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FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021

T h e F i l i p i n o A m e r i cA n c o m mu n i T y n e ws pAp e r

Volume 32 - No. 5 • 12 Pages

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Maria Ressa, press groups nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

RAPPLER co-founder and chief executive officer Maria Ressa has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 by Norwegian labor leader and parliamentary representative Jonas Gahr Støre.

“Filipino Maria Ressa heads Rappler, a website for investigative and investigative journalism. Prior to founding Rappler in 2012, she worked for CNN in Asia, where she specifically reports on terrorist networks,” said Støre on the Norwegian news site Journalisten.no.

He noted that Ressa has been harassed, persecuted, and arrested numerous times due to her critical coverage of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

“Ressa has for years lived with death threats and harassment on social media. She is thus both a symbol and a representative of thousands of journalists around the world,” Støre said.

Biden signs executive order eliminating Trump-era barriers to legal immigration

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 pro-

gram 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.

Historically, legal immigration in the U.S. has been

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by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THANKING FRONT-LINERS. A standee cut-out of front-liners is displayed at a Balete tree on the intersection of Sumulong Highway and L. Sumulong Memorial Circle in Antipolo City on Thursday, February 4. Front-liners are those medical doctors, nurses, police, and military personnel or workers who are on the field to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

by chRistina

G. Visaya

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

M. oRiel

AJPress

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

The global average for social media usage this year

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Foreign visitors drop to 84% in 2020 due to travel restrictions AJPress

THE Philippine economy is in “bad shape” and “sinking deeper and deeper” due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted this week.

“Ang ekonomiya natin, mga kababayan ko, is masama talaga. Biro mo naman ilang tao ang walang trabaho, the economy of the Philippines is really in bad shape (The economy, my countrymen, is really u PAGE A3

Report: Filipinos remain AAPI community celebrates new admin with virtual gala the most active internet, social media users globally

Stakeholders begin rebuilding PH tourism industry in 2021

by MoMaR

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi

Duterte: Philippine economy in bad shape

Fil-Am journalist Jose Antonio Vargas unveils new book exploring racial identity

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 be-

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Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

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The book will follow his best-selling 2018 memoir ‘Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen’

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 of application to becoming citizens.

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 good start and had an

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THE Biden-Harris administration is well underway with putting its policies into place, but celebrations of the new leadership and record voter turnout in the 2020 election haven’t stopped.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community virtually attended the Presidential Pearl Gala on Thursday, January 28, featuring a lineup of remarks from Vice President Kamala Harris, congressional members and AAPI administration nominees, and performances.

In her brief message, Harris — the nation’s first woman, Black and Asian American vice president — shared the often quoted lesson her mother Shyamala Gopalan, an immigrant from India, shared: “Though we may be the first, we should not be the last.”

“I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career,” Harris said, adding “Your continued faith in me has brought me to this moment. When I accepted the nomination to be your vice president, I did so fully committed to realizing the vision of a stronger, more united America that provides an opportunity for all.”

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai, Neera Tanden, director of the Office

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the 2021 Presidential Pearl Gala on Jan. 28.

Filipina American community leaders Gloria Caoile, Francey Lim Youngberg, and Irene Bueno organized the 2021 Presidential Pearl Gala, an inaugural celebration for Democratic administrations.

of Management and Budget nominee, and Vanita Gupta, U.S. associate attorney general nominee were also among the night’s speakers.

Since 2009, the gala has served as the inaugural ball for

the community during Democratic administrations. Though the pandemic prevented the gala from taking place in person — attended by over 1,000 guests — individuals tuned in

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FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

From The FronT Page

Biden signs executive order...

PAGE A1 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 PAGE A3

Stakeholders begin rebuilding...

PAGE A1

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

“Kababayans have always wanted to come back home

Guyam Island, Siargao

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,” he said.

Allones agrees, saying that the industry is willing to adapt

Photo from Instagram/@madamjoycing

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 protocols in place, the stakeholders are hopeful that visitor arrivals to the country will make its steady climb to reach pre-pandemic figures. n

Dateline USa

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021

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Biden signs executive order...

PAGE A2 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 administration 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 imRIGHT WEIGHT. A woman weighs a kilo of fish she bought at the Powerline Market in Phase 4, Bagong Silang-Kanan, Caloocan City on migrants.

“The starting point for all of Wednesday, February 3. The weighing scale has been placed by Barangay 176 officials in the area to ensure that the goods are properly PNA photo by Ben Briones us is that America is still an in- weighed after receiving numerous complaints from market-goers. clusive 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 WEARING two face masks to You could say five masks could Abeyasinghe, on the other find a way to talk to them,” Yang prevent the spread of COVID- be more protective than two,” he hand, reminded everyone about said. n 19 is not necessary, according told ANC’s Headstart on Mon- the importance of proper hyto a representative of the World day, February 1. giene, wearing face masks propLast week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, erly, and social distancing.

Health Organization (WHO).

In response to a question director of the National Institute “We need to continue to folabout the necessity of wearing of Allergy and Infectious Dis- low hand hygiene, mask-wearwere doing fine before COVID. two kinds of masks at the same eases and chief medical adviser ing, cough etiquette, and physiNot very good, but we are do- time, Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, on COVID-19 under the Biden cal distancing,” he said.

“These are the measures that ing good. Then when COVID ar- the health body’s representative administration, endorsed double will help us protect ourselves and rived, there were no revenues),” to the Philippines, said: “It de- masking.

“So, if you have a physical our loved ones as we wait for the pends on what kind of mask you he said. covering with one layer, you put potential arrival of vaccines and For his part, Duterte assured are wearing.”

“If you are wearing medi- another layer on — it just makes an end to this pandemic but that that the government is doing its best to keep the country afloat. cal or surgical masks, we don’t common sense that it likely is still a long road,” he added.

To date, there are a total of “So, we are sinking deeper think there is a necessity for two would be more effective, and and deeper pero hindi lang masks. I have seen some reports that’s the reason why you see 527,272 confirmed cases of COtayo. Lahat (but it is not just us. that say if you wear two masks, it people either double-masking VID-19 in the Philippines, with It’s everyone). Pero (but) we are is more protective. The question or doing a version of an N95,” 10,807 fatalities and 487,574 recoveries. (AJPress) trying our very best to keep us is where do you draw the line? Fauci told NBC News’ Today. afloat,” he said.

In December 2020, the multilateral lender World Bank predicted that the Philippine economy will start recovering in the PAGE A1 next two years as the country ing a non-citizen. He founded the nonprofit Define American with the mission to help humanize imeases quarantine restrictions.

It forecasted the Philippines migrant portrayals and conversations about immian economic growth of 5.9% in grants in media and entertainment.

As previously reviewed in the Asian Journal, his 2021, and 6.0% in 2022. n 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 other country in the world. without documentation to prove it.

According to marketplace In an interview with the Los Angeles Times for OnBuy.com, Filipinos spend his forthcoming sophomore book, Vargas said, “All an average of 102,054 hours or of us are trying to understand where we fit in this 4,252 days on social media dur- urgent, unprecedented time in American history. I ing their lifetime, which puts the think all Americans, documented or not, are strugPhilippines at the top of the list gling to figure out where we fit in conversations for the most social media-ob- around race and identity.” sessed country.

“White is Not a Country” is set to be published Columbia ranked second with in 2023 by Pantheon Books. In the LA Times interan average of 101,288 hours view, Vargas revealed that the title of his book was or 4,220 days on social media, inspired by a conversation he had with a University while Japan ranked as the coun- of Georgia student in 2012. Vargas had asked the try least obsessed with social student where he was from — a question and mimedia, spending 20,928 hours croaggression that people of color often receive. or 1,289 days on social media The student had replied, “I’m white,” to which during their lifetime. n Vargas replied, “White is not a country, where are Jose Antonio Vargas you from?” which gave the student pause.

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

WHO: No need to double mask

Duterte: Philippine economy in bad...

PAGE A1 bad. Imagine, a lot of people have no jobs, the economy of the Philippines is really in bad shape),” he said in a televised address on Monday, February 1.

However, he stressed that other countries are also experiencing the same struggles.

“It is not only the Philippines who suffer. We, in the world, are suffering with everybody,” said Duterte.

The chief executive revealed that the country is losing P2 billion per day because of the pandemic.

“According to the Secretary of Finance, araw-araw ngayon hanggang matapos itong COVID, we are losing P2 billion na pera para sana ‘yon sa mga

tao (According to the Secretary of Finance, day until the end of this pandemic we are losing P2 billion worth of money that could have been for the public),” said Duterte.

“The Filipino workers would have earned that money kung ang ekonomiya natin gumagalaw (if our economy is moving),” he added.

Duterte noted that the country’s economy was doing fine before COVID-19 hit last year.

Lahat ng bayan ng buong mundo bagsak. Talagang bagsak. Tayo maganda na sana noong hindi dumating COVID. We were doing fine. Hindi naman very good. We are doing good. Tapos dumating ang COVID, walang kita (All countries of the world have fallen. We

Fil-Am journalist Jose Antonio Vargas unveils new...

Report: Filipinos remain the most active...

PAGE A1 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 using 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

Maria Ressa, press groups nominated for Nobel...

PAGE A1

“The nomination fulfills key aspects of what is emphasized as peace-promoting in Alfred Nobel’s will. A free and independent press can inform about and help to limit and stop a development that leads to armed conflict and war,” he added.

Støre also nominated Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists for the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to him, media freedom is being put under pressure in more and more places in the world, with journalists being threatened, persecuted and imprisoned.

“It is crucial to recognize the work of a free and independent press and to help ensure the working conditions of journalists in conflict areas, both inside and outside armed conflicts,” said Støre.

“In today’s world, Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists are the two foremost organizations for promoting media freedom and protecting journalists,” he added.

Reporters Without Borders has a global network of correspondents and offices to protect thousands of journalists who are threatened, attacked or impris-

US, PH troops simulate combat casualty handling in Palawan training

by Frances

Mangosing Inquirer.net

Rappler co-founder and CEO Maria Ressa is known for being a critic of the current Duterte administration.

PNA photo

oned every year.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has a global network to protect journalists and places particular emphasis on documenting attacks on press freedom by publishing statistics and reports on the persecution of journalists.

“A Nobel Peace Prize for these organizations will be a recognition of the work they do, and it will recognize the thousands of

PHILIPPINE and U.S. troops took part in training for maritime operations in Palawan province, which is closest to Philippine claims in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. The U.S. Embassy in Manila, in a statement, said the U.S. Civilian Military Support Element (CSME)—Philippines conducted training for combat casualties for men and officers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) district in Palawan and crewmen of PCG

vessels in the province.

It was part of the PCG’s Surface Support Force Boarding Officer Course, the embassy said in its statement released on Tuesday (Feb. 2).The training was held from Jan 28 to 31.

Part of the training simulated emergency cases during maritime law enforcement, maritime security and maritime search and rescue operations.

The U.S. Embassy said the training strengthened the capability of participants to respond to medical needs during combat and other maritime and land-

based operations.

Commander Erwin Tolentino, commanding officer of PCG vessel BRP Cabra, said the training was valuable “in responding to emergency situations” that troops may encounter in “performing our functions at sea.”

The training simulated “challenging and realistic” scenarios that the participants will encounter in emergencies and which would be useful in “any situation where life-saving skills are needed,” said Zachary Shimley, CMSE Philippines medic. n

journalists who report on conflicts,” said Støre.

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel.

The Peace Prize is awarded by a committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget).

The 2021 laureate will be announced in October. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

AAPI community celebrates new admin...

PAGE A1 from across the country and distantly raised their champagne glasses.

The third edition of the gala was produced by the same team of Filipina American political and civic leaders — Francey Lim Youngberg, Gloria Caoile, and Irene Bueno — in conjunction with civic organization APIAVote.

In addition to Harris in the vice presidency, the community

highlighted the record number of AAPIs in Congress and the new administration’s appointees.

A handful of Filipino Americans will be serving in various capacities across the federal government from the Office of Personnel Management to the Department of Defense, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

“Representation matters. AAPIs have earned our seat at the

table and we expect the BidenHarris administration will reflect the full diversity of our community at the highest level,” Bueno, who worked in the Clinton administration, said.

Since taking office, Biden signed a slew of executive orders to undo the previous administration’s policies and rhetoric, from denouncing anti-AAPI hate to removing “alien” from U.S. immigration laws in favor of the term “noncitizen.” n

Philippine and U.S. troops take part in training for maritime operations in Palawan province, which is closest to Philippine claims in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

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FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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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-

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

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 size of gatherings; when to issue

McCarthyism and Murphy’s Law 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?

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.

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A5

PH ranks 55th in global Democracy Index

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE Philippines ranked 55th out of 167 countries in a global democracy index report released

by London-based think tank The Economist Intelligence Unit on Wednesday, February 3.

Previously, the country ranked 54th in 2019, 53rd in 2018, and 51st in 2017.

In the Democracy Index 2020, the Philippines recorded an average score of 6.56, after receiving the scores of 9.17 in electoral process and pluralism, 5 in functioning government, 7.78 in political participation, 4.38 in political culture and 6.47 in civil liberties.

The country’s average puts it under the latest report’s “flawed democracy” category, where nations classified in it “have free and fair elections, even if there are problems (such as infringements on media freedom), basic civil liberties are respected.”

The Philippines lagged behind its Asian neighbors including Taiwan (11th place), Japan (21st), South Korea (23rd), Malaysia (39th), and Timor Leste (44th).

Globally, Norway topped the index with an average of 9.81, followed by Iceland (9.37), Sweden (9.26), New Zealand (9.25), and Canada (9.24) The EIU Democracy Index provides a snapshot of the state of world democracy for 165 independent states and two territo-

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque

ries. It is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture.

‘Democracy alive in PH’ Malacañang, for its part, maintained that the democracy in the Philippines is “very much alive” despite the country ranking one place lower than last year.

“We will strive to do better pero (but) that ranking shows that democracy is very much alive in the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday, February 4.

“Our democratic institutions are working, we have an independent judiciary, an independent legislative department, and of course, an executive department

After falsifying RT-PCR test results, 3 Boracay tourists test positive for COVID-19

by Rosette

adel

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Tourism on Wednesday, February 3 confirmed that three tourists who entered Boracay island with counterfeit RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test results tested positive for COVID-19.

The DOT said its Boracay unit is already coordinating with the Municipality of Malay health authorities for contact tracing and monitoring of the concerned tourists who are currently quarantined at the Aklan Training Center.

Three other tourists earlier falsified their RT-PCR test results in December. The six tourists were arrested by Malay police.

“The Department of Tourism appeals to travelers to stop forging and faking travel documents, else face fines and proper criminal charges from the local government unit, which may include the penalty of imprisonment,” it said in a statement.

Likewise, the tourism depart-

ment also urged its partner in the local government unit to tighten their assessment of applications made through their respective registration system.

Malay Acting Municipal Mayor Frolibar Bautista has yet to respond to Philstar.com’s request for comment into the new development in the cases of falsified COVID-19 tests.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat last month issued a stern warning to those who are planning to fake their COVID-19 test results.

“Every time you go to a tourist destination and you faked your test, you are not only endangering yourself, but also the locals,” she said in a press conference last January 12.

The DOT has partnered with the—Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the Philippine Children’s Medical Hospital (PCMC) for subsidized RT-PCR tests.

It reminds the public that the subsidized COVID-19 tests are available at P900 and P750 in UPPGH and PCMC, respectively. n

Liberal Party considering Leni as 2022 presidential bet

by Xave

GReGoRio Philstar.com

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo is among the personalities being considered by the Liberal Party to become its standard bearer in the 2022 elections, party president Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Thursday, February 4. “[She is] a high official of the party and is also the highest elected official of the party. So she is also being considered,” Pangilinan said partly in Filipino in a media briefing. Robredo is Liberal Party chair.

But Pangilinan was quick to echo Robredo, who told ABSCBN Teleradyo in November 2020 that she has no plans to run for the presidency.

“She, herself, has said that she has no decision yet. A lot of things can happen,” Pangilinan said partly in Filipino.

Pangilinan said the Liberal Party, which was the ruling party before President Rodrigo Duterte was elected to Malacañang in 2016, is currently focusing on recruiting from the grassroots and

Vice President Leni Robredo leads the graduation ceremony of the five-day basic motorcycle preventative maintenance training.

Office of the Vice President

helping communities get through the pandemic.

“Hopefully if we’re able to show a good performance, then voters will remember that and will support us,” he said.

It may appear that the Liberal Party leadership is keeping its hands off the 2022 elections for now, but party internal vice president Rep. Teddy Baguilat met Monday a “core group” of Robredo supporters in Quezon to push her to run for president.

An online petition urging Robredo to run for president is also making the rounds, with it garnering over 20,000 signatures as of writing.

Reacting to Pangilinan’s statement, Robredo’s camp neither confirmed or denied if the vice president has plans to run for president in 2022, only saying that she is focused on working to help Filipinos overcome the challenges of the pandemic and the lengthy quarantine.

“This is the need of the moment and her priority right now,” Robredo spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.

“Everything else will be addressed at the proper time.”

Pangilinan earlier gave a similar remark, saying that Robredo has no decision yet and “a lot of things can happen.”

Robredo lagged behind proadministration candidates in the latest Pulse Asia survey on potential presidential candidates, where Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte took a clear lead.

But surveys as early as this rarely predict the outcome of the elections, with many events still to transpire in the political arena in the coming months. n

that is always the victim of criticisms,” he added.

Roque also noted that the Philippines was several places ahead of some of its Southeast Asian neighbors — Indonesia (64), Thailand (73), Singapore (74), Myanmar (135), Vietnam (137) and Laos (161).

“Kung titingnan natin ang datos no, naunahan po tayo ng (If you look at data, we are behind) Taiwan, Malaysia at (and) Timor Liste, pero (but) we are ahead of Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos. In other words, ahead of almost all the major countries of Southeast Asia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador maintained that the Duterte administration is committed to respecting the voices of all citizens.

“The Duterte administration is committed to continue respecting the voices of all citizens, as evidenced by the endless criticisms from the political opposition, the left, as well as the government’s detractors, who have unimpeded access to both local and international press,” he said.

“We will similarly continue to respect and promote the civil liberties of our people as we strive to further develop a democratic political culture and produce a government which efficiently functions to address their needs while encouraging their participation in governance,” Panelo added. n

HEALTHY OPTION. A woman buys eggplants from a roving vegetable vendor in Barangay Pasong Putik in Fairview, Quezon City on Thursday, February 4. Consumers now favor buying vegetables due to the high prices of pork and chicken.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Comelec eyes online campaigning for 2022 WITH the undiminished threat of COVID-19, the government may ban face-to-face campaigning for the elections next year.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) may ask candidates to turn to online campaigning as a precaution against the disease.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Wednesday the poll body is considering temporarily prohibiting the traditional way of campaigning.

The poll body has discussed the matter with officials of the

Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Jimenez said any changes in the method of campaigning in radio and television would require amendments of election laws.

The Comelec noted that it might take months to vaccinate 80 million Filipinos.

Jimenez said in the absence of a herd immunity, it would be in the best interest of all concerned to temporarily ban face-to-face campaigns to control the spread

of Covid-19.

Vaccine czar and National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. agreed that face-toface campaigning poses a huge risk to the health of the public.

“Nakikita po natin na ‘yung pangangampanya po, it will enhance close contact with different people (campaigning will enhance close contact with different people),” Galvez said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday. (ManilaTimes.net)

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‘Our stories are worth telling’: Kelly Marie H.E.R. scores Golden Globe, 5 NAACP Image Awards nods Tran shares what ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ means for Southeast Asian representation by

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

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

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

aJPress

THIS week, R&B artist H.E.R. garnered nominations for the Golden Globes and the 52nd NAACP Image Awards.

The Grammy-winning singer on Wednesday, February 3 nabbed a Best Original Song - Motion Picture nomination for “Fight for You” from “Judas and the Messiah” alongside D’Mile and Tiara Thomas.

“CAN’T BELIEVE I’M A GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!” she wrote in an Instagram post sharing the news.

The recognition didn’t stop there as she received five nominations in the recording categories for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards.

The NAACP on Tuesday, February 2, revealed the 2021 nominees for its annual Image Awards, which honors the accomplishments of artists of color across TV, music, film and literature.

R&B singer H.E.R., whose real name is Gabriella Wilson, has received numerous accolades for her music.

Photo from Instagram/@hermusicofficial

H.E.R. was nominated for Outstanding Female Artist along with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Ledisi, and Jazmine Sullivan.

Meanwhile, her song “I Can’t Breathe” received two nods —

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album and Outstanding Soul/R&B song.

H.E.R.’s collaboration with Jhené Aiko, “B.S.,” was also recPAGE B3

Actor Darren Criss joins ‘The Voice’

PAGE B2 Darren Criss and Nick Jonas

by

aJPress

FILIPINO American actor Darren Criss has been revealed to join the upcoming 20th season of “The Voice,” premiering on March 1.

NBC on Monday, February 1, announced that Criss will be one of this season’s Battle Advisors, picked by Coach Nick Jonas.

Criss took to Instagram to express his thanks for being Jonas’ choice.

“I know I joke a lot about being a bonus Jonas. But I guess if you joke enough about something, dreams… come… true? That’s the saying, right?” he said Monday.

“Fo REAL tho, thank you @nickjonas for inviting me as your battle advisor this season on @nbcthevoice !!! #TeamNick #SorryKevin #SorryJoe,” he added.

Photo from Instagram/@darrencriss PAGE B4

Features

B2 FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Island Pacific expands private label with Filipino flavored creamers ISLAND Pacific is expanding its private label program by offering customers its own flavored condensed creamers.

The supermarket now has a unique product that provides great taste and convenience.

Customers wanting to experiment with authentic Philippine flavors will enjoy these new additions as these creamers are available in popular flavors that are unmistakably Filipino in taste. The Mango flavored creamer has the Manila mango taste, Ube is ‘Ubeng-ube’, and Buko Pandan is authentically Buko Pandan taste. With these flavors married in the condensed milk, it is like having ‘delicious convenience’ in a can.

According to Maricel Aguilar, R&D Director of Island Pacific, “When we develop products bearing the Island Pacific brand, the product must at least be equal, if not better, than the leading brand in that product Island Pacific’s Filipino flavored creamers come in five flavors from ube to buko pandan. category. Island Pacific brand will never sacrifice quality to reduce cost. As Island Pacific is the first to launch this kind of product in the market, there were no comparison, but it spells convenience for our community and has an authentic Filipino taste. We also made sure we had it manufactured by a trusted manufacturer in the industry.”

Island Pacific flavored creamers can be used in many recipes without needing to add hard-to-

By AJPress

find exotic flavors of Ube, Manila Mango, and Buko Pandan. Traditional and classic recipes such as: Yema, Ube Spread, Pastillas, Halo-Halo, Ube Cake, Mango Tango Cake, Candies, Ube Leche Flan and Filipino flavored frosting is now easily accessible even to the novice culinarian.

Island Pacific is supermarket chain dedicated to promoting Filipino food and seafood to the rest of the world. It is headquartered in Walnut, California and currently has 16 supermarket The flavored creamers can be used to make branches serving communities in classic Filipino desserts like yema and California and Las Vegas. pastillas.

Chef Jordan Andino makes adobo, turon with pop star Selena Gomez FILIPINO American chef Jordan Andino shows viewers how to make two beloved Filipino dishes in the latest episode of “Selena + Chef,” the cooking show of actress and singer Selena Gomez on HBO Max. “Selena + Chef” is a show where Gomez attempts to cook different recipes alongside various guest celebrity chefs.

In the episode, Andino virtually taught Gomez how to prepare one of the most beloved Filipino dishes, “adobo,” (chicken braised in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic) and popular snack “turon” (fried banana rolls).

In an Instagram post, Andino expressed his excitement for the newest “Selena + Chef” episode, which aired on Thursday, January 28.

“So stoked to announce that my episode of Selena + Chef with the one and only @ SelenaGomez is out today! We spent a bunch of time chatting, digitally meeting each other’s friends and family, helping out those in need, and of course making some classic Filipino

dishes,” he wrote.

“I guess you all have to watch and see what the true judge of my food says when my Lola comes in and critiques both mine and Selena’s final dishes,” he added.

The Fil-Am chef was born in Toronto, Canada. He began his foray into the culinary world at the age of 9 learning under his father and later honed his training & experience 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

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

‘Our stories are worth telling’: Kelly Marie Tran shares what...

PAGE B1 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, 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 Filipina-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.

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS ONE of the greatest inventions of man inspired by the desire to share information is the internet. The impetus started in the 1960s “as a way for government researchers to share information.” The initial computer was a humongous, immobile unit the size of an entire room. On January 1, 1983, the internet was born, as a Swiss computer programmer, Tim Berners-Lee, introduced the World Wide Web (www), a “web” of massive information which internet users could retrieve and share, making the encyclopedia, among hundreds of other books, obsolete.

Today, we have this “computer” at the palm of our hands: the lightest less than 35 grams, hundred times faster, with gigantic storage space, with amazingly versatility in its functions, most addicting, serving as our most valuable companion, and truly indispensable, a modern gadget called cellphone. Most of us can no longer function with comfort and confidence or even GPS our way around without it. It seems we cannot live without it, almost fully dependent on it and following what it says, transforming this supposedly slave of ours into our master.

But just like any good discovery or invention, the internet, in the hands of some twisted or criminal members of our species is used to confuse and instill doubt and fear for them to achieve a perverted sense of gratification and/or for financial or political gains by spewing out misinformation or actual lies. They are the scammers, identity thieves, corporate hackers – cyberspace criminals victimizing countless people around the globe. Some aim to create chaos and to destroy, for no reason all.

The internet is obviously a double-edged sword. It could be used by men of goodwill as an instrument to pursue and defend and attain justice, peace, prosperity, and happiness, for all, or as a destructive weapon to devastate, maim, or kill, not only the body but the soul and spirit of man.

Worst of all, disinformation or posting or sharing fake news during this COVID-19 pandemic could lead to killing millions of lives more than the current global deaths of almost 2.5 million in about 105 million cases (U.S. with 26,924,998 cases and 455,000 deaths; the Philippines with 529,000 cases, and 11,000 deaths).

A public disservice An example of the disinforma-

Features

Fake news: deadlier tion, which sounds like an evil intent to misinform deliberately, is this post by a Jon Rappoport, emailed to me by a colleague from New York, which says, “There are several reasons to reject and ignore ALL COVID statistics. Chief among the reasons – no one has proved that the virus, SARS-CoV2, exists.”

The claim that “no one has proved that the virus SARS-Cov2 virus exists” is simply stupidity and almost hilarious. The global medical community and the entire world (obviously except Jon Rappoport and his kind) have not only proven the existence of the SARS-CoV2 virus and its variants in the laboratory, which have killed almost 2.5 million people in 219 countries around the globe from a pandemic called COVID-19 (Rappoport also denies there is a pandemic!), that even a kindergartener knows there is pandemic caused by a virus ravaging the world today. Even the blind can see this. Only a lunatic or a criminal with a 20/20 vision who has a sinister goal would deny the existence of such a virus and the presence of this COVID-19 pandemic.

RN refuses the vaccines Unfortunately, Rappoport is not the only one. There are dozens and dozens of brainless individuals out there in social media pouring gasoline on the fire of fear and confusion about COVID-19 testing, its treatment, and now with the vaccines. As a result, the doubt in the people’s mind is magnified to the extent that even a Registered Nurse vehemently stated on a television interview that she was so afraid of the dangers of the vaccine and its component she was definitely not getting the vaccines.

This, and all misinformation, send the wrong and dangerous message to the public. Those uninformed, ignorant, and gullible individuals could fall victims to misguided assertions like this and refuse testing where needed and object to vaccination, making them carefree, careless, and possibly get infected, thus becoming virus spreader and potential accidental killers of vulnerable people. Fake news is very dangerous, perhaps more lethal than the COVID-19 itself, in more ways than one.

We are all in this fight together as a people, as a global nation. Let us cease and desist from helping these crazy people spread their hurtful lies and misinformation by deleting them from our devices and not sharing them with our friends in social media or Messenger. Precious human lives are at stake here. If we cannot chip in to help, let us not help these cruel people chip away the life of our disciplined fellowmen who

are suffering and sacrificing, following the CDC guidelines religiously to be safe and to protect others too The vaccines are safe Contrary to what some misinformed people might think, the vaccines for COVID-19 and its variants are effective and safe, proven by the more than 101 million people in 64 countries around the world who have gotten the vaccines (almost 33 million in the U.S). As I stated in a previous column, the fear that the vaccines are unsafe because they were developed in less than a year, unlike past vaccines which took years to create, is unfounded. These vaccines for COVID-19 were not rushed; no short-cuts were taken in their development. The reason for the amazing speed in their creation and formulation is the newly discovered technology in making vaccines, using messengerRNA. Henceforth, for all other vaccines in the future for other diseases, the development will be faster too. My analogy: Simply because vehicles are designed and manufactured a lot faster today than decades ago does not necessarily mean the cars of today are less safe. As a matter of fact, vehicles today in general are more comfortable, more efficient, more fun to drive, and certainly much safer, with all its security features and options.

Post COVID-19 vaccination New studies revealed that those who recovered from COVID-19 and received their first shot have more than ten times the level of antibodies in their system than those who never got infected and received their first and second dose. Hence, those who previously had the infection are advised to get vaccinated too.

The first dose confers only about 52 percent protection, with 48 percent residual risk. After the second dose, the immunity level gradually goes up to around 95 percent after a few months, and not immediately! After the first, and even the second dose, people can still get infected with COVID-19 if they allow their guard down and cease using masks and stop social distancing and crowd avoidance. We can do away with all this only after the country has developed herd immunity, Godwilling and hopefully before the end of this year or by the summer of 2022. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States.

Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail. com.

FUN-USA aims to promote Filipino pride and dignity THE Filipino United NetworkUSA (FUN-USA), a United States humanitarian foundation, is expanding its network from the East to Las Vegas as it continues to pursue its objective of saving the lives of countless disenfranchised Filipinos languishing in the gutter of poverty in the Philippines.

FUN-USA started on a bright and sunny morning on September 22, 2007, when a group of recognized Filipino American leaders from various medical, legal, business, socio-civic, and humanitarian organizations across the U.S. met at the Holiday Inn Koger South Conference Center in Richmond, Virginia.

The objective of the meeting was to organize an association dedicated to help in the reconstruction of the Philippines by supporting programs that are fundamental in nation rebuilding.

The ultimate goal was the transformation of the Philippines and the Filipinos and restoring their pride and dignity as a nation and as a people.

The meeting in Richmond was the culmination of an initial one, The Summit of Leaders, that was initiated by Oscar M. Laserna, MD, then incumbent president of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America, during its 35th Gala Jubilee in Norfolk, Virginia on July 26-28, 2007.

At that summit, guests from the Philippines included Tony Meloto (Gawad Kalinga founder), his son-in-law Dylan Wilk (coordinator, Gawad Kalinga, International Partnerships), Bobby Rodrigo (a past president of Rotary-Makati, and General Director of South A Gawad Kalinga Resource), who all supported the endeavor.

The second Summit was hosted by the North Central Virginia Association of Philippine Physicians led by Rosario G. Laserna, M.D., of Fredericksburg, at its September 2007 convention in Richmond.

After opening statements and expression of support by all leaders present, a reaffirmation of the previous consensus at the July SPSA Summit was reached. Thus, the Filipino United Network-USA was born.

The leaders present elected cardiac surgeon Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a past president of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA) and the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA), as Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Rosario G. Laserna, MD, FACOG, as Vice-chair.

After the resignation of Dr. Sarie Laserna on December 7, 2018 for personal reasons, noted PAAN president Daniel C. Fabito, MD, FACS, FPCS, past president of the

APPA and SPSA, was appointed Vice-chair.

The FUN-USA satellite headquarters is located at 2920 Vista Butte Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89134. The election of new Board members is forthcoming, previously delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation aims to network with other FilipinoAmerican associations in Nevada and other western States.

Since its inception, FUN-USA has donated more than $1 million for the ravaged and desolate victims of several natural disasters that have devastated regions in the Philippines. FUN-USA has been working in conjunction with the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) government agency in Quezon City.

The constitution and by-laws of FUN-USA were drafted on October 8, 2007 and ratified on November 8, 2007. The motto of the Filipino United Network-USA is “Serving the Needy with Love and Compassion is FUN.” Donations to this 501(c)3 tax-exempt United States Humanitarian Foundation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors are recognized and listed on its website for review and accountability. Its email address is FUNforHumanity@gmail.com, and its global website domain name is www.

FUN8888.com.

Gretchen and Tonyboy’s secret: ‘The Mama is always right’ GRETCHEN Barretto and Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco has just celebrated 27 years of being together.

On Tuesday, February 2, the couple’s daughter Dominique posted an Instagram story in which she asked her parents about their secret for staying strong together all these years.

The Instagram story later became a video posted

by Barretto on her own Instagram account.

“Twenty-seven years,” the actress-socialite said smiling. Dominique further asked: “What’s your tip to everybody who wants to stay together for that long?”

Cojuangco replied: “Always listen to Mama. The Mama is always right.”

Despite being together for almost three decades, Barretto and Cojuangco remain unmarried despite being together for almost three decades.

Cojuangco is yet to have his marriage to equestrienne Denise Yabut Cojuangco annulled. (Katrina Gretchen Barretto and Tonybou Cojuangco Photo from Instagram/@gretchenbarretto Hallare/Inquirer.net)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021

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Fil-Am community leader Jing Espiritu remembered FILIPINO American community leader Wilfredo “Jing” Espiritu passed away after a battle with COVID-19 last January 31 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 71 years old.

His decades-long work with the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and with the Filipino American/AAPI community touched the lives of many, the organization said in a statement.

Espiritu formerly served as the organization’s region chair of the Desert Mountain region.

Espiritu’s legacy of love and service will forever live on in his charity work, in his family and friends, and in the Filipino/Filipino American communities.

“Jing was a close friend and mentor to me when I first got involved with NaFFAA. He was instrumental in getting me appointed as Nevada Youth Chair when I first began, and I never would have gotten to where I am now if it weren’t for his guidance and his friendship. He truly cared about the growth and mobility of his community, and he will be greatly missed,” reflects National Chairman Brendan Flores.

The current Desert Mountain Region Chair of NaFFAA, Leo Belmonte, also comments, “Jing Espiritu was a greatly influential and well-respected leader in our community. He set a precedent for how one should lead with great ambition and compassion.

Not only was he an encouraging mentor to many, but he knew how to bring people together from all walks of life.”

NaFFAA’s Founding Leaders add: “Like so many of you, I knew Jing as a friend and a community leader. Through his work with NAFFAA and many numerous organizations, he empowered us. Jing proved time and again that he cared about our community, and he always went out of his way to make us shine.

His reach was vast and productive. At times we did not agree on approaches to certain projects, but we could always agree to disagree and come to a reasonable solution. That was one of his most admirable qualities—he could be counted on to listen and really hear you.

As hard as it is to say goodbye, our community is stronger thanks to Jing’s influence, and each of us is better for having known him,” said Gloria T. Caoile, who served among NaFFAA’s Trustees during Jing’s term.

“Jing helped us build NaFFAA when we were just beginning. He shared our work and brought

Wilfredo “Jing” Espiritu (January 29, 1950-January 31, 2021)

new partners in our mission and vision. We will always be grateful to him and his family and hope to continue the legacy he left behind,” said Bing C. Branigin, who was also Region Chair of Capital Region.

“Jing’s commitment to community empowerment was always evident in his many leadership roles.

He brought energy and enthusiasm to everything he believed could make a difference,’ said Jon Melegrito, who was NaFFAA’s Executive Director at that time.

“He was a true servant leader,” shared Loida Nicolas Lewis, NaFFAA’s Founding Chair.

NaFFAA sends our greatest condolences to Jing’s family, friends, and loved ones. We celebrate his service to the Filipino American/AAPI communities, and we strive to follow his examples of leadership, mentorship, and friendship. Jing Espiritu was loved by many. May his legacy inspire us to continue our work with purpose and passion. (Contributed

by NaFFAA)

H.E.R. scores Golden Globe, 5 NAACP Image...

PAGE B1 ognized by the NAACP, garnering two nominations in the categories of Outstanding Soul/R&B song and Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration.

H.E.R. has the second-most nominations for this year’s Image Awards, following Beyoncé who leads the crop with six nods.

H.E.R., whose real name is Gabriella Wilson, was born in Vallejo, California to a Filipina mother and an African American father.

She rose to fame in 2009 after participating in Radio Disney’s “Next Big Thing.” At the age of 14, she signed to RCA Records and

released the single “Something to Prove” under her real name in 2014.

In 2016, she debuted under the H.E.R. persona with her debut EP “H.E.R. Volume 1.”

She then released other EPs “H.E.R. Volume 2” and “The B Sides” in 2017 before releasing her first compilation album “H.E.R.” which consisted of tracks from the singer’s first two EPs plus six additional songs.

In 2018, she released “I Used to Know Her: The Prelude” and “I Used to Know Her: Part 2.”

H.E.R. received five nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy

Awards in 2019, winning Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album.

The year after, she received three nominations: Song of the Year (“I Can’t Breathe”), and two for Best R&B Song (“Better Than I Imagine” and “Slow Down”).

The 78th Golden Globe Awards will air on NBC on Sunday, February 28, and will be virtually hosted by comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

The 52nd NAACP Image Awards will be simulcast on March 27 at 8 p.m. ET across all ViacomCBS Networks, which includes BET, CBS, MTV, VH1, MTV2, BET HER and LOGO.

B4 FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Golden State Warriors virtually celebrate Filipino Heritage Night by

St. Jude patient Zahaan, age 7, in 2017

Photo Courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

World’s first all-civilian mission to space will usher in new era of commercial space exploration Inspiration4 mission will be commanded by tech entrepreneur and pilot Jared Isaacman who donates all crew seats and invites the public to participate LOS ANGELES – Plans for the world’s first all-civilian mission to space were announced on Monday, February 1 from SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. The mission is being targeted for the fourth quarter of this year and will be commanded

by Jared Isaacman, the 37-year-old founder and chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments [NYSE:FOUR] and an accomplished pilot.

Named Inspiration4 in recognition of the four-person crew’s mission to inspire support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and send a humanitarian message of possibility, the journey represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. Isaacman is donating the three mission seats alongside him to crew members who will be selected to represent the mission pillars of leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity.

Said Isaacman, “Inspiration4 is the realization of a lifelong dream and a step towards a future in which anyone can venture out and explore the stars.

I appreciate the tremendous responsibility that comes with commanding this mission and I want to use this historic moment to inspire humanity while helping to tackle childhood cancer here on Earth.”

Isaacman and the Inspiration4 crew will undergo commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft, including a specific focus on orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity, and other forms of stress testing. They will receive emergency preparedness training, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, as well as partial- and full-mission simulations. The mission will launch from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and will be carefully monitored at every step by SpaceX mission control as the spacecraft orbits the planet every 90 minutes along a customized flight path. Upon conclusion of the multi-day journey, Dragon will reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida.

Isaacman has given St. Jude two seats on the Inspiration4 mission. The first seat is reserved for a St. Jude ambassador with direct ties to the mission who exemplifies the pillar of Hope as well as the courageous vision upon which St. Jude was founded – compassion, unity, equality and inclusion. The second seat will represent the mission pillar of Generosity. During the month of February, members of the public can enter for a chance to join the flight to space and support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.

Isaacman has committed to give $100 million to St. Jude and is inviting everyone to join him in attempting to raise upwards of $200 million or more in support of St. Jude’s multi-billion dollar expansion aimed to accelerate research advancements and save more children worldwide.

He will also offer additional support to the St. Jude fundraising effort in the form of other prizes,

including flights in a military jet and flight gear. An accomplished pilot rated to fly commercial and military aircraft, Isaacman holds several world records including a Speed-Around-TheWorld flight to raise money and awareness for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He has flown in over 100 airshows as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team, dedicating every performance to charitable causes. In 2011, Isaacman co-founded what would become the world’s largest private air force, Draken International, to train pilots for the United States Armed Forces.

“The same year St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital broke boundaries by opening its doors, the first American orbited the Earth in 1962,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “From the beginning, St. Jude has been at the forefront of innovation and inclusion, leading in cancer research, care and treatment for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of race, ethnicity, beliefs or a family’s ability to pay. This partnership brings two missions together to create one incredible moment in time that will make an impact for years to come on the global effort to cure childhood cancer.”

Isaacman will collaborate with Shift4 Payments to offer the fourth and final crew seat representing the prosperity mission pillar to a deserving entrepreneur who utilizes the new Shift4Shop eCommerce platform, which empowers entrepreneurs to build and grow successful eCommerce businesses online. Current and new Shift4Shop customers will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to enter an online competition showcasing them and their business. The competition will be conducted from February 1-28, 2021 and the winner will be selected by a panel of independent judges.

Shift4 Payments is providing marketing support for the mission and will leverage one of the biggest popular culture events of the year, Super Bowl LV this Sunday, to dramatically introduce the mission and its purpose to the public. A 30-second spot will air during the first quarter of the Big Game and invite all viewers to support and be part of this historic journey through the St. Jude and Shift4Shop programs.

Isaacman concluded: “Today’s announcement is the first step of a very exciting journey.

In the lead-up to launch, we’ll share new ways to support and follow our mission preparation and execution with a focus on inspiring and helping others.”

To learn more about Inspiration4, how to support and potentially join this historic journey to space and the specific conditions of the promotions, visit www.Inspiration4.com and follow the mission on social media on Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@ inspiration4mission), Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@ Inspiration4) to receive the latest news on mission training and preparation. Individuals who are interested in learning how to enter for an opportunity to win one of the two seats being offered should visit inspiration4.com and review the Official Rules for the applicable promotion.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) is a leading provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions, delivering a complete omnichannel ecosystem that extends beyond payments to include a wide range of commerce-enabling services. The company’s technologies help power over 350 software providers in numerous industries, including hospitality, retail, F&B, ecommerce, lodging, gaming, and many more.

The newly launched Shift4Shop platform offers a turnkey ecommerce experience includes a robust website builder, product and order management, customer marketing tools and more.

With over 7,000 sales partners, the company securely processed more than $200 billion in payments volume for over 200,000 businesses in 2019. For more information, visit shift4.com.

Joseph L. peraLta / AJPress

THE COVID-19 pandemic has altered people’s lifestyles in the past year. With the shifting pandemic guidelines, many have had to follow the most basic ones, which include wearing face masks, doing social distancing and avoiding crowds or not mingling with people other than those in their households.

In the world of sports, that has meant the cancellation of events or shortening of league seasons, in addition to quarantine measures. That also has meant empty arenas, devoid of fans screaming and shouting for their home teams.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has not been spared from that, with teams playing an additional eight games before the playoffs after the regular season was suspended (at that time, teams had played between 63 to 67 games) during the 20192020 season. The pre-playoff and playoff games leading to the NBA championship won by the Los Angeles Lakers was played in a so-called “bubble” in Florida to protect players and staff.

The 2020-2021 is no different, with 72 games scheduled (instead of the normal 82-game schedule), as well as changes in opponent play and the establishment of a play-in tournament for teams in the 7th to 10th position for each conference.

The Golden State Warriors, ever mindful of the fact that both fans and players relish their connection with each other especially during home games, unveiled what it deems as “a multidimensional plan for a connected and interactive fan, player, and partner experience at Warriors games this season.”

The resulting in-game element enhancements include “Dub Hub,” which presents “an interactive opportunity for fans to appear live on virtual LED boards surrounding the court and in the player tunnel, offering a new perspective on Warriors basketball games.”

Currently, the Golden State Warriors is the only team in the NBA to deploy a live, two-way interactive experience for fans in both the bowl arena and player tunnel.

Filipino American Warriors fans were able to experience this during the 12th annual Filipino Heritage Night Warriors game versus the Detroit Pistons last Saturday, January 30.

A wide variety of groups were invited to join that night’s Dub Hub experience, including those from The Sarap Shop (Filipino American eatery inside the Chase Center), Bayanihan Equity Center, Filipino Community Center, SOMA Pilipinas, Manilatown Heritage Foundation, Filipino American Arts Exposition, West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center and Filipino Advocates for Justice.

Additionally, the Warriors organization presented messages from State Assemblyman Rob Bonta, the first Filipino American elected to the California State Assembly, and Raymond Townsend, the first Filipino American to play in the NBA and who is considered a Warriors legend, aside from posting Filipino heritage-inspired recipes on Chase Center social media (including a Cable Car cocktail and ceviche dish sponsored by Tanduay).

The 12th annual Filipino Heritage Night Golden State Warriors game took place on January 30.

Photos courtesy of Golden State Warriors

Warriors legend Raymond Townsend, the first Filipino American to pay basketball in the NBA, talked about his pride as a Filipino and how happy he was to be among the first players to sit in on the plannng of the Filipino Heritage Night 15 years ago in a video message to viewers

Prior to the game, fans had the opportunity to listen to Warriors coach Steve Kerr as he answered a variety of questions from media and chimed in on the current season’s performance by the team, lineup changes, injured player Klay Thompson’s broadcast booth performance, former Warrior’s player Festus Ezili’s planned comeback, Draymond Green’s play and Michael Jordan’s on-court leadership.

A pre-recorded performance of the U.S. national anthem was before tip-off, sung by San Josebased Fil-Am choir Bytes and Notes Chorale.

At half-time, a pre-recorded performance by Filipino rapper and Bay Area native, P-Lo, was shown to Dub Hub viewers.

To enhance the experience for Filipino Heritage Night, the Warriors organization customized a Warriors Filipino Star logo as one of the motion fan prompts for Dub Hub participants, along with prompts for defense, 3-point basket, plastic sticks and a bell ring.

Arena emcee Fil-Am Franco Finn acted as Dub Hub host during the broadcast, encouraging fans to make noise and use the prompts when Warriors players entered the player tunnel, when 3-point shots swished in for Warriors shooters, when the team was defending the basket, or when Pistons players were shooting free throws.

DJ Umami, another Fil-Am, was shown on the broadcast providing the music inside the arena.

Dance numbers presented by the Warriors senior and junior dance teams also showcased Filipino Americans who are part of the Warriors entertainment family.

A game item was offered during Filipino Heritage Night – A Warriors Filipino Heritage Night t-shirt. The t-shirt design included a Warriors Filipino star logo and a “joy ball,” nodding to the Warriors theme of “Joy in Buckets.”

Dub Hub access According to the Warriors organization, 120 fans will have the opportunity to partake in Dub Hub each game, with 32 fans being granted VIP access which allows them pre-game access to interact with the players as they run

Fil-Am rapper and Bay Area native P-Lo’s pre-recorded performance was shown at halftime.

California state assemblymember Rob Bonta, the first Fil-Am elected to state legislature, shared with viewers a “Happy Filipino Heriage Night and Go Warriors” message.

through the player tunnel.

Also, the organization is inviting select Season Ticket members and various community groups to each game.

Attendees are able to access views from four broadcast camera angles that can be interchanged at a touch of a button, or can all be viewed simultaneously as one grid. Select Dub Hub viewers can also interact with fans in their own VIP rooms, or interact with other fans.

Warriors fans who wish to partake in Dub Hub can get more information at warriors.com, including the chance to enter to win access.

“I’m proud of how we’ve turned a difficult challenge into a unique opportunity during this unusual time,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts in a release given to media.

“This innovative and reimagined entertainment strategy will enable us to stay connected with our fans and partners via, among other elements, virtual fan engagement opportunities, additional partner signage spaces and an enhanced audio plan. It’s exciting.”

Game recap The Warriors team, to the delight of their Filipino American fans, drubbed the Detroit Pistons, 118-91, putting their win-loss record at that point to 11-9.

Led by Stephen Curry’s 28 points, the Warriors executed on both ends of the floor and were engaged defensively throughout the contest, battling for loose balls, blocking shots, getting into passing lanes, and chasing after and challenging shots by Detroit’s shooters.

In all, ten of the 12 players fielded by coach Kerr scored, including starters Andrew Wiggins (20) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (18). Jordan Poole and James Wiseman led off-the-bench contributors with 16 and 11 points, respectively.

There was one moment of concern in the game as rookie Wiseman fell on his left wrist while making an alley-oop play in the first half. He was later diagnosed with a sprained left wrist which will see him out seven to 10 days.

Actor Darren Criss joins...

PAGE B1 Along with Criss, the Battle Advisors for the latest season are Luis Fonsi for Team Kelly, Brandy for Team Legend, and Dan + Shay for Team Blake.

Criss was born to a Cebuana mother and American father.

His notable roles include Blaine Anderson in the American musical comedy-drama television series “Glee” and Andrew

Cunanan in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” for which he received Emmy, Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and Golden Globe awards.

Fil-Am Warriors fans were able to buoy their favorite players in the player tunnel as part of the Dub Hub experience during Filipino Heritage Night.

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B6 FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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