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Volume 15 - No. 15 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages
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APRIL 8-14, 2016
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEw YORk/NEw JERSEY
It’s final: SC says Grace Poe can run High court throws out DQ pleas by tArrA
Quismundo Inquirer.net
BAGUIo CItY — It’s final: sen. Grace Poe can run for President. removing the legal impediment to Poe’s candidacy, the supreme Court on tuesday, march 5, decided with finality to allow the senator to seek the land’s highest post, throwing out reconsideration pleas that the Commission on elections (Comelec) and critics had filed to push for her disqualification. During its first summer en banc session here this year, the high court junked all three motions for reconsideration against the high court’s march 8 ruling that had upheld Poe’s qualification as a presidential candidate, a court source told the inquirer.
DATELINE
the separate pleas, filed by the Comelec, a joint appeal by former Government service Insurance system chief legal counsel estrella elamparo, former University of the east law dean Amado Valdez, former sen. francisco “Kit” tatad, De La salle University professor Antonio Contreras, and third one filed solely by Valdez, were all thrown out. Court spokesperson theodore te announced in his press briefing tuesday that the court would make an official announcement on the motions on April 9, exactly a month before the may balloting. the court is also expected to release separate opinions that the justices will write on the final ruling by that time. however, te did not disclose details of the decision.
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USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
Apl.de.ap honored for work combating blindness in Filipino babies AsIDe from his musical accomplishments with Grammy award-winning group the Black eyed Peas, Apl.de.ap is making his mark in the world by preventing premature filipino babies from going blind. through the Apl.de.ap foundation International’s Campaign for filipino Children, the Black eyed Peas member has partnered with the Vision Center at Children’s hospital Los Angeles (ChLA) to help treat and diagnose premature filipino babies who develop retinopathy of prematurity (roP). roP is a rare eye condition that causes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina from excessive oxygenation. If not tended to within 48 hours of birth, it could lead to blindness. Last fall, the foundation delivered its first retCams (retinal imaging systems to screen for roP) to the southern Philippines medical
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DNC CEO emphasizes importance of AAPI vote Confident Democrat will win presidency
A WeeK after Democratic presidential candidates hillary Clinton and Bernie sanders made campaign stops in Los Angeles, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Ceo Amy Dacey visited the city to lay the groundwork to expand the party’s base and meet with Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters, who comprise a crucial electorate in coming elections. At a roundtable discussion with reporters on tuesday, march 29, Dacey remarked that she is confident that a Democrat will win the presidency this November. “[Donald trump] isn’t just talking over the republican Party — he is the republican Party. that just shows to us how much we have at stake,” Dacey said. “I think the choice before us is clearer than ever. We, throughout
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HERITAGE SITE. Trekkers are seen on Mt. Pulag in this undated photo. The mountain, which straddles the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya, is among the areas to be declared as heritage sites under an ordinance set for approval by the provincial board of Benguet. Philstar.com photo by Geremy Pintolo
Brown signs $15 minimum wage measure into law
Kim Wong returns P38M more to AMLC by mAyvelin
by Agnes
ConstAnte AJPress
And
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Non-release of OAV guidelines worries ex-Comelec exec by sheilA
Crisostomo Philstar.com
mANILA — Barely two days before the month-long overseas absentee voting (oAV) starts on April 9, the Commission on elections (Comelec) has not yet come out with a revised General Instruction (GI) that includes voter receipts. former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said this is a cause for concern because the GI shall contain the protocol
ManilaTimes.net
CAsINo junket operator Kim Wong returned P38.28 million to the Anti-money Laundering Council (AmLC) on monday, march 4, in addition to the $4.63 million he surrendered last week as part of the funds stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh central bank. Wong, represented by his legal counsels Victor fernandez and Inocencio ferrer Jr., turned over the money to AmLC member and Insurance Commissioner emmanuel Dooc and executive Director Julia Abad. Ambassador to the Philippines John Gomes, Bangladesh Bank representatives and Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas (BsP) Deputy
GoV. Jerry Brown made history on monday, April 4, when he signed legislation that made California the first state in the nation to set its minimum wage to $15 per hour. “this is about economic justice,” Brown said prior to signing the bill at the ronald reagan state Building in Downtown Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press. “It’s about people. It’s about creating a little, tiny, The Democratic California governor signed legislation gradually raising amount of balance in a system statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour.
u. CArAbAllo Jefferson AntipordA
Governor Vicente Aquino were present to witness the turnover. “We turned over to the central bank exactly P38.28 million,” fernandez told reporters in an ambush interview after the accounting of the funds by the BsP Cash Department. the P38.28 million represents the money abandoned by junket player Gao shu hua in eastern hawaii Leisure Company Ltd. (ehLCL) and midas Casino. Wong’s counsel said Wong surrendered the money in accordance with his word at a senate hearing last week. To return more within 15-20 days “Kim Wong is one of the stockholders of eastern hawaii. Kim Wong also mentioned in the senate hearing that he was also
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on how the special Board of election Inspectors (sBeIs) should implement the voter receipt feature of the vote counting machines (VCms). “It is important to have specific guidelines that will be followed by the sBeIs. since they still do not have the GI, that means they were not able to include the procedures for the VVPAt (voter verification paper audit trail) in the fts (final testing and sealing),” he explained.
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World’s first mass dengue vaccine launched in the Philippines
COLD CASH. Philippine and Bangladeshi officials pose with the money turned over by Kim Wong – BSP Officer-In-Charge Vicente S. Aquino, Bangladesh Embassy Manila Deputy Chief of Mission Shahnaz Gazi, AMLC member and Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc, AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Julia Bacay-Abad, and lawyers Victor Fernandez and Inocencio Ferrer. Manilatimes.net photo
by iAn JAmotillo AJPress
the Philippines began rolling out the world’s first mass dengue vaccine named “Dengvaxia” last monday, April 4. About 700 children, ages 9-10 at a public school in marikina were the first to receive the dengue vaccine. Dengue or Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease transmitted by certain species OUCH. A boy grimaces as he gets a shot of the anti-dengue vaccine at of mosquito of the Aedes type, the Parang Elementary School in Marikina City. The Philippines began most prominently Aedes Aerolling out the world’s first mass dengue vaccine named “Dengvaxia” gypti. symptoms usually begin last Monday, April 4. About 700 were the first to receive it.
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Manilatimes.net photo by Ruy L. Martinez
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APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
From the Front Page
It’s final: SC says Grace Poe can… PAGE A1 t
Poe’s critics and legal experts have been calling for a speedy resolution of the case, given the consequences on the electoral process. Tuesday’s ruling permanently voided Comelec’s resolutions that canceled the certificate of candidacy (COC) filed by Poe, who has been consistently topping preelection surveys. While details of the ruling have yet to be released, the denial of the motions for reconsideration meant the high court had opted to uphold the majority decision, which said the Comelec had committed grave abuse of discretion in canceling Poe’s COC. It has yet to be clear whether the justices held a revote on the merits of the case, particularly the thorny citizenship and residency questions that had hung over Poe’s candidacy. In the March 8 landmark ruling penned by Associate Justice Jose Perez, the court said Poe “is a qualified candidate for Presi-
dent in the May 9 elections,” as she is natural-born and met the 10-year residency requirement for presidential candidates. The court ruled that Poe, while a foundling of unknown parentage, was natural-born, as the 1935 Constitution had intended to include abandoned babies under this class of citizens despite the lack of an explicit provision on such inclusion. Born in 1968, Poe is covered by the prewar Constitution. The court also ruled that Poe, who became an American citizen in 2001 but reacquired her Philippine citizenship in 2006 and then renounced her US allegiance in 2010, had satisfied the 10-year minimum for the domicile of a presidential candidate, saying the reckoning date of her return to the Philippines should be May 24, 2005. Poe had returned to the Philippines on that day, fully intent at reestablishing domicile in the Philippines and uprooting her family from the United States,
the court ruled. Poe’s critics contended that Poe may not be considered a natural-born citizen, and that she fell short of the residency requirement, having declared in her 2012 COC for senator that she reestablished domicile in the Philippines only in June 2006. The respondents also cited the lack of a clear majority in the high court ruling, given separate votes on the citizenship and residency issues. While the court voted 9-6 to cite Comelec in grave abuse of discretion, seven justices voted to declare that Poe is naturalborn, five dissented, and three did not take part. The court also voted separately on the residency question, with seven in favor and six against affirming that Poe had satisfied the residency requirement. Only a majority vote—or eight out of the 15 high court magistrates—makes a ruling a legal precedent, the respondents had asserted. n
Brown signs $15 minimum wage…
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that every day becomes more unbalanced.” Under the plan, California’s hourly minimum is scheduled to rise from the current $10 to $10.50 on Jan. 1, 2017 for businesses with more than 25 employees, $11 in 2018, and an additional $1 per year after until 2022. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees have an extra year to comply. The law also allows the governor to temporarily pause the hike depending on
economic conditions and budget deficits. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who approved in 2015 an ordinance to boost Los Angeles’ minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2020, touted the legislation on Monday. “Today California leads the nation once again, passing a historic minimum wage increase that will help lift millions of hardworking men and women out of poverty,” he said in a statement. New York on Monday also
passed legislation to gradually boost its statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour. But before the raise is applied statewide, the new minimum will be implemented in New York City first. “Proud to sign into law $15 statewide minimum wage and the strongest paid family leave policy in the nation,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted after he signed the bill at a labor rally in New York City. For many Filipino workers, the passage of the law is a victory. Joanna Concepcion, executive director of Filipino Migrant Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to organizing and mobilizing low-income and workingclass Filipinos in Southern California, said the group welcomes the passage of laws that would boost the incomes of struggling, hard-working families. “Many Filipino immigrants in Southern California work multiple jobs in order to place food on the table, pay for health care and other basic necessities on top of supporting family members in the Philippines,” Concepcion told the Asian Journal. “We have
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INDICTED. Probers said former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former PNP Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas should be held liable for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. File photo by Philstar.com
Kim Wong returns P38M more… PAGE A1 t
willing to return P450 million but he requested a period of 15 to 20 days within which to complete the funds. According to Mr. Wong, he was even willing to sell properties to be able to raise the necessary money,” he said. In last week’s testimony at the Senate, Wong admitted he received P100 million in cash on February 5 and an additional P300 million and $5 million from February 10 to 14. However, he maintained that he did not know that the money he received was part of the $81 million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh central bank’s account with the Federal Reserve in New York. Fernandez said they surrendered the money to the AMLC and not to the Bangladesh Bank officials so that the negotiations would be done at a governmentto-government level. Two hours to count Wong’s lawyer said it took two hours to count the money, which were in P1000 and P500 denominations loaded in a trolley bag. Fernandez admitted, though, that two counterfeit P500 bills were found among the peso-denominated notes and Ferrer had to shell out P1,000 to replace the fake bills. Abad also confirmed there were two counterfeit P500
bills found in the bag of money turned over on Monday, but declined to comment further. Without elaborating, Fernandez said Wong “will attend Tuesday’s hearing because he wants to finish this thing as soon as possible.” At a press briefing after Monday’s turnover, the AMLC confirmed that the amount of money it received from Wong’s counsel was exactly P38.280 million. Acknowledgement receipt “After the money was counted, we issued an acknowledgement receipt. We are acknowledging the receipt of the said amount for turn over to the Bangladesh Bank,” said AMLC Executive Director Abad. Abad said arrangements are being made with the Bangladesh government for the official turnover of the funds to the Bangladesh Bank. “As far as the AMLC is concerned, a bigger amount of money should be recovered from their groups. There’s still much to be returned. The amount of $81 million has been stolen from the Bangladesh Bank and was remitted or received by these groups so we have to recover the same amount of money,” she said. Wong, in his Senate testimony, said two Chinese businessmen
– Gao Shuhua and Ding Zhize – opened the bank accounts at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., where the stolen money was transferred with the help of RCBC Jupiter Street Branch Manager Maia Santos-Deguito. The blue ribbon committee said it would be difficult to compel Gao and Ding to attend the Senate inquiry. Senator Sergio Osmena 3rd, vice chairman of the committee, said they want Gao and Ding to appear as they have been named as the brains behind the laundering of stolen money and their testimony is expected to shed light on the matter. “They [Gao and Ding] must face the Senate and explain why they accepted the money for us to see the entire picture and determine who should be charged,” Osmena told a radio interview. The panel has asked Interpol to track down the two Chinese junket operators. “We are asking for the cooperation of the international police agencies. But we are not sure if the Chinese government will cooperate because we don’t have very nice relations with China at this time,” Osmeña noted. n
World’s first…
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three days after the infection and include high fever, vomiting, skin rash, and muscle or joint pain. The Philippines is one of the countries with the highest cases of dengue fever with 200,000 last year resulting to 600 deaths. About 20,000 cases had been reported this year until February 20. “We are the first country to introduce, adopt and implement the first-ever dengue vaccine through the public health system and under public school settings,” said Philippine Health Secretary Janette Garin. Developed by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur, Dengvaxia was approved last December 2015 in the Philippines and was launched for use in individuals aged 9 to 45. It is estimated that it will cost about 18,000 pesos to treat each dengue patient and the Philippine government will spend 3.5 billion pesos ($76 million) to administer the free vaccines. A clinical test performed by the New England Journal of Medicine states that the vaccine reduces the risk of contracting dengue by 65.6 percent, thus preventing hospitalizations by 80 percent. The World Health Organization
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(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 8-14, 2016
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DNC CEO emphasizes importance of AAPI…
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(from L-R): Robbie Fabian; Mel Avanzado, Esq.; Fritz Friedman; Ted Benito; Apl.de.ap; Audie Vergara; Dr. Thomas Lee, CHLA; Michael Sampiano, Photos courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles CHLA; Sonia Delen.
Dr. Thomas Lee of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) with Apl. Apl.de.ap with his spot on the hospital’s celebrity charity wall de.ap
Apl.de.ap honored for work combating…
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Center in Davao. For these efforts, CHLA recently honored Apl with a spotlight on the hospital’s celebrity charity wall, becoming the first Filipino to be recognized. “[This issue] is close to my heart because I myself am legally blind. I know the difficulties of growing in the Philippines and with sight [problems], it is 10 times harder,” Apl said during the unveiling of his spot on the wall on Thursday, March 24. “It’s a privilege, it’s an honor to be part of this mission, and I feel like it’s only the beginning of this partnership.” Apl.de.ap (whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo) was raised in Angeles, Pampanga, before he was adopted and moved to Los Angeles to receive treatment for nystagmus, a condition that causes involuntary rapid eye movement. On top of having vibrating eyeballs, Apl is nearsighted and legally blind, which all contributed to hindrances to learning and self-esteem and confidence issues growing up. Sonia Delen, chair of the Campaign for Filipino Children, shared the impact of delivering the RetCam to the Philippines. “There [were] only four existing RetCams in the Philippines prior to the equipment we brought to Davao. It’s the fifth RetCam in the Philippines, for a population of 120 million,” Delen said. “There are at least 34 RetCams in California alone.” Dr. Thomas Lee, division chief
for the Vision Center at CHLA, added that the foundation has partnered with the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology to train doctors to diagnose and treat ROP. So far over 60 doctors have undergone training. “What makes this program so wonderful is that we’re going to leverage technology. All the technology that we have on our phones — the cameras and the video — can actually go into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),” Lee explained. “Once that RetCam is in the NICU, the doctors can treat and diagnose those children appropriately and what’s wonderful is that they can be taught remotely from doctors and experts in Manila, who can then see the training of other Filipino doctors in cities like Davao.” About 30 percent of premature babies in the Philippines develop ROP each year, but by training at least six to 20 medical practitioners in each of the four partner hospitals the foundation has identified, 4,380 premature babies can be saved from the impairment, Lee told the Asian Journal. Apl.de.ap Foundation International Executive Director Ted Benito and members of the foundation’s executive committee, Mel Avanzado, Robbie Fabian, Fritz Friedman and Audie Vergara were also present at the ceremony. The foundation is on track to provide RetCams to hospitals in Iloilo and Pampanga later this year.
Non-release of OAV…
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FTS is a procedure where the VCMs undergo final testing before they are sealed. The machines will be reopened when it is time for them to be used in actual elections. Larrazabal noted that FTS is important because it could showcase the possible problems that may happen once the OAV starts. Around 1.4 million migrant Filipinos have registered for OAV around the world. The Comelec is automating the elections in 30 Philippine posts abroad while the rest will be manual, either by mail or personal voting. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body is drafting the GI and it is expected to be distributed primarily through email by Friday. “A lot of people are working overtime on that… You have to understand also that the changes will actually affect the use of the receipts,” he added.
Jimenez explained the SBEIs are trained in “a lot of information needed to conduct the elections properly” and the revised GI will contain information concerning the required printing of voter receipts. “We believe we can disseminate information quickly and disseminate it effectively. By the start of the OAV, we believe our SBEIs will be well equipped to handle the use of the voter receipts,” he added. He also said that since OAV is a month-long process and does not involve “the deluge of voters” during elections in the Philippines, such endeavor can be achieved. “It might seem like a very dangerous thing right now, (but) it’s actually not an insurmountable problem… I’m not trying to trivialize the importance of the GI. All I am saying is that our election workers are not coming into this election with zero knowledge,” he added. n
Brown signs $15 minimum…
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seen the detrimental effects this can cause to the health and wellbeing of many Filipino families and children facing economic hardship.” In the Asian community, one business organization says that the wage is expected to hurt for small business owners, particularly in the short run. “Going from $10 to $15, that 50 percent [increase] for a company or small business [is] a big difference,” said Dennis Huang, executive director of the Asian Business Association, a nonprofit organization representing Asian American business owners. One good aspect of the legislation, Huang said, is that the wage increase is mandated statewide, rather than varying in different cities. However, he said he expects that the price of goods for business owners will increase to cover the higher wages, noting that businesses compete on these prices. Huang added that
higher wages also equate to increased worker’s compensation, which is an additional expense for businesses. As for the six years businesses are given to pay employees $15 per hour, Huang said it would have been better if companies had more time to meet the wage requirement. “I think its a good idea to space it out, but I do think it’s a little bit tighter for small businesses. It takes a little time for them to adjust for this,” he said. Other business owners, like financial adviser Cynthia Tan, whose firm is based in Los Angeles, welcomed the new legislation. “I’m a believer in increasing the minimum wage. I believe in providing benefits. If you take care of your employees they will take care of you,” Tan said. As a financial adviser, Tan works with business owners to reduce their taxes. She said that although payroll taxes rise along
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“[I]n the poverty stricken areas where our kababayans can’t afford to get diagnosed or have their eyes checked, this is definitely very important, especially in the outskirts of the Philippines…,”Apl said. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)
this campaign, have had both our candidates, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, who have shown that they have the right priorities. Whether you’ve seen them at debates or out on the trail, the discourse between them, with the voters they’ve reached out to, has been incredible.” While Dacey did not hint at whether Sanders or Clinton would be the party’s nominee, she said that they have both “run campaigns worthy of the office.” “I’m confident that one of them will be the 45th President of the United States, but I’m not underestimating the amount of work that’s going to take,” she added. Dacey also took a slam at the “divisive politics” of the Republican Party. “You’re watching the debates on the Republican side and I’m working harder the next day because it’s just unbelievable what you see,” she said, describing some of the Democratic Party’s work to reach out to more millennial voters and devote resources to various communities. Despite the two Democratic candidates sparring over different views on the campaign trail, Dacey said she expects that supporters of either candidate will come together once a nominee is selected. With four months until Philadelphia, a contested DNC convention is not expected, unlike what many predict may happen in Cleveland at the RNC convention should no presidential candidate win a majority of the delegates.
Democratic National Committee (DNC) CEO Amy Dacey Photo courtesy of the Democratic National Committee
“I’m fully confident that we’ll go through this process — that we’ll have a presumptive nominee going into the convention. Our convention is literally going to be about bringing everybody together, having conversations, holding trainings,” Dacey told reporters. “We want to have outreach at the convention. It’s a substantive, inclusive process so that when we leave Philly, you’ll see a stark contrast from the week before in Cleveland, where I do think it could potentially be in disarray.” The DNC’s CEO went on to say that her party is focusing on issues that voters care about, especially those relevant to AAPI communities. Among those issues Dacey mentioned were the Affordable Care Act, equal pay
and comprehensive immigration form. “We saw a record turnout from the Asian American community and support of President Obama in the 2012 election cycle. We’ve also seen that 4.5 million Asian Americans were registered to vote in 2012, so I do think they have a strong voice in this election. I do think that the issues we’re talking about are issues they care about,” she said, adding that various party programs are geared specifically toward AAPI voters and figuring out how AAPIs acquire information and become civically engaged. Fritz Friedman, a Filipino American who is part of the credentials committee for the DNC’s
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APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
SCOTUS upholds law counting total population in voting districts by Agnes
ConstAnte AJPress
THE Supreme Court on Monday, April 4, unanimously upheld that the traditional method in which voting districts are created – based on total population – is constitutional. The lawsuit that challenged the rule was brought on behalf of Sue Evenwel, a Republican county official from East Texas who claimed that the way individuals are counted when drawing districts was “diluting� votes of citizens like herself. Conservatives wanted districts to be based only on voting-age populations. “As history, precedent, and practice demonstrate, it is plainly permissible for jurisdictions to measure equalization by the total population of state and local legislative districts,� wrote Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the majority decision. Had the high court ruled otherwise in the case (Evenwel vs. Abott), power would have been shifted to Republican, rural districts, and away from Democratic urban areas, Richard Hasen, an expert in election law at UC Irvine Law School, told the Associated Press. It would have also eliminated many representatives from areas surrounding Los Angeles and Houston where many
are immigrants who aren’t citizens. The decision comes as a victory for the Asian Americans, who constitute about 6 percent of the population in the United States, according to a 2011 report by the Pew Research Center. “We are pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court agrees that in our democracy, elected officials do not only represent the people who voted for them or the people who are eligible to vote, but everyone in the community, including children and other notyet-eligible voters,� Mee Moua, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, said in a statement. “Particularly in this election year, the ruling is a timely reminder that those who cannot or do not vote are still impacted by government: they attend public schools and universities, walk and drive on public roads, and depend on so many more government services. This is a huge win for our democracy and today’s decision ensures that all members of society are represented by our government.� Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, noted in a statement that 20 percent of Asian Americans in California – or nearly 1.2 million children and adults – are not yet US citizens.
“Had the Supreme Court ruled that district lines need to be drawn based only on eligible voters, 2.3 million Asian Americans in California would have been discounted, including immigrants and youth who are not able to vote,� he said. Edward Blum, the conservative activist who launched the suit, said he was “disappointed that the justices were unwilling to reestablish the original principle of one person, one vote for the citizens of Texas and elsewhere. But the issue of voter equality in the United States is not going to go away,� the Los Angeles Times reported. The top court, however, did not vote on whether it would be constitutional for states to adopt such a rule if it chooses to do so. The Obama administration arGIVING BACK. Bangladesh Ambassador John Gomes (left) hands over his donation for the rehabilitation of Loboc Church to former Loboc gued such a move would be unmayor Leon Calipusan (middle). Businessman Carlos Chan witnessed the turnover held at Jin Jiang Inn in Makati on Monday, April 4. constitutional. Philstar.com photo “Whether a state is permitted to use some measure other than total population is an important and sensitive question that we can consider if and when we have before us a state districting plan that, unlike the current Texas plan, uses something Hung also cited data from the with four-year degrees, and conby Agnes ConstAnte other than total population as Public Policy Institute of Cali- tinued inequity. AJPress the basis for equalizing the size “[We] continue to use sortfornia, which estimates that by of districts,� said Justice Samuel WITH affirmative action being 2030, without reinvestment in ing and selecting mechanisms Alito, who concurred with the used as a wedge issue in commu- higher public education, the for our higher education instidecision but wrote a separate nities, ethnic community leaders state will have a shortage of 1.1 tutions that have demonstrated opinion. n and members are working toward million college graduates based biases and, in many cases, were expanding educational access, on California’s workforce needs. adopted because of those biaffordability, and ethnic diversity “I think what we have to rec- ases, again, to particular student in public higher education. ognize is that we retain remnants groups. And we have done noth“[How] are we going to frame of policies that were adopted in a ing to root out those biases in critice conference co-hosted by the the discourse around education different era, chief among those teria or to significantly affect the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation as a public good?� said Betty is Proposition 209,� said Thomas biases that play out in differenand Asian Americans Advancing Hung, policy director at Asian Saenz, president and general tial resource availability and difJustice. Americans Advancing Justice counsel of the Mexican Ameri- ferential outcomes for students “[We’re] trying to make sure – Los Angeles, during the organi- can Legal Defense and Educa- from kindergarten through 12th the [AAPI] community knows zation’s conference on Wednes- tional Fund. grade, where you go to school that there’s a home for them in day, March 30, focused on emProposition 209, also known and specifically the socioecothe Democratic Party and that powering Asian American and as the California Civil Rights Ini- nomic status of those you go to they’ll turn out and vote for Pacific Islander communities. “Is tiative, was enacted in 1996 and school with largely determine or Democrats in the fall,� she said. it truly going to be a good that’s amended the state Constitution predetermine where your outBoth Democrats and Repub- accessible to everyone in this to prohibit public institutions come is likely to be with respect licans have continued to reach multiracial democracy or is it go- from discriminating based on to higher education,� he said. out to AAPI voters, an electorate ing to be limited to only a few?� sex, ethnicity or race. The College for All campaign considered to double by 2040, In a panel discussion, Hung “But it’s not only the policies has identified the highest conreaching 12.2 million, according introduced an initiative called we retain,� Saenz added. “I think centration of LCFF schools, or to a 2015 report from the UCLA “College for All,� which has a it’s also common wisdom, ap- those with 75 percent or more Center for the Study of Inequal- five-pillar platform: reinvesting in proaches to issues and process, of students who are low-income ity and Asian Pacific American education, expanding enrollment that grew out of a different era English learners or foster care Institute for Congressional Stud- slots in University of California that we retain even though they youth, Hung said. She added that ies. and California State University no longer serve us well.� there are about 700 high schools Leading up to California’s pri- systems for eligible California In data presented by Karalee with nearly 700,000 LCFF stumary on June 7, both Clinton and students, promoting the success Vaughn, board member of Em- dents, 93 percent of whom are Sanders are expected to con- of the highest need students at powering Pacific Island Commu- students of color. As part of the tinue campaigning in the state, the highest need schools with lo- nities, an organization that aims platform, College for All calls on where 475 delegate are at stake. cal control funding formula plus to empower Native Hawaiian more resources for LCFF+ high (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress) (LCFF+), addressing implicit bias and Pacific Islander (NHPI) com- schools to support students in in all schools (including against munities, Filipinos represented preparing for college. LGBTQ students and others), and 2 percent of students enrolled in Oraiu Amoni, political director opposing all caps and quotas on LCFF+ schools, while Hispanics of United Teachers Los Angeles, admission and enrollment. constituted 76 percent. She also the second-largest teachers union LCFF+ was historic legislation shared that 19 percent of NHPIs in the nation, shared during the signed by California Gov. Brown attend for-profit colleges and discussion his story as a product in 2013 that allocates more re- that many are targeted by these of affirmative action. Born and sources to the state’s neediest institutions. Upon graduating, raised in Watts, Amoni went on schools. Under the law, districts these students face difficulty in to attend UC Berkeley in 1994, a receive a per-pupil base grant, a finding jobs and have incurred transition he said he didn’t think supplemental grant based on the much debt. would have been possible withnumber of English learner stuSaenz said he sees two ma- out affirmative action. dents, students who come from jor problems in California with “From a personal perspective, low-income families and foster respect to higher education: I think it’s important that folks youth, and a concentration grant an inadequate number of seats that have come from this envifor districts with more than 55 available in post-secondary in- ronment or these environments percent of this targeted popula- stitutions compared to the need speak up and support these ention, according to a release. projected for college graduates deavors,� he said. n
Community leaders explore ways to expand access to public higher education
DNC CEO emphasizes importance of AAPI‌
PAGE A3 t
upcoming convention, lauded the Democratic Party’s outreach to the Filipino-American community in particular. “A lot of the issues that Amy mentioned are core to the lives of Filipinos and Filipino Americans, specifically immigration and health care. Also the fact, I find personally, the Democratic Party is much more inclusive than the Republican Party. They understand the issues that are relevant to minority groups, like the Filipino-Americans,� Friedman told the Asian Journal. Friedman added that the values of the Filipino-American community align with the Democratic Party, and that should guide voters come November. “The bayanihan spirit — we are a community, the Democratic Party is a community. Filipinos and Filipino Americans
take care of family and friends, as does the Democratic Party,� he said. “I think those base, core things are really one of the important reasons why the goals of the Democratic Party align with the goals of Filipino Americans.� Even with the party’s confidence, Dacey said there is more work to be done in the coming months. “It’s going to be a tough general election. I think anybody discounting it because they’re seeing what’s happening on the Republican side, is making a mistake,� she said. Following the roundtable, Dacey attended a fundraiser with AAPI supporters — which was co-hosted by actor George Takei and attended by elected leaders, such as Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Ted Lieu and Rep. Mark Takano — and spoke at the Advancing Jus-
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Assembly Natural Resources Committee passes bill to expand benefits of clean energy economy AB 1550 would send more dollars paid by polluters to disadvantaged neighborhoods and low-income households SACRAMENTO – On Monday, April 4, the Assembly Natural Resources Committee passed AB 1550 (Gomez), designed to ensure that the benefits of California’s climate change policies reach the communities and households that need them most. The bipartisan vote was 6-0 with one member not voting. The measure would require a minimum of 25 percent of proceeds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to be invested in projects located directly within disadvantaged communities and would require that an additional percentage go to fund projects that benefit low income households, regardless of where they are located within California. Advocates for disadvantaged communities and climate protection hailed the vote: “Assemblymember Gomez’s bill would assure that the Cali-
fornians most at risk from catastrophic climate change receive real help from programs that fight pollution and deliver needed services,� said Bill Magavern, Policy Director for the Coalition for Clean Air, who spoke on behalf of the legislation at today’s hearing. “Millions of Californians have benefitted from climate investments bringing clean energy and consumer savings to low-income and highly polluted neighborhoods,� said Greenlining Institute Environmental Equity Director Alvaro Sanchez, who also testified in favor of the bill. “AB 1550 takes the next step and makes sure a fair share of those benefits go to low-income California families wherever they live.� Chelsea Tu, Staff Attorney with Public Advocates, said, “By directing investments to lowerincome families, whether or not
they live in disadvantaged communities, this important bill goes a long way toward ensuring that the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund brings economic and health benefits to communities throughout California. We applaud its advance through the legislature.� “We have an opportunity here to improve the quality of life of all Californians by investing in the neighborhoods who are enduring the most severe poverty, in addition to the most polluted neighborhoods in the state,� said Parin Shah, Senior Strategist at Asian Pacific Environmental Network.�These are the communities, such as the families that we organize near the Richmond Chevron Refinery, that will most benefit from improvements in renewable energy, affordable housing and public transit.� (Greenlining)
World’s first‌ Brown signs $15 minimum‌
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(WHO) was in full support for the use of Dengvaxia in the Philippines. “It is the prerogative of a country to license the product (and) determine its use based on the internal scientific appraisal of the clinical research that is underpinning the product,� WHO country representative Gundo Weller said. Health Undersecretary Vicente Belizario told the press that only 27 were reported to develop side effects, proving it was an effective vaccine in contrast to the safety concerns raised by several public health advocates. n
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with higher wages, businesses are able to write it off on their taxes. “One of the ways of [reducing taxes] is to increase payroll. The bottom line is, when I talk to different business owners, ultimately the question is: Who do you want to pay? Uncle Sam? Or would you rather give benefits to the employees?� she said. In the state legislature, Filipino-American Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) who supported the move, said the legislation would have a positive effect on Californians living in poverty and
on Filipinos residing in the state. “For small businesses, when minimum wage earners get more money in their pockets, they’ll be taking that money and spending it in the economy, at retail stores and at Filipino-owned businesses. It will be good for businesses. But overall, it’s more productivity for these workers and employers. It’s healthier employees. These are all good things that small business owners should want. The positive outcomes that studies show far outweigh any negative ones. It’s a win-win for the state of California,� Bonta told the Asian Journal. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Bayan: Actors, Facebook users gave more to hungry Cotabato farmers than Aquino gov’t by
Vincent cabReza Inquirer.net
BAGUIO CITY—Actors and social media donors donated more food to the hungry in North Cotabato than this administration, said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes at the opening of the 10th Congress of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) on Tuesday, April 5. Reyes cited the sacks of rice donated by actor Robin Padilla and celebrity siblings Ann and Jasmine Curtis to farmers, who lost three colleagues in a violent dispersal of protesters in Kidapawan City on April 1. He also said online donors offered to send money to the farmers. Reyes said the farmers were hungry, but all the local government could offer were three kilos of rice—not three sacks as earlier
Demonstrators from various towns in North Cotabato face members of the PNP at the national highway in KIdapawan City on Wednesday, April 6. An estimated 6000 protesters blocked the highway which caused traffic to ground to a halt between the city and the areas of Davao and Cotabato. Inquirer.net photo by Williamor A. Magbanua
reported—for each farmer to be acquired from their respective mayors. He said the elections have been used as cover by the local governments, who claimed that
handing out rice in a campaign period would violate government audit laws. He spoke to various state employees representing all regions.
Olongapo court junks Pemberton’s bail please, reduces jail sentence to 10 years by ian Jamotillo AJPress
THE Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday, April 4, dismissed the petition for bail and motion for reconsideration of convicted US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for the death of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude. The dismissal, however, led the court to reduce his sentence from 12 to 10 years in prison. “Wherefore in view of the foregoing, the Partial Motion for Reconsideration of the decision promulgated on 01 December 2015 and the Motion to be Admitted Bail pending motion for reconsideration are DENIED for lack of merit,” a portion of RTC Branch 74’s decision reads. The murder occurred last October 11, 2014, when Laude met Pemberton, a US Marine from Boston, Massachusetts, at the Ambyanz disco bar in Olongapo. Thirty minutes after checking in at Celzone Lodge, Pemberton left the motel and the staff found
Although the Laude family was relieved after the court denied Pemberton’s appeal, they did not welcome the reduction of his sentence. “We are not pleased with the lighter penalty granted,” Roque said as he stressed that the penalty of six to 10 years still disqualifies Pemberton from seeking parole. Judge Roline Jines-Jabalde of the Olongapo RTC Branch 74 said that Pemberton’s jail sentence should be lowered by two years due to mitigating circumLance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. stances of passion and intoxicaPhoto from Olongapo City Police tion, according to reports. “The accused shall suffer six Laude’s naked body near the toilet bowl. Autopsy revealed that years to 10 years in prison with “asphyxiation by drowning” was full credit for the period of his preventive imprisonment pursuthe cause of death. Harry Roque, the private law- ant to Article 29 of the Revised yer of Laude’s family stated, “we Penal Code,” the ruling read. The court originally ordered are happy that Pemberton’s Motion for Reconsideration was not Pemberton’s detention at the fully granted, and we are happy New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa that the decision remains—that City after a ruling on March 29, Pemberton is guilty of killing affirming the decision to convict him of homicide. Laude.”
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Bad luck blamed for NAIA blackout by Rudy
SantoS Philstar.com
MANILA—It was tough luck and they are sorry for the crippling blackout, transport and airport officials said on Tuesday, April 5, even as they brushed aside calls for their resignation. Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado attributed to bad luck the blackout at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Saturday night, April 2. The incident led to the cancellation of 82 local flights and delays in at least four international flights, but Honrado said he has “no plans to resign.” “Sorry, minalas kami,” he told a press conference. He said the airport generators did not function as well as expected, failing to provide enough power to run the lighting, air-traffic control, elevator and escalator, conveyor and almost a dozen other systems. Honrado blamed the poor preventive maintenance of all 10 standby generator sets. “Instead of jolting automatically through the automatic transfer switch in five to 10 seconds, the gensets failed such that they had to be manually started. When they came to life, the required power to activate the lighting system was found to be insufficient,” Honrado narrated. Honrado, along with senior assistant general manager Vicente Guerzon and Terminal 3 manager Octavio Lina, rushed to Malacañang the other day to meet with President Aquino, who admonished them and ordered that the incident that affected at least 14,000 passengers should not happen again. Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas said heads must roll over the embarrassing power outage that hit Terminal 3 as he called for a thorough and impartial investigation to determine exactly what happened, including the accountability of concerned officials. “Where was the tripping? Why was this (power outage) not immediately addressed... because the system was supposed to have back-up and double back-up generators, so this should not have
Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado during a recent inaugural flight at the NAIA-3. President Benigno Aquino III has been urged to fire and punish those responsible for the five-hour airport blackout at Terminal 3.
happened,” Roxas told reporters. He wanted “those responsible fired, punished and reprimanded,” stressing that politics should not come into play in sanctioning officials. The NAIA is under the Department of Transportation and Communications that is headed by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, the LP secretary general. Senator and vice presidential bet Alan Peter Cayetano called for the dismissal of Abaya for “unparalleled level of incompetence” following the blackout that hit Terminal 3 of the NAIA until early Sunday. The lawmaker questioned in a statement what makes Abaya “so special that despite his series of monumental blunders, Malacañang can’t seem to sack him?” He said the blunders at the Department of Transportation and Communications include special screws, overcharging of non-delivered stickers, late license plates and no available driver’s licenses, frequent MRT breakdowns, abandoned license plates at the Bureau of Customs, stolen plate sheets and now airport blackouts. In a text message, Abaya said: “We continue to be focused on our work, and right now that includes ensuring that a similar incident will not happen at NAIA.” The “DOTC ineptitude is so meteoric that it borders on the criminal. Worse, it not only victimizes our people but our foreign guests as well. It’s a continuing international embarrassment,” Cayetano
Philstar.com photo by Rudy Santos
said. He urged Abaya to show compassion to his department’s rankand-file employees by saving them from further ridicule and ire from the public. Vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also called for Abaya’s resignation. He described the latter as a “disappointment.” He also called for the resignation of MIAA’s Honrado, whom he described as someone who does not know his job. The airport blackout, Marcos added, is just one of many incidents that show the “incompetence of the people at the DOTC.” Overseas Filipino workers’ advocate and senatorial candidate Susan Ople also pressed for a comprehensive “vulnerability check” on all international and domestic airports nationwide. “That calamitous power outage may have branded NAIA as among the world’s most vulnerable airports, thus catching the interest of international terror groups,” Ople said in a statement. She said the DOTC must immediately conduct a comprehensive sweep of all airports and seaports to ensure all security features, including emergency power supply, are up and running. Ople is concerned that the recent problems at the DOTC will create a lingering effect on the mindset of both foreign and domestic tourists. (With Mike Frialde, Robertzon Ramirez, Mayen Jaymalin, Louella Desiderio)
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APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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OpiniOn
Features
Coincidence
DESPITE a stern warning by China, this year’s anticipated Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises among 9,000 American and Filipino forces, pushed through. The Balikatan exercises, which began this week, will feature war exercises, naval drills and humanitarian activities. “A big country with vital interests in Asia, the United States should first clarify the targets of its Pivot to Asia strategy, which so far has featured no more than unscrupulous inconsistency between fear-mongering deeds and peace-loving words.” China’s official news agency Xinhua said in a commentary. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) dismissed China’s warning saying that the two-week event is not in any way related to the impasse in the South China Sea. “It’s not focused on a particular incident but rather capacitating our armed forces to deal with a whole lot of exigencies,” said Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, western command chief and exercise director for the Philippine side of the Balikatan 2016, in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday, April 4. Australian troops will also participate in the Balikatan exercises, while other countries, including Japan, Canada, and other Southeast Asian states, will observe the activities. The bilateral relationship between the United States and the Philippines shares a long history. It began during the first half of the 20th century, when the Philippines became a US colony. In
1946, the Americans ultimately recognized Philippine independence and surrendered full authority, supervision, and sovereignty of the country to the Filipinos. Since then, the Philippine-American ties remained intact up to this day through the Mutual Defense Treaty Act of 1951. Since the inception of the treaty, both countries mutually benefitted from each other’s sources and locations. With the Balikatan exercises still ongoing, the ties have remained sacred, especially since the US is the largest source of military aid for the Philippines. This commitment to help defend each other from the aggravation of external forces is proven at present after the US expressed its support to the Philippines amid the rising tension between over the rights of Spratlys Islands which is believed to have rich reserves of oil and natural gas. Coincidence or not, both the Philippines and the US stand to benefit in these military exercises, not only to improve their enduring relationship, but to be ready just in case a belligerent scenario arises. This relationship is bound by humanitarian values and moral responsibility to ensure peace and security not just for their own people, but for every citizen of the world. (AJPress)
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
Wisconsin primary: Game changer in US politics? HILLARY CLINTON and DONALD TRUMP -- they are the front-runners in the Democratic and Republican races, respectively. But the voters in Wisconsin delivered a divergent verdict in their primary elections last Tuesday, April 5, favoring Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Let us discuss how crucial the Wisconsin primary may be as each party chooses its nominee for president. Republican Party Leading up to the Wisconsin primary, Donald Trump experienced perhaps the most challenging weeks of his campaign. The Republican Party establishment has been openly trying to stop his momentum, and some GOP elites have given full support to Ted Cruz. Trump has been criticized after he said in an interview that women who
it nuke-free. have had an abortion Cruz’s victory in - when it is illegal -- will The Fil-Am Wisconsin, makes have to be punished. This it harder for Trump statement is incongru- Perspective to get the magious to the GOP’s position cal 1,237 delegate that women are victims in number he needs this situation, and that the before the Repubmedical practitioners shall lican National Conbe the ones who will have Gel SantoS-ReloS vention in July. to be punished for perIf Trump does not reach 1,237, he forming the abortion. Trump changed his position three times in a span of may have to hurdle a contested conventhree hours, raising doubts about his tion, where the party will implement rules that may nominate another canpolicies. Trump was also hit hard for his for- didate, despite him winning the most eign policy position when he said coun- number of states. Democratic Party tries like Japan or South Korea should be Bernie Sanders’s victory in Wisconsin allowed to build nukes to protect their own security, a policy that negates the is his seventh win in the past eight prigoal of the international community to mary contests over front-runner Hillary make the world safer by aiming to make Clinton. This victory may continue to
Commentary
RiGobeRto tiGlao AND I won’t even discuss her lies regarding the point in her life when she stopped being a US citizen, and when she established this country as her domicile, as my colleague Kit Tatad has already compressively written about that. What is scandalous in Grace Poe-Llamanzares’ high ratings in voter-preferential polls is that those who choose her don’t even know who she really is. All they know is that she’s the adoptive daughter of a once-upon-a-time action hero, she’s the comely mestiza next door, talks well, and says things voters like to hear. We don’t even know much about her husband Neil Teodoro Misael (“Neil) Llamanzares, who would obviously play a key role in her administration. What exactly, year by year, was Neil doing in the US? What is his precise job and where is he now? In contrast to her, we know a lot about Vice President Jejomar Binay, Rodrigo Duterte and Manuel Roxas, as they have been in government service for more than two decades, whose lives consequently have been under public scrutiny one way or another. This is not the case with PoeLlamanzares, who suddenly popped up in the Philippines after her adoptive father died, and the vengeful, petty President Aquino later making her the chief film and TV censor in some perverse gratitude that her father ran in the 2004 elections against
give Sanders the momentum to win in the delegate-rich state of New York on April 19, which may snowball to California and other states. Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York, but Hillary Clinton has made New York her adoptive state. She owns a home there and has served as senator before she was appointed Secretary of State by President Barack Obama. Through Clinton has kept the lead over Sanders in New York, such lead has been diminishing, and may turn the table toward a Sanders victory. Political analysts say if Sanders continues to win in the remaining states with at least 60 percent, he may have the chance to overtake Clinton’s delegate lead and reach the 2,383 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. If Sanders falls short of the major-
ity vote, he may still potentially prevent Clinton from getting the magic number 2,383, which means they both go to a contested convention. Part of Clinton’s lead in the delegate math is the heavy support she has been getting from superdelegates (party-elected officials, not ordinary voters). Bernie Sanders’s strategy is to convince these superdelegates to shift their votes to him if the voters of states they represent choose Sanders as their nominee. ABANGAN! *** 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
Candidate Poe is an inveterate liar
her whom he hates intensely but inexplicably – Gloria Arroyo. That her adoptive parents were thespians should alert us. Actors and actresses have that knack, which we, ordinary mortals, don’t have, of pretending to be somebody other than one’s self, which is both the definition of acting and lying. Poe obviously learned that skill as she starred in a few movies with her father when she was a kid. If you have observed how the motherly and calm Susan Roces suddenly took the role of an angry wife rousing the masses after her husband lost in the elections, you would know what I mean. An actor’s or an actress’ skill is that he or she could be surrounded by cameras doing the most personal things, yet act as though the lenses were not there. Poe certainly demonstrated that skill when she was deep in worship during the recent Holy Week, but didn’t mind at all the cameramen surrounding her, their cameras nearly bumping her face. Even Poe’s official website gracepoe.ph is scanty on details and exaggerates things too much, that they become outright lies. The 13 years she spent in the US since 1991 were described in just one sentence, really: “She moved to the US to join her husband in 1991. There, she taught geography and math to preschool children, then worked in the scientific technologies field until 2004.” What she claims she taught is so hilarious, really: she “taught geography and math to preschool children.” What? Did she teach at Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters of X-Men fame,
where genius-toddlers study geography and mathematics? She’s obviously lying, and she hasn’t denied posts on social media that she applied for certification to teach in preschool but failed the exams. She was merely an assistant to a certified preschool teacher, and her job was just to watch over them and play with them, a glorified nanny. That she worked “in the scientific technologies field until 2004” is such a stretch of her actual experience that it becomes simply a lie, unless she is a genius who got a political science degree, yet worked in “scientific technologies field.” One fawning article on her reported that she worked “as a procurement liaison with the United States Geological Survey in 1998 and as product manager for CSC Scientific.” Going by her track record of exaggerating things, I would bet that what she called “procurement liaison” is really a purchasing clerk. Why doesn’t she make public her job descriptions issued by these entities, which are common documents issued by companies to their staff? CSC Scientific, a company selling equipment to measure moisture, according to its website, is a company with a staff of only nine, excluding clerks and cleaners, of course. There is no “product manager” in its staff. The position, which might fit this job description, is called “Product Specialist” and there are two of them, one being Tam Nguyen, who is of Vietnamese ethnicity and has been with the company since 1989. The CSC website does list a
Llamanzares still there, Michael Llamanzares, described as everybody’s back-up, “the go-to guy for questions regarding invoices, credit references, or payments.” Michael is Grace’s brother-inlaw, who, I was told, was responsible for getting Grace into CSC Scientific as his assistant. I am, of course, not demeaning such low-ranked jobs. But to elect a President who would have the biggest role in determining the fate of 100 million souls with such limited work experience? Poe’s experience wouldn’t even get her a supervisor’s job at SM or a mayoralty post in some godforsaken town. We will be the world’s laughing stock if Poe ever wins the presidency: somebody who renounced her citizenship to become a US citizen, who then renounced her American citizenship to run for the presidency. In any other nation on the face of this planet, and include there the most illiterate and the poorest, such candidate would be immediately thrown out as a political and cultural aberration. There has been no nation on the face of this earth whose President was once a citizen of any other nation. Poe has the temerity to seek the presidency only because she knows that as in her case, nationalism is at its lowest point in our country, and for many, citizenship is just for convenience. What has become of our country, when somebody like Poe, who renounced being Filipino and has so little work experience, could even be considered for the presidency, and has even become the leading contender? Grace Poe demonstrating her acting acumen, behaving as though there were no cameras (ManilaTimes.net) surrounding her.
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 8-14, 2016
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BIR: Panama Papers could prompt tax probe DFA removes PH map from new passports by Prinz
Magtulis Philstar.com
MANILA—The so-called Panama Papers can serve as guide to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in its tax investigations, the agency’s chief said. “I have not read the Panama Papers yet, but if ever, it is a guide for the BIR where to look to determine if there is any tax liability or not,” Commissioner Kim Henares told The Star. While there have been no Filipinos named in the “Panama papers” contrary to earlier reports, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) is expected to release details in the coming days regarding personalities and institutions that have moved their wealth to tax havens. In 2013, ICIJ released a separate investigation into offshore holdings, including those of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, her three sons, and Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito. Henares said the Panama Papers provide another reason for the Philippines to revisit its laws on bank secrecy and anti-money laundering. Current laws, she said, include tax breaks that are “available to the rich to avoid payment of taxes.” “We should lift the bank secrecy law for tax purposes to make sure there is a way for the BIR to monitor people to comply with their tax liabilities, make tax evasion a predicate crime for money laundering and rationalize fiscal incentives,” she said. The global report, which has sparked investigations by governments from Europe to Asia, comes at a time when the Philippines is trying to deal with its own money laundering case involving $81 million. Hackers—allegedly Chinese— stole the amount from the Bangladesh Bank account in the US Federal Reserve. The money ended up in spurious accounts in the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and later in casinos in Manila. Senate hearings on the case resumed. The Anti-Money Laundering Council has yet to complete its own probe. Nestor Espenilla Jr., deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said banks are required to have “enhanced” know-your-customer (KYC) regulations when dealing with shell companies. These entities, according to the ICIJ, acted as “shadow companies” for personalities such as
“I have not read the Panama Papers yet, but if ever, it is a guide for the BIR where to look to determine if there is any tax liability or not,” Commissioner Kim Henares told The Star. Philstar.com photo
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to hide their wealth from tax authorities. “This means more than the normal KYC for both the entity and the beneficial owner, upon account opening,” Espenilla said in a separate text message. “After account opening, transactions of high-risk customers such as these entities are subject to constant monitoring by banks for unusual activities,” he added. On the government side, Henares reiterated the importance of exchange of information among different jurisdictions, which naturally fear getting blacklisted and thus are likely to be cooperative. Currently, none of the 132 members of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information is on the blacklist, although countries are in different stages of implementing automatic information exchange. The Philippines, through Republic Act 10021 of 2010, allows tax information exchange, but only with prior request from an interested country. Henares sits as vice-chair of the multilateral group drafting the treaty on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS), which would give governments more power to tax cross-border and online transactions. The Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP), the industry group of tax practitioners, said earlier a BEPS treaty could help track down wealth in tax havens once implemented. TMAP president Benedict Tugonon batted for lower income taxes supposedly to deter people
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER. United States and Philippine officials link arms during the Balikatan opening ceremonies on Monday, April 4. US and Philippine troops began major exercises on Monday as China’s state media warned “outsiders” against interfering in tense West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) territorial disputes. (L-R) Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Foreign Undersecretary Evan Garcia, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Armed Forces chief Gregorio Pio Catapang, and Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, US Exercise Deputy Director.
US-PH Balikatan exercises begin as China issues warning by ian JaMotillo AJPress
THE United States and the Philippines began the annual “Balikatan” exercises on Monday, April 4, after China issued a warning against “outside interference” in relation to the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Over 8,000 US and Filipino troops, including 80 Australian forces, will participate in the 11day war games dubbed as “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder), from April 4 to 15. The military drills will involve several intense exercises including simulation events, an amphibious landing and strengthening the combat skills of the soldiers. “The Balikatan exercise is designed not to address a particular concern but the whole lump in the spectrum of warfare,” Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Philippine military exercise director, said in a news conference. China’s state media, Xinhua, recently reported about the Chinese government warning outsiders entering the disputed islands in the South China Sea, which the country is claiming. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter is scheduled to visit the Philippines next week to observe the annual Balikatan exercises and monitor several US navy ships. He will be the first top US defense official to observe
the war games after the two allies started holding joint military exercises. Carter’s visit concurs with the implementation of a new military agreement between the two countries, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and will be highlighting this year’s Balikatan. “Our alliance is strong. The United States is committed to this relationship and these are not empty words.... peace in Southeast Asia depends on our cooperation,” Lieutenant-General John Toolan, commander of US Marine Corps forces in the Pacific told Philippine media. He also added that the exercises would help the allies improve maritime security and maintain regional stability. The ongoing territorial dispute includes several islands in the South China Sea namely the Paracels Islands, the Pratas Islands, Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands. Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the waters, in which the Philippines has sought international arbitration on the disputed islands. Major General Rodolfo Santiago, assistant exercise director, however, said that the drills were designed to practice “generic scenario[s]” and were not targeted toward any specific country, in the midst of China’s aggression in the South China Sea. n
and companies from hiding their earnings abroad. “Lowering personal income tax rates in the Philippines may encourage Filipinos to voluntarily report their foreign income... or transfer their legitimate investments abroad to the Philippines,” he said in a text message last Monday. But Henares rejected this. “I think if it is just lowering tax rates, mathematically, it will result in lower tax collection,” she said. “I believe the basic complaint of people is that the compensation income earners are paying more than the businessmen and the rich. Therefore, lowering tax rate will not answer this,” she added. Meanwhile, Ejercito said his being accused of keeping offshore holdings was a “rehashed issue” dredged up by his political enemies. “It always crops up during the election period,” he said, referring to the ICIJ report. “I don’t deny that (ICIJ report). Before I became a politician, I was a businessman first and that was 20 years ago – that is outside politics,” he said. Ejercito said he found it baffling that of the 500 individuals found with suspicions offshore accounts, only he and members of the Marcos family were mentioned in the ICIJ report. He claimed a political foe who is a “mining magnate” could be behind the release of the report. “They have their own law firms, PR firms... so if they want to demolish us they can,” he said. (With Non Alquitran)
by EstrElla
torrEs Inquirer.net
THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has removed the illustration of the Philippine map from the new design of the electronic passport (e-passport) to be released next month due to the “political sensitivity” of the issues surrounding the South China Sea. Foreign Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Frank Cimafranca told the Inquirer: “We had to remove the map because the issue (of the territorial disputes in the South China Sea) is politically sensitive.”
The interagency meeting that evaluated and approved the passport design decided to remove the map because it did not accurately reflect the extent of the Philippine territory as defined in the Constitution. The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei all have claims to islands and atolls in the South China Sea west of the Philippines. The Philippines has filed a case against China’s encroachments in the arbitral court in The Hague. Cimafranca said the e-passport was redesigned in order to upgrade its security features.
The microchips imbedded in the passport were upgraded to ensure secure travel for Filipino travelers. The new security features such as the Intaglio secure printing technology are in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Technology (ICAO) of the United Nations. The new passport, a copy of which was shown to the Inquirer features the lyrics of the national anthem and illustrations of tourist spots like the Banaue rice terraces and icons like the Philippine eagle on its pages.
COLD CASH. Philippine and Bangladeshi officials pose with the money turned over by casino junket operator Kim Wong. Wong returned P38.28 million to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Monday in addition to the $4.63 million he surrendered last week as part of the funds stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh central bank. ManilaTimes.net photo
A
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 8-14, 2016
CJ
Journal
Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves RAfAel toRRes, III And nAncy e. MIlleR AS the world continues to suffer from tumultuous conflicts and wars, there are people in many countries who are victims of persecution and might desire to seek safety outside their home country. The United States accepts applications for asylum or refugee status from those people fleeing their home country due to their fear of persecution based on specific protected grounds. The process of applying for, and receiving, asylum or refugee status is complicated and constantly evolving. Thus, any person potentially interested in seeking asylum or refugee status should consult a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney to navigate this path to relief. The terms asylum and refuge are not interchangeable. They refer to distinct avenues of relief based on the location of the person applying for relief. If the applicant is outside the United States, they would apply for refugee status and their application would be adjudicated while the applicant remains outside the United States. If the applicant is within the boundaries of the United States, the person would apply for asylum status and their application would usually be adjudicated while the applicant remains inside the United States. Employment authorization may become available to the applicant for asylum if their asylum application remains pending before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) for a requisite period of time. One year after having been granted asylum, the asylee may apply for a green card. The protected grounds upon which a claim for asylum or refugee status may be made are the same for both programs. There are five, and they are: 1. Race, 2. Religion, 3. Nationality, 4. Membership in a Particular So-
Recent developments in asylum cial Group, and 5. Political Opinion. An applicant may base their claim in one or a combination of the above-enumerated protected grounds. To illustrate, we can consider the following hypothetical. An indigenous person is on their way home from a religious ceremony and suffers a violent attack. During the attack, the persecutor(s) makes racist and derogatory comments about the indigenous person’s race and threatens the indigenous person with additional violence if the indigenous person ever returns to practice their religion. In the above hypothetical, the indigenous person might apply for asylum or refugee status based on a combination of the protected grounds of race, religion, and possibly membership in a particular social group of native indigenous persons. As can be seen in this relatively short hypothetical, possible legal arguments in support of the person’s claim may become quite complicated. One protected ground that has recently received attention from the courts is the protected ground of Membership in a Particular Social Group. On March 21, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit published a decision in the matter of Ramirez-Munoz v. Lynch regarding a claim of Mexican citizens about their fear of persecution based on membership in a particular social group of “imputed wealthy Americans.” In this case, the Court found that the proposed group was not cognizable. In other words, the group as defined was not recognized as a viable protected ground for a claim of relief in the form of asylum. This does not mean that a different definition for a similar group might not be valid particular social group. In another
venue, the Board of Immigration Appeals is currently accepting amicus curiae, also known as “friend of the court,” briefs on the issue of whether immediate family members, such as husbands and wives and their children, can be considered a cognizable particular social group. Amicus curiae briefs are those that are submitted by a person or a group who is not involved in the case pending before the court, but who has a strong interest in the subject matter of the case and desire to influence the court’s decision. The nuances within each possible claim need careful analysis in order to provide the best chances for success. In addition, the evidence submitted in support of the claim must be strong enough to persuade the asylum officer that the applicant has a well-founded fear of harm if they return home. It is important to remember that immigration law is constantly in flux and a claim that might not have been viable in the past may well be approved under current law. Any non-citizen who fears being harmed if they return to their home country should consult a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney to determine if they are eligible to apply for asylum. *** 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)
engines for sustained and inclusive growth.” These agencies include the DTI MANILA — Government agen- which serves as lead coordinating cies have vowed to step up ef- agency, Board of Investments, forts in implementing programs Department of Labor and Emthat would spur the resurgence ployment, Department of Energy of the country’s manufacturing (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA), Technical Education sector. The Department of Trade and and Skills Development Authority Industry (DTI) said key agencies , National Electrification Admininvolved in the Manufacturing istration (NEA), National Power Resurgence Program (MRP) have Corp. (Napocor) and the Philipcommitted “to double their ef- pine Coconut Authority. Following a meeting last week, forts in vigorously implementing programs and projects that will the DTI said the MRP-implementpropel the country’s manufac- ing government agencies agreed turing sector to further upgrade, to work closer in pursuing more thrive and become catalysts and projects seen relevant and critiby richmonD
s. mercurio
Philstar.com
cal to the manufacturing industry’s growth and development to become globally competitive. “The growth of the manufacturing sector has been very encouraging especially in the last five years. With this as the ongoing trend, there is high probability that the growth of the manufacturing industry will be sustained in the coming years,” Trade Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba said. The MRP aims to improve the existing capacity of industries, strengthen new ones, and maintain the competitiveness of industries with comparative ad-
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Villar’s cemetery business to raise P787M from IPO by Doris
Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net
BUSINESSMAN Manuel Villar Jr. is bringing his group’s memorial park business under Golden Haven Memorial Park Inc. to a stock market debut. Based on a regulatory filing at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Golden Haven plans to raise as much as P787 million through the sale of 74.117 mil-
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APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
Community Journal
California divorce 101
The CTV Files Atty. LiLLi B. BAcuLi ALL we need is love, says a love song. Love will keep us alive, says another. Unfortunately, real life is not a threeand-a-half minute power-ballad love song. Love and marriage in the real world involves trying to put order in the chaos of work, maintaining a home, and raising a family all the while maintaining the relationship between husband and wife. Sometimes, divorce happens. The following seeks to address or clarify some common misconceptions about divorce. “What if my husband/wife does not want to sign the divorce?” or “My husband/wife does not want to sign the divorce papers, what can I do?” California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) or, in some instances, to get a judgment of divorce. Perhaps the confusion lies in the part where the other party (your soon-to-be ex-spouse) needs to be served with process. In proceeding in an action for divorce, there are procedural requirements dictated by law that must be followed to ensure that the other party has notice of the action (that is, that s/he is being brought to court for an action of divorce) and that s/he is given time to respond. However, there is no
requirement for the other party to respond. There is no requirement that s/he sign any document at all. All that needs to happen is that s/ he is properly served with process according to the rules. “What? I have to share my retirement earnings? This is mine, I worked hard for it!!” Generally, all of your assets prior the marriage is just your own separate property. However, California is a community property state and so once you get married, all property acquired during marriage is community property. And if anything out of the community property is used towards separate property, the community might turn out to have a claim on part(s) of separate property. Separate property are “all property acquired before marriage; all gifts, bequests, devise, or descents. All property acquired or exchanged with traceable separate property; and all property acquired after separation.” “S/he is the one who left our family. I shouldn’t have to pay support.” Again, California is a no-fault divorce state. There is no assignment of blame or fault; fault does not factor in the equation in the issue of support. Some of the factors that the Court will look at to determine whether there is basis for support, and if so, in what amount, are – length of marriage, age of parties, if there are minor children in the marriage, income of both parties. “I’m smart enough to handle my own divorce. Why do I need an attorney?” You don’t need an attorney. There is no require-
ment that you must have an attorney. However, in cases involving issues such as domestic violence, custody disputes, child support, spousal support, and division of community property assets it would be wise to seek advice from a licensed and experienced attorney so as not to waste your time and money, not to mention the court’s time and resources, especially when you have to keep going back to court because of incomplete or missing documents that could have been addressed from the very beginning by a competent and knowledgeable attorney. Not all divorce cases are the same. It is important to be properly informed about your rights and responsibilities under California law in divorce proceedings. The wrong advice or information can and will hurt you, and waste your time and money. Consult a licensed and experienced family law attorney to help you navigate through your divorce. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. 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 in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 4958088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys. com. For general information visit www. chuatinsayvega.com.
DAy OF VAlOR
Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration and exhibit THE Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, Bataan Legacy Historical Society and Memorare-Manila 1945 Foundation invite you to Day of Valor / Araw ng Kagitingan on Monday, April 11 at 8:30am at The Philippine Center, Kalayaan Hall, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco. The event is a commemoration and opening exhibition on World War II and the 74th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan in the Philippines. Don’t miss this special exhibit which will run until April 29, 2016. For more information, contact: The Philippine Consulate at (415) 433-6666 ext. 313 or e-mail cultural@philippinessanfrancisco.org. BLHS at edgar@bataanlegacy.org / www.bataanlegacy.org. n
Foreign investors still keen on PH Impact of money laundering case seen minimal
by Doris
Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net
BUSINESS and accounting guru Washington Sycip said on Monday, March 4, that the money laundering case that has now become a global spectacle has not curbed foreign investors’ appetite on the Philippines. He noted that a bancassurance partnership between Germany’s biggest insurance firm Allianz and the 20-percent buy-in of Japanese banking giant Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in Security Bank were still consummated despite the controversy on the entry of dirty money to the banking system that ended up in the local casinos. “That clearly shows foreign investments have not been affected,” Sycip said. Sycip added that he had great respect for the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. “It’s not only for what he has done in the Philippines but compared to any other central bank governor, he has done a fantastic job,” he said. Asked whether he would support calls to ease the bank secre-
cy law to better combat money laundering, Sycip said he would advocate for “whatever Tetangco feels is good for the country because he has done so well for us now.” Sycip said that he was also hoping that the Filipino nation would elect an “honest” president this May in order to continue attracting foreign investments. Sycip, who is turning 95 this year and still advises many of the country’s biggest corporations long after retiring from local accounting giant SGV that he co-founded, hasn’t picked any presidential candidate to support. The SGV founder said he already knew Sen. Grace Poe and her father Fernando Poe Jr., who had consulted him when he ran for president two elections ago. Sycip said he also knew Mar Roxas very well. He noted that he would like to meet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to discuss his advocacy and education agenda. “I’d like to meet Duterte. I recently got an inquiry from Duterte through his intermediary,” he said. As a personal advocacy, Sycip has set aside all the funds he
could afford—totalling $1 million to date—to help educate poor people, working with the likes of Synergeia Foundation and the microfinance group Card Inc. led by Jaime Aristotle Alip. Typically, for business service firms that expand outside of Manila end up having big operations in Cebu. But in the case of SGV, he said SGV now had a bigger office in Davao than in Cebu. “They say that the businessmen in Davao are all for Duterte and if they are caught speeding, they have to pay (fine for violating speed limit),” he said. As far as leadership was concerned, Sycip said that based on the experience of Singapore under the city-state’s former President Lee Kuan Yew, “western democracy may not be the best for emerging market countries.” “We have all the freedoms we might say but in terms of per capita income everyone has passed us except Laos and Cambodia. Even Vietnam will pass us,” he said. Asked whether he thought someone like Duterte could be a Lee Kuan Yew, Sycip—who personally knew the late Singaporean leader—said the latter was
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http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
Powerful lessons from China’s richest man
The Kite Runner Prof. EnriquE M. SoriAno (Part 1 of 2)
LAST week was a relatively tough but gratifying week for my family as we were practically living in a suitcase for 6 nights while traversing Osaka, Manila and Hong kong. My Family Business coaching work in Japan and a speaking engagement in Hong Kong to celebrate Julie’s Bakeshop’s 35th Anniversary were the highlights of the twin overseas trips. While in Hong kong which is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, I decided to research on the success lessons of Wang Jianlin, China’s newly minted Richest Billionaire with a fortune of $40.7 Billion. Wang is almost 4X richer than our local taipan, mall king Henry Sy. In a Business Insider report, Wang Jianlin, a former People’s Liberation Army soldier who is now a real estate mogul and the world’s largest cinema chain operator, is the richest person in China and he’s caught in a riches race with Hong Kong business magnate Li-KaShing to become the wealthiest man in Asia. Wang, born in Sichuan Province in 1954 just after the Communist revolution, spent the first few decades of his life in anything but luxury. In 1970, Wang entered the military, where he remained until 1986 when he took a city government job in the city of Dalian in Liaoning Province. Wang became chairman of Wanda in 1989 at age 35. His fortune more than doubled following successful public offerings of his real estate firm Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties, which has 125 shopping plazas and 68 five-star hotels, and Wanda Cinema Line, one of China’s largest movie theatre chains. According to a Forbes Magazine report, Wang bought 20 percent of Spanish soccer team Atletico Madrid and purchased the US organizer of Ironman Triathlons for $650 million. Wang’s Dalian Wanda Group purchased US movie theatre chain AMC Entertainment Holdings for $2.6 billion in 2012 and took it public in December 2013. His Wanda Group teamed up with the Auchan Group to invest 3 billion euros, or $3.3 billion, in a business and entertainment center in Paris. The project will be the largest ever in France by a China company, and will include an indoor and outdoor theme park, stage show, hotels, and business and conference centers. The French investment is part
Wang Jianlin
of an aggressive push by 60year-old Wang to move Wanda beyond its roots in China’s real estate business. The company has in recent years expanded into entertainment, particularly film and sports, and committed billions of dollars to overseas investments. The project in France will be located next to the Charles de Gaulle Airport, about 10 kilometers from downtown Paris. Some 14,000 jobs will be created once the facility begins operation. Wang’s recent book, a compilation of public speeches entitled “The Wanda Way,” claims to give an inside look into his managerial philosophy and the values that turned his company into a giant conglomerate with big global ambitions. Here are some nuggets of advice from Wang as detailed by Sophia Yan in a CNN report: 1. Get tough in the army Wang joined the Chinese military as a teenager in 1970. His gruelling training involved epic marches that took the soldiers through “knee-deep stretches of snow.” He recalls, “We were deprived of everything. In the snow, we had to dig our own hole to spend the night. Anyone who faltered could forget about being chosen to move up that year, or earning your Exemplary Fighter award.” This experience built his “teeth-gritting spirit and a desire
to fight until the end,” he says. Wang suggests there’s a direct relationship between a military background and success, pointing out that many top Chinese entrepreneurs previously served in the military. 2. Differentiate and innovate, like Starbucks “The first key is to understand how you can differentiate yourself from others and be innovative,” Wang said. “For instance, everyone knows how to sell coffee, but Starbucks redesigned the coffee-making process, innovated the business model and became a successful chain business.” Wang disputes the idea that only high-tech companies can lead the way forward -- “No matter whether you are in a traditional or an emerging industry, as long as you’re capable of innovating the existing business model, you can reap super profits.” (To be continued next week) ***
Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor and Chair of the Marketing Cluster of the ATENEO Graduate School of Business. He is a National Agora Awardee and book author on Family Governance and Succession. He wil be facilitating one of his best selling 1 day workshop in the Philippines on September 19, 2014 Friday, entitled The Challenges of Managing a Family Business at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. For further inquiries please visit www.wongadvisory.com or contact Allen at 09228603186 for details. Slots are limited.
CARING FOR OUR HEROES
Learn about caregiving resources for seniors & veterans and the legacy of WWII in the Philippines With special guest AARP Community Ambassador Major General (ret.) Antonio Taguba
THE Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS), in collaboration with AARP CA, the Filipino American Communities/Veterans Associations of Union City, Daly City, Vallejo and Sacramento, is proud to present “Caring for our heroes,” a series of caregiving events with AARP Community Ambassador Major General (Ret) Antonio “Tony” Taguba. General Taguba will speak about caregiving and veterans issues as well as the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project. These events are free and open to the public. Light Refreshments will be served on each occasion. Schedule of events are as follows: • Saturday, April 16, 2pm - at the Union City Hall Council Chambers, 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, CA 94587 • Sunday, April 17, 1pm - at Holy Child & St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 777 Southgate Ave., Daly City, CA 94015 • Sunday, April 17, 5pm - at the Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building, 420 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Vallejo, CA 94591 • Monday, April 18, 6:30pm at
Major General (Ret) Antonio “Tony” Taguba
the Filipino American Veterans Memorial Hall, American Legion Post 604, 8831 Gerber Road, Sacramento, CA 95828 Maj. Gen. Taguba will discuss the challenges facing caregivers around the country. These events will provide opportunities for caregivers and veterans to learn about local resources and organizations that can help them take care of their loved
ones and themselves. Maj. Gen. Taguba will also speak about the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, which aims to educate the public about the Filipino soldiers who fought during WWII and to seek recognition of their sacrifices through the Congressional Gold Medal Award. Cecilia Gaerlan, Executive Director of Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS), will speak about her organization’s work with the California Department of Education to implement California Legislation AB199, which aims to include the role of the WWII Filipino soldiers in the history/social sciences curriculum framework for Grade 10 and 11 in California. For more information for each event, please contact: Jim Navarro (Union City) at jimnavarro6@gmail.com Rev. Leonard Oakes (Daly City) at revleonardoakes@gmail.com Nestor Aliga (Vallejo) at nestor. aliga@comcast.net Richard Weitzenberg (Sacramento) at richard@weitzenberg.org. n
Villar’s cemetery business to raise P787M from…
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lion new common shares at a maximum price of P10.62 per share. Golden Haven proposed to be listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange. Asian Alliance Investment Corp. was mandated by the Villar group as issue manager and lead underwriter. Golden Haven intends to use the proceeds to fund its acquisition, growth and expansion strategies, expand existing death care facilities, working capital and other products and services. It is also planning to develop existing memorial parks, pursue more land acquisition and construct new memorial chapels and crematory facilities within the Golden Haven Las Piñas Park.
Golden Haven was established in 1984, initially operating on a two-hectare lot in Las Piñas. It opened another memorial park in Cebu in 2003, in Cagayan De Oro in 2008, Zamboanga in 2009, (Santuario de San Ezekiel Moreno) in Las Piñas in 2011 and Iloilo in 2013. Based on its website, it plans to open another memorial park in Bulacan. Golden Haven described its parks as “lush with verdant greens and manicured lawns on rolling terrains” and “dotted with acacia trees that bask in the warmth of the sun” in order to provide “quiet solitude” to grieving families. Villar is among 11 billionaires from the Philippines who made it to Forbes Magazine’s roster of
wealthiest people on the planet. A real estate magnate and a former senator and presidential aspirant, Villar focused on growing Vista Land & Lifescapes (VLL) after losing to President Aquino in the 2010 presidential elections. The 65-year-old businessman has an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion. Recently, the Villar group consolidated its shopping mall arm Starmalls with flagship Vista Land & Lifescapes. The memorial park business under Golden Haven is among the privately held businesses of the group. The Villar family also has retailing businesses (department store chain AllHome, convenience store chain All Day, fashion store AllShoppe), schools and hospital (VitaCare). n
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Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ MANY people may be guilty of attempted “alien smuggling” and not even realize it. They may also be totally unaware of the harsh or drastic consequences to themselves and the rest of their family if they are caught. A person could be committing alien smuggling by claiming a grandchild or “given” child (whom they raised since birth), is their biological child when applying for a US visa. The law defines alien smugglers as: “Any alien who at any time knowingly has encouraged, induced, assisted, abetted, or aided any other alien to enter or to try to enter the United States in violation of law . . .” Some people have the misconception that smugglers are only those people who are paid to sneak people into the US across the borders, in boats, etc. This is not true. A person can be guilty of alien smuggling, even if he is just attempting to bring in his own family member! Some examples of alien smuggling would include: An aunt who buys a fake birth certificate from Recto Street, making her the “biological mother” of her niece or nephew. She then tries to petition that niece or nephew as her own child. A grandmother files a fake birth certificate, making her the “biological mother” of her grandchild, but she never formally or legally adopted the child. A woman is “given” a child, and, at the time of the child’s birth, she is “timely registered” as the biological mother. She raises the child since birth and
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA WE all have known of friends, family and complete strangers who passed away quite unexpectedly over the course of our lifetimes. There seemed to be no warning signs. All the deep, dark emotions of shock, grief, denial and finally, calming, quiet acceptance must have washed over those left behind like a devastating tsunami wave as they come to grips with the finality of death. No one is exempt. Death does come like a thief in the night. And in many life stories, mercifully so … They were there one moment, living, breathing, smiling and so full of life. In the blink of an eye, they were gone. And just like that, it was over. It leaves one with a profound sense of mortality – that final end game. We derive comfort in knowing that those we know of and care about may have lived good lives and are now free of all the pain and strains of human bondage. Death, after all, makes it possible to finally come home. And yet, while we are alive and kicking, most of us who are aware of our own mortality must strive to make the most of our lives. We try to make each day count. We try to live purposeful
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Lifetime ban for ‘alien smuggling’ for including a ‘given’ child considers the child “her own,” but never bothered legally adopting the child before the child’s 16th birthday. She then petitions the child as her own child, or includes that child as a derivative beneficiary under a petition filed on the “mother’s” behalf. This is also alien smuggling. Most times, the Embassy will suggest DNA testing. Sometimes, a person who has been petitioned by a family member, such as a brother or a sister, includes a kumpadre’s child among his derivative beneficiaries, by claiming that child as his own. (When a person is petitioned by certain family members, the person’s spouse and minor children could be included for green cards, as derivative beneficiaries, when the priority date on his petition becomes current.) People try to “add on” children to enable the kumpadre’s child to get a green card, as a favor to the kumpadre. The Embassy takes a very strict position when it comes to alien smuggling. They believe that people who are entitled to visas, should get visas. But, people who are not entitled to visas, should not get visas. When the Embassy finds out somebody is attempting to sneak a relative or other person into the US by claiming they are the biological child, the Embassy denies a visa not only to the person being smuggled, but also to the person under petition. This could also affect the rest of the family under that petition. No one gets a visa. In one case, a mother had been petitioned by her US citizen daughter. The mother tried to list her nephew as a biological child in her biographic data. The Embassy found out and considered this to be alien smuggling
and denied a visa to the citizen’s mother, because she attempted to smuggle an alien. So, by attempting to list her nephew, the woman lost her own visa. Alien smuggling could even result in a lifetime ban from entering the US. If you have already submitted paperwork to the USCIS or Embassy improperly listing or including ineligible persons (i.e. nephew, grandchild, given child who was never legally adopted, etc.), I would strongly recommend you seek the advice of a reputable attorney who could analyze your situation and, hopefully, straighten things out, before it’s too late. The stakes are high. Don’t have the attitude that, “I’ll just give it a try. If the Embassy catches me, the worst that can happen is that the person I’m helping won’t get the visa, but I’ll still get my visa.” That is not the case. If you are caught, you could also lose your own eligibility for a visa! *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
Retooling coping techniques 101 I’ve used up all my sick days, so I’m calling in dead.
— Graffiti
lives as best we can. But it is not always easy. It seems we are always at the throes of uncertain times. Can anyone remember a time that was not uncertain? Most of the things that weigh us down or at the very least, ruffle our feathers, will come from within us, from our own heads and hearts, as we process the external world from one day to the next. Oftentimes, our bodies simply follow the lead. If we recognize this mind-body-spirit dynamic, perhaps we can retool the coping skills we need to adapt to tough, troubling times and still come out whole. The mind-body-spirit connection is real. How often have we heard of this about stress? It is not what we eat but what is eating us. Stress is a silent killer. It is not unusual to read or hear about people in the prime of life— sixty, fifty, forty and even thirty year old men and women who drop down dead without warning because of strokes or massive brain aneurysms—the body’s reaction to unrelenting stress that typically characterize
modern life. There are increasing numbers of horrific news accounts of ordinary people who felt they have reached the end of their ropes. Driven by severe depression and complicated by addictive drug intake, many end up killing themselves. Sadly, there are increasing numbers who murder their families in one fell swoop before killing themselves. Whatever the circumstance, murder is never the answer. There are a few simple stressbusting techniques we can adapt and perhaps, give us a few more good years out of life. Become a presentist. Learn to focus on the present to savor the joy of the moment. Regretting the past and worrying about the future only increases stress. For as long as we are alive, stress is like a chisel that is meant to shape our characters as real human beings. The most adjusted people have learned to deal with their own stresses. When life becomes too stressful, find a quiet place to pray and meditate. Jesus Christ, the Son
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not just tough but likewise very bright. He said he didn’t know much about Duterte, except that he had a law degree, but hinted he was wary about him declaring he had so many wives and girlfriends. When investors ask him about Philippine elections, Sycip said he would tell people that the local elections were “better” than the US elections, which he said were harder to understand. “I ask them not to worry about the elections in that sense,” he said. “As long as you have an honest President you will get investments,” he said. After the Marcos dictatorship was toppled in 1986, Sycip said Cory Aquino was herself honest but being away for so long, didn’t have enough good people to appoint to her Cabinet. “She wasn’t successful as many of the people put in her Cabinet didn’t have integrity.” In the case of President Aquino, Sycip said he was not aware of the President giving in favors or accepting bribes to approve a project. He said this was “unusual” compared to the stories that had come out before Aquino’s term, he said. Many of the reforms undertaken during the outgoing administration, he said, would not likely be reversed after the May elections. However, he said he would wish for more decentralization of power in the country. n
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 8-14, 2016
FAKE TOURIST VISA RESULTED IN BEING SENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AND LATER JEOPARDIZED HIS IMMIGRANT VISA DUE TO FRAUD– ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY.” Johnnatan (second from left) got a tourist visa through a newspaper ad that advertised “Non-Appearance” visas for $2500. He entered the US in 2002 without any problems, but when he returned in 2003, he was held at the airport and sent back to the Philippines, after US Customs and Border Protection accused him of using a fake or counterfeit tourist visa. That meant a possible lifetime ban. Years later, his mother’s petition became current, and he was afraid how his fake visa would affect his and his daughter’s chances of immigrating to the US. Watch how a family was able to overcome a fraud charge and be reunited, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy – this Sunday April 10 at 6:15pm (PST) on TFC.
Calendar of Events across
America
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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.
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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 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.
JUNE 4
Missionary Society of St. Columban Dinner-Dance
Washington Sycip
PH government firms back… PAGE CJ1 t
vantage. It also seeks to buildup agriculture-based manufacturing industries that generate employment, and support small-holder farmers and agri-cooperatives through product development, value-adding, and integration
to big enterprises for marketing and financing purposes. Among DTI’s ongoing MRP projects are the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy Program, Die and Mold Making and Design Training, and the Philippine Rubber Investment and Market Encounter. n
The Missionary Society of St. Columban will hold its annual dinner dance event on June 4th, 6PM, at the Friendship Auditorium (3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90941). Organized by the Dancing for the World, an affiliate of the Columbans, will celebrate the “Year of Mercy” to echo and emphatically support the call of Pope Francis’s Jubilee Year. This year is very important to be responsive to the call of the church and be faithful to the mission of God because God is by nature merciful. Thanks to the many dedicated missionaries, priests, sisters and lay missionaries who responded to the call of God and live among the poor to make a difference and allow God’s mercy to flow into the hearts of those they minister. For more information, please visit www.columban.org. The Dancing for the World event on June 4 is also an opportunity to meet supporters, donors and friends to thank them for their valuable contribution to the Columban mission. Event will include delicious food, ballroom dancing, and fabulous raffle prizes. (For this year, the first prize will be a cruise for two to Mexican Riviera. The second prize is a Flat screen TV. The third prize is a Tablet.) There are many amazing prizes available for all lucky winners. The dinner dance ticket is $40.Reserve your tickets now or before May 15. For information and tickets please contact Carmencita Enriquez (213) 880-5075 or Ariel Presbitero (323) 691-5262, or at: 2919 Moss Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Thank you in advance on behalf of the Missionary Society of St. Columban and the Dancing for the World committee members. Please continue praying for all Columban Missionaries all over the world and the success of this event.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
Business news
PH urged to tap new markets by Lawrence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
MANILA— The Philippines needs to tap new markets to diversify risks brought about by uneven global economic growth and at the same time intensify support for droughtresistance crops due to the impact of El Niño, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said there is a need for the Philippines to tap membership in free trade agreements (FTAs) to access new markets. “Given this development, the government should tap al-
ternative sources of inputs to diversify risks brought by uncertainties in the international economy. The country can tap membership in FTAs to access new markets,” he said. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima has been pushing for the inclusion of the Philippines as well as the entire Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the US-led TransPacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Beltran, who is also the chief economist of the Finance department, pointed out the continued increase in capital goods imports despite the lackluster
global trade suggests robust manufacturing ahead. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the country’s total merchandise imports jumped 30.8 percent to $6.82 billion in January, a rebound from the 13.1 percent contraction recorded in January last year. This is the fastest growth since November 2010. Imports of capital goods posted a remarkable surged 80.4 percent year-on-year amounting to $2.57 billion. Meanwhile, minerals, fuels and lubricants contracted by 6.8 percent year-on-year as
Peninsula Family Service is now recruiting volunteer counselors for Spring training
THE Senior Peer Counseling program is offered by Peninsula Family Service in San Mateo County to adults age 55 and older. Volunteer counselors are trained older adults who share similar experience, values, wisdom and culture. Graduates have reported that they have learned a lot for themselves that they are able to relate not only to clients, but to their families and friends as well. Why volunteer? If you have an aging parent, relative, or friend and you wish to learn the facts and challenges of aging and the many things that occur in this process — what to do or how you can help - you might consider becoming a senior peer counselor. You can make a positive difference in the lives of others. A special bond is developed when volunteers can speak their native tongue – by sharing their values, wisdom and culture. Aging isn’t always pleasant and easy. And these “kababayans” (fellow countrymen) face loneliness due to loss of loved ones or loss of health. Some have family problems or are experiencing culture shock, especially those still unfamiliar with life and goings-on in the new country. Besides offering a supportive ear these volunteers offer help to those needing assistance with regards to the many resources available to them in the San Mateo County, such as food, work, health, legal assistance, housing – to name a few. Still others simply are unable to share with family members their worries in
EMPLOYMENT
life, both in the U.S. and in the Philippines. Listening is the one important and simplest aspect of the counseling program. Volunteers are not licensed, like those that have degrees and experience in social work. We are allies and guides to those who need emotional support and guidance. With our peer counseling, those people who are hesitant to allow someone to “listen” to them are now more comfortable meeting with a peer counselor who shares a similar background and experiences. Many Filipinos are still afraid to come out and seek support, although it is free and confidential. Confidentiality means that all things discussed are only between the
clients and counselors. Training starts May 3, 2016 through June 8, 2016 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at the offices of Peninsula Family Service at 24 Second Avenue, San Mateo. Topics include: Aging in America, Effective Communication, Mental Health Challenges, Working with Diverse Cultures, Understanding Loss, Ways to Work with Clients, among other related issues. Counseling is offered in English, Filipino, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and LGBTQ community. For additional information: Call Ofie Carpio Albrecht at Peninsula Family Service – 650.403.4300 ext 4363 or email: oalbrecht@ peninsulafamilyservice.org. (Ofelia Albrecht)
EMPLOYMENT
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Dubai crude oil prices dropped 41.2 percent due to continued softening of oil prices in the world market. Electronic inputs remain the top import which accounts for 32.4 percent of total imports jumped 67.1 percent to $2.21 billion in January while metal products gained the highest year-on-year growth increase of 73.9 percent implying robust electronics exports and construction. Beltran also stressed the need to intensify support for drought-resistant crops as rice imports jumped 80 percent in January as the government continues to take precautionFinance Secretary Cesar Purisima ary measures amid the con“The country’s scientists that are less water-intensive,” tinued dry spell brought by El may need to look into varieties he added. n Niño.
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of God, was stressed too and He would always find a place to be by himself and pray, specially when he has ministered to the crowds, teaching them, healing them and feeding them by the thousands. He would slip away and pray with a few of his apostles. As a God-man, he needed to recharge his internal batteries with prayer and meditation. And so should we. The best times are in the early morning hours when no one is stirring—not even the mouse. Hie off to a quiet corner and get your bearings straight for the day. Listen to the silence as it quiets your mind. Imagine your mind as a blank computer screen with your stresses in teeny tiny bundles which you then drag and drop into a mental trash bin and emptying it out into the netherworld of cyberspace. Poof — all gone! It is astonishing what this quiet half hour can do for us in the quality of our physical and spiritual life each day. Take a break in the middle of a workday. Eat a light, balanced lunch — without hurrying, preferably with good company you enjoy. Slow down deliberately. Find the humor in situations and laugh often. Laughter and exercise produce endorphins in our brain that make us happy and healthy. Once in a while, try taking a nap during lunch breaks instead of eating. Machines need to power down. And so do we. Downtime is just as important in recharging one’s batteries. Hold your calls. Carpe diem! Be ready to admit it when you need help. At the root of the most serious problems is foolish,
foolish pride — hubristic pride, being the worst of them all. The fallen angels had this kind of pride. The ego will prevent us from asking for help — effectively dragging us to a whirlpool of denial until stresses and problems have us on a stranglehold. It takes courage and humility to finally admit that we need help. When we get down on our knees and humbly ask for the grace and the strength to finally snap out of it, seek help as soon as possible. It can be our spouse, a friend, a professional or someone we can trust to help us sort out our problems and support us in doing something constructive about them. Deep emotional or psychological problems are the worst burdens for they can weigh us down and seriously threaten our entire wellbeing and also affect the lives of those whom we care about. Unload the burden of a heavy heart. Allow time to mend and heal a broken heart or it will bury us six feet deep. Know thyself. Gauge what we can and cannot do, both in our personal and professional life. Do not set unrealistic pie in the sky goals. We can choke ourselves to death when we bite more than we can chew. Resist overextending ourselves. The mortgage crisis is caused by millions of borrowers overextending themselves and the financial titans allowing such foolishness to go unchecked. Each human being is created for a specific purpose in life. He who finds his purpose early enough and fulfills it saves himself from unnecessary and unwanted frustrations and crush-
ing disappointments. Filter the messages that bombard us daily. The constant barrage of messages and suggestions from songs, news, features and advertisements from the media and the internet is designed to make us feel inadequate so that each one of us as a consumer will buy a product or service. We can listen, if we have to, but we must always think for ourselves. Give no one the power to even suggest we are unworthy or inadequate as human beings who need to buy something in order to feel whole. Media and the internet serve a purpose—for good or ill. Together, they are a potent force and we will all do well to keep it at bay. Use self-editing filters, because media agenda-driven messages have the most awesome power to influence thought, feelings, self-image and behavior. There is always the MUTE OR OFF button. We are still the BOSS. Knowing what we can do within our own set of circumstances will save us a lot of angst from wanting to do that which is beyond our capacities. When we begin to relax and REFUSE to be driven by the ego, it is uncanny how life permits us to naturally flow into that glowingly wonderful state of peace and contentment, where our abilities fit with WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND more importantly, WHAT WE HOPE TO BE, like a hand in glove. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
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Commute.org Launches 2016 Commuter Challenge Rethink your commute … and be rewarded!
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Commute.org is pleased to announce the 2016 Commuter Challenge, this year’s campaign to reward commuters who choose transportation modes other than driving alone. Between April 1 and May 31, people who join the challenge and commute to, from or through San Mateo County solution. “Eliminating a few solo Edge Cycling computer, $400 using an alternative mode will be driving trips each week is an REI gift card or Fitbit Surge GPS eligible to win weekly prizes and easy way for commuters to make watch) at the end of the chalone of five grand prizes. a positive impact,” said John lenge. Traffic on San Mateo County Ford, Commute.org’s Executive For more details, visit www. roads and highways is at an all- Director. Driving less will reduce commute.org. time high. Not only does traffic GHG emissions while also helpCommute.org is San Mateo waste time and money for com- ing to relieve congestion on the County’s transportation demand muters, but it also contributes to roadways. “Together, we can management agency. Its primary poor air quality. According to the make a measurable difference objective is to reduce the numBay Area Air Quality Manage- to reduce our carbon footprint,” ber of single-occupant vehicles Shawne Lopez, Melissa Jabonera, Alan Wang, Zeb Smith and director Christopher Wong answered questions from the audience after the world (SOV) in San Mateo County, premiere of “Be About It.” Photo by Joseph L. Peralta / AJPress ment District (BAAQMD), nearly Ford added. 70 percent of the Bay Area’s carBy signing up at my.commute. thereby reducing traffic congesbon monoxide comes from mo- org, and adding their commute tion and improving air quality. tor vehicles, which are also the alternative trips, registrants will Commute.org is funded by the greatest contributors to ozone in be entered to win one of the fea- City/County Association of Govthe Bay Area. tured weekly prizes (Fitbit Alta, ernments of San Mateo County, The 2016 Commuter Chal- Timbuk2 bag, wireless earbuds, the San Mateo County Transporlenge encourages people to use gift cards and more). Participants tation Authority, the Bay Area Air Shawne added that the for- public transit, shuttle, carpool, also earn a chance to win one of on the project, but in finding by Joseph peralta Quality Management District and AJPress people who wanted to tell their mation of a support group living vanpool, bicycle, walk or tele- the five grand prizes ($300 Clip- the Metropolitan Transportation story of living with hepatitis B. with hepatitis B would be help- work, and be part of the traffic per card, GoPro Hero, Garmin Commission. n “BE About It,” a documentary He particularly wanted to honor ful, especially since in the Asian directed by Christopher C.C. the memory of AJ Jabonero, Pacific Islander community, peoWong, which follows the lives of and make sure that “people are ple tend to be introverted when Bay Area reporter/news anchor changed by his example and it comes to diseases afflicting family members due to shame Alan Wang and athlete AJ Jabo- what happened to him.” The director hopes to bring and embarrassment. “There are nero as they navigate living with hepatitis B, was screened at the “Be About It” to the LA Asian so many people out there who CAAMFest last March 13 in San Film Festival, to the DC APA feel so alone because they can’t Festival, and to festivals in New talk about it to their sister, their Francisco. The 39-minute documentary York, San Diego and other parts aunts, their cousin. Hopefully, as the generations come in and we gives a glimpse of the lives of of the country. For Melissa Jabonero, AJ’s get to talk more, we can start the Jabonero and Wang as they go through their daily routines with widow, seeing the film was emo- dialogue and make the change their families, and shows the tional and at the same time ther- within our culture and talk about things that we need to talk struggles, the emotional turmoil apeutic for her. Melissa hopes that the docu- about,” she explained. and the triumphs experienced Fiona Ma told the Asian Jourby Wang on one side, and the mentary brings down walls and courage, determination and pas- educates people. “I hope this film nal that the documentary was sion for life shown by Jabonero breaks down the stigma that just “powerful,” and that it will “go who passed away after battling because someone has Hep B you a long way in telling audiences can’t be around that person, you that it is important to know your liver cancer. Prior to the showing of the can’t live a normal lifestyle, which status, that not everybody is testdocumentary, Fiona Ma, anoth- is not true because we lived a ing so you have to take control of er Asian American afflicted with normal, everyday lifestyle,” she yourself and your body and ask hepatitis B and who has become said, while adding that she hopes your doctor to get tested specifithe face and spokesperson for the film will motivate people to cally for hepatitis B.” According to Ma, it is importhe San Francisco Hep B Free get tested and to know where tant to go to the right specialcampaign, addressed the audi- they stand. Shawne Lopez, AJ’s sister who ist. She revealed that there are ence. Alan Wang; Melissa Jabo- herself has hepatitis B, said she medical professionals who don’t nero, AJ’s wife; Shawne Lopez, felt said so many emotions see- even know about hepatitis B in AJ’s sister; director Christopher ing the final version of the film: this day and age, and who may Wang; and producer Zebediah sad and heartbroken seeing how give someone an incorrect test. BOOK AUTHOR WITH IMELDA. Emmanuel “Jolly” Riofrir, author of the coffee table book “Imelda: Unpublished Photographs of the Former Smith came on stage to an- hepatitis B affected her brother Ma says she now has a liver doc- First Lady of the Philippines,” presents a copy of the book to the book’s subject, former First Lady now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez swer questions and give their in the film, but also proud that tor who knows the disease, un- Marcos, during a visit at her Makati apartment on March 8. For inquiries or to purchase the book, please call Emmalie Books Inc. at (818) thoughts after the premiere of the film showed how her brother derstands how to test properly 383-9081 or visit its website at www.emmaliebooksinc.com. used his struggles and life les- and would help her if anything “Be About It.” ever happens. Interviewed by the Asian Jour- sons to help others. Ma agreed with Lopez’s asLopez revealed that for a while nal, director Wong said he was approached by GILEAD Sciences it was hard for her to talk to other sessment about the need for a in 2014 to make the documentary people about living with hepatitis support group. “I love that idea!” about hepatitis B. He had decid- B except to medical practitioners she exclaimed. “I’ve had people ed early that he wanted to focus after experiencing a negative, approach me thanking me and on the people who suffer from it hard reaction from someone she crying that they thought they were an outcast, that they could and the families that are affected was seeing before. Although having children was not have relationships… they by it, and was glad that he was given the freedom to make the a concern for her, Shawne, who were scared to go out because documentary as he envisioned it. has a 3-year-old son, said that it they just didn’t know. That’s With the film, Wong hopes that was lucky for her that they live been the stigma for so long… viewers will recognize that those in Alameda County where a case people do get scared when they who suffer from the disease are worker followed up with her and know you have hepatitis B. Havjust like them. “They’re not peo- made sure her son was inoculat- ing a support network is an excellent idea.” ple who live deviant lifestyles...it ed against hepatitis B. (For more information on “I hope this film starts a lot doesn’t affect just certain people but it can affect everybody,” he of dialogue about hepatitis B… hepatitis B, please visit www.sfsaid, while adding that it is easy bringing a lot of awareness to hepbfree.org. You can also talk everyone… that we need to talk to your doctor and/or healthcare to get tested and screened. Wong revealed that the chal- about it and not be ashamed of provider on getting tested for hepatitis B.) n lenge for him was not in taking it,” Lopez said.
‘Be About It’ documentary brings Hep B awareness front and center
San Mateo County has first confirmed case of Zika virus SAN MATEO, Calif. — On Friday, April 1, the San Mateo County Health System received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that a San Mateo County resident has tested positive for Zika virus. The individual was infected with Zika virus while traveling abroad and is now fully recovered. No transmission of the disease took place in the United States, and there was no risk of the virus spreading to the local community from this case. To protect patient privacy, San Mateo County is not releasing further details about the confirmed Zika case. “There is no reason for the general public to be concerned that they are at risk for getting Zika in San Mateo County at this time,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County Health Officer. “Zika virus is not circulating in our County and the few cases in California to date resulted from contracting the virus while traveling abroad. Taking precautions when traveling, based on CDC guidelines, is the best means of protection from Zika.” The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by two species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Zika virus is spread when a mosquito bites a person who has an active Zika virus infection and then bites another person. At this time there is no record of such a transmission occurring in the United States. The Aedes mosquito is mostly found in tropical countries, which currently include American Samoa, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cu-
racao, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. While not native to San Mateo County, Aedes mosquito larvae were identified in Menlo Park in May 2015 by the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District. The District has been working to eradicate these mosquitos since first detecting them, and has been successful in their efforts—keeping the Aedes population very small and preventing their spread beyond Menlo Park. For more information visit www.smcmvcd.org/ zika. “Although there is no evidence in California of mosquitoes carrying Zika virus or of illnesses associated with the Aedes mosquito, people should always take
steps to avoid mosquito bites,” stated Dr. Morrow. “This includes wearing insect repellent when necessary and removing standing water around homes and properties to keep mosquitoes from breeding. Residents should stay current on international travel alerts for countries where Zika virus is circulating, particularly women who are or may become pregnant.” San Mateo County Health System’s Communicable Disease Program staff issues updated advisories to local health care providers with information on how to identify and test for Zika virus. For more Zika information and the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/zika. For more San Mateo County Health System Zika information, visit www.smchealth.org/zika. n
CJ
APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150
Friday, April 8, 2016
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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - April 8, 2016
Pin@y Educational PartnErshiPs: Helping students understand race beyond skin color by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe/AJPress
Founded in 2001 by Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales and her students from San Francisco State University (SFSU) Claudine Del Rosario, Kimmy Maniquis, Gwen Agustin, tracy Buenavista, Ivan Santos, Jeff Ponferrada, Mark Bautista, Perci dela Cruz, Maricel Elacio, Christine Bernard, Christopher Rini and Anjela Wong; PEP started as a lunchtime mentoring program at Balboa High School in San Francisco. From the conversations with PEP Summer Retreat last August 8, 2015 at Skyline College in San Bruno. students came out issues like Photo by Dr. Roderick Daus-Magbual high rates of dropouts, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, gang violence and mental health understand ourselves and to transform our communities. Our issues, as well as identity, low hope is to grow our own leaders numbers of Filipino/a teachers to serve in the communities they and faculty representation as are from and to transform our well as in the curriculum, and a world towards positive social fractured sense of community. change,” he said. From there, Dr. Tintiangco-CubA pathway to learning our ales and her students organized heritage, culture workshops to address these The Philippines’ relationship issues and develop solidarity. with the US involves colonialism “PEP has infludenced both starting with our own educaour Filipina/o and non-Filipina/o tional system. Patterned after students to understand race American schooling, our own and racism beyond skin color,” social class system emulated said Dr. Roderick Daus-MagAmerican values, norms and bual, Director. We unpack, standards. with our students, the systemic “The American educational oppression that have affected system served as a training generations of Filipinas/os and Filipina/o Americans through the ground for Pinays to become Filipina/o American Studies. This nurses as early as the Philippine American War to contempoincludes: teaching our students rary times. As a result of this about the indigenous ways of being, the trauma of colonialism, phenomena, we created a family expectation for generations and the struggle and survival of Filipinas/os and Filipina/o stories living in America.” Americans for them to enter Adding that it is more than just having a Filipina/o teacher in the medical field, specifically in nursing,” explained Dr. Dausfront of the classroom, Dr. DausMagbual. “The medical field Magbual said that teachers are symbolized success and financial trained to go beyond contributsustainability for many Filipina/o ing, but to also question tradiAmericans and for some, it was tional historical curriculum. the expectation for their children “We curtail our curriculum, pedagogy, and teaching to think to become nurses or doctors. (L-R) Dr. Roderick Daus-Magbual (Director of Program Development), Dr. Arlene Daus-Magbual (OrganiThe options for children enterabout power, oppression, and zational Director), Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales (Founder, Director of Community Responsive Curriculum ing college towards studies decolonization as a means to Development & Teacher Training) at PEP TIBAK Retreat June 26, 2015 at San Francisco State University.
WHEN one thinks about teaching the Filipino culture and heritage, we immediately expect dancing the tinikling or bringing lumpia into the classroom. In reality, being Filipino is deeper than that. Apart from celebrating historical Filipino figures or important dates, it is about connecting Filipino-American history and how it related to contemporary social issues. Pin@y (Pinay/Pinoy) Educational Partnerships (PEP) is a service learning program that has been using that connection to students since 2001.
PEP at the SFUSD Board Meeting on the vote for Ethnic Studies last December 9, 2014 in San Francisco. Photo by Jeremy Keith Villaluz
P@P milEstonEs IN EDUCATION: PEP played a significant role in institutionalizing Ethnic Studies in SFUSD PEP was influential in Ethnic Studies courses becoming an A-G certified course and HS students can receive college credit via Steps To College program. PEP continues to serve as a resource and network for teachers and programs across the nation who teach Ethnic Studies. PEP came out with two educational resource books for teachers, student, and community organizations in developing Filipina/o American curriculum, pedagogy, and sample lesson plans. (http://phoenixpublishinghouseinternational. com/) PEP co-published a book with Dr. Allyson TintiangcoCubales and San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) on critical language for elementary students focused on Tagalog. (http://phoenixpublishinghouseinternational.com/) PEP Teachers contributed in developing the Filipino Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) curriculum Pathways at Longfellow Elementary and Bessie Carmichael Elementary School where students learn Tagalog. Served the K-Doctorate students over the past 15 years. 214 PEP Teachers over the past 15 years. 23 PEP Teachers at the Doctorate Level 130 + PEP Teachers have gone on to various graduate programs ranging from Masters programs in education, Teaching Credential Programs all over California, school counseling, social work, law, creative writing, and history. Many PEP students have pursued higher levels of education and are engage in community and student activism. in the arts, social sciences, or education is like a path to the unknown. The lack of Filipina/o Americans in those fields, the question of financial stability, and how popular culture rarely views the teaching profession in a positive light, creates a sense of uncertainty for many Filipina/ o immigrant parents to support their children towards education.”
This is why PEP supports many undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in education by legitimizing their academic and professional endeavors, said Dr. Daus-Magbual. He also added that their organization provides them with a sense of community, teacher training, mentorship, practice and networks. Continued on Page SF5
entertainment SF3
Carol Banawa’s ‘Bakit Di Totohanin’ featured in ‘Vampire Diaries’ The long wait is over: GMA reveals who The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – April 8, 2016
The classic song “Bakit Di Totohanin” popularized by Carol Banawa was used in one of the scenes of the hit US supernatural series “Vampire Diaries.” In episode 716 of the said show, the song played in a scene featuring elizabeth Blackmoore (Valerie) and Paul Wesley (Stefan). Banawa expressed her gratitude to the showrunners on Instagram. “They have aired it already!? #thevampirediaries used my song in one of the scenes for the episode 716. It was a scene between Stefan
will play major roles in ‘encantadia’
and Valerie? They used, “BAKIT DI TOTOhANIN”? I am in disbelief right now but very grateful!” she said. She also thanked the show’s music supervisor Chris Mollere,
actor Ian Somerhalder and the show’s cast for featuring her song. The song was first released in 1997 under the album “Carol.” (Inquirer.net)
Cristine Reyes tries something different in new flick by Dolly
Anne cArvAJAl
Inquirer.net
MARRIAGe and motherhood suit Cristine Reyes well. It shows in her glow. Although she’s already content in the domestic front, the hot mama still yearns to soar more as an actress. Cristine tries something different in her new movie by Viva Films, “elemento.” The supernatural horror drama is about a mother (portrayed by Cristine) experiencing creepy things after her son comes home from a school field trip to a forest. After making our jaw drop with her curves, now Cristine is out to send chills down our spine. here’s my chat with Cristine: How do you balance being a mother, wife and an actress? I always make it a point to have time for my family every Sunday. Our routine is always going to church in the morning, then have lunch with family. Then, [my hubby] Ali (Khatibi) and I would have our date night. How has Ali redefined love for you? Ali showed me the true meaning and value of love. he taught me a lot of things I never knew. Love is not just something that can make you smile or make you
Cristine Reyes (right) with Albert Silos in “Elemento.”
happy. Love, for me now, has a deeper meaning. It’s a never-ending cycle of giving and forgiving. And you know that you can only do this to someone you truly love. Tell us the latest about your baby, Amarah? Amarah is a very curious, expressive and happy baby. She loves to interact with people, especially kids. We took her to Thailand recently. It was her first time out of the country. When she is old enough, what love advice will you give her?
I’m not really the expert when it comes to love but, as her mother, I have to try to give her the best advice I can give about love. She shouldn’t rush into it and make sure to listen to me and Ali. How has marriage and motherhood changed you? I became more patient and selfless. What can your fans expect from your new film? It’s so intense! It will give you an adrenaline rush. What are your tips on how to be a hot mama? No tips at all. Just be a mom! By that, I mean take care of your family and everything will be OK. Live, and love your body. Big or small, you just have to own it and don’t mind the people around you. As long as you’re happy and comfortable with your body … [it will give you] the best feeling. What’s a misconception about you that you want to correct? There are many things that I can say and misconceptions I can correct. But I’d rather not say anything at all. It’s better this way. The only thing that matters to me are the people who truly care for me and my loved ones.
Sanya Lopez, Gabbi Garcia, Kylie Padilla and Glaiza de Castro are the new Sang’gres in the remake of the 2005 popular fantasy-series “Encantadia.” by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com
The long wait is over for the “encantadia” fans as the newest Sang’gres have been revealed. On Monday, April 4, Glaiza de Castro, Kylie Padilla, Gabbi Garcia and Sanya Lopez were named as the newest stars in the remake of GMA’s 2005 popular fantasy-series. Glaiza de Castro will play
the role of Pirena, which was portrayed before by Sunshine Dizon. Kylie Padilla is Amihan, a role played by Iza Calzado. Gabbi Garcia is Alena, which was portrayed before by Karylle. Sanya Lopez is Danaya, the role played by Diana Zubiri. It has been announced before that Marian Rivera will portray the role of Ynang
Reyna. Also part of the cast are Solenn heussaff, John Arcilla, Rocco Nacino, Christian Bautista, Pancho Magno, Carlo Gonzales, Buboy Villar, Kate Valdez, Mikee Quintos, Migo Adecer, Klea Pineda, Rochelle Pangilinan, Vaness del Moral and Ruru Madrid. The series is directed by Mark Reyes and will air soon in GMA.
Luis Manzano on Angel Locsin: We’re friends by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com
MANILA—Luis Manzano is in good terms with with Angel Locsin, despite having to end their relationship for the second time. They first broke up in 2009, got back together in 2014, and have again broken up again early this year. “We’re friends, yes,” he replied when asked how he is and Angel, in a recent interview on Monday, April 4. “I don’t want to add color. Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan namin we’re friends.” The two of them work together in the talent search show “Pilipinas Got Talent.” he admitted that at first there was awkwardness between them, which they eventually worked on. Asked if there’s any chance for them to get back together
for the third time, Luis chose to keep mum. “Let’s not talk about that. Nakakahiya naman kay Angel, especially wala naman siya dito, baka isipin nagagamit siya for the promo,” he said. “Less talk, less mistake, parang gano’n sa industry na
‘to,” he added. however, if there’s one thing he learned from his recent breakup, Luis said that’s “to live life.” “Life’s too short not to be lived, and I think that’s what happens with every relationship,” he said.
Seafood City opens in South San Francisco
Daly City Councilmember Mike Guingona (left) and Daly City Vice Mayor David Canepa present Seafood City with a certificate of appreciation. Receiving on behalf of Seafood City is Steve Go (middle).
SeAFOOD City Supermarket, a major player in the oriental market industry in the United States, held a soft opening for its 6th store in Northern California on March 31, 2016. Located along Callan Blvd. and Westborough Blvd., Seafood City will host iconic brands associated with the Filipino American market, including Jollibee, Chowking, Valerio’s, Red Ribbon, Lhullier, PNB, Atlas, Grill City and Crispy Town, along with other select establishments offering customers a variety of services. Customers lined up as early as 8am in anticipation of the store opening its doors for business at 9am. The first 100 customers who registered for the Suki Card, a rewards program offered by Seafood City, received a $5 gift certificate. Points accumulated via the Suki Card, which is given free to customers who apply for it, can be used to pay for groceries. Customers also earn points via purchases with partner vendors of Seafood City. Successful Community Night Two days prior to its soft opening, the management of Seafood City held a by-invitation-only Community Night designed to introduce the company and the brands/services that will be present at the location. hosted by ABS-CBN’s henni espinosa, the Community Night featured short remarks and brief presentations from Seafood City Marketing head Mildred Smith, South San Francisco City Mayor Mark Addiego, Gawad Kalinga’s Maricel Villanueva, ABS-CBN’s Jun del Rosario and Raffy Lopez, Consul Reginald Bernabe of the Philippine Consulate, Daly City Vice Mayor David Canepa and
South San Francisco Mayor Mark Addiego puts on special commemorative pin from their city on the lapel of Steve Go’s suit.
Councilmember Mike Guingona, and April Veneracion Ang from the office of San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim. Mayor Addiego, who thanked Seafood City in his remarks for investing in the space, told the Asian Journal that “the neighborhood has a viable, pleasant space to come to locally without driving to other parts of the city or out of the city. Mr. Go has done us a wonderful favor to revitalize this SSF Mayor Mark Addiego addresses the audience. corner of Westborough in South Filipino culture is promoted. It allows our community and other San Francisco.” communities to connect with The Mayor is encouraging residents of SSF to drive uphill to one another through food, an important and binding element visit the Seafood City complex. in any gathering – be it Filipino “We have many markets in or otherwise. Through food, South San Francisco. But this is brand new, it’s fresh, there’s a lot and food in cultures, we learn to appreciate and bond with each of prepared foods… Nowadays other better and bridge our gaps as busy as we are, having these types of food choices, along with and differences. “In this, Seafood City proves the fresh food, is the new trend,” itself true to its vision of being the he said, even as he remarked that their city has been the start- place to gather and feel like you are in your home. A home that ing point in the past for retail provides generations opportunigrocers who have successfully ties to appreciate and connect grown their business many-fold. For his part, Consul Bernabe with our heritage and our motherland.” read a message from Consul The program was interGeneral henry Bensurto Jr. which in part said, “Today’s store spersed with musical performances by the St. Augustine’s opening highights once again the example set by Seafood City Children’s Choir (led by John and Carmina Paes, choir presidents), in showcasing empowerment through Filipino American entre- Sina & Mark Davis, and violinist Corey Crywolffs. preneurship and in fostering the ‘Filipino Town’ spirit of community, connectivity In an interview with the Asian and continuity. Seafood City is Journal, Mildred Smith disclosed an example of the profile of the that this space is perfect for their present-day Filipino American needs as Seafood City does not – forward-looking, determined, open only a supermarket but dynamic and hardworking. We carries with them brands like are not just gainfully employed, Seafood City proves that Filipino Chowking, Jollibee, Red Ribbon, PNB, Atlas, Valerio’s and Lhuillier. Americans also provide gainful Seafood City had to do a maemployment to other members jor renovation to this strip mall, of the community. which many had considered to “Seafood City is no ordinary be sad-looking and rundown. supermarket or place to eat; “This is a totally from the it provides a venue by which
A symbolic ribbon cutting ceremony was held during the event.
Singer Sina Davis leads the St. Augustine’s Children’s Choir in singing he Philippine national anthem.
Seafood City Marketing Manager Mildred Smith (left) welcomes guests with Balitang America’s ABS-CBN’s Raffy Lopez (6th from left) and Seafood City’s Carlos Go (7th from left) pose with invited guests Henni Espinosa, who served as program host, and ABS-CBN officials at the event. during the Community Night.
Seafood City Supermarket offers fresh produce plus a wide variety of grocery items that cater to the Filipino lifestyle.
ground up renovation… the size of the building stayed but we raised the roof so it looks more airy. And we joined two buildings because we don’t want the other Filipino brands to be separate… we want the space to contain everyone,” Smith revealed. According to Mildred, this complex can be classified as a first-of-its-kind Filipino town in that this location contains iconic brands and/or Philippine companies that set up shop in the US, as well as home-grown companies catering to the Filipino lifestyle. Whether visiting a dentist, remitting money, buying medicine, eating different types of food or buying groceries and household items, Smith says customers have their choices of
Customers will see a varied selection of fish and meat at Seafood City.
services visiting the Seafood City complex. “everything that is of Filipino interest, everything that caters to the Filipino lifestyle, it’s all here,” she said. “We can be the single destination for people. In fact, people can stay here for an entire afternoon because of the varied services offered in this complex – you can remit money, buy medicine, eat, buy groceries and other products.” Smith says this place will have an appeal to every member of the community. “To the older generations, it feels like coming home because everything you miss, we have here. If you want to reconnect with your heritage, it’s here. To the younger generation, if you want to find out about your roots
– what your mom or lola loves to eat or do – it’s still here. This place actually invites family reunions… it’s the feeling of being home without spending for the airfare,” she said. “The culture is here… it’s alive here. If you go around the store, as you will see in the dropdown banners, these single out Filipino values and culture like bayanihan (camaraderie), indak (dance), kaibigan (friend). This is an opportunity, not only for Seafood City and its vendors, to be a shining example of the Filipino culture,” Smith added. (Seafood City in South San Francisco is located at 3573 Callan Blvd. Visit www.seafoodcity. com for promotions and store locations.) *Advertising Supplement
SF4
celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - April 8, 2016
celebrity world By Ferdie Villar
SInGeR and actress Sarah Geronimo finally cleared the rumors that she’s already engaged and living with boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli. In an interview with push. com, the Popstar Princess denied that she’s already engaged. “Maraming naglabasan. nagli-live in na daw kami, buntis daw ako at engaged na kami. Wala, wala,” she said. In an interview with Pep. ph, she further explained her current relationship status, saying that although both she and Matteo are of the right age, marriage still has to wait. She, however, revealed that she hopes to settle down in her early 30’s. “Tumatanda na ako,
Sarah Geronimo denies engagement, remains tight-lipped about rumored rift with mother
magti-treinta na ako, malapit na. “Yan naman, kahit minsan gustuhin natin, pero pag hindi pa talaga, hindi pa. Although she denied that she’s living with Matteo, she remains mum about reports of her rift with her mom, Divine. “Gusto ko gawing private yung ganyang issue. Okay lang ba na huwag na natin pag-usapan?” she asked the members of the press. *** Actor John Lloyd Cruz finally spilled the beans about the real status of his relationship with actress Angelica Panganiban. After months of speculation, he told the press that he and the actress have gone their Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo denied that she is engaged to boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli. She, however, remained tight-lipped about the rumored rift with her mother, Divine.
Actor John Lloyd Cruz has finally admitted that he and actress Angelica Panganiban have decided to go on separate ways. It could be remembered that back in January, rumors came out that the actor was romantically involved with long-time screen partner, Bea Alonzo.
Abigail “Larcy” Perez celebrated her 8th birthday with party hosted by her parents Anthony and Vangie Perez held last Saturday, April 2 at Chuck E. Cheese in Brentwood. Shown in photo with the celebrant are her friends and classmates. Statewide Realty and Financial Service Inc. proprietress Alice Gabriana Atienza (far left) celebrated her birthday recently. She is shown in photo with (L-R) son-in-law Tad Leong, husband Clod Atienza and daughter Sara Atienza Leong.
John Lloyd Cruz and Jennylyn Mercado star in Star Cinema’s upcoming romantic-comedy, “Just the 3 of Us” under the direction of Cathy Garcia-Molina. Jennylyn plays the role of Aqui, who claims that Uno (John Lloyd) got her pregnant.
separate ways. “Single na single,” he said. “Wala naman pong nagbabago.” Sometime in January, sources claimed that the actor is involved with long-time screen partner, Bea Alonzo. Filipino community leader here in the Bay Area Vic Barba (standing, second from left), who is also member of the board of directors for the US Ilocano National Association Inc., was one of the organizers of the annual Summer Sunday in the Park held recently at Coyote Point. Shown in photo with Vic are members of the organization.
The Children Sunday Choir of Saint Andrews Church in Daly City are shown in photo after their performance last Holy Week. (L-R) Trisha Cruz, Julian Esteron, Eren Padilla, Gabriel Hill, Joshua Castro and others.
however, John Lloyd insisted that they are just friends. “Kung meron naman [love life], parang magiging masaya ka naman para ipamalita,” he said in an interview. “Sa edad kong ito, ‘di ba kung sina JaDine nga umaamin, tayo pa? nakakhiya naman kung magde-deny pa tayo.” For now, John Lloyd is busy promoting his new movie, “Just The 3 of Us,” under Star Cinema with leading lady, Jennylyn Mercado.
Whatever happened Lea Salonga guests in US TV series season finale to Jessica Rodriguez?
a dance number at the wedding reception. In the episode directed by LOS AnGeLeS—As befits the McKenna, Rebecca’s and Josh’s relationship, as well as that of country’s no. 1 musical export, Rebecca’s and two of her friends, Lea Salonga will guest in the are severely tested. season finale of “Crazy ex-Girl“Lea sings an astounding solo friend,” the first prime-time series number that we wrote specifion mainstream US television to depict Filipino-American life, with cally for her!” exclaimed Bloom, who cowrites the show’s musical a large cast of Filipino actors. numbers. Rachel Bloom, the star and Bloom recalled being very cocreator of the groundbreakimpressed when she first heard ing comedy-musical series on the Tony and Olivier Award winCW network, revealed details of Salonga’s appearance on the April ning actress. She recalled, “The first time 18 episode to the Inquirer. The 2016 Golden Globe best I heard Lea sing was when she voiced Jasmine singing in ‘Aladactress in a TV series—comedy din.’ The first time I saw her peror musical—portrays Rebecca form was when she sang ‘On My Bunch, a harvard-educated Own’ on a televised broadcast of lawyer who gives up her higha live concert of ‘Les Miserables,’ powered new York job. Rebecca where she played the role of moves to West Covina, a Los eponine. I remember thinking she Angeles suburb where many Filihad the best singing voice I’ve pinos live, to pursue her ex-boyUS-based Jessica Rodriguez releases a self-help title on Amazon. friend from teen camp, Josh Chan ever heard.” Best time Woman: The Polished Woman’s (Vincent Rodriguez III). The name Jessica RodriOf her guest stint in LA, Lea “Lea Salonga is playing Josh’s guez still rings a bell in showbiz Guide to Love, Romance and Salonga said: “I really had the Aunt Myrna, the sister of his Sex” via Amazon.com, now circles to this day. To be sure, mom, Lourdes (Amy hill),” Bloom best time. It’s such a wonderful available for purchase. the former talent manager and family (the writers have) created, revealed. “She’s actually preparing actress who married triathand everyone is so nice to work She said, “We knew Lea was for a bigger launch soon,” lete David Bunevacz, will be both a musical theater icon and a with. Rachel is just a funny, generPizarro told The Manila Times. remembered for several conous, sweet human to be around Filipino icon so we were looking Apparently, Jessica found troversies, the most serious of with. good use of all her complex life to cast her in some role throughwhich was a high profile busi“Most of my scenes though out the season. When the writer’s experiences by writing them ness partnership gone wrong room started coming up with the are with Amy hill and Vince Rodrithat had them fleeing for safety down, with the message that guez,” Lea added. story for the season finale, Aline “even the wildest of dreams in the United States. Gube also wrote the series’ (Brosh McKenna, cocreator) and can become a reality.” It has been 15 years since Through her publicist, Jessi- Rene Gube (the episode’s Fil-Am Thanksgiving episode, which that painful day for the former marked the first time that a ca said of her new book, “I will writer) realized that a certain role celebrity, who according to mainstream TV show portrayed would be perfect for her.” be the first person to tell you her publicist Shirley Matias a Fil-Am family celebrating the Season finale that I never thought it was in Pizarro, has gotten over the American holiday in its own way, Gube penned the season me to write, much less author Beverly hills 6750 fiasco and finale which involves the wedding with dinuguan (pork blood stew) an entire book! Since we rehappily living with David and and all. sided in California, I have been of Josh’s sister, Jayma, played their three children still in the Bloom explained why the Filby another Fil-Am thespian, in search of my real purpose. US. The latest news about her Am community scene is familiar My relationships are always the Tess Paras. One of the episode’s though is that she is officially to her. “I was a little bit familiar best part of my life and I found stills shows Josh and three of a book author now, havwith Filipino culture before the I had it in me to inspire people, his friends in barong Tagalog ing released a self-help title, show through my friend Tess “Date Like a Girl, Marry Like A Continued on Page SF5 (traditional Filipino shirt), doing by Ruben
V. nepales Inquirer.net
Lea Salonga’s selfie with Rachel Bloom and Santino Fontana on the “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” set. Inquirer.net contributed photo
(Paras), whom I’ve known for many years. “We knew that Josh Chan should be Asian and, once we cast Vincent Rodriguez, we wanted to dig into the fact that he is Filipino,” she added. “We believe that creating good characters comes from exploring specificity, and one’s culture is a massive part of one’s identity and specificity.” The Los Angeles native, who also won a Critics’ Choice Television Award for best actress in a comedy series, said, “I have learned so much about Filipino customs and culture (while) doing this show.” Filipino elements She is grateful to Gube, who also acts in the show as Father Joseph, a Filipino Catholic priest nicknamed “Brah” by Josh. “Rene is an essential resource when it comes to the Filipino elements in this story,” Bloom acknowledged. “he is our Filipino ambassador. We really start getting into specifics about Filipino culture in episode 6, which was the first episode Rene wrote.”
She added: “every single Filipino specific in that episode is due to Rene. even little things were due to Rene, like when Rebecca talks to Josh’s aunt about frozen shrimp dinners. And, I know that he felt and continues to feel a massive amount of pride being the main ambassador for his culture in our show.” Recounted the series’ star: “When there was a shot demanding that my character stir the dinuguan, Rene pointed out that the dinuguan we had on set didn’t look real. We immediately cut the shot. It is very important to us that we represent Filipinos and their culture accurately.” Bloom pointed out, “It just goes to show that diversity in a writer’s room is essential to telling new stories.” The lack of diversity in hollywood is an issue raging in hollywood, especially in the weeks leading to the Academy Awards show, which critics denounced for its predominantly white and male nominees. “Crazy ex-Girlfriend” is being Continued on Page SF5
entertainment
Arnel Pineda takes ‘Rockville’ to the world
SF5
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - April 8, 2016
Ben Chan on AlDub as Bench endorsers: No-brainer by phoebe
Marquez Philstar.com
Arnel Pineda returns to rock stage with ‘Voyage To Rockville’ by Christina
alpad ManilaTimes.net
American pop rock band Namesake and Morgan Rose of Sevendust (inset) are Pineda’s special guests to his concert
fright will always have its benefit in pushing artists to give their FRoM performing in dinky hundred-percent in every perbars for small crowds with his formance, Pineda went on to cover band to stadiums and talk about how the idea of live arenas around the world for streaming first appealed to him. mammoth audiences, Arnel And it was more for giving budPineda has indeed come a long ding artists a boost in the right way since becoming American direction, rather than himself. rock band Journey’s front man “The first time I did this was in 2007. in 2013 at my bar Rockville in Now used to performing on Timog (Quezon City). My concept the stages of Quinta Vergara there was to help local bands to Amphitheater in Chile for 20,000 be live streamed via internet,” people; the Raymond James Sta- the successful singer recalled. dium in Tampa, Florida for 65,000; Besides giving rock music and the SM Mall of Asia Concert fans around the world a front-row Grounds here at the home front seat to an Arnel Pineda concert, for some 30,000 fans, the oPM what he describes as the “magiartist-turned-international rock cal place of Rockville,” where star admits there is still a venue he seeks to help others make that gives him the jitters. dreams a reality has, will reach “The ‘unseen’ online audithe farthest places around the ence,” Pineda spelled out as he globe. was reunited with the Philippine “Rockville is a land of reality press on Friday, to announce his and fantasy. It’s a land where, if upcoming concert at the Newmusic is your thing, it touches port Performing Arts Theater of your soul. It’s a story within a Resorts World Manila, dubbed “A concert,” Journey’s frontman Voyage To Rockville.” continued. And you guessed it right—the For the Newport concert of live production will be streamed course, imagine the Timog bar real-time around the world. show in grand proportions. And Acknowledging that stage indeed, performing as his guests
are quality acts from around the world, namely 2016 Grammy nominee for best live performance, Morgan Rose of the band Sevendust (acclaimed to be one of the world’s best drummers), and new pop rock sensation from America, Namesake. Produced by Sanre Entertainment, the online streaming of A Voyage To Rockville is priced at $14.95 at Sanrestreaming.com, with additional options for a delayed telecast at $9.95 (valid for a seven day period from the time of purchase); and VIP access at $24.95 for fans who wish avail of an autographed CD for Pineda as well as 8 weeks access to delayed telecasts.. Asked what kind of magic he has in store for his Filipino fans and the rest of the world, Pineda replied, “This will be the first time for me to mix a lot of original songs with cover songs that I’ve been doing for the past 30 year, including songs from Journey. It’s very nerve-wracking for me because I don’t know what the reaction of the audience will be, but at the same time I’d like to see that risk and see what happens.”
MANILA—The phenomenal loveteam of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, collectively known as AlDub, was recently launched as the newest product endorsers for the clothing and lifestyle brand Bench. AlDub Nation flocked to the Trinoma Activity Area and filled the event with deafening shrieks and screams of support, with some fans already lining up hours before the event. The hashtag #MaiChardforBench also trended on Twitter. Fans were treated to a Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards with Bench founder Ben Chan number of mini-games, as well as equally energetic dance Ben Chan told The STAR durproper, however, Alden and performances each from Alden Maine revealed that they have ing the launch event that “it’s a and Maine. But the kilig facno-brainer na kunin sila (to get a huge surprise for AlDub tor reached fever pitch when them as endorsers). FurtherNation in July. “Something Alden, while singing God Gave everyone has been waiting more, Chan described Alden Me You, was finally joined on and Maine as “very traditional for,” teased Alden. “It’s an anstage by Maine. They also Filipino.” niversary gift,” added Maine, talked about how thankful and “I think that every young pertaining to the birth of honored they are to be part of Filipino should look up to them AlDub last July 2015. the Bench family. The event culbecause they’re very downAsked why Bench chose Alminated with a meet-and-greet den and Maine to represent its to-earth even if they’re so with some lucky fans. successful. Their values are very products, Bench founder and Before ending the program Suyen Corporation chairman good,” Chan added.
Is Kendal Jenner ‘secretly dating’ Fil-Am Laker Jordan Clarkson?
A FEW days after her photos with one Direction lead vocalist Harry Styles at Saint Barths became widespread, rumors spread that Kendall Jenner is dating Fil-Am and Los Angeles (LA) Lakers point of school,” said Dr. Daus-Magguard Jordan Clarkson. bual and then added, “Ethnic According to People Studies should not be viewed Magazine, the supermodel was as a marginalized extracurricular spotted recently with 23-yearsubject area, but a necessary old Clarkson at The Nice Guy, a bar in West Hollywood. component to student learning “They have been secretly K-College. With the ongoing dating for months and they are fight to sustain the College of super into each other,” People Ethnic Studies at San Francisco Magazine quoted a source as State University (SFSU), we need saying. “He is super sweet and to support this struggle for cura total gentleman and Kendall rent and future students. loves that.” “As many schools in CaliforAccording to reports, it was nia and abroad adopting Ethnic none other than Kendall’s sister Studies classes and requireKhloe Kardashian who paired ments, educational leaders are looking toward SFSU College of Ethnic Studies for guidance and for future teachers. It is critical that we support this struggle for full funding of the college to advance Ethnic Studies scholarship, support, and space to cultivate Ethnic Studies teachers. As one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in California and in the United States, it is time for all Americans to learn how Filipinas/os were instrumental in construction of the American empire and our history should not just be a mere paragraph, sentence, or footnote in the US history books. It is time to step outside of the margins and center our experiences in the educational discourse.” For more information about Pin@y Educational Partnerships, log on to http://www.pepsf.org *Special thanks to Dr. Arlene Daus-Magbual for her assistance.
Pin@y Educational Partnerships... From Page SF2 “This is important because it allows PEP Teachers the experience to create curriculum, syllabus, lesson plans, and develop their pedagogy within the perspective of Ethnic Studies. PEP opens the world of education towards Filipina/o Americans where there is a lack of presence and to show students that education can be used as a tool for change. Teaching Filipina/o American Studies in PEP goes beyond learning important dates, historical figures, but to understand that his/herstory is alive, that it is relevant, and it is important to understand why the world operates in its current state. By providing our students with a culturally relevant and responsive education, they see purpose in what they learn, pathways towards action, and a family that supports their learning.” Although initial reactions from students about PEP are mostly how young the teachers look, that perception is quickly changed once they find out how creative, intelligent and profound they are. Immediately, students feel a sense of connection because they see teachers who look and speak like them. “To also have teachers who take the same bus lines, who are visible in the neighborhood, and especially those who went to the same schools,” Dr. DausMagbual explained. “Trust is developed throughout the se-
mester, but having teachers who have traveled similar paths of their students creates a special unspoken bond. It shows PEP students that they can see themselves in their PEP Teachers and that college is accessible.” At present, P@P is currently serving 220 students—from kindergarten to college, with 52 teachers weekly. They also have an after school cultural enrichment program at Longfellow Elementary school, an 8th grade elective course at James Denman Middle school, and an elective course at Balboa and Philip Sala Burton High Schools. PEP is also partnered with Step to College at SF State, Claudine del Rosario at USF and Dr. DausMagbual at Skyline College. Curently, PEP is celebrating their 15th anniversary as an organization this year. The organization also continue their work to develop their K-College pipeline to use Filipina/o American Studies as a way for the community to learn about themselves and transform the world. “...our his/herstories are powerful to understanding who we are, the issues that affect our community, and to become the change we want to see in the world. Filipina/o American Studies/Ethnic Studies should not begin when students get to college, but for our community to have educational access to learn about their experiences when they enter their first day
Whatever happened... From Page SF4 and actually give them sound advice about love and life. So, I learned to write. And then I found my purpose. I hope people will enjoy reading this book as much as I had enjoyed writing it and sharing my life in the process.” “Date Like a Girl, Marry Like a Woman,” she added, will help readers navigate how to have a good time with “Mr. Right
Now” and how to hold onto “Mr. Right” once they find him. “Her book is about shedding your insecurities, and offers insight on looking, feeling, and being your best, with an emphasis on having your own life. Additionally, this is the book you’ll come back to even after you say ‘I do’ to your man. Understanding that happily ever after may be a good way to end a movie, but isn’t a
good way to start a marriage. You can find real tips about everything from friendship to sex to finances with both humor and heart,” Pizarro interjected. “Ultimately Date Like a Girl, Marry Like a Woman: The Polished Woman’s Guide to Love, Romance, and Sex is meant to transcend beyond the pages as it’s lessons are applied in daily life,” Jessica concluded. (ManilaTimes.net)
Lea Salonga guests in US... From Page SF4 hailed for its pioneering vision to feature Asian, specifically Filipino, key characters on prime time. Bloom and McKenna will be honored on April 25 by the East West Players, the premier Asian American theater in the US, for helping raise “the visibility of Asian-Pacific American community through their craft.” Rodriguez was quoted as saying in another interview, “I’m proud of the show” because “I didn’t see a Josh character on TV (when I was) growing up.” Said Bloom: “From the beginning, we wanted Josh Chan to be an Asian ‘bro.’ I grew up with a ton of Asian bros and it
was a character type we hadn’t seen on television before. It felt new, specific and very true to the show’s setting of Southern California. We were just going for something that felt fresh and new and, inadvertently, broke new ground with a sexy male Asian lead, something that hadn’t really been done before.” Apparently, being exposed to another culture was a good experience for Bloom as well. “I did taste the dinuguan and it was delicious!” the actress said about the Filipino dish which her Rebecca character cooked to impress Josh and his Filipino family at their Thanksgiving celebration. “I truly loved every second of eat-
ing in that Thanksgiving episode. I was also a massive fan of the kare-kare (stew cooked with a thick peanut sauce)—that was my favorite dish.” Asked if another Filipino food item would be featured in the show, Bloom replied, “I don’t know whether or not Rebecca will eat balut but it’s a definite possibility!” on whether other Filipino talents will guest star in the series, which was renewed by CW for season 2, Bloom said, “We have just started writing the second season, so we are not sure yet! Whoever it is, our standards for guest stars have been set very high by Lea Salonga.”
Kendall Jenner and Jordan Clarkson them. The ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ cast are not new to hooking up with NBA players. Khloe herself is married to LA Laker Lamar odom
while her elder sister Kim was married to Atlanta Hawks player Kris Humphries for a few months until their divorce in 2011. (Gianna Francesca Catolico/Inquirer.net)