Asian Journal Feb 20 2009

Tales of two monkeys, the bird and the turtle

(Continued on page 10)




Philstar, February 15, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo welcomed the passage of the $787-bil-lion economic stimulus bill by the United States Congress, which would pave the way for the grant of monetary ben-efits to Filipino World War II veterans.

President Arroyo pointed out in a statement that equity for Filipino veterans is at hand with the passage of the stimu-lus bill by both the US House of Representatives and the Senate.

“Despite America’s eco-nomic challenges, the US Congress voted to correct a historic wrong and incorpo-rate the lump sum benefit for our veterans in Section 1002, Title X of the stimulus bill known as the American Re-covery and Reinvestment Act

Equity for World War II veterans passed

WELCOME TO ORIENT VALLEY FILIPINO CUISINE owned by KADP Group, LLC, The Home of Lumpia, Pancit and more. We invite you to visit this beautiful new location at 9951 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92129 next to Armstrong Garden. Phone # (858) 484-9637. We offer dine-in, take-out and catering. The cuisine is currently managed by Teddy Pua and Nancy Cayabyab with extensive experience of over 25 years under their belt; always ready to provide quality service that our customers deserve. See story on page 15.

Orient Valley Filipino Cuisine Opens


Beautiful Philippines

Sinugdan Festival of Limasawa Island in Cebu. Photo by Ferdinand Edralin.

February 20 - 26, 2009

Msgr. Gutierrez EntertainmentGetting Ready

for Lent

Riz A. OadesRichard Gutierrez is King of Hearts

A military skydiver carrying the Philippine flag lands safely during the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clark Field in Pampanga. PhilStar photo by VAL RODRIGUEZ

REDWOOD CITY, CA, February 12, 2009 – The highest-grossing Filipino movie team-up in 2008 is back with a U.S. premiere of the much awaited follow-up to their hit movie, A Very Special Love.

Daisy Romualdez and daughter Danita Paner during the interview at the Roma Room of the Manila Hotel

FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo

Updated

Daisy Romual-dez and daughter Danita Paner during the interview at the Roma Room of the Manila Hotel

When Daisy Ro-mualdez celebrated her birthday last Feb. 6, there was a special glow about her. The reason? As Funfare reported

Much awaited sequel with Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo to screen in LA, SF Bay Area

John Lloyd Cruz to grace U.S. premiere of “You Changed My Life”

John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo

John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo – both named recently as SM Cin-ema Box Office King and Queen in 2008 - reprise the loveable characters of Miggy

Montenegro and Laida Mag-talas, respectively in You Changed My Life.

As part of the 15th anni-versary celebration of TFC,

The prodigal daughter is back

weeks ago, her prodigal daughter Danita Paner came home before Christ-mas last year after having been “AWOL” for several months.

It was an advance birth-day gift for Daisy who has learned how to “loosen up a bit” on Danita and not to be too strict with her.

By James Mananghaya

MANILA, Philippines - Make way for the army of “kulkats” (kulang sa sukat) as the minimum height for re-cruits is now five feet for both males and females.

Previously men must stand 5’4” and women 5’2” before they can join the Army.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Army spokesman, said skilled and talented applicants have been rejected because they failed to meet the height

‘Kulkats’ can now join Army

With the lamp on the ground, Mang Fermin picked up a short stool leaning against the tree, placed it by the

carabao, sat on it and started washing one teat of a carabao with water. With the empty pail placed under the carabao, he pulled down

the teat as milked poured down in the pail. In a short while, he filled up five pails with the milk of the three

carabaos.

By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.Publisher & Editor

The San Diego Asian Journal

See page 5

Quiapo MemoriesA day in the life of the

people of Platerias Street

Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, former comptroller of the Armed Forc-es, is escorted by police officers during the promulgation of his perjury case at the Sandiganbayan . PhilStar photo by BOY SANTOS

By Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philip-pines - A retired Army general suspected of illegally amassing mil-lions of pesos when he was still the military’s comptroller was sen-tenced by the Sandi-ganbayan yesterday to a maximum of two years in prison for perjury in declaring his assets.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division said the prosecution was able to prove how retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Gar-cia made a “willful and deliberate assertion of a factual falsehood” in

Ex-AFP comptroller convicted for lying

his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

The anti-graft court said the retired general failed to declare his multimillion-peso investment account in a military fund and misde-clared the value of his three

vehicles.In a 20-page decision

penned by Associate Justice Jose Hernandez and con-curred in by Associate Jus-tices Gregory Ong and Alex Quiroz, the Sandiganbayan ordered Garcia imprisoned

February 20 - 26, 2009Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.com

Dr. Iem earned her board certifi cation from the American Osteopathic Board of Fam-ily Practice in 2008. Being an advocate of preventative and alternative medicine, Dr. Iem practices a full range of fam-ily medicine including minor offi ce procedures and derma-tologic care. In addition, she is skilled in Osteopathic Manipu-lative Techniques (OMT). Dr. Iem takes pleasure in seeing all ages, with special empha-sis in Women’s Health and skin care.

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The approved lump sum included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009-- $15,000 for US citizens and $9,000 for non-US citizens may provide temporary monetary relief for many. However, this is not a cause for celebration let alone thanksgiving. This is yet another piecemeal legislation that fails to address the grave injustices committed against the Filipinos when on February 18, 1946, the US Congress enacted the Rescission Act that deemed the US military services of the Filipinos inactive, thereby, de-nying them of their rights and privi-leges as American veterans. Of the at least 60 nationalities that served the US during World War 2, the Filipinos were singled out to receive unequal treatment as their American counter-parts who fought side by side with them during the war.

The questions that beg for answers are: How has the lump sum ad-dressed the historical and ongoing humiliation and injustices that are infl icted on the Filipino veterans for the last 63 years? How should the Filipino community and progressive communities move forward with the fi ght for genuine equity?

The Philippine government and some Filipino organizations in the US hail the lump sum as a victory for the veterans. They are rapidly throwing congratulatory remarks one after the other, with the “champions in Congress” at the top of the list, and providing the impression that the lump sum is the fulfi llment of the long fought struggle for equity.

While JFAV waits to see the fi nal language of the lump sum provision, it appears that the “quit claim”—a provision that indicates that upon ac-ceptance of the lump sum, the veter-ans SHALL RELEASE future claims including lifetime pension, was kept intact. Average white American vet-erans have been receiving a monthly pension since 1946. So why would the US government deny the brown Filipinos the same benefi t and recog-nition? During the war, the Filipinos and their American counterparts en-dured the same bombings, starvation, disease, isolation and torture. Why would the Filipinos get anything less? The veterans in the Philippines got an even smaller benefi t by virtue of their nationality and not of US military service. Is this equity?

Lump Sum is NOT EquityThe Rescission Act of 1946 took

away the full recognition of the Filipinos’ military services during the war. Where in the text of the lump sum can one fi nd any attempt to amend or rescind this racist act? If not, then why would one equate lump sum with veterans’ equity? Congressman Bob Filner attempted for the fi rst time to introduce the lump sum in Congress in 2008. This was heavily opposed by veterans with whom Filner was forced to apologize later on, on the ground that a lump sum does not provide the dignity for veterans and actually in effect treats them as mercenaries. Why would a second attempt for a lump sum be treated otherwise?

In reality, the veterans never de-manded for a lump sum. They have always demanded for full recogni-tion, equity and lifetime pension ben-efi t as embodied in S1314 approved 96-1 by the Senate in 2007 and later approved by Congress in 2008 but WITHOUT the Filipino provision.

The Filipino community in the US, through the ABS-CBN Balitang America Town Hall community meeting held in San Francisco, wrote a letter to President Barak Obama asking among other things, that Filipino veterans be granted full rec-ognition and lifetime pension benefi t. THE LUMP SUM IS CLEARLY NEITHER OF THEM.

We recognize the relief, albeit temporary, that the lump sum can provide especially to the impover-ished veterans in the Philippines, who do not avail of the benefi ts like medical and SSI that Filipino veter-ans in the US enjoy. But a historic wrong cannot be rectifi ed by another wrong that attempts to put closure on an unfi nished fi ght.

We believe that at the root cause of the injustice and the unequal treat-ment of the Filipinos is racism. Until the Filipinos are treated equally and fully recognized as American veter-ans and as people worthy of respect and recognition, gross injustice will continually prevail. There will never be a closure of this dark chapter in the history of the world until Filipi-nos are treated as equals.

The fi ght for genuine equity en-compasses not only the desire of the surviving 18,000 veterans but also the widows before the enactment of the law—who get nothing from

the lump sum—and the collective memory of the 250, 000 Filipinos who fought a war not of their own and the 1,000,000 people who suf-fered and died because of a US war in a US territory.

In 1942, the Filipino soldiers and their American counterparts chose to follow US President Roosevelt’s command to defend the Philippines with the complete understanding that the US territory was indefensible and that continued fi ghting would lead to many casualties. It was not pragmatic but the Filipino soldiers did what they thought was the right thing to do. Today, the lump sum appears to be popular among Filipino and US politicians. But for the sake of truth, it must be clearly stated that the lump sum is neither equity nor a tactical victory towards genuine equity and justice. We choose to be on the side of truth.

Injustice anywhere is injustice ev-erywhere. Outside of the lump sum, the Filipino veterans, the surviving widows, the sons, daughters and legal heirs, the political activists, the Filipino and American communities and the people at large who believe in racial equality and veterans’ equity, shall continue to carry on an arduous struggle until justice is completely delivered.

Full and unconditional recognition for the Filipino veterans now!

Lifetime pension benefi t now!Bail out the veterans not the banks!

by Arturo GarciaJustice for Filipino-American Vet-

erans (JFAV)

of 2009. It is fi tting that they hon-ored the past as they build for the future,” the President said.

Under the bill, Filipino war veter-ans living in the US would receive a one-time, lump sum payment of $15,000 while those living outside the US would get $9,000.

Estimates peg the number of Filipino veterans living in the US at 6,000 while those living in the Phil-ippines number around 12,000.

Mrs. Arroyo said the passage of the bill is the culmination of many years of struggle to get the US government to grant the benefi ts due Filipinos who fought under the American fl ag during the Second World War.

“When Franklin Delano Roosevelt called on Filipinos to serve in the US Armed Forces after Pearl Har-bor, our fathers of that greatest gen-

Equity for World War II veterans

passed(Continued from page 1)

eration heeded the call,” she said. “The President of the United

States was our Commander-in-Chief. Filipinos served as US soldiers, fought side by side with Americans, and died under the ban-ner of the Stars and Stripes,” she added.

Mrs. Arroyo said the Filipino veterans, while fi ghting under the American fl ag, suffered through some of the most brutal acts of World War II, including the notori-ous Bataan Death March.

“Yet they prevailed. Together we vanquished the enemy and brought freedom and human dignity back to Asia and the world. Today, that history is about to be completed. History is being set on its proper course and justice is being done to the greatest generation,” she said.

Before yesterday’s signing of the stimulus bill, there was concern that the provision for $198 million in-serted in the bill might be removed because of some criticisms raised by legislators.

With the US in recession and the Republicans refusing to support the bill because they wanted more tax cuts than spending, the compensa-tion of non-American veterans was apparently not a priority of the American government at this time.

However, with the strong backing of a number of legislators, particu-

larly those with Filipino lineage, the provision remained in the stimulus bill and was passed by Congress.

Mrs. Arroyo expressed her grati-tude to Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and California Rep. Bob Filner for consistently working to promote the interests of Filipino veterans in the US Congress.

“We greatly appreciate the leader-ship of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye for making this moment possible. His crucial role will always be honored and remembered,” President Arroyo said.

The President also cited the efforts of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Harry Reid and Richard Lugar, former Senator Ted Stevens, Reps. Darrell Issa and Mike Honda and “every single one of the other US legislators who kept the faith.”

In almost all of her visits to the US, President Arroyo lobbied for the passage of the Veterans Equity bill during her meetings with the members of the US Congress.

“We also owe the success of our efforts to both Filipino and Ameri-can supporters who have patiently and tirelessly lobbied the US Con-gress for years,” she said.

“We look forward to the signing of the stimulus bill by President Barack Obama who has also been a strong supporter of the Filipino Veterans Bill and to our veterans,

thank you for your love of country, for defending our nation, for your sacrifi ce and for inspiring all of us to carry on the fi ght for justice,” she added.

Almost dropped

But Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo admitted yesterday that the bill was in danger of being dropped because of the fi nancial crisis and new priorities of the US government.

Romulo said the Philippines, however, succeeded in getting the US Congress’ approval because the “passage of this bill further cements and strengthens the foundations of our deep and historic partnership.”

“It was a task in which we suc-ceeded because the President herself was our most convincing advocate – reaching out to key players in the US Congress,” Romulo said in a statement.

“Her visit to Washington early this month came at a crucial time: the provision on our veterans was in danger of being dropped in the midst of budgetary diffi culties and demanding and new priorities,” he said.

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Attorney Harris BrumerWest Point GraduateHatchlings (baby turtles) of the Olive Ridley species have made the Pico de

Loro cove in Batangas their home. A PhilStar photo.

By Rose De La Cruz

MANILA, Philippines - The Pico de Loro cove in Nasugbu, Batangas is now home to 83 pawikan hatch-lings (baby sea turtles belonging to the endangered Olive Ridley species) which were believed to have been hatched last November (female adult pawikans lay eggs 50 to 60 days before they become hatchlings), according to offi cials of SM Investment Corp., developer of Pico de Loro and 12 other coves in Nasugbu and its partner, the World Wildlife Fund.

Wesley Caballa, sports and recreation senior manager of Costa del Hamilo Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SM Investment Corp., said the most recent sighting was last Jan. 26 when 83 olive green baby pawikans were seen walking slowly to the sea.

It was a most heartwarming spectacle that greeted the staff of the Hamilo Coast.

The Hamilo Coast project covers 13 coves with a total land area of 5,800 hectares which SM Invest-ment Corp. intends to convert into an eco-tourism destination as it teems with wildlife and biodiversity in its mostly-untouched and pristine green surroundings and virginal coastline.

Aside from pawikan, the coves contain biodiversity that includes 121 species of birds that were surveyed in one day; snakes and reptiles; wild boar; bayawak.

The brackish waters and man-groves are home to numerous schools of fi sh aside from the regu-lar visitation of whales, dolphins, manta sting rays and giant clams that were implanted by the company in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and local divers.

“This is actually the third time since last year that we saw pawikans in our project area. We started the development of Hamilo Coast in 2007 and the fi rst recorded sighting involved 11 hatchlings in Pico de Loro on July 7, 2008 and the second in the Santelmo cove also of Hamilo Coast with 48 hatchlings and now the 83 hatchlings also in Pico de Loro. It is so exciting to see such pleasant distractions during our stay there,” said Joel Cruz, SM Invest-ment Corp. marketing manager.

Another sighting was made last Sept. 15 involving an adult hunch-

Pico De Loro: An ecological paradise in the making

back sea turtle measuring one foot in diameter which the staff of Hamilo in cooperation with fi sher-men properly identifi ed (coded) and released to the sea.

SM plans to make Costa del Hamilo as an ecological paradise even with some medium rise condo-minium apartments, hotel, marina, beach walk and other modern-day facilities for the exclusive use of club members and condo unit own-ers.

“Even when we promote Costa del Hamilo to the condo unit owners, we will lay down the guidelines jointly with the WWF that no pets will be let loose in the area so they do not unnecessarily eat any wildlife specie especially sea turtles roaming the shorelines,” said Paolo Pagad-uan, project manager of Hamilo Coast sustainable development project.

Expected for completion late this year, the fi rst phase of Hamilo Coast will contain amenities like: low impact and low density residential condos; beach and country clubs with complete sports and leisure facilities; retail shops; resort hotels; forest park and marine sanctuaries; marina/yacht club and convention facilities.

The coves are being protected by the SM Investment Corp, WWF, the local government unit of Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu which will soon release an ordinance declaring the coves of Pico de Loro and Elayo as

marine reserves (for limited fi shing activities) and the Santelmo cove as a marine sanctuary, prohibited to fi shing extraction.

requirement.“We realized that not all Filipinos

are blessed with height, but are nonetheless blessed with talent, and of course they want to serve their country,” he said.

Brawner said the AFP deputy chief for personnel has approved the new height requirement for Army recruits.

In the past, the Army lowered the height requirement to recruit Cordil-lerans into the Mountain Battalion that saw action in Mindanao during the campaign against the Moro Na-tional Liberation Front, he added.

Members of the Mountain Bat-talion proved that short people could be soldiers, he said.

Brawner said the Army is set to recruit some 3,000 men for an addi-tional six new battalions for internal security duties.

The funds for the recruitment of new soldiers have already been approved and would come from the AFP budget for 2009, he added.

‘Kulkats’ can now join Army


Okay, okay after waxing romantic about the wonder-

ful trendy shops that have come to the South Bay, I realize that those sentiments appeal to a bygone era. The glitz came to town just as the lights were coming down.

It doesn’t take much to sense the mood. After posting an online discussion topic about “What you are spending your money on these days?” only two friends mustered enough courage to share their thoughts about their current situation. One young man, the father of boys, explained that it was going to an IRA account, the other, a mother of two, said it was going to home repairs to help jumpstart the local economy. That is serious stuff that generates a lot of, you guessed it, dead air.

Like a hangover after too much sake, the sound of the words “It’s the economy stupid!” rang like tinnitis in my ears, the aftermath of too much politicking from three presidencies ago. I didn’t’ realize I had touched a nerve. The topic was too personal for the crowded, inter-generational virtual elbow room of Facebook where humor from anyone below forty could provoke reprimands from embarrassed older relatives with a few strokes on the key-board. I assume that the younger folk would now have to flock to their iPhones and mobile devices to get away from the invasion.

My grown children thought it wise that we steered clear of the spaces we inhabit on so-cial networks. Just for a social experiment, I also invited an

Cheap is chicolder relative in his nineties to join Facebook in the hopes that he would find long-lost relatives like gems in an abandoned mine. Over ninety years old, he is probably the oldest living person on record for that social network. His daughter who works as a medical transcriptionist is help-ing him navigate.

It was the tip of a new demo-graphic of late adopters. Another friend pointed out that baby boomers had invaded the social networking site and are setting new rules of engagement for cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, in-laws, exes, moms and dads and their semi-grown up children who want their space back.

Creating excitement online about all things economic is fraught with trepidation even on the occasion of holidays. I had to humor a friend after asking what the couple’s Valentine’s Day ritual was and getting dead air, or the equivalent of it, by getting a reply stating that each day is special for them or something to that effect. So there I was at the keyboard wondering how I could possibly redeem myself.

It finally dawned on me that humor more that the question of the traditions that come with the holiday of love was the more sensible solution to my predica-ment. I immediately backped-aled. “Oh you know, it was on sale for seventy percent off. Isn’t that the only criteria guys look for? And he doesn’t even know what cubic zirconia means anyway.” It’s okay to laugh now I thought. The joke was credible enough to save myself from fall-ing out of the sky in flames.

Someone should come up with

the rules of engagement on the virtual social frontier. It would be as trendy as the modern book of etiquette for hordes of tech-nology adopters who are seeking shelter from the economic storm in the cheap but chic social malls of networking sites.

In the meantime, remember there is a brave new world out there. And people who have grown children don’t know the rules. Take it from me. Just don’t ask about the economy. Or what their holiday ritual is. Keep your answers witty and brief. Don’t react. And remember to leave room for the people who would like to know what the other nineteen people on the post have to say about the twenty things everyone else is dying to know about each and every one of them. There are other persons in the queue and not just you, and they are probably sending mes-sages behind your back.


by G. Tagudin - Silverio

In Perspective

Read Genny Silverio’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

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for at least one year and eight months or a maximum of two years.

The ruling said the prosecution was able to establish the elements of the crime of perjury as prescribed by Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, including how false testimony under oath was made.

“Accused knew of his capital contribution account with AFPSLAI (AFP Savings and Loan Association Inc.). It is in his name, under which he was able to make several transactions, including deposits and withdrawals on that account from 1989 up to the year 2000,” the decision read.

“As regards the three vehicles in question, the knowledge of the ac-cused of the extent of his properties can hardly be doubted,” the Sandigan-bayan pointed out, rejecting Garcia’s defense that the vehicles are owned by his wife Clarita Depakakibo.

During trial, the prosecution presented evidence of Garcia’s P7 million in deposits and investments in AFPSLAI when he filed his SALN in December 2000.

Garcia, the Sandiganbayan stated, also misdeclared the total value of his Toyota Previa, Mitsubishi L-300 van, and Honda Civic at P870,000 instead of more than P1.5 million.

“All in all, his false assertions, despite his knowledge of his properties especially the three vehicles and his

Ex-AFP comptroller convicted for lying

investment in the AFPSLAI, is willful and deliberate,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“While it is true that good faith is a defense for perjury, the law requires that it be proven by evidence,” it said.

“Could it have been the case that the wife of the accused acquired two of those vehicles and had it registered under her name without the knowl-edge of the accused? Nothing in the evidence shows that the circumstances with respect to accused’s knowledge of his wife’s property were of this character,” the ruling noted.

“Inasmuch as ignorance of the law cannot be set up as an excuse, it is imperative that a valid defense of good faith be established by evidence in order to negate the element of willful and deliberate assertion of falsehood,” the decision read.

The court said Garcia, in filing his SALN for the year 2000, made no entry on the space provided for “cash and bank deposits and investment.”

“Even granting arguendo that there was indeed an honest mistake or inadvertence on the part of the accused in his declaration with respect to his motor vehicles, the same mistake cannot be attributed to his failure to disclose his capital contribution account at AFPSLAI,” the Sandigan-bayan stressed.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Corne-lio Somido, in an interview with The STAR, said Garcia is facing two other forfeiture cases involving alleged unexplained wealth also before the Fourth Division of the anti-graft court.

He said Garcia was also charged with perjury before the Sandigan-bayan’s Second and Third Division but both cases were dismissed.

The AFP meanwhile said the conviction of Garcia by the Sandigan-bayan yesterday only showed that the country’s judicial system is alive and working.

“It’s a clear indication that our justice system is in operation,” AFP Public Information Office chief Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said.

Garcia was earlier convicted by the military tribunal that tried him for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman. He was sentenced to two years of hard labor in prison.

Garcia is now detained at Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame.

Money trail

Garcia’s alleged amassing of ill-gotten wealth first came to the atten-tion of authorities after his son’s arrest in December 2003 by US Customs at the San Francisco airport for failing to declare $100,000 in cash.

Garcia explained that the amount came from “savings, honoraria, and dividends from savings” made through the years. He also said the money was intended as down payment for a con-

dominium unit of his son in New York.Then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo

received information from US Cus-toms about the seized dollars on Sept. 14, 2004.

The Ombudsman then subpoenaed the Armed Forces for Garcia’s SALN and other service records. The AFP de-livered the records on Sept. 21, 2004.

Finding prima facie case against Garcia, the Ombudsman ordered the AFP to suspend him for six months without pay.

The following month, The STAR columnist Jarius Bondoc broke the story on the Ombudsman’s case against Garcia.

The House of Representatives then invited Garcia to a hearing, but he failed to attend because he was con-fined at the University of Sto. Tomas hospital.

The AFP announced court-martial proceedings against Garcia on Oct. 12, 2004 for alleged violation of Articles of War 95 (fraud against the govern-ment), 96 (conduct unbecoming of an

officer and a gentleman), and 97 (dis-orders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and military discipline) for being a green card holder.

The Sandiganbayan on Oct. 29, 2004 granted a petition by the Om-budsman for forfeiture of Garcia’s unlawfully acquired properties.

In November, the Ombudsman filed perjury charges against Garcia for the inaccurate information in his SALN.

Garcia appeared in May 2005 before the Sandiganbayan after a warrant of arrest was issued against him. He was later transferred to Camp Crame.

In December of the same year, the general court-martial convicted Garcia of undeclared wealth and dishonorably dismissed him from service.

On May 22, 2006, the Sandigan-bayan Third Division acquitted Garcia in one of his perjury cases. - Jaime Laude


(619) 423-1504 San Diego(619) 477-8891 National City(619) 855-9687 Chula Vista

(619) 479-5718 Spring Valley


Quiapo Memories

Read Sim Silverio’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Simeon G. Silverio Jr.

The day in the life of the people of Pla-terias Street in the

downtown district of Ma-nila started about thirty kilometers away in the remote rural community of Novaliches where Mang Fermin, a carabao milk vendor, lived.

At the crack of dawn, Mang Fermin woke up inside his family’s nipa hut. As if on cue, his wife, Aling Rosa, was also awakened, and the two went quietly towards the kitchen to start their daily chores. Aling Rosa brewed coffee and boiled rice as Mang Fermin put on his sweater, donned his hat, took a gas lamp with one hand and picked up five metal pails with another. He walked towards the artesian well at the back of the house and placed the lamp on the ground. Then he washed the pails, filled one with water and carried the lamp and the pails towards a mango tree where two of his three cara-baos were tied down for the night. With the lamp on the ground, he picked up a short stool leaning against the tree, placed it by the carabao, sat on it and started washing one teat of a carabao with water. With the empty pail placed under the carabao, he pulled down the teat as milk poured down in the pail. In a short while, he filled up five pails with the milk of the three carabaos. He brought them back to the

A day in the life of the people of Platerias Street

Carabao milk sold in a Philippine highway.

Cheese made from carabao milk.

kitchen and filled long-necked bottles with the milk.

He sat down beside the table as Aling Rosa served him coffee. She placed two empty tin plates and one with heaps of rice on the table. Mang Fermin was tired of carabao milk that morning, so Aling Rosa fetched five newly-laid eggs from the chicken coop as Mang Fermin washed his hands in the batalan (wash area made of bamboo). Mang

Fermin put five heaps of rice on his plate, cracked the shell of an egg and poured its con-tents over the rice. He sprin-kled a pinch of salt and mixed the raw egg with the rice and started eating them with his bare hands in between sips of coffee.

After breakfast he sealed the bottles of milk with banana leaves and placed them in a basket. Aling Rosa placed cheese made from carabao milk that she had prepared the night before in another basket as Mang Fermin put on his shirt and slippers. He put the

baskets on either end of a pole and carried them towards the highway to catch the bus that would take him to Manila.

It was already six o’clock in the morning when he arrived in Platerias Street in Quiapo. He knocked at each of the apart-ments located on the second floor of the business establish-ments and handed the occu-pants their rations of carabao milk and cheese for breakfast. He lingered in the area until the commercial establish-ments opened for business. He delivered his produce to some of them, and took his time engaging some of the busi-ness owners and employees in a conversation. By ten in the morning, he went home.

By six o’clock, four of the seven children of Mr. Galang started taking showers in time for school. The other children were still asleep, expecting to wake up by eight since their school hours were in the afternoon. By the time the four were dressed up, breakfast was ready for them at the table. One after another, they took off for school.

Mr. Galang woke at seven and got ready for work. By eight, he went downstairs to his printing press located on the first floor of their apartment

as workers were coming in for work. He met with Lita, his niece and secretary, who laid out for him the different jobs to be assigned for the day.

“Ano ang sakay ni Amang (What is the job for Amang’s machine)?” he asked. Amang, his stepbrother, operated the automatic, helicopter type, Heidelberg letterpress ma-chine. The machine was always assigned long running jobs, like orders from the Phil-ippine National Bank, one of the shop’s regular clients.

For business cards, the task fell on the smallest of the Minerva letterpress machines, operated by Ando, a son of his distant cousin. Another Miner-va machine operated by Milyo, a pressman from Pangasinan was assigned to print receipts that day while the shop’s small offset machine took care of another long-running job.

Once a job is accepted, it is brought to the composing room where the types were set. If there were photos or art designs needed, the job was subcontracted to the nearby photo engraving shop, which did the cuts (klitse). Long texts were also done by the linotype-setting service next door. The compositor put them all to-gether and prepared the proof

for approval by the clients. Once approved, the job was printed on one of the printing machines. Papers were cut according to their sizes by the cutter, Carding, a cousin of Mr. Galang. Carding also helped out the other binders in doing bindery works as needed.

By ten o’clock, Mr. Galang’s idle landowners friends from Baliwag Bulacan arrived and they had coffee at Amy’s Res-taurant on the corner of Car-riedo and Platerias Streets. The group shot the breeze as two of the landowners bragged about their mistresses. Mr. Galang, who grew up poor in a bar-rio in Plaridel, Bulacan stuck out like a sore thumb among the scions of the rich families of the province. But he was a fun companion, had become a success himself, and was now considered one of their peers.

By eleven, Mr. Galang went back to work and attended to some customers. By twelve, he went upstairs to eat lunch with his family.

At lunchtime, everything was still in the printing press. Ma-

chines were shut down and the workers went to the back to eat lunch. That day, Ando brought with him rice wrapped in banana leaves, and an omelet filled with raisins prepared by his wife. Amang had the same rice wrapped in banana leaves, but he had a piece of fried milkfish to eat it with. Dolpo, one of the binders, was single and could afford to buy lunch from Paradise Restaurant at the corner of Platerias and P. Paterno Streets. He bought rice and bola-bola (meatballs) in sweet sauce, while one com-positor, Mawel, also single, asked him to buy a liver dish and rice for him. Those were the specialties of Paradise Res-taurant, owned by a Chinaman and his Filipina wife. They had a seven-year old son, Pancho, who always looked dopey, with saliva dripping from his mouth.

Amang systematically ate his lunch, first picking a bite of the fried fish, then mixing it with a lump of rice, and finally putting them in his mouth. He


Perspectives

ASIAN JOURNALThe first Asian-Filipino weekly in Southern California

An award-winning newspaper, it is San Diego’s most widely circulated Asian-Filipino newpaper!

In Pursuit of Excellence

Ashley SilverioAssistant Editor

Eugenio “Ego” Osin, (1946 - 1994)Joe Cabrera, (1924 - 1996)

The Asian Journal is published weekly and distributed in all Asian communties in San Diego County. Publication date is every Friday of the month. Advertising deadline is Thursday prior to publication date at 5 p.m. For advertising rates, rate cards, or information, call (619) 474-0588. Subscription by mail is available for $50 per year (56 issues). The Asian Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs but welcomes submissions. Entire content is © 2008 copyrighted material by Asian Journal. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced without specific permission from the publisher.

Genevieve SilverioManaging Editor

Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.Publisher & Editor

Miles BeauchampAssociate Editor

Santi SilverioAssociate Publisher

At Large...

Read Miles Beauchamp’s previous articles by visiting our web-site at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Miles Beauchamp

by Riz A. Oades

Voices & Images

Read Dr. Oades’ s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

Linda’s StoryMaybe he was just in a tranceThey did not discern with a glanceIn a homemade coffin he laidWith the wooden lid not yet nailed.

Linda, a six-year old lassieApproached for a little look seeShe noticed the eyes flickerThe lips asking salt and water.

“He’s alive!” she holleredThe crowd hastily scamperedAfraid he might be a zombieOh, what a fearful melee!

For causing a rumpus, she was scoldedShe didn’t mind being beratedShe left to get the salt and waterTo be useful is what matters.

So big was the water jarThe water was low and farShe bent so low, she fell right inBut she didn’t make a din.

Out she scrambled with the waterShe must hurry and not falterTo help the man was her concernFor he was such a good friend.

By her salt and water he revivedOh how good it was to be alive.Maybe for God he was not readyFor he makes a great penance yearly.

In Lent when Christ is nailed to the crossBy his wish, he is also nailed to the cross,For a while, he really suffersThe pain, to his God he offers.

On the resurrection, when the bells peal,Miraculously his wounds heal.It is really a strange phenomenaBut it is not an anathema.

For God accepts the sacrificesIn return He gives many graces.

The scampering crowd felt sillyFor acting so cowardly.This is Linda’s amusing storyIt’s a sweet lasting memory.

©2008 copyright by Soledad O. Bautista. All rights reserved.

Sol Poetry

Read Soledad Bautista’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Soledad O. Bautista

Filipino literature started with fables and legends of pre-

colonial Philippines down to the Spanish influences. People showcase a rich past through their speeches, myths, legends, rituals, songs, proverbs, riddles, poetry, folk tales, ballads, and dances.

These literary compositions sur-vive in the memory of local poets and old folks and are orally trans-mitted through the ages and genera-tions. Aspects of this vernacular lit-erature are now preserved in novels, short stories, poetry, drama, essays, and other formal written works.

Professor E. Arsenio Manuel recorded a folk tale – “The Bird and the Monkey” -- from Manobo oral tradition in Cotabato province, Min-danao, Philippines. He narrated it toward the end of his presentation in a conference to amuse his audience.

At San Diego State University, I occasionally use this same account to amuse my students, and they enjoy the joke very much. Animal tales are narrative in which animals take on human qualities.

Growing up.

Looking back at one’s roots and origins is one aspect of a fairly

Filipino Folklore & Fables:

Tales of two monkeys, the bird and the turtle

A person who does not remember where he came from will never reach his destination. – A Tagalog Proverb

comprehensive philosophy of life in the Tagalog region --in my case, Lumban, Laguna) where I grew up. I heard the saying from my paternal Lola while still a kid. In a way, this proverb also echoes the Filipino value of utang na loob or one’s debt of gratitude to those who have con-tributed to his or her success.

My in-depth exposure to Filipino folklore and literature was in a class taught by Dr. Francisco Tonogbanua at Far Eastern University in the late1950s. I still remember clearly his opening lecture to us undergraduates:

“The course in Filipino literature, like your Philippine history class is designed to make our students better Filipinos….

“For in Filipino literature, the student may trace the history of Filipino civiliza-tion straight through from the pre-Span-ish times to the present day.…

“The deepest truths of history are to be found, not so much in material things as in the lives and ideals of the people mir-rored in literature and other forms of art....

“The stories, poems, plays, and other types of literature written by Filipi-nos reflect Filipino idealism and reveal beneath the surface an indomitable courage and an unshakeable faith in the mission and destiny of our country.”

This great FEU professor helped me realize that reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life — a behavior that I encouraged my kids to develop. My last interaction with Dr. Tonogbanua was in 1965, but my remembrances of this friend have not been faded by distance. I guess there

is some truth in Henry Longfellow’s poetic line, “The heart has its own memory.”

Rich in Tradition

When the Spaniards arrived in the Philip-pines, they found the Tagalogs had a spoken as well as incipient written language of their own. Unfortu-nately, this group did not use baybayin to write their important history and tradition but instead used it for daily communication and writing poetry. They used oral and folk literature in their daily activities such as in songs, hymns, chants, riddles, prov-erbs, maxims, and fables that were handed down from one generation to another. Each generation adds new things to the old ones.

Folk tales (e.g.., myth, legend, and fable) fasci-nated me long after that class. These are stories handed down from generation to generation, from the remote past, by word of mouth or oral tradition, among ordinary people, especially the peasantry or unlettered people.

I still remember how my kids — while growing up — enjoyed hear-ing the creation or origin myths — the origin of the islands (in which at first there were only the sky, the sea, and a bird), the origin of the races (where God built an oven to bake the white, the black, and the brown races) and the first man and woman (pecked by a bird from a bamboo tree).

The favorite of my kids, however, are fables — brief stories or tales developed to embody morals and introducing animals and sometimes even inanimate things as rational speakers and actors.

My oldest son’s favorites are The Monkey, the Tortoise, and the Banana Tree and Why Dogs Wag their Tails, which I already published here some-times ago.

“Mr. Spider wants

Taligtig Bird & the Monkey The monkey was up a tree o

branch and was yawning when sud-denly the tiny taligtig bird flew into its open mouth. The bird thought of a way out by telling a story.

“Mother is pounding rice,”said the bird.“Ohoho,” replied the monkey,

smiling inwardly, but fearing that he might open his mouth.

“Mother is now distributing the food,” continued the Taligtig.

“Ohoho,” said the monkey who could not open his mouth.

“Mother is now through eating,” narrated the Taligtig.

“Ohoho,” hummed the monkey.“Mother is now being fondled

(hinihipuan na),” said the Taligtig.“Ohoho,” said the monkey.But the monkey would not ope

his mouth for fear of letting the bird out.

“Mother is now enjoying her hus-band,” said the Taligtig.

“Ahaha,” said the monkey, smil-ing outwardly, could not help but opened his mouth wide. Out then the Taligtig bird.

The Tortoise and the Monkey

(A sample of Dr. Rizal’s English. This story was published in a Lon-don magazine in 1889.)

The tortoise and the monkey found once a banana tree floating amidst the waves of a river. It was a very fine tree, with large green leaves, and with roots just as if it had been pulled off by a storm. They took it ashore. “Let us divide it,” said the tortoise, “and plant each its portion.”

They cut it in the middle, and the monkey, as the stronger, took for himself the upper part of the tree, thinking that it would grow quicker for it had leaves. The tortoise, as the weaker, had the lower part that

looked ugly, although it had roots. After some days, they met.

“Hello, Mr. Monkey,” said the tor-toise, “how are you getting on with your banana tree?”

“Alas,” said the monkey, “it has been dead a long time! And yours, Miss Tortoise?”

“Very nice indeed, with leaves and fruits. I cannot climb up to gather them.”

“Never mind,” said the malicious monkey, “I will climb up and pick them for you.”

“Do, Mr. Monkey,” replied the tor-toise gratefully. And so they walked toward the tortoise’s house.

As soon as the monkey saw the bright yellow fruits hanging between the large green leaves, he climbed up and began plundering, munching and gobbling, as quick as he could.

“But give me some, too,” said the tortoise, seeing that the monkey did not take the slightest notice of her.

“Not even a bit of the skin, if it is eatable,” rejoined the monkey, both his cheeks crammed with bananas.

The tortoise meditated revenge. She went to the river, picked up some pointed shells, planted them around the banana tree, and hid her-self under a coconut shell. When the monkey came down, he hurt himself and began to bleed.

After a long search he found the tortoise.

“You must pay now for your wickedness; You must die. But as I am very generous, I will leave to you the choice of your death. Shall I pound you in a mortar, or shall I throw you into the water? Which do you prefer?”

“The mortar, the mortar,” an-swered the tortoise; “I am so afraid of getting drowned.”

“O ho!” laughed the monkey; “indeed! You are afraid of getting drowned! Now I will drown you!”

And going to the shore, he slung the tortoise and threw it in the water. But soon the tortoise reappeared swimming and laughing at the de-ceived, artful monkey.

Comment

We know that pagong is slow but very clever and careful animal. Matsing, on the other hand, is mis-chievous, stupid and dishonest.

Interestingly, we have people in the community that are known for

their shrewd-ness (i.e., tuso) but unfortunate-ly cheated by friends, business associates and “con artists”; hence, the say-ing in Tagalog, “Kung tuso man ang matsing, napapaglalang-in din (“No mat-ter how shrewd the monkey or man is, he can be outwitted by others.”).

Through this column, I hope

I have provided you readers with some materials that help you gain an insight on the historical tradition that forms the base of our contem-porary Filipino culture and society. Stay posted for Biag ni Lam-ang and Hudhud. -- Riz

We all like things of value; today’s col-umn is brimming

with it. The first is the announcement below about Sample U, an amazing new way for businesses, product managers, brand managers and more to get first-hand knowledge about products. And in this economic cli-mate that is more important than ever.

The second reason is my discus-sion of things I wish my parents

had taught me. Here’s the point, use it as a guide to help you avoid the same omissions with your kids. Please note that the list is not complete nor can it be; I have enough trouble with grocery lists much less parenting ones.

Sample U

A Groundbreaking Marketing Research Facility

Sample U, the first product re-search lab of its kind in the nation, opens its doors at Alliant Interna-tional University on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. California

is the nation’s largest product sampling market, but there is lack of feedback for product sampling. The Center for Undergraduate Education at Alliant International University, in a joint effort with Sample U, will offer market re-search services to product man-agers, and offer free products to consumers who visit Sample U to try the new products.

During the month of March, Sample U will run a trial phase with plans to open permanently in May with all new products. Sample U will work together with Alliant’s professors, graduate stu-dents and undergraduate students in the Communication Marketing Public Relations program to help product managers discover new ways to research products

Tryvertising is a new concept of market research and the benefits over current methods, such as focus groups or sampling, lends it-self to the success of this venture. Tryvertising has become popular in Japan and Hong Kong and Al-liant invites you to visit the only U.S. college sample lab.

If I only knew

Things my parents should have taught me

We have many teachers through-out our lives. Parents, school in-structors, college professors, aunts and uncles, ministers and other religious leaders, and friends, are just a few of the individuals we learn from during our time here. But of all the people from whom we learn, our parents probably teach us the most important things. They teach us how to live.

There are some things, how-ever, that our parents fail to teach us - things that are exceptionally important. And that’s what this list is all about. I started think-ing the other day about all of the things I wish my parents had taught me while I was growing up and it seemed that there were quite a few. Here are some of the more important ones.

Things my parents forgot to teach me

1. The worm that the early bird ate probably made it sick;

2. Patience is a gift, so demand it wisely; but always demand it;

3. The car never needs gas until

you’re late;4. The trash never needs to be

taken out until you try to throw something away;

5. Pets know when you are car-rying something very hot;

6. Your child will always know exactly what to do to annoy you the quickest;

7. You will always answer the phone when the person on the other end is someone with whom you don’t want to speak. And yes, caller ID now can help in that regard, but do you always look at the screen before picking up the phone?

8. You will always take your pet to the most expensive vet in town - no matter which vet you take it to;

9. You will always take your pet to the most expensive groomer in town – no matter which groomer you take it to. Don’t take your pet to a groomer? Have you ever smelled anything much worse that a wet dog?

10. No matter how many times you say to yourself “I think I can” sometimes you just can’t;

11. The time you will look the stupidest is around one of your child’s friends;

12. No one can roll his or her eyes at you better than your child – or one of your child’s friends;

13. No one rolls his or her eyes at you more often than your child;

14. There is always another tool you need;

15. The store is out of that tool;16. The tool is on back order;17. The store will never be able

to say when the tool is due to come in;

18. You will always find that tool at the very next store you walk into, even if it’s a bakery;

19. You can never stop a special order or get a refund;

20. They will lose your special order anyway;

21. No one can laugh at you behind your back quicker than a new grandparent. Unless it’s your child;

22. The film is never as funny as you remember it;

23. The restaurant is never as good as you remember it,

24. The one time you need to look brilliant is the one time you won’t.

Now let’s be fair, I am pretty sure my parents did teach me much of all that and I didn’t listen. But do any of us really want to blame ourselves?

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It could be any other street in San Diego County. Like those tall weeds, scary signs are sprouting almost every where. There is no safe neighborhood anymore. Some times it is the ugly sight of unkempt yard on abandoned house. Other times it is a series of newer homes in a seemingly ghost town. Almost every neighborhood is now expe-riencing the Nightmare on Elm Street and it’s not even close to Halloween. This is real and scarier than any Horror movie. Yes, I’m talking about home loan foreclosures.

Last year, 2008 was a histori-cal year in terms of Real Estate market in San Diego. Home prices are still going down and the number of applications for foreclosures and bankruptcies are growing in large numbers everyday. The housing market is surely affecting a lot of business-es. Layoffs are very common and plenty of small businesses are barely making it or just died.

This is another depressing tax season for me after listen-ing to people’s current situa-tions. I wish I could do more for them but, I could only offer my personal opinion based on my knowledge. The housing prob-lem is deep and realistic. This is no time to blame anybody or yourself. This is reality and calls for an immediate action. Forget about the pride and the super egos but, it’s time to accept responsibilities. Do what you have to do to survive this mess. The fantasy years are over and this is it and this is life. We could learn from our failures and hope for a better future. What else can we do?

For homeowners in distress,

please don’t create another mess while trying to solve your cur-rent problems. If you are using your retirement savings like 401k or credit cards in trying to save your house, think harder. In a few months you may still end up losing your home and also broke with large tax liabilities next year. Why not talk to your spouse, your children or imme-diate families to find a solution or make a sane decision. There is no shame in going back to an apartment or your parent’s home. Remember that you are not alone but, there are plenty of Filipino families in the same situation. If you think your life now is in bad shape, believe me that there are more people out there who have worst cases than yours. You are just losing your house while other people are losing their battle against terminal illness.

Yes, losing a home hurts espe-cially if you lived on it for many years and have small children. There is no way we can go back in time but we can only try to fix what we broke. At least for most Filipinos there is an option to pack their belongings and go home to retire in the Philippines.

For now, communication is the key. Talk to professionals and request for help. Talk to your lenders for possible loan modi-fication or inquire about recent government programs that will help save your home.

Beware of scammers who will give you false hope and more problems. Gambling is not the answer but, can only add to your misery. You can dream of big winnings but, the dream may also end up with a Nightmare on Elm Street.

Nightmare on Elm Street


Health

AN APPLE A DAY By Tyrone M. Reyes, M.D.

No matter where they live in our vast and wonderful planet, people are people. But if all humans share a common biologic backbone, the peoples of the earth display a remarkable diversity of cultural norms. Language, religion, fam-ily structure, governance, music, dance, sports, and clothing are all subject to amazing cultural differ-ences. And the human diet is every bit as diverse as the other cultural traditions. All people eat to live, but the foods they choose depend on com-plex interactions between climate, geography, national resources, religion, and tradi-tion. Each culture has its signature dishes; for example, Asians are noted for rice, noodles, and soy; Italians for pasta and bread; Germans for meat and potatoes; the French for wine and cheese; and the Latinos for corn, beans, and rice. As migration, travel, and the global economy shrink our world, dietary diversity has diminished. But before va- ri-ety becomes an exception, we should consider adopting the best nutritional traditions from other cultures, not just for the occasional pleasure of ethnic dining but as a healthful pattern for everyday life. And one of the best patterns is the traditional Mediterranean diet.

A Mediterranean eating pattern was first identified more than 50 years ago as part of a study of health and habits in seven countries — Greece, Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, and Yugoslavia. One of its most intrigu-ing findings was that people living in Crete, other parts of Greece, and Southern Italy lived longer and had the lowest rates of heart disease in

The Mediterranean diet: A recipe for long

life and good healthspite of a high-fat diet and limited medical care.

What Is It?

Although the Mediterranean Ba-sin occupies only a small fraction of the earth, there is considerable dietary diversity within the region. When nutritionists speak of the tra-ditional Mediterranean diet, though, they refer to a centuries-old dietary

pat-

tern that has

flourished in Crete, various rural regions in the rest of Greece, and parts of Southern Italy and France. And that pattern has 10 characteris-tic features:

1) An abundance of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, and other plant foods.

2) An abundance of unrefined grains, such as whole grain cereals and bread.

3) Olive oil as the major source of fat.

4) Fish in moderate to high amounts.

5) Fruit as the typical dessert, with sweets containing honey or sugar consumed several times a

week in low to moderate amounts.6) Yogurt, cheese, and other dairy

products consumed daily in low to moderate amounts.

7) Four or fewer eggs consumed per week.

8) Poultry consumed in moderate to large amounts and red meat in low amounts.

9) A reliance on locally grown, fresh, minimally processed foods.

10) Alcohol consumed in moder-ate amounts, usually as wine with meals.

Although the farmers of Crete did not analyze the nutrients in their di-ets, modern scientists have run the numbers. The traditional Mediterra-nean diet is high in complex carbo-hydrates and fiber but low in simple sugars, moderate in unsaturated fat, moderate in proteins, and moderate in alcohol. It’s also tasty, but does it work? Yes, it does, if we base

it on the many research studies done previously in Europe.

Studies In Greece And Europe

And here are some recent studies that further prove the beneficial effects of the Mediter-ranean diet:

• A study of 22,043 adults in Greece found that

people who adhered to the traditional Mediterranean diet enjoyed a lower mor-

tality rate than those who did not. Compared to people with

the least traditional diets, people with the best diets were 33 percent less likely to die of heart disease and 24 percent less likely to die of any cause during the 44 months of the study. And benefit depended on the overall Mediterranean dietary pattern rather than any individual nutrients; olive oil won’t help unless you include the other good stuff in your diet.

• A study of 74,607 men and women, aged 60 or older, in nine European countries found that following the principles of the Mediterranean diet was associ-ated with increased survival and longevity. Protection was consistent in Mediterranean as well as in non-Mediterranean countries.

• A study of 2,339 people between the ages of 70 and 90 in 11 Europe-

an countries linked the Mediterra-nean diet to a 23-percent reduction in the overall mortality rate. And when exercise, moderate alcohol use, and avoidance of tobacco were added to the diet, the death rate was reduced by more than 50 percent.

• A study of 1,302 Greek pa-tients with heart disease found that greater adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet was associ-ated with a lower death rate during nearly four years of observation.

• A study of 1,926 Greek adults found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet enjoyed a 27-percent decrease in the likeli-hood of acute coronary artery syndrome.

• A study of 11,323 Italian heart attack survivors found that pa-tients who succeeded in adopting a Mediterranean diet were only half as likely to die during 6.5 years of observation as patients who did not succeed in improving their diets.

More Support From U.S. Stud-ies

There was more encouraging news a little more than a year ago, when the Archives of Internal Medicine issue of December 10/24, 2007, published results from an American study. In a long-term investigation of 400,000 men and women, the results confirmed the beneficial effects of the Mediterra-nean diet. Those whose eating pat-terns closely matched the Mediter-ranean diet were about 20 percent less likely to have died of heart disease, cancer, or any cause, over a five-year follow-up period.

In addition, a Mediterranean-type diet seems to be as good for treating heart disease as it is for preventing it. In the Heart Institute of Spokane Diet Intervention and Evaluation Trial (THIS-DIET), heart attack survivors following this type of diet were less likely than their counterparts on a more typical American diet to have died or suffered a second heart attack, a stroke, or an episode of unstable angina over a two-year period. The study was published in the June 1, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

Are you trying to lose weight? A Mediterranean diet trumps a low-fat diet. Results of a two-year head-to-head comparison study, published in the July 17, 2008 issue of the

New England Journal of Medicine showed that the Mediterranean diet yielded greater weight loss and was better at easing low-grade inflam-mation, a process linked to heart disease. Among the volunteers with diabetes, the Mediterranean diet yielded better fasting blood sugar and insulin levels.

How It Works

The Mediterranean diet works because it has lots of the things that can protect you from heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illness-es; the list includes dietary fiber, vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, and fish, as well as the moderate amounts of alcohol that also appear to protect the heart. At the same time, it shuns items that are harm-ful, including saturated fat from animal sources, trans fat from par-tially hydrogenated vegetable oils, salty processed foods, and rapidly absorbed simple carbohydrates. The net results include lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, higher levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol, lower levels of blood sugar and insulin, and lower blood pressure readings.

In addition, a randomized clinical trial of 180 patients with the meta-bolic syndrome, a major precursor of cardiovascular disease, found

that the Mediterranean diet reduced body weight, improved arterial function, and lowered levels of C-reactive protein and other markers of vascular inflammation. Re-searchers have also demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet produc-es similar risk factor improvements even in healthy adults.

Postscript

When doctors prescribe the Medi-terranean diet, they are advising the traditional diet present in Crete and certain other rural areas in Southern Greece, Italy or France. But with globalization, the traditional dietary pattern is eroding. In the Mediter-ranean, as in much of the world, the Western preference for processed foods that are high in fat, salt, sug-ar, and calories but low in fiber, is taking hold. Olive oil and wine are still in vogue, but exercise is not. Over the past 30 years, the Greek waistline has expanded drastically; the prevalence of obesity is now as high or higher than any area of the world except certain Pacific islands. Diabetes is also rampant, and an epidemic of heart disease may just be a heartbeat away.

So, here’s the take-home advice: When in Greece, do as the Greeks used to do!


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Read previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjo-urnalusa.com

by Atty. Rogelio Karagdag, Jr.Member, State Bar of California & Integrated Bar of the Philippines

Phil - Am Law 101


The concept of “dual citizenship” originally refers to a Filipino who is born a citizen of both the Philip-pines and of another country. A classic example of this is a person who is born in the United States of Filipino parents. To illustrate, let us take the case of Ingram who was born in the U.S. in 1984. “Just Once” was very popular and be-came his parents’ love song, which explains why they gave him that peculiar name. His parents were then still immigrants as they became naturalized Americans only in 1987.

In Ingram’s case, there appears to be a conflict between Philippine and U.S laws. The Philippines follows the jus sanguinis (right of blood) doctrine, while the U.S. follows the jus soli (right of soil) doctrine. If we follow Philippine law, Ingram is a Filipino citizen because the 1973 Philippine Constitution says that a person born to a Filipino father or mother is a natural-born Filipino citizen. On the other hand, under the U.S. Constitution, a person born in U.S. soil is a U.S. citizen. To reconcile these two laws, Ingram is deemed as a dual citizen of both the Philippines and the United States.

Since Ingram was born in the U.S. and has lived there most of his life, he has a U.S. birth certificate and carries a U.S. passport. Now already 28, he wants to go to the Philippines to study and perhaps to start a new life there. But Philippine immigration law allows him only one year of stay and the universities there charge foreigners much higher tuition fees. Ingram is thinking of invoking his Philippine citizen-ship to do away with these hassles. Somebody told him that he has always been a Filipino citizen. What he heard is correct, but he needs to take some action to document his Filipino citizenship. The procedure is called Recognition of Philip-pine Citizenship. What he needs to do is to submit a petition to the Bureau of Immigration with copies of his birth certificate, passport, his parents’ marriage contract, and other supporting documents to prove that

Dual Citizenshiphis parents (or at least one of them) were still Filipino citizens at the time of his birth. If approved and affirmed by the Secretary of Justice, Ingram will receive his Identifica-tion Certificate as a Filipino citizen.

The case of Byron is different. He was born in the Philippines of Filipino parents. As such, he is a 100% Filipino citizen at birth. Later, he joined the U.S. Navy and became a naturalized American. After his retirement from the service, Byron found a nice high-paying job. De-spite his success in America, Byron discovers that his heart truly belongs in the Philippines. He plans to go home and engage in agriculture. He also plans to buy some properties for his house and business.

Unlike Ingram, Byron only had one citizenship at birth and he lost it when he became a U.S. citizen. There is no Philippine citizenship to recognize anymore. As a foreigner, his land ownership is also restricted. Byron intends to buy 20 hectares of coconut land for his copra business, which is more than the allowable 3 hectares of rural land allowed to former Filipinos.

Fortunately for Byron, the Philip-pines now has Republic Act No. 9225, the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.” Under this law, Byron can reacquire his Filipino citizenship. In fact, the law declares “that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philip-pine citizenship under the conditions of this Act.” The procedure under this new law is quite simple. Byron simply has to present his birth certificate plus passport photos to the nearest Philippine consulate and, for a fee of just $50.00, he can take his oath as a Filipino citizen. He can even apply for a Philippine passport afterwards.

The United States recognizes dual citizenship, but some concerns have been raised that taking the oath of Philippine citizenship may amount to a renunciation of U.S. citizenship. According to the “Advice About Possible Loss of U.S. Citizenship

and Dual Nationality” issued by the Department of State, dual citizen-ship can cause loss of U.S. citizen-ship only “if performed voluntarily and with the intention of relinquish-ing U.S. citizenship”. It adds that the taking of a mere routine oath of allegiance to a foreign country carries with it the presumption that the person intends to retain his U.S. citizenship. In light of this, the Oath of Allegiance required by RA 9225 does not contain any indication of relinquishing one’s U.S. citizenship. It reads:

“I,________________, solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and local orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines, and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and al-legiance thereto, and that I impose this obligation upon myself volun-tarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”

So, no worries for Byron. He can go ahead and enjoy the best of both worlds. He can purchase the coconut farm and do business in the Philip-pines. He can travel back and forth the United States and the Philip-pines as often and for as long as he wants. He can enjoy the warmth of the Philippines under the protection of the world’s most powerful nation.

Announcement : Free Consulta-tion in Manila

We will be in Manila the whole month of March. If your loved ones are interested in consulting with us there, they can contact our Manila office at 522-1199 or 526-0326 to schedule an appointment. We will be offering free consultation. Taga-log po ang usapan kaya hindi sila dapat mag-alangan. Meanwhile, our National City office inside the S&S Travel will continue entertaining your inquiries. Please visit our office or call (619)475-3262. Salamat po !

Atty. Rogelio Karagdag, Jr. is licensed to practice law in both California and the Philippines. He practices immigration law in San Diego and has continuously been a trial and appellate attorney in the Philippines since 1989. He travels between San Diego and Manila. His office address is located at 16486 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 228, San Diego, CA 92128. He also holds office in National City inside the S&S Travel Agency at 2409 E. Plaza Blvd. Please call (858)348-7475 & (619) 475-3262 for your free consul-tation. We also encourage readers to write us questions about both U.S. immigration and Philippine laws to be future topics in this column. Our email is [email protected].

by Ofelia Dirige, DrPH, RD

We need to motivate and help people make healthful choices, but we also

need to create environments that make the healthful choice, the easy

choice. -- Jim Sallis PhD.

Kalusugan Community Services (KCS) along with Champions for Change: Network for Healthy Cali-fornia, is conducting grocery tours this February at the Seafood City stores in San Diego. This activity is part of KCS’s Healthy Eating Cam-paign (HEC) to prevent overweight and obesity across generations.

The first tour will be held March 22, Sunday from 3:00-4:00 PM at the Seafood City in Mira Mesa located at 8955 Mira Mesa Blvd, Mira Mesa CA 92126. The second is on February 28, Saturday, at 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Seafood City in Nation-al City located at 1420 East Plaza Blvd, National City, 91950. Tours to Manila Seafood and Seafood City in Chula Vista to be held in March will be announced later.

Free grocery tours at Seafood City All tours will highlight the avail-

able healthy options at these grocery stores. Our survey showed that many healthy foods are sold at Seafood City but not very many people know about them. Fresh fruits and vegetables for example, are plenti-ful. So are various kinds of fishes, lean meats, brown rice, low fat chips and snacks, low calorie drinks, low fat milk and cheese and low salt soy sauce.

KCS advocates and staff will conduct the tours, showing people the nutrient content of the food items mentioned above and provide food samples of the healthy items for participants to taste. There are 15-20 advocates trained to conduct the grocery tours and taste testing at restaurants. They are: Boodgie Arce, Demy Din, Arlito & Rebecca Re-closado, Femie Cupit, Mary Grace Sadile, Marissa Acierto, Fe Rivero, Pressy Garrovillas, Beth Dalindin, Willy & Prosie Batac, Angie Tan, Veronica Papa, Yolanda Nangpi, and Lily de Guzman. Handouts and free

gift items will be given out.Data from the state have shown

that 46 % of Asian adults are over-weight or obese. Among Asians, Filipinos have the highest rates of obesity or obese adults at 49%, Among Filipino children grades 5,7 and 9, almost 25% are over-weight compared with 18% of Asian children. A 2000 survey conducted by KCS showed 46% of FilAms are overweight and 13% obese. These percentages closely parallel those of the state data.

The rise in obesity is partly explained by a change of diet and lack of exercise among Filipino im-migrants. Once in the United States, many Filipinos alter their healthy diet of rice, fish, fresh vegetables and fruits to one of fatty meats, high sugar desserts, and sodas with virtually no vegetables and fruits. Likewise, their U.S. born and raised children love to eat hamburgers, french fries, pizzas, hotdogs and sodas.



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Floats bedecked with flowers take part in a Valentine’s Day fluvial parade at Burnham Park as part of Baguio City’s Panagbenga Festival. The sum-mer capital is gearing up for its centennial celebration, with more than 300 events lined up until Dec. 31. PhilStar photo by Andy Zapata jr.

Nurse Eugene Padua offers flowers and a ring to his girlfriend Marian Ocampo, a flight attendant of Asiana Airlines, in a marriage proposal at the NAIA arrival area two days before Valentine’s Day. Ocampo accepted the proposal. RUDY SANTOS

By Rudy Santos Philstar

MANILA, Philippines - Nurse Eugene Padua conspired with air-port policemen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to spring a surprise on his girlfriend, a flight attendant based in Korea, as she ar-rived at the airport yesterday.

Eugene, 26, approached Lieuten-ant Joselito Mutya, asking if he and his relatives and friends – as well as five members of the Angono Nation-al Band – could meet his girlfriend, Marian Ocampo of Asiana Airlines, at the NAIA arrival area.

Mutya coordinated with action officer of the day Manny Rodriguez,

Nurse proposes marriage to

stewardess at NAIA

and the two men set up the band at the curbside to make the proposal more romantic, and so that they would not hamper foot traffic at the arrival area.

Upon her arrival, Marian said she was initially surprised and worried when airport policemen approached her and escorted her towards the curbside, where she was met by Eugene and the band playing the song “Swept Away,” popularized by

Christopher Cross.Eugene then knelt on one knee

and, offering her a bouquet of fresh flowers and a diamond ring, asked her, “Will you marry me?”

Marian was speechless for a few seconds before answering with a loud “Yes!” A crowd of people, including several airport police-men and employees, shouted their approval.

Eugene and Marian met in August 2006 when their friends set them up on a date. The two became engaged two months later.

Eugene said they only meet once a month, during Marian’s 10-day furloughs, because she is based in Korea. He told reporters they plan to get married early next year, and want to have two children.

“I realized that the young today are different from those of my time,” said Daisy. “They are more impulsive, mas mapusok. Danita can go out with friends and if she comes home late, all she has to do is call me.” After all, she’s turning 20.

“I have learned my lesson, too,” admitted Danita who, without Daisy’s knowing it, was taken care of by her father, Manny Paner, who rented a pad for her and made sure that, you know, she “behaved.”

In fact, Danita agreed to be a guest singer in the Valentine concert Daisy produced under her own production.

“I have apologized to Mommy,” said Danita, “and we never looked back. Wala nang sumbatan. Move on na lang kami pareho.”

Daisy is now giving Danita a free hand in deciding whether to continue her rudely-interrupted singing career or not.

“It’s up to her,” said Daisy. “I’m sure that when she has her own children, she will understand that I had to be strict with her only because, like any mother, I just wanted to protect her. Look at Tina (Paner, Daisy’s other daughter now in Spain). Nang magka-anak, she told me,

The prodigal daughter is back

‘Mommy, now I understand kung bakit ka ganyan.’ Danita will know when the time comes.”

FOB soloist’s girlfriend a Pinay

Patrick Stump, the lead vocalist of Fall Out Boy (which performed at the Big Dome last night), has a soft spot for the Philippines because his girlfriend is part-Filipina.

“That’s why I love adobo,” he told Funfare in a one-on-one four hours before he and fellow FOB Pete Wentz (bassist), Andy Hurley (drummer) and Joe Trohman mounted the stage. “She cooks it all the time. She’s here with me.”

It’s the FOB’s second visit here.Asked how he usually spends

Valentine’s Day, Patrick (who sat for the interview with Joe whose body is decorated with colorful tattoos), Patrick said, “Just like everybody else. But then, we are usually on the road, so I spend Valentine’s either in advance or later.”

And what song would he court a girl with?

“A Nat King Cole song, definitely! I’m a big fan of the icon.”

Before coming, the FOB guys per-formed in Japan and Singapore.

“We love it here,” said Patrick. “Per-forming here is much less stressful than performing in other places.”

The quartet’s latest album is Folie a Deux, released locally by MCA Music,

Inc.

Pinoy siblings turning heads in Sweden

Here for a visit is Lariemar Duroy Krokvik with his mother, Nelda Duroy (who is from San Isidro, Northern Sa-mar). A record producer back in Sweden where the Krokviks are based (dad is Lars Krokvik), Lariemar got his love for music from Nelda who was a performer when she was younger. He started writ-ing songs at age 13 and soon learned how to produce his own music.

He competed in the Swedish Melody Festival, placing 10th in the finals. Now an established artist/producer/song-

writer, he writes songs for other artists including his little sister Lani-Kae.

Born in 1993 in Vasteras, Sweden, Lani-Kae attended dance classes. At age nine, she won the Swedish cham-pionship in disco dancing. She started singing with the school choir.

The siblings want to try their luck here. Lariemar and his parents will be back with Lani-Kae in June.

Lucita finds a new love

Widowed for more than 11 years (her husband, character actor Rodolfo “Boy” Garcia, died in 1998), Lucita Soriano has found a new love in the person of Michael Meir, 72, whom she’s marrying

today in Sacramento, California, where Lucita lives (and works for a Chris-tian group which raises funds for the homeless in the Philippines). Officiating pastor is Wally Magdangal. A widower, Meir is a civil engineer whose three children are all engineers.

In a phone chat with Funfare, Lucita said that she and Meir met during a Bible study.

“Answered prayer,” said Lucita. “Pinagdasal ko talaga na sana Born-Again din ang mapangasawa ko.”

The newlyweds will spend their honeymoon in Texas with the family of Lucita’s son Gary Boy who is married to a medical technologist with whom he has two kids.


by Atty. Susan V. Perez

Legal BriefRead Atty. Susan Perez’s previous articles by

visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

Work Visas/Green Cards thru Employment• Family Visas• Student, Trainee, Tourist, Investors, Visas • Reinstatement of Petition • Deportation Defense• International Adoption• Appeals, Motions to Reopen/Reconsider• Battered/Abused Spouse• I-601 Waivers (Hardship)• Consular Support in Manila• Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys are also avail• able in our office.

IMMIGRATION (619) 819-8648Speak directly with an Attorney for FREE

The Law Offi ces of SUSAN V. PEREZ offer the following services:

We also handle ALL PHILIPPINE cases and have an offi ce in Manila to service your needs there.

*Susan Perez is a licensed attorney both in the State of California and the Philippines. She has eighteen (18) years of combined experience in both jurisdictions in the areas of Immigration, Family, Appellate, Juvenile Dependency, Civil, Criminal, Labor, Contracts, Tax, and Business Law. She is also admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit of the Court of Appeals, and the District Courts of Southern California and Central District of California. She is a Certifi ed Public Accountant and pursuing Master’s of Law at the University of San Diego.

Nagsasalita ng Tagalog asin Bicol.

Walk-ins are welcome from 8:30 to 6:00, Monday thru Friday.

San Diego Office: Manila Office:2220 India St., Suite 3 Suite 2502-A East TowerSan Diego CA 92101 Philippine Stock Exchange CentreTel. No. (619) 819-8648 Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig CityFax No. (619) 923-9555 Tel. Nos.: (632) 687-2565 / 687-9851 Email: [email protected] Fax No.: (632) 687-2565

Atty. Susan V. Perez

Family relationships serve as a basis to apply for legal permanent residence status. I became a legal permanent resident through my father. I was a child when my father filed a petition on my behalf. I waited for ten years before my visa finally arrived. By then, I was already an adult but still single. Child is defined as unmarried and under 21 years old. It includes adopted children but adoption must have occurred before the 16th birthday except if you are adopting a sibling of an adopted child. In this case, 18 years is the age limit. It doesn’t matter if the first child adopted was the 18 years old. If you adopt a natural sibling whose age is below 16 the 18 year-old can still be petition.

For adopted children, the law re-quires two years physical and legal custody. Most U.S. citizens who wish to adopt children from the Philippines are unable to comply with the two-year physical custody requirement because they have jobs in the U.S. which they would lose if they stay in the Philippines for an extended period of time. The two-year legal custody requirement is easier to comply. They just need to wait for two years from the time the decree of adoption is issued. In case of orphan adoption, there is no need for two years physical and legal custody. A child is considered an orphan because of the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from, both parents, or if the sole or surviving parent is incapable of providing the child with proper care and irrevocably releases the child for emigration and adoption. In orphan adoptions, the petitioner must be a U.S. citizen. If married, the spouse must join the petition. If the petitioner is single, he or she must be at least 25 years old.

The immigration process of an orphan child adopted from the Philippines must comply with the procedures under the Hague Con-

Orphan Adoption under the Hague Convention

vention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). The Hague Adoption Convention is an international treaty to safeguard intercountry adoptions and applies to countries who joined the treaty such as the United States and the Philippines. The first step is to find an accredited adoption service pro-vider which will conduct the home study of the adopting parent. A list of these provides can be found in the State Department website. The second step is to file the I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child form a Convention Country, along with the home study and other documents with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the I-800A is approved, the I-800, Petition to Classify Conven-tion Adoptee as Immediate Relative must be filed. USCIS will review the I-800 to determine if the child qualifies as a Convention adoptee. .

As soon as Form I-800 is pro-visionally approved, it will be forwarded to the visa issuing post for final approval. The petitioner will be contacted by the National Visa Center that the papers have been forwarded to U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. The consulate or embassy will then contact the petitioner with instructions for the next step and documents needed. Among the documents needed for the initial interview are: DS-230 parts 1 and 2, child’s birth certifi-cate, pictures and passport of the child, and results of physical exam of the child.

The petitioner should not adopt or obtain custody of the child until the consulate or embassy issues the Article 5 letter. After the petitioner receives the Article 5 letter, only then should he or she files the adop-tion or obtain custody of the child. After the adoption decree is submit-ted to the consulate or embassy,

the petitioner will be contacted for interview.

The consular officer will review the I-800 for approval. One ground for denial of the I-800 is when the petitioner completed the adop-tion of the child or acquired legal custody of the child before the provisional approval of Form I-800. Another ground for denial of the I-800 is when the petitioner or any adult member of the household had met with, or had any other form of contact with, the child’s parents or legal custodian unless the contact is permitted by law. Contact is permitted if: 1) the first contact occurred after USCIS had approved the Form I-800A and after the competent authority of the Conven-tion country had determined that the child is eligible for intercoun-try adoption and that the required consents to the adoption have been given; or 2) the competent author-ity of the Convention country had permitted earlier contact; or 3) the petitioner was already before the adoption, the father , mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, first cousin, second cousin, nephew, niece, husband, former husband, wife, former wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daugh-ter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother or half-sister of the child’s parent(s).

At the final interview, the con-sular officer will approve or deny the I-800. If approved, a U.S. visa will be issued to the adoptee. The IH-3 visa is issued to the child who was adopted in the home country and the child becomes a U.S. citi-zen as soon as he or she entered the United States as long as he or she is under 18 years old. The IH-4 visa is issued to the child who will be adopted in the United States. They do not automatically become U.S. citizens upon entry to the United States. They are legal permanent residents until the adoption be-comes final.

We welcome your feedback. If you have any immigration ques-tions, please feel welcome to email me at [email protected] or contact us at 619 819 -8648 to arrange for a telephone consulta-tion.

*Susan V. Perez, Esq. is a licensed attorney in California and Philippines. She owns a law office in San Diego, California. She specializes in U.S. Immigration and Family law. She is fluent in Taga-log. For more info, please visit her website: www.law-usimmigration.com.

(Continued from page 9)Poor diet is compounded by the

pressures of daily life—jobs, rela-tionships, kids—leaving many no time for leisure and physical activity. Immigrants and young people, for example lead stressful and sedentary lives that inevitably weaken their immune system and well-being.

The food outlets in Filipino neighborhoods can play a vital role in reversing this dangerous trend in the Filipino population. For one, they can provide more healthful food choices to their customers. A recent survey of Filipino restaurants shows that few of them offer healthy dishes of low fat entrees, steamed or non-fried vegetables, fruits for des-sert, broiled or grilled meats or fish, low calorie drinks and whole wheat breads. There is also an increas-ing tendency for bigger portions of foods served in some restaurants – especially rice.

Grocery and convenience stores should be encouraged to offer more low-fat meats, low-fat hot-dogs, whole grain cereals, low-fat

Free grocery tours at

Seafood City

muffins, low-fat chips, and low calorie drinks. They should promote consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables and fishes. By doing so, they encourage customers not only to be healthy but also increase their business and profits.

Filipino consumers should be made aware of the dangers of overeating and obesity that lead to a higher risk for heart disease, some forms of cancer, stroke, diabetes, gall bladder disease, arthritis, hyper-tension and high blood cholesterol. They also cause psychological dis-orders such as depression, complica-tions of pregnancy, menstrual irregu-larities, asthma, breathing problems, sleep apnea, increased surgical risks and premature death. Earlier projec-tions revealed that obesity due to poor nutrition and lack of activity may become the number one killer of Americans by the end of 2010.

Impressed by the novelty of the project, The California Endowment (TCE) awarded KCS a half million dollar grant beginning August 2006 to July 2009, to work with restaurant and grocery store owners, encourag-ing them to increase the availability of healthy options served or sold to their Filipino customers.

KCS organized a broad-based coalition of individuals and agen-cies, advisory committee, and

trained advocates to assist staff carry out project goals and objectives. Currently, there are 10 participating restaurants in the Campaign. Seven are in National City/Chula Vista area: Conchings, Goldilocks, JNC Pinoy Mart, Lutong Bahay, Pinoy Fiesta, Point Point Restaurant, and Villa Manila. Three are in North Cit-ies such as Bechay’s Pancit & Grill, Manila Fast Foods, and R & B Cui-sine. The four Seafood Cities in SD are also participants in the project. One will notice that gradual changes are taking place in the foods they serve or sell as well as in the eating environment of these food outlets.

KCS staff running the project include: Dr. Ofelia Dirige, Director; Dr. Riz Oades, Administrator; Dr. Aurora Cudal, Staff Coordinator, and Chris Feraro, Administrative As-sistant. Individuals who need more information should contact either Dr. Ofelia Dirige or Chris Feraro at (619) 477-3392 or send e-mail to [email protected].

Those who want to sign up for the tour in Mira Mesa, should call Willie & Prosie Batac at (858) 368-9504 or Angie Tan at (858) 484-8763 or send e-mail to [email protected]. For tours in National City, call Boodgie Arce at (619) 245-5091 or Demy Din at (619) 682-7424 or send e-mail to [email protected].


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EntertainmentMovies to Watch

(Following are movies now showing or soon to be shown in San Diego.)

by Simeon G. Silverio Jr.

Everlasting Moments - A moving and richly nuanced tale of a Swedish woman’s creative and emotional awakening at the turn of the 20th century. When a young working class woman named Maria (Maria Heiskanen) wins a camera in a lottery, her first impulse is to sell it for grocery money but instead she decides to keep it, changing her whole life. The camera grants Maria new eyes with which to see the world, and brings a charming young photographer (Jesper Christensen) into her life. Maria’s pictures begin to narrate the reality in which she lives. She documents poverty, change, the joys of life and the outbreak of war, as well as a whole society undergo-ing transformation. Trouble arises when Maria’s alcoholic, womanizing husband (Mikael Persbrandt) feels threatened by the young man and his wife’s newfound outlook on life. A Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, and Sweden’s official submission for Academy Award con-sideration. Directed by Jan Troell (The Emigrants, The New Land). (Fully subtitled) www.ifcfilms.com/viewFilm.htm?filmId16

This film is Not Rated by the MPAA. Running time 131 minutes.Exclusive Engagement Opens Friday, March 13th

Landmark’s La Jolla Village Cinemas8879 Villa La Jolla Drive – (619) 819-0236

MANILA, Philippines - Val-entine Box-office King they call Richard Gutierrez. And rightly so for the past four years Richard has starred in as many Valen-tine hits. They are Let the Love Begin, I’ll Always Love You, and The Promise (all opposite Angel Locsin) and My Best Friend’s Girl Friend, (with Mar-ian Rivera).

Richard with When I Met U co-star KC Concepcion

Richard Gutierrez is King of Hearts

This Valentine’s, he has another offering, When I Met U, with KC Concepcion as love inter-est. That makes Richard King of Hearts, after all, Valentine is the month of hearts, of love and of romance.

When I Met U is the reunion of Richard and KC after last year’s For the First Time. The second time around is lovelier

and sweeter... and funnier. After all, When I Met U is a romantic comedy, directed by Joel La-mangan and produced by GMA Films and Regal Entertainment.

Partly shot in the island para-dise Coron, Palawan, When I Met U tells the story of two people of contrasting back-grounds and clashing personali-ties fated to be together in trying,

if at times humor-ous, circumstances. They try to look the other way, de-nying the attraction and affection felt for each other, but love finds a way of making them closer.

Richard cuts a dashing figure, complementing KC’s loveliness. Together, sparks fly on and off cam. They’ve got what they call chemistry, electricity, rapport. A regal-looking pair, indeed.

Now closer and more comfortable with each other, Richard and KC give more credible performances. Yes, lovelier, sweeter...and funnier the

second time around.Educator Romarico Barrientos

writes:“Who doesn’t know King

Richard of tinseltown? Once a chubby little angel like his twin brother Raymond, Richard grew into one of Philippine cinema’s golden boys — for sheer talent, industry, and mature attitude.”

By Mike Frialde

The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of criminal charges against actor Baron Frederick Von Geisler after establishing that there is probable cause to indict him for acts of lasciviousness.

In a 14-page joint resolution, Pros-ecution Attorney Amanda Felipe said that after consideration of the evidence presented, probable cause to indict Geisler for one count of acts of lascivi-ousness was established.

Felipe, meanwhile, dismissed Geisler’s complaint of unjust vexa-tion filed against complainant Patrizha Maree Martinez and his complaint of perjury against Steffanie Ann Chua Barrios and Patrizha’s mother, actress Ma. Rosario “Yayo” Aguila-Martinez.

“After a careful and thoughtful consideration of the evidence pre-sented in the above captioned cases, the undersigned investigating prosecu-tor finds that there is probable cause to indict Baron for acts of lasciviousness but no probable cause to indict Patri-zha of unjust vexation, and Steffanie and Yayo for perjury,” said Felipe in the resolution which was approved by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño.

In his complaint of unjust vexation against Patrizha, Geisler alleged that Patrizha’s act of rubbing her lips and tongue against his left ear tickled him and caused him annoyance, vexation, disturbance or irritation. As such, Geisler said he pushed Patrizha away, accidentally hitting her breasts with his hands and hurriedly left the bar. Geisler claimed that the night ended without any untoward incident. In her counter-affidavit, Patrizha denied Gei-sler’s allegations and maintained that the complaint of unjust vexation has no legal or factual basis “being a poor afterthought.”

The DOJ ruled in favor of Patrizha saying that the timing of the filing of Geisler’s unjust vexation complaint “casts serious doubts on the veracity of his allegations.” “The claim of Baron that Patrizha’s lips and tongue rubbed on his left ear, tickling him and causing him annoyance, irritation, vexation, or disturbance to his mind that was why he pushed Patrizha away, accidentally hitting her breasts with his hands is

DOJ recommends acts of lasciviousness case vs

actor Baron Geisler

Baron Geisler

unbelievable and contrary to the state-ments he made in various television interviews regarding the said incident,” the DOJ said.

ABS-CBN International’s Starry Starry Store and Star Cinema are bringing John Lloyd Cruz to grace the movie’s February 28 premiere in Los Angeles and its March 1 sched-ule in San Francisco Bay Area.

In You Changed My Life, the story takes off six months after Lai-da has won the heart of her Prince Charming, Miggy Montenegro. Life has been rosy – she got promoted in Flippage publishing firm which is housed in the same building where Miggy works.

Neither one thought that anything can shake their perfect world until Miggy himself gets promoted in his job but has to move to Laguna. Laida, on the other hand, is offered a job in Canada. With their careers leading Laida and Miggy down

different paths, their relationship suffers from the pressures of being apart.

Will Laida and Miggy be able to keep their happily ever after state? Or, will they realize that living the dream is actually harder than attain-ing it?

“One of the most successful theatrical runs that we had in the U.S. is A Very Special Love,” said Kerwin Du, head of ABS-CBN International’s Starry Starry Store. “We thought it was timely to bring joy and excitement to the fans with a premiere of the sequel, You Changed My Life, which promised to be another great romantic comedy showcasing the wonderful chemistry between two of RP’s biggest stars.”

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, You Changed My Life is a post-Valentine presentation that also stars Rayver Cruz, Dante Rivero, Rowell Santiago, Matet De Leon, Bernard Palanca, Joross Gamboa, Johnny Revilla, Bing Pimentel, Al Tantay, among others.

You Changed My Life will

John Lloyd Cruz to grace U.S. premiere of “You

Changed My Life”

screen on the following dates and theaters:

Los Angeles PremiereFebruary 28, 2009 (Saturday)ALEX THEATRE216 North Brand BoulevardGlendale, CA 91203Alex Theatre Box Office:Wednesday-Sunday, 12 PM – 5

PM Theatre hotline: (818) 243- ALEX

(2539)www.alextheatre.org San Francisco Bay Area Pre-

miereMarch 1, 2009 (Sunday)FOX THEATRE2215 Broadway St.Redwood City, CA 94063 Will Call Tickets: 1-800-227-9676(24-hr ticket hotline)Walk-in: ABS-CBN International

Office in Redwood CityMonday – Friday, 10 AM – 5 PMTo get the chance to Meet & Greet

John Lloyd Cruz, check out the full details at www.abs-cbnglobalmov-ies.com or call 1-800-227-9676.



WE DEAL WITH COMPLEX IMMIGRATION ISSUES. Some examples:

• Solutions for aged-out children left behind• Court relief for aliens with denied H-1B petitions• Motion to reopen/reconsider/appeals• Complex business investments for visa/residency• Alien transfer to another employer/petitioner• Overstay and not 245i covered• K-1 entrant but married someone else other than the K-1 petitioner• Orphan and regular adoption • Deportation looming •LPR but failed to disclose prior marriage and/or children at time of visa application• Divorce during conditional residency period• Entrant without inspection marries a US citizen• Effect of prior deportation • Remedies for applicants with B-2 visa denials and/or overstays• Solution for LPR who’s been absent for over a year from the US• Program for RCF owners who want to bring in multiple Filipino care providers on a regular basis• Filipino high school students as visitors

CALL OUR OFFICE AT

(619) 299-0999TO DISCUSS YOUR UNIQUE CASE OR, IF YOU PREFER,

YOU CAN E-MAIL US AT moby@torreslawfi rm.com

Off Freeway 163 / I-805, we’re conveniently located in University Heights at 4640 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92116 with free

parking on corner of Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue.

WE SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE: TAGALOG, SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, AND FRENCH.

THE TORRES LAW FIRMMoby P. Torres, Esq.

Established in 1995, our legal practice is devoted exclusively to immigration and nationality law.

www.torreslawfi rm.com

(619) 702-3051

Light &Shadows

Read Zena Babao’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Zena Sultana Babao

Are the cares of the world, and the problems of life, getting to you? If they are, forget about them – relax, go travel and have fun! The spring and summer months are coming – March to August – no more rain or storm, plenty of sunshine, an ideal time for going places. Go on a trip somewhere across the ocean, soak in the warmth of the sun, and experi-ence the idyllic days quietly slip by. Stroll around the pristine beaches, feel the sand between your toes, and let the cool breeze caress your skin.

My friends, it would so dreamy!However, if you have the dream

but not the means, and you cannot afford to go globe- trotting, why not just hop into your car and drive along the Pacific coast. Instead of staying at high-class expensive resorts, spend your nights at some inexpensive but equally beautiful inns along the way.

My family did exactly that last year! We drove along the coast, fol-lowing 405 North to 101, until we hit State Highway 1. The scenery was fantastic! We intended to go to San Francisco, but went instead to beautiful Santa Barbara, and then to historic San Simeon to tour the magnificent Hearst Castle.

Beautiful Santa Barbara

Like the French, Italian or Spanish Riviera, Santa Barbara is a feast for

Are the Cares of the World Getting to You? Relax, Go Travel, and Have Fun

the senses. The streets of Santa Bar-bara, like the Cote d’Azur, are dot-ted with sidewalk cafes, boutiques and art galleries. Situated between the steeply rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the sea, Santa Barbara is referred to casually as the “American Riviera.”

Red-tiled roofs hood the city’s white adobe buildings, highlighting Spanish archi-tecture rarely seen so vividly outside of Madrid or Mada-gascar. The city’s Spanish influence is best experienced at El Paseo or “The Street of Spain.” This downtown shop-ping arcade was built around the century-old De la Guerra family home. The site of the first City Hall, it is still the center of the city’s admin-istration. Within the adobe walls of the arcade are import and specialty shops, art galler-ies, courtyard restaurants, and historic reminders of those who once lived there.

The Moorish architecture of the County Courthouse is a virtual showcase of Spanish wall murals, sculptures and designs. From its open-air tower, it provides a sweep-ing view of the downtown areas. The beautiful Mission Santa Bar-bara, the Queen of the Missions, and the glazed tile bell towers, topping many city buildings, are but a few

examples of struc-tures emitting the feeling of old Spain.

Adding to the cul-ture of Santa Barbara are its fine, locally produced wines, grown and blended in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley, whose superb vintages are said to rival the best the world has to of-fer. Dining is at its best in Santa Barbara because of the abun-

dance of fresh fish and produce. The Dining Guide lists 674 separate restaurants in this beautiful year-round tourist attraction.

Hearst Castle in San Simeon

The magnificent Hearst Castle in San Simeon, conceived by the legendary William Randolph Hearst and constructed by the architect Julia Morgan, was a playground for the privileged and the few. Now it is Hearst’s lasting legacy to the world! This grand estate celebrated its “Fifty Years of Excellence” in June of last year. Five guided tours of the 165 rooms and the 86,000 breathtakingly beautiful acres were offered to the public during the Golden Anniversary.

In this private country state known

as “La Questa Encantada” or The Enchanted Hill, you can find the most concentrated private collection of priceless antique furniture and objets d’art that dates back from the Medieval and Renaissance times. The construction of the Castle did not begin until the fall of 1919, and construction continued for more than 30 years.

Set beside the Santa Lucia moun-tains on a coastal knoll, its hundreds of acres of gardens, terraces, pools and palatial guest homes, create a perfect setting for the awesome Spanish-Moorish mansion called “La Casa Grande” or the Main House.

The main entrance to La Casa Grande is highlighted by antique Gothic stonework and grillwork from a 15th century Spanish convent. Thirty-six Belgian carillon bells once controlled by a piano keyboard are held in the Spanish-Moorish towers. The largest room in the

Main House is the Assembly Room, where some of the finest pieces of Hearst’ collection are displayed. Flemish tapestries, designed by Reubens and Guilio Romano adorn the walls.

It was at the Assembly Room

where guests during Hearst’s time – members of the Hollywood’s A-list, politicians, heads of state and successful businessmen – assembled before dinner. Dinner for Hearst’s guests was at the Refectory, a great

dining hall that contains an out-standing display of antique Spanish and French silver. The pomp of the setting is enhanced by the massive 15th century Gothic fireplace, the rich colors of the silk Palio festival banners and the late Gothic tapes-tries.

The massive library boasts a collection of 4,000 volumes of rare books, and the world’s greatest collection of ancient pottery that dates back from the 8th century B.C. to the 2nd century B.C. There are two gigantic swimming pools at the castle – the outdoor Neptune pool and the indoor Roman pool. Both pools are heated and filled with wa-ter from the Pine Mountain springs. The pools cost over a million dollar each, a great sum of money during the early 20’s. Around each pool are the most famous statues of antiquity, copied in marble.

Aside from the magnificent La

Casa Grande are equally fabulous guest houses: the Casa del Mar with 18 rooms; the Casa Del Monte with four bedrooms; and the Casa Del Sol with 18 rooms on three levels. It will take more than a day to tour the Hearst Castle in its en-tirety. That is why there are several tours offered everyday, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

All the treasures assembled by the great William Randolph Hearst remain on display just as they were during the heyday and splendor of the Castle, and will forever be enjoyed by everyone who has an interest in beauty, art, architecture and history.

If you haven’t visited Santa Barbara and the Hearst Castle in a while, do it again soon. You will immensely enjoy your visit and forget all the cares in the world!


San Diego NewsAround Town

Read Conrad Reloj’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com. Email: [email protected]

by Conrad I. Reloj, Jr.

It is not too often one gets the opportunity to visit a business establishment in the Miramesa area as I did last Friday along with friends, Carding Mendoza and Rich Mojica who I know are

Orient Valley Filipino Cuisine Opens

The Orient Valley Filipino Cuisine offi cially opened February 6th, 2009 with ceremonial blessings led by Teddy and Nining Pua and attended by family, friends and customers.

renowned connois-seur of Filipino foods especially “Rellenong Manok”and “Crispy Pata.”

The Orient Valley Filipino Cuisine’s new building looks kind of distinguish in its modern architecture design, squeaky clean with spacious interior

and large HDtv’s on both sides of the room. It is also strategically located at 9951 Carmel Mountain Road in San Diego; sets next-door to Armstrong Nursery, and conve-niently accessible from Highways

805 and 52. Their telephone number is: (858) 484-9637.

It offi cially opened February 6th, 2009 with ceremonial blessings at-tended by its proud owners, Teddy and Ningning Pua, family mem-

bers, guests and loyal customers. The Orient Valley Filipino Cuisine immediately captured the Philip-pine mood through its menu, décor and by providing services for


Manila Fastfood & Desserts“Homemade Filipino Cuisine at its Best”

(858) 695.9104(858) 578.0968

8979 Mira Mesa blvd. San Diego, CA 92126

Dine - in and To GoCombinations Plates - Try our “Crispy Pata”

We serve breakfast on weekends

Catering, Desserts and Kakanin for all Occasions

Lechon Kawali, Pancit, Kare-kare, Crispy Pata, Fried Lumpia, Menudo, Dinuguan, Sinigang and many more Fili-pino dishes...

Business Hours:Tues-Fri: 9:30 am - 7:30 pmSaturday: 8:30 am - 7:30 pmSunday: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm

CAROLENTERPRISES

A.C.E. “Balikbayan Boxes” Direct“MURA NA MABILIS PA”

Metro Manila 38.00LUZON 1 & 2 43.00VISAYAS 48.00MINDANAO 53.00JUMBO BOX (MM) 55.00

(Promo ends February 28, 2009)Contact: CAROL

Tel # (619) 245-1539 / (619) 474-1004833 E. 8th St. National City, CA 91950

Contact: CAROL

SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, Feb-ruary 17, 2009 – “Leading Strategically: Critical Skills for Effective Leadership Dur-ing Challenging Times,” a new SDSU certifi cate program led by Jeff Campbell, former CEO of Burger King, is uniquely de-signed to help managers, lead-ers, and organizations identify and develop the practical tools required to navigate through the haze of this recession.

“In today’s economic climate, many businesses are looking for the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel,” says Campbell. “Finding the light can be easier with fi rst-class leadership ... and it doesn’t all have to be at the very top of the organization.”

The certifi cate program takes

SDSU Offers Program Focusing on Modern-Day

Leadership Skillsplace every other Friday, March 6-May 1, 7:30-11:30 am at the SDSU Extended Studies/Gateways Centers. Created by instructors who have led major business and military operations, this program uses practical ex-periences that can translate into immediate implementation.

Recognizing the extremely challenging state of the economy and the need to help people gain the knowledge and skills they need as quickly as possible, San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies (CES) is making this program more affordable by offering the program at a one-time rate of $249. As noted by Joe Shapiro, dean of CES: “The community looks to education and training

to provide new opportunities and new perspectives. In tough times like these, education and train-ing can help bring some sense to turmoil. That’s our role, and we are poised to fi ll it with this tremendous group of leadership experts.”

The program is targeted to in-dividuals with a minimum of fi ve years’ business experience and focuses on sharpening critical thinking skills, refi ning personal leadership skills and practices; leading through change; and ap-plying this knowledge to today’s uncertain and changing econom-ic world.

Also leading sessions are Holly Green, CEO, The Human Factor and former president, The Ken Blanchard Companies; Lt. Col. Kent Rideout, head of the Army ROTC SDSU and decorated Iraq war veteran; David Ben-nett, CSU San Marcos, College of Business Administration and former CEO, Mail Boxes Etc.; and George Reed, associate pro-fessor of Leadership and Educa-tion Sciences, University of San

Diego. This faculty, with almost 100 years of practical, “in-the-trenches” experiences, is an unparalleled resource anywhere.

Seating is limited, so students are being asked to sign up as soon as possible.

For more information, call (619) 594-5640, email [email protected] or visit www.ces.sdsu.edu/leading_strategically.html

SDSU’s College of Extended Studies reaches out to the greater San Diego community through a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certifi cate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 35 certifi cate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. To regis-ter or for more information, call (619) 265-SDSU (7378) or log on to www.neverstoplearning.net

FILAMEDA 2009 – 2011 OFFICERSFront row: Genevieve Esmende (Historian), Virginia Ferrer (Board Mem-

ber), Anita Pascua (Charter Member, 1st FILAMEDA President), Michelle Ramirez (Corresponding Secretary), Jackie Magat (Treasurer), Michelle Lopez (Recording Secretary)

Back row: Sev Reyes (President), Rey Monzon (Auditor), Anthony Pascua (Vice President), Sal Flor (Board Member)

Not pictured: Tim Suanico (Parliamentarian), Eleonor Castillo, Herb Delute, Joanne Fields, Myla Mappala (Board Members)


The Law that Matters

Read Atty Bautista’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Atty. A. Erwin Bautista dine-in, takeout, and catering.This fun date venue features

the cuisine’s unimaginably good food, more menu selection than other eating-places in the San Diego area. The mood here is one of cultural diversity, friendli-ness and adventure. Tasty treats include; Pancit, Lumpia and such

favorites as crispy pata, party tray, and grilled, chicken salad; des-serts include kakanin platter, The choices are too many to enumerate but are colorfully display inside the restaurant..

Teddy and Ningning Pua’s ex-tensive experience in the restau-rant business is evident on opening day, as customers line themselves for quick and orderly service. The staff specially trained provided extraordinary customer service from scrumptious menus, provid-ing gourmet taste along with its elegant presentation.

Orient Valley Filipino

Cuisine Opens(Continued from page 15)

Are separate properties of your spouse part of the Bankruptcy Estate?

Question: I would like to file Bankruptcy but I’m afraid the trustee will sell my spouse’s house to pay off my creditors, because its value is beyond the homestead exemption?

Answer: Your Bankruptcy Estate only includes property where you have a legal or equitable interest. Since you do not have any property interest on the separate property of your spouse, it will not be part of the Bankruptcy Estate and therefore not

Bankruptcy: Estatesubject to liquidation. (Sec. 541 of the Bankruptcy Code)

What is the Bankruptcy Estate?

When a Bankruptcy petition is filed an Estate is created where all the property of the debtor is placed. It’s like an imaginary basket where all the debtors’ property is placed and then the trustee will sort it out. The trustee will segregate those that are exempt and those left behind which are not exempt will be sold to pay off creditors.

Your spouse’ house does not even have to be exempted in order to be

excluded as part of the estate. Your spouse’ separate property is not even part of the estate because you do not have any property interest on it, legal or equitable.

What are those legal and equi-table interests in property of the debtor?

Section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code enumerates those properties and below is some of the property that the debtor might have an inter-est either legal or equitable which forms part of the estate.

Properties you acquired by 1. purchase personal or real.Debtor’s interest in commu-2. nity property.Any interest in property 3. acquired by bequest, devise or inheritance within 180 days of filing the petition.Property settlement of debtor 4. from divorce within 180 days of filing petition.Death Benefits from life insur-5. ance policy as beneficiary within 180 days.Proceeds, product, offspring, 6. rents, or profits of or from property of the estate.

What properties are not consid-ered part of the estate?

There are also properties which are not considered part of the estate even if acquired after the filing of the petition and below are a list of those types of properties.

Earnings from services per-1. formed by debtor after filing the petition.Power exercised for the ben-2. efit of an entity other than the debtor.Any expired lease of non resi-3. dential property where debtor was lessee.Any State license as an educa-4. tional institution.Any interest in liquid or gas-5. eous hydrocarbons transferred by debtor in farmout agree-ments.Funds placed in an education 6. individual retirement account a year before filing the peti-tion.Funds used to purchase tuition 7. credit or certificate.Contributions to retirement, 8. tax deferred annuity, health insurance plan and deferred compensation plan.Personal property used as 9. collateral for a loan in the possession of the pledgee or transferee.

There are certain limitations and qualifications to the above examples that only your lawyer can best explain.

In case of doubt as to whether a property is part of a bankruptcy

estate, consult an attorney.(We invite readers to set up their

initial consultation with The Law Offices of A. Erwin Bautista. Atty. Bautista practices Immigration, Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, Family Law and Audit Representation/In-come Tax Preparation. Atty. Bautista obtained his law degree from West-ern State University College of Law at Fullerton, CA and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of the Philippines. He can be reached in Los Angeles at (213) 365 7690 at 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 2700, Los Angeles, CA 90010 or in San Diego at (619) 474 7755 at 550 E. 8th St., Ste. 11, National City, CA 91950)


Spiritual Life

Read Monsignor’s previous articles by visit-ing our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Msgr. Fernando G. Gutierrez

Lower Your Nets

PersonalPrayer to the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit thou make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal. You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my love ones in your perpetual glory, Amen. A Person must pray this 3 con-secutive days without stating one’s wish will be granted no matter how difficult may be. Promise to publish this soon as your favor has been granted.

Naty

Joke of the Week: For the ump-teenth time Mrs. Youngston came to her pastor to tell him, “I’m so scared! Joe says he’s going to kill me if I continue to come to your church.” “Yes, yes, my child,” replied the pastor, more than tired of hearing this over and over, “I will continue to pray for you, Mrs. Youngston, have faith - the Lord will watch over you.” “Oh, yes, he has kept me safe thus far, only …” “Only what, my child?” “Well, now he says if I keep coming to your church, he’s going to kill YOU!” “Well, now,” said the pastor, “per-haps it’s time to check out that little church on the other side of town.”

Scriptures: First Reading: Isaiah 43: 18-19, 21-22, 24-25. The exile in Babylon by which Yahweh had punished his people for theirs sins,

Getting Ready for Lentcrimes and offenses was about to end. Second Isaiah prepares the Is-raelites for the new thing Yahweh is about to do for them: He will forget their failures. Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22. False rumors were being spread about Paul: he is inconsistent. When he changed his plan to visit Corinth, the Christians in that city thought that he is unreli-able. Though as a man, he might be unstable, yet the doctrine that he preaches is always consistent. Though God’s people are unfaithful as had been explained in the first reading, yet Paul is always faithful. This faithfulness of God is fully realized in his Son, Jesus Christ, who is always and forever a “yes” to his Father. Gospel: Mark 2: 1-12. “He is blaspheming.” The scribes’ accusation of Jesus as blaspheming for forgiving the sins of the paralytic reflects more their doubt about his identity. “Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Later on, Mark will point out that the scribes are the ones guilty of blasphemy for not having recognized the Holy Spirit in Jesus. They had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”Reflections: March 1st is Ash

Wednesday. The three days before Ash Wednesday are known in Chris-tianity as “Shrovetide.” February 27 is “Blue Monday,” a day that is spent in dissipation. It is also called “Callop Monday” or “Pancake Mon-day,” a time to use up eggs, milk and lard before Lent in anticipation of fasting. February 28 is “Shrove Tuesday,” a day to hear confessions (to shrive). It is also called “Mardi Gras” in French, a day to celebrate carnival (“carne levare” or “fare-well to meat” in Latin) festivities and to feast on rich foods, pastries and drinks in preparation for the rigors of Lent.

Lent came from the Anglo-Saxon, “lencten” or spring. Lecntentid or springtide was the Saxon word for March because it is the time when days begin to lengthen. Liturgically

it is a penitential season of five Sun-days and forty days in preparation for the great feast of Easter, begin-ning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Thursday.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are days of absti-nence only. The Church’s law on abstinence (not eating meat) obliges all those who have reached their 14th year. The law of fast (one full meal each day) obliges those who have completed their 18th year until the beginning of their 60th birthday. It is said that the observances of the church concerning feasts and fasts are meticulously well kept: the rich keep the feasts and the poor keep the fasts!

Even during the time of Christ, fasting and abstinence were pi-ous traditional practices among the Jews. In the early Church, a two-three day Lenten fast was not uncommon. It was during the fourth century and at the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) that a forty-day period was first mentioned. In today’s gospel Jesus presented himself as the bridegroom and his disciples as the wedding guests. Through Jesus the new era – the new wine - has dawned upon mankind. A new spou-sal covenant is happening between God and his people. This is the time of celebration. It would be an insult to the bridegroom if the wedding guests were not allowed to enjoy the celebration.

“You’ve got dirt on your chin or on your face.” We have heard friends telling us such remark or something similar to it. Ash Wednesday is not merely a time of going through the ritual of receiv-ing blessed ash on our forehead. The blessed ash is a reminder that we are fragile, weak, vulnerable and sinful. We have dirt all over us. We have “soiled” the God-image in us by our sins. We can rejoice with the “bridegroom” once we have ac-knowledged our sins and believe in the Gospel. Lent is a time to humbly and publicly acknowledge through fasting and abstinence that we are sinners. It is a time of the year when we have to get rid of that “dirt” we call sin.

Anthony Mastroem wrote the fol-lowing comments on sin. “No one steals anymore … they simply lift something. No one lies anymore … they simply misrepresent the facts. No one commits adultery … they simply play or fool around. No one kills an unborn baby … they simply terminate a pregnancy. All of this is simply a clever, if dishonest way, of

candy-coating the reality of sin.”Quotation of the Week: “Self-

discipline never means giving up anything, for giving up is a loss. Our Lord did not ask us to give up the things of the earth, but to exchange them for better things.” Bishop Fulton Sheen.



BalintatawRead Virginia Ferrer’s previous articles by visiting our website

at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Virginia H. Ferrer

Pula Pula ang nakita kong kulay ng ako ay magising matatamis na ngiti’t mga salitang malalambing mula sa mga magulang kong nag-alaga sa akin walang sawang pagmamahal sa akin ay itinanim,

Pula ang mga rosas na handog ng aking pag-ibig malasutlang talulot kung hawaka’y nakasasabik pakiramdam ko baga ako ngayon ay nasa langit kapiling ko ay mga anghel na nagsisipag-awit.

Pula ang kulay ng walang tigil nating kasayahan sa ating mga Pinoy tatak ng pagkakapatiran maliit ka man o malaki, mahirap o mayaman dadamayan kita anumang oras mo kailangan.

took time chewing the food and enjoying every bit of it. Ando did the same, taking a piece of his omelet and putting it in his mouth together with a lump of rice. By the time they were done, not a single grain of rice was left on their banana leaf wrappings. The workers did not have glasses with them. They made cups out of paper and drank water from them.

By twelve thirty in the after-noon, everyone was done with his lunch. The workers picked a place to take a nap, some on the floor of the composing room, others atop the piles of stock papers around. The light was turned off, and in no time, everyone snored as they slept. By one o’clock, the light was turned on again and the work-ers resumed work. Mr. Galang, however, continued with his siesta until two o’clock.

By three o’clock in the af-ternoon, Aling Bekang, a food vendor, arrived with her tray of native merienda (snacks). The workers gathered around her to choose from several variet-ies of rice cakes like suman sulihiya, biko, kalamay, maja blanca and others. Work con-tinued for another two hours, but not until Mr. Galang would



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Herewith is proof of your classified ad for publication in the Asian Journal. Please proofread i t and fax back the correction if any or call us for your approval. The ad is tentatively scheduled to be published in the

issue of the Asian Journal if we receive your approval on time. At $4 per line

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NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF A RECIRCULATED REVISED DRAFT PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT for the

FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE CENTRAL IMPERIAL REDEVELOPMENT PLANFebruary 11, 2009

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation, on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego (Redevelopment Agency), as lead agency, is re-circulating for public review a Revised Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the proposed Fifth Amendment to the Central Imperial Redevelopment Plan project.

Project Title: Revised Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for the Fifth Amendment to the Central Imperial Redevelopment Plan. (SCH #2005031065).

Project Location: The project site is located within the Central Imperial Redevelopment Project Area in the City of San Diego. The project area includes portions of the Southeastern Community Planning Area, the En-canto Neighborhoods Community, and Skyline-Paradise Hills Community Planning Area. The Project Area is generally bound by 45th Street to the west, Flicker Street to the east, Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway (SR-94) to the north, and Ocean View Boulevard to the south. The majority of the project area is located east of I-805 between SR-94 and generally just south of Imperial Avenue.

Project Description: The Draft Program EIR addresses the potential environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives related to proposed Community Plan Amendments, Rezones, and nine specific re-development activities located within the Project Area. The project includes amendments to the Southeastern San Diego Community Plan and Skyline-Paradise Hills Community Plan, the Southeastern San Diego Planned District Ordinance and the Land Development Code. Rezones and a Community Plan Implementation Overlay Zone are proposed in order to implement specific development projects with the Project Area. The Program EIR analyzes a net potential increase in development within the Project Area of approximately 1,920 residential units, and approximately 113,000 square feet of non-residential uses, assuming that all nine of the redevelop-ment activity areas are developed as currently anticipated. These areas would develop independently of each other, and development is expected to occur in phases, depending upon market and other factors. The maximum development potential of the nine redevelopment activities areas is not anticipated to be realized for approxi-mately a 10 to 15 year period.

Probable Environmental Effects: The Revised Draft Program EIR identifies a significant impact to water supply. This is in addition to the previously identified impact to Transportation/Circulation, Air Quality, Noise, Cultural Resources, Biological Resources, Geology/Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Paleontological Resources, Hydrology/Water Quality, and Public Services and Facilities. Availability: The Revised Draft Program EIR is available for public review at the following locations: South-eastern Economic Development Corporation, 4393 Imperial Avenue, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92113 during regular business hours. Mountain View/Beckwourth Branch Library 721 San Pasqual Street, San Diego, CA 92113, and Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library, 5148 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92114. The docu-ment is also available to review and download on SEDC’s website at: www.sedcinc.com.

Comments: Pursuant to procedures set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15088.5(f)(2), reviewers are requested to limit their comments to the materials contained in the Revised Draft Program EIR. SEDC, in conjunction with the City, will prepare written responses to: (1) comments received during the initial Draft EIR circulation period (December 8, 2008 through January 22, 2009) that relate to chapters or portions of the document that were not revised and recirculated, and (2) comments received during this re-circulation period that relate to the chapters or portions of the earlier Draft EIR (December 2008) that have been revised and re-circulated in the Revised Draft EIR document (February 2009). Written comments regarding the Revised Draft EIR should be directed to Sherry Brooks, Southeastern Economic Development Corporation, 4393 Imperial Avenue, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92113, and must be received no later than March 12, 2009 (30-day public review period is February 11, 2009 through March 12, 2009). A Final EIR incorporating public input will be prepared for consideration by the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego and the City of San Diego Planning Commission and City Council at a future public meeting(s). For additional information, please contact Sherry Brooks at (619) 527-7345 or by email at [email protected].

To:

From: Eugene De Leon

Herewith is proof of your classified ad for publication in the Asian Journal. Please proofread i t and fax back the correction if any or call us for your approval. The ad is tentatively scheduled to be published in the

issue of the Asian Journal if we receive your approval on time. At $4 per line

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have his third cup of coffee for the day at the same Amy’s Restaurant on Carriedo Street. But this time, he was with another set of friends.

The workers quit work at fi ve o’clock and Santos Benipayo, the second shift pressman arrived from his day job to continue to work in the print-ing press until twelve in the evening. Five years later, San-tos, a member of the Benipayo



printing clan, attended a wake of a friend at a funeral parlor near Blumentrit Street along Rizal Avenue in Santa Cruz, Manila. He was a kind, quiet man who would hardly hurt a fl y. But during a commotion, he was mistakenly stabbed in the stomach. He was hospital-ized and after a week the doc-tor declared that he was well enough to be released. They did not notice that the knife had punctured his stomach, and a few days later, he died in his home.

Mr. Galang went to the photo engraving shop beside the printing press and played chess with his friends. At seven, he

went home to have dinner with his family.

That evening, Fred, one of the pimps in the prostitution den across the street was drunk again. People never saw him sober. He always staggered when he walked, sometimes collapsing on the side of the street. At that time, a group of people was cheering him on as he tried to climb an electric post.

“Lasing na si Fred, hindi maka-akyat ng poste (Fred is so drank he could not climb a post),” they teased him.

The electric post had iron rods extended from each side up to the top. The utility work-ers stepped on the rods as they climbed the top to do repairs. But Fred could hardly hang on to the fi rst two steps and he fell on the ground again and again. On his fi fth try, he simply col-lapsed and fell asleep. People left him alone, lying on the side of the sidewalk. It was their typical experience with Fred, and they saw nothing to worry about.

It was Friday evening and ev-ery other Friday, Mr. and Mrs. Galang would go on a date.

“I-iscram kami,” Mrs. Ga-lang told the maids. For some reason, “scram” was Mrs.

Galang’s term for “going on a date to watch a movie.” That evening they watched the Hol-lywood fi lm “I Want to Live” starring Susan Hayward at the Universal Theater on Rizal Avenue. It was the story of a woman convict executed in a gas chamber.

Alone with the maids, the children played among them-selves. They had no school the next day, Saturday, and they could stay up awake late. They hardly noticed the time as it went by. By eleven in the evening, their parents came home from the movie, bring-ing with them a bagful of special siopao. They were huge siopaos, with bola-bola (meat-ball) fi lling and half salted egg inside. They were enjoying the food when they heard a siren from a fi re truck. They looked out of the window and saw people milling around a fi re truck and fi remen in the street below. Everyone was looking up at the top of an electric post, where sparks of light shone bright against the dark of the night. When the fi remen trained the spotlight to the top of the post, they saw a

body of a man lying on a wood across the post. It was Fred, the drunkard pimp. Without anybody noticing him, he woke from deep slumber and this time, successfully climbed the top of the post. He was electrocuted as he celebrated his feat. Like Susan Hayward’s character in the movie “I Want to Live”, it was obvious that Fred didn’t want to die. He accidentally killed himself. The smell of burned fl esh was permeating the air.

Slowly, a ladder from the truck was raised. A fi reman climbed it, lassoed the body, and tied the end of the rope to the top end of the ladder. The fi reman went down, and the ladder was slowly lowered. An ambulance took the body while news photographers covered

the unusual event. It was the highlight of the day for the people of Platerias Street.

The next morning, the photo of the incident was published in the front pages of the Ma-nila dailies. It was only then that everyone found out Fred’s complexion was pink not be-cause he was always drunk but because he was an American mestizo (half-American). His name, which they learned for the fi rst time from the captions of the photos was Fred John-son.

By that time, Mang Fermin was already delivering the rations of carabao milk and cheese to start another day in the life of the people of Plat-erias Street. - AJ


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journalusa.com

California, starting September 8, 2008, has a special foreclosure timeline for loans originated between 2003 to 2007 (the heyday of subprime lending) and secured by owner-occupied homes. The special time line remains in effect until January 1, 2013.

When borrower misses mortgage pay-ments, a lender may initiate foreclosure. Slight delay of payments however does not prompt acceleration or foreclosure process. In practice, lenders usually wait a few months of missed payments before starting the process.

Foreclosure timeline for loans origi-nated between 2003-2007 secured by owner-occupied homes is about 152 days from the time of missed payments. (Remember in practice, lenders usually wait a few months to start the process. It all depends on who the lender. It may be shorter or a little longer than a few months). Below is the time line for owner-occupied homes purchased with loans originated from 2003 to 2007.

Non-Judicial Foreclosure Timeline(For Owner-Occupied Real Estate Properties

Purchased from 2003-2007)Day 1: Lender is required to contact

the borrower by phone or in person to review the borrower’s finances and explore ways to avoid foreclosure. The lender must give the borrower a contact number for a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.

Day 31: 30 days after contacting the borrower to explore ways to avoid foreclosure, the lender may file a notice of default (NOD). The notice is filed in the county where the property is located and must be mailed within 10 business days to all the parties involve. The notice includes the declaration from the lender explaining its due diligence in contacting the borrower or that it has al-ready contacted the borrower to explore possible ways to avoid foreclosure.

Day 121: 3 months after filing the NOD, the lender may issue a notice of trustee’s sale. The notice must state the date, time and place of the upcom-ing trustee sale. The notice must be recorded, posted at the property, mailed

to all parties involve and published for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.

Day 145: Borrower has up to five days before the trustee sale to cure the default. He or she can pay the missed payment plus allowable cost. After the reinstatement period, the borrower still has the right to redeem the property by paying the entire debt plus interest and cost before the bidding begins.

Day 152: The property is sold to a public auction to the highest bidder. The title is transferred to the bidder by trustee’s deed.

For loans that are not originated from 2003 to 2007 and are not secured by an owner occupied homes, lenders are not required to contact the borrower to explore options other than foreclo-sure, time frame is shorter. The total minimum time frame for foreclosure is approximately 122 days from the time of missed payments. The special foreclosure timeline also does not apply to borrowers who filed for bankruptcy, surrendered the property in lieu of fore-closure or who have contacted an entity or person whose business involves advising people on how to extend the foreclosure process.

The above mentioned timelines hope-fully helps property owners facing fore-closure ascertain the time they have left to find a new home before the trustee’s sale occurs. If you have any questions, please contact HUD at www.hud.gov. They have guides on how to avoid foreclosure and may be able to refer property owners to other resources.

Source: The San Diego Realtor, Janu-ary, 2009.

(This one is much too cute not to share. Enjoy! Be sure to grab a tissue; I think you’ll be laughing so hard you’ll cry!)

One day I met a sweet gentleman and fell in love. When it became apparent that we would marry, I made the supreme sacrifice and gave up beans.

Some months later, on my birth-day, my car broke down on the way home from work. Since I lived in the countryside I called my husband and told him that I would be late because I had to walk home. On my way, I passed by a small diner and the odour of baked beans was more than I could stand. With miles to walk, I figured that I would walk off any ill effects by the time I reached home, so I stopped at the diner and before I knew it, I had consumed three large orders of baked beans.

All the way home, I made sure that I released all the gas.

Upon my arrival, my husband seemed excited to see! me and ex-claimed delightedly: ‘Darling I have a surprise for dinner tonight.’

He then blindfolded me and led

Baked Beans - This is hilarious!me to my chair at the dinner table. I took a seat and just as he was about to remove my blindfold, the tele-phone rang. He made me promise not to touch the blindfold until he returned and went to answer the call.

The baked beans I had consumed were still affecting me and the pres-sure was becoming most unbear-able, so while my husband was out of the room I seized the opportunity, shifted my weight to one leg and let one go. It was not only loud, but it smelled like a fertilizer truck running over a skunk in front of a pulpwood mill. I took my napkin

from my lap and fanned the air around me vigorously.

Then, shifting to the other cheek, I ripped off three more. The stink was worse than cooked cabbage.

Keeping my ears carefully tuned to the conversation in the other room, I went on like this for another few minutes.

The pleasure was indescribable. When eventually the telephone fare-wells signalled the end of my free-dom, I quickly fanned the air a few more times with my napkin, placed it on my lap and folded my hands back on it feeling very relieved and pleased with myself.

My face must have been the pic-ture of innocence when my husband returned, apologizing for taking so long. He asked me if I had peeked through the blindfold, and I assured him I had not.

At this point, he removed the blindfold, and twelve dinner guests seated around the table chorused: ‘Happy Birthday!’

I fainted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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A couple celebrates Valentine’s Day at the Lovapalooza kissfest held at the Mall of Asia the other night. PhilStar photo by Jonjon Vicencio

ANGELES CITY – A half-brother of well-known singer Allan Pineda, more popularly known as apl.de.ap as member of the Grammy award-winning group Black Eyed Peas, was gunned down here past midnight yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Pierre Bucsit, city police chief, said the victim, Joven Deala, 21, was shot in the head in his Fortuner sports utility vehicle parked in front of the apartment of his girlfriend in Barangay Ninoy Aquino at around 1 a.m.

The two were eating food they had bought from a fast food outlet inside the SUV when two men approached them, shot Deala and fled.

Half-brother of ‘apl.de.ap’ shot dead

apl.de.ap

Bucsit said probers were look-ing into “many angles,” includ-ing reports that Deala’s girlfriend has a child with her estranged husband.

Bucsit could not exactly say how Deala was a half-brother of Pineda, but quoted relatives and local fans of the Black Eyed Peas singer that he acknowledged this in one of his visits here.

Pineda was born and grew up in Barangay Sapang Bato here until he migrated 23 years ago to the United States where he

became a member of the Black Eyed Peas.

Since he became famous, he has returned several times to Sapang Bato where he has been giving financial help to poor families, especially to Amera-sians like him. – Ding Cer-vantes

By Paolo RomeroPhilstar

MANILA, Philippines - Some 35 former communist rebels received a

Former rebels receive cash assistance

total of P700,000 as immediate cash assistance under the government’s Social Integration Program (SIP) last week to allow them to start a new life, the Office of the Presiden-tial Adviser for the Peace Process said.

In a statement, the OPAPP said the ex-New People’s Army guerrillas received P20,000 each.

Reuben Lingating, SIP program manager, who represented Presiden-tial Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr., said the cash grant “will enable former rebels to have their own livelihood to enable them to live a normal life as produc-tive citizens.”

The former rebels, 30 men and five women, have come from the provinces of Camarines Sur, Ca-marines Norte, Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon.

They have undergone four-day processing of their application wherein a seminar-workshop was conducted to brief the beneficiaries on other program opportunities such as livelihood, employment, train-ing and education assistance, the

OPAPP said.Other than the provision of P

20,000 immediate cash, the SIP will likewise give each rebel returnee capital assistance worth P 50,000 in the form of goods such as farm implements, working animals, and sari-sari store merchandises, among others.

Further, access to basic social ser-vices and remuneration for surren-dered firearms, explosives and am-munition will also be provided by the program. A rebel returnee who surrenders an M16 or M14 rifle, for example, will receive P 50,000, the statement said.

“A process whereby former rebels and their dependents are provided a set of interventions to facilitate their integration into the mainstream of society, the SIP is guided by the principle of convergence and co-operation among local government units (LGUs), government agencies, non-government organizations, and the community as well,” the state-ment said.

Asian Journal Feb 20 2009

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