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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages

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California lifts regional stay-at-home USA DATELINE Newsom honors order, counties return to tier system Fil-Am officer with FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

Medal of Valor

A FILIPINO American California Highway Patrol officer was honored this week after risking his life to recover a slain police officer in Sacramento.

Officer Michael Panlilio was one of eight law enforcement officers awarded a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor by Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra in a virtual ceremony on Monday, January 25.

The medal is the highest state award for valor awarded to a public safety officer.

“For his extraordinary bravery, hero-

CALIFORNIA lifted the regional stay-athome order across the state amid “positive signs” of a slower spread of COVID-19, officials announced this week, paving the way for activities like outdoor dining and personal

care services to reopen once again with modifications.

On Monday, January 25, all counties returned to the color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity.

Prior to the announcement, San Joaquin Valley (1.3% ICU capacity), Bay Area and Southern

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

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VACCINE SIMULATION. A health worker administers a mock vaccine to an employee of the city government of Parañaque during the simulation exercise of its COVID-19 immunization program at the fifth floor of a mall along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Parañaque City on Thursday, January 28. The government targets to inoculate one million medical front-liners and healthcare workers with Covid-19 vaccines that are expected to arrive in the country in February.

PNA photo By Avito C. Dalan

Biden signs executive order denouncing anti-Asian racism, hate amid COVID pandemic

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.

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 “Chi-

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A FILIPINA American mother of three in Chula Vista, California has been missing for almost a month, but her family is not giving up hope that she will be found.

May “Maya” Millete, 39, was last seen by family at her home in the San Miguel Ranch area on January 7 and was reported missing two days later.

That Saturday, the family was planning a trip to Big Bear mountain resort for her daughter’s 11th birthday, but Millete was never heard from.

Millete, a civilian Navy employee,

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UNITED STATES President Joe Biden has reinstated travel restrictions on most non-U.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 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 rein-

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Board expands COVID-19 rental assistance program

Restrictions eased for restaurants, other business in San Diego county

THE County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday, January 26 to expand the emergency rental assistance program for San Diegans who have suffered economic hardships due to COVID-19.

The County’s program allows San Diegans who are facing eviction or are unable to pay their rent to apply for financial assistance.

Funds can be used to cover rent, utilities and other household expenses.

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Fil-Am father, ‘She wouldn’t leave her kids’: daughter electrocuted Search continues for Fil-Am by downed power lines mom of 3 missing in Chula Vista in Panorama City 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 Angeles County Coroner’s Office as 53-year-old

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US imposes travel restrictions on several countries with virus variant

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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

California (0% ICU capacity) were still under the regional stay-at-home order, but four-week ICU capacity projections for those areas are reportedly above 15%.

“We are in a position, projecting four weeks forward, with a significant decline in the case rates, positivity rates, we are anticipating decline

Gloria Steele, acting administrator of USAID

Veronica Valdez, special assistant at Defense Department

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 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.

May “Maya” Millete (2nd from left) with her husband Larry (2nd They all join a growing list of from right) and their three children ages 11, 9 and 4.

Photo courtesy of Millete family Fil-Ams serving across the ad-

ministration 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; 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 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.

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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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From The Front Page

Pangasinan celebrates Biden SD mayor unanimously appointment of Camille Calimlim Touton voted SANDAG vice chair REP. Christopher de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan) has filed a resolution congratulating Camille Calimlim Touton for her appointment as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation.

Touton’s appointment is historic as she became the first Filipino-American to serve in the agency’s leadership role.

According to the resolution, Touton’s parents, Carl and Marlene Bangsal Calimlim, are from Barangay Tebeng in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

“I congratulate President Joe Biden and Interior Secretary-designate Deb Haaland on their excellent choice, their appointment of Camille Touton as the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation,” announced Rep. Grace Napolitano in a statement.

The Bureau of Reclamation is a water management agency under the United States De-

partment of the Interior, which oversees dams, canals, and hydroelectric plants across the Western United States. It is the largest wholesaler of water in the United States and the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the Western United States.

According to the resolution, Touton’s appointment “brings honor and pride not only to the people of Dagupan City but also the entire Philippines.”

The City of Dagupan also hailed the appointment and called Touton “Dagupan’s Pride.” Her grandmother served as a Barangay Captain of Tebeng, one of the city’s barangays.

The city’s Public Information Page posted the appointment on their Facebook page and it has been shared almost 400 times as of press time, generating hundreds of congratulatory messages and words of encour- Camille Calimlim Touton agement.

Photo from Instagram/@MITWater

Mayor Gloria vows to push for transportation future that will improve quality of life throughout the region

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria was unanimously elected as the San Diego Association of Governments’ (SANDAG) vice chair on Friday, January 22 by the Board of Directors, putting him in the significant position to guide the development of a regional plan for San Diego’s transportation future.

Mayor Gloria will serve alongside Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear, who was unanimously elected chair in December.

“It is an honor to serve alongside Mayor Blakespear, and I am committed to working with my fellow SANDAG Board Members to develop a transportation blueprint for our region that is equitable, sustainable and will improve the everyday lives of millions of people,” Mayor Glo-

Biden admin appoints Fil-Ams to key roles...

PAGE 1 t 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

Camille Touton

Angela Perez

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 bachelor’s degree in Business Adminis-

tration 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

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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria

File Photo www.sandiego.gov

ria said. “Together, we will implement a plan that will create jobs, fund and build projects to support our climate and housing goals, and provide more viable mobility options for all of us.”

Mayors Gloria and Blakespear take the reins at a pivotal time for SANDAG and the region.

The 2021 Regional Plan will be adopted at the end of this year, reimagining the way people and goods will move through the San Diego region in the future.

The new extension of the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley will also open later this year, providing a one-seat ride from the U.S./Mexico Border to the University community. Next year, SANDAG will begin implementing the 2021 Regional Plan and will work with regional, state, and federal leaders and work to identify funding opportunities.

“It is a new day at SANDAG,” Mayor Blakespear said. “I look forward to working alongside Vice Chair Gloria. Together, I believe we can move forward a transportation vision for our region that is equitable, sustainable, and improves the quality of life of our communities for generations to come.”

Mayor Gloria previously served on the SANDAG Board of Directors from 2013 to 2016 and led the Transportation Committee as chair. This is his first time serving as vice chair.

Several members of the SAN-

DAG Board echoed support for Mayor Gloria.

San Diego City Council President Jennifer Campbell said: “Mayor Todd Gloria will bring his boundless energy and enthusiasm to SANDAG. Our future couldn’t be in better hands.

His leadership is one of making positive action possible always with fairness and collaboration.

There are so many critical decisions we will face and I know Mayor Gloria will lead in building the foundation for a more connected region.”

National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis nominated Mayor Gloria for the position and said: “Todd has that leadership ability of bringing people across the aisle and I know that Mayor Gloria will work side by side with our existing team to engage our organization and lead it to the next level.”

Del Mar Mayor Terry Gaasterland said: “Todd Gloria has been a fantastic supporter, friend, and ally of Del Mar in so many of the struggles that we have had. I see no better leader than Todd Gloria as Vice Chair together with Catherine Blakespear as Chair.”

In addition to the election of the vice chair, the Board also discussed the option to reinstate the second vice chair position as a SANDAG Board Officer. This change requires an amendment to the SANDAG bylaws which will considered at a February meeting.

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is the San Diego region’s primary public planning, transportation, and research agency, providing the public forum for regional policy decisions about growth, transportation planning and construction, environmental management, housing, open space, energy, public safety, and binational topics. SANDAG is governed by a Board of Directors composed of mayors, council members, and supervisors from each of the region’s 18 cities and the county government.

(San Diego Mayor’s Office Release)

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California lifts regional stay-at-home order, counties return... US imposes travel...

PAGE 1 t still more decline in hospitalizations and more declines in ICUs and that’s why we are lifting that stay-at-home order effective immediately today,” Governor Gavin Newsom said during his daily briefing on Monday.

By Feb. 21, the projected capacity will be 22.3% in San Joaquin Valley, 33.3% in Southern California, and 25% in the Bay Area, according to numbers provided by the governor.

The projected capacity depends on current estimated ICU capacity available, current community transmission, current regional case rates and the proportion of cases admitted to the ICU. Newsom introduced the regional order in December and extended it into the new year.

The Sacramento region exited the order on January 12 and the Northern California region never entered the order.

Purple tier rules

Currently, the majority of the counties are in the strictest, or the purple tier. Under the tier, retail can continue to operate with 25% maximum capacity, restaurants and wineries can reopen outdoor dining, gyms and fitness centers can hold outdoor classes, personal care services like hair and nail salons can open indoors with modifications, and family entertainment centers, cardrooms and movie theaters stay outdoors. Bars, where no food is provided; live audience sports; and amusement parks remain closed.

Meanwhile, the counties of Trinity, Alpine, and Mariposa are in the red (substantial) and Sierra County is the only one in the orange tier (moderate).

Tier updates are provided weekly on Tuesdays. Individual counties could choose to impose stricter rules, officials said.

“California is slowly starting to emerge from the most dangerous surge of this pan-

demic yet, which is the light at the end of the tunnel we’ve been hoping for,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “Seven weeks ago, our hospitals and front-line medical workers were stretched to their limits, but Californians heard the urgent message to stay home when possible and our surge after the December holidays did not overwhelm the health care system to the degree we had feared.”

With the end of the regional restrictions, the statewide limited stay-at-home order, which limits non-essential activities between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., also expired.

Officials remind the public to continue to help slow the spread by wearing masks when outside, maintaining physical distancing, and avoiding large gatherings and mixing with other households.

As of this writing, California has reported 3,153,186 cases and 37,527 deaths since the

start of the pandemic.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that businesses allowed in the purple tier would resume on Thursday, January 28.

The city will increase capacity to 50% at grocery stores and 25% for retail shops. Outdoor fitness classes, which previously had a 12-person cap, is increased to 25. Outdoor religious and political gatherings no longer have a 200-person cap as long as social distancing can be maintained.

“Just keep in mind that this is just not an open door for us to all of a sudden let our hair down and do whatever we want to do,” Breed said. “Let’s keep doing what we’re doing. Let’s keep being smart about wearing our mask and who we interact with, let’s limit the number of people that we interact with so that we can make sure that we don’t see another surge and see this fire continue to get out of control.”

PAGE 1 statement 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. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

‘She wouldn’t leave her kids’...

Fil-Am appointed White House liaison...

PAGE 1 is described as 5-foot-2 and about 105 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes, freckles and a wrist tattoo. In addition to her 11-year-old, she has children ages 9 and 4, and lives with her husband Larry.

Her husband reportedly thought Millete was asleep in a bedroom, but then he found the room empty, according to various reports.

Her sister Maricris Drouaillet told the Asian Journal that the last time she and her siblings heard from Millete was on Jan. 7 when they were all on a group chat talking about the birthday trip.

“It’s just a shock and it’s been a nightmare since we reported her missing,” Drouaillet told the Asian Journal.

Drouaillet said Millete loved the outdoors and hiking so it is possible she had gone out by foot that day.

Her car has remained at the home’s driveway and her phone has been turned off and has not been located, a GoFundMe page organized by her family said. She appeared to have taken her ID and credit card as well, but no transactions have

PAGE 1 for the federal government.

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

May “Maya” Millete

been recorded.

Over the weekend, police served a search warrant at Millete’s home with the goal of locating any evidence into her whereabouts.

“I can’t give any details as to the investigation but I will say we’ve been actively investigating this case and we’re at the point now where we’re trying to get as much evidence and any clues that we have that it’s possible to find where May is,” said

Lt. Miriam Foxx with the Criminal Investigations Division.

Millete’s family has held community searches and vigils, and has posted flyers in the neighborhood and in the greater San Diego area. However, the recent weather conditions have hindered some search activities.

The GoFundMe page, with a $30,000 goal, will be used for the investigation, search efforts and printing fliers.

A Facebook page called “Find find May/Maya Millete” has also been created to spread awareness.

The family encourages others to say a prayer at 5:01 p.m. — her birthday is May 1 — until Millete is found.

Those who know her say she has a bold personality and is full of life, and that she was a doting mother.

“She’s an amazing. She has three wonderful kids and it’s her life…she wouldn’t leave her kids this way,” Drouaillet said.

Anyone with information on Millete’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-6915139 or San Diego Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. (AJPress)

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

tive 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 want-

ed 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)

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Dateline Philippines

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Duterte revokes IATF decision Fil-Am father, daughter electrocuted... easing age restrictions

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

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 approved 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 already 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 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.

Newsom honors Fil-Am officer with...

PAGE 1 ism and courage in the face of imminent and personal life-threatening peril, Officer Panlilio’s actions were above and beyond the call of duty and exemplify the highest standards of a California public safety officer,” a release from the governor’s office said.

On June 19, 2019, Panlilio responded to a call from the Sacramento Police Department after officer Tara O’Sullivan was shot at a residence.

When he arrived at the scene, the suspect, who was using a high-power rifle to shoot from an elevated position, barricaded himself inside the home and used security cameras to monitor movement.

Despite the gunfire, the officer “entered an armored vehicle, which came under fire as it breached the backyard fence and was positioned between the gunman and Officer O’Sullivan,” the release said.

Panlilio and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Rich-

Officer Michael Panlilio and his Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor award Photo courtesy of California Highway Patrol

ard Nielsen left their place of safety, retrieved Officer O’Sullivan and carried her back into the armored vehicle. However, the vehicle became disabled so Panlilio carried the fallen officer approximately 30 feet away

to another patrol vehicle that drove them to UC Davis Medical Center.

While en route, Panlilio reportedly performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on O’Sullivan, but the latter succumbed to her injuries.

Other officers honored include individuals with the Gilroy Police Department, Hawthorne Police Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department. Newsom also awarded the California Military Department Medal of Valor to seven members of the California National Guard.

“Today’s Medal of Valor honorees demonstrated unparalleled heroism in service to their communities, risking their own safety to save lives,” said Newsom. “Their actions are an inspiration to all of us and we offer our deep reverence and gratitude to these extraordinary individuals for the sacrifices they make every day to protect their fellow Californians.” (AJPress)

PAGE 1 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

Ferdinand Tejada and Janine Reyn Tejada

come down.

“LADWP is saddened to 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

Facebook photo

away and call 911 if they 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)

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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

Opinion

Not at this time

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Features 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 Women’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 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 Congress, 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)

Editorial

Full speed ahead: America is finally winning the war against COVID, rebuilding our nation

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 procurement 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 Americans 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.

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 immune 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 two-dose 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 COVID-19 Crises” stated: The COVID-19 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.

Does the First Amendment apply to what you post on social media?

Commentary Attys. Alexander Manglinong and Philip Lim Nulud ON January 7, 2021, a day after the reprehensible violence occurred at the U.S. Capitol, Facebook and Twitter locked former President Donald Trump’s accounts.

Many people were up in arms and questioned how Facebook and Twitter could do that. People claimed that it was a violation of his freedom of speech. However, it was not.

Facebook and Twitter are private companies that are not required to provide anyone with their services or platform. Secondly, the First Amendment, which provides for the freedom of speech, does not apply.

When you create an account on Facebook, Twitter, or another social media platform, you agree to abide by their respective terms of service. Like it or not, you entered into a contract with Facebook. They will provide you with access to their platform, so long as you abide

by their rules. For example, for Facebook, you agree to “not use [Facebook] to do or share anything: [t]hat violates the [Terms of Service], [Facebook] Community Standards, and other terms and policies…” In Facebook’s Community Standards, there is a specific section as it pertains to Violence and Incitement. It states the following: We aim to prevent potential offline harm that may be related to content on Facebook.

While we understand that people commonly express disdain or disagreement by threatening or calling for violence in non-serious ways, we remove language that incites or facilitates serious violence. We remove content, disable accounts, and work with law enforcement when we believe there is a genuine risk of physical harm or direct threats to public safety. We also try to consider the language and context in order to distinguish casual statements from content that constitutes a credible threat to public or personal safety. In determining whether a threat is credible, we may also consider additional information like a person’s pub-

lic visibility and the risks to their physical safety. (Emphasis added.)

Thus, if Facebook determines what you posted incites violence, it can remove the content, and/or disable your account. In this situation, President Trump’s speech was deemed to have incited the violence at the Capitol. Under Facebook’s terms of service, Facebook was entirely within their right to disable his account.

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media companies are not publicly funded. They are private for-profit corporations that can act as they deem appropriate.

While Facebook and Twitter are platforms for speech, they are under no obligation to provide anyone with access to their platforms.

The Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.” This language restricts governmental, as opposed to private, abridgment of speech.

In other words, the First Amendment only applies to actions by federal, state, and local governments.

As an exception to this general rule, the First Amendment may apply to private entities if they are considered “state actors.”

Under the so-called “state-action doctrine,” private entities can be subject to First Amendment constraints in only a few limited circumstances—such as when (1) the private entity performs a function traditionally and exclusively reserved to the government; (2) the government compels the private entity to take a particular action; or (3) the government acts jointly with the private entity. With regard to the first category, U.S. Supreme Court has explained that very few functions are both traditionally and exclusively reserved to the government. Such functions include, for example, running elections and operating a company town.

The First Amendment does not apply to Facebook and Twitter because they are private companies and not state actors under the state-action doctrine. They operate separately and apart from government, and they were not compelled by the government to lock former President

Trump’s accounts. Further, their primary function — namely, the operation of an online social media platform — has not been traditionally or exclusively reserved to the government.

The primary function of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms may be viewed more broadly as the operation of a forum for speech. On this point, the government has traditionally and exclusively operated public forums for speech. But as the U.S. Supreme Court explained, a private entity cannot operate a public forum because it is not a state actor. Public forums, by definition, are forums for speech provided by the government. A contrary rule would effectively strip private companies of their ability to regulate their properties whenever they opened them for speech.

In short, Facebook and Twitter were within their contractual and constitutional rights to lock former President Trump’s accounts.

They, like other social media platforms, are private companies that may censor or suspend user accounts based on the user’s failure to abide by their terms of

service and policies. As private entities, they are not subject to the same free speech limitations under the First Amendment that generally apply to federal, state, and local governments. *** 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.

***

Alexander Manglinong is an attorney at Sanders Roberts LLP in Los Angeles, where he practices business, employment, and general liability litigation. He serves as the secretary on the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA).

***

Philip Lim Nulud is an attorney at Buchalter in Los Angeles, where he specializes in intellectual property law. Many of his clients are well-known fashion brands, who he represents in IP protection, strategy, enforcement, and licensing matters worldwide.

He is currently a director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the immediate past president of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA), and a past president of the PABA. He has been named as one of the Most Influential Minority Attorneys in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

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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Biden signs executive order...

PAGE 1 t na 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 COVID-19 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.

Board expands COVID-19...

PAGE 1 t The expanded program will award funds for up to six months of expenses at a time and applicants can request additional funding if they still require monetary assistance after that time.

The emergency rental assistance program would also give priority to single-parent households, many of which have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic’s impact on the economy.

The program is funded by $48.8 million in federal stimulus funds the County received earlier this month. The federal stimulus dollars will cover rental assistance needs for residents living in 16 cities in the County, as well as the unincorporated areas. The cities of San Diego and Chula Vista received their

own funds from the federal government and will oversee their rental assistance programs separately.

The Board also voted to work with the state to develop a plan to allow a safe return to youth sports competitions.

Meanwhile, after seven weeks of closures, restaurants, museums, theaters and other businesses can resume outdoor operations immediately under state guidance.

Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and tattoo parlors can open indoors. Hotels and other lodging can open.

The changes are a result of California health officials’ announcement on Monday, January 25 that the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted for

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 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 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 much-needed 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. all regions of the state.

The state’s four-week intensive care unit bed availability projection for the Southern California region, which includes San Diego County, is expected to be above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order.

“We urged San Diegans to stay at home and most heeded our message,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Their actions have helped to slow the spread of COVID-19, kept hospitals and health care workers from being completely overwhelmed and, most importantly, saved lives.”

The lifting of the Regional Stay Home Order means that San Diego County is now back in Tier 1, or the Purple Tier, and can return to the rules and

u PAGE 9

STOP THE SURGE Wear a mask

Stay home

Washing hands frequently

Stay 6 feet apart

covid19.ca.gov

7

8

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

Biden admin appoints...

PAGE 2 t Congress, and was a leader in the Obama Administration’s Department 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

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

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 Asia-Pacific 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.

John Santos Last year, the Diversity in NaLike Steele and Touton, Valdez tional Security Network and New Obama administration.

Touton holds a BS in Engineer- is also returning to her old job, America named Valdez as one of ing (Civil), BA in Communication in this case at the Department the “2020 Asian American PacifStudies, and a Master of Public of Defense, where she served as ic Islander National Security & Deputy Chief of Staff to the Sec- Foreign Policy Next Generation Policy.

Veronica Valdez (Department retary of the Air Force and as pol- Leaders”.

Ms. Valdez was born in Manila icy advisor during official visits to of Defense)

ANNOUNCEMENT

LEGAL NOTICE SD#0015

Advertisement for Bids

Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will receive “ELECTRONIC-ONLY” bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services to: REPAIR SLOPE AND STORM DRAIN AT CRAWFORD HIGH SCHOOL A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021, in front of the main office of Crawford High School, 4191 Colts Way, San Diego, CA 92115. ALL CONTRACTORS MUST PREREGISTER WITH THE DISTRICT PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE SITE WALK. Please send only one representative per Company. Contact scheng@sandi.net for the link to preregister. PLEASE SEE BID FOR DETAILS (No. CC21-0618-24).

COVID-19 SITE WALK SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL BE ENFORCED: Please refer to Planwell (www.crispimg.com, click on PlanWell, Public Planroom, search SDUSD and project bid number (CC21-0618-24) or The Daily Transcript Publication for the complete Advertisement for Bids which includes Site Walk Safety Precautions AND preregistration information.

All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on FEBRUARY 18, 2021. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=43764 then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CC210618-24 Repair Slope and Storm Drain at Crawford High School. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration”. The project estimate is between $450,000 and $480,000. This is not a PSA project and does not require prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: A or other appropriate license, subject to District approval.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Andrea O’Hara, M.A., Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Officer, Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department

EMPLOYMENT

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.

CC21-0618-24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2020-9020263

A. ACE OF FADES BARBERSHOP B. ACE OF TATTOO PARLOR located at 1610 PALM AVENUE #C, SAN DIEGO, CA 92154.

Registrant: LEOPOLDO BARAJAS III, 1660 PLANICIE WAY, SAN DIEGO, CA 92154.

This business is conducted by INDIVIDUAL. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature LEOPOLDO BARAJAS III. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/09/2020.

AJ 687 01/08, 01/15, 01/22/, & 01/29/2021.

AJSD 687

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00003812-CU-PT-CTL

CASE NUMBER: 37-2020-00041939-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner DIANA SOOAH YOUNG filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: DIANA SOOAH YOUNG to DIANA SOOAH COHEN. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 03/11/2021 Time: 8:30 AM, Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JAN 27, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 688 01/29, 02/05, 02/12, AND 02/19/2021 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE – Name Change (NC120) Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120)..

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC100) will be granted without a hearing.

One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner BEN NGUYEN AND THUY KIM DIEP ON BEHALF OF A MINOR filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: NGOC BAO DIEP NGUYEN to MIALIE NGUYEN. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 02/25/2021 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: DEC. 31, 2020 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 686 JAN. 08, 15, 22, & 29, 2021 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE – Name Change (NC120) Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120)..

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD 688

AJSD 686

SAN DIEGO

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021

JOURNAL

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JA N UA RY 29, 2 0 2 1

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 internment, 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 place. In many ways, experts say the comfort women experience parallels 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 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.”

Gino 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 Philippines alumna said, while adding that

“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. Image capture from book launch

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.

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-to-face — 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 years-plus can be damaging to the psyche. And that’s why Imelda’s secret should no longer be a secret.”

For the author, 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 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 executed 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],” 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,” 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 Illuminati Tree, subtitled Imelda’s Secret, when Gino informed her about the book about two years ago. While the word illuminati 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

Board expands COVID-19 rental assistance...

PAGE 7 t framework of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity percentage.

The County’s adjusted case rate is currently at 49.6 per every 100,000 residents, which is expected to be reflected on the state’s website tomorrow. The rate is well above the 7.0 case rate that is required to move into the less restrictive Tier 2, or Red Tier. Fifty-four of the 58 California counties are in the strictest level, or Purple Tier.

The region’s 7-day case positivity rate is 14.8%, also well above the 7% needed to move to the Red Tier.

Counties must remain in their

current tier for three weeks and post case rates and testing positivity percentage in the higher tier for two weeks before moving into the less restrictive level.

Tier updates are provided weekly on Tuesdays; however, counties can choose to impose stricter rules.

Household gatherings are also now allowed, but they should be limited to no more than three households and the interactions must occur outdoors. People must also keep their distance and wear a mask. The 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew remains in effect.

“The pandemic is not over, people should continue taking the recommended precautions,” Wooten said.

County health officials continue to urge San Diegans to do the

following: • When it’s your turn, get vaccinated; • Wash your hands; • Watch your distance around others; • Wear a mask; • When sick, stay home and get tested.

The County is currently vaccinating people 65 and older, as well as health care workers in Phase 1A at its vaccination sites. Appointments are required, and vaccinations are available based on supply.

More information is at coronavirus-sd.com/vaccine and appointments can be made at vaccinationsuperstationsd.com.

(Katie Cadiao and Jose A. Alvarez/County of San Diego Communications Office)

learned and the things that are happening in the world [have] 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 — ultimate-

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

Recipe Corner

Oysters with Spicy Cucumber Granita

Make this super simple and delicious appetizer at home. You can get all the ingredients at your nearest Seafood City location.

Ingredients • Kikkoman Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce • Lime juice • Cucumber • Kumamoto Oysters • Salt

• Pepper • Ice Directions 1. Blend ingredients and spoon over oysters.

2. Layer oysters over crushed ice.

This recipe is provided courtesy of Seafood City. Visit their Facebook Page or http://www.seafoodcity.com for more recipes. If you have any recipes that you would like to share with Asian Journal readers, please send email to editor@asianjournalinc. com or info@asianjournalinc.com, and include a photo of your dish.

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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

Entertainment

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

Godinez316 Cebu Style Chorizo now available at Seafood City Top Gun sequel filming shows camera car with Coronado PD escort

Photo courtesy of BShimabukuro

City of San Diego listed among best places to live and work as a moviemaker

Industry magazine highlights city’s streamlined permitting process, COVID-19 safety protocol and binational location SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego has once again landed in the Hollywood spotlight after being named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 25 Best Places to Live and Work in 2021.

San Diego is the only California city to make the list at No. 17, moving up one spot from last year. Los Angeles is considered a Hall of Fame location and is not eligible for this yearly honor.

MovieMaker Magazine declared San Diego worthy of recognition based on data collected through surveys, research on tax incentives and recent film productions. Magazine staff visited many locations on the list, taking into consideration how the cities responded to health and safety requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s incredibly rewarding that the City of San Diego continues to be recognized for investing in the film industry, particularly after this challenging past year,” said Brandy Shimabukuro, Filming Program Manager for the City of San Diego’s Special Events & Filming Department.

“While there is still much work to be done, we know our convenient, binational location offers the environment and lifestyle to attract filmmakers and cultivate a thriving film-friendly community.”

In June 2020, the Special Events & Filming Department resumed accepting permit applications after a temporary pause. Upon reopening, all ap-

WTF Filming at Tuna Harbor Park

proved productions in the City were required to follow guidelines under the County of San Diego’s Safe Reopening Plan which requires facial coverings, physical distancing measures and sanitation stations for all cast and crew.

Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, San Diego was able to successfully attract film and television projects to the region including episodes of “Mayans M.C.” and advertising campaigns for Reebok, Uber and American Airlines.

Photo courtesy of BShimabukuro

Established in 2016, the San Diego Film Office offers a comprehensive suite of services including a filming production guide, location gallery and interactive map. California’s film industry represents more than 890,000 film and entertainment employees.

MovieMaker Magazine is based in Hollywood and was founded in 1993. To view the full Top 25 list, visit moviemaker.com.

(City of San Diego Communications Dep’t Release)

FILIPINO cuisine is no stranger to sausages, more commonly known in the Philippines as “longganisa.” Derived from the Spanish term “longaniza,” the country offers several interpretations of the dish from different regions.

Most kinds of local longganisa fall under two categories: “recado,” which refers to a more savory, salty kind of sausage; and “hamonado,” which refers to a sweeter sausage.

Chorizo de Cebu, which is one of the most popular versions of Filipino longganisa, is of the hamonado type. It is circular in shape and red in color, due to the use of achuete seeds, and is often paired with fried rice and egg, making it perfect for any meal of the day.

Becca Godinez, famed Filipina singer and performer, shares how she developed her rendition of the chorizo.

For those living in the U.S., Godinez316 Cebu Style chorizo, which uses all-natural ingredients and contains no preservatives, is now available in several Seafood City Supermarkets as follows: Southern California: Carson, Cerritos, Chula Vista, Eagle Rock, Irvine, Los Angeles (Vermont), Mira Mesa, National City, North Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, and West Covina.

Northern California locations are: Concord, Hayward, Milpitas, Sacramento, South San Francisco, Union City and Vallejo.

Outside of California: Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, and Waipahu, Hawaii.

It is also available at Manila Seafood in National City.

Asian Journal (AJ): Tell us about Godinez316 Cebu Style Chorizos — how long was the process of developing your recipe before they went out onto shelves?

Becca Godinez (BG): I have been cooking up the idea of developing Cebu Style Chorizos even as I was developing my Premium Chorizo de Bilbao, which went to market in November 2019 and is available in all Seafood City locations. I learned about chorizos specific to Cebu about four years ago and was eager to try and make my own. There were, however, limitations in trying to create a flavor profile for the chorizo here in California because I had nothing to compare it with. There are USDA/FDA limitations regarding the importation of meat products from overseas so I had to depend on what I was able to find locally. I even tried to get some friends coming back from Manila (preCOVID) to bring me some — but that was not possible either. In truth, there were only four chorizo makers that I taste tested prior to beginning my own journey.

I pored over every possible recipe and video that I could find on the internet that identified as a Cebu chorizo.

After some time, I was able to whittle them down to three groups that used specific ingredients in their end products. One of them was a complete no-no…the ones that used anise in the meat mass.

I do not much care for anise so that went out the window.

Developing my version began after a personal “health” incident in April. With a new lease on life, I figured I’d better do this now or I never will.

Although many gave suggestions as to what ingredients would work best, I had to first consider availability. One or two of the ingredients that I wanted to use were Filipino ingredients and I was uncertain as to their bulk availability here in CA. I had to forego those. Working with my manufacturer, we agreed on the grind size, and on the fat to lean meat ratio. The rest was up to me. In order to take

A sample meal with rice and achara (pickled green papaya, carrots and peppers) using Godinez316’s Cebu Style Chorizo.

Godinez316’s Cebu Style Chorizo can be found at Seafood City.

Becca with Doña Juana doing a batch test of the Cebu Style Chorizo.

on the unique Cebu chorizo shape, I taught myself how to stuff and string tie the links into the desired shapes. A true Cebu Style Chorizo is either round or a rounded oblong and must result in a reddish-brown end product with caramelization on the outer skin. After this personal at-home process I worked with the manufacturer to measure the exact size and weight of each link to total the 16 oz that each commercial packet would eventually weigh.

The vision began much earlier but I would say that the actual physical creation journey began in May 2020 and I found my final and best flavor in August. I have to stress that this is MY version of the chorizo.

This product went through several editions with test groups giving me their comments on recipes that I was testing out.

I approached the process with much respect to the Cebuanos and to the Cebuano tradition.

Further steps involved submitting the ingredients for the Nutritional Analysis with the FDA. Finally, I worked closely with an awesome graphics designer in coming up with my logo and label design. Start to finish – seven months. It went to market the week of Christmas 2020.

AJ: What makes Cebu Style Chorizos different from others on the market?

BG: It is definitely NOT longaniza. Anyone trying it for the first time will know that they are experiencing a new flavor.

It is sweet and savory — it has good spices for what many have characterized as carrying a good “umami” with each bite.

My Cebu Style Chorizo uses 100% natural ingredients. I use NO preservatives and the manufacture is semi-artisanal.

It is a great-tasting chorizo that

can be eaten every day and it can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

AJ: Where can customers find your chorizos? What’s in store for your brand in 2021?

BG: Right now, the product should be in most of the Seafood City Supermarkets following a very successful test run in only four outlets. I am so very happy to say that during the initial run, Las Vegas sold out in less than a week and they quickly submitted a re-order.

Cerritos was not far behind.

It is my hope, my dream to get this out to all markets and that dream will be fulfilled this week. Folks have also clamored for these to be made available in Florida, Arizona, New York, Washington to name a few.

You can bet that my heart soared at the requests. I will work with my distributor, Food For All, to try to make this a reality soon. The desire is to make the Cebu Style Chorizo a pick-it-up from the shelf without thinking product. A recognized, meal-time standard — that’s the dream anyway.

AJ: Some ways to prepare and serve the chorizos?

BG: I made sure to include preparation instructions on the label. Basically, you pour water into a pan and fill it to ¾ the height of the chorizo. Turn the heat to high and flip the links as they cook. Once the liquid is about gone, lower the heat then pierce the bottom of each link to release liquid. Allow the liquid to thicken and caramelize – stirring the links until they are coated in a deep red brown color. Snip each link and transfer to your serving tray.

My heart hopes that folks do try this Cebu Style Chorizo and that they make it part of their regular day-to-day food fare.

Lami lagi ni kaayo!

Groundbreaking flow battery project helping to advance clean energy microgrids SAN DIEGO – Two years after becoming the first battery of its kind to be connected to the California grid to help support reliability and maximize the use of clean energy, the vanadium redox flow (VRF) battery based at a San Diego Gas & Electric substation is again breaking new ground. This time, the emerging battery technology is being tested as a means to help

achieve zero-emission microgrids – a tool to keep communities and critical facilities powered with clean energy during adverse weather conditions and Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

With the support of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and the California Governor’s Office of Business and Eco-

nomic Development (GOBiz), SDG&E and Sumitomo Electric (SEI) launched the demonstration project in 2017.

The collaboration was recently extended for another year through the end of 2021, to further test the battery’s microgrid capabilities and maximize its ability to support the grid with ancillary services such as volt-

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021

Major PPE shipment Giving life and light to... donated to National City, South Bay community organizations from Last Mile SD NATIONAL CITY – The community of National City received a large donation of much-needed and essential PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) from Last Mile San Diego, a grassroots volunteer group whose mission is to protect healthcare workers and communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are Last Mile volunteer groups in multiple states and cities throughout the US. On Wednesday morning, January 27, as part of a coordinated effort to connect PPE from LA and Orange County donors, Mayor Sotelo-Solis and Last Mile SD Co-founder Amy Aminlari, coordinated this massive effort with partners from the Labor community. Several big rig trucks were driven down

by Teamsters local 542 and unloaded by Ironworkers local 229, which included distribution of over 128,000 bottles of 16oz hand sanitizer and 8,000 thermometers.

The recipient organizations from the region included National School District, Sweetwater High School, Granger Junior High, National City Middle School, City of National City, City of Chula Vista, United Domestic Workers, Teamsters local 542, Ironworkers local 229

and San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council as well as hospitals in Tijuana, long term care facilities and local small businesses in National City.

Mayor Sotelo-Solis shared, “It is a true team effort to have received this PPE for our impacted communities, but it is even more important now that we continue to have the essential PPE necessary as we begin to roll out our vaccine efforts because we need to continue wearing our masks and PPE until we reach herd immunity (75% of our entire community to be vaccinated).”

Aminlari stated, “Thank you to everyone for allowing us to be a part of this fight against Covid 19 pandemic. Without necessary PPE we cannot protect those at risk and we cannot help to prevent the spread! As we are surging, and National City amongst the highest in our area, these PPE are still in shortage and greatly needed.

We are so grateful to Mayor Sotelo-Solis for passionately advocating for our cause to protect the community, and for bringing together such an amazing team to make this donation and delivery possible.

Social distancing guidelines

Groundbreaking...

PAGE 10 t age and frequency regulation.

Unlike the most prevalent energy storage technology (stacked cells of lithium-ion batteries), the flow battery being tested consists of tanks of liquid electrolytes and pumps. It began participating in the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) wholesale electricity markets in December 2018 and was used last summer to help minimize the impact of rotating outages during a record heatwave.

“Long-duration energy storage and microgrids are both key to helping California meet its clean energy, reliability and resiliency goals. We need breakthrough technologies to achieve 100% renewable energy on our grid and to power microgrids during emergencies,” said SDG&E CEO Caroline Winn. “SDG&E is proud to play a role in developing innovative solutions, like the flow battery technology, to help solve California’s climate-related challenges.”

Flow battery systems have an expected lifespan of more than 20 years and could have less degradation over time from repeated charging cycles than other chemical battery technologies.

“This project is cutting-edge and serves as the proving ground for integrating flow batteries into microgrids,” NEDO Executive Director Sato Yoshiteru said. “We are determined to contribute towards developing innovative solutions to environmental and energy challenges, such as improving grid reliability, which are among the most important issues for the State of California.”

“I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to GO-Biz, San Diego Gas & Electric and NEDO for implementation of the Sumitomo flow battery in California.

This is a reliable, long-duration technology that offers a high degree of operational freedom and fire safety, using non-flammable and re-usable electrolyte.

Based upon these advantages, I’m confident the flow battery contributes to grid reliability in California. I am determined to help California reach its clean energy goals. I look forward to

continuing our partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric,” said Hideo Hato, Senior Managing Director of Sumitomo Electric.

In 2015, NEDO signed an agreement with GO-Biz to test flow battery performance in a demonstration setting. NEDO then contracted with Sumitomo to implement the project. The flow battery provides 2 MW/8 MWh of energy, enough to power the equivalent of about 1,000 homes for up to four hours.

“California has proven time and again that addressing climate change is good for our environment, it’s good for future generations, and it’s good for our economy – spurring new technologies and creating new markets on a regular basis,” said Tyson Eckerle, GO-Biz’s Deputy Director of Zero Emission Vehicle Market Development. “We continue to be proud international partners with NEDO as this game-changing technology brings new opportunities and renewed economic growth through renewable energy.”

Since unveiling the project in 2017, SDG&E has been researching if flow battery technology can economically enhance the delivery of reliable energy to customers, integrate growing amounts of renewable energy and increase the flexibility of grid operations. Like other energy storage systems, the flow battery absorbs or releases electrons as needed to help maintain grid stability. For example, soaking up surplus solar energy generated in the middle of the day and discharging it to the grid during peak evening hours.

SDG&E has been a leader in integrating energy storage, as well as developing microgrids.

In 2013, SDG&E began operating the first utility-scale microgrid in America – the Borrego Springs Microgrid. Last year, it received a federal grant to upgrade the Borrego system to run on 100% renewable energy.

In 2017, SDG&E unveiled what was then the world’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facility. To date, SDG&E has about 100 MW of energy storage projects completed or contracted and is working to add more.

(SDG&E Release)

and all health protocols were followed.

The Last Mile San Diego chapter was founded at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, by a San Diego Emergency Physician, Amy Aminlari, who was afflicted with COVID-19 and noticed that other frontline providers across San Diego lacked access to adequate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Co-lead by Amy Aminlari and Alan Kenny, their dedicated and amazing volunteers come together from diverse backgrounds and experiences to serve a common mission: to procure and deliver scarce PPE to frontline healthcare providers in need, and to protect underserved, under resourced communities at highest risk of COVID-19.

National City is San Diego County’s second oldest city.

True to its motto, “In the Center of It All,” the National City community is home to over 61,000 residents, 3000 businesses, a part of U.S. Naval Base San Diego, and the National City Marine Terminal of the Unified Port of San Diego, the most advanced vehicle import and export facility on the West Coast.

(National City Mayor’s Office Release)

PAGE 9 ly 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 rightwing 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 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 women’s 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 a 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 and manpower. Only about 12 to 13 of these 175 women are still alive, and just four of these remaining women are strong enough 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

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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 continues to plague different parts 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. Hinding-hindi 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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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

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