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M I D W E E K
EDITION
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September 2-4, 2015
Volume 25 - No. 68 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r
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Ombudsman probing Aquino, Abad on DAP Morales bares initiative in Senate budget hearing by DJ
Yap Inquirer.net
ROLE MODELS. President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees (L-R) Kommaly Chanthavong from Laos, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from the Philippines, Anshu Gupta and Sanjiv Charturved from India, and Kyaw Thu from Myanmar for a group photo during the presentation ceremonies at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday, Aug. 31. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia’s highest honor and is widely regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Malacaùang photo by Benhur Arcayan
DATELINE
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS SS AMEric MEricA ricA
City Council approves LA’s bid for 2024 Olympics
Los ANGeLes is another step closer toward the bid for the 2024 olympics, following the city council’s approval on tuesday, sept. 1. Last week, a city council subcommittee focused on the olympics approved recommendations city analysts made on the contract, before sending it to the full council for a vote. In a 15-0 vote on tuesday, mayor eric Garcetti now has the authority to pursue the bid with the Us olympic Committee (UsoC). the council added that it wants to be included in the process for the next two years and vote on the final bid agreement that will be presented to the International olympic Committee (IoC). the UsoC also confirmed at a press conference on santa monica Beach that LA will be its candidate to the IoC. “this is a great day for Los Angeles and a great day for the olympic movement,� Garcet-
sAN frANCI fr sCo — the Department of elections will introduce bilingual ballots for the November 3 election, each with content in english and one other language: Chinese, spanish, or filipino. the Department is asking voters who prefer to receive election materials, including the of official ballot and the Voter Information Pamphlet, in another language in addition to english to update their language preference. Voters may do so by completing the form at sfelections.org/language, by calling (415) 554-4375, or by visiting the Department’s of office. Voters who have provided their language preference to the Department will receive a ballot in english and their preferred language either by mail, at the City hall Voting Center,
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to investigate the President, no suit could be filed against him during his term of office. Abad said he would cooperate in the inquiry to put a closure to the issue. Asked by Bayan muna rep. Carlos Zarate if the results of the DAP probe would be made public, morales said her office did not allow the release of investigation reports. “either we approve or disapprove it. If we approve it, then, a case is filed,� morales said. If not, that means “the case is closed and terminated,� she said.
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Press group calls for protection of Philippine journalists by agnes
Constante AJPress
foLLoWING the death of another filipino journalist on thursday, Aug. 28, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on tuesday, sept. 1, to work toward eliminating attacks against press in the country. radio broadcaster Cosme maestrado, 46, the most recent victim, was shot to death by four unidentified gunman, according to the Guardian. on Aug. 19, teodoro escanilla, a radio anchor for dzms, was shot in front of his house; on Aug. 18, newspaper columnist and publisher Gregorio Ybanez
was shot dead in front of his home, the Associated Press reported. “We call on President Benigno Aquino to give top priority to swiftly resolving these egregious cases,� said shawn Crispin, the senior southeast Asia representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists, according to the Associated Press. “Until Aquino demonstrates his government is serious about ending the onslaught, the killings will inevitably continue.� maestrado, an anchor at radio station dxoC, escaped a previous attack in November 2011, his colleagues told the Guardian. he was known for his commentary
Sen. Grace Poe is facing a disqualification complaint filed before the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Facebook/Grace Poe
Grace Poe submits birth, travel records to Senate ‘Become everyday heroes, not bystanders’ electoral tribunal u PAGE A3
by aurea
by patriCia lourDes
CaliCa
Philstar.com
Philstar.com
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San Francisco offers bilingual ballots, including Filipino
PresIDeNt Aquino and Budget secretary florencio Abad are under investigation by the office of the ombudsman in connection with the government’s discontinued Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). ombudsman Conchita Carpio morales told lawmakers on tuesday, sept. 1 her office began the investigation motu proprio, or on its own initiative, after the supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the DAP, a stimulus program launched in 2011 to
pump-prime the economy. she named President Aquino, Abad and “others who appear to have been involved in the conception of the DAP,� as possible respondents if the inquiry should find sufficient basis for filing a case in the sandiganbayan. “All are, pending a fact-finding investigation, and a report is under evaluation by the ombudsman,� morales said at the hearing of the proposed P1.77-billion budget of her office in the house appropriations committee. Presidential spokesman herminio Coloma Jr. said that while the ombudsman had the power
President Aquino challenged Filipinos to stop being bystanders and strive to become everyday heroes in their own right.
mANILA – As the nation commemorated the sacrifices of heroes on monday, Aug. 31, President Aquino challenged filipinos to stop being bystanders and strive to become everyday heroes in their own right. “today, we express our gratitude for our fellow filipinos who wholeheartedly face peril to fight for what is right and just; those whose responsibilities were tested and their convictions tried – but did not fail; they who faced a crossroads and chose to put the interest of the many above their own,� the President said in a speech at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in taguig City where he led the wreath laying at the tomb of the Unknown soldier as part of the com-
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Philstar.com file photo
Filipina receives Magsaysay Award for work to preserve ethnic dance found in Southern PH by agnes
Constante
AJPress
A fILIPINA choreographer and dance historian was honored monday, Aug. 31, for “her single-minded crusade in preserving the endangered artistic heritage of the southern Philippines.� Ligaya fernando-Amilbangsa, 71, was among five recipients of the ramon magsaysay Award, Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, for documenting and teaching a preIslamic dance tradition called pangalay.
Amilbangsa told the Associated Press she hopes the ethnic dance will continue to live on and help heal divisions in the poor in the Philippines, rather than become a decorative museum piece. “We have to think of a national symbol that can unite all of us,� she said in a recent interview. Amilbangsa developed a fascination for pangalay when she first saw the dance at a 1969 wedding in sulu province, where she relocated after marrying a muslim school-
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the set has earlier ordered the Bureau of Immigration and National statistics office to produce Poe’s documents in relation to the disqualification case filed against her. “Para sa akin, it is one of relief na maibigay na rin ‘yan
ViraY ira
mANILA – sen. Grace Poe on tuesday, sept. 1 submitted her citizenship and travel documents to the senate electoral tribunal (set) to support her claim that she is a natural-born filipino.
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Ombudsman probing Aquino, Abad… PAGE A1 t
“That’s why we need ample time to review jurisprudence in order to make sure that everything we do is in accordance with the law.” At the behest of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the DAP was launched in 2011 to stimulate the slowing economy. Jinggoy exposé But it sparked a controversy when Abad admitted the existence of the little-known savings impounding mechanism in reply to a privilege speech by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada charging that pork barrel funds were used as “incentive” in the impeachment and subsequent conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona. In July last year, the high court struck down unconstitutional practices in the DAP, such as the cross-border transfer of funds, the declaration of savings before the end of the fiscal year and their realignment for items not found in the budget law. At the hearing, Morales acknowledged that her office had prioritized “high-profile” cases, or those involving big amounts of money or officials occupying high positions.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales
She said the office was trying to restructure their processes such that the number of cases reaching the Ombudsman would be substantially reduced. “The trouble is that the mandate of the Ombudsman is too extensive that any complaint from any Tom, Dick or Harry has to be acted upon for any violation that has bearing on the office of the respondent,” she said. Morales also reported her office’s accomplishments. Budget slashed For 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman resolved 6,236 criminal and administrative cases from a combined workload of 14,951,
Inquirer.net file photo by Tarra Quismundo
leaving a balance of 8,715 as of January 2015. However, its budget for 2016 was slashed by the DBM from the agency’s proposed P2.8 billion to P1.77 billion, the current budget. Some of the lawmakers, including Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, proposed restoring a portion of the Ombudsman’s proposed budget. Rodriguez, for instance, proposed adding another P500 million to the Ombudsman, as a compromise, instead of restoring the entire budget originally proposed by the office. n
Grace Poe submits birth, travel records…
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sapagkat ‘yung mga kwestyon kung ako ba ay natural-born Filipino o hindi ay nasagot naman namin diyan,” Poe told members of the press. Poe said her legal counsels prepared the said documents such as her birth certificate and a document indicating that she was a foundling. The SET gave her 10 days after receiving the disqualifica-
tion complaint filed by losing senatorial bet Rizalito David who claimed that Poe distorted information in her certificate of candidacy when she ran for senator in 2013. “Madali naman naming maibibigay sana kung sa amin lang hiningi dahil ‘yan ay kasamang documentary proof ng aming mga claims,” the senator said. Poe earlier said that she re-
mains hopeful that the SET will be fair and objective in handling the disqualification case filed against her. The SET is comprised of its chair, Justice Antonio Carpio, Supreme Court Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and Arturo Brion, Sens. Loren Legarda, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar and Nancy Binay. n
and impunity, and lack of justice, will be ended,” he added. Aquino said his father, the late senator Benigno Jr. or Ninoy, had exhorted Filipinos not to depend on one man but “on all of us.” “In the name of each Filipino hero: together, as one nation, let us join hands. I have every confidence that, now that we have begun something so extraordinary, we will continue to journey to our desired destination; the Filipino people will indeed realize our collective aspirations of a better and brighter future for our beloved Philippines,” he said. Throughout the nation’s history, Filipinos have shown their capability to bring about meaningful change. “We can uplift and spur our country to greater progress. The only thing that is needed: that we link arms, act and work together as one nation; in that way, the heavy burdens we carry as a country need not be carried by a few shoulders alone,” he said. “Instead, each one will bring a lighter load, and in so doing, we will avoid passing the problems of the present to succeeding generations,” Aquino said. “This must be why the word ‘bayan’ or ‘nation’ forms part of our term for ‘hero,’ or ‘bayani.’ Each one of us possesses the ability to go beyond ourselves for our countrymen and our flag,” he said. As part of yesterday’s commemoration of National Heroes Day, Aquino received the first copy of a book entitled “Ang Mamatay ng Dahil Sa ‘Yo (To Die for You)” from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to honor the country’s martyrs and the many Filipino heroes who rose against the dictatorship during martial law from 1972 to 1986. “They are among those we thank and recognize today. Allow me to quote what the philosopher George Santayana once said: ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to
repeat it.’ And indeed, this book is something worthy to be passed on to this generation and even to those that will follow, to inform them so that they may avoid the errors of the past and to serve as guide to building a better future,” Aquino said. In Zamboanga City, Marine troopers wounded in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf last Friday received special recognition yesterday from the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) as part of the commemoration of National Heroes Day. Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Westmincom chief, personally pinned wounded personnel medals on the 10 soldiers in recognition of their bravery. The wounded troopers were part of the Marines’ Special Operations Platoon 2 (SOP) that encountered the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of Barangay Latih, Patikul town, Sulu. “It is only appropriate that the donning of the medals is held on this day for our soldiers whom we consider as our heroes,” Guerrero said briefly during his visit Monday at Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH). Sgt. Rey Addatu, team leader of the special operations platoon, said they surprised the militants while the latter were fetching water and preparing for the day. The encounter left three terrorists killed and an undetermined number of their comrades wounded. (With reports from Roel Pareño)
‘Become everyday heroes, not…
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memoration of National Heroes’ Day. “Whether or not a memorial stands in their honor; whether their names are written in the pages of history – with heads held high, we recognize the contributions of each hero, who laid and strengthened the foundations of the peace and progress we enjoy,” he said. National Heroes Day honors all Filipinos who have shown gallantry or selflessness in serving the country. Aquino noted writer Cynthia Ozick’s observation that the Holocaust or the systematic killing of Jews by the Nazis had three “participants” – bystanders, murderers and victims. “Imagination demands a choosing. Which, of this entangled trio, are we? Which are we most likely to become? When a whole population takes on the status of bystander, the victims are without allies; the criminals, unchecked, are strengthened; and only then do we need to speak of heroes,” Aquino said, quoting Ozick. “When a field is filled from end to end with sheep, a stag stands out. When a continent is filled end to end with the compliant, we learn what heroism is. And alas for the society that requires heroes,” Aquino said, further quoting Ozick. He said the “courage of the heroic few becomes clear” in situations where some people remain untouched in the midst of violence and oppression. He said one may only be adding to the problem if he chooses to stand on the sidelines and watch, or follow the dictates of the status quo, or simply complain without putting forward a solution to the problem. “On the other hand, if even one person takes a stand and faces them, in order to say, ‘what you are doing is wrong. I will not allow you to take advantage of the Filipino people,’ then I am certain that the vicious cycle of abuse
BUDGET CUTS. A youth activist cuts her hair to protest budget cuts made to the allotted budget of the University of the Philippines during a rally outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The Department of Budget and Management is proposing a P10.9-billion budget for the UP system next year or a more than P2-billion decrease from the P13.14 billion in 2015. ManilaTimes.net photo by Miguel De Guzman
Press group calls for protection of… PAGE A1 t
on the abuse of power and local corruption. The publication reported that Maestrado was shot 10 times. “He was a good man, kindhearted and helped many people. His cry is for change,” radio station manager Remegio Bonustro said, according to The Associated Press. Escanilla, according to the news agency, was a spokesman of human rights group Karapatan in the province of Sorsogon and was critical of alleged military abuses. The Associated Press further reported that Ybanez was a board member of an electric cooperative in Davao, and police are
delving into whether a disagreement among board members of the cooperative could have been a reason behind the killing. In 2015 alone, six journalists have been killed in the Philippines, and 32 since Aquino assumed the presidency in 2010, according to a Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism report. If the three most recent incidents are determined to have been work-related murders, the number of journalists killed in the Philippines since 1986 will be at 150, according to Philippine media watchdog Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. “The murder of three journalists in two weeks shows how the lack of progress in ending impu-
nity has emboldened those bent on silencing the press in the Philippines,” Crispin said, according to The Guardian. Presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma has criticized the attacks and told reporters that police have been instructed to search for the killers. The Philippine National Police Director General Ricardo Marquez, according to the Associated Press, said police have created separate special investigation groups to look into each of the attacks. The Philippines is ranked the third most deadly country for journalists around the world by the Committee to Protect Journalists, following Iraq and Syria. n
Filipina receives Magsaysay Award for work… PAGE A1 t
mate who belonged to a prominent clan, the Associated Press reported. “I thought that this was so beautiful, it’s so different,” she told the news agency. In the ethnic dance, arms are swayed gently and the hands and fingers move in a way that simulates the motions of animals or waves. Amilbangsa was interested in how pangalay is believed to have come to the southern Philippines from India prior to the arrival of Christianity and Islam, according to the Associated Press. The news agency added that the Filipina awardee said classic dance forms resembling pangalay can be found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand, among other places in Southeast Asia. In the same year that Amilbangsa became interested in pangalay, she began conducting research on the dance and interviewed elder villagers to record the gestures, Pangalay dancer and researcher Nanette Matilac told the Associated Press. In 1983, Amilbangsa published a book with the first written pangalay dance instructions, the news agency reported. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, whose late mother (former Philippine President Corazon Aquino) previously received the honor, gave out the awards on National Heroes Day
and offered positive words for Amilbangsa. “Our country holds the belief that if you forget your roots, you are bound not to reach your destination. Our own kababayan, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa, has lived by this code. She turned her appreciation of the arts into an advocacy, with the most important one being the study, practice, and teaching of the dance style, pangalay, from the southernmost part of the country,” Aquino said during a speech on National Heroes’ Day, according to CNN. The four others who also received the award are: Kommaly Chanthavong of Laos for reviving and developing ancient Laotian silk weaving as a means of creating a source of livelihood for poor villagers; Anshu Gupta of India for founding a volunteer group that recycles a variety of items, providing jobs and more affordable basic items for those in need; Sanjiv Chaturvedi of India for investigating and expos-
ing government corruption; and Kyaw Thu of Myanmar for providing free funeral services for the poor through a group he created called Free Funeral Services Society. Aquino said the each recipient “has transcended the ‘individual perspective.’” “Each of them has chosen to leave their comfort zones, and answer the call to serve more and more people, whether the immediate community, or all of society,” he said, according to CNN. The Ramon Magsaysay Award, created in 1957 and named after the third president of the Philippines, is bestowed on individuals and organizations each year. Since it was established, more than 300 men, women and organizations have been recognized for their selfless service for their societies, Asia and the world, according to the award foundation’s website. Each awardee received $30,000 and a gold medallion. n
LUNSOD NG BELLFLOWER PAUNAWA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG ANG PAUNAWA AY IBINIBIGAY SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO na ang Konseho ng Lunsod ng Bellflower ay magsasagawa ng isang pampublikong pagdinig sa ika-7 ng gabi sa mga Bulwagang Pulungan ng Konseho ng Lunsod sa Tanggapan ng Lunsod ng Bellflower, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California, sa sumusunod na (mga) petsa: Ika-24 ng Agosto, 2015. Ika-14 ng Setyembre, 2015. Ika-28 ng Setyembre, 2015. Ang layunin ng mga pampublikong pagdinig ay isaalang-alang ang mga burador na mapa at kumuha ng mga komento ng publiko sa posibleng mga hangganan ng distrito sa pagboto. Sa pagtatapos ng lahat ng mga pampublikong pagdinig, ang Konseho
ay pipili ng isang mapa upang isama sa isang panukala sa balota para pagpasiyahah ng mga botante kung ang mga miyembro ng Konseho ng Lunsod ng Bellflower ay ihahalal “batay sa distrito” sa halip na sa pamamagitan ng kasalukuyang “panlahat” na sistema. Ang pagbotong “batay sa distrito” ay nagtatadhana na ang isang kandidato ay maaari lamang kumandidato para sa puwesto sa Konseho na kumakatawan sa distrito kung saan naninirahan ang kandidato at ang isang botante ng Bellflower ay maaari lamang bumoto para sa mga kandidatong iyon na tumatakbo para sa isang puwesto sa distrito kung saan naninirahan ang botante. Ang “panlahat” na sistema ay nagtatadhana na ang bawat botante ay maaaring bumoto para sa sinu-
mang kandidato para sa bawat puwesto ng Konseho na magkakaroon ng halalan. Ang mga hangganan ng distrito na iminungkahi ng Konseho ay ilalagay sa halalan ng ika-8 ng Nobyembre, 2016 para pagpasiyahan ng mga botante kung babaguhin ang sistema ng pagboto ng Lunsod upang maging “batay sa distrito.”
ng mga Tauhan at anumang mga pansuportang materyal ay makukuha para sa inspeksiyon ng publiko sa Opisina ng Klerk ng Lunsod sa Tanggapan ng Lunsod ng Bellflower, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, o sa pamamagitan ng pagbisita sa website ng Lunsod sa www.bellflower.org. Ang mga pag-aayos para sa pagsusuri ng materyal na ito at/o pagkuha ng mga kopya ng mga dokumento ay maaaring gawin sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag sa Opisina ng Klerk ng Lunsod sa (562) 804-1424, extension 2271. Ang mga katanungan ay dapat na itanong kay Ryan Smoot, Katulong ng Tagapamahala ng Lunsod, sa (562) 8041424, extension 2278.
Lahat ng mga interesadong par�do ay iniimbitahang dumalo sa (mga) pampublikong pagdinig at magpahayag ng mga opinyon o magsumite ng ebidensiya para o laban sa mga burador na mapa sa pagdistrito. Ang pampublikong pagdinig ay maaaring ipagpatuloy pana-panahon, gaya ng kailangan, sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng Sa utos ng Konseho ng paunawa sa naunang bi- Lunsod ng Lunsod ng Bellflower, County ng nanggit na pagdinig. Los Angeles, Estado ng Ang mga kopya ng Ulat California.
Debra D. Bauchop, Klerk ng Lunsod
SEAFOOD CITY AD2
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CSUN biology professor, students, make discovery that could improve breast cancer treatments by Agnes
ConstAnte AJPress
POST OFFICE. Liza Macaranas of the parcel section chief at the Manila Post Office starts her day by organizing stacks of boxes sent in by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from all around the world. President Benigno Aquino III recently intervened in the controversial customs inspections of Balikbayan Boxes, even as some OFW rights organizations declared a “Zero Remittance Day” on Friday, Aug. 28. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma
City Council approves LA’s bid for 2024…
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ti said at the press conference. Boston was a leading contender for the 2024 Olympics; however, in July the city dropped out due to the lack of public support and questions about taxpayer spending. The USOC said polling data shows that over 80 percent of LA’s residents are in support of hosting the Olympics. An initial proposal for 2024 — released by Garcetti and sports executive Casey Wasserman — has a $4.1 billion budget, in addition to $150 million in insurance premiums and $400 million for cost overruns, the Los Angeles Times reported. “In Los Angeles, the spotlight is always on. We have the resources, experience and secure environment to share the biggest events with the world,” the proposal states. The proposal further outlines renovation projects for existing venues, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (which estimates $800 million for seating upgrades and premium amenities) and a $500 million investment from the University of Southern California, according to the Associated Press. Various events would be held
throughout the city: gymnastics and basketball at the Staples Center, volleyball on Santa Monica Beach, road cyclists and marathon runners on Hollywood Boulevard and mountain bike racing in Griffith Park. An Olympic Village “centrally located along the revitalized LA River to reduce travel times and provide a place to rest and prepare” for athletes is also included in the plan. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana and Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso cautioned that acquiring and developing the site may “significantly exceed” the $1 billion budget. The costs incurred by a host city and whether it benefits have been subjects of debate. Sochi, Russia, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 2014, cost $51 billion and is considered the most expensive games to date. “It is vital to properly and sufficiently safeguard Angelenos and our city government from possible losses — and to avoid placing our city in a position wherein we might have to indemnify the U.S. Olympic Committee or any other entity from losses they might incur,” LA City Controller Ron Galperin wrote in a letter to the
council last week. Councilmember Mike Bonin noted that the city was not financially responsible during the 1984 Summer Games. “The City did not assume that responsibility in 1984. Why would it assume that responsibility now? Since L.A. is the only US city currently willing to bid on the 2024 games, have we used this strong negotiating position to ask the USOC to cover any costs or provide any financial guarantees?,” Bonin wrote in a letter to Council President Herb Wesson on Friday, Aug. 28, according to the LA Times. A $161-million surplus is expected, according to Garcetti, who cited revenues from broadcast, sponsorship and ticket sales. The Olympics were previously held in Los Angeles in 1932 and 1984. The US hasn’t hosted the Summer Games since 1996 in Atlanta. Contenders have until Sept. 15 to bring their bid to the IOC. Among other international contenders are Paris, Rome, Hamburg and Budapest. The IOC will announce the 2024 host city in 2017. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)
A TEAM of nine students and one biology professor from Cal State Northridge (CSUN) have pinpointed a gene that can cause breast cancer to spread. The new finding, published in this month’s Public Library of Science One journal, could change the course of breast cancer treatment, researchers say. Among women, breast cancer is the most common and constitutes 23 percent of all cancer cases, the study states. For women whose cancer metastasizes through the bloodstream, the survival rate is 24 percent. The discovery could lead to improved diagnoses of the cancer and innovative therapy for patients, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. “I think it can bust down the cancer house – at least do it damage,” CSUN biology professor
Jonathan Kelber told the newspaper. “It’s a battering ram. “Essentially, we’re going to cripple the house cancer and stop it in its tracks.” Kelber and his students found that a gene called PEAK1 affects a protein known as TGF beta, which typically regulates cell growth and suppresses tumors. They found that PEAK1 serves as an important “support wall” for cancer cells, which promotes metastasis to various parts of the body. In certain breast cancers, the team discovered TGF-beta protein causes a swift conversion of benign tumor cells to malignant ones, in turn speeding up the progression of the cancer. “That is our discovery: that PEAK1 converts TGF-beta from good to bad,” Kelber said, according to the Daily News. “So this is the first set of reports to uncover the functioning mechanism of how breast cancer pro-
gresses. This can lead to therapy for breast cancer and has the potential to improve patient outcome.” How the change of the cells remains a topic for future research. The CSUN study has received positive feedback from oncologists, including Dr. Julia Tchou, breast cancer surgeon at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania and an associate professor at the school. Tchou said the university’s research underlines a “novel strategy” that can target the interaction between the TGF-beta protein, the PEAK1 gene and tumor cells to stop them from spreading, according to the Daily News. “As our understanding of the tumor cell and its micro-environmental deepens, we no longer think of tumor cells as the only therapeutic target within the tumor,” she said in a statement. n
NY exhibit to showcase works of 14 top Filipino designers NEW YORK CITY – A special display of the works of top Filipino designers will be shown by Asia Society along with Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms, an exhibition of over 100 spectacular works of gold from the 10th to 13th century, highlighting the creativity, prosperity and cultural connections of the precolonial period. “Filipino Design Now,” which highlights Filipino design, material and craftsmanship, celebrates the artistic visions of top Filipino designers in this exclusive showcase conceived by Filipino jewelry designer Federico De Vera, a gallery owner of antique objects, curios and jewelry and, more recently, the author of De Vera Objects and De Vera Jewelry. Presented in Asia Society’s lobby, the showcase features exclusive collections by 14 renowned Filipino designers who have been invited to create products inspired by their interpretation of Philippine culture. Signature pieces from these designer’s collections have been selected for inclusion in the display, with the balance of the collections featured for sale at AsiaStore and online at AsiaStore. org. “Filipino Design Now” is supported by FedEx Express. Featured designers include: • Maricris Brias, home textiles. Brias and her local artisans are committed to reviving the native artistry of Mindanao’s ethnic tribes, manufactur-
ing textiles and home accents created from local abaca and banana fiber, handwoven exclusively by
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Dateline PhiliPPines
PH ranks 14th in best places to raise family for expats – survey by Yuji
FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS. Senator Grace Poe (center), chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drug, questions officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on its campaign to fight the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country during a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 1. PDEA reported that for the first half of 2015, more than 500 drug pushers were arrested as well as 500 high value target drug lords. Also in photo are Senators Koko Pimentel and Tito Sotto. Senate photo by Romy Bugante
NY exhibit to showcase works of…
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T’boli and Mandaya natives. • Lenora Cabili, fashion. Cabili’s designs are inspired by tradition, mixing the past with present, creating unique garments that incorporate ancient techniques of weaving, embroidery and bead work from indigenous Filipino groups. • Federico de Vera, jewelry. De Vera strives to find new lives for old things that have been discarded, and reinterprets them from a different point of view. Today his pieces are comprised of antique elements, often simultaneously organic and baroque, each unique and one of a kind. • Ian Giron, home accents. Giron creates home accents using coconut shell as his base and combining traditional methods of sanding and bleaching before applying gold leaf to achieve color and patina, a process that
has been widely used in Asia for thousands of years. • Jewelmer, jewelry. Golden South Sea pearls are the centerpieces of the brand. Through a highly selective process, these elusive gems inspire artisans to create finely crafted jewelry to fulfill Jewelmer’s celebration of beauty in harmonious symmetry with nature. • Josie Natori, jewelry. Natori’s iconic, global brand, the House of Natori celebrates Asian aesthetics with the spirit of Natori’s adopted home in America, effortlessly melding the visual best of both the East and the West. • Tina Ocampo, evening bags. Ocampo’s luxury brand Celestina,is comprised of a collection of evening bags, handcrafted by Filipino artisans, practicing age-old techniques and using exotic materials that can only be found in the Philippines.
San Francisco offers bilingual… PAGE A1 t
or at their polling place. On Election Day, the Department will provide polling place signage indicating that three bilingual versions of the ballot are available. This information will be conveyed in English, Chinese, Spanish and Filipino on the sign placed on the Election Table, on each ballot card, and on the Ballot Secrecy Folder issued to every voter. Similarly, the vote-by-mail bal-
lot packet will include information about availability of the three bilingual versions of the ballot. Although the ballots in English and each aforementioned language will be available by mail, at the City Hall Voting Center, and at all polling places, San Francisco voters are encouraged to choose their preferred ballot language well before Election Day by providing their language preference at sfelections.org/ language. (Inquirer.net)
• Ditta Sandico, fashion. Sandico transforms indigenous fibers, such as banana, pineapple and abacca into a fashion art form, designing wraps that follow the movements of the body. • Wynn Wynn Ong, jewelry. Favoring stones in their organic, untouched states and incorporating materials not often associated with jewelry, Ong combines unexpected elements into her meticulously hand crafted jewelry designs. • Anne Saguil, fashion. Saguil combines her passion for craftsmanship and fashion, designing clothes, handbags and accessories using hand embroidered techniques and indigenous handwoven materials. • Rafe Totengco, minaudières. Totengco’s signature minaudière evening bags, featuring indigenous Filipino materials, blend uptown sophistication with a downtown edge. • Bea Valdes, jewelry & accessories. Valdes takes inspiration from various cultures, sourcing materials, patterns and ideas from around the world for her high-end accessories while continuing to shine a light on the Philippines as a design hub as she supports local artisans and their craftsmanship. • Natalya Lagdameo, novelty textiles. Drawing on work as an interior designer and inspired by heirlooms and artifacts from around the archipelago, Lagdameo creates textile designs utilizing local Filipino materials. n
Vincent Gonzales Inquirer.net
THE Philippines ranked 14th among 41 countries in a listing of best places to raise a family for expatriates, an international survey showed. In InterNation’s 2015 Family Life Index, the Philippines trailed countries like Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Thailand, South Korea, Italy, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, among others. The Family Life Index ranked countries according to expatriate parents’ response to subcategories, namely availability of child care and education, cost of child care and education, quality of education and family well-being. The Philippines ranked seventh in availability of child care and education, fifth in cost of child-
care and education, and 26th in family well-being. The country, however, was second to the last (40th) in quality of education. Austria emerged as expatriate
parents’ top choice this year, followed by Finland, Sweden, Israel and New Zealand. Other countries in the top 10 are Singapore, Germany, France, Australia and Luxembourg. n
Laude lawyer: Settlement impossible as parties rest case Roque denies family sought P38M, US visas by allan
Macatuno Inquirer.net
OLONGAPO CITY – The lawyers of the family of slain transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude said a settlement with the camp of US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton is impossible now that both parties have rested their cases. Pemberton is facing a murder charge at the Regional Trial Court Branch 74 here over the death of Laude, whose body was found inside a motel room on October 11 last year. Witnesses identified Pemberton as the foreigner who was last seen with her as they checked into the motel. “Any settlement now is impossible, especially since both parties are done presenting their respective evidence,” lawyer Virgie Lacsa Suarez, one of the Laude family’s lawyers, told the Inquirer in a text message on Monday. Suarez said since the start of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence on March 23, there
have been no talks about a settlement. “There was only a discussion on a plea bargaining as part of the pretrial period early February,” Suarez said. She also denied reports that the family demanded P38 million and six US visas to drop the case. “There is simply no truth to that… Maybe that’s what they (defense lawyers) want to offer [the family],” Suarez said. She suspected that Pemberton’s lawyers were “testing the water” when they revealed this information. “There is no truth to reports that we will drop the case at anytime,” Suarez said. City Chief Prosecutor Emilie Fe de los Santos said Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde has scheduled the summation and simultaneous submission of memorandums on Sept. 14. De los Santos said the promulgation of the decision is expected by December 14, which is within
the prescribed one-year period to finish the court proceedings under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Lawyer Harry Roque Jr., the Laude family’s lead counsel, described reports that the family is open to settlement as a “PR play” or a publicity stunt from Pemberton’s camp. He also cautioned Pemberton’s lawyers against approaching the Laude family without the consent of the private counsels. “They should not even come close to my client because, otherwise, I will enforce the ethical prohibition of a trial and I will move for their disbarment for ethical breaches,” Roque told the Inquirer by telephone on Monday, Aug. 31. He said the warning was also meant for other representatives of the government and American authorities who would try to talk to the Laudes without the private counsels’ knowledge. Roque said reports on the
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A SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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Features
Heroic
“EVERY Filipino can be a hero if we will continue to fight our desired destination,” Pres. Benigno Aquino III said as he paid tribute to the Philippine national heroes at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Monday, Aug. 31. This year’s theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago (The Filipino Hero Then and Now: Where Transformation Begins and Continues).” As Aquino led the wreath-laying ceremony for the fallen Filipinos and Filipinas, he remembered their sacrifices and challenged today’s generation, to turn themselves from meek individuals into successful men and women that may collectively hone a better and brighter future for the country. “We pay tribute to the sacrifices offered by Philippine heroes. As we honor them, so too are we called to do our part and to continue the battle they began—whether in a small, or a big way—for the betterment of our nation,” Aquino said. On the same day, Aquino also led the conferment of awards to the five recipients of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards this year. Also dubbed as the Nobel Peace Prize of Asia, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards, now on its 58th year, honors individuals or organizations who “address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity.” In his speech, Aquino congratulated Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa (Philippines), Kommaly Chan-
thavong (Laos), Anshu Gupta (India), Kyaw Thu (Myanmar), and Sanjiv Chaturvedi (India) for transcending the “individual perspective.” He described them as individuals who have “chosen to leave their comfort zones, and answer the call to serve more and more people, whether their immediate community, or all of society.” The President also likened the awardees to the country’s national heroes for their perseverance despite facing formidable opponents, “from corrupt employees and officials in government, to the phenomenon of widespread poverty and inequality, and even to the way that time erodes our most valuable traditions. But you were not daunted” in order to protect and promote justice, basic human rights, and cultural heritage. “Real transformation requires real, backbreaking effort—and this is what you gave, willingly. In many ways, you are like the heroes that many of my countrymen remember on this day: those who struggled and endured hardship for a greater cause. It is only right that we are paying tribute to
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
all of you on this occasion. You are the modernday heroes that not only Filipinos, but all men and women all over the world need,” Aquino added. Not all heroes should die on the battlefield, some heroes may just be ordinary men and women who inhabit extraordinary lives that make a change and inspire other people. Filipinos should hold on to what their forefathers have achieved yesterday and to move forward with it to initiate progress tomorrow.
Their enduring journey left us with a great example to live by. We are all called to live like heroes, not to make a mark in the world through suffering or death—but to appeal similar lives, for our kababayans and our country. Being young or being away is not an excuse for indifference. It is every Filipino’s responsibility to honor the value of nationalism, to revere the essence of freedom and to observe the ethos displayed by the Philippines’ gallant heroes. (AJPress)
The rise of anti-establishment candidates: Move over Clinton, Bush and even Trump?
THROUGH a candidate most Democrats outside of the state of Vermont have never heard of, Senator Bernie Sanders has proven a sustained upward climb in the polls, possibly threatening the frontrunner status of former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A new poll among Iowa caucus goers, the first to hold the primary in the 2016 US Presidential Elections, proves just that. A survey released last Saturday, Aug. 29 by the Des Moines Register and Bloomberg Politics revealed that Clinton has lost 1/3rd of her supporters since May, and that Bernie Sanders continues to cut into Hillary Clinton’s once-commanding lead among Iowa Democrats, closing to just 7 points of Clinton in Iowa. Sanders now trails Clinton 37 percent to 30 percent. CNN reports that just last January, half of likely Democratic caucus goers were unfamiliar with Sanders, and he was pulling in just 5 percent of support. According to CNN, the poll finds that Sanders’ support is more due to voters’ enthusiasm for his candidacy and his message, rather than opposition to Clinton. An overwhelming 96 percent of those who support Sanders say they support him and his ideas. Only 2 percent say their vote is motivated by a desire to stop a Clinton candidacy. The report further says that as for the controversy surrounding Clinton’s use of email while
leading the State Department, 61 percent of likely Democratic The Fil-Am caucus goers say the issue is not Perspective important to them. The poll further reveals that Sanders “has a deeper reservoir of support”, with 39 percent of likely caucus goers say their feelings about Sanders are very Gel SantoS-reloS favorable and just 8 percent having a negative view of him. In contrast to Clinton: 27 percent view her very favorably, but 19 percent view her negatively. Sanders has been running a campaign that has put forth a platform of how the government should help ordinary Americans, providing them with basic services like health care, education, higher wages, stronger protection of consumer rights, instead of the government being run and manipulated by powerful oligarchs, benefitting the richest of the rich in society, at the expense of the middle class. Sanders’ appeal has been further strengthened by the consistency of and commitment to his message since the 1980s, a stark contrast to his political opponents. “What this new poll shows is that the more Iowans get to know Bernie, the better they like him and what he stands for. We’ve seen the same thing
in New Hampshire and across the country,” CNN quoted Sanders’ campaign spokesman Michael Briggs. Meanwhile, the same poll further says that Vice President Joe Biden, [he has not declared his candidacy for president], captured 14 percent of the vote, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (3 percent), former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (2 percent) and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (1 percent). Carson ties with Trump For the first time in more than a month, real estate mogul and reality show star Donald Trump’s frontrunner status is now being threatened by a newbie in politics and another anti-establishment candidate, Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon. Carson has surged up in the pack to tie Trump in Iowa, according to the results of the poll released by Monmouth University on Monday, Aug. 31. According to the survey, Trump and Carson are now tied at 23 percent. CNN reported that this is the first time since July 26 that a poll in the first four states to select a Republican nominee did not find Trump substantially ahead of all other candidates. CNN further reported that according to the Monmouth poll, farther behind Trump and Carson
were former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina at 10 percent; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at 9 percent; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at 7 percent; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 5 percent; Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, each at 4 percent; Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at 3 percent; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum at 2 percent. CNN added that no other candidates topped 1 percent. This is a big change from the Iowa poll conducted by Monmouth University, taken before the first Republican debate. In late July, Walker led with 22 percent, Trump had 13 percent, Carson had 8 percent and Fiorina was at 3 percent. A CNN/ORC poll taken in early August revealed that Trump’s lead had diminished, compared to the results of the latest Monmouth survey in Iowa. Trump was then at 22 percent, Carson was at 14 percent, Walker was at 9 percent, Cruz was at 8 percent and Fiorina was at 7 percent. Could Bernie Sanders and Ben Carson really have the chance to be President after all? *** 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
The curse of incompetence and insensitivity THERE’S this joke about a little boy Street anxious to see his expectant mother give Talk birth. She explains that it will take several months for the baby to come out. The boy then recalls GreG B. MacaBenta how his engineer father had told his workers on a rush project to “put more men on the job,” to hasten its completion. “Mom,” says the boy. “Why don’t you put more men on the job?” If you think that’s funny, guess what the administration of Benigno S. Aquino III has been doing the past five-going-on-six years. The classic example is the Department of Agriculture, notorious for incompetence and accused of corruption. Instead of replacing the Secretary of Agriculture, Proceso Alcala, Aquino appointed former Senator Kiko Pangilinan as “Agricultural Czar” or some title to that effect. Aquino put more men on the job. Now comes this congressman from Quezon City, Winston Castillo (eager to have his 15 seconds of fame), suggesting that the solution to Metro Manila’s traffic woes would be for Malacañang to appoint a “traffic czar.” That’s a traffic czar placed on top of a traffic czar (the MMDA chairman) on top of several traffic czars (the Metro Manila mayors). And THAT is supposed to solve the infernal traffic problem? Good grief! The management geniuses who populate the Makati Business Club and who recently rated the various government offices, ostensibly based on perceived efficiency, should tell the idiots running
the government that overlayering is a formula for confusion and hand-washing. In other words, the more cooks working on the broth, the more difficult it is to pinpoint who spoiled it. This reminds me of the tragedy-on-top-of-a-tragedy that destroyed my hometown of Tacloban. The original tragedy was super typhoon Yolanda. The tragedy on top of it was the presence of three Keystone Kops, Mar Roxas of DILG, Dinky Soliman of Social Welfare and Voltaire Gazmin of Defense. In a press conference with Roxas presiding (which I wrote about in this column), the following dialogue was recorded by Rappler: “RAPPLER: Sino po ba ang ground commander natin sa relief operations na ito? (Who is the ground commander in this relief operation?) “ROXAS: There is no such title dahil ayon sa NDRRMC, it’s Sec Voltz Gazmin ang aming chairman, at ina-assignassign niya kami sa kung ano ang aming dapat gawin. (There is no such title because according to the NDRRMC, it’s Sec Voltz Gazmin who is our chairman, and he assigns us to do whatever we have to do. ) “RAPPLER: Pero sir, who is calling the shots here in this center? (But sir, who is calling the shots here in this center?) “ROXAS: Wala. You can see the process that is being undertaken, and it is a consultative process. (No one. You can see the process that is being undertaken, and it is a consultative process.)
“SOLIMAN: Lahat kami, buong pamahalaan, pambansa at lokal, kumikilos as one. But more than that, ‘yun ang gusto kong ipaalam sa lahat – it’s also whole of society. Lahat ng private sector, lahat ng volunteers, lahat ng volunteers dito sa Tacloban, nagre-repack sila. This is whole of society, responding to a crisis. Nagkaisa ang bansa; ‘yun ang ating mensahe. (Everyone of us, the whole of government, national and local, move as one. But more than this, what I want everyone to know – it’s also whole of society. The entire private sector, all volunteers, all volunteers here in Tacloban are repacking. This is whole of society, responding to a crisis. The nation is working as one; that’s our message.)’ But Roxas, Soliman and Gazmin were not done yet. Soliman then explained an “operations management concept” which she called, “the Convergent Approach.” Here’s what I wrote in reaction to that: “I did a double-take and struggled to find an analogy for ‘Convergent Approach.’ In football, that means operating without a quarterback. In a symphony orchestra, without a conductor. In the corporate environment, without a CEO. In the military, without a commanding officer. “Apparently, in the Roxas-Soliman Institute of Advanced Operations Management, as applied to the Yolanda crisis, the Convergent Approach is one where every player is left to his or her own best intentions, based on respective levels of competence or incompetence.” In an earlier meeting between Roxas and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Roxas had required the latter to submit a formal request for disaster assistance
from the national government, otherwise, “Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo.” Roxas, who is supposed to have studied management in an elite university in America, has since become famous for classic responses to the problems of the country. The latest is his rationale for the infernal traffic problems: It’s supposed to be a result of the “booming” economy. No solution. Just a rationalization. He might as well have said, “Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo.” Come to think of it, that is what the occupant in Malacañang practically told the suffering folks of Metro Manila, if we are to assume that the palace spokespersons are articulating the thoughts of the president of the country. According to one Manila daily, Deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte has asked the public “to be patient” in the face of the metropolis’ “traffic woes.” The news report was about how “vehicles clogged and barely crawled along Andrews Avenue, Airport Road and Sucat Road – vital arteries leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s terminals 1,2,3 and 4.” The news item further stated: “Valte said they received a report that a big number of people failed to make it to their flights because of the ongoing construction works in the Villamor Air Base area. She said airport authorities had been advising the public to consider the heavy traffic because of construction projects when planning their trips.” Well, what choice do the poor motorists, air travelers and commuters have except to “plan their trips”? The reason, of course, is because the idiots behind the massive construction projects did not do their mandatory part of the
planning. Let me cite two examples of competent planning and concern for the convenience of the commuting public (as opposed to the palpak and manhid approach of this administration): the massive expansion of the San Francisco International Airport and the replacement of the eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. To ensure that commuters and air travelers would not be inconvenienced, the plans and budgets for both projects included alternative routes that commuters could take, while the main thoroughfares were under construction. This meant a temporary bridge from Treasure Island to the Oakland side while the original bridge (part of which had collapsed during the 1988 Loma Prieta earthquake) was being demolished and a new span was being built. In the case of the expansion of the San Francisco International Airport, air travelers hardly felt any inconvenience because of the alternative arteries prepared prior to the main construction activity. Compare that with what’s happening in Metro Manila, something that I am painfully aware of because I live just off Sucat in Parañaque. I will give my comments in Tagalog so that our non-Filipino readers will not understand me: “Pinagsabay-sabay ang tinamaan ng lintik na construction at bahala na tayong mga taong bayan sa buhay natin. Diyos ko. Bakit ba tayo pinarurusahan ng mga bobo?” And now, back to English: Dear management geniuses of the Makati Business Club. Is this the kind of governance you want to sustain for another six years? (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)
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Dateline PHiliPPineS
LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2015
A
20 lawmakers tied to new P500M pork scam by NaNcy
c. carvajal Inquirer.net
SENATORS Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr., former Sen. Edgardo Angara, and 17 current and former representatives have been accused of channeling at least P500 million of their pork barrel allocations to questionable nongovernment organizations (NGOs), documents made available to the Inquirer showed. The documents included sworn statements executed by four new whistle-blowers that form part of the evidence being prepared by Levito Baligod, a lawyer who helped expose the P10-billion racket involving the diversion of the congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to fake NGOs of Janet Lim-Napoles. The PDAF funds were funneled to state-owned National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) and ended in the accounts of several organizations found by the Commission on Audit (COA) to be questionable, according to the documents. The affidavits, along with copies of checks and other documents, will be submitted to the Office of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Wednesday by Baligod, counsel for the whistle-blowers. “May I respectfully refer to you for appropriate actions the enclosed affidavits of four witness-
es who detailed their knowledge on the involvement of certain government officials and private individuals in the so-called PDAF scam,” Baligod said in his letter to the Ombudsman. Baligod said in his letter that PDAF funds ended in questionable NGOs “through the solicitation of other service providers using exactly the same modus as that of Janet Napoles.” “The witnesses share their knowledge on how the malversation of P490,685,000.00 of PDAF happened and the participation of each of those who appear to be responsible,” Baligod said. Named by the new witnesses as among those who assigned their pork barrel from 2007 to 2010 to fake people’s organizations were: — Revilla, P22 million in special allocation release order (Saro) numbers ROCS-07-08555 allocated to St. James the Apostle Multipurpose Cooperative. — Enrile, P15 million with Saro number ROCS-09-04956 to Kagandahan ng Kapaligiran Foundation Inc. — Angara, P20 million with Saro number ROCS-09-05619, also to Kagandahan. Angara’s denial Angara denied he allocated money to Kagandahan and said his office had no records of such transaction. He also said he did not know Quennie Estanislao and Maylanie Asuncion alleged by
witnesses as the owners of the foundation. “We never assigned funds to the said organization and based on our office records and the Senate finance committee there was absolutely no allocation,” Angara said. He also said the issue had already been cleared with COA. The documents also showed that: — Former Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles allocated a total of P96 million to two NGOs—Aaron Foundation allegedly operated by now Davao Rep. Nancy Catamco (P60 million with Saro number BMB-03240 and ROCS08-05177) and Kapuso’t Kapamilya Foundation (P36 million with Saro number BMB-07-09681 and BMB-07-03264) whose owner was alleged to be Marilou Ferrer. — Former Rep. Joseph Santiago allocated a total of P32.5 million with Saro numbers E-0808945, ROCS-07-00333, ROCS07-02117 to Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation allegedly owned by a Marilou Antonio; Ikaw at Ako Foundation of Joel Soriano and Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation also of Antonio and Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation also of Antonio. — Former Rep. Roberto Cajes of Bohol allocated P90.3 million with Saro numbers ROCS-0708956, ROCS-08-04339, ROCS09-05253, BMB-E-07-07367,
BMB-08-00457, ROCS-07-00439 and ROCS 07-02950 to questionable NGOs— Gabay sa Magandang Bukas Foundation, Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa, Kapuso’t Kapamilya and Buhay Mo Mahal Ko. — Former Rep. Florencio Miraflores allocated P25 million with Saro numbers ROCS-07-00722, ROCS-0608146, ROCS-0703483, ROCS-07-07405, ROCS08-00420 to Center for Mindoro Integrated Development Foundation and Uswag Guimaras Foundation and suppliers. — Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas allocated P5 million with Saro number ROCS-08-03696 to Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation, also of Antonio. — Former Rep. Carol Lopez allocated P29 million with Saro numbers ROCS-08-07146 and ROCS-08-05631 to Kagandahan ng Kapaligiram Foundation, also of Antonio. death,” Suarez said. — Former Rep. Edgar San Luis She said several organizations allocated P10 million with Saro have pledged to join the march number E-08-09740 to Kaisa’t that will start from the Hall of Jus- Kaagapay Foundation care of tice here and will end at Laude’s grave at the Olongapo Memorial Park. Several groups will simultaneously hold protest actions in Metro Manila. MANILA — Officials of the “It’s going to be a national day Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) agreed on of outrage to express our senti- Monday, Aug. 31 to end the fivements on discrimination against day mass action after talks with members of LGBT community,” government. Suarez said. “Nagkausap na po ang panig In his testimony last week, ng Iglesia at panig ng pamahaPemberton said he pushed Laude laan, nagkapaliwanagan na po when he discovered that she was ang dalawang panig,” INC gennot a woman. Pemberton said he eral minister Bienvenido Santiafelt deceived and tried to defend go said in a statement aired on himself when Laude slapped Net 25, an church-run broadcast him. network. Pemberton said he held Laude “Ito pong ating isinagawang in an arm lock and later dragged pagtitipon na sinimulan natin her to the bathroom, hoping to noong Huwebes ng hapon ay revive her. n natatapos nang mapayapa rin
Laude lawyer: Settlement…
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Laudes’ supposed demands did not come from the family or the private lawyers. He said any move for a settlement at this time was “too late.” “A murder case, unlike rape cases, can’t be compromised,” he said. Laude’s mother, Julita, has been vocal that their family would not accept any settlement. “It’s not money that can compensate for a life that is lost… No amount of money can replace the life of my child. Not even Pemberton’s life can replace that of Jennifer’s,” she said during the trial. In April, Laude’s relatives sought at least P200 million in moral and exemplary damages as the civil aspect of the case was tackled in Pemberton’s trial. Roque had said Laude’s sister, Marilou, had told the court that
P100 million would compensate for the “agony that the family has to go through because Jennifer was treated like an animal.” “The family also wants another P100 million for exemplary damages so other people, especially American soldiers, will know the cost of treating someone like Jennifer,” Roque had said. The Laude family has started preparing for “a national day of outrage” in time for her first death anniversary in October. Suarez said members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will also hold a nationwide pride march to demand justice as the Laude family awaits the court’s decision on the murder case against Pemberton. “Now that we’re through with the hearing, we will not let up on seeking justice for Jennifer’s
Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr. and former Sen. Edgardo Angara (from left), along with 17 current and former representatives, have been accused of channeling at least P500 million of their pork barrel allocations to questionable nongovernment organizations (NGOs), documents made available to the Inquirer showed. Inquirer.net file photos
Maripaz de la Vega and Rizza de la Vega. (According to the witnesses, the De la Vegas were fronts of a still unidentified person.) — Rep. Arturo Robes allocated P8 million with Saro number ROCS-08-07053 and BMB-08003055 to Kaisa’t Kaagapay also to the De la Vegas and Kapuso’t Kapamilya Foundation of a Marilou Ferrer. — Former Rep. Joel Villanueva allocated P45 million with Saro numbers ROCS-08-05175, ROCS 09-04151, DO8-07773 to Aaron Foundation, Kaagapay Magpakailanman and Infinite Community Integrated Development Support. — Former Rep. Rodolfo Antonino allocated P15 million with Saro number ROCS-07-02898 to Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation. — Former Rep. Reno Lim allocated P33.43 million with Saro numbers ROCS-09-04604, ROCS09-04095, ROCS-08-03725, ROCS-08-07187 to Kagandahan ng Kapaligiran and Gabaymasa Development Foundation.
— Rep. Julius Ledesma IV of Negros Oriental allocated a total of P27 million with Saro numbers ROCS-08-07953. ROCS-08-07954 and ROCS-09-04785 to Kaisa’t Kaagapay Mo Foundation. — Former Rep. Evita Arago allocated P6 million with Saro number E- 09-02570 to Kaisa’t Kaagapay Mo Foundation. — Former Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas allocated P9.7 million with Saro number ROCS08-08864 to Pangkabuhayan Foundation operated by Evelyn “Lyn” Miranda. — Former Rep. Alfonso Umali allocated P4.8 million with Saro number ROCS-08-00826 to Kaagapay Magpakailanman. — Rep. Al Francis Bichara allocated 18 million to Kaisa’t Kaagapay Foundation. — Former Rep. Marina Clarete allocated a total of P37.5 million under Saro numbers 07-07894, 0804170, 09-04240 and BMB E08-00596 to three foundations— Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa, Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation and Alay sa Masa. n
INC ends 5-day protest ngayon pong Lunes ng umaga,” Santiago added. The protests questioned an illegal detention complaint against eight members of the church council, or Sanggunian, filed by expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr. before the Department of Justice late August. Early on Monday, Protesters initially began to converge outside the Department of Justice building in Manila, as they transferred their protest action from EDSA in Mandaluyong City. As of posting time, EDSA remains occupied with only two
operational lanes for motorists. Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos said in a radio report that INC demonstrators are expected to have cleared EDSA-Mandaluyong by 11 a.m. Upon hearing news of the announcement, INC members along EDSA expressed gratitude and claimed victory, saying the mass action was “successful.” “Mabuhay ang Iglesia ni Cristo!” the rallyists cheered. (With reports from Camille Diola, Efigenio Toledo IV and Robertzon Ramirez)
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Business News
Sy-Coson to businesswomen: Be confident by nIkko
DIzon Inquirer.net
TOKYO – There’s a simple formula, Filipino tycoon Teresita Sy-Coson said, on how to be successful in the tough world of entrepreneurship: Be confident. “As a woman, you have to work very hard, be confident and step out of your comfort zone,” said Coson, speaking at one of the panel discussions at the World Assembly for Women (WAW) 2015. When applying for a loan to step up her business, a woman should be able to “make presentations to justify the loan,” she said. “Men are able to do it. Why would women be excluded?” Coson asked. Over at the next room, Cecil Mae Morantte-Ocado, the planning and development coordina-
tor of Tanuan, Leyte, spoke about how the town’s women are at the forefront of its disaster risk reduction efforts. “In our efforts to build back better, the women have the right to participate,” Ocado said. She said even if the women work less hours than the men during the rehabilitation and rebuilding phase, they get the same compensation. A few moments later, Japan’s First Lady Akie Abe walked in and sat among the audience to listen to Ocado. Coson and Ocado were among the speakers invited by the Japanese government to share their experiences on women empowerment at the second WAW. The global conference launched last year is the brainchild of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who equated his “Abenomics” with “womenomics.”
More than 150 participants from some 40 countries converged in Tokyo for this year’s two-day conference to discuss achievements and challenges to women’s participation in the growth and development of their communities and their countries as a whole. The issues tackled ranged from education to sanitation, peace building efforts, science and technology, engaging men in reforms, as well as the views of the youth in inclusive growth, sustainable development and gender equality. By Coson’s account during the discussion on women and entrepreneurship across Asia, the Philippines appears to be way ahead of its neighbors when it comes to women empowerment. She noted that Filipino women do not have much “gender prob-
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More investment banks slash Philippine growth targets by lAwRenCe
AGCAoIlI Philstar.com
MANILA – More investment banks have lowered their economic growth forecasts for the Philippines despite the slight uptick in the second quarter of the year. DBS Bank of Singapore slashed its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.7 percent from the original target of six percent this year. “The full-year GDP growth may only reach 5.7 percent versus our earlier projection of six percent,” DBS said in a research note. However, the investment bank is not ruling out a six percent GDP growth this year depending on the eventual pace of fiscal spending for the rest of the year. Lack of government spending and weak global demand pulled
APEC COUNTDOWN
Traders seek lifting of restrictions by Amy
R. Remo Inquirer.net
THE Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) has urged the government anew to further ease the economic restrictions in the Constitution on foreign investors to facilitate the entry of much-needed investments into the country. The group has sought in particular the passage of two bills that would “make the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL) less negative,” namely the proposed Foreign Investment Act Amendments (House Bill No. 2818 and Senate Bill No. 1424) and the FINL Liberalization Act (HB 5544 and SB 2517). In a statement on Monday, Aug. 31, the JFC said it had sent a letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon to recommend the passage of both bills, considering the limited time left in the 16th Congress. A letter was also sent to Rep. Mark Villar, who heads the House committee on trade and industry, requesting that it begin a hearing on the bills. The statement was issued
The JFC has sent a letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon(left) to recommend the passage of the proposed Foreign Investment Act Amendments and the FINL Liberalization Act and another letter to Rep. Mark Villar, who heads the House committee on trade and industry, requesting that it begin a hearing on the bills. Inquirer.net file photos
amid preparations for the economic leaders’ summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in November. The regional economic forum aims to promote economic growth and trade liberalization in the region. “The FINL Liberalization Act is included in President Aquino’s priority legislative measures as of July 2015. It is intended to remove restrictions on adjustment
companies, lending companies, financing companies and investment houses in the FINL under a single reform measure,” the JFC said. “The proposed law is consistent with banking and financial sector reforms undertaken in the 15th and 16th Congresses to relax or remove restrictions on foreign equity. It would fa-
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Convenience stores seen thriving in PH by IRIs
C. GonzAles Philstar.com
down the GDP growth to 5.3 percent in the first half of the year from 6.4 percent in the same period last year. Economic growth, however, picked up slightly to 5.6 percent in the second quarter of the year
from the revised five percent in the first quarter amid the improved public spending. “Looking ahead, downside risks to GDP growth remain prevalent, mainly on the external
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MANILA – Convenience stores in the Philippines are seen to continue prospering on the back of expanding urbanization with the different players expected to have a combined total of at least 100 new outlets by yearend, a report of Maybank ATR Kim Eng titled Asean Corporate Insight said. The report said the convenience store format would continue to serve consumers especially those from the business process outsourcing industry because of its 24/7 operations. The report noted Philippine Seven Corp., operator of 7-Elev-
en, would continue to be the leader in the industry 1,282 outlets that delivered P17.1 billion revenues and P20.6 billion sales last year. “The company is accelerating its store openings. Its target this year is to hit a network of 1,600 stores and to reach 10,000 stores by end-2024. Expansion is not just happening gin Metro Manila but also in the provinces. From 41.74 percent in 2010, the distribution of stores from outside Metro Manila has increased to 54.6 percent. Seven has started to operate a new logistics centre in Visayas where it operates 103 stores as of end-2014. This should help facilitate more store openings in the Visayas region,”
Maybank said. After 7-Eleven, the report noted Ministop, operated by Robinsons Retail Holdings, is the next biggest player in the convenience store space with 450 stores as of end of last year. The report noted Robinsons Retail is also expected to hitch a ride on the growing BPO boom and expanding urbanization in the country. RRHI plans to add 70-100 outlets annually. There are other players as well entering the convenience store format, the report also said. This has made competition tougher, it said. “Competition has become
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Traders seek lifting of…
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cilitate entry of new investments through foreign equity and trade liberalization,” it said. “The proposed Foreign Investment Act Amendments, on the other hand, seeks to remove the practice of professions in the FINL and lower the minimum paid-in capital for foreign equity and reduces the foreign investment employment requirement,” it added. There are also amendments
to specific laws which restrict foreign equity introduced in the current Congress. In May this year, Malacañang issued Executive Order No. 184, promulgating the 10th regular FINL, which had practically kept intact the list of activities and sectors restricted to foreign equity and participation as provided for in the ninth regular FINL. A major change can be seen in the list of professions reserved for Filipinos, which re-
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tained pharmacy, radiologic and X-ray technology, criminology, forestry and law. The JFC is a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese and Korean chambers in the country as well as the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc. The group comprises over 3,000 member companies engaged in over $230 billion worth of trade and some $30 billion worth of investments in the Philippines. n
More investment banks… Convenience…
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front,” the bank said. Global financial markets have been rattled by external shocks including the stock market rout last Aug. 24, the devaluation of the Chinese yuan last Aug. 10, the impending interest rate increase by the US Federal Reserve, among others. On the other hand, ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said the country’s GDP would likely average 6.3 percent in the second half of the year from 5.3 percent in the first half. “We retain our forecast growth of 5.9 percent in 2015 with a 6.3 percent second half GDP growth,” he added. Cuyegkeng said domestic demand would continue to power overall growth with expected acceleration in government spending and construction activity. Likewise, he explained the growth in household spending is likely to remain strong at around six percent in the second half of
the year. Government economic managers have set a GDP growth target of between seven and eight percent this year but Socioeconomic planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said growth could settle at six to 6.5 percent this year. Both DBS and ING Bank expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep its monetary policy stance unchanged for the rest of the year. “Monetary policy settings are likely to remain steady in the very near term while BSP remains focused on possible risks to inflation and financial sector stability,” Cuyegkeng said. The BSP has kept interest rates on hold since September last year amid steady GDP growth and easing inflation. The BSP has penned an inflation target of between two and four percent but it averaged 1.9 percent in the first seven months of the year after easing to a record low of 0.8 percent in July. n
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fierce in the convenience store space with new entrants,” Maybank said. Ayala Land and SSI, for instance, formed a 50-50 joint venture for a 60 percent sake in Philippine FamilyMart CVS Inc., the operator of Family Mart in the country. The joint venture is eyeing to have a total of 150 stores by yearend from 100 outlets as of end-June. “Over the medium term, the goal is for 400 stores by 2017 or 2018,” it said. Another entrant in the convenience store space is Puregold and Lawson Inc. of Japan, which formed a 70-30 percent joint venture for Lawson Convenience stores. “Based on initial plans, the target is to have 500 Lawson convenience stores operating in the country by 2020, of which 40 to 50 stores will be opened this year,” it said. n
Jollibee makes it to Forbes Asia’s Fab 50
MANILA – Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), the country’s largest food service company, was recently named as one of Forbes’ Asia Fabulous 50 Companies, which is an annual listing of the most outstanding companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Only two companies from the Philippines made it ito this year’s list. JFC, with its $4.5 billion market value and with annual sales of $2 billion as per Forbes Asia, cemented its position for the second time now, amid a number of Chinese, Indian, and other Asian
companies. Forbes Asia compiled the Fab 50 companies from a pool of 1,116 publicly listed Asian companies, with annual sales or market capitalization of $3-billion. The companies are then evaluated on various performance measures, such as revenue, profits, return on capital, and overall outlook, among others. “Jollibee Foods is once again honored to be part of this list as this recognizes the tremendous effort and work made by our employees, franchisees, and partners to be able to achieve our vision of becoming one of the best restaurant companies in the world. We attribute this growth and success to our greattasting food, our expanding store network, our strong commitment to customer satisfaction and providing the best value to our cus-
tomers,” said JFC President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong. Since its humble beginnings as an ice cream shop back in 1975, JFC has grown its presence exponentially in the region, boasting several popular food service restaurants with more than 2,300 branches locally and more than 600 in various countries abroad. Its brands are Jollibee, Greenwich, Chowking, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Burger King Philippines, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan and San Pin Wang. Just recently, Jollibee opened its 1000th store at The Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of Jollibee Foods Corporation in the list is a mark of the growth the company has experienced by providing customers with the best, in line with its goal of “Spreading the joy of eating to everyone.” (Philstar.com)
Does the creation of a revocable living trust, during the marriage, transmute separate property to community property? Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes DIVORCING couples may have established revocable living trust for estate planning pusposes during their marriage which was funded primarily with assets acquired by one spouse prior to the marriage. The issue is what is the characterization of those properties when the couple gets the divorce. Transmutation is the changing of the characterization of a property from community to separate or vice versa. Family Code Section 852, subdivision (a) states the requirement for a valid transmutation to occur which provides: “A transmutation of real or personal property is not valid unless made in writing by an express declaration that is made, joined in, consented to, or accepted by the spouse whose interest in the property is adversely affected.” Our Supreme Court has interpreted “an express declaration” as language expressly stating that a change in the characterization or ownership of the property is being made. Estate of MacDonald, supra, 51 Cal.3d 262, 272, 272 Cal.Rptr. 153, 794 P.2d 911. “[A] writing signed by the adversely affected spouse is not an ‘express declaration’ for the purposes of [Civil Code] section 5110.730(a) [now Family Code § 852, subd. (a)] unless it contains language which expressly states that the characterization or ownership of the property is being changed.” ( Ibid.) An “express declaration” does not require use of the terms “transmutation,” “community property,” “separate property,” or a particular locution. Estate of MacDonald, supra, 51 Cal.3d 262, 273, 272 Cal.Rptr. 153, 794 P.2d 911. For example, the language “I give to the account holder any interest I have in the funds deposited in this account,” is sufficient to establish trans-
mutation. ( Ibid.) The express declaration must unambiguously indicate a change in character or ownership of property. In re Marriage of Koester (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 1032, 1037, fn. 5, 87 Cal.Rptr.2d 76.) A party does not “slip into a transmutation by accident.” ( Ibid.) Does one spouse’s separate property become transmuted into community property by virtue of being funded into the revocable trust established during the marriage? One has to examine the trust document itself. A general provision in the parties’trust agreement establishing a revocable trust for estate planning purposes and stating that property transferred to the trust is community property, unless either spouse as transferor identifies it as separate property, is not itself effective to transmute separate property transferred to the trust to community property. Marriage of Starkman (2005) 129 CA4th 659, 661, 28 CR3d 639, 640 . In addition Family Code § 852(a) writing requirement in Starkman is not by a General Assignment (conveying all of the parties’ assets to the trust) or stock brokerage transfer forms transferring husband’s securities into the trust (but not describing them as separate or community). However, a trust transfer agreement, even if executed only for estate planning purposes, effects a present transmutation when it includes language expressly stating the characterization or ownership of the subject property is being changed. Marriage of Holtemann (2008) 166 CA4th 1166, 1172–1173, 83 CR3d 385, 390–391. In Hotermann, the trust transfer agreement unambiguously stated assets listed in incorporated exhibit are “hereby transmuted” from husbands separate property to community property. Another example is in Marriage of Lund (2009) 174 CA4th 40, 51–54, 94 CR3d 84, 94–96 where the trust transfer documents unambiguously stated all of husband’s property was “hereby converted” to spouses’ community property
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lems” in the business and financial industries compared to their counterparts in other countries with many of them being able to study abroad and return to the Philippines armed with new ideas that translate to growth and development. Certainly, however, there is still room for improvement, Coson said. For one, women who want to start their own small businesses find it difficult to get financing, owing to bank regulations that
loans are cosigned by their husbands, she said. Coson said BDO Unibank, Inc. which she chairs, came up with its microfinancing program that allows Filipino women to take out loans easier to enable them to set up their own small businesses. She said that her company learned from the Bangladesh model, referring to the Grameen Bank that provides financial assistance to poor people, especially in rural areas, to enable them to start livelihoods. n
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Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng Chapter 13 CLIENT is 68 and relies on social security of $800. Wife is 55 and is a self-employed health professional. Wife, although a health professional, only grosses $20K a year. And I thought everyone in the health industry was raking it in. They bought their residence 20 years ago for $300K. It is now worth $700K. They have a mortgage balance of $200K. So they have $500K of equity. That’s not bad at all. However, because their income is low, they have not been able to pay their mortgage of $1200 monthly for 10 months. They come to me with a notice of auction sale for next week. Husband asks if a loan modification at this stage will stop the foreclosure. I said no. Although there is a law that says so, in reality, it doesn’t stop the foreclosure. He also asks me if I can sue the bank for predatory lending to stop the foreclosure. I said no. I said you can sue the bank but its not going to stop the foreclosure. I said the only thing you can do to stop the foreclosure right now is the file a Chapter 13. You can then pay the default of $12K at the rate of $200 monthly and stop the foreclosure for 5 years as long as you are timely making the plan payments to the court. The problem, I said, is that next month, you have to resume the current mortgage payment of $1200 for the month of October so that in October, you actually need $1200 for the current portion of the mortgage and another $200 for the plan payment. The total of $1,400 is $200 more than you mortgage of $1200 which you have not been able to pay for ten months, but it does give you enough breathing time to figure out what you can do next. The foreclosure of September 8 will not push through because of the Chapter 13. Therefore, your house is safe in the meantime. I suggested that he can sell the house while he was on the Chap-
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Conclusion of 2 parts)
IT is sad that a legislative effort to defund the group of taxpayer money has failed just recently due in part to the lack of leadership and true grit among many members of our feckless, inept Congress and Senate who lack the moral and intestinal fortitude to win victories when they have the capacity to do so. There is simply no excuse. The matter will be up for revote and I sense a change in the direction of the wind. The sad part about all these is that an overwhelming number of babies murdered are from the African American community and other minorities. Margaret Sanger, the pioneer for abortion many decades ago, actually started the practice of eugenics for the purpose of eliminating certain members of the community she deemed undesirable. PP is led by its outspoken, high profile, well connected, no apologies CEO, Cecille Richards, daughter of the late Texas Governor Ann Richards, who along with others have made it part of their life’s work to promote abortion under the dubious guise and disingenuous pretext of freedom of choice for women while ostensibly promoting women’s health as a cover. Anyone with 2 neurons firing in the brain know this is just a part of a general bogus narrative of the so called liberal lie of the“war on women.” There is a reason for the pandering. Polls indicate that women supporting abortion are a significant voting bloc that can pull the lever in national and local elections. The reading of pollsters is skewed and is patently deceitful. Women
and each had a “present, existing and equal interest therein” The management and control of community property held in a revocable trust is subject to Family Code § 761 and Family Code § 1100(a). The trustee may “convey and otherwise manage and control” the trust property without either spouse’s joinder or consent unless the trust instrument expressly provides otherwise. In addition, except where the trust instrument expressly provides otherwise, either spouse acting alone may exercise the power of revocation. However, any power to modify rights and interests in
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Senior with little income Calendar of Events across America but large home equity seeks Chapter 13 relief ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! Senior seeks resources to pay for nursing home costs
ter 13 so that he can maximize the realization of his $500K of equity, then just purchase a condo with the $500K so he won’t have to pay for a mortgage anymore, and he will probably have $100K of cash left as emergency funds. I suggested another way to pay off the mortgage but I will not mention it here. What’s important is that the filing of the Chapter 13 now will stop the September 8 foreclosure and give him enough time to figure out what his next move is going to be. Otherwise, if he doesn’t do anything and keeps on dragging his feet and not take the right step which is filing the Chapter 13, he will end up losing his house on September 8. If his house is foreclosed on September 8 and there are no bidders for the house at auction, the bank will bid the balance of the loan of $200K, and in that situation his $500K equity will evaporate into thin air. Maybe a bank employee will bid slightly higher than $200K, then resell the house at $700K and making a half million profit overnight at the expense of client who I must say is one of the most stubborn people I have met. It’s as if his stubbornness will solve the problem of saving his house. Paying for/eliminating nursing home costs Client is 67. He has been fairly blessed with good health until recently. He owns a house with $300K of equity. He has a retirement account of $500K. While going for his daily morning walk with his dog, he suffered a massive heart attack. Now, he cannot take care of himself. His wife and family are worried that that they would have to place him in a nursing home. They checked around and found a nice nursing home with first class surrounding and facilities. They would like
to put him there. But the monthly expense for that nursing home is $8,000 a month. At that rate, they would burn through the retirement account of $500K in five years. And may even have to sell their house. His wife and family are very concerned that this catastrophe will devastate them financially. I present them with a legal solution that will let them keep the $500K of retirement account and keep their house. At the same time, the solution will provide grants and subsidies that will pay for the $8,000 monthly as long as he needs nursing home care. I can get them the care that client needs without bankrupting the family. There are special laws that allow middle class families to avoid paying thousands of dollars out of their pocket monthly for nursing home care, assisted living care and home care. So, why get financially devastated when a health crisis happens that cannot be avoided? If your loved one is in this situation now, or you need to do advance planning maybe a couple of years from now, come and see me. I can help you solve this problem legally and allow you to keep all your assets while getting the nursing care that your loved one needs. “See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” — Isaiah 42:9 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
The Murder of Babies and The Killing of a Lion “Evil is sly and coats itself in the dishonest lingo of political correctness.” of substance who stand for life are in overwhelming numbers compared to those who stand for the culture of death. Planned Parenthood’s services to women such as mammograms, scans and such other benign procedures appear to be just a smokescreen for 90% of what they really do: abortions and the harvest of baby body parts for profit with yet another smokescreen of advancing medical research. You may sugarcoat it and disguise it all you want, the end will never justify the means. Multiple videos have been released by the group and can still be viewed on youtube barring injunctions from a Northern California judge who has sided with PP in stopping the pro-life group from releasing the explosive videos. Political influence is at work in suppressing freedom of speech for the time being. In the interest of full disclosure, that judge in Northern California, was a campaign bundler raising more than $200,000 for the current administration in its run for the office. Critics of the videos claim these are heavily edited and a conspiracy to discredit PP. That dubious claim has been debunked as the raw footage of the videos are available online (as of this writing) for anyone to view. The minions of these marauding murderers of the most innocent of human beings are well placed and wield the highest political clout, from the highest echelons of office to the lowest han-
dlers. The White House, Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren are staunch defenders of PP. Technicians in lab coats poke teeny tiny baby body parts with tweezers in a dish, figuring out if the minuscule body part is a leg, an arm, a liver, a kidney or an eyeball and pricing dead baby parts retail. In this coming national election, CHOOSE LIFE. Find out the voting record on this matter of all those running for election and reelection. It is difficult to be a single issue voter since this country has complicated its voting process by mixing up both good and bad so that everything seems murky. Evil is sly and coats itself in the dishonest lingo of political correctness. In my view, the one thing that is a clear reflection of the soul of a candidate running for elective office, a telling glimpse of how highly evolved the candidate is as a human being who can mirror the divine and ultimately, the direction and actions a candidate takes to govern his constituency, guide this country and shape the world at large according to its Christian founding principles, is the unflinching and uncompromising stand on the issue of abortion. Of all the creatures that walk the earth, God didn’t choose lions, or tigers or dinosaurs or any other animal in his own image and likeness. God chose us. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
Does the creation of a revocable living trust…
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2015
the trust property during marriage may only be exercised with both spouses’ joinder or consent. Family Code § 761(a),(b) & (c)Marriage of Lund (2009) 174 CA4th 40, 54, 94 CR3d 84, 96. For divorcing couple that have a revocable trust during their marriage, it is important to analyze the wording of the trust document to determine the proper characterization of the trust assets to be divided in the divorce case. It is therefore best to obtain the representation of an experienced divorce lawyer. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is
a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.
*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. (Advertising Supplement)
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SEPTEMBER 4
National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Charity Golf Tournament Where: Penderbrook Golf Club, 3700 Golf Trail Lane, Fairfax, VA 22033 When: September 4, 2015; 8am-2pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.
Saulog Celebration: A Night of Serenade Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity, Inc. (CEBU INC.) will be hosting a Saulog Celebration: “A Night of Serenade” on Friday, September 4th, at St. Rebastian Roman Catholic Church (5802 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, NY 11377). The show will present the Cebu Clergy Performing Artists, and feature: the 2015 NYC Philippines Independence Day Parade Grand Prize Winner - C.E.B.U. INC. Sinulog Dancers. The show will start at 8:00pm on Friday. Please contact CEBU INC. for more details.
SEPTEMBER 4-6
National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Convention Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004 When: September 4-6, 2015; from 8am-5pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.
S E P T E M B E R 4 -7
Ramon Magsaysay/Cubao High School 2015 Reunion in Las Vegas Calling all Cubao High School/Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School graduates and alumni! Come out and join the 2015 Get-Together of our Alma Mater from Friday, September 4 to Monday, September 7 at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103). A special Dinner/Dance is scheduled on Saturday, September 5. To our Alumni now residing in Canada, the US, and other parts of the world, all are invited to share this special weekend event with their fellow graduates and classmates in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, please call Jay Medina at (310) 967-9517 or Boots Doria at (925) 330-8081.
SEPTEMBER 5
Filipino Association of Leisure World Dinner-Dance The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold their dinner-dance at the Leisure World Hall on Saturday, September 5th. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For further information, please call Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209.
SEPTEMBER 5-6
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for Accountants at the NCPACA Convention Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004 When: September 5-6, 2015; from 8am-5pm, at the National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants (NCPACA) 2015 Convention Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.
SEPTEMBER 19
Citizenship Day 2015 The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is having a FREE Citizenship Day event on September 19, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, to assist low-income, 18+ immigrants eligible for US citizenship with the full naturalization process. Every case will be reviewed by a legal attorney. Please call us at 407-841-8310 ext. 3123 for an appointment and any questions you may have. Thank You!
PiLiPiNO iNTER-CLuB OPEN invitational Golf Tournament The 11th annual PILIPINO INTER-CLUB OPEN (PICO) is open to fellow master golfers from the tri-state area. The charity tournament will be held on Saturday, September 19, at Royce Brook Golf Club (201 Hamilton Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844). It will be a shotgun start @ 1:30 pm. Registration is $120 each player; includes golf cart and food after the game. Come early for registration, refreshments, and mini contests. Come and join the quest for individual and team honors by class. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Family Center Christian Church, and donations are 100% tax deductible. Sign-up now at http://www. spgolfclub.com/PICO. For more details, please contact Ed Badiola 908-531-7377, or Justil Cruz 973-926-1400.
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 -26
CELEBRATE LOCAL with San Diego Restaurant Week! This September, San Diego Restaurant Week, presented by Lexus Dealerships of San Diego, will CELEBRATE LOCAL... keepin’ it fresh - really fresh. San Diego Restaurant week returns September 20th - September 26th for ONE WEEK ONLY to “Celebrate Local” at all 180+ participating restaurants. Choose from a three-course dinner or two-course lunch deal to satisfy your cravings. NEW THIS YEAR, San Diego Restaurant Week will be partnering with Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to provide backpacks for children in need within the San Diego community during the ALL FOR KIDS campaign. Ditch the dirty dishes and join over 150,000 fellow diners as we celebrate San Diego’s thriving culinary scene and the homegrown, local businesses that provide us with the produce and products we love! Tickets are not necessary for this delectable week of discounted dining, but reservations are recommended! Visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com for more information, including a list of participating restaurants, or to make your reservations in advance!
S E P T E M B E R 25 -26
2nd Grand Reunion GOT (RETiRED) from Cerveza San Miguel uS CHAPTER Where: Gold Coast Casino & Hotel (4000 Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89103) When: Sept. 25 and 26; Grand Reunion Sept. 26 at 7:00 pm For details and information, please contact Renato Umayam at 323-841-3516, Nida Matias at 818-394-9178, Greg Lacondola at 702-334-8068, or Arnold Navarro at 318-779-6254.
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LA Builder Lions Club 25th Anniversary The Los Angeles Builder Lions Club will celebrate their 25th Anniversary and Annual Outstanding Parents Night on October 10, 2015 at the Almansor Court banquet hall (700 S Almansor St, Alhambra, CA 91801). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For further questions, please call Lion Bill Menor (323) 465-0613, Lion Yoli Ramo (213) 3051332, chairpersons or Lion Tita James, co-chair at (818) 203-2325.
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uNiTED LAB-uSA 32nd Anniversary The UNITED LAB-USA will celebrate their 32nd Anniversary on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Royal Garden in Cerritos. The association is headed by Rey Guieb, President. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other questions, please call Felix Belen, outgoing president at (626) 839-0736.
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
B SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
Women’s Equality Day and Soroptimist Installation Event GLENDALE, CA – Soroptimists held a double celebration: Women’s Equality Day and Installation of New 2015-16 Officers. Soroptimist International of The Verdugos (SITV) celebrated the 95th Year Anniversary of Women’s Equality Day with a successful Installation Program of their new officers. The event was held at Max’s of Manila in Glendale and was attended by some special guests, family, friends and members. Rev. Emma Molina-ynequez, owner of Body&Soul and Que Linda in La Crescenta gave a wonderful and inspirational speech, while Ms. Pauline Field, Chair and Founder of 50/50 Leadership, did the Installation. Newly installed Officers are: Edith Fuentes, President; Arleen
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Penaflor and Theresa de Vera, Vice Presidents; Diva Salano, Secretary, Elvie Suavillo, Treasurer; Catherine Yesayan and Mitra Arshi, 2-Year Delegates/ Alternate; Stephanie Mines and Jamie Barton, 1-Year Delegates/ Alternate. The new Club theme was: “DREAM BELIEVERS.” New Club President Edith Fuentes said - “Dream BIG. Dream HIGH. Dreams do come TRUE. And I believe it. Today is a perfect example of such dream. Let’s celebrate” Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization working together to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. For more info: www.soroptimist. org n With Soroptimists, family and friends.
President Edith with Rev. Emma Molina-Ynequez.
Bold Step: A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike Sept. 5-6 in Delano, CA
President Edith receiving the President’s Gavel and Pin from Past Pres. Geraldine Yumping.
DELANO, CA -- The newly formed Delano chapter and its parent organization, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), will host a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike with a series of events over Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5 and 6, in Delano, CA. Dubbed “Bold Step,” the weekend will focus on the momentous decision to strike, and celebrate the strike’s
legacy in the Filipino American community in Delano and across the nation. The weekend’s events will kick off on Saturday, September 5 at the Filipino Community Hall, the historic building where the strike vote was taken and the headquarters of the first years of the Grape Strike. The program will include presentations by strike veterans, scholars, community activists, and local community leaders. A
highlight of the weekend will be a screening of the Emmy-award winning documentary, Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the United Farm Workers. New York-based filmmaker Marissa Aroy, whose family roots are in Delano, will be present. The weekend will also include bus tours of local historic sites. The Delano Grape Strike began on September 8, 1965, when
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Bold Step: A Celebration… PAGE B4 t
thousands of mostly Filipino American grape workers walked off of the vineyards in Delano. The Delano Grape Strike sparked the farm labor movement of the 20th century, one of the most significant social justice movements in American history. From the strike came the multiethnic farm laborer’s union, the United Farm Workers. Moreover, the strike raised global consciousness about the plight of farmworkers. It was a pivotal moment in which Filipino Americans made their largest and most significant imprint on the American narrative. That bold step taken by these Filipino workers -- most of whom were senior citizens in the twilight of their lives -- inspired labor movements and movements for civil rights and social justice amongst Filipino Americans and Americans of all backgrounds. In the late summer of 1965, the small agricultural town of Delano was energized as thousands of Filipino migratory farmworkers arrived for the grape harvest, as they had done every year through most of the 20th century. The workers, most of whom were
EMPLOYMENT
members of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee union (AWOC, AFL-CIO), were fresh from the Coachella Valley, where they had struck and won $1.40 per hour for the grape harvest. The migrant workforce shared the grocery aisles and streets with the 13,000 or so permanent residents eager to fatten their paychecks from harvesting boxes of Thompsons, Calmerias, and Ribiers – popular varieties of the finest table grapes in the world. With a prosperous season, they could make enough to get by the lean winter months. When Delano grape growers refused a wage of $1.40 per hour, anticipation and excitement turned to conflict and tension. Led by a veteran union organizer, AWOC’s Larry D. Itliong, the doubtful and frightened grape workers -- more than a few with families and mortgages – gathered at the Filipino Community Hall on the evening of September 7 to consider an action that would throw their lives and their community into chaos. They voted to strike. The next day, several thousand laborers in about 20 individual farms left the precious crop on
PeoPle & events
the ground and walked off on September 8, 1965, in a unified declaration for a fair wage and decent working conditions for the farm worker. Growers evicted Filipinos from their homes in the labor camps and hired Mexican scab workers. Violent clashes erupted between law enforcement and strikers, but Filipino workers remained militant. Itliong made the fateful decision to approach Cesar Chavez and his mostly Mexican worker’s association, the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), and asked them to join the strike. On September 16, 1965, the NFWA voted to join the AWOC. In 1966, the AWOC and the NFWA merged to form the United Farm Workers Organiz-
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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2015
ing Committee. Cesar Chavez was named director, and Itliong served as the UFW’s assistant director from 1966-1971. Fifty years later, the courage to make that stand at such a high risk resonates in the prosperity, diversity and growth of Delano and the Filipino American community nationwide. Filipino Americans are now the largest Asian American group in California, California’s third largest minority group, and the second largest Asian American group in the United States. Latinos and Filipinos are the two of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the nation. Despite the growth of the community, the history of Filipino involvement in the farmworkers movement has been largely
obscured. On July 2, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill establishing October 25 as Larry Itliong Day. In 2014, the California State Legislature passed AB123, which calls for students to learn about Filipino American farm labor organizing history. Both bills were sponsored by Rob Bonta, the first Filipino American elected to the California State Assembly. Recently Union City, CA renamed a middle school the Itliong/Vera Cruz Middle School to honor the UFW vice-presidents, and a bridge in San Diego, California was recently named Larry Itliong/Philip Vera Cruz. Speakers and a detailed program will be forthcoming. A link to a schedule of events to
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date (subject to change). For more information, please visit the FANHS/Delano Chapter Facebook page. For ticket information, a link to our Eventbrite event. *** Contact: Alex Edillor, (661) 331-4547; fanhs.delano@gmail. com About FANHS: FANHS (www.fanhs-national. org), headquartered in Seattle, Washington, was established in 1982 and consists of 33 chapters nationwide. Members are scholars, educators and community members who preserve, document and share the rich history of Filipinos in the United States. The Delano Chapter was chartered in June, 2015. n
B SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL
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The Asian Journal
MDWK Wednesday, Septemeber 2, 2015
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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 2, 2015
DeeDee Magno Hall
on a passionate career, family & favorite roles by Allyson R. EscobAR / AJPress
If life is one big stage production, then everyone plays a role: mothers and fathers, daughters, sons, siblings, students, workers, even humanitarians and CEOs. As William Shakespeare put it, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players…and one man in his time plays many parts.” for filipina actress Deedee Lynn Magno Hall, life has many different stages, and on each she has had many roles -- from a peasant bargirl, to a Wicked Witch, an Arabian princess, and an alien crystal gem. But her most favorite role to play is herself. “This is what I love to do,” she told the Asian Journal. “I am so blessed and grateful to be able to perform and act for a living, for my whole life, and to also provide for my family. To be able to do what I love and say that’s my job? It’s wonderful.” for Deedee, performing has been a series of blessings
Deedee, then 12, joined the original Mickey Mouse Club as her first professional acting gig.
in disguise: her first audition, her first lead role, finding love and beginning a family. It didn’t happen all at once; rather, like a musical, her life has had many acts. At 40, with two kids and an exciting role in a new touring musical, Deedee’s show has just begun. Act I: Growing up, Mickey Mouse Club, & The Party Deedee was raised in sunny San Diego, California, where her Navy family relocated from Portsmouth, Virginia. Her dad is from Baguio, while her mom grew up in Manila. “I really wish my parents had taught me fluent Tagalog. They didn’t want us to grow up with an accent or have difficulties in school,” she recounted about her upbringing. “But aside from language, we were so immersed in filipino cul-
Deedee in sensation teen pop group, “The Party.”
Photos courtesy of Deedee Magno Hall
“Being a parent is the best role,” Deedee says.
ture—we always ate the food and had movies, music playing in our house. I always gravitated toward Sharon Cuneta, of course.” She grew up listening to Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and a variety of filipino singers,
Deedee and Cliffton falling in love as the starring roles of Kim and Chris in Miss Saigon.
including Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez, Vilma Santos, Lea Salonga, and Gary Valenciano. “They’re some of my biggest vocal influences,” she said. “filipinos are amazing singers.” Encouraged by her parents
Deedee as Princess Jasmine in Disney California Adventure’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.
and three siblings, she often performed at school talent shows, local competitions and pageants. As a child, she was a sensation at family “pancit parties,” where the house karaoke machine was a must. She remembers her first large stage performance—a humble singing gig at a new park attraction at SeaWorld. “I was hooked,” she said. “Afterwards, I always knew I wanted to perform.” After quickly gaining local fame and performing a few gigs, Deedee and her family knew this would be her full-time commitment. When she was 12, she traveled across the country to Orlando, florida to audition for the revival of an audiencefavorite variety TV show, The Mickey Mouse Club. “We sang and danced, performed comedy skits and music videos, interviewed outstanding kids and celerity guests,” Deedee recalled of her first professional acting job. “It was like ‘Saturday Night Live’ but for kids. It was fantastic, because at
such a young age I got to learn many different aspects of the entertainment business: being in front of the camera, knowing my blocking, live audience participation, choreography and lighting, etc.” “It was like an acting school. [The Mickey Mouse Club] provided great training for what was to come in my future,” she remarked. “And of course, filming on a set so close to Disney World, we snuck out sometimes for a few rides and ice cream bars between lessons.” from 1989 until 1991, Deedee was a TV Mouseketeer until Hollywood Records noticed her distinct voice and all-around talent. She was recruited to a new teen pop group, “The Party,” where she recorded and traveled worldwide for a few years. The Party’s initial success landed it opening-act spots on major tours, with artists such as Hi-five, Taylor Dayne and Vanilla Ice. “It was so exciting, especially at such a young age, to Continued on Page 3
DeeDee Magno Hall
on a passionate career, famiy... From Page 2 be traveling and performing everywhere. And all with the amazing support of my family, who has worked hard and sacrificed so much for me,” she added, tearing up. “I really owe it all to them. It could not have been a more perfect beginning of a career.” Act II: Miss Saigon and Princess Jasmine At 19 years old, Deedee found herself in Los Angeles auditioning among hundreds of girls for a new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, “Sunset Boulevard.” “My first thought was, I don’t look anything like these tall, blonde, long-legged women. But my manager told me to stick it out. And it ended up being the greatest blessing,” Deedee shared. “The casting managers called me back not too long after my audition, only it wasn’t for ‘Sunset Boulevard’—but for the Toronto company cast of ‘Miss Saigon.’” At the time, due to an important family trip to the Philippines, Deedee ended up not taking the part. But her initial “no” ended up a huge blessing in disguise. Not long after her return, Deedee was offered the starring lead role of Kim in the 2nd US
national tour of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s musical drama, “Miss Saigon.” “Of course, I freaked out,” she remembered. “I had seen the show in London with my mom a few years before, and I fell in love with the role. I told my mom, I want to play that part. I wanted to play Kim.” From 1995 and several years afterward, Deedee toured the country in her first major theatrical role. She also played Kim for a time on the Broadway cast, following veteran Lea Salonga’s departure in New York City. “Lea is lovely,” Deedee gushed when asked about working with Salonga, at the “Suites by Sondheim” show sponsored by the Philippine Development Foundation in 2011. “We never quite worked together in Broadway, most likely because we’re often auditioning for the same roles. But she has always been one of my musical idols.” Deedee also shared of her deep connection with the show, and how it has opened many doors for her professional and personal life. “In retrospect, if I were given the opportunity to play a role again, it would be Kim. I think now after having my own children, I would have a deeper connection to the role. Singing
Both on and off the musical stage, Deedee and Cliffton love performing together.
the words, ‘I’d Give My Life For You’ would mean so much more, and I’m sure it would be extremely difficult to get through night after night without a good cry.” Expanding her colorful acting resume, Deedee has had several roles in major films and productions, including “Sister Act 2”, the Tony award-winning “Wicked” (as Nessa Rose), and a brief run in the contemporary musical “If/Then” (as ensemble part/understudy). In 2003, she also played the original Princess Jasmine in Disney’s “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” showing at Disney’s California Adventure. “Alan Menken wrote a new song for the show, and it was amazing to be featured on the original soundtrack,” Deedee shared. “And in ‘Wicked,’ at the time, I was the first Filipina to play Nessa Rose, which was special because they hired someone who didn’t look Caucasian. And someone said, ‘It makes sense; you are the Wicked Witch of the East!’ ” Her most recent, favorite role was playing Mrs. Walker in the Los Angeles-based East West Players’ rock musical production of The Who’s “Tommy.” She also got to play the part alongside her husband, Cliffton Hall. “I’ve been a fan of EWP for years. I think more and more because of things like East West Players, and theater companies that promote heritage and encourage diversity onstage, it is slowly getting to a point in entertainment where people are going to be colorblind.” Deedee continued, “I’ve been so blessed to be able to play roles where it didn’t matter what I looked like—I could be the Wicked Witch of the East, Captain Walker’s wife, or Princess Jasmine. For most of the roles I’ve done, the color of my skin was not an issue.” “I hope my own kids experience that same diversity in this industry. There are so many issues and stories to tell, and so many resources to share them. If you don’t see those stories be-
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 2, 2015
ing played out, then maybe it’s your destiny to write them, act upon them, and put them out there for yourself.” Act III: Finding love on and offstage Deedee’s first major role in “Miss Saigon” was not only a turning point in her onstage career, but also a real-life opportunity for romance. “It was also my first experience to do a love scene in front of people…and little did I know, it was where I would meet my husband,” she smiled. In 1995, during the 2nd national touring company of “Miss Saigon,” Deedee met a FilipinoJapanese-Caucasian actor from Hawaii named Cliffton Hall, who just so happened to be playing her love interest (Chris, an American GI soldier). They were both 19 years old. “I always thought he was so cute and nice, and we were such good friends,” she shared. “I fell in love with my leading man. You put two people together onstage and they fall in love every night; it was inevitable.” The two reunited several years later, after Deedee rejoined the Broadway company of “Miss Saigon.” Cliffton was also in New York, starring as Marius in a revival of “Les Misérables.” “We were, first and foremost, always good friends, and then things just kind of happened. We were initially scared of destroying our friendship, but it always felt right in the end, like it was honestly meant to be,” Deedee said. As a couple, Deedee and Cliffton worked briefly together as Kim and Chris in “Miss Saigon” on Broadway, then later joined the international tour for six months in Singapore and Hong Kong. They also starred opposite one another in the first national tour of “Wicked,” playing Nessa Rose and fiyero. “We didn’t have any scenes together, but we were always sneaking kisses backstage. And at the end of the show at curtain call, I got to hold his hand!” she shared excitedly.
The family enjoys singing and performing onstage together.
She and Cliffton were married in 2003. Their first son, Kaeden, was born in 2005— around when Deedee was playing the original Princess Jasmine in “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular,” and Cliffton was departing for the “Wicked” tour. Brycen, 4, was born in 2011. “During shows, the hardest thing about [our jobs] sometimes is having to leave our sons at home. Luckily, my family has always been so gracious, helping me take care of them while Cliffton and I are out every night onstage,” she said. “Now we’re getting ready to start homeschooling them on the road, so that we can stay together while we travel. We’re very excited for our family adventure.” Act IV: Telling her story Over the years of building her life around her family and passion, Deedee has kept herself quite busy. Recently, she has been voice acting in a new animated Cartoon Network series, “Steven Universe,” as the fun-loving alien crystal companion, Pearl. “It is so, so fun!” she exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to be a cartoon character, or at least the voice of one. And this show is a perfect combination of music and voice acting, where we’re definitely acting out even though we’re not on camera. Our cheeks are always hurting when we record in the studio.” Her two sons and their Universe-loving friends think “Mrs. Pearl” is a hit.
Photos courtesy of Deedee Magno Hall
“I think I gained some cool points with my kids,” she laughed. “The series has a wonderfully fast-growing following, and I look forward to a long run!” Deedee also shared news of an upcoming project for her and Cliffton: both are joining the 1st national tour of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s “If/Then” in the fall, as understudies/members of the ensemble. Deedee, who briefly joined the company earlier on Broadway, said the part is “exciting and an amazing opportunity.” For aspiring actors, artists, and musicians in the industry, Deedee has one simple advice: don’t limit yourself. “Nowadays, we have vehicles like YouTube and the Internet, where you can virally share your God-given gifts and talents. Go out and perform. Be seen and be heard. There is so much talent out there. If you choose to put it out, you just never know who’s watching. Maybe even the right person who can change your life in a positive way.” To those struggling to find their voice, Deedee said, “No matter where they are from, human stories are stories. They’re your story. And now, more than ever, those narratives are being written by people from all different backgrounds. There are so many resources out there; make yourself known.” “You make your life what it is. You play a very big part in this world, so choose the right one.”
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 2, 2015
Mark Bautista’s dreams come true by Dolly
Anne CArvAjAl Inquirer.net
aMonG all the interviews I have done, my first encounter with Mark Bautista stands out in my memory. I was so moved by Mark’s story about his struggling days. He told me that since he did not have enough money for the fare to Manila, he stayed
in the cargo section of the ship from cagayan de oro just so he could try his luck in the big city. Mark is living proof that dreams do come true if we pursue it with passion and determination. after conquering Manila, he made his mark in London where he portrayed President Ferdinand Marcos in the disco
musical “Here Lies Love.” He’s back in town to perform in the stage musical “Bituing Walang ningning” and the concert “South Pacific.” Mark has come a long, hard way which makes his success even sweeter. Here’s my one-on-one with Mark: What do you miss most about London? The weather, the transport system and my friends there. What was the highlight of your stay in London, aside from the play? The 65th evening Standard awards night … I got to meet some of the most significant people in the British entertainment industry. What did your London experience teach you? Be proud to be Filipino, and love your work and never lose that passion in you. If you had to choose between singing and acting, which would you pursue? can’t I do both? Singing, maybe, because it’s my first love. and I got into the business because of a singing contest. In what ways are you still a simple “CDO boy”? after two years of not having helpers, I can still clean my house and do chores with my two brothers. and I still pluck guava from the tree in front of my house. What will it take for a girl to make you want to settle down? She has to be funny, very smart and understanding. If your life story were made into a movie, what would the title be? “Dreamer.”
Mitsuwa Marketplace celebrates ‘Rising Tohoku Fair’ with delicious regional food, cultural performances, craft workshops and mascots’ meet and greet Torrance—The “rising Tohoku Food Fair,” which celebrates the charm and cultural diversity of the Tohoku region in the northeast of Japan, took place on august 20-23, 2015 at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Torrance. Mr. Geoff rizzo, councilman of the city of Torrance, and Mr. Hisaki Kagaya, Vice Major of amori city from Tohoku Prefecture, attended the grand opening ceremony at the Japanese supermarket chain’s Torrance location. This four-day event has successfully attracted several thousand visitors—children and adults—to experience a variety of events, including food displays, festival and dance presentations, interacting with city mascots from the Tohoku region, and craft workshops. The rising Tohoku Food Fair presented diverse and flavorful food products originating from the 6 prefectures of Tohoku. There were a variety of paper craft activities such as origami, hat making, and the writing of wishes on tanzaku, plus photo
opportunities on the Mascot character Stage with four charming and endearing cityspecific mascots. These city mascots include: Miyagi city’s iconic Musubimaru who wears a samurai costume and resembles onigiri (rice ball); Fukushima city’s adorable Momorin rabbit who represents Fukushima momo (peaches) and ringo (apples); the girl mascot Hanagata Beni-chan who wears a cherry-patterned kimono and hanagata flower hat and has hair resembling safflower; and nebutan, an adorable boy dressed in the haneto costume worn at aomori prefecture’s world-renowned nebuta festival. The Festival Dance Stage has also featured regional presentations, including: the Da-te Busho-tai (samurai) performance; aomori city’s nebuta orchestra; dances from Sendai city (Suzume), Yamagata city (Hanagasa), and Morioka city (Sansa); and appearances by various festival pageant queens.
The rising Tohoku Food Fair not only celebrated the culinary and cultural diversity of the Tohoku region of Japan, it also promoted awareness of the ongoing post-earthquake recovery from the Great east Japan earthquake in 2011. This time’s rising Tohoku Fair only took place in the Torrance store. a bigger scale fair will come back in november this year with even more culinary specialties from the Tohoku region at Mitsuwa Markeplace’s three stores: Torrance, San Jose and new Jersey. Mitsuwa Marketplace Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese supermarket chain in the US, carries a wide variety of quality Japanese groceries, general items, electric appliances, cosmetics and other products at its stores. They were established in March 1998 and currently have nine stores across the US: seven in california, one in new Jersey and one in chicago. *Advertising Supplement
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Inquirer.net
Mark Bautista
LoS anGeLeS—on august 31, national Heroes’ Day in the Philippines, a special movie was screened in Los angeles to give Filipino-americans a peek into the life of a Filipino hero who fought for the country’s independence from the United States. “Heneral Luna,” directed by cinemalaya 2013 Directors Showcase Best Director Jerrold Tarog, was shown at the Krikorian Theater in Monrovia, california, before its wide release in the Philippines next month and in the US in october. “We want to create a buzz for our kababayans back home that they have to see this movie, over any other movie,” said Fil-am artist eliseo art Silva, co-producer of the Los angeles screening. Silva, best known for creating the famous Los angeles Filipinotown mural that depicts Filipino and Fil-am heroes, said he was inspired by the rave reviews received by the film. “In this day and age, roman-
‘Heneral Luna’s’ advance screening in the US is considered historic. Not since 1936’s “Zamboanga” has a Philippine-made feature film with Filipino stars screened first in the US.
tic comedies and Hollywood superhero flicks tend to lord it over in the box office, which is why releasing a historic film like Heneral Luna is a big gamble,” he said. “I’m very happy that it’s paying off.” The movie was first screened in new York city on July 25 at the asian american International Film Festival in Village east, ahead of its scheduled wide release on September 9 in the Philippines and in commercial theaters in the US mid-october. The movie’s advance screening in the US is considered historic. not since 1936’s “Zamboanga” has a Philippine-made feature film with Filipino stars
screened first in the US. Set during the Philippineamerican war in 1898, the film is about General antonio Luna (John arcilla), commander of the revolutionary army who faced an enemy more formidable than the american army: his own treacherous countrymen. General Luna wanted to fight for freedom but members of the elite would rather strike a deal with the United States. arthur Probadora de la rosa, co-producer of the aug. 31 screening, said the event was a great opportunity for Fil-ams, especially the younger generation, to learn about Filipino heroes and Philippine history.
‘Voice Kids’ champ won’t leave banana cue business behind by mArinel
r. CrUz
Inquirer.net
Banana cue vendor elha Mae nympha, the winner of Season 2 of “The Voice Kids” singing contest, would like to take the street food-on-a-stick that she peddles in Kamuning, Quezon city, to a restaurant she intends to put up with the P1-million cash prize she brought home on Sunday, aug. 30. as the show’s grand winner, she also bagged a recording contract from Mca Music Inc., a music instrument package, a family utility vehicle, a house-and-lot worth P2 million, and a P1-million trust fund. “all of this would not have been possible without their help,” said nympha’s mother, Lucy, referring to the supporters who gave her daughter the biggest number of text votes. She said the family was still unsure of what to do with elha’s winnings. But first things first: They will go to church to thank God for fulfilling the young girl’s dream. and as soon as they get home, she would cook fried chicken, her daughter’s favorite. nympha’s victory was the first for her coach, rock singer-songwriter Bamboo Mañalac. “What have I done right this time? I turned for her. I was the only coach who turned for her during the blind auditions. That’s quite a story. no one saw
Banana cue vendor Elha Mae Nympha, winner of “The Voice Kids” Season 2, shares her victory with mom Lucy (left), her sister and supporters during the finale on Sunday, Aug. 30.
elha coming, but at some point, I knew I had somebody very special. It’s really mind-blowing,” Mañalac said. Shortly after the season finale at the newport Theater of Performing arts at resorts World Manila, Mañalac said: “I got so emotional when her name was called. I had wanted this so badly for her. I just thought she deserved it because of the four finalists, she was the most consistent and the most natural performer.” nympha beat fellow Team Bamboo artist Sassa Dagdag, 12, as well as reynan Dal-anay, 11, and esang de Torres, 8, from the team of coach Lea Salonga. Sarah Geronimo’s top two artists, Kyle echarri, 10, and Zephanie Dimaranan, 12, failed to make it to the final round. “We have somebody really special now,” Mañalac said of elha. “It’s amazing what this show
can do. elha’s life is going to change. I’m also grateful to her vocal coaches for the help—they were part of this, too. elha is a fast learner. Whatever instruction you give her, she hits it the next time—that’s how sharp she is.” Before the show’s airing, Geronimo said she felt more relaxed having none of the kids on her team in the finale. “There’s less pressure now. I’m only expected to comment on the finalists’ performance. I’ve learned a lot from this season. Yes, I’m sad for my kids but I’ve accepted what happened. My only wish is for the most deserving kid to win,” she said. Salonga, who already left for the United States, said she would bring the show’s good experience with her. The Tony-award winner said she was returning to the Philippines in 2016, after her stint on the latest Broadway musical “allegiance.”
Moonlighting by Mylah de
leon
ThiS little piece takes us, not just to a place, but into the minds and hearts of those, who are in their twilight years, in a society that glorified youth. At the Culver City Community Center for Seniors, the tangible atmosphere was of bustle and contentment. The big room was filled with light from the tall windows that enabled you to see the old people clearly. There were about 70 of them. Groups of men were playing cards, while some were just sitting and looking. A group of women chatted at a table; there were others moving toward the area where food was being served. The social director of the center took me around. Old faces were raised in interest, a number nodded and smiled.
Mango Mix
A sanctuary at twilight i confess that i did not expect to find happiness here. i came to this place, recoiling in apprehension from the smell of age, the apparition of infirmity, apathy and resignation. Most of us, i think, are weighed down with a sense of guilt for the old. They are not as cherished as our parents were. We seem to have little room for them in our hearts, or our lives. Mistakenly, we have come to believe that they need us, more than we need them. Then comes the revelation -- old people do find their place together, a place where they belong. The old people, who came to the center, cannot be so different from the tens of thousands who live in this city. Many of them, especially the men, (we were told) live in furnished rooms, alone and on old-age relief. After working all their lives, they have nothing to do.
Degeneration of spirit and tissue takes its relentless course, as they either sit hours out in chronic depression or haunt clinics and hospitals, not so much to ask for attention to cure their ailments, but just to be able to speak to somebody. At these community centers for the aged, there are many old people who still live with their relatives in comparative security. But reading through their histories, one discovers that there is hardly anyone of them who does not feel burdened with feelings of being unwanted and of being useless and dependent. Thinking about it, it seems that they are all well-aware of the tension that these feelings produce -- younger people keep them, out of pity or out of a sense of duty. Could this be the reason why they become difficult to others? Why they strain for a sense of importance and worth,
A how-to on party planning
by Martin
Jason l. ita-as
WiTh the months of September, October, November and December coming up, people start looking forward to some big holidays and fun celebrations for each month. it’s basically a countdown to the holidays that happen in the latter half of the year. While this may seem like a time of relaxation and unwinding for a lot of people, the holiday season doesn’t just sort itself, you know. Sometimes neglect and last minute planning can play a role in stressful holiday preparation. Take the initiative and start planning ahead so you can take your sweet time relaxing for the holidays. Step 1: make a rough game plan The first step is the most important when making early holiday plans. just take you plan-
ner or calendar and make note of when each holiday each celebration will occur. Marking it with a short phrase or a colored circle helps (make sure to keep a legend of what each colored mark means). Now that you’ve listed down the major celebrations you’ll be celebrating, list down other important appointments as well like important doctor appointments, birthdays and maybe some other events you promised to attend. This way, you won’t get mixed up or run out of time when it comes to
planning the festivities. Step 2: think of celebration themes While not necessarily important, keeping a theme for your parties is one way to keep things organized and outline what you need to do for the party. Try to switch things around and make a theme that seems different but still ties closely with the holiday. if you don’t feel like switching things around, you can keep with the classical theme but go all out on the decorations and food.
features 5
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 2, 2015
which they feel they have earned yet have been denied? Why some just give up and wait to die? These centers provided leisure time activities for the older people. in Culver City, Beverly hills, Santa Monica and Silver Lake they have 200-300 members. About 150 come in a day; some everyday (at the St. Vincent hospital Senior Center) while others, a few times a week. They range from ages 6094; most are in their 70s, some are foreign-born. Beverly hills is predominantly Jewish. Most of these older people came to this center, not immediately after retirement but after many years of living alone. The centers are open everyday from 9-5. To most men, this time span can substitute for a business day. Even those who have families cherish this bit of freedom to be themselves, as they were.
For the women, it is a place for family, gossip and companionship. For both men and women, it is where they find the audience they crave. When the elderly first come to the center, they are often timid, withdrawn and insecure. Then, gradually, through card games, music classes, dramatics or committees (there are lots of them), they begin to emerge, make contact, stir old skills and dream. (“When i Grow Too Old To Dream” by Sigmund Romberg says it best. ) Those who were tense, rigid and extremely reserved (even aloof) at the beginning would begin to open up during poetry reading and song-anddance sessions -- they would applaud each other as well. however, the director said even though there are many happy responses, one still cannot assume that sweetness and lightness are the orders of the day. Competitiveness, jeal-
ousy, hurt feelings, inferiority complex -- these can and do explode periodically. There’s the “showoff,” who brags about her finishing school education in Switzerland; there’s one gets annoyed because the art instructor spends more time with another. habitual card players are looked down upon because they don’t do anything else. Of course, some are more comic than tragic. For example, a quarrel between two newlyweds in their 80s (they met at the center). The coloratura, who is persistent in singing arias, got the ire of the pianist. The pianist throws the fruits and cookies and everyone makes a mad scramble for them. At the center, the old do not wait for death, but for the coming of a new day. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com
Set up a area with a curtain or backdrop and maybe a few hats or accessories for great holiday selfies and photoshoots. if you want to liven things up, make it a costume party where everybody has to wear an outfit that revolves around the theme. Step 3: Take inventory it’s time for you to dig into your storage bins and fish out some of your old decorations throughout the years. Reusing old decorations is definitely one big way to save money during the holidays and can often bring back fun memories. But this is also a time to clean out broken or damaged decorations as well. There’s no point keeping decorations that can’t function properly or look appealing. Once you’re done rooting out the unusable to the usable, keep each item by category. Knowing where each celebration-specific items are make it easier to take them out when the time of decorating arrives. Take note of items you might need that have been broken or are missing and buy them accordingly if needed.
Step 4: compile a list of important services Sometimes you can’t do everything yourself. While decorating and preparing the food can be easy, sometimes things can get a little busy for you to do all of the extra work. That’s why it’s important to know who to go to when you need something done. Caterers, decorators, photographers and many other kinds of people might be needed so be sure to explore some shops and keep business/ call cards properly ordered by business. if you don’t feel like paying too much money just for decorating, cooking or photography you can always just keep in mind (or a list) a few friends you can call on to help you with anything you may need to do before and on the party. This is a great way to find restaurants or cafes that hold reservations when you don’t want to hold the party in your own home. Step 5: plan ahead on invitations and party size it’s crucial to understand how big of a celebration you want to hold and how many people you’ll be inviting. if it’s a
big family oriented bash, think ahead and start preparations as early as you can. if it’s a small get together between friends, keep it casual and maybe rent a small spot for yourselves in a nice eatery or cafe. Knowing how big the party can be helps you size up how much you’ll be spending on both money and preparation time. With this knowledge, get out there and start planning you near and of the year bashes! With a little planning and a lot of preparation, you’ll be making great memories of this year to remember by someday. *** Mango Tours is a provider of quality, affordable and convenient travel services that include low-priced airline tickets, customized Philippine and International Tour Packages, Cruises, Land Transfers, Passport and Visa Concerns. It is the #1 producer of reliable travel services particularly when it comes to Philippine travel arrangements to the Filipino-American community in the US Mango Tours is able to provide its customers with a number of travel options at affordable rates because of its consolidator contracts with over 11 airlines. Book your travel bookings with Mango Tours by calling its 24/7 U.S. toll-free number at 1-866-2-MANILA (1-866-2-626452). Visit www.mangotours.com to know more about its latest promos and travel offers.* *Advertising Supplement
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 2, 2015
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