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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages
T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c a n C o m m u n i t y N e w s pa p e r
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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Super Bowl, Lunar New Year could spark COVID surge, warns CA health official
THE upcoming Lunar New Year and Super Bowl Sunday are both potential COVID super-spreader events, warned Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California’s Health and Human Services department. The state experienced a COVID surge after Thanksgiving last year, pushing hospitals and intensive care units to the brink after people gathered in groups to celebrate the occasion. ICU capacity was at 0% throughout much of the state in late December and through most of
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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 program and re-
viewing 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 characterized by extreme backlogs of cases in
Fil-Am LAPD officer dies of COVID-19
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San Diegans urged to be patient to get vaccinated against COVID-19
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A VETERAN Filipino American police officer in Los Angeles is among the latest victims taken by the coronavirus pandemic. Los Angeles Police Department Officer Philip Sudario died of complications from COVID-19, Chief Michael Moore announced on Monday, January 25. Sudario served the city for 25 years, and was most recently assigned to the Southeast Community Police Station. He is survived by his wife, two adult sons
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. Biden’s executive order directs government agencies to undergo a “top-to-bottom review of recent
VACCINATION DRILL. “Vaccinated” residents sit in the observation area during Covid-19 vaccination simulation exercises at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City on Wednesday, February 3. They stayed in the area for 30 minutes to monitor for possible side effects. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
THE number of San Diegans wanting to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus significantly exceeds the total doses that have been shipped to the region to date. That’s why County health officials are urging San Diegans to be patient and get vaccinated when it’s their turn. The County has opened four vaccination super stations and operates 15 smaller community points of dispensing, or PODs. While combined they have the capacity to vaccinate 20,000 people daily, the County doesn’t have access to that many daily doses yet to be able vaccinate everyone who wants one. “Due to the limited number of COVID-19 vaccine doses in the region, County community clinics are continuing to vaccinate only health care professionals and people 65 and older,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “We’re asking San Diegans to be patient and to get vaccinated when
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AAPI community celebrates Report: Filipinos the most new admin with virtual gala remain active internet, social by Christina
M. Oriel
media users globally
AJPress
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 quot-
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PH congressman files resolution congratulating Fil-Am’s appointment to US Dept. of Interior by Momar
G. Visaya
AJPress
PHILIPPINE Rep. Christopher de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan) has filed a resolution congratulating Camille Calimlim Touton for her appointment as Deputy Commissioner of the United States Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. Touton’s appointment is historic as she became the first Filipino American to serve in the agency’s leadership role.
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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 Guyam Island, Siargao minutes. The global average for social media usage this year is 2 hours and 25 minutes. The Philippines was followed by Colombia Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the 2021
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Presidential Pearl Gala on Jan. 28.
Maria Ressa, press groups nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
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,
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Photo from Instagram/@madamjoycing
Stakeholders begin rebuilding PH tourism industry in 2021 Foreign visitors drop to 84% in 2020 due to travel restrictions by Momar
G. Visaya
AJPress
PHILIPPINE tourism stakeholders believe that this year is crucial in rebuilding the country’s tourism industry battered by the global pandemic that hit in 2020. “I believe 2021 is a major transition year for all of us,” Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Anthonette Velasco Allones said at the Kapihan sa New York online dialogue with the Fil Am Press Club of New York on Thursday, Jan. 27. Revenue lost from internaRappler co-founder and CEO Maria Ressa is known for being a critic of the current Duterte administration. PNA photo tional 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
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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588
From The Front Page
Mayor Gloria announces city authorized Former Mayor Kevin Faulconer officially to receive, administer COVID-19 vaccine launches campaign for California governor First dose administered to Operation Shelter to Home residents 65 or older
SAN DIEGO – In a key development that will expand access to the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine, Mayor Todd Gloria announced on Tuesday, February 2 that the City of San Diego has been authorized to receive shipments of doses and administer them to eligible residents. “Increased access to vaccines is great news for the people of San Diego,” Mayor Gloria said. “Having the authority to set up our own vaccination sites will allow us to create more equitable access for residents and more nimbly get our residents vaccinated and our economy back on track.” This week, the City received an initial shipment of 1,200 doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, and on Tuesday, in Balboa Park Municipal Gym, City paramedics who have been trained to administer the vaccine began providing doses to government workers throughout the region who are eligible according to state and county guidelines, including those 65 and older. Members of the public should not come to the site. The City will announce expanded access to vaccinations subject to eligibility and availability. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to deliver this vaccine to eligible employees,” said Fire Chief Colin Stowell. “As the largest city in our region, we can lessen the burden at the County vaccination sites. We have more than 70 paramedics trained to give the vaccine, and soon, emergency medical technicians will also be trained.” Mayor Gloria is actively exploring additional city-owned locations across San Diego as potential City-operated vaccination sites when vaccines become more widely available. On Wednesday, 100 doses was administered to eligible residents experiencing homelessness and sheltering at the San Diego Convention Center as part of the Operation Shelter to Home program. Operation Shelter to Home residents who are at least 65 years old and in the County of San Diego’s Phase 1B – Tier 1 category in the vaccination plan received the Moderna vaccine on-site at the Convention Center. A second dose will be needed approximately four weeks after the initial round. “Rolling out the vaccine to
SD mayor Todd Gloria
those staying at Operation Shelter to Home is an important step forward in our vaccination efforts,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “These residents can be some of the most vulnerable among us, so it’s encouraging to be able to offer them protection against the COVID-19 virus. I look forward to expanding these efforts to the rest of our shelter residents and all San Diegans as soon as possible.” The City of San Diego worked closely with the County, San Diego Housing Commission and homelessness service providers Alpha Project and Father Joe’s Villages to develop notification and scheduling processes ahead of the vaccinations coming to the shelter – allowing operation teams to manage the administration process and for residents to have access to information in advance. The County’s on-site medical team, including Dr. Louis Gilleran, who serves as the operation’s medical director, and County public-health nurses who are on-site daily, have made themselves available as necessary for information sessions or individual questions from shelter residents and staff related to the COVID-19 vaccines during the past several weeks. “We’ve been patiently waiting and preparing for our turn to begin administering the vaccine to the residents here at Operation Shelter to Home,” Dr. Gilleran said. “Our public-health teams have worked diligently with all partners to ensure that we are following all guidelines for safely inoculating and monitoring those who are receiving it. The months of coordinating on this operation have prepared us well to take this next step in the COVID-19 crisis.”
As the region’s largest congregate shelter serving homeless individuals, the Convention Center currently provides shelter and services to more than 900 San Diegans experiencing homelessness. Of those, approximately 80 qualified under the current phase to receive the vaccination. One hundred doses were made available to the shelter on Wednesday. And any additional doses that were not administered to shelter residents and would have otherwise expired were made available to operation staff who are eligible to receive the vaccine per tier guidelines. Vaccinations will be made available for all other residents and staff at the Convention Center in coordination with the County’s vaccination phases. In December, the County worked with the City to train San Diego Fire-Rescue Department personnel to administer the COVID-19 vaccines to assist in quickly inoculating more people throughout the San Diego region. San Diego Fire-Rescue now has 75 paramedics trained to fulfill this role and assist in the vaccination efforts at the shelter. In addition to the administration of vaccines, Operation Shelter to Home continued its regular mass testing of asymptomatic residents and staff on Monday and Tuesday this week. In December, the shelter experienced the same uptick in cases as the broader San Diego community. Since that time, COVID-19 detection has been reduced back down to a 2.3% positivity rate as of the last testing cycle on January 19, compared with the region-wide 14-day average rate, which was 11.9% for that same time period. Individuals who are experiencing homelessness and fit into the current criteria for vaccination are able to make appointments via the County’s online system or through their healthcare provider. For more information about COVID-19 vaccine distribution, visit www.coronavirus-sd.com/vaccine. Operation Shelter to Home launched on April 1 by moving individuals already in shelters into the San Diego Convention Center to allow for proper physical distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Because the effects of the pandemic were creating staffing challenges at the City’s various shelters, the program centralized staff in one place to ensure personnel could be efficient even with limited numbers. One of the core missions of Operation Shelter to Home is to find permanent housing for individuals. So far, the agencies have housed more than 1,186 individuals and 43 families during the pandemic with more than 200 others in the process of finding a permanent or longer-term housing solution. The emergency shelter is a collaborative effort between the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, San Diego Housing Commission, Regional Task Force on the Homeless, San Diego Convention Center and homeless service providers, Alpha Project and Father Joe’s Villages. Updates on the shelter are posted online at sandiego.gov/ coronavirus/sheltertohome. (City of San Diego Communications Department)
Faulconer vows ‘California Comeback,’ focuses on millions of children and families left behind by Newsom’s broken promises
LOS ANGELES – Kevin Faulconer, former two-term mayor of San Diego, officially kicked off his campaign for Governor of California on Monday, February 1. Outside two schools in Los Angeles, former Mayor Faulconer vowed to fight for a “California Comeback” and pledged to restore California’s promise. “I’m running for governor to lead the California comeback and fulfill California’s promise of freedom, fairness and opportunity,” former Mayor Faulconer said. “I’m running to be a voice for Californians suffering during this pandemic because Sacramento can’t do the basics, to restore balance and common-sense to California, and to get people back to work, back to school, and back to being proud of our state.” The launch comes after former Mayor Faulconer’s exploratory committee announced it had raised over $1 million in just over three weeks. Joined by a group of parents frustrated with Governor Gavin Newsom’s ineffective leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, former Mayor Faulconer stood between a private school and a public school – one open, one closed – that symbolize Newsom’s unequal
and unfair treatment of California children. “The private school across the street has safely reopened because it’s accountable to parents, but this public school is closed because it’s accountable to Gavin Newsom,” former Mayor Faulconer said. Newsom promised the public that schools would start reopening this month, but his plan has fizzled after being widely criticized. “California has so much promise, but we are led by promisebreaker-in-chief Gavin Newsom. Gavin Newsom promised equality but deepened inequality, promised prosperity but destroyed jobs, and promised to safely reopen schools but can’t get the job done.” Former mayor Faulconer is a candidate for both the gubernatorial recall election, should it qualify, and the upcoming 2022 gubernatorial election. The 36th mayor of San Diego, Faulconer has earned a reputation for returning ethics and integrity to public service and putting people above politics by focusing on the issues that matter to Californians. A proven leader with a record of winning in California, Kevin Faulconer has been elected twice in a
city with just 24 percent Republican voter registration – a mirror of the state as a whole – by uniting people of all parties and backgrounds. Kevin Faulconer isn’t a Sacramento insider or wealthy multi-millionaire. He started off cleaning carpets while attending state college. And just like millions of Californians, he and his family have felt the effects of Gavin Newsom’s chaotic COVID-19 response. His wife had her small business devastated by the pandemic. Their children both go to public schools and have seen their education upended by the lack of leadership from the Governor’s Office. From bringing California’s second largest city back from the brink of bankruptcy to getting San Diego back on track after it was rocked by a corrupt mayor, Kevin Faulconer is tested and ready to keep leading. As America’s only big city Republican mayor, he has shown how to turn government around and return its focus to what’s important: serving the public. As Governor of California, Kevin Faulconer will work for us – and restore balance to our state. (From Faulconer for Governor 2022 Campaign)
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-yearold 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
St. Jude patient Zahaan, age 7, in 2017 Photo Courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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 Chil-
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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021
Sycuan Casino Resort and Singing Hills Stakeholders begin rebuilding PH... Golf Resort at Sycuan achieve health security verification from Sharecare and Forbes Travel Guide Both properties among first hotels and resorts in the world to achieve this designation
SAN DIEGO – Sycuan Casino Resort and Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan are proud to announce that both properties are among the first hotels in the world to become Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED® with Forbes Travel Guide. The comprehensive facility verification helps ensure that guests and travel planners can book with confidence at properties that have appropriate health safety procedures in place. This verification comes with an easily identifiable “seal of approval” – the Sharecare VERIFIED® with Forbes Travel Guide badge – based on a hotel’s compliance with expert-validated best practices that minimize the risk and impact of COVID-19 and potential future public health events. “It is a great honor for both Sycuan Casino Resort and Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan to be recognized for our robust health and sanitation programs,” said Rob Cinelli, general manager at Sycuan Casino Resort. “Since the start of the pandemic, our team has worked tirelessly to create, implement and enforce very strict property-wide health and safety protocols that go well above the measures put in place by government agencies. Going into the new year, safety continues to be of the utmost importance and at the forefront in all of our decisions. This verification demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our guests will always have not only a very safe, but world-class experience each time they visit our AAA Four-Diamond resort and award-winning golf resort.” Developed by Forbes Trav-
el Guide, the global authority on genuine Five-Star service, and digital health industry leader Sharecare, the comprehensive verification covers more than 360 standards across health and hygiene protocols, cleaning products and procedures, ventilation, physical distancing, the guest experience, and health safety communication with guests and employees. Hotels are required to verify their health protocols on an ongoing basis to ensure continued compliance with the most up-to-date global health standards. “The pandemic has made it clear that hotels and resorts must, first and foremost, assure guests of their safety,” said Filip Boyen, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “By becoming VERIFIED®, both Sycuan Casino Resort and Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan have demonstrated its commitment to creating a culture of accountability and following global best practices to heighten health security, certified by a third party.” For a complete list of hotels and resorts that currently are Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED® with Forbes Travel Guide, please visit www.forbestravelguide.com/verified. Sycuan Casino Resort began as a humble Bingo Palace in 1983. Now more than 37 years later, it has become a commu-
nity landmark and one of San Diego’s premier casino and resort destinations. Sycuan recently completed a $260M expansion, which includes a 12-story luxury hotel tower with over 300 guest rooms and 57 suites. Guests can enjoy a wide range of onsite amenities including a variety of new restaurants from fast-casual to fine dining, meeting and event space, a full-service spa, fitness center and a state-of-the-art pool and gardens area with a lazy river and swim-up bar. Sycuan also boasts a newly expanded casino floor for more than 2,300 slot machines and 54 table games in a variety of gaming options. Sycuan is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information visit www. sycuan.com, Facebook: @ sycuancasinoresort, Instagram: @sycuan_casinoresort, Twitter: @sycuancasino and LinkedIn: company/ sycuancasinoresort or call 619-445-6002. Nestled inside the beautiful and tranquil hills of Dehesa Valley, our two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforgettable experiences from beginning to end. The courses are thoughtfully designed with
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PAGE 1 said, noting that January 2020 was off to a good start and had an 11% increase in the number of visitors from the same period in 2019. As restrictions were imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, the number of tourists dropped. In a statement, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the impact of COVID-19 that started to be felt in the first quarter of 2020 “was unprecedented and spared no one.” “With the closure of borders to international tourist traffic and the imposition of quarantine measures, tourism activities ground to a halt affecting various enterprises and displacing workers,” Puyat said. The tourism sector employed an estimated 5.7 million. Nearly five million workers either lost their jobs or their salaries slashed. Jojo Clemente, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said that they have been working with DOT, TPB and the various stakeholders to jumpstart the tourism industry and start rebuilding. Clemente said they were looking at the balikbayan market across the diaspora to help in this undertaking. “Kababayans have always wanted to come back home even before the Christmas season last year. We are hoping that with the ongoing vaccination rollout, the situation as
DOT Undersecretary Roberto Alabado III
TPB COO Anthonette Allones
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 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.
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Proposals for the below named Request for Proposal (RFP). Contract Number: H2125833 RFP Title: Design of Montgomery Airport Runway 10L28R Grooving The solicitation may be obtained from the City’s website at: https:// www.sandiego.gov/cip/bidopps It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and womenowned businesses are strongly encouraged. Consultants are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate with regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, disability, medical condition or place of birth; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis. Proposals shall be received no later than the date and time noted in the solicitation which can be found at the following site: City of San Diego’s Electronic Proposal Site – PlanetBids at: h t t p s : / / w w w. p l a n e t b i d s . com/portal/portal. cfm?companyID=17950. James Nagelvoort, Director Engineering & Capital Projects Thursday, February 4, 2021 2/5/21 CNS-3437878# ASIAN JOURNAL
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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL
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Biden signs executive order eliminating Trump-era...
PAGE 1 t regulations, policies and guidance that have set up barriers to our legal immigration system,” including reviewing the public charge rule, which imposed a series of economic litmus tests that prevented many low-income immigrants from obtaining a green card or permanent residency. Regarding the famously lengthy naturalization process, the executive order details that within the 60 days of the order’s signing, the administration will “substantially reduce current naturalization processing times” and “make the naturalization process more accessible to all eligible individuals.” The other two orders that Biden signed on Tuesday included creating a task force that will reunite families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border and laying out a framework to reform the U.S.’s asylum policy, two issues that most explicitly manifested Trump’s immigration philosophy. Regarding the issue of family separation, Biden’s order sets up a task force to reunite parents and children who were separated by border officials at the southern border, a key election promise. But currently, more than 600 children remain separated from their parents (according to a recent court filing related to family separation), a challenge as immigration officials struggle to navigate these
dramatic shifts in policy during a global pandemic. (Reuters reported that children are either living with relatives or are in the foster care system.) Tuesday’s orders are a follow up to the first batch of executive actions on immigration that Biden signed on his first day in office, as previously reported in the Asian Journal. Those directives included the so-called Muslim ban, construction on the southern border all and providing further protections for undocumented immigrants enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Though the White House has marketed Biden’s early executive directives as a win after four years of stringent immigration policies, immigration advocates have urged the new administration to act quickly to ensure that the most vulnerable communities of undocumented immigrants are protected. A large portion of the orders signed on Tuesday (and during the first batch of executive orders last week) were promises to review existing immigration policy and didn’t involve immediate action. The public charge rule is still in place and Biden has not addressed the controversial order known as “Title 42” — a measure issued under Trump that allows immigration officials to expel almost all individuals caught illegally crossing the border during the coronavirus pan-
demic. 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 citizen-
ship for “millions of undocumented” individuals. Although discussion and debate over immigration are usually centered around immigrants from Central and Latin America, about 40% of immigrants coming to the U.S. hail from the Asian continent, according to current patterns of migration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Executive Director John C. Yang said at Friday’s briefing. Yang praised the president’s first batch of immigration-related executive orders which he believes are the first steps in the right direction for the approximately 1.7 million undocumented Asian immigrants living in the U.S. currently. Specifically, Yang applauded the addition of green cards to clear the backlog of employment-based visas (like H-1B visas). Most crucially, however, Yang celebrated what he described as a new beginning of immigration policy in America, but noted that it will take time for some Americans to adjust to the changing national narrative concerning immigrants. “The starting point for all of us is that America is still an inclusive America and this fear of the ‘browning’ of America does exist, but it is in a small segment of the American population, and with that small segment, we must find a way to talk to them,” Yang said.
Camille Calimlim Touton
PH congressman files...
PAGE 1 According to the resolution, Touton’s parents, Carl and Marlene Bangsal Calimlim, are from Barangay Tebeng in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. “I congratulate President Joe Biden and Interior Secretary-designate Deb Haaland on their excellent choice, their appointment of Camille Touton as the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation,” announced Rep. Grace Napolitano in a statement. The Bureau of Reclamation is a water management agency under the United States Department of the Interior, which oversees dams, canals, and hydroelectric plants across the Western United States. It is the largest wholesaler of water in the United States
and the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the Western United States. According to the resolution, Touton’s appointment “brings honor and pride not only to the people of Dagupan City but also the entire Philippines.” The City of Dagupan also hailed the appointment and called Touton “Dagupan’s Pride.” Her grandmother served as a Barangay Captain of Tebeng, one of the city’s barangays. The city’s Public Information Page posted the appointment on their Facebook page and it has been shared almost 400 times as of press time, generating hundreds of congratulatory messages and words of encouragement.
Maria Ressa, press groups nominated... Fil-Am LAPD officer dies of COVID-19... PAGE 1 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. “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 free-
dom 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-
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 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.
PAGE 1 and a teenage daughter. “Tragically just before we started today I learned we lost our 6th member, Southeast Patrol officer Philip Sudario,” Moore told reporters Monday. “Phil leaves a wife Jonna, two adult sons, Joshua and Jacob, and a daughter Cecilia who turns 16 next week.” Tributes have poured in for Sudario, including one from his cousin A.J. Calomay who shared memories of family parties and learning about music and culture from him. “I’ll always remember how much Phil, his brother Jun and sister Paulita made me laugh with their wisecracks and feel like I had older kuyas and an ate who would have our backs,” Calomay wrote in a Facebook post. A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family during this time, raising raised over $33,000 as of this writing. “Phil was a Warrior in our profession but had a heart of gold,” the page said. Sudario is the fourth LAPD officer and the sixth department employee to succumb to the virus. Another Fil-Am, 24-year police service representative veteran Raymond Guerrero, who was also Fil-Am, died of COVID-19 earlier this month. (AJPress)
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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021
Dateline Philippines
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Duterte: PH economy in bad shape Sycuan Casino Resort and Singing Hills... by Ritchel
Mendiola 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 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
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo
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 were doing fine before COVID. Not very good, but we are doing good. Then when COVID arrived, there were no revenues),” he said. For his part, Duterte assured that the government is doing its best to keep the country afloat. “So, we are sinking deeper and deeper pero hindi lang tayo. Lahat (but it is not just us. It’s everyone). Pero (but) we are trying our very best to keep us afloat,” he said. In December 2020, the multilateral lender World Bank predicted that the Philippine economy will start recovering in the next two years as the country eases quarantine restrictions. It forecasted the Philippines an economic growth of 5.9% in 2021, and 6.0% in 2022.
Super Bowl, Lunar New Year could spark... PAGE 1 January. On Jan. 25, California Governor Gavin Newsom lifted the state’s stay-at-home orders, based on projections that ICU capacity will jump to about 33% across the state by March 4. While 54 out of 58 counties in the state remain in the most-restrictive purple tier, restaurants and bars are allowed to open outdoors. Hair and nail salons are also open, and youth sports are allowed to take place outdoors. “We want to make sure that Super Bowl Sunday is not the next big super spreader,” said Ghaly during a press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 2. He advised people to stay at home for the Super Bowl and Lunar New Year, celebrating with household family members or connecting with people online on platforms such as Zoom. San Francisco, which annually hosts one of the most elaborate Lunar New Year parades, has can-
celed the beloved event this year. Los Angeles is also limiting its Lunar New Year celebrations. “Let’s not fumble this,” said Ghaly. The state is making a greater push for health equity in terms of vaccine distribution, announced Ghaly. “Advancing equity is one of our most important goals,” he said, adding that equity versus speed is “a false choice.” California is implementing a “pay for performance” plan, rewarding vaccinators who are serving in the state’s hardest to reach communities, and with communities of color. The state is also rolling out a public education plan to help ethnic communities understand the vaccine. A recent survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation noted that two-thirds of Black and Latinx people surveyed said they did not have adequate information about the potential side effects of the vaccine or its effectiveness.
Ghaly said the state is using trusted messengers, including the ethnic media and in-language content to promote the vaccines safety and effectiveness. California has experienced a 38% decrease in positivity rates over the past 14 days, announced Ghaly. Hospitalizations have also decreased by 29%: 14,221 people currently hospitalized with COVID. ICU rates have also decreased by 18%; currently, 3,797 people are in ICUs with COVID-related illnesses. The state projects that both numbers will slide down by half by March 4, said Ghaly. Mutant variants, which may cause higher levels of illness or contagion, are now showing up around the state. Approximately 767 cases of the West Coast variant — B.1.429 — have been identified; the state has also seen 290 cases of the B.1.427 variant and 133 cases of the U.K. variant have been reported. (By Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services contributing editor)
PAGE 3 some surprises along the way and plenty of spectacular natural features to add interest. To get your game on par with the pros, we offer specialized Golf Academies for everyone: adults, kids, juniors, couples and women. Discover why Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan is among the best golf resorts in Southern California. Our San Diego vacation packages provide the best of both worlds, with access to our three courses and a relaxing stay at our peaceful resort. For more information visitwww. singinghillsgolfresort.com. Forbes Travel Guide is the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. Started as Mobil Travel Guide in 1958, the company created the first Five-Star rating system in the United States. Today, Forbes Travel Guide’s incognito in-
spectors travel the world, evaluating properties based on up to 900 rigorous, objective standards. Forbes Travel Guide also supports the hospitality industry and other service-oriented businesses such as luxury residential, healthcare and private clubs with bespoke training solutions, evaluation services and the creation of custom service standards. For more information, please visit partner.forbestravelguide. com. Sharecare is the leading digital health company that helps people – no matter where they are in their health journey – unify and manage all their health in one place. Our comprehensive and data-driven virtual health platform is designed to help people, providers, employers, health plans, government organizations, and communities optimize individual and population-wide
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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL
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Opinion
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 Anti-Money 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 organizations, whose
Features Philstar.com photo
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
Biden-Harris national strategy to beat COVID-19: What we need to know
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 administration 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 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
McCarthyism and Murphy’s Law
Street Talk Greg B. Macabenta SEN. Joseph McCarthy conducted the infamous U.S. Senate anti-Communist 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 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-the-neck. 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 anti-government 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
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. ***
rather than passive and uncaring? 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
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.
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San Diegans urged to be...
PAGE 1 more doses are available. Vaccination appointments are only available for the number of doses we have on hand or we know are coming.” Doctors, pharmacies, community clinics and other health care providers are also working to provide vaccinations to San Diegans in the priority groups. COVID-19 Vaccines Also Available in Rural Areas To make the COVID-19 vaccine available to more people who qualify, local paramedics and emergency medical technicians are administering vaccinations in rural communities. These rotating vaccination clinics are part of Operation Collaboration, an effort involving about
two dozen fire and emergency services agencies including CAL FIRE and San Diego County Fire Protection District. Fire agencies are also helping to vaccinate people in long-term care facilities. The clinics, which started this week, will take place in rural communities such as Ramona, Julian and Jamul. All County vaccination super stations and PODs require appointments and can be madeat vaccinationsuperstationsd. com. People 75 and over and who do not have access to a computer or someone to assist them may dial 2-1-1 for appointment assistance. Also, County-funded community health workers, known as
SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 promotoras, will be reaching out to people 75 and older directly to help them make vaccination appointments. The Metropolitan Transit System is offering free rides to people with proof of a vaccination appointment. To date, more than 586,000 COVID-19 doses have been delivered to the region. Of those, more than 357,000 have been administered, including more than 58,000 San Diegans who have received two doses and 10.2 percent of the population over age 16 who have received at least one dose. More information about vaccine distribution can be found on the County’s vaccination dashboard. (By José A. Álvarez, communications specialist, County of San Diego Communications Office)
AAPI community celebrates... PAGE 1 t ed 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 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 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 Biden-Harris 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.”
Report: Filipinos remain the most... PAGE 1 t 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 other country in the world.
According to marketplace OnBuy.com, Filipinos spend an average of 102,054 hours or 4,252 days on social media during their lifetime, which puts the Philippines at the top of the list for the most social media-obsessed country. Columbia ranked second with an average of 101,288 hours or 4,220 days on social media, while Japan ranked as the country least obsessed with social media, spending 20,928 hours or 1,289 days on social media during their lifetime. (AJPress)
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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL
World’s first all-civilian...
PAGE 2 t dren’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
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http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 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. Fami-
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lies 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. (Advertising Supplement)
McCarthyism and...
PAGE 6 t that Ka Piro and the three Nuevo Ecijano leaders would run the confab. I was surprised, however, when throughout the threeday 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 well-modulated 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 Freedom 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
California Distribution located at 7062 Convoy Court, San Diego, CA 92111. Registrant: California Distribution, 7062 Convoy Court, San Diego, CA 92111. This business is conducted by Corporation. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 11/01/2020. Signature Alan P. Ang. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/28/2021. AJ 690 02/05, 02/12, 02/19, and 02/26/2021. AJSD 690
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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. ***
Dollars Smog And Repair located at 231 Beyer Way, Chula Vista, CA, 91911. Registrant: Kristopher Charles Holcomb, 3993 Coleman Ave., San Diego, CA 92154. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 07/06/2015. Signature Kristopher Holcomb. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/22/2021. AJ 689 02/05, 02/12, 02/19, and 02/26/2021.
AJSD 689
CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00003812-CU-PT-CTL TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner DIANA SOOAH YOUNG filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: DIANA SOOAH YOUNG to DIANA SOOAH COHEN. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 03/11/2021 Time: 8:30 AM, Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JAN 27, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 688 01/29, 02/05, 02/12, AND 02/19/2021 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE – Name Change (NC120) Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).. If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD 688
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New businesses bring Filipino flavor through simmer sauces, starter packs T
by Momar
G. Visaya / AJPress
HE unprecedented global health crisis brought by the pandemic has somehow forced many people to go back to their kitchens and either cook or bake and this presented an opportunity for some business-minded folks to come up with something new to offer the market.
Meet the first-generation Asian American risk-takers who decided to move forward with their ideas, despite the many challenges and unknowns, and introduce new products in these uncertain times. Home-style Filipino cuisine is delicious, heartwarming comfort food that our parents (or anyone in the family for that matter) would cook every day. Jake De Leon, founder of Fila Manila and a Filipino American, had always hoped that one day, more people can experience that same joy and delight. Now, he hopes to ignite and highlight the unique and delicious flavors of Filipino cuisine in the United States by way of simmer sauces. First-generation Vietnamese-American sisters and daughters of refugees, Vanessa and Kim Pham on the other hand are the founders of Omsom, which offers ready-to-use starters that are packed with the specialty sauces, aromatics, seasonings, citruses, and oils - the foundation of a variety of Asian dishes. The sisters tapped the talents of estimable chefs and restaurant owners to exclusively collaborate on each starters’ formulations and recipes; beginning with a Southeast Asian line of three dishes from Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. Filipino Simmer Sauces “I thought to myself, ‘How could this be?’ when Filipinos represent the second-largest Asian ethnic group and immigrant population in the US,” Jake De Leon told the Asian Journal. “Even culinary icons like Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern constantly praised our food and have said it was on the ‘cusp’ of a breakthrough in the US.” To start the first mainstream Filipino American food brand has always been a dream for him but he became busy with his first food startup so the idea went to the back burner. The pandemic happened and it hurt and slowed his first business to almost a halt. Like many other entrepreneurs and business owners, he saw a significant impact on sales so he had to make the necessary adjustments. “The pandemic gave me a fresh perspective on the impact of Filipino healthcare workers and the time to think during the lockdown as to why Filipinos, and our culture and cuisine, are not widely recognized in the US. I then decided it was time to start working on Fila Manila,” De Leon shared. He put his thinking hat on and thought about what unique items he could offer to the market. He used his stimulus check as seed money and began to work on this project. De Leon felt that Adobo, KareKare, and Caldereta best represent Fil-Am cuisine and his own family’s cooking. Besides, these three were always on the table at every Pinoy dinner, party, or gathering he went to while growing up in New Jersey. “I found those would be the dishes that Filipinos would also prepare and share with their non-Pinoy friends. I have several cousins who are RNs who would make adobo for their work potluck and thus introduce our delicious foods to their coworkers,” he said. “I also feel that if you were to go into any Filipino restaurant or food truck, their signature dishes would be some type of variation from Adobo, Caldereta, or Kare-Kare.” He is hoping that the three sauces become successful and that Filipinos and non-Filipinos both love them, so they could expand the offering. He is looking beyond more simmer sauce varieties, but other food products where folks can experience unique Fil-Am flavors such as condiments, Filipino spaghetti sauce, or even frozen meals or Pinoy ice cream. De Leon had a career in food marketing working with some of the world’s largest food companies like Procter & Gamble and Starbucks. He eventually made the jump to entrepreneurship where he founded his first food and beverage company, Origin
Founded by first-generation Vietnamese-American sisters, Vanessa and Kim Pham, Omsom reclaims the cultural integrity of Asian cuisines too often diluted on grocery shelves in the ‘ethnic’ aisles and increasingly inaccessible in everyday life.
Fila Manila is available in three simmer sauce varieties inspired by the Philippines’ most iconic & beloved dishes: Adobo, a soy-based umami flavor explosion and unofficial national dish, Kare-Kare, a savory and tangy peanut stew, and Caldereta, a zesty tomato-based stew that’s the culinary lovechild of Filipino and Spanish cuisine.
Almond. Fila Manila is his second startup and says it’s more personal to him because it is a nod to his heritage and culture as a Filipino. He considers himself lucky being born to parents who come from regions known for their distinct culinary offerings. His dad is from Iloilo and his mom from Pampanga, both culinary powerhouses in the Philippines. His dad moved to the US in the late 70s to find a job; De Leon, his mom, and an older brother followed in the early 80s. They are currently based in Laurel Springs, New Jersey. Like many immigrant families, his parents worked several jobs and side hustles to ensure a better life for their children. Growing up, he vividly remembers helping his mom and grandma make lumpia, turon, and longanisa in their kitchen for them to re-sell to friends and family for some extra cash. He says both his parents are just as obsessed with food as he is so they usually cook homemade Filipino dishes daily. Before the pandemic, he would sometimes go to North Jersey or parts of Philadelphia to shop and eat at Filipino-owned shops. “One of the reasons I made Fila Manila is so that anyone who may not have access to Filipino restaurants (or parents) can easily enjoy Filipino food themselves,” he shared. For him, it is also about helping more home cooks to simplify the way they cook just by simply adding the simmer sauces together with protein and veggies of their choice for a simple yet delicious home-cooked Filipino feast. He takes pride in the fact that their sauces use authentic Philippine ingredients like coconut vinegar and they contain no added sugar or artificial ingredients and are naturally gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. Venturing into this kind of business is deeply personal to De Leon and much of what he brings to the table comes from his memories of Filipino food growing up. “My interaction with Filipino food has mostly come from my family and friends, so to me, it means comfort and a symbol of love. Yes, I love cheeseburgers, pizza, and sushi like everyone else, but there’s a certain feeling of ‘home’ when you smell freshly cooked adobo,” he said. “Also, I feel that our food is a sense of identity and pride to the Filipino culture -- ours is not Chinese, Thai, or Indian but rather a familiar, yet distinct flavor of many cuisines combined. As the Fila Manila tagline says, we are more than Asian, we are Filipino!” Southeast Asian Flavors “We landed on the starter format because we really want to provide the foundation of a dish for home cooks with a level of cultural integrity that has been, disappointingly, hard to achieve until now,” Kim told the Asian Journal. “From there, home cooks can take it home with our recipes or make it their own. We want to not only celebrate these flavors but also empower folks to actively engage with them.” Given their heritage, the Pham sisters are excited to share their heritage and they chose to cast a wider net and include the larger Southeast Asian story.
Jake Deleon, a first- generation FilAm (Filipino American), is the founder of Fila Manila, which offers authentic Filipino simmer sauces that are inspired by the rich flavors of the Philippines.
“As daughters of refugees, we started Omsom as a celebration of the multitudes within Asian cultures,” explains co-founder Kim Pham. “Walking down most ‘ethnic’ aisles in mainstream grocery stores — which frankly shouldn’t even exist — feels like stepping back in time — old-school products that feel compromised in flavor, outdated in brand, and rooted in stereotypical design. We want to start making this category feel representative of the changing DNA of this country, and reflect the depth and nuance in Asian recipes, tastes, and traditions.” Southeast Asian Product Imagery by Mischelle Moy & Jenny Huang
In addition to Vietnamese dishes, they opted to include Filipino and Thai flavors. “Both cuisines have interesting places in the American dining table. Thai flavors, while well-loved throughout the US, are often bastardized in their proliferation throughout the US. Filipino dishes are quickly growing in popularity, but still largely on the rise for most Americans,” Kim said. “The Philippines, as a country, is entirely unique to the continent of Asia, given its history of colonization, imperialism, and occupation. We wanted to showcase a cuisine + dish that doesn’t nearly get as much love as it should on the mainstream!” The sisters have chosen chefs and restaurateurs for their deep-rooted connections to each cuisine: chef Jimmy Ly of Madame Vo helped develop Vietnamese Lemongrass BBQ, chefs Chat and Ohm Suansilphong of Fish Cheeks collaborated on Thai Larb, and Jeepney’s owner Nicole Ponseca was the expert source for Filipino Sisig. “We partner with chefs who are, while lauded and wellloved in the industry, are redefining it in their own right. They have connections to these dishes that run deep but are also on the cutting edge of what it means to eat modern Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. They are all collectively pushing the future of these cuisines in American - modern Asian food doesn’t have to look “one” way anymore and we’re honored to support folks at the frontier of that thinking,” Kim said. Omsom starts the process for home cooks to finish with suggested recipes -- from aromatic noodle bowls with pork shoulder and fresh herbs (Lemongrass BBQ) and fiery plates of chicken, sticky rice, and cabbage (Larb) to pork belly umami bombs served with garlic rice and sliced chili (Sisig). The Pham sisters also encourage users to experiment with whatever ingredients they have available/prefer or to accommodate dietary preferences/restrictions. These entrepreneurs are hoping that the products they created would someday become Asian pantry staple brands that make cooking one’s favorite Asian dishes (with uncompromised flavors and hard-to-find ingredients) easy and possible in any home kitchen.
SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL
Recipe Corner
Pancit Canton (Serves 10-12)
Pancit is the general name of Filipino noodle dishes. And when “Canton” is added to it, it conjures yellowish noodles that hint of eggs added when making it. Ingredients added vary from kitchen to kitchen, according to availability and flavor preference. Ingredients 2 tbsp Crisco vegetable oil 1 small onion chopped 2 garlic cloves minced 100 g pork loin, sliced thinly 100 g Shrimp 1 cup of each carrot green beans and cabbage, sliced thinly 1 pack PAMANA Black Fungus 2 tbsp of PAMANA Soy Sauce 3 tbsp of Kikkoman Oyster Sauce Red ½ pack of PAMANA Pancit Canton 2 tsp of PAMANA Mix Canton 2 green onions sliced Calamansi (optional) Directions 1. In a deep pan or a wok heat vegetable oil over medium heat, then add onion, garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add pork, a pinch of
salt and stir fry until pork is cooked for about 5 minutes. 2. Add PAMANA Black Fungus, carrots, green beans and cabbage, soy sauce and shrimp, stir to combine and cook on medium-high heat for 7 minutes stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender but still slightly crisp. 3. While your vegetables are cooking, prepare the PAMANA Pancit Canton according to package directions. They take 4 minutes on average. 4. Drain the noodles and add to the pan, toss everything together, taste and add an additional tablespoon of soy sauce and a PAMANA Mix Canton. Sprinkle with sliced green onions. 5. Serve with calamansi.
This recipe is provided courtesy of Seafood City. Visit their Facebook Page or http://www.seafoodcity.com for more recipes. If you have any recipes that you would like to share with Asian Journal readers, please send email to editor@asianjournalinc. com or info@asianjournalinc.com, and include a photo of your dish.
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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL
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Glaiza overwhelmed by H.E.R. scores Golden Globe, 5 NAACP Image Awards nods blessings coming her way By Allan
Policarpio Inquirer.net
By 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. 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 recognized 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 Beyon-
ALTHOUGH most of 2020 was challenging career-wise, the last few months have been much better for Glaiza de Castro, who now has projects lined up across different media. The GMA 7 variety show “All-Out Sundays,” which she cohosts, is celebrating its first anniversary this month. Her latest film, “Midnight in a Perfect World,” just had another digital release. She’s set to release a new single and music video. And she will also be starring in an upcoming drama series. “It’s overwhelming. The things I had been dreaming of last year are slowly happening now. The blessings are coming in. And I feel grateful for the timing,” she told the Inquirer in a recent virtual conference for “All-Out Sundays.” H.E.R. Photo from Instagram/@hermusicofficial For Glaiza, who has been in In 2018, she released “I Used show biz for almost two decé who leads the crop with six to Know Her: The Prelude” and cades now, work is already a nods. part of her. Thus, she couldn’t H.E.R., whose real name is “I Used to Know Her: Part 2.” H.E.R. received five nomina- help but feel that there was Gabriella Wilson, was born in Vallejo, California to a Filipina tions at the 61st Annual Gram- something lacking when the mother and an African Ameri- my Awards in 2019, winning pandemic put the breaks on the Best R&B Performance and industry. can father. “I missed working because She rose to fame in 2009 after Best R&B Album. The year afparticipating in Radio Disney’s ter, she received three nomina- it’s already part of my system. “Next Big Thing.” At the age of tions: Song of the Year (“I Can’t My body’s looking for my old 14, she signed to RCA Records Breathe”), and two for Best R&B routine, because I’m not used and released the single “Some- Song (“Better Than I Imagine” to just bumming around. Yes there was online work, but bething to Prove” under her real and “Slow Down”). The 78th Golden Globe ing on the set or on the stage name in 2014. In 2016, she debuted under Awards will air on NBC on Sun- is completely different,” she the H.E.R. persona with her de- day, February 28, and will be pointed out. “I’m happy that I’m virtually hosted by comedians starting to make up for what but EP “H.E.R. Volume 1.” happened.” She then released other EPs Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. And the blessings extended The 52nd NAACP Image “H.E.R. Volume 2” and “The B Sides” in 2017 before releas- Awards will be simulcast on to her personal life, too. After ing her first compilation album March 27 at 8 p.m. ET across all two years of dating, her boy“H.E.R.” which consisted of ViacomCBS Networks, which friend, David Rainey, proposed tracks from the singer’s first two includes BET, CBS, MTV, VH1, marriage to her on Christmas Eve last year in Ireland. She MTV2, BET HER and LOGO. EPs plus six additional songs. also decided to celebrate her 33rd birthday there last Jan. 21, before going back home to the Philippines. “I decided to extend my stay in Ireland. We just had a simple
Glaiza de Castro
celebration with David’s family … took a walk in the forest. David’s mother cooked a traditional meatball stew, which was my request. Her and David’s friend baked me cakes as well,” she related. “They surprised me before dinner and it was really touching.” The Kapuso star also feels fortunate that her return to the country coincided with the implementation of relaxed guidelines for returning Filipinos. (They’re required to undergo facility-based quarantine upon arrival, then take a swab test on their fifth day of quarantine. Those who test negative can be discharged.) “Good thing I opted to stay longer in Ireland. I would have spent my birthday at a quarantine facility,” she said. Leaving Ireland was bittersweet, Glaiza said, because it could take time before they get to see each other again. “Kaya sinagad ko na doon—Christmas, New Year, my birthday. But fortunately, there’s Facetime. We talk to each other, we work out and even eat together online, despite the different time zones,” she said.
Photo from Instagram/@glaizaredux
Glaiza said she has always enjoyed performing in “All-Out Sundays” because she gets to show her other side as a performer. For instance, in “Eternal Flame,” the program’s new live musical-comedy segment, Glaiza gets to experience a taste of theater work. “It has been one of my goals to do theater. The training, the workshops and rehearsals we do for the segment is similar to what they do in theater,” said Glaiza, who admits that she still gets nervous on stage. “I think that’s something that won’t go away. The nervousness is also where I draw energy to do better,” Glaiza added. “And it keeps us on our toes… And there’s always room for improvement.” After that, Glaiza, who’s also a singer-songwriter, will release a new single with an accompanying music video set in Ireland. “Nilubos ko na!” she quipped. “This is one thing I have been waiting for and I’m so excited. I love that while I’m doing hosting and acting jobs, I still get to do other things I’m passionate about.”
FUN-USA aims to promote Filipino pride and dignity 2021 BHM Library Card
City of San Diego Public Library celebrates Black History Month
Events include virtual programs, storytimes, release of special edition library card designed by local student SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego Public Library has a full schedule of events this February to celebrate the rich and diverse history of Black Americans. The library’s Black History Month programming includes storytimes for children, book discussions, author talks and take-home craft kits. “The San Diego Public Library is proud to celebrate Black History Month and to provide yet another way to connect with our residents who may be isolated at home due to the pandemic,” said Library Director Misty Jones. “We hope the library programs will encourage patrons to learn more about the achievements of Black Americans and the contributions they have made throughout our country’s history.” As part of the celebration, the San Diego Public Library will release a Black History Month library card. The special edition card was designed by 15-year-old Scripps Ranch High School student Sahithi Lingampalli. The design was chosen from dozens sent in by local students. It features the likenesses of congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, basketball legend Kobe Bryant, Vice President Kamala Harris and tennis great Serena Williams. “I wanted to showcase the achievements made by people of African ethnicity, especially in the year 2020 when we were hit with a pandemic,” said Sahithi Lingampalli, designer of the Black History Month card. “I felt that these people were standouts over the last year.” Patrons can pick up the Black History Month library card beginning Feb. 1, 2021, at the 25 San Diego Public Library locations offering limited in-person or contactless pickup services.
In addition to the card, the San Diego Public Library will also host two virtual events with author and historian Anne C. Bailey: • Reconciling 1619 and 1776 in American History: The Debate over the Soul of a Nation Thursday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. A collaboration with the University of San Diego, the author will discuss the concept of “living history” and connecting events of the past to current and contemporary issues. The author will also take questions from the audience. • The NY Times 1619 Project and Why Slavery Matters Friday, Feb. 26, at 4 p.m. A collaboration with San Diego Unified School District, students will have an interactive discussion with the author. To register for the author events and for more information on the library’s Black History Month programs and library card, visit the Library’s Black History Month web page at https://www.sandiego.gov/blackhistorymonth and virtual hub at https://www.facebook. com/groups/609352393241759. With a vision of being the place for opportunity, discovery and inspiration, the San Diego Public Library is a hub for knowledge and lifelong learning. As the largest library system in the region, it serves a population of more than 1.4 million people. Learn about events at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Irwin Jacobs Common and 35 community branch libraries, find links to programs and resources or search for materials in the online catalog at www.sandiegolibrary.org. (San Diego Public Library Release)
THE Filipino United Network-USA (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 2628, 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 Philip-
CADEM announces Assembly District 79 special election endorsement caucus meeting
SAN DIEGO – The California Democratic Party (CADEM) on Wednesday, February 3 announced a Special Election Endorsing Caucus (Caucus) for Assembly District 79 (AD79). The Caucus, made up of the 2019-2021 Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC), will vote to endorse a candidate for the seat vacated by Dr. Shirley Weber who was recently sworn-in as the first Black woman to serve as California’s 30th Secretary of
State. “Dr. Shirley Weber represented Assembly District 79 with an unwavering commitment to her community,” said Rusty Hicks, Chair of CADEM. “Dr. Weber continues to demonstrate what it means to lead with a moral conscience. She is a fierce advocate for a more inclusive California and a proponent for stronger voting rights and voter protections. We are thrilled to have her leadership and wealth of
expertise serving Californians at this important juncture in history,” continued Hicks. Working with the Endorsing Caucus, CADEM will mail endorsement ballots to members in AD-79 this month. Members must submit their voteby-mail ballot through email to ad79special@cadem.org by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 8. Proxy voting will not be allowed. The endorsement meetings will take place on February 8,
2021 at 5 p.m. before the special primary election on April 6. Endorsement meetings are held, at minimum, three days before the endorsement recommendation is due to the County Registrar’s Office. If no candidate wins more than half the general vote during the primary election, a special runoff election will be held on June 8. For more information, please visit https://cadem.org/ vote/endorsements/. (CADEM Release)
pine 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 Vicechair. 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 Vicechair. 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 Filipino-American associations in Nevada and other western States. Since its inception, FUNUSA 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. (Advertising Supplement)
The top frauds of 2020
2020 was a tough year. Between the pandemic and the economic crisis, we all had our hands full. And scammers didn’t take any time off either — 2020 was a busy year for fraud. In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) got more than 2.2 million reports about fraud, with people telling us they lost nearly $3.3 billion. Here’s what we heard from you in 2020: • The top fraud of 2020 was imposter scams. Scammers showed up wearing many different hats — from that of a government official, to a known business, to a dear family member or friend. The FTC got nearly 500,000 reports of imposter scams, and people reported losing a lot of money to these scammers: $1.2 billion, with a median loss of $850. Government and business imposter scams were also among the top categories of COVID-19 and stimulus related reports, proving once again, that scammers follow the headlines. • Online shopping and negative reviews was the second most reported fraud category of 2020. With the pandemic came an increase in online shopping, and then a wave of reports about sellers failing to deliver on promises — or just failing to deliver, period. The FTC got more than 350,000 reports, with people telling us lost a total of more than $245 million, with a median loss of about $100. • The phone is still the top way that scammers are reaching us — both through phone calls and text messages. In fact, there was a sharp increase in the number of reports saying that scammers contacted them by text message. And, not surprisingly, many of these text messages were related to the pandemic. We heard about text message scams luring people to click on links with promises of stimulus relief, economic relief or loans for small businesses, or “waiting packages.” We can only fight scammers with your help. When you report to the FTC, your report is instantly available to more than 3,000 federal, state, and local law enforcers across the country who are looking to fight fraud. If you’ve spotted a scam, tell us at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. (Monica Vaca/Associate Director, Division of Consumer Response and Operations, FTC)
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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021
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Montemaria Cellars introduces Napa wines to PH community, celebrates 500 years of Christianity
Sweeping view of the 300-acre Buhman estate vineyards and historic ranch in Napa Valley, California. Contributed photo
I
T sits on a plateau overlooking a busy ocean gateway of vessels large and small into the southern tip of Luzon island in the Philippine. At 322 feet, it is one of the biggest religious structures in the world. It is the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace, a statue devoted to Mary, who is often noted as the Mother of God and Mother of the Church in the Catholic religion. The tall structure, which many envision will be a pilgrimage and tourist destination in the near future, is located in Montemaria, in Batangas Province. It is part of a big development that will eventually feature a hotel and residential subdivisions, a marina, an amphitheater/ concert hall, clubhouse, sports and recreation facilities, a wellness center and a marine sanctuary, among others. A venue for special events is also planned that can host weddings, retreats and a variety of activities. And as the Philippines celebrates 500 years of Catholicism, a group of forward-thinking entrepreneurs from both sides of the Pacific Ocean, have come up with a new project that commemorates the event, and combines Montemaria and its iconic structure with the centuriesold tradition of wine-making. The result is Montemaria Cellars, a company that will offer an exclusive wine collection cellared and bottled in Napa Valley, California by the Buhman Estate Vineyards. The wines offered will be specially made for the Holy Site of
Montemaria, Batangas. Spearheading the project from the Napa, California side is Jason Elkin, an international disruptor, innovator, vintner and proprietor who owns #TrendingWine. He has been involved in all areas of the wine and hospitality industry and is considered by many as the Mark Zuckerberg of the wine industry. Elkin, who was introduced through business contacts to the Montemaria group, is not coming blind into the project, having visited the Philippines in early 2020. At that time, he fully immersed himself into the culture and developed business models, brands and flavor profiles that would be most appropriate for Filipino food and festivities. He also realized that California and Napa Valley wines had no presence on shelves and in markets in the Philippines. With Montemaria Cellars, Elkin sees a fruition of the plan to present quality Napa Valley and California wines to the Filipino consumer. Price points, according to the de facto consultant for many established and small batch Napa winemakers, will appeal to different kinds of consumers. “We have customcreated flavor profiles that will support the epicurean cuisines and palates of the Philippines and the Filipino community. We will present multiple tiers and price points to appeal to all – from the wine curious to the wine connoisseur,” the Cal State University Fresno alum told the Asian Journal via email. “We feel confident that Napa Valley California wines will be received extremely well
as the region is recognized for its wine production and as one of the most renowned wine-growing regions in the world.” And seeing as how Filipinos will be celebrating five centuries of Catholicism in the archipelago, Mr. Elkin, Buhman Estates and Napa Valley Distribution, in affiliation with One Global Trading, a division of One Global Management Company, Inc., have ventured to develop and distribute California and Napa Valley wines into the Philippines and other Asian markets. The plan is for Montemaria Cellars to become a stable and flagship wine brand that Filipinos will see as an option for memorabilia, gift-giving and collectibles, aside from, of course, wine consumption. Montemaria Cellars and its wines will pay homage to the monument and “can also become a take-away article for the Catholic community and tourists.” There is a future plan for a tasting room that will feature educational wine and food programs as an added component. Another plan includes “corks that will be blessed where the wine bottle logo will be scannable and introduce a virtual video of a Catholic priest giving a blessing that will create an impromptu experience for buyers.” Elkin added that the brand and products will offer a blessing in the bottle that gives off a positive energy, and the blessing can be adopted for a variety of special events in people’s lives like anniversaries, birthdays, business gatherings, social get-togethers and holiday/
vacation/travel getaways. Jason, who grew up in Napa Valley and developed concepts and digitallyinteractive labels with a call to action to appeal to modern consumers, is excited at the prospect of growing the Montemaria Cellars brand in the Philippines and internationally. “I devote my time, expansion and priority to projects I feel most confident and passionate about. The Philippines is not saturated in the Napa Valley and California beverage space. The traditional business side of the wine industry would be extremely hesitant to offer models and custom support, outside of simply fulfilling a purchase order. I feel that this wine market and wine business in the Philippines is still pure, and the new energy will be contagious. Also, the timing is right,” Elkin revealed to the Asian Journal, while adding that future plans include expanding his portfolio, lifestyle brands and partnerships to include celebrity beverages and also activating additional lifestyle brands for large-scale events in the Philippines. Jason is excited to visit the Philippines again when the pandemic subsides, and he wants to do it at the soonest time possible. “I am extremely passionate about this project and I am excited at the fact that it will introduce additional business ventures and economic developments,” Elkin stated. Montemaria Cellars is currently offering a Special limited Collector’s Edition bottle that features a 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet
#TrendingWine owner Jason Elkin has been tapped to spearhead Montemaria Cellars, which will distribute California and Napa Valley wines to the Philippines and other Asian markets, in affiliation with One Global Trading. Contributed photo
Sauvignon. This versatile, picnic-friendly wine features flavors of wild strawberries and watermelon immersed in ripe pear juice, and pairs well with seafood, spicy food, salty/ savory dishes or anything off the grill. It also pairs well with Indian, Mexican or Italian dishes, as well as cheese and charcuterie. There are
only 500 bottles available for this vintage, which comes in 3-liter wine bottles. This wine is specially priced at $500 each. To browse through the catalog and/or learn more about Montemaria Cellars, visit www.montemariacellars. com. (Joseph Peralta/AJPress)
Asian Journal Publisher & Chairman of the Board Roger Oriel (left), Buhman Estates proprietor/Napa Valley Distribution founder Jason Elkin Asian Journal’s Roger Oriel, Buhman Estates/Napa Valley Distribution’s Jason Elkin and Asian Journal NorCal Bureau office manager (middle) and Asian Journal Northern California bureau chief Joseph Peralta (right) took part in a socially-distanced wine-tasting experience Greg Nitro pose in front of the Buhman Estates vineyards in Napa Valley. Photo by Joseph Peralta/AJPress in late 2020. The business meeting led to the formation of Montemaria Cellars. Photo courtesy of Roger Oriel
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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588