LA Midweek Edition -- November 11 -- 13, 2015

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November 11-13, 2015

T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r

Volume 25 - No. 88 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

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Pres. Obama to seek Supreme Court review on immigration overhaul Another roadblock for executive actions that can save up to 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation

expansion of DACA go against the president’s executive power and would have negative affects on each state’s economy. texas asserted that the “lawful presence� of the immigrants would require the state to issue “statesubsidized driver’s licenses� and other aid programs. further, the lawsuit alleged that the government did not follow the proper procedures for

texas on two programs obama introduced: Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) PresIDeNt Barack obama and an expanded version of the will seek the supreme Court’s re- Deferred Action on Childhood view of his executive actions on Arrivals (DACA). immigration, following a federal this latest ruling is another appeals court’s ruling that the setback to obama’s attempt to plans must remain blocked. overhaul the immigration system In a 2-1 vote on monday, Nov. before his term ends.

9, the 5th Us Circuit Court of Aptexas and 25 other states filed peals upheld the ban imposed by a lawsuit back in february, stata federal district court judge in ing that the creation of DAPA and

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

USA

DATELINE Two Filipinos charged with child trafficking, pornography from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Over 100 photos seized in US the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified two filipinos responsible for providing more than 100 nude photos of children to a man arrested at san francisco International Airport in April.

During a press conference, NBI Cybercrime Division Chief ronald Aguto said Lyan tandeg and shellina Atad, the sources of the photos, were arrested Nov. 4 after meeting with undercover NBI agents to pimp an 8-year-old girl, according to an Inquirer report on monday, Nov. 9.

Both have been charged with qualified child trafficking and syndicated child pornography and are currently being detained in NBI jail. “tandeg and Atad offered to the undercover agents the minor and showed them the nude photos of the other minors stored in their flashdrive,� Aguto said, according to

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Senators want say on PH-US defense pact

by Marvin

sy

Philstar.com

mANILA – senators approved a resolution saying the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA) between the Philippines and the United states is a treaty that must be sent to the senate for concurrence under the Constitution. fourteen senators voted to approve senate resolution 1414 authored and sponsored by sen. miriam Defensor santiago during the tuesday, Nov. 10 plenary session.

Apart from santiago, the other senators who voted for approval of the resolution were Juan edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor ejercito, francis escudero, teofisto Guingona III, manuel Lapid, Loren Legarda, ferdinand marcos Jr., sergio osmeĂąa III, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar and ralph recto. sen. Antonio trillanes IV voted against the resolution while senate President franklin Drilon and senate minority Leader Juan Ponce enrile abstained. senators Pia Cayetano and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV arrived after the voting and manifested into record their votes in favor and abstention, respectively. the position taken by the senate is contrary to the

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AGREEMENT. President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes People’s Republic of China Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacaùan Palace on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Philippine government and China have agreed not to discuss the territorial dispute over the South China Sea during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit next week.

MalacaĂąang photo by Joseph Vidal

PH, China: No sea row talks at APEC nomic forum and it won’t be a proper venue to discuss political security issues,� he said.

Jose’s pronouncement came mANILA – the Philippines and China have agreed to avoid shortly after foreign Affairs secdiscussions on rising tensions retary Albert del rosario’s meetin the south China sea and ing yesterday with his Chinese West Philippine sea during countepart Wang Yi. Wang later next week’s Asia-Pacific eco- met with President Aquino at nomic Cooperation (APeC) malacaĂąang. “on APeC, minister Wang said summit in manila. “We recognize that APeC is the main purpose of his visit is to not the proper forum to dis- confer with Philippine governcuss this issue,â€? Charles Jose, ment officials regarding preparaDepartment of foreign Affairs tions for APeC, to ensure that the (DfA) spokesman, told report- attendance of President Xi Jinping in AeLm (APeC economic ers on monday, Nov. 9. “In the context of APeC, we leaders meeting) will be smooth, both agreed APeC is an eco- safe and successful,â€? Jose said.

by Pia lee-BragO Philstar.com

“the secretary (Del rosario) said we are committed to being a good host to all guests and we are endeavouring to ensure President Xi’s visit will be safe, comfortable and productive,â€? he said. on tuesday Beijing aired its wish that the summit not tackle the roiling maritime issue after a regional defense ministers’ meeting recently in malaysia failed to issue a joint communiquĂŠ in a split over the issue.

Wang met for about an hour with Del rosario. the DfA chief waved but ignored questions shouted at him by jour-

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Our evidence will stand – Grace Poe by tina

santOs Inquirer.net

seN. GrACe Poe on tuesday, Nov. 10 attended the hearing for one of the petitions filed against her at the Commission on elections (Comelec) questioning her qualification to run for President in next year’s polls. “All the evidence we are presenting are true. We did not invent them. that is why we are confident they will stand,� Poe told reporters in filipino after the closed-door hearing on the peti-

Sen. Grace Poe

tion for disqualification filed by lawyer estrella elamparo.

Poe said she believed the truth would eventually come out since the case was politically motivated. “What I have been fighting for is the opportunity to serve and help our fellow filipinos. I believe all this is happening in an attempt to divert my attention from what I can do for our people,� she added, also in filipino.

Despite being confident she would be able to hurdle the cases

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New initiative seeks Abu Sayyaf releases Malaysian hostage to create jobs in Sulit Savings! g n o y s e r underrepresented P Filipino LA communities Eggplant 5IVSTEBZ 8FEOFTEBZ t /PW

by agnes

COnstante AJPress

Los ANGeLes – A kick-off event to announce the launch of the opentech L.A. regional Apprenticeship Collaborative Program (opentech L.A.) was held at the east Los Angeles College on friday, November 6, 2015, hosted by the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) and managed Career solutions (mCs). the event addressed details of the grant awarded to these two organizations from the historic American Apprenticeship Grant Initiative. opentech L.A. is a partnered program by LACCD and mCs that offers customized and accelerated training in Information technology and Biotechnology to at-risk youth, women, Veterans, and other underrepresented populations throughout the Los Angeles

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A mALAYsIAN woman held captive for nearly six months by muslim militant group Abu sayyaf was released by captors, authorities said monday, Nov. 9. militants freed thien Nyuk fun, 50, late sunday, Nov. 8, from the island of Jolo in sulu province. however, her compatriot remains in the custody of Abu sayyaf. two filipino security officers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to speak with reporters, said malaysian Bernard then ted fen is still being held hostage by militants in sulu, according to the Associated Press (AP). thien and then were abducted in may from a restaurant in sabah, malaysia, where security was enhanced due to previous kidnappings by Abu sayyaf militants in the area. “I wish to thank all of them [authorities]

for working hard to bring thien home,� sabah Chief minister musa Aman said in a statement. the filipino officers said a large ransom was paid in exchange for thien’s freedom, but malaysian police officials denied the claim, according to AP. No further details were provided on the police statement, including who abducted the malaysian nationals or the reasons for thien’s release. thien is currently “healthy but weak and tired due to the long journey and also from the emotional aspect,� sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Jalaluddin Abdul rahman said, adding that efforts are being made to rescue then, according to AP. In the last two years, Abu sayyaf has crossed the sea border and carried out at least half a dozen kidnappings in malaysia, AP reported. In an April 2000 incident, militants abducted 21 europeans and Asians and took them to sulu where they were

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A NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Pres. Obama to seek Supreme…

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BUSINESS LEADERS. Guillermo Luz (left), Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, Doris Magsaysay-Ho, Inquirer board member Charlie Rufino, Inquirer chair Marixi Prieto and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala attend the Meet Inquirer Multimedia Forum. At the Meet Inquirer Multimedia Forum on Monday, Nov. 9, the business leaders said they wanted the country’s next Chief Executive to be a connector, a job creator, as well as someone who inspires the people.

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande

PH, China: No sea row talks at…

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nalists as he stepped out of the DFA premises.

Del Rosario said the meeting was “good” but hurried to the presidential palace, where Wang met Aquino. Before their meeting, the two ministers posed for pictures and Wang signed a guest book. Del Rosario also hosted a lunch for Wang after the meeting with Aquino. Wang’s pre-APEC summit working visit was upon the invitation of Del Rosario.

The two foreign ministers last met in Beijing in 2013 on the sidelines of Southeast Asian foreign ministers’ meeting with their Chinese counterpart, but it is Wang’s first visit to Philippine capital as a foreign minister.

Marciano Paynor, head of the APEC summit organizing committee, told reporters Monday the maritime row would be off the summit agenda.

“I will reiterate that when we meet at APEC, it’s all economic issues and we do not take up bilateral, specific bilateral issues in APEC,” Paynor added.

Palace meeting President Aquino met with Wang later yesterday ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival for the 23rd APEC summit on Nov. 18 to 19.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. quoted the

President as saying he welcomed the decision of Xi to attend the APEC summit during his talk with Wang.

“He (Aquino) assured the foreign minister that it is in the culture of the Filipinos as hosts to make our guests feel the warmth of Filipino hospitality,” Coloma said.

Coloma said the President also told Wang that he was to conduct an inspection of APEC venues and assess the status of preparations for the summit.

Discussing the Beijing officials’ visits to Manila, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday that China wanted to improve relations with its neighbor.

“For reasons known to all, bilateral relations are facing difficulties, which is not something we want to see,” Hong told reporters in Beijing.

“We value bilateral ties, and we would like to properly resolve relevant issues through consultations and negotiations.”

His comments came after a landmark summit between Xi and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou at the weekend – the first such meeting since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

Those talks raised hopes of a further thaw in relations between the two former rivals.

However, Hong emphasized in his comments on Monday that the onus rested on the Philippines to improve ties with Beijing.

Aquino’s only meetings with Chinese leaders included a very brief encounter with Xi on the sidelines of last year’s Beijing APEC summit. He also made a state visit to China in 2011 for talks with Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao.

Over China’s objection, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague last month ruled it has jurisdiction over a case filed

by Manila seeking to clarify the Philippines’ maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea amid China’s incursions and massive land reclamation. China claims almost the entire West Philippine Sea and South China Sea. Tension simmering Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea and has sought to reinforce its position by building up reefs and tiny islets into artificial islands capable of hosting military facilities.

Its stance puts it in opposition with several other members of the APEC, including the US. Last month Washington pressed its right to freedom of navigation by sending the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen to within 12 nautical miles of at

enacting the new immigration rules.

“Congress did not intend to make immune from judicial review an agency action that reclassifies millions of illegal aliens in a way that imposes substantial costs on state,” wrote Judge Jerry E. Smith in his majority opinion on Monday.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton welcomed the ruling, saying that “today, the Fifth Circuit asserted that the separation of powers remains the law of the land, and the president must follow the rule of law, just like everybody else. Texas, leading a charge of 26 states, has secured an important victory to put a halt to the president’s lawlessness.”

In response, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday, Nov. 10 that it disagreed with the ruling and is planning to appeal the case before the Supreme Court.

“The Department of Justice remains committed to taking steps that will resolve the immigration litigation as quickly as possible in order to allow DHS to bring greater accountability to our immigration system by prioritizing the removal of the worst offenders, not people who have long ties to the United States and who are raising American children,” Justice Department spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said in a statement, adding that the department “disagrees with the Fifth Circuit’s adverse ruling.”

Bypassing Congress, Obama announced a series of plans last November that would save up to 5 million undocumented immigrants — including parents, young adults and business owners — from deportation. Instead of separating families, the executive actions called for diverting resources toward deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

Currently, there are nearly 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

Of that number, approximately 1.3 million are Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), making up nearly 12 percent of the total undocumented population.

Some of the highest numbers come from heavy-populated countries like India, China, and the Philippines. Around 375,000 AAPIs are estimated to benefit from Obama’s executive actions, according to the White House.

In California, the affected population includes 966,900 California residents, according to estimates from the Center for Migration Studies.

Under DAPA, parents of US citizens or lawful permanent residents could be spared from deportation if they meet certain criteria, including continuous residency in the US since Jan. 1, 2010 and a clean record free of any criminal offenses.

“DAPA would dramatically increase the number of aliens eligible for work authorization,

thereby undermining Congress’s stated goal of closely guarding access to work authorization and preserving jobs for those lawfully in the country,” Smith wrote in his opinion.

Meanwhile, the amended version of DACA was slated to include children brought to the United States before Jan. 1, 2010, notwithstanding their current age, and would have provided three years of relief.

The original version of DACA, which was introduced in 2012, remains intact and untouched by the lawsuit. The program is reserved for those who were born after 1981.

After the Justice Department appeals the case, Texas would have 30 days to respond. Then, the Supreme Court must decide

by January if it will hear the case before the term ends in June 2016. However, reports state that the legal proceedings narrow the chance that the executive actions could be implemented before Obama leaves office in 2017.

“We obviously continue to believe strongly in the legal power of the arguments that we have been making for nearly a year, now, about the importance of giving our law-enforcement officials the discretion to implement our immigration laws in a way that focuses on those who pose a genuine threat to our national security or to our communities,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday. n

Senators want say on PH-US defense…

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stand of the executive department that EDCA is merely an executive agreement and would not have to go through the Senate for concurrence.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the EDCA on behalf of the Philippine government while US Ambassador Philip Goldberg signed for Washington.

Santiago said the resolution deals with constitutional law and “the strong sense of the Senate that it embodies is a confirmation of its supremacy over any self-serving speculation that is forced subjectively on the Constitution.”

Under Article VII Section 21 u PAGE A3

of the Constitution, “No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all members of the Senate.”

Citing the provision of the Constitution, Santiago argued EDCA is “a treaty prohibited under the Constitution.”

“This is the only provision of the fundamental law that determines the validity and effectiveness of treaties as law of the land.

Other than concurrence of the Senate, no authority expressly transforms a treaty into law,” Santiago said in her sponsorship speech.

To further emphasize the position that the EDCA is a treaty,

Santiago cited its text and the arguments made by the Solicitor General, in behalf of the executive department, which she said clearly describes the EDCA in the nature of foreign military bases, troops or facilities.

Santiago cited Article 18 Section 25 of the Constitution, which states that “foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate… and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.”

“The textual composition of EDCA in itself evidences that it belongs to the category of pro-

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From the Front Page

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015

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Our evidence will stand – Grace…

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questioning her citizenship and residency, Poe admitted she was hurt by Elamparo’s assertion that she should be considered “stateless” and therefore not qualified to run for president.

“Of all the things she said, perhaps the most hurtful was when she said that I am stateless. It means that I don’t belong to any country. Even refugees have a place they came from,” she said.

Poe was referring to Elamparo’s statement during the hearing when she was asked by Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim if she believed that Poe was “stateless.”

“She is at best presumed to be a Filipino but definitely not natural-born,” replied Elamparo.

“Legally, yes (she is a stateless person).”

Elamparo said there was no existing or binding law that clearly identified Poe as a natural-born citizen since she was a foundling or a child that had been abandoned and found.

“There is a legal vacuum in our system that does not seem to address the status of foundlings,” Elamparo said.

Poe’s lawyer, George Garcia, responded by saying that considering a person as stateless was the “height of discrimination.”

Senators want say on PH…

PAGE A2 t DISABILITY IS NO BAR. A disabled examinee is wheeled inside the University of Santo Tomas in Manila for the first day of the Bar exams.

The Supreme Court said 7,146 law graduates will be taking the tests to be held on four consecutive Sundays.

Inquirer.net photo by DJ Diosina

PH, China: No sea row talks at…

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least one of the artificial islets in the Spratlys chain, angering China.

This year’s APEC summit begins in the Philippines – also a South China Sea claimant – next week but Li Baodong, a vice foreign minister, told a briefing in Beijing: “There is no plan to discuss the South China Sea issue.”

“APEC is mainly a platform to discuss economic and trade cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region,” he added. “There is consensus on this point.”

Last week an Asia-Pacific defense ministers’ meeting in Malaysia ended on a sour note as the US and China butted heads over whether a final joint statement should mention the South China Sea. Besides China and the Philippines, the other claimants are Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan, with some of their claims overlapping.

On Saturday in Singapore, Xi promised to safeguard freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, where tensions have flared over overlapping claims and the

US Navy’s moves to challenge Beijing’s island-building.

China criticized last week’s patrol of the USS Lassen, a guided-missile destroyer, within the 12-nautical-mile (22-kilometer) territorial limit of Subi Reef, one of the South China Sea features that have been claimed, expanded and reinforced by China over objections of other claimants, particularly the Philippines.

The US Navy said it wanted to demonstrate the principle of freedom of navigation.

China, the Philippines and four other governments have overlapping claims across the vast South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, with Beijing claiming it has sovereignty over virtually all of the waters. Some of the disputed areas are believed to sit atop vast undersea deposits of oil and gas and straddle some of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

China’s APEC version In Beijing, Chinese senior officials said China will seek to push its own vision of an Asia-Pacific trade pact at the APEC summit next week.

Beijing sought to promote the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) at last year’s APEC summit, which it hosted.

At the meeting’s close, participants endorsed efforts to explore the idea, which was seen as a potential rival to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a Washingtonled trade coalition that includes the region’s largest economies, except for China.

Little has been heard of the FTAAP since, while the longsecret text of the TPP deal was released Thursday, receiving cheers from global business interests and jeers from labor, environmental and health groups, which vowed to fight its ratification.

China said it would report the findings of a study on FTAAP at next week’s APEC summit in the Philippines, to be attended by Xi. “We need to actively work for the establishment of FTAAP,” Chinese vice finance minister Wang Shouwen told a briefing, adding that FTAAP would be “a facilitator for regional integration in APEC.” n

hibited treaty, namely, it is a treaty of foreign military bases, troops, or facilities without the concurrence of the Senate,” Santiago said.

“That such a prohibited ‘treaty’ has been concluded by the Executive Department as an executive agreement testifies to its inherently prohibitory nature under the Constitution, by reason of EDCA’s substantive provisions dealing with the establishment, location, stationing of the United States military forces and storage of military facilities in Philippine territory,” she added.

“In defiance of the Constitution, Article 18, Section 25, EDCA is without question a prohibited treaty of foreign military bases,

New initiative seeks to create jobs in…

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region. The program will help foster significant growth to the region’s local job market and strengthen job placement opportunities. It is estimated that 1,000 participants from underrepresented populations will be served by OpenTech L.A. once it’s operating.

“OpenTech L.A. will give program participants the tools and experience necessary to excel in the IT and Biotech industries that otherwise may not be given to minorities, our nation’s brave soldiers and folks in underdeveloped communities,” said MCS Executive Director Phil Starr.

“The program will have a significant impact on job opportunity creation in Los Angeles and we are proud to be part of this historic initiative.”

In September, President

Managed Career Solutions Executive Director Phil Starr, Rep. Judy Chu and Los Angeles Community College District President Scott Svonkin discuss plans for the OpenTech L.A. apprenticeship program.

Barack Obama announced the ship Grant Initiative, a program grant award recipients of the that is awarding $175 million in historic American Apprentice- grants to entities that spur innovation and create employment opportunities by fast-tracking the path to in-demand, well-paying jobs. The initiative is part of The group is also believed to be a committed effort by the U.S. holding an Italian pizza restau- Department of Labor to increase rant owner who was kidnapped job opportunities in the U.S. in October hostage.

LACCD and MCS were the only Earlier this month, an elderly two award recipients from Los South Korean man who was kid- Angeles. napped by the group in January, The kick-off event takes place was found dead on Jolo island during National Apprenticeship after falling ill while he was held Week, and will include a roundhostage. n u PAGE A5

Abu Sayyaf releases Malaysian…

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held for ransom. They were freed in batches after a ransom was paid the subsequent year.

“I urge the relevant authorities to remain vigilant at all times and keep our borders secure from further intrusion,” the official Bernama news agency quoted Aman saying.

The news agency also quoted Aman saying that Thein, a seafood restaurant manager, was freed after months of negotiation.

In late September, militants kidnapped two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina in the southern region of the Philippines. Their whereabouts remain unknown; however, militants who said they were affiliated with Abu Sayyaf in an online video demanded $21 million for each of the three foreigners.

SEAFOOD CITY AD2

troops, or facilities concluded in the absence of Senate concurrence,” she said.

Two petitions have been brought before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the EDCA. A decision is expected soon while Santiago wanted Senate Resolution 1414 furnished to the high court.

Santiago said she hopes the Supreme Court will consider the strong statement from the Senate with decisive concern.

In voting against the resolution, Trillanes reiterated his position that the EDCA is an executive agreement that is tied to the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines.

He added the Supreme Court

He cited provisions in the 1930 Hague Convention on Certain Questions Relating to the Conflict of Nationality Laws and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness as grounds for considering Poe a naturalborn Filipino citizen.

Garcia, however, admitted that Poe was a dual citizen from 2006 to 2010.

He said this was “for convenience in overseas travel” when Lim asked him why Poe used her US passport during those years.

“It was allowed, whether that is unfair or not, that is what the law provides. It’s not illegal,” said Garcia. n should be left to decide on the question of whether the EDCA is a treaty or an executive agreement.

“I believe the arguments regarding whether the EDCA is an executive agreement or is a treaty should be left unto the Supreme Court, which it is now being studied and subject to closer scrutiny. I believe the Senate, we just have to wait for that resolution and need not express its sentiment,” he said.

Drilon, for his part, said he decided to abstain from the voting in deference to the Supreme Court deciding on the issue.

On the part of Enrile, he explained the approval of such a resolution was unnecessary because it was merely a reiteration of Article VII Section 21 of the Constitution.

(With reports from Edu Punay and Rhodina Villanueva)

A NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015

A

Cool storm to bring chilly rains to LA

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

RAIN, lightning and snow hit parts of Northern California on Monday, Nov. 9, and a cold, wet storm was expected to bring chilly temperatures and scattered showers to Southern California.

More than 500 lightning strikes and strong wind gusts were reported over the Bay Area, prompting an airport weather warning due to the thunderstorms, according to the Los Angeles Times and the National Weather Service.

“This strange combination of seemingly unending heat, humidity, and large contrasts between extreme dryness occasional flash flooding is largely the result of record warm Pacific Ocean temperatures, which are still well into the 70s across the Southern California Bight and have even approached 80 degrees at times this calendar year,” said Daniel Swain on WeatherWest.com’s California Weather Blog.

Forecasters advised drivers to avoid the Sierra Nevada mountain pass, where some canyons above 5,000-foot elevation were

expected to get 8-10 inches of snow, through the early part of the week.

Chains or snow tires are required on most mountain highways around Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border, said NBC Bay Area. Up to 1 foot of snow at the highest peaks was predicted through Monday night.

Heavy snow and flash flooding could also potentially affect areas recently scarred by wildfires, officials said.

The low-pressure weather system, combined with the effects of tropical storm El Niño, is bringing winter conditions to California. Temperatures in the Bay Area and Central California are expected to dip into the 40s.

As the storm moves south into Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, it will lose steam, according to NWS meteorologist Kathy Hoxsie.

“Southern California could get a drizzling of light showers, and thunderstorms may come to parts of Santa Barbara County,” Hoxsie said.

Temperatures are also expect-

ed to drop, with highs ranging from the high 60s to low 70s in the early part of the week, as “a trough of low pressure moves through Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and Ventura counties,” said Scott Sukup, an NWS meteorologist in Oxnard.

“By the weekend, the cold front will be replaced by dry and warm weather, and temperatures could reach into the 80s Saturday,” Hoxsie added. “You gotta enjoy it while you can.”

“There is no guarantee that this coming winter will turn out as wet as those of 1982-83 and 1997-98, and other factors aside from El Nino will play an important role,” wrote weather historian Christopher C. Burt, for Weather Underground. “Even if record or near-record precipitation…does occur, it is unlikely to end the current drought affecting the state.”

“Of critical importance is how much of the precipitation falls as snow in the Sierra Nevada. If the storms are warm and the rain falls in just a series of intense storms much of the benefit will be lost to run-off into the Pacific Ocean.” n

Two Filipinos charged with child trafficking…

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Inquirer.

The NBI began its probe into the matter after the FBI provided information about child pornography operations in the Philippines. The FBI also gave the NBI a copy of the Yahoo Messenger chat conversation between Tandeg and an American pilot who was arrested for possessing the naked photos on his tablet, Michael Carey Clemans. The chat reportedly contained evidence of child prostitution and child pornography.

“Working on that lead, the cybercrime operatives conducted further investigation and surveil-

lance operations on Tandeg and her accomplices to confirm the veracity of the report and to determine the propriety of a counteraction,” Aguto said.

After monitoring the suspects, the NBI found that Tandeg and Atad peddle children ages 8 to 12 years old for sex to foreign clients for P3,000 per night. Undercover agents who dealt with the two were offered a child for a nude photo shoot and sexual services, Aguto said.

The agents asked Tandeg and her accomplices to meet at a coffee shop in Pampanga on Nov. 4.

They also asked Tandeg to bring one girl to the meeting. After

INVESTIGATING THE MRT. Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Services, questions officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) led by Secretary Jun Abaya during the resumption of a public hearing on the problems plaguing the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3. Poe is also looking into the increasing incidents of train malfunction and accidents involving the MRT, which conveys 650, 000 passengers daily, twice its capacity of 350,000.

Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

The US ranks among top happiest and richest countries in the world

by Allyson

THE Legatum Institute based in London released its annual global prosperity index, a universal survey that ranks what it calls the “most prosperous countries” in the world, and the United States has made its list.

The 2015 Legatum Prosperity Index ranks a nation’s prosperity based solely on macroeconomic indicators, such as a country’s income (represented either by gross domestic product or by average income per person), according to Business Insider.

Other variables in the index include traditional indicators, such as full-time employment, health, and education; as well as interesting figures such as the number of secure Internet servers a country has, and how well rested its people are on a day-to-day aims to provide LA residents basis. with employment assistance The Legatum variables are split through training sessions and into eight sub-indexes: economy, one-on-one consulting with ser- entrepreneurship and opporvice providers, financial institu- tunity, governance, education, tions, and procurement special- health, safety/security, personal ists. Specialties include training freedom, and social capital. services as well as access to “Most people would agree that capital consulting, focused upon prosperity is more than just the commercial capital, venture accumulation of material wealth.

T:11.5” capital and microloans among It is also the joy of everyday life other services. (AJPress) and the prospect of being able Tandeg and Atad provided the agents with a flash drive containing nude photos in exchange for P500, they were arrested.

The NBI rescued three girls after the operation and turned them over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the International Justice Mission, a non-government human rights group, Philstar reported.

Aguto said parents of the victims thought suspects were recruiting their children as models.

He added that the NBI is conducting a manhunt operation on a man named Jeffrey Ganuten, who is allegedly instructing Tandeg. (Agnes Constante/AJPress)

New initiative seeks to create jobs in…

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table panel discussion featuring Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), LACCD President Scott Svonkin, ELAC President Marvin Martinez, MCS Executive Director Phil Starr and other program participants and stakeholders.

“I was proud to lead a letter to the Secretary of Labor Tom Perez in support of the partnership between LACCD and MCS

for the OpenTech L.A. apprenticeship program,” said Chu. “I want to thank LACCD and MCS for their dedication to the students in our community, and for finding new and innovative ways to serve both the students who come here to learn, and the businesses who operate here with the skills and workforce they need to succeed.”

MCS is an organization that

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AJPress

to build an even better life in the future,” the study, which can be found online, reads.

The index looked at 142 countries in the world with the most available data. The Czech Republic in Central Europe came in last (with a very high economy subindex), with Asian countries Taiwan, Hong Kong (both are strong in safety and security), Japan (7th healthiest country on earth), and Singapore (first in economy subindex) making the list.

Australia, in 7th, was ranked with the world’s best education system. Canada (6th) also scored

with the highest levels of personal freedom, while New Zealand (4th) touted best social capital and most prosperous non-European nation.

The United States -- ranked 11th as the world’s “most powerful country” -- scored higher than every nation in the Legatum’s health category, but citizens are among the least safe and secure on the list.

As in the past seven years, Norway topped the Prosperity Index once again, being the only country ranked in the top 10 of every sub-index. n

DISCOVER REAL POSSIBILITIES IN LOS ANGELES. Real Possibilities is a trademark of AARP.

À vÀii Û i ÃVÀii }à v }Ài>Ì w Ã Ì > `Ã Ü À à «Ã Ì }iÌ Þ Õ Õ« Ì Ã«ii` Ü Ì Ì i >ÌiÃÌ Ã >ÀÌ« ià > ` Ì>L iÌÃ] Üi½Ài iÀi Ì i « Þ Õ }iÌ Ì i ÃÌ ÕÌ v vi° * ÕÃ] Üi½Ài > à Ìi>V } Þ Õ i>ÃÞ ` wV>Ì Ã Ì i « Þ Õ > i Þ ÕÀ i Ã>vi v À > viÌ i° ̽à ÕÃÌ Ã i v Ì i Ü>Þà Üi½Ài > } à Ƃ }i ià > iÛi LiÌÌiÀ « >Vi Ì Ûi] Ü À > ` « >Þ° v 9 Õ ` ½Ì Ì Real Possibilities Ü i Þ Õ Ì ƂƂ,*] Ì i Þ Õ ` ½Ì Ü º>>À«°»

iÌ Ì Ü ÕÃ >Ì aarp.org/losangeles

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OpiniOn

Features

Laughingstock

WITH the rising number of alleged victims of the notorious “tanim bala” (bullet planting) scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), it is no surprise that this peculiar security threat has reached international headlines.

Just this year, the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSeG) recorded 105 alleged “tanim bala” incidents, while the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) reported five cases in the past two weeks.

Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren said that she was warned by her Filipino-American friend that international travelers are targeted by Filipino airport security officials who plant live ammunition in their luggage.

“I know what you’re thinking: what is wrong with some people? My answer? I just don’t know,” Susteren said in her segment “Off the Record.”

Over the weekend, a video posted by Facebook user Shinjoy Martinez went viral. The video recorded a Japanese television program reenacting how bullets are planted into the luggage of unsuspecting passengers. The host of the show said that the “tanim bala” scam has been going on for years and that many Japanese nationals have become victims.

The extortion scheme, which involves airport security personnel who plant bullets in order to extort money from passengers caught with the bullet inside their luggage, has become so apparent and undaunted that tips on “how to avoid being a ‘tanim-bala’ victim” have circulated online.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issued tips for air passengers to avoid falling prey to the “tanim bala” scam.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio told ABS-CBN News that passengers are advised to strictly monitor all their luggage and never allow strangers to handle them. He said all zippers, pouches, and pockets of their luggage must be closed, locked and sealed so that if the seal gets broken, a passenger will immediately notice that his bag was opened without his permission.

For the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), it warned its staff “to keep your luggage with you, lock your luggage, and consider wrapping your luggage in plastic as an extra security measure” when leaving through the international airport.

This brouhaha is so ludicrous that for Atty. Joseph Plazo, here are ways to avoid being victim of ‘tanim-bala’ scam: Use hard-case luggage, avoid bags that have external pockets. Wrap the entire bag in cling wrap. Let the officials go through your bag—but only in the presence of witnesses, a lawyers, and official’s supervisor. You have the right to remain silent. And know your legal rights.

Meanwhile, NAIA airport screeners turned to divine intervention. Wearing pink armbands, the airport personnel attended a Mass on Friday, Nov.

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

6 to appeal for understanding in the midst of public outrage and ridicule.

“We have been pilloried, demonized and shamed by these allegations, which is why we are seeking divine intervention to spare us. There is no truth to the allegations,” said Edgar Anas, national president of the Employees Association of Transport Security.

Malacañang acknowledged that the “tanim bala” controversy has been blown out of proportion and drew international ire. “Unfortunately, these are unintended consequences of the attention that this has generated,” spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

“We are hoping that the effects will not be last-

ing, will not have a long-term effect on what our country is trying to do to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination,” she said. Amid all the unwanted attention, Valte assured that the national government has taken steps to address the problem.

The proliferation of the “tanim-bala” cases requires urgent attention. All eyes are on the national government to assess the lingering problem and come up with effective solutions to alleviate the growing concern on the country’s airport security challenges. For now, those who have marked the Philippines as their next destination are asked to remain vigilant. (AJPress)

What to do when you get victimized by the ‘laglag bala’ scam at NAIA MY husband and I are visiting the Philippines this December, as many kababayans plan to do as well, but the excitement of this year’s trip is dampened by the “laglag bala” scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

This issue has become an international concern, having been reported by international media, and with the United Nations issuing a warning to its staff about how they may be victimized by some unscrupulous people at the NAIA, who would allegedly “plant” live bullet in passengers’ baggage.

The bullet would be found during security inspection, and then money would be extorted from passengers who rather pay a few dollars rather than miss their flights or they would be detained for days for a crime they did not do.

My own children, who get their news via mainstream media and online news sources, already warned us as well about it. This has also been a hot topic among email exchanges and On social media among those who are traveling to Manila for either business or pleasure. The big question resonates a plea for help, a longing for empowerment.

“What should we do if this happens to us?”

Such cry for help is a result of the Philippine

government’s initial dismissive and defensive response to the problem. Some officials say in The Fil-Am news reports that this problem Perspective is but a small percentage of the total sheer volume of passengers who have used the NAIA to travel, others blame it on the passengers who bring “bala” Gel SantoS-reloS for anting-anting (talisman) believed to give protection to the traveler.

While both may be true in some cases, the fact remains that there are those who have been victimized, and were asked to pay money “under the table” so this case would “go away”. A good family friend (a Filipina who is now a legal resident of the US) who was on a wheelchair when she traveled from Manila to LAX last September became a victim. Confused, scared and intimidated, but definitely NOT guilty of bringing the “bala” that was planted in her luggage, she decided to give the $12 (Php500) that was asked of her, and then exposed this scam when she arrived in LA via social media. She was the first one to bring this problem to the attention of mainstream and social media.

She is pressing charges/complaint to help put an

end to this fiasco.

But the scam did not stop. In fact, more people have been victimized — foreigners, overseas Filipino workers, the elderly. One foreigner who is a young American missionary chose NOT to pay the money that was asked of him (Php 30,000), and he was detained for more than four days. He has sought legal representation to file charges against those airport personnel for trying to extort money from him and for violating airport inspection protocol (recorded on video).

Thankfully, there are many well meaning lawyers who are now offering pro bono services for travelers who may get caught in this situation.

In case you or your loved ones become one of the unfortunate ones, here are the things to remember (from ABS-CBN News): It is OK to react but STAY CALM. FIRMLY DENY prior knowledge of the bullet.

SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL from the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) through hotlines 929-9436 or 02-929-9436. [Call your own attorney if you have one]

NEVER TOUCH THE BULLET to avoid leaving your fingerprint on it.

DO NOT OPEN YOUR BAG without your lawyer, witnesses, and the airport police or the supervisor of the security personnel.

INFORM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS of your situation.

Have your fingerprint samples taken ONLY IN FRONT OF YOUR LAWYER AND POLICE OFFICIALS. IF your fingerprint is NOT FOUND on the bullet, CHARGES MAY BE FILED against the airport personnel. You will also be entitled to financial compensation for the disturbance and lost time. Airport authorities will also be LIABLE TO REBOOK YOUR FLIGHT. SHARE THIS INFORMATION around. Good luck! Sana mabigyan na ng solusyon ng gobyerno ang problemang ito para maging totoo muli na “IT IS MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!” *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

What’s the end game in the US-China face-off over the Spratleys?

REMEMBER our boyhood days when a bully Street would place a chip on his shoulder and dare Talk anyone to knock it off?

If someone did, the bully had to fight the challenger or else lose face.

By building artificial is- GreG B. MacaBenta lands on sunken reefs in the Spratleys and claiming sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, China placed a virtual chip on its shoulder, daring the other claimants to the area to knock it off. Vietnam tried and promptly got clobbered.

For its part, the Philippines has made a lot of noises, but knowing that we have a toothless military, our government has done the sensible thing: bring the case before the United Nations and put international pressure on China by warning the rest of the world that they are being bullied, as well.

While the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have claimed parts of the Spratleys for reasons of sovereignty and the area’s rich oil and natural gas resources, the industrialized countries, particularly America, have major economic, political and military reasons to ensure unhampered access to what has been characterized as the throat of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. From an economic perspective alone, $5.3 trillion of trade passes through the South China Sea each year, of which the US accounts for $1.2 trillion.

Last October 27, Uncle Sam finally knocked the chip off big bully China’s shoulder. It deliberately sailed the USS Lassen, a guided missile destroyer, within 12 nautical miles of China’s bo-

gus exclusive economic zone.

Like any bully who has met his match, the Chinese have not gone beyond protesting and hurling muted threats. In response, the US has raised the ante by announcing that it plans to continue the patrols indefinitely. The White House, in an official statement, also declared, “The United States is going to fly and sail anywhere international law allows.”

While the US has maintained that it takes “no position” on competing territorial claims on the Spratleys, last February 2014 it explicitly rejected, for the first time, China’s nine-dash line that ostensibly supports its “historic” ownership of the disputed sea lanes. That rejection was, in fact, a declaration of Washington DC’s position.

Coincidentally adding to China’s humiliation, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration decided last October 29 that it has jurisdiction over the South China Sea issue and will proceed to hear the case filed by the Philippines under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. China’s refusal to participate in the proceedings, said the Court, has no effect on its jurisdiction.

With America’s in-your-face challenge to China, the hawks are predicting an escalation that could erupt into armed conflict. On the other hand, pacifists and pragmatists have warned that the controversy isn’t worth triggering World War III. Meanwhile, the Philippines has continued to equivocate. Although Presi-

dent Aquino and the Department of Foreign Affairs are unabashedly depending on the US to stop China’s incursions, there are those in the legislature who oppose the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) forged with the US in 2014, warning that it is a ploy to reestablish military bases on Philippine soil. American presence would, in fact, strengthen our country’s stance against China, but it could also make the Philippines a war theater once again, as in World War II. Further muddling the situation are suspected fifth columnists, like Sen. Antonio Trillanes, whose “back channel negotiations” with the Chinese resulted in the Philippines being preempted and locked out of Scarborough Shoal.

Indeed, the South China Sea conflict is not easy to untangle. Analysts have gone no farther than to point out its serious implications and to suggest options, all of which are iffy. However, they all agree that, in spite of the brinkmanship, neither the US nor China is particularly eager to go to war. In fact, there are continuous contacts between both countries at the highest level and among their military leaders to ensure that no one makes a “miscalculation” that could spark a major armed conflict.

The question then is: how will China respond to America’s challenge to its bogus territorial claims? For all of its bluster, the Chinese government may just decide to play the patience game, the way it waited 156 years to recover Hong Kong from the British.

It will continue to protest against further US flybys and sail-bys, but China will likely avoid taking serious armed action. It is also expected to ignore any adverse UN verdict and to continue

building up its military capabilities, as well as its salami slicing tactic in the Spratleys. And, like a condom, it will also keep reassuring its Asian neighbors of its peaceful intentions, while screwing them.

The US, on the other hand, will calibrate its moves, careful not to push China too far into a corner, even while it maintains its profitable partnership with the world’s second largest economy.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has signed an agreement with China to peacefully resolve maritime conflicts. Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have been careful not to upset China, a major economic partner. Their reaction to the incursion of the USS Lassen has been muted and vague.

In the face of this, analysts have predicted that a modus vivendi will eventually be agreed on between the US and China, a face-saving agreement that will allow the former, as well as other major trading nations, free access to the disputed area, by sea and by land, while China bides its time.

We might recall how the Korean War ended in a truce. The US and the United Nations, on one hand, and China and the Soviet Union, on the other hand, agreed on a compromise, partitioning the Korean peninsula between North Korea and South Korea at the 38th Parallel. The reason was because neither side was willing to risk an all-out war.

Where does that leave the Philippines and the other claimants? There is a Tagalog word for it. Bitin. Hanging.

The longer the stand-off lasts, the firmer will China’s foothold be in the Spratleys. The other claimants may, eventually, have to consider their own face-saving option in dealing with Chi-

na. If that happens, the Philippines will have to deal with intense pressure to go along.

A paper entitled, “Armed Clash in the South China Sea – Contingency Planning Memorandum No. 14,” written

by Bonnie S. Glaser, Senior Advisor for Asia, Center for Strategic and International Studies, cites a think tank’s proposal to “establish regional sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea among the six claimants, allowing them to collectively manage the islands, territorial seas, and airspace.”

Another option mentioned in Glaser’s paper “would emulate the resolution of the dispute over Svalbard, an island located between Norway and Greenland.

The Treaty of Spitsbergen, signed in 1920, awarded primary sovereignty over Svarlbard to Norway but assigned resource-related rights to all signatories.”

But the thesis adds: “Applying this model to the South China Sea would likely entail giving sovereignty to China while permitting other countries to benefit from the resources.” And it concludes: “In the near term, at least, such a solution is unlikely to be accepted by the other claimants.”

However, if a modus vivendi is reached between the US and China, even these options may no longer be viable. In other words, unless the Philippines and the other claimants proactively seek a compromise that will at least allow them to benefit from the resources of the South China Sea, the end game in the US-China face-off over the Spratleys could leave the smaller countries empty-handed and perpetually hanging – or bitin – and in a state of unending tensions like North and South Korea. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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

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SWS survey: Number of unemployed Filipinos hits 10M

by Nestor

Corrales Inquirer.net

THE number of unemployed Filipinos swelled to more than 10 million or over 20 percent, according to the third quarter survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS) released on Monday, Nov. 9.

The survey, conducted among 1,200 respondents on September 2 to 5, found that 23.7 percent or

over 10 million adult Filipinos were jobless in September 2015.

Data from the SWS showed that unemployment continued to rise since the first quarter of 2015.

In March, unemployment was at 19.1 percent then rose to 23.2 percent in June.

SWS said unemployment has always been above 20 percent since November 2010 except in March 2015 where 19.1 percent-

age was recorded.

Since 2010, the joblessness in the Philippines has reached to as high as 34.4 percent in March 2012.

The SWS definition of joblessness covers respondents age 18 and over who are “without a job at present and looking for a job.”

This excludes those not looking for work like housewives, students, and retired or disabled persons. n

US donates 3 robots, equipment to detect chemical, nuke devices

by Jaymee

t. Gamil

Inquirer.net

THREE US robots and vans equipped to detect chemical and nuclear explosive devices are reinforcing security measures for delegates in next week’s AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

On Monday, the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance donated to the Philippine National Police six pickup trucks and various equipment for explosives and ordnance disposal (EOD), including the three portable remotecontrolled clawed and wheeled robots, outfitted with cameras.

The donations will help secure the Apec summit to be attended by 21 heads of state, PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez said during turnover ceremonies at Camp Crame.

“In every hotel, route and venue, there will be an EOD-K9 unit, and these equipment will be very helpful in making sure that our people will be able to perform their jobs properly,” Marquez said.

Thomas McDonough, US Embassy regional security officer, said: “I was joking with the [PNP] chief that you have three new recruits now in the PNP— the three robots that just joined you. I know you will make them welcome.”

“This equipment that we are able to donate to our friends in the PNP comes at a very timely moment. We all know that we

POOR MAN’S FISH. A vendor sells galunggong at a public market in Manila on Sunday, Nov. 8. The government will implement a threemonth closed season for galunggong (round scad) starting November, making possible an increase in the price of what is regarded as the poor man’s fish.

Inquirer.net photo by DJ Diosina

Flights cancelled for APEC hit 1,364 by rudy aNd

FOR APEC SECURITY The United States has donated bomb detection and disposal equipment to the Philippine National Police to help secure the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit in Manila next week. The US Embassy turned over the equipment to the PNP at Camp Crame on Monday.

Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

are getting ready for a very large undertaking—this job of Apec.

The PNP will be shouldering most of the burden … the PNP will have the day-in and dayout work of the Apec, so we are very glad that the equipment are going to the Apec efforts,” McDonough said.

He expressed hopes the equipment could help make the police officers’ job “easier, safer and more modern.”

Aside from the robots and the trucks, the donations also included nine post-blast investigation kits and 20 explosives incident countermeasure kits.

Marquez said that over the week, the US Department of Energy also donated four mobile vans for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives detection.

Marquez said that while “there

has been no threat” as yet to the summit, the alert level for police in Metro Manila would be raised

by Monday next week.

“Of course, the preparation is much different. We have put together the best people. We have gathered the best practices all over the country, and I think the President recognizes the peculiarity of the preparation for this Apec,” Marquez said.

The Apec security task force is made up of 20 agencies, he said. “The sole instruction is there should be zero incident,” he added.

“We only host Apec every 20 years, and hosting Apec is an honor for our country. So I call again our people to be all hosts for next week,” Marquez said.

After the summit, Marquez said the equipment would be distributed to various police units. n

saNtos louella desiderio Philstar.com

MANILA – A total of 1,125 domestic and 239 international flights before and during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila have been cancelled.

Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB) and Cebgo announced yesterday additional cancelled flights from Nov. 15 to 21. The APEC meetings will be held from Nov. 16 to 20.

PAL cancelled another 280 domestic and 78 international flights while CEB cancelled another 365 domestic and 29 international flights, and Cebgo 29 more domestic flights.

PAL had cancelled some 115 domestic and 96 international flights, Cebu Pacific some 262 domestic and 26 international flights while Air Asia cancelled 74 domestic and 10 international flights that were announced late last month.

PAL and CEB asked for the affected passengers’ understanding.

The flights were scrapped

A postal officer with the newly released Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit stamps.

Edd Gumban

amid periodic temporary runway closures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for the arrival and departure of heads of state for the APEC meetings.

The carriers are arranging the re-accommodation of affected guests on the soonest available flights.

“PAL and CEB assures affected passengers that their flights will be rescheduled and they will be informed of their new flight timings through e-mail, phone call or text. Passengers also have the option to rebook to the flight date of their choice within 30 days from their original sched-

ule, with rebooking and penalty charges waived. The new flight schedule must fall within the ticket’s validity period. Refunding of tickets is also an option,” said spokesperson Cielo Villaluna of PAL and Michelle Pestanos Fojas of CEB. For more information on PAL flights, passengers may call the airline’s hotline: 855-8888, log on to www.philippineairlines.com or visit the PAL Facebook page.

Passengers not able to fly on the next available flights may either rebook their tickets within 30 days from the original departure date or opt for full refund or travel fund. n

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Nielsen convenes with industry Government raises complaints on thought leaders to discuss state World Bank’s Doing Business report of Asian American community

by Prinz

NEW YORK – Nielsen, in partnership with the Asia Society, Asian American Advertising Federation, Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Asian American Federation, convened more than 50 industry leaders to collectively identify challenges and discuss opportunities to increase investment in the AsianAmerican community. The summit, which was held in New York City, focused on the areas of philanthropy, marketing and advertising investment and senior leadership advancement.

“The Asian-American community is incredibly diverse, encompassing dozens of languages and representing more than 40 different countries of origin. Nielsen understands the complexity and nuances of working with, mar-

P. Magtulis Philstar.com

keting to, and serving this particular segment,” said Betty Lo, vice president of community alliances & consumer engagement at Nielsen. “Through our AsianAmerican Consumer Reports and our work with Nielsen’s Asian Pacific American Executive Advisory Council, it became clear that a conversation about investment in this community was necessary.”

Attendees of the event engaged in high-level discussions with the goal of developing actionable initiatives and commitments to address the need for increased investment in the Asian-American community. Key topics impacting Asian-Americans, such as barriers to advancement in corporate management, the “model minority” myth, civic engagement and political representation, as well

as industry learnings about the segment as consumers, were deliberated and dissected.

“We commend Nielsen for the foresight to bring together industry, community, and political stakeholders for this critical dialogue,” said Nita Song, co-chair of the Nielsen Asian Pacific American External Advisory Council and president and CEO of IW Group. “Nielsen’s expertise in providing data-driven consumer insights makes them an ideal partner to provide a platform to elevate the importance of the fastest-growing and most culturally diverse ethnic segment in the United States.”

Nielsen’s Asian Pacific American External Advisory Council is comprised of industry, com-

u PAGE B2

Philippine banks more resilient to external shocks – Fitch by lawrence

agcaoili Philstar.com

MANILA – Fitch Ratings said Philippine banks are in a better position to survive a tougher operating environment in Southeast Asia amid sluggish economic growth, depreciating currencies and softer commodity prices.

According to Fitch, banks in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are facing a tougher environment resulting in deteriorating asset quality.

The debt watcher believes robust domestic demand, resilient external liquidity flows, and low private external debt would allow banks in the Philippines to shrug off external shocks.

“Philippine banks are better positioned to face the macroeco-

MANILA – The Philippines has raised its complaints on the annual Doing Business report ranking to the highest official of the World Bank Group.

In a six-page letter, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima wrote World Bank president Jim Yong Kim to protest the latest report’s “glaring flaws and inconsistencies” that allegedly caused the Philippines to drop six notches.

The country ranked 103rd in the 2016 edition, down from 97th a year ago.

“We repeat – the report is published at a great disservice to your member countries and revisions in findings cannot undo the damage done to affected economies,” Purisima said.

“Further, the negative perceptions caused by the published reports have already impacted both policy and investment decisions and cannot be undone by revisions in rank and score,” he

Overtime work hikes risk of stroke – study

by Jacqueline

Bouvier ManilaTimes.net

nomic challenges than the other Asean banking systems,” it said.

The Philippine banking system maintained its strong performance in the first half as the system focused on capital raising initiatives to sustain the expan-

sion in banks’ credit and securities trading activities.

Based on the central bank’s status report on the Philippine financial system for the first semester, capital ratios of banks

u PAGE B2

odology that change year after year.

From 2011 to 2016 editions, Purisima said it was only in 2012 when the World Bank did not make “unilateral” changes to methodology.

Changes were made without prior consultations with member-countries, he said, hence they should have been applied on succeeding editions after they were implemented.

As a result, country rankings fluctuated over the past five years, both on original rankings and those using revised computations.

“The erratic nature of the report methodology gives a sense that rules keep changing in the Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima middle of the game. We think, however, that this case is more added.

A copy of the letter was sent to like changing the rules of the game, when the game is already reporters on Monday, Nov. 9.

Purisima, who also serves as over,” Purisima explained.

“This is neither productive the country’s World Bank governor, reiterated questions he nor constructive for many of the earlier raised against the report’s economies and sectors reading “erratic” and “unsound” methu PAGE B2

arias

EMPLOYEES who often render overtime work are more likely to suffer from stroke, a London study found.

Researchers from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University College London conducted a statistical analysis of published and unpublished data covering 603,838 employees from Europe, the United States, and Australia.

The result of the study showed that employees who work 55 hours or more per week have higher risk of suffering from stroke than those who work 35 to 40 hours a week.

The researchers attributed the

risk to the employees’ physical inactivity and repetitive triggering of stress, as well as alcohol consumption due to stress.

“Evidence [also] suggests that individuals who work long hours are more likely to ignore symptoms of disease and have longer prehospital delays,” the study noted.

The London study titled “Long working hours and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke” was published in The Lancet journal.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) also noted that a number of Filipino workers also face stroke risk.

According to the latest labor statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as of

July 2015, over 26.2 million or 67 percent of 39.1 million employees work for 40 hours or more per week.

A stroke is caused by the interruption of blood supply to the brain, usually because of blood clotting or blood vessel bursts, which cut off the supply of oxygen and nutrients and damages the brain tissue.

Symptoms of stroke include sudden weakness or numbness of the face and limbs, difficulty speaking or understanding speech and loss of balance and coordination.

In the Philippines, stroke ranks as the second leading cause of death, killing around 63,000 people in 2012, according to the World Health Organization. n

B NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Philippine banks more resilient…

PAGE B1 t

stayed well above the minimum requirement set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Bank for International Settlements.

The capital adequacy ratios of universal and commercial banks stood at 16.1 percent on a consolidated basis and 15.1 percent on a solo basis as of end-March this year.

The banking industry’s total assets also grew nine percent to P11.2 trillion as total deposits expanded by nine percent to P8.61 trillion.

Fitch added currency, credit and liquidity risks are increasingly coming into focus, and asset quality is likely to deteriorate particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.

“That said, most banking systems are coming from a position of strength, and are reasonably well-positioned to manage the likely risks,” the debt watcher added.

“Banks now rely less on foreign capital, have better hedged their foreign exposures, and have more stringent regulatory frameworks,” Fitch said.

From a macro perspective, the debt watcher explained only Indonesia is running a current account deficit, whereas this was the case with most Asean countries prior to the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

the report,” he added.

Aside from this, using a sole city – in the Philippines, Quezon City – as a representative for over-all business climate is also “inaccurate.” He said areas where there are special economic zones were disregarded.

Locators in these zones are granted tax- and non-tax incen-

Asean members except Vietnam are now also benefiting from the flexibility of a floating exchange rate while banks in the region have lower non-performing loan ratios, lower loan or deposit ratios, higher capital adequacy ratios, and higher loanloss reserve coverage.

Fitch said a more leveraged household sector that has increased significantly since 1997 is a key variable that is one key variable that is less favorable for banking sector stability.

It noted the debt to gross domestic product ratio in Malaysia has risen to 88 percent last year from 50 percent in 1997 while that of Thailand doubled to 80

percent from 40 percent.

“The risks facing Asean banking sectors are not evenly dispersed. Malaysia and Indonesia are likely to be more affected by the macroeconomic and external environment due to their greater dependence on commodities,” the debt watcher said.

Fitch added the Malaysian ringgit and Indonesian rupiah have depreciated the most since end-2013 and there are pockets of greater risk in specific sectors.

Furthermore, it said Indonesia is in a weaker position than Malaysia, with greater exposure to the potentially vulnerable mining and commodities sectors. n

tives to operate and provide livelihood to the public.

“Businesses accredited to operate in these zones have simpler registration processes – evidence that the experience of doing business in the Philippines, or in any country for that matter, is never homogeneous,” Purisima said.

Purisima and other Finance of-

ficials have said that this was not the first time they questioned the Doing Business report’s rankings. The finance czar added on his letter that other countries have also aired their criticisms.

“Many countries such as Malaysia, and even the private sector community in South Korea, have expressed the same sentiment,” he said. n

Nielsen convenes with industry…

PAGE B1 t

munity, academic and business leaders. The organizations work closely to shape and establish best practices for panel recruitment and procedures to best reflect the consumer habits of the Asian-American community. The Council regularly consults on process and procedural updates to ensure that Nielsen’s diversity and inclusion practices position the company to authentically understand this segment across all

Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng

Government raises complaints on…

PAGE B1 t

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levels of operations. Nielsen also partners with numerous AsianAmerican and Pacific Islanderserving organizations to consistently engage this diverse and growing segment.

“The Diverse Intelligence Series of reports speaks to the strength of the changing demographics of this country,” said Saul Rosenberg, Nielsen’s chief content officer. “In order for Asian-American and other multicultural consumers to be

best served, it is imperative that the industry examine watch and buy behaviors within a cultural context. Nielsen is committed to amplifying the unique voices of Asian-American consumers by highlighting research and data that is reflective of the cultural values and preferences of this diverse segment.”

To learn more about Nielsen and its commitment to serving diverse communities, visit Nielsen.com. n

CLIENT no. 1 is 55 years old.

She is now divorced and living by herself. The divorce judgment gave her the marital home six years ago. Ex-husband was not interested in owning the property.

Divorces not only settle property rights between the spouses. It also settles the responsibility of who should pay for credit card and other debt. However, the divorce judgment does not bind the creditor. For instance, spouses going through divorce agree that husband will pay for American Express card, which they jointly owe $50,000. The divorce judgment says that husband will pay that off. What happens if husband does not pay it off? Wife, of course, is still legally liable for the $50,000 debt because she is jointly and legally liable on the card. American Express can and will sue both exspouses for $50,000 later on. Wife cannot use the divorce court judgment ordering the ex-husband to pay the $50,000. If she does pay the $50,000, she can sue ex-husband to collect what she paid because the divorce court judgment states that the $50,000 is ex-husband’s responsibility.

In the case of client no. 1, exhusband did not pay a joint credit card debt of $20,000. Creditor has a judgment against client for $35,000. Further, a judgment lien has attached to client’s house for $35,000. Client doesn’t like the idea that there’s a judgment lien on her house. She wants it removed. What alternatives does she have to remove it?

Well, one-way is to pay creditor $35,000. Upon receipt of payment, creditor is required by law to file a ‘satisfaction of judgment’ notice with the court. Creditor is also required by law to immediately remove the judgment lien. What if client doesn’t have $35,000? Another way is to negotiate a settlement with creditor for an amount that is less than $35,000 as full settlement of the debt. If a settlement amount is mutually agreed upon, and client pays the settlement amount timely, then creditor is required by law to file a ‘satisfaction of judgment’ and remove the lien.

Note that a negotiated settlement of a judgment lien must always be in writing. In that writing, creditor must specifically state

Client seeks to remove judgment liens on residence Senior seeks discharge of $40K credit card debt that he will accept a specific less amount than what is owed as a full settlement provided payment is received by a certain date and time. This is also called ‘accord and satisfaction’. Why is this writing required? Because if the settlement amount is timely paid, but creditor does not file the ‘satisfaction of judgment’ and withdraw the judgment lien within a reasonable time, debtor can sue creditor for specific performance of the settlement terms and force the release of the lien.

A third alternative is a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In a Chapter 7 or 13, client can file a ‘motion to avoid judicial lien on real property’ to have the court order the removal or cancellation of the lien. How does this work? This only works if the judicial lien has attached to the exempt portion of debtor’s house. For instance, debtor’s house is currently worth $600,000. She has a first mortgage of $520,000. As a result, she has equity of $80,000. The entire $80,000 is exempt under bankruptcy law in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Since, client can exempt the $80,000, she can file the motion to avoid the $20,000 judicial line on her house. She will need to obtain an appraisal report that confirms that the current fair market value of her residence is $600,000 to support her motion to avoid lien. Creditor can object to her motion to avoid lien if creditor believes that the house is worth more than $600,000. If creditor can provide an appraisal report that says the house is worth $650,000, then there is a problem. A valuation hearing will be required to have the court determine what the correct current fair market value is, $600,000 or $650,000. If the court determines that the correct value is $600,000, then the court will grant debtor’s motion and order the removal of the lien. If the court determines that $650,000 is the correct value, then debtor’s motion to avoid lien will be denied.

The credibility of the appraisers becomes the bone of contention at the valuation hearing. The court has to decide which appraiser to believe. So, the qualifications of the appraiser are important in the final outcome.

Client no. 2 is 75 years old. He receives a pension, which is good enough for his modest senior life-

style. Last year he liquidated the balance of his retirement account to pay off a portion of his credit card debt. After paying off $30K of credit card debt, he still owes today $40K. Client decided that he wants a Chapter 7 to finally be rid of the rest of his credit card debt now. A fresh start at 75 is still good than never. My oldest Chapter 7 client was 92 and he was still going strong with a 3rd wife who was 30. He was the Duracell bunny in human form.

Even at the reduced debt level of $40K, client still needs to give the lion’s share of his pension for minimum monthly payments of $1,200 to keep his cards current.

He’s been paying the $70K for 15 years at $2,300 a month minimum when he was still working.

In the last 15 years, he basically paid a fortune of $414K to keep $70K of credit cards current. If you consider $414K is more than what he currently owes on his first mortgage, he could have paid off the mortgage on his house in the last 15 years. Instead, he paid his credit cards $414K, but still owed the same $70K! Now, that just totally unfair, is it not? But most debtors just keep doing it until they retire. They think the debts will go away with minimum payments, but they remain the same, year in and year out.

When they retire, they decide they don’t have any more money to give but by that time, they already lost their chance to save the money they paid for credit card debt. Just think about it, if this client had filed for Chapter 7, fifteen years ago, he would have today, $414K of cash in the bank, or would not owe anything on his house. You don’t have to be Einstein to figure out that you have to choose the right path at the right time. A fresh start with no debt, especially at the later stage of life is the right thing to do.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.

Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015

Whatever happened alendar of Events C across to ‘Happily Ever After’?

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

“Suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless.”

(Part 2 of 3)

THERE is an onslaught of overwhelming assaults that come in all forms from just everywhere, facilitated by the startling phenomenon of social media and soul is its habitat. pilot who planned and deliberthe ease of anything going viPope Francis, fully aware and ately slammed a planeload of ral through the internet. This deeply concerned about what is passengers against an Alpine warped, perverse world we live going on in the spiritual realm in mountain, causing the death of in today seems to delight in mis- today’s world, has ordained ex- 149 people. chief and mayhem.

Who can forget about that deorcism official Catholic practice.

Against this gloomy global The greatest lie perpetrated by spondent Malaysian Airlines pilot backdrop, what is good and true the devil during modern times is who may have caused the death appear to be defenseless against to make people believe that evil of others by murder-suicide? Afunseen forces that doom per- does not exist. It does. People ter 17 months of fruitless searchsonal struggles: relationship lulled by a false sense of secu- es, debris of the ill-fated MH 370 problems, self-esteem issues, rity in believing they are not in have been recovered on Reunion financial problems, addictions, the sights of that sinister, unseen Island in the Indian Ocean close physical and mental illnesses and force, have become like the dodo, to Mauritius and Madagascar, other ills too many to mention. fat sitting ducks for evil, unwary perhaps dragged by ocean curThe result — there seems to and often caught off guard when rents from where it crashed on be far too many lonely, alienated tested.

March 08, 2014 killing 239 peopeople these days. The suicidal The dodo is gone because it ple onboard. stage is the most dreaded period did not recognize the predators And then there are the twisted of such a state of mind, when that wanted to kill it. In the spiri- beliefs of suicide bombers seekintense loneliing martyrdom. ness descends to They think they will The greatest lie perpetrated by the a deep vortex of to paradise and devil during modern times is to make people go hopelessness and be rewarded with believe that evil does not exist. It does. darkness. Suicide seventy-two virgins signals the end People lulled by a false sense of security in for their atrocity. of a futile human There are religious believing they are not in the sights of that leaders intolerant struggle.

There is avail- sinister, unseen force, have become like the of other beliefs, able help — a who incite their sliver of hope. dodo, fat sitting ducks for evil, unwary and followers to eradiPsychotherapy cate Christians and often caught off guard when tested. and the safe and Christian nations. judicious use of antidepressants tual realm, it has always been the Who can explain evil incarnate? can help keep deep depression at battle for the human soul — good There is news of suicide that bay. But that is all it does — keep versus evil. The battle is raging. hits you harder because you perit at bay. One cannot help but Sadly, many are none the wiser. sonally know the person who took think that there has to be a better With beheadings, stonings and his own life. By all accounts, he way when an alarming percent- widespread Christian persecu- has led a good life but unknown age of those who take antide- tion in the Middle East and Af- to all, was going through overpressants still throw in the towel rica by radical elements of Islam, whelming personal struggles, and end it all. and in the home front of western quietly wallowing in darkness and In simpler times, if you can civilization, the pervasive liberal- despair never wanting to cause a call and label adversity by name, ism that mocks Christian moral- ripple and simply gave up. you can figure out simple ways of ity and values by touting political In many cases, those in their defeating it. Yet now because of correctness, the world is back to immediate family orbit say, they the complexity of the world we 1 AD all over again. This is histo- never saw it coming and will be live in, we don’t call people lone- ry repeating itself — a throwback left wondering WHY. Suicide, ly. We call them depressed. They to two thousand years ago when contrary to the lyrics of a popuare diagnosed with bipolar dis- the blood of martyrs flowed, lar song, is never painless. Those order, schizophrenia, paranoia, and Nero fiddled while Rome left behind who will have to pick obsessive-compulsive disorder, burned. up the pieces deal with the heavy and a whole dizzying lexicon of This is the present social and pall of gloom and guilt that demental diseases. cultural canvass that engenders scends on them for a long time.

Two thousand years ago, our hopelessness and darkness in the (Conclusion in next week’s isancestors called the whole gam- souls of many individuals today. sue) ut of mental diseases and bizarre *** There are far too many news behavior, possession by the dev- of suicide these days and its hor- Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is il. One is no longer in charge of rible spawn, murder-suicide.

SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To one’s soul but has been overpowConsider the case of that de- send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ ered by a sinister, evil force. The ranged, suicidal Germanwings asianjournalinc.com

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America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS N OV E M B E R 5 -1 4

16th San Diego Asian Film Festival To celebrate its sweet 16th, the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is proud to welcome and pay tribute to entertainment and film legends and pioneers during its 10-day film festival, from November 5 - 14, 2015. Presented by Pacific Arts Movement, the SDAFF is the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, with more than 130 films and programs from 20 countries. This year, the SDAFF presents the West Coast premiere of documentary TYRUS, paying tribute and welcoming entertainment legend Tyrus Wong, a 105-year-old Chinese American artist who is best known for inspiring the artwork in Disney’s original classic Bambi. Other contemporary pioneers in entertainment such as Ken Jeong and Eugene Lee Yang will be present. The film festival will take place at the Ultrastar Mission Valley at Hazard Center (Main Theater & Box Office), 7510 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92108. For all screenings at Ultrastar, tickets can be purchased at the Ultrastar Mission Valley box office (Member $9, General $12) starting October 30. Student/Military/Senior and Group discounts are available at the door. Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night tickets are $15 for General, $12 for Members. Limited All-Fest Passes are available for $250. For ticketing info, film program/gala awards night details, and a full schedule, please visit festival.sdaff.org or contact 619.400.5911 | info@pacarts.org.

N OV E M B E R 1 4

Saint Martin of Tours Fiesta Invitation to Taaleños to host the celebration of the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours, the Patron Saint of Taal, Batangas, on Nov. 14. Holy Mass will be offered at 10 am at 401 Spur Trail, Walnut, CA 91789, followed by a potluck luncheon to be hosted by expats from Taal.

A ‘Silent Auction’ is planned to raise funds for the repair and beautification of the Old Catholic Cemetery. Musical entertainment will be provided by Tony Mijares of San Jose, Calif. Please contact potluck coordinators Lorna and Eddie B. de Sagun (626) 780-8272, and the following to confirm your attendance: Baby Patolot (626) 202-3172, Jeannette C. Ilagan (626) 922-4330 or Lydia V. Solis lvsolis@aol.com.

N OV E M B E R 2 0 -2 1

Free AARP TEK Mobile Technology Workshop What: A free technology workshop from AARP TEK Program AARP TEK and presented with AT&T’s generous support comes to Cerritos on Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st. Featuring 50-plus technology learners from the Cerritos area, AARP TEK representatives, and local elected officials, the “hands on” AARP TEK workshop is designed to enable people to leverage personal technology to enrich their lives and to educate the community on how they can maximize their use of their tablets and smartphones.

When: November 20th: 11 am - 1 pm: Intro to Smart Phones – Beginner Workshop 3 pm – 5 pm: Beyond the Basics: Smart Phones – Intermediate Workshop November 21st: 10 am - 12 noon: Intro to Smart Phones – Beginner Workshop 2 pm – 4 pm: Beyond the Basics: Smart Phones – Intermediate Workshop Where: Sheraton Cerritos Hotel, Garden Terrace Ballroom. 12725 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA 90703 For more information on AARP TEK or for more details on scheduled workshops, visit the Events tab on aarptek.org.

N OV E M B E R 28

Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award For Excellence In Medicine, Education, Arts & Literature and The Youth When: Saturday, November 28, 2015, 1-6 pm Where: Astoria World Manor in Astoria, Queens, NY Hosted by: Knights of Rizal - New York For More Information, please contact: Atty. Ferdinand G. Suba, Esq., KCR Commander, Knights of Rizal - NY E-mail: SUBALAW@aol.com

D EC E M B E R 3

AAPA Awards Gala Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) will host The Achievement Awards & Graduation Gala, honoring prominent leaders who trailblaze and inspire others to become leaders, and celebrating the 2015 graduating class of AAPA Mentees. The theme is “Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity.” The gala will take place on Thursday, Dec 3 from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, at the Hilton San Gabriel (225 West Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776).

Expose your brand to the professional community who are your customers, clients, potential employees, entrepreneurs, corporate and community leaders. Your support will directly benefit the AAPA mentees in the program. To purchase a ticket or ad, the cost is $50 each (limited time only); full/half/quarter page ad sizes are available in full color. Please visit http://aapaawards.eventbrite.com/ for more details and to RSVP by Nov. 13. Please get involved by emailing lia.andika@aapamentoring.com.

D EC E M B E R 5

Santo Nino de Cebu Association Annual Dinner Dance The Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc. will hold its ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER DANCE on December 5, 6pm - 12:00 midnight, at Almansor Court (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801). For more details and reservations, please contact Helah (626) 215-2684, Gemma (909) 997-1026, Nelia (818) 425-9926, Joy (909) 228-0437 or Willo (818) 458-0779.

Pasigueñans of Northern California 30th Annual Fiesta Celebration The Pasigueñans of Northern California invites all Pasigueñans, families, and friends to its 30th Annual Fiesta in honor of its patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

The annual fiesta will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm at Joseph A. Fernekes Building, in Orange Memorial Park (781 Tennis Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080). Celebration of the Holy Mass will be at 3:00pm, which will be followed by a sumptuous dinner, dancing, entertainment, and raffle drawing. For more information, please contact Flery Santos-Panganiban (707-567-4779), Polly Santiago-Cortez (925-8767695), Edna Balido-Reyes (925-260-9764), Edith Balido (925-681-9770), Chit Santos-Dalangin (707-704-7887), Marico Enriquez (650-483-8306), Oscar Rosales (707-332-4991), Jerry Field (925-681-0974), Marivic Beltran-Tuazon (707-656-1081), or Pete Saguisag (650994-0701).

D EC E M B E R 29 -3 0

Pampanga High School Class of ’65 Golden Jubilee Celebration The Class of 1965 of the Pampanga High School will hold “TULA ampong SAYA,” its 50th Anniversary Reunion, this coming December 29-30, in San Fernando Pampanga, Philippines. All 1965 graduates of the Pampanga High School (PHS), formerly the Jose Abad Santos High School (JASHS), and their spouses are welcome to all scheduled events.

Admission is free. The celebration will begin with BISPERAS on December 29 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, enjoying fun games, old music, and togetherness at the DIASPORA FARM RESORT in Santa Barbara, Bacolor, Pampanga. On December 30, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, join us for KAPIYESTAN, a provincial fiesta luncheon featuring familiar Kapampangan dishes, at the Mulang Galang orchard in San Antonio, Mexico, Pampanga. The evening of Dec. 30 will conclude with TERAKAN, a gala dinner-dance from 6:30 pm to 12 midnight, at the Fortune Hongkong Seafood Restaurant in the San Fernando, Pampanga. Enjoy a fun evening of dancing to the retro music of Decadas and the mellow songs of folksinger Jerry. Class ‘65ers, please join us in celebrating our 50th Golden Anniversary! Full details on preparations, events and venues can be found on “TULA ampong SAYA,” on Facebook.

For donations, interest in the 50th Anniversary Reunion souvenir memory book, highlighting the successes of individual Class ‘65ers and the accomplishments of the PHS Class ’65 Foundation, Inc., please contact the jubilee reunion organizing committee in the Philippines: Joseph Deang (0927-228-8588); Erlie Aquino Estandarte (0929-219-0248); Corazon Cunanan (0939-118-2888; 0926-660-35540); Cecille Morales Bernas (0932-509-2646); and Marcial Morales (0918-915-9095); and Dan Galang 0929-427-9308; 045-966-0764). In the US and Canada, please contact Dan Galang at (510) 487-5551 or at (510) 648-1047.

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

B NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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Modifying child and spousal support obligation after a divorce

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes DIVORCED parties are sometimes ordered to pay child support and spousal support in the divorce judgment. The support orders are generally based on the parties’ financial situation and custody arrangements at the time of the settlement or trial.

However, what if your income decreases after the divorce or what if your spouse’s income increases after the divorce due to a promotion or a better paying job? Do you have the right to modify your support obligation?

If your income has gone down substantially from the time that the child or spousal support determination, you may be able to file a modification of your support obligation. Losing a job or having less income constitutes a material change of circumstances that would allow the court to modify down your support obligations.

Child support in California is based on a guideline formula.

One of the factors that is considered in the guideline formula is your gross income. Usually the court would look at several months or even an average of the last 12 months of income. If your average income has decreased,

you may be able to modify your child support to a lower amount.

Bear in mind that there are other factors that come in the equation such as the amount of actual timeshare you spend with your child and the income of the other parent. If the other parent’s income has gone down, this may adversely affect your child support obligation.

Spousal support may also be modified unless you stipulated in a divorce judgment that it is non modifiable. However, spousal support are usually calculated differently than guideline. The court will look at other factors in deciding whether to modify this.

Those factors are listed in family code section 4320.

If you are unemployed, the other party may be expected to try to impute income on you.

However in light of the recent cases in California, they would have to prove that you had the ability and the opportunity to obtain employment.

If your income has gone down or your spouse’s income has increased as a result of a new job, a promotion, or you got laid off or hours cut, it may be possible to modify both your child sup-

port and spousal support obligation. Without modifying the order, the current order will continue to be in effect and the same amount will accrue regardless of whether your income declined or your spouse income increased.

It is important to file a post judgment request for order to modify support as soon as your financial situation changes. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

(Advertising Supplement)

People and Events

AAPCHO submits comments calling for stronger language assistance services Updated rule will help ensure AA & NHOPIs and other underserved communities have equal access to health care WASHINGTON – The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), today submitted comments on the Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities proposed rule published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The proposed rule would establish key provisions to prohibit discrimination in health care, including requirements related to language assistance services that would protect the rights of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (AA & NHOPI) to

access care and coverage.

“We are committed to ensuring that all individuals, including AA & NHOPIs, have equal and fair access to health care, regardless of the language they speak,” said Jeffrey Caballero, executive director of AAPCHO. “Improved language service requirements and stronger nondiscrimination protections are crucial to achieving this goal.”

AA & NHOPIs are the fastest growing minority group in the United States and are highly diverse in their language and health needs, represent-

ing more than 50 ethnic groups and 100 languages. One-third of the population is considered Limited English Proficient (LEP) and is significantly impacted by language assistance services in health care.

AAPCHO submitted comments in support of the proposed rule and urged the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), responsible for enforcing the regulations, to ensure that the final rule contains provisions that guarantee AA & NHOPIs and other LEP individuals have equal access to the

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PeoPle & events

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015

‘ReminiSing with Becca Godinez’ – it’s a group thing

CARL BUFFA’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. Carl Buffa, president of Care Plus Home Care, Home Health and Hospice, celebrated his birthday party with his family and close friends. He was surprised by well-wishers and was elated to be with his loved ones. His wife Cora arranged the sumptuous meal featuring Middle Eastern food and a surprise performance by a belly dancer. Cora and Carl recently traveled to Europe and enjoyed their “honeymoon vacation.” We wish you many more of fruitful years to come, Carl!

AAPCHO submits comments calling for stronger…

PAGE B4 t

health care they need. In its comments, AAPCHO recommended: • Requiring written translation services in states or service areas that have five percent or 1,000 LEP persons who speak any one language; • That notices sent to newly covered individuals be available in the top 15 languages of LEP individuals in the state; • Including an in-language tagline on vital documents to inform LEP individuals of their language rights;

EMPLOYMENT

• Establishing a stronger definition of who is a “qualified interpreter” within health services; • Ensuring proper patient data collection; and • Ensuring that the entities covered by this regulation are held accountable.

“We look forward to continuing to work with OCR, our member health centers and other partners to ensure that these regulations are implemented, and that all communities can truly benefit from the Affordable Care Act,” Caballero added.

A copy of AAPCHO’s full comments is available at http://bit. ly/1SboyiT. About AAPCHO AAPCHO is a national association of 35 community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration, and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States. For more information on AAPCHO and its Guiding Principles and Values, please visit www.aapcho.org. n

EMPLOYMENT

BECCA Godinez will take center stage on November 21, 2015 on the occasion of PeDRO’s 11th Anniversary Celebration. PeDRO is Philippine Disaster Relief Organization – made up of dedicated men and women who are ever present and ready to assist in the aftermath of disasters. This event will allow PeDRO to raise funds which will in turn grant them the capacity to work effectively on their mission and goals.

Singer, songwriter, actress producer and director, Becca Godinez, has put together a line-up of memorable songs picked from different eras and genres of music that have touched and influenced her. “Working with killer musicians and vocalists onstage becomes such an exciting experience for me. Music makes my heart smile and getting to work with talented artists is icing on the cake,” Becca said. She knows that no show is ever singularly successful. Without the artists and all of the people that work on the production, a show just can’t go on. “It’s a group thing”, she says.

Each person involved with

Becca Godinez

the concert has donated a portion of their fees to PeDRO’s worthy cause. Every aspect of the creative process - - from the artistic poster designed by Celina Taganas-Duffy to direction and co-production ideas exchanged with Ted Benito of PAE, Live! - to song arrangements by Yong Nalasa…”ReminiSing” is touched by a common thread PeDRO’s purpose. Onstage will be Musical Director and wicked guitarist, Myke Gonzaga. Bass-

EMPLOYMENT

PSYCHIC

B

ist is Bryant Simpson who plays his bass lines with such effortless flair. Versatile Brazilian keyboardist is Sandro Rebel, drums are by Rolly Quizon whose drum style has been labeled an “experience.” Finally, Noel Lopez will play second keyboards and will wail his pure and powerful saxophone style.

Becca, who loves to harmonize and blend vocal sounds, has hand-picked awesome soloists for back-up vocals support. Clive Green, May Nalasa Butler and Becca’s daughter, Natasha McClellan will surely amaze.

Please come and be a part of the journey. You eat, you watch a concert, and you party. Buy your tickets now! “ReminiSing with Becca Godinez” will be held on November 21st at the Renaissance Hotel on 111 Ocean Blvd.

Long Beach, CA. Tickets are $85 which includes dinner, dancing, the concert and free parking. For tickets please call B. Francisco at (323) 828-7648 or B. Miranda at (310) 600-5675. If it’s busy, leave a message and someone will call you as soon as possible. n

B NOVEMBER 11-13, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

The Asian Journal

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 11, 2015

Veterans Day 2015

Of bravery, freedom and correcting history: Honoring all who served

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe

A LOT of people in the United States do not know the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. For one, they mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day that America honors military personnel—either who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in combat. It is, in fact, Memorial Day, that honors America’s war dead.

On the other hand, Veterans Day, honors ALL American veterans—both living and dead.

The day is largely intended to thank the living veterans for their dedication and loyal service to the US. History of Veterans Day Unknown to many, “Veterans Day” was started and internationally known as “Armistice Day” to commemorate the ending of World War I, or the “Great War.” An unknown soldier was buried in the highest place of honor in both England and France and these ceremo-

/ AJPress

nies took place on November 11, celebrating the end of WWI at 11am, November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month of the year).

It was only in 1921 when the US followed France and England—by putting to rest the remains of an unknown WWI soldier, in Washington, DC. The site became known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and is now called the Tomb of the Unknowns, located in Arlington National Cemetery. November 11 was known as Armistice Day through the act of Congress in 1926. Twelve years later, a similar act made the day a national holiday.

It was in 1947 when Raymond Weeks of Alabama, organized a “Veterans Day” parade on November 11 to honor all of America’s veterans for their service. Shortly thereafter, Congressman Edward H. Rees of Kansas introduced legislation to change Armistice Day to

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

An Unsung Hero Ramon Regalado, 57th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Co. L is an unsung hero and one of the last remaining frontline soldiers (machine gun operator) during World War II in the Philippines.

Today at 98 years old, he still recalls vividly the fierce battles of Mabatang (Abucay) and La Loma Point where many of his fellow soldiers died.

A Tale of Two Friends

California Department of Education State Superintendent Tom Torlakson during his speech at Bataan Legacy Historical Society’s first annual conference last October 24

Veterans Day in order to honor all veterans who have served the US in all wars.

The bill was signed in 1954

by President Dwight Eisenhower, making November 11 as Veterans Day. The war to end all wars: After WWI World War I was thought to be the “war to end all wars.”

However, that belief was shattered when WWII broke out in Europe and Asia-Pacific Islands, with more than 400,000 American service members died.

On December 7,1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and eventually started a military campaign to invade Asia and the Pacific Islands, including Guam, Wake Island, the Dutch East Indies, Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore, Burma and the Philippines.

The Philippines during the outbreak of WWII was a Commonwealth of the United States, and when President Franklin Roosevelt declared war against Japan after the bombing of

Veteran Oscar Leonar of the 2th Bomb Squadron with Congressman Mike Honda

Filipino veteran and Bataan Death March survivor David Tejada of the 12 Signal Co

Guillermo (Emong) Garcia and Luis (Sitong) Gaerlan, Jr. were best friends in college at De La Salle in Manila and graduated in 1940 with degrees in accounting. Emong joined the Philippine Air Corps after graduation while Sitong managed the Rice Mill Cooperative in Imus, Cavite. During the outbreak of WWII, Emong was a flight instructor at Zablan Field while Sitong was conscripted into the 41st Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East in November, 1941. They both ended up in Bataan and reunited at Camp O’Donnell where they became prisoners of war after going through the Bataan Death March. They remained lifelong friends until last year when Sitong passed away. But even in the face of death, Emong told his best buddy that someday soon, they will be together again in a better place. Both men inspired the founding of Bataan Legacy Historical Society. (By Cecilia Garland, Executive Director, Bataan Legacy Historical Society)

Pearl Harbor, the ravages of war did not come to the US. Instead, the war was fought in the Philippines, where thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died and million civilians perished.

The US Army Forces of the Far East (USAFFE, consisted of 12,000 Philippine Scouts, 19,000 Americans and 118,000 Philippine Commonwealth troops) were able to disrupt the timetable of the Imperial Japanese Army and prevented them from Continued on Page 4

Continued on Page 3

Pinoy-British singer eliminated from ‘X Factor’ UK

By Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

A 24-year-old Filipino-British contestant on “The X Factor UK” was sent home Sunday, Nov. 8, following a double-elimination round on the televised talent competition.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” contestant Seann Miley Moore said in an interview following his elimination. “But the show must go on.”

The Filipino-British sang “A Song For You” by Donny Hathaway, but received the fewest public votes and was sent off the show with another contestant, Kiera Weathers.

“I genuinely can’t believe that they were in the bottom two,” said his mentor Nick Grimshaw. “I can’t believe Seann is going. I can’t believe.”

Moore was also surprised to be leaving, he told X Factor hosts Melvin Odoom and Rochelle Humes.

“I know I have a lot to give and yeah I’m excited. I will take this is a positive thing and the show must go on,” he said.

features

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 11, 2015

Sumo All-You-Can-Eat Buffet offers its renovated Banquet Hall for parties SUMO ASIAN BUFFET AND GRILL in San Fernando Valley proudly announces the opening of its renovated BANQUET HALL that can seat a maximum of 300 people. FOR THOSE WITH HUGE EVENTS COMING UP SOON ESPECIALLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON THAT REQUIRE MULTIPLE SEATING, call (818) 887 2688 for special rates and group discounts. SUMO is located at 21610 Victory Blvd.

Woodland Hills CA 91367.

Seann Miley Moore

“It’s a crazy machine, but it’s amazing professionals that will help you to become better.

And that’s the thing, you want to grow and experience this world and have that amazing production and you live up there and you guys make the fantasy reality,” he added.

Moore also said he will continue pursuing his dream of performing at Madison Square Garden in New York.

His elimination leaves girl group 4th Impact as the sole Filipino act in the show. The

group is now part of The X Factor UK’s Top 9 and has been confirmed to be on the third live show next week.

Moore was born and raised in Australia to a British father and Filipino mother. He revealed that he plans to remain in the UK after reconnecting with his British heritage, the Daily Mail reported.

“My dad is from Hammersmith. It’s so wonderful to reconnect with my British heritage. I am here to reconnect with my roots,” he said.

The holidays are just around the corner.

Calling ALL COORDINATORS for sizable family parties and office holiday events seeking an ALLYOU-CAN EAT BUFFET PLACE place offering superb food selection, ambience and great location at competitive pricing, look no farther. SUMO IS THE PLACE. It offers a whole range of sushi, seafood and Asian fusion cuisine that is the talk of the town. Book now and inquire about their big group discounts for large parties — (818) 887 2688.

Honor his art: John Lloyd Cruz gets a fresh, daring turn

by Arvin

gAye MendozA Inquirer.net

AcTOR John Lloyd cruz is unfazed that his latest crimedrama movie “Honor Thy Father (conman)” may not appeal to the taste of his fans.

The film, directed by Erik Matti, opened the cinema One Originals Festival 2015 which officially commenced on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Trinoma, Quezon city.

“Whether they like it or not, for me that’s not the point at all.

We just wanted to tell a story,” said John Lloyd in an interview.

Patronized by his supporters for his memorable romantic comedy and drama projects, John Lloyd is excited to know if his fans are ready to see him in a different genre.

“I want to know if they are ready. At the end of the day, it’s just cinema. And I happen to be an actor. Where else would I appear but on films?” he said.

“We have been hearing from people that they want something

John Lloyd Cruz

new, something fresh. This is the good answer. If that’s what you want, then you might want to consider watching this film,” he said.

“Honor Thy Father,” which will adopt the new title “conman” for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, tells the story of a married couple Edgar (John Lloyd) and Kaye (Meryll Soriano) who find themselves in a miserable situation after getting embroiled in a Ponzi scheme, a deceitful investment operation.

The film first premiered at the

Toronto International Film Festival last September.

John Lloyd, who is more identified to his blockbuster mainstream projects, downplayed the idea that his appearance on an independent film signals a career move. “I just wanted to make a film and be a part of the cinema and this art. So when I got invited to be a part of it, that’s really all I’m after,” he said.

It was the first time John Lloyd starred in an independent film. He admitted that he found it challenging to adjust during the filming process.

“The changes that I had to face were hard especially when we started filming. Of course the beat is different and it was my first time with Direk Erik. The adjustment period is tough,” he said.

In the film, John Lloyd did several emotional heavy scenes and even shaved his head in just one take. He was also seen digging through a tunnel in his robbery attempt as an acetylene gang member.

SUMO’s Teppanyaki and grill section gives a lot of bang for the buck. They offer great rates: $11.49 for lunch from Monday through Friday and $17.99 for dinner from Monday through Thursday. Call them for details. Senior Citizens Discount of 10% is given to those 65 and above with valid ID. Diners have noted that on Mondays and Tuesdays, this discount is bumped up to 20% only during certain promotional seasons. SUMO is located at 21610 Victory Blvd. Woodland Hills CA 91367. It sits in a corner of a big shopping and dining complex where there is ample parking space.

features Heart Evangelista: Politics won’t Piolo Pascual reveals Christmas plans affect relationship with family 4

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 11, 2015

by ChuCk

by

AlixAndrA CAole VilA Philstar.com

MANILA—Piolo Pascual already has his plans for the upcoming Yuletide season.

During the Ayala Malls Christmas launch today, the 38-year-old actor told Philstar. com that he will be spending

Smith Philstar.com

the holidays in Japan.

“My family and I are going to Japan for the holidays. There are more than 20 of us actually,” he said.

Last year, Piolo spent the Christmas in the US with his whole family, and he considers it as one of the most memo-

Piolo Pascual, who is already working on TV and movie projects for next year, has set his plans for the Christmas season.

rable Christmas he ever had.

“Last year was one of the most memorable Christmas for me, because one of my wishes, to spend the Christmas with my family in the States, in one house, has happened,” he said.

Piolo also shared that although Christmas is known as a gift-giving holiday, he is not really expecting any big material gift this year.

According to him, he does not really want tangible gifts for Christmas; seeing his family and having a good time with them is more than enough of a gift.

“I just want my kids and my loved ones to really take it all in and enjoy, take some time off from work, school, just really enjoy each other’s company,” Piolo shared.

Piolo will be performing this Christmas alongside Daryl Ong of The Voice of the Philippines in Trinoma on November 5 in line with Ayala Mall’s annual Christmas treat. The aptly titled “Frankly Speaking” musical concert is also staged at Ayala Malls all throughout the holidays.

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old actor is currently working on the TV drama “Written In Our Stars,” which will air on ABSCBN next year. The soap opera, which also stars Toni Gonzaga, Sam Milby and Jolina Magdangal, tackles love, destiny and unrequited love.

MANILA—”Something like that shouldn’t really bother us.

It’s not a problem.”

This is how Heart Evangelista responded when asked to comment on mother Cecilia Ongpauco’s support for Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s presidential bid.

Ongpauco expressed her intention to support Santiago during the senator’s meet-and-greet forum at the University of the Philippines last month.

Miriam is running against Sen. Grace Poe, the running mate of Heart’s husband Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

In an interview during the launch of her beauty book “This is Me, Heart Marie” on Sunday, Nov. 8, the GMA-7 actress said she was aware her mother with attend Santiago’s political event.

“It was perfectly fine that she would go because it’s natural. She (Santiago) is the friend of my mom,” Heart told Philstar.com and other reporters.

She added that her mother’s support for Miriam should not be an issue, saying her

mother has “the right to look at every body, kung sino talaga ang gusto natin.”

“Ang pulitika naman, dapat labas talaga ang pamilya at friendship. Kasi maraming nagaaway na pamilya pagdating sa pulitika; hindi kami ganun,” she said.

Heart added: “And I’m very confident that my family is very strong after everything we’ve been through.”

It can be remembered that Heart and her parents, Cecilia and Reynaldo, had a falling out due to Heart’s relationship with Escudero.

However, Heart mended fences with family months after the actress tied the knot with Escudero.

The 30-year-old actress said Santiago understands that she has to stand by her husband during the elections. Santiago has close ties with the GMA-7’s family and was the one help Escudero meet Heart.

Heart talked to members of the press to promote her beauty book published by Summit Media.

Mainly a make-up and beauty guide, Heart said the

Heart Evangelista shows off her beauty book “This is Me, Love Marie” during its launch at the National Bookstore at Glorietta, Ayala Center in Makati City on Sunday, November 8.

Philstar.com photo by Chuck Smith

book “a little bit of my life in it... wala akong tinago, pati mga flaws ko.”

“Feeling ko I have a really colorful life, especially since I’m in showbiz, ang dami kong pinagdaanan. I felt like it was just right for me to come up with a book, especially a beauty book because that’s how I started out, as a kikay girl,” she said.

Pinay transgender Trixie Maristela is 2015 Miss Int’l Queen And

by JoJo GAbinete CelSo de GuzmAn CApArAS Philstar.com

Fellow contestants pose for a ‘family picture’ Friday night at the 2015 Miss International Queen pageant, with winners (from left) Velasca Dominic of Brazil (first runner-up), Trixie Maristela of the Philippines (2015 title-holder) and Supida Siriwattananukoon of Thailand (second runner-up).

MANILA—Filipina transgender Trixie Maristela beat 26 other aspirants for the 2015 Miss International Queen Friday night at the Tiffany’s Theater in Pattaya, Thailand. She is the second Filipina to bag the crown after Kevin Balot in 2012.

Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the pageant started in 2004, open to transgender women aged 18 to 36 from around the world.

Proceeds from the pageant are donated to Thailand’s Royal AIDS Foundation.

Her prizes included 400,000 Continued on Page 5

Of bravery, freedom and...

From Page 2

reaching Australia. This delay enabled the US and its Allied Forces to harness the necessary resources to turn the tide of war that led to their ultimate victory. Without Bataan, the war would have lasted much longer or worse, our political landscape today could even be different.

However, the US could not fight the war in two fronts and the troops in Bataan were abandoned. While President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed to save Europe first, the defenders of Bataan fought without any air or naval support, food, reinforcement and ammunition. Weak, hungry and with no support, the soldiers surrendered on April 9, 1942, most of them suffering from disease and starvation.

They were forced to march some 60 miles in searing heat, with no provisions for food, water or shelter. This became known as the infamous Bataan Death March, where approximately 10,000 Filipinos and 750 American troops died. Once inside their prison camp at Camp O’Donnell, another 25,000 Filipino and American soldiers died.

During the liberation of the Philippines in 1945, the Filipino people paid a heavy price. Manila, once called the Pearl of the Orient, became the second most devastated city in the world after Warsaw. Approximately 100,000 civilians died in Manila between February and March 1945. By the end of the war, approximately 1,000,000 Filipino civilians perished.

Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS) and AB199 Only remembered as the largest single surrender in US military history, the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942 has been hidden away in US history because of the stigma of defeat.

The Filipino soldiers’ role during WWII and the suffering of the entire Filipino nation are not mentioned in US history books.

Furthermore, five months after the war ended, President Truman signed the First Surplus Rescission Act in February 1946, which deemed the service of the Filipino soldiers as not full-time, thereby disqualifying them from receiving their rightful benefits.

Many have died without receiv-

ing their benefits. Only handful now are still alive and waiting.

There are only a few of them left and with each passing goes a piece of this history. Once they are all gone, this seminal point in history will be forever lost.

Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS), a nonprofit organization, was conceived and created to address the lack or even absence of information about the Filipino defenders of WWII. In 2011, the California legislature passed AB199, a bill which encourages the inclusion of the Filipinos’ role during WWII in the Social Studies curriculum for Grades 7-12. Unfortunately, after its passage, its implementation has not taken place.

“While the bill had the intention of giving credit to the Filipino soldiers of WWII, the tenuous verbiage in the bill (“encourages” instead of “requires”) is probably one of the main reasons why it has never been implemented,” wrote BLHS Executive Director Cecilia Gaerlan.

Working hard to make this happen, BLHS last year initiated a petition to the California Department of Education through change.org to implement this legislation. The long and arduous process involves submitting a curriculum framework, edits and discussions to the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC), an advisory body to the California State Board of Education (SBE) on matters related to curriculum, instructional materials, and content standards.

“While the Department of Education clearly intends to implement AB199, the process of revising the curriculum framework is a long, arduous process involving ten steps,” explained Gaerlan. She also added that her last meeting with IQC was only Step 6.

During BLHS’ first annual conference last October 24 at the San Francisco Public Library, organizations, Filipino and American veterans (with their friends and families), community leaders and politicians were present to show their support.

“I oversee the education of 6 million students in 10,000 schools, so I am very determined to make sure that history

is very accurate,” said California Department of Education State Superintendent Tom Torlakson during his speech. He also stressed the importance of knowing history and how to avoid its mistakes.

Others who also showed their support for Filipino veterans were Congressman Mike Honda, State Assembly Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore David Chiu, Chief Johnny Johnson of the USS San Francisco, Major Gen. Richard Keith, 11th Airborne/511th Parachute Infantry, Major Gen. Eldon Regua of the National Filipino Veterans & Education Project and Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Henry Bensurto, Jr. BLHS is also coordinating closely with other organizations that support and advocate veterans and civilians who were affected by wars such as the Battling Bastards of Batan, Filipino Veterans Foundation, Veterans Equity Center, Memorare Manila 1945, BataanCorregidor Memorial Foundation, Roderick Hall Collection on WWII in the Philippines, Maywood Bataan Day Organization, Bay Area Civilians Ex-Prisoners of War (BACE-POW) and the McMicking Foundation.

Lastly, Gaerlan added that in order to fully comprehend WWII in the Philippines, we should go beyond the mandate of AB199 and present the war not just from the Filipino soldiers’ point of view but from all facets -including the American soldiers, civilians and other nationalities that were affected. In fact, although AB199 is only for California’s curriculum, it is a start.

Putting the word out has gotten the attention of organizations (even non-Filipino groups) in other states, and even in the Philippines.

“To portray history accurately, we must include the Americans,” she said. “It is only in presenting a comprehensive view can we fully understand the impact of the war and the sacrifices that were made in order to bring the freedom that we are enjoying today.”

For more information about Bataan Legacy Historical Society, log on to www.bataanlegacy.org. *Photos by Bob O’Brien and Don Downey.

Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

IT is said that choice is destiny’s soulmate. It is not predestined; you have a choice to accept or refuse one turn down the crossroads to the future or another.

By not choosing, we allow others to decide for us. If you didn’t make the choice, you can not blame someone else if you are unhappy.

As you retrace your journey, were you deliberate and impulsive? Was the choice made with your heart, mind or gut? Were you comfortable with your style of decision making or do you cringe?

Did you weigh the options, ponder the possibilities, brood, pray for guidance or ask your heart?

Every choice I make is a leap in the dark with the hope that I’ll land on my feet. With the notion that regret can only be for things you have done -never things you did not do but could have done -- I believed in Hemingway’s “right decisions are the wrong decision rightly made (think of Bergman’s choice of Rossellini).

I always lived out my choices and never looked back (think of Lot’s wife) for a long time; though eventually, I glanced back with hindsight to see whether it was wise or wrong. In calculating risks, I did the best that one could. The Spirit asks for nothing more, so why should

you?

I’ve never confused bad choices with wrong choices because we have all made bad choices happen when we embark on sinous stretches of self-destruction, usually with a smile.

You didn’t ask your heart or best friend for advice. You didn’t ponder, and certainly didn’t pray. Why is that so? Because on the deepest intuitive level, you know you shouldn’t even be entertaining the thought of this choice, but you want to do it so badly that even its badness doesn’t daunt you.

In fact, it eggs you on. Even with closed eyes, you knew and saw that disaster was coming.

It is said that bad choices are made while we’re sleepwalking. Then, we wake up asking, “How could I have been so stupid?” Was that what psychiatrists meant by “coma choices?”

In a lifetime, I’ve made wise choices, good choices, strong choices, courageous choices and happy choices. For the brilliant decisions, we just don’t remember many of them.

That’s because we shrug off any good thing that arrives in our lives as if it were a fluke, a lucky break or a misdelivery.

Certainly, I’ve never given myself credit -- only when things don’t work out, only when I make mistakes and stumble on missteps do I feel responsible.

That is when I can claim all the blames.

Many of us think of choice as a spiritual gift, a burden to be endured, not embraced.

However, after breath, is there a more precious gift than free will?

At this exact moment in life, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you are, who you’re with. They are all direct results of choices you made once upon a time, be it 40 minutes or 40 years ago. From the time you got out of bed, made breakfast, brought the children to school and showed up to work on time, you’ve already made more than three choices before 9 am.

Think of having to make 365 choices in order to spend the distance between your dreams and having them come true.

The wrong choice is not necessarily a bad choice and we don’t know if it is wise or wrong until we lived it. We’re torn between the agonizing “should” and “shouldn’t”s in an inner debate that began to rage into melancholy remorse.

What we will be searching for are choices which gave the moment that made a difference in the trajectory of one’s life --through the successes and failures that define us.

Through the loves and hates, gains and losses, promises and pain, we bore one through the risks and ruins, tumults and triumphs that set one free.

We reflect on all the perfectly reasonable choices that derailed one’s dreams, as we try to brush off clinging and hiding half-truths which have haunted us all these years. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

Pinay transgender Trixie Maristela is...

From Page 4 baht (roughly P526,400) cash and gifts from the sponsors.

Her runners-up were Valesca Dominic Ferraz of Brazil (first) and Supida Siriwattananukoon of Thailand (second). The other two Philippine bets, Francine Garcia and Michelle Binas, made it to the Top 10 semi-finalists.

A Pasig City resident, Trixie, 29, is a BA European Languages graduate from the UP Diliman,

features

A question of choice

who aspires to be a human rights lawyer. A multi-awarded, she was 2015 Miss Gay Manila, 2014 Super Sireyna Worldwide first runner-up, 2014 Super Sireyna Philippines, 2014 Super Sireyna Queen of the Sky, 2011 Manila’s Five Prettiest, 2011 Miss Gay Philippines-Universe and 2009 Amazing Philippine Beauties first runner-up.

Super Sireyna is a pageant for exceptional individuals on GMA 7’s “Eat, Bulaga!”

She’s a Viva Artists Agency contract star.

Special awardees were Satsuki of Japan, Miss Photogenic; Nicole Fontanelli of Italy, Best Evening Gown; Sofiya Iya of Australia, Best National Costume; Dayana Valenzuela of Peru, Miss Friendly; Taliah of Australia, Best Talent and Supida Siriwattananukoon of Thailand, Miss Ripley’s Popular Vote.

Other transgender beau-

5

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 11, 2015

Mango Mix

Being kind to loved ones

by Martin

Jason l. ita-as

A LITTLE kindness goes a long way. People nowadays don’t seem to remember this old saying. The result is often an unending cycle of hate, viciousness and anger.

Learning to be kind to people close to you is the first step to learning how to take things in stride and how helping another can help benefit not only the person receiving it but help you learn about how your kindness can help people and what small acts of goodwill can do: Find a new reason to compliment A compliment is a great way to boost somebody’s mood. Knowing that they’re being appreciated or noticed makes a lot of people feel good about themselves and can instill confidence in themselves. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get a compliment back.

Do something nice for somebody It’s often the unexpected surprises that bring the most joy. Try doing something nice for somebody like doing a chore before he or she gets to it or maybe making breakfast if you know he or she is going to be busy that morning.

Chat it out Always spend a little time

to chat with your loved ones.

Whether it’s your friends, family, co-workers or anybody else you’re close to, a little communication can do wonders. it may be a bit awkward at first if it isn’t a regular thing among peers, but even a short conversation can help you become comfortable enough to open up to others and vice versa.

Buy a treat for somebody you care for Much like doing a good deed without being asked, be spontaneous and buy somebody you care about a gift from out of the blue. It could be as simple as their favorite flavor of ice cream or something sweet like a keychain that can remind them of something special. A gift is a great way to show you appreciate them.

Mix up your evening plans Sometimes sticking to the same routine can bore or irritate people to the point where they find fault in others. Try mixing

ties who competed were from Mexico, Belgium, France, USA, Turkey, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Mauritius.

Besides her regal bearing, Trixie impressed the judges with her intelligence.

To the question “How do you compare beauty inside and beauty outside?,” Trixie answered, “Beauty from the inside starts from the heart but beauty from outside is just a physical appearance. In the end, what matters is…beauty

in the inside will radiate outside because a true queen does not want just a beautiful face or golden crown but a true queen also possess a golden heart.“ In an interview with PEP, Trixie confessed, “I still can’t believe that I won. Right now, I don’t know what I’m gonna do next but I’m very thankful to be given this chance to be Miss International Queen, a very prestigious pageant for transgender like me…This kind of pageant empowers trans-

it up every day or every week.

Play boardgames one evening, go out to trendy restaurants on the next and maybe enjoy a night in the town on another evening. This keeps things fresh and it makes you and those around you excited to see what comes next.

So, show a little kindness today. Pay it forward and watch positivity grow inside your home and even within yourself.

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women like us because Thailand, especially the organizers of Miss International Queen, made us feel that we’re very important people and because of that, we gained confidence and we’re empowered to do whatever it is…It feels overwhelming and I feel so blessed winning two crowns (Miss Gay Manila and Miss International Queen) at the same time. I dedicate this to my family and most specially to my trans-family not just in the Philippines but in the world.”

6

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 11, 2015

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