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APRIL 2-8, 2021 Volume 14 - No. 22 • 16 Pages

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Man faces hate crime charges in brutal attack of 65-year-old Filipino woman in New York

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

Brandon Elliot, a 38-year-old who was out on parole for killing his mother, was arrested for violently attacking an elderly Filipina woman on Monday, March 29 in New York.

Photo courtesy of New York Police Department

DATELINE

THE suspect in the brazen and unprovoked attack on a 65-year-old Filipino American woman who was walking to church in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood earlier this

week has been arrested.

The New York City Police Department on Wednesday, March 31 said that they arrested the suspect on charges including felony assault as a hate crime for the attack. They identified the man as Brandon Elliot, 38, a parolee convicted of killing his mother in 2002.

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White House reveals new actions to address hate against Asian Americans

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

26 governors, former US officials condemn anti-Asian hate in bipartisan letter

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

TWENTY SIX governors, as well as several former Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) government officials, have denounced the disturbing rise in assaults and harassment toward the AAPI community in the United States.

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Less than 48 hours earlier, the suspect was seen on CCTV video assaulting the victim identified as Vilma Kari, who immigrated from the Philippines decades ago, according to a New York Times interview with her daughter.

He faces two counts of assault as a hate

Borough of Manhattan President Gale Brewer organized a rally on Tuesday afternoon, March 30 in front of the luxury apartment building on West 43rd Street where the attack on Filipino American Vilma Kari happened. She was walking on the sidewalk when she was approached by the suspect who kicked her so hard and knocked her to the ground. The assailant then kicked her and stomped on her face three times while hurling anti-Asian sentiments at her, police said.

Photo by Don Tagala

THE White House on Tuesday, March 30 announced several actions in response to the latest string of anti-Asian violence and racism in the United States.

The move comes two weeks since the Atlanta mass shooting that left eight individuals dead, six of whom were Asian women, and as nearly 3,800 hate incidents have been reported across the country in the past year.

“We can’t be silent in the face of rising vio-

u PAGE 4 New York expands vaccine eligibility to all Former Philippine Envoy Foreign parents of Filipino citizens adults starting April 6 to Libya is now Consul can now enter PH with valid visas M G. V General in New York R M by

OMAR AJPress

ISAYA

by

NEW York has lowered the threshold of vaccine eligibility starting Tuesday, March 30 as New Yorkers 30 years old and older will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

This eligibility will expand further to include all adults 16 years and older starting

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J O U R N A L I ST- D I P LO MAT, Elmer G. Cato, officially assumed as Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York on Tuesday, March 30.

A career diplomat with

the rank of Chief of Mission Class II, Consul General Cato succeeds Consul General Petronila P. Garcia who retired in January.

Consul General Cato ar-

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ITCHEL ENDIOLA AJPress

FOREIGN parents of Filipino citizens who have valid visas and are traveling with them may now enter the Philippines.

The country’s Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday, March 29,

announced the new guideline pursuant to the latest resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

However, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente stressed that foreign parents must be traveling

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Bay Area Fil-Am teen recovering Man faces hate crime charges in... after being shot in the face Family alleges incident is a hate crime

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

A FILIPINA American teen has been discharged from the hospital after getting shot in the face in San Francisco during an incident her family is calling a hate crime.

Jessica Dimalanta, a 19-year-old from Vallejo, California, was reportedly attending car stunt shows with four friends in San Francisco on Sunday, March 21, when a group of men pulled up in a dark sedan

Jessica Dimalanta, 19, of Vallejo, California was shot in the right eye on March 21 in what her family is calling a racially motivated attacked.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Martin

and opened fire on the grey Lexus she was riding in.

Dimalanta and a 19-year-old male were hit, while their other three friends were unharmed. The suspects fled the scene.

She was taken to UCSF Mission Bay Hospital in downtown San Francisco, and was later transferred to SF General Hospital, according to a report from Daily Mail.

Her uncle, Dexter Martin, confirmed with the Asian Journal that Dimalanta is Filipina.

He started a GoFundMe page for her, claiming that his niece was a “victim of a hate crime” for being Asian.

According to Martin, a bullet went straight through Dimalanta’s right eye.

“While doctors were able to remove the shell, fragments still are embedded in her face, and she is unable to chew and speak without pain. She is now permanently impaired,” he wrote.

He also shared that Dimalanta was diagnosed with diabetes, and while in care, tested positive for COVID-19.

“Jessica will need medical care, is afraid for her life, and does not want to go outside because she fears something else is happening to her,” he said, adding that she will also require physical and mental therapy in the future.

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PAGE 1 crime, attempted assault as a hate crime, assault and attempted assault, police said.

According to the authorities, the 38-year-old Elliot was arrested in July 2002 in the Bronx for fatally stabbing his mother. He was released on lifetime parole in November 2019 after serving 17 years in state prison.

In a tweet, ABC7 reporter CeFaan Kim said that Elliot was identified by residents as a local homeless person and based on tips sent to the police, he was staying in a hotel serving as a homeless shelter on West 40th Street.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident among “the horrible, disgusting attacks on Asian American New Yorkers, and it’s got to end and we’re going to use every tool we have.” He said it was “absolutely unacceptable” that none of the witnesses did not intervene.

The disturbing surveillance footage released by the NYPD showed the building’s doorman shutting the door on the helpless victim who sustained serious injuries.

“Look, I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you do, you’ve got to help your fellow New Yorker,” de Blasio said.

The building’s management company issued a statement on Instagram saying “the staff who witnessed the attack have been suspended pending an investigation in conjunction with their union” and that it was working to identify a “third-party vendor present during the incident so that appropriate action can be taken.”

“And if you see someone being attacked, do whatever you can – make noise, call out what’s happening, go and try and help immediately call for help, call 9-1-1,” de Blasio added. “I mean, this is something where we all have to be part of the solution. We can’t just stand back and watch a heinous act happening.”

Borough of Manhattan President Gale Brewer organized a rally on Tuesday afternoon, March 30, in front of the luxury apartment building where the attack happened.

Community leaders and elected officials led by Rep. Jerry Nadler and Asian American Federation’s JoAnn Yoo were among the speakers who expressed their disgust about the senseless violence against Asian Americans and the witnesses who just watched and did nothing.

“Damn it, I am so sick and

Photo courtesy of NYPD

tired standing here demanding something to be done for my people,” an emotional Yoo said. “She is lying in the hospital right now. We don’t know how to help her. Everybody is reaching out to me because the community wants to stand by her.”

Yoo also mentioned the symbolism of holding the gathering in front of the building where Kari was attacked.

“We’re standing in front of the building that pretty much closed their door on a woman lying on the sidewalk. Isn’t that the perfect symbolism of what is happening right now,” she said. “We don’t want your thoughts and prayers anymore. We demand action and we demand resources so we can train volunteers to run programs to keep people safe.”

Deirdre Levy, a FilipinaJewish special education teacher and candidate for New York’s 35th Council District, said the Monday, March 29 attack made her worry for the safety of her Filipina relatives.

“I couldn’t believe that a Filipina woman was attacked in broad daylight and told ‘You don’t belong here.’ We should never be made to feel like we don’t belong or attacked for who we are,” she told the Asian Journal. “As a Filipina American, I worry about my mom and titas as this could have happened to them. I am still trying to go by every day life as normal and would like to hone in on my self-defense skills and find ways to protect other Filipinos because we do matter and we do belong here.”

Some of New York City leaders and officials on Wednesday discussed efforts to combat anti-Asian violence in an online event dubbed Stop Asian Hate.

Among the speakers was Carmelyn Malalis, Chair and

Commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights. She expressed her feelings about how this most recent attack hit close to home.

“As a Filipino American woman myself, I couldn’t help but think that it could also happen to my mother or grandmother,” she said. “To have that experience and to see it happen, it is something.

She was going to church, most Filipinos go to church daily during Holy Week.”

She described that many people, including her, found it jarring that the witnesses closed the door on the victim which is also what makes this incident stand out.

“That is definitely troubling to me, that there was a witness who closed the door and exacerbated the victim’s situation,” she said. “And that is not who we are. That is not the New York we know and love.

Commissioner Malalis also talked about the recent public awareness campaign that CCHR implemented, featuring Asian and Pacific Islander New Yorkers.

Brooklyn-based artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya created posters which contain messages such as, “This is our home too,” “We belong here,” and, “I am not your scapegoat.”

According to the NYPD, Kari’s attacker screamed “F*** you, you don’t belong here,” as he kicked and stomped on her head multiple times.

The public art project is ongoing and Malalis said they are going to the neighborhood where Kari’s attack happened to distribute posters to the businesses in the area.

“This is a visible way to support AAPI communities and it gives voice to Asians and Pacific Islanders’ fight against anti-Asian racism and violence,” she said. n

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From the Front Page

White House reveals new actions to address hate...

PAGE 1 lence against Asian Americans. That’s why today I’m taking additional steps to respond — including establishing an initiative at the Department of Justice to address anti-Asian hate crimes,” President Joe Biden said on Twitter.

The actions include reinstating the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with initial focus on anti-Asian bias and violence; funding for AAPI survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; and forming a Department of Justice crossagency initiative to review hate crimes and incidents.

“These attacks are wrong, un-American, and must stop,” Biden added.

Biden will reinstate and expand the White House Initiative on AAPIs and appoint a permanent director “to lead the Initiative in the coordination of policies across the federal government impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities,” according to the White House fact sheet.

The group was first formed during the Clinton administration and was reestablished by later presidents.

The Department of Health and Human Services will also allocate $49.5 million from the American Rescue Plan for community based and culturally specific services and programs for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This program will help AAPI survivors who may face additional barriers to services, such as language access.

Meanwhile, a committee within the COVID-19 Equity Task Force will address xenophobia against Asian Americans.

Tuesday’s announcement builds upon the executive order the president signed on Jan. 26, which included directives to remove language in federal actions or documents that would contribute to xenophobia and racism against the AAPI population and for the Justice Department to expand its collection of data and public reporting regarding hate incidents against community members.

The actions also come a week after Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) criti-

Candles at the Chinatown vigil on Saturday, March 27 were lit to remember the eight victims of the March 16 Atlanta shooting as well as Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-yearold Thai man who was pushed to death in January in San Francisco.

AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian American leaders in Atlanta on Friday, March 19 to discuss the March 16 attacks and the ongoing violence against the community.

White House photo

cized the administration’s lack of AAPI representation on the Cabinet secretary level. Duckworth later backtracked on her pledge to block the president’s non-diverse nominees in exchange for the White House adding an AAPI senior liaison.

The DOJ’s Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative will focus on the rise in hate crimes and reinitiate community outreach and engagement programs and addressing gaps in hate crimes reporting. Its hate crimes website has updated information on resources and has been made accessible in Tagalog, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

The department on Tuesday also released a separate memo outlining plans to do a 30-day expedited review into its hate crime tracking and investigations.

Other moves planned include a research investment of $33 million from the National Science Foundation “to understand, address, and end bias, discrimination and xenophobia, including against AAPI communities” and a virtual bookshelf by the National Endowment for the Humanities, featuring federally-funded projects that explore and celebrate Asian Americans’ contributions to the U.S.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) applauded the administration’s commitment, calling it a “powerful step towards realizing racial equity” for to AAPI and Native Hawaiian communities.

“Much of the focus is understandably in response to the surge of anti-Asian racism; however, the reestablishment of WHIAAPI and data disaggregation are critical steps for the broader community. We encourage the Administration to center Southeast Asian, South Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in these efforts,” the organization said.

Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, met with Asian American leaders in Atlanta on Friday, March 19, three days after the deadly shootings at three spas in the area.

“Whatever the motivation is, we know this: Too many Asian Americans have been walking up and down the streets and worrying, waking up each morning for the past year feeling their safety and the safety of their loved ones are at stake,” Biden said.

Thirty-two U.S. senators and 101 representatives have co-sponsored a resolution condemning anti-Asian hate following the Atlanta attacks, according to Axios.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) previously introduced the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which 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 COVID19-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.

The Biden administration recently urged Congress to swiftly pass the legislation.

Data released by Stop AAPI Hate — a national coalition created during the beginning of the pandemic — revealed that from March 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021, the reporting center 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.

Women are 2.3 times more likely to report the versus men, the group also found.

Meanwhile, a new study

by SurveyMonkey and AAPI Data released on Tuesday found that one in four Asian Americans (27%) and Pacific Islanders (24%) has experienced a hate incident, compared to the national average of 22%.

Other acts of racial discrimination and microaggressions were also elevated among AAPIs, including 64% of Asian Americans being asked where they are from and 27% being “encouraged to Americanize or Whiten one’s name.”

The data comes from the 2021 American Experiences with Discrimination Survey conducted online by SurveyMonkey between March 18-26 with 16,336 adult U.S. residents.

“These trends show that experiences of racial bias and hostility reported by Asian Americans emerge from a much broader environment of discrimination and racism affecting Black, Latinx, and other non-white groups in the U.S.,” said Janelle Wong, senior researcher at AAPI Data. n

Elmer Cato

Former Philippine...

PAGE 1 rived Tuesday afternoon from Libya where he served for two years as Chargé d’Affaires, e.p. and Head of Mission of the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli.

A journalist before joining the foreign service, Cato had served in various capacities in the Philippines and abroad in the past 22 years.

His first overseas posting was at the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations from 2003 to 2010 where he also served as a member of the Philippine Delegation to the UN Security Council from 2004 to 2005.

Mr. Cato was assigned to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. from 2012 until he volunteered to go to Iraq where he served as Chargé d’Affaires, e.p. and Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Philippines in Baghdad from 2015 to 2018.

At the Home Office, he served as Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy and later for Strategic Communications during the terms of Foreign Affairs Secretaries Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. from 2018 to 2019.

During the term of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, Cato was designated Special Assistant for Special Projects at the Office of Administration; Director for Intelligence of the Intelligence and Security Unit under the Office of the Secretary; and Executive Director of the National Council on United Nations Peace Operations from 2010 to 2012.

He served as Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo L. Siazon, Jr. and Teofisto T. Guingona; spokesperson and Officer-in-Charge of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement; and as Officer in Charge of the Regional Consular Office in San Fernando and Clark Field, Pampanga. Consul General Cato is a recipient of the Gawad Mabini, one of the highest awards the Government of the Philippines can bestow on Filipino diplomats, for initiating the public-private partnership that led to the transfer of consular offices to shopping malls across the country.

Consul General Cato joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1998 after passing the Foreign Service Officers Examination of 1996. He also passed the Career Ministers Examination of 2013. Before joining the Foreign Service, Consul General Cato was a journalist for 17 years who started as a 16-year-old cub reporter. He was also an overseas worker in Jeddah and Jakarta. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 2-8, 2021

OPINION

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FEATURES

Back to ECQ

Philstar.com photo

AFTER rejecting proposals for a “circuit breaker lockdown” or a “onetime, big-time” two-week lockdown coinciding with the Holy Week break to stop the COVID surge, the government has reverted the National Capital Region and four adjacent provinces to the strictest enhanced community quarantine.

ECQ in the so-called “NCRPlus bubble” began on Monday, March 29, dampening for the second straight year the observance of the traditional Holy Week rituals as all religious gatherings are completely banned. The ECQ, although slightly more relaxed than the original last year, dashed hopes of the battered travel industry and related enterprises in the hospitality sector for the start of business revival coinciding with the Holy Week break.

In imposing ECQ, the government is reportedly aiming for a 25 percent reduction in daily COVID cases, which stood at 9,586 last March 27, bringing the total infections to 712,000 – the highest in the Western Pacific. There is a possibility that if the surge continues, the ECQ

may be extended, with further tightening of restrictions.

This return to ECQ must prompt a review of the initial response to the spread of more infectious COVID variants. Even as several NCR mayors were calling it a surge and pointing out at the start of the month that the speed of infection was unusually rapid, the government insisted that the culprit was mainly lax compliance with the minimum health protocols, fueled in part by the arrival of COVID vaccines.

With the agonizingly slow vaccine rollout, it could take a year before inoculation targets are achieved for herd immunity. Meanwhile, the virus keeps mutating, with the variants showing varying degrees of virulence. Proto-

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS FOR the second year in a row, we are still in calvary, carrying the load of our cross brought by the escalating threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

We thought it would be over by now. Some died still in denial that the pandemic even existed. But no matter how much we cry, complain or despair about it, we all know it was real and is still upon us.

cols need to be refined to contain highly infectious variants. Or else the country will find

itself reverting over and over to the strictest ECQ. (Philstar.com)

COVID-19 is the cross we continue to carry this Holy Week. How do we move toward resurrection?

As if the news about the deaths in different parts of the world since 2020 was not enough, hearing and reading about the fear and loss in our own families and friends break our hearts even more, especially if we lose our loved ones ourselves.

The pandemic also disrupted the lives and livelihoods of many of us and shattered so many dreams.

Many continue to feel powerless, angry, and desperate because, for many, there is no end in sight.

We are fortunate here in the United States because under the Biden administration, we are now more than achieving the goal of vaccinating most Americans.

The medical frontlines and essential workers, senior citizens and those with high-risk medical conditions were given priority. Those who are 50 and above will be next in line by April 1 in California. Younger ones, 16 and above, will be scheduled for vaccination beginning April 16. By May 1, there

will be vaccine supply for all adults in America.

However, it is a different case for kababayans in the Philippines, who include my own family. No one among them has been vaccinated.

Not even the medical front liners have been protected because of issues in the supply of vaccines.

This Holy Week and every day of our lives, when we realize that we have no full control over this crisis, we can only hold on to our faith in God to continue choosing

hope over despair.

Pope Francis reminded us on March 27: “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”

(Mk 4:35-41). We have realized we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together”.

In his homily on Palm Sunday, Pope Francis said: “God is at our side in every affl iction, in every fear; no evil, no sin will ever have the fi nal word. God triumphs,

but the palm of victory passes through the wood of the cross. For the palm and the cross are inseparable.”

During these most difficult trying times, let us remember that “This, too, shall pass.”

But for us to move from the palm to Good Friday to Resurrection on Easter Sunday, we are called to remember that God is in control.

And even as God sent His only begotten Son to save us from our sins, our Savior JePAGE 10

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

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MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief New York/New Jersey Asian Journal

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte warns of ‘bleak months’ PH, US to celebrate 75 years ahead amid rising COVID cases in PH of diplomatic relations

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte admitted he is struggling to address the pandemic in the country, particularly in securing vaccines against COVID-19.

“I’m having a hard time.

I’m grappling with the issue of COVID,” he said in a prerecorded public address on Monday, March 29.

“It takes most of my time actually. More than any other papers, it’s the COVID that is taking my time or most of my time looking for ways and kung ano na ang nangyayari doon sa labas kung saan tayo makakuha (where we can supply),” he added.

According to him, procuring vaccines is hard, making him feel like he is “passing through purgatory.”

“Hay buhay. Kung alam lang ninyo... Para akong dumadaan ng purgatoryo ngayon at this time hanggang hindi matulungan ang lahat ng Pilipino (Oh, life.

If you only knew... I’m like passing through purgatory at this time until I am able to help all Filipinos),” said Duterte.

“That is how hard it is para makakuha lang talaga tayo... Gusto ko na ngang umiyak sa harap ninyo pero naubos na ang luha ko (That is how hard it is for us to get vaccines... I want to cry in front of you but I have run out of tears),” he added.

Duterte warned the public of “bleak months,” due to the tight global supply of vaccines.

“We want to buy, we have money, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank said, ‘OK, we will lend you.’

The money is made available to us. I suppose that is what the bank has told our people. The problem is it’s not enough,” he said.

“So we expect a very, not really a dark future, but we expect bleak months... baka mahawa ka nga eh. Ang problema mahawa ka (You might get infected. The problem is if you get infected),” he added.

The Philippines has so far received 2.5 million vaccines against COVID-19, including the additional one million Sinovac jabs from China that arrived in the country on Monday.

Duterte asked for everyone’s patience and understanding as the government tries its best to get “the vaccine from anywhere.”

“Stretch your patience and be understanding a bit.

PAGE 10

THE Philippines and the United States have officially launched a bilateral campaign celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez and U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Ambassador Sung Kim led the program held on Friday, March 26, at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. They also unveiled the official logo of the 75th anniversary celebration, which highlights the common colors of the Philippine and American flags. The logo also depicts the sun, stars, and stripes, which represent hope for the future of the two countries’ deep relationship.

“Some say 75 years is indeed a long time to stay as friends, partners, and allies, but I believe this is an undeniable testament to the depth and quality of the bilateral relationship. Our ties have withstood the test of time and have served both our countries and peoples well,” said Romualdez.

Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the U.S. were established on July 4, 1946 — the same day that the

Philippines gained its status as an independent and sovereign republic.

This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the two countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty, which enables close security cooperation that enhances mutual peace and security.

“As you know, I served as Ambassador to the Philippines just recently and it’s a true privilege to see firsthand the strength of the bond between our two countries. Starting with the unbreakable friendship between Americans and Filipinos, of course, the robust military partnership that we have, and an equally strong economic partnership,” Kim said.

“I think what really impressed me the most was the potential for us to develop the relationship even further, even deeper, and again, I think that starts with the warmth, affection, and mutual respect between our two countries,” he added.

The anniversary celebration focused on the unbreakable bonds between Filipinos and Americans, who continue to strengthen bilateral relations.

According to the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, there are over four million U.S. PAGE 10

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 2-8, 2021

7

Filipinos to watch Holy Week rites online

by William

Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

ARECA PALMS. Ambulant vendors are selling palms for PHP800 each along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 30. The government has allowed selected businesses to operate in a limited capacity as long as they follow health protocols amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

New York expands...

PAGE 1 April 6, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

This, as the state of New York reached a milestone of 50,000 coronavirus deaths and New York is second in the nation for highest number of coronavirus infections per capita. Both New York and New Jersey have recorded the country’s fastest rises in coronavirus cases recently, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Despite the expansion however, there are people who are frustrated with the online booking system to get the appointment. A FilipinoAmerican woman has been spending a couple of hours a day to try and book an appointment to no avail.

“I want to remind everyone, you can go to vax4nyc. nyc.gov, and that’s how you can book a reservation for an appointment, or you can call 877-VAX-4NYC, and again, it’s not perfect by any stretch, but we’ve had almost four million vaccinations. So, something is working for a lot of people, thank God,” Mayor de Blasio said in his press briefing on Tuesday, March 30.

De Blasio also called on New Yorkers to continue being safe specially in the coming Easter where families traditionally gather to celebrate.

“It’s so important to understand, this is the last time we’re going to be dealing with COVID the way we have for the last year. Every day we’re making progress, but we’re not there yet,” De Blasio said. “So, during this holiday time, everyone should focus on safety. Still keep the gathering small, observe social distancing, wear a mask.”

NYC Health Commission-

er Dr. David Chokshi echoed the mayor’s message of staying in groups that are in the single digits (and outdoors, if possible) as he reiterated his safe six reminders.

“Our practical advice revolves around what you’ve heard me talk about as the safe six – masking, maintaining a physical distance, hand-washing, staying home if you’re ill, getting tested, and getting vaccinated when it’s your turn,” Chokshi said.

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy announced last Friday, March 26, the expansion of eligibility for more frontline essential workers and high-risk groups in New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

Eligible groups include individuals ages 55-64, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, higher education educators and staff, and communications and utility infrastructure workers among others.

The state is hoping to meet its goal of vaccinating 4.7 million New Jersey adults.

Mayor de Blasio’s target on the other hand is five million adult New Yorkers fully vaccinated by June and NYC is on track to reach a total of 4 million shots this week.

“Our Administration has worked closely with communities to build an extensive vaccination infrastructure and has opened over 700 vaccination sites across the state,” said Murphy. “We are already averaging approximately half a million shots per week, and with an expected increase in our federal allocation, we are confident we can expand our vaccination program to more of our essential workers and vulnerable populations.” n

JUST like last year, devout Filipinos will again observe Holy Week inside their homes as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Sunday announced that beginning on March 29, all religious activities to mark the passion and death of Jesus Christ will be done online.

“It’s a lockdown. People are not allowed to go out. Cases are in the upswing. Therefore, Holy Week celebrations in the bubble (NCR and four provinces) will be done online just like last year,” said Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs executive secretary, said in a text message to The Manila Times.

Secillano said the Church leadership will fully cooperate with the government.

Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal will be under the strictest lockdown from March 29 to April 4, Holy Monday until Easter Sunday, to PAGE 10

KEEPING THE FAITH A man prays inside the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran, Parañaque City on Palm Sunday, March 28, the start of Holy Week. Churches will be closed beginning Monday, March 29, the start of the lockdown imposed in Metro Manila and four provinces.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia

26 governors, former US officials condemn anti-Asian...

PAGE 1 Governors from 26 states and territories on March 26 issued a joint statement calling for solidarity with AAPIs and condemning the recent string of brutal racism against the community, particularly elderly Asians.

“As governors, we take pride in protecting the people of our states and territories,” the governors’ letter read, acknowledging the long history of anti-Asian social norms and policy in the U.S. “From the Chinese Exclusion Act to the incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II to the mistreatments of Muslims and Sikhs after 9/11, this year is part of a history of racism against the Asian American community,” the letter continued.

The 26 governors who signed the letter include Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Steve Sisolak of Nevada, Lourdes Leon Guerrero of Guam, David Ige of Hawaii, Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York.

On the same day that the governors’ letter was released, a group of more than 70 AAPI former senior officials issued a “bipartisan call” to action to current state, local and federal government officials to address the “dramatic rise” of violence, rhetoric and discrimination toward the AAPI community.

“For all of us, it has been a great honor and privilege to serve the American public at the highest levels of the federal government, working for both Republicans and Democrats.

What is currently happening in our country is alarming, and it requires that we all stand in solidarity to protect and support the AAPI community,” the coalition of former officials wrote in the letter.

Among the officials who signed the letter included several Filipino Americans: Lelaine Bigelow, former deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs in the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Irene Bueno, former special assistant to the president; Nani Coloretti, former deputy secretary of HUD; Eddy Badrina former executive

director of the White House Initiative on AAPIs (WHIAAPI); Cesar Conda, former assistant to Florida senator Marco Rubio; Vic Mercado, former assistant secretary at the Dept. of Defense; Joyce Meyer, former deputy chief of staff to former House Speaker Paul Ryan; Rudy Pamintuan, former chair of the President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs; and Francey Lim Youngberg, former deputy assistant at HUD. “We call on our political leaders to: denounce violence and hateful rhetoric against AAPIs; to work with local, state, and national leaders and law enforcement agencies to better protect AAPIs; and to pass and fund legislation that will better support the needs of the AAPI community,” the former officials’ letter read.

As extensively covered in the Asian Journal, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020 brought forth an concerning uptick in harassment, bias and violence against members of the massive AAPI community.

According to the social organization Stop AAPI Hate, which has been tracking reported incidents of anti-Asian hate, 2020 brought forth a 150% increase in hate incidents and hate crimes against the AAPI community. More than 3,800 selfreported incidents have been documented of which 66% of the victims were women.

Many of the early incidents included bullying, racial epithets, verbal abuse and online harassment with a few violent incidents. But the last three months have seen a spike in incidents involving physical violence, including death.

The AAPI officials’ letter remarked on the duality of antiAsian hate and the fact that a large chunk of frontliners battling the COVID-19 pandemic in America are AAPIs. “Today, an estimated two million AAPIs serve on the front lines of our country’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic as healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store workers, and other essential roles,” the letter read. “They risk their lives every day to save fellow Americans, but even they are not immune to this kind of bias and hate.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

Bay Area Fil-Am teen recovering after being shot...

PAGE 2 Dimalanta, who recently turned 19 in March, was scheduled to start school last week to become a health care provider but is now unable to attend due to her injury.

“Jessica is the sweetest, kind, caring person with an angelic voice, loves to sing and spend time with her family.

She helps her single mother take care of her younger siblings, nieces, and nephews. She did not deserve to have to suffer like this. No one deserves this at all,” wrote Martin.

He also condemned the surge in violence against Asians in the United States, calling for an end to hate and racism.

“We also want to bring awareness to the anti-Asian violence and racism that is evolving around us. Let’s please work together to stop senseless violent hate crimes and

continue to take care of one another. We are praying for past and current victims of these crimes, and hope we can move toward a safer and more inclusive society,” said Martin.

In an update posted on Saturday, March 27, he said Dimalanta has been discharged but is currently in quarantine.

“It’s been very tough for our family, currently and still processing the events. Our primary focus right now is my niece’s recovery, beating COVID and her well being. As one would expect, she is very traumatized and needs her space to heal as well,” Martin said.

The GoFundMe page has since raised over $63,000 to help with Dimalanta’s recovery. n

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PH, US to celebrate 75 years...

PAGE 6 citizens of Philippine ancestry in the U.S. More than 350,000 U.S. citizens live and travel in the Philippines under normal circumstances, with an estimated 650,000 U.S. citizens visiting the Philippines each year.

“Certainly, what truly binds our two countries together are our peoples, and it is for them that we are celebrating this momentous occasion,” said Romualdez.

“It also provides an opportunity for the Philippines and the United States to not just take stock of what we have achieved to-

ANTI-OVERLOADING OPS. Members of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (IACT) and Highway Patrol Group (HPG) conduct anti-overloading and anti-colorum operations along Marcos Highway in Antipolo City on Tuesday, March 30. The government has been implementing health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Duterte warns of ‘bleak months’...

PAGE 6 We are doing our best. We are not a vaccine-producing country. We do not have the expertise, we do not have the knowledge, medicalscientific knowledge. So we are waiting,” he said.

“I would be the last person, ako ang pinakahuling tao dito sa Pilipinas na magpapahirap sa Pilipino

(I would be the last person who would inflict suffering on Filipinos). If only I had the power, kung nandiyan lang sa akin ‘yong poder na like a magic wand na maalis kaagad itong problema natin, mawala, gagawin ko (like a magic wand to make this problem vanish, I’ll do it),” he added Over the weekend, he

placed Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until April 4 following the spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

To date, there are a total of 747,288 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, with 13,297 fatalities and 603,746 recoveries. n

gether throughout the years, but also to reaffirm our commitment to more robust ties and to a relationship that remains relevant in a world that will continue to face new and continuing challenges,” he added.

U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires John Law, for his part, joined the celebration by video link.

“Over these decades, our countries have accomplished so much together, and moving forward, we will accomplish even more thanks to the friendship, cooperation, and mutual support between Americans and Filipinos,” he said. (AJPress) n

Foreign parents of Filipino citizens...

PAGE 1 with their Filipino children to be able to enter the country.

“If they are traveling alone, they will not be allowed entry even if they hold valid visas as the rules provide that they must be traveling with their Philippine spouse or children,” he said in a statement.

Previously, only the foreign spouses and children of Filipinos who were traveling with them and those who hold valid visas were

exempted from the travel ban, which the government imposed on all foreign nationals from March 22 to April 20.

Morente also clarified that foreign seafarers arriving via the seaports are not prohibited from entering the country if they possess the required seaman’s visa or crew list visa.

“We welcome the exemption of foreign seafarers from the travel ban as the Philippines is one of the countries in Asia that has

opened a ‘green lane’ for these sailors,” he said.

According to BI bay service section chief Alnazib Decampong, the green lane project was launched by the government to promote the Philippines as a hub for crew change of international maritime vessels and facilitate the free movement of sailors in the region during the pandemic.

The crew change hubs are located in the ports of Manila, Bataan, Batangas, Subic, Cebu, and Davao. n

COVID-19 is the cross we...

PAGE 5 sus Christ humbled Himself, carried His cross so He could rise again in three days on Easter for our salvation.

Our true salvation is in living in the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus.

As we carry the cross in our own Calvary during the test of faith in this pandemic, let us remember that as Jesus had to die in the cross, we are called to die to ourselves, our sins of selfishness, and begin thinking not just of our own needs, caprices, liberties, conveniences, and yes, not just of our own lives but the lives of our brothers and sisters, of

mankind.

Easter Sunday will come as we all do our share in willfully submitting ourselves to the safety measures — mask up, practice physical distancing, avoid crowds, wash our hands, and get vaccinated.

We all need to remember we are in one boat together, and we all need to row this both together in harmony, and in faith to protect our lives and the lives of others.

The sooner we get our act of faith together, the faster we go ashore to safety and the life of normalcy and abundance as God promised.

Have a meaningful Holy

Week. God bless us all. See you all on Easter! *** 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.

Filipinos to watch Holy Week...

PAGE 7 stem the exponential spread of Covid-19 in the country.

“The Church will heed the call of the government. Of particular importance here is the safety of everyone. There is no reason for the Church not to cooperate especially since this Covid-19 situation has already gone to the extreme,” the Church official said.

The Church earlier said that it will do away with the washing of the feet, a tradition performed by priests on Maundy Thursday.

Holy Week is a major religious event in the Philippines, the bastion of Christianity

in Asia. In the past, it was common to see flagellants walking on streets, and the nailing of some devout Catholics to the cross, an event that drew foreign tourists.

CBCP president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles appealed for more fervent prayers from the faithful amid the alarming surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, particularly in Metro Manila.

“Let us pray in particular for the people in the archdiocese and dioceses in the NCR and neighboring provinces. Let us ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the fatherly protection of St. Joseph,” Valles said. n

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COMMUNITY Journal

Embassies are reopening: When will your family be interviewed?

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ IN a previous article, I reported that on February 24, 2021, Pres. Biden revoked Trump’s immigration ban, which was set to expire at the end of March 2021. Because of that ban, most immigrant visa processing was suspended at the U.S. embassies around the world.

That caused a lot of confusion, heartbreak, and sadness to so many families around the world, who played by and followed the rules, only to be told they

would now have to wait.

Some already had their visas issued, but the visa expired. Others were already interviewed and were just waiting for their visas to be delivered. Others were told to submit additional documents, which they immediately did, but their future was left up in the air.

Now that Trump’s immigration ban is no longer in effect, U.S. embassies are opening up, and will again start issuing immigrant visas. In this column, I will discuss the current status of how the U.S. embassies are opening up, and I’m basing it primarily on the information from the U.S. embassy in Manila. But the same policy and procedures for reopening are likely to be

applied to all U.S. embassies around the world.

Here are some of the key points to remember in connection with rescheduling interviews and visa issuance: • Routine visa services continue to remain suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This might include applying for or renewing visitor visas and other such routine services. Routine visa services will resume “as soon as possible” but embassies cannot provide a specific date at this time.

The embassy further notes it “cannot predict when the resumption of full visa services or a specific set of visa cases will resume.”

As for immigrant visas, PAGE 12

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LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (TOP LEFT) ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM KAPAMILYA AROUND THE U.S. REGARDING THEIR IMMIGRATION SITUATIONS ON A BRAND-NEW CITIZEN PINOY! Mila from Menifee, California (top right) wants to know what her brother can do regarding his visa which already expired due to the shutdowns caused by the pandemic. Nanding from Aurora, Illinois (bottom right) recently became a U.S. citizen. He has been separated from his wife for over 32 years, and now has a girlfriend. He wants to know if he can bring his girlfriend to the U.S. Cora from Los Angeles, California (bottom left) petitioned her daughter last 2012 when she was still a green card holder. Cora is now a U.S. citizen and wants to know if her daughter can come to the U.S. as a tourist and just wait for her petition to be current.

Find out the answers to these questions on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, April 4 at 5:30 pm PT (8:30 pm ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHENEVER I hear the notorious excuse or description “Filipino Time,” I feel a grave insult is hurled at my people, even if the generalization is usually uttered by my fellow Filipinos themselves. The defensive rationalization is usually accompanied by a snicker or laughter, a demeanor that trivializes the seriousness of the behavioral impropriety and rudeness.

To accept the insinuation that tardiness is a natural birth trait of the Filipino is to malign our people and irresponsibly admit that we are not educated and cultured enough, and that we are socially uncouth, ill-mannered, and uncivilized. This is no laughing matter and I do not find this funny. And I vehemently object to this unfair characterization.

I have been in the United States since 1963, and over the past 58 years, I have observed the transformation of “Juan(a) de la Cruz,” albeit sometimes with stubborn reluctance, to an individual more conscious of time, of the value of punctuality, and of the proper respect for other people’s schedule. There is no question that environment plays a fundamental role, second to training at home and in school, in the development of the behavior, trait, character, attitude and thinking of an individual. With this particular “syndrome,” genetics cannot deservedly take the blame.

The culpability rests on the “infected ones” and not on the entire Filipino people.

While I can sense, and am proud of, the improvement in the matter of punctuality among many of our kababayans abroad and in the Philippines, especially among the younger generation, tardiness and the seeming lack of perception of time among a significant number of us is still rampant and bothersome. And what makes it more tragic is the apparent acceptance by many of our fellow Filipinos that being tardy is “normal, acceptable, excusable, or should be tolerated,” because, after all, “it is the Filipino Time.”

This vexing acquiescence is unfair and a disservice to our people and to our nation as a whole.

I refuse to surrender, even for a moment, to the notion that we, as a people, are cul-

‘Filipino Time’ syndrome turally, socially, and ethically inferior to the Americans or to any other civilized peoples of the world. Punctuality is not an exclusive trait of the people of the United States or of the Europeans. While I abhor the lack of punctuality among anyone and admit with embarrassment and dismay that many of us Filipinos (and other nationalities, of course) are guilty of this offensive bad habit, I still believe that, with proper training and discipline, starting from the nursery school, the Filipinos will be capable of developing the trait of punctuality, and discipline, among others, in them. Especially today, when time is gold.

There was an incident in Cebu a few years back when a father accompanied his 5-year-old daughter to a nursery/kindergarten school class (dance) presentation on its foundation day. The “invitation” said 3:30 p.m.

When they got to the school, there were only about a dozen other kids waiting, out of the two hundred or so participants expected. The program did not begin at 4:00 or 4:30, not even at 5:30. It started at 6:35, more than three hours late. This delay actually prevented this dad from attending a previous dinner engagement he had at 7:30 that evening.

And this made me wonder.

How can we teach our children about punctuality, the value of time, and the respect for other people’s schedule, if we, their elders, especially the school administrator and faculty, display before these young impressionistic minds our own careless disregard for promptness and our lack of respect for other people’s commitments?

Many of us usually come up with a dozen excuses for our misbehavior or misadventures. For being late for our appointment, meeting or party, we blame the Spaniards, our society as a whole, the alarm clock, the traffic, the car battery, the babysitter, or even the innocent baby itself. The usual rationale we hear from many is “they won’t start on time anyway; we’ll just waste our time waiting there.” And the vicious cycle goes on.

Making excuses or shifting the blame does not accomplish anything and only makes matters worse. Perhaps, it’s time to look at the mirror to view the real culprit, make the accurate critical diagnosis, and self-prescribe

the appropriate treatment – promptly!

Let us set a good example for our children by showing them how we value and manage time, how time lost can never be recovered, and how we respect other people’s agenda. It’s about time we lost this bad reputation.

The “Filipino Time” syndrome is a disease only of those inconsiderate selfish compatriots of ours who simply don’t give a damn, and not of the entire Filipino people. So, when someone is late for an appointment, I beg you to please not to mention the lame excuse “Filipino Time” when I am around, otherwise, I won’t be responsible for my inexplicable but prompt ferocious reaction. *** I often hear the comment that the Filipino people are not disciplined. Against my better judgment, I had refused to believe it… until I experienced it firsthand.

Several times. And here are a couple of examples during a visit to the Philippines.

One time, I took the WG&A Our Lady of Fatima boat to Ozamiz for a business meeting in Oroquieta. Going down the stairs on the return trip to Cebu, I encountered a chaotic mob of “carriers” with pieces of luggage on their shoulders and around their arms and passengers alike inch their way recklessly to make their hurried exit, almost knocking people down the stairs. The jam slowed down the whole process quite a bit. Why we could not have spontaneously organized ourselves, formed a single line, and walked down the stairs in an orderly, more efficient, comfortable, safer fashion, and faster, is puzzling to me.

Another observation: Unruly drivers who broke traffic laws every chance and every which way they could, instantly became law-abiding and model drivers when they entered Clark Field airbase, where strict U.S.-style traffic rules were enforced with severe penalty. Once they got out of Clark, they were transformed back to their reckless driving manners. This Jekyll-and-Hyde behavior is inspired by the lack of discipline, responsibility, and dereliction of duty of law enforcement agencies elsewhere in the country.

Fortunately, the young children, the hope of our country, behave in a more civilized manner. When the teacher announces treats for

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

Immigration news, updates, and answers to questions from Kapamilya on Citizen Pinoy this Easter Sunday!

LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel gives viewers the latest immigration developments, as featured on his YouTube channel: US Immigration TV. He also answers questions from Kapamilya around the U.S. regarding their immigration concerns.

Mila from Menifee, California asks about her brother and his family whose visas were approved and scheduled to be delivered in

March 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the visas were only delivered in June and have already expired when he got them.

What should her brother do?

Nanding from Aurora, Illinois recently became a U.S. citizen. He has been separated from his wife since 1988, and he now has a girlfriend.

Can he bring his girlfriend to the U.S.?

Cora from Los Angeles, California petitioned her

daughter last 2012 when she was still a green card holder.

She is now a U.S. citizen and wants to know if her daughter can come to the U.S. as a tourist and wait for her petition to be current.

Atty. Gurfinkel provides answers to these questions and more on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, April 4 at 5:30 pm PT (8:30 pm ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Embassies are reopening: When...

PAGE 11 whether family-based or employment-based, the following cases are being processed in “limited numbers”: • The embassies continue to interview and issue visas for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. This includes primarily spouses and children under 21 years of age of U.S. citizens. In fact, during the pandemic, the U.S. Embassy continued to issue visas for immediate relatives. I’ve had several cases at my office where visas were issued for spouses of U.S. citizens during the past year.

• Cases where an applicant was previously interviewed but was instructed to submit additional documentation under section 221(g). This is like a request for evidence from the USCIS that asks for additional documents. It might have been something like a marriage contract or birth certificate and the person immediately submitted it. I would imagine these people would not need to be re-interviewed, but instead, their immigrant visas can now be issued, if all the documentation has

been submitted.

• K-1 and K-2 fiancé visas on a limited basis, if they are “expedite – approved mission-critical cases,” such as a K-2 children about to age out.

• Employment-based EB3 cases for “healthcare positions,” on a case-to-case basis. This would include nurses and others in the medical field. It’s unclear if this could also include caregivers because they are considered “other workers” rather than EB-3, but we will monitor that situation.

Also, remember there is a requirement that anyone entering the U.S. from abroad, including U.S. citizens, must take the COVID-19 test a few days before arrival, to be admitted.

Obviously, this is not “great” news. It is merely good news. But I’m glad to see that the embassies are opening up again and are expanding the scope of immigrant visas they will issue.

I know it can be frustrating, and no specific date can be given, but as soon as there are developments about requirements and additional cases being accepted, we

will keep you informed. * * * Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different, and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

them, these kids form a single line themselves, and take their proper turns in receiving the goodies. No shoving, no pushing, or taking advantage of one another. Each simply waits patiently for his/ her turn. Perhaps, we adults should watch more children’s television shows (instead of “F” garbage) or go back to kindergarten to learn better manners. Actually, all we need in life we learn from

kindergarten. * * * The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life.

Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and

who is your best ally when it comes to your health. * * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

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Bank of America increases commitment to advance racial equality, economic opportunity to $1.25B

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Expansion will include actions to address racial justice and advocacy for people of Asian descent

CHARLOTTE – Bank of America on Tuesday, March 30 announced that it has increased its $1 billion, four-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity to $1.25 billion over five years. This effort further accelerates work already underway to address racial equality and opportunity through direct actions, investments and work to catalyze similar efforts across the private sector.

To date, the company has made more than $350 million in various investments from its initial $1 billion four-year commitment, announced in June 2020, across its primary focus areas of health, jobs/reskilling, affordable housing and small business. Additional funds announced today will further support investments to address racial justice, advocacy and equality for people and communities of color, including those of Asian descent.

“The urgency we feel to address long-standing issues of inclusion and racial inequality has only increased following the attacks and hate speech directed at Asian people over the last year,” said Bank of America Chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan. “Across the public and private sectors, it is clear that we must do more – to take action, help others convene, and serve as a catalyst for a broad-based, collective response to the critical issues affecting our nation.”

EMPLOYMENT

The bank also announced an immediate $1 million commitment and related actions in support of increased advocacy, dialogue and engagement with the Asian American community. Further investments will be identified as part of the company’s expanded five-year effort.

Immediate actions taken to help accelerate and expand pre-existing work include: • A grant to the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) organization to advance the nonprofit’s work to promote civil rights, bystander intervention, in-language advocacy, social services assistance and legal support. This funding supports five Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliates based in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.

• The addition of Connie Chung Joe, chief executive officer of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, to serve as a member of Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Council (NCAC), in support of ongoing dialogue and stakeholder engagement with the Asian community in the U.S., and on broad issues of gender and racial equality.

Members of the NCAC engage with leaders on Bank of America’s business policies, practices and products in support of employees, clients and local communities.

• Additional support for the National Coali-

FOR RENT

tion for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) and The Leadership Conference Education Fund as the two organizations work to advance local community advocacy, training, and resources through community-based efforts.

• Increased philanthropic support through Bank of America’s employee matching gift program. Bank of America employees can double their charitable donations to these three nonprofits and select others; the company’s matching gift minimum has been lowered to $1 for the next 90 days, to expand the impact of their support to the Asian community in the U.S. “The rising number of attacks against Asian people, including the tragic shootings in Atlanta recently, have served as a stark reminder that we must stand united against discrimination, hate speech and violence,” said Thong Nguyen, vice chairman at Bank of America.

“We will not tolerate acts of racism in any form. Today’s commitment builds upon Bank of America’s many years of work in support of inclusion and racial equality.”

“Over the past year, we’ve witnessed increased racism and violence against Asian Americans, underlining the significant need for tools and resources to combat these, as well as a need for culturally specific mental health and victim support resources,” said

Chung Joe. “We look forward to working with Bank of America and other national advocacy leaders to advance racial equity and create opportunities for all Americans.”

Bank of America’s work to address racial equity includes participation in the Business Roundtable’s new, multi-year effort to improve equity, diversity and workplace culture, and the bank’s partnership with the Smithsonian Institution in support of its “Our Shared Future: Reckoning with our Racial Past” initiative.

Within the company, Bank of America’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Council includes senior executives from around the world and has been led by Moynihan for more than a decade. The company also connects and supports employees through 11 employee networks and local chapters, including the Asian Leadership Network with more than 11,000 members.

Expanding perspectives is a critical aspect of how Bank of America drives a culture of inclusion. Over the last decade, the company has hosted thousands of courageous conversations with employees, external partners and members of the community to cultivate awareness, inclusion and understanding. Sessions held recently include an event hosted by Bank of America’s Asian Leadership Network PAGE 15

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‘Chopped’ champion chef Denevin Miranda on how his Filipino heritage defines culinary style M

by mOmaR

G. VisaYa / AJPress

EET the new Filipino American chef creating waves in the culinary industry.

His name is Denevin Miranda and his latest claim to fame? He was recently declared as the champion of the Food Network show “Chopped” with its new season focused on “Meat Fight,” a glorious, carnivorous throwdown for gastronomy lovers.

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The new episodes focus on pork, beef, goat and bison and for Denevin’s episode, pork was the protein of choice.

The show — which described Denevin, a Chef de Cuisine at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in New York City as a “classically French-trained with a lot of his flavors rooted in Filipino-style cuisine” — was an epic meat fight among the four chefs highlighting their arsenal of ideas for their dishes.

There are three rounds and one chef is cut, well, “chopped” from the competition in every round. They are each given a mystery box of ingredients that they have to use and highlight in the dishes they create.

For the appetizer round, the chefs had these in their box: pork butt, barbecued spare ribs, Brussels sprouts, and Calvados brandy, and they had 20 minutes to prepare a dish.

“I was looking at all these ingredients and I said, ‘Yeah, I can sisig this,’” Denevin told the Asian Journal in an interview.

Sisig is a nod to his Filipino heritage which he wanted to highlight. He served the crisped-up pork butt and spare ribs along with Brussels sprouts and apple salad on the side to complement the unctuousness of the sisig.

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Chef Denevin Miranda shows his seasonal razor clam dish inspired by the kinilaw.

On the first few days they offered the dish, he went to the diners who ordered it and asked for feedback. He said the response to the dish was great and they asked him for the inspiration behind it. “I told them it’s actually inspired by a Filipino dish.

All the flavors are there. It’s citrus, coconut and I use fish sauce. I love fish sauce, it’s like my favorite,” he said. The look of the dish is inspired by the triangle on the Filipino flag.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

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‘Chopped’ champion chef Denevin... Bank of America increases...

PAGE 14 The dish ended up winning the judges’ praises and called it the best dish in the competition.

Pro football player turned Food Network star Eddie Jackson described Denevin’s sisig as “remarkable” while chef and restaurateur Chris Santos said it was an “absolutely dynamite, a really great dish.”

Their fellow judge, executive chef Amanda Freitag, praised Denevin for his efforts in keeping the pork as the star of what she referred to as a perfectly seasoned dish.

“Denevin really introduced himself as a very buttoned-up chef who knew how to put flavors together,” Freitag added.

After three grueling rounds, Denevin was the last man standing and was declared the champ, winning a $10,000 grand prize as he dedicated his win to his dad.

Denevin was confident from the get-go, as he went into the competition with a goal to win it and if he could, promote Filipino cuisine as well. He also said he wanted to make his parents proud, especially his father who has passed away.

“I knew going in there that I wanted to do something Filipino and show something to the judges. And sisig is one of my favorite dishes,” he said.

“Actually, my grandma never cooked it. I was introduced to that when I went to the Philippines. And you know, it’s a dramatic dish, because it comes out sizzling. Yeah, and it’s like, you know, it’s like you can’t stop eating.”

For sisig fans who want to try his winning dish, you’d have to wait.

“There’s something I’m actually working on translating that dish to one of the dishes on my menu,” he shared. “It’s not ready yet. We just opened like, two weeks ago so I definitely want to get everything established.”

He’s looking forward to including the dishes he made on the show in The Osprey’s chef’s tasting menu.

A tribute to his family We met with Denevin in his work at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge one rainy Sunday morning and had a freewheeling chat about his win, dreams and aspirations, and growing up as a gay Filipino American.

Denevin was born and raised in New York. His dad Fernando was from Manila and his mom Lilibeth from Tarlac. It has been a while since he visited the Philippines but as he told host Ted

Allen on the show, he wanted to use his prize money to bring his husband Alex to the country.

“My family was very rooted in our culture,” he shared. “I was raised in a very Catholic way and my grandmother actually lived with us, she practically raised us.”

The Mirandas moved to Long Island because his parents felt it was a better environment for Denevin and his brother to grow up in.

He fondly remembers his lola Liberata had a garden in the backyard where she planted all these Asian vegetables.

In hindsight, it was his first experience in farm-to-table dining as his lola would just pick the vegetables she needed for whatever dish she was cooking at that time.

At The Osprey, a locallysourced farm-to-table restaurant serving New American cuisine, he is inspired by this memory and he and his team are always looking for the best local produce so they go to the local green markets and try to build relationships with the farmers.

“That really brings me back to like you know, going out in our backyard with my lola picking vegetables, some of the tomatoes that she was growing were so sweet. And I still have that memory kind of in my head, you know? And she’d make beautiful dishes with that, like sinigang. And it’s like, you can’t replicate it,” he shared.

He remembers his lola loved to cook and entertain and on Sundays, there would be families coming together in their home after church, enjoying delicious home-cooked Filipino food.

One distinct memory he has is that of his lola not cutting corners. If she wanted coconut milk, she would go the traditional way and grate and squeeze the coconut herself.

But more than the culinary skills of his lola, it was her strength, resiliency and fortitude that continue to amaze Denevin to this day.

Denevin was in high school when he realized he wanted to be in the culinary industry. He said he was asthmatic growing up so he wasn’t as athletic as he is now. He ended up gravitating towards cooking through his home economics classes and he realized how much he was enjoying it.

His parents told him a story that when he was a toddler, he wouldn’t play with the toys they bought for him but he would crawl over to the kitch-

en and play with the pots and pans. He remembers sitting on a stool watching his lola prepare their meals from scratch observing her intently as she sliced and diced the ingredients. He would gaze in awe as his lola cooked the meals with love and respect for quality and tradition.

These memories helped him to define the kind of chef that he is today.

“I love to kind of bring that same kind of feeling back with my food like how my grandma and seeing people eat her food, you know, especially like people that she’d bring out from the community that weren’t Filipino,” he said, referring to the neighbors including priests that would get together in their home.

Journey to ‘Chopped’ Some of Denevin’s friends and colleagues have encouraged him to join these reality-based cooking shows on the Food Network or Bravo.

He said he applied to be part of Top Chef before, went through the interview process but had conflict in the scheduling process since he had just accepted a new job in Miami and couldn’t afford to take a couple of months off.

Denevin went to school at the Johnson & Wales University in Miami where he received his degree in culinary arts and decided to stay in the city for a few years. There, he honed his craft working at Setai in Miami Beach, SLS and Mandarin Oriental, cultivating his mastery of classical as well as modernist cooking techniques.

He returned to his birth city of New York because it is such an established culinary destination. “And I wanted to create a name for myself here,” he quipped.

While working at The Osprey one day, he received a call from a casting agency working with the Food Network for Chopped asking him if he’d consider being part of the show. This was around March 2020 and due to COVID-19, it was postponed and pushed back much further.

The production reached out around September to ask if he was still up for it and that they have resumed shooting episodes in Tennessee. They shot the episode around October and it was aired in midMarch.

Denevin said it was a great experience and that he would do it again in a heartbeat, so he could showcase his Filipino heritage and use the platform to promote Filipino cuisine

PAGE 13 regarding allyship to address the current climate of race relations in America, particularly in the Asian and Black/African American communities.

Bank of America’s $350 million in commitments since June 2020 include: • Equity capital investments in 12 minority depository institutions (MDIs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to provide lending, housing, neighborhood revitalization and other banking services to thousands of individuals and small businesses that do not qualify through traditional lenders. This includes a new investment in Central Bank, an Asian American MDI. • $188 million of investment in 61 private equity funds focused on minority

and women entrepreneurs to address the persistent gap in access to growth capital for minority-led businesses.

• Founding partner of the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past” initiative exploring how Americans understand, experience and confront race.

• More than $22 million in grants to national and local nonprofits supporting workforce development, entrepreneurship, health and emergency needs.

• Partnerships with 21 higher education institutions and major employers to enhance up-skilling and re-skilling for Black and HispanicLatino students.

• More than $13 million committed to Native American Communities hardest hit

by the coronavirus.

• Expanded opportunities for 50,000 women entrepreneurs at the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell.

• Distribution of 25 million masks to underserved communities across the U.S. Bank of America also recently tripled its affordable homeownership commitment to $15 billion through 2025 and issued a $2 billion Equality Progress Sustainability Bond designed to advance racial equality, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability. In 2020, the company provided $6.17 billion in affordable housing and economic development financing to help build strong, sustainable communities across the U.S. (Bank of America Release)

and its flavors.

On the plane en route to Nashville, Denevin thought about the relationship he had with his father Fernando and how he came out to him. His dad succumbed to cancer 11 years ago.

He was both nervous and anxious and his emotions were all bottled up inside.

Then he felt a sudden calm and felt his father’s presence and he knew he wanted to tell their story.

“You know, (as a) Filipino American, you see the struggle that your parents felt to come to this country, and to build a life for you here, you don’t want to disappoint. And that was my biggest fear was to be a disappointment,” he shared.

He mustered enough courage and told his father what he was and that the friend he introduced to his parents a few years earlier in Miami was actually his boyfriend (now husband).

“And basically, he was kind of like, ‘I knew that.’ That’s one thing, but when he, you know, what he really wanted to tell me was, ‘That’s not important, I want you to be happy’,” he added.

What Denevin got was more than just acceptance from a father.

“He gave me amazing courage, and he pretty much broke down my insecurities.

You know, to be myself, and he encouraged me to do that.

And I’m glad that I was able to share my story,” he said.

Denevin looked up to the show’s host Ted Allen and while in the show’s shoot, he was grabbed the serendipitous opportunity to thank him

for inspiring a young kid to be his true self.

When he was growing up, he considered Allen as an inspiration and he remembers sitting in the living room with his family watching and enjoying Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. It was a special moment and he is happy that the show was able to incorporate parts of that conversation as he came full circle of sorts.

Filipino flavors On The Osprey’s current menu is a razor clam appetizer dish, his homage to the Filipino kinilaw. Denevin’s creativity and artistry are in full display in this beautiful and delicious dish.

On the first few days they offered the dish, he went to the diners who ordered it and asked for feedback. He said the response to the dish was great and they asked him for the inspiration behind it.

“I told them it’s actually inspired by a Filipino dish.

All the flavors are there. It’s citrus, coconut and I use fish sauce. I love fish sauce, it’s like my favorite,” he said.

Even the main look of the dish is inspired by the triangle on the Philippine flag.

The Osprey serves contemporary American cuisine, inspired by the cultural melting pot and global diversity of New York City’s neighborhoods.

From his perspective as a Filipino-American chef, it could be dishes that are inspired by his roots, as well as dishes based on experiences he had having Jamaican food in Brooklyn, or maybe even a combination of both, using techniques he has learned throughout his career. (He

shared that the Rotisserie Half Chicken uses a Caribbean jerk chicken marinade similar to the flavors of adobo.)

He is also working with their corporate mixologists on a cocktail drink that incorporates ube, which he also describes as an adult version of halo-halo. For the summer, there are plans for an outdoor Filipino-inspired New England-style seafood boil inspired by the kamayan or what some people call “boodle fight.”

These are just a couple of the many food experiences that he plans to implement in the hotel’s restaurants and bars and he is thankful that the management has given him this opportunity to cultivate this great culture.

“I’m pragmatic and I’m mostly optimistic,” Denevin said, describing the current situation of the food and beverage industry and where he sees it going. “New York is going to find a new renaissance and as the rent has become much more affordable, it is bringing younger, innovative and creative people to the city. It’s like a reboot.”

He is excited and looking forward to an almost magical moment as the food scene goes through this transition.

He wants to be that beacon of optimism and show that the players in the industry can pivot and come out stronger than ever.

Denevin also hopes to further bring Filipino food out there and his optimism extends to a possible collaboration with fellow Fil-Am chefs in the city to get the job done and demonstrate the hospitality connection they have. n

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