and was “demeaning,” despite the fact that the website is advocating women empower-
ment. On her Twitter account, Nadine said “Spread LOVE not HATE. Stop bashing JaDines.” Her boyfriend and onscreen partner James Reid gave a “better advice” on how to be like Nadine. “If you [want to] find love, be someone worth loving,” he said. The website has already
Nadine Lustre
taken down the article and apologized to the couple and their fans.
Miss Universe suddenly mum on her love life by riCky lo Philstar.com
ARE they or aren’t they? Russian-born Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, named “Sexiest Doctor” by People magazine in 2015, told Wonderwall the following, “I am dating Pia. It’s a fairly new relationship but I’m really excited to see where it can go.” Earlier, Pia claimed during a live Facebook chat that her top priority is her duties as Miss Universe, saying, “No. There’s Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach with Russian-born doctor Mikhail Varshavski who was named ‘Sexiest Doctor’ Continued on Page SF3 by People magazine in 2015. Photo from Dr. Mikhail Varshavski’s Instagram account
Daniel Matsunaga on Erich Gonzales: She’s the one DANIEL Matsunaga felt that he has already found “the one” in Erich Gonzales. In an interview with “Tonight With Boy Abunda” on Monday, March 28, Daniel said he discovered that “she’s the one” when they celebrated their first year as a couple. On the other hand, Erich learned that “if you put God in the center, everything will come together.” The two first met through ABS-CBN morning magazine show “Kris TV,” and has worked Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga a simple dinner and spend together in the afternoon TV series “Two Wives” where their quality time together. “Everytime naman po [is] relationship developed. special with him. No need As for their anniversary celebration, they chose to have na may anniversaries,” Erich
concluded. Their currently starring the morning show “Be My Lady” which was extended. (Philstar. com)
Nora Aunor proud of son Ian de Leon for helping accident victim by Bayani
San Diego Inquirer.net
Jr.
A MOThEr’S love knows no bounds. Although she’s hurting over personal differences, singeractress Nora Aunor is proud of and happy for her son, actor Ian de Leon, who recently earned plaudits among netizens for his quick action in saving a young victim of a hit-and-run accident. “Masaya ako sa ginawa ni Kristoffer Ian sa batang tinulungan niya. Nagkataon na walang ibang tumulong kaya nakasentro ang tingin ng mga tao sa ginawa niyang pagtulong at maski ako ay proud sa ginawa niyang kabutihan. (I am happy for Kristoffer Ian that he was able to help a child. No one else was able to extend a helping hand that’s why his act is at the center of people’s attention and I am proud of his good deed),” Aunor told the Inquirer on Tuesday, March 29 before the press conference of her latest film, Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Whistleblower.” Last Sunday, March 27, Kristine Madrigal Sarmiento
Nora Aunor
sought the help of netizens to reach out to De Leon, so she could “personally” thank him for bringing her 10-year-old son Ethan, who was hit by “a speeding motorcycle,” to the hospital. In her Facebook post, Sarmiento said the actor “was the only one who came to the
rescue of a total stranger.” De Leon later wrote on Facebook: “Thank you for all your kind words! Our good Lord knows how grateful I am that he used me as his tool to help out Ethan.” On Tuesday, the actor’s sister Lotlot de Leon posted on Facebook: “Ian and Ethan’s mom were able to talk already.” his sister pointed out that “it was not the first time that Ian” helped someone in need. It is no secret in show biz circles that Aunor and her son have had misunderstandings, “mga tampuhan,” in the past. Still, Aunor expressed pride for her and actor Christopher de Leon’s firstborn: “hero siya sa mata ng mga tao. pero mas masaya sana ako kung maayos ang lahat … Ang pinaka-importante naman ngayon ay ang ginawa niyang kabutihan sa kapwa niya. Magandang gesture ang ginawa niya bilang tao. Inuulit ko, masaya ako na nakatulong siya sa batang naaksidente. pagpalain siya nawa ng Continued on Page SF5
entertainment SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – April 1, 2016
Fil-Austrian teenager wins ‘The Voice Kids Germany’ A FILIpINO-AuSTrIAN teenager was declared the winner of “The Voice Kids Germany” on Friday, March 25. During the show’s finale, 13year-old Lukas Janisch wowed the judges with his performance of Alicia Keys’ “If I Aint Got You” and Adele’s “When We Were Young” while he was playing the piano. Janisch got a standing ovation from the three judges and the audience. During his blind auditions, Janisch also got a standing ovation after performing Alicia Keys’ “Fallin” while also playing the piano. Janisch chose Mark Forster to be his coach over Lena Meyer-Landrut and Sasha Alexander. Janisch, who confessed to growing up singing karaoke
Lukas Janisch with coach Mark Forster.
Screengrab from Mark Forster’s Instagram account
with his mother, beat out fellow finalists Shanice and ridon. Being the grand champion, Janisch will bring home 15,000 euros worth of training and
recording deal. Janisch’s family lives in Fürstenfeld, Austria but her mother hails from palompon town in Leyte. (Inquirer.net)
Crying scenes therapeutic... From Page SF2 if anyone would still love me.” If she had her way, Jessy said she would not discuss the issue anymore. “I don’t want to be accused of using him (JM) to promote myself. he was once a part of my life. he is very dear to me,” she explained. She took a lot of flak from netizens for publicly talking about
the breakup. Jessy chose to ignore them “although, admittedly, there were days when I talked back.” Defender “Even my mom gets fed up sometimes, so she defends me,” she shared with Inquirer. “I understand her. She’s my mom, and she would do everything to defend me.”
Asked whether she was still willing to fight for love despite her traumatic experience, Jessy answered in the affirmative, but added that “I don’t search for love anymore. I wait patiently. I’m in no hurry. It’s funny because while you’re waiting for the right guy, you also discover a lot of things about yourself that you should improve on.”
Miss universe suddenly mum.... From Page SF2 no specific someone in my life. This is the specific someone,” presumably touching her crown. “This is the priority.” A case of “he said, she said?” That was what pia also said in several interviews after she won Miss universe: “Itong crown ko ang boyfriend ko,” at least during her year-long reign, adding in an interview with The Star when she came back triumphant from New York end of last January what kind of man she preferred, “somebody who is smart and
Island Pacific Supermarket Opens New Branch in Fresno, California
intelligent, and who has a good sense of humor. I really look more on the characteristics first because it would be totally useless to have somebody who is in power but who has no respect for you at all…” unlike during her homecoming last January, pia slipped back into the country without any fanfare at all. She arrived Tuesday last week and stayed at the Manila pen before flying to Cebu, nursing a bad case of flu but soon got well enough to relax on a beach with friends.
I texted pia for her comment on her much-talkedabout “romance” with the russian doctor that has gone viral. But pia begged off in a text message: “Sorry but I’m here in the philippines for an endorsement shoot and been very busy doing that. I was also advised by Miss universe (Organization) not to do any interviews while I’m here without their permission. I’m so sorry but I’m just following them. I don’t want to be a pasaway Miss universe.”
FRESNO, CA --- Island Pacific Supermarket made its mark in the City of Fresno, California by commencing a 3-day grand opening celebration from March 18-20, 2016. It was an illustrious festivity of food, culture, art and tradition; highlighting the Filipino, Hmong and Hispanic ethnicities. Excited new customers as well as distinguished guests from local Filipino, Hmong and Hispanic communities were present during the grand opening ceremony and store blessing held on Friday, March 18. The store blessing was led by Fr. Alex Ignacio from Sacred Heart Parish. Special guests include Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon Ascalon and wife Cecile Gregorio-Ascalon, District 4 City Councilmember and President Paul Caprioglio, President and CEO of National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), Faith Bautista, esteemed advocate of social justice and legal counsel of NAAC, Atty. Robert Gnaizda, Press Secretary and Director of APA Outreach for Sen. Jean Fuller, Jacqui Nguyen, Membership Development Manager of the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation, Sandra Vidrio, Steve Rontel of Colliers International, Dr. Toulo Thao, Robert Rodriguez of Fresno Bee and Ken Kirk, Vice President & Senior Relationship Manager of Rabo Bank. Throughout the 3-day event, shoppers and guests were entertained with a series of performances by singer, Ryan Gallagher, Mariachi band Alas de Jalisco and Hmong Dance Group from the Hmong TV Network. Each performance represented the diverse and intricately beautiful culture of the Filipino, Hispanic and Hmong communities. Various prizes were also given away during the festivities via in-store raffles and live broadcasts done in the store by the Hmong TV Network and local radio station Mega 97.9. The event was also featured on local channel ABC30. Nino Jefferson Lim, the CEO and Founder of Island Pacific Supermarket aims to meet the needs of the various underserved Filipino and Asian communities in America. And by opening branches in those areas, not only do the residents gain access to fresh and affordable food, but they are also introduced to a wide range of job opportunities at the store. Island Pacific Fresno also has its own Filipino fastfood (Philhouse) and bakery (Bread Republic). Located at 6048 N 1st St, Fresno, CA 93710 (corner of First and Bullard). Open daily from 8:00am to 9:00pm. Visit www. islandpacificmarket. com for more info.
SF4
celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - April 1, 2016
celebrity world By Ferdie Villar
Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown Jr., born on April 7, 1938; heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays for the month of April. Brown is currently the 39th Governor of the Golden State of California since 2011, and was also Governor from 1975 to 1983. Before being Governor, he served in numerous State and party positions. He was a member of the Los Angeles Community College district Board of Trustees (1969-1971), Secretary of State for California (1971-1975), Chairman of the California democratic Party (1989-1991), mayor of the City of Oakland (1999-2007) and Attorney General of California (2007-2011). Brown will be turning 78 this year. Others celebrating their birthdays this April are: April 1 - Former Box Office King of Philippine movies Tirso Cruz III;
April 2 - San mateo Chief Inspector Captain John F. Warren; April 4 - Vallejo Ilocano community leader mike Calilan; April 7 - matinee idol Richard Gomez and actress KC Concepcion; April 10 - “Eat Bulaga” co-host Ryan Agoncillo; April 12 - AnK Home Care proprietor Allan Rocas; April 13 - Health Professional, Inc. administrative assistant Lelith Adriano, Statewide Realty President Rolly Lavarias; April 14 - Former miss united nations Queenie Salazar of San Jose; April 15 - Hayward community leader marie Kimley; April 17 - San Francisco hotel employee mohammad Yusuf, multi-awarded actor and director Albert martinez, and actress Kim Chiu; April 19 - manila mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada, singer/band leader
CA Gov. Jerry Brown heads list of personalities celebrating their birthday this April
George Elizalde, TV host/actor Luis manzano, former movie actress Rosemarie Sonora (now based in Pittsburg), and Adobo Festival producer Joey Camins; April 20 - Oakland Hills antique collector and socialite Sylvia Ford, and former miss RP-uSA mary Grace Garcia; April 21 - Philippine Star entertainment editor and columnist Ricky F. Lo, former San Juan mayor Guia Gomez, Songbird Regine Velasquez Alcasid, and Signature Band leader Cesar dela Cruz; California Governor Edmund Gerald Brown Jr., here shown with beauty impresario Ferdie Villar, heads the list April 23 - “Eat Bulaga” co-host and actor Anjo Yllana, of prominent celebrites celebrating their birthday this April. Governor Brown will be turning 78 on April 7. former Barrio Fiesta owner marjorie Ongpauco Barreto; April 25 - Fil-Am model dane Kitchen; April 27 - “Eat Bulaga” host Vic “Bossing” Sotto who will be turning 602 and; April 30 - Visayan movie actress dolly Fuentes Silverio. To all April celebrants, happy birthday!
Oakland Hills socialite and antique collector Sylvia Ford will celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, April 20. Ms. Ford is shown in photo with TV host/actress Toni Gonzaga.
San Mateo Chief Inspector Captain John F. Warren will celebrate his birthday on Saturday, April 2.
“Eat Bulaga” co-host Ryan Agoncillo and husband of multi-awarded actress Judy Ann Santos, will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, April 10.
Former Box Office King of Philippine Movies Tirso “Pip” Cruz III will celebrate his birthday on Friday, April 1. Pip is now a contract star of ABS-CBN 2.
“Eat Bulaga” host and comedian Vic “Bossing” Sotto will be celebrating his 62nd birthday on Wednesday, April 27, with his wife, actress Pauleen Luna.
Health Professional, Inc. administrative assistant Lelith Adriano will be celebrating her birthday on Wednesday, April 13.
3 things that Alden Richards can’t live without by Dolly
Anne CArvAjAl Inquirer.net
THOSE people who insist that the popularity of Alden Richards is waning, better think again. The “Pambansang Bae” continues to soar. He has been tapped by unilab to be the new endorser of neozep. But there remains no cure for the “Aldub” (Alden/Yaya dub or maine mendoza) fever, which is still highly contagious. Here’s my one-on-one with Alden: All love teams break up eventually. When AlDub ends, how will you reinvent yourself? I will focus more on my craft as an actor, but of course I don’t want Aldub to end yet. What has fame taught you? To take advantage of the moment and use it for the common good. What’s something you
Alden Richards
can’t live without? my rosary, Bible and a daily word from God. What don’t people know about Alden Richards? nothing much. What you see is what you get. If you could be a woman
for a month, who would you want to be? mother Teresa. What keeps you grounded? Prayers and the support I’m getting from my loved ones and followers.
A new beginning for michael V. JuST before Holy Week, award-winning comedian and TV host michael V. inked his renewed beginning with his home network GmA, to which he has remained loyal for 21 years now. Asked why he never thought of exploring opportunities with other major networks, he replied, “GmA ang nagbigay talaga sa akin ng pinakamagandang break, kaya hindi mawawala ang loyalty. more than work ang relationship, beyond friendship na.” At present, the comedian headlines Philippine TV’s longest-running gag show “Bubble Gang,” the family-oriented sitcom “Pepito manaloto,” and hosts of the comedy-musical competition “Lip Sync Battle Philippines.” Called Bitoy by his friends in showbiz, michael V. said he is very proud to be part of GmA’s success in terms of creating innovative and pioneering comedy shows in the country. “dito sa GmA, tayo ang nagpasimula ng magagandang comedy series. I would say, ako tagasulong lang ng nasimulan ng GmA sa paggawa ng comedy. With ‘Bubble Gang,’ 20 years na ganung katagal. Proud
At present, the comedian headlines Philippine TV’s longest-running gag show ‘Bubble Gang,’ the family-oriented sitcom ‘Pepito Manaloto,’ and hosts comedy-musical competition ‘Lip Sync Battle Philippines’
talaga ako. Hindi lang para sa sarili ko, kundi para rin sa mga kasama ko, yung mga writers, the people behind the camera. nandiyan sila to support us at nandiyan palagi to lend an ear whenever may suggestion kami at request. Para sa akin, malaking bagay iyon. For a manage-
ment and talent, dapat may ganun laging relationship.” Present at the contract signing were the network’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer lawyer Felipe Gozon, President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto duavit Jr., Entertainment TV Senior Vice President Lilybeth Rasonable, Consultant for Business development department II marivin Arayata, Vice President for Corporate Communications Angela Javier Cruz, Assistant Vice President for Business development department II Janine Piad-nacar, Senior Program manager Bang Arespacochaga, and the comedian’s wife and manager Carolina Bunagan. Gozon had nothing but praises for michael V. “I am more proud that he is with us. Ang hindi niyo alam, si michael ay hindi lamang talent na nagpe-perform in front of the camera. malaki ang kanyang na-co-contribute sa paggawa ng mga shows niya. He is not only a comedian; he is also a director, a writer. But the most important thing as far as I am concerned, michael is a very, very decent artist.” (ManilaTimes.net)
entertainment Ruffa Gutierrez on finding security with boyfriend, Jordan Mouyal By Monet
Lu
I MADE plans of seeing my dear friend, Ruffa Gutierrez, when I went to the Philippines last February. She kept inviting me for dinner (part of the reason was for me to meet the person who is making my friend really happy), but because of my tight schedule, our supposed dinner didn’t happen. It would have been one hell of a catching up session and good opportunity to know the love of her life. I’ve been friends with the Gutierrezes for a while now and I treat them as family. Ruffa is one of my trusted friends – the feeling is mutual. I was there when she was still married to her ex-husband, Yilmaz Bektas and even flew to Turkey to see her. Now that she has found “contentment and love” with her boyfriend of two years, Jordan Mouyal, she can’t wait to share with me her love-conquers-all stories (alluding to the fact that her mom is against the
relationship). Despite Ruffa’s busy schedule juggling everything on her plate — her endorsements, her upcoming Teleserye with TV 5, and commitments with AVON Fashions as their Jewelry and Watches’ Ambassador – her enthusiasm and optimism never changes. I guess I have Jordan to thank for that. In an interview with Ruffa, she said that she is happy that Jordan is secure with who she is when it comes to their relationship. Jordan, who is a few years younger than her, is also a double-Masters degree holder, comes from a good family (in Paris), and is said to be a very secure man. In fact, Ruffa stated in the press launch of the 3rd season of “It Takes Gutz to be A Gutierrez,” that unlike other people who would opt to distance themselves if they are in Jordan’s situation (Annabel’s disapproval of him), her boyfriend chose to stay. “Yeah, I think it’s a two-way thing. Also with Jordan, he has proven to me and to my friends
that he’s here for the long run. Hindi naman siya pangit, may trabaho naman ang tao, maganda naman ang kinikita niya. (He’s not ugly, he has work, he’s earning well.) He has a double degree in engineering.”Hindi naman siya yung parang walang pinag-aralan na hampaslupa. Hindi naman siya tambay sa kanto,” Ruffa said. (He’s not like some good for nothing person. He’s not someone who just loiters around the streets), Ruffa said in a recent interview with Rappler. She also added that Jordan felt bad about what he has heard from Annabelle but this did not cause the businessman to lose respect for Ruffa’s mom. Since I know their family for a while now, I understand – as much as Ruffa does – that Annabelle just wants the best for her children. I’ve seen how she fought for them and while she admittedly expresses her opinions too blunt (to a fault), she loves them all so much. Ruffa’s love-hate relationship with her mom may be one of world’s “fascinating myster-
ies,” but one thing remains true for this mother-daughter tandem: They both care and love so much – they are willing to fight for it. In one of Annabelle’s tweets, she said that she just wants to surrender all her issues with Ruffa, [since] she already said everything. She also added that it’s no use repeating them if her daughter will resist them anyway. She tweeted, “Surrender na ako. Hindi lang mga kamay ang itataas ko, pati mga paa ko itataas ko na rin sa pagsuko ko... (I surrender. Not just my hands but my feet as well).” Ruffa, on the other hand acknowledges that at the end of the day, she is still her mother. And since she is a mother too, she understands what a mother’s love can drive people to do. But right now, she just wants to savor the experience of being loved and feeling inspired. “Jordan serves as an inspiration… (But) it’s more on the side that we complement each other and we make each
KZ Tandingan: No pressure American band ‘Switchfoot’ to win Himig Handog 2016 holds free concert in Tondo MANILA—The American alternative rock band Switchfoot literally rocked the streets of Tondo with a free concert. The band who became popular for the song “Dare You to Move” from the movie “A Walk to Remember” had a
by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com
MANILA - KZ is not pressured to win Himig Handog 2016 P-Pop Love Song which she won last year. Last year, she interpreted the song “Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako,” while this year she’s interpreting “Laban Pa” with Jay-R composed by David Dimaguila. “Ang iniisip ko na lang this is a song-writing competition,” she said in a recent interview. She added that “kung mayro’n man akong ka-compete ‘yong sarili ko ‘yon. Kasi ikaw as an interpreter, gagawin mo dapat ang lahat para maiparating sa mga tao ‘yong
KZ said she is not pressured to win this year’s Himig Handog P-Pop Love Song.
meaning ng kanta mo.” Although she didn’t deny that her previous win “changed my 2015.” “Masaya ako na may isa kong kanta na kinakanta ng mga tao,” she added.
American Alternative rock band Switchfoot had a free concert in Tondo on Monday, March 28. Photo from Facebook/Church Simplified
Angeline Quinto: Maybe I’m born for singing contests by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com
MANILA—Angeline Quinto said she almost didn’t join this year’s Himig Handog P-Pop Love Song writing competition. “Pangatlong beses ko ng makasali sa Himig Handog. ‘Yong unang beses ko po na sumali dito, hindi ako nanalo,” she said in a recent interview. “Siyempre ang bigat sa amin na hindi nanalo ng song, iisipin namin dahil ba sa amin ‘yon. Hindi maiiwasan maisip ‘yon so nahihiya ako do’n sa composers.” “Kaya sana sa taon na ito ayoko na sana, pero na-realize ko na siguro pinanganak talaga ako para sa contest,” she added.
Angeline Quinto believes that maybe she was born to join different singing competitions.
However, she realized that maybe there are “composers sa mundo, sigurado ako isa dyan nagdarasal na makanta ko ang kanta nila. So naisip ko na kung may tao mang gano’n sa akin, e, hindi ko ipagkakait ang boses ko para kantahin ang kanta niya.” She also noted that most of them interpreting the song for the competition doesn’t mind the prize they might win, it’s enough for them to have the composer’s “trust na tinatanggap namin and ‘yong love no’ng gumawa no’n.” Angeline is interpreting the song “Parang Tayo Pero Hindi” with Michael Pangilinan, composed by Marlon Barnuevo.
Shy Carlos transforms into Tasya Fantasya by Ver
Paulino
Philstar.com
MANILA—A Cinderella-like story is unfolding in Kapatid Network’s Saturday primetime offering “Tasya Fantasya.” The TV series, which is an adaptation of the komiks story created by direk Carlo J. Caparas, premiered last month. Tasya Fantasya is topbilled by the 20-year-old Swiss-Filipino actress-singer Shy Carlos. This is the first time she’s taken a role that allows her to deglamorize herself. Meantime, playing Shy’s love interest in the show is Mark Neumann. The rest of the cast members are Ara Mina, Candy Pangilinan, Giselle Sanchez, Kim Molina, Arvic Tan and John Lapus. Tasya Fantasya tells the story of a kindhearted helper who dreams of meeting her prince charming. Tasya’s
Shy Carlos
life turns exciting when she discovers a magical tree that leads her to a series of colorful and magical adventures that are about to change her life. Shy was launched in showbiz as a member of Viva’s all-female group Pop Girls.
She was also seen on the big screen in Para sa Hopeless Romantic, Chain Mail and Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin. Asked by the media during a recent Tasya Fantasya set visit in Antipolo City to share her thoughts on her biggest TV break yet, Shy admitted that she is feeling the pressure. But more than anything else, she is thankful to TV5 and Viva for giving her the chance to portray the role of Tasya, among other opportunities. “I’m feeling the pressure pero salamat sa mga kasamahan ko like Mark na inaalagaan ako. Mabait si Mark. Sa show naman, abangan nila ang pag-iibang anyo ko dito, malapit na.” Mark, on the other hand, said that he enjoys working with Shy. “Shy is super nice. I like her eyes; I like her because she’s not afraid to look ugly.”
Nora Aunor proud of son...
From Page SF3
Panginoon sa tulong na ginawa niya. Saludo ako sa kanya. (He is a hero in the public eye. I would have been happier if
show in Bonifacio Global City on Sunday, March 27. The following day, they were invited by Church Simplified to have a free concert for the people in Tondo. Even after the show, the group interacted with the crowd. (Philstar.com)
only everything was all right between us. What’s important is the pleasing act he has done to his fellow. He manifested a good gesture as a person. I
repeat, I am happy that he was able to help a child who was a victim of an accident. May God bless him for the help he has done. I salute him.)”
SF5
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - April 1, 2016
Ruffa Gutierrez with Jordan Mouyal
other happy. Kung may mga arguments man kami, it’s more on the little things lang. Petty. And the fact that we both love to travel, we both are hard working and at the same time, hindi kami parehong seloso na wala sa lugar, ” Ruffa said in an article. As they say, ”True love conquers all.” To my friend, Ruffa: I am happy for you and Jordan. I wish I’ve met him that night when we are supposed to have dinner. But there’s always a next time. And from the looks of it,
I’d still be seeing him with you in the years to come. Good luck to both of you! Love and cheers! *** 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 solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com