LA Weekend Edition -- November 14 -- 17, 2015

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November 14-17, 2015

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Volume 25 - No. 89 • 4 Sections – 38 Pages

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‘Tanim-bala’ victims detail extortion try at NAIA in Senate probe by

LeiLa B. SaLaverria Inquirer.net

TANIM-BALA PROBE. Overseas Filipino worker Gloria Ortinez (center), victimized by the alleged “tanim-bala scam,” attends Senate probe on Thursday, Nov. 12. Ortinez had been detained and faced a complaint after a bullet was supposedly found in her bag. The case against her was dismissed, but there is no certainty yet if her employer would take her back.

Inquirer.net photo by Maila Ager

USA

DATELINE Fil-Am WWI veterans march for recognition from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

WeDNesDAY, Nov. 11 marked the United states’ official day to honor its war veterans, alive and deceased, for their faithful service to country. But on hollywood Boulevard, one of the busiest streets in Los Angeles, it was a different story. hundreds of protestors, mainly university students from all over the southern California

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If they don’t shell out P30,000 for the dropping of a case for possession of a bullet against her stepson, the price would rise to P80,000 if the matter reaches police headquarters, according to the stepmother of an American missionary, who allegedly fell prey to the “tanimbala” (bullet-planting) scheme at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). eloisa Zoleta and her stepson, Lane michael White, recounted to the senate on thursday, Nov. 12 their experience at NAIA in september after security officials allegedly found a bullet in his bag.

Police officers told them to pay P30,000 for dropping the case against White, even as they

Lane Michael White (left), 20, tells senators how airport authorities asked him to pay P30,000 in exchange for his freedom for allegedly carrying a bullet inside his bag at theNinoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Lane, together with his stepmother Eloisa Zoleta (center), and father Ryan White (right) attended a Senate inquiry into the “laglag bala” incidents at the NAIA on Thursday, Nov. 12.

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Senate photo by Alex NuevaEspaña

Informal settlers PH vs China oral hearing set on Nov. 24 cleared for APEC not to ‘hide poverty’

by PatriCia LourdeS Philstar.com

by PatriCia LourdeS Philstar.com

viray

mANILA — Ambassador marciano Paynor Jr., chief of the organizing committee for the Asia-Pacific economic Council, on friday, Nov. 13 clarified that informal settlers along main roads were cleared for security reasons and not to “hide poverty.” “the reason that we remove our informal settlers along the main routes is really for security

viray

mANILA – the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations has set the date for the hearing on the Philippines’s claims against China in connection to the south China sea dispute, the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) said on Wednesday, Nov. 11. “the oral hearing on the merits of the Philippines-China arbitration case under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea will be held from 24 November to 30 November 2015 at the hague, the Netherlands,” the DfA said in a statement.

Last october 30, the tribunal issued its award on jurisdiction over the said case, cit-

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The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands has scheduled the oral arguments on the merits of the Philippines-China arbitration case under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea from November 24 to 30.

Permanent Court of Arbitration/Released

Fil-Am woman in UC president addresses barriers facing minority communities Ex-US senator backs bid cryotherapy accident to strike down EDCA died of suffocation by agneS

ConStante AJPress

LAs VeGAs — Weeks after a spa worker was found dead at a Las Vegas cryotherapy center, authorities said tuesday, Nov. 10 she suffocated in the chamber chilled by liquid nitrogen. filipina Chelsea Patricia Ake-salvacion, 24, died accidentally from the asphyxia caused

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WIth the University of California (UC) application deadline on Nov. 30, UC President Janet Napolitano met with ethnic media reporters to uncover perceptions held and barriers faced by minority communities in applying to the university. “our goal is to make sure that California students know that this is

their university and that they have a home at the University of California,” she told reporters during a roundtable on tuesday, Nov. 10.

Last school year, Asian Americans, Latinos and African Americans constituted 36 percent, 22 percent and 4 percent, respectively, of the UC’s undergraduate population.

As with many communities, among barriers of attending a UC for a number of ethnic groups is cost.

for the 2015-16 school year, the estimated average cost is $29,500 for those living off campus and $33,600 for those living on campus, according to the UC Admissions website.

Napolitano addressed the concern by citing that more than half of California resident students at UCs pay no tuition because of programs that cover that cost for families that make $80,000 or less. furthermore,

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by edu

Punay Philstar.com

mANILA – A former American senator is supporting petitions in the supreme Court (sC) against the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA) between the Philippines and the United states, citing its unconstitutionality.

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A NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

‘Tanim-bala’ victims detail extortion…

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pressed them to admit to the owning the bullet.

But the pair refused to settle the matter and insisted on White’s innocence.

At the time, the family was on the way to Coron, Palawan province, to scout for land on which to build a church.

Zoleta said a bullet was found after White’s bag passed through

the X-ray machine several times.

Nothing was detected when the bag was first checked, but after screening officer Maria Elma Cena allegedly put her hand inside the flap of White’s bag, the bullet was discovered in the next X-ray scan, she said.

After they were informed of the discovery, Zoleta asked the screening officers if she should have their flights to Coron moved.

They told her it would be an easy matter, a remark that she found baffling if there really had been a violation of the law.

“The screening officers said, ‘That’s OK. It would be easy,’” she said, adding that Cena even told her that the flight wasn’t even until 12:45 p.m.

“I was thinking that if it was really the law and there was one ammo found in the luggage, shouldn’t their answer be that we wouldn’t be able to go to Coron because they would jail my son?

Shouldn’t that be the answer if they were implementing it?” she said.

White was subsequently brought to the office of the Philippine National Police, while Zoleta tried to take care of their tickets.

Police officer Junio She said a PNP officer she identified only as “PNP officer Junio” asked her about what had happened. After explaining, Junio told her about paying for the dropping of the case, she said.

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6TH APRU LAW DEANS MEET. Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (7th from right, front row) joins and meets the local and international law deans from the Asia-Pacific region attending the 6th Law Deans Meeting of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) hosted

by University of the Philippines (UP), on Thursday, Nov. 12 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City. Also in photo is UP President Alfredo Pascual (8th from right, front row), UP College of Law Dean Danilo Concepcion (7th from left, back row), and APRU Program Director Jacquelline Heng (6th from left, front row).

Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

Informal settlers cleared for APEC not to…

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ANC’s Headstart. reasons. In security, we do evThe ambassador said that the erything we can. That is also public should not make an issue the reason that we do not allow of having to remove informal parking along these routes,” settlers along APEC lanes.

Paynor said in an interview with Paynor added that the De-

partment of Social Welfare and Development would be more sensitive in handling the situation after the incident prior to the visit of Pope Francis in the country in January.

READ: DSWD sent homeless families to Batangas resort during Pope visit | DSWD chief: Resort stay is ‘family camping’ for poor “I think it’s being addressed properly,” the ambassador said.

The ambassador revealed that majority of the P9.5-billion budget for the APEC hosting was allotted for security preparations.

Paynor admitted that security processes for the APEC summit were harder than preparations for Pope Francis’s visit as there was no real threat on the Roman pontiff.

“In this particular case, there is not much of an interest on the leaders except a few, among them the Canadian Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau), but on the whole, it is the country’s responsibility individually and collectively to ensure that all these guests... come here and do their job and leave safe,” Paynor said.

The ambassador earlier assured that President Benigno Aquino III is on top of the situation as the country awaits the arrival of leaders for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting next week.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indonesian

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From the Front page

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015

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UC president addresses barriers facing…

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41 percent of UC students received financial aid through Pell Grants, which offers awards of up to $5,775 – depending on a family’s income – that do not need to be repaid.

Additionally, according to 2014-15 data from UC, 42 percent of its students are low-income – compared to 23 percent low-income students at other selective public universities – and 78 percent of those students attain their degrees within six years.

Seventy percent of UC low-income students go on to work in California, and within five years, their median individual income surpasses that of their families at the time they began their time in the UC system.

“Our students have a very high graduation number.... Many of them go on to graduate or professional school. Others go into

other careers but ... we think of [the UC] as an engine of social mobility in a way that no other university system in the country can match,” Napolitano said, citing a New York Times study where six UC campuses made the top seven list of colleges and universities in the US that actually provide real opportunities for students. She also referenced a US News & World Report ranking of public universities, where six of the top 11 campuses nationally were California campuses.

Another concern raised by ethnic media was the perception that attending a UC versus junior colleges and California State Universities could leave a student isolated on campus and from their parents, as well as questions of security and safety.

While support groups for various challenges students may face during their college career exist at UCs, Napolitano said the sys-

tem could potentially look into sending additional information to parents to assure that there are resources available for their children.

Another suggestion made was to improve the partnership between the UC and local school districts.

Napolitano’s meeting took place amid efforts by the university system to expand enrollment for the state’s new generation of students. Data from 2014 shows that 41 percent of the 2013 freshman class were first-generation college students, and 30 percent of that class came from homes where English is not the primary language.

Next week, the Board of Regents will vote on a plan proposing to boost the number of UC undergraduates throughout the nine campuses that offer undergraduate degrees by 5,000 next UC president Janet Napolitano

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PH vs China oral hearing set on…

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ing that it concerns the role of “historic rights” and source of maritime entitlements in the disputed sea.

Meanwhile, the Philippines maintained that it will pursue the case against China’s excessive claims over the South China Sea. “Arbitration, which is a universally-recognized dispute settlement mechanism in international law, including the United Na-

tions Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a peaceful and enduring solution to the overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea. We are determined to pursue the arbitration case to its logical conclusion,” Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles Jose said.

China, on the other hand, said that it is up to the Philippines to settle the dispute over the two countries.

“The person who caused the problem should solve it. We hope that the Philippines can make a more sensible choice,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement.

Wang is in the Philippines to meet with Filipino officials regarding the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the country next week for the 23rd AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting. n

AJPress photo by Agnes Constante

Ex-US senator backs bid to strike down…

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In a petition for intervention filed through lawyer Harry Roque Jr. yesterday, former Alaska senator Mike Gravel said EDCA is a treaty that needs concurrence of the Philippine Senate.

Former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada, Bayan Muna Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement (Courage), filed

SEAFOOD CITY 1

the petitions with the SC against EDCA. Gravel, who was senator from 1969 to 1981, also argued that the agreement violated the Treaty Clause of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and is “neither in the best interest of the Philippine people nor in the best interest of the American people.”

He said the EDCA was not really designed to protect Philippine interests but rather to afford the US a geographic advantage

to confront China over its ascendant superpower status, which he said the US finds offensive to its global hegemonic status.

Gravel belied the US’s claim that it is patrolling the South China Sea in the exercise of freedom of navigation when the US itself has yet to ratify the Law of the Sea convention.

The former senator said the Philippines should divorce itself from any military entanglements

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A NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

From the Front page

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CHEF’S CHALLENGE. ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman (2nd from left) cooks a Yakan-style chicken curry during the regional tribal chef challenge in Cotabato City. The ARMM chefs’ challenge was part of the preparatory activities in line with the November 19 commemoration of the 26th founding anniversary of the autonomous region.

Philstar.com photo by John Unson

‘Tanim-bala’ victims detail extortion…

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“Usually we let the possession of such items pass. We just say it’s an amulet. If we negotiate that here, it (will cost you) P30,000. But if it’s passed on to headquarters, it’s P80,000,” Zoleta recalled the police officer as saying.

Preacher with no salary He also asked about her husband’s job and she informed him he was a preacher who did not receive a salary. The officer also asked about White’s job and she told him he had resigned from his job.

Their conversation ended then because Zoleta’s brother called her up, and she never saw the police officer again.

White also said a police officer, Rolando Clarin, had told him he could pay P30,000 or face the prospect of jail. But he said the bullet was not his and he did not have the amount.

Zoleta said the officers had tried to convince them to own up to the bullet possession.

She said another officer had appealed to her to help White, as he was a foreigner and his life could be ruined.

Pregnant And as they were about to head for White’s inquest, Zoleta said Cena came up to her and told her that she could have just admitted to carrying the bullet since she was pregnant, and there was a humanitarian law.

“I responded to her, ‘ma’am, why would I admit it?’ I know that’s the easier way out to say it’s ours and I’m pregnant, but I told her we’re Christians. We can’t lie about a small thing just to find an easy way out,” she said.

Unprofessional Zoleta also said the screening officers lacked professionalism and courtesy when dealing with them.

She also recounted that she started taking videos, upon her brother’s advice, after the bullet was found. Her camera was not hidden and was near her armpit, she said.

When the screening officers learned that she had taken videos, they seemed surprised she said. She also recalled that Clarin had warned her not to take videos, and that he would fine her if she did so.

Zoleta and White were among the air passengers invited to the Senate, which is looking into allegations that a syndicate planting bullets in passengers’ bags to extort money from them was operating at NAIA. OFW Also present at the hearing was overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Gloria Ortinez, who is now unsure of whether she still had a job waiting for her in Hong Kong.

Ortinez had been detained and faced a complaint after a bullet was supposedly found in her bag. The case against her was

dismissed, but there is no certainty yet if her employer would take her back.

Ortinez also recalled that after the bullet was found, the X-ray personnel brought her to a room that had men in white uniform.

Made to sign document She said she was asked to sign a document and she initially refused, she was told she would be handcuffed if she would not follow the order. She was not made to read the document, but she eventually signed it, she said.

She also said the officers had tried to convince her to admit that she owned the bullet.

Finger-pointing Senators took to task aviation officials for “finger-pointing” when asked to provide them the closed-circuit TV (CCTV) footage of the inspection of White’s bag.

The footage was necessary for White’s case. The National Bureau of Investigation requested copies, but it has yet to get these.

Rolando Recomono, chief of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), said the CCTV footage was not under his office’s jurisdiction and was with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

But MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado said it was with the OTS. “Which jurisdiction does it fall under? Janitorial offices?” asked

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Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015

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Fil-Am woman in cryotherapy accident…

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CHICK POINT. A member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wears a chicken costume while holding a placard which reads ‘Meat melts the world. Harden your Resolve. Go Vegan’ while standing next to a melting igloo on Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

ManilaTimes.net photo

by low oxygen levels, the Clark County coroner’s office said.

The death drew scrutiny to the treatment where people are subjected to extremely low temperatures not found anywhere on Earth.

Backers claim it can ease pain and inflammation, aid blood flow and weight loss, improve skin and even ward off aging and depression.

The treatments, however, have not been approved for medical use by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The coroner’s ruling will likely factor into the Nevada health department’s broad investigation of cryotherapy, which could result in some of the first regulations of its kind worldwide.

Family members of Ake-Salvacion said they would keep pushing for regulation of the unproven treatments.

“Accidental death from an oxygen poor environment raises

more questions than it answers,” said a statement released by family attorney Richard Harris. “Chelsea died from breathing poisonous liquid nitrogen produced from a cryotherapy chamber touted for its health benefits.”

Cryotherapy can involve twoto four-minute-long exposures to temperatures ranging from minus-166 to minus-319 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ake-Salvacion was found on Oct. 20 at the Rejuvenice spa where she worked after apparently entering the cryotherapy chamber while she was alone the night before.

The coroner’s office said she died in an “oxygen-poor environment.”

Normal air is about 21 percent oxygen, but the coroner said cryotherapy chambers can bring down that level to less than 5 percent during treatments.

“Breathing air with this low level of oxygen can quickly re-

sult in unconsciousness and then death,” the coroner’s office said.

Her family has said Ake-Salvacion was found crumpled at the bottom of the machine about the size of a phone booth. They do not believe she made any mistakes that night, insisting she was an experienced operator of the machine.

Harris has said Ake-Salvacion had texted a friend about a possible nitrogen leak in the machine, noting that the nitrogen appeared to be used quickly.

The owners of Rejuvenice have not returned calls and emails seeking comment. They were forced to shut down Rejuvenice locations over a lack of state and local approvals unrelated to the death.

State Occupational Safety and Health investigators have said Ake-Salvacion should not have been using the cryotherapy chamber after hours. Las Vegas police say no crime was suspected. (Associated Press)

lowed to station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors, as well as transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years.

It was signed by officials of both countries hours before President Barack Obama arrived in the country for his state visit in April last year.

The SC is set to vote on the case next Monday, Nov. 16.

Let SC decide Malacañang, for its part, said it is “abiding by the legal process”

and is just “awaiting the SC decision.”

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. also said the “Senate is well within its rights to deliberate on and enact resolutions,” when sought for comment on Senate Resolution No. 1414 seeking the chamber’s ratification of EDCA. The Senate believes EDCA is a treaty and not an executive agreement, thus must be subject to Senate concurrence. (With reports from Aurea Calica and Alexis Romero)

‘Tanim-bala’ victims detail extortion… Ex-US senator backs bid to …

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Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the blue ribbon committee.

“How will the victims get justice now?” Guingona asked.

Honrado eventually said MIAA had custody of CCTV footage taken at the airport as it was operating the cameras. He also said the OTS had a copy of the footage.

MIAA has not provided copies to the NBI as the bureau made the request to the OTS, he said.

“This is a clear case of fingerpointing,” Guingona said.

Passenger’s side In another development, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano castigated officials for not getting the side

of the air passenger, who complained of being victimized by the supposed bullet-planting scheme.

Zoleta said nobody from the OTS or the aviation offices got in touch with her, and Cayetano pointed to the promise of transportation officials that they would investigate the allegations.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said he believed the complainants were not guilty and had no intent to violate the law.

But Abaya also said the investigations were ongoing. The probe has been turned over to the Aviation Security Group, which then

UC president addresses barriers…

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a great education, and have real year and 10,000 throughout the opportunities presented to them next three years. The UC also should they come,” Napolitano plans to increase the number of said. graduate students by 600 next Funding for the additional stu1/16 page HORIZONTAL year, after which it would contin- dents will come from the legislaue increasing that number pro- ture and some one-time funds.

3.75”H in The UC will also phase out inportional to3.87”W overall enrollment subsequent years. state aid for out-of-state students “We want our people from Cal- and will use those funds for adifornia to come and they will get ditional resident students. n

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coordinates with the prosecutor.

This is the judicial process, he said.

Cayetano said the case should not enter the judicial process until the side of the passengers, who claim they fell prey to the bulletplanting scheme, was heard.

“If they weren’t even asked and they complained, so at that level, there was no due process,” he said.

If the passengers had not gone to the Senate, the officials would not have heard their side, he added. n

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with the US, Japan, the European Union or China.

He said if there’s no threat of invasion from China or any other nation, the Philippines should not be “fascinated with taking on the burden of militarism” so it can put funds to better use instead of spending on munitions.

Under EDCA, the US will be allowed to build structures, as well as store or preposition weapons, defense supplies and materiel in the Philippines. It will also be al-

Dateline USa

A NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Court upholds CA death penalty

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

A FEDERAL appeals court overturned a lower court’s ruling that California’s death penalty process was unconstitutional, on grounds that the system-wide appeals were flawed and taking too long.

U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney ruled the system unconstitutional on July 16, 2014, saying it is “arbitrary and plagued with delay,” reported the Los Angeles Times.

In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, Nov. 12 rejected Judge Carney’s argument on a technicality that it did not address the question of whether life on death row in California constituted “cruel and unusual punishment”--thus upholding the state’s capital punishment system.

“The idea that death row inmates’ sentences have been transformed from one of death to one of ‘grave uncertainty and torture’ has no support in legal precedent, nor is it supported by logic,” the judges wrote in their decision on Thursday.

Lawyers arguing both sides of the case said the appellate ruling was decided “on largely technical grounds, and leaves unanswered the larger question of whether lengthy delays are unconstitutional.”

“The elephant is still in the room,” commented lawyer John Phillipsborn, who intervened in the case on behalf of criminal defense lawyers in California.

Carney vacated the 20-yearold death sentence of Ernest Dewayne Jones, who petitioned the court to determine whether

his death sentence was valid, said CNN. In 1995, Jones was convicted and sentenced to death for raping and killing his girlfriend’s mother, 50-year-old Julia Miller, and has also served time in prison for raping the mother of a previous girlfriend. In 2003, the California Supreme Court upheld Jones’ conviction of first-degree murder and charges of rape.

Judge Carney wrote: “Allowing this system to continue to threaten Mr. Jones with the slight possibility of death, almost a generation after he was first sentenced, violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.”

Delays in the case had created a “system in which arbitrary factors, rather than legitimate ones, like the nature of the crime or the date of a death sentence, determine whether an individual will actually be executed,” Carney said, also noting that a death row inmate faced “complete uncertainty” as to when or if he or she would be executed.

Mr. Jones’ legal team had “asked the court to consider what would be a new constitutional rule in a habeas corpus case (determining whether imprisonment is valid). Most are barred by a 1989 ruling in Teague v. Lane,” wrote Judge Susan P. Graber in the official opinion for the appeals panel.

Graber added the decision was based on the legal maneuvers in the case, not whether the number of years death penalty cases often take in the California system was unconstitutional.

“Many agree with petitioner that California’s capital punishment system is dysfunctional and that the delay between sentenc-

ing and execution in California is extraordinary,” Graber, a Clinton appointee, wrote.

“But, ‘the purpose of federal habeas corpus is to ensure that state convictions comply with the federal law in existence at the time the conviction became final, and not to provide a mechanism for the continuing re-examination of final judgments based upon later emerging legal doctrine’,” she continued, quoting an older 1990 habeas case.

Judge Paul J. Watford agreed that Carney’s ruling had to be struck down, but added that “it should have been overturned on the grounds that the California Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the precise issue in the case-whether arbitrary delay deprives the death penalty of any deterrent value.”

If that had happened, the case would have returned to the California Supreme Court, which has previously said it would be willing to consider Carney’s theory.

Jones’ lawyers could still appeal to the Court of Appeals’ ruling to a larger panel of the Ninth Circuit.

According to reports, there are currently 747 people on death row in California. No one has been executed since 2006. Executions will remain suspended, pending separate legal arguments about whether lethal injections are constitutional, reported BBC News.

Since 1978, over 900 people in California have been sentenced to death row, where inmates spend 23 hours alone in their cells.

Of those 900, 13 were executed; as of 2014, 94 have died of other causes. Many inmates have been waiting on death row for over 19 years. n

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANTS. President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the awardees of the 2015 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees for a snap shot at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañang Palace. The Honor Awards Program is an annual undertaking of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to motivate and inspire civil servants to improve the quality of their performance and instill deeper involvement in public service.

Senate photo by Rolando Mailo

Golden State Warriors unveil PHthemed shirt for Filipino Heritage Night by rAndolph

b. lEongson Inquirer.net

THE NBA champions Golden State Warriors will don Philippine-themed shooting shirts to show love to their fans as they host Filipino Heritage Night against Brooklyn Nets on November 14 (Sunday Manila time).

The team on Thursday announced that it will be unveiling a special Filipino Heritage tee, featuring the Golden State logo embedded in the center of the sun, flanked by three stars reminiscent of the Philippine flag.

Filipino culture will also be showcased throughout the night at the Oracle Arena in San Francisco with a halftime performance by the American Center of Philippine Arts and tailgating party that will feature food trucks of popular Filipino food at the arena parking lot.

Proceeds of the event will be donated to support local Filipino organizations in the Bay Area.

Fans who purchased tickets will be given a commemorative Warriors “Kampeon” t-shirt.

The 2010 United States Census showed that 382,950 Filipino-Americans lived in the San PAGE A1 t for the rights and equality for Fil- dinator for JFAV. Over 250,000 Filipinos signed Francisco Bay Area, making it one of the larg- Golden State Warriors’ Philippine-themed shirt for Filipino Heritage Night. region, joined with aging Filipino Am World War II veterans.

Photo from Golden State Warriors Facebook veterans for a yearly march and “We have been marching for up to fight for the US during est Filipino communities overseas. n rally, organized by Justice for Fil- the past 22 years, and we will World War II, and were promised ipino-American Veterans (JFAV). not stop until we get justice and equal treatment as American vet- Department of Veterans Affairs JFAV is a national alliance of equity for our freedom fighters,” erans after the war. However, the has denied his claims for pay organizations, which advocates said Arturo Garcia, national coor- Rescission Act enacted in 1946 restoration and benefits stripped

by President Harry Truman took from the Rescission Act. away full recognition of their par“Nothing has been received, ticipation in the war, stripping we are still waiting. Until the end, MANILA – Filipino basketball der the bright lights of the Holthousands of Filipino vets of their I’ll be here, walking on this street rightful benefits. right here in Hollywood,” added prodigy Kobe Paras officially lywood is a step closer to his signed a letter of intent to play dream of playing in the NBA In 2009, Congress approved war veteran John Aspiras, 84. the Filipino Veterans Equity ComThe importance of the Filipino for the UCLA Bruins in the next in the future. He now has the pensation Act, a stimulus package war effort was apparent when four years beginning in the right opportunity to develop into an NBA-caliber player under a that included one-time lump sum Japanese occupation troops 2016-17 season.

UCLA coach Steve Alford good basketball program that payments of $15,000 to Fil-Am forced American General Dougveterans in the US, and $9,000 las McArthur to flee to Australia. announced the signings of Pa- produced the likes of Russell to those living in the Philippines, Filipinos battled side-by-side with ras and two more prized recruits Westbrook, Kevin Love, Zach reported Inquirer. However, thou- the remaining US troops kept up as the Bruins hope to return to LaVine and NBA legends Regits elite status in the US NCAA. gie Miller, Bill Walton and Kasands of veterans had their claims the fight in the Philippines.

Under Alford, the Bruins have reem Abdul-Jabbar. denied, mainly because US au“The order of President RoosParas could not hide his exthorities did not accept records evelt is very clear: when we were won the Pac-12 championship in from the Philippines, the only way drafted into the US Army, we his first year and went on to the citement to officially become a veterans could prove their service would be compensated just like NCAA Sweet 16 in his first two Bruin.

Last year, Paras averaged 15 in the war.

American soldiers,” Caleda re- seasons.

UCLA rose to popularity dur- points per game as a starter for Today, the White House esti- called. mates around 6,000 veterans still So far, of the more than 250,000 ing the John Wooden era where the LA Cathedral Phantoms. He alive in the US. Filipinos who faithfully served, the Bruins won a record 10 na- is still currently enrolled at LA “I have done my service, I am a only 18,000 have been officially tional championships in a 12- Cathedral High School for his veteran, and I believe in the spirit recognized and deemed eligible year stretch from 1963 to 1975 studies but will finish his high of justice,” 91-year-old Artemio for the lump sum payments ap- but has not won a national title school eligibility with the MidCaleda, who fought bravely in proved by the Equity Compensa- since 1995 and last went to the dlebrooks Academy basketball team due to the difference of WWII, told NBC News. Despite tion Act. Other vets have been Final Four in 2008.

Paras, four-star recruit 6’10” school calendar between the Caleda’s verifiable documents granted US citizenship and some that recognize his service, the u PAGE A7 Ike Anigbogu and five-star re- Philippines and the US when he cruit 6’5” Lonzo Ball represents transferred in 2013. the bright future for the Bruins.

In the official press release “We’re always looking for of the UCLA Bruins, they menplayers who’ve grown up im- tioned Paras’ accolades back mersed in basketball, and Kobe home. definitely fits that mold,” Alford “Paras helped lead the PhilipCERTIFIED SPECIALISTS IN U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW said in the official statement pines to a gold medal in the FIBA posted by the UCLA on its web- Asia Under-18 3x3 championship site. in May 2013. He won the FIBA “He just loves the game. To 3x3 Championships’ slam dunk add a talented player like Kobe contest in June 2015, representto our program is terrific. He’s ing the Philippines. Paras’ father, a very athletic guard who plays Benjie, was a professional baswith tremendous energy. We ketball player in the Philippines like how he can attack off the and was the only player named dribble and get to the rim in the both the rookie of the year and open court, and we’re excited MVP in the same season (Philthat he’ll be joining us in West- ippine Basketball Association),” wood.” the statement said.

Paras, Anigbogu and Ball Paras, who played his first have either all played against two years in high school for De Richard M. Loew, Esq. Allison Aquino-Silva, Esq. each other during the season or La Salle Greenies in the NCAA played together in the summer here will become the second leagues. homegrown Filipino talent to For Paras, a stint with the play in the US NCAA Division I Bruins opens up an endless since Brgy. Ginebra forward Ja• Deportation and Removal Defense • Family Based Petitions possibilities. Playing in a big- peth Aguilar (Western Kentucky • Employment Based Petitions • Fiancé/Fiancée Visas time college program and un- University in 2007-09). n • Investor Visas • Domestic Violence Based Petitions

Fil-Am WWI veterans march for…

UCLA coach Steve Alford thrilled to sign Kobe Paras to 4-yr deal

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PAGE A6 t

health benefits, but denied the equity payment.

Attrition rates among the aging veteran community is also the prime reason the vast majority have seen little to no benefits-the laborious file-work and political cases have simply outlived many of them.

Among the benefits advocated

by JFAV include full recognition of wartime services, a non-taxable lump sum under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a Survivors Pension (Death Pension) for widows and children, a working visa to expedite the process of reuniting families, and overall progress in Congress for the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2015, which would reconcile all benefits stripped in 1946.

“I will continue [to fight] until I get what I deserve,” said 98year-old Celestino Almeda, the leader of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, which continues to meet with Washington officials for justice.

Among the 60+ organizations present at the 15th annual JFAV March included API Equality-LA, AF3IRM, Alliance Philippines, Kasama Filipino American Students Organization, Kabataang maka-Bayan (KmB) / Pro-People Youth, Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), People’s CORE, and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC).

PWC’s Executive Director Aquilina Soriano-Verzosa gave the opening speech at the rally, along with statements from Doug Kaufman of ANSWER-LA, FASGI director Bernie Ganon, and A3FIRM national leader Jollene Levid. The rally also included a special performance from Filipino rap artist and war veteran BAMBU. Hundreds of university students came out to march on their day off from classes, holding signs, chanting, and showing their support for the years-long cause.

“It’s important for students to advocate for minority communities,” said UCLA student Andrew Esguerra, the community projects coordinator for UCLA’s Samahang Pilipino group. “Even if it doesn’t affect you personally, it affects your community, and you have to come out for that.”

Students also did a 69-second die-in in front of the CNN building, representing the 69 years since the Rescission Act was passed.

“We essentially came out to raise awareness for the lack of benefits that Filipino veterans re-

ceived for their service in World War II,” said UCLA neuroscience student Claire Garcia, who performed the Filipino national anthem with her choir group, Tinig Choral. “I think that even though this event is in regards to an issue that happened many years ago, it’s still extremely important to get the Fil-Am veterans the benefits and recognition they deserve. It’s not right for them to have their service forgotten as time goes on.”

In July of this year, President Obama announced a new policy

that will allow certain eligible family members of Fil-Am vets to seek parole, under a new program by the Department of Homeland Security. That policy is still waiting to be implemented.

“We have been marching for the last 22 years against systemic racism and racial discrimination,” added Art Garcia. “We will continue to march for equity and justice, and we will not stop until we get [this] for our Lolos and Lolas, and for the Fil-Am community.” (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015

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A NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Ray Parks (middle) included in the final line up for Texas Legends. Photo from Texas Legends Twitter account.

Ray Parks makes Texas Legends final line-up in NBA D-League

Draft, Parks was officially included in the Texas Legends’ line-up for the 2015-2016 season.

BOBBY Ray Parks Jr.’s NBA Parks joins Dallas Mavericks’ dream is slowly coming together, second round draftee Satnam one paper at a time.

Singh, who is the first player out After getting drafted 25th over- of India to be drafted into the all in the 2015 NBA D-League NBA, in the Legends roster.

by Bong Lozada Inquirer.net

A brief stint in the NBA Summer League with the Mavericks gave the former National University star a chance to show his versatility in the backcourt, although Parks played sparingly across five games where he averaged 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, and one steal. n

thiS Week in RevieW US Mounting racism, threats at the University of Missouri A WHITE college student was charged for making terrorist threats against black students and faculty at the University of Missouri, and could face up to 7 years in prison. 19-year-old Hunter Park posted the shooting threat on the anonymous social media messaging app YikYak, from a sister campus 100 miles away from Missouri, and was found with no weapons. He is being held in Columbia with no bond. The online threats demonstrated the growing presence of racism at the school, which has received several serious threats, vandalism, and even attacks on its students of color. Earlier this week, the University president and the campus chancellor resigned under growing pressure to take action against racially-charged incidents and divisions. The Mizzou campus--which began accepting black students in 1950--has been mostly quiet since Park’s arrest, with many students expressing their fears to attend classes. “It can be exhausting when people are making assumptions about you based on your skin color,” said senior Symone Lenoir. “Do I even want to go to class and sit with people?”

Rumpus about red cups

THE Starbucks red-cup controversy hit the last nerve when the worldwide coffee company released its new red cups in time for the holidays, donning nothing but red and the well-known green Starbucks logo. Some went so far as to accuse the company of “waging a war on Christmas,” because this year’s blank red cups do not include reindeer, snowmen, baby Jesus, or ornaments. In a viral video, former pastor Joshua Feuerstein criticized the company for “hating Jesus.” Starbucks vice president Jeffrey Fields said the company “wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories…to create a culture of belonging, inclusion, and diversity.”

CNBC’s Mark Macias called Starbucks the real winner of the debacle, for getting its household-name brand into everyday American conversation “without spending a dime on advertising, PR, or even lifting a cup.”

SeaWorld announces the end for Shamu

AT least for Shamu’s orca shows. SeaWorld announced it will end its iconic orca shows at its San Diego theme park, after visitors at the park made it clear that they prefer the killer whales be in a more natural environment like their original ocean home, rather than in a pool performing tricks and splashing guests. SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby told investors that the park will offer a “different kind of orca experience, focusing on the animal’s natural setting and behaviors…they want the orca experience to be activities the whales do in the wild” No other details were announced. The new Shamu show is set to start in 2017.

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Jinggoy Estrada rests bail bid from plunder with CCTV footage

by Marc Jayson

cayabyab

Inquirer.net

SEN. Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday filed his formal offer of evidence to conclude his bail bid from plunder over the “pork barrel” scam.

His last evidence before the court is the result of the Senate review of the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage prepared by the Office of the Sergeantat-Arms on the presence in the Senate of Ruby Tuason, who has claimed to have delivered millions of kickbacks in Estrada’s office.

The CCTV review was duly signed by Senate sergeant-atarms retired Major Gen. Jose Balajadia Jr. According to the results of the CCTV review, a lady that resembles Tuason is seen on the ground floor, fifth and sixth floor of the Senate building in 2008.

Estrada’s office is located on the sixth floor.

Jemma Saccuan, section chief of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, had testified as a defense witness before the court fifth division that Tuason was not seen carrying any duffel bags to Estrada’s office.

Also, of the 12 days Tuason was seen in the Senate, the CCTV footage did not show her with Estrada, Saccuan added.

Tuason has claimed to have delivered millions of kickbacks contained in duffel bags for Estrada as part of his loot in the alleged scam.

The social secretary of Jinggoy’s father former President Joseph Estrada, Tuason had admitted before a Senate hearing that she delivered bags of kickbacks to the Senate office of Estrada.

The senator is detained for plunder charges over the alleged diversion of his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to ghost projects for kickbacks through accused mastermind Janet Lim Napoles’ bogus foundations.

She also admitted before the Sandiganbayan that she served as Estrada’s agent in 2004 and 2008 and received commis-

MANONG JOHNNY MEETS A FAN. Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile meets John Tristan-Uson Cruz (middle), who is suffering from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and tuberculosis of the bones, during a visit to the senator’s office Wednesday afternoon. Tristan, who is accompanied by his mother, Neko Uson, is an avid fan of Enrile, and hopes to practice law once he is able to get back on his feet.

Senate photo by Joe Arazas

Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

sions worth 5 and 10 percent of Estrada’s pork barrel projects, respectively.

Tuason has received immunity from suit after surrendering P40 million of her alleged loot to the government.

Malampaya fund scam In the formal offer, Estrada submitted to the court the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) report dated October 2013 on Tuason’s alleged involvement in the Malampaya fund scam.

According to the NBI report on its preliminary investigation, Tuason allegedly received P242.775 million in kickbacks from Napoles for a still unknown recipient.

Estrada had accused Tuason of being the mastermind in the alleged scam. In 2009, at least P900 million, originally from the royalties of the Palawan natural gas field meant as aid for victims of Typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng,” were allegedly converted into ghost projects for kickbacks.

While Tuason was granted immunity in the pork barrel scam,

Inquirer file photo

she has yet to be off the hook in the alleged Malampaya fund scam.

Napoles had tagged Tuason as showing her a list of government funds amounting to P25 billion, and recommending the P900-million Malampaya fund that would be coursed through the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Tuason is part of the Malampaya fund scam complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman charging plunder against Napoles, former President Gloria Arroyo, former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya and his Undersecretary Rafael Nieto, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, DAR finance officer Teresita Panlilio, and Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos.

Arroyo was implicated by virtue of an executive order she issued authorizing the release of the said energy funds into aid for storm victims.

The Malampaya funds as

u PAGE A13

Imelda jewelry collection to be appraised this year

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA – The jewelry collection of former first lady Imelda Marcos will be revalued this year, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) said Friday, Nov. 13.

In a statement, the PCGG confirmed that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to cooperate on the conduct of an appraisal and eventual auction of the confiscated ill-gotten jewelry of the Marcoses.

“Internationally known and acknowledged appraisers have been invited to appraise the collection, which PCGG and BOC expect to happen within the year,” the agency said.

The PCGG said the collection includes jewelry that were confiscated by US customs upon the arrival of the Marcoses in Hawaii in 1986, as well as those confiscated from Demetrious Roumeliotes, a close associate of the family.

Another set of jewelry, known

In a statement, the PCGG confirmed that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to cooperate on the conduct of an appraisal and eventual auction of the confiscated ill-gotten jewelry of the Marcoses. Philstar.com/File

as the Malacañang Collection, was declared ill-gotten by the Sandiganbayan in 2014.

Appraisal conducted in 2003 for one collection and in the 1990s for the others said the value of the jewelry set ranges from $5 million to $8 million.

Last year, then PCGG chief and now Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista said

this value is expected to significantly increase.

The collections are currently stored in a vault at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The PCGG earlier said they plan to exhibit the jewelry, but problems were encountered in looking for a secure venue where these could be safely displayed. n

A10 NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Inclusive economies

AS the name of the forum implies, economic concerns are at the forefront of the discussions during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Building inclusive economies is a theme of the APEC meetings in Manila.

Along this line, one promising development is the launch the other day of the Financial Infrastructure Development Network.

In establishing the FIDN, the Philippines is collaborating with the World Bank Group, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the business sector to make financial services more accessible particularly to low-income households and micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs. Philippine officials estimate that MSMEs account for over 40 percent of GDP in the APEC economies, 15 percent of exports and 60 percent of employment, but about 40 percent of MSME financing requirements are not served. FIDN is preparing measures, including proposed laws and regulations, to encourage bank lending to MSMEs. This laudable project must be complemented by measures to make it easier for MSMEs to do business. Red tape and numerous and often un-

necessary and redundant fees are problems that beset all types of businesses in this country regardless of size. From barangay offices to city hall to national government agencies, the red tape can be daunting. In certain communities, homeowners’ associations add to the layers of red tape and fees that entrepreneurs must hurdle before they can do business.

Big companies have people to deal with the hassle and can afford the mountain of fees. But the red tape and fees are a heavy burden on MSMEs, even if the amounts involved are much smaller. By the time all the fees are paid, the bank loan facilitated through FIDN would have been depleted. It’s not unusual for prospective micro or small entrepreneurs to just give up and look for a job overseas.

Access to credit is welcome news for any entrepreneur. The financing initiative can be accompanied by measures to clear the many roadblocks that deter inclusive economic growth. (Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Philst ar.com photo

Former TSA employee exposes ‘Laglag Bala’ scam at NAIA MANY victims of the alleged bullet planting scam (“laglag bala” or “tanim bala”) at the Ninoy The Fil-Am Aquino International Airport have come forward to fight against airport personnel, including Rhed Perspective de Guzman, the Fil-Am caregiver from Los Angeles, who went to the Philippine Consulate to file her affidavit about her experience at NAIA. American missionary Lane Michael White also appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon commit- Gel SantoS-ReloS tee hearing to testify about the extortion effort made by airport personnel after they “planted” bullet in his luggage.

One former employee of the Office of Transportation Security revealed to ABS-CBN News Correspondent Zyann Ambrosio his firsthand encounter of this scheme at the NAIA. This former employee -- who was referred to as “Manuel” in the report --- disclosed that this scheme has been going on since 2008.

While there may be passengers who bring bullets as anting-anting (charms), there are also those who accidentally leave bullets in their bags. The third type of passengers are those who did not bring any “bala”, but such bullets were planted by an airport personnel, who was in cahoots with other personnel. Sadly, all of these types of passengers have been subject to extortion.

Manuel also told ABS-CBN news about these characters in the airport who extort through these scheme: 1. The Tirador, or lead scammer; 2. The “bumubulong” or whisperer, who convinces victims to

settle by subjecting the passenger to duress and intimidation.

The report reveals that retired servicemen are not picked as victims because these scammers think they likely know someone from the US Embassy, so they can report the incident.

Manuel believes that the familiarization among airport personnel makes it easier for them to implement this scheme, to the detriment of the passengers and the image of the Philippines.

It is embarrassing that this scam has been going on for more than seven years and the airport management has not done anything about this. It is about time people are fired and held accountable. There is no more time for the government to have a defensive and dismissive attitude. *** 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

Eyewitnesses to upheaval and recovery work by volunteers in Leyte and Samar “I LEARN to embrace my difficulties Rhizomes as spiritual challenges that shape me and make me deeply human. I learn that when I can go toward the things that frighten Prosy AbArquezme, then I am free. DelAcruz, J.D. — Gail Straub, Circle of Compassion, 2001.

Much like Gail Straub’s reflections, three eyewitnesses -- Rick Rocamora, JB Baylon and Lizley Caballero -showed capacities to be deeply human, faced by apocalyptic damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan.

Rick Rocamora captured the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, within days of Nov. 8, 2013. What was to be a few days project for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) became a month-long experience, giving birth to ‘Displaced’, a photojournalistic exhibit displayed in the Philippine Senate that portrayed hope amidst darkness, a basketball game amidst destruction and more.

JB Baylon of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) assisted in transporting Philippine General Hospital doctors to Guiuan. Two years later, NAC rebuilt homes for 500 families in Manicani Island, and installed Level 2 and 3 water systems.

Lizley Caballero, a volunteer of All Hands, worked for a year and 10 months in Leyte, helping with cleanup, debris removal and rehabilitation of homes and schools; in total, she reported that the non-profit helped in getting 561 units rebuilt.

All three shared, exclusively with the Asian Journal, their aftermath experiences of Typhoon Haiyan.

Typhoon Haiyan was a once in 55years phenomenon, according to a disaster trends researcher. It was a “category 5 cyclone, with [a] sustained speed at landfall of 195 mph, wind gusts of

235 mph, a surge in sea level of 13 feet,” Mercy Corps noted.

Imagine twice the size of a six-foot person and waters which got to the second and third floors of houses and buildings.

“Haiyan displaced 16 million people, with over 6,000 dead, and 70 to 80 percent in the storm’s path were destroyed,” Mercy Corps reported.

Manuel Zamora (NAC Chairman) tasked JB Baylon to fly medics to the hospital in Guiuan, a province in Eastern Samar. Though as badly hit as Tacloban in Leyte during the typhoon, Guiuan hardly got news coverage.

Here is JB’s first person account: “I actually landed in Guiuan in the morning of November 12, Tuesday, four days after Yolanda struck. Man, this area was hit by an atomic bomb.

No tree was left standing they were either bent towards Tacloban (maybe the direction of the wind) or broken in two.

No structure was left standing with its roof intact. Except this one shanty that was built between two concrete houses. The concrete houses must have served as the windbreaker for the shanty because it emerged unscathed, while the concrete houses were damaged beyond repair...

“Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 5:30 am I was outside Farmacia Fatima across PGH to pick up two boxes of anti-tetanus medicines and a box of 2000 disposable syringes. At 6:30 I was with PGH doctors Mike Tee, Bryan Gilbert Lim, Ferdinand Luis Suarez and pathologist Maria Cecilia Lim and we were driving to the Subic Air hangar at the domestic terminal. By 730 am on Tuesday we were airborne and after 1.5 hours we were circling Guiuan to check if the runway -- built by the Americans and still in excellent shape! -- was free of debris. We were down on the ground by nearly 10 am.

“If you look at a map, you will see that parts of Eastern/southern Samar actually protect Leyte from the Pacific ocean…so it is not surprising that Guiuan was hit first although reports (including the BBC) keep on referring to Tacloban as the ‘epicentre” of the damage).

“Our company Chairman, Manuel Zamora, asked me to take a King Air[helicopter] and fly doctors from the Philippine General Hospital - and a car load of anti-tetanus medicines - to Guiuan in response to requests for help. We landed in the old US Air Force airstrip that has not been used for decades.

“Immediately upon landing it became obvious to me that while there was a semblance of order, this was fragile because three days had passed and no relief had been delivered to Guiuan -despite, as I mentioned above, it being one of the first to be hit by the typhoon and it having an excellent runway!

“Driving around town I saw maybe 999 out of 1000 houses with roofs blown away -- the only lucky one being a small house built between two larger ones and which was protected from the winds.

“The stories were hair-raising….calm as of midnight Thursday, then howling winds by 4am Friday, with howls that did not let up for three hours and were as strong as an airplane’s jet engines.

No wonder people claimed they thought they were going to go mad…especially after seeing their roofs blown away, followed by almost everything they possessed. At light of day, around 7am, when the winds ceased, they saw the damage, and started counting the dead, wounded and damaged.

“What’s terrible is that Guiuan has island barangays such as Victory, a flat island with trees and shanties and I am told that many families on that island are missing. Of course, no relief has reached those islands as well. To do that, air drops from helicopters will be needed, and fast. There are small craft, but when the seas are rough, us-

ing the fishermen’s boats may not be a good idea.

“As soon as we landed the four doctors deployed to the only operating hospital in town [a private hospital] was swamped with injuries. I headed to the damaged municipal hall to meet the mayor and his elder sister[ the former mayor] and there, we discussed the need to have someone take up the cudgels for Guiuan in Manila because everyone was focused on Tacloban.

For this reason ex-Mayor Annaliz Kwan flew back to Manila with us when we left Guiuan at 5 pm.

“Upon our arrival at the airport I noticed six patients and found out they had broken bones in different parts of their bodies and needed to be airlifted to Cebu City. I used a satellite phone to contact Mr Zamora to ask permission so that our King Air could fly them out while we stayed behind the whole day in Guiuan ; his response was “do what has to be done and no need to get permission from me.” We therefore loaded four of the six patients who could sit up because their injuries were to their arms or legs; two patients with spinal issues had to await transport via the Air Force c130 planes.

“By the way, the antibiotics that the PGH doctors brought with them were used up at the Immaculate Concepcion hospital within an hour of their arrival.

“When the King Air returned to Guiuan by 5pm to pick us up, the doctors were tired and out of medicines. I had sheafs of paper on which were messages that Guiuanaoans wanted me to send to their relatives in Manila and abroad when I got back to Manila. This happened because one young lady at what served as the air terminal asked me if I were returning to Manila and when I responded in the affirmative, she asked me if I could send a message to a relation. I readily agreed and then asked everyone in the vicinity to find scraps of paper to write the names of their relatives and phone numbers and whatever

messages they wanted me to convey.

That’s why I had sheafs of them.

“Mostly with the message “we are alive no food no house no money BT we are alive”. it was to be an emotional night for me when I started calling people after I got home. Some couldn’t believe I had come from Guiuan; others wanted to hitch a ride on my return trip. To the latter is said it was best to stay away because roads were still impassable and there were major issues of food etc but that they should be happy their relations were alive.

“As a result of our initial contact with Guiuan, our company decided to adopt the island of Manicani on which we have a non-operating mine. We rebuilt the homes of close to 500 families on the island and launched a number of other projects (infrastructure as well as level 2 and 3 water systems) to help them get back on their feet, all in all sum of about $2 million in the year after Yolanda.

“As I write this (Nov. 8, 2015), I am in Tacloban having come from Manicani island again where we launched two more infrastructure projects which will give about 50 island residents a source of income for the next 3 months.”

Volunteering with All Hands Lizley did marketing work with Tarp Advertising in Cagayan de Oro when Typhoon Sendong hit her province.

She got involved with relief work with All Hands. It is a US-based non-profit which started relief work in Thailand and Japan and then, the Philippines.

Shortly after Typhoon Sendong, Bohol suffered an earthquake. She volunteered full-time with All Hands. She helped out near an area of Maribojoc, where a bridge collapsed. She helped clear debris, assisted with rebuilding homes, which had slanted, and solidifying weakened foundations.

Like the crew, she slept in a tent, with a rotating schedule for housekeeping to equalize the burdens of daily living.

Laundry was done by a team of mostly

u PAGE A11

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OpiniOn & Features

Eyewitnesses to upheaval and recovery…

PAGE A10 t

women, while food supplies came from Tagbilaran, a 45-minute journey by boat. Chef duties were assigned to feed the group.

While in Bohol, she got news about Typhoon Haiyan through her friend, Dr. Charish Daffon, which caused worry. Telephone lines were down and she could not reach Dr. Daffon by phone.

Lizley went to Cebu and when she got there, disaster relief workers and those providing supplies to Leyte were the only ones authorized for travel to Ormoc. As luck would have it, she got a ticket to go to the SuperCat, a fast ferry, along with other volunteers for a 3 1/2 hour ride.

When she got to Dr. Daffon’s house, no one was home. She slept at a nearby park. The next day, she got to the only functioning hotel in Ormoc, Pongos Hotel, which was operating on its own gas and generators. The hotel became a hub for disaster relief workers and reporters. Power was limited to a few hours, each day. All bed spaces were taken, so she slept on a couch. Water was rationed, and hygiene was limited to wet washcloths.

A few days later, she found her friend, who had been staying with family. Reassured of her friend’s safety, Lizley, already a staff volunteer for All Hands in Leyte, rejoined the team, which had partnered with many local organizations.

In renovating the Kananga hospital, All Hands worked alongside other international organizations, like International Organization for Migration, Operations Blessing, and even Catholic Relief Ser-

vices. In Tabango, Leyte (1 ½ hour from Ormoc), it helped in rebuilding two classrooms, partnering with local organizations.

According to Lizley, in partnering with local and international organizations, All Hands has built 561 units, which includes schools, homes, hospitals.

Volunteers worked from 715 to 430 pm, Monday to Saturday on carpentry, manual digging for septic tank, foundation reinforcements, mixing cement, pouring, and debris removal.

In actively lending a hand, these eyewitnesses became deeply caring human beings, freer to live with a wide open heart, and able to endure meager ways of living, to serve others!

On Nov. 8, 2015, UNICEF lauded local community efforts to protect and to keep the children safe. However, many citizens’ needs remain unaddressed, given the apocalyptic size of the disaster that wiped out entire communities. *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for Asian Journal Press for 8 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in the field of science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium and Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.

Photos by Rick Rocamora

Photos by JB Baylon, VP of Corporate Communications for Nickel Asia Corporation

Photos courtesy of Lizley Caballero, volunteer of All Hands

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015

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China: Up to PH to heal Jinggoy Estrada rests bail… rift over arbitration case PAGE A1 t

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

BEIJING – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Philippines’ case against China at an arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea had strained relations between Beijing and Manila, and that it was up to the Philippines to improve ties.

The arbitration case against China in The Hague “is a knot that has impeded the improvement and development of SinoPhilippine relations,” a statement on the Photo provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows construction on Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef Foreign Ministry’s in the Spratly Islands.

STAR/Armed Forces of the Philippines website cited Wang as solve it,” Wang said. “We hope that the Philippines saying in Manila.

“We do not want this knot to become tighter can make a more sensible choice.”

Vietnam, Philippines plan to sign pact on straand tighter, so that it even becomes a dead knot,” Wang, who was in the Philippines for talks on tegic alliance The Philippines and Vietnam plan to sign an acTuesday, told reporters in Manila. “As for how to loosen or open the knot, (we’ll) have to look at the cord next week to elevate their relationship to a strategic level, allowing them to deepen economic Philippines.”

Beijing’s claim to almost the entire South China ties and maritime cooperation, a Philippine official Sea is shown on Chinese maps with a nine-dash said in Manila on Tuesday.

DFA spokesman Jose said the accord may be line that stretches deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia. Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, signed on the sidelines of next week’s Asia-Pacific Malaysia and Brunei also claim parts of the wa- Economic Cooperation summit in Manila in the presence of President Aquino and his Vietnamese terway.

For years, China has insisted that disputes with counterpart.

Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang is rival claimants be handled bilaterally.

In a legal setback for Beijing, the arbitration among 11 heads of state Aquino will meet with court in the Netherlands ruled late last month that one-on-one in Manila, Jose said.

Vietnam and the Philippines are among five govit had jurisdiction to hear some territorial claims the Philippines had filed against China over dis- ernments at odds with China over contested territories in the South China Sea. But both have not puted areas in the South China Sea. The Philippine government has welcomed the characterized the proposed alliance as targeting decision and its Department of Foreign Affairs Beijing, which they have strongly criticized for its said on Wednesday it would pursue the case “to increasingly aggressive steps to assert its claims in the disputed waters. its logical conclusion.”

Jose did not provide details when asked about “China’s nine-dash line claim is expansive, excessive and has no basis under international law,” the proposed accord at a news conference.

Last year, Foreign Secretary Del Rosario said said foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose.

“If left unchallenged, we could lose about 80 such a partnership aimed to improve trade, investment and maritime cooperation, including search percent of our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).”

China has boycotted the legal proceedings and and rescue work at sea.

Although a plan to sign the pact earlier did not rejects the court’s authority in the case.

Jose said on Tuesday, Nov. 10 after a meeting push through due to a need to clarify some wordin Manila between Wang and his Philippine coun- ings, the proposal for the Southeast Asian neighterpart Albert del Rosario that the two countries bors to bolster their ties progressed rapidly. Both agreed to resume foreign ministry consultations governments agreed to convene a joint committee after a two-year break to explore areas where rela- to start talks on a strategic partnership only more tions can move forward despite the territorial row. than a year ago, Philippine officials said.

The disputes involving six nations raged anew Manila filed the case in 2013 to seek a ruling on its right to exploit the South China Sea waters last year after China began transforming seven in its 200-nautical mile EEZ as allowed under the mostly submerged disputed reefs into islands that United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea rival governments feared Beijing would use as military forward bases to reinforce its claims and (UNCLOS).

“The person who caused the problem should presence far from the Chinese mainland. n

storm aid were allegedly pillaged by using fake beneficiaries and forging signatures, much like the scheme in the pork barrel scam. The bogus foundations used in implementing the said funds were allegedly controlled

by Napoles.

In her sworn affidavit, Tuason had admitted that the Malampaya funds were delivered to her house and that her brother Remy, who had a contact in Malacañang, had delivered these to an unknown recipient.

Luy’s hard drive Estrada had also submitted as evidence principal whistle-blower Benhur Luy’s testimony that he had access to the hard drive which supposedly contained the files detailing lawmakers’ kickbacks. Luy is Napoles’ entrusted finance officer.

Estrada claimed the prosecution tried to suppress the fact that Luy had access to the drive even while the investigation was being conducted by the NBI. Estrada alleged that Luy may have tampered with or modified the files.

AMLC report The detained senator also submitted as evidence the AntiMoney and Laundering Council (AMLC) report which found the existence of Tuason’s 80 bank accounts, which he claimed are used in committing plunder in the purported misuse of PDAF in the scam.

The AMLC had also uncovered Estrada’s unexplained increase in wealth in bank deposits compared to his declared assets. The report bared Estrada’s alleged use of conduits Francis Yengko and Juan Ng to deposit millions of deposits on his account, at around the same time Luy recorded the receipt of kickbacks for Estrada in his ledger.

In what is perhaps the closest link between Estrada and Napoles, the AMLC report showed that around P10 million was debited in the account of Napoles foundation Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. (SDPFFI) for a cashier’s check issued for Ng on April 13, 2010.

Ng then deposited the same check on April 15, 2010, in his Chinabank account. On the same day, Ng’s Chinabank account incurred a debit of P10 million for a check payable to cash. This same check was issued for the PBCom account under Estrada’s

name.

Estrada’s presentation of a lone defense witness concludes the bail hearing. The court is then expected to make a decision in denying or granting Estrada’s bail after the summation of evidence before the court.

“Whereas, accused Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada respectfully prays that the foregoing exhibits be admitted in support of his motion for bail dated June 23, 2014 and his urgent motion to fix bail dated December 2,

2014,” Estrada’s formal offer of evidence read.

While Estrada is in detention, coaccused Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has been granted bail from plunder by the Supreme Court because of his stature and frail health. Meanwhile, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. has been denied bail by the Sandiganbayan.

Napoles has also been denied bail as she serves a life sentence after being convicted for the separate serious illegal detention case filed by Luy. n

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SHOWBIZ&STYLE Journal

World leaders to be treated to Pinoy-style entertainment

by Nathalie

tomada Inquirer.net

MANILA—An impressive lineup of internationally acclaimed Filipino artists is set to give visiting world leaders a good time, Pinoy-style, at the APEC leaders’ welcome reception on Nov. 18 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Black Eyed Peas member Apl. de.Ap, Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda, concert pianist Cecile Licad, Charice, Jessica Sanchez of “American Idol” fame, the Philippine Madrigal Singers are just some of the artists who will headline the 45-minute show that brings together pop, classical and cultural performers.

Also performing are Asia’s Got Talent champion the shadow-play group El Gamma Penumbra, Jed Madela, Powerdance and the Ramon Obusan folkloric troupe.

“For the leaders to see all these Pinoy artists together, I think it’s

something that we can really be proud of,” Paolo Valenciano, the show’s co-director, with Louie Ocampo, told The Star.

Some of these artists are in the middle of international tours, but are flying in just for the show, while others are not charging their usual rates because “they just want to be part of the event.”

It’s a massive production that took six months to prepare and involves a cast of performers as well as production people bigger than the actual number of guests attending the reception.

“We’ve been working on this for the past six months already.

Actually, the show, the artists, Asia’s Got Talent champion, El Gamma Penumbra the numbers, they were all ready since three months ago. Malaca- after intensive pre-production.”

Due to the time limit, Paolo ñang really wanted to have the best artists, the perfect songs for said the biggest challenge was the occasion… Three months ago “how not to make it seem like a palang, the show was set already PAGE B3

Alden Richards ‘very good friends’ with Maine Mendoza

by Joyce JimeNez Philstar.com

Alden Richards described his relationship with Maine Mendoza as “very good friends.”

MANILA—Alden Richards is happy about his growing friendship with Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza.

“We’re very good friends now,” he said when asked about his relationship with Maine, in an interview on Thursday at the Metrobank Yazz card event.

“Nakakatuwa kasi madali siyang kausapin,” he added.

Aside from the GMA noontime show “Eat Bulaga!” the two is working together on the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “My Bebe Love,” which also stars Vic Sotto and Ai Ai delas Alas.

Meanwhile, Alden is happy to have Ai Ai as additional character in the “Kalye-serye.” She’s playing the role of Alden’s grandmother Lola Bahbah.

“Grabe ang galing, ang daming feedback about dyan,” he said about Ai Ai. “Abangan n’yo siya, marami pa siyang magiging ganap sa Kalye-serye soon.”

Philstar.com photos

Charice

Apl.de.ap

B

B november 14-17, 2015 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn JoUrnAL

Moonlighting

Features

Memories from the police beat How to have a healthy & happy Thanksgiving!

by Mylah de

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

leon

The scene is in Quezon City.

Almost everyday a citizen is shot, stabbed or beaten. At the center of this hurricane of crime is the Central Police District Command and its small brotherhood of men who are willing to give up their lives to fight for justice in this deadly world.

The phone bleats and my editor takes the call. A cop has been A child’s safety comes first no matter what happens. This photo was taken at Camp Aguinaldo shot at the Novaliches Police Sta- during the bloodiest coup d’état in the Philippines, under former Pres. Corazon Aquino’s term. tion. My mind was racing and my heart jumping in my throat. By the time my editor put the phone down, he said: “Mylah, two cops were shot.”

By the time our team got there, three cops lay dead. The fear, fury and stress were all over the place—among the guardians of the law.

Gunned down cops are overlooked in many slighting and painful ways. Some people do not feel sorry for cops who get killed. It’s as if that it is part of the job to get killed! Cops take the job to protect Alber Galino and I hide our fears with a smile and help people. They know they and ammunition we’re not sure we can use. could get shot, stabbed, or beaten, Sometimes even a dead man can tell tales. but nobody takes a degrading salary, just to die. It isn’t the kind of about dying in a shabby, spitted- and daydream of as the endings of a hero’s death cops envision for streaked precinct, splattered with their personal movies.

It was the illusion of tears and brains and blood like a congealed themselves.

There is no blaze of glory in stew. Yet, tragedies like these hap- nothing more. Rain water collects their tragic deaths while they are pen more often than the romantic in small beads and runs to the on duty. There is nothing glorious gun fight that most cops envision PAGE B5

by Grace

o

ThANkSGIvING doesn’t have to be a carb-loaded, overeating frenzy. You can make satisfying, anti-aging food choices for this holiday that will leave you feeling thankful for indulging. Take turkey, for example. I cook at least four turkeys each Thanksgiving because I usually have about 30 people over for dinner. Turkey contains tryptophan, which produces niacin, giving us energy.

Turkey also contains the selenium, a detoxifying antioxidant.

You don’t have to drown your turkey in fatty gravy. It can be deliciously sauced using healthier ingredients. I like to marinate my turkeys in a mixture of red wine, soy sauce, and lemon juice before roasting. By the time the turkey is done roasting, the marinade has become a rich sauce.

Resveratrol is present in another classic Thanksgiving ingredient: cranberries. every year I make Cranberry Bread Pudding.

I add walnuts to my bread pudding because they are high in antioxidants like Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin e—both of which reduce the risk of heart

disease. Instead of butter, I use a butter substitute, Smart Balance, so that this dessert stays heart-healthy.

Wild rice is another holiday staple that is really good for us.

It’s a whole grain that provides the FoodTrient fiber for great digestion and Omega-3s, which also is good for our skin. It can be cooked with plenty of herbs and tossed with lightly sautéed bell peppers for a colorful side dish.

You can also add some healthy holiday vegetables like red cabbage and leeks.

The trick is to load your table with delicious healthy options while minimizing exposure to foods—such as like mashed potatoes, white rolls, or creamy gravies. Mashed sweet potatoes are a better choice than mashed white potatoes because the orange tubers contain carotenoids, a FoodTrient that supports the immune system. Whole-grain rolls (as opposed to white ones) will provide fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, and selenium.

Pumpkin is another healthy Thanksgiving tradition. Be sure to use evaporated milk in your pumpkin pies instead of cream

and a sugar substitute like 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

Study: Consumption of red and white meat can increase risk of kidney cancer by aGnes

constante AJPress

According to a recent study,scientists reported that people who said they ate the most charred meat—both red and white alike—faced an increased risk of kidney cancer.

Inquirer.net photo

CONSUMING large amounts of meat cooked at high temperatures or over open flames, as well as red and white meat, may raise the risk of kidney cancer, a new study says.

Research published in the journal Cancer studied 659 patients just diagnosed with kidney cancer and 699 others without cancer, taking into account their dietary patterns and genetic risk profiles.

In the end, scientists reported that people who said they ate the most charred meat – both red and white alike – faced an increased risk of kidney cancer. Individuals who already had two genetic mutations that predisposed them to kidney cancer were the most affected by the grilled, pan fried or barbecued meat. Furthermore, subjects in the cancer group tended to eat PAGE B3

Thanksgiving is All Rolled Up with this Dish!

by Grace

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

YIELDS 2-3 cups 4 Tbs. olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 lb. ground turkey 2 slices cubed whole-wheat bread Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning 1 cup turkey or chicken broth 1/4 cup chopped celery

1. heat 3 Tbs. of the olive oil in a large pan over medium high-heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Add the ground turkey and cook until done.

Set aside.

3. To make the croutons, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season the bread cubes with the salt and pepper, drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and the Italian seasoning, bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.

1. To make the marinade, combine the soy sauce, 4. Add the broth, croutons, celery, and sausages, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, red wine, salt, if using, to the turkey mixture and mix well. Season and pepper in a large re-sealable plastic bag. to taste.

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.

Shrimp and coconut milk are a classic Asian 3. Remove cutlets, reserving the marinade. Pat combination. I’ve added moringa powder to each cutlet dry with paper towels. this very mild dish in order to increase the health 4. On a work surface, lay one cutlet so it slightly benefits. If you want to dial up the heat a notch or overlaps a second one. Pound the seam together two, use Serrano or other hot peppers in place of with a mallet. You should have one fairly large, thin the mild red Anaheim chilies. If desired, serve over turkey round. Repeat with the remaining cutlets brown or jasmine rice. until you have 3 rounds.

Ingredients: 5. Spread about 1/2 cup of Savory Stuffing 1⁄4 cup peanut oil evenly onto each turkey round, smoothing almost 1 tsp. minced garlic to the edge. Roll up the turkey, pinwheel style, and 1 inch peeled and thinly sliced gingerroot secure with kitchen twine.

1⁄2 cup sliced red onion 6. heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy bot2 red Anaheim chilies, seeded and cut into tomed sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the turkey rolls and sear until a golden crust develops, strips 1 can (19 oz.) coconut milk about 1–2 minutes per side.

1 orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and 7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place turkey rolls in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Spoon the cut into strips 1 lb. peeled tiger shrimp (devein, if desired) reserved marinade and any remaining stuffing Sea salt and ground pepper to taste around the rolls. Cover with foil and bake until the 1 Tbs. moringa powder dissolved in 1 Tbs. turkey is cooked through, about 20–30 minutes.

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

MAIN COURSeS 9. Serve with a cranberry sauce or cranberry 1. heat the peanut oil in a nonreactive saucepan, chutney if desired. 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. homemade croutons, fresh celery and onion 3. Add the coconut milk, reduce heat, and simgive this stuffing its unique flavor and texture. It can also be served on its own as a side dish if you mer for 5 minutes.

4. Add the bell pepper, shrimp, salt, pepper, and spread the stuffing in a greased baking dish and Moring a powder and simmer for 5 minutes. bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Shrimp and Moringa Curry

Savory Stuffing

Features

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A petitioner who died and a husband’s 30-year-old secret make for a ‘teleserye’ immigration story On a brand new episode of ‘Citizen Pinoy’

A HUSBAND’S 30-YEAR-OLD “SECRET” ALMOST DERAILED THE FAMILY’S GREEN CARDS — ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to revive Alice’s (center) petition by her US citizen father, after it was terminated due to the petitioner’s death. The family was then eligible to get their visas years ahead of schedule by using the priority date of Alice’s Lebanese husband, Andre (left). But Andre refused to come to the US because of a “secret” he had kept for 30 years, preventing him from going back to the US. Atty. Gurfinkel worked “miracles” to resolve the mystery behind this fascinating success story, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, November 15 at 6:15pm (PST) on TFC.

ALICE, a Filipina, married Andre, a Lebanese citizen.

When Alice’s US citizen father petitioned her as a married child in 1994, she was eligible for an immigrant visa years ahead of time, due to the “Cross Chargeability” provision in the law that enabled her to use Lebanon’s priority dates.

However, Alice never rec e i v e d n o t i c e f ro m t h e U S Embassy that her visa was available and so, the US Embassy terminated her petition.

Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel succeeded in reviving the “dead” petition. However, Alice’s father was stricken with Stage 4 cancer and died, resulting in the petition again being cancelled.

The only solution was, to again revive the petition, and use Andre’s cross-chargeability priority date. But Andre was hesitant, and refused to immigrate with his family despite Alice’s urgings.

He finally confessed to a secret he kept from the family for over 30 years, preventing him

from going back to the US. Watch the mystery unfold, along with the twists and turns of this interesting story on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy – on Sunday, November 15 at 6:15pm PST/EST (9:15pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

World leaders to be treated to Pinoy-style...

PAGE B1 variety show.”

He added, “In terms of production and the staging, we want to do something that (shows) we’re not copying other countries.

Usually, for concerts and events here, there’s always a peg from an international artist. So with this one, we wanted (the foreign leaders) to see something that is not copied from them, but something very Pinoy, very original.”

Valenciano wouldn’t divulge the cost, saying only that “they really wanted to show these leaders a good time, and be able to highlight the local talent that

we have.”

The young concert director and musician said that as a Filipino artist, “it’s such an honor to be able to be part of a project like this, knowing that for that one night, (some of the) most important people in the world are going to be in that one venue and we’re in charge in trying to get a message across.

“I think that’s the most important thing of the show that we are putting together — it’s not just entertainment, we want to get a message across to the leaders about unity, helping each other out. I feel nervous knowing that

Study: Consumption of red...

PAGE B2 less fruit, consume more calories and were more often obese.

“A few previous studies have looked at kidney cancer and these carcinogens, but this is the first study to find an association between one of these specific mutagens (MelQx) and kidney cancer risk,” said senior study author Dr. Xifeng Wu of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

“This is also the first study to look at genetic variants along with consumption of these carcinogens in relation to kidney cancer risk,”

Wu told Reuters Health in an email.

While population studies haven’t found a definite correlation between cooked meat and cancer in humans, those involving detailed food questionnaires have found that increased consumption of fried, barbecued or well done meats is linked to a higher risk of colon, pancreatic and prostate cancer, according to Reuters.

When animal muscle is cooked at high temperatures, substances called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,

Jed Madela

Jessica Sanchez

this responsibility was given to us, but at the same time, it’s also exciting.”

The artists will perform in the rice terraces-inspired stage setting by internationally acclaimed designer Kenneth Cobonpue,

with a main stage in the middle surrounded by the world leaders, and other stages put up all around the cavernous Arena.

The dinner will be prepared by renowned Filipino chefs Glenda Barretto and Gaita Fores.

PAGE B5

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The inspiring story of Ms. Cora Buffa

By Monet

Lu

I LovE hearing success stories produced by humble beginnings.

It is probably because I believe all of us, at one point have to start somewhere. Sometimes we have to start small and hope that it would someday grow bigger; other times, we expect nothing, and wake up

with so many blessings. Such is the story of Ms. Maria Regina Buffa, more commonly known as the humble Ms. “Cora” Buffa.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Cora a few days ago. It was a short meeting and mostly “workrelated.” But despite the formality, I did not miss the chance to try and get to know more about her and her beautiful story. I decided to write about Cora today in the hopes that her story would inspire you, as it did me.

Cora is one of the sweetest and down-to-earth “Ilongga” (native from Iloilo) I have ever met. She spoke in a noticeably sweet accent, and yet, it’s what she says that’s stood out. She talked about her husband very lovingly as she happily shares their recent Europe vacation and her husband’s antique gun and armor collection.

Cora and her husband have been running an Adult Nursing and Care Service conglomerate for over a decade. Their company, Care Plus Nursing Services, is comprised of 3 sub-companies namely, Care Plus Home Care, Care Plus Home Health, and Care Plus Hospice. But, before it gives you the impression that the “Buffas” are your typical entrepreneurs who are only concerned about their RoIs, Allow me to say that Carl, Cora’s husband,

actually founded their company out of love for his senior parents.

As for Cora, she is one of the reasons why Carl’s parents were very much cared for—Cora was their caregiver.

Cora started out as a caregiver when she moved to the US. She worked tirelessly for 23 hours a day, seven days a week, for five years and cherishes every single moment of it. She is known for being hardworking and cheerful. one of Cora’s clients loves to talk to her about their son, Carl. They tell her how kind and smart their son is (possibly hinting that he is perfect for her). Well, a few years passed, Cora officially became their daughter-in-law.

Cora describes her husband Carl as the nicest, highly educated and a very smart guy. They dated for 3

years and got married in 2005. Before they got married, they started Care Plus Home Care in orange County – a non-medical home care company.

Care Plus was founded because of their love for Carl’s parents. It is what inspired them to build a community that aims to provide the same level of customer care and personalized service for their clients. They know just how it’s like to care for the aged. They picked the right business that speaks their hearts.

In 2010, Cora and Carl then started their second company, Care Plus Home Health which provides skilled nursing care through the Medicare program. After two years, Care Plus Hospice, also under Medicare, was added to the family. This service provides nursing care and end-of-

Cora Buffa

life care with comfort, compassion and dignity.

Throughout the family of companies, the guiding principal has been to provide care that allows clients/patients the option to age PAGE B7

Programming of Kababayan Today, November 16-20, 2015 The Global Kababayan G. TönGi Nov. 16 - It’s a full show with two “Entrepinays” or Pilipina Entrepenuers Karena Higgins & Kristine Dela Cruz. These Pinays, who have businesses, talk about the challenges of starting their own companies, Swirly Celebrations and Crème Caramel LA. Watch the show for giveaways!

Nov. 17 - In his first television appearance, Carlyle Nuera shares his inspiration for the Mutya Barbie. His family joins the show too!

Go to our Kababayan Today Facebook Page and send us a photo to win your own Mutya Barbie worth $100. Watch the show to learn what you need to do to be a lucky televiewer.

Nov. 18 - Midweek News Updates from the Asian Journal with producer Albert Bataclan and Annie Nepomuceno, and Real Estate Buzz with Mia McLeod.

November is National Adoption Month. G Tongi interviews an adoptive mother of special needs children together with kababayans from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Nov. 19 - Hakubaku is giving away their products to 100 viewers. Watch the show for details!

ents to share her passion for her sport and the challenges of being a young athlete.

Holidays are around the corner. Thea Fernandez gives you tips to stay disciplined during the holidays Nov. 20 - You’ll get to know all six members of the acapella group, The Filharmonic. These FilAms are doing what they love and

10-year-old figure skater Sophia Frank is joined by her par-

making a name for themselves in entertainment. Get to know each one of them personally! Their concert happens on Sat. Nov. 21 so watch out for details. *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.

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Leelin Bakery and Café offers early holiday discount AS the holiday season approaches its peak and people shop around for the most affordably delicious food to serve or give as gifts to friends and loved ones, Leelin Bakery and Cafe is making sure its customers can readily avail of the best deals and the best products for their holiday needs.

Leelin Bakery and Café is currently offering a 10 percent discount on pre-paid orders of all Party Platters, holiday-themed

and available cakes, Kakanin Platters, Heirloom Gift Packages, Premium Ensaimada and Regular, Ube and Mocha Mamon.

Orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance and customers are encouraged to lock in their discount for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

The promotional offer is a bonanza for customers, timed for the busiest shopping days leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Day. It expires on Decem-

ber 15, 2015.

Leelin Bakery and Café is known for delicious and authentic Filipino food and bakery products.

Serving a wide array of hot food items and fresh-baked goods, there is no shortage of holiday gift ideas at any of Leelin’s six retail outlets in Los Angeles County.

No time to shop for gifts or treat your friends and loved ones to lunch or dinner at Leelin’s

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 14-17, 2015

this holiday season? No problem…just give them a Leelin Gift Card and let them know they can always have a delicious, authentic Filipino feast at Leelin’s!

Leelin Bakery and Café also offers Heirloom Gift boxes filled with the most delectable pastries and delicacies. The Leelin Heirloom box is a beautifully designed, reusable gift box with magnetic lid and ribbon, perfect for friends, business clients, associates and co-workers.

Los Angeles, CA 90041 Leelin Bakery and Café also Tel. no. (323) 543-2676 ships packages nationwide. Customers can choose from several 8340 Van Nuys Boulevard packages from $16.99 (and up) (at Roscoe) and ship these to anywhere in Panorama City, CA 91402 the United States through the Tel. No. (818) 891-5253 Online Store at www.leelinbak16130 Nordhoff St. (At Seaerycafe.com. food City) The holiday promotional offer North Hills, CA 91343 is available at the following LeeTel. no. (818) 895-9100 lin Bakery and Café locations in 2429 So. Azusa Avenue Los Angeles County: West Covina, CA 91792 11489 South Street Tel. no. (626) 964-1811 Cerritos, CA 90703 207 So. Vermont Ave. Tel. no. (562) 924-5990 Los Angeles, CA 90004 2700 Colorado Blvd. Ste.110 Tel. no. (213) 382-2351 (inside Eagle Rock Plaza) (Advertising Supplement)

Memories from the police...

PAGE B2 hollows of her beautiful face. Her dark brown eyes stare obliquely across the wet grass of the clover leaf exchange. Her left hand was fully extended, with the small, thin fingers apparently reaching out for something or someone who was no longer there.

In the early morning of half past two, a bracing wind caught P/Lt. Fluto Casayaruan of the Quezon City Police Homicide Section, as he cut through a crowd that has gathered to catch a glimpse of the dead woman sprawled on the knoll. It was a typical killing with no known witness, no specific mo-

The cops can extract confessions in every way. Sometimes these confrontations can get deadly, even inside hospital wards.

Sometimes it was run for your lives as bullets hail.

Study: Consumption of red...

PAGE B3 which can cause alterations in DNA that may raise the risk for cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers noted that the study’s sample size was small for an epidemiological project, was limited to non-Hispanic whites and requires replication.

Kidney cancer is not a widespread condition. The American Cancer Society states that the lifetime risk for developing the disease is approximately 1.6 percent, compared to a 14 percent risk of prostate cancer in men and an 8 percent risk of breast can-

cer in women. However, kidney cancer is particularly fatal in its advanced stages.

Two scientists who weren’t involved in the study told Genetic Expert News Service, a nonprofit science communication initiative, said the report was suggestive but needs independent research to confirm findings before reaching any definite conclusions.

“It’s too early to say whether genes determine who will develop kidney cancer when eating meat and processed meat,” Dr. Ulrike Peters of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center said,

tive and no suspect. The homicide cop muttered an animal curse under his breath.

But for the Central District homicide detectives, neither heat, nor rain nor gloom will stop these men from their rendezvous with callousness.

Homicide is a world in itself.

As the investigator grabs his gun, a note pad and a flashlight, he is entrusted with the pursuit of the most extraordinary of crimes. He takes up the cudgel for the slain

victims and avenge those lost to the world.

The Quezon City cops survive by learning to read the chain of command—the way leaves are read by wanderers. They don’t just watch and stand while bodies fall and careers get derailed. They ride out with the same stubborn, unyielding belief—that if they do their job and give what they can afford to give—then everything will fall into place. They do not simply survive, they endure.

according to the News Service.

“As the authors of the paper carefully state it is very important that independent studies replicate the finding of this study. If those studies suggest a similar link, we would still need more functional studies to understand the underlying mechanism.”

Dr. Ian Johnson, a nutrition researcher and Emeritus Fellow of the Institute of Food Research said the rise of kidney cancer in wealthier countries is likely due to the dietary habits in Western nations.

“The work is certainly interesting and the findings are plausible but this is a single relatively small study, and the authors themselves stress the need for further

research. In the meantime, it is prudent to stay within Department of Health guidelines for red and processed meat consumption, but renal cell carcinoma is a relatively uncommon cancer in the UK and so any extra risk due to eating meat will be quite small overall,” Johnson said, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

This study comes after a recent report from the World Health Organization, which found that increased consumption of processed meats—including bacon, sausage and beef jerky—is linked to a higher risk of colon cancer.

The research published in the journal Cancer was funded by the National Instituted of Health, among other grantees.

5 Great Reasons to Invest in Tagaytay Highlands. Now.

by AJPress

Tagaytay City, Philippines — Dubbed as the City of Character where food and nature are at its best, Tagaytay has long dominated the preference for a weekend getaway.

For many years, this city has served as the most convenient escape for people seeking to unwind from the stress of corporate life. Location in mind, it overshadows any city near Metro Manila with its cool, breezy weather that’s complemented by a picturesque landscape: an advantage that has made Tagaytay Highlands as one of the most sought-after properties in the country. This SM Group-developed estate is a one-of-a-kind, mountainresort property sprawling across Tagaytay’s scenic mountain ridges that offers upscale amenities that are at par with prestigious vacation homes abroad; its world class facilities make it a worthwhile investment considering the booming real estate industry that pushes a positive trend in the economy.

Tagaytay Highlands is a symbol of innovation and Philippine ingenuity, having met the seemingly insurmountable challenge of transforming Tagaytay’s best mountain ridges into a world-class residential mountain resort community. It serves as a wise investment as it provides, safety and privacy, accessibility, a set of world-class amenities, and healthfriendly environs. And to expound why its members and homeowners relish the good life in this prestigious mountain resort, Tagaytay Highlands proudly showcases the following: I]Z cVbZ# The brand is all about the country’s most exclusive leisureresidential mountain resort with an upscale membership base. Tagaytay Highlands is backed by the financial strength and solid business reputation of the SM Group, one of Asia’s largest corporations. Having been in operation for over 20 years, the property has established itself to be the best of its kind in the country.

I]Z ^Ynaa^X adXVi^dc! i]Z ZaZkVi^dc!

VcY i]Z lZVi]Zg# Located in Tagaytay City, the property is the only one of its kind and scale, occupying a land area of approximately 1,200 hectares

straddling the three provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. At 2,000 feet above sea level, it offers the most striking views of Taal Lake and Volcano, the enchanted Mt. Makiling, the Canlubang Valley, and Laguna de Bay. Tagaytay Highlands is just a quick 50-kilometer drive from the Makati Central Business District, making it a favored weekend destination for Metro Manila’s elite. Its proximity to the country’s major international airports and its multiple access roads like Sta. Rosa Exit (SLEX), Emilio Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite, Batino-CalambaTagaytay Road, and Silangan-Casile Road in Laguna strategically place Tagaytay Highlands in the midst of emerging tourist hotspots in the National Capital Region.

One of Tagaytay Highlands’ best come-ons is the cool, misty weather all year round, with an average daily temperature of 22° C: a great relief for those who want to escape the heat and humidity in the city.

6bZc^i^Zh VcY a^[ZhinaZ# Tagaytay Highlands boasts a legion of “firsts” in the country: the first cable cars, the first 48-seater Swiss funicular train, the first 45-hole golfing resort in the whole of Tagaytay City, and the first to have The Peak Bar with a 360-degree view of two lakes, Taal volcano, five mountains, and four cities.

It is a self-contained leisure community that offers tight 24-hour security and exclusive membership to four Clubs—complete with basic utilities, world-class amenities, 16 F&B outlets, a variety of sports and recreational facilities, 24/7 medical and emergency support services, and uninterrupted water and power supply.

I]Z Zck^gdch# Tagaytay Highlands is your perfect leisure home. Located in one of the top tourist destinations in the country, it is ideally situated near hospitals, academic centers, shopping establishments, churches, banks, and gasoline stations.

I]Z egZb^Zg ]dbZh# A timeless brand committed to its promise of providing leisure luxury experience and innovative developments, Tagaytay Highlands continues to revolutionize through time and mark its place in the industry as it presents premium

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and exclusive residential communities divided into three enclaves; Highlands, Midlands, and Greenlands. Residents can choose from the signature log cabins, condominiums and themed leisure lot communities that showcases a view of the surrounding landscape.

Today, Tagaytay Highlands is a wonderful place for fortifying family ties, but owning a property in this exclusive community is not just a privilege but a reasonable, long term investment.

*** Tagaytay Highlands is a leisure development of the SM Group of Companies. Nestled along the highest elevations of Tagaytay lies a premier leisure destination that speaks of exclusivity and luxury. Where stunning nature views and a breezy, cool climate come together to redefine relaxation.

Where golf and country clubs, a selection of restaurants, world-class amenities, and a variety of premium residential communities reshape

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your idea of a weekend getaway. For more information on how to own a Highlands home, please check out www.tagaytayhighlands.com or call (632) 5052422 and (63917) 5150158.

Photocaptions 1 House design of Aspenhills 2 Photo composite of Woodridge Place 3 Swiss-Engineered Cable Cars 4 Highlands Golf Course 5 The Country Club 6 The Parks at the Greenlands 7 Yume Pavilion

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Aga Muhlach gears up for exciting comeback

by Nestor

U. torre

Inquirer.net

AT a big show biz bash last month, we were happy to meet up again with Aga Muhlach. Ever since he was a teenager, we have been keeping track of his career, applauding his performances in his early starrers megged by Lino Brocka and other tough mentors, as well as the flubs, flops and flip-flops that have occasionally marred his stellar career.

Aga first made it in “Bagets,” and we saw in him not just a handsome, frisky teen who could make a bevy of girls and giggle-gaggle of gays giddy and breathless, but a sensitive and “vulnerable” actor whose thespic talent could grow, deepen—and stay. Thirty years after the fact, he’s still very much around, so it turns out that we were right!

Granted, Aga has not been very visible of late due to his weight problem, but when we saw him last month, he didn’t look as heavy as before, so the good news is that he’s seriously working on licking his literally big problem, so that he can resume his acting career and

Aga Muhlach

face the TV-film cameras again!

Catching up After catching up on old times, we urged him to make his film comeback by next year, and he promised he would. He pointed out that, through the years, he’s heeded our advice, because he knows that we’re coming from an informed and relatively objective place.

Once, in fact, we even “dared” to point out to him when he was at the height of his stellar popularity that he had a speech problem that could become a bigger distraction and stumbling block if he didn’t attend to it: He tended to “lisp.”

It wasn’t all that bad-sounding, and some people could even have

thought it endearingly “cute,” but we were worried that it could turn out to be a distraction in serious and dramatic scenes.

Well, Aga took note and heed, focused on enunciating much better, and the vocal tic ceased to be a problem.

Due to his talent and relative seriousness of purpose, we’ve “been there” for Aga, even when he stumbled badly, like his ending up as a teenage dad, gaining much too much weight, etc.

His financially profitable stint with TV5 was also eventually a career downer, but we know that Aga can recover—if he loses some more pounds.

For his part, Aga announced to everyone within earshot at our instant reunion that he benefited a lot from our notes on his performances through the years, adding that even in his choice of films to watch, he would use our reviews as a reliable guide.

Naturally, we were in turn grateful for his “affirmative” words, and wished him well in the new chapter of his performing career which should start soonest next year!

The music of Gary V: Timeless & timely

by Des

MaNiqUis Philstar.com

MANILA—I tread lightly in saying that Gary Valenciano’s name is resonant, and that he is an institution in the OPM scene. I am a late ’90s baby and he was the background music to my childhood, and as I was given the chance, I jumped at the opportunity to be able to see him live in concert after nearly a decade since my last.

Gary V Presents… was a two-night concert held at Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts Wold Manila and boasted of an 11-man roster of fresh and talented musicians, hand-picked personally by Gary himself.

Thirty-two years is a long time and as Gary notes during the concert, industries are ever-changing.

As someone who was once a simple-minded little girl, my personal preference for music has evolved from nursery rhymes to songs that speak to my soul. And back then, I had Gary’s music committed to memory as harmless little ditties that entertained my elders when I danced and mumbled his songs. I sat there in the audience expecting that his music would only evoke a sense of nostalgia, instead I was hit with a barrage of emotion.

Gary with guest performers Katrina Velarde, Mitoy Yonting, Monique Lualhati, Timmy Pavino, Jannice Javier, Lara Maigue and Maki Ricafort.

Photo by Jean Paul Castillo

He opens the show by simply walking to center stage, no music, not even a single spotlight, just him and a microphone with all stage lights on. It brings on a sense of simplicity and a feeling of intimacy with the artist as he goes on to explain his concept. He then starts the set with a classic, Shout For Joy, and introduces his special guests. The theater is abuzz with excitement as people sing along and instantly the energy level is set to an ultimate high and the mood is light.

Upon first glance at Gary’s roster of featured artists, one may ponder the possible outcome of the concert as they are from very different areas of the music scene. His guests vary from theater performers, belters, to pop singers and, even a folk singer.

With this array of artists, Valenciano ventures to give new treatments to

some of his classics.

The entire show was mind-blowing, to say the least, and it would be difficult to narrow it down to favorite performances. I enjoyed Gary’s and folk artist Bullet Dumas’ very different rendition of Babalik Ka Rin, and as Gary performed Could You Be Messiah with theater performers Carla GuevaraLaforteza and Jimmy Marquez, I was rendered speechless and astonished by their crisp voices.

Gary and Monique Lualhati’s rendition of Spain was astounding and really tested Lualhati’s range and proved her vocal flexibility. Gary’s number with singer-songwriter Lara Maigue where they performed Sa Iyo Na Lang Ako and Kailangan Kita was also very awesome and memorable. Then there was what I PAGE B7

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James & Nadine have eyes only for each other

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

Dominique Cojuangco, daughter of actress Gretchen Barretto and business tycoon Antonio Cojuangco.

Gretchen Barretto’s daughter is PH rep to world’s biggest high society event

MANILA—Dominique Cojuangco, the daughter of actress Gretchen Barretto and business tycoon Antonio Cojuangco, created social media buzz after she broke the news about representing the country in this year’s Le Bal des Débutante, the world’s biggest high society fashion event.

Dominique shared the news via posting a video on Instagram that includes a caption, “My French isn’t the best, but hey I tried. It took every fibre of my being to keep this a secret for so long. I am thrilled to announce that I will be the Philippine representative at Le Bal des Débutantes this year,” she wrote on Instagram.

Le Bal des Débutantes is an event held in Paris every year. The high-profile event gathers together all young ladies from upper-class, famous and rich families to introduce them to society. This year’s proceeds will fund the education of women of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. At present, the ball has helped the education of more than 1,100 girls in Laos and in the Philippines.

For this year, Cojuangco, who will be wearing a couture by Vivienne Westwood and shoes designed by Christian Louboutin, will be joined by other 24 young girls on November 28 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. (Philstar.com)

The inspiring story...

PAGE B4 in place at home.

Cora and Carl are very proud of the continuity of care they offer their community, and the employment provided for over 250 people.

As Cora recalls her humble beginning, she ceaselessly thanks God for all the blessings that she and her husband receives. I nodded my head in agreement. In my mind, I know by experience that God indeed blesses us even when we are not deserving of His blessings.

I also believe that good people, like Cora and her husband, receive more because they willingly give more to the community whom they love so

evidently.

To Cora; who will be honored on November 21st for her heartfelt service in her chosen field, I thank you for the inspiration. May you stay as humble and kindhearted as you are. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration.

To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon. com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

The music of Gary V...

PAGE B6 fondly refer to as the painfully beautiful Heartbreak Medley (composed of Each Passing Night, Reaching Out, Narito and Sana Maulit Muli) which was artfully performed by Katrina Velarde and Maki Ricafort right before a Michael Jackson sing-off. Gary also performed Paano with three male performers, Timmy Pavino, RJ dela Fuente and again Jimmy. Despite their different singing backgrounds, the four men managed to blend together and become one harmonious sound. Mitoy Yonting remains to be a powerhouse of a voice as he sang Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos with Gary, and Janice Javier immediately brings the energy up in Hataw Na as she and Gary showed off some fancy footwork.

Being Gary Valenciano and having the vision to come up with such a concept is certainly going

to open doors for many of the featured artists. Touching upon a diverse group truly shed some light on upcoming artists that honestly deserved the spotlight. It was obvious by the varying ages of the audience that Gary continues to leave his mark and remains a part of the ever-changing soundtrack of people’s lives.

Congratulations to Gary, with his contribution to the music and vocal arrangements (specifically for Di Bale Na Lang, Shout For Joy, Look In Her Eyes, and the Heartbreak medley of Maki and Katrina), and who I believe still deserves the moniker Mr. Pure Energy after the show. He proved that he can still easily outdance mostly anyone, to Mon Faustino, who contributed to the wonderful song arrangements, and also to Manila Genesis for putting together an amazing show.

THE first thing I asked Nadine Lustre as soon as she and James Reid sat down for this exclusive interview was, Will she play Darna if and when?

You see, Angel Locsin has bowed out of the Star Cinema project after she suffered a spine injury during training. Nadine is among those rumored to be on the short list of those “being considered,” including Maja Salvador, Liza Soberano, Jessy Mendiola and Sofia Andres.

“I read all about it only in online polls on social media,” replied Nadine. “But I haven’t really been offered, so I can’t say whether I would accept it or not.”

Anyway, I didn’t know how popular the JaDine tandem of Nadine and James was until I posted their photo together on my Instagram.

Only a few seconds later, the photo was “liked” by more than 100 presumably JaDine supporters, until the number reached more than a thousand.

The photo was taken during an exclusive Star pictorial with JaDine as endorser of Jollibee’s Burger Steak, their second for the brand (the first was for Cheesy Bacon Mushroom). Their Kapamilya soap starrer, “On The Wings Of Love (OTWOL),” has been trending and topping the Kapamilya rating chart, making JaDine the network’s hottest love team, bar none.

So why was Nadine, depressed, prompting her to spend her recent birthday…by herself, without James…in Seoul?

“It was a phase in my life,” said Nadine, “atna-timing lang sa birthday ko. I guess everybody goes

through the same phase.”

By coincidence, at that time Nadine’s “OTWOL” character Leah was going through a crisis in her life and Nadine admitted that she identified with Leah.

“Magulo ang utak ni Leah noon,” added Nadine, 22. “But everything is okay now,” assured Nadine who, as if you didn’t know, could pass for the sister of Kathryn Bernardo (of the KathNiel tandem with Daniel Padilla). They look so alike that it’s hard to tell them apart.

Does James feel that kind of “feeling low”?

“I also have my ups and downs,” confessed James, also 22. “All the time. I’m glad though that I have more ups than downs.”

Did James give Nadine any reason to be depressed?

“Hindi siya ang dahilan,” Nadine hastily answered for James.

“My ‘OTWOL’ character, Clark, is focused more on his family,” explained James who plays a US-raised guy (in real life, he was born and grew up in Australia) who crosses paths with Nadine’s character who goes to the States to look for her missing mother.

Instead, Leah finds Clark and vice-versa.

When Nadine came home from Seoul, James gifted her with a Teacup Maltese (worth between $500 and $600?, James was mum) that Nadine named Clarky Boy (after James’ “OTWOL” character).

“I know that Nadine loves dogs, so…” smiled James.

“Now I have four pets,” revealed Nadine. “The big one is named Beefsteak, a chihuahua named Uno and a cat named Raven.”

First paired in the Viva movie

James Reid and Nadine Laustre

“Diary Ng Panget,” followed by “Talk Back and You’re Dead,” plus guestings in Kapamilya drama shows, JaDine zoomed to the top overnight. Did they expect their team-up to be this big?

“No, not at all,” said Nadine. ‘Diary ng Panget’ was an experiment that caught the fancy of the public.

“Actually, lahat kami nabigla.”

“Everything was so unexpected,” agreed James. “Now our show has been extended until February next year.”

Competition among young love teams is stiff. How does JaDine deal with it?

Nadine: We are not competing with anybody. We are just doing our best in everything. We simply enjoy what we are doing, just being ourselves.

James (who has had mild brushes with the press with his off-thecuff comments): I guess it goes with the territory and you just have to put up with the downside.

Nadine (on the bashers): As much as possible, ayoko ng nagaaway-away. Good vibes lang sana.

I delete the negative comments.

In the showbiz frenzy, they turn to their families for reality check.

Nadine: I try to spend as much time with my family as I can. Some people say that I am suplada but actually I am not.

James: You can get lost in the character you’re playing or in the media. I turn to my family to be grounded.

Throughout the interview, the screen sweethearts were stealing glances at each other; they had eyes only for each other, so I asked them once and for all: What’s the real score between them?

Nadine: Friends. Close friends. I don’t really know how to describe our relationship.

James: Yes, close friends.

Only close friends, not friends in love?

They looked at each other, smiled and hesitated as if waiting who should answer first.

“Yes, I was in love before, when I was young,” said Nadine.

What about now?

“Yes, I am…with my family and my work,” she said.

“Same here,” said James.

B november 14-17, 2015 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn JoUrnAL

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COMMUNITY Journal

Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves MAy ZhAng, DiZA AnD nAncy MilleR PRESIDENT Obama has repeatedly called for Congress to address the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). As we head into the holiday season, Paul Ryan, the newly-minted Speaker of the House, responded with what is, essentially, coal in the stocking.

He said that no comprehensive immigration reform bill will be introduced or entertained in the House while President Obama is in the White House. So, CIR is not on the horizon.

However, there are still numerous ways to obtain a green card right now. At Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza we would encourage everyone to fully explore all of their options. The following examples are just a few ways to obtain a green card.

One option is a family-based immigrant petition. Immediate relatives (spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21or parent if the US citizen is over the age of 21) of US citizens (USCs) have special immigration priority and do not have to wait in line for a visa number to become available for them to immigrate. Family petitions for spouses and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents (LPRs), for married sons and daughters of USC.s and for brothers and sisters of USC.s are also possible although there is a waiting time before they become available. How long varies depending on the category and the country of origin.

Immediate relatives (IR) who entered the US with inspection are able to obtain their green card in the United States. This process is called adjustment of status.

If the foreign citizen has to return home to complete their immigration process, they can now seek a provisional waiver of the 10 year unlawful presence bar that will be tripped when they

Do I have any hope to get legal status? leave to United States to consular process.

Provisional waivers allow the applicant to submit the request from inside the US and wait for the decision here. Once approved, the applicant departs for their immigrant visa interview at a US Consulate. This waiver avoids lengthy separation of family members. The provisional waiver applies to aliens who entered the United States without papers, who came in on a crewman visa, who entered the United States on a fiancé visa but did not marry their petitioner and who entered on a visa but overstayed or violated the visa and are not in the immediate relative category.

Other waivers are available for those with various other grounds of inadmissibility. Those who entered the United States using false information or false documentation and can show that their USC or LPR parent or spouse would suffer extreme hardship may be able to get a waiver. Non-citizens who have convictions for various criminal offenses may be able to obtain a waiver if they can show that their USC or LPR parent, spouse or son or daughter would suffer extreme hardship. Due to some recent court decisions, many non-citizens may be eligible for criminal conviction waivers even if they were not before.

Waivers also exist for those who obtained their green cards through false information and

want to clear their record so they can naturalize.

Another option is cancellation of removal. Cancellation of removal allows qualified individuals to obtain a green card if they have lived in the US for at least ten years, have good moral character and can show that their US citizen, or Lawful Permanent Resident parent, spouse or child would suffer exceptional and extremely unusual hardship if the applicant were forced to leave the United States. Applicants are eligible to obtain employment authorization as soon as their application is filed. With work authorization, one may apply for a social security number, work legally and obtain a state-issued driver’s license.

Non-citizens who are studying in the United States may be able to turn that education into both a non-immigrant work visa and a green card depending on what they are studying.

While not technically lawful status, another option is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”). DACA is available to a person who: (1) was under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; (2) entered the US before the age of 16; (3) has resided in the US since June 15, 2007 up to the present date; (4) is currently out of status; (5) is in school or has graduated from school in the US (or is a veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed

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C NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon EVERY day, I meet with couples who are deeply in debt. In a lot of cases, I can feel the stress level that they are experiencing while the couple is in my office.

Emotions often run high and you can feel the tension in the air. There can be a lot of fingerpointing, resentment, anger, etc.

A lot of couples find themselves on the verge of divorce due to financial problems. Some actually separate or divorce as a result.

Debt problems can place a huge stress on any marriage because it affects the whole family, including the children. When parents are unable to provide for their kids the way they want to, they feel like they have failed.

What makes things worse sometimes is the fact that couples are not on the same page about their finances and they can’t agree on a lot of the important issues.

For example, I see a lot of cases where the debts accumulated during marriage are all in one spouse’s name and yet it is clear that both husband and wife benefited from the money borrowed. But because all the debts are only in one spouse’s name,

Family Law Atty.

EthElEnE F. SAlAS IN my last article, I discussed a type of restraining order i.e. a stay-away order. This restraining order is a judicial order (granted by a judge or commissioner) preventing a person from doing certain things to a “protected person.” Usually, this means that the person must stay away 100 yards from the protected person. In addition, the person can be ordered from coming near the protected person’s home and workplace.

In this week’s article, I would like to discuss another type of restraining order which is called restraint on personal conduct.

This is also judicially ordered which means that you must go to court to obtain this type of order. The Court can then prevent

Community Journal

When debt problems cause marriage problems the other spouse doesn’t feel the financial burden as much because it is “not my debt”. How can this be? If your wife or husband accumulated debt during your marriage and the debt provided a benefit for both of you and your family, it is YOUR debt just as much as it is his or hers.

For a marriage to survive a financial crisis, both husband and wife need to be on the same team. That’s what a marriage should be all about- for better or for worse, isn’t it? Start out by sitting down and talking about the problem. It is normal to be frustrated with one another if you feel that your spouse is not doing her or her share but provided that you want to keep your marriage, you need to work together and come up with a mutually-agreeable solution.

Sometimes that requires some willingness to compromise as you find ways to survive your debt problems.

Sometimes there is no easy way out and if filing bankruptcy is the only solution, again, this has to be a joint decision after you’ve weighed all your options. If bankruptcy can be avoided, you need to come up with a debt elimination strategy that is workable and realistic;

otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for more failure and frustration.

Debt problems are one of the main causes of divorce in the United States. But they don’t have to destroy your marriage unless you let them. When you’re in the middle of a financial crisis, sometimes it’s hard to find anything positive about the situation. But like most difficult challenges we face in life, we only grow when we are stretched beyond our comfort zone. So whatever debt problems you may be facing at the moment, try to find the lesson that life is trying to teach you. If you look hard enough, you will often find it.

If you need help figuring out your options to get out of debt, I’d like to help you. Call us for a free consultation at Toll-Free 1866-477-7772. We have offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Cerritos and Valencia. ***

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA And ARlene Al-oS, cPA, mBA

MARRIED couples buying property are asked to decide how they should hold title: • Joint tenancy or • Community property.

Basically, it is a choice between the ease of transfer to the survivor for joint tenancy and the tax benefits of holding property for community property. Unfortunately, it also a choice between the loss of “step-up basis” (meaning the increase of acquisition cost to fair market value to reduce capital gains tax) for joint tenants and the inconvenience of having to change titles when the first spouse of a community property dies. Fortunately though, there is a new third choice that combines the benefits of the first two choices: community property with right of survivorship.

Community Property with Right of Survivorship: None of the information herein is in• Allows double step-up of tended to give legal advice for any specific both bases. situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully • Guarantees that the survivor helped thousands of clients in getting out of inherits the property, no matter debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your what. situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices • Allows the property to pass at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. to the surviving spouse without (Advertising Supplement)

Restraining orders on conduct a person from molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, sexually assaulting, or otherwise disturbing the peace of the other party and any person under the care, custody, and control of that party. In addition, the Court can prevent that person from contacting or telephoning the other party. Once facts are presented to the Court about why this order is needed, the Court can then order it.

For example, let’s say my exhusband was devastated from our divorce and we are constantly fighting. He is so mad at me that he would make harassing phone calls not just at home, but at my workplace which could jeopardize my relationship with the company. I do not want to lose my job, so I sought the help of an attorney.

After seeking an attorney and initiating a court proceeding, I could obtain this type of restraining order and prevent my ex-husband from disturbing

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me once and for all. In addition, because I moved back to my mother’s home, my ex-husband would also be prevented from disturbing my mother as well because the restraining order could include all persons under my care, custody, or control. Should my ex-husband fail to adhere to this court order, he could go to jail.

Put simply, the law will not tolerate conduct or actions that will disturb the peace of another person. The law could help and will help. *** Ethelene F. Salas, Esq. is a practicing family law attorney. Ms. Salas is a Filipino-American born in the Philippines, raised in the United States, and speaks Tagalog fluently. The Law Offices of Ethelene F. Salas is located at two locations – the main office at 100 N. Barranca St., Suite 700, West Covina, CA 91791 and affiliated offices at 18000 Studebaker Road, Suite 700, Cerritos, CA 90703. To schedule an appointment with her, please call (626) 858-4646 or visit www.EFS-Law.com.

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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

Community property with right of survivorship court action.

Let’s illustrate how each of the above works: • You and your spouse own a rental house that you purchased for $200,000.

• Assume that your spouse dies and the house appraises and sells for $500,000.

• The capital gain for joint tenancy would be $150,000 ($500,000 less ½ of 200,000 and ½ of 500,000).

• The gain for community property and community property with right of survivorship would be zero ($500,000 less all of $500,000 stepped-up basis!).

• Assuming capital gains tax rates for: • Federal: 20% plus 3.8% to fund ObamaCare • State: 12.3% • Total federal and state capital gain taxes would be about $54,000 which you would save if you step up basis by using Community Property designation.

That’s a lot of tax savings for simply using this preferred title to your real estate properties.

Bottom line: Consider transferring deeds from joint tenancy and community property to community property with right of survivorship. Combine the benefits of ease of transfers on your

spouse’s death and lower capital gains when you sell your properties. As always, consult your lawyer before making any decision.

Good day. *** Sy Al-os Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities.

The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies. The firm celebrates its 38th anniversary in 2015. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in 704 Mira Monte Place, Pasadena, CA 91101. He has 50 years of experience in accounting, consulting, and tax work. *** The Firm proudly welcomes Arlene Al-os in 2015. She obtained her bachelors of Science in Accountancy from Mindanao State University and MBA from Ateneo de Manila University. She teaches intermediate accounting at UCLA and was a professor of Economics at Asia Pacific College. She has over 15 years of experience including member firms of KPMG and BDO Seidman accounting firms. *** Our readers may call (626) 744-0200 or email tax questions to info@victorsycpa.com. Please visit our website for about 300 tax tips at www.

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Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuses to sign?

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 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

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Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: I RECENTLY heard from a friend who sued her employer for unpaid wages. However, the court threw out her case and she had to go to “arbitration.” She said she lost because the arbitrator was biased and she could not appeal. My company is now asking me to sign an “arbitration agreement.” What should I know about arbitration?

A: Arbitration is a procedure to resolve disputes without filing a complaint in court. The disputing parties refer the case to a third party (the arbitrator) who reviews it and makes a decision that is legally binding on both sides. By signing an employment arbitration agreement, the employee is agreeing to settle any claim against the employer before an arbitrator and not before a judge or a jury. This means the employee cannot file a lawsuit in court to resolve the claim.

Court proceedings are public, with the case being heard either by an impartial judge or an independent jury. An arbitration proceeding is a private process in which an arbitrator is hired by the parties to make a decision regarding the dispute. The process and its results are generally confidential and not disclosed to the public. The parties are bound by the arbitrator’s decision and the losing party cannot appeal.

Arbitration is most commonly used in commercial disputes, where the disputing parties are all business entities and have equal bargaining powers. The use of arbitration in employment disputes, may be problematic.

Arbitration in an employment situation is not usually the product of negotiation but is practically imposed on the employee.

The employee needs the job. The company will not give the job unless the employee agrees not to

Community Journal

Arbitration agreements: should employees give up their rights to their day in court? sue the company in court when disputes arise. Employees often automatically sign these types of agreements, without understanding the consequences.

The New York Times reported the impact of arbitration on regular employees. Below are some of the horror stories: Deborah L. Pierce, an emergency room doctor, brought a sex discrimination claim against the employer that had fired her.

She had evidence that the employer had a pattern of denying women partnerships. However, she was blocked from court and forced into private arbitration.

The arbitrator was not a judge but a corporate lawyer. When Dr. Pierce showed up one day for a hearing, she noticed the arbitrator having a friendly coffee with the head of the company she was suing. During the proceedings, the employer withheld crucial evidence, including audiotapes it destroyed. When her lawyers asked the arbitrator to impose sanctions on the defense for destroying evidence, the arbitrator simply fined the defense $1,000 after investigating the matter.

The arbitrator ultimately ruled against Dr. Pierce. After the ruling, Dr. Pierce’s lawyers wrote to the arbitration firm questioning the arbitrator’s qualifications. The firm, American Health Lawyers Association, responded that it was not its responsibility to verify the “abilities or competence” of its arbitrators. If the case had been heard in civil court, said the report, Dr. Pierce would have been able to appeal, raising questions about testimony, destruction of evidence and potential conflicts of interest.

Another employee, Leonard Acevedo of Pomona, Calif., brought an employment case against his employer, a shortterm lender company. His case was sent to arbitration due to an

arbitration agreement he signed with the company. The employer’s preferred arbitration company assigned an arbitrator who was also simultaneously handling 28 other cases involving the employer. Acevedo lost his case in October 2014. His lawyer said, “It clearly appears that the arbitrator was working for the company . . . [and] he disregarded evidence to hand a good result to his client.”

A cruise ship employee who said she was drugged, raped and left unconscious in her cabin by two crew members could not take her employer to civil court over negligence and an unsafe workplace. She had signed an arbitration agreement.

A housekeeper, who signed an arbitration agreement with her employer, regretted it later when he sexually harassed her and she had no legal recourse in court.

Employees who are bound by arbitration agreements are deprived of their rights to have their day in court. Litigation in court gives employees an opportunity to have their claims decided by a jury of their peers, not by arbitrators, whose decisions may be affected by business considerations. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. Atty. Sayas’ Law Office is located at 500 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 980, Glendale, CA 91203. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney who has obtained several million dollar recoveries for his clients against employers and insurance companies. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum.

Forces); and, (7) has not been convicted of a felony or a significant misdemeanor.

More than one million individuals obtain legal permanent resident status each year. In order to find out if you could be one of them, consult with a

knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney. ***

Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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Will my divorce reduce my wait time for green card?

Dear Attorney Tan, I AM a Filipino living in Los Angeles. I am a US Citizen who filed an immigrant petition for my adult son in July 2005. At the time when the petition was filed, my son was unmarried and 25 years old.

In 2010, my son became married. Due to difficulties in his marriage, his wife is presently in the process of obtaining a divorce in Nevada.

Is my son eligible for a green card? – Concerned Parent Answer: Dear Concerned Parent, When you filed the immigrant petition in July 2005, your son was classified under the “First Preference” category, as an unmarried adult son of a US citizen. As a preference category relative, your son has to wait for a visa number to become available before he could obtain an immigrant visa or adjust status to permanent residence. The wait time for visa number availability varies, depending on preference category.

If an unmarried adult son or daughter beneficiary is married before an immigrant visa or green card is issued (i.e. while waiting for a visa number to become available), the beneficiary’s petition automatically converts from a “First Preference” petition to a “Third Preference” petition--a petition for a married son or daughter of a US Citizen.

In your case, when your son married in 2010, the petition that you filed for your son automatically converted to a “Third Preference” petition. As a “Third Preference” beneficiary, your son became subject to a longer wait time to obtain an immigrant visa or green card, compared to when he was classified under the “First Preference” category prior to marriage.

If a “Third Preference” beneficiary (married son or daughter of US Citizen) becomes widowed or divorced, the petition filed on his behalf automatically converts to the “First Preference” category.

In your case, once your son gets divorced, the Petition that you filed in July 2005 automatically converts back to “First Preference” category. With the automatic conversion, the wait time for a beneficiary is significantly lesser.

Under the December 2015 visa bulletin, immigrant visa and green card applications are being accepted for “First Preference” petitions that were filed September 1, 2005 or earlier. For “Third Preference” petitions, visa and green card applications are being accepted for petitions that were filed on or before August 1, 1995.

Your son would be eligible to apply for a green card immediately upon divorce since USCIS is presently accepting green card applications for petitions filed September 1, 2005 or earlier for those in the “First Preference” category. Until he gets a divorce, as a “Third Preference” beneficiary, your son is subject to an approximate wait time of 10 years before he can get his green card. He would have to wait until USCIS advances the date for the Third Preference category from August 1, 1995 to the date on which you filed the petition for your son (July 2005).

P.S. I warn against getting a “quick divorce” in Nevada if neither your son nor daughter-in-law is a resident there. There are certain residency requirements for a valid divorce decree in Nevada.

Your son will have to present a valid divorce decree to USCIS to show that he is unmarried, and properly classified under the “First Preference.” *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association.

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw. com.

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Can I obtain a divorce if…

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(Advertising Supplement) 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.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 For issues which you and your E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com spouse cannot agree on, you will Website: www.rreeves.com. have to go through the litigation *** The analysis and suggestions offered in process which involves obtaining this column do not create a lawyer-client discovery, exchanging declararelationship and are not a substitute for the tions of disclosures, and preparpersonalized representation that is essential ing the case for trial. Ultimately, (Advertising Supplement) you will obtain your divorce at to every case.

Do I have any hope to get…

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015

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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C NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture celebrates 24th year

by Allyson

S

EscobAr

AJPress

aturday, November 7 marked the 24th year of the Festival of Philippine arts and Culture, known as FPaC. the annual event is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California, hosted by the association for the advancement of Filipino american arts and Culture (Filam artS), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts and cultural heritage of Filipinos through arts services and education. the theme for this year’s FPaC was “Balik tanaw, Pananaw Bukas,” a tagalog phrase meaning “looking back, looking forward,” and highlights the diverse Filipino american experience and culture, paved by ancestral history.

Special guests in attendance included Los angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Philippine Consulate General Leo Herrera-Lim, La18 Kababayan today’s Giselle “G” tongi, Board of Public Works Commissioner Joel Jacinto, and film and tV actor John arcilla, star of the biopic film Heneral Luna (2015). the free-admission, one-day outdoor festival was held at El Pueblo de Los angeles Historical Monument, known as the birthplace of the richly diverse Los angeles.

“It’s El Pueblo--isn’t this a great home for FPaC? this is where the city of Los angeles was born,” said Garcetti in his opening remarks to the crowd. “Looking back, and moving forward is not just a great theme for the festival, it is a great theme for our city. We have such tremendous leadership, and [La] is the creative capital of the world.” the home of FPaC is also the site of the original El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula, which

would later become the foundation for the city of Los angeles.

El Pueblo was originally settled in 1781 by a group of Spanish pobladores (explorers), including one of Filipino descent--a gunsmith from Manila, antonio Miranda rodriguez, who did not make it all the way to the site because of smallpox.

“It’s a fitting metaphor for the work here that is left undone,” Garcetti said. “those who came here to start this great city included folks of Filipino descent…so this is our own history that we celebrate, our own creativity, music, art, dance, and filmmaking; everything that makes Filipino culture so rich. the Philippines is one of the great democracies in the world; it is vibrant, it is alive. We love our sister city, Makati City!”

FPaC also recognized the groundbreaking work of labor organizer Larry Itliong, who helped lead the united Farm Workers movement along with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s. Filam artS presented an award of excellence to the Itliong family, celebrating the formal recognition of October 24 as Larry Itliong day in California.

“Larry Itliong’s work with Cesar Chavez represents a proud moment of social justice for all Californians and inspiration for artists, especially those from its two larger communities,” said Filam artS Board Member Winston Emano. all day at the festival, exhibits from the Filipino-american community were on colorful display. the Pan Pavilion showcased traditional Philippine artwork and original costume designs from designer Carl andrada. the Pamilya Pavilion bridged two generations with activities at the Seniors Pavilion and the Eskuela Kultura youth Pavilion, sharing traditional stories and activities through the SaySay Project. the

2nd annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted by Sunday Jump and ariana Basco, encouraged youth to freely express themselves through open mic. Leaders from Filipino Cultural School were also present, showing children how to make colorful parols in time for the Pasko (Christmas) season.

FPaC vendors included the Filipino Channel / aBS-CBN, asian Journal, toyota, Kahoy Kollection, Pilipino Workers Center, Balisong Knife, red ribbon, Western union, PNB, and the Philippine Expressions Bookshop. delicious Filipino food and treats was provided by Neri’s Curbside Cravings, Wawa Grill, and booths including Manila Sky Gourmet Ice Cream, red ribbon, Magnolia, and Crème Caramel La. along with the speeches and celebrations, FPaC included a diverse lineup of talented musicians, dancers, singers, and artists to perform on the main stage; including uCLa’s tinig Choral, vocalist Morgan ashley, dance performances from Kayamanan Ng Lahi and Malaya Filipino american dance arts, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, Philippine Choral Singers, SIPa dance Crew, and the rondalla Club of Los angeles. the annual “tFC Hour” showcase included Original Pinoy Music and special guest performances from cellist and musical prodigy Matthew John Ignacio; jazz-pianist tateng Katindig; vocalist Odesa Kane; and Broadway singer Joan almedilla. “to sing in front of a Filipino crowd, it transports you back home…you feel homesick, but at the same time you feel proud,” said almedilla.

Next year, Filam artS will celebrate its 25th year of FPaC, bringing Filipinos from all over Southern California together to recognize art, community and culture.

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Community Journal

Hard evidence required to prove dissipation of assets

Debt Relief

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015

The Great Promise

To Live With Faith

Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $5K debt 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

which he uses for gas, car insurance and his credit cards. He says he pays $150 a month to keep the THERE are clients who re$5K current, and he’s been payceived a large amount of cash being it for 20 years! He said he’s fore they file for bankruptcy. They just tired of paying for it and just may have received cash from a doesn’t want to pay it anymore. refinance of their residence with So, at 68 he wants a fresh start net cash out, obtained a business without debt, even if its $5K. The loan, or sold an asset. These, amount of debt owed becomes a and similar type of transactions, burden depending on how much generate cash for clients which your income is. The best situation have been used up, and someis where you don’t owe any short where along the line, something term or credit card debt. Longgoes wrong, and they decide that term debt for the purchase of a they need bankruptcy relief from house is good because the house debt. Bankruptcy trustees genernormally increases in value over ally watch out for these kinds of time. This means that you’re not transactions because they may wasting your money. And in the be able to get some of the money meantime, you have a nice house back as preferential transfers. to live in and raise a family. After The bankruptcy code provides paying the house for 20 years, for a look back period of 90 days barring a major catastrophe in pre-filing for consumer debtthe economy, the value of the ors (not business) for house will probably Don’t throw away your hard evidence. Gather double or triple if amounts over $600 paid to ordinary creditors, 12 its in the right lothem and compile them into an easily readable months paid to credi- format so that in case you have to file for bankruptcy cation. So you can tors who are insiders, relief, you have a bulletproof defense to justify the look at a house as a and transfers of assets safe investment over fact that you used the cash legitimately. absolutely or by way of the long run. Hence security other than in the ordi- payments made must also be pro- your house payments are not nary course of business made 24 vided. Without hard evidence, the wasted. But with credit card paymonths before the bankruptcy pe- trustee does not have enough ba- ments, you’re basically throwing tition is filed. Some trustees have sis to believe what you are saying your money away. Even if it took a look back period of 48 months and may be inclined to dismiss client 20 years to figure out that because the California Civil Code your case for lack of evidence he was wasting his $150 monthly has this period of look back for to prove dissipation of assets. I payment on the $5K credit card transfers that defraud creditors, had a recent case where debtor debt, he finally realized that he assuming other factors such as owned a business with a lot of in- threw away $36K to keep $5K transfers for less than fair market ventory destroyed by fire. Debtor of credit card current. It’s never value are present that possibly received an insurance payment too late to get rid of your debt. of $175K but could not provide But getting rid of your debt is makes the transfer avoidable.

In all of these situations, the hard evidence of how the money the right thing to do at any age. best defense is documentary evi- was used up. He testified that the My oldest client was 92 and he dence that proves that the money money was used to pay back sala- still opted for Chapter 7 to get rid was used for the right reasons. ries and to restart the business of $20K of credit card debt. He For instance, if you cashed out but could not provide any more migrated here 70 years ago to $100K when you refinanced your evidence to corroborate his testi- work in the pineapple plantations house 10 months ago and you mony. Case was dismissed. in Hawaii. I don’t know how he So, don’t throw away your keeps young, but at 92, he looked don’t have that money anymore, you must be able to explain how hard evidence. Gather them and about 60 and his wife is only 38. the money was used, and more compile them into an easily read- He said his plumbing still works importantly, you must have the able format so that in case you well. Enough said. documentary evidence to prove have to file for bankruptcy relief, “This is the message which that your explanation is true and you have a bulletproof defense to we have heard from Him and decorrect. Let’s say that your expla- justify the fact that you used the clare to you, that God is light and nation of how the $100K was used cash legitimately. in Him is no darkness at all.” – 1 On another note, 68-year old John 1:5. is as follows: 1) $20K was used to get a new roof 2) $30K was sent senior tells me that he wants *** abroad to pay for the medical ex- to file a Chapter 7 case for $5K Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in penses of your father who lived of credit card debt. I was taken bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil abroad and did not have medical aback because he only owed litigation and has successfully represented insurance 3) $20K was used as a $5K. I asked him why he wanted more than five thousand clients in California. down payment to buy your retire- a bankruptcy for $5K of credit Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) ment condo with a mortgage of card debt. He said his social se- 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. $80K 4) $20K was invested in a curity is $1000. He lives with Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite business, which is now defunct 5) his daughter but pays her $500 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. $10K was used to pay the college of rent, leaving him with $500, (Advertising Supplement)

Atty. LAwrence yAng

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reverend rodeL g. BALAgtAs “BUT the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” — Daniel 12: 3 The Book of Daniel and Mark’s Gospel Reading this Sunday sound scary for many of us because they speak about “a time unsurpassed in distress” in which “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

Hearing these words make us think of the end of the world.

But should we be scared when this time comes? Or should we rejoice because finally all evils of the world will end and God will bring justice to those who had sowed them? Should we not rejoice because those of us who are faithful to God will “shine brightly like

the splendor of the firmament and will “be like stars forever”?

Absolutely, the apocalyptic literatures of the bible were written not to bring fear in us but to tell us of the great promise that will come to us and to the world.

There will be no more tears, suffering, distress, and discomfort.

There will be no more hatred, violence, famine and death. All people will be united solely for one purpose: to sing praise and honor to God with the angels and the saints in heaven.

That will be a great moment, isn’t it? We’ll finally experience eternal bliss that no material things, pleasure or power in this world would ever give. Those who suffered through pains of poverty and oppression in this world and persevered in their faith in God will experience this reward. And those who had inflicted unjust pain and suffering in people and the world without repentance will be punished.

Meanwhile, we cannot wait to experience peace and justice in our lives until this great promise comes. As creatures of God, it is our calling to bring life and prog-

ress to this world and the universe for the welfare and dignity of every human being.

We do not know when the end of the world will come, and we cannot just sit and wait for that time to come. In his wisdom, God has instilled in our minds and hearts a desire for goodness, love and care for people and the world. We must fulfill these desires everyday of lives here on earth because they reflect our divine call and image to subdue this earth with values of God’s Kingdom—a kingdom of justice, love and peace where everyone is regarded as a child of God. *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

People and Events

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

“We are committed to ensuring that all individuals, including AA & NHOPIs, have equal and fair access to health care, regardless of the language they speak,” said Jeffrey Caballero, executive director of AAPCHO. “Improved language service re-

quirements and stronger nondiscrimination protections are crucial to achieving this goal.”

AA & NHOPIs are the fastest growing minority group in the United States and are highly diverse in their language and health needs, representing more than 50 ethnic groups and 100 languages. One-third of the population is considered Limited English Proficient (LEP) and is significantly impacted by language assistance services in health care.

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

mended: • Requiring written translation services in states or service areas that have five percent or 1,000 LEP persons who speak any one language; • That notices sent to newly covered individuals be available in the top 15 languages of LEP individuals in the state; • Including an in-language tagline on vital documents to inform LEP individuals of their language rights; • Establishing a stronger definition of who is a “qualified interpreter” within health services; • Ensuring proper patient data collection; and • Ensuring that the entities covered by this regulation are held accountable.

“We look forward to continuing to work with OCR, our mem-

u PAGE C6

C NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

PeoPle & events

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

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

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

Each person involved with

Becca Godinez

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

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

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

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

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

AAPCHO submits comments calling for…

PAGE C5 t

ber health centers and other partners to ensure that these regulations are implemented, and that all communities can truly benefit from the Affordable Care Act,” Caballero added.

A copy of AAPCHO’s full com-

ments is available at http://bit. ly/1SboyiT. About AAPCHO AAPCHO is a national association of 35 community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration, and leadership that

improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States.

For more information on AAPCHO and its Guiding Principles and Values, please visit www. aapcho.org. n

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C NOVEMBER 14-17, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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SEAFOOD CITY FOOD SERVICE FP

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MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

Study: Filipino consumers 3rd most confident in the world

NEW YORK CITY—The Philippines ranks third globally as home to the world’s most confident consumers in the third quarter of 2015, despite posting a quarteron-quarter decline of five points to a Consumer Confidence Index score of 117. The year-on-year trend for the Philippines was up two points, however.

While consumer confidence across a number of Southeast Asia markets has taken dips in Q3 2015, the other countries in the region which remained as the world’s top 10 most optimistic are Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

After the Philippines, Indonesia closely follows as the market with the fourth most confident consumers, with a score of 116, dropping four points from Q2 2015 and down nine points yearon-year, while Thailand (ranked 5th globally) is flat quarter-onquarter with 111 and down marginally (2 points) compared to the same quarter a year ago.

Vietnam ranked 10th globally with a Consumer Confidence Index score of 105, up one point quarter-on-quarter and up three points year-on-year.

Meanwhile Malaysia, which posted the region’s lowest Consumer Confidence Index (78) also posted the region’s steepest decline, down 11 points quarteron-quarter and 21 points year-onyear, largely driven by consumers’ concern around currency devaluation and rising food prices. Globally, consumer confidence rose slightly to 99 in Q3 2015, up three points compared to Q2 2015.

The survey further revealed that recessionary sentiment among Filipino consumers is down by one percentage point along with Singaporeans (-5pp) and Vietnamese (-3 pp). In contrast, recessionary sentiment is rising in Malaysia (+16pp), Indonesia (+10pp) and Thailand (+8pp).

In this round of the global survey, job security, work/life balance and health feature prominently in the Filipino consumers’ list of key concerns.

Saving is a top priority Similar with the consumers in Southeast Asia, Filipino consumers continue to give financial security top priority. Close to seven in 10 respondents in the Philippines (67 percent) put their PAGE D2

2 US groups sign pact to boost PH tech ‘game changers’ WASHINGTON, DC—Two Philippines-focused organizations signed an agreement November 6 to support technology entrepreneurship and enable Philippine-based tech “game changers” to attend immersion programs and workshops in Silicon Valley, California.

The US-Philippines Society (US-PHS) and the Silicon Valley

Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that institutionalizes the linkage between the two organizations in supporting technology-enabled entrepreneurship.

The memorandum was signed

by US-PHS Executive Director Hank Hendrickson and Christina PAGE D2

Silicon Valley Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) President Christina Laskowski and US-Philippines Society Executive Director Hank Hendrickson sign on a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) cementing their collaboration in supporting technology-enabled entrepreneurship.

(L-R) US-Philippines Society President, Ambassador John Maisto; Minister Patrick Chuasoto, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Philippine Embassy; Christina Laskowski, President of Silicon Valley Science and Technology Advisory Council; Christina Le, US Department of State; USPhilippines Society Executive Director Hank Hendrickson; and Mr. Raymond Batac, Commercial Counsellor at the Philippine Embassy.

Business role in PH economic growth, nation-building hailed in Asia CEO Awards

by Yuji

Vincent Gonzales Philstar.com

THE sixth edition of the Asia CEO Awards has recognized not only the excellence of businesses in their respective fields, but also their contribution to the country’s economic progress, regional growth, and community development.

Noting that the Philippines has become one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, Jovy Hernandez, sales and marketing head of Smart Enterprise, said businesses should also be acknowledged for “helping display the Filipino talent” in the areas of education, health, environment, nation-build-

ing, and good governance, among others.

“Every year, the awards bring together top business leaders to celebrate the best of the best in business,” Hernandez said during the awarding ceremonies at the Marriott Hotel Manila in Pasay City on Thursday, Nov. 12.

“With the world’s eyes in the Philippines for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and in light of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional integration, tonight we celebrate and underscore the Philippine status as global player,” he said.

PAGE D2

Business Quote of the Week “Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.”

- William Pollard, physicist and Episcopal priest

& Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning in October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authoriza-

D

The December 2015 Priority Dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

September 1, 2005

June 1, 2003

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

Second Preference

(2A) Spouse and minor children March 1, 2015 (below 21 years old) of green card holder

June 15, 2014

(2b) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

May 1, 2005

December 1, 2004

Third Preference

married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

August 1, 1995

October 22, 1993

Fourth Preference

brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

January 1, 1993

July 1, 1992

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Visa Issuance Date

Third Preference

Professional/Skilled Workers

January 1, 2010

August 1, 2007

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

January 1, 2010

August 1, 2007

tion (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for

a green card.

***

Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and

does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

D november 14-17, 2015 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn JoUrnAL

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2016 Nissan Altima: A quieter driving 2016 polls to have minimal impact on PH credit rating experience with improved fuel economy

by LAwrenCe

AgCAoiLi Philstar.com

by Agnes

ConstAnte

AJPress

Amid five consecutive years— and counting—of sales growth, Nissan has introduced the 2016 Altima, a quieter car with improved fuel economy and a new “energetic flow” exterior.

“We can confidently say today that we have the quietest Altima ever,” Tiago Castro, senior manager of product planning at Nissan, told reporters at an Altima media preview presentation on Wednesday, Nov. 11. “We’re excited about this.”

The updated model also employs an improved fuel economy of up to 39 miles per gallon, the latest active safety and technology, enhanced drive dynamics and a new SR grade and.

“There was a lot of work done behind the scenes, things that normally customers don’t know to improve the vehicle,” Castro said.

Quieter car One of the highlights of the 2016 Altima is its acoustic windshield, which noticeably reduces noise transmission. The glass incorporates an acoustic film in between, which dampers engine noise. New high density material used in dashboard and floor carpet also help in providing a quieter driving experience.

The engine itself also features a new mount that results in refined engine sound quality during low and mid demand acceleration.

Fuel economy The new Altima comes with

Production begins today in Smyrna for the updated 2016 Nissan Altima, Nissan’s top-selling vehicle.

Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee assembly plant boasts production of two of the best-selling vehicles in the US - the hot selling Rogue compact crossover that was redesigned for 2014, and the Altima that starting today is getting a mid-cycle refresh for the 2016 model year.

Photo by Bob Peterson

an enhanced fuel economy of 39 miles per gallon on the highway, up from 38 in the 2015 model. in the city, the Altima posts up to 27 miles per gallon, and has a combined fuel economy of 31 miles per gallon.

Achieving this fuel efficiency without compromising the driving experience was a huge challenge, Castro said. While it would have been possible to employ low-rolling resistance tires to improve fuel economy, doing so would have reduced grip and made the Altima experience less enjoyable.

“We didn’t want to do that,” Castro said. instead, adjustments were made to the engine and design to improve aerodynamics. Among design highlights is an active grille

shutter that is activated when the driving speed hits about 18 miles per hour, and shuts off at about 80 miles per hour.

Advanced driver assistance Among features in the 2016 Altima that ensure a safe drive is predictive forward collision warning technology that uses radar to monitor the speeds of two vehicles ahead.

Forward emergency braking is another feature that warns a driver if he or she is getting too close to a vehicle ahead using forward facing radar. if necessary, the Altima applies braking to either avoid or mitigate a collision. intelligent Cruise Control is another feature that allows drivers to set the distance between PAGE D3

mANiLA—The elections next year will have minimal impact on the country’s credit rating, moody’s investors Service said in a report. moody’s said the elections pose negligible risk to the country’s credit profile as the Aquino administration is largely stable.

“The next general elections will take place in may 2016, ushering in a new president. Stability under the presidency of Benigno Aquino iii, who took office in June 2010, contrasts with the latter years of the two preceding administrations, which were fraught with political turmoil,” moody’s said, referring to the administrations of Gloria macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada.

The debt watcher said Arroyo’s term was dogged with calls for her impeachment due to allegations of electoral fraud, while Estrada was ousted from office in 2001 following mass protests and actual impeachment proceedings due to corruption allegations. moody’s noted that both Arroyo and Estrada faced charges of “economic plunder” following their departure from malacañang. it added Aquino’s second half approval ratings are high compared to those of previous presidents.

The international credit rater said it is unclear whether the country’s next chief executive would continue the reforms undertaken by the Aquino administration.

“The extent to which the next leader will institutionalize or reverse reforms conducted by the Aquino’s administration—especially positive changes related to fiscal management—is unclear,” it said.

“This uncertainty of policy continuity is amplified by the fact that presidents can only serve a single six-year term,” moody’s pointed out.

Political risks are prevalent in democratic transitions such as those noted by moody’s in indonesia and india.

Aquino has endorsed former interior and local government secretary manuel Roxas ii as the administration candidate to compete against Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senators Grace Poe and miriam defensor-Santiago.

“As presidential campaigns in the Philippines have traditionally centered on personalities,rather than on policies or party affiliation, none of these candidates would represent an imminent departure from the Aquino administration in terms of economic policy,” moody’s said. it pointed out the absence of

allegations of large-scale graft during the current government has set the bar higher for control of corruption, signaling continued political stability in the next administration.

“Political positioning ahead of next year’s elections has increased political noise and hampered—but not stopped—progress on reform,” the debt watcher added. moody’s also observes that effects of political events such as elections on a sovereign’s credit quality can vary based on institutional structure and strength, and buffers against event risk. in several countries in the region, moody’s sees a heightened likelihood that domestic events could impact sovereign political risk scores.

That could ultimately have a bearing on a country’s credit rating. moody’s upgraded the country’s credit rating to Baa2 or two notches above “junk” status last december on the back of the government’s reduced debt levels and the country’s robust economy.

Standard & Poor’s has assigned a credit rating of “BBB” or two notches above “junk” status while Fitch Ratings rates the country’s debt at “BBB-” or the first notch in investment grade ratings.

2 US groups sign pact to boost PH...

PAGE D1 Laskowski, STAC president at the Philippine Embassy. The formal signing was witnessed by Philip-

pine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Christina Le of the US State department, US-PHS President John maisto and other embassy officials.

The mOA cements the two organization’s collaboration in supporting technology-enabled entrepreneurship through STAC’s immersion programs, including its workshops, which will take place primarily in Silicon Valley, California. The mOA also creates a platform for the promotion of entrepreneurial growth and leadership in the Philippines.

As an initial project, both organizations early next year will launch a prototype Silicon Valley immersion program designed for the winners of the Philippine Long distance Telephone Company’s (PLdT) SmART SmE (Small to medium Enterprise) Nation “BeTheBoss” 2015 competition.

This is intended as a first-step in a continuing process of high tech exchanges.

The program is designed to promote private sector-based Philippines-US cooperation in the area of high tech educa-

tion, business entrepreneurship and opportunities for expanded bilateral trade.

The PLdT Smart SmE Nation, in collaboration with Rappler, had launched the very first #BeTheBoss Awards as a new kind of initiative, using social media to undertake a crowd-sourced search aiming to recognize next generation entrepreneurs at the frontiers of the information and communications technology revolution.

There were over 500 nominations from across the Philippines.

Public voting came down to the 15 strong finalists selected in a rigorous panel process that identified three finalists in each of five categories: 1) E-Commerce; 2) Social media; 3) Customer Service; 4) Social Responsibility, and 5) mobile Readiness.

Five entrepreneurs were awarded as new Bosses on #BeTheBoss Awards night on Wednesday, October 28, at the Bonifacio Global City in the Philippines. Each of the five winners was recognized for pioneering efforts in modern technology. (Inquirer.net)

Business role in PH economic growth...

PAGE D1 dr. Bernie Villegas, economist and author from the University of Asia and the Pacific and a member of the board of judges, said what sets a company apart from equally excellent businesses is the amount of “heart” that it pours out.

“We are so impressed with the quantity and quality of entries that pour in year in and year out,” Villegas said. “in this six year journey, we have witnessed the Philippines transitioning from the sick man of Asia to the new Asian tiger.”

Awardees Construction industry pioneer david Consunji, chairman of dmCi Holdings, was conferred the Lifetime Contributor award for the private sector. Consunji once served as secretary of the department of Public Works and Highways. meanwhile, ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., Philippine envoy to the United States, received the Lifetime Contributor award for the public sector. He also served as president and CEO of PhilAm Life.

“There’s no place for mediocrity when one is given so much opportunity,” Cuisia said in his speech after accepting his trophy.

“A leader must always have a vision for an organization,” he added.

Raymond Abrea, president and CEO Abrea Consulting Group inc., drew cheers from the corporate crowd when he pitched tax reform after accepting his award as Young Leader of the Year.

“By winning this award, i hope we will get the attention of the President and our lawmakers that we really have to give it a try,” Abrea said.

Filipino-Chinese billionaire Andrew Tan, chairman of Alliance

Global Group inc., was hailed as Global Filipino Executive of the Year. The award is given to a Filipino citizen who “achieved recognizable success in the Philippines or outside of it.”

Tan, who owns megaworld Corporation, Emperador distilleries, and Golden Arches development Corporation, bested other finalists in the category, namely Security Bank Chairman Albert Villarosa, BCdA President and CEO Arnel Casanova, imi President and CEO Arthur Tan, Clark development President and CEO Arthur Tugade, PAG-iBiG Fund President and CEO darlene Berberabe, Robinsons Land Corporation President Frederick Go, Land Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Gilda Pico, magsaysay maritime Corporation President marlon Rono, meralco President and CEO Oscar Reyes, and Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) President and CEO Riza mantaring.

Other award recipients were marriott Hotel manila (Philippine Airlines Hospitality destination of the Year), Ecosystems Technology inc. (Technology Company of the Year), Aski Global Ltd. (Heart for OFWs Company of the Year), my-Checkpoints (most innovative Company of the Year), Cognizant Technology Solutions (Service Excellence Company of the Year), PmFT inc. (CSR Company of the Year), WiPRO Philippines (Asean Company of the Year), Royal Cargo CEO michael Raeuber (Expatriate Executive of the Year), ANZ (Global Top Employer of the Year), and Clark development Corporation (Executive LeadershipTeam of the Year).

The Asia CEO Awards, the largest business awards in the Philippines and one of the largest of its kind in Asia-Pacific, was presented

by PLdT-Alpha Enterprise.

Filipino consumers 3rd most...

PAGE D1 spare cash into savings, while 30 percent invest in shares of stock or mutual fund. discretionary purchase intentions high on the priority shopping list of consumers in the Philippines include spending on new clothes, and holidays/vacations. in the latest online survey, conducted August 10 – September 4, 2015, consumer confidence increased in 29 of 60 markets measured by Nielsen (48 per-

cent). india’s score of 131 was the highest level among 61 markets, followed by the US (119), the Philippines (117) and indonesia (116).

The US showed the biggest quarterly improvement of 18 points, and Taiwan showed the biggest quarterly decline of 12 points from the second quarter.

South Korea reported the lowest score of 49, an increase of four points from the second quarter.

(Inquirer.net)

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Marketplace & ShowrooM

BPO revenues could top PH remittances in 2 years

by Kristyn

niKa M. Manilatimes.net

Lazo

Business process outsourcing (BPO) revenues could soon overtake remittances by overseas Filipinos given strong industry growth, an HsBC economist said on Wednesday, nov. 11. “in terms of BPO, we think most likely over the next two years … it’s not happening right away,” said Joseph incalcaterra, Asia economist for HsBC, in a briefing. “[Outsourcing]… is of the soft investment [kind], that’s why its been so successful and you don’t have to worry about the infrastructure constraints,” he added.

“The beauty in BPO is that you can source it on to [other] places… it actually spurs the developments around that creates clusters. ultimately, this is what improves the competitive landscape of the Philippines.”

BPO revenues expanded by 18

percent last year to $18.9 billion.

Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers, meanwhile, grew by a slower 5.9 percent to $24.3 billion. Both are seen as major drivers of the economy, with the latter particularly spurring consumption. incalcaterra also pointed to the Philippines’ english-speaking advantage, noting that the country “looks great in terms of emerging markets’ perspective. Right training is here already.” “i share the same optimism the government has with BPOs… that [the industry] will continue to drive economy in the next few years,” he added.

Based on the iT-BPO Roadmap, the industry is targeting annual revenue of $25 billion, which would mean 1.3 million direct jobs, by end of next year.

The sector is very much on track with its targets, information Technology and Business Process Association of the Phil-

ippines officials have said, citing growth across segments—contact centers, gaming, software development and health information services.

Remittances, meanwhile, will continue to grow and supprt the economy, incalcaterra said, adding that the us dollar’s current strength could spur inflows, particularly in the final months of the year ahead of the holidays.

“As long as you’re growing in peso terms, it’s good for consumption, and that’s what matters the most even if you see the official list coming down,” he said.

“Potentially, cash will continue to grow. if we still have a stock of 10 million Filipinos abroad, then the money will continue to come through. so it’s not a concern,” incalcaterra added.

The central bank has said the BPO revenues could grow by 15 percent this year while OFW remittances could expand by 6 percent.

2016 Nissan Altima: A quieter driving...

PAGE D2 themselves and the vehicle ahead. if the car ahead slows down, the Altima automatically slows down and matches the speed of the the one in front.

The new nissan model also employs rear cross traffic alert, which warns drivers when reversing if vehicles are approaching. similarly, the Altima issues warnings through oval lights located inside near the side mirrors when vehicles are in the driver’s blindspot.

Enhanced drive dynamics in addition to a quieter driving experience, nissan equipped the new Altima with new tires with better grip and an increase in tread stiffness, new suspension and an improved steering system. it also has what xtronic transmis-

sion, which decreases noise inside by maintaining a lower RPM and provides smooth transitions during gear shifts for a more natural drive.

Design The sportier new Altima with signature boomerang headlights, four-piece rear lamps and a v-motion grille. The interior has a new look as well. with what it calls a “gliding wing.” The cabin also has a more spacious feel.

SR grade The new Altima also has a new sR grade which features the first-ever 18-inch wheel tire on a 2.5-liter engine models. The sR grade also has more lateral grip and improved power steering, less roll angle and less impact harshness.

Telematics included in the 2016 Altima is hardware for nissanConnect services, which allows drivers to start the car remotely and receive roadside assistance, among other things. For an additional fee, drivers can also use the hardware for several other purposes, including obtaining directions to a destination with the help of a live person and connecting to the internet.

Additional information The 2016 Altima comes in five 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine models and two 3.5-liter six-cylinder models. Maximum engine speed for the 2.5-liter models is 6,200 RPM and 6,600 for 3.5-liter models. suggested MsRP ranges from $22,500 to $32,090, depending on the model.

Photos by Bob Peterson

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Discover new homes in a spectacular Southern La Colina Estates distinguished by remarkable luxury and highly rated school district Calif. location to rise above it all at Rosedale AZUSA—Close to everything homebuyers need and surrounded by nature, Rosedale presents the ideal opportunity for homeownership in a spectacular location that rises above it all in the San Gabriel Valley. The award-winning master-planned community offers homebuyers an array of new luxury homes conveniently located near downtown Los Angeles. Innovative floorplans showcase refined architectural detailing, well-appointed interiors, indoor/outdoor living spaces with stunning views and more. Private resort-style amenities and miles of trails and natural open space surround these luxurious new homes providing residents with countless opportunities for fun and adventure just moments from home. Buyers are encouraged to register their interest online at www.LiveRosedale.com to stay informed with important news and updates on the new luxury homes currently selling.

“Rosedale raises the bar in new home luxury, offering buyers a beautiful assortment of residences in a secluded setting just moments from downtown Los Angeles,” said Mercedes Meserve, Vice President of Marketing for Rosedale Land Partners, LLC, the developer of Rosedale. “Visit Rosedale today and take a tour of the community’s luxurious new home neighborhoods.”

Three new luxury home neighborhoods are currently selling at Rosedale. These include the single-family luxury homes at Azalea by Christopher Homes that range from approximately 3,174 to 3,538 square feet with four bedrooms and up to five and one-half baths. Prices begin

from the $800,000s. Camellia by Brookfield Residential presents a collection of single-family luxury homes ranging approximately 3,607 to 4,134 square feet with up to six bedrooms and six and one-half baths. Prices start from the $900,000s to low $1 millions.

Lastly, Aster Heights by Brookfield Residential is a new neighborhood of single-family luxury homes spanning approximately 4,652 to 4,925 square feet with up to seven bedrooms and seven and one-half baths. Prices for these homes start from $1.3 million.

Living at these new luxury neighborhoods, homeowners have access to the private resort-inspired amenities within the master-planned community.

These include The Resort, a 4,500 square-foot private clubhouse and two-acre recreation center that is the social centerpiece of the community. The facility features a private state-of-the-art fitness center, Junior Olympic swimming pool and children’s wading pool, an open-turf play area, turf volleyball, picnic tables and benches and more. Homeowners can also enjoy an afternoon hike, bike ride or leisurely walk at the central arroyo which features 13.5 acres of beautiful open space that runs throughout the community.

One-of-a-kind community parks further enhance the collection of amenities providing endless opportunities for picnics, play dates and pick-up ball games.

The new Metro Gold Line boarding station at Citrus Avenue and Palm Drive is scheduled to open to the public in March 2016 and is located within walking distance for homeowners at Rosedale. When the station opens

early next year it will provide homeowners a simple, cost-efficient alternative to driving for both work and leisure. For more information on the Metro Gold Line, visit www.foothillextension.org. As an added convenience, Rosedale homeowners are also located within close proximity of the I-10 and 210 corridors, making downtown Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties within easy reach for commuters.

Great shopping, dining and entertainment destinations are also nearby including Old Town Pasadena, Westfield Santa Anita Fashion Square, Westfield West Covina, Home Depot, Target, Trader Joe’s and Costco. Azusa Pacific University and Citrus Community College are also within a short walk of the community.

To visit the master-planned community of Rosedale, exit the 210 Freeway at Citrus Ave and head north towards the mountains. Turn left on Foothill Boulevard, right on Palm Drive, left on The Promenade and follow the signs to the neighborhoods.

Rosedale Land Partners Ownership and development management of the 518-acre master-planned community of Rosedale in the city of Azusa, CA is a new partnership between Brookfield Residential, Christopher Development Group (CDG) and Starwood Capital Group. As Rosedale Land Partners, these companies bring together the necessary depth of large-scale community planning, development and financing experience required for the successful implementation of community-based master planning and development.

(Advertising Supplement)

GLENDORA— La Colina Estates

by William Lyon Homes fulfills the grandest aspirations of homebuyers with the unparalleled advantages of owning a brand-new luxury home with no Mello Roos fees in one of the highest rated school districts in the area. Priced from the low $1 million, this exquisite single-family detached home collection offers families architecturally magnificent residences graced with elegantly appointed floorplans, estate-sized properties averaging 20,000 square feet, and a Glendora foothills location that includes access to the acclaimed La Fetra Elementary, Sandburg Middle School and Glendora High School in the coveted Glendora Unified School District. With impressively high rankings by GreatSchools.org and Glendora High School’s outstanding recognition as a three-time California Distinguished School, La Colina Estates’ homeowners can feel confident that their children will receive an educational experience that meets every expectation and prepares them with the skills and critical thinking needed to realize their full potential. Those interested in the value, prestige and luxury of a La Colina Estates lifestyle are encouraged to visit the Sales Gallery for model tours to find the floorplan design that best suits their family’s needs.

For additional neighborhood details, log on to www.

LyonLaColinaEstates.com. For further information on the Glendora Unified School District, visit http://www. glendora.k12.ca.us.

“La Colina Estates is one of the most sought-after new-home addresses in Glendora, and that allure is rooted in the extraordinary lifestyle advantages we offer without the need for Mello Roos fees,” said Ben Blomdahl, Director of Sales for William Lyon Homes.

“Having a strong school system at our disposal is essential to our homeowners and that’s a factor we greatly considered when choosing this setting.”

Beautifully framed by the San Gabriel Mountain Range, La Colina Estates offers homebuyers remarkable luxury with a selection of seven elegant floorplans that seamlessly blend indoor-outdoor living spaces, including five spectacular single-level designs. The gorgeously appointed interiors range from approximately 3,643 to 6,081 square feet with three to six bedrooms; three and one-half to five and one-half baths; modern, chef-inspired kitchens with oversized islands; sweeping living spaces that inspire socializing and family time; large family rooms for casual relaxation; and three- to four-car attached garages. Additional design features showcased per plan include conservatories, spacious outdoor courtyards, wine rooms, clubrooms, offices, optional outdoor kitchens, optional suites with exterior stairs and much more. Sprawling homesites enhance each home, providing a dramatic backdrop for outdoor entertaining.

La Colina Estates’ commuter-friendly location near

I-210, 57 Freeway and the future Metro Gold Line commuter train creates an ideal homebase for working professionals. For those seeking premier leisure, the private Glendora Country Club is just a short distance away with its 113-acre Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed golf course equipped with an urban forest, undulating terrain and water features; a 25-yard swimming pool for year-round aquatics; and several indoor and outdoor venues to host private events. Other advantages include proximity to the Eastland Center’s retail and dining spots, including PetSmart, Target, Chipotle and Starbucks, and nearness to the excellent shops and restaurants at Plaza West Covina. Medical services are easily accessible at the Foothill Presbyterian Hospital and East Valley Hospital Medical Center.

It matters who your builder is and William Lyon Homes is a company built upon a legacy of pride and integrity. A team of visionaries who are passionate about homebuilding and committed to providing a high quality homebuying and homeownership experience, William Lyon Homes has earned a solid track record for outstanding construction and customer service since 1956. The company continues to expand its well-respected brand beyond California, Arizona and Nevada and into other market areas across the Western region with the acquisition of Polygon Northwest Homes, its newest division in Washington and Oregon, and its Village Homes division in Colorado. William Lyon Homes’ shares are publicly traded on NYSE under the symbol WLH. For updated information and to learn more, visit www.lyonhomes.com.

Brokers will receive a 3% referral fee per closing.

Brokers must bring client on first visit to register for broker referral fee. Buyers cannot be registered online prior to first visit. Broker referral fee to be paid at the close of escrow.

To visit La Colina Estates, travel I-210, exit Citrus Avenue North, which turns into Foothill Blvd. Turn left on Barranca Ave., left on W. Sierra Madre Ave., left on Yucca Ridge Road and then right on Iris Lane. The Sales Gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm. For more information, call (626) 969-1177, or visit www.LyonLaColinaEstates.com.

Prices are effective as of the date of publication.

Pricing is approximate and is subject to change without prior notice. CalBRE Officer License: 00982816.

(Advertising Supplement)

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