022820 - Northern California Edition

Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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DATELINE Trump administration’s expanded ‘public charge’ rule for immigrants takes effect FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

AFTER several legal battles, the Trump administration’s changes to the public charge rule that could deny legal permanent residency status to certain immigrants if they are likely to require government assistance in the future took effect on Monday, February 24.

The public charge rule, originally published by the Department of Homeland Security in August 2019, expands the test immigration officials use on immigrants to determine whether or not government programs will become their sole source of financial, nutritional and shelter support.

Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, hailed

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Pinay nurses back Bernie Sanders campaign, ‘Medicare for All’ promise FOR Filipina American registered nurse Mary Magtanong-Sigua, one of the hardest choices her patients face is whether to pay for their medical care or groceries.

A registered nurse since 2004 working in Vallejo, California, she’s a proponent of Medicare For All — a contentious issue within Democratic presidential primary — that pushes for a single-payer, national health insurance program to address the uninsured and underinsured in the United States.

“That’s my everyday reality with my patients, which is why I feel very strongly about Medicare for All,” Magtanong-Sigua told the Asian Journal. “I do believe that patients should not have

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US coalition holds protest in support of ABS-CBN franchise renewal

by JOSEPH

L. PERALTA

AJ Press

SAN FRANCISCO — A United States-based coalition, We Stand With ABS-CBN Coalition, held a protest rally on Tuesday, February 25 in front of the Philippine Center Building in downtown, which houses the Philippine Consulate General, in support of the franchise renewal efforts of Philippine network giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.

The protest rally coincided with the 34th commemoration of the People Power Revolution, which brought down the Ferdinand Marcos regime and

M. ORIEL

AJPress

DEMOCRATIC presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg released an extensive plan on Wednesday, February 26 addressing issues facing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations, from disaggregating data to restoring the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.

The plan, “Belonging, Opportunity, Empowerment: An Agenda for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,” covers the education, economic, health and immigra-

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MENDIOLA AJ Press

SEVERAL Philippine government officials have been recommended to be banned from the United States for reportedly being involved in Senator Leila de Lima’s detention, according to the senator’s office.

The senator sent the United States embassy a list of Phil-

ers Association, Filipino American Human Rights Alliance (FAHRA) and Fil-Am Journalists and Communication Professionals of The Fil-Am Press Club of New York (FAPCNY) — denounced the Philippine government’s actions aimed “at shutting down the Philippines’ largest media conglomerate, ABS-CBN, and its U.S. subsidiary, The Filipino Channel (TFC).”

The coalition’s statement likened Duterte’s actions to those of Marcos. It added that the broadcast giant “has been a champion of Philippine democracy and in upholding and promoting the democratic rights of the Filipino people, both in the Philippines and in the Filipino diaspora.” TFC, it said, has been crucial in deu PAGE A2

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJ Press

DESPITE her family connections to ABS-CBN, Philippine Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, February 26, said the network giant’s franchise hearing is fair and objective.

Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services which led the hearing, said the issue is within the committee’s jurisdiction as it handles “all matters affecting public services and utilities; communications; land, air, river and sea transportation including railroads, interisland navigation, and lighthouses; and the grant or amendment of legislative franchises.”

She also said that she remained objective throughout the hearing, giving all parties the chance to speak.

“Number 1: I am the chairman of the Committee on Public Services. Number 2: It’s no secret the business relationship

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DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM. Dozens of Filipino American community members flocked to the Philippine Center Building in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday, February 25 to protest the Duterte administration’s actions against broadcast giant ABS-CBN and its impending franchise expiration. Similar events were held in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York and coincided with the 34th commemoration of the People Power Revolution.

AJPress photo by Joesph L. Peralta

Coronavirus seen to have ‘minimal’ effect on remittances, Palace says

MANILA — The 2019 coronavirus disease has forced the government to lower its growth projection for overseas Filipino workers’ remittances but Malacañang claimed the impact of the virus on money sent home by migrant workers would just be “minimal.”

Citing labor department assumptions, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the COVID-19 outbreak could dampen this year’s total cash remittance growth by 0.8 percentage points from 3% to 2.2%.

“While remittances from OF (overseas Filipinos) reached a record high of $33.5 billion last Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (center) 2019, we were expecting this to increase to $34.5 billion in remitmet with AAPI labor leaders in Las Vegas during a town hall on Friday, December 20, 2019.

AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal tances this year with a projected growth rate of 3%,” Nograles said at a press briefing on Monday, February 24.

“But because of this COVID-19 ippine government officials in ment around the second week question, her chief media offi- of January. Though she refused epidemic, we have adjusted our cer Ferdie Maglalang confirmed to disclose the names and how growth projections to 2.2% and many they are, De Lima said she now expect $34.2 billion in remitTuesday, February 25.

Earlier this year, De Lima said “justified each and every name tances for 2020,” he added.

Despite the lower growth proshe was in the process of com- on why they are part of my persejection, Nograles said the amount pleting the list of her so-called cution, as reported by Rappler.

Previous reports stated that of OFW remittances is still expectpersecutors “complete with a summary and citation of refer- President Rodrigo Duterte and ed to reach a new record-high this ences justifying their inclusion.” his spokesperson, Salvador Pan- year.

He also noted that mainland The detained senator submit- elo, topped the initial list of those u PAGE A2 China, where the virus originated, ted her list to the U.S. govern-

List of De Lima’s ‘persecutors’ sent to US

by RITCHEL

ended more than a decade of martial law in the Philippines.

The midday protest, attended by about 75 Filipino Americans, featured chants and a few speakers, with protesters holding placards and banners espousing press freedom and the hashtag #WeStandWithABSCBN, all under the watchful eyes of members of the San Francisco Police Department.

In a joint statement a coalition of community organizations — which includes the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Asian Community of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (ACCNMI), U.S. Pinoys for Good Governments (USPGG), DAMAYAN Migrant Work-

Poe: ABS-CBN hearing fair and objective

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg releases AAPI plan that would disaggregate data, restore Filipino WWII Veterans Parole Program

by CHRISTINA

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

accounts for only 0.1% of total OFW remittances while its administrative regions Macau and Hong Kong account for 0.4%, and 2.7%, respectively.

“We also expect the outbreak to have a minimal impact on OFW remittances,” Nograles said.

“DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) also assures us that remittances from other source countries such as the US (United States), UAE (United Arab Emirates), and Saudi Arabia may help compensate for the possible slowdown in remittances coming from China, Macau, and Hong Kong,” he added.

Based on historical data, OFW remittances, Nograles said, have been resilient even in the face of

global downtrends.

Remittances from Filipino migrant workers totaled $33.467 billion last year, higher by 3.9% from the $32.213 billion posted in 2018, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Nograles said economic managers also expect COVID-19 to have a “minimal impact” on agriculture, particularly on exports.

“Our banana exports to China, for example, are not slowing down. While there were previous logistical issues during the Chinese Lunar New Year break, this was only a temporary setback, and our banana exports to China have returned to normal,” the Palace official said. (Alexis Romero / Philstar.com) ■

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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 5, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

List of De Lima’s ‘persecutors’ sent...

BENDING TRADITIONS. Churchgoers receive communion by hand after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines issued liturgical guidelines and precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. The recommendations included sprinkling of the blessed ash on the crown of the head instead of drawing a cross on the forehead on Ash Wednesday.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

PAGE A1 who should be banned from the U.S. The senator also included Solicitor General Jose Calida, former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, public attorney’s office chief Persida Acosta, and former Lower House legislators Reynaldo Umali and Rudy Farinas, according to the Philippine Star.

De Lima said that her list is only a recommendation, adding that the U.S. State Department still has the final decision to implement the ban.

“With or without my list, they (U.S.) are mandated to come up with a list,” the detained senator said.

Philippine Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra responded that he trusts the call of the U.S. government.

“I am not interested to know who are in her list... I trust that the U.S State Department will exercise its own independent evaluation and exercise prudence and circumspection,” he said in a statement.

In December, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the 2020 U.S. federal budget, which included a provision prohibiting the entry of foreign government officials involved in the “wrongful imprisonment” of De Lima.

De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, has

Senator Leila de Lima

AJPress file photo

been detained since 2017 for her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prisons during her stint as justice secretary. n

US coalition holds protest in support of ABS-CBN...

Pinay nurses back Bernie Sanders campaign... PAGE A1 PAGE A1 to worry about where their next meal is coming from or if they can pay for their medications.”

She’s one of over 150,000 nurses part of National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union for RNs in the United States, which has thrown its support behind Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

The union previously endorsed Sanders during his 2016 run and did so again during this cycle after sending questionnaires and having face-to-face meetings with several candidates, according to NNU President Zenei Cortez, the only Filipina to lead a national labor union in the U.S. “Bernie was the most aligned with our values and with our agenda,” Cortez, an RN for over 40 years working in South San Francisco, told the Asian Journal.

Under Sanders’ proposed Medicare for All, the single-payer health insurance program would cover everyone living in the country, regardless of immigration status or income level, and would reportedly not have any premiums, deductibles, copays or surprise bills.

The campaign also calls for Medicare coverage to include dental care, mental health and substance abuse treatment, among others, and capping prescription drug prices.

“Medicare for All is the only solution there is to our current broken healthcare system. It’s ethically insane living in America,

the richest nation in the world, and people cannot seek medical care whenever they need it and to seek early care to prevent the disease process from progressing,” Cortez continued. “So I am really passionate about getting Medicare for All because it will improve the overall health of the people of the country, it will be cost-effective, and it will save us a lot of money in the long run.”

A recent study, conducted by researchers at Yale University, the University of Florida and the University of Maryland and published in medical journal The Lancet, found that the single-payer health care system would save the country $450 billion annually and prevent on average 68,000 unnecessary deaths.

Meanwhile, an October 2019 study by center-left think tank Urban Institute said that Medicare for All would need $34 trillion in additional federal spending for the first 10 years, which is more than the federal government’s total cost over the coming decade for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid combined.

At the Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas on Wednesday, February 21, Sanders was asked his central campaign proposal and whether it would take away private insurance options or reduce certain benefits as many, especially other union members, fear.

“So let me be very clear to my good friends in the Culinary Workers Union, a great union,” Sanders said. “I will never sign

a bill that will reduce the health care benefits they have. We will only expand it for them, for every union in America, and for the working class of this country.”

In addition to the health care plan, Cortez argued that a Sanders presidency will also improve the workplace conditions for nurses, given that it’s a preferred profession for many Filipinos.

“Sanders is the only candidate that is really for looking at the welfare of nurses who will be taking care of the patients,” Cortez said, recalling when the Vermont senator rallied with Oakland nurses in 2014 to call for more safety protocols and equipment to beat the Ebola virus. “He was the only elected candidate to come out and help us win that fight because he stands for the working class and is part of the 99%. He understands the needs and the struggles that we go through every day.”

Cortez and Magtanong-Sigua were among hundreds of NNU nurses from California who came to Las Vegas ahead of Nevada’s Feb. 22 caucuses to canvas for Sanders.

“I think our fellow kababayans should realize that and while we are here busy trying to fight for social, climate and economic justice, somebody in the White House has been stripping union members of their rights and their privileges.

We might wake up one day and realize that everything that we have bargained for through our collective bargaining agreement is all gone,” Cortez said. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress) n

livering news to Fil-Ams and “in championing the rights of Filipino World War II veterans, and in the political empowerment of the community.”

“We deplore Duterte’s move by a farcical quo warranto action in the Philippine Supreme Court to shut down ABS-CBN and cause the unemployment of its 11,000 workers. This move will drive a stake through the heart of Philippine democracy,” the statement said, adding a call for Filipino communities across the U.S. and globally to protest the Duterte administration’s actions against press freedom.

Coalition spokesperson Atty.

Rodel Rodis and other community members told the Asian Journal that there is a lot at stake with this issue.

“This will send a devastating message to people that you cannot oppose Duterte because look what Duterte will do to you, like what he’s doing to ABS-CBN. It’s one thing to shut down Rappler, which is a small press entity. It’s another thing to shut down ABSCBN,” Rodis said. “So he already has the Congress, the House, the Senate. He can do whatever he wants right now. And if we allow it to continue further, whatever few liberties we have, then we’re going to lose it all. So we’re determined to stop it.”

Emil de Guzman, who attended the event to emphasize the plight of murdered journalists and what he feels is an attack on press freedom, said, “If we don’t do anything to stand our ground now, to

Protesters hold up signs standing in solidarity with thousands of ABS-CBN workers globally who will be affected if the franchise is not renewed.

AJPress photo by Jospeh L. Peralta

ensure that they will stop this, the next one will be somebody else… it’s like a domino effect. They think they will have that sense of authority and power.” De Guzman added that feels that the majority of Filipinos are being held hostage by a small clique in government.

Fr. Mark Reburiano of St. Gregory Church in San Mateo, who read a passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, told the Asian Journal that having differing opinions on issues should be welcomed. According to Fr. Reburiano, St. Paul is the patron saint of mass media.

“It’s always good to be able to have some disagreements or some arguments in order for us to search for the truth. And if we just shut down one company because they are not aligned with our ideas, or they disagree with us, that’s unjust… Freedom of speech would mean also we fight

for the truth. And we try to get the truth and we unravel the truth,” Reburiano said, while adding that many of the network’s subscribers, who are also his parishioners, have told him that they believe that ABS-CBN is balanced when it comes to its presentation of news and stories.

Dorie Paniza, who is a member of a few organizations and is an Arts and Culture Commissioner in Daly City, is hopeful that, in the end, ABS-CBN will get its franchise renewed by the Philippine Congress as the company sponsors many activities, including humanitarian in nature, and is a community stalwart.

“I really support ABS-CBN/TFC because they are really a big help to us, especially to the seniors. And not only to the seniors, but also to the community of Filipinos. Especially when we have disasters,

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Dateline USa

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Democratic presidential candidate...

PAGE A1 t tion concerns of AAPIs, considered the fastest-growing racial group in the country.

“For far too long, the challenges facing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been sidestepped

by Washington,” the former South Bend, Indiana mayor said in a statement.

Acknowledging current data collection practices that clump groups together and fail to get the nuances and challenges each one faces, the plan calls on federal agencies to separate data for specific AAPI and Native Hawaiian populations.

“As president, I’ll take my lead from community leaders and center their voices in the critical work FUTURE CHAMPS. Young karatekas attend the Karate Development Arts and Sports, as part of the 20th-anniversary celebration of JKS Kata/ of empowering AAPI families,” Kumite Seminars, held at Ali Mall Activity Center on Sunday, February 23. Coaches Ali Parvinfar and David Lay taught the aspiring national Buttigieg added. players with different skills and techniques during the one-day event.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr. Dispelling the “model minority” myth, Buttigieg’s plan would disaggregate data to look at the barriers to learning — from early child“I accept the apology, of course,” hood to higher education — across PAGE A1 corporate services head Mark AAPI groups. With 15% of Asian of my family with ABS-CBN. Num- Nepomuceno revealed that net- the president said Wednesday.

He also vowed that he will not American children considered dual ber 3: I am only one of 24 senators. work was cleared by the DepartWhatever I say, even if I am for it ment of Labor and Employment interfere in the network’s fran- language learners, the presidential hopeful would increase the numor against it, if the majority will not for its compliance with general la- chise renewal.

“But fundamentally, really, ang ber of programs and instructors for side with my opinion, it will not bor standards, occupational safety prevail,” Poe said during an inter- and health, and security of tenure. (the) decision nasa (is with the) “culturally responsive education.” view with ANC’s “Headstart.”

He told the Senate that ABS- House ngayon (now), not so much The data will also look at incidencShe added, “The chairman of CBN has a total of 11,071 work- of the Senate because the Consti- es of AAPI students being bullied a hearing will allow everyone to ers — all of whom get “above the tution says all of these things must and access to counseling.

“His administration will manspeak. We were the ones, I in par- mandated benefits of the govern- originate from the Lower House.

Forget about all these hullabaloo,” date data disaggregation for AAPI ticular, made sure that the [Fed- ment.” students and include data on topTelecommunications Commis- he said. eration of International Cable TV “The critical move is in the ics like access to counseling, expeAssociations of the Philippines], sioner Gamaliel Cordoba, for his the ones against the renewal of part, said ABS-CBN has no stand- House and I tell you I am not go- riences with school discipline, and the ABS-CBN franchise [were] in- ing penalties with the National ing to interfere. Wala talaga ako (I instances of bullying,” the agenda said.

Telecommunications Communica- really won’t),” he added. vited.”

Unlike fellow presidential canDuterte also told ABS-CBN to Poe’s mother, Susan Roces, is tions (NTC), quoting Justice Secrean actress who appears in “FPJ’s tary Menardo Guevarra who said donate the remaining P2.6 million didate Vermont Senator Bernie Ang Probinsyano,” while her fa- franchise laws cover “commercial to charity that the network owes Sanders whose central campaign ther, the late Fernando Poe Jr., purposes,” such as the offering of him for the ads it failed to air dur- promise Medicare for All calls for a ing the 2016 national elections. n single-payer, national health insurwas the “FPJ” in the series’ title. a pay-per-view service. “[It is] hereby granted a franHe also starred in the movie “Ang chise to construct, operate, and Probinsyano.”

ABS-CBN cleared of allega- maintain, for commercial purposes,” read Section 1 of Republic tions At the hearing on Monday, Feb- Act 7908, which allows ABS-CBN ruary 24, the Bureau of Internal Convergence’s broadcast operaRevenue (BIR) said ABS-CBN fully tions.

Apology accepted complied with the tax requirements of the government.

During the Monday hearing, According to Simplicio Cabantac ABS-CBN Corp President and CEO Jr, BIR Large Taxpayers Service Carlo Katigbak apologized to Preshead, the network has been regu- ident Rodrigo Duterte for airing larly filing and paying taxes for the former Senator Antonio Trillanes past number of years.

IV’s political ad that featured clips He also said that ABS-CBN paid of Duterte using foul language and at least P14.398 billion in income making offensive gestures.

Duterte said he has accepted tax payments from 2009 to 2018.

Meanwhile, former ABS-CBN the apology.

Poe: ABS-CBN hearing fair and objective

US coalition holds protest...

PAGE A2 they are there to support without asking for money, with their manpower and by [providing] advertisements. That’s a really big help to the Filipino community, especially in the Philippines,” Paniza said, citing the recent involvement of Bantay Bata Foundation in coordinating donations to the recent Taal Volcano victims and ABS-CBN’s efforts in connecting the fruits of their fundraising efforts to institutions back in the Philippines.

Paniza supports a franchise renewal since she sees how ABSCBN programs, via TFC, keep seniors abreast of the goings-on in the Philippines and give them motivation.

“When I ask seniors, they say it’s their therapy watching the ABS-CBN programs,” Paniza as she was slightly overcome with emotion. “Every time I meet with them at 1 p.m., they tell me about the story of a movie or a teleserye.

They say, ‘Oh what happened to Coco Martin?’ or what happened to this or that actor or actress. It’s like their own therapy… it is just like they are not missing the Philippines.”

The Asian Journal reached out to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco for a statement regarding the issue and the protest rally. Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona replied via email that the Consulate has no comment on this matter. n

A volunteer for Buttigieg’s presidential campaign holds up an “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Pete” sign at a get out the caucus rally in Las Vegas on Friday, January 21.

AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel

ance program, Buttigieg’s answer is “Medicare for All Who Want It,” which gives individuals the choice to opt into an affordable public alternative to health care and incentivizes private insurers to bring down costs.

“The public plan will provide self-employed AAPIs, such as small business owners, with a new affordable insurance option and push private insurers to compete on price and quality. Americans on private insurance, including 72% of Chinese Americans and 78% of Filipino Americans, will be able to keep their plan if it works well for them,” according to the plan.

Buttigieg’s agenda also mentions research investments into the health issues that affect the various AAPI groups, such as coronary heart disease and diabetes in the Fil-Am population, access to screenings to reduce the number of preventable deaths, and reducing the costs of prescription drugs, especially insulin.

The former mayor has been endorsed by a handful of AAPI elected officials, including Filipino Americans Christopher Cabaldon, mayor of West Sacramento, California, and El Cerrito Councilmember Gabriel Quinto.

“Whether our families arrived here two weeks or two centuries ago, as AAPIs we’re either invisible or scapegoats in American politics.

That’s why Pete’s plan is the bold action we need to reverse the systemic effects of colonization, exclusion, internment, confiscation, and hate violence at the core of enduring discrimination and inequality faced by AAPIs,” Cabaldon wrote in an email to the Asian Journal.

The agenda released on Wednesday broadly notes the contributions AAPI immigrants have made on American society, including a mention of Filipino labor leader Philip Vera Cruz, who helped to found the United Farm Workers.

The immigration plan promises a

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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 5, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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A city in mourning: Kobe Bryant Trump administration’s expanded ‘public charge’... memorial draws 20,000 grieving fans Bryant’s widow Vanessa Bryant delivers heart-wrenching eulogy to late husband and daughter

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

AT the time this story is published, it will have been exactly a month since beloved Los Angeles Laker and NBA legend Kobe Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old prodigal daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant and seven other individuals on January 26.

It was a Sunday, a day that felt stuck out of time and of which the impact continues a month later.

Since then, L.A. Live has been the nerve center for grieving fans with some 350,000 people visiting and leaving a sea of flowers, candles, basketballs, jerseys and shoes and personalized messages.

The solemn aura of the city, especially downtown, has yet to lift, and the public memorial at Staples Center on Monday, February 24 included Bryant’s family, fellow retired NBA players like Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan, celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez and 20,000 fans, many of whom called off of work to pay respects to the Black Mamba.

Fans began lining up at the crack of dawn on Monday morning although the service was set to begin at 10 a.m.

Filipino American construction worker Gil Guevara took the day off and allowed his two kids to skip school to attend the once in a lifetime memorial.

“We got there around six in the morning, and the line was already wrapping around Olympic [Boulevard],” Guevara, 41, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview after the memorial. “We all wished this memorial wasn’t happening and that we wouldn’t be feeling this way. To be honest, I’ve not fully healed, and I don’t think I will for a while.”

Inside the Staples Center, a 24foot-by-24-foot stage was framed with 33,643 red roses, each one representing every point the Black Mamba scored throughout his unforgettable 20-year career as a lifetime Laker. The memorial opened up with Beyonce Knowles-Carter performing her song “XO” — “one of [Bryant’s] favorite songs,” she said — in front of Bryant’s family.

The esteemed list of speakers included NBA legends like Michael Jordan, who referred to Bryant as his “little brother” and late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, who articulated the overall feeling following the deaths of the nine people on board the helicopter on that fateful Sunday.

Kimmel, whose LA-based show frequently hosted Bryant as a guest, said that it was difficult to find a silver lining amid the tragedy saying, “The best thing I was able to come up with is this: gratitude. It seems to me that all we can do is be grateful for the time we had with them and for the time we have left with each other.”

But among all the speakers and speeches of the day, none was more emotional than the eulogy delivered by Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow and mother of Gianna.

“I couldn’t see him as a celebrity, nor just an incredible basketball player. He was my sweet husband and the beautiful father of our children,” the widowed Bryant said, calling her late husband an “MVP of girl dads.”

Through tears, she shared memories of her late husband and daughter, noting Gianna’s intelligence and inherent skill on the basketball court. Gianna, who played for an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team coached by her dad, showed exemplary skill on the basketball court and was poised to carry on her father’s legacy, and “Gigi would have most likely become the best player in the WNBA,” Bryant proudly said.

“She would have made a huge difference. She would have made a huge difference for women’s basketball. Gigi was motivated to change the way everyone viewed women in sports. She wrote papers in school defending women and wrote about how the unequal pay difference for the NBA and the WNBA leagues weren’t fair.”

Bryant’s remarks hit home for fans whose experience of losing Bryant, although respectively intimate and meaningful, were vastly different from that of his wife and daughters.

“Hearing Vanessa’s words,” Guevara said, pausing for a few seconds before continuing. “That was the hardest part. Nobody

The program for the celebration of life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant on Monday, February 24 featured a photo of the father and daughter watching a Lakers game at the Staples Center.

Contributed photo

could ever imagine what she’s going through, and I thought it was brave of her to come here and share these intimate memories with us. I think we get so worked up thinking about Kobe as the iconic athlete, but we forget that he had a family, a wife, kids, a normal everyday life as a husband and father.”

As previously written in the Asian Journal, Bryant established himself as a cultural mayor of Los Angeles that began in that historic trade between the Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets that brought the young 16-year-old draft pick to LA in 1996.

For the next 24 years, Bryant’s impact on the city was undeniably enormous, from aiding the team through the 3-peat years of the early aughts to mentoring his younger teammates as a captain toward the tail end of his career.

It’s been said many times: Kobe Bryant was more than just a marvelous basketball player. He was the symbol of resilience and diligence. He was the Black Mamba.

“It still hurts like it did when I first found out, and I think as Lakers fans, die-hard Lakers fans, it’ll hurt for a long time,” said Ernie Pascal of Gardena, California.

“If you grew up in SoCal then you know how much this guy meant to us,” Pascal added. “Even if you’re not an athlete or whatever, Kobe was a hero. There’s nobody like him, and there won’t be anyone like him ever again.” n

PAGE A1 the expansion as President Donald Trump deivering on his “promise to the American people to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.”

“This rule enforces longstanding law requiring aliens to be self-sufficient, reaffirming the American ideals of hard work, perseverance and determination.

It also offers clarity and expectations to aliens considering a life in the United States and will help protect our public benefit programs,” Cuccinelli said in a President Donald Trump AJPress file photo statement.

The implementation comes school lunch programs, the increasing denials of green card a month after the conservative- Children’s Health Insurance Pro- applicants.”

About 17.8% of Asians and Paleaning Supreme Court ruled gram, subsidies for foster care in favor of the administration’s and adoption, and Special Sup- cific Islanders were said to have request to lift a lower court in- plemental Nutrition Program for used government assistance programs in an average month, acjunction that blocked the policy Women, Infants, and Children.

Some Medicaid benefits will cording to U.S. Census Bureau change from proceeding last Ocbe excluded, including those re- data released in 2015. tober.

Geraldine Alcid, executive diThe new regulation does not ceived by individuals under 21 affect those who already have years of age and pregnant wom- rector of Filipino Advocates for green cards. However, if a legal en, those in connection with the Justice in Oakland, California, immigrant uses one or more des- Individuals with Disabilities Edu- said that while the public charge ignated benefits for more than 12 cation Act, and treatment of an expansion is “heartbreaking,” months of a 36-month period, he “emergency medical condition.” the organization will continue to With around 544,000 individu- fight for immigrant rights. or she may be deemed a “public “While the public charge rulcharge,” which could threaten als who apply for green cards chances at getting a green card each year, 382,000 of them are in ing is heartbreaking with lasting or lawful permanent resident sta- categories that would fall under impact to our community, our the expanded test, the Associ- spirits are not broken. In fact, tus. we’re emboldened to continue Under the test, U.S. Citizen- ated Press said in a report.

More than 260,000 public to fight as we hold our vision for ship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will consider an comments were filed in response justice and equity and make our applicant’s age, income, health to the proposed rule, a major- voices heard this November,” Aland education, among other fac- ity of which were in opposition. cid told the Asian Journal.

Advocacy groups have sounded Non-cash benefits, such as tors.

The changes now look at the alarm on the new regulation, Medicaid, SNAP, HUD public whether a person has used or is arguing that it is another attempt housing, and Section 8 housing, likely to use programs like most by the current administration to received before February 24, 2020 will not be considered in forms of Medicaid, Supplemen- limit legal immigration.

“We condemn these racist pol- the public charge determination. tal Nutrition Assistance Program Exemptions to the public (SNAP) and Section 8 housing icies, which seek to dramatically undermine the family-based im- charge grounds of inadmissibilivouchers and assistance.

The previous criteria only migration system that has been ty include refugees, asylees, cercounted cash assistance, such as the backbone of our country tain T and U nonimmigrant visa Temporary Assistance to Needy and instead prioritizes wealthy applicants, and certain self-peFamilies (TANF) or Supple- and white immigrants,” Asian titioners under the Violence mental Social Security Income Americans Advancing Justice, an Against Women Act, the USCIS (SSI), or institutional care paid affiliation of five civil rights orga- said.

Immigrants applying for citifor by Medicaid, as grounds for nizations, said in a statement on Monday, February 24. “The pub- zenship or naturalized citizens public charge.

The Department of Homeland lic charge rule change continues are not impacted by the changes Security won’t consider certain the administration’s inhumane as well. (Christina M. Oriel/AJbenefits, such as the national assault on immigrant families by Press) n

Democratic presidential candidate...

PAGE A3 reversal of current Trump administration policies, making naturalization more affordable for the over 1.5 million AAPIs eligible for U.S. citizenship, and increasing prosecution efforts to break up human and drug trafficking networks, as trafficking victims in the U.S. are largely Filipino.

Addressing the Trump administration’s termination of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program, Buttigieg said he would restore it to allow family members to be reunited and provide care for the surviving veterans in the U.S. (The Trump administration announced in August 2019 that it would end the program following an executive order on border security and immigration enforcement that called for determining parole on a “case-by-case basis.”)

“I think it highlights general democratic values, reverses some current administration policies and addresses what’s important for communities of color,” Melissa Ramoso, state chair of the California Democratic Party’s Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, told the Asian Journal after reading Buttigieg’s plan.

However, she had questions about how the former mayor would go about simplifying the process for the lawful permanent residents seeking citizenship and visa backlogs as many Filipino families are still waiting to come to the U.S. nearly three decades later.

“Albeit a bit late, I’m happy Mayor Buttigieg put something in writing. All candidates should have a plan for the AAPI community and recognize we matter as

much as any other community,” Ramoso added.

Buttigieg’s plan comes six days before the March 3 Super Tuesday primaries, when 14 states will be casting their ballots. One of them will be California, where AAPIs make up 20% of the electorate, according to a fact sheet from APIA Vote and AAPI Data also released on Wednesday.

“As I talk with fellow Filipino Americans—and Americans of Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian ancestry—we see in Pete Buttigieg a president who will turn the page on invisibility and usher in a new era of belonging,” Cabaldon added. “As more than a third of America’s AAPI voters go to the polls on Super Tuesday, Pete’s plan is a must-read for how the next president can help uplift our communities.”

In the 2018 Asian American Voter Survey, 50% of Asian Americans reported that they received no contact or were unsure if they received contact about the election from the Democratic party.

But in the past year ahead of major nominating contests, including the Nevada caucuses on February 22, Democratic hopefuls have courted AAPI voters — who as a whole have not rallied behind one particular candidate — through meet and greet events, tours of small businesses and inlanguage outreach materials. Buttigieg held events with AAPIs in Las Vegas, including a dinner with the AAPI Democratic Caucus and a town hall with local community organizations.

Sanders launched the nation-

al AAPIs for Bernie organizing program last fall, while the campaigns of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden have also released formal agendas on AAPI issues earlier this month.

Author and journalist Jeff Yang acknowledged that having major presidential candidates release plans to uplift AAPI communities is a huge step, but highlighted the contrasts between Buttigieg and Warren’s plans.

“But the differences between Elizabeth Warren’s plan and Pete Buttigieg’s speak directly to the differences between the candidates themselves,” Yang, who coorganized a list of over 150 AAPIs backing Warren, told the Asian Journal. He argued that Warren’s plan, which also calls for data disaggregation, was framed more as a “civil rights issue” and that the data would help determine better, individualized solutions for the various communities.

“Buttigieg’s plan elevates corporate CEOs like Indra Nooyi and Andrea Jung, and emphasizes education and economic empowerment as a one-size-fits-all answer for AAPIs,” Yang said. “While our communities welcome this kind of investment like all Americans do, this approach just doesn’t show the depth of engagement and understanding of our breadth of needs and aspirations that Warren’s does. We’re here. We’re the fastest-growing population in America. We deserve better than slogans and promises: We need candidates who immerse themselves in our communities, and genuinely care about our diversity.” n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 5, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

Protect OFW remittances – Pacquiao

by Javier

J. ismael ManilaTimes.net

SEN. Emmanuel Pacquiao has filed Senate Bill (SB) 1365, which aims to protect the remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by regulating the fees imposed by financial institutions.

Under the bill, financial intermediaries and non-bank financial intermediaries may impose fees for services rendered in sending money of OFWs to their immediate family members.

However, the discounts granted to OFWs by financial or nonbank financial intermediaries shall be treated as an ordinary and necessary expense deductible from the gross income of the seller falling under the category of itemized deductions.

Pacquiao said OFW remittances are transmitted from the

Senator Emmanuel “Manny� Paquiao

OFWs to the intermediaries, such as financial and non-bank financial institutions, before they reach beneficiaries; and in the course of the transfer of the funds, the amount remitted is subjected to several fees and high remittance charges, which reduce the amount supposed to be received by the beneficiaries.

Torres-Tupas

Inquirer.net

MANILA — On Feb. 19, Atty.

Fredric Anthony Santos, the lawyer that got tangled in the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) controversy and revealed massive corruption inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), was killed in broad daylight in front of his daughter’s school. “The BuCor strongly condemns this kind of senseless violence and utter disregard for human life. As a continuing precaution, all BuCor personnel is directed anew to be more vigilant and heighten their security awareness at all times,� BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag said in a statement. Bilibid or NBP is one of the seven penal institutions operated by BuCor. “Let us not allow this incident to diminish our individual and collective resolve to perform our mandate with commitment and integrity. An unblemished and excellent service reputation is a heritage we can offer to ourselves, our family and to our country,� Bantag added.

Several lawyers groups, as well as human rights organizations, have expressed concern over the spate of attacks against members of the legal profession in the country. Based on a report

published on December 2014 by The Foundation of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, the Association of European Democratic Lawyers (AED-EDL), the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy (ELDH) and the Philippine Association National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), 41 lawyers have been killed in the Philippines since 2001.

The number is low compared to the 47 lawyers killed since 2016 only. Santos is the 47th lawyer killed. The list includes seven prosecutors, one retired prosecutor, five judges, and one former judge. Santos also is the fourth Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel killed since 2018.

Next month, the United Nations Human Rights Committee will review the country’s compliance with its international human rights obligation particularly the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

International organization Lawyers for Lawyers has given the UN Human Rights Committee a submission about the situation in the Philippines. The data they had gathered was collected through interviews and engagement with and reports from Filipino lawyers and other local and international stakeholders.

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ManilaTimes.net file photo

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that remittances from overseas Filipinos totalled $22 billion for the first eight months of 2019, an increase of 3.6 percent from the previous year’s $21.2 billion, making the Philippines the fourth largest remittance destination in the world. n

PH facing int’l scrutiny over rising attacks on lawyers

by Tech

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The submission focuses on four main issues: interference with the independence of the legal profession, the practice of labeling of lawyers and lawyers’ organizations, surveillance of lawyers and lawyers’ groups and culture of impunity. “The situation of lawyers in the Philippines is highly alarming and threatening. Lawyers for Lawyers is deeply concerned over the increasing attacks against lawyers in the Philippines and the oppressive working environment,� the organization said in a statement posted on its website.

In its submissions, it urged the country to provide information on the following: • How did the 2012 Administrative Order 35 that created the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-legal killings led to the prevention of attacks against lawyers? • What other measures were taken to ensure that members of the legal profession can carry out their professional functions safely? • How did the government respond to persistent reports of harassment, red-tagging in politically sensitive cases? • Progress on the investigation into the deaths, attacks against lawyers including perpetrators, outcome, the status of cases. n

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FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 5,2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Still a work in progress

FEATURES

THE nation commemorates the 1986 people power revolution today with the country’s largest broadcast network facing possible closure chiefly because it has incurred the ire of the top official of the land.

ABS-CBN’s president and CEO publicly apologized on Monday, February 24 after it was revealed at a Senate inquiry that the chief executive resented the broadcast network’s “unfair reporting” and airing of an anti-Duterte political ad during the 2016 presidential campaign, and then failing to air his own ad to rebut the attack.

At the same inquiry, the National Telecommunications Commission explained that ownership issues raised against ABS-CBN are gray areas that have yet to be settled amid a rapidly evolving media and telecommunications landscape.

The NTC explanation provides fodder to those who see the travails of ABS-CBN — which was seized by the Marcos dictatorship during martial law — as a serious threat to press freedom. It fuels concerns that 34 years after the people power revolt, the country is in danger of sliding back to authoritarian rule.

The administration has dismissed such fears as baseless fake news bordering on paranoia. President Duterte has often vowed that he does not intend to spend a moment longer in power than

what is allowed by law, and that in fact he is prepared to leave office any time, even ahead of schedule.

There are Filipinos who have been disillusioned by people power, mainly because the revolt failed to bring about the expected dramatic reforms.

Corruption has become endemic; human rights are violated with impunity; cronyism is galloping back. Democratic institutions remain fragile and the country remains controlled by a miniscule elite. The frustration with democracy has made Filipinos accept short cuts to law enforcement and embrace populism.

But the revolt is a work in progress, and building a strong democracy does not happen overnight. The significance of the seemingly impossible feat that was accomplished in those four days in February 1986 cannot be diminished by the disappointments. Thirty-four years after Filipinos restored democracy in a peaceful uprising, the saying holds true: the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. And building a strong, dynamic and free republic requires a lot of hard work. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PERJURY is the intentional act of swearing a false oath or falsifying an affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to an official proceeding.

It is considered a serious offense, as it can be used to usurp the power of the courts, resulting in the miscarriages of justice.

On Monday, February 24, ABS-CBN was finally given the chance to address allegations of franchise violations, among others, circulated by no less than the supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte before the franchise of the broadcasting network is set to expire on March 30.

Despite more than 11 bills waiting to be heard in the House of Representatives, and despite the public threats by the president himself to shut down the broadcasting company echoed by his minions of adoring fans and ever-loyal followers, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano determined the issue of the renewal of the franchise of ABSCBN as not an urgent matter.

This is unlike a charter change, as his statements suggested to be of paramount importance that the lawmakers should be prioritizing.

The Senate asserted its oversight function and held this hearing, notwithstanding the gag order filed by Solicitor

Philstar.com photo

ABS-CBN’s case: Believe facts delivered under oath and not lies and fabrications peddled on social media General Jose Calida to silence ABS-CBN and its people — and arguably, even the Senate itself — over alleged franchise violations of the broadcasting network.

As reported by ABS-CBN News, “Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon cited a 25-year old Supreme Court ruling that said the Senate could tackle bills simultaneously with the House of Representatives.”

This is a principle being challenged by Cayetano.

“The Supreme Court squarely ruled that there is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits the filing of counterpart bills in the Senate as long as the filing of a committee report in the body is withheld,” Drilon said. Senate Chairwoman of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media Sen. Grace Poe said simultaneous hearings would make the process even faster.

ABS-CBN News reported that in his opening statement, ABSCBN President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo L. Katigbak maintained under oath that “it did not violate any of the provisions of its franchise, and emphasized that it operated based on its mission to be in the service of the Filipino people.”

This assertion had been corroborated by government officials and regulatory bodies called in the hearing to testify under oath.

After the hearing the network issued on the statement on the

Senate Hearing on the ABSCBN franchise issue: “We are very grateful for the opportunity given to us by the Senate to air our side and clarify issues about our franchise.

As we have heard today, ABS-CBN has not been cited for any violations with regard to tax payments, election laws, or compliance with the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Like many other companies that have been operating or providing services for a long time, we have pending issues associated with labor as well as other matters related to the regular course of doing business. We believe in due process and will comply, as we always have, with any decisions made by the proper authorities.

We continue to trust in the legal processes and the fairness in the hearings for our franchise renewal.

Thank you to everyone who showed support for us today.

We hope for your continued support and prayers as we pursue the chance to continue providing meaningful and important service to the Filipino people. This is what we, and all employees of ABS-CBN, believe in.”

In contrast, the critics, bloggers, some news personalities and supporters loyal to the president would freely castigate and declare the shutdown of ABS-CBN, but no one among

WALK OF FAITH. Supporters, media workers, artists and ABSCBN employees wear white shirts, light up candles and occupy Sgt. Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City to protest and demanded to junk quo warranto case versus the network and allow renewing franchise. Cars and passing vehicles were requested to honk their horns by the protesters in support of their cause on Monday, February 24.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ace Castillo

them had testified under oath in a formal hearing to swear by the veracity of their allegations. Some have even spread malicious lies and fabrications against ABS-CBN, its management, owners, personalities and supporters.

So what could be the cause

of the threat of Duterte to shutdown ABS-CBN? “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?”

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata... *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting

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

Relos.

The raging coronavirus epidemic and China’s decisive response; an assembly of youth and women political leaders in Ulaanbaatar (CPC) sits in the 37-member Standing Committee of the ICAPP, which, we are always delighted to note, represents some 350 ruling, opposition and independent political parties from 52 countries in Asia, FORMER SPEAKER including the political parties of JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. the Philippines.

In our letter, we told President IN the midst of the novel coro- Xi that we are confident that Chinavirus (COVID-19) epidemic na would definitely surmount this facing China, and indeed, the crisis, for as history would show, world, we, in our humble capac- the Chinese people had faced ity as Founding Chairman and gigantic crises and sufferings Chairman of Standing Committee in the past, but they had always of the International Conference of overcome them and emerged Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), triumphant. wrote President Xi Jinping to exTruly, China hadalways risen tend our sympathies and prayers up to the multiple challenges that to the Chinese government and confronted them in the past and the Chinese people has today emerged as a global The Communist Party of China economic power, with a strong

PeaceMaker

security force. An unshakeable proof of the strength of character and indomitability of spirit of the Chinese people, no doubt.

Indeed, nobody knows how long and widespread the Corona Virus epidemic will rage and gauge its effects on public health security as well as socio-economic development not just in the countries hit by the outbreak but in the international community.

A few days ago, the foreign ministers of China and the ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam) met in Vientiane, Laos and discussed possible ways and means of cooperation in battling the Corona Virus.

They agreed, among others, to “share information and best practices in a timely manner, including exchanging available epidemiological information, technical guidelines and solutions for epidemic prevention and control, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.”

ASEAN and China are closely linked as they are each other’s biggest trading partners and tourist destinations.

Today the crisis rages. We hope that in a few months, God willing, the spreading virus will sputter out and the plague will come to an end.

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

*** This coming April, youth and women leaders from all over Asia will troop to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the Youth Wing and Women’s Wing conference of our International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

The assembly will be hosted by the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), led by its Chairman, incumbent Prime Minister Uhknaagiin Khurelsukh. The MPP sits in the Standing Committee of the ICAPP. In the course of our speaking engagement in Ulaanbaatar, we will also meet with Prime Minister Uhknaagiin, Speaker of Parliament (State Great Khural) Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, and other political leaders of Mon-

golia.

We and wife Gina last visited Ulaanbaatar in 2008, when we addressed an international conference participated in by leaders of parliament, political parties and civil society organizations, organized by the New York- and Seoul-based Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

UPF is managed today by civil society leaders led by New YorkerDr. Thomas Walsh and Seoul philanthropist, Madame Hak Ja Han Moon, widow of the celebrated UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who built a hotel and automobile assembly plant in Pyongyang, then donated both to the North Korean government and people. Their charities worldwide are non-stop and plentiful. ■

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

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SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020

Friday, February 28, 2020

SF

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020

PH tourism notches wins in 2019, sustainability remains as target

of the countries, followed by Puerto Rico (31.2%) and Iran (27.9%).

Development Plan (NTDP) for MORE people around This year, the DOT is target2016-2022. the world travelled in 2019 ing to attract 9.2 million internaThe country’s tourism with overseas trips hitting 1.5 tional visitor arrivals. prospects are buoyed by glowbillion, up four percent from VIP Tour ing reviews from international 2018, according to the latest Among the programs that media and savvy travelers on statistics from the United Nathe DOT is continuing is the VIP social media, including the tions World Tourism Organiza(Very Important Pinoy) Tour, continued recognition of the tion (UNWTO). which was launched at the country’s islands as among the France remained the mostKalayaan Hall of the Philippine world’s best. visited country with more than Consulate General in New York “This heralds a new mile90 million visitors, followed by a few weeks ago. The tour is stone in the country’s tourism Spain’s 83.8 million. now on its 14th year. history, breaching the eight Despite the outbreak of Formerly called the Ambasmillionth mark,” said DepartCOVID-19 setting 2020 off to sadors’ Tour, the VIP Tour is ment of Tourism (DOT) Secrea rocky start, countries like the a collaboration between the tary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Philippines are optimistic that Department of Foreign Affairs, “Without doubt, our converthis hiccup does not affect the Department of Tourism and Ragence programs with other numbers for this year. jah Tours Philippines. This year, government agencies, particuTo mitigate the impact on larly in improving access as well the tour from July 19 to 26 will inbound tourism, DOT and the bring the guests to Manila, Iloilo as product development and tourism sector are rolling out a and Boracay. marketing initiatives with local tactical program that will offer Francisco Lardizabal, the more value-added tour packag- government and private sector new Tourism Attaché, also prohave greatly paid off. These es, discounted accommodation moted the project at the New gains we hope to sustain even rates and marked-down prices York Times Travel Show and the as we face global challenges.” for domestic flights.

General Assembly of Filipino The DOT year-end visiThe guidelines in handling community organizations. tor arrival report cited a 15.24 guests in tourism enterprises “We encourage you to visit percent growth over 2018’s during this global emergency the Philippines this year and are being implemented in hotels year-end figure of 7.16 milsee what we have been dolion. Almost all months, except and resorts around the country ing in order to promote more January, registered doubleand facilities are equipped with digit growth rates, the largest of sustainable tourism,” Lardizabal infrared thermometers and which was August at 27.54 per- said. He also showed a video more hand sanitizers. Prevenon the successful reopening of tive and precautionary measures cent while December recorded Boracay after being off limits for the highest volume at 776,798. have been put in place by the six months to undergo a masThis growth was enough national government to contain sive and extensive cleanup and for the Philippines to make it in the spread of the COVID-19. rehabilitation. eighth place among the counPhilippine tourism grew in Sustainable Tourism tries that saw the highest jump 2019 as international visitors The DOT launched its rein visitor numbers year-on-year reached 8.26 million, exceedfreshed branding campaign last ing the 8.2 million annual target increase in visitors. Myanmar year, continuing the “It’s More with 40.2% topped the list set in the National Tourism Fun in the Philippines” slogan but repurposing it to advocate for sustainable tourism. The local launch was held in the National Museum of Natural History while the international event was in Berlin during the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB).

To complement the new direction towards sustainable tourism, the DOT launched a movement called “Save Our Spots” to call for each individual to be a responsible tourist and encouraging the same behavior towards others to preserve the country’s natural and man-made wonders.

Aside from Boracay, Lardizabal also mentioned government Tour operators and guests joined the officers of the Department of Tourism, Rajah Tours efforts to clean up Manila Bay Philippines and Philippine Airlines at the launching of the 2020 VIP Tour.

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

Aubrey and Troy power modern family values By nika

roque ManilaTimes.net

LOCAL showbiz has its own list of power couples, and it is not hard to put Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero in the list.

Together for almost 17 years, their modern family is built on the kind of foundation that only the bold and the strong can pursue.

They are very open about their family life, particularly about sustaining their relationship and raising three kids.

Miles has a college level son Maurie Obligacion from a previous relationship, and with Montero, they have 11-year-old Hunter and their only daughter, one-year-old Rocket.

But being in the public eye, things can undoubtedly get very difficult. In an interview for Cadbury Promise Park launch, The Manila Times asked about the lessons they have learned to keep their relationship healthy in these modern times.

“From our relationship, respect talaga is the biggest value. We don’t embarrass each other. If we fight, you will never know,” Miles answered on the sidelines of the Cadbury Promise Pack launch.

“If you know and you see your future with this person, why embarrass them? Even with other people, parang nakakahiya naman sa kanila pag nakita nila. We’re not perfect. Sometimes may mga moments talaga pero you gotta step back and think ‘okay, I cannot do that,’” she continued.

Montero agreed, “I think respect goes so far especially

Troy and Aubrey are happy parents of three kids – Maurie, Hunter and Rocket.

Photo from Instagram/@troymontero

when you’ve been together that long. This is one of the things that kind of [make a couple]. You get used to each other so much and all of a sudden, you forget kind of why you started in the first place.

“You don’t want to rest on your time together and say, ‘oh my gosh, we’ve been together this long.’ It shouldn’t be an excuse. Always keep it fresh and keep it like you’re still in the first two years or whatever.”

As such, they still have their personal boundaries despite being comfortable with each other, similar to a couple that has just started dating especially when it comes to having some privacy.

In addition, they still make it a point to dress up for each other and go on dates to keep the spark going. The key, they

and plans to do the same in Baguio and Palawan.

The Philippine tourism industry also received a number of international awards and recognitions in 2019 such as the World’s Leading Dive Destination at the 2019 World Travel Awards, Asia’s Leading Tourism Board at the 2019 World Travel Awards and Excellent Partner Award (for Sustainable Efforts in Boracay, among others.

“This is a high point for Philippine tourism as it depicts our solidarity and commitment to make tourism work and prove its full potential as a sustainable and inclusive economic activity.

The record-breaking numbers solidify the effectiveness of the Tourism Act of 2009, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019.” Secretary Puyat remarked.

Travel Statistics According to UNWTO data, the Middle East was the fastest-growing region, followed by Asia and the Pacific, up by 8% and 5%, respectively.

Myanmar topped the list of the countries that saw the highest jump in visitor numbers year-on-year. The Philippines is in eighth place, trailing Uzbekistan, Montenegro, Egypt and Vietnam. Maldives and Bahamas round up the Top 10.

Among the other trends: Central Asia increasing in popularity, with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan all in the top 20 fastest growing destinations; Caribbean destinations like Anguilla, St Maarten, Dominica and the US Virgin Islands making a comeback, recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Middle East destinations like Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia all gaining tourist arrivals.

On the other end of the spectrum, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and the United States all saw a dip in their tourist arrivals due to political turmoil, terrorism, protests and social unrest.

In the Philippines, Korea maintains its position as the top source market for ten years now with a total of 1.98 million arrivals in 2019, for a 22.48 percent increase. China follows closely on second with 1.74 million, boasting of a 38.58 percent

FULL FORCE. Tourism officers and industry stalwarts joined the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Convention Center to promote various Philippine destinations. From left: Tourism Officer Luz Alquisola, Orientours’ Joebert Opulencia, Consul General Claro S. Cristobal, Tourism Attache Francisco Lardizabal, Rajah Tours’ Alejandra Clemente, Caterina Collodel and Guenevere Domdom of Shangri-la Hotels and DOT-NY’s Joey Chanco.

AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

Mr. Lardizabal is flanked by Charisse Arboleda of Philippine Airlines (left) and Rajah Tours Philippines founder Alejandra Clemente at the launching of the 2020 Very Important Pinoy Tour held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

Tourism Attache Francisco Lardizabal (extreme right) explains how the Philippines is focusing on sustainable tourism, beginning with the massive cleanup of Boracay last year. Lardizabal spoke at a panel that featured travel to Asia at the annual New York Times Travel Show held in New York City a few weeks ago.

growth.

The United States of America is third, bringing 1.06 million visitors for a 2.90 percent increase.

Japan is fourth at 682,788 arrivals, with an 8.07 percent growth followed by Taiwan reporting an equally impressive double-digit increase of 35.01 percent for its 327,273 arrivals.

Rounding up the top 12 visi-

tor markets with their volumes and respective growth rates are: Australia with 286,170 (2.27 percent), Canada with 238,850 ((5.48 percent), the United Kingdom with 209,206 (4.06 percent), Singapore with 158,595 arrivals (-7.68 percent), Malaysia with 139,882 (-3.69 percent), India with 134,963 (11.43 percent) and Germany with 103,756 (12.66 percent).

Alex to star in int’l movie with ‘Avatar’ actor Sam Worthington

ALEX Diaz has been tapped for an international feature alongside Australian actor Sam Worthington, known for starring in James Cameron’s “Avatar” film series.

The action thriller, titled “CounterPlay”, will see Diaz playing a man wrongly accused of drug trafficking. Worthington will play a retired hostage negotiator recruited to help Diaz escape to Australia, as per The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, Feb. 21.

The former VJ could not hide his being starstruck

at his Hollywood costar.

“Geekin’ pretty hard [right now] guys, [I’m] in the same paragraph as Sam Worthington,” he said on Twitter yesterday as he posted an article about the project.

Pedring Lopez will direct.

He helmed last year’s “Maria” starring Cristine Reyes as an assassin. Filming will take place in Manila this August.

“CounterPlay” is being produced by MAM Media in association with indie production company BlackOps Studios Asia, of which Lopez Alex Diaz is a founding partner. (Niña Photo from Instagram/@alexandermcdizz Guno/Inquirer.net)

Neri shares how Chito changed his rock star lifestyle

said, would be having relaxed experiences as well as those that are more exciting.

Classic principles With their kids in mind, they want to instill the same values of respect even while being public figures.

“Kahit makakita ka ng taong nasa labas o yung makita nilang madumi o ganito, I still want them to see na everyone’s equal. Walang mataas or walang iba. I want them to know na ‘wag mamili,” explained Miles.

As old fashioned as it may seem, they do emphasize respect for the elderly through their words and actions, like the mano and beso. For their two boys, they are taught to be gentlemen not just for their family but even in school and Neri Naig with husband Chito Miranda Continued on Page SF3 Photo from Instagram/@mrsnerimiranda

by Deni rose M. afiniDaD-BernarDo Philstar.com

FORMER Kapamilya actress and now businesswoman Neri Naig revealed that her rock star husband Chito Miranda almost quit his band Parokya ni Edgar upon knowing that he had high bad cholesterol levels that could lead to heart problems.

When Chito turned 44 last February 7, Neri dared him to go the doctor for an executive checkup.

“Sabi n’ya, ‘Ma, I’m healthy,’ wala pa s’yang nararamdaman, sabi ko, ‘No!’ Kailangan ka magpa-executive checkup. Sasamahan kita.”

She said Chito told her: “Sige, just to prove to you that I’m healthy.”

So, she pulled him out of his busy schedule and brought him to the hospital.

Upon confirming that he was high in bad cholesterol, the cardiologist prescribed a number of things Chito should change from his lifestyle and diet, especially those that include being a member of a rock band.

“The doctor told him: ‘Nasasa’yo ‘yan kung gusto mo pa makasama ‘yung family mo nang matagal’,” Neri shared.

“Sabi ni Chito, ‘Sige, ‘di na ko magpa-Parokya,’ Sabi ko, ‘Wag!” Neri enthused.

At home, she serves her family usually fish and vegetables.

“With food naman wala Continued on Page SF4

How would an immigration officer view your case?

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ WHEN some people apply for immigration benefits, they look at their entitlement or eligibility from their OWN viewpoint. Many are overly optimistic that their case has no problems or issues. Therefore, since THEY see no problem with their case, the officer, consul, or adjudicator would similarly see no problem and should readily approve it.

Even when a person has highly questionable or suspicious issues, they put on “rose-colored glasses,” and convince themselves that their viewpoint and opinion should be what matters.

But that’s not how it works in the real world. Regardless of how YOU may view your case, it is the OFFICER’S viewpoint or opinion that matters. If the officer thinks your case is suspicious or there are issues, then your case is suspicious and has issues, regardless of what you may think. That is why it is important to take an objective view of your case from the standpoint of the officer.

I’ve come across situations where a person was married to a U.S. citizen, but never lived with them. Instead, the U.S. citizen spouse may be living on the East

Coast, but the person is living on the West Coast with his or her family or friends. They also don’t have joint bank accounts or many joint documents. The person may think nothing is wrong with the case and it should be approved. However, if a married couple is not living together, or there are very few joint documents, the Officer may become suspicious it is a fixed marriage, regardless of the reasons, justification, or excuses the person may offer for not living together (such as they could only get a job on the West Coast, even though they may already have a work authorization and can work anywhere, or they need to “help out” relatives on the West Coast with their business, etc.). In such a situation, the case could be delayed and put under investigation for a fixed marriage and possible denial.

In another situation, the person was being sponsored by an employer, but never worked for that employer, even though they had work authorization. They also didn’t work for the employer after their green card was approved. In their mind, they should have no problem when they apply for U.S. citizenship. But from an officer’s viewpoint, they definitely have problems if they received a green card through an employer but never work for that employer.

My point is you have to look at your case from an officer’s viewpoint, and be aware of potential issues or problems,

rather than convincing yourself that there are no problems. An attorney is well-versed in immigration law regarding the requirements, eligibility, and potential issues which a person may not see about their own case. That is why, in this era of Trump, when the USCIS is getting very strict and thorough, it is all the more important you have an attorney to assist you with your immigration matter. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

Aged-out child realizes his American Dream on a brand new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

DESPITE being refused his immigrant visa because he had aged out as a derivative of his father’s petition, Paolo never gave up. He consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL and retained their services more than three years after the visa refusal.

On January 22, 2019, after

gathering all pertinent documents, the team at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel sent out a Motion for Reconsideration to the American Embassy, arguing that Paolo was under 21 years old based on the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA).

On May 13, 2019, the American Embassy approved the motion for reconsideration,

concluding Paolo was eligible for immigration benefits under the Child Status Protection Act.” See how Atty. Gurfinkel and his team were able to help Paolo realize his dream of coming to America, on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020

CSPA VICTORY FOR AGED OUT CHILD: PAOLO NEVER GAVE UP HOPE, DESPITE BEING REFUSED A VISA AT THE US EMBASSY BECAUSE HE HAD AGED OUT. Paolo (left) was only a small child when his U.S. citizen aunt petitioned his father. But when the priority date became current and Paolo went to the U.S. Embassy in 2015, his immigrant visa was refused because he had “aged out.” He then consulted with the law offices of MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL, Inc. Atty. Gurfinkel sought reconsideration from the U.S. Embassy, arguing that Paolo was still under 21, based on the Child Status Protection Act’s (CSPA) age calculation. Find out how leading U.S. immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL was able to turn a denial into a visa, by convincing the Embassy that Paolo was eligible for immigration benefits under the CSPA, on an all new episode of Citizen Pinoy – on Sunday at 6:15 PM (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Aubrey and Troy power...

From Page SF2 other places.

A proud feat for the couple is how Maurie is enjoying life as a college freshman since they did not have the opportunity to finish school, and how he is making a name for himself as an influencer.

For their only girl Rocket, it has been a huge adjustment.

The couple have made an effort to be more particular with the clothes that she wears as well as going to places that would also be a good environment for the one-year-old.

The family has been very open with Maurie’s relationship with stepdad Montero. Since they met when the former was only a year-old, their bond goes beyond being related by blood and has been praised by the media and their fans.

“We all have a healthy relationship which is really amazing.

May dinner from time to time with his dad,” shared Montero.

“Maurie knows naman na

dad is there, real dad is there.

Parang okay lang, they’re friends naman,” reiterated Miles.

Communication style Another perk of their long-term relationship is understanding one another’s communication style which complements the way they build their family.

“We have to be on the same page. Otherwise they’ll end up saying ‘let’s ask daddy instead of mommy because daddy will always say yes,’” said Montero. “We’ve gotten better and we both have to say that ‘no’ means ‘no’ for both of us. That way, they respect both of our rules and decisions.”

Finally, though their relationship has endured so much even without tying the knot, do they plan of doing it any time soon?

“We can get married anytime. Marami kaming usap na ‘time na? Now na?’ Alam mo [it’s] weird, di rin namin alam

bakit we don’t plan it. Pero we can see it now that it’s probably happening soon. Wala naman kaming problem to get married, di lang namin napaplan,” Miles said.

She further explained that they do also treat their relationship as though they were already married, adding that they would work through disagreements instead of just brushing it under the rug.

“This has been working for us for so long. We’re not saying we won’t get married. We talk about it, parang we’re saving something like one big adventure to Africa or something like that. We’re not just making it stronger because I know we’re already strong, but maybe just for something else to look forward to,” added Montero.

“Kids will really make things tight. Every kid, parang nagle-level up yung relationship namin. Three kids are like three marriages!” Miles happily said.

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Neri shares how...

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020

Health@Heart

Killing us ‘softly’

about 40 percent of adults aged 40 and older… that the risk factors are more than just the sum PhiliP S. Chua, of their parts.” Obesity is indeed MD, FaCS, FPCS surpassing tobacco as the preTHE silent killer of the 1970s, eminent preventable cause of early morbidity and premature high blood pressure, is now replaced by Metabolic Syndrome, deaths in the United States and globally. a cluster of three or more risk The rule of thumb is that factors like abdominal obesity, optimizing health requires and high blood pressure, high trigincludes a waistline of less than lycerides, abnormal lipids, and 40 in men and less than 35 in insulin resistance (pre-diabetes women, and a healthy lifestyle: T2), which is actually a “pandemic” today, robbing us of our diet (foremost!), then exercise, abstinence from tobacco, discihealth and potential longevity. plined alcohol intake, and stress “The syndrome feeds into management. the spread of the diseases The authors of the study like type 2 diabetes, coronary explain “that the visceral fat diseases, stroke, and other discomponent of abdominal obesabilities. The total cost of the ity leads not only to insulin remalady, including the cost of sistance but also to the release health care and loss of potenof non-esterified free fatty acids tial economic activity is in the from adipose tissues or body trillions,” according to the US fat… the lipids then accumulate National Institute of Health. in other sites such as the liver While there are around and muscles, further predispos80,000 cases of nCorona virus ing individuals to insulin resist(COVID-19) infections worldance and dyslipidemia-abnormal wide in 44 countries and with more than 2600 deaths (majority amounts of lipids… and adipose of which are in China), metabolic tissue may produce various syndrome kills millions of people adipokines that may separately impact insulin resistance and annually around the world by cardiovascular disease risk facway of complications of diators.” betes T2, heart attack, stroke, Persons with metabolic and other metabolic illnesses. syndrome are generally without COVID-19 is a faster killer comsymptoms and are severely pared to metabolic syndrome, underdiagnosed and untreated, which kills slowly over time. Of course, they are two entirely dif- but have a 10-year risk of a first heart attack, according to the ferent diseases.

Framingham Risk score of 16 to The expanding waistlines 18 percent, which puts them in of Americans (and Filipinos) the a higher risk category, similar to past several decades has been those who already had a previalarming, not only from the ous heart attack. cosmetic/physical point of view Various clinical studies have but, more importantly, from shown than even with a normal their adverse impact on health, Body Mass Index (BMI), individumorbidity. and mortality. als with expanding waistlines The researchers from from visceral fats could still have Charles E. Schmidt College of metabolic syndrome. Those who Medicine at Florida Atlantic consume soft drinks of any kind University, in an article posted – cola or uncola, diet or reguthis year in the Journal of Carlar, caffeinated or not – have a diovascular Pharmacology ad Therapeutics, stated that “being higher risk for development of metabolic syndrome, especially overweight and obesity conchildren. Indeed, soft drinks are tribute to metabolic syndrome, toxic to our body, to our DNA. which affects 1 in 3 adults and

As I have highlighted in the book Let’s Stop “Killing” Our Children, healthy lifestyle and disease prevention, in order to be fully effective, must start in the womb, and dieting and discipline must begin in the crib to protect the children’s DNA. This pre-emptive and proactive strategy at the cellular/molecular level will exempt them from having the so-called “expected and normal diseases of aging,” like arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes T2, heart diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. Indeed, these are preventable.

The pandemic of obesity, which begins in childhood, has increased in the past century.

The current generation of children and adolescents (who eat more calories and unhealthy foods and who exercise less) will reach middle age with higher morbidity and mortality rates from metabolic, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer, which may even be worse than their parents, in spite of the great advances in medical science and technology.

While colon cancer rates have been going down among the elderly (55 and older) since the 1980s, they are increasing among those in their 20s and 30s. This was the recent alarming finding of a US cancer registry, which reviewed nearly half a million colorectal cancers diagnosed between 1974 and 2013, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and in the March 1, 2017 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The research shows that for colon cancers, a rate increase of 2.4 percent annually was noted for those in their 20s and 1.0 percent among those in their 30s. For rectal cancers, the yearly increase was even higher, 3.2 percent. In general, the study also found that there was an increase in the rate among adults in their 40s and early 50s, but not as bad. This report

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

From Page SF2 naman sa history ng family ko na inaatake sa puso, sa side ni Chito ‘yun, mas more on mababa ‘yung baga namin, mga ganon lang. Pero nagkakasundo kami sa food, mahilig kami sa fish, since pinanganak ako sa Subic kaya mahilig kami sa seafood and vegetables kasi mahilig akong magtanim-tanim, kaya natutuwa siya sa mga pinagkakaabalahan ko. Aside sa mga negosyo, kinukuha ko lang ‘yung mga ginigisa so organic talaga, ‘yun yung mga trip ko,” she narrated in an exclusive interview with Philstar. com.

But when Chito is in the road with Parokya ni Edgar, he indulged in high-cholesterol food such as red meat, chicharong bulaklak, sisig at papaitan.

“Alam mo naman ‘yang mga boys!” she said.

“So, masyado kasi syang focus sa work niya kaya hindi na niya nararamdaman ‘yung pain or kung ano. Kaya sabi ko sa kanya, ‘You should take care na kasi 44 ka na, hindi ka na ‘yung ano kumbaga binabawi na ‘yung mga kalokohan mo nu’ng alam mo ‘yon, ‘yung nag-smoke siya, inom, puyat and kain ng kung ano-anong food.”

Neri said that her rock star husband needed to adjust

Smart Heart Challenge, developed in 2004 in the Philippines to demonstrate how adding oatmeal to your daily diet helps to her because she doesn’t reduce bad cholesterol. smoke, drink and go on night “Oats is a common cereal outs. noted for its heart benefits, “‘Yung lifestyle niya nag owing particularly to its high change into 360 degrees soluble fiber content called because ako hindi ako nag beta-glucan,” said Dr. Rodolfo iis-smoke, hindi ako umiinom, F. Florentino, Immediate Past hindi ako lumalabas. Hindi Chairman-President of the Nunaman sa healthy lifestyle, hindi lang talaga ako palalabas trition Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. “Scientific studies kapag gabi or gimikera. Mas have shown that beta-glucan gusto ko sa bahay matulog or is capable of lowering the magbasa ng libro,” Neri said. cholesterol level in the blood, Since Chito has given up smoking and drinking, the chal- particularly LDL-cholesterol.”

Since February is not only lenge is on his diet modificaLove Month but also Philippine tion.

Heart Month, Neri emphasized “So ‘yung food na lang at that apart from being loving saka ‘yung rice n’ya, sobrang parang maliit na kaldero, isa-isa wife, her role in Chito’s life is as private nurse. sila. Totoo, ang lakas n’yang “Kasi matigas ‘yung ulo kumain! Kaya pagod na pagod n’yan e. ‘Pag sinabi ko na sila. Tapos may dessert pa ‘yan, tig-iisa silang leche flan… i-check mo nga ‘yung ganon, Meron naman silang vegetable alam mo na hindi niya inaano ‘yung sakit... So ‘pag nagsabi pero isa lang, hati-hati pa sila na siya parang dati nag-kad’un!” Neri quipped.

UTI na s’ya tapos naospital “Ang hirap pa nito kasi gabi sila tumutugtog… Kulang siya, do’n palang niya nalaman na may UTI na s’ya, hindi na sila sa tulog tapos heavy niya nararamdaman, parang meal pa, talagang bad combigano’n,” she said. nation.”

Now that the Parokya ni So now, Chito has changed Edgar frontman is on the road his diet. He now measures his rice and made bitter gourd and to a better lifestyle, Neri assured that he will not quit the salad a part of his daily diet.

27-year-old band anytime soon.

Instead of snacking on “Ay hindi, hindi pa pwede, junk food, Chito grabs on oats marami pa kaming bayarin!” whenever he is hungry, said Neri, who was recently a guest quipped the former Star Magic talent. in Quaker’s launch of its new

revealed an alarming retrogression in our battle against colorectal cancers: “that young adults’ colorectal cancer risk is now similar to that of adults born around 1890.”

The investigators pointed out that high obesity rates the past several decades “may play a role in this generation.

Obesity increases the risk for all types of cancers and cardiovascular diseases, like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Diet and calories are major culprits.”

Our lifestyle, which includes what and how much food we eat, whether we exercise or not, and all our self-indulgences/ abuses, contribute a lot to our state of health. Metabolic syndrome, especially obesity,

and red meat and processed meat consumption, all increase the risk for cancer. Neglecting regular medical/ dental checkup and recommended tests also increase our health risk.

The national Institutes of Health reports “approximately two-thirds of adults between 20 and older are overweight or obese with BMI greater than 25, and nearly one-third have BMIs greater than 30…less than 1/3 of them are at a healthy weight with BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.”

Shedding off at least 5 pounds of our excess weight through disciplined calorie counting and walking (exercise) for about 20 minutes a day will reduce our risk for metabolic syndrome and cancer by more

SERVICES

than 33 percent. This is a practical and wise strategy we can painlessly do for free!

Glaringly obvious are the evidence-based roles and impact of diet (we are what we eat), exercise, tobacco, and alcohol on our individual health and longevity. To a great extent, our health and our life are in our hands and what to do with them is our choice. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MonEttE AdEvA MAgLAyA THINGS break. Once broken, a thing loses its value. If it is worth fixing, it can be fixed and in the hands of a whiz, can be as good as new.

In our throw-away consumerdriven, impatient society where quality has taken a back seat to quantity in the name of profit and the bottom line, we are encouraged to simply toss away the broken item in the trash heap and replace it with a new one.

For those of us who grew up and were trained by mothers, fathers, teachers and even great nuns (in my book) who taught us the meaning and value of preserving items, we tend to find the fix for the broken item.

We look at the rip in the hemline of a nice dress and figure out carefully how a stitch here and there can make it good as new. That is probably why I can never get on with the supposedly “fashionable” items of ripped jeans. It is, to me, a nod toward rottenness and ugliness.

Why pay good money for something so downright ugly? Oy Vey indeed!

We look at holes in the wall and buy spackle and paint to patch it up and smooth out the flaws. We crazy glue crockery to weld things back. We solder metals so that the thingamajig, whatever it is, functions once

Bucket List # 7

Fix the broken “Broken hearts? Broken relationships?

The solution is always the same.

FORGIVE. Forgive as you have been forgiven.

And while you’re at it, FORGET.” again. We replace batteries so watches and clocks go tick-tocking again.

We repair broken items. That is our default setting when we see things that are broken. But how about when the breakdown is with affairs of the human heart?

How do you fix a broken heart? There are no easy answers.

In the physical realm, if something is broken, you can fix it. And if you can’t, you relegate it to the trash heap. But not so with the human heart…

Though broken to a thousand pieces, the heart can live through the dark days until time brings its healing effects. The pain becomes dull and as life goes on, the sunlight breaks through the darkness and the heart is made whole.

Resiliency of the human heart is based on the deep and enduring understanding in the wisdom of the words: “This too,

shall pass.”

But when the pains and the hurt are forged into the deep recesses of the memory and the wounds are encouraged to fester, the brokenness can be as deep as the Grand Canyon.

These are the very sad cases, when the heart never heals. It is true what they say about dying of a broken heart.

There is that thing called pride and in extreme cases, hubris, the kind that damned the fallen angels. This is the one that makes it hard to fix brokenness. We become so big for our britches that forgiveness is beyond us. We equate forgiveness with weakness and our supreme pride won’t let us do it.

Broken hearts? Broken relationships? The solution is always the same. FORGIVE. Forgive as you have been forgiven. And while you’re at it, FORGET. You do yourself no favors by letting the pains and hurts fester.

Continued on Page SF7

safe, convenient way to dispose of unwanted or expired medications and sharps MEDICINES help treat diseases, manage chronic conditions and improve health and well-being for millions of Americans. It’s vitally important that patients take their medicines as prescribed by their health care provider.

However, if you have expired or unwanted medication, proper disposal is important and easy.

SCPD has partnered with MED-Project to offer a free,

safe and convenient drop-off service for residents to dispose of unwanted and expired medicines, and sharps. To protect your privacy and provide a safe situation for individuals disposing of these medicines and sharps, please take the following steps: • Cross or remove personal identifying information from the medicine bottle; • Leave the product in its original container or place

solid medicines in a sealed plastic bag; • Sharps must be in U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared sharps containers; • Bring items to the Police Building (601 El Camino Real, 408-615-4700) or the Northside Substation (3992 Rivermark Parkway, 408-615-4744) during normal business hours; no appointment necessary.

Learn more at https://bit. ly/2Sdf7si.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020

California Divorce with a twist: The military spouse The CTV Files

Atty. LiLLi BAcuLi coLLins, EsQ

SAN Diego is “military town” and Navy and Marine Corps families abound, as well as retirees from different branches of our military.

The military life is a test of resilience and grit for many families, with divorce as almost an expectation rather than the exception.

The following seeks to address or clarify some common misconceptions about military divorce. We urge individuals considering divorce to seek a licensed, competent, and experienced attorney to help guide them through the maze.

“I found out my wife had an affair while on deployment. I want to file for Divorce but she does not want to. But it’s all her fault.”

California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) or, in some instances, to get a judgment of divorce.

Note that the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) gives military members a wide range of legal protections not available to the general public, such as postponing court proceedings. This includes divorce and child support. In general, the SCRA covers all active duty servicemembers, reservists and the members of the National Guard while on active duty.

“What? I have to share my retirement earnings? This is mine!!”

Generally, all of your assets prior to the marriage is

just your own separate property. However, California is a community property state and so once you get married, all property acquired during marriage is community property.

And if anything out of the community property is used towards separate property, the community might turn out to have a claim on part(s) of separate property. Separate property are “all property acquired before marriage; all gifts, bequests, devise, or descents. All property acquired or exchanged with traceable separate property; and all property acquired after separation.”

For military retirement purposes, the portion of retirement earned during marriage before separation is considered community property. A spouse is eligible to receive a portion of the military spouse’s retirement no matter how long they were married so long as the military spouse was earning retirement benefits while they were married.

The Court may divide “disposable” retired pay, which is the “gross” monthly retired pay minus certain deductions.

“S/he is the one who left our family. I shouldn’t have to pay support.”

Issues of marital infidelity and family support can be handled directly within the military, with each military branch having their own guidelines. In California, however, since this is a nofault divorce state there is no assignment of blame or fault; fault does not factor in the equation on the issue of support. Some of the factors that the Court will look at to determine whether there is basis for support, and if so, in what amount, are – length of marriage, age of parties, if there are minor children in the marriage, income of both

parties.

“I’m smart enough to handle my own divorce. Why do I need an attorney?”

You don’t need an attorney. There is no requirement that you must have an attorney. However, in cases involving issues such as military divorce, domestic violence, custody disputes, child support, spousal support, and division of community property assets it would be wise to seek advice from a licensed and experienced attorney so as not to waste your time and money, not to mention the court’s time and resources, especially when you have to keep going back to court because of incomplete or missing documents that could have been addressed from the very beginning by a competent and knowledgeable attorney.

Not all divorce cases are the same. It is important to be properly informed about your rights and responsibilities under California law in divorce proceedings. The wrong advice or information can and will hurt you, and waste your time and money. Consult a licensed and experienced family law attorney to help you navigate through your divorce. *** Atty. Lilli Baculi Collins is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) – a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www. chuatinsayvega.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

SF

people & events The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020

celebrity world

Duggan’s Serra Mortuary president Dan Duggan heads list of March birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar DAN Duggan, the president of Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays in the month of March. Dan will celebrate his birthday on Friday, March 27.

Duggan’s Serra Mortuary is where many Filipino Americans honor and pay their last respects to their loved ones before leaving this world. It is located conveniently in Daly City, which is known to all kababayans as the Adobo City.

Other prominent celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays in March include: March 1: Royal Dynasty Foundation founder Nelly Cojuangco Tuazon, Premiere Appliances in Daly City owner Tony Premiere; March 3: Dr. Tina Martinez Picache of Danville, United Airlines employee Edward Teofilo Cabrera; March 4: Beauteous actress Dawn Zulueta, Pedro (Jonjing)

Ejercito de Castro [nephew of former Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada]; March 6: Actress Gretchen Barretto, Isabelle Diaz DazaSemblat who is the daughter of the Philippines’ first Miss Universe Gloria Diaz; March 7: Star Cinema actor Gerald Anderson; March 8: Former Senator Ramon Revilla, Actor/host/ dancer Archie Alemania of GMA Network; March 9: Veteran actress Rosemarie Gil, Atty. K.J. Petsas; March 10: Philippines Today co-publisher Marilyn King Camilosa, Kapamilya actor J.C. de Vera, former Miss Universe winner Gloria Diaz; March 11: Internationally known singer/songwriter Jose Mari Chan; March 14: Kapuso actor Paolo Contis, Homeland Security officer Ermin Apolinario, Pittsburg community leader

Mathie Roldan Velasco; March 16: Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma; March 17: Former Mr. United Nations-USA winner Roberto (Bobby) Tuason, retired Navy captain Jimmy Velasco; March 18: Kapuso rising star Klea Pineda, Kapuso actress Bianca King; March 19: Kapamilya Channel 2 actress of primetime teleserye Asintado, Julia Montes; March 20: Batangueños of Northern California bestdressed matron Liza Manalo; March 21: Statewide Realty proprietress Alice Gabriana Atienza; March 23: TV and movie actor Geoff Eigenmann; March 24: Actor/model/ singer/dancer Aljur Abrenica; March 25: Asian Journal Publications president Cora Macabagdal-Oriel, photoman Ray Guarin; March 26: Kapamilya actor/

Gloria Diaz, the first Filipina to win the Miss Universe title, celebrates her birthday on Tuesday, March 10.

singer Matteo Guidicelli, US Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi; March 28: Carousel Productions Inc. founder/presiDan Duggan is president and owner of Duggan’s Serra Mortuary in Daly City, where many Filipinos pay dent Ramon Monzon (the orgatheir last respects to their loved ones. Dan celebrates his birthday on Friday, March 27. nization that owns and runs the Miss Earth beauty pageants); March 30: The late Thomasians USA founder Alice Pena Bulos, Samtrans employee Eugene Cabugao; March 31: Entertainment producer Lerma de la Cruz, GMA Network actor Benjamin Alves.

To all March birthday celebrants, many happy returns of the day! Also, advanced Happy Easter greetings to all!

Handsome actor Benjamin Alves of GMA Network celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, March 31.

Klea Pineda, a young, beautiful and talented actress of GMA Pinoy TV top-rated teleserye Magkaagaw, celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, March 18.

United Airlines employee Edward Cabrera celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, March 3.

Marilyn King Camilosa, Philippines Today co-publisher, celebrates her birthday on Tuesday, March 10.

Aljur Abrenica, one of the lead actors of The Filipino Channel’s top-rated series Sandugo, celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, March 24.

Lerma de la Cruz, an internationally-known entertainment producer, celebrates her birthday on Tuesday, March 31.

Alicia Gabriana Atienza, proprietress of Statewide Realty in Daly City, celebrates her birthday on Saturday, March 21.

Island Pacific Supermarket launches community-driven initiatives with ‘Bangon Batangas’ campaign following Taal eruption FILIPINO American supermarket chain Island Pacific Supermarket, currently with 16 locations serving communities in California and Las Vegas, is shifting its organizational culture for 2020.

The purpose-driven focus of the Island Pacific company will specifically develop tangible and measurable community initiatives to create opportunities for partnerships that transform their store spaces as the hub for Filipino American diasporic society and life, and its everevolving culture.

Following the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines on January 13, 2020, which forced thousands in the Batangas province in the region of Luzon to evacuate, Island Pacific founder Nino “Jeff” Lim called upon all stores to participate in a “Bangon Batangas” campaign to give back to the community.

With donations from loyal customers over a period of a little over a week, Island Pacific was able to raise over $25,000 to donate to relief efforts to nonprofit organizations within the vicinity of the eruption.

Marketing Consultant Giselle Tongi-Walters, who personally delivered the monetary donations, also shared how the “Bangon Batangas” campaign was particularly meaningful because of her provincial Tagalog roots. “Island Pacific in 2020 has committed to communitydriven initiatives to give back, and the company really exemplifies the ‘Bayanihan’ spirit abroad, which in Filipino means

Island Pacific Supermarket marketing consultant Giselle Tongi-Walters (right) presents a check for P1,000,000 ($20,000) on February 9 to Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas.

the act of lifting each other up in challenging times of crisis and peril,” said Tongi-Walters.

Top Island Pacific cashiers who participated in the Bangon Batangas campaign — Marilyn and Jenica from the Tropicana store in Las Vegas, together with Freda from the Elk Grove, California store — were internally recognized for raising the most monetary donations.

Representing Island Pacific, Tongi-Walters recently presented three ceremonial checks in the Philippines. To the most in need, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas was presented the amount of P1,000,000 ($20,000) on February 9 in Batangas City. Good Samaritan Foundation’s Ramon Tulfo was given the amount of P200,000 ($4,000) on February 10. Lastly, the Pink Sisters of Tagaytay were presented with P100,000 ($2,000).

Island Pacific has over-

Island Pacific Supermarket presented Good Samaritan Foundation’s Ramon Tulfo with a donation amounting to P200,000 ($4,000) on February 10.

A representative of the Pink Sisters of Tagaytay receives a donation of P100,000 ($2,000) from TongiWalters on behalf of Island Pacific Supermarket.

Renovated Fire Station 8 reopens, Fire Station 10 closes and relocates for replacement in Santa Clara County SANTA CLARA – Santa Clara Fire Station 8, located at 2400 Agnew Road, reopened on Monday, February 24, 2020 after being closed for nine months for renovations. Soon after, Fire Station 10, currently located at 5111 Stars & Stripes Drive, will close by March 1, 2020 while preparations begin for replacing and relocating the station.

All this activity is due to the 240-acre Related Santa Clara development that’s scheduled to break ground by Levi’s Stadium® and the Santa Clara Convention Center in north Santa Clara this spring. Once the development’s built out, Santa Clara will have state of the art fire stations in prime locations to provide excellent service to this growing portion of the city.

Related Companies recently completed a major renovation and expansion of Fire Station 8 in preparation for Phase One of construction. The fire station now has long-term improvements including a new dormitory wing, all-gender bathrooms, fitness room, workshop and turnout storage room. Related Companies funded the roughly $2.2 million renovation at no cost to taxpayers.

The developer is also funding approximately $15 million for the construction and relocation of a new Fire Station 10. This fire station currently houses Engine 90 with three crew members.

During the fire station’s closure, Engine 90 will respond from Fire Station 8 until the new relocated fire station is built during Phase Two of the Related Santa Clara development. A schedule for construction has not been set yet.

Fire Department staff completed a response time analysis and concluded that they will be able to maintain their response time goals of less than six minutes for apparatus and less than eight minutes for paramedics to arrive on scene for all residential and commercial uses in the northside of Santa Clara. As with all fire-related emergencies, the resources of the Santa Clara Fire Department are dispatched to incident locations utilizing GPS and the closest available unit for the incident type.

For more information about the fire station relocation, visit https://www.santaclaraca.gov/ our-city/departments-a-f/fire-department.

(From City of Santa Clara)

hauled its mission statement for 2020 to unite communities by celebrating Filipino fiesta culture, creating pride amongst our people and bringing awareness of our diverse culinary traditions so that our culture is recognized and acknowledged as part of American life and society. To participate in Island Pacific’s community-driven initiatives, go to www.islandpacificmarket.com to inquire and find out more.

people & events SF FTC: The bottom-line on fake checks scams The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020

IF someone you don’t know sends you a check and asks for money back, that’s a scam.

Fake checks drive many types of scams — like those involving phony job and income opportunities, online classified ad sales, and others. In a fake check scam, a person you don’t know asks you to deposit a check – sometimes for several thousand dollars and usually for more than you are owed — and send some of the money back, often by wire transfers or gift cards, to them or another person. The scammers always have a good story to explain the overpayment. They might say they’re stuck out of the country, they need you to cover taxes

or fees, you’ll need to buy supplies, or something else.

By law, banks have to make deposited funds available quickly — you’ll usually see the money in your account within a day or two. But it may take weeks for your bank to learn the check was bad. By that time, the scammer has the money you sent, and you’re stuck paying the bank back.

Over the last several years, the number of fake check scams reported to the FTC has steadily increased, and so have the dollars lost. In its most recent Data Spotlight, Don’t bank on a “cleared” check, the FTC reports that consumers lost more than $28 million to fake check

Bucket list #7...

From Page SF5 Not that it’s easy to forgive and forget. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

But that’s the whole story of our redemption. God forgives and forgets our iniquities. Who are we not to try and do likewise during our short time here on (Advertising Supplement) earth?

The full benefits of forgiveness accrue first to the aggrieved party, the one who forgives and forgets. Why? Because then the heart is allowed to mend and heal with time, it becomes whole once again.

There is a play on words about time and healing that one wit wrote. It is said that. “Time

scams in 2019 alone. The median loss reported was $1,988.

That’s more than six times the median loss on all frauds tracked by the FTC. What’s more, reports about fake check scams are up by about 65% over 2015 levels. The FTC found that younger people are hit especially hard. In 2019, people in their twenties were more than twice as likely as people 30 and older to report losing money to a fake check scam.

Want to learn more? Visit ftc.gov/fakechecks.

(From Federal Trade Communications Office) (by Colleen Tressler / Consumer Education Specialist, FTC)

heals all wounds.” And if you believe in the laws of karma, “Time wounds all heels.” Let that sink in for a moment.

God makes the prayerful heart resilient. In time, the human heart can love again as though it was never broken. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - February 28, 2020