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Duterte assures public anew: No martial law abuses
said he was saddened that extreme measures had to be imposed under his administration following the violence committed by terrorists alDAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte lied to the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) has assured the public there is nothing to fear in Marawi City since May 23. with the implementation of martial law in Min“But rest assured there will be no abuses in danao even as he reiterated he would not allow times like this. I will not allow it,� the president abuses by security forces. said Duterte, during his visit to attend the 64th The Chief Executive said the fighting in founding anniversary of the Hagonoy munici- Marawi, which has been going on for over a pality in Davao del Sur, on Wednesday, July 5, u PAGE A2
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by FRINSTON LIM Inquirer.net
DATELINE
USA
PACMAN AND THE PRESIDENT. President Rodrigo Duterte does his signature gesture as he poses with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eduardo AĂąo, Defense Secretary DelďŹ n Lorenzana, Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, Sarangani Province Governor Steve Chiongbian, 1002nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Roberto Ancan, Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Arthur Tabaquero and personnel of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade during his visit to their headquarters in Malungon, Sarangani Province on Wednesday, July 5. MalacaĂąang photo
Pacquiao camp mulls rematch or retirement after stunning defeat by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Young Fil-Am leaders share experience of immersion trip to PH Encourage applicants to apply before July 21
FILIPINO Americans between the ages of 25 to 40 years old are encouraged to apply for this year’s Fil-Am Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), a week-long immersion trip to the Philippines. FYLPRO — which was started in 2012 by former Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr. and his wife, Victoria — chooses 10 “outstanding young professionals� from Fil-Am communities across the country to visit the Philippines, where they will meet with key players in government, business, social entrepreneurship, and arts and culture.
REYES ManilaTiames.net
FILIPINOAmerican mixed martial artist AJ “The Mercenary� Matthews seeks to redeem his career in an upcoming fight against Andre Fialho at Bellator 181 on July 14. Matthews and Fialho will go
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by JENNIFER
SORIANO
AJPress
Duterte, Robredo share brief encounter at PAF 70th anniversary THE top two officials of the Philippine government met for the first time in over three months, albeit for a very short time. President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo were seated together as
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by DEMPSEY
TWO senators from the majority bloc said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV must apologize for saying that the Senate acted like lapdogs instead of being the last bastion of democracy. During the Kapihan press conference, Senate Majority Floor leader Vicente Sotto III and Senator JV Ejercito shared the same sentiments urging Trillanes to apologize for his negative remarks to the Senate on Monday, July 3. “Medyo mali siguro ‘yung mga terms na ginagamit kaya nagiging offensive kasi pag sinabi mong ‘puppet,’ ang ibig sabihin nun ang MalacaĂąang ang nagdidikta kung ano ‘yung mangyayari (The terms he’s using are wrong, which makes it offensive, because if you say ‘puppet,’ it means the MalacaĂąang dictates what happens). For example the declaration of martial law, and you agree with the declaration of martial law, puppet ka na no’n (that would immediately makes you a puppet)? Hindi naman siguro (Not really),â€? Sotto said. “Instead of saying it’s the easy way out, it’s the honorable way out,â€? he added. For his part, Ejercito reminded Trillanes to address differences in a democratic way.
Fil-Am MMA fighter gets another shot at redemption
trying hard. You’re not supposed to get for trying hard, you’re supposed to get it for winning!� Atlas exclaimed. But Atlas’ rants didn’t stop there, as he told Horn to his face: “Congratulations, great effort, but I thought you lost.� Lennox Lewis, the undisputed world heavyweight champion, also expressed outrage at the result. “This is what’s wrong with boxing. Horn was very game but I’m hard pressed to see how he could have won that fight by any stretch!� he tweeted.
Sotto, Ejercito: Trillanes PNP chief: Gov’t winning drug war must apologize for negative Senate remarks PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa believes that the government is winning the war on illegal drugs, claiming that Filipinos are now safer because index crime went down by 27 percent. “We are winning the war. I am very satisfied but there were problems encountered but rest assured that we are giving attention [to these problems]and solutions,� he told reporters in Camp Crame. A year ago, the Duterte administration launched a massive campaign against illegal drugs, dubbed Operation “Tokhang.� The anti-drug war, which was roundly criticized by opposition lawmakers and international organizations, was briefly suspended following the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame,
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AJ “The Mercenary� Matthews
BATTLE OF BRISBANE. Aussie challenger Jeff Horn (left) and defending champion Manny Pacquiao face off during the “Battle of Brisbane� WBO welterweight title bout in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday. Horn defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision. Photo courtesy of Top Rank
IN what was considered as one of the greatest upsets in recent world boxing history, Manny Pacquiao lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title to Jeff Horn in a stunning, unanimous decision on Sunday, July 2. Needless to say, many were shocked at the results. After all, stats from the CompuBox showed that Pacquiao landed about twice more punches than Horn. At one point during the match, the referee also warned Horn: “Show me something in the next
round or I’m gonna stop the fight.� But the judges still awarded the crown to the Australian challenger after giving the final scores of 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, all in favor of Horn. While Horn’s determination was undoubtedly acknowledged, many viewers couldn’t find themselves agreeing with the three judges. Even boxing trainer and ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas expressed his frustration a second after the decision was announced. “They gave a trophy, a win, a huge win to Horn, the local kid for
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guests during the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The president acknowledged Robredo before he delivered his speech. “The Vice President Maria
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PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa
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july 7-13, 2017 • NORCAl ASIAN jOuRNAl
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From the Front Page
Duterte assures public anew...
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month now and has claimed over 400 lives, prompted him to declare martial rule in an effort to stamp out terrorism which he considered worse than the 48-year-old communist insurgency. “Although the fighting is winding up, but maybe we need more time to really clean the place (of terrorists),” Duterte said. “I am very sad that this incident had to happen in the time when I’m the president because I am the second president of this republic to declare martial law,” he added. Technically speaking, Duterte is the third. In November 2009, then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo placed the entire province of Maguindanao under martial law for several weeks following the massacre of 58 people, mostly journalists, in Ampatuan town. The late strongman Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial rule in the whole country from September 1972 to January 1981 to quell the simultaneous communist and Moro rebellions. Duterte could be considered the second president to declare martial law to quell a rebellion or terrorism, this time by the Maute Group and the Abu
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A convoy from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reinforces troops conducting operations in Barangay Banggulo, Marawi City on Wednesday, July 5.
Sayyaf, covering many provinces or a large area such as Mindanao, the third of the three main island groups of the Philippines. Duterte said the public could count on a professional military and police who “are well educated and well aware of their duty to the republic and to the Filipino people.” Duterte also took a swipe anew at the communists as organized in the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing the New People’s Army and its political wing, the National Democratic
PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
Front of the Philippines, describing the Maoist guerrillas as vacillating in their stand in negotiations with the Philippine government while continuing attacks against soldiers and police. He said nothing beneficial would come out of the exchange of threats between the government and the insurgents. “Every time I see a dead soldier, (or) a dead NPA it pains me because they are both Filipinos. And we are fighting an issue which is a matter of principle,” the president said. n
Pacquiao camp mulls rematch...
In a letter, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the regulatory body for boxing in the Philippines, has asked WBO President Francisco Valcarce for a “thorough review” for possible miscalls during the match. “While we respect the decision, we are constrained to request for a thorough review by the WBO for possible miscalls of the referee where some deductions were not made and of the judges in their judging that have caused varying opinions on their objectivity,” the letter read. GAB, however, clarified that the letter “was not necessarily intended to seek for the reversal of the decision.” “WBO should take appropriate action on the letter sent by the [GAB] so as not to erode the people’s interest in boxing,” Pacquiao said. While saying that he respects the judges’ decisions, the Filipino boxer believed that he “clearly” won the fight. “We’re ahead. By four to five rounds in my opinion,” Pacquiao told reporters. “It’s too much. I would believe the decision more if it was close, say 115-113.” He also criticized the referee of their match, saying, “The referee
is not knowledgeable. Feeling ko tuloy na-set up ako (I felt like I was set up).” Asked about the possibility of a rematch, Pacquiao said he is “definitely” open to the idea. “We have a clause for a rematch. No problem,” Pacquiao said. For some, however, the results of the match likely showed signs that Pacquiao should hang up his gloves for good, especially that the Filipino boxing icon is not getting any younger at the age of 38. “The reason why they’re OK with this decision is Manny Pacquiao tonight did show his age, at 38 years of age,” Timothy Bradley told ESPN. He went on to say, “He showed his age tonight. Horn was out. He was out in, I think, it was the eighth or ninth round. Pacquiao had him hurt, but then, the next round after that, you saw Pacquiao laying off the gas pedal. You saw Horn come on the next two rounds, might’ve stole the next two rounds in this fight.” While nothing is definite, coach Freddie Roach said he’ll discuss with Pacquiao about the possibilities of retiring. “‘I’m going to have to have a long talk with Manny and discuss this, see how he feels and I’m go-
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Senators JV Ejercito and Vicente Sotto III
to maintain decency. We have to maintain parliamentary ethics in the Senate,” Ejercito said in the forum. “Kaya nga meron mga rules ang Senado (that is why there are rules in the senate), there are rules of the senate to maintain proper decorum, maintain proper behavior,” he added. In response, Trillanes stands firm to his earlier remark, further challenging Ejercito’s views on the president’s rape jokes. “If Sen. Ejercito believes that my statement that the senate is
Duterte, Robredo share brief encounter...
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Leonor Robredo, Ma’am, may I look at you for the third time?” the president told Robredo. The vice president just smiled in return. According to the vice president’s close aide, the two did not have a conversation and just shook hands. The two leaders had partisan clashes and opposing stance on issues which put their relationship on a sour note. Last March, Duterte invited Robredo and her family to a dinner but the president has not yet followed up on the invitation. The vice president has said she accepted the invitation for their dinner, saying she would like to take the opportunity to talk about her views on various issues affecting the country. Robredo resigned from Duterte’s cabinet last December after she was ordered to desist from attending meetings. She further stated in her resignation letter that remaining in the cabinet had become “untenable.” Air Force modernization Meanwhile, Duterte vowed to modernize the PAF, saying he will continue previous accomplishments to further improve the country’s aerial warfare service branch. “I assure you that we will build on our past gains to fur-
ing to give him my feelings on it too because I’m a little bit in the middle right now,” Roach said. Despite the unfavorable results in his recent match, Malacañang, in a statement, said Pacquiao remains the “People’s Champ” and “Pambansang Kamao (National Fist).” “Manny Pacquiao’s loss in Brisbane would not diminish the honors he bestowed to the people and to the flag,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella stressed. “Nothing will change: Sen. Manny Pacquiao will remain our People’s Champ, Pambansang Kamao (National Fist), and national treasure in global sports.” Horn, who remains undefeated, seemed to not care much about the “naysayers” who kept on lashing criticisms against him. “There will always be a backlash where people say I got lucky, or whatever. There will always be the naysayers saying I didn’t win the fight, but I felt like I won the fight,” Horn said. “Everyone has a right to their opinion. I’m sure I’ve (gained) a lot more fans over there than I’ve lost.” For their match, Pacquiao and Horn have been guaranteed to earn a minimum purse of $10 million and $500,000 respectively, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. n PAGE A1 t
Sotto, Ejercito: Trillanes must apologize... “I find the recent statements of Senator Trillanes disrespectful and unparliamentary. He should be reminded that as a democratic institution, we in the Senate debate issues instead of hurling insults; we vote instead of calling each other names when we disagree,” Ejercito said. “We have 23 independent minds duly elected in the Senate. But even when we disagree on a number of issues, we maintain our respect for one another. I hope Senator Trillanes would do the same. I hope he will stop destroying this institution simply because he is rabidly against this administration,” he added. Further, Ejercito recommended that Trillanes issue an apology to the senate. “An apology would be good for the institution. Not for me, it’s for the institution. We have
President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo attend the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Wednesday, July 5. The two exchanged handshakes. Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales
Senate photos
becoming a lapdog of the Duterte administration is highly offensive yet sees nothing wrong with Duterte’s rape comments to the soldiers, then we really have a problem,” he said. Earlier, Trillanes and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano sent a supplemental complaint against Duterte to the International Criminal Court, which says, “State is unwilling to even investigate the extrajudicial killings in the country and, because of the president’s immunity, unable to prosecute President Duterte.” n
ther strengthen the Philippine Air Force,” Duterte said his speech. The president emphasized the important role of the PAF in protecting the country and its efforts to stabilize the warstricken Marawi City from the Islamic State-linked Maute Group. “We have also tapped PAF to augment our internal security operations by providing air support to our ground forces and assisting our law enforcement agencies in the surveillance and intelligence gathering operations,” he added. Aside from terror threats, the president also expressed his concerns on the the country’s maritime security, exerting the Philippines’ exclusive sovereign rights and territorial claims over Benham Rise and the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “The Philippine Air Force plays a crucial role in preserving our national integrity in the face of challenges from within and from outside our borders.” “PAF’s intensified aerial reconnaissance missions and the maritime patrols [over] the West Philippine Sea and the Benham Rise are testament to our dedication to protect our waters from external threats, ” the president went on. As a manifestation of the president’s vow to continue to
modernize the Air Force, he further reiterated the need to procure advanced military apparatus to enhance the operation of the existing assets. “We will continue the ongoing modernization program by procuring additional attack and combat utility vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to complement our already existing air assets,” he added. The South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) also presented the certificate of complete delivery of the 12 FA50PH ‘Fighting Eagle’ Fighter/ Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighter Trainer (F/SA/LIFT) aircraft. PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, said the acquisition manifests the symbolic return of the PAF to its supersonic age “which greatly bolstered PAF’s airstrike capability.” The president looks forward to purchasing another 12 FA50PH within his six-year term. Also present at the event were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Armed Force chief chaplain Brig. Gen. Tirso Dolina, and South Korean Ambassador to the Philipines Kim Jae-shin. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)
PNP chief: Gov’t winning...
Quezon City. As of the latest PNP count, 3,200 suspected drug personalities have been killed in 63,926 anti-drug operations while 86,933 drug suspects were arrested. Meanwhile, 1.3 million have surrendered to authorities. De la Rosa said streets in Metro Manila have become safer. “If you go out there on the streets, ask people if they feel safe on the street after one year. If they don’t, then the failure is on us but if they will say that they are safe compared last year, then we are successful,” he said. “But do not ask the administration enemies, because by all means, they will make issues [out of the drug war],” he added. The PNP chief said index crime volume, particularly drug-related cases, dropped by 27 percent. “But I can honestly tell you
and I am not just boasting, people on the streets, they are much safer now,” de la Rosa said. On Monday, July 2, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries should be “bold and brazen” in fighting illegal drugs. The chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs made the call ahead of the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Fact Finding Committee to Combat the Drug Menace from July 4 to 8. “We are in a war, there will be collateral damages, but these were not done on purpose. Street drug pushers and users who have millions worth of drugs in their possession won’t let themselves be arrested by the police. They will fight it out,” he told reporters. “Do you deal with drug per-
sonalities by firing a warning shot? Ask them to turn themselves in peacefully? It can’t be that way. We can’t treat them with kid gloves. Otherwise, they can kill you.” “I am not going to advice them [other countries]to kill if needed. We will advise them to be aggressive, bold, and brazen in dealing with this enemy. Otherwise, the enemy will kill you. The enemy here is not an ordinary enemy. They will kill you. They are more aggressive than any law enforcement agency in the country,” Barbers pointed out. “We cannot discount the fact that there are human rights violations, but these are perpetuated by some corrupt officials. The human rights violations are not a result of a direct order coming from the President. This is probably the result of some eager beaver police officers running after all these drug lords and drug pushers,” Barbers added. n
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Drop in sudden cardiac arrests linked to Obamacare by Jenny
Gold Kaiser Health News
If 22 million Americans lose their health care coverage by 2026 under the GOP Senate’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, how many people could die? The question is at the heart of the debate raging in Washington, D.C., but has been difficult to answer. “Show me the data on lives saved by Obamacare, please,” conservative political scientist Charles Murray requested in a recent tweet. A pilot study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association may provide an answer: Researchers found that the rate of sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital dropped by 17 percent among people ages 45-64 in Multnomah County, Oregon, after the Affordable Care Act expanded insurance coverage. The study analyzed sudden cardiac arrest data from the emergency medical system in 2011-12 before the ACA, and compared the data from 201415, after insurance coverage expanded. During that time, the percentage of people in Multnomah County with Medicaid coverage nearly doubled, from 7 percent to 13.5 percent. Early indicator Cardiac arrest can serve as an early indicator to show how an increase in health insurance coverage under the ACA might affect mortality. Each year, about 350,000 people in the United States have a sudden cardiac arrest, in which the heart unexpectedly stops beating. It is one of the most deadly types of heart attacks — only 1 in 10 patients survive it. “It speaks to the importance of predicting and preventing [cardiac arrest], because once it happens, it’s much too late,” said Dr. Sumeet Chugh, medical director of the Heart Rhythm Center of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in California and one of the authors of the study. The good news is that nearly half of patients experience warning symptoms, offering an opportunity for intervention, said Chugh. Cholesterol and blood pressure medication, diet and exercise, and surgical interventions can all help stave off sudden cardiac arrest. But patients without health insurance might ignore their symptoms and avoid seeing a doctor. “Imagine that you’re someone with a warning symptom. If you had insurance or access to health care that was relatively
easy, you might be more inclined to see a provider. If you didn’t, you might let it go for a while,” said Chugh. Consistent Chugh cautions that the study population was small and did not examine other factors that could have led to a decline in cardiac arrests. Still, it is consistent with other studies that found a link between Medicaid expansion and a decline in mortality. Chugh and fellow author Eric Stecker of the Oregon Health & Science University plan followup studies to narrow in on the causes in Multnomah County. Michael McWilliams of the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the study, questioned the large reduction in cardiac arrests seen in the study, saying it “seems too good to be true.” Still, he said assessing the effects of health insurance on clinical outcomes like cardiac arrest is notoriously difficult, and there is good evidence that health insurance improves access to care and diagnosis of important conditions. “I think when we focus on the lack of consensus evidence on the effects of coverage on hard outcomes like mortality, and use that as an argument against covering the uninsured, I think we let perfect be the enemy of good,” McWilliams said. Uninsured Take James frank, 64, of Lancaster, California, who was uninsured several years ago when he first started experiencing the symptoms of heart disease. “I couldn’t catch my breath, I was wheezing,” frank recalled. “I felt like I had like a chest cold. My feet were tingling. I was getting the sweats.” In 2013, frank had a heart attack and was taken to the emergency room. He signed up for coverage under Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange, which opened in 2013 for coverage that began in January 2014. His doctor put him on a statin and blood pressure medication to prevent another heart attack, and he started watching his weight religiously. frank was quick to add that the coverage he gained under the ACA has not been perfect — his premium and deductibles are high, and he thinks that Congress should repair it. Still, he believes the health law saved his life. “I had the same heart attack that killed my mother,” he said. “Had it not been for Obamacare, I probably would have had another one.
Young Fil-Am leaders share... PAGE A1 t In addition to meetings, one day is devoted to service, such as farming or rebuilding areas destroyed by disasters. Applications for the sixth batch are due on July 21 and the week-long trip will be held from October 8 to 14. The all-expense paid program is made possible through partnerships with the Ayala foundation and the Philippine foreign service posts throughout the U.S. At an information session in Los Angeles on friday, June 30, past delegates shared their experiences of how the trip, despite its length, enabled them to connect with their filipino roots. “This trip gives you that perspective of the different societal norms, the economic issues, a firsthand look at what the government is doing, access to members of Congress, and understanding the innovation they’re doing as well, ” shared Alex De Ocampo, who was part of the inaugural batch in 2012. He added, “You’re seeing the differences in the country and how it’s changing. It was very impactful in the sense that you’re seeing growth, you’re seeing some poverty — the extremes. But it’s really opening up your mind to what’s happening in the Philippines.” Anna Marie Cruz, a business development officer at CDC Small Business finance, went on to say that the itinerary gives an opportunity to have a dialogue with various decision makers. “It also leads to a lot of identity questions because a lot of these problems we have a rooted in our colonial history [and] the ‘crab
mentality’ we experience here is rooted in [that], so whether it’s this epiphany of what you can do for the community as a whole or what you do for yourself in order to rise above that baggage you’ve been carrying but didn’t know about, it’s a pretty amazing program that it can do that for you,” Cruz said. “It’s personal, but it’s also this collective.” During the program, each delegate has the responsibility to develop his or her own “legacy project,” which is a social impact initiative focused on the Philippines and filipino communities abroad that are social enterprise, philanthropic or civic engagement focused. Some past examples include empowering filipina entrepreneurs and HIV research and prevention. Other alumni of the program over the years include Tony and Grammy Award-winning producer Jhett Tolentino, restaurateur Nicole Ponseca, Ryan Letada of storytelling platform NextDayBetter, and Jason Tengco, executive director of the National federation of filipino-American Associations (NaffAA). The criteria is that applicants must be 25-40 years old, demonstrate leadership skills within school, community or workplace, and show involvement or interest in issues that align with the interest of the fil-Am community or the Philippines. Requirements include an intent to apply form, an application form, resume, two letters of recommendation, a profile photo and 200-word bio. To apply, visithttp://www.fylpro.org/apply/. (AJPress)
KILLERS WILL PAY. President Rodrigo Duterte condoles with Dexter Carlos at the wake of the five members of the Carlos family who were killed in Bulacan last week. The president vowed to go after the men who massacred the family. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada
Fil-Am MMA fighter gets... PAGE A1 t
head-to-head in the Bellator’s welterweight division to be held at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Bellator 181, is an event of the Bellator MMA, an American James Frank signed on to Obamacare mixed martial promotion comvia Covered California when he started experiencing the symptoms of heart disease. pany, where tournaments for Contributed photo each weight class are held over a three-month period. Coming off from his three con*** This story was produced by secutive losses, Matthews is goKaiser Health News, which pub- ing all-out in his training before lishes California Healthline, an facing fialho, a Portuguese MMA editorially independent service star who is coming to the match of the California Health Care with an almost perfect 7/8 record so far in his career. Foundation. n
The 28-year-old fil-Am fighter moved to the Philippines with his team, MMA Alliance, to prepare for his upcoming fight. “AJ has been a working progress for us,” Eric Del fierro, co-owner of MMA Alliance told Sherdog.com In the Philippines, Matthews sparred against fellow filipino fighters and several team members who are Ultimate fighting Championship (UfC) champions. “I see a bright future for AJ as a mixed martial artist” Dominic Cruz, former two-time UfC Bantamweight Champion, told sherdog.com.
“He’s got some of the best cage defense I’ve ever seen on anybody,” Eric Uresk, Wrestling Coach on MMA Alliance, added. Matthews’ career thrived after his four consecutive wins at the onset of his career in 2007, where he mainly fought for Californiabased promotions such as King of Cage and Gladiator Challenge. After his triumph in 2015 against Emiliano Sordi at the Bellator 141, his career started to go downhill and lost his next fights. Matthews is moving forward and is now even more determined to win back the momentum of his career. (With reports from Larizza de Vera/AJPress, Inquirer.net and Sherdog.com)
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US fleet sails near South China Sea island A “strong provocation,” says China
by Jennifer
Soriano
AJPress
A UNITeD STATeS Navy destroyer on Sunday, July 2, sailed within 12 nautical miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea that is claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan. The Pentagon previously confirmed that an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the U.S. Navy called USS Stethem, passed by the Triton Island in the Parcel Islands to “test the claims of the three countries.” A spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight did not confirm the recent exercise but said the activity is part of the routine of the U.S. Navy operations. “We conduct routine and regular FONOPs, as we have done in the past and will continue to do in the future. Summaries of these operations are released publicly in the annual DoD Freedom of Navigation Report, and not sooner,” Knight said in a statement.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet maintains that their recent operations is not politically-motivated as they have done the same kind of operation before. “We have a comprehensive Freedom of Navigation Operations program under which U.S. Forces challenge excessive maritime claims across the globe to demonstrate our commitment to uphold the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law,” the U.S. Pacific Fleet said. A statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lu Kang said the U.S. had “trespassed” and that China sent “military vessels and fighter planes in response to warn off the U.S. vessel.” China expressed its dissatisfaction with the U.S.’ operation and called it “a serious political and military provocation.” The U.S. “stirs up trouble” and runs “in the opposite direction from countries in the region who aspire for stabil-
ity, cooperation and development,” the ministry statement said. Further, Beijing called on Washington to cease from operating within China’s territory, which “violates their sovereignty and threatens their security.” “The Chinese side will continue to take all necessary means to defend national sovereignty and security,” Lu said. According to CNN, the operation on Sunday happened days after the Trump administration “made a number of moves that appeared to irk Beijing.” These include “sanctions against Chinese entities doing business with North Korea and the approval of a new TORCHED. Officials and chemists of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency prepare to destroy 44 kilos of shabu seized during police arms trade to Taiwan.” operations at an incinerating plant in Malabon City on Tuesday, July 4. ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan Sunday’s operation was the second reported under the Trump administration. The first one was on May 24, when the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey sailed AN American real-estate com- es refiled last year by the state of bang!—a picture that couldn’t be within 12 miles of Mischief pany’s court-ordered raid of an California against its chief execu- anything other than, you know, Reef in the Spratly Islands. n online outsourcing company’s tive officer (CeO) and two found- child pornography,” the report headquarters in the Philippines ers and a civil lawsuit now headed quoted Ricketts. “We just imhas yielded data linking the lat- for trial in Washington state after mediately shut the computer off, ter to an embattled classified ad- the courts declined to dismiss it, picked the phone up, called the vertising website accused of en- according to the report. attorneys. They called the FBI.” Backpage was also subjected gaging in human trafficking and Thousands of documents linkprostitution, an exclusive story to a 20-month U.S. Senate inves- ing Avion to Backpage were tigation that found it complicit in found with the photographs, the by NBC News has reported. CoStar, a multibillion-dollar en- trafficking. report said. For its part, Avion has claimed terprise behind Apartments.com, Based on the yield of CoStar, carried out the daring raid in the it does nothing more than “host Avion “worked to promote adult offices of Avion in an undisclosed and moderate ads.” ad business on behalf of BackThe report said, however, that page” overseas, including the location, emerging with 262 hard drives containing 35 terabytes of there were hackers at Avion “be- United Kingdom and Australian data that indicated it was used by lieved to be stealing proprietary markets. Backpage to drum up business in real-estate photos and informaAudio recordings of Avion the sex trade overseas, the report tion on behalf of an industry ri- workers contacting people who authored by Anna Schecter and val.” posted sexually explicit ads on riCoStar claimed that its raiding val escort sites and offering them Kenzi Abou-Sabe said. Backpage is a U.S.-based on- team’s yield contained proof that a free ad on Backpage were also line site that has listings for a its intellectual property was be- discovered during the raid, acwide variety of products and ser- ing ripped off, but has been de- cording to the report. vices, including automotive, jobs nied by its competitor. Citing a non-disclosure agreeCoStar senior vice president ment he signed with Backpage, and real estate. It has been under fire since 2011 for allegedly us- told NBC News that they got 1.7 Avion CeO Von Nagasangan did ing its adult services subsection million photographs in the De- not give any comment to NBC. for prostitution that particularly cember 2016 raid. Backpage legal counsel Liz Mc“It was building picture, build- Dougall also declined to say anyinvolved minors. The company is facing legal ing picture, porn, porn, prostitute thing regarding the Philippine battles, including criminal charg- ad, building picture and then— raid. (Philstar.com)
Raid of online firm in PH yields sex-trade data
5 Filipino caregivers get closer to their $500K award in California wage theft case by Jun
nucum Inquirer.net
OAKLAND, California — Five Filipino caregivers in Vacaville, California, inched closer to getting their $$483,495 award when the Solano County Superior Court issued the final orders of dismissal of the appeal of a defendant accused of non-payment overtime and minimum wages to the workers. “But then since she (Ventura) did not assign any of her real estate properties or her care homes under her name, we cannot lien any real estate properties. What will happen is that we will file a writ of execution for levy of future income of the three care homes before the county sheriff,” Taguinod explained. “The sheriff, in turn, will ask for her bank accounts of the care homes and, by law, we can only get 25 percent of the monthly income of the care homes until the caregivers all are paid the full amount of award due each of them,” he further elaborated. Judge Beeman found that defendant/appellant Ventura, owners of the three care homes In Vacaville where the caregivers served, failed to post a bond or undertaking as required to support her notice of appeal, prompting Beeman to order the dismissal of Ventura’s appeal with prejudice. Worked in 3 care homes The caregivers worked in three different care homes — Serene Oaks Care Home now known as Aralynn at Vacaville, Serene Oaks Care Home II now known as Aralynn at Peacock and Serene Oak Care Homes III now called Aralynn at Red Pheasant, which are
all licensed to defendant. They had all stayed in the care homes they worked in, took care of even the night shifts and were virtually working 24/7 but have not been given overtime pay. Others were not paid even the minimum wage due them. Some had worked from as early as May 2009 up to as late as August 2013, but were only able to claim from February 2012 because of the statute of limitations that does not allow claims beyond the three years after services were rendered. Labor Commission award On February 9, 2017 the caregivers were awarded the total amount of $483,495.54 by the Office of the Labor Commissioner of California Department of Industrial Relations Hearing Officer Stephen Franck for unpaid wages, including overtime pay, and accrued interest. The award was subsequently served to Ventura who, in turn, filed an appeal on March 3, 2017, which was far beyond the allowed period of ten days, making its filing untimely; another basis for the appeal’s dismissal. The cases were initially filed by the complainant caregivers between August 8-10, 2015 against Ventura, but a mysterious documentation mix up named Aralynn Atherton LLC as the defendant instead of Ventura herself. Aralynn Atherton LLC is a legal entity Ventura reportedly created to allegedly avoid personal liabilities by making it appear that it is the licensee of her care homes. And after Aralynn Atherton LLC filed for bankruptcy through Ventura, hearing officer Franck came
out with a notice of stay on plaintiff’s claim and had to dismiss all cases. “That was when we realized that the complaints mistakenly stated the Aralynn Atherton LLC as the defendant when we filed all five claims against Lynn Ventura,” explained Taguinod. Paperwork error “Fortunately, we were able to convince officer Franck that it was its mistake for the mix up of the defendant, so it issued revised complaints this time against Ventura and scheduled new hearing dates.” Taguinod, together with partner Atty. John Godoy, also discovered that Ventura failed to have the three homes transfer their license to Aralynn Atherton, LLC and she remained the owner-licensee even if Ventura made it appear through the paychecks given the caregivers that the LLC was the owner. Lourdes T. who decided to study and became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) after resigning from Serene Oaks, now works for eight hours only in a facility “When the decision was rendered, I felt relieved. Our sufferings have ended. I’ve learned not to stay silent and just bear the abuse done to us. You have to speak up if you think you’re right,” Lourdes exclaimed. Jelly e. and Diana G. stated that it took a long time to have their cases decided but it was all worth it. Jelly e. exclaimed, “To all caregivers, if we are being cheated and abused, we should not remain silent but rather face them and fight for what is rightfully ours.” n
PRAYERS FOR PEACE. Senate employees sign their names in the tarpaulin to support the Pasa Lord Prayer Movement initiated by the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. (SSFI) Wednesday, July 5. “It only takes a little seed of faith to move a mountain. If we can combine out mustard seeds of faith, then we can tell the mountains of problems confronting our country to go away,” said Bing Pimentel, lead convenor of the prayer movement and SSFI President. Pimentel is the mother of Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Senate photo by Romeo Bugante
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July 4 marked by protest vs US role in Marawi war by Jaime
PilaPil Manilatimes.net
MILITANT group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday, July 4 trooped near the United States Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Manila to protest the American role in the war against the Islamic State-linked Maute terrorist group in Marawi City. Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bayan, said the rally was held on the day the U.S. marked its 241st Independence Day to criticize President Rodrigo Duterte for allowing U.S. troops to join the war against the Maute terrorists. “History tells us that the presence of American military in all places almost always have bad effects,” said Reyes, citing the unstable situations in Syria, Iraq and Libya. He, however, clarified that Bayan was for the annihilation of the Maute terror group, which attacked Marawi on May 23 and forced Duterte to declare martial law. The government and the U.S. embassy have clarified that U.S. troops were merely providing “technical assistance” and won’t
Members of militant groups try to force back a police barricade that prevented them from proceeding to the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Manila. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo
join combat operations. The more than 100 Bayan protesters had no choice but to hold a short program at the corner of United Nations and Marcelo H. del Pilar avenues when some 200 anti-riot police barricaded Roxas Boulevard to prevent them from getting near the embassy. “We started our walk from Ka-
law Street only to find out that the police have occupied this corner,” Reyes said. Reyes and his group arrived at del Pilar Street at 9:30 a.m. and after an hour moved to nearby Padre Faura Street, where they held another rally to condemn Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
House warned of risks that can damage judicial institutions amid impeachment warnings THE oldest voluntary national organization of lawyers in the Philippines warned the House of Representatives over its refusal to heed the lawful orders of the Court of Appeals (CA). “We must defend as sacrosanct the Constitutional principles of separation of powers and judicial independence. Otherwise, we risk damaging our judicial institutions and substituting tyranny for the rule of law,” the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) said in its two-page statement released to public on Monday, July 3. The PBA was referring to the CA’s decision to release six Ilocos Norte officials detained by the House of Representatives — Pedro Agcaoili, provincial planning and development office chairman; Josephine Calajate, treasurer; Eden Battulayan, Encarnacion Gaor and Genedine Jambaro of the treasurer’s office and Evangeline Tabulog, budget officer — for contempt after they
refused to answer questions about an alleged anomaly involving the purchase of P66.45 million worth of vehicles, using funds from tobacco excise taxes. According to Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, llocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos misused P66 million in tobacco funds. The PBA argued that in Section 21 of the 1987 Constitution, the appeals court also has the original jurisdiction to issue the writ of habeas corpus, which is the “most efficacious safeguard of the liberty of individuals in a free society.” “Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7902 grants the Court of Appeals original jurisdiction to issue writs of habeas corpus and auxiliary writs or processes with the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and perform any and all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original and appellate
jurisdiction, including the power to grant and conduct new trials or further proceedings,” it explained. The group added, “To now seek to punish the three justices who were merely performing their sworn duty to inquire into the basis of confinement or detention devalues the writ and imperils the zealous protection of individual liberty.” Earlier, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the mandatory organization of lawyers in the country, had asked the House leadership to observe “the separation of powers, judicial independence, and the rule of law.” The IBP statement was issued after Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno and CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. asked the House leadership to recall the show cause order issued against CA Associate Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin PAGE A9
CABINET MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte presides over the 16th Cabinet meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacañang Palace on Monday, July 3. Malacañang photo
PH business sector satisfied with Duterte’s performance by Dana
SioSon AJPress
AS Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte marked his first year in office on Friday, June 30, both foreign and local business groups expressed general satisfaction in his administration’s performance. While admitting that there were indeed lapses on the part of the government, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon said that businessmen remains confident in Duterte’s leadership. “There are detractors, but you can never say everything is perfect. There are shortcomings but overall the confidence of businessmen is there. It’s a good start. It’s a good foundation for the economy,” Barcelon told the Philippine Star. He lauded some of Duterte’s “game changer” policies, citing in particular his campaign against illegal drugs—which has been criticized by some over due to alleged summary executions—as well as his independent foreign policy, in which the Philippine government starts to warm up with its non-traditional allies, such as Russia and China.
In this file photo, top officials of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) marked the first trading day of 2017 with a special bell ringing ceremony at the Ayala and Tektite trading floors. Philstar.com photo
Pointing out that drug issues brings “lawlessness,” Barcelon said Duterte’s so-called war against illegal drugs is “good” in a sense that it helps in dealing with the country’s peace and order. “Basically that war on drugs is dealing with peace and order. We all know that this drugs issue brings a lot of these lawlessness so in a way, that is good.
Even though there are a lot of background noises, the important thing is people feel safer now,” Barcelon explained. On the other hand, Barcelon said Duterte’s foreign policy “puts emphasis on elevating the local economy to new heights.” He also took note Duterte’s foreign visits that brought in PAGE A9
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OpiniOn
Champion in our hearts
Features
DESPITE his impressive display of explosive punches and dynamic movements, Manny Pacquiao still bowed down before a formidable opponent during the “Battle of Brisbane” on Sunday, July 2. In his latest conquest, Pacquiao surrendered his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title to Jeff Horn in front of more than 51,052 people at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. After 12 grueling rounds, Horn won via a unanimous decision against Pacquiao with scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113. The Australian fighter now holds a perfect record of 17 wins with 11 KOs. While many contest the judges’ decision, Pacquiao graciously accepted his defeat. “That’s the decision of the judges, I respect that,” Pacquiao said as he thanked his fans and countrymen. There have been rumors that Sunday’s fight was a litmus test for Pacquiao’s possible retirement. The Filipino champion hasn’t knocked out an opponent since 2009. After dropping his fourth loss in his last nine outings, Pacquiao is now at 56-7-2 with 38 KOs. This early, Pacquiao is looking into another showdown—to regain his WBO welterweight title—against Horn in November. “Rematch, that’s fine. Absolutely, I’d love that,” Pacquiao declared.
Athletes do more than just to represent the flag where they come from. Their presence in any sporting event gives their countrymen hope, selfrespect, and to many—pride in who they are. In his entire career, Pacquiao gave his kababayanss something to watch and be passionate about. The whole world stood witness to Pacquiao’s rise to the top: from being the struggling 14-year-old boy who left his home in Mindanao to being the best fighter of his generation. His commitment to the sport and dedication to winning have catapulted him to be one of the most famous personalities in sports. His career so far, embodies the stuff legends are made of. And why not. After all, his achievements supersedes Pacquiao himself—winning eight championships in different weight divisions by beating boxing champions from around the world. All his hard work has manifested into millions of earnings, a successful showbiz career and a legislative post. His fame has catapulted him to become one of the most revered Filipino his audience worldwide an impressive showing. icons of all time. Pacquiao, whose career has been put into ques- That is the kind of champion that he is. When his tion after a series of losses, still managed to give back is against the wall and everyone is raising
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
questions, he leaves a lasting performance that puts the record straight. Pacquiao’s reign as the king of the ring is far from over. (AJPress)
Poll: A vast majority of Americans say political civility has declined since Trump was elected president HAPPY FOURTH of July! The Fil-Am As we celebrate Independence Day in Perspective America this week, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll study reveals that a majority of Americans — 70 per- Gel SantoS-ReloS cent — say the level of civility in Washington has declined since Donald Trump was elected president. Perhaps you felt the same exasperating toxicity in the political discourse not only in Washington, but among citizens engaging in debates on various social media platform from both parties. As far as I recall, this started even during the primary elections, with Donald
Trump normalizing the use of personal attacks, insults, and lies to grab the attention of voters amid the noise of the campaigns. Now that Trump has been elected president — he is not disappointing his ardent fans. The candidate Donald Trump never changed, and has in fact intensified the toxic rhetoric as president, using the bully pulpit of the most powerful position in the world. Aside from name-calling and demonizing his political opponents, Trump has declared war against the news media — particularly those who are critical of him and his policies, and his loyal fan base be-
Living up to the American Dream, in California Assemblymember Rob bonta GROWING up, I remember celebrating the 4th of July with my family. My parents would tell my brother, sister and me about the importance of fighting for justice for everyone in our nation, no matter where they were born. We lived near the home of Cesar Chavez in La Paz, the headquarters for the United Farm Workers of America in the Central Valley. My parents worked alongside civil rights leaders like Chavez, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco, and Dolores Huerta, organizing Filipino and Mexican farmworkers in their struggle for fair treatment and better working conditions. Today, as a California State Legislator, I am working to ensure that our state continues to live up to the dreams and values of my parents which include Justice, Inclusion, Equity and Opportunity. I worked to improve health care for vulnerable Californians and establish equal protections for farmworkers. I introduced the TRUTH Act, signed into law last year, to protect immigrants and establish a transparent process, including community engagement, prior to local law enforcement participation in ICE deportation programs. I am working to reform our bail system so justice isn’t based on how much money you have, and to put an end to private companies making a profit from incarcerating Californians. Now more than ever, it is essential that immigrants have ac-
cess to accurate information in their language and qualified legal services providers. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to fund the creation of regional and statewide resource centers for public defenders to gain immigration expertise, so that immigrants across the state have proper legal representation and can help to avoid unnecessary deportations. But there are also steps that immigrant families can take now to find out what their legal options are. In fact, some undocumented immigrants already qualify for some form of immigration relief and don’t know it. If you live or go to school in Oakland, you can access free or low-cost legal services through the Oakland Immigration Project. This trusted organization aims to help qualified Oakland immigrant families apply for immigration relief and work authorization to open the door to economic stability and success. Just like a visit to the doctor, families can get an immigration check-up to see what their options are. I encourage immigrants to take an important step to benefit their entire family: go to a reputable legal services provider to find out if you might qualify for some form of immigration relief, and make sure you have the information you need to secure your future at this critical time. Together, we will live up to the dream of all Americans who are fighting for the future of all of our families. ***
lieves him when he brands even responsible media networks as “fake news.” This is Trump’s way of controlling the message, attitude and behavior of his base who seem to have been living in an alternate universe, with so much different view of reality compared to what most Americans experience to be true. Last weekend, Trump’s obsession was the use of Twitter to single out the hosts of Morning Joe, two of his most outspoken critics on the liberal cable news channel MSNBC. He not only labeled the news program as “fake news”, but also spewed personal attacks against the looks of Mika Brzezinski, as he did with other strong females he has insulted publicly. Joe Scarborough and Brzezinski re-
Commentary
RicaRdo Saludo
SOME of the commentary on President Rodrigo Duterte’s first year in office border on the absurd. One opposition congressman was headlined saying nothing was accomplished since noontime on June 30, 2016. So, the nearly four out of every five Filipinos expressing trust, approval and satisfaction with Duterte, according to Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys, must be imagining things about the country. Another opposition stalwart claims Filipinos are in denial about human rights violations. One wonders if it is she who can’t accept that the President’s bloody campaign against drugs and crime, while disturbing to her countrymen, has in fact safeguarded their lives, wellbeing and rights far better than the past regime, which saw crime triple to more than a million incidents a year in 2013. And her Senate colleague warns of uncertainty ahead under Duterte. Well, that would be news to the World Bank, which expects economic growth to continue this year at an Asiapacing 6.8 percent, and even more in 2018. Also expecting more of the same are global credit rating agencies Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch, which maintained investment-grade marks for the Philippines, with stable Assemblymember Rob Bonta represents the outlook, meaning no ups and 18th Assembly District, which includes Oakland, downs expected. Alameda, and San Leandro and is the Assistant Nor are Filipinos wondering Majority Leader and Chair of the Asian Pacific how the Commander in Chief Islander Legislative Caucus. To access free or and the security forces will deal low cost legal services in Oakland, go to: www. with threats against law and oroaklandimmigrationproject.org. der, and peace and harmony.
sponded in an Op-Ed, alleging that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, asked them to apologize to Trump for their reporting so the president will call his friend, the owner of the tabloid National Enquirer, to spike the juicy story about their relationship. The Morning Joe couple did not apologize and continued criticizing Trump, and yes, the National Enquirer published their “story.” In a statement, MSNBC said, “It’s a sad day for America when the president spends his time bullying, lying and spewing petty personal attacks instead of doing his job.” Then on Sunday, July 2, Trump posted a short video on Twitter of an old video of him wrestling and punching a man, but this new video had the logo of CNN re-
placing the man’s head. Does Trump fantasize about violence against news media people/organization critical of him? This sent a chilling effect on people in the media, with some concerned that such a suggestion from Trump may put the lives of news media people in danger. Is this Trump’s way of silencing dissent? Surely, political civility has declined in America since Trump became president. Many people are following his example. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column 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
After one year of Duterte, now the hard part We’ve seen it in the anti-drug war. It’s not pretty, but it keeps the people safe, as the 30 percent drop in overall crime and the retaking of Marawi vividly demonstrate. For sure, it’s not a sure thing that five trenches of tax reforms will actually pass Congress, or the P8 trillion in infrastructure can all or even mostly be built. Peace talks are also iffy, especially with the double-talking communists, and federalism faces years of dizzying gyrations in Charter amendments, plebiscite campaigning and voting, and inevitably disruptive implementation. But then, that’s change, unsettling but eventually settling on something new and hopefully better. In sum, while much still needs to be done by the Duterte administration across many fronts, from sweeping tax reform and massive infrastructure projects, to fighting lawlessness and terrorism and forging lasting peace with rebel groups, plus slashing graft and red tape, much has already been done in just 365 days, and there are five more years ahead to advance the change agenda. From shock and awe … So, will things keep going awesomely, as former President Gloria Arroyo described Duterte’s first year of megamoves, from his independent foreign policy dancing with all big powers, and his war on drugs and crime recording many times what the past regime has done, and now, taking on global terrorism as no East Asian country has done? Actually, Filipinos will now have to grapple with the hard part of President Duterte’s governance, security, and development agenda. In the war on terror, for start-
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
ers, the inch-by-inch campaign to retake Marawi from Islamic State-driven jihadists, with their bombs, snipers, and arms stockpile, is shifting to the utterly unpredictable, undefinable, and uncontainable campaign of tracking down faceless, nameless bombers, killers, and kidnappers from among the mass of law-abiding citizens. Just like the perpetrators of the New York, Paris, London, Manchester and other Western terror attacks, the threats are hidden in plain sight until they detonate improvised explosive devices, machine-gun innocents at a school soccer match, drive a van into a crowd, or fly jetliners into skyscrapers. Turning to drugs, after the shock and awe of drug suspects killed by the thousands, the narco-syndicates may be regrouping and getting back in business, possibly spurred by the still hugely lucrative drug trade, with hardly any drug lords taken down despite the decimation of pushers and users. The Philippine Drug Enforce-
Philstar.com photo
ment Agency has rolled off impressive numbers, especially when compared with the dismal anti-narcotics performance in recent years. The P82 billion in dope seized, 1.3 million surrendered users and pushers, nearly 87,000 arrests, and 152 drug dens closed are just some of the unprecedented statistics on the war on narcotics. But if rehabilitation facilities and activities cannot wean the millions of users off the habit fast enough, the continued narco-demand will keep fueling the estimated P120-billion illicit trade, and that will lure the global syndicates, and grease the palms of police, prosecutors, judges, local politicians, and other enforcers to look away. … to slog and haul That brings us to corruption. President Duterte has reversed his predecessor’s unfailing defense of close associates, allies, and appointees, firing even Cabinet members and top agency heads, including longPAGE A7
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Defense chief orders troops to end Marawi conflict before SONA by Jennifer
Soriano
AJPress
DEPARTMENT of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered government troops to accomplish their mission in Marawi before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the end of the month. At a press briefing in MalacaĂąang on Monday, July 3, Lorenzana expressed his hopes that the Marawi siege would cease just before Duterte delivers his SONA on July 24. “Sana tapos na (I hope it would end) and that is one of the things that I have asked the commanders on the ground that if they could terminate the conflict there before the president goes on his SONA,â€? Lorenzana said. Expressing empathy, the defense chief shared his thoughts during his trip to Iligan with Duterte to visit Marawi evacuees. “This is very important. I’ve seen the faces of those evacuees in Iligan‌They’re so frustrated and so anxious to go back home. Ito ‘yung nakita din ni president noong nandun kami (this is what the president have also seen when we visited there),â€? the defense secretary said. Lorenzana, who chairs the newly-created interagency task force for the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation
of Marawi City called “Bangon Marawi,â€? is hoping that the rebuilding efforts will start when the president delivers his annual address. “And we’d like the president, when he goes there and delivers his SONA, is that ongoing na ‘yung ating rehab (that the rehab will be ongoing), at tsaka (and also) maybe most of the people in these outskirts dito ay nakabalik na sa bahay nila (people here in the outskirts would have returned to their homes),â€? he added. While putting aside promises, Lorenzana ensured the public that the government will continue to do its best to complete its mission as timely as possible. “I said a while ago, the people on the ground, they do not want to give a timeline now. But they are trying hard to finish it as soon as possible. Kasi ako nasunog na ako tatlong beses (I got burned three times). I keep putting deadlines three times I was—nakuryente na ako kaya ayaw ko na ring magsabi (I got ‘electrocuted’ so I don’t want to say anything),â€? he said. “And since it is urban fighting, for which a lot of our troops are not prepared, medyo (somewhat)‌They are learning as they go along on how to fight in this built-up area,â€? he said. Kaya ‘yun ang nakatagal talaga diyan sa problema (So that made the problem longer). So we are not going to put any
PH business sector satisfied... PAGE A5 significant number of investment pledges in our country, which he said are beneficial for the growth of the country’s economy. “In terms of his leadership, across the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries everybody looks up to him now. Although he had said something in the past which was not that good for the international scene, apparently the ASEAN countries still look up to him,� Barcelon further said. Likewise, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines senior advisor John Forbes commended the positive results brought by Duterte’s drug war and foreign policy. “There has been change and
continuity, change in foreign policy and drug enforcement and continuity in most of the reforms of predecessor administrations,� Forbes said. He also lauded the Philippine government’s comprehensive tax reform and ambitious Build Build Build infrastructure program. Forbes, however, noted that the heavy traffics in the National Capital Region, including the growing congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, are among the concerns that must be addressed. For his part, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Guenter Taus said the Duterte administration has done a “commendable job� in its first year. “We acknowledge the no-
deadline,â€? he added. The defense chief also laid out what the department’s priority concerns will be once the clashes in Marawi stop. “So the first thing that we would do after the fighting stops is to clear the areas of any left IEDs or any explosives. After which, we are going to allow the return of the civilians, of the residents of Marawi,â€? he said. He added that it will take “some time to clear the area,â€? as about 1,500 houses and buildings are not vacated. The latest data estimates that at least 459 people — 336 suspected terrorists, 39 civilians, and 84 government troops — have been killed since the clashes erupted. Around 72,000 families have been displaced. Lorenzana said that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon is still inside the battleground in Marawi City hiding inside a mosque. Further, the U.S. has relayed its intent to help once the government has taken over the war-torn city for the rehabilitation. “I met with Ambassador Kim last week, and they said: ‘If you need some help, let us discuss‌’So, we’ll still talk about what kind of aid we’ll get,’â€? Lorenzana said. On May 23, Duterte declared martial law following a clash between government troops and the Maute terror group.
table achievements of the current administration thus far. With this, it is fair to say that they have done a commendable job. With increased public and private sector cooperation, we believe even more can be achieved during President Duterte’s term,� Taus said. While admitting that there were indeed “shortcomings� on the part of the government, Taus maintained that the business sector remains bullish. “We remain positive, and see the weaknesses as things that the private sector can work on with the government. We can spend a lifetime speaking on any government’s shortcomings but we prefer to focus on what has been done successfully and what we can do to support actionable initiatives,� Taus said. n
Poll: A vast majority of Americans say... PAGE A6 time allies, for even a whiff of impropriety. That has done much to avoid the massive anomalies we saw in the Aquino-era commuter train, motor licenses and plates contracts, plus the tripling of smuggling to over $25 billion a year. And if the head honchos are forced to keep clean, the underlings can’t wallow in mud. Yet even the biggest Duterte fan knows that the fight against sleaze isn’t even one-tenth the way through. After all, the chief
As for the much-anticipated still gets nasty whiffs of alleged sleaze, as he did in Clark. That “golden ageâ€? of infrastructure, may yet prove to be a false the implementing agencies alarm, but the truth remains must admit that they have never that anomalies, kickbacks, rolled out roads, rail, airports, bribes, and the like are still go- and other projects at anywhere near the unprecedented pace ing on big. Red tape, too. The Philip- envisioned now. The President pine Economic Zone Authority is right to get Cabinet Secrewarns of big investments going tary Leoncio Evasco cracking sour if dozens of ecozone ap- the whip on mega-projects. But plications keep gathering dust the agencies must still slog and in MalacaĂąang. And if that can haul to “Build, Build, Buildâ€?. So, let’s have a big cheer for happen under Duterte’s nose, &DWKD\ %DQN &OLHQW imagine how much longer the Duterte’s first year. The work 'HVFULSWLRQ crimson ribbons6PDUW 0LFUR /RDQ are elsewhere is about to get much tougher. (ManilaTimes.net) in the bureaucracy. /3, 6FUHHQ )LOH
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MANILA FIRE. Carlos Pangilinan punches through locked bird cages in an effort to save his pet birds after a fire that reached the 5th alarm in Paco, Manila. Pangilinan kept more than 100 pet birds in his home but was only able to save one after the fire. Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon
Freedom of speech in PH strong MANILA - Freedom of speech in the country remains strong despite reports of online harassment against vocal critics of President Duterte and his administration, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) shows. The March 25-28 survey, the results of which were released on Friday, showed that 55 percent of the 1,200 adult respondents agreed that they can say anything they want openly and without fear even if it is against the government. Twenty-one percent disagreed with the statement, while the remaining 24 percent were undecided. The survey resulted in a “strong� +34 net freedom of speech rating, two points higher than the “strong� +32 (54 percent agree, 22 percent disagree) obtained in September 2016. The net freedom of speech rating is obtained by deducting the percentage of those who disagreed with the statement from those who agreed with it. SWS classifies net scores of +50 and above as very strong; +30 to +49, strong; +10 to +29, moderate, +9 to -9, neutral; -10 to -29, poor; -30 to -49, weak; and -50 and below, very weak. Based on the recent survey, freedom of speech is deemed strong in all areas, obtaining +37 in the Visayas, +34 in Mindanao and Balance Luzon and +30 in Metro Manila. In terms of socio-economic strata, freedom of speech is strongest among those Class ABC and D, which both obtained +37 net rating. However, figures fell significantly among those who identified themselves as members of Class E, dropping from +38 in September 2016 to +16 in March. By gender, the survey showed that male respondents obtained a net +37 freedom of speech rating, while females obtained +30. The survey had a +/- three percent error margin for national percentages. The freedom of speech rating under the Duterte administration is not too far from the average rating obtained by previous postMarcos presidencies: +33 for 'DWH Corazon Aquino, +38 for Fidel Ra-RE 1R mos, +41 for Joseph Estrada, +34 for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ´ : [ ´ + 6L]H
+32 for Benigno Aquino III. abuses in the conduct of its war The survey firm first conducted against drugs. a freedom of speech survey in July Human Rights Watch, an inter1985 during the time of dictator national human rights watchdog, Ferdinand Marcos, obtaining the has repeatedly called the attenrecord low net freedom of speech tion of the world to the abuses rating of +3 (33 percent agree, 29 allegedly being committed by the percent disagree). Duterte administration. The record high +63 (74 perThe organization characterized cent agree, 11 percent disagree) the first year of the Duterte presiwas obtained in March 1987 dur- dency as a human rights calamity ing the first Aquino presidency. because of its “murderous war on ‘Monitor fake news’ drugs,� drug-related overcrowdSenate Majority Leader Vicente ing of jails and the harassment Sotto III claimed that some for- and prosecution of drug war criteign media outlets are spreading ics. fake news about the Philippines, CHR counters trolls and urged the Presidential ComMeanwhile, the Commission on munications Operations Office Human Rights (CHR) has coun(PCOO) to look into it and let them tered trolls with an information know the government’s objection campaign regarding the delineato it. tion of their duties with that of the Sotto, who is in Brisbane, Aus- Philippine National Police (PNP) tralia to watch the fight of Sena- and other government agencies. tor Manny Pacquiao against AusAmid accusations from trolls tralian Jeff Horn today, said that that the CHR only protects sushe was watching television and pects and is quiet when other caught a report about martial law forms of crimes are committed, in the Philippines. the commission reiterated that The report, which he watched addressing criminality is primarat past five in the afternoon on the ily the role of the PNP. Australian Broadcasting Corpora“If the crime is committed by tion, allegedly claimed that Presi- a civilian or a private individual dent Duterte declared martial law such as killings, rape and the like, to jail members of the political op- the PNP is the one that is mandatposition. ed to act on it,� said the agency Sotto said the report was so out in Filipino. of tune that it even cited the case Under the Constitution, the of Senator Leila de Lima, who was CHR is mandated to investigate all arrested and detained earlier this forms of human rights violations year because of her alleged in- involving civil and political rights volvement in illegal drugs. in the country. It is also tasked to He immediately went to Twit- monitor the government’s comter to air his comments about the pliance with international treaty report. obligations on human rights. “Just saw ABC Aussie report “It is the responsibility of the about PH. Completely false! Sez CHR to protect the rights of the martial law declared to impris- people from abuse by state agents on critics. PCOO should object such as the government, police strongly. Salbahe!� Sotto said in and the military. The CHR is manhis tweet. dated to ensure that the governIn a radio interview yesterday, ment will not abuse and violate its Sotto was asked about the forth- duty to protect the primary rights coming fight of Pacquiao, but of the people,� it added. could not help but bring out the The CHR also said every govalleged fake news report on ABC. ernment agency has an obligation “The Presidential Communi- to protect the rights of the people, cations Office should call their such as the PNP on the right to attention,� Sotto said in an inter- life and property, the Department view over dwIZ radio. of Health on the right to health “No wonder the image of the and the Department of Education Philippines is so bad internation- on the right to education. ally because of such poor report“But if it is the state that vioing,� he added. lated the human rights, it is the 5(9,6,21 ,668( '$7( The Duterte administration has responsibility of the CHR to act 6) been 6) criticized internationally be- as the conscience of the govern cause of its alleged human rights ment,� it said. (Philstar.com)
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to 306 “reconsider� its show cause Bayan (PDP-Laban). against the magistrates through Alvarez noted that Sereno’s 1RWH PAGE A5 dered the CA to evade the show- have have been detained since offense, if proven to be true, signing a prepared judiciary order. House Speaker Al- May 29. Sorongon, and Nina Antonio- cause falls under culpable violation of statement. )D[ 3/($6( FKHFN DUWZRUN SURRIV FDUHIXOO\ IRU HUURUV DQG RPLVVLRQV “If we found it to be true then the 1987 Constitution and the varez announced that if it would Valenzuela. According to the report, the &RS\ULJKW UHVHUYHG $OO GHVLJQ V VKRZ RQ WKLV SDJH DUH DW DOO WLPHV UHPDLQ WKH H[FOXVLYH SURSHUW\ RI ,5,; 'HVLJQ *URXS ,QF DQG PD\ QRW EH XVHG RU that Sereno ordered we will discuss it in Congress for all-encompassing betrayal of chief magistrate also advised Sereno and Reyes suggested be proven UHSURGXFHG ZLWKRXW FRQVHQW that instead of challenging the the CA to defy the show-cause a possible impeachment case,� public trust. Reyes—who, coincidentally, 6LJQHG E\ orders of the CA, House lead- order asking three justices to Alvarez said in a statement Accordingly, Alvarez issued is a classmate of Alvarez—and ers should rather avail of legal explain why they should not be while he was in Southern Leyte the warning after the Philippine the concerned justices Stephen remedies under the rules of the cited for contempt for granting to administer the oath-taking STAR recently released reports Cruz, Erwin Sorongon and Nina the petition for habeas corpus of of new members of the Partido stating Sereno influenced CA Antonino-Valenzuela not to comcourt. On Sunday, July 2, Sereno or- the six Ilocos Norte officials who Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng presiding Justice Andres Reyes ply with the House order. Reyes 1&$B$VLDQ-RXUQDOB(1*
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relayed the message to Cruz and the rest. On top of this, Sereno told the CA justices to immediately file a petition for prohibition before the Supreme Court should the House leadership push through with its show cause order, which it just did, and that the 15-man bench would just “take care of it. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)
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july 7-13, 2017 • NORCAl ASIAN jOuRNAl
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 7-13, 2017
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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal
Supreme Court tightens requirements to revoke citizenship SINCE Independence Day on July 4, 1776, our nation has seen remarkable progress in the arts, science and technology, and society. Much of this progress has been possible thanks to immigrants—including those who have naturalized to become U.S. citizens. The United States has set standards for the naturalization process. Generally, one must be a permanent resident for at least five years, be over the age of 18, be a person of good moral character; have continuous residency for at least half of the previous five years; meet physical presence requirements; be able to read, write, and speak basic English; have a basic understanding of U.S. history and government; and demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution. For those who meet the requirements and are approved, the Oath Ceremony is one of the proudest moments of their lives. Rarely discussed, however, is just how many people have been stripped of citizenship. The truth is that denaturalization is not common, but may occur in limited circumstances. On June 22, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision that made it more difficult to strip someone of citizenship through the criminal proceedings. In Maslenjak v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the Government must establish that a defendant’s illegal act played some role in the acquisition of citizenship in order to convict under the federal statute which makes it a crime to “knowingly procure, contrary to law, the naturalization of any person.” In this case, the criminal defendant told an American immigration official that her family feared persecution in Bosnia from both parties of the civil war. More specifically, she stated that Muslims would mistreat the family because of their ethnicity, and the Serbs would abuse them because her
Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller aNd aMaNda KwoNg spouse had evaded serving in the Bosnian Serb Army by hiding for five years. In 2000, after being granted refugee status, the family immigrated to the United States. In 2006, the defendant applied for citizenship, swearing under Oath that she had never given false or misleading information while applying for an immigration benefit. The U.S. government subsequently confronted her husband with records showing that he had in fact served as an officer in the Bosnian Serb Army during a brigade that participated in the Srebrenica massacre. When the defendant attempted to prevent her husband’s deportation, she admitted that she knew the truth all along. Because she gave a false statement, the Government attempted to convict and denaturalize her. Although both the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals found in favor of the Government, the Supreme Court clarified that in order to be convicted under this particular statute, the Government must establish that the illegal act played a role in the acquisition of citizenship. As an example, the Court analogized that if a painting was obtained illegally, one might imagine the wrong things done to obtain it illegally, such stealing it or paying for it with a fraudulent check. The Court contrasted that “if no illegal act contributed at all to getting the painting, then the painting would not have been gotten illegally.” As it pertains to naturalization, an example would be how one requirement to be eligible for citizenship is to be physically present in the
United States for at least half of five years. If the lie was about the amount of time spent inside and outside the country, and the citizenship was granted based on that lie, then it would be appropriate to convict someone under this statute. To a further extent, a jury would have to decide if a false statement sufficiently influenced how a reasonable government official would grant citizenship. The impact of this decision is that a misrepresentation must be material to the grant of citizenship. It means that those who misspoke on a naturalization application or at the interview may still be able to keep their citizenship. It also means that those who misspoke during the process of obtaining asylum or permanent residency or other benefits may still be able to become citizens. In many instances, our immigration laws favor giving a second chance to one who has made a mistake. This decision strengthens those values. Anyone who has been afraid to seek naturalization, or who, having obtained it, lives in fear of losing it, because of a past misrepresentation should consult with a knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyer to see if this decision frees the way for them to obtain or keep their U.S. citizenship.n *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
US firms hold off investments in PH by Richmond
meRcuRio Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said many American information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) companies continue to put their expansion plans in the country on hold as they wait for clearer policies from U.S. President Donald Trump.
PEZA director general Charito Plaza said this has been the case since January, when potential American IT-BPO locators decided to defer their investments as they await for clearer policies from Trump. Plaza, however, said one BPO firm has decided to push through with its planned investment in the country, putting up the first BPO in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. “We thank Sitel for not giving
it up, not giving up the Philippines because all other American IT companies are on hold because they are not yet clear on Trump’s policy. They feel the policies are still volatile,” she said. Sitel’s Puerto Princesa facility is their 13th branch in the country and will add another 1,000 seats to its local operations. Plaza said Sitel has already created 25,000 jobs in their 13 branches in the country. n
Globe-trotting Jollibee sets aggressive expansion with P14.7-B outlay by doRis
dumlao-abadilla Inquirer.net
FAST food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) aims to breach the 4,000-store milestone this year as the globalizing homegrown retailer earmarked a recordhigh capital spending budget of P14.7 billion to fund its most aggressive expansion to date. “We will continue to aggressively pursue acquisitions and organic growth to accelerate the company’s growth and profitability,” JFC founder and chair Tony Tan Caktiong said during the recent JFC stockholders meeting. As of end-May, JFC had 3,555 stores worldwide across 12 brands in 17 countries. Last year, it ended with 3,253 stores, excluding the stores of its overseas
affiliates where it does not exercise majority control. In a press briefing, JFC chief finance officer Ysmael Baysa said this year’s capital spending would be the biggest in the company’s history. Last year’s actual capital outlays amounted to P6.7 billion. Of this year’s budget, P9 billion will be for store expansion and renovation while P5 billion will be for new commissaries in the Philippines and China in order to support the growing store network. Tan Caktiong said JFC was able to open a large number of new stores through the years because of improving return on investments and increasing organization capability that allowed it to scale up business across different brands. In 2016 alone, JFC opened 342
new stores, 244 of which are in the Philippines and 98 are overseas. This 6.7-percent store network expansion was faster than the historical organic network growth of about 4 percent. This year, JFC plans to open a total of 350 new stores, 100 of which will be overseas.
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JULY 7-13, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
Petitioning children of your spouse from a previous marriage
The CTV Files atty. DenniS Chua, eSq. A STEPPARENTmay file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an immigrant petition for a stepchild, the stepparent – stepchild relationship should have been created before a stepchild turns 18 years old. This means that the stepparent and the biological parent of the stepchild must get married before the child turns 18 years old. If the petitioner can no longer file an immigrant petition for the stepchild because the child has turned 18 years old, the child can still be petitioned by the biological parent after she obtains his or her permanent residency status. The significance of having a U.S. citizen stepparent file for a stepchild is so that they could avoid the visa backlogs for visa petitions filed by legal permanent residents for their minor children (2d preference category). But
considering the current visa priority dates being processed under the 2d preference category, the stepchild may be able to immigrate sooner than later even if petitioned by a legal permanent resident biological parent. If the biological parent is about to get married to the U.S. citizen petitioner and the biological parent has a child who is already over 18 years of age, it might be wise to consider postponing the marriage to give the child an opportunity to enter the United States faster. Instead of marrying the biological parent, the U.S. citizen petitioner can just file a fiancé petition for the biological parent. Once the fiancé petition is approved, both the biological parent and child can be issued the corresponding K visas for them to enter the United States. Upon marriage of the U.S. citizen to the biological parent, both parent and child can file their respective ap-
plications for adjustment of status to have their status changed from K to permanent resident status. The decision whether to file a fiancé petition or an immigrant petition is crucial especially if the child is aging out or turning 21 years of age. The decision to just get married instead of filing a fiancé petition could mean a long wait of at least eight years before the child can be able to immigrate to the United States and join the biological parent. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; (916)449-3923 Dchua@ctvattys.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya WE now live in an age of extreme self-absorption. Many already believe they have become legends in their own minds. They believe the world revolves around them and that their personal happiness is paramount. Following the lead of celebrities in the sports and entertainment world, we are being led by the media to believe that life is all about I, Me and Myself at center stage. The songs and stories in popular media all amplify and sell the story of selflove as the highest form of love. We have all the electronic tools for self-absorption at hand: camera phones, computers, tablets, Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media and the unceasing, unrelenting advertising messages that prick our vanity. We have become the stars in our own firmament. It’s not a new phenomenon though. Advanced, wealthy civilizations in history have fallen for the same trap. Maybe it’s time to dredge out those stories from mythology, told and retold from the distant past so we can better understand how to deal with this disconcerting trend and see how too much self-absorption eventually lead to despondency and unhappiness. The antidote to self-absorption, like for many ills that plague our world today, is still the same as it was in the past — love and concern for others, interest in the well-being of someone or
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MANY patients with coronary heart disease have no chest pains or other symptoms indicative of ischemia (diminished blood flow and oxygen to the coronary arteries that supply the muscles of the heart). As such, this silent (asymptomatic) type of ischemia is treacherous and increases the risk of sudden and unexpected death and other cardiac events. Symptoms, in any illness, are the body’s defense alert system, a good warning sign that allows the affected individual time to do something pre-emptive to protect itself and prevent serious complications, like in seeking prompt medical help. Silent ischemia could strike an individual surreptitiously, causing heart attack or even cardiac arrest. These are the sudden deaths we all hear about every now and then, where the victims do not even know or realize the dangerous situation they are in. The mechanism The muscles of the heart require oxygen and nutrition to function properly. These vital ingredients are in the blood which is supplied to these structures by the coronary arteries. If the blood supply is diminished because the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries that reduces the luminal diameter of these arteries), the muscles are deprived of vital oxygen and nutrition. As a result, theoretically, angina pectoris (heart pains) ensues. But a significant number of heart patients, even with their coronary arteries narrowed, some of them blocked severely, somehow do not develop chest pains. These are the asymptomatic or silent ischemia patients who could be a walking time bomb. Why “silent”? When there is myocardial ischemia, it is logically expected that the individual will have chest pains, much like lack of blood to the leg will cause “Charlie Horse”-type pains, medically termed claudication (pain and spasm of leg muscles) and even gangrene. The explanation for silent ischemia of the heart muscles (asymptomatic patients) is not fully understood. Some of the theories include: the patient may have a high threshold for pains; the size of the affected muscles in the heart may be small; there may be some collateral circulation to the ischemic area; the ischemia may be of short duration; some persons may have self-denial; the person may have
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An old tale on self-absorption “Vanity of vanities; ALL is vanity.” - From Ecclesiastes
being involved in something bigger, higher, loftier than one’s self. The idea of sacrifice still remains the most concrete, visible form of love for another. In the end, happiness finally comes with the humble awareness and quiet appreciation of what was, what is and what is yet to come — right now, right here where we live our days and nights. Long ago when enchanted creatures peopled the earth, there was a nymph called Echo. She probably rated a nine and a half on a 10 point-attractiveness scale, gorgeous, knowledgeable and perfect in every way except for one thing — she was a chatterbox nonpareil. She liked to hear herself talk far too much and perhaps, with a tinge of hubris, would insist on having the last word in every conversation. Juno, the queen of the Gods, was so irked by Echo’s habit that she meted out a punishment just for her. Echo will no longer be able to talk, except for one tiny concession — she will be able to say only the last word. In the same forest where the nymphs lived, there was a young man named Narcissus who was so classically handsome and perfectly proportioned that all the nymphs oohed and ahhed and fell in love with him at first sight. Picture Michelangelo’s marble sculpture of “David” in flesh and blood or a composite between diCaprio and Brad Pitt. If he were real person today, he would have made the cover of People Maga-
zine’s “Sexiest Man of the Year.” His fans became legion that all that adulation got into his head. He became extremely vain. No nymph was good enough for him. One day, Echo espied Narcissus while he was hunting with his peers and fell like a ton of bricks in love with him. She longed to tell him of her feelings, but in her afflicted state, she became painfully shy and simply contented herself silently watching him from a distance, shadowing Narcissus’ every move. Narcissus, however, became aware of her shadowy presence and talked her out of her hiding place. Echo could only repeat the last words of what Narcissus was saying in their conversation so she may have came out sounding like a mindless idiot, vexing Narcissus. Besotted with love for the hunk however and believing Narcissus’ plea that she come out so they can be joined together, she finally overcame her crippling shyness and revealed herself. However, Narcissus felt she wasn’t good enough for him and scorned her for her bold presumptuousness and repudiated her total being. He sent her away devastating Echo in the most cutting words, slashing and burning her very existence, swearing he would rather die than be with Echo. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Silent heart attack a defective “warning system,” related to some past brain injury, past heart attack (known or unknown), diabetes, past heart bypass or transplantation. Etiology The etiology or cause of narrowing of the arteries is multi-factorial. While heredity plays a role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis, lifestyle appears to be the major culprit. This includes a high-cholesterol, high-fat, highcarbohydrate, low-fiber diet of red meat, eggs, dairy products, bread, potato, rice, pasta, cakes, and sweets, instead of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains. The other important factors are smoking, the lack of daily regimented physical exercises, excess body mass index (weight), and poor stress management. Alcohol abuse, inadequate treatment of existing or undiagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes mellitus are aggravating conditions that hasten the build-up of cholesterol plaques in the inner walls of the arteries that lead to blockages and resultant is The minimum test Obviously, the early detection of myocardial ischemia, especially among those asymptomatic (silent) cases, is essential. This can prevent sudden cardiac death. Since many of these persons have no indication whatsoever about the state of their coronary arteries and they all may be feeling “100 percent healthy,” the only prudent strategy is to do prophylactic (preventive) investigation. Based on medical statistics, the minimum test recommended is a stress electrocardiogram (Stress EKG) for those with chest pains or other symptoms suspicious of coronary heart disease. Those with a strong family history of coronary heart disease or heart attack and/or hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, regardless of age, should also have Stress EKG every 2 to 5 years, depending on the severity of their hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. For those with none of these illnesses and with no familial history of coronary heart disease, Stress EKG is nonetheless advisable when they are 45 and older, especially for those who smoke, and a mandatory test for pilots and some giant corporate executives. There are other more sophisticated tests available. The supreme court of heart tests To arrive at the final confirmatory diagnosis, a cardiac cath is performed. This is the “court of last resort,” the “supreme court” of heart tests, that will tell us, once and for all, with 100% accuracy, if there are stenoses (blockages) in the coronary ar-
teries or not, how powerful or weak the ventricular contraction is, the integrity of the heart muscles, in segments and as a whole, and if there are any other cardiac abnormalities present, like heart valve disease, etc. If there are coronary artery stenoses present, this angiogram, which is recorded in a video film (movie of the heart in action), will also show which arteries are blocked, how many percent obstruction there is (are) and the exact location of the blockage(s). The findings will also help the cardiologist and the cardiac surgeon make a final decision if heart surgery is needed or not, and if it is, what procedure to do, which arteries to bypass, blocked arteries) will be, the percentage of risk of the surgery, and the prognosis. Clinical highlights Various investigative studies have been done to address this particular issue on silent ischemia, its diagnosis and treatment. To of these trials are the ACIP (Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot) and the ASIST (Atenolol Silent Ischemia Study). The findings are as follows: (1) Silent cardiac ischemia could lead to sudden cardiac death; (2) In the ACIP trial, it has been shown that revascularization, using coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery provided more effective relief of the ischemia than medical (pill) therapy alone; (3) In the ASIST study, those treated with Atenolol showed great reduction of ischemia and the risk of future events compared to those who were given placebo (“sugar” pills, in the controlled group); (4) the prevalence and risk of cardiac events have been much less where ischemia has been treated with revascularization; (5) that risk factor modification (lifestyle and behavioral changes: cessation of smoking, abstinence from red meat and eggs, a diet of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains, daily exercises), together with aggressive treatment as in numbers 2 and 3 above, reduces or eliminates myocardial ischemia, left ventricular dysfunction, and the incidence of sudden cardiac death. It is obvious that a pre-emptive strike, a prophylactic strategy, on everyone’s part is the only way to beat sudden cardiac death. n *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua.
Globe-trotting Jollibee sets...
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The network of stores under Superfoods Group, the Vietnambased holding firm for Pho24 and Highlands Coffee brands which JFC is grooming for public listing, was also consolidated into the group in May. Now under JFC’s control, Su-
perFoods plans to open 485 new stores in the next three years. Tan Caktiong said this expansion would be partly funded by proceeds from an initial public offering, targeted for July 2019. Including the store network of American hamburger chain Smashburger and Taiwan’s 12
Hotpot, JFC’s store count would be 3,948, already within striking distance of the 4,000-store goal. If the sales of affiliate overseas stores were to be consolidated into JFC, Baysa estimated that offshore business would also account for 30 percent of total sales. n
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Fake news: There is Calendar of Events across merica no ‘visa-free’ travel to the US for Filipinos ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS!
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Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ I WANT to warn Filipinos about fake news reports that Pres. Trump had signed an executive order allowing Filipinos to travel to the United States without visas for 30 days. This is false. There have been no changes in US policy concerning eligibility for visitor visas. Filipinos must obtain a visitor’s visa to come to the US, and are not eligible for “visa-free” travel. I had been receiving numerous inquiries about an article appearing on the Internet, that looks like legitimate news, claiming this bogus executive order was a change in visa policy for Filipinos traveling to US, and would permit them to stay in the US for up to 30 days for tourism or business, to strengthen trade between the US and Philippines. This is not true, and if anyone goes to NAIA to board a flight to the US without a visa, they will be turned away. The US Embassy in the Philippines has confirmed no such visa-free policy exists, and has posted a warning that the Embassy “is aware of the fraudulent article reporting changes to US visa policy in the Philippines. Please note that US visa policy in the Philippines has not changed.” Therefore, don’t be fooled if anyone claims they can help you travel to the US visa-free. You must apply for and be issued a
tourist visa. But before applying, make sure you are qualified or eligible. Eligibility for a visitor visa is based on you proving you have strong ties to your home country (such as family, job, social, economic, etc.), such that you have strong incentives and reasons to return, and not overstay and become a TNT in the US. The burden is on the applicant to demonstrate to the consul they have such strong ties to their home country and they have a reason to return. A strong reason to return is the primary focus of eligibility, and not necessarily the purpose of your visit. That is why some people applying for a visitor’s visa to attend a parent’s funeral or to be at the bedside of an ailing family member are refused a visa, but someone wanting to go to Disneyland is issued a visa. That does not make sense to many people: how can the consul turn down a person wanting to attend a funeral or be at the deathbed of a parent, but let someone else visit Disneyland? The answer might be that the person seeking a visitor’s visa to attend a funeral is unemployed, a jeepney driver, is under petition, is last family member left behind in the Philippines, or is working at a low-paying job, earning a few pesos a month. The applicant wanting to go to Disneyland, on the other hand, lives in Forbes
Park with 15 or more yaya’s. In the above examples, the person wanting to attend a funeral really does not appear to have strong ties to the Philippines, such that they would want to return. The person wanting to go to Disneyland obviously has a good life in the Philippines and most likely would want to return. The bottom line is there are lots of scams going on and fake news concerning immigration and benefits available. Before you fall victim to the scams, check with a reputable immigration attorney, to make sure the benefit is true and you are eligible. n
*** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and 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)
PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U LY 8
United Batanguenos of Southern California Induction in Los Angeles The United Batanguenos of Southern California will hold its induction of officers on Saturday, July 8 at Casa Italiana in Los Angeles. Millie Moncada will be inducted as new governor. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions please call Millie at (818) 322-9429; Cely Anuran (805) 630-3377 or Willie Manacsa at (818) 400-7391. Casa Italiana is located at 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
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11th Ambassadors’ Tour to Manila & Davao The 11th Ambassadors’ Tour will take place in the Philippines from July 11 to 16. Led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Promotions Board and Rajah Tours, the itinerary for the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour combines the best of Metropolitan Manila up North and the sprawling city of Davao in the South into one adventure-packed and enriching vacation experience. The four-day stay in Davao, the King City of the South and current seat of power in the Philippines, is a special highlight of this year’s event. Participants in this year’s tour will be presented with an opportunity to experience Davao up-close. It is a chance for the participants to revel in Davao’s picturesque landscapes through its nature parks, agricultural farms, and resorts, experience the diversity of its people through a series of courtesy calls with Philippine government officials, and feel the harmony of its culture through its heritage and cultural museums. Tailor-fit to tell the narrative of a new, safer, more beautiful Philippines, the tour will provide its participants with enough experience to engage their respective communities and leverage goodwill towards Filipinos and generate interest in the Philippines. Delegates who will be part of the program become “Filipino ambassadors” in their own right, carrying a fresh perspective and the message of a new and improved Philippines when they go back to the United States. As “Filipino Ambassadors,” this year’s delegates will be well-capable of showcasing the strides made in tourism, economic development, and public safety in the Philippines to the larger international community. For more information and to register, please visit http://www. acgtdt.com.
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Money Smart for Small Business in El Monte, CA Come to an introductory two-day business course designed for newer business owners, self-employed individuals, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Course topics include: startup planning, organizational types, risk management, credit reporting, business insurance, time & financial management, selling & succession planning, banking services for small businesses, recordkeeping, and tax & business planning. The curriculum is developed jointly by the FDIC and the SBA. It will be held on Saturday, July 15 and July 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cathay Bank (9650 Flair Dr., El Monte, CA 91731). The fee is $20 payable to Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP). Breakfast, lunch and course materials will be provided by Cathay Bank. There will be limited seating so advance registration is required. To register, please contact Colleen Seto at (213) 373-1605 or cseto@ltsc.org. Participants will be eligible for free business counseling by API SBP.
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LEAP’s 35th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles
ABANDONED BY HER BIRTH PARENTS, WILL NIKKA BE LEFT BEHIND AGAIN WHEN USCIS CHALLENGED HER ADOPTIVE PARENT’S ELIGIBILITY TO PETITION HER? Lilia (right) and her husband Peter filed a petition to adopt Nikka (left) when the child was 12 years old. The adoption decree was issued six (6) days before Nikka turned 16 years old, and the certificate of finality came out two (2) months after Nikka’s 16th birthday. When Lilia and Peter filed an Immediate Relative Petition for Nikka, the USCIS served a Request for Evidence (RFE), challenging them eligibility to adopt Nikka. Lilia and Peter were devastated, depressed, and in despair. Would this mean losing the chance to be reunited with their adopted child - whom they loved and considered their own? Watch how leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel came to the rescue and secured approval of their petition in a mere two months, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising supplement)
Business News
Travelers say EVA’s business amenities best, cabins cleanest SKYTRAX reveals World Airline Award winners at Paris Air Show
TAIPEI, Taiwan – EVA Air is continuing its winning ways by taking the top spot in two categories of SKYTRAX’s annual World Airline Awards, Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness and Best Business Class Comfort Amenities. SKYTRAX also confirmed that EVA is upholding its commitment to quality service as one of only nine 5-Star Airlines worldwide and ranks among the World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2017. SKYTRAX revealed its World Airline Awards 2017 at the Paris Airshow on Tuesday, 20 June, 2017. The awards were determined through analyses of an extensive global passenger satisfaction survey that featured 320 airlines in the final results. Travelers can learn more about EVA’s exceptional services and book tickets at www.evaair.com. “No airline can overlook the importance of inflight cabin cleanliness and the impact this has on the customer travel experience. It is great testimony of EVA Air’s inflight cleanliness and cabin maintenance checks that this is second time in 3-years that the airline has been voted by passengers as the World’s Cleanest Airline,” said Edward Plaisted, SKYTRAX CEO. EVA also ranks second for World’s Best Airport Services and third for World’s Best Cabin Staff. SKYTRAX began rating EVA in 2008 and the airline has steadily updated, upgraded and improved service and products from check-in through the onboard experience and baggage claim. For example, EVA installed
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) is proud to celebrate 35 years of ”Growing Leaders” on Thursday, July 20 and the leadership of individuals that exemplify LEAP’s mission to achieve full participation and equality for Asian and Pacific Islanders through leadership, empowerment, and policy. Proceeds from the event will be used to develop LEAP’s innovative leadership programs, cutting-edge public policy research, and nationwide community building. This year’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be like no other gala that LEAP has had in the past. LEAP’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be an eventful evening that will be both interactive and experiential. With an abundance of food and friends, LEAP will celebrate those who have shaped the organization, those who have been impacted by the organization, and those who continue to grow as Asian and Pacific Islander leaders and dream big. Honores for the individual leadership award include Fatima Bustos-Choy, Phd, founder of Gaia Flow Consulting and CEO And owner of Body & Brain Holistic Wellness Center; Kenneth Kasamatsu, advisor to the CEO, E-Central Credit Union / The Pacific Bridge Companies, and founder of Pacific Commerce Bank ; Geri Mannion, program director, U.S. Democracy and Special Opportunities Fund at Carnegie Corporation of New York; and Paul Ong, director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at UCLA. The David R. Barclay Alumni Leadership Award will be presented to Scott Chan, program director for the Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement and Patricia A. Neilson, director of Asian American Student Success at University of Massachusetts Boston. The VIP & general reception will begin at 5 p.m., while the program is from 7 to 10 p.m. It will be held at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (244 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012). Attire is business. To RSVP, visit www.leap.org/celebration_tickets. For more information about registration, contact Mayta Lor at (213) 485-1422 x 4105 or mlor@leap.org.
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Filipino Caucus Family Retreat in Lake Hughes, CA The Filipino Caucus of the California Pacific Annual Conference (CALPAC) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is inviting its members to a family retreat to be held from July 21 to 23. The venue will be the scenic Oak Camps and Conference Center (18651 Pine Canyon Road, Lake Hughes, California). The Rev. Dr. Bener Agtarap, Associate General Secretary of the UMC Board of Discipleship Ministry will be the resource person and guest speaker during the three- day gathering to be marked with group discussions and fellowship. “Rekindling the Flame” will be the theme of this retreat. According to Rev. Nelson Castorillo, the Filipino Caucus president, the goal of the retreat is re-igniting and rekindling the symbolic flame representing the spirit and unity of this growing group of Filipino-American Methodists and hoping this type of gathering will reenergize and revitalize the Church. The Rosewood UMC, headed by Ding Lapus, is coordinating the event. He is assisted by Noribel Taguba, Vicky Ignacio, Dennis Mañacop, Auring Garcia, John Umaguing, Revs. Manny Predas and Lisa Santiago. Food and lodging for three days is $148 and $103 for children 7-12 years old. Check is payable to the Filipino Caucus, PO Box 10435, Glendale, CA 91209. For more information please call Rev. Nelson (909) 538-7606 or email at nelsonpreacher@gmail.com.
J U LY 22 easy-to-read electronic maps in airport and introduced turn-down service for Royal Laurel Class passengers on long-haul flights aboard Boeing 777-300ERs. EVA takes care of details and, thanks to extraordinary staff efforts, offers unsurpassed onboard hospitality. The review and ranking organization awarded EVA 5-Star Airline ranking for the first time in 2016. “When we received the 5Star Award last year, we made a commitment that EVA will not stop improving and innovating and will continue to uphold this honor. This year, SKYTRAX again awarded us 5-stars. This demonstrates the consistency of our top-notch service, “said EVA President Derek Chen. “I’m grateful to our EVA staff. Thank you for always doing your best to serve every customer. It is a great honor to receive support and recognition from passengers around the globe. EVA will never lose
sight of our goal to be the very best. We hope every journey with EVA is one of pure relaxation and delight for every passenger.” EVA’s emphasis on comfort and quality service doesn’t stop at the top cabin door. Passengers in every seat get benefits of the airline’s trademark warm, friendly service. Clean cabins are part of that service. From take-off to landing, flight attendants keep shared spaces neat and tidy and lavatories restocked. Reflecting its recognition for Best Business Class Comfort Amenities, EVA has especially high standards for Royal Laurel Class on the Boeing 777-300ERs it flies to and from North America and on other long-haul routes. Royal Laurel Class passengers travel in luxurious comfort with award-winning wines, cozy pajamas, lie-flat seats, Rimowa amenity kits and more. SKYTRAX conducted its survey
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Money Smart for Small Business in El Monte, CA Come to an introductory business course designed for newer business owners, selfemployed individuals, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Course topics include: startup planning, organizational types, risk management, credit reporting, business insurance, time & financial management, selling & succession planning, banking services for small businesses, recordkeeping, and tax & business planning. The curriculum is developed jointly by the FDIC and the SBA. It will be held on Saturday, July 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cathay Bank (9650 Flair Dr., El Monte, CA 91731). The fee is $20 payable to Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP). Breakfast, lunch and course materials will be provided by Cathay Bank. There will be limited seating so advance registration is required. To register, please contact Colleen Seto at (213) 373-1605 or cseto@ltsc.org. Participants will be eligible for free business counseling by API SBP.
J U LY 29
The Filipino-Americans of Contra Costa County, Inc. hosts annual picnic in Hercules, CA The United Batanguenos of Southern California will hold its induction of officers on Saturday, July 8 at Casa Italiana in Los Angeles. Millie Moncada will be inducted as new governor. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions please call Millie at (818) 322-9429; Cely Anuran (805) 630-3377 or Willie Manacsa at (818) 400-7391. Casa Italiana is located at 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
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JULY 7-13, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
Keyland & Ascott partner for 110 Benavidez by TANYA
T. LARA
Philstar.com
FIRST, the building itself. It’s a glass-cladded 32-story structure that’s designed by the architectural firm AEDAS, one of the designers of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and Aidea Philippines, one of the country’s most recognized architectural practices. Looking at the renderings, it’s going to be a beautiful building that’s sure to stand out in its location — 110 Benavidez St. in Legazpi Village, Makati, right behind AIM and just 350 meters from Greenbelt — where most of the structures are decades-old. Second, the business model. It’s a partnership between boutique real estate developer Keyland Corporation and Ascott Limited, the world’s leading operator of serviced apartments with its three brands: Ascott, Citadines and Somerset spread in 100 cities in 25 countries. The P1.2-billion condominium will be the new Citadines Makati and buyers have an option to choose between two kinds of units — as an investment wherein the unit becomes part of Citadines and is rented out to mostly long-staying corporate clients, or as a private residence. At the groundbreaking event two weeks ago, Keyland president Lito Montinola says that of the 209 units, 160 will be sold as serviced residences and the remaining as private residences. “If you’re a typical condo investor, what do you do when the unit is turned over to you? You furnish it and rent it out, minsan wala ka pang tenant (sometimes, when you still don’t have a tenant), so you worry about it,” Lito says. “Or you have a tenant but you’re still responsible for its repairs and maintenance. With 110 Benavidez, when you buy a serviced residence, it’s practically worry-free. Citadines will take care of running it. On a regular basis, you get your dividends. It’s like renting the property out but someone else is managing it.” Keyland is a new player in real estate at only five years old, but in that short amount of time, they have developed office buildings in the country’s leading CBDs — in Makati, Ortigas and Alabang — as well as mixeduse and residential condominiums such as Signa Designer Residences in partnership with
EMPLOYMENT
Robinsons Land Corporation. They have also reaped several development awards including Property Guru’s Best Boutique Developer for several of their projects such as Best Affordable Condo Development for Casa de Sequoia, Best Boutique Developer, and Best BPO Office Development for South Key Hub. “We have carefully chosen design and project development partners who are renowned for their landmark projects,” Lito says. “They all share our mission of building a sustainable, secure and bankable real estate product where investors and residents can enjoy hassle-free living.” Initially, the plan was to build “just another condo” and sell it. “But we thought, how do we position ourselves in the market? There are serviced apartments here, but they’re not for sale. So we thought, maybe we can do serviced residences for sale.” Enter The Ascott Limited. From the beginning, Lito felt that Ascott would be the right partner. “First, it was the quality of the properties that Ascott runs. Second, I observed their operations. Serviced residences are their core competence, so why bother running it ourselves? From day one up to when we were discussing the commercial terms, it felt right to partner with Ascott.” Ascott Limited regional general manager Arthur Gindap says, “For our part, I did my due diligence before making a recommendation to our principals in Singapore. The first time I was introduced to their properties was at a groundbreaking event for one of their developments, then I saw a residential property they built in Alabang. Keyland’s a small but very nimble company, they make decisions fast and they make them right. What Ascott brings to the table is our name, our expertise and that immediately puts a premium to the building. The business model of 110 Benavidez is something unique to Makati and there’s no doubt it will be successful…and you know others will follow.” With Ascott’s name on it, Keyland had to follow its standards — from the unit sizes starting at 30 sqm. for a studio all the way to 150 sqm. for a three-bedroom unit — including specifications of the furniture pieces and appliances and “down to the kubiertos.” “It’s such a hassle trying to rent out an apartment,” Arthur
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20th Anniversary of Ordination
110 Benavidez St. in Legazpi Village offers buyers two kinds of units — as an investment wherein the unit becomes part of Citadines with a lease agreement of 15 years and is rented out to long-staying corporate clients, or as a private residence.
says. “I know that for a fact because I’m trying to rent out one myself. With 110 Benavidez, you get a deposit in your bank account every month based on the occupancy, and you have 10 days a year to use your unit for free, which is transferrable to, say, your relatives or friends who want to do a staycation. Beyond that, you pay the owner’s rate.” Lito says units start at P7.5 million for a 30-sqm. studio, which is fully furnished when they turn it over in 2022. “We’re looking at six to eight percent per year (return) plus the appreciation of the property. What we also like about the arrangement with Ascott is that they demanded four percent of the annual revenues for the upkeep of the residences.” Did Ascott drive a hard bargain? “It’s a fair deal. And we’re still friends,” says Lito with a laugh. “With that amount allocated for maintenance, everything that needs to be fixed will be fixed,” says Arthur. “There’s a 15-year lease back agreement, so if you buy a serviced residence, it will be in the Citadines pool for 15 years. After that, if you want to use it yourself, the unit will still be in pristine condition and the value is preserved. If you buy a typical condo, the problem is maintenance; after five years, it looks old. But since we’ll be managing it, we have to keep your unit up to Ascott’s standards all the time.” *** Visit the author’s travel blog at www.findingmyway.net. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @iamtanyalara. For more information on Keyland, visit http://www.110benavidez.com/ or call 772-6280. Its showroom is located at GF 112 Sol Building, Amorsolo St., Legazpi Village, Makati.
EMPLOYMENT
Fr. Geoffrey Fontelera Baraan, parish priest and pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Pinole, recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his ordination. The celebration was attended by about 900 friends and family from all over the U.S., including from Chicago, Houston, San Diego, Bakersfield and Las Vegas. Reception and entertainment was held the school gym. Shown in photos with with Fr. Baraan is his mother, Imelda.
Travelers say EVA’s business... PAGE CJ3 t in English, Spanish and Chinese among 19.87 million eligible respondents between August 2016 and May 2017. The global ratings organization describes the survey as “independent, impartial and global” and its awards program is not-for-profit. EVA is frequently honored, awarded and recognized by organizations worldwide. TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, honored EVA Air with two distinctions, “Top 10 Major Airline in Asia Pacific” and “Best Airline – Taiwan.” SKYTRAX, Travel + Leisure and AirlineRatings.com have ranked it among the world’s Top-10 Best International Airlines multiple times. SKYTRAX
also scored EVA as the Best Airline Transpacific and, based on traveler feedback, as the world’s third Most Loved Airline. AirlineRatings counted EVA Air’s Economy Class and Elite premium economy both among the top-10 best-of-the-best worldwide for 2017. EVA’s Elite Class, introduced in 1992 as one of the world’s very first premium economy cabins, was Best or Second-Best Premium Economy Class in SKYTRAX’s annual poll three years in a row. And Business Traveller Magazine awarded EVA two Gold Medals in its annual Cellars in the Sky competition, one for Best Business Class Cellar and the other for Best Business Class Sparkling Wine.
SERVICES
About EVA Air EVA Air, a Star Alliance member, was established in 1989 as Taiwan’s first privately owned international airline. It is part of the respected Evergreen Group and a sister company to global container-shipping leader Evergreen Line. It flies a fleet of more than 70 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to close to 70 international destinations throughout Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America. With just one easy stop in Taipei, travelers can connect onward to most major cities throughout Asia, including 25 destinations in China. Travelers can learn more about EVA and book, buy and reserve seats at www.evaair.com
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Friday, July 7, 2017
Aladdin photos by Deen van Meer Other photos from the Instagram accounts of Adam (@adamjacobsnyc) and Arielle (@ariellejacobs).
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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 7, 2017
SIBLING REVELRY: How Adam and Arielle Jacobs Achieved Their Broadway Dream by MoMar
G. Visaya/AJPress
IN 2015, the stars aligned for Adam and Arielle Jacobs — he was playing the lead role in “Aladdin” and she was cast as Nessarose on “Wicked” — and for the first time, both siblings were on big Broadway hits at the same time. Arielle made her Broadway debut as Nina Rosario in “In The Heights” in 2010, opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda while Adam made his debut four years earlier as Marius in the 2006 revival of “Les Miserables.” The siblings’ journey to Broadway began when they both got their first taste of professional theatre and performed in one musical called “Honor Song for Crazy Horse” at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts in California, where they were cast as Native Americans – Adam, then 14, was Little Hawk and Arielle was Blue Swan. It was Arielle who got into performing first, taking violin and dance lessons and studying ballet, tap and jazz, and eventually moving to singing. She influenced Adam and told him to try singing lessons because they were enjoyable. “Adam started piano when he was four, I wanted to be a pop singer like Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston and so I started taking lessons and fell
in love with it. I said to Adam — you should take lessons, too. It’s fun. So he did,” Arielle shared. The Jacobs family lived in Half Moon Bay, California until both kids were old enough to spread their wings. Both went to college in NYU, Adam finishing with a BFA in Theater at Tisch School of the Arts while Arielle graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and concentration on musical theater. After graduating from NYU, Adam worked the regional theaters, performed on cruise ships, and toured the country as Cinderella’s Prince before landing his first Equity (Actor’s Union) production as Nankipoo in Marriott Theater’s Hot Mikado. His star shone brighter when he was given the opportunity to play Marius in the national tour of “Les Miserables.” This job led to him being cast in the Broadway revival and his subsequent Broadway debut. Since “Les Miserables,” his journey brought him to the islands of “Mamma Mia!” and to the African pridelands of “The Lion King” where he was cast as Simba. He’s also gone from the tropics of “Once On This Island” to the Arabian city of Agrabah in “Aladdin.” Adam met his future wife
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin Photo by Deen van Meer
Kelly while doing a Christmas show in Hershey, PA. She was a rag-doll/ballerina and he was a well-padded, white-bearded Santa Claus (with black eyebrows). Sparks flew, and led to them getting married, their union blessed with the arrival of their twin sons Jack and Alex in 2014. After college, Arielle on the other hand moved to Los Angeles and lived there for eight years, returning to New York in 2013 and eventually booking “Wicked,” which she did for a year. Last year, she was cast as Jasmine in the Australian production of “Aladdin.“ Asked if performing is in their genes, Arielle replied, “My mom’s parents have beautiful voices but they don’t sing professionally. My mom sings and plays piano; my dad’s mother was a cabaret singer in the 40s. She sang with the Tommy Dorsey Band when she was 15. She never had it as a career, really.” Both siblings were on major Broadway top-earners. Did they ever think it would happen? “No, never. I dreamed of it for myself, he might have. But it never really occurred to me that we would be on Broadway at the same time. I don’t know why, I just didn’t,” she said. Arielle then lavished her brother with praise. “I saw him in his high school performances in San Francisco and he was leagues beyond everyone else onstage and it was obvious that he had the potential and the talent to be on Broadway and I knew at the back of my brain that I was going to be on Broadway. But I never put it together,” she said laughing. Upside and downside In a previous interview with the Asian Journal, Adam mentioned about not going after shows that have already cast
Arielle Jacobs as Nessarose on ‘Wicked’
Arielle as the female romantic lead. Arielle chipped in with her thoughts. “That happened to us! He did Zorro in Atlanta and I would have loved to play the Catherine Zeta Zones part, but he was already cast as Zorro. The casting director called my agent and said they would love to see me and my agent told the casting director, ‘You know that Adam and Arielle are brother and sister, right?’ and they said, ‘Ohhhh, yeah. That won’t work.’ So they just cancelled my audition,” she recalled. She also had an audition for Jasmine for “Aladdin,” and this was before they made the cast announcement because Arielle thought that at that time, they weren’t sure if he got the part. Outside the musical realm, Adam and Arielle worked together last year on a cabaret concert at 54 Below, calling the show Sibling Disobedience. They did a powerful combination of pop and musical theater, both their interests. “I was the one who wanted to perform. You know how it is. I would put on shows in my living room, Adam wouldn’t do it. When we went to family gatherings, my mom would always want us to sing songs for the family and I would love it. I would sing a lot, and my brother would begrudgingly sing one. He hated it. I was the one who craved for the audience,” Arielle said. Adam and Arielle’s mom Abby (short for Avelene) was 14
This was the poster for the Jacobs siblings’ concert at 54 Below last year which was called #SiblingDisobedience.
Photos from the Instagram accounts of Adam (@adamjacobsnyc) and Arielle (@ariellejacobs).
Arielle posted this photo collage on her Instagram account to celebrate National Siblings Day.
when her entire family moved to the United States, eventually spreading out across the country. She and her husband now live in New Jersey. Asked about the roles she wanted to do, Arielle rattled off her list. “I had dream roles. I wanted to be Maria in West Side Story, Kim in “Miss Saigon,” although maybe I am getting too old for both. I was obsessed with Sunset Boulevard, I used to listen to the soundtrack over and over. Maybe one day, when I’m 60,” she said. “I have my eye on Hamilton. I’d love to be in that. Or Aladdin. When my brother leaves,” she said back then, breaking into laughter. That was months before it was announced that Adam would be leaving the Broadway production to lead Aladdin’s national tour. Being bi-racial has been a
little tricky for Arielle. “It’s a double-edged sword. It has definitely cost me some roles. If I didn’t have dark hair and dark skin, I would have been offered the part. Recently, there was a part I didn’t get because they wanted someone with red hair and blue eyes. I can play Hispanic or Middle Eastern or Native American or Latina, it’s theater,” she said. Off-Broadway, she has starred in two world-premiere plays by Pulitzer-winning playwright and director Nilo Cruz; entitled Sotto Voce (as Lucila Pulpo, a Colombian) and Farhad or the Secret of Being (as Farhad, a young Afghan girl who was raised as a boy to avoid social exile but then reaches puberty and struggles with the limitations of becoming a woman in the Middle East.) Earlier in her career, she was also seen in the original National Touring companies of In The Heights (as Nina) and Disney’s High School Musical (Gabriella), and in Dreamcatcher Theatre’s production of Into The Woods (as the Baker’s Wife), opposite Broadway legend Tituss Burgess as the Witch. These days, Adam is on the road leading the national touring production of Aladdin while Arielle is working on her debut album called “A Leap in the Dark”. The Jacobs siblings credit their Filipino mother and Jewish father not just for their mixed ethnicity, which has allowed both of them to play such varied roles so far, but more importantly for their whole-hearted encouragement to pursue a life in the arts.
Anthony Diaz V on making films that people will remember By Larizza de AJPress
Vera
IN today’s era of superhero movies, Filipino-American director Anthony Diaz refuses to follow the trend and offers a compelling movie centered on religion. Despite his failure to clinch an award at last year’s Sundance Film Festival with his movie “Break,” Diaz sets aside his usual role as director to play the lead character for his upcoming movie, “Way Of The Cross.” “Way Of The Cross” is a psychological thriller set in a small religious town in the Philippines. It follows the life of Rogelio ‘Rogue’ Marquez (TBoy), a Las Vegasbased Fil-Am FBI agent, who stumbled upon a string of murderous events in the town of San Antonio during the Holy
Week festivities. The movie, which will hit local and international theaters in August, was directed by Diaz’s father Antonio Diaz and Gorio Vicuna, former animator at Marvel Studios and director of “When Nature Calls.” “This was actually the first film in which I was directed by others, however I did assist in the directing of this film when needed,” the multi-faceted Diaz told the Asian Journal. Aside from bringing life to the main character, Diaz also co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the film. “This gave me a unique chance to develop interesting characters that I feel will resonate with the audience,” Diaz stated. Ultimately after the audience watch the film, Diaz wants them to leave puzzled as Continued on Page SF5
Despite its central theme focused on religion, Diaz claimed that “Way Of The Cross” is unique in many ways because its story crossed all borders and is not bound by a certain culture or country. Photos from the film’s official Facebook page
entertainment SF3 Keeping ‘the lines’ open to Paco Arespacochaga Liza Soberano: No stunt double for Darna The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – July 7, 2017
San FranciSco By Monet
by Deni
roSe BernarDo Philstar.com
Lu
BEFORE the emergence of boy bands and K-pop stars, the groups that were born in the 80s or 90s scream for solo artists and pop-rock band performers. One of them bears the name “INTRoVOYS” and have won numerous Gold and Multi-Platinum awards, gained quadruple platinum status earning the band the label “the No. 1 Band in the Land!” and received the Guillermo Mendoza Award. Paco Arespacochaga was one of the founding members of Introvoys along with 3rd-G Cristobal and Jonathan Buencamino. In 1994, they released an album, “Line to Heaven,” in which Paco sang the title song which he had composed after losing both his parents. Thankfully, Paco kept his line open to talk about what’s keeping him busy lately amongst other things. Paco: First off, I’d like to thank your readers for spending the time to read our interview. And also to you, for featuring me on your column. Currently, the rest of INTRoVOYS and I are multi-tasking, spending the holidays with family. Buying gifts and attending Christmas parties have been the norm. Simultaneously, we’ve been in the studio, rehearsing for our shows in 2017, which includes a North America tour with Geneva Cruz, Jo Awayan and Rey Kilay. M: Are you based here in the U.S. for good? If yes, what made you decide to relocate and settle here? P: Yes, my family and I are based here in the U.S. We’ve been here since 2001. It wasn’t hard to decide to migrate my family here when the opportunity came my way. At the end of the day, a better opportunity for my kids was the main reason I decided to migrate to the U.S. M: What is a typical day like for a Paco Arespaco-
Paco Arespacochaga
chaga? P: A typical day for me starts with waking up early, planning what I would do for the rest of the day. Currently, aside from the band and family, I am involved in marketing for American Professional Ambulance, which provides nonemergency gurney transports for patients from Skilled Nursing Facilities to the Hospitals. That pretty much takes up the “9-5”. I do take the kids to school in the morning so that starts my day. In the afternoon, I spend time with my family – whether it be going out, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. Evenings vary from day to day because two days are spent with INTRoVOYS, three days are spent with the wifey at the gym and two days could be gig nights, family nights or date nights. I always say, regardless of what I said, everything is subject to change! M: Please tell us more
IF Liza Soberano would have her way, she does not want to have a stunt double in her upcoming portrayal of Mars Ravelo’s “Darna.” “As much as possible, no, because I want to do all my stunts. Mas madali rin para sa director ‘pag ganun,” she said. She, however, would get one if the stunts become too dangerous. “If it becomes too lifethreatening, of course, I would have someone do that for me kasi I don’t want to risk my life,” she stressed. She has tried the harness and said, “masakit po talaga s’ya.” “Probably po, ‘yung magiging difficult sa’kin ‘yung timing when it comes to stunts. Kasi ‘yun talaga, you really have to look strong but not too strong because you don’t want to hurt the person doing the scene. We have to make it look believable. Because I’m not actually going Photo by Jerome Libradilla to hurt, but the stuntmen.” She already met with direcabout your journey to the mu- tor Erik Matti to show how sic industry/show business? strong she is and what she is P: My journey to the music capable of. She continues to do industry was not an easy route. cardio workouts to prepare for It involved a lot of perseverthe role. ance, passion, dedication, “Nagpapalakas po ako para commitment, rejections and sa mga stunts!” declared the setbacks. It was a long journey actress, who is also about to but the payoff was well worth study dance steps to improve her grace, timing, and also for it! fitness. I “applied” to be an actor Likewise, if ABS-CBN would for VIVA Films when I was 12 allow it, she also would like to years old! Haha. What did I know, right? But my mom, who be the one to shout the iconic comic book character’s name, was always very supportive of and yes, even sing the theme me, was always there to encourage me. Obviously, I didn’t song. “Feeling ko di nila ako get the gig. kukunin. Pero kung ico-consider Three years later, at 15 nila ako, why not?” years old, together with JonaShe is yet to practice her than Buencamino and 3rd G shout. Cristobal, we formed INTRo“’Di ko pa po s’ya pinaVOYS. practice. Nahihiya po ako sa German Moreno gave us a sarili ko na i-practice s’ya! Kasi break to be part of the now de- ‘di ko pa po alam kung papano funct noon time show, “That’s ‘yung tamang way talaga. But Entertainment”. It was a good if they tell me na ako talaga gig because it helped us build ‘yung sisigaw ng Darna, then a fan base, one we still take I’m willing.” pride of having by our side to She is willing to wear any costume approved by the manContinued on Page SF4
agement. “I’m actually okay with anything, as long as I’m prepared for it.” She is ready to wear even a sexy one because as she pointed out: “Yes, I am maturing and I think it’s about time!” When Enrique Gil heard about the news, she said Enrique did not become worried about the future of their love team, most especially, since he has also been cast as Liza’s love interest in the project. “When he found out, he was supportive naman. He said kaya ko ‘yan. Now, sinasamahan n’ya na rin ako sa pagwoworkout.” She has not watched all Darna movies and has been relying on Matti for guidance on her take on the character. Of the past Darnas, she has only met Sharon Cuneta and Angel Locsin and both have been supportive. “I think they all did well and all of them have a different perspective of portraying the role,” Liza noted. She still has no idea on who will be with her in the movie besides Enrique. As for Anne Curtis being rumored to play Darna’s nemesis, Valentina: “I’d love to work
Liza Soberao
with Ate Anne. I love Ate Anne! But of course, it all depends on her.” Whoever Valentina would be, Liza’s Darna will show her what she’s got. “The first time that they announced I’m going to be Darna, I’m feeling very happy. Of course, there are those who said I can’t do it or I don’t fit in the role, but I respect that because I can’t control everybody’s mind…But I still want to prove to everybody that I am and I can be Darna. I can do it and I’ll try my best!”
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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 7, 2017
celebrity world By Ferdie Villar THERE are so many billboards in Metro Manila, that it is no doubt that it is one of the most effective forms of advertising one’s service or product. It has also been used for personal purposes, like professing one’s love or even a wedding proposal. But to invite a girl for a date seems sweet to some, but others disagree. This is what happened when businessman Christian “Xian” Gaza rented a billboard in Morayta, Manila to invite actress Erich Gonzales to a “coffee date” just last week. The board read: “I can’t even espresso how much I like you a latte,” and “Will you...drink coffee with me?” The non-showbiz businessman also posted on his Instagram account a photo of him looking at the billboard. In his post, he expressed how special the Kapamilya actress is to him. “They say it’s first time in Philippine history. I say: That’s how special you are to me. @ erichgg, will you drink coffee with me?” Xian also wrote an open letter addressed to the actress,
‘Coffee date’ billboard invite to Erich Gonzales gets mixed reactions
saying that he tried to reach out privately to the actress but could not find a way. Of course, reactions from netizens were mixed. Some thought it was sweet and romantic, but others described Xian as “creepy” and “show off” Also, others doubted Xian’s real intentions and background, saying that he is only using the actress for fame and for his business. On Facebook, he claimed to be the president and chief executive officer of a Gungxiqian group. Last June, he also claimed that he used to own a civet coffee plantation in Photo shows businessman Xian Gaza with actress Erich Gonzales at the time he supposedly saw her in person the first time. Davao. But there have been others who accused Xian of scamming them. Dewanie Catapang, a social media personality from Davao exposed Gaza’s scheme through a series of tweets with relevance to her personal experience with the businessman. “Marami pa nabubulag sa mga paandar mo ha, pero ako I know you and what you’re up to so please lang don’t me. Kakadiri ka!” Catapang said.
The 50th wedding anniversary of Nards and Lydia Dollentas was held recently at Mater Dolorosa Church in South San Francisco. Reception followed at Grosvenor Hotel. In photo are (R-L) sponsors Edgar Gilera, Maria Aurora Carillo, couple Nards and Lydia Dollentas, Dorie and Lambert Paniza, Carlota Coasaca and Remy Nicomedes.
Kapamilya actress Erich Gonzales has been polite enough to acknowledge that there is nothing wrong about Xian Gaza’s coffee date invitation to her.
Beautiful actress Liza Soberano is now getting in shape for her role in Mars Ravelo’s “Darna.”
Ryan Salcedo Tanada, a Doha-based realtor also revealed his transactions with Xian in a Facebook post showing screenshots of their conversations. “It’s not wrong to dream big and to want the best things in life as long as you’ll work for it in an honest way and wala kang nilolokong tao. Man, just stop this shit once and for all as more victims of yours are
coming out.” Tanada said in his post. In a report by PEP.ph, Jesica Cruz, mother of dance icon and actress Ella Cruz, stepped forward to share their experience when the businessman bought a Fortuner from her husband, who runs a buy-and-sell business for cars. Xian had reportedly given them postdated checks, but repeatedly asked to hold the check because he’d be paying in cash. “After New Year, nag-ask ulit kami kung may fund na yung check. Ginagawan daw niya ng paraan kasi he’s having financial problems, at andoon nga daw siya sa dad niya para umutang (After New Year, we asked if the check had funds. He said he was figuring it out because he was having financial problems and he was at his dad’s to borrow money),” Cruz said. Xian returned the Fortuner the next day. Aside from this, he was also accused of also making a similar grand gesture to Ella last year by sending a surprise gift to her. With all the negative comments being thrown at him, Xian answered back in a series of posts: “I am not affiliated to any company besides GUANXIQ-
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
Photo shows businessman Xian Gaza looking at the “coffee date” billboard invitation he had rented hoping to get the attention of Kapamilya actress Erich Gonzales. Photo from Instagram @xiangaza
The late King of Comedy Dolphy was supposed to celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, July 25. Born in 1928, he was highly regarded for his comedic talent embodied by his long career onstage, radio, TV and movies. He passed away on July 10, 2012.
Superstar Nora Aunor marks her 50th year anniversary as a”Tawag ng Tanghalan” champion. At present, the reality singing competition is conducting a nationwide audition and is being aired on The Filipino Channel / ABS-CBN 2.
IAN GROUP nor a member of any network marketing companies to date. The billboard is my sincere coffee date invitation for Ms. Gonzales, not a ‘business opportunity presentation over-coffee-invitation’ strategy, affiliating me to your respective companies,” Xian wrote.
“Regardless what the public would say. At least kapag binalikan ang Philippine History diba eh she’s the very first Filipina to received a coffee date proposal via a fuckin badass billboard. Honest to goodness, I’m not expecting her to say yes,” he said in a separate post.
Keeping ‘the lines’ open to Paco... From Page SF3 this day — 30 years later! To make a long story short, forming the band was difficult in itself and is filled with memorable stories among all of us. But collectively, our journey as a band was more difficult that forming it. M: How are the INTRoVOYS doing now? Do you still perform as a band or you went solo? P: INTRoVOYS did 14 major concerts in the United States and Canada this 2016. In 2017, we are scheduled to do 22 shows in North America, three of which has been confirmed and is now posted on www. INTRoVOYS.com/Shows. I believe I am more effective as part of INTRoVOYS than being a solo performer. We recently released our 9th album, “Where We Left Off” and we’re pretty satisfied with its sales, considering that it was independently produced. Like what I said earlier, INTRoVOYS is scheduled to do 22 shows in 2017. We’re also in production for a new album. And we’ve been doing music videos for our
previous hits. M: If you hadn’t been a musician, what would you be doing right now? Why? P: I would’ve been a movie/ television director or producer. It has always been my passion to be in the arts. So it’s safe to say that if wasn’t lucky enough to be in front of the camera, I would definitely be behind it. M: (If you don’t mind us asking) Are with someone right now? Would you mind sharing some details? P: Yes, I am with someone right now. Her name is Janelle. We have a daughter named Cassidy Jane Louise, who’s turning 2 in January. Between the two of us, we have five children. M: How is your relationship with your kids? How do you maintain your presence in their lives? P: My relationship with my children is as good as any parent. Compared to their moms, I’m less hands on. I’m more of their “mentor”. We hang out. We talk. We play. I am always in their lives. And when they hit 18 years of age, I kick them out into the real world! I did that to my first born, Heaven,
and have been proud of what he has become, which is a selfreliant, self-sufficient and independent human being with a good head on his shoulders. I’m pretty sure, his little brothers know I’m not kidding about them being out of the nest by the time they reach 18. M: Any words of wisdom you care to share? Feel free to address your fans. P: I just want our True Fans to know how grateful I am to be blessed the way I’ve been. I want my fans to know that they can rest assured that I will always remain humble and will continue to write music for them. Because of their support and generosity, I will always be humble. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
entertainment
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 7, 2017
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Aga Muhlach: ‘Lea Salonga is the one that got away’
Marlo Mortel with his parents.
Marlo Mortel shares about mother’s fight against cancer
“BE Careful With My Heart” actor Marlo Mortel recently opened up about his mother’s courageous battle with cancer. He revealed that his mother, Merlie Pamintuan, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2014. She had undergone an open heart surgery to remove the huge cyst found inside her body. “We’re thankful that it was successfully removed but tests revealed that her cancer is now at Stage 4,” Mortel said in his moving post on Instagram. He posted a photo of him and his father at his mother’s bedside and captioned it with, “you are definitely a fighter mommy, and me & Daddy will fight with you all the way.” His mother is still recovering from her re-
cent surgery but still needs to face another set of treatments soon. In his previous interview with Inquirer.net, Mortel said he would work hard to provide for her medical needs. “I’ll keep working extra hard for us and we will get through this” read in his post. The 24-year-old actor recently starred in Regal Entertainment’s “Mano Po 7: Tsinoy” and is currently a co-host on the ABS-CBN morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda.” He is hopeful for his mother’s recovery and has put faith in prayers as their family rally in this journey together. “Nothing is impossible with Jesus. I love you so much!” Mortel said. (With reports from Klarizza de Vera/AJPress)
Anthony Diaz V on making films... From Page SF2 they ask and debate, “What would they do if they were in those situations themselves?” “Our goal was to make a timely film that will be remembered,” Diaz said. The screenplay had been rewritten a couple of times in order to make the characters relatable to a wider scope of audience. “We wanted the characters to be relatable to many different personality types with all
the character flaws that we all share as human beings,” he added. Despite its central theme focused on religion, Diaz claimed that the movie is unique in many ways because the story crossed all borders and is not bound by a certain culture or country. “I hope the audience is speechless on the drive home. There are lots of twists and turns in the movie that gradually build to a crescendo that
is quite memorable,” Diaz said. Although Diaz confirmed that the portrayal of religion will be controversial, he assured that the film did not intend to demote other people’s faiths. “The controversy of the film is in no way attacking the Catholic religion at all. It lies on how the characters react to strange situations that are occurring in their town that is very religious,” he added.
A LETTER professing Aga Muhlach’s love for former costar and girlfriend Lea Salonga resurfaced and gained an overwhelming amount of appreciation on the Internet. Muhlach’s letter to Salonga, which was included in the “Playlist Souvenir Book: A Celebration of Lea Salonga’s 35 years” published in 2013 for her 35th showbiz anniversary concert, received massive attention after @loudestdork tweeted an excerpt of the letter. Before Muhlach’s marriage to Charlene Gonzales, the actor was last romantically linked with former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. But years after, he revealed his love for Salonga writing that, “Lea is the one that got away. And she never knew.” The actor, who said he was once a young man on fire with passion, admitted his never ending love and gratitude to Salonga, his former co-star in “Sana Maulit Muli” as Agnes and “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal” as Sandy. “To me, Lea was Sandy—ethereal, aloof, unattainable; my very heart’s desire. Lea was Agnes — vulnerable yet remote, kind yet callous, constantly engaged in a battle of wills. And I loved Agnes and Sandy and Lea in equal measure,” Muhlach said. The actor also regarded his role with Salonga in “Bakit “Way Of The Cross” also stars Alvin Anson, Rafael Rosell, Daiana Menezes, Roxanne Barcelo, Giovanni Respall, Miguel Vasquez, Oz Rivera, Yussef Esteves, Danielle Chopin and Jordan Castillo. The audience can expect more from Diaz as he also has five scripts on queue for productions. His next film project is a one hour short film based on the story of a retired gangster in Japan.
Aga Muhlach and Lea Salonga
Labis Kitang Mahal” in 1992 as “the right movie with the right girl at the right time” that saved his career which was at that time on the brink of failure. “Lea, bakit labis kitang mahal? It’s because you are, and have always been, so real. Walang kaplastikan, walang arte, walang drama. Pinakita mo sa akin ang totoong pagkatao mo. You are the real thing,” said Muhlach. He expressively described former Salonga’s voice as “transcendent, resplendent, indisputable, incomparable.” “Her voice is as clear as a bell, as breathtaking as the
Star Cinema photo
sunshine,” Muhlach added. Their love and respect for each other remained even though their onscreen love story did not happen in real life. “I love her still, but perhaps because she got away, I have her as a friend now, and so I will always have her,” Muhlach said. Both of them are now happy with their separate lives. Salonga is married to Robert Charles Chien and has a daughter, Nicole Beverly. Muhlach, on the other hand, has been married to Gonzales, and they have their twins — Atasha and Andres. (With reports from Larizza de Vera/AJPress)
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T he Asian Jo ur na l SF M A G A Z I NE - J ul y 7, 20 1 7
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