020321 - Southern California Midweek Edition

February 3-5, 2021 Volume 31 - No. 9 • 2 Sections - 14 Pages

Biden signs executive order eliminating DATELINE USA California’s COVID-19 Trump-era barriers to legal immigration cases slightly decline, FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

transmission still high

A WEEK after California lifted its stayat-home order, the state is experiencing a steady decline in case numbers and hospitalizations.

On Tuesday, February 2, 12,064 COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total cases since the pandemic started to 3,270,770.

Meanwhile, 422 fatalities were reported, for a total of 41,330 deaths.

In terms of hospitalizations, 14,221 individuals remain hospitalized and 3,797 in intensive care.

With hospitalizations and confirmed cases falling, health officials are hopeful that the state is overcoming the latest surge.

“We haven’t seen a number like this in quite some time,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.

The seven-day positivity rate is 6.4% and the 14-day positivity rate is 7.2%. Earlier in January, the rate was over 12%.

In the past 14 days, COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased 28.8% and COVID19-related ICU admissions went down by 18.9%.

However, Ghaly cautioned that transmission continues to remain high, especially amid the reported variants.

“The chance for another surge in California

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

UNITED States President Joe Biden signed a trio of executive orders on Tuesday, Feb. 2 that aim to undo former President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policies, including addressing family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border, reforming

the asylum program and reviewing the “barriers” that the Trump administration placed around legal immigration.

“We are going to work to undo the moral and national shame of the previous administration that literally, not figuratively, ripped children from the arms of families,” Biden said on Tuesday as he signed the orders in the Oval Office.

WEARING two face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is not necessary, according to a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO).

In response to a question about the necessity of wearing two kinds of masks at the same time, Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the health body’s representative to the Philippines, said: “It depends on what kind of mask you are wearing.”

“If you are wearing medical or surgical masks, we don’t think there is a necessity for two masks. I have seen some reports that say if you wear two masks, it is more protective.

The question is where do you draw the line?

You could say five masks could be more protective than two,” he told ANC’s Headstart on Monday, February 1.

Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser on

u PAGE A4

u PAGE A2

PH lauds United States for rejoining Paris climate deal

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine Department of Finance has welcomed the United States’ decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.

Reentering the international treaty on climate change was one of U.S. President Joe Biden’s first moves upon taking office in January.

“This is a welcome development that comes on the heels of President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated call on all nations to act on the climate crisis with urgency as one united community under the Paris Agreement,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Friday, January 29.

“Now, more than ever, we need to ensure the mobilization of finance flows towards the adaptation needs of our most vulnerable communities. We need such action to be faster and on a greater scale. And we need it to bring about effective solutions on the ground across the globe,” he added.

Dominguez underscored the need for efforts focusing on the mobilization of the $100-billion annual funding target enshrined in the Paris Agreement for

u PAGE A2

WHO: No need to double mask

Historically, legal immigration in the U.S. has been characterized by extreme backlogs of cases in immigration courts, painstaking and rigorous qualification tests (like the controversial “public charge” rule enforced by the Trump administration) and a general tediousness and slowness. For many naturalized immigrants, it takes decades from the time

MEASLES VACCINE. A health worker inoculates a child with an anti-measles vaccine as part of the government’s free vaccination program at SB Park on E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Barangay Immaculate Conception in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday, February 1. The Department of Health and Metro Manila Center for Health Development jointly implement the vaccination program against measles for children aged nine to 59 months.

PNA photos by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

u PAGE A4

Duterte: Economy in bad shape, sinking deeper and deeper

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippine economy is in “bad shape” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the government is doing its best to keep things afloat, President Duterte said during a pre-recorded public address on Monday, February 1.

The President said the country is losing P2 billion per day because of the pandemic, an amount he said would have gone to workers’ paychecks if economic activities were not disrupted.

“So we are sinking deeper and deeper, but we are not alone. Everyone is experiencing it. But we are trying our very best to keep us afloat,” the President said “Our economy, my countrymen, is really

in bad condition. Imagine, how many people do not have work? The economy of the Philippines is really – in bad shape. But as I have said, it is not only the Philippines who suffer. We, in the world, are suffering with everybody,” he added.

Duterte maintained that the Philippine economy was doing fine until the COVID19 crisis came and constrained state revenues. And despite the economic slowdown, Duterte said Filipinos should not overemphasize hardships. He likewise assured the public that government officials are continuously working to acquire COVID-19 vaccines.

He said it would be better not to rub in the fact of the country’s poverty, because “we’re still alive… Let us just hope for the

u PAGE A2

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

Stakeholders begin rebuilding PH tourism industry in 2021 Report: Filipinos remain the Foreign visitors drop to 84% in 2020 due to travel restrictions most active internet, social media users globally

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

PHILIPPINE tourism stakeholders believe that this year is crucial in rebuilding the country’s tourism industry battered by the global pandemic that hit in 2020.

“I believe 2021 is a major transition year for all of us,” Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Anthonette Velasco Allones said at the Kapihan sa New York online dialogue with the Fil Am Press Club of New York on Thursday, Jan. 27.

Revenue lost from international tourism in 2020 was P400 billion,

Department of Tourism and TPB officials estimate, with the number of foreign visitors that visited the Philippines falling to almost 84% due to travel restrictions.

DOT Undersecretary Roberto Alabado III said that 8.2 million foreign tourists visited the Philippines in 2019 and because of the restrictions imposed around April, the department noted that there were only about 1.3 million foreign tourists for 2020.

“The drop in arrivals means billions of pesos in tourism revenues brought devastation on the economy,” Alabado said, noting that January 2020 was off to a

u PAGE A2

by AJPRESS

Guyam Island, Siargao

FOR the sixth consecutive year, the Philippines is hailed as the global leader in time spent using social media according to a new report.

Filipinos spend an average of 4 hours and 15 minutes each day on social media, according to the latest Digital 2021 report released on Tuesday, January 27 by Hootsuite and We Are Social.

This is 22 minutes higher than Photo from Instagram/@madamjoycing

the country’s Digital 2020 average of 3 hours and 53 minutes.

The global average for social media usage this year is 2 hours and 25 minutes.

The Philippines was followed

by Colombia with an average of 3 hours and 45 minutes spent on social media.

Japan, meanwhile, took the last spot in the list with an average of only 51 minutes spent on social media.

The Philippines also emerged at the top in daily time spent us-

SALE PROMO

u PAGE A4

FARM / ECUADOR

LARGE WHITE SHRIMP HEAD-ON

14% OFF

FEB. 4-10 2021

FRESH

5

$ 99

WILD CAUGHT / MEXICO

FRESH TRUE RED SNAPPER "MAYA MAYA"

33% OFF

FRESH

FRESH

5

$ 99 /LB

WAS $8.99

0

$

/LB

WAS $6.99

5

$ 99 FARM / CANADA

FRESH ATLANTIC SALMON PREMIUM STEAK

/LB

WAS $6.99

14% OFF

ZERO DOLLAR NO SERVICE FEE ALL ONLINE ORDERS

SHOP SMART. STAY SAFE. SHOP ONLINE.

Shop Island Pacific | Download the App

A2 february 3-5, 2021 • SoCal aSIaN JOurNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Stakeholders begin rebuilding...

PAGE A1 good start and had an 11% increase in the number of visitors from the same period in 2019.

As restrictions were imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, the number of tourists dropped.

In a statement, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the impact of COVID-19 that started to be felt in the first quarter of 2020 “was unprecedented and spared no one.”

“With the closure of borders to international tourist traffic and the imposition of quarantine measures, tourism activities ground to a halt affecting various enterprises and displacing workers,” Puyat said.

The tourism sector employed an estimated 5.7 million. Nearly five million workers either lost their jobs or their salaries slashed.

Jojo Clemente, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said that they have been working with DOT, TPB and the various stakeholders to jumpstart the tourism industry and start rebuilding.

Clemente said they were look-

ing at the balikbayan market across the diaspora to help in this undertaking.

“Kababayans have always wanted to come back home even before the Christmas season last year. We are hoping that with the ongoing vaccination rollout, the situation as far as travel restrictions will get better,” he said. “We have done our best in the private sector for tours to be more flexible owing to the circumstances we’re facing.”

The government slowly eased domestic travel and some destinations have reopened for domestic tourists, including El Nido, Boracay, Bohol, parts of the Ilocos region, Baguio City, parts of Bataan, Batangas and Legazpi City.

According to Alabado, the DOT continues to assess whether the destinations are ready to open and meetings with the various local government units have been ongoing.

“We are trying to safely and gradually reopen but in the end, it is still the LGUs’ call whether they are ready to reopen or not,”

From the Front Page

he said.

Allones agrees, saying that the industry is willing to adapt to the evolving needs and requirements essential to reopening.

“Safety is the new luxury,” said Allones, who took over TPB’s reins in February 2020. “All our partners like hotels, the transport sector, parks and amusement, they have all endeavored to make sure that our tourists are safe.”

Allones also said that they have pivoted to digital technology and created a Travel Philippines app to ensure that the right and updated information is properly disseminated.

This travel app includes information, basic updates and general protocols, among others and is meant for tourists and stakeholders.

As the government continues to slowly ease domestic travel with the reopening of destinations with health and safety pro- RUSH HOUR. Passengers crowd the door of public utility bus during the rush hour at a pick-up point in Novaliches, Fairview in Quezon tocols in place, the stakeholders City on Tuesday, February 2. The government ordered the Philippine National Police to remind the public to follow the health and safety PNA photo by Oliver Marquez are hopeful that visitor arrivals to protocols despite the easing of quarantine rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic. the country will make its steady climb to reach pre-pandemic figures. n

California’s COVID-19 cases slightly decline...

PAGE A1 is real. It’s still circulating in our communities,” said Ghaly. “Our case rates are down but not low.”

With the Regional Stay at Home Order rescinded statewide as of January 25, all counties are now under the rules and framework of the Blueprint for a Safer

Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity.

As of Tuesday, 54 counties of the 58 counties are in the purple tier, the most restrictive tier.

Meanwhile, Mariposa County is in the red tier or substantial risk,

and the counties of Alpine, Sierra and Trinity are in the orange or moderate.

Providers have reported administering a total of 3,649,440 vaccine doses statewide, though a breakdown of race/ethnicity data is not yet available. (AJPress)

Biden signs executive order...

PAGE A1

of application to becoming citizens.

Biden’s executive order directs government agencies to undergo a “top-to-bottom review of recent regulations, policies and guidance that have set up barriers to our legal immigration system,” including reviewing the public

charge rule, which imposed a series of economic litmus tests that prevented many low-income immigrants from obtaining a green card or permanent residency.

Regarding the famously lengthy naturalization process, the executive order details that within the 60 days of the order’s signing, the administration will “substantially reduce current naturalization processing times” and “make the naturalization process more accessible to all eligible individuals.”

The other two orders that Biden signed on Tuesday included creating a task force that will reunite families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border and laying out a framework to reform the U.S.’s asylum policy, two issues that most explicitly manifested Trump’s immigration philosophy.

Regarding the issue of family separation, Biden’s order sets up a task force to reunite parents and children who were separated by border officials at the southern border, a key election promise. But currently, more than 600 children remain separated from their parents (according to a recent court filing related to family separation), a challenge as immigration officials struggle to navigate these dramatic shifts in policy during a global pandemic.

(Reuters reported that children are either living with relatives or are in the foster care system.)

Tuesday’s orders are a follow up to the first batch of executive actions on immigration that Biden signed on his first day in office, as previously reported in the Asian Journal. Those directives included the so-called Muslim ban, construction on the southern border all and providing further protections for undocumented immigrants enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Though the White House has marketed Biden’s early executive directives as a win after four years of stringent immigration policies, immigration advocates have urged the new administration to act quickly to ensure that the most vulnerable communities of undocumented immigrants are protected.

A large portion of the orders signed on Tuesday (and during the first batch of executive orders last week) were promises to review existing immigration policy and didn’t involve immediate action. The public charge rule is still in place and Biden has not addressed the controversial order known as “Title 42” — a measure issued under Trump that allows immigration officials to expel almost all individuals caught illegally crossing the border during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the White House has stated that it will take the new ad-

ministration time to examine the extensive immigration restriction introduced by Trump.

“It’s not going to happen overnight,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday.

Biden’s early efforts to scrutinize, reverse and largely overhaul Trump’s immigration policies follow the majority shift in Congress that Democrats now lead, signaling a clearer landing for progressive, pro-immigrant policy.

“We’ve just gotten through four years of chaos and cruelty brought to you by the Trump administration. They weaponized an already miserable and dysfunctional immigration system, and [now] we have a president and a slim majority in Congress of Democrats who have become more pro-immigrant,” Frank Sharry, founder and executive director of the immigration reform organization America’s Voice, said in a press briefing on Friday, Jan. 29.

Sharry briefly outlined three broad goals of the Biden administration regarding immigration: remove the “cruelty” that colored the Trump administration’s immigration approach, “build” a “fair, humane, functional immigration system,” and enact “transformative” laws that will kickstart a pathway to citizenship for “millions of undocumented” individuals.

Although discussion and debate over immigration are usually centered around immigrants from Central and Latin America, about 40% of immigrants coming to the U.S. hail from the Asian continent, according to current patterns of migration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Executive Director John C. Yang said at Friday’s briefing.

Yang praised the president’s first batch of immigration-related executive orders which he believes are the first steps in the right direction for the approximately 1.7 million undocumented Asian immigrants living in the U.S. currently. Specifically, Yang applauded the addition of green cards to clear the backlog of employment-based visas (like H-1B visas).

Most crucially, however, Yang celebrated what he described as a new beginning of immigration policy in America, but noted that it will take time for some Americans to adjust to the changing national narrative concerning immigrants.

“The starting point for all of us is that America is still an inclusive America and this fear of the ‘browning’ of America does exist, but it is in a small segment of the American population, and with that small segment, we must find a way to talk to them,” Yang said. n

Duterte: Economy in bad shape, sinking deeper...

PAGE A1 best.”

Spend budget, government urged Meanwhile, several lawmakers urged government agencies to spend their respective budgets this year to pull the economy out of recession.

“My advice is to spend all (of agency budgets) early on. This will help prevent more job losses,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said, adding that losses from the pandemicinduced recession may not be P2 billion, but P4 billion daily.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, vice chairman of the economic affairs committee, said that disbursing a large part of the P4.5 trillion General Appropriations Act

would convert it into an “economic recovery budget.”

Senate President Vicente Sotto said the chamber would immediately pass all the necessary legislation needed to revive the economy. “The Senate will diligently pass legislation vital to our economic recovery as we are doing now. We can only hope the world will be able to arrest the pandemic at the soonest possible time,” Sotto said.

For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon pointed to the country’s economic managers for answers. “The question now is, what do our economic managers plan to do? The people would want to see a clear plan to address our worsening economic situation,” Drilon said. n

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline USa

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • febRUARy 3-5, 2021

A3

New COVID-19 walk-up testing site opens in West Covina

DRIVE-THRU SALIVA COLLECTION. Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman and CEO, Senator Richard Gordon (middle), SM Supermalls president Steven Tan (2nd from right), and other PRC and SM officials show the signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the drive-thru “Saliva Collection for RT-PCR (Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) testing held at PRC logistics and multipurpose center in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, February 2. The putting up of drive-thru Saliva RT-PCR collection sites at SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia will make it more accessible to people.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Fil-Am journalist Jose Antonio Vargas unveils new book exploring racial identity The book will follow his best-selling 2018 memoir ‘Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen’

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

At a time when the world is working to undo traditionally destructive and exclusionary perspectives on racial identity, celebrated journalist and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas is currently writing about an issue that many people of color in America face: what it’s like to live on the outside of the white and Black binary.

In a new book titled “White is Not a Country,” Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, plans to explore the nuances of race through research, interviews with immigrants and the hard-hitting analysis that is signature to Vargas’ activism and written work.

Vargas, 39, made international headlines a decade ago when he wrote an essay where he revealed that he was undocumented, sowing the seeds for the destigmatization of being a non-citizen.

He founded the nonprofit Define American with the mission to help humanize immigrant portrayals and conversations about

immigrants in media and entertainment.

As previously reviewed in the Asian Journal, his 2018 memoir “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen” explored his early life as a young boy sent to California from the Philippines and the identity crisis that many undocumented people feel today: being American in every single way but without documentation to prove it.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times for his forthcoming sophomore book, Vargas said, “All of us are trying to understand where we fit in this urgent, unprecedented time in American history. I think all Americans, documented or not, are struggling to figure out where we fit in conversations around race and identity.”

“White is Not a Country” is set to be published in 2023 by Pantheon Books. In the LA Times interview, Vargas revealed that the title of his book was inspired by a conversation he had with a University of Georgia student in 2012. Vargas had asked the student where he was from — a

Jose Antonio Vargas

question and microaggression that people of color often receive. the student had replied, “I’m white,” to which Vargas replied, “White is not a country, where are you from?” which gave the student pause.

“My hope is that by writing this book, I will be having this conversation with the reader,” he told the LA Times. “What’s our role? Because everyone has a role. there’s no opting out.” n

A NeW kiosk COVID-19 walkup testing site is now open at Cameron Community Center in West Covina, California.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District, in partnership with the City of West Covina, the County’s Department of Health Services, and Fulgent Genetics, announced the opening of the testing site on Monday, February 1. the San Gabriel Valley has been one of the areas hardest hit by the pandemic, and officials are aiming that the testing site will help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the region by identifying individuals who need to isolate and receive medical care.

“While the number of reported cases and hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 have declined, transmission still remains high and widespread throughout Los Angeles County,” said Solis.

“In light of the State of California lifting the Regional Stay at Home Order for Southern California, and Los Angeles County aligning with the Order, it is critical that we continue to meet

the moment and defeat this virus as soon as possible. testing, masks, physical distancing, and limiting activities are still key to getting out of this pandemic until we can get everyone vaccinated.

So long as the virus continues to spread among communities in the First District, I will continue to prioritize expanded access to testing.” tests are free and proof of medical insurance is not required. All on-site testing will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun.–Sat. from Feb. 1–13.

“We are happy to support this effort and partner with the County in the fight against COVID. there is a high need in the community for no cost, free, testing.

We encourage all residents to sign up right away,” said City of West Covina Mayor Letty LopezViado. “Public health testing can help us quickly identify cases, and get infected people isolated and treated. this will help us fight the disease and its mortality. testing and vaccination will help us get back to normal.”

“COVID-19 testing is as important as ever,” said Dr. Clemens Hong, with the Department

of Health Services, who oversees COVID-19 testing for Los Angeles County. “We’re thankful that fewer people are being hospitalized and more people are getting vaccinated. Still, we can’t let our guard down and we must ensure everyone who needs a test can get one quickly. even as the situation improves, the County will continue to add more testing, including partnerships with local cities and pop-up sites like these.”

Appointments are preferred and can be scheduled by visiting la.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment. the Cameron Community Center is located at 1305 e Cameron Ave. in West Covina, California.

With the addition of this testing site, Solis has launched 11 testing sites in the region since the beginning of the pandemic: Azusa, Baldwin Park, el Monte, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pomona, and South el Monte.

Additional testing sites will be launched over the coming weeks across the First District.

For more information please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or dial 2-1-1. (AJPress)

A4 february 3-5, 2021 • SoCal aSIaN JOurNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Dateline PhiliPPines

PH to get 5.6 million vaccine doses from COVAX in Q1

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

TURNOVER. The city government of Pasay turns over high powered firearms and ammunition to Pasay City Police Office under police chief, Col. Cesar Paday-os, at the Pasay City Hall on Monday, February 1. Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubano led the turnover ceremony for the 18 units of 5.56 Emtan M4 rifles; two units of 5.56 Emtan sniper rifles; one reloading machine; 4,000 rounds of 5.56 cal. (55-grain ammo); 2,000 rounds of 5.56 cal. (69-grain ammo); 56,400 rds. 9mm (124-grain ammo); one SWAT (Foton) van; one coaster; and one passenger van. PNA Photo By Avito C. Dalan

Report: Filipinos remain the most active...

PAGE A1 ing the internet with 10 hours and 56 minutes, longer than last year’s 9 hours and 45 minutes.

This is followed by Brazil with an average of 10 hours and 8 minutes, and Colombia with an average of 10 hours and 7 minutes.

Digital 2021’s global average for internet usage is 6 hours and 54 minutes.

The annual report also noted

the improvement in the Philippines’ e-commerce adoption, growing 76% in Digital 2020 to 80.2% in Digital 2021 — above the global average of 76.8%.

A separate report released in December said that the Philippines spent the most time on social media platforms than any other country in the world.

According to marketplace OnBuy.com, Filipinos spend an average of 102,054 hours or 4,252

WHO: No need to double...

PAGE A1 COVID-19 under the Biden administration, endorsed double masking.

“So, if you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on — it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective, and that’s the reason why you see people either double-masking or doing a

version of an N95,” Fauci told NBC News’ Today.

Abeyasinghe, on the other hand, reminded everyone about the importance of proper hygiene, wearing face masks properly, and social distancing.

“We need to continue to follow hand hygiene, mask-wearing, cough etiquette, and physical distancing,” he said.

THE Philippines will receive at least 5.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca through the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility within the first quarter of 2021.

The country will be provided with 117,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 5,500,800 to 9,290,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Sunday, January 31.

“I would like to emphasize that according to COVAX the number of doses and the projected arrival of the vaccines are all indicative

days on social media during their lifetime, which puts the Philippines at the top of the list for the most social media-obsessed country.

Columbia ranked second with

by Xave GReGoRio an average of 101,288 hours Philstar.com or 4,220 days on social media, while Japan ranked as the counMANILA — The House constitry least obsessed with social media, spending 20,928 hours tutional amendments commitor 1,289 days on social media tee approved Tuesday, February 2 in a 64-3-3 vote Speaker during their lifetime. n Lord Allan Velasco’s proposal to amend “restrictive” economic provisions in the Constitution.

The panel approved on the 34th anniversary of the ratifi“These are the measures that cation of the 1987 Constitution will help us protect ourselves and Velasco’s proposal to allow Conour loved ones as we wait for the gress to tweak the constitutional potential arrival of vaccines and restrictions on foreign investan end to this pandemic but that ments in natural resources, pubis still a long road,” he added. lic utilities, educational instituTo date, there are a total of tions, media and advertising.

527,272 confirmed cases of COHowever, it deleted the proVID-19 in the Philippines, with posed provision which would 10,807 fatalities and 487,574 re- allow Congress to tinker with coveries. (AJPress) the restriction on the ownership of land, following recommendations by resource persons, including Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, to keep the “business-as-usual” mindset. restriction in place.

“It showed that we can act as The panel’s approval came one and radically change our just after three hearings since ways and our systems to fight it restarted Charter change disthe scourge of a deadly virus cussions in January upon the for the greater good of all,” speaker’s directive.

Dominguez said.

The approval of the proposed He added, “The same unity, amedments by the committee resolve and sense of urgency paves the way for these to be should be applied in combat- tackled in the plenary where all ing the climate emergency and House members may debate on pursuing low-carbon and sus- the measure further and may tainable development.” n introduce other amendments

economic stability, and nature are intertwined. It has shown to us the domino effect that is triggered when one element in this interconnected system is overturned,” Dominguez said.

However, the finance official acknowledged that the response to the pandemic demonstrated the remarkable capacity of human society to put the emergency brake on the

19 vaccines for all countries.

Galvez, along with Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque II, visited three cold storage facilities that can potentially be used in the first wave of the government’s vaccine rollout.

The Philippines is aiming to vaccinate 50 to 70 million Filipinos in 2021, with up to 200,000 individuals receiving jabs every day.

Galvez urged the public to “set their fears aside” and get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We are confident that with the whole nation working together, we will be able to recover our economy and bring back a greater sense of normalcy among our people,” he said. n

Charter change clears House panel

PH lauds US for rejoining Paris...

PAGE A1 the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries.

To ensure climate justice, he said that “developed countries must deliver on their commitments under the Paris Agreement, including support for developing economies, leading to low-carbon and sustainable development.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that health,

since it all depends on the global supply,” he said.

The Philippines granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s vaccine as well as AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 jabs.

“This COVAX allocation is very timely since the main recipients of these vaccines are our healthcare workers and front-liners in the different priority and affected regions,” said Galvez.

On January 20, the Philippines received confirmation of the country’s participation in the COVAX distribution of vaccines for an early rollout.

The COVAX facility is a global platform that aims to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-

to it.

Lawmakers at the House of Representatives have repeatedly said that they would only propose changes to economic provisions, but political observers are wary that any move to tinker with the Constitution would open the floodgates to any kind of amendments, including those that would benefit lawmakers such as term extensions or lifting of term limits.

House constitutional amendments chair Alfredo Garbin (AKO BIKOL party-list) has said that he wants plenary debates to start by the first week of February. Velasco eyes finishing debates before the end of 2021 and put up the proposed amendments for ratification during the 2022 elections.

Voting jointly or separately?

RBH 2 provides that the House and the Senate will vote separately on proposed amendments to the Constitution. While the panel did not touch this provision, some of its members advocated for both houses of Congress to vote jointly, saying that voting separately serves as a roadblock to any attempt to change the Constitution.

“If, in case the Senate does not agree, everything that we are working hard on here would be for nothing and we will never be able to amend the Constitu-

tion,” Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta (Sagip party-list) said partly in Filipino.

The issue of whether Congress should vote jointly or separately has been a constant thorn in the side of Charter change discussions as the Senate, wary of being outnumbered by the more than 300 lawmakers at the House, always opposes any move for the legislature to vote together.

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, one of the Framers of the Constitution, insisted that Congress should vote separately, citing the bicameral nature of the legislature.

Pressed further by lawmakers, however, Azcuna said that if Congress were to vote jointly, a majority of the Senate should still be represented in the voting.

“If you do not have the majority of the Senate, then the action is not the act of the Senate. If it is not an act of the Senate, it is not the act of Congress,” he said.

The Senate is currently cool to proposals to amend the Constitution, with senators questioning the timing of Charter change while the country still reels from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and just 15 months before the 2022 elections. n

60 COUNTRIES. OVER 100 CITIES WORLDWIDE. THAT’S INTERNATIONAL.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PHILIPPINES, BALIKBAYAN MAGAZINE IS NOW DISTRIBUTED AT 101 LOCAL AND FOREIGN PHILIPPINE EMBASSIES, CONSULATES, OFFICES, AND OUTPOSTS TO COMPLEMENT OUR EXISTING DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS SUCH AS BOOKSTORES, HOTEL AND RESORT ROOMS, HOSPITALS, BANKS, CLINICS, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, TRAVEL AGENCIES, EVENTS, AND SUBSCRIPTIONS.

instagram.com/asianjournal

facebook.com/AsianJournalPublications

twitter.com/asianjournalcom

www.balikbayanmagazine.com

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • febRUARy 3-5, 2021

A5

PAL sets new testing, quarantine protocols Petitioners assert to SC: There is no saving anti-terrorism law for its vagueness

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said new protocols would be implemented on testing and quarantine for arriving passengers starting on Monday, February 1.

In line with the latest resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), PAL will be requiring passengers arriving in the country to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR testing on their sixth day of quarantine at a facility or hotel accredited by tourism and health agencies of the government.

The requirements will be strictly implemented upon arrival in any international airport in the country, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

The government had earlier decided not to extend the travel

restrictions for 36 countries with recorded new COVID-19 variants, which lapsed yesterday.

Subject to the presentation of required travel documents, PAL said allowed to travel to the Philippines are Filipino citizens, foreign nationals with long-term visas, diplomats and dignitaries, and medical emergency cases, including medical escorts.

Before flying, PAL advised passengers to register on the electronic case investigation form (eCIF) as early as three days before their flight to Manila. Non-OFW passengers are encouraged to pre-book a hotel accredited by tourism and health agencies for the six-night quarantine accommodation.

Land-based OFWs can register their e-CIF at https://e-cif.redcross. org.ph/; sea-based OFWs can register at https://ecif.firstaide.ph/; and non-OFW passengers can register at https://bit.ly/MNLPALeCIF.

On the sixth day of their stay at the quarantine facility, reverse transcription - polmerase chain reaction testing will be administered.

PAL said non-OFWs should present their QR code, passport, and payment receipt and shall undergo RT-PCR testing to be given

by Detoxicare Medical and Diagnostics Laboratory, while testing for OFWs would be administered by the Philippine Coast Guard or the Philippine Red Cross.

“Once cleared, you may call up your relatives or local government unit to pick you up or you may arrange for your own transportation.

OFWs may contact OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) or their local manning agencies,” PAL said.

“Please complete your 14-day quarantine/self-isolation under the monitoring of your local government unit or barangay health emergency response team,” the airline company added. n

Locsin tells Roque to ‘lay off’commenting on foreign policy

by Bella

PeRez-RuBio Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Hours after presidential spokesman Harry Roque touted his international law experience and told a senator to enroll in one of his classes, the country’s top diplomat said he would not heed the spokesman’s musings on foreign policy.

Roque’s recent comments on China’s new law allowing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels and the military coup in Myanmar prompted Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to tell him to “lay off.”

The Philippines last week filed a diplomatic protest over the controversial new law, which also allows China’s coast guard to demolish other countries’ structures on Chinese-claimed reefs and to inspect foreign vessels in waters claimed by Beijing, including the West Philippine Sea. Explaining his change of heart on the issue, which he previously said was “none of our business,” Locsin called the law “a verbal threat of war.”

Amid the controversy stirred

by Beijing’s new coast guard law, two Chinese-owned ships have recently flouted protocols in Philippine territory.

The first offender, a dredger seized by the coast guard for its unauthorized presence near the

vicinity of Bataan, and the second, per a report from the Inquirer, a research ship that also entered Philippine waters without clearance and denied the PCG permission to board, supposedly due to COVID-19 protocols.

Roque on Monday, February 1 took a swipe at Sen. Risa Hontiveros for urging the Palace to release a strong statement in response to the law. Asked about the matter during a virtual briefing, Roque said partially in Filipino: “Don’t worry... If you want, if I go back to teaching, you can enroll in my class. I just don’t know what your grade will be.”

“Kung mag-aaral ako ulit, hindi sa ‘yo (If I study again, it won’t be under you),” Hontiveros responded on Twitter.

“It would be a waste of tuition if the person teaching the international law course is you,” she added in Filipino.

The coup in Myanmar Locsin on Tuesday, February 2 insisted that Roque “does not express foreign policy,” responsing to an AFP report carried by Yahoo! News, where the spokesman is quoted as saying Philippine “armed forces are on standby in case we need to airlift [Filipinos in Maynmar] as well as Navy ships to repatriate them if necessary.”

“That was [Roque’s] personal opinion,” Locsin wrote in capitalized letters.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Philstar.com file photo

The top diplomat also disputed Roque’s assertion that the country’s military forces were on standby to evacuate Filipinos from Myanmar if needed, calling it “the last thing we will do.”

Myanmar’s military declared a one-year state of emergency on Monday and appointed a general as acting president, after arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday told reporters that some 1,273 Filipinos are in Myanmar as of June 2020, many of whom “work in the manufacturing industry as supervisors” and for agencies of the United Nations as well as other international organizations. n

by KRistine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — Petitioners against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 asserted before the Supreme Court that the law’s definition of terrorism is overly vague that no amount of jurisprudence can save it.

The SC on Tuesday, February 2 held the highly anticipated oral arguments on the 37 petitions challenging the contentious Republic Act 11479 or Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

All the petitions are assailing Section 4 of the law, which defines terrorism. They said the provision is void for its vagueness and is overbroad, which gives authorities unbridled discretion on how to interpret it.

Terrorism as a new, drastic phenomenon Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang, who was first to interpellate, asked Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay) on when the word terrorism or the crime of terrorism entered the Philippines statute books.

She then referred to Section 29 of the law, which allows detention of suspected terrorists, without a judicial warrant, of up to 24 days.

This, while Article VII Section 18 of the Constitution states that during the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, a person may be arrested and shall be judicially charged within three days, otherwise he will be released.

“Are we safe to say that since terrorism was not in the mind yet or not a crime punishable when the 1987 Constitution was passed, can it not be said that this article on the three-day detention on Habeas Corpus does not strictly apply to acts of terrorism?” the justice asked.

Lagman responded: “We cannot subscribe to that Your Honor because the provision of the Constitution is omnibus. It would cover all possible crimes.”

The lawmaker pointed that this even covers when Martial Law has been declared.

Carandang pressed that since terrorism is a “new phenomenon” that involves the security of the entire nation, cannot the Congress legislate longer period than what is held in Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, which provides that authorities must bring detained persons to judicial authority within, at most, 36 hours.

Various groups trooped to Padre Faura in Manila as the Supreme Court held oral arguments on anti-terrorism law petitions.

Contributed photo

Lagman however stressed that “the Congress cannot derogate the protection of civil liberties and other fundamental freedoms.”

“Congress cannot pass a law against terrorism by derogating civil and political rights safeguarded in the Constitution. But in the case of the ATA, it has put the war against terrorism in a pedestal while it has demoted civil liberties to a footstool,” he added.

Law beyond saving Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, during her interpellation, asked Free Legal Assistance Group chairman Chel Diokno whether Section 4 of the law was a “novel creation of the Congress.”

Diokno said Solicitor General Jose Calida claimed that it was patterned after international standards, such as the proposed convention on the international terrorism initially submitted by India to the United Nations in 1996.

But he pointed out that the ATA had significant differences from the said proposed convention, such as the latter mentioning acts that cause death or damage to property, which means actual death and destruction is needed.

In the Philippines’ anti-terrorism law, it punishes acts “intended to” cause death or bodily injury.

Bernabe noted that the Congress is not required to define every word or term when it enacts a penal statute.

Diokno then said that while not every word should be defined, “operative words that give rise to the essential elements of the crime made by congress must be understood.”

Bernabe then gave the petitioners a scenario when a person comes up with a plan to bomb a government infrastructure, provides funds weaponry and plan was later accomplished. “Can this person be both punished under Sec. 6 by facilitating terrorism and Sec. 12 by providing material support? Do you think there is an overlap?”

Diokno replied in the affirmative and noted that the person can also be charged with violation of Section 4 of the law.

Bernabe pressed whether the person may also be held liable under Section 7 of the law which punishes conspiracy to commit terrorism. “So a single act can now be penalized under Sec. 6 facilitation, Sec. 7 conspiracy to commit terrorism, or Sec, 12 providing material support under ATA,”s she asked, and Diokno answered again in the affirmative.

“Can the court clarify the interrelation of these offenses through jurisprudence and also the proper application for criminal prosecution?” Bernabe asked.

Diokno said that while this may be possible for other laws, this is not the case with the Anti-Terrorism Act. “We submit that as far as this law is concerned even the very nebulous overbroad vague definition of terrorism, we submit that no amount of construction by the court can save it,” he added.

Aside from Perlas-Bernabe and Carandang, only Associate Justice Marvic Leonen were able to pose their questions to the petitioners.

Solicitor General Calida has also yet to present the government’s defense.

The SC will resume the oral arguments on February 9. n

A6 february 3-5, 2021 • SoCal aSIaN JOurNaL

OpiniOn & Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

A weapon vs money laundering BEATING the deadline, President Duterte signed into law on Jan. 29 Republic Act 11521, broadening the scope of RA 9160 – the original AntiMoney Laundering Act of 2001. Failure to enact the amendments to RA 9160 by Feb. 1 would have landed the Philippines on the so-called gray list of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force or FATF, which could have made it more difficult to do business in the country and remit earnings of Filipinos working overseas.

Persons or entities covered by the two laws now include Philippine offshore gaming operators and POGO service providers as well as real estate developers and brokers. The covered offenses now include financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, tax evasion involving deficiencies above P25 million and casino cash transactions above P5 million.

Terrorist offenses are defined under RA 11479, the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act that was signed into law in July last year. As allowed under this law, the Anti-Terrorism Council has started identifying groups classified as terrorist organiza-

tions, whose assets can be frozen and scrutinized by the Anti-Money Laundering Council or AMLC, and seized by the state. The groups include Islamist extremists operating mostly in Mindanao as well as the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing the New People’s Army.

The broader powers given to the AMLC, particularly in running after large-scale tax evasion, should give more teeth to the campaign against plunderers in government, jueteng lords, smugglers, drug traffickers and tax-evading POGOs. At the same time, care is required in applying the law against groups identified by the government as communist rebel front organizations, especially in the light of the recent “unpardonable gaffe” committed by the military in red-tagging certain alumni of the University of the Philippines.

In complying with the FATF requirement, the AMLC has been handed a powerful weapon to curb money laundering. The weapon must be wielded to the fullest while exercising utmost prudence. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-reloS THE United States of America is back, reclaiming leadership in combatting and beating threats to the lives of the people and the planet.

The coronavirus pandemic is the most urgent and fatal health emergency that has been the leading cause of death and disrupting the lives of people and the economy of nations for more than a year now.

To defeat this invisible enemy that has taken the lives of more than 442,000 Americans and counting is top priority for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Barely two weeks since he was sworn into office, Biden and his administration have been acting swiftly and aggressively “to help protect and support our families, small businesses, first responders, and caregivers essential to help us face this challenge, those who are most vulnerable to health and economic impacts, and our broader communities — not to blame others or bail out corporations.”

For the first time in this war against the pandemic, the United States has a national strategy to defeat COVID-19, guided by the following principles and commitment that had been absent from the previous federal leadership during the most critical time when the spread of the virus could have been mitigated. It did not have to be this bad in America. But it is never too late.

The Biden-Harris administra-

Biden-Harris national strategy to beat COVID-19: What we need to know

tion commits to always: “Listen to science; Ensure public health decisions are informed by public health professionals; and Promote trust, transparency, common purpose, and accountability in our government.”

The national strategy to beat COVID-19 is guided by the principle and goal of EQUALITY, which means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities.

Recognizing that each person has different circumstances demands that there be equity, the Milken Institute of Public Health says, “and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there is health equity “when everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.” Theefore, “equity is a process and equality is an outcome of that process.”

Therefore to achieve this and save more lives, President Biden and Vice President Harris are working on a seven-point plan to beat COVID-19: (whitehouse. gov) Ensure all Americans have access to regular, reliable, and free testing.

• Double the number of drivethrough testing sites.

• Invest in next-generation testing, including at home tests and instant tests, so we can scale up our testing capacity by orders of magnitude.

• Stand up a Pandemic Testing Board like Roosevelt’s War Production Board. It’s how we produced tanks, planes, uniforms, and supplies in record time, and it’s how we will produce and distribute tens of millions of tests.

• Establish a U.S. Public Health

Jobs Corps to mobilize at least 100,000 Americans across the country with support from trusted local organizations in communities most at risk to perform culturally competent approaches to contact tracing and protecting at-risk populations.

Fix personal protective equipment (PPE) problems for good.

President Biden is taking responsibility and giving states, cities, tribes, and territories the critical supplies they need.

• Fully use the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of masks, face shields, and other PPE so that the national supply of personal protective equipment exceeds demand and our stores and stockpiles — especially in hard-hit areas that serve disproportionately vulnerable populations — are fully replenished.

• Build immediately toward a future, flexible American-sourced and manufactured capability to ensure we are not dependent on other countries in a crisis.

Provide clear, consistent, evidence-based guidance for how communities should navigate the pandemic – and the resources for schools, small businesses, and families to make it through.

• Social distancing is not a light switch. It is a dial. President Biden will direct the CDC to provide specific evidence-based guidance for how to turn the dial up or down relative to the level of risk and degree of viral spread in a community, including when to open or close certain businesses, bars, restaurants, and other spaces; when to open or close schools, and what steps they need to take to make classrooms and facilities safe; appropriate restrictions on

McCarthyism and Murphy’s Law

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta SEN. Joseph McCarthy conducted the infamous U.S. Senate antiCommunist inquiries in the 1950s that besmirched the reputation of many prominent Americans, particularly those in show business and the labor sector, among them, Hollywood legends Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles and composer Leonard Bernstein.

It took an official censure by the Senate, following a stinging rebuke by lawyer, Joseph Welch (“Have you no sense of decency?”) to put McCarthy in his place. “McCarthyism” has since become a synonym for “Red-baiting” and “Communist witch hunt.”

Fears of McCarthyism appears to have swept across the major academic institutions in the Philippines in the wake of a social media posting containing a list of former University of the Philippines students who had allegedly joined the Communist New People’s Army.

The list was posted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Office of Civil-Military Relations.

Following howls of protests from the academic community, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana quickly announced that the AFP would

Philstar.com photo

issue an apology.

A guarded apology has since been issued, as follows: “We sincerely apologize for those who were inadvertently affected by inconsistencies regarding the List of Students who joined the NPA (Died or Captured) that was posted in the AFP Information Exchange Facebook account.”

Does that settle the issue and should those who were “inadvertently” included in the list now breathe a sigh of relief?

To the extent that Secretary Lorenzana is apparently not a McCarthyist, they can feel reassured.

However, there is such a thing as Murphy’s Law which states, “If anything can go wrong, it will.”

Plus another saying: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

The AFP maintains a list of persons who could pose a security risk to the country. It would be remiss if it did not do so. The government considers the Communist New People’s Army a serious threat.

Thus compiling and maintaining a list of members — or suspected members — of the NPA is not at all surprising.

In sum, such a list exists because of “good intentions.” The trouble is that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The AFP list, in spite of the “inconsistencies” and inaccuracies, could

become a “shit list — or worse, a “hit list” — and those in it could become casualties of Murphy’s Law. It is a fact that authoritarian regimes throughout the world have been known to include in their “shit lists-cum-hit lists” the names of persons considered “disagreeable” or just plain pains-in-theneck. Many of these are students or media practitioners, as well as political rivals.

During the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, there were similar lists. Many of them joined the ranks of the disaparecido or “the missing.”

It is also a fact that sinister antigovernment groups consider university campuses a rich source for recruiting disgruntled or adventurous youth for their cadres.

This is not to say that every young person with activist leanings will end up on the wrong side of the law. Yet, that was how Jose Rizal, the Luna brothers, and the Los Indios Bravos were perceived — they who now occupy our pantheon heroes.

Indeed, it takes an enlightened perspective and a great amount of wisdom and understanding to properly deal with the youth. They are, after all, the hope of the Motherland. Wouldn’t we rather have them become active and involved rather than passive and uncaring?

size of gatherings; when to issue stay-at-home restrictions.

• Establish a renewable fund for state and local governments to help prevent budget shortfalls, which may cause states to face steep cuts to teachers and first responders.

• Call on Congress to pass an emergency package to ensure schools have the additional resources they need to adapt effectively to COVID-19.

• Provide a “restart package” that helps small businesses cover the costs of operating safely, including things like plexiglass and PPE. Plan for the effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines — because development isn’t enough if they aren’t effectively distributed.

• Invest $25 billion in a vaccine manufacturing and distribution plan that will guarantee it gets to every American, cost-free.

• Ensure that politics plays no role in determining the safety and efficacy of any vaccine. The following 3 principles will guide the Biden-Harris administration: Put scientists in charge of all decisions on safety and efficacy; publicly release clinical data for any vaccine the FDA approves; and authorize career staff to write a written report for public review and permit them to appear before Congress and speak publicly uncensored.

• Ensure everyone — not just the wealthy and well-connected — in America receives the protection and care they deserve, and consumers are not price gouged as new drugs and therapies come to market.

Protect older Americans and others at high risk.

President Biden understands

that older Americans and others at high-risk are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

• Establish a COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force, as proposed by Vice President Harris, to provide recommendations and oversight on disparities in the public health and economic response. At the end of this health crisis, it will transition to a permanent Infectious Disease Racial Disparities Task Force.

• Create the Nationwide Pandemic Dashboard that Americans can check in real-time to help them gauge whether local transmission is actively occurring in their zip codes. This information is critical to helping all individuals, but especially older Americans and others at high risk, understand what level of precaution to take.

Rebuild and expand defenses to predict, prevent, and mitigate pandemic threats, including those coming from China.

• Immediately restore the White House National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, originally established by the Obama-Biden administration.

• Immediately restore our relationship with the World Health Organization, which — while not perfect — is essential to coordinating a global response during a pandemic.

• Re-launch and strengthen U.S. Agency for International Development’s pathogen-tracking program called PREDICT. • Expand the number of CDC’s deployed disease detectives so we have eyes and ears on the ground, including rebuilding the office in Beijing.

Implement mask mandates nationwide by working with

governors and mayors and by asking the American people to do what they do best: step up in a time of crisis.

Experts agree that tens of thousands of lives can be saved if Americans wear masks. President Biden will continue to call on: • Every American to wear a mask when they are around people outside their household.

• Every Governor to make that mandatory in their state.

• Local authorities to also make it mandatory to buttress their state orders.

Once we succeed in getting beyond this pandemic, we must ensure that the millions of Americans who suffer long-term side effects from COVID don’t face higher premiums or denial of health insurance because of this new pre-existing condition. The Biden-Harris Administration will work to ensure that the protections for those with pre-existing conditions that were won with Obamacare are protected. And, they will work to lower health care costs and expand access to quality, affordable health care through a Medicare-like public option. ***

Of course, exposure to campus activism can also lead to radicalism. People with noble intentions can be led astray. Recruiters can be very persuasive, especially for restless and idealistic youth.

I am reminded of an article that I wrote way back in 1957, as a teenage journalist, entitled, “11 Years Behind the Talahib Curtain.” It was a first-person account of Fely Cruz of Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, and how he was recruited by the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (Hukbalahap), the forerunner of the NPA. Allow me to share an excerpt from that article: ”Although I had been a courier of the Kapulungan ng mga Magsasaka (a farmer’s union with evident communist leanings in Bantug Licab, Nueva Ecija, way back in 1931, under my brother Major Paredes), I joined the active movement only in early 1942, when the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon was organized.

“On December 8, 1941, the Japanese forces stormed Nueva Ecija and spread terror in the countryside. At this, the outraged residents, particularly adventurous young men, went to the hills in small bands and stung the invading army from all points – raiding, looting and ambushing whenever they had a chance.

“The resistance did not bother the Japanese much however. For every Nippon infantryman killed, several civilian heads rolled. It was then that a group of dynamic

leaders (which I found out later was the nucleus of the Red movement in Central Luzon), headed in Nueva Ecija by a man known only as Ka Piro from Quezon, Col. Dimasalang de Leon from Aliaga, Tandang Tisiong del Rosario from Talavera, and Col. Briones, a leader of Squadron 4 who later joined the USAFFE, called a meeting of all the scattered rebel forces on the 29th of March 1942, in a barrio in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija at the foot of Mt Arayat.

“Being a farmer in Mamburao, Quezon, I went along with Ka Piro to the meet, together with two others, Mangilit and Vibora.

All the while I thought that Ka Piro and the three Nuevo Ecijano leaders would run the confab. I was surprised, however, when throughout the three-day meet, a lean, khaki-clad man, surrounded by some husky orderlies, arranged the agenda and made final decisions on such problems as ammunition, civilian protection, organization and strategy.

His confident gait and slow wellmodulated manner of speaking interested me.

“I asked one of my companions who he was. ‘That is Supremo Luis Taruc,’ I was told. ‘He is the overall head of the movement.’

“The decisions made by the officers were not bared to us, except one, which was to be the aim of the movement: the v was strictly an anti-Japanese organization aimed at the upliftment of Free-

dom and Democracy.

“There was not the slightest indication that, in the following years, our aims would undergo a radical twist: the destruction of Freedom and Democracy.”

Cruz, a ranking officer of the Huk movement, was already living the quiet and peaceful life of a former insurgent when I interviewed him. He said he felt fortunate to be alive. Many of his comrades were not as lucky.

I think our youth are also fortunate to have a DND chief who does not subscribe to McCarthyism, as well as military officers who are willing to apologize for their “inadvertence.”

However, while there should be no reason to doubt the sincerity of their apology, I can’t help recalling a newspaper headline that read: “Half of the people in Congress are crooks!”

Like the AFP’s social media posting, this headline raised a howl of protests and demands for a retraction and an apology.

The next day, the newspaper ran the headline: “Half of the people in Congress are not crooks!”

That didn’t seem like much of an apology. ***

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

The 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.

*** gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

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.

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

ChRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

US hEADqUARTERS: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey Las Vegas, San Diego, Philippines

DING CARREON Videographer

ANDY TECSON Photographer

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • febRUARy 3-5, 2021

A7

Montemaria Cellars introduces Napa wines to PH community, celebrates 500 years of Christianity

The Buhman Estates tasting bar in Napa Valley features the wines available at the family-owned vineyard and evokes a rustic, farmhouse vibe.

Photo courtesy of Roger Oriel

I

T sits on a plateau overlooking a busy ocean gateway of vessels large and small into the southern tip of Luzon island in the Philippine. At 322 feet, it is one of the biggest religious structures in the world. It is the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace, a statue devoted to Mary, who is often noted as the Mother of God and Mother of the Church in the Catholic religion.

The tall structure, which many envision will be a pilgrimage and tourist destination in the near future, is located in Montemaria, in Batangas Province. It is part of a big development that will eventually feature a hotel and residential subdivisions, a marina, an amphitheater/ concert hall, clubhouse, sports and recreation facilities, a wellness center and a marine sanctuary, among others. A venue for special events is also planned that can host weddings, retreats and a variety of activities.

And as the Philippines celebrates 500 years of Catholicism, a group of forward-thinking entrepreneurs from both sides of the Pacific Ocean, have come up with a new project that commemorates the event, and combines Montemaria and its iconic structure with the centuriesold tradition of wine-making.

The result is Montemaria Cellars, a company that will offer an exclusive wine collection cellared and bottled in Napa Valley, California by the Buhman Estate Vineyards. The wines offered will be specially made for the Holy Site of

Montemaria, Batangas.

Spearheading the project from the Napa, California side is Jason Elkin, an international disruptor, innovator, vintner and proprietor who owns #TrendingWine. He has been involved in all areas of the wine and hospitality industry and is considered by many as the Mark Zuckerberg of the wine industry.

Elkin, who was introduced through business contacts to the Montemaria group, is not coming blind into the project, having visited the Philippines in early 2020. At that time, he fully immersed himself into the culture and developed business models, brands and flavor profiles that would be most appropriate for Filipino food and festivities. He also realized that California and Napa Valley wines had no presence on shelves and in markets in the Philippines.

With Montemaria Cellars, Elkin sees a fruition of the plan to present quality Napa Valley and California wines to the Filipino consumer.

Price points, according to the de facto consultant for many established and small batch Napa winemakers, will appeal to different kinds of consumers.

“We have customcreated flavor profiles that will support the epicurean cuisines and palates of the Philippines and the Filipino community. We will present multiple tiers and price points to appeal to all – from the wine curious to the wine connoisseur,” the Cal State University Fresno alum told the Asian Journal via email.

“We feel confident that Napa Valley California wines will be received extremely well

as the region is recognized for its wine production and as one of the most renowned wine-growing regions in the world.”

And seeing as how Filipinos will be celebrating five centuries of Catholicism in the archipelago, Mr. Elkin, Buhman Estates and Napa Valley Distribution, in affiliation with One Global Trading, a division of One Global Management Company, Inc., have ventured to develop and distribute California and Napa Valley wines into the Philippines and other Asian markets.

The plan is for Montemaria Cellars to become a stable and flagship wine brand that Filipinos will see as an option for memorabilia, gift-giving and collectibles, aside from, of course, wine consumption.

Montemaria Cellars and its wines will pay homage to the monument and “can also become a take-away article for the Catholic community and tourists.” There is a future plan for a tasting room that will feature educational wine and food programs as an added component.

Another plan includes “corks that will be blessed where the wine bottle logo will be scannable and introduce a virtual video of a Catholic priest giving a blessing that will create an impromptu experience for buyers.” Elkin added that the brand and products will offer a blessing in the bottle that gives off a positive energy, and the blessing can be adopted for a variety of special events in people’s lives like anniversaries, birthdays, business gatherings, social get-togethers and holiday/

vacation/travel getaways.

Jason, who grew up in Napa Valley and developed concepts and digitallyinteractive labels with a call to action to appeal to modern consumers, is excited at the prospect of growing the Montemaria Cellars brand in the Philippines and internationally.

“I devote my time, expansion and priority to projects I feel most confident and passionate about. The Philippines is not saturated in the Napa Valley and California beverage space.

The traditional business side of the wine industry would be extremely hesitant to offer models and custom support, outside of simply fulfilling a purchase order. I feel that this wine market and wine business in the Philippines is still pure, and the new energy will be contagious. Also, the timing is right,” Elkin revealed to the Asian Journal, while adding that future plans include expanding his portfolio, lifestyle brands and partnerships to include celebrity beverages and also activating additional lifestyle brands for large-scale events in the Philippines.

Jason is excited to visit the Philippines again when the pandemic subsides, and he wants to do it at the soonest time possible.

“I am extremely passionate about this project and I am excited at the fact that it will introduce additional business ventures and economic developments,” Elkin stated.

Montemaria Cellars is currently offering a Special limited Collector’s Edition bottle that features a 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet

#TrendingWine owner Jason Elkin has been tapped to spearhead Montemaria Cellars, which will distribute California and Napa Valley wines to the Philippines and other Asian markets, in affiliation with One Global Trading.

Photo courtesy of Jason Elkin

Sauvignon. This versatile, picnic-friendly wine features flavors of wild strawberries and watermelon immersed in ripe pear juice, and pairs well with seafood, spicy food, salty/ savory dishes or anything off the grill. It also pairs well with Indian, Mexican or Italian dishes, as well as cheese and charcuterie. There are

only 500 bottles available for this vintage, which comes in 3-liter wine bottles. This wine is specially priced at $500 each.

To browse through the catalog and/or learn more about Montemaria Cellars, visit www.montemariacellars. com.

(Joseph Peralta/AJPress)

Asian Journal Publisher & Chairman of the Board Roger Oriel (left), Buhman Estates proprietor/Napa Valley Distribution founder Jason Elkin Asian Journal’s Roger Oriel, Buhman Estates/Napa Valley Distribution’s Jason Elkin and Asian Journal NorCal Bureau office manager (middle) and Asian Journal Northern California bureau chief Joseph Peralta (right) took part in a socially-distanced wine-tasting experience Greg Nitro pose in front of the Buhman Estates vineyards in Napa Valley. in late 2020. The business meeting led to the formation of Montemaria Cellars.

Photo by Joseph Peralta/AJPress Photo courtesy of Roger Oriel

A8 february 3-5, 2021 • SoCal aSIaN JOurNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

seafood city fpfc

1 The

Asian Journal

mdwk The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 3, 2021

mAGAZINE

Wednesday FEBRUARY 3, 2021

asianjournalpublications

@asianjournalcom

@asianjournal

www.asianjournal.com Los Angeles | Las Vegas | Orange County/Inland Empire | Northern California | New York/New Jersey

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

“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

the status quo.

Comfort women were women and girls who were forced to work as sex slaves in brothels by the Imperial

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.

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 Continued on Page 2

2

entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 3, 2021

Breakout star Ella Jay Basco releases song with rapper Ruby Ibarra

By Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

“BIRDS of Prey” actress Ella Jay Basco has teamed up with Filipina American rapper Ruby Ibarra to release a song about brown skin despite society upholding colorism.

Their latest collaboration titled “Gold” talks about accepting the color of your skin and being proud of it.

“GOLD ft. @rubyibarra is out now!!! Mainly streaming on Spotify, Apple, and BandCamp so go check it out!!! We wanted to make a song that speaks out to brown pride and the color of our beautiful golden skin,” Basco wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday, January 27.

Basco, 14, was born to a Filipino father and Korean American mother, and comes from a lineage of actors. She is best known for her role as Cassandra Cain in “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn),” which stars Margot Robbie and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

“I definitely remember seeing kid actors in the business and I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be in the industry and I wanted to be seen on the screen,” she told the Asian Journal in a Feb. 2020 interview.

She has also appeared in television shows like “Veep,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Teachers,” “Superior Donuts,” “Happyland” and the short film “Glimpse of Heaven.”

Chef Jordan Andino is featured in an episode of Selena Gomez’s “Selena + Chef” on HBO Max.

Chef Jordan Andino makes adobo, turon with pop star Selena Gomez

ment for the newest “Selena + Chef” episode, which aired on Thursday, January 28.

FILIPINO American chef “So stoked to announce Jordan Andino shows viewthat my episode of Selena + ers how to make two beloved Chef with the one and only @ Filipino dishes in the latest SelenaGomez is out today! We episode of “Selena + Chef,” spent a bunch of time chatthe cooking show of actress ting, digitally meeting each and singer Selena Gomez on other’s friends and family, HBO Max. helping out those in need, and “Birds of Prey” star Ella Jay Basco and rapper Ruby Ibarra collaborated on a new song about “Selena + Chef” is a show of course making some classic celebrating their skin. where Gomez attempts to cook Filipino dishes,” he wrote.

Outside of acting, Basco is a album, “Circa91,” in October different recipes alongside vari“I guess you all have to 2017 where the rapper shared singer/songwriter and accomous guest celebrity chefs. watch and see what the true her story and struggles as a Filiplished musician, playing the In the episode, Andino judge of my food says when pina American millennial raised guitar, piano and ukulele. She is virtually taught Gomez how to my Lola comes in and critiques in the Bay Area. also a trained dancer. prepare one of the most beboth mine and Selena’s final “When it comes down to it, loved Filipino dishes, “adobo,” dishes,” he added.

Ibarra, 29, was born in Tamy music will always be a reflec- (chicken braised in vinegar, soy cloban, Philippines. She moved The Fil-Am chef was born tion of my experiences and who sauce and garlic) and popular to San Lorenzo, California at in Toronto, Canada. He began I am as a person, so I don’t want snack “turon” (fried banana four years old. his foray into the culinary to ever escape from my music In a previous interview with rolls). world at the age of 9 learnbeing Filipino,” she told the Asian Journal, Ibarra shared In an Instagram post, ing under his father and later Asian Journal. that Filipino rapper Francis Andino expressed his excitehoned his training & experiIbarra studied biochemistry Magalona was one of her and molecular biology at the musical inspirations along with University of California, Davis American artists Tupac, Lauryn and juggles being a scientist Hill and the Wu-Tang Clan. and a musician.

She released her debut By aJPRess

ence working at acclaimed restaurants including The French Laundry, Spago, and Jean Georges.

According to his website, Andino’s cooking is an inspired combination of his grandmother and father — a blend of classic Filipino cuisine and French technique.

Andino owns a Filipino taqueria called Flip Sigi in New York’s West Village.

“I want people to understand that Filipino food isn’t scary and that it actually is, probably on [the] top three cuisines in the world. But no one knows about it so I’m just here to give people a taste…

What I envision is refining Filipino food to the point of Michelin star cuisine,” Andino told the Asian Journal in a 2016 interview.

Giving life and light to...

From Page 1 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 women activists have been instrumental in making the comfort women issue become public.

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

Gino added that having these kinds of conversations and opening up, as the book’s storyline shows, is how one can “unhook, unchain and anchor yourself because keeping a secret for 40 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 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 — ultimately coalesced to create a memorial dedicated to comfort women in San Francisco (located near St. Mary’s Square, at the crossroads of Chinatown and the Financial District; the statue shows a Filipino, Korean and Chinese woman) after learning of a group of Japanese government-backed right-wing historical denialists who were organizing in the Bay Area and other places in the United States to “educate the public that comfort women stories are complete fabrication.”

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

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

Lee continued: “This is also an act of subversion… As we 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 Continued on Page 3

Kelly Marie Tran stars as Raya and comedian Awkwafina voices Sisu, a dragon that provides comic relief. Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios

‘Our stories are worth telling’: Kelly Marie Tran shares what ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ means for Southeast Asian representation By chRistina

M. oRiel

AJPress

Arnis fighting sticks, Moro swords, wearing salakot (cone-shaped hats) — these are some of the touches of Filipino culture in “Raya and the Last Dragon,” Disney’s forthcoming animated film that will be its first with a Southeast Asian warrior princess.

Southeast Asian nations from the Philippines to Vietnam come together to embody the fantasy world of Kumandra, where Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) is on a quest to find the mythical last dragon and save humanity from evil forces.

Whether it’s the environment or details on clothing, the elements were based on trips the production team, led by directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, took to several countries in the region.

Getting into the role of Raya felt natural for Tran, a Vietnamese American actress who becomes the first Southeast Asian to lead a Disney animated film.

Along with Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians”), Qui Nguyen served as a co-writer who was “specific about having Southeast Asian culture be represented in a way that was authentic,” Tran said.

“I think you can see inspiration from that part of the world in the terrain and in the shapes in the movie and in the fabrics that people are wearing and the colors are used,” Tran, who is known for her work on “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” said during a recent press roundtable via Zoom. “I really do believe that Disney is very meticulous about wanting to accurately represent the parts of the world that their movies are about.”

Apart from the cultural similarities, Tran resonated with Raya being a lone warrior and strong in her convictions.

“I think something that really help[ed] me was really honing in on like what is happening specifically in the scene for this character,” she said. “That’s what I do with all my work — really try to find the ways in which I have a commonality with my character and find that way in and then from there, piecing things together.”

Early in the film (no spoilers!),

“Raya and the Last Drago” will hit theaters and Disney+ on March 5.

Raya, like many protagonists before her, faces hardship that characterizes why she is guarded from others, but along the way, she learns to open up and see that the world can be changed for the better. “[Raya] is so unafraid to stand up for herself and what she believes in and to sort of give up everything in order fight for this beautiful vision of what she believes the world can be,” Tran said.

In the barrier-breaking piece of “Raya” introducing Southeast Asian culture and taking a step in terms of representation, Tran said there shouldn’t be so much pressure on having to carry this moment of firsts.

“I think that there should be a wealth of representation for every type of person from every part of world, every socioeconomic class, every ability, every sexual orientation and

you know, every religion,” she said. “I would love if representation was further than where we are because then we wouldn’t have to feel this pressure every time something like this is being made because… it’s not fair to have to feel that.”

With the trailer’s release, reactions from internet viewers have been mixed — from one side reeling in pieces of representation to another calling out the lack of more Southeast Asian voice actors.

Key roles are played by actors of East Asian descent: Sisu, the blue dragon accompanying Raya on her mission, is voiced

by Awkwafina; Daniel Dae Kim plays Raya’s father Benja; Gemma Chan lends her voice to Raya’s nemesis Namaari; and Sandra Oh voices Virana, Namaari’s mother.

Cassie Steele, a FilipinaContinued on Page 3

Drug war docu ‘Aswang’ up for an Oscar “ASWANG,” a documentary that follows the first two years of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, has qualified for consideration in the Best Documentary Feature category at the 93rd Academy Awards.

“Aswang” is among the 283 documentary features that may be included in a shortlist of 15 films to be announced on Feb. 9, the Academy said in its website.

“The film is eligible for the Awards after winning the grand prize at Academy-qualifying DMZ International Documentary Film Festival,” a post on the documentary’s official Facebook page read.

According to its official synopsis, director Alyx Arumpac’s “Aswang” tells the story of people whose lives entwine with the growing violence over the two years of killings in Manila.

In last year’s Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards, “Aswang” won Best Picture, Best Documentary, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. (Krissy Aguilar/Inquirer.net)

caldeRon ManilaTimes.net

LAWYER Ferdinand Topacio is not just actress Claudine Barretto’s pro bono legal counsel these days but also producer of her comeback movie under Borracho Film Productions.

Tentatively titled “Nang Lumuha ang Langit,” Joel Lamangan has been asked to direct the heavy dra-ma from the script of Eric Ramos.

Claudine expressed excitement that she is finally making an acting comeback

Giving life and light to...

Still from a protest during 2018 state of the nation address. Mourning masks by Jose Olarte annd Karlo Erfe.

Photo from Facebook/@Aswang

via film. It had been reported many times she was doing so before but for one reason or another, none materialized.

This time, her showbiz return is green and go with Claudine signing a contract with Borracho Film Productions together with her manager Arnold Vegafria.

Besides the movie deal, she also signed on as brand ambassador for skin clinic Cathy Valencia this new year.

Joining her in the movie is singer-actor Gerard Santos, who was named Entertainer

of the Year by the Aliw Awards. According to Topacio, Gerard will play Claudine’s lover in the movie and are written in for a steamy love scene.

Meanwhile, Direk Joel, who had worked with Claudine in a teleserye before, said he had long told the actress he wants to work with her in a movie.

Glad it is finally happening, he added, “She should not retire because she is a very good actress. I know her potential and I promise that Continued on Page 5

How Sunshine puts all her worries away

By Boy

aBunda Philstar.com

SUNSHINE Dizon opened up about how she has learned to prioritize her mental health during quarantine.

“It’s part of my New Year resolution because with everything that happened last year, especially with the pandemic, maraming bagay na, yeah, we take care of our body but we don’t actually concentrate on mental health so I am (now) setting boundaries, lahat ng mga negang tao tanggalin na sa buhay and choose (the people) who should stay in your circle.”

Like most people, the actress revealed that she experienced the crippling feeling of anxiety, especially at the height of the pandemic.

“I remember one time I was driving and I felt my throat was closing up. I was thinking of what would happen to my kids.

It’s really more of that motherly anxiety na it’s always the kids – how are they going to cope with the new normal and with their online classes? What will happen to us because all of a sudden, I’m not working and I’m so used to that,” said Sunshine, who has two kids, Doreen and Anton, with estranged husband Timothy Tan. “When you’re always working, you don’t notice some of the little things and then all of a sudden, you’re stuck at home and all these little things mapapansin mo, maaalala mo and it forces you to deal with them.

of them study in a Catholic Chinese school and they have tutor for all their subjects and another tutor for a Mandarin class. So, you can just imagine how long their days are. That’s why, I allow them to play once they are done with their assignments. ‘Yun na lang ang happiness nila.”

After months of taping break, Sunshine is back to TV acting work for the GMA drama series Magkaagaw.

Sunshine said she didn’t find it hard to reconnect with her character Laura even while she is into watching K-dramas with Lee Min-ho as her favorite actor.

“I’m telling you, they’re my guilty pleasure, especially I’m alone in lock-in taping and then when I finish early, I watch Koreanovelas, ‘yun ang pang tanggal ng heavy feeling from the role I portrayed. Watching K-dramas is a breather for me.”

Sunshine Dizon GMA photo Still faced with the health So, I can’t blame people having scare, Sunshine said the lock-in taping is favorable to anxiety,” she added.

Prayers help the actress put all because they never fail to finish on time “and we all came all her worries away. She has home safely and with negative also learned to focus on a lot results (in swab test).” of things. “To be honest, all She added, “To be honthe K-dramas helped me a lot est, I prefer the lock-in taping (laughs). ‘Yun ang naging happiness ko when there’s no work because the number of people allowed on the set is limited and I also tried a lot of things. and you have a time frame I read a lot of books about dito do your work so the artists recting, about screenwriting.”

She’s lucky that her kids are should be brilliant and when they come to the set, dapat not keen on going out. “I’m memorize na nila ‘yung line strict with their online games nila. So, efficiency and budgetbefore but now medyo maluwise (in production), I’m okay wag ako sa kanila knowing the with the new set-up.” load they have in school. Both

Alden’s goal now at age 29 By allan

PolicaRPio

Inquirer.net

A BIRTHDAY celebration for Alden Richards usually entails a thanksgiving Mass and a gathering with his family and friends at his own restaurant. Things were much simpler this 2021.

“Unlike last year, I decided to forego celebrations. And I wasn’t used to it, because

Alden Richards

3

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 3, 2021

Claudine’s comeback movie and thoughts on Raymart and Jodi

By Ricky

entertainment

“But despite it all, I’m still thankful to be able to spend it with my loved ones.”

The day was made even more special by his fans.

“It was nice because, on the day itself, they waited for me outside APT Studios (where “Eat Bulaga!” is shot) and lined up while observing social distancing. I stopped by them one by one so they could give me their gifts,” Alden related. “I can really say that I have some of the best supporters, because they find ways to show their love for me.”

The Kapuso star is only a year way from turning 30—but no panicking here. “For me, age is just a number. It’s up to you how to take care of the things that come your way. My goal is simple: I want to make every year count. I want to be able to look back at my life and say that I didn’t waste any moment,” he said.

This year is already shaping up to be a better one than last year for Alden. Aside from three regular hosting jobs, he’s also set to do a new drama series on GMA 7 and a movie with Bea Alonzo.

“Everything was already planned at the beginning of last year, but they came to a halt because of the pandemic. But somehow, some aspects were still able to thrive and contribute to my career. I hope 2021 Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02 Continued on Page 5

I normally have a Mass held at Concha’s, my restaurant in Quezon City. Unfortunately, we had to close that because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he told the Inquirer in a recent virtual conference for the return of “Centerstage,” GMA 7’s singing contest for kids.

“This time, only my family were my guests,” Alden, who turned 29 last Jan. 2, added.

From Page 2 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 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.

‘Our stories are worth telling’...

From Page 2 Canadian actress, was initially announced to voice the titular role at the 2019 D23 Expo but was replaced by Tran, who brings Raya to life and relatability. Though Steele’s participation could have been a stride for the global Filipino community, various internet users nonetheless clung to the instances of their culture teased in the trailer.

“As a Filipina-American, I am heavily emotional over this trailer for Raya and The Last Dragon.

I am so proud of this representation. Using Arnis, wearing the salakot, holding the Moro sword... the different colors on their people. I’m crying. I am so proud,” one Fil-Am viewer wrote on Twitter.

“It’s SO cool to see Filipino cultural references in Raya and the Last Dragon, I love seeing something represented from my own culture with a brand I love like Disney. Also the diversity in the cast?? They LOOK like

my own family, its beautiful SE asian representation so far,” a user wrote on Twitter. “*scream noises because i see Raya using the filipino martial art arnis and wearing a sakalot and holding the moro sword* IM SO HYPED BECAUSE THE REP- the v/as are east asian though for some reason despite this movie being inspired by SEA but anyways still EXCITED,” another individual said.

But whether you are of Asian descent or want to learn more about the Southeast Asian region and its cultures, Tran said, there is “something for everyone.”

“I want audiences to take away the idea that we are human beings who exist who have important stories to tell and our stories are worth telling. It feels like that to me is common sense…I feel really grateful that we’re part of a movie that is honoring this part of the world,” Tran said. “What’s going to be

really cool about it is when people recognize that the messages and characters, and the ability to relate to these characters, is a universal thing.”

In addition to the strides of representation, “Raya and the Last Dragon” is Disney’s first entirely made from home when production, which began when the pandemic hit, was forced to move remotely. Behind the scenes, voice actors set up recording booths at their homes, while animators and other crew members set up computer stations in their living rooms.

“One thing that was sad about it was that we couldn’t be together…[But] I really feel like we all were just feeling pretty lucky to be part of something bigger than us during this time,” Tran said.

“Raya and the Last Dragon” is set to release on March 5 in theaters and on Disney+ with Premiere Access for an additional $29.99 fee.

4

community The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 3, 2021

A greener new year!

BEginning a new Year marks a fresh start for Californians. Some resolutions are personal while other goals are communal. A popular resolution is to reduce California’s environmental impact as well as one’s own “carbon footprint.”

There are several ways Californians can achieve this goal including recycling, composting and reducing waste. recycling is one way to help protect the environment. Many Californians know they can recycle glass, plastic and aluminum but one reusable item that is often overlooked is used motor oil.

According to the American Petrolum institute, used motor oil can be reprocessed and used in furnaces for heat or in power plants

EMPLOYMENT

to generate electricity for homes, schools and businesses. According to the Enviornmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling and reusing used motor oil can also provide great environmental benefits for California; it can be re-refined into new oil or processed into fuel oils which reduces the need to produce “new” oil. Additionally, steel collected from used oil filters can be recycled to make cars, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers and other appliances. it is crucial that used motor oil and oil filters are disposed of correctly and not poured down the drain, in the trash, on the ground or in the storm drain because they are extremely harmful to the environ-

ment. Properly store used motor oil until you are able to recycle it. Pour it into a clean container with a tight lid or purchase containers designed to store used motor oil. Make sure the oil does not get mixed up with any other liquid, including water. recycle the used oil filter by placing it in a clean, leak-proof container (after draining it) such as a zippertype plastic bag or an old coffee can. Take your used motor oil and filter to a Certified Collection Center for recycling. doing this can ensure a greener new Year and a cleaner California!

For more information, visit CleanLA.com (LA County Public Works Motor Oil & Filter Recycling Program)

EMPLOYMENT

What you should know about President Biden’s immigration reform bill Visas, among other provisions.

A clear pathway to permanent residence and US citizenship The Biden legislation is expected to provide a path for foreign nationals currently Atty. Kenneth holding dACA, TPS or H-2A UrsUA reyes status to immediately apply for permanent residence if they were physically present in the PrESidEnT Biden anUnited States on or before nounced the highlights of a January 1, 2021. After receivplan to reform the U.S. immiing their green cards, qualifygration system. The anticipated bill is expected to feature a ing foreign nationals could apply for citizenship after path to permanent residence three years, provided that they and citizenship for qualifying undocumented foreign nation- meet security and background als and those holding deferred checks and demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. Action for Childhood Arrivals (dACA), Temporary Protected civics.

Undocumented foreign Status (TPS) and H-2A status, mechanisms to clear extensive nationals who were physically present in the United green card backlogs in the States on or before January employment-based and family-based programs, a stream- 1, 2021 would be able to lined process for graduates of immediately apply for temporary legal status. After five U.S. university with advanced years in temporary status, STEM degrees to obtain they would become eligipermanent residence, and an ble to apply for permanent increase in diversity Lottery

Barrister’s Corner

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

SERVICES

residence if they have passed certain security and criminal checks and paid U.S. taxes.

These foreign nationals could then apply for citizenship after three additional years, provided that they pass additional background checks and demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. civics.

Special provisions are also included for certain individuals who were removed during the Trump Administration, but were physically present for at least three years prior to their removal.

Family-based immigration reforms Family-based immigrant visa backlogs would be cleared through the recapture of unused visas from prior years and the increase in percountry visa caps. A process would be put in place that would allow foreign nationals with approved family-sponsored petitions to join family members in the United States Continued on Page 5

What you should know about...

From Page 4 while their green card applications are pending. Immigration laws would be revised to explicitly allow LGBTQ+ petitioners to sponsor family members.

Employment-based immigration reforms The bill is expected to include provisions to clear employment-based immigrant visa backlogs, recapture unused visas, reduce lengthy permanent residence wait times and eliminate per-country immigrant visa caps. It is anticipated that these goals would be achieved in part by exempting spouses and children of green-card holders from the annual green card quota as well as Ph.D. graduates working in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The bill includes the codification of H-4 employment authorization for spouses of H-1B workers.

The bill would also create a pilot program that would stimulate regional economic development, give DHS the authority to adjust green cards based on macroeconomic conditions, and incentivize higher wages for nonimmigrant, high-skilled visas. The Departments of Homeland Security and Labor would be required to make recommendations for improving the employment eligibility verification process

and providing protections to foreign workers affected by labor violations.

Other provisions in the Bill includes an increase in the annual number of green cards available under the Diversity Lottery Visa Program from 55,000 to 80,000.

The three- and ten-year bars for individuals who have been unlawfully present in the United States would be eliminated. This would eliminate the need to request for provisional waiver of the unlawful presence specially for those who were not inspected when they entered the US or those who entered as a crew member.

The president would be barred from discriminating based on religion in issuing immigration bans. Immigration enforcement would be enhanced through smart technologies.

Funding would be allocated for an inter-agency plan that would address the underlying causes of migration in the Central American region, including an increase in assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, conditioned on their ability to reduce the corruption, violence and poverty that causes their citizens to flee. Humanitarian program reforms would be implemented, including an elimination of the one-year

deadline for filing an asylum claim and an increase in the U visa cap from 10,000 to 30,000.

Many of these provisions may change as the bill works its way through congress.

However with the Democrats in control of Congress, the future of immigration in the US looks brighter under the new Biden administration.

*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association.

He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice.

LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Visit us at kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Claudine’s comeback movie...

From Page 3 this movie will be a quality film worthy of her caliber as an actress. We will do a film that she will be proud of.”

Unable to dodge questions regarding ex-husband Raymart Santiago’s rumored relationship with Jodi Sta. Maria, Claudine said she has no problem with the situation. While saying everyone deserves to be happy, she warned all the same he hopes Raymart will not be remiss in his responsibility as a father to their children and give child support. She said she is only fighting what is due her children.

She finally denied reports that said she called Jodi to talk to her and maintained it was the other way around.

Claudine Barretto

Photo from Instagram/@claubarretto

community 5 Alden’s goal now at age...

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 3, 2021

From Page 3 will be like that, too. Work is now lined up,” he said.

While he’s raring to do live shows again, he conceded that that may take a while. “As much as we want to do public appearances that’s something we can’t do. So I will just be focusing on what I can deliver, like movies and television shows,” he pointed out.

“I just have to do my job well and give my best to every project.”

“The challenge is time and scheduling, because almost all projects require a lock-in,” he added. “I have to balance everything.”

Alden admitted that, at one point, he feared that “Centerstage” wouldn’t be able to resume production, mostly because the contestants are children. But thanks to technology, the talent search will return on Feb. 7, with the performances being shot at the young singers’ respective homes, with the assistance of the production team.

“It’s hard because the banter between the host and contestants is no longer there—no way to talk to them live. But we have to push forward and adjust, because they’re relying on us. And I’m glad that we found a way,” he said of the show, which features judges Pops Fernandez, Aicelle Santos and Mel Villena.

While acting is the reason he entered show biz, Alden has also grown to appreciate hosting through the years.

“It’s something I’m comfortable doing. It’s a different feeling and satisfaction. As a host, you get to talk to different people and share your stories with each other,” he said, adding that he tries to change his style from one show to another.

“Like acting, you adapt your approach depending on the show, so that it doesn’t get boring.”

What Alden loves most about hosting “Centerstage” is being with young dreamers whose stories remind him of his own. Like the kids he interacts with, the actor had his first glimpse of the spotlight in a contest.

He recalled taking part in a school pageant when he was in second year high school. “My adviser forced me to enter.

Luckily, I won. The experience ended up giving me confidence and self-belief. Sometimes, you just need to have the right people around you to push and

help you know your worth,” Alden said.

“That’s how I started. I was a young dreamer. I joined different contests and worked hard to be able to achieve my dreams,” he added. “It’s nice to hear stories similar to what I have been through.”

6

T h e As ian Jour nal M D W K M A G A Z I NE - Februa ry 3 , 2 0 2 1

THE FIRST FILIPINO SUPERMARKET CHAIN TO PROVIDE ONLINE SHOPPING WITH SAME DAY DELIVERY/ PICK-UP IN THE UNITED STATES.

HERE FOR YOU IN THE SPIRIT OF

BAYANIHAN

ISLAND PACIFIC SEAFOOD MARKET SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WEST COVINA, CANOGA PARK, OXNARD, CERRITOS, LONG BEACH, SANTA CLARITA, TEMECULA & NATIONAL CITY.

WWW.ISLANDPACIFICMARKET.COM

WILD CAUGHT / MEXICO

FARM / ECUADOR

FRESH TRUE RED SNAPPER "MAYA MAYA"

LARGE WHITE SHRIMP HEAD-ON

33% OFF

FRESH

5

$ 99

14% OFF

/LB

WAS $6.99

FRESH

5

FRESH

5

$ 99

ISLAND PACIFIC FPFC

/LB

WAS $8.99

0

$

$ 99

FARM / CANADA

ZERO DOLLAR NO SERVICE FEE ALL ONLINE ORDERS

FRESH ATLANTIC SALMON PREMIUM STEAK

WAS $6.99

14% OFF

SHOP SMART. STAY SAFE. SHOP ONLINE.

/LB

Shop Island Pacific | Download the App

PROMO SALE PERIOD | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2021 UNT CO

SLICED

UNT CO

F OF 25% S

S

G

G

S

SWAI WHOLE HEADLESS

DIS

F OF 25%

YELLOWTAIL STEAK

S AV I N

G

S AV I N

S AV I N

G

S

DIS

WILD CAUGHT / MEXICO

DIS

FRESH PETRALE SOLE "DAPA"

F OF % 8 3

UNT CO

F OF 26%

DIS

FRESH HALIBUT STEAK

WILD CAUGHT / CANADA

UNT CO

WILD CAUGHT / MEXICO

S AV I N

FRESH

3

WAS $4.99

WAS $3.99

WAS $3.99

1

3

WAS $1.99

WAS $5.79

99¢

BEFORE

4

$ 99

/EA $7.99

BEFORE

EACH $3.29

5

2pcs $ FOR

5

2pcs $ FOR

$3.49

BEFORE

BEFORE

$1.19

3

4pcs $ FOR

BEFORE

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE SALES PROMO WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. WE ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REPLACE ITEMS WITH PRODUCTS OF APPROXIMATE VALUE. NO RAIN CHECKS. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER COUPON OR PROMO. PRICES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. GIVEAWAYS NOT VALID FOR CUSTOMERS WITH DISCOUNT.

4

2pcs $ FOR

$2.59

WE ACCEPT FOR IN-STORE ONLY

BEFORE

$2.49

$ 99 /LB 99¢

BEFORE

DIS

S

S

G

G

G

G

S

S

UNT CO

F OF 50%

DIS

DIS

99¢ FOR

S AV I N

99¢ 99¢ BEFORE

$1.99

/LB

UN

UNT CO

UN

69¢

/LB

G

S

DIS

GREEN BELL CO T CAULIFLOWER CO T F F F OF OF OF PEPPER % % 5 0 5 70% 3 S AV I N

S AV I N

S AV I N

1

3pcs

BEFORE

1

2lbs $ FOR

BROCCOLI

G

20%

JUMBO F OF CARROTS

99¢

S

UNT CO

/LB

BEFORE

DIS

ORGANIC GREEN GRAPES

$1.99

UNT CO

F OF 49% S AV I N

S AV I N

S

S

G

S AV I N

BEFORE

UNT CO

F OF 67%

S AV I N

69¢ 89¢ /LB

1

$ 29 /LB

BIG TARO

G

$1.29

DIS

S

G

S

4

BEFORE

S

FOR

G

6

2pcs $

$3.99

S AV I N

S AV I N

2pcs $ FOR

$2.39

BEFORE

DIS

UNT CO

G

S

BEFORE

5

2pcs $ FOR

UNT UFC BANANA COUNT BUTTERFLY CO F F F KETCHUP OF OF UBE EXTRACT OF 11OZ 2OZ 37% 23% 16%

DIS

UN

T CO INDAYS BEST WHITE KING F PURPLE YAM FF PUTO MIX OF %O % 8 POWDER 2 4 400G 2 S AV I N S AV I N 115G UNT CO

BEFORE

/EA $3.29

$1.89

DIS

BEFORE

F OF 55%

$1.99

S

ROMA

F OF TOMATO 47%

UNT CO

BEFORE

G

UNT CO

/LB

BIG TARO

S AV I N

DIS

$1.49

UNT CO

F OF 35%

S

BEFORE

DIS

BABY BOKCHOY

GREEN

F OF BEANS 40%

1 89¢

2lbs $ FOR

S

$1.79

79¢

/LB

WAS $1.19

UNT CO

DIS

99¢

DIS

S

S AV I N

BEFORE

G

BEFORE

REGENT CUPCAKES (MOCHA/ UBE/ PANDAN) 10PC

2 89¢

5pcs $ FOR

BEFORE

G

G

G

S

S

DIS

DIS

UNT UN GOLDEN DUCK CO VILLA SOCORRO CO T F F BANANA CHIPS OF OF SALTED EGG POTATO RIDGES/ 49% 45% 100G S AV I N CRAB SEAWEED S A V I N TEMPURA 110-125G

5

4pcs $

MIX & MATCH FOR

DIS

FOR

S

5

2pcs $

$3.59

G

BEFORE

DIS

3

2pcs $ FOR

$2.29

79¢

/LB

S AV I N

S AV I N

BEFORE

NOW

G

S

G

S AV I N

G

DIS

S AV I N

KABOCHA

DIS

DIS

S

DIS

DIS

G

WHITE KING F SPAGHETTI F OF OF SAUCE 1KG 24% 25% UNT CO

G

S

S AV I N

WHITE KING SPAGHETTI NOODLE 900G

/EA

UNT CO

S

UNT CO

99¢

UNT CO

F OF 49%

S AV I N

G

UNT CO

S

VE SA

S

S

MANG TOMAS F F OF LECHON OF SAUCE 53% 49% S AV I N S AV I N 11.64OZ

UNT CO

BEFORE

/EA $1.29

$1.29

DIS

S

G

UFC TAMARIND MIX 40G

BEFORE

UPO

UNT CO

F OF 23%

S AV I N

9 89¢

2pcs $ FOR

G

S AV I N

BEFORE

EACH $5.99 DIS

INDAYS BEST F SOY SAUCE/ OF % VINEGAR 1L 30 UNT CO

3

$ 99

S AV I N

DIS

$6.99

S

$ 99

SELECTA

UNT CO

F CHOCO MOO OF 240ML 31%

LEMON) 500ML

G

DIS

S

G

BEFORE

S AV I N

C2 GREEN

UNT CO

F TEA (APPLE/ OF ORIGINAL/ 25%

DIS

DIS

3

4pcs $ FOR

HEREFORD CORNED BEEF TRAPEZOID (REGULAR/LESS SODIUM) 12OZ

F OF 34%

PRODUCE

G

S

G

F OF 43%

CRACKERS IN TUB

S

UNT CO

S AV I N

UNT CO

G

89¢

JANS F OF SOURSOP IN CARTON 34% S AV I N 33.8FLOZ

DIS

INDAYS BEST TARO LEAVES 3.5OZ

BEFORE

F OF MAGIC FLAKES 16% PREMIUM

DIS

2

$ 99 /EA

LOWER PRICE

UNT CO

S

S AV I N

SARANGANI BAY PREMIUM SARDINES (REGULAR & SPICY) 155G

G

G

S

LE SA

DIS

DIS

ISLAND PACIFIC SELECT SEAGRAPES LATO 320G

SPECIAL

UNT CO

UNT CO

G

$ 39 /LB

/LB

S AV I N

NOW

GROCERIES NEW

CHICKEN DRUMSTICK

F OF 31% S AV I N

NOW

WAS $7.99

UNT CO

G

G

S

BEEF SHOULDER CLOD

DIS

F OF 30%

/LB

S

UNT CO

DIS

$ 99

/LB

S AV I N

/LB

2

$ 99

DIS

4

$ 99

2

$ 69 PORK PICNIC BONELESS

FRESH

NOW

NOW

BEFORE

$1.99

89¢

/LB

S AV I N

BEFORE

$1.99

59¢

/LB