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USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Health agencies, Big Tech seek to dispel mass misinformation on coronavirus Groups condemn anti-API ‘racism and hate’

AS the global medical community continues to try to mitigate the threat of the severe coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) and leading social media giants are working to combat another epidemic of a different nature: the dissemination of misinformation.

Since the news of the coronavirus — a novel respiratory infection that first broke out in Wuhan, China — first broke out last month, and since the WHO has declared it a public health emergency of international concern, it has

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US Embassy: No change in visa policy in PH

Termination of VFA a move in ‘wrong direction’ — US Defense Secretary

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJ Press

long-standing relationship we’ve had with the Philippines, for their strategic location, for the ties between our peoples and our countries,” the defense TERMINATING the Visiting Forces Agreement chief told reporters on Wednesday, February 12.

Malacañang announced on Tuesday, February (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States is a “move in the wrong direction,” according to U.S. 11 that the Philippines has formally sent a notice terminating the VFA with the U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

“We just got the notification last night. We’ve The Philippines’ move is “unfortunate,” Esper said, as the termination comes at a time when the got to read it. We’ve got to digest it. One hundred U.S. and its allies are pushing China to abide by in- and eighty days. We’ve got to work through it, and — and we’ll just take a deep breath and take it one ternational norms.

“As we try to bolster our presence and compete day at a time,” Esper said.

The VFA, which came into force in 1999, covers with (China) in this era of great-power competition, I think it’s a move in the wrong direction, again for the the conduct of U.S. soldiers in the Philippines. It can

by DARYLL JOHN

ESGUERRA

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FLOWERS FOR LRT-1 PASSENGERS. Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) officials distribute flowers to passengers of Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 passengers during the launching of “Love is in the Train” on Wednesday, February 12. Love is in the Train has three coaches designed in celebration of the upcoming Valentine’s Day. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

House Speaker vows impartial hearing on ABS-CBN franchise renewal bills PHILIPPINE House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano vowed that there will be fair hearings into the bills seeking to renew the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN. According to him, the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN is among the issues that the House has been carefully studying from day one of the 18th Congress, even as some of his colleagues called for urgent hearings on the bill.

“Consistent with the Duterte Administration’s stand on the protection of the freedom of expression, Congress is committed to conduct an impartial hearing where those who are against or in favor of the renewal may make their case,” Cayetano said on Tuesday, February 11, adding that the move would be in line with the

current administration’s stand on the “protection of the freedom of expression.”

A total of 11 bills seeking ABSCBN’s franchise renewal remain pending in the House with less than a month left before the lower chamber’s sessions adjourn on March 11.

ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on March 30.

However, Cayetano said that the legislative process cannot be rushed, and that the House is working alongside the chamber’s panel on legislative franchises “on how to prioritize urgent and important legislation.”

“While we understand that there are certain interests who want to rush this process, we stand by the leadership of the 18th Congress and the Committee on Legislative Franchises on how to prioritize urgent and important legislation.

We also commit that the 18th Congress shall study this issue from all aspects in order to protect the interest of the public,” he said.

Solicitor General Jose Calida on Monday, February 10 filed a petition before the Supreme Court for the cancellation of ABS-CBN’s 25year franchise, alleging that the TV network reportedly violated rules set by Congress.

“We want to put an end to what we discovered to be highly abusive practices of ABS-CBN benefitting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers.

These practices have gone unnoticed or were disregarded for years,” he said in a statement.

ABS-CBN, for its part, maintained that it has complied with all the laws governing its franchise and secured all government and regulatory approvals for its operations. ■

of Transportation (DOTr) said inspectors from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), an agency of the DHS, were “satisfied” with the improved security measures and technology being implemented at the NAIA following the latest round of security audit.

DOJ indicts Trillanes, 10 others for conspiracy to commit sedition

by AJPRESS

FORMER Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 others have been indicted for “conspiracy to commit sedition” for their involvement in videos that linked President Rodrigo Duterte and his family to the illegal drug trade, the Department of Justice said on Monday, February 10.

Aside from Trillanes, whistleblower Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy,” former Police Sr. Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Joel Saracho, Boom Enriquez, Yolanda V. Ong, Vicente Romano III, Fr. Albert E. Alejo, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Jonnel P. Sangalang, and a certain “Monique” were charged before the Metropolitan Trial Court in Quezon City for their participation in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

The Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed a complaint The TSA commended security against those allegedly involved improvements made by the gov- in “Project Sodoma,” an alleged ernment to guarantee the safety plot to unseat Duterte and install of air travelers from the Philip- Vice President Leni Robredo in pines to the US and vice versa, his place. according to the DOTr. Advincula alleged that the The agency said TSA inspectors “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos were impressed with the high- released in April 2019 were part

NAIA gets passing mark from US Homeland Security MANILA, Philippines — The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has received a passing mark from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after previously flagging security deficiencies in the Philippines’ premier gateway.

In a statement, the Department

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Inquirer.net

THE United States Embassy in Manila clarified that its visa policy in the Philippines remains the same.

The embassy issued this statement following fraudulent advisories claiming the cancellation or revocation of tourist visas and the suspension of visa applications.

“These claims are not true,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement Monday, February 10.

Misinformation on the U.S. Embassy’s visa policies supposedly come from impostors claiming to be an official U.S. source.

The embassy stressed that its only official channels are its website and social media ac

MENDIOLA AJ Press

be terminated through a written notice from either of the countries, taking effect 180 days after the notification.

Among the provisions of the deal include lax visa and passport policies for U.S. troops, and the rights of the U.S. government to retain its jurisdiction over its military personnel when they commit crimes in the Philippines.

Following Esper’s remarks, Malacañang on Wednesday argued that the move is a step in the “right direction.”

“From our point of view, however, the decision to terminate the VFA is a move in the right direction

Duterte tells media: ‘Report the truth even if it destroys me’ MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 12 asked members of the press to report to the truth, even if it would end up destroying him.

Duterte issued the statement days after Solicitor General Jose Calida moved to stop the operations of media giant ABS-CBN supposedly due to violations of its franchise terms.

“Report to the public because you owe it to the republic to inform them. I’m just asking you to simply [report] the truth. If the truth will destroy me, so be it,” Duterte, speaking partly in Filipino, said before newly-elected officers and Board of Trustees of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

by RITCHEL

Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

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of the Project Sodoma. He also claimed to be the hooded figure “Bikoy” who narrated the videos.

The PNP-CIDG accused Robredo and 35 others in its complaint of having committed sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, and obstruction of justice.

However, the panel of prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas cleared Robredo as well as Senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima and former Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino from their involvement in the video series.

Grand conspiracy According to the DOJ, the prosecution panel found “in-

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV Philstar.com photo

terlocking pieces of proof” that provide a “complete picture of the grand conspiracy between

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FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

From the Front Page

Termination of VFA a move in...

COLORS OF LOVE. Flowers, bouquets, and heart-shaped balloons of various sizes and colors are on display at a stall along Dos Castillas Street in Sampaloc, Manila on Tuesday, February 11. Three days before Valentine’s Day, flowers and balloons are among the most common gifts during the occasion which is a celebration of love.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

DOJ indicts Trillanes, 10 others for conspiracy...

PAGE A1 and among some respondents to create hatred or revenge against the president and his family with the end in view of toppling and destabilizing the current administration.”

“These videos, the Panel found, were made by respondents Advincula; Saracho (who acted as their narrator); Enriquez (videographer) and his assistant, @Monique; Ong and Romano (scriptwriters). The Panel likewise found that Fr. Alejo prepared the JesCom (Jesuit Communication Foundation) where the videos were taken,” the DOJ said.

“Advincula submitted as evidence, among others, USB drives, photographs of the respondents, keys and access cards of the places where he and his companions stayed, as well as utility bills and receipts, copies of the purchase receipts of the

gadgets and electronic devices used in the making of the videos.

These pieces of evidence, along with certain admissions made by some respondents, were used by the Panel in arriving at their conclusion to indict the 11 respondents for conspiracy to commit sedition,” it added.

Other raps junked The DOJ said the prosecution panel dropped the CIDG’s sedition, cyber libel, libel estafa and obstruction of justice complaints against all respondents.

“In finding no probable cause for sedition or inciting to sedition, the Panel found the element of public and tumultuous uprising wanting,” the DOJ stated.

“It further explained that while the video series ‘contains libelous imputations against President Duterte and his family which tend to create hatred or revenge against them,’ nonetheless no

words were uttered which tended to incite the people to take up arms or rise against the government,” it added.

In response, Trillanes on Monday called the case “absurd” and another example of the current administration weaponizing “the law against the political opposition, critics, and the media.”

“But let me assure Mr. Duterte that we will not be cowed by such political persecution. On the contrary, we are more determined and motivated to continue our fight for democracy and the rights of our people,” he added.

Trillanes, who had been previously charged with inciting to sedition, is currently facing a revived rebellion case over the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege after Duterte ordered an amnesty granted during the Aquino administration void. His trial will resume in April. n PAGE A1 been one of the most talked-about topics on social media.

But the severity of the infection, coupled with the fact that medical professionals are still trying to fully understand the virus itself, has led to unsubstantiated and blatant falsehoods associated with its creation, spread and remedies.

Countless dubiously-sourced infographics about the virus and false claims of coronavirus cases in American cities have been shared in great numbers, causing a mass hysteria comparable to President Rodrigo Duterte administered the other major world epidemics like oath-taking of newly elected officers and board the 2013 Ebola virus outbreak. of trustees of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster In an effort to stop the spreadng Pilipinas (KBP) on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Photo from the Presidential Communications ing of medical misinformation, the WHO has begun collaborating Operations Office with tech companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook.

Facebook, which has been improvements in security opera- linked to other major cases of tions. misleading information and fake The 2018 advisory directed air- news, has also independently lines flying to the Philippines to pledged that it will remove posts, alert their passengers on the defi- photos and videos peddling lies ciency of security measures at the about the coronavirus.

NAIA after finding that the airport Kang-Xing Jin, the head of “did not maintain and carry out health at Facebook, wrote in a security consistent with the stan- blog post, “Our global network of dards established by the Interna- third-party fact-checkers are contional Civil Aviation Organization.” tinuing their work reviewing conMIAA general manager Ed tent and debunking false claims Monreal said they would boost se- that are spreading related to the curity measures at the airport. coronavirus.”

OTS administrator Raul del Jin said that these fact-checkRosario assured the TSA that ers will rate pieces of information, the DOTr would make use of the and if something is rated as false, recommendations and technical programmers will “limit its spread assistance it has extended to in- on Facebook and Instagram” and crease security measures at the send notifications to users who NAIA not only for flights going to “already shared or are trying to and from the US but also for glob- share this content to alert them al aviation. that it’s been fact-checked.”

“We at the DOTr are working “As the global public health as fast and efficient as we can in community works to keep peoproviding safe, secured and com- ple safe, Facebook is supporting fortable travel for all, as we want their work in several ways, most the best for our countrymen,” Del especially by working to limit the Rosario said. (Richmond Mercu- spread of misinformation and rio/Philstar.com) n harmful content about the virus

Duterte tells media: ‘Report the truth...

PAGE A1 “Don’t think twice even if the truth will destroy me. That’s the price of being in public service,” he added.

The president, however, warned that his government would not tolerate “any abuse” of the freedom of the press.

“While our Constitution upholds freedom of the press, the function of broadcast is a privilege granted by government. It is imbued with the best interest of the nation and our people. And we will not tolerate any abuse of that privilege,” he said.

Duterte has repeatedly vowed publicly to put the ABS-CBN out of business due to its failure to air his presidential campaign advertisements in 2016.

Critics are saying that Duterte is on the warpath against ABS-CBN and other media entities critical of his policies, particularly his brutal drug war which has drawn international condemnation.

But Duterte’s spokesman and legal counsel Salvador Panelo maintained that the threats are part of the President’s freedom of expression and had nothing to do with Calida’s work. n

NAIA gets passing mark from US Homeland...

PAGE A1 technology security and screening equipment being used at the airport terminals, which include dual view X-ray machines with an automatic tray return system.

The dual view X-ray machines have been deemed effective in reducing lines at security screening checkpoints.

“We appreciate the new technologies and equipment provided.

We are grateful with the improvements made by the government, specifically in collaboration with the OTS,” TSA lead inspector Jose Liriano said, referring to the Office for Transportation Security.

The TSA has authority over the security of the traveling public in the U.S. TSA auditors, along with national aviation security auditors from the OTS, wrapped up security audit of terminals and U.S.bound airlines operating at the NAIA last week.

The assessment covered areas such as airport and aircraft security, aviation management, landside

security, passenger and baggage screening, hold baggage checks, access control, perimeter security, training of security personnel as well as quality control measures.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade attributed the security improvements at the NAIA to the coordination between DOTrattached agencies such as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and OTS. Tugade assured the public that the improvement of security measures at the country’s main gateway would be sustained.

“Security is a commitment, it is a continuous process,” he said.

“While we are happy with this news, we must remember that the more important thing is that we sustain and improve our efforts to ensure the safety of air passengers,” he added.

In August last year, the DHS ordered the rescission of the public notice on security conditions at the NAIA, which was issued on Dec. 27, 2018 after the airport was found to have made significant

PAGE A1 t that should have been done a long time ago,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

‘Trump tried to save VFA’ On January 23, Duterte threatened to scrap the VFA following the U.S.’ cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa. The president gave the U.S. a month to “correct” the visa dispute, however, he ordered the start of the termination process the following day.

Duterte on Monday, February 10 revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump was “trying to save” the VFA from being terminated.

But, the Philippine president said that he refused to change his mind about the termination due to the allegedly “disrespectful” acts displayed by Americans, such as threatening to withhold aid from the country if opposition Senator Leila de Lima is not released.

De Lima is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City due to her reported involvement in the illegal drug trade.

“Now, I’ll make it public, public official ako (I am a public official). Si Trump, pati yung others (Trump and the others) are trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement. Sabi ko, ayoko (I said, ‘I don’t want to’). One is that napaka bastos ng Amerikano. Talagang sobrang bastos (Americans are so rude. They’re really rude),” Duterte said during a gathering of local executives in Pasay.

“Imagine demanding the release of De Lima under threat that we will not receive the aid, that all persons who had a hand in the imprisonment of De Lima

will not be allowed to go to the U.S.? What is there in America?” he added.

Duterte also denied that he killed thousands of innocent people, slamming U.S. senators who criticized his war against illegal drugs.

“Tapos EJK. Wala man. Nagsabi pinatay ko daw. Sino man pinatay ko (And then extrajudicial killings. There’s none. They say I killed them. Who did I kill)?” he said.

“Sinabi ko (I said) ‘do not destroy my country because if you destroy my country I will kill you,’” he added.

Duterte noted that U.S. senators went too far in insulting the Philippine government.

“Sobra sila kung uminsulto kasi (They have insulted us too much), bordering on the trashing of our sovereignty, wiping the s*** of the dog if you step on one. Americans went too far. Somebody has to remind them,” he said.

Military engagements to be affected Albert del Rosario, a former foreign affairs secretary and envoy to the U.S., called the move a “national tragedy.”

“What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy which should be resisted. It is our earnest hope that this most unfortunate decision to abrogate can be revisited,” he said.

He added that it would also put an end to other U.S.-PH treaties: the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper said that the VFA termination would affect about

300 “engagements and exercises” between the Philippine and American militaries.

One of the annual exercises is the “Balikatan,” which is to maintain the security relationship between the two countries, conduct counterterrorism operations and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“What’s at risk without a VFA? Well, without a VFA, it puts at risk things like these engagements, like these exercises,” Cooper said, pointing out that there is “a recognized, broad value of not only maintaining our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that will beget further procurements and interoperability between the U.S.-Philippine alliance, but the very practical application of a Visiting Forces Agreement that enables these activities like port calls, like engagements, like exercises.”

Senate resolution The Philippine Senate, meanwhile, adopted a resolution asking Duterte to reconsider his plan to terminate the VFA while the upper chamber conducts a “thorough” review of the military accord.

Senate Resolution No. 312 — introduced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson — was adopted during its session on Monday.

While the resolution recognizes the president’s authority, it called for the Senate to “be given the opportunity to conduct a review and assessment of the impact of the withdrawal on the country’s security and economy, specifically with regard to intelligence PAGE A3

Health agencies, Big Tech seek to... and connecting people to helpful information,” Jin wrote.

In an age where the growing faction of people who distrust science and proven medical procedures like vaccines, false conspiracy theories and wellness practices have also percolated timelines. Some of the most outrageous falsities include a theory that purports that the coronavirus was a bioweapon of mass destruction funded by Bill Gates to boost vaccine sales and natural remedies such as eating garlic or drinking a concoction made of bleach.

“There are self-appointed experts, people working from anecdote or making up wild claims to get traffic or notoriety,” said Andrew Pattinson, manager of digital solutions at the WHO. Another side effect of the massively shared misinformation about coronavirus has led to reported cases of racism and hatred.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began in China and has slowly spread to a dozen other countries, the global Asian community has been targeted, with misinformed people wrongly associating individual Asians with the coronavirus.

“People with a different national, ethnic or religious background have historically been accused of spreading germs regardless of what the science may say,” Monica Schock-Spana, medical anthropologist and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins, told Time Magazine.

As of press time, the coronavirus has infected more than 17,000 people and 719 deaths, according to the latest updates from the WHO — all but two have occurred in mainland China, with the other two occurring in the Philippines and Hong Kong.

In the United States, there have

been 12 confirmed cases as of Friday, February 7, which, aided with misinformation about the virus itself, has resulted in rumors against the Asian American community.

John Pomfret, a reporter at the Washington Post, wrote that “At a middle school a few blocks from my house, a rumor circulated among the children that all Asian kids have the coronavirus and should be quarantined.”

Los Angeles County officials have warned against a fake letter that had been circulating Facebook and email chains that falsely claimed that five people in Carson, California have contracted the virus and linked the names of five Asian-owned businesses to the dissemination of the virus.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans sent out a statement reminding Americans that the coronavirus outbreak should not be used against the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

“While the coronavirus represents a legitimate public health concern, it is not a green light to target Asian Americans and Asian immigrants with racism and hate,” the organization said in a statement. “We are concerned with the growing xenophobic rhetoric that harkens back to the dehumanizing, anti-Asian trope of the “yellow peril,” that was used during the 19th century. We have consistently stood against efforts to cast our community as “perpetual foreigners,” and sadly, we find ourselves having to do so again.”

“Many Asian Americans are just as concerned as everyone else about the coronavirus — even more so considering how in some cases, our extended families could be impacted,” NCAPA National Director Gregg Orton said. “Mass hysteria will not help, and neither will bigotry. Be better than that.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020

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Divorce in PH won’t be ‘quickie’ — House panel

approved divorce,” said Rep. Edcel Lagman after the TWG meeting of the House Committee on DIVORCE in the Philippines Population and Family Relations. will not be a “quickie” process to He added that there would be a dismantle marriages, the chair- cooling off period for six months man of the House of Representa- for the Court to try to reconcile tives’ Technical Working Group the parties.

(TWG) said on Wednesday, FebThe Albay 1st District Repreruary 12. sentative stressed that even if di“This is not a quick process be- vorce was enacted into law, the cause there is a judicial proceed- State still has a mandate to proing wherein the judge will be the tect the sanctity of the marriage one to grant or deny a petition for and the family as social instituby Divina

nova Joy Dela ManilaTimes.net

Cruz

tions.

He said that while divorce would provide relief for spouses from an abusive marriage, it is only for cases where the marriage has become irremediably damaged.

The TWG is currently consolidating House Bills (HB), 100 authored by Lagman, HB 838 by Gabriela Women’s Party-list and the Makabayan bloc and HB 2263

by Davao del Norte First District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez. n

Go pushes bill on Dept. of Overseas Filipinos

by Javier

J. ismael ManilaTimes.net

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go again called for the establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipinos, saying an agency is needed to look after the welfare of Filipinos working and living abroad.

“I’m pushing for the creation of Department of Overseas Filipinos para po mayroon na tayong departamentong nakatutok sa kanila na tuwing may mga ganitong pangyayari, kita ninyo tuwing mayroong mga krisis, kung may mga sakit, iba-iba ang in charge, DoLE, DFA, DoH (I am pushing for the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipinos, a department that will solely focus on the concerns and needs of OFWs. As of now, when there

is a crisis, various agencies are in charge, the Department of Labor, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health),” Go said.

He was referring to the 30 Filipinos from Wuhan, China who were repatriated through the efforts of an emergency team composed of officials of the Foreign Affairs and Health departments.

Wuhan is the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.

Under Go’s Senate Bill 202 or the “Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019,” all government agencies concerned about overseas Filipino affairs will be consolidated under one roof.

The senator emphasized the need for a unified department solely dedicated for overseas Filipinos to eliminate confusion on which department or agency

CURIOUS KIDS. Street children peek through a window of a restaurant along Tomas Morato, Quezon City on Monday, February 10. Based on a Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) report dated December 6, 2019, the proportion of poor Filipinos whose per capita income is not sufficient to meet their basic food and non-food needs, was estimated at 16.6 percent.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Taiwan says it is ‘wrongly included’ in Philippines’ expanded COVID-19 travel ban by gaena

Katreena Philstar.com

MANILA — Taiwan’s representative office in the Philippines slammed the island’s inclusion in will take charge of the concerns the travel restrictions aimed at of overseas Filipinos, especially China over the deadly novel coroin times of crisis. navirus or COVID-19 outbreak.

Go called on his colleagues to The Taipei Economic and Culsupport the early passage of the tural Office in the Philippines said bill. n Taiwan was “wrongly included” in the government’s expanded travel ban.

“We urge the Philippine govBSP Governor Benjamin Diokno are in line with the BSP’s legisla- ernment to immediately cortive and reform agenda,” the cen- rect its decision on Taiwan and said. remove Taiwan from the travel Overall, the IMF outlook on the tral bank statement added. n country is positive, which points out that “the Philippine economy continues to be a strong performer despite recent headwinds.”

The report noted that the Philippines has policy space to adopt a more expansionary macroeconomic policy, with priority to public capital and social spending programs.

The IMF also recommended enhanced public investment management through promotion of greater competition and public access to information in the procurement process.

These measures will contribute to the timely and cost-effective implementation of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

Supportive of the BSP’s structural reform agenda, the IMF endorsed bolder implementation efforts particularly on the further lifting of restrictions on foreign direct investments, broadening of scope of poverty reduction efforts, mobilization of resources for climate change adaptation and mitigation, robust implementation of the anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism regimes, and easing of the stringent bank secrecy law.

“These IMF recommendations Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go ManilaTimes.net file photo

PH economy remains robust — IMF

by Daxim

l. luCas

Inquirer.net

DESPITE the slowdown in the first half of 2019 — due to temporary government underspending and external trade uncertainty — the Philippine economy continues to perform well, having regained momentum in the second half of the year.

Thus said the latest report of the International Monetary Fund, issued after the periodic assessment of the country by the staff of the 189-nation multilateral financing agency, which also took note of Klamath year’s reined-in inflation regime.

“Bank lending growth slowed down but stabilized at 10.5% in September 2019 or as of the end of the IMF mission,” according to aa statement issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, quoting the report.

“Meanwhile, gross international reserves reached $88 billion as of end-2019, which is 200% of the IMF’s reserve adequacy metric,” it added. “The 2019 external position is in line with medium-term fundamentals and desirable policy settings.”

“I believe that the IMF’s assessment of the domestic economy reflects multi-sectoral efforts to foster inclusive economic growth,”

PAL tells passengers to arrive early for additional screening measures

by Daryll John

esguerra

Inquirer.net

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday, February 12 asked passengers to arrive early before their flights due to additional screening measures as part of precaution against the novel coronavirus, officially called COVID-19.

In a statement, the country’s flag carrier asked passengers flying out of Manila to arrive at least four hours before their flight for international trips and at least three hours for domestic flights.

Meanwhile, PAL said passengers arriving in Manila would be required to accomplish arrival cards and to undergo screening before going through the immi-

Inquirer.net file photo

gration counters.

“In view of this screening requirement, the Immigration eGates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for Philippine passport holders are temporarily disabled,” PAL said. n

US Embassy: No change in visa...

PAGE A1 counts.

“The official U.S. Embassy website at https://ph.usembassy. gov and our official social media platforms are the best sources

for accurate and current information,” the U.S. Embassy said.

Visa and passport fraud may be reported by emailing FPMManila@state.gov. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com) n

Termination of VFA a move in...

PAGE A1 t information sharing, military aid and financing and technical assistance extended by the U.S. relative to the continuing threats posed by domestic and foreign terrorist groups, and ultimately to the stability and security in the Asia Pacific region.”

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, quoted Locsin, saying that the country’s withdrawal from the agreement would “negatively impact” the overall relations between the Philippines and the U.S. “Therefore, a careful deliberation of these matters must be taken into account before finally arriving at a decision which will ultimately affect not only the security and economy of the Philippines but also that of our neighboring countries in the Asia

CabiCo

Pacific region,” Pimentel said.

Sotto, meanwhile, pointed out that international relations are essential for the cooperation between countries, promotion of trade policies, the advancement of human culture as well as the maintenance of the peace and stability in the country.

“In a developing country like ours, it is more beneficial and prudent to maintain if not gain allies than to challenge our status quo. Our country is currently benefiting from our partner states which include the United States of America,” he said, adding that he prefers that the agreement be reviewed instead of scrapping it entirely.

While Dela Rosa abstained from voting, all senators agreed when Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved to adopt the resolution. n

ban,” TECO said.

Early in February, President Rodrigo Duterte first issued a travel ban on foreign nationals coming from China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau.

Taiwan was later on added since the World Health Organization recognizes the self-ruled democracy as part of China.

TECO stressed that Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China, is a “sovereign and independent state.”

“Taiwan issues its own passport and visas and has exclusive jurisdiction over its people and

territory. In fact, Taiwan is not, nor has it ever been, part of the People’s Republic of China,” the agency said.

China views Taiwan as its own territory—part of “one China”— and has vowed to eventually take the island, by force if necessary.

“It is a factual error for the World Health Organization to regard Taiwan as a part of the PRC. The Philippines should not be misled by WHO’s wrong information on Taiwan,” TECO said.

The Philippines has so far not restricted travel to countries such as Singapore, Thailand, South Ko-

u PAGE A4

A

FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Manny Pacquiao signs with Conor McGregor management team

by BOng lOzada Inquirer.net

MANiLA —Manny Pacquiao has signed with agency Paradigm Sports Management for the “final years� of his boxing career.

The move also bolstered speculations of a potential project with UFC superstar Conor McGregor as Paradigm also represents the former MMA World champion. “i am proud to partner with Paradigm Sports Management and am excited for the opportunities that [Paradigm president and CEO] Audie Attar and PSM

have to offer,� said Pacquiao in a statement included in report from ESPN’s Dan Rafael. “One thing i want everyone to remember is to always think positively. Never think negatively; that is the beginning of your downfall. Everything is possible.�

McGregor, who once held the UFC World lightweight and featherweight at the same time, immediately welcomed Pacquiao shortly after Paradigm’s announcement. “Welcome to the team Emmanuel,� wrote McGregor, who

said last month that he was close to signing a fight with Pacquiao, on his social media accounts.

Pacquiao’s (62-7-2) last two fights were with Premier Boxing Champions after he signed with adviser Al haymon.

The 41-year-old icon, who is the only boxer to hold world titles in eight different weight classes, had a breeze unanimous decision win over Adrien Broner to retain the WBA’s “ordinary� welterweight belt in January 2019. he then dominated Keith Thurman in July to win the Super title. n

Taiwan says it is ‘wrongly included’...

PAGE A3 rea and Japan even though they have more confirmed infections than Taiwan, which currently has 18 confirmed cases of the new virus. ‘Chinese factor’ Joanne Ou, Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, de-

scribed Tuesday Manila’s decision as “wrong and unilateral.� “To confuse Taiwan with China has caused troubles for our side and in the international community,� Ou said.

When asked if Taipei suspected Beijing was pressuring Manila to expand the travel ban, Ou

replied: “China’s shadow is lurking‌ i think the Chinese factor is obvious.â€?

President Rodrigo Duterte has worked in recent years to improve ties with China in search of investment and trade. (With a report from Agence FrancePresse) n

EFFECT OF NCOV ON TOURISM. Senator Maria Lourdes Binay, chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, presides over the public hearing on the proposed creation of Boracay Development Authority, and the effects of the Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD) on the tourism industry held at the Senate in Pasay City on Tuesday, February 11. Also in photo (inset) are Tourism Undersecretaries Arturo Boncato Jr. and Edwin Enrile.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Not just a smoker’s disease: Stigma of lung cancer still persists in Asian American community

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

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WiTh lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, there is still a stigma around the disease that prevents patients, especially in the Asian American community, from receiving proper support.

A report from the American Cancer Society in January said that the cancer death rate in the U.S. dropped 29% between 1991 and 2017. however, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women at nearly one-quarter of all cancer deaths.

The same report found that 34.4% of Asian American and Pacific islanders — the fastestgrowing minority group in the country — had incidences of lung cancer from 2012-2017.

A recent panel of doctors in Los Angeles highlighted that more education and outreach need to be done to reduce the misconceptions around the disease and barriers to care within the Asian American community. “Lung cancer stigma is why research funding at the national level is not what it should be,� said Maureen Rigney, director of support initiatives at GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer. “That’s why we haven’t seen a lot of increase in lung cancer survival rates over many, many decades.�

Rigney cited data that 56% of the general public said that people who were diagnosed with lung cancer were “at least partially to blame for their disease.� “Even perhaps more heartbreakingly, there was a significant increase in patients who said that they felt that their family and friends would have been more supportive if they’ve been diagnosed with a different type of cancer,� she added. “For all us, it’s just really important for us to know about the lung cancer stigma and help to work to eliminate it so that people who are diagnosed are confident that they’re going to receive the same level of care and the same compassion as people diagnosed with other types of cancer.�

Reducing barriers to care One of the common beliefs around lung cancer is that it is a “smoker’s disease.� Evidence has shown that it is the first health risk conclusively linked to smoking, but it has largely resulted in patients with the disease being personally blamed, even if they do not have a history of smoking.

There is a growing incidence of lung cancer among Asian American non-smokers, panelists noted.

Based on data from patients in Southern California, about 25% Filipino Americans who have never smoked were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of the disease, in the early 2000s.

Certain social and cultural factors prevent early detection as well as receiving appropriate care once diagnosed. in the Asian American community, across the various groups, many are quick to hide their lung cancer diagnosis from family and friends for fear of shame and to not be a burden. Some adult children even hide the diagnosis from their elderly parents or family members in anticipation of the emotional difficulties.

Filipino American oncologist Alex Makalinao said that before talking about the diagnosis and treatment, it’s important to approach care in a culturally sensitive manner and to build trust with patients.

Many Asian American patients have said that language barriers have prevented them from raising concerns or asking questions about lung cancer.

Maureen Rigney of GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, Dr. David Park of St. Jude Heritage Medical Group, Dr. Bing Xia of USC Keck School of Medicine, Dr. Alex Makalinao of California Hematology Oncology Medical Group and Dr. Ron Natale of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center participate in a recent panel challenging the stigma and changing expectations of lung cancer among Asian Americans.

Contributed photo

“it’s our culture to protect our parents and our family members‌when i come and see them, the families outside are talking to me and telling me not to say anything and it’s very hard for me to convey what the diagnosis is,â€? Makalinao told the Asian Journal. Speaking to families in Tagalog has been helpful in breaking down the resistance and earn their trust, he found. “i just have to gain the confidence of the parent or the loved one and when i get that, it’s a lot easier,â€? he said. “But still, before you could say the ‘C word,’ it could take several visits before you even say it.â€?

Makalinao added that one of the best ways to raise awareness among patients in the Fil-Am community is through media, whether through TV programs or newspapers. “When they come to us‌patients show us what they read or what they saw in the newspaper and so making them aware that there [are] other ways of treating this cancer is very important,â€? he said.

Testing and treatment options Like other types of cancer, lung cancer has several causes, presents itself in different forms, and affects various racial and ethnic groups in distinct ways.

Though symptoms do not typically appear until the lung cancer is at an advanced stage, they include persistent cough, sputum streaked with blood, chest pain, a hoarse voice, worsening shortness of breath and recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis, according to the American Cancer Society. “Lung cancer is a disease of mutations, where carcinogens and cigarette smoke are responsible for smoking-related lung cancer, or carcinogens in the environment, which is responsible for non-smoking related lung cancer, damage the DNA of a normal bronco endothelial cell, producing a mutation that then drives the growth of that moment in the cell clone,� said Dr. Ron Natale, director of the Lung Cancer Clinical Research Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer institute at CedarsSinai Medical Center. he added that studies show Asian Americans appearing to be more sensitive to environmental carcinogens that produce such mutations.

One biomarker associated with NSCLC is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation, which is prevalent among Asians more than any other racial and ethnic group. (A 2017 multinational study found that 52% of lung cancer incidences in the Philippines were due to EGFR mutations.)

When individuals are diagnosed with NSCLC, it’s crucial that they get biomarker testing — either through a blood test or a biopsy that removes tissue from a tumor — to identify the specific disease type, and receive a targeted treatment plan, such a once or twice a day oral pill. Other mutations include ALK, BRAF, NTRK, PD-L1, and ROS1.

Filipino American oncologist Alex Makalinao talks about the barriers to proper care for lung cancer within the Asian American community.

AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel

“Part of this program is really educating the public that there are good and better therapies out there for lung cancer now. it’s okay to ask your doctors about treatment options and getting tested for molecular alterations,� said Dr. Bing Xia, an assistant professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. in recent years, the development of targeted therapies has helped directly attack cancer cells by attaching to or blocking targets that appear on the surfaces of those cells.

Xia added that in her practice, she has found that patients who take targeted pills are more receptive than when on chemotherapy drugs, which cannot tell the difference between normal cells and cancer cells. “Patients who take these targeted pills generally do very well.

They have, generally speaking, higher efficacy than chemotherapy and generally lower side effects. So patients are very happy with these pills and they feel well when taking them,� she said.

Rigney also noted that taking oral medications has a more positive impact on the quality of life for patients. “All medications have side effects‌but oftentimes, these oral therapies can have fewer effects.

So people aren’t tied to their treatment, they can continue to travel, they can continue to live their lives and oftentimes in the way that they would like to as opposed to when they’re going through chemotherapy,� she said.

Though the discussion was supported by biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, the panelists did not specifically endorse or mention targeted therapy drugs by name. however, the company has been running an “it’s Okay to Ask� campaign that is “designed to encourage and empower patients and their caregivers to take a proactive approach in treating lung cancer and to ask their physicians specific questions about their cancer,� Natale said. n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Filipinos repatriated from virus Pope Francis names Bishop Pabillo caretaker of Manila archdiocese epicenter show no symptoms of nCoV

by Gaea

Katreena CabiCo

Philstar.com

MANILA — Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Broderick Pabillo as the caretaker of the Archdiocese of Manila.

The pope announced Pabillo’s appointment as the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese Monday following the departure of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as Manila’s top prelate.

Tagle left Manila for Vatican to assume his new post as the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples—a department responsible for promoting Catholic faith around the world.

Pabillo, who has been critical of the government’s “war on drugs”, will be the caretaker of the Archdiocese of Manila until a new archbishop is appointed.

“Let us thank the Lord for Cardinal Chito (Tagle) who served as the archbishop of Manila for eight years. Let us pray for him as he embarks on his new mission,” Fr. Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of

Manila, said.

He added: “Let us also thank the Lord for Bishop Broderick who will guide us during this period in our life as a local Church.

And let us beg the Lord to give us a new shepherd molded after His own heart.”

Outspoken prelate Pabillo has criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign and his attacks on Catholic Church and its leaders several times in the past.

In 2017, the bishop called on Church leaders and the faithful to speak out against the killings in the government’s war on drugs.

He also said the thousands killed in the conduct of the campaign are “deeply traumatized and even now made more poor.”

In 2018, Pabillo wrote a blog post in response to the question “Why did God give us Duterte?”

He pointed out it was the 16 million voters who chose him to be presidents, not God. “Many very bad leaders had been elected by their people.

Let us just name (Adolf) Hitler,

by Gaea

Bishop Broderick Pabillo Philstar.com file photo

(Benito) Mussolini and even our (Ferdinand) Marcos. They came to power by election. Duterte was elected by 16 million voters, not even the majority of our 50 million voters in 2016. He is not even a majority president,” the bishop said, adding he hopes Filipinos will become better voters next time.

Pabillo has been serving as Manila’s auxiliary bishop since 2006. n

Archaeologists unearth grave of WWII hero and banana ketchup inventor Maria Orosa by rosette

adel

Philstar.com

MANILA — A group of archaeologists on Sunday unearthed the grave of Filipino World War II guerilla and scientist Maria Orosa in Manila, nearly 75 years since her martyrdom.

The grave was discovered at the Malate Catholic School compound.

Orosa who was born in Taal, Batangas, passed away on Feb. 13, 1945, after a bombing during the Battle for Manila.

The unearthed epitaph said Orosa “died in line of duty.”

National Quincentennial Committee, tasked to prepare the country’s commemoration of the 500 years of the victory at Mactan or the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, said that Orosa was among the unsung heroes of the war.

It said that Orosa “used science

to save thousands of Filipinos and Americans in Manila from malnutrition and hunger by smuggling food beyond Japanese lines.”

Last November 29, search engine giant Google gave tribute to Orosa with a doodle to commemorate her 126th birthday.

“Born in the municipality of Taal within the Batangas province, Orosa went on to become an outstanding student, winning a partial government scholarship in 1916 to attend the University of Seattle. While living in a YMCA and working odd jobs, Orosa completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry, as well as an additional degree in food chemistry,” Google Doodle said.

Aside from being a war hero, Orosa was credited for her more than 700 recipes and preservation techniques which became iconic. This includes the country’s favorite condiment, banana

ketchup, and food like powdered calamansi juice.

“Orosa’s knowledge of chemistry led to numerous culinary innovations. For instance, by fitting a traditional earthenware pot with two sheets of metal, she invented the Palayok Oven, providing remote villages lacking access to electricity with a more effective means of cooking over an open fire,” Google also said.

“Although adobo and lumpia are synonymous with Filipino cuisine, Orosa’s banana ketchup is not far behind. Using mashed bananas as a base instead of tomatoes, she made the sauce a long-lasting hit. Two other inventions made her a war hero: Soyalac (a nutrient-rich drink derived from soya beans) and Darak (rice cookies packed with vitamin B-1, which could also prevent beriberi disease) saved countless lives during World War II,” it added. n

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — All Filipinos repatriated from the ground zero of the deadly novel coronavirus were “healthy,” the Department of Health said Monday, following safety concerns on the facility used as quarantine zone.

DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said none of the 32 Filipinos flown home from China’s Hubei province exhibited symptoms of 2019-nCoV since their arrival in the Philippines Sunday morning. “‘Yung lahat ng pumunta sa airport wala silang tinurn away na kahit isang Filipino dahil lahat ng dumating ay malusog, walang lagnat,” Domingo said in an interview on radio dzMM Monday.

(No Filipino was turned away in [Wuhan] airport because all repatriates were healthy, they have no fever.)

He added: “During the flight na tatlong oras, chini-check sila walang na-develop na kahit anong symptoms hanggang makababa sila dito sa Clark.”

(They were checked during the three-hour flight. No one developed any symptoms until they arrived at Clark International Air-

This handout photo from Department of Foreign Affairs shows Filipino workers repatriated from central Chinese city of Wuhan inside a plane.

Philstar.com file photo

port.)

The repatriates were transferred to the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

“In the past 24 hours, wala pa pong nire-report sa atin na nagkaroon ng sakit,” Domingo said.

The Health official said medical personnel will be deployed to allay the fears of communities surrounding New Clark City.

Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan earlier lamented that the DOH did not involve the local government in its decision to use New Clark City as a quarantine zone for

evacuees.

DOH and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, which has jurisdiction over NCC, stressed that necessary measures were put in place to ensure the adjacent communities of NCC are kept safe.

The death toll from the novel coronavirus reached 900 in mainland China, overtaking global fatalities in the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic.

The Philippines confirmed three cases, including one death—the first fatality outside mainland China. n

BI to foreigners: No extension of annual report deadline

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

PataG

MANILA — Despite the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) scare, the Bureau of Immigration will not extend the Feb. 29 deadline for foreigners in the country to comply with the BI annual report, an official announced yesterday.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said those who fail to meet the deadline would be meted administrative fines and face possible deportation for violating the country’s immigration and alien registration laws.

Morente advised foreigners to avoid the rush in making their annual report to the BI. “We encourage registered aliens to submit themselves ear-

ly to avoid bigger crowds that will put them at greater risks of exposing themselves to suspected nCoV carriers,” he said.

“We urge foreigners to report to the BI satellite and extension offices throughout the country,” Morente added.

Under the 1951 Alien Registration Act, all registered aliens who are holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas are required to report to the BI within the first 60 days of the year.

Covered by the law are foreigners who are living, working and studying in the Philippines, Morente said.

BI Alien Registration Division chief Jose Carlitos Licas reminded foreigners to bring their passports and present their alien certificate of registration identity card or ACR I-Card.

Foreigners must pay P300 for annual report fee and P10 legal research fee.

“For those who are abroad, they should make the report within 30 days from the date of their return to the country, provided they have valid re-entry permits,” Licas said.

If the foreigners are minor aged 14 and below, their parents or guardian should report to the BI on their behalf.

Senior citizens and persons with disability are exempted from personal appearance, but they are required to submit a special power of attorney for their representative.

Application forms, guidelines and information on the conduct of the annual report can be downloaded from the BI website www.immigration.gov.ph. n

A6

FEBRUARY 14-20,2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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O PINION On the frontlines

REPORTs from China say workers in hospital intensive care units are bearing the brunt of the novel coronavirus contagion. Those on the frontlines of the public health battle naturally take the greatest risks. The 34-year-old ophthalmologist from Wuhan who blew the whistle on the nCoV but was shushed by his government, Li Wenliang, died of the disease after contracting the virus from an infected patient he had treated for glaucoma.

The higher risk makes it even more laudable to see health professionals — in China and in all the other countries where nCoV has been reported — forging ahead with their mission of saving lives even at the risk of losing their own.

It behooves governments and the civilian populace to ensure that the frontline workers in this challenging battle get sufficient protection from contagion and possible death. Developments in China indicate that nCoV is more virulent than the pathogen that causes SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

FEATURES

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, frontline health workers lack not only hazmat or hazardous materials suits but also — as pointed out by health officials — basic protective equipment starting with N95 masks. Civilians should heed appeals from health officials to stop hoarding N95 masks so that the limited supply can be used by those who need the items most — not only health workers, but also those whose work puts them in contact with people and goods arriving from nCoV-affected countries.

The Bureau of Immigration reported yesterday that 19 of its personnel are now on home quarantine. The 19 were the ones who had boarded the cruise ships from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, which were allowed to dock in the Port of Manila shortly before the government imposed a travel ban.

Ordinary tasks have become risky in the time of nCoV. Those on the frontlines are sticking their necks out for the public, and must get all the protection they need from a killer virus. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

As CPV celebrates 90th founding anniversary, let us remember the Philcag troops and contributions in the 70s PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. WE convey our congratulations to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as it celebrates its 90th Founding Anniversary.

The Communist Party of Vietnam sits in the Standing Committee of our International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which now represents some 350 ruling, opposition and independent political parties from 52 countries in Asia, including the political parties from the Philippines led by the ruling PDP-Laban of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In the congratulatory letter we sent last week to the leadership of Vietnam’s Communist Party, in our humble capacity as Founding Chairman of ICAPP and Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee, we said that Vietnam has a special place in our heart as it was where we spent our initial foray in international relations, as a 30-year-old Presidential Assistant, concurrently assigned as Minister, Economic and Press Counselor at the Philippine Embassy in Saigon, the South Vietnam capital then (now Ho Chi Minh, capital of the united Vietnam) from 1966 to 1969during the then raging Vietnam War. As we earlier mentioned in this column, it was also in Vietnam, in 1967, where we conceived of, designed and began the implementation of the historic dollar Remittance Program for the Filipino overseas workers, which rapidly enlarged each year and which now raises more than $30-billion a year for the Philippines, a continuing yearly bonanza for our Central

Bank.

We went to Vietnam for the second time in 1959, as a 22-year-old journalist, when we were invited by then-President Carlos P. Garcia to join him on a visit to Saigon.

We remember sailing the Saigon River with President Garcia and the then South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem aboard the Vietnamese leader’s presidential yacht. President Garcia also offered us the position of Press Attache at the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam or somewhere in Europe but we politely declined, with deep humility and gratitude, as we were then enamored with the adventure and honor of being a journalist at home and overseas.

We first visited the south’s capital Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh city (with the north keeping its capital, Hanoi) in 1956, for the Proclamation of the Vietnamese Constitution and the first anniversary of the Vietnam Republic following Vietnam’s partition at the waist in the 17th Parallel after the French forces’ classic defeat in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. We were then a 19-year-old journalist and fledgling foreign correspondent but rapidly promoted to Manila bureau chief of the first Asian news agency, the Pan Asia Newspaper Alliance, founded by the late Norman Soong, then Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s “favorite war correspondent” in World War II. The largest international news agencies at the time up to today are Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Reuters, and Agence France Presse (AFP).

We also had a Pan Asia weekly column then, printed once a week in the old Philippines Herald, which in the old days was edited by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Carlos P. Romulo, who later became President of the UN General Assembly and then our Secretary of

Foreign Affairs. Herald’s editor in the mid-1950s was Carlos F. Nivera, then our journalism professor at the Ateneo, who gave us our first journalistic job. He was married to Pat Nivera, the late President Ramon Magsaysay’s social secretary. Professor Nivera coestablished the Pan-Asia bureau in Manila with historian Carlos Quirino and we served as the first Philippine correspondent, then 19 with a meager but livable salary and our assistants were photographer Leoncio Alejandro.

As fate would have it, seven years after our Vietnam visit with President Garcia, we were back in Saigon, in 1966, as Presidential Assistant and Minister and Economic Press Counselor at the Philippine Embassy there. Vietnam was then a hotbed amid an escalating war with the United States under then-President Lyndon B. Johnson.

That year, our Philippine Government sent a contingent of the Philippine Civic Action Group (Philcag) and we welcomed the Philcag troops at the Saigon Airport with our veteran Ambassador Luis Salcedo, our Co-Minister Anastacio Bartolome, Press Attache Joe Aligno and our Military Attache, the Vietnam specialist Col. Joe Banzon, who was a friend of the legendary Cold War specialist Ed Landsdale. The Philcag had no combat duties, only civic action and engineering work, building roads, bridges, markets and hospitals but shielded by a Security Battalion. The Philcag mission was based in Tay Ninh province, near the border with Cambodia, was successful and much appreciated by the Vietnamese masses and not bothered by the militant Vietcong guerillas and by the Viet Minh.

It was in Vietnam where we became friends with the then young

military officials who would later rise to national prominence, among them, Major Fidel V. Ramos, who became a hero of the Edsa People Power Revolution, Armed Forces chief, Defense Secretary and then President of the Philippines; Captains Jose Almonte, who became National Security Adviser under Ramos; Renato de Villa, later Defense chief; psywar and civic action leader Jose Magno, Thelmo Cunanan, one of the rare Filipino West Pointers, who became a General, and later, a highly-regarded Ambassador to Cambodia, married to noted Inquirer columnist Belinda Olivares-Cunanan; and capable Lieutenants Lisandro Abadia and Arturo Enrile, who later became heads of the Armed Forces, and many distinguished others.

In Vietnam, where we lived for four years, we also had the privilege of meeting and making friends with Admiral John McCain Sr., U.S. commander in the Pacific, whom we invited to Manila and father of the late Sen. John McCain, also a war hero shot down over North Vietnam skies, prisoner of war in Hanoi and who later ran but missed the presidency of the U.S. Admiral McCain helped our Armed Forces with the organization of our first Engineering Construction Battalion, and equipped with construction machinery. (In peacetime, we invited him and served briefly as an honorary board member of our long-retired Landoil Resources Corporation).

Later, we invited and accompanied to Manila the most bemedalled World War II hero in Europe, Gen. Creighton Abrams, later U.S. Commander in Vietnam after whom the U.S. Abrams Tank was named, for he was the celebrated combat officer of the equally famed U.S. General

George Patton, the feared and foremost Allied military commander then against the German forces. Abrams later also helped the Philippines with its first Armalite Battalion and engineering equipment for our Philcag troops in Vietnam, a precursor of our Engineering Construction battalions today.

Today, we truly admire Vietnam, led by President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, for rising from the tragedies and sufferings of war — the World War II conflict with Japan, the guerilla war for independence against the French Foreign Legion and Army, and then against the U.S. and Allied Forces after Vietnam’s earlier victory in the classic battle at Dien Bien Phu in the north against the French Army, all of which the North Vietnamese forces won — to become an economic and peaceful power today, lifting the living standards of the Vietnamese people and advancing agriculture, education and industries, and promoting today a culture of peace in Asia and the international community. We also commend the genuine reconciliation between the U.S. and the united Vietnam.

We also note Vietnam’s role today with ASEAN partners to build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea/West Philippines Sea in accordance with international law and its now enviable role as Chair of ASEAN 2020 and its non-permanent strategic membership in the coveted U.N. Security Council in 2020-2021. ** Nobody knows how long the Coronavirus will rage and estimate its effects in the Philippines and in the various countries of the world.

All the newspapers in the Philippines and elsewhere are preoccu-

pied and have written extensively on the epidemic. No major health authority in Asia, Europe and the Americas has spoken nor dared say how long the crisis will run.

But generally, all the plagues in the various regions in history are dangerous and often claim many lives but are not long-lasting and peter out sooner than later.

In the meantime, the government and our citizenry, families, friends, townmates and neighbors must and should help each other in every possible way.

Today, the crisis rages but we know from past histories that in a few months, God willing, the spreading virus will sputter out and the plague will come to an end. ** In our column last Sunday, January 19 and in much earlier interviews, we said, “It is almost certain that U.S. President Donald Trump will win very shortly the impeachment case filed by U.S. Congressional Democrats, which indeed they overwhelmingly won in the House of Representatives but which they will most likely lose in the U.S. Senate, controlled

by Republicans, in the next few days or weeks.” [Editor’s note: Trump was acquitted of impeachment charges on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.]

We also said that the impeachment charge will “diminish” Trump but the “Senate clearance will uplift him en route to the electoral battle in November.”

The Democrats are still struggling, beginning with almost 20 presidential contenders for the Democratic nomination. They have about three outstanding candidates but they must settle for only one to face Trump.

It will be a rough-and-tumble contest for almost nine months until D-Day November 3, 2020. ■

Support federalism and ‘I’ll make amends with you’: Is Duterte’s proposal to ABS-CBN a vendetta and abuse of power?

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that “the Philippine government moved Monday to end the franchise of the country’s leading broadcast network, the latest push by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte against media outlets that have been critical of his leadership”.

Representing the Philippine government, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a complaint before the Supreme Court of the Philippines with the country’s highest court, contending that ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence, violated the terms and conditions of operating franchise granted by Congress to the network, even before the expiry date of said license on March 30, 2020.

This complaint was filed by Calida without following due process and despite the fact that

the House of Representatives has yet to start hearings and deliberations over at least 11 bills supporting the renewal of the franchise.

The Times quoted Calida in his accusation that ABS-CBN has been “benefiting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers.” Calida added, “These practices have gone unnoticed or were disregarded for years.”

As ABS-CBN News reported, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano — whose father the late Senator Rene Cayetano was catapulted to the Senate via our programs “Compañero y Coimpanera” on radio DZMM and Channel 2 — said that while “certain interests” want to speed up the process, the House is working alongside the chamber’s panel on legislative franchises “on how to prioritize urgent and important legislation.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly threatened to block the franchise renewal bid of ABSCBN Corp, which operates free TV Channel 2 and radio DZMM. ABS-CBN issued an official statement in response to Calida’s

move: WE DID NOT VIOLATE THE LAW The Office of the Solicitor General’s filing of a quo warranto case against ABS-CBN on alleged violations of its franchise appears to be an effort to shut down ABSCBN to the serious prejudice of millions of Filipinos who rely on the network for news, entertainment and public service.

These allegations cited by the Office of the Solicitor General in his press statement are without merit. ABS-CBN complies with all pertinent laws governing its franchise and has secured all necessary government and regulatory approvals for its business operations.

(1) All our broadcast offerings, including KBO, have received the necessary government and regulatory approvals and are not prohibited by our franchise.

(2) ABS-CBN Holdings’ Philippine Deposit Receipts or PDRs were evaluated and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange prior to its public offering. These are the same instruments used by other broad-

cast companies to raise capital for the improvement of services.

(3) The ownership of ABSCBN in ABS-CBN Convergence was undertaken under the same law and structures that have been utilized by other telecommunications companies. These are transfers that are approved under the Public Telecommunications Policy Act and are fully compliant with law.

We reiterate that everything we do is in accordance with the law. We did not violate the law.

This case appears to be an attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN. KBO remains one of the cheapest forms of entertainment that we can provide to the public. The capital we have raised from the PDRs has enabled us to provide services to nearly 90 percent of the Philippines and to our OFW’s all over the world. Our work with ABS-CBN Convergence supports the government policy of finding ways to bring down the cost of internet access.

The Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Executive Branch have assured the public that our franchise will be allowed

to go through the proper renewal process in a fair manner. To that end, the filing of the quo warranto case is ill-timed given that Congress has already resumed its session.

We remain committed to our mission to serve the Filipino people especially at this time when millions of Filipinos rely on our services in delivering information such as the 2019 NCoV ARD, the developments in the Middle East, and updates on Taal Volcano situation as they relate to our countrymen.”

Duterte claims Malacañang has nothing to do with this move of Calida, but as Rappler reported, the president himself made public “a proposal for ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio ‘Gabby’ Lopez III that if his television network promotes federalism, Duterte is willing to call it quits.”

“Kung magtulong kayo diyan sa federal system campaign at gawain ninyong slogan also for the unity and to preserve the republic, makipag-areglo ako,” (If you can help with the federal system campaign and you make a slogan also for unity and to preserve the republic,

I’ll make amends with you) said Duterte during the PDP-Laban Christmas Benefit Dinner on Wednesday night, December 13, 2019.

He said this right after repeating his usual rant against Lopez and the “debt” that the ABS-CBN chairman’s family owes the government. - an accusation refuted and denied by the network.

IS THIS PERSONAL VENDETTA by Duterte for the critical and unflattering reporting by ABS-CBN news as the network faithfully fulfills its sacred obligation to make the government accountable to the people?

IS THIS ABUSE OF POWER on the part of the president to use his position to silence the free press, and dictate support for his own political agenda?? *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

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Friday, February 14, 2020

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SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 14, 2020

Ella Jay Basco and her star-making turn in ‘Birds of Prey’

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

IN 1991, Hollywood introduced to the world a young Filipino American by the name of Dante Basco through the Steven Spielberg film Hook, starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. The then 16-year-old Basco played the role of Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys.

Fast forward to almost three decades later and we have another Basco playing a breakout role in her debut film feature, as Cassandra Cain in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).

Meet Ella Jay Basco, the precocious 13-year-old out to steal your hearts in the film that’s going to focus on Harley Quinn, the character played by Margot Robbie in the 2018 film “Suicide Squad.” Ella Jay’s dad is the eldest among the Basco Brothers.

“I feel amazing. This is definitely one of my biggest accomplishments in my acting career so I am super proud,” an excited Basco told us in an interview.

Ella Jay went through an arduous month–long audition process to get the role. To prepare, she watched a bunch of movies, practiced her martial arts skills and read some comic

books about Cassandra Cain.

Finding out that she got the role was “very emotional moment and super exciting” for her.

“I mean I totally cried. I knew from that moment on, my life would change forever,” she exclaimed. “I just couldn’t wait to start.”

Her next step after finding out that she has been cast was to go out and buy a bunch of comic books, from “Birds of Prey” to “Harley Quinn” and “Oracle.” “It definitely helped me figure out Cassandra Cain’s origin story, about how she felt and how tough she has to be in such a crazy world like Gotham.”

In fact, it was a particular storyline in a comic that initially inspired Margot Robbie (who also wears a producer hat for the film) to include the Harley/Cass relationship that ultimately plays out on screen. “In my research, I read Harley Quinn: Behind Blue Eyes, and I knew I wanted to explore that mentor-mentee relationship,” she said. “It told me a lot about who Harley was and what she was capable of.

We didn’t use the exact storyline from the series, but just understanding her and her connection

Ella Jay Basco with the rest of the girl gang at the world premiere of Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) in London. From left: Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Harley Quinn herself, Margot Robbie.

Photo by Craig Gibson

to Cass in that way was enlightening.”

Basco then met Robbie and the rest of the cast. The first table read, where the cast would read out the script, was unforgettable for her. She was amazed at how friendly and welcoming these big Hollywood stars were.

“They are all so sweet, such great role models for me in the industry,” she remarked.

Starting Young Ella Jay thinks that she was about maybe 8 or 9 years when she committed to the job.

“I definitely remember seeing kid actors in the business and I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be in the industry and I wanted to be seen on the screen,” she recalled.

Coming from a family of performers most likely influenced her choice of career, specially seeing her uncles, including Dante and Dion, in TV shows and movies.

The Bascos are originally from the Santa Barbara area in California. Her grandparents are originally from the Philippines.

Her dad Derek, the oldest of the Ella Jay with director Cathy Yan Photo by Eric Charbonneau Basco brothers, married Emily, a Korean American.

Despite being a newcomer, Basco is quickly making a name for herself with her dramatic acting chops and ability to perform.

She has appeared in television shows like “Veep,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Teachers,” “Superior Donuts,” “Happyland” and the short film “Glimpse of Heaven.” Basco started her caElla Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain in Warner Bros. Pictures’ Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipareer at six months old in an Old tion of One Harley Quinn).

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/ & © DC Comics Navy print campaign. Outside of acting, Basco is a singer/songwriter and accomplished musician, playing the guitar, piano and ukulele. She is also a trained dancer.

Shooting Birds of Prey With “Birds of Prey”, Ella Jay gets to join the DC Extended Universe.

The film’s cast is led by Robbie (“Bombshell,” “Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood,” “I, Tonya”) who returns as Harley Quinn, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“10 Cloverfield Lane,” Ella Jay as Cassandra Cain in a scene with Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.

Jennylyn on Dennis: He is my greatest love

in, or do you just focus on doing your thing? I never check out a rival show. I don’t let competiEVERYTHING is coming up tion get in the way. I would rather roses for Jennylyn Mercado this focus on my own performance month of hearts. She and her and how I can make it better. beau, Dennis Trillo, join forces in Also, audience feedback is what I a post-Valentine concert, aptly tend to put more effort in knowcalled “Co Love Live” on Feb. 15, ing, so I will know how to cater 8 p.m. at New Frontier Theater. to their expectations from me as Jen also top-bills GMA 7’s an artist. adaptation of the well-loved KoIn your “Co Love Live” rean series, “Descendants of the repertoire, which production Sun” (DOTS), which premieres number is the hardest one, and tonight (after “Anak ni Waray vs which one is your fave? DefiJennylyn Mercado with Dennis Trillo Anak ni Biday”). She plays Dr. nitely, it’s the “Breakup Medley.”

Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo Maxine and is paired off with I won’t reveal what songs are Dingdong Dantes, who portrays soaring this 2020. No descent, all included, so you have to watch Captain Lucas. “sunny” for Jen. the concert to find out. But it’s Their characters’ romance is Here’s my chat with Jen: my favorite number, and hardest off to a rocky start, however. She How’s the Filipino adaptaone to do because aside from tries to distance herself from him tion of “DOTS” different from the difficult nature of the songs, and his dangerous job but gets the original Korean version? it’s also the most honest number drawn to him, instead. What she The main difference is that, in I have to do in the show. resists will persist. the Filipino version, our culture is At this point of your relaEven if Jen is a Kapuso, she infused into the story line. tionship, what’s your song for has been tapped several times to What touched you about its Dennis (Trillo)? be the leading lady of Kapamilya story? I liked how it was able to “I Will Always Love You,” by actors—that’s how bankable show the passion and sacrifices Whitney Houston. she is. After Jen’s Metro Manila of medical personnel and the When your son, Jazz, is old Film Fest (MMFF) hit movie with military to serve and protect us. enough, what love advice will you Coco Martin, which capped off Do you check out the rival give him?To love himself first. He her 2019, she’s all set to keep show of any series that you’re Continued on Page SF6

By Dolly

anne CarVajal Inquirer.net

TV’s “Fargo”) as Huntress; Jurnee Smollett-Bell (HBO’s “True Blood”) as Black Canary; Rosie Perez (“Fearless,” “Pitch Perfect 2”) as Renee Montoya; Chris Messina (“Argo,” TV’s “Sharp Objects”) as Victor Zsasz; and Ewan McGregor (“Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep,” the “Trainspotting” films) as Roman Sionis.

Ella Jay’s favorite scene was the first scene she ever shot, which was the apartment scene with Margot.

“That was probably the best one, my favorite, because we got to know each other,” she said of her costar. “We talked a lot not just about acting, but about what we like, and our hobbies. We really opened up to each other and I really liked that.”

Due to the circumstances of the story, the young actress spent the bulk of her scenes alongside Robbie. “Margot was like a big sister to me, we had the best time with each other.

She taught me so much about working with people on- and offcamera. It was amazing.”

Cassandra, at age 12, has learned to tough it out on the streets of Gotham. Cass, as she’s known, is a street urchin, a smart-mouthed kid surviving on her own—thanks in part to her uncanny knack for pickpocketing.

Cass also has a colorful vocabulary and it was a little weird watching a kid spewing those curses like a pro.

“That’s definitely something that I am never allowed to do in real life,” she said laughing.

“It was interesting because as an actor you pretend and play different characters that you may or may not relate to, but definitely I am not allowed to say those words.”

Shooting the film was quite a process and it made her realize the smaller components needed to come up with a beautiful final product.

“I learned that it takes a village to produce a film of such a large scale. Everybody has a super important job while shoot-

Warner Bros. Pictures presents the Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) fan experience and screenings in New York. From left: Director Cathy Yan, Rosie Perez, Margot Robbie, Ella Jay Basco, Jurnee Smolette-Bell and Ewan McGregor Photo by Dave Alloca

ing and everybody is super important and we should all work as a team and be supportive of each other,” she said. “I learned that on the set of ‘Birds of Prey,’ everyone was just supportive, welcome and loving.”

It is interesting to watch how the lives of the four women become interwoven with each other, something that was smoothly and effectively told through the storytelling process.

Kudos to the women behind the scenes: director Cathy Yan (“Dead Pigs”) and screenwriter Christina Hodson (“Bumblebee”). Yan, the first Asian woman to direct a superhero genre film, wrote and directed Dead Pigs, which won the Special Jury Prize for ensemble acting at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. In her previous life, Yan was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York, Hong Kong and China.

It’s all about girl power in the film, with the girl gang coming together in order to restore order in Gotham and protect Cass at all cost.

“I feel super proud and it is so cool to be a part of this girl gang, it is exciting that this is happening even,” Basco said.

Also earning nods is the film’s diverse cast.

“Representation is super super important. We’re kind of the minority and I think it is

important for our stories to be heard,” she said.

“In being with Birds of Prey, I was able to honor my culture and I was able to represent my Filipino side in that way and that is super important because we all have a story, we all have an opinion and we all deserve to be heard and represented,” Basco added.

Basco found shooting the film as a beautiful and enriching experience. Working with Robbie and the entire cast, along with Yan, made her realize how it was to work with great mentors.

“It was honestly so exciting to work with all of them, they’re so inspiring,” she said.

“Every day was a full-on learning experience, and so much fun.

Everybody was super nice; it was like one long dream.”

The director had nothing but good words for the young actor as Yan admired the hard work that her youngest actress put in.

“Ella was so impressive,” she said. “This is her feature debut, so I can’t imagine how she must have felt to show up to set and work with Margot Robbie every day, but she was a total champ, incredibly mature for her age.

And she really understood Cass and brought a certain authenticity to her—a real kid, not a shiny, perfect version of a little girl.”

Jodi’s time to celebrate

By Boy

aBunDa Philstar.com

JODI Sta. Maria has lots of reasons to celebrate. Just recently, the actress received a piece of good news that her horror film starrer Clarita is part of the Main Competition under Cinema Fantastico/ Fantasy Films and Orient Express Category at the 40th Fantasporto International Film Festival. It was the same film that bagged the Best Director award for Roderick Cabrido at the 10th Mirabile Dictu International Catholic Film Festival held in Vatican City.

Apart from having a rosy acting career, Jodi is also maintaining a good academic standing as a consistent Dean’s Lister without neglecting her mommy duties to son Thirdy. According to her, she is four months away to tucking a degree in BS Psychology. Isn’t it amazing how the 37-year-old actress could actually do all these with flying colors?

“It’s not really easy but with God’s grace, all things are possible,” said Jodi whose amusing vlogs on YouTube have so far earned for her over 100,000 subscribers. And she revealed

Jodi Sta. Maria

about not being good at giving a detailed explanation on food.

“Basta ’pag nagustuhan ko ang lagi ko lang sinasabi, ‘It’s very, very good (laughs).’”

What makes Jodi equally feel good is her being single. On the hot seat of Tonight with Boy Abunda (TWBA), she expressed her contentment and happiness despite being loveless. She also pointed out that being alone does not mean being lonely.

Asked about the best and worst parts of being single, she declared, “Ako, na-e-enjoy ko

Photo from Instagram/@jodistamaria

s’ya. Parang ito ‘yung time to really grow as an individual. You discover a lot of things about yourself. Alone does not mean lonely.”

“I just feel content kung nasaan man akong season ng life ko. I have nothing to complain because I am happy.” And even admitted that she once said in her past interview that she would not mind being single forever.

The star of the original digital series My Single Lady, now Continued on Page SF5

community

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 14, 2020

What happens if the beneficiary of a petition dies?

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ MOST people are aware that if the petitioner (person who files a petition) dies, the beneficiary (family member After neArly 25 yeArs, this fAmily’s AmericAn DreAm is finAlly reAlizeD. Jean (center) was petitioned by her sister in 1994. life in America had always being petitioned) may apply appealed to Jean and her family. eventually, in 2013, she came to the U.s. as a tourist with her daughter. the trip was a graduation gift for her daughter who for humanitarian revalidawas an honor student. they risked everything and decided to overstay, along with Jean’s husband, milo (left). When the petition became current, leading U.s. tion/reinstatement. If USCIS immigration lawyer Attorney michael J. Gurfinkel (right) pursued Adjustment of status for the family. Based on their eligibility, Jean’s petition was transferred approves the request, the from the Philippines to the U.s., where she and her family were interviewed. Watch how after almost 25 years of waiting, Jean and her family are now living the American Dream with no fear nor worries, on an encore episode of citizen PinOy – on sunday at 6:15 pm (Pst) on tfc.

(Advertising supplement) primary beneficiary and his derivative spouse and minor children could continue being processed for their green cards, despite the petitioner’s death.

However, if the principal beneficiary dies, humanitarian reinstatement is not available to the spouse and minor

By Ricky caldeRon children (derivatives). NeverManilaTimes.net theless, it could be possible EULA Valdez considers it in some limited situations a dream come true to work that derivative beneficiarwith Christopher de Leon. The ies could still be processed iconic actor plays her husfor green cards even though band in “Love Thy Woman,” the primary beneficiary has the newest afternoon drama died. This law (which I call coming soon on the Kapamilya the “Survivor Law”) could Network. benefit the spouse and minor Even as a young girl, Eula children of a deceased benwas already fond of watching eficiary’s family or employold movies. One that really ment-based petition. struck her was the Lino Brocka Persons eligible: classic, “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Among the requirements Kulang,” starring Bro Bo (Chrisare: topher’s moniker among movie • the applicant seeking A big fan of local movies, eula Valdez mentions she got to watch the old movies of christopher de leon’s denizens from his nickname, the immigration benefit (such parents.

ABs-cBn photo Boyet). as derivative family memaware her husband has anBro Bo’s parents.

“As a young girl, I would bers) resided in the United other wife (played by Sunshine States when the “qualifying “I was always thrilled with always imagine that one day Cruz). the idea of working in a scene I will be able to work with a relative” (such as the princiPlaying Eula’s daughter is with an award-winning actor good actor like Bro. Bo. I’d pal beneficiary or petitioner) Yam Concepcion as Dana while died, and continues to reside like him since I know it’s going always think what would it be Kim Chiu plays the daughter of in the United States on the to be a learning experience,” like doing a scene with him,” Sunshine. she said. said Eula at the recent medidate of the decision on the Conflict ensues when Kim In the afternoon series proacon of “Love Thy Woman.” pending application; falls for David (Xian Lim) when duced by Dreamscape, Eula A big fan of local movies, • The applicant is at least Dana goes into a coma after a plays the first wife of Boyet, she mentioned that she even one of the following: car accident. got to watch the old movies of a Chinese tycoon. But she is • A beneficiary of a pend-

Eula fulfills dream of working with Christopher

ing or approved family-based immigrant visa petition, including both the principal beneficiary and/or any derivative beneficiaries; • A derivative beneficiary of a pending or approved employment-based immigrant visa petition; Qualifying relative who died: Another requirement for eligibility is that a “qualifying relative” has died. USCIS includes the following as “qualifying relatives” who, immediately before death, was: • The petitioner in an immediate relative or other family-based immigrant visa petition; • The principal beneficiary in a widow(er)’s immediate relative immigrant visa petition; • The principal beneficiary in a widow(er)’s family-based immigrant visa petition; and • The principal beneficiary in an employment-based immigrant visa petition.

Examples of cases: 1. A U.S. citizen petitions her brother, who has a wife and minor children. The brother (who was the primary beneficiary) dies, but the U.S. citizen petitioner is still alive.

The brother’s wife is in the U.S. when he died and continues to live here. It could be possible for the wife and children to still be processed for immigrant visa under her sister-in-law’s petition, without seeking humanitarian revalidation, even though the primary beneficiary has died.

2. A person is being petitioned by an employer through PERM/labor certification. He has a wife and small children, and they are all in the U.S. The worker dies. It could still be possible for his wife and minor

children to continue the case and get a green card through the employment-based petition of the deceased worker.

I want to emphasize that this law is complex, and there are many other eligibility requirements, such as having certain relatives to be substitute sponsors on an affidavit of support, whether the derivative beneficiaries are out of status, etc. That is why, if you believe you may be eligible, you should consult with an immigration attorney, who can evaluate your situation.

My point is that in certain circumstances it could be possible for family members to still get green cards even though the principal beneficiary died. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 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 and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw 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. (Advertising Supplement)

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celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 14, 2020

celebrity world

Dingdong, Aiko latest celebrities to express support for ABS-CBN franchise renewal

By Ferdie Villar KAPUSO stars Dingdong Dantes, Aiko Melendez, Eugene Domingo and Paolo Valenciano are the latest celebrities to tweet and/or express their support for embattled network giant ABSCBN (known as the Kapamilya network) as it seeks a franchise renewal from the Philippine government.

In his tweets, according to PEP.ph, Dantes expressed solidarity with his colleagues in the media and the hope that the government will listen to the wishes of its citizens. He also used the hashtag #NoToABSCBNShutdown.

“Magkaiba man ng bakod, we are one in the media industry. We have one love for the many talents and crafts under this Network, the products and output of which, directly or indirectly, benefit the lives of millions of Filipinos,” the debonair actor was quoted as having tweeted.

“In the end, I pray that the true interest of the people, under the rule of law, will prevail over any other political agenda conveniently veiled as countermeasure against alleged abuses… I pray too that the government, thru Congress, will hear out its constituents.

After all, Congress is supposed to represent our ‘voices’,” Dantes, who stars in Descendants of the Sun, also tweeted.

Dantes, one of the stalwarts of the Kapuso network, has starred in films under Star Cinema, which is the film production outfit of ABS-CBN. Among the films he did for Star Cinema were “The Unmarried Wife,” “Seven Sundays,” “Fantastica,” “One More Try”

EMPLOYMENT

and “Segunda Mano.”

Aiko Melendez, who used to work for the Kapamilya network, also used the same hashtag (#notoabscbnshutdown) and acknowledged the many projects and support she received while she was with ABS-CBN. “Ang tagal ko din naging parte ng ABS-CBN, madami akong magandang proyeko nagawa sa kanila. Nagkaroon ng ibat ibang papuri sa mga awards. Malaki ang naitulong ng ABS sa akin. Bagamat ako ay nasa GMA hangad namen na maayos ang kanilang franchise dahil sa huli lahat tayo ay nasa iisang industry. Tayo ay magkapuso at magkapamilya,” the Prima Donnas star was quoted as saying.

Eugene Domingo, herself an ABS-CBN talent before transferring to GMA in the late 2000s, posted a short message via Instagram.

“In the end, we are all family (heart emoji) I pray with you (praying emoji),” Domingo’s message read.

Paolo Valenciano, in his tweet said, “I’m Kapuso but I support @ABSCBN.” Valenciano, who is the son of Mr. Pure Energy and ABSCBN star Gary Valenciano, is a concert and events director and is currently creative consultant for the show “All-Out Sundays” in GMA. *** If reports are true, then stars of rival networks Bea Alonzo (Kapamilya) and Alden Richards (Kapuso) will be teaming up for a project soon.

In an interview with The Philippine Star, Richards shared that there are talks and

that he is looking forward to sharing screen time with one of his idols.

“Marami pong pitch, marami pong pinag-uusapan, pero wala pa pong final,” Richards was quoted in the philstar.com report. “Pero for sure, meron po this year. Siyempre, looking Christopher de Leon, a multi-awarded actor in the Philippine entertainment world, is one of the lead actors in the newest teleserye of The Filipino Channel forward po ‘ko do’n, tsaka mabait na tao po si Bea. ‘Yung “Love Thy Woman” which started airing last February 10. ginawa po namin, di pa po puwedeng i-reveal pero may shinoot po kami.”

“Magaan po kasama, sobrang fan po ko ng ‘One More Chance’ (Bea’s film with John Lloyd Cruz). The first time I met them, first time kong na-starstruck. Pero ngayon ang sarap ng feeling, idol mo lang dati, ka-trabaho mo na ngayon,” he added.

Beauteous and talented actress Carla Abellana is the lead actress in the GMA Pinoy TV teleserye “Love of My Life.”

HOUSING

SERVICES

Award-winning actress Aiko Melendez recently expressed her support for network giant ABS-CBN. Inquirer.net file photo

Tom Rodriguez, a handsome and talented actor of GMA Pinoy TV, is the lead actor in the new teleserye “Love of My Life.”

Dingdong Dantes is one of the latest celebrities to tweet his support for ABS-CBN. Philstar.com file photo

Eugene Domingo, of the Ang Babae sa Septic Tank series fame, is one of the artists expressing her support for ABS-CBN. Philstar.com file photo

Paolo Valenciano recently sent out a tweet in support of ABS-CBN. Inquirer.net file photo

Kapuso star Alden Richards is excited to work with Bea Alonzo, who is one of his idols.

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

Kapamilya star Bea Alonzo is rumored to be in talks to star in a project with Alden Richards.

Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

SERVICES

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA YOUR personal bucket list should be doable. Select a handful of those things that have the highest chance of coming to fruition given your time frame and personal circumstances. In tech speak, it means before your life span and energy goes into ‘ low batt mode’ and life is running out of sockets to plug into.

How about waving your magic wand in the kitchen to create just one signature dish?

Ever wonder how the Peach Melba dessert got its name?

It was said that the celebrated French chef Auguste Escoffier named the confection after his friend, the soprano Nellie Melba of Melbourne, Australia.

Nellie would dine in the restaurant where he was chef and would give him tickets to the opera where she was the main draw. Nellie Melba was the late 19th century equivalent of a celebrity these days that could pack opera houses for the elite in London, Paris and New York.

On a historical note, Escoffier partnered with Cesar Ritz (from whose name the term “ritzy” is derived, to mean elegant and first class, and pricey as well) to establish the Ritz-Carlton Hotels chain.

Signature dishes are not just for the rich and famous.

They are for you and me, as well. Choose just one dish.

Just one from many possibilities… Choose a scrumptiously delicious one. Work on it many times until you can do it from scratch without looking at your cheat sheet and it becomes a masterpiece.

Cook it for family gatherings or potluck events. Cook it until they clamor for you to bring it because your dish is memorable. You notice that people come for seconds until it’s all gone. Clean plate and happy faces —the marks of a culinary success…

Congratulations! You’ve created your signature dish. You

Bucket List # 5

Whip up your signature dish “Food is a way of making a connection with others and making memories.” have placed your name on it.

Best of all, you’ve created gastronomic memories, quite hard to forget because, believe you me, the gut remembers.

I have met many who have done this and it is a source of joy specially when shared with many. My friend Angel cooked Spanish Paella with original ingredients from Spain and with great flourish wearing a chef’s hat and risqué apron of washboard abs, in a class reunion held in their mountain view home. It was delicious and memorable.

Two of my sisters, Olga and Evelyn, bake Sans Rival and indeed, nothing rivals their concoction. Fresh lumpiang sariwa, with many hours of chopping, slicing and dicing of the ingredients is my mother’s and eldest sister, Olga’s signature dish. Another sister, Rhodora, tweaked a Kare-kare recipe and that was divine. There is Agnes Jovellana’s delightful original espasol which she prepares for her parties. My sister Mitch of San Antonio, Texas prepared Buttered Mochi and her baked dish was a hit. I do a simple potato soup with bacon that is popular in the winter time.

The millenials in our family love it. My daughter-in-law Elia, prepares her special recipe for Turkey with bacon on Thanksgiving and draws rave reviews from the family. My son, Rene, prepares delightful chocolate ice cream, from scratch and there is never enough. A former colleague, Malou Halili-Case who hails from Pampanga (famous for women who cook heavenly dishes) prepares Dinuguan, on slow cooker and it was special and memorable. Team it up with puto and, voila, you

have a wonderful meal! There’s Tommy’s mom, Cindy Nguyen, who prepares fresh crabs, Vietnamese style. Of course, there’s Tony’s dad, David Ta, who cooks delicious beef stew, Cambodian style, like no other.

If you don’t have any signature dish, get cracking and work on one, just one dish you can enjoy preparing and putting your mark on. With time and practice, you will get better at it. Choose one that is popular with most taste buds.

Don’t let your ego rule trying to reinvent the wheel and try an exotic dish, like alligator soup, for instance. Stay away from using bats and snakes as ingredients. There is serious concern that the deadly Coronavirus currently raging in Wuhan, China and spreading to other parts of the world may have originated from that city’s wet market that sells exotic animals as food fare.

Nix the labels low calorie, low fat, gluten free, low carb. It is a bit of a downer when you have to work within limiting parameters. It doesn’t have to be original but it must be pleasing to most taste buds within your orbit of friends and family.

Oftentimes, it could be just a tweak on an existing, tested recipe with a secret ingredient or a different technique of doing and presenting. Make it simple, easy and fun.

Food is a way of making a connection with others and making memories. Remember that Jesus Christ in his time ate bread, fish and drank wine with his disciples on many occasions.

Those were the staples of his time and salt was the flavoring.

He multiplied the bread and fish as He fed thousands who

community

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 14, 2020

Celebrating Valentine’s Day tobacco-free

MOST of us will think of roses and sweets on celebrate Valentine’s Day. This Valentine’s Day, Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) and Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) encourage Asian American community members to surprise their significant others by attempting to quit smoking and/or making a committment to quit for good if possible. Quitting smoking improves the health of individuals and loved ones around them.

High rates of tobacco use among Asian Americans are often overlooked because mainstream data tends to combine diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities into one group. However, separating the data reveals that certain Asian subpopulations smoke at higher rates compared to the general U.S. population. Along with other factors, aggregation of tobacco data can perpetuate inequities of tobacco use among Asian Americans and hinder access to cessation resources.

Accessibility to in-language smoking cessation resources for Asian American populations is an essential part of advancing health equity in tobacco control. ASQ provides invaluable resources to our Chinese-, Koreanand Vietnamese-speaking community members who have limited English proficiency. It is crucial to make sure our communities know that free help is available to lead a healthier lifestyle. All of you can play a vital role by sharing these resources to smokers or you can also contact ASQ to obtain free and practical information to help significant others to quit the use of tobacco.

Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) is a national health justice organization working to achieve health equity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPI) and other underserved communities.

APPEAL provides support and technical assistance to address tobacco and cancer

Jodi’s time to...

From Page SF2 streaming on iWant, has visibly become more mature with her choices after going through rough patches in life.

“Kahit paano, merong epekto at nakakaapekto din talaga yung journey pero kasi this is probably the longest that I’ve been single and I’ve never realized that it can be a wonderful and beautiful season pala; that you can still enjoy life and be in love with life more than ever being a single person.”

And what can change her

mind?

“I think, actually right now, I have no intention (of finding a new love). Siguro, a clear direction from the Lord,” she replied.

Meanwhile, Jodi had fun revealing who among the single male celebrities she’s willing to do kissing scene with in acting projects through the show’s Yes, No, Maybe game. Read on.

Marco Gumabao — “May abs pero bagets. So, (my answer is) maybe, hahaha.”

Joem Bascon — “Yes because, if ever, di namin first time

related disparities among Asian American, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander Communities.

ASQ is operated by the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) and funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ASQ provides FREE evidencebased smoking cessation services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to Asian communities in the U.S. and eligible smokers can receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches. Studies have shown that smokers who enroll in ASQ services double their chances of quitting successfully.

ASQ is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm Pacific Time (10am to Midnight Eastern Time). To enroll, call or register online today: • Mandarin & Cantonese, 1-800-838-8917, www.asqchinese.org; • Korean, 1-800-5565564, www.asq-korean.org; • Vietnamese, 1-800-7788440, www.asq-viet.org.

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to be together. He’s my husband in one TV soap before.”

Gerald Anderson — “No because my bestfriend has a crush on him. I don’t want her to get hurt kaya my answer is no na lang.”

Sam Milby — “Yes, why not, hahaha.”

Piolo Pascual — “Yes na yes.

Hindi na pinag-iisipan.”

Coco Martin — “Si Coco, naku kapatid ko ito (both are under B617 Management & Enterprises). No or maybe, parang ganun because we’re not closing our doors.”

John Lloyd Cruz — “Why not, nakaka-miss.”

SF

people & events

tantly, that a rejected application could lead to the issuance of a Notice to Appear (NTA)?

In September 2018, changes in policy were put in place allowing immigration officers to reject visa applications immeAtty. LiLLi BAcuLi coLLins, EsQ diately due to missing or inacNHPI) and other underserved curate information. Previously, AS attorneys, we get communities. APPEAL provides USCIS will issue “Requests for frantic or panicked phone calls Evidence” (RFE) if there are support and technical assistance from our clients worried about missing information, allowing to address tobacco and cancer their cases. It’s a natural rerelated disparities among Asian applicants to address gaps American, Native Hawaiians, and sponse – nobody wants to be in their paperwork. “Notices in a place of unknowing – and of Intent to Deny” were also Pacific Islander Communities.

ASQ is operated by the Asian we try our best to walk people issued, as per prior guidance, through the process. For the Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) and which gave applicants a 30funded by the Center for Disease most part, the panic comes day warning that their applicafrom information gathered Control and Prevention (CDC). tion would likely be rejected. from the wonderful world of ASQ provides FREE evidenceApplications affected by based smoking cessation services the internet: someone read these policies and its recent this article or watched that in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean changes in policy apply to: (i) video, then later fears are and Vietnamese to Asian comapplications and renewals of confirmed upon speaking with temporary (non-immigrant) munities in the U.S. and eligible a neighbor’s-husband’s-thirdsmokers can receive a free twovisas, and (ii) permanent week supply of nicotine patches. cousin who had the “same resident status (immigrant) Studies have shown that smokers exact situation.” Oh boy. visas. Securing such visas are Most attorneys cannot who enroll in ASQ services required in order for non-U.S. speak about cases they have double their chances of quitting citizen foreign nationals to not handled. Each case is successfully. legally live and work in the unique – one tiny fact, one ASQ is open Monday United States. tiny detail could change the through Friday, 7am to 9pm Can USCIS refer a file to course of a case. And, in immi- deportation for the issuance Pacific Time (10am to Midnight gration cases where the threat of a Notice to Appear after Eastern Time). To enroll, call or of deportation is very real why the case has been denied? register online today: would you gamble with your • Mandarin & Cantonese, 1Yes. The U.S. Citizenship 800-838-8917, www.asq-chinese. life? Or your family’s life? and Immigration Services New Policy for Rejecting org; (USCIS) may also issue an NTA Incomplete or Inaccurate • Korean, 1-800-556-5564, when it finds a noncitizen has Filings. www.asq-korean.org not complied with regulaDid you know that a single tions governing admission or • Vietnamese, 1-800-778error could mean a rejected 8440, www.asq-viet.org. maintaining lawful status after

(Advertising Supplement) application? And, more impor- admission.

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 14, 2020

Celebrating the Year of the Rat tobacco-free

FOR Asian American communities who celebrate the Lunar New Year, this time is often celebrated as a new beginning for good fortune and good health.

Since the Rat is the first sign from the 12 zodiac animals in some Asian cultures, it also gives a double meaning of renewals and begininngs. Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) and Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) encourage our community members to start the Year of the Rat in good health by becoming tobacco-free. Quitting smoking improves the health of individuals and loved ones around them.

High rates of tobacco use among Asian Americans are often overlooked because mainstream data tends to combine diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities into one group. However, separating the data reveals that certain Asian subpopulations smoke at higher rates compared to the general U.S. population. Along with other factors, aggregation of tobacco data can perpetuate inequities of tobacco use among Asian Americans and hinder access to cessation resources.

Accessibility to in-language smoking cessation resources for Asian American populations is an essential part of advancing health equity in tobacco control. ASQ provides invaluable resources to our Chinese-, Korean- and Vietnmaese-speaking community members who have limited English proficiency. It is crucial to make sure our communities know that free help is available to lead a healthier lifestyle. You can play a vital role by sharing these resources to smokers or you can also contact ASQ to obtain free and practical informaiton on how to help others to quit.

To promote a healthy start of the New Year, ASQ will give out lucky red envelop to those who call the ASQ Chinese or Vietnamese Quitline or enroll online via www.asq-chinese.org or www.asq-viet.org to complete an intake from now till the end of February 2020. While supplies last!

Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) is a national health justice organization working to achieve health equity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders (AA and

The Attorney-Client Relationship The CTV Files

Consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before filing anything.

First things first, do not file anything with USCIS or any other government entity without first seeking advice.

Filing for applications “frivolously” can and will come back and haunt you. While certain applications are available online making it easy to access, individuals must nevertheless proceed with caution when filing for any application with USCIS. Just because it is easier now to file for an application does not mean that you should. We urge individuals to pause and take the time to consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before submitting any application with USCIS. ***

Atty. Lilli Baculi Collins is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) – a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www. chuatinsayvega.com.

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File of Life can be a lifesaver

MEDICAL emergencies can happen anytime. When they do, there is often confusion, panic and urgency.

Public Safety Dispatchers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics often have very little or no information about the person in need. Does the patient have prior medical conditions? Allergies? What medications are they taking?

Who do they want us to call?

How do we contact their family or friends?

Seconds count – and, can make the difference between life and death. File of Life puts these answers at their fingertips. It allows first responders to immediately begin the best possible treatment, notify loved ones and pass this vital data on to awaiting physicians at the emergency room.

File of Life forms, as well as advance directives, do not resuscitate (DNR) orders and physician orders for life sustaining treatment (POLST) should be placed in a special red magnetic sleeve and kept in a noticeable location (e.g. refrigerator door). File of Life forms are available online and the magnetic sleeve to hold the forms can be obtained at any of the Santa Clara Fire

Photo courtesy of City of Santa Clara

Department’s fire stations.

The File of Life kit is available free as a public service from the Santa Clara Fire Department. You may obtain the kit by contacting the SCFD Administration Office at 408-615-4900, or obtaining one from any Fire Department personnel.

For more information on File of Life, visit https://www. santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-a-f/fire-department/ community-resources/file-oflife.

(From City of Santa Clara)

Jennylyn on...

From Page SF2 has to feel that he is complete as a person, so he won’t have to rely on others for his happiness.

It has to start from within.

What’s something you want to improve on this 2020? I want to be less impulsive when it comes to decision-making.

When I want something, I do it right away without giving it much thought. Hopefully, this year I will be more cautious.

What made love lovelier the second time around for Dennis and you? We have evolved from the first time we were together as a couple. Iba na kami bilang tao. There’s more maturity on both sides.

What was your silliest fight with Dennis. How do you resolve misunderstandings? We used to argue about petty stuff, like each other’s outfits. If ever there are misunderstandings, we talk things over to understand each other’s perspective and how we can resolve them.

Do you see yourself being married to Dennis someday?

If so, what makes Dennis husband material? I can’t really say.

Let nature take its course. But what I can definitely say is that he is my greatest love. He’s a man who is passionate, understanding and loves his family.

Those traits are what I look for in a husband.

Whip up your...

From Page SF5 followed him to hear his teachings. Jesus knew how important it was to make a connection.

Christ connects with us two thousand years later in the Holy Eucharist at Mass when bread and wine are consecrated and become His body and blood. It is a daily reminder of how God loves us — so much He sent His only son to redeem us from sin and death so we may live forever.

We use food to feed our bodies and make a connection with others. Partaking of the Eucharist to feed our souls in or-

der to make a connection with the divine is the other aspect worth pursuing as part of our bucket list.

Food is a blessing, a visual and visceral aid that makes our life here on earth so wonderfully engaging.

Make your signature dish and the joys they bring to yourself and others part of the wonderful memories etched in your soul forever. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS IN the face of nine individuals in Manila who were under investigation for possible Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID19) infection who refused to be isolated, Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced last Saturday, February 8 that “Philippine authorities will invoke state police power if people who have flu-like symptoms will refuse to undergo a mandatory quarantine to protect the public from this treacherous rapidly transmissible and potentially deadly illness.”

In Hong Kong, violators are subject to a prison term of up to six months. Other cities and countries may already have such laws or will follow suit.

In a press conference in Quezon City, Duque said the 44-year-old Chinese male companion of the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the country, a 38-year-old Chinese woman, also tewsted positive for the virus and died February 2, 2020. Both came from Wuhan, Hubei province, China, and were isolated at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

This was the first death outside China, the other one in Hong Kong.

The first American death, a 60-year-old, succumbed to the COVID-19 at a hospital in Wuhan on February 6, 2020. There are now at least 13 confirmed cases in the United States. This era of rapid transportation (air, sea, and land) enables infectious diseases to spread with impunity, unless contained properly in a timely (emergent) fashion.

Apparently, the socialist authorities in Wuhan miserably failed in this regard. The UN and WHO fear COVID-19 is a grave threat to the entire world, with more than 100 deaths in China almost every day.

Hopefully, not again!

“The Black Death, also known as the Pestilence (Pest for short), the Great (Bubonic) Plague or the Plague, or less commonly the Black Plague, was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people in Eurasia, peaking in Europe from year 1347 to 1351,” wiping out about one-third of the population of Europe.

The SARS pandemic of 2002 involved 30 countries with 8,437 cases and 813 deaths.

The MERS of 2012 was in 27 countries, with 2,494 cases and 858 deaths. These two viruses belong to the same family as COVID-19. Common influenza affects 9 million to 45 million and kills between 12,000 to 61,000 a year in the USA. As of February 10th, the total number of COVID-19 cases in more than 25 provinces in China, a majority (32,000) being in Wuhan, Hubei, jumped to more than 43,000 (worldwide) and the death toll to greater than 1000, surpassing the SARS pandemic.

With an incubation period of 14 days, where infected people are not even aware they have the virus in them and are carriers of this disease, which is easily transmitted to other people. This virus could spread like a wildfire and kill massively, if not contained. Quarantine is an effective weapon to minimize spread. And it is the duty and obligation of governments to implement quarantine to protect the general public.

Utilizing the police power, if needed, is most justified for the interest and security of the people. Doing anything less would be negligent and criminal.

It is obvious that people

Police power to quarantine

exposed to the virus, who refuse to be quarantined, are simply not smart. Going home will expose their family and the people around them and spread the killer virus to the entire community. Just like what is happening in China.

While reading my column today, rapid escalation of cases and deaths in China and in other 28 countries continue. So far, the only two deaths outside of China are one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines.

Chinese doctor whistleblower punished Chinese ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who tried to sound an alarm about the coronavirus outbreak in China last December, was punished by the Communist Party in China for being a whistleblower. Sadly, Dr. Wenliang himself died from the virus infection late last Thursday, at age 34.

According to Google News: “Anger was swelling online in China over the death of a whistleblower doctor who tried to sound the alarm about the deadly outbreak but was silenced by Communist Party authorities. On social media, users hailed Li Wenliang as a hero, after the ophthalmologist was reported to have died of the virus late Thursday. Social media users also began voicing rare fury toward the Chinese government and demanding freedom of speech, echoing the sentiments of the 1989 Tiananmen uprising, as censors moved to squelch the dissent.”

This glaringly shows how freedom and democracy are superior to socialism, even in health and medicine, a gold standard for the world, for humankind and for kindness to humans and all living souls.

Fecal transmission Knowing the nCorona virus to be airborne (virus in the air, spread by sneezing or coughing), fecal (contamination) transmission is now being considered another mode of transmission.

Some cases of documented nCorona virus infection had abdominal discomfort, pain, and diarrhea before shortness of breath started and death from a form of pneumonia occurred.

Is China being transparent?

China has isolated itself, quarantined sectors of provinces and cities. Major airlines have stopped services to and from China. Countless passengers returning to their home countries via China are stranded. Countries around the globe have advised their citizens against traveling to China.

It now seems plausible that China was (is) not transparent, nor proactive and preemptive in dealing with the virus infection from the very beginning way before December of 2019.

Punishing a person, like Dr. Wenliang, especially a medical professional — who had taken the Hippocratic Oath to serve and protect the people, for warning and protecting the people, the country, and the world, from a deadly virus — is like allowing a massacre of countless human beings to go unchecked for a prolonged period, a catastrophic deadly happening intentionally hidden from the world, resulting in the devastation the whole world is now facing. The United Nations must hold culpable parties accountable.

Prevention strategy As in any disease, prevention is the key, better than any cure. It is prudent (1) to wash hands for at least half a minute with soap and water and at least eight times a day, after waking up routine, before meals, after meals, after visit to toilet, etc.; (2) Do not touch or scratch the face with fingers, use a clean

TRAINING EXERCISE. Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Lacanilao, from Van Nuys, Calif., neutralizes Retail Services Specialist Seaman Jabidal PadillaPerez during a security training exercise aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) last January 28, 2020. USS Russell, part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sean Lynch)

tissue paper or the back of your hand; (3) Stay away from crowded places or people who may have respiratory infection, or people who could have been exposed (as those coming from China or a U.S. city with reported nCorona virus; (4) Help educate family members and friends re: viral spread; (5) If you have symptoms, quarantine yourself and protect your family and friends; (6) Eat healthy and get enough sleep and rest.

Vaccines against nCorona virus are in the pipeline. The U.S.-CDC does not recommend wearing a surgical mask in public, which is not effective for an airborne disease like the nCorona anyway, useful only in upper respiratory infection.

Where unavoidable exposure is possible, wearing a mask and doing the standard flu protocol won’t hurt. Vigilance and common sense are most beneficial in dealing with any illness, and, again, prevention is the key. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

people & events

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 14, 2020

Making mobile payments?

Protect yourself from scams.

USING mobile payment apps like CashApp, Venmo, or Zelle can be a convenient way to get quick cash to your family and friends. But remember the first rule of sending money, whether you’re using an app or money wiring service: Be sure you know who’s on the receiving end. Otherwise, you might lose the money you sent — and then some.

People have told the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) they lost money to scammers using mobile payment apps.

Some of these thieves pretend to be someone you know asking for money — say, for an emergency. Others say they’re with the app company or your bank. Still other scammers with access to your contacts might trick you into thinking they’re someone you’ve given money to before.

Don’t be afraid to use mobile payment apps – just empower yourself against scammers who also use them.

Here are a few tips: Never send money to anyone you don’t recognize.

If you get a cash request

from someone you do recognize, call or contact them using a number you know to be right. Confirm they made the request before you send money – even if you’ve sent them money through the app before.

When you use an app for the first time, it will usually ask permission to access information on your device – like your contacts – to make payments easier. If you’re not comfortable with that, deny access or uninstall the app.

Read your bank statements closely and regularly.

Ask the app company and your bank to reverse any transactions you didn’t authorize.

Find out more about mobile payments and securing your mobile device. And, as always, if you’ve experienced a money transfer scam or other fraud, report it to the FTC. (By Lisa Lake / Consumer Education Specialist for Federal Trade Commission)

SF8

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 14, 2020