San francisco edition december 30 january 5, 2016

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

w w w. a s i a n

.com T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

Volume 16 - No. 1 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136, Burlingame, CA 94010 • Tel: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 • www.asianjournal.com

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Report: Wealth gap widens among Asian Americans

THE common myth surrounding the economic status of Asian Americans is that they generally fare better than most ethnic groups, and very basic statistics support that notion. According to a 2016 report from Pew Research Center, Asian American men and women earn more than white, black and Hispanic American men and women, respectively, in hourly jobs. The average household wealth of Asian Americans is also on the rise, and will soon be comparable to white households. However, what isn’t considered in the model minority myth — the notion that all Asian Americans represent success — is that the Asian American experience varies greatly. A new report from the Center for American

DE C E MBE R 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 - J A N U A RY 5 , 2 0 1 7

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

US senators slam Duterte’s drug war, question aid to PH by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THREE American senators have expressed their “grave concern” over the alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations associated with the Philippine government’s war against illegal drugs. In a letter dated December 22, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) wrote to U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary William R. Brownfield, describing President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight as a “campaign of mass

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)

atrocities.” The senators also cited Duterte’s recent admission that he personally killed drug personalities when he was still the mayor of Davao City. “If substantiated, these actions constitute a gross violation of human rights. Rather than address the systematic problems related to the country’s drug crisis, invest in treatment programs, or approach the epidemic with an emphasis on the health and well-being of the Philippine people, President Duterte has instead pledged to kill another 20,000 to 30,000 people, many simply because they suffer from a drug use disorder,” the

letter read. They also referred the Philippine antidrug movement, Project Tokhang, as a “campaign of mass atrocities” that is “thinly disguised as a response to public health emergency.” The senators then stressed that drug addiction is “not a moral failing but rather a chronic disease.” At the same time, they also questioned the “legalities and appropriateness of the $32 million” funds from U.S. dedicated to the “training and other law enforcement assistance” for security forces in the Philippines.

u PAGE A2

US denies Goldberg-led People of color, the plot to oust PH president u PAGE A3

poor will be hardest hit by ACA repeal

PRESIDENT-elect Donald Trump’s threat to repeal and replace Obamacare is bad news for millions of Americans, but the poor and people of color are going to be hit hardest, say health care advocates. “The winners and losers from repealing Obamacare will depend crucially on the details of whatever replacement plan materializes,” said Larry Levitt, senior vice president for special initiatives at the Kaiser Family Foundation during a webinar Dec. 19. “ Based on what those replacement plans look like so far, it seems that the poor and people with pre-existing medical conditions could end up worse off.” Approximately 20 million people have gotten coverage since the launch of Obamacare.

u PAGE A4

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

AMERICAN officials deny reports published on Tuesday, December 27, claiming that outgoing envoy to the Philippines, Philip Goldberg, submitted a blueprint to the U.S. State Department for the ouster of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The Manila Times cited a document provided by a “highly placed”unnamed source that attributed Goldberg calling for a regime change in Malacañang. “These allegations of a blueprint are false,” wrote Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel in a statement issued on Tuesday. “No such blueprint exists.” The American diplomat’s alleged statements note the challenge associated with unseating a democratically-elected president with strong approval ratings in his own country. However, according to the source, Goldberg outlined a number of steps that he said might bring Duterte “to his knees and even-

u PAGE A2

CIVIL MOMENT. In this July 19 file photo, President Rodrigo Duterte meets outgoing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg in Malacañang Palace. American officials have denied reports that Goldberg has submitted a blueprint to the U.S. State Department for the ouster of Duterte. Malacañang photo

Pacquiao included in Forbes’ MVP’s in 2016 boxing list by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Manny Pacquiao

AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

FILIPINO boxing champion and Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has been ranked fourth on Forbes’ list of boxing’s “Most Valuable Players” in 2016. “When Pacquiao is in an active participant in the sport, it’s a good thing for boxing. He’s a senator in the Philippines but he made time to fight Jessie Vargas in November, made at least $4 million and looked quite good while winning,” Josh Katzowitz, the author of the article, wrote. Last April, after winning a 12-round unanimous decision against Timothy Bradley Jr., Pacquiao announced that

Palace claims victory in war on drugs drug menace in six months. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said critics of the THE country’s drug prob- administration’s merciless drug lem has now become a “public war, which has claimed the lives health issue,” Malacañang an- of more than 6,000 suspected nounced on Tuesday, Dec. 27 drug personalities, should look at as it claimed victory in its war it “with the right perspective.” on drugs despite President “Exposing the drug menace has Duterte’s failure to make good now led the government to look at on his promise to eradicate the u PAGE A3 by MARLON

RAMOS Inquirer.net

he would be retiring from boxing to focus on his political career. The following month, he was elected as one of the Philippines’ senator. Pacquiao’s long-time boxing promoter, Bob Arum, later announced in August that Pacquiao will have a match Vargas in his comeback fight. During their match at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas last October 5, Pacquiao dominated the MexicanAmerican boxer, reclaiming his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. “It’s unclear what his next move will be, but a fight vs. Terence Crawford would be one of the boxing’s most excit-

u PAGE A2

Critics berate Robredo for US trip amid typhoon onslaught in PH by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

SOME critics have condemned Vice President Leni Robredo for taking a holiday break in the United States while Typhoon “Nina” (international name: Nock-Ten)

wreaked havoc in the Philippines over the weekend. Blogger “Thinking Pinoy,” a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, criticized the vice president for leaving the country before the upcoming calamity, ac-

u PAGE A3

A

DECEMBER 30, 2016-JanuaRy 5, 2017 • nORCaL aSIan JOuRnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

From the Front Page

US senators slam Duterte’s... olations of Duterte’s campaign.” The letter’s authors said “the Citing the Leahy Law, they recipients of our financial assisasked the State Department to tance must align with our values ensure that “none of our foreign and ideals, including respect for assistance money dedicated to human rights and the rule of law enforcement activities is be- law.” In response, Duterte on Tuesing used to support extrajudicial killings or other human rights vi- day, December 27, lashed at the

PAGE A1 t

U.S. once again, claiming that the U.S. is only good in criticizing. Duterte said the US never really extended their help in addressing drug problems, adding that it has only been focusing on the supposed extrajudicial killings. n

Pacquiao included in Forbes’ MVP’s... PAGE A1 t ing matchups of 2017,” Katzowitz said. Before his match against Vargas, Arum, said that if he succeeds in his return fight on November, he’ll most likely have two more major matches in 2017. According to Arum, Pacquiao could be pitted against WBC junior welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford, and even have a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but so far, no final decision has been made. Early this week, Arum told

boxingscene.com’s Steve Kim that he must first receive Pacquiao’s Senate schedule before finalizing his first boxing match in 2017. “The truth is it (Pacquiao’s next bout) would be sometime before the end of June. Now exactly when that will be, I can’t rely on anybody except going over there and meeting with the president of the senate and determine what the schedule is for the Senate,” Arum explained. “His first job is as a senator and I can’t influence when they have recesses,” he added.

Topping the Forbes’ MVPs list were both Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, followed by Canelo Alvarez (2nd) and Gennady Golovkin (3rd). Next to Pacquiao in the rankings were Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (5th), Keith Thurman (6th), Anthony Joshua (7th), Vasyl Lomachenko (8th), Joe Smith (9th), and SCENE OF DESTRUCTION. A woman shares a cup of hot coffee with her husband amid the ruins of their house a day after Typhoon “Nina” Terence Crawford (10th). struck their village in Bato, Catanduanes province. Authorities reported at least seven deaths in the strongest typhoon to hit Bicol in 10 years. Inquirer.net photo by Fernan Gianan Katzowitz, author of the article said he based the rankings on his “own unscientific calculation of those who ‘helped grow the sport’ while also ‘helping his own bank account.’” n PAGE A1 t try’s commitment to its historic to the document referenced by tually remove him from office,” ally’s success. the Manila Times on Tuesday. within a year and a half. These In recent months, Duterte has Before Duterte won the presifeature proposals to place po- sought to diminish the Philip- dency — largely on a promise to litical and economic pressure on pines’ involvement with the U.S. eradicate the trade illicit drugs in Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and military with the intention of im- the Philippines — U.S. officials Laos to reduce trade with the proving ties with China and Rus- and human rights watchdogs Philippines. sia, according to prior reports had raised alarm over the former He is also is said to have sug- from the Asian Journal and other Davao mayor’s alleged connecgested isolating Manila from sources. tion to vigilante death squads. its partners in the Association On December 12, Malacañang Goldberg, on Tuesday, also of Southeast Asian Nations representatives announced they denied formulating a plot to eject (ASEAN) by offering future mili- would prohibit the launch of Duterte from power. tary assistance to all the orga- American air and naval patrols “No. Those kinds of statenization’s members except the from the Philippines meant to ments are not correct, not true,” Philippines. challenge Chinese claims to sov- Goldberg told the Inquirer at the Other recommendations in- ereignty over the South China the Autonomous Region of Musclude stirring dissatisfaction over Sea. lim Mindanao (ARMM) Health the president’s largely unfulfilled A few days later, Duterte Forum in Pasay City. campaign promises to end pov- promised the eventual repeal or He went on to say that “we erty while highlighting the con- abrogation of the Visiting Forces respect democracy in the Philiptributions of U.S. foreign aid and Agreement (VFA) while speaking pines.” empowering Duterte’s political to reporters shortly after landing An exchange involving Duterte opposition in the Philippines. in Davao on December 17. and Goldberg became the sub“The United States respects The Philippines’ diplomatic ject of controversy when the the sovereignty of the Philip- shift away from the U.S. came Philippine president called the pines and the democratic choices partly in light of repeated criti- American diplomat a “gay son made by the Philippine people,” cism voiced by President Barack of a bitch” during a speech in Russel said in Tuesday’s state- Obama and White House repre- August. ment. sentatives, including Goldberg. “I was annoyed at [Goldberg], He went on to shrug off ac“[Duterte’s] views are shaped for interfering in the elections, cusations that American officials not by ideology or personal am- giving statements here and and institutions might attempt to bitions, but by old-fashioned there,” said Duterte, referring to ostracize the Philippines from its nationalism where he holds the the Philippine’s presidential race neighbors in the South Pacific. United States accountable for the earlier this year. “He wasn’t supRussel also referenced ongoing Philippines’ current state of pov- posed to do that.” U.S. humanitarian and military erty and dependency,” Goldberg Officials in Malacañang say support as evidence of his coun- is quoted to have said according u PAGE A3

US denies Goldberg-led plot to oust...

Dateline USa

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 30, 2016-JANUARy 5, 2017

A

Former AAPI outreach director of Clinton campaign named NaFFAA’s national executive director THE National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has announced that Jason Tengco will be its new executive director. Tengco will be responsible for co-managing NaFFAA’s National Chairman’s Council with a strong emphasis on national programs, strategic partnerships, legislation, government affairs and national development. He will report directly to Brendan Flores, current national chair of the organization, and work in close collaboration with Kelly Ila-

STATE OF CALAMITY. Aerial photo shows a flooded highway after typhoon ‘Nina’ made landfall in Polangui, Albay on Tuesday, December 26. Nina, which made landfall on the eastern island province of catanduanes on December 25, caused the deaths of at least seven people, displaced more than 380,000, and grounded more than 300 flights. ManilaTimes.net photo

Palace claims victory in war on...

PAGE A1 t

it not only as a national security [threat], but also now as a public health issue. Hence, the building of [rehabilitation facilities] all over the nation,” Abella told a news conference in Malacañang. He said authorities had made a headway in the fight against the narcotics trade with the surrender of about 900,000 drug depen-

dents across the archipelago. The success of the campaign, he added, was also evident in the sharp decline in index crimes, or crimes against property, as reported by the Philippine National Police. Told that the PNP also disclosed that murder cases had surged by more than 50 percent in the past six months, Abella said this figure

Report: Wealth gap widens... PAGE A1 t Progress (CAP) focused on this phenomenon and found that the wealth inequality among Asians is greater than the wealth disparity among white American households. Using government data, the researchers explored the increasing wealth gap between poor and rich Asian Americans, comparing the results to those of white Americans. Asian households at the bottom one-fifth have an average net worth of $9,319 from 2010 to 2013. In comparison, median Asian households averaged a $132,653 net worth, and the net

worth of the highest-earning households — the 90th percentile Asians — was at about $1.4 million in the same four-year period. “Moreover, the gap between wealthy and non-wealthy Asian Americans has widened,” the report read. “Asian Americans also have fewer retirement benefits than whites and are more indebted than whites, creating a potentially precarious situation when stock and housing prices fall. The bottom line is that wealth inequality across American families deserves policy attention. This is especially true for Asian Americans in the bottom half of the income

u PAGE A4

Critics berate Robredo for US...

PAGE A1 t

cusing her of abandoning her fellow Filipinos. “In 2015, Leni Robredo herself said, ‘It is very important for local folks to see their government officials during and right after a disaster.’ And where was she while Nina was pummeling her hometown in Bicol? In the United States,” the post read. Thinking Pinoy hit the vice president for still deciding to leave the country for her U.S. vacation “despite all that’s happening.” “Millions of poor Filipinos’ lives are at risk, while the country’s vice president is too busy having White Christmas,” it added. At the same time, blogger Mocha Uson, another staunch Duterte supporter, lambasted the vice president for her absence during the calamity. “Sabi naman ng iba hindi naman daw siya [Robredo] kailangan personal na pumunta sa Bicol para tumulong sa nasalanta ng bagyo. Kung ganun naman po pala madam Leni, wag na lang po kayong bumalik. Diyan na lang kayo sa Amerika at mag chat na lang kayo ng mga tao mo para sa mga trabahong gagawin niyo (Others said that she doesn’t need to be personally in Bicol to help the typhoon victims. If that’s the case, madam Leni, just don’t go back. Just stay in America and chat your staff regarding your works),” her post read. Over the weekend, Typhoon Nina battered the Philippines, particularly the Bicol region, forcing 380,000 people to spend their Christmas at evacuation centers and other safety shelters. Following the criticisms, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said on Monday, December 26,

that Robredo has been helping with the relief operations for typhoon victims of while she was in the U.S. “Vice President Leni Robredo has been monitoring and directing the Office of the Vice President to work with regional officials and agencies in setting up local relief centers for immediate emergency response on the ground,” Robredo’s spokesperson, Georgina Hernandez, said in a statement. According to Hernandez, a team from the OVP has been dispatched to the affected areas to assist in the relief operations, which was tagged as “Task Force Tindong Bicol.” “While we have faith in the resilience of our people, we still call on the Filipino public to help out in the on going relief efforts of all agencies and private sector partners to alleviate suffering in typhoon-hit areas during this very special time of the year,” Hernandez added. The spokesperson also pointed out that vice president’s vacation has been planned more than a year ago. “She will be going home to Naga as soon as she arrives,” Hernandez added. On the other hand, Robredo, who hails from Naga City — which is located at the heart of the Bicol region — said that her office is “willing to assist in the preparation of requests for assistance from national government agencies.” “We hope to shift from relief to rehabilitation soon as more and more families are returning to their houses. Been receiving a lot of reports of damaged school buildings and houses. Damage to agricultural crops has also been extensive,” Robredo said through her social media accounts. n

US denies Goldberg-led... PAGE A2 t

they are unable to confirm or deny the existence of Goldberg’s alleged blueprint of recommendations. So long as the source of the document referenced by Tuesday’s report remains anonymous, the statement credited to Goldberg “remains part and parcel of a larger conspiracy theory,” according to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. He went on to note that the current Ambassador to the Philippines’ assignment is coming to a close. Andanar said he expected the Goldberg’s successor, former special U.S. Envoy to North Korea, Sung Kim, to

be a more “empathetic” liaison between Malacanang and the White House. Philippine House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has called for an official probe into Goldberg’s alleged statements. However, other members of the Duterte administration dismissed the likelihood of the president’s ouster. “The president continues to enjoy the trust of the people, and the people on the ground apparently appreciate what he’s doing,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters during a press briefing. He added that “whoever attempts [the ouster] will find it difficult.” n

should be “put in context.” “It says also that index crime rates have lowered significantly, telling us that majority of those crimes have been related to drugs,” Abella stressed. “So in a sense, it is a question of being able to see it with the right perspective,” he said. “If you hear anecdotal reports of people,

u PAGE A4

Jason Tengco

gan, current national operating officer and members of the board. Over the past decade, Jason has worked for a presidential campaign, the White House, Obama administration, Congress, and numerous non-profit and campus organizations. In 2016, Jason served as the National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Outreach Director for Hillary for America. Previously, Jason worked for the White House Initiative on AAPIs from 2012 to 2016, where he was appointed as deputy director in 2015. Dur-

ing his tenure, Jason organized the first-ever White House Celebration of Filipino American History Month, managed the White House Summit on AAPIs, and led the Initiative’s national AAPI community engagement. Throughout his career, Jason has participated in fellowships with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies in the office of Congressman Mike Honda, New Leaders Council, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Center for Progressive Leadership, and Public Policy and International Affairs Program. In 2014, Jason was selected as one of ten delegates to the Philippine Embassy’s Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro), a weeklong immersion in the Philippines. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jason graduated from UCLA with Honors with a B.A. in political sScience. At UCLA, Jason was heavily involved with Samahang Pilipino and received the Outstanding Pinoy Leadership Award. “Jason is an incredibly well-balanced leader with a can-do attitude and a dedication to public service. He has come highly recommended by many. I am ecstatic to have him as a part of the executive board and look forward to partnering with him. I know that Kelly and Jason will be extremely effective within their own roles as well as in their partnership together,” added Brendan Flores, current National Chair of NaFFAA. n

A

DECEMBER 30, 2016-JanuaRy 5, 2017 • nORCaL aSIan JOuRnaL

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Obama on election:I could’ve won again by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

PReSIDeNT Barack Obama said that given his progressive platform and eagerness to bring his promised change to the nation, he could have “won again” if he ran for a third term. “I am confident in this vision because I’m confident that if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could’ve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it,” the president told his former senior adviser David Axelrod in an interview for his podcast “The Axe Files” on Monday, December 26. For Obama to run again, however, violates the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” But Obama asserted that he believes that his eight-year legacy brought change to the nation and that many Americans would have re-elected him on that platform, if given the chance. “I know that in conversations

that I’ve had with people around the country, even some people who disagreed with me, they would say the vision, the direction that you point towards is the right one,” Obama said. In response, President-elect Donald Trump — a long time attacker of Obama and his policies — once again took to Twitter to express his dissent to the president’s hypothetical statements. “President Obama said he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! — jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc,” the president-elect tweeted on Monday. In the interview, Obama also shared his analysis of the election in regards to Trump’s historic upset. He defended the efforts of the Democratic Party to garner support for its candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but acknowledged that it could have expanded its ground game. “See, I think the issue was less that Democrats have somehow abandoned the white working class. I think that’s nonsense. Look,

A snowman peeks into the Oval Office as President Barack Obama signs end-of-the-year bills last Dec. 16. Staff moved four snowmen that were decorating the Rose Garden just outside several Oval Office windows to greet the President when he arrived in the office. White House photo by Pete Souza

the Affordable Care Act benefits a huge number of Trump voters,” Obama said. “The problem is, is that we’re not there on the ground communicating not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that we’re bleeding for these communities.” “It means caring about local races, state boards or school boards and city councils and state legislative races and not thinking that somehow, just a great set of progressive policies that we present to the New York Times editorial board will win the day,” the president added. Obama also gave insight into his post-presidential plans which includes a massive effort to mobilize the Democratic Party. He said he plans to develop young, emerging Democratic leaders — including politicians, communication practitioners and campaign organizers — who can rally behind the party and garner more support. Moreover, he said that he will carry out his “duties and obligations” as a private citizen and continue to voice his opinions and weigh in on crucial issues during the Trump administration as he did while campaigning for Clinton. But before he does any of that, Obama said that he plans to adopt a lower profile and spend quiet time with his family and writing a book about his historic era in office. After eight years, Obama admitted sentiment when thinking about his run as president, expressing that leaving the White House felt “like the band is breaking up.” “I have to be quiet for a while,” Obama said. “And I don’t mean politically, I mean internally. I have to still myself. You have to get back in tune with your center and process what’s happened before you make a bunch of good decisions.” n

Palace claims victory in war on... PAGE A3 t they actually say how much they deeply appreciate the fact that they can go home safer.” In a recent survey of the Social Weather Stations, an overwhelming number of Filipinos expressed satisfaction with the government’s handling of the antidrug campaign, which many local and international groups had described as prone to abuses with the unabated killings of drug suspects.

However, close to four out of five citizens fear that they may fall victim to extrajudicial killings perpetrated by masked assassins. Abella maintained that the President was not happy with the deaths of thousands of drug personalities, saying it was not something to cheer about. “Nobody celebrates that. Nobody appreciates that,” he said. “However, we do appreciate the fact that the situation on the

ground is so much more safer. That is what we celebrate.” Abella said Mr. Duterte’s efforts had also helped unmask about 5,000 government officials allegedly involved in the sale and manufacture of illegal drugs. “In one way or another, that is already significant. Identifying the enemy is about 50 percent of the battle, right?” he said. “So it tells you that prior to him, prior to this situation, this was not something that was being done.” n

PLAYING SANTA. President Rodrigo Duterte visits young cancer patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center’s House of Hope in Davao City on Saturday, Dec. 23. Duterte gave 300 gift packs that contained biscuits, candies, juices, toys and canned goods to the cancer-afflicted children and their caretakers. Malacañang photo

Trump’s latest Cabinet appointees, how they differ on issues by Klarize

Medenilla

AJPress

IN a previous report by the Asian Journal, President-elect Donald Trump has already begun selecting his picks to head his administration, and many of his latest picks — like his earlier ones — have had no experience in public office. Trump’s latest cabinet picks (as of press time) include exxonMobil CeO Rex Tillerson (Secretary of State), four-star Marine Corps General James Mattis (Secretary of Defense), Texas Governor Rick Perry (Secretary of energy), Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. CeO Andrew Pudzer (Secretary of Labor) and U.S. Rep Ryan Zinke of Montana (Secretary of the Interior). The president-elect has also appointed other top roles like U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney for Budget Director, former U.S. Army infantry officer Vincent Viola for Secretary of the Army and his campaign manager Kellyanne Conway for counselor to the president. However, the views of several of his appointees differ from those of Trump himself on issues like climate change, trade, the budget deficit and U.S./Russia relations. On climate change, Trump has declared the scientist-proven phenomenon a hoax implemented by China “in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive,”

he tweeted in 2012. When Tillerson became CeO of exxonMobil he made several changes to the nation’s largest oil company that made it more conscious of climate change: lobbying for a tax on carbon dioxide emissions and seized funding of organizations that reject climate change. Although he doesn’t believe in eliminating the use of fossil fuels, Tillerson has poised exxonMobil to become a leader in natural gas and other “greener” alternatives to coal. “Our plan B has always been grounded in our beliefs around the continued evolution of technology and engineered solutions to address and react to whatever the climate system and its outcomes present to us, whether that be in the form of rises in sea level...to changing agricultural production due to changes in weather patterns that may or may not be induced by climate change,” Tillerson told investors last year. Mulvaney has been a staunch opponent of raising the debt ceiling, but Trump’s promise of high tax cuts and more spending for defense and infrastructure will increase that deficit, economists say. The highly revered Gen. Mattis also harbors foreign policy stanc-

es that differ from the incoming commander-in-chief, especially regarding Russia. Mattis has been extremely critical of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Russia’s plans with Ukraine, while Trump has downplayed criticism the Russian leader. It’s not uncommon for new administrations to include officials and leaders with differing views. When he was elected in 2008, President Barack Obama appointed his opponents during the election race to high positions in his administration and had maintained good relations with them, including Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But what makes this administration different is the amount of individuals at the core of the White House leadership with no government experience: Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr., White House Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon, Head of Small Business Administration Linda McMahon, Tillerson and, of course, Trump. “The key here is not the fact that these are smart, successful people who view the world differently,” Mr. Naftali told the Wall Street Journal. “That’s not new. It’s the fact that the center of the operation has absolutely no experience managing policy differences.” n

People of color, the poor will be hardest hit... PAGE A3 t

why ORGANIC? Organic products meet stringent standards Healthier for you & kids Organic food tastes better Organic farming respects natural resources Avoids pesticides & are artificial-fertilizer-free Non-GMO, no synthetic pesticides, no growth-promoting antibiotics There are many, many more reasons to go Organic. But in short: You’ll leave the world a better place than when you found it

Trump has yet to reveal details of what he plans to do to the 2010 Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, other than to say that he intends to dismantle it soon after he takes office. It’s likely that some parts of it will be left untouched – like the pre-existing condition provision – and replacement could be delayed by a couple of years. The webinar was organized by the non-profit California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), to give journalists an overview of what California, the state that took the lead in implementing some of the key provisions of Obamacare, could face if Trump makes good on his threat. Among those provisions were expanding Medi-Cal (California’s name for Medicaid) and setting up a health insurance marketplace for people to purchase federally subsidized coverage best suited to their budget, said Amy Adams, CHCF’s senior program officer. Additionally, even before the ACA became law, the state banned the prevalent practice of gender-based premium cost variations – younger women were paying more than men. As a result of its robust implementation, the state’s uninsured rate for residents under 65 fell by nearly half, from 22 percent in 2009

to 9.5 percent in 2015, according to a California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). More low-income people who historically were shut out of health insurance were able to gain coverage, as were people in minority communities. The survey showed that uninsured rates fell by nearly 7 percent among Asian Americans and African Americans, and 6.5 percent among Latinos. More than 10 percent of the populations in the counties of Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare got coverage, according to a just-released UC Berkeley Labor Center study. A repeal would mean that California would lose around $20 billion in annual federal funding for Medi-Cal expansion and Covered California subsidies, making it virtually impossible for it to continue offering those programs. “It is a very large amount of money and would be difficult for the state to generate a comparable amount of revenue,” to go it alone, pointed out Adams. “It would be difficult for any individual state to try to raise the money required and provide benefits comparable to the ACA,” Levitt said. “That would put the state significantly at odds with other states in terms of tax rates and public

benefits.” But critics of the ACA say that one of the least popular provisions of the law – forcing individuals to have health insurance and companies to cover their employees or face a penalty – would be eliminated with a repeal. An estimated $1.3 billion would be lost in eliminated penalties. One idea Trump’s advisory team has been floating is to allow insurance carriers to sell insurance across state borders, something some insurers already do. That could come with its own set of problems, Levitt said, because it could drive people to states where the insurance industry is less regulated. He said California has been able to rein in its providers to some degree because of “its stringent regulations.” Levitt pointed out that the safety net provided by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), clinics that provide health care to underserved communities, would weaken if the ACA were repealed. Those unable to retain their insurance coverage would likely flock to FQHCs, putting an extra burden on them. “There are a lot of moving pieces,” at this time, Levitt said. “No doubt that people are split on the ACA,” he said. “But ACA is status quo.” (Viji Sundaram/New America Media)

Report: Wealth gap widens... PAGE A3 t distribution.” Factors that contribute to wealth inequality — and why many Asian American households are facing drawbacks in financial succession — increasing home mortgages, lower home ownership and student and car loan hikes. “Wealth inequality among Asian Americans has also grown faster for the past two decades than it has for whites. In part, this rise in wealth inequality can be traced back to greater indebtedness and faster rising debt, especially installment loans for student debt and car purchases,” the report read. “The faster rise in inequality among Asian Americans than among whites in particular suggests that Asian American inequality results from factors other than just age and education” CAP pointed out that the mean net worth of white households and Asian households is about the same ($680,000, according to

CAP’s findings) which creates the illusion that Asian Americans are doing just as well as whites. But what that statistic fails to recognize is that there are stark differences among cultures within the Asian American community. Folks that hail from Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia — who make up about 45 percent of the Asian population in the U.S. — aren’t doing as well as other Asian ethnic groups. “The problem is that ‘Asian American’ doesn’t hold together as a category,” Philip Cohen, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland, told the Washington Post. “The group is too diverse. It doesn’t really make sense to compare recent Chinese, Korean or Pakistani immigrants who are working in tech and engineering jobs to people who came as refugees in the 1980s and their working-class descendants.” Although Asian Americans are the fastest-growing demographic

in the United States, they are still a relatively small group. According to the Census Bureau, Asian Americans only comprise about 56 percent of the American population so the researcher’s findings may not be wholly accurate. The researchers acknowledge that the data is “statistically significant” enough to make conclusions about the 10 percent level. A significant takeaway from the report seems to be the increasing financial success of the richest Asian Americans; although the report finds the wealth gap increasing, there isn’t sufficient evidence to say that poorer Asian Americans are significantly getting poorer. The report utilized the data and findings from triennial surveys from the Federal Reserve, which gather samples of several thousand Americans nationwide, including a few hundred Asian Americans. (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 30, 2016-JANUARy 5, 2017

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

PNP: Murders up by 18% in 6 months by CeCille

Suerte Philstar.com

Felipe

MANILA – While common crimes like robbery and rape have decreased since the start of the Duterte administration in July, incidents of murder have increased by 18 percent from the same period last year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported. PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa admitted that murder incidents have gone up as the government intensified its campaign against illegal drugs. “We admit that while the general picture of crime is going down, murder increased. All others went down especially rape, crimes against property, robbery, riding in tandem – they all went down, but murder rose,” Dela Rosa said in mostly Filipino

in a press briefing at the PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame. But he said there should be distinction between deaths of innocent people and those of drug offenders. “In the past, many of those killed were innocent victims of drug-crazed people, but now the dead were drug personalities. That’s the very big difference,” he said. “I hope that difference is highlighted – between the innocent and the drug personalities.” The PNP also said he has ordered a thorough investigation into unexplained killings, also called death under inquiry or DUI. “They’re human beings, and their deaths deserve to be investigated,” he said in Filipino. Director Augusto Marquez, chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Manage-

ment (DIDM), said they are now checking cases of DUI in different regions. “There was a big effect of double barrel operations because at the start of the operations on July 1, the average incidents of crime went down to about 49.8 percent, all crimes except one – murder, which rose by about 18 percent but all the rest went down by as low as 50 percent,” Marquez said at the same briefing. “This is unprecedented because the very first time in the PNP that we had this kind of decrease in crime statistics was probably during the declaration of martial law,” he noted. Even before the start of the Duterte administration, the PNP had been seeing continuous decline in crime statistics, which it attributed to Oplan Lambat Sibat.

IS-linked Filipina imprisoned in Kuwait by dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

A FILIPINO woman was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment on Monday, December 26 after a Kuwaiti court convicted her for joining the Islamic State (IS) group and plotting attacks in the country. The court, whose ruling is not yet final, also ordered that she would be deported back in the Philippines after serving her term. According to reports, the woman was arrested last August after being accused of joining the jihadist group through its affiliate in Libya. The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry earlier disclosed that the authorities monitoring her email accounts found messages of her pledging allegiance to the group. “She confessed she was ready to carry out any terrorist attack once circumstances and means were ripe in order to undermine security and stability in Kuwait, as well as ignite sedition,” Kuwait News Agency previously reported, citing the ministry. The ministry also said that the woman told her interrogators that she was a member of

MOCK PAGEANT. Filipino inmates dressed as beauty queens pranced on a makeshift stage for a mock beauty pageant on Saturday, bringing Christmas cheer to one of the country’s most overcrowded prisons. Thousands cheered and whistled as 11 gay and one transgender prisoner danced and sang at the “Miss Universe” pageant at the Quezon City Jail courtyard, wearing wigs, make-up, gowns and elaborate Mardi Gras attire. The decaying jail, housing about 3,800 inmates, is infamous for congestion. Men take turns sleeping in the cells, an open-air basketball court and even on stairways of the facility, built to hold 800 prisoners. ManilaTimes.net photo

China committed to peaceful resolution of sea row by rainier

allan Philstar.com

ronda

MANILA – China remains committed to the peaceful resolution of its territorial disputes with other countries in the South China Sea despite its reported deployment of weapons in its artificial islands. Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying defended the deployment of weapons, saying it is within China’s right as a sov-

ereign nation to undertake such action. “China holds a consistent and clear position on the South China Sea issue. While firmly upholding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China is committed to peacefully resolving relevant disputes with countries directly concerned through negotiation and consultation, and maintaining peace and stability of the South China Sea together with ASEAN coun-

tries,” Hua said in a press briefing Friday. She was reacting to report by a US think tank that China has weaponized the artificial islands. “Regarding the US thinktank’s issuing of a report under the prevailing circumstances, China has elaborated on its position on many occasions. It is worth noting that it is China’s right as a sovereign state under the international law to conduct PAGE A7

Opposition to death penalty seen in Senate by paolo

roMero Philstar.com

MANILA - Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III vowed to allow thorough debates on the proposals to revive the death penalty as he expects stiff opposition deA Filipino woman was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment on Monday, December 26 after spite its being pushed by Presia Kuwaiti court convicted her for joining the Islamic State (IS) group and plotting attacks dent Duterte. The pending bills to reimpose in the country. the penalty in the country for cerIS and that her husband was also whose identity has not been re- tain heinous crimes, he said, are an active fighter for the group in vealed—arrived in Kuwait from “really going to be contentious.” the Philippines last June to work Libya. “That (death penalty) is a priBorn in 1984, the woman— as a domestic helper. ority for discussion in the Senate

and I feel that there’ll be many who will oppose that but we need to talk about it… we’ll give everyone time to discuss it,” Pimentel said. He described the reimposition as a “conscience issue” among the 24 senators, of whom he counts five to seven opposing it. He himself is undecided as he pointed out that the PDP-Laban, which Duterte leads, is also divided on the issue. “I’ve kept an open mind on it and if the death penalty will be revived, it should be only for the

most heinous of crimes, or for only one crime, about drugs,” Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, said. Duterte earlier said he wants five to six executions daily if the death penalty is imposed. Sen. Grace Poe said she was still studying the issue even as she found Duterte’s pronouncements “unsettling.” “We can consider this. But then again, what I want to see is reform in our judicial system. Our courts need rehabilitation, PAGE A7

A

december 30, 2016-january 5, 2017 • nOrcaL aSIan jOurnaL

OpiniOn

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Features

Murder in Catanduanes

IN every administration since the collapse of the Marcos dictatorship, journalists continued to be killed in the Philippines in connection with their work. The situation appears to be unchanged in the current administration. LAST Dec. 19, Catanduanes News Now publisher Larry Que became the first journalist to be murdered under the Duterte administration. A man on a motorcycle shot Que in the head as he was entering a building housing his insurance office in Virac, Catanduanes. Que died the next day in a hospital. The attack was staged after he wrote a column blaming local government officials for negligence after police uncovered what was described as the biggest shabu laboratory found so far in the country. Que wrote that the police raid brought shame to Catanduanes. Press groups have expressed concern for the safety of broadcaster Jinky Tabor, who agreed to serve as media witness during the raid on the shabu laboratory and who has also received death threats. The massacre of 32 media workers in Maguindanao in November 2009, attributed to a local warlord clan that wanted to thwart a challenge to its political stranglehold on the province, was just the worst attack on journalists in this country. The enormity of that atrocity did not put an end to the killing of media workers. As in other crimes, the killings persist be-

cause of the idea that people can get away with murdering bearers of bad news and those who dare to express critical opinion. Since 1992, the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists has confirmed 77 work-related fatal attacks on journalists in the Philippines. The ongoing war on illegal drugs has made it easier to commit murder and pass off the killing as drug-related. Last month gunmen left a cardboard placard with the now familiar message, “Wag nyo akung tularan drug posher ako (sic)” on what they thought was the corpse of Pangasinan journalist Virgilio Maganes. Fortunately the journalist survived to tell the tale. Another journalist, Jan Estanio of Radio Mindanao Network’s dxRS in Surigao City, also survived being shot together with his 12-year-old son on the day of President Duterte’s inaugural. The failure to apprehend perpetrators has bred impunity, inviting more attacks. The President has set up a task force “on violations of the right to life, liberty and security” of media members. Solving the murder of Larry Que would send a strong message that the task force means business. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Goodbye, 2016. Welcome, 2017! I HAVE read a lot of posts on social media bidding 2016 goodbye in the context of “good riddance” to all the challenges, losses, disappointments the year that is about to end has brought on both the personal and collective levels Indeed, it is hard to fathom how our loving God would subject us to hardship and heartaches when he promises us that “All things work together for the good (Romans 8:28)” to those who love and have faith in Him. But when the dust settles and our eyes are not blinded by tears, we realize how God shows us His love and mercy even during moments when we feel lost, abandoned, and forgotten. Going back to the verse I quoted above unlocks the answer to the question many people in pain or mourning ask — “Why did God allow this to happen?” Romans 8:28 says EVERYTHING works TOGETHER for the good, and as my favorite pastor Joel Osteen pointed out in one of his messages: having faith in God’s promise requires us to look at everything that happens in our life — both the good and the bad — together, because they all work in concert so we may end in “All is well.” Truly, if we only focus on a mistake, heartache, disappointment, or a loss, it is hard to fathom what good will come out of it. But know in faith

I ADMIRE what our President Rodrigo Duterte is trying to do for the country. Before anything else, I can say that I truly believe he is trying to make things better and safer for all Filipinos. After all, he promised in his campaign speeches that should he win, change would come, and we only need to look back over the past six months to see that he has kept his word in that aspect. Duterte has waged an all-out war on drugs and corruption in the country and we have all felt the backlash of his hard stance against both. And again, we can’t say we weren’t warned. I believe he even used the words “the streets would run red with blood” if he were to assume office and the blood has most definitely been shed. Since he assumed the presidency over 6,000 suspected drug users, pushers, and more have been killed, some in drug busts, some by vigilantes. Either way, blood has been spilt just as he promised. I did not vote for our president. I can admit that freely because I was very vocal about my political proclivities back in May. However, I can honestly say that I only wished him success when he took on the office. After all, the

anything steal our joy away even and especially during the toughest most challenging moments of our life? To me, this is the hardest part of being a Christian, but I realize this is what true faith is all about. As we say goodbye to 2016, let us count not only the losses, heartaches, and disappointments but also those blessings we have received from God in the past year. Let us see through the lens of our teary eyes, the times He has spared us and our loved ones from sickness, accident, or a heavier cross to carry. Let us remember the lessons the year has brought us, blow a kiss to the pain, and look forward to a better brighter year in 2017. Whatever happened in 2016 will lead us to “All is well” in 2017 and the many years to come. We just have to believe it in our hearts. We just have to plant that seed of faith in our hearts, nurture it with positive thoughts focusing on the good things we pray to God about, and believe that the answer is on the way — in God’s perfect timing. Proverbs 16:3 says, ”Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Osteen wrote:

When you commit something to the Lord, it means you place everything about it in His hands. It means you trust Him with the process and with the end result. It also means that you are willing to lay it down and let it go if you sense Him speaking to your heart, “This isn’t the right thing for you right now.” Maybe you don’t have any specific goals or plans for the new year yet. Maybe you’ve had some circumstances that have thrown you off course or you’ve felt overwhelmed by life. Your part is to commit each day to Him and let Him lead you moment by moment. Let me end with this message my late Daddy would always remind me: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.And the peace of God, surpassing all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phillippians 4:6,7) HAPPY NEW YEAR!. *** 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

President is barking up the wrong tree

Introspective

tony KatiGbaK

that everything happens for a reason, and that someday The Fil-Am we will realize how this “set back” is actually being used Perspective by God to set us up for something bigger and brighter as we fulfill our mission in life. The good news is as we feel like we are walking in the val- Gel SantoS-ReloS ley of despair, our Lord gives us all the the grace and strength we need to get us through the valley, with the help of friends and family who become our angels; through blessings and circumstances that remind us that He is still in control and working behind the scenes to help us do things we cannot do on our own. As He helps us walk through the valley, God is preparing us by flexing our spiritual muscles so we may be ready to fulfill what He has tasked us to do with our lives. At the core of what God is asking from us is FAITH. We have to believe before we see, instead of wanting to see before we believe. It is in working hard within us to keep our peace knowing that God will never forsake us, and what could be a better way to show our FAITH than by being at peace, praising God and not letting

president’s success would mean success for the country. And that is something we should all want and strive for. Unfortunately, since the president began, he has been doing and saying so many things that I find I can’t back and support. His bloody war on drugs has taken so many lives and yet we still have yet to see how this has made things different or better in the country. What’s more, as I mentioned in a previous column, the real victims of this so-called war are the poor people. Those with a little bit of power and money are able to avoid the bloodshed. So how is this helping the marginalized and oppressed – the very people that our president has sworn to protect? Additionally, the president has continued to take things extremely personally and has thrown international relations to the wind. There have been many instances where he says on thing and does another and of course we can’t forget how he has bent over backwards for his friend Bongbong Marcos and the Marcos family. One can’t help but question how he remains “impartial” when he puts the needs of those closest to him above the needs of the people. Again, for the most part, I try to see the good in what the president is doing. He is the leader that was elected by a landslide so in the true sense of democ-

racy, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. But again, he makes it really hard because he keeps contradicting himself and “shooting from the hip.” One day he will make a really good promise—one that we all look forward to—and then the next day, he takes it all back. For example, his latest tirade is something I can neither understand nor support. On this subject, we find ourselves on opposite sides of the fence. I am talking about his sudden ire against the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which is headed by Governor Amando Tetangco of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). He is accusing them of corruption and inefficiency and even threatening to send them to jail. It’s ludicrous and, I feel, among one of the top absurd things that the president has said. Just earlier on in his presidency, Duterte lauded Gov. Tetangco for doing such a great job and offering him another six-year team for BSP, and now he is threatening to “whack” them all for failing to give him information on drug money and on personal accounts with suspected ties to drugs. His very statements alone sound insane. What does he even mean “whack” them? And then threatening to send them to jail or label them as connected to drugs themselves if they don’t give him what he wants. It

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

sounds like the mad ravings of a petulant child who is not getting what he wants and is therefore taking it out on everyone around him. This type of tirade is not new to the president. In fact, he is becoming known the world over for not thinking about his words and just saying whatever pops into this head. While for an ordinary citizen that is already alarming, it becomes that much more alarming when coming from the mouth of a man who wields so much power. I have known Governor Tetangco for a very long time personally and I truly believe in both his ability to lead with intelligence and fairness and his skills and efficiency at his job. I believe he

is a true patriot and I have said as much in previous columns. We all know Central Banks face numerous challenges in developing economies and I think Gov. Tetangco has done an admirable job navigating these challenges and doing the best he can for the country. I was extremely happy he was given another term to continue his good work. Now, however, it looks like all his hard work may be in jeopardy because the president is not getting exactly what he wants when he wants it. I know President Duterte is getting heat for his war on drugs targeting only those without money or power but if wants to go after the “big fish” he needs to find a way to do it

legally and above board with the transparency he has promised since the beginning of his term. He can’t just lash out at whoever is around because he isn’t getting the results he wants. We all knew that his promise would not be delivered in six months. The way things are here to weed out drugs and corruption is a herculean task that will require patience, strategy, and time. Hopefully the president comes to see that once he cools off. He needs to realize that he is surrounded by allies and just because someone is not 100% on board with his methods doesn’t mean they are corrupt or part of the drug problem. (Philstar.com)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal. ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President main Office: 1210 S. brand blvd Glendale, ca 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com northern california: 1799 Old bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 burlingame, ca 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 Las Vegas Sales Office: 3700 W. desert Inn road Las Vegas, nevada 89102 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

manila Office: 2/F d&e Fort Palm Springs cond. 30th St., cor. 1st ave., bonifacio Global city, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • 856-0397 Fax: (632) 856-1661 new york office: 133-30 32nd ave., Flushing, ny 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858 new jersey office: 449 Hoboken ave., jersey city, nj 07306 Tel.: (212) 655-5426. • Fax (818) 502-0858

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer JOSEPH PERALTA Vice President & General Manager Northern California Asian Journal MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor MALOU LIWANAG-BLEDSOE Editor-in-Chief Northern California Asian Journal GERMAN P. PALABYAB Advertising and Business Development Director

adVerTISInG and adVerTOrIaL POLIcIeS asian journal Publitions, Inc. (“ajPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publition by client. (“client’s material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an ajPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by ajPI to publish a client’s material. ajPI has the option to correctly classify any client’s material and to delete objectionable words or phrases. client represents and warrants that a client’s material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applible law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation. Publition of a client’s material does not constitute an agreement to continue publition. client agrees and covenants to indemnify ajPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, uses of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “claims”) which ajPI may suffer by reason of (1) client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any claims by any third party relating in any way to client’s material. ajPI will not be liable for failure to publish any client’s material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a client’s material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publition of a client’s material, ajPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being ncellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republition of the correct advertisement. under no circumstances shall asian Publitions, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern lifornia Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern lifornia, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively. Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions. Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 30, 2016-JANUARy 5, 2017

SHABU LAB IN SAN JUAN. Agents and chemists of the National Bureau of Investigation make an inventory of chemicals and paraphernalia for making shabu at an apartment on Wilson Street in San Juan. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Sandigan affirms Neri acquittal in ZTE graft case by ElizabEth

MarcElo Philstar.com

MANILA - The Sandiganbayan has dismissed with finality the graft case filed against former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Romulo Neri in connection with the botched $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with a Chinese company. In a four-page ruling dated Nov. 29 and released to the media, the anti-graft court’s Special Fifth Division said Neri’s acquittal from the case is no longer appealable by the prosecution as it would be tantamount to double jeopardy, or to subjecting an accused to trial twice on the same charges, facts or evidence that have already been ruled upon by the court. “It is settled that a judgment of acquittal is immediately final and cannot be appealed by reason of the constitutional proscription against double jeopardy. It cannot be modified in any respect, nor be subject to change, revision, amendment or reversal,” the ruling penned by division chairman Associate Justice Roland Jurado read. Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta concurred with the ruling. Citing provisions of the Rules of Court as well as previous Supreme Court decisions, the Fifth Division pointed out that a judgment of acquittal can only be assailed through a Petition for Certiorari, which must prove that the court acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction. “Here, no such abuse of dis-

Former NEDA director general Romulo Neri

cretion is being ascribed on the Court by the prosecution in its motion [for reconsideration] as there is clearly none. It being thus obvious that the prosecution simply seeks an ordinary review of the evidence, this remedy may not be resorted to,” the court said. Further, the court said the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration also failed to raise any new relevant matters that would warrant the reversal of the original ruling. “Wherefore, premises considered, the motion for reconsideration filed by the prosecution is denied,” the court said. On Sept. 9, 2016 the court granted Neri’s demurrer to evidence, which sought the dismissal of the case for the prosecution’s supposed failure to prove the allegations against him after it presented all its evidence and witnesses. The case against Neri involves

violation of Section 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits a public official from “directly or indirectly having financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest.” Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2011, the case was in connection with the $329-million NBN deal entered into with Chinese company Zhing Xing Telecommunications Equipment Inc. (ZTE) in 2007 during the term of former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Arroyo eventually cancelled the deal after allegations of anomaly started hitting the headlines. The ombudsman said Neri, as then head of the NEDA, approved the overpriced contract with ZTE after being offered P200-million commission by then Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos. In its September ruling, the Fifth Division said none of the witnesses or evidence presented by the prosecution can prove that Neri demanded or received the supposed P200-million commission. “More importantly, even assuming that Neri was offered the amount, there was no concrete proof that he either accepted the offer or received the money. The initiative to obtain a financial or monetary interest did not even come from Neri but from another, Abalos in this case,” the court said in its original ruling.

China committed to peaceful resolution of sea row PAGE A5 construction or deploy necessary homeland defense facilities on relevant islands and reefs, whether or not China is doing this,” Hua said. “It is hoped that relevant parties would approach this in an objective and reasonable way and not read too much into it,” she added.

She also cited improving relations with the Philippines with President Durterte’s easing on rhetoric against China’s activities in disputed waters. “China and the Philippines have worked together to turn around the bilateral relationship, return to the right track of addressing disputes peacefully through dialogue and consulta-

tion, and commit themselves to moving forward friendly and pragmatic cooperation across the board,” she said. “This meets the common interests of the two countries and two peoples, lives up to the shared expectation of regional countries and contributes to peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Hua pointed out.

Opposition to death penalty seen in... PAGE A5 both physically and manpowerwise,” Poe said, adding that the court should be seen as fair by punishing its own corrupt judges. With the current woes afflicting the judicial system, she said, only poor and innocent individuals may be executed. Sen. Manny Pacquiao was one of those who filed bills seeking the death penalty, saying he has personally witnessed the deadly effects of illegal drugs when he was still a struggling boxer. Among those expected to oppose the bill are Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima. This early, some Catholic bishops already intend to write to their diocese’s congressmen to convince them not to support the passage of the death penalty. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Laity, also said they would continue with their campaign for life. “We would continue with our campaign against death penalty… We would continue with our anti-death penalty campaign and inform the politicians that this is

Sen. Koko Pimentel

not the solution to our problems,” Pabillo said. He said that they would also encourage the lay faithful to write to their congressmen. Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles admitted he had communicated to the lawmakers representing the province. “I am confident that all the Batangueño congressmen and women will oppose the re-imposition of the death penalty. Batangas is pro-God, pro-life; pro-people and pro-environment,” he said.

Activist priest Robert Reyes said the congressmen who would allow the death penalty are those who “are addicted to power and money.” He believes that the primary change the country needs is a “change on politics, not on drugs.” Sociology professor May Racelis said the Duterte administration’s war on drugs could have adverse effects on children, youth and women from the urban poor – making them think that “violence is the new normal.”

A

A

december 30, 2016-january 5, 2017 • nOrcaL aSIan jOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

COMMUNITY

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 30, 2016-JANUARy 5, 2017

CJ

Journal

New Year wishes for families

Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller THE holidays are a time for being with family. I was reminded of that recently when I accompanied a client to his interview for his green card. When I asked him if he had plans for the holidays, his face lit up. “Oh yes” he replied, “I’m going home to be with my son and my grandchildren”. His eyes shown when he talked about the presents he was going to bring his grandchildren and how they would come running to greet him. He smiled when he talked about being able to enjoy having them sit on his lap. I returned his smile, happy to be able to have brought such happiness to my client on the eve of the holidays. I thought about how many families travel great distances at this time of year to be together. Families feel the pull to be together at this time of the year more than at most other times. They want to share their religious observances. They want to feel united. They want to greet the new year together and share their hope that the next year will be better than the last. Then I thought of the families who cannot be together for the holidays this year. I thought of the U.S. citizens who face a draconian choice resulting from the denial of their spouse’s waiver for using someone else’s name to come to the U.S. These people are forced to choose between

separating from a loving and loved spouse in order to remain in the United States and care for an old or sick parent or leaving that parent in order to accompany their beloved spouse to her country of birth. I thought of the immigrants who made a mistake years, or even decades ago, that resulted in a criminal conviction, and are now facing removal even though they have been good and responsible citizens since they paid their debt to society. I thought of the people who have been waiting for years for the priority date on their family or employment petition to become current so that they could obtain status and live legally in the U.S. with their families. I thought of the people who went home for an immigrant visa interview and are trapped by bureaucratic red tape or incorrect interpretations of laws. I also thought of those who are living in fear of what the future will bring. We are a nation of immigrants. We value families and recognize the benefit of family reunification. We acknowledge that those who flee their country of birth seeking refuge and safety on these shores value freedom and liberty to a degree that those born here do not always do. We understand that immigrants bring skills and a desire to improve their lives and that, in bringing that desire to fruition, they create businesses and more jobs and opportunities for other immigrants and citizens. We recognize that, while some non-citizens may occasionally

misstep, the vast majority of those who come to this country are a true benefit to America and we are lucky to have them. We must work together to improve the lives of those living in this land. Reuniting families, keeping families together and ensuring opportunity for all must be the overriding priority of all immigration laws. It has always been RMZD’s goal to help families legally live together in the United States. We are pleased that our firm has been able to help as many people as we have. However, we recognize that more needs to be done. The laws passed by Congress and the policies brought forth from the Executive Branch must reflect a recognition that this country has always benefitted by welcoming immigrants. All of us at RMZD pledge that, in 2017, we will continue to work to help reunite families in the United States. Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year for families everywhere. ***

niKa B. ManilaTimes.net

LazO

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp., one of the biggest quick service food chains in the world, has completed its divestment from US-based restaurant Jinja Bar and Bistro as a part of its strategy to reorganize its international ventures and fo-

cus on building its larger businesses. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, JFC said on Friday, Dec. 23 that it has finalized the divestment of its 80.55percent stake in Chow Fun Holdings LLC (Chow Fun) through its offshore investment unit Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL).

Philippine Airlines president and COO Jaime Bautista told reporters, the carrier is aiming to carry a total of 13.5 million passengers for this year. by LOueLLa

desideriO

Philstar.com

MANILA - The national carrier, which is on track to meet its passenger volume target of 13.5 million this year, is aiming to increase the number of passengers Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, served to 15 million by next year. largest and most experienced immigration Philippine Airlines (PAL) presifirms in the United States with offices in Los dent and COO Jaime Bautista told Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. reporters, the carrier is aiming to For more Information please call (800) 795- carry a total of 13.5 million pas8009 or visit www.rreeves.com. sengers for this year. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 “The 13.5 (million), we will E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com achieve this year,” he said. Website: www.rreeves.com. For next year, he said the goal *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)

Jollibee completes divestment from US business Chow Fun by Kristyn

PAL likely to hit 13.5-M passenger target

Chow Fun is the operator of Jinja Bar and Bistro, a US-based restaurant serving Pacific Island and Asian cuisine and cocktails. “Chow Fun paid JWPL $1.6 million (or about P80 million) to redeem JWPL’s 2,900 Class A Membership units, equivalent to 80.55 percent equity shares in

u PAGE CJ3

is to serve more passengers or a total of 15 million. He said the higher passenger volume for next year would be driven by “new routes, more destinations, more frequency (and) China charters.” PAL recently expanded its operations through the launch of flights from the Clark International Airport. Last Dec.16, it started offering flights between Clark and Caticlan (Boracay). Following the launch of the Clark to Caticlan service, PAL is planning to increase operations

at the Clark airport through the availability of flights to Cebu, Davao, Cagayan, as well as Incheon in South Korea and Okinawa in Japan by next year. The flag carrier plans to make Clark one of its hubs in order to cater to passengers coming from Central and Northern Luzon. Apart from serving those coming from Central and Northern Luzon, the move to mount flights from Clark is also PAL’s way of supporting government’s efforts to ease congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. n

Central Bank gives 3 more months to exchange old Philippine banknotes by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has given those who still have in their possession old banknotes launched over two decades ago three more months to exchange their old bills before they ultimately lose value. BSP Deputy Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. told a press brief-

ing Wednesday, Dec. 28 that the BSP’s Monetary Board—its highest policymaking body—extended to April 1, 2017, the period during which all New Design Series (NDS) bills will be demonetized due to “public clamor for more time to exchange or replace the old banknotes,” which were launched in 1985. As such, the public can still exchange or replace their NDS

banknotes with the BSP or authorized agent banks and financial institutions until March 31, 2017, or three additional months from the earlier deadline of Dec. 31, 2016. Originally, the BSP scheduled demonetization of the NDS banknotes on Jan. 1. In April 2017, only the New Generation Currency (NGC),

u PAGE CJ2

CJ

DECEMBER 30, 2016-JanuaRy 5, 2017 • nORCaL aSIan JOuRnaL

Community Journal

Medical myths and facts

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS MEN’S sweat good for women Don’t laugh. This is true. Biologists at the University of Pennsylvania found that men’s perspiration has beneficial effects on women’s mood, reduces stress and induces relaxation. It even has an soothing effect on a woman’s menstruation. Blood test revealed a rise in the level of reproductive luteinizing hormone, which normally surges before ovulation. The study was done on men who were asked not to use deodorant during the research, and extracts of their sweat collected. The women subjects thought the substance they were testing (smelling) was a type of perfume. It is true then that when women say they love the scent of their man, it is genuine and scientifically founded. Guys, this, however, does not mean we have to stop taking showers! Violence of television

Children, boys and girls alike, who watch violence on television have increased risk of aggression, including spousal abuse and criminal offenses as adults, reported psychologist L. Rowell Huesmann and his cohorts at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, in the March 2003 issue of the Journal for Developmental Psychology. The study was conducted in the late 1970s on 329 children 6 to 9 years of age and again in their early 20s, to discern the long term effects of televised violence. The study included interviews with these subjects in the 1990s together with their spouses and children. This significant study confirmed the hypothesis that violence on the television adversely affects children’s lives by eroding into their inborn and natural aversion to violence, making aggression, violence, and in many cases, crime as acceptable social behaviors for them when dealing with their family and the public. Programs like “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Starsky and Hutch”, and even “Road Runner” were considered very

violent, among the many of the 80 popular programs included in the study. Obviously, parents have to be vigilant and caring enough to protect their children from violence, sex and obscenity (verbal or physical). Filtered water xcam? A few years ago, in this column, we cautioned the public against unscrupulous entrepreneurs selling tap (faucet) water as “filtered water.” This fraud is apparently practiced worldwide. Thus, everybody has to be forewarned. Fortune Magazine had reported that the bottled water business “is a $7.6-billion industry in the United States alone”, having more than quintupled the bottled water consumption and revenues from $2.5 billion in 1991. Drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water per day is, in general, good for us. The current US statistics show the following “gallon per person” consumption: carbonated soft drinks, which are unhealthy, 54%; beer, 22.6%; milk, 22.6%; coffee, 21.9%; and, bottled water, 21.1%. So bottled water is in, and for a

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya

(WE are coming full circle once again. The pendulum has swung. We are turning a new page. We truly hope we are not here just to mark time but to truly live the full measure of the life we were meant to have from one season to the next. Here’s my prayer for all: May the next chapter of our individual life stories in the coming year include the grace of discernment to finally figure out our life’s purpose and the courage to fulfill it.) A circle is perhaps the perfect geometric structure there is. Although some would claim the triangle or a square to be better structures because of their stable nature, the circle and all its derivatives — the orb, the sphere, the globe and every structure on earth and in the universe with a core, circumference and radii emanating from the core — can teach and even help us to understand much about nature, about ourselves and human life and u PAGE CJ3 its cycles and seasons, from the most profound to the most mun-

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Like riding a bicycle: Circles, cycles and movement “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” - Albert Eistein dane levels. From the micro to the macro levels, every creative urge on every level, in the intellectual and the physical realms, begins as a thought and if tenaciously pursued and fleshed out by one’s strength of will, proceeds from concept to completion as a circle. Even in the mundane reality of living an ordinary life from day to day, circles and cycles mark the patterns of our lives, from sunrise to sunset. Note nature’s seasons and cycles of birth and death, of sleep and wakefulness, of ebb and flow, of the waxing and waning of the moon and of the quarter million year rotation of the solar system around the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way and in the grandest of levels, the movement of a nearly infinite number of galaxies in the universe, the edge of which only the Creator knows.

On the minutest level, the astounding movement of electrons around a nucleus and the wondrous flow of the human bloodstream to and from the heart are cyclical. As science has found out, blockages, either man-made or natural to the flow or movement in the processes existing in nature at all levels, can create anomalies, abnormalities and mutations, resulting in pain and illnesses in the human body and if uncorrected, result in diseases, debilitation and ultimately, death. This presents a strong argument for regular exercise and consistent movement in our daily lives at any age. Movement pumps the blood flow in the neurons of our brain and in the capillaries in our extremities to and from the heart. The action in turn, strengthens the

u PAGE CJ3

A tribute to Benjamin G. Maynigo: An idealist and dreamer till the very end The Metamorphosis

ernie D. DelFin (PART 1 of 2)

WE ARE

HIRING Asian Journal Publications is now looking for:

Customer Sales and Service Representative Fax résumé to:

info@asianjournalinc.com

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” - Forest E. Witcraft This kind of a column is very rare and unique as it is written to pay respects to somebody who will never read it. However, who knows that in the spiritual world where he is now, there might be that mysterious chance or miraculous e-mail, where this article is transmitted from earth to high heavens. Nevertheless, I am writing this personal tribute to my dear Compadre, Benjamin “Ben” G. Maynigo, to express my deep love and respect for him and his family that he left behind. Last Friday, Dec. 23, my compadre would have been 70 years exactly, but in God’s timetable, he passed away 20 days short. But short as it was, I believe he lived a full life with no regrets, as he always did his best to improve the world that he found it. Ben’s growing up years was quite parallel with this writer — in a rural town in Pangasinan. I was born in Manaoag, Pangasinan while Ben was born in Rosales, Pangasinan, a town made famous in the literary world by another Ilocano writer-novelist, F. Sionil Jose, who authored the “Rosales Saga” novels. Coincidentally, Ben passed away on Dec. 3 while his kailian, Manong Frank Sionil Jose was celebrating his 92nd birthday on the same day!

I first met Pareng Ben in one of the early conferences of Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) which he founded in the mid-80s, and he invited me to serve as a director from Los Angeles region. I found him to be a dreamer and a visionary who lived outside the box often. Through APACC, I meet many non-Filipinos, especially some minority groups that I still vividly remember like Fred Lane, descendant of a Native American Lummi chief from the Seattle area, Tom Holmes, an African-American leader in Los Angeles, and also pioneers in Filipino-American politics like David M. Valderrama who was the first Fil-Am delegate to the State Legislature of Maryland (his “seat” was also occupied by one of his daughters, Kris, decades later). In the summer of 1987, as president of the PICPA-Southern California, I invited Ben as one of the speakers to our National Council of Filipino American CPAs convention which I chaired at the Disneyland Hotel, and he instantly had many friends and fans from our CPA organization. As the founder of APACC and a successful lawyer, Ben wowed the non-legal audience of predominantly CPAs and their friends expounding about the many benefits of going outside the Fil-Am community as he did in APACC. I still cannot forget that this convention was one of the more successful ones, as our speakers were not just from the accounting profession, but also interesting and inspiring speakers like Ben and my long-time friend, Tritia Toyota, one of the pioneers of Asian American TV personalities in Los Angeles, who also co-founded our Asian American Journalist Association. Because of our non-CPA speakers, I still remember very well that the session after lunch was “cancelled” because of Ben speaking before

lunch and Tritia delivering the luncheon keynote speech, and most of the delegates “refused” to go back to the seminar workshop to have more time for dialogue with these two VIP speakers and pictures with them (there were no iPhones and selfies then!). Looking back, that was my “fault” for inviting non-CPA speakers but at the same time, I was also happy about it. In the political arena, he was also quite involved and also indirectly affected by the Martial Law regime of Marcos, as he was married to Tina Manglapus, the only daughter of the late Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Raul Manglapus. As the former Senator Manglapus was already in the U.S. as an exile, Pareng Ben and his family were forced to escape the Philippines through the backdoor from Mindanao to Sabah, Malaysia and eventually to the United States. Thereafter, the Movement for Free Philippines (MFP — could also mean Manglapus For President) was organized and had national following from many FilAms. This political factor gave another reason for Ben and me to have more discussions as I also attended MFP meetings in Southern California when Senator Manglapus and/or Ben were visiting from the Washington D.C. area. When Marcos fled the Philippines and was brought to Hawaii, and Cory Aquino became president, Raul Manglapus was again appointed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs while Ben refocused his AI-centered business and other interests that forced him to have an office in Manila where he stayed half of the time as his family did not leave their Virginia residence as they did not desire to settle down in the Philippines. (To be continued next week) *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com Website: www.gkerc.org

Central Bank gives 3 more months... PAGE CJ1 t the banknote series launched in 2010, can be used for daily transactions. According to Espenilla, only a “small amount” of NDS bills were still in circulation. BSP data showed that as of the end of November, 8.86 percent or 295.7 million pieces of the 3.34 billion banknotes in circulation are NDS banknotes. In terms of value, the NDS banknotes still in circulation are worth a total of P23.3 billion, comprising a mere 2.4 percent of the P979.9-billion worth in the system. Both the volume and value of NDS banknotes compared with the total banknotes in circulation already dropped from 21 percent and 20.4 percent, respectively, by the end of 2014, when the demonization process was first announced. Between 2015 and end-November this year, a total of 416 million pieces of NDS banknotes were withdrawn from the system, equivalent to P161 billion. Espenilla reminded banks that they must replace old banknotes from those exchanging them even if they were not their customers. He further warned that banks which would refuse trading the old bills with new ones would be slapped penalties under relevant provisions of the BSP Charter. Espenilla said that as of Wednesday, the Monetary Board was still

studying if it would also extend the deadline for authorized agent banks, treasurers of local government units, clerks of courts and law enforcement agencies, as well as Filipinos living and working abroad. In the case of banks and local treasurers, the BSP had already given them until March 31 next year to exchange the NDS notes in their possession as of Dec. 31 this year. NDS banknotes in courts’ custody must be traded until Jan. 31, 2017, while those subject of court cases can still be exchanged within six months after the termination of the corresponding legal cases. For overseas Filipinos, they are enjoined to register up to P50,000 of old banknotes on the website https://orbs.bsp. gov.ph until Dec. 31, after which they can trade 1985 old Philippine peso bills, named the New Design the money within a year Series, that will be demonetized by Apr. 1, 2017. from registration date. banknotes that will be submitted As for those in war-torn coun- for exchange. tries, the BSP had given them Just a few days before Christuntil Dec. 31, 2017, to exchange mas, the BSP also released 27 NDS notes, even if they do not million pieces of NGC banknotes register. bearing President Duterte’s sigThe BSP will undertake piece nature, worth a total of P8.75 bilby piece verification of all NDS lion. n

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I entered the U.S. on a C–1 transit visa, but I am not a crewman, nor was I joining any ship. I was simply passing through the U.S. to another country. However, I remained in the U.S. and am out of status. I just got married to a U.S. citizen, and was told I would not be able to adjust status (get a green card) in the U.S. because I entered on a C-1 transit visa. Is

Community Journal

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 30, 2016-JANUARy 5, 2017

CJ

Non-crewman C-1 transits can adjust status in the US there any hope for me to adjust status in the U.S. through a marriage petition, without having to go back to the Philippines? Very truly yours, M.B.

“My office has handled several cases involving non-crewmen C-1 transits, and we successfully secured their green card in the U.S. through adjustment of status.”

Dear M.B.: A C-1 visa is issued to aliens in “immediate and continuous transit through the U.S.” Such visas are typically issued to crewmen seeking to join a ship. However, a C-1 visa can also be issued to other people transiting through the U.S. to another country. These non-crewman C-1 entrants could possibly be eligible to adjust sta-

tus in the U.S. (For crewmen to adjust status in the U.S., they would need the benefit of Section 245(i), by having been previously petitioned before April 30, 2001. However, non-crewman transits would not necessarily need Section 245(i) to adjust status in the U.S.) In fact, my office has handled several cases involving non-crew-

status in the U.S. versus having to go back to the Philippines via provisional waiver. If you entered the U.S. on a C-1 visa and were not a crewman, you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your case and men C-1 transits, and we success- determine your eligibility for adfully secured their green card in justment of status (assuming you the U.S. through adjustment of have been petitioned and your status. In one case, the person en- priority date is current). If you are tered on a C-1 visa, going to Guan- a C-1 crewman, you would either tánamo Bay to work. In another need the benefit of Section 245(i) case, the person was transiting or consider a provisional waiver. *** through the U.S. to work on an oil platform off the coast of Louisiana. Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active Since they were not crewman, we member of the State Bar of California and New succeeded in having them adjust York. All immigration services are provided by,

or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

Between festivities, visit My Social Security Jollibee completes divestment from US business... THE holiday season is upon us, bringing with it family gatherings and familiar traditions. As you bustle about from place to place, sharing turkey dinners and catching up with loved ones, there’s one errand you can avoid — a visit to the Social Security office. Why take time out of your busy holiday schedule to visit an office when you can conduct most of your business online? At www.socialsecurity.gov, we have a variety of services available to you, all from the comfort of your home. You can apply for disability benefits or appeal a disability decision. You can also file for retirement benefits, spousal benefits, or Medicare-only benefits while enjoying leftover pumpkin pie. Our secure, easy-to-navigate website is sure to add plenty of comfort

and joy to the festivities. Even if you’re currently receiving benefits, or aren’t quite ready to file, Social Security has services to bring you holiday cheer. With a my Social Security account, those receiving benefits may change their address and direct deposit information, get proof of their benefits, and request replacement documents like a Medicare card. In addition, if you aren’t currently getting benefits, you can still check your earnings record, get estimates of your future benefits, and view your Social Security Statement. In some areas, you can even request a replacement Social Security card online. Open your account today at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. With the New Year just around the corner, it’s never too early to start planning for your

future. Once you’ve conducted your business at www.socialsecurity.gov, you may want to visit www.myRA.gov. myRA is a retirement savings account from the Department of the Treasury designed to help you put aside money for your retirement. You can invest in the fund according to your budget, putting you in control of your financial prospects. Give yourself a gift this holiday season and invest in your future. Holidays are fun, and sometimes stressful, times. Let our online offerings reduce the holiday stress so you can focus on what’s important — your loved ones. When you need services from Social Security, start a new tradition. Go online at www.socialsecurity.gov. (By Eric Phillips / Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Sacramento, CA)

PAGE CJ1 t

Chow Fun,” JFC said. Earlier in the month, JFC announced it was divesting from Chow “to concentrate its resources in building its larger businesses.” JFC holds a 40 percent ownership in burger joint Smashburger with 378 stores in the United States and its other businesses in there include 34 Jollibee outlets, 33 Red Ribbon stores, and 16 Chowking stores. Jinja Bar and Resto under Chow Fun has three outlets in New Mexico, two in Albuquerque, and one in Santa Fe. JFC acquired 12 percent equity share in Chow Fun on July 25, 2008 then increased its shareholdings to 80.55 percent on March 31, 2011. Earlier this month, JFC via JWPL unloaded its 55 percent

stake in Chinese restaurant chain San Pin Wang for 90 million renminbi, or about P648.9 million, in a bid to focus on its bigger Chinese venture, Yonghe King. JFC has one of the biggest food service networks in the world with 3,236 stores to date — 2,565 in the Philippines and 671 abroad. Other overseas businesses of the group through joint ventures include: 60 percent of Vietnambased Superfoods Group which owns and operates the brands Highlands Coffee and Pho 24, and is a franchisee of Hard Rock Café; and a 48-percent stake in 12 Hotpot (China) 16. These joint ventures total to 594 stores worldwide which are currently not included in JFC’s consolidated store count. The group’s brand network is composed of Jollibee, Chowking,

Medical myths and...

Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, and Burger King in the Philippines and in other parts of the world; Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, and Dunkin’ Donuts in China; and Smashburger in the US. JFC set a capital expenditure of P10.4 billion this year, which is more than double the P4.7 billion capex in 2015, to fund new stores and the renovations of existing outlets. The company’s aggressive expansion is in line with its five-year plan toward 2020 to grow its net income and revenues by double digits yearly in a bid to land in the Top 5 quick service restaurants (QSR) in the world. At present, JFC is the largest in Asia and 10th largest QSR in the world in terms of market capitalization, according to a Bloomberg data earlier cited by the company. n

the absence of, and in lieu of, a condom; (10) the man already had sex with another woman, or had masturbated, an hour or so earlier; (11) oral sex preceded normal intercourse; and (12) the woman douches immediately after sex. These are all myths and cannot be relied upon to prevent pregnancy. Only total abstinence or use of an intact condom, or use of prescribed birth control pills under medical supervision, can prevent pregnancy. Inhalants are deadly Statistics in the United States reveal that about half a million people, between 12-17, die annually from Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. The deadly inhalants included glue, spray paint and markers. The report showed that age 12 is when most children start to experiment on chemicals and drugs. March 16-22 has been declared in the US as National Inhalant and Poison Awareness Week. .

PAGE CJ2 t cholesterol from red meats and healthy reason. But be certain eggs are unhealthy for us, the the bottled water is produced by good polyunsaturated non-hya reputable company. And make drogenated fats from olive oil, sure you break the seal-lock on canola oil and nuts are benthe cap of the bottle yourself, to eficial to our body. They can preclude the possibility of tam- even protect us from developpering and contamination. It is ing Alzheimer’s Disease. Fish prudent to instruct the waiters oil (Omega 3 fatty acids) from in restaurants NOT to open the fresh fish has been found to be bottle, NOT to break the seal, so good for the heart (cardio-protective) and possible also good you could do it yourself. for boosting immunity against Food warning Some food may increase the common illnesses. Sushi (raw risk for the development of co- fish) is rich in Omega 3. All the lon cancer. New studies among studies have shown that a diet women have shown that diets of consisting mainly of fish (as that favor red meat (especially source of protein, plus vegetagrilled and burnt) or processed bles, fruits and nuts) instead of meat, French fries, sweets, re- red meats and eggs is, without fined grains (like white bread, any doubt, the healthier alterpasta) are associated with native, if we are to ward off carhigher colon cancer rate. The diovascular diseases (like heart recommended diet, as we have attack and stroke) and lower the repeatedly “prescribed” in this risk of cancer. The myths about pregnancy column the past several years, The following are myths: A should consist of fish, vegeta*** bles, fruits, legumes (beans), woman is guaranteed 100% not Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac and whole-grain foods (hi-fiber to get pregnant IF: (1) penetra- Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and items like bran, oat meal). This tion is done only a few times chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to healthy diet reduces the risk of without completion of inter- 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, At www.socialsecurity.gov, we have a variety of services available to you, all from the comfort of your home. You can apply for colon and other cancers. To course; (2) withdrawal is done where he holds the title of Physician disability benefits or appeal a disability decision. You can also file for retirement benefits, spousal benefits, or Medicare-only make the equation complete, before ejaculation; (3) coitus is Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, add: abstinence from tobacco, done during the “safe” period; Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American benefits while enjoying leftover pumpkin pie. daily exercise, and if desired, (4) sex is done during menses; College of Surgeons, the Philippine College a glass or two of red wine with (5) the woman did not have or- of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley dinner (with romantic soft mu- gasm during sex; (6) the lovers Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the sic to further calm the nerves). drink wine before sex; (7) aspi- chairman of the Filipino United Network And don’t forget the loved one rin is inserted into the vagina as – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation PAGE CJ2 t settled about it. We can track its tated by something much more to do this with. contraceptive; (8) the woman in the United States. For more data, visit D EC E M B E R 22-23 muscles of the heart and main- patterns and draw some educat- powerful than any human mind is on top during the act; (9) the philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail. Good “fats” tains blood pressure at healthy ed guesses so we can prepare for can conjure. Earth’s 23.5 degree While the saturated fats and man uses any plastic wrap in com catastrophic disturbances to mit- tilt which dictates earth’s sealevels. Nature moves in cycles. While igate destruction. The world is a sons as it spins like a wobbly top the earth’s atmospheric cloak sphere and there is still so much along its orbit around the sun, adheres to the surface because about our planet that needs to be which in turn orbits the center of the Milky Way readjusts and of the gravitational pull of the discovered. Who knows when the next is tweaked according to some earth’s mass, the hydrologic cycle will continue to maintain our Krakatoa or Vesuvius will erupt cosmic cycle. In a way, the life of our living, seas and give us rain to sustain and spit out so much sulfur to all planetary life — that is, for the envelop the world for years that breathing planet is reflective of D EC E M B E R 3 1 time being —unless something temperatures drop significantly human life from birth to death. unforeseen and catastrophic, like because sunlight is blocked. It The human story is cyclical. Grand Park + The Music Center in Los Angeles host New Year’s Eve a rogue asteroid with the earth’s has happened before with Mount Every civilization goes through celebration name on it as its target, upsets Pinatubo and other volcanoes periods of beginnings, progress, Los Angeles will put its mark on New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world as Anand upends this delicate and rare along the Ring of Fire through full flowering, decay, stagnation gelenos join together with friends and family to share their hopes, dreams and resolutions the centuries. The only thing and ultimately, death. Planet homeostatic balance. If and when that happens, as certain is that volcanic eruptions earth will die too along with the for 2017 at the fourth annual Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. The West Coast’s scientists theorized is the rea- will happen again. We just don’t sun, one day, the human race flagship New Year’s celebration will feature three stages with live music, DJs and dancing and all living carbon-based creason dinosaurs were wiped out know when. throughout the night; large scale inflatable art; and 3D digital video mapping on City Hall Who knows when the Big One tures will be gone by then. 65 million years ago, it would along with an integrated light show to count down to the new year in true L.A. style. The As a historical footnote, be a complete cycle. It would be for California will happen? It is free family-friendly event, which attracts thousands from all over Southern California and ADIOS to human life as we know not a matter of if but when. That there are clear indications the beyond, reinforces Downtown Los Angeles as a destination for a grand-scale New Year’s it. Fortunately, such occurrences is a given. The last big one in American story, as a result of Eve experience. Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. takes place from 8:00 p.m. happen in geologic time, in mil- San Francisco was over a hun- its increasing divisiveness and on December 31, 2016 to 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, and will cover 90 acres from The dred years ago and scientists say seismic shifts in its values and lions of years. Music Center Plaza to City Hall (Hope Street to Spring Street) and from Temple Street to The prophets of doom herald- California is due for the next big national psyche, has has gone 2nd Street. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend. For more information about through a protracted period of ing climate change, backed by one. Who knows when the next decay and stagnation phase of some pseudo scientists) include Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A., visit grandparkla.org/nyela or musiccenter. themes of global cooling or Katrina will come and wreak its cycle. For three decades, org/nyela. global warming (take your pick). havoc? Who knows the direct America may have lost its way For a number of years, they have path tornadoes will take? All we as it drifted away from its core JA N UA Ry 28 , 2 0 1 7 been trying to scare the living know is that there are things that Christian values made manifest Historic Filipinotown Scavenger Hunt daylights of present day earth humans can predict with some through its decadent culture. This may have played out alinhabitants with stark doomsday degree of accuracy but on the Explore the cultural gems of HiFi (Historic Filipinotown) by joining the 2nd HiFi Scavenwhole, there are things that are ready. By God’s grace and mirscenarios. ger Hunt Fundraiser on Saturday, January 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m! Meet Filipino-specific Someone claimed with arro- random and beyond the realms acle for millions who bent down challenges (from a Balut eating contest to dancing Tinikling to a hip hop beat!). You may their knees and prayed fervently gant certainty a few years back of prediction. find yourself meeting a little-known community hero, tasting a Filipino food challenge or One thing that is becoming and asked for divine intervention, that because of global warmreceiving your very own Filipino nickname! You will be having a blast while building your ing the polar ice caps would be clear is that nature has become a new beginning is sprouting. bayanihan spirit by asking your friends and family and even your Facebook fans to donate The promise of resurgence to completely gone by now. The part of a global political agenda. seas will rise and cities along the I consider such thought manipu- new life and an era of hope and money to sponsor your Team to take this challenge. You and your team choose your own coast will be plunged in chaos. lations suspect. When nature is worthwhile accomplishments is fundraising goal! Funds raised by this event will go to the programs and services of 2 HiFi Guess what? The ice caps are being used by groups to advance dawning. community organizations, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Filipino American Service HAPPY, HEALTHY AND still there and the polar vortex of dubious political motives so that Group, Inc. (FASGI) to provide vital services to families, workers and seniors in our commuthe past year which brought one laws can be enacted that will es- PROSPEROUS 2017 TO ALL!!! nity. Services include free or low-cost citizenship application assistance, human trafficking “Life,” according to Einstein, of the most severe and bitter win- sentially line the pockets of cersurvivor support, civic engagement, wage theft claims assistance, cultural programs and ter seasons in memory belie such tain economic interests and thus “is like riding a bicycle. To keep more! Have fun, Discover Historic Filipinotown win prizes and support your community ensure political power, it is time your balance, you must keep claims. while doing it! Go to www.pwcsc.org/HiddenHiFi to sign up now. PWC is located at 153 The fact remains there is no to tune out of the madness and moving.”. Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026. *** predicting the weather or for that see it for what it is. We need to matter, the end of the world with maintain equilibrium in the face Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send absolute certainty and infallibili- of untruths. details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com When it comes to nature, what comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ ty. Climate is part of science that is still evolving. There is nothing will be, will be. Its cycles are dic- asianjournalinc.com

Like riding a bicycle: Circles, cycles and...

Calendar of Events across

America

CJ

DECEMBER 30, 2016-JanuaRy 5, 2017 • nORCaL aSIan JOuRnaL

Business news

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

More Chinese investors eye PH BSP will be forced to hike rates in 2017 by Richmond

by mayvelin

caRaballo ManilaTimes.net

meRcuRio

Philstar.com

MANILA – The country is starting to reap benefits from its renewed friendship with global powerhouse China as more Chinese groups have signified their intention to invest in the Philippines. The Board of Investments said 40 investors from China are looking at exploring investment opportunities in Mindanao, where President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown is located. The Chinese firms include Foxconn IPC Group which is part of global electronics giant Foxconn Technology, CAS Engineering & Development Corp., CHINT Electric Group, and Shenda Electric. The BOI recently approved Liangan Power Corp.’s application for registration of a P1.36-billion renewable energy project, which is backed by a Chinese group. “This a concrete manifestation of the emphasis of President Duterte to attract more Chinese investments to the country,” Trade Secretary and BOI chairman Ramon Lopez said. “The BOI and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) are working closely right now to bring in more investors from countries recently visited by the President, including China,” Lopez added. Last October, Duterte went on a four-day state visit to Beijing to improve the country’s ties with

Trade Secretary and BOI chairman Ramon Lopez

China following recent territorial disputes. PCCI chairman emiritus Francis Chua said Duterte’s recent visit to China had really opened the floodgate of investments from the world’s second largest economy. “The efficiency of BOI in approving registration applications without sacrificing prudence in regulation, is a testament to the promise of the President that ease of doing business is guaranteed under his administration. The Philippines henceforth is the destination of investors,” Chua said. Slated to be fully operational by January 2019, LPC’s 11.9 megawatt (MW) hydropower project aims to provide reasonably-priced supply of electricity with minimal negative impact on the environment and host communities.

The project will be situated in Northwest Mindanao within the municipality of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte and within the proximity of Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro. It is expected to employ up to 44 personnel. “This project which has the support of Chinese investors will further spur industrial development in the South since it is located between two strategic cities. With the government pushing for more infrastructure projects in the countryside by next year, the role of renewable energy is crucial in achieving the pace of industrialization,” Trade undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said. Around 31 percent of Mindanao’s power supply is currently sourced from renewable energy sources, according to data from the Mindanao Development Authority. n

Chavit Singson eyes IBC network by leila

b. SalaveRRia Inquirer.net

BUSINESSMAN-politician Luis “Chavit” Singson is planning to buy the International Broadcasting Corp. (IBC) TV network from the government, which has been considering privatizing the station. Singson, president of the LCS Group of Companies, sent a letter to the Presidential Communications Operations Office dated Dec. 19 signifying his intent to purchase the network. “The LCS Group submits herewith its formal intention to purchase International Broadcasting Corp. from the Philippine government, following the latter’s publicly stated plan to privatize the said company,” Singson said in his letter. But he said his company would first conduct due diligence pro-

EMPLOYMENT

cedures, including a review of its financial statement, its asset register and its schedule of arrears. He asked Malacañang to allow LCS Group to conduct the due diligence procedures for 45 days. The LCS Group had appointed its consultant, Millawave Systems, to carry out the task. After the due diligence procedures had been completed, the group would need 15 days to prepare a final offer to the government for the IBC purchase. Singson confirmed his plan to purchase the network in a phone interview with the Inquirer on Friday, Dec. 23. He said that if he acquires IBC13, he plans to buy new equipment to modernize it. It would also offer a variety of news and entertainment shows, he said. Singson, with boxing champ

and now Sen. Manny Pacquiao, earlier tried to buy into the GMA network, but the deal fell through. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said the government wants to privatize IBC-13, which had been sequestered by the state after the ouster of the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. The network is facing labor problems and owes back wages to employees. The Aquino administration had also tried to sell IBC-13, but no deal was finalized during its term. The Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations earlier recommended the privatization of IBC-13 because its functions duplicate or overlap with that of government-owned PTV 4 network. n

EMPLOYMENT

FITCH-owned BMI Research said the central bank is likely to tighten its monetary policy stance before the end of next year as inflationary pressures rise, while it attempts to stem capital outflows amid a more aggressive rate hike cycle in the United States. Strong Philippine economic growth momentum will allow room for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to prioritize macroeconomic stability over growth, BMI said. “While we expect the BSP to maintain a neutral monetary stance through the first quarter of 2017, we believe that the central bank will be forced to hike its benchmark RRP [reverse repurchase]rate by 50 bps [basis points]to 3.50 percent before end2017,” it said in a report released over the weekend. After lowering the RRP rate to 3 percent from 4 percent on May 16 in the runup to adopting an interest rate corridor system on June 3, the central bank has kept the key policy rate unchanged for the rest of the year. The Monetary Board also kept the corresponding rates for overnight lending and deposit facilities at 3.5 percent and 2.5 percent,

respectively. The reserve requirement ratio was also kept steady at 20 percent. Inflation hits bottom Although inflationary pressures remained relatively muted, coming in at 2.5 percent year-on-year in November—which is at the lower end of the BSP’s inflation target corridor of 3 percent ± 1 percent—the inflation cycle has likely bottomed out, the research firm said. “We expect price pressures in the country to continue to rise in the coming quarters with our average-inflation forecast standing at 3.3 percent in 2017 (versus 2.2 percent in 2016),” it said. BMI sees this as an indication that real interest rates are likely to fall into negative territory, and BSP is, therefore, likely to be forced to hike interest rates before the end of 2017 in order to maintain macroeconomic stability. Over the coming quarters, grain and energy commodity prices are also seen becoming positive drivers of inflation, as they are likely to post elevated year-on-year percentage increases due to the low base effects seen in first half of 2016. Furthermore, BMI said the increase in electricity rates, along with the proposed upward adjustment in the excise tax rates of

petroleum products, have the potential to be inflationary given that housing, water, electricity, and transportation account for about 30 percent of the Consumer Price Index basket. It added that President Rodrigo Duterte’s approved P3.35 trillion budget for 2017—which will focus on infrastructure and social development, and will be positive for productivity growth—will, nevertheless, add to upside inflationary pressures. US Fed move While the US Federal Reserve’s decision to raise the benchmark funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 0.50 percent to 0.75 percent on December 14, the Fed displayed a more hawkish path for monetary policy in 2017, increasing the median expectation to three 25 bps hikes from two in September, the BMI report said. The local currency has already sold off more than 8 percent since August 2016, while bond yields have risen by more than 140bps over the same period. “Given recent weakness in the Philippine assets, we believe that the central bank will likely be forced to adopt a more hawkish stance in order to ensure financial market stability over the course of 2017,” it added. n

US seen selectively imposing trade restrictions by czeRiza

valencia Philstar.com

MANILA – The US, under a Trump administration could selectively impose trade restrictions on products that are vital for Asian economies such as iron, steel and light manufactures, said UK-based think tank Oxford Economics in a research brief. In a report titled Asia Pacific: Bearing the brunt of protectionism, the organization said there is a small probability of a full-pledged trade war against China, the largest economy in the region. Trump could restrict the entry into the US of the above-mentioned products and expand the target to sensitive sectors such as textiles, computers and electronic products, electrical machinery and motor vehicles. “(US president-elect) Donald Trump’s campaign proposal to impose hefty tariffs on China has raised the spectre of 1930’s-style trade wars. While we attach a low probability to a full-blown escalation, economies across Asia will

have to brace themselves for rising protectionism amid subdued global growth and rising Western populism,” the report said. As such, Oxford Economics said greater intra-regional trade and integration is needed in the region to soften the impact. China, as expected, would be most exposed in terms of the number of sectors at risk of trade restrictions. Other Asian countries that may be directly hit by trade restrictions are Korea, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong. The Philippines, as domestic demand economy, is expected to weather these changes better compared to these more open economies. “As such, a Trump presidency, along with the growing populist sentiment across Europe, signals a move toward de-globalization. This doesn’t bode well for Asia’s economies, which have been the big free trade winners. Asia needs to convince the West that

EMPLOYMENT

it is not just a beneficiary of globalization, but also a responsible stakeholder, and needs to bolster intra-regional trade and integration to support growth,” the think tank said. Both the US and China are top trade partners of the Philippines. As of October, the US (including Alaska and Hawaii) is the second largest destination for Philippine exports with receipts valued at $737.21 million. This was higher by 8.9 percent from $676.76 million in the same month last year. China, on the other hand, was the third largest destination for outbound shipments with receipts valued at $571.87 million in October. The amount was 43.1 percent higher than $426.47 million in the same period last year. In terms of imports, US was the third biggest source of imports in October with the import bill amounting to $614.86 million, a decrease by 1.5 percent from $624.23 million in October 2015. n

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 30, 2016-JANUARy 5, 2017

CJ

CJ

DECEMBER 30, 2016-JanuaRy 5, 2017 • nORCaL aSIan JOuRnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Friday, December 30, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 30, 2016

Financial goals for the New Year Among the top resolutions people make when the new year comes around is getting their finances on the right track. The promise of new beginnings and the burden of self-improvement help people look back to a year’s worth of regrets. Aside from spending more time with family or trying to be healthy, we all certainly have our fair share of vices especially when it comes to money. However, like most resolutions, financially-themed promises for improvement hardly get achieved. About 45 percent of people make new Year’s resolutions and only 8 percent get to achieve their goals. This means that this does not bode well for hopes of improved money management. Still, these low odds should not deter one from improving financial habits. Here are some tips to make 2017 a great year for your wallet:

1. Pay bills immediately. Everyone has monthly obligations such as insurance, utilities, retirement fund, credit cards, etc. Take care of these obligations immediately after receiving your paycheck, before allowing yourself to spend on any indulgence or luxury. This strategy will help you get a better sense of what you can really afford — and what you can’t. 2. Repay your credit card debt (at least 20 percent). According to WalletHub, an average household with credit card debt will owe approximately $8,400 by the end of 2016. So getting a zero percent balance transfer credit card plus a well-crafted payment plan will help a person save hundreds on finance charges. It understandable that a bigger amount will be difficult to pay off in one swoop, so it is recommended that you start smaller, by making a plan to transfer and pay

off 20 percent of what you owe over the course of 2017. 3. Review your credit report and sign up for credit monitoring. It is easy to get free credit scores today, thanks to websites and banks that provide the service. However, knowing your score is just a start. According to a survey by the Federal Trade Commission, one in four people have a credit report containing an error that could affect their credit score. Reviewing your credit report thoroughly can help you spot signs of fraud before they get out of hand. Aside from checking your credit report, you can also keep tabs by signing up for a 24/7 credit monitoring. This service will enable you to receive notifications if there is an important change to your credit report. 4. Plan for a realistic budget — and stick to it. According to the national Foundation for Credit Counsel-

ing, Americans are going to end 2016 with an $80 billion credit card debt. That’s not a surprise considering that only 40 percent of adults have a budget. This is why there is a need to look over what we make and how to spend it. The first step is to look at past bills and make a list of all recurring expenses. Rank them according to importance, putting real necessities, such as housing, food and health care on top. Then, see what you need to cut out from the bottom list to make sure that your pay exceeds what you plan to spend. Finally, keep track of this list and how you spend every month to make sure you’re abiding by your budget. 5. The possibility of looking for a better job. We want to spend less and save more that sometimes we overlook what could be wrong: How much we actually earn. Finding

a better-paying job may not seem to be the better answer as trading up a longtime career for a new one isn’t easy. However, considering a new job with higher wages and/or moving to an area with a lower

cost of living can outweigh all other financial maneuverings. Another suggestion is going back to school to acquire skills that can add to your earning potential. As expected, this needs a little more thinking and planning. The thought of changing jobs and/or moving to a new area may be a little daunting, but change is good — and changing for a better year financially is better. (AJPress)

Fitness and health advice from health & wellness coaches by LesLey

Camara and Thea Fernandez

Source: Statisticbrain.com

AS the popular holiday song goes “So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over; a new one just begun.” The start of the year is an exciting time where self-introspection of the previous year reveals self-renovation in the upcoming year. We ask ourselves: what can we do better this year than last year? A recent poll in the United States shows that the top three new Years resolution themes revolve around improving health, increasing wealth, and jumping at the opportunity to try something new. Though many people set new Year goals, a 2015 study shows that only 8 percent of the U.S. population who made resolutions, met them. Though there are TonS of valuable tips out there to help individuals get a jumpstart on their goals, here are a few to apply immediately: Get fit and STAY fit in the New Year! There are DIETS, and then there are LIFESTYLES. Diets are temporary, but lifestyles, are pretty permanent. If what you want in 2017 is an oPTImALLY healthy body, the numbers on your scale – while they are important – aren’t enough to give you a comprehensive report. Set specific goals with a clear purpose and have an accountability partner. “Lose weight and eat healthier foods” is noT enough. But “I want to lose 30 pounds in four months so that I can lower my blood pressure and my doctor can taper off my medications” is gREAT. When you figure out WHY you are doing something, share it with an “accountability partner,” a friend that you trust and will push you in the moments you want to quit. We suggest picking someone who is in the position you want to be in (more fit, more active, etc.) because you will feel the need to keep up. Remember, we will always give up on our own goals but when someone knows about it and is doing it WITH you, it’s a bit harder to quit. Additionally, choose a physical activity you love to do and enjoy doing it on a regular basis. It does not have to be the same activity, but what gives you joy should motivate you to act on it. As an added bonus, research shows that physical activity and weight-loss programs are more fun and effective if done with a partner or in a group. With that said, grab a friend, relative or significant other and enjoy getting fit together! Plan ahead for obstacles… also known as a social life and family gatherings! As Filipinos, our culture revolves around family and social Infographics by AJPress

Lesley Camara

gatherings where, often times, there is WAY too much food to eat for the amount of people invited. But did you know, studies show cravings typically only last five to 10 minutes? So if you know ahead of time you will be at a social gathering where your “forbidden fruit” will be, try doing these things: - Fill up on healthy, lean proteins and high fiber foods before even leaving home! greek yogurt, fish, deli meats, leafy greens and grilled vegetables are all great choices! - To control portions, grab a small plate. This will force you to automatically portion control your food choices so as not to “over eat” on your first round at the Filipino party buffet. - Sit far away from the food and desserts. once you grab a plate, you can easily avoid getting up for another round by simply positioning your seat a fair walking distance from the food selection. Though this requires much self-control – in Thea’s experience, it has worked in that she’d rather stay at her seat catching up with a relative than walking another 10, 20, 50 feet back to the buffet table for more food. - Limit those Filipino desserts – although it’s hard! Added sugar is one of the leading causes of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. A rule of thumb: everything in moderation and just eat your favorite. give yourself a limit on how many sweets you’ll consume at a Filipino party and your starting point can be less than your average amount of sweets consumed. For example, if there are seven different dessert options, start by trying three small portions of the desserts or even better, just stick to your favorite dessert – promise, it won’t hurt you! These small yet simple changes will allow you to become conscious of what you are eating and how much. With this increased awareness of food consumption, those “after holiday pounds” will be kept off. About the authors: Lesley Camara is a manila born, young entrepreneur and UCLA graduate. After her father passed away before her freshman year of high school, she made it her life’s purpose to help families stay healthy and whole. It would not be under

Thea Fernandez

her watch that a friend loses a loved one because of something preventable. Through her unique network of connections, she has had the opportunity to study several leaders in their field, including health. For years she has studied and tried holistic approaches to mind-body health, and loved it. Through her current profession, she has impacted and transformed thousands of lives. She has gone through her own transformation, losing 47 pounds (still counting) and has kept it off. While she is still a work in progress, she takes every opportunity to celebrate every success. most especially the success of those around her! Thea Fernandez, mPH, CHES is a Certified Health Education Specialist and health entrepreneur who has a passion for helping people improve their health through lifestyle changes after losing her father to a preventable disease at the age of 16. As a first generation Filipina-American who grew up on the island of o’ahu, she made it her mission to study, practice and teach Healthy living by later moving to Los Angeles to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies and later a master’s Degree in Public Health, both from the University of Southern California (USC). Thea enthusiastically practices her public health work full-time serving as the Education Lead for UCLA’s outpatient Comprehensive Care Coordinator Team by day; and part-time, as a licensed Zumba instructor, teaching 6 full classes per week at the Anderson munger Family YmCA in Koreatown as well as the Ketchum YmCA in Downtown LA by night. She also had the opportunity to showcase health and fitness tips on LA-18’s show, Kababayan Today hosted by giselle Tongi. Despite her busy schedule, her most fulfilling work as a health coach has allowed her to promote health and wellness by combining the importance of physical activity, proper nutrition, and mind-body balance. With these wellness principles, she has helped many in Los Angeles and Hawaii achieve optimal health and is looking forward to motivate and inspire more people to do the same in the new year and beyond!

entertainment SF3 Vhong Navarro feels lucky in reprising ‘Mang Kepweng’ The role that challenges Iza Calzado The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – December 30, 2016

by Iza IglesIas

character he played,” Navarro intimated. The makers assured that this VHONG Navarro has undoubtedly gone a long way since comedy-fantasy-adventure-horror offering is only loosely based his Streetboys days. aside from dancing, Navarro has also proven on the past Mang Kepweng films. according to them, they his mettle in recording and actonly took parts and patterns of ing. His screen characterizations have spelled huge success at the the former Mang Kepweng movies but have put in an all-new tills, endearing him to the viewstory. ing public. “I studied the first film. We Now, Navarro has another made sure that the treatment we ace up on his sleeves as he reuse here is suitable and approprises Mang Kepweng, a classic role popularized by the late com- priate with the new generation edy great Chiquito. Titled “Mang today. It’s like we are introducing the old character to the millenKepweng Returns,” this project nials who don’t know about the is under the helm of director film and the late Chiquito. Of GB Sampedro and screenwriter Volta Delos Santos. It is poised as course, we also have the effort to make this film visually beautiful a grand opening salvo for local like the effects that we have put films in 2017. it in,” shared Sampedro. “I am very lucky to do this In the movie, Navarro plays film. I know there are many of the role of Kiefer, a normal guy us who wanted to portray the characters of Papang [Chiquito]. I who leads a quiet life until he am also thankful to my producers starts experiencing bizarre hapbecause they have chosen me of penings—seeing ghosts and evil all the comedians in the country,” spirits. His mother is then forced Navarro told the press during the to reveal that he is the son of the movie’s launch on December 21. late traditional healer, Mang Kepweng. Determined to know more Mang Kepweng was one of about his roots, he travels to the Chiquito’s most unforgettable province and gets to know his screen roles. after its original showing in 1976, it had three se- half-brother, a successful doctor who cannot cure the mysterious quels in 1977, 1979 and 1981 as illness of his wife. proof of its commercial viability. His brother then reveals “I wasn’t able to work with that their late father left a scarf him but I rethat manifests a searched the healing power way he acted when onscreen on worn YouTube. I by “the want to give chosen justice to the one.” and ManilaTimes.net

Vhong Navarro as Mang Kepweng with his newest leading lady Kim Domingo.

after the death of Tatay Kepweng, the chosen one is Kiefer. Viewers witness many of Kiefer’s adventures such as entering a magical world—where he gets a better understanding of his newfound healing power—and his epic fight with his nemesis. a supposed entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Navarro and his team now consider their non-inclusion in the festival a blessing. “We were sad because we were not included in the eight official entries, but then we are still happy because Mang Kepweng will be the first local film shown in 2017, plus it falls on my birthday which is January 4. This is the best gift not just for me but also for the staff and crew,” Navarro said, adding that he is still hopeful Mang Kepweng will be as successful as his past movies. aside from Mang Kepweng, Navarro also hopes to breathe life to asiong aksaya and Mister Wong—iconic roles likewise popularized by Chiquito. “I am sideswiping this idea to my producers, telling them, ‘If ever you wanted to do other films of Chiquito, I am still here’,” Navarro jested. Lending support to Navarro is an array of established and talented stars such as Jaclyn Jose, Kim Domingo, Pen Medina, Sunshine Cruz, James Blanco, Louise Delos Reyes, Jackie Rice, Valeen Montenegro, Jhong Hilario and Juancho Triviño. Making special appearances are Lotlot De Leon, Matet De Leon, ahron Villena, Shalala, Ryan Bang, Helga Krapf, Luz Fernandez, and Odette Khan. “It’s so good to make a movie whenever my producers are independent because they have the power to put together actors from rival networks. That is why we offer this very special and unique film for the viewers featuring actors and actresses from GMa and aBS-CBN in one film. This is our treat for them this coming New Year,” Navarro finally noted.

by Bot

glorIoso Philstar.com

Iza Calzado has been in the acting scene for quite some time now. Still, there are roles she finds too challenging to portray. One such role is portraying Grace in the latest aBS-CBN primetime series “a Love to Last” that is set to premiere on Jan. 9, 2017. Iza often finds herself in deep thought as to how she would be able to give life to Grace, which she describes as “a grey one.” Iza says Grace is far different from the past characters she had done before and there is even nary a semblance to her real persona. “I am the career-driven (type) and Grace, because of circumstances, became a housewife and a mother. From there, you can easily see that our lives’ paths are not the same. So, it’s really hard that there are times I seek the help of our director (Jerry Sineneng). “I ask him where will I come from; you know that when it comes to having children… well, of course, it’s general loving somebody; it may be a child whatever — love is love.” However, those who have seen the full trailer surmised that Iza is the contravida to the blossoming love between Bea alonzo’s character andeng and Ian Veneracion’s anton. Iza is not surprised though but she suggests that it is best to watch the show first. “I am not evil here (laughs). My motivations here are my personal issues and struggles (as Grace). ‘Di ba we all make decisions because we all go through things and our decisions may have consequences so the things that happen are just consequential. and perhaps, you know honestly, if I’m going to be a contravida I’d thoroughly enjoy it because it’s about time also I break the mold of Mama Mary (laughs).” What did she find attractive about her role? “The challenge of being her,” replies Iza. “Grace is a

Iza Calzado stars in the latest ABS-CBN primetime series A Love to Last that will premiere on Jan. 9, 2017

very complicated character because she’s not a contravida; she’s not evil but of course she will come between the love of two people that’s being developed. So, it’s a very complicated character plus she’s a very gracious woman, very prim and proper and yet at the same time, she’s going through her own issues in life.” She continues, “She’s raising three kids and trying to build a perfect home. Then, suddenly she finds herself na parang ‘di na n’ya kaya at nawalan s’ya ng sense of self-worth and she’s trying to regain it. That’s why she left her family and it’s tough for me to convince myself that a mother could leave her children so I had to really work on empathizing with the character.” Iza is certain that if and when she gets to meet someone like Grace in real life, she would not think twice about giving her pieces of advice in order to save the marriage. “I wanna say maybe if you (girl) can just talk more because it’s a marriage that died not just to one person but to the two people in it. They (characters in the story) lack communication. For me, the biggest lesson in the show is that a marriage has to have an open communica-

tion because Grace has been consumed by her insecurities that led her to think and feel that anton is not happy with the relationship. The same with anton who feels that he is not providing enough for the family so he has to work harder hence he does not have enough time for Grace. It’s a very real story of a family and it happens to a lot of relationships. That’s why, it’s hard to act out the character as real as can be.” Good thing, the actress is at ease working with her co-stars in the soap, especially Ian and Bea. She considers Ian as her confidante. “We’re friends; he’s trust-worthy and we’ve known each other for a long time that every time I’m with him, I know we’ll work together really well. We help each other out kaya kampante kami sa isa’t-isa.” She, too, has nothing but praises for Bea whom she will be working with in the drama series for the first time. “For a star of her stature, she’s very humble. She’s smart and I’m pretty sure she’s very generous in terms of acting and sharing the stage with someone else so I can’t wait to work with her.” “a Love to Last” also stars Enchong Dee, Julia Barretto, Ronnie alonte, JK Labajo and Hannah Vito.

SF4

celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 30, 2016

celebrity world By Ferdie Villar Television host, singer and comedian Willie Revillame heads the list of personalities celebrating their birthday this January. Born Wilfredo Buendia Revillame on January 27, 1961 in Cabanatuan City, Willie started out as the host of GMA networ’s noontime variety program, “lunch Date” in the early 80s together with singer Randy santiago. After his hosting stint, he started appearing

in different movies playing as a sidekick to big-named stars. in 1998, he started co-hosting the ABs-CBn noontime show, “sang linggo nAPo sila, with the APo Hiking society. When the show was cancelled, he got a big break in another noontime show, “Magandang Tanghali Bayan,” as well as his stint in “Richard loves lucy.” other shows he hosted within the Kapamilya network were “Willingly Yours,” and

Asia’s beauty guru Dr. Vicki Belo will celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, January 25.

“Wowowee.” When he moved to Tv5, he hosted variety programs like “Willing Willie,” Wil Time Bigtime,” and “Wowowillie.” in March 2015, Willie marked his homecoming to his original home network, GMA 7, via his new weekly variety program, “Wowowin,” which started airing every sunday afternoon. Just last February the show became a weekday variety program due to its popularity. other celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays for the first month of 2017 are: January 1 - Daly City teen Joseph Cabrera who will celebrate his 16th birthday; January 2 - Former Mrs. RP-UsA Fely Casco; January 4 - Kapuso actress Katrina Halili; January 5 - Costco executive Renato “Boyet” Bala; January 6 - Tire-Pro owner Richard Tan; January 7 - Megastar sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan; January 8 - Dancing Queen of the Bay Area lilly smith, and san Mateo religious leader Pressy Yusi; January 10 - Movie producer Jessie ejercito; January 12 - “AsAP” co-host, singer and actor Piolo Pascual, comedian Bentong, Kapamilya actress Melizza Ricks, and Jinkee Pacquiao (wife of boxing champ and sen. Manny Pacquiao); January 14 - san Rafael’s singing diva Malou Hajian; January 15 - Kapamilya actress and singer Toni Gonzaga soriano, actor Jestoni Alarcon and south san Francisco business executive JR Garvida;

Willie Revillame heads the list of birthday celebrants this January

TV host, singer and comedian Willie Revillame will celebrate his 57th birthday on Friday, January 27. Shown in photo with Willie is beauty impresario Ferdie Villar during his last visit to the Bay Area.

Club Royale USA Queen Lilly Smith will celebrate her birthday on Sunday, January 8.

January 17 - Actress Hilda Koronel (who is now based in los Angeles); January 20 - san Mateo Harbor District Commissioner Robert Bernardo; January 24 - Club Royale grand dame Jett viray navarro; January 25 - The late former Philippine President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, celebrity beauty guru Dr. vicki Belo, former Jukebox Queen imelda Papin, and actor Richard Gutierrez; January 29 - Hotel executive Flordelis Mayapis, and south san Francisco community leader Ressie espiritu; and January 31 - singer and actress Jessa Zaragoza. Happy birthday to all January celebrants and Happy new Year to all the readers!

San Mateo Harbor District Commissioner Robert Bernardo will celebrate his birthday on Friday, January 20.

Club Royale USA grand dame Jett Viray Navarro will celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, January 24.

San Mateo religious leader Pressy Yusi will celebrate her birthday on Sunday, January 8.

Filipina singer from San Rafael Malou Hajian will celebrate her birthday on January 14.

‘Oro’ treads on reality of prevailing injustice by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

“WHen nature becomes an excuse for violence, everything that is gold turns into blood.” Based on real-life events, “oro” depicts an emotional, hard-hitting reality of how injustice still prevails in this age; a realization of why a community, rich in gold, struggles for money and even the most basic needs. This socio-political film is about a small-scale mining district in Barangay Gata, Caramoan, Camarines sur, where ordinary Filipinos live a simple life. The fiber of their existence, however, gets disturbed when a group of armed environmentalists comes, settles down in their barangay, and takes over the mining operations purportedly for environmental reasons. Director Alvin Yapan has successfully translated the story of “Gata 4 Massacre”—an incident that occurred in 2014—into film, letting viewers know about this nefarious crime, which was sidelined by the mainstream media. Highlighting poverty, greed and its consequences, Yapan deserves commendation for bravely delving into this case which is still pending at the Regional Trial Court in the Bicol province. irma Adlawan as the tough

Irma Adlawan as the tough Kapitana in “Oro”

Kapitana, Mercedes Cabral as lover of one of the slain miners, and sandino Martin as one of the surviving witnesses, may possibly get nomination or even win in the acting derby for effortlessly essaying their roles. However, if there’s an ensemble Acting Award, the cast of “oro” should win hands down. Using dutch angle shots, Yapan was able to set a darker mood; the tilted shots can be considered mirrors of unfairness and unequal scale of justice prevailing in the oppression of the remote province by the Patrol Kalikasan. The massacre scene surely evoked painful emotion for members of the victims’ family and witnesses to the crime as it was executed in the same spot

where the miners were killed— falling on the ground the same way the four poor victims fell. Graded B by the Cinema evaluation Board, this all-in-one film opens the minds of the people—not wanting of scenes to make viewers laugh, cry, get angry and question why there are individuals willing to shed innocent blood because of greed. Although some parts of the story were fictionalized for cinematic purposes, oro is still beautifully made, wellbalanced, ethically shot and not exploitative. For sure, this Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 entry will be included in the line up of films crying for justice just like Hustisya and Minsa’y isang Gamo Gamo.

Paolo Ballesteros: King of ‘kweens’

as a runner-up until she finally by Gabbie TaTad gets the crown. I think I identify Philstar.com myself with her in that way, since I love challenges and I would I have always wanted to be never give up on something that an actor, in every sense of the I truly love. “ word. I’m always serious with The proof of that is in the what I am putting out there,” says Paolo Ballesteros. It’s almost pudding. Because while a peek a funny thing to hear from some- at the film’s trailer makes “Die Beautiful” seem like a hoot and one who’s graced our screens a half, Ballesteros promises the under the cloak of humor and glamour. an “eat Bulaga!” main- production was a wee bit harder than it looked. “Playing Trisha stay, Ballesteros has also played a myriad of roles in comedy and was quite a challenge. It goes through her college days when drama series, in many instances as a transsexual or a drag queen. she was still (a boy named) PatOne of his greatest claims to rick, then to her first beauty pagfame, both locally and across the eants, then to the present Trisha. There are levels of maturity and globe, are his viral videos and experience in every era. Plus we photos wherein he transforms have to strap me up in packaghimself into famous celebriing tape for almost 24 hours ties using makeup. he calls it for some scenes and doing the a personal expression of art, makeup transformations takes but the funny thing here is that Ballesteros is actually color blind. about three to four hours.” The effort, however, seems “I get confused between green, to have paid off. In a peculiar brown, red, blues and violets. MMFF season wherein many When I was a kid, my crayons mainstream films that usually needed to have the paper label make the cut were given a pass, on, otherwise my projects were the cocktail of the classic Filipino screwed. Good thing makeup sense of humor, partnered with comes in the same tones and a fresh new take on family and hues, so it’s not as hard for reflections of mortality, is given me. But it’s a totally different a new platform. Ballesteros says, story choosing the right contact “The film still has that Pinoy lenses.” humor. It has spoofs of Maricel Making his transformations Soriano lines, Jaclyn Jose acting, even more impressive in that and intros a la Miss Universe that light, it’s this ability that also Pinoys would easily get. (But) the paved the way for him to flex story itself, dealing with death his acting chops in Jun Robles Lana’s entry to the Metro Manila and life, of a transgender moreFilm Festival (MMFF), “Die Beau- over, is quite unconventional for a Filipino movie. I think this tiful.” In the film, Ballesteros plays Trisha, a recently deceased should be an eye-opener for us Filipinos (because) we are very transgender who would like to tolerant when it comes to the be made up as a different ceLGBT community, but tolerance lebrity every night of her wake. is far different from acceptance.” “Direk Jun Robles Lana told me “Die Beautiful” was preabout this project two years ago. I have worked with Direk Jun be- miered internationally at the fore, and I know how meticulous 29th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), and Ballesteros he is, especially with what he sees inside the frame. I believed was nominated in the Best actor category. “all along, I thought that (a story like this) needed him and his aesthetics. he made there were only six films in the me read some scenes, and I sup- main competition, and when we got there, there were 16. So pose he already had his Trisha that light of hopefulness for me then,” says Ballesteros. “What dimmed a little, knowing it was I love most about Trisha is that an a-list festival and all of the 16 she never gives up. She always films have great actors in them.” goes for it. I mean, she really he initially didn’t intend wanted to be crowned a beauty to stay for the duration of the queen, but since she’s quite festival, citing his responsibilishort in the smarts department, ties at “eat Bulaga!” however, she collects trophies and sashes

entertainment

SF5

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 30, 2016

Georgina Wilson welcomes ‘Baby Burnand’ on Christmas Day by RoseTTe

adel

Philstar.com

Paolo Ballesteros

when he was already back in Manila, the TIFF committee contacted Ballesteros before the awarding, saying he had to return. he was initially under the impression that this was for a red carpet stint of some kind, but when he arrived at his hotel in Tokyo, without the knowledge of the rest of the “Die Beautiful” team, Ballesteros received the news that he had won. The TIFF committee thought it would be great if, at the ceremony, while Jun Robles Lana accepted the award on Ballesteros’ behalf, Ballesteros himself would come out to surprise the team and the audience. Which he did, dressed as Julia Roberts. “It was a very thoughtful gesture from the committee. Winning and accepting the award in front of an international audience, really, is like winning Miss Universe. It’s not only a representation of our film but the whole Philippines as well,” remarks Ballesteros, before adding cheekily, “and I’m wearing a fabulous gown.” after wowing international audiences and waiting to floor the rest of the Philippines come Christmas day, it’s worth wondering whether or not Ballesteros has any fears of being boxed into a stereotypical loudmouthed drag queen package. “Definitely not, as I always see to it that there’s something different in every character that I do, and being fabulous while at it,” he replies confidently. “This is only the beginning.”

On Christmas Day, modelhost Georgina Wilson-Burnand posted a photo of her newborn son for the first time. It-girl Georgina, former host of “asia’s next Top Model,” reportedly gave birth to her healthy baby boy on December 14. This was also posted by a fan account on Instagram. Georgina welcomed her first-born in an Instagram post where her husband, arthur Burnand, was shown carrying his son. The modelhost said baby Burnand is a

“Christmas miracle.” She used the hashtag “Baby Burnand” in all her pregnancyrelated posts. The couple, however, has not disclosed the name of their child. The model-host also revealed the sex of her first-born last December 3 through an Instagram video of her ultrasound. Georgina admitted she was expecting a baby late august, four months into her pregnancy. her announcement was made just three months after she married Burnand, a British hong Kong-based executive with Swire Properties, in May. Georgina WIlson

Liza Diño has big plans for the industry by boy

abunda Philstar.com

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), under its chair Liza Diño, is striking while the proverbial iron is hot. Since she assumed office months ago, the hardworking Liza has lived out of a suitcase, promoting Filipino films not only in the country, but abroad. Liza’s travel assistance program for filmmakers who join international festivals spares these talented people from the agony of begging for airfare and money for accommodations abroad. Speaking of financial help, FDCP helped bankroll “Ma’Rosa’s” bid for a nomination in the Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film Category (it didn’t make it to the shortlist, though). The momentum has become too strong to let go of. next year will be even more hectic and exciting. Up high on Liza’s to-do list is a three-day film congress in October that promises to make the Philippines a motion picture hub in asia. It will expose Filipino indie

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) under its chair Liza Diño is striking while the proverbial iron is hot.

filmmakers to experts in marketing and distributing films around the world. “There are so many projects and grants filmmakers can access to fund their projects,” says Liza. For her — and the film industry — it’s the more, the merrier. It’s also the more, the merrier for filmmakers who dream of having a good venue where their creativity and hard work can be shown without the risk of being pulled out after the first few days of exhibition. The good news is that FDCP has partnered with SM cinemas to show these films nationwide. FDCP will provide the mov-

ies to be screened in eight SM cinemas. Indie films to be shown in SM cinemas will enjoy a wider audience, and longer exposure where it matters most — the mall most families go to. You don’t have to go to Manila anymore to watch your favorite indie. It will be shown in the provincial SM Mall nearest you. FDCP is going to remote places that deserve all the help it can get. It’s about time the place gets its own movie theater, or cinematheque. “We’re working on an P8M budget,” explains Liza. Thanks to Sen. Loren Legarda, that budget even grew bigger to cover the construction of three cinematheques. and just so filmmakers can come up with more outputs this year, Liza is working on a proposal that would include the film industry in the government’s investment priority plan. It will entitle films to get tax rebates from government. Liza has big plans and she needs, and deserves our full support.