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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 Volume 14 - No. 12 • 16 Pages

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Biden admin appoints Fil-Ams to key roles

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

SHORTLY after taking his oath of office on January 20, President Joe Biden appointed acting heads of federal and development agencies, and among them is Gloria Steele who will serve

DATELINE

as acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

At the Department of Interior, Camille Calimlim Touton was named Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, and over at the Department of Defense, Veronica Valdez is the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of

Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

They all join a growing list of Fil-Ams serving across the administration that includes Jason Tengco, the Office of Personnel Management’s White House liaison; John Santos, a special assistant at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs;

USA

Fil-Am father, daughter electrocuted by downed power lines in Panorama City

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Palace urges nations not to worsen tensions in South China Sea

MALACAÑANG has called on countries involved in the South China Sea issue to refrain from worsening tensions after China adopted a law allowing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels entering disputed territories and demolish foreign structures.

“Sana po walang gagawin ang kahit na anong bansa dito sa usaping West Philippine Sea na magpapalala pa po ng sitwasyon (I hope countries would not do anything in relation to the West Philippine Sea issue that will worsen the situation),” said Presi-

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US imposes travel restrictions on several countries with virus variant

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

A FILIPINO American father and adult daughter were found electrocuted to death early Monday, January 25 in Panorama City, California.

Firefighters were called to the 14700 block of Tupper Street, near Cedros Avenue, just before 3 a.m. where a man and a woman were found dead in a shed outside their home, according to CBS Los Angeles.

The victims were identified by the Los

and Angela de la Cruz Perez, a new graduate of Georgetown University who is now a part of the White House Communications and Press Staff as a press assistant.

Last month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki described that her first impression of

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

VACCINATION DRY-RUN. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administers a “vaccine” on a barangay health worker as photojournalists click away during the dry-run of the Taguig City’s vaccination drive at the Mega Vaccination Hub at the Lakeshore Complex on Wednesday, January 27. Also in the photo is vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (behind Duque) who also toured and witnessed the Covid-19 vaccination processes.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P Alfiler

UNITED STATES President Joe Biden has reinstated travel restrictions on most nonU.S. citizens who have been in Britain, Brazil, Ireland and much of Europe to slow the transmission of the new COVID-19 variant.

Biden on Monday, January 25, also expanded the restrictions to include travelers who have recently been to South Africa, where a new strain of the virus has been detected.

“The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of noncitizens who were physically present within the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom (excluding

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Police serves warrant Biden signs executive order at Chula Vista home of denouncing anti-Asian missing Fil-Am mother racism, hate amid COVID

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

AJPress

A SEARCH warrant has been served at the home of a Filipina American mother in Chula Vista, California who has been reported missing since the beginning of January.

The Chula Vista Police Department said the goal of the warrant is to obtain any evidence and clues into May “Maya” Millete’s current where-

abouts.

“The Chula Vista Police Department’s focus will continue to be locating May safe and in good health,” it said in a statement on Saturday, January 23.

“The Millete family has been and continues to be cooperative, and our investigation is ongoing,” the authorities added.

Millete, 39, was last seen by her

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by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

PRESIDENT Joe Biden signed four executive orders on Tuesday, January 26 aimed at pushing racial equity, including one to combat xenophobia and racism against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), which has heightened during

the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I firmly believe the nation is ready to change but government has to change as well. We need to make equity and justice part of what we do every day, today, tomorrow and every day,” Biden said in his remarks, following a campaign promise to address racial inequities.

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From the Front Page

Biden admin appoints Fil-Ams to key...

PAGE 1 Perez “was that she is all business with a smile.”

Perez served as a press assistant on the transition, and was a communications assistant on the Biden-Harris campaign.

Gloria Steele (USAID) Steele was a distinguished career member of the U.S. Government’s Senior Executive Service for over 18 years and has been called a visionary and dreamer by people who have benefited from her work at the USAID. “These public servants, like so many across the federal government, are dedicated to serving the American people, not a political party or agenda,” Biden said. “I am thankful for their willingness to step-up to lead during these difficult times and help us make sure the government continues to operate and serve the American people. Together, we are restoring trust in the federal government and building our nation back better.”

Before retiring from Federal service, Steele served as the Acting Assistant Administrator and Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Asia from 2015 to 2020.

She is supposed to join the NGO CARE this month as its chief operating officer but for now, she will return as USAID acting head until the administration’s nominee, Samantha Power, is confirmed by the Senate.

“I don’t want to be known as the person who became who she is because she’s a woman, or because she’s a woman of color. We should never feel entitled. We have to set our eyes on what we want, and we have to work for it. Each of us has to follow our North Star,” Steele said in a USAID article on Medium, honoring her four decades of public service.

Prior to those assignments, she served as USAID’s Mission Director for the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, and Mongolia, from 2010-2015, where she oversaw a program budget of over $500 million.

USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance.

Ms. Steele received a bach-

Gloria Steele, acting administrator of USAID

Veronica Valdez, special assistant at Defense Department

Fil-Am appointed White House liaison for Office of Personnel Management

FILIPINO American millennial Jason Tengco has been tapped to be the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s White House liaison, the Biden-Harris administration announced on Monday, January 25.

The OPM serves as the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the federal government.

Tengco previously served as the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) outreach lead on the BidenHarris transition team, and was the chief of staff for the campaign’s coalition

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Camille Touton

elor’s degree in Business Administration from Maryknoll College in the Philippines and her master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Steele first dipped her toes into the public sector as a management consultant to the country’s Secretary of Agriculture, and taught Business Economics at Letran Graduate School for Business in Manila.

Her awards include a Presidential Meritorious Executive Award in 2007, Presidential Distinguished Executive Awards in 2008 and 2018, and the Order of Sikatuna award from the President of the Philippines in 2015.

Camille Calimlim Touton (Bureau of Reclamation) Long-time water policy advisor, Camille Calimlim Touton is returning to the Department of Interior since she was named Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.

“Ms. Touton has been one of my most trusted advisors on water policy for over a decade. She is an engineer, who has counseled U.S. Senators, Members of Congress, and was a leader in the Obama Administration’s Department

John Santos

Angela Perez

of Interior’s Office of Water and Science,” Rep. Grace Napolitano said in a congratulatory message. “Although I am losing Ms. Touton for a second time to the Administration, I couldn’t be happier for her, and I am glad the Department is again, getting her great leadership, competency, and expertise.”

“Her appointment is also historic, as Ms. Touton becomes the first Filipino American to serve in this important agency leadership role,” Napolitano added.

In a previous interview, Touton was asked about who provided the greatest influence in her career.

“My mother. As an engineer, registered nurse, and a

mother to three children, she showed me that you don’t have to choose between personal and professional goals,” she replied.

The Bureau of Reclamation is a water management agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees dams, canals, and hydroelectric plants across the Western United States. It is the nation’s largest wholesaler of water and the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the West.

“Ms. Touton is a master of the complicated issues of Western water policy, who fully understands the grave threats posed by climate change and unpredictable drought cycles. She is well respected by the wide spectrum of water leaders, including Democrats and Republicans, federal, state, and local water officials, and non-governmental groups,” Napolitano added.

Touton served as Professional Staff for the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. She was the staff lead on the resiliency provisions enacted as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020.

Her congressional experience also includes serving as Professional Staff for Interior’s authorization committees: the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. Camille also served as Interior’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science under the Obama

Jason Tengco (center) with President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in a photo taken during the Obama administration when Biden was VP. Contributed photo

administration.

Touton holds a BS in Engineering (Civil), BA in Communication Studies, and a Master of Public Policy.

Veronica Valdez (Department of Defense) Like Steele and Touton, Valdez is also returning to her old job, in this case at the Department of Defense, where she served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Air Force and as policy advisor during official visits to Asia-Pacific, South America, and Europe.

Valdez was among the individuals who were sworn-in virtually or in-person at the Pentagon on Jan. 20, according to documents obtained by the Asian Journal.

Prior to this new post as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, she was a policy advisor to the Commission President at the Port of Seattle.

She also served the Secretary of the Navy as an AsiaPacific policy advisor. Valdez received the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Navy Superior Public Service Award, and Presidential recognition.

Valdez received a B.S. in International Business from Ohio State University, a Master’s in International Affairs from the University of California, San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and studied Mandarin at Peking University. She is a Truman National Security Project Fellow.

Last year, the Diversity in National Security Network and New America named Valdez as one of the “2020 Asian American Pacific Islander National Security & Foreign Policy Next Generation Leaders”.

Ms. Valdez was born in Manila and grew up in Sydney, Australia.

John Santos (Department of Veterans Affairs) John Santos is joining the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the country’s second-largest federal agency, as a special assistant in the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Santos previously served as Asian American and Pacific Islander outreach director at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) where he led the DNC’s efforts to mobilize AAPI voters through a close partnership with the Biden-Harris campaign and community leaders across the country.

In addition to his organizing work, Santos has extensive experience in public affairs and communications having served as Western Region press secretary at the DNC. Previously, he served in the U.S. Army as the Deputy Press Secretary for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve during a year-long deployment in Kuwait and Iraq. Additionally, he previously served as the health policy assistant director for the American Legion and chair for communications at KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress. n

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Fil-Am father, daughter electrocuted by... US imposes travel restrictions on...

PAGE 1 Angeles County Coroner’s Office as 53-year-old Ferdinand Tejada and his daughter, 20-year-old Janine Reyn Tejada.

Both of them were from Dasmariñas, Cavite in the Philippines before moving to Southern California, according to the younger Tejada’s Facebook page.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said Ferdinand Tejada was electrocuted when he tried to move a downed electrical wire that he was investigating outside. His daughter was also electrocuted while trying to save him.

“She came in contact with the water and the water served as a conductor.

Our firefighters waited for the Department of Fire and water to come cut power because he was beyond medical assistance as was his daughter,” LAFD Firefighter David Ortiz told CBS Los Angeles.

It had been raining at the time of the incident, but it was not clear what caused the wires to come down.

“LADWP is saddened to

Ferdinand Tejada and Janine Reyn Tejada

report that two individuals were electrocuted while coming in contact with downed power lines,” said the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

“These two tragic deaths are a sobering reminder that live electrical wires can and will often result in death.

Don’t get near or touch a downed power line,” it said, urging residents to stay away and call 911 if they

Facebook photo

see a downed line.

The department also said that anyone coming across a victim lying near, or in contact with, downed wires or electrical equipment should keep a safe distance and not attempt to touch the victim.

“LADWP is working with law enforcement in their investigation of this incident,” it said in a statement.

(AJPress) n

Police serves warrant at...

PAGE 1 family at her home on the evening of January 7. She was reported missing on January 10 by her husband, who became worried when she didn’t show up for their daughter’s birthday.

Maricris Drouaillet, Millete’s sister, told Dateline that Millete’s driver’s license, credit card, and possibly her cell phone appeared to be missing. She also said that it’s possible Millete left the property on foot, since her vehicle is still at home.

“This is something that’s very concerning to the police department. We’re very concerned about May. We want her to return home safe and so we’re doing everything we can,” Lt. Miriam Foxx with the Criminal Investigations Division told CBS 8.

She added, “We’re just hoping she can be reunited with her family safe.”

Millete’s family has held community searches, vigils, as well as posted flyers in her neighborhood. They also created a “Find find May/Maya Millete” Facebook page to spread awareness to the community.

“Today and everyday until Maya is home safe with us,

especially to her 3 beautiful children, we ask that you say a prayer at 5:01 p.m. (her birthday is May 1st). We do believe the power of prayer is what will bring Maya home,” the family said on the page.

Anyone with information on Millete’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5139 or San Diego Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888)580-8477. n

PAGE 1 overseas territories outside of Europe), the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, is hereby suspended,” read the proclamation.

The European countries impacted by the reinstatement of the travel ban include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Before his term ended, then-President Donald

Trump rescinded the restrictions that have been in place for most of 2020.

In response to the move, then-incoming White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on January 19 said in a tweet: “With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variants spreading, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel.”

“On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26.

In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” she added.

Starting this week, all passengers arriving in the

U.S. must have a negative COVID-19 test from within 72 hours of their departure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for its part, said it will no longer consider exceptions to its requirement that international travelers present negative results.

“As variants of the SARSCoV-2 virus continue to emerge in countries around the world, there is growing evidence of increased transmissibility of some of these variants, as well as unknown health and vaccine implications,” it said Sunday.

“Testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19 and emerging variants,” the CDC added. n

Biden signs executive order denouncing...

PAGE 1 The directive acknowledges the role that rhetoric from political leaders, “including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin,” has played in the rise in xenophobia and hate incidents targeting AAPIs. “This is unacceptable and it’s un-American,” the president said, referencing the attacks against the community.

In an April 2020 interview, Vice President Kamala Harris, a California senator at the time, said the previous administration’s usage of anti-Asian connotations associated with the virus was “absolutely irresponsible” and “born out of ignorance.”

“What we have to do as leaders is remind people, they are not alone and encourage them to report these crimes because they are crimes and that we have to advocate to say there needs to be investigation and prosecution,” Harris previously told the Asian Journal.

The xenophobic references included “China virus” or “kung flu,” despite World Health Organization guidance on naming diseases to minimize negative effects on nations, economies and people.

The order now calls on agencies to remove language in actions or documents that “exhibit or contribute to racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.”

The Department of Justice is further directed to expand the collection of data and

public reporting regarding hate incidents against community members.

Last year, in the absence of federal data collection, advocacy groups like STOP AAPI Hate — founded by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department — created a reporting site where individuals could document an incident in English or another language.

From March 19 to December 31, 2020, the group told the Asian Journal that it received 2,808 reported incidents of racism and discrimination targeting community members. During that period up until October 28 of last year, 245 incidents were in Los Angeles County alone.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the Asian American community has struggled not only with the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a climate of increasing fear and discrimination. Thousands of us have been the victims of racist attacks, with the knowledge that much of the racist hate we face has been fueled by leaders in our government, including the former president,” the group said in a statement.

It added that it was “relieved” that this is one of the early actions but said the Biden-Harris administration should “take bold action” by reversing other executive orders from the Trump era.

Among the group’s recommendations is to expand

civil rights protections for individuals experiencing discrimination, for the U.S. Attorney General to investigate and initiate civil actions on anti-AAPI hate, and to ensure passage of the Jabara-Heyers NO HATE Act. The Filipino American community has experienced its share of hateful incidents, as reported by the Asian Journal. For example, in one viral video, a Fil-Am woman was verbally harassed while exercising at a Torrance, California park. Another recorded incident over the Fourth of July weekend showed a family being told by a white man that “You f***ing Asians” and “Trump’s gonna f*** you” while they were having dinner at a Carmel Valley restaurant.

The order also guides the Department of Health and Human Services and the COVID19 Health Equity Task Force to consider issuing guidance describing best practices to advance cultural competency, language access and sensitivity towards the communities in the government’s pandemic response.

While several AAPI organizations recognized the order as a step in the right direction, they are calling on the administration to do more in addressing the health disparities within the communities.

Brendan Flores, national chair and president of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) said in a statement that AAPIs and Native Hawaiians are not a monolith and

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OPINION

5

FEATURES

Not at this time

Philstar.com photo

THE initiative is supposed to make the country more attractive to investors. Yet 10 of the biggest business groups in the country issued a statement last week, opposing the latest effort at the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution at this time. Instead the business groups want Congress to focus on pending measures to deal with the public health crisis and revive the economy.

While stressing that they support initiatives to liberalize the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Charter to enhance national competitiveness, the groups said “we are strongly opposed to any initiative at this time to amend the Constitution.”

The groups are the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Filipina CEO Circle, Investment House Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Retailers Association, Philippine Women’s Economic Network and Wom-

en’s Business Council Philippines.

Charter change at this time, the groups said, “will be highly divisive,” derailing efforts to be “totally united” in the national effort to confront the COVID pandemic. Cha-cha, they pointed out, could be pursued in the first year of the term of those who will win in the 2022 general elections. Analysts have pointed out that because of the complexity of amending any part of the Constitution, the best time to initiate Cha-cha through any mode is at the start of a new administration.

The groups are urging Congress to instead focus on legislative measures, such

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS FINALLY! We have an administration that tells us the truth about our enemies — visible and invisible — implementing a comprehensive national strategy and leading us in defeating them using a full arsenal and all tools available to win this war and save lives.

One week since taking office, President Joe Biden has now accelerated the procure-

as amendments to the Public Service Act, as well as bills to provide economic stimulus amid the continuing pandemic. With only a year and a half left in the 18th Con-

gress, there’s still a lot of work ahead that can be done to promote economic recovery, without the distraction and divisiveness arising from Cha-cha. (Philstar.com)

Full speed ahead: America is finally winning the war against COVID, rebuilding our nation ment of the supply of vaccines for the American people to ensure that 300 million Americans, which covers mostly the entire U.S. population, are vaccinated by the end of the summer or early fall of this year — yes, this year, 2021.

This was announced by Biden in a televised message to the American people on Tuesday, January 26, assuring the people this is the way to win this war, after losing more than 400,000 Ameri-

cans since 2020.

Vaccines will be distributed to states based on their population. Thankfully, we see more and more people having the rational mind to want to be vaccinated, after seeing our own leaders, health officials and medical workers on the frontlines of the war against the pandemic, and some family and friends got vaccinated safely.

This is critical to our victory, especially in light of

the new variants of the virus.

The top U.S. epidemiologist Dr. Anthony Fauci stressed how important to have most Americans get vaccinated so that the other variants will not have the chance to grow and spread further.

Despite this encouraging development, the Biden administration continues to echo our health experts’ advice and safety measures to abide by as our patriotic duty to serve the greater good: continuing

to wear face coverings with a mask mandate in the first 100 days, social distancing, avoiding crowds and washing our hands even as we get the vaccinated.

CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, explains the reason why: It’s important to be clear about what we know and

what we don’t know about what the vaccine does. What we know is that the Pfizer vaccine is very effective at preventing symptomatic illness and severe disease. That means the vaccine appears to prevent people from getting sick enough that they develop symptoms, and very importantly, it prevents people from becoming so severely ill that they end up in the hospital.

This is really great news.

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte revokes IATF decision Medico-legal report: easing age restrictions Dacera’s death due to natural cause; rules out rape, homicide

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

by consuelo

MaRquez

Inquirer.net

MANILA — Flight attendant Christine Dacera died of natural cause based on a medico-legal report submitted Wednesday, January 27 by the Makati police to the city prosecutor’s office.

The report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory dated January 11, 2021, indicated that the 23-year-old Dacera had “ruptured aortic aneurysm,” which was the underlying cause of her death.

“Based on the available information on hand, the manner of death is classified as natural death,” acPAGE 10

Christine Dacera

Photo from Instagram/@xtinedacera.png

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte this week revoked the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) decision to allow minors who are at least 10 years old to go outside.

The chief executive on Monday, January 25, reversed the new rule amid the threat of the new, more contagious COVID-19 variant in the country.

“In our desire to protect our people, I am compelled to reimpose the restriction,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“Not at this time. It’s a sacrifice for the parents and for the children,” he added.

In its latest resolution ap-

proved on January 21, the IATF allowed people aged 10 to 65 living in areas under modified general community quarantine to go outside starting February 1. But now, only those 15 and older can leave their homes.

Duterte also urged the public to strictly follow the government-mandated health protocols.

“I’d like to end by saying that the only salvation, actually, for those who have not been sickened with COVID-19 and pending the rollout of the vaccine is really that you follow the protocol of — imposed by government,” he said in his weekly public address.

“If you follow them, then you have great chances of not getting it or at least when you get it, there’s al-

ready the vaccine, then it will somehow mitigate, give you the relief,” he added.

Children’s safety Following Duterte’s decision, Malacañang said that children’s safety is the president’s primary concern.

“Ang kaniyang pangunahing concern eh pangalagaan ang kalusugan ng ating mga kabataan. So ‘yun lang po yun. Habang hindi pa tayo masyadong maraming alam sa bagong variant, stay home muna po ang mga bata (His primary concern is to protect the youth.

So that’s it. Since we know less about the new variant, children need to stay home in the meantime),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday, January 26.

He also pointed out that PAGE 7

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Fil-Am appointed White...

EGG OFFERING. Sidewalk vendors sell sampaguita flowers and egg offerings in colorful plastic wrappers on the sidewalk along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, January 26. It’s been a tradition for people who visit Monasterio de Santa Clara to offer a dozen eggs.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

Palace urges nations not to worsen...

PAGE 1 dential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing on Monday, January 25.

Last week, China passed the Coast Guard Law, permitting its coast guard to use “all necessary means” to stop or prevent threats from foreign vessels.

The Palace, for its part, stressed that China and other sovereign countries should comply with its obligations in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Habang meron pong kapangyarihan ang bansa dahil sa siya’y soberenya na magpasa ng batas na iiral sa kanyang teritoryo, ‘yang mga batas po ‘yan ay kinakailangan sumunod pa rin sa mga obligasyon sang-ayon sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea kung saan kasapi po ang Tsina

(While countries have the power as a sovereign state to pass laws asserting territory, these laws have to follow obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, where China is a signatory),” said Roque.

“Under general international law po, yung paggamit po ng dahas ay generally prohibited except for two welldefined exceptions by way of self-defense at kinakailangan po merong sending of armed troops into the territory of China at kinakailangan ang paggamit po ng dahas ay necessary at proportional at when authorized by the UN Security Council (Under general international law, the use of force is generally prohibited except for two well-defined exceptions. By way of self-defense, there should be sending of armed troops into the territory of China and

the use of force should be necessary and proportional; and when authorized by the UN Security Council),” he added.

Roque also reiterated President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the completion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea “Ang deklarasyon po ng ating Presidente tapusin na po natin ang ating code of conduct at lahat po sana ng mga claimants sa West Philippine Sea ay sumunod sa code of conduct (The declaration of the President is to finish a code of conduct and that all claimants of the West Philippine Sea follow this code of conduct),” he said.

On several occasions, China has refused to acknowledge the Philippines’ arbitral award that invalidated China’s claim over the entire South China Sea. n

Biden signs executive order denouncing...

PAGE 4 each community has different needs amid the pandemic.

“The Filipino American community, in many areas across the country, has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this past year has amplified pre-existing health disparities in our community,” Flores said, citing the pandemic’s burden Filipino

American health care workers. “NaFFAA echoes the concerns of NCAPA for our AANHPI brothers and sisters, and calls upon the Biden Administration to provide muchneeded relief to the Filipino American community, especially to our healthcare workers serving tireless hours on the frontlines during this pandemic.”

The president also signed

orders on Tuesday to redress the country’s history of discriminatory housing practices and policies, to not renew the Department of Justice’s contracts with private prisons, and to re-establish a commitment to tribal sovereignty and consultation.

With the four new directives, Biden has so far signed 37 orders since taking office on January 20. n

PAGE 2 department, which worked with minority groups and different sectors across the country to get out of the vote.

The appointees reflect “the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to diversity, with more than 85% of OPM First Week appointees identifying as people of color, women, or LGBTQ,” the announcement said.

Kathleen McGettigan, OPM’s chief management officer, will serve as acting director of OPM until a permanent director is nominated and confirmed.

“Biden wants to continue to build off of that significant progress and make sure that we have diverse, talented individuals in his administration,” Tengco told the Asian Journal in a 2020 interview, citing the

Obama-Biden administration’s record appointments of AAPIs, particularly FilAms, to key government positions.

Tengco — who was the executive director and then a senior advisor for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) — briefly left politics to pursue a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of California, Berkeley.

He graduated last spring and had another job lined up, but the nationwide protests for racial justice and seeing former President Donald Trump’s photo-op in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. compelled him to work to get Biden elected, he previously told the Asian Journal.

“I already knew that we

couldn’t afford another four years under [Trump], but that was the day that I told myself that I wanted to jump back in and get involved in the campaign myself,” Tengco said in the interview.

His past experiences include serving as national AAPI outreach director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, and deputy director of the White House Initiative on AAPIs during the Obama administration.

Tengco’s interest in political activism sparked while studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he obtained his B.A. in political science.

“I’ll always remember this quote that I learned in college: No history, No self.

Know history, know self,” he said. (Christina M. Oriel/ AJPress) n

Duterte revokes IATF...

PAGE 6 Duterte’s decision prevails over the IATF’s.

“The president ultimately decides on matters under the jurisdiction of IATF dahil extension lang po ng

Presidente ang IATF. So, wala pong issue doon (because IATF is just an extension of the President.

So there is no issue there).

Whatever the president has decided prevails,” the

spokesman said.

To date, there are 17 confirmed cases of the new COVID-19 variant in the Philippines. Of the number, three cases are children aged 5, 6, and 10. n

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RAILWAY CLEARING. A backhoe operator clears the Philippine National Railways (PNR) route of obstruction at its Espana Station in Manila on Monday, January 25. PNR has resumed operation between the Tutuban station in Manila to Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Manila’s airport ambitions down from 3 to 1 with Sangley setback

by Ramon

Royandoyan Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines’ contentious plan to have four separate airports servicing Metro Manila and neighboring provinces just hit a fresh setback that would likely benefit tycoon Ramon Ang’s sprawling new gateway north of the capital.

On Wednesday, the Cavite provincial government brought plans to develop the Sangley International Airport back to the drawing board, revoking an initial agreement with Lucio Tanled MacroAsia Corp. and its Chinese backers from China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC).

“The Cavite provincial government Special Selection Committee has recommended the non-approval of the redevelopment of the former airbase as presented by applying parties,” Governor Jonvic Remulla said in a Facebook post.

Remulla’s announcement came on the heels of another rejection, this time from the national government to Megawide Construction Corp. and Indian partners appealing to renovate the aging Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The P109billion NAIA Project is now similarly open to new bidders.

The back-to-back scrapping of airport projects has left San Miguel Corp. the

lone firm running to fulfill the Philippines’ bid to augment a congested NAIA, part of a broader infrastructure agenda as well as efforts to attract foreign tourists as soon as the pandemic subsides, and foreign travel is restarted convincingly. That is after Clark International Airport finished renovations recently to boost capacity.

San Miguel scored a legislative franchise last year that sealed not only a 50year license but generous tax perks to build a P734billion airport in Bulacan, about 2 hours north of Manila. Once built by 2025, the new airport is projected to accommodate 100 million flyers a year.

Apart from this, San Miguel also wants to rehabilitate NAIA, although Ang earlier said he sees the old airport closing down in 10 years.

As of 11:30 a.m., shares at MacroAsia were trading down 1.08% to P5.87 apiece, while that at San Miguel were down 2.19% to P125.10 each.

Until now, there were fears the government decision to allow numerous airport projects to proceed would result into excess capacity that serves a limited number of travelers to Manila and nearby areas each year.

Originally, NAIA, the Clark Airport, Bulacan Airport and that in Sangley would be running simultaneously over the long-term. Builders

had downplayed concerns of overcrowding.

For Remulla, Sangley remains a viable location for an airport and would start negotiating with other interested bidders for the project. But timeline is tight because by October, election season would kick off with the deadline for filing candidacies for next year and by law, no new public project may be awarded 45 days before polls or starting March 2022. The same rule would apply to the NAIA Project.

Under the now-revoked plan, the first phase of the Sangley project was targeted to accommodate up to 25 million passengers each year beginning 2023.

“The selection committee will meet again in February and they will set a timeline,” Remulla said in a phone interview. Currently, no other party has expressed interest to the project.

Asked what prompted the revocation of MacroAsiaCCCC’s proposal, Remulla said his government had been asking for the tandem to secure board approval for their project, something the joint venture had said was hampered by the inability to fly to China because of pandemic travel restrictions.

Following several extensions, he said the province could not wait any longer.

“We have no recourse to extend it because it will also be in violation of provincial laws,” he said. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021

Justice eludes fallen SAF-44

by Darwin

Pesco ManilaTimes.net

FAMILIES of the 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) who were killed in an ambush in Maguindanao in 2015 are still seeking justice for their loved ones.

According to Roselle Nacino, widow of Police Officer 2 Nicky Nacino Jr., one of the slain troopers, justice remains elusive six years after the tragedy.

“Sana po mabigyan sila ng hustisya. ‘Yun po ang main concern namin bilang pamilya ng SAF 44 (I hope that we would get justice. That’s our main concern as families of the so-called SAF 44),” she told reporters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City where memorial rites were held for the slain policemen.

Nacino hopes that people responsible for the botched police operation would be held liable.

“Siguro managot na lang po yung mga dapat managot (Those responsible

Honoring gallantry A member of the Special Action Force stands in front of a poster showing photos of the 44 SAF commandoes who died in Maguindanao in 2015. The Philippine National Police marked the 6th death anniversary by honoring gallant SAF members.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike Alquinto

should be held liable),” she said.

The families hope for the reopening of the case, she pointed out.

The Sandiganbayan last year acquitted former PNP Director General Alan Purisima and Director Getulio

Napeñas, then chief of the PNP SAF, of graft and usurpation charges due to lack of evidence.

It was on Jan. 25, 2015 when 44 members of the PNP-SAF were sent on a mission to serve an arrest warrant on international ter-

rorist Zulkifli Abdhir, alias Marwan. The police operation resulted in an armed encounter with combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters as well as private militia.

The families found an ally in Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Marcos who urged Ombudsman Samuel Martires to take up a pending petition to reinvestigate the incident.

“The bitterness continues for the families of the brave men of SAF 44 that are still waiting for justice and delayed financial aid for their livelihood and education of the orphaned children,” Marcos said. “The issue is very personal to me because many of the SAF 44 are from the North and belong to indigenous communities.”

Marcos also called on President Rodrigo Duterte to direct the PNP to expedite the grant of Medal of Valor benefits to the SAF-44 families.

The President bestowed the Medal of Valor — the highest military honor — on the SAF 44 in April 2018.

Medal of Valor beneficiaries stand to receive a monthly gratuity of P75,000, free education and medical services for dependents, priority in various government programs, and discounts from various establishments and on travel.

PNP chief Debold Sinas said that justice was

9

already served to the fallen troopers “We let history decide kung ano po ang effect noon at, personally, ako maybe justice is served already sa kanila (We let the history decide on what will be the effect of it, as I personally think that maybe justice is served to them),” Sinas said.

He said the families of the SAF troopers continue to receive assistance such as scholarship and housing.

“Ngayon po ang ginagawa ng PNP headquarters ay mino-monitor po na continuous nilang natanggap ang mga benepisyo at hindi napuputol (Now, the PNP headquarters have been monitoring and making sure that the benefits are being received by them),” he added.

Sinas said the PNP continues to mark the gallantry of the so-called SAF-44 to inspire new entrants in the police service.

“Ibig sabihin hindi po nawawala yung tapang at saka yung dedication ng SAF natin (It means that the bravery and dedication of our SAF didn’t fade away),” he added. n

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House OKs 92% of P15-B ‘missing’ bill declaring PhilHealth funds liquidated - Gierran National Hijab Day

RALLY AT UP. Members of the League of Parents of the Philippines, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and the Duterte Youth Party-List hold a picket rally on a road leading to the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City on Tuesday, January 26. They later symbolically served the letter of Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to the UP community, abrogating the UP-DND accord.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Chief Dante Gierran said 92% of P15 billion believed to have been pocketed by certain officials within the agency have been liquidated.

In a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, January 26, Gierran denied that the funds released to health care institutions were lost to corruption.

“Sa tototo lang, hindi po nawawala, nandiyan lang.

On record, ang utos po ng Senado at tsaka ng lower House sabi iliquidate so sa ngayon po 92% na ang liquidated (The truth is the funds were not missing. On record, the Senate and the House of Representatives told us to liquidate the funds so as of now 92 percent have already been

liquidated).”

“I will not allow that na yung pera ng Pilipino mawala (I will not allow the money of Filipinos to be lost to corruption).”

Former PhilHealth antifraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith claimed in a Senate hearing last August that some P15 billion were stolen from the agency by PhilHealth officials through fraudulent schemes.

On Dec. 31, 2020, PhilHealth, in a statement reported that 87 percent or P13.03 billion of the P15 billion have been liquidated.

It insisted that the funds were not pocketed by some of its officials and instead these were released to hospitals for the use of patients. (Keith Calayag/ManilaTimes.net) n

Full speed ahead: America...

PAGE 5 Here’s what the studies don’t yet show. They haven’t looked at whether the vaccine prevents someone from carrying COVID-19 and spreading it to others. It’s possible that someone could get the vaccine but could still be an asymptomatic carrier. They may not show symptoms, but they have the virus in their nasal passageway so that if they’re speaking, breathing, sneezing and so on, they can still transmit it to others.

This is the main reason why we can’t stop wearing masks right after we get the vaccine.

The vaccine will protect you from getting ill and then ending up hospitalized. But it’s possible that you could still carry the virus and be contagious to others. So those who get the vaccine should still be wearing masks and practicing physical distancing.

Dr. Fauci, Dr. Wen and other health officials say we still need to practice these measures for a while, cognizant of the fact that our cooperation and commitment to abide by these will mean we go back to “normal” faster as we defeat the virus.

Dr. Wen further explains: It’s estimated that about 70% of Americans must be vaccinated before we get to herd immunity through vaccination. That’s the point where enough people have the im-

mune protection that the virus won’t spread any more.

This means about 230 million Americans must receive the vaccine. It will take time to produce this many vaccines and remember the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are twodose vaccines, so you need double the number of doses as people. Then the vaccine must be distributed and actually given to people. If all goes well, the best estimates are that it will be late spring or early summer for most Americans to receive the vaccine.

At that point, we could probably see one another without masks - but not before.

It did not have to be this bad in the United States but the Biden Administration would just have to deal with what was left behind by the Trump administration.

On January 22, Biden released important information that delivers much-needed help to the American people, including and especially to us, the Filipino American community in the United States.

“Fact Sheet: President Biden’s New Executive Actions Deliver Economic Relief for American Families and Businesses Amid the COVID19 Crises” stated: The COVID19 pandemic has forced the United States economy into an economic crisis. Across the country, more than 10 million Americans are unemployed,

14 million renters are behind on payments, and 29 million adults – and at least 8 million children – are struggling with food insecurity. Because of pervasive systemic racism and inequality in our economy, the burdens of this economic crisis are hitting communities of color and other underserved families hardest.

Biden signed an executive order that launched “an all-of-government effort to provide equitable emergency economic relief to working families, communities, and small businesses across the nation. The actions taken as part of this effort will provide relief to millions of American workers who have lost their jobs and had their hours or wages slashed through no fault of their own. They will help working families feed their children and keep a roof over their heads. They will help ensure that unemployed Americans no longer have to choose between paying their bills and keeping themselves and their families safe from COVID-19 by clarifying that workers who refuse unsafe working conditions can still receive unemployment insurance. And, they will help more unemployed workers pay for training and college so they can find better jobs and succeed in an increasingly competitive job market.

According to WhiteHouse.

gov: “While the President continues working with Congress to take bold action that will help working families through the remainder of the crisis, he is taking these emergency measures and important steps to give millions of Americans real relief during the pandemic. The all-of-government executive order, combined with the President’s historic relief package and forthcoming jobs package will help Americans persevere through the pandemic and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.”

HELP IS ON THE WAY! Keep the faith! Let us do our share to win this war against the pandemic and to help ourselves and our government build our lives and our nation back better very soon. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos.

THE House of Representatives approved on Tuesday, January 26 a bill declaring February 1 of every year as “National Hijab Day” to promote an understanding of this Muslim tradition.

House Bill 8249 was passed on third and final reading by 203 lawmakers.

As defined in the bill, hijab is a veil worn by a Muslim female who is beyond the age of puberty. It covers her head and chest and is worn in the presence of adult males outside of their immediate family. It also refers to any face, head, body veil worn by Muslim women that conforms to a certain standard of modesty.

The bill seeks to encourage the wearing of hijab; remove the misconceptions; stop discrimination against hijabi; protect the freedom and practice of religion; and promote appreciation and acceptance of diversity in the expression of faith.

Under the bill, government institutions, schools, and the private sector are encouraged to observe the National Hijab Day to promote understanding and awareness among employees and students.

The bill mandates the National Commision on Muslim Filipinos as the lead agency in promoting awareness and conducting educational and information campaigns.

The bill was authored by Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan, Lanao Del Norte Reps. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo and Abdullah Dimaporo, Lanao Del Sur Reps. Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Adiong and Yasser Alonto Balindong, Maguindanao Rep. Datu Roonie Sinsuat, Sr., RECOBODA Party-list Rep. Godofredo Guya and Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano. (Divina Nova Joy Dela Cruz /ManilaTimes.net) n

Medico-legal report...

PAGE 6 cording to the PNP Crime Laboratory report.

An aneurysm is common to senior citizens but it may also be experienced by younger people “due to other factors,” the report explained, even citing that aneurysms can be caused by “increased blood pressure” as in the case of Dacera.

An aneurysm is a defect in the arterial blood vessel wall causing dilatation, the report added.

“In the person of Dacera, this happened in the aorta that the continuous increase in her blood pressure within it (aorta) further weakened that defect and eventually burst,” the PNP Crime Laboratory report pointed out.

“The moment there was a tear in the aorta, blood loss will occur and the patient is expected to feel various symptoms like weakness, nausea, and diaphoresis that can explain why she was feeling weird and unlike the feeling of a hangover from previous drinking sessions.”

“The loss of blood due to the ruptured aorta killed her within a few hours,” it

added.

Manner of death The PNP Crime Laboratory report ruled out homicide as the cause of Dacera’s death.

There have been speculations that Dacera’s drink was spiked which could have triggered the aneurysm but the report said that “no alcohol or recreational drugs taken the night prior to her death will cause that kind of dilatation or defect on her aorta.”

It likewise noted that the dilatation or aneurysm started “a long time ago.”

“That dilatation is a chronic condition and was present long before she died. If she did not die that fateful night, she will still die in any scenario that presents an activity that will increase her blood pressure strong enough to tear that aneurysm,” the report stated.

It also noted that Dacera’s heart weighs 500 gm – 200 gm higher than a normal heart.

“This is a finding that supports Dacera’s apparently undiagnosed hypertension,” the report said. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021

COMMUNITY Journal Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ AS I reported in a previous article, on January 20, 2021, just after taking office, Pres.

Biden issued an executive order calling for a 100-day pause on most deportations or removals.

Immediately after that order was released, Texas filed a lawsuit, seeking a Temporary Restraining Order, and on January 26, 2021, a Texas federal judge granted a 14day Temporary Restraining Order, barring the Department of Homeland Security from pausing most deportations across the country.

The Biden administration is expected to appeal.

What this Temporary Restraining Order means is

11

Court blocks Biden’s deportation freeze

that ICE is to resume all deportations despite Biden’s executive order, which prioritized deportation for those who are considered felons, terrorists, and threats to national security, but had temporarily suspended enforcement actions against those who fall outside these three categories.

The federal judge stated in his ruling that federal agencies such as DHS “do not have discretion to completely disregard” immigration laws, which state, “when an alien is ordered removed, the Atty. Gen. (DHS) shall remove the alien from the United States within a period of 90 days.”

In other words, immigration law requires DHS to deport

or remove people within 90 days of their being ordered removed.

But what is sad and alarming is that in 2011, Pres.

Obama did the very same thing: he came out with a policy of “prosecutorial discretion,” where the government would focus on felons, terrorists, etc., but would use discretion and not vigorously pursue removal actions against those who, although out of status, did not pose a threat to society.

That “pause” on such deportations was not challenged in court, but now Texas is doing so.

In addition, the executive branch of government (which is the President) is in PAGE 13

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S IMMIGRATION REFORMS AND ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (top) opens this Sunday’s episode by giving updates on President Joe Biden’s massive immigration reform and answers immigration questions from Francis of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (left), Analyn of Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands (center), and Chester of Independence, Louisiana, concerning DACA, divorce, and other issues, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot” this Sunday, January 31 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Fil-Am filmmaker Isabel Sandoval’s ‘Lingua Franca’ scores 2021 Spirit Awards nomination

By AJPress

“LINGUA Franca” by Filipina American filmmaker Isabel Sandoval has bagged a nomination at a prestigious awards dedicated to independent filmmakers.

Sandoval’s third film on Tuesday, January 26 was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award in the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

The award is given to films with a budget of less than $500,000.

“Lingua Franca” tells the story of an undocumented PAGE 15

NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY

EVERYDAY

9:00am - 11:00am Sandoval stars as Olivia, a Filipina trans woman, in “Lingua Franca,” which premiered on Netflix on August 26.

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http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

President Biden’s proposed Spicy Chicken McNuggets, Mighty immigration reforms to be discussed Hot Sauce returning to McDonald’s® on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday but only because you asked so nicely

LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel discusses and explains the proposed immigration reforms of President Joe Biden on the very first episode of Citizen Pinoy for 2021.

Atty. Gurfinkel also answers questions from Kapamilya from various corners of the world.

Analyn from Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands would like to know if the USCIS is accepting new applications

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS BACTERIA react and develop resistance to drugs against them in order to survive. The Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDRTB) and the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) are examples. Viruses, which are protein molecules, mutate more efficiently to various strains to be more virulent to propagate themselves. The SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID19 has mutated to various strains – two popular ones are the UK and the South African variants. Viral mutation is natural and expected and their occurrence was no surprise.

Currently, there are 101 million cases of COVID-19 in 219 countries, with about 2.2 million deaths, a daily average case of 800,000 and death toll of 18,000 per day globally and counting. In the United States, there are more than 26 million cases with about 432,000 deaths, following the first case of COVID-19 on a Washington man who fell ill on January 19, 2020 after returning from Wuhan, China, four days earlier. The average daily death toll since that first case has been 1,073.6. Johns Hopkins reported 235,000 new cases and nearly 4500 deaths in one day, a new record high, on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

The vital questions today are whether the new strains are more deadly and whether our currently available vaccines and monoclonal antibody treatment are also effective against them.

Clinical observation So far, the clinical evidence

for DACA. Francis from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia asks why his previous lawyer thought that Francis’ petition was void just because he got married.

And Chester from Independence, Louisiana asks if a married woman can come to the U.S. as a tourist and then divorce her husband who is in the Philippines.

These questions will be answered on the show. A new

feature of Citizen Pinoy will be showing the latest in immigration news and analysis from episodes of U.S. Immigration TV, the YouTube channel of Atty. Gurfinkel.

Get the latest immigration updates on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot” this Sunday, January 31 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Post-vaccine risk

shows that the new strains are multiple times more virulent (more contagious, seven to 10 times more rapidly transmissible). While some reports say the UK strains are not any more serious, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that in UK the new strains “are 30 percent more deadly” compared to the original SARS-Cov2 virus.

The vaccines appear to be also effective against them.

The South African variant is likewise more contagious and appears to be more severe.

The vaccine efficacy against it is slightly less but still enough to provide immunity. For all these new strains, the pharmaceutical companies may have to tweak their vaccines to achieve at least 95 percent effectivity against all of them and future mutations.

Much behind schedule More than 68 million doses of the vaccines have been distributed to 56 countries around the world, a daily average of 3.44 million a day.

Vaccinating 7.8 billion people globally is the greatest dilemma humankind has ever faced.

Since the campaign started in the U.S. (population: 330.9 million) on December 14, 2020, about 43 million doses of the two vaccines have been distributed, nearly 24 million (about 56 percent) have been administered for an average of 1.25 million per day. The goal today is to administer 1.5 million doses a day. This could be achieved in about 8 months, certainly before the end of 2021, provided supply and administration are both 99-100 percent adequate.

The two most efficient on top of the list are South Dakota and Puerto Rico, each having administered 87.6 percent of

their allocation, with California having given only 2.5 million doses for 16 percent of its almost 40 million people.

The formidable dilemma is logistics, a variety of red tape in the administration of the vaccine – more than a supply issue – because many states still have some vaccines left but are quite slow in putting the shots in the arms of their constituents. This is not to minimize the magnitude of the need for more vaccines for the remaining 80-85 percent of unvaccinated people in the United States.

Dangerous option The ill-advised idea floating around about using the vaccines reserved for second dose in order to vaccinate more people is scientifically flawed and could lead to disaster for those who are waiting for their second shot because there is now a shortage of vaccines. The demand is greater than the supply, with the two overwhelmed drug firms unable to manufacture enough and faster to meet the present need. Without the second dose, the vaccination (protective immunity) is incomplete, and as the delay goes further, the antibodies already formed could wane.

These individuals could get COVID-19, likely the new strains, while waiting for their second shot, wasting the first shot they received.

Incomplete immunity The first dose confers only about 52 percent protection, with 48 percent residual risk.

After the second dose, the immunity level gradually goes up to around 95 percent after a few months, and not immediately! Exactly how long, we still do not know for certain.

Clinical observation in the

Try these limited-time fan favorites for FREE on McDelivery with DoorDash next week

CHICAGO – Good things come to those who ask politely, which is why McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets® and Mighty Hot Sauce will be returning to participating restaurants nationwide Feb. 1 for a limited time! For those that need a refresher: • Spicy Chicken McNuggets: Breaded with a sizzling tempura coating made with both cayenne and chili peppers, Spicy Chicken McNuggets pack plenty of flavor and spice into each bite.

• Mighty Hot Sauce: Our new Mighty Hot Sauce dialed up the spice last Fall, boasting a powerful blend of crushed red pepper and cayenne peppers, all balanced with savory garlic and a hint of sweetness. This is both McDonald’s hottest available dipping sauce and our first new sauce since 2017.

As an added bonus, from Feb. 2 - 6, customers can get a FREE 6-piece Spicy Chicken McNuggets exclusively on their McDelivery with Door Dash* order of $20 or more, using code SPICY. When we introduced Spicy Chicken McNuggets last year, it marked the first-ever McNugget flavor innovation since this iconic menu item was introduced in 1983.

But over their 40-year history, we’ve upgraded our beloved Chicken McNuggets several times – from rolling out new dipping sauces like Tangy Barbeque and Honey Mustard to removing all ar-

tificial preservatives, colors and flavors back in 2016. All to serve our customers even more of the flavors and quality ingredients they love.

So let the countdown to Feb. 1 begin, and make sure to snag your Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce orders fast, since the hottest menu items in town won’t stick around forever.

And chicken fans can rest assured that we’re not stopping here – be on the lookout for more delicious options hitting our menus soon.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women.

For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www. facebook.com/mcdonalds.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, is

committed to serving our customers chicken offerings that meet our high quality standards. Our Buttermilk Crispy Chicken, made with all white meat and real buttermilk, was introduced in August 2015. In July 2016, we reached our commitment to serving chicken not treated with antibiotics to human medicine** nearly a year ahead of schedule, and in August 2016 we announced our Chicken McNuggets are made with no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. (*McDelivery available at participating McDonald’s.

Prices may be higher than at restaurants. Offer valid in US only through 2/6/21 on orders with min. subtotal greater than $20 while supplies last. Limit 1 per person.

Use code SPICY. Delivery and service fees apply. Terms apply: drd.sh/qnAXuU) (**Farmers still use a class of antibiotics that are not prescribed to people, to help keep chickens healthy)

(Advertising Supplement)

next eight months or more could provide us the answer.

Currently, about five percent of those who got their first shot became infected with COVID-19 when they allowed their guard down and ceased donning masks, stopped social distancing and doing crowd avoidance. If more of those who received the first dose become careless and reckless, the rate of new infection (most likely a variant strain) and its faster transmission to others and death rate among the “first-dosers” would be more devastating as a new, more deadly pandemic in itself.

If we want to survive After receiving the second dose, we must continue to follow the CDC anti-COVID 19 guidelines: masking-up, doing social distancing and avoiding crowds until herd immunity is reached. Otherwise, COVID-19 could still get us, even after our second dose, unless and until country-wide immunity has been achieved and COVID-19 eradicated.

Behavioral modification helps. After receiving the first or second dose of the vaccine, let us behave as if we have not had the vaccines, and resume wearing masks, doing social distancing and

avoiding crowds. It’s for our own safety and the protection of others around us. And the scary reality is that the new strains of the virus is becoming more dominant than the original SARS-CoV2 virus and some other mutations could still evolve. We have sacrificed and suffered from the isolation of self-quarantine and successfully evaded the invisible enemy for the past 12 months. Let us extend our patience and continue to follow the CDC guidelines religiously for at least another six months, since we are now able to see the light at the end PAGE 15

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February 2021 priority dates Immigration Corner

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY: First Preference

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ tHe February 2021 priority dates, continue to provide great news for workers in the eB-3 (skilled/professional) and “other worker” (unskilled workers like caregivers). the priority dates for all countries (except india and China) are CURRent! this includes the Philippines! this means visas are available, regardless of the person’s priority date. if a person is being petitioned by an employer, and their Form i-140 employment-based petition has been approved or is pending, they could possibly be eligible to file for adjustment of status and work authorization, assuming they are otherwise eligible for adjustment of status (i.e. no issues re maintaining status, no fraud/crimes, etc.) People with approved or pending i140 petitions should see an attorney about their eligibility to file for adjustment, now that the priority dates for these employment-based categories are current. each month, the Visa office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment-based categories.

A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. if your priority date was “cur-

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

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

October 22, 2012

January 01, 2012

(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below January 01, 21 years old) of green 2021 card holders

Current

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders

April 15, 2012

August 15, 2011

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens

January 08, 2003

March 01, 2002

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens

October 01, 2002

February 01, 2002

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Current

Current

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Current

Current

rent,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements

and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/ GurfinkelLaw, Twitter @GurfinkelLaw and YouTube: US Immigration TV Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

Court blocks Biden’s deportation...

PAGE 14 charge of enforcing the law, and part of his authority or discretion is to determine how or the manner in which laws are enforced. this judge seems to say that the executive branch must fully and vigorously enforce removal orders for everybody. this is a developing story and could affect so many people in removal proceedings or have been ordered removed. Biden was going to go easy on most people, but as result of this lawsuit and injunction, it remains up in the air how vigorously immigration laws will be enforced.

So, keep reading these articles, or watch my Youtube channel, US immigration tV, as i will keep you updated on any new developments. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different, and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are

not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/ GurfinkelLaw, Twitter @GurfinkelLaw and YouTube: US Immigration TV Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

13

Lovely, Benj get married after 10 days of planning wedding

By Niña

GuNo Inquirer.net

Longtime partners Lovely Abella and Benj manalo are now a happily married couple after tying the knot on Saturday, Jan. 23 in Quezon City.

Although their wedding was a long time coming — the actors have been a couple since 2015 — their big day was planned in a flash. the “Ang Probinsyano” actor proposed to Abella for a second time on new Year’s Day, and at the time, proposed also to her 12-year-old daughter Crisha. manalo too has a son from a previous relationship. their wedding organizer, maxine Covar events, revealed on instagram that they only had 10 days to make the ceremony come together. even with the time pressure, the couple got their dream wedding, held at Lemuria gourmet Restaurant. the “Bubble gang” star stunned in a Steph tan wed-

Benj Manalo and Lovely Abella

ding dress, which was made in just two days and is a gift from Kathryn Bernardo, whom Abella starred with in “Hello, Love, goodbye.” manalo first proposed to Abella in June 2019 by surprising her during what she thought was a music video shoot. manalo asked her to

Photo from Instagram/@luwiseeto

have a cameo appearance in the video, but it turned out to be a proposal in front of loved ones. “i wanted us to be engaged before moving into our new home,” he told inquirer in April last year. “i wanted to give her the security that i’m here to stay.”

14

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january 29 - FEBruary 4, 2021 • nEW yOrK anD nEW jErSEy aSIan jOurnaL

• (212) N E W http://www.asianjournal.com YO R K / N E W J E R S EY 655-5426 JA N UA RY 29, 2 0 2 1

people events arts culture entertainment

LIZ A GINO ’S ‘IMELDA’S SECRET ’:

Giving life and light to one of the darkest secrets of World War II T

by JOSEPH

L. PERALTA / AJPress

HE scars and memories of World War II continue to haunt us in varying ways.

Whether it was the persecution of the Jewish people (referred to as the Holocaust) and Japanese interment, the loss of lives in the many battlegrounds (Normandy, Midway, Bataan, to name a few), the razing of many cities by invading forces, or the dropping of the atom bomb in Hiroshima in 1945, movies, specials, documentaries and television programs remind us of the horrors of war and the shattered pieces of their lives that people have had to form together in order to survive.

Yet, one of the darkest and haunting secrets of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines has been given little air time compared to the many atrocities committed by the nazi and imperial Japanese Army – and that is the experience of the numerous comfort women in many nations where the Japanese occupied during World War ii. this is tackled in Liza gino’s “imelda’s Secret,” a book that tells the story of two cousins, gloria and imelda, who were comfort women

during the Japanese occupation. While one (gloria) reveals her past which opens her up to ostracization from family members and society, the other (imelda) keeps her experience bottled up to protect herself and her family from ridicule. gloria’s illness is a tipping point for imelda as she becomes conflicted on whether to acknowledge publicly her experience as a comfort woman or to keep the status quo.

Comfort women were women and girls who were forced

to work as sex slaves in brothels by the imperial Japanese Army in areas they occupied during World War ii. the brothels were said to be provided for Japanese soldiers to decrease the incidence of wartime rape, which caused anti-Japanese sentiment in occupied territories. many young women were abducted from their homes for this purpose, or were recruited through false advertising by unscrupulous middlemen and wartime propaganda advocated by the Japanese regime in

“Imelda’s Secret” author Liza Gino has woven a story based on true accounts from family and friends about the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, focusing on the often untold and buried accounts of comfort women during World War II.

place. in many ways, experts say the comfort women experience parallel the human trafficking trade that exists today in many parts of the world.

An organized web event in late 2020 served as the book launch. gino described her novel as a weaving of stories into a cohesive narrative based on true accounts from family and friends about the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. “i could’ve have written a novel just about World War ii,” gino said. “But i chose to bring it forward 40 years after the war. even though it has been four decades after the liberation women are still struggling: women can’t tell their families, their loved ones because if they do, for some it’s very traumatic.”

Liza noted that she wrote “imelda’s Secret” to give life to the silent warriors of World War ii who have been discarded from history. “the comfort woman story is only in the oral story, it is not written down. And all attempts to write it down has been hindered. We need to acknowledge and honor these women, and we also all need to make sure that we know about it and that we stop this from ever happening again,” the University of the PhilipPAGE 15

The book’s front cover is an image of community activist and philanthropist Dr. Yolanda Ortega Stearn as done by artist Angeli Clarisse Lata.

Images captured from book launch

University of the Philippines Fine Arts graduate Maria Isobel Lopez used glass mixed media to create the piece featured in the book’s back cover, which features a woman whose back is turned to the observer.

Lola Isang (Narcisa Claveria), one of the handful of surviving comfort women in the Philippines, sent a message of thanks and vowed that she will never surrender in her right for justice.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021

Giving life and light to...

PAGE 14 pines alumna said, while adding that women activists have been instrumental in making the comfort women issue become public.

The author said that the story is set in San Francisco because she feels that “this is the only place where you can actually have this kind of conversation where it’s face-toface – what you feel and what you’ve gone through – and hope that someone will catch you and say, ‘It’s okay. We still love you. We still want you.’”

Gino added that having these kinds of conversations and opening up, as the book’s storyline shows, is how one can “unhook, unchain and anchor yourself because keeping a secret for 40 yearsplus can be damaging to the psyche. And that’s why Imelda’s secret should no longer be a secret.”

For Liza, the surviving comfort women of today are still doing their own version of the Bataan Death March every day and it is up to society to illuminate their plight and advocate for women’s issues in general.

“We should get them justice and make people aware that this happened… we need to find them justice,” Gino stated.

Collaborators for ‘Imelda’s Secret’ The online book launch introduced the many collaborators that helped Liza Gino make the book a reality.

Longtime Filipino American community leader and philanthropist Dr. Yolanda Ortega Stearn allowed her image to be used as the canvas for the artwork that is featured as the book cover executive by artist Angeli Clarisse Lata.

“I think we all have a moral duty and obligation to write the story, to document the stories, to remind every generation that we are raising [about trafficked women],” Dr. Stearn said. “I am really happy to see this movement because what we started in Berkeley during the women’s liberation movement and all these movements in experimental schools brought out the story of the comfort women in the Japanese concentration camps, and all these unpleasant things that occurred that people simply did not want to talk about.”

“It was really difficult even then to get women to come out and tell their story because there was such a stigma. And there was the shame that they felt to be part of this.

This book that Liza has written really, really clears a smooth passage for all the women who have been abused or who have been trafficked.

And trafficking is continuing today. It clears a passage so that it gives them strength and the courage to speak up,” Dr. Stearn added, while wishing that today’s younger generation will up the book and take up the cudgels for victims of human trafficking.

Former Binibining Pilipinas Universe winner Maria Isobel Lopez, a University of the Philippines graduate herself, created a mixed mosaic glass artwork for the book’s back cover. Liza was one of the runners-up the year that Lopez took the crown.

According to Lopez, who has a Fine Arts degree, she was inspired to do the Iluminati Tree, subtitled Imelda’s Secret, when Gino informed her about the book about two years ago. While the word iluminati refers to a secret society since the 1700s, Lopez said her artwork title refers to the “enlightened ones, the comfort women in the book which hopes to bring clarity, truth and understanding to these women.”

The woman’s figure in the mosaic depicts how a person tries to deflect confrontation or wants to forget something, and this is by turning their back, Lopez explained.

“I used mixed glass media made up of man-made and natural stones. And you know very well that glass is a difficult medium to handle… it’s very hard to control, not to mention the danger that the glass can go into your eyes,” Maria Isobel said, while adding that in making the mosaic, some of the pieces cut her fingers so part of her DNA is embedded in the artwork.

“I look forward to the journey of ‘Imelda’s Secret’ and I would like to congratulate my good friend Liza Gino for coming up with this very worthwhile book,” Lopez said. “We cannot forget these things… even if World War II is over the lessons that we learned and the things that are happening in the world has not stopped.”

Film and television composer Roger Neill, for his part, presented a short sample of the haunting score he developed for “Imelda’s Secret.”

Neill’s credits include scores for films like “29th Century Women,” “Don’t Think Twice” and “The Beginners,” as well as for television shows “Mozart In The Jungle” and “King

of the Hill.”

Neill described the music he created as beginning with an epic sweep, romantic, but also poignant and tragic, which then transitions into something quiet and contemplative, and then ends with kind of a question mark. He added that the score he ended up with was what he had initially imagined and conceptualized for “Imelda’s Secret.”

Women activists for comfort women Also joining the launch were women activists Judith Mirkinson, Miho Lee and Sharon Cabusao Silva, as well as “Lola Isang,” who shared a short video message.

Mirkinson and Lee, who are members of the San Francisco Comfort Women Justice Coalition, were contacted by the author to contribute to the book, with “the purpose of lending clarity on why this issue is relevant and making the connection with the reality we are living every day, wherever we may be.”

Lee shared that many women’s groups – around 20 – ultimately coalesced to create a memorial dedicated to comfort women in San Francisco (located near St. Mary’s Square, at the crossroads of Chinatown and the Financial District; the statue shows a Filipino, Korean and Chinese woman) after learning of a group of Japanese government-backed right wing historical denialists who were organizing in the Bay Area and other places in the United States to “educate the public that comfort women stories are complete fabrication.”

Lee, who teaches at San Francisco State University , added that the power of bringing the narrative of comfort women stories, as told by the survivors themselves, brings two added components – that of healing and power/subversion.

“We, as next generation, and our next generation are really the vessels through which that healing can happen. This is a multi-generational effort that we are a part of. This is not a thing that happened in the past that we are disconnected [from]. We are living the reality of bringing the healing as an act of empowerment,” Lee explained in reference to how comfort women have yet to heal from their wounds seeing as how their stories have remained buried or were silenced by society.

Lee continued: “This is also an act of subversion… As we

Fil-Am filmmaker Isabel...

PAGE 11 trans Filipina living in New York City who struggles to make enough money as a caretaker to send back to her mother in the Philippines, as well as to pay for an American man to marry her for a green card.

Sandoval wrote, directed, and starred in the film, which originally premiered at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival Venice Days program and made history as the first film directed by and starring an openly trans woman of color to be screened at the competition.

It was later acquired by ARRAY, which released the film on Wednesday, Aug. 26 on

Netflix and in select theaters.

In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Sandoval expressed her excitement over the nomination.

“LINGUA FRANCA is nominated for an Independent Spirit Award! Gobsmacked to be in the running for the JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD!!!” she wrote.

Nominated alongside “Lingua Franca” for the award are “The Killing of Two Lovers,” “La Leyenda Negra,” “Residue,” and “Saint Frances.”

The Film Independent Spirit Awards, originally known as the FINDIE (Friends of Independents) Awards, is an award-giving body dedicated to independent filmmakers.

Post-vaccine risk...

15

“2020 was Hell on Earth.

But one glorious lifeline these past months has been the ability to watch so many great films and shows,” said Josh Welsh, President Film Independent.

He added, “In an unbelievably challenging year, this year’s Spirit Award nominees inspired us, connected us and have been a source of urgently needed light in the darkness.

And even though we’re still stuck at home, let’s come together to celebrate this great work!”

The 36th annual Spirit Awards will air live Thursday, April 22 at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 p.m. PT exclusively on IFC and AMC+.

PAGE 12 of the tunnel. We must not derail this hope.

Only we, the people This strategy is the security insurance we all need to end this vicious killer pandemic sooner. The government cannot do this for us. It is up to us, we, the people, to discipline ourselves and behave properly, a prerequisite for us, our loved ones, and all our fellowmen to survive one of the greatest human tragedies

in modern history.

Once again, I challenge everyone to join this crusade to save lives, or, if you don’t give a damn, to get out of the way! *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life.

Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate

for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

speak, currently the Japanese government is doing a lot of things within its power to rewrite this history… The fact that these stories are being preserved and told and personalized on the womens’ own terms, from their perspective, is helping counter the intentional erasure.”

Mirkinson, for her part, said while they want the Japanese government to officially apologize for the atrocities committed against these women, people should also look beyond what they see as victimhood and see how comfort women coming out from the shadows gave power and voice to women around the world which helped change international law.

“For the first time in history, women are now actually considered under international law human beings, and violence and rape against women are considered as a form of torture. And the history of the comfort women is a part of that, so that is why we consider this part of history as essential,” Mirkinson explained.

Liga Filipina’s Cabusao Silva, meanwhile, shared that

the plight of comfort women is still a burning issue today.

Of about thousand women who came forward to talk about their experiences as comfort women, the Gabriela-run organization, she said, could only document about 175 cases due to lack of funding. Only about 12 to 13 of these 175 women are still alive, with only about four of these women able to attend events.

“Many of them still have the fire in their hearts,” Cabusao Silva revealed. “They would be willing to come out in the streets to tell their stories and to tell Japan, to demand the justice that they have long been demanding from the Japanese government.”

Although they would like to have a more dynamic movement that continues the call for justice, compensation for the victims and for historical inclusion, the current political situation in the Philippines and the lack of awareness from the younger generation means they will have to educate young people about the issue of comfort women and, in a general way, about military sexual violence that con-

tinues to take place around the world.

In a brief video message, Lola Isang (Narcisa Claveria) thanked Liza for writing her novel and said, “Itong laban na ito, hinding-hindi ako susuko… tuloy lang ang laban.

Thanks sa suporta niya sa laban ng mga lola. Hindinghindi ko makakalimutan ‘yung pagpapasalamat sa kanila kasi sila rin ‘yung tumutulong, sumusuporta sa laban ng mga lola kasi ang gobyernong Hapon ay hindi naman kami pinapakinggan. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, wala pa kaming nakamit na tunay na [inaudible].”

This early, the novel has already garnered a couple of awards – a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for the women’s interest category, and first place for Historical Fiction at the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. There are also plans to turn the book into a movie, with a script in the works.

“Imelda’s Secret” is available at www.imeldassecret. com in book form or as an e-book. Connect with author Liza Gino at info@imeldassecret.com.

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