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Volume 15 - No. 13 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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Anti-Money Laundering Council files raps vs businessmen Wong, aka Kim Wong, and Weikang Xu of laundering “hacked” or stolen funds from ManilaTimes.net New York that ended up in local casinos. Wong has been tagged as the mastermind ThE Anti-Money Laundering Council of the money-laundering scheme. he flew out (AMLC) on Tuesday, March 22, slapped mon- of the country when the controversy broke ey-laundering charges against two business- out. men linked to the controversial transfer of the on the other hand, Xu is said to be a junket $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh Bank operator who allegedly owned the bank acto the rizal Commercial Banking Corporation counts where the funds ended up. (rCBC). The two businessmen have been tagged In a nine-page complaint filed at the Depart- as the main players who facilitated the illegal ment of Justice, the AMLC accused Kam Sin u PAGE A2 by joel

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DATELINE

USA

FroM ThE AJPrESS NEWS TEAM ACroSS AMEriCA

Family of mentally disabled Fil-Am killed by Long Beach police files claims LoNG BEACh, Calif. – Supporters, friends, and immediate family gathered in front of the Long Beach Police headquarters on Thursday, March 17 for a press conference regarding the death of Mharloun Saycon, a FilipinoAmerican who was shot by Long Beach police last December inside Looff’s Lite-A-Line Casino Game of Skill. “We really can’t believe that this happened. We always just watch it on the news, like wow another person shot by the police. It’s hard… and the reality is, we can’t avoid this. It was a big loss for us. he was a good, smart kid,”

ISIS-claimed attacks in Brussels kill at least 34, wound over 230 by agNeS

CoNStaNte AJPress

AT least 34 people were killed and more than 230 were wounded Tuesday, March 22, in explosions claimed by the Islamic State at an airport and metro station in Brussels, Belgium. Three attacks went off Tuesday morning, with twin blasts at the Brussels airport at around 8am and one at the Maelbeek metro station near European Union (EU) headquarters at around 9am. As of press time,

ThE Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) outreach director for Democratic candidate hillary Clinton has left the campaign. Lisa Changadveja, who was first appointed outreach director last August, is moving to Colorado to take a position with the Democratic Party, Clinton campaign spokeswoman Xochitl hinojosa told NBC News. “The campaign is expected to announce a new director of AAPI outreach very soon,” hinojosa added. Changadveja, who first joined Clinton’s

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14 people were killed at the airport and 20 at the metro station. A third bomb at the airport was neutralized, said Florence Muls, a spokeswoman for the Brussels Airport, according to the Chicago Tribune. “What we feared has happened,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters, according to the Los Angeles Times. “In this time of tragedy, this black moment for our country, I appeal to everyone to remain calm but also to show solidarity.”

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by Viji

SuNdaraM NewAmericaMedia

PH embassy tells Filipinos to always heed alerts after blasts

by Niña

P. Calleja Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in Brussels advised Filipinos in Belgium, on Tuesday, March 22, to heed advisories of local authorities following the explosions at the Brussels Airport and the Maalbeek metro station. In an advisory, the embassy urged members of the Filipino community in Belgium to stay vigilant and exercise caution in line with the current Alert Level 4 that has been declared by the Belgian authorities. As the Embassy monitored the situation in Brussels, Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Victoria Bataclan advised the Filipinos to avoid visiting public and crowded places like malls and recreation centers. She also advised the Filipino community to keep calm and monitor news for updates

themselves. “Stay where you are if you do not necessarily need to travel to and from Belgium, and spread caution around,” Ambassador Bataclan said in a statement. The Embassy of the Philippines in Brussels expressed its condolences to the families of the victims in the explosions. “The Brussels Airport has also set up a hotline for families and friends of passengers, which can be reached at +32 27537300,” the embassy said. The Philippine embassy released contact details for those seeking information about Filipino nationals affected by these events: its duty phone number +32 488609177, Ambassador Bataclan’s mobile phone number +32 471309430, landline numbers +32 23403377 or 93, its Facebook page, and email addresses brusselspe@gmail.com andconsular.brusselspe@gmail.com. n

Duterte ties Poe at No. 1 in latest Pulse survey

Senator Grace Poe

Asian Inc. tax preparer Crystal Huang helping a client prepare her 2015 tax return

Earn less than $13,870? Pinoys in Belgium told: Avoid California rewards public, crowded areas for now low-income tax filers

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AAPI director leaves Clinton campaign

FACE-OFF. Men in Moriones masks reenact the chase and arrest of the Roman soldier Longinus through the streets of Marinduque in what has become the annual Moriones (masks) festival during Holy Week. According to legend, Longinus converted to Christianity when blood from the side of the crucified Christ splashed on his blind eye and restored his sight. Inquirer.net photo

SEN. GrACE Poe and Davao City Mayor rodrigo Duterte are statistically tied at No. 1 in what appears to be a very close contest among the four leading presidential candidates, according to a Pulse Asia survey conducted in the second week of March. According to the pre-electoral poll, commissioned by ABS-CBN television and released Tuesday, March 22, Poe was the choice of 26 percent while Duterte was favored by 25 percent. Three percentage points separated Duterte and Vice President

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

Jejomar Binay who was in third place with 22 percent while Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar roxas obtained 20 percent. only 3 percent chose Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. “The May 2016 presidential election is shaping up to be a very tight race involving four contenders,” Pulse Asia said. “I expect the figures to move but I don’t know how significant. They are changing places and with the [presidential] debates, I expect [the numbers] to move

SACrAMENTo — The Golden State’s poverty statistics are grim: Two in five people live just over the federal poverty level (FPL), and the state has the highest child poverty rate in the nation. But this year, for the first time, California’s working poor will get to keep more of their earnings in their pockets thanks to the California Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). But people with low incomes – less than $13,870 a year – must be sure to file their taxes in order to get their money back. 600,000 families eligible Around 600,000 families in California are eligible for the state EITC. Some 12 percent are Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 30 percent are Latino, 12 percent are Black, and more than 15,000 individuals are Native American. The majority of those eligible are single women who are working

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part-time jobs. Signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last year, the state’s EITC program is expected to cost the state $380 million. California is the 25th state, plus the District of Columbia, with such a program. The tax credit is modeled on the federal EITC program, which has been around since 1975. California Budget and Policy Center (CBPC) Communications Director Steven Bliss called the state program “an important tool for helping move the lowest earners toward economic security.” Some of those targeted for the program, he said, “have earnings so low that they may not even file state income taxes.” To qualify for the California’s EITC a person must earn no more than $13,870 a year. on average those who apply for the credit will receive $900 back from the state. Families with three or more children could

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MARCH 25-31, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

From the Front Page

Anti-Money Laundering Council files raps… PAGE A1 t

transfer of the funds in connivance with their local bank contacts. The AMLC complaint stemmed from testimonies of witnesses who appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committee that also investigated the scam. Xu was said to have received $30.5 million from withdrawals he made between February 5 and 13 this year. Wong, president and general manager of Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. Ltd., was also accused of amassing P1 billion ($21.6 million) through several withdrawals he made from his personal and corporate accounts on February 10 and 11 this year. During the hearings, it was claimed that Wong introduced RCBC branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito to individuals who opened bogus bank accounts where the stolen money was wired. The AMLC earlier filed moneylaundering charges against Deguito at the Justice department.

Deguito was summoned to answer charges during preliminary investigation set on April 12 and 19. Sen. Sergio Osmena III claimed that Wong appears to have masterminded the operation and that Deguito may not be the “most guilty” and thus, could be considered a credible witness to indict the other suspects. Osmeña said Deguito told senators that Wong asked her to open the bank accounts where the $81 million was wired, with the instruction to use the services of foreign exchange remittance company Philrem Services Inc. Wong reportedly gave Deguito the information sheets and the P$2,500 to open five dollar accounts. Only four of the accounts, however, were used when the stolen money was wired to the Philippines. The fifth account, under the name Picache, was not used, according to Deguito. The addresses given by the four account owners turned out

to be fictitious. Normal transaction The AMLC admitted that it was clueless about the transfer of the $81 million. Julia Abad, executive director of the AMLC, said the country learned of the money laundering only when the governor of the Bangladesh Bank called Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. on February 11. “There’s no way we would have known [without the Bangladesh Bank notice],” she told reporters. Abad said that when the $81 million was deposited in the RCBC Jupiter Branch, the transaction was automatically recorded in the AMLC’s database. PEACE PACT. Local candidates, policemen and soldiers sign a peace covenant at Plaza Miranda in Manila. It was not looked into, howPhoto by Rene H. Dilan / Manilatimes.net ever, because the amount is considered “normal” given the “other bigger transactions reported to the AMLC” everyday. The AMLC started its initial investigation and called the RCBC PAGE A1 t In the United States, airports tified by the US European comIn response to the attacks, Bel- mand, the LA Times reported. Jupiter Branch to gather details and transit systems nationwide u PAGE A4 gium raised its terror alert to the “I think this is the worst thing were placed on heightened alert highest level. Flights in and out I’ve ever seen in my career,” said due to concerns about potential of Brussels Airport are canceled local firefighter Pierre Meys, who copycat attacks, the LA Times reuntil further notice, the entire described seeing “war injuries,” ported. Among these airports incity’s transport system has been according to BBC. clude those in Los Angeles, New shut down, as well as internationAt the Maelbeek station, the York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, al train travel into the country. explosion hit the second carriage Denver, Miami and Philadelphia. Brussels police have issued of a three-carriage train while it In a joint statement, 28 EU a wanted notice for a man pic- was departing the platform. leaders mourned the victims of tured in CCTV footage who was “The metro was leaving Mael- the attack. seen pushing a luggage trolley in beek station when there was “It was an attack on our open the airport, along with two other a really loud explosion,” Alex- democratic society,” they said. suspects. The three suspected andre Brans, 32, told the AsBelgium will observe three participants in the attack are be- sociated Press. “It was panic days of mourning in response to lieved to have died in the explo- everywhere. There were a lot of the attacks, Interior Minister Jan sions, according to BBC. Jambon announced. people in the metro.” Belgian federal prosecutor “This latest attack only strengthUS President Barack Obama, Frederic Van Leeuw has called who is in Cuba as America works ens our resolve to defend the Euthe three blasts in Brussels “ter- toward normalizing relations ropean values and tolerance from rorist attacks,” according to the with the communist country, the attacks of the intolerant. We Associated Press. urged international unity in the will be united and firm in the fight Multiple Americans were in- battle against terror. against hatred, violent extremism jured in the explosions, including “We will do whatever is nec- and terrorism,” the EU leaders three Mormon missionaries. A essary to support our friend and said in the statement. US service member and his fam- ally Belgium in bringing to peace Information contained in this ily may have also been injured, those who are responsible,” he report is accurate as of press though they have not been iden- said, according to CNN.’ time. n

ISIS-claimed attacks in Brussels kill…

Filipino Attorney Joe Sayas, lawyer for the Saycon family, at a press conference on Thursday, March 17 in front of the Long Beach Police Headquarters. The Saycon family is taking legal action for the death of Mharloun Saycon, a Filipino-American who was shot by Long Beach police last December inside Looff’s Lite-A-Line Casino Game of Skill. AJPress photos by Ding Carreon

Family of mentally disabled Fil-Am killed by…

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said his father, Khanly Saycon. “We came home, found a paper on the door—there was a coroner’s investigation. It was our worst nightmare come true: my son is not coming home.” Mharloun Saycon, was born in the Philippines and came to the US in 1985. In his early 20s, he suffered from a mental disability, which developed shortly after he graduated from Santa Monica College. He was diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia and was taking medication for mental imbalances.

“It affected our family hard,” said Saycon’s younger brother, Khanly Saycon II. “Growing up, Mharloun was the good one. When I started going down the wrong path in high school, he showed me the way. He protected me.” At around 10:00 pm on December 14, 2015, Saycon was seated at the front of Looff’s LiteA-Line gaming arcade, reportedly holding a three-inch-blade pocketknife and playing with it, witnesses said. He was a regular at the gaming casino, known and described by management as

“friendly, quiet, unassuming.” Earlier in the evening, Saycon had been asked by a Looff’s employee to put away his knife, which he had been scratching on a table. He complied and was sitting down “peacefully,” according to reports. The incident escalated when law enforcement arrived, as requested by Looff’s employees, to help escort Saycon—who was described as “agitated,” “not himself,” and “out of it”—from the premises and assist him securing mental health treatment.

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Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 25-31, 2016

Family of mentally disabled Fil-Am killed by…

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ENVOY SMELLS COVER-UP. Bangladesh Ambassador to the Philippines John Gomes (left) listens to testimonies of bank officials during a Senate inquiry into the laundering of stolen money from the Bangladesh Central Bank. The envoy said he suspects a cover-up among bank officials. Photo by Cesar Dancel / Manilatimes.net

Earn less than $13,870? California rewards…

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get back more than $2,500. “Every community has people who live in deep poverty,” said state Assembly Member Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, speaking on a panel with other state officials in Sacramento, March 9. “The state’s poorest communities will benefit from this.” Asian community gap Even though California is doing outreach around the new program, not everyone knows about it, especially in the Asian community, said Crystal Huang. She wears the hats of tax preparer and housing counselor at Asian, Inc., in San Francisco. San Francisco resident Hou (who would only share her last name) was one of them. The Chinese immigrant, 40, has been raising her five-year-old son alone since her husband died two years ago, leaving her with very few resources. She pulls in about $5,000 a year from her three part-time jobs and struggles to put rice on the table. She came to Asian Inc. to get her taxes filed for free and found,

to her surprise, that she could get back $1,300 from the state’s EITC program, plus another $1,500 from the federal EITC, plus an additional $250 from San Francisco’s Working Families Credit – a little over $3,000 in all. Rick Kim, economic development services manager with Koreatown Youth and Community Center in Los Angeles, which provides free tax help for lowincome people among other services, said it’s too early to know how many people will apply for the new state program. Many of his clients, he said, work in very low-paid, high-stress jobs, such as in the garment industry or supermarkets. He noted that the CalEITC could motivate more people who fall below the federal filing threshold to file returns because they could qualify for the benefits. “For a family making around $10,000 or $12,000, a benefit of $500-$800 is significant,” he said. Outreach to Immigrants CalEITC4Me.org, a coalition of

Duterte ties Poe at…

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given how the people perceive their performance,” Pulse Asia research director Ana Tabunda said. Senators Bongbong Marcos (25 percent) and Chiz Escudero (24 percent) were also neck and neck in the race for the vice presidency. Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was in third place with 20 percent, followed by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano (13 percent), Antonio Trillanes IV (6 percent), and Gringo Honasan (5 percent). SC ruling on Poe The survey was conducted from March 8 to 13, following the March 8 ruling of the Supreme Court allowing Poe to run for the country’s highest post. Voting 9 to 6, the high court reversed the Commission on Elections decision disqualifying Poe for misrepresenting the facts of her citizenship and residency. Apart from the debates, Tabunda said the shifting of alliances could also be a factor, citing the development in Cebu province where One Cebu, a political party of the Garcias, announced on Monday that it was withdrawing support for Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). ‘Enlightening’ The Poe camp said the Pulse Asia survey was “enlightening” as it showed that the disqualification case mattered to less than 10 percent of voters. Cebu Rep. Joseph Ace Durano, campaign manager of Poe’s Team Galing at Puso, said they are not disappointed that Poe’s numbers did not get a positive lift from the Supreme Court decision allowing her to run. “We received a briefing from Pulse Asia regarding the ratings of Senator Grace that same afternoon the SC decision came out (March 8). The survey revealed that [of the respondents] who didn’t make Senator Grace their first choice for President, only 8 percent cited the DQ case as their reason,” Durano said in a text message. Durano said the top reason why Poe was not the survey respondent’s first choice was their lack of information on Poe’s programs to address poverty and corruption. Still tied Even as their candidate landed in third place, the Binay camp said the presidential race remained to be a tight one. Binay’s campaign spokesperson Rico Quicho said the survey showed that Binay and three of his rivals were statistically tied “if you look at the margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percent.” “The challenge for us is to step up our visits to the provinces and reach out to more people,” Quicho said, adding how elated they were at the way people con-

tinue to welcome Binay in his campaign sorties. First choice The survey covered 4,000 respondents who are registered voters 18 years old and above and used a margin of error of plus-orminus 1.5 percentage points. Five percent of those surveyed said they don’t know, refused to answer, were undecided and have no candidate for President. Six percent said they don’t know, refused to answer or have no alternate candidate for Vice President. Pulse Asia asked the respondents, “If the coming 2016 elections were held today, whom would you vote for as President of the Philippines?” The top choices of respondents from Metro Manila were Poe (30 percent), Duterte (29 percent) and Binay (23 percent). With 34 percent, Poe scored the highest voter preference in Luzon outside Metro Manila while Roxas, with 36 percent, led in the Visayas. Duterte was most favored in Mindanao (46 percent) and among Class ABC (35 percent). Poe and Duterte score almost the same voter preferences among Class D respondents, 26 percent and 25, respectively. Among Class E, four candidates virtually had the same voter preferences—Poe (27 percent), Binay (25 percent), Duterte (23 percent), and Roxas (21 percent). Second choice The respondents were also asked, “If your chosen candidate does not pursue his/her candidacy for whatever reason, whom among the remaining people would you vote for as President of the Philippines if the 2016 elections were today?” Poe was the top second choice of voters with 30 percent, followed by Binay with 19 percent, Roxas with 14 percent, Duterte with 13 percent, Santiago with 7 percent. For 16 percent of the respondents, they either said they don’t know, refused to answer or have no alternate candidate. Among those whose first choice was Poe, 27 percent picked Binay as their alternate while 25 percent said they would support Roxas if Poe ends up not running in the coming elections. Poe was the second choice for President of 45 percent of Binay’s original supporters. Similarly, 38 percent of those whose first choice was Roxas said they would support Poe in case the former interior secretary does not pursue his candidacy. Poe was also the alternative candidate of 34 percent of Santiago’s original supporters and 33 percent of those whose first choice was Duterte. (Inquirer Research with reports from Marlon Ramos, Gil C. Cabacungan and Christine Avendaño)

community-based organizations, is conducting outreach to neighborhoods with the highest number of eligible families. Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries is one of them. It is working with the Southeast Asian population in Fresno, many of whom are Hmong and Laotian. “We are making sure the community has in-language materials and helping people get free tax assistance,” said Executive Director Zachary Darrah.

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“Even though Mharloun was never violent or threatening, [the employees] requested him to be escorted. When police arrived, he was seated quietly out of reach from those in the casino, but police immediately escalated the situation,” said the Saycon family’s lawyer, Attorney Joe Sayas. “First, they hit him with a Taser. The they attacked him with a baton. And then, although Mharloun was not fighting back, they fired a gun and shot him, multiple times.” According to the lawyer, Mharloun Saycon was shot eight times in the chest, arm, and abdomen. He was pronounced dead at the scene. “This was brute violence, and use of vicious force by law enforcement, “ said the family’s representative, Attorney Dan Stormer from civil rights firm Hadsell, Stormer, & Renick, LLP. “Mharloun was killed without any provocation, any actions on his part, in a malicious, despicable fashion.” The Saycon family has filed a notice of tort claim against the Long Beach Police Department through their attorneys, and has begun the months-long process of filing a $20 million civil lawsuit. “This is another day of sadness. We make a demand for justice for Mharloun and his soul. We want the District Attorney to prosecute and charge these thugs, and stop covering it up. We demand compensation,” Stormer said. “What this county needs is an investigation into the

brutal killings.” According to Stormer, roughly one-third to one-half of victims shot by police are mentally ill. “There was never a moment’s hesitation where they tried to figure out what to do that resulted in brutal violence,” Stormer added. “We have attempted to get the 9-1-1 call, which is often used to show someone is a problem or a threat, but the [Long Beach Police] Department refuses to release it. They are hiding the facts. They have not even interviewed the witnesses who saw this murder nearly 3 months ago. Their reason is that they ‘anticipate litigation”.” Despite Thursday’s press conference being held in front of its headquarters, the Long Beach Police Department was not present nor did they provide comment. “This scenario could have been avoided in so many different ways,” added Saycon’s brother, Khanly. “No family should ever have to go through what we have. We want changes in how the police treat the mentally ill.” Saycon’s mother, Anna Luz Saycon, emotionally pleaded for the violence to stop, and for proper justice for her late son, whom she described as “kind, gentle, and obedient.” “Every day he picked me up at the bus stop, and we spent time together,” she said, through tears. “He lived at home and he took care of me. He was a wonderful son. He didn’t deserve this.” Although Saycon suffered

from a severe disability, he lived a healthy and normal lifestyle and worked at Pepperdine University, managing their sporting facility. His family said he was able to get regular treatment for his schizophrenia, and was very active, visiting a R.O.A.D.S. rehab/mental health center in Compton, California, several times a week, playing sports including baseball and basketball, cooking, and drawing cartoons. Family representative Atty. Joe Sayas commented, “This is a heartbreaking loss. When [police] came, with their guns drawn, they did not attempt to find out what’s going on. The level of force was clearly excessive. Mharloun, a quiet and unassuming fellow, may have exhibited signs of mental illness but he was not violent or responsive. The biter irony is that Mharloun had every reason to believe that the police would help him, as he had been assisted in seeking care by police in the past. Now the Saycon family has lost a son, a brother, and an uncle.” “[This incident] happened to a Filipino parent. The community should take a stand, knowing that it can happen to everyone, to every race,” Sayas continued. “We all should stand as Americans, stop the killings, stop this abusive exercise of power. Police officers should be more vigilant and better trained, should try to engage the mentally disabled, and find out how this can be stopped. Human lives are precious. Stop the violence.”

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MARCH 25-31, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

PH officials lobby in D.C. for military aid, Filvets, W. PH Sea

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Philippine officials huddled with US legislators March 15-16 to muster Congressional support for key Philippine advocacies such as military aid, Filipino WWII veterans and opposing China’s claims in the West Philippine/South China Sea. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Acting Secretary of Justice Emmanuel L. Caparas on 15 March led the Philippine delegation in separate meetings

with Senator Bob Corker (GOPTenn) and Senator Ben Cardin (Dem-Maryland), Chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), respectively. The Philippine officials noted the SFRC’s instrumental role in sustaining US interest in the Asia-Pacific region and in giving substance to the Asia pivot policy. “We recognize the considerable impact that the Committee’s initiatives has had on increasing

US foreign military financing (FMF) to the Philippines and in ensuring that the United States continues to be engaged in our region,” said Cuisia. Senator Corker observed the importance of raising military in view of China’s behavior. On the other hand, Senator Cardin reiterated that while the US maintains its neutrality with regard to the South China Sea dispute, his country takes a strong position against provocative actions. He also expressed his firm belief in the rule of law and recognized the leadership of the Philippines in developing a regional Code of Conduct. Representative Randy Forbes (GOP-Virginia), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and a member of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus, largely echoed the views of his colleagues in the Senate. Forbes recently scored China’s recent actions in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of the alliance between the US and the Philippines to the

maintenance of peace and prosperity in the region. “China’s behavior in the AsiaPacific has undermined regional stability and unnecessarily antagonized the Philippines and other partners in the region. The United States has an obligation under its decades-old security treaty with the Philippines to resist acts of aggression against our ally,” a portion of Forbes’ statement read. Forbes expressed the opinion that the United States needs to be more present in the South China Sea and that joint patrols would be “hugely important, helpful and useful.” The Philippines’ campaign to combat trafficking in persons was likewise discussed with the Senators. The meetings with the US lawmakers also aimed to shore up greater support for a bill seeking to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the more than 260,000 Filipino veterans of World War II. The bill entitled “Filipino Vet-

Philippine Defense Undersecretary Pio Batino (left), Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Rep. Randy Forbes Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement Eduardo V. Oban, Jr., and Undersecretary Emmanuel T. Bautista. Contributed photos

erans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015,” was introduced in the House (HR 2737) and the Senate (S1555) in June 2015. Cardin and Forbes are among the bill’s co-sponsors. The bill includes a historical account of the dedicated service

of Filipino and Filipino American servicemen and service women during World War II and recognizes them for their courage, bravery, and valor as they served under the command of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East. n

PG&E, diverse coalition propose huge boost in EV charging stations in underserved communities Settlement proposal will increase access to clean transport in low-income communities

SAN FRANCISCO – The Greenlining Institute and a coalition of diverse groups representing electric vehicle service providers, environmentalists, electric vehicle drivers, automakers, community choice aggregators, and labor unions joined with Pacific Gas and Electric last Monday, March 21, to submit a proposed settlement to the California Public Utilities Commission for a three-year pilot program to accelerate deployment of electric vehicle charging stations. Advocates expect the program to boost EV adoption in low-income communities and communities of color by making charging facilities accessible in these communities. “With this settlement, PG&E becomes a national leader in increasing access to EV charging in low-income communities and communities of color, the communities that most need the clean air and cost savings from electric cars,” said Joel Espino, Environmental Equity Legal Counsel at the Greenlining Institute. “We

commend PG&E’s commitment to making clean electric cars a reality for Californians of all income levels. This will add to progress already made by policies like the Charge Ahead California Initiative in making clean transportation available to all, regardless of income or ZIP code.” Key elements of the settlement, which still must be approved by the CPUC, include: • The pilot program will target a deployment of 7,500 level 2 charging ports and 100 DC fastcharging ports. • Charging stations will be

deployed at multi-unit dwellings, workplaces, and destination locations such as shopping centers. • The total budget is not to exceed $160M and will ensure that the cost to a typical residential customer is less than the $2.75 per year cost approved in January in the San Diego Gas & Electric EV charging infrastructure pilot program. • PG&E will set aside $5 million for equity programs aimed at complementing Charge Ahead California Initiative (SB 1275, De León) programs and further increasing access to EVs in low-

income communities and communities of color. • PG&E will deploy at least 15 percent of its charging stations in the most disadvantaged communities in PG&E’s service territory. In addition, the company agrees to a stretch goal of deploying an additional five percent of charging stations in the most disadvantaged communities in its territory or other areas with a high concentration of low-income CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy Program) customers. (The Greenlining Institute)

Anti-Money Laundering Council files raps… PAGE A2 t

after the agency was alerted by Bangladesh. But RCBC submitted a transaction report only on February 12. “We conducted initial investigation, and they submitted a suspicious transaction report. The suspicious transaction report will trigger the investigation. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to discover,” Abad said. When asked why the AMLC took long in filing the petition to freeze the concerned accounts — only doing so on February 29 — the AMLC executive director said

the AMLC did fast data gathering, verifications and investigation but the number of weekends and holidays hampered the process. She noted that thousands of bank transactions enter their database each day but the agency only has 28 personnel looking at these transactions and only nine of them are financial analysts. Abad said the agency will ask Congress to amend the AntiMoney Laundering Act so that casinos and real-estate brokers can be covered by the law. She pointed to the need to strengthen supervisory powers

of the BSP and to lift the bank secrecy law. Abad said the Philippines is one of two countries that do not cover casinos in their anti-money laundering laws. “The Philippines is [also] only 1 of 3 countries in the entire world where tax authorities cannot access bank transactions [Switzerland and Lebanon being the other two], and remain only one of two countries in the world where tax evasion is not a predicate crime to money laundering,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said. n

AAPI director leaves Clinton… PAGE A1 t

campaign team in 2007 during her first presidential bid, broke the news in an email first dated March 18, according to Reuters. The resignation comes two months after the Clinton campaign formed an AAPI leadership council, comprised of more than 150 elected officials and community leaders, who are tasked to organize support in AAPI communities. Members of the AAPI leadership council include Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Ted Lieu (DCA.), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), and Democratic Representative Gregorio Sablan from the Northern Mariana Islands. Both Democrats and Republicans have made great efforts in this year’s presidential race to court AAPI voters, who are notably the least active participants in past elections. The electorate is expected to double by 2040, rising to 12.2 million, according to a report last year from the UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. “AAPI voters could play a key role in upcoming primaries and

caucuses in states with sizeable AAPI communities, including Washington, New York and California. Asian Americans make up 5.4 percent of the U.S. population,” according to the US Census. “Clinton’s track record of consistent flip-flops on the issues, and support of failed Democrat policies that continue to hurt AAPI communities are a clear indication Clinton is the wrong choice for AAPI voters across the country,” said Ninio Fetalvo, AAPI press secretary for the Republican National Committee (RNC). Clinton targets Trump on Israel Continuing on the campaign trail, Clinton spoke at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Monday, March 21, where she challenged Republican front-runner and real estate billionaire Donald Trump, without explicitly naming him. “The next president will sit down at that desk and start making decisions that will affect both the lives and livelihoods of every American and the security of our friends around the world.

Earn less than $13,870?…

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He noted that not speaking English limits many immigrants’ employment and educational opportunities. That aside, many immigrants have a “general mistrust” of government, and it takes some persuasion by organizations, such as his to convince them otherwise. “For folks who are living in poverty, [the extra money] is a game-changer for them,” Darrah said. “That goes a long way

toward paying bills, paying for housing costs, paying for education, perhaps a mode of transportation—there are a lot of uses for those funds for families living in poverty, as many families are here in Fresno.” San Francisco’s Hou, who speaks very little English, has decided to invest the tax credit dollars she will get back in her son’s education. For more information, go to caleitc4me.org. n

Family of mentally disabled… PAGE A3 t

A report from the Ruderman Foundation noted that disability is “the missing word in media coverage of police violence.” “We are doing this for the justice of all people who have bee shot by any law enforcement, especially those who are mentally disabled, to prevent [police] from violating everyone’s civil

rights,” added Khanly Saycon, Sr. “We need change to the police force, especially with how to deal with the mentally disabled. This should not ever happen again. We want to see justice, for my son Mharloun and all of the mentally disabled, who don’t deserve to die just because they are confused.” (Allyson Escobar/ AJPress)

So we have to get this right,” Clinton told a large crowd at the AIPAC, held at the Verizon Center in Washington. “Candidates for president who think the United States can outsource Middle East security to dictators or that America no longer has vital national interests at stake in this region are dangerously wrong.” Trump’s impending speech at the conference was called a source of controversy, largely due to the businessman’s rhetoric singling out immigrants, and calling for a ban on Muslims entering the States, the Washington Post reported. “Yes, we need steady hands, not a president who says he’s neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday, and who knows what on Wednesday, because everything’s negotiable,” she added, saying that one of her first acts as president would be to invite the Israeli prime minister to the White House. “Some things aren’t negotiable. And anyone who doesn’t understand that has no business being our president.” Trump’s specific views on foreign policy have sparked nationwide debate. In the past, he has asserted he was the “most pro-Israel candidate,” but also said he would enter negotiations between Israel and Palestinians, framing himself as “somewhat neutral” in hopes of reaching a peaceful deal, reported the Los Angeles Times. Clinton was the only Democrat candidate who spoke at AIPAC on Monday, but shared the stage with all three Republican candidates--Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Although it invited several big political figures to the event, the AIPAC did not endorse any one candidate. “Let us never be neutral or silent in the face of bigotry,” Clinton said, finishing her speech as a campaign platform. “If you see bigotry, oppose it. If you see violence, condemn it. If you see a bully, stand up to him….Together let us defend the shared values that already make America and Israel great.” (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

54% of Pinoys say quality of life Santiago joins presidential debate via tweets unchanged under Aquino – poll by Dona

Z. PaZZibugan Inquirer.net

dia reaction to staff tweets about the senator’s positions on key issues last night is testament to the effectivity and responsiveness of (her) program of government,” the senator’s media liaison officer, Arveen Patria, said. “Senator Santiago was not at the debate, but she answered the questions she would have been asked,” Patria continued, adding that the senator’s program of government was available on her website. Santiago earlier announced that she would skip the second televised debate on March 20 at the University of the Philippines Cebu, because she would undergo a clinical trial for a “new, unnamed anticancer pill.” While none of the other four candidates supported divorce, Santiago’s staff said she supported it on two grounds: “attempt on the life of a spouse by the other, and adultery or concubinage.” When Duterte and Poe raised their hands in favor of the death penalty, Santiago’s staff tweeted that the senator was “open to the

SHE MAY have been absent from the second presidential debate on Sunday, March 20, but by Janvic Mateo presidential candidate Sen. MirPhilstar.com iam Defensor-Santiago managed to make her views heard loud and MANILA—Fifty-four percent, or clear. more than half of the population, The senator, who said she was said that the quality of their lives undergoing a new cancer treatremained unchanged during the ment, joined the televised presitenure of President Aquino, a modential debate on Sunday through bile survey conducted by the Sothe social networking site Twitter, cial Weather Stations (SWS) and where she has 2.4 million followTV5 Bilang Pilipino showed. ers. The survey, conducted on During the debate, Santiago’s March 16, showed that more than staff posted tweets about her half of the 766 respondents said stand on the issues asked of the their lives remained the same. other four presidential candidates Meanwhile, 36 percent said on stage: Vice President Jejomar their quality of life became better Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo as compared with the administraDuterte, Sen. Grace Poe, and fortion of President Arroyo, while six The survey, conducted on March 16, showed that more than half of the 766 respondents said mer Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. percent said it got worse. Four their lives remained the same. Santiago’s tweets received hunpercent answered they do not dreds of likes and retweets, with fied, while 31 percent were some- vey firm. know. The SWS-Bilang Pilipino is a pi- her stand on divorce getting the The survey had a sampling er- what satisfied. Twenty percent were undecid- oneering project to rapidly survey most reaction: 3,617 likes and ror margin of plus or minus four ed, while 17 percent and 20 per- opinions from a random national 3,163 retweets. percent. “The overwhelming social meThe same survey showed a cent were somewhat dissatisfied sample of voters, deliberately “neutral” satisfaction rate on the and very dissatisfied, respectively. equipped with mobile phones. A sample of 1,200 validated “This gives a net satisfaction government’s response in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolan- score of four percent (the differ- voters was invited to be a part of ence of 41 percent satisfied and the panel of respondents, who reda in November 2013. Eleven percent of the respon- 37 percent dissatisfied), classified ceived the questions through moby tarra QuisMunDo he failed to get a TRO from a sepadents said they were very satis- by SWS as neutral,” said the sur- bile phones. Inquirer.net rate appellate court division to stop MANILA—The Court of Appeals a second suspension order from (CA) has junked a petition from the Ombudsman, this time while ousted Makati City Mayor Junjun under investigation for alleged Binay for the court to stop his sus- bid-rigging in the construction of pension, ruling that the case was the 10-story Makati Science High already moot due to the Ombuds- School building. The Ombudsman eventually man’s decision dismissing Binay. In a decision released on dismissed Binay in October, findTuesday, March 22, the appel- ing him liable for grave misconlate court’s former Sixth Division duct and serious dishonesty for his also dismissed for lack of merit involvement in the City Hall buildBinay’s bid to hold his father’s po- ing II project. He was banned from litical rival, presidential candidate ever holding public office. In the ruling penned by AssociMar Roxas and several others in contempt for enforcing the Om- ate Justice Jose Reyes Jr., the apbudsman’s first suspension order pellate court said that in view of against him on the same day that the Ombudsman’s Oct. 9, 2015, he secured a temporary restrain- decision finding Binay adminising order (TRO) from the appellate tratively liable and imposing on him the penalty of dismissal, it court. Binay, who has been frequently found Binay’s petition questionseen on the campaign trail sup- ing the March 10, 2015 preventive porting the presidential bid of his suspension of the Ombudsman father, Vice President Jejomar Bi- “already moot and academic. Its nay, was first ordered suspended a dismissal based on mootness is year ago while under investigation therefore in order.” The court also dismissed for for his role in the alleged overpricing of the P2.3-billion Makati City lack of merit Binay’s contempt bid LENT IN PH. Rosaries are left by devotees at the Philippine Center of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina in Quezon City. during the Lenten season, on Hall Building II. He was forced to against Roxas as the then interior Inquirer.ne photo by Raffy Lerma Sunday, March 20. step down on July 1, 2015, when secretary, former Justice Secretary

death penalty for drug traffickers. She also maintains that the justice system should be improved.” While Binay, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Duterte tangled over criminality and police supervision of local executives, Santiago’s staff said the senator “wants a leaner, better equipped police force.” When the debate touched on climate change, her staff tweeted about Santiago’s plans to create “a new department to focus on disaster risk reduction, management and recovery.” Like the other candidates who promised to support a proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) law, Santiago also vowed to certify the bill as urgent, her staff tweeted, adding that the senator had “interpellated on and introduced amendments to the FOI bill at the Senate to improve it.” After the debate, Santiago herself posted the last tweet: “Thank you very much to my volunteers who watched the (debates) in Cebu. Hugs and kisses!”

CA rejects Junjun Binay’s plea to stop suspension Leila de Lima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Makati City Mayor Romulo Peña and several police officers for defying the TRO that the appellate court had issued against his suspension. The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police had enforced Binay’s first suspension in March 2015, installing Peña as acting mayor a few hours before the Court of Appeals issued a TRO in Binay’s favor. De Lima at the time issued a legal opinion that the TRO no longer had any effect as Binay’s suspension was already enforced when it was handed down. The appellate court found none of the respondents liable for contempt. It said the DILG was merely performing a “ministerial duty” in enforcing Binay’s suspension. Peña was also spared, as the court ruled that his commitment to his duties as acting city mayor was “not contemptuous.” The CA also ruled that De Lima was not at fault for issuing a legal opinion in favor of the suspension order.

march 25-31, 2016 • NOrcaL aSIaN JOUrNaL

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Holy Week message “THE world today no longer counts on God. We count on money, arms, private armies, intimidation and connection, and if we continue to do these, it is very easy to lose mercy [for] our neighbors,” said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as he celebrated a Mass at the Manila Cathedral on Sunday, March 20. In his sermon, Tagle encouraged Filipino faithfuls—who were clutching olive branches and braided palm fronds—during Palm Sunday to forego their dependence on money, forsake violence and be merciful to neighbors and enemies. “How can we learn from Jesus’ mercy and compassion in a world without mercy and compassion?” Tagle asked. “This Holy Week, let us learn from Jesus Christ how we can bring back mercy and compassion to our world.” The days making up this week hold a deep meaning to Filipino Catholics. Lent season comes to an end during the last week of Jesus’ life—traditionally called Holy Week. During this week, the important events of His finals days on Earth are revisited. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ hold a fundamental place in the lives of most Filipino Catholics. It is central, not as an abstract belief, but rather as a medium of experience and tradition that provides continuity in life, a structure in the community, and principled purpose for existence. These are the same lessons Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle shared to Catholics.

“Jesus was hurt but he chose to be silent and not to seek vengeance...He even begged God to forgive those who hurt him. Let us put our faith in God [so] we will have peace of mind and we will learn to love our enemies,” Tagle said. Remembering these events is more than a history lesson. To many devout Catholics, the Holy Week is a chance to reenact the significant moments of Jesus Christ’s life. Pinoy Catholics reflect on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through prayers. Some pray for good health and fortune, while others wish for deliverance. Some ask for a miracle, a few want to give thanks. Regardless of one’s desire behind his or her reflections, this week is all about attesting one’s faith. Aside from prayers and sacrifices, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said this Holy Week could be more meaningful if Filipinos perform acts of charity. “If you want to truly make a good Holy Week love much. Love more. Give to the poor. Visit the jail. Vis-

Editorial

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it hospital wards. “This pilgrimage to the poor will add to the holiness of our times,” Villegas said. The archbishop added that what makes these days holy is not self-inflicted pain, not publicized pious devotion, and not daydreaming meditation. “What makes this week holy is the immeasurable, unequaled love that Christ poured into these days,”

he said. The life and times of Jesus Christ leave us with a great example to emulate. We are called to live like saints, not to make a mark in the world through suffering or death—but to appeal similar honest lives. Saintly people live life the best way they can, to simply make a difference. (AJPress)

Observing Holy Week in the Jubilee Year of Mercy: What does this mean to Christians? LAST DECEMBER 8, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Mercy of the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, inaugurating the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Mercy is defined as getting the grace that we do not even deserve, including God’s compassionate forgiveness of our sins, liberating us from condemnation so that we could start life all over again. This, to me, sums up the true meaning of Easter, God’s passion and death — the mercy of God so we may be with Him in His resurrection. Let me share with you how Pope Francis talked about this in his homily, so we may reflect on what Mercy means to us in our own lives, and how we are called to show mercy to others in return: Dear Brothers and Sisters, In a few moments I will have the joy of opening the Holy Door of Mercy. We carry out this act, so simple yet so highly symbolic, in the light of the word of God which we have just heard. That word highlights the primacy of grace. Again and again these readings make us think of the words by which the angel Gabriel told an astonished young girl of the mystery which was about to enfold her: “Hail, full of grace” (Lk 1:28). The Virgin Mary was called to rejoice above all because of what the Lord accomplished in her. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ. When Gabriel entered her home, even the most profound and impenetrable of

SET up in 2001 during President Gloria Arroyo’s term, it is only under President Benigno Aquino that the Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) along with its secretariat has been debased into a political weapon. The council has also failed to justify its raison d’être as proven by the fact that we have become the preferred site for a quick money laundering operations, the world’s dirtymoney haven, as the Agence France-Presse put it. Unfortunately, Aquino’s ineptness seems to have rubbed off on the AMLC Chairman Amando Tetangco, first appointed as governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas by Arroyo in 2005, and reappointed by the incumbent President. It is high time that Tetangco, who seems to see himself as some financial pope above the fray that the press and even the Senate can talk only to his subordinates, together with the AMLC executive secretary Julia Abad, accepted responsibility for the agency’s debasement and uselessness. They should resign, to show to the world that they are made of high moral fiber as the Bangladesh Bank governor did, to accept accountability for the

its fulfillment. This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace. To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them. This will be a year in which we grow ever more convinced of God’s mercy. How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy (cf. Saint Augustine, De Praedestinatione Sanctorum, 12, 24)! But that is the truth. We have to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God’s judgment will always be in the light of his mercy. In passing through the Holy Door, then, may we feel that we ourselves are part of this mystery of love. Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved. Instead, let us experience the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things. Today, as we pass through the Holy Door, we also want to remember another door, which 50 years ago the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council opened to the world. This anniversary cannot be remembered only for the legacy of the Council’s documents, which

AMLC COUNCIL, EXECUTIVES SHOULD RESIGN

Commentary

RiGobeRto tiGlao

mysteries became for her a cause for joy, faith and abandonment to The Fil-Am the message revealed to her. The fullness of grace can transform the Perspective human heart and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history. The feast of the Immaculate Conception expresses the gran- Gel SantoS-ReloS deur of God’s love. Not only does he forgive sin, but in Mary he even averts the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this world. This is the love of God which precedes, anticipates and saves. The beginning of the history of sin in the Garden of Eden yields to a plan of saving love. The words of Genesis reflect our own daily experience: we are constantly tempted to disobedience, a disobedience expressed in wanting to go about our lives without regard for God’s will. This is the enmity which keeps striking at people’s lives, setting them in opposition to God’s plan. Yet the history of sin can only be understood in the light of God’s love and forgiveness. Were sin the only thing that mattered, we would be the most desperate of creatures. But the promised triumph of Christ’s love enfolds everything in the Father’s mercy. The word of God which we have just heard leaves no doubt about this. The Immaculate Virgin stands before us as a privileged witness of this promise and

AMLC debased under Aquino hacking of the central bank’s accounts. A huge $81 million — the biggest ever such heist according to the Guinness Book of Records — was stolen from a poor country’s central bank and vanished through the Philippine’s financial system. And no head will roll for this international shame? Indeed, anyone responsible for the AMLC should resign in shame, as the body has come infamous not for its success in confiscating the ill-gotten wealth of global and local drug lords, terrorists, and jueteng lords, but for three and only three things: (1) Its collaboration with Aquino to remove former Chief Justice Renato Corona by leaking and then outrightly disclosing his peso and dollar bank accounts; (2) Its apparent collaboration with Aquino in the demolition job against presidential candidate Jejomar Binay, with a reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer having in her possession a confidential AMLC report, and recently; (3) Its failure to detect and stop the transfer of $81 million in stolen money from the Bangladesh central bank in New York to a Philippine bank, and to the hackers’ accomplices here. First, when all of the impeachment charges against Chief Justice Corona had appeared to be baseless, AMLC appeared to enter the fray and help Aquino. The

amounts in the bank accounts of Corona and his wife were leaked to a newspaper columnist and in a blog, and to Liberal Party stalwart Jorge Banal, who hilariously claimed he found it at his gate. An Aquino fanatic, the Ateneo School of Government’s Harvey Keh tried to make Corona’s bank accounts part of the trial’s records by delivering data on these – to Enrile’s office. The former Martial Law administrator proved to have a better moral compass than Keh by refusing to even open the envelope containing it. When those tactics didn’t work, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales asked the AMLC Executive Director Vicente Aquino to provide her with data on Corona’s dollar accounts. Aquino obeyed her without question, even if there is a specific law categorically banning these from being disclosed for any purpose, except upon written approval by the holder of the bank account. We don’t even know if Aquino asked, as he is required to, the three members of the AMLC for authority to do so. What I know is that when I tried to get in touch with Tetangco to ask why he had allowed such wanton violation of the law, I was told that he was out of town, and that a deputy BSP governor represented him in the AMLC. Worse, as I have written several times, Morales distorted

the AMLC’s data in such a way that she added up all transactions – i.e., a $100 deposit and a $100 withdrawal was counted as Corona’s having a $200 balances. She then screamed to the world that the Chief Justice was hiding $10 million in his secret dollar accounts (the reality was that it was less than $1 million.) AMLC raised a lynch mob That was nothing more but a black-propaganda stunt intended to raise such a furor that a lynch mob was unstoppable, and the Senate – except for three with integrity and wisdom – kicked the Chief Justice out of the Court, the first time ever this occurred in our history. Did the AMLC undertake an investigation into such serious breach of bank confidentially? Did the AMLC bother to correct Morales’ distortion of the report given her? It didn’t, which bolsters my view that from the start, the AMLC was part of the conspiracy to attack the Supreme Court. Second, last year and then just last week, Philippine Daily Inquirer used as banner stories the articles filed by the same reporter (Nancy Carvajal) who cited a single document, the “AMLC report,” to allege that vice presidential candidate Binay had “billions” of pesos in his bank accounts and used several people PAGE A7

testify to a great advance in faith. Before all else, the Council was an encounter. A genuine encounter between the church and the men and women of our time. An encounter marked by the power of the Spirit, who impelled the church to emerge from the shoals which for years had kept her self-enclosed so as to set out once again, with enthusiasm, on her missionary journey. It was the resumption of a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces. Wherever there are people, the church is called to reach out to them and to bring the joy of the Gospel. After these decades, we again take up this missionary drive with the same power and enthusiasm. The Jubilee challenges us to this openness, and demands that we not neglect the spirit which emerged from Vatican II, the spirit of the Samaritan, as Blessed Paul VI expressed it at the conclusion of the Council. May our passing through the Holy Door today commit us to making our own the mercy of the Good Samaritan. —Pope Francis’ Homily During the Inauguration of the Jubilee of Mercy, Dec. 8, 2015. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www. TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

President should secure Supreme Court that is diverse Community Voice Faith bautiSta and JeFF nino lim PRESIDENT Obama, as is his right, has nominated to the US Supreme Court another white man from Harvard, Merrick Garland. Yet Mr. Garland is highly unlikely to ever be confirmed given the Republican leadership’s unanimous position that no Presidential nominee will be confirmed while President Obama remains in office. The question raised by California’s more than six million Asian Americans and the nation’s twenty million Asian Americans is why did the President forgo an opportunity to win over our nation’s 130 million minorities and those who did not graduate from Harvard Law School? As the President and Congress know well, in our nation’s more than 225-year history, no Asian American has ever been nominated for or served at the U.S. Supreme Court. However, an increasingly large pool of highly qualified, noncontroversial Asian American jurists are available to be nominated. This includes California’s highly qualified Ninth Circuit Appellate

Justice Jacqueline Nguyen and Sri Srinivasan, also highly qualified and noncontroversial from the D.C. Court of Appeals. We raise the question of ignoring Asian Americans in the context of both Asian American judges being highly qualified immigrants and being relatively noncontroversial. Further, nomination of an Asian American jurist would be consistent with both President Obama’s call for more diversity and the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s call for more diversity, including ending the Harvard/Yale law school monopoly at the Supreme Court. We are particularly mystified given that Mr. Garland is one of the oldest candidates nominated for the Supreme Court since Richard Nixon’s day and President Obama has the opportunity to win over the Asian American vote over the long term whether or not an Asian American candidate is confirmed. In contrast, both Jacqueline Nguyen and Sri Srinivasan are under 50, as was Justice Scalia when he was successfully nominated by President Reagan (President Obama’s nominee is 63, which is a little too old to provide an enduring legacy. This is particularly so since a number of Americans believe that a mechanism should be put in place for mandatory or strongly encouraged retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court after the age of 75.) Since the President’s nominaPAGE A7

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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President should secure...

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tion of Mr. Garland will be futile, perhaps the President should consider an option that will encourage Mr. Garland to withdraw and provide the President the option of nominating our first Asian American to the Supreme Court.

This is a viable option since some nominees have withdrawn in the past when facing strong hurdles to confirmation. The advantage to the President includes the potential to convert what will be 50 million Asian Americans by 2050 to the

Dateline PhiliPPines Democratic Party. Although Asian Americans now strongly tilt to the Democratic Party in national elections, this was not the case under President Reagan. Therefore, a reinvigorated Republican Party whose Presidential candidate supports immigrants could evenly split the Asian American vote including securing a majority of Asian Amer-

ican business leaders. Although the authors of this article have different political views, one generally supporting the Republican Party and the other supporting the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, we both concur that the Asian American vote, given its growing size, educational attainment and wealth ac-

AMLC debased... PAGE A6 as dummies. That it was a hatchet job was obvious in that Carvajal merely repeated the same article she wrote last year, she herself admitting that she was citing the same document. However, the AMLC after that had reported to the Court that after its investigations, it found only P1.7 million in Binay’s account. This is so outrageous, really. The AMLC’s reports on individual bank holdings are probably the most secret kind of documents in the country since these are the only such documents that a law (the AML Law of 2001, as amended) severely penalizes a person for disclosing such information. In fact, the law even specifically lists who would be made responsible for “malicious reporting… relative to money laundering:” “In the case of a breach of confidentiality that is published or reported by media, the responsible reporter, writer, president, publisher, manager and editorin-chief shall be liable under this Act. (Sec. 9d).” Prescribed penalties involve imprisonment from six months to four years.In fact, not even those who are the subject of AMLC investigations are given copies of its reports. And what does the AMLC do with such blatant use of AMLC data, which really could have been tampered with as nobody else except the Inquirer reporter (apart from the Court) has access to? It doesn’t even warn the Inquirer that its article citing an AMLC report is illegal. It doesn’t even investigate the breach in confidentiality. Worse, the AMLC revealed its political partisanship when it issued a press statement that didn’t say it will investigate the breach in confidentiality but instead taunted Binay “The AMLC will continue to discharge its legal mandate without fear or favor.” $81 million entered, vanished And third, the AMLC has been

embarrassingly caught napping as $81 million in stolen money entered the country, put in dormant accounts, and withdrawn to equally dubious accounts. Do you know, dear reader, that the AMLC’s is authorized to investigate a transaction amounting to just P500,000, with its computer systems designed to alert its staff to such amount of transactions? Yet $81 million entered a single bank— in a single branch, in a single day—equivalent to P4 billion, deposited to dormant accounts, and then withdrawn, yet the AMLC didn’t notice it. I don’t think even P1 billion had ever entered a bank’s branch ever. It had to take a person-to-person call from the Bangladesh Bank governor to BSP Gov. Tetangco, the AMLC chairman, to alert him that such a huge stolen amount was entering the Philippine banking system. Yet the AMLC started to work on the Bangladesh Bank governor’s alert on Feb. 3, according to its executive director, Julia Abad in her testimony in the Senate. It issued the freeze order a week later on Feb. 11. The criminals obviously had the time to withdraw the proceeds, and these have vanished into thin air. Contrast that to Sri Lanka’s successful interception of the $21 million from the same heist that entered its banking system. Sri Lanka has more efficient regulatory bodies than ours?Aargh. Tetangco made two flimsy excuses why his AMLC had been inept in stopping the $81 million from vanishing. One is that the loophole in the anti-money laundering law is that casinos are not included in the categories of institutions under the central bank’s mandate. This is a very lame excuse, as it was quite obvious in this heist that half of the $81 million was transferred not to the criminal’s casino accounts but to their personal accounts. Some P20 million was even withdrawn in cash. Second, Tetangco says that our

WHAT BANK SECRECY LAWS? AMLC Chairman Tetangco says bank secrecy laws are too strict. Then how could Keh, Banal and Ombudsman Morales have so easily obtained Corona’s bank data for the impeachment trial in 2012, and how could reporter Carvajal have., as she claims, an AMLC preliminary report on a presidential candidate?

bank secrecy laws are too strict. “Once money enters a deposit account, you can’t see it anymore,” he said in a TV interview. This is our AMLC chairman? Then how could a columnist, a congressman, the Ombudsman get the bank balances and even details of the transactions of the Chief Justice? How could one reporter have an AMLC confidential report making allegations about the Vice President’s bank accounts? Tetangco may have been an excellent central bank governor, but he thinks it is beyond him since he is the Philippine version of Alan Greenspan, to run what is really an anti-crime unit which the AMLC is, so that he has delegated almost all the work there to subordinates who may not have the moral fiber that he has. If he can’t supervise the AMLC, and the law requires him to chair it, he should accept the reality and resign as BSP governor, and let somebody who can really supervise that crucial anti-crime agency, one who would insulate it from politics. Or maybe the law should be amended so that the council is led full-time by somebody who would be on the same rank as the

three incumbent members of the AMLC, the heads of the BSP, the SEC and the Insurance Commission. How could such sensitive post as the AMLC chairman be a part-time job? The likelihood is for him to delegate all of his work eventually to really unqualified people. Because of the AMLC’s incompetence, we’ve received another blow to our image. The talk outside is that Filipinos hacked the computers of the Bangladesh central bank, and squirrelled away the money through their banks in Manila. But the Sri Lankans in their case caught the thieves. Filipinos stealing from the Bangladeshi? How shameful is that? I had been wondering why the senators investigating the issue are treating the AMLC with kid gloves, that they didn’t even require its head to testify in such an important hearing, and didn’t even grill its executive secretary over to ask her the body moved so slowly, which gave time for the thieves to vanish with their loot. A Senate staffer offered a reason: “They’re terrified that the AMLC might get back at them, and peek into their bank accounts.” (ManilaTimes.net)

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 25-31, 2016 cumulation should not tilt toward any major party. As other minorities have learned, we are often far more influential when our votes are up for grabs in both national and local elections. For example, the general absence of viable Republican candidates, particularly on a statewide level, has meant that minorities in California are disproportionately ignored since their votes are far too predictable. As of the writing of this Op-Ed, we are endeavoring to meet with the President on this matter. The meeting will include a broad range of Asian American leaders from

both parties. However, we are not unduly optimistic given that the President rejected our mid-February request to meet with him in D.C. during a time when we met with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, the Chairs of the FDIC and FTC, and the Director of CFPB on income and wealth inequality. *** Faith Bautista is the President & CEO National Asian American Coalition and an immigrant *** Jeff Nino Lim is the owner of 15 Island Pacific Supermarkets and Chair of National Asian American Coalition and an immigrant

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Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves ben LovemAn And nAncy e. miLLeR USCIS recently announced that it expects the expanded provisional waiver program to be open for business within the first part of 2016. Seeing as March is already upon us, it would seem the provisional waiver expansion could be here any day now. Before the expanded waiver program could go into effect, USCIS was required to publish proposed new regulations and allow time for public comment. At last announcement, USCIS was completing review of public comments and anticipated publishing the final rule shortly. With the new rule and program expansion right around the corner, now is a good time to take a look at the provisional waiver program and how the expansion of the program may be able to benefit you or your family. Importantly, the program expansion will open up the waiver to many applicants who previously could not qualify. The provisional waiver is a relatively recent and much welcomed program for those subject to the 10-year bar for being unlawfully present in the United States for a year or more. The bar is invoked when one leaves the US so it affects those who are unable to adjust their status (meaning complete their immigration process in the US) Typical applicants include persons who entered the US to serve as crew members aboard a ship or airplane, persons who entered with fiancé visas but never married their fiancé petitioner, and persons who entered without papers. For those eligible, it provides the opportunity to apply for a waiver before departing the US to consular process for their green card. Thus, the immigrant can remain with their family pending a decision on their waiver. Once the waiver is approved, the intending immigrant leaves the United States with the con-

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 25-31, 2016

Journal

USCIS reveals provisional waiver expansion coming soon fidence and relief that they will only be gone a short time and will be able to return as a lawful permanent resident. This process is a welcome contrast from the regular waiver process which requires applicants to depart the US and then apply for a waiver. Under that process, the person may be outside the US for at least six months while waiting for a decision on their waiver, which, of course, they hope will be favorable. That uncertainty has caused many people to forgo applying to legalize their status. The pain of being separated from their family for a long period of time and the possibility of denial was too great a risk. However, the provisional waiver process eliminates most of the uncertainty by allowing for pre-approval prior to departure from the US Originally, the provisional waiver only benefitted those who had petitions filed by by a US citizen spouse or child. However, the expansion to the provisional waiver program will open it to another large group of potential applicants. The new open the program to all applicants eligible for immigrant visa processing. Thus, under the new regulation, all persons with an approved petition and available visa, regardless of visa category, will be eligible to participate in the provisional waiver program, if otherwise eligible. This means that those who have overstayed their authorized period of stay and have a visa petition filed on their behalf by a parent, sibling, or employer may be eligible to apply for the provisional waiver. Of course, obtaining a provisional waiver still requires establishing extreme hardship to a ‘qualifying relative’ which means a US citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent. Here too, there are some positive developments. On October 7, 2015 USCIS disseminated a draft poli-

cy memorandum which, if made effective, will significantly impact the way the agency makes decisions on applications for ‘extreme hardship’ waivers. The new policy would impact all types of waiver applications, including provisional waivers for unlawful presence.The new policy will provide clarification and uniform instruction to USCIS officers as to the standard that should be used to decide what factors “strongly suggest and support a finding of ‘extreme hardship’”. Some of the factors identified include substantial displacement of care of applicant’s children, Travel Warnings against travel to country of residence, active military duty of qualifying relative, and prior grant of asylum or refugee status. Up until now, USCIS adjudicating officers have been inconsistent in the weight or significance they gave to these and other factors. With the new policy guidelines in effect, those whose provisional waivers were denied and who chose to remain in the United States and wait for better times, should consider reapplying. This could be that time for them. If you or a loved one may benefit from the coming expansion to the provisional waiver program, you should contact an experienced immigration attorney to discuss your situation. ***

by Ted

Torres Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines is the most fundamentally sound economy in the Asian region, a top bank economist. Frederic Neumann, managing director and co-head of Asian Economic Research of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank-

ing Corp. (HSBC), said Sunday, March 20. “And the more important thing, so far, is that the present growth comes with a very low debt-toGDP ratio,” he said, adding the rest of Asia is entering a period of critical debt saturation. India and Indonesia are the other Asian economies that measures closest to the Philippines in

terms of low debt-to-GDP ratio, he added. The positive outlook towards the Philippine economy prompted HSBC to revise upward the gross domestic growth (GDP) forecast to 5.9 percent this year from an earlier 5.7 percent and 5.8 percent in 2017. “We increased our 2016 out-

u PAGE CJ3

Foreign debt shrinks to $77.5 B Stronger dollar, higher investments in Philippine papers

declined from $79.95 billion in 2012 to $78.49 billion in 2013 and to $77.67 billion in 2014. Tetangco traced the improveMANILA — The country’s outAtty. Reeves has represented clients in standing external debt slipped ment in the country’s external numerous landmark immigration cases for the third straight year in 2015 debt level to the $1.8 billion inthat have set new policies regarding INS due to the continued strengthen- crease in investments largely by action and immigrants’ rights. His offices ing of the dollar as well as higher banks in Philippine debt papers. are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San investments in Philippine debt The BSP chief also cited the Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City. papers, the Bangko Sentral ng $456 million negative revaluation Telephone: (800) 795-8009 Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Mon- adjustments due to the strengthE-mail: immigration@rreeves.com ening of the greenback last year day, March 21. Website: www.rreeves.com. BSP Governor Amando Tet- in view of the gradual recovery *** angco Jr. said external debt of the US economy and expectaThe analysis and suggestions offered in amounted to $77.47 billion last tions of the interest rate liftoff by this column do not create a lawyer-client year, $200 million lower com- the US Federal Reserve. relationship and are not a substitute for pared with $77.67 billion in “A stronger dollar results in BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the personalized representation that is 2014. lower debt figure expressed in external debt amounted to $77.47 billion last essential to every case. This was the third straight US dollar terms,” he said. year, $200 million lower compared with $77.67 (Advertising Supplement) year the country’s external debt u PAGE CJ2 billion in 2014. Philstar.com/File Photo by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MARCH 25-31, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

The CTV Files Atty. LiLLi B. BAcuLi ON March 11, 2016, the US Department of Homeland Security released its final rule enhancing the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for F-1 international students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The new STEM-OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to the student’s program of study in an approved STEM field. Previously, STEM-OPT extensions were only allowed for 17 months. The 17-month OPT extension will stay in effect until May 9, 2016. The new 24-month extension will take effect on May 10, 2016. What is Optional Practical Training? Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F1 student’s major area of study. Under prior rules, an F-1 student could be authorized to receive up to a total of 12 months of practical training either pre- or post-completion of his/her studies. STEM-OPT. F-1 students who

Community Journal

New regulations extend OPT extension for STEM receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees included on the STEM designated degree program list, are employed by employers enrolled in E-verify, and who have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT related to such degree, may apply for extension. As per the new regulations to take effect on May 10, 2016, STEM-OPT extensions are now up to 24 months. STEM-eligible degrees. To be eligible for the extended OPT extension, a student must have received a degree included in the STEM designated degree program list. This list sets forth eligible courses of study according to the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. The list the following courses of study: computer science applications, biological and biomedical sciences, actuarial science, mathematics and statistics, engineering, military technologies, engineering technologies, physical sciences, science technologies, medical scientist.

To be eligible for an OPT extension, the student must currently be in an approved postcompletion OPT period based on a designated STEM degree. Thus, for example, a student with an undergraduate degree in a designated STEM field, but currently in OPT based on a subsequent MBA degree, would not be eligible for an OPT extension. It is important to be well-informed and to know your options, but the wrong advice or information can hurt you. Consult a licensed and experienced immigration attorney to help you navigate through the evolving immigration laws. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com. For general information visit www.chuatinsayvega.com.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA THE practice of deferred gratification is a painful one. And who wants pain? It means letting go of the perceived whimsical, multiple yet tiny pleasures of the moment over a length of time in order to be in a financial position to afford the more significant purchases in one’s life. It involves avoiding spending money on trivialities in order to save and accumulate substantial sums for the really important things in life — like being able to afford to have more time to do the things one likes to do: study, travel, paint, dance, write and a host of other things that one would have liked to do if there was time enough. In the mundane world, it means quite simply, to be able to afford to buy what he believes to be important to his life, whatever these may be. Deferring gratification involves discipline, patience and sacrifice and having to make do with what one has and forgoing the things one wants right at that moment. Our natural tendency is to get the things that we want right at this moment to satisfy a whim or placate that impatient part of ourselves — even if we have to go into debt to do it. Most trailblazing, first generation immigrants who have had to start from scratch and have had to make do during the early part of their immigrant lives, do not have a problem with sacrifice. It is part of who they are and what has made them strong and resil-

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

The art of deferring gratification “In the world of ordinary, earned money, it is not what you make that counts, it is what you get to keep.” ient in the face of adversity. The supreme irony is that patience as a virtue is not something that is automatically, genetically passed down to young people. We all have a natural aversion for pain and sacrifice yet this feeling is strongest among the young ones in an affluent society. Teaching a person to save and not spend all the money that he has in one fell swoop in consumable, useless, mere image-building items is done best at a very young age. Parents who succeed in teaching their children to save even small amounts of money will have laid one of the basic foundations of building character in a young person. The way to save money has always been to pay one’s self first and accumulate small amounts prodigiously over a length of time. In the world of ordinary, earned money, it is not what you make that counts, it is what you get to keep. Out of any amount earned, won or received, and before buying anything, a minimum of 10% is taken out and is socked away in a savings account that should earn interest. In some cultures, parents teach their children to put away 20% or more of whatever money their children receive. This account is maintained and added to on

a regular basis and kept until it reaches a critical mass and can then be placed in safe financial instruments for longer terms that can earn compound interest. This practice teaches patience and a healthy respect for saving money over time and keeps a run-away consumer frame of mind in check. Be warned that at certain points, young people will be tempted to spend it all on one big purchase that they feel is something that they need or they may feel like giving it all away on a worthy cause. It is their money after all and they should be able to do so. Their decision to spend it all after they have taken the time and the effort to save it can provide them one valuable learning experience about how to make judgment calls when it comes to money. The idea is to start them thinking and developing the discipline of paying one’s self first with any amount of money they earn or receive as a gift. They will begin to regard small bits of money as tiny droplets that in time can form a pond or a lake that is ready to be tapped when a really important need arises. ***

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Foreign debt shrinks to… PAGE CJ1 t

However, the $2 billion net availments as debt drawdowns exceeded payments as well as previous periods’ audit adjustments negated the impact of higher investments and a stronger US dollar. External debt refers to all types of borrowings by Philippine residents from non-residents. More than 65 percent of the country’s external debt is denominated in US dollar, while 11.7 percent of total debt is denominated in Japanese yen. About 11.8 percent of the external debt is US dollar-denomi-

nated multi-currency loans from the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) while 11 percent are denominated in 17 other currencies including the peso with 6.6 percent, the special drawing rights of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with 2.2 percent, and the euro with 1.5 percent. The country’s external debt at end-2015 was 2.5 percent higher compared to the end-September level of $75.6 billion. The increase was attributed to net availments amounting to $1.8 billion by private banks and corporations to finance various projects arising

from positive sentiment. Data from the central bank showed the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) amounted to $80.7 billion last year, enough to cover 5.3 times the country’s short-term debt under the original maturity concept. “Key external debt indicators remained at comfortable levels at the close of the year,” Tetangco said. The debt service ratio continued to improve to 5.3 percent in end December from 5.6 percent in September and from 6.3 percent in December 2014 due to a

u PAGE CJ4

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Community Journal

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

Would you perform surgery on yourself, or would you let a doctor do it?

SOME people, with only limited knowledge or understanding of immigration laws, try to strategize and handle their immigration case on their own. They follow the advice of friends or relatives, or listen to gossip or rumors they hear on the streets or at parties. But they may not be aware of all the critical facts or laws, or recent developments. Partial or incomplete information about immigration laws and benefits can have devastating effects, resulting in denials, deportation, or many additional years of separation from your family. A woman came to my office for assistance for her daughter, who aged out. She followed the wrong advice. But had she gone to an attorney at the outset, her child would have been in the US years ago. In this woman’s case, she was petitioned by her mother, right after the mother had naturalized. But the mother could have filed a petition for her, as a single adult child of a green card holder parent (F-2B) years earlier, which would have included the woman’s daughter, who was still under 21. Instead, the family thought it would be “faster” for the mother to hold off for at least 5 years to become a US citizen, and then file the petition.

That is wrong! By waiting until the mother naturalized, and only then filing a petition, they wasted at least five years. Also, a petition by a US citizen takes much longer than a petition by an immigrant parent. So, by the time the priority date became current, the child had already aged out. Now, the woman wanted to know if her daughter was eligible under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), under her mother’s original petition. After doing the mathematical computation, the daughter was considered mathematically over 21 and not CSPA eligible. The mother will now need to file a new petition for her daughter, which could take another 10 years before the daughter can finally immigrate to the US. Had they obtained proper legal advice from an attorney at the outset, both this woman and her daughter could have been in the US years ago! Instead, by relying on partial information, the daughter now must wait again for decades to immigrate. My point is that people think, “What’s so difficult about petitioning a family member? I can just do it on my own, because it is simple and straightforward.” Just as some people may say, “Why should I have to hire a

Immigration Corner

The Metamorphosis

ernie D. Delfin (Part 2 of 2)

LAST January, two District Governors-elect from the Philippines (Quezon City D3780 and Northern Luzon D3790) Atty. Dwight Ramos and Raul Peralta, with their lovely spouses visited our young and tender GK e-Rotary Club here in Orange County, after their mandatory week long Governors’ training in San Diego. That first visit and couple meetings before they flew back home germinated the seed for further collaboration on projects that will benefit the poor. Another ambitious project is a business mentoring project tentatively called “Entrepreneurial Development for Socioeconomic Advancement” (“EDSA,” a different kind of revolution) that will train, coach, mentor, guide young men and women and hopefully can also provide some financial capital to the best viable business plans that will be submitted to the sponsors. Preliminary work: meeting, discussing the project and doing the necessary needs assessments in the project areas, has started to be able to complete the a formal application for a Global Grant from the Rotary Foundation by this summer. We need local “partners” in the proj-

surgeon? It’s easy. I can do it myself.” But there could be complications. And in immigration, there may be faster ways to bring family members to the US, which a person may not be fully aware of. Instead, they rely on partial information, which, as you can see from the above example, can have devastating effects. That is why you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, to make sure you are going the fastest, most direct route, to accomplish your immigration goal. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

GK-Rotary-LGU collaboration for the common good ect areas (Pangasinan, La Union, Quezon City and/or Bulacan) like colleges or universities that already have the facilities and logistics for training students and scholars to be sent by the district rotary clubs as their “scholars. To make it a competitive, comprehensive and successful project, we are also seeking more local Rotary Clubs in the Philippines as well as Rotary Clubs in North America to provide some the financial “seed money” to be matched by District Funds and the Rotary Foundation Matching funds. We are hoping that this Entrepreneurial Development and Mentoring project will inspire and empower many people and will have some measurable impact to the communities where the projects are implemented As this is a pilot for our GK eRotary Club, we are investing time and energy to meet like-kind- organizations like the Farm Village University in GK’s Enchanted Farms in Bulacan to explore potential collaboration for a win-win relationship, with the beneficiaries as the primary focus. With initial discussions with Gawad Kalinga founder, Tony Meloto, while he was in Los Angeles, he was inviting this writer to visit him and to meet the young entrepreneurs who are based and already engaged in small to medium sized social enterprises in the Enchanted

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 25-31, 2016

Farms of Bulacan. We are hopeful that GK and our E-Rotary Club will have a good match for this entrepreneurial project aimed in creating more entrepreneurs and self-employed people among the lower economic strata of Philippine society. We also plan to explore possible “partial eclipsing” and support from GO Negosyo NGO, that has created successful entrepreneurs the last several decades. Any GO Negosyo leaders out there who would like to help us help the poor is very much welcome to collaborate with us in our mission to help create more entrepreneurs in the Philippines. The needs for a massive wave of entrepreneurs in the Philippines are great, to stem the tide or stop the massive export of our OFWs to other countries, doing menial jobs or dirty tasks as domestic helpers that their employers/ bosses do not want to do. Too much to do, so little time! Any reader interested to support us, either in the Philippines or in the Rotary world, especially in the USA or Canada is most welcome. Please contact me, ASAP. Thank you and May all of you have a blessed Lenten Season and Easter Week, soon! *** Email me at ernie.gkerc@gmail.com Websites: www.gkerc.com / www. rotary.org

A MOTHER’S AND HER ATTORNEY’S PERSISTENCE RESULT IN HER DAUGHTERS FINALLY BEING ISSUED CSPA VISAS BASED ON “EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES”— ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Lolita (left) left her two daughters in the Philippines to seek a better life in the US, with the dream that she would eventually have them join her. However, her previous attorney missed the one year “sought to acquire” filing deadline for CSPA eligibility, resulting in the Embassy refusing to issue their immigrant visas. Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was her beacon of hope, as he did not give up in trying to convince the Embassy that the daughters should be entitled to visas, despite missing the one-year deadline. Find out how Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to prove extraordinary circumstances, have the two “aged-out” daughters be issued visas, and reunite this family on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, March 27 6:15pm (PST) on TFC.

New hope for family who missed CSPA’s one year ‘Sought to Acquire’ filing deadline on ‘Citizen Pinoy’ LOLITA went through two previous lawyers, hoping to have her two aged-out daughters join her in the US under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). Each time, her dreams were shattered, and the daughters were left devastated – as the Embassy said they were not eligible, because years ago, they missed the one year deadline to “seek to acquire” a visa. The other attorneys gave up, and said there was nothing more that could be done.

When Lolita finally consulted with the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, he immediately requested the Embassy to reconsider, based on “extraordinary circumstances,” since it was the previous attorneys who missed the one-year filing deadline, not Lolita. However, the Embassy declined to recognize an attorney missing the CSPA filing deadline as an extraordinary circumstance. But Atty Gurfinkel never gave up. His persistence and multiple

Calendar of Events across

requests for reconsideration resulted in a major policy shift that qualified Lolita’s case under “extraordinary circumstances.” A mother who never lost hope and an attorney who never gave up resulted in visa issuance and much-awaited reunion with Lolita and her daughters, on a brandnew episode of “Citizen Pinoy”– on Sunday, March 27 at 6:15pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

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America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS M A R C H 26

FREE Citizenship Workshop in Los Angeles On Saturday, March 26, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles will help local green card holders take the first step towards becoming citizens through a free event as part of the New Americans Campaign. This workshop will provide lawful permanent residents with free naturalization application assistance by professional and trained volunteers. Legal counsel by probono attorneys and legal experts will be available. Services are available in English, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese and Spanish. WHAT: Free Citizenship Workshop WHERE: Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, 1145 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017 WHEN: Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 9:00 am RSVP: Registration for this workshop is required. For more information and to register, call 888-349-9695

M A R C H 28

An Evening with Jose Antonio Vargas Filipino American, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas will be speaking at Pasadena City College (1570 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA) on Monday, March 28, from 6 to 8 pm in Sexson Auditorium at the Pasadena City College. Vargas’ work centers on advocating for undocumented immigrants, and in June 2011, through The New York Times Magazine, he revealed and chronicled his life in America as an undocumented immigrant. A year later, Vargas appeared on the cover of TIME magazine worldwide with fellow undocumented immigrants as part of a follow-up cover story he wrote. Now, he is the head of Define American, a non-profit media and culture organization that seeks to elevate the conversation around immigration and citizenship in America. We excited to bring this speaker to campus and we hope that you will join us. Doors open at 5pm. This event is open to the public and tickets are FREE, so please feel free to share with your networks! Tickets are available at http://joseavargas-mar28.eventbrite.com/

APRIL 1

Eagle Rock High School Monthly Open House Tours

Volunteer with Fremont’s Community Ambassador Program for Seniors!

THE Community Ambassador Program for Seniors (CAPS) is a nationally recognized awardwinning City of Fremont program that trains volunteers to assist older adults in locating local resources and services that can help improve their independence and quality of life. The program is now offering a new training course to become a Community Ambassador. As an Ambassador, you will be briefed on topics such

as healthy aging, transportation options, social security benefits, health benefits, housing options, end of life care, and more. You will have the flexibility to volunteer at your convenience and can choose when and how much you’d like to participate. For more information on the CAPS Program or to register, visit the CAPS Website or contact Asha Chandra, CAPS Program Manager, by Email or call (510)

574-2055. If you’re interested, make sure to register as soon as possible as space is limited! The registration deadline is Friday, April 22, 2016. Training dates are on Wednesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 28, 2016 (must attend both dates)from 9am to 4pm. Location of training will be at the City of Fremont Administration Training Room, 3300 Capitol Avenue, Building B, Fremont. n

PH most fundamentally sound economy…

PAGE CJ1 t

look slightly due to the anticipated positive influence of election spending,” he said. But there are challenges internally that the Philippines must address to keep a strong growth momentum, he said. “The next administrations must increase infrastructure spending at a much faster pace,” Neumann said. Infrastructure spending should focus on building more worldclass airports, more railways, reduce congestions in ports and

roads, make electricity more dependable, and to ensure sufficient water supply. The Philippines must attract more foreign direct investments (FDI), as it would add more capital, more know-how, and competitive pressure to the domestic business market. FDIs rose from $1.07 billion in 2010 to $6 billion in 2014. Comparatively, Indonesia reported $13.8 billion in 2010 to $ 21 billion in 2013. Newman explained the manufacturing sector should produce

consumer products that can replace their imported counterparts. It could also employ a large number of Filipinos than any other sector in the economy. The agriculture sector is also another sector that should increase its contribution to the economy. It produces consumer goods that could replace imported counterparts thus avoiding the need for debt. “The Philippines would be a victim of its own success unless it can overcome the different roadblocks,” Neumann added. n

laureate Open House Tours, from 8-10am during the spring semester on Friday, April 1. Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School serves students in grades 7-12, and was the first school in the LAUSD to be authorized to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (grades 7-10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12), a project-based program for concept and content-based learning to promote global mindedness and service to others. The IB Open House is open to all interested students, and will include an introductory presentation in the ERHS library, followed by campus tours, classroom visits, and a short question-and-answer period. To register for the Open Houses, please visit www.erhs.la, and click on the “IB Open House Registration” link. Please email Mylene Keipp mylene.keipp@lausd.net for more information. We look forward to your visit!

APRIL 9

Prisoners of War Day at the Filipino Veterans Education Center All WWII veterans and families, please join us as we commemorate the historic 74thanniversary of Prisoners of War Day and the Fall of Bataan, the Day of Valor, on Saturday, April 9th. In the spirit of reconciliation, friendship and international cooperation, let us leave the past behind us as we move forward with joined hands to attain peace for all mankind. The formal Commemoration and remembrance ceremony will start at 2:00pm in the Filipino Veterans Education Center, at the War Memorial Performing Arts Veterans Building (401 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102). This event is open to the public. Please RSVP RudyAsercion@gmail.com; naffaasf@gmail.com. Tel: 415 564 6262.

A P R I L 23

Chino Hills Multicultural Festival Inspired by last year’s successful celebration of the community’s diversity, the Rotary Club of Greater Chino Hills Foundation will host its second Multicultural Festival on Saturday, April 23, from 3 to 9 pm, at the Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, CA 91709). Admission is free. There will be food booths, live entertainment, music, dance and performances by an array of participants. Sponsorship and advertisement packages are available for non-profit organizations to fundraise, and for businesses interested in market their products and services. For more information, contact rotary.chinohills@gmail.com or visit www.chinohillsrotaryclub.org. Contact: Ted Alvarez (909) 456-0359, tedalvarez@verizon.net; Tessie Lightholder (909) 576-4152,tessielightholder@gmail.com, or Ginny Mondonedo (951) 212-4624, vmondonedo55@gmail.com.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

MARCH 25-31, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

People & Events

Compost giveaway in Fremont

City of Redwood City program recognized of top honor focused on community health and wellness REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — The City of Redwood City announced Friday, March 18, the receipt of an Award of Excellence from the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) for its Community Health & Wellness - PE+ Elementary Physical Education Program. The award was presented at the 68th Annual California Park & Recreation Society Conference Expo, held in Long Beach on March 11, 2016. “We are honored to receive this award on behalf of our residents,” said Melissa Stevenson Diaz, city manager of Redwood City. “The CPRS awards program is the highest recognition a City can receive to recognize excellence in community health and wellness. I want to thank the staff and partners involved for making this program a success within our community.” The PE+ program was designed to help fill the basic need for physical education in local Redwood City schools suffering from budget cuts. Their role is

to help students in K-5th grade meet the California Physical Fitness Standards and build healthy school communities. The PE+ program is funded by the Healthy Schools Initiative through the Sequoia Health Care District, Redwood City Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, the Redwood City School District, and the Peninsula Community Center. The California Park & Recreation Society presented awards in 5 categories: • Creating Community Award of Excellence • Excellence in Design - Park Planning • Excellence in Design - Facility Design & Communications Award of Excellence • Professional & Service CPRS Executive Director Stephanie Stephens states, “These agencies represent the finest in initiatives addressing community issues, recreation programming, park planning, facility design, and marketing

and communications in California. Park and recreation agencies throughout the state provide families, individuals, and groups access to the serenity and inspiration of nature; spaces and places for play and exercise; opportunities for directed and self-directed recreation; positive alternatives for youth to reduce crime and mischief; and activities that facilitate social connections, human development, therapy, the arts, and lifelong learning. CPRS and our award sponsors, RJM Design Group, Inc., Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems and SVA Architects, and, are proud to recognize excellence in park and facility design, community initiatives, recreation programs, and marketing and communications.” For more details on the City of Redwood City’s PE+ Program, visit: http://redwoodcity.org/departments/parks-recreation-andcommunity-services/fitness/pe For more information about the City of Redwood City, visit: http://www.redwoodcity.org. n

Daly City Earth Day event 2016

DO your part to help Daly City! The city invites all residents to a free Earth Day 2016 event at the City Hall on Saturday, April 16, from 10am to 2pm.

and info on a variety of ways to reduce energy use, divert waste from the landfill, and more! More details will be provided in coming weeks, including instructions on what type of bulky items and e-waste will be accepted. “This means that foreign exPlease RSVP if you plan to atchange requirements for debt tend at http://dalycityearthday. payments are well spread out eventbrite.com. Your RSVP will and, thus, more manageable,” he help plan the right amount of added. trucks and dumpsters. On the other hand, short-term For more info, contact Daly external debt comprised 19.5 City Sustainability Coordinator, percent of the country’s total ex- Stephen Stolte, at (650) 991-8126 ternal borrowings. n or sstolte@dalycity.org. n The event will feature free services such as document shredding, electronic waste drop-off (e-waste), bulky item drop-off for reuse, compost giveaway

Foreign debt shrinks to…

PAGE CJ2 t

larger decline in payments. About 80.5 percent of the country’s outstanding external debt consisted of medium- and long-term accounts set to mature in over a year. The weighted average maturity of these accounts stood at 16.5 years.

EMPLOYMENT

THANK you Fremont residents for feeding your green organics cart each week with food scraps and yard waste. Now you can feed the plants in your garden with quality compost that was made from your yard trimmings and food scraps. Pick up two free bags of compost on Sunday, April 3, from 8am to 12:00 noon or while supplies last at the Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station located at 41149 Boyce Rd. The event will be held rain or shine. Avoid the lines by arriving after 9:30am. Bring your current Republic Services garbage bill to show that your household participates in the City’s curbside organics program. Carefully follow the signs and watch for the traffic controls that will direct you to the loading area where crews will place the compost into your vehicle. If your pick up their compost for them. Compost Giveaway is brought neighbor or a family member is unable to attend, you may bring to you by the City of Fremont, in their Republic Services bill and partnership with Republic Ser-

High school students experience U-DETER Program

SAN BRUNO, CA – On March 16, officers from the San Bruno Police Department joined forces with Capuchino High School Administration, the California Office of Traffic Safety, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, in an effort to deter students from driving while impaired. The program that students participated in is called “U-DETER”, an acronym for “Underage DUI Education Through Exposure to Repercussions”. On March 16th, approximately 1,200 Capuchino High School students participated in this program. U-DETER focuses on providing students with a better understanding of the scope of the DUI problem in our country, and educates them about DUI laws and the realworld consequences of a DUI arrest. Through a multimedia presentation delivered by police, students learned that in the United States alone, impaired driving is responsible for the death of over 10,000 people every year, over 4,500 of which are in their age group. They also learned that more than 1.5 million people per year are arrested for DUI, over 450,000 of which are in their age group. Students learned the truth about DUI laws, how they differ when you’re underage, and some

of the aggressive tactics being used by police to get impaired drivers off the street. Thanks to MADD, students were also able to view a totaled vehicle from a real DUI crash that occurred locally and claimed the life of an innocent young mother. This display included a detailed description of the crash and of the many lives that were damaged by the impaired driver that caused it. During their lunch break, students were invited to attempt field sobriety tests while wearing goggles that simulate varying levels of impairment. Many students also experienced simulated arrests and had de-

tailed discussions about what happens after an arrest for DUI. Finally, students were invited to participate in a police ride-along program that will put them in a patrol car with an officer that is specifically working DUI enforcement. This will give them the chance to see DUI enforcement in real-world scenarios, where real people go to jail, providing a true “exposure to repercussions”. So far, more than thirty students have requested participation in the ride-along portion of the program and they will be scheduled to ride with officers over the next couple of months. n

FOSTER HOMECARE

SERVICES

FOR SALE

vices and the Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station. For more information, contact Republic Services at (510) 657-3500. n

(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 25-31, 2016

MARCH 25-31, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

Friday, March 25, 2016

Photo by Gerry Edra

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 25, 2016

Dancing his way to fame How John Philip ‘Balang’ Bughaw became an Internet sensation by Christina M. Oriel / aJPress

mong the many talents that Filipinos display on the global stage, dancing is one of them. The latest source of Filipino pride is 7-year-old John Philip Bughaw, better known as ‘Balang.’ Hailing from Bacoor, Cavite, Balang has won over millions of Internet users across the globe with viral videos of himself enthusiastically dancing along to pop hits. His energetic moves even caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres, who has invited him to appear on her talk-variety three times now. With no formal training, Balang started dancing at 4 years old, emulating motions picked up from videos or by simply just moving along to the background music heard on TV shows. “Natuto akong sumayaw sa pamamagitan ng panonood ng mga videos (I taught myself how to dance by watching videos),” Balang shared during a recent interview with the Asian Journal, adding that artists Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Meghan Trainor, among others, have inspired him to dance. But it wasn’t until he was 6 years old when his dancing garnered international attention. Danica Doma, a neighbor and close family friend, started uploading videos of Balang dancing on YouTube and Facebook. The first video posted that gained popularity was a dance cover to Meghan Trainor’s “All About that Bass.” “Nag like and share yung video. Doon na ako sumikat (The video was liked and shared. There, I got famous),” Balang said. Doma explained that fame wasn’t the intention, as the videos were initially meant to be shared among family and close friends. “It was supposed to be for fun. We didn’t expect that his videos would go viral,” she said. She has since become Balang’s interpreter, and accompanies him during his various appearances and trips. Balang’s subsequent video was for “Bang Bang” (by Jessie J, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande), which caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres,

who played a clip on her show. After that video was posted, a producer from the show contacted Doma about bringing Balang to the US for an appearance. “The producer and I kept on talking…and we were told we were going to be on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show.’ They gave us money for the visas, then we went to the US Embassy for the interview. The next day was the release of our visas,” Doma said. Balang, accompanied by Doma as his interpreter, made his US debut in May 2015 on DeGeneres’s show. “A couple of months ago I showed you this video of a young boy dancing ‘Bang Bang’ in the Philippines. I said ‘bring him to me’ and I’m happy to say he has been brought,” DeGeneres said during her introduction of the Filipino dancer, who was then 6 years old. During the interview, Balang made the crowd laugh, joking about how there is a lot of chocolate in the United States. He also shared his aspirations to become a Zumba instructor to “help everyone be healthy.” Clad in a beige fedora, red collared shirt and black and white suspenders, Balang wowed the audience with a live dance performance of “Bang Bang.” The video, which has been uploaded to show’s YouTube channel, has over 5 million views as of this writing. After the performance, Balang was gifted with lots of sweets, including a chocolate fountain. In late 2015, DeGeneres invited Balang again to perform a dance to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and have a dance off with the show’s resident DJ tWitch to Silento’s “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae).” Being in the spotlight, he said, is exciting because he gets to help his family financially and entertain people around the world. “Masaya, po, kasi, nagkakapera kami. Natutuwa din mga tao (It is fun because we are getting money. Also, people are amused),” he said. Earlier this year, Doma uploaded a video of Balang dancing to Justin Bieber’s hit “Sorry” on Facebook, accumulating

Photo by Gerry Edra

Photow from Facebook.com/JPLBalang

over 28 million views. Bieber himself re-posted a link of the video on his Twitter account, writing that Balang “kills it.” Balang returned to DeGeneres’s show for the third time to dance to “Sorry” in February. Ditching the outfit preppy combination from the two previous appearances, Balang wore a sleeveless tiger print top, a look he said was inspired by Bieber. After the three appearances on the talk-variety show, Balang shared that he was gifted an iPad, chocolates, art materials and a stationary bike, which he uses a few times a week to

work out. Balang was back in the US in early March — along with Doma and his mother Mary Jane — to tape an appearance on “¡Qué Noche! con Angelica y Raul,” a variety and entertainment show with Angelica Vale and Raul Gonzalez on Telemundo. The episode, which was filmed at the network’s studios in Miramar, Florida, is slated to air this July. Balang and his mother Mary Jane both remarked how he received special, red carpet treatment during the taping, and that they were both picked up in a limousine. “Balang is a very rare talent

that is why he is a phenomenal Internet sensation,” Vic Perez, Balang’s international manager, told the Asian Journal. “This dance prodigy kid will soon be the next Filipino pride globally.” Balang is the newest talent under Perez’s LA-based entertainment company, V Entertainment, which has several projects lined up for him this year. “We’re planning to have

Balang at the taping of Telemundo’s “¡Qué Noche! con Angelica y Raul!

Photos by Danica Doma

a record for him here [in the United States]. The title is ‘Big Bang Bounce’ and it’ll have its own dance like ‘Gangnam Style,’” Perez said. “By June it should be out.” Balang will also be involved with Operation Smile — an international charity that provides children with cleft lip and palate repair surgeries — as a goodwill ambassador. Now that he’s visited the United States several times and is continuing to build his dancing career, Balang said he hopes to visit and perform in London and one day meet his idols Bieber, Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. But even with the fame, he isn’t backing down on his dreams to become a police officer and Zumba instructor. “Gawain yung gusto mo para magiging masaya din kayo at pamilya mo. Patulo magaaral at mag matapos na maaral, sundin ang iyong mga pangarap (Do what you like so you and your family can be happy. Continue to study and after you finish your education, follow your dreams),” Balang said.

Sit back, relax and reflect: Recommended movies for Holy Week YOU can still spend the Catholic holidays in a productive and meaningful way even at the comfort of your own homes by watching these films that are not only religious in nature, but also teach values and give inspiration to those who badly need it. Sit back, relax and reflect with these must-watch films that Inquirer.net would like to suggest to you. Rest assured, these classics will nourish your mind and soul during this important religious observance that will cap the Lenten season.

1. “God’s Not Dead” (2014) This 2014 Christian dramacomedy film revolves around the story of devout Christian student Josh played by Shane Harper who is on a mission to prove the existence of God to his college philosophy professor Mr. Jeffrey Radisson. An atheist, Radisson asks his students to sign a declaration saying that God is God to pass his class, but Josh refuses to do so and stands by his belief. The rest of the film will focus on Josh’s series of debates with Radisson to prove God’s

existence that will also reveal the professor’s background. 2. “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973) This 1973 musical drama film deals with Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus Christ which led to the latter’s crucifixion. Based on the rock opera of the same name, the performance of Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson earned them nominations for the Golden Globe Awards in 1974. 3. “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) Continued on Page SF4

“God’s Not Dead” (2014)

“Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973)

features SF3 China Southern Airlines: Another viable option of flying to the Philippines The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – March 25, 2016

ONE of the most precious traits of the Filipinos is our close family ties. Compared to other cultures Filipinos keep their relationship with their families intact. That being said, for us Filipinos who are residing overseas “vacation” generally means taking a trip back to the Philippines to visit and spend sometime with our families and friends. Naturally a trip way across the other side of the globe could be expensive especially during holidays when we all wish to be with our families. Fortunately there

are several options available to Filipinos flying to the Philippines or to any points in Asia. One of them is China Southern Airlines, which flies to Manila with a stopover at Guangzhou, China. China Southern Airlines is Asia’s largest airline in fleet size and passengers carried. It is therefore a surprise to know that many Filipino travelers have not flown or traveled via China Southern Airlines, which offers one of the lowest fares going to Asia if you travel at the right time, day or month.

For its LAX-Guangzhou flights the airline utilizes its new Airbus 380 aircraft which passengers will find very efficient, with comfortable economy seats. China Southern Airlines A380’s eight exclusive “Platinum” Privates Suites offer the finest in customer service amenities like a motor-driven seat that is fully adjustable to any preset position and a 33 inches wide and 80 inches long full flat beds. Its SFO-Guangzhou flights meanwhile uses the Boeing 787s, and from New York, it’s the Boeing 777s.

CZ A380 First Class

CZ A380 Platinum Private Suite

CZ A380 Business Class

CZ A380 Economy Class

China Southern Airlines’ Airbus 380 aircraft that flies the LAX-Guangzhou route.

In addition, China Southern Airlines has one of the shortest layovers, with only about 1 hours and 30 minutes. If you are a US passport holder you are granted a visa free stay of up to 72 hours when taking an international transfer via Guangzhou. Plus China Southern Airlines passengers with layover between 8 to 48 hours may now be offered complimentary hotel accommodation – which could reach up to five-star standard. The next question is: What do you do if you are stuck in Guangzhou for a long layover? Don’t despair. You will not run out of things to see and do in Guangzhou if you want to explore the city using the 72-hour free visa program. One option is to take the one and a half hour evening cruise on the Pearl River. This cruise comes with a private hotel transfer plus a knowledgeable private guide to point out all the highlights to you. This cruise takes you beneath the striking Guangzhou and Haizhu bridges, pass the glittering landmarks like the Zhuhai Square, the Aiqun Mansion, once considered China’s highest building, the North Gate Square of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and the amazing architecture on Shamian Island. The cruise will also take you to White Goose Pool, also known as “Night Moon Over the Goose Pool”, one of Guangzhou’s top attractions. You’ll also see Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangdong Art Museum and Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum on Ersha Island. Back on solid ground you may want to see the Canton Towers, which at one point was the largest in the world, and still dominates Guangzhou’s modern skyline at over 2,000 feet. It is home to the world’s highest and largest outdoor observatory. You may also visit Yuexiu Park. There’s so much history here. However, this park is so big that you can spend at entire day just exploring it on its own. There are old city walls, unique sculptures

Participants to the joint DOT-GTT-China Southern Airlines Fam Tour to Guangzhou and the Philippines held November 2015.

and lakes with paddle boating. If you have time, check out Guangzhou Xiangjiang Safari Park, the largest animal park in Asia with more than 400 species of wild animals including more than 70 white tigers. Of course, you won’t want to leave Guangzhou without trying Cantonese food, especially the dim sum which ranks the best in the whole country. International long haul flights, no doubt, could be very exhausting. A relaxing city tour in Guangzhou is an excellent way to break that long journey to your final destination, as personally experienced by travel agents who participated in the Fam Tour jointly organized by GTT International/Majestic Vacations and China Southern Airlines last November 6 to 13, 2015 headed by GTT International Regional Director Eliza Chung and Flora Wang, China Southern Airlines’ Director, Sales Development Division Southwestern Region and Purificacion Molintas, PDOT-San Francisco Tourism Attache. The fam tour was held in cooperation with the Philippine Department of Tourism as part of continuing education of travel agents on Philippine tourism products. Of course, for Filipinos a trip to the Philippines would seem incomplete without visiting

Boracay, Palawan, Cebu and other popular tourist destinations in the country, which are among the highlights of various Fam Tours held last year. Boracay, which is consistently rated as one of the top beach destinations in the world is high on everyone’s list. The same could be said about Palawan which boasts of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, named as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, Coron and El Nido – both of which are attracting local and foreign tourists alike all year round. So, for your next trip to Asia, you may want to try flying China Southern Airlines. You will not only get a real value for your money, you will also have the chance of exploring Guangzhou before heading to the Philippines and enjoying our own amazing tourist destinations. *** Manny V. Ilagan is a Tourism Specialist with over 23 years experience in the tourism and travel industry. He provides travel consultancy services to some of the biggest wholesalers and tour operators in the country as well as to some airline companies. He is the former Tourism Director-OIC of the Philippine Department of Tourism-Los Angeles, where he worked for over two decades. As a writer, he has written numerous articles about travel and tourism which have been published in various Filipino-American newspapers in Los Angeles.

SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 25, 2016

celebrity world By Ferdie Villar REIGNING Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is no longer a member of “Team Sawi,” as the Filipina beauty queen is apparently dating Mikhail “Doc Mike” Varshavski, who was named the “Hottest Doctor Alive” by People magazine in 2015. Initially, the two met last month and the 26-year-old Filipino-German beauty diffused rumors that they are romantically involved. In fact, during an earlier Facebook Live session, Pia told her fans that she was not dating anyone. “No, there’s no specific someone in my life,” she said and then added, while holding onto her sash, “This is the specific someone. This is the priority.” However, a fan was able to get an earlier screen grab of Pia’s relationship status on her Facebook account from “Single” to “In A Relationship with

Mikhail Varshavski.” (The status update has since been deleted). Still, a series of intimate selfies was by the couple was posted on Twitter and Instagram, as well as snaps that were uploaded on Snapchat. Finally, the New York-based doctor admitted to a Hollywood-based celebrity website over the weekend that he is, indeed, dating Pia. “I am dating Pia,” he told Wonderwall. “It’s a fairly new relationship but I’m really excited to see where it can go!” Although our Miss Universe tried to keep mum about what’s going on with her personal life, she at last gave in during an interview with Mario Lopez on “Extra.” Pia, together with Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan, were asked by the host about their love life. With a little prodding about whether there is a “Mr. Uni-

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach now dating ‘hottest doctor alive’

verse” in her life, Pia simply said, “I’m dating.” *** The Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla is back into acting via ABS-CBN’s newest teleserye, “The Story of Us,” with Xian Lim and Kim Chiu. The singer/actress plays Kim’s estranged mother, who left her family to find a better life in New York. Xian and Kim, one of the hottest love teams in the Philippines today, were also thrilled to be back, after the latter’s hiatus from TV for a year. “The Story of Us” is a story of two people destined for each other, but fate and life situations forced them to be apart. In the series, their love will be tested through distance, trials and differences. It is also a cinematographer’s dream, as part of the series was filmed on the beautiful island of El Nido, Palawan and in New York.

Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla is back on the boob tube via ABS-CBN’s newest teleserye, “The Story of Us,” with Kim Chiu and Xian Lim. Reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and “Hottest Doctor Alive” Mikhail Varshavski have both admitted that they are dating. (Photo from Instagram @doctor.mike)

Xian Lim and Kim Chiu, one of the most sought-after love teams in the Philippines today, star in ABS-CBN’s newest teleserye, “The Story of Us,” which was shot in the beautiful island of El Nido, Palawan.

Our condolences to celebrity siblings Janice and Gelli de Belen, for the passing of their mother Cynthia Susan de Belen, who died last Saturday, March 19 due to organ failure. Shown in photo are Janice and Gelli with Mrs. de Belen when she was in the hospital. (Photo from Instagram @super_janice) Comedian Michael V remains a loyal Kapuso as he recently renewed his contract with GMA 7. At present, Michael is part of the longest-running gag show “Bubble Gang,” family-oriented sitcom “Pepito Manaloto,” and is now the host of the musical competition, “Lip Sync Battle Philippines.”

Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards — popularly known as the Aldub — continue to be the phenomenal love team to beat as they achieved another rare feat: being in the Guinness World Record list for “The most used hashtag (#AlDubEBTamangPanahon),” with over 40 million uses.

In a series of Instagram posts last week, TV host and actress Kris Aquino said she is leaving ABS-CBN, her home network for almost 20 years, to focus on her health, family and businesses.

Donna Cruz is back... but not totally three. Her kids Belle, 16; Sean, 13; and Gio, 8 all support her showbiz comeback, even if they DURING her heyday, Donna Cruz was local showbiz’s original were too young to remember their mother during her prime Multimedia Star, making her as a singer-actress. Donna has mark in music as well as other officially returned to singing with forms of media. the release of a new album. Looking back now, Donna Donna says her return to the realizes what a big risk she took, giving up her career just when it scene though, is not really what was peaking.“Ang dali ko siyang one would call a full comeback. “It’s only for singing muna, kasi na-give up,” she reflects. ‘yon naman ang first love ko Donna was only 21 years talaga,” she says, adding that old when she married Dr. Yong she’s glad Star Music waited until Larrazabal and gave up her career for a new life as a wife and she was really ready. “If I really mother. Following her marriage, missed something ever since I got married, it’s singing and the Donna moved to Cebu (where her husband is from) and settled feeling that people like listening to my songs and my singing. It’s there, leaving Manila and her showbiz life behind. Her mother one of my greatest joys in life. Yollie admits that she shed tears Singing is my first love and I will over Donna’s decision, although always go back to it.” A lot has changed about the it turned out to be the right one. business since she first entered Says Donna: “It was a big risk it in the ’90s, but Donna’s not (that I took), pero no regrets. worried about competition or Sobrang blessed ako.” adjusting to the new scenario. In Donna is now a mother of

fact, she’s pleasantly surprised that people still remember her music and that some of the young artists today — like Janella Salvador, who did her own version of Donna’s original hit, “Kapag Tumibok ang Puso” for her own album — are still singing her songs. Star Music audio content head Jonathan Manalo says they really waited for Donna to become available for this project. “We have what we refer to as ‘legacy artists,’ ‘yung mga nakapag-iwan talaga ng tatak sa industry. Lani (Misalucha) was the first. After her album, nag-iisip kami kung sino pa ang pwede, and that’s when we thought of Donna.” Although she has chosen to focus on her music for now, Donna is not closing her doors to other opportunities that might come along. “May mga offers,” she confirms. The only concern is that since she is based in Cebu,

doing a teleserye, with its shooting schedule, might pose a bit of a problem, but otherwise Donna is excited to be back and return to where it all began.

Sit back, relax and reflect...

This biographical drama film based on a memoir tells the story of a homeless salesman and single father played by Will Smith, who has to endure a lot of difficulties, aside from having no place to go, to give his only son a better life. 6. “Pay It Forward” (2000) This novel-based film title was the name of the charitable program devised by seventhgrader Trevor McKinney as part of his assignment given by his social studies teacher Eugene Simonet. Eyeing to make the world a better place to live in, the goodwill movement did not only affect the life of his mother but

also hundreds of people as his movement turned into a social phenomenon. 7. “Magnifico” (2003) This highly acclaimed Filipino film revolves around a boy named Magnifico who is from a poor family and community. He touches the lives of the people around him with one little act of kindness at a time. Directed by Maryo J. Delos Reyes, this movie won the Famas Best Picture and Best Child Actor for Jiro Manio. Upon learning that his sick grandmother was dying of stomach cancer, Magnifico devotes his time in preparing a proper funeral for her. (Inquirer.net)

by Boy

ABundA Philstar.com

Cesar Montano came to the defense of his son Diego Loyzaga whom he said was a victim too in the Instagram photo by Cesar Montano recent alleged mauling incident in Taguig City.

Cesar Montano on son Diego Loyzaga: He’s a victim too CESAR Montano defends son Diego Loyzaga from the people bashing him after he was tagged in an alleged mauling incident in Taguig. “Yes, Diego was in the area where the commotion took place but definitely not part of it,” said Montano in a statement he sent to Ginger Conejero, published in ABS-CBN News. “He was a victim, too. He got injured and he has a medical certificate to prove it.” On Monday, March 21, the Lopez brothers claimed that Loyzaga’s group mauled one of them, Paolo, after a “heated argument.” This claim was already denied by the Kapamilya actor and said that he didn’t instruct anyone to hit anybody. Cesar said his son was involved in a “small version of what we used to call back in the day, a rumble.” “The moment it ignited, sa sobrang gulo at dami ng tao hindi mo na alam kung sino ang kakampi mo at sino kalaban mo,” he added. Montano also relayed what his son said happened on the night of March 13 outside a club in Taguig City.

He said his son told him that that he had a “misunderstanding” with one of the Lopezes, but they were able to settle the issue “like real gentlemen.” Until few hours later “this commotion broke out where [a] Lopez brother apparently got beaten up. Sa sobrang dami ng tao, you cannot name names except for the actor himself, my son Diego,” Cesar said. He then continued saying, “the truth of the matter is, from the time this rumble took off, Diego, my son, was a few meters away from where Lopez was being beaten up. Simultaneously, Diego was trying to protect himself from being hit by flying fists coming from different directions.” He also noted that his son was looking for a “safe place” since his nose got punched which is why Diego’s face was covered with blood. “At the end of the day, they need somebody to point their finger at and get all the blames and my poor son was the most qualified because that night he was the only personality you can name and no one else,” he concluded. (Philstar.com)

From Page SF2 This highly successful religious film depicts the final 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life starting with the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, based on the accounts on the New Testament, particularly the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, the movie was nominated for three Oscars at the 77th Academy Awards and was dubbed as the highest grossing religious film of all time despite mixed reviews from critics due

to its very visual and sometimes violent scenes. 4. “The Bucketlist” (2007) This American comedy-drama film follows the journey of two men played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman with terminal lung cancer who went on a road trip after they escaped from the hospital they were confined in. The two, who are total strangers, become friends and list the things they want to do before they die. 5. “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006)

Although she has chosen to focus on her music, Donna Cruz is not closing her doors to other opportunities that might come along.

features SF5 Bohol’s most luxurious resort,‘Eskaya’: A sanctuary like no other A clean and green Plaza Binalonan The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 25, 2016

By Monet

AFTEr having visited real, Quezon, Boracay and Bohol during my month-long vacation in the Philippines, I came to a conclusion that I am certain my friends (who came with me) would likewise agree: My three-night stay at “Eskaya” in Panglao, Bohol is by far the best one ever. Adding the fact that my recent vacation to the Philippines was indeed the most memorable and the one where, I admit, I enjoyed the most. Like any Balikbayan-Bakasyonista, my itinerary surely includes beaches. After all, we have one – if not the most– beautiful beaches in the world. one of my beach destinations is “Eskaya.” I didn’t have a clue where and how famous the resort was until I saw it for myself. An invite stay at the resort was arranged by – and thanks to – my friends reuben and Janet Nepales, who are friends with Phoebe and richard Lim Sr.,, owners of Eskaya. I met them at the Golden Globe Awards 2 years ago When I told my friends that I am invited to this heavenly sanctuary, it literally sent them into vacay-mode overdrive! (It was later brought to my attention that Eskaya is the most luxurious resort in the Philippines, not only in Bohol). So off we went; six of us (Lenit, Payat, Joel, Ero, oning and I). My friends kept telling me great things about the resort. It just dawned on me that the mere mention of its name would really cause anyone to pack up and go. Apparently, the resort bears such an esteemed reputation. The entire place is just oozing with romantic ambiance and zenlike sceneries. Everything – from the sceneries, powdery sand beach front, top-notch facilities to the roofed villas, the food, the lush mountains and crystal-clear beach – is perfect. According to one of the articles written about the resort, “After making an initial P200-million investment in 2007, richard Lim Sr., who first made a fortune in salt and cement richard Lim Sr and his wife, Phoebe opened Eskaya’s first phase in 2009 consisting of 15 Filipino-inspired villas with semi-outdoor bath-

by Paulo

alcazaren Philstar.com

FroM last week’s trip down to Cagayan de oro in Mindanao to visit Gaston Park, we head back to Luzon for the ninth in our series on Philippine plazas. We visit a town in Pangasinan whose origin traces itself back to where farmers used to take their packed food (balon or baon) to enjoy a midday break in the fields just outside modern-day Urdaneta City. I was traveling north on business and decided to take a road trip with a few associates to as many towns in our weekday Richard and Phoebe Lim of Eskaya Resort jaunt as we could. The object was to do a quick documentation of or simply enjoy the warm ambirooms designed by [renowned] these towns’ and cities’ plazas. ance of Lantawan restaurant. The architect Bobby Mañosa. Three I’ll feature the other plazas of of the couple’s four sons—ralph, guests are also serenaded with Pangasinan and Pampanga in wonderful music as they dine. richard Jr. and rex—have since the following weeks, but we start We had the pleasure of dining joined the family enterprise. with the expansive and well-mainwith the owner, richard Lim Sr. Eskaya’s Architect, Francisco tained plaza of Binalonan. on our first night. He was gracious “Bobby” Manosa designed the The town’s origin was as a enough to accommodate my famed Amanpulo resort in Palaland grant to a Spanish official request for a short interview. He wan, and is famous for using the named Don Salvador. The story nipa hut or bahay kubo as inspira- said he wants Eskaya to redeem goes that he ordered workers to Bohol’s place in being a top tion for his designs. construct a simple fence along tourist destination, after its slight My eyes feasted over the his entire property, a project of decline in tourism caused by scenic beach that boasts of powno small size. Don Salvador’s men the 7.2-magnitude earthquake dery sand stretching up to five would bring their food and eat kilometers. It’s the best resort I’ve in 2013. He spoke of plans to under shady camachile trees near ever been to, bar none. We were expand in order to appeal to their the center of the property as it high-end clientele. ushered to our room which I bewas breezy there. As of writing, the plans for lieve is called the “Balai Datu,” or Don Salvador eventually ofthe Presidential suite. It is actually expansion includes construction fered his land for tilling and, when of 9 more villas from the 15 that the largest villa. It has 6 spacious asked how to find it, answered, “It they have. They plan to have 24 rooms and a view of the infinis the place where people bring villas and 60 more deluxe rooms. ity pool. Most of the villas have their balon to eat.” Binalonan in There are also plans to put up their own private pool, outdoor Ilocano means “a place where resorts in Palawan, Tagaytay and showers and whirlpool tubs, and people bring and eat their baon other areas outside of Bohol a stunning view. By the way, the (or balon).” where tourism is currently on the bathroom itself is already a treat! The more formal history of upswing Even the complimentary toiletthe place indicates that the town Well, I bet they would need ries are ‘branded’ (and I meant, was established as a settlement of the expansion especially this Bulgari- branded). Ilocano immigrants who worked They also have the Handuraw summer. I can go on and on as herdsmen and laborers in the about how beautiful Eskaya is Spa situated atop a hill overlookearly 1800s. records state that but there’s only one way to find ing the vast Bohol Sea, which a Fr. Julian Izaga set the original out. And like me, expect to be offers traditional Filipino and site of Binalonan in the barrio of mesmerized by this sanctuary that Asian spa treatments. During our San Felipe. It was later moved is just incomparably magnificent. stay we were welcome to use to the barrio of Santa Catalina, *** all of these amenities, including where the good father conthe swim-up bar, mini library and Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning structed a church and a convent. sport facilities such as the golf celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Initially made of light construction cart, mountain bike, kayak and Monet Salon salons across Southern California materials, the church complex other water sports gears. and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is was rebuilt several times after My favorite of all is the dining known as an all-around artiste who produces an earthquake in 1882 and the experience. All meals are included sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as Filipino-American war. and guests can choose to dine unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is The town grew and estabunder the stars by the poolside, also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural lished itself as a key municipalor at the beachfront with a beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution ity in rice production for the romantic bonfire, and the smell of to discoloration. To contact Monet, please province. The town today boasts food grills wafting through the air visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at a population of close to 60,000. and mixing with the sea breeze, monetsalon@aol.com Its proximity to Urdaneta City has

Binalonan plaza’s wide expanse is as expansive as the Central Plains around it.

contributed to its growth. Mangoes augment its main produce of rice. The town also hosts an airfield for civil aviation and a college related to it, the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College. In 1968 Binalonan was awarded “The Most Beautiful and Cleanest Town in the Philippines” by Malacañang Palace. Since then it has garnered several citations, as “Most Beautiful Plaza and Parks,” “outstanding Community Development Model” and “Urban Model Community,” among others. From Urdaneta City one enters the town off the main highway via McKinley Street. The town’s streets are wide and the streetscape noticeably clean and green. Less than a kilometer in, you will hit the town center, a large four-and-a-half-hectare oasis of green. This greenery is made distinctive because of a forest of mature acacia trees. The majestic canopies remind me of UP Diliman. The town’s website claims they are a century or so in age. The Binalonan city hall complex is inset from the main street about 80 meters and is accessed by a wide driveway, which culminates in a grand fountain. on both sides of the driveway are manicured lawns. When we stopped to take pictures, we saw two horses grazing on the lawn. The city hall structure itself appears to be a ’60s-era structure, a two-story affair, which would benefit from a more imposing façade. It gets lost in proportion to the open space in front of it. Unlike other town plazas, Binalonan’s is less defined by structures along the perimeter than by the trees which frame

Philstar.com photo

and are contained in the space. It might be more appropriate to call the complex a park, as the plaza component is embedded within the green. The locals call the center of this greenery the Binalonan rock Garden. The park and the church complex behind is accessed by a tree-lined “mystic pathway.” The entrance to this pathway holds the 1968 marker that declares the town the most beautiful and cleanest in the country. An odd portal structure was built over this entry, probably in the 1970s, and houses one of the municipal offices above. More recently, on both sides of the pathway, the town has added more small but modern structures, housing a Community E-Center and a Techno-Hub. The rest of the area contains a gymnasium, a large concrete tree house and other elements providing a good variety of facilities to the public. The Sto. Niño parish church at the rear appears also to be a post-war reconstruction or renovation. It sits comfortably in a complex of about a hectare and is accessible from three sides. We noticed several small buildings under construction around the area, but nonetheless the pervasive shade and structure of the acacia canopies seem to smooth out all these separate elements and the space seems to be very popular and well used by the townspeople. I give this plaza a 7.5 out of 10. The town has done a good job of keeping its generous area of green conserved, clean, and well maintained. More Philippine plazas next week as we rediscover public space and its importance to our increasingly urban lives.