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Aquino gov’t far behind in anti-corruption drive by earL
G. Parreño ManilaTimes.net
fIGhtING corruption has been one of the top priorities of President Benigno Aquino III. or so he claims. he bannered the slogan “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” (where
DATELINE
there is no corrupt, there is no poor) during the 2010 presidential campaign. he promised to be the “most determined fighter of corruption” in his social Contract with the filipino People, the Aquino administration’s platform until 2016. the President also made good
governance a cornerstone in the current Philippine Development Plan, promising to curb corruption by intensifying government efforts at detection and prevention as well as resolving pending corruption cases with dispatch. Yet barely a year before Aquino’s term ends, his administra-
tion seems to be falling far, far behind in fulfilling such pledges. Indeed, one of the starkest examples of the Aquino government’s weak response to corruption is its action–or lack thereof–on the controversial cases involving pork-barrel monies. In fact, rather than being proac-
tive in pursuing those involved in the pork barrel scam that included government agencies, lawmakers and bogus non-government organizations (NGos), the Aquino administration appears to have been springing into action only after dogged media coverage of the controversy. And when
it does act, those it hails to court are mostly small fry–career civil servants from the middle level down. Interestingly, too, most of the big-fish exceptions belong to the political opposition. the government, however, has been slow to react to revelations PAGE A2
Binay camp downplays ‘worst agency’ tag from ‘biased’ Makati businessmen
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
New app aims to push Asian American voter participation in 2016
the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay was no longer surprised that the makati Business Club rated his office as the worst-performing government agency, noting how some of its members are favoring Interior secretary manuel “mar” roxas. Both Binay and roxas have publicly declared their presidential bids Vice President Jejomar C. Binay in 2016. Inquirer.net file photo “With all due respect, 67 wealthy businessmen in makati cannot represent the sentiment of our people nationwide. they cannot be expected to give a true and objective assessment of the performance of all government agencies, most especially the oVP (office of the Vice President),” Joey salgado, head of the oVP’s media affairs, said in
for the 50th anniversary of the Voting rights Act, 18 million rising, an Asian American digital activist group, launched a new Indiegogo campaign to create a translation matching app designed to increase voter participation in next year’s presidential elections. the mobile app, called VoterVoX, is described as “one part civic tech, one part grassroots organizing, and three parts cultural connection.” VoterVoX seeks to connect multilingual Asian Americans with voters in their communities needing language assistance in order to address continuing language barriers facing Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) at the polls and resultant voter disenfranchisement. According to recent studies, AAPIs are three PAGE A5
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COMMEMMORATION. President Benigno S. Aquino III tours the facilities of the newly-renovated “Museo ni Manuel L Quezon” during the commemoration of the 137th Birth Anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon at the Quezon Memorial Shrine in Elliptical Road, Quezon City on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Malacañang photo by Gil Nartea
Pacquiao cases Iglesia ni Cristo poll: Roxas has no chance of winning head to CA court by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com
PLAINtIffs who argue the may 2nd boxing match between filipino champ manny Pacquiao and undefeated floyd mayweather Jr. was a fraud will get a chance to settle their cases before a federal judge in California. the long-awaited match, dubbed the “fight of the Century” at the mGm Grand in Las Vegas, received 4.4 million viewers who paid up to $100 each to watch on pay-per-view. Disappointed viewers criticized both boxers’ performances, including mayweather, who won the fight by the judges’ unanimous decision. Judge r. Gary Klausner, who heard arguments in cases filed last year against sony Pictures related to a major company cyber-hack, will decide if the Pacquiao cases are granted PAGE A3
Viray
mANILA—majority of the members of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) believe that Interior and Local Government secretary manuel “mar” roxas II does not have a chance of winning the presidency in the 2016 national election. A survey conducted last week, by INC-owned television station Net 25 showed that 93.3 percent of the respondents believe roxas will not become the next president. meanwhile, only 6.9 percent of the respondents said that the Liberal Party presumptive presidential candidate has a chance of winning. Candidates of any national position Malacañang photo
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas
usually seek the support of the indigenous religious organization during the election season, believing that the church’s block vote would help them win. INC has around two million members. According to a report from Pilipino star Ngayon, INC does not seem to favor roxas despite the endorsement of President Benigno Aquino III. sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay dominate the latest Pulse Asia and social Weather stations presidential preference polls while roxas ranks either third or fourth. the INC television network has not yet conducted surveys on other possible presidential bets.
Filipina injured in Bangkok explosion by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com
BALIkBAyAN boxes are duty and tax-free packages designed for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sending home gifts to their families. However, it should always be noted that these packages have limitations, such as contents not exceeding $500 in value, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said. Inquirer.net photo
Viray
mANILA—the Philippine embassy in Bangkok on tuesday, Aug. 18 confirmed that a filipina was injured during a bomb explosion in at a popular shrine in Bangkok, thailand, the Department of foreign Affairs said.
the DfA said the filipina sustained a hearing injury from the explosion. According to a report from ANC, the injured filipina is in Bangkok with her foreign employers who are set to return to return to their country soon. she requested not to reveal her other PAGE A3
Customs to impose tighter rules for balikbayan boxes by KathLeen
Martin
for fear that these tax-free packages are being used by traders to mANILA—the Bureau of Cus- smuggle goods into the country. toms said it may impose tougher “the existing rules are obsolete measures on balikbayan boxes PAGE A4 Philstar.com
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august 21-27, 2015 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL
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From the Front Page
Aquino gov’t far behind in anti... PAGE A1 by media that a syndicate of fake NGOs has been siphoning monies from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)–otherwise known as pork barrel–in collusion with legislators. For sure, there were those who thought Aquino was making good on his promise to combat corruption when his administration went after then-Chief Justice Renato Corona and succeeded in having him impeached and then convicted by the Senate in 2012 for not declaring more than $2 million worth of assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) as required by law. To this day, though, the leaders and most members of the House of Representatives, including the President’s allies who served as prosecutors in the Corona trial, have refused to release copies of their actual SALN to the public. Only a summary of the legislators’ net worth is what the House
has disclosed in its press releases since 2010. More than words, results Speed, volume, focus, fairness–a campaign blind to political color or friendship–these seem to be in short supply when it comes to Aquino’s anti-corruption drive. Not surprisingly, it is hard to find enough reason to assert that the administration has conducted a truly, fully vigorous war against corruption. For instance: The PDAF scam story broke in the Philippine Daily Inquirer involving eight NGOs connected with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in July 2013, and the Commission on Audit (COA) released its special audit report on the abuse and misuse of pork from 2007 to 2009 in August 2013. A month later, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed its first plunder and graft complaint against three opposition senators and five former legislators, and two months later, its second complaint against seven more
former legislators. But it was only on August 7, 2015, or 24 months later, when DOJ filed its third complaint against a senator and eight other incumbent and former legislators. Curiously, all three complaints were founded on practically the same sets of documentary evidence and testimonies of whistleblowers. In its three complaints, the DOJ has named more than 100 respondents, including only 24 legislators mostly from the political opposition–four senators and 20 former and incumbent members of the House of Representatives. The Ombudsman has filed charges against three senators and five former congressmen in the Sandiganbayan, indicted a few more, but is yet to finish its case build-up against the rest of the lawmakers named in the three DOJ complaints. The 24 legislators in the DOJ list make up just a fifth of the 118 legislators that the Commission on Audit (COA) said implemented
“highly irregular” PDAF projects in tandem with questionable NGOs from 2007 to 2009. This, in the five-year life of daang matuwid (straight path) is by no measure an abundant harvest and, according to both critics and allies of the administration, an apparent case of “selective investigation” or “selective justice” on the part of the DOJ and the administration. To this day, though, the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office continues to gather documentary and testimonial evidence against the other legislators named in the COA report. The COA report offered more than enough documentary and testimonial evidence on the modus operandi of legislators, implementing agencies, contractors and NGOs, and how they corrupt the flow of public funds. Too, it proposed a menu of corrective measures and reforms that could have been instituted in agencies that have been used as pork funds conduits. The President has abol-
Lawyers, prosecutors and civil servants in the agencies tainted with the corruption in pork say there are several other Napoles-like “service providers.” ManilaTimes.net photo
ished pork barrel under the PDAF system but in its stead allowed the continued flow of monies to bankroll projects endorsed by legislators, in the budgets of executive agencies. In a series, more COA annual audit reports followed for the years 2012 and 2013, this time on the same patterns of pork abuse and misuse under the Aquino administration. As with the first report, hardly word, comment,
action, or promise of reform was heard from the President about what the government could do better to curb corruption. Not just PDAF or Napoles To be sure, the problem is this: Corruption is bigger in scope and breadth than all the saber-rattling against it could crack. For one, Napoles is just one of the so-called “service providers” who have supposedly been PAGE A3
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 21-27, 2015
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Estimated $2.74 billion cost of California drought by Allyson
EscobAr
AJPress
A large explosion rocked a central Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour, killing a number of people and injuring others, police said.
Filipina injured in Bangkok... PAGE A1 personal details. Meanwhile, Thai authorities contradicted earlier police reports that a Filipino was among those who were killed during the explosion, a report from the Associated Press said. At least 20 people were killed and around 140 were injured in the bombing incident. Bangkok deputy government
spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd released the following list of nationalities of the 20 people killed in the explosion: Thai - 5 Malaysian - 2 Chinese - 2 Hong Konger - 2 Singaporean - 1 Unknown - 8. (With reports from Associated Press)
Binay camp downplays ‘worst... PAGE A1 a statement on Friday, Aug. 14. “We know for a fact that there are MBC members with longheld biases against the Vice President and his family. Then there are MBC officials like its executive director who were present at the anointment of Secretary Mar Roxas as PNoy’s (President Benigno Aquino III’s) chosen one,” he said. Salgado said the MBC members have also “profited from this administration’s economic policy that embraces the rich and excludes the poor” and that they want to continue “the inequality under an administration that is pro-business.” Binay’s office ranked last among the 64 government agencies surveyed by the MBC with -76.3. The other worst-performing agencies were the Department of Transportation and Communications, which ranked 63rd with a net satisfaction rating of -61.9; Bureau of Customs, 62nd (-55.6); Department of Agriculture, 63rd (-46.7), and the Energy Regulatory Commission, 60th (-42.4). But Salgado questioned the basis used by the MBC when it assessed the performance of the government agencies. “The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) fared better than the OVP when businessmen and economists have openly complained about the anemic spending that has put a drag on the economy,” he said. “They even placed the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) a notch higher than the OVP, when the universal verdict is that the DOTC, first held by Roxas and now under his partymate Emilio Abaya, is the showcase of ineptitude, incompetence and a threat
to public safety, not to mention a cash cow for LP (Liberal Party) allies,” he said. Salagado said that apparently, the MBC members were “predisposed to believe every lie and gossip against the Vice President.” “Yet they would ignore the fact that the DOTC would award a P535.5-million contract to a twomonth-old company owned by an LP man, despite a measly capital of P625,000,” he pointed out. While they were not expecting a recognition from the MBC, Salagado said these wealthy businessmen also have no right to judge the OVP. He noted that the OVP has the lowest budget allocation among government agencies but despite its limitation, it has provided assistance to thousands of indigents who could not afford the cost of medical care “that is readily accessible to MBC members. “ Salgado said the OVP helped 6,044 indigent clients in paying for their dialysis, hospital bills, chemotherapy sessions, medicines, surgery and other procedures, and hearing aids, provided educational support to 9,700 elementary school pupils nationwide, mostly children from indigenous communities, and assisted 1,588 OFWs in 2014. “And while we do welcome an honest appraisal of our work, for the OVP, we are satisfied more by the simple gestures of thanks from those whom we have served: a letter of thanks from an OFW awaiting repatriation, a warm embrace and the words “maraming salamat” from a grateful mother. Doon lang, bawi na ang pagpupuyat at pagod (Those gestures are enough to offset our sleepless nights and exhaustion),” he further said. (Inquirer.net)
Pacquiao cases head to... PAGE A1 class-action status before any trial proceeds. A panel of judges that decides whether to consolidate similar claims brought in different jurisdictions into a single courtroom ruled Friday, August 14 that lawsuits filed in multiple states will be heard in the Central District of California, where Pacquiao was said to injure his shoulder while training for the fight. Pacquiao, 36, injured his rotator cuff in April during a training exercise. His team did not disclose the injury until hours after the May 2 fight, when Pacquiao said that he re-damaged the shoulder during the fourth round against Mayweather. Nevada Athletic Commission officials have considered fining or suspending Pacquiao for not reporting any injuries on the prefight questionnaire. The US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation said in its final decision Friday that “determining the severity and timing of the boxer’s rotator-cuff injury could require significant factual, and possibly expert, discovery.” “Questions about the facts of the case, including for example who knew about the injury, are sufficiently complex to warrant consolidating the large number of related cases,” the panel said. At least 32 lawsuits had been filed as of mid-May in California, Nevada, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Several more appear to have been filed since. Pacquiao and his promoter Top Rank Inc. are named in all of the lawsuits, and most also include Mayweather, his promot-
Manny Pacquiao AJPress file photo by Andy Tecson
ers, as well as cable companies HBO and Showtime. The lawsuits argue the injury was not revealed until after the May 2 fight, too late for the millions of worldwide viewers who paid to watch it. HBO and Showtime have said they earned more than $400 million total from the fight. In court filings, attorneys representing Pacquiao and Top Rank have said the claims are without merit. An attorney for the defendants declined to comment on August 17, as well as representatives for HBO and Showtime. Each of the boxers earned more than $100 million in a single night. (Allyson Escobar/ AJPress with reports from the Associated Press, BoxingScene. com)
THE worsening drought in California will cause the state’s economy to lose as much as $2.74 billion and nearly 21,000 total jobs this year--and ripple effects of the 4-year-old drought will likely continue through at least 2017, according to a study released on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The report, authored by the University of California, Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, also revealed that direct costs to the state’s agriculture economy will total $1.84 billion and 10,100 direct seasonal jobs. The $2.74 billion figure reflects the cost to all economic sectors, and when multiple effects are considered. “Increased prices for crops will give a boost to some farmers in areas less affected by the drought and with access to groundwater,” according to the authors of the study. “Central Coast and Southern California regions benefit from slightly higher commodity prices due to decreased production in
other parts of the state,” the report stated. Researchers estimated that the 2015 drought will result in the fallowing of 542,000 irrigated acres, mostly in the state’s Central Valley. An earlier similar UC Davis study estimated around 564,000 acres would be fallowed this year, but the update released Tuesday revised the impact “because water transfers, groundwater pumping and surface water deliveries have changed since our preliminary analysis.” The recent study sees continued economic impacts through 2016 and 2017, which assumes this year’s water conditions for both years and “a slow decline in the water tables.” It also predicts nearly 550,000 fallowed acres by 2017. Total crop revenue losses are projected to reach $902 million this year, and the study estimates that total gross revenue losses from crops under a continued drought will increase to nearly $940 million by 2017, according to CNBC. Additionally, drought-
related losses for the state’s dairy industry are expected to reach $250 million this year, and another $100 million for the livestock division. Increased pumping costs of about $587 million also will cut into farm incomes this year, the report stated. It estimated that groundwater pumping has been able to offset roughly 70 percent of the drought water shortage. However, new water regulations led by California Governor Jerry Brown are going into effect that could curb the ability of farmers to rely on groundwater reserves. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings released a report examining the impact of the state’s current 25 percent mandatory water cuts on water utilities and found 78 percent of utilities polled indicated that rate adjustments for Californians will be on tap in the next year or have already begun. Fitch said the water reductions ordered by the state in May and the “short compliance time frame” that utilities had to adjust
led to “revenue challenges and heighten credit risk for California’s retail water utilities. As a result of reduced water sales, many utilities will experience reduced financial margins in fiscals years 2015 and 2016.” The rating agency forecasts recovery of financial margins in fiscal 2017, even if the severe statewide drought continues. The median water rate increase next year will be around 5 percent, the Fitch report said, also adding that water rate hikes in some areas could go as high as 31 percent. Besides rate increases, the report said more than half of the utilities surveyed expect to offset lower revenues by cutting operating expenditures, and 46 percent said they would use financial reserves. 37 percent of the companies also said they would divert from their planned capital spending to help offset the lost revenue, and 2 percent said they would consider debt service restructuring. (With reports from CNBC)
Aquino gov’t far behind in anti... PAGE A2 colluding with lawmakers and officials of various state agencies to pocket funds meant for development projects. Lawyers, prosecutors and civil servants in the agencies tainted with the corruption in pork say there are several other Napoles-like “service providers.” Thus, the three batches of PDAF cases that focused only
on Napoles NGOs would hardly scratch the surface of this multibillion-peso scam. For another, PDAF was just one of the multiple lump-sum funds that have been raided, and continue to be raided, by Napoles and Napoles-like service providers and their fake NGOs. Audit reports documenting the abuse and misuse of these funds have
not received appropriate action from the President or his Cabinet secretaries. For a third, filing suit against a few big fish and a multitude of small fry may not at all trigger the right results and behavior among civil servants. Those in the lower ranks are bearing the heaviest punishment for corruption, even as their bosses and the politicians
who authored the misdeeds have managed to fly out of the country, hide in opulent surroundings and escape prosecution. The COA special audit on the PDAF disbursed from 2007 to 2009 is a virtual road map for licking corruption and fulfilling the promises of daang matuwid. It reveals that during that period, PAGE A4
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august 21-27, 2015 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL
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Aquino gov’t far behind in anti... PAGE A3 82 NGOs implemented 772 projects funded from the pork of a total of 188 legislators amounting to P6.156 billion. But of the 82 NGOs, only eight are controlled by Napoles. COA’s findings indicate that several others are fake and cannot be located at their given addresses. For this period, the eight Napoles NGOs received only a total of P1.742 billion from the PDAF. The remaining P4.414 billion
went to the 74 other NGOs, which, says COA, were selected to implement projects on the “basis alone of the purported endorsement by the sponsoring legislators”–just like the Napoles NGOs. Lawyers of the DOJ and the Ombudsman, as well as Levito Baligod (lawyer for Benhur Luy and other whistleblowers), say the COA report and the whistleblowers point to at least six to nine more Napoles-like operators or “service providers” who are in
cahoots with corrupt legislators and top officials of some government agencies. Justice Undersecretary Jose Justiniano, who is in charge of overseeing the DOJ’s PDAF investigation, thinks there may even be more than 10. Baligod, the private complainant in the first two PDAF cases, has the most conservative estimate, six, based, he says, on the audit report and his own research. The Ombudsman’s estimate is seven more. More fake NGOs Baligod, though, says, whatever the number, the Aquino administration should also give priority to investigation of the non-Napoles fake NGOs. His own research reveals that the sum total of the take of at least six other service providers may be bigger than the Napoles-linked NGOs. This is because, he argues, “they give bigger commissions compared to Mrs. Napoles.” In other words, they may have been awarded more projects because they gave bigger incentives. The lawyer of the whistleblowers in the Napoles-linked cases until early 2014, Baligod notes that per project “Mrs. Napoles gives only a maximum of 60 percent [of the project cost] commission. Some of the six give up to 70 percent.” He named the Kaisa’t Kaagapay Mo Foundation Inc. (KKMFI) and the Kapuso’t Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (KapKFI) as examples of NGOs that were seriously competing with Napoles’ operations before her network was shut down. From 2007 to 2009, COA said KKMFI implemented five projects, channeled through the National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor), of the following members of the House of Representatives, totaling P36.86 million: Rep. Julio Ledesma 4th, P26.190 million; Rep. Arturo Robes, P2.910 million; and Rep. Al Francis Bichara, P7.760 million. The projects covered the procurement of livelihood technology kits and seedlings for distribution to 58 barangay (villages) in two municipalities and two cities of Negros Occidental, three municipalities and one city in Albay and in three barangay of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. According to the COA special audit report, however, the benefiPAGE A5
MONDAY MEETING. President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Cabinet Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañang Palace on Monday, Aug. 17. With the President in the meeting are Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, NEDA Arsenio Balisacan, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, and DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, among others. Malacañang photo by Gil Nartea
Customs to impose tighter rules...
PAGE A1
and we may have to reassess our coordination and processes with consolidators for stricter and improved compliance,” Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said in a statement. “Our spot checks from several warehouses show how misconstrued the rules may have become. People are sending in used clothing, home appliances and items of the same kind that can well be used for commercial purposes,” he said. Lina recounted that some items inside these balikbayan boxes could be considered as smuggled goods due to non-compliance with the Philippine Tariff and Customs Code. Some packages were found to be “spilling with undervalued items and under-declared contents” during the bureau’s spot checks, he said. Balikbayan boxes are duty and tax-free packages designed for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sending home gifts to their families, the BOC said. However, it should always be noted that these packages have limitations, such as contents not exceeding $500 in value, Lina said. “Canned goods, grocery items and other household effects must
not exceed a dozen a kind, while apparel whether used or new must not exceed three yards per cut,” Lina said. He added that one consignment per sender during a one-month period is allowed. These packages should also not contain any banned or regulated firearms and ammunition, prohibited drugs, pornographic material and gambling material. “Home appliances are not allowed unless these are consigned to returning Filipino residents and overseas contract workers. We will seize these prohibited shipments and revoke registrations of forwarders or consolidators if we find any violations,” Lina said. He further said examination of the shipments is allowed and if a receiver finds any items missing from the packages, he may report this to the proper authorities. Congressional probe sought Meanwhile, a group of OFWs immediately sought an investigation into the reported plan of the BOC to impose additional taxes on balikbayan boxes and other consolidated shipments. Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante party-list chair, said Congress must look into this. According to Regalado, Migrante has received information
that the BOC plans to increase clearing fees for all containers entering Philippine ports to as much as P100,000 to P120,000. She reported that the first increase was actually imposed last July and another will reportedly be implemented this October. “What is the reason and rationale for this increase? Why was it imposed despite strong opposition from forwarders and OFWs alike? Where will the added cost go?” Regalado asked. She said the least the government could do to help the millions of Filipino workers abroad is to stop any money-making schemes that will affect them and their families. Freight forwarders earlier complained that the BOC has approved an increase of taxes covering all shipments in a consolidated container from P80,000 to P180,000. The imposition of additional taxes on consolidated shipments should be thoroughly investigated by Congress when legislators hear the agency’s proposed 2016 budget, Regalado said. She said the additional taxes, which could translate to P325 per balikbayan box, would surely be passed on by the freight forwarders to OFWs. (With Mayen Jaymalin, Evelyn Macairan)
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Aquino gov’t far behind in anti... PAGE A4 ciaries did not receive the goods. Of the 58 barangay chairmen who allegedly acknowledged receipt of the kits and seedlings, 26 categorically denied receiving the items. Moreover, nine of the 58 were not incumbents during the period of distribution, the report said. Nabcor files reviewed by PCIJ showed that the same legislators supposedly got bigger amounts: Ledesma, P27 million; Robes, P3 million; and Bichara, P18 million. KapKFI, for its part, implemented three projects from Nabcor and nine projects from the Technology Resource Center (TRC) amounting to P107.541 million for the following congressmen: NABCOR: Rep. Roberto Cajes, P12.610 million; Rep. Michael John Duavit, P4.850 million; and Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, P6.615 million. Yet again, Nabcor files reviewed by PCIJ showed bigger amounts that supposedly went to these lawmakers–Cajes, P23 million; Duavit, P5 million; and Arroyo, P22.82 million. TRC: Rep. Edgardo Chatto, P13.440 million; Rep. Robert Jaworski Jr., P5.760 million; Rep. Pedro Pancho, P27.106 million; Rep. Roque Ablan Jr., P9.800 million; Rep. Eladio Jala, P13.720 million; and Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, P13.640 million. The Nabcor projects covered the procurement of livelihood technology kits, seedlings and farm implements for distribution to 42 municipalities and barangay in the provinces of Rizal, Negros Occidental, Bohol and Bulacan. But COA auditors said that none of the recipients who were interviewed confirmed receipt of the items that were supposedly distributed to them. In fact, 15 categorically denied having received the goods. Meanwhile, the funds totaling P83.466 million transferred by the TRC to KapKFI for the implementation of nine projects remained unliquidated during the period of the special audit. Rep. Arroyo had already passed away when COA was preparing its special audit report. COA sought the other legisla-
tors to verify their signatures appearing in the pork documents. Most did not reply or tried to avoid directly answering COA’s query. Only three–Pancho, Jaworski, and Chatto confirmed as theirs the signatures on some or all the papers shown them by COA. No summons yet Yet even with such leads provided by COA, the Justice department has seemed to be disinterested to investigate deeper into PDAF, and especially into cases of NGOs not related to Napoles. When asked recently why DOJ was yet to summon the officers of NGOs identified as “suspicious” in the audit report, Justice Undersecretary Justiniano replied, “First and foremost, there’s no whistleblower. Whistleblowers greatly help because they provide inside information on the operation of the NGO.” Too, Justiniano said, the department wanted to focus on Napoles first before embarking on other suspects because the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) lacks manpower. The DOJ’s proclaimed focus on Napoles, though, does not seem to have translated to a heightened sense of urgency for the department. After all, the latest PDAF complaint linked to Napoles was transmitted to the graft-investigating body only less than two weeks ago–almost two years after the first two complaints were filed. According to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, this third complaint involves “the third and final batch” of people who will be charged, “insofar as the Napoles NGOs are concerned for 2007 to 2009 COA special audit report.” With these three complaints, the DOJ has recommended the filing of plunder and/or malversation, direct bribery and other graft and corrupt practices against over 100 individuals, including four incumbent senators and four incumbent and 16 former members of the House of Representatives, But a PCIJ review of data shows that the number of lawmakers so far charged is fewer than onefourth of the total 118 senators and congressmen that could be indicted based on evidence gathered by COA and the whistleblowers. In its special audit report of the PDAF disbursed from 2007 to 2009, COA named 118 law-
makers as having implemented “highly irregular” projects using their pork barrel. Nineteen other lawmakers, apart from the 118 on COA’s list, appear to have received kickbacks from their pork-barrel funds, as shown from the files of Luy, a whistleblower in the PDAF scam, as well as from Baligod’s research. Napoles herself named 20 senators and 100 congressmen in an affidavit she submitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee as having “connections with [her] and received part of the pork barrel.” Third and last? The Justice secretary’s recent statements that DOJ’s work is done, with the filing of the third and last complaint, has puzzled Baligod. DOJ, de Lima has said, finds no other leads or cases to pursue on account of the COA report and the testimonies of the whistleblowers. A part of the team that prepared the first, second and third batches of PDAF cases, he says, “The third batch should have included 29 congressmen, not just nine. In fact, based on the documents, it should have been 34, but in the course of our investigation, we found out that five had died.” “We were already done with the case build-up against the 29 congressmen,” he continues. “[Way] back June 13, 2014 Secretary de Lima issued a statement promising to file the third batch a week from then because the evidence was already complete.” “Between then and now, I don’t know what happened,” Baligod says. “My assessment is that politics already crept into the process.” In the DOJ’s list of those who should be charged with plunder and/or malversation, graft or direct bribery, 14 are identified with the political opposition–all the four senators and at least half of the 20 congressmen. But three of the 24 are high-profile supporters of the Aquino administration: former Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Representative and now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva, former Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila) congressman Rufino Biazon and Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. The amount that the 24 lawmakers had allegedly obtained
in rebates is huge. Based on Luy’s records from 2004 to 2012, the total reachesP1.017 billion. The kickbacks racked up by Napoles’s client-legislators–61 in all (six senators and 55 congressmen, including the 24 recently named in the DOJ complaints)–amount to about P1.37 billion. This means that the 37 other client-legislators could have gained about P350 million in total. Compared to the kickbacks of the 24 lawmakers, the 37 other legislators just got one-fourth of the pie, not as huge but a very substantial amount nonetheless. Yet based on de Lima’s pronouncement, these lawmakers may escape formally facing a complaint in relation to the misuse of their PDAF. But the 25 or so officials and employees of implementing agencies that transferred funds to NGOs for the implementation of various PDAF projects allegedly at the behest of the legislators will not be as lucky. Some of them have been charged with the crime of plunder; most are accused of graft and corruption, violation of ethical standards of public officials and falsification of public documents. Many are now free on bail, but even they are feeling somewhat betrayed. As they see it, they were left with little choice but to follow orders from their bosses; now the order givers are being allowed to get away and they are left holding the bag. “Even now that just a few years have passed, all of us have almost been reduced to crawling on the ground,” says a former Nabcor employee. He adds that the scandal “has tainted my person, even my family’s.” He reasons, “What I’m saying is that not all who were involved in the case are guilty. You also have been employed, you know employees just implement orders.” Later, however, he concedes that he also had a part in the systemic corruption. Says the former state firm employee: “Lahat may kontribusyon sa corruption, kahit ordinaryong tao. Siguro on our part, natatakot kami, nagpadala kami [Everyone has a contribution in the corruption, even the ordinary people. Maybe on our part, we were afraid, we gave in].”(With research and reporting by Fernando Cabigao Jr. and Malou Mangahas, PCIJ)
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 21-27, 2015
A
Filipino extreme runner conquers Death Valley
SAN FRANCISCO—Long-distance running phenomenon Gerald Tabios, one of the very few Filipino ultra-marathoners, finished what is billed as the toughest foot race in the world July 28 to 30, in the hottest place in America—the appropriately named Death Valley. The Badwater Ultramarathon, which describes itself as “the world’s toughest foot race,” is a 135-mile (217 km) course starting at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California‘s Death Valley, and ending at Gerald Tabios, ultra-marathoner. an elevation of 8,360 feet (2,548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney. It takes place annually in mid-July in Death Valley, when the weather conditions are most extreme and temperatures over 120 °F (49 °C), even in the shade are not uncommon. Consequently, very few people—even among ultra-marathoners—are capable of finishing this grueling race. Tabios is a resident of Queens, New York and works as a chauffeur. He hails from Malaybalay, Bukidnon and is a graduate of civil engineering from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro. He and his wife, Donna, immigrated to New York in 2001. “Then I ran my first (long-distance race) at the New York City Marathon in 2004 and since then, I have been a ‘streaker’ for the New York City Marathon up to the present,” Tabios states on his website. “Finally in 2011, I decided to try my first 50k ultra-marathon, which a few years earlier I swore I would never do. From then on I was “bitten by the bug.” To date, Tabios has completed 32 marathons and 40 ultramarathons and countless shorter races. (Inquirer.net)
New app aims to push Asian... PAGE A1 times more likely than Latinos to cite language barrier as a reason for not voting. “Nearly half of all adult AAPIs are not comfortable in English (the technical term is limited English proficient), and I want the other 50 percent of us to take initiative in helping them participate fully in civic life,” C.M. Samala, executive director of 18 Million Rising told NBC News. A new report by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, entitled “50 Years of the Voting Rights Act: An Asian American Perspective,” found that language assistance is vital to the growing AAPI community, many of whom are immigrants. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires bilingual ballots and assistance at the polls for limited English proficient voters, but only when the population that speaks a minority language reaches a certain threshold in the community. As a result, many voters from smaller, less concentrated language groups who need assistance are left out. Section 208, however,
allows voters to receive assistance from a person of their choice, and exit polls show that this is a solution many AAPIs utilize. VoterVOX works by matching a volunteer translator with a voter identified by community groups as needing help understanding the ballot. The volunteer translator meets the voter at a local library or community center, and they go over the voter’s mail-in ballot in the preferred language. To finish, the voter mails in his or her own ballot, and the volunteer translator uploads his or her ballot translation or technical language notes to share with other volunteer translators. Samala sees this as just the first step to better engagement for multiple communities. “As we make democracy accessible in more languages for AAPI communities, we also hope that VoterVOX grows into a platform that all limited English proficient Americans can use to improve access to voting, health care, housing, and other aspects of civic life,” she said. (Allyson Escobar/AJPress with reports from NBC News)
A
august 21-27, 2015 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL
Dateline PhiliPPines
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DAP still existing, Lacson says VP Binay camp: Pinoys aware administration twisting truths by Mike
Frialde Philstar.com
MANILA—Despite being declared unconstitutional, the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) continues to exist, according to former senator Panfilo Lacson. He showed The Star four memorandums from the Department of Health (DOH)’s Health Facility Development Bureau—all dated June 9, 2015—allegedly showing how appropriations were transferred and realigned in violation of the Constitution. Based on one of the memoranda, the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga, Bataan was allotted P17 million under the 2015 Capital Outlay Funding Allocation for DOH Hospitals for its infrastructure and equipment needs, Lacson said. However, the total amount released was increased to P30 million, he added. In another memorandum, P360 million was released under
the 2015 Capital Outlay Funding Allocation for DOH Hospitals for the infrastructure and equipment needs of the Northern Mindanao General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, Lacson said. However, the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) only released P50 million to the hospital, he added. Under a third memorandum, the DOH and the DBM allocated P50 million for the infrastructure and equipment needs of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City, despite the absence of allocations under the 2015 Capital Outlay Funding Allocation for DOH Hospitals, Lacson said. The transfers of appropriations were in violation of the Constitution as they were ordered at the department level, he added. “No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the President, the President of the Senate, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the heads of constitutional commission may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations,” states Article VI, Section 25 (5) of the Constitution. It is clear that the increases were not drawn from the DOH’s savings, Lacson said. “This is technical malversation,” he said. “How can you declare savings in the middle of the year?” In July 2014, the SC ruled that a significant portion of the DAP—supposedly created to speed-up public spending—violates Section 25(5), Article VI of the Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
by Helen
Flores Philstar.com
MANILA—Filipinos will no longer be deceived by the claims of the Aquino administration that lives have improved under its watch, a spokesperson for Vice President Jejomar Binay said. “One thing is sure: as the twi-
light of the administration fast approaches, it will continue to flood the media with lies. But no amount of sugarcoating can cover for the incompetent and insensitive governance which has miserably failed to deliver meaningful changes for our people,” Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesperson for media affairs,
said in a statement. “Huwag ismolin: matalino ang masang Pilipino (Don’t belittle them, the Filipino masses are smart),” Salgado said. He said two weeks after Binay delivered his “true State of the Nation Address,” the administration has yet to give a credible PAGE A7
Company of Binay’s alleged dummy Antonio Tiu posts 14% revenue growth by Perseus
ecHeMinada Philstar.com
MANILA—AgriNurture Inc. (ANI), the company of controversial businessman Antonio Tiu, recorded a 14-percent growth
in the second quarter of the year despite alleged corruption issues involving the family of Vice President Jejomar Binay. In a statement, Tiu, who took over the helm of the company in late May, credited the remark-
able showing to strong fundamentals of ANI. “We are upbeat and we remain out of the political limelight and for that we continue to grow. There is a very positive turnout. PAGE A7
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Dateline PhiliPPines
PNP intensifies watch of threat groups after Bangkok blast ThE Philippine National Police is intensifying its monitoring of known threat groups following a massive explosion in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, Aug. 17. In particular, the Directorate for Intelligence and Directorate for Operations is stepping up its information-gathering activities in case anyone would take advantage of the bomb explosion, which killed more than 20 people and injured more than 100 victims. “Dir. Generoso Cerbo Jr., the Directorate for Intelligence, has ordered all intelligence units to conduct intensified monitor-
ing and information gathering to deter any persons or group of persons who may take advantage of the situation,” said PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor. So far, the PNP has not received any specific threat in the aftermath of the explosion at a popular shrine in Bangkok. Mayor said that as of Tuesday, Aug. 18, there was no need yet for PNP to raise its alert levels. The police official assured the public of its readiness to respond to any situation as their intelligence personnel have been de-
PAGE A6 response as it opted to issue halftruths and nitpick on details. “While the administration will continue to insist it has never told a lie in their response to the Vice President, records show it has consistently twisted the truth,” he said.
According to Salgado, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya lied when he said the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) had more than seven trains running, which was contrary to Binay’s claim in his “true SONA.” Salgado said it was the MRT general manager himself who
A
Lim, Estrada approved Torre de Manila permits by Tarra
Quismundo Inquirer.net
FROM the former mayor to the current city administration, the local government of Manila committed lapses that led to the rise of Torre de Manila that many say mars the view of the Rizal Monument. This surfaced on Tuesday, Aug. 18, during the fourth round of oral arguments on the case seeking the building’s demolition, when Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza grilled city officials for three hours, stopping only when
ployed to monitor developments on the ground. “The Directorate for Operations has already directed all units to be alert and vigilant and assure the public that the PNP is ready. This is the reason for the emphasis on police visibility, for policemen to be on the streets,” the PNP spokesperson said. The PNP’s monitoring of threat groups includes the targets of the PNP’s criminality campaign, although the PNP is prioritizing the monitoring of threats related to the Bangkok blast. (Julie M. AurePAGE A6 lio, Philippine Daily Inquirer) It is clear that the fundamentals are strong and no matter how we are besmirched, ANI will prevail,” said Tiu. revealed that only seven trains Records from the Philippine ran on June 1 as some trains Stock Exchange website indihad problems with air-condition- cated that the agribusiness firm ing and could not be used that posted a consolidated revenue of day. nearly P800 million in the second he also said the administration quarter of the year, up from P702 lied when it denied supposed million during the first quarter. delays in the distribution of the This meant that from continuYolanda rehabilitation fund. ous net losses in the previous
Binay camp: Pinoys aware administration...
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 21-27, 2015
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno decided to adjourn the session at 5pm because of bad weather. Despite clear requirements under a local ordinance, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim may well have violated the rule of law when he ordered his officials to process DM Consunji Inc.’s (DMCI) zoning permit application for a 49-story Torre de Manila despite height limits on its site on Taft Avenue. Jardeleza elicited this in the course of questioning Manila City legal officer Jose Alberto
Flaminiano, who conceded that former city officials may be held both administratively and criminally liable for issuing a zoning permit for Torre de Manila. The city government is among the parties impleaded in the Knights of Rizal’s petition seeking the demolition of Torre de Manila for violating the sight line of the Rizal Monument, a national landmark. Citing provisions of Manila’s zoning law, Ordinance No. 8119, Jardeleza established that Torre PAGE A12
Company of Binay’s alleged dummy Antoio... quarters, amounting to P41.7 million, ANI has recovered with a P3-million net income. According to Tiu, ANI continues to aggressively expand its network and take in investors here and abroad. ANI is a listed fruit and vegetable company whose two key officials resigned last May. Tiu took over as president and chief executive officer while Kenneth Tan was named chief financial officer. Tiu was allegedly the dummy
owner of Binay’s 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas where Tiu’s Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Park is also located. While Tiu has repeatedly denied being the dummy of the Vice President, he admitted that Greenergy holdings Inc., another of his companies, owns Sunchamp. “They are all lies and the facts have unfolded,” he said of allegations dragging him into corruption issues hurled against the Binays.
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Features
Tourist-friendly NEXT month, the world is celebrating World Tourism Day. This year’s World Tourism Day highlights the global potential of tourism for socioeconomic development. As part of this celebration, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) commends the 1.1 billion tourists who take international trips every year, and their value as a reliable driving force behind the world’s economy. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encourages the world’s citizens not just to travel but to work together to maximize the immense potential of tourism to drive inclusive economic growth, protect the environment and promote sustainable development and a life of dignity for all. “Today, more than one billion tourists travel to an international destination every year. These billion tourists have made tourism a leading economic sector, contributing 10 percent of global GDP and 6 percent of the world´s total exports,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, who echoed Ki-moon’s sentiments. Rifai noted that tourism is behind one in 11 jobs worldwide and that it is a valuable source for million of people. He also described the tourism sector as a gateway to greater understanding of the world beyond our borders, the first step in building peace and between communities and nations. According to UNWTO, in 2014, the number of tourists traveling internationally grew by 4.4 percent, reaching a new milestone of 1,135 million, and capping a five-year consecutive increase since the global economic crisis of 2009. There results have surpassed UNWTO´s long-term projection of
3.8 percent growth for the period 2010 to 2020, well on track to reach the projected 1.8 billion international tourists by the year 2030. “Yet these big numbers represent more than just economic strength – they reflect tourism´s vast potential and increasing capacity to address some of the world´s most pressing challenges, including socio-economic growth, inclusive development and environmental preservation,” Rifai added. Rifai said that tourism is more than just about reaching a destination—it has a global reach. “Every time we travel, we become part of a global movement that has the power to drive positive change for our planet and all people.” In the Philippines, tourism remains a thriving industry but requires more improvements to fully maximize its potential. Foreign arrivals for 2014 was recorded at 4,833,368 or 3.25 percent higher than the volume of 4,681,307 arrivals in 2013. Total earnings from inbound tourism in 2014 amounted to P214.88 billion, higher by 15 percent compared to the P186.15 billion registered in 2013. In the first six months of this year, tourist arrivals hit a record 2.6 million, 7.6 percent higher than the same period last year, generating P111 billion in tourist receipt. The Dept. of Tourism (DOT) also reported that domestic tourism is the genuine backbone of the country’s tourism. It noted there are 56 million domestic tourists this year from only 44 million last year.
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective
Philstar.com photo
Despite these promising numbers, the country is lowering its target of tourist arrivals from 10 million to six million for this year, saying it was a more realistic figure. DOT revealed that security and negative travel advisories by a number of countries are challenges that affected the full-year target. To address this issue, the government has been implementing proposed changes in crisis management and police procedures, coordination, and emergency protocols applicable to acts
of violence. With abundance in natural wonders and the warmth of its people, the Philippines remains confident that it has an edge over other travel destinations neighbors and still anticipates a major flow of tourists. It also remains focused on enforcing necessary reforms to improve its travel industry. Regardless of the feeble global market, political instability and some weak areas in its domestic economy, the Philippine tourism industry remains attractive, unscathed and a bargain. (AJPress)
What undocumented Pinoys can expect from a Donald Trump presidency complish this, especially given the cost, Mr. Trump responded with a question which resonated with many of his Fil-Am supporters as evidenced by their social media posts. “Do you think there’s tremendous cost for the illegals that are in here right now?” Mr. Trump asked. “Do you think there’s tremendous crime being committed by illegals?” The NYT said Trump promised to “expedite it so people can come back in” after the deportation. “The good people can come back,” he said. According to the NYT, Trump’s formal policy maintains what he has contended many times before that “Mexico’s leaders have been taking advantage of the United States by using illegal immigration to export the crime and poverty in their own country.” Other parts of Trump’s plan, the NYT opined, are similar to the proposals of his rivals in the Republican race. He proposed enforcing the nationwide e-veri-
fy system, ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants and increasing the prevailing wage for the temporary H-1B visas. Unlike many of our conservative/Republican-leaning Filipinos in America, those who are leaning Democrat contend that Trump’s plan is not humane, and discriminates against immigrants. They also echo Trump’s Republican opponents who are already criticizing his plans, by saying they just won’t work. On the plan to build the wall in the southern border, CNN’s Tom Foreman stated in his report: “ If Mexico won’t play along, Trump proposes a torrent of fees on Mexican citizens, corporate CEO’s, and Diplomats who visit the US, possible tariffs and cuts to foreign aid, too. But Foreman also pointed out that Mexico is the United States’ third-largest trading partner, and that all of Trump’s plans” could cost the US as well, that was why his political opponents are not impressed”. “This is not a negotiation of a real estate deal, OK? This is
international diplomacy and it’s different,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said, according to CNN. On Trump’s plan to deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants, the CNN report likewise explained that Trump was not clear on how to find them and how to fund deporting all of them, even if he would limit the deportation to those with criminal records. On the issue of Trump’s policy that kids of two illegal immigrants should not automatically be US citizens even if they are born in the United States, Tom Foreman also stated in his report that there is the 14th Amendment in the US Constitution that was ratified in 1868, which stipulated that “All persons born… in the United States…are citizens of the United States”. According to Foreman, legal scholars say Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship would require changing the Constitution. This is not within the power of the Executive but the Legislature. Pulitzer prize winning journal-
ist Jose Antonio Vargas, perhaps the most popular and outspoken undocumented immigrant in America, shared his frustration about Trump’s plan in an interview with Yahoo News Live. As The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America reported, Vargas was among the beneficiary of President Barack Obama’s Expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, sparing him from deportation for two years, and according him work and travel permit. Trump said he would reverse this. Vargas said if he would have the chance to talk to Trump, he would ask him, “‘How do you define American, sir?’” Vargas added: “This is not a reality television show anymore. This is running for president.” ***
FILIPINOS in America are divided between two ends of the spectrum: those who believe Donald Trump is their “Messiah” who will help “reclaim” America (but from whom?) and all her glory; and those who abhor Trump and see him as a caricature, no more than a rich real estate mogul and reality star on TV who craves for attention. The way kababayans responded to Trump’s recent announcement about his plan to combat illegal immigration depended on how they view him. Those who look at Trump as their next President and Commander-in-Chief hailed his plan, saying this is fair and just, especially for those who waited in line, came to America through legal means, and paid fees. As the New York Times (NYT) reported, Trump’s plan is centered on three principles. The first principle states “a nation
without borders is not a nation”. This calls for the United States to build a wall along the southern border, and he repeated his promise to make Mexico pay for the wall and laid out how he would do it: largely through increasing fees on border movement between the United States and Mexico. The second principle of Mr. Trump’s proposal, according to the NYT, calls for strengthening the “enforcement arm” of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, to be paid for by “eliminating tax credit payments to illegal immigrants.” The third principle says that “any immigration plan must improve jobs, wages and security for all Americans.” The report further stated that the release of Trump’s plan followed his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he elaborated on his position to deport undocumented immigrants. “We have to keep the families together, but they have to go,” Mr. Trump said. When asked how he might ac-
Shooting Straight
What about FVR for President... again! A response from former
Gel SAntoS-ReloS
BoBit S. AvilA OUR column last Tuesday triggered a deluge of comments, some of them nasty, even one reader accused me of being “Binayaran.” These readers obviously do not read our columns, word for word. First of all, I clearly pointed out that in the present crop of Presidentiables I have chosen “none-of-the-above,” none of them should be President of this country! What a dilemma for our people! We cannot find a suitable candidate! Secondly, I was merely citing which is better… voting for an incompetent person or a corrupt one? We in Cebu have lived for nearly five years under the incompetent Aquino regime where we were never given any major infrastructure projects according to a National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) report. This is why we hate Imperial Manila for these bureaucrats prevent cities from moving forward. All infrastructures have been poured into Metro Manila! Yet a lot of the
people in Metro Manila stare at incompetence every single day if you take the Metro Rail Transit (MRT). Worse for Cebu, the Aquino regime leased the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) for 25 years to the GMR/Megawide consortium and during the ground breaking ceremonies for the new Terminal 2, no less than Pres. Aquino revealed to the Cebu media that the P14.4 billion will be deposited in the National Treasury to be used for other projects. Wow! What about our second runway? As I said before, this is the legacy of Pres. Aquino for Cebuanos and we will never forget this big insult. We already tasted 70 years of having a centralized system of governance and just take a good look at what this has done for the Philippines. From second to Japan we’ve dragged ourselves to be the laughing stock of ASEAN. We may brag about our robust economy today, thanks to our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, which can only be found in two places, India and the Philippines. But check out the Wallace Forum statistics on Foreign Direct
Investments (FDIs) and you’ll be dismayed that the Philippines still ranks at the bottom of ASEAN. So now, did you ever hear of any of our Presidentiables say how they would solve or fix this problem on FDIs? No sir, not one of them! What our nation needs today is a President who should be a reformer, one with the guts to change our highly centralized system of government into a parliamentary-federal form of government. One who has a good track record, experience, the gung-ho attitude and above all the wisdom to lead this nation into a better future. After a lot of thought, I finally found that person. So I asked my good friend, Mr. Rick Ramos who writes for Manila Times to meet up with former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) and he did. Here’s an excerpt of his meeting with FVR a few days ago. “I had a meeting with former President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR). He is the best person to champion the parliamentary system and federal form of government. FVR and I talked about the parliamentary system and the federal form of government. He is all for it. He told me that when
he ran for President in 1992, he already wanted a parliamentary system. He also wanted to do it in 1997, but Cory Aquino and Jaime Cardinal Sin opposed it. Cory thought FVR wanted to become a Dictator like Marcos. T___a talaga. His strategy is shift first to the parliamentary system and the federal form to follow. He said that the federal form has to evolve after the parliamentary system. It cannot be legislated and cited what happened in England and then the UK. I told FVR that the BBL issue can be resolved if we have a federal form of government. The Bangsamoro region can be one for the states. FVR said that he recommended the same 10 years in 2005.” So will FVR accept our challenge to run for President? He must do it as a matter of duty and for a long lasting legacy…shifting our nation from ugly politics to one where politicians are true public servants. FVR’s only negative is his age. But I dare all the Presidentiables to do pushups with him and let’s see who is stronger physically? Let’s go FVR! For God and country! (Philstar.com)
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
President Fidel V. Ramos by BoBit
S. AvilA
LAST Thursday we wrote in this corner a column entitled, “What about FVR for President… again!” And it got me another deluge of emails from people from all walks of life and a lot of them congratulating me for urging former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos to run again for President especially in this Presidential elections where most people just cannot picture the front runners to become President of this nation. But what I got was a classic response from no less than FVR himself, who sent me a book entitled Giving Back: Service and Legacy which is a collection of his Sunday columns in the Manila Bulletin. With it is a photocopy of my column last Thursday and the FVR note that he always writes on the side and sends me when he was still the President. Here’s his note in full: “Thank you for this great accolade which I do not deserve…because although “The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.” I can still do 40 push-ups and shoot my age in golf (18-holes), but the Presi-
dency of our beloved Philippines of 7,107 island (during high tide, and more during low tide) and 100 million people demands more than muscle. You and Rick and so many others are correct… our younger Filipinos deserve a better future which we, their elders, must continue to work for. Mabuhay! Signed Fidel Ramos.” Thank you FVR for your quick response to our article. While his answer to me was not a categorical “No”, FVR and I agree that our young Filipinos deserve a better future. Hence, let me clarify what I think FVR ought to do first is for him to run for President and I’m sure that in no time, he will overtake everyone in the current surveys of Presidentiables. When he wins the Presidency, his first order of business is to call for a constitutional convention (concon) and elect con-con delegates to change our Charter. When that is done within a year or two, the new constitution where we will finally have a Parliamentary/Federal system would be ratified and then a few months later, new elections will be called, PAGE A12
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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PH: WWII foe Japan now a trusted friend by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com
MANILA—The Philippines has rebuilt a “strong friendship” with former foe Japan even as its neighbors criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for failing to properly apologize for Tokyo’s aggression during World War II, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Since the war, Japan had “acted with compassion” which led to a relationship “characterized by trust and unfailing support in so many fields,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
“This 70-year history demonstrates to the world that through their relentless efforts, peoples of two countries can attain a remarkable achievement in overcoming issues of the past and establishing strong friendship,” Del Rosario said. Japan is now the Philippines biggest source of development assistance and the two countries have also been strengthening defense cooperation in the face of separate territorial disputes with China. Del Rosario’s comments were in stark contrast to reactions from China and other Asian victims of Japan’s wartime aggression. Beijing called Abe’s statement
a non-apology while North Korea derided it as an “unpardonable mockery of the Korean people.” South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said the speech “left much to be desired” and stressed the need for Japan to resolve the issue of Asian women forced to work in Japanese wartime brothels. A group of Filipinos representing dozens of former sex slaves denounced Abe’s pronouncement that future Japanese generations should not be compelled to apologize for past aggression. “He wants a gag of silence. That is unacceptable. You can’t commit a crime and set conditions... Our grandmothers didn’t
Lim, Estrada approved Torre de Manila... PAGE A7 de Manila’s site was classified as a university cluster zone. The building stands on a site where only schools and government buildings of up to seven stories are allowed under the local regulation. No application Jardeleza found that the Lim administration granted DMCI a zoning permit on June 19, 2012, for Torre de Manila even without the developer’s application for a variance (exemption) from zoning restrictions, as required under the ordinance. “When permits were granted, there were no applications for variance?” Jardeleza asked Flaminiano. The lawyer responded, “None, your honor.” Jardeleza noted that the ordinance, under Sections 60, 61 and 62, required any developer seeking an exemption from zoning limits to formally file for such variance. “Under the rule of law, there is no exception to that,” Jardeleza said. Criminally liable “And so if this happens under your administration now, where a city planning officer and building official gives zoning permit under the same facts, what do you call that?” he asked Flaminiano. “I would say he acted beyond the scope of his authority,” Flaminiano said. “What type of infraction would that be?” Jardeleza said. “I would say an administrative liability,” Flaminiano answered. “Is that slight?” the justice asked. “I would not describe it as
Rizal Monument with Torre Manila shown in the background. Inset, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim (left) and current Mayor Joseph Estrada.
slight. [It is] perhaps a serious or grave misconduct,” the city legal officer said. The lawyer also agreed that such official may be held criminally liable “if there is evidence, your honor.” Jardeleza also found that Manila’s former city planning and development officer Resty Rebong had said that Manila’s “executive branch” suspended the ordinance’s provision on height limitations “for it opted to follow the National Building Code.” This set the magistrate off to a further line of questioning, citing the zoning ordinance’s “four layers of protection” covering Torre de Manila’s site. These layers are the site’s classification as a university cluster, the concept of historical-cultural preservation, Section 23 of the ordinance which regulates the use of areas classified as a “Planned Unit Development/Overlay Zone” and Section 47, which requires developers to first execute a “heritage impact statement” in applying for a zoning permit.
Jardeleza asked Flaminiano if city officials were “allowed to bend all four layers of protection” and allow the rise of a building of a forbidden height on a restricted site “ex-cathedra.” “As a matter of the rule of law, can the mayor of the City of Manila, whether the then mayor or the present mayor, unilaterally suspend the four layers of protection or requirements that I walked you through?” Jardeleza asked Flaminiano. “I don’t believe so, your honor,” the lawyer replied. “Because you can read Ordinance No. 8119 forward and backward, backward and forward, you are required to go through a process. If you were a city legal officer then, would you have issued such legal opinion (that zoning restrictions can be suspended)?” Jardeleza continued. “No, your honor,” Flaminiano said. “Of course you will not because you believe in the rule of law,” the justice said. PAGE A13
set conditions when they were victimized,” Rechilda Extremadura, executive director of Lila Pilipina, told AFP. Only 70 of the estimated 1,000 Filipina “comfort women” are still alive, many of them ill and in their twilight years, she said. The women are demanding an “unequivocal apology,” an acknowledgement of the war brothels policy and compensation from the Japanese government, she said. “I am very angry because Japan does not want to close this chapter. Will they wait for another 80 years? 100 years?” she said. Never again repeat devastation The Philippines remembers the “great horrors, devastation, and suffering” the war brought to people and agrees with Japan that “we must never again repeat the devastation of war,” said Del Rosario. The Department of Foreign Affairs said through committed efforts, the Philippines has worked closely with the international community not only in recovery and rebuilding after the war but also in establishing and promoting international norms and institutions as enshrined in the
Remedios Tecson, 85, a Filipino “comfort woman” during World War II, displays a placard as she joins a rally outside the Japanese Embassy in Manila ahead of the statement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marking the 70th annivesary of Japan’s surrender in City.
United Nations Charter to help ensure global peace, stability, and prosperity. “Since the middle of the 20th century, the Philippines’ relationship with Japan, in particular, has been characterized by trust and unfailing support in so many fields, as Japan has acted with compassion and in accordance with international law, and has more actively and more positively engaged the region and the world,” the DFA said. Japanese Emperor Akihito has expressed “deep remorse” over the conflict, a departure from his annual script which could be seen as a subtle rebuke of Abe.
Malacanang expressed support for Abe’s advocacy of “proactive contribution to peace” based on the primacy of the values of freedom, democracy and human rights, upon which the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan was founded. “Japan’s reflection upon the lessons of war is linked with its determination to renounce violence, threat or force as means of settling international disputes, and to pursue peace as the path to long-term global prosperity,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.
A response from former President... PAGE A10 which would exempt all con-con delegates from running for any elective positions. Then Pres. Ramos can become the First Titular President of this new Philippines whose only powers is to abolish Parliament and call for new elections. No sir, we’re not asking FVR to run for another six boring years….but to reform our nation. I hope he accepts this challenge and the greatest legacy he can give to the Filipino people at the time he is needed the most. *** Last Friday, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) announced the winners in the individual and institution categories for the 6th RAFI Triennial Awards, the premier social development award in the Visayas and Mindanao. In the Exemplary Individual Category, the finalists were good governance advocate Fr. Carmelo Diola (Cebu City), Anita Castillon (Lake Sebu, South Cotabato), and Rep. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun (Butuan City). The finalists in the Outstanding Institution Category are,
Balay Mindanaw from Cagayan de Oro City, Cantaan Centennial Multi-purpose Cooperative from Guinsilaban, Camuiguin, Western Samar Development Foundation, Inc., Sibog Katawhan Alang sa Paglambo from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, and the Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace Advocates, Inc. from Curbada Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. These finalists have their own stories to tell, they all work hard to help uplift the lives of our Filipino brethren. The winner of the Exemplary Individual Category, the 6THTriennial Award goes to Mrs. Anita Castillon a.k.a. Nanay Anit from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. She is a remarkable teacher who built three schools in Lake Sebu dedicated to educate the T’boli Indigenous children. Nanay Anit was widowed at a very young age of 22 years old and she only had one daughter who now lives in the United States. Jon Ramon Aboitiz told me that the dream of the majority of Filipinos is to get a US visa and live in the US. But despite the approved
petition by her daughter for Nanay Anit to live with her in the US, she refused because someone had to take care of the T’boli children. The Triennial Awards for Outstanding Institution category went to the Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace Advocates, Inc. (KFPDAI) from Curbada Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. The award was accepted by its Executive Director Hadja Giobay Diacolano. This 15-year old foundation literally turned 57 former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels into Peace and Development Advocates. These people did not have to wait for a Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to bring peace in their community. So kudos to Hadja Diacolano for coming up with that foundation that brought real peace to that part of Maguindanao by turning gun toting rebels into Peace Advocates and to Nanay Anit for what she has done for the T’boli people, which is why the RAFI search committee found them to become the 6th Triennial Awardees for this awards cycle. (Philstar.com)
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Cayetano open to form alliance Duterte seeks death penalty for plunder with other parties except UNA by Jefry
M. Tupas ManilaTime.net
by paTricia Lourdes Philstar.com
Viray
MANILA—Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday, Aug. 17 revealed that he is willing form an alliance with other political parties except for Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Cayetano, the secretary-general of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said that he is closing the door to form an alliance with UNA due to corruption issues against the vice president. The senator said that Binay is the last choice “or not the choice at all... unless he can miraculously clear his name.” Cayetano said that the vice president should face the corruption allegations against him instead of evading the issues. Only two or three members of
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is open to running for any position for the 2016 national elections.
the NP are considering joining UNA for the 2016 national elections, Cayetano said. He clarified that he does not decide for the NP. “We all know that political parties in the Philippines are loose
alliances - for friendship and political convenience. It is not really (all) about principles and about platforms,” Cayetano said. Cayetano has earlier said he is open to running for any position for next year’s elections.
Lim, Estrada approved Torre de Manila...
PAGE A12
Flaminiano also recalled a conversation with Rebong sometime in 2012, when he quoted former Mayor Lim as saying that City Hall should readily process DMCI’s papers during the time the developer was still applying for permits. When Rebong apparently told Lim that his office had yet to receive the documents, “Lim allegedly said ‘o basta may natanggap kayo, i-process niyo yan (Just say you received something and you process it),” Flaminiano told the court. “According to him (Rebong), the mayor said that just so developers wouldn’t have a hard time, documents should not go through the City Council,” said the city legal officer. Flaminiano also cited Rebong’s narration that the Manila Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals was activated only for one project during Lim’s time. Jardeleza ordered the legal officer to confirm this with the city’s records. The City Council investigated the zoning permit granted to Torre de Manila on July 24, 2012, but Lim allowed the construction nonetheless, Flaminiano said in his opening statement on Tuesday. Vista protection vetoed When the city council passed
Ordinance No. 8310 in 2013 to protect the vista of Manila’s historical sites, Lim vetoed it. Upon the change of administration, DMCI sought clarification “and expressed willingness to conform with necessary steps to comply with the appeals process under [the] Manila zoning ordinance,” Flamiano said. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada discussed this over lunch with the city planning and development officer Danilo Lacuna Jr. sometime in December 2013, the latter told Jardeleza upon questioning on Tuesday. “I was the one who apprised him (Estrada) that DMCI was engaging our office as regards the appeal,” Lacuna said. Estrada: Help developer “The mayor told me to help the developer, to make sure they go through the process,” he told the court. Jardeleza inquired how Lacuna took this to mean. “It means he did not want to discourage developers from building that high. His words were [that] ‘he encourages developers to invest in the city,’” the architect replied. Lacuna also said it was he who told DMCI to formally, instead of just verbally, apply for a variance. Lacuna admitted to Jardeleza that he had failed to advise DMCI to particularly cite Section 60 of the zoning ordinance in seeking
a variance. “It was a lapse on my part. I forgot to tell them that they need to write an application citing a specific section,” he said. In January 2014, the Estrada administration affirmed “all previously permits issued” for the Torre de Manila project, paving the way for its continued construction. The oral arguments will resume on Aug. 25.
poor. “Corruption has crept into every fabric of the Philippine society,” DAVAO CITY—Mayor Rodrigo he said. “Corruption is not only Duterte believes the persistent happening in the government, but problem of corruption in the Phil- even in the private sector and the ippines can be remedied if death religious sector.” penalty for plunderers is imposed. The mayor of Davao City for 22 It’s a case of desperate times years has always been vocal about calling for desperate measures, he his stand on the restoration of the said. death penalty, saying it is a tool “Drastic measures must be that will deter crime. done,” he said. “Death penalty Duterte, who is being prodded must be considered for plunders.” to join in the presidential race, In a recent meeting with his said the Philippines must come up supporters, Duterte expressed with laws that are tough on corexasperation over the lingering rupt officials. problem of corruption in the gov“Laws must be amended to ernment and how it has taken its make it easier to prosecute the toll on the people, particularly the corrupt,” he said.
Duterte always takes pride over his “clean” record saying no one can prosecute him for corruption. “Public money should always go to the people, benefit people, should better their lives. Public money should never go to the pockets of public officials,” he said. He said: “I have never spent even a single centavo of government money.” Duterte also wants death penalty for drug lords and criminals. “I have zero tolerance for drug lords and criminals,” he said. “Drugs and criminals destroy the future of our children. Those who destroy our children do not deserve to be part of our lives.”
Sen. Marcos preparing for ‘biggest decision’ by perseus
echeMinada Philstar.com
MANILA—Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday said he is preparing for the “biggest decision” of his life in connection with the 2016 elections. Marcos said he is making his own political decision, although it is usually the political party that decides whether a candidate would run for president or vice president. The senator said, however, he will wait for the final say of the Nacionalista Party before making any announcement about his political plans by September. “It will come. Whatever decision I make would be the biggest
decision in my life so I want to make sure that the decision is right,” he said. The senator has previously maintained that he is open to running for higher office in next year’s polls. He is reportedly being eyed by the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) as a running mate of its standard bearer, Vice President Jejomar Binay. Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM) president Jose Malvar Villegas and lawyer Oliver Lozano, both Marcos loyalists, have launched a movement urging the senator to run for president in the 2016 polls. Lozano said the Kilusang Bagong Liwanag (KBL)—whose
acronym is similar with Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the political party founded by Marcos’ father and namesake—will initiate a series of activities, including a rally at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. They will present to Marcos their endorsement for his presidential candidacy, said Lozano, who is also the spokesperson of the KBL-PMM coalition. He also said that he is now initiating talks with other groups to support the presidential bid of the senator. “If Senator Bongbong wins in the elections, then just like his late father, he will be a healing and unifying president,” he said.
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Palace: We’re proud of PGA champion Jason Day by Louis
Bacani Philstar.com
MANILA—Malacañang on Monday, Aug. 17 congratulated Filipino-Australian golfer Jason Day for winning the 2015 PGA Championship. “Binabati namin ang FilipinoAussie golfer na si Jason Day sa kanyang tagumpay sa 2015 PGA championship. Lalong pinatingkad ang kanyang pagwawagi nang kanyang naitala ang pinakamababang score sa isang major golf championship,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement. Coloma noted that Day’s mother is from Leyte province and that his grandmother and seven other relatives died when Typhoon Yolanda hit the country in 2013. “Tunay na maipapagmamalaki ng Pilipinas ang kampeon na si Jason Day,” Coloma said. Day defeated Jordan Spieth on Sunday, Aug. 16 after delivering a record-setting performance at Whistling Straits. The Filipino-Australian golfer was emotional during his victory. “I didn’t expect I was going
Filipino-Australian Jason Day holds up the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis.
to cry,” Day said. “A lot of emotion has come out because I’ve been so close so many times and fallen short. To be able to play the way I did today, especially with Jordan in my group, I could tell that he was the favorite. Just to be able to finish the way I did was amazing.” With his newest accomplishment, Day is now ranked No. 3
in the world. “As long as I am healthy, I feel like I’m going to be there a long time,” Day said. “I still want to accomplish that No. 1 goal of mine, which is to be the best player in the world. I’m still motivated and still very hungry for that, even after this win.” (With reports from the Associated Press)
EL NIñO. With experts warning of a severe El Niño this year, President Benigno Aquino III ordered his Cabinet to present a detailed road map for dealing with the weather phenomenon that can bring torrential rains and then drought. Aquino met with members of his official family to assess the administration’s first semester performance on the implementation of programs. Philstar.com photo
PH Internet users ‘paying more’ for slow connection speed – study by MaiLa
ager Inquirer.net
INTERNET users in the Philippines are “paying more for less” as the actual speed of their connection has never reached the “advertised speed” by Internet service providers (ISPs), a study showed. Mary Grace Santos, a research fellow of the LIRNEasia, presented the results of their study during the hearing of the Senate committee on trade on the impact of slow and expensive Internet in the country. Santos, said LIRNEasia is a regional ICT (Information and Communications Technology) think tank policy that has been conducting quality of service testings since 2010. “Based on our study, we tested the basic data plans of the three major ISPs in the Philippines and if you can see here, from 2011, we actually saw deteriorating actual versus advertised speed from 2011 to 2014. That’s not the ideal scenario,” Santos said. “In terms of value for money, we also saw that we’re actually paying more for less every
year,” she said. Santos said the “lowest value for money” was offered in 2014. “We actually offered the lowest value for money when we tested all these other ISPs during the first quarter of 2014. So that’s a position that we don’t want to be in because that means Filipino Internet subscribers pay more for less,” she said. After the study, Santos said they found out that the actual speed of Internet connection in the country has never reached the advertised speed. “Not even once. In all the tests we conducted since 2011, the highest average actual speed that was attained by an ISP was only 26.65 percent of the advertised speed,” she said. “That means it was always 80 percent lower than the advertised speed and speed performance actually declines for all ISP tested…,” she added. Santos also presented during the hearing the summary of the Akamai’s state of the Internet report conducted from 2011 to
2015, which showed that “nothing much has happened to the Philippines.” Based on the report, she said the Philippines is third to the lowest in terms of average speed and second lowest in the Asia Pacific in terms of connection speed. “In terms of average peak connection speed, 20.3 mbps is what was registered for the PH. As you can see, Singapore is leading with 98.5 , Hong Kong with 92.6 and South Korea at 79 mbps,” she said. Santos said Internet connection is also “very expensive” in the Philippines, pointing out that the bandwidth in Manila would range from $25 to $45 per mbps or it could go up as $70 in Cebu compared to only $5 and $6 in Hong Kong and Australia, respectively. She cited two main reasons why the Philippines has been lagging behind other nations in terms of Internet connection: First, the lack of government support for Internet infrastructure and the lack of real competition in the telecommunications industry.
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Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves ben LovemAn & nAncy e. miLLeR ON July 29, 2015, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a new policy memorandum on its website providing guidance to its officers and to the public regarding the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). The policy memorandum was previously circulated as a proposed policy and appears to have been finalized on April 15, 2015 (the date on final version of the memo). The new policy clarifies and expands the applicability of the CSPA. The newly finalized policy memorandum will allow many children who were previously determined to be ineligible for CSPA protection a chance to reapply and potentially qualify for permanent residency if certain requirements can be met. The new policy could also spur persons who previously did not apply because of perceived ineligibility to apply for permanent residency. As many of our readers know, the CSPA was passed by Congress to mitigate the problem of children ‘ageing-out’ as derivatives under their parent’s cases which resulted in familial separation. A child is no longer considered a child for the purpose of qualifying as a derivative beneficiary of a parent’s petition when they reach their twenty-first birthday. The CSPA provides a mechanism which allows certain children to remain children despite reaching the age of twenty-one. The implications of the new policy can only be understood if we first take a step back and see how the CSPA operates to protect children from ageing-out. The CSPA allows children to freeze their age and deduct the amount of time the qualifying petition was pending with USCIS from their age but only if they seek to acquire permanent resident status within one year of the availability of the immigrant visa num-
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21-27, 2015
CJ
Journal USCIS new policy White House names San Jose a TechHire City memo expands CSPA ber (also known as the “priority date”). Thus, the key triggering event for CSPA protection is the child taking affirmative action to seek to acquire resident status. The child must do this within oneyear of a visa becoming available as determined by reference to the monthly Department of State Visa Bulletin. The newly adopted USCIS policy allows for exceptions to the one-year deadline for seeking to acquire. This means that in some cases persons who have failed to seek to acquire within one-year may remain eligible for CSPA protection. The policy memorandum states that this one-year deadline can be excused if the failure to seek to acquire resident status was not the child’s fault and was the result of extraordinary circumstances. The policy memorandum instructs USCIS officers to examine cases to determine if CSPA protection applies and to grant CSPA protection if extraordinary circumstances are established and: (1) the circumstances were not created by the individual’s own action or inaction; (2) the circumstances were directly related to the failure to act within the one-year period; and (3)The delay was reasonable under the circumstances.USCIS has not provided an all-encompassing list of qualifying circumstances which would establish eligibility for waiver of the one-year deadline but instead has laid out several examples of circumstances which couldmitigate in favor of USCIS excusing an applicant seeking to acquire residency beyond the one-year deadline. These circumstances include: legal disability, such as mental impairment, serious illness or mental or physical disability during the one-year period, ineffective assistance of counsel , timely filing rejected by the USCIS, followed by a prompt, corrected filing, and death or serious ill-
SAN JOSE—The White House announced recently that San Jose has been named a TechHire City, joining nine more cities nationwide that have committed to creating pathways to better, well-paying tech jobs and meeting urgent employer demand. There are now 31 TechHire Cities nationally. “As a TechHire City, we are broadening prosperity by addressing the skills gap that has widened the gulf between economic opportunity and the inability of too many in our community to benefit from it,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo. “SJ TechHire focuses on providing our youth the skills they need to be successful in today’s job market, and expanding and diversifying the pool of skilled talent that Silicon Valley businesses need.” The San Jose TechHire initiative targets young adults and long-term underemployed individuals, in partnership with work2future, YearUp, #YesWeCode, Santa Clara County Opportunity Youth Partnership and Foothill College. It will
ness or incapacity of legal representative or immediate family member. Finally, the new policy allows applicants whose cases were denied based on failure to meet the one-year filing requirement to file a motion to reopen for further consideration of their case. A motion to reopen must usually be filed within 30 days of a decision but USCIS will allow late-filed motions to reopen in this type of case. The ability to file a late motion to reopen will only apply to persons who had their cases denied between June 8, 2012 through the issuance of new policy. However, applicants who were denied prior to that date can reapply for resident status if they can meet the requirements discussed above. The CSPA was passed to help ensure family unity. USCIS’s new policy will allow the CSPA to protect even more families as it allows exceptions to the previously rigid one-year rule. Whether or not a particular case will meet USCIS’s definition of extraordinary circumstances will come down to the particular facts of that case and then, more importantly, how the case is prepared and presented to USCIS. by Lu NeLseN We encourage all persons whose Center for Rural Affairs cases might be impacted by this new policy to speak with an expeOVER the past few years we rienced immigration attorney. have seen tremendous growth *** in the efficiency, effectiveness, Atty. Reeves has represented clients in and use of wind power. In our numerous landmark immigration cases that report Zoned Out, we analyzed have set new policies regarding INS action different approaches to zonand immigrants’ rights. His offices are located ing commercial wind energy in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas systems. The report also broke and Makati City. down the advantages and disTelephone: (800) 795-8009 advantages of these approachE-mail: immigration@rreeves.com es, and what makes for effective Website: www.rreeves.com. zoning standards. *** Wind energy zoning remains The analysis and suggestions offered in generally uncoordinated and this column do not create a lawyer-client subject to state and local regurelationship and are not a substitute for the lations, resulting in a piecemeal personalized representation that is essential approach where zoning stanto every case. dards vary between states and (Advertising Supplement) within states. In order for wind
launch a new fast-track training program for up to 1,000 tech-enabled middle-skills jobs through the end of 2016. The types of jobs include user-interface design, coding, web development, and network administration in information communication technology, manufacturing and healthcare industries. San Jose has already secured $1.2 million from local and state sources to drive these strategies forward with a focus on women, minorities and youth. Later this year, the US Department of Labor will make available $100 million in grants that TechHire Cities can apply for, including San Jose to fund SJ TechHire. Peter Ortiz is a 2014 graduate of Year Up, a San Jose TechHire training partner. “If I hadn’t participated in Year Up, I would either be in jail or dead,” said Ortiz, who overcame gang violence and worked as a janitor for minimum wage to support his family. Year Up’s intensive tech training program prepared him for an internship
at eBay as an Information Security Analyst and today he is employed by Pay Pay as a User Experience Designer. Cisco, Facebook, Jabil Circuit, Kaiser Permanente, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LinkedIn, Symantec, SYNNEX Corporation and Technology Credit Union are among Silicon Valley employers who, along with eBay and PayPal, have committed their support to SJ TechHire. The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Santa Clara County Office of Education and The Tech Museum of Innovation have also committed their support to bridge the skills gap. “EBay is excited to partner with Mayor Liccardo, YearUp and our colleagues in the industry on the SJ TechHire Initiative,” said Donna Zontos, Vice President of Human Resources North America, eBay. “We’re strongly committed to workforce diversity and recognizes the need to develop broad talent pathways into tech-enabled careers in Silicon Valley.”
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Zoned out energy development to continue increasing, there must be an effective approach to wind energy zoning implemented that reduces inconsistency and unpredictability. Zoning authorities must aim for efficient and effective standards, incorporating considerations from the local areas where wind development would take place. The key to effective wind siting and zoning regulation, however, is to strike the right balance between local and state control. Authorities at the state and local level must consider the pros and cons that can result from difference ordinances. As wind power continues to play a bigger role in meeting
our energy demands, controversies and questions from local communities have arisen. How will this affect my community? What are the rules for wind energy development? These questions, and others, make it vitally important that we craft regulations that incorporate local preferences and address local concerns, while also providing clear and consistent standards for developers. Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues. n
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Community Journal
AUGUST 21-27, 2015 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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Rotary Club of Historic FIlipinotown Join the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown as they have a special guest speaker Captain Donald R. Graham Jr., Commanding Officer in the Central Patrol Division, on August 20th at the Los Angeles Police Department.
AU G U ST 2 0 -22
MSEUF Alumni Homecoming Reunion Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation of Lucena City, Philippines to be hosted by MSEUF Alumni Association of California. Announcement to all MSEUF (formerly known as Luzonian University Foundation) Alumni of our Grand Reunion to be held on August 20-22, 2015 at the Gold Coast Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas). Tickets are $80.00/person, including Bowling and the reunion Dinner/ Dance. For additional information and inquiries, please contact the following: Nonato Palomar (818) 209-6881 nonatop@sbcglobal.net; Mercy G. Bruno (310) 686-1421 mercygbruno@ gmail.com; Malou Almadrones (213) 531-7824 marylou616@yahoo.com; and Butch Villarama (916) 600-8472 r.villaram@comcast.net.
AU G U ST 2 1 -23
30th Northridge Invitational Tournament (NIT) California State University Northridge (CSUN)’s Filipino American Student Association is set to host their annual 30th Northridge Invitational Tournament (NIT), one of the most competitive Filipino American sports tournaments in Southern California from August 21-23 at CSUN campus, with over sixty teams and 700 athletes in attendance. The 3-day summer sports tournament will include basketball, volleyball, softball, football, and bowling. Players include high school varsity, junior college, NCAA & NAIA Division 1-3, and some professional players. For more information on participating in or sponsoring NIT, please visit www.csunfasanit.com. Registration payments are due by Friday, August 14. For any questions, please email us at fasa.nit@gmail.com or call the Tournament Director CJ Berina at (818) 458-7446. You can also follow FASA NIT on Twitter @FASANIT2015.
AU G U ST 23
PWUAASC Casino Turn-Around Fundraiser The Philippine Women’s University Alumni Association of Southern California appeals to alumni, family and friends to help in its humanitarian mission with a casino turn-around fundraiser at Harrah’s on Sunday, August 23. First pick up is at 8 am at 1512 E. Amar Rd., West Covina, CA 91792. Bus departs at 8:15 am; please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure. Second pick-up is at 8:45 am at 7511 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, CA 99621. Bus leaves at 9 am with a return from the casino at 3 pm. Donation is $20, which includes bus ride and continental breakfast, and a chance to help PWUAASC’s projects like the annual distribution of hygienic packages for homeless men at Skid Row; backpacks for children at Harbor UCLA Medical Center; and donation to American Red Cross for survivors and victims of natural disasters. To sign up, please contact Virginia B. Vivas (714) 397-2976; Puring Worrell (310) 999-9574; Vicky Soong (626) 272-0465, Tessie N. Lightholder (909) 465-5919, or email Marigene Strouse GENIE1705@aol.com.
AU G U ST 29
UPAAGLA Induction Dinner-Dance All U.P. Graduates, family and friends are invited to attend The Induction Dinner Dance of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) on August 29, 2015 at 6pm at the Glendale Embassy Suites (800 Central Ave, Glendale, CA 91203). This event shall benefit the Scholarship Fund of UPAAGLA. Tickets are $75 inclusive of dinner. For ticket and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Arnel Joaquin (213) 880-3305 / arnelj@gmail.com, or Dick Cu (562) 547-0560, or visit www.upaagla.org.
SEPTEMBER 4
National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Charity Golf Tournament Where: Penderbrook Golf Club, 3700 Golf Trail Lane, Fairfax, VA 22033 When: September 4, 2015; 8am-2pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.
Saulog Celebration: A Night of Serenade Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity, Inc. (CEBU INC.) will be hosting a Saulog Celebration: “A Night of Serenade” on Friday, September 4th, at St. Rebastian Roman Catholic Church (5802 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, NY 11377). The show will present the Cebu Clergy Performing Artists, and feature: the 2015 NYC Philippines Independence Day Parade Grand Prize Winner - C.E.B.U. INC. Sinulog Dancers. The show will start at 8:00pm on Friday. Please contact CEBU INC. for more details.
SEPTEMBER 4-6
National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Convention Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004 When: September 4-6, 2015; from 8am-5pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.
S E P T E M B E R 4 -7
Ramon Magsaysay/Cubao High School 2015 Reunion in Las Vegas Calling all Cubao High School/Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School graduates and alumni! Come out and join the 2015 Get-Together of our Alma Mater from Friday, September 4 to Monday, September 7 at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103). A special Dinner/Dance is scheduled on Saturday, September 5. To our Alumni now residing in Canada, the US, and other parts of the world, all are invited to share this special weekend event with their fellow graduates and classmates in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, please call Jay Medina at (310) 967-9517 or Boots Doria at (925) 330-8081.
SEPTEMBER 5
Filipino Association of Leisure World Dinner-Dance The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold their dinner-dance at the Leisure World Hall on Saturday, September 5th. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For further information, please call Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209.
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 -26
CELEBRATE LOCAL with San Diego Restaurant Week! This September, San Diego Restaurant Week, presented by Lexus Dealerships of San Diego, will CELEBRATE LOCAL... keepin’ it fresh - really fresh. San Diego Restaurant week returns September 20th - September 26th for ONE WEEK ONLY to “Celebrate Local” at all 180+ participating restaurants. Choose from a three-course dinner or two-course lunch deal to satisfy your cravings. NEW THIS YEAR, San Diego Restaurant Week will be partnering with Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to provide backpacks for children in need within the San Diego community during the ALL FOR KIDS campaign. Ditch the dirty dishes and join over 150,000 fellow diners as we celebrate San Diego’s thriving culinary scene and the homegrown, local businesses that provide us with the produce and products we love! Tickets are not necessary for this delectable week of discounted dining, but reservations are recommended! Visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com for more information, including a list of participating restaurants, or to make your reservations in advance!
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The CTV Files Atty. Dennis ChuA, esq. A NON-US citizen who has been convicted of a crime runs the risk of being deported or removed from the United States. Legal permanent residents who have been convicted of a crime may be included as those who may be removed or deported. The Immigration and Nationality Act enumerates the types of criminal offenses which would render a person removable or deportable. Among the criminal offenses listed are as follows: • A person who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude within 5 years after the date of admission. A crime of moral turpitude refers to “conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals.” Some examples of crime of moral turpitude include arson, embezzlement, grand theft, assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter; • A person who has been convicted of a crime for which a sentence of one year or longer may be imposed; • A person who at any time after admission is convicted of two or more crimes involving moral turpitude;
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Crimes that make you removable • A person who is convicted of an aggravated felony at any time after conviction. Aggravated felony is a category of crimes that include murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor; • A person who is convicted of a crime relating to high speed flight from an immigration checkpoint; • A person who has failed to register as a sex offender; • A person who at any time has been convicted of a violation of any law relating to a controlled substance (drug offenses); • A person who is a drug abuser or addict; • A person who has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence, a crime of stalking, or a crime of child abuse, child neglect or child abandonment. A non US citizen including legal permanent residents who have been convicted and who have served their sentence as a result of the criminal conviction may have to pass through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement before they are released. If such non US citizen is removable or deportable, an immigration hold may be issued, and the person will be detained for the immigration violation. Bail may be posted to secure the temporary release of such person from immigration detention.
The person shall then be put in removal proceedings with the issuance of the corresponding Notice to Appear. The Notice shall inform the person of his immigration violation and why he or she is being removed from the United States. Depending on the type of criminal offense committed, a person may be eligible to file for a waiver to prevent removal or deportation in Immigration Court. In order to avoid the harsh consequences of removal as a result of a criminal conviction, it would be best that once criminal charges have been filed, a person immediately consult with an immigration practitioner regarding the immigration consequences of a criminal offense. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; Dchua@ctvattys.com. The CTV Attorneys will be at Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo on October 19, 2009 from 5pm to 7pm to hold a FREE legal clinic. (Advertising Supplement)
Two women, a boy and the jellyfish Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA LOU’S story is worth retelling. Lou Xiaoying is one remarkable Chinese woman who is a beacon of light, a ray of hope and a surge of warmth in a world that has grown dark and cold. I wrote about Lou a few years back to shine a light on the life of a woman, who despite humble circumstances, managed to save the lives of babies salvaged from the trash heap, apparently discarded by women in compliance with China’s draconian one-child policy to curb its population growth. Contrast Lou’s life with that of a 25 year-old New Jersey woman who claims she is not ready for her pregnancy, filmed her own abortion, with full make-up, lights and gazing at the camera and exclaiming with joy at the end of the procedure purportedly to “inspire” and show women that abortion is a positive experience. She even writes about it in one publication. Notice I refuse to give a shout out to her name or the publication’s name. Some bask in infamy and one can show displeasure by refusing to give a shout out. The woman who is a wanna-be actress of low-budget slasher horror movies which slaughter children works as an abortion counselor. She says, “I feel in awe of the fact that I can make a baby. I can make a life…” Sadly, it was a life that she chose to end coldly. The delusional woman, as if reading from a script even says at the end of the murderous procedure, “Yay, Cool! I feel good.” She decides to keep a sonogram of the baby as a memento. Did she even bother to ask the father of the child? Even more disturbing is the distinct possibility that she may have become pregnant to create a prop so she can pull this contemptible youtube stunt and become an internet sensation. If she did, this makes it all the more egregious and revolting. This stunt she pulled at the expense of an innocent life to grab her few minutes of dubious fame cries out for justice and she will be held to account. The laws of karma are irrevocable, sometimes swift, sometimes slow, but without bone marrow-deep repentance, comes without fail in due season. The response so far has been worldwide revulsion and condemnation at the celebratory tone of her scripted abortion. At the very least, women who see abortion as a solution to a complex problem do so in a somber, quiet way, head bowed
“…The boy looked at him nonplussed, shrugged his shoulders and went back to throwing one more jellyfish back to the water, and told him, “Made a difference to that one …” down, away from the limelight. What has women’s liberation come to these days? Shallow, soulless creatures who call themselves women walk the earth. Fortunately, for every one of this kind of vile woman, there are thousands who shun the limelight and work quietly in the trenches fighting the evil of abortion, women I know like Gerri and Anna Maria and members of the Shield of Roses who have been quietly pounding the pavement, persuading women to consider adoption instead and knocking unceasingly on heaven’s doors with prayer and fasting to help in the struggle against the seemingly prevailing culture of death and darkness. But let’s get back to Lou. Her story is like a laser light and her story is worth repeating. She lived in the rural countryside in Eastern Zhejiang province. Picture her home. It is a humble hovel, its small yard littered with debris and recyclables. A little boy of 7 plays in the yard. Lou lived in that home with her husband Lin until he passed away 20 years ago. When I first wrote about Lou in 2012, she was 88 years old and lay languishing of kidney failure in a hospital. Despite pain and impending death, Lou looks beautiful in repose. Her eyes sparkle with joy. A calm peacefulness is etched in her face. If she is still alive, she would be 91 years old. An internet search show no updates about Lou. At her age and condition, no news is good news. Lou and her husband made a living scavenging the village trash for recyclables. It was a tough, backbreaking way of life trudging through the streets and sifting through other people’s often filthy and smelly discards. Over the years, they picked up 30 abandoned babies from the trash heap. Of the 30 foundlings they saved, the couple kept 4 babies to raise themselves and the rest, they gave away to friends and relatives. They have one biological child, a woman, who is now past 50 years old. When Lou was 82 and already a widow, she saved one more baby from the trash. She said, “Even though I was already getting old I could not simply ignore the baby and leave him to die in the trash. He looked so sweet and so needy. I had to take him home with me … My older children all help look after Zhang Qilin … I named him after the Chinese word for rare and precious.” Lou’s story is riveting for its
simple, unquestioning reverence for life despite living in stark poverty. She didn’t start out wanting to rescue foundlings but in 1982, her heart was touched when she found the first child, a baby girl, who was lying helpless and abandoned amongst the trash. “Watching her grow and become stronger gave us such happiness and I realized I had a real love of caring for children … These children need love and care. They are all precious human lives. I do not understand how people can leave such a vulnerable baby on the streets. I realized if we had strength enough to collect garbage how could we not recycle something as important as human lives?” Since 1978, the Chinese communist government has enforced, with few exceptions, its one-child policy. Families are prevented from having more than one child under pain of penalty. Those who abide by the rule are given bonuses and incentives. Boys are preferred in Chinese culture so that couples who want a son feel compelled to throw away infant girls. It is claimed that the policy prevented the birth of 400 million babies. Lou’s life story bears resemblance to the story of the little boy and the jellyfish. There was once a little boy walking on the beach. He noticed that as the tide receded, there were thousands of jellyfish being washed up and lay stranded helpless on the shore. He picked them up one by one and began tossing each jellyfish back into the water, into the sea where they can survive and live. A man also walking along the shore watched the boy in utter disbelief. To him, the boy was trying to do the impossible. Shaking his head, the man approached the boy and asked, “Hey, kid, what do you think you’re doing? You can never make a difference. There are thousands of jellyfish. You’ll only save a few of them.” The boy looked at him nonplussed, shrugged his shoulders and went back to throwing one more jellyfish back to the water, and told him, “Made a difference to that one …” Each precious human life saved certainly made a difference to that one life. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
White House names San Jose a TechHire... PAGE CJ1 San Jose’s workforce development agency —work2future— will lead the initiative. “This program will take our existing partnerships with local community colleges, other training partners, and Silicon Valley employers to the next level,” said Jeff
Ruster, work2future director. “We will connect our local residents with employment opportunities at the cutting edge of innovation that are in high demand today and tomorrow.” “The US Department of Labor projects a shortage of onemillion trained tech workers by 2020,” said Michael Nobleza, National Director for #YesWe-
Code. “The SJ TechHire Initiative will enable forward-leaning leaders and communities, like San José, to meet this demand by training more job- ready young adults. There are people who need jobs right now, and #YesWeCode is excited to work with San José to help create alternative pathways to tech jobs for them.” n
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21-27, 2015
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After the love has gone: Terminating your loveless marriage may have immigration advantages Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ DEAR Atty Gurfinkel: Years ago, my US citizen parent petitioned me as a married child (Category F – 3). However, my husband left me for another woman and started a family with her. I want nothing more to do with my husband, and his bruha mistress can have him. I checked the priority dates for married children, and it is still years before I will be eligible to immigrate to the US under my father’s petition. Is there some way it can be expedited, or are there faster ways to immigrate to the US? Very truly yours, M.W. Dear M.W.: If you are truly “out of love” with your spouse, and there is no chance of reconciliation, you may want to consider terminating your marriage by divorce or annulment. After you receive a final court decree terminating your marriage, your visa petition will be reclassified from “married” (F-3) to “unmarried” (F1). The priority date for the F-1
Dr. Val’s Dental Views Dr. VAlerie
De leon
WHAT do osteoporosis and gum disease have in common? Bone loss! For anyone with gum disease, osteoporosis, or both… it’s important to know about the correlation between these two conditions. How does gum disease cause bone loss? Are you surprised to hear that gum disease can contribute to bone loss? The first stage of gum disease, gingivitis, rarely affects bone structure. But if it progresses to advanced periodontitis, then the infection spreads beneath the teeth to destroy connective gum tissue and supportive structure in your jaw. Those with osteoporosis may have 85 percent greater periodontitis risk. A recent study showed an alarmingly high correlation between low bone density and
As you can see, by terminating the loveless marriage legally, it could result in your priority date already being current in the F-1 category, instead of waiting for years for the F-3 category to be current. category moves faster than the category for married children of US citizens from the Philippines (F-3), meaning people who are unmarried can immigrate faster than married children. Some people are in a “dead end” marriage, but stay married even though there’s no hope of reconciliation. As you can see, by terminating the loveless marriage legally, it could result in your priority date already being current in the F-1 category, instead of waiting for years for the F-3 category to be current. However, I must caution you that there is an immigration doctrine or concept of “sham divorce.” Just like there are sham marriages (where people get married in order to obtain an immigration benefit), there is also the concept of sham divorce (where people get divorced, or terminate their marriage through annulment, solely to be reclassified from F-3 to F-1, yet they continue to live and have babies with their “divorced spouse.” A sham divorce is considered fraud.)
However, if the relationship has truly deteriorated and is unsalvageable, you may want to seek the advice of an immigration attorney, who can fully evaluate your case and circumstances, and offer appropriate guidance, in connection with your immigration situation. *** 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)
The link between osteoporosis and gum disease gum disease risk. Bone density was measured using a FRAX score (fracture risk assessment tool). Even disregarding common risk factors like age, smoking, or diabetes, it was shown that patients with osteoporosis have an 85 percent greater likelihood of periodontal disease. More research is needed to find the reason for this correlation. However, one factor is important to note: advanced gum disease degrades bone mass in the jaw. For those with alreadylow bone mass, thanks to osteoporosis, the risk is even greater. Gum disease can very quickly cause a lot of damage. We’re looking out for your whole-body health So, if you have gum disease, along with other possible risk factors for osteoporosis, don’t be surprised if we ask you the last time you had a checkup with your doctor. After looking at a dental x-ray, we may recommend that you have your bone health assessed.
In the meantime, take good care of your teeth. Gum disease can be worrying, but it’s preventable with good personal care habits and frequent visits with our team. The relationship between osteoporosis and gum disease is just one example of the mouthbody health connection. The more we learn, the more we see that what happens in your mouth doesn’t just stay in your mouth. Dental health has an effect on your entire body. Let us know if you have any questions about your dental health. We’re honored to be your partners in oral health care. *** If you have questions, pls call Dr. Valerie de Leon at (650) 697–9000 or visit our website at www.millbraesmiles.com. She is with Millbrae Smile Center located at 15 El Camino Real, Millbrae 94030. She is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of Laser Dentistry, ADA, CDA and SMCDS. Please call for a free consultation. (Advertising Supplement)
PNB announces another Magpadala Magpalipad Promo winner EUREKA INDEED! He’s got it. Federico Mendoza of Eureka, California won a round-trip ticket to the Philippines via Philippine Airlines including 2 round-trip tickets to select Philippine domestic destinations. Mendoza, a long time employee of Caltrans in Northern California could hardly believe his ears when he received a call from PNBRCI’s Sacramento Branch. He said excitedly, “Now I can take my vacation to the Philippines! It’s been 5 years.” To support loved ones back home, the Mendozas have been remitting money to them via the PNBRCI Sacramento Branch since 2001. Their generosity and loyalty to PNBRCI have paid off having won one of the coveted prizes in the industry worldwide. After all, it is a chance to play
tourist in one’s homeland. It’s true what they say. It really is more fun in the Philippines. “I have had a good experience with PNBRCI Sacramento with their good and faster service”, Mr. Mendoza said. The loyalty runs deep in the family on both sides of the globe. He says their relatives back home are also long time PNB customers. Federico who took a day off from his Caltrans job, brought along his wife, Gina who is equally excited, to the PNBRCI Sacramento Branch to claim the travel certificate from Junne Juan, VP of PNBRCI Sales for Northern California. The couple, who both hail from Dagupan City in Pangasinan, was so overjoyed that Gina, posted a photo of the travel certificate on Facebook encouraging her
friends to remit through via PNBRCI as well. Federico even showed his certificate to his Caltrans co-workers. The promo is part of PNB Global Remit’s efforts. PNBRCI in the US, makes remitting money a bit more fun and exciting. This is also the company’s way of thanking its loyal patrons in every part of the globe who have used the services of the company through the years. It is also PNB’s way of reinforcing the emotional ties that bind expatriates and their loved ones by making it possible for some very lucky winners to come home for free and enjoy the warmth and comfort of the homeland. So why remit your valuable dollars using any other company? PNBRCI offers a relationship that is mutually rewarding. (Advertising Supplement)
WINNER IN PNBRCI’S MAGPADALA MAGPALIPAD PROMO. Seen in the Photo from left to right Is Junne Juan, VP for Sales for PNBRCI in Northern California handing the travel certificate to Federico Mendoza, one of the winners of the PNBRCI Sacramento Branch. Gina, Federico’s wife came along to witness the event.
ENCORE EPISODE ON CITIZEN PINOY! Leading US immigration lawyer Michael J. Gurfinkel continues to answer questions from Kapamilya in Rosemont, Illinois, such as I petitioned my son without legally adopting him. Can he still qualify for a visa? Once I become a US citizen, can I invite my parents and siblings to come to the US as tourists? Get answers to these and more on an encore episode of the information-packed, award-winning public service program—’Citizen Pinoy,’ this Sunday, August 23 at 6:15pm PST/EST (9:15pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).
Free transit passes to Contra Costa County Library cardholders 511 Contra Costa helps get you there with free transit passes to select Discover &Go venues in August, September & October CONTRA Costa County Library and 511 Contra Costa are teaming up again to promote the use of public transportation by offering free BART tickets to Contra Costa County Library cardholders with Discover & Go reservations for use during the months of August, September, and October. Library users can submit their request for up to 3 $10 BART tickets by clicking on the banner ad on their Discover & Go pass. The free Discover & Go promotional BART tickets are available to library cardholders who have August, September, or October reservations for the following venues: - Asian Art Museum - The Beat Museum - Bedford Gallery - California Academy of Sciences - California Historical Society - California Shakespeare Theater - Chabot Space & Science Center - Children’s Creativity Museum - Chinese Historical Society of America Museum - Contemporary Jewish Mu-
seum - Exploratorium - Freight & Salvage - GLBT History Museum - Habitot Children’s Museum - Lawrence Hall of Science - Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment - Museum of the African Diaspora - Oakland Museum of California - Pacific Pinball Museum - Ripley’s Believe it or Not! ODDitorium - UC Botanical Garden - Yerba Buena Center for the Arts BART tickets will be mailed to cardholders’ homes via standard 1st Class US Postal Service within five business days of their request. The BART ticket offer is limited to one request per household and the offer is available while supplies last. This BART ticket offer is funded by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s Half Cent Sales Tax For Transportation Improvements (Measure J) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Transportation Fund for Clear Air. The promotion is intended to en-
courage the use of public transit to access museums and is not a need-based program. Since its inception in January 2011, Discover & Go has met Contra Costa County Library’s goal of providing access to culture inside and outside of the library by attracting more than 50 Bay Area museum partners and making over 600,000 cultural visits possible for families with library cards. 511 Contra Costa is a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that promotes transportation alternatives to the single occupant vehicle. 511 Contra Costa encourages “green commutes” via the utilization of alternative modes of transportation that improve traffic congestion and improve air quality by maximizing the use of the entire transportation network. For more information visit 511contracosta.org. Contra Costa County Library serves over 1,111,339 residents of urban, suburban, and rural communities through 26 community libraries, three Librarya-Go-Go book dispensers, and online library services avail-
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Problem Solved Atty. Kelly O’Reilly SO often, we meet with clients who come to our law firm just before a scheduled consulate interview abroad. The clients have either done their application on their own, or maybe a friend or “document preparer” has helped them, and they believe their case is straightforward and simple. They are all set to go, their plane tickets have been purchased, and they are ready for their consulate interview! But… they are a little nervous about leaving the United States and they just want a lawyer to double check that everything is O.K. Often, everything is not O.K. We have the unfortunate responsibility to tell the clients that they have wasted their time and money on an application that is completely worthless. They cannot go to their consulate interview because we have found a problem that would make them unable to return if once they left the United States. Thank goodness they came to us before they left! Had the clients ignored their instinct to come to an expert for a second opinion before leaving the United States, their lives could have been ruined! This is no exaggeration. If you leave the United States, even if you have a waiver that you think will guarantee your reentry, you may still be inadmissible for other reasons not covered under your waiver. You may have to get other waivers (for which you may or may not qualify), or you may not be eligible for any waiver at all. You might be permanently barred from reentering the United States. Put simply, if you leave the United States without having sought the advice and assurance
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The point of no return South San Francisco Farmers’ Market open until Oct. 24 of a bar-certified immigration lawyer, you are placing your entire future at risk. Once you leave the United States, if something is wrong with your application, or if you don’t already have the appropriate waiver(s) needed to return, you may be stuck outside the United States for years, decades, or even for life. Problems with immigration status must be detected and resolved HERE, not abroad. Even if you have a 601A waiver, that will not save you if you have, for example, certain prior criminal convictions, or false claims on an old I-9, or one too many unlawful entries into the US. If an attorney finds the problem here, he or she can resolve it ahead of time. But if you leave, you may have reached a literal point of no return. Why is it so hard to come back to the United States if you have left before a problem is identified? There are several reasons. First, the problem itself may be unfixable. For instance, if you have a false claim of United States citizenship in your background, and that fact comes up during your consulate interview, you can be barred for life from returning to the United States. There is no waiver for a false claim to citizenship. This leads to the next issue, which is that once a consulate officer makes a decision, it is next to impossible to overturn that decision. The reason for this is something called the “Doctrine of Nonreviewability.” The Doctrine of Nonreviewability simply means that no one can legally challenge a ruling made by the consulate. Finally, everything done through the consulate takes time. If you get to the consulate office and only at that point find that you need a waiver, then you have to submit your waiver there, directly to the consulate. You will have to wait there for the waiver
to be adjudicated, which can take months, possibly years, to be approved. And that is, of course, assuming the waiver is approved. If it is not, then you could be stuck outside the United States for life. Anyplace outside the United States is “no-mans-land” if you do not have lawful status in the United States. You should be extremely cautious before leaving the US for any reason. This includes quick trips to Mexico or Canada. This includes an international cruise to the Bahamas. If you leave the United States without a United States passport, a green card or without explicit confirmation from a lawyer that you will return safely, you are taking a massive risk. If you are considering leaving the United States for any reason and you do not have a guarantee from a certified immigration attorney, please make an appointment to speak to one. It may save your immigration status or the status of your loved one. Since many immigration firms, including Wilner & O’Reilly Immigration Law Firm, offer free consultations, there is literally nothing to lose by getting an expert opinion. If you are planning to travel, please book a free consultation today and let one of our certified immigration lawyers review your documents before you leave and reach a point of no return. *** Kelly S. O’Reilly is a nationally known immigration expert and former immigration officer. He is a highly sought after speaker on immigration and employment compliance issues. Mr. O’Reilly serves as the current chair of the Riverside County Bar Association Immigration section and is a partner in the full-service immigration firm of the Wilner & O’Reilly where he provides free consultations. Mr. O’Reilly can be contacted at (714) 919-8880 and he welcomes email inquiries at kelly@wilneroreilly.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Free transit passes to Contra Costa County Library... PAGE CJ3
Management, the 2012 National Medal for Museum and able 24/7 at ccclib.org. As the Library Service from the Instiwinner of numerous awards, tute of Museum and Library including the 2015 John Cotton Services, two awards from the Dana Library Public Relations American Library Association Award for War Ink -- an exhibit Office for Information Techand forum dedicated to veter- nology Policy for Cutting-Edge ans, the National Association Technology in Library Service, of Counties 2014 Achievement Contra Costa County Library is Award for its LiveChat: eGov- recognized as a leader among ernment Customer Relationship libraries implementing tech-
nology to improve service, reduce costs, and deliver on the Library’s mission of bringing people and ideas together. The Discover & Go project was supported in part by the US Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. n
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
THE South San Francisco Farmers’ Market season opened Saturday, May 2nd at Orange Memorial Park and continues every Saturday from 10am – 2pm, until October 24. A variety of activities for all ages and interests are featured each Saturday. This week at your Farmers’ Market, South San Francisco Parks and Recreation will have an informational table. Stop by the South San Francisco Farmers’ and enjoy some of the great produce and try some of Coun-
try Grill’s Rotisserie Chicken and more!! There will also be free CalFresh screening and enrollment this weekend. Also check out the South San Francisco Farmers’ Market video highlighting everything the market has to offer on YouTube. Lastly, don’t forget to Share Facebook video post for a free basket of strawberries on Facebook. Additional information on special events throughout the season will be available on the
City of South San Francisco’s website and on the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association website. We hope to see Saturday! For more information on South San Francisco Farmers’ Market please visit the City’s Farmers’ Market facebook page or visit the South San Francisco City website. Or Pacific Coast Farmer’s Market Associates at www. pcfma.com. You can also find PCFMA on Facebook.
Your Social Security record at your fingertips WITH today’s technology, you may never have to go to an office or even make a phone call to do your business with Social Security. Current workers and people who receive benefits can join the millions who already interact with the agency by computer or tablet by opening a free my Social Security account. It’s easy, safe, and, most of all, secure. You’ll only need a few minutes at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to sign up. You are never too young to start thinking about your financial future. A my Social Security account is very valuable for younger people who don’t receive benefits yet. Young workers can use the best free retirement and financial planning tool available. Once you open a my Social Security account, you can have access to
and—at the same time—download your Social Security Statement. With your Statement you can review • Estimates of your potential future retirement and disability benefits; • Estimates of survivors benefits for your spouse and children, if you should die; • Your earnings record to confirm the accuracy; and • The estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid. If you already receive Social Security benefits, with a my Social Security account you can • Get a benefit verification letter; • Change your address and phone number; • Start or change direct deposit of your benefits payment; • Get a replacement SSA1099 or SSA-1042S for tax sea-
son; and • If you’re signed up for Medicare, order a Medicare replacement card. To open your free my Social Security account, you must be at least age 18 and have a • valid email address; • Social Security number; and • US mailing address. It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and it’s easy to do. There’s an informative video and frequently asked questions on our website to help you. So, go to www.socialsecurity. gov/myaccount and open your own, secure my Social Security account today. Then you can join the millions who can plan, invest, and save for a secure retirement with confidence. (By Deogracias Santos / Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in the Northern Area)
Eugenio Balbuena
April 23, 1941-August 1, 2015 EUGENIO Laroco Balbuena, age 74, peacefully passed away at his home in San Leandro on Saturday, August 1, 2015. He was born on April 23, 1941 in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines to Basilio and Ramona Balbuena. He graduated with a medical degree at University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and completed his Internal Medicine Residency in Boston, Massachusetts. On June 20, 1970, he married Trinidad Eugenio Tinio in Boston. He practiced internal medicine for 45 dedicated years in the San Leandro-Hayward Area. He was the past president of the Philippine
Medical Society of Northern California (PMSNC), the University of Santo Tomas Medical Society of Northern California, and the Philippine Medical Association of Greater Boston. He was very involved with many medical missions of the PMSNC to the Philippines and a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. In addition, he was a passionate sports fan, tennis player, golfer, and chess enthusiast. He loved to travel with his wife and many friends all over the world and lived life to the fullest. He is survived by his beloved wife Trinidad, his 3 children,
Diana Jean McCarty, Arnel Anthony Balbuena and Ronald Michael Balbuena; their spouses, Kevin Patrick McCarty, Caroline Kua-Balbuena, and Erlinda Alvarez Balbuena his two sisters, Delia Abracosa and Vilma Wasiolek, and his 5 grandchildren, Christelle KuaBalbuena, Christian Kua-Balbuena, Tyler Anthony Balbuena, Derek Gene Balbuena, and Genevieve Roselyn Balbuena. He was laid to rest last Friday, August 7. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California (attn: Medical Mission).
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AUGUST 21-27, 2015 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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Friday, August 21, 2015
*On cover, counter clockwise, “Baby (Medium for Intercultural Navigation,” “Beisbol Club-Heliomaker (Unknown purpose)” from “ESPYLACOPA: a place,” another piece from “Baby (Medium for Intercultural Navigation,” “Nomansay (Nacireman Diety with minor gods)” from “Recologica” and “Spork (Totem to an easy hunt) from “ESPYLACOPA: a place.”
SF2
cover story
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 21, 2015
Michael arcega: a serious artist at play By Malou liwanag-Bledsoe
SOME people see art installations and/or mixed media as somewhat confusing. For them it’s just a mish-mash of materials that does not make sense. The truth is, such art holds a deeper meaning in its symbolism. For artist Michael Arcega, his art – though others may see as pieces of “junk”—becomes a harmony of thought. Born in the Philippines, Arcega migrated from Manila to Los Angeles in 1984 and was stayed with his aunt temporarily, while other matters were settled in the Philippines. His background as an immigrant (and later as a naturalize American) is part of what he creates. “This perspective informs my work and thinking – it allows me to have distance form my subjects. I carry the histories of many nations as a Filipino. It naturally lends itself to a global point of view of a
colonized place and a developing nation,” he said and added, “As an American, I see the world from an empowered position—one that has abused its power in the past. The two interwoven but opposing viewpoints can temper ideologies and produce empathy, and ultimately, strive for equality.” Arcega shared that his introduction to art was unconventional. While growing up in Highland Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, he and a friend “discovered” a graffiti mural in a dark tunnel. The graffiti, he said, spelled out “BOMB” —but with the letter “O” as a cartoon bomb. “This blew my 11-yearold mind,” he shared. “Afterwards, I obsessively drew the image. Eventually, I met some older graffiti writers and found my place as an artist, always drawing and making
/ AJPress
Arcega’s selfie with Nomansay Michael and Tana Quincy Arcega in Rocky Mountain National Park, Co
murals. This led to an informal education in line, color, scale, context, and site..” He went on to pursue a degree in Fine Arts at San Francisco Art Institute, and later a Master’s degree in Art
Practice at Stanford University. Since then he has been invited to showcase and exhibit his work all over the San Francisco Bay Area, California, New York, Nevada and even Sweden. But what is his art, exactly? “My artwork is largely based on ideas. I see objects and materials as things that contain a history, purpose and meaning,” Arcega explained. “So when I work with SPAM, Manila folders, or emergency blankets, I think about what the materials bring to the form. It becomes a composition of though objects with aesthetic considerations. Hopefully, the relationships between these ideas are harmonious and interesting – creating a system that is sound. So when a viewer looks at the work, there is an entry point that leads to a world that is complex, relevant to the times, and playful.” One of his favorite pieces, he shared, is the El Conquistadork, and considers it as his breakthrough artwork. “During the year that I
Arcega during the opening of Espylacopa-A Place
worked on the project, I was able to understand my place in the world. It was an analogy for who I was,” he said and added, “Similarly, Baby (Medium for Intercultural Navigation) serves an updated version. They are analogs for diasporic events and cultural exchanges. As biographical works, El Conquistadork is a migrant, while Baby is a naturalized citizen. Both look like boats, float like boats,
Photo by Kimberly Johannson
sail like boats, but are actually metaphors. (These two are the only sailboats I have ever sailed in.)” Lately, Arcega has doing artwork inspired by the writings of Horace Miner, an anthropologist who, according to the Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology, “offered incipient cultural critiques of Euro-American arrogance, Continued on Page SF6
features SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – August 21, 2015
A day in the life of Ami Almerol Naked Truth
One of the things that I can never forget about our friendship is how she stood by me in my time of need. This By Monet Lu woman will go out of her way to help a friend. She says she has a bad habit of not knowHAve you ever had that one friend whom you’ve known ing how to say no to people. In that case, I am lucky to have forever but do not see very something that I can teach often, yet when you reconher in return -- saying no is a nect, it seems like yesterday? That one friend who stands out discipline that I’ve learned to master over the years. from your gazillion of friends I was the one who named because she has stayed with her first auto body shop you through thick and thin? I may not have gazillion friends, business on La Brea Blvd. She, on the other hand, was but I’m blessed to have true Reflections’ first awardee. We ones that are worth keeping. Her name is as beautiful as love that we are part of each the person she is: Amihan Alm- other’s business roots. Speaking of business, Ami owns erol but most people call her and operates, together with “Ami.” She is one of my treaher son MJ, the LA Auto Care sured friends. And as the title Center Inc. in Los Angeles. suggests, we’ve been friends There, she does some car for 30 years. Today, I want to sales. Their company slogan talk about Ami and how she left a mark in my heart after all says, “You wreck them, we fix them.” these years. It’s funny how the slogan Ami and I became friends fits right into how Ami is when when I started becoming it comes to helping her friends more involved in the Filipino deal with their problems. She community here. And out of is the type who would let you the many Filipinos I’ve met, know how you messed up she is among the truest, most straightforward, what-you-see- and would proceed to help is-what-you-get type of people you pick up the pieces. It’s no wonder good people graviin the lot. She describes tate towards her. She’s been herself as “very blunt” and “frank,” which are some things friends with our boxing champ, Manny Pacquiao. She used to that I love about her, actually. take care of Manny’s after-fight Her tactlessness is not the parties in Las vegas and was annoying kind; rather it is the also instrumental in buying his kind of candor that is liberatfirst house in Hancock Park. ing in a sense. She tells you She has taken care of Manny’s what other people can’t for Fans’ Day and would cook fear of being open. And for Kalderetang Kambing and someone who is honest like Kilawin for them when Manny that, it would surprise you to know that Ami talks very sensi- and his family were here. She bly -- and would not talk about goes to church with them and shares meaningful conversaother people in a bad light. tions about Scripture. She simply just doesn’t care Considering all these wonabout other people’s lives. She derful things she shares with has no time to gossip about her friends, I began to wonder other people’s decisions, let alone meddle with them. Well, if she had any regrets in her life. And she said these words that’s Ami. She listens more straight from her heart: than she talks. And when she “I have to be honest -- my opens her mouth, she makes friends are telling I did a good sure the words are worth your job in raising my boys. My time and hers.
friends and family saw the hard work I did to give them the best. Marc graduated from UCLA with awards, MJ is working with me at the shop, Giyan is at NYU taking film and the youngest is going to UCLA this September. As a mother, I thought giving them the best in life was good enough. Although in theory, it’s very easy to say ‘I know I’m doing something wrong because I am not helping my children with their homework’, but I need to do what I have to do. Being a single parent, my goal has been to give everything that money can buy to all my children. But what good does it do if you lost the time with them? Time is the only thing that cannot be bought. I wish I could go back and spend more quality time with my children. I didn’t get enough of them. To all mothers out there, balance time with your children and work.” To you, Ami, may God bless you and your family. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning 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
One Central is a luxurious 50 and 42-storey twin-tower residential condominium situated in the heart of Makati CBD designed by award-winning international design firms, The Preben Kent and Gettys Chicago.
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your unit with the help of a dedicated group of in-house interior designers. You have the option to live in a Modern, Contemporary, Industrial or Modern Zen-inspired home. Megaworld International is currently selling RFO units in various Megaworld townships and prime locations such as eastwood LeGrand Towers 1 & 2 in eastwood City; 115 Upper McKinley in McKinley Hill; Sarasota, Pinecrest and Montecito in Newport City; and Greenbelt Madison and One Central in Makati Central Business District. Megaworld International is the global marketing arm of Megaworld Corporation. It is present in over 40 countries in North America, Asia Pacific, europe and Middle east and is poised to expand to more territories, bringing the best real estate choices from the largest developer in the Philippines. For inquiries, please call, Angelita Contreras Megaworld International vP-North America 1 (818) 913-1188 San Francisco Office: 433 Airport Blvd. Ste. 328 Burlingame, CA. 94010 1-888-860-8168 ext. 1 internationalluxuryproperties@yahoo.com *Advertising Supplement
It’s time to get Belofied!
in knowing that we are at the forefront of our field and that we are the innovator and leader of the pack. We have Dr. Vicki Belo brought in the latest technologies and best practices from TIMe flies by so quickly around the globe to make sure when you love what you do. that you get only the best. That It has been 25 years since I is why, we are the Philippine’s started my very first clinic, all with the goal of helping people first and only aesthetic, medical outpatient clinic to be accredlook and feel more beautiited by ISQua, the international ful. The passion that I had has gold standard for patient care made Belo Medical Group safety and services. to what it is now and I would But don’t let all this success like to continue helping out in make you feel intimidated. I every way I can. So, I dedicate shared the same problems as this space to you my beloved you did—acne, scars, getting readers! I am proud to say that Belo overweight. I was like everybody else. So let me know your Medical Group has grown not story and I’ll help you make it only by number but also with even more beautiful. This colinnovation. I do take pride
umn is about you, so trust that you will only get my honest, no frills answers. This is such an exciting time for all of us! I believe that NOW is the time to be beautiful and I would like to help you get that Belo beautiful look you always wanted. It is something close to my heart so let’s make things personal. Let me know your beauty concerns and questions and I’ll give you only the naked truth about it. Feel free to send me an email at vicki@belomed. com. I look forward in having fun with all of you! It’s time you get Belofied! Love, Dr. Vicki Belo
How Coco Martin inspires Julia Montes by ChuCk
Smith Philstar.com
MANILA—Julia Montes admits former co-star and rumored romantic interest Coco Martin serves as an inspiration. The ABS-CBN actress said she was inspired by Coco to use her earnings from showbiz to buy properties and invest. So far, Julia has bought two houses, a decision admittedly stirred by the ABS-CBN actor’s move to invest in real estate property for himself and his family . “Siya nga po ‘yung super close ko and super inspiration ko ngayon kasi makikita mo yung journey niya from way back na hindi naman siya Coco Martin agad,” she said during the press conference for her upcoming ABS-CBN afternoon soap opera Doble Kara on Monday, Aug. 17. “Talagang trinabaho niya ‘yun bago siya naging Coco Martin,” Julia added. Julia has long been rumored to Coco’s girlfriend, an issue the two have both denied. But the 20-year-old actress admits she is “super close” with the actor, which is one of the reasons why she cannot say for certain if they
can end up together romantically. “Kasi hirap sabihin. Super close kasi kami. Hindi ko masabi na, ‘Ready na’,” she said. “Go with the flow. Tignan po natin. And ‘di ko po makakaila talaga na siya talaga ang close ko.” The actress is joined by edgar Allan Guzman and Anjo Damilies for the project. Is there a possibility that she can develop romantic feelings for one of her on-screen partners? Julia said she’s currently focused on her work. “Mahirap kasi magsabi ng age,” Julia said when asked when she’ll be ready for love. “Nakaka-pressure kung (sasabihin ko), ‘By this time, gusto ko ganito na.’ Siguro may mga priorities lang na uunahin. Kapag dumating, tignan natin.” “Lahat ng bagay na dumarating sa buhay ko, pinagdarasal ko. So sabi ko, kung darating, will ni Lord,” she said. “Medyo strict ako. Strict ako sa sarili ko. More than dapat strict si lola, mas strict ako,” Julia quipped when asked if she’s open to entertaining suitors. She added that her focus is on making sure her siblings live a
Julia Montes talks to members of the press during the media launch of ABS-CBN afternoon soap opera “Doble Kara” on August 18. The 20-year-old actress admits she is “super close” with former on-screen partner Coco Martin. Philstar.com photo by Chuck Smith
comfortable life. “Gusto kong ma-secure yung future ng mga kapatid ko. Ayoko yung ma-feel nila yung kailangan nila mag-work for pag-aaral,” she explained. “Thankful kasi ako sa lahat ng paghihirap na naranasan ko. Ayoko lang na maranasan nila ‘yun.”
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 21, 2015
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 21, 2015
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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 21, 2015
celebrity world By Ferdie Villar Although there were some rumors that Sarah geronimo’s parents still don’t approve of her relationship with actor Matteo guidicelli, it seems that the Popstar Princess’ lovelife is blooming. In fact, in the July 18 episode of The Voice Kids 2 (where Sarah serves as one of the coaches), the Popstar Princess commented on one of the contestants’ performance of Marry You. “Ang linis ng pagkanta mo. Kulang pa sa puso siguro kasi hindi ka pa handang magpakasal,” she said and then added, “Ako lang ang handang magpakasal. Joke!” this was why during the semi-finals press conference of the show, members of the media asked the singer/actress if she was serious about her comment about settling down. “Opo,” she said, laughing. “Opo talaga.” In a separate interview, Matteo said that he just needs to “fix a few things” before he can
Is Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo ready to settle down?
We are praying for the peace of mind and heart of actress Mariel Rodriguez after going through a second miscarriage. Earlier, husband Robin Padilla was ecstatic when they found out they were having triplets.
Comedienne Pokwang also recently suffered a miscarriage, according to American boyfriend, Lee O’Brien. Lee said that although they are both saddened about the loss, they are working hard to move on.
It seems that Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo may be thinking about marriage already, as she jokingly admitted during one of the episodes of “The Voice Kids 2.” Boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli, in earlier interview, said that he just needs to “fix some things” before settling down.
settle down. let’s wait and see if we are going to hear wedding bells soon. *** We are praying for the peace of mind and heart of
Considered as one of the most well attended social event in the Fil-Am community, the United Pangasinanes Association, Inc. recently celebrated their 50th anniversary at the South San Francisco Conference Center. Shown in photo are current President Mario Panoringan and his wife Norma, and Ernie and Flory Abalos.
Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla and husband, action star Robin Padilla. the actress has suffered another miscarriage last August 13. Mariel was reportedly seven weeks pregnant and were earlier ecstatic to announce that they were expecting triplets. In fact, Robin backed out from his 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Nilalang (opposite Japanese adult film star Maria ozawa), due to his wife’s delicate pregnancy. It is still unknown whether he will return to filming. Another sad news is that comedienne Pokwang also recently had a miscarriage, as confirmed by her boyfriend, lee o’Brien in an interview in Celebrity Aksyon last week. Although both saddened by the loss, lee said that they are both trying to move on. “You just have to accept
Former Mrs. Pangasinan winners since 1965 to present are shown in photo during the 50th anniversary celebration of the United Pangasinanes Association, Inc. recently. (L-R) Lourdes Ordond, Marita Padilla, Cely Cayabyab, Cedy Manuel Shore, Edna Roxas, Cynthia Almeron, Liezeles Galsin Junio, Gloria Sendin Junio, Rosana Rosendo and Fe Baronia.
Gloria Junio, the reigning Mrs. Pangasinan is shown dancing with her husband, Vincent Junio, during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the United Pangasinanes Association, Inc. held recently at the South San Francisco Conference Center.
that it hasn’t happened yet,” he said. “It wasn’t timed and it’s something that you definitely have to cope with, deal with. But at the same time it’s not something to stop your life over.” *** the united Pangasinanes of America, Inc. (uPA) celebrated its 50th anniversary – golden Jubiliee recently at the grand Ballroom of the South San Francisco Conference Center. let by its 16th President and former Fil-Am Star Publisher Mario Cendana Panoringan and first lady Norma Camarao-Panoringan, the event was attended by state and local officials, community leaders, members of the media, as well as guests from all over California and the Philipppines. Now being dubbed as the event of the year in the FilipinoAmerican community, the gala banquet and ball was attended by over 550 guests, highlighting the organization’s Annual Pangasinanes Day with past President and Director Emeritus Zosimo de Veas as Executive Chair and past President (now serving as Vice President) Ernesto Abalos as Executive Vice Chair. highlights of the celebration included the presentation of the urduja Award, named after a 14th century heroine, Princess urduja, the woman ruler of the ancient kingdom of tawalisi in Pangasinan; a vast area lying along the shores of lingayen gulf and the China Sea. It is the highest honor given by the organization and are awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves and contributed immensely to the existence and successes of the uPA. those who received the urduja Award are past presidents Franklin Aquino, Fred Almeron, Alvin Padilla, Ernesto Abalos and Chris torres. Also recognized with life Membership Certificates are current and former queens and participants of the Miss Pangasinan talent and Beauty Pageant, and Mrs. Pangasinan Pageant. Immediate past President
what many described as a stirring and moving speech, a fitting tribute in celebrating a golden jubilee – paying homage to the founding fathers and enjoined everyone to continue to reflect on how faithful we have been to their vision and ideals.
Five past presidents were presented the Urduja Award by current President Mario Cendana-Panoringan and First Lady Norma Camarao-Panoringan, during the United Pangasinanes of America, Inc.’s 50th Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner & Ball held last August 15 at the South San Francisco Conference and Event Center. Named after Pangasinan’s 14th century heroine, Princess Urduja, the Urduja Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed to individuals who have contributed and distinguished themselves immensely to the organization. (L-R) Franklin and Caridad Aquino, Fred and Cynthia Almeron, Alvin and Marita Padilla, Ernesto and Flory Abalos and Chris and Emma Torres with President and First Lady Mario and Norma Panoringan.
Daly City Councilman David Canepa will celebrate his 40th birthday with his family, friends and colleagues on Saturday, August 29, at the San Bruno Park at 12noon.
Chris torrest was presented with his Presidential Plaque in recognition of his leadership from 2011-2015. Milpitas Mayor Jose Estevez was the featured guest Speaker. Panoringan, who hails from Pangasinan’s capital town of lingayen, delivered
Michael Arcega: A serious artist... From Page SF2
by showing that magic is not the prerogative of non-Western societies.” he also considers his peers, family, friends, colleagues, many artists and objects as his influences. of course, his success as an artist is not an easy road. For him, one of the biggest challenges is instability. Arcega explained that being able to deal with it allows him to be
resilient and agile. “But over time, it can be annoying,” he said. the other challenge, he added, is economics. “Most artists have to accept that their markers of success are different from common paths. there are no road maps, and often, the roads are bumpy—but sometimes, it is grand and magnificent.” Arcega’s most recent work, ESPYlACoPA: a place, will
be on exhibit at Johansson Projects in oakland until Friday, August 21. he is also working on Auspicious Clouds, a public art commission by the San Francisco Arts Commission and Broadway/Chinatown Streetscape Project expected to be finished in 2016. to know more about Michael Arcega and/or to view his work, visit his site at www. arcega.us
The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 21, 2015
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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 21, 2015