020621 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 Volume 31 - No. 10 • 2 Sections – 20 Pages

IATF expands list of foreign nationals allowed to enter PH visas issued as of March 20, 2020, as well as those who have valid and existing visas at STARTING February 16, for- the time of entry, are permitted eigners with certain visas can to enter the country.

“The Inter-Agency Task enter the Philippines, according to new guidelines released Force on Thursday, February 4, by the country’s Inter-Agency 2021, allowed the entry to the Task Force for the Manage- Philippines of foreign nationals ment of Emerging Infectious with visas issued as of March 20, 2020, and still valid and exDiseases (IATF-EID).

Foreign nationals who have isting at the time of entry, and by ritChel

MendiOla AJPress

DATELINE

who were not permitted to enter the country under previous IATF resolutions,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement on Friday, February 5.

Likewise, foreign travelers with “valid and existing” Special Resident and Retirees Visa (SRRV) and Section 9 (a) or temporary visa can also enter u PAGE A2

MOCK VACCINATION. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administers a “COVID-19 vaccine” to Mayor Menchie Abalos during a vaccination simulation at the Pedro P. Cruz Mandaluyong Elementary School on Friday, February 5. Government officials have been calling on the public to get inoculated once the vaccines arrive in the country.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

LP eyes Robredo as 2022 presidential candidate

USA

by ritChel

MendiOla AJPress

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

AAPI community celebrates new admin with virtual gala THE Biden-Harris administration is well underway with putting its policies into place, Vice President Leni Robredo leads the graduation ceremony but celebrations of the new leadership and re- of the five-day basic motorcycle preventative maintenance training in Kamuning, Quezon City on Wednesday, February 3. cord voter turnout in the 2020 election haven’t Photo from the Office of the Vice President stopped.

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

In her brief message, Harris — the nation’s first woman, Black and Asian American vice president — shared the often quoted lesson her

by Klarize Medenilla mother Shyamala Gopalan, an immigrant from AJPress India, shared: “Though we may be the first, we should not be the last.”

AS COVID-19 vaccinations continue to be u PAGE A3 distributed across the country, the debate over whether schools should reopen came to a head this week when the head of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it would be possible to reopen schools without requiring vaccines.

“There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe re-

THE opposition Liberal Party (LP) is considering Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo as its presidential candidate for the 2022 national elections.

“Siya ay mataas na opisyal ng partido at pinakamataas na elected official ng partido (Robredo is the highest official of the party and the highestranked elected official in the party) so she is also being considered,” LP President and Senator Kiko Pangilinan said in an online press briefing on Thursday, February 4.

Being the highest-ranked elected official in LP, Robredo serves as the party’s chairperson.

However, Pangilinan noted that Robredo hasn’t made a decision yet about running for the presidency.

“She herself said that she has no decision yet. Marami pang pwedeng mangyari (A lot of things may still happen),” he said.

Pangilinan also stressed that the party is focused on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the meantime, we just focus on how we can help address this pandemic and this crisis because, sa totoo lang ang pinakamatinding

krisis sa ngayon, ay yung economic crisis, and health crisis (truthfully, the biggest crises today are the economic crisis and health crisis). So as public servants yan ang tinututukan namin ngayon (we are focused on that),” the senator said.

He admitted that the LP has not decided yet on who should be their candidates for next year’s elections.

“Hindi pa namin pinag-uusapan kung sino ang magiging kandidato.

Wala pang nagde-decision sa amin tungkol diyan (We haven’t decided yet. We haven’t even discussed who are our candidates. We have yet to deu PAGE A2

Fil-Am LAPD security ‘Safety should be the priority’: Fil-Am teachers respond to calls to officer remembered after reopen schools without vaccinations battle with COVID-19

Support grows for Rob Bonta as CA’s next attorney general

DOZENS of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) elected officials, community leaders and advocacy groups are coming together anew to urge Governor Gavin Newsom “to make history” by appointing Assemblymember Rob Bonta as attorney general.

Another letter was sent to Newsom’s office on Feb. 3 reminding the governor that he has “the unique opportunity in this critical moment to send a strong message and make history” given that AAPIs are the fastest-growing and third-largest ethnic group in the Golden State.

Bonta — the state’s first Filipino American legislator — was reelected for a fifth term last November to represent the 18th Assembly district, which covers the East Bay areas of Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro. He currently serves as the assistant majority leader, and sits on several committees, including appropriations and health. u PAGE A4

opening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a White House press briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

She added, “Vaccinations of teachers is not a prerequisite for safely reopening schools.”

Walensky’s comments caused a stir nationwide as the pressure to reopen schools and the ongoing threat of coronavirus remain crucial issues among teachers, stuu PAGE A3

Indian Fil-Am millennial joins VP Harris’ team as policy advisor

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

AS the Biden-Harris administration pledges diverse staffing to reflect the country, several individuals of Filipino descent have been named to key roles to help shape policies across the federal government.

The latest Filipino American to join the new leadership is Michael George, who has dedicated his career examining how policy can improve social mobility and reduce inequalities.

George, whose parents are originally from the Philippines and India, announced that he will be joining Vice President Kamala Harris’ team as a policy advisor.

u PAGE A2

Michael George

by AJPress A THIRD Filipino American working at the Los Angeles Police Department has succumbed to COVID-19, becoming the department’s eighth employee taken by the virus.

Dexter De Los Santos, a full-time security guard with the Security Services Division, died on January 29, the department announced. He was 41 years old.

De Los Santos graduated from Daniel Murphy High School in Los Angeles and worked various jobs before Dexter De Los Santos (August 28, 1979 - January 29, 2021) fulfilling his dream of joining the LAPD in 2012.

“He was well known for his wittiness, generosity, big heart and the person this colleagues could depend on for covering holiday and late shifts. This was mostly because Dexter’s main goal was to make the world a safer place for all,” his family wrote in an email to the Asian Journal.

He embodied the role of a “kuya” (older brother) as the eldest of three siblings, and extended that to his cousins and later when he became an uncle and grand uncle.

“When times were tough, he was the person to bring spirits up, u PAGE A2

A2 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

LP eyes Robredo as 2022...

PAGE A1 cide on that matter),” said Pangilinan.

“So nakatutok talaga, halimbawa si VP, sa problema sa COVID. Yun ang kanyang initiative, na matulunungan ang ating mga kababayan, sa usaping frontliners, usapin ng hanapbuhay, consumers, vendors (So what we’re focused on, like the VP, is the problems on COVID. That’s her initiative, to help our country-

men, look out for the frontliners, on livelihood, concerns of consumers, and vendors),” he added.

According to Pangilinan, COVID response takes precedence over political issues.

“I understand that there are some groups that are already discussing 2022. OK yun, let them start. Sa amin naman, I think 2022 is really about the voters. So tayo sa LP tuloy-tuloy lang ang ating

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From the Front Page recruitment sa baba, pagtulong sa komunidad para malampasan itong COVID (For us, I think ultimately, 2022 is really about the voters. So for us in the LP, we are continuing our recruitment in the grassroots, helping in our community to survive this COVID pandemic),” he said.

Pangilinan added, “Hopefully, if we are able to show a good performance then voters will remember that and will support us, so ‘yun ang ginagawa natin sa ngayon, tutukan itong COVID response as best we can at tulungan natin dahil ‘yun naman din ang concern ng ating mga kababayan at lalu na nga itong mga economic issue (so that’s what we’re doing now, focusing on the COVID response as best as we can and help since that’s the concern of our countrymen especially the economic issues). Ito muna ang harapin natin ngayon (We’ll tackle this first now), yung political issues can wait.”

In a separate statement, Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez maintained that Robredo’s priority is extending assistance to Filipinos amid the pandemic.

“VP Leni is currently focused on working to help our fellow Filipinos overcome the challenges of the pandemic and the long quarantine. This is the need of the moment and her priority right now.

Everything else will be addressed at the proper time,” he said. n

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

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

IATF expands list of foreign...

PAGE A1

the country, provided that they present an entry exemption document to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) upon arrival.

“This shall take effect on February 16, 2021 and shall be subject to [certain] conditions,” said Roque.

Foreigners who want to enter the Philippines must have PAGE A1 mostly through his witty jokes pre-booked accommodations and infectious smile,” his family for at least six nights in an accredited quarantine hotel or fasaid.

The department has lost eight cility. They must also undergo officers and civilian employees since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Fred, Terry, Raymond, Valentin, Erica, Philip, Dexter, Patri- PAGE A1 cia—you will never be forgotten,” “As the son of Indian and Filipithe department tweeted. “We no immigrants, I’m honored and thank you for your dedicated ser- humbled to share some personal vice. May you all Rest In Peace.” news: I’ve started a new job as a Two other Fil-Ams who died Policy Advisor to Vice President from the virus include: Officer Kamala Harris, our first Asian Philip Sudario, a 25-year veteran American VP,” George, who officer assigned to the Southeast served on the Biden-Harris tranCommunity Police Station in sition for economic policy, wrote South Los Angeles, who died on on Twitter.

Jan. 25; and Police Service RepBefore joining the administraresentative Raymond Guerrero, tion, George was a program ofa 24-year veteran of the depart- ficer on economic mobility and ment, who passed on Jan. 7. n opportunity for the Bill & Me-

Fil-Am LAPD security officer...

a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test six days after their arrival.

Foreigners are also subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

Meanwhile, tourists are still prohibited to enter the country “unless with exemption.”

According to Roque, the exemptions should have “endorsement from individual departments” of the govern-

ment.

“Case-to-case but [with] endorsement from individual departments i.e. DOE (Department of Energy) for energy-related concerns, etc.,” he told reporters through Viber.

Roque stressed that the Commissioner of Immigration still has the “exclusive” prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion orders for all foreign nationals allowed to enter the country under relevant IATF resolutions. n

Indian Fil-Am millennial joins VP... linda Gates Foundation.

“Our economy has been broken for too many people for too long — long before COVID-19 and even before the Great Recession. I would know: my own family lost our nest egg in the Enron scandal in 2001,” he added in another tweet.

He continued, “That experience taught me that big problems need policy solutions that meet the moment. I’ve devoted my career to combating inequality and to ensuring that all of us,

not just the powerful, can succeed in our economy. Time to get to work!”

George previously worked at the White House National Economic Council during the Obama administration.

He studied government and economics at Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He received his master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. n

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Summer 2021 Impact! Program opens application for young Fil-Am students

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The US-Asia Institute (USAI), in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in the United States, has officially opened applications for the IMPACT! Program for summer 2021. The 2021 program is organized to provide opportunity for Filipino American students and young graduates to gain firsthand knowledge about the current practices Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the 2021 Presidential Pearl Gala on Jan. 28. and opportunities available in Washington, D.C. The program will help in their becoming future leaders PAGE A1 and to open the doors for them to contribute to the “I’ve carried that lesson with strengthening of the U.S.- Philippines relations. me throughout my career,” Harris The entire program will be conducted virtually said, adding “Your continued faith from June 7 to August 6, 2021 (nine weeks). in me has brought me to this mo“It is wonderful to see more and more members of ment. When I accepted the nomithe Filipino-America community getting involved in nation to be your vice president, U.S. politics and exercising civic leadership in their I did so fully committed to realizcommunities. Their unique perspective allows them ing the vision of a stronger, more to make vital contributions to the progress of both united America that provides an the United States and the Philippines and help our opportunity for all.”

75-year-old bilateral relationship achieve greater U.S. Trade Representative nomheights,” said Philippine Ambassador to the United inee Katherine Tai, Neera Tanden, States Jose Manuel Romualdez in a statement. director of the Office of ManageMary Sue Bissell, president of the US-Asia Institute ment and Budget nominee, and said, “Our young people are our greatest resource, Filipina American community leaders Gloria Caoile, Francey Lim Youngberg, and Irene Vanita Gupta, U.S. associate atand the foundation for the future. Believing this to torney general nominee were also Bueno organized the 2021 Presidential Pearl Gala, an inaugural celebration for Democratic be true, the US-Asia Institute (USAI) has been comadministrations. among the night’s speakers. mitted since its founding in 1979 to providing opporSince 2009, the gala has served highlighted the record number of signed a slew of executive orders tunities for training, leadership, professional growth, as the inaugural ball for the com- AAPIs in Congress and the new to undo the previous administra- and networking for students and young professionmunity during Democratic admin- administration’s appointees. tion’s policies and rhetoric, from als from around the globe. Through its robust internA handful of Filipino Americans denouncing anti-AAPI hate to re- ship and professional development programs—such istrations. Though the pandemic prevented the gala from taking will be serving in various capaci- moving “alien” from U.S. immi- as this IMPACT! initiative for Filipino Americans— place in person — attended by ties across the federal govern- gration laws in favor of the term USAI provides the tools and introductions to build over 1,000 guests — individuals ment from the Office of Personnel “noncitizen.” (Christina M. Oriel/ the participants’ understanding of the U.S. political tuned in from across the country Management to the Department AJPress) and governmental processes, underscoring the valand distantly raised their cham- of Defense, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. pagne glasses.

“Representation matters. AAPIs The third edition of the gala was produced by the same team have earned our seat at the table of Filipina American political and we expect the Biden-Harand civic leaders — Francey Lim ris administration will reflect the Youngberg, Gloria Caoile, and full diversity of our community Irene Bueno — in conjunction at the highest level,” Bueno, who with civic organization APIAVote. worked in the Clinton administraIn addition to Harris in the tion, said.

Since taking office, Biden vice presidency, the community

AAPI community celebrates new admin...

‘Safety should be the priority...

PAGE A1 dents and parents.

Later on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki appeared to walk back on Walensky’s comments, clarifying that they weren’t the “official guidance” from the CDC, adding that it as “not released their official guidance” regarding “vaccination of teachers and what would be needed to ensure the safe reopening of schools.”

The Biden administration has maintained that it is committed to working with states and local jurisdictions to safely reopen schools, with the goal of reopening a majority of K-8 schools in 100 days. Last month, Biden proposed an allocation of $170 billion to K-12 and higher education institutions, largely to increase COVID-19 testing.

In California, where the coronavirus continues to ravage counties and offer no end in sight, Governor Gavin Newsom said that the reopening of schools can run congruent to the vaccinations of educators, saying that “We can safely reopen schools as we process a prioritization to our teachers of vaccinations.”

During a briefing on Wednesday where he announced the future site of a new vaccination center at Oakland Coliseum, Newsom said, “I’d love to have everybody in the state vaccinated that chooses to be vaccinated. Not only would I like to prioritize teachers, we are prioritizing teachers.”

As of press time, teachers are not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in California, which is still working to vaccinate front-line workers and residents 65 years of age and older. Certain counties and school districts are working on their own plans to vaccinate educators, but many teachers and parents would rather the state play it safe and not rush to reopen schools without a vigorous vaccination plan in place.

“It shouldn’t even really be a conversation: we need vaccines before we can resume teaching indoors and in-person,” Hillary Valdez, a Filipina American third grade teacher in San Diego, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview. “Nobody prefers distance learning, but it’s just the safest option right now. Safety should be the priority.”

Valdez, who asked not to disclose the school where she works, said that she has noticed the adverse effects of distance learning in her students, particularly in the last couple of months. She wants a swift return back into the classroom, but she affirmed that the state should come up with a more robust plan to make the prospect of returning “100% safe,” and that includes rigid rules to mitigate viral transmission and have “all teachers and staff vaccinated first.”

Valdez is a part of the California Teachers Association, which in January, sent a letter to Newsom saying that it wants schools in counties with high COVID-19

transmission rates to remain in distance learning for the next 100 days to give the state more time to develop such a plan.

Erin Murray, a Filipina middle school teacher in LA County, told the Asian Journal that she thinks it’s “absurd” to “even consider opening schools before getting everybody — students, teachers, staff — vaccinated first.”

“It’s the only way we will feel comfortable returning to the classroom, and for good. We don’t want to have re-close campuses again if the infection rates increase again,” Murray said.

The situation in Los Angeles County — which has a cumulative total of 1.2 million positive coronavirus cases and more than 17,500 deaths — continues to be among the worst in the country, remaining in the state’s most restrictive “purple” tier of the economic reopening roadmap.

But on Thursday, Feb. 4, LA City Councilmember Joe Buscaino announced that he’s introducing a motion next week asking the city attorney to explore “legal options” to force the LA Unified School District to reopen for inperson learning.

In a statement, Buscaino said, “I stand with the 1,500 pediatricians in Southern California as well as the CDC who are calling for the safe reopening of our schools,” without elaborating on what he considers a “safe reopening” would entail. “[The statement] is absolutely ridiculous, and I know the union won’t stand for it,” Murray said, adding that she is a member of the UTLA, which has strongly advocated for remaining in distance learning until all school staff and students are vaccinated. “It makes no sense, especially here in LA County. The numbers are still so bad, so why would we risk our children and our teachers by returning to campuses too early?”

Shortly after the statement was released, both the United Teachers of LA and the LAUSD denounced Buscaino’s statement, with the latter affirming that it will continue to follow the state’s roadmap, which states that counties in the purple tier cannot reopen its schools.

“Grandstanding political stunts like this are precisely why schools in Los Angeles remain closed,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said in a statement.

“Elected leaders from Sacramento to Los Angeles City Hall need to put deeds behind their words and take the steps necessary to actually put schools and the children they serve first.”

Beutner referenced the longstanding urgent state of the county, saying, “San Francisco authorities worked together and brought the rate of infection under control and the area has for some time met the state standard for reopening, but Los Angeles is a national example of how governmental dysfunction has allowed the virus to rampage out of control.” n

ue of community involvement and civic leadership.

Young Filipino-Americans have a special and essential role to play in the fabric of this nation, and in the future of the U.S.-Philippine relationship. IMPACT! can be the impetus for you to step up and engage.”

Last year’s inaugural IMPACT! Program selected six candidates from all over the U.S. with a strong interest in civic leadership nationally and in their communities.

Kathleen Mallari was one of the selected few for the IMPACT! Program 2020 and she was placed at the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) in Washington, D.C. Six months after the program upon Kathleen’s graduation from her University, she said, “This program helped shape my post-college career…honestly, my placement with CAPAL and my internship with them…gave me the edge I needed to ultimately get hired.”

Another selected participant, Clarissa Cabil, was placed at the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project.

Of the program she said, “The IMPACT Program provided me with the opportunity to surround myself with brilliant minds from all over the world. This fellowship not only served as an invaluable and insightful experience in and of itself, but it opened up doors to various professional opportunities that I have not yet explored or discovered as an undergraduate nursing student before applying to the program.”

Interested candidates may apply here (bit.ly/ 3a8izMH) until Sunday, February 28, 2021.

For questions and further information, please reach out to USAI Director of International and Government Affairs Zev Moses at zev.moses@usasiainstitute.org. n

A4 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Essential but disposable: How California farmworkers battle the COVID-19 pandemic

by Jenny

Manrique Ethnic Media Services

Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) is among the contenders for California attorney general.

Photo courtesy of CA API Legislative Caucus

Support grows for Rob Bonta as CA’s next...

PAGE A1 t Since December, he has become a contender to fill the seat once Attorney General Xavier Becerra is confirmed as the Health and Human Services secretary for the Biden administration.

“Regardless of race, Assemblymember Bonta is the best candidate, most uniquely qualified, and most capable of leading as California Attorney General.

He was one of your earliest supporters for Governor, is a team player, and is a respected legislator who could help implement your agenda. He is trustworthy, dedicated, honest, and places the public interest first; he will be an asset to you and your Administration. Assemblymember Bonta is someone we can all be proud of,” reads the letter.

Signatories include state Treasurer Fiona Ma, elected officials in the California Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus and in various capacities across the state, and groups like the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats and the CalAsian Chamber of Commerce.

Several Fil-Am leaders, such as Sierra Madre Mayor Rachelle Arizmendi, Daly City Councilmember Ray Buenaventura, El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Quinto and Los Gatos Mayor Marico Sayoc, also threw their support.

The state’s API Legislative Caucus, which is comprised of lawmakers in the state Assembly and Senate, separately sent an endorsement letter endorsement this week. It previously called on Newsom to appoint an AAPI — and offered four candidates for consideration — to be the state’s next chief law enforcement officer.

But the caucus now says that while it “recognizes there are many highly qualified API candidates,” it is backing Bonta based on his track record before and during his service in the Assembly.

“During his tenure, he has distinguished himself as a leader among leaders, successfully authoring groundbreaking legislation to protect Californians in the areas of criminal justice reform, consumer protection, environmental policy, and many others,” said the Feb. 3 letter, signed by state Senator Richard Pan, who serves as the caucus chair.

Newsom this week said he would wait until Becerra’s confirmation before naming a successor.

“I’m very close to making that decision,” Newsom said during a press briefing in Oakland on Wednesday.

He added, “Our current attorney general is still the current attorney general, [and] has not been formally confirmed by

the United States Senate, and so the timing of a public announcement will be determined on the basis of that confirmation.”

Other candidates vying for the seat include Rep. Adam Schiff and state Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, according to various reports.

Bonta, who was born in Quezon City, Philippines, immigrated with his family to California’s Central Valley, where his parents worked for the United Farm Workers of America, organizing Filipino and Mexican American workers. Prior to his election to the state Assembly in 2012, Bonta was San Francisco’s deputy city attorney for nearly a decade, and served as director of the Alameda Health Care District and then vice mayor of Alameda.

The growing support for Bonta also comes from high-profile personalities and celebrities, and unions like the California Faculty Association and the United Teachers Los Angeles.

“Pleased to support @RobBonta for CA AG. Rob is a trailblazer & progressive champion for justice, opportunity, equity & inclusion. He is the 1st Filipino American state legislator in the history of CA & would be the 1st Filipino American AG,” actor Lou Diamond Philipps wrote in a tweet. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress)

IN addition to high risk exposure to COVID-19, farmworkers in California have borne the brunt of setbacks caused by the pandemic: loss of income and employment, sudden childcare costs due to school closings, problems with distance learning due to poor or zero Internet access, food shortages, housing insecurity and even mental health problems.

The dire diagnosis was compiled in the report “Always Essential, Perpetually Disposable: California Farm Workers and the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a research conducted by the California Institute for Rural Studies and several grassroots organizations.

“The study findings show that farmworkers and their families experience a lot of reality and a lot of fear,” said co-author Bonnie Bade, professor of anthropology at California State University in San Marcos, who spoke at a Feb. 3 video press conference.

“The reality is the job loss and loss of income, unsafe and high risk working conditions,, lack of health insurance and sick leave, housing insecurity, deportation and death,” she added.

“The fear is of being exposed at work and infecting their children, of not being able to put food on the table, of not having the technological resources to support distance learning … fear of eviction, fear of testing positive and being intubated in a hospital and dying alone.”

The report includes stories collected through 63 in-depth interviews as a follow-up to the statewide COVID-19 Farmworkers Survey (COFS) of 915 people last year, in response to the overwhelming number of indigenous and Latino people in the fields falling sick from COVID. Although the data shared is from California, the complete study tracks workers in the fields of Oregon and Washington.

“The mental health of farmworkers’ families emerges as a primary concern voiced by participants,” Bade said. “Working women sacrifice wages to stay home and navigate an unfamiliar world of computers to keep kids online, while isolated teens contemplate and commit suicide.”

Prevention practices against the coronavirus in the fields are almost nil and some bosses even refuse to give the workers basic resources such as masks, alcohol and soap. Although farmers try to keep physical distance, many should carpool with colleagues or live in shared houses with other families, increasing the risk of infection.

Federal or state aid provided during the pandemic is delayed or directly denied to this population, according to those interviewed.

Filipino farmworkers pick table grapes in a field near Poplar, California in the San Joaquin Valley. Most workers wear facemasks or bandanas as a protection against spreading the coronavirus. Teresita Mateo came from Laoag, in Ilocos Norte province of the Philippines.

Photo by David Bacon

“We asked them for masks and they (bosses) just laughed.

And we asked for soap to wash our hands, and they (bosses) just laughed. Several of my coworkers and I called Cal OSHA (California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration), to ask for help before we could get infected. They told us that they were going to send letters and that they were going to talk to our boss but they never did anything.”

Eliseo’s testimony was shared

by Erica Fernandez Zamora, a community organizer for the California Central Valley Environmental Justice Network, who interviewed residents in the San Joaquin Valley.

“Barriers for farmworkers to report COVID-19-related complaints should be eased, and they must be protected from retaliation,” Fernandez Zamora said.

“Agencies like Cal OSHA should bolster health and safety enforcement for these workers.”

Another concern for the campesinos is that many belong to mixed-status families who were excluded from receiving financial relief in the first round of stimulus checks.. The incoming Biden administration has said that a social security number is not needed to access such relief going forward.

Community based organizations (CBOs) and migrant clinics have taken the state’s place in providing food and rent relief through the few donations they receive. They also distribute sombreros, working gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE), and ensure that information about COVID-19 is available not only in Spanish, but in indigenous and Asian languages.

“Many times public information is shared in academic Spanish format and even that can be inaccessible to Spanish-speaking communities,” said Paola Araceli Illescas, another researcher who works at the Vista community clinic that serves north county in San Diego. For this study, a total of 15 interviews were conducted in other languages than Spanish

and English.

“CBOs are often trusted messengers for the community and can be key to dispelling any fears of misunderstandings caused by threats of public charge,” added Araceli, referring to the test to determine whether someone who is applying for permanent residency or some other immigration relief, may become dependent on federal public benefits in the future.

This public charge, which Biden has vowed to eliminate, has resulted in farmers’ reluctance to even get tested for COVID-19 and increased vaccine hesitancy.

“I watched on the news that the hospitals are at full capacity and I am very scared because I don’t have health insurance and I feel that my life as an undocumented person is not as valuable as saving the life of a US citizen,” said Rodolfo, 46, one of those interviewed for the report.

“We’re exposing ourselves every day to this virus and we don’t have the good fortune to be able to work from home,” said Martin, concerned about the reduction in his salary. “You can’t harvest from a computer.”

The researchers emphasized the need for the California legislature to pass SB 562, the Healthy California Act, which guarantees access to health for all Californians regardless of their immigration status.

“It’s time to prioritize free access to COVID testing and vaccination for farmworkers and other essential undocumented workers,” said Deysi Merino-González of the Farmworker CARE coalition in San Diego.

“I hope that the next relief package will prioritize their legalization … Farmworkers are the backbone of the nation’s food system, the food they give us supports the immune system attacked by this pandemic,” added Merino González.

The report also includes other recommendations such as investing in broadband internet infrastructure in rural California and including farmworkers in developing response plans for future emergencies. n

Housing rights clinic offers in-language help for Fil-Am, AAPI communities in SoCal AS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect daily life, nonprofit organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles is expanding its free legal services to now include housing rights and anti-discrimination for the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in the greater Southern California region.

In response to the surge in racism against AANHPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Advancing Justice-LA, says, “Over the past year, there have been over

3,000 reported incidents of hate.

Members of our community are struggling with this growing discrimination while also working hard to keep and obtain essential safe housing. We know that limited-English proficient individuals are too often underserved so we are here to keep them housed and protected during this tumultuous time.”

Advancing Justice-LA is providing free monthly one-on-one clinics to low-income and limited-English AANHPI community members who are in need of assistance with landlord ha-

rassment, eviction notices, lease disputes, and many other issues.

In collaboration with Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA), expert legal assistance will be provided by staff attorneys, accredited pro-bono attorneys, and DOJ accredited representatives. All consultation is online and confidential.

It will be offered every second Tuesday every month, beginning Tuesday, February 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. PST. To register, the community can call 855-300-2552 for Tagalog or 888-349-9695 for English. (AJPress)

CA partners with Biden admin for mass vaccination sites in LA, Oakland CALIFORNIA will open COVID-19 community vaccination sites in Oakland and Los Angeles later this February as part of a pilot project with the Biden-Harris administration.

The pilot sites will be located at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum and California State University, Los Angeles as part of the new administration’s pledge to establish 100 vaccination sites nationwide as part of the first 100 days in office.

The sites will be co-run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of California through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

“In the fight against COVID19, partnership is key, especially when it comes to reaching Californians in underserved areas,” said Newsom. “These new sites will help us get available supply to some of the California communities most in need. I thank the Biden Administration for standing with us as we continue our efforts to safely, swiftly and equitably vaccinate all Califor-

nians.”

“Both of these sites are perfect examples of how FEMA is working around the clock to support state led, federally supported vaccine delivery,” said Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton. “Today’s announcement is a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to ensure every American who wants a vaccine will receive a vaccine.”

FEMA will provide resources and federal staffing support to establish these new community vaccination centers as well as operational support.

The two locations chosen for these efforts are in some of the most diverse and socioeconomically challenged communities in the country. They are also communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and are home to essential workers who have borne the brunt of keeping the economy open over the past year.

The goal of establishing these joint federal pilot sites is to continue to expand the rate of vaccinations in California in an ef-

ficient, effective and equitable manner, with an explicit focus on making sure that communities with a high risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection are not left behind.

In order to expand the reach of these state-federal sites further into the communities, each of these new sites will be paired with two mobile vaccination clinics which can be deployed to multiple locations to amplify and provide distribution to areas that otherwise lack sufficient support.

Preparations and buildout of these two locations are now underway and the sites are expected to be open to eligible members of the public beginning February 16. Registration for vaccine appointments at these two sites will be available through the state’s MyTurn scheduling system in the coming days.

The State of California is coordinating closely with FEMA to ensure the vaccine doses used at these sites will not decrease the available supply for other sites in the hosting counties. (AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

PAL to gut over 2,000 jobs

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is expected to lay off 2,300 jobs in mid-March as the airline weathers the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on travel demand.

The cuts represent about 30% of its workforce, including both voluntary separations and involuntary retrenchment, the com-

pany announced on Tuesday, February 2.

“This has been an extremely difficult and painful decision. For our colleagues who are leaving, rest assured that we are committed to support you through this transition,” PAL President Gilbert Santa Maria said in a statement.

“We extend to you our deepest gratitude for your years of hard work and dedicated service, and

we will always cherish the ties you have established with the PAL family,” he added.

PAL first announced its retrenchment program in October 2020 amid the pandemic.

“Prior to the retrenchment, PAL chose to implement temporary furloughs and flexible working arrangements to hold off job cuts as long as possible…,” the airline said.

It added that it also ensured that its employees continued to receive salaries and benefits, particularly medical benefits, during the height of the pandemic.

From January to September last year, PAL booked financial losses worth P29.03 billion.

PAL owner Lucio Tan provided around P6 billion in capital to the airline to keep it afloat. The airline said it will continue to gradually increase international and domestic flights as demand recovers.

Budget carriers Cebu Pacific and AirAsia also retrenched employees due to the pandemic. n

PH ranks 55th in global Democracy Index

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

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

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

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

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

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

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

Globally, Norway topped the index with an average of 9.81,

followed by Iceland (9.37), Sweden (9.26), New Zealand (9.25), and Canada (9.24) The EIU Democracy Index provides a snapshot of the state of world democracy for 165 independent states and two territories. It is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture.

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

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

“Our democratic institutions are working, we have an independent judiciary, an independent legislative department, and of course, an executive department that is always the victim of criticisms,” he added.

Roque also noted that the Philippines was several places ahead of some of its Southeast Asian neighbors — Indonesia (64), Thailand (73), Singapore (74),

Myanmar (135), Vietnam (137) and Laos (161).

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

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

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

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021

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A6 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Rewarding abuse of force

Features

IT looks like the excessive use of force pays well in Philippine law enforcement.

In 2014, Hansel Marantan and 12 other officers were dismissed from the Philippine National Police in connection with the killing of 13 men in an alleged armed encounter in Atimonan, Quezon in January 2013.

The 13 were part of a convoy that included suspected gambling lord Victor Siman, two soldiers as well as an environmental advocate, Tirso Lontok, a community organizer of the Luntiang Alyansa para sa Bundok Banahaw.

In 2017 when Marantan and his co-accused were granted bail, Sen. Leila de Lima, who was the justice secretary when the killings took place, claimed Siman was eliminated because he was a rival in jueteng operations of Marantan’s sister.

De Lima also pointed to evidence bolstering the charges that there was no armed encounter and the 13 were executed.

The National Police Commission brushed aside all of these and reinstated Marantan to the PNP in 2017. Last week, with his criminal case still unresolved, Marantan was among 16 police officials promoted to the rank of colonel. The PNP

explained that Marantan, as intelligence chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, was credited for the arrest last December of New People’s Army leader Romeo Aytona Jr. in Quezon City.

In 2017, then PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said he would not have approved Marantan’s reinstatement. Dela Rosa, now a senator, has said in interviews that one thing he would have done differently in the brutal campaign against illegal drugs code-named Oplan Tokhang, which he had implemented, would be a thorough cleanup of the PNP before the war on drugs was launched.

The same strategy should be employed in the general campaign against criminality. Rewarding PNP officers with a propensity for the unnecessary use of lethal force is going in the opposite direction. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Commentary

enrique

de la Cruz

IT has almost been a month since the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol, yet a pre-occupation on this event lingers as reports of who got identified and arrested mount.

As journalists and scholars continue to examine aspects of this event, it is disturbing that participants, while predominantly white, come from a broad cross section of American society. They include off-duty police officers, firefighters, Army veterans, an Olympic gold medalist, an occupational therapist, a county commissioner, a real estate broker, a medical doctor, a company CEO, and a member of a state legislature. Most disturbing of all is the reported participation of a former Navy Seal, who served in intelligence branches and was trained to evaluate the quality of the information and distinguish information from disinformation. Despite his training, he continues to believe conspiracy theories about widespread election fraud. How can this be?

As a college professor, I trade in information and knowledge.

Like any self-respecting merchant, I have to carefully vet the goods that I trade in. Today’s internet has become a valuable and convenient source of information and knowledge. But it is also awash with rumors, misinformation and disinformation, not to mention outright falsehoods that appeal to our biases, implicit and explicit. It is now much more challenging to winnow the chaff from the grains of information and knowledge from this source. But it is not impossible, if we armor ourselves with the right tools. I offer two for this task.

Philstar.com photo

How do you know? Information vs mis-/dis-information

1. Be aware of your biases.

“Know thyself” as Socrates would say. (The phrase actually predates even Socrates as it is one of the maxims inscribed on a pediment at the Greek temple of Apollo at Delphi.)

It is excellent advice, especially as the internet engulfs us in a tsunami of information, much of it is of questionable provenance. When it comes to filtering out good from bad information, we are often handicapped by our own biases, especially our implicit biases, for we are often unaware of them.

Yet they predispose us for or against things that come our way. Self awareness helps us keep these in check so we can be more objective in our assessment.

There is a particularly insidious form of bias, confirmation bias. It is our tendency to favor information that supports our beliefs and disregard others. We see it illustrated in those crime and detective stories where an investigator focuses on a suspect while ignoring other possible suspects. It is also the stock in trade of crime and mystery stories where we are set up to think that a particular character is the perpetrator of the crime only to be told otherwise at the final reveal. As readers we are manipulated by the writer to ignore or miss other clues. Yet we often do this to ourselves as we ignore information that does not support our beliefs and focus on those that do.

Unchecked, this tendency can have dangerous consequences. As we cherry pick from the smorgasbord of information from various sources, we construct a reality with holes like a block of Swiss cheese.

Sometimes we stub our toe on what we thought was not there; it hurts, but we take note, and move on. Less often but more

seriously, we fall through bigger holes, like a manhole we did not see, into an abyss of ignorance or conspiracy theories.

Or into an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole where things are not what they seem, and words do not mean what we say.

Olivia Nuzzi, White House correspondent for New York Magazine, likens her experience of trying to cover the Trump administration like falling into an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole: “I don’t know how long it will take to get over how disorienting it has been to report on people who have no shared reality with you. It’s been weird to learn the language of liars and figure out how to decode what people say when they never say what they mean. It’s been four years of trying to navigate this universe populated entirely by people who have absolutely no commitment to the truth. I’ll be unpacking it in therapy for years and years to come.”

The internet, especially platforms like YouTube, Google, and Facebook have developed algorithms that track the sites you watch or visit and throw up “suggestions.” If you pursue these suggestions, you might find yourself in a huge echo chamber of information that supports your interests.

We have all been there. I have clicked on a story or advert on Google or Facebook, and soon find my pages inundated with similar adverts or stories. I have clicked on a story about LeBron James, and in my next search find many more stories about LeBron than I care about.

I click on an advert for a woodworking tool on my Facebook page and pretty soon more adverts for woodworking tools are showing up on my page. Based on a video you watch, YouTube will have a whole list of sugges-

tions about additional videos to watch. YouTube and social media platforms have become very adept at feeding you information based on your “perceived” interests and biases. And if we passively follow these suggestions, a world can be constructed based on these. A critical awareness of what these social platform algorithms are doing is just as essential as being aware of our biases in order to build rails that will keep us grounded and keep us from falling into those rabbit holes 2. When it comes to information, the quality of the information, and its source matters.

In the early days of the pandemic, the internet, through Youtube and social media platforms was flooded with alleged cures and treatments, from blowing hairdryers into your nose to ingesting disinfectants, to the alleged efficacy of drugs like hydroxycloroquine. This last was spread by a Beverly Hills doctor who claimed in a video that she had effectively treated COVID-infected patients with this malarial drug. Trump was among those who retweeted her video. She was one of those arrested and charged for participating in the putsch at the Capitol.

YouTube as a media and social networking platform is an excellent source of entertainment, and information (think DIY projects, baking and cooking shows). It has also become a way of sharing ideas (think TED talks, and video blogs, and video channels). But as in movies and infomercials, the moving image is also highly constructed, so the admonition, “buyer beware,” applies.

In assessing the quality of information, the qualifications of the source matters. A judge or lawyer who warns me that I may

well be engaging in a criminal act, would most likely be giving me sound advice about stuff that I am contemplating. If my accountant warns me that taking a tax deduction on a particular expense, might well trigger an IRS audit, I would be well advised to take his word for it.

When the president of the U.S. alleges widespread election fraud, but is contradicted by his Attorney General, it would be wise to suspend judgment and await further confirmation for these conflicting assertions.

And when in doubt, and taking a deeper dive, it is vital to be aware of the misinformation that abounds.

The process thru which the information was obtained or generated matters. Double blind studies are explicitly designed to eliminate experimenter bias and are critical when huge economic benefits (or loses) turn on the outcomes as in the current efforts to develop a COVID19 vaccine.

There is a reason why treatments for diseases are supervised by health authorities, and are often required to undergo clinical trials before approval for general use. Clinical trials are the means thru which a drug is evaluated by enrolling hundreds if not thousands of test subjects under controlled conditions. It is thru these trials that outliers—untoward incidents---involving the drug are individually examined. Anecdotal stories are just that, a story about a sample of one, most likely in an uncontrolled environment.

It is important to always ask, “how did you know?” when given information. Theories, as in conspiracy theories, need to be taken, not just with a grain of salt, but with a shaker full of salt, for they have many moving parts that all need to be subjected to critical scrutiny.

Statistical projections are a good example of how the quality of the data impacts the results.

“Garbage in, garbage out”, as the saying goes. In the case of hydroxycloroquine, for example, this is a drug commonly used to treat malaria, an illness caused by a parasite. It is generally available and relatively cheap in regions where malaria is common. But to suggest it is effective against covid, is to say that it will help the patient get better. The basis of this, “will help” is critical. Is it based on anecdotal stories or controlled clinical trials?

Many of those who participated in the Jan. 6 putsch at the Capitol were most likely just mis-informed, and uncritically fell for the disinformation and conspiracy theories spread thru the internet. Some may just have stubbed their toes, but others may find it difficult to regain a shared sense of reality with other Americans.

Constructing rails that will keep us grounded in reality is challenging. But we stand a good chance of success, if we are self aware of our biases and rather than accepting information at face value, we take a moment examine its source, and how it was generated. The latter is the essence of the scientific method; a method of knowing that has helped mankind get beyond the dark ages into the modern era. It can help us avoid the dark areas of the internet where misinformation and disinformation abound. *** 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.

••• Enrique de la Cruz is Professor Emeritus of Asian American Studies at Cal State University, Northridge.

I was a 22-year-old new mom when my heart stopped and almost died Commentary

Jenylyn Carpio MY name is Jenylyn Carpio and I’m a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. In July 2005, I was 22 years old and a brand new mom to a baby girl, and on the afternoon of July 11, my life changed.

I was visiting my mom in San Diego with my daughter. Being new to motherhood, my mom offered to spend time with my daughter so I could take a nap following lunchtime. I remember laying down on the bed and closing my eyes, then regaining consciousness to my mom perform-

ing CPR on me. My mom, who works in the health care field, said I had sudden cardiac arrest.

That is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating unexpectedly, often without warning.

I was taken immediately to the hospital and doctors ran a number of tests. I was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome and Complete Heart Block based on my medical history and my heart rate not responding to treatment. The following day I received my first implantable cardioverter defibrillator, known as ICD for short. An ICD is a battery-powered device placed under the skin that keeps track of your heart rate. Thin wires connect the ICD to your heart.

If an abnormal heart rhythm is detected the device will deliver an electric shock to restore a

normal heartbeat if your heart is beating chaotically and much too fast.

I was a new mom, a wife, a college student, and now a young woman who was going to rely on a battery-powered heart.

Everything felt like it was happening so fast and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I went through a long period of healing and during that healing period I’ve learned about the importance of maintaining my heart health, being aware of my family medical history, and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Life can be so fast-paced and we women often put ourselves and our well-being on the backburner. Women often hold multiple roles and wear many hats in their day-to-day lives, and many of us end up putting our own hearts in second or even

third place on our daily to-do lists.

Thanks to the support of the American Heart Association, I’ve learned a lot more about my own heart, as well as the importance of staying active and leading a healthier lifestyle. I’ve participated in a number of running events, annual AHA Heart Walks, volunteered at AHA events — sometimes dressed as the mascot, Ticker — and I’ve been an active parent volunteer at my daughter’s school, especially for her Marching Band and Drumline program.

And as a volunteer and local ambassador for the AHA’s Go Red for Women movement, I often share my experience to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and the lifesaving power of CPR. If it weren’t for my mom springing into action with CPR

that day, I would have missed so many milestones and memories with my family.

But my heart health journey is not over. In 2018, I had another heart health scare and, in July of last year, I had my ICD replaced for the fourth time in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m truly grateful for the care I received during that scary time.

It’s been an ongoing journey with my heart health. However, I hope I can lead by example and inspire others to keep going in the face of adversity and take care of their heart.

I’m sharing my heart story in hopes of letting fellow survivors and those affected by cardiovascular disease know that you are not alone in your journey.

Through support, knowledge and incorporating healthy habits into our daily lives, we can

continue to grow, thrive and live fiercely every day.

Lastly, I want to encourage each and every one of you to take a few minutes to learn Hands-Only CPR. It involves two simple steps that could save lives, including someone you love.

When you see a person collapse and unresponsive, the American Heart Association recommends the following steps: 1) call 911 immediately or ask someone nearby, then 2) push hard and fast at the center of the chest until first responders arrive. Please visit heart.org/ HandsOnlyCPR to learn more. *** 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.

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021

STOP THE SURGE BROOMS FOR SALE. Several brooms are on display at a shop along Marilaque Highway in Cogeo, Antipolo City on Thursday, February 4. The government has allowed selected businesses to operate in a limited capacity as long as they follow health protocols amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

Lawmakers can’t be prevented from pushing for charter change — Palace

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — Congress cannot be prevented from pushing for charter change, Malacañang said on Thursday, February 4 after some mayors expressed concern about the timing of efforts to amend the Constitution.

Voting 62-3, the House constitutional amendments committee approved last Tuesday, February 2 Resolution of Both Houses No. 2, which aims to give Congress the flexibility to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The resolution seeks to add “unless otherwise provided by law” to the charter’s economic provisions, an amendment that

lawmakers said would relax limits on foreign ownership in some industries and attract more investments.

Mayors Joy Belmonte of Quezon City and Toby Tiangco of Navotas have expressed belief that it is not the right time to amend the charter. Belmote has said the proposed amendments to the charter should have been brought up during the start of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term to dispel the public’s suspicions about the matter. Tiangco, meanwhile, has said local governments have no time to talk about charter change because they are busy helping their pandemic-affected constituents.

Presidential spokesman Harry

Roque, however, said it’s the job of lawmakers to introduce changes to the Constitution.

“Well, we respect the views of these mayors of course but we also have to respect the work of Congress to push for these things,” the Palace spokesman said at a press briefing.

“No one can interfere with the power of Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution.

It’s their job,” he added.

There are suspicions that charter change would be used to lift the term limits of officials but lawmakers deny this, saying only the economic provisions would be reviewed. Duterte has assured the public that he does not intend to stay in power beyond his term. n

American, 3 others nabbed in Pampanga cybersex den raid – PNP

by Consuelo

mARquez

Inquirer.net

LAW enforcers have arrested an American and his three accomplices for allegedly operating a cybersex den in Angeles City, Pampanga, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday, February 3.

The PNP identified the suspects as Easton Scot Sanderson, 34; Reneilyn Robles, 22; Jann Mondejar, 23; and Shirley Martinez, 22. They were collared Tuesday evening in Sanderson’s

house in Barangay Malabanias.

Two women aged 18 and 19 were also rescued by police during the operation.

According to authorities, the Police Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit-3 led by Lt. Col. Nelvin Ricohermoso hatched the operation against the suspects, who were allegedly recruiting women and forcing them to engage in sexual acts that will then be recorded and uploaded on pornographic sites.

The PNP said its Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) will conduct further investigation to identify

the pornographic sites where the suspects uploaded the videos, and use them as evidence in the complaints.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Idebrandi Usana said the ACG has been working with the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) to address transnational crimes such as cybercrime and human trafficking in the country.

The PNP said the four suspects will be charged for violating the Anti-Human Trafficking Act in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. n

Wear a mask

Stay home

Washing hands frequently

Stay 6 feet apart

covid19.ca.gov

A7

Dateline PhiliPPines

A8 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

PAUNAWA NG PAGPAPATIBAY NG RESOLUSYON SA INTENSYON NG LUPON NG MGA SUPERBISOR NG COUNTY NG SAN DIEGO NA ISAALANG-ALANG ANG MGA MUNGKAHI PARA SA PAGBEBENTA O PAGPAPAUPA AT PAGPAPAUNLAD NG LUPA NG MGA ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER (PARSELA NG TAGATASA BLG) 281-182-17 AT 281-182-18 (MATATAGPUAN SA PAGITAN NG 12TH AT 13TH STREET SA UNINCORPORATED (SA LABAS NG TERITORYO NA KOMUNIDAD NG RAMONA) Ang Paunawa ay ibinibigay sa pamamagitan nito na pinagtibay ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor ng County ng San Diego (“Lupon”) ang RESOLUSYON SA INTENSYON NG LUPON NG MGA SUPERBISOR NG COUNTY NG SAN DIEGO NA ISAALANG-ALANG ANG MGA MUNGKAHI PARA SA PAGBEBENTA O PAGPAPAUPA AT PAGPAPAUNLAD NG LUPA NG MGA ASSESSOR PARCEL 281-182-17 AT 281182-18 (MATATAGPUAN SA PAGITAN NG 12TH AT 13TH STREET SA NA KOMUNIDAD NG RAMONA) para sa mga layunin ng pagpapaunlad at pagpapatakbo sa komunidad ng abot-kayang panggrupong pabahay para sa nakakatanda, kabilang ang senior community center (sentrong pangkomunidad para sa nakakatanda).

Kahilingan para sa mga Pahayag ng mga Kwalipikasyon) mula sa mga interesadong panig, at pagkatapos ay pagpapahintulot sa mga piniling nagmungkahing pursigidong magkaroon ng mga naaangkop na kwalipikasyon upang tumugon sa Request for Proposals (“RFP,” Kahilingan para sa mga Mungkahi), kung saan ang mga mungkahi ay matatanggap sa pampublikong pagpupulong ng Lupon mga Superbisor gaya ng inilalarawan sa ibaba; at YAMAN DIN LAMANG, dapat pagtibayin ng County ang Resolusyong ito alinsunod sa Kodigo ng Pamahalaan Seksyon 25515.2 bago tumanggap ang mga mungkahi; at YAMAN DIN LAMANG, ang paunawa sa pagpapatibay ng Resolusyong ito at ang oras at lugar ng pampublikong pagpupulong ay dapat ibigay sa pamamagitan ng paglalathala ng Resolusyong ito nang hindi bababa sa isang beses kada linggo sa loob ng tatlong linggo bago ang pampublikong pagpupulong na inilalarawan sa ibaba.

Tatanggapin at ihaharap ang mga mungkahi sa Lupon ng mga Superbisor sa pampublikong pagdinig sa Marso 2, 2020, na sa panahong iyon ay tatanggapin ang pampublikong testimonya.

Magpupulong ang Lupon ng 9:00 a.m. sa Board Chambers SAMAKATUWID, (Kamara ng Lupon) ng NGAYON, County Administration Center nawa’y ito ay maresolba bilang (Sentrong Pangasiwaan ng sumusunod: County), Seksyon 1. Ipinapahayag ng Isang kopya ng resolusyon sa Lupon ng mga Superbisor na layong isinasaalang-alang ang ito ang layunin nitong isaalangmga mungkahi ang kinokopya alang ang mga mungkahi para sa ibaba at nakapaskil sa sa pagbebenta o pagpapaupa Office of the Clerk (Tanggapan at pagpapaunlad ng lupang ng Klerk) ng Lupon ng mga Ari-arian para sa panggrupong Superbisor, Room 402, ng pabahay para sa nakakatanda County Administration Center at mga kaugnay na paggamit. sa Pacific Highway, San Diego Seksyon 2.

Ang mga California, 92101, dokumentong RFSQ ay Ang paunawang ito at ang makukuha sa Department of buod ay inilathala alinsunod General Services, Real Estate sa Kodigo ng Pamahalaan mga Services Division (Kagawaran mga Pangkalahatang Seksyon 25515.2, at ng aksyon ng ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor Serbisyo, Dibisyon ng mga noong Enero 2, 1979 na nag- Serbisyo para sa Tunay na aawtorisa sa mga publikasyon. Ari-arian) ng County, 5560 Overland Avenue, Suite 410, Ang mga sumusunod ay San Diego, California 92123. ang Resolusyon gaya ng 3.

Ang mga inaprubahan ng Lupon ng mga Seksyon RFP ay Superbisor noong 10/27/2020: dokumentong makukuha sa Department of General Services, Real Estate Resolusyon Blg.: 20-168 Services Division ng County, Petsa ng Pagpupulong: 5560 Overland Avenue, Suite 10/27/2020 (09) 410, San Diego, California 92123.

RESOLUSYON SA INTENSYON NG LUPON NG MGA SUPERBISOR NG COUNTY NG SAN DIEGO NA ISAALANG-ALANG ANG MGA MUNGKAHI PARA SA PAGBEBENTA O PAGPAPAUPA AT PAGPAPAUNLAD NG LUPA NG MGA ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 281-182-17 AT 281-182-18 (MATATAGPUAN SA PAGITAN NG 12TH AT 13TH STREET SA UNINCORPORATED NA KOMUNIDAD NG RAMONA) Sa mosyon ni Superbisor Jacob na sinegundahan ni Superbisor Gaspar, pinagtibay ang sumusunod na resolusyon: YAMAN DIN LAMANG, pagaari ng County ng San Diego (“County”) ang humigitkumulang 7.96 na acre ng lupang matatagpuan sa pagitan ng 12th at 13th Street sa unincorporated na komunidad ng Ramona, County ng San Diego, California (“Ari-arian”).

Kilala rin ang Ari-arian bilang mga Assessor Parcel Number 281-182-17 at 281-182-18.

Seksyon 4. Ang lahat ng tugon sa RFSQ at RFP ay isusumite bilang pagsunod sa mga iniaatas na itinakda ng General Services, Real Estate Services Division ng County.

Seksyon 5. Ang mga tugon sa RFP ay tatanggapin ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor bilang mga sumusunod: Ang mga kuwalipikadong mungkahing isinumite alinsunod sa lahat ng iniaatas ng RFP ay tatanggapin ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor sa regular nitong naka-iskedyul na pagpupulong sa Marso 2, 2021 ng 9:00 a.m. sa regular nitong lugar ng pagpupulong sa chambers sa Room 310 sa County Administration Center at 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92101.

Tatanggapin lamang ng County ang mga mungkahing mula sa mga developer (tagapagpaunpad) na gagawing kuwalipikado ng Direktor, Department of General Services, sa pakikipagsangguni sa Direktor, Housing and Community Development Services (Mga Serbisyo sa Pagpapaunlad ng Pabahay at Komunidad sa YAMAN DIN LAMANG, pamamagitan ng RFSQ. ninanais ng County na isaalangalang ang mga mungkahi para Seksyon 6. Ang Paunawa sa sa pagbebenta o pagpapaupa pagpapatibay ng Resolusyong at pagpapaunlad ng lupa ng ito at ang oras at lugar ng Parcel para sa abot-kayang pagdaraos ng pampublikong panggrupong pabahay para sa pagpupulong na inilalarawan sa itaas ay ibibigay sa nakakatanda; at pamamagitan ng paglalathala YAMAN DIN LAMANG, ng resolusyon sa pahayagan ng alinsunod sa mga naaangkop pangkalahatang sirkulasyon sa na batas ng Estado ng loob ng County ng San Diego California, kabilang ang ng isang beses kada linggo sa Kodigo ng Pamahalaan mga loob ng tatlong linggo bago ang pagpupulong Seksyon 25515 hanggang pampublikong 25515.5, inaawtorisahan na na iyon. ang County na makibahagi sa isang kumpetitibong Seksyon 7. Pinananatili ng proseso ng solitisasyon para Lupon ng mga Superbisor sa pagbebenta o pagpapaupa ang karapatang tanggihan ang at pagpapaunlad ng lupa ng anuman o lahat ng mungkahi.

Ari-arian gamit ang proseso ng Kahilingan para sa mga INAPRUBAHAN NANG AYON SA PORMA AT LEGALIDAD Mungkahi; at TAGAPAYONG ABOGADO NG YAMAN DIN LAMANG, COUNTY ninanais ng County na gamitin Ni David Stotland, Nakakataas ang prosesong may dalawang na Deputadong Tagapayong hakbang sa pamamagitan ng Abogado ng County paghingi muna ng mga tugon 1/30, 2/6, 2/13/21 sa Request for Statements CNS-3436054# of Qualifications (“RFSQ,” ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

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New Armed Forces chief to troops: ‘Careful on red tagging’

by Darwin

Pesco ManilaTimes.net

LT. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), directed his men to be “very careful” when linking individuals to communist groups, as the burden of proof was on them.

In a television interview late Thursday, Sobejana said evidence should always be presented and told Armed Forces personnel to exercise due diligence.

Sobejana said the military should learn from the erroneous information that it had published, which resulted in the resignation of one official and another to go on leave.

The report, which identified a list of students from the University of the Philippines (UP)

prohibited troops from entering the campus without informing the school administration.

Lorenzana, however, was angered by the report and apologized to UP. Talks between DND and UP started on Thursday in what was described as a “positive development”.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesman, warned a journalist that she may be sued for her recent report on Aetas allegedly being tortured by soldiers.

New AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana ManilaTimes.net photo Parlade accused the writer of in DIliman, Quezon City, as Lorenzana who ordered the uni- allegedly “aiding the terrorists communists, caused a public lateral termination of an accord by spreading lies.”

Sobejana said he was looking uproar. It was released in sup- between UP and the Department port of Defense Secretary Delfin of National Defense (DND) that into Parlade’s allegation. n

US gives PH 7.25 billion in aid to safeguard environment WASHINGTON and Manila have signed a five-year bilateral assistance agreement worth P7.25 billion to protect the Philippine environment, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines said Wednesday, February 3.

The deal was made through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

“In partnership with national, provincial, and local governments, USAID will implement projects to increase access to clean energy and water; improve natural resource management; and protect the Philippines’ landscapes, wildlife, and fisheries,” USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II is quoted as saying in a statement released by the embassy.

“These projects support the Philippines’ and United States’ shared goal of preserving the Philippines’ world-renowned natural treasures while improving the lives of Filipinos and ensuring sustainable jobs,” Hardy added.

The U.S. Embassy said the deal is one of four development assistance agreements — all with a duration of five years — between USAID and the Philippine government valued at P32.7 billion launched either in 2020 or to be

launched in 2021.

Here are the three other agreements listed by the embassy: • USAID - Department of Health: “To improve underserved Filipinos’ well-being by strengthening health systems and improving the quality of health services, especially in treating tuberculosis and providing access to family planning services and community-based drug dependence treatment.”

• USAID - Department of Finance: “To accelerate inclusive, market-driven economic growth by advancing policies that increase investment and trade, promoting private-sector led innovation, and increasing information and communications technology access for the digital economy.”

• USAID - Department of Education: “To improve early grade reading; expand science and mathematics curricula; increase out-of-school youth access to education, professional training, and technical skills development that will lead to new job opportunities; and strengthen education governance.”

“Over the past 20 years, USAID has provided over P216 billion ($4.5 billion) to advance the country’s development goals,” the embassy also said. (Bella Perez-Rubio/Philstar.com)

Jobs, food, health top Pinoy concerns – survey by reD

menDoza ManilaTimes.net

EMPLOYMENT, food security, food accessibility, and access to health and nutrition programs are among the priority concerns of Filipinos, especially during pandemics and disasters, according to a survey commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

In its Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey conducted from November 3 to December 3 last year, 62.1% of surveyed households said they experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, with the highest among those in households with children and pregnant members.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, food insecurity is a state where “people are at risk or either suffering from food consumption to meet nutritional requirements as a result of the physical unavailability of food.”

The survey also said 71.8% of households purchased food on credit, 66.3% borrowed food from relatives or neighbors, 30.2% exchanged in barter and 21.1% reported that they limited their food consumption in favor of young children.

There had also been a decrease in the participation level of respondents in basic health and nutrition services, with participation in the Operation Timbang Plus service down to 51% in 2020 from 83%

in 2019, Vitamin A supplementation down 54.9% from 65.4%, deworming to 35.3% from 60.4%, and participation in supplementary feeding to 11.9% from 21.6%.

Almost 16% of women who participated in the survey said they were unable to attend prenatal checkups, citing a fear of getting the coronavirus as among the main reasons for not getting themselves checked.

Meanwhile, 14.2% of pregnant women did not take any vitamin or mineral supplements.

Despite having 60% of children aged zero to 23 months being breastfed during the current pandemic, with the same%age of children aged zero to 5.9 months being exclusively breastfed, only 20.1% of women had access to breastfeeding information from multiple media sources.

Almost two in 10 heads of households, or equivalent to 16.7%, lost their jobs during the pandemic, most of whom were registered in high-risk areas at 18.1%.

The same survey said 16.5% of heads of households had jobs, with the highest in medium-risk areas at 18.6%.

The survey, which replaced the yearly Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) in 2020, covered 5,717 households, equivalent to 7,240 individuals.

The respondents were asked through phone interviews using their mobile numbers from the previous ENNS survey in 2019. n

Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Bongbong Marcos ManilaTimes.net photos

SC resets deliberations on Marcos poll protest

by Jomar

canlas ManilaTimes.net

THE Supreme Court has rescheduled deliberations on the 2016 election protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The Manila Times has learned from a court insider that the deliberations of the court, sitting Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), were reset for Tuesday to give newly appointed Justice Jhoseph Lopez more time to study the draft resolution of Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor Leonen.

The case had dragged for more than a year before Leonen issued the draft resolution.

The source said Lopez will be given a week to pore over the Leonen resolution.

Leonen submitted the draft to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta and the other magistrates last January 12 before Lopez was appointed to the court.

Leonen personally handed the draft to the justices during an en banc session as a precaution against leakages.

It had Leonen’s unique watermark — Baybayin characters for the word “confidential” — on every page of the document.

Baybayin is the ancient Filipino writing system.

Leonen has also asked each Supreme Court magistrate to

sign for the copy of the draft, another safeguard against leakage, the court insider said.

The justice has been extra careful in protecting the confidentiality of the documents he issues after The Times obtained a copy of his reflections on the Marcos case in which he advocated its dismissal.

In the reflections’ footnote, Leonen had warned the court’s staff: “This is part of the internal deliberations of the Court.

Unauthorized disclosure, publication, or use of this document or any of its contents is classified as a grave offense and is punishable by suspension or dismissal from service.”

The reflections were among the documents submitted as evidence in the impeachment case filed against Leonen before the House of Representatives.

The protest has been pending before the PET for about four years, having been filed by Marcos on June 29, 2016.

It languished for three years with Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and more than a year with Leonen.

In the protest, Marcos questions the election results from 39,221 clustered precincts and accuses his rival Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo of “massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities.”

Marcos lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes. n

Comelec eyes online campaigning for 2022 by william

B. DePasuPil ManilaTimes.net

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

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

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

The poll body has discussed the matter with officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Jimenez said any changes in the method of campaigning in radio and television would require

amendments of election laws.

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

Jimenez said in the absence of a herd immunity, it would be in the best interest of all concerned to temporarily ban face-to-face campaigns to control the spread of Covid-19.

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

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

PHYSICAL DISTANCE. Passengers of the Metro Railway Transit-3 observe safe physical distancing as they arrive at the Quezon Avenue MRT-3 Station in Quezon City on Thursday, February 4. The railway has resumed operations as long as the minimum safety standards are followed.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

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Biden’s newest executive orders on immigration Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON February 2, 2021, Pres.

Biden issued several additional Executive Orders (EO) on immigration. They include: (a) establishing a task force to reunify families separated at the border; (b) developing a strategy to address the irregular migration across the southern border, including a plan for safe, lawful, and orderly migration to the U.S.; and (c) setting up a task force to “restore faith in our legal immigration system and promote integration of new Americans,” as well as rescinding

some of Trump’s public charge policies.

The White House’s Fact Sheet on these EO’s notes that during Pres. Biden’s first day in office, he took steps to “fortify protections for Dreamers, end the Muslim and African ban, halt border wall construction,” as well as sending a proposed immigration reform to Congress, the “United States Citizenship Act of 2021”, which seeks to “modernize our immigration system and smartly manage our borders, while addressing the root causes of migration.”

Pres. Biden’s strategy is based on the premise that our country is “safer, stronger, and more prosperous with a fair, safe and orderly immigration system that welcomes immigrants, keep families together, and allows people – both newly arrived immigrants and people who have lived here

for generations – to more fully contribute to our country.”

As part of his EO to restore faith in our legal immigration system, Pres. Biden will establish a “task force on new Americans,” to ensure our legal immigration system “operates fairly and efficiently.”

He instructs various governmental agencies to “conduct a top to bottom review” of Trump’s recent immigration regulations, policies, and guidance that have set up barriers to our legal immigration system.

More importantly, this particular EO rescinds or cancels Trump’s policy/memorandum “requiring family sponsors to repay the government if relatives receive public benefits.” It also instructs governmental agencies to review the public charge rule and related policies, as well as streamline the naturalization process.

BIDEN’S PROPOSED AMNESTY COULD POTENTIALLY HELP 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S. FEATURED THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (left) presents the latest in immigration news and information, including details of President Biden’s proposed amnesty and pathway to U.S. citizenship in eight (8) years, as featured on his YouTube channel, “US Immigration TV.” Atty. Gurfinkel also answers questions from Linda of New Jersey (right) and Lea of Cavite, Philippines (center). They ask if health issues could affect one’s eligibility for an immigrant visa, and if admitting drug use to doctors at St. Luke’s could result in a lifetime ban. Be sure to watch a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot” this Sunday, February 7 at 5:30 pm PST/EST (8:30 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

While this EO holds promise and is encouraging in terms of its pro-immigration tone, most of it appears to be setting up task forces to study the problems and make recommendations for future changes. However, at least it shows that Biden is focusing on taking a radical departure from Trump’s harsh enforcement policies, and is taking a very liberal, pro-immigration stance.

I will continue to keep you updated on further developments and changes to immigration laws and enforcement policies, and how those changes may affect you, your family, and your case. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

Viewers can soon rewatch ‘Cinderella’ starring Brandy and Paolo Montalban on Disney+

‘Cinderella’ starring Brandy, Fil-Am actor Paolo Montalban to stream on Disney+

By Ritchel

Mendiola

AJPress

BELOVED classic “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” starring Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Filipino American actor Paolo Montalban will finally be available to stream on Disney+ starting February 12.

Disney+ on Thursday, February 4, announced the launch of the musical on its streaming service.

“Anything is possible Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella arrives February 12 to #DisneyPlus. #Cinderella1997,” it said in a tweet.

The 1997 made-for-television version of “Cinderella” starred R&B singer and actress Brandy Norwood as the title princess, the late Whitney Houston as (Advertising Supplement) Fairy Godmother, actress and

comedian Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen, and Montalban as Prince Charming.

Directed by Robert Iscove, the musical featured an iconic soundtrack which included Rodgers & Hammerstein’s original songs “Impossible,” “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” “A Lovely Night,” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” among others.

“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” premiered on November 2nd, 1997 to sixty million viewers during “The Wonderful World of Disney” on ABC. It was celebrated for its diverse representation and musical numbers, earning seven Emmy Award nominations in 1998.

A Filipino netizen recently took to Twitter to celebrate PAGE B2

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

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 nomi-

nations 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 Beyoncé who leads the crop with six nods.

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

She rose to fame in 2009 after participating in Radio Disney’s “Next Big Thing.” At the age of 14, she signed to RCA Records and released the single “Something to Prove” under her real PAGE B3

The Grove, The Americana at Brand to celebrate the Year of the Ox TO mark the beginning of the Year of the Ox, The Grove in Los Angeles and The Americana at Brand in Glendale will celebrate the Lunar New Year with offerings in food, fashion, and more.

The celebration starts on Feb. 5 until Feb. 26.

Through the duration of the Lunar New Year celebration, the outdoor shopping and dining destinations will be adorned with traditional décor that guests can safely enjoy while taking advantage of special discounts from Charlotte Tilbury, David Yurman, Din Tai Fung, Laduree, See’s Candies, Sephora, Vince, and more.

In addition to these exciting retail offerings, several of the properties’ popular eateries

recently resumed outdoor dining, providing for a safe and fun environment for the whole family. At The Americana at Brand, guests who spent a total of $250+ in the same day will receive a commemorative Lunar New Year tote bag and complimentary parking.

The Grove and the Americana at Brand continue to observe COVID-19 protocols, such as face coverings, 6-feet social distancing, frequent cleaning, contactless hand sanitizier stations, and UV sanitization and covers at the valet.

The Ox is the second animal of the 12-year cycle which appears in the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Ox symbolizes diligence, dependability, strength, and determination. Having

great patience and a desire to make progress, people born in the ox year can achieve their goals by consistent effort and gain recognition through their hard work. They always have a definite plan before taking any action. As a result, people that are of the ox zodiac sign often enjoy great success. 2021 is the Year of “Metal” Ox which begins February 12, 2021 and ends on January 31, 2022.

For a full list of offers please visit The Grove (thegrovela. com) and The Americana at Brand (americanaatbrand. com).

The Grove is located at 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036. The Americana at Brand is located at 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210.

‘Cinderella’ starring Brandy, Fil-Am actor...

PAGE B1 the addition of the musical on Disney+, hailing its colorblind casting for including an actor of Filipino descent.

“Yes, Cinderella is absolutely iconic because of Brandy and Whitney — but Paolo Montalban was one of the first times I saw a Filipino person on screen. Huge,” the tweet read.

Montalban was born to Filipino parents in Manila, PhilipH.E.R. Photo from Instagram/@hermusicofficial pines before his family moved

to the United States when he was a year old.

Following “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” he appeared on Broadway in “The King and I,” “Pacific Overtures,” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” His TV credits include “Mortal Kombat: Conquest,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Madam Secretary,” and “The Blacklist.”

In 2020, he starred in the musical “The Girl Who Left

Home” by Mallorie Ortega, which tells the story of a Filpina American who’s forced to choose between saving her family restaurant from getting shut down, or continuing to pursue her life’s dream.

“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” will join the “Celebrate Black Stories” collection on Disney+, alongside “Soul,” “Black Is King,” “Black Panther,” “Hidden Figures” and more titles.

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Island Pacific expands private label with Filipino flavored creamers

Nominations for outstanding U.P. alumni extended thru Feb. 15

DUE to COVID-19 protocols, the nominations for outstanding and high-achieving U.P. Alumni, for the first Alumni Awards Program of The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) has been extended until midnight of February 15, 2021.

UPAAGLA aims to identify and recognize the contributions of exceptional U.P. alumni in the Greater Los Angeles area, from Kern County to Orange County in the following categories: Service, Leadership, Most Distinguished, Lifetime Distinguished, and Family Recognition. Details for the nomination including on-line nomina-

tion forms are available at www.upaagla.org/ awards.

Originally scheduled in the fall of 2020, the UPAAGLA Board of Directors have rescheduled the Alumni Awards Program on Saturday, March, 27, 2021, virtually via Zoom. According to Ethel Rubio, UPAAGLA President and Event Co-Chair, now is best time to hold the event.

Rubio together with her team hope the Awards program will not only bring some positivity and but more importantly inspire others to contribute to the community especially during this pandemic time.

Actor Darren Criss joins ‘The Voice’ NBC on Monday, February 1, announced that Criss will be one of this season’s Battle FILIPINO American actor Advisors, picked by Coach Nick Darren Criss has been revealed Jonas. to join the upcoming 20th seaCriss took to Instagram to son of “The Voice,” premiering express his thanks for being on March 1.

Jonas’ choice.

By AJPress

Darren Criss

Photo from Instagram/@darrencriss

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

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

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

Criss was born to a Cebuana mother and American father.

His notable roles include Blaine Anderson in the American musical comedy-drama television series “Glee” and Andrew Cunanan in “The Ass a s s i n a t i o n o f G i a n n i Ve rsace: American Crime Story,” for which he received Emmy, Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and Golden Globe awards.

Angelina bares biggest challenge at start of 1st acting project

By AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

GROWING up, Angelina Cruz usually spent her after-school hours with her parents, Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano, in their respective tapings. And seeing them in action on the set inevitably piqued her interest in acting.

“I have always been curious about how things worked,” she said.

Now, at 19, she’s no longer a mere spectator, as she finally stars in her first television show, the TV5 Sunday night sitcom “John En Ellen.”

“My mom’s reaction when I told her I wanted to pursue a show biz career, after receiving opportunities, was priceless. I could tell that she was excited and proud of me,” she told the Inquirer in a recent email interview.

“She told me not to let such opportunities slip away and to value them. And I did,” Angelina said of accepting the offer to play the role of Camille, the daughter of John Estrada and Ellen Adarna’s namesake characters in the show.

“The advice she gave me was to always work hard and stay humble, and, as much as possible, practice and work on my craft,” she added.

Angelina admitted that working with a cast of established actors, which also include Ronaldo Valdez, made her feel nervous at first. “It’s a breath of fresh air being able to work with them,” she said. “I’m glad my first television project is with these wonderful people because we all treat each other like family…

Angelina Cruz

We have grown closer.”

While she’s still learning the ropes as she goes along, Angelina can already see herself taking the craft seriously in the future. “As a beginner, I find acting to be challenging but fulfilling,” she said. “I can see it being my passion.”

The biggest challenge for Angelina at the moment is her Tagalog, which she vowed to work on. “I grew up with English as my first language at home and my school environment. I plan to overcome it by learning or mastering it by watching Filipino films, by speaking it, and

Photo from Instagram/@angelinaisabele

continually asking for advice from my mom,” she said.

Prior to her foray into acting, Angelina first tried her hand at singing which, she feels, “comes more naturally” to her.

But she’s optimistic that she will be able to juggle both music and acting.

“Since I pursued singing as a career first, I guess I can say I’m more familiar with it, unlike acting which is what I want to work on,” pointed out Angelina, who released a six-track, selftitled EP two years ago. “But I can see myself pursuing both acting and singing.”

H.E.R. scores Golden Globe...

PAGE B2 name in 2014.

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

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

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

H.E.R. received five nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019, winning Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album. The year after, she received three nominations: Song of the Year (“I Can’t Breathe”), and two for Best R&B Song (“Better Than I Imagine”

and “Slow Down”).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Island Pacific flavored creamers can be used in many recipes without needing to add hard-to-find exotic flavors of Ube, Manila Mango, and Buko Pandan. Traditional and clas-

Island Pacific’s Filipino flavored creamers come in five flavors from ube to buko pandan.

The flavored creamers can be used to make classic Filipino desserts like yema and pastillas.

sic recipes such as: Yema, Ube Spread, Pastillas, Halo-Halo, Ube Cake, Mango Tango Cake, Candies, Ube Leche Flan and Filipino flavored frosting is now easily accessible even to the novice culinarian.

Island Pacific is supermarket

chain dedicated to promoting Filipino food and seafood to the rest of the world. It is headquartered in Walnut, California and currently has 16 supermarket branches serving communities in California and Las Vegas.

(Advertising Supplement)

This Sunday on Citizen Pinoy: President Biden’s amnesty to potentially benefit 11M undocumented immigrants

LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel presents the latest in immigration news and analysis, and explains details of President Biden’s proposed immigration reforms, from his YouTube channel, “US Immigration TV.” He also answers questions from Kapamilya from the East

Coast and the Philippines.

Linda from Dumont, New Jersey asks if her sister’s health condition could affect her petition.

Lea from Cavite in the Philippines would like to know if admitting drug use to doctors at St. Luke’s could result in a lifetime ban.

These questions and more will be answered on the show.

Get the latest immigration updates on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot this Sunday, February 7 at 5:30 pm PST/EST (8:30 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

B4 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

ANNOUNCEMENT

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

EMPLOYMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT Northpointe Apartments Waitlist Opening – 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom Apartments Northpointe apartments in Long Beach, CA, will begin accepting preliminary applications for the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Resident rents are subsidized by the U.S Department of HUD. Some apartments may facilitate the physically impaired.

To have your name placed on the 1, 2 or 3 bedroom pre-application waiting list, please complete the coupon below and mail directly to: Northpointe Apartments 5441 N. Paramount Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90805 • The coupon must be sent via regular mail only.

• No coupon will be accepted by telephone, fax, hand delivery, certified/registered mail, Federal Express, UPS or other Express Mail option.

• The waiting list will remain open until further notice.

• Northpointe Apartments is not responsible for coupons lost in the mail.

Housing is available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Please clip the attached coupon and mail to the address indicated above.

APPLICANT NAME:

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EMPLOYMENT

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021

Clean green energy ETFs Tax Tips Victor Sy, cPA, mBA THE Biden presidency will boost energy energy stocks (solar, wind, fuel cell) especially if it extends the solar investment tax credit for residential and commercial property installations.

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Funds that are similar to Mutual Funds but trade like ordinary stocks. This is the first of four articles on clean energy.

ALPS Clean Energy (ACES): • ACES invests in a benchmark called Clean Energy Index.

• Its three top holdings are Tesla, Cree, and Enphase Energy.

• President Biden is at the forefront of clean energy from solar, wind and fuel cells.

• Investors, especially millennials, invest in companies that contribute to a sustainable future and reduce their carbon

(Part 1 of 4)

footprint Bloom Energy (BE): • Bloom Energy makes onsite generation systems utilizing fuel cells.

• The company’s customers represent diverse industries of health care, banking, media and communication, food and beverage, technology, and utilities, among others.

Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP): • Brookfield is one of the world’s largest publicly traded renewable energy companies.

• It operates a global, multitechnology platform - hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy generation facilities, as well as energy storage assets.

• It sells power under longterm, fixed-rate power purchase agreements.

• Those contracts provide it with stable cash flow which it uses to pay attractive dividends.

• The company also boasts a strong balance sheet with one of the highest investment-grade bond ratings in the renewable energy sector, along with lots

of liquidity (cash and available credit) to help finance growth.

• It has the financial capacity to expand its renewable energy portfolio with a focus on solar energy.

• This expansion should produce robust cash flow growth to support yearly increases in its dividend.

• I am long on Brookfield and expect it to produce strong investment returns in the coming years.

State (DOS) dahil sa ang dayuhan ay mayroong aprubadong I-130 family-based petition o I-140 employment-based petition; (4) maipapakita ng dayuhan na ang hindi pagbigay sa kanya ng immigrant visa ay magdudulot ng extreme hardship sa kanyang “qualifying relative”; (5) naniniwala ang dayuhan na ang kanyang inadmissibility ay dahil lamang sa kanyang unlawful presence sa loob ng US na mahigit sa 180 araw pero di umabot ng isang taon sa isang pagpunta niya sa U.S., o kaya ay unlawful presence na higit sa isang taon sa isang pagpunta niya sa U.S. Kung ang dayuhan ay nasa removal proceedings, hindi siya maaaring mag-apply ng I-601A waiver hanggat aprubahan ng Immigration Judge ang administrative closure ng kanyang kaso.

Ang I-601A Waiver ay kailangang i-file sa USCIS. Kapag naaprubahan na ng USCIS ang I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver, ang dayuhan ay kinakailangang lumabas ng

U.S. upang ipagpatuloy ang pagproseso ng kanyang immigrant visa sa isang U.S. Embassy o U.S. Consulate. Ang approval ng provisional unlawful presence waiver ay hindi nagbibigay ng eligibility sa dayuhan para makakuha ng green card sa loob ng U.S. Ang approval ng I-601A Waiver ay maaari lamang maging epektibo kapag: (1) Ang dayuhan ay lumabas ng U.S. para sa kanyang immigrant visa interview; (2) Ang DOS Consular Officer ay nagkaroon ng determinasyon na ang dayuhan ay admissible sa U.S. at eligible para sa immigrant visa.

Ang approved I-601A waiver ay maaaring mawalan ng bisa kung may ibang inadmissibility ang dayuhan bukod sa unlawful presence.

Ang isa sa mga kailangan para sa I-601A Waiver ay ang pagdudulot ng extreme hardship sa “qualifying relative” ng dayuhan kung siya ay hindi makakabalik ng U.S. Ang “qualifying relative” ay asawa na USC/LPR o magulang na

*** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

B5

Is there a difference between company Chapter 7 and individual Chapter 7?

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng THE common belief is that a Chapter 7 for a company, or LLC, or any fictitious legal entity works the same way and ends the same way as a Chapter 7 filed by an individual person.

Well, let’s just say that after four years of not knowing the difference between lies, facts and truth, we’ve become numbed to truth and facts.

We’ve been told, time and again, that this virus is nothing to worry about, that it would go away by summer with the warm weather, that it’s not serious or lethal. But here we are today with 27 million infections and 460,000 deaths. Seniors over 60 are getting the brunt of this pandemic with 75% of

those who died by the virus being seniors over 60. Sure, we’ve got the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines being distributed; but good luck getting a jab even if you’re in a priority group over 65. Try getting an appointment using Myturn.gov. It’s more like your turn to get screwed. Let’s see if you’re eligible. Are you a health care worker or over 65?

Great, what’s your occupation?

What’s your zip code? Oh, ok, you can get an appointment at Pomona just go check availability. Then it goes to a calendar with today’s date highlighted, and that’s about the end of it.

Click on that and nothing happens. You can call a phone number if you need help setting the appointment. Call the number and you’re on hold with a steady stream of info that ends with sorry all our representatives are busy doing whatever.

This is the famous Myturn.gov.

The extreme irony I see here is that you’ve masked up and keeping your social distance

and keeping to yourself, but somehow that sneaky virus gets to you just before you get your appointment to get your jab.

So sorry if you’re over 65, your chance of dying from the virus is a whopping 75%. The vaccine could have protected you 95% from getting infected but too bad, the gov’t has been left in too much of a mess by that stable genius that they just can’t get the vaccine from the source to your arms on time. See you in the next life!

In the meantime, aside from masking up and keeping your social distance, I really suggest that you keep on praying the rosary and Psalm 91 and beg the Blessed Mother Mary, Jesus and God the Father, to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy, and away from the virus. And as I said before, say 3 Hail Mary(s) and Psalm 91 when you get your jab for divine protection from any serious adverse effects from the PAGE B6

Why using your married child Provisional unlawful presence waiver as a co-borrower to refinance Tapat Sa your house is a bad idea Batas Atty. rheA SAmSon ANG isang dayuhan na ineligible sa pagkuha ng green card sa loob ng U.S. dahil sa unlawful presence ay maaaring magapply ng I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver. Ang I-601A Waiver ay kailangang i-apply at maaprubahan bago umalis ang dayuhan sa U.S. para sa kanyang consular immigrant visa interview.

Upang maging eligible para sa I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver, ang mga sumusunod ang kinakailangan: (1) ang dayuhan ay nasa loob ng U.S.; (2) ang dayuhan ay may 17 taon gulang; (3) ang dayuhan ay nasa proseso ng pagkuha ng kanyang immigrant visa at may nakasalang na immigrant case sa Department of

EMPLOYMENT

PAGE B6

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS MANY parents who may have problems refinancing their house due to low income in retirement or due to low credit score sometimes resort to the idea of having their married child serve as a co-borrower to refinance their house As part of the refinancing process, the parents usually adds their adult children to the deed of the house then have them apply as a co-borrower in a mortgage.

This is a really bad idea especially if there your child’s marriage is in trouble.

This becomes a big problem if your married child ever

gets divorced from his or her spouse. Your child’s spouse will have a claim for half the community interest in your house even if your intent was only to use your child’s credit to help you qualify for the refinance.

Although you can argue that adding your married child’s name to the deed of your house was only a gift which should be characterized as your child’s separate property, the fact that your married child’s credit was used to obtain the refinance mortgage loan during the marriage which was then used to pay off your prior mortgage creates a community interest on his 50% share of your house. According to In re Marriage of Branco, a community property loan used to pay off a preexisting separate loan gives the community an interest in the amount of that loan. In re Marriage of Branco, (1996) 47

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

SERVICES

Cal.App.4th 1621. Thus, the refinance described above allowed for the new loan to pay off the old separate property loan, and for a community interest to arise.

Your married child’s spouse can claim that adding your child’s name to the deed was not a gift but instead property your child acquired during marriage as community property because your child paid for that interest by getting a mortgage as a co-borrower during their marriage. Family Code Section 760 provides that all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.

Procedurally, your married child’s spouse will join you as an indispensable party in the divorce case. Once you are joined as a party, you will be PAGE B6

B6 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Denial of promotions + unequal pay to women = Sex discrimination Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. YUNGHUI Chen worked as internal auditor for Western Digital Corporation, one of the world’s largest hard disk manufacturers in the world, based in San Jose, California.

It employs over 5,000 people in the United States, with revenues in the billions of dollars per year. Ms. Chen started as a Senior Internal Auditor in 2005 and was promoted to Internal Audit Manager in 2008, a position she held until her employment ended in September 2016.

Ms. Chen sued her former employer, on behalf of herself and other female employees in the company, alleging that Western Digital engaged in sex discrimination and violated the California Equal Pay Act. Ms. Chen alleged that men dominate the company’s leadership and management.

The company discriminates against women by permitting their predominantly male leadership to overtly favor men in pay, promotions, and other opportunities regardless of their qualifications. The company’s compensation, promotions, and placement policies and practices have resulted in company-wide gender discrimination and sex-based disparities against its female workforce.

In her complaint, Ms. Chen accused the company of relying on a tap-on-the-shoulder promotion process that unfairly impacted women. Rather than posting open positions, managers evaluated which of the employees they supervised should be placed into them.

The placement process included non-job-related factors such as management’s personal relationship with the candidate and the candidate’s track record of career enhancing opportunities. These variables often favored men, primarily because of the over-representation of men in the company’s senior ranks. Also, the company’s salary adjustment policy consisted of vague criteria that allowed managers to rely on their own explicit and implicit biases when determining pay raises.

Throughout her tenure at the company, Ms. Chen was assigned increased responsibilities but was paid $30,000 less than her male counterparts performing equal and substantially similar work. Her employer refused to promote her to Senior Manager, despite promoting similarly situated, less-qualified men. Even though she carried out the job duties of a Senior Manager for years, Ms. Chen was denied a promotion to that role. Instead, a male employee with less experience and less seniority at the company was promoted.

California law prohibits discrimination on the basis of “sex,” defined to include a person’s “gender”; and “gender” includes a person’s “gender identity” and “gender expression.” Discrimination based on sex comes in many forms; failure/refusal to promote; unequal pay; and unequal treatment in terms of socio-business relations.

California’s Fair Pay Act prohibits an employer from paying wage rates that are less than what it pays employees of the opposite sex, or of another race, or of another ethnicity, for substantially similar work and performed under similar working conditions. If differences in wages exist, the difference

must be legally justified based on factors that have nothing to do with sex, race, or other protected characteristics.

In Ms. Chen’s case, the differences in wages exist could not be legally justified based on any of the following: a. seniority system (she had been at the company longer than the men being promoted ahead of her); b. a merit system (she is more qualified than the men being promoted); c. a bona fide factor such as education, training, or experience (she is a CPA, holds advanced degrees in accounting and finance, and has several years of work experience in her field); or d. any system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production (she was clearly doing an excellent job based on the increased responsibilities being assigned to her).

Rather than proceed to trial, the employer agreed to settle the case by paying a total of $7.75 million. Approximately 1,863 female employees will receive compensation from the settlement. The company also agreed to change its policies to eliminate gender disparities and foster equality. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Provisional unlawful presence waiver...

PAGE B5 USC/LPR ng dayuhan. Hindi kasama sa “qualifying relative” ang USC/LPR na anak ng dayuhan. Maaari lamang isaalangalang ang extreme hardship sa anak na USC/LPR kung ito ay magdudulot ng pagpapahirap sa “qualifying relative.”

Immigrant visa applicants who are ineligible to adjust status in the U.S. due to unlawful presence can apply for I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver before they leave the U.S. for their consular interview.

To be eligible for provisional unlawful presence waiver, the alien must meet the following requirements: (1) alien is physically present in the U.S.; (2) alien is at least 17 years old; (3) alien is in the process of obtaining his immigrant visa and has an immigrant case pending with the Department of State (DOS) due to an approved I-130 familybased petition or I-140 employment-based petition; (4) alien should be able to demonstrate that a refusal of his admission to the U.S. will cause extreme hardship to a “qualifying relative”; (5) the alien believes that he is inadmissible only because of a period of unlawful presence

in the U.S. that was more than 180 days but less than 1 year during a single stay or 1 year or more during a single stay. If the alien is in removal proceedings, he cannot apply for I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver unless the Immigration Judge administratively closes the case.

Upon approval of the I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver, the alien is required to depart the U.S. to process his immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate Abroad.

The approval of a provisional unlawful presence waiver does not make the alien eligible for adjustment of status in the U.S. The approval by USCIS of the provisional unlawful presence waiver takes effect only after: (1) the alien departs the U.S. and appears for his immigrant visa interview; and (2) a DOS consular officer determines that the alien is otherwise admissible to the US and eligible to receive an immigrant visa. The approved I-601A waiver may be revoked if the consular officer at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. consulate determines that the alien is ineligible for the immigrant visa, including that the alien is inadmissible on grounds other

than unlawful presence.

One of the requirements for the I-601A Waiver is that the refusal of admission would result in extreme hardship to a “qualifying relative” – a USC/ LPR spouse or USC/LPR parent of the alien. Hardship to the applicant or other family members, like USC/LPR children of the alien does not establish eligibility for the waiver, and can only be considered insofar as it results in hardship to a “qualifying relative.” ***

ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).

SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 381-5710; Email: info@ samsonlawfirmpc.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Is there a difference between company...

PAGE B5 vaccine. You’ve got nothing to lose except your life.

Let’s go back to business.

When a company or any other fictitious legal entity files for Chapter 7, there are no exempt assets. The trustee determines if there are any viable assets to administer, liquidate, and distribute to creditors of the company. After all, is said and done, the trustee informs the court that he is done and makes a report of what happened. The court then issues an order of “termination” ending the bankruptcy proceedings. The trustee determines that there are no viable assets to administer and creditors get nothing. This is not a discharge order that wipes out the debts of the company.

The termination order and the trustee report of no assets taken together mean that the company does not have assets to speak of, so this company is bankrupt. Most creditors will forget about suing the company because the judgment they obtain will be useless since there are no assets to enforce a judgment on. The creditor may get a judgment for $1.0M but there is nothing to attach because the company has no assets.

On the other hand, when an individual person files for Chapter 7, he or she gets a “discharge” order from the court. That order from the court wipes out all dischargeable debts of the debtor. For example, the bank has a $2M judgment against the debtor. The discharge order wipes out that $2M judgment.

The debtor is thus given a “fresh start” in life, with no debt. The debtor keeps all his exempt assets. Most of the time, the debtor is able to exempt completely the residence, everything in it, the cars, and the retirement accounts, everything that he or she owns. So debtor starts life again with all his assets but without debt.

In a company Chapter 7, the company gets a “termination” order. In an individual Chapter 7, the debtors get a “discharge” order.

In an individual Chapter 7, the debtor is literally resurrected from near-death by too much debt. The debtor is resurrected free of debt and given a fresh start in life with no previously accumulated debt.

It works quite well for the individual debtor as it worked very well for Walt Disney who filed for Chapter 7 twice as an indi-

vidual before his Disney Empire became a global success, as well as for Milton Hershey who filed for Chapter 7 once before his Hershey chocolate empire became a global success. Both became billionaires after they filed for individual Chapter 7.

I’m not saying you too will become a billionaire after Chapter 7, but certainly, you will have a very good chance of making good money and become rich as well without accumulated debt. You will have a fresh start in life and become productive again.

If you need debt relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THE FOREGOING IS CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE. EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South, Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

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

When does filing bankruptcy make sense?

IF you’re in debt and are considering bankruptcy as an option for you to get needed relief, perhaps just hearing the word “bankruptcy” makes you extremely nervous. Maybe the word conjures up images in your mind of losing everything you have and not having a financial future.

Relax. It’s not what you think.

Regardless of what you may heard about bankruptcy, it is really nothing more than a petition that you file with the Court to get relief from debts that you can no longer pay.

At this time, millions of people are unable to pay their bills due to the unexpected financial hardship caused by COVID-19.

A lot of these people, sadly, may have no choice but to eventually file bankruptcy to get out of debt unless things change for the better soon.

If you were physically sick, the best thing to do is to go to get immediate medical help. If you’re not well, you may be admitted to a hospital where you can get medical care and treatment until you recover and are able to function again.

The same is true if you are financially sick and are no longer able to take care of yourself. I always tell my clients that bankruptcy is like getting a needed surgery. Yes, it may hurt but it’s exactly what you need to get better.

How do you know if bankruptcy makes sense for your situation? Well, here are 4 situations that may tell you if you are going in the right direction.

You can no longer afford to make your monthly debt payments. If you are always late in making your debt payments and you are sometimes forced to borrow even more just to pay other debts, this is a serious sign of financial trouble. To

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAymond BulAon get out of debt, you need to stop borrowing and not do the exact opposite. Otherwise, the financial hole you’re in just keeps getting deeper every month.

Your income is not sufficient to even pay for living expenses, let alone pay your debts. This is one of the most common reasons why people file bankruptcy. If you have suffered a loss of income due to the pandemic, for example, and can’t even cover basic necessities such as rent, food, utilities, etc., the question is whether or not you’d be able to replace the lost income right away in order to avoid defaulting on your debts.

If your current situation is likely to continue for a long period of time, it will not take very long to be broke unless you have financial reserves. Sadly, most people don’t.

Your credit is already damaged. A lot of people consulting with me about bankruptcy often ask about the impact that filing may have on their credit. That’s understandable especially if maintaining a good credit rating is important to you. But if your credit is already damaged due to late payments, repos, foreclosure, lawsuits or judgments, what “credit” are you really trying to protect? Filing bankruptcy may actually help you re-establish credit much faster (usually 2-3 years) instead of having a lot of collection accounts on your record. Remember that as long as you do not pay creditors, they will continue

to report you month after month which then makes it impossible for you to regain your credit.

Because every situation is unique, there may be reasons other than the above which could make filing bankruptcy the best option in getting out of debt. Before going down this road, of course, you need to know the pros and cons by seeking legal advice so that you can make an informed decision.

If you have not read my book, “What You Need to Know Before Filing Bankruptcy”, you can download it free of charge at www.beforefilingbk.com.

Warning: If you think bankruptcy might be a possibility for you, the time to seek legal counsel is NOW, not later. A lot of people wait until the last minute to see a bankruptcy attorney, only to find out later that they have made some mistakes along the way, or that they could have done things better if they had proper guidance. Even if you don’t end up filing bankruptcy, it is best to be prepared so that you can obtain the maximum benefits provided by law if and when you do file.

For a free evaluation of your case, please call our office at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 to schedule a free consultation. *** NOTE: Due to the virus lockdown, I am currently offering consultations via phone or video. Please call the office to schedule your appointment with me. Questions? Email me at gethelp@ rjb-lawoffices.com. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772.

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Our earnest desire for healing of mind, body, and spirit Pastor’s Notes reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAS JESUS is the Great Physician. That’s how we hear fellow Christians talk about him during this pandemic. Although we entrust our health to the care of doctors and nurses, in the end, we turn to Jesus to heal our minds, bodies, and spirits.

Absolutely, we must turn to Jesus as the Great Physician. The Gospels are replete with stories of his healing power. For example, in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ miracle stories of exorcisms, healings, resuscitations, and nature miracles occupy over 200 verses and form half of the gospel prior to the Jerusalem ministry.

Jesus came to heal people from the wounds of sin and bodily and emotional illness.

And so, in the Gospel this Sunday, we hear him grasped the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law to heal her feverish body and spirit.

The gospel tells us that people brought to him all who were ill of various diseases or possessed by demons. They were astonished at the healing power of his words and touch.

So, instead of getting depressed of the constant sad news of people getting sick or

dying of Covid-19, let’s contemplate the hope and healing that Jesus can bring to our lives. Instead of dwelling on the “drudgery,” the “misery,” and the “troubled nights” of life that Job describes in the First Reading, let’s imagine Jesus putting his hands on us and assuring us of his care, love, compassion, and mercy.

Of course, we must do our part to receive healing from God. He wants us to eat well by refraining from foods that are full of fat, sugar, and salt and consuming green leafy vegetables and fruits. He

be responsible for our health.

And so, he shares this healing mantra in his book: I am getting better and better every day in every way.

I, only I, am responsible for my health, my whole being; my mind, body, and spirit.

I will do everything, whatever it takes, to heal my mind, my body, and my spirit.

I am fully motivated to heal myself: my mind, my body, and my spirit.

I will persevere in this healing process of my mind, my body, and, my spirit.

After all, I have done everything. I will be detached and offer all to the Divine within me.

I am made in the Image and Likeness of God. My sole purpose in life is to grow like God in Unconditional Love.

Yes, I am getting better and better every day, in every way: in mind, body, and spirit.

Thank you.

Amen. Hallelujah.

May we take charge of our health of mind, body, and spirit! May Jesus, the Great Physician, fill us with life, hope, and joy so we can serve him more! *** 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. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Instead of dwelling on the “drudgery,” the “misery,” and the “troubled nights” of life that Job describes in the First Reading, let’s imagine Jesus putting his hands on us and assuring us of his care, love, compassion, and mercy. wants us to exercise our bodies daily so that blood in our system would flow. For, indeed, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. And he wants us to spend times of prayer and quiet, to contemplate and meditate on his love, life, words, and ministry.

My former spiritual director and mentor, Dr. Ibarra M. Gonzales, who wrote the book Confessions of an Ex-Jesuit, A Journey to Wellness, emphasizes that healing is a gift from God, a rebirth of the gift of life. But he also tells us to

Why using your married child...

PAGE B5 served with a summons and complaint for joinder into the action. You then would have to retain your own lawyer to defend you in your married child’s divorce case.

If you can avoid this situation and refrain from adding your married child to the deed and serving as a co-borrower in your refinance. However if refinancing would really make a big difference in your mortgage interest and you are willing to give one half ownership interest in your house to your married child, then you may be able to plan around this situation by having your married child execute a post nup-

tial agreement with his spouse before you enter into the refinance transaction. Although not bullet proof, it should offer you some protection in case your child gets divorced. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation.

*** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist.

He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com. Visit our website at Kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com.

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B7 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

B8 FEBRUARY 6-9, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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