032421 - Southern California Midweek Edition

March 24-26 2021 Volume 31 - No. 23 • 14 Pages

‘IT FELT LIKE WE FAILED OUR COMMUNITIES TO KEEP THEM SAFE’:

Filipino Americans mobilize to combat anti-Asian hatred across United States

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

trons, killing eight people in total, including six Asian women.

The event was shocking FOR Asian Americans across and reverberated beyond the the country, the events that un- Asian American community. folded on Tuesday, March 16 #StopAsianHate began trendat three Asian-owned spas in ing on Twitter. Celebrities Atlanta punctuated a mounting and public figures of all races fear: the community isn’t safe. began echoing party lines of A 21-year-old man entered unity and stopping racism. three different massage parlors But a week after the Atlanta in the greater Atlanta area and shooting, the outrage over antigunned down workers and pa- Asian racism is beginning to

fizzle out in the mainstream. A grocery store shooting in Boulder, Colorado — which claimed the lives of 10 people — on Monday, March 22 reignited the broader issue of gun violence in America.

But the Asian American community doesn’t have the luxury of treating the Atlanta shooting and the disturbing rise in anti-Asian violence as last week’s news.

u PAGE 2

March 26 to mark #StopAsianHate Virtual Day of Action and Healing

USA

DATELINE CA’s My Turn COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system now available in Tagalog FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

CALIFORNIA’S COVID-19 vaccine scheduling tool My Turn is now available in 12 languages, including Tagalog.

MyTurn.ca.gov — a website that allows the state’s residents to schedule appointments and be notified when they’re eligible — has been updated to include five new languages in an effort to be accessible to more residents, the California Department of Public Health announced on Monday, March 22.

“California’s remarkable wealth of diversity is always top of mind as we create and perfect the tools that will ensure every

u PAGE 4

FEMA to reimburse funeral expenses for some COVID-19 victims THE U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced its plan to offer funeral assistance to families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus,” the agency said on its website.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA has earmarked $2 billion to reimburse individuals and households for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020.

u PAGE 3

STOP ASIAN HATE. From Fullerton, California (top) to New York City (bottom), communities came together on Saturday, March 20 to denounce the recent shootings in the greater Atlanta area that left eight individuals, including six Asian women, dead and the nearly 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents that have been reported since the start of the pandemic.

Photos courtesy of Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva and Augee Francisco

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

ASIAN American lawmakers and community leaders are observing #StopAsianHate Virtual Day of Action and Healing on Friday, March 26 in the wake of the Georgia shootings that killed eight individuals,

including six Asian women, and as nearly 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents have been recorded across the country.

The initiative, first started by Rep. Grace Meng of New York and California Assemblymember Evan Low, encourages community members, corporations and organizations to

speak up and condemn the rise of anti-Asian attacks and discrimination on social media by using the hashtag #StopAsianHate.

“We are asking everyone throughout the country to stand up for Asian Americans during this difficult and challenging time for our

u PAGE 3

Report: 83 Filipino registered nurses These attacks feel more personal’: California’s Fil-Am in the US have died of COVID-19 chief justice responds to violence against Asian Americans

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL RITCHEL MENDIOLA AJPress

OVER 80 registered nurses of Filipino descent have died from the coronavirus, making up 26.4% of total RN fatalities in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a new report.

The National Nurses United on Thursday, March 18 released an update to its September 2020 “Sins of Omissions” report, finding that at least 329 RNs have died of COVID-19 and related complications since the beginning of the pandemic.

The data collection tracked deaths up

until February 11, 2021, and also found that at least 3,233 health care workers, including RNs, have died from the virus.

Of the 329 deaths, 83 individuals were of Filipino descent, the report found.

“Eighty-three (26.4%) of the 314 registered nurses, for whom race/ethnicity data is available, who have died of COVID-19 and related complications are Filipino.

They make up 4% of registered nurses in the United States,” it said.

Among the 170 RNs of color who have died, nearly half (48.8%) have been Filipino. The data comes from 314 registered nurses for which race and ethnicity data is

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

CALIFORNIA Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has condemned the violent attacks against Asians and u PAGE 2 Asian Americans in the United States.

In a statement issued on Friday, March 19, the Filipina American chief justice shared that the recent hate crimes felt “more Islands in the West Philippine Sea, and to personal” since she direct its fishing vessels to desist from envi- is a member of the ronmentally destructive activities.” community being “The Philippines has been assiduously targeted. protesting the illegal and lingering (swarm“Anti-Asian vioing) presence of Chinese fishing vessels and lence, like any maritime assets in the said areas,” it added. violence based on On Sunday, Mar. 21, Manila filed a dip- prejudice, bias, or lomatic protest over the vessels’ presence, fear of the other, is believed to be manned by Chinese maritime reprehensible. Be- California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye militia personnel. cause of who I am Following the filing of the protest, the as an Asian-Filipina, because of my parents, my aunties, friends, and Chinese Embassy in Manila denied the al- connected communities of color, these attacks feel more personal,” leged activity of Beijing’s maritime militia said Cantil-Sakauye.

PH demands China to pull ships, maritime assets out of WPS

by CHRISTIA

MARIE Inquirer.net

RAMOS

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has demanded that China immediately withdraw its fishing vessels and maritime assets from the West Philippine Sea after Manila protested the presence of over 200 Chinese ships at the Julian Felipe Reef.

In a statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine government said China should “promptly withdraw its fishing vessels and maritime assets in the vicinity and adjacent waters of relevant features in the Kalayaan Group of

u PAGE 3

u PAGE 2

LEN EN DEALS

W W W. I S L A N D PAC I F I C M A R K E T.C O M

PROMO SALE PERIOD | MARCH 25 - 31, 2021

40%

20%

OFF

OFF

FRESH SEAFOOD

SHRIMP SPECIAL

2.99

$

/LB

WILD CAUGHT | USA

FRESH RED BANDIT ROCK COD STEAK

REGULAR $4.99

REGULAR $4.99

38%

%

OFF

OFF

TOP PICK SEAFOOD

FRESH SEAFOOD

1.99

$

/LB

WILD CAUGHT | CANADA

4.99

$

/LB

BLUE RUNNER (ALUMAHAN)

WILD CAUGHT | MEXICO

REGULAR $2.89

REGULAR $7.99

0

$

/LB

WILD CAUGHT | CANADA

YELLOWFIN TUNA STEAK

31

3.99

$

FRESH HALIBUT STEAK

ZERO DOLLAR NO SERVICE FEE ALL ONLINE ORDERS

SHOP SMART. STAY SAFE. SHOP ONLINE.

Shop Island Pacific | Download the App

2 March 24-26, 2021 • Socal aSIaN JOUrNaL

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

From the Front Page

Filipino Americans mobilize to...

PAGE 1 Just as Black Americans haven’t halted their goal in mitigating police brutality because “Black Lives Matter” isn’t trending or Central Americans who continue to advocate for humane practices at the southern border, the fight for racial justice and undoing dangerous misconceptions for the Asian American community doesn’t stop because it’s not the headline of the day.

Since February 2020, members of the Asian American community — and the greater Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community — have been acutely aware of the rise in antiAsian harassment, violence and bullying with the onset of the coronavirus crisis.

According to the Stop AAPI Hate tracker, between March 19, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021, there have been 3,795 reports of discrimination and assaults toward the AAPI community. Physical assaults comprised the thirdlargest category of all incidents and women are 2.3 more likely to be harassed and/or assaulted,

as the Asian Journal previously reported.

The virus was reported to have stemmed from China, so an erroneous relationship between the virus (which has taken millions of American lives and continues to disrupt millions more) and anybody who appears remotely Chinese was forged.

As such, Chinese were the largest ethnic group (42.2%) to report to the Stop AAPI Hate tracker, followed by Koreans (14.8%), Vietnamese (8.5%) and Filipinos (7.9%).

The statistics and number of reports are jarring and present a warped and dissonant view of the country that many Asian immigrants who relocate to the U.S. saw as a beacon of opportunity and upward mobility.

Political leaders, particularly Democrats like President Joe Biden, have argued that events like Atlanta are un-American.

Biden made a point that his administration would combat hate and violence toward Asians, signing a measure proclaiming such on his first day in office.

PAGE 1 available.

Other highlights of the report include six states — New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas, and Florida — account for 176 (53.5%) of the 329 total registered nurse fatalities.

The NNU documented the deaths using news articles, social media, obituaries, union memorials, federal and state reports, and its own internal reporting.

“NNU believes many of these deaths would have been prevented if greater effort had been made to plan for and overcome the pitfalls of just-in-time supply chain management,” it said.

“Scaling up the capabilities for the stockpiling and rapid distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) must be among the highest priorities of the hospital and nursing home industries and federal and state agencies going forward,” it added.

Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, a Filipina American RN and a president of the NNU, called the amount of nurse and health care worker deaths “unconscionable.”

“We call on the CDC to fully recognize aerosol transmission and to update and strengthen its COVID-19 guidance to provide protection from inhalation of virus in the air,” TriunfoCortez said in a statement. “It is unconscionable that so many nurses and health care workers

lost their lives. We look forward to the impending issuance of an emergency temporary standard on infectious diseases by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to provide comprehensive occupational health protections to nurses, other health care workers and all essential workers.”

The union estimated that there have been 791,158 cases of COVID-19 infection among health care workers as of Feb. 11, 2021, but believes that number is an undercount “because only 18 states are providing infection figures for all health care workers on a daily, semiweekly, or weekly basis.”

Kanlungan.net, a digital project started in May 2020 by transnational feminist organization AF3IRM, has been independently tracking all health care worker deaths of Filipino descent in and out of the Philippines.

“How are we supposed to demand justice and talk about egregious working conditions when they’re not even naming our dead? Without data, your campaign will only go so far,” Jollene Levid, a union organizer and member of AF3IRM’s transnational committee which spearheaded the project, told the Asian Journal in a May 2020 interview.

According to its site, which is frequently updated using at least two sources, 189 health care workers of Filipino de-

PAGE 1 Nearly 3,800 anti-Asian incidents have been reported in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from March 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021, according to new data from Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that tracks such incidents.

Of that number, 503 incidents took place in the first two months of 2021 alone. Some of the attacks have also resulted in deaths like the case of 84-yearold Vicha Ratanapakdee, who died from injuries after he was knocked on the ground during a morning walk in San Francisco; PAGE 5 and 74-year-old Juanito Falcon

who sustained a skull fracture injury after he was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Recently, a series of attacks in Atlanta left eight people dead, six of whom were Asian women.

Cantil-Sakauye, for her part, urged everyone to “do better,” noting the country’s inefficiency in addressing racism.

“We can and must do better.

We deepen our understanding by advancing diversity and respecting our differences. In respecting our differences, we strengthen our social contract.

“But for all the good that laws can do, we have to change our hearts. Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop.

And it’s on all of us — all of us, together — to make it stop,” Biden said in remarks on Friday, March 19.

Early reports from Big Media outlets — e.g. CNN, the New York Times and the Washington Post — framed the mass shooting as merely a mass shooting; the race and gender of a majority of the fatalities were a mere footnote, and it wasn’t until Asian Americans called out the incident as part of the longer string of attacks toward the community.

Taking a deeper look at the finer distinctions of anti-Asian racism, especially the details of each hate incident reported over the last year, represents a startling reality: historically and presently, racism and the experience of being a minority in America are seemingly inextricable.

Derogatory rhetoric promulgated by the previous administration and misnomers, such as the “China virus” and the “Kung-Flu,” has led many within the Asian American community to directly connect such expressions to the violence.

But while the hateful language may have spurred the thousands of reported incidents, they merely punctuate a dark and grimy history of anti-Asian attitudes that have made their mark in policy and society — a phenomenon that led to the persecution of Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese and South Asians that began in the 19th century.

For Tiffany Joy Garnace — an Atlanta-based Filipino American organizer who was born and raised in the American South — and the robust AAPI activist community in the region, the effort to combat anti-Asian racism didn’t begin with the Atlanta shooting, but it punctuated the scope of the problem.

“The Atlanta incident finally woke up the AAPI community that it can occur here and it’s frustrating for me as a community organizer. Prior to the shootings, we were trying to find community solutions,” Garnace told the Asian Journal.

Tiffany Garnace, southern region secretary for the National Federation of Filipino American She and Atlanta AAPIs have Associations (NaFFAA), participated in the Georgia rally with a sign sharing the names of Asian American victims of hate attacks and crimes.

Photo courtesy of Tiffany Garnace

Report: 83 Filipino registered nurses in...

scent have died in the United States, compared to 44 health care workers in the Philippines, it found.

Among the Filipino/Filipina American nurses who have died from complications related to COVID-19 in the past year, as reported by the Asian Journal include: • Rosary Castro-Olega, 63, a nurse who came out of retirement to join the frontlines, becoming the first health care worker in Los Angeles taken by the virus on March 29, 2020; • Celia Lardizabal Marcos, 61, who was only equipped with a surgical mask when she responded to a patient suspected to have COVID-19 at CHAHollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. She died on April 17, 2020; • Maria Guia Cabillon, 63, the head nurse at Kings County Department of Emergency Health in Brooklyn, died on April 26, 2020 after a month of battling the disease; • Joshua Obra, 29, a Disneyland aficionado and nursing supervisor at a Long Beach skilled nursing facility who died on July 6, 2020.

In January 2021, Pinay nurses who have passed away include Amelia Agbigay Baclig, 63, who worked for almost three decades at West Covina’s Queen of the Valley Hospital, and Rowena “Wendy” Miguel, 53, a licensed vocational nurse from Whittier, California. n

‘These attacks feel more personal’...

In strengthening our social contract, we abide by the rule of law,” she said.

“As we pass and approach many anniversaries relating to the pandemic, it is disheartening that while we have made progress on the virus, the disease of racism remains,” she added.

Cantil-Sakauye is the first Asian American and Filipina American and the second woman to serve as California’s chief justice. She was nominated in 2010 by then-California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for the state’s highest judicial office and was retained in office by voters later that year. n

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

Dateline USa

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCh 24-26, 2021

March 26 to mark #StopAsianHate Virtual... PH demands China to pull

PAGE 1 community. Everyone must do their part to end these acts of hate — call it out, prevent it, report it.

We need every person to step up and stand against it,” Meng said in a virtual press conference on Monday, March 22.

March 26 was chosen as it marks when the U.S. passed its first naturalization law, the Naturalization Act of 1790, prohibiting non-white individuals from becoming citizens.

“Over 200 years later, Asians in the U.S. are still suffering from the effects of the racism our country was founded upon. Asian elders are being physically assaulted in the streets. Asian American children are afraid to go back to school. We are still grieving the murders of 6 Asian women in a racially-motivated killing spree in Atlanta last week,” organizers wrote in an online toolkit available at www.asianamericandayofaction.com.

Organizers are also emphasizing that the hate against Asian Americans fueled by the pandemic is “not new.”

“While COVID-19 has brought a wave of violence towards our communities, anti-Asian racism is deeply rooted in American history,” they said.

Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that tracks anti-Asian American discrimination, reported on Tuesday, March 16 that from March 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021, it has received 3,795 firsthand incidents of racism and discrimination from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Of that number, 503 incidents took place in the first two months of 2021 alone.

Chinese are the largest ethnic

group (42.2%) that say they’ve experienced hate, followed by Koreans (14.8%), Vietnamese (8.5%) and Filipinos (7.9%), Stop AAPI Hate found.

Women are 2.3 times more likely to report the incidents versus men. Youths (those up to 17 years old) accounted for 12.6% of incidents, while 6.2% were experienced by individuals 60 years and older.

Verbal harassment (68.1%) and shunning (20.5%), which entails the “deliberate avoidance of Asian Americans,” are the top two types of discrimination reported.

There is also a list of actions individuals can take by supporting community based social justice organizations and initiatives, such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Stop AAPI Hate, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, AAPI Force and AAPI Women lead or attending a a bystander intervention training session.

Organizers caution participants to listen to local groups and the hardest hit communities first.

“Continue to amplify the harms that Asian Americans are facing, but don’t override or silence their voices by pushing an agenda that doesn’t align with what the community needs. Let’s build a chorus of solidarity and ensure the Asian American community receives the support it needs to fight anti-Asian racism,” according to the toolkit.

Supporters can also sign onto a letter calling on the Biden administration to provide emergency relief to AAPI communities.

During a meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday, March 19, Atlanta-based AAPI elected officials and community

leaders presented a letter, signed by over 180 national AAPI organizations, calling for emergency safety and relief by committing $300 million — $100 million toward community-based solutions to address the most vulnerable members of hate and bias, including women and the elderly, and $200 million for long-term safety and recovery.

Biden urged Congress to “swiftly” pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation introduced

by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) that addresses the rise of hate crimes and violence targeted against the AAPI community by assigning a point person at the Department of Justice to expedite the review of COVID-19-related hate crimes.

The bill would also provide support for state and local law enforcement agencies to respond to these hate crimes, and coordinating with local and federal partners to mitigate racially discriminatory language used to describe the pandemic.

In his first week in office, the president signed an executive order on Jan. 26, which included directives to remove language in federal actions or documents that would contribute to xenophobia and racism against the Asian American and Pacific Islander population and for the Department of Justice to expand its collection of data and public reporting regarding hate incidents against community members.

“Now, it’s time for Congress to codify and expand upon these actions — because every person in our nation deserves to live their lives with safety, dignity, and respect,” Biden said in a statement. n

EXPRESS YOURSELF. PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY.

MASK UP. Wear a mask to help keep your community healthy.

Take a risk with fashion, not your health. covid19.ca.gov

ships,maritime assets out...

PAGE 1 at the said reef, which it claimed is part of Nansha Qundao, one of two South China Sea political districts established by the Chinese government in 2020, and which the Philippines had previously protested.

But the DFA asserted that the reef lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The ships have remained moored at the reef even after Manila protested their existence in the area, which is located just around 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan.

“We reiterate that the continued deployment, lingering presence and activities of Chinese vessels in Philippine maritime zones blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction,” the DFA said.

“China’s continuing infringements and tolerance thereof, not-

withstanding the persistent and resolute protests of the government of the Republic of the Philippines, are contrary to China’s commitments under international law and the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” it added.

Further, the Philippine government, through the DFA, called on China to “faithfully honor” its obligations as a State Party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and to “respect and abide by the final and binding” 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea. In July 2016, the Philippines won a landmark victory over China at the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim, a decision that Beijing refuses to accept. n

FEMA to reimburse funeral expenses for some...

PAGE 1 “We are working with stakeholder groups to get their input on ways we can best provide this assistance, and to enlist their help with outreach to families and communities. FEMA will begin to implement COVID-19 funeral assistance in April,” said FEMA. To be eligible for funeral assistance, the following conditions must be met: • The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

• The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.

• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.

• There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

To apply for funeral cost assistance, the following documents must be submitted: • An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the

U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

• Funeral expenses documents such as receipts and funeral home contract that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.

• Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs as FEMA will not “duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.”

FEMA will start accepting applications in April.

Those eligible for funeral assistance will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option was chosen during the application process.

“Additional guidance is being finalized and will be released to potential applicants and community partners as soon as possible.

In the meantime, people who have COVID-19 funeral expenses are encouraged to keep and gather documentation,” FEMA said. (AJPress)

3

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY IFB No. PO869-21 DIESEL FUEL AND DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID DIESEL FUEL AND DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Authority) is requesting bids for Diesel Fuel and Diesel Exhaust Fluid for Commuter Rail Locomotives.

Invitation for Bids (IFB) can be obtained by accessing the Authority’s vendor portal at: http://www.metrolinktrains. com/doing_business. Prospective bidders must register on the website in order to download the documents, but registration is free. Electronic bid submittals are due at 2:00 p.m.

(PT) on April 15, 2021.

Any Contract awarded as a result of this solicitation may be funded in part or in full by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. Bidders will be required to certify that they have not been suspended or debarred from participation in federally-funded contracts.

Full compliance with all applicable Safety and Health standards, DBE requirements, Equal Employment Opportunity and Americans with Disabilities Act laws and regulations will be required of the successful proposer. As a condition of financial assistance agreements between the Authority and U.S. DOT, the Authority has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and overall annual DBE goal in accordance with Title 49 CFR, Part 26. The Authority’s overall DBE goal for Federal Fiscal Years 2019-2021 is 12%. The Authority has established a goal of 3% for DBE participation on this contract.

For further information contact: Brian Jacob, Senior Contract and Compliance Administrator at (213) 452-0316 or email JacobB@scrra.net.

3/24/21 CNS-3452896# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

4 March 24-26, 2021 • Socal aSIaN JOUrNaL

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

Dateline USa

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

CA’s My Turn COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system...

PAGE 1 resident can easily access lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines — regardless of the language they speak,” said Tomás Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “The My Turn website and hotline play a key role in alerting Californians when they are vaccine eligible, and helping them schedule an appointment, so we want to ensure it is accessible to everyone.”

The department said 1.6 million appointments have been scheduled through the platform since its launch on Jan. 25.

The website is now available in Armenian, Japanese, Khmer, Punjabi, and Russian, along with languages already offered: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and English.

By going to MyTurn.ca.gov, residents can find out whether they’re eligible for the vaccine by answering a few questions. If they’re eligible, they can schedule an appointment; if not, they can register to be notified when they’re eligible or when appointments open up.

Questions include age range, whether the individual has certain conditions that put them at risk for extreme complications from COVID-19, and what type of industry they work in.

Individuals who do not have access to the internet can sign up for an appointment by calling My Turn’s toll-free hotline 1-833-422-4255, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. My Turn operators can provide ondemand assistance in English and Spanish, translators who speak more than 250 languages are also available as needed.

Currently, California residents who are eligible for the vaccine include health care workers; long-term care residents; individuals over the age of 65; those who work in education and childcare, agriculture and food and emergency services; people who live or work in congregate residential settings (e.g. incarceration/detention facility, homeless shelter, or behavioral health facility); public transit workers, including airport workers for commercial airlines; and individuals age 16-64 who are at higher risk.

Vaccines are available for about 4.4 million people who

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCh 24-26, 2021

Filipino Americans mobilize to...

PAGE 2 been trying to brainstorm preventative measures that could have helped recent victims like Thai American Vicha Ratanapakdee of Los Angeles, Filipino and Chinese American Danilo Yuchang of San Francisco, Chinese American Pak Ho in Oakland and the numerous elderly AAPIs who’ve been targeted at alarming rates for the last two months.

“It felt like a responsibility and indeed it felt like we failed our communities to keep them safe,” Garnace said.

“The sad thing is that there is this preconceived notion [that] in the South, especially in Georgia, these incidences happen only in areas with high Asian American populations like ‘California or New York’ or ‘cannot empathize because it has not happen to me or my family’ just to quote some people that I have heard in my spaces,” she added, noting that the AAPI community in Atlanta is “a beautiful conglomeration of all of these groups that people tend to forget [are] here and have been here.”

In the wake of the Atlanta shooting, vigils and demonstrations honoring the eight victims took place across the country. The rally in Atlanta on Saturday, March 20 brought together hundreds to the Georgia state Capitol to demand action and social and political change, particularly in Georiga.

Garnace was one of the many residents of all races who attended the vigil and rally which gave her “absolute chills.” But she was most astounded by the volume of Asian women who attended and what that represented.

“It is like we have been validated, seen and heard, for the first time,” Garnace remarked. “A lot of Asian women came out to the rally because they did not want to be seen as weak and fearful; having so many women come out to fight the intersection of race and misogyny was empowering. Also see-

are considered at higher risk for serious COVID-19 illness.

Those individuals include cancer (current with weakened immune system), chronic kidney disease (stage 4 or above), chronic pulmonary disease (oxygen dependent), down syndrome, solid organ transplant (leading to a weakened immune system), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies but not hypertension), severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2), and Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%.

Health care providers may

also vaccinate individuals with developmental or other severe disabilities or illness if: The individual is likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection; acquiring COVID-19 will limit the individual’s ability to get ongoing care or services vital to their well-being and survival; and providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability. Individuals with “physical and behavioral disabilities,” such as those with a serious mental illness and substance use disorder, are also eligible.

(AJPress)

Did you know you have safety and health protections from COVID-19 at work?

Workers in California have the RIGHT to: • Protection from safety and health hazards, including COVID-19 • Report an unsafe workplace • Refuse to work in an unsafe condition To file a confidential complaint about an unsafe workplace, contact your nearest Cal/OSHA district office. It is illegal for your employer to reduce your hours, fire you or otherwise retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Learn more about your RIGHTS and how to contact Cal/OSHA at dir.ca.gov/covid.

Your Actions Save Lives

5

Hundreds gathered Saturday, March 20 at Atlanta’s Liberty Plaza, adjacent to the Georgia State Capitol, to demand justice for the victims of shootings at massage businesses four days prior and to denounce racism and misogyny against Asian Americans.

Photo courtesy of Tiffany Garnace

ing the different groups of people that were not Asian there with us in support — I honestly teared up.”

The shooting also put a spotlight on how antiAsian attitudes foment in ways that may not be as clear as discrimination toward other minority groups. Individuals from all Asian backgrounds shared how seemingly innocent things — like name-calling — fuel the fire of broader anti-Asian sentiments.

Garnace noted that seeing so many Asian American women in particular ignited the nuances of racist misogyny and “the fetishization of Asian women by non-Asian men.”

Filipino American Augelyn “Augee” Francisco — the indigenous Filipino owner of Kabisera Kape in New York City — shared with the Asian Journal how complex anti-Asian racism is and how a lack of education and cultural empathy can induce trauma that doesn’t really ever go away.

“Growing up, I had the same struggle, being Igorot,” Francisco shared. “My mother and the rest of us were targeted and bullied. That was my struggle when I was young and up to this day, I experience being called Chink, Ni-Hao, Virus, and looked down upon because of my slanted eyes and skin color.”

Francisco shared that recent events have reignited those memories, saying that, “I should not feel like that is ok. Because that is not ok. But I’ve lived with it for years in my life. This fight is for me and all my Asian sisters and brothers [a]nd for the future generation, there will be no more fight for equality and no more pain.”

Francisco was inspired to attend a vigil in New York City last weekend honoring the victims and rallying for the end of anti-Asian violence. Though many members of the Asian American community are pushing back against the stereotype of the docile Asian, Francisco sees gentleness as a strength and resistance tool for the AAPI community.

“We, Asians, are trained to be polite and obedient. We don’t believe in using violence, but we know how to use our forces: our strength is our unity, our respect, and our loving care,” Francisco said. “Those are the tools I’m planning to share and show as my participation. To awaken our sisters and brothers to halt the silence, to care and show love to our elders who get targeted, to our sisters who get murdered. Our respect to them doesn’t end at just paying respects at their wakes, but to pay respect to make sure that no more similar incidents will happen on our watch.”

Families of seven of the victims have organized GoFundMe pages, sharing the stories of their loved ones and raising funds for funeral and memorial expenses. A fundraiser was also started for Marcus Lyon, a survivor to help with counseling and other resources.

Georgia’s AAPI community is also urging supporters to donate to organizations on the ground, namely Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, Asian American Advocacy Fund, and Asian Mental Health Collective, to name a few.

Members of the AAPI community who have experienced hate during the pandemic are encouraged to report the incident at: https://stopaapihate. org/reportincident/. In addition to English, individuals can report in one of 11 languages, including Tagalog. ■

6 March 24-26, 2021 • Socal aSIaN JOUrNaL

OpiniOn & Features

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

Agency for disease control and prevention IF the coronavirus pandemic has seared anything into the public mind, it is the fact that our public health system and health infrastructure are sorely lacking: 1) an agency to formulate, design and coordinate public policy to address a national health emergency or pandemic and 2) a central agency for disease control and prevention; similar to what most modern states have.

As things stand today, the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is too ad hoc, provisional and unprofessional to serve as our principal policy-making tool for managing a health crisis such as a pandemic. There is more policing than policy design and evaluation in its operations.

The Department of Health, as the regular department for health services in the executive branch, has a huge health bureaucracy to run and control.

We should not expect it to double up as an agency to handle disease control and prevention.

It is imperative, we think, for the Congress to turn its attention now to passing a modern public health law that will address these concerns and create an institutional answer in time for the next health emergency.

We have today a score of health laws in the statute book, but none of these laws fill the need for both an effective agency for serious public health policy making and an agency to handle disease control and prevention comprehensively.

Congress spent time, resources and personnel to establish Malasakit Centers across the archipelago, yet the centers seem to have no role to play in fighting the pandemic.

The real headaches we are encountering now are chiefly bureaucratic and lack of professional-

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS INSANITY, an old age says, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

“Pag gusto, may paraan. Pag ayaw, may dahilan” (If you want something done, you will always find a way. But if you refuse to do what needs to be done, you will always find an excuse), is a Tagalog saying that sums up where we are in this national crisis.

These sayings come to mind as again I write about gun violence in the United States for the nth time, following another mass shooting in the United States that killed 10 people in Boulder, Colorado on March 22, just six days after the senseless killing of eight, six of who were Asians, in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16.

Have we become desensitized to gun violence in the United States? Guns continue to kill 38,000 people in the United States every year, or about 100 every single day, the Giffords Law Center reported.

The Giffords Law Center further stated these painful facts that reveal how insane our country’s approach has been to gun violence: • America has the weakest gun laws and the most guns — 393 million — of any comparable nation.

• The U.S. accounts for just 4% of the world’s population but

ism and expertise.

It’s long been recognized that there is a huge difference between medicine and public health. Each has its own concern and area of

specialization.

In very general terms, the field of public health focuses on health care as it deals with whole populations, more applied research and disease prevention.

The field of medicine, in turn, is more localized and concerned with individual treatment, diagnosis and care.

Public health professionals work to improve the quality of life for communities and populations.

Rather than treating individuals and groups with direct medical care, they conduct research and disseminate information to the public in order to extend life expectancy, combat infant mortality and reduce the incidence of communicable diseases. Medical health professionals are also often administrators and advocates for policies that will further those points. Some of the common job titles for people in this field include epidemiologist, health or medical center director, biostatistician and health communications specialist.

Medical professionals also want to improve life quality and combat disease, but they focus on the individual and treatment. Seeing patients in order

ManilaTimes.net photo

to treat a specific ailment or repair a breach of the human body because of an accident are the hallmarks of this profession.

A big difference between the two is that a medical public health professional cannot treat patients — in essence, he cannot “practice medicine.” Only doctors can prescribe medicine and provide that level of care.

We need a good public health law that can point

the nation to a public health system and infrastructure that can provide good public health policy making and effective and timely services to combat and eradicate disease A dedicated agency for disease control and prevention will be a good start and an excellent investment. It will make plenty of difference and make our country a better place to live in. (ManilaTimes. net)

Gun violence in the US: An epidemic politicians beholden to the NRA and gun-addicted Americans might not want to ever go away 35% of global firearm suicides.

Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed in a gun homicide than people in other highincome countries.

• Nearly every American will know at least one victim of gun violence in their lifetime.

• Over 1 million Americans have been shot in the past decade, and gun violence rates are rising across the country • In 2017, gun deaths reached their highest level in at least 40 years, with 39,773 deaths that year alone.

• Suicides, homicides, police shootings—gun violence takes many forms, often dictated by who and where you are.

• Gun access triples suicide risk. The majority of suicides - 51 percent - involve a gun.

• Gun homicide has a disproportionate impact on underserved communities of color in American cities.

• Roughly half of all gun homicides take place in just 127 cities comprising less than a quarter of the total U.S. population.

• Black men make up 52% of all gun homicide victims in the U.S., despite comprising less than 7% of the population.

• Unarmed Black civilians are five times more likely to be shot and killed by police than unarmed white civilians.

• Domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be

killed when their abuser has access to a gun. Nearly 1 million women alive today report being shot or shot at by an intimate partner.

• Women in the United States are 21 times more likely to be killed with a gun than women in other high-income countries.

• 3 million children are directly exposed to gun violence each year, resulting in death, injury, and lasting trauma.

And yet, tragedy after tragedy, the lawmakers of this nation do NOTHING to really address this crisis, other than offering “thoughts and prayers” to the victims and their bereaved family.

This inaction comes even as facts and data show just how active mass shootings have escalated in recent years involving the use of assault rifles and highpowered magazines by civilians, weapons intended to be used in war zones only.

The powerful and moneyed gun lobbyist, the National Rifle Association (NRA), would always have the last laugh after each tragedy and litany of “thoughts and prayers” because nothing would happen to change gun laws significantly to make a difference.

The NRA has infused a lot of campaign contributions to former President Donald Trump, and mostly to Republicans in

the past years. The NRA used to be much more bipartisan, but now it’s mostly just a wing of the Republican Party, as most of its supporters identify with it, according to a report by CNN. The New York Times reported that just the last five years, there have been at least 29 shootings with four or more fatalities, based on the data compiled by the Violence Project. Among them: March 16, 2020: A gas station in Springfield, Missouri Aug. 31, 2019: Drive-by shootings in Midland and Odessa, Texas Aug. 4, 2019: An entertainment district in Dayton, Ohio Aug. 3, 2019: A Walmart in El Paso, Texas July 28, 2019: A festival in Gilroy, California May 31, 2019: An office in Virginia Beach, Virginia Nov. 7, 2018: A bar in Thousand Oaks, California Oct. 27, 2018: A synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 28, 2018: A newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland May 18, 2018: A high school in Santa Fe, Texas Feb. 14, 2018: A high school in Parkland, Florida Nov. 5, 2017: A church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Oct. 1, 2017: A concert in Las Vegas Jan. 6, 2017: An airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

July 7, 2016: Downtown Dallas, Texas June 12, 2016: The Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida Many more were allowed to happen before that.

The Times chronicled: “the San Bernardino, Calif., and Charleston, S.C., in 2015; Newtown, Conn., and Aurora, Colo., in 2012; Virginia Tech in 2007, among them.”

“Each new attack is a reminder of all of the others that came before it, as the nation has been unable to curb an epidemic of gun violence that far outpaces other countries. These are just some of the horrors that have traumatized the nation,” the Times reported.

Following a shooting that left 10 people dead in Boulder, Colorado, Robyn Thomas, Giffords Law Center’s executive director, testified on Tuesday, March 23 in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to demand action on a gun safety agenda.

As the Giffords Law Center reported, “Some of the proposals she highlighted include universal background checks, prohibiting gun possession by those convicted of domestic violence crimes, waiting periods, and enacting extreme risk protection orders.”

“Our gun violence crisis is a uniquely American problem,” said Robyn Thomas said in her

opening statement. “It’s a problem that plagues our country in countless different ways and exacts a devastating toll on our communities. But it’s a problem with solutions. While one single law will never stop all gun violence, we know strong gun laws save lives.”

The Giffords Law Center pointed out that earlier this March, “the House passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, with bipartisan support.

Neither H.R. 8 nor its Senate companion legislation, S. 529, the Background Checks Expansion Act, has yet been considered in the Senate. The Senate hearing was an important step in moving forward with meaningful gun safety reforms.”

WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? *** 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.

We should listen to facts, not false stories

Babe’s Eye View BaBe Romualdez SOME individuals circulating messages filled with half-truths or making totally false claims are only exacerbating the situation they are fueling fear and anxiety, and causing depression for our frontliners and people who have to go out to work every day to feed their families. More likely than not, these “negastars” have comfortable living spaces, can afford to work from home or have their own private means of transportation – unlike the majority of Filipinos who commute using public transportation to make a living.

Some of the preposterous stories going around is that the COVID-19 vaccines are not arriving at all; that it will take 44 years before the Philippines can vaccinate 70 percent of its population, necessary to achieve herd immunity; or that the government borrowed money heavily for vaccines with nothing to show for

it. This is absolutely false – the World Bank and the ADB directly remit payments to approved vaccine manufacturers without passing through government coffers.

These unfounded news and depressing rumors are only affecting people negatively, causing some to adopt a fatalistic, “bahala na” attitude. We hear of people giving up, disregarding social distancing and health protocols, saying “life is short” or “we’ll all die anyway.” This is the last thing we need at this stage: an attitude that will only fuel the transmission rate of the virus.

The fact is, the US will only distribute their COVID-19 vaccines to the rest of the world as soon as their domestic demand is satisfied. The White House confirmed in not so many words that they have to fill the need to vaccinate Americans first before they can start supplying other countries. The US has invoked the Defense Production Act that basically directs private manufacturing companies to prioritize the production of essential

health products and yes, vaccines, for the federal government in order to meet the demands at home first. Clearly, the US sees this pandemic as a war that must be waged in order to protect the lives of American citizens.

In fact, many other countries that have placed their orders way ahead of the Philippines have not received all their supplies of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Thanks to people like Secretary Galvez, Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez who worked on the World Bank loan and his brother Paul in ADB for additional loans to partly pay for the Moderna vaccines. Secretary Locsin also played a major role in supporting our effort with the US government. Of course, there’s businessman Ricky Razon (who hates publicity), who volunteered to consolidate the private sector participation for the Moderna vaccine supply.

Ricky even discreetly lent his private jet for Secretary Galvez to go to India and speed up the Novavax vaccine deal.

All of these supply deals are adding up to at least 80 million

vaccine doses that will start arriving in the second half of this year, with more to follow. India will be manufacturing one billion vaccine doses through the initiative of the Quad nations – US, Australia, Japan and India – to supply the ASEAN member-countries.

The United States is well aware that all countries must have access to the vaccines to achieve the ultimate goal of worldwide herd immunity.

However, experts made it clear the COVID-19 virus can only be contained, but not totally eliminated, for several years.

Clearly, too, the vaccine is not a silver bullet that can instantly eradicate COVID-19. We still have to wear masks and practice all health protocols like social distancing to prevent the continued spread of the virus. Even if vaccinated, you could still become positive. And although you may not get seriously ill, you could still potentially pass on the virus to other people.

Currently, there is not enough data to show whether the vaccine can prevent transmission

and for how long.

We should point out that it’s not only the Philippines that is currently seeing a spike. Many countries in Europe are seeing a new surge in infections.

France so far has only vaccinated 8 percent of its population and has imposed a month-long lockdown for its capital city with an alarming 35,000 infections recorded in one day, prompting authorities to declare that a “third wave” has come.

It is good to know that scientists are not letting up in their efforts to stop the pandemic.

Moderna, for example, has already developed a booster shot to fight the various variants and has started testing its vaccine on children under 12 years of age, with a separate study being conducted for 12- to 17-yearolds. Johnson & Johnson is also planning to test its vaccines on babies and younger children, and so with Pfizer that is also conducting clinical tests.

A US company is also developing COVID-19 vaccines in the form of nasal sprays since the nose is where the virus

first enters to invade the body.

According to our information, these sprays do not require rigid refrigeration and can be stored at room temperature for several months. Nasal sprays are already being tested as possible boosters targeting specific coronavirus variants.

Our difficulties will soon come to an end, but we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot by propagating these unchristian and unnecessary negative stories and half-truths. Sure, we can criticize government which is par for the course, but it should be based on facts and verifiable data. Spreading unfounded rumors will only result in giving our frontliners and local workers a feeling of helplessness and despair that would undoubtedly lead to self-pity and depression.

(Philstar.com) *** 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.

*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

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.

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

ChRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

US hEADqUARTERS: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey Las Vegas, San Diego, Philippines

DING CARREON Videographer

ANDY TECSON Photographer

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCh 24-26, 2021

7

Dateline PhiliPPines

Good Shepherd nun behind famous ube jam dies at 102

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

in Los Angeles, California. She made her first profession in 1954, and her final profession SISTER Fidelis Atienza, the in 1957.

Filipina nun behind Baguio Atienza established the MarCity’s famous Good Shepherd ian Bakery in the 1960s and ube jam, has passed away at the made use of host cuttings for age of 102. the delicious “crispies,” the In a Facebook post, the Re- forerunner of the angel cookies ligious of the Good Shepherd of today.

(RGS) confirmed that Atienza According to the RGS, Atiendied on Saturday, March 20, at za started making the beloved the Good Shepherd Community Good Shepherd ube jam during in Quezon City “after 66 years her assignment in Baguio City. in religious life.”

“She was the original master“She never considered her- mind behind the ube jam, enself ill or infirmed. Her hands abling the congregation to send were never weary, as she was thousands of youths to school,” still helping turn plastics into it added. eco-bricks until her shoulders Aside from Baguio, Atienza’s ached from too much pushing various ministries included doz- Sr. Fidelis Atienza of plastic into the plastic bot- ens of community apostolates Photo courtesy of the Religous tles,” the RGS noted. in Cebu, Quezon City, Manila, of the Good Shepherd In 1951, Atienza entered the Hong Kong, France, Rome, and Novitiate of the Good Shepherd Tagaytay.

In 2019, she was transferred to the Good Shepherd Community in Quezon City where she dedicated “each moment of her day praying for the needs of the Church and the Congregation.”

“She would ask her caregivers to bring her to the oratory every day, spending most of her hours in quiet communion with the Good Shepherd whom she adored all her life,” the RGS said.

“The children in the compound were very fond of their oldest playmate; she was a delight and a source of joy to everyone whom she met,” it added.

Atienza’s remains are at the chapel of Good Shepherd Convent on Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City, but the wake and services will be private. Inurnment The Good Shepherd Convent in Baguio City, known for its ube jam, says farmers are having a will be at Good Shepherd Cohard time growing the purple yam, forcing them to make use of white yams. lumbary in Quezon City, to be Philstar.com photo announced on a later date. n

SC condemns killings of lawyers, judges lawyer Brian Hosaka, said that any killing is not tolerated by law and with much sadness for THE Supreme Court on Tuesday, every member of the bench and March 23 condemned the ruthless the bar. killings of judges and lawyers.

Hosaka said the public is urged In a statement, the high tribu- to report any threat or harassnal, through its spokesman and ment against a lawyer or judge

by JoMaR

canlas ManilaTimes.net

to the court’s Public Information Office and for police to wear body cameras when implementing warrants.

It also condemns the red tagging of judges who rendered decisions in favor of left-leaning individuals or organizations. n

CONTACT TRACING. A passenger fills up a form required for contact tracing as part of the quarantine protocol by the government inside a public utility bus along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, March 23. The bus plies the route San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan via Quiapo, Manila.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Philippines falls to 61st place in World Happiness Report

by Gaea

KatReena Philstar.com

cabico

MANILA — Filipinos were unhappier in 2020, a year of despair, disruption and deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an annual United Nations-sponsored report.

With an average score of 5.8880, the Philippines fell from 52nd to 61st place in the 2021 World Happiness Report.

The researchers used Gallup data asking people to rate their own happiness, also taking into account measures such as gross domestic product, social support, personal freedom and levels of corruption to give each country a happiness score, which is an average of the past three years.

The authors of the report also compared this year’s data to the average of the previous years to gauge the impact of the pandemic.

Using this method, the Philippines ranked 74th out of 95 countries with a score of 5.080.

This is down from 42nd place

from the 2017 to 2019 surveys.

With over 677,000 COVID-19 cases, the Philippines is battling the second worst outbreak in Southeast Asia. A year after the pandemic was declared, it is dealing with another surge in infections, which health authorities blamed to decreased compliance with public health protocols that is aggravated by the circulation of more contagious coronavirus variants.

Filipinos are also living under the shadow of one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdowns, which shut down businesses and schools and forced many Filipinos to stay home.

Happiness and the pandemic The report found “significantly higher frequency of negative emotions” in just 42 countries.

“Positive emotions lie in the middle ground, with 22 countries on the upside and 25 heading down, in all cases relative to the average values in 20172019,” it said.

In a statement, John Helliwell, one of the report’s compilers,

said “surprisingly there was not, on average, a decline in well-being when measured by people’s own evaluation of their lives.”

“One possible explanation is that people see COVID-19 as a common, outside threat affecting everybody and that this has generated a greater sense of solidarity and fellow-feeling,” he said.

Author Jeffrey Sachs, meanwhile, said “we need urgently to learn from COVID-19” and “aim for wellbeing rather than mere wealth.”

European countries on top For the fourth consecutive year, Finland was declared the happiest country in the world.

Denmark came up second, followed by Switzerland, Iceland and the Netherlands. Completing the top 10 were Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Austria.

Afghanistan was the world’s happiest country and was joined

by Lesotho, Botswana, Rwanda and Zimbabwe at the bottom of the table. (With reports from Agence France-Presse)

8 March 24-26, 2021 • Socal aSIaN JOUrNaL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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

Pinoy scientist dives into third deepest spot on Earth Senators seek MD, not ‘military

MANILA — Filipino marine scientist Deo Florence Onda yesterday made history after the successful descent to the Emden Deep, the third deepest spot on the planet located at the Philippine Trench.

“I am with explorer Victor Vescovo and we are at the Emden Deep in the Philippine Trench,” Onda said in a video posted on his Facebook account last night after the successful descent to the Emden Deep.

“I am actually very honored to

EMPLOYMENT

be part of this trip and sa mga Pilipino, ito po ang Emden Deep, atin ito (For Filipinos, this is Emden Deep and this is ours)!” he added before raising the Philippine flag.

The video was taken inside submersible Limiting Factor after it reached the Emden Deep, which is approximately 10,400 meters or 34,100 feet deep.

According Vescovo, the record holder for the deepest manned descent in the Marianas Trench in 2019, they made history as the

first humans to reach the bottom of the Philippine Trench.

“It’s a privilege to be here with you, a member of the Philippines and glad we were able to provide the vessel that allowed it to happen,” he told Onda in the video.

The descent to the Emden Deep started early Tuesday, with Onda and Vescovo reaching it after a few hours.

“The reality of diving the Emden is slowly sinking in,” Onda, a microbial oceanographer from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI), said in a separate post on Monday.

Vescovo is a main sponsor of the Caladan Oceanic, the private organization that invited Onda to join the descent.

In an earlier statement, the UPMSI said it is only appropriate that a Filipino scientist be among the first to dive into the Emden Deep, which is found within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

“Deep sea expeditions like this one are equivalent to the first early flights into outer space. It would be a major record-setting scientific and historic achievement. To date, most of these records are held by foreign scientists or explorers,” the UPMSI said.

Onda and Vescovo reached Emden Deep aboard submersible Limiting Factor which was launched from DSSV Pressure Drop, described as “the only marine vessel in the world capable of launching the deep-sea submersible… that can carry humans and repeatedly dive to the deepest parts in the world’s oceans.”

Part of the goal, according to UPMSI, was to wave the Philippine flag in the Emden Deep and highlight that it is an integral part of the country’s heritage.

The institute also noted the opportunity for Onda to be exposed to state-of-the-art vessels capable of deep-sea activities, which can help efforts to establish the country’s own National Academic Research Fleet.

“This endeavor can spark interest in and passion for many other young Filipinos who would want to make a career in sciences and bring more attention to the protection, preservation and conservation of the Philippine marine environment,” the UPMSI said.

The expedition is considered a non-marine scientific research activity and has been coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs. (Philstar.com)

EMPLOYMENT

dati’ for vaccine response

by Paolo

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — Senators yesterday called for a revamp and expansion of the membership in the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to include more representatives from the private sector as COVID cases continue to surge and the government’s vaccination program appears to be lagging.

“It appears the IATF does not only need to ‘change oil’ but also a ‘change engine and driver’,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said.

“If there will be reinforcements to the IATF, it should not be the MDs – mga military dati (former military) – because this sector has already met its quota,” Recto said.

“COVID is fast and furious while the vaccine rollout is slow and sputtering. These are signs of a government’s pandemic machinery in trouble and a nation in danger,” he added.

He said it’s time to expand the membership of the IATF and include people from private businesses with “superb managerial skills, like those who have been running companies with a million moving parts with efficiency and precision.”

Under Executive Order 168 that created the task force, the leadership of the IATF remains an all-government affair, chaired by the secretary of health with the secretaries of the departments of foreign affairs, the interior and local government, justice, labor and employment, tourism and transportation as members, Recto said.

He said the private sector has no permanent seat in the National Task Force for COVID, the command center headed by the secretary of defense, he noted.

“To cite one skill set, the war against COVID requires logistics experts who supply a customer base numbering in the tens of millions, like that bakery in Laguna that every day brings millions of pieces of perishable bread to store shelves from Aparri to Zamboanga in a matter of hours,” Recto said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the government’s goal to cut infections by 25 percent in two weeks may not be sustained unless it addresses the serious gaps in mass

testing, contact tracing and isolation and speed up the vaccination roll-out.

“I’m afraid we will just be running in place and find ourselves moving from one lockdown to another in the months ahead. I am reminded of the child’s hand play of close-open and open-close,” Pangilinan said.

He urged Malacañang to stop blaming the people for the surge in the cases as they need to go out and make a living to feed their families.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson scored Malacañang for being defensive when he asked where the vaccines are that it promised months ago.

Lacson said Malacañang and the Department of Finance did not answer the question directly, but maintained that the money intended to procure the vaccines are intact.

“Let me say again that I never asked where the money went.

What I asked and will continue to ask until we get the accurate answer is that since the money has been available through loans for quite sometime and I thank the DOF for its foresight, where are the vaccines?” Lacson asked.

Calls rejected Malacañang rejected calls by some senators and health worker groups to revamp or abolish the IATF, saying the country is now equipped to handle and treat COVID infections.

“We are doing the right thing,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said as he dismissed critics’ claim that the administration is incompetent to address the pandemic.

Roque said there are efforts to destroy the administration due to politicking in the run-up to the 2022 national elections.

“The government’s primary task force cannot be blamed for the surge of cases,” Roque said, noting there are similar incidents of surge abroad due to the new COVID variants.

One year since the outbreak, Roque said the IATF has adopted the whole-of-government approach to handle the pandemic.

Since last year, the Philippines has allocated more than 6,595 beds in quarantine facilities in Metro Manila with 83 temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

The Philippines’ testing capac-

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

ity has increased from 3,000 a day in April 2020 to 50,294 testing in March this year. “That is not incompetence,” he insisted.

As of March 16, Roque said there were 76,916 persons who are recovering in Oplan Kalinga mega quarantine facilities and quarantine hotels.

Roque said the case fatality rate has been slowing down, citing reports of the health department on Monday.

“Let us not belittle the sacrifice of our doctors, experts and government workers who comprise the IATF,” he said.

“The science of masks, wash, social distancing, isolation and treatment, slowly opening of the economy, cash assistance and ayuda, effective fiscal management, coordination with local governments are the reasons why about 86 percent comprised those who have recovered,” Roque said.

“This is proof that we are doing the right thing. This is a proof that the IATF is able to do its mission,” Roque said. “Let us be fair and objective.”

He said the government won’t accept the proposals of its critics, noting those were politicallymotivated.?Lacson’s “where are the vaccines” remark irked President Duterte, who scored him for insinuating there is corruption in the handling of funds loaned from the World Bank and other financial institutions for the procurement of COVID vaccines.

During his address to the nation on Monday night, Duterte said it is obvious that some are politicking by trying to paint his administration as corrupt to make themselves clean in the eyes of the public.

“That’s what you would call the classic case of if you want to appear white, you paint the other guy black para ang labas mo puting-puti ka. Si Mr. Clean, parang ganoon. Ganoon ‘yan eh, style bulok,” Duterte said.

Roque reiterated the President’s statement that some quarters are using the pandemic for political gains in the run-up to the national elections next year.

Roque, who is still on quarantine after contracting COVID, appealed to critics to help instead of attacking the government.

He blamed the new and more contagious variants as the reason for the sudden surge in cases.

9 The

Asian Journal

mdwk The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 24, 2021

mAGAZINE

Wednesday MARCH 24, 2021

asianjournalpublications

@asianjournalcom

@asianjournal

www.asianjournal.com Los Angeles | Las Vegas | Orange County/Inland Empire | Northern California | New York/New Jersey

‘I’m representIng FIlIpIna, I’m representIng Black’:

Meet Leyna Bloom, the first transgender woman of color in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue L

by Ritchel

Mendiola / AJPress

EYNA Bloom, a Black and Filipina American model, is making history as the first transgender woman of color to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated’s famed Swimsuit Issue.

The 27-year-old model and trained dancer’s feat comes after Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio, who became the first openly transgender model to appear in the magazine’s Swimsuit Issue last year.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, March 16, Bloom expressed her excitement over the historic milestone.

“This is what it looks like to be in full bloom… My spirit has reached new levels. This moment is bigger than my wildest infinite dreams. In this moment, I am a representation of all the communities I grew from, and all the communities I’m planting seeds in,” she wrote in her post, thanking the publication for allowing her “to showcase my heavenly form.”

“Before my feet even touched the sand, you all wanted to celebrate the temple of my body and the deepest part of my spiritual universe. Your kindness has

given me so much hope in the humanity of [the] entertainment industry,” she added.

Bloom made headlines as one of the first openly transgender models on the runway at New York Fashion Week in 2017. Later that year, she appeared as the first transgender woman of color in Vogue India.

In 2018, she went viral on Twitter for campaigning to be the first trans model of color to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Sampaio was later chosen to walk in the show in August 2019.

Bloom also became the first trans woman of color to headline a film at Cannes Film Festival in 2019. In “Port Authority,” directed by Danielle Lessovitz, Bloom plays a trans woman from New York’s kiki ballroom scene who falls in love with a lost drifter (Fionn Whitehead).

She was the only transgender model to walk the runway at Paris Fashion Week for

Leyna Bloom was photographed by Yu Tsai in Tampa, FL wearing Dos Gardenias.

Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya’s Fall/Winter collection that same year.

Bloom told the New York Times that she was on the set for her Levi’s campaign in December when she learned that she would be in Sports Illustrated.

“I hadn’t gone to a casting, so when my agent called with the news, I felt mentally shaken. The idea that they were giving me this chance — I couldn’t take it in. Two weeks later I was on set,” she said.

Continued on Page 10

Bloom was the only transgender model to walk the runway at Paris Fashion Week for Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya’s Fall/Winter collection in 2019. Photo from Instagram/@leynabloom

10

‘A million times, YES’: ‘Love of My Life’ stars Carla, Tom engaged

entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 24, 2021

By Kathleen

a. lleMit

Philstar.com

Claudia Conway, 16, was voted off of “American Idol” on Monday night, March 22.

CARLA Abellana would not hesitate to say yes a million times to long-time beau, fellow actor Tom Rodriguez.

The reel-and-real life sweethearts who recently wrapped up the nightly show “Love of My Life” announced their engagement on their respective Instagram accounts on March 21.

Tom quoted Chilean poet Pablo Neruda’s poem “I Love You Without Knowing How” on his Instagram (@akosimangtomas).

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this… -Pablo Photo courtesy of American Idol/ABC Neruda,” his post with his and Carla’s face blurred in the background and him holding her hand with their engagement ring.

Carla (@carlaangeline) posted the same photo and

Claudia Conway gets eliminated on ‘American Idol’

By Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

CLAUDIA Conway’s ‘American Idol’ journey has come to an end.

The 16-year-old daughter of former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Filipino American conservative lawyer George Conway was voted off the show on Monday night, March 22.

During the episode, the contestants who made it through the first solo round of Hollywood Week were paired off by AI judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

Conway was paired with 17-year-old Hannah Everhart, who was “scared” when she learned who her partner was.

“That is not what I was expecting. Who did this?

Everybody was laughing, but it wasn’t funny. It was not funny. I was scared,” admitted Everhart.

“She’s apparently TikTok famous,” she added, referring to Conway who made headlines last year for her viral TikToks criticizing her mother’s job and former President

Donald Trump. “But I didn’t know that because I don’t stay on TikTok.” The pair initially struggled to work together, with Everhart leaving the practice area rather than facing Conway.

“You know, watching all the other pairs working together, collaborating — it’s kind of frustrating me,” Conway told the cameras while trying to find her duet partner.

“I’m here to win. I’m here to do the best that I can, and I’m here to collaborate with my partner, but there’s no partner to collaborate with,” she added.

Eventually, Conway and Everhart managed to set aside their differences and work together. On stage, they performed a rendition of “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles.

However, the judges were not impressed, criticizing the pair for harmonizing too much and not showing off their individual talents.

“I appreciate you both made a conscious choice to work together. You guys were flowing together and harmonizing and that was great, but

you didn’t carve out enough individual time,” noted Perry.

In the end, Everhart managed to make it to the next round, unlike Conway, who was eliminated.

“Claudia, you’re just coming to life. I can see it in you.

You’re taking control of your life. I applaud you for that,” Perry said. “Claudia, this is going to be the end of the American Idol journey for right now. I hope you learned a lot and come and see us again.”

Conway congratulated her partner for getting through, saying Everhart “deserves it more than anything.”

“I’m gonna be cheering for you. You could win this thing,” she added.

Meanwhile, Everhart got emotional while bidding Conway goodbye.

“It has been wonderful working with you,” she said. “I really appreciate your support. You’re a really wonderful person. I wish you the best of luck with whatever route you take.”

“American Idol” airs Sunday and Monday nights at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Dionne reveals spending only P300 on wedding gown

By Jan

Milo SeveRo Philstar.com

FORMER Kapamilya actress Dionne Monsanto revealed that she only spent P300 on her gown during her recent wedding with now husband Ryan Stadler.

In her Instagram account, Dionne posted a photo of herself wearing the wedding gown.

“I spent 300 pesos on my wedding dress!” she wrote.

“The bottom part of my dress is my Something Old. It was a thoughtful gift from my sister @travelfoodfinds a year ago. The corset top is something I bought from an online shop in the Philippines for less than Php 300 (6 CHF),” she added.

The former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate said that as she got older, she realized that love and respect from other people are more important than material ones.

“As I’ve gotten older, I realize more and more that things are just things. That I don’t need a lot to be happy. That love & respect from people I love are more important than any material possession,” she said.

The couple got married on March 12 in Switzerland. They have been together since 2018.

Dionne Monsanto with husband Ryan Stadler

Carla Abellana and soon-to-be husband Tom Rodriguez Photo from Instagram/@akosimangtomas

simply captioned it with her answer. “A million times, YES,” she wrote with a ring emoji.

Heart Evangelista

The couple started dating in 2014. The admission came when they were starring in the drama “My Destiny.”

Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte

Heart recalls doing sexy photoshoot for money

By Jan

Milo SeveRo Philstar.com

KAPUSO actress Heart Evangelista recalled how she did a sexy photoshoot for money.

In her Instagram account, Heart posted photos on her IG story saying her mom confiscated her money so she agreed to be the calendar girl of a liquor brand in 2014.

“I can’t believe I did this hahah #tanduay shoot 2014.

My mom confiscated my money so I needed to do this. Hahah Hirap kumita,” Heart wrote.

In another story, Heart captioned “Mamatay ako sa stress!” in one of the sexy

photos.

“Sad eyes. Stressed. Literally wanted to cry here! Hahaha what an experience,” she captioned another sexy image.

Heart posted another story wherein she’s wearing a red one piece swimsuit but the brand rejected it.

“This was my favorite but it wasn’t too sexy – so they didn’t like it I think! Haha (more me),” she said.

Heart also said that she’s happy for the photoshoot experience but will not do it again.

“Looking back? Glad I did it won’t do it again though,” she said.

At the end of her story,

Heart posted a screenshot of her interview back then when she had a problem with her parents.

“After 7 years rewatched this painful interview… made me look at my old pictures and struggles nobody knew about… wow all I can say… thank you God for guiding me.

I always believe in having a childlike faith… I finally got my happy life,” Heart said.

“People may say this and that because they only see the ‘finished product’ but nobody knows what you had to go through to be where you are so… cheers to life! Cheers to where it has taken you! LIVE to the fullest.”

Photo from Instagram/@dionne

She announced last February that she would be retiring

from showbiz to live in Switzerland with Ryan.

gorgeous and has an undeniable sense of self that shines through the minute she walks on set. Her story represents one grounded in resilience and we couldn’t be more thrilled to help her tell it,” she said in a statement.

“Her presence as the first trans woman of color to be in our issue is a result of her lifetime dedication to forging her own path that has led to acceptance, love and change.

She represents every person’s right to love themselves and be who they want to be,” she added.

Bloom was born and raised in Chicago to a Filipina mother, who is from General Santos, and an African Ameri-

can father.

In a 2019 interview with GMA News, Bloom said that she went to the Philippines to find her mother.

“I grew up Americanized since my mom was deported when I was only two years old.

I was raised by my American father, but four years ago, I found my mom online. I searched everywhere. I felt there was a piece of me missing,” she said.

Bloom noted that the food in the Philippines was “amazing.”

“The people are so vibrant and welcoming. I feel so welcome in the Philippines. I feel so connected and so unique,” she added.

Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado

Photo from Instagram/@dingdongavanzado

Jessa, Dingdong mark 20th ‘I’m representing Filipina, I’m... wedding anniversary: ‘Couldn’t have chosen a better partner’

From Page 9 According to Bloom, her feature on the publication’s Swimsuit Issue is her way of “promoting something that has been missing in the world: trans beauty in all shapes and all sizes.”

“I’m representing Filipina, I’m representing Black, I am representing people who have been immigrants. For them, I’m a vessel of change,” she told the NY Times.

For her part, Sports Illustrated’s editor MJ Day praised Bloom for her beauty and her “undeniable sense of self that shines through the minute she walks on set.”

“Leyna is legendary in the world of activism, strikingly

By ian

Biong Inquirer.net

JESSA Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado had nothing but sweet messages and love for each other as they marked their 20th anniversary as a married couple.

Zaragoza and Avanzado took to their respective Instagram accounts to greet each other on the special occasion last Thursday, March 18.

“Happy 20th Year Wedding Anniversary to US!!! @dingdongavanzado [heart emoji] I love you endlessly my honey,” the

doting wife said in an Instagram post, which came with an adorable video of them dancing.

“Swinging through the years. This video reminds me of our journey in life together,” Avanzado likewise posted on Instagram, sharing with fans a clip of them swinging in a playground.

The post also aptly came with several random photos of the couple, including a picture of them at their wedding two decades ago.

“As we move from one chapter of our lives to the next, I could not have chosen a bet-

ter partner to swing with. May we continue to endure the challenges that life throws at us,” Avanzado said.

“With you by my side and with our Lord guiding us, we can conquer anything. Here’s to another 20 years and beyond.

Happy anniversary my one and only @jessazaragoza let’s keep on swinging,” he added.

The two singers tied the knot at the Christ the King Church in Quezon City on March 18, 2001. They are proud parents to their only daughter and fellow singer Jayda.

Filing bankruptcy: Lose your debt, not your assets Minding Your Finances attY. RaYmond Bulaon FILING bankruptcy can be a big decision that most people put off until they realize that they have no other way out of debt.

Unfortunately, however, sometimes people wait too long. When they finally do make the decision to file, they soon realize that they would actually have been better off if they had just acted sooner. What do I mean by this?

Take the case of a couple who came to me for bankruptcy help. Five years ago, both husband and wife had at least $50,000 total saved in their 401K plans. They own a home and have 2 children. Their current credit card debts are now over $60,000 and they have not paid in months. Bill collectors are calling them several times a day and are threatening to sue and garnish their wages. But the credit card debts did not accumulate overnight. Just a few years ago, they owed no more than $20,000 on all of them combined so they were still quite manageable.

Wife used to have 2 jobs but got laid off from one of them so their household income went down by at least 30%. With the demands of home ownership and raising two children, they were barely making minimum payments on their credit cards when wife was still working two jobs. Now with the reduction

in income as a result of losing one job, it became impossible to even pay the minimums.

So slowly over the last several years, they started using their credit cards not only to pay for basic living expenses but at times even using them to pay other debts!

Once the credit cards were maxed out, this couple resorted next to borrowing from their 401K plans. As a result, they started taking home even less money as the 401K loan payments were automatically deducted from their paychecks every pay day. This strategy of juggling your debts every month, of course, does not and will not ever work. To get out of debt, you need to stop borrowing. You can never borrow your way out of debt. But a lot of people don’t realize that until they wake up one day and find themselves drowning in a sea of debt. And that’s not a good place to be.

To make a long story short, here they are 5 years later.

From $20,000, their credit card debts have now gone up to $60,000. They not only owe more than twice as much as they did just a few years ago but they’ve also used up all their retirement money! Now this couple is already in their 50’s and while they may still have about 15 years left until they retire, I told them that using their retirement money to pay their debts was probably not one of the smartest decisions they’ve made. Your retirement money may be the only asset you have when you retire. It is best to keep it intact for your later years.

As a bankruptcy attorney, I’ve seen people drain their life

savings, cash out their 401K’s and IRA’s and sell everything that they’ve worked so hard for once they find themselves in financial hot water. I understand that and realize that as much as possible, they want to avoid having a bankruptcy on their credit record. But the truth of the matter is that in a lot of cases, you really don’t need to lose everything you’ve so hard for. See, filing for bankruptcy protection can often be a good legal strategy to preserve your assets while trying to regain control of your finances. It is needless and unfortunate to lose everything you have before taking action if bankruptcy is in fact the best solution for your situation. Bankruptcy can be your chance for a fresh start, not the end of the world.

If you think that bankruptcy may be eventually unavoidable for you, speak with a knowledgeable and experienced bankruptcy now, not later.

Don’t wait until your financial problems are overwhelming before you take action.

For a free evaluation of your case, please call our office at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 to schedule a free consultation. *** NOTE: Due to the current lockdown order caused by COVID-19, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. . *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation.

Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1866-477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

I filed my own divorce but I can’t finish it Barrister’s Corner attY. KennetH uRSua ReYeS MANY people try to file and open their own divorce case without an attorney in an effort to save on legal fees. Often, the self-represented divorce litigant would seek the assistance of the court facilitator’s office in preparing the papers to open their own divorce case.

However once the divorce case is opened, many self-represented petitioners are not able to finish their divorce case to judgment for various reasons.

The most common reasons are the following: 1. Improper Proof of Service of Divorce Petition Self-represented litigants are not familiar with the code of civil procedures on how initial pleadings should be served on the opposing party and the notice requirements. As such the Court is unable to exercise jurisdiction on the other party until proper service on that party is done properly.

2. Failed to prepare and exchanged required financial disclosures California family code requires that both parties exchange complete and accurate financial disclosures. Proof that these financial disclosures have been exchanged needs to be filed in Court. The court will not enter judgment on a divorce case unless the financial disclosure requirements are satisfied.

3. Default Judgment does not conform with the Petition for dissolution If the respondent has been defaulted and the petitioner is moving for a default divorce judgment, the default judgment must conform to the divorce petition. If the two does not conform to each other, the court will often reject the judgment.

4. Child Support requested is not guideline Child support in California is based on guideline. Sometimes the self-represented litigant will try to ignore child support or seek a child support order that is not based on guideline. This will result on the judgment being rejected by the Court.

5. Pension and Retirement plans were not joined Some pension and retirement plans (such as local government retirement plans) need to be joined in the divorce action if there is a community property interest in these plans.

Self-represented litigants are not aware of these rules and often ignore this requirement.

6. QDRO was not prepared to divide Pension and Retirement plans Certain pension and retirement plans that are covered

by ERISA requires a qualified domestic relations order to be divided (QDRO). Self-represented litigants often ignore this requirement. As a result, the plan is not divided.

7. Unequal division of community property in default divorce cases If there is no settlement agreement, then the court has to divide the community property and debt equally between the parties. Often, self-repre-

sented parties will try to propose or prove up an unequal division of community property and debt usually in their favor.

Trying to save on legal fees by handling your own divorce case could turn into a nightmare if your case has issues that needs to be handles a certain way. It is like trying to fix your own plumbing problem if you have no plumbing experience, it could end up costing you more. If you opened up your divorce case but cannot seem to finish it due to some issues, it is best to seek the help of a highly qualified family law attorney. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Kris on what to expect from her tell-all: ‘My true feelings will be revealed’ Aquino showed a teaser photo of herself holding notefilled papers as she made the KRIS Aquino is set to announcement on Instagram release a tell-all video adlast Friday, March 19. This dressing all issues related to teaser photo was accompaher and she hopes it will also nied by the revelation that clear all matters affecting her she wasn’t at her best physical children. condition while filming her “Names will be named,” tell-all video.

Aquino said on her Instagram “I insisted on doing this page on March 20. She added video shoot even though I that she will be covering all knew physically I wasn’t at my issues related to her — or at best,” Aquino stated. “I felt least the issues that she was the longer I delayed saying made aware of. what needed to be said, the “My true feelings will all be Kris Aquino more unhealthy I’d become.”

Photo from Instagram/@krisaquino revealed,” she stated. “I did Prior to her tell-all, Aquino not spare myself, because I defended her children who tions” for her production refuse to be a coward.”Aquino team so her message won’t be faced harsh comments from set the video’s release for bashers. Early this month, misinterpreted by viewers. today, March 21, but she origi“I have earned the right to she dispelled rumors that her nally wanted it to premiere eldest son, Josh, was gettake my time until I’m sure I yesterday, March 20. As she ting married and called out am giving you what you have explained to her fans, she had come to expect of me,” she homophobia directed at her “meticulous editing instrucyoungest son, Bimby. said.

By dana

cRUZ Inquirer.net

community

11

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 24, 2021

Children just like you Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond monette adeVa maGlaYa (STORIES can teach, heal, entertain, remind and bring home a message with laserlike accuracy and oftentimes, with latent comment. They appeal to all ages.

I like retelling the old classics and seeing how their lessons still apply to our lives today. Like organic botanicals from an older gene pool, these stories are pure, without manipulation or embellishments, and perhaps, are a good thing to chew on. Simple, organic, direct — these are the stories that hit home.

The lessons are as good now as they were then. Here’s one of them.)

Long ago in the island of Crete, there lived a man named Daedalus, who was famed for his skills as an inventor. He worked for King Minos. Foremost among his many achievements was building the labyrinth in which the king kept the Minotaur, a fearsome, legendary beast which was half-man and halfbull that fed on human flesh.

It was said that anyone who went into the labyrinth never came out of it again because of its complex, undecipherable winding walls and corridors.

Daedalus was brilliant and this was a problem for the king. Although Daedalus had been giving the king great and loyal service all his life, Minos was deeply insecure and feared that Daedalus who was wise, celebrated and ingenious would, one day challenge him to become king.

As a preemptive move, Minos imprisoned Daedalus and his son, Icarus in a prison tower. The king underestimated Daedalus, for one dark night, father and son escaped from their prison tower. They

(1 of 2 parts)

“The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.”

—Alfred North Whitehead found out however that it was well nigh impossible to escape the island with the paranoid King Minos sending out an all points bulletin to his mindless minions. Minos’ soldiers carefully searched every boat that left the island.

Father and son took cover in a remote cave along the shore hidden from the watchful eyes of Minos’ soldiers while Daedalus figured out a way to escape. Watching the seagulls for hours soaring and diving for food on the shore, Daedalus was struck with the idea of flight as an escape route. He caught one bird and studied the structure and form of its wings and after careful thought, decided to copy how a wing is made. He instructed Icarus to catch seagulls and pluck their feathers. When there were enough feathers, he sewed them together and used melted wax to bind the feathers on a wooden framework. He created the contraption so skillfully that they looked like a giant replica of a bird’s wings. He customized two pairs of wings for himself and for his son, careful to take each of their individual body weights into consideration.

But having wings was one thing, knowing how to use those wings to fly was another. So Daedalus strapped his wings and still taking his cue from the seagulls on how to soar, swoop, dive and glide, he proceeded to learn how to fly so that the wings felt like a seamless part of his arms and his body. He studied wind currents, the waters of the sea and the heat of the sun. Having gained the skill, he proceeded to teach his son patiently. At first, Icarus stumbled and fell and when he got

past the first few fumbles, the youth learned quickly, his lithe, svelte form seemingly destined for flight. He learned to fly like a bird, swooping and diving, gliding and circling about, looking down below at the blue waters and their island prison, now a mere speck from above, and frolicking about overhead, chasing the seagulls and rolling in the clouds. Freedom was a heady drink. Icarus felt complete elation, knew the incredible lightness of being and tasted the sweet freedom of flight.

Then came the day when Daedalus and Icarus were to fly out of Crete. The sun was up, and the wind was mild and Daedalus decided it was an auspicious day to make the great escape. Daedalus sat his son down and looked him in the eyes for serious pre-flight instructions knowing that once in the air, there would be little chance for communication. “Pay attention, Icarus.

Stick close behind me and watch your altitude. Fly too low and the sea with its moisture will make your wings too heavy. Fly too high and the heat of the sun will melt the wax in your wings. Take heed and stay close.” Icarus nodded agreement but he was far too excited and his mind was already in the sky.

(To be continued…) *** 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.

*** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

12

community The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 24, 2021

Shaira Diaz and Ruru Madrid

GMA photo

Shaira, Ruru impress esteemed director in ‘I Can See You 2’

By Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

WHILE there is no metric to measure how effective a love team is in Philippine entertainment, a kissing scene — if devoid of awkwardness especially for first-time onscreen partners — is arguably an indication.

In the eyes of esteemed director Mark Reyes 5th, who has directed numerous romantic flicks in his storied career, Shaira Diaz and Ruru Madrid, lead stars of GMA Network’s “I Can See You…,” convincingly passed the test.

Reyes has nothing but for the pair praises for giving what he calls “one of the best kissing scenes” he has directed.

“A kissing scene is the most difficult thing to do especially if you just met someone for just a few days,” Reyes began at the show’s virtual media conference. “This is one of the best kissing scenes that I directed and was able to shoot in my entire career.”

Reyes justified that Diaz and Madrid were “so natural” in that vulnerable scene.

Reyes has nothing but for the pair praises for giving what he calls “one of the best kissing scenes” he has

directed.

“A kissing scene is the most difficult thing to do especially if you just met someone for just a few days,” Reyes began at the show’s virtual media conference. “This is one of the best kissing scenes that I directed and was able to shoot in my entire career.”

Reyes justified that Diaz and Madrid were “so natural” in that vulnerable scene.

When her runaway video goes viral, Raki escapes to a remote mountain lodge to flee from all the bashing.

Irony strikes when Raki meets Jerrick (Madrid), a mysterious brooding man who was jilted at the altar by his bride-to-be.

As their constant bickering turns into an unexpected romance, will Raki finally get her happily ever after or is her newfound prince charming just another heartache in disguise?

“You’d think you know what’s happening but in this show, there’s a lot of twists and turns,” the director hinted.

Additionally, staying true to another trademark of the show — that is, telling stories through lenses — “On My Way to You” will use three lenses in Raki and Jerrick’s story.

As director Reyes explained, “One is the lens of

the phone camera because doon nakita yung runaway bride.

“The other one is the binoculars because that’s how Raki was seeing Jerrick on the other cottage. Seeing is believing but looks can be deceiving.

“Finally, one thing that I think is neglected is the polaroid camera of Manang Baby [played by Malou de Guzman] because that polaroid camera was the final, major twist in the story.”

Of course, Reyes would not divulge the twist so as not to spoil the surprise but what he could share was his guarantee that the viewers will be taken for a ride.

“Because of the imagination of Raki, which we follow, we have a horror feel in one episode, then adventure then mystery in another. Any other script given that, as a director, you would think it would be chopsuey but with this one, I liked it a lot from day one,” Reyes ended.

Completing the talented cast members are Richard Yap, Ashley Rivera and Arra San Agustin. “I Can See You: On My Way To You” premieres March 22, and will air every weeknight thereafter, on GMA’s prime time block.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 24, 2021

13

14

T he Asian Jo ur na l M D W K M A G A Z I NE - M a rch 2 4 , 2 0 2 1

ISLAND PACIFIC FPFC