040221 - Northern California Edition

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway...and Online!

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 20 - No. 13 • 14 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M MU N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

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

1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136, Burlingame, CA 94010 • Tel: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 • www.asianjournal.com

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Alameda County moves into orange tier for reopening MORE changes are coming to Alameda County as it’s the latest area to move into the less restrictive orange tier in the state’s reopening plan.

The county joins most of the Bay Area in the orange tier, except for Napa, Sonoma, Solano and Contra Costa counties.

As of Wednesday, March 31, Alameda loosened its measures, such as increasing capacity at gyms, restaurants and movie theaters.

The activities now allowed include: bars to reopen outdoors, even without serving food; 25% indoor capacity at breweries, distilleries and wineries; 25% maximum capacity and indoor pools open at gyms and fitness centers; 25% capacity for family entertain-

APRIL 2-8, 2021

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, SAN DIEGO, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

White House releases new actions to address violence against Asian Americans

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

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 violence 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

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

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

u PAGE 4

u PAGE 2

Fil-Am community leaders applaud Bonta’s nomination for attorney general

u PAGE 3

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.

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

According to the authorities, the 38-yearold 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.

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 cross-agency 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 per-

Surrounded by his family, Assemblymember Rob Bonta on Wednesday, March 24 was nominated by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as California’s next attorney general. Now in his fifth term in the state Assembly, Bonta is poised to be the Golden State’s first Fil-Am in the top lawyer post.

Photo courtesy of Chet Canlas/Manilatown Heritage Foundation

WHEN California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Assemblymember Rob Bonta as his pick for attorney general, Filipino American leaders and community members across the state joined in applauding the move.

On Wednesday, March 24, Bonta was revealed as the choice to succeed outgoing Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month.

Once approved by the state Legislature, the 48-yearold lawmaker — who has represented Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro in the Assembly since 2012 — is set to be the first Fil-Am to serve as state’s chief law officer.

Speaking from the International Hotel Manilatown Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, Bonta shared a piece of his upbringing, moving from the Philippines at a young age and living in a trailer in La Paz, in the

u PAGE 3

‘This is the reality a lot of us face’: Fil-Am Army veteran attacked in another hate crime in SF

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

A FILIPINO American U.S. Army veteran from San Francisco was recently subjected to a racist tirade and injured in a physical attack in what is being considered a hate crime.

Ron Tuason — a 56-year-old longtime Bay Area resident who is of Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent — was waiting for the bus after a trip to the grocery store in the city’s Ingleside neighborhood on March 13 when another man

approached him and started spewing racial insults.

The man, who was wearing a Navy hat, pointed out Tuason’s veteran cap.

“He notices me and the color of my skin and the fact that I’m wearing a hat that says, ‘veteran.’ He ends up saying, ‘Get the hell out of my country, you caused this problem. Do you want to get hurt? You’re not a veteran, I’m a veteran,’” Tuason recounted in a recent interview with the Asian Journal.

The veteran, who uses a cane to walk, tried to record the incident on his cell-

phone until the man knocked it out of his hand. Then, the suspect started punching him several times, causing him to hit a fence and fall to the ground.

“There was a steel fence behind me and I hit my head on the pole, so I was really seeing the stars. I went down and my glasses flew off,” Tuason continued.

“Because of the amount of weight in my backpack, I couldn’t get up unless I used both hands and I have mobility issues.”

Three witnesses came to Tuason’s aid by pulling the suspect off him and help-

u PAGE 3

Ron Tuason, a 56-year-old Filipino American Army veteran, suffered a black eye after he was attacked while waiting at a bus stop in the Ingleside neighborhood of San Francisco.

Contributed photo

Bay Area Fil-Am teen recovering after being shot in the face Foreign parents of Filipino citizens 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-yearold 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 and opened fire Jessica Dimalanta, 19, of Vallejo, California was shot in the right eye on March 21 in what her on the grey Lexus she was riding family is calling a racially motivated attacked.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Martin

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

u PAGE 3

can now enter PH with valid visas

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA 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 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

u PAGE 3

2

april 2-8, 2021 • NOrCal aSiaN JOUrNal

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

From the Front Page

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

White House reveals new...

PAGE 1

manent 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) criticized the administration’s lack of AAPI representation on the Cabinet secretary level. Duckworth later backtracked on her pledge to block the president’s nondiverse 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 (DNY) 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

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 2-8, 2021

3

‘This is the reality a lot of us face’: Fil-Am...

HISTORIC APPOINTMENT. Assemblymember Rob Bonta (3rd from left) was nominated by Gov. Gavin Newsom (3rd from right) to serve as California’s next attorney general. The announcement was made on Wednesday, March 24 at International Hotel Manilatown Center in San Francisco, the site of the 1977 International Hotel Eviction and the city’s historic Manilatown neighborhood. Joining Bonta and Newsom in photo are Chet Canlas, production manager, Bonta’s mother Cynthia Bonta, Manilatown Heritage Foundation Executive Director Caroline Cabading, foundation boardmember Eleanore Fernandez, and Johnella Fernandez-Payne.

Photo courtesy of Jibril Alvarez/Manilatown Heritage Foundation

Fil-Am community leaders applaud Bonta’s...

PAGE 1 Tehachapi Mountains outside Bakersfield, California, as his activist parents worked with Filipino and Latino farmworkers and labor leaders, like Philip Veracruz, Larry Itliong, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

His mother, Cynthia, immigrated to California in the 1960s by a three-week boat ride, while his father, Warren, who grew up in Ventura County, was committed to service and social justice from a young age. As a student, the older Bonta joined Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights organizing in Alabama to pass the Voting Rights Act. His parents were working as missionaries in the Philippines when he was born, training young people to serve the needs of rural villages through service, community organizing and ministry, according to the governor’s office.

“Forty-five years ago, my mother Cynthia was one of those great activists who stood outside the International Hotel, linked arms and formed a circle to protect those who were inside from being evicted,” Bonta said, sharing the significance of the announcement’s location. “And now my mother, Cynthia, and my father, Warren…will see a governor nominate their son to be the first Filipino American attorney general.”

Bonta said these experiences and seeing his parents’ work with the United Farm Workers movement motivated his decision to become a lawyer and later have a career in public office.

He will also become the second Asian American attorney general, following Vice President Kamala Harris, who was in the role before being elected senator in 2016.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who is part Filipino and served with Bonta in the Assembly, hailed the announcement as a “great choice” by Newsom.

“I have seen Rob’s leadership and advocacy for justice firsthand in the Assembly and I know it’s exactly what’s needed in this moment,” Gloria said.

Vallejo Vice Mayor Rozzana Verder-Aliga praised Bonta’s leadership and values.

“He will make a very good attorney general because of his integrity, honesty, lived experience, knowledge, skills, passion and compassion,” she told the Vallejo Times Herald. “He understands the rules of law, state policy and has experience as a state legislator. As a state legislator he built coalitions to pass laws that benefit all Californians.”

Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza remarked that Bonta represents many communities, including Asians, Filipinos and immigrants, and has kept them in mind when pushing for inclusive

policies and programs as a legislator.

“He not only looks like us, but he fights for us. He’s demonstrated that in the Alameda City Council, State Assembly, and I am confident he will continue to fight for justice as the next Attorney General of California. Community leaders and organizations from diverse backgrounds have his back and will continue to partner with him to ensure policies, laws, and programs work for all Californians, especially those who may have been left out in the past,” Caloza told the Asian Journal in an email.

Since Becerra’s nomination as health secretary back in December, Fil-Am elected officials and organizations, as well as those from other Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups, started mobilizing and sending letters to Newsom, making a case as to why Bonta would be a fit replacement.

In recent weeks with the recent surge in anti-Asian hate, especially in California, community leaders and members doubled down on the need to appoint an AAPI attorney general.

“This is especially true in this moment when Asian Americans are being attacked and we are seeing a terrifying rise in hate crimes and incidents. We must do more and we can do more for our vulnerable communities. Rob represents that hope, dream, and opportunity to do better as a state, and together I know that’s possible,” Caloza said.

The National Filipino American Lawyers Association, which was one of the groups that endorsed Bonta for the post, said Newsom’s nomination sends a strong message to the AAPI community.

“As anti-Asian hate and acts of violence [have] risen in California and across the country, we commend Governor Newsom for his commitment to protecting the AAPI community by ensuring that California’s chief law enforcement officer will understand, listen to, empathize with, and is fully committed to protecting the AAPI community,” the association said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Bonta said as attorney general, he would take action to investigate the attacks against the community that have “seemed to be swept under the rug.”

“We’ll take action — it won’t just stop with denunciations and condemnation…We need to track hate crimes and make sure we have the right data so we can have the right interventions. We can conduct investigations to help prevent crimes, hate crimes from happening in the first place. We can meet throughout the state with our API community to talk about how to support community-based organizations

Alameda County moves...

PAGE 1 ment centers; 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer, at movie theaters and restaurants.

Meanwhile, museums, zoos, aquariums, and places of worship can operate at 50%.

On Tuesday, March 30, the counties of Butte, Colusa, Los Angeles, Modoc, Orange, Santa

Cruz and Tuolumne also left the purple tier for the orange.

By April 1, counties in the orange tier can have outdoor sports and live performances with fans in attendance at 33% capacity and with advanced reservations.

Amusement parks, likewise, will be allowed at 25% and will be limited to in-state visitors. (AJPress)

Foreign parents of Filipino citizens can now enter PH...

PAGE 1 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

that are on the ground doing the work,” he said.

In addition to his reforms in racial, economic and environmental policies, Bonta authored bills to highlight the contributions of Fil-Am farmworkers, including Assembly Bill 123 to ensure the state’s public schools teach the manongs’ leadership in the farmworkers movement, and Assembly Bill 7, which established Larry Itliong Day on his birthday, October 25.

JoAnn Fields of the Filipino Resource Center Director in San Diego said the Fil-Am community now “has a strong advocate at the helm in the highest law enforcement position in California.” n

PAGE 1 ing him get back up. San Francisco Police Department officers came within minutes after he called 911.

Officers were able to locate the suspect, identified as 53-year-old Victor Humberto Brown, shortly after at a nearby McDonald’s.

Brown faces felony assault and hate crime charges.

The suspect was wanted on three separate warrants for violating probation in San Francisco, battery in San Jose and battery on a bus driver in Santa Clara County, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Tuason took photos of his injuries, which include a black eye

and a swollen cheek, and also reported the incident to the Stop AAPI Hate website.

He said that after he appeared on the local news, individuals have since recognized him in public and have reportedly verbally harassed him. He continues to wear his veteran hat outside, a symbol of his service as a combat engineer in Louisiana and Germany in the 1980s.

“This story is bigger than me.

What scares me right now is seeing this hateful trend. There have been negative comments on my story and when I’ve gone out to the store, people have recognized me and have given me funny looks. One individual even

called me a racist slur,” Tuason recounted.

Since the March attack, Tuason said he is suffering from short-term memory loss and continues to have a hard time sleeping.

However, he said he will use this spotlight to speak up about anti-Asian attacks in hopes of seeking justice and preventing future attacks.

“People have been attacked, harassed or have had their vehicles broken into. If anything, San Francisco as a whole is a smokescreen. What’s really going on here is sad and it’s the reality a lot of us face. We don’t feel safe,” he said. n

Bay Area Fil-Am teen recovering after...

PAGE 1 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.

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 to-

gether 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

4

Dateline USa

april 2-8, 2021 • NOrCal aSiaN JOUrNal

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

American Rescue Plan to help reduce Man faces hate crime charges in brutal...

San Francisco’s two-year budget deficit PAGE 1

$630 million in federal stimulus will help City prevent layoffs and cuts to basic services, but longer-term structural deficit remains SAN FRANCISCO – A new report issued on Wednesday, March 31 shows that the projected deficit for the upcoming two-year budget is now $22.9 million, compared to the $653.2 million deficit that was projected before the American Rescue Plan was signed into law. This will allow San Francisco to avoid projected layoffs and cuts to basic city services that were projected due to the economic hardship caused by the pandemic.

The update to the City’s Five-Year Financial Plan by the Mayor’s Budget Office, the Controller, and the Board of Supervisors Budget and Legislative Analyst shows this change in projected deficit, and can be read here. In January, the projected deficit for the upcoming two-year budget stood at $653.2 million.

The American Rescue Plan is expected to result in $636 million in one-time direct federal aid to San Francisco, which is largely responsible for closing the immediate projected shortfall. Additionally, modest projected increases in local tax revenue and reductions in the projected expenditures needed to support COVID-19 response programming have also contributed to slight reductions in the projected deficit.

The report also shows that while the new federal funds will help to address the immediate deficit that the City faces, an ongoing structural deficit of $350 million in FY 2023-24 remains that will need to be addressed since costs are projected to rise faster than revenue. Additionally, the City will still need to close the existing $22.9 million deficit in this budget cycle, which Mayor Breed will work to do while investing in her priorities around economic recovery, homelessness, mental health and addiction, public health, equity, and the City’s COVID-19 response.

“It’s such a relief to have a federal government that is actually interested in helping our cities succeed rather than attacking us, and I can’t

ects a budget deficit of $350 million, as the large one-time stimulus funding expires, and revenue growth does not keep pace with expenditure growth.

The report notes that “to the extent that policymakers make choices that curtail ongoing spending increases, the City can avoid exacerbating these shortfalls and reduce difficult choices in the future, thereby maximizing the City’s ability to maintain its services and programs for San Franciscans.”

The City’s budget process begins in the fall with preliminary revenue projections for the upcoming budget years.

Then it proceeds as follows: • In December, the Mayor’s Office issues budget instructions to departments, which are based on the initial fiveyear financial report and contain detailed guidance on the preparation of department budget requests.

• In mid-February, Departments submit proposed budgets to the Mayor and Controller.

• From March through June, the Mayor’s Office analyzes each budget proposal, examining policy and service implications in order to meet citywide needs, and reflect the Mayor’s goals and priorities for the upcoming year. Concurrently, the Mayor conducts budget outreach to obtain feedback from the community on budget priorities and to ensure the budget reflects the City’s collective priorities and voices.

• By June 1st, the Mayor presents her balanced twoyear budget proposal to the Board of Supervisors.

• Through the end of June, the Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Appropriations Committee then holds public hearings on the budget, and makes recommendations to the full Board.

• In July, the budget is heard and voted on by the full Board of Supervisors, and returns to the Mayor for her approval, typically by August 1st.

(SF Mayor’s Office Release)

thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Speaker Pelosi enough for their leadership during this unprecedented crisis,” said Mayor Breed. “San Francisco led the nation in our response to COVID-19, and as a result we have the lowest death rate of any major city in the country. But just like other cities and states, our economy and our budgets have taken a huge hit that could have resulted in layoffs and massive service cuts. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we’re now able to avoid those terrible choices. At the same time, we still have to fix the ongoing deficits that exist in future years. If we’re not responsible in this budget cycle, we could find ourselves right back here again in the coming years facing the same terrible choices we have been lucky to avoid this time around.”

Mayor Breed’s priority throughout this pandemic has been to avoid layoffs of public employees, which would have inevitably resulted in a loss of services to San Francisco residents. That was accomplished in the last budget cycle, despite having to close a $1.5 billion deficit, in large part due to the fact that the City had set aside significant funding in reserves that were utilized to avoid the most difficult decisions around service cuts and layoffs.

While San Francisco’s economy is projected to continue recovering, resulting in growing tax revenue, San Francisco still faces an ongoing structural deficit in future years. This is because expenses, such as rising employee costs, increasing voter-manded baselines and set-asides, increased costs associated with existing entitlement programs, and other growing citywide operating costs, continue to outpace the projected growth in revenue.

While the deficit for the upcoming two-year budget is significantly smaller than initially projected, the third year of the projection, FY 2023-24, proj-

MA DRA .com | tv TY

s IE ing VARw.cross | N w

O ATI , visit: w M R l O hedu e INF c

s S| ing NEWogramm O N st pr e LIPI

FI the lat For

ay sco B

nci

y

Cent

alle ral V

Fra San

YS KDA WEE 0am 11:0 ma pm 0 0 10:0 - 7:0 pm 0 Y 0 : A S 5 URD pm SAT 7:00 mp 0 S 5:0 DAY SUN 0pm 12:3 m a 0 0pm 10:0 - 7:0 m p 6:00

Area

Y YDA EVER E. 00am r FRE - 10: tch fo m n wa m a a p 0 c ove 9:0 6:00 or ab l Tier pm igita D t 4:00 s ca rs of

*S

ribe ubsc

m

y Co

Xfinit

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 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 Filipina-Jewish 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 selfdefense skills and find ways to protect other Filipi-

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

nos 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. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 2-8, 2021

5

6

APRIL 2-8, 2021 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

OPINION

FEATURES

Back to ECQ

AFTER rejecting proposals for a “circuit breaker lockdown” or a “one-time, bigtime” 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 “NCR-Plus 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. Protocols 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)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

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

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.

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 Philip-

pines, 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 4:3541). 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 affliction, in every fear; no evil, no sin will

ever have the final 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 Jesus 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.

The world needs 3.5 billion Getting vaccinated will help end the pandemic and get us back to the life we miss vaccine doses today, not tomorrow Commentary

DR. ERICA S. PAN EVERY Californian age 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination on April 15.

Vaccination is one of the most important ways to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and I urge everyone to get the vaccine when it’s their turn so they can protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives for more than a year, I am encouraged to see the remarkable efforts Californians are making toward ending this pandemic.

For almost three decades, as a physician and an infectious disease specialist, I’ve had the honor and privilege of practicing medicine and working to improve the health and well-being of my patients. As the state’s epidemiologist, I have the responsibility of protecting the public health of 40 million Californians, which is why I believe getting vaccinated is very important.

Californians have access to three life-saving vaccinations produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. All three vaccines are safe and protective, with only slight differences. All of them have gone through rigorous clinical trials, are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are proven to provide protection from the virus, particularly from the risks of severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

Californians who are eligible should get any vaccine they can, as soon as they can, no matter the manufacturer.

As state leaders and our community partners work to speed up distribution of COVID-19 vaccines statewide, it feels good to note that, as of late March, more than 17 million doses have been administered, with nearly 6 million Californians fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are down throughout our state due to the efforts of Californians to slow the spread, including wearing a mask, remaining 6 feet from those not in our households, and getting the vaccine when it’s our turn.

California is also taking steps to make sure that our most vulnerable communities get vaccinated. Recently, the California Department of Public Health announced that 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the state’s hardest-hit communities where transmission rates and disease burden have been the highest. Protecting our most vulnerable communities is not only the right thing to do, but increasing vaccination access to people who have experienced the most infections will also allow all counties to reopen activities and businesses safely while continuing to protect public health.

While we make strides to end the pandemic, we cannot let down our guard. We are seeing increases again in other states and countries. COVID is still prevalent in our communities and its variants continue to threaten the progress we’ve made. We are in the home stretch of this pandemic, but we must continue to protect ourselves and our loved

ones until we can get more people vaccinated.

Californians can help slow the spread by remaining vigilant.

It’s important to wear properly fitting masks consistently. We need to continue practicing physical distancing with people from outside our households, washing our hands, and getting vaccinated when it’s our turn so we can return to hugs and social gatherings when it is safer.

Find out when and where you can get vaccinated by signing up at MyTurn.ca.gov, where information is available in 12 languages. For those without internet access, appointments can be made by calling (833) 422-4255.

The hotline is available in English with third party translators available in more than 250 additional languages. Individuals also can contact their primary care physician, local pharmacy, or local public health department.

Getting the vaccine is free for everyone, even for those without insurance or who are undocumented. With more people vaccinated, we can envision a day when California reaches community immunity and when strict public health measures are no longer necessary. Let’s all continue to remain strong in this fight to get back to the life and the people we miss for just a little bit longer. *** 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.

*** Dr. Erica Pan is the California state epidemiologist and Deputy Director for the Center for Infectious Diseases at the California Department of Public Health.

Babe’s Eye View AMBASSADOR B. ROMUALDEZ MORE than nuclear proliferation, territorial disputes, trade imbalance between economic giants and all other issues that can be controlled by man, what all nations should be concentrating on with a greater sense of urgency is the “state of war” the world is in – battling an enemy that cannot be seen which continues to ravage the world, a virus that seems to continue mutating into variants every single day.

While the United States has made significant headway in its vaccination rollout, with 130 million shots having been administered and 14 percent of the population already fully vaccinated, the administration of President Joe Biden needs to start looking ahead and take the lead in putting into motion a worldwide summit on how to end this “war.”

Major countries like China, Russia, India, Great Britain and Germany that have the capacity to manufacture effective vaccines should band together to produce 3.5 billion doses as quickly as possible.

Scientists have already declared that at least 70 percent of the global population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Which is why during our scheduled meeting tomorrow with White House advisers and my fellow ASEAN ambassadors in Washington, we plan to urge the United States in leading the world on how to put together the urgent need for 3.5 billion

doses. Time is of the essence.

Reports about recurring high cases of infections with increasing number of deaths in many countries have been alarming, to say the least. A clear example is Brazil with over 12.3 million cases of infection and close to 300,000 deaths recorded. Last Thursday, Brazil saw a record number of new cases of infection in one day at over 100,000 and over 3,200 deaths in a single day, ushering in a second wave described as worse than the first.

Even more worrisome for medical authorities is the increasing number of young people getting severely ill and dying from COVID-19.

Scientists have also noted new, more dangerous variants of the virus with multiple mutations. In a genome sequencing done to a patient who has been hospitalized for two months, it was discovered that he has been hosting at least six different coronavirus variants. The more variants, the less effective the vaccines will be.

India has also been badly hit, with close to 12 million cases of infection, making it the third highest after the U.S. and Brazil. India has been seeing a significant spike in infections, with over 60,000 new cases reported last Friday – making it the highest single-day rise since last October. What’s even more worrisome is the possible emergence of a “double mutant” variant – meaning two mutations coming together in the same variant – that could be more infectious or less susceptible to vaccines.

The record spike in infections has also resulted in the decision of India to temporarily stop major exportation of the AstraZeneca vaccines made by the Serum

Institute of India – the world’s biggest vaccine manufacturer – until the situation in India stabilizes. Obviously, the authorities want to ensure that domestic demand for the vaccines is met first before allowing the vaccines to be exported to other countries such as the UK, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. Naturally, this development would also impact the supply of vaccines through the COVAX Facility that many countries are also relying on for their vaccination programs.

The shortage in the supply of vaccines is really a dilemma that countries are facing. Vietnam for example is also having supply issues, which is why it is looking at other sources for the vaccines such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac and Sputnik V. While Vietnam is set to produce its own vaccine, pharmaceutical companies are still in the research and trial stages.

With the US set to achieve its goal of making every American adult eligible for vaccination by May 1, vaccine doses will hopefully be more available to the rest of the world. The U.S., after all, has the largest manufacturing capacity and capability. For our part, we are pushing for U.S. authorities to allow an earlier delivery for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines that we ordered.

As my ASEAN diplomatic colleagues said during our internal meetings, we need those vaccines today – not tomorrow – and the plan to have one billion vaccines available by 2022 may be too late. Obviously, nations that do not have the capacity to manufacture their own vaccines have no choice but to wait for u PAGE 8

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

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

Northern California: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253

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

JOSEPH PERALTA Vice President & General Manager Northern California Asian Journal MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

CHRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief Northern California Asian Journal

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 PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern lifornia 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 lifornia, 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 ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 2-8, 2021

Dateline PhiliPPines

7

Ex-President Joseph Estrada PH, US to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations hospitalized with COVID-19 by aJPress

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FORMER Philippine President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada has tested positive for COVID19.

In a Facebook post, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada announced Monday, March 29, that his father was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with the virus.

“Nais ko pong ipaalam sa inyo na ang aking ama, na si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada, ay isinugod namin sa ospital kagabi sa kadahilanan ng panghihina ng kanyang katawan (I want to inform you that my father, former President Joseph Estrada, was rushed to hospital last night due to body weakness),” he said.

“Na-diagnose na po siya na positibo sa COVID-19 (He was diagnosed to be positive for COVID-19),” he added.

Jinggoy assured that his father was in a stable condition and asked everyone for prayers.

“Stable po ang kanyang kundisyon at ako po ay humihingi ng inyong mga panalangin sa kanyang agarang paggaling.

(His condition is stable and I am asking for everyone’s prayers for his recovery),” he said.

Estrada’s other children also posted about their father’s condition on Twitter.

Foremer President Joseph Estrada Philstar.com file photo

“Please pray for my father who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was rushed to the hospital.

Please pray for all those who are likewise fighting this virus,” said former Senator JV Ejercito.

“Our dad, former president Joseph Estrada, tested positive for COVID-19. He’s now confined in a hospital and is in stable condition. Please pray for his recovery and the recovery of everyone affected by the virus,” actor Jake Ejercito said in another tweet.

Estrada, 83, served as the country’s president from 1998 to 2001 until he was ousted after a series of protests on EDSA held from January 16 to 20, 2001 amid his trial for plunder

charges.

He was convicted of plunder in 2007, but his successor former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned him.

Estrada also served as mayor of the city of Manila from 2013 to 2019.

Palace extends ‘get well’ wishes Malacañang on Tuesday, March 30, expressed hope that Estrada would recover soon from COVID-19.

“We wish former President Erap Estrada to please get well soon. Alamat po kayo dito sa Pilipinas (You are a legend in the Philippines),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

“We want to see you healthy and we want you to take part in the public life of the country for a very long period of time.

Pagaling po kayo (You get well), President Erap Estrada,” he added.

Arroyo likewise extended well wishes for her predecessor’s recovery.

“I wish to extend my warmest wishes for a speedy recovery to former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and all those battling COVID-19. You are in my thoughts and prayers,” she said in a statement.

To date, there are a total of 741,181 COVID-19 cases in the country, with 13,191 fatalities and 603,310 recoveries. n

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 tes-

tament 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. 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 PAGE 8

PH ‘dismayed’by Myanmar violence but won’t intervene THE Philippines on Tuesday, March 20 voiced “dismay” at reports of excessive force by the Myanmar military against unarmed protesters on Armed Forces Day, which killed over 100 people, but will not intervene in the ongoing unrest.

Manila issued the statement through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) amid reports that 107 people, including children, were killed by security forces across Myanmar on Saturday during a crackdown.

“The Philippines is profoundly dismayed at reports of excessive and needless force against unarmed protesters in Myanmar

on Armed Forces Day, which resulted in the worst violence since the military takeover,” the DFA said.

The Philippine government reiterated its call “for security forces in Myanmar to exercise restraint and desist from resorting to disproportionate force against unarmed citizens.

“We remain steadfast in supporting Myanmar on its path to a fuller democracy beginning with the immediate release of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and duly-elected civilian leaders,” the DFA added.

When a netizen on Twitter asked Foreign Affairs Secre-

tary Teodoro Locsin Jr. whether Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) should intervene, he said, “No intervention.”

He continued, “Just wise counsel and distancing if ignored because Asean principle of noninterference in others’ domestic affairs cannot be used to conceal crimes against humanity; that would be tantamount to Asean complicity and consent.

Indonesia in the lead here”.

Myanmar is part of 10-member Asean which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. (ManilaTimes.net)

PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA TUNGKOL SA PLANONG AKSIYON NG CDBG SA FY 2021-22 Ang Lungsod ng Alameda (Lungsod) ay isang Lungsod ng Karapatan sa Programang Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (Community Development Block Grant, CDBG) ng Kagawaran ng Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Kalunsuran (Housing and Urban Development, HUD) ng U.S. Sa ika-4 ng Mayo, 2021, susuriin ng Konseho ng Lungsod ang iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2021-22. Ang Taunang Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2021-22 ay nagtatatag ng plano ng Lungsod para sa pagtugon sa Mga Pangangailangan ng Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad kabilang ang paggamit ng mga pondo ng CDBG at Programa sa Mga Pakikipagsosyo sa HUD ng HUD (HOME). Ang mga ispesipikong layunin para sa darating na taon ay tutugunan sa Planong Aksiyon na sasaklaw sa panahon na ika-1 ng Hulyo, 2021 hanggang ika-30 ng Hunyo, 2022. Ang iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2021-22 ay maglalaan ng humigit-kumulang sa $1,141,479 sa Mga Pondo ng Karapatan ng CDBG at tinatantiyang $80,400 na Kita ng Programa ng CDBG at humigit-kumulang $225,000 ng mga pondo ng HOME.

MAKUKUHA PARA SA PAGSUSURI NG PUBLIKO Simula sa ika-2 ng Abril, 2021, ang Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2021-22, kabilang ang mga detalye ng pagpopondo, sa website ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa www.alamedaca.gov.

PAGKAKATAON NA MARINIG Ang publiko ay hinihimok at iniimbitahan na lumahok sa Planong Aksiyon na proseso ng pagpopondo ng CDBG/HOME at upang magkomento sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad, nang pabigkas o nakasulat, sa mga sumusunod na nakatakdang Pampublikong Pagdinig:

5/4/2021

7:00 p.m. Pulong ng Konseho ng Lungsod: Pampublikong pagdinig na nauukol sa FY 2021-22 na Iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon para sa mga Pederal na pondo ng CDBG at HOME. Para mapanood ang pampublikong pagdinig, bisitahin ang website ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa: https://alameda.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Puwedeng isumite ang mga komento tungkol sa iminumungkahing sa Plano ng Pagkilos kay Lisa Fitts sa (510) 747-6884, (510) 522-7538 (TYY), o lfitts@alamedaca.gov (email). Pakibigay ang mga komento bago ang 4:00 p.m. sa Mayo 4, 2021. Pakikinggan ng Konseho ng Lungsod ang mga komento at isasaalang-alang nito ang pagpapatibay sa sa Plano ng Pagkilos sa regular na pagpupulong nito nang 7:00 p.m. sa Mayo 4, 2021. Hinihikayat ang publiko na dumalo at makilahok.

MGA TULONG PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN Kung ang sinumang taong interesado sa paglahok sa nabanggit na pederal na programa ay isang taong may kapansanan tulad ng tinutukoy sa Seksyon 504 ng Rehabilitation Act of 1974, at nangangailangan siya ng tulong para makalahok o makialam, puwedeng humiling para sa tulong kay Lisa Fitts sa (510) 747-6884, (510) 522-7538 (TYY), o sa pamamagitan ng email sa lfitts@ alamedaca.gov. Kasama dapat sa nasabing kahilingan ang paglalarawan ng hinihinging tulong, kasama ang paghahayag ng kapansanang dahilan ng pangangailangan ng tulong. Susuriin ang anumang kahilingan para sa tulong at may sagot na ibibigay sa loob ng limang araw ng negosyo mula sa pagtanggap ng nasabing kahilingan. Agad na ibibigay sa humiling ang abiso ng anumang ibibigay na tulong.

MGA TULONG PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG ENGLISH Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may network ng mga empleyadong nagsasalita ng 45 wika na puwedeng magsilbing tagapagsalin para sa mga residenteng nanghihingi ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga programa ng CDBG/HOME. Kung maaabisuhan nang maaga nang dalawang araw ng negosyo, maghahanda ang Lungsod ng tagapagsalin. Makipag-ugnayan kay Lisa Fitts sa (510) 747-6884, (510) 522-7538 (TYY), o sa pamamagitan ng email sa lfitts@alamedaca.gov.

PATAKARAN SA HINDI PANGDIDISKRIMINA Hindi nandidiskrimina ang Lungsod ng Alameda ng sinumang tao batay sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, pinagmulang bansa, ancestry, biyolohikal na kasarian, kinikilalang kasarian, katauhang pangkasarian (gender identity), ikinikilos na kasarian (gender expression), sekswal na oryentasyon (sexual orientation), marital status, familial status, pinagmumulan ng kita, genetic na impormasyon, medikal na kundisyon, kapansanan sa pangangatawan o pag-iisip, o anupamang kategoryang pinoprotektahan ng batas.

8

Dateline PhiliPPines

april 2-8, 2021 • NOrCal aSiaN JOUrNal

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Duterte warns of ‘bleak months’ ahead amid rising COVID cases in PH

by RiTChel

Mendiola AJPress

Vice President Leni Robredo

Inquirer.net file photo

VP Robredo most qualified to be next PH president, says Drilon MaRie Inquirer.net

RaMos

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday, March 30 said the Liberal Party (LP) considers Vice President Leni Robredo as the most qualified to be the Philippines’ next president.

“Right now, there is no question that Vice President Leni Robredo, to us, is the most qualified to be the next president,” Drilon, vice chairman of the LP, said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

But whether or not Robredo decides to run is a matter of personal decision, according to the

minority leader.

“She is our [chairman], we will support her but the matter of running is a personal decision and up to this point, Vice President Leni has not decided to cast her hat in the national political ring,” he said.

Robredo has repeatedly parried questions on her plans for the 2022 elections, saying that addressing the pandemic should prioritized.

She said she and her office remain committed to assisting the country in combating the COVID-19 pandemic amid the surge in cases.

Robredo, along with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Sen. Nan-

cy Binay, Sen. Grace Poe and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes, are also being considered as a prospective candidate by a new electoral coalition led by retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio.

Carpio said the 1Sambayan coalition seeks to form a single national slate that would challenge the current administration in the national elections next year.

LP president Sen. Francis Pangilinan said that while the party welcomes “all efforts to unite” and are “open to informal talks,” he said politics should be set aside to focus on addressing the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country. n

Lawmaker tells WHO: Stop discriminating

by Reina

C. TolenTino Manilatimes.net

DEPUTY Speaker Wes Gatchalian appealed to the World Health Organization (WHO) to set aside its biases and stop issuing “assumptions” against certain industries.

He made the call after Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative in the Philippines, said the health department’s proposal to exclude some companies from purchasing -19 vaccines stemmed from the concern that they would use the drugs to promote their products.

Among those recommended for exclusion were tobacco companies and manufacturers of infant formulas, sugared drinks and alcohol.

The WHO was criticized for supporting the proposal that some lawmakers called “dis-

EMPLOYMENT

criminatory” because it restricted some companies from procuring Covid-19 vaccines.

The move was dropped following an outcry from senators and other groups.

“My appeal to public health authorities like WHO, whose expertise we greatly value in advising us policymakers and regulatory officials is to set aside certain assumptions that have about certain companies and help us as a nation make sure that no one is left behind,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

The lawmaker cited the WHO’s assumption that producers or tobacco and infant formula might use the vaccines to promote their advocacy.

He said such assumptions would prevent the Philippines from providing everyone equal access to vaccines.

“At this time, when we have

to win against a pandemic that has caused numerous loss of lives and continues to negatively impact the ability of Filipino people to work, go to school, we need to unite and make sure that no one is left behind and discriminated upon,” Gatchalian said.

He said Republic Act 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Law allows companies to procure vaccines for the use of their employees.

“It is in their best interest to protect their employees,” the lawmaker said.

Gatchalian welcomed the removal of the provision that would have barred some entities from procuring vaccines.

“We look forward to the private sector working hand-inhand with the government to achieve herd immunity against this deadly disease,” he said. n

patience and understanding as the government tries its best to get “the vaccine from anywhere.”

“Stretch your patience and be understanding a bit. We are doing our best. We are not a vaccine-producing country.

We do not have the expertise, we do not have the knowledge, medical-scientific 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

PH, US to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic...

PAGE 7 t 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 together throughout the years, but also to reaffirm our com-

mitment 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 cel-

ebration 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. n

The world needs 3.5 billion vaccine doses...

PAGE 6 t

their turn at delivery, which is why we are calling on countries that have developed – or are still developing – vaccines to share their science and their technology perhaps through licensing agreements.

It should no longer be about money; it’s about saving mankind. No matter what the ideologies of these nations are – U.S., China, Russia, India, even the European Union – that have the capacity to ramp up vaccine pro-

duction, they all must collaborate and come up with the 3.5 billion vaccine doses needed urgently because the virus keeps on mutating. We all know it would likely take years to completely eradicate this deadly virus.

Time is not on our side – the whole world has to get its act together to deal with this deadly pandemic. They must pool their resources, set aside geopolitical issues for now and stop the blaming and finger pointing. As one Fil-American doctor put it

EMPLOYMENT

PERSONAL

HOUSING

SERVICES

Affordable Housing Rental Apartments Available 132 Affordable one and two bedroom rental units available at, 465 Willow Glen Way, San Jose CA- 95125. Affordable Rents: 1 BR $1,327.00; 2 BR $1,592.00; per month. Must be income eligible and meet occupancy guidelines. Households must earn no more than the maximum income levels noted below: 50% of Median Income Household Size

1 Person

2 Persons

3 Persons

4 Persons

Max Annual Income

$55,300

$63,200

$71,100

$78,950

Applications can be picked up at The Village At Willow Glen, 465 Willow Glen Way, San Jose CA-95125. Or can be mailed to you by calling the office at 408-267-7252.

Income limits are subject to change based on changes to the Area Median Income as published by HUD, and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.

SF#2952

by ChRisTia

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 pre-recorded 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

succinctly with characteristic Filipino wry humor: “We should focus on staying alive first and getting the vaccines. Otherwise, there will be no one left to play the blame game. We’ll all be dead.” *** 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

COMMUnitY JOURnal

FILIPINO

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 2-8, 2021

9

THE ASIAN JOURNAL

MAGAZINE

I N

N O R T H E R N

C A L I F O R N I A

Friday, April 2, 2021

INSIDE >>> L I F E S T Y L E • C O N S U M E R G U I D E • C O M M U N I T Y • M A R K E T P L A C E

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, whether family-based or employmentbased, 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 EB-3 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 EB3, 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 attorney-client 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)

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)

‘Inside Out’ co-director Ronnie Del Carmen working on animated feature on PH mythology

By RiTChel

Mendiola AJPress

FILIPINO American filmmaker Ronnie Del Carmen is writing and developing an original animated feature based on Filipino lore and mythology for Netflix.

In an exclusive interview with Cartoon Brew, the Oscar winner and Pixar veteran shared that he has signed a deal with Netflix that covers animated series as well as films. He will also consult on other animated projects at the streaming giant.

“I grew up somewhere else.

My story starts in a group of islands, in a region that I’ve now traveled back to many times over. Each time I wish I could stay and relearn what I missed.

Now I feel the pull of figuring out the beginning. The parts that I use to make movies began there. So on this new journey I go where these stories will thrive,” Del Carmen told Cartoon Brew.

“So this is where I’m growing and nurturing these stories that have never been told, in an arena they deserve to belong to,” the animator added.

According to Del Carmen, the creators and storytellers at Netflix have inspired him to bring the stories from the Philippines

Ronnie Del Carmen is bringing Filipino folklore to life at Netflix.

to the international streaming platform.

“At Netflix I’m inspired by all the creators and storytellers who come from all over the globe, telling tales that are windows into their own worlds which I’m so thrilled to discover,” he told Cartoon Brew.

“I’m hopeful about seeing how all these stories will help fuel change and bring us all a little closer to understanding each other. That’s my next threshold. I’m where I need to be,” he added.

Del Carmen, a University of

File photo

Santo Tomas (UST) graduate, started in the film industry as a painter on the set of Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now,” which was shot in the Philippines.

Since moving to the United States in 1989, he has worked on several beloved films such as “The Prince of Egypt,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” “Finding Nemo,” “Up,” “Coco,” and “Toy Story 4.”

Del Carmen later co-directed “Inside Out,” which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in 2016.

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)

10

april 2-8, 2021 • NOrCal aSiaN JOUrNal

Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

‘Godmother of the Philippine revolution’: The life of Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio as told by her great-great-granddaughter by

Christina M. Oriel / AJPress

IN February 2020, Los Angeles-based social worker Maxie Villavicencio Pulliam took a trip to the Philippines to help with relief operations following the Taal Volcano eruption.

While in Taal, Batangas, where her mother’s side of the family hails from, Villavicencio Pulliam noticed a main road and a monument dedicated to her great-great-grandmother: Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, an unsung heroine regarded as the “godmother of the Philippine revolutionary forces.”

That moniker was bestowed upon her by General Emilio Aguinaldo on the same day that the Philippine Republic was proclaimed on June 12, 1898.

Growing up, Villavicencio Pulliam never fully grasped why the family’s ancestral home was opened as a museum for the public to visit.

She later uncovered her greatgreat-grandmother’s storied past and revolutionary ties. Casa Villavicencio was once the secret meeting spot of Filipino revolutionary leaders, such as Andres Bonifacio, General Miguel Malvar and General Eleuterio Marasigan.

“If I don’t know this as her de-

scendant, how much more painful is it to be part of the Taal community and see this name all over the place, but you don’t actually know what she did or who she was?” Villavicencio Pulliam told the Asian Journal.

For the next year, partly due to more free time on her hands during the pandemic, Villavicencio Pulliam set out to write a book about her great-greatgrandmother who financially supported the Filipinos’ fight for freedom from colonial rule.

Because two books on her ancestor were out of print, she used translated letters, interviews from extended family members, and online articles to start drafting a story, and attempted to pitch it to literary agents in the U.S. and two publishing houses in the Philippines.

After experiencing rounds of rejection and writer’s block, Villavicencio Pulliam shelved the project. But it wasn’t until last September when she came across an illustrator’s Instagram page that shared the stories of Filipina figures — and one of the portraits happened to be of Gliceria.

The result is “Fierce Filipina,” an illustrated biography indepen-

dently published ahead of International Women’s Day 2021 that not only captures Gliceria’s life but also depicts a timeless tale of a heroine’s pursuit for equality and social justice. Accompanying the words by Villavicencio Pulliam are vibrant and bold scenes

by Manila-based illustrator Jill Arteche.

“My job was getting all the bits and pieces and making it into a book that would make sense for readers,” Villavicencio Pulliam said. “The reason why I decided for it to be an illustrated biography was to make it more exciting, especially for kids, though it’s a pretty high-level book. But anyone can enjoy it, even if they don’t have children or families of their own yet.”

Unapologetically fierce Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, known as Aling Eriang, was born on May 13, 1852 to a wealthy family in Taal. Despite her privilege, the book recounts her being friends with house staff and treating them as equals.

At the age of 12, Gliceria enrolled at Santa Catalina College in Intramuros, where she learned the plight of the Filipino people under Spanish colonial rule and began to “think of ways to create change.” However, she received news of her eldest sister’s death and was called back to Taal to

manage her family’s estate.

She went on to marry Eulalio Villavicencio, who also came from an affluent background.

Together, they lent money to support the revolutionary efforts and offered their home — which Eulalio had given to Gliceria as a wedding gift — as a secret meeting place for leaders.

Gliceria is said to have lent Jose Rizal P18,000 to publish his novels and La Solidaridad, a newspaper that promoted the Propaganda Movement.

“I think the biggest running theme that I don’t overtly say in the book is that no one questioned her authority. She did not let her being a woman stop her from being as active as she could have been in the revolution,” Villavicencio Pulliam said.

In exchange for her generosity, Filipino painter and political activist Juan Luna painted portraits of the Villavicencio couple, a tidbit that didn’t make it into the book. A copy of one of Gliceria’s portraits continues to hang in the ancestral home today, and Villavicencio Pulliam is photographed next to it in the author’s note of the book.

Based on the letters, Villavicencio Pulliam recognized Gliceria’s commanding presence and how she did not apologize for staking a claim in the movement.

Released in March 2021, “Fierce Filipina” tells the story of Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, who was named the “Godmother of the Revolutionary Forces” by General Emilio Aguinaldo following the declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898. It is written by Gliceria’s great-great-granddaughter Maxie Villavicencio Pulliam and illustrated by Manilabased artist Jill Arteche.

“It’s not with any hint of arrogance. She approaches everything as a partner and she’s an equal to the other revolutionary leaders. She comes in and doesn’t say, ‘Please let me know if you need help.’ She comes in and says, ‘I will help.’ It seems to be really effective because people also respect her, listen to her, and go to her for guidance,” the author said.

Eulalio was imprisoned in Old Bilibid Prison in Manila by Spanish colonial authorities for his role in the revolution, but Gliceria refused to reveal secrets in exchange for his release. Her husband was eventually set free a year after, but he died three months later due to his injuries.

She did not let her husband’s death be in vain and notably donated her family’s merchant ship, the SS Bulusan, to carry food, clothing and weapons for Filipino soldiers.

Throughout “Fierce Filipina,” Gliceria is presented with challenges in her pursuit of freedom and defending the country. With artistic license, Villavicencio Pulliam embodies her great-greatgrandmother’s inner strength and captures it in a mantra.

“Her inner voice said: Fierce are those who are brave.

Fierce are those who are strong.

Fierce are those who stand up for what’s right, even when things go wrong.

She knew what she needed to “Fierce Filipina” author Maxie Villavicencio Pulliam poses with a portrait of her great-great- A monument dedicated to Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio stands in Taal, Batangas, where do. She needed to be a Fierce grandmother Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio that was painted by Juan Luna during the she lived until her death on September 25, 1929.

Philippine revolution.

Contributed photo Photo by Eric Jam via Wikimedia Commons Filipina.”

“That was something I came up with based on some real-life experiences I’ve had as an observer of oppression and injustice. It’s an inner prompting that I feel as a human being but also as her descendant, thinking about what would happen in my body when I know I need to take action regardless of what could be negative consequences afterward,” Villavicencio Pulliam said.

Channeling her great-greatgrandmother’s unwavering spirit, Villavicencio Pulliam is living her legacy through her career as a social worker. She has also been vocal about the ongoing anti-Asian hate and hopes this story can be a lesson in boldly calling for systemic change.

“I am trying to live Gliceria’s legacy through this book by teaching people that we have to follow our hearts and if there’s a cause you’re passionate about and want to be a part of, go for it.

If you already feel in your body that something’s not right, how do we approach it in a safe, but effective manner?” she said.

“Fierce Filipina” is available for purchase in North America through Amazon, and is set to be printed and sold in the Philippines in the coming months.

“This story is super relevant in any way that readers can take from it. But let’s not stop at Gliceria’s story with Fierce Filipina. Let’s see what else we can explore and find out there that we could use to amplify us as Filipinos and Filipinas in America,” Villavicencio Pulliam said.

Vilma Santos nominated for National Artist

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar STAR for All Seasons and current Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto’s name has cropped up in a list for nominees for National Artist, according to an article in Inquirer.net by columnist Dolly Anne Carvajal.

Administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of dance, theater, visual arts, literature, film, broadcast arts and architecture and allied arts. Originally, it was an award that started to be given out in 1972; it was elevated to order status in 2003.

According to the article, the Manila City Council has issued a resolution supporting Vilma’s nomination.

According to Carvajal, Vilma, who is known as Ate Vi to her legion of fans and industry workers, issued the following comment to her when asked about the nomination: “Friend, pass muna ako sa issue ng National Artist. I truly appreciate the support and trust of our friends for the nomination, but mahirap mag-comment at mag-assume. Salamat, Dolly. Sa next issue na lang tayo (laughs).

Love you, friend.”

Among those who have been bestowed the National Artist recognition include Fernando Cueto

Amorsolo, Juan Felipe de Jesus Nakpil, Leonor Luna Orosa-Goquingco, Nick Joaquin, Carlos Romulo, Atang de la Rama-Hernandez, Lucrecia Kasilag, Lino Brocka, Levi Celerio Cruz, Fernando Poe Jr., Carlos Quirino, Ishmael Bernal and Ryan Cayabyab.

Fellow artist and erstwhile box-office and acting awards Ate Vi rival Nora Aunor (Ate Guy to her fans) has been nominated for National Artist twice. Much to the chagrin of Ate Guy’s fans, former Philippine President Benigno (Noynoy) Aquino decided not to include Nora for National Artist honors in 2014 due to her alleged involvement with drugs. *** In sad news, former Jukebox Queen and Original Pilipino Music icon Claire dela Fuente passed away on Tuesday, March 30 due to cardiac arrest. She was 62.

This was confirmed by her son Gregorio (Gigo) de Guzman in an article recently published in the Philippine Star.

Claire had recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 and was admitted to a hospital.

“She died from cardiac arrest, believed to be a result of her stress and anxiety. My mom has anxiety, hypertension and diabetes and her tendency to worry, to stress a lot led her to weaken and in her sleep, her heart gave up,” Gigo was quoted as saying in the article.

In the interview, Gigo also described their last exchange.

“Yesterday, she was fine, I got to speak to her. Got to argue with her one last time, because she gave me the wrong address and she didn’t tell me she was transferred to another hospital. She made me order food for her,” he said.

“All the while, she kept worrying about me and my symptoms. I told her not to worry about me because she’s the one who needs, who is more at risk,” Gigo, who is also positive for COVID-19, added.

Acknowledged as the Karen Carpenter of the Philippines and Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto is said to be on the list of nominations for National Artist.

File photo from www.congress.gov.ph

also given the title “Asia’s Sweetest Voice” when she hit her peak in the ‘70s, Claire belted out hits like “Sayang,” “Minsan-Minsan,” “Nakaw na Pag-ibig,” “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” “Mga Nakaw na Sandali,” “Ikaw ang Simula” and “Marupok Ka Man.” Claire’s songs dominated the airwaves, along with her contemporaries like Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio, Didith Reyes and Geraldine.

After leaving the music industry, Claire became a businesswoman, setting up and operating a transport company. She also at one point operated a stall at the then-popular Virra Mall in Greenhills.

In another recent interview, Gigo acknowledged that he and his mother became closer due to the recent controversy he got involved in. Gigo, along with a few others, had been implicated in JM Yosures is the winner of the 4th Tawag ng the death of Philippine Airlines Ryan Agoncillo, a talented actor and co-host of GMA Tanghalan singing competition grand finals featured flight attendant Christine Dacera. in “It’s Showtime” which was recently re-shown in OPM icon Claire dela Fuente (holding a Pomeranian puppy) recently passed away Network’s “Eat Bulaga,” will celebrate his 42nd He regrets that Claire will not be The Filipino Channel. due to cardiac arrest.

Photo from Instagram.com/@clairedelafuente birthday on Saturday, April 10.

able to see the end to the case.

“I would say that most recently, we have been more closer.

It’s hard to describe because we never got to close that door, if you know what I mean,” he said. “We’re just like siblings.

Siya yung makulit na kailangang alagaan because matigas ang ulo niya. She worries a lot and I’m the one to make sure that she calms herself down. This case, honestly, took a lot of her. My only regret is that she didn’t get to see the finish line na parang ‘Ma, wala ka nang alalahanin.

Okay na, tapos na.’”

Gigo expressed his gratitude to the people who have shown love to his mom.

“I would like you to know that I am very grateful. I’m sure my mom is, for the support and looking out me and my brother at this very difficult time. We’re doing our best to get through this. Thank you for everything,” he stated.

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 2-8, 2021

11

12

april 2-8, 2021 • NOrCal aSiaN JOUrNal

Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Inigo reacts to Maris, East West Bank Foundation stands with the AAPI community in time of need Rico rumored romance KAPAMILYA singer Inigo Pascual reacted to the rumored relationship between his former love team partner Maris Racal and vocalist Rico Blanco.

In his interview with digital show Pop Cinema hosted by Bianca Gonzalez and MJ Felipe, Inigo said he’s happy if the rumors are true.

“Wala pa naman akong masasabi pa, wala pa namang nagkoconfirm or anything. For me, kung sila, masaya ako kasi siyempre alam ko kung gaano ka-idolo ni Maris ‘yun,” Inigo said.

“Kung ano man ‘yung balita, siguro we should all just be happy for them if they are together, kasi love is love, and it’s a beautiful thing. And there’s so many people na in love na ganun din ‘yung sitwasyon so if ever man, let’s be happy for them, wishing them all the best,” he added.

Inigo Pascual

Inigo also recalled the times when he and Maris were a love team as he said the young actress always requested from him to sing Rico’s songs.

“Noong love team kami ni Maris talagang as in pinapakanta sa akin ‘yung mga kanta ni Rico.

So, with them being friends, and the fact na nagka-collab sila dati, sobrang supportive ako doon.

Kino-congratulate ko siya dahil alam kong sobang idol niya ‘yun,” he said.

Maris’ birthday greetings for Rico sparked romance rumors between the two. Maris posted a photo of Rico and a video where they can be seen singing Aqualung’s “Brighter Than Sunshine.”

“Hi Rico. Happy birthday,” Maris wrote.

“Hahaha love youu!!!” Rico replied. (Jan Milo Severo/Philstar. com)

Photo from Instagram/@inigopascual

THE East West Bank Foundation is committed to supporting diversity and anti-discrimination efforts. To help stem the rash of violence against AAPIs, the East West Bank Foundation is contributing to nonprofit organizations which are on the frontlines responding to the hate.

The East West Bank Foundation is supported through East West Bank, one of the top 25 largest banks in the U.S, and the largest minority depository institution in the nation. Founded in Los Angeles Chinatown in 1973, East West Bank was created with a mission to serve the banking and financial needs of Asian Americans and other underserved communities.

The recent rash of violence and hate crimes is tragic and particularly alarming as the victims are from the communities that East West Bank serves. “When our customers, co-workers, family, friends, and innocent members of our community are being attacked and are the victims of hate, we must stand together and support each other,” stated Dominic Ng, Chairman and CEO of East West Bank.

“East West Bank has a longstanding history and commitment to the AAPI community, and they are a great corporate citizen. Their willingness to provide assistance and stand with us is a testament to their leadership and that of their CEO Dominic Ng,” said California Assemblymember Evan Low, Vice Chair of the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

Violent incidents are occurring throughout the country, and the AAPI community needs resources

to stem the rising tide of hate. According to an analysis released by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, anti- Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150 percent last year. The unprecedented scale of these incidents is so dramatic, President Biden recently condemned the violence against AAPIs in his first national primetime address, stating that “at this very moment, so many of them, our fellow Americans, are on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives and still — still are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down streets in America. It’s wrong, it’s un-American, and it must stop.”

The East West Bank Foundation will provide financial contributions to organizations leading the fight to stop the hate and advance the civil and human rights of AAPIs throughout America, including: Stop AAPI Hate; Asian Americans Advancing Justice; Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation; Asian Pacific Community Fund; OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates chapters in California, New York, Texas, and Georgia; and Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment, among others. Promoting diversity and fighting discrimination have been a focus of giving by the East West Bank Foundation since its founding, and these contributions are a continuation of that focus.

Stop AAPI Hate was founded in March of 2020 to track and respond to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, and child bullying against AAPIs in the United States. “Violence against AAPIs is an ugly stain on

America and unfortunately is part of our country’s history. We are outraged by the sheer number of incidents across our country, and East West Bank’s generous support goes a long way to support our grassroots efforts,” said Vincent Pan, Co-Executive Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, a founding organization of Stop AAPI Hate.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) has created the Stand Against Hatred platform to empower AAPIs to share their stories and “document hate” to educate, inform and motivate action.

“East West Bank’s contribution is consistent with the bank’s history and involvement in the community. Their support will enable us to expand our reach throughout America to help address the hatred and institutional racism that plague every community,” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO, and Stewart Kwoh, President Emeritus, of AAAJ-Los Angeles.

Leadership is important in setting the proper tone for the nation.

When leaders embrace diversity and inclusion, it makes for a better America. The Asian Pacific Ameri-

can Leadership Foundation was founded in 2004 to foster leadership and civic engagement among AAPIs. “Until we have leaders that look like us across America, we will always be second-class citizens in our own home. Our elected leaders have the power to enact policies, create new anti-discrimination laws and help enforce our laws.

We applaud East West Bank for their corporate leadership – they are a model for other companies to follow,” said James Lau, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation.

To combat hate and make America more just, corporate and community leaders must work with government on solutions.

California Assemblymember Rob Bonta recently introduced Assembly Bill 886, which seeks to fund community-based organizations that provide culturally competent mental health services for victims of hate violence. Assemblymember Bonta said “all leaders have a role in creating a safer and more just world. This announcement by East West Bank and CEO Dominic Ng is great news, and I hope more can follow in their example.”

‘I finally became comfortable in my own skin’: Black Fil-Am rapper Saweetie featured on the cover of Cosmopolitan

By Ritchel

Mendiola

AJPress

BLACK and Filipina American hip-hop darling Saweetie is reclaiming her power after years of “dimming” her light.

In her latest Cosmopolitan cover interview, the “Icy Girl” rapper shared that she finally became comfortable in her own skin last year after her ascent to viral stardom in the summer of 2017.

“Last year was the year that I finally became comfortable in my own skin. I kind of figured out what my purpose was,” Saweetie told Cosmo. “I think it’s important to show little Black and brown girls that they can be successful in whatever they want to do. If I can do it, you can do it too.”

This development came after the infamous HOT97 interview in February 2018 where one of the radio hosts insulted Saweetie, calling her freestyle “basic” and implying she “had little to offer but her beauty,” as Cosmo writer Rawiya Kameir noted.

“It was a really dark point in my life. I went from being so loved so quickly because of ‘Icy Grl’ to, on my first promo run, well, you saw the interview. The script flipped really quick, like night and day. I was like, Wait…I had PTSD from that,” Saweetie admitted.

However, the rapper said she was “grateful” for the setbacks she experienced, as they helped her grow into the artist she is now.

“I’m really grateful for my start.

Because the mistakes, the struggle, the grind — it allows me to appreciate the rewards that come now because I know what it feels like to sleep in motels, to drive and do promo, to be stressed out,” said

Saweetie.

She shared that she perfected her stage presence by learning how to control her breath and pull off complex choreo and rap without missing a beat. She also took vocal lessons.

“Some of us have it naturally.

And some of us don’t—like me,” Saweetie told Cosmo. “And that’s okay because I know that as long as I work hard, I’ll become one of the best.”

Saweetie, whose real name is Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, was born to an African American father and Filipina-Chinese mother.

In 2017, she went viral after posting a video on Instagram. The freestyle video later became “Icy Grl,” prompting a label bidding war that ended with Saweetie signing a deal with Warner Records.

Since her fame, she has released chart-topping hits including 2020’s “Tap In” and “Back to the Streets” as well as “Best Friend” with Doja Cat this year.

She also launched a nonprofit, The Icy Baby Foundation, with her grandmother to support single mothers, low-income communities, education efforts, and people living with autism.

“Money beats court cases, money buys medicine, money fixes potholes, money puts food on the counter, and money keeps the heat and electricity going,” said Saweetie.

“So if I can spread the wealth, that’s what I want to do,” she added.

Saweetie’s first studio album, “Pretty Bitch Music,” is set to debut this spring.

“It’s my way of taking back all those years where I feel I had to dim my light,” she told Cosmo.

Hip-hop darling Saweetie is on the cover of this month’s Cosmopolitan magazine.

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 2-8, 2021

13

14

april 2-8, 2021 • NOrCal aSiaN JOUrNal

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160