022721 - Los Angeles Weekend Edtion

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 2, 2021 Volume 31 - No. 16 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

As LA County vaccine eligibility expands, Filipinos prepare for return to ‘normal life’ Starting March 1, workers in food service, education and childcare and emergency services will be eligible for vaccine in LA County 1, vaccine eligibility will expand to include three major groups of essential workers.

Last week, LA County Public Health Director WHILE the coronavirus vaccine is currently only Dr. Barbara Ferrer announced that school teachavailable to health care workers and residents over 65 ers and child care workers, food service employyears old in Los Angeles County, starting on March ees, and emergency service and first responders

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

Photo shows Marc Quidit (far right) and his wife Nina (left) and their three young children. Quidit, who owns Dollar Plus and Party Supplies in Vallejo, California, is expected to walk again after he was shot in an attempted robbery on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Photo courtesy of Joanne Pomares

Gov. Newsom signs relief package with stimulus checks, small business aid

Vallejo Fil-Am store owner in recovery after being shot multiple times during attempted robbery

by AJPRESS

A FILIPINO American small business owner and father of three in Vallejo, California is expected to recover and walk again after being shot multiple times during an attempted robbery earlier this month.

Marc Quidit, 49, was discharged from the hospital and greeted at home with flowers and balloons as family members led a prayer on Sunday, February 21.

His homecoming comes five days after two armed suspects entered his store, Dollar Plus & Party Supplies along Sonoma Blvd., and shot him five times.

His family had feared the worst and that he wouldn’t be able to walk again. But with physi-

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will be eligible for the vaccine.

The announcement comes as the fervor over reopening schools continues to mount across the state, with parents mobilizing to pressure school districts to reopen school campuses followu PAGE A2

REMEMBERING EDSA. Singer Renz Verano performs patriotic songs during the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution with the theme, “EDSA 2021: Kapayapaan, Paghilom, Pagbangon” at the EDSA People Power Monument, Quezon City on Thursday, February 25. Some of his songs are associated with the EDSA People’s Power Revolution entitled ‘Bayan Ko’ and ‘Magkaisa’.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

NEARLY a year into the coronavirus pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom this week signed a $7.6 billion relief package that will give one-time payments to over 5 million low-income residents and grants for small businesses.

Newsom on Tuesday, February 23 signed several bills that will fast-track relief to Californians, including one that will give $600 one-time payments to an estimated 5.7 million Californians with incomes below $30,000 or those who were excluded from federal stimulus payments.

This comes after the California Legislature approved the payments on Monday, February 22.

Other ways Californians can qualify for the state relief are: if they claimed the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit in 2020; are enrolled in the state’s cash assistance service CalWORKS; receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/State Security Payments (SSP); or are enrolled in the state’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants. u PAGE A4

PH Embassy: Fil-Ams advised Back to school? Parents, educators to exercise ‘utmost caution’ still hesitant about in-person learning amid hate, attacks vs Asians until COVID cases drop, more vaccines

by RITCHEL May “Maya” Millete

Search continues for missing Fil-Am mom in Chula Vista

MENDIOLA AJPress

Americans,” particularly elderly individuals, in various parts of the country.

“Filipinos are advised to exercise utmost caution in view of these incidents. Those who experience attacks are advised to immediately call 911 to report incidents,” the statement said.

The embassy also called for further protection of the Asian u PAGE A4

THE Philippine Embassy in Washington is urging Filipinos in the United States to exercise “utmost caution” following the recent string of attacks on Asian Americans.

In its statement released on Thursday, February 26, the THE search for the missing Filipina Ameri- embassy noted “with concern can mother of three in Chula Vista, California the rise in attacks on Asian continues, nearly two months after her sudden disappearance.

A group of people looking for May “Maya” Millete on Tuesday, February 23, put up a billboard on Main Street between Hilltop Drive

by RITCHEL MENDIOLA and 3rd Avenue in Chula Vista to raise more AJPress awareness on the case.

“Maybe somebody will see it and will know PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte where she is,” Amber Patterson, a member of a Facebook group dedicated to finding Millete, is turning to the public as he remains undecided on what to do with the Visiting told Fox5 San Diego.

“Having her face up there and having every- Forces Agreement (VFA).

In a public address aired Wednesday body see it brings light to the story and what’s night, February 24, he admitted that he happening,” she added.

Millete, a 39-year-old civilian Navy em- doesn’t know whether to renew or abployee, is described as 5-foot-2 and about 105 rogate the agreement with the United pounds with brown hair, brown eyes, freckles States, adding that he wants to hear the Filipino public’s sentiment. and a wrist tattoo.

“I must be frank, I do not keep secrets She was last seen by family at her home in the San Miguel Ranch area on January 7 and to the people. I have not yet decided on what to do. Meaning to say, to abrogate or u PAGE A3 renew because I want to hear the people,”

LAUSD to allow some on-campus activities in March

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

THE Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is slated to welcome back certain on-campus activities by the first week of March, but some parents and educators have several demands before the nation’s second-largest school district returns to inperson instruction.

The district will begin its partial reopen-

ing next week with child care, one-on-one and small group instruction, services for students with special needs, and athletic conditioning.

Campuses across the district have been closed since last March as COVID-19 cases broke out in LA county. But in mid-February, the LA County Department of Health gave the green light for schools to resume in-person classes when the county reached

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Duterte undecided on VFA abrogation, seeks public opinion said Duterte.

“I want the narratives to come up, not necessarily from the [lawmakers]. Well, of course they count very much pero hindi limitado dito sa (but it is not limited to) Congress,” he added.

Duterte said the public can submit their opinion on VFA through the government’s 8888 citizens’ complaint hotline.

“Ordinary mamamayan (citizens) can have the say and I said there’s always the 888 and you can enter your objections or any comment that you think would help the country. Pati kami dito, matulungan ninyo (You can help us),” he said.

Earlier this month, Duterte said the U.S. u PAGE A2 President Rodrigo Duterte

PNA Photo by Richard Madelo

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From the Front Page

Duterte undecided on VFA abrogation...

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would have to “pay” to keep the VFA from being terminated.

“I would like to put on notice if there’s an American agent here that from now on, you want the Visiting Forces Agreement done? Well, you have to pay,” Duterte said in his speech on February 12 at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

“It’s a shared responsibility but your share of responsibility does not come free because after all when the war breaks out, we all pay,” he added.

Malacañang then said that the Philippines should get “something like $16 billion or close to that amount” from the U.S. Citing a study by Washington-based Stimson Center on

counterterrorism spending, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque noted that the Philippines only received $3.9 billion for counterterrorism efforts compared to Pakistan’s $16.4 billion.

“When did Pakistan become an ally of America? They do not have a basis to say that they have a longstanding relationship with America unlike the Filipinos who died in the Death March during World War II,” he said on February 15.

Roque also cited the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a 2014 deal that gave American soldiers access to the Philippines’ military establishments.

“But how much are we getting for this? According to the study, we got $3.9 billion. Is this a big amount? It is loose change when compared to what other countries got,” he said.

The spokesman continued: “Pakistan got $16 billion, we think we should get something similar or close to that amount.

But definitely, not the amount we are currently getting.”

The VFA, which came into force in 1999, covers the conduct of U.S. soldiers in the Philippines. Among the provisions of the deal include relaxed 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.

In February 2020, the Philippines sent the U.S. a notice terminating the VFA reportedly after the U.S. canceled Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s visa.

The termination was later suspended in June “in light of political and other developments in the region,” and the suspension was extended in November for another six months to enable the Philippines and the U.S. to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in their mutual defense.

In December, the president threatened to continue with the VFA’s termination if the U.S. did not extend at least 20 million vaccines to the Philippines. n

CINEMA PREPS. A sanitation staff member cleans the cinema ticket counter while two others program the computer at the Cineplex Cinema, Gateway Mall, Quezon City on Wednesday, February 24. Araneta City cinemas prepare for the possible reopening of moviehouses and entertainment centers by putting in place stringent safety protocols.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

As LA County vaccine eligibility...

PAGE A1 ing several months of distance learning.

“We will be done with a big cycle of second doses by March 1, which is why we estimate that here in LA County we will be opening up for teachers, staff at schools, other educators and daycare workers,” Ferrer said.

The expansion of the vaccine — which Ferrer said will make about 1.5 million people eligible for the vaccine — falls just short of a year since the county was put on the first emergency lockdown.

Teachers’ union fires back Those in the education and child care categories — teachers and support staff at K-12, pre-schools, private schools, and colleges and universities — are among the highest priorities. Nearly 40% of coronavirus vaccines available for school staff in LA County are expected to be allocated for workers of the LA Unified School District (LAUSD).

Forty percent is a relatively large share, but it still isn’t nearly enough to reopen K-12 schools by early April, district officials have said through statements.

A growing faction of parents

are pressuring the district to reopen before the end of the school year; as previously reported in the Asian Journal, the campaign gained momentum earlier this month when the LA City Council threatened to sue the district to reopen by April.

Additionally, following pressure from California parents, the state is permitting elementary schools to reopen as soon as counties reach an average daily case rate of 25 positive cases per 100,000 residents. LA County is nearing that mark at 20 cases per 100,000 as of Friday, Feb. 26.

In response, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the district’s union that has successfully lobbied on behalf of teachers in the past, denounced the “pressure building to return to school” and has maintained that returning to classrooms “without proper health and safety protections” puts students, teachers and their families at risk.

Many UTLA members — like Filipino American elementary school teacher Karen Li — felt that the lawsuit threats to reopen campuses puts communities of color at a larger disadvantage.

“These elected officials who are pushing for a premature opening are not considering the fact that city, county and state have done very little to help prepare our most vulnerable communities, especially communities of color, for a safe return,” Li told the Asian Journal in a phone call on Thursday, Feb. 25.

Li mirrored the sentiments of the union’s leaders, saying that officials should be focused on getting everybody — not just teachers, but students and their families — vaccinated before schools reopen, and that is unlikely to happen before the target reopening in April.

According to a survey conducted by LA unified, 66% of parents (almost two-thirds) favor staying with remote learning, at least until the school year ends or when vaccines become available to every resident.

“Lots of families have lost their jobs and so many of us are emotionally and mentally struggling because of the impacts of this pandemic, which, we can recall, has been able to go on because of careless decisionmaking among our local and state officials,” Li argued. “This

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Back to school? Parents, educators still...

PAGE A1 the state’s threshold, despite it still being in the purple tier, which indicates COVID-19 is still a widespread risk and certain sectors remain closed.

The United Teachers Los Angeles, the teachers’ union for the district, will also be voting on the issue of a safe return, and is pushing for certain conditions to be met before adopting a hybrid or in-person instruction model.

The conditions include: the county must be out of the purple tier; staff must be fully vaccinated or have access to vaccines; and implementing safety measures, such as PPE, social distancing, ventilation and a cleaning regimen.

“The pressure building to return to schools is political. It is not science,” the union said in a statement on Monday.

Cecille Cervancia — a Filipina American second grade teacher in the McArthur Park-Westlake area — said a lot of educators like herself are anxious about the reopening announcements knowing how members of her school community, as well as district staff, have been infected with COVID-19 when school buildings were closed.

“I’m worried about the safety and health of our school community. We’ve had whole families infected with COVID,” Cervancia, who is the chair of her school’s UTLA chapter, told the Asian Journal. “In the district, we’ve had teachers, administrators, and school staff who have gotten COVID and while some recovered, we’ve lost some from the virus.

So I think this is why a lot of us have some anxieties about around this.”

A group of parents, students and educators representing the “Reclaim Our Schools Los Angeles” coalition on Saturday, February 20 organized a car caravan in front of the Ronald Reagan State Office Building in Downtown LA echoing that safety standards be

in place before schools reopen.

They also are calling for the district to listen to the concerns of the Asian and Pacific Islander, Black and Latino communities — which have all been disproportionately affected by the pandemic — and more investments in distance learning.

Mark Ramos, a high school social studies teacher and parent of a young student in the district, reiterated how students of color and their families would be the most affected by the reopenings.

“If we look at it with an Asian American or a Filipino American lens, we have a lot of Filipino family members that are working at hospitals and are putting their lives on the line every day,” Ramos, a UTLA board member, told the Asian Journal.

Filipino students comprise 2.1% of the school district’s nearly 700,000 student population based on 2019-2020 enrollment data from the district.

“As a teacher, I don’t think that’s fair for my students, to put them in a situation where their lives, their family’s lives, could be lost because we opened up in a way that isn’t safe,” Ramos added.

He also pointed out the potential “instability” that could come in the event campuses have to shut down again if students or staff test positive for COVID-19.

“That brings even more instability for students and teachers who are already struggling to keep it together and trying to do this new type of teaching and learning,” Ramos said. “It’s going to be hard for folks to go back and then close again. It’s almost like going through a traumatic experience every two weeks.”

The district has put off an immediate reopening following the county’s announcement but has signaled that preschools and elementary schools would be back for in-person by April 9.

“My goal of April 9th is still possible, but we need to start today,

Vallejo Fil-Am store owner...

PAGE A1 cal therapy, a video taken at the hospital shows Quidit using his legs with the help of a walker and being able to walk up to 100 feet.

He is expected to fully walk again within two months.

Quidit, who is known to work seven days a week, remarked how he was ready to return to the store.

“Despite all the circumstances, my uncle has a positive attitude about his recovery. He was saying to his wife, ‘Honey, did you see that? I can go back to work next week,’” Quidit’s niece, Joanne Pomares, told the Asian Journal.

“I think that’s what’s helping him with his quick recovery because he seems so positive about everything, making sure to have high spirits, and being thankful he’s alive.”

Surveillance footage from 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16 shows Quidit vacuuming while his sister stood behind the register. Then, two hooded and masked men enter with guns in an attempt to rob the store.

One of the suspects opened fire, hitting Quidit’s lower body five times, before they both took off.

His sister, who was not harmed in the attack, screamed out for Quidit. Thinking she had also been injured, he found the strength to make it toward the counter, Pomares said.

Quidit was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center’s trauma center in critical condition. He underwent surgery and had four bullets removed from his body.

The morning after, his wife Nina took time off from her other job to reopen the store.

“They had to open up the store the next day because that’s pretty much how my uncle and his family support [themselves] with three kids and they rely on it as a source of income,” Pomares said. “It’s a testament of how strong-willed they are.”

Quidit was born in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines and migrated to the United States in his teens, his niece said. He worked several jobs before he took over Dollar Plus & Party Supplies from his other sister, Pomares’ mother, about 14 years ago.

The Feb. 16 incident is not

A video shared by Quidit’s niece shows him being able to walk up to 100 feet with the help of a walker.

the first time the store had been robbed.

“It’s not fair that families have to be terrorized with these types of instances because they were so desperate for money or whatever it was that they were looking for,” Pomares said.

Quidit’s eldest daughter, who is 14 years old, expressed worry about the medical bills the family would face.

This prompted Pomares to start a GoFundMe page, which has reached over $84,000, as of this writing. All of the donations will go toward her uncle’s medical expenses and rehabilitation.

Pomares said Quidit was emotional to see the financial support and that other community members have been bringing food and flowers to the family.

The investigation into the robbery is still ongoing and suspects have not been identified. The Vallejo Police Department has not returned a request for comment, as of this writing.

It is also unclear whether it will be classified as a hate crime as it comes during a surge in attacks against Asian American community members.

“If anyone has any information regarding the incident that night, come forward and help bring justice to what happened. That’s only fair to the family and can bring peace to the incident,” Pomares said. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress)

Quidit returned home on Sunday, Feb. 21 after five days in the hospital. Family members say he will be able to walk on his own within two months. Photos courtesy of Joanne Pomares

not tomorrow, not next week. We stand ready to work with state and local health authorities — get us the doses and we’ll get it done,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said during his weekly video update on Monday, February 22.

The reopening also comes as the county is expanding its vaccine eligibility on March 1 to include educators, child care providers and school support staff.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that at least 10% of the state’s vaccine supply would be allocated for educators, which is about 75,000 shots a week.

The LAUSD opened its first vaccination center on Feb. 17 at the Roybal Learning Center in the Westlake neighborhood of LA, but has prioritized employees 65 and older in line with the state’s distribution plan.

“We want to make sure vaccines are widely available to all the school staff, not just the teachers, but anyone who works on campus from office staff, maintenance staff and community reps and volunteers,” Cervancia said.

Meanwhile, parents who are eager to have their children back in classrooms have planned Zoom blackout protests in an effort to pressure district leaders and the union to reopen.

“I just really want them to see what it’s like from our point of view because we’ve lost educators and we’ve lost our loved ones,” Cervancia said in response to these protests. “We’re doing the best we can and so many of us want to be back in the classroom, but we want to do it when it’s safe.” n

SUMMER FEEL. Some kids play in the cool water of Wawa Dam, Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal on Thursday, February 25 while the parents prepare food at the nipa hut cottages. Wawa Dam is one of the tourist spots in Rodriguez, Rizal.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Search continues for missing Fil-Am mom...

PAGE A1

was reported missing two days later.

That Saturday, the family was planning a trip to Big Bear Mountain Resort for her daughter’s 11th birthday, but Millete was never heard from, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Her husband, Larry, reportedly thought Millete was asleep in a bedroom, but then he found the room empty, according to various reports.

In addition to her 11-year-old, she has children ages 9 and 4.

“She’s an amazing mom. She has three wonderful kids and it’s her life…she wouldn’t leave her kids this way,” Milette’s sister Maricris Drouaillet previously told the Asian Journal.

Members of the Facebook group called “Missing Maya Millete Discussion and Theories” are still relentless in their pursuit to help Millete’s family find her.

“Printing fliers, getting banners donated, getting a billboard, whatever they need. We want to try to make it happen without them having to do anything,” said Patterson.

She recently reached out to the advertising company Lamar, which operates billboards and signs across the U.S. “Everything was included from start to finish, all we had to do was just give the information we wanted on the billboard and include pictures,” Patterson said.

She added, “Just having her face up there and having every-

body see it, it brings light to the story and what’s happening.”

Millet’s family has previously held community searches and vigils, and has posted flyers in the neighborhood and in the greater San Diego area. They have set up a Facebook page “Find May/ Maya Millete” and encourage others to say a prayer at 5:01 p.m.

— her birthday is May 1 — until she is found. A GoFundMe page has raised nearly $13,000 to help with the search.

Anyone with information on Millete’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5139 or San Diego Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

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Gov. Newsom signs relief package with...

PAGE A1 Additionally, those who use an individual taxpayer ID number to file income taxes and earn less than $75,000 a year after deductions can qualify. ITIN taxpayers who also qualify for the California EITC would receive a total of $1,200.

The package also includes $2 billion in grants to struggling small businesses and fee waivers to businesses, such as restaurants and salons, impacted by the pandemic.

“The backbone of our economy is small business.

We recognize the stress, the strain that so many small business have been under,” Newsom said at a bill-signing ceremony at Solomon’s Deli in Sacramento. “And we recognize as well our responsibility to do more and to do better to help support these small businesses through this very difficult and trying time.”

The package also allocates $400 million in federal funds for child care providers. Stipends of $525 per enrolled child for all state-subsidized child care and preschool providers, serving approximately 400,000 children, will be given.

Amid the surge in anti-Asian attacks in the state, $1.4 million will be provided to track and collect data of such incidents and support the efforts of Stop AAPI Hate, an online reporting site.

Other provisions include $24 million for financial assistance and services through Housing for the Harvest, a program providing support for agricultural workers who have to quarantine due to COVID-19.

The effort also provides a combined $35 million for food banks and diapers.

Low-income college students can qualify for $100

Newsom sign a relief package on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

million in emergency financial aid and $20 million to reengage students who have either left their community college studies because of the pandemic or to engage students at risk of leaving. Another $6 million is also allotted for University of California, California State University and California community college students who are newly eligible for CalFresh, the state-administered federal program for supplemental food assistance.

Another $2 billion in tax relief for small businesses is still under negotiation.

On a national level, Congress is debating a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as Americans across the country continue to face the effects of the pandemic. n

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ISKO VISITS FIRE VICTIMS. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso greets one of the fire victims with an elbow bump during his visit to the evacuation center at Jose Abad Santos Elementary School in Binondo, Manila on Wednesday, February 24. Domagoso on the spot gave a job to Jennifer Arizala whose husband and their four sons died in a fire that gutted their houses in Parola, Tondo last Feb. 20, 2021.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

As LA County vaccine eligibility...

PAGE A2 pressure to return to school without everyone being vaccinated is so careless and goes along with the narrative that the state only cares about reopening the economy and gaining our conveniences of normal life over the actual safety of people.”

Li, however, did celebrate the announcement that educators will be able to vaccinate next week, saying that she has a plan to get her shots as soon as possible. But at the same time, she noted that “getting yourself vaccinated is only the first of many, many steps that [are] necessary to return to classrooms.”

UTLA is expected to vote on the issue of safe return to in-person instruction on March 1-5.

While many Americans have spent nearly one year working from home, Filipina American Jennifer Gonzales was among the many food service workers who saw their work schedules largely unchanged.

“Work [as a restaurant server] has more or less been the same — the only things that have changed are our capacity limits, more outdoor seating and face mask requirements.

My schedule has been more or less the same,” Gonzales, who is also attending virtual classes as an animal science student at Cal State Los Angeles, told the Asian Journal.

Gonzales, who is a food server at BJ’s in Pasadena, said that she was reluctant to continue work-

ing through the pandemic, but, like so many working college students, she “didn’t have the option” to forgo steady income.

“Lots of people got to work from home, but once the [stayat-home] orders were lifted and restaurants were opening up again, I kinda felt like I had no choice, and I’ve been working off and on since May,” she added.

In California, especially LA County, the year from March 2020 to the present has been marked by a rollercoaster of befuddling decisions made at the local, county and state level.

In the beginning, the Golden State was lauded as among the model states handling the pandemic responsibly — often being compared to states like New York which saw crisis-level rates of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths.

But when the state lifted its initial stay-at-home order around Memorial Day, the situation gradually got worse: inconsistently opening and reclosing certain businesses and public services, leading to more surges and falls of cases and deaths.

Gonzales said that she has had many coronavirus scares and is lucky that she hasn’t gotten sick, but “there were many times when it was so busy at work that it felt like I was, for sure, going to get sick.”

She plans to get vaccinated as soon as possible, but she knows this isn’t the end of the line.

“The hope is that we get to return to normal life once more people are vaccinated, but I know it’s important to still do the things we’ve been doing, like wearing face masks, limiting interactions with people and all that,” she said.

She said that she took her parents, whom she lives with, to get their vaccines in January at Dodger Stadium.

“I just hope that people will understand that. The vaccine is a big deal but it’s not an excuse to pretend like things are going to be okay after you get your second dose,” she added.

But the city of LA is experiencing a shortage of vaccines and was forced to shut down many vaccine super sites, including Dodger Stadium.

Many vaccine sites have been only administering second doses to deal with the shortage, but two new sites in LA County are offering first-dose appointments: a site at Cal State LA that is being co-managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and another side at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

The pool of vaccination eligibility will expand even further on March 15, when California leadership ordered vaccines to be made available to anyone aged 16 or older who has a preexisting health condition that makes them susceptible to COVID-19-related illnesses. n

PH Embassy: Fil-Ams advised to exercise...

PAGE A1 American community.

“The Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States appreciate the swift action taken by a number of local authorities to apprehend perpetrators of these attacks,” it said.

“However, we call on federal, state, and local authorities to further ensure the protection of persons of Asian descent, including Filipinos,” the embassy added.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) is among a handful of Asian American organizations that have called for immediate action to end violence against the community.

“We call upon our country’s leaders to make good on their past commitments to fight antiAsian racism. Both President Biden’s Administration and Congress have condemned this

racism in the past, but it has become clear that more action is necessary,” NCAPA said.

Earlier this month, a Filipino American man had to receive almost 100 stitches after he was slashed across the face by another passenger on the New York City subway.

Noel Quintana, 61, was riding the L train to get to work in Harlem on February 3 when a man walked by and kicked the tote bag that Quintana had set on the train floor.

When Quintana confronted the man after he noticed his bag being kicked again, the man took out a box cutter and slashed Quintana across the face from cheek to cheek.

Quintana was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment.

An elderly Filipina was also the victim of a random attack in San Diego, California, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

The Pinay senior citizen, who has not been identified, was riding a trolley when a man, unprovoked, started punching her, sources told ABC 10News.

The station said witnesses helped the victim report the attack to the police. She was later treated at a local hospital for her injuries. The suspect was later arrested, and faces one count of assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse.

From March to December 2020, Stop AAPI Hate, an online reporting tracking antiAsian hate incidents, received 2,808 reports of racism and discrimination targeting community members.

The tracking center allows individuals to report in English as well as several Asian languages like Tagalog. The website also features safety tips for those who experience or witness hate. n

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

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DOLE clarifies plan to exchange PH nurses for COVID-19 vaccines by rItCheL

menDIoLa AJPress

FILIPINO health care workers are not “commodities” that can be traded in exchange for COVID-19 vaccines, an official from the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) clarified.

DOLE public information head Rolly Francia on Wednesday, February 24, said that the agency wanted to ensure that the Filipino health care workers who will be deployed to the United Kingdom and Germany would receive vaccines from the host country.

“Ang gusto lamang na tiyakin INSPECTING BIKE LANES. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. pedal their way along Ortigas Avenue in San Juan City on Friday, February 26. Chairman Abalos to check on compliance with the ay ‘yung ipapadalang mga nurscity’s Bicycle Ordinance that guides the establishment of bike lanes and safety protocols. Bolted bollards secure bike lanes on the city’s es ay nabakunahan na and the vaccine should come from the major roads to prevent vehicles from straying into the lanes and sideswiping bikers. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon host country (We just want to make sure that the nurses who will be deployed have already

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto recognized

by US as anti-corruption champion

been vaccinated and the vaccine should come from the host country),” he said.

“What is clear is that we are not dangling our available nurses and healthcare workers for vaccines. Hindi intensyon ng department na ituring na materyal upang i-trade ang ating mga nurses para lang makakuha ng vaccine (It is not the department’s intention to treat our nurses as materials for trade just to get vaccines),” he added.

Francia’s statement came after International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) director Alice Visperas said that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III asked the United Kingdom and Germany to donate vaccines in exchange for the deployment of more Filipino health workers.

“Secretary Bello’s request is for our (Overseas Filipino

Workers), these are the OFWs that were repatriated, who are here in the country including those who will be deployed. It is important, especially those who are set to leave since many countries who are hiring migrant workers want workers that have been vaccinated,” she said Monday, February 22.

“Also, Secretary Bello requested for their government to give us vaccines especially for our OFWs,” she added.

Francia said that the negotiations between Bello and British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce are still ongoing, adding that the DOLE might request additional vaccines that would cover repatriated overseas Filipino workers.

“Considering napakagalante or generous ng pamahalaan ng UK, baka sakali, request lang

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by rItCheL

menDIoLa AJPress

PASIG City Mayor Victor “Vico” Sotto is one of the 12 individuals recognized by the United States Department of State as an international anticorruption champion.

The Biden administration launched the International Anticorruption Champions Award to recognize individuals who have worked to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday, February 23.

“Around the world, corruption threatens security and stability, hinders economic growth, undermines democracy and human rights, destroys trust in public institutions, facilitates transnational crime, and siphons away public and private resources,” said Blinken.

“The Biden Administration recognizes that we will only be successful in combating these issues by working in concert with committed partners, in-

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According to the U.S. Department of State, Sotto is “a standard-bearer for a new generation of Philippine politicians who prioritize anticorruption and transparency initiatives in their election campaigns and in

office.”

The agency noted that Sotto was just 29 years old when he broke the 27-year rule of a political dynasty in Pasig City in 2019, adding that his prior work as city councilor resulted in a freedom of information legislation.

“Sotto has sought to solidify his reputation as a fresh voice with a new, more transparent

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A6 FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 2, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Still an unfinished revolution

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

FEATURES

THE dictator who was ousted in the revolution now lies in the heroes’ cemetery, and his only son and namesake is said to be considering a stab at the presidency. Efforts to recover the billions stolen from public coffers during the Marcos regime have had spotty success. Part of the mind-boggling ill-gotten wealth has been recovered, but none of those accused of amassing the loot has ever gone to prison.

Corruption, as President Duterte has lamented, is deeply entrenched, from petty graft to large-scale plunder. The past five years have seen more people killed by police, ostensibly for resisting arrest in a brutal war on drugs, than the number of people, as listed by human rights groups, who were summarily executed in the entire dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos.

With two of the biggest plagues of the Marcos dictatorship that fueled the 1986 people power revolt still very much around, it can be frustrating to consider that 35 years have passed since the peaceful uprising. It can be even more frustrating to consider that over the past three decades, the country has been overtaken in economic progress and many human development indicators by several other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Democracy is a difficult system that needs a lot

of heavy lifting to work. The reforms needed to make democratic institutions function well do not automatically fall into place after a revolution.

Integrity and efficiency in public service, the rule of law, respect for civil liberties, social justice and the creation of a merit-based society do not happen overnight.

People empowerment also transcends revolutions, through quality education for all, equitable public health care, and the provision of decent livelihood opportunities that will make it unnecessary for Filipinos to seek employment overseas.

One of the surviving leaders of the EDSA revolt, former president Fidel Ramos, is reminding the nation that people power served as an opportunity for Filipinos to “make things right, to do things unfinished,” Ramos said on the eve of the 35th anright.”

“The revolution is not over and the work remains niversary of people power, which he described as

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THIS week hit a sobering milestone. President Joe Biden marked 500,000 American deaths with a moment of silence at sunset last Monday, February 22, the National Public Radio reported. He also ordered flags on all federal buildings lowered to half-staff for five days.

But we have reasons to be optimistic about the United States’ war against COVID-19. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are on a downward trend. On Thursday, February 25, Biden “commemorated 50 million COVID19 vaccine doses administered since he took office, using it as a measuring stick against his promise to put 100 million shots in people’s arms in his first 100 days.”

But the president isn’t celebrating yet and has warned there’s “a long way to go” before life will return to normal.

“The more people get vaccinated, the faster we’re gonna beat this pandemic,” Biden said in the CNN report. “We’re moving in the right direction, though, despite the mess we inherited from the previous administration, which left us with no real plan to vaccinate all Americans.”

This news will mostly impact

Philstar.com photo

a “resplendent moment for it represents the best of Filipinos.” (Philstar.com)

Part II: New development in the US war against COVID-19 brings hope and relief to our Filipino nurses fighting on the frontlines our healthcare workers fighting on the frontlines, including our very own kababayans — especially our Filipino nurses. These modern-day heroes are the most impacted by the pandemic as they unselfishly serve beyond the call of duty to save the lives of others.

“Filipino and Filipino American nurses are dying from COVID-19 at disproportionately high rates, accounting for more than 30% of the 205 U.S. nurses who have died, though the group makes up just 4 percent of the total nurse workforce”, according to The Mercury News.

More than two-thirds of nurse deaths in California are among Filipino Americans, the Mercury News reported in October.

“California, where about 20% of nurses identify as Filipino, they account for 11 of the 16 COVID19 deaths in the profession, or nearly 70%”, according to the California Nurses Association.

Why is this happening and what can be done?

Here are two perspectives from community leaders privy to the plight of our nurses: Zenei Cortez, RN, President of National Nurses United “Majority of our Filipino nurses work in a critical and acute care units — areas where the sickest of Covid positive

patients are placed. They tend to work long hours as well. So the rate of exposure to Covid patients is high. Filipino nurses are so dedicated and compassionate so that if there is a need for anyone to work OT, they take it.

Our kababayans take the OT because they do not want to leave their co workers short.

They do not want the patients to be without nurses. Because we treat our patients like family, Filipino nurses go over and beyond the call of duty. Every shift, they risk putting themselves in harm’s way. Filipinos in general, are prone to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or other heart problems. Some of our nurses might have these pre-existing conditions that put them in higher risk or danger of getting infected.

We are a year into this pandemic and we still need adequate personal protective equipment. We still need safer work environments and safe staffing.

We need a federal temporary emergency OSHA mandate to protect us, so that our employers will be obligated to set up safety guidelines and protocols.

Filipino nurses respect authority. We do not question authority. We do not like conflicts.

Hospital administration and

managers know this and they take advantage of it.

We’ve been ordered to “reuse” single-use disposable masks. Imagine using the same mask for the entire shift of 8/10/12 hours. Some of these single-use disposable masks have gone through a decontamination process ( chemical process ) so that when it circles back to the nurses for re-use, the elastic breaks, the fit is not right and we are inhaling the chemicals that were used. Just imagine being inside a Covid patient’s room and your mask falls off! There has been [a] lack of waterproof gowns and head covers and shoe covers as well.

Last year, early in the pandemic, we’ve been very vocal about what we need. We were literally begging for protective gear, so we can do our jobs safely. We were ignored and dismissed as a bunch of whiners. And that was when we lost a lot of our kababayans, and we continue to lose a few.

Together with Filipino nurses and others across the country, we’ve been fighting for adequate PPE, safe staffing and safer work environment. Our Filipino nurses have started to be more vocal and assertive in fighting for their rights. We’ve lobbied President Biden on our

issues. He has invoked the Defense Production Act, so that manufacturing of PPE happens at a much faster rate. He has increased access to rapid Covid testing, robust contact tracing and notification and of course massive vaccination of all nurses, frontliners and the public.

Nurses will continue to educate the public on all precautionary principles even if vaccinated. We will not stop advocating for our patients, our communities and ourselves.

Atty. Arnedo Valera, US immigration lawyer, current pro bono legal counsel of the Philippine Nurses of America Foundation (PNAAF) and former Legal Counsel of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) Based on my in-depth discussions with many of my nurse immigration clients in my capacity, as many of these nurses are working in different health care facilities especially nursing homes, I have discovered that a higher number of Fil-Am nurses are highly specialized and or are trained to work in high-risk units: ICUs, ERs in hospitals; nursing homes, long term care and even [in] private homes especially traveling nurses.

Fil-Am nurses work a lot of overtime in ICUs, doing two

shifts back to back most of the time on a daily basis if not on 12 hours shift for 3 or 4 consecutive work days. And they have much longer exposure with COVID infected patients. And of course, studies have shown that lack of sleep affects and compromises one’s immune system.

What is also very evident is that agencies recruit Filipino nurses to work mainly in Intensive Care Units and in nursing homes.

There are also a number of Filipino nurses who work in warm and humid states, and that Fil-Am nurses find it very uncomfortable wearing masks.

The most difficult part is the “cultural belief” ingrained in some Fil-Am nurses has always maintain: ”Hindi ako papabayaan ng Diyos,” and they disregard basic healthcare protocols. And there are even Fil-Am nurses, who because of their political belief as a die-hard Republican, continue to enjoy socializing with friends, going out to eat outside of work as if they have a feeling of invincibility. Until the inevitable happens and they get infected and die.

But unfortunately, [the] virus has also been transmitted to a family member.

But what is profoundly admi-

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Being Asian American in the time of coronavirus racism, hate speech and hate crimes Commentary

ENRIQUE

DE LA CRUZ

THE majority of folks who experience racism are African Americans. But the pandemic has seen an upturn in incidents of racism, hate speech and hate crimes against Asians largely from the coronavirus’ association with Asia, particularly China, where the virus is said to have originated.

Many of these incidents, especially hate speech and related behavior, have remained largely unreported and invisible. This is because speech, including hate speech, is protected by the First Amendment unless it incites violence.

Most law enforcement agencies including the FBI do not track hate speech incidents. The database they keep focuses on hate crimes, crimes motivated by bias against the victim’s race/ ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation or disability. They are bias-moti-

vated crimes against persons or property.

I will use the term “hate speech” to refer not just to speech acts, but to hate-motivated behavior that does not rise to the level of a crime. For example, I was trying to cautiously maneuver out of a tight parking lot, when another driver yelled out, “go back to where you came from, chink, and take your virus with you.” I have heard this “chink” racist slur before, so I did not even bother to look, and after a slight pause, continued to carefully maneuver my car out of the parking lot.

During this pandemic, many of us have most likely experienced racial slurs, and bias-motivated behavior. An Asian sales clerk reported being asked to replace a fashion face-mask with another one like it, after she had scanned it for check-out. When she asked why, the customer said, “you touched it.” Although jarring, we do not normally take the time to report such incidents; we just move on.

Precisely because we do not even bother to report these incidents, or call out the perpetrators, perpetrators feel safe — the sales clerk could have simply stopped assisting the

customer, called her supervisor and explained that she cannot continue to assist the customer, letting the supervisor complete the transaction. This emboldens them the next time to escalate the attack to something more consequential, such as the recent unprovoked attack on an elderly Filipina riding a San Diego Trolley, or the recent attack on a Filipino riding the L train to work in New York. He was slashed across his face with a box cutter that required almost 100 stitches at a hospital. Both these incidents were reported in the Asian Journal.

Hate speech is bias-motivated behavior, different from a hate crime only by a matter of degree and consequences. The recent rise of bias-motivated attacks on Asians may stem from ignorance, and misinformation about the coronavirus. But the underwhelming response by Asians to such bias-motivated attacks may also be emboldening perpetrators to escalate this behavior the next time around.

Like sexual harassment, the lack of consequences from bias-motivated aggression emboldens the perpetrator towards more daring behavior.

There is another factor that

may explain the rise of hate speech and crimes against Asians. Anti-immigrant sentiment and the erosion of white privilege through demographic change.

There is a latent strain of anti-immigrant sentiment, which gets activated when circumstances draw attention to immigrants. The recent rise in Europe’s anti-immigrant feelings coincides with the massive refugee influx from Africa and the Middle East. This feeling did not abate until a picture of a drowned 3-year-old refugee boy became viral prompting increased international concern over refugees.

About a century ago, Asian immigrants were the object of racist and anti-immigrant sentiments when their ‘alien’ numbers made Americans uncomfortable: the Chinese exclusion act of 1882; the 1907 “Gentleman’s Agreement with Japan” where Japan agreed to curtail Japanese immigration to the U.S.; the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924 which banned all immigration from Asia but excluded Filipinos since the Philippines was a colonial territory; and finally, the Filipino exclusion act, also known as the Philippine In-

dependence Act of 1934, which severely restricted immigration from the Philippines to no more than 50 per year, ending unrestricted Filipino migration to the U.S. Carlos Bulosan poignantly captures this anti-immigrant sentiment when he wrote, “I feel like a criminal running away from a crime I did not commit. And the crime is that I am a Filipino in America.”

The latest rise in anti-Asian sentiment appears to coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic believed to have originated in China. The pandemic has tarred Asians, including Filipinos, and may explain the recent hatecrime incidents against them.

The erosion of white privilege due to immigration and increasing demographic diversity may also explain the upturn in hate crimes.

When I arrived in the late 1960s for graduate studies at UCLA, Los Angeles and California were predominantly white demographically. This was illustrated by food. If you wanted Chinese food, go to Chinatown.

Japanese food, Japan town or Little Tokyo, and Mexican food, at least the better versions of it, required a trip to East LA. Nowadays, one can find noo-

dles, taco, and sushi places everywhere. Magazine covers and television ads featured only white faces back then. Now, car and even toothpaste ads feature ethnically diverse actors.

During the 1970s onto the 1980s, I recall being uncomfortable going into grocery stores in Beverly Hills—you get stared at. Today, I do not think twice about going for groceries in tony neighborhoods; I know that Asians and Middle Easterners live and shop there, and I can shop incognito, so to speak. Now think of Caucasians who are long-term residents of these neighborhoods. If I now feel much more comfortable walking around there, it’s not hard to imagine a growing discomfort among some whites in seeing their neighborhoods become more diverse. This sense of growing discomfort was graphically illustrated not long ago when a white woman called the police to report a kidnapping of a toddler by a Latino man (LA Times Oct. 2, 2020).

It turns out the toddler was his grandson—the caller and the man were actually neighbors, living almost across from each other on the same street.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 27-mARch 2, 2021

A7

Medicare Story #3

Mga Dahilan Para Piliin ang Clever Care Health Plan Bilang Inyong Medicare/Medicare Advantage Provider Ito ang pangatlo sa serye ng Medicare Tips hatid ng Clever Care Health Plan, isang nangungunang tagapagbigay ng East meets West Medicare services na sensitibo sa kultura ng kanilang mga miyembro.

BORN IN FILM. Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Liza Diño-Seguerra (left) visits the Born in Film “Photo Nation” booth at the 4th Ortigas Art Festival held at the East Wing of Estancia at Capitol Commons, Pasig City on Wednesday, February 24. The annual art festival will run from February 24 to March 31, 2021.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Part II: New development in the US war...

PAGE A6 t rable are the nurses who are so highly dedicated and committed in their work, that when there is a shortage of nurses, they heroically take over the front lines to cover shifts and risk their lives for their patients and for their facilities they worked at.

Even among health care workers, education remains the strongest weapon. It is great that many of our Fil-Am nurses in the frontlines are now vaccinated, but this COVID-19 pandemic

has changed the landscape of the nursing profession. Caring for their COVID-19 infected patients has become a death sentence. Until this pandemic is eradicated, we can only mitigate and minimize the dangers they face. Fil-Am nurses will continue to play heroic roles to save lives and strengthen our health care system even at the expense of offering their lives so that others may live. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints

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

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

Being Asian American in the time of coronavirus...

PAGE A6 t Most Americans have welcomed this increased diversity, as it brings a global smorgasbord of cultural offerings, especially food, to American cities.

But there are a few who seem to be uncomfortable with this loss of white cultural dominance and the erosion of white privilege.

They push back through microaggressions with hate speech, and more violent crimes.

What can we do?

Asians have largely tried to ignore the microaggressions through silence, by just ignoring them and carrying on. This is ineffective, as it encourages bolder and bolder acts of racist aggression. Taking a page

from the #MeToo movement, I believe that the way forward is to make anti-Asian hate speech and hate crime visible.

We need to be vigilant about anti-Asian aggressions, whether they are at the micro-level, and especially if they rise to the level of a crime. Let’s take the time to document them (this is essential), and post them on social media, and report them to authorities, mainstream news, and our community papers. Several Asian groups offer resources for victims and for reporting on hate-motivated aggressions.

Stop AAPI Hate (stopaapihate. org) focuses on Asians. If you have been a victim of bias-motivated aggression, report it to

make it visible.

Silence about hate-motivated aggressions only emboldens perpetrators. Making hate motivated-aggressions visible creates a cultural climate of consciousness and support where these acts will not be tolerated.

It’s a step toward eliminating white supremacy and racism in American society. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

May importante tayong desisyon na kailangang gawin kapag tayo ay nag-65: ang pagpili ng Medicare o Medicare Advantage provider.

Maraming kailangang pag-isipan sa pagpili ng provider na tama para sa iyo. Kasama dito ang bayad sa co-pay o premiums; kung sakop nito ang kasalukuyan ninyong doktor, mga tipo ng benepisyo na kasama, allowances para sa vision, dental at hearing services at gamot na may reseta, pati na ang customer service at suporta na hatid ng inyong plano sa mga miyembro nito. Ang Clever Care Health Plan ay isang napakahusay na opsyon para sa seniors na naghahanap ng allin-one, maaasahan, abot-kaya, at hassle-free na insurance provider na may malasakit sa kanilang mga miyembro, at may kasamang benepisyo para sa Eastern at Western na medisina.

miyembro ang root canal, dentures, crowns o bridges, mayroon sila na hanggang sa $1,600 na allowance kada taon para ipambayad sa mga serbisyong ito. Ang mga miyembro ng Medicare Advantage at Clever Care Health Plan ay eligible din para sa routine eye exams, at mayroon sila na hanggang sa $300 na allowance para sa salamin at contact lenses bawat dalawang taon.

At, sa Clever Care’s Medicare Advantage plan, kasama na ang hearing exams at hearing aid fittings. Tatanggap din ang mga miyembro ng hanggang sa $1,500 na allowance kada taon para sa hearing aids. Dagdag pa rito, may allowance ang Clever Care Medicare Advantage plan para sa over- the- counter items, tulad ng benda, antiitch creams, ice packs, at incontinence products na hindi karaniwang covered ng ibang providers.

Maraming benepisyo sa pagiging miyembro ng Clever Care Health Plan. Una, kasama sa Clever Care plans ang coverage na tipikal na sakop ng orihinal na Medicare plan. Pero, hatid din ng kompanya ang coverage na hindi inaalok ng ibang providers. Hatid ng Clever Care Health Plan sa mga seniors ang kakaibang paraan ng pag-aalaga, na nagbibigay-halaga sa diversity.

Kasama sa kanilang supplemental coverage ang daang-siglo na Eastern treatments upang mapanatili ang kalusugan, maalagaan ang chronic conditions, at mabawasan ang sakit, kasama ng pinakabagong advancements at treatments sa Western na medisina. Ibig sabihin, kasama ang unlimited acupuncture sa plano, at mayroon ding allowance para sa herbal supplements.

Ang pagpili ng Clever Care Health Plan ay magandang ideya lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng COVID-19. Sakali mang may miyembro na magka-COVID-19, ang lahat ng kaugnay na testing, treatment at transportasyon, ay covered na $0 ang copay.

Isa pang dahilan kung bakit naiiba ang Clever Care Health Plan sa ibang insurance providers, ay ang kanilang pagbigbigay-importansya sa inlanguage na suporta sa kanilang mga miyembro.

Hangad ng Clever Care Health ang kalusugan ng lahat ng kanilang mga miyembro sa pamamagitan ng pag-intindi kung paano sila aalagaan. Kung may miyembro na may tanong tungkol sa kanilang treatment, billing o coverage, ang mga in-language medical advisor representative ng Clever Care Health Plan ay handang tumulong sa telepono. (Ang in-language support ay available sa Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish at Vietnamese.)

Hatid ng Clever Care ang mga plano na walang monthly premium costs para sumali, at covered ng plano ang lahat ng kasama sa Medicare, at marami pang iba. Covered ng Clever Care’s Medicare Advantage HMO ang mga serbisyo na Sana ay nakatulong ang artikulong ito sa magpapanatili sa kalusugan, na may mababa o $0 pagbigay ng impormasyon na inyong magagamit copays. Maari ding magpakonsulta ang seniors sa kanilang doktor o espesyalista na walang cost para malaman kung bakit ang pagpili sa Clever Care Health Plan ay ang tamang desisyon. out of pocket fees.

Buti na lang at may resources para tumulong.

Isa pang dahilan para piliin ang Clever Care Kung mayroong pang katanungan o kailangan Health Plan ay ang level ng mga benepisyo nito. pa ng impormasyon, ang Tagalog-speaking In addition sa allowance, covered ang routine representatives ng Clever Care Health Plan ay dental exams, cleanings at x-rays. Ibig sabihin, handang tumulong sa: (833) 365-1888 (TTY: kung pagkatapos ng exam, kailangan pa ng 771). clevercarehealthplan.com Ang Clever Care of Golden State ay isang HMO plan na may Medicare contract. Ang enrollment ay naka-depende sa contract renewal.

H7607_21_CM0379D_TAG_M Accepted 02162021

A10049-D-TAG (0221)

A8 february 27-march 2, 2021 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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COVID-19 cases in Philippines rise to Short, simple rites mark EDSA Revolt anniversary 568,680 with over 2,000 new infections

by John

eriC menDoza ManilaTimes.net

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — The Department of Health recorded 2,269 additional COVID-19 infections, taking the country’s total case count to 568,680.

Active cases represent 5.7% or 32,437 of the country’s confirmed cases. Of these, nearly 94.5% are mild cases and asymptomatic.

The recovery count increased to 524,042 after 738 more people recuperated from the respiratory disease.

Meanwhile, there were 72 additional COVID-19-related deaths. This brought the death A health worker prepares a syringe for COVID-19 vaccination during the vaccine simulation of The Medical City in Pasig last February 18.

Philstar.com photo toll to 12,201. n

2022 polls to remain automated– Comelec

by William

Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

NEXT YEAR year’s national and local elections will remain automated, but the voting setup would be totally different from prepandemic times, the spokesman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Friday, February 26.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez at the same time ruled out the use of a “hybrid” election system, saying this would need further study.

“Definitely, we will continue [using] the automated election system which we also used in the 2016 and 2019 [elections],” he said in a radio interview.

Jimenez pointed out that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the health and safety of voters as well as poll workers have become the primary concern of the

Comelec.

He said voting hours would be extended to 12 hours or from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and polling precincts would no longer be set up in classrooms and instead would be put up in wide, open spaces such as gymnasiums and basketball courts so that physical distancing could be implemented.

Additional voter’s assistance desks would also be put up to help voters find their polling precincts. The help desks will complement the online precinct finder.

The number of individuals allowed inside voting areas would be also limited, and the number of voters per precinct would be reduced from 1,000 to 600.

Election-related events that require mass gatherings would also be regulated by the Comelec.

“The Comelec chairman said the tendency is to allow only five persons inside a polling place.

The number of political watchers, observers would be greatly reduced,” Jimenez added.

Also being considered by the Comelec is the mail voting system, which the United States used in its recent presidential elections as well as the expansion of the scope of the absentee voting system.

“We will push the [expansion] of the absentee voting. It would be a big help because it would spread out the voters three weeks before the elections,” he said, adding that it would mean lesser people in polling places on election day.

At present, absentee voting is limited only to members of the media, government officials, uniformed personnel and overseas workers. n

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto recognized by US...

PAGE A5 t approach to governance,” the U.S. State Department said.

“He pledged to avoid any kickbacks in the awarding of city contracts, established a 24/7 public information and complaints hotline, formally involved civil society organizations in the city’s budgeting and policy making, and mandated that the value of all city government contracts be reduced by at least 10 percent – a measure intended to reduce

bribery in the contract awarding process,” it added.

The other recipients of the International Anticorruption Champions Award are: Ardian Dvorani of Albania; Diana Salazar of Ecuador; Sophia Pretrick of the Federated States of Micronesia; Juan Francisco Sandoval Alfaro of Guatemala; Ibrahima Kalil Gueye of Guinea; Anjali Bhardwaj of India; Dhuha A. Mohammed of Iraq; Bolot Temirov of the Kyrgyz Repub-

lic; Mustafa Abdullah Sanalla of Libya; Francis Ben Kaifala of Sierra Leone; and Ruslan Ryaboshapka of Ukraine.

“The State Department continues to stand by citizens around the world calling for transparent, accountable governments. We proudly recognize these international champions of anticorruption and all those who have taken a stand against corruption,” the department said. n

A SHORT and simple ceremony marked the 35th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Thursday, February 25.

Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina Belmonte led the flag raising and wreath laying at the People Power Monument on EDSA. The rites had the theme, “EDSA 2021: Kapayapaan, Paghilom, Pagbangon.”

There was a minor commotion during the program at the monument when police apprehended a man to check his backpack. The man claimed to be a member of a militant group Migrante International and said he was waiting for his companion with whom he had planned to stage a rally.

Migrante International was not immediately available for comment.

The man said he ran because he panicked. The backpack was found to contain vegetables, which the man said he intended to sell.

National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) Chairman Rene Escalante and Spirit of EDSA Foundation President (SEFP) and EPPC Commissioner Christopher Carrion attended the program, along with representatives from the August Twenty One Movement, Chino Roces Foundation, Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission and other national government and nongovernment agencies.

President Rodrigo Duterte continued his tradition of not attending a People Power commemoration, skipping Thursday’s event.

But in a message for the oc-

casion, Duterte urged Filipinos to “set aside our differences and work together.”

Duterte hailed the nonviolent revolution that served as a catalyst for the restoration of democracy in the country.

“Our history has been shaped by the countless battles that the valiant heroes of our past have fought. Today, we mark the 35th Anniversary of the People Power Revolution inspired by the valor of those whose sacrifice made the liberties we enjoy today possible,” Duterte said.

He expressed hope that the peaceful revolution would serve “as a constant reminder for all of us to remain vigilant in safeguarding our democratic institutions, preserving our values and upholding our rights as Filipinos.”

Last year, the President was a no-show at the EDSA anniversary rites and instead attended the Presidential Security Group’s change of command ceremony at the PSG Grandstand in Manila.

Duterte had declared February 25 a special nonworking day.

In her own message, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo urged Filipinos to unite against the challenges of the times: the pandemic and the “constant threat” to the country’s democracy.

Robredo said the “promise” of EDSA has yet to be completely fulfilled amid efforts to revise history for the benefit of a “powerful few.”

“Today, 35 years after, we renew our faith in this fundamental truth of EDSA: That our people, standing united, can never be defeated. We affirm this truth, even as we acknowledge that the promise of EDSA has not yet been completely

DOLE clarifies plan to exchange PH nurses...

PAGE A5 t naman ‘yun, kung magbibigay man sila, e ‘di dagdagan na (Considering that the UK government is very gallant or generous, if by any chance, and it’s only a request, if they do give, they might as well increase it),” he said.

“Halimbawa kung 5,000 ‘yung request nilang nurses, alangan naman for 5,000 nurses ‘yung vaccine na ibibigay nila, baka

kaya magbigay na more than that to cover OFWs who have been repatriated to the Philippines (For example, if they’re requesting for 5,000 nurses, obviously they can’t donate vaccines only for 5,000 nurses, if it’s possible to give more than that to cover OFWs who have been repatriated to the Philippines),” added Francia.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)

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noted that the focus of the discussion is the protection of Filipino nurses who will be deployed abroad amid the pandemic.

“We should just focus on the intention of the talks – they wanted nurses, but before we deploy more nurses above the limitations, we need to ensure that they will be protected,” POLO-Milan Labor Attaché Corina Buñag said. n

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fulfilled,” she said.

Robredo asked the people to embrace the lessons of EDSA in facing the challenges of the time.

“The challenge now is this: We must find within ourselves that strength, that faith, that fire to continue the work that remains to be done. And in doing so, we must find a way to walk forward together,” she said.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro stressed the need for Filipinos to continue fighting for their rights, social justice, human rights, and the country’s democracy and sovereignty.

“The EDSA People Power teaches us that our country is built upon such moments when the people fully use their right to dissent and protest.

Through our collective action, we were able to do what was thought impossible: drive out of power one who wielded it to oppress the people economically and politically,” Castro said.

The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, reminded the Filipino people to continue its pursuit for social justice.

Brown made the reminder during a homily at the EDSA Shrine on the eve of the anniversary.

A nuncio is the head of the Vatican’s diplomatic mission or Apostolic Nunciature, which is equivalent to an embassy.

“Justice is the foundation of peace in the society. When there is no justice, when people can’t receive justice, they react in violent ways,” Brown said.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo called on Filipinos to “not let go of the promises of freedom of EDSA.” n

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 27 - mARch 2, 2021

Asian Journal

WKND Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON February 24, 2021, Pres.

Biden revoked Trump’s immigration ban for immigrant visa applicants, which was scheduled to expire March 31, 2021. What this means is that, subject to COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing, embassies should now start scheduling people for their immigrant visa interviews immediately. (The ban is still in effect for non-immigrants, such as H-1B, L-1, etc.)

As a recap, Trump issued “immigration bans,” in April and June 2020, and extended both in December 2020. The first, proclamation, 10014, suspended the entry of immigrants who were petitioned by family members and employers. The Second proclamation,10052, suspended entry of non-immigrants applying for certain work visas, such as H1B, L-1, and H2B. Then, proclamation 10131 in December 2020, just as Trump was to leave office, extended both bans through March 31, 2021.

In Pres. Biden’s proclamation revoking Trump’s earlier immigration ban, he states that the Trump immigration ban “does not advance the interests of the United States. To the contrary, it harms the United States, including preventing certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world.” Pres. Biden further found

B1

Sat urday, f ebruary 2 7 , 2 0 2 1

LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

Biden revokes Trump’s Biden’s new US Citizenship immigration ban! Act of 2021 – key highlights

that the entry of these applicants “is not detrimental to the interests of the United States,” as Trump had originally declared.

He also instructed the Secretary of State, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of Homeland Security to review all their policies, orders, and the like that had been issued as a result of Trump’s immigration ban, and revise their guidance “consistent with the policy set forth in this proclamation.”

With Biden’s revocation of these bans, applicants for immigrant visas abroad will not have to wait until April 2021 before they can be scheduled for interviews — instead, embassies can already start scheduling now.

However, I think it is wise to wait for further instructions or guidance on how to go about scheduling or rescheduling interviews.

1. There might be changes in the requirements: it could be that new medical exams or police clearance are required because existing ones have expired.

2. New application fees may be required in submitting new immigrant visa applications.

3. There are also other administrative and operational considerations. For example, if a person was already interviewed, but the ban was imposed before their visa was issued, or their visa expired, do they need to be scheduled for another interview?

4. Even though the immigration ban has been revoked, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us, and embassies are not operat-

ing at full capacity, and may not be able to schedule interviews as quickly as we would like. Remember, it’s been almost been a year since people have been scheduled for visa interviews, so there is definitely a backlog.

5. Also, as the website of the U.S. embassy in Manila reminds us, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older, including U.S. citizens, must provide a negative COVID19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Or, they may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel.

So even if the visa is issued, the person will need a COVID-19 test to enter the U.S. COVID-19 testing is not as easily accessible, depending on which country the person is coming from.

6. Public charge, affidavit of support, evaluating if the sponsor received public benefits, age and health of beneficiary and if they are likely to rely on public assistance, are still the subject of litigation.

I know the immigration ban has affected so many people.

Every day I hear my clients express their frustration of being outside the U.S. waiting for a long time for their visas or longing to be reunited with their families. I understand how frustrating this can be, and this is why I write these columns, not only to keep you updated and informed, but also because I am dedicated in helping my clients achieve their American Dream.

ON February 18, 2021, Pres. Biden and the Democrats formally introduced the “U.S. Citizenship Act” of 2021. It is a massive bill, over 350 pages long, covering a variety of immigration issues, and reforms, including a pathway to U.S. citizenship for the approximate 11 million undocumented noncitizens in the U.S. I will not go through the entire bill in this column, but will discuss some of the important highlights that may apply to you or someone you know.

First, the U.S. Citizenship Act is still only a PROPOSAL. It is not yet a law. There is nothing for anyone to file or apply for at present.

Turning to the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, the key sections of the bill include: 1. Earned path to citizenship and other reforms; 2. Addressing the root causes of migration and responsible managing of the southern border; 3. Reform of the immigrant visa system; 4. Immigration courts, family values, and vulnerable individuals; 5. Employment authorization and protecting workers from exploitation.

Here are key highlights of the bill that will interest many of you: 1. Removal of word “Alien”. The Bill removes the term “alien” from immigration law. From now on, people who are not U.S. citizens or nationals will be referred to as “noncitizen.” So people who are out of status will no longer be referred to as “illegal aliens,” but noncitizens.

2. Earned path to citizenship. One of the most important aspects of this bill is the earned path to U.S. citizenship. It applies to noncitizens who have been in the U.S. continuously from January 1, 2021, until the date their application is approved. Certain noncitizens who were deported on or after January 20, 2017 (when Trump took office) may also be eligible if they had been in the U.S. for at least 3 years before being deported.

A person will first be classified as a “lawful prospective immigrant” (LPI) for six years, which can be extended. The person would need to pass background criminal checks, would receive employment authorization, would be eligible for a Social Security number and card, may travel outside the

U.S. on advance parole, and could be eligible for health coverage.

Even though LPI status is granted for six years, after a person has been an LPI for five years, the person can apply to adjust status to that of a lawful permanent resident. So it seems similar to the way green card holders naturalize: green card holder must maintain that status for at least five years to naturalize, an LPI must maintain status for five years before they apply to be a full “permanent” immigrant. Three years after being a permanent resident, the person could apply for U.S. citizenship.

3. DACA legalization & expansion of age requirement. The U.S. Citizenship Act also calls for the legalization of DACA recipients (green cards), and others who entered the U.S. before their 18th birthday. Right now, DACA required the person to have entered the U.S. before their 16th birthday.

This means there might be more individuals who can qualify for legalization as Dreamers.

4. Legalization of agricultural workers. There is also a provision for the legalization of agricultural workers, who have demonstrated that they performed agricultural labor or services for at least 2,300 hrs. in the five years before their application.

This is similar to an agricultural program back in the ‘80s called SAW or special agricultural workers.

5. Hope for people with expunged criminal record. This bill also provides hope for people who have previously been convicted of certain crimes.

Right now, certain crimes could be a barrier to their being legalized, even if the conviction was expunged. This bill provides that a “conviction” would not include “an adjudication or judgment of guilt that has been dismissed, expunged, deferred, annulled, invalidated, withheld, or vacated.”

Therefore, anyone who had a conviction that was expunged, while it still is held against you today, if this bill passes, depending on the type of crime, there could be hope for you.

6. Reclassification for families of immigrants as immediate relatives. This bill also re-classifies spouses and minor children of green card holders PAGE B2

B2 FEBRUARY 27 - mARch 2, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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W H O B E N E F I TS F RO M PRESIDENT BIDEN’S NEW “U.S. CITIZENSHIP ACT OF 2021?” THE ANSWERS ON A SPECIAL EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel has already discussed the key points of President Biden’s bill on his YouTube channel, US Immigration TV. And since so many Kapamilyas could benefit, Atty. Gurfinkel devotes a whole episode of Citizen Pinoy to explain important key points of the bill that could affect Kapamilya viewers. Be sure to watch this special episode of “ C i t i ze n P i n oy ” t h i s Sunday, February 28 at 5:30 pm PST (8:30 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

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President Biden’s US Citizenship Act of 2021 will be discussed on a special episode of Citizen Pinoy this Sunday PEOPLE are excited about President Joe Biden’s “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021” - the legislative bill proposed by the president on his first day of office.

Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel has already covered this on his YouTube channel: US Immigration TV, some weeks back, but he will be explaining important

points on this topic on a special episode of Citizen Pinoy.

Atty. Gurfinkel will discuss the key highlights of the bill that would be most useful to many Kapamilyas out there, especially those who might be hoping for amnesty and a path to citizenship.

While the bill is still in its early stages, it is an encouraging first step towards what could

potentially be an opportunity to reform the current immigration system. Many Kapamilyas could stand to benefit from this bill.

Learn about the key points of the “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021” on this special episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, February 28 at 5:30 pm PST (8:30 pm EST thru select Cable/ Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Biden’s new US Citizenship...

PECHANGA CELEBRATES LNY WITH LION DANCE. This last year has been different in so many ways. But if you celebrated Lunar New Year, Pechanga understands the importance and cultural significance of the occasion for so many in the Southern California community. The resort held a brief lion dance in an outdoor courtyard to bless the resort for the Year of the Ox. The blessing was not open to the public or spectators. The performers danced beautifully and safely. Pechanga remains committed to its stringent, comprehensive health and safety measures instituted since June 1. They hope to be able to fully celebrate Lunar New Year traditions like they have for many years in the past at Pechanga next year. Photos above show images from the Lion Dance ceremony and décor inside the resort/casino for the Year of the Ox. (Advertising Supplement)

PAGE B1 as “immediate relatives,” which is the same as spouses and children of U.S. citizens. At present, they are classified as F2A. But if they are considered immediate relatives, an advantage is if they overstayed and are out of status, they would be able to apply for their green cards in the U.S., versus having to depart the U.S. and apply abroad, which is presently the case for spouses and children of green card holders.

7. Repeal the 3/10-year bar. As for “promoting family unity,” this bill repeals the 3 and 10-year bar, (which provides that if a person is out of status for over 6 months and departs the U.S., they could be barred from returning for 3 or 10 years.) Therefore, if a person is not eligible to adjust status in the U.S., for example, because they are out of status and don’t have 245(i), entered as a crewman, or K-1 and didn’t marry the American who petitioned them, they could travel abroad for their immigrant visa without worrying about the 3- and 10-year bar or having to apply for a provisional waiver.

8. Children of Filipino World War II veterans. There is a section called the “Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act,” which provides that adult children of Filipino war veterans, whether single or married (F1 or F3), are not subject to direct numerical limitations on visas. Right now, there is a 10 to 20-year wait for adult children of Filipinos because they are subject to the numerical limitations or annual allotments of visas. This law may make them eligible to go to the front of the line.

As I stated in the beginning, this is only a proposal, and Biden is expecting pushback from the Republicans and negotiations and changes. It is not yet law, there’s nothing to apply for yet, but there will be developments in the coming weeks and months. I will continue to keep you updated on the latest developments of this proposal as well as other areas of immigration law, which you might find helpful either for yourself, your family, or your friends. Visit my YouTube channel at US Immigration TV for important news and updates.

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

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

‘Yellow Rose,’ ‘Lingua Franca,’ ‘A Thousand Cuts’ among films eligible for Oscars

By Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THREE Filipina American filmmakers are one step closer to making it to the Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday, February 25, revealed the 366 films eligible for the best picture Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards, set to air on April 25 live on ABC. Among the films included in the lineup are “Yellow Rose” by Diane Paragas; “Lingua Franca”

by Isabel Sandoval, and “A Thousand Cuts” by Ramona Diaz.

“Yellow Rose” is about a 17-year-old Filipina named Rose (Tony-nominated actress and singer Eva Noblezada) who struggles with her identity as her mother Priscilla (Princess Punzalan) is detained by immigration officials.

The film also co-stars Tony winner and Broadway legend Lea Salonga as Rose’s aunt and country star Dale Watson.

In 2019, the film took home 13 film festival jury and audience awards, including the Special Jury Award – Best Narrative Feature at the Asian American International Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize – Best Narrative Feature and Best Breakout Performance for Eva Noblezada at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. “’Yellow Rose’ has been a labor of passion for over 15 years and I’m thrilled that we can now share this very relevant story with the world,” Paragas said in a previous interview. “We have the added honor of representing the real experiences of Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, and all immigrants seeking a better life in America.”

In “Lingua Franca,” Sandoval PAGE B6

“Yellow Rose” stars Tony Award-nominee Eva Noblezada as Rose, an undocumented teenager and aspiring country singer.

Sandoval stars as Olivia, a Filipina trans woman, in “Lingua Franca,” which premiered on Netflix on August 26, 2020.

Rappler co-founder and veteran journalist is the center of the documentary “A Thousand Cuts” by Filipina American filmmaker Ramona Diaz.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 27 - mARch 2, 2021

Clean green energy ETFs Tax Tips Victor Sy, mBA, cPA (retired) THIS is the fourth of four articles on clean energy.

Invesco Solar (TAN): • Invesco Solar ETF offers exposure to global technology and utilities stocks that can benefit from demand for solar as an alternative energy.

• Investors benefit from the diversification and liquidity to U.S., European and Chinese companies in one product.

• The Invesco Solar ETF tracks

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA SAmSon ANG green card holder ay maaaring mag-file ng N400 Application for Naturalization kung siya ay may 5 taon nang green card holder (3 taon kung ang green card ay nakuha dahil sa kasal sa U.S. citizen at sila ay nagsasama pa din).

Ang aplikante para sa naturalization ay kailangang magpakita na sa statutory period na 5 taon bago ang N-400 filing, siya ay may good moral character (GMC).

Kung ang aplikante ay kusang hindi nagbigay ng child support sa loob ng statutory period, maaaring masabi na siya ay walang GMC. Kailangang magpakita ang aplikante ng extenuating circumstances para sa hindi pagtupad ng kanyang obligasyon na magbigay ng child support. Kasama sa obligasyon ng child support ang mga child support orders dito sa US at sa ibang bansa.

Ang mga magulang ay may legal at moral na obligasyon para magbigay ng child support kahit walang court order para sa child support. Ayon din sa mga korte, ang hindi pagbigay ng child support ay nagpapakita na ang aplikante ay walang GMC. Kung ang aplikante para sa naturalization ay may arrears o pagkukulang sa pagbigay ng child support, o ang kanyang binigay na child support ay hindi naaayon sa court- ordered child support, kailangan niya ipakita kung magkano ang kanyang arrears, kung gaano siya katagal na hindi nagbayad ng child support, at ang dahilan sa hindi pagbayad ng child support. Ang mga sumusunod ay maaaring maging konsiderasyon sa hindi pagbayad ng child support: (1) ang aplikante ay walang trabaho at walang pinansyal na

(Part 4 of 4)

two dozen solar energy companies such as First Solar (FSLR) and SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG).

• Caution: TAN owns fewer companies so the price can be more volatile than funds with a larger number of companies.

TPI Composites (TPIC) • TPI is a leading manufacturer of composite wind blades.

• It supplies blades to wind turbine manufacturers and commands nearly a fifth of all onshore wind blades sold on a megawatt basis globally.

• The company notched a record $1.4 billion in annual net sales, selling 9,500 wind blades.

• Despite the economic upheaval of COVID-19, the company

enjoyed a 15% revenue growth to $1.65 billion.

• Of the 11 analysts that cover TPIC stock, 10 rate it a Buy. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

Child support and naturalization

abilidad para sa pagbayad ng child support; (2) mga dahilan kung bakit walang trabaho ang aplikante; (3) ebidensya ng good-faith effort para magbigay ng child support; (4) kung inakala ng aplikante na wala na siyang obligasyon na magbigay ng child support dahil tapos na ang obligasyong ito; at (5) kung ang arrears ay dahil sa miscalculation ng court-ordered support at arrears.

Kung ang aplikante ay makakapagpakita ng extenuating circumstances sa hindi pagbayad ng child support, maaari pa ring magkaroon ng determinasyon ang USCIS na siya ay may GMC. *** A green card holder can file for N-400 Application for Naturalization if he has held permanent resident status, or has had green card for at least 5 years prior to the filing (3 years if green card was based on marriage to a U.S. citizen and applicant is still married to U.S. citizen). An applicant filing for naturalization must show that during the statutory period of 5 years prior to N-400 filing, he was a person of good moral character (GMC). If the applicant has willfully failed or refused to support his dependents during the statutory period, he cannot establish GMC unless he shows extenuating circumstances. Child support obligations include child support obligations and child support orders in the U.S. and abroad.

Even if there is no court-ordered child support for the applicant for naturalization, the Courts have held that parents have a legal and moral obligation to provide support for their dependents. A willful failure to provide such support shows that the naturalization applicant lacks GMC.

If the applicant for naturalization has not fully-paid child support pursuant to a court order and has arrears, the applicant must show how long there was non-payment, the current arrears due, and the circumstances for the non-payment and arrears. The following circumstances may be considered

by USCIS in determining GMC despite the child support arrears: (1) applicant’s unemployment and financial inability to pay child support; (2) cause of the unemployment and financial inability to support dependents; (3) evidence of good-faith effort to reasonably provide child support; (4) whether the nonpayment was due to an honest but mistaken belief that the duty to support minor child had terminated; and (5) whether the nonpayment was due to miscalculation of court-ordered support and arrears.

If the applicant for naturalization is able to show extenuating circumstances, a failure to support dependents will not adversely affect GMC determination. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).

SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: info@ samsonlawfirmpc.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

When an unpaid credit card debt becomes a lawsuit HAVE your credit card debts become so large that you can’t even afford the minimum payments? Or perhaps you’re already behind and your accounts have been turned over to collections? What do you do to get out of this financial mess?

If you are in this situation, maybe you’ve wondered about what the legal repercussions might be once you get to the point where you can no longer continue paying your creditors.

Can credit card companies sue you for what you owe? And when they do, what happens when they get a judgment against you? These are the questions I’m often asked by people who seek legal advice regarding their debts.

Of course, credit card companies don’t make it easy for you to catch up once you fall behind.

They are quick to add on additional fees and demand that you bring your account up to date immediately by paying the current amount due, all past due payments as well as late fees.

And if allowed by the agreement that you signed when you first applied for the credit card, your interest rate can also go sky-high upon default. Before you know it, your debt problems have become a financial nightmare and your phone starts ringing off the hook with bill collectors harassing you at home and at work.

What do you do at this point?

If your credit card debts have escalated beyond your control, perhaps you are getting nervous about what your creditors will do next. Can you be sued?

Yes, you can be sued once your creditors are convinced that they have exhausted all other options to force you to pay. Of course, the benefit to be gained by suing you must outweigh the costs

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAymond BULAon so the creditor will take that into consideration as well. But most delinquent accounts are turned over to collection agencies in high volumes which significantly reduce the creditors’ litigation costs. Smaller companies like credit unions will also sometimes sue you in small claims court and they don’t even need an attorney to file the lawsuit.

I often see people who ignore their debts for a long time until one day they receive a summons at home or at work and only then do they realize the seriousness and urgency of their situation. If you are sued by a creditor, it is very important that you do not ignore the lawsuit or you will definitely regret the consequences once the creditor takes the next step of garnishing your wages, seizing funds out of your bank account, filing a lien against your real property or a combination of the above.

If your debts are small and you’re able to pay a reduced amount in a lump sum or in installments, it may be possible to negotiate with the creditor to prevent or stop an ongoing lawsuit. From my experience, depending on how far the debt is along the collection process, most creditors will settle for 30-60% of the original debt amount. It may be tougher once a lawsuit has been filed and the creditor knows that the collection potential is high based on your income and assets. It is im-

portant to know the best time to make an offer in order to get the lowest possible amounts.

If filing bankruptcy is your best and only option, it is best to seek legal help right away before your debt problems get worse.

Spare yourself the suffering and the agony caused by debt if at all possible. In choosing a bankruptcy lawyer, remember that not all bankruptcy lawyers are created equal and may have different ideas on how to help you. It is important to choose a knowledgeable and experienced attorney who has your best interests at heart. Most debt problems are solvable but often they get worse if ignored. Don’t make this fatal mistake. If bankruptcy is not your best option, sometimes debt settlement can also be a way to avoid bankruptcy as long as you can come up with a realistic payment plan that your creditors will accept.

If you are in debt and have not figured out a way to get out, constant worrying will not get you anywhere unless you act to change your situation for the better. For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866477-7772 and we will help you step by step in finding a solution that’s right for you. *** NOTE: Due to the current lockdown order caused by COVID-19, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866477-7772

B5

Section 704.730 amended: Increasing homestead exemptions from $300K to $600K

DOES this sound right? It’s almost incredible, but it’s true.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1885 into law and it is the current law on homestead exemptions effective in 2021!

This is monumental because the old law provided the following homestead exemptions: If single, $75,000. If below 65 with another family member in the house, $100,000. If over 65, then $175,000. If over 55 earning a gross of less than $35,000 a year for the household, $175,000.

All these qualifications for the protection of your homestead and so little protection for homesteads in California where values have been increasing a lot.

With the pandemic and so many people losing their jobs, despite the stimulus, a lot of people are having a hard time paying for the mortgages on their homes. At the same time, people are having to resort to using their credit cards just to survive the pandemic. What will happen then when life goes back to normal or near-normal with the virus beaten by the vaccine when at least 80% of the population is vaccinated? People will end up with a significant amount of credit card debt while holding onto their houses.

Look at the amendment and see if you understand it.

The people of the state of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 704.730 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read: 704.730. (a) The amount of the homestead exemption is the greater of the following: (1) The countywide median sale price for a single-family home in the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the judgment debtor claims the exemption, not to exceed six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000).

(2) Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). (b) The amounts specified in this section shall adjust annually for inflation, beginning January 1, 2022, based on the change in the annual California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the prior fiscal year, published by the Department of Industrial Relations.

So there you are. In plain language what it means is, depend-

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng ing on which county you live in, your homestead exemption is at least $300,000 but it could be as high as $600,000! This applies to the equity of your house.

What is equity? That’s the fair market value of your house, minus all mortgages and secured liens on it. For example, you live in Los Angeles and your house fair market value is $700,000.

You owe a balance of $300,000 on the first mortgage. This means the equity in your house is $400,000.

Under the old law if you wanted a fresh start with Chapter 7 — because you owed $30,000 of credit card debt, and your age is over 65, or under 65, or single, and you otherwise qualify for Chapter 7 under the means test — you would not file for Chapter 7 relief. Instead, you would file for Chapter 13 where the $30,000 would be paid over 5 years with no interest. If you did file a Chapter 7, you would lose your house to the Chapter 7 trustee who will sell your house and give your either $175,000, $100,000 or $75,000, and use the rest of the sale proceeds to pay the $30,000 in full plus expenses of administering your bankruptcy estate which costs a lot, maybe $50,000. The rest of the sale proceeds would still go to you but you lost your house in Chapter 7. This is under the old law.

Under the new law in effect right now, your age, or being single doesn’t affect your ability to claim the huge homestead exemption of $400,000. You would still qualify for Chapter 7 assuming you pass the means test, keep your house, and wipe out the $30,000 of credit card debt! That’s how awesome this amendment increasing the homestead exemption is. Instead of a BB gun, you now have a .50 caliber machine gun to protect your home.

This means more debtors will qualify for Chapter 7 fresh start without losing their houses.

This is a very big deal indeed.

It certainly is very welcome re-

lief given to debtors who having substantial equities in their homes but are also saddled by burdensome credit card debt.

Probably without this pandemic, this amendment would not have been adopted. Really, what’s a paltry $75,000 to $175,000 homestead exemption for LA, Orange, and Riverside counties?

They just don’t give enough protection to people here.

The effect of these small homestead exemptions is to force debtors into putting their homes at risk just because they have credit card debt that has escalated beyond control. If you owed $30,000 of credit cards, that would eat up $1,000 of your net income monthly. If your household net income is $3,000, that’s already one-third of your net income allocated to keep your $30,000 of credit cards current, instead of going to pay your mortgage or other necessary expenses. The $30,000 may not look big, but the cost of keeping that current is tremendous — $1,000 a month is $36,000 in three years just to keep $30,000 current. After paying $36,000, you still owe the same $30,000!

You are literally enslaved, and MasterCard and Visa own you.

You can pay off a car loan in five years. After pay off, you own a car; you owe $30,000 of credit cards, the cards own you.

I would like to thank, as we all should, God Almighty for giving us this new law amending and increasing the homestead exemptions to $300,000 to $600,000. This is really heavensent. It’s manna from heaven.

This is truly divine protection for debtors who need relief from debt.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

California court’s power to make divorce orders when one spouse does not live in state

in the state. The California Courts has the power to grant a divorce, annulment, or legal separation if either party is domiciled in the state. Domicile is where a person lives and intends to remain. However, Atty. Kenneth there is an additional requireUrSUA reyeS ment if you are seeking a divorce rather than annulment THIS is a common question or legal separation. To obtain among people contemplat- a divorce in California, one of ing divorce in California when the parties must have been a the other spouse does not live resident of California for six

Barrister’s Corner

months immediately before the filing of the divorce petition. Responding spouses can use this requirement as a defense if the Petitioning spouse does not meet such requirement when the petitioner filed for divorce. In addition, divorce petitions may be filed in the county where at least one spouse resided for 3 months immediately prior to filing the petition.

PAGE B6

The call of Lent: Discerning God’s will in this time of crisis Pastor’s Notes reVerend rodeL g. BALAgtAS

POPE Francis wrote a new book entitled Let Us Dream: The Path to Better Future. He wrote it in the context of the COVID19 pandemic. He begins the first part of the book by saying: “In this past year of change and crisis, my mind and heart overflowed with people. People I think of and pray for, and sometimes cry with: people with names and faces, people who died without saying goodbye to those they loved, families in difficulty, even going hungry because there’s no work.”

We all can relate to the Holy Father. All of us feel devastated by the overwhelming death of millions of people globally.

Here in the U.S., now surpassing 500,000 deaths! And most of us now know someone who died of COVID-19 or got infected with the virus.

In his book, Pope Francis uncovers the extensive effects of (Advertising Supplement) COVID-19 people worldwide, in-

cluding the 600,000 Rohingyan people who now live in refugee camps in Bangladesh, thousands of them suffering from COVID-19.

The pope vividly exposes the cruelty and inequity of our society in this time of crisis. He acknowledges the resilience, generosity, creativity of so many people and the world leaders’ commitment to rescue the economy and the planet.

Pope Francis’ main motive in writing this book is to urge us not to lose hope during this pandemic and not allow the pain to be in vain. This pandemic can teach us to face and manage any crisis of any kind and build a better world that places the poor and the planet at the heart of new thinking.

Recalling our common bond as human beings, he writes: “We are born, beloved creatures of our Creator, God of love, into a world that has lived long before us. We belong to God and to one another, and are part of creation. And for this understanding, grasped by the heart, must flow our love for each other, a love not earned or bought because all we are and has is unearned gift.”

For humanity and the planet to regenerate, nations and human

beings have to make sacrifices.

We have to let go of greed and selfishness--building economies obsessed with profit and power at people’s expense. This critical task involves a great deal of discernment, both personally and globally.

Pope Francis explains discernment as thinking through decisions, “not just by rational calculation but by listening for His Spirit, recognizing in prayer God’s motives, invitations, and will.” Only then, he says, can we discover and implement God’s dream for us and the paths of actions ahead.

Would that our observance of Lent be a time of reflection to see the moral lessons that the pandemic has taught us? Would it be a time of discernment to see God’s will and plan for concrete actions to make our world a better place to live? Can we come out of this crisis better by choosing well and acting right? *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

B6 FEBRUARY 27 - mARch 2, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

California court’s power to make...

PAGE B5 Now apart from getting a divorce, legal separation, or annulled status, there may be issues relating to distributing community and separate properties between the spouses and awarding support payments. In order for the California Courts to have the power to make orders, the California Courts must have personal jurisdiction over the respondent.

Personal jurisdiction means

the respondent has minimum contacts with California even if not physically here. Some of the factors looked at is respondents presence in the state, domicile, residence, citizenship, consent, appearance in the action, doing business in the state, doing an act that causes an effect in the state, ownership in the state, other relationship to the state. If the respondent does not have minimum contact with California,

respondent may challenge any orders relating to distribution of property and support based on the court’s lack of jurisdiction.

With regards to initial child custody issues, these issues are resolved under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. California Courts have the power to make initial custody orders if it is the child’s home state at the time the action was filed. California may also assume power to make custody orders if California has been the child’s home state within six months before the action was filed, the child is absent form California, and a parent continues to live in California. California may also exercise jurisdiction when no other state is the child’s home state or when all court’s having jurisdiction over the child has declined to act and deferred to California as the more appropriate place to make custody orders. California may also exercise jurisdiction if no other state would have jurisdiction over the child.

*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist.

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

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

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

Employee harassed by customer at work: Is employer liable?

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. c. Joe SAyAS, Jr. JENNIFER Christian worked at Umpqua Bank as a Universal Associate. In late 2013, a male customer asked her to open a checking account. While this initial interaction was unremarkable, the customer soon began visiting the bank to drop off “small notes” for her, stating that Ms. Christian was “the most beautiful girl he’[d] seen” and that he “would like to go on a date” with her. She began to feel “concerned,” as did her colleagues. The lead supervisor advised her to “watch out … that it doesn’t escalate.”

When Ms. Christian next saw the customer at the bank, she told him, “I’m not going to go on a date with you.” He responded, “okay,” and left the bank. However, the harassment continued over seven months as he left several unwanted notes for her, harassed her co-workers about how to get a date with her, stalked her at a charity event, and appeared at her workplace for no business reason other than to stare at her.

Ms. Christian brought the matter to her supervisors every time the harasser struck. When the customer sent her flowers, she asked her manager to close the customer’s account and prohibit him from entering the premises. According to Ms. Christian, the manager promised that he would not allow the customer to return. But he did not notify the customer.

Instead, the manager asked that she herself call the customer. She felt uncomfortable but agreed to call because the manager “didn’t seem like he wanted to deal with it.”

Two supervisors advised Ms. Christian to “hide in the break room” whenever the customer came to the bank. Feeling unsafe, Ms. Christian requested a transfer to another branch even though it meant shorter hours and less pay. Although the bank closed (and then later re-opened) the customer’s account, and finally barred him from the bank, its inaction for several months after the initial harassment caused Ms. Christian severe anxiety, stress, and fear for her life and safety. The bank ultimately transferred her to another location. Ms. Christian resigned from her job following the advice of her doctor who declared that “it is bad for [her] health to continue working at Umpqua Bank.”

Ms. Christian sued the bank alleging gender discrimination and retaliation in violation of state and federal law. The bank asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the customer’s conduct was not severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment; that the incidents did not involve “direct, personal interactions” between Ms. Christian and the customer; and that the bank did not ratify or acquiesce in the harassment. The district court agreed and dismissed the case.

Ms. Christian appealed.

The appellate court reversed the dismissal. It found that the trial judge erred by disregarding the many incidents of harassment that contributed to the severity and pervasiveness that created the hostile work environment. The appellate court said the continuing pattern of harassment was not to be disregarded just because it happened over a long period of time, or because it did not involve direct interaction between victim and stalker, or that the stalker did not attempt to touch Ms. Christian physically. The court underscored that gender-based harassment, like any other form

of harassment, need not involve physical or sexual touching in order to be actionable.

The appellate court also noted that a jury may find the bank had ratified to the harassment by its inaction and failure to institute measures that would stop the harasser. The court noted that “Umpqua’s glacial response— more than half a year after the stalking began— was too little too late.” The bank’s response to Ms. Christian’s concerns (by repeatedly telling her to “hide in the break room” when the harasser was in the bank) was unreasonable because it placed the burden on Ms. Christian herself. The court noted that “harassment is to be remedied through actions targeted at the harasser, not at the victim.”

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, a federal law, holds employers liable for the harassment of third parties if employers either ratify the conduct, or fail to take immediate and appropriate corrective action.

Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), an employer is strictly liable for harassment by supervisors and is liable on a negligence theory for non-supervisory personnel and non-employees. Also, supervisors and non-supervisory employees can be held individually responsible for sexual harassment. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at nocost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work.

After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500.00 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K. Dear K.K., The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave.

The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.” Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident cases on their own, or with the assis-

Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn tance of inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury.

CACI No. 3903C. How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those self-employed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time

‘Yellow Rose,’ ‘Lingua...

PAGE B2 also stars as the main character, an undocumented trans Filipina living in New York City who struggles to make enough money as a caretaker to send back to her mother in the Philippines, as well as to pay for an American man to marry her for a green card. The film was recently nominated for the John Cassavetes Award in the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards, set to air live on April 22 exclusively on IFC and AMC+.

“There’s almost a kind of aversion to complexity and in a way, it seems unfashionable and anticlimactic, but that’s my choice as a director. I make quiet, patient, subtle movies that invite people to think,” Sandoval told the Asian Journal.

“A Thousand Cuts” is a doc-

umentary film that explores the conflict between the press and the Philippine government under President Rodrigo Duterte. The film’s primary focus is Rappler co-founder and veteran journalist Maria Ressa, an outspoken critic of the Duterte administration.

“If you watch the film, it’s an immersive experience. It is both a global story and a very specifically Philippine story. I’m not into messages necessarily. I’m into experiences if you get the experience of what it was like to live in Maria’s shoes in the most beleaguered time of her life when she was arrested twice and the backdrop of the midterm elections, which is always crazy to begin with in the Philippines. So to me, it’s a perfect backdrop because it shows local color and people are

of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim.

Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable.

For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings.

Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident.

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada.

Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323-639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement) also out and about so it’s kinetic and cinematic,” Diaz told the Asian Journal.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the films included in this year’s list were able to qualify by opening for a week not just in a commercial theater in Los Angeles and New York, but for a week in a commercial theater or a nightly drive-in theater in any of six U.S. metropolitan areas: Los Angeles County; the City of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia.

Films that were intended for theatrical release but made available through commercial streaming, VOD service or other broadcast were also deemed eligible.

Academy voting will begin on March 5 until March 10. The members will choose five to 10 best picture nominees, which will be announced on March 15.

B7 FEBRUARY 27 - mARch 2, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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B8 FEBRUARY 27 - mARch 2, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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