030621 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

MARCH 6-9, 2021 Volume 31 - No. 18 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages

Non-essential travel discouraged Chess champion Wesley So becomes US citizen as LA County’s COVID-19 cases rise DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

SUPER Grandmaster Wesley So is now a United States citizen.

The 27-year-old U.S. chess champion was sworn-in as a citizen on Feb. 26, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in a social media post on Friday, March 5.

So, who was born in Bacoor, Cavite, remarked that the “amazing spirit” of the U.S. motivated him to naturalize.

“I want to give back to a country that has been so good to me. From the moment I landed here I was encouraged and enabled to become better than I was. I like this attitude and the tremendous generosity of American culture,” So told the USCIS. The three-time Philippine chess champion first came to the U.S. in 2012 as a freshman recruit for Webster University, and is now a world top-ten player, current World Fischer Random champion, two-time US Champion and a member of the 2016 Team USA

by AJPRESS OFFICIALS in Los Angeles County are urging the public to avoid non-essential travel as spring break season begins.

This latest advisory comes nearly a year into the pandemic and as the county’s new COVID-19 cases have climbed above 2,200, the highest single-day

Duterte: AstraZeneca COVID-19 jabs to boost PH vaccination program

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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GoFundMe launches #StopAsianHate initiative to benefit victims, community organizations

“We may just be weeks away from reducing transmission in LA County enough so that additional reopenings are permitted. However, with increased case numbers in other states, and more circulating variants of concern, spring travel can lead to another surge that frankly would be almost impossible to tolerate,” Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer u PAGE A2

total in nearly two weeks.

The county Department of Public Health on Thursday, March 4 confirmed 119 new deaths and 2,253 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 1,198,098 positive cases and 21,778 fatalities.

Despite the latest uptick, hospitalization numbers have decreased and the positivity rate has dropped to 2.5%.

KEEPING ‘EM CLEAN. Workers disinfect the containers of 487,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines delivered via KLM Airlines on Thursday, March 4 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The first batch of the vaccines was produced in South Korea and donated by the European Union and Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Norway, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, and Greece through the COVAX Facility.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

WITH the rise in violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), GoFundMe this week launched the #StopAsianHate initiative, a centralized hub of fundraisers that will benefit the community.

The GoFundMe page (gofundme.com/AAPI) features verified fundraisers from across the country that will benefit victims of violence, organizations that provide resources for those affected and increased protection in communities, as well as support for neighborhoods and AAPI-owned businesses.

Some examples of vetted fundraisers include campaigns for: Noel Quintana, a Filipino American who received almost 100 stitches after being slashed in the face on the New York subway; assistance with medical expenses for Marc Quidit, a Fil-Am store owner in Vallejo, California who was shot multiple times during a robbery; a volunteer group to watch San Francisco Chinatown’s residents and merchants; and restoration for the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, which was recently Jeeves Tangonan is pictured with his wife of eight years, Stephanie. vandalized in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

Tangonan, 37, was the casualty in a sheriff’s pursuit in LA’s Fairfax District u PAGE A4 on Tuesday night, March 2.

Contributed photo

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, March 4 personally welcomed the arrival of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX facility.

The KLM commercial flight carrying 487,200 doses of the British-made vaccine landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 7:20 p.m. The shipment was then transported to the Villamor Air Base for the welcoming ceremony.

Duterte expressed his gratitude to the World Health Organization, the COVAX facility, and COVAX donor countries.

“I don’t know how to express my gratitude to the donor countries that you remembered the poor nations [it] is in fact already a plus for humanity. And [on] behalf of the Republic of the Philippines and of the people, and all, I’d like to say again that we felt the gratitude in our hearts and may God bless you for your benevolence,” he said. u PAGE A3

Innocent Fil-Am driver killed during fiery sheriff ’s pursuit in LA

by CHRISTINA AND

M. ORIEL RITCHEL MENDIOLA AJPress

AN innocent Filipino American driver was killed on Tuesday night, March 2 when a Los Angeles County sheriff’s pursuit ended in a fiery crash in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District.

Jeeves Tangonan, a chef at the West Hollywood EDITION, was driving home from work when Photo shows a COVID-19 vaccine site at the Balboa Sports Complex in Encino. LA County is another driver crashed into his opening eligibility for new tiers of workers, including educators, food workers and emergency Photo by Michael Owen Baker vehicle at the intersection of service personnel, to receive vaccines. u PAGE A3

‘SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT SHOULDN’T BE DIFFICULT’

Google Doodle honors Filipina suffragist Rosa Sevilla de Alvero Filipinos navigate appointment system as more groups become eligible for vaccines

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

GOOGLE Doodle is celebrating the 142nd birthday of Rosa Sevilla de Alvero, a women’s activist who fought for the suffrage of Filipinas, with a doodle on its Philippine homepage.

The March 4 doodle features an illustration of De Alvero in a Maria Clara dress casting her vote in a ballot box, with the arms of other Filipinas from succeeding generations doing the same act.

De Alvero was born in 1879, in Tondo, Manila. In addition to being a journalist, educator, and activist, she widely considered to u PAGE A2

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

AS of Monday, March 1, eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine expanded to include workers in education, emergency services and food service.

But website errors in the state’s My Turn COVID-19 vaccine appointment system — which has

been exploited by wealthier and more privileged people who are securing appointments intended for people in underserved neighborhoods — are making the process of actually getting an appointment extremely difficult for many LA County residents, as first reported in the Los Angeles

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Google Doodle honors Filipina...

PAGE A1 be one of the most influential suffragists in Filipino history.

A profile on the Google Doodle page recounted her early life as a child sent to live with her aunt, an educator who hosted Filipino patriots and intellectuals at her home.

“Sevilla often eavesdropped on their conversations about battling educational colonialism — revolutionary discussions that helped

mold her beliefs,” it said.

At 21, De Alvero founded the Instituto de Mujeres (“Women’s Institute”) of Manila, one of the first schools for women in Filipino history. Today it is known as the Rosa Sevilla Memorial School.

“The institute became a hotbed for progress under Sevilla’s leadership — educating women on topics such as suffrage, vocation and Tagalog,” said Google.

De Alvero also collaborated

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From the Front Page with notable Filipino Tagalog poets to present the first balagtasan (a debate held in poetic verse), which sparked a movement for Tagalog to become the national language.

In 1916, she left Manila to rally women across the country in her fight for suffrage, later founding the Liga Nacional de Damas Filipinas (“National League of Filipino Women”) to support her cause.

Filipinas were granted the right to vote on September 17, 1937.

“Thanks in part to Sevilla’s tremendous call to action, voting rights were granted to Filipino women in 1937,” said Google.

“Happy birthday, Rosa Sevilla de Alvero!”

Google Doodle has honored pioneering Filipinas in recent months, including artist and activist Pacita Abad and Fil-Am Olympic Gold Medalist Vicki ManaloDraves. n

JUANA ENFORCER. Jonalyn Cobo, a single mother of four and traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, directs the traffic flow along Edsa corner Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday, March 4. This year’s National Women’s Month celebrates the extraordinary roles of ordinary Juanas in society as trailblazers and harbingers of change.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Non-essential travel discouraged...

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Wesley So is now a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Photo courtesy of USCIS

Chess champion Wesley So...

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squad that brought America its first Olympic gold medal since 1976, according to the U.S. Chess Federation.

He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his adoptive family.

“I got so hyper and excited I was talking kind of loud all day. It was literally a dream come true.

I am now a part of the American Dream. I am part of the most successful country on earth, ready to make my own contribution and have my own legacy here,” So added. (AJPress)

said in a statement.

LA County’s travel advisory remains in effect, requiring those who arrive in the county to selfquarantine for 10 days and avoid contact with others.

Ferrer said, “Travel increases the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. To avoid this, please postpone travel and continue doing your part to slow the spread so that our recovery journey isn’t sidelined.”

Vaccine access On Thursday, California announced it would allocate 40% of all vaccine doses for the state’s most vulnerable neighborhoods as vaccine equity remains a big issue.

The allocation will benefit around 8 million residents in 400 zip codes, predominantly in Los Angeles County and the Central Valley.

Currently, health care workers, individuals over the age of 65, educators, farmworkers, food and agricultural workers and emergency service personnel are eligible for shots.

The city of Los Angeles is opening a new vaccination center at the University of Southern California on Tuesday, March 9. It will be the seventh vaccine center operated by the city.

It will also have the capacity

for sending mobile clinics into nearby neighborhoods in an effort to vaccinate seniors unable to leave their homes as well as other individuals who live in public housing developments or long-term care facilities. The direct vaccinations is in partnership with the city’s Department on Disability and county Department of Public Health.

Changes to state’s reopening blueprint The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released updates to the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy reopening framework focused on activities that can be conducted outdoors with consistent masking, two factors that are scientifically shown to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread. The updates allow outdoor ballparks, stadiums and theme parks to open with significantly reduced capacity, mandatory masking and other public health precautions. These changes take effect April 1.

Outdoor sports and live performances (with fans/attendees) are eligible to begin April 1. In the purple tier, capacity will be limited to 100 people or fewer and attendance will be limited to regional visitors. Advanced reservations will be required, and no concession or concourse

sales will be allowed. In the red tier, capacity will be limited to 20%. Concession sales will be primarily in-seat (no concourse sales). In the orange tier capacity will be limited to 33% and in the yellow tier capacity will increase to 67%. Attendance will be limited to in-state visitors in the red, orange and yellow tiers.

Amusement parks are eligible to reopen in the red tier beginning April 1. Capacity will be limited to 15% in the red tier.

In the orange tier, that limitation will increase to 25%, and then 35% in the yellow tier. Attendance will be limited to in-state visitors.

LA County remains in the state’s most restrictive purple tier, meaning COVID-19 is still a widespread risk.

Officials continue to warn that the downward trend in numbers and more vaccinations are not a free pass to have large gatherings and abandon public health measures.

“Our biggest worry is, of course, that people will relax too much, decide not to wear their face mask, decide not to keep their distance, decide to go back to having parties,” Ferrer said. “We’re just not there yet.

None of that would be safe at this point, and all of it can cause spread.” n

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Dateline USa

Duterte: AstraZeneca COVID-19 jabs to...

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According to him, the latest delivery would boost the country’s ongoing vaccination program.

He also urged the public to cooperate and get vaccinated, assuring that the COVID-19 jabs are safe.

“The need for international solidarity and cooperation cannot be made clearer than this pandemic because no one is safe globally until everyone is safe,” said Duterte.

“On this note, I would like to appeal to all our kababayans (fellow countrymen), please get vaccinated against COVID-19 and be the government’s partner in preventing the further spread of the disease. I encourage you to get vaccinated at the soonest possible time. These vaccines are safe and they are the key to reopening our society,” he added.

Meanwhile, WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe noted that the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccines is a “testament to the strength of collaboration, cooperation, and compassion.”

The initial delivery will be followed by up to 4.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines scheduled to arrive before the end of May in batches.

“Standing together in solidarity has indeed made us stronger. We honor the government of the Philippines for the strong leadership provided under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte throughout the response and the dedicated team of the Department of Health,” said Abeyasinghe.

Top COVAX donors welcome AstraZeneca vax arrival The United States and the European Union — both of which are major contributors to the WHO-led COVAX facility — welcomed the arrival of AstraZeneca’s vaccines in the Philippines.

In a tweet, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said: “The U.S. welcomes the arrival of 487,200 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX facility in the Philippines on Mar. 4.”

“The U.S., through USAID, has donated P97.2 billion ($2B) to COVAX as part of a total $4 billion U.S. donation,” it added.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires John Law also said that the U.S. will continue supporting the Philippines’ vaccination efforts.

“The United States is proud to be the largest contributor to COVAX, and we welcome the successful arrival of the first tranche of AstraZeneca vaccines in the Philippines. As we fight the pandemic together, the United States will continue to support the Philippines’ vaccination and COVID-19 mitigation efforts,” he said Friday.

Meanwhile, the EU Delegation in Manila said the bloc has so far provided P130 billion (€2.2 billion) to COVAX. “Team Europe is proud to contribute to the COVAX facility to help provide affordable and fair access to vaccines for Filipinos.

Under COVAX, the Philippines will receive vaccines for 22 million Filipinos,” said EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron.

According to Véron, the EU has “both a responsibility and interest to make vaccines available to all.”

“The European Union has maintained its goal to work in solidarity for vaccine cooperation and multilateralism — none is safe until everyone is safe,” he added.

AstraZeneca jabs for elderly health workers According to Philippine vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., the AstraZeneca vaccines may be allocated for senior healthcare workers since Sinovac Biotech’s “CoronaVac” vaccine was not recommended for those over 59 years old.

“May mga doctor po na nagsasabi, priority natin yung mga senior healthcare workers. So yung deployment po nito, sa mga hospital pa rin po (Some doctors are saying that we have to prioritize senior healthcare workers. So its deployment will still be in hospitals),” he said Thursday.

“Ang recommendation po nila, considering na may limitations tayo ng 18-59 po na age group ang ating Sinovac (Their recommendation was, considering that we have limitations of [the] 1859 age group for Sinovac), we want to accept those limitations by having this AstraZeneca available to our senior citizens,” he added.

However, Galvez noted that this move would still be reviewed by members of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). “‘Yun po ang tinitignan po namin na anggulo para at least well protected po yung vulnerable, senior healthcare workers (This is the angle we’re looking at to protect our vulnerable, senior health care workers),” he said.

Over 9,000 individuals have been vaccinated since Monday,

Innocent Fil-Am driver killed...

PAGE A1 Third Street and Fairfax Avenue, across the street from The Grove and the Original Farmers Market.

The impact of the crash caused Tangonan’s vehicle, a blue Toyota RAV4, to jump onto the sidewalk and come to a stop when it was wedged between a tree and the wall of the Citibank at the corner of the intersection.

The 37-year-old, who is originally from the Philippines, was pronounced dead at the scene.

He leaves behind his wife of eight years, Stephanie Tangonan.

“She’s still heartbroken and devastated. It’s the worst pain we’ve ever felt because it’s a family member of ours. I don’t wish this for anyone to go through,” Tangonan’s brother-in-law, Marlon Chavez, told the Asian Journal.

The suspect, identified as 28year-old Alex Lopez, was being chased by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies after he assaulted a deputy during a routine traffic stop. He was also reportedly under the influence of alcohol. The short pursuit ended at approximately 10:30 p.m. when the suspect crashed into Tangonan’s car.

The suspect’s vehicle, a gray Chevrolet Malibu, immediately caught on fire upon impact. Lopez was taken into custody after Los Angeles Fire Department crew members rescued him from the flames.

It took five minutes for firefighters to pull Tangonan out of the vehicle through the passenger side and again through the roof, a Fox 11 Los Angeles report said.

Lopez pleaded not guilty on Thursday, March 4 to one count each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, assault on a peace officer and fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle and two counts of DUI

causing injury, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The suspect is in jail in lieu of a $205,000 bail and will have another court appearance on April 29. Tangonan’s family is now seeking justice and hopes that more drivers aren’t at risk during police pursuits.

“I think a lot of these chase pursuits need to stop, especially in the streets, because a lot of innocent drivers like my brotherin-law have died or pedestrians have gotten run over,” Chavez said. “[Lopez] needs to pay for what he did because if he’s out in four or five years, he can go back out there and do the same thing again.”

Tangonan is remembered for his love of food and hospitality and for being a loving husband.

“His love of food was out of this world…He had a love for cooking meals for every single human being that came into the door of that hotel,” Chavez said.

“He was very inspiring, motivated, and happy. I never saw him disrespect my sister and he treated her perfectly as a husband should.”

According to his Linkedin page, Tangonan graduated from De La Salle University with a bachelor of science degree in hotel and management. He migrated to the United States in his early 20s and worked as a cook at the Four Seasons Hotel for several years.

Tangonan’s parents still live in the Philippines and he would send them money every month, Chavez said.

Chavez set up a GoFundMe page (http://gf.me/u/zk6fp5) to help his sister with funeral expenses.

“Any donations will be greatly appreciated… The most priceless thing is if everybody could keep [Jeeves] and my family in their prayers,” he said. n

March 1.

The government aims to vaccinate all health care workers by the end of March or April.

Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout for the general public may begin in late April or May. “Our projection for the general public as well as the senior citizens, poor families and vulnerable communities, we will start general public inoculations more or less late April or May,” said Galvez.

The Philippines previously set a goal to vaccinate 50 to 70 million Filipinos in 2021, with up to 200,000 individuals receiving jabs every day. n

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‘Something this important shouldn’t be difficult...

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LIFE-SAVING DOSE. President Rodrigo Duterte holds a vial of the AstraZeneca vaccine, shortly after a total of 487,200 doses, through the COVAX Facility, arrived in the country Thursday night, March 4. Duterte, senior government officials, and members of the diplomatic corps personally welcomed the KLM commercial flight carrying the vials from Belgium that landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at past 7 p.m.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 6-9, 2021

Times.

Since the beginning of vaccine distribution, California has ordered counties to prioritize people living in highly impacted areas and those working in frontline essential jobs.

However, the My Turn website does not strongly factor that strategy into its algorithm, allowing for people who aren’t essential workers or aren’t currently eligible to receive the vaccine to secure appointments; it’s become an accepted notion that even if you turn up to an appointment and fail to prove eligibility, you won’t be turned away due to the possibility of unused vaccine doses expiring.

“My Turn is wide open and you can’t restrict access to appointments to people who are ineligible categories,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of LA County Public Health, said at a press briefing on Wednesday, March 3.

Several vaccine supersites — the so-called mega-point of distribution (POD) sites — like Dodger Stadium, the Forum in Inglewood and Cal State Northridge were this week designated for food and agricultural workers, but Ferrer said “we really had no way to restrict people in making appointments in the system if they were eligible.”

To combat these issues, community vaccine sites have urged residents to call the LA County call service to secure appointments. Some vaccine sites, like the White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights, have allowed for people to register for

vaccines appointments on-site.

On Wednesday, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said in a statement that the state has a COVID-19 hotline (833-422-4255) to assist residents who don’t have internet access or who would prefer to set up an appointment over the phone.

Ferrer said that the state is working to expand appointmentby-telephone services for those who don’t have access to a computer and internet.

“When [My Turn] gets fixed, it’s going to have to allow for the variation that’s needed countyby-county,” Ferrer said. “I’ve talked with some counties, for example, where what they’d like to [do is] vaccinate farmworkers who are 50 and older before they vaccinate farmworkers who are younger, or because they have very limited supply. So you need a system that actually allows you to make your appointments that way, particularly since the state would like everybody to start using My Turn.”

For Victoria Anderson, a Filipina American daycare worker in East LA, the process of finding an open appointment on My Turn was “impossible.”

“I kept refreshing the page, trying to go on it on my phone, then to my computer, but I wasn’t seeing any appointments available, even though it confirmed that I was eligible for the vaccine,” Anderson told the Asian Journal in a phone interview on Thursday, March 4.

Anderson also shared that her husband, who works as an

ambulance driver for a private ambulance service, has also had difficulty navigating the site.

Both have yet to receive their vaccines.

“It’s really disheartening when you see lots of privileged people who have been working from home and don’t necessarily work in essential positions get their vaccines so easily. They don’t work in industries where there’s this really unreasonable pressure to reopen right away like there is in [education],” Anderson added, saying she’s going to keep trying to secure an appointment for her and her husband.

For 58-year-old Patty Ong — who works in food service and has an underlying condition that would escalate if she contracted COVID-19 — the process of actually getting vaccinated wasn’t as difficult as the process of securing the appointment. She said she was vaccinated on Thursday but found difficulty with the My Turn and Cal Vax — the CDPH’s vaccine portal — websites.

“They wouldn’t show any available appointments and so I had to make some phone calls, first to my doctor who told me to call the county where I was eventually allowed to set up an appointment,” Ong told the Asian Journal on Friday, March 5. “Something this important shouldn’t be difficult, especially for those of us who are, you know, a bit older and aren’t as good with online stuff.” Ong ended up getting her vaccine at Cal State LA, where she had to wait about 30 minutes before

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Dateline USa

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GoFundMe launches #StopAsianHate...

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Meanwhile, tax-deductible donations to the AAPI Community Fund will help organizations address” the urgent issues that face the AAPI community as well as broader, systemic problems.”

“The recent attacks against the AAPI community have catalyzed a strong response among a diverse cross section of society.

The feedback from those who want to effect change has been clear: what can I do, and where do I go? Working closely with Phillip Lim, and other leaders in the community — we knew we could help by doing what GoFundMe does best — connecting those who need help, with those who are willing and able to do so,” GoFundMe CMO Musa Tariq said in a statement. “Together, we can help those facing immediate needs in addition to organizations working to address long term, systemic issues.”

In addition to designer Phillip Lim, supporters of the initia-

tive include big names in fashion, media and entertainment, and sports. Among the Filipino American leaders and personalities are Away co-founder Jen Rubio; journalist and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas; and actors Manny Jacinto and Joel De La Fuente.

As of this writing, the AAPI Community Fund GoFundMe raised $544,790 and increased its goal to $1,000,000.

Individuals can also start their own GoFundMe for over a dozen identified AAPI organizations, such as Filipino Advocates for Justice, Asian Health Services, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, and Gold House. Beyond monetary aid, supporters are also encouraged to help amplify the messages.

Stop AAPI Hate — an online reporting center started by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action and San Francisco State University’s Asian

American Studies department — received over 2,808 firsthand accounts from March to December 2020 of anti-Asian hate ranging from shunning to physical attacks.

In recent weeks, several incidents involving older Asian Americans have come to light, including the death of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai immigrant, who was fatally shoved to the ground while out on his morning walk in San Francisco.

“These hate crimes are up by 1,900% and are a symptom of a larger issue rooted in systemic racism. It is a direct result of the xenophobia and colonialism that has existed in America for decades,” Lim said.

Pope Francis Individuals who have experienced an incident can go to the Stop AAPI Hate website (stopaapihate.org) and file a report in English or an Asian language, including Tagalog. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress)

Philstar.com photo

Pope to lead rites for 500 years of Philippine Christianity by robErtzon

raMirEz

Philstar.com

POPE Francis will lead the Filipino community in Italy in celebrating 500 years since the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced yesterday.

In an article, the CBCP said that Fr. Ricky Gente of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome disclosed that the celebration of the Philippines’ 500 years of Christianity will be highlighted with a mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. on March 14.

Gente said that only a limited feel really fortunate that for me, number of people will be alit was an easy process,” she said. lowed to attend the mass physiShe mentioned that while she cally inside the basilica due to was in line for the vaccine, she the COVID-19 pandemic, but he met K-12 teachers who shared that they signed up for appointments on their own rather than following school districts’ advice to wait.

“I feel like being able to get the vaccine means I’m doing my part to help society. At USC, we were already told that we are coming back for the fall and being in-person, and I’m really excited about that. It’s been really

by Ethnic MEdia SErvicES difficult I think, not only from the standpoint of being a professor, EFFORTS to ramp up Califorbut for students because it’s really hard to do an entire year vir- nia’s vaccinations are taking to the fields and packinghouses tually,” de la Fuente said. n where much of the state, nation and world’s food is grown, harvested, and packed largely by Latino and immigrant workers who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

As part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal to equitably accelerate vaccine distribution, farmworkers have been prioritized to receive the protective inoculations. Although vaccine supply still is limited in California, several pop-up vaccination sites have begun in Central Valley and Southern California fields and agricultural operations to get vaccines to some of the hardestto-reach and historically underserved populations.

From Fresno’s agricultural fields and rice paddies in Sacramento, to almond and walnut farms in Yuba City and meatpacking houses in Coachella, farmworkers rolled up their sleeves and began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to protect them, their families, and their communities from the deadly virus.

California’s agricultural laborers are the most diverse population of farm workers in the nation. Immigrants from China, Japan, India, Hawaii, and the Philippines were among the first to till the state’s fertile soils, with more coming from Korea, India, Laos and Vietnam in the latter half of the 20th century. Filipino farmworkers joined hands with Cesar Chavez and Dolores

‘Something this important shouldn’t be difficult...

PAGE A2 she got her first shot.

“It was kind of messy, to be honest. There were lots of people who didn’t have appointments even though they said you couldn’t get in without an appointment, so there were people registering,” Ong said.

Ong said the vaccine shot itself wasn’t as nerve-wrecking as she thought it would be, describing the experience “like getting a flu shot.” And she added that “all the stress and frustration that led up to that moment didn’t make sense.”

For Jenn de la Fuente, an adjunct professor at USC, the process was easy, but not because any of the online portals to set

up an appointment worked for her. She got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday at a pharmacy in San Dimas, which is more than 30 miles away from where she lives in Glendale.

She happened to know someone who owns a pharmacy in San Dimas which was distributing vaccines to eligible people, and since de la Fuerta works in education, the friend invited her to get her vaccine shot there.

“I would’ve preferred to get the vaccine closer to home but it’s really hard to get an appointment,” she said, mentioning that she tried booking through My Turn and other county resources.

“I just got really lucky and I

said it will be livestreamed from the Vatican to reach Filipinos worldwide.

“Join us in Rome to pray, praise and thank God for his gift of the Christian faith,” Gente said.

He said former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will be present during the mass along with Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, the pope’s vicar of Rome.

Gente said the Catholic faithful can receive blessings from Pope Francis as he will also lead the traditional Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at noon shortly after his mass at Vatican Square.

The Philippines will be celebrating 500 years of Christianity, CBCP said, with most dioceses launching the year-long

commemoration on April 4, Easter Sunday.

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown said Pope Francis has a special place in his heart for the Filipino people as he recalled his visit to the Philippines in 2015, two years after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban City.

For his part, Brown urged the Filipino faithful to be proud of their religion not only because of the 500 years of Christianity, but because of their strong Catholic character as he appreciates their efforts to spread the word of Jesus Christ wherever they are around the world.

“Rejoice in your Catholic heritage; be proud of your Catholic character,” Brown said.

Brown said the quincentennial of Christianity is a gift for the Filipino faithful to commit themselves to evangelization. n

More agricultural workers vaccinated as California ramps up equitable distribution Workers and community members can sign up to be alerted through ‘My Turn’ Huerta in the 1960s to form the United Farm Workers.

Over 93% of farmworkers today are from Latin America, but the Department of Labor reports that about 1% — roughly 8,000 workers — are migrants from Asian countries. Notably, about 1300 refugee Hmong, Mien, and Lao farm families have been working in Fresno since 1976.

Immigrants from Asia represent a significant% of the workforce at meat-packing plants and slaughterhouses, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute: almost 6% are from India, 4.6% from the Philippines, 4% from China, and 5.2% from Burma.

The state’s new vaccine eligibility standard took effect in February so that food and agriculture workers, individuals 65 and over, and workers in education, childcare and emergency services can receive vaccines as additional supply arrives in California. The state will track and analyze who is getting the vaccines to ensure equitable distribution among California’s extremely diverse populations.

The information collected will be protected and remain private.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone. Californians who lack insurance can get the vaccine at no cost, as can those who are undocumented. The vaccine is being distributed regardless of insurance and immigration status, which will not be asked. COVID-19 testing and treatment alone, including vaccinations, do not count under the public charge rule.

Doctors and research scientists cite the success of vaccine trials in assuring that the current COVID-19 vaccine is safe and highly effective. Ethnically inclusive testing of the vaccine showed positive results for all ethnicities and races.

COVID-19 has impacted Latinos at a disproportionate rate, making up 55% of cases in California and 46% of COVID19 deaths. The higher infection rate and mortality rates in the Latino community have devastated families across the state.

Getting vaccinated and following safety precautions will protect communities by slowing the spread and ultimately ending the pandemic.

A new website, MyTurn. ca.gov, is available statewide to help Californians sign up to be notified when they are eligible to make an appointment to be vaccinated. MyTurn.ca.gov also will keep track of who needs to receive their second dose and provide notifications. The website is available in English and in Spanish with additional languages coming online by the end of the month.

Those without access to the internet can call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255 (8334CA-4ALL), which includes a language support center to assist with MyTurn.ca.gov sign up. All personal information is confidential and protected.

More information and resources are available at www.VacinateAll58.com.

Together, we can help all communities stay safe and end the pandemic. n

HEALTHY HEART AND BODY. Dr. Ryan Buendia, internal cardiologist at St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City, receives the CoronaVac vaccine during the vaccination rollout on Wednesday, March 3. The national government granted SLMC’s request for 5,000 doses of the CoronaVac manufactured by Sinovac from China to be administered to its front-line healthcare workers.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 6-9, 2021

Dateline PhiliPPines

Pinatubo on Alert Level 1 amid ‘low-level of unrest’ after 25 years

by Arlie

CAlAlo ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday, March 4 raised Alert Level 1 (Low-level unrest) after it detected a “lowlevel of unrest”.

Phivolcs Chief Renato Solidum said the seismic activity “may be related to tectonic processes beneath the volcano although no imminent eruption is foreseen”.

Phivolcs said entry into the Pinatubo crater area must be conducted with extreme caution and should be avoided if possible.

Communities and local government units surrounding Pinatubo are reminded to be always prepared for both earthquake and volcanic hazards and to review, prepare and strengthen their contingency, emergency and other disaster preparedness

plans, it said in its bulletin.

Solidum said that while there was “currently no threat, communities and local government units surrounding the volcano, nonetheless, have to be reminded to be always prepared for both earthquake and volcanic hazards and to build on the lessons of what they have experienced in the past years”.

Solidum said the agency is closely monitoring the volcano’s condition.

The Pinatubo Volcano Network (PVN) has detected since Jan. 20, 2021 a total of 1,722 imperceptible earthquakes beneath the Pinatubo edifice.

The first cluster of earthquakes from January 20 to 26 occurred along the Sacobia Lineament at depths of 15-28 kilometers and ranged between magnitude 1.0 and 2.5, Phivolcs said.

This was succeeded by a more

persistent cluster of earthquakes occurring along a north-northwest-south-southeast-trending structure 10 to 35 kilometers beneath the center of the edifice itself, with a few shallower earthquakes occurring on both ends of the cluster, it said further.

The volcano, located in Botoan, Zambales, had a cataclysmic eruption on June 15, 1991, after laying dormant for 600 years, killing hundreds of people, displacing thousands of others from the surrounding provinces and closing down the two U.S. bases in the Philippines — the Clark Airbase and Subic Naval base in Pampanga and Zambales.

The U.S. Geological Survey, on its website, said volcanic ash circled the globe, causing temperatures to drop temporarily from 1991 through 1993 by about 1°F (0.5°C).

Philippine Arena to host Manny’s last fight?

by JoAquin

Henson Philstar.com

MANILA — The plan is for super WBA welterweight champion-in-recess Sen. Manny Pacquiao to fight twice this year and if socio-economic conditions allow, the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bulacan could be the site of his farewell bout in September. It’s Pacquiao’s dream to make his last appearance in the ring on home soil and he hasn’t fought before his countrymen since outpointing Mexico’s Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum in 2006. Pacquiao’s last 24 fights were held abroad, 20 in the US, two in Macau, one in Kuala Lumpur and one in Brisbane.

But whether the plan pushes through or not is dependent on the pandemic situation, the vaccination roll-out and the business environment. There is talk that Pacquiao will engage Mikey Garcia, a former world titlist in four weight divisions, in Dubai on May 15 but according to MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons, “the Senator has no fight locked in yet.” It appears that despite Pacquiao’s inactivity since his last fight in July 2019, he remains the hottest ticket in the fight game and according to a source with an ear to the ground, “everybody wants a piece of Manny.”

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is pushing WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford as an opponent in a unification showdown. WBC/IBF welterweight ruler Errol Spence is waiting in line. Undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. may come out of retirement to do a potential megabuck rematch. When Pacquiao ends his “recess,” the WBA will order a fight against Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas. WBC interim light-

Manny Pacquiao

Photo from Instagram/@mannypacquiao

weight champion Ryan Garcia’s spokesperson Guadalupe Valencia claimed that “Pacquiao’s representatives reached out … to gauge interest” for a fight.

MMA star Conor McGregor was up for a duel until his KO loss to Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi last January. With rumors swirling of agents negotiating in Pacquiao’s behalf, Paradigm Sports’ Audie Attar re-

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A5

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

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OPiniOn

FeatURes

False sense of security

THE country can no longer afford to revert to more stringent lockdowns, according to the government. The statement was issued as the Department of Health monitored a spike in COVID cases in recent days, particularly in Metro Manila where the new and more infectious variants of the coronavirus have been reported.

While the National Capital Region may not revert to a stricter quarantine status, however, granular lockdowns are possible, as Pasay City is now doing in scores of barangays where COVID cases are on the rise. The city is also where the first cases of the COVID variants have been reported in the NCR. Under granular lockdown, residents are placed under the tightest restrictions. Who wants this, after a year of quarantines?

The choice, however, boils down to such localized lockdowns or catching COVID – particularly the more infectious variants – and suffering hospitalization or the worst fate. Such possibilities should persuade people to maintain health safety protocols that by now should be ingrained: wearing of masks and even face shields, maintaining physical distancing, practicing hand hygiene and observing cold/cough etiquette. The government, for its part, must continue ramping up testing, contact tracing and treatment capabilities.

Health authorities are still studying the possible

causes of the rise in COVID cases, after many weeks of flat transmission in the NCR, which remains the epicenter of the pestilence. There are also worrisome reports of COVID survivors getting seriously infected again even in the Philippines, but more so in Brazil where one of the two infectious coronavirus variants was first reported.

This pandemic is far from over; many more people will get sick, and many will die. The biggest danger as vaccination finally begins is that people will be lulled into a false sense of security. Already, the clamor for further easing of restrictions is growing stronger as more vaccines arrive.

While the economy needs to be taken out of the intensive care unit, this will not happen when people are sick, especially with more infectious mutations of COVID spreading in Metro Manila.

The start of vaccination should be accompanied by sustained adherence to all the health protocols.

Otherwise, all the sacrifices in the past year will go to waste. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS MARCH 11, 2020. Almost one year has passed since the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic.

Many parts of the United States have been on lock-down and stay-at-home orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, including California — home to the biggest population of Filipinos in the United States.

It feels like a lifetime ago.

We recall how restrictions have been eased sometime in the summer last year, only to be enforced back again because of the surge of confirmed cases, hospitalization and death rate after the election and the holidays.

The good news is that since President Joe Biden took office, the federal government has commanded leadership in defeating the virus, and have used the power and resources of the Of-

Commentary

ENRIQUE

DE LA CRUZ

JEREMY Lin, an Asian American basketball star who helped add “linsanity” to our vocabulary a few years back, now adds “coronavirus” to our glossary of racial slurs against Asians.

Lin disclosed that he has been called, “coronavirus” during a game, revealing this incident in a social media post denouncing racism against Asian Americans, Lin’s experience is only one in a disturbing trend. Asian Americans, and Asians in other countries, report that they are experiencing harassment related to the pandemic. They range from microaggressions — comments and actions that subtly express prejudice — to violent attacks. I will call these BMA, short for Bias Motivated Aggression.

As an Asian American historian, the growing list of these incidents reminds me of our rather long history of being the targets of discrimination. The most salient examples were the incarceration of Japanese Americans during the Second World War for looking like the enemy, and the various Asian exclusion laws.

I know that anti-immigrant feelings are often aroused as public policy, and public health issues involving immigrants become salient. The upturn in BMA against

Philstar.com photo

California eases restrictions in many counties: What we need to do to move faster toward ‘normalcy’ fice of the President of the United States to save lives.

It is unfortunate that to date, as of press time, almost 521,000 have died of COVID in the United States , and there have been more than 29 million confirmed cases and counting.

The good news is that the trend of the number of confirmed cases, hospitalization rate and deaths have been on a decline in most parts of the country, prompting many counties to relax restrictions according to facts and actual data. Plus, Biden has announced that there will be enough supply of COVID19 vaccines to cover every adult in America by the end of May. This is so true in California as well. California, of course, with its mild weather, beautiful nature and plenty of opportunities is the biggest and more diverse state in the nation. It has the highest resident population in the United States in 2020, with 39.37 million people. Where there are more people, there will

potentially be more infection rate in absolute numbers.

In December, Newsom announced a regional stay-at-home order, which imposed stricter restrictions on much of the state.

According to covid19ca.gov: The CA Department of Public Health ended the Regional Stay Home Order across California. This action came as projected ICU availability rose above 15%.

Counties have returned to their assigned Blueprint tiers and are urged to continue safe practices, avoiding crowds and wearing a mask when leaving home. The stay-at-home orders were all lifted on January 25.

In case you are not familiar with the tiers used in the state’s determination to ease restrictions in different counties, here they are as reported by ABC News: “With the stay-at-home orders lifted, the state is returning to the four-tier reopening system.

The four tiers are yellow, orange, red and purple. Yellow indicates

‘Coronavirus’ is now a racial slur against Asians Asian Americans may well derive from latent anti-immigrant feelings. The pandemic has provided an excuse to act on them.

Filipino Americans are still largely an immigrant community.

Like other immigrant communities, we would much rather just ignore these microaggressions, and move on. Our focus is on getting along in this our adopted country; we expect some resentment against our presence but we feel mostly welcomed by our American co-workers and associates. Thus, many Filipinos, particularly the foreign-born, are hesitant to get involved in the struggles against racism, even as we are now the targets of BMA, arising from the ignorance and fear surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

In a previous essay (Asian Journal 2-27-21), I suggested that hate speech and other forms of bias-motivated behavior must be made visible so that perpetrators will not feel safe in committing aggressions. Like sexual harassment, BMA which are not brought to light emboldens the aggressor. They feel safe since their aggression carries no negative consequences for them, but their victims are hurt, stung by a stigma of being undesirable.

But making BMA visible is easier said than undertaken. There is always a chance that the aggressor, upon feeling a pushback,

might escalate the aggression. It takes courage to push back against BMA; it also requires a supportive environment. Media personalities and public figures probably have the best leverage in calling these out. Lin is to be commended for his courage in calling out his personal experience with BMA while also denouncing racism against Asian Americans.

Despite what one may think, calling out BMA, or protesting against racism by public personalities carries risks. Notice how Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quaterback who led his team to a Super Bowl appearance remains unsigned to this day for kneeling during the national anthem—rather than standing which is customary. His protest received highly polarized reactions with Donald Trump even joining the fray by calling on NFL owners to “fire” players who protest during the national anthem.

Despite risks to victims of BMA, I believe that making BMA visible is an effective way to expose racism against Asian Americans. There are four steps to this process.

1. A crucial step is to document the incident, if you have been a victim.

2. Call it out, if one can safely do so, as Jeremy Lin did, but be factual. Social media now gives

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minimal COVID-19 spread and allows for nearly all businesses to reopen indoor operations (as long as physical distancing and face-covering requirements are in place). Purple means there is widespread COVID-19 transmission in the county and nearly all businesses have to keep indoor operations closed or severely limited.”

California counties that are now downgraded from the blue (stay-at-home) to purple (most restrictions after blue tier) are now down to the less restrictive red tier include: Northern California: Del Norte, Modoc, Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen’ Plumas (Sierra is in orange tier) San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento: Napa, Yolo, Sacramento, El Dorado, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara Central: Mariposa, San Luis Obispo, (Alpine in orange tier) All counties of Southern Cali-

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA MY favorite anecdote about “improving operations efficiency” is that one about the kid who overheard his engineer father tell his assistants to “put more men on the job” in order to fast-track an infrastructure project.

The kid, being an only child, also wanted his parents to give him a baby brother. When his father replied that it would take a while to do so, the kid suggested, “Why not put more men on the job?”

While I realize that the subject is no joking matter, the fact that the Philippines has lagged behind the other ASEAN nations in acquiring COVID-19 vaccines reminds me of that anecdote – because it appears that President Rodrigo Duterte’s solution to the problem is, in effect, to put more officials on the job.

Duterte has appointed five “czars” to deal with the coronavirus crisis. No kidding!

Last July 13, 2020 – over half a year ago – the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran this headline: “Palace names ‘PH anti-covid czars’”.

The news item read: “MANILA, Philippines — Five months since the Philippines recorded its first coronavirus case, Malacañang on Monday introduced the country’s anti-coronavirus czars who would spearhead the country’s response

fornia, however, remain in purple tier. Unfortunately, many counties in Southern California are among the Top 10 counties that have the greatest number of cases in the United States, as reported by the John Hopkins University as of Friday noon, March 5.

1. Los Angeles - 1,198,178 confirmed 2. Maricopa - 513,035 confirmed 3. Cook - 476,835 confirmed 4. Miami-Dade - 416,021 confirmed 5. Harris - 356,429 confirmed 6. Riverside - 290,744 confirmed 7. San Bernardino - 287,246 confirmed 8. Dallas - 283,180 confirmed 9. Orange - 261,976 confirmed 10. San Diego - 261,861 confirmed We hope all counties would ease more restrictions now that

Gov. Gavin Newsom and will all be on the way to normalcy.

How do we do it together? Huwag pasaway!

Stay home except for essential needs.

Wear a mask in public.

Wash your hands regularly.

Keep at least six feet of physical distance when in public.

Limit mixing with people you don’t live with.

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

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

Put more czars on the job to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

At that time, Duterte designated four senior officials to address specific aspects of the antipandemic effort: Public Works Secretary Mark Villar as “Chief Location Czar,” to take charge of “overseeing the country’s quarantine facilities;” Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as “Chief Tracing Czar;” to handle contact tracing; Vince Dizon, president of the Bases Conversion Authority as ”Testing Czar;” and Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega as “Treatment Czar.”

Then, in November last year, Duterte added a fifth czar: retired Philippine Army General and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Carlito Galvez, as “Vaccine Czar,” apparently in anticipation of the availability of COVID19 vaccines.

Don’t be surprised if Duterte adds a sixth Czar – an Inoculation Implementation Czar – to guarantee the efficient conduct of the vaccination process.

You see, this January, Manila City Mayor Isko Domagoso organized what the media described as a “mock inoculation” exercise, with the mayor – who prefers to be called Yorme – simulating a vaccination. It was a dress rehearsal of sorts, in preparation for the arrival of the first shipment of the vaccine.

President Duterte will probably want to carry the title of Czar-inChief, unless he decides to give his presidential wannabe daughter, Sara Duterte, the title of Cza-

rina (no truth to the rumor that the title could be conferred on presidential spokesman Harry Roque).

Using the title of “czar” is one way of giving due importance to the various “critical aspects” of solving the coronavirus crisis (not to mention the need to rationalize the extra emoluments, as well as the new budgets for personnel, office quarters, equipment and official vehicles).

But why use the title, “Czar”?

Why not a Chinese title like Kabisi, since the Duterte government reportedly prefers to acquire the Chinese-made vaccine, Sinovac?

Does this suggest a secret Russian leaning on the part of the president? (Didn’t we always wonder why Duterte’s language has been loaded with such expressions as Putin-Ina?) At any rate, with their functions delineated and their titles properly conferred, one would expect the czars to get to work and deliver results.

Wellll…. they have – in a way.

After all, it’s hard work batting out press releases on their important appointments.

Besides, there are important preliminary steps to be taken. We can only guess what these are (accuracy not guaranteed).

First of all, there is the all-important oath taking ceremony to be officiated by the president himself, and then a solemn induction of all key personnel and staffers – the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and the secretaries of

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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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OpiniOn & Features

‘Coronavirus’ is now a racial slur...

PAGE A6 t us a voice, and a platform for this.

Think of it as a form of counterspeech against those who spread disinformation and hate.

3. Report it on the several websites of organizations that provide resources and gather data about BMA incidents.

4. Lastly, report it to law enforcement organizations and administrative bodies that oversee workplaces. If it rises to the level of a crime, law enforcement is duty-bound to investigate. Even if it doesn’t, administrative bodies that oversee professions and workplaces may feel the need to investigate it. As a result of Lin’s disclosure, the NBA has stated that it will look into the incident.

If anything, the attention generated from Lin’s disclosure acts as

a deterrent. It attaches a social stigma, a counter social stigma to BMA. The imperative to make BMA visible is a burden that we are obliged to pay forward as immigrants, and as Christians. As a community that has thrived in the spaces opened and enlarged by civil rights struggles, including the current struggles to eliminate racism and white supremacy, we are obliged to pay this forward by making BMA more visible and supporting those that do.

During a Sept. 18, 2020 conference in Rome hosted by the Vatican and the Geneva-based World Council of Churches, Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, declared that Christians have a “moral and

Put more czars on...

PAGE A6 t the assistant secretaries, as well as the department supervisors, section heads, and the confidential assistants of each of the czars.

With that done, the Pandemic Czars would be ready to get some serious work done. Right?

That’s exactly what the czars may be expected to do. But first, to ensure optimal coordination and to avoid duplication of key areas of accountability and responsibility, the czars must first hold a Coordination and Integration Summit (in the Philippines, a meeting of important high-ranking officials is always called a “Summit”).

But prior to the summit, the czars and their retinue need to go on an Overseas Observacation and Tourientation Trip to critical coronavirus areas, like New York, Los Angeles, London, Brazil and South Africa. This is in order to learn “Best Practices” in combating the pandemic.

Thus, when the czars stage the Summit, each one will be armed with a Comprehensive COVID-19 Battle Plan. Naturally, each czar has to hire foreign consultants and experts to help formulate the strategies.

Needless to say, the individual strategy documents have to be presented to the president – but only after seeking the imprimatur of the Secretary of Health who, in turn, must get the approval of the Speaker of the House and the Senate President, with the endorsement of the House Committee on COVID-19 and its equivalent in the Senate – of course, after thorough

study and analysis by the respective Sub-Committees on Testing, Isolation, Contact Tracing, Treatment and Vaccine Procurement (assuming only five czars, but then, there is the possibility of an Inoculation Implementation Czar, remember?).

I guess these critical preparatory steps must be taken to ensure the effective and efficient execution of the anti-pandemic campaign – and understandably, these steps take time, which explains why up to now the Philippines has not brought in the vaccines. But better to be safe than sorry, di ba?

What we cannot understand is why the Presidential Security Command couldn’t wait a year or two for the entire process to be consummated.

We understand that the PSG went ahead and smuggled its own supply of vaccines from China. Last we heard, smuggling is illegal. but that doesn’t bother Duterte because of the need to protect the president. Indeed, it would have been more dangerous for the president’s security force to be the main reason for his health insecurity.

Duterte’s special envoy to China, columnist Ramon Tulfo, recently admitted having been inoculated with a smuggled vaccine which he got from an unspecified source. But he himself had not participated in the smuggling. In fact, Tulfo wants to bring in the vaccines legally by becoming a Philippine distributor. He sees no conflict of interest in this. After all,

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 6-9, 2021

A7

Medicare Story #4

prophetic mandate” to seek out “constructive and effective ways to oppose xenophobia [and] racism.”

Pope Francis himself at a weekly address following the killing of George Floyd declared, “we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”

Helping to make BMA visible is a way to practice our faith. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

as the late Senate President Jose Avelino aptly put it, “What are we in power for?”

In this regard, there are VIP Vaccinations for powerful and influential folks who are more entitled to survive the virus than the average Pinoy.

Thus, Mang Juan, Aling Maria, Karyas and Kikay have to wait for the vaccines to become available for them in a year or two – that is, if they have the money to pay for the antidotes.

There are other issues swirling around the Philippines’ determined effort to fight, conquer, eliminate and irrevocably vanquish the virus. Too many to cover in one column.

Hopefully, COVID-19 will eventually be overcome. But there is a virus that may continue to gnaw at the guts of the poor people of the Philippines.

Last February 25, the country observed the elimination of one such virus – but the virus has mutated in many ways.

It may take more than five, six or even a dozen czars to eliminate that virus. In fact, before that happens, the Filipino people may develop “herd immunity” – which is another way of saying, “If you can’t beat the virus, then be a virus yourself!” *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** gregmacabenta@gmail.com

Mga Katotohanan Tungkol sa Medicare Enrollment Periods: Kailan Kailangan Mag-Sign up at Puwedeng Lumipat Ito ang pang-apat sa serye ng Medicare Tips hatid ng Clever Care Health Plan, isang nangungunang tagapagbigay ng East meets West Medicare services na sensitibo sa kultura ng kanilang mga miyembro.

Importante ang pagkakaroon ng plano para sa kalusugan kung nalalapit na sa edad na 65. Bago pa nito, mabuti nang alam na ninyo ang tungkol sa deadlines at open enrollment dates para sa Medicare upang hindi ninyo ito makalimutan.

Limitado kayo sa kung kailan at gaano kadalas puwedeng mag-sign up para sa orihinal na Medicare at Medicare Advantage Plan.

InItIal EnrollmEnt PErIod Karamihan ng tao ay eligible para sa Medicare kapag sila ay nag-65. Kung isa ka sa mga taong iyon, puwede kang mag-sign up sa loob ng sevenmonth period na magsisimula tatlong buwan bago ng inyong kaarawan, sa buwan nito, at sa tatlong buwan pagkatapos ninyong mag-65. Kung ito ay inyong ma-miss, puwedeng magbayad ng late penalty fee. Puwedeng mag-sign up sa panahon ng tinatawag na Medicare’s General Enrollment Period, mula Enero 1 hanggang Marso 31.

Eligible kayo para sa premium-free Part A, o hospital insurance, kung kayo ay 65 o mas matanda, at kayo at ang inyong asawa ay nagtrabaho at nagbayad ng Medicare taxes ng at least 10 taon. Puwedeng makakuha ng Part A sa edad na 65 na hindi nagbabayad ng premiums kung kayo ay tumatanggap ng retirement benefits mula sa Social Security o sa Railroad Retirement Board.

Automatic ang pag-enroll ng Medicare sa inyo para sa Part B, o coverage para sa mga bisita sa doktor at medical services. Ipapadala ang inyong Medicare card mga tatlong buwan pagkatapos ninyong mag-65. Kung hindi nakakatanggap ng disability benefits at Medicare kapag kayo’y nag65, kailangan ninyong tawagan o pumunta sa inyong lokal na Social Security office o tawagan ang Social Security sa 1-800-772-1213.

Importanteng malaman na hanggang sa mayroon kayong group health insurance mula sa trabahong pinapasukan, maging sa iyo o sa inyong asawa, pagkatapos ninyong mag65, puwedeng ipagpaliban ang enrollment sa Medicare hanggang sa kayo’y umalis sa kompanya, o kapag natapos ang inyong coverage (anuman ang mauna), na walang penalties na kailangang bayaran sa inyong pag-enroll.

SPEcIal EnrollmEnt PErIod Ito ang panahon na pinapayagan ng Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ang beneficiaries na mag-enroll sa labas ng standard enrollment periods na nakalista sa itaas. Ang mga tao na may qualifying event lang ang puwedeng mag-enroll.

• Lumipat ng tirahan, kasama ng pag-alis sa service area ng inyong current plan • Lumipat ng tirahan pero sakop pa rin ito ng inyong service area, pero may bagong plan options • Bumalik kayo sa Amerika pagkatapos manirahan sa ibang bansa • Lumipat o umalis sa isang institusyon tulad ng long-term care nursing facility • Lumaya sa pagkakakulong • Nabigyan ng legal status sa Amerika • Natapos ang coverage ng inyong plano • Nawalan ng coverage na hindi ninyo kasalanan • Kung eligible kayo para sa Medicare at Medicaid (Medi-Medi), o qualified para sa Extra Help. Puwedeng mag-palit ng plano isang beses kada quarter during the first three quarters of the year.

• May pagbabago sa dami ng Extra Help inyong tinatanggap o sa inyong Medicaid status • Pinili ninyong mag-palit ng trabaho o union coverage • Nawala ang inyong coverage sa PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly • Nagbago ang kontrata ng inyong plano sa Medicare, tulad ng paggawa ng official action o tapusin ang kontrata ng inyong plano • Apektado kayo, o isa ninyong kapamilya na tutulong sa inyong makapag-enroll, ng isang emergency o weather disaster (ayon sa Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, o ng isang Federal, state o local government entity)

Available din ang Special Enrollment Period kung tinapos ninyo ang inyong Medigap policy, at nag-enroll kayo sa Medicare Advantage (MA) sa annual EnrollmEnt PErIod Nagsisimula ito sa Oktubre 15 hanggang unang pagkakataon. Sa sitwasyong ito, mayroon Disyembre 7. Sa panahong ito, puwede kayong kayong 12-month trial period. Kung gusto mag-sign up para sa bagong plano, o mag-palit ninyong umalis sa MA Plan, kailangan ninyong mag-enroll sa orihinal na Medicare. ng plano. mEdIcarE advantagE oPEn EnrollmEnt PErIod Nagsisimula ito sa Enero 1 hanggang Marso 31. Sa panahong ito, kung kayo’y enrolled sa Medicare Advantage Plan, puwede kayong magpalit ng plano o bumalik sa orihinal na Medicare.

H7607_21_CM0380D_TAG_M Accepted 022121

Kung mayroon kayong mga katanungan na hindi nasagot dito, kumunsulta sa inyong heath care provider. Handa ring tumulong ang Tagalog-speaking representatives ng Clever Care Health Plan sa: (833) 365-1888 (TTY: 771). clevercarehealthplan.com A10049-D-TAG (0221)

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle in legal Court upholds dismissal of De Lima stink with Filipino deodorant maker bid to throw out 2nd drug case by ratziel

san Juan Philstar.com

MANILA — Royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are questioning the legality of a trademark used by a Filipino business owner.

Cobblestone Lane LLC, an entity representing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is pursuing legal action against Filipino businessman Victor Martin Soriano for use of the term “Archewell Harvatera” — the name of his

brand of tawas deodorants.

“Opposer (Cobblestone Lane LLC) intends to file an opposition to the above-identified trademark application,” read the motion filed July 8, 2020.

Notwithstanding the legal challenge, the product’s official theme song and its choreography have since been posted online.

The name “Archewell” is shared with the organization founded by Harry and Meghan that currently includes Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio

and Archewell Productions.

“At Archewell, we unleash the power of compassion to drive systemic cultural change,” reads a post on the organization’s official website.

But in the Twitter profile apparently belonging to Victor found by World Trademark Review, the businessman appears unfazed and undaunted by the events.

In this legal battle, he’s making it clear that he will put up a fight. n

US gives in to Duterte demand for military aid

by Keith

Calayag ManilaTimes.net

SEVERAL days after demanding more military aid from the United States in exchange for preserving the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), President Rodrigo Duterte appears to have gotten what he wanted.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez has announced that the Pentagon has given the Philippines an inventory of arms and military hardware it can provide to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Mukhang sapat naman sa lahat ng mga hinihingi natin. Mukhang kumpleto naman at marami pang dadating sa mga kailangan natin na mga armas o whatever hardware that we need from the United States (It looks like what they will give is enough and more will be coming, arms or whatever hardware we need from the United States),” Romualdez said.

In a recent speech, Duterte insisted that the US government pay up or he would abolish the VFA, which allows US troops to

hold military exercises in the country.

His spokesman, Harry Roque Jr., said the Philippines had been receiving far less military assistance than other countries the US has a similar pact with.

Roque said the Philippines should get at least what Pakistan is getting, about $16.4 billion in military aid.

Washington has been generous in providing military assistance to Pakistan, which has been fighting an uphill battle against Islamist insurgents.

Romualdez believes the US aid package will “satisfy” Duterte.

“That would probably satisfy the President’s concern regarding itong pag-modernize ng ating armed forces at marami pang darating (the modernization of AFP and more will be coming),” he said.

Romualdez said he is confident the two countries will be able to iron out their differences.

“I’m confident na maski ano man ang mangyari importante itong relasyon natin sa Amerika at I think we will continue to have good relations with this country

and so all of these problems [will be sort out] in a way that is mutually beneficial to all of us (I’m confident whatever happens, our relationship with America is important and I think we will continue to have good relations with this country and so all of these problems [will be sort out] in a way that is mutually beneficial to all of us),” he said.

In February last year, Duterte ordered the termination of the VFA after Washington canceled the visa of former Philippine National Police chief now senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa over alleged human rights abuses during the administration’s war on drugs.

Duterte later softened his position and put the VFA’s abrogation on hold.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the move will enable the government to find a better way to improve its mutual defense arrangements with the US. Last week, Duterte said he wanted to hear first what the public had to say before deciding the VFA’s fate. n

Philippine Arena to host Manny’s...

PAGE A5 t cently issued a statement that “no one outside of Paradigm Sports is involved in any way with the management of Senator Pacquiao’s boxing career at this time.”

Gibbons said jokingly “it’s amazing that 52 guys out there are trying to do a fight for the Senator.” If a deal is sealed for May 15, Gibbons said, “I hope it’s true, more power and God bless.” At

the moment, Gibbons said nothing is set in stone. Pacquiao initially said he was given a choice of four dates to consider for his next fight in the Middle East and April 10 was a possibility, two days before the start of Ramadan.

Now, May 15 has surfaced as an option and it’s three days after the end of Ramadan. Assuming the May 15 outing materializes, Pacquiao hopes to fight once

more in September, the month before the filing of candidacies for the 2022 presidential elections. As president of the political party PDP-Laban, Pacquiao will be involved in the coming campaign. It’s not certain if Pacquiao himself will run for president but in a recent OCTA Research “Tugon Ng Masa” survey, he was a strong third in a list of 12 “most preferred” presidential bets. n

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — Sen. Leila De Lima’s trial in her second drug case will proceed as the Muntinlupa court upheld its dismissal of her bid to throw out the case.

Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 dismissed De Lima’s motion for reconsideration to reverse its earlier denial of her motion for bail and demurrer to evidence — a challenge to the prosecution evidence — due to lack of merit.

De Lima acquitted in 1 of 3 drug cases Judge Liezel Acquiatan also denied the appeal filed by De Lima’s co-accused, her former aide Ronnie Dayan.

“The Court stands with its Omnibus Order that accused De Lima and Dayan must present their evidence to prove their innocence of the crime charged,” the order on Friday read.

In her appeal, De Lima said the court’s Omnibus Order dated February 17 reduced their motion for bail and demurrer to just a half page of enumeration while the prosecution’s narrative composed 60% of the ruling.

“This conspicuous absence, in addition to the fact that its very title was wrongly cited as ‘Petition for Bail’ in the third line of the Omnibus Order, gives rise to doubts that it was even seen before, much less considered at all, in the drafting of the Omnibus Order,” their motion for reconsideration read.

But the court told De Lima that it need not capsulize in entirety the events that transpired during the hearing as it has discretion to make a summary of facts after

Sen. Leila De Lima

reading the entire records.

It added that in resolving a demurrer, the prosecution’s evidence is under scrutiny. “Non-inclusion of certain portions of the testimony in the Omnibus Order does not preclude the Court to include them in the ultimate decision after hearing the version of the defense. It does not deprive accused De Lima the opportunity to exculpate herself if she can convincingly refute this Court’s initial findings,” the court also said.

De Lima attended the hearing in the court on Friday morning, but her counsel, lawyer Rolly Peoro said they moved to reset it, following of their appeal.

Peoro, in a transcript of interview, said Dayan was supposed to take the witness stand as part of his defense as accused, but the state prosecution opposed this.

He added that trial will resume on March 26 and April 16.

First drug case: Dera appeal denied The court, which is also handling De Lima’s first case, also denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Jad Dera, said to be De Lima’s nephew but claimed

Senate photo

to be a police asset instead.

The court last month granted De Lima’s demurrer and acquitted her, but it denied Dayan’s bid. It said: “The fact remains that Dera received money from the inmates as testified to by prosecution witnesses vis-à-vis his bank records.”

In its order denying’s Dera’s plea, the court said that while “the evidence of the prosecution is indeed not strong for the accused Dera to be convicted of the crime charged, this does not disqualify the conviction of a crime necessarily included in the offense charge.”

“The Court stands with its Omnibus Order that accused Dera must present evidence to prove his innocence of the crime charged,” it added.

The senator, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, marked her fourth year in detention on February 24, over the drug cases which she claimed are trumped up. She is facing her third drug case lodged before the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256, where her plea for bail is also pending. n

SC to wait for OSG comment on anti-terror law by robertzon

ramirez

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has decided to wait for the comment of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) before ruling on petitions to stop the implementation of the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020.

“Before acting on the Joint Reiterative Motion for Temporary Restraining Order dated Feb. 22, 2021 filed by counsels for petitioners…the court resolved to await the comment of the Office of the Solicitor

General thereon as required in open court on Feb.16,” the SC said in a notice dated March 2.

The notice, posted on SC’s official website, detailed the discussions and manifestations that happened during the oral arguments on the law last March 2. The notice did not indicate the deadline for the submission of OSG’s comment.

In the same notice, the SC noted the manifestation filed by the petitioners informing the court of the arrests of petitioners Windel Bolinget and Chad Errol Booc.

The manifestation stated that the arrest of Bolinget and Booc proves the alleged chilling effect that the anti-terror law can create for activists, indigenous peoples and supporters of indigenous peoples’ rights as they are now tagged as criminals.

The SC set the next round of oral arguments on March 9 with the presentation of the respondents’ arguments, the respondents’ interpellation by the court and the presentation of the positions of the amici curiae or friends of the court. n

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LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

March 2021 priority dates Immigration Corner

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY: First Preference

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ THE March 2021 priority dates, continue to provide great news for workers in the EB-3 (skilled/professional) and “other worker” (unskilled workers like caregivers). The priority dates for all countries (except India and China) are CURRENT! This includes the Philippines! This means visas are available, regardless of the person’s priority date. If a person is being petitioned by an employer, and their Form I-140 employment-based petition has been approved or is pending, they could possibly be eligible to file for adjustment of status and work authorization, assuming they are otherwise eligible for adjustment of status (i.e. no issues re maintaining status, no fraud/crimes, etc.)

People with approved or pending I-140 petitions should see an attorney about their eligibility to file for adjustment, now that the priority dates for these employment-based categories are current.

Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holders

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

October 22, 2012

January 08, 2012

February 01, 2021

Current

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders

April 15, 2012

August 15, 2011

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens

January 08, 2003

March 08, 2002

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens

October 01, 2002

March 01, 2002

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Current

Current

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Current

Current

cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York.

All immigration services are provided FAMILY-BASED PETITIONS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON AN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (top left) answers questions regarding family-based petitions from Kapamilya in various parts by, or under the supervision of, an of California. Loretta of Temecula (top right) asks if she can revive her petition for her son. Delia of San Diego (bottom left) active member of the State Bar of petitioned her son as a “single adult child” after his son’s short-lived marriage ended in annulment. She received a letter from California. Each case is different and the National Visa Center with a heading: “Intent to Deny.” Should she be worried? Cora from Los Angeles (bottom right) petitioned results may depend on the facts of the her daughter when she was still a green card holder. Cora is now a U.S. citizen. Will this change in status affect her daughter’s particular case. The information and petition? Be sure to watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, March 7 at 5:30 pm PST (8:30 pm EST thru opinions contained herein (including select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement) testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) (866) – GURFINKEL are of a general nature, and are not your legal matter. No attorney-client GurfinkelLaw, Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Four offices to serve you: intended to apply to any particular relationship is, or shall be, established and YouTube: US Immigration TV Ca l l To l l f re e to sc h e d u l e a LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ c a se, a n d d o n o t co n st i t u te a with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com consultation for anywhere in the US: NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES prediction, warranty, guarantee or Fo l l ow u s o n Fa ce b o o k .co m / 1-866-487-3465 (Advertising Supplement) legal advice regarding the outcome of

B2 march 6-9, 2021 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

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Mothers and their immigration concerns for their children on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel discusses the latest developments in U.S. immigration reform, as featured on his YouTube channel, US Immigration TV. Atty. Gurfinkel will also be answering questions from Kapamilya regarding family-based petitions.

Loretta (Temecula, CA) petitioned her son, Eli, but he missed his interview when his petition became current. Now, Eli wants

to come to the U.S. Can Loretta revive her son’s petition?

Delia (San Diego, CA) has a son who had a very brief marriage that was annulled. She petitioned her son after his annulment as a “single adult child.” In 2013, Delia got a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) with the heading “Intent To Deny,” asking for documents, including a copy of the annulment. Delia submitted the documents but never heard back from the NVC. What happens to her son’s peti-

tion?

Cora (Los Angeles) petitioned her daughter when she was a green card holder. Cora is now a U.S. citizen. Should she inform the NVC about her change in status? Will this affect her daughter’s petition?

Answers to these questions and more on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, March 7 at 5:30 pm PST (8:30 pm EST thru select Cable/ Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Kelly Marie Tran stars as Raya and comedian Awkwafina voices Sisu, a dragon that provides comic relief.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios

‘Gabay’: Disney’s first Fil-Am star Olivia Rodrigo Filipino-language song for ‘Raya makes Billboard history, surpassing Mariah Carey, BTS and the Last Dragon’ now on Spotify By ritchel

MendiolA

By AJPress

AJPress

FILIPINA American Disney star and singer Olivia Rodrigo has made Billboard history with her debut single “Drivers License.”

The song is now the longestrunning number-one song on the Billboard Global 200, dominating the chart for seven consecutive weeks. It surpassed BTS’s “Dynamite” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” both of which racked up four frames atop the list.

“At present, it continues to succeed not only thanks to sustained sales and streaming activity, but also due to a lack of serious challengers,” according to a Forbes article published on February 21.

“Drivers License” collected 63.5 million streams, the week’s top streaming sum, as well as 20,000 sold worldwide in the tracking week of February 19 to 25.

Billboard on Tuesday, March 2, also announced that Rodrigo’s chart-topping hit became the seventh song in history to spend its first seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number one.

It joins “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, “Candle in the Wind 1997”/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” by Elton John, “God’s Plan” by Drake, “I’ll Be Missing

Olivia Rodrigo’s official debut single “Drivers License” has been dominating the charts of major streaming platforms.

Photo from Instagram/@olivia.rodrigo

You” by Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112, “Hello” by Adele, and “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey.

The 17-year-old star of “Bizaardvark” and “The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” was born to an American mother of Irish and German descent, and a Fil-Am father.

In an interview with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Rodrigo talked about the Fil-Am side of her family.

“My great-grandfather immigrated here from the Philippines when he was just a teenager.

He’s my grandma’s dad, and my grandpa is also Filipino as well,”

she said.

“My dad grew up in a house where they were always making Filipino food, his grandpa always spoke Tagalog. All of those traditions have trickled down to our generation. Every Thanksgiving we have lumpia, and things like that,” she added.

Rodrigo also revealed that she wants to go to the Philippines one day.

“I have never been to the Philippines, but I really, really want to. We still have extended family there, but I’ve never met them.

That’s on my bucket list, definitely,” she said.

THE first-ever Filipino-language song from Disney is now available on Spotify.

“Gabay,” sung by Filipina singer KZ Tandingan, was released at midnight on Friday, March 5.

The song, which calls for unity and trust, will be featured in the upcoming animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

The lyrics include: “May lakas na galing sa tubig, at sa puso mo’y mahika / Bibigyang dangal ang pamana, ‘pag liwanag ang ‘yong dala / Magkaisa nang tumibay, at ‘di mahihiwalay / Tatatag, ‘wag lamang matakot na subukan.” (There’s an energy in the water / There is magic deep in our heart / There’s a legacy that we honor / When we bring the light to the dark / Whatever brings us together can never tear us apart / We become stronger than ever) Tandingan — dubbed “Asia’s Soul Supreme” — was handpicked to “lend her voice” for

the first-ever Filipino-language track from Disney.

To welcome the release of “Gabay,” she hosted a listening party via Instagram Live with her fans.

Previously, Tandingan said she was “very grateful” to sing the first-ever Disney track in Filipino for an international animated film.

“I am very grateful and I feel very proud to be singing in my language, and show off its beauty to the rest of the world. I am proud to be part of history,” she said in a statement sent to Philstar.com.

“I grew up watching Disney movies. Finally, there is a Disney Princess who I can feel a very strong connection to, and that is Raya as the first one inspired by Southeast Asia,” she added.

Set in the fantasy world of Kumandra, where long ago humans and dragons lived together in harmony, “Raya and the Last Dragon” — directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada — tells the story of Raya

(Kelly Marie Tran), who embarks on an adventure to track down the legendary last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), to restore the fractured land and unite its divided people.

Other cast members include Daniel Dae Kim as Raya’s father Benja; Gemma Chan who plays Raya’s nemesis Namaari; and Sandra Oh as Virana, Namaari’s mother. “‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ is inspired by various Southeast Asian cultures and, as such, we found it fitting to launch ‘Gabay’ as a way for us to celebrate the film and connect with our Filipino fans,” said Allie Benedicto, studio marketing head of Disney Philippines. “‘Gabay,’ the first-ever Disney track sung in Filipino, demonstrates our commitment to work with local creative talents to tell our stories in a locally relevant manner,” she added.

“Raya and the Last Dragon” was released in theaters and on Disney+ with Premiere Access for an additional $29.99 fee on March 5.

Filipino avant-garde designer Rocky Gathercole, known for dressing Hollywood stars, passes away unexpectedly

By AJPress

ROCKY Gathercole, a celebrated Filipino avant-garde designer who dressed Hollywood celebrities from Lady Gaga to Jennifer Lopez, died unexpectedly at the age of 54.

Gathercole was found unconscious at his Quezon City home on Wednesday, March 3, ABS-CBN News reported.

A cause of death has not been revealed as of this writing.

In a 2016 interview with the Asian Journal, the designer recounted his humble beginnings when he left home at 14, resorting to taking refuge at the foot of the Quezon Bridge in Quiapo and supporting himself by working various jobs.

He sold tapsilog on a kariton (push cart) along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

His “dream” at the time was to be a janitor at an SM mall but the job required a high school diploma. He instead waited tables at a Makati restaurant and would sketch designs during his free time.

Gathercole received a job opportunity in Saudi Arabia, where his employer encouraged him to become a designer.

“There were other Filipino designers who taught me things like how to bead and cut [fabric]. That was for two months and the rest is history. I went to Dubai and that’s where the idea enhanced that I wanted to really be a designer,” he told the Asian Journal.

Gathercole spent over two decades in the Middle East, opening up a shop in Dubai, where he primarily designed wedding dresses and formal couture gowns for women.

It was his artful, over-thetop designs — which include edgy bodysuits and gaudy headpieces — that caught the attention of Hollywood A-listers.

“I could do the weird things and at the same time, I could do the very simple and elegant wedding dresses. In the Middle East, my line was wedding dresses. I can do anything.

Here in the U.S. is where I got noticed so I’ve been associated with kabaliwan (madness). That’s okay as long as I am enjoying what I’m doing. Personally it’s important masaya ako (that I am happy).

I can make a lot of money but

Rocky Gathercole was an avant-garde designer who dressed celebrities from Lady Gaga to Jennifer Lopez.

Photos courtesy of Rocky Gathercole/Facebook

Gathercole’s designs have been worn by Britney Spears, Cardi B, and Katy Perry.

if hindi ako masaya, wala rin, (if I wasn’t happy, there’s nothing also) I wouldn’t enjoy,” he said.

In 2010, Gathercole showcased designs at Miami Fashion Week, his first fashion show in the United States.

Since then, he held shows in New York, Los Angeles and Australia. For The Stars Fashion House along Melrose Avenue in LA served as his home base in the U.S. Gathercole’s creations have also been worn by Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Carrie Underwood, and Paris Hilton.

Among his famous designs include Katy Perry’s gold corset in her “Dark Horse” music video and a black-and-white flare dress Hilton wore at Cannes Film Festival in 2014.

In the past year, he designed a black gown with a blue, jew-

eled crusted hood for Cardi B, while J.Lo donned his bright red gown on Christmas Eve 2020.

Despite his international and star-studded clientele, he remained grounded and was reminded of his early years.

“It’s important that the client trusts the designer. I don’t get starstruck anymore. I think living on the streets [helped] with that because I never expected a life where everything was given to me,” he said.

When asked about his advice for future designers, he shared, “I don’t believe designers are made; I believe they’re born. From [my experience], I didn’t study to be a designer. Somehow, designer talaga ako (I really am a designer). The best advice I can give is to be yourself and find it in your heart, and the art will come out.”

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Fil-Am actor Alec Mapa to join new ABC comedy series By ritchel

MendiolA AJPress

FILIPINO American actor Alec Mapa will star alongside Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer in ABC’s newest multi-cam comedy series.

The untitled series from “Modern Family” co-creator Chris Lloyd and executive producer Vali Chandrasekaran centers on three men who were roommates in their 20s until their egos drove them apart, according to Variety.

The trio come together decades later in pursuit of the lives they’ve dreamt of.

Mapa will play as Andre, an empathetic gay man who will help ease tensions between Channing (Baldwin) and London (Grammer) “while also seeking a romantic and professional success that have so far eluded him,” Variety reported.

Mapa, born to Filipino parents, was raised in San Francisco. He is known for starring in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of “M. Butterfly.”

He has appeared in various shows and films like “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” “Switched At Birth,” “Devious Maids,” “Ugly Betty,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Friends,” “Alias,” and “Half & Half.” He is currently

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 6-9, 2021

‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ finds inspiration in the cultures, people of Southeast Asia

WALT Disney Animation Studios’ new animated fi lm “Raya and the Last Dragon” is an exciting, epic journey about the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity.

Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.

Inspired by the various cultures and people of Southeast Asia, the imaginary lands of Kumandra in “Raya and the Last Dragon” each has its own customs and geography. Although the fi lm is a fantasy, Disney sought to ensure that the portrayals of the cultures that inspire the fi lm are accurate and respectful. The creative team visited multiple countries in the region, including Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, to conduct research.

Disney also enlisted experts to its Raya Southeast Asia Story Trust, who had a strong influence on all elements of the fi lm. Dr. S. Alec Mapa Steve Arounsack, professor of anthropology at starring in the HBO Max-DC se- mer, Jason Schrift, Matt DelPia- California State University, Stanislaus, guided ries “Doom Patrol.” no, Tom Russo, Adam Griffin and the creative team through the cultural inspiraLloyd and Chandrasekaran will Jeff Morton. 20th Television, part tion behind the story. Husband and wife team executive produce the ABC com- of Disney TV Studios, is the stu- Emiko Saraswati Susilo and I Dewa Putu Beedy series with Baldwin, Gram- dio behind the project. rata of Çudamani collaborated closely with the animators to create character movement inspired by the philosophies of Balinese dance and gamelan. Dr. Rebecca S. Hall, a curator at the University of Southern California’s Pacific Asia Museum, used her expertise in textiles to inform the design and colors of the characters’ clothing, like the sabai top and sampot pant, found in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Dr. Juliana Wijaya, a linguist at UCLA’s Indonesian Studies Program, helped craft the characters’ names to have special meaning inspired by different Southeast Asian languages. Laos Angeles, an organization serving the Laotian community in Southern California, hosted a Baci ceremony to bless the production.

HEALTH Net announced it derinsured individuals in our area will have access to commuThe attention to detail pays off in the rich patient-centered, is awarding $1.965 million in service area have encountered nity-driven, portrayal of Kumandra. “You can see the inspigrants to help enroll, educate multiple barriers to accessing affordable, and comprehensive ration in the terrain, the shapes in the movie, and retain eligible members in healthcare, lack of awareness health services as well as other the fabrics people are wearing, and the colMedi-Cal, the state’s health care of available resources and dif- needed resources.” ors used,” said Vietnamese American actress CCHC will use the grants to ficulty navigating governmentsafety net program.

Kelly Marie Tran who voices Raya. “Disney is The grant is part of a total of sponsored insurance program increase enrollment, retention very meticulous about wanting to accurately $1.9 million in grants Health Net during the current pandemic and navigation within the health represent the parts of the world their movies is awarding to Federally Quali- conditions,” said Pedro Ramirez, care system by providing loware about.” fied Health Centers (FQHC), Director of Outreach and Com- income individuals with health In the fi lm, characters sharing food together Community Based Organizations munity Engagement. “With this coverage educations and patient symbolizes trust and harmony. The scenes of (CBO) and clinic consortia in Cal- grant from Healthnet, CCHC will navigation services, and enroll Raya and her friends sitting around a table to ifornia. “To date, CCHC patients ensure that low-income families them in appropriate health covenjoy meals together commemorates the way and those underserved and un- and individuals in our service erage.

Comprehensive Community Health Centers (CCHC) receives new funding to help increase enrollment in Medi-Cal and other programs

Sinusuportahan ng Loterya ng California

Pambansang Problema sa Pagsusugal Buwan ng Kamalayan Marso 1-31 Ngayon ang panahon upang gawin ang unang hakbang Para sa Kompidensyal na Libreng Tulong Tumawag sa 1-800-GAMBLER

Sa pakikipagsosyo sa :

B3

“Raya and the Last Drago” will hit theaters and Disney+ on March 5.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios

food is shared family-style in much of the region. In many Asian cuisines, there are fi ve disparate fl avors– spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter– that come together to create delicious meals. Communal meals also advance the characters’ journey towards becoming a team and the sense that if they trust each other and work together, they can achieve anything.

Southeast Asian martial arts are front and center in “Raya and the Last Dragon.” As a warrior princess and daughter of the chief of Heart, Raya’s fighting styles are inspired by Pencak Silat of Malaysia and Indonesia and Kali and Arnis of the Philippines. Other fighting techniques featured in the fi lm are inspired

by Muay Thai and Krabi Krabong of Thailand, multi-limbed attack styles from Muay Thai of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, and the fl ying scissor-leg takedowns of Vietnam. Co-screenwriter Qui Nguyen acted as one of the fi lm’s fight reference choreography consultants. “It was really important to me that the fighting styles were grounded in physics that are real,” he said.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” will be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5, 2021.

B4 march 6-9, 2021 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

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Tax Tips Victor Sy, mBA, cPA (retired) THE transition from Trump to Biden presents a tremendous opportunity to invest in China stocks. You may be familiar with Alibaba, Baidu, JD, and Ten Cent.

Let me walk you through these China techs. I used to have few China stocks and even reduced my holdings when Trump started a trade war but since then have realized that whether we like it or not, China is bound to overtake the United States as global leader in the next decade or so. Sorry.

This is first of two articles.

Alibaba (BABA) • Alibaba is the highest-ranked stock in China.

• It accounts for 50% of all web-based retail sales in the entire country.

• The company also provides cloud computing, logistics, and additional services • Its businesses consist of core commerce, cloud computing, mobile media and entertainment.

• It provides the technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands and other businesses to leverage the power of new technology to engage with users and customers.

Atty. rheA SAmSon ANG isang dayuhan na may false claim sa U.S. citizenship ay maaaring maging inadmissible sa U.S. Ang mga sumusunod ang elements ng false claim sa U.S. citizenship: (1) ang dayuhan ay nagsabi na siya ay U.S. citizen; (2) ang kanyang pagsabi na siya ay U.S. citizen ay hindi totoo; (3) alam ng dayuhan na siya ay nagsisinungaling noong sinabi niya na siya ay U.S. citizen; at (4) ang dahilan ng pagsabi ng dayuhan na siya ay U.S. citizen ay upang makakuha ng mga benepisyo sa ilalim ng Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), o para sa benepisyo sa ilalim ng federal law o state law.

Ang dayuhan ay maaaring magsabi na siya ay U.S. citizen sa mga interbyu, sa mga aplikasyon niya sa trabaho, o sa mga dokumentong kanyang ibinigay sa federal at state officials. Maaari rin na ang pagsisinungaling ukol sa U.S. citizenship ay sinabi sa isang pribadong tao, katulad ng U.S. employer. Para maging false claim sa U.S. citizenship, dapat ay alam ng dayuhan na ang sinasabi niya na siya ay U.S. citizen ay kasinungalingan. Kung akala ng dayuhan na siya U.S. citizen dahil ito ang sinabi sa kanya ng kanyang mga magulang simula noong siya ay sanggol pa hanggang lumaki na siya, at buong buhay niya itong pinaniwalaan, hindi masasabing ang dayuhan ay may false claim sa U.S. citizenship.

Ayon sa batas, ang isang dayuhan ay inadmissible dahil sa false claim ng U.S. citizenship kung siya ay nagsabi at naglinlang para makakuha ng mga benepisyo sa ilalim ng INA, o federal law o state law. Kailangan ding ang U.S. citizenship ay materyal para sa benepisyong gustong makuha ng dayuhan, kagaya ng sa aplikasyon para sa U.S. passport, pagpasok sa U.S. kung saan sinasabi ng dayuhan na siya ay US citizen para hindi tanungin ng Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officers, o kaya ay sa pag-fill up ng Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form, kung saan sinasabi ng dayuhan na siya ay U.S. citizen upang hindi na siya hanapan ng U.S. employer ng

Pastor’s Notes

B5

China tech stocks Seniors eligible for Chapter (Part 1 of 3) 7 relief for $67K credit cards despite $260K home equity

• Its Cloud Computing segment provides complete suite of cloud services including database, storage, network virtualization services and big data analytics.

JD.com (JD) • JD.com Inc is engaged in ecommerce business in the China market.

• The Company offers electronics products, home appliances and general merchandise.

• It has its own online platform which third-party merchants offer products on it.

• It offers comprehensive supply chain solutions to third parties through JD Logistics including warehousing, transportation, delivery and after-sales service.

• It sells a wide selection of unique products ranging from digital offerings to car accessories, home appliances, luxury goods, furniture, food, cosmetics, and more. It sells just about everything.

Baidu (BIDU) • Baidu, Inc. is a Chinese language Internet search provider.

• The Company offers a Chinese language search platform on its Baidu.com website that enables users to find information online, including Webpages, news, images, documents and

multimedia files.

• It serves individual Internet search users by providing a platform for businesses to reach customers.

• Its business consists of three segments: search, transaction services and iQiyi.

• Search services are keyword-based marketing services targeted at and triggered by Internet users’ search queries, which mainly include its pay-forperformance services and other online marketing services.

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

False claim to US citizenship

Tapat Sa Batas

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 6-9, 2021

mga dokumento na siya ay legal na pwedeng magtrabaho sa U.S. Maaari ring ang dayuhan ay may false claim sa U.S. citizenship upang makaiwas sa mga negatibong maaaring mangyari sa kanya kung siya ay wala nang status sa U.S., tulad ng paglagay sa kanya sa removal o deportation proceedings.

Upang maging inadmissible ang dayuhan, kailangang ang U.S. citizenship ay materyal sa benipisyong gustong niyang makuha.

Ayon sa mga court decisions, ang false claim sa US citizenship ng isang dayuhan upang makaiwas ng aresto dahil sa disorderly conduct, o para sa isang small business loan ay hindi rin materyal dahil ang US citizenship ay walang kinalaman sa pag-aresto at pag-utang. Ngunit kung ang false claim sa U.S. citizenship ay para sa federal student loan, mahalaga ang U.S. citizenship at magiging inadmissible ang dayuhan dahil dito. *** An alien who falsely claims to be a U.S. citizen may be found to be inadmissible to the U.S. The following are the elements of false claim to U.S. citizenship: (1) the alien made a representation of U.S. citizenship; (2) the representation was false; (3) the alien made the representation knowingly; and (4) the alien made the representation for any purpose or benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) or any other federal or state law.

An alien may claim to be a U.S. citizen in interviews, written applications or by submitting documentary evidence to a U.S. government official, any federal, state or local official, or even to a private person, such as an employer. For USCIS to consider the claim to U.S. citizenship to be false, the alien must knowingly misrepresent the fact that he is a citizen of the U.S. The alien must have known that he was not a U.S. citizen at the time that the claim was made. If the alien did not know that the claim to citizenship was false, the alien cannot be considered as having made a false claim to citizenship.

The law only makes an alien inadmissible for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship if the alien falsely represents himself to be a U.S.

citizen for any purpose or benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), or any federal or state law. Furthermore, U.S. citizenship must matter to the purpose or benefit sought.

This means that U.S. citizenship must be material to the purpose or benefit sought, such as in an application for U.S. passport, entry into the U.S. where the alien claims to be a U.S. citizen, and in obtaining employment by filling-up Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form under a claim of U.S. citizenship. If the alien also falsely claims U.S. citizenship to avoid negative legal consequences such as being placed in removal proceedings, he is inadmissible. Likewise, if the alien claimed to be a U.S. citizen to avoid showing valid and unexpired work authorization documents to accept an offer of employment, he is inadmissible.

In order for an alien to be inadmissible, the false claim to U.S. citizenship must be material to the purpose or benefit sought. In decided cases, the court found that an alien’s false claim to U.S. citizenship to local police while he was being arrested for disorderly conduct and a false claim of U.S. citizenship on a Small Business Administration loan application have nothing to do with citizenship status. Hence, the aliens in these situations were not found to be inadmissible. However, a false claim to U.S. citizenship on an application for Federal student loan makes an alien inadmissible because U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite to such a loan. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).

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

(Advertising Supplement)

On finding our way City, Let your life be a masterpiece, Letizia Magri expresses the same sentiment. Reflecting on a related psalm (Psalm 25:4), “Make me know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths,” she writes: “We often walk along the roads of our presumed self-suf-

the correct path to reach our goal.

The psalm helps us greatly; it urges us toward a new personal reVerend encounter with God and trust rodeL g. BALAgtAS in his friendship. It gives us the courage to embrace his teachHOW many of us appreciings, which constantly invite ate God’s laws? How many of us to avoid remaining closed us thank God in on ourselves for his wisdom and follow him and direction? on the way of I hope that we love.” can all say that In the light of we do. Otherkeeping God’s wise, we’d all be law, we can ungroping in the derstand Jesus’ dark, confused anger and viowith what path lent reaction in to take. Or we’ll this Sunday’s just be followGospel passage ing our whims, on the purificamaking idols of tion of the temourselves. ple. Jesus was This Sunday’s Psalm read- ficiency, but then we find our- furious at people’s disregard ing conveys this sentiment. selves disoriented, confused, for the sacredness of the Feast Indeed, the law of the Lord re- faced with our limitations and of Passover and the Temple. freshes the soul! shortcomings. We would like They were making the Temple In her article in Living to find a compass in life and PAGE B6

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear.” -Psalm 19

GONE are the days when debtors — who owe lots of credit cards but have home equities that surpass the homestead exemption limits depending on age and the number of relatives living in the house — have to use Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7 to get rid of debilitating credit card debt.

Let’s analyze the cases of two clients to see the difference between the new amended 704.730 of the California Code of Civil Procedure and the old 704.730.

In the first case, the clients are husband and wife. The husband is 65, while the wife is 60. Together they owe $67,000 of credit cards. The husband is retired and has social security of $1,800. The wife is employed and makes a gross of $3,500 monthly. They own a house that has a current market value of $500,000 in LA County.

It’s an old house constructed in 1960, and it’s small, about 1,000 square feet. They have one mortgage with a balance of $240,000. This means that they have equity in their home of $260,000. The $67,000 of credit cards require a minimum of $2,000 a month to keep them current. $2,000 a month, that’s a huge amount, considering their mortgage payment is only $1,600 a month, including a real estate tax. It’s almost absurd but the math is correct: they pay $2,000 a month for $67,000 of credit cards monthly, just to keep them current so they don’t go on default, while they pay only $1,600 a month, including real estate tax for a mortgage that has a balance of $240,000.

Yep, it’s more expensive to live in their house of plastic cards, $400 more, than it is to live in their real house. Something’s not right here.

The clients did not feel the financial pressure of keeping the cards current until the husband retired last year. He used to make $4,000 a month when he was still working so most of his salary was used to keep their credit cards current every month. They were de facto slaves to MasterCard and Visa for many, many years. In fact, they had been paying the $67,000 of cards at the rate of $24,000 a year for the last ten years. That’s a total of $240,000 that they have paid to their credit card masters. But today they still owe the same $67,000.

If they had used that $240,000 to pay off their house, their house would have only a balance of $20,000 today!

Now that husband has retired and relies on social security of $1,800, $2,000 a month to keep their credit card masters happy is nearly an impossible task.

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng Just the idea of using social security to feed the unquenchable plastic monsters satisfied every month is so irritating. They have a worksheet logging each minimum payment to about ten credit cards. Let’s see: Is the Bank of America visa card that’s owed a balance of $7,000 already paid the $210 minimum due this month? And is the Wells Fargo MasterCard that’s owed $10K already paid the $300 minimum due this month? You know how nasty they can get if they don’t get their monthly minimum stipends on time. You get a phone call immediately to remind you that your $210 or $300 payment is late. Since it’s late you now owed another $50 in late penalty charges. So what’s the difference between a slave and you? Well, a real slave is owned by his master and he has to work for free for his master, you know work the plantations under the hot sun from the crack of dawn to dusk. For that labor, the slave gets paid nothing. He even gets sold to another slave owner if his master decides to. In the case of the credit card debtor, he has to pay his credit card master a minimum payment every month.

So debtor goes out and works and gets paid for his labors, but in turn, he has to fork over his hard-earned money to his credit card master every month. So same difference. Both you and the real slave have to answer to your masters. Yes, master!

No wonder you feel like a slave because you are one. Get rid of those plastic shackles and be free!

Under the old 704.730 law, my senior clients would not qualify for Chapter 7 even if their income qualifies them under the means test for Chapter 7. Or, let’s just say that if they choose Chapter 7 to get rid of the $67,000 credit cards, they would have been able to, but in Chapter 7 under the old law, they would lose their house to the Chapter 7 trustee. The Chapter 7 trustee would sell their house, give them their homestead exemption of $100,000, and use the rest of the sale proceeds to pay off the $67,000 of credit cards. They lose their house to pay off credit cards. That’s just too stupid and mean, right?

But that’s the way the old law worked. So under the old law, clients would have to choose Chapter 13 where the trustee

has no power to sell the house.

But in Chapter 13, they would have to pay the $67,000 in full over 60 months (five years) without interest. After the 60th payment, the court discharges or wipes out the $67,000. In other words, in Chapter 13 then, because of the large equity in their home that surpasses $100,000, they would have to pay about $1,100 a month.

Sure that’s still better than paying $2,000 a month perpetually.

In Chapter 13 then, they would pay the $1,100 for 60 months and after that, they wouldn’t owe anything at all anymore. So that’s still a lot better than paying $2,000 forever.

Fortunately for clients, the new law which just took effect this year will allow them to obtain a Chapter 7 discharge of all of their $67,000 of credit cards, without a single payment, and still allow them to keep their home even if it has $260,000 of equity. That’s a sweetheart deal under the new law. Thank you our Lord God Almighty! For me, God Almighty is Yahweh, Adonai, El Shaddai, El Elohim, Jehovah, who loved us so that He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ to die for us and redeem us from the consequences of sin, to give us eternal life, because He loves us so very much! We who are all sinners who are not worthy of His love! What an awesome and wonderful God He is!

Debtors eligible for Chapter 7 relief The next client is only 50.

Believe me, that’s young. Her equity in her home is $200,000.

She owes $120,000 of credit cards. She had a business prepandemic. She used her credit cards to run the business. She doesn’t think her business can recover from the pandemic. She needs a fresh start now. Thank God she can now do a Chapter 7 to wipe out the $120,000 of credit cards and she can still keep her house, which is now fully protected pursuant to the new amended 704.730 homestead exemption.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code §7610.

Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child. Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child.

A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father.

Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend.

One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before

1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary declaration Family.Code. § 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485 If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps §7611 presumptions discussed below. A post 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.”

Family .Code §§ 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re J.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33.

Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611: (a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court. (b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural

mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce.

(2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation. (c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate.

(2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order. (d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child. (e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

This subdivision shall remain PAGE B6

B6 march 6-9, 2021 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. KENNEDY Donohue worked as a nurse recruiter at the San Diego offices of AMN Services, LLC, a healthcare services and staffing company that recruits nurses for temporary contract assignments. Ms. Donohue worked eight hours per day.

Per company policy, nurse recruiters were provided with 30minute meal periods beginning no later than the end of the fifth hour of work; that the meal period was an “uninterrupted 30 minute” break, they were “free to leave the office site,” and were not impeded from taking their break.

During Ms. Donohue’s employment, the company used an electronic timekeeping system called Team Time to track its employees’ compensable time. Using their work desktop computers, they punched into Team Time at the start of the day, at the start of lunch, at the end of lunch, and at the end of the day.

In calculating work time, Team Time rounded the time punches to the nearest 10-minute increment. For example, if an employee clocked out for lunch at 11:02 a.m. and clocked in after lunch at 11:25 a.m., Team Time would have recorded the time punches as 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Al-

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Are you getting the full 30 minutes On finding our way... for your meal break?

When time is scarce, those minutes count

though the actual meal period was 23 minutes, Team Time would have recorded the meal period as 30 minutes.

Ms. Donohue sued AMN in a class action alleging, among other things, that the employer’s practice of rounding meal period punches to the nearest 10th is illegal. The employer argued that rounding is a practical method for

“more than five hours per day” or “more than 10 hours per day” without being provided with a meal period. The precise time requirement set by law (“not less than 30 minutes”) is at odds with the imprecise calculations that rounding involves. The regulatory scheme that encompasses the meal period provisions is concerned with small amounts of time.

“Each meal period must be “not less than 30 minutes,” and no employee shall work “more than five hours per day” or “more than 10 hours per day” without being provided with a meal period.” calculating worktime and can be a neutral calculation tool for providing full payment to employees. Both the trial and appellate courts agreed and dismissed the case. Ms. Donohue appealed to the California Supreme Court, which reversed the lower courts.

The high court emphasized that California law sets precise time requirements for meal periods. Each meal period must be “not less than 30 minutes,” and no employee shall work

Similar to the law on rest breaks where the law forbids “encroachments” on the 10 minutes allotted for rest periods, the high court stated that the same vigilance is needed here. Given the relatively short length of a 30-minute meal period, the incursion that might result from rounding is significant. On a 30-minute break, time is scarce and when time is scarce, minutes count.

The meal period provisions are designed to prevent even

minor infringements on meal period requirements. Rounding is incompatible with that objective. The high court concluded that employers who engage in the practice of rounding meal period time punches do so in violation of law.

Under the law, meal break violations against an employee can occur if the employee 1) was not provided an actual break; 2) was prevented from taking the break within the first 5 hours of work; 3) was interrupted by work during break; or 4) took a shortened break, as the case here. If any of these violations occur, the employee should be paid an additional one hour at their regular hourly rate. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

PAGE B5 into a marketplace, an emporium, by selling oxen, sheep, and pigeons and exchanging money for profit. For Jesus, the Temple is not merely a building where people gather, degenerated into a marketplace; it is “the house of the Father.”

This Gospel story urges the need for us not only to follow God’s law but also to respect the sacredness of things, people, and days and events. It admonishes us to make room for God and neighbor.

Love for God and neighbor.

It is the spirit of the law. All our projects, preoccupations, plans, and activities must reflect this spirit and take it as the central principle.

In a world that often disregards God and his commandments, may we be more conscious of our mission to bring the Person of Jesus into the marketplace. May we also become the temple of God, reflecting his radiant love. In this way, people would find the right path to a meaningful life and Eternal Life! *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

How to obtain custody...

PAGE B5 in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative. (f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied.

An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v.

Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877 The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend.

Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the childs birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612.

Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for

child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675.

Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist.

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

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

B7 march 6-9, 2021 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

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

B8 march 6-9, 2021 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

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

SEAFOOD CITY FPFC