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Volume 15 - No. 44 • 3 Sections – 22 Pages

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump blames Obama for PH-US separation

IN response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to sever economic and military ties with the United States, Donald Trump blamed President Barack Obama for the split. The Republican presidential nominee attacked Obama for campaigning for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton rather than “working.” He criticized the president for being “weak” in maintaining the long-standing alliance between the United States and the Philippines. “Why is Obama campaigning? He ought to be out working,” Trump said at a rally in North Carolina on Friday, October 21. “The heads of the Philippines, they’re so angry. [Duterte] leaves for China, [and] he’s now negotiating with China,” Trump said. “We’ve been with the Philippines for, practically, forever. They’re a very important strategic ally, and what happens? China and Russia are probably going to take it, and I

tary assistance in this region,” Goldberg said in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart.” Last year alone, he said the PhilipMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines remains the largest recipient pines received $66 million in foreign of US military assistance in the Asia- military funding that helped purchase Pacific region with $66 million in for- defense equipment. He noted that the US also provided eign funding in 2015. Outgoing US Ambassador Philip $42 million to the Philippines out of Goldberg explained that other coun- $60 million total in the US maritime tries receive larger US assistance be- security initiative. “The Philippines was the largest recause these are “conflict” areas. “Let’s remember that the Philip- cipient. Why? Because it’s our friend, pines is our largest recipient of miliu PAGE A2 by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

US Ambassador Philip Goldberg

Duterte wants present generation to be the last batch of OFWs by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

SPEAKING before the Filipino community in Japan, President Rodrigo Duterte said the current generation will be the last wave of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Ang pagtrabaho n’yo sa ibang bansa, hanggang diyan na lang. Next generation, [sa] Pilipinas na [magtrabaho] (Your work in other countries will end here. The next generation will work in the Philippines),” he said in his speech after arriving in Tokyo on Tuesday,

Worker’s initiative celebrates one year of advocacy ahead of Larry Itliong Day LOS ANGELES – Stephanie Ong couldn’t have anticipated the harsh working environment she would find herself in after travelling to the U.S. from the Philippines for on-the-job training in the hotel and resort management industry. She was physically and verbally abused, given an impossible workload, frequently threatened with deportation and denied overtime pay. After she had been injured by a housekeeping cart that ran over her foot, her supervisors said the La Salle University student’s English was too poor for them to transfer her to a non-menial position. When Ong looked in the mirror, she could see the evidence of her employer’s mistreatment. “I was so skinny, paper thin, and pale like a scavenger,” she told people gathered to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the EMPLEO-Pinoy during the Larry Itliong Parade

October 25. The president also reiterated his promise to boost the country’s economic growth so that Filipinos no longer need to search for a job abroad. “We have to improve the economy na hindi ka na babalik dito, na kung bumalik ka rito, baka-bakasyon na lang (so that you do not have to come back here, and even if you do, it’s just for vacation),” he said, addressing the migrant workers. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were about 2.4 million OFWs in 2015. Duterte also told the Filipino community in Tokyo about his plan to create an OFW bank by buying the

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President Rodrigo Duterte

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ifornia news station KPIX, retired SFPD Lieutenant Eric Quema said the turmoils in the PhilipTHE San Francisco Police pines affects the segments of the District (SFPD) in California has program. The partnership training was put an end to its 16 year-long exchange training program with cut off due to the alleged violathe Philippine National Police tion of human rights and the rising death toll in relation to the (PNP). According to reports from Cal- Philippine government’s anti-ilby DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE US Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with representatives from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and several international law enforcement partners, rescued 82 minors and arrested 239 traffickers and their associates

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FBI helps rescue dozens of trafficked children

Alice Bulos, ‘Grand Dame of Fil-Am Politics,’ passes away

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‘Philippines still largest recipient of US aid in Asia-Paciﬁc’

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SAN FRANCISCO — Alice Bulos, 86, longtime political leader in the Filipino American community passed away Friday, Oct. 21 at 2:23 p.m. She was rushed to Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California but died of heart failure. Known as the “Grand Dame of Filipino American Politics,” she served the Filipino community for nearly half a century, mentoring young Democraticleaning leaders and helping the disenfranchised and underrepresented groups. Bulos represented California at the Democratic National Convention five times. She was an appointee of President Bill Clinton to the Federal Council on Aging in 1993 and was a

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OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

‘Philippines still largest recipient of US aid…

PAGE A1 t

our ally and because it has the need but the Philippines, if it wants its own defense capability, will have to spend more also,” he added. The ambassador said the fundamentals of Philippine-US relationship are “very strong and solid,” but the President’s statements combined with insults and profane language he used against

the US caused uncertainty in the relations. He added that it would be a good step to sit down, constructively talk about what it is at issue, if there are problems, changes required and if there are things that the Philippine side wants. “But right now we’re just dealing with the series of statements without the ability of Cabinet members to really fully explain

or discuss,” Goldberg said. Meeting canceled Meanwhile, a scheduled meeting this month between the US and the Philippine military and defense planners on holding joint military exercises in the country next year has been canceled. Military officials said the joint Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting has been canceled indefinitely. “Originally, the meeting was set last Oct. 24 but was moved to Nov. 22 because we want the meeting to be held after the US elections.” Earlier, the President had declared that under his term, he would no longer allow joint exercises of US and Filipino troops in the country. But a source said the President’s statements have nothing to do with the postponement of the yearly engagements, which include the preparation and planning for next year’s Balikatan exercises, joint Amphibious Landing Exercises and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness Training. The exercises include training on humanitarian and disaster response, which benefited the Philippines largely during the onslaught of killer Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas in 2013. Sources also disclosed that to date, there is no concrete guidance from the President yet to terminate the joint war drills with the US. In the absence of concrete guidance, both military and defense officials are still planning for next year’s bilateral exercises. “We are crafting what would be agreeable for both of us (US and the Philippines Armed Forces) and this will be presented for approval by the President during a Cabinet meeting next month,” a source said. (With Jaime Laude)

STORM SURVIVOR. Supertyphoon “Lawin” (international name: Haima) barreled through Cordillera communities last week but farms that grow strawberries, flowers and salad vegetables survived the onslaught, assuring sufficient supply for All Saints’ Day and the yuletide season. Photo by Ev Espiritu/Inquirer.net

PNP-SFPD exchange training program… PAGE A1 t

he will not judge the Philippines’s war on drugs. “This is someone else’s country, maybe you should live in there and see how it is. It doesn’t justify it or not, but maybe it will give you a better perspective on why they’re coming on so hard,” Quema said. Records from PNP revealed that 1,645 drug suspects were killed from July to October 15 while 22,791 were arrested and

734,231 individuals surrendered to the authorities. Quema then suggested to “try to get some diplomatic talking and communication going on because fighting back and forth just drags everybody down, breaks ties that have been historically there for years.” In its website, the SFPD earlier said the Philippine Exchange Program was “dedicated to the exchange of law enforcement skills and knowledge, and to

the fostering of camaraderie between officers in the Philippines and San Francisco.” It also said that the exchange training is “regarded as the first formal training program established between a U.S. law enforcement agency and the PNP.” Last year, the SFPD operated charity works in Philippine schools and helped with the training of Filipino cops. The SFPD also donated equipment to the PNP. n

Alice Bulos, ‘Grand Dame of Fil-Am Politics,’ passes… PAGE A1 t

named the 2006 Woman of the Year for California’s 19th Assembly District. In 1972, Bulos resigned as the chairwoman of the University of Santo Tomas sociology department to join her husband, the late Mr. Dony Bulos, in the United States. Together they founded the Filipino American Grassroots Movement, a voter registration

drive designed to involve Filipinos in the political process. Bulos also served as the charter president of the Fil-Am Democratic Club in San Mateo County, the regional chair of the National Filipino American Women’s Network and Board member of the National Asian/Pacific Democratic Council. As an advocate on behalf of underrepresented groups, Bulos

chaired the Filipino American Democratic Caucus and was an outspoken advocate for the rights and benefits of Filipino veterans who served during World War II. She also supported workers at the San Francisco International Airport by helping them unionize. Before her health delined she was a constant presence in community affairs and was also a

board member of the San Mateo County Chapters of the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Red Cross, Community Initiative on Multiculturalism and the Northern California Disaster Preparedness Network. Bulos is survived by daughter Elizabeth Ramilo, sister Lourdes Reyes and three grandchildren. (Inquirer.net)

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Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Electric trucks and buses can reduce pollution and create job opportunities New report details public health and economic benefits of cleaner heavy-duty vehicle

SAVING CORALS. Corals illegally harvested from Tayabas Bay in Quezon province are sold for as low as P10 apiece. The threat of coral poaching in Tayabas Bay has surfaced after the recent arrest of a fisherman who yielded 11 sacks of assorted corals harvested in this body of water in Quezon province, said Tanggol Kalikasan, a local environmental group. The depletion of marine resources of Tayabas Bay covering parts of Quezon, Marinduque and Batangas provinces has long been the subject of concern among environmentalists and local governments. Inquirer contributed photo

American couple face trafficking, child abuse raps by Leo

Udtohan Philstar.com

TAGBILARAN CITY — Charges of human trafficking and child abuse were filed against an American couple for running an orphanage here without a permit. Matthew Dwinells, 56, and his wife, Dalisay, 63, were detained at the National Bureau of Investigation office here pending resolution of the complaint at the prosecutor’s office. Attached in the complaint was the joint affidavit of six personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), alleging that the couple could not show proof that the parents of the 25 minors—13 girls and 12 boys—and 13 others, aged 18 and 19, allowed them to bring their children to

Bohol province. Of the 38 children and teens rescued from the orphanage, 35 were from Bohol, two from Leyte province and one from Negros Island. The Dwinells couple are missionaries who identify themselves as directors of the Street Kids Philippine Mission, which has been operating for six years. It rescues street kids in Cebu City. The couple operated an orphanage in a two-story house in Barangay Bool in this city that was raided by NBI agents on Oct. 22 on the request of the DSWD. Interviewed at his detention cell, Matthew claimed they were merely delayed in processing documents needed for the permit to run the orphanage. He dismissed allegations of human trafficking, saying they sought consent from the par-

Trump blames Obama for…

PAGE A1 t

see [Obama] campaigning for Crooked Hillary, come on.” Duterte’s anti-American rhetoric has sparked concern over the Philippine/U.S. alliance, which has remained since 1946 when the Philippines became an independent nation. According to a survey from Pew Research Center, 92 percent of Filipinos hold a favorable opinion of the United States. The Philippine president made international headlines when he announced a separation from the United States and a move to establish relations with China. He later clarified his statements saying that he did not mean a separation of diplomatic and “social” relations, but strictly for economic and military reasons, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. “There are three of us against the world: China, Philippines, Russia,” Duterte said. Countering Duterte’s plans to

cozy up to China, a recent poll from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported that more Filipinos trust the U.S. over China. The survey showed that 76 percent of Filipinos exhibit “much trust” for the U.S. China paled in comparison, garnering a 22 percent rating in the same category. Duterte has also expressed plans to establish an alliance with Russia. When probed about whether he supports Trump or Clinton, Duterte dodged the question and opted to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin who has also expressed antiAmerican sentiments. “I cannot gamble an answer. Because either way it would affect, you know, they might create a hostility here, antagonism here. So I am better off in saying that my favorite hero is Putin,” the Philippine president told reporters upon arriving in Davao City from China on Friday. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Worker’s initiative celebrates…

PAGE A1 t

at St. Columban’s Church on Saturday, October 22. “This was the first time I’ve talked to people about this because, back then, I didn’t have the courage to talk.” Her fears echo the struggles of workers throughout history who suffered abuse at the hands of their employers and lived in fear of retaliation. Ong’s story reminded those in attendance at the public gathering that the fight for fair treatment continues into the present. Before finding the nerve to tell her story in public, Ong reached out to the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC). The nonprofit connected her to mental health professionals to help her cope with the trauma she had endured. They also directed her to the services of the EMPLEO-Pinoy initiative, which helped her find justice and secure her immigration status.

The initiative pairs the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Philippine Consulate, and organizations like the PWC to stop wage theft, employee abuse and child labor and to inform all workers of their rights. “If you are a worker working in the united states, regardless of your immigration status, as a worker you have rights,” said WHD Community Outreach and Resource Planning Specialist, Ralph Valles. “As a partner with EMPLEO-Pinoy Pinoy, the Wage and Hour Division is here to help.” Workers who believe they may be the experiencing unfair working conditions, or employers who are unsure if they are in compliance with labor laws can reach out to EMPLEO-Pinoy by dialing its hotline at (877)-885-6641. (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)

Duterte wants present generation… PAGE A1 t Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PostBank), a government thrift bank that provides services in the ‘unbanked’ areas of the country. A bank that would specialize in OFW services were among his promises to the migrant workers during the campaign period. President Duterte is currently in Japan on a three-day official visit to discuss “greater politicosocial and defense cooperation

particularly in maritime domain awareness and maritime security.” “I go to Japan with full trust that we can understand each other and Japan will understand my position vis-à-vis with the foreign policy that I want to implement. It’s just a question of a policy that is really truly Filipino,” Duterte said at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport prior to his departure. n

FBI helps rescue dozens…

PAGE A1 t

ran from October 13 to 16, 2016. In the Philippines, using information from the FBI, law enforcers recovered two boys, aged 5 and 11, and a two-year-old girl. Authorities arrested five adults who ran a web-streaming service for individuals who would pay for access to livestreaming sexual abuse, as well as access to the children for the purpose of illegal sexual acts. “Operation Cross Country aims to shine a spotlight into the darkest corners of our society that seek to

prey on the most vulnerable of our population,” FBI Director James Brien Comey said. “As part of this effort, we are not only looking to root out those who engage in the trafficking of minors, but through our Office for Victim Assistance, we offer a lifeline to minors to help them escape from a virtual prison no person ever deserves.” Operation Cross Country is part of the FBI’s Innocence Lost Initiative, which began in 2003 and has yielded more than 6,000 child identifications and locations. (ManilaTimes.net)

ents of the 38 children. He could not, however, present a written proof. The couple showed a permit from the Office of the Mayor in Dauis town that authorized them to run an orphanage there. The permit, however, expired on Dec. 31, 2015. “I am not making money from these kids and if I do, I am really a bad person,” Matthew said. “I love the Philippines. I love the kids. We have done nothing wrong. We have nothing to hide.” Matthew clarified that only 32 were under their custody because the six others were with

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OAKLAND, Calif. — California’s emerging market for electric buses and trucks provides a significant opportunity to improve public health in communities most affected by traffic-related pollution and to bring jobs to people who need them most, according to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Greenlining Institute. The report, “Delivering Opportunity: How Electric Buses and Trucks Can Create Jobs and Improve Public Health in California,” examines the state of electric vehicle technology and its potential for reducing pollution from heavy-duty vehicles while creating job opportunities for underserved communities. With the right policies and investments to speed the conversion of trucks and buses to electric power, the report concludes that California can clean its air, cut global warming emissions, and create a more equitable economy. “Advances in technology are making it possible to expand the market for electric heavy-duty vehicles,” said co-author Jimmy O’Dea, a UCS vehicles analyst. “With transportation the biggest source of pollution in California, reducing harmful tailpipe emissions from diesel trucks and buses should be the next frontier in fighting pollution and climate change.” Powering heavy-duty vehicles

with electricity will improve air quality and public health, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color that bear the greatest burdens of traffic-related pollution in California, according to the report. The emerging industry also has the potential to produce wellpaid manufacturing jobs. “Electric trucks and buses – their manufacture as well as their maintenance – can be a great source of jobs for those left out of the economic recovery,” said co-author Joel Espino, legal counsel for environmental equity at the Greenlining Institute. “But it won’t happen automatically. We need to create effective training programs, particularly ones that focus on electrical skills, to improve access to jobs in this emerging sector for low-skilled workers.” Other findings of the report include: • Heavy-duty vehicles are the single largest source of smogproducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) in California and produce more particulate matter (PM) than all of the state’s power plants combined. These vehicles also account for 7 percent of California’s global warming emissions – an amount projected to increase as freight shipments grow. • Electric-powered heavy-duty vehicles are up to four times as energy efficient as diesel and

natural gas engines, while being quieter and boasting similar if not better acceleration times and ability to climb hills. • Ranges of over 100 miles per charge, and charging and refueling times under 20 minutes have been made possible by today’s battery and fuel cell technologies. Some leading electric bus and truck manufacturers in California pay assemblers $13 to $20 per hour to start, higher than the overall median pay for assemblers in California, which ranges from $12.60 to $14.37 per hour. Leading electric bus and truck companies in California typically require 1-3 years of related experience for assemblers, a higher standard than general manufacturing assembler jobs. This restricts entry for low-skilled workers from underserved communities, but effective hiring and job training programs (currently lacking in this emerging field) could overcome that barrier. The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe and sustainable future. For more information, go to www.

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OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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

California’s RN wages now highest in the nation, federal data show by AnA

B. IBArrA California Healthline

DEBORAH Burger, co-president of the California Nurses Association, says that when she started her career as an intensive care unit nurse in the 1970s, a grocery clerk made more money than she did. Things have changed quite a bit since then, especially in California. Registered nurses in the Golden State earn $100,000 a year on average, more than their counterparts anywhere else in the country, according to recentlyreleased data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average hourly wage for registered nurses in California is $48.68 an hour, the 2015 data shows. California also employs the most registered nurses — 255,010 last year. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan area alone employs 70,810 nurses. The only other region employing more than that is New York-Jersey City. Burger, who practices in Sonoma County, said appreciation for the value of nurses has grown over time. Their wages started

rising in the early 2000s, and the female-dominated field began to see some parity with other occupations, such as law enforcement. A 1999 California law mandating specific nurse-to-patient ratios also played a role in boosting registered nurse wages. “I think nurses themselves really started to understand that hospitals don’t function without them and they are indispensable for patient safety,” Burger said. Nurses in Hawaii and Massachusetts earn nearly as much as those in California, with average annual salaries of $90,000 and $88,000, respectively. The national average salary for a registered nurse is $71,000. This makes sense, experts say, considering that living expenses in those three states are high. In addition, the nurse’s union has a strong presence in California. Dr. Joanne Spetz, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, said that despite the high statewide average, it is important to consider regional wage differences. “California is a big state and there is lots of variation,” she said. A nurse working in Bakersfield

probably isn’t making the same salary as one in San Francisco, Spetz said. Incomes of nurses on the pricey Westside of Los Angeles, and in the Bay Area, most likely drive the averages up, Spetz said. The ten locations in the U.S. that pay the highest salaries to registered nurses are all located in California. At top are nurses in San Francisco, who earn $133,000 per year, on average. The city is also known for having the highest rents in the nation. Other high-paying regions for California registered nurses include Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Sacramento and Modesto. Spetz said another reason behind the higher salaries for RNs is that California’s licensed vocational nurses — who receive less training than registered nurses — are not allowed to do as much as their counterparts in other states. For example, LVNs in California cannot administer medication through an intravenous line. This results in a higher demand for registered nurses, who are paid accordingly, Spetz said. In 1999, California passed a law that established minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospi-

tals, driving up demand for registered nurses in particular. In a 2009 study, Spetz and colleagues found that from 2000 to 2006, registered nurses in California’s urban centers saw their wages rise by as much as 12 percent more than RNs in other states. After the implementation of the nurse-to-staff ratios, “wage growth for RNs far outstripped wage growth in other states without such legislation,” the study says.

High demand, the high cost of living and union power underlie the higher salaries of California’s registered nurses. Burger said the nurse’s union has also played a role in assuring that nurses have access to pension plans and that they retire with health benefits. And that’s something that some non-unionized nurses still don’t receive, she said. There’s also been a culture shift. A registered nurse’s job is

no longer to simply carry out a doctor’s orders; there are more functions and responsibilities, Burger said. “We’re also now writing orders that doctors sign off on,” she said. “It’s a little bit of everything.” (This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.)

American couple face trafficking, child abuse… PAGE A3 t

another group living in the same house. Lawyer Arcelito Albao, supervising agent of NBI Bohol, said the Dwinells couple might have used the children to raise money from foreign donors “for personal gain.” But Matthew said the orphanage raised money to fund the education of the children and provide them shelter and food. He said the children were free to leave the center as they pleased and with their families’ consent. Now that the orphanage had been closed down, Matthew was

worried that the children would not be able to go to school. “And they called it a rescue when the kids were happy, healthy and eating? They were

keeping our kids when they were supposed to be in school… That’s a rescue? They were not rescuing anybody, it’s a joke,” Matthew said. n

Electric trucks and buses…

PAGE A3 t

ucsusa.org. Founded in 1993, The Greenlining Institute envisions a nation where communities of color thrive and race is never a barrier to economic opportunity. Because people of color will be the majority of our population by 2044, America will pros-

per only if communities of color prosper. Greenlining advances economic opportunity and empowerment for people of color through advocacy, community and coalition building, research, and leadership development. For more information, go to: www.greenlining.org. n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Dateline PhiliPPines

US turns over second C-130 plane to Philippine Air Force by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA — The second C130 cargo plane that the Philippines acquired from the United States was officially turned over to the Philippine Air Force on Monday, Oct. 24. The C-130 heavy-lift transport aircraft arrived at the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu last October 10. The plane is the fifth C-130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force. During the turnover ceremony at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said that the C-130 planes symbolize the strength of the partnership between the Philippines and the US. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana noted that the importance of the aircraft was seen during relief missions for Typhoon Lawin, according to a

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, right, greets Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as the latter arrives for the formal turnover of the Philippine Air Force C-130T cargo plane (background), the second to be acquired through the United States Excess Defense Articles(EDA) at Villamor Air Base in suburban Pasay City on Monday, Oct. 24.

report from ABS-CBN News. Lorenzana also thanked the US for co-funding the acquisition of the C-130 planes. The Philippines acquired

two C-130 planes through the US Excess Defense Articles for P1.6 billion under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

HARVEST TIME. Sen. Cynthia A. VIllar, happily leads the harvesting of organic ampalaya and other vegetables like upo, patola and mais at the Villar SIPAG farm during the graduation of the third batch of participants on the urban farming training program. The program, which runs for three months, is sponsored by the senator, vice chair of the Senate agriculture and food committee, together with its partners like Villar SIPAG and Allied Botanical Corporation. The latest batch of participants, who came from the NCR and Region 4A, were also given certificates during the graduation ceremony. Senate photo

China donates P90-M in aid to Back to Panatag? Put it in writing Philippines for typhoon relief by eVa

VisPeras Philstar.com

MANILA — China donated a total of P90 million in aid to the Philippines for disaster relief after Typhoon Karen (international name: Sarika) and Typhoon Lawin (international name: Haima) hit the country. During the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to China, Presi-

dent Xi Jinping expressed his condolences during their bilateral talks, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his sympathy as well to his Philippine counterpart Secretary Perfecto Yasay. The Chinese government committed 5 million in yuan which

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua and Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

equals to P35 million to Philippine anti-disaster efforts. An additional P50 million in aid was also donated by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines for the disaster relief of farmers and fishermen in affected regions. Meanwhile, the Red Cross Society of China will also provide a humanitarian aid of $100,000 to the country, which brings the total amount donated by China to P90 million. According to Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, they are still assessing the damage done by the typhoons and how much will be needed to repair it. The Chinese side said it is confident that people in typhoon-stricken areas will overcome the calamity and return to their normal work and lives as soon as possible under the leadership of Duterte. (Kristian Javier/Philstar.com)

LINGAYEN – A local executive of Pangasinan province is set to file a board resolution urging President Duterte to put on paper his assurance that Filipinos can fish again in Chinese-occupied Panatag or Scarborough Shoal and let concerned parties sign it. Fourth district board member Jeremy Agerico Rosario told local reporters yesterday that he and fellow Pangasinenses are happy to hear the President’s announcement after his Beijing trip that Filipino fishermen can gain access to Panatag Shoal. Rosario said those who go there for their livelihood are from Pangasinan towns like Infanta, Dasol, Bolinao and other coastal areas. He said the sea dispute has affected the local fisherfolk’s livelihood badly, as Chinese fishermen would often shoo them away. “There are many people from Pangasinan who are really affected, and we were even witness to some cruelty whenever they go there,” Rosario said. In his visit to typhoon-stricken

A resident prepares to fish in the waters off Barangay Inhobol in Masinloc, Zambales yesterday. President Duterte said Filipino fisherfolk may be able to return to the China-held Panatag or Scarborough Shoal in a few days. The shoal is also called Bajo de Masinloc in Spanish-era Philippine maps. Philstar.com photo by Walter Bollozos

Tuguegarao, Cagayan last Sunday, the President told the locals: “We’ll just wait for a few more days. We may be able to return to Scarborough Shoal, and our countrymen may be able to fish there again.” Saying the local fisherfolk are pinning their hopes on the President’s verbal pronouncement, Rosario pointed out: “It should be in writing so that all can have something to hold on to. That should be put formally in writing, signed by both parties,

so that our fishermen from Pangasinan can continue with their livelihood.” Rosario said the Pangasinan provincial board would hold a “question hour” next session, inviting affected fishermen to shed light on their experiences while fishing at Panatag Shoal. “Rest assured that we will do something out of this effort to hear directly from them and to possibly do whatever we can to help our fishermen,” Rosario said.

OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Features

OpiniOn

Bad apples

AS the saying goes, it only takes one rotten apple to ruin the whole bunch because the decay can quickly spread to the good ones. Such is the case of police officers, whose indiscretion left at least 50 individuals hurt as the dispersal of protestors in front of the United States Embassy in Manila turned violent last Wednesday, October 19. A van, driven by a police officer, repeatedly rammed protesters who gathered near the embassy. The groups that protested were part of the national minority and peasant groups from across the country who came to demand an end to the presence of U.S. troops in the Philippines, and to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for an independent foreign policy. The man behind the wheel, PO3 Franklin Kho, and eight other police officers involved in the violent dispersal were relieved from duty by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). Kho will also be facing criminal charges for serious physical injuries and will be held liable for gross misconduct, particularly violation of existing police operation procedures. Meanwhile, despite valiant efforts by the government to thwart the proliferation illegal drugs in the

country, there are still police personnel who have tested positive for the use of illegal drugs. According to recent reports, 174 police personnel have tested positive for the use of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. Of that number, 167 are uniformed, while the highest ranking official among those who tested positive is a senior inspector. It is an unpleasant sight to see for officers you expect to uphold the law and apprehend criminals, as the same people the citizenry should be afraid of. It is a betrayal of trust and a degradation of peace and security. At the forefront of these scandals is the 160,000strong Philippine National Police (PNP), the central government unit in charge of ensuring the public’s safety and purging misfits from the streets, and now from its organization. PNP Crime Laboratory director Chief Superintendent Aurelio Trampe Jr. said this figure is alarming. “I think it’s alarming because we are supposed to implement the law and they are violating the law cleaning its ranks. they are supposed to implement,” Trampe said as The government has already implemented a “zero he assured that the organization is committed to tolerance” for rogue cops and encourages a more

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

active civic participation for a more proactive approach in crime deterrence and an effective civilian oversight of the police force. (AJPress)

Pres. Trump or Pres. Clinton? We’ll know in less than 2 weeks IN less than two weeks, we know who will be the 45th President of the United States. Have you mailed out your ballots? Are you voting in precincts near you? Or are you staying home, ranting about the problems that beset the country, yet do nothing? Let me share with you the long and winding road that got us to where we are now — with the right of suffrage — the power to choose the leaders of the nation. Read this and do not take our right and obligation to vote for granted. This is from the White House: One of the most important rights of American citizens is the franchise — the right to vote. Originally under the Constitution, only white male citi-

challenging. The zens over the age of 21 franchise was first were eligible to vote. The Fil-Am extended to African This shameful injustice Americans under the has been corrected and Perspective Fourteenth and Fifvoting rights have been teenth Amendments extended several times to the Constitution, over the course of our passed during the history. Today, citizens Reconstruction peover the age of 18 can- Gel SantoS-ReloS riod after the Civil not be denied the right to vote, regardless of race, religion, War. These guaranteed that all male sex, disability, or sexual orientation. citizens, regardless of their race, would However, in every state except North receive equal treatment under the law Dakota, citizens must register to vote, and not be deprived of their rights and laws regarding the registration without due process. The Fifteenth Amendment is specifically dedicated process vary by state. The path to full voting rights for all to protecting the right of all citizens to American citizens was long and often vote, regardless of their race.

For practical purposes, this was not the end of the voting rights struggle for African Americans. Because of widespread discrimination in some states, including the use of poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and literacy tests, African Americans were not assured full voting rights until President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Women were denied the right to vote until 1920, when the Nineteenth Amendment was passed. Prior to that, women had only been able to vote in select states. Federal elections occur every two years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Every member

Blowing up Obama’s pivot, Scarborough not worth a war Commentary

Yen Makabenta BEFORE President Duterte’s “separation from America” declaration is reduced to a mere quibble over semantics, I want to call attention to two toughminded US commentaries on the South China Sea dispute that sharply contrast with the oftentimes tender-minded Filipino view of PH-US relations. The two commentaries are: First, “The Philippines Just Blew Up Obama’s Asia Pivot,” Bloomberg, Oct. 21, 2016, by Eli Lake. Lake argues that Duterte’s pivot to China blows up Obama’s pivot to Asia, and he lays the blame entirely on President Obama and his hemming-andhawing foreign policy. Second, “Is Scarborough Shoal Worth a War?” Human Events?,” May 24, 2016, by Patrick J. Buchanan. Buchanan, presidential speechwriter of Richard Nixon, and one-time US presidential candidate, contends that America should not necessarily fight China if China begins to reclaim and militarize Scarborough Shoal. Duterte’s pivot blows up Obama’s pivot Lake, the Bloomberg columnist, posted his commentary soon after President Duterte’s separation remark in Beijing landed on the front pages and newscasts all over the world. Lake’s commentary is striking for squarely laying the blame for the seeming collapse of the Philippine-US relationship on President Obama. I quote his article at length below: “Does anyone remember

President Barack Obama’s pivot to Asia? The plan was to focus diplomatic and military assets in East Asia to contain a rising China. It was one of the reasons Obama said he was shrinking the American footprint in the Middle East. Well, the pivot is failing. On Thursday, Oct. 20, the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, announced to an audience at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing a “separation” with the US. “America has lost now,” he said. “And maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way….” Duterte’s own government appears to have been kept out of the loop about this new alliance. On Friday, Duterte himself said he did not mean to imply that he would cut diplomatic ties with the US…. Regardless, this is a big story. The Philippines has been an important US ally since the beginning of the cold war. What’s more, the Obama administration has invested in the country as part of its pivot to Asia. In 2014 the two countries signed an enhanced defense cooperation agreement. When the Philippines brought a case against China at The Hague over China’s artificial islands in its territorial waters, the US supported the Philippines diplomatically. In July, The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines. This would have been an opportunity for the US to turn the screws on China. But instead the Obama White House encouraged China and the Philippines to resolve the matter themselves after the ruling of the international tribunal. At the end of August, Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters that the US was not interested in “fanning the flames of conflict but rather trying to encourage

the parties to resolve their disputes and claims through the legal process and through diplomacy.” Duterte has now taken Kerry’s advice. After announcing his country’s new alignment with China, Duterte signed a series of trade agreements worth $13.5 billion, along with a promise to continue bilateral negotiations over the South China Sea. Dan Blumenthal, the director of Asia studies at the American Enterprise Institute, told me Friday that the Obama administration had fumbled. “After the tribunal decision, our response was to tell Duterte to tamp down tensions and talk bilaterally with China, and there was no evidence of follow-up by us in terms of our own military exercises or diplomatic initiatives to enforce the findings of the tribunal,” he said. “There has been next to nothing on this. We still haven’t had a Freedom of Navigation mission that actually challenges the Chinese artificial islands.”…. The Obama administration acted as if international law would implement itself. But it never works that way. The rulebased system Obama endorses requires a great power to defend it.” Scarborough not worth a war I will give Buchanan’s piece on Scarborough Shoal equal treatment by quoting it at length here: He wrote: “If China begins to reclaim and militarize Scarborough Shoal, says Philippines President Benigno S. Aquino III, America must fight. Should we back down, says Aquino, the United States will lose “its moral ascendancy, and also the confidence of one of its allies.” And what is Scarborough Shoal? A cluster of rocks and reefs, 123 miles west of Subic Bay, that sits astride the passageway

out of the South China Sea into the Pacific, and is well within Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Beijing and Manila both claim Scarborough Shoal. But, in June 2013, Chinese ships swarmed and chased off a fleet of Filipino fishing boats and naval vessels. The Filipinos never came back. And now that China has converted Fiery Cross Reef and Mischief Reef into artificial islands with docks and air bases, Beijing seems about to do the same with Scarborough Shoal. “Scarborough is a red line,” says Gregory Poling of the Center for Strategic and International studies. To allow China to occupy and militarize the reef “would clearly change the balance of power.” Really? But before concluding that we must fight to keep China from turning Scarborough Shoal into an island base, there are other considerations. High among them is that the incoming president of the Philippines, starting June 30, is Rodrigo Duterte, no admirer of America, and a populist authoritarian thug who, as Mayor of Davao, presided over the extrajudicial killing of some 1,000 criminals during the 1990s…. In a clash with China, this character would be our ally. Indeed, the rise of Duterte is yet another argument that, when Manila booted us out of Subic Bay at the Cold War’s end, we should have dissolved our mutual security pact…. What vital interest of ours is imperiled by who owns, or occupies, or militarizes Scarborough Shoal? If US rights of passage in the South China Sea are not impeded by Chinese planes or ships, why make Manila’s quarrel with China our quarrel?…. Should Beijing insanely decide to disrupt commercial traffic in that sea, the response is not to send a US carrier strike group PAGE A7

of the House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection in any given election year. A presidential election is held every fourth year. Vote on or before November 8! Before that, watch Balitang America’s “The Fil-Am Vote 2016” on Saturday, October 29 at 6:15 p.m. with a replay on Sunday, October 30 at 11:15 p.m. on The Filipino Channel. *** 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

An open letter to Filipino-Americans Mga magiliw na kapatid, kapwa Pilipino: We cannot sit idly by while one person singularly misrepresents the feelings of the people of the Philippines toward America. To the best of our abilities, each of us should do whatever we can attY. JoSé Y. lauchenGco, JR. about it. Though we, FilipinoAmericans, love America, we do not lose our very dear sentiments to, and our memories of, the land of our birth. Our children and grandchildren are Americans. But they do not lose their Filipino ethnicity. There are more than four million of us in America, and we should rise to the occasion. The Philippines is in crisis! The close relationship between the two countries should not be decimated. Without hesitation, I say that there are millions and millions of Filipinos in the Philippines, as well as overseas workers who feel the same. We are aware that there have been shortcomings on the part of the U.S. government toward the Philippines pertaining to trade and commerce, and very particularly, to its immigration policies and the arrogance of consular officials in Manila. And of extreme importance, is the failure of Washington to give ironclad guarantees … as it gave to its allies in Europe, that the Philippines is vital to its interests and would militarily defend the country in the event of violations to its sovereignty. These are a breach of the close relationship, praised as brotherhood forged in battles and sealed in blood. The cemeteries of Filipino and American heroes lie side by side, and by the headquarters of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio. These notwithstanding, Filipinos remained resilient and patient. Washington, however, mismanaged its geopolitical relations with the Philippines. Have they lost a strategically located ally? But we, Filipino-Americans, must nevertheless stand up. We call the attention of the Philippine Army that they are the Army of the Philippines … their fellow Filipinos, and NOT the Army of a single man, though he may be the president. Conflicts will rise in their breasts between their duty of obedience to the Commander in Chief, against their innate obligation … borne from moral principles and faithful loyalty to the people. The latter must supersede. Their oath is fidelity to the Constitution, not to a single person: To uphold and defend the Constitution against enemies at home and abroad! The same applies to officials of the country, former or incumbent, as they are the grass root leaders of the mass. It is true that the newly elected president won by more than six million votes. But the question arises: Would he have won by that margin if he had been truthful to the people and disclosed that he harbored antipathy toward America? He misrepresented himself, publicly advocating, but without telling how, only the obliteration of overwhelming drug abuse, stopping corruption, and decreasing the high crime rate. Who would not have fallen for that platform? But the masquerade has now unfolded. Where do we, ethnic Filipinos, stand? Ultimately, the citizens of the Philippines will make the decision. Mabuhay! Jose Y. Lauchengco Jr. Attorney-at-Law, Los Angeles, California

Commentary

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Boracay rules ‘world’s best islands’ list MANILA — Readers of international magazine Condé Nast Traveler recently voted Boracay Island as the Best Island in the World of 2016 after failing to make it in the past two years. “This itty-bitty island (10square mile) in the Western Philippines is as close to the tropical

idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and transporting sunsets. Add in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region,” Condé Nast Traveler wrote. “The aptly named White Beach is Boracay’s main draw, with

Boracay Island is this year’s Condé Nast Best Island in the World.

powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling,” it added. Boracay only ranked 12th and 13th, respectively in the last two years. However, it now bested other world-famous islands such as Bali, Indonesia (10); Tahiti, French Polynesia (15); and Santorini, Greece (17). Aside from Boracay, two other Philippine islands made it to the Condé Nast’s Top 20 Best Islands in the World list. Palawan ranked second while Cebu landed to the fifth spot in the list. This is the third time that one of the Philippines 1,107 islands topped the World ‘s Best Island list by Condé Nast readers. Palawan was named the world’s best in 2013 and 2015. Philippine Department of Tourism in New York representative Zenn Pallugna accepted the plaque of recognition on behalf of the country. The awards night where over 100 awardees were presented was held at the 1 World Trade Center in New York City. Pallugna said that the interna-

tional recognition of the country’s top island destinations is a big boost to sustained tourism efforts which seek to encourage more travelers to visit the Philippines and experience its beauty and culture. “The prestigious destination awards we garnered this year from the readers of American travel publications, such as Conde Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure, reinforce our destinations’ image and ignite curiosity and interest of the affluent American travelers to visit the Philippines,” Pallugna said. This year, more than 300,000 travelers took part in the 29th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards Survey of Condé Nast to vote for their chosen islands. Condé Nast is a premiere media company in the US renowned for producing high-quality content for the world’s most influential audiences that attracts over 164 million consumers across its 20 print and digital media brands, including The New Yorker, GQ, Golf Digest and Vogue. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com)

DSWD unearths more ‘Yolanda’ anomalies by Catherine

S. Valente

Manilatimes.net

IT has been three years since Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) wrecked large areas in the Visayas but the government response to help victims remains a controversial issue as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday claimed it found cases of irregularities in the dispersal of aid. Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said her department conducted an internal assessment of donations given to the government following complaints from Yolanda victims who did not receive

emergency assistance. “There are around 200,000 claimants who expressed the complaint that they were victims of Yolanda in Region 8 and Region 6 but they were not given the assistance needed,” Taguiwalo said during a press conference. She said the aid should have been urgently released and “not three years, not two years after.” “I think, generally, the money has gone to the people but there are cases of irregularities, non-compliance or nonimplementation… The disqualification, the exclusion of emergency shelter assistance

Blowing up Obama’s pivot...

PAGE A6

to blast their artificial islands off the map. Better that we impose a 10 percent tariff on Chinese-made goods, and threaten an embargo of all Chinese goods if they do not stand down. And call on our “allies” to join us in sanctions against China, rather than sit and hold our coat while we fight their wars.

This economic action would send China’s economy into a tailspin, and the cost to Americans would not be reckoned in the lives of our best and bravest.” Japan’s dispute with China For the record, Buchanan has also written that there is no vital US interest involved in the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu islands to China), which are bitterly dis-

for victims of Yolanda is widespread,” Taguiwalo said. Some of the irregularities include delays in the release of emergency assistance to typhoon victims. In some cases, she said some victims were not relocated because of the ban on giving assistance to residents living in danger zones. Some victims also failed to receive assistance because they were not part of political groupings. “It went through the local government units and again, there was unfair treatment. So, there were people who were victims of Yolanda but who were not part of the po-

litical groupings of particular local government officials so they were excluded. We have that a lot,” Taguiwalo said. The DSWD secretary said her department had already submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte a report on the supposed irregularities. “We have submitted the report to the President already of a particular irregularity and we have asked him to initiate the investigation. So we will come out with that by next month — before the third year of Yolanda,” Taguiwalo said. She clarified that the internal assessment was not meant PAGE A8

puted by China and Japan. If the two countries come to blows, the US should not necessarily fight for Japan, says Buchanan. It will be interesting to see how President Duterte and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will tackle our respective territorial disputes with China, during Duterte’s three-day visit to Japan this week. Abe and Duterte will hold a bilateral meeting and are expected to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

Abe, thinking of the Senkaku islands, will be keen to discuss with our President the sea dispute between the Philippines and China. When the Philippines’ claim to the West Philippine Sea was affirmed by the arbitration tribunal, Japan backed the ruling and urged China to comply. Meanwhile, the biggest military superpower on earth, America, has become just an observer of unfolding events. (ManilaTimes.net)

ERUPTION. Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon generated another phreatic eruption on Sunday, Oct. 23 that lasted for 15 minutes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The explosion – the fourth recorded in a week – produced a dirty white to grayish ash column that reached 2.5 kilometers high and drifted west-southwest. The agency, however, did not mention in its report whether there were communities affected by the explosion. Phivolcs said the eruption originated from the summit crater, while a smaller eruption also transpired at the southeast vent. Philstar.com photo by Jeric de la Rosa

OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Robredo denies discussing Rody ouster with UN

MASKED WINNERS. Barangay Granada was adjudged grand slam winner in the arena dance competition’s barangay category of the MassKara Festival, Bacolod City’s top tourist attraction, which ended on Sunday night after 23 days of festivities. Inquirer.net photo by Andy Alvarez

Kerwin Espinosa out of Abu Dhabi jail in one month? by RainieR

allan Philstar.com

Ronda

MANILA - Alleged high-value drug personality Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. may get out of jail in Abu Dhabi in a month’s time. Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Constancio Vingno Jr. told UAE daily The National that Espinosa, now detained at the Al Wathba jail, was being investigated by authorities and may be set free after the probe. “We were told that after completion of all the paper Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. work, he could be released in saying. a month’s time,” Vingno was “That depends on whether quoted by The National as or not he has committed any

crime here,” Vingno said. Espinosa, the subject of a manhunt for his alleged illegal drug trafficking activities in the Philippines, has reportedly sent word that he wanted to surrender as he also fears for his life, according to Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa. Last August, President Duterte issued a 24-hour “shoot-on-sight” order against Kerwin and his father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., saying the two were involved in drugs. Fearing for his life, the town mayor surrendered to authorities.

DSWD unearths more ‘Yolanda’ ... PAGE A7 to find fault but to set guidelines on how to properly respond to disasters. One guideline being implemented by the DSWD right now is the immediate release of emergency shelter assistance to victims belonging to the poorest of the poor. “So, I think, the spirit there is we don’t want any form of irregularity, of any corruption. The President is very clear about it. Our marching orders from Day One is (to give)

prompt and compassionate assistance,” Taguiwalo said. “So we are doing our best to make sure that the Yolanda experience in terms of delayed provision of emergency shelter assistance should not be repeated,” she added. Yolanda, considered the deadliest typhoon to hit land in recent history, battered the Eastern Visayas Region in late 2013, killing more than 6,000 people and displacing millions. The devastation galvanized countries into action. Foreign

aid, according to the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub, amounted to $386.2 million. Even before he officially assumed office, Duterte has been urged to investigate alleged irregularities in the distribution of the funds under the administration of his predecessor, Benigno Aquino 3rd. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon himself visited Tacloban City in Leyte, one of the hardest hit areas, to assess the damage and rehabilitation efforts being undertaken by the government.

MANILA - The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo dismissed speculation that she had a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Ecuador to seek the global body’s support to unseat President Duterte. Georgina Ann Hernandez, Robredo’s spokesperson, made the statement in reaction to social media posts saying Robredo traveled to Ecuador from Oct. 15 to 19 to seek Ban’s blessing to oust Duterte. The President had earlier cursed the UN official for criticizing his war on drugs. Hernandez said Robredo flew to Quito, Ecuador as head of the Philippine delegation for the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development. Robredo chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. “She had only a picture taken with him (Ban)… They had small talk, it was a very informal meeting,” Hernandez said. Robredo’s photo with Ban was posted on her official Facebook account. Hernandez said Robredo was “saddened” that some people resort to spreading false in-

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo dismissed yesterday speculation that she had a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Ecuador to seek the global body’s support to unseat President Duterte. Georgina Ann Hernandez, Robredo’s spokesperson, said Robredo flew to Quito, Ecuador as head of the Philippine delegation for the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.

formation, especially through social media. Robredo has repeatedly expressed her support for Duterte and his administration. Hernandez, meanwhile, said the Vice President remains focused on her job in the housing sector and in helping Filipinos affected by Typhoon Lawin. “We just want to focus on our job,” she said.

Duterte’s ally, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, had accused the Liberal Party, which is headed by Robredo, of attempting to oust Duterte using the issue of extrajudicial killings. Cayetano said an obvious beneficiary would be Robredo, who would take over as president if Duterte is ousted. (Helen Flores/Philstar.com)

SE Asia faces rising threat from IS groups, says study SOUTHEAST Asia faces a growing risk of extremist violence as Islamic State group supporters increasingly work together, but law enforcement agencies are unprepared for the new threat, a report warned Tuesday, Oct. 25. The main danger lies in the strife-torn southern Philippines, where a handful of Islamic extremist groups have sworn allegiance to IS, according to the report from thinktank the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC). The groups have links to other parts of the region, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia, and IS has endorsed a Philippines-based militant as “amir”, or leader, for Southeast Asia, the report said. “ISIS has deepened cooperation among extremist groups in Southeast Asia,” said the report, using another name for IS, adding the trend had widened the “extremist recruitment pool” and opened new channels for international

funding and communication. “More deadly violence in the Philippines involving alliances of pro-ISIS groups is a matter of when, not if. It may also increase the possibility of crossborder extremist operations.” However it noted that “most law enforcement agencies retain a strongly national orientation, without in-house expertise on groups outside their own borders”. While IS is rapidly losing territory in Iraq and Syria, the effect may be to increase the risk of revenge attacks in Southeast Asia, said the report by Jakartabased IPAC, headed by terrorism analyst Sidney Jones. The warning came as the United States ambassador to Manila, Philip Goldberg, said Tuesday that America wants to remain involved in the campaign to quell Islamic militancy in the southern Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to kick out US forces. Parts of Southeast Asia have

long struggled with Islamic militancy and hundreds of radicals from the region have flocked to join IS. Southeast Asians fighting for the jihadists have formed their own unit in the Middle East, called Katibah Nusantara, and are believed to be in regular contact with militants back home. The region suffered its first IS attack in January when extremists launched a deadly suicide bombing and gun assault in Jakarta. The IPAC report examined four pro-IS groups in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao and their links to neighboring countries. It said the Maute group, which is accused of carrying out a bombing in Duterte’s southern home town of Davao in September that killed 15 people, had the “smartest, best-educated and most sophisticated members.” (ManilaTimes.net with reports from AFP)

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Journal

It’s October – time to celebrate Filipino-American History Month

Your Immigration Solution Devin Connolly OCTOBER is officially designated Filipino-American history month. It is a month for all of us to specifically recognize Filipinos’ role in American history as well as the ongoing contributions of Filipino-Americans to the United States. The White House and President Obama issued a press release on October 1, 2016 praising the countess contributions the Filipino-American community has made to this country. President Obama said he was pleased to celebrate FilipinoAmerican History Month, in part because it recognizes the “many ways that Filipino-Americans have enriched our society across our country.” As stated in The White House’s press release, Filipinos began arriving in the U.S. way back in the 16th century. They initially arrived in Morro Bay, California, and it is believed that Filipinos were the first groups of immigrants from Asia to arrive

in the U.S. But Filipinos did not limit themselves to simply California. Rather, they eventually began to settle throughout the U.S. The result is that there is now evidence of the Philippines’ rich tradition and culture in every state in the U.S. President Obama also discussed the many ways in which Filipinos have contributed to this country. He specifically mentions that Filipino arrivals and native-born U.S. citizens of Filipino ancestry have become artists, educators, teachers, etc. Special attention should also be given to the fact that Filipinos have long served in the United States’ armed forced. Filipino citizens notably served during World War II in an effort to help protect the U.S. and our way of life. Some of these brave individuals are unfortunately still waiting for their family members to join them in the U.S. Hopefully President Obama’s administration’s enactment of the “Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program’ will help these veterans be reunited with their family members very soon. This program allows certain Filipino-

American veterans to request that their family members join them in the United States while they await the issuance of their permanent resident status. When we think of October celebrations, most people likely immediately think of Halloween. However, in addition to trick-ortreating this year, we should all be sure to recognize and celebrate Filipino-American history month. For centuries FilipinoAmericans have played a role in shaping the U.S., and their culture and traditions can now be felt from coast-to-coast. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)

Banking system remains ‘sound, stable,’ BSP says by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

CONTINUING reforms in the banking sector have led to a domestic financial system that remained “sound and stable” in the first half, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday, Oct. 25 “With the banking system at its core, the financial system continued to provide needed funding to a growing economy” during the first semester, the BSP said in a statement. The Philippine economy grew by 6.9 percent in the first half, among the fastest in the region. The BSP noted that from January to June, it had put in place additional Basel Ill reforms that would improve the banks’ liquidity standards, mitigate systemic risks through the recovery plan on domestic systemically important banks (DSIBs), enhance risk management oversight and corporate governance standards, as well as

lion last year. However, the figure was 6.67 percent below the P36.52-billion MANILA, Philippines — The target set for the month. The data Bureau of Customs missed its was based on final revenue colcollection goal for September lection report submitted to the even as its total haul improved Bureau of the Treasury. Last week, Customs reportfrom same period last year. In a statement on Wednes- ed preliminary data showing day, the agency said it collected it raised P33.002 billion last P34.23 billion last month, up month against a target of P35.79 4.84 percent from P32.651 bil- billion. by Prinz

P. Magtulis Philstar.com

u PAGE CJ3

Reforms to trigger hike in taxes, says lawmaker by Jess

diaz Philstar.com

strengthen prudential rules on connected lending and related party transactions. As a result of sustained introduction of reforms, the BSP said the banking system had seen its asset grow by 12.2 percent to P12.5 trillion in the first half, coupled with double-digit expansion in

u PAGE CJ2

When asked why the month’s target changed, Customs public information and assistance division said the number of days of ports operation was changed to take into account holidays during the month. “From 22 days, there were only 21 days used on the final data because of the September holidays,” the division said.

Rep. Romero Quimbo

MANILA, Philippines — The administration is pushing for tax reforms, but ironically, Filipinos will pay more taxes under President Duterte’s watch, according to Deputy Speaker and Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo. In a television interview over the weekend, Quimbo, former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, said while the administration vowed to reduce the amount of tax individual income earners were paying, it was also out to impose more taxes.

“What they would give with their right hand, they would take away with their left hand. In fact, they would impose higher and more taxes,” he said. “They want to withdraw the tax exemptions of senior citizens and persons with disability. They will tax diesel, which public and most transport vehicles use. They will tax cooking gas. They want to collect higher tax on gasoline and cars. These levies will hit not only the middle class but low-income earners as well,” he said. Quimbo cited the proposed higher tax on cars in particular. He said among the vehicles

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OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

Humanitarian parole for urgent medical and family cases

The CTV Files AurorA VegA-Buzon, esq. CARLOS is a married child petitioned by his U.S. citizen father. His priority date is October 30, 1992 and it’s just a matter of months before his visa becomes available. Unfortunately, his father who is 87 years old, suffered a heart attack after Christmas and is now in a care facility. He applied for a tourist visa so he can visit his father but his application was denied. His family wonders if there is a way for Carlos to see his ailing father. Foreign nationals or aliens who have urgent medical and family needs like Carlos - but cannot obtain visas from embassies abroad - can try to apply for a Humanitarian Parole. Humanitarian Parole is highly discretionary and is not an immigration benefit. It is considered as an “extraordinary measure, sparingly used only in urgent or emergency circumstances, by which the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security may permit an inadmissible

alien temporarily to enter or remain in the United States.” It is “not intended to bypass immigration procedures or avoid visa processing procedures and timelines” and is granted only upon clear evidence that the “parole applicant has exhausted visa processes, including any waivers to grounds of inadmissibility.” Section 212(d)(s)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to “in his discretion, parole into the United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe only on a case-bycase basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit any alien applying for admission into the United States,.. .” In practice, the Secretary’s parole authority is delegated to the 3 bureaus of the Homeland Security - the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - who all exercise parole authority concurrently. Humanitarian Parole is categorized based on which agency will receive and adjudicate the application. The following cases must be submitted to the USCIS: 1. Urgent medical, family, and related needs; and 2. Aliens who will participate in civil proceedings where all parties are private litigants. On the other hand, ICE will be the adjudicating authority for the following cases: 1. Aliens who will participate in administrative, judicial, or legislative proceedings, and/or investigations, whether at the federal, state, local, or tribal level of government; 2. Aliens in removal proceedings or who have final orders, as well as aliens granted deferred action by ICE at any point after the commencement of removal proceedings, regardless of whether the alien is within or outside of the US; 3. Aliens

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdeVA MAglAyA (Part 2 of 2)

POOR Echo! Her heart broke into a million little pieces. Beauty and light dissolved into darkness for her until nothing held any meaning. Refusing food and drink, Echo grew pale and consumptive and faded away, leaving only her far-off voice in the distance. It is said that Echo haunts the mountains where she answers all who call but only with the last words. Narcissus meanwhile continued to break one hapless heart after another in the most mean spirited away, until one day, one totally aggrieved nymph with her heart shattered, prayed to the powers that be, for vengeance, to inflict punishment on Narcissus to make him feel the pure pain of unrequited love, to make him feel how it is to give love and have it flung back in his face. Her prayer was heard and in a world of swift and even-handed justice with no lawyers, judges and jury to cloud u PAGE CJ3 the issue, appropriate punishment was served. One day Narcissus chanced upon a pool with water so clear, it looked like a mirror. Bending over to drink, Narcissus saw his own reflection, thought it was a water nymph, and forthwith, was smitten with the image on the pool. He fell in love with the image of himself, hook, line and sinker, not unlike celebrities who read their own press and believe

Health@Heart PhiliP s. ChuA, Md, FACs, FPCs

WE ARE

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Customer Sales and Service Representative

HOW do we know when our heart is failing? This condition could be in its early stage that the individual may not even have enough symptoms to know he/ she has it. And if there are symptoms, even moderate to severe, the diagnosis usually eludes a lay person. In the United States alone, there are about 5.1 million people today who have heart failure. What is heart failure? Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), refers to a condition where the heart muscles become too weak to pump enough blood to satisfy the body’s needs. There are two main ventricles of the heart responsible for pumping blood: the right and left ventricles. The right ventricle pumps used blood back to the lungs for oxygenation, while the left pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs to the entire body. CHF does not mean the heart is about to stop or to have a heart attack. It simply means the heart muscles (usually both the right and left) have been weakened and need help. What causes heart failure? The following can cause CHF: coronary heart disease (with blockage of the arteries supplying oxygen and nutrition to the muscles of the heart), actual heart attack, high blood pressure and diseased heart valves (both increase the work of the heart), cardiomyopathy (either due to alcohol abuse, toxic agents, cocaine, and other illegal drugs, or radiation, chemotherapy), viral myocarditis, congenital heart defects, diabetes, thyroid or kidney diseases, blood clots in the lungs, HIV/AIDS, or even a vitamin B deficiency (beriberi) in very poor regions of the world where malnutrition is rampant. Too much vitamin E has been reported to also contribute to heart failure. And so with obesity, which makes the heart work more. Does sleep apnea cause heart disease? Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) — involuntary breath-holding for prolonged and repeated periods while asleep, especially among those who snore — significantly contributes to increased risk for heart attack, high blood pres-

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The ‘selfies’ generation idolatry on steroids “Vanity of vanities; ALL IS VANITY.”

—Ecclesiastes

them to be true. But I digress. Narcissus tried to embrace his own reflection in the water but his attempt to touch or kiss his beloved ended in frustration each time. The image in the water dissolved into ripples, disappeared and came back on. Narcissus had to be content just by looking at the mirror image of himself in the pool, day and night, without ever knowing the joy of touching or being loved in return. He now knew, up close and personal, the excruciating pain of multiple rejections from the same object of his affection. Still he persisted, becoming rooted to the spot by the pool. He now knew how it is to be on the receiving end of rejection. He slowly pined away, losing his youth and beauty and withering away on the same spot by the pool’s edge with Echo still hovering over him and repeating his poignant last word, “Alas!” as he lay dying. As the woodland creatures prepared to bury his body, Narcissus’ body was nowhere to be found and in its place, stood a flower, bending over the pool, as though admiring itself. Gardeners know this flower as Narcissus. Hence, we call those who exhibit the same folly these days as narcissistic. The irony of it is

that others clearly see it for what it is but the afflicted individual is blind to this egocentric flaw in himself, thinking the world revolves around him. In today’s world, there’s opportunity to cash in on this tragic human flaw and use vanity and self-image as hot buttons to sell their wares: beauty products and services, diet pills and machines and illusions of power and beauty, with remarkable merchandising success. Self-improvement is great but only if it comes quietly from the inside out. Pray that both the “once young” and the young ones don’t fall prey to the trappings of extreme self-absorption that rule the global culture of the present Age of Selfies. In biblical times, it was called idolatry. What we have now is IDOLATRY ON STEROIDS, self-love of biblical proportions. Self love taken to extreme, is something that might account for much of the social problems affluent societies with only one or two self-absorbed children per family, experience and suffer from today. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Is your heart failing? sure (eventually to heart failure), stroke, diabetes, and even cancer. Sleep apnea deprives the person of vital oxygen and the episodes could occur dozens of times in a minute, leading to hypoxia (seriously low level of oxygen), which is bad for all organs. Sudden deaths from sleep apnea have been reported. Once a diagnosis is established by a sleep study, the primary treatment is the use of a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine during sleep for life. The CPAP mask, especially the nasal pillow, is more comfortable than one could imagine, and even “addictive,” providing security and a sense of inner peace. The CPAP could prevent premature deaths. What are the signs and symptoms of CHF? These usually include shortness of breath, especially when they lie flat (with impairment of sleep as a result), dry hacking cough or wheezing, distended neck veins, extreme fatigue, leg swelling, ascites (abdominal fluid formation from swollen liver and other organs), and in severe cases, anasarca (total body swelling), bloating stomach, poor urine output, and weight gain from retained fluid. The nail beds and tips of the fingers might be bluish from lack of oxygen. Loss of appetite and nausea, dizziness, and rapid or irregular heartbeats may also be present. Is there a cure for CHF? In general, heart failure has no cure. The exception is the CHF caused by coronary heart blockage or heart valve disease, where surgery could dramatically tame the heart failure. Basically, the regimen is aimed at managing the associated diseases and the symptoms to make the patient comfortable, improve the quality of life and allow the patient to be active again, or even productive once more. The role of prevention is essential. What then is the treatment? While it is not achievable yet to cure CHF to the point of normalcy of the heart, the main aim of the therapy is to improve the quality of life and endurance of the patient. The strategy includes treating the primary cause and the contributing illnesses (those listed above), low-salt diet, and use of specific medications to eliminate the excess fluid in the body and minimize the cardiac and lung overload, lessening the work of the heart and boosting

the strength of the heart muscles and improve overall cardiac output. Sleeping with elevation of the upper part of the body on several pillows or elevating the head of the bed helps the patient breath better. Bed rest and oxygen are prescribed as needed. What is the role of prevention? Avoidance of the causes, if possible, is obviously the key. Abstinence from cigarettes, alcohol, and other toxic agents, low-salt diet (since salt intake makes the body retain fluids and increases blood pressure), fluid restriction, compliance with medications, regular medical follow-up, and shifting to a healthy lifestyle would greatly help. The patient and family members may also benefit from professional counseling to reduce the fear, anxiety, stress, depression that could adversely affect all of them. Joining a patient support group of peers could provide emotional support and help the patient adjust to his life with heart failure. Does surgery have a role? As stated above, coronary bypass to correct the heart blockages and prevent heart attack, and surgery to repair diseased heart valves, can significantly improve cardiac recovery. But as heart failure worsens, the standard treatment outlined above may no longer help. If the patient’s heart rhythm is disrupted, a cardiac pacemaker may be installed. For life-threatening arrhythmias, an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) may be implanted. Left ventricular restoration/ remodeling, mechanical pump called left ventricular assist device, or even heart transplant, when the patient is deemed a qualified candidate for any of those procedures, may be done as a life-saving measure for endstage heart failure where all other treatments have failed. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Banking system remains ‘sound, stable,’ BSP… PAGE CJ1 t

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credit. “Banks also maintained an improved loan quality of 2.2 percent, positive bottom line of P78.9 billion and capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 16.1 percent” during the first semester, the BSP added. As the government wanted to temper risks by mostly tapping local borrowings, “funding remained largely sourced from retail and peso deposits of residents,” the BSP pointed out. “Meanwhile, foreign currency deposit liabilities comprised 21.6 percent of total deposit liabilities. Banks were generally compliant with the required asset and liquid asset cover ratios

of 100 percent and 30 percent, respectively,” it added. At the end of the first half, the trust industry’s total resources reached P2.8 trillion which, the BSP noted, was closer to the P3 trillion posted at the end of June 2013, the peak during the five-year review period under Memorandum No. M-2013021, which constrained access of trust accounts to the BSP’s special deposit account (SDA) facility. The memorandum allowed access only for unit investment trust funds (UITF), which the BSP said “led to the shift to deposit in banks and investments in financial assets from cash and due from BSP, which boosted

the asset expansion.” Also, “other non-bank financial institutions similarly exhibited prudence in their overall risk-taking activities and provided sufficient capital buffer against unforeseen shocks from their operating environment, such as rising interest rates,” the BSP added. “Notwithstanding the sustained positive performance of the financial system, the BSP continues to carefully monitor potential sources of vulnerabilities and implement timely and calibrated reforms address potential risks. This is in line with the BSP’s objective of promoting greater financial stability,” it said. n

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Some issues and pitfalls in pursuing US citizenship

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ (Part 1)

FOR many people, attaining US citizenship is the final step in achieving their “American Dream.” After getting a green card, they eagerly count off the years until they are finally eligible to apply for naturalization. However, for some people, applying for citizenship could cause problems, issues, and even being stripped of their green card and deported/removed. Applying for citizenship is not always a simple, straightforward task that a person should handle on their own. Instead, they may want to seek the advice or guidance of an attorney. Here are just some of the many issues or problems a person must consider before filing for naturalization: • Did the person obtain his or her green card lawfully? In some situations, people were able to obtain their green card, even though they were not legally entitled to it. For example, a person was petitioned by a parent as “single,” but they were already “secretly” married. They were able to get their green card, and now attempt to file for citizenship. In many cases, USCIS digs deep into their case, and can discover the secret marriage in connection with their naturalization application. Not only is their naturalization application denied, but they may be put in removal/deportation because they obtained their green card through fraud or misrepresentation. • If a person obtained a green card through an employer’s petition, did the person work for

that employer at the prevailing wage? Many people obtain their green cards through an employer’s sponsorship (PERM or labor certification). One requirement is a person must work for the employer for a reasonable time after obtaining their green card. Some people never really worked for the employer who petitioned them, or they quit working for the employer before they adjusted status or get the green card. If a person is applying for naturalization based on an employment – based green card, one of the first questions they will be asked is whether they ever worked for the employer. If they did not, or quit before adjusting status, their green card could also be in jeopardy. Similarly, if they were being petitioned at a certain wage (the prevailing wage), but were never paid that wage, it could also result in problems, as they may be asked to produce their tax returns and pay stubs, documenting they were paid the wage specified in the petition. • Did the person commit any crime while a green card holder? After obtaining a green card, a person may have been arrested or convicted of a crime, such as shoplifting, domestic violence, DUI, etc. They may have even pled guilty, entered into some form of plea deal and later had the conviction expunged. However, certain crimes could make a person ineligible for citizenship, and may even affect their status as a lawful permanent resident. There have been many cases where a green card holder committed a crime, which “alerted” DHS when they filed for

naturalization, resulting in them being placed in removal/deportation proceedings. If a person was ever convicted of certain crimes or pled guilty to those crimes, they are still considered convicted, even if they later had the conviction expunged. As you can see, there are so many issues that could come up in connection with a person’s eligibility for naturalization. In my next article, I will discuss more issues and pitfalls that one may encounter in pursuing his or her US Citizenship. If you have any questions about your past, or eligibility for naturalization, you should definitely seek the advice of an attorney before filing for naturalization. This is because once you file, and USCIS starts digging into your past, you may have dug a hole for yourself. *** 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)

Business News

US fund agency evaluating PH aid by Prinz

P. Magtulis Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — A US-led funding agency is set to evaluate the Philippines’ eligibility by December for a second five-year grant that will inevitably be implemented under the term of President Duterte. The Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) will come out with a decision whether the country could secure additional funding that will follow through the $434million aid it gave in 2011. “The MCC Board initially selected the Philippines as eligible to develop a second compact in December 2014. Like all countries..., MCC’s Board must reselect the Philippines each year during compact development for the process to continue,” the US Embassy said in an e-mail. “As a result, in December, MCC’s Board will indeed, once again, evaluate the Philippines for continued eligibility,” it added. Pending evaluation, however, work remains ongoing on identifying specific projects to be financed by the grant. It usually

THE Makati Business Club (MBC) on Tuesday, Oct. 25, welcomed the Duterte administration’s push to revitalize the country’s relationship with China, citing the gains from closer trade and investment ties, but stressed that it could do so while strengthening its economic partnerships with traditional allies such as the United States. “We support the drive for an independent foreign policy, particularly during this time when the Philippines has gained international respect, recognition and confidence over the past few years,” MBC said in a statement. “Given China’s stature as a major player in global affairs, and the Philippines’ steady economic rise, both our countries stand to benefit from renewed and much closer ties, particularly in trade and investment,” it said. It added, however: “As we strengthen ties with one of our neighbors, this should be in tandem with continuing to nurture our partnership with existing strategic allies and friends. In particular, our relationship with the United States, particularly on the economic front, should

America

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Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in Honolulu Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers perform ‘100 years of song’ at the New Life Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Maestro Ryan, the Philippines’ top composer (“Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika,” Tuwing Umuulan” and more) presents his handpicked vocal group singing his arrangements and beloved hits. Contact Honolulu Broadway Babies for information (808) 783-2296. New Life Theatre is at 1190 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Filipino American Tarlac Association hosts anniversary dinner dance in Baldwin Park, CA

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Friend Day Sunday in Daly City takes two and a half years to develop a program. For now, the embassy only said based on its analysis, the grant would likely fund projects that would “address agricultural productivity and competitiveness,” without giving details. According to MCC, eligibility evaluation would focus on a “country scorecard” gauging the donee’s economic freedom, investment on people, and rule of law. Separate metrics under each of the three categories were provided, including fiscal and trade performance, health and primary education expenditures, protection of political rights, civil liberties and freedom of information.

Once approved, the second compact will be implemented under President Duterte, who has criticized the US on several public occasions. On its first compact, MCC financed three programs worth $434 million. The bulk of the amount worth $262 million went to the Secondary National Roads Development Project that aimed to improve market access for fishers and farmers. A total of $120 million went to the Kalahi-CIDSS project for poor communities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The balance of $54.3 million was given to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for its revenue automation project. n

‘Keep US ties while pursuing China’ s. sausa ManilaTimes.net

Calendar of Events across

The Fil-Am Tarlac Association has announced an anniversary celebration with a dinner dance on Friday, October 28. For more information, please contact Cheody at (714) 2343330; Tessie Lightholder at (909) 576-4152; or Josie Opinaldo at (562) 671-1940. The dinner dance will be at 6 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott, 14635 Baldwin Park Towne Center, Baldwin Park, CA 91706.

MAKATI BUSINESS CLUB URGES DUTERTE GOVT

by raadee

FATHER AND DAUGHTER REUNITE AFTER 40 YEARS OF LIFE-CHANGING CHOICES AND “MISFORTUNES” ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Decades ago, Tatay Rolando left his wife and daughters in the Philippines to seek a better life in the US. After getting his green card, he petitioned his family, except for Anna Lyn (center) who had turned 21, and was left behind. The years that followed became a series of rough twists and turns for Anna Lyn, including being caught attempting to enter the US on a fraudulent visa. After a fraud waiver prepared by another attorney was denied, leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel put together a convincing fraud waiver package that was quickly approved, paving the way for the much-awaited, happy reunion of this family on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – Sunday, October 30 at 6:15 PM (EST/PST) on TFC.

remain solid and should also be further expanded.” In terms of net foreign direct investment, China has been lagging far behind the Philippines top foreign investors, putting in only $570,000 in 2015. The US, meanwhile, is among the Philippines’ top investors, registering $732 million that year. The MBC expressed optimism Chinese trade and investment with the Philippines will improve: “We are confident of a further improvement of these figures as we take our renewed relationship to the next level.” The business group also hopes infrastructure in the country will receive a big boost with the entry of Chinese investors. “China’s expertise in infrastructure will be critical to the Philippines’ development, as we seek to close the massive infrastructure gap that has been suppressing the country’s growth for the past years,” it said. Close links with the US But highlighting the importance of the country’s strategic relationship with the US, the business group pointed out that overseas Filipino remittances and the business process outsourcing industry – two major pillars of the Philippine economy – are closely

linked with the United States. They said Filipinos in the US contribute the highest amount of remittances to the Philippines, valued at $8.4 billion, accounting for 33 percent of the country’s total remittances sourced from all over the world. The US accounted for 12.7 percent of the Philippines’ total trade. The Philippines exported $9-billion worth of goods to the US, while the Philippines imported $7.47 billion, reflecting a trade surplus valued at $1.55 billion. (for what period is this?) The MBC cited American companies for playing a crucial role in the development of the local BPO industry, contributing $22 billion to the economy and providing 1.2 million jobs in 2015. The US is also among the Philippines’ major investors, with $732 million in 2015, while Americans rank as the country’s second largest tourist market, generating P4.4 billion in tourist receipts. Moreover, solid peopleto-people ties, shared history, and common values bind the two countries together, it added. “We should also note that in time of need the United States has delivered $90.9-million worth of financial aid and has offered ex-

Everyone is invited to Friend Day on Sunday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. at Harvest Baptist Church. Lunch and nursery will be provided. The Church is located at 92 Hill St. Daly City, CA 94014. For more Information, please call Pastor Win Pechardo at (650) 296-0922.

N OV E M B E R 5 - 6

Consular outreach in Orlando, Florida The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., in cooperation with the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. - Central Florida Chapter, the Filipino-American Association of Pensacola, Inc., and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Miami, is pleased to announce that it will conduct a consular outreach mission in Orlando on Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Services offered include: Philippine passport applications; legalization of documents (acknowledgment, authentication, etc.); and receipt of reports of birth, marriage and death; and administration of oath of allegiance for dual citizenship. For an appointment, please email consular@philippineusa. org and indicate “Orlando FL Outreach” in the subject line. In the body of the email, indicate the complete name(s) of the applicant(s) and the corresponding service(s) required by each application. The outreach will be held at Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at Seaworld, 6850 Westwood Blvd. Orlando, FL 32821.

Rising Tohoku Food Fair in Torrance, CA The Rising Tohoku Food Fair hosted by Mitsuwa Marketplace presents two full days of food and cultural festivities to celebrate the charms of the Tohoku region in Northeast Japan, which can be enjoyed by children and adults. In addition to presenting diverse and flavorful food products originating from the 6 prefectures of Tohoku, there will be a variety of paper craft activity workshops for families such as, coloring, origami, making hanagasa ornaments which can be used as fans, and writing wishes on tanzaku paper, in addition to city-specific dance performances and photo opportunities with city mascots. Mitsuwa Marketplace Torrance Store, 21515 Western Ave, Torrance, CA 90501. Fair hours are 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. daily. The full schedule of dance and festival presentations, crafts workshops, photo sessions with mascots and food fair can be found at: http://www.mitsuwa.com/locations/torrance. For more information, call 310.782.0335.

N OV E M B E R 1 2

University of Baguio High School 40th anniversary in Chino Hills, CA Come join us in celebrating University of Baguio High School’s 40th Anniversary on Saturday, November 12 in Chino Hills, California. For more information please contact, Romy Vidal at (951) 733-7140.

Hyatt Baguio/Manila/Palawan Reunion in Las Vegas Former and current employees and guests of Hyatt Terraces Baguio, Hyatt Manila and Hyatt Palawan are having a dinner/dance reunion on November 12 in at the Hampton Inn Tropicana in Las Vegas. The address is 4975 Dean Martin Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89118. For more details, please send an email to: Beng Paraguas-Flores (Hyatt Terraces Baguio) at bengparaguasflores@gmail.com or Marian Nobleza (Hyatt Terraces Baguio) at minobleza@ yahoo.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

Humanitarian parole for urgent… PAGE CJ2 t

who will participate in events hosted by an international organization located within the U.S. (e.g., UN, OAS); 4. Section 7 parole (50 U.S.C. 403[h]); and 5. Intelligence. Aliens who are registered sources of a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and whose parole furthers the u PAGE CJ4 National Intelligence mission, or aliens whose parole is sought by the Department of State Cooperative Threat Reduction Program or For September, the bureau Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon by the Intelligence Community. PAGE CJ1 t The above list is non-exhausThe Duterte administration said more ports met their collec- took office,” it added. The Manila International Con- tive and USCIS will adjudicate all lowered Customs’s 2016 target tion goals from just four in July tainer Port, the biggest in the other parole applications that are to P406 billion from P436 billion and six in August. “Seven out of the 17 port dis- country, led the list with P10.58 not otherwise assigned to ICE originally as part of its conservatricts in the country have exceed- billion in revenues, above its and/or the CBP. tive assumptions. Only a foreign national or alien Economic managers, included their revenue collection targets P10.51-billion target. Other ports that beat their who is outside the United States ing the Department of Finance, for the month,” Customs said. “This is the most number of targets were the ones in Clark in can apply for Humanitarian Paset the targets. The DOF oversees Customs and other revenue ports that exceeded the monthly Pampanga, Zamboanga, Cebu, role. Anyone may file the application - the parole applicant himrevenue collection target since Iloilo, Batangas and Davao. n generating agencies.

Customs misses September…

self, a sponsoring relative, an attorney, or any other interested individual or organization. The application must be accompanied by supporting documentation of the emergency or urgent nature of the applicant’s circumstances, and proof that applicant has tried to secure a visa and/or applied for waiver of inadmissibility but was denied. In cases of medical emergencies, there must be an accompanying medical certificate regarding the diagnosis; lack of appropriate treatment in the home country or neighboring country; duration and cost of treatment in the United States; ability to pay for the treatment; and evidence of strong ties to the home country to guarantee applicant’s return to his/her home country. An initial grant of parole is only for a set period of time that

corresponds with the length of the emergency or humanitarian situation, but not to exceed one (1) year. However, an extension may be requested. Humanitarian Parole does not give a parolee any permanent immigration status and does not authorize a parolee to work in the United States. *** Atty. Aurora Vega-Buzon is a partner in Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego 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 inperson or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 4958088; auvega@ctvattys.com (Advertising Supplement)

OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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VA awards $300 M more in grants to help end veteran homelessness WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently awarded approximately $300 million more in grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to help thousands of very low-income Veteran families around the nation who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing. The SSVF grant program provides access to crucial services to prevent homelessness for Veterans and their families. SSVF funding, which supports

Tourist arrivals breach 4-M mark by Mary

Grace Philstar.com

Padin

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines breached the four million mark as of the end of August 2016, sustaining the upward growth trend. This is the first time the country surpassed four million arrivals in just the first eight months of the year. According to the latest report from the DOT, the figure was 12.59 percent higher than the 3.59 million arrivals in the same period last year. With the exception of May and August, most months of the year have observed double-digit gains so far. For August alone, the country welcomed a total of 502,739 tourists or an increase 4.59 per-

cent year on year. The DOT noted this was the first time the country surpassed 500,000 arrivals during the month of August. Neighboring countries from Asia contributed to 60.95 percent of the total market share during the eight month period, while North and South America flew in 17.47 percent of the total visitors. About 10.38 percent of the arrivals came from Europe while 5.13 percent came from Australasia. Korea continued to be the country’s top source market with a total of 976,499 in tourist arrivals. US came in second with an aggregate of 584,149 in arrivals and China with a total inbound traffic of 484,567. China registered the highest growth in arrivals from January to August with 50.29 percent.

outreach, case management and other flexible assistance to prevent Veteran homelessness or rapidly re-house Veterans who become homeless, has been awarded to 275 non-profit organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These grants, key elements of VA’s implementation of the Housing First Strategy, enable vulnerable Veterans to secure or remain in permanent housing. A list of SSVF grantees is located at www.va.gov/home-

tensive manpower and technical support to our rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda,” the MBC said. Similarly, the United States makes up 36.1 percent of official development aid grants of the Philippines, in contrast to other countries with much smaller grants portfolio extended. The United States’ Millennium Challenge Corp., in particular, has

EMPLOYMENT

extended more than $433 million worth of anti-poverty and human development programs in the Philippines since 2006. The MBC said these figures “reflect the invaluable commitment and steadfastness of the US in assisting growth of our people and our communities.” “As we transition through this recalibration in our foreign policy, we call on the government to initiate another multisectoral dialogue similar to when it draft-

u PAGE CJ5

PH climbs 4 notches in Doing Business Report

al Competitive Council said in a statement on Tuesday, Oct. 25. These indicators included ProThe fourth largest market was THE Philippines has climbed tecting Minority Investors where Japan, with a total of 367,144 four notches to rank 99th out of the country’s ranking rose 18 visitors. Australia ranked fifth ac- the 190 economies assessed by notches to 137th place from last counting for 161,016 arrivals. the World Bank-International year’s 155th; Dealing with ConAbout 157,517 tourists were Finance Corp. (WB-IFC) in the struction Permits, up 14 places from Taiwan; 120,241 from latest edition of its 2017 Doing to 85th; Paying Taxes, up 11 Singapore; 117,535 from UK; Business Report. notches to 115th; and Enforcing 114,074 from Canada; and The country scored significant Contracts, up four places to rank 95,129 from Malaysia. gains in four of 10 indicators 136th. The Philippine tourism sector used by the WB-IFC, the Nation“Among the reforms introalso saw substantial growth from Hong Kong and India. Meanwhile, the Philippines earned P164.25 billion in tourism receipts from January to August P100,000. PAGE CJ1 t this year, up 7.92 percent. Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman that would be levied an additionThe month of August slowed al tax are those priced between of Albay said President Duterte’s down the growth in tourism P600,000 and P1.2 million. so-called tax reform package receipts as total revenues de“These are not luxury vehicles. “is anti-poor and anti-marginalcreased by 28.58 percent to These are the cars workers and ized.” P15.69 billion. “It taxes holiday pay, overtime professionals belonging to the Average length of stay for tour- middle class buy,” he said. pay, night shift differential pay, ists was 9.65 nights while average He said most of the more than hazard pay and 13th month pay daily expenditure for the month 1.5 million government person- received by low-income earners; amounted to P4,095.32. n nel would pay tax under the pro- and repeals VAT (value added posed reduced rates presented tax) exemption of people with by the Department of Finance disabilities and senior citizens,” (DOF), which is seeking to ex- he said. The proposal also seeks to imempt annual income of up to ed the 10-point socio-economic P250,000 from income tax. pose a P10 excise tax on lubriagenda. Quimbo noted that the low- cating oils and greases, waxes “We hope that the government est-paid public school teacher and petrolatum, regular gasowill also invite the views of emi- receives P19,077 a month, plus a line, leaded premium gasoline nent leaders, foreign policy ex- mid-year bonus and a 13th-month and aviation turbo jet fuel; and perts, policy makers, business, pay, for a total of P267,078. P6 on processed gas, denatured the academe and the youth. It The DOF plans to scrap per- alcohol, kerosene, diesel, liqueis important for the world to see sonal and additional exemptions. fied petroleum gas, asphalts and that the government continues Under the law, a working bunker fuel. its inclusive engagement and spouse is entitled to a P100,000 He added that the imposition welcomes investments that will personal exemption, plus of a P6-per-liter tax on diesel generate jobs,” the MBC said, P50,000 each for four qualified would result in higher fares and adding it is prepared to partici- dependents. Additionally, the increased transport cost for conpate in such discussion. n other spouse could claim another sumer products, which in turn by aMy

r. reMo Inquirer.net

duced this year in the Philippines were the extent of corporate transparency index, increasing the transparency of building regulations, and the introduction of an online system for filing and paying health contributions,” the NCC said. Slight declines, however, were registered in several indicators namely Getting Credit, where the country reported a nine-place decline to 118th. n

Reforms to trigger hike in taxes, says…

‘Keep US ties while pursuing… PAGE CJ3 t

less/ssvf.asp. “Since 2010, the Housing First Strategy has helped cut Veteran Homelessness nearly in half,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “Housing First is why 360,000 Veterans and family members have been housed, rehoused or prevented from falling into homelessness over the last five years. SSVF helps homeless Veterans quickly find stable housing and access the supportive services they – and their families – need.”

EMPLOYMENT

would translate into higher consumer prices. “Since the burden of excise taxes on petroleum products cascades to the ultimate consumer or the general public, the brunt of the tax is borne by ordinary people who constitute the bulk of the consuming public who will not benefit from the tax package,” he stressed. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate suggested that “instead of imposing taxes that would eventually burden the poor, the administration should collect more taxes from the 50 richest oligarchs, who have a combined net worth of $79.5 billion or P3.8 trillion, bigger than next year’s proposed national budget of P3.35 trillion, and the 690 ultra high net worth Filipinos who have at least P1.4 billion each.” He said the government should also collect more from other rich Filipinos, including corporate executives, and the top 1,000 corporations. n

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Are you posting during National Blog Posting Month? SOCIAL Security Matters is Social Security’s blog and one of the best places for retirement and other benefit news November is National Blog Posting Month, which means there’s never been a better time to join the conversation with Social Security. The blog is our interactive center for engaging with you by answering questions and concerns in a way that benefits all readers and contributors. Social Security Matters also lets you provide meaningful feedback that can help us serve you more effectively. The blog’s comment section allows you to voice your thoughts and ask questions. The conversation is growing every day. We’re doing our best to serve you, and a big part of that is listening to what you have to say. We regularly post items about disability. For example, check out this article focusing on transitioning into adulthood: blog. socialsecurity.gov/helpingyoung-people-with-disabilitiessuccessfully-transition-to-adult-

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016

9th annual award ceremony honoring ‘Housing Heroes’ County recognizes individuals who help people with mental health and substance use conditions recover through stable, affordable housing

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Finding affordable housing in San Mateo County is more challenging than ever, especially for people who are low-income, have a mental health challenges, and/or are recovering from a substance use disorder. On October 27, San Mateo County leadership and San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Serhood. share our posts with the click of vices will honor individuals who And we share ways you can a button. In addition, you can have helped people with mental protect your identity: blog.so- subscribe to our blog and get So- health and substance use condicialsecurity.gov/protecting-your- cial Security news as it happens. tions find or stay in housing so social-security-number-from- Simply select the blue button they can recover and maintain good health. identity-theft. titled “Get blog updates.” While one in four people have Blog posts aren’t a one-way We’re updating our blog all the conversation. We’d like you to time, and not just during Nation- a mental health condition, less share the items that interest you al Blog Posting Month. You can than half get the help they need. and your family and friends. Us- join the conversation too. Visit One way to help is to provide ing your preferred social media, Social Security Matters today at stable, affordable housing so people have the opportunity to Social Security Matters lets you blog.socialsecurity.gov. n recover. When the Housing Heroes Award was created in 2008, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the county was $1,583 per month. Today, that same apartment would rent for $2,638– an increase of over THE San Mateo County Board of Supervisors at 65 percent. The work of “Housits Oct. 19, 2016 meeting unanimously favored a ing Heroes” is now more imporfive-year pilot program establishing a living wage tant than ever. that will increase up to $17 per hour for all service “With housing being such a contractors and subcontractors doing business challenging issue and essential with the County. for people’s recovery, it’s imThe Board will hold a second reading of the portant to take the time to honor ordinance at its Nov. 1 meeting. The ordinance Housing Heroes who help resi— which if adopted takes effect Jan. 1 2017 — is dents remain part of their comaimed at narrowing the Bay Area’s wide income munities,” said Stephen Kaplan, gap and boost worker retention, particularly of those County contractors providing safety net and ready adopted similar ordinances. other social services. While higher wage earners The County’s pilot program has a hard sunset have seen their incomes recover after the Great on Dec. 31, 2021 unless the Board holds a public Recession, incomes of lower wage earners have hearing and votes to extend the ordinance. The not kept pace, resulting in struggles for both the $17 per hour living wage will be phased in over PAGE CJ4 t workers and employers. two and a half years, beginning at $14 on Jan. 1, Grantees will continue to pro“It is so essential that we pay a living wage so 2017 and increasing $1 dollar every July 1 through vide eligible Veteran families that we can keep the employees,” said Supervi- 2019. The rate will then increase annually based with outreach, case managesor Carole Groom who with Supervisor Dave Pine on the consumer price index. The estimated cost ment, and assistance obtaining were appointed last December to a subcommit- is $4.2 million over the next two fiscal years and VA and other benefits, which tee to study living wage impacts. They convened County staff will provide the Board with an annual may include health care, income a work group of 12 nonprofit County contractors, report on the actual total. support services, financial planone for-profit contractor and a San Mateo Labor Contracts entered into prior to Jan. 1, 2017 are ning, child care, legal services, Council representative which met six times to de- not subject to the ordinance and compliance is vol- transportation, housing counselvelop the recommendations. untary until April 1, 2017. Nonprofit contractors ing, among other services. Unlike a minimum wage like that recently ad- that amend existing contracts to comply with the Grantees are expected to leopted by the City of San Mateo, this living wage new wage rate will receiving an enhancement pay- verage supportive services grant ordinance sets a minimum wage rate only for em- ment between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent of the funds to enhance the housing ployees working on a service contract with the contract. stability of very low-income VetCounty. Several other California entities including The County reserves the right to terminate con- eran families who are occupying San Francisco and Santa Clara counties have al- tracts with contractors who do not comply. n permanent housing. In doing

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors greenlights living wage ordinance for service contractors

Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. “These men and women go above and beyond to provide people with a secure and safe place to live, which supports well-being and recovery. And not only does it help the individual but also their family, friends and our entire San Mateo County community.” The 2016 San Mateo County Change Agent Housing Committee has selected the following recipients as this year’s Housing Heroes: • Kelsey Fuller, Caminar • Miguel Hernandez, Property Owner • Rosemary Henson, Property Owner • San Mateo County Abode Services • Whitley Property Management, Inc. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 27 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm at the Sobrato Center, 350 Twin Dol-

phin Drive, in Redwood City. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. More information is available at smchealth.org/ meeting/9th-annual-housingheroes-award-ceremony. The public is also invited to join County leadership, the Department of Housing, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, and other community partners to hear about the current housing market and the innovative new programs to support property owners and managers at the 2nd Annual Property Owners and Managers Appreciation event. This will be held just before the Housing Heroes award ceremony, on Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Sobrato Center in the Bay Combined Room. More information is available here. Please RSVP to Mariella Dunleavy, Department of Housing at (650) 802-3300 or mdunleavy@ smchousing.org. n

VA awards $300 M more in grants… so, grantees are required to establish relationships with local community resources. In fiscal year (FY) 2015, SSVF served more than 157,000 participants and is on track to exceed that number in FY 2016. As a result of these and other efforts, Veteran homelessness is down 47 percent since the launch of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in 2010. Also since 2010, more than 360,000 Veterans and their family members have been permanently housed, rapidly re-housed, or prevented

from falling into homelessness by VA’s homelessness programs and targeted housing vouchers provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Grant recipients successfully competed for grants under a January 15, 2016, Notice of Fund Availability. Applications were due February 5, 2016. The funding will support SSVF services in FY 2017, which starts October 1, 2016, and ends September 30, 2017. For more information about the SSVF program, visit www. va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp. n

OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Friday, October 28, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 28, 2016

Ryan Cayabyab’s life journey to music by Prosy AbArquez-DelAcruz, J.D. / AJPress (Part 1 of 2 )

“THE alphabet of grace is full of sibilants (hissing) —sounds that can’t be shouted but only whispered: the sounds of bumblebees and wind and lovers in the dark, of whitecaps hissing up flat over the glittering sand and cares on wet roads, of crowds hushed in vast and vaulted places, the sound of your own breathing. I believe that in sibilants life is trying to tell us something. The tree, ghosts, dreams, faces, the waking up and eating and working of life, are trying to tell us something, to take us somewhere.” - Frederick Buechner, The Alphabet of Grace. Grace is unearned blessings from the Higher Being, where doors are magically opened, and through others. By listening to Him, you walk into these doors, accept God’s will in your life, and you do your best at being the best in your craft. Ryan Cayabyab shared his Alphabet of Grace: how he formed his identity, decided on

his chosen path with the help of his mentors and his current advocacies. “I am not in awe of people per se because we are all pilgrims, we are given everything and bakit ako nandidito (why am I here?) At bakit hindi nila nakikita ang path nila, bakit hanggang ngayon hinahanap nila? (Why can’t they see their path, why are they still in search of it?) Medium lang ako, the supernatural gift comes from the Higher Being, bigger than all of us. Kayo na ang bahala, kayo naman ang mayari ng lahat ng ito. (I am medium in talent. The supernatural gift comes from the Higher being. I surrender my fate to Him, as He alone owns all these.) I am a human being still learning in life, how to be loving and how to be caring for others. It is important for me to teach as much as I can – bahala na kayo magpalaganap nito (It is up to you to spread this [body of musicality] and grow this),” Cayabyab said

in an exclusive interview with the Asian Journal on Monday, Oct. 17. The quote above captures his life’s mission. He had just flown into Los Angeles, from San Francisco, yet he amiably did the interview, forgoing lunch until later. I learned the meaning of these words, “patay gutom” (suppress one’s hunger) and “huli sa kainan” (last to eat) by his examples. Even though his mother discouraged him to take up a musical career, music became his life’s path. How many of us can say our life coincides with the history of a music industry in a country? Considering that his mother did not choose this path for him, he has achieved so much to deserve the title, “Mister C” or “Maestro Ryan.” His career success is also his legacy to one of his children, who graduated summa cum laude at the University of the Philippines in choral conducting, and is now

taking her master’s. The measure of a man is not just in his life’s success, but how he affects others. In Mister C’s case, in thousands of students, he has taught and in millions who have heard his songs. In 2013, Maestro Ryan received a Papal Award, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for his body of work in sacred music. Do you get to sing his arrangement of the original Tanging Yaman at Communion of Catholic Masses – do you feel the unleashed divine energy, watch how each worshipper has tears in their eyes, as they move closer to the altar, to receive the eucharist? Or even Lead Me Lord, and Lift Up Your Hands, all his arrangements of original recordings? The very mention of his name is an expectation, a level of quality —matched by a level of mastery and proficiency — where excellence is the end-product. It is a high level of quality, achievable by consistent practice, of teaching musical theory for two decades at the University of the Philippines and after 2003, consistent advocacies of mentoring students to harness their innate talents in writing songs, composing, and performing them. Ryan was first taught music by his mother, Celerina Venson Pujante. He lived in Area I, in a sawali (woven bamboo strips) house, with a silong (crawlspace). His mother was an opera singer, who taught at the UP College of Music, with 10 lady boarders learning music who stayed with them. One day, Celerina sat next to Ryan, played the piano, and sang to him. At 3 years old, Ryan played accurately what he heard. Later, he came to know that experience more fully when one of his mother’s students became the Dean of Music in San Agustin in Iloilo, and she wrote him

: “You were my thesis in music education when you were 3 to 4 years old - you gave signs of your extraordinary musical talent and you easily picked up melodies.” Ryan was taught how to play the piano by “ouido,” using one’s ear to hear the melodies. He surmised that when his mother was single, she got together with other musicians at the “tambayan ng mga musikero”(a supply marketplace for musicians) in Quiapo, near Platerias, parallel to Raon. When folks needed musicians for their tertulias or some events, they were taken on an open flatbed, transported to the fiestas where they sang or performed. As a cantor, she became part of that group. Given her hard life as a musician, “his mother’s dying wish was that none of the three children pursue a music career.” She made Ryan’s father, Alberto Austria Cayabyab promise. Ryan lost his mother at 6 years old. From the time his mother died to high school, he did not perform, but he learned to read the music sheets, left behind by the boarders. At age 8, 9 and 10, he developed his sight reading skills. When he graduated high school at 15 years old, he asked

for a peso allowance from his father to go to Rhapsody Music House in Platerias. For lack of a budget, the Music House could not give him a job. He asked to demonstrate his piano skills for free, instead, until he was discovered by a relative who told him to audition as a pianist for the Development Bank of the Philippines Choral Ensemble. He got the job as the pianist of a choral group which supported him through college for three years, taking up a bachelor of science in business administration and accountancy at UP Diliman. He felt more at home though at UP College of Music, where he met Andrea Veneracion who asked him to arrange pieces. The Madrigal Singers and Concert Chorus were also his friends. She asked him to train with the Madrigal Singers. In one of his pit chorus performances, he met Victor Laurel, the son of Senator Salvador Laurel and Celia Diaz, who invited him to their family gatherings and events. He would come early before the ‘official practice’ at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP.) After the official show, some artists would rally against martial law in the early seventies, like Behn Cervantes, later joined Continued on Page SF4

Maja Salvador now a college student at 28 by MJ

Marfori

ManilaTimes.net

PROVInG that it is never too late to earn a degree, dramatic actress and sultry singer Maja Salvador is now enrolled in an AMA Computer College online program. A birthday gift to herself after turning 28 years

Maja Salvador

old on October 5, the former “Ang Probinsyano” star chose to pursue a course in Business Administration. Saying she wants to deepen her knowledge and sharpen her skills for her mini ventures, she told In the Know, “Meron po akong mga investments at may mga business din tayo sa mga restaurants [I have made several investments and gone into the restaurant business too].” Besides her admirable return-to-school endeavor, she meanwhile revealed that her birthday wish is to finally have a project with her good friend John lloyd Cruz. Maja explained that a project between them never prospered because of her off-camera relationship with John lloyd. While they are often seen in various events together, what they have is not what people think. To be clear, there is no malice whatsoever in Maja and John lloyd’s friendship

as she considers the talented actor her spiritual guide as she traverses show business. “I call him ‘Itay’ and he calls me ‘Baby Girl’,” Maja related. “But now that I’m 28, I’ve had to stop calling him that way.” It turns out that Maja and John lloyd share the same handler under ABS-CBn’s Star Magic—the reason why they became close—and were reprimanded for using their respective monikers for each other. “They said if I want to have a project with him, I should begin calling him ‘lloydie’ instead,” she laughed, adding she has obeyed her superiors because “who wouldn’t want to work with John lloyd Cruz?” Besides John lloyd, Maja is often seen with a non-showbiz chinito, whom some have thought to be her boyfriend. The pretty celebrity was quick to deny the rumor, however, as she declared, “Single po ako. But yes, I’m dating but not exclusively [with anyone].”

4 It girls, 1 reality show by Martin

YaMbao Philstar.com

and professional contact liz Uy. I knew her — but apart from the hundreds and hundreds of IT’S easy to get obsessed with endorsements, the professional these four women. I fell down roles as actresses, hosts and modthat rabbit hole. els, the monthly magazine covers, Four women, four friends and the #GoalsAF domination of — Georgina Wilson, Isabelle social media — that was it. I knew daza, liz Uy, and Solenn Heussaff little else about the other girls. — grouped up and given one I knew Georgina Wilson as the cut-throat diva with impossibly high standards and a closet to-die-for; Isabelle daza as fitness mogul and as talented actress (with a penchant for crazy roles) diagnosed with a permanent case of resting-bitch-face; Solenn Heussaff, multi-hyphenate actress, artist, singer, dancer, designer, the ubiquitous and perfect — and some might say, too perfect — jillof-all-trades. And then there’s liz, the career-driven high-powered stylist I’ve known and followed. I sat there listening to them talk about their plans, discussing their goals for the show, corralling their ideas into timelines and In equal parts, Isabelle Daza, Georgina Wilson, Liz Uy and Solenn Heussaff are human. They’re insecure, they’re relatable, they’re catty, they’re sincere, and you could bet your butt they could throw a really good schedules — and just right then it started to hit me. everything bitch fit. Who wouldn’t pay to see that? very simple brief: to be the stars of their very own reality TV show. It was a short three days before the project’s initial shooting date when I first sat down with the small cast and crew. I signed onto the project as half babysitter, half continuity supervisor, on the suggestion of my friend

entertainment SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – October 28, 2016

Alden, Maine take forever in almost real church wedding Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza have finally gotten married and will head off for a honeymoon soon — on eat Bulaga!’s “Kalye-serye” that is. Alden and Maine or “Yaya dub” said their vows in front of friends and family in a lavish ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Christ the King Church in Quezon City. Primary sponsors include Joey de leon, Helen GamboaSotto, Irma Idlawan and broadcaster Mike enriquez. Actor Rodjun Cruz was Alden’s best man while Maine’s real-life sister, Coleen Mendoza, stood as the maid of honor. Yaya dub’s father dodong, played by Vic “Bossing” Sotto, walked Maine down the aisle along with lola Tinidora (Jose Manalo), lola Tidora (Paolo Ballesteros) and lola nidora (Wally Bayola). during the exchange of vows, Alden and Maine recalled how their love story started in split screen and “pabebe wave.” “Kahit madalas kang nagwawacky face, kahit nagdadubI suspected I knew about them was true: Georgina doggedly won’t settle for anything but the best when it comes to the people she’s willing to work with; Isabelle is the straightest talker you’ll ever meet (and also, the funniest); Solenn’s schedule is booked from now to early 2017; and liz can disarm you with the most infectious laugh. And yet, without sounding trite, I could see that they still had so so much more to give by way of access. Unwittingly, I already became a fan of the show before we even started filming. You could have heard me say, “These women are crazy,” and in the same breath, “they’re totally just like us.” In equal parts, they’re human, they’re insecure, they’re relatable, they’re catty, they’re sincere, and you could bet your butt they could throw a really good bitch fit. Who wouldn’t pay to see that?

Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza sealed their wedding with a kiss.

smash ka, gandang ganda pa rin ako sayo,” Alden said in his heartwarming wedding vow. As Alden was about to kiss the bride, lola nidora fainted, causing a commotion. The couple eventually sealed their wedding with a kiss after lola nidora regained consciousness. Aldub’s onscreen romance started in the summer of 2015 in eat Bulaga’s “Kalye-serye”

segment, which eventually became a global phenomenon. (Philstar.com)

The nature of reality TV is that everything you see happens post-fact. To wit, we shot and edited the show just a little over two months before the premiere date. But by the nature of their celebrity, what you’ll see happening to George, Belle, liz and Sos has already been liked and shared to the tune of hundreds of thousands on every social media platform you could imagine. We already know about the Snapchat scandal, the wedding in Tuscany and the baby gender reveal — but the plot points aren’t why you should be tuning in every Monday. What you’ll see is the dynamic behind the friendships that happen behind each of those events, their relationships with their partners, their stories as a group. It’s the sincerity and support system that took them through every hardship and heartbreak they’ve endured in the past decade, working under

the public gaze. “I think the show will take them places far beyond what their social media allows,” shares show director Raymond Gutierrez, “it takes you into their homes, it takes you into private conversations with their partners, it’ll show you what they’re really going through.” “The girls can be playful and catty at times but behind all of that is a really strong foundation of friendship,” he continues, “and the sincerity they have in lifting each other up, inspiring each other to do better. That’s really what the message here is, I think, that successful people, more so women, can be there for each other.” It’s the success and failures we all go through, the support to stall your personal life in favor of white-hot career growth, the joys and insecurities of motherhood, the incessant nature of showbiz, and the Continued on Page SF5

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celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 28, 2016

celebrity world By Ferdie Villar One of the brightest stars in Philippine entertainment, Star for All Seasons and currently the Representative for the province of Batangas Vilma Santos-Recto, will be celebrating her birthday on Thursday, november 3. Ate Vi, as she is most commonly known, started her career with Sampaguita Pictures as a child actress, in the film “Trudis Liit” (“Little Trudis”), where she received the FAMAS Best Child Performer award in 1963. She made more movies after that, including “Sa Bawat Pintig ng Puso” (1964), “Maria Cecilia” (1965) and “Kasalanan Kaya” (1968). As an adult, she appeared in highly acclaimed movies such as “Sister Stella L” (1984), “Imortal” (1989), “Burlesk Queen” (1977) and was the fourth actress to play Darna in “Darna, Lipad, Darna!” Vilma has two sons, Ryan Christian Recto and actor/ model/TV host Luis Manzano (with actor edu Manzano). She is now married to Senator Ralph Recto. Other prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays this Thanksgiving month are: november 1 - Filipino parish priest Fr. Abraham Alonzo and former Mrs. RP-USA winner Arlene Lindalop; november 2 - Former San Francisco top fashion designer encarnito “Ito” Curata, and caregiver Myna Padilla Bautista; november 3 - new Haven Health and Hospice owner eunice Bejar Lee and Kadok’s Restaurant owner Ricky Tejada; november 5 - Actor Gabby Concepcion, former

Miss Philippines earth winner Melissa Sokukawa, actress Shaina Magdayao and Fil-Am basketball cager J Taylor; november 6 - Singer/actress Jolina Magdangal; november 8 - ABS-CBn Vice President for entertainment Deo edrinal, singer/actress Vina Morales, actress Angelica Panganiban, and balladeer Basil Valdez; november 9 - “eat Bulaga” co-host and actress Pauleen Luna-Sotto, actress Janice de Belen, comedienne Tuesday Vargas, actor Rafael Rosell, and San Francisco lawyer Ted Laguatan; november 10 - Pittsburg party planner Susan Tanedo; november 11 - Former Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay and Comedy Queen Ai Ai Delas Alas; november 12 – Singer for all occasions Tess Gregorio and Knights of Columbus leader Pat Ancheta; november 13 - International wine distributor Ronald Villar, and San Bruno community leader Alma de Leon Scott; november 14 - Former Mrs. RP-USA winner Leilani Vinegas of Fairfield; november 18 - Medical Link Provider executive Director Remy Acedillo, and actor/ swimmer enchong Dee; november 19 - Antioch community leaders Joselito and Margarita Cabrera; november 21 - Catherine Liwanag, mother of Asian Journal – northern California editor Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe; november 24 - ABSCBn news Bureau Chief Ging Reyes; november 25 - Former

Star for All Seasons and Congresswoman Vilma SantosRecto heads list of birthday celebrants this November

Star for All Seasons and Batangas Representative Vilma SantosRecto will be celebrating her birthday on November 3.

Handsome actor Rafael Rosell will celebrate his birthday on November 9.

Paolo Ballesteros, one of the co-hosts in the noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” will celebrate his 34th birthday on November 29.

Former beauty queen and fashion model Leilani Vinegas of Fairfield will celebrate her birthday on November 14.

Senator Franklin Drilon will celebrate his birthday on November 28.

Comedy Queen Ai Ai delas Alas will celebrate her birthday on November 11.

“Eat Bulaga” co-host Pauleen Luna (who is now Mrs. Vic Sotto), will be celebrating her birthday on November 9.

Bb. Pilipinas Universe winner and actress Bianca Manalo, comedienne/TV host Melai Cantiveros and actor Randy Santiago;

november 28 - Senate President Franklin Drilon; november 29 - “eat Bulaga” co-host Paolo Ballesteros; november 30 - San Fran-

cisco veteran photographer Bonifacio Valera, and entertainment producer Sunny Tila. Happy birthday to all celebrants!

Ryan Cayabyab’s life journey... From Page SF2 in by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Karilagan and the Manila Symphony Orchestra. One day, Senator Salvador Laurel asked him, “Why are you taking accounting?” He shared his mother’s wish, to which he said: “We all serve a purpose. Just like the laundry woman, who with newly washed clothes, newly pressed, you feel good about her work. Or the janitor, who cleans the school. We appreciate his work. We are all connected. Our jobs are to make lives better. As long as you are the best in your chosen field, you affect someone.” The Laurels offered him a full scholarship in music at any college, noting his passion is music. In 1973, he entered the College of Music and after a ten-year journey, he finished. Why? The gigs kept coming to travel and to perform. His musicality: the highest level of personal best and excellence nothing fazes Ryan Cayabyab, when it comes to music, whether he has to play at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in new York; Kennedy Center and Washington DC Convention Center in Washington, DC; the Shrine and Plaza del Sol-CSUn northridge in Los Angeles; The Orpheum in Vancouver; Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, or in major cities of Southeast Asia, Australia, Germany, France, United Kingdom, netherlands, Japan, or even in the Middle east. nonoy Alsaybar, Ph.D, a four decade-strong master violinist/teacher, said: “We like working with Ryan, as we find him approachable, calm, and easy to work with.” nonoy described working with Ryan, as the musical director of the 42-member Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. nothing fazes the maestro, even as he performed for the King Hassan II of Morocco, Prince Fahd, now King Fahd of Saudi Arabia; not even when he performed for King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain in Manila, Queen Beatrix in the netherlands, and U.S. President Bill Clinton in Boston, Massachusetts.

nothing fazes him as he regards these musical events as grace, doors opened for him by fellow musicians, and venues for self-expression, “where I enjoy doing it,” he said. When asked what is his music’s message, Ryan responded, “my pride in my heritage, pride in my Philippine music, growing up with kundimans (courtship songs) and balitaws (Visayan folk songs that are meant to be danced.)” Later, he got exposed to genres of pop music. He stressed the importance of having an ear for music, the “arbiter for what is beautiful or not” and also being formally trained. “It is important that musicians learn to communicate first using the mother tongue, first with the ‘sounds of music’ then, the reading of the notes. Understand the importance of the educated, formally trained musicians, as well as the nonformally trained musicians, who are talented and play music by ear, the likes of Bobby enriquez,” he added. Watch Ryan Cayabyab’ s televised concerts and you feel his grace, serenity and equanimity, and recently, ABS-CBn Television gave him an entire evening’s tribute. Just how long has he been traveling and performing? “46 years, including 20 years of teaching music theory,” he said, and now, his latest advocacies are mentoring students how to perform, how to compose and how to write songs take him to all parts of the Philippines. For his program on Sunday, October 23, at Plaza del Sol Performance Hall at Cal State northridge, the first part is devoted to all of Ryan’s songs, to be sung by seven singers: two full songs and 16 excerpts, which contain sacred songs genre to R&B music to a cappella. While the second part will showcase 100 years of Original Philippine Music (OPM), starting in 1917, with Francisco Santiago’s Madaling Araw (Dawn) and ending with a new song from a CD that was just released a month ago.

Can you imagine a body of work of original music dating back 100 years? About 188 songs are listed in Ryan’s bio in the areas of film scoring and CDs, but it does not include the television jingles and songs he created for station identifications or ads. This prolific composer has been responsible for 23 movie scores, 15 Great OPM songs, several CDs: Great OPMs (13 songs), Pasko I (12 songs), Pasko II (12 songs), Spolarium: the Opera (12 songs), The Sacred Works of Ryan Cayabyab (14 songs), Beauty and the Beast (five songs), Great OPM in the Movies (15, which includes Tanging Yaman), Dancing in the Rain (14), One (10 songs), One X’mas (10 songs), One More (10 songs), Roots to Routes (Pinoy Jazz II with 14 songs), The Silver Album (14 songs). At Christmas time, do you get to sing “Pasko na naman” or “Mano po ninong, Mano Po ninang?” Or “Saan Ka Man naroroon?” Do you get a sense that our universal sentimentality as Filipinos has been captured by Ryan’s original compositions, and even punctuated? Can you appreciate Ryan’s body of work sings aloud “Glory Be to God?” How so? He has completed 11 musicals, an opera in Spolarium performed in new York, and even a musical on the Life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, which was staged in 2013 and 2014. His success of close to 50 years coincides with the vibrant history of OPM, to which he composed, arranged and contributed to. [A special thank you to Annie Nepomuceno for sponsoring this exceptional group, Nonoy Alsaybar for welcoming the Maestro, classmates of St. Rita College, Batch ’67 and Toni Rodriguez, (Berklee College of Music graduate) for their contributions and insights about the Maestro, and the Chens for providing the interview venue and lunch. Part II - a concert review of Ryan Cayabyab and his singers and the Maestro’s advocacies and how he keeps himself relevant and interesting to his global audiences.]

Graton Resort & Casino to open hotel in November FederaTed Indians of Graton rancheria Tribal Council Chairman Greg Sarris recently led officials in touring invited media for a preview of its resort expansion which is slated to open this November. at an estimated cost of $175 million, Graton’s expansion includes a hotel, spa, meeting/ convention space and a pool area which is certain to thrill Graton resort & Casino visitors to no end. What visitors will first notice is that the architecture and design of Graton’s hotel/spa/convention space complements the beautiful colors and landscape of the area. Paying homage to the natural flora found in Sonoma county, the hotel exudes hues synonymous with the countryside where it is a part of. and this is, according to Sarris,

by design. “People mention that this is like a Vegas-type hotel as we’ve got all the amenities,” says Tribal Council Chairman Greg Sarris, “but the design, the stone work, the colors are meant to complement the wine country, the landscape, the beauty of the hills and the trees around here so that we don’t have neon and flashing signs. Instead, we have a building that beautifully complements the landscape that surrounds us.” The six-storey hotel features 184 standard guestrooms that feature a modern look. It also carries 16 luxurious suites with a variety of styles: guests can choose from a two-bay, four-bay or five-bay suite, all of which feature its own set of unique attributes. The resort expansion carries

the standard guestroom bath features a tub, a shower stall, his-and-hers faucets and sinks.

with it a spa, exercise room/ gym, pool area and a meeting/event/convention space. That last one – the convention/ meeting space – according to Sarris, fulfills a need in the area as there is a lack of a big space where corporate events or large gatherings can be accommodated. “One of the reasons we built this is that there is no other place in the North Bay that can actually seat this many people with all of the amenities right here, “Greg states. “So what a beautiful opportunity to be in the wine country to have a convention… many people want to come to the wine country, but there’s no place where you can have a convention and where you can sit in a ballroom eighteen hundred people for dinner, and go swimming, and go to a

features The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 28, 2016

Tribal Council Chairman Greg Sarris led Graton officials in touring media to the different sections of the resort expansion. The exercise/gym area is located near the spa and pool areas.

spa and take wine tours, all at the same time. What a perfect place to accommodate conventions where there was not a place before.” Graton guests who take advantage of the spa and pool areas may be happy to know that they are in for a great experience. The spa includes a steam room, dry sauna, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a fully-equipped retail area and a full-service salon. The pool area, meanwhile, features private cabanas and dozens of tan chaises, beds and loungers. What this all means, according to Tribal Council Chair Greg Sarris, is that Graton customers will have a complete experience when they visit. “For the Graton customTribal Council Chairman Greg Sarris led Graton officials in touring media to the ers, they will finally have a full different sections of the resort expansion. The exercise/gym area is located destination point experience. near the spa and pool areas.

4 It girls, 1 reality...

other gorgeous girls,” Liz says, bleary from a 16-hour red-eye flight from Paris to Manila and you’re comparing yourself to straight to set for her last day of From Page SF3 everything little thing around you. shooting, “they’re used to being When you’re being put down by intricacies of fickle social media. shot, used to being in front of a people you don’t actually know. I camera — when the reality of my “It Girls” is real life — what want the show to tell this genera- life is behind-the-scenes, I easily people don’t know, what people don’t see about these women. It’s tion of women that having a good get awkward. and that was a group of friends you can rely on, about unfiltered access and their challenge.” that you can be inspired from, journey towards the next step. “It Girls” follows Liz as can make the difference in your “On top of your insane she navigates her day-to-day schedule, what made you say yes life.” Solenn’s narrative follows between running her business, her recent marriage to boyfriend- styling regional campaigns and to the show?” I ask the artist and turned-fiancé-turned-husband of busy actress Solenn Heussaff, “I claiming her seat at the table wanted “It Girls” to show women six years, Nico Bolzico, and the during the four-week gauntlet that this is 2016, and that they can way she manages her non-stop known as fashion month. This is be themselves. That they can find work commitments in tandem Liz at her most driven and relentwith little time she has to spend their own character,” replies Sos, less when it comes to building at home. “it’s so hard to find your identity her career — surrounded by “Syempre, I’m not like these when you’re on social media and three friends who are all, if not

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almost, married, the question becomes; will she or won’t she settle down anytime soon? Or should she strike while the iron is hot? a blind date, a trip to a gay bar, and a host of conflicting advice later —”sometimes, life can just get in the way. You know?” Liz would ask. Can an It Girl truly have it all? “I never actually thought I’d be part of a reality show,” confesses Georgina Wilson, “while I love watching reality TV and will never get tired of The Kardashians and the real Housewives, I feel that I’ve always been such a private person.” One could say George takes the biggest leap on “It Girls” with the reveal of her pregnancy with her hus-

Where before our Graton customers could gamble and get great food but they had to either go back to San Francisco or to rohnert Park in order to sleep, now they can park their car, they can have a wonderful hotel room, they can stay a weekend or a week or whatever they like,” he says with excitement. “They have four full-service restaurants to choose from, they can gamble, they can have entertainment, they have the pool, a full-service 10,000-square-feet spa where they can have their hair done or get a massage. during the day if they want they can take a wine tour to a number of wineries in the area. Now, you can come and stay – you don’t have to drive back – and really feel you can get away and relax.” band arthur Burnand. “When I decided this might be something fun to do with my friends, “ she continues, “I still had a lot of hesitation, but what really motivated me was the idea of “It Girls” being a cool and powerful platform for us to air our thoughts and ideas; as women, as professionals, as wives and especially as an expectant mother. It just felt like such a progressive thing to do.” “Life doesn’t have to stop just because you’re getting married, or having a baby,” agrees Isabelle daza, “I don’t know if that comes from a conservative culture, or an unforgiving culture, or a sawain culture — but the last thing I want to do is underestimate our audience. People now

Uniquely designed chandeliers and rich carpets with brown and orange hues line hallways leading to hotel rooms.

Sarris, who is very proud that he has Filipino heritage (his grandfather was a manong, he says), wants the Filipino community visit Graton and to schedule their events like reunions, gatherings, corporate events and parties at Graton. “I really want the Filipino people to feel particularly welcome here at Graton resort & Casino,” he says, and jokingly adds, “My only request is that when you have parties here is please invite me.” Graton resort & Casino is located off US Highway 101 at West Golf Course drive in rohnert Park, California. There is free valet and surface parking. For hotel reservations and information on rates, please visit www.GratonresortCasino. com, or call (707) 588-7070. •Advertising Supplement

are wiser, it’s 2016; and I want this show to empower women, to prove to ourselves and to each other, that life can go on. You can be a homemaker and still play certain roles, you can still work, you can still thrive.” “It Girls” promises a good time for its first season: “You’ll see what we bicker about, the fun we like to have together,” gushes Georgina, “and also, all our husbands think they’re actually the stars of the show so you’ll be seeing lots of them.” The show highlights the friendship and the drama that surround these four friends and confidantes — all without sacrificing its weight in social commentary.

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The Asian Jo ur na l SF M A G A Z I NE - O c t obe r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

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