NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
w w w. a s i a n Volume 15 - No. 51 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages
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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Without ACA guarantees, 52-M adults could have trouble buying individual plans MORE than 1 in 4 adults younger than 65 live with conditions that private insurers could have declined to cover in some policies prior to the Affordable Care Act, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The researchers noted that a large share of those individuals likely get their insurance through their employers, which does not take into consideration prior health issues. But if the health law were repealed and those people lost their health insurance for any reason, they could face problems. Southern states carried the highest percentages of adults at risk of being shut out
HOME fires claim 2,500 lives and make up the vast majority of the roughly 70,000 emergencies the American Red Cross responds to each year in the United States. They happen about twice daily in the greater Los Angeles region. In light of the frequency at which fires wreak havoc, the Los Angeles chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC-LA) is encouraging residents of Historic Filipinotown and surrounding communities to volunteer in efforts to promote fire safety. They have also been offering free smoke alarm installations through-
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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
‘UN rapporteur must comply with PH president’s conditions’ “They cannot come,” Yasay said, referring to Callamard and her team. “If they will not comply with the condiPHNOM PENH — With nary a hint that tions of our president regarding their visit she would follow conditions set by Phil- to the Philippines to validate their claims, ippine President Rodrigo Duterte, United then the trip will not push through. They Nations (UN) rapporteur Agnes Calla- cannot come here,” he added. mard would not be allowed to proceed He said Callamard as of press time with her investigation into alleged sum- has not signified her readiness to folmary executions of thousands of drug of- low the conditions for her probe set by fenders as part of his war on criminality. Malacañang. Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay Jr. Yasay explained that for the UN repmade this clear to reporters Wednesday, resentative to formalize her investigation, Dec. 14, after attending a meeting with she must agree to pre-conditions set by some 1,000 Filipino workers at the Sofi- the Office of the President. tel Hotel here. “They should have requested in the by CHRISTINA
MENDEZ
Philstar.com
Agnes Callamard Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Released
SIOSON AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte said he had ‘personally’ killed drug suspects before when he was still the mayor of Davao City. Duterte made the confession during his speech at Wallace Business Forum in Malacañang on Monday night, December 12, to set as an example for police. “I know it because—I am not trying to pull my own chair—in Davao I used to do it personally. Just to show to the [policemen] that if I can do it, why can’t you?” Duterte said. Before winning the presidency last May, Duterte, 71, served as mayor of Davao city for seven terms (22 years). “And I’d go around Davao with a motorcycle, with a
MISS U IN PH. Eleven Miss Universe bets poses with Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Miss Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach, Paula Shugart of Miss Universe Organization and former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson. Teo said the official selling of tickets for the 65th international pageant will start on December 20. She said the prices of the VIP ticket would be more or less $1,000 each or roughly P50,000 but the cheapest or the general admission section ticket might costs around $160 or P8,000. Photo by Efigenio Toledo IV / Philstar.com
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when reporting on the Philippine war on drugs,” Andanar said. The statement comes following MALACAÑANG on Monday, a New York Times article entitled December 12, slammed the New “They are slaughtering us like York Times for allegedly being animals,” published last Decem‘one-sided’ in its recent report ber 7. The article — which covabout the administration’s cam- ers 57 murder victims at 41 sites paign against illegal drugs and over the span of 35 days — also the supposed spate of extrajudi- includes graphic images depicting some of the incidents. cial killings in the Philippines. In the piece, writer Daniel In a statement, Presidential Communications Secretary Mar- Berehulak reported that about tin Andanar called on foreign 2,000 people “had been slain at media to maintain impartiality the hands of the police alone” when reporting the Philippine since President Rodrigo Duterte government’s intensified cam- launched his “bloody and chaotic” crackdown on drugs. paign against narcotics. Berehukak added that vigilan“We ask the foreign media to present both sides of the story tes seem to be “taking seriously by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
PH ends support for US patrols in the South China Sea to sovereignty in the South China Sea. American forces conducting OFFICIALS in Manila said on exercises asserting freedom of Monday, December 12, that they navigation in the region had been will prohibit the launch of U.S. allowed to stage their operations patrols from the Philippines in- from military bases in the Philtended to contest Beijing’s claims u PAGE A2 by ERIC
ANTHONY LICAS AJPress
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by DANA
Palace hits the New York Times for being ‘one-sided’ in drug war piece
Secretary Martin Andanar
first place that there will be a validation or verification of the alleged violations of human rights. Instead of doing that they just jumped into conclusion, they based their arbitrary decision on media reports and then now, they want to come here,” he said. In October, Duterte – through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea – formally invited Callamard to check for herself reports of extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by law enforcers and vigilante groups in the conduct of the administration’s war on drugs. In his letter, Medialdea told Callamard
Duterte claims he ‘personally’ killed drug suspects
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American Red Cross reps urge Filipinos to prepare for disasters
DE C E MBE R 1 6 - 2 2 , 2 0 1 6
Mr. Duterte’s call to ‘slaughter them all.’” According to Andanar, the article “depicts the Philippines as the Wild, Wild West in this part of the world. This is farthest from the truth.” “If the reporter had bothered to check the facts of the 3,000 deaths under investigation by the Philippine National Police, only 1,080 are drug-related. The rest are murder and homicide cases perpetrated by gunmen which the Philippine National Police (PNP) is now investigating, the results of which will be made public in due time,” Andanar noted, insisting that
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Robredo, Liberal Party to discuss national issues in January meeting by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
THE Liberal Party (LP), including former President Benigno Aquino III, is slated to have a meeting next year to discuss and arrive at a party stand regarding
different national issues. According to Vice President Leni Robredo, the meeting, which has been arranged by interim LP President and Senator Francis Pangilinan, will be held in January 2017.
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DECEMBER 16-22, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
From the Front Page PH ends support for US patrols in the…
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ippines by the prior administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. In line with efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ ties with China, representatives of the Duterte administration have set out to end that arrangement. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana foreshadowed the country’s decision during a press conference on Thursday, December 8. He told reporters that the Philippines would likely scale back its support for American freedom of navigation patrols “to avoid any provocative actions that can escalate tensions in the South China Sea.” The government’s announcement on Monday may conflict with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by representatives of the U.S. and the Philippines in 2014. The document grants U.S. forces access to certain Philippine military bases and was recently affirmed as constitutional by the
latter country’s Supreme Court in July. Since taking office at the end of June this year, Duterte has pushed to mend ties with Beijing which had soured due to disputes over fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal. Efforts to expand the Philippines’ relationship with China were spurred partly by tensions that grew out of U.S. opposition to the Duterte administration’s crackdown on the country’s illegal drug trade. President-elect Donald Trump had offered a clean slate to his Filipino counterpart and expressed support for Duterte’s war on crime during a direct phone call on Friday, December 2. Despite that conversation, officials in Beijing have said that the Philippines’ pivot to China will continue, according to Bloomberg and other sources. American forces will, however, be allowed to land, refuel, and resupply in the Philippines on their way back from those mis-
sions. Lorenzana told reporters on Monday that the U.S. could still launch exercises from Guam or Japan. The Duterte administration’s decision might have threatened to cancel joint exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the American military. However, the exercises could still take place if they were repurposed into humanitarian and emergency relief training, Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, commander of the U.S. Army I Corps, told Voice of America. Despite a reduction in support from what has traditionally been one of the United States’ closest allies, American officials say they are likely to remain committed to BRP ANDRES BONIFACIO. Philippine Navy’s newly-acquired BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF17) arrives in Manila on Friday, Dec. 9. The ship, a promoting freedom of navigation former United States Coast Guard High Endurance Cutter, is expected to provide increased maritime presence throughout the Philippines’ territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone. Philippine Navy photo in the South China Sea. “You know, we will fly, we will sail anywhere within international waters and we will continue that,” State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau told PAGE A1 t porteur should also agree to face coming here when they already reporters during a press briefing that Duterte should also be al- him in a debate so that he can made their judgment, so that’s on Thursday, December 8. n lowed to ask the UN rapporteur raise issues on the validity of his why the president said, ‘if you questions in the spirit of fair administration’s war on illegal want to come here, you may come here but on my terms’,” drugs. play. “What will be the purpose of Yasay said. n The president said the UN rapmounted units, or neglect to replace them when they run out of power. The ARC-LA hopes to prop- PAGE A1 t erly outfit 400 homes in the big bike around and I would just Pico-Union and Westlake areas patrol the streets and looking for during next February’s round of trouble also. I was really looking free installations. Funding for the for an encounter so I could kill,” program comes from a combina- he added. tion of donations, grants, and the Records from the Philippine ARC-LA budget. National Police (PNP) show that The organization is looking for around 6,000 people were killed volunteers willing to assist with in relation to the government’s installations and help reduce the intensified campaign against likelihood of fires. They need no illegal drugs from July 1 to Deadvanced knowledge to partici- cember 12—with 2,000 killed pate and will receive training at during legitimate police operathe event. tions while the remaining 4,000 A smaller percentage of the were killed in extrajudicial or ARC-LA’s volunteers come out of vigilante-style killings, most rePico-Union and Westlake neigh- portedly conducted by unknown borhoods, compared to other suspects. parts of the city, according to Duterte’s bloody crackdown Woo. on illegal drugs has earned him “This is a great opportunity to condemnation from different reach into the Filipino commu- local and international rights nity,” she said on Tuesday. “We groups. The president, however, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Albert Alcain/Presidential Photo could use more volunteers from remarked that the allegations of ers in July, with a wave of unlaw- people before. within the community who will human rights violations thrown ful killings claiming more than “When he says that, he’s openrespond to localized disasters.” at him would not stop him from 5,000 lives across the country,” ing himself up, di ba (isn’t it)? Woo said that people from the continuing the campaign. Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty Inter- Sya ang nagsabi e (He’s the one immediate vicinity of a disaster “If I am afraid [and] stop be- national’s Director for South East who said it). So [what’s the] legal are especially effective at coor- cause of the human rights … Asia and the Pacific, said in a way, e di mag impeach kayo, mag dinating relief efforts. In addition sorry, I am not about to do that,” statement released on Wednes- impeach kung sino man ang may to reduced transit times, emer- he stressed. gusto (impeach him if you want) day, December 14. u PAGE A3 Djamin urged Duterte to fulfill because I’m sure he knows how “You [want to] arrest me? Oust me? Go ahead,” he added, chal- his obligations as the country’s to defend that,” Gordon said. The senator, however, pointed president by “ordering investigalenging his critics. Following Duterte’s remarks tions into these killings and bring- out that a person cannot just authat he has killed drug suspects ing those responsible to justice, tomatically file an impeachment case against Duterte because of before, Amnesty International, not claiming a part in them.” He also urged the authorities his claims, noting that the issue an international human rights group, said the Philippine pres- to stop pursuing a “bloody path must first be investigated. “If the killing was done in selfident’s claim “takes the meaning they have set out on, and fulfil of ‘state-sanctioned’ violence to a their duty to protect all people by defense, there is no liability. If he killed someone, then he is liending incitement to violence.” whole new level.” Meanwhile, according to able... The president is prone to “The climate of impunity in the Philippines has intensified even Senator Richard Gordon, the making exaggerated statements. further since President Duterte president is opening himself to I think that is part of his strategy began his brutal crackdown on impeachment through his state- but I think he said this for a reasuspected drug users and deal- ment if he really indeed killed son,” Gordon added. n
American Red Cross reps urge Filipinos to… PAGE A1 t
out the city. Residents of Pico-Union and Westlake neighborhoods, including parts of Historic Filipinotown, can now sign up for a free smoke alarm installation provided by the ARC-LA on Saturday, February 11 next year. The ARC-LA has installed 8,000 new smoke alarms this year, but many buildings still have faulty units, according to the organization’s Regional Disaster Program Manager, Jeanne Woo. “We dealt with multiple fatalities over the Thanksgiving weekend,” she told the Asian Journal on Tuesday, December 6. “There are very positive and easy steps that we can take to make sure that doesn’t happen to our families and loved ones,”
she added following a disaster preparedness presentation put on by the nonprofit and hosted by the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles. On Tuesday, ARC-LA representatives and volunteers said Angelenos need to stay vigilant of the potential hazards around them and outlined strategies for surviving fires and other catastrophes. They encouraged residents to develop and practice emergency plans for a variety of possible emergencies. In addition, Woo said poorly placed alarms have a tendency to go off when they shouldn’t and become a nuisance. As a consequence, some homeowners significantly increase the likelihood of a serious fire by removing the batteries from improperly
Palace hits the New York…
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Duterte has not given any direct order for police to kill drug dealers and users on mere suspicion. Instead, police officers “neutralize those who violently resist arrest” and have the right to defend themselves, the spokesman
said. Meanwhile, in his speech during The Outstanding Filipino Awards for 2016 at Malacañang, the president responded to the international criticism. “I am not a killer. I do not relish or enjoy a Filipino sprawled there with all the blood,” he said. n
‘UN rapporteur must comply with PH president’s…
Duterte claims he ‘personally’ killed drug…
Without ACA guarantees, 52-M adults… PAGE A1 t
by insurers. The analysis found that 52 million nonelderly adults faced the possibility of being denied coverage due to a preexisting condition if they were purchasing a policy on the individual market under the common rules used before the health law. In the individual market, consumers buy their own insurance. It serves people who cannot access employer-based insurance or public health coverage, such as Medicaid. A third of the adult population in Alabama, Kentucky and West Virginia fall in that category.
The study highlights the risk that some people might face if Republicans go forward with their pledge to repeal the health law and don’t have adequate safeguards against basing insurance on preexisting conditions. The individual market is quite small — about 8 percent of adults — but the number of people affected by it is likely much higher, researchers note, because people churn in and out of that market frequently, as they change jobs or go through a divorce, for example. The federal health law’s prohibition on denying coverage based on medical history is quite
popular. But to help maintain a healthy insurance pool that could offset insurers’ costs for the care of sick customers, the law mandates that most people buy insurance or pay a penalty. It is that individual mandate that has generated strong objections from critics of the law. Researchers analyzed data from two surveys conducted in 2015 by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The age, health status and conditions participants reported in the surveys were key indicators in identifying this population. Cynthia Cox, associate direc-
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 16-22, 2016
Holiday charity scam warning from Dept. of Consumer Protection
OVER the past year, the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has processed nearly 150 complaints specifically related to charities, which is a sharp increase from previous years largely due to DCP’s outreach and education charities regarding proper registration. During such a busy time of year where consumers are eager to give back – DCP wants to make sure consumers are prepared to say no to scams or bad deals, and reputable charities are appropriately registered. “We understand that consumers want to give back to their communities, and we encourage them to. That said, it’s important for consumers to do their research on chariNO TO CHILD PRISONERS. Members of Child Rights Network hold huge Christmas cards and sing carols outside the House ties ahead of a time, and make of Representatives as they join a lobby urging lawmakers not to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to nine. a giving plan this holiday seaPhoto by Ruy L. Martinez/Manilatimes.net son,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner, Jonathan A. Harris, “We want to make this process easy for consumers, so in addition to going after bad actors, we have also been proactively working with new or smaller charity organizations OAKLAND, California — Fili- California, and went to electron- was not supposed to be residen- to make sure they’re registered pino American Vanessa Quintos ic concert at the warehouse with tial. appropriately. That way, we Plotkin, 21, was among those her roommate, Jennifer Morris, A report now says the ware- can spend more of our valuable who died in a warehouse fire who was also among the con- house hadn’t been subjected time on the sham charities that here on Dec. 2, the coroner’s of- firmed dead. to city inspection in 30 years. are stealing consumers’ hard Fire investigators reported Neighbors said what appeared earned cash.” fice confirmed. Plotkin was first reported that the fatalities were first to be unauthorized parties and DCP encourages consumers missing following the Ghost overcome by smoke before they performance were held there to make a plan for giving this Ship warehouse fire that killed burned to death. every weekend. (Inquirer.net) season, and stick to it in order The Ghost Ship warehouse 36 young people, in what is known as the deadliest fire in was gathering place for young artists and music enthusiasts. Oakland’s history. Plotkin was University of Cali- Although makeshift rooms and fornia, Berkeley sociology stu- space dividers, mostly wooden, dent. She grew up in Lakewood, had been built inside, the space
Fil-Am student among fatalities in Oakland warehouse fire
Vanessa Plotkin, a Filipino American sociology student at University of California, Berkeley, was among the 36 fatalities in the deadliest fire in Oakland’s history. Photo courtesy of Facbook
Without ACA guarantees…
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tor of health reform and private insurance at KFF and one of the authors of the study, said as Congress considers overhauling the health law, lawmakers need to consider those people who churn in and out of the individual market. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) “I think what the study shows is that the details of a repeal and replace act matter not only for the people that are immediately affected,” she said, “but for the people that might need this coverage at some point in their lives.” Prior to the ACA, medical underwriting was standard practice in 45 states and the District of Columbia, the analysis said. Prospective enrollees typically filled out a survey regarding their medical history that included questions about pregnancy status, medications and lab results. Applications also included an authorization clause that allowed insurers to access all medical records. Insurance companies could deny coverage based on preexisting conditions such as pregnancy, cancer and diabetes the study reported. Additionally, these entities could also reduce coverage by cutting out certain medications such as cancer fighting drugs and antipsychotic medications. Individuals with certain occupations such as fire-
fighters, taxi cab drivers and air traffic controllers faced an uphill battle to secure coverage from some insurers. Sabrina Corlette, research professor at Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms, said the individual mandate has not provided enough incentives so far to guarantee a robust health pool, but she urged officials to give it more time. “I would argue that before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, we should give the individual mandate a chance to work,” she said. However, Robert Laszewski, a health care industry consultant and president of Health Policy and Strategy Associates, said the individual mandate has been proven to not work. He suggested Republicans look at other options, including a penalty similar to Medicare Part B, where enrollees pay a more if they choose to enroll after they first become eligible. Regardless of the future health policy in place, Laszewski said it is imperative that individuals living with illnesses have access to health insurance. “You can’t have a workable system without covering a preexisting condition,” Laszewski said. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News. (Carmen Heredia Rodriguez / Kaiser HealthNews)
American Red Cross reps…
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gency responders from within the community face fewer language barriers than those from further away. They also tend to possess a deeper understanding of their neighborhood’s specific needs and challenges. More information for those interested in taking part of any of
the ARC-LA’s community events or volunteering on a more regular basis can find more information on its website. There, individuals can also set up an appointment for a smoke alarm installation and learn how to better prepare themselves for a wide variety of potential disasters. (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)
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to protect their finances, avoid falling victim to a scams, or giving to charities who misrepresent how they’re using a consumers hard earned money. Here are some tips that consumers can follow in order to protect themselves: How can consumers spot a charity scam? A scammer will: • Refuse to give you details about its identity, mission, costs or how your money will be used; • Not give you proof that your donation is tax deductible; • Use a name that is similar to a well-known charity to impersonate them; • Thank you for a pledge that you do not remember making, and ask for more money; • Pressure you to donate right away; • Ask for donations in cash or via a wire transfer; • Offer to send a delivery service to pick-up the donation immediately • Promise you a sweepstakes winning in exchange for the donation. (You never have to give money to be eligible for a sweepstake). What can consumers do? Don’t engage If a phone caller or door to door sales person displays the traits listed above, hang up the phone, or don’t engage. We un-
derstand consumers want to be polite, but if you don’t engage, you don’t get scammed. Research a charity - Get the exact name of the charity so you can research them if you’re considering giving; - Verify that a charity is registered appropriately at www. elicense.ct.gov; - Search the name of the charity online with the word “scam” or “complaint”; - Do some research on the charity’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau, Charity Watch or Guidestar. - Learn how the charity spends its money with Charity Navigator. Make a plan Make a plan for giving each giving season by researching charities you trust, and reviewing your budget. Stick to your plan. If a charity OR a scammer sends you a solicitation that doesn’t fall inside of your plan - don’t adjust what you have already planned at the last minute. Consumers may file a complaint regarding a charity at dcp.frauds@ct.gov, and charities with registration questions may email us at dcp.charities@ ct.gov. We also can always be reached at (860) 713-6100 or Toll-Free in CT at (800) 8422649. n
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DECEMBER 16-22, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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Fil-Am among APIs continuing fight against Dakota Access Pipeline
VOWING to continue the strug- against them. Yet when it came A colorful banner, to be gle against the “black snake” of time for an all-women march to- shared with the Standing Rock the Dakota Access Pipeline in ward the pipeline security forces, community of camps and shelNorth Dakota, 50 Asian Pacific they stood strong and calm. ters that now face a harsh winter, “Women were on the front was also signed by the group. Islanders (APIs) gathered in Los Angeles on Sunday, December lines. They marched up to the The Dec. 11 event was co-orga11 to hear eyewitness accounts of barbed wire and the armored nized by the Asian Pacific Policy recent peaceful protests against vehicles,” recalled Montances, a and Planning Council (A3PCON) Filipino American. “They asked Environmental Justice Commitarmed security forces. Those who traveled 1,500 the security officers to join them tee and the Progressive Asian miles to the Standing Rock Sioux to protect water.” Network for Action. That didn’t happen, so the 150 Reservation said they joined APIs joining in solidarity with thousands of other peaceful pro- women – elderly grandmothers, Native American causes is a long testers – known as water protec- mothers with babies and small history, said Kathy Masaoka, of tors – to follow the courageous children, teens – retreated, but Los Angeles. She recounted the leadership of Native Americans returned again another time struggle more than 40 years ago who were determined to save for an all-female march. “The when she and other activists travtheir tribal water, land, sacred strength of the Native Americans eled to Wounded Knee in South sites and sovereignty without and the Native American women Dakota and were met by armed – I have never seen that in my federal officers, marshals and the violence. On Dec. 4, 2016, the Army life,” he said. FBI. Mato Means, 34, a member Corps of Engineers halted the “There was no Facebook, no pipeline construction until it of the Lakota tribe and a mili- video, no news coming out,” Macompletes an environmental re- tary veteran who lives on the saoka said. “Wounded Knee was view of alternative routes with Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the site of the massacre in the South Dakota, said he was appre- 1800s. And treaties were long full tribal and public input. “It takes a tremendous amount ciative of the efforts by Los Ange- broken there.” NO TO DEATH PENALTY. Parishioners in San Carlos City in Pangasinan province add their collective voice to calls against the reimposition of strength to not act out towards les-area APIs. Looking ahead, many particiof the death penalty. In his homily last Monday, December 12, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said improving the criminal “You are all part of the great pants said they will travel back to the Dakota Access Pipeline and justice system is the most effective deterrent against criminality. Photo by Ray Zambrano/Inquirer.net their allies,” said Hsingii Bird, 35, turtle island,” said Means, refer- Standing Rock when the call for a Taiwanese immigrant who took ring to the American Indian cre- help comes. Several supporting part in the protests. “I believe the ation story of how the world first organizations are also planning indigenous people are the guard- formed as one land mass on a support activities in the Los AnPAGE A1 t geles area. net meetings, prompting her to ian of Mother Earth, and we must turtle’s back. More than $1,000 was col“Nag-usap na kami (LP lead“We have to continue standing resign from her post as the hous- be their best allies. That is what lected to help the Standing Rock as allies with our Native AmeriStanding Rock taught me.” ers) kasi iyong dating timetable, ing secretary. After a long cross-country Sioux tribal nation and to send can brothers and sisters both March pa magpapatawag ng “Iyong boses ng oposisyon meeting kaya lang sinuggest nahindi iyan partisan. Oposisyon drive from Long Beach, Califor- future water protectors when in Standing Rock and locally,” tin na agahan (Our previous timesa mga specific na polisiya ng nia, Alex Montances, 32, said he needed. Speakers said they fore- said Nancy Kim, a water protectable sets the meeting in March gobyerno. Nag-tratranscend ito and other protestors were warm- see a long struggle because they tor who is ready to return. “And but we suggested that we conng mga political parties (Being ly welcomed by Native American expect incoming president Don- that means educating ourselves duct the meeting earlier),” Rothe voice of the opposition is women who recounted genera- ald Trump will attempt to force regarding the battles and issues bredo disclosed on Wednesday, nonpartisan because the oppo- tions of violence and oppression pipeline construction to resume. they are facing.” (A3PCON) n December 14, in a open forum sition is specific to the policies with students at the 5th General of government. That transcends Trias Youth Leaders’ Summit in political parties),” the vice presiCavite. dent explained. She said the Liberal Party Robredo noted that she wanted would discuss about various nato help administration to succeed tional issues, including pending by becoming unification of the measures on the reimposition of voices dissenting against some death penalty, the age of criminal policies of the government that liability, and amendments to the Vice President Leni Robredo “we believe are threatening our sin tax law. democratic institutions.” “Sinu-suggest nila na gusto we have direction),” the vice “Kapag sinabi mo kasi na opnila mag-meet at magkaroon ng president added. position leader ka parang lahat dating ginagawa na may isang She also made a distinction re- na lang ng gawin ng administrapolicy body para naiintidihan garding the difference between syon kontra ka. Parang hindi nang mg miyembro… Iyon ang si- the “voice of opposition” and man iyon tama. Parang hindi na nasabi nila na mas mabuti sana “leader of oppposition.” natin binibigyan ng pagkakataon bago ito pinag-uusapan sa KonRobredo, who holds the high- ang administrasyon na mag-sucgreso para alam na rin namin est position in government ceed. (Because if you say ‘oppoang direksyon. (They suggested among the members of the Lib- sition leader,’ it seems like you that we meet so we can create eral Party, previously announced will protest everything the ada policy body so that the mem- that she is ready to become the ministration does. That doesn’t bers can understand the issues… “unifying voice” of the oppo- seem right because it’s like we That’s why they are saying we sition after President Rodrigo are not giving the administration should discuss this before these Duterte earlier ordered her to the chance to succeed),” Robre- Asian Pacific Islander nonprofits raise funds and sign the banner for NoDAPL on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in LA. Photo by Jeff Chop / Courtesy of Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council are deliberated in Congress, so “desist” attending from all cabi- do added. n
Robredo, Liberal Party to discuss national…
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 16-22, 2016
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Duterte admits: Not sick at APEC, avoided an awkward situation with Pres. Obama by Rosette
Adel
Philstar.com
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Dec. 12, admitted he purposely skipped the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ gala and the traditional family photo in Lima, Peru to avoid having an awkward situation with outgoing US President Barack Obama. At his speech at the Wallace Business Forum, Duterte backtracked on earlier official explanations that he chose not to attend the highlight of the event because he was not feeling well. “I was there. I attended the meetings, actually. Do not believe those idiots out there. But you know, Obama was there, and because we had an exchange of words, I was just trying to avoid an awkward situation,” Duterte said.
Duterte said he feared that Obama would not accept his “gesture of handshake or his getting out of the way to avoid him.” “Because I did not want to create a scene, an awkward situation, I just stayed on the sidelines. That’s the truth, I was avoiding an awkward situation, especially an international awkward behavior,” Duterte added. Despite his spokesperson’s earlier statement that the president skipped some key events in APEC due to jet lag, Duterte said his previous excuse that he had an upset stomach was not true. “I did not have a bum stomach; do not believe it. That was just an excuse. But really, I would not know how to react if he would just push my hand,” he said. Duterte also previously admitted that he intentionally skipped
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-US Summit in Laos last September as a matter of principle. The White House earlier called out possible human rights violations in Duterte’s violent drug war. Duterte responded by lashing out at Obama, telling him to “go to hell” and called him a “son of bitch.” Duterte also reprimanded the US for its abuses as a colonizing power at the turn of the century. The White House then canceled the planned bilateral talks between the two leaders in Peru. Former President Fidel Ramos critizied Duterte for skipping the APEC gala dinner. “As president, it is his duty to be there at all times kahit na masama ang pakiramdam (even if he’s not feeling well),” Ramos said on November 21.
CHRISTMAS CHEERS. Former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. greets Mandaluyong City residents on Saturday, Dec. 10. Marcos joined Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita Abalos in distributing Christmas gift packs to residents. ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan
Sen. De Lima among ‘leading global Bongbong to detractors: You cannot escape history thinkers’ for standing up vs Duterte by PeRseus
echeminAdA Philstar.com
MANILA — Sen. Leila de Lima was included on the list of 100 global thinkers for 2016 by the influential Foreign Policy magazine for standing up against President Rodrigo Duterte and his drug war. De Lima is among the 13 global thinkers in the “Challengers” category under the 100 leading global thinkers. The citation lauded the senator who formerly chaired the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights for leading the probe into the spate of drug-related killings. “Since taking office in June, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has waged a brutal war on drugs. Thousands of alleged traffickers, dealers, and users have been executed by state forces or pro-government vigilantes,” the citation said. “In response, Sen. Leila de Lima has been a steadfast advocate for the rule of law. As the chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, she spearheaded an investigation into the extrajudicial killings—work that landed her firmly in Duterte’s crosshairs,” it added.
The Foreign Policy magazine also recognized De Lima for being brave and refusing to be silenced by the attacks of Duterte’s allies as she defend herself from the allegations linking her to drug trade, among others. “President Duterte’s loyalists accused De Lima of being involved in the drug trade and ousted her as head of the investigation in September. That didn’t silence her, though. She called on the United Nations to examine the violence, arguing that Manila isn’t equipped ‘to serve complete justice to the victims,’” the citation noted. After the criminal accusations, De Lima said, ‘I am willing to resign; I am willing to be shot in front of the president…. I am confident to prove him wrong. I will stand by my innocence, any time now and forever,’” it added. De Lima is currently in the United States to receive the award. Other leading global thinkers named for 2016 are notable individuals and organizations which include former US State Department Hillary Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canada
MANILA – Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has refuted allegations that President Duterte revised history when he ordered the burial of the late strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig city last month. Speaking before delegates of the Philippine Constitution Association in Manila Golf Club last Thursday, Marcos argued that the burial was not historical revi-
sionism since as a former president, his father and namesake was supposed to make history. “It’s up to others to record that history,” he said. “Sometimes there is disparity between the history that is made and the history that is written. I believe that from there we can see where the revision comes in.” He admitted there were times that he and his sister – Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos – get weary of the contentions when history and martial law and all the other
historical baggage that his late father actually put on them is being talked about. “But don’t get me wrong. I am happy to carry any historical baggage that my father actually did and put on us. But those inventions that our detractors would like to add to redefine that baggage I will not accept,” the former lawmaker added. Although wanting to set aside history and focus instead on the country’s development, he adPAGE A7
PH, Russia to work on enhancing defense engagement Sen. Leila De Lima is among the 13 global thinkers in the “Challengers” category under the 100 leading global thinkers of Foreign Policy magazine.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, among others. Another Filipino honored by Foreign Policy as among the “Challengers” is Rep. Geraldine Roman. “Like a coat of many colors, these individuals showed that agitation takes myriad forms,” the Foreign Policy said. (Rosette Adel/ Philstar.com)
by PiA lee-BRAgo Philstar.com
MANILA – The Philippines and Russia have agreed to speed up work on a legal framework and plan of action outlining concrete cooperative activities aimed at enhancing their defense engagement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana visited Moscow and met with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov on Dec. 5 to discuss PhilippinesRussia defense cooperation.
This visit is a first for a Philippine defense official since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Moscow 40 years ago. It also comes on the heels of the successful meeting between President Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Lima, Peru last Nov. 19. During his visit, Lorenzana and Antonov committed to fasttrack work on building Philippines-Russia defense engagement. The defense officials exchanged views on possible ac-
tivities for immediate implementation, including exchange of high-level visits, military education and training, intelligence exchange in the field of counterterrorism and capacity-building in demining and military medicine, among others. Antonov invited Lorenzana to participate in major events to be organized by the Ministry of Defense next year – the Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS), International Army Games and Military-Technical Forum “Army 2017.”
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“I WILL continue to fight against things I do not believe in. If being an opposition leader entails that, then I will be an opposition leader,” Vice Pres. Leni Robredo told the media after she resigned from Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet last week. Robredo quit being the chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) after being ordered—via a text message—to desist from attending all cabinet meetings. She alleged that there’s a plot to eventually remove her from vice presidency. “We had hoped this day would not come. I had been warned of a plot to steal the Vice Presidency. I have chosen to ignore this and focus on the job at hand. But the events of recent days indicate that this plot is now being set into motion,” Robredo said in her resignation letter. Malacañang officials said that the “separation” was caused by irreconcilable differences, as there are certain policies that the two leaders disagree on. Robredo has been a staunch critic of Duterte’s ongoing drug war and has lamented the rising number of casualties. She insists that the rule of law must prevail and urged the public to remain vigilant. “It’s not about deciding who dies or who lives. It’s also about making sure that when the fighting dies down, what’s left is a community that trusts more than fears,” she said in August. The government’s bloody campaign against il-
legal drugs has left more than 3,600 suspects dead, including more than 1,300 killed in gun battles with authorities—an average of 36 killings a day since he took office on June 30. This brutal crackdown on drugs has also led to killings on the streets and violations of human rights, including the right to life and to due process. Another divisive issue that might have pulled the trigger on this short-lived partnership was the controversial decision of Duterte to allow the burial of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery). Robredo is the highest ranking leader of the Liberal Party and a known ally of former Pres. Benigno Aquino III. She also defeated the late president’s son, former Sen. Bongbong Marcos, in the vice presidential race. Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr, who related the president’s order to Robredo, denied that the decision to cut her loose was connected to Duterte’s close ties with the Marcoses. On Thursday, Dec. 8, Duterte assured Robredo that there are no plots to steal the vice presidency from her. “I will assure Leni and the rest of the Bicol region that you will have her until the very end of her
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
term,” Duterte told reporters. “There is no such thing as removing of a vice president,” he added. Duterte has also accused the “Yellows,” or allies of the previous Aquino administration led by the Liberal Party, of plotting to oust him. This political divide led by the country’s top leaders is set to continue well into 2022 if they
both finish their terms. This is not democracy at work because it brings heightened uncertainty and increased tensions. Instead of inspiring intelligent opinion on the country’s current issues, the continuous disagreement causes national bickering and it is deeply unsettling. (AJPress)
Warning to DREAMers: Do not leave the US when Trump becomes president AS most kababayans in the United States are joyfully preparing for Christmas, there are Filipinos who are weighed down by feelings of uncertainty as President-elect Donald Trump’s oath taking comes near. These are Filipinos who are living and working in the United States without the required immigration papers, while some have benefitted from President Barack Obama’s DREAM Act — deportation relief measures that protect these young people brought to the United States as kids and have considered America their home. However, President-elect Trump has vowed to rescind Obama’s executive orders on immigration which may put many of these kababayans at risk of being deported once Trump becomes President on January 20, 2017. These may include those
who may have been granted advanced parole so they may The Fil-Am be able to leave the U.S. to visit their families back in the Philip- Perspective pines and be able to come back to the United States. However, immigrant rights advocates, lawyers and universities have warned these undocu- gel SantoS-ReloS mented immigrants, particularly the beneficiaries of the DREAM Act, against traveling. They say it is best for them not to leave the U.S., or if they have to and have the advanced parole documents, it would be in their best interests to come back to America BEFORE Trump takes oath as president. Immigration is a privilege and not a right,
and therefore, if the new president chooses to issue an executive order barring these undocumented immigrants from coming back to the U.S., even if they have the advanced parole documents, then they may not be able to enter the country again unless immigration laws and guidelines change. DREAMers as many fear he would, but he would instead focus on prioritizing the removal of undocumented immigrants with serious criminal convictions. This segues to a very important reminder to kababayans in America who may have already been granted their green card/permanent resident
status. Atty. Lou Tancinco said it may be wise for them to apply for citizenship NOW because having a green card does not protect you from deportation if you are involved and become convicted of a serious crime. There are benefits and protections accorded to naturalized citizens which green card holders do not enjoy. So what are you waiting for? If you are already eligible to naturalize, give yourself and your family this Christmas gift: apply for U.S. citizenship now! *** 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
Why police shoot to kill, not to wound the center of which ONE of the ideas policemen are trained advanced by some Commentary to aim at. Targetpeople is that our popractice figures never licemen under Presiinclude the legs but dent Duterte’s adminonly the torso to just istration have become after the crotch, which so ruthless that they is also a target. shoot illegal drug This shoot-justsuspects to kill, when RigobeRto tiglao to-wound issue isn’t they should just fire new, and had been widely debated in a their guns to disable or wound them. I am surprised that the idea seems to few US cities, after an uproar over pohave gained some traction. In a recent lice fatally shooting a suspected crimiconversation with former President Fi- nal, who turned out to be unarmed. del Ramos, a soldier most of his life and A bill was filed in New York in 2005, the founder of the Army Special Forces, requiring police to “shoot-to-wound,” he said that he strongly suggested to calleda “minimum force” bill. This Philippine National Police Chief Ronald would require officers to “shoot a susdela Rosa that he issue an order to all pect in the arm or the leg” and to use policemen to aim their guns at crimi- firearms “with the intent to stop, rather than kill.” The bill was withdrawn, after nals’ legs, and shoot only to disable. That seems to be a logical sugges- it was scientifically shown to be impostion. The problem is that reality doesn’t sible to implement. Force Science Institute work that way. A key study by the Force Science InPolice do shoot accurately only at criminals’ hands (and even their guns) stitute—a respected institute that scienor at their legs—but only in the mov- tifically studies combat situations— revealed some of the practical problems ies. If you’ve ever fired a gun, you’d real- with a shoot-to-wound policy. Some of ize that it’s so different from the mov- these: • “Hands and arms can be the fasties, that you can even miss a man just est-moving body parts. For example, an across the room. When I had to train for security pur- average suspect can move his hand and poses how to use a gun when I was in forearm across his body to a 90-degree government, the instructor in combat angle in 12/100 of a second. He can shooting would always shout at us nev- move his hand from his hip to shoulder er ever to fire only once, but to shoot height in 18/100 of a second. The average officer pulling the trigger as fast as three times in rapid succession. The reason is obvious: Just a few mil- he can on a Glock, one of the fastest-cylimeters’ deviation of the gun muzzle cling semi-autos, requires 1/4 second to from the target, which almost always discharge each round. There is no way happens when you improperly pull (in- an officer can react, track, shoot and stead of squeeze) the trigger, and you reliably hit a threatening suspect’s foremiss your opponent, who of course arm or a weapon in a suspect’s hand in would be defending himself to kill you, the time spans involved. • “Even if the suspect held his weapeither with his own gun, or even just a knife. Your chances obviously of stop- on arm steady for half a second or more, ping your opponent increases when it’s an accurate hit would be highly unlikesecond nature to fire the gun thrice, ly, and in police shootings the suspect and his weapon are seldom stationary. rather than just once. So, training in combat shooting, Plus, the officer himself may be moving which all policemen go through, never as he shoots. • “The upper arms move more slowly ever involves shooting at the arms or even the legs, which are almost always than the lower arms and hands. But moving targets, compared to the torso, shooting at the upper arms, there’s a
beings. greater chance you’re going to hit the suspect’s brachial arIf Berehulak was so tery or center mass, areas with aghast that the police have a high probability of fatality. So been slaughtering Filipinos where does shooting only to “like animals,” as his piece wound come in when even arwas entitled, why didn’t he eas considered by some to be document exactly what po‘safe’ from fatality risk could in lice units—and what were fact carry the same level of risk the names of the policeas targeting center mass? men–were involved in the • “Legs tend initially to move 57 homicide scenes he phoslower than arms and to maintographed? This could have tain more static positions. Howhelped the Commission on ever, areas of the lower trunk Human Rights or even the and upper thigh are rich with justice department in their vascularity. A suspect who’s hit investigation of these cases. there can bleed out in seconds Or at least just shame them. if one of the major arteries is “What I experienced in the severed, so again shooting just Philippines felt like a new to wound may not result in just level of ruthlessness: police wounding. officers summarily shooting • “An officer’s survival instinct anyone suspected of dealing may exert an overpowering influor even using drugs, vigience on target selection. If your lantes taking seriously Mr. life is threatened you’re going to Duterte’s call to ‘slaughter go for the surer thing first and them all’,” he even wrote to worry about your assailant’s life caption his photo essay. But being saved second. If a guy is he didn’t even bother to try running at me with a blade, the getting the names of those last thing I’m going to be thinkpolice officers. ing is, ‘I’m going to shoot him SHOOTING TARGET: Why do you think legs aren’t included, and the bullseye is Berehulak would likely win in the arm’. Hence, shooting for in the torso’s center? journalism awards with his center mass is the psychological photo essay. He has been with practical suggestions that could default. plainly unethical though. He • “Poor shot placement is bound to prevent police from undertaking sum- seems to think that his sole responsibilincrease. Even when officers are trying mary executions of criminal suspects. ity was to photograph the killing, not to to shoot center mass, they often miss. Require every raiding party –-whose protest them as a human being, which Hitting an arm or a leg on a moving operations after all are planned days he could have done by identifying the suspect with surgical precision will be in advance — to have a non-policeman police he claimed did the summary record through video such encounters? shootings. Professional photographers virtually impossible.” Of course, we’re barking at the wrong Require as much as they are available, would even conclude that he used camtree if the real problem is that our po- media to cover such raids? era filters—obviously a red one in that Perhaps I’m dreaming. But I don’t haunting photo of a coffin with a child licemen actually have been executing unarmed suspected criminals, as in the think Duterte will call back his dogs of crying beside it—to make the scenes case of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espino- war (vs drugs) during his term. We just appear so horrible. sa. The police fantastically claimed that have to come up, as a civilized nation, If Berehulak had covered the MaguEspinosa had a gun in his cell, which he with the means to restrain them from indanao massacre that took the lives of fired against the Criminal Investigation slaughtering unarmed Filipinos, even if 57 human beings, he would have come and Detection Group officers serving a involved in illegal drugs. up with a gory photo essay, but without Unethical search warrant— on his jail cell run by mentioning at all who were the suspectWhile the New York Times photo ed perpetrators and masterminds. the Department of Justice’s Bureau of essay by Daniel Berehulak has drawn Jail Management and Penology. *** Instead of this fantasy of requir- raves as an excellent piece of photo- tiglao.manilatimes@gmail.com ing police to shoot to wound only, we journalism, it’s an example of how jour- FB: Bobi Tiglao and Rigoberto Tiglao as a civilized nation have to come up nalists often forget that they’re human Archives: rigobertotiglao.com
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New United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Wednesday, Dec. 14 visited Davao City and met with presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
New US envoy meets Mayor Sara Duterte, pays tribute to Davao City blast victims by Rosette
Adel
Philstar.com
MANILA — New United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Wednesday, Dec. 14 visited Davao City and met with presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. It was the first place Kim visited outside Manila, 13 days after his arrival in the country. Duterte-Carpio said she is happy that the ambassador chose to visit Davao City. Kim also paid tribute to the vic-
tims of the night market blast in Davao City last September 2. “My meeting with him, albeit very brief, was cordial and was an opportunity for us to renew our friendly relationship and ties with the United States government and the American people,” DuterteCarpio said in a statement. “We are also very grateful for his expression of support for our fight against terrorism as he commiserated with the families, the survivors, and the victims of the grisly September 2 bombing in
Davao,” she added. For his part, Kim said he was pleased to meet Duterte-Carpio. “Pleasure meeting Mayor Inday Sara Duterte today. Wishing all the best for her, her family, and all Davaoeños!” he said. Aside from meeting DuterteCarpio and paying tribute to the Davao explosion victims, Kim met with Mindanao business leaders and visited the Davao Public Safety and Security Command Center. He shared his activities on his Twitter account.
Bongbong to detractors: You cannot escape... PAGE A5 mitted that no one can escape this as “history will find you.” In the same forum, Marcos mentioned the “political heresies” surrounding the burial issue, quoting former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. He said the first heresy is when a determined minority, along with enough adjuncts to bully or intimidate others, thinks that the law will not or cannot be
enforced against them. “The inference is not only there is safety in numbers, but that this brings some kind of collective immunity from legal process – it does not,” he added. The second heresy, he quoted, is when one feels sufficiently strong about a particular case that one thinks or claims superiority to the laws and is, therefore, absolved. “This is arrogant nonsense and deserves to be treated as such,”
Marcos said. The third heresy is when the law can be obeyed selectively. When groups, the former senator said, would pick and chose which to obey and which to break, “liberty itself is imperiled.” “The law must be obeyed as a whole,” Marcos stressed. He pointed out that their detractors and what they do actually mirror the three political heresies mentioned by Thatcher.
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Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller A VERY wise person once said that we look back in order to go forward. Here at RMZD, as we approach the end of 2016, we look back to some of our achievements to inspire us in the coming year. Being able to help our clients out of difficult situations reinforces in each of us why we became lawyers in general and immigration lawyers in particular. If we have not already done so, perhaps next year we will be able to help you. The names of our clients have been changed to protect their privacy. About a year ago, Mr. Roads’ family was frantic when they reached out to us. He was seeking asylum because of the persecution he had experienced in his home country. However, he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and was mere hours away from being deported. His travel documents had already been completed by his home country and the flight plan was confirmed. Thanks to our quick action and the strength of our arguments, RMZD was able to halt Mr. Roads’ deportation. His flight plans were cancelled and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers reexamined the case. Shortly thereafter, RMZD secured Mr. Roads’ release from detention and united him with his family here in the United States. We continue to fight for his cause and look forward to winning his asylum case. We are especially proud of having been granted a humanitarian reinstatement request. Andrea and Bob have been living in the San Francisco Bay Area for over a decade. They came to the United States to visit
As we look back family, but overstayed their visas to care for Andrea’s elderly mother, who suffers from several medical problems. Andrea’s US citizen father had previously filed an immediate relative petition for his daughter, but sadly passed away before the priority date became current. Because immigration law specifically states that an approved petition is revoked when the petitioner dies, Andrea and Bob and their families were convinced that they had lost their chance to be able to live lawfully in the United States. They thought they would talk to a lawyer to see if there was any way they could achieve their dream. Thankfully, they came to us. With the assistance of our office, however, they were able to utilize an exception to the rule. We concurrently filed for reinstatement of the approved petition and their respective adjustment applications at the end of August 2016. Andrea’s 100-year old lawful permanent resident mother acted as the substitute sponsor for their affidavits of support. The arguments for reinstatement were successful, and Andrea and Bob received their work authorizations and the reinstated approved petition just in time for the holidays. Andrea and Bob are eagerly waiting for an adjustment interview to be scheduled by the local office. They are confident that by next year at this time, they will be lawful permanent residents and will be on their way to ultimately becoming citizens of this great country. Rudy walked into our office one sunny day and asked if he was eligible to apply for his green card. He said that his mother was a U.S. citizen and that she filed a petition for him, but he was afraid that he was not eligible since he had entered
the U.S. with a Filipino passport with an assumed name. We immediately informed Rudy that he was indeed eligible to apply for his green card, but that he would need a waiver of his fraudulent entry to the U.S. Unfortunately, Rudy’s mother passed away while his application for a green card was pending. Rudy was terrified that his application would automatically be denied because his mother was his petitioner and sole qualifying relative for the waiver. However, despite his mother’s death, we are proud to say that Rudy still received his green card shortly after his mother’s death. We were able to show the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service that Rudy remained eligible for his green card because of his residence in the U.S., his mother’s poor health before her passing and her reliance on Rudy. It was a long and stressful process for Rudy but it had a joyous ending. He is no longer afraid of hearing that dreadful knock on the door and he looks forward to being able to apply for US citizenship. Next week, more stories that made us glad we were able to help! ***
MALACAÑANG said on Monday, Dec. 12, that it is too early to speculate on the future of the American business process outsourcing (BPOs) in the Philippines under the leadership of US President-elect Donald Trump. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar made this reaction amid concerns that American BPOs might pull out of the Philippines following threats of ‘retribution’ by Trump against US companies that continue to outsource their operations and services.
“The statement of presidentelect Trump on US companies that continue to outsource their operations and services is not a policy set in stone,” Andanar said in a press statement. “We cannot speculate on the future of American BPOs in the Philippines until President-elect Trump takes his oath of office and spells out his policies,” he added. Andanar said US President Barack Obama had similarly appealed to American BPOs to conduct their operations back in
the US “but his call fell on deaf ears.” He said American BPOs opted to stay in the Philippines because it is more viable to do business in the country. “They would have less operating expenses. In the US, workers are paid per hour. In the Philippines, workers are paid per day,” Andanar said. Andanar also the shift in the structure of the work force of the information technology-BPO sector in the country is another
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ADB approves $250-M loan to help LGUs improve services
Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 795-8009 or visit www. rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.
ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday, Dec. 13, announced it will provide $250 million to help Philippine local governments units (LGUs) deliver better and more effective public services through improved revenue generation, stronger public financial systems and regulatory frameworks, as well as increased transparency and accountability. In a statement, ADB said the policy-based loan was approved by the ADB Board of Directors as the second phase of the Local Government Finance and Fiscal Decentralization Reform Program being implemented by the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Local Government Finance. “Service delivery, especially in the rural areas, has lagged
(Advertising Supplement)
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by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
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DECEMBER 16-22, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
The CTV Files Atty. Dennis ChuA, esq. WHEN a legal permanent resident files for citizenship, one of the questions being asked of the applicant is whether the applicant has ever been convicted or charged with a crime. Depending on the nature of the crime committed, a criminal conviction may result in a permanent bar to an applicant for citizenship. If an applicant has committed the crime of murder or an aggravated felony, the applicant will never be granted US citizenship. An aggravated felony may include the following crimes: rape; sexual abuse of a minor; drug trafficking; firearm trafficking; child pornography; laundering of monetary instruments where the amount exceeds $10,000. Aside from having the citizenship application denied, the applicant will most likely be put in removal proceedings once the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finds out that the applicant has been convicted of one of these crimes. There are some criminal con-
Community Journal
Crimes that may affect your citizenship application victions that may temporarily bar applicants from obtaining US citizenship. This means that if an applicant has been convicted of a crime, the applicant would have to wait for a certain period of time within which to apply for citizenship. In some cases, the applicant would have to wait for five years from the commission of the crime to apply for citizenship. Some of these crimes that will temporarily bar an applicant for citizenship are as follows: (1) participation in illegal vice activities such as prostitution; (2) conviction or admission of a crime involving moral turpitude; (3) spending 180 days or more in jail or prison for any crime; (4) conviction of two or more crimes, the combination of which the applicant got a total prison sentence of five years or more. These crimes would prevent an applicant from showing good moral character during the required period of time. However, there are some crimes which would temporarily bar an applicant from obtaining US citizenship if the applicant is still undergoing probation. An example would be a conviction
for driving under the influence (DUI). An applicant with a DUI conviction will have his or her application denied if the probation is still ongoing. The probation period for a DUI conviction is usually for three years. Applicants with DUI convictions may have the option of having their probation terminated earlier thus making them eligible to apply for citizenship. If an applicant has been convicted of a crime, it is best that the applicant seek legal advice from an attorney to determine eligibility in filing for citizenship and more importantly the consequences of the criminal conviction on the applicant’s immigration status. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; Dchua@ctvattys.com. The CTV Attorneys will be at Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo on October 19, 2009 from 5pm to 7pm to hold a FREE legal clinic. (Advertising Supplement)
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A new twist on an old tale — Micah of Samaria
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette ADevA MAglAyA JOSHUA hurried outside the inn to the courtyard. A stranger summoned him for help. He had a mule tethered to a post. A badly beaten, wounded man who looked half-dead was splayed helplessly face down across the girth of the pack animal. “What happened?” Joshua asked. The stranger replied, “I came across this man on a deserted part of the roadway to Jericho. He was stripped naked, unconscious and bloodied all over. He was still alive, but barely. I couldn’t just leave him.” He paused and pleaded with Joshua, the innkeeper, “Can you help us?” Joshua sprang to action, “Let’s bring him inside quickly. I can have Luke look him over.” They carried the man inside and laid him in a bed in one of the rooms. Joshua quickly fetched the man he called Luke. He was a physician who spent much of his time writing. They hurried to the wounded man’s room. With his deft hands, Luke diagnosed the injured man’s condition and briskly gave instructions to Joshua to prepare warm water, oil, ointment and strips of clothing to bind the man’s wounds. The man’s breathing was shallow. He opened his swollen eyes slightly seemingly regaining consciousness. The man moaned asking where he was. Then he drifted out once more. Luke felt his pulse. It was weak but steady. They ministered to him as best as they could. The man drifted in and out of consciousness but the bleeding had stopped. Seeing that there was no more they can do for the man
“… He opened his swollen eyes slightly seemingly regaining consciousness. The man moaned asking where he was. Then he drifted out once more. …” at the moment, the three men left the room. “I am Micah from Samaria,” the man said. “I am Joshua,” the innkeeper replied, “and this is Luke.” Luke gazing at the two men with kind knowing eyes, nodded, acknowledging them both as he went back to his writing. Micah stayed with the injured man through the night, lying down on a cot on one side of the room for short naps in-between while Luke checked in on the man’s condition from time to time during the night. Joshua made sure there is food for Micah and enough oil for the lamp that burned faintly in one corner of the room. It looked like the man was going to make it. He said a prayer of thankfulness. Micah was up early. He had pressing business to attend to. He looked in on the wounded man. He set aside two silver coins for the man’s care. Micah made a mental note to stop by the inn on his way back. He wanted to cover any other cost. Sometime during the day, the wounded man opened his eyes and saw he was in a strange room. His body ached all over and his head was spinning. He was hungry and thirsty and was about to call out when Joshua entered the room. “How are you feeling?” Joshua asked him. He had a tray of warm food and a flask of wine with him. The man groaned in reply.
Joshua placed the tray of food beside the man. He had great difficulty eating and swallowing but he must have been truly famished. He cleaned up what was on the tray. Joshua asked as he sat down on a chair, “ So tell me. What happened?” The man answered, “A band of four robbers sprang up on me while I was traveling on a deserted road on my way to Jericho. They beat me up so badly and left me for dead. They took all I had, even my clothing.” The man continued, “Hours had passed when I saw someone, coming up the road. He was garbed like a priest. I shouted for help and he saw me. Alas, he went on the other side of the road and hurried along. No one else came for hours. My heart was sinking. And then, in what seemed to be forever, a Levite came by and saw me but he too could not be bothered and went to the other side of the road and went on his way.” He paused for a while and said, “I was losing hope. I asked God for mercy to send someone, anyone to help me. The sun was going down and it will soon be cold and dark when I saw someone coming up the road. He was riding in a mule. I managed yet again to shout for help. This time, the man stopped, got off his animal and quickly hurried to where I lay bleeding. I must have passed out since that was the last
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Appetite regulators
Health@Heart PhiliP s. ChuA, MD, FACs, FPCs IN this day and age of health consciousness and the appreciation of the value and role of weight on longevity, interest in weight control and dieting is greater than ever, especially during holiday seasons. This leads to the question as to what controls our appetite. What triggers hunger and satiety? The urge to eat (hungry or not) is, to a large extent, controlled by hormones in our body. And these hormones fluctuate depending on how much sleep we get, what types of food we eat and how much calories we take in, and on how much physical activities we indulge in daily. Scientific researchers are focusing on four specific substances they call “fat hormones,” which our own endocrine glands in the body produce. There are hormones that make one eat and there are also hormones that signal the brain to tell the person to stop eating.
These substances control hunger and satiety. Which is the “hunger hormone”? The hunger hormone is Ghrelin, which is secreted by our guts (stomach and intestines). When its level goes up, we feel hungry and have the urge to eat. The level of Ghrelin goes up when we get less sleep or not enough sleep. This is the reason why those who are trying to lose weight should get adequate amount (about 8 hours) of sleep. An imbalance meal and stress also elevate the Ghrelin level. Food deprivation obviously increases the Ghrelin level, hence it is better to keep the level of this hormone on an even keel and not fluctuate too much by eating regularly (or even more than 3 times a day) but at a controlled total calorie ceiling, to maintain health and body weight. So, starving oneself is not a good way to lose weight, since this will lead to a Ghrelin “boomerang” in the latter part of the day. Which is the “satiety hormone”? The opposite or counter-hormone, which is called Leptin, signals the brain when to stop eat-
ing. It controls the appetite. This “satiety hormone” is produced by fat cells in the body. When a person loses weight, the leptin level in the blood stream also goes down. As a result, there is a “rebound” weight gain. The best strategy in losing and maintaining a desired weight level is to lose in a slow and steady pace, about one to two pounds a week, and not more. In this manner, there will still be an effective level of leptin in the body to control the urge to eat. What’s the effect of imbalance meals? High carbohydrate diet (rice, bread, sugar, pop drinks, ice cream, and other sweets) leads to a faster metabolism of these food items that have high glycemic indices and floods the blood stream with high glucose level. This is why those who eat a lot of these food items (rice is a great culprit!) are feared to have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Personally, much as I loved rice (a 3-meal rice addict), I had decided to give it up following all the convincing scientific evidence today of its
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Business News
In photo are (from left) PAL executive vice president /treasurer Stewart Lim, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista, CIAC president and COO Alexander Cauguiran, PALex president Bonifacio Sam and PAL senior vice president for airline operations Ismael Augusto Gozon.
PAL plans new hub in Clark
by LoueLLa
D. DesiDerio Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — The national carrier, which sees next year as a challenging year, plans to make Clark as one of its hubs as it looks for more routes to serve given aircraft deliveries this year. “I think 2017 will be more challenging especially for PAL (Philippine Airlines) because we have taken delivery of seven airplanes this year. We have to look for more destinations. We have to mount more flights for us to be able to maximize utilization of these airplanes,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista told reporters on Tuesday, Dec. 13. He said the carrier is hopeful it would be successful at the Clark International Airport so that it could become one of its hubs. Bautista, along with PAL Express president Bonifacio Sam, PAL executive vice president Stewart Lim and PAL senior vice president for airline operations
Ismael Augusto Gozon, signed yesterday with Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president and chief excecutive officer Alexander Cauguiran a memorandum of agreement for the carrier’s start of operations at the airport in Pampanga. Under the agreement, PAL has committed to operate flights at the Clark International Airport. The first phase involves the launch of flights between Clark and Caticlan (Boracay) on Dec. 16. PAL’s service for the Clark to Caticlan route PR2371 will depart Clark daily at 11:35 a.m. and arrive in Caticlan at 12:50 a.m., while PR2370 will leave Caticlan daily at 10 a.m. and touch down in Clark at 11:15 a.m. The second phase begins in the first quarter of next year with non-stop flights between Clark and Cebu, Davao and Cagayan as well as flights between Clark and Incheon, South Korea. PAL will start four times weekly non-stop flights between Clark and Cebu via PR837/PR838 on
Jan. 30 and thrice weekly nonstop flights between Clark and Davao via PR831/PR832, and daily flights between Clark and Incheon, South Korea via PR492/ PR493 on Feb.1. For its part, CIAC will provide PAL specific logistical and ground service support to help ensure smooth operation of flights. “Signing this agreement solidifies our commitment to help the government develop secondary hubs in order to ease congestion at the Manila terminals. The positive response in terms of passenger bookings for the Clark-Caticlan route proves that we have made the right decision to mount these new flights,” Bautista said. The government is promoting the Clark International Airport as an alternative to the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). NAIA’s four terminals handled over 36 million passengers last year, above its annual maximum capacity of 35 million passengers. n
Community Journal
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Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. ***
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 16-22, 2016
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The January 2017 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
May 1, 2006
October 1, 2005
First Preference
Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)
Second Preference
(2A) Spouse and minor children (below November 22, 21 years old) of green 2015 card holder
March 22, 2015
(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder
February 1, 2007
April 8, 2006
Third Preference
Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.
January 1, 1995
September 1, 1994
Fourth Preference
Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.
April 1, 1994
June 8, 1993
Application Filing Date
LABOR CERTIFICATION: Second Preference
Advanced Degree (Masters)
Third Preference
Professional/ Skilled Workers
Visa Issuance Date
Current
Current
September 1, 2013
July 22, 2011
A MOTHER’S AND HER ATTORNEY’S PERSISTENCE RESULT IN HER DAUGHTERS FINALLY BEING ISSUED CSPA VISAS BASED ON “EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES” — ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY”! Lolita left her two daughters in the Philippines to seek a better life in the U.S., with the dream that she would eventually have them join her. However, her previous attorney missed the one year “sought to acquire” filing deadline for CSPA eligibility, resulting in the Embassy refusing to issue their immigrant visas. Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was her beacon of hope, as he did not give up in trying to convince the Embassy that the daughters should be entitled to visas, despite missing the one-year deadline. Find out how Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to prove extraordinary circumstances, have the two “aged-out” daughters be issued visas, and reunite this family on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.
A new twist on an old tale — Micah…
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time I remembered anything.” Joshua told him, “The man who September 1, Non-Skilled July 22, 2011 Other Workers brought you here saved you just Workers 2013 in time. God heard your prayer. A physician has been treating you.” Joshua looked at him squarely and New York. All immigration services are outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyand added, “The man who saved provided by, or under the supervision of, an client relationship is, or shall be, established you is named Micah, a Samariactive member of the State Bar of California. with any reader. tan. He was up all night looking WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Each case is different. The information after you.” Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for contained herein including testimonials, Samuel’s swollen eyes grew “Success Stories,” endorsements and re- anywhere in the US: wide. Joshua noted the man (866)—GURFINKEL enactments) is of a general nature, and is not seemed stunned at knowing who Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES intended to apply to any particular case, and had saved him. Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an does not constitute a prediction, warranty, · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES “I’m the innkeeper. I’m Joshua. (Advertising Supplement) active member of the State Bar of California guarantee or legal advice regarding the What is yours?” he asked him. “Sam … Samuel from Jerusalem,” the man stammered. Joshua nodded, stood up and took the tray away. “Well, rest and feel better,” he told him in a quiet voice, headed for the door and left the room. Joshua thought to himself as he went about his day. In the many years he had been an innkeeper, he knew Jews and Samaritans took great pains to avoid one other. They were like oil and water. They just did not mix. Jews considered Samaritans as halfbreeds, inferior in every way, since they had married pagans and had included pagan rituals in their worship. In the Jewish tradition, they were outcasts, tolerated but not welcome. D EC E M B E R 1 5 Joshua guessed Samaritans
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Simbang Gabi at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles
Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region of the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will once again host the Annual Simbang Gabi Advent (night mass) on Thursday, December 15. It is the 14th anniversary of the liturgical celebration of the Philippine tradition of culture, faith, and preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Our theme this year is “JESUS, MAKE US GENEROUS DISPENSERS OF YOUR DIVINE MERCY” translated in Tagalog, “HESUS, GAWIN MO KAMING MASAGANANG DALUYAN NG IYONG BANAL NA AWA.” Ministers from parishes of the Pastoral Regions of Santa Barbara, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Pedro and Our Lady of the Angels together with Dignitaries, Civic, Business and Non-profit organizations will march with their banner and parol (lantern), a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem. Most Reverend Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, D.D will be the main celebrant. Other Concelebrants will be the Bishops and Priests of the Archdiocese. Over 3,000 individuals are expected to attend. The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels at 555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Parking is available at the cathedral for $8 or at adjacent lots. For more information, please email Lem Amit at filipinoministryola@gmail.com or (323) 793-5141.
D EC E M B E R 1 6 -1 7
Simbang Gabi at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles Christ the King Roman Catholic Church will have Simbang Gabi on Friday, December 16 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 17 at 5 p.m. The church is located at 624 N. Rossmore Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90004. For more information, please call (323) 465-7605.
D EC E M B E R 1 7
SIPA’s 2nd annual toy drive & distribution in Los Angeles The Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) will have its second annual toy drive and distribution in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 17. The toy drive will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.; please bring in an unwrapped toy for children between the ages of 0-15 years old or make a $25 donation to SIPA. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a toy distribution by the Purist Group, SCPASA & special celebrity guests. Activities include free kids haircuts by celebrity barber JayR Mallari and holiday music by DJ Icy Ice. Light food and drink will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. SIPA is located at 3200 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026.
Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) Alumni of Greater Los Angeles’ anniversary celebration Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) Alumni of Greater Los Angeles (APOGLA) will have its 36th anniversary celebration with the theme “Christmas in the Inland Empire” on Saturday, December 17. Registration and no-host cocktails will take place between 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. while buffet dinner will start at 7 p.m. During the event, the organization’s new officers will be inducted. The event will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton on 222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, California 91764. To RSVP, please contact Bro. Rocky Marte at rsmarte@ sbcglobal.net or at (626) 482-3410.
D EC E M B E R 1 7-1 8
Consular outreach mission in Miami, Florida The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., in cooperation with the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. - Central Florida Chapter, the Filipino-American Association of Pensacola, Inc., and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Miami, is pleased to announce that it will conduct a consular outreach mission in Pensacola on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Services offered include: Philippine passport applications; legalization of documents (acknowledgment, authentication, etc.); and receipt of reports of birth, marriage and death. No applications for dual citizenship will be accepted at this time, as oaths of allegiance must be administered by the Philippine Consul General or Consul. For an appointment, please email consular@philippineusa.org and copy furnish honcon.miami@gmail.com. The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Miami is located at 12/F 1200 Brickell Ave., Miami, Florida 33131.
D EC E M B E R 1 8 -1 9
Cathedral Chapel of St. Vibiana Parish in Los Angeles hosts Simbang Gabi oin the community on Sunday, December 18 at 5 p.m. and Monday, December 19 at 7 p.m. for Simbang Gabi celebrations. The church is located at 923 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information, please call (323) 930-5676.
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probably felt just as resentful toward Jews. They probably regarded Jews as high-handed, arrogant stiffs, rigidly set and unbending in their ways and traditions. So deep was the resentment between them that Samaritans and Jews did not even talk to each other. But now somehow Joshua knew it did not have to be so. He knew and felt better about this bit of wisdom about who true neighbors are. He refused the two silver coins Micah was giving him. Joshua felt good doing his bit for the wounded man. Joshua went about his day with a lighter heart. He felt sure God made him an innkeeper to meet people on the crossroads. Since that glorious night long ago when he witnessed something rare, precious and mysterious in a childbirth at the stable at the back of the inn that only a few men had ever seen, stories have been unfolding right before his eyes. People and their stories have been opening up his heart and enriching his soul. Joshua often regaled his wife and children with these stories at the dinner table. He thought that maybe one day when the time is ripe, he could share these stories with as many others who cared to listen. These stories are just too good
to keep to one’s self. Maybe he can tell Luke who can then write about these stories to pass them on to many generations. Samuel, the wounded man, was in deep thought too. He felt sure the priest and the Levite who had both passed him by were going to help him in his hour of need. They were supposedly men of God. Samuel was a man of some means and had given generously to the temple’s coffers. He even sat with these men in places of honor. Like them, he grew up bound by tradition and despised Samaritans. And yet, here he is, still alive by an unexpected grace. Here he still is because of a surprising deed of kindness from a man whose tribe people thought, including himself, were good for nothing. He closed his eyes and felt deep shame and remorse. Samuel knew he could never repay the kindness this Samaritan man Micah had given him. Yet, Samuel now knows in his heart he can look at Samaritans and perhaps, even other groups who worshiped the same God, with fresh eyes and treat them like his own. *** 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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DECEMBER 16-22, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
Business news
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
Robust economic growth seen for Philippines by lawrenCe
agCaoili Philstar.com
Filipino jobs up in Oct, underemployment worsens by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
MORE Filipinos found jobs in October, but underemployment – or the condition in which highly skilled workers are employed at less than full-time or regular jobs, or at low-salaried jobs requiring less skills – has wors-
ened, the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) shows. The employment rate in October rose to 95.3 percent from 94.4 percent a year earlier. Consequently, unemployment dropped to 4.7 percent during the month, from 5.6 percent in October 2015, according to LFS data released
by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday, Dec. 13. However, while the number of people with jobs across the country increased and that of the unemployed dropped, the rate of underemployment climbed 18 percent, from 17.6 percent a year earlier. n PAGE CJ2 t link to diabetes. Could this be the reason why the incidence of diabetes is very high among has supported the government’s Asians, especially among Filipidecentralization and public finan- nos? The research on this is still cial management reform agenda in progress. How about emotional stress? by addressing these constraints When one is high on stress and helping local governments widen their own-source revenue and low on energy, the body base while making it sustainable. tries to compensate by producIt also helps local governments ing more cortisol hormone. This enhance tax collection efficien- substance mobilizes the blood cy, access debt capital markets, sugar transformation (glycogen strengthen public financial man- into glucose) and increases the agement systems, and create a blood sugar level to provide enmore equitable fiscal framework ergy. But it makes the person geared towards the achievement hungry. And so the person eats more. The connection between of inclusive growth. Decentralization also improves cortisol level and obesity is not governance and service delivery, a settled question yet. Physical with local governments becom- stress, like regimented physical ing more accountable to their exercises daily, is another story. This has a positive effect on our constituencies, ADB said. n body in more ways than one. While it also raises the cortisol level and increases blood sugar, exercise burns calories and also in its 10-Point Agenda; one, in- helps put our body hormones vestment in human capital devel- in good balance. As a matter of opment, including match skills fact those who do daily exercises and training, and two, promotion have lower risk of developing of science, technology and the heart attack, stroke, diabetes, creative arts to enhance innova- and cancer. What is Obsetatin? tion and creative capacity,” he This is a hormone recently added. (Philippine News Agency)
ADB approves $250-M loan to help LGUs…
PAGE CJ1 t
those of the more developed areas as rural LGUs do not have sufficient revenues,” said Stephen Schuster, an ADB principal financial sector specialist. “Therefore, the government has prioritized a number of initiatives to assist LGUs, including distributing national resources more equitably, and increasing their capacity to raise ownsource revenues to improve the delivery of health, education, housing, and other services to communities,” he added. Under the Local Government Code, responsibility for service delivery was devolved and delegated to the local governments.
As a result, local governments account for about 27 percent of total government expenditures in 2014, excluding debt amortization. ADB said while the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) provides inter-governmental fiscal transfers to compensate, it is based on a formulaic approach that does not consider either the fiscal needs of the local governments or their ability to fund necessary service delivery. In addition, over-reliance on the IRA dilutes the accountability between local governments and their constituents that is provided by an efficient tax system, it added. The lender said the program
Palace maintains ‘wait-and-see’ stance… PAGE CJ1 t
factor considered by the foreign BPOs to stay in the Philippines. “It is expected that the sector will cater to more complicated requirements as the industry plans to climb the value chain from the traditional voice and IT
services to animation, game development and healthcare information. We hope we can capitalize on this where the Philippines has a competitive advantage,” Andanar said. “It is for this reason that the Duterte Administration included
MANILA, Philippines — Economic managers are confident the Philippines would continue to enjoy a robust economic growth next year as more opportunities open up and outweigh the impact of external headwinds. Officials told local and foreign fund managers and analysts, as well as other international stakeholders in an Investor Conference Call organized by the Investor Relations Office (IRO) that next year’s targets of robust growth and modest inflation are achievable. “Bottom line is that the Philippines is on a solid footing despite fragility of the global operating environment,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) managing director for monetary policy Francisco Dakila Jr. said. Economic managers penned a gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2017 from a range of six to seven percent this year. The BSP has set an inflation target
of two to four percent between 2016 and 2018. Should the targets be realized as projected by officials, the Philippines would continue to be in an enviable “sweet spot,” being able to post strong economic growth without suffering from runaway inflation. Attainment of the growth target for next year would continue to make the Philippines one of the best performing countries in the region, said IRO executive di-
Appetite… identified by researchers at Stanford. This substance has been shown to slow down the digestive process. While the studies on Obsetatin are still ongoing, it is postulated that this hormone, like the first three above, could be held in check by adequate sleep, balanced diet, physical exercise and minimizing stress. Are Appetite Suppressants Safe? Most appetite control pills, juices, solutions and powders on the market are not physiological and unnatural ways to suppress (by force) the appetite for weight control. While they are readily available and very popular, they have potential adverse side effects on the heart, liver, kidneys and brain in the long haul. Some serious complications, and even deaths, have been reported from the use of these diet substances. Since greater calorie intake than output is the cause of increase in body weight, the safest, most natural, strategy is to eat less and burn more calories with physical exercises, making the output of calories (energy) greater than the intake of calories (food). The use of appetite suppressants could be dangerous. Consult with your physician
rector Editha Martin. Among the major Asian countries, the Philippines was one of the fastest growing economies with an average GDP growth of seven percent in the first nine months, surpassing China’s 6.7 percent, but behind India’s 7.4 percent. The strong economic growth of the Philippines is seen to continue even as the global economy enters 2017 with uncertainties
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before using any of them. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people, especially parents, whose way of life inevitably impacts the health of their children, to live a healthy lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities, and achieve a happier and more productive life for themselves and for their offspring. My articles are general medical information for the public and not intended to be applicable to, or appropriate for, anyone. The data, statistics, and personal commentaries presented here are not a substitute for, or inferred to be superior to, the professional opinion and recommendation of your physician, who knows your total condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 16-22, 2016
CJ
New Mayor and Vice Mayor sworn in at South Officers of the Development Academy of San Francisco City Council reorganization event the Philippines visit San Francisco PCG SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — On Wednesday, Dec. 7 during South San Francisco’s City Council Reorganization event, councilmembers nominated and voted Pradeep Gupta as Mayor and Liza Normandy as Vice Mayor. “It is my honor to step up and continue the work that former Mayor Mark Addiego has started,” said Gupta. “We have a great group of people on our Council, many who have served the City for years. I’m eager to lead this Council and our City during such exciting times.” Pradeep Gupta was appointed to the South San Francisco City Council for a one-year term on December 31, 2012. He was subsequently elected in November 2013 for a full four-year term. Prior to his appointment to the City Council, he was on the South San Francisco Planning Commission for three years, serving as the Commission’s Chair in 2011. He has a Master’s degree and a Doctorate from Purdue University in Electrical Engineering, specializing in the area of energy efficiency and long term planning of electric utility systems. His professional career spans over thirty years of working with electric utility industries both in the US and abroad. Councilmember Gupta serves on the following subcommittees of the Council: Environment, Finance and Budget Subcommittee, Community Coalition for Safe Neighborhoods, and South San Francisco Unified School District Liaison. His regional
Mayor Pradeep Gupta
Vice Mayor Liza Normandy
assignments include, Association of Bay Area Governments Board, City County Association of Government Board, Bay Area Regional Collaborative, Regional Planning Committee Chair, Peninsula Clean Energy Board, Resource Management and Climate Protection Committee, San Mateo County Community Action Agency and Emergency Services Council. Liza Normandy was elected to the City Council in November 2013. She previously served on the South San Francisco Unified School District Board of Trustees, serving as Board President from 2008 to 2010. She was the first Asian-American elected to the School Board, is the second Asian-American elected to the City Council, and only the third woman to serve on the South San Francisco City Council. Normandy is involved in a variety of local and regional community organizations including
the South San Francisco Asian Alliance, South San Francisco Police Athletic League, Historical Society, Organization of Chinese Americans - San Mateo Chapter, League of Women Voters of North & Central San Mateo County, and the Italian American Citizens Club. As a Councilmember, Normandy has also served on the following committees: Community Development Block Grant, Downtown Subcommittee, Financial/Budget committee, and the Harbor District/City Liaison Committee. Beyond South San Francisco, Normandy is also very involved regionally, serving time on the Airport Land Use Committee (ALUC), the Housing Our People Effectively (HOPE) Leadership Committee, the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART) of San Mateo County and Vice Chair for the San Mateo County Council of Cities. n
around the midpoint of the official target band by next year. “Price stability would be supported by rising investments, which boost the economy’s productive capacity and, therefore, the supply of goods and services. Rising investments are evidenced partly by increasing imports of capital goods, intermediate goods, and raw materials,” Dakila said. National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said there are additional growth drivers
next year. “We see certain growth opportunities beginning next year,” Edillon said. She pointed out the progress of economic integration of the Asean region, a market of about 600 million people, which could spur Philippine exports. Edillon likewise cited the administration’s infrastructure agenda, which is expected to go full swing in 2017, the first year that the government will operate under a Duterte-administration budget. n
Robust economic growth seen for…
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arising from key challenges, including change in political leadership and the anticipated rise of interest rates in the US, the continuing process of “Brexit,” and slowdown in China and other major economies. The country’s buffers, particularly fiscal and monetary space, would help provide resilience to the domestic economy, officials said. Dakila said inflation is seen to slightly inch up from the estimate of below two percent this year to
OFFICERS of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) paid a courtesy call on Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Consul General Bensurto discussed with DAP officers the Consulate’s thrusts to Spark* Empower* Connect* the FilipinoAmerican community, paying particular attention to the youth and millennials, who desire to learn more about their culture and heritage. Consul General Bensurto outlined the Consulate’s mission to reach out to the various demographic groups of the FilipinoAmerican Community, mentioning that it is working with the Vallejo Unified School District to promote exchanges between elementary-aged students and the academe in the cities of Vallejo and Manila. He also mentioned coordinating with high schoolaged Filipino-Americans, many
of whom are curious about their roots and identity, as well as its involvement in the Filipino American Youth Leadership Program, which targets accomplished Filipino-American leaders who wish to deepen their ties with the Homeland. The Consul General brought up the possibility of working with DAP to provide a platform by which the second, third and fourth generation Filipino-Amer-
icans are able to learn about Philippine history, culture, heritage, and contemporary issues, and to develop in the younger generation a deeper affinity towards the Philippines. Post will continue to communicate with DAP on how the youth and millennials of the Filipino-American Community can be further educated to generate greater understanding and appreciation for their culture. n
Social Security’s gift to children is security
THIS is the season of caring. No matter your religion or belief, December is also considered a time to focus on the children we love. Whether we’re wrapping Santa’s gifts, buying Hanukkah treats, decorating the house in celebration of Kwanzaa, or volunteering for a toy drive, children add joy to the holiday season. And we at Social Security definitely know a thing or two about helping children. Often overlooked in the paperwork that prospective parents fill out in preparation for a child’s birth is an application for a Social Security number and card. Typically, the hospital will ask if you want to apply for a Social Security number for your newborn as part of the birth registration process. This is the easiest and fastest way to apply. The Social Security card typically arrives about a week to ten days after that little bundle of joy! You can learn about Social Security numbers for children by reading our publication, Social Security Numbers for Children, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. A child needs a Social Security number if he or she is going to
have a bank account, if a relative is buying savings bonds for the child, if the child will have medical coverage, or if the child will receive government services. You’ll also need a Social Security number for a child to claim him or her on your tax returns. If you wait to apply, you will have to visit a Social Security office and you’ll need to: • Complete an Application For a Social Security Card (Form SS-5); • Show us original documents proving your child’s U.S. citizenship, age, and identity; and • Show us documents proving your identity. Remember, a child age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number must appear in person for the interview, even though a parent or guardian will sign the application on the child’s behalf. Children with disabilities are among our most vulnerable citizens. Social Security is dedicated to helping those with qualifying disabilities and their families through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for SSI: • The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a com-
bination of conditions, resulting in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must severely limit your child’s activities; • The child’s condition(s) must be severe, last for at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death; • If your child’s condition(s) does not result in “marked and severe limitations,” or does not result in those limitations lasting for at least 12 months, your child will not qualify for SSI; and • The child must not be working and earning more than $1,090 a month in 2016. (This amount usually changes every year.) If he or she is working and earning that much money, your child will not be eligible for benefits. Learn the details about benefits for children by reading our publication, Benefits for Children with Disabilities, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ people/kids to learn more about all we do to care for children. Caring for the next generation is a central part of securing today and tomorrow, during the holidays and all year long. n
CJ
DECEMBER 16-22, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
Friday, December 16, 2016
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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 16, 2016
Maligayang Pasko:
Filipino Christmas traditions by Klarize
The Philippines touts the longest Christmas celebration of any other country in the world. As early as September, Filipinos begin the holiday festivities by partaking in the many customs and traditions unique to the global Filipino community. Christmas traditions comprise both native customs and the West, which comes from Spanish colonization. Filipinos have adopted Santa Claus, Christmas trees, carols and cards as well as other Western holiday fixtures while still keeping true to native Filipino traditions. Philippine holiday décor Although Americanization of the holidays has found its way to Philippine culture, like Christmas trees, tinsel, reindeer and even snow, Filipinos still keep true to their heritage by decorating their homes with traditional ornamentation. The parol — which comes from the Spanish word farol, meaning “lantern” or “lamp” — is one of the most notable
Food, glorious Food: The noche buena spread
Medenilla /AJPress
adornments seen on Filipino homes and buildings. These extravagant, colorful starshaped lanterns connote the Star of Bethlehem that helped the Three Kings navigate their way to the manger of the baby Jesus Christ. The decoration was originally designed and crafted by artist Francisco estanislao in 1908. he used bamboo strips as the skeleton of the design and overlaid it with papél de japón, or Japanese paper. A candle would be placed in the middle for the star’s famous illumination. Famously, before electricity was available, Filipinos who lived in the provincial areas would use a paról to illuminate their paths on the way to Simbang Gabi. Another popular mainstay of the traditional Filipino Christmas is the belén, which is a nativity scene depicting the Birth of Christ in Bethlehem. The expansive installation often includes a three-walled barn house with the infant Christ in the manger flanked by the
TheRe is no doubt that Christmas is one of the Filipinos’ favorite holidays. Aside from having the longest holiday season (starting in September until January), Christmas is the time for parties, gift-giving, and of course, a multitude of culinary delights. On Christmas eve, the last Mass of Simbang Gabi is attended; and then noche buena — a family feast — takes place after midnight. Noche buena public view Virgin (“good night” or “holy night” in are more Mary, Joseph Spanish) is a Filipino custom adextravaand the opted from Spain and Mexico. gant with Three Kinds, It is not your typical meal, as it folks adorning the shepis very much like an open house them with Christmas herds and stable animals. lights, painted backdrops celebration where everybody The scene is often surmountwho drops by is invited to or even paról. ed by an angel or a star. partake in what is served on the Simbang Gabi Belén is almost always seen table. Filipino Catholics around at churches, but Filipinos often Food is in abundance, often implement them in their homes, the world often partake in the served buffet style. Among the “Simbang Gabi” (night Mass) schools and office buildings. noche buena staples include celebration, a devotional Belén can be minimalistic, but favorite Filipino dishes such nine-day novena of Mass from the ones that garner the most as lechon (roasted whole pig), December 16-24 to celebrate pancit, barbecue, rice, adobo the coming of Christmas and and native rice cakes (kakanin to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. Masses begin as early as — biko, sapin-sapin, bibingka, puto bumbong, or cassava 3 a.m., but in some parishes, cake). however, Western influmasses are held the previous ence has brought in spaghetti or evening. The last day of the fruitcake, and a fusion of Filipino service on Christmas eve is with international dishes. called Misa de Gallo, Spanish here are some of the noche for “Rooster’s Mass.” buena spread favorites: Simbang Gabi began as a • Hamon/hamonado tradition in 1669 in the early ham, (from the Spanish jamon). days of Spanish colonialism in Pork marinated in pineapple the Philippines. As Christmas juice, sugar, salt and spices; then approached, novenas were baked. often held in the evenings, but • Keso de bola - Literally, a priests noticed the fatigue on ball of edam cheese (a semithe faces of those who had hard cheese from Netherlands), been working in the fields all day. To compromise, clergymen usually with a red paraffin wax across the country began hold- covering. • Bibingka - Flat cake ing Simbang Gabi in the early cooked in banana leaves with dawn before folks headed out salted egg, kesong puti, served to work in the fields. with butter and grated coconut. Today, Filipino parishes • Lechon - Roasted pig, hold Simbang Gabi either early pork belly, chicken, fish — it in the morning or later in the means anything that’s roasted evening. Some local parishes hold partial novenas while many over coals. But in Filipino are hosting full services per the households, it is always the lechong baboy (pig) that rules 9-day tradition. over the table. • Leche flan - The Filipino version of a creme brulee — but better. A mixture of egg yolks, condensed milk, fresh milk and sugar; this sweet concoction is steamed and topped with caramelized sugar. • Macaroni salad - Although every Filipino has their own version, this dish starts with the same ingredients — pasta,
Recipes for the holidays from Chef Eric Pascual ThOuGh born and raised in the Bay Area, Chef eric Pascual spent a good amount of his childhood in hawaii. his passion for cooking started at a young age when he was introduced to cooking by his grandparents and parents. Chef eric’s family told him that he share his grandfather’s passion for cooking, who would prepare meals for large groups of people using ingredients sourced from his backyard. To this day, he can still see his lolo’s passion for cooking and food through the bountiful 50-foot mango tree that he planted in his aunt’s backyard in hawaii nearly 40 years ago. Growing up in a household with two working parents, he had to learn independence at a young age and it began with cooking. When his mom wasn’t working she was showing Chef eric around the kitchen. Something that began as a responsibility soon turned into a curiosity, slowly turned into a hobby, and is now one of his passions. Through the meals he has hosted, he has been able to portray my style of cooking, which is a blend of his travels, upbringing, experiences, and Filipino culture. Follow him at http://eatsbye. com and Instagram/Twitter @eats_by_e
mayonnaise and chicken. Others add carrots, celery, cheese and sometimes pineapple. • Spaghetti - Filipino-style, that is. Made with tomato sauce and paste, ground beef or pork, cheese and a little sugar to sweeten the taste, the spaghetti is a Filipino staple in parties and for noche buena. There is no doubt that Filipinos love to celebrate occasions and holidays with food. however, this brings the Filipino value of being family-oriented. Though the noche buena’s central focus may seem to be on the feast being served, the real reason for getting together is partaking the food over laughter, storytelling and love.
How to cook ginataang bilo-bilo Ginataang Alimasag at Hipon by Chef Eric Pascual
A Filipino sweet soup snack perfect for chilly winter nights Contributed by Sarahlynn Filipino Kitchen
Pablo
BeyOND the brown sugar and coconut milk, my aunt said, any available fruit or vegetable may be used for the Filipino ginataan recipe below, like taro root (gabi), corn (mais), even mongo beans • 1 onion, minced • Meat from 2 large Dungeness or guava (this last one she said was especially good). The important • 1 1/2 tbsp grated ginger crab (approximately 1 lb. of InGredIentS: things are that, like the work of a farm, everyone pitches in — peel• 3 tbsp cooking oil meat) ing, chopping, dough-ball rolling — to make the dish a sweet suc• 3 ½ cups of frozen grated cas• 5 cups coconut cream • ½ lb. shrimp (shells removed) cess and that the ingredients are local, seasonally available, excess sava or fresh cassava if available • 1 tsp ground black pepper • 1 cup green jackfruit, crops. • 1 ½ cup evaporated milk (or eating seasonally and locally makes sense, right? In much of the • 1 stalk of green onions, thinly chopped (fresh or 1 can large, ¾ cup of whole milk and ¼ cup world, this is the only way to eat. In fact, in America, we are used to sliced (for garnish) seeds removed) half and half ) eating out-of-season, far away and/or foreign. • 3 birdseye or Thai chili, thinly • 3 tbsp bagoong (shrimp When I was growing up in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, • 2 eggs sliced paste) my family was one of a few Filipino families there. For a large part • ½ cup cane sugar • 2 tbsp. fried onions (for • 2 tbsp patis/fish sauce of my childhood, we would drive into the city to Chinatown to stock • ½ cup condensed milk garnish) • 5 garlic cloves, minced up on Asian groceries. For Thanksgiving and other holidays, my • 1 can coconut milk (13.5 oz.) ninang made lumpia and pancit canton, and little girl me tried to asCooKInG ProCeSS: • pinch of salt sist her. Of course we had turkey with stuffing and gravy or honey• ½ cup melted butter (save 1 pound, lid on but not PRePARING The CRAB cured hams, too, but holidays wouldn’t feel special if there wasn’t tbsp to grease bottom of pan) Filipino food at the table. completely covered to allow 1. I suggest using live/fresh • ½ cup of unsweetened Far from home and surrounded by the unfamiliar, the migrant a bit of venting. crab. toasted coconut clings tightly to what she knows best: music, holiday traditions and 3. Rinse and cool crabs. 2. Steam or boil crabs TOPPING food. Migrants bring their “stinky” fish sauces and other spices. in a large pot at 7 minutes/ Continued on Page SF3 • 4 egg yolks They pick up from the butcher for free bags full of what would be thrown away and turn it into culinary creations like fish head sini• ¾ cup of whole milk and gang or kare-kare with oxtail. They seek out the markets of other, CooKInG ProCeSS: older, more established migrant groups – Chinese, Indian, Mexican – to find ingredients for a taste closer to their own. milk. Stir well and pour 1. In a bowl combine the Though ginataan calls for seasonal and local, I’m grateful that mixture into greased baking egg yolks, condensed milk, my family flew in the face of those practicalities / limitations in our pan. Bake in a 350 F oven for and evaporated milk and stir little part of America, holiday after holiday, meal after meal. 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until well. Set aside. In the spirit of the cold, Christmas-y season, I’d like to share one a toothpick inserted in the 2. using the melted butter of my favorite Filipino late-evening snacks: ginataan bilo-bilo, or comiddle comes out clean. or margarine, grease bottom conut milk and rice flour balls – a sweet, hot dessert-y soup perfect 3. Remove from oven and and all sides of a 13” x 9” for when the mercury dips low. let cake settle for 5 minutes. baking pan. My aunt reminds me that this dish is actually a snack, or merien4. Pour custard topping 2. In a large bowl, comda. Though sweet, ginataan is too heavy to serve as a dessert at mixture over surface of cake. bine sugar, grated cassava, the end of a meal. Merienda, I should note, is a very important part coconut milk, and condensed Continued on Page SF3 Continued on Page SF3
Cassava Cake by Chef Eric Pascual
InGredIentS:
How to cook ginataang bilo-bilo
features SF3
From Page SF2
of agricultural life in the Philippines. Life on a farm, day into day and months into seasons, is a dance. It has a rhythm. In the couple of hours after lunch, it’s much, much too hot for the workers, the kids, the farmers to do strenuous physical activity in the sun. you look to do some activity that’s still necessary to make the farm run but doesn’t require a lot. Maybe you’d take a short siesta (nap). Bring the goats out to the field. Thrush some rice. Make feed for the pigs. Dress some tobacco leaves. Or maybe you could take on a few of those things. After a few hours of low-key activity, you need merienda before the hard work begins in earnest again at 3 o’clock. enter ginataan. InGredIentS Milk and meat from two coconuts (gata). This is the critical ingredient. Brown sugar. The second of two critical ingredients. Six plantains or cooking bananas, peeled (saba) Ten pieces of jackfruit, pitted (langka) Grated cassava root (kamoteng kahoy), two medium-sized pieces Glutinous rice flour (malagkit), two cups, and water for bilo-bilo. yep, literally, that’s ball-ball. One medium sweet potato, peeled (kamote) Three small purple yam, peeled (ube). If you add this, obviously, your ginataan will have a tingle of violet. Two notes on ingredients. One: Where available and possible, fresh ingredients are best. Most of these ingredients may be available in canned or frozen form in non-tropical climes where there are communities of Asians or Filipinos nearby. Substitute canned or frozen counterparts if you need to and don’t feel any shame about it. Two: I’ve added suggested amounts of each ingredient but suit the proportions to your taste. If you like more cassava root like I do, add more of those. If you’re on a low-sugar diet, put less. InStrUCtIonS 1. Open the coconuts carefully and set aside the milk. Scrape the meat from the husk into strips. Or you can just buy fresh scraped coconut meat and fresh coconut milk if you
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – December 16, 2016
Pia Wurztbach fought for Miss Universe to happen in PH by nathalie
toMada Philstar.com
don’t have the tools (we did). Squeeze the remaining milk from the coconut flesh with your bare hands or with a cheese cloth. Simmer the coconut milk in a large pot with brown sugar. Make sure the brown sugar is fully dissolved. The brown sugar pictured is unrefined, wrapped in a leaf and formed in a coconut shape called panutsa (also known by panotcha or panotsa, which are also the words for peanut brittle). It was so tasty, I think, owing to its smoky molasses quality. I was lucky enough to have shared some with my cousin in the Netherlands in the ginataan she made. She used about a third of this half-dome of sugar. If you’re not lucky enough to get this awesome sugar, granular brown sugar works just fine, too. 2. Now, the remaining ingredients – plantains, jackfruit, cassava, rice flour balls, sweet potato, purple yam – need to be cut or formed at approximately the same size, I’d say half-inch to one inch pieces, so each spoonful has a few small bits of awesome. All the kids are going into the coconut milk pool later. 3. Glutinous rice flour bilo-bilo. Put a cup of the flour in a bowl, add water slowly, a spoonful at a time, stirring slowly. What you want to form from the flour and water is a paste that holds its own. you can tell when it’s “done” when the paste will come up off the bottom of the bowl cleanly when you scrape it with a spoon. After you get the paste to this point, let it rest for a few minutes on the counter. This paste is called galapong, the sticky rice flour dough that is the basis for an infinite number of kakanin, ricebased desserts like bibingka. Get a plate and sprinkle it with rice flour. Pick up a little divet of that flour with your fingers and rub it around your palms. Snip
off a bit of the dough paste, and form it into a ball by rolling between your floured palms. Set the little ball on the floured plate. Repeat. 4. Cassava root. If using fresh cassava, cut a narrow, diagonal line the length of the root. This will help you shave off the root’s bark. Grate the root, though at the core of the root is a very stringy and tough core. Don’t include that. The core left will be about as wide as your pinky finger. Squeeze out the water from the grated cassava root with your bare hands or with a cheese cloth. Form the grated root into balls. Add a little of the glutinous rice flour to help it stick together. These cassava truffles – if I may coin this phrase – are really delicate. you can also use frozen, packaged cassava. Defrost and treat it the same as the fresh root. 4. Now that the sugar’s all dissolved in the coconut milk, layer your cut-up ingredients inside, with the heavier, denser ingredients going in first: sweet potato, purple yam, jackfruit, glutinous rice balls and cassava root truffles. Once you’ve layered everything inside, DON’T STIR The POT. The cassava’s really delicate (just reminding you!) and, with all that starch, stirring too much will make the ginataan too thick. Just let everything get warm, and come up to a simmer. Get a hot bowl and a spoon and go to town. Sweet, stickto-your-ribs, warming taste of home. *** Sarahlynn Pablo is the co-founder of Filipino Kitchen, a food media and events group whose mission is to connect Filipinos across the diaspora with their culture and history by celebrating our cuisine. With fellow co-founder, Natalia Roxas, they produce the annual Kultura Festival in October. Pablo, 38, lives in and loves Chicago. For more stories and recipes, please visit http://filipino.kitchen.
ReIGNING Miss universe Pia Wurtzbach is all set to pass on the crown to her successor in her home country no less on Jan. 30, 2017. “I’m just really grateful that the pageant is finally happening,” Pia said during the Miss universe kick-off party featuring candidates from the u.S. and Asia-Pacific at the Conrad Manila on Saturday, Dec. 10. “It would be really great if I can finally have a proper walk onstage,” she added in jest, recalling Steve harvey’s oops moment when the pageant host initially declared Miss Colombia as the winner and not Pia. (harvey, Pia confirmed, will be back as host of the Miss u coronation in Manila). The Star also had an exclusive interview with the 27-yearold beauty queen, and there’s no hiding her happiness to have been of help in ensuring that Miss u will be staged here — for the third time. The first one was held in 1974 at the Folk Arts Theater and then in 1994
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach
at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). “I think it’s a great way to end my reign, to do the Miss universe pageant here in the Philippines. I’ve been very vocal of the possibility of having it here. It started with an idea a few months ago and I told the Miss u Organization about it, like what if I just mention it to the media? you know, mention that it would be great to have the competition here, and if we could get the help of
everybody, get them involved, maybe we can make that happen,” Pia shared. “We were able to connect with the right people. everybody’s worked hard to make it happen. Now that I’m reaching the end of my reign, it’s bittersweet because it was a long time...it took a long time for me to get here but at least I get to end it — in the most beautiful way I can think of.” There were reports that Continued on Page SF4
Cassava Cake by Chef Eric Pascual From Page SF2 Return back to oven and reduce temperature to 325 F and continue to bake until top sets and lightly browns (Approximately 20-25 minutes).
5. Allow to cool for at least 45 minutes for the cake to settle and then slice into serving pieces. For the Flan/Custard Topping 1. In a bowl, combine egg
yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and milk. Stir well. 2. Pour over surface of cake and return to oven to bake until set. 3. Top with toasted coconut
Ginataang Alimasag at Hipon by Chef Eric Pascual From Page SF2 4. Remove the carapace/top shell 5. Remove gills 6. Remove crab meat and set aside PRePARING The GINATAAN 1. In a large pot, sauté the garlic, onion, and ginger until the garlic is slightly browned and onions are transparent.
2. Add the jackfruit, birdseye chili, ground black pepper, and bagoong 3. Add the coconut cream then bring to a boil 4. Add the fish sauce, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the coconut milk’s texture starts to thicken (approximately 25-30 minutes) 5. Add the shrimp and stir
occasionally for 3 minutes. 6. Add the cooked crab meat and simmer for an additional 3 minutes. 7. If needed, add additional fish sauce and/or black pepper to taste 8. Remove from heat and serve over rice. Garnish with sliced birdseye chili, green onions, and fried onions.
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celebrityworld
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 16, 2016
celebrity world By Ferdie Villar
Daly City community leader Monching Bunag just returned from the Philippines. He is shown here in the photo with international Broadway star Lea Salonga.
San Jose Filipino community leader and fashionable lady Susan Pacifico and her daughter Christine Paul, an executive for a cosmetic product company, will host a Christmas party on Sunday, December 18, at their new residence at 12 noon.
John Lloyd Cruz says ex-girlfriend Angelica Panganiban remains his best friend for life
ALL’S well that ends well — this could be said for Kapamilya actor John Lloyd Cruz after he met with the press during the ABS-CBN Christmas Special that was attended by the brightest stars of the network. The good-looking actor shared that he is happy in spite of being single and alone this Christmas holiday, after his break-up with former girlfriend, actress Angelica Panganiban. John Lloyd also added that he is enjoying his single life. “It’s not being single, It’s all about enlightenment para sa akin. It’s all about new discoveries about yourself, your life, kung ano ang gusto mangyari,” he said. “you only live once and I definitely want to make the most of it. Kung ano man ang pagdadaanan nating journey, it’s all going to be worth it for sure.” As for his current relationship with Angelica, Lloydie (as he is fondly called by fans and friends) said that they have remained really good friends though they are not romantically involved anymore. “If anything, siyempre we don’t want to lose the friendship. Si Angelica has been my best friend and I think she will remain my best friend for life,” shared John Lloyd and then added, “Walang makakapagpabago noon.” During Angelica’s guesting with “Tonight With Boy Abunda,” she mentioned that John Lloyd has all the qualities in a guy she wants to marry. In response to this statement, the actor said that he is happy to hear that from his ex-girlfriend. “Any guy would be flattered especially coming from a woman
Actress Angelica Panganiban recently shared during her guest interview with “Tonight With Boy Abunda” that ex-boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz has the quality of the man she wants to marry.
like Angge (Angelica). Anything beyond that, hindi ko na alam,” he amusingly said. Of course, the question of reconciliation came up. When asked if there was a possibility of getting back together with Angelica, John Lloyd explained that it was not something he wants to discuss. “I think we are going beyond our...let’s not get ahead of ourselves right now. This is not the best time to talk about that,” he said.
John Lloyd Cruz said that he is enjoying his single life and still feels complete during this holiday season. He also added that he considers ex-girlfriend Angelica Panganiban his best friend for life.
Beautiful actress Andrea Torres one of the leading actresses of GMA Kapuso primetime teleserye “Alyas Robin Hood,” with lead star Primetime King of GMA Dingdong Dantes.
Daly City Filipino youth leader Joseph de Mesa Cabrera, son of SamTrans employee Manny Cabrera and Joy de Mesa, will celebrate his lucky 16th birthday this month.
Ogie Alcasid: Kapuso, Kapatid, Kapamilya by arlo
CuStodio ManilaTimes.net
SINGeR-songwriter Ogie Alcasid has joined ABS-CBN via “It’s Showtime’s” popular “Tawag ng Tanghalan” segment. After rumors circulated for sometime that he was leaving TV5, his appearance on the noontime show as one of the judges of the singing contest on Saturday, Dec. 10 confirmed that while it is uncertain whether he is an exclusive artist of the Kapamilya Network, he will be very visible on ABS-CBN. effectively, Alcasid is now also in competition with his wife Regine Velasquez mother studio GMA Network, where they met and fell in love before he jumped ship to TV5. Alcasid posted a photo on Instagram on Saturday, saying he had fun singing with “It’s Showtime” host Vice Ganda, “Just sang with @praybeytbenjamin ang saya! @itsshowtimeofficial_ig #tnt.” The post garnered 1,343 likes, and the reaction from netizens was unanimously positive, with some saying they wish his wife would follow suit. user iamjc23 said, “Welcome to Kapamilya Sir Ogie. Sana next si Ms. @reginevalcasid naman lilipat!” Jaya (@jayasoul), who transferred to ABS-CBN in July, also expressed her thoughts. “Con-
In his first ‘It’s Showtime’ appearance, Ogie Alcasid shared a duet with host Vice Ganda.
grats Pare @ogiealcasid sayang wala ako dyan to witness your performance. See you next week. God be praised.” There were even those who wished his pal Janno Gibbs will also make the big move. As of press time, The Manila Times has yet to hear from ABSCBN on whether Alcasid signed an exclusive contract with the network. In the meantime, corporate communications released the following statement via email, detailing the singersongwriter’s duties for the show.
“Like the other hurados (judges), [Alcasid] will evaluate the performances of hopefuls from contestants from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila. In his first appearance in the competition, Ogie made the audience laugh with his light jokes as he was giving his commentary as a hurado.” On Saturday, during the “Pinoy Boyband Superstar: The Grand Reveal,” Alcasid was also named as one of the judges of your Face Sounds Familiar: Kids to premier in 2017.
Pia Wurztbach fought for Miss Universe... From Page SF3
it almost didn’t materialize though. “I think the reason why people thought it wasn’t going to happen was because there wasn’t an official announcement yet and everybody was waiting in anticipation. But I had no doubts that it was going to happen because being in Miss universe myself, I get to see first hand how hard they’ve worked, what’s happening and who’s really involved. (And) I really fought for it, yes!” Asked how it feels that her reign is about to conclude in less than two months from now, Pia shared, “I’ve come to terms that it’s time to give a chance to a new girl — for her to experience what I’ve experienced. I know that it was amazing, it was more than what I expected it to be, and I’m sure it’s going to be the same thing for her.” According to Pia, what she’ll sorely miss are the people she has worked with for almost a year now. “I’ll miss New york. I’ll miss the organization. Not really the attention, the social media, the interviews, getting glammed up and all that, it’s re-
ally more of the people I work with every day because they’re family now. Can you imagine after one (coronation) night I have to go back to my real family? That’s the bittersweet part of it.” When asked about the challenges of being Miss u that viewers, pageant fans or social media followers hardly get to see, Pia said, “I guess one of the hardest parts of the reign that people don’t really see is that there’s so much thought put into each event I do, each activity, each appearance, hindi kasi siya basta-basta that I jump in front of the camera and start saying things. “We have to review it, think about it, we have to take the endorsements in consideration, the venue in consideration, the people around us, I think that’s the hard part. It’s just being aware and mindful of the right place, and the right time to do certain jobs or certain things as Miss universe because if you do it the right way, you do the job the right way.” What tips can she give to the next Miss u queen? “It will
really test you. There are going to be moments where you’ll really be working and barely have any time to sleep but you can’t doubt the reason you’re there. I’ve never doubted, not one second of my reign (did I think) bakit ko ba ginagawa to? Never! even when I’m very sick and tired, I fight through everything, the shoots, the appearances. I’ve never missed a day of work.” What’s next for Pia after Miss u? She’s already thinking of a possible return to show business. “everyone knows I’m from showbiz. Most probably I’m going back to doing that because I’m used to it and I already started it so why not?” She continued, “I can’t really imagine myself not continuing what I’m doing with regards to my charities and being in front of the camera. I really enjoy it! Siguro kung di na ako Miss u, hosting or acting, I’m open to it. Let’s just see.” If there’s one lesson that readers can glean from her story, Pia said it is to discover and go for what makes you happy.
Paolo Ballesteros ends 2016 on a high note by boy
abunda
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 16, 2016
Philstar.com
LIFe has a strange way of surprising Paolo Ballesteros. While he wasn’t looking, the “eat, Bulaga!” mainstay’s makeup transformations of hollywood celebrities went viral. What started out as a hobby for the star of Regal Films’ Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Die Beautiful” turned out to be a source of pride for Filipino artistry. American supermodelturned-TV host Tyra Banks posted Paolo’s make-up transformation of her on her Facebook page, and said the actor-host did a good job. Fashion It Girl Gigi hadid called Paolo’s make-up transformation of her “amazing,” while Game of Thrones’ Lena headley described the actorhost’s work as “fantastic.” As most of us know by now, Paolo went home with Best Actor honors from the Tokyo International Film Festival for playing a transgender in Jun Robles Lana’s Die Beautiful, which also won the Audience Award. 2016 seems to be Paolo’s year. But he’d rather think of it as a roller coaster ride that ended on a high note. “That’s the beauty of life,” the ever-optimistic Paolo muses. “Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down.” Instead of letting not-sopositive things like his “vacation” from “eat, Bulaga!” bring him down, Paolo looks at the bright side and sees things as a phase that will soon pass. “What matter is how you deal with it,” he adds. The devoted father just takes one good look at his beloved daughter Keira Claire, eight, and all the problems melt like ice cream on a sizzling summer day. “She’s very supportive,” beams the proud dad. “She plays with my make-up kit and high heel shoes.” Paolo doesn’t mind rising bright and early in the morning to apply make-up on the little girl when she has a school program to go to. Keira Claire loves it when
features SF5 Fall in love with these fall makeup trends By Monet
Paolo Ballesteros
her dad studies her face and applies make-up that enhances her looks. As usual, Paolo is so good at it. he gets requests to do the make-up of his daughter’s classmates. But he politely turns them down. “I’m not a commercial make-up artist,” he points out. Paolo explains that he can apply make-up on his own face, but not on another’s. That’s because no one knows his face, its contours, strengths and flaws — more than Paolo does. he knows which parts to highlight, and which to camouflage. he tried to put make-up on his sister, but he wasn’t happy. The self-confessed perfectionist needs to get everything right, and often feels he could have done something more to enhance the make-up. Paolo has grown so used to wearing make-up the minute he steps out of the house, he feels incomplete without it. Good thing his skin can tolerate all kinds of make-up brands, high-end or not. Paolo isn’t partial to any brand. he buys whatever he can get in the most convenient department store he can find. Besides, it’s not the makeup brand, but the way Paolo applies it on his face that makes a world of a difference.
“My most challenging make-up transformation is that of Beyoncé. I practiced for three weeks — the longest I’ve done so far,” he recalls. his transformation into Angelina Jolie on the red carpet and at the awards rites in Tokyo was just as challenging and riveting. “I had packing tape on my stomach. Call time for the 6 p.m., red carpet was 3 p.m. I started doing my make-up as early as 9 a.m.” he also covered his groin with packing tape the whole day long — from the red carpet to the awards ceremony, all the way up to the party that capped the night. Paolo does all this to immerse himself in the moment, when all eyes were on him as he delivered his acceptance speech as Best Actor on stage. With Paolo, it’s all or nothing. he looks and dresses the part to become the character his role demands of him. his award and the lavish praise he gets from his work prove he’s on the right track. you can’t fault Regal Matriarch Mother Lily for offering Paolo three movies in 2017. The guy’s talent and dedication call for even bigger movies.
Lu
SOMe weeks ago we welcomed the fall season with an article on hairstyles. Today, we tackle another one of my fortes—and a sought-after subject for women—the latest makeup trends. I can describe this season’s makeup peg in two words: fresh and minimal. With that image in mind, I invite you to experience “Valentine’s in October” and fall in love with these autumn-inspired makeup styles. Go easy on the eyes Whoever said that sexy smoky eye is so 90 degrees ago must learn how to carry the classic eye-do with just a teeny bit of flaw. Allow me to elaborate before I give the impression that carelessly applied shadow is a thing – please…never been, never will be. What I meant by a little flaw is how you would do your smoky eye look at home. you know, the kind that gives off an ultra diffused shadow that looks intense while feeling soft. Makeup artist Pat McGrath created this look at Diane von Furstenberg by using a black and brown liner. you can also use gray shadows with just a hint of sparkle to keep it soft enough for daytime. A bronze shadow is another equally striking-yet-with-an-easy feel. you can maybe give your metallic shadows a break this season by using bronze shadows instead of the classic gold or silver. This type of hue warms up your face and gives you a good reason to put a natural-looking lip color. Paint outside the lines It’s this time of the year when you feel a bit more adventurous. It shows on your outfit and your hair, and well, your eye makeup better match that
mood. As they say, the eyes are the windows of the soul. And your carefree soul needs an audience! One article writes, “ Tweak the classic cat eye by opting for a more straight across swipe of black kohl like we saw at Oscar de la Renta. This is a more modern way to wear liner that elongates and lifts the eye and adds intrigue to the face.” Add more spice to your usual winged liner, by scribbling some double-winged lines.seventeen.com suggests, “use a soft kohl pencil to trace your lower waterline, then smudge it out with a makeup sponge for an extremely edgy and perfectly un-perfect vibe.” tip of the lashes Close your eyes and think: silver, water droplets, rhinestones. Now open your eyes and give your volumizing mascara, falsies and lash add-ons a much-needed upgrade. It’s time those lashes shine as bright as your eyes! Silver sparkles on the tip of the lashes give your eyelashes a water droplet effect. A bit of gold layers on the lashes will make it look like it has rhinestones tips. Bring on the prettiest lashes by layering, lengthening, or volumizing your top and bottom lashes. rush that blush Now is the perfect time to embrace your “just stepped out of the gym” look. Or for some people; “I just went on a brisk, wintry walk.” This is the season for flushed cheeks and naturally
rosy blush. you had a good run with your sculpting tools, it’s time to give them a break. Grab your warm peach blush powder and head out the door. That’s all you need. Now, fly. Lips like berry Let’s talk about that lip color, shall we? This season, I am delighted to see a sea of lip colors that remind of the 90’s. That almost black but not quite is making a comeback and I LOVe it! From ripe berry to plum black to oxblood red, they are undeniably luscious. It may sound scary but I dare you to rock a dark lipstick this fall! Nude is out. Let’s make way for the plums, magentas and berries. Fall Season isn’t just about tucking away your tank tops and covering up with cozy sweaters and cool scarves. It is also “wearing” the best look of the season. Although the weather isn’t as cool as we usually expect it to be around this time, it is best to plan your ensemble ahead – and stock up on the latest makeup finds.. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com