LA Midweek Edition -- November 18 -- 20, 2015

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November 18-20, 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. 90 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages

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Obama: US commitment to defend PH is ‘ironclad’ US to give 2 ships in response to S. China Sea

WITh a towering warship behind him, US President Barack Obama announced Tuesday, Nov. 17 that the United States would hand over two ships to the Philippine Navy to boost its maritime security capabilities, in a bid to show the United States and its allies won’t be cowed by China in disputed waters far off its coast.

Obama said the ships—one US Coast Guard cutter and one research vessel—were part of a broader American plan to scale up assistance to naval forces in Southeast Asia, where coastal nations feel threatened by China’s aggressive moves to assert control over the South China Sea. Obama said the United States had an “ironclad commitment� to the Philippines—a US treaty ally—and a mutual commitment to free and safe navigation at sea. “More capable navies, in partnership with the United States, are critical to the security of this President Barack Obama arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to attend the APEC summit in Manila on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The US would hand over two ships to the Philippine Navy to boost its maritime security capabilities, in a bid to show the United States and its allies won’t be cowed by region,� Obama said as he opened a six-day tour China in disputed waters far off its coast.

Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo IV of the Philippines and Malaysia.

USA

DATELINE Fil-Am appointed court commissioner for San Bernardino County Superior Court FROM ThE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

LOS ANGELES—The Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) congratulates Winston Keh on his appointment as Court Commissioner for the San Bernardino County Superior Court. he will take his oath of office on November 30, 2015.

Commissioner Keh joined the PABA Board Winston Keh of Governors in 2007. he served as the President in 2013. Commissioner Keh also served as a board member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) in 2012 through 2013. he is an accomplished litigator with extensive trial experience in defending and prosecuting tort cases and business

he said the ships would help the Philippines navigate and patrol its territorial waters.

Obama never mentioned China by name as he stood in front of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a onetime US-owned frigate, but the intended recipient of his message was clear.

As regional tensions with China have simmered in recent years, Washington has sought out symbolic ways to counter Beijing’s claims in the region without putting itself in direct confrontation with the powerhouse nation.

Earlier this month, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter boarded a US aircraft carrier plodding through the South China Sea, a week after a US Navy destroyer patrolled close to a reef where China is building an artificial island and has asserted a 22-kilometer territorial boundary. The United States has refused to comply with China’s self-proclaimed air defense zone over the South China Sea.

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Aquino: APEC not limiting, allows leaders to think out of the box

by Kristine

Angeli Inquirer.net

sAbillo

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday, Nov. 17 said he is impressed by the concept of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the fact that it is unlike other regional partnerships. “APEC is unique in that it does not produce binding commitments. This only means that we

are not confined by certain limits: leaders can think out of the box; discussions can be more freewheeling,� Aquino told the audience at the APEC Small-Medium Enterprises Summit in Makati. “Some might think that this is an obstacle to productivity. They would be mistaken. When we come together in APEC, we are President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Asia-Pacific united by the desire to bring sta- Economic Cooperation (APEC) Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Summit

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Philstar.com

MANILA—In what would turn out to be a fortuitous decision, Filipina Marilou Navales and her French husband, Thomas Rouxel, decided to transfer from their seats in front of the stage to the back of the Bataclan Theater on that fateful Friday the 13th in Paris.

As the couple settled down, they heard explosions, which they thought were fireworks and part of the program.

To their horror, the couple said they saw people in front of the stage falling

down one by one “like a wave.�

Rouxel told GMA News that they decided to run upstairs and go to the rooftop, “but there was no way to escape. We found a small room and we decided to stay there.�

They were among the lucky survivors of the worst terrorist attacks to hit France since World War II. At least 129 people were killed in separate attacks across Paris.

Together with other people, Rouxel said he and his wife prayed while waiting for help.

The gunmen tried to open the room’s

by MArvin sy And ChristinA Mendez Philstar.com

door.

Fortunately, the authorities started to arrive at the theater and the terrorists’ attention was diverted.

It took more than two hours for help to arrive, Rouxel recalled.

Travel advisories The Philippine embassy in Paris urged Filipinos in France to exercise vigilance and caution following the coordinated gun and suicide-bombing attacks across Paris that left more than 150 people dead and 352 injured.

The embassy issued an advisory asking

MANILA—With a vote of 54, the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) junked on Tuesday, Nov. 17 the petition to disqualify Sen. Grace Poe in the 2013 senatorial race over her citizenship.

The SET, composed of six senators and three Supreme Court (SC) justices, upheld that Poe, a foundling, is a natural-born Filipino and eligible to keep her Senate seat.

Except for Sen. Nancy Binay, five other senator-members of the SET voted to dismiss the petition filed by losing senatorial candidate Rizalito David in the 2013 midterm polls.

They were Sens. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Pia Cayetano, Loren

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2015 in Makati City on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

MalacaĂąang photo

Pinay, husband in Paris: People fell like a wave

by MAyen JAyMAlin

Grace Poe wins SET case, next hurdle is presidential disqualification

Over 120 killed in Paris attacks, Coalition alleges railroading of new SF including Cal State Long Beach student THANKSGIVING SAVINGS! commercial project u PAGE A3

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by Agnes

SAN FRANCISCO– Members of a citywide coalition concerned with the economic and social impacts of new development in the city’s South of Market neighborhood charged that the city’s Planning Department and a private developer were making plans separate from the public process and were fast-tracking the project while ignoring the community’s request to study the negative ef-

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Angelica Cabande, director of the South of Market Community Action Network, explaining her group’s opposition to the 5M Project in San Francisco.

Inquirer.net photo

ConstAnte And Allyson esCobAr

hORROR struck on the night of Friday, Nov. 13 in Paris, France, the site of multiple coordinated terrorist attacks, including mass shootings, suicide bombings, and the taking of hostages. The attacks have reportedly left at least 129 people dead and 352 wounded, according to multiple sources.

The Islamic State has claimed full responsibility on the day after the deadly unprecedented attacks in the French capital, prompting French President François hollande to declare a state of emergency and declare that France is “at war.â€? he further said that France is committed to “destroyingâ€? the Islamic State group, according to BBC. In public, multilingual statements on ISIS’s encrypted messaging accounts, the terror group called the assaults “the first

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of the storm,� and mocked the Western European city as the “capital of prostitution and obscenity.�

The style of the attack was in line with ISIS’s tactic of indiscriminate killings, and goes against the guidelines of Al Qaeda, said the New York Times, which states that Qaeda operatives should avoid at-

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A NOVEMBER 18-20, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Aquino: APEC not limiting, allows leaders...

PAGE A1 t

bility, security, and prosperity to our peoples,” he explained.

Aquino said many significant commitments on free and open trade started as discussions during the APEC. However, he said government also needs the help of the private sector.

“Positive change takes place on the ground, and requires the partnership of men and women like you,” he said.

Aquino said his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, focused on microfinance to help “poor Filipino entrepreneurs to take hold of their own destinies.”

He said this helped reduce poverty SEA PATROL. The US Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the Philippine Sea. Ronald Reagan levels. and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the US and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

“In a very real way, my mother’s US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Burke belief has been translated into our inclusive growth agenda. From the beginning, we have never been content to simply grow the economy and wait for the benefits to trickle down to our people,” he PAGE A1 t Yet while Obama’s commitments Forces of the Philippines Chief said.

‘You can count on US’ fall short of what some countries of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri, He said investing in health, eduObama’s announcement came in the region have sought, not all Philippine Navy chief Rear Adm. cation and other social services at the start of his ninth trip to Asia, of that is Obama’s doing.

Leopoldo Alano and the ship’s allows Filipinos to participate in and this one, like the others, was commander, Capt. Vincent Sibala, Basing problems designed to illustrate his efforts to On his last trip here, in 2014, among others. strengthen alliances as part of his Obama signed a defense coop“The United States has been seven-year campaign to increase eration pact allowing the United committed to the security of this US influence in Asia.

States to base troops temporarily region for more than 70 years. PAGE A1 t “You can count on the United at some military camps, but a le- We have a treaty obligation, [an] Legarda, Vicente Sotto III and States,” the US leader said shortly gal challenge has delayed imple- ironclad commitment to the de- Cynthia Villar. after his arrival in Manila for the mentation. fense of our ally, the Philippines,” SET chairman and Senior AsAsia-Pacific Economic CooperaAlthough the country’s pallid Obama said. sociate Justice Antonio Carpio and tion (Apec) summit this week.

“Our visit here underscores our Associate Justices Teresita Leonmilitary has struggled to push During back-to-back summits in back effectively against China, the shared commitment to the securi- ardo-de Castro and Arturo Brion Manila and Kuala Lumpur, Obama Philippine Constitution bars per- ty of waters of this region and free- voted to disqualify Poe, along with planned a particular focus on tout- manent US bases. dom of navigation,” he added.

Binay. ing the Trans-Pacific Partnership Great restraint Six Asian countries assert overIn upholding David’s petition, that the US recently struck with lapping claims to parts of the Chinese President Xi Jinping the SC justices said Poe is not a 11 other nations—China not in- South China Sea, and China is also arrived in Manila Tuesday for natural-born Filipino. cluded. locked in a parallel dispute with the Apec summit, but he did not They believed that as a foundThe sweeping free trade agree- Japan and South Korea over the make any public comments. ling, Poe needed to establish the ment is at the heart of Obama’s East China Sea. In Beijing, Chinese Vice For- Filipino citizenship of either of her Asia policy, but its prospects for China views control of the wa- eign Minister Liu Zhenmin said biological parents to be able to esratification by US lawmakers re- ters, with their abundant under- China was the real victim in the tablish that she is a natural-born main uncertain. water oil deposits and strategic South China Sea dispute as it had Filipino as required by the ConstiFlanked by US and Philippine shipping lanes, as key to its rise “dozens” of its islands and reefs tution. troops, Obama said he would seek as a major economic and military illegally occupied by three of the Since Poe has not yet found her to provide another $140 million in power. claimants. He did not name any real parents after conducting DNA maritime security aid to Southeast China’s ongoing march in con- countries. tests on probable relatives, the SC Asia next year, although it was tested waters has become a ma“The Chinese government has justices said she remains to be a unclear whether the US Congress jor tension point with the United the right and the ability to recover naturalized Filipino. would approve those funds.

States, joining cyberspying, hu- the islands and reefs illegally ocVictory for foundlings The Philippine government’s man rights and trade disputes. cupied by neighboring countries,” Poe lauded the SET decision, eagerness for more muscular US Still, Obama has sought to foster Liu said. “But we haven’t done saying it is a victory for all foundmilitary assistance here illustrates a productive relationship with this. We have maintained great lings in the Philippines. how concerns about China appear China, striking major deals with restraint with the aim to preserve She said it’s a good start for her to have superseded the nation’s Beijing over climate change. peace and stability in the South amid the pending disqualification resentment of its former colonial Obama was joined aboard the China Sea.” (Inquirer.net with re- cases filed against her before the master and its reluctance to give BRP Gregorio del Pilar by Defense ports from the wires and Jaymee Commission on Elections (ComUS troops free rein.

Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed T. Gamil elec) to stop her from seeking the

Obama: US commitment to defend...

economic growth. He reiterated his belief that the people is the Philippines’ “strongest competitive advantage and our most important resource.”

Aquino underlined the government’s programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise over 99 percent of business enterprises in the country and 63.7 percent of total employment.

“Imagine the growth of these small businesses once wider markets are available to them, and once they become more efficient at running their businesses.

Imagine further how many millions more Filipinos would receive gainful employment,” he said.

Among the programs he mentioned are the Access of Small Enterprises to Sound Lending Opportunities (Asenso) which has allocated over P153.1 billion in funds to 174,000 enterprises from 2010 to 2014, the implementation of the Magna Carta for MSMEs, the SME Roving Academy, and the establishment of Shared Service Facilities (SSF) or common

production centers.

“In a number of municipalities in Ifugao, over 750 coffee growers are making use of an SSF with equipment like coffee hullers and pulpers. This has allowed them to more than quadruple their production: from 230 packs, to just under 1,000 packs a month. Their market has expanded drastically, with sales increasing sixfold: from P10,000 to P60,000 a month,” he shared.

He said private companies also helped spur growth in certain sectors.

“We want Filipino MSMEs to be able to participate more in that trade: we want to help them make the most of the vast market that regional economic integration provides,” Aquino said.

“SMEs account for over 97 percent of enterprises, generate more than 50 percent of employment, and account for up to 50 percent of GDP in the Asia Pacific. That is why the Philippines has chosen to make fostering SMEs’ participation in regional and global markets a priority of APEC 2015,” he added.

Grace Poe wins SET case, next hurdle... presidency in 2016.

She remains hopeful that the other disqualification cases against her will be dismissed.

Poe thanked her colleagues for recognizing the votes of the Filipino people who voted her into office in 2013.

Poe refused to comment on Senator Binay, whose father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is running against her in the 2016 elections.

For her part, Binay she said she sided with the three SC justices based on the Constitution and the evidence presented.

She said her decision favoring David’s petition had nothing to do with politics.

David to run to SC David said he would question the SET ruling before the high tribunal.

“I will file a petition for certiorari before the SC next week,” he said.

David said the camp of Poe should not rejoice yet since three SC justices ruled in favor of his petition.

“The decision of the five senators smacked of political accommodation,” he said.

In this Sept. 1 file photo, Sen. Grace Poe greets supporters as she announced her intent to run for president in 2016. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Poe thanked the nine-member electorial tribunal for junking the disqualification case against her.

Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo IV

Poe’s lawyer George Garcia welcomed David’s decision to seek SC relief, saying the high court would be in a better position to interpret the provisions of the Constitution.

Poe’s allies in the House of Representatives were happy over the SET ruling.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. congratulated Poe for hurdling the disqualification case filed against her before the SET.

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Fil-Am appointed court commissioner...

PAGE A1 t disputes. He specializes in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and transportation law. He received his J.D. from the University of LaVerne College of Law in 1999, and was admitted in the same year.

Since 2007, Commissioner Keh has served as a Judge Pro Tem in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, presiding over traffic and small claims cases. He also served as a volunteer attorney for the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (formerly Asian Pacific American Legal Center) assisting members of the community with immigration documents and petitions for expungement. In addition, during his tenure as the President of PABA, Commissioner Keh led a group of Filipino-American attorneys in providing pro-bono legal assistance to members of the Filipino-American community.

“PABA is thrilled to learn that

Winston has been appointed as a Court Commissioner,” stated Christine Gonong, PABA President.

“Winston has been a judge pro tem for the Los Angeles County Superior Court for a very long time, so he is equipped with the necessary training, experience, and temperament that will enable him to serve as an excellent commissioner.”

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rob Villeza described Commissioner Keh as “fair, honest, and extremely hard working.”

Winston “possesses all of the best qualities of our finest judicial officers.” Judge Villeza also added that, “Winston represents the true American dream for many Filipino Americans and immigrants in our country. From humble beginnings, Winston raised his siblings on his own, worked while he went to school, and went from the mail room to the board room on his faith and sheer will to succeed despite

Pinay, husband in Paris...

PAGE A1 t

Filipinos who are in Paris or who are planning to travel to France to monitor media and French government advisories for the latest developments.

“Everyone is requested to exercise vigilance and caution and to be aware of their surroundings, with the view to ensuring their personal security,” the embassy said.

There are around 48,000 Filipinos in France.

PAGE A1 t

From the Front Page

incredible adversity. He is truly a ‘Rocky’ of our generation, and a role model and inspiration especially for the newer members of our profession.”

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bernie LaForteza, who has known Winston for a long time through the Philippine American Bar Association, also congratulated Winston and stated that, “Winston will be a wonderful bench officer. I know that he will have a successful career as a judicial officer because he has the intellect and the right demeanor to do so.”

A court commissioner functions as a temporary judge in court cases pursuant to the stipulation of counsel or parties and is appointed by the judges of the court. Commissioner Keh will be assigned to the Fontana District Courthouse. *** PABA serves the community of Filipino American lawyers and law students in Southern California.

For more information about PABA, please visit www.pabala.org.

said that France has received messages of solidarity from all over the The Philippines condemned the world after the attacks that claimed many lives and injured even more terrorist attacks in Paris.

The Department of Foreign Af- innocent people in Paris and its fairs (DFA) said “there is no pos- region.

The embassy said France is sible justification for such barbaric deeply touched by the heartfelt savagery.”

“The world must stand together expressions of support in the Philagainst violent extremism,” the ippines extended by President Aquino, the national and local auDFA said.

Hollande announced that he was thorities, the Filipino people and all restricting travel to France by clos- those from foreign embassies and ing all borders in the wake of the groups who have been expressing their sympathy to the French terrorist attacks in Paris.

The French embassy in Manila people.

Over 120 killed in Paris attacks...

tacks that could inadvertently cause the death of Muslim civilians.

Two days after the bloodshed, Hollande launched airstrikes on ISIS’s de factocapital and stronghold in Raqqa, Syria. He also promised to move an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, as part of a large effort to intensify airstrike bombings, assaults, and rocket launches in Syria, reported BBC and NPR. “The attacks represent an aggression against our country, against our values, against its youth and its way of life,” Hollande said in a joint session of both houses of parliament.

“The faces of the dead people, of the wounded, of the families don’t leave my mind…in my determination to combat terrorism, I want France to remain itself. The barbarians who attack France would like to disfigure it. They will not make it change. They must never be able to spoil France’s soul.”

Multiple raids in Paris Starting around 9:20 pm on Nov. 13, three explosions occurred at the Stade de France, the national sports stadium, where an anticipated soccer match between France and Germany was taking place that was attended by Hollande. The French president was immediately removed from the scene, and the game was allowed to finish before fans were swiftly evacuated.

“About 15 minutes from the time the game started, we heard a loud bang, like big,” Filipina Rachel Gunther, who was attending the soccer game, told ABC7. “It shook the stadium. And then the second bang or boom happened within minutes of each other and we thought, ‘boy, they really enjoy their soccer here…’ we thought it was a joke.”

“Thousands of those ahead of us started charging back. Like running wild, desperate, terrorized looks in their faces, as if something was following them…All I could think of was, ‘I’m going to get trampled if I don’t run with the crowd.’ So I started running and it was the most terrifying ordeal I’ve ever experienced. I was literally running for my life,” Gunther continued.

The stadium in the Saint-Denis suburb resulted in the death of four, including three suicide bombers. A Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the bombers killed near the stadium, reported the Los Angeles Times, but authorities believe it was fake, according to BBC. At the same time, several street shootings and bombing attacks throughout the city also occurred at four populated outdoor plazas known for their restaurants and nightlife. The shootings by gunmen

killed at least 25, said the Associated Press.

The deadliest attack was a massshooting at the Bataclan music hall theater, which has been repeatedly threatened for its past sponsorship of Jewish events. An evening concert by the Eagles of Death Metal, an American band from Southern California, had an attendance of over 1,000 people at the venue.

Around 9:45 pm, three men with assault rifles entered the hall and opened fire on the crowd, and several hand grenades were also reportedly thrown in the chaotic scene.

Witnesses said they heard rounds of automatic and Kalashnikov rifles fire, and gunmen shouting “Allahu akbar! (God is greatest)” as they entered the crowded hall.

“When they started shooting we just saw flashes,” said an escaped witness, according to NY Times.

“People got down on the ground right away.”

French news services said that as many as 100 hostages were taken at Bataclan, many of them apparently killed later by ISIS. Paris prosecutor François Molins said that five out of seven of the dead terrorists have been identified, and police have launched a manhunt for eighth and ninth suspects.

French and Belgian police are searching for Brussells-born Frenchman Salah Abdeslam, 26 who has previously fought for the Islamic State in Syria and has been linked to other terrorist attacks, The New York Times reported. Investigators say Abdeslam escaped back to Belgium on Saturday following the attacks.

Authorities are also focusing on a Belgian of Moroccan descent, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 27, who is believed to be the possible architect of the assaults. The New York Times reported that Abaaoud is believed to be in Syria with fellow Islamic State militants.

On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Reuters reported that German police arrested seven individuals, at least three of whom are foreign citizens, linked

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 18-20, 2015

Coalition alleges railroading...

PAGE A1 t fects of gentrification.

Meeting on November 11 the SoMa Action Committee (SMAC) coalition reiterated its pending appeal of developer Forest City’s 5M Project, which will be heard by the city’s Board of Supervisor on November 17 at 3 p.m.

SMAC is appealing the certification of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the conditional use approvals and the office allocations associated with the project.

It states that the deficient EIR fails to analyze and fully disclose substantial project impacts such as massing and height, traffic, pedestrian safety, open space, shade and shadow effects, inconsistency with area plans and policies and violations of the city’s General Plan.

Furthermore, SMAC charges that approval of the project will obliterate the Youth and Family Special use District, displace the Filipino community, and jeopardize the establishment of the Filipino Historical District, therefore destroying the aesthetic and cultural integrity of surrounding neighborhoods.

Condos, office towers The 5M Project by Clevelandbased Forest City consists of luxury condos and office towers at the heart of a longstanding working class and diverse neighborhood in the SoMa. It threatens the displacement of low-income, seniors, and immigrants living in the area. Many of the residents are Filipinos that have lived in the neighborhood for generations.

The 5M Project more than dou-

to the attacks.

The Eiffel Tower had been dark and closed for the past few days following the attacks. On Monday, Nov. 16, it reopened to tourists and Parisians, brightly lit with the red, white, and blue colors of the French flag.

“The United States and France are not only friends, we are family,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry. “And today, the entire world joins our family in heartbreak yet again. Don’t mistake what these attacks represent. This is not a clash of civilizations. These terrorists have declared war against all civilization... it is an assault on our collective sense of reason and purpose, an attack on civility itself.”

US President Barack Obama also stressed solidarity with the French people, defending his administration’s policy in fighting ISIS, said NBC News.

“ISIS is the face of evil,” Obama said at the conclusion of the G20 summit in Turkey. “Our goal is to destroy this barbaric organization…these are killers with fantasies of glory. Once again, we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians.”

“There will be intensification of the strategy that we put forward,” he added. “The strategy that we are putting forward is the strategy that will ultimately work…but as I said in the beginning, it is going to take time.”

On Monday, ISIS purportedly released a new video from Iraq threatening Western countries that are launching airstrikes against the organization, including Italy, Belgium and the US: “the same fate will happen to them.”

“We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that,

by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France’s and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington,” said one militant in the video, according to Reuters.

“You will not feel safe so long as

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bles the highest allowable heights: 470 ft. tower with 400 market-rate residential units, 395 ft. and 350 ft. towers with 600,000 sq. ft. of office space, 200 ft. tower with 230 market-rate residential units, and 87 affordable units.

Forest City developments include the Westfield San Francisco Center, The Uptown, a 665-apartment complex in Downtown Oakland, and the Pacific Park, Brooklyn Nets Arena Complex, a massive 15-building site in New York City.

Repeat of history?

The concerns of the Filipino community about the 5M Project seem to be a case of history repeating itself. The urban renewal and redevelopment in San Francisco in the mid-1960’s caused the displacement of thousands of residents in west of Downtown and as far as the Fillmore district, due to the city’s plans to expand the business sector.

The International Hotel or IHotel at the corner of Kearny and Jackson Streets, home to Filipino immigrants, was demolished after the eviction of 196 tenants, many of whom were poor and elderly. It was part of the eradication of 10 full blocks of what was then Manilatown–low-cost housing, restaurants, barbershops, markets, clubs and other businesses that benefited the Filipino community.

Angelica Cabande, director of the South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN), hoped that the Board of Supervisors would listen to the concerns of the SMAC and their supporters and reject the

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5M Project.

She said the project “will set a dangerous precedent for development throughout the City, enabling developers to make up their own rules to get out of their affordable requirements and zoning rules.”

Cabande further charged that claims that the luxury office and housing development will have 40 percent affordable housing is misleading and false. “In fact, we’re left with zero affordable housing units tied to the massive Fifth and Mission development, even though we need new affordable housing now more than ever.”

Encouragement for developers Cabande further stated that approval of the project incentivizes future developers to circumvent provisions of the zoning code through Special Use District that will open doors to unlimited expansion of downtown SoMa and be detrimental to the City as a whole.

SMAC has also alerted the City Attorney and Board of Supervisors that Supervisor Jane Kim, whose district is the South of Market, has likely disqualified herself from the 5M Project appeal hearing because of her stated support for the Project in advance of the November 17 appeal hearing, which violates San Francisco’s Sunshine Ordinance.

The community coalition has requested the recusal of Supervisor Kim for the upcoming appeal hearing on the 5M Project, and is also asking for a 60-day continuance of the appeal hearing because the privately negotiated deal “materially alters the subject matter on appeal.”

Appellants were not notified of

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FDA establishes new rules to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

With multiple recent foodborne illness outbreaks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized a set of groundbreaking rules to strengthen the farm food safety system, ensuring quality produce for Americans. the new set of guidelines will require importers and producers to verify the cleanliness of their food, according to the Daily Meal. implemented by the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act, the rules are considered to be the FDA’s primary initiative towards the prevention of foodborne illness outbreaks. With random spot testing, health official hope to stop outbreaks at the source before

contaminated food products can enter stores and mouths. the Food Safety Modernization Act “establishes enforceable safety standards for produce farms and make importers accountable for verifying that imported food meets US safety standards,” according to the FDA and international Business times. importers and distributors must also provide third-party auditing services to evaluate procedures at foreign food suppliers. the accredited bodies will be responsible for conducting an audit of foreign facilities, and finalized rules can help farmers and importers prevent future problems with operations. the recent, high-profile outbreaks over the last few years

Over 120 killed in Paris attacks...

PAGE A3 t you keep bombing,” the video message said. “You will be killed as long as you keep killing.”

“Americans don’t have a religious test to our compassion,” said Obama. “the values we are fighting against iSiL for is that we don’t discriminate against people because of their faith.”

An immediate release by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch read, “We stand in solidarity with France, as it has stood with us so often in the past. this is a devastating attack on our shared values and we at the Department of Justice will do everything within our power to assist and work in partnership with our French law enforcement colleagues.”

US governors say they won’t admit Syrian refugees in wake of the attacks, about 30 governors in the US are seeking to ban the admission of Syrian refugees.

Michigan and Alabama were the first states to refuse the relocation of refugees on Sunday, Nov. 15, after which they were joined by Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, idaho, illinois, indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, texas and Wisconsin, among others.

Republican governors say there is a chance that among refugees are those with terrorist ties, USA today reported. Only one Democrat, Gov. Maggie hassan of New hampshire, joined the GOP governors in urging the federal government to cease the admission of refugees until more details about the vetting process are known. “the acts of terror committed

over the weekend are a tragic reminder to the world that evil exists and takes the form of terrorists who seek to destroy the basic freedoms we will always fight to preserve,” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said in a statement. “i will not place Alabamians at even the slightest, possible risk of an attack on our people.”

Michigan had been working to attract Syrian refugees to the state, but on Monday, Nov. 16, Gov. Rick Snyder said he is suspending the program, USA today reported.

“Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration,” Snyder said in a statement. “But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.” the governor further demanded that the Department of homeland Security review its security measures for screening refugees, but added that not all people with the ethnic background of those who coordinated the Paris attacks are the same. “it’s also important to remember that these attacks are the efforts of extremists and do not reflect the peaceful ways of people of Middle Eastern descent here and around the world,” Snyder said. the Obama administration previously announced plans to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees throughout the next year and the State Department said Monday it would not change that plan. A September report from the New York times said the United States could end up taking in a total of more than 100,000 refugees.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Mon-

have led the FDA to draft a new set of rules and regulations to ensure food safety. the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often can only respond after people have already fallen ill from contaminated food.

For instance, the recent salmonella outbreak from imported cucumbers crossed state lines and sickened hundreds of citizens, killing four and hospitalizing 157. “the recent multistate outbreak…is exactly the kind of outbreak these rules can help prevent,” said the FDA’s Michael R. taylor in a press release. “the new rules will help prevent people against such outbreak and will strengthen their confidence that proper food safety checks are in

place.”

“For the first time these rules are going to require producers, growers, and importers to ensure that the food they produce or import has minimal contamination,” said Sarah Eskin, director of food safety research at the Pew Charitable trusts.

Prior to the new law, importers were rarely held accountable for the safety of their products from foreign suppliers. Over half of all fresh fruit and 22 percent of fresh vegetables consumed in the United States are imported.

According to the CDC, over 48 million Americans suffer from foodborne illness each year. Out of those affected, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 people die from illnesses.

day announced that they issued executive orders to suspend the relocation of refugees in their states.

Jindal also urged Obama to hold off in accepting additional refugees. “it would be prudent to pause the process of refugees coming to the United States. Authorities need to investigate what happened in Europe before this problem comes to the United States,” Jindal said.

Legislators have also echoed the sentiment of opposed US governors, including house Speaker Paul Ryan who plans on introducing a bill this week to suspend the US refugee program, CNBC reported tuesday.

Obama, while addressing reporters on Monday, called out Republican candidates who have objected to admitting refugees to the United States, according to CNN. “When i hear a political leader suggesting that there should be a religious test for which a person who is fleeing from a war torn country is admitted … when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that is shameful. We don’t have religious tests to our compassion,” Obama said.

Democrat governors of at least seven states - Connecticut, Delaware hawaii, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington - announced Monday that they would continue allowing resettlement of refugees. “it is unfortunate that anyone would use the tragic events in Paris to send a message that we do not understand the plight of these refugees, ignoring the fact that the people we are talking about are fleeing the perpetrators of terror,” Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said in a statement.

While Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters on Monday that he would say “no as of right now” to accepting refugees from Syria, state Sen. Edward J. Markey was more welcoming.

“We should not close our hearts or our doors to the women, children and families that are fleeing the Middle East to escape war and the daily terror, violence and chaos it brings. America has always been a refuge for the persecuted and oppressed,” Markey said in a statement. the United States has so far accepted more than 2,000 Syrian refugees since the civil war began in the country in March 2011. Refugees have been admitted to 138 cities and towns and 36 states. the bulk of refugees are located in California, texas, Michigan, Arizona and illinois, according to wrapsnet. org, where the U.S. government posts its official numbers.

Louisiana has 14 refugees, Ohio has 76, and New Jersey has 88. immigration and constitutional attorneys and experts have raised doubts whether governors have a say in the accepting or refusal of refugees. “the one thing i feel very comfortable saying is there is absolutely no constitutional power for a state to exclude anyone from its territories,” said Stephen Legomsky, a law professor at Washington University of St. Louis and former chief counsel of US Citizenship and immigration Services in the Obama administration.

Rachel Rosenbloom, an immigration law professor at Northeastern, told the Boston Globe that no legal basis exists for state to keep out refugees.

“States can’t keep out people

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Pray for Paris

“ONCE again we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.” - Pres. Barack Obama Sharing his sentiments over the multiple terror attacks on Paris, France on Friday, Nov. 13, President Obama vowed to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and fight terrorism and extremism.

“Paris itself represents the timeless values of human progress. Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American people draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness,” Obama said.

The terrorist attacks left at least 129 people dead and 352 wounded, shocking the world over ghastly images and videos of the bloodstained scenes from the attacks. Then came a worldwide silence for France as calls for prayers for the victims and their families flooded various social networking sites, as #jesuisfrance trended instantly. In this time of distraught, the world expressed its compassion and paid respects to the victims of this recent senseless violence that disrupted a peaceful country.

Although relieved that the over 50,000 Filipinos in France are safe, the Philippines joined in on the

worldwide clamor and condemned the terrorist attacks, saying it showed not only a premeditated act of violence but also the cruelty that “demands the greatest indignation from the world.”

“The Philippines mourns the dead and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with France. At a time that demands heightened security from all of us, we ask Filipinos in Paris to heed the instructions of the authorities and for all of us to cooperate and be vigilant here at home,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Pres. Benigno Aquino III deplored the senseless murders of the civilians escribing it as “atrocities that demand a united voice from the world in condemnation and grief.”

The world stands witness to how terrorism and genocide still linger. The world calls for justice, an accountability to the lives lost because of extremely unstable political and security situations. The world calls for peace. This is the moment where every nation and every citizen take a stand. We are all called to become a modern and civil society, to bring an all out war against terrorism and fight for peace.

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

The Paris attacks are like a recurring nightmare.

Who’s to say that the world is gaining momentum in its fight against terrorism when everyday we are reminded by its horrors?

As an offshoot to these latest news of violence and terrorism, people are alerted to remain

vigilant. Confronting this looming threat goes beyond the power of the governments. It will require resolute citizens to take a stand and confront it.

This also means understanding terrorism -- why it exists and why it has had adverse consequences on humanity. (AJPress)

Should the US abandon its plan to accept more Syrian refugees to keep the country safe?

AT least 129 people were killed and 352 wounded after three groups of terrorists staged coordinated attacks at six locations throughout Paris, France late Friday, Nov. 13.

ISIS, a jihadist organization that has declared a self-styled “caliphate” across parts of Iraq and Syria, has claimed responsibility for the massacre, and warned that the United States will be the next target. The nation’s state capital, Washington, DC and New York City, have now been on heightened security alert.

According to reports by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reacted Saturday to the deadly attacks in Paris, taking France to task and calling on it to change policies that he says have contributed to the “spread of terrorism”.

AFP said France has been a leading supporter of the Syrian opposition since soon after protests against Assad’s rule broke out in 2011. France has also been part of a US-led coalition conducting an air war against ISIS in both Syria and Iraq.

Less than a year before the 2016 pres- The Fil-Am idential elections in the US, national and Perspective global security have once again dominated the debate. Candidates aiming to be the next commander- Gel SantoS-ReloS in-chief, along with their party mates, offer their own tactics on how to defeat ISIS and keep America safe.

Questions in contention are: Should America send more troops and boots on the ground? Should America still accept Syrian refugees who’ve been caught in the war between the Assad regime and the opposition? Should America be stricter and more suspicious of Muslims in America?

President Barack Obama has once again been criticized for not being “strong enough” in the fight against ISIS. Many Republicans have been advocating for America to send boots on the ground to extinguish the extremist group.

They blame Obama for empowering

ISIS by appearing to be “weak” when he did not declare war against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad after he stepped on the “red line.”

“We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation,” Obama stated.

Obama’s critics argue that because of the continued strife in Syria, ISIS has grown stronger and is not afraid of the US military.

According to CNN, more than 250,000 people have died since the violence broke out in Syria in 2011, and at least 11 million people in the country of 22 million have fled their homes. The United Nations says Syrians are now the world’s largest refugee population, and most are struggling to take refuge in Europe.

Since 2011, the United States has been accepting about 1,500 Syrian refugees for humanitarian reasons.

The Obama administration, however, has announced in September that 10,000 Syrian refugees will be allowed entry next year.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has just announced that the US should pause its refugee program so that ISIS will not be able to use it to get into the US and launch an attack in the country.

This is a stance shared by more than half the nation’s governors who say they oppose letting Syrian refugees into their states, although CNN reported that the final say on this contentious immigration issue will fall to the federal government.

The states protesting the admission of refugees, include Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Michigan Illinois, Maine and New Hampshire. All but one of these 31 states have Republican governors. Republican candidates have also taken this position.

President Obama said the tragedy in Paris should not affect the small intake of Syrian refugees into the

United States. “Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values,” the US commander-in-chief said during remarks at the G20 economic summit in Antalya, Turkey.

Obama also ruled out sending more ground troops to fight ISIS in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris.

“It is not just my view, but the view of my closest military and civilian advisers, that that would be a mistake,” Obama said in media reports.

“A strategy has to be one that can be sustained,” Obama added.

“Given the fact there are sacrifices involved in any military action, it is best that we don’t shoot first and aim later,” Obama argued. “It’s important for us to get the strategy right, and the strategy that we are pursuing is the right one.” *** 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

APEC will cost as much as tax reform

Demand And Supply Boo ChanCo ANDREW Masigan, an economist and entrepreneur who writes for the Bulletin, estimated the cost of hosting APEC at P30 billion. That is also what it would cost to do tax reform as estimated by the BIR. If the estimates are in the ballpark, how can PNoy say we don’t have money to do tax reform but there is money to host APEC? Okay… some will say these are apples and oranges. Not so. P30 billion is the same whether that is splurged on hosting an international event of dubious benefit to the country or giving harassed citizens tax relief.

And it is also not as if we are asking for something truly outrageous with tax reform. We are only asking they update the basis of our income tax to account for inflation over the last 18 years.

The peso in 1997 when they set the tax brackets is only worth 47 centavos today.

Indeed, government is effectively stealing money from its citizens with this failure to update.

The administration is implementing a tax system whose rates had effectively been Increased without an act of Congress, normally required.

It looks bad on President Aquino and his anointed Mar Roxas to be so bullheaded about tax reform which is really nothing more

than an update. Senate President Frank Drilon and Speaker Sonny Belmonte already went to PNoy to convince him to change his mind, but it seems, to no avail.

Of course, the DOF and the BIR are right about the need to do a total tax reform but that, is too complicated to do in the time left. The DOF and the BIR is effectively saying no to tax reform.

This is rather myopic, as many observers have already pointed out.

Our economy is consumer driven and tax reform that would put a little more money in the hands of consumers will boost GDP, the favorite measure of economic health of PNoy and his economic team. More than that however, tax reform through a simple updating that takes into account inflation over the last two decades, will be a good morale booster for our harassed taxpayers.

It isn’t as if giving in to this demand will bankrupt our National Treasury. If it is alright to spend P30 billion on something as useless as this APEC conference, why is instituting tax reform for about the same amount not alright to do? Indeed, I suspect the estimate of P30 billion for APEC may be on the low side.

Let us not just count the actual money out of the National Treasury to host this event. Let us also count the cost of all those cancelled flights, not just on the airlines but also on the affected passengers – specially those with forfeited onward airline

and hotel reservations they have to pay out of pocket.

Let us count the cost of paralyzing the economy of Metro Manila, which accounts for over a third of the country’s total GDP. Let us count the wages lost by workers paid by the day, and the opportunity costs for thousands of SMEs that could not do business during APEC week.

I realize we have an international obligation to host APEC. We had 20 years to prepare for it and do it right with the least disturbance to the lives of our people. But I imagine they worked on it in earnest only over the last two years. Our Great Leader, the haciendero that he is, took it for granted he can just tell the people of Metro Manila to shove it while he has his party. It is like telling us to go eat cake.

It isn’t as if we have not done this before. In his wisdom, FVR decided to hold APEC in Subic so that Metro Manila could be spared the chaos we have today.

We could have done this in Clark and we would not have had to cancel all those flights at NAIA. Of course they would have had to build a convention center at Clark, but that is the kind of infrastructure that ought to be built anyway. APEC could have been a good excuse to do that at Clark.

It is all water under the bridge now, but let us not forget how this unfeeling administration failed to consider the impact on our lives by deciding to hold APEC in Manila. Let us remem-

ber that come May 2016 when we vote. Let us remember we cannot have more of this kind of officials with absolutely no regard for the people, supposedly their bosses.

At the opening session of the APEC Business Advisory Council, PNoy declared “voting for or against Mar is a referendum of whether we did it right or wrong.” Putting it that way, I guess even if we are thinking of voting Mar as the least detestable option, we can’t do that now and give PNoy the wrong idea.

For now, let us just hope and pray the administration that gave us the Luneta carnage and Mamasapano will not once again bring the country shame as we host APEC this week. I suppose that as Filipinos, we have the obligation to help see this event through. Retribution can wait for next year when we vote.

Our economy Rappler picked up this very interesting quote on APEC. Try to guess who said it and when.

“The correctness of our reforms so far has been validated by the growth of the economy and a new tempo of nationwide self-reliance, even at the grassroots….We have demonstrated our own capability to manage our economy towards stability and sustained growth – earning the respect of the global economic community.”

If you thought this was something coming out of Sonny Coloma’s shop, you would be wrong.

This is a quote from FVR in a SONA just before the last APEC we hosted in Subic. But isn’t it creepy how something said 20 years ago can seem so current?

We were a promising economy then and we still are now.

Our economy is like the typical Filipino politician... forever promising. The international economic community, mostly rating agencies and banks who do business with DOF, had been optimistic about our growth then as now. Nothing new.

Twenty years is a long time.

You can be a brand new parent and have that baby as a voting adult in all of twenty years. But our economy seems unable to go beyond a threatened take off… unable to grow beyond the promise and the big words.

One might say that if APEC was any good to our long term economic prospects, we would have seen it by now. I hate it when the same promises of long term benefits 20 years ago are being hoisted on us now when they ask for our patience while we host APEC. Twenty years is a long time. I don’t think I can wait for another 20 years to see the supposed promise of APEC to dawn on my country. And don’t believe them when they say they will reach agreements good for our economy during this APEC meeting.

Nothing significantly earthshaking happens in these large scale summits. Everything is ceremonial. The big things happen behind closed doors, mostly

in bilateral meetings that don’t require a metropolis of 20 million to stand still.

I sure wish public officials will just tell it like it is. Of course that would take guts, specially given the people’s sour mood in the light of the significant disturbance we all have to endure this week. We should consider ourselves lucky if nothing untoward happens.

Deng Xiaoping My thought for the day comes from Deng Xiaoping, that wise old Chinese leader who is responsible for China’s growth into a world economic and political superpower. This quote is from a speech delivered at the United Nations on April 10, 1974 If one day China should change her color and turn into a superpower, if she too should play the tyrant in the world and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression and exploitation, the people of the world should identify her as social imperialism, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chinese people to overthrow it.

That’s the same Deng Xiaoping who didn’t want to talk about the nine dash line and said it ought to be left to a future generation who may be wiser than his.

Looks like that wiser generation isn’t here yet. But the China Deng warned us about is already playing the big power role and is no different from the big powers Deng and yes, Mao, detested and fought all their lives. (Philstar.com)

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Coalition alleges railroading...

PAGE A3 t the changes prior to the hearing.

SMAC’s attorney, Rachel Mansfield-Howlett, stated, “this week, Supervisor Jane Kim acknowledged she negotiated a private deal with Forest City and the Hearst Corporation to make changes to the Project.

Supervisor Kim’s support of the Project in advance of the hearing on the appeals represent a conflict of interest; her ongoing participation in the pending hearing prejudices Appellants in the appeal process.”

Private deal The private deal includes increasing the Area Media Income (AMI) levels for the below market rate (BMR) housing, making the onsite BMR rental units more expensive.

Mansfield-Howlett said that “such increase in AMI levels invariably creates more displacement impacts” and this “change further demonstrates less mitigation for resulting displacement impacts, which is an issue raised on appeal.”

The community coalition is ques-

tioning the validity of inclusionary housing with the 5M Project. There are 600 units of luxury housing and every unit in the proposed 470-ft. condo tower is slated for luxury housing. It appears that Supervisor Kim has removed the rental units that were targeted for lower income people and increased the rate of rentals. A 2-bedroom apartment that would cost $1,146 per month will now cost $2,293 to $3,439 per month. Most of SoMa’s Filipino residents will no longer qualify for these AMI levels.

The coalition proposes that for real inclusionary affordable housing, Forest City should be required to complete any off-site affordable housing projects without subsidy and build the units before 5M’s market rate units come on line.

Capping heights According to Cabande, “there could be just as much housing on the 5M site, 687 units, by capping the heights at the highest currently allowed, 160 feet. Our vision in-

Over 120 killed in Paris...

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who they consider to be undesirable. States don’t play a significant enough role in this process where it matters what they think,” she said.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot prohibit people from traveling across states once they are in the United States legally, according to the Globe.

Fourteen states have not admitted any refugees: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. The District of Columbia also has no refugees.

Student from Cal State Long Beach among fatalities Victims included people from all nationalities and walks of life, from Algeria to Egypt, Mexico, Spain, the US, and the UK. Among fatalities in the Friday attacks was 23-year-old Nohemi Gonzalez from El Monte, a junior studying design at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) who was completing a semester abroad at Strate School of Design.

Gonzalez, who is so far the only American victim identified in the attacks, was killed at a restaurant while having dinner with three friends.

One of Gonzalez’s schoolmates in Paris saw her get shot in the stomach, but she was able to escape from the Le Petit Cambodge restaurant, ABC 7 reported.

The spray of gunfire at the sidewalk bistro left a total of 19 dead, including Gonzalez.

Hundreds on Sunday, Nov. 15, gathered at the university in Long Beach to mourn Gonzalez’s death and remember her spirit, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“Nohemi possessed a character that was truly rare,” Martin Herman, chairman of the university’s design department, told the crowd on Sunday, according to the LA Times.

“What I saw in her was a beautiful soul who practiced goodness and compassion in her friendships and relationships with others. She exuded such energy and enthusiasm and infused the entire department with these same qualities by virtue of her presence.”

At the university, Gonzalez was described as a “shining star” in the design program by professor Michael LaForte, and a hardworking student with a bubbly, fun-loving personality. Herman added that she frequently headed the design workshop and “ran a very tight ship.”

“She was always the last one to leave the shop,” said a classmate, Alex Schumacher, according to USA Today.

Francis Redublo, 24, a design student at CSULB, told the Asian Journal that Gonzalez’s passion for design was evident.

“Design was her calling and you could tell that it lit a fire inside her.

cludes ground floor open space and retail, over 200,000 square feet of office, and 50% onsite affordable housing in keeping with the City’s Housing Balance policy. This would have much less shadow, wind and open space impacts.”

With regards to the upcoming hearing on November 17, Cabande has expressed her concerns about “the Mayor not caring about the impact of this development in the long run to the SoMa community and he will do whatever he can with his executive power to tell the Supervisors to pass it. He has been doing that since the project went through the Planning Commission. The Supervisors will ignore the impacts because the Development Agreement sounds good.” However, she continued, “the Development Agreements will not cure the massive negative impact this development will have on the South of Market.

Transactions don’t make inclusive cities. In this housing crisis, we need more than smoke, mirrors and PR. We need affordable housing that is real, onsite and guaranteed.”

(Wilfred Galil/Inquirer.net) She was running everything! From being a [teacher’s assistant] and working to open shop, to running the print lab, to running the laser cutting room, she was all over the place. The design family will truly miss her,” she said.

Gonzalez’s mother, Beatriz Gonzalez, is struggling to cope with the loss of her only daughter, who she said wanted to have a career and family.

“I feel lost, sadness and she was my only daughter,” her mother said, according to ABC. “She was a very strong young woman. She had big decisions, when she went to do something she was committed to whatever she was doing.”

Her boyfriend of almost four years, who she met in shop class, Tim Mraz, said, “she ran that place, man. She owned it. Now, she will “always be here. She will be still roaming those halls.”

In a statement on Saturday, Nov. 14, CSU Chancellor Timothy B. White expressed outrage at the attacks.

“My heart is heavy and I am deeply saddened for the family and Long Beach State community, and I grieve with all those who have lost a cherished one,” White said in a statement. “Many campuses in the CSU have student studying abroad in France, and all others are known to be safe,” he said.

A total of 17 students from CSULB were studying abroad, and the other 16 were accounted for as safe, according to a school official, ABC reported.

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APEC companies upbeat on Manila, Cebu rank low in APEC city study Philippine prospects – Survey

by Mayvelin

u. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

by Prinz

P. Magtulis Philstar.com

MANILA—Despite a looming change in government, businesses are mostly optimistic on their operations and expansion plans in the Philippines among member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next year.

According to the latest APEC CEO Survey, 51 percent of corporates are confident their revenues will expand over the next 12 months in the Philippines, higher than the regional average of 28 percent.

A total of 45 percent of those surveyed also plan to increase their investments during the same period. That was up 13 percentage points from last year and compares with the APEC average of 53 percent.

“The Philippines really has a bright future on revenue growth among all economies so far,” said Alexander Cabrera, chairman and senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in a briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Auditing firm PwC conducted the survey for the fifth year in coordination with the organizing

MANILA and Cebu have ranked low in a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) review that measured the livability, sustainability and competitiveness of 28 Asia-Pacific cities.

The global consulting firm, in its “Building Better Cities” report released on Tuesday, Nov. 17, ranked Manila 22nd and Cebu 26th. Toronto, Vancouver and Singapore emerged as the top three cities.

PwC said it chose the 28 cities in a bid to have at least one from each of the 21 countries belongPresident Benigno S. Aquino III views the exhibits after gracing the Asia-Pacific Economic ing to the Asia Pacific EconomCooperation (APEC) Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Summit 2015 at The Green Sun ic Cooperation (APEC) forum, – Arts/Creative Hub in Chino Roces Avenue Extension corner Lumbang Street, Makati City on which is currently holding its anTuesday, Nov. 17. The APEC SME Summit 2015 will bring together the region’s micro, small nual leaders’ summit in Manila. and medium-sized business entrepreneurs to share success stories of SME innovation and “All of the chosen cities are internationalization, as well as to highlight institutional support mechanisms proven to drive innovation-based SME growth. Also in photo is ABAC APEC Philippines member Jaime Zobel vital geographic and economic de Ayala.

Malacañang photo by Robert Viñas gateways to their respective markets, as well as to the wider committee of this year’s APEC putting on top of the list the slow meetings being held in Manila Internet connection as well as frequent natural disasters. this week.

Geopolitical risks, such as the Cabrera said demand for services in the country would in- Philippines’ territorial spat with crease, owing to an expanding China, comes third, but Cabrera middle class which serve as busi- said this is counterbalanced by

by Paolo g. MonteCillo ness “customers.” “If they grow efforts toward a more integrated Inquirer.net the middle class, they grow their regional economy which bodes well for the region. business.”

MIGRANT worker remittances, Risks however persist, he said, u PAGE B2 which form a major pillar of the Philippine economy, rose in September to the third-highest level for any single month on record, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas my” could be a solution to the allows car-owners to earn extra (BSP) reported Monday, Nov. 16.

Philippines’ economic challeng- by driving around other people The growth in September repes, particularly Manila’s traffic for a fee, at a time convenient to resents a turnaround from the them. woes. modest contraction posted the Plouffe said sharing economy month before, and puts the proSharing economy is an economic business model that al- is now changing consumer be- jections made earlier this year lows peer-to-peer-based sharing havior in 58 countries, where within reach. of access to goods and services. the five-year-old ride-sharing Officials credited the sustained It is most likely to be practiced company operates. demand for overseas Filipino “This is the case in most cities. workers (OFW), despite weakenwhen the price of a particular asset is high and the asset is not Our cities look like parking lots ing economic conditions in counand they move in traffic jams,” tries where migrants are based, fully utilized all the time.

The US-based ride-sharing said Plouffe. for the continued expansion.

He said ride-sharing, in parcompany, Uber, adopts the conIn September, OFW remittances cept, allowing people to ride cars ticular, could help solve the rose to $2.201 billion, 4.3-percent owned by others. At the same problem of congested cities, es- up year-on-year. The only other time, the ride-sharing company u PAGE B4 months when OFWs sent home

‘Ride-sharing could solve PH traffic woes’

by Catherine

talavera ManilaTimes.net

THE first time Uber Technologies Inc. Strategic Advisor David Plouffe saw Manila’s traffic-laden streets, he thought, “huge parking lots!”

Plouffe is in Manila to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summit on Monday, Nov. 16.

During an ‘insight’ session of the APEC summit in the Makati financial district on Monday, Plouffe said the new economic concept called “sharing econo-

APEC region,” it said. “The metropolises were then analyzed according to 39 different indicators grouped into five categories which we believe begin to inscribe urban health.

The five broad categories are culture and social health, connectivity, health and welfare, environmental sustainability and economics.

With 28 being the highest score, Manila was given a 15 in terms of culture and social health, 9 in connectivity, 2 in health and welfare, 3 in environmental sustainability and 7 in economics.

Cebu, meanwhile, got a 12 in culture and social health, 2 in connectivity, 3 in health and welfare, 6 in environmental sustainability and 6 in economics.

Both cities’ culture and social health scores were classified as medium.

PwC said the review aimed

to provide city leaders a view of where they were now, adding that it hopes to inspire cities within APEC to collaborate and seek advice to solve tenacious problems.

The study focused on the role urban centers play in the context of APEC’s economic and social growth, and also looked at the cities’ growing influence outside their borders through three lenses: how they fare in basic city development, what differentiates them and the hindrances they face to growth.

“This dialogue is critical because cities of APEC member countries will likely form ties to other cities, and in some cases even to other national economies,” said Bob Mortiz, PwC chairman and senior partner.

Among others, the study said there was a strong link between an educated citizenry and open

u PAGE B2

OFW remittances rose in Sept. to $2.2B, up 4.3% Demand for Filipino workers strong despite weak global economy more cash were in December and October last year, when remittances reached $2.317 billion and $2.228 billion, respectively.

This brought cash remittances for the period January to September to $18.4 billion, representing a 4.1-percent growth year-onyear.

The BSP expects remittances to reach $25.6 billion by yearend, an increase of 5 percent from 2014.

Worries over the sustainability of remittances were raised earlier this year after data showed a contraction of 0.6 percent in August.

Remittances are the largest source of foreign exchange income for the Philippine economy, helping insulate the country from external shocks by ensuring the steady supply of dollars in the system.

These cash transfers are also a major driver for domestic consumption, which last year ac-

counted for about two-thirds of gross domestic product.

Cash remittances from landbased and sea-based workers grew by 4.4 percent (to $14.1 billion) and 3.3 percent (to $4.3 billion), respectively.

The bulk of cash remittances came from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong, and Canada.

Preliminary reports from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated that for the period January to September, total job orders reached 663,112, of which 41.6 percent have been processed.

These job orders were intended mainly for service, production, and professional, technical and related workers needed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Taiwan and Hong Kong. n

B NOVEMBER 18-20, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Lawmaker would have errant PH telecoms pay bigger fines nications, Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular from P200 per day to P300,000 per day if they reA LAWMAKER has proposed fuse to follow the order of the to increase by over a thousand- National Telecommunications fold the penalty on telecommu- Commission (NTC) and curb nication companies that contin- violations. Under the bill, the ue to abuse their mobile phone penalty would be capped at a subscribers—from overcharg- maximum of P5 million instead ing them to dropped calls and of the current maximum penalty slow Internet speed. Tarlac Rep. of only P25,000.

Yap’s bill would provide the Susan A. Yap filed House Bill No. 6161 seeking to increase NTC with a legal mechanism to the penalty on Smart Commu- adjust penalties on telecommuby Gil

CabaCunGan Inquirer.net

nication firms. “These penalties are obsolete and insignificant given the high level of income earned by public communication entities,” said Yap. In 2014, Smart and Sun had combined revenue of P114.5 billion, with a combined subscriber base of 72.8 million. Globe Telecom posted P78.1 billion in revenue.

Yap said increased penalties would force telecommunication firms to comply with NTC orders. n

APEC companies upbeat on...

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“As far as regional integration is concerned, we are quite optimistic...It will not be quite effective on the near-term, but they [businesses] are really looking forward to it,” he said, citing as an example the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The presidential elections next year was not included in the survey, but Cabrera said businesses are generally “not affected” by a change in government.

“They see the reforms to be irreversible,” he pointed out.

Across the region, natural disasters also topped the list of risks, cited by 82 percent of respondents. A total of 14.5 percent of them also cited geopolitical tensions to negatively affect business plans.

Meanwhile, Cabrera said tech-

nology is driving optimism in APEC. “Technology will drive modernity in APEC and you see R&D (research and development) being done more in APEC economies,” he stressed.

Within APEC, the US, China and Indonesia suffered the largest drops in business confidence, while Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines got the biggest boost.

The survey covered 800 CEO respondents in 21 APEC membereconomies. It was conducted from June 23 to Aug. 21 this year.

“We would like to share this survey to policymakers so that they can make better policy decisions to support regional development,” said PwC China man- IA Filipino checks his smartphone in front of agement board member David the logo of APEC 2015 in Manila on Sunday, Nov. 15.

Wu in the same briefing. n

Manila, Cebu rank low in APEC...

PAGE B1 t

government and a more tolerant and well-informed society.

“Some educational initiatives are long-standing, such as Filipino cities’ century-old tradition of an English-based school curriculum. Manila and Cebu, for example, are now two of the biggest markets globally in the business process outsourcing sector.

Online education, too, is expanding to fortify bricks-and-mortar education,” the study said in detailing the culture and social health rankings.

With regard to middle class growth, it noted that Manila had added “about 670,000 to its middle-class ranks since 2013.” The metropolis, along with Cebu, was said to be reaping the rewards of business process outsourcing investments.

Manila’s low connectivity ranking was traced to its public transport systems, although the report

noted that a new Mass Transit Loop was being planned.

Guillermo Luz, chief operating officer of the APEC 2015 CEO Summit and co-chair of National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines, emphasized the need for city-to-city collaboration as well.

“This study provides a set of metrics and a diagnostic tool for mayors and urban planners to see how they can improve their communities to build better cities. We hope mayors use this information to see how they can evolve their cities into more livable, sustainable, and competitive places,” he said.

Ayala Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, who serves as co-chairman of the Sustainable Development Working Group for the APEC Business Advisory Council, said the study should trigger sustained action.

“I hope it helps build the momentum towards designing, building, and redeveloping competitive cities in APEC through research and action-oriented programs,” he said.

“When people think of where to live, work, invest, and visit, they don’t think countries, they think cities. Density and diversity make cities more imaginative, so long as that density and diversity are well-managed. That’s why public-and-public collaboration is needed to keep cities competitive,” he added.

PwC said data for the study was collected during the second and third quarters of 2015 using three main sources: global multilateral development organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations, national statistics organizations and municipal administrations, and commercial data providers. n

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

Debt Relief

Hard evidence required to prove dissipation of assets Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $5K debt

Atty. LAwrence yAng THERE are clients who received a large amount of cash before they file for bankruptcy.

They may have received cash from a refinance of their residence with net cash out, obtained a business loan, or sold an asset. These, and similar type of transactions, generate cash for clients which have been used up, and somewhere along the line, something goes wrong, and they decide that they need bankruptcy relief from debt. Bankruptcy trustees generally watch out for these kinds of transactions because they may be able to get some of the money back as preferential transfers. The bankruptcy code provides for a look back period of 90 days pre-filing for consumer debtors (not business) for amounts over $600 paid to ordinary creditors, 12 months paid to creditors who are insiders, and transfers of assets absolutely or by way of security other than in the ordinary course of business made 24 months before the bankruptcy petition is filed. Some trustees have a look back period of 48 months because the California Civil Code has this period of look back for transfers that defraud creditors, assuming other factors such as transfers for less than fair market value are present that possibly makes the transfer avoidable.

In all of these situations, the best defense is documentary evidence that proves that the money was used for the right reasons. For instance, if you cashed out $100K when you refinanced your house 10 months ago and you don’t have that money anymore, you must be able to explain how the money was used, and more importantly, you must have the documentary evidence to prove that your explanation is true and correct.

Let’s say that your explanation of how the $100K was used is as follows: 1) $20K was used to get a new roof 2) $30K was sent abroad to pay for the medical expenses of your father who lived abroad and did not have medical insurance 3) $20K was used as a down payment to buy your retirement condo with a mortgage of $80K 4) $20K was

invested in a business, which is now defunct 5) $10K was used to pay the college tuition of your son. This accounts for $100K. It’s well and good that you testify at the hearing that the $100K was used that way.

Even though your testimony is under penalty of perjury, you need to corroborate your testimony with hard evidence.

Hard evidence consists of documents that prove what you are saying. To prove that your net cash out was $100K, you must provide the escrow papers.

Contract with the roof repair company, copies of the medical bills of your father and the wire transfers sending the money, copies of the mortgage for the condo abroad, an internet assessment of the market value of the condo abroad, copy of the check that paid the $20K business investment, and copies of the college tuition fees statement. Copies of the checks covering the payments made must also be provided. Without hard evidence, the trustee does not have enough basis to believe what you are saying and may be inclined to dismiss your case for lack of evidence to prove dissipation of assets. I had a recent case where debtor owned a business with a lot of inventory destroyed by fire. Debtor received an insurance payment of $175K but could not provide hard evidence of how the money was used up. He testified that the money was used to pay back salaries and to restart the business but could not provide any more evidence to corroborate his testimony. Case was dismissed.

So, don’t throw away your hard evidence. Gather them and compile them into an easily readable format so that in case you have to file for bankruptcy relief, you have a bulletproof defense to justify the fact that you used the cash legitimately.

On another note, 68-year old senior tells me that he wants to file a Chapter 7 case for $5K of credit card debt. I was taken aback because he only owed $5K. I asked him why he wanted a bankruptcy for $5K of credit card debt. He said his social security is $1000. He lives with his daughter but pays her $500 of rent, leaving him with $500, which he uses for gas,

car insurance and his credit cards. He says he pays $150 a month to keep the $5K current, and he’s been paying it for 20 years! He said he’s just tired of paying for it and just doesn’t want to pay it anymore. So, at 68 he wants a fresh start without debt, even if its $5K. The amount of debt owed becomes a burden depending on how much your income is. The best situation is where you don’t owe any short term or credit card debt. Long-term debt for the purchase of a house is good because the house normally increases in value over time. This means that you’re not wasting your money. And in the meantime, you have a nice house to live in and raise a family. After paying the house for 20 years, barring a major catastrophe in the economy, the value of the house will probably double or triple if its in the right location.

So you can look at a house as a safe investment over the long run. Hence your house payments are not wasted. But with credit card payments, you’re basically throwing your money away. Even if it took client 20 years to figure out that he was wasting his $150 monthly payment on the $5K credit card debt, he finally realized that he threw away $36K to keep $5K of credit card current. It’s never too late to get rid of your debt.

But getting rid of your debt is the right thing to do at any age.

My oldest client was 92 and he still opted for Chapter 7 to get rid of $20K of credit card debt.

He migrated here 70 years ago to work in the pineapple plantations in Hawaii. I don’t know how he keeps young, but at 92, he looked about 60 and his wife is only 38. He said his plumbing still works well. Enough said.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” – 1 John 1:5. *** 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.

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 3 of 3)

In many cases, those in their immediate family orbit say, they never saw it coming and will be left wondering WHY. Suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless.

Those left behind who will have to pick up the pieces deal with the heavy pall of gloom and guilt that descends on them for a long time.

So how does one deal with the dark night of the soul?

I don’t know about you but it seems to me that darkness can only be fought and won decisively by seeking the light. Only light can dispel darkness.

Psychotherapy, anti-depressants and all other known scientifically proven ways of dealing with mental illness and the eventual sickness of the soul may be of some help.

But as in anything, the first step is to acknowledge and admit the condition as a serious cause for concern and to seek help right away. This is the crucial first step towards healing.

And the hardest.

The courage to recognize and admit one needs help may not be enough though. Humility is a key ingredient. The afflicted must reach out to someone he can trust, someone who cares about him and lead him to those that can help. This is when fervent heartfelt prayers, his own and those of others, can assault the heavens for mercy.

The bigger part of defeating the darkness of the soul lies within one’s self. Seek the light every which way possible, both physical and spiritual. Even the very act of being exposed to sunlight can fight off the sadness that afflicts many when the fall and winter seasons with their diminished amounts of sunlight

Community Journal

Whatever happened to ‘Happily Ever After’? “… You have changed my mourning into dancing, O Lord, and have girded me with joy, alleluia…”

—Psalm 30 come every year.

If you have strayed from the Christian faith, come back, renew and rekindle that relationship with God. He is the vine; we are the branches. Cut off from God, we wither and die.

In daily life, seek the company of genuinely happy people who have that buoyant tendency to lift others. They have the force of high tide that lifts all boats.

Cheerfulness is the daylight of the soul. Bask in joy-filled people’s megawatt light until you can generate your own. It may just be a flicker of hope in the beginning that grows into a bigger flame that may become a bonfire blazing within one’s soul. Quite possibly, with the Holy Spirit’s help, that onceailing soul can become a light bright enough to give hope to others similarly situated.

Like anyone else, cheerful people do have problems and undergo dark times. But they have within their inmost core, a steady spark of God’s light that enables them to tap a wellspring of joy, no matter what season of the soul they are going through.

You must stay away from negative, depressed people. Darkness can and will go viral given the chance. They have twice the force of gravity to bring you down to the depths of despair.

In my pedestrian view, since deep depression is essentially a disease that afflicts the mind and withers the soul, all physi-

nia, Inc., a non-profit religious organization. The Eucharistic Celebration will be presided by the Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, His Excellency Bishop Oscar A. Solis at 10am followed by the traditional procession of the image of Santo niño de Cebu, fiesta

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this question a lot from our family law clients. The fact is that California is a no fault state and you do not need your spouse’s signature in order to get a divorce. What is more important is being able to properly serve your spouse with the divorce petition and satisfy the jurisdictional requirement of the Court by showing that either you or your spouse resided in the State for at least 6 months prior to filing the petition and in the County for 3 months prior to filing the petition.

When you file a divorce petition, you have to serve your spouse with the summons and petition. Your spouse then has 30 days to file a response after being served with a divorce petition. If your spouse fails to file and serve you with a response, you can file a request for default against your spouse after 30 days. You can also file a proposed judgment for the court to approve. The default procedure can be done even if there are issues of property division, custody, visitation, and support. However, the Court will still review your proposed judgment and property division

cal remedies seem to me to fall far short of true healing. A spiritual illness can only be cured by spiritual means. Match the method to the madness.

A leap of faith is a must. God is light and only God can dispel the darkness of one’s soul. Without God, one can do nothing.

The promise is clear for many who have remained steadfast in their faith. Faith is the solid and unwavering core belief that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so we may live happily ever after far beyond death into eternity. This is the ending really worth seeking for every life story.

Rock solid faith brings a bottomless well of hope. Faith gives us a deep, down to the marrow, heartfelt and genuine appreciation of God’s unfailing love to see us through and bring us home in His own good and perfect timing.

God gave us life as a gift. Our gift to God in return, is to live as joyfully as possible the whole enchilada, the full measure of that life until we are called home.

by Kathleen a. Martin What then is the ultimate Philstar.com weapon against dangerous depression that afflicts many MAnILA—The Philippine govtoday? It is JOY, the pure and simple expression of gratitude ernment should be circumspect in tweaking income tax rates as for GOD’S EnDURInG LOVE. the country has one of the lowest *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is revenues among the investment SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To grade-rated economies, Moody’s send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ Investors Service said.

“With regard to income tax asianjournalinc.com reform, I think we want to be wary about reversing some of the gains we’ve had over the past few years,” Christian de Guzman, vice president and selunch and Sinulog presentations. nior analyst at Moody’s, said in Food and financial donations are a briefing. welcome and all are tax deduct“In the 1990s, we’ve had a simible. For further information, you ilar improvement in revenue genmay contact the association Preseration but subsequently there ident, Danny C. Diluvio at (323) was a backsliding, and it is only 252-4991 or email at: dannydilunow that we’re recovering to levvio1@gmail.com. n els of revenues as a share of GDP

Feast of Santo Niño de Cebu ALL are cordially invited to the Feast of Santo niño de Cebu on January 9, 2016, Saturday, 10am to 5pm at St. Bernard Catholic Church in the City of Bellflower, California, organized and sponsored by the Santo niño de Cebu Association of Southern Califor-

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 18-20, 2015

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Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuses to sign? to make sure it conforms to the policy towards equal division of community property. Meaning, you have to propose a division of community property that is pretty much equal between the spouses. If your proposed property division is one sided such as distributing all community property to you and giving all the community debts to your spouse, the Court would probably not grant your judgment.

The Court would probably set a hearing for you to explain why this is an equal division of community property.

The only time you may need your spouse’s signature is if your spouse files a response to your divorce petition. This is called “contesting” the divorce.

If your divorce is contested by your spouse, you can resolve the case either by “settlement” or by “trial.” However, you do not have to settle all the issues in the case at once. Under the concept of divisible divorce, you can settle some of the issues and set the other issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on for trial.

Our office try to resolve cases through settlement because it is more cost effective and the parties are usually happier with the outcome. In that situation, the parties may avoid the cost and uncertainty of going to trial by executing what is called a stipulated judgment which is in essence an agreement as to all the

issues in the divorce case.

For issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on, you will have to go through the litigation process which involves obtaining discovery, exchanging declarations of disclosures, and preparing the case for trial. Ultimately, you will obtain your divorce at trial in addition to adjudication of the distribution of community assets and debts amongst other issues. It is in the best interest of the party to retain the representation of competent counsel who will assert his or her rights under the family code. *** 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.

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Moody’s wary of PH income tax reforms that we last saw about 10 years ago,” he added.

Data from the Department of Finance showed the tax to GDP (gross domestic product) ratio or the government’s revenue collections as a percentage of GDP stood at 14.09 percent as of July from 13.6 percent in end-2014.

The government aims to increase its tax effort to 15.3 percent this year and to 16.6 percent in 2016 through continuous improvement in tax administration, aggressive campaigns, and expansion of the revenue base.

“It is not for Moody’s to decide or opine whether or not lower income taxes are appropriate for the Philippines but we are looking at the overall revenue performance of the Philippines and in this regard, we note the Philippines is among the lowest revenue gen-

erators among investment-grade countries,” he said.

De Guzman, who is in the country along with other executives from Moody’s for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, made the comment as a measure seeking to lower the current income tax rates remain pending in the Congress.

Philippine lawmakers are eyeing the reduction of the 32 percent income tax rate for individuals earning a net taxable amount of P500,000 a year to just 25 percent by 2017.

But President Aquino earlier this year said he was not amenable to the proposed income tax cuts as this move would cut government revenues and also affect credit ratings.

Moody’s upgraded last De-

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B NOVEMBER 18-20, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Calendar of Events across

Community Journal

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 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 dinnerdance 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.

• 2016 •

M Ay 2 0 1 6

PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global Reunion Attention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 27-29, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends.

For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-544-8210 or loiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 or Monette_santillan@ yahoo.com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa SugayPalanca at 818-281-7460 or marispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at 661-794-8906 or rmaghari@gmail.com; Sally Mendoza at 323-695-0235 or sally.mendoza616@yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 orhoney@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 orconnieacosta1@att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808 or vee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323-627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com.

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

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

Manila forecast to be next ‘great global city’

by Doris

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

FoRGET Silicon Valley. The Philippines could be a fertile ground for the next disruptive startup tech company like Uber or Alibaba.

This is according to Josette Sheeran, president of new Yorkbased Asia Society, who cited the rise of cities as one of the megatrends affecting micro and small and medium enterprises (SME) in the world.

“Manila is predicted to be the next great global city at the center of innovation,” Sheeran said in a presentation at the AsiaPacific Economic cooperation (APEc) SME Summit on Tuesday, nov. 17. “i don’t know what’s happening here but the world is paying attention. What that means is opportunity is coming in a way that we would not have felt or predicted in the past,” she said.

Sheeran cited a study made in 2014 that listed the next global

hubs for innovation, topped

by Jakarta while Metro Manila ranked second. The list also included nairobi, Mumbai, Bogota, new Delhi and Addis Ababa.

The Asia Society chief said Manila’s way of doing business and experience in dealing its urban challenges manifested the rising power of cities.

Globally, Sheeran said between 2010 and 2025, 440 cities of the world would generate half of global gross domestic product (GDP) growth, many of which were cities that most people have not heard of.

Megatrends are defined as profound social and economic changes creating waves that could either sweep away nations that are unprepared for them.

The rise of Asia is another megatrend cited by Sheeran, who noted that the world has yet to fully appreciate the brilliance of this region. Since 1901, she noted that only 68 out of 900 nobel laureates were chosen out of Asia.

As such, she said Asia Society

sought to fill in the recognition gap with the launch of its annual “Asia Game-changer” awards.

The rise of connectivity is another megatrend cited by Sheeran, who pointed out that the rise of the smartphone has become the core technology of the developing world. She said humanity was just at the beginning of how connectivity could change the world. it is the same connectivity that had created companies like the car-booking firm Uber or chinabased online market Alibaba.

Sheeran said the next Uber or Alibaba could be born in the Philippines.

The rise of self-empowerment is likewise another megatrend seen influencing SMEs. The dismantling of barriers to entry, mostly with the use of technology, is allowing individuals to tackle everyday problems by themselves.

“Even at a small scale you can create things to inspire the world,” she said. n

‘Ride-sharing could solve PH traffic...

PAGE B1 t

pecially Metro Manila. in the next 10 years, he sees an unprecedented amount of urban mitigation unfolding.

“People are moving into cities at historic rates, that’s not going to change,” said Plouffe, an American political strategist, who was not only the vice president of Uber at the firm’s inception, but was also campaign manager for Barack obama’s successful presidential bid in 2008, and later, the US President’s senior adviser in the White House, and longtime Democratic Party campaign consultant.

Plouffe noted that some cit-

ies have the ability to add new public transport lines and new roads, but most cities like the Philippines do not.

“You already have too much congestion, and more people are coming in. Something’s got to give,” Plouffe stressed.

He cited carpooling as a firststep solution to congestion problems experienced by most cities, the strategy would cut down the number of cars on the road.

Plouffe said 10 percent of people under 30 have given up their cars, based on an Uber study.

“This something that a shared economy business, such as Uber, is currently doing in the

market—it is changing behavior,” Plouffe said.

He said Uber and its competitors alike are helping prevent drunk-driving accidents, as people can avail of a ride to get them home safely when intoxicated instead of driving themselves. “in our research, people under 25 or 30, when they live in an urban area where a service like Uber or one of our competitors is available, they don’t even think about driving if they’re going to have a drink. it doesn’t even cross their mind anymore because they can press a button and get home safely,” he said. n

Moody’s wary of PH income tax...

PAGE B3 t cember the country’s sovereign rating to Baa2, a notch above the minimum investment grade, with a stable outlook.

The rating was awarded amid the continuous decline in the country’s debt, rosy prospects of the Philippine economy, and perceived resiliency against

external risks.

De Guzman noted it would be hard to determine how much the proposed law would impact government revenues and spending as well. “one of the arguments for lower income taxes is it could stimulate the economy but we have to go back to the overall revenue

performance of the government as a share of GDP because of the government’s very ambitious expenditure program,” he said.

“They want to ramp up expenditures to five percent of GDP by the end of this term and one of your major constraints in ramping up expenditures is revenues,” De Guzman added. n

People and Events

Free health care glossary available in new Asian & Pacific Islander languages AcTion for Health Justice (AHJ) is pleased to announce that its Health insurance Enrollment Glossary, a glossary of commonly used health care terms, is now available at no cost and in more Asian and Pacific islander languages!

With the third open Enrollment Period underway, AHJ partners across the country are working to provide assistance to those who need help navigating the health insurance enrollment process, including Asian Americans, native Hawaiians, and Pacific islanders (AAs and nHPis)—a community where one in three have difficulty speaking, writing, or reading English. in order to increase the effectiveness of in-person, in-language health care enrollment assistance, AHJ worked with certified outreach and enrollment assistors, and other community partners to develop its Glossary.

Last year, AHJ released its Glos-

sary in chinese (Traditional), Korean and Vietnamese. it was the first step in an effort to respond to a lack of reference tools for those working to get health care coverage for this community.

The AHJ Glossary contains approximately 100 of the most frequently used (and often confused) terms encountered by in-person assisters and navigators. Many AHJ partners including navigators, cAcs, cBos, and FQHcs identified common terms in the Glossary and took part in its translation and review process.

With the success of its Glossary, AHJ is pleased to make it available in the following languages: Laotian, Marshallese, Tagalog and Tongan—and will release additional languages in the coming weeks. it is AHJ’s hope that its Glossary will be a helpful tool in ensuring more AA and nHPi communities understand the Marketplace and get

covered this open Enrollment Period.

Request your free copy of AHJ’s Glossary here.

AHJ is the only national coalition working to reach and enroll AAs and nHPis through oneon-one in-person assistance in more than 50 Asian and Pacific islander languages. The Glossary is a resource to help assisters provide accurate translations and help more people get covered.

We look forward to working with our partners and hope this resource will continue to benefit in-language efforts to reach and enroll AAs and nHPis in health insurance. if you have any questions regarding the AHJ Glossary, please email ahj-glossary@ aapcho.org.

The AHJ Health Enrollment Glossary was made possible by the support of AHJ cBo partners and the AHJ Translations Workgroup led by AAPcHo. n

Nov. 22 concert to honor memory of slain journalists Asian Journal Chief Photographer Andy Tecson is one of the performers LoS AnGELES—FilipinoAmerican media groups here have banded together to honor the memory of the 32 journalists killed in the Ampatuan massacre, the worst single attack on the press. on nov. 22, members of the media will hold a concert and photo exhibit at the celebrity centre international in Los Angeles. The event will feature original Pilipino Music (oPM) icon Florante, local celebrity musicians and the newly formed FilAm Media Band.

The concert, titled ABAKADA: children Helping children, will also highlight the youth band Back2Jupiter, whose members will dedicate their performance to the orphans of the slain journalists.

“ABAKADA is the title of Florante’s popular song promoting the value of education,” said Benny Uy, public relations officer of the national Union of Journalists of the Philippines (nUJP)-US chapter, producer of the show. “it’s also a fitting title because

this project will help us support the education of the orphans of slain journalists.”

The concert date—nov.22— which is nov. 23 in Philippine time zone, marks the sixth year after the attack that claimed the lives of 58 people, 32 of them journalists, in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province in Southern Philippines. none of the suspects have been convicted of the crime. international media groups, including the new York-based watchdog committee to Protect Journalists (cPJ) and the international Federation of Journalists (iFJ), have condemned the slow progress of the case and the continued killing of journalists in the Philippines.

Earlier this month, radio broadcaster Jose Bernardo was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in Quezon city. He is the 5th journalist killed in 2015 and the 169th since 1986, according to nUJP. nUJP-US is producing the event, in partnership with the

Filipino American Press club of california, F7 Photographers, Frontliners, Philippine Press Photographers (PPP)-USA and Pen and Lens Press club.

The show is sponsored by Estela cottle of Estela Skin care clinic, Leelin Bakery & cafe and former journalist nancy Ramos Esguerra of SAnA care Services and 5Linx international. other performers include Asian Journal’s Andy Tecson, Malou Toler, Jo Awayan, Mon concepcion, Mat Relox, Matthew Parry-Jones, Bagyo & Mervin ML, Rhony Laigo and the Disciples Band, whose members are part of a choral group that recently broke the World Guinness Record for the largest gospel choir. celebrity centre international is located at 5930 Franklin Ave in Los Angeles. The show will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 each. For more information, call nUJP-US Vice chair nikki Arriola at (310) 503-9310 or Secretary General Abner Galino at (661) 644-4953. n

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

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 18, 2015

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Filipino twist Recipes from our favorite chefs for a non-traditional fare

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe

FILIPINOS love to celebrate with food wherever they are.

That is why, like most races and cultures, we put in our own twist in traditional American Thanksgiving dishes to make it our own, or create our own menu.

“I think Filipinos in the US may want to (or should) try nontraditional dishes for Thanksgiving because we should take

/ AJPress

advantage of the availability of the local ingredients and other cooking techniques,” said Chef Eric Pascual of Eats by E. “I also believe that in doing so we can still stay true to some of the traditional flavors.”

The great part about celebrating Thanksgiving is that we can do it any way we like. Although the standard of roasted turkey and stuffing, cranberry

sauce and pumpkin pie are expected on one’s dinner table, it doesn’t mean we have to follow suit. In this age of food blogs, Pinterest and fusion cooking, the options are endless.

In this special Thanksgiving feature of the Asian Journal, Chef Eric and international chef Cocoy Ventura share recipes of alternative and Filipino-inspired Thanksgiving dishes.

Chef Cocoy’s Roasted Crabs with Garlic Calamansi 2 servings

IngredIents: • 1 large Dungeness crab, cleaned and sectioned (raw or precooked) • ¼ cup SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 4 tbsp butter • 10 cloves garlic, crushed • 2 tbsp salt • ½ tsp black pepper

Cocoy Ventura

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 500°F. 2. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

3. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients.

4. Tear about 20” long foil, place onto lined sheet, place mixture in the center of foil and wrap it up, seal all openings.

5. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

6. Transfer on a serving platter, pour cooking juice on top, arrange and garnish with scallions or herbs (optional).

Chef Cocoy’s Pork Spareribs Toyo-mansi 2 servings IngredIents: • 1 lb pork spare ribs, cut into manageable pieces 1/3 cup SunTropics Pure Calamansi ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tbsp dark soy sauce 3 tbsp brown sugar 10 cloves of garlic, crushed ground black pepper 4 dried bay leaves 1 cup water

Photo courtesy of Sharon Sy Lao of SunTropics

Procedure: 1. Mix all ingredients in a medium pot and cook over high heat with the lid on.

2. When boiling, gently stir, turn down heat to medium low and put the lid back on.

3. Cook for 30 minutes until pork is soft.

4. Reduce sauce by raising heat to high, lid off. Stir occasionally.

5. Serve with rice.

AJPress file photo Chef Eric Pascual

Photo courtesy of Feastly

Chef Eric’s Braised Bistek IngredIents: • 3 lbs. of beef chuck roast or short rib (bone-in preferably) • 4 tbsp. SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 5 garlic cloves (minced) • ½ cup soy sauce • ½ cup water • ½ cup chicken stock • 1 tbsp. sea salt • 2 tbsp. cane sugar • 1 tbsp black pepper • 4 tbsp oil • 3 medium onions cut into rings Procedure: 1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. 2. Pat beef dry and rub all over with the salt and pepper.

3. Heat oil in an ovenproof 5-quart wide heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown beef on all sides, about 15 minutes total.

4. Add garlic, soy sauce, cane sugar, SunTropics Pure

Continued on Page 3

Calamansi, water, and chicken stock, and bring to a boil.

5. Cover pot tightly and braise in oven, until beef is very tender, approximately

3-3.5 hours total.

6. In a separate pot, sauté onions in 2 tbsp. of oil until clear. Serve onions over beef.

Chef Eric’s Green Bean Stir Fry

Chef Cocoy’s Calamansi Creme Brûlée 2 servings

IngredIents: • 2 tbsp SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 3 cups heavy cream • 10 tbsp turbinado sugar (raw sugar) • 6 large egg yolks • 1 tsp vanilla extract Procedure: 1. Put oven rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. 2. In a heavy sauce pan, stir in 7 tbsp turbinado sugar in the cream and a pinch of salt.

3. Heat mixture over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until almost boiling, then remove from heat.

4. In a mixing bowl, beatf egg yolks with a wooden spoon, then gradually stir in hot cream mixture. Pour custard onto ramekins.

5. Arrange ramekins in a roasting pan and bake in water bath until custards are just set around the edges but centers wobble when pan is gently shaken, 30 to 35 minutes.

6. Cool custard in water bath for 20 minutes then remove from pan and chill, uncovered at least for 2 hours. This will set the custard.

7. Sprinkle about 1 tsp turbinado sugar evenly over each custard, then move blow-

Photo courtesy of Duane Ramos

Photo courtesy of Sharon Sy Lao of SunTropics

torch flame evenly back and forth close to sugar until caramelized. Caramel will harden in 3 to 5 minutes.

IngredIents: • 1 tsp. grated ginger • 4 cloves finely-diced garlic • 3 sliced tomatoes • 4 tbsp. oil • 2 lbs. green beans • ½ cup sliced onions • 2 tbsp. SunTropics Pure Calamansi

• 3 tbsp. Oyster sauce • 1 tbsp. black pepper • 2 tbsp. Patis (fish sauce) Procedure: 1. In a wok, add in oil.

2. Once heated add and sauté garlic, ginger and onion in oil for 2 minutes stirring occasionally.

3. Add in the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.

4. Add in the green beans, oyster sauce, patis, and black pepper.

5. Stir with vegetables, for 3 minutes at moderate to high heat.

6. Correct seasoning if required. Serve hot.

Maharlika/Jeepney’s Kamote Pie IngredIents: For PIe crust • All-purpose flour • Shortening • Ice water For FIllIng • Sweet potato or kamote, chopped • 1/4 cup butter • 2 tbsp of canola oil • 1/3 cup milk • 5 eggs • ginger powder • coconut powder • salt Photo courtesy of Maharlika/Jeepney

Procedure: Pie crust: 1. Combine flour, shortening and butter in a food processor until coarse in texture then slowly add ice water. Once it starts to form a ball, transfer the crust to a ziplock bag or bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, let it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes.

2. When handling the pie crust, make sure to dust your cutting board with flour to avoid it from sticking.

Filling: 1. Pan roast chopped kamote

with 1/4 of butter and 2tbsp of canola oil. Once the kamote is fork tender add the ginger powder, coconut powder, brown sugar, and salt. Mix well.

2. In a food processor puree the kamote with 1/3 cup milk. Make sure its smooth to texture.

3. With the processor on low, slowly then add 5 eggs one at a time.

4. Transfer to pie crust brush the top with a little egg white for color. Bake 325 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour until golden brown.

features

Thanksgiving is All Rolled Up with this Dish!

by Grace

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 18, 2015

O

If you don’t feel like roasting a big turkey for Thanksgiving, or want to try a great dish for holiday entertaining, you might want to try my Stuffed Turkey Rolls. I pack these turkey cutlets with my Savory Stuffing, roll them up, and secure them with kitchen twine. The finished rolls are sliced and fanned out on a plate to make a beautiful presentation, and you can serve them with cranberry chutney or cranberry sauce for a nice added touch.

Because I marinate the turkey before cooking, it’s juicy and flavorful. The selenium in turkey can increase your resistance to infection. The red wine (I use a Pinot Noir) adds a bit of resveratrol to the selenium’s antioxidant power.

Stuffed Turkey Rolls SERVES 6 ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbs. lemon juice (about ½ lemon) 2 Tbs. red wine Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 6 turkey cutlets or butterflied turkey breasts 1 recipe Savory Stuffing 2 Tbs. butter 2 Tbs. olive oil

1. To make the marinade, combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, red wine, salt, and pepper in a large re-sealable plastic bag.

2. Add the turkey cutlets to the bag. Squeeze out the air, seal the bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

3. Remove cutlets, reserving the marinade. Pat each cutlet dry with paper towels.

4. On a work surface, lay one cutlet so it slightly overlaps a second one. Pound the seam together with a mallet. You should have one fairly large, thin turkey round. Repeat with the remaining cutlets until you have 3 rounds.

5. Spread about 1/2 cup of Savory Stuffing evenly onto each turkey round, smoothing almost to the edge. Roll up the turkey, pinwheel style, and secure with kitchen twine.

6. Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy bottomed sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the turkey rolls and sear until a golden crust develops, about 1–2 minutes per side.

7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place turkey rolls in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Spoon the reserved marinade and any remaining stuffing around the rolls. Cover with foil and bake until the turkey is cooked through, about 20–30 minutes.

8. Before serving, remove the twine and cut each turkey roll into 5 slices.

9. Serve with a cranberry sauce or cranberry chutney if desired.

Savory Stuffing Homemade croutons, fresh celery and onion give this stuffing its unique flavor and texture. It can also be served on its own as a side dish if you spread the stuffing in a greased baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

3

How to have a healthy & happy Thanksgiving! instead of butter, i use a butter substitute, smart Balance, so ThaNksgiviNg doesn’t that this dessert stays hearthave to be a carb-loaded, over- healthy. eating frenzy. You can make satWild rice is another holiday isfying, anti-aging food choices staple that is really good for us. for this holiday that will leave it’s a whole grain that provides you feeling thankful for indulgthe FoodTrient fiber for great ing. Take turkey, for example. i digestion and Omega-3s, which YIELDS 2-3 cups cook at least four turkeys each also is good for our skin. it can 4 Tbs. olive oil Thanksgiving because i usually 1/2 cup chopped onion be cooked with plenty of herbs 1/2 lb. ground turkey have about 30 people over for and tossed with lightly sautéed 2 slices cubed whole-wheat bread dinner. Turkey contains tryptobell peppers for a colorful side Sea salt and ground pepper to taste phan, which produces niacin, dish.

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning giving us energy. Turkey also You can also add some 1 cup turkey or chicken broth contains the selenium, a dehealthy holiday vegetables like 1/4 cup chopped celery toxifying antioxidant. You don’t red cabbage and leeks. have to drown your turkey The trick is to load your 1. Heat 3 Tbs. of the olive oil in a large pan over in fatty gravy. it can be delitable with delicious healthy opmedium high-heat. Add the onion and cook until ciously sauced using healthier tions while minimizing exposure translucent, about 5 minutes. to foods—such as like mashed 2. Add the ground turkey and cook until done. ingredients. i like to marinate my turkeys in a mixture of red potatoes, white rolls, or creamy Set aside.

3. To make the croutons, preheat oven to 350 wine, soy sauce, and lemon gravies. Mashed sweet potadegrees. Season the bread cubes with the salt and juice before roasting. By the toes are a better choice than pepper, drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil time the turkey is done roastmashed white potatoes beand the Italian seasoning, bake at 350 degrees for ing, the marinade has become cause the orange tubers contain about 10-15 minutes. a rich sauce. carotenoids, a FoodTrient that 4. Add the broth, croutons, celery, and sausages, Resveratrol is present in supports the immune system. if using, to the turkey mixture and mix well. Season another classic Thanksgiving Whole-grain rolls (as opposed to taste. ingredient: cranberries. Every to white ones) will provide year i make Cranberry Bread fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Pudding. i add walnuts to selenium.

Shrimp and coconut milk are a classic Asian my bread pudding because Pumpkin is another healthy combination. I’ve added moringa powder to they are high in antioxidants Thanksgiving tradition. Be sure this very mild dish in order to increase the like Omega-3 fatty acids and to use evaporated milk in your health benefits. If you want to dial up the heat vitamin E—both of which pumpkin pies instead of cream a notch or two, use Serrano or other hot pepreduce the risk of heart disease. and a sugar substitute like pers in place of the mild red Anaheim chilies. If desired, serve over brown or jasmine rice.

by Grace O

Shrimp and Moringa Curry

Ingredients: 1⁄4 cup peanut oil 1 tsp. minced garlic 1 inch peeled and thinly sliced gingerroot 1⁄2 cup sliced red onion 2 red Anaheim chilies, seeded and cut into strips 1 can (19 oz.) coconut milk 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips 1 lb. peeled tiger shrimp (devein, if desired) Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 1 Tbs. moringa powder dissolved in 1 Tbs. warm water MAIN COURSES 1. Heat the peanut oil in a nonreactive saucepan, such as copper or enamel-coated cast iron, over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and onion slices and sauté for 5 minutes.

2. Add the chilies and cook for 2 minutes.

3. Add the coconut milk, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Add the bell pepper, shrimp, salt, pepper, and Moring a powder and simmer for 5 minutes.

Xylotol. in the crust, you can substitute smart Balance for the shortening. That way, you will reap all the benefits of pumpkin’s carotenoids and fiber without taking in too much fat or sugar. The same rules apply to apple pies.

Just remember to leave the skins on the apples so that you will get some quercitin, an anti-inflammatory that can reduce allergy symptoms and keep arteries from becoming inflamed. i make a beautiful Pear and apple Tart with plenty of cinnamon, an antioxidant-rich holiday spice that makes me feel good about eating dessert. all of these recipes and more are available on FoodTrients.com

SunTropics Pure Calamansi

suNTROPiCs was started to bring the finest of the Filipino fruit flavors to the us market. Through our products, we seek to tantalize the senses with succulent and fragrant fruits of the Philippines. The products we take to market are rich with true to the fruit flavors.

• Not from Concentrate

• Premium ingredients • More fruit & lower sugar than other nectars • Made with Fruit Purees • No high Fructose Corn syrup sunTropics Pure Calamansi is available at seafood City, island Pacific, Manila Oriental, Pacific supermarkets, and amazon.com.

Chef Eric’s Calamansi Dipping Sauce IngredIents: • 2 tbsp. sunTropics Pure Calamansi • 3 diced garlic cloves • 2 tbsp. diced red onion • 2 tbsp. diced jalapeno

(seeds removed) • 2 tbsp. cane sugar • ¼ cup cane vinegar • 2 tbsp. soy sauce Procedure: 1. Combine all ingredients

and stir until sugar has dissolved.

2. allow 30 minutes for ingredients and flavors to combine before serving.

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features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 18, 2015

Pinay group 4th Impact advances to ‘X Factor UK’ top 7 despite illness NOT even an emergency could stop 4th Impact from advancing to the top seven in “X Factor UK,” as one of the all-Filipina girl group collapsed before the performance.

In a report from British news site Mirror Online, Celena fainted moments before the group took to the stage. She, though, was able to hold her own and perform Beyonce’s “Work It

Out” to give fans a show.

A spokesperson for X Factor shed light on what transpired backstage, as he said, “(Celena) was checked by a medic who said she was okay to perform.”

Producers rushed to give Celena a chair on stage as the judges shortened their comments after the performance.

“Under the circumstances, that was the most incredible performance we have ever seen,” said Simon Cowell. “I was there as this was all happening backstage so I know what you’ve been through. I hope you’re okay, sweetheart.”

Despite Celena’s condition, 4th Impact still was able to survive the double elimination night on Sunday, Nov. 15 and advanced to the top seven.

They joined Anton Stephans, Reggie and Bollie, Che Chesterman, Mason Noise, Louisa Johnson, and Lauren Murray. All seven earned tickets to perform on the “X Factor UK” live tour next year from February to March.

Monica Michael from the Girls Category and Max Stone from Over 25 Category have been booted from the competition.

4th Impact mentor Cheryl Fernandez-Versini praised the group for their fortitude, saying, “I’m so proud of all of you for getting up in those circumstances. You had the chance to use the rehearsal tapes but you said no. We suffer things like this. There are things you have to just do and you guys did that tonight without the professional experience.”

Celena has already assured fans of her condition, as she tweeted through the group’s Twitter account @4thImpactMusic saying, “1st of all I want to thank God for giving me the strength to perform last night.

Thank you all for praying for me! Feeling better now – Cel” (Inquirer.net)

ANA launches‘Tastes of JAPAN’ Recipe Contest The contest, jointly run by ANA and JNTO, has a grand prize of a roundtrip ticket to Aichi, Japan LOS ANGELES—ANA, Japan’s largest airline, recently announced an online contest asking foodies everywhere to submit an original recipe inspired by the ‘Tastes of JAPAN,’ a unique campaign that introduces regional beverages and cuisine to ANA flights, airport lounges and other services. The contest, in partnership with the Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO), invites participants to submit an original recipe containing their favorite beer for the chance to win a roundtrip ticket to Aichi, Japan, a region situated in the center of the country known for its superb craft beer made of soy.

“Our mission has always been to share the culture, heritage and world-class charm of Japan with people everywhere,” said Jean Saito, Manager Online Marketing Communications, ANA. “As the airline that serves as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, we are proud to highlight the ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ and extend the ANA customer experience.”

Contest participants can

submit a photo of their culinary creation and a 500-character or less description of the dish. Entries can be submitted by visiting http://shout. lt/bgYzj The contest will run until December 21, 2015 and the winner will be announced during the week of January 11, 2016. ANA will fly the winner and one guest to Aichi, Japan for the ultimate cultural and foodie adventure and a 4-night stay at Nagoya Tokyu Hotel.

ANA’s recipe contest was designed to raise the profile of some of Japan’s most vibrant cities and regions, particularly to overseas customers, and it supports the airline’s ongoing ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ campaign.

Featuring different prefectures in 3-month cycles, ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ aims to stimulate local economies, in part by boosting consumption of regional agricultural products.

Now in its tenth phase, ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ by ANA will introduce passengers to products from Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures between December 2015 and February 2016.

This will include a Blancmange dessert combo prepared with fresh soy milk and green tea from Aichi Prefecture’s Nishio District, rolled wagyu beef with grape mustard Gifu Nagara wine sauce, and black small shrimp – an appetizer highly regarded by the local people of Mie because of its refined taste. More about these dishes and the other featured products from Aichi, Gifu and Mie can be found by visiting http:// www.ana.co.jp/eng/aboutana/ press/2015/151109.html As part of the campaign, ANA customers are able to sample Japanese sake and shochu, the ‘Kokushu’ or national spirits of Japan, at ANA airport lounges in Haneda, Narita and Kansai Airports.

Prefectures previously featured by the ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ are Kumamoto, Hokkaido, Miyagi, Ehime, Miyazaki, Shizuoka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Ishikawa, Okayama, Oita, Yamagata, Kagawa, Yamaguchi, Fukushima, Osaka, Tottori, Toyama, Nara, Fukuoka, Niigata, Kanagawa and Shiga.

*Advertising Supplement

Mexico President requested Kris Aquino for state visit MANILA—Kris Aquino welcomed Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to the Philippines on Tuesday, Nov. 17 ahead of his participation at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Nieto had a state visit before the APEC Leaders’ Meeting.

In an Instagram post, the TV host-actress and presidential sister revealed she accompanied Nieto during the Mexican state visit in Manila. She also posted photos of herself with Nieto and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada in Intramuros and Rizal Park.

The caption for the photo goes: “Scenes from the start of the Mexican State Visit. While waiting w/ Manila Mayor Erap, greeting President Peña Nieto, the wreath laying, & chatting w/ President Peña Nieto.” She added: “He was so warm & appreciative of our Philippine hospitality.” In separated post, Kris

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Kris Aquino during the Mexico state visit on Tuesday, November 17. The TV host-actress reveals Mexico requested her to be the Presidential Sister present during the Mexican state visit.

Instagram photo by Kris Aquino

revealed she was requested by Mexico “to be the Presidential Sister present during the State Visit.”

“Sorry I needed to blur the other parts, but this was the part of the briefing sent to me 2 months ago. Pleasantly surprised & extremely flattered

to have been requested,” Kris said.

Kris and her sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky AquinoAbellada and Viel Aqino-Dee will host the spouses of the 20 heads of the states who will attend the APEC summit this week. (Philstar.com)

Fil-Am actress joining hit series ‘The Vampire Diaries’ SAN FRANCISCO—A Filipino-American actress is moving on up to prime time, joining the cast of The CW’S “The Vampire Diaries.”

Leslie-Anne Huff will play Rayna, a vampire hunter who returns to the world of the living to exact vengeance on her enemies.

Huff was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley to an American father of English descent and a Filipino mother.

She attended the University of California, Berkeley and became active with the Filipino community, co-producing the yearly Pilipino Cultural Night show on campus. She was also an intern with the now-defunct

Filipinas Magazine based in San Francisco.

Huff’s career began in 2006 with a role in the television series “CSI:NY.” She has made guest appearances in several television series, including roles in “NCIS,” “Bones,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Chuck,” “Greek” and “The Suite Life on Deck.”

She starred in Disney Channel’s first original web series, “Mackenzie Falls,” a stand-alone spin-off of “Sonny with a Chance” in 2009.

Huff was cast in the film “Cowgirls n’ Angels,” in 2011 and in 2013, she was cast in “Dakota’s Summer,” the sequel to “Cowgirls n’ Angels.”

(Inquirer.net)

Leslie-Anne Huff

Ryan Cayabyab on how OPM can go global by

Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

MANILA—There are a lot of talented Filipino singer-songwriters. But how come only few of them make it internationally?

The Elements National Singing-Songwriting Camp tackled how an artist can take their music to the global stage.

“As artist, as you, what else can you offer the world?” Ryan Cayabyab asked the music camp participants on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

“Get out and do something no one else is doing.”

He noted that the global audience got tired of hearing the same sentimental songs from the Philippines.

Cayabyab also said that an artist can have an musical influence, but he should not “imitate.”

“The trick is not to imitate.

The trick is to find the idea why it clicks. Find out what works and do it your way,” he said.

Jim Paredes, meanwhile, said that “we really need to come in as us and that’ll be our greatest contribution to the world.”

Discovering other genre and forms is what Gerard Salonga advised the participants.

“Broaden your consumption

Ryan Cayabyab talks to aspiring musicians at the 6th Elements National Singing-Songwriting Camp at Hacienda, Isabella on Tuesday, November 17.

Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez

of the art, he said. “Kasi there are things na hindi mo alam mayro’n pala na puwede mo gamitin.”

“Listen to different music, even to the ones you can’t stand,” he added.

Giving an international perspective on Filipino music, Billboard Music Asia head Jonathan Serbin described Original Pilipino Music (OPM) as a “big mover” in Asian music.

“There’s really some really rare talent in the Philippines that are not seen in different places,” he said.

Seeing how OPM artists hone

and continually learn their craft, Serbin said Filipino artist could bring a big change in the Asian music industry someday.

“I think Philippines certainly can be a big mover in developing the music industry in Asia,” he said.

“I think they could be the link between Asia and the US (music),” he concluded.

Cayabyab, Paredes, Salonga and Serbin talked to budding and aspiring musicians at the Elements national music camp, held at the Hacienda Isabella in Indang, Cavite.

entertainment

Maja Salvador on life, love: Never give up

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Aside from showcasing her singing and dancing talent, Maja Salvador shared to her fans some words of wisdom during her “Majasty” concert at the Mall of Asia Arena last Friday, Nov. 13.

In between performances during her concert, the ABS-CBN star expressed her thoughts about life and love based on her experiences.

“Sa kahit anong gawin n’yo, ‘wag na ‘wag kayong mag-give up.” she told her audience. “Pati sa buhay ‘wag

na ‘wag kayong mag-give up because God knows you’re worth it. Kaya tayo ginawa ng Diyos because we’re worth it.”

Maja also talked about love. It can be remembered that the 27-year-old actress called it quits with Gerald Anderson early this year.

“Ang pagmamahal sa kaibigan, sa pamilya, walang kapantay ‘yon,” she said.

After the concert, Maja took to social media to thank her fans for supporting her “dream.”

“Dream ko lang mag

perform nuon. Dream ko lang maging JLO o Beyonce ng kahit isang araw lang. Natupad lahat yun. Pero ang pinaka the best ay yung tinanggap ko na never akong magiging si JLO o kaya si Beyonce kaya naman masaya ako nung ibinigay ko kung anong kayang ibigay ni MAJA,” she posted on her Instagram account on Sunday.

Maja added: “Yes di ko napuno ang MOA. Pero nung isang gabi PUNONG PUNO ng pagmamahal ang MOA. Bawat labas ko di kayo nagsasawang maghiyawan at magpalakpakan.”

Netizens abuzz over Alma Moreno’s ‘awkward’ interview with Karen Davila MANILA—Alma Moreno has become a hot topic on social media as her television interview with Karen Davila turns viral online.

Alma sat down for an interview with Karen for news channel ANC’s morning show “Headstart” that aired November 10.

The interview tackled her senatorial bid under presidential aspirant Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance.

The 56-year-old actress-turnedpolitician admitted her daughter Winwyn Marquez discouraged her from running due to her multiple sclerosis, but said she believes it will not be an issue in her senatorial bid.

Asked what makes her qualified to become senator, Alma cited her experience as a Councilor in Paranaque City.

“Councilor ako for nine years... And sa liga namin, sa Philippine Councilors League, nine years din ako as sec gen, as presiden, as chairman ngayon,” she said.

But netizens noted that Alma’s interview with Karen turned uncomfortable midway through the program, when the broadcaster asked the actress for her views her advocacy and national issues.

“If you won a senate seat, what would be your advocacy in

Alma Moreno says she does not support the anti-political dynasty bill during her interview with Karen Davila on ANC’s morning show “Headstart.” “Sa akin kasi kung ang pamilya mo maganda ang ginagawa sa isang bayan, okay lang e,” she said.

Screengrab from ABS-CBN News

the senate?” Karen said.

Alma answered: “More on sa kababaihan. Boses ng kababaihan. Like Magna Carta for Women.”

When Karen asked her to elaborate further, Alma laughed nervously and answered, “Teka muna.”

Moreno also said she supports the reproductive health law but “with reservations.”

“What are the reservations?”

Karen said.

“Kailangan ko pa ba sagutin?” Alma said.

Karen answered: “Yes, of course, you’re running for the Senate.”

“Kasi, dapat talaga, lalo na yung mahihirap, dapat talaga magcontrol kasi lalong naghihirap kapag maraming anak,” Alma explained, to which Karen replied, “So how would they control?”

“Kailangan palaging bukas ang ilaw,” Alma quipped.

Alma said she does not support the anti-dynasty bill, saying: “Sa akin kasi kung ang pamilya mo maganda ang ginagawa sa isang bayan, okay lang e.”

When Karen asked if this is prone to abuse, Alma answered: “Hindi. Kasi hindi rin naman sila mananalo kung hindi gusto ng tao e. Bakit sila binoboto pa rin ng tao?”

The senatorial aspirant also said she believes same-sex marriage is a sin.

Netizens took to social media to comment on the interview, calling it “awkward” and “uncomfortable.” Others say the interview was “painful to watch.”

Some poked fun of the interview with tweets like, “On a scale of 1 to Alma Moreno, gaano ka ka-unprepared?!”

Karen also took to Twitter to thank netizens for their trending Alma Moreno interview.

“Wow thank you netizens.

Our interview on #ANCHeadstart with Alma Moreno is trending,” she said. (Philstar.com)

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 18, 2015

Why Richard Yap wants to play contravida by

Bot Glorioso Philstar.com

MANILA—You admired Richard Yap’s strict yet loving character in “Binondo Girl.” You hoped he would end up in the altar with his childhood crush in “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita.” You prayed for him to stay strong in Wansapanataym’s “My Kung-Fu Chinito.” And of course, you fell in love with him in “Be Careful With My Heart.”

But in the Coco Martin lead starrer FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano,” you might wish to never meet him at all. Richard makes you forget all the wholesome characters he portrayed before as he breathes life to Philip Tang, the leader of a large syndicate group, in the ABS-CBN primetime series.

It may be pretty hard to imagine Richard as the bad guy but he reveals that portraying one is a challenge he was yearning to take since he watched “Ang Probinsyano” during its premiere showing at Trinoma.

He instantly fell in love with its storyline and fast-paced action sequences. He also admired how actors were able to lose themselves into the characters.

“It’s something different, very action-packed at sobrang ganda ng pagkagawa so I requested kung pwede ako makasali sa Probinsyano even if I portray as a villain. Now, I’m happy being part of the show.

“This is a challenge for me because I don’t want to be stereotyped to good-guy roles, na ‘yun lang ang kaya kong gawin so I want to challenge myself and I want to learn from other actors how they act out a contravida (character) kasi iba rin yung mindset. Actually, it’s a lot stressful but it’s really something different but I really want to do it because I want to improve myself and my craft.”

Besides, Richard knows that it is essential for an actor to show something new to the audience in every project to keep the interest alive.

In order to pull off the role,

Richard sheds off his wholesome image to portray syndicate leader Philip Tang in the ABS-CBN primetime series FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano.”

Richard has been watching movies and TV series that focus on villains. “I also watch the foreign ones because the show is more on action and so I want to find a level na medyo mas angat.”

Jet Li has the biggest influence on his acting approach.

“I’ve been watching him in ‘Lethal Weapon 4.’”

Since he only appeared on

the show recently, Richard says he has not done a lot of action scenes yet.

Asked how he was able to handle his role smoothly, the actor says that he has already seen—from the beginning of the series—how Albert was attacking his part and from there, he tries to complement his style Continued on Page 6

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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 18, 2015

Gary V. continues to reinvent himself For an artist like Gary Valenciano who has been in the business for more than 30 years, one of the most difficult—and fun—aspects of doing concerts is making songs that have been performed countless times before sound new and familiar all at once.

It’s a challenge relished by the singer-songwriter who, to this day, is fueled by a desire to reinvent himself.

Change, however, shouldn’t be gratuitous. Thus, before the singer gives his past hits a new spin, Gary V always asks himself: “How different must the songs sound? or, should I tweak them at all?”

For his set in his two-night concert, “Gary V Presents,” the seasoned performer, dubbed “Mr. Pure Energy,” figured, “Why not?”

Neither did he lace the songs with modern electronic synths and beats like he did in his last major concert, “Arise 3.0,” nor did he drastically revamp them using different musical styles or genres.

Revamped classics What Gary had this time was a band of excellent singers who allowed him to present his songs in different ways—duets, trios, mashups, group numbers, sing-offs, etc.

The show, held at resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater, opened with a spirited rendition of “Shout 4 Joy,” featuring the soaring voices of Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Janice Javier, Jimmy Marquez, Katrina

Gary V.

Velarde, Lara Maigue, rJ de la Fuente, Maki ricafort, Mitoy Yonting, Monique Lualhati and Timmy Pavino. Gary made sure to give each of them a chance to show off his or her performing strengths.

With Gary taking the lead as the rest of the artists clapped, danced and harmonized, the scene onstage in that number was almost reminiscent of a production one

might see on “Glee,” or a part of a musical version of the local teen flick “Hataw Na,” which the 51-year-old artist top-billed in 1995.

Al Jarreau’s festive version of “Spain (I Can recall)” is a staple in Gary’s repertoire, but rarely with other vocalists. Monique proved to be a revelation in the number, displaying her vocal agility via intricate jazz Continued on Page 7

Why Richard Yap wants to play...

From Page 5 “but of course, I have to be different from him. I have also taken into account my character’s personality and I need to understand his background so I know what kind of style would fit into the character.” richard also appreciates the

support of directors Malu Sevilla and Avel Sunpongco scene after scene. They also hired a translator for him to fully understand Mandarin well and speak the language fluently. “I’m fluent in Fookien but in Mandarin, hindi masyado.”

He finds Coco a breeze to

work with since they have been together in “Walang Hanggan.” It is Albert whom he finds intimidating “because it’s my first time to work with him and knowing that he’s a veteran (actor), I have to adjust so that I can be at the same level of his acting.”

features

A day of thanks and giving Moonlighting

by MyLah de

Leon

THIS great holiday of thanks and giving is not a date on a calendar, but a state of mind.

It is about our capacity to realize things that we can, sometimes, only imagine. No matter how difficult the recession is for each of us, there are always others who are going through more severe hardships.

The most heavily traveled day of the year arrives with even more seasoned flyers— making new calculations, as they inhale news about airports and airlines that make them long for proof that safety has improved.

It is why, in whatever fashion, women knock themselves out each year, as the men watch their Thanksgiving Day games. We cook our hearts out and make beds in spare rooms.

As we brace ourselves for the in-laws and grandchildren, our ingenuity is re-doubled. We slave over a hot stove, always giving more than what we get.

And of course, settle into tryptophan-induced nap.

As part of tradition, it is a time to witness big family fights! Then, everyone eats

turkey for a week.

It is time to recognize and celebrate the unexpected blessings in our lives, and hope, how through goodness and wisdom, we may succeed in transmitting truths that bring tranquility to the human spirit.

In our chosen calling, as little pencils of God, that each of us can bless life and thus repair the world, just by being more ourselves, that in our most precious possession.

I am grateful of my family for many reasons: for what I see them to be, for the loveliness they have been, for the good I know in them. I love their essence, their “could be,” in spite of knowing their faults well, the individual life in them that I saw as a bud and watched unfold—enchanted and anxious.

Thanksgiving Day is first and foremost about family and friends who have touched our lives. We are truly grateful. We are truly grateful. As Santayana once wrote, friends “are part of the race where one can be human.” Having shared their fragility and resiliency—never asking for proofs or expressions of affection—they were always simply there for you. There is always something palpably different in the way you bond, in the way you spend your time together. Sometimes it is just about being together, sharing

joys, tears and pain of loss and laughter. There was never an “I” but a “we,” whether we hang tough together or hang on to each other, or whether we keep the worst from each other or confess. There’s never a show off, just a subtly, restrained respect and sharing of the minds. They are FQG, Lydia V. Solis, Aida Reyes and The Maestro.

And to be taken into the folds of AJP, is a homage and a lifetime debt of gratitude and self-worth.

We find plenty of reasons to be thankful—including moms, grandchildren, teachers, music, second chances, American citizenship, and the thrill of a blissful newfound set of diligent helpmates in the photo world.

Today there is awareness that it is not simply the time for parades and fancy home cooked meals, but time to get together with our friends and families for that happily anticipated warm and happy times.

Thanksgiving is gratitude and appreciation of life as it is: an acceptance of much in life that we can not understand, learning how to celebrate life until you find the unkown blessing is in everything.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, gentle readers. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

danced to the funky “Hataw Na.” Lara, sang her own composition, the elegant “Kung Pwede Lang,” with Gary on keyboards.

Jimmy, Timmy and RJ filled the air with silken harmonies in a 1990s R&B-vibed take on “Paano.” Jimmy also joined Carla in an affecting performance of “Could You Be Messiah.” Meanwhile, Gary let Katrina and Maki shine in a medley of well-loved ballads.

Gary had everyone dancing the night away to a string of earth, Wind & Fire ditties, including “September” and “Let’s Groove,” followed by

his rendition of “Reasons.” “once I start sweating onstage, I just can’t stop performing,” he said to resounding cheers and calls for more songs, before ending the night with the pride anthem “Ipagpatuloy Mo, Galing ng Pilipino.”

According to Gary, the creative world that he and his fellow singers inhabit is driven by “innovations, transformations and changes.”

And in this concert, they demonstrated that in order to stay in that world, one thing should remain constant: “talent.” (Inquirer.net)

Gary V continues to reinvent himself

From Page 6 runs, scatting and belting alternately with ease. She matched Gary’s intensity throughout and kept pace with the song’s turns in tempo.

Standout number Another standout number was his duet of “Babalik Ka Rin” with the brilliant indie-folk musician, Bullet Dumas, whose earthy singing complemented the largely acoustic instrumentation.

In “Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?” the gruff-voiced Mitoy went toe-to-toe with Gary. Janice, a big-voiced singer with a proclivity for R&B, rapped and

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 18, 2015

Mango Mix

by Martin

Jason L. ita-as

SoMe find them obscene. others call them art. But tattoos each have different meanings— depending on the person who wears them.

A tattoo can be as diverse, creative or simple as a person wants it to be. Picking the right tattoo takes time and some thought; though, it can become a mark on your life that may never be properly erased from your skin.

Here are a few reasons why people ink their skin: In memory Tattoos can mark a special day in somebody’s life like the day somebody close to them died or a symbol of something special that they never want to forget like a trip or a special concert. Some of these designs can include simple dates while others can be an object or a person’s face permanently etched into their body. This could be done as a way to never

Why people get tattoos forget these important people or moments.

Way of life Some people love to etch their skin with famous quotes or words that give them inspiration or help motivate them to live their lives. Sometimes people will find words so powerful, it becomes a motto of the way they live. To constantly remind them of their life creed, permanently writing it on your skin is an artistic way to wear words of wisdom.

Fanboys and girls When people love something, sometimes they go crazy about it and buy a large collection of items related to it.

Sometimes merchandise is not enough and people decide to show their undying love by inking illustrations of it onto their bodies. These can range from cartoon characters, movies, music artists/groups, books, and so much more.

Visual personality For the artistic souls, a tattoo can have a specific symbolism in their lives. A tattoo of a swallow bird could symbolize their want of freedom or their

free-spirited nature. A tattoo of books or an illustration from a book can show others their love of reading or of a specific book series. A funny tattoo of a mustache or a joke can show others that they have a funny bone and a sense of humor is important to them.

So if you’re planning on getting a tattoo, think about what it could mean and if you’re sure you don’t mind having it on your skin for the rest of your days. It only takes one bad tattoo for a lifetime of regret. *** Mango Tours is a provider of quality, affordable and convenient travel services that include low-priced airline tickets, customized Philippine and International Tour Packages, Cruises, Land Transfers, Passport and Visa Concerns. It is the #1 producer of reliable travel services particularly when it comes to Philippine travel arrangements to the Filipino-American community in the US Mango Tours is able to provide its customers with a number of travel options at affordable rates because of its consolidator contracts with over 11 airlines. Book your travel bookings with Mango Tours by calling its 24/7 U.S. toll-free number at 1-866-2-MANILA (1-866-2-626452). Visit www. mangotours.com to know more about its latest promos and travel offers.* *Advertising Supplement

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 18, 2015