LA Midweek Edition -- February 10 -- 12, 2016 by Asian Journal Community Newspapers

LOS ANGELES

M I D W E E K M I D W E E K

EDITION

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EDITION

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February 10-12, 2016

Volume 26 - No. 12 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Over 600K driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants in CA ABOUT 605,000 undocumented immigrants residing in California were granted driver’s license in 2015, the first year that the state has permitted them to do so, according to a news release from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. In October 2013, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation known as AB 60, which allows eligible undocumented immigrants in California to apply for driver’s licenses. The law further prohibits discrimination against undocumented immigrant drivers. AB 60 allows individuals with these licenses to drive without fear of being fined or having their vehicle impounded. License holders under the law, however, cannot use the identification to board planes for domestic flights. Furthermore, it does not grant these individuals a pathway to apply for a US passport, a way to work, or legal residency status. A dozen other states, along with Washing-

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MANILA — A cliffhanger of a race to lead the country began yesterday with five candidates claiming to have a genuine chance of succeeding President Aquino. Since emerging from dictatorship three decades ago, the Philippines has seen its political scene dominated by elite families, celebrities, corruption and violence, which have contributed to near-constant chaos. Those factors are once again dominant themes in this year’s contest for the presidency, as well as the thousands of national and local posts up for grabs in the May 9 elections. The current presidential front-

runner is Sen. Grace Poe, an inexperienced politician who is riding a wave of popularity among the tens of millions of poor Filipinos, due in part to her adopted father, Fernando Poe Jr. FPJ became one of the nation’s most loved actors by playing characters who championed the poor, and nearly translated that popularity into political success by coming in second in the 2004 presidential elections. Grace Poe, 47, launched her political career only three years ago when ;XmXf :`kp DXpfi If[i`^f ;lk\ik\# J\e% >iXZ\ Gf\# M`Z\ Gi\j`[\ek A\afdXi 9èXp# C`Y\iXc GXikp jkXe[Xi[ Y\Xi\i she entered the Senate, but has en- DXel\c IfoXj @@ Xe[ J\e% Dì`Xd ;\]\ejfi JXek`X^f n`cc Y\ afèè^ k_\ gi\j`[\ek`Xc iXZ\ è k_\ DXp 0 \c\Zk`fej%

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Denver Broncos defeat Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 Fil-Am Jordan Norwood makes history for longest punt return by AJPRESS

MILLIONS of Americans tuned in on Sunday, Feb. 7, as the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 to win Super Bowl 50. Playing at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the Broncos showed off their superior defense, gaining four turnovers — two of which resulted in touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Panthers struggled to ride on the momentum of their nearly undefeated season record. Many analysts noted that Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton, who was named the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP), had an off night, failing to adapt to the Broncos’ rush. He was sacked seven times during the game. During the second quarter of the game, Broncos’ wide receiver Jordan Norwood — who is a quarter Filipino — set a Super Bowl record with a 61-yard punt return. Norwood received the punt at the Broncos’ 25-yard line and ran it down the right sideline all the way to the Panthers’ 14-yard line. Though Norwood’s run was unable to secure a touchdown, Denver earned a field goal that put them ahead 13-7. The previous record was a 45-yard return by 49ers wide receiver John Taylor in Super Bowl XXIII against the Cincinnati Bengals. At 39 years old, Peyton Manning of the Broncos became the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history. Manning, whose 18-year career includes includes two Super Bowl titles and 200 career wins, is expected to retire, though he has yet to announce that decision. He is also the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams, winning Super

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Obama sends Congress record $4.1 trillion 2017 fiscal budget

PRESIDENT Barack Obama sent Congress his eighth and final budget of his presidency on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The proposal includes a spending record of $4.1 trillion on a number of initiatives, from a new war on cancer to combating global warming to fighting growing threats from Islamic State militants. “While it is important to take stock of our progress, this Budget is not about looking back at the road we have traveled. It is about looking forward and making sure our economy works for everybody, not just those at the top,” the President states in an emailed fact sheet on the 2017 fiscal year budget. “It is about choosing investments that not only make us stronger today, but also reflect the kind of country we aspire to be--the kind of country we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren.” The proposed spending plan applies for

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Aquino to attend ASEAN-US summit next week by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario will join President Aquino at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-US summit next week. US President Barack Obama will host the leaders of the 10-member ASEAN on Feb. 15 and 16 at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The summit aims to build deeper partnerships that the US has forged with ASEAN since 2009 and further advance Washington’s rebalance to

Asia and the Pacific. The US and the ASEAN have worked toward stability, prosperity and peace in Southeast Asia for nearly 40 years. The event will provide leaders a forum to strengthen cooperation on political security and economic issues under the new US-ASEAN strategic partnership, which was launched in November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur. Del Rosario has resigned for health reasons effective March 7. President Aquino accepted his resignation, according to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. The DFA is mum on Del Rosario’s replacement. ■ Gi\j% 9\e`^ef 8hl`ef @@@

Filipino-Salvadoran math whiz honored by LA school board by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

LOS ANGELES — 17-year-old Cedrick Argueta was honored on Tuesday, Feb. 9 by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education for earning a perfect score on his Advanced Placement Calculus exam. Argueta, the son of a Filipina nurse (.$p\Xi$fc[ =`c`gèf$JXcmX[fiXe :\[i`Zb 8i^l\kX ]Xi i`^_k `j afè\[ Yp _`j and a Salvadoran maintenance work- dfk_\i C`c`Xe# pfle^\i j`jk\i BXi\e Xe[ ]Xk_\i DXiZf fe Kl\j[Xp# =\Y% 0 X]k\i er, is one of 12 students in the world k_\ C8LJ; 9fXi[ f] <[lZXk`fe _fefi\[ 8i^l\kX ]fi i\Z\`mè^ X g\i]\Zk jZfi\ — out of the total 302,531 who took fe _`j 8[mXeZ\[ GcXZ\d\ek ZXcZlclj \oXd% 8AGi\jj g_fkf Yp :_i`jkèX D% Fi`\c the exam — to achieve the perfect chelle King and the Board of Education, Argumark of 108. “I’m glad that I’m able to do this, not just for eta acknowledged that it was a “team effort” my culture, but for all cultures so anybody can to pass the exam and that he is “one small example” of the school district’s work. realize that anything is possible,” he said. Speaking before LAUSD Superintendent Miu G8>< 8*

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Trillanes posts ! bail for libel Sulit Savings!

THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11-17

by ROSETTE

ADEL

Philstar.com

MANILA — After arriving from the United States on Tuesday, Feb. 9, Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV went to the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 142 to post bail for the libel case filed against him by dismissed Makati City Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay. Trillanes, also a vice presidential candidate, personally went to the Makati RTC and posted bail amounting to P10,000 after he was a issued warrant of arrest last February 1, according to a radio report. The same court dismissed Trillanes’s motions to suspend the arrests and hearings on the libel case against him.

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE

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joyed huge success by trading on her father’s name while portraying herself as a reliable, honest advocate of the poor. However, opponents have petitioned the Supreme Court to disqualify Poe, arguing she cannot prove she is a natural-born Filipino because she does not know who her biological parents are. The SC could also disqualify Poe for failing to meet residency rules, because she spent many years living in the US and gained US citizenship before renouncing it and returning home. If Poe is knocked out, with a court ruling expected during the campaign, the nation would be plunged into political turmoil with three contenders who are currently each polling about 20 percent support ready to pounce. A major contender is Vice President Jejomar Binay, who heads the main opposition party. Binay, 73, has spent decades building a vast political machine

but he has had to endure a barrage of corruption allegations that have seen him lose his frontrunner status. A Senate committee recently recommended Binay be charged with graft for kickbacks allegedly taken during his long stint as mayor of the nation’s financial capital, Makati. President Aquino, who has overseen growth averaging 6.2 percent since 2010 and won international applause for trying to fight corruption, wants to hand over the keys to the presidential palace to longtime ally Mar Roxas. However Roxas, 58, a US-educated investment banker from one of the nation’s richest families, has consistently trailed Poe and Binay in surveys. Analysts blame a lack of charisma and inability to connect with the poor masses. In contrast, controversial populist politician Rodrigo Duterte, 70, is making a spectacular charge

for the presidency by vowing a ruthless crackdown on crime. Human rights groups have accused Duterte of running vigilante “death squads” that killed more than 1,000 suspected criminals during his many years as mayor of the major southern city of Davao. Duterte has acknowledged the existence of the death squads and said in speeches and press conferences in recent months that he had overseen the killing of drug traffickers. The fifth contender is Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who chose Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as her runningmate. Santiago reiterated that she will be running for the highest position for the third time to stop the corruption in the government. Despite claims she has beaten cancer and her popularity among the younger voters with her strong presence in social media, Santiago has consistently trailed in the surveys. (Philstar.com)

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Denver Broncos defeat Carolina Panthers… G8>< 8( t Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts. “You know, I’ll take some time to reflect,” Manning said during a post-game interview. “I have a couple of priorities first. I want to go kiss my wife and my kids, I want to go hug my family. I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight. I promise you that. I’m going to take care of those things first, and say a little prayer to thank the man upstairs for this great opportunity. I’m just very grateful.” For six tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles — leading to defensive and offensive touch-

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downs — Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller was named MVP following the game. Sunday marked the Broncos’ third Super Bowl title in franchise history. ”We had our opportunities. There wasn’t nothing special that they did. We dropped balls. We turned the ball over, gave up sacks, threw errant passes. That’s it. They scored more points than we did,” Panthers quarterback Newton said after the game. Aside from the game itself, the most-anticipated part of the game was the halftime show, featuring Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars. Against a colorful

backdrop, Coldplay delivered a medley of their hits, but guest stars Beyonce, performing her new song “Formation,” and Bruno Mars, singing and grooving to Uptown Funk,” stole the show. Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach — who was reporting as a special correspondent for “Inside Edition” — praised Beyonce on Twitter, saying “From Queen to Queen, @Beyonce you owned the show! –Pia.” Super Bowl 50 was the thirdmost-watched television program in the United States with 111.9 million viewers, falling short to beat the viewership records from the last two years. ■

Binay also filed a libel complaint against the senator in September last year for accusing him of “perpetrating a P100 million racket a year in Makati involving ghost senior citizens.” Trillanes said he will not back down against the libel case filed against him. “Hindi ko siya aatrasan. Lalabanan ko siya rito at makkita natin, ‘di kalaunan kung sino nagsasabi ng totoo at nagsasabi ng

tama,” Trillanes said in a televised ambush interview at the airport. The senator again hit the Binays for their alleged corruption. “Dito niya (Vice President Binay) pinapakita kung paano inaabuso ang kapangyarihan,” Trillanes said. “Ipapaalam ko sa mga tao na mandarambong ito so ‘pag inilagay ninyo sa pwesto ito, wala itong gagawin kundi magnakaw,” he added. ■

Trillanes posts bail for…

The Makati court ordered the arrest of Trillanes after finding probable cause for the case filed against the senator. The libel case arose from Trillanes’s expose that the Binay camp bribed two Court of Appeals 6th Division justices, namely Jose Reyes Jr. and Francisco Acosta for their ruling against the suspension of Binay. Vice President Jejomar “Jojo”

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Defense intelligence chief predicts more ISIS attacks on US

attacks on the U.S. homeland in 2016,” Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, director of the THE top US intelligence offi- Defense Intelligence Agency, cial said on Tuesday, Feb. 9 that testified in a security conference ISIS was likely to attempt direct on Capitol Hill Tuesday. attacks on the US through the Stewart linked his warning to coming year, and that the group the extremist group’s growing was infiltrating refugees escap- network of “emerging branching from Iraq and Syria to move es” in Mali, Tunisia, Somalia, across borders. Indonesia, and Bangladesh, ac“[ISIS] will probably attempt cording to Reuters, and added to conduct additional attacks in that ISIS is likely stepping up its Europe, and attempt to direct “pace and lethality.” by ALLYSON

ESCOBAR

AJPress

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, also present at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, estimated in his “Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community” report that violent extremists were “active in about 40 countries,” and that there are currently “more terrorist safe havens than at any time in history.” ISIS and its eight branches were the No. 1 terrorist threat

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Obama sends Congress record $4.1 trillion…

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the budget year that begins Oct. 1, just three-and-a-half months before he leaves office, according to the Associated Press. It addresses issues such as climate change, healthcare, opportunities for small businesses and students, as well as national and economic security. Obama already faces heavy fire from the GOP-controlled Congress, which is not expected to approve the proposal, and has called it “dead on arrival.” ;GN? GIFA<:K% Gi\j`[\ek 9\e`êf J% 8hlèf @@@ n`k_ ;\gXikd\ek f] GlYc`Z Nfibj Xe[ ?`^_nXpj ;GN? J\Zi\kXip If^\c`f Jè^jfe c\X[j k_\ èXl^liXk`fe f] k_\ -#)''k_ bd% eXk`feXc ifX[j è GXeXp @jcXe[# 9i^p% ;lpfZ# ;Xf#:Xg`q fe Kl\j[Xp# =\Y% 0% Overall, Obama’s budget would DXcXZX Xe^ g_fkf Yp I\p 9Xe`hl\k increase taxes by $2.6 trillion in the coming decade-- nearly double the $1.4 trillion in new taxes Obama sought and failed to achieve in last year’s budget. Congressional Republicans G8>< 8( t have already said they will ignore Currently a senior at Abraham the proposal, rather than engage Lincoln High School, Argueta in another round of “fiscal brinksaspires to attend the California manship” with the president, Institute of Technology and one said the Washington Post. day work for NASA’s Jet Propul“President Obama will leave sion Laboratory as an engineer. office having never proposed a “I want to be an engineer bebudget that balances — ever. cause I’ve always liked math and This isn’t even a budget so much science, so going into that field as it is a progressive manual for makes sense for me,” he told the growing the federal government Asian Journal. at the expense of hardworking He credits his math teacher Americans,” said House Speaker Anthony Yom, a Korean immiPaul Ryan (R-Wis). grant, for helping him excel in GOP lawmakers said Obama’s the subject. In preparing for the proposal to impose a $10-perexam, Yom designated Argubarrel tax on crude oil--in order eta as a study leader, and would to bring in an additional $319 bilspend after school and weekends lion in revenue--had “no chance 8YiX_Xd CèZfce ?`^_ JZ_ffc dXk_ k\XZ_\i 8ek_fep Pfd Xe[ :\[i`Zb 8i^l\kX% making sure other students mas that trip to the White House. 8AGi\jj g_fkf Yp :_i`jkèX D% Fi`\c of congressional approval.” The tered the advanced concepts. administration announced they In addition to his incredible able resources and balance aca- would use the money to fund Tuesday’s board meeting also demics with other hobbies. achievement on the AP exam, recognized Yom and the high billions of dollars in alternative “I know everyone tells them to transportation programs as part Argueta also scored perfectly on school’s principal Jose Torres. try hard and work hard, but realthe math and English sections of In his remarks, Yom thanked of the president’s efforts to deal students’ parents for making the the ACT college-entrance exam. ly try to get all the help that they with global warming. can get. There are a lot of great Despite being a math wiz (his commitment to drive their chilRyan also pledged that House dren to school on weekends so nickname at school is “One of resources,” Argueta told the Republicans would produce a Asian Journal. “Also, try not to Twelve”), Argueta asserts that they could study for the exam budget that does reach balance and community members for he’s just a normal teenager who make everything about academ- in coming weeks. ics. Balance your life out. Try to likes sports, video games and opening up their facilities when put your time in something that’s hanging out at the mall. the school wasn’t open. His advice for high school stu- fun for you, rather than just put“I want everyone to remember that it still takes a village to raise dents? Take advantage of avail- ting it into academics.” ■ a child,” Yom said. Yom — whose AP students have all passed the calculus exam in the last three years — noted that he doesn’t have any special strategies when it comes to teaching. Rather, he treats his students as “friends” and gets to know them on a personal level to build trust. “If you don’t think of [teaching] as work, then you produce a better result,” he said. Torres cited Argueta as an example of “what can happen…if we all believe that every child who comes into a classroom can learn, regardless of their background or where they come from.” New Line 501 from NoHo to Pasadena Argueta’s mother Lilian, who Starting March 1, 2016, look for the all-new Metro migrated to the United States bus Line 501, offering Express service from North from Batangas, Philippines in Hollywood to Pasadena. Save up to 20 minutes on 1992, remarked on how studious her son is. your commute as you fly down the carpool lane on “At school, they have an afterthe 134 Freeway with limited stops and easy conschool program to prepare for nections to partner transit services and Bob Hope the test. When he gets home, Airport. For detailed timetables or to plan your trip, visit he studies hard too. He’s always been like that,” she said. metro.net/line501. She beamed with pride seeing her son be recognized and Metro Eases Traffic receive a standing ovation by the Everyone knows that congestion is bad, but we realschool district’s board members. “We’re all happy and proud of ly can improve the way we get around. Right now, Metro him,” she said. “He can be whatis easing traffic by delivering 1.4 million rides each day. ever he wants to be. We’re here And we’re planning future relief all over LA County by to support him.” adding more bus and rail service, fixing freeway botSince finding out about his test score, Argueta has received tlenecks, funding local road improvements and updatworldwide attention, and even ing our strategic transportation vision. We’ve come a got President Barack Obama to long way in a short amount of time, but we still have so tweet at him: “Cedrick; way to much more to do. Let’s get it done, together. Learn more go on your perfect score! How about you come by the next about The Plan at metro.net/theplan. White House Science Fair?” Getting a tweet “from the most Gold Line Foothill Extension Opens March 5 influential and important man in Metro Rail’s Foothill Extension is only a few weeks away the world” was an honor, Argufrom the grand opening of six new stations that stretch eta said, and he is excited to take

Over 600K…

from Pasadena to Azusa. As testing continues in the area, please remember to watch for trains. Learn more at moregold.metro.net.

ton D.C., have similar laws for undocumented immigrants. “If you can approve policies that integrate immigrants, I think it’s a win-win for all people in a big state like California,” said Luis Alejo, a member of the California Assembly and author of the bill, according to AgenceFrance Presse. In February, March and April, more than 70,000 licenses were issued per month. A total of 830,000 individuals applied for licenses under AB 60 between Jan. 2, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2015. (Agnes Constante / AJPress)

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metro.net @metrolosangeles losangelesmetro

Filipino-Salvadoran math whiz honored by LA…

“In 2016, we will make it our goal to pass all 12 appropriation bills through regular order,” Ryan said back in December, laying out his plans for the year ahead. “This hasn’t been done since 1994--but it’s how Congress ought to operate so that we can better protect the taxpayer dollars and make our place the true representative body that it is.” Even with the increased taxes, Obama’s budget projects sharply higher deficits in the near future, totaling $9.8 trillion over the next decade. Last summer, Obama’s baseline forecast a deficit of $8 trillion over the next decade. Much of the deficit problem stems from the surge in spending on benefit programs like Social Security and Medicare, whose budgets are predicted to soar with the retirement of millions of baby boomers. The budget sees the economy growing at a 2.6 percent rate this year, although administration officials noted that projection was finalized in November, before recent stock market slide. Inflation would remain low, registering a 1.5 percent gain this year. Obama’s new budget projects a deficit for the current 2016 budget year of $616 billion, which is sharply higher than the latest forecast by the Congressional Budget Office (totaling $544 billion). Republicans have long complained that Obama has failed to attack the chief cause of future deficits. Previous Obama budgets did propose such things as slowing the automatic inflation increase for Social Security. However, the President abandoned those proposals when it became clear that Republicans were opposed to his suggestions

to raise taxes on the wealthy in order to benefit programs for the working poor. On Tuesday, White House officials expressed their goal to obtain bipartisan support for a number of Obama’s initiatives, such as the effort to combat heroin and opioid addiction, fund a “moonshot” initiative to cure cancer, and expand tax credits for the working poor. Other elements of his proposal include ideas to appeal to Democrats: increasing Pell Grants for college students from low-income backgrounds; bolster funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; funding the Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI); and renewing incentives for GOP-governed states to join the expanded Medicaid system, established under his landmark health care law. Separately, Obama has also proposed $1.8 billion in emergency spending to combat the Zika virus, on top of the $1.1 trillion catchall spending bill that passed in December. The budget also pledges to increase military spending to fight terrorist threats, and help make Americans safer. It includes increased support (around $19 billion) for cybersecurity, upgrading computers across government agencies in the wake of last year’s major federal hack, which compromised the personal information of 21 million Americans. “The budget that we are releasing today reflects my priorities and the priorities I believe will help advance security and prosperity for America for many years to come,” Obama told reporters at the White House. (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

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Hot temps & strong Santa Ana winds hit Southern California

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

by AGNES

CONSTANTE AJPress

WARMER, summer-like temperatures have permeated Southern California, despite the fact the region was anticipated to be hit with rainy weather from El Niño at this time. On Sunday, Feb. 7, Fullerton, California, held the record for highest temperature in America for the day at 89 degrees. On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for most of the Southland due to a combination of strong Santa Ana winds, high temperatures and low humidity, raising the risk of wildfires. As of press time, the warning was scheduled to remain in effect until 6 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Wind warnings and advisories were also posted for various counties, including those in the Central Coast through San Diego. In the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains, a high wind warning for 58-mile-per-hour gusts was set to be in force until 2 p.m., according to the Daily News.

Downtown Los Angeles hit a record 88 degrees on Monday, Feb. 8, surpassing the old record by 3 degrees and marking 20 degrees above the norm for that date. Temperatures were also higher than usual for this time of year in Northern California, where San Francisco posted highs in the 70s on a day when 60 is normal. Recent rainfall did not alleviate the situation much, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department, according to KPCC.

“The low moisture in the vegetation is not affected by that short amount of rain,” Stewart told KPCC. “A couple of rainstorms is not going to resolve it.” Temperatures are expected to stay above normal on Wednesday, Feb. 10, although a cooling trend will begin then, the Daily News reported. Forecasters say El Niño storms remain likely, but masses of high pressure sitting on top of Southern California and Nevada have repelled them, according to the Los Angeles Times. ■

Study: concussions raise suicide risk by AGNES

CONSTANTE AJPress

INDIVIDUALS who suffer concussions are at an increased risk of up to four times for suicide even years after their injury, a new study from Canada suggests. Researchers examined the medical records of 235,110 patients with concussions that weren’t serious enough to require hospitalization throughout a 20-year period in Ontario. Throughout an average followup period of nine years, they found that 667 had committed suicide. This is equivalent to 31 suicides per 100,000 each year, over three times higher than the suicide rate in the general population, according to the results. The study further found that those who suffer concussions on weekdays are at a three times greater risk for suicide, while weekend incidents result in a four times greater risk. “We know that a concussion

can cause lasting changes in the brain that can alter mood, perhaps resulting in [behavior] changes including impulsivity,” Donald Redelmeier, a researcher and physician at Sunnybrook Research Institute, said in a press release. Researchers said they don’t know the reason for the elevated risk of weekend concussions. However, they posited that it could be due to a number of possibilities, among which include that those who are injured on Saturdays and Sundays may suffer during recreational activities and may receive care later compared to those injured on the job on weekdays. “It’s possible that we’re seeing greater suicide risk linked to weekend concussions due to risk-taking associated with recreation or misadventure, whereas weekday injuries may be linked to employment hazards. We may also be seeing an effect of self-blame if the injury event was self-initiated,” Redelmeier

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Robredo gets FVR’s nod

by LLANESCA

T. PANTI ManilaTimes.net

THE administration vice presidential candidate in the 2016 elections, Leni Robredo, has been endorsed by former President Fidel V. Ramos a day after she warned voters against the return of martial law. Robredo, running under the ruling Liberal Party (LP), got the thumbs-up form the former leader on Monday, Feb. 8 after meeting with him in Makati City. In a statement, she said Ramos shared his campaign experience during the 1992 polls and offered her advice on how to woo voters as she visits different parts of the country during the 90-day campaign period that starts on February 9. Ramos, a Defense secretary during the Corazon Aquino administration and an Armed Forces chief of staff during the martial law years, served as Philippine President from 1992 to 1998. He was also one of the key figures of the 1986 “people power revolution” that kicked out thenPresident Ferdinand Marcos and his family from Malacañang, with Ramos severing his ties with the Marcoses and joining the people in establishing a democratic government under President-elect

said in the release. Study authors further noted that emergency rooms are less likely to be adequately staffed on weekends, thus resulting in less adequate care and treatment that could have a long-term effect on a concussion patient’s health. On average, suicides occur about six years after a concussion, researchers noted. Each year, up to 3.8 million concussions occur, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous studies have examined the effect of concussions on athletes, which have revealed that those such as football players who have experienced four concussions were more likely than individuals without the injury to demonstrate depressive symptoms, TIME reported. This particular study focused on adults in the general populaMANILA — OFW Family Club tion. It was published Monday, Feb. 8, in the Canadian Medical party-list Rep. Roy Señeres yesterday died of cardiac arrest, Association Journal. ■ three days after he announced his withdrawal from the May 9 presidential race. He was 68. According to his lawyer Candy Rivas, family members were present when Señeres passed away at 8am on Tuesday, Feb. 9. She did not give further details. Last Friday, Rivas and Señeres’ daughter Hannah tried to file his statement of withdrawal with the Law Department of the Commission on Elections, citing his poor health. The Comelec did not accept the statement because the law provides that he should do it personally. Rivas said she last saw Señeres, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, on Saturday. “He was telling me then that his prayers were answered because he was feeling good. There was no indication that he was not feeling well,” said Rivas. A known advocate of the rights of overseas Filipino workers, Señeres helped save domestic helper Sarah Balabagan from the death penalty in the UAE after she was sentenced to die for killing her employer after he tried to rape her in 1994. Balabagan, now based in the US, posted her condolences to the Señeres family on her Facebook account. Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista also expressed condolences to Señeres’ family. Bautista said that based on sub-

Corazon Aquino. Before meeting with Ramos, Robredo warned the youth against the return of martial law during the Kaya Natin Youth Ambassadors National Convention last Sunday. One of Robredo’s opponents in the vice presidential race is Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the only son of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos. In a Pulsa Asia survey released on Saturday, she ranked third with 18 percent, behind the younger Marcos (23 percent) and Sen. Francis Escudero (33 percent). Robredo, however, ranked higher than Sen. Alan Cayetano (14 percent), Sen. Gregorio Honasan (5 percent) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th (4 percent). “Let no one hoodwink you into thinking that martial law was good for the nation. Let no one be able to cover your eyes to the torture, plunder, opportunism and culture of impunity that occurred during those days,” Robredo, whose speech was delivered by her daughter Tricia, pointed out. The younger Marcos has repeatedly said that he has nothing to apologize for his late father’s rule, even if there is an existing law–the Marcos compensation law–which provides P10 billion

worth of financial remuneration for victims of martial law atrocities such as summary executions, enforced disappearances and deadly torture, among others. The same law created the Human Rights Victims Claims Board, which has sole jurisdiction in determining whether a claimant is a human rights violations victim, unless he or she already enjoys the conclusive presumption extended by the law to plaintiffs in the class suit adjudicated by the US Federal District Court of Honolulu, Hawaii against the estate of the Marcos patriarch. The presumption is also extended to those acknowledged as human rights violation victims by the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. The claims board alone also validates amounts to be granted to all claimants relative to the severity of the atrocities they have suffered and in accordance with a point system. “Let no one kill your trust that ethical leadership is possible. Let no one be able to stop you from demanding transparency and accountability in government,” Robredo, a lawyer, pointed out. “Let no one be able to stop you from serving as public officials who maintain a strong moral code. Let no one pervert your idealism,” she said. ■

Señeres dies of cardiac arrest

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stitution rules in case of death, Señeres could be replaced by someone from his political party Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka, until midday of election day, provided that the replacement has a similar surname. He, however, added that Señeres’ camp must formally notify the Comelec about this because the poll body is set to start loading the names of candidates into the election management system (EMS) today. Othewise, his name will be included in the official ballots. EMS generates the information that will be printed on the official ballots. Señeres’ son Roy Jr. would replace the late lawmaker as representative of the OFW Family Club party-list group in the House of Representatives. Malacañang on Tuesday, Feb.

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9 expressed its condolences to the Señeres family. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Señeres had pushed for the welfare of workers while serving as chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission and as ambassador to the UAE. Legacy Though he did not become president, Señeres left a remarkable legacy for Filipinos working here and abroad. Señeres, until the time of his death, had been fighting for the rights and welfare of millions of Filipino workers, recruitment industry leader Lito Soriano said. “His advocacy to put an end to contractualization, which has been a growing problem affecting Filipino workers, was the

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to the US, and it was using the refugee exodus from violence in Iraq and Syria to hide among innocent civilians and outreach other countries, Clapper warned. He added that ISIS was “taking advantage of the torrent of migrants to insert operatives into that flow,” and said they were “pretty skilled at phony passports so they can travel ostensibly as legitimate travelers.” ISIS fighters have reportedly seized Syrian passport facilities with machines that of manufacture realistic-looking passports, according to CNN. The Defense Intelligence Agency also confirmed that ISIS bas succeeded in making and deploying toxic chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria, the first such attack by an extremist group in over two decades, since a chemical warfare attack in Japan in 1995, reported Fox News. Clapper’s assessment also notes that “approximately five dozen” people linked to ISIS were

arrested in the US last year. The Islamic State has as many as 25,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq, down from a previous estimate of up to 31,000, an intelligence report revealed. Over 36,500 foreign fighters, including at least 6,600 from Western countries, have also traveled to Syria from more than 100 countries since 2012, the report states. “Daesh [a derisive Arabic acronym for the Islamic State] is likely to increase the pace and lethality of its transnational attacks because it seeks to unleash violent actions and to provoke a harsh reaction from the West, thereby feeding its distorted narrative of a Western war against Islam,” said Stewart. On the counter-ISIS campaign in Iraq and Syria, Stewart added it was “unlikely” that the Iraqi city of Mosul would be liberated in 2016. While the National Intelligence assessment calls ISIS the “preeminent terrorist threat,” it also affirms that “al Qaeda affiliates

are positioned to make gains in 2016.” Al Qaida, based in Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, and Al Nusra Front in Syria were named the “most capable al Qaeda branches.” “These threats are exacerbated by the security challenges of the Middle East, which is now facing one of the most dangerous and unpredictable periods in the last decade,” Stewart said. “The perceived success of attacks by homegrown violent extremists in Europe and North America, such as those in Chattanooga and San Bernardino, might motivate others to replicate opportunistic attacks with little or no warning, diminishing our ability to detect terrorist operational planning and readiness,” Clapper noted. “ISIL involvement in homeland attack activity will probably continue to involve those who draw inspiration from the group’s highly sophisticated media without direct guidance from ISIL leadership.” ■

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

Del Rosario quits DFA, cites health by CHRISTINE

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High Court junks DQ case vs Poe SC upholds Grace’s presidential candidacy

by JOMAR

CANLAS ManilaTimes.net

SENATOR Grace Poe got a reprieve from the Supreme Court (SC) when it junked a petition seeking to boot her out of the presidential race in the May 2016 elections. The high tribunal, sitting en banc, on Monday dismissed the petition filed by Vicente Dante P. Adan against the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Adan had questioned the Comelec’s decision to accept the senator’s certificate of candidacy, as well as the COC of other candidates who had renounced their foreign citizenship to become Filipinos once again so they could seek electoral posts in this year’s polls. But the High Court ruled that that the Comelec did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it accepted the COC of Poe and other candidates who reacquired their Filipino citizenship under Republic Act (RA) 9225, or the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003. In its ruling dated January 26, 2016, signed and promulgated by Felipa Anama, Clerk of Court of the en banc, the SC dismissed the petition for mandamus filed by Adan, saying the petitioner cannot ask the tribunal to compel the Comelec to reject the COC of

Poe and other candidates via a mandamus petition. “After a judicious review of the records, the court resolves to dismiss the instant petition for failure of petitioner Vicente Dante P. Adan to show that the cancellation of the certificates of candidacy of citizens repatriated under under Republic Act 9225 of the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003, who are running for national elective offices, is a ministerial act of respondent Commission on Elections and a proper subject of a petition for mandamus under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court,” it said. Although Adan mentioned the cases of other naturalized Filipinos in his petition, only Poe was included as a private respondent. The SC also ruled that Section 2 of RA 9225 is legal and constitutional, noting that it cannot be assailed by the petitioner through a collateral attack. Section 2 of RA 9225 states that it is the policy of the State “that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of this act.” The tribunal pointed out that if someone wants to question the constitutionality of a certain law, he or she must file a petition di-

rectly assailing that law. If not, that law shall be presumed to be a valid one. “Moreover, the petition assails the constitutionality of Section 2 of RA 9225 which, under prevailing jurisprudence, constitutes a collateral attack on the said law. It is settled that a collateral attack on a presumably valid law is not allowed,” it pointed out. The case is separate from the disqualification cases filed against Poe that are pending at the high tribunal. The SC continued to hear oral arguments on Poe’s case on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The senator was disqualified by the Comelec on the ground that she is not a natural-born Filipino citizen. The High Court, however, issued a temporary restraining order late in December 2015 stopping the poll body from dropping Poe from its official list of presidential candidates. Also, the tribunal is yet to decide on another petition questioning the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) dismissing the disqualification complaint filed against Poe. Several personalities and groups question the candidacy of the senator, among them Francisco Tatad, Antonio Contreras and Amado Valdez. ■

AVENDAÑO GIL. C. CABACUNGAN Inquirer.net

FOREIGN Secretary Albert del Rosario is resigning from his post, four months short of serving the full six-year term of President Aquino. Based on a report from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Presidential Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said: “President Aquino has accepted the resignation of Secretary Del Rosario effective March 7, 2016.” Del Rosario cited health concerns for his decision. “Having served our country for over 10 years, I have respectfully asked the President if I could be allowed to step down earlier than midyear due to health issues,” he said in a text message. Del Rosario will still accompany the President when the latter attends the special summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the United States in California this month. Del Rosario has been facing health issues in the past few years, particularly back problems that required surgery late last year. Two sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), who asked not to be identified, said the foreign secretary also has a heart condition, which required him to get a pacemaker. One of the sources said Del Rosario’s “personal choice” as his replacement was Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, head of the DFA International Economic Relations office. The undersecretary served as cochair of the meeting of senior ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Forum, which the Philippines hosted last year. US trip The 76-year-old Del Rosario’s back problems have affected his sleeping schedule, one official said. The richest Cabinet member under Mr. Aquino had wanted to resign by the end of March but his worsening back problems forced him to advance his exit. A friend of Del Rosario’s, who also refused to be identified by name, said that he was not sur-

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prised the foreign secretary was quitting because he appeared in pain with his stooped back the last time they met. The President’s trip to the United States next week is likely to be Del Rosario’s final official act as foreign secretary. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a text message he respected Del Rosario’s decision to quit for health reasons, saying he “gave his all to his work despite the excruciating pain in his back.” Belmonte praised Del Rosario’s initiative to go to dangerous places to secure the safety of Fili-

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pino migrants. “His travels to the Middle East and in Libya to help Filipinos during troubled times despite his pain were hallmarks of his dedication to his responsibility,” he said. Del Rosario was appointed foreign secretary, replacing Alberto Romulo, on Feb. 24, 2011. He led the Philippine delegation which appeared before the United Nations arbitral tribunal in The Hague last year for oral arguments on the territorial dispute with China. He also provided leadership

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OPINION

FEATURES

Campaign season

AND so it begins. Filipinos are in the throes of election fever as the campaign period for the upcoming May national elections officially began on Tuesday, Feb. 9. With 18,053 elective positions at stake, qualified voters in the Philippines and abroad have in their hands, the power and responsibility of ensuring candidates for public office are the most qualified for the respective positions. On a national scale, Filipino voters will declare who to fill the presidential, vice presidential, 12 senatorial and 80 party-list representation seats. The local elections involve voters to elect district representatives (Congress members), provincial governors, vice governors, provincial board members, city and municipal mayors, city and municipal vice mayors, and town council members. The promotion of people’s interests will be on top of political junkets once again. Issues such as criminality, high prices, unemployment, housing shortage, overpopulation, and the poor justice system are still expected to headline each candidate’s platform. Vice President Jejomar Binay launched his presidential bid at the Welfareville compound in Mandaluyong City “to be with the Filipino poor.” Leading the opposition party, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Binay’s camp said that the vice president chose to be with those “have been left behind and continue to struggle with poverty, hunger and unemployment. Because he wanted to share with the masses his vision of a nation where rich and poor share the benefits of economic growth.” Binay was joined by his running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, and UNA’s candidates for sena-

tors including Manny Pacquiao, former Special Action Force (SAF) director Getulio Napeñas, Parañaque councilor and actress Alma Moreno, Princess Jacel Kiram, labor lawyer Allan Montaño and broadcaster Rey Langit. Sen. Grace Poe, who promises a “gobyernong may puso (government with a heart),” led her political party to Plaza Miranda in front of the historic Quiapo Church in Manila. Still facing disqualification over citizenship and residency issues, Poe said that just like an ordinary Filipino, her life is full of drama. “With all my heart and strength, I will uphold and defend programs of a compassionate government, our aspirations for the Filipino family, our hopes for the country and our children. The next three months will be a grueling journey for candidates and voters,” Poe promised her supporters. The ruling Liberal Party and its standard-bearer Mar Roxas and running mate Rep. Leni Robredo kicked off their campaign in Roxas City, Capiz. The tandem vowed to continue Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s “daang matuwid (straight path)” policy. Aquino was also present during the campaign rally and appealed to the public on why his bets are deserving to be elected.

Editorial

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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte brought his team to Tondo, Manila. The no-nonsense presidential aspirant promised his kababayans that he will curb corruption and the proliferation of illegal drugs, and vowed to prioritize education and agriculture. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Sen. Bongbong Marcos went north, to the latter’s hometown in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. Santiago vowed to go after people who were involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel

scam, while Marcos insisted on unity among Filipinos. The next three months will be a grueling journey for both candidates and voters. It will test political aspirants on how they can engage the public to support their causes and grant them their previous votes. On the other hand, it will be the voters’ undertaking to identify all social, political, economic and environmental issues that are hounding the country and choose wisely who will best offer the solution for them. (AJPress)

New national poll: Trump leads, Clinton and Sanders in a virtual tie AFTER the Iowa Caucuses and before the New Hampshire priThe Fil-Am mary, a new national poll reveals the sentiment of the American Perspective people on where they want this nation to be stirred moving forward through the presidential elections. On the Democratic front, GEL SANTOS-RELOS Frontrunner Hillary Clinton has reportedly planned on shaking her campaign to stop the momentum that has been favoring Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders steadily and increasingly in the past year. From leading Sanders by 50 percent just a year ago, Clinton’s lead has now shrunk to a virtual tie as revealed by two major national polls. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Clinton leading Sanders 48-45 percent, while a Quinnipiac University poll reveals Clinton leading 44-42 percent, both gaps within the margin of error. After winning Iowa by just 0.3 percent, Clinton is expected to lose in New Hampshire, if polls are any indication. In the final CNN/WMUR tracking poll, CNN reports that it remains Bernie Sanders’ primary to lose, with the Vermont senator holding a 26-point lead over Hillary Clinton, with 61

percent for Sanders versus 35 percent for Clinton. While I monitor the exit polls in New Hampshire as of the press time, CNN has projected Sanders as the winner of the primary election in the state and Clinton has reportedly conceded. With potentially record-breaking turnout, enthusiastic voters are eager to make their voices heard in this election. Clinton won in New Hampshire when she ran against Obama in 2008. What should Clinton do to stop Sanders’ momentum? On the Republican side, the latest Quinnipiac University National poll reveals Donald Trump still leads the GOP presidential pack among Republican voters nationwide, with 31 percent. He is followed by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas with 22 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida with 19 percent. Dr. Ben Carson has 6 percent, with 9 percent undecided and no other candidate above 3 percent. Heading to New Hampshire, Donald Trump continues to lead the Republican race on the eve of the vote with 31 percent, according to the final CNN/WMUR tracking poll. CNN reports that trailing behind Trump, Florida

Sen. Marco Rubio earned 17 percent support -- within the margin of sampling error of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at 14 percent, but significantly ahead of the fourth and fifth place candidates in the poll, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (10 percent) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (7 percent). Carly Fiorina stands at 5 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 4 percent and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 3 percent. Exit polls revealed that ?`ccXip :cèkfe Xe[ ;feXc[ Kildg Democratic voters are looking for the candidate Donald Trump continue to lord over the other GOP who is honest and who cares about them, more candidates moving forward? than electability and experience. ABANGAN! Meanwhile, Republican voters want a candidate *** who is not part of the establishment, as more than >\c JXekfj I\cfj `j k_\ XeZ_fi f] K=:Ëj È9Xc`kXe^ 8d\i`ZX%É M`\nj Xe[ half of them say feel betrayed by and are dissatis- fgè`fej \ogi\jj\[ Yp k_\ Xlk_fi è k_`j Zfclde Xi\ Xi\ jfc\cp k_fj\ f] fied with how the Republican party has done its k_\ Xlk_fi Xe[ efk f] 8j`Xe AflieXc Xe[ 89J$:9E$K=:% =fi Zfdd\ekj# job over the years. ^f kf nnn%K_\=`c$8dG\ijg\Zk`m\%Zfd# _kkgj1&&nnn%]XZ\Yffb%Zfd&>\c% Will it be 2008 again for Hillary Clinton? Will JXekfj%I\cfj

What is the true picture of poverty in our country? ACCORDING to the National Anti-Poverty Street Commission (NAPC) the incidence of pover- Talk ty in the Philippines in 2014 was 25.8 percent. This includes individuals earning less than P1,755 a month or a GREG B. MACABENTA family of five earning less than P8,778 a month. This begs the question: If only onefourth of our population lives in poverty, does that mean that three-fourths do not? Noted economist and former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno had something to say about that in a piece he wrote in Business World in March last year, referring to the poverty threshold set for 2012: “The real poverty picture may be worse than what the official statistics suggest. In 2012, the poverty threshold was P18,935 per year, P1,578 per month, or P52.60 per day. That’s the height of absurdity! I challenge public officials to survive on P52.60 per day for even a week.” For those residing in the US, it is not easy to appreciate the relative value of what people earn in the Philippines. Conceivably, because of the much lower cost of living here, what may appear to be meager minimum wage earnings locally can actually buy more goods and services than the minimum wage in the US. It was in this context that I took note of Diokno’s commentary and decided to probe this issue further. What, in fact,

is the true picture of poverty in our country? Our home in Parañaque happens to be right across the creek from a squatters’ area (pardon me, I mean, an informal settlement) called Creek Drive. Thus, I have easy access to the pulse of non-rich folks. I hesitate to refer to them as “poor” because of the government’s definition of poverty. We have known many of the squatters (oops, informal settlers) in Creek Drive for years. Before they called the place by that name, they used our home address for their correspondence. Letters from the province were delivered through us by the post office. My former ad agency driver, Jun, built a shanty and raised a family there. He now makes a living driving his own tricycle. Jun earns from P800 to P1,000 a day from plying his tricycle route. That’s a monthly income of over P20,000, for himself alone, not counting that of his wife who is a grade school teacher and that of his son, also a tricycle driver. In other words, they are well above the poverty threshold, as defined by the economic managers. But recently, Jun developed a lung infection and couldn’t drive his tricycle. Not covered by Philhealth and without any savings to afford medicine, his health deteriorated. Fortunately, being close to the family, we gave him some financial assistance and he managed to

get medical treatment. He is recovering now and could be well on the way to once again being “non-poor” (a term used by government numbers crunchers). But even if Jun and his family manage to stay above the official poverty line, he is painfully aware that they are, in truth, poor and are vulnerable to the ravages of cruel circumstances -- no matter what the economic managers say. Randy, a relative, earns P17,800 a month as a truck driver for a tire company and his wife Kaye makes P11,500 a month as a department store sales girl. They live rent-free in quarters above our garage (the living area is as large as an apartment and more spacious than a condominium studio). Because they don’t have to pay rent and they only have one child, who is in the grades, they are technically almost middle income, based on the classification of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). They certainly are well above the government-defined poverty threshold. But don’t tell that to the couple. After the usual deductions from their pay slips and considering the cost of transportation, food and utilities, they have very little left on payday and hardly anything set aside for emergencies. And when their daughter graduates from high school, it will be a struggle sending her to college. Nene does our laundry once a week and also services several homes in the subdivision. For her labors, she earns over P10,000 a month. Based on the government’s definition of poverty,

Nene is not poor. But when her mother fell ill and needed oxygen, she couldn’t afford the cost of one that was mechanized and had to make do with manual pumping. That was not good enough to save her mother’s life. Whatever the economic managers might say, Nene rues the fact that her mother would still be alive, if they were not, in fact, poor. Grace, a niece whom my wife and I are sending to nursing school, gave me interesting findings derived by her class from households in a slum area in San Dionisio, a barangay in Parañaque. The survey was part of their course requirement. Out of 54 families interviewed, 24 earn below the official poverty threshold. The rest technically qualify as non-poor because they earn above P11,000 a month. But try telling them that they are not poor and they will think you are being sarcastic. Frankly, the government statistics are an exercise in denial and delusion. But the people are not being fooled. They know that they are poor. They can see it in the faces of their children whom they cannot afford to send to school. They can feel it in their empty stomachs and in the ailments that they must suffer because they cannot afford health care. Those living in Mindanao and the rural areas know that they are even more impoverished than the government will acknowledge. And they are keenly aware that all the talk about a booming economy does not include them and is mainly benefiting the wealthy few.

With the presidential elections only a few months away, the candidates have begun to woo the electorate in earnest. And, as suitors always do, they are all promising to make life more blissful for the Filipino masses and the future brighter for their children. Three of the candidates have enunciated their main appeals to the voters in relatively clear terms, with the bottom line being a happier, more contented citizenry and a more progressive Philippines. Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas is waving the flag of economic gains through clean governance, expressed as “Tuwid na Daan” (or Straight Path). Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is vowing to create a progressive Philippines by killing criminals and stamping out corruption in government. Vice President Jejomar Binay is focusing on poverty and is promising to solve it by creating jobs and income opportunities for everyone, not just the rich. The two other candidates, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, are vaguely promising all or most of the above without really underscoring their primary pitch. Which promise will resonate most effectively with the masses? The residents of Creek Drive and San Dionisio have this to say: “Lahat ng pangako nila ay maganda. Pero alin ba ang magiging laman ng sikmura?” Translation: “All the promises are good. But which one can fill our stomach?” (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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Señeres dies of cardiac…

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Duterte says Marcos was the brightest of them all

by GABRIEL

CARDINOZA Inquirer.net

CONCEPCION, Tarlac — The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was the brightest Philippine President, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said during his visit to the hometown of President Aquino on Monday, Feb. 8. “Don’t feel insulted. But [on] hindsight… except [for] the time that he [refused] to step down [from office], the brightest among the past Presidents was Marcos,” said Duterte, a presidential candidate. He and his running mate, Sen.

Alan Peter Cayetano, met a group of farmers in Barangay Talimundoc, San Miguel in Concepcion town, where the President’s father, the assassinated Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., once served as mayor. The older Aquino went on to become the youngest Tarlac governor at 29 in 1961. His murder in 1983 triggered the People Power Revolution in February 1986 that unseated Marcos, who ruled the country for more than 20 years. Duterte said it was under the Marcos regime when the government introduced “Biyayang

Dagat,” a program for fishermen, and “Masagana 99,” which benefited rice farmers. “During those times, there were cooperatives. When a member borrowed money, it was the obligation of every cooperative member to pay. And there was no collateral,” Duterte said. He promised to make irrigation a free public service if he becomes President. “It’s not only [for] you. Even in Mindanao. That’s why I’m upset with the government. Why should you pay for water when it is yours? I cannot understand that policy,” he told the farmers. ■

Makati Foundation for Education, and president of Gotuaco, Del Rosario Insurance Brokers and Philippine Telecommunications Investment Corp. He is also a longtime business ally of tycoon Manuel Pangilinan, as evidenced by his directorships in the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), BusinessWorld Publishing Corp., First Pacific Co. (Hong Kong), PT Indofood Sukses Makmur (Indonesia), Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Philex Mining Corp., Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC), Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) and ABC Development Corp. (ABC 5)—all Pangilinan-controlled firms.

As a public servant, he has been a recipient of various government citations and awards for his civic and official contributions. Promoting democracy In 2001, he received the Edsa II Heroes Award from then President Arroyo in recognition of his efforts in promoting Philippine democracy. In 2004, Del Rosario was conferred the Order of Sikatuna, rank of datu, by Arroyo for promoting foreign relations. Del Rosario studied at Xavier High School in New York and graduated with an economics degree from New York University. (With reports from DJ Yap)

Del Rosario quits DFA, cites…

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in the hosting of the 2015 Apec Leaders’ Meeting last November, the launch of the Asean Economic Community last December and the talks on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. In corporate world From 2001 to 2006, he was the Philippine ambassador to the United States. An appointee of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he resigned to return to the private sector. Del Rosario was on the board of more than 50 companies before entering public service, according to his curriculum vitae. He was chair of the Philippine Stratbase Consultancy and the

main reason why he wanted to seek the presidency,” Soriano told The Star. Soriano said Señeres told him that he would run for president because “now is the right time to push for necessary measures against contractualization.” He said the late lawmaker is strongly against contractualization because it affects not only the lives of local workers, but also OFWs. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the untimely demise of Señeres was a big loss to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the OFWs. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario presented to Señeres on Feb. 24, 2012 the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his exceptional accomplishments, performance of duties and substantive contributions in advancing the interests of the country and the Filipino people as he performed his work as ambassador. The Filipino Workers Resource Center in Abu Dhabi also awarded Señeres for his exemplary leadership in providing all out support to OFWs, particularly “maltreated domestic helpers” and for saving the life of Balabagan. Some presidential candidates and other aspirants for national posts had approached Señeres for his endorsement when news spread that he was withdrawing his candidacy for the presidency, a family member disclosed yesterday. Señeres’ group is said to have over five million members worldwide. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said Señeres’ death was “a great loss to our overseas Filipino workers’ community, having spent most of his life championing their concerns as well as those of the labor sector.” “On behalf of my colleagues at the House of Representatives and of my family, I extend my sympathy and prayers to Roy’s loved ones and offer our great respect and gratitude for his unwavering dedication and sincere service to our nation onto the very end,” Belmonte said. OFW advocate Susan Ople described Señeres as “a courageous leader” who consistently took up the cudgels for distressed OFWs even when he was a diplomat. “The OFW community lost a

voice filled with passion, a man who went down fighting regardless of the odds, for principles that he believed in,” Ople said. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said Señeres showed unwavering compassion for OFWs and he and other lawmakers should continue his crusade. Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano III said Señeres not only fought for the rights of OFWs but also for welfare of local workers. Sen. Grace Poe said Señeres “will be remembered for his cause

to make better working conditions for Filipino workers through their security of tenure.” Sen. Francis Escudero said he was shocked by the sad news, while Sen. Bongbong Marcos noted that Seneres “championed the rights of OFWs as a diplomat and fought for the causes of the oppressed labor sector.” (With reports from Sheila Crisostomo, Mayen Jaymalin, Jess Diaz, Delon Porcalla, Christina Mendez, Perseus Echeminada, Pia LeeBrago and Paolo Romero)

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Japanese list Philippines as choice investment destination after China

PH mall operates prefer top food brands by KRISTYN

NIKA M. ManilaTimes.net

LAZO

FILIPINOS’ love of food makes restaurants and other food outlets the core of the country’s vibrant mall sector, but breaking into the business can be a challenge, given the strong preference for established brands, the president of a successful Filipino food chain said. Rommel Juan, president of Binalot Fiesta Foods Inc., which operates the Filipinomenu chain Binalot, said that established food brands are key drivers of mall operations, and are often preferred by mall

operators to draw in crowd of consumers. He cited a 2014 report by Euromonitor International, which indicated that various food franchisees constitute the largest presence in malls in the same year, accounting for a value share of 34 percent of all types of stores in a shopping mall. Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) operating the novelty chain Jollibee had the most presence among the established food brands, having a value share of 34 percent. The Euromonitor report pointed out JFC’s wide brand

by RICHMOND

S. MERCURIO

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines has overtaken Thailand and Vietnam as the investment destination of choice in Asia among Japanese companies diversifying beyond China, a ranking official of the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) told The Star. In an interview during his recent visit to the country, Jetro executive vice president Tatsuhiro Shindo said the Philippines has moved up on the Japanese investors’ list of their most favored destinations in Asia. The country is now officially the “plus one” of Japan as it embarks on a China Plus One Strategy, he said. “Yes, (the Philippines) is on top of our list. It used to be Thailand and Vietnam. But most recently it has become the Philippines,” Shindo said. “Japan’s outlook to the Philippines is very positive and very favorable because the Philippines is showing such a steady growth. It is so attractive, especially compared with the other ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-member countries recently,” he added. With China’s recent economic slowdown, Shindo said Japan is applying the China Plus One Strategy to the Philippines given the country’s sustained economic growth. The China Plus One Strategy is aimed at spreading Japan’s investments outside the world’s second largest economy. “Japanese companies used to rush to China, but China’s economy was kind of sluggish as of late and Japan investors start to think about diversifying their investments to other countries. A couple

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of years ago, China Plus One means China plus Thailand or China plus Vietnam, but recently, we are pushing more for China Plus One means Philippines,” Shindo said. Foreign chambers in the Philippines have already dubbed the country as the next big investment hub in Asia as investors exit China due to rising costs, increased regulation, and an economic slowdown. Shindo headed last week an investment mission from Japan which included small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises seeking investment opportunities in the country.

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PH mobile network among Air pact allows PH carriers more ASEAN destinations world’s slowest – study by MIGUEL

R. CAMUS

Inquirer.net

across the world, showed that the Philippines has the seventh Philstar.com slowest LTE network among MANILA – A study conduct- 68 countries. The report said the Philiped among mobile networks in the world showed that those pines has an average downoperating in the Philippines load speed of six megabits are among the worst perform- per second (Mbps) in the last ing in terms of 4G LTE (fourth quarter of 2015. It was ahead generation long-term evolu- of Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica tion) network. Latest data from OpenSignal, and Iran. The Philippines also ranked which crowd sourced data from millions of smartphone users u G8>< 9) by JANVIC

MATEO

THE Philippines has finally agreed to key air transport liberalization agreements with its Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) neighbors, paving the way for increased travel and trade within the region, and possibly cheaper flights. The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said in a statement on Sunday that President Aquino signed Protocols 5 and 6 of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement in Air Services, or MAAS, last Feb. 3, 2016. With the signing, Philippine air carriers will be allowed to fly “unlimited frequencies to and beyond the capital cities” of the

LOS ANGELES

ASEAN. This, the department said, will lead to better and more efficient connectivity and translate to more competitive fares and services. As the next step, the DOTC and the Civil Aeronautics Board will assist Philippine air carriers in securing additional flight schedules with each of the nine other member States of the ASEAN. The Philippines targets to have new flights operational within the next six months. “We expect it to benefit our local tourism and service industries, as the agreement allows foreign airlines to increase their flights to Manila and other cities,” Transportation secretary Joseph Abaya said in the statement. “Just as it will encourage more visitors to

TAIPEI

come to the country, Filipinos will also enjoy a wider array of flight options and ticket prices to the rest of the ASEAN,” he added. The agreement likewise increases mobility of Filipino enterprises looking outside the country for expansion. It also opens doors for individuals, such as students and professionals, seeking opportunities within ASEAN. The MAAS is part of the ASEAN’s Roadmap for Integration of Air Transportation Services. The roadmap lays down the foundation for the envisioned ASEAN Single Aviation Market, which is expected foster seamless connectivity within the region. Delays in the signing of the said protocols were earlier credited to limited slots in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport,

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E-vehicle group entices foreign players to invest by KRISTYN

NIKA M. ManilaTimes.net

LAZO

THE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) has been luring foreign players to invest in the country’s electric vehicles. The group noted that the country in the process of fulfilling its pledge to reduce greenhouse gases by 70 percent in 2030. This was an offshoot of the Paris Summit in December last year, in which attended by 195 countries tackled issues and solutions related to global warming and climate change as causes of intense natural disasters across the globe. The Philippines pledged to cut by 70 percent its greenhouse gases, which is much higher than the commitments of big emitters like China and India—remaining vague on targets—as well as the United States that pledged only 20 to 30 percent. As part of the efforts to hit the 70-percent target, EVAP President Rommel Juan said the association is working to attract foreign players to join and possibly forge partnerships with local electric vehicle (EV) players to reduce the use of old and regular vehicles that emit the most pollution into the atmosphere. “We invite the whole world to look at the Philippines as the up and coming EV hub of Asia, as many programs are being implemented, many manufacturers are setting up and many EV investments are being set in place,” Juan said in a statement on Monday, Feb. 8. EVAP is implementing EV initiatives that include the ETrike Program in Mandaluyong, Boracay, Naga and Cavite, as well as the recent commitment of ETrike maker BEMAC Motors to produce at least 3,000 ETrikes to replace

the current fleet of tricycles that contribute to the air pollution in Metro Manila, alongside dieselguzzling jeepneys. “Currently, according to CAIAsia, the regular diesel-fueled jeepneys comprise only 2 percent of the total vehicular volume, yet they contribute 80 percent of the air pollution in Metro Manila. Thus we need a viable non-polluting alternative to these,” Juan said. “Aside from advocating the replacement of jeepneys with electric jeepneys, we also want to introduce more electric tricycles to replace the old polluting, twostroke tricycles which number around 1.2 million units throughout the country,” he added. In line with the drive to increase environmental-friendly vehicles to reduce gas emissions, EVAP is holding its annual Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit in April to invite more EV players, local and foreign alike, and entice them to invest more and engage in partnerships to support the country’s EV initiative. EVAP’s efforts are in line with the Malacañang’s promise to carry out the country’s commitments in the Paris Summit. Earlier, Communications Operations Secretary Herminio B.

which suffers from congestion amid growing air and passenger traffic and limited expansion space. The DOTC has been moving to address this. It announced in September 2015 that it signed a contract with British firm NATS to increase runway utilization at Naia by about 50 percent over a 12-month period.

NATS provides air traffic navigation services to the world’s busiest single- and dual-runway airports: London Gatwick handles 53 air traffic movements per hour and over 250,000 flights per year; and London Heathrow handles 90 movements per hour and over 470,000 flights per year. Naia at the time the contract was signed, handled 40 take-

Asian American Professional Association kicks off mentoring program

ASIAN American Professional Association (AAPA) welcomed more than 200 guests, including corporate leaders, community members, professionals, mentors, mentees and alumni to its recent introductory session of its 2016 Mentoring Program. Francis Cheung, AAPA president, shared an analysis on the Asian American achievement gap and how AAPA can help bridge that gap. Colin Cushnie, AAPA executive champion, and Southern California Edison’s vice president of energy procurement & management, shared his unique story and passion for mentoring. The evening’s highlight Coloma Jr. said the country will was Keynote Speaker Martha stick true to its pledges during Saucedo, executive vice presithe summit, noting that proper dent of AEG, who spoke about financing, technology and capac- her career journey from AEG’s ity building will be in place to manager of community affairs to achieve the target. “The Philippines will fulfill its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) committing to reduce greenhouse-gas emis- G8>< 9( t sions conditionally by 70 percent portfolio is present in every by 2030. This is in solidarity with mall nationwide, and is almost other nations that will provide universally recognized among support in terms of finance, tech- Filipinos. These brands include nology and capacity building,” Jollibee, Mang Inasal, ChowkColoma said. ing, Greenwich, Red Ribbon and The Paris deal will also address Burger King. the concerns of climate-vulneraDespite their dominance in ble countries like the Philippines current mall presence, the report that “bear the heaviest, albeit a said fast food chains in the Philmost disproportionate share of ippines will see slower growth the burden of climate change in in the next few years, cooling to terms of assuring the convey- an annual growth rate of about ance of resources that will fully 3 percent from the 5-percent support adaptation and mitiga- growth the sector recorded over tion efforts,” he said. the last few years. Other groups are also support“The slowdown in growth ing the government’s drive to is indicative of the category’s lower greenhouse gases. These maturity, which limits its prosinclude the Federation of Philip- pects for sustained increases in pine Industries that suggested growth rates,” the report said. the use of renewable alternative “Another factor is the Philipenergy in place of fossil fuels pines’ growing middle class, such as coal, oil and gas as well many of whom are likely to trade as to adopt a massive forestation up to affordable full-service resprogram nationwide. ■ taurants at the expense of fast

executive vice president of external affairs. Martha’s interesting background represents a success story of diversity, women, and minorities in the workplace, and how one can achieve great things no matter who you are and where you come from. The audience learned valuable lessons about how to overcome cultural barriers to succeed and get promoted, including being overprepared for meetings, taking performance reviews seriously, going above and beyond, and making sure management knows about every accomplishment. AAPA is dedicated to inspire, develop and promote the professional community to maximize their career and leadership potential. Our vision is to foster a national network of diverse professionals in management and

executive pipelines who will become future leaders and inspire others in their community. For 15 years, over 60 passionate AAPA volunteer Mentors provided the award winning AAPA Mentoring Program to over 850 Mentees in Southern California. The AAPA Mentoring Program is a year-long program providing an opportunity to build trusting mentoring relationship and leadership skills throughout the year. Its oneon-one mentoring, led by dedicated and qualified executives and managers, has produced highly-motivated and confident career-minded professionals. Proceeds from the Achievement Awards gala goes directly help to support the AAPA mentees in the program.www.aapamentoring.com ■

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off and landing movements per hour. Passenger congestion, however, remains an issue, which is why the DOTC tapped the Japan International Cooperation Agency to asses a new site for an international gateway serving Metro Manila. The DOTC earlier signaled that the most viable location for the new airport would be in Sangley Point, Cavite. ■

food,” it added. But regardless of the category, food sales per outlet in the Philippines are seen to improve in the next few years due to the entry of more foreign brands, which will also lead to stiffer competition among chains and restaurant operators. This environment, the report said, will result “in the creation of more premium offerings, which is also set to boost sales per outlet in fast food over the forecast period.” Binalot’s Juan stressed it takes a lot of time, energy and persistence to establish a brand name and earn top-of-mind name recall to fully enter the Philippines’competitive food landscape. “But once you have it, it can translate into a very good advantage for the brand owner when he decides to grow the business and expand it further, specifi-

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Shindo said the Japanese government and companies only have praises for the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). “We have no concerns (in doing business in the Philippines), especially with PEZA. This is such a great institution. It gives us such a strong protection to Japanese investors and good in-

centives. Since PEZA offers very great incentives for Japanese companies, no need to make investment outside PEZA or anywhere else,” he said. Accumulated investment from Japan to the Philippines to date has reached P460 billion, higher than the roughly P300 billion from the United States, Shindo said. ■

cally in the country’s top malls,” Juan said. “In our case, we established Binalot in 1996 as a food delivery business and got our first big break when we eventually got mall space. Since then, Binalot has grown into a franchise operation with 34 branches, and 1 branch in Dubai with plans of opening more in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Countries),” he said. “Malls are always on the lookout for established brands that have name recall, a successful following and an established system. This ensures the mall operator of higher success rates for their store spaces and at the same time, they entice more mall visitors not just to window shop but to really shop,” he added. The country’s largest retailers and mall operators — Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), SM Prime Holdings Inc., and Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) — are expected to launch more shopping malls in line with their five-year plans from 2015 to 2020. The bulk of the leasing spaces of these future malls are anticipated to accommodate more food and fashion brands on the back of rising incomes. SM Prime and RLC both have plans to build four to five malls yearly towards 2020, while ALI is putting up retail spaces in ev-

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Debt Relief ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG Business owner with $1.0M labor lawsuits CLIENT is 65. He operates a service-oriented business with 3 outlets in strip malls. He has been in business for 8 years. Of the 3 outlets, two are losing money, while the third has some profit that subsidizes the loss of the first two, and provides client with some disposable income that is barely enough to cover his monthly living expenses. The gross receipts from one outlet, is about $10K a month. 40% goes to rent, 50% goes to labor, so what else is left? The gross receipts from the second outlet is $4K a month, barely enough to cover rent. The third outlet, which turns a profit keeps client from becoming a homeless person and puts food on the table. So, it’s not a great business, but allows client to survive. He has no retirement accounts, no 401K or pension, and expecting minimum social security when he turns 66 next year. In other words, client still needs to keep the business going beyond retirement, just so he can live a decent life in a rented home. He doesn’t even own a house. The problem with client’s business is that a service, is performed by individuals who are not technically speaking, employees. When the service is rendered, client takes a cut from the receipt and gives the rest to the individual who performed the service. Let’s just say that these individuals are more independent contractors than employees. Business owners, if they can get away with it, prefer the independent contractor to the employee. Independent contractors are paid on a per customer basis. If a customer walks in and the service is performed, client just gives the independent contractor his share of the payment for services rendered. If there is no customer, there is no salary to pay. In addition, there is no overtime pay to worry about. For instance, trucking companies prefer to have their drivers buy their own trucks so they can classify them as independent contractors. As independent contractors, drivers do not qualify for employee benefits and do not get paid a salary. Instead, they get a check for each delivery they make. At the end of the month, they prob-

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA THANKFULLY, spring is almost upon us in a few weeks and the earth beckons. The gardener at heart tunes out all dire predictions of doom and gloom, This year will be an unsettling year. There is a national election in November and there will be so much uncertainty in the air. There exists the specter of a protracted war with radical Muslim terrorists gunning for world domination with their visions of a caliphate, looming menacingly in the horizon. The realist in us thinks there is reason to be anxious. But the true gardener at heart remains unfazed. Cool, calm and collected, he chooses to live in that rare state of grace called equanimity. It must come from the zen-like peace one gets when one gardens, even if it is simply tending a single potted plant on an office desk. Doing what must be done in the garden is his small way of keeping the delicate balance of nature in his own sphere of influence. In many ways, gardening is like praying. It keeps fears and anxieties at bay and keeps one centered in the belief that all things in the cosmos work together for good. I was and still am a reluctant gardener. I was thrust into it by circumstances since I have a thing about not wanting anything dying on my shift. I had to seek books and advice despite the frenetic schedule of a workaday world as I multitasked my way through the day. Nothing I did seemed right at the time. I tended to over water not knowing about the dangers of root rot. My track record at growing things was dismal, yet I have often wondered what it would be like to watch something grow. I marveled at my mother’s green thumb. She can stick a seemingly

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Business owner files chapter 7 Calendar of Events across due to $1.0-M labor lawsuits Seniors seek chapter 7 relief for $48k credit card debt ably get about $10K. From that amount, they deduct their operating expenses. Whatever is left is their net profit for that month. Are truck drivers employees of the trucking company or are they independent contractors? The same thing can be said for UBER drivers. They own their cars. But UBER gets them the passengers and cuts them a check for each ride. I have clients who make $2K a month gross with UBER doing part time driving. Some make $4K a month gross. Are UBER drivers, employees of UBER or are they independent contractors? The IRS uses the “control” test. If the business owner has control over most of the time of the individual, that individual is deemed an employee, not an independent contractor. Going back to client, he has 4 individuals who perform the advertised service for client’s business. He takes a cut from the gross receipt, then, gives the balance to the individual. There are no set “work” times (9 to 5). If a customer comes in at 9.30 pm, the individual performs the service for the customer and then client and individual split the gross receipt for services rendered. Client has operated his business using this method for 8 years. Certainly, he considers the individuals independent contractors, and for 8 years, the individuals appear to agree. But recently, all 4 individuals filed 4 separate state court lawsuits for overtime and back pay with each claiming $250K of unpaid overtime and back pay!! That’s $1.0M of overtime of back pay. Where will client get $1.0M? If he had $1.0M, he would probably just close his business and retire somewhere in the world where no one knows him and where he can live like a king. Maybe in the Caribbean or some remote island country where there’s plenty of sunshine everyday, and live the rest of his life in peace. Last he checked, he only had $1K in his business checking account. He’s just short $999K. Client opts for Chapter 7 for a fresh start to discharge the $1.0M lawsuits. But can bankruptcy wipe out claims for unpaid overtime and back pay? It sure can. They are not exempted from discharge; therefore, they

are dischargeable. Even if plaintiffs attempt to prove that these claims are not dischargeable under say, “intent to cause damage” or “fraud”, client would prevail because client’s intent was to enter into a business contract with these individuals and these individuals voluntarily and freely agreed to this business relationship between client and them. Client did not put a gun on their heads to force them to perform the service. It’s clearly a business relationship that worked for both client and plaintiffs for 8 years. Seniors with $48k credit card debt The next client is 68 with equity in his residence of $150K but owes $48K of credit card debt. He started getting social security of $1,800. His wife gets social security of $1,200. After the house payment of $1,500 and necessary expenses, there is no money left to pay minimum credit card debt of $1,400 monthly. This is a no brainer. Client and wife opt for a fresh start as seniors to discharge $48K of credit card debt, which they carried for 20 years. They only paid $312K of interest in 20 years and they still owe the same $48K. If they did a chapter 7 even 10 years ago, they still would have saved $156K of interest!! Since client is 68, his equity exemption is $175K. That is more than enough to cover his equity of $150K, so there’s no problem with his house. He keeps everything he owns, but got rid of $48K of credit card debt. It’s a great deal and gives them a fresh start in their retirement, and in another 3 years, their credit score will be over 620. In 5 years, it will be 690. In 7 years, 720. In 10 years, there is no record of their chapter 7 petition filing. As it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God (Adonai/ El Elohim) has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” —1 Corinthians 2:9 ! ! ! CXni\eZ\ 9Xlk`jkX PXe^ jg\Z`Xc`q\j è YXebilgkZp# Yljè\jj# i\Xc \jkXk\ Xe[ Z`m`c c`k`^Xk`fe Xe[ _Xj jlZZ\jj]lccp i\gi\j\ek\[ dfi\ k_Xe Ôm\ k_fljXe[ Zc`\ekj è :Xc`]fie`X% Gc\Xj\ ZXcc 8e^`\# 9XiYXiX fi A\jj Xk -)- )/+$((+) ]fi Xe Xggfèkd\ek Xk (''' J% =i\dfek 8m\# DX`cjkfg ,/# 9l`c[è^ 8$( Jl`k\ ((),# 8c_XdYiX# :8 0(/'*% 8[m\ik`jè^ Jlggc\d\ek

Tweaking the lessons learned from the garden “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”

—Claude Monet, speaking of his garden at Giverny

lifeless stump at a clump of earth and grow a new beautiful plant nearly every time. I wasn’t one to give up easily though. Tenaciously, doggedly I hung on to an image of me as a confident gardener. My education on the art and science of growing things had begun. I took baby steps and stumbled countless times. I still do. I became quieter within as I began to observe and seek to understand the process of growth, the seasons and the cycle of life. I read voraciously volumes upon volumes about plants and watched public television that featured gardening. Nurseries and gardens have become my favorite haunts where I could ask those who knew better. I boned up on my rusty, halting Spanish quizzing the gardener as best I could. Finally, I slammed on the brakes fearing I had become boringly, compulsively obsessive. But I found that unless I got down on the ground myself, nothing happened. I have discovered gardening to be a quiet, solitary pursuit somewhat fit for hermits and loners — unglamorous, unexciting, backbreaking, time consuming, manual, icky, down in the dirt labor that was certainly not meant for immediate gratification. So, why do it at all? I don’t really know. Must be borderline idiocy. Of course, I speak only for myself. For one thing, it teaches you the patience of Job and the virtue of humility. I have failed more than succeeded and am still working on it. But as time passed, I have

been encouraged by modest results. I became synchronized with the seasons and their gentle nuances. I took baby steps and was off and running at one point I could call most plants by name these days and seem to instinctively know what to do when a problem arises. If things don’t work on my own accord, I seek help. I still am a failure with azaleas. Azaleas have been dying on my shift so I am staying away from them. I suspect it has something to do with the amount of light and too much water that has drenched the soil because of an unusually wetter, longer winter season. I said goodbye too to a beautiful sago palm that must have suffered root rot. Farewell too to a French lavender bush that gave me so much fragrance. The garden gets a lot of shade being in a Northwest orientation so I am quite alright with the fact that I will never have roses which I would love to have but can’t. Believe me, I tried. So I just admire them in my neighbors’ gardens with a southeast orientation. My journey to self-discovery has been made easier by understanding the process of nature, the seasons and the nature of things: of why a seed no matter how good cannot grow in a certain type of soil; or how a young tree cannot grow in the shadow of a mighty oak; or of how much light a plant needs to burst with flowers, of the impeccable timing and the cycle of the seasons that are in God’s perfect divine order like a well rehearsed dance or a

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PH mall operates prefer top food… malls in the country, Juan said ery township it establishes na- it plans to expand its Binalot tionwide. stores nationwide this year, Citing a Savills World Re- mostly through franchising. search report, Juan said that by “This year, we plan to just 2018, the total pipeline of addi- open 10 more stores,” the tional leasing space in the coun- Binalot president said. try would amount to 600,000 Aside from local expansion, square meters. Binalot earlier bared its five-year Leveraging on the growth of plan to open 20 Binalot branch-

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es in the Middle East by 2021. To date, Binalot has 34 outlets nationwide. The homegrown fast food chain is know for its All Time PinoyVorite Meals all wrapped in banana leaves such as tapa, adobo, sinigang, tocino, bistek, and daing na bangus, among others. ■

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS = < 9 I L8 IP ( )

8e @ek`dXk\ E`^_k n`k_ D`^l\c M\iX Beat the Valentine’s Day rush and get your tickets to “An Intimate Night with Miguel Vera,” a special Valentine Show featuring Miguel Vera, performing the greatest OPM hits and romantic Filipino classics by Cayabyab, Canseco, and Cruz. The one-night-only concert will take place at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (7675 Crescent Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620) on February 12 at 8:00pm. Special guests include Annie Nepomuceno and Kit Navarro. Please call (714) 814-0412 or (818) 913-329 for tickets and information. Tickets are $40 each.

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G::?J& GLGC?J (00- >fc[\e AlY`c\\ The Philippine College of Commerce High School Laboratory Batch 1966 (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee from February 20-21 in Manila, Philippines. According to the President of the PCCHS Batch ‘66 Alumni Association, ROLAND ATIENZA, about 55 batchmates from Australia, Canada and USA have confirmed attendance to the Homecoming and 50 from Manila local chapter. Activities lined up for the Golden Jubilee Celebration are as follows: February 20, 2016 -- 6:00-12:00 pm. Formal Program/Dinner at the Banahaw Ballroom, The Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City, Philippines February 21, 2016 -- 8:00 am - 9:00 pm - Visit the ANAWIM Home for the Abandoned Elderly, Montalban, Rizal Province (Fellowship/Lunch/Donate basic needs of the elderly) - Tour of Manila (Former PCCHS in Lepanto, Intramuros Tour (old churches and Cathedral, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago) - Dinner/Cultural Show, at Barbara’s, Intramuros February 22, 2016 - BREAKUP GROUP (To Palawan, Laguna and respective hometown provinces of the guests) For inquiries, please contact the following members of the CORE group: Agnes T. Sule #09165567000 suleagnes@yahoo.com, Roland Atienza #09062947156 atienza8@yahoo.com, Rebecca T. Sayed 09064032624 rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com, Lourdes T. Flores lulutflores@yahoo.com, Rebecca Sayed rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com.

KXb\ k_\ ÊAflie\p kf JlZZ\jjË Xk :Xc JkXk\ C8 WHAT: Asian American and Pacific Islander students and families are invited to California State University, Los Angeles for “Journey to Success,” a college exposition open to high school and community college students who are interested in Cal State LA. “Journey to Success” will feature workshops on how to prepare and pay for college, information on CSU requirements for admission and application processes, and representatives from Cal State LA and other CSU campuses to answer questions. The outreach event will include free parking, breakfast, special giveaways, college resources and student panels. The college expo is sponsored by the California State University’s (CSU) Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative. WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm WHERE: The Golden Eagle Ballrooms at Cal State LA. (5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA) For more information and details, please go to calstate.edu/journeytosuccess or call the Office of Outreach and Recruitment at Cal State LA, (323) 343-3839.

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>B LJ8 EXk`feXc Jldd`k )'(There is no better time for Gawad Kalinga (GK) to present the Philippines as the new land of opportunity, with a steadily rising economy--the fastest growing in the world next to China, according to Bloomberg--and alleviating poverty. GK continues to evolve as a movement, starting with philanthropy expanding to sustainability, and creating hybrid, innovative systems to end poverty. The Summit will provide an opportunity for Filipinos, GK volunteers, partners, and millennials to reconnect with their homeland, contribute to their country and social entrepreneurship, and help to build bridges for a thriving nation. Asian Americans will have a taste of the emerging market of world-class, affordable Philippinemade products, such as Bayani Brew, First Harvest Peanut Spreads, Human Nature beauty products, and Theo Philo chocolates. Support GK’s humanitarian efforts to provide home and livelihood to the poorest of the poor, and learn about GK, GK USA, and GK Enchanted Farm programs. The Summit will take place from March 4-6, 2016, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). To register, please visit gk-usa.org.

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È8e <eZ_Xek\[ <m\eè^É ;èe\i$;XeZ\ ]fi >XnX[ BXcè^X As part of the GK USA National Summit, you are cordially invited to a dinner-dance, themed “An Enchanged Evening,” to benefit programs of Gawad Kalinga and GK Enchanted Farm. The Dance will take place on Saturday, March 5, 7:00pm, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). The cost is $100, with formal attire. The all-night program will include dinner, induction of the GK-USA Board of Directors, remarks from the Chairman of the Board, and all-night dancing. For more details on sponsorship packages for Gawad Kalinga builders and feeding programs, as well as GKEF programs and scholarships, please visit gk-usa.org. For tickets, please visit gk-usa.org/dinnerdance.

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

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G`c^i`dX^\j kf <Xjk\ie <lifg\# D\o`Zf Xe[ @e[`X Amazing Pilgrimages for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! All are welcome to join Fr. Joe Joseph of Holy Trinity Church for the spiritual and fun-filled experiences of EASTERN EUROPE (April 17- 30): Poland, Czech., Austria, Hungary, Medjugorje; COLONIAL MEXICO/ OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (June 20 - 27): Mexico City, Theotihuacan, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, San Juan De Los Lagos, Cristo Rey, Zapopan, Tonala; and INDIA (September 15 - 29): Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kerala. For more pilgrimage information and detailed flyers, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com OR call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.

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Jkf% KfdXj# 9XkXe^Xj 8jjfZ`Xk`fe =`\jkX The Sto. Tomas, Batangas Association of Southern California will celebrate their fiesta on Sunday, March 13, at 1:00pm at Sliver Star Financial office (217 N Azusa St. Azusa, CA). For further details, please call Willie Manacsa (818) 400-7391, Ofie Villanueva (626) 3834152, Rosie Sancianco (951) 898-7628 or Myrna Jaurigue at (909) 545-9876.

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Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES MANY people try to file and open their own divorce case without an attorney in an effort to save on legal fees. Often, the self-represented divorce litigant would seek the assistance of the court facilitator’s office in preparing the papers to open their own divorce case. However once the divorce case is opened, many self-represented petitioners are not able to finish their divorce case to judgment for various reasons. The most common reasons are the following: Improper Proof of Service of Divorce Petition Self-represented litigants are not familiar with the code of civil procedures on how initial pleadings should be served on the opposing party and the notice requirements. As such the Court is unable to exercise jurisdiction on the other party until proper service on that party is done properly. Failed to prepare and exchanged required financial disclosures California family code requires that both parties exchange complete and accurate financial disclosures. Proof that these financial disclosures have been exchanged needs to be filed in Court. The court will not enter judgment on a divorce case unless the financial disclosure requirements are satisfied. Default Judgment does not conform with the Petition for

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How to complete divorce papers

dissolution If the respondent has been defaulted and the petitioner is moving for a default divorce judgment, the default judgment must conform to the divorce petition. If the two does not conform to each other, the court will often reject the judgment. Child Support requested is not guideline Child support in California is based on guideline. Sometimes the self-represented litigant will try to ignore child support or seek a child support order that is not based on guideline. This will result on the judgment being rejected by the Court. Pension and Retirement plans were not joined Some pension and retirement plans (such as local government retirement plans) need to be joined in the divorce action if there is a community property interest in these plans. Self-represented litigants are not aware of these rules and often ignore this requirement. QDRO was not prepared to divide Pension and Retirement plans Certain pension and retirement plans that are covered by ERISA requires a qualified domestic relations order to be divided (QDRO). Self-represented litigants often ignore this requirement. As a result, the plan is not divided. Unequal division of community property in default divorce cases If there is no settlement agree-

ment, then the court has to divide the community property and debt equally between the parties. Often, self-represented parties will try to propose or prove up an unequal division of community property and debt usually in their favor. Trying to save on legal fees by handling your own divorce case could turn into a nightmare if your case has issues that needs to be handles a certain way. It is like trying to fix your own plumbing problem if you have no plumbing experience, it could end up costing you more. If you opened up your divorce case but cannot seem to finish it due to some issues, it is best to seek the help of a highly qualified family law attorney. ***

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Tweaking the lessons learned from the…

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Beethoven symphony; of why you must resist moving a plant from a place where it is growing so well to another place simply to satisfy a whim or a feng shui decorating principle; when and where to prune, of knowing when to water by sticking a finger in the soil or noting the droop of the leaves; or the merits of clay pots and plastic pots; of when to re-pot or top dress; even how to propagate. The most important lesson perhaps is learning when to leave well enough alone and letting go; of accepting death as part of life. I make it a point to take pictures when the flowers are in full bloom, knowing that no matter how pretty they are, their beauty is fleeting. I am left with images

and memories. The irony of it all is that the more I know, the more I realize how little I know. I guess that is the paradox of all lifelong learning. I now appreciate more clearly the delicate balance on which our planet depends for it to sustain life — of how vastly critical it is for everyone to do their part to ensure that life continues, specially that of human life. But do reject the rabid, unhinged proponents of climate change whose real agenda is a political and economic windfall for its billionaire backers. It is sheer hubris and madness to pretend to usurp the laws of nature to push an agenda. One can see life’s longing for itself in the perennial grass that

grows. There is great wisdom in gardening. If you dig in the garden long enough, you will find an infinite variety of the parallel laws that govern all life with unsurpassed clarity. Gardening, if you stick with it long enough, is a metaphor for human life itself. Gardening has taught me a zen-like passive skill of enjoying quiet solitude, of observing what works and what won’t, of doing what needs to get done with very little struggle and ultimately, of accepting and of simply letting go when all I have done is all I can do. ***

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Law Office of Haresh Jambusaria Inc. AN IMMIGRATION SPECIALIST focusing on familybased, employment-based and all other areas of immigration. We also do divorce/nullification of marriage. With over 35 years

of experience, we have an over 90 percent success rate. Our motto is professionalism, reliability and getting results. Law Office of Haresh Jambusaria Inc.

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Free naturalization and legal consultation clinic March 26, 2016, at Asian Youth Center THE Law Offices of Mary Lyn T. Sanga, a Professional Corporation (MTS Law) will be holding a free naturalization and legal consultation clinic on March 26, 2016. The clinic will be from 9am to 4pm, at Asian Youth Center, 100 Clary Avenue, San Gabriel, CA 91776. This project is MTS Law’s second annual free legal clinic, a public service program that it started in 2015. This year, MTS Law is organizing the clinic in collaboration with Asian Youth Center. According to Atty. Angela Leong of MTS Law, “with the elections coming up this year, we decided to expand the scope of the legal clinic.” As an added service, the clinic will not be limited to free legal consultation as in the previous year, but will also help qualified lawful permanent residents (also known as green card holders) apply for citizenship. Citizenship confers certain rights not available to green card holders, including the right to vote for US President and federal officials, apply for federal government jobs, run for an elective federal office, and apply for a US passport. To be eligible to naturalize, the applicant must be at least 18 years old, have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years

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(3 years if married to a US citizen for at least 3 years), and establish good moral character, among other requirements. The clinic will start with a 30-minute introduction to the basic requirements and procedure to apply for naturalization. It will then be followed by in-person assistance with preparation of N-400 application for naturalization and related documents, including fee waiver application. There will also be licensed attorneys to provide one-on-one legal consultation on issues relating to immigration, family relations, personal injury, and employment. Seats are limited, so interested participants are encouraged to register in advance. To register, call (213) 2323154 (English, Tagalog & Spanish) or (626) 800-6019 (Chinese), register online at [link], or email info@mtsangalaw.com (English, Tagalog & Spanish) or aleong@ mtsangalaw.com (Chinese). MTS Law is a Los Angeles-based law firm with principal office located at 3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 920, Los Angeles, CA 90010. MTS Law handles all areas of immigration, personal injury, and family law. For more information about MTS Law, please visit www.mtsangalaw.com. ■

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Debt relief attorney Ray Bulaon opens Los Angeles office

ATTORNEY Ray Bulaon, known as “the Filipino Community’s Debt Relief Expert”, has opened a fourth office location in Los Angeles in order to be more accessible to all clients in the area including the Historic Filipinotown. Attorney Bulaon helps clients take control over their overwhelming debt problems so that they can recover quickly and rebuild their finances. The firm’s Los Angeles office address is 3727 W. 6th Street, Suite 603, Los Angeles, CA 90020 in Koreatown (corner of 6th and Harvard St.) and is easily accessible by public transportation. Attorney Bulaon’s team members -- who together have more than a decade of experience -- have helped thousands of clients in solving all kinds of debt problems related to IRS taxes, foreclosure, credit cards, student loans, lawsuits, judgments and all types of collection actions. The firm’s legal team includes Tax Attorney & CPA, Jessica Monroe, and Debt Mediation Attorney, Talin Bahadarian. They are able to handle cases in the California State Courts as well as cases in the U.S. District Court in the Cen-

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tral District of California. The firm also serves individuals and business owners throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Other office locations include Cerritos, Pasadena and Valencia. Clients who turn to the firm for help can expect to have their case handled with utmost respect and confidentiality. The firm’s legal team is responsive to client needs and

the staff is trained to understand the difficulties that clients are going through when facing debt challenges so they are sensitive to clients’ needs. “When people don’t address their debt problems quickly, the consequences can be devastating”, says Attorney Ray Bulaon. “If you are facing any kind of debt problem that threatens your financial security, the worst thing that you can do is to pretend that it doesn’t exist and do nothing.” Individuals and business owners in the local region who need assistance in getting their financial affairs back in order can learn more about how the law firm can provide assistance and request a free one-hour consultation with Atty. Bulaon. The number to call is 866-477-7772 and firm’s website is www.bulaonlaw. com. For those who are considering bankruptcy as an option, Atty. Ray Bulaon also wrote a book called: “What You Need To Know Before Filing Bankruptcy” and it can be downloaded free of charge at www. beforefilingbk.com or call the above number to request a FREE COPY.

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Tď?¨ď?Ľ Aď?łď?Šď?Ąď?Ž Jď?Żď?ľď?˛ď?Žď?Ąď?Ź

MDWK Wednesday, FEBRUARY 10, 2016

VALENTINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAY 2016 SPECIAL FEATURE

MAGAZINE

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*Images used on the cover are stock photos only and do not represent actual people who are involved in online dating or relationships that resulted from online dating. Photos cannot be used in any other publication without permission.

cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 10, 2016

Press enter for love: Romance and relationships in the digital age by MALOU LIWANAG-BLEDSOE /AJPRESS BEFORE the Internet became a household name, dating and courtship went through normal stages. That is, you meet people in person, go on a date and if it worked out, then you go on to a more committed relationship. Today, some still manage to do it the conventional way. However, technology has found a way to bring romance and relationships to many — through their computers. Some still have reservations about the possibility of meeting “the one” through this manner. Of course, this is understandable due to the fact that you shouldn’t believe anything—or anyone—you read and meet online. Love online anyone? Since the explosion of the Internet in the 1990s, it was used immediately for online dating. Even before the Web itself was created, newsgroups, bulletin boards, and forums were somewhat unintentionally used to post personal ads, just like the ones in newspapers. People who were online met with others with similar interests and would go on to meet in person. Chat rooms were offered by Internet service providers and heavily advertised these features. Although technically limited, it spurred a dating culture to many who were just starting to get acquainted with the technology. However, the first major dating website was

Connections: Couples who have found love online IN time for Valentine’s Day, the Asian Journal asked a few couples how they found their significant others online & how they’ve made the relationships last.

First impressions aren’t always important Pat Bolognese and Arleah Baingan-Bolognese Met through:Filipinofinder.com in 2005 Courtship: Chatted on and off for a year, then regularly for another year. Dated for seven years before getting married. Married: April 14, 2014 in Orchard Park, NY Son: Zavi was born on April 3, 2015 in Buffalo, NY

First time meeting: P: “We first met in 2007. Not much changed the first time we met but the second time was when things really exploded.” A: “He told me he liked me right away. I thought he was a nice guy.” Challenges in their relationship: A: “There were many challenges to this kind of set-up (long distance reIllustration by Kendrick Tan lationship). Physi- Pat and Arleah Bolognese with their son, Zavi wasn’t about online dating, the down and Arleah would not the combination of Kiss.com and online dating sites, as it was used cal togetherness is very different from just seeing know about a traffic problem story showed how the Web can Match.com, both registered by by those who are not seeking a bring people together. each other on-cam. Second, the same person in 1994 and partner at all. here so one may think someWith its popularity and grow1995 respectively. Other dating Still, with the social networkthere is an issue of trust. You thing is wrong). Also, not being ing public acceptance, Match. sites also existed, but focused ing wave, online dating has really don’t know what your able to actually go on dates is com and OneandOnly.com on international dating slanting continued to thrive. According to partner is doing. He/she can very difficult.” were bought by Ticketmaster towards the “mail order bride” Online Dating Magazine, nearly say one thing and do another. Advice for those who want services. By 1996, Yahoo listed 16 Online-Citysearch for an un20 million people visit at least one It is difficult to verify a person’s to try online dating: dating websites, including the disclosed sum. Major Internet online dating site every month, A: “Online dating is not players like — Yahoo and AOL then popular Friendfinder. and 120,000 marriages every year claims when you are so far from each other and your means of for everyone. I might suggest it com and OneandOnly.com. —upped their game and started take place due to that. communication is mostly online. to my friends who are opento develop their personal/dating The movie “You’ve Finally, the public’s percepI missed going out on ‘real’ section. Others followed suit dur- tion of online dating is changGot Mail” in 1998 starminded, those who are not ing the dot-com boom in the late ing and the stigma of finding a dates. I get paranoid at time ring Tom Hanks and Meg afraid to take chances, because 90s and early 2000s. Ryan brought Internet partner online has been slowly when he wasn’t online on our it is a very challenging set-up. The dot-com crash in dating some cultural lifting due to the popularity of usual chat schedule.” If you are the clingy or jealous 2001/2002 brought a lot of the boost. Though their social networking. Although the P: “Some of the challenges type, like you want your boyfrenzy and sites to an end. Howcharacters didn’t really majority of marriages still meet are that things can be misunfriend/partner to report his/her ever, it also changed the online meet on a dating through more traditional means, derstood...There are also times every move, this may not be for world. For dating sites, the site and the nearly everyone on the Web has that outside things like traffic or you. There are so many people movie change came more from the met someone or made a friend weather, that affect timing (like online who are just out there launch of social networking sites online. And in this fast-paced if you were supposed to chat at to have fun and take advanlike Friendster and MySpace in world, people find it a lot harder a certain time but the MRT was tage of those who are gullible 2002, and Facebook in 2004. The to make time to meet and date mentality was that the idea of late or traffic was heavy and people in person. Why would enough. Also, it is easier to lie online social networking carthey, when all one has to do is log one was late. I wouldn’t know when you’re online. It’s imporried a much smaller stigma than on and click? anything about a MRT breakContinued on Page 3

Tips on finding love on the Internet

Facebook, fell in love, met personally and got married – now they have a 4-year-old kid. All of that because she happens to be one of those who applied the BY MONET LU basic principle of the old days: “to wear your heart on your I OFTEN hear (and use) the sleeves.” idiomatic phrase, “Wear your “You have to be very specific heart on your sleeve.” It is often with what you want. I was so thrown at someone who is bent specific in my description. I said on concealing his or her true feel- I wanted to be with a Chinese ings. And since we live in a world guy, earning an average income filled with mysteries and false and so on…”, my client advised pretenses, many can relate to the as she recalls the fond memophrase. The phrases’ pervasiveries she had when she decided ness is so casual, it found its way to start her (online) search for to the lyrics of different songs by “forever.” I was kind of skeptic, known artists: from Ringo Starr imagining how vulnerable I’d to Eminem to Carrie Underwood. be if I were to be as open as But did you know the story beshe claimed but hey, who am I hind this casual expression? to argue with a happily married It’s been said that in the woman with an adorable child? Middle Ages, young men and But just in case there are women drew names to see who others out there who are like me their Valentine would be. To do – careful and cautious to a fault this, they would wear the name – It wouldn’t hurt to pay attenpinned to their sleeve for one tion to these advice I gathered week so that everyone would from my client, as well as from know their supposed true feelthose I know who have worn ings. This etymology made me their hearts on their sleeves and wonder how uncomplicated it succeeded in finding true love. must be like to just go around Here are 3 tips on finding love on declaring your search for true the Internet. love and actually finding it. On 1. BE SPECIFIC second thought, isn’t this the Just like what my client told basic principle of internet dating? me, you have to know what you So it is possible to meet your want and state it in 250 charactrue love by clicking the right ters or less. Most relationships button – rather, profile? end because neither parties The answer to that quesknow what they want out of the tion was served to me by one relationship or one of them just of my clients who told me her aren’t interested in knowing. Sufcyber-love story. I did her hair fice to say that all relationships and makeup and it has been should start with a basic undercustomary for me to know a little standing of what you really want. bit about my clients. Actually, I It doesn’t have to be as detailed, didn’t even insist or pry. She was not to mention overboard, as very enthusiastic to tell me how knowing how many children you she met her then cyber-prince. want or the layout of your love She told me how they met on nest. But it would be a good

where jazz music will fill the dining rooms and champagne will be abundant. This buffet brunch is $58/person for adults and $28/child (3-10 years old). At night, romance and dance with your Valentine at the No. 1 rated Vegas-Style Seafood Buffet, where king crab legs, lobsters, oysters and more fresh crustaceans abound. This dinner offering is $64/person for adults and $30/child (3-10 years old). On this day only, a rose and chocolate gift will be given to your Valentine. Looking to celebrate before the big day of love? Café Sierra has you covered. On Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13, its famous Prime Rib, Seafood and Lobster Dinner Buffet with Raspberry Champagne is of-

The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 10, 2016

From Page 2

photo editing apps but please make sure it’ll still look like YOU, the real ‘I-woke-up-like-this’ You. Tinder, Hinge, Match.com., You name it, these dating apps are everywhere. And while some (like my client) have found their true love via the internet, not everybody end up in the same happy ending. As much as I wish otherwise, some people can be misleading – or worse, psycho killers. So take the necessary precaution. I agree that we should once in a while wear our “hearts” on our sleeves (or post in on the web), but it would save you a ton of heartaches if you proceed with caution. Good luck and Happy Valentine’s Day!

start to know what you want in a relationship – and know who or what type of person you want to have that relationship with. 2. BE HONEST Now this deals with what kind of person they expect to have a relationship with. Don’t be afraid to tell something interesting about you like your obsession to peanut butter or your love-hate relationship with your neighbor’s dog (on second thought, you can leave that last part out – animal lovers are adorable). You can be open about yourself without selling yourself out. Just remember, it is better to be yourself than to pretend someone you are not. 3. INCLUDE A WELLWRITTEN INTRODUCTION AND A GOOD PICTURE And when I say, “well-written,” I mean grammatically correct. It doesn’t have to be an autobiography. A twitter-like intro would be enough but make sure it is not filled with typos and wrong tenses. When in doubt: google it. The picture has to be recent. I am not one to judge those who love to use filters and

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fered. For both days, the hours are from 6 pm to 10 pm. At $58/ person for adults and $26/child (3-10 years old), this meal is sure to impress your Valentine. Café Sierra is well-known for its Seafood & Prime Rib Buffet. The seafood choices from lobster to crab legs will have any seafood lover coming back for more. With choices like Sushi, Paella, Crepe and Taco stations, there’s a whole array of delightful gastronomic choices. Don’t forget the wine. Their extensive wine choices will enhance your dining experience. Authentic Chinese dishes such as BBQ Duck and Walnut Shrimp are featured on the buffet as well. Try their signature offering, Café Sierra’s mouth watering prime rib. Every bite is magical in flavor. Looking for a lighter alternative or watching your weight? There are many salad options and fresh fruits. Be sure to save room for dessert. The heavenly choices of sweet delights will make you want one of everything. Sample

the chocolate covered strawberries or dip one yourself in the chocolate fountain. You can fill your plate with dessert choices. Fun selections like cotton candy and cupcakes are available for the younger crowd. Throughout the weekend, be serenaded and enjoy the musical talents of Babes n’ Friends Band. Composed of four members (Ed Samson on keyboards; singer/vocalist Babes Gutierrez; Dexter Javier on the bass guitar; and Rolando Quizon on the drums) Babes N’ Friends Band plays a variety of music from the 1960s to the 2000s to ballroom to reggae. With a wide repertoire of classic and modern songs, those in the audience – whether young or old – will surely have a blast. Tax and gratuity are not included and all prices, times, dates and menu items are subject to change without notice. You may call 818-509-2030 or log on to www.cafesierrahilton.com for reservations, directions and parking information. *Advertising Supplement

With its high vaulted ceilings and luxurious appointments that create a classy atmosphere, no one this side of the Paciﬁc Ocean comes close with what Café Sierra at the Hilton has to offer.

PICTURE THE CAFÉ SIERRA BUFFET—so luxurious, it is ﬁt for royalty. Imagine yourself dining on Dungeness Opilio & King Crab Legs, Shrimp, Oysters, Mussels on ice, Hand-carved Prime Rib & Leg of Lamb, Chinese Specialties, Made-to-Order Sushi, Tapas and Tacos Action Stations, Festive Holiday Desserts, Chocolate Fountain and so much more.

Connections: Couples who...

Indulge in a love-filled feast at Café Sierra Hilton

SCOURING to make plans for Valentine’s Day? Bring your Valentine to Café Sierra for a memorable meal with gastronomic offerings. During Valentine’s weekend – from Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 14 – Café Sierra is pulling all the stops to bring a decadent culinary lovefest for couples to mark the special occasion. Experience a visual and visceral feast set in an ambience of classic elegance. Through the years, Café Sierra at the Universal City Hilton has achieved the gold standard in buffet dining among many members of the Filipino-American community. For Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, enjoy a brunch from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm

features

Throughout the weekend, be serenaded and enjoy the musical talents of Babes nʼ Friends Band. Composed of four members (Ed Samson on keyboards; singer/vocalist Babes Gutierrez; Dexter Javier on the bass guitar; and Rolando Quizon on the drums) Babes Nʼ Friends Band plays a variety of music from the 1960s to the 2000s to ballroom to reggae.

tant to get to know each other, take your time and check their background. It’s a personal decision. “Finding, keeping and staying happy with ‘the one’ is probably life’s biggest adventure. If there’s opportunity to meet and get to know new people, try it and take advantage. Give it time. Do your research. Trust your instinct. Ask a lot of questions.” P: “ You can only date online if you are patient and understanding and accepting

that things don’t always happen as they are planned. It is difficult but not impossible. I would tell someone that wants to date online that they should talk to someone that has when they have issues. I would never tell someone not to. I would tell them to just take it slow and to be careful. There are many men that just want to have fun and many women that just want money. If you take it slow, you will be able to tell if the other person is serious.”

No Expectations Chris Bledsoe and Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe Met through: Yahoo Messenger in November 2007 Courtship: No actual courtship. Friends on and off for a year. Married: February 5, 2010 in Redwood City, CA First impression about each other: Malou: “It was a little weird. He just popped out of my Yahoo Messenger and said hi. He seemed nice so I chatted with him. We were online friends off and on for a year. I wasn’t looking to date anyone. But my mom thought he looked like a ‘gangster’ (laughs).” Chris: “I don’t know how I found her online (or I forgot). She seemed nice, she just Chris and Malou Bledsoe moved to the US and she was still adjusting he said, there were personal to the culture and missed her matters in our respective lives friends. I told her to give it that we needed to fix. Another some time.” thing was I was avoiding the First time meeting: stigma of having met someone M: “The first meeting we online and how other people planned didn’t push through viewed it (I have a friend who so we set up another one. We refused to call it a date and saw does online dating, and tries to ask money from men). Also, I it as a friendly meeting. Just wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay as he promised, he hugged in the US after my work visa me. He was very sweet.” expires.” C: “She was cute and Advice for those who want small. I thought she was reto try online dating: ally funny. I picked her up at C: “Again, don’t expect her apartment. We went to romance right away—or at the beach, walked around, all. Start with being friends, talked about the Philippines because it’ll help you know and Spongebob Squarepants the person on the other side and got sandwiches at a local better. It is not for everyone.” deli. There were no expectaM: “I’ve never really dated tions of romance or putting on your best clothes—it was just a online, and I don’t know if I would consider ours as one. I simple but really nice day. keep calling our story as ‘no Challenges in their relaexpectations,’ because that’s tionship: how it was, really. Also, be C: “After the first date we cautious and careful. Chances knew we wanted to see each other again. I lived on the oth- are, you’ll come across some er side of the Bay that time and sleazy person who only wants either money or naked pictures had crazy work hours. Also, of you. Stalkerish it may seem, both of us were going through try to do some research on the some personal matters that person—that’s what Facebook needed to be dealt with.” and Google are for.” M: “We tried to see as much as we can and just as Continued on Page 5

entertainment Vic-Pauleen’s rocky path to the altar 4

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 10, 2016

by ALLAN

POLICARPIO Inquirer.net

THEIR lips met not without a little humor. Before lifting the veil of his bride (Pauleen Luna), the groom (Vic Sotto) turned his gaze to the people inside the church, and pulled a face. He dabbed his wife’s lips with a finger, and tasted it, sending the couple into a fit of giggles. Then, at last, the TV host-comedian leaned forward for the kiss, with the crowd erupting into cheers. The embrace that followed, however, was different. It was long and touching, with Vic and Pauleen patting each Meet the new Mr. And Mrs. Vic Sotto other’s backs and mouthing the words, “I love you,” as the City, last Saturday, Dec. 30. song “When I Fall in Love” The path to the altar was, came on. Vic, who’s usually undoubtedly, a rocky one for reserved, was misty-eyed after, Vic, 61, and Pauleen, 27. For fanning his eyes with his hand almost five years, the couple to hold back the tears. have had to parry incessant It was, the couple related, negativity from critics deone of the wedding’s most nouncing their relationship, “emotional moments”—one mostly because of their 34-year that had memories flooding age gap—this was emphaback. “When we hugged, the sized by the fact that Pauleen years flashed back, everything was once a contestant in the we’ve been through,” Pauleen, noontime show “Eat Bulaga’s” looking radiant in her Francis “Little Miss Philippines” segLibiran gown, told reporters, ment. more than an hour after they Pauleen was called, among tied the knot at St. James the many other things, a gold Great Parish in Muntinlupa digger—a comment she found most unfair. “It wasn’t easy, but … things ended up well,” said Pauleen, who walked down the aisle with her mother, Chat, and father, Eugenio. Another hurdle was getting the blessing of Vic’s children, Danica and Oyo (with Dina Bonnevie), Paulina (with Angela Luz) and Vico (with Coney Reyes), some of whom had initial misgivings about their dad’s May-December romance. But after several talks with his children, Vic and Pauleen eventually The newlywed couple in a loving gaze

Joyce Bernal

Philstar.com photo

ManilaTimes.net photo

received their blessing. Vic also turned emotional during the homily when the officiating priest, Fr. Jeffrey Quintela, thanked the actorhost’s children for “giving their father a chance to prove that he could be a good husband again.” “We’re happy for the support of Vic’s family. It was an answered prayer,” Pauleen added. The reception was held at the nearby Filinvest Tent, which was tastefully decorated with white flowers, crystal charms and light fixtures. Dinner for about 250 guests was catered by Bizu. The festivities featured the couple dancing silly in a fun dance number to the ditties, “Dessert” and “Hotline Bling,” and exchanging wedding vows, among other things. “Sanay ako sa mga dyowa lang, sa syotitay, syota, mga fling! Masarap pala sabihing, ‘asawa ko,’” Vic jested, eliciting laughter. But turning serious, Vic once again thanked his kids for understanding him, saying, “I won’t waste the respect and love you give me.” Pauleen, on the other hand, thanked her husband for “sticking it out and fighting for me.” “You made me see that true love knows no age, no boundaries,” she said.

#RelationshipGoals Thanks to social media, not only are fans able to live vicariously through celebrities’ lives, they also get to witness their idols as they document their sweet moments. Check out our favorite celebrity couples as they give us glimpses into their relationships. (AJPress)

features 5

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 10, 2016

Connections: Couples who... From Page 3

No Boundaries By ALLYSON

ESCOBAR AJPRESS

Mark & PJ Met through : Tinder in 2014 Love is when the person is your other half, no matter the distance Mark Bautista, 24, and his Photo from Jessica Cabanʼs Twitter account girlfriend of over a year, Precious Joy aka. “PJ,” 22, met on the Bruno Mars Photo from Austin Butlerʼs Twitter account Photo from Ronnie Bankʼs Instagram account Photo from Erwan Heussaffʼs Twitter account social dating app Tinder in 2014. & Jessica Caban Vanessa Hudgens Jasmine Villegas The location-based application, “Bruno is about to bring it!! Anne Curtis & Austin Butler & Ronnie Banks which connects to Facebook, Dancing more than ever. He’s & Erwan Heussaff “Wow. Vanessa singing “You’re my better half.” matched Mark and PJ up as a pair been working so incredibly hard “Happy birthday to the ‘Worst Things’ had me in tears. - Jasmine Villegas on Instafor you all!! Baby you’re a STAR” - while the two were both working most caring and hardest workJust brilliant #GreaseLive,” gram, December 2015 Jessica on Twitter before Bruno in Manila, where Tinder culture ing woman I know. Today you - Austin Butler in Jan 2016, “You’ve made me so d*mn Mars’ performance on the Super is large and thriving. After just a turned 30, a number that freaks after the emotional perforhappy and you really do mean few weeks on Tinder, Mark asked Bowl 50 halftime show. out most people, sending them mance in Fox’s “Grease Live.” a whole lot to me. I’d be lost PJ for coffee, and the rest was hisinto a frenzy of ‘What have I done “I think you just have to put without you. I know it took me tory. The two made it official after with my life?’. In your case you’ve just a few weeks of dating. that other person first. If you’re awhile to finally admit my love accomplished so much already. “My friends would always constantly looking for ways for you, but I ain’t ever felt this You’ve kept a strong head during make fun of me for using the app that you can make them happy, way about anyone before. I’m tough times and have arrived [Tinder], but then I showed it to and they’re constantly looking happy to be spending the rest more fulfilled than ever. I can’t them and soon they were using for ways that they can make of my life with you and I can’t wait to conquer more countries it too,” Mark, a videographer you happy, then you kind of lift wait to meet our baby girl in with you, eat our way through now based in Southern California, each other up as much as posFebruary.” - Ronnie Banks on bizarre cities, wreck ourselves at laughed. sible and you can’t go wrong.” Instagram, December 2015 workouts, binge watch TV series’ When he and PJ began datGabrielle Current - Austin Butler to ET in August Photo taken by Kobe Paras on his Instagram account ing, it was apparent from the start and bounce around like idiots at 2015 that the both of them were going different concerts. Remember Kobe Paras to leave to the US to launch their you’re just 18 with 12 years of & Gabrielle Current careers individually. Back home experience under your belt.” “I’m not so good with selfin the Philippines, they hardly Erwan wrote on Instagram when ies, but with her in every pic saw each other because of PJ’s he greeted Anne on her 30th it’s flawless.” - Kobe Paras in frequent visits to her family in the birthday last year. January 2016 “What’s sweeter than a cup of northern province of Isabela. They hot cocoa? A kiss from a beautiful communicated frequently, and when they did see each other, it girl named Gabrielle Current.” was as if no time had passed. Soon, long distance began to run its course. Mark obtained his visa and went to California to continue his career, while PJ took up Photo from Coleen Garciaʼs Instagram account a temporary position in Colorado, Billy Crawford working for hotel management, Photo from Alyssa Quijanoʼs Twitter account & Coleen Garcia before she went back home to Charice Pempengo “Currently en route to Manila for work in December & Alyssa Quijano #MasaiMara. I’m so blessed 2015. Mark remained in Southern Dingdong, Marian and baby Maria Letizia “The love connection to be here with you, @billyjoCalifornia with his family. Despite Photo from Dingdong Dantesʼs Instagram account between us is what’s important. ecrawford Thank you for being nearly a day’s time difference, the It’s not about gender.” - Alyssa the perfect travel buddy, as altwo have always made it work, Dingdong Dantes Photo from Jericho Rosalesʼs Instagram account to ABS-CBN in June 2014. ways. Love you! #BillyColeen” with the help of communication & Marian Rivera Jericho Rosales “We talk about that a lot. - Coleen in December 2015 and technology, mutual respect, “Celebrating 10 months of & Kim Jones We consider ourselves like a “Thank you, love, for always marriage over a sliced banana and maturity. “Jackpot.” - Jericho Rosales married couple…the way we making everything ten times “We’re really private about and some ice cream.” - Dingwrote on his photo with wife treat each other, the way we more fun and memorable! I,’ al- dong in November 2015 our relationship, and it’s one of Kim Jones when they attended the factors that’s kept us going. plan our lives together…we ways at my happiest when I’m “I couldn’t get enough of the Star Magic Ball last year. know that’s where we’re headwith you @billyjoecrawford.” No one’s going to bother you. my girls.” - Dingdong in August “Best wife ever.” - Jericho ed.” - Charice in June 2014. We’ve gotten a lot stronger as a - Coleen in November 2015 2015 Rosales, in February 2015

Mark Bautista and Precious Joy aka. “PJ.”

couple, especially after this first year.” The two were also able to see each other last year, sharing their love for travel while visiting the East Coast; Canada, New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC. It was a rare moment for the two to be face to face, in a relationship rooted and sustained in online digital communication. “We connect mostly through Facebook, Viber, and Skype--we Skype almost every single day, at the same time, while I’m going home and she is on her way to work,” Mark shared. “As a longdistance couple, communication is the thing that will really hold us together.” The couple also sends each other surprise gifts for birthdays and holidays, despite being oceans apart, and they have many future travel plans in mind, including a grand tour of Asia. “You need to bond by doing things together, and learn from each other. We love to travel; she loves photography, I love video. She teaches me cooking-for example, when she was in Colorado we were on Skype, and she taught me how to cook while on camera. Those are our dates. And we are very similar--she’s the girl version of myself.” Mark and PJ hope to settle together in the US someday, but for now, they will continue to pursue their careers and work on growing themselves. They continue to communicate every day. “Respect and communication. That’s key. You need to be mature enough to know what’s right and wrong, and to be understanding of one another’s situations,” Mark shared. “Now, after a whole year--I’m proud to say we are making it.”

entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 10, 2016

‘KathNiel’ for real this time? by BOT

GLORIOSO Philstar.com

MANILA—If we are to judge by the way they exchange sticky glances and they hold hands, it’s safe to say that there’s something going on between Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo. It

must be a real romance between the young stars. Surprisingly, Daniel has also become so expressive of his thoughts about Kathryn which was something he seemingly dreaded to do in the past. Are they beginning to open up on

whatever real romantic goingson between them? During the presscon for “Pangako Sa‘Yo” finale week held Thursday, Feb. 4, Daniel openly shared varied thoughts about the actress that played on his mind while on his way to the presscon venue. “I’ve been thinking about Kathryn and the times that we’re together,” he began. “Grabe na din pala yung pinagsamahan namin and I am proud of whatever she’s been achieving lately. We’re happy for each other’s successes. I thank God for being so kind to me and I really cannot ask for anything more. Iniisip ko kung may kulang pa sa akin pero wala na talaga akong mahihiling pa.” Kathryn knows, Daniel added, that he will take care of her as long as they’re together. It can be recalled that Daniel and Kathryn were first paired in 2012 via the ABS-CBN series “Princess and I.” It was followed by several projects that appealed greatly to the audience which led to the birth of their loveteam KathNiel. Since then, the reel pairing stirred the public’s curiosity if it will blossom into a real romance.

For Kathryn, Daniel is the type who is serious in everything he does. “Si DJ (as she fondly refers to Daniel), sobrang lalim n’ya mag-isip and he has matured a lot that’s why he was able to help me grow as a person — from the simplest things like dealing with other people to handling my problems in such a way na di ako masyado mai-stress. I’m thankful to Daniel for teaching me all of that. “In return, I promised him that we will understand each other no matter what. Ilang years na yung loveteam namin? Four years na and with that, it’s not impossible to get tired of each other or magkasawaan. But we always try to understand each other by accepting who he really is at ganun din s’ya sa akin kaya nag-grow kami together.” They openly care for each other yet Daniel and Kathryn are still mum on the real score between them. But Daniel has a ready answer. “Whenever I see Kath on the set feeling blue, I instantly get affected; naba-bad trip na ako but when she’s smiling and obviously happy, I can work until the following day. I am really

Pangako SaʼYo, starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, will air its ﬁnal episode on Feb. 12. Philstar.com photo by Ver Paulino

affected by the way she feels and that’s what you call… love. Thank you so much.” Asked why he has become so expressive of his feelings towards Kathryn compared before, Daniel said that it is best for him to tell the truth rather than lie about his feelings “at baka mag-buckle pa ako ’pag hindi ko sinabi ang totoo.” Besides, Kathryn added that what is important is to show to people what they are on- and off-cam. “Kung ano po ’yung nakikita n’yo ganun po talaga; that we care so much for each other. We’re like magnets that you cannot easily pull apart.”

Meanwhile, Daniel and Kathryn are happy that “Pangako Sa’Yo” continues to enjoy consistently high ratings since it began airing in May. The series, Kathryn shared, ushered them to mature roles. “This is the perfect project because it’s been tried-and-tested. You can see that we really have grown here. And that’s the goal — to show a different side of us.” Aside from the undeniable impact of KathNiel, there is also the unexpected loveteam of Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion, now popularly known as AmorAdo, that adds excitement to the primetime series.

What’s in store for ‘AlDub’ outside Kalyeserye? by NATHALIE

Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards

Philstar.com photo

TOMADA/Philstar.com

MANILA—GMA Network is looking forward to do the first primetime teleserye for the AlDub love team of Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza. “GMA 7 really wants to give Alden and Maine a soap,” said Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA senior assistant VP for Alternative Productions, in an interview early this week. “But di pa maka-commit sila Mr. Tuviera. The priority for now is ‘Eat, Bulaga.’” Tony Tuviera is the big boss of APT Entertainment, manager of Maine’s career and a subsidiary of Tape, Inc., the producer of Eat Bulaga. Alden, on the other hand, is solely being managed by GMA Artist Center. There’s no telling how long will the Kalyeserye run or if a soap

can be done simultaneously with the noontime show segment. Maine already had a litmus test of sorts in teleserye acting when she guest-starred in Tape, Inc. and APT Entertainment’s daytime series Princess in the Palace. Should the GMA teleserye push through soon or sooner than expected, expect a lightromantic drama, and word has it that it will be a Filipino remake of a widely-popularKoreanovela. Lara said, “Something like the concept, something that fits them, but we still can’t do it or we can’t confirm it because Eat, Bulaga is still the priority.” Their first starring film together is also in the pipeline. “There’s also a movie but we’re just waiting Continued on Page 7

Search for Top Model of the World PH 2016 is on

features The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 10, 2016

MOONLIGHTING

The day a man retires

bread with him that evening, it seemed like each person had to something say to him. Looking faintly bewildered, the guest of honor looked like he could read his colleagues’ faces. Whatever WORK is a mysterious thing. he was looking for, he found it in Many of us claim to dislike it at their demeanor and every burst times, but it takes a grip on us of laughter. that it captures our emotions and It is said that a man’s loyalties we never knew existed work—if he is good at it—is in us. just as important to him as his It was a retirement party for family. It requires a delicate a man who had spent forty years balance, giving equal attention with the same company and his between the two, not having the colleagues from his office were luxury to overlap. in attendance. There were preWith his job separate from pared speeches, toasts and gifts, his family, the men and women just like hundreds of retirement he had worked with in that same parties being held around the company for 40 years were just country that night. names. Now that he is 65 years Some guests came a little old, the rules had to apply—he early, while others came a little must retire. late. The women kissed, pressThe speeches began, filled ing their cheeks, kissing the air, with references and in jokes that while the men backslapped each made the man laughing and other and then settled, with nodding his head in recognition either short of long lapses of as every speaker took turns makdisconnection. ing the people in the room roar Then, they would mill around with glee. The speeches were the retiree, go back to their specific, not general. It was seats but like a magnet, each mostly of little matters that had one would go back to the man, happened over the course of the repeat a tale and offer him what- years, and each remembrance ever. More than just breaking was like a small gift to the reby MYLAH DE

Trini Foliente

Cora Soriano

THE search is on for the next Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines. Top Model of the World is the largest and most prestigious international model and pageant competition for vibrant young women. It combines fashion, modeling and pageantry as its main components. This 2016, the search is open to qualified candidates from Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, the Philippines and the United States. The event is expected to draw attention and participation from Filipino communities across the globe, particularly from Southern California, Northern California, the US East Coast and US Midwest, the aforementioned countries, Italy and New Zealand. In the US, pageant and fashion veterans Trini Foliente and Cora Soriano of Pageantry Global, Inc. are behind the screening of potential candidates. Foliente, who has been a pageant promoter since the 1980s, said she has witnessed pageants help boost the self-confidence of young women. It’s also a phenomenon Soriano has seen, which is why she said she supports and is fond of pageantry. “The transformation of the personality is what we need for them to succeed because if you are very confident ... you can go anywhere,” Soriano said. As a young girl, Soriano shared she was often told she was beautiful. Frequently hearing that helped her build self-confidence, and it’s something she makes an effort to tell young girls, regardless of their physical appearance. “The compliments help. And that is related to the pageantry because if [they] feel like [they’re] beautiful ... it will help them tremendously in their lives,” Soriano said. Some former pageant candidates Foliente has helped throughout her years in the industry have

gone on to secure careers as actresses in Hollywood, as well as various positions in the medical field. She credits successes like these to the women’s involvement in pageantry, which she said boosts their self-esteem. Coinciding with the search for the next Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines is the launching of the 2016 Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines in the greater Melbourne area to be lead by its partner and cooperator, “Face Australia Promotion & Management.” Face Australia is a leading pageant operator in Australasia and the Oceania. The much-awaited national pageant will be a pioneering launch, as most pageant and model searches in the Philippines are done in Metro Manila. It will be the ‘first’ of such a renowned national event to be entirely launched outside the Philippine. The grand coronation of the Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines will be held on July 9 in Australia. The winner of the competition will represent the Philippines in the forthcoming Top Model of the World 2016 pageant. Requirements for young women to join the TMW pageant is as follows: - Minimum height 5’7” - Must have Filipino lineage - Must be between the ages of 18 and 25 - Must be bubbly with a pleasing personality - Must be single, have never been married and have no children For more information, please contact: USA: Pageantry Global, Inc. Trini Foliente(818)455-2132 Cora Soriano (213)999-1993 tmwusacanada@gmail.com Australia: faceaustralia@gmail.com Canada: ipenevents@gmail.com Philippines: tmwasia@gmail.com

LEON

tiree, sitting and listening. As a quiet observer, I thought about how the man was going to feel the next morning, knowing that for the first time in his adult life, he wouldn’t be driving to the building where the rest of people there would be reporting for work. The separation pains have to be just as strong as losing of a family member. However, in the world of the universal work force, a man is supposed to accept retirement. None of us really can change the world, but we can touch the people around us. That is the real purpose of a retirement party like this one—to tell a man that those memories will remain, even though the work rules say that he has to go away. The plaque and office gift was presented, and 40 years of work found its end—then he went back home to ponder about what his life would be in retirement. And the rest of us went back to our own homes, our lives, to wait for our time to retire. ***

com

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.

What’s in store for AlDub outside... From Page 6

for material, we have to discuss it. But there’s a plan. Lahat ng ginagawa namin (in Artist Center for Alden) naka-connect sa APT,” said Lara. A follow-up release to Alden’s Wish I May album under GMA Records, which turned double platinum last December, is tentatively set in May. “It was supposed to be this first quarter, this February, but obviously it can’t be done, but we’ll do the second album this year, around May.” Lara also confirmed that there’s an album offer for Maine from GMA Records. “I know they’re working on it but no formal signing yet.” 2015 was marked with international exposure, with the likes

of BBC and Reader’s Digest featuring the phenomenal tandem. For 2016, according to Lara, “we’re working out something — it’s not an interview — but yes, something international.” Sought for a reaction on comments addressed to Alden’s management to ease up his workload amidst reports of Alden getting sick due to his relentless schedule, Lara said, “I think nasasabi nila yan because seven days a week siya nakikita (on TV) from ‘Eat, Bulaga’ to ‘Sunday Pinasaya.’ Gusto mo bang bawasan natin siya sa ‘Eat, Bulaga,’ siempre sasabihin ng AlDub Nation na parang huwag kasi yun yung time nila ni Maine.” Alden has also said in a

previous interview that it was his decision to commit to “a lot of schedules because I’m a workaholic” and that he enjoys being busy. “Yes, he’s very hardworking,” Lara said. 2015 proved to be such an eventful year as well for AlDub in terms of brand endorsements. From print, billboards to TV, the love team was all over. As of Dec. 15, 2015, Alden has four solo endorsements and 10 more as part of AlDub. In the Kantar 2015 media report furnished to The STAR, it was noted that from the 733 AlDub commercials aired in September 2015, the number leapt to 1,359 TVCs in November last year. More endorsement deals are expected to come this year.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 10, 2016

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