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APRIL 3-9, 2020

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Fil-Am journalists remember CBS’ Maria Mercader as a mentor, champion of newsroom diversity FILIPINO American media professionals are paying tribute to veteran CBS News journalist and talent executive Maria Mercader who died over the weekend from the coronavirus.

Born and raised in New York, Mercader, 54, spent over 30 years at Filipina American Maria Mercader CBS as a producer worked for over 30 years at CBS News and most recently as a journalist and talent executive. was a director of talent strategy.

The Filipina American journalist got her start at the network’s page program in 1987 and rose

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Filipino ICU nurse in New York self-isolates by living in a minivan

AT the end of a long work shift, Filipino nurse Jiggz Tabuclin would make it home in time to put his daughter to bed.

But amid the coronavirus outbreak, this is no longer the case. Tabuclin instead parks his minivan outside of the house, then prepares a makeshift bed out of a sleeping bag and a comforter.

The nurse, who works in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Queens, New York, is

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

DFA: 401 Filipinos abroad infected with COVID-19

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Department of Health announced there are 227 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s official tally to 2,311.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on WednesThe department also recorded eight new deaths day, April 1, announced that there are a total of 401 – all of who were senior citizens. This brings the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID- country’s death toll to 96.

19) among overseas Filipino workers.

The fatalities include an 80-year-old Filipino Of the number, 270 are currently undergoing male from San Juan City, a 70-year-old Filipino treatment, 118 have recovered while 13 have died. male from Cebu City, an 84-year-old Filipino male According to the agency, the OFWs who con- from Mandaluyong City, a 77-year-old Filipino tracted the disease are from 32 countries and male from Manila, a 66-year-old Filipino male from regions covering Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the ParaĂąaque City, a 73-year-old Filipino male from Middle East/Africa, and the Americas.

Pasig City, a 79-year-old Filipino female from There are 206 cases of Filipinos with COVID-19 Makati City, and a 65-year-old Filipino female from in the Asia Pacific Region, 52 cases in the Middle Quezon City.

East/Africa, 107 cases in Europe, and 36 cases in One patient, on the other hand, recovered, bringAmerica. ing the official count of recoveries to 50.

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Esperanza Cabral, former DOH chief, pointed out that the country can still expect an increase in positive cases in the next two weeks. “I don’t think we are peaking next week or even the week after. I don’t think we have controlled the coronavirus yet,� she told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

Cabral also said that the government would still need to secure tens of thousands more tests before officials can analyze the severity of the virus in local communities. “We will have to do more tests. If we have done 10 or 20,000 of them, we can more or less determine what is the prevalence of the coronavirus in our community. And perhaps we can say that at that time, (if) we have controlled or not controlled the coronavirus,â€? she added. â–

Univ. of PH-developed test kits to be available within the week

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Department of Science and Technology on Monday, March 30, announced that at least 120,000 locally-developed test kits for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be rolled out this week.

According to the agency, its priority is the production of 26,000 test kits for field implementation and distribution to certain hospitals that can do the testing such as the Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and Baguio General Hospital.

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REINFORCED. Philippine General Hospital thanked St. Luke’s Medical Center on Tuesday, March 31, for donating beds, infusion pumps and P10 million pesos pledged in assistance for supplies. The government hospital said it will no longer accept persons under investigation (PUIs) and patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to give priority to positive cases and to avoid “overburdening� the facility.

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande

‘I’ve never seen doctors so scared by an infection’: Duterte announces P200-B aid for the ‘most affected’ Filipinos during pandemic Doctors lament skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, deaths

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

VID-19 in the country, but has left a dent in the livelihoods of thousands of Filipino families. “We have allotted P200 billion TWO hundred billion pesos will be allocated to low-income for low-income households who households affected by the en- are badly affected by the current hanced community quarantine crisis. Sila ang nasa informal secenforced in Luzon, Philippine tor (They are the ones in the inPresident Rodrigo Duterte an- formal sector) and those who live nounced on Monday, March day to day on subsistence wages or no work no pay,� Duterte said 30.

The quarantine was imple- in his televised public address mented in mid-March to pre- late Monday night, hours past vent the further spread of CO- the 4 p.m. tentative schedule his

spokesperson announced in the afternoon.

This is “the largest and widest social protection program� in the Philippines’ history, the president said. “Arrangements, beneficiary households will receive emergency support for their two months based on the regional minimum wage,� he explained.

The president also urged the private sector to extend its help

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CA Sen. Kamala Harris condemns anti-Asian attacks, doubles down on protections for front-liners

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

CALIFORNIA Senator Kamala Harris denounced the rise of antiAsian violence and discrimination in the United States and called on more protections for vulnerable populations, including front-line workers.

Harris, the first South Asian American senator, said she’s confronted members of the Trump administration on its usage of calling the coronavirus, the “Chinese Virus� or “Wuhan Virus,� which in part has sparked the anti-Asian

sentiments since the virus broke treat each other with kindness and respect.� out. u PAGE 3 “It’s fueled the hate for the president of the United States to continue to insist on calling it, the Wuhan Virus or the China/Chinese virus. It is absolutely irresponsible. It is born out of ignorance,� the senator told the Asian Journal, adding that the pandemic is amplifying existing racism and disparities. “This is just another example of the absence of leadership by this president. This should be a moment when he should be saying, ‘We’re all in this together’ and

Medical experts urge lawmakers to practice treatment equity, call for more tests to be administered to lower-income areas

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

ONE month ago, lawmakers across the United States, including President Donald Trump, questioned the veracity and severity of the novel coronavirus within the U.S. despite warnings from the medical community.

Back then, there were only a handful of cases across all 50 states; only 100 cases were reported as of March 2.

Today, there are 190,740 cases and counting, according to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

In a matter of weeks, the cases 2, New York Governor Andrew and deaths by COVID-19 skyrock- Cuomo announced the state’s eted, especially in states like Cali- first confirmed case; as of March fornia and New York. On March u PAGE 3

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APRIL 3-9, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 3-9, 2020

‘I’ve never seen doctors so scared by an infection’... DOST: UP-developed COVID-19 test kits...

PAGE 1 31, there are more than 38,000 cases and 1,218 deaths across the state (914 deaths in New York City alone).

The exponential rise in cases and deaths prompted a national emergency declaration from Trump and countless state and local safer-at-home measures.

In a virtual press briefing on Thursday, March 27 hosted by Ethnic Media Service, doctors and medical experts addressed the state of affairs within the health care industry regarding the exponential rise of the pathogen.

Addressing the gravity of the current situation, the doctors wanted to nip one thing in the bud: although it is similar to other infections like the common cold or the flu, the COVID-19 virus is shaping up to be more deadly and the public ought to treat it more seriously.

“As a doctor, I’ve never seen doctors so scared by an infection, ever,” said Dr. Tung Nguyen, an internist at the University of California, San Francisco, emphasizing the importance of prevention.

“Every thousand people infected, 15 to 45 people will die, which is 15 to 50 times more deadly than the seasonal flu.”

“No health care system can deal with uncontrolled spread and at this point, the most important thing in terms of prevention are two words: stay home,” Nguyen said. “Every time you interrupt a

PAGE 1 “From April 4 (Saturday) to 25, there will be a field implementation for the 26,000 testing kits funded under the DOST and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UPNIH) Project,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña.

The SARS-CoV-2 PCR Detection Kit was developed by scientists from the UP-NIH and the Philippine Genome Center with funding from the DOST. It is being manufactured and stockpiled

by Manila HealthTek, Inc. “The remaining 94,000 testing kits will be sold commercially

by Manila HealthTek at around P1,300 per kit, which is cheaper than the units currently being used in hospitals which cost about P8,000,” Peña added.

The test kit has already received a Certificate of Exemption from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so it can proceed with field testing.

Meanwhile, the Certificate of Product Registration that will allow the test kit’s commercial sale is expected on Friday, April 3.

“We have informed the FDA that requirements for CPR Certification will be submitted on Wednesday, April 1 at the latest,” Peña said.

The development of the SARSCoV-2 PCR Detection Kit was led

by Dr. Raul V. Destura, a microbiologist and infectious disease specialist who currently serves as the deputy executive director of the Philippine Genome Center.

His core team of 15 members

started developing the test kit in January, after Chinese scientists released the whole genome sequence of the virus to the public.

The test kit is a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR)-based test kit, similar to the World Health Organization test kits donated to the country.

According to the scientists, the development of the SARS-CoV-2 PCR Detection Kit is a promise of better accessibility to the public, since it will be made available at a cheaper cost compared to its existing foreign-developed counterparts.

“We are one with the government in providing this technology, para sana maging accessible sa lahat (so that it can be accessible to everyone),” Dr. Destura had said. n

PAGE 1 President Donald Trump seemingly backtracked on his words when he tweeted on March 23: “It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus…is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!” Many lawmakers and comu PAGE 4 munity leaders, however, say the president’s message is too late as hundreds of acts of violence and discrimination continue to be reme all the time now and with a did two things: kiss her on the ported on a daily basis.

The FBI said it anticipates ingood glass of wine in her hand,” cheek and answer this question, he said. “She’ll be missed terribly u PAGE 4 cidents to increase against Asian but the outpouring of love for her around the world I see now is just a beautiful torrential testament to the love she poured into the world when she was with us.”

Her legacy at the network garnered messages from colleagues like Dan Rather and Elaine Quijano as well as segments on “CBS This Morning,” the “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell” and the “CBS Weekend News.”

Aside from news production, Mercader devoted time to the mentorship and professional development of rising journalists of color and helped coordinate CBS News participation in the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and the National Association of Black Journalists.

She was a 2004 graduate of AAJA’s Executive Leadership Program in Chicago. Many FilAm journalists crossed paths with Mercader at the organization’s events and annual convention and became her friends and mentees.

Multimedia journalist Chris Casquejo did not work directly with Mercader but has known her since 2004 through AAJA and other professional gatherings.

“Maria was a fierce champion for diversity in newsrooms and very proud of her Filipino roots.

I’m convinced that’s a big reason we connected on many levels: We were both Fil-Ams navigating our way through a demanding industry,” Casquejo wrote in an email to the Asian Journal.

He spoke of her “brutally honest yet encouraging” way of critiquing resume tapes for budding broadcast reporters, how she made others “the most important person in the room,” and that she reminded journalists not only to excel in their careers but also to have a work-life balance.

But Casquejo’s favorite memory of Mercader was outside of reporting.

“Each time we saw each other, she would point to her right cheek before even saying hello.

I wasn’t allowed to talk until I

American communities “based on the assumption that a portion of the U.S. public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations.”

The STOP AAPI HATE Reporting Center — an initiative founded by the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and San Francisco Asian American Studies Department — said that over 750 incidents were documented during a 12day period.

“What we have to do as leaders is remind people, they are not alone and encourage them to report these crimes because they are crimes and that we have to advocate to say there needs to be investigation and prosecution,”

Harris said.

With stay-at-home orders and social distancing in place, many Asian Americans may feel isolated and more fearful to speak up about such incidents. New York state has set up a hotline, while Los Angeles County encourages residents to call 2-1-1 to report.

Harris also urged other state attorneys general to follow suit and establish their own lines.

The senator also lauded her home state and the local elected officials in cities and towns who enacted orders to slow the spread of the virus early on.

California now has 8,700 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, April 1, according to the Johns Hopkins University CSSE tracker.

point of transmission, the downstream effect is huge. Having one person not infected isn’t just protecting that one person, it’s actually protecting many, many other people.”

He also warned the public about the airborne nature of the virus, sharing that people should “be wary of touching objects because right now, the data shows that the virus may be in the air for up to three hours on cardboard, for up to 24 hours on plastic, and 72 hours on steel.”

Preventative care, as Nguyen emphasized, is the first line of defense against the spread of the disease. In terms of treatment, Nguyen said that tests for the virus should only be administered to those who show symptoms.

The lack of tests, as well as the lack of ventilators and other medical equipment, have been a concern for medical professionals, especially those on the front lines like EMTs and ER and ICU nurses.

In regards to the testing, Nguyen said, “In my view, most reputable testing centers should not test people without symptoms,” and added that people should consult their primary care physicians. (In Los Angeles County, you cannot get a test without permission from a physician.)

But whatever the number of confirmed cases may be on any given day does not reflect the true scope of this pandemic, and many

factors stand in the way of obtaining a test for swaths of the community.

Inequities Dr. Daniel Turner-Lloveras of Harbor-UCLA Medical Clinic lamented the legislative barriers that may make testing and treatment inaccessible to 43% of the undocumented community who don’t have health insurance, especially after the Trump administration’s new public charge rule that took effect on Feb. 23.

“We cannot contain a virus outbreak by providing care to only some of the population. We cannot successfully contain an outbreak if there are those among us who are afraid to seek care,” Turner-Lloveras remarked.

To his point, the lack of testing also “disproportionately” puts lower-income communities at a disadvantage. As an advocate for medical equity, he’s worked with other community leaders to establish hospitals as “ICE-free zones” to serve undocumented immigrants who may be hesitant to seek medical care for fear they would be captured by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Rishi Manchanda, doctor and founder of the medical advocacy organization HealthBegins, mirrored Turner-Lloveras’ thoughts on the social equity concerns of the pandemic, which has negatively affected the economic wellbeing of people of color.

Fil-Am journalists remember CBS’ Maria...

PAGE 1 the ranks to the CBS News foreign and national desks, guiding in the production of the biggest stories, such as the death of Princess Diana, the 9/11 attacks and Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. In 2004, she won a Business Emmy for a “CBS Sunday Morning” segment on computer spam.

She fought cancer and related illnesses for more than 20 years and had been on medical leave for an unrelated matter since the last week in February, according to the network.

CBS News Asia correspondent Ramy Inocencio — who was the first American TV journalist assigned to Wuhan, China when the virus first broke out and has since covered its spread to other Asian countries — said Mercader’s passing is a reminder of the coronavirus’ personal impact.

“Never would I have thought I would lose a friend half a world away when I first started reporting this. It’s just so important for everyone to remember coronavirus can affect us all. And it sadly does,” Inocencio wrote in an email to the Asian Journal.

The CBS News correspondent, who considered Mercader a friend for over 12 years, remembered how she never made herself or her health battles the focus when she was around others.

“Any normal person might have complained but she was strong… so strong. And sitting with her she always made it about ‘you…’

Yes, we talked about affairs of the heart along with career and Filipino food,” Inocencio said. “And she would make time for quality time — to talk about how you could rise, learn and be a better version of yourself.”

Inocencio thanked Mercader for recruiting him to join CBS and in helping land his current role as the network’s Asia correspondent based in Beijing, becoming the first Asian American in that capacity.

“That was her power, her loyal advocacy and her love. That she’s now left us makes me feel I have to work that much harder to make her proud from heaven — and I know she’s watching

Duterte announces P200-B...

PAGE 1 for the poor during the crisis.

“To those who have more in life, I implore you to share in the cost of taking care of the less fortunate and keeping our society intact. They have also contributed to our prosperity in one way or the other, so let us support them in this crisis. Let it be said that in the hour of our country’s greatest need, we all look out for and help each other,” he said.

Outside of Luzon, local government units in Visayas and Mindanao are distributing food packs and other essential non-food items. Farmers and fisherfolk were assured that assistance is coming as well as ensuring “food productivity, availability and sufficiency during the period of the pandemic.”

“The government will provide a recovery package, especially to SMEs to help deal with the economic effects of this pandemic.

My economic deal is already creating the guidelines for this as I speak,” Duterte said.

Front-liners ‘lucky’ to die for the country Duterte, in his public address, expressed his gratitude towards the country’s front liners, addressing the healthcare workers

that succumbed to COVID-19.

“May mga doktor na, mga nurses, attendants, namatay. Sila ‘yung nasawi ang buhay para lang makatulong sa kapwa. Napakaswerte nila. Namatay sila para sa bayan. Iyon ang dapat ang rason na bakit tayo mamatay (There are doctors, nurses, attendants who have died. They are the ones who passed away helping others. They are so lucky. They died for the country. That should be the reason why we die),” he said.

“It would be an honor to die for your country, I assure you,” the president added.

Duterte signed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act on March 24, granting him special powers to address the COVID-19 threat in the country.

Under the law, he is required every Monday to submit a weekly report to Congress detailing what the government has done in the past week to fight the pandemic.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he received Duterte’s report 12:40 a.m. of Tuesday, past the set day of submission.

“Let’s cut them some slack. It’s just started,” he said.

Sotto has yet to reveal the contents of Duterte’s report, as of press time. n

Sen. Kamala Harris on anti-Asian...

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APRIL 3-9, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Filipino ICU nurse in New York self-isolates...

PAGE 1 one of the hundreds of health care workers left with no choice but to work extra hours, self-isolate and not be able to see their families as the pandemic worsens.

The decision to isolate from his own family came when COVID-19 cases started to grow exponentially in New York, where 1,550 people have already died by the end of March.

While Tabuclin would prefer to come home to his wife, a public school teacher, and their young daughter who has disability, he cannot take the risk of bringing the virus and infecting his own family.

“I am tired. But more than that, I’m always anxious while at work.

At the end of each day, you wonder if you’re infected or not,” he said.

Only a few weeks ago, he was counting the days and looking forward to much-needed breaks and vacation time. Personal days off are no longer allowed and holidays are postponed indefinitely. Mandatory extra hours have become the new norm at work.

In Tabuclin’s unit, one nurse reportedly handles three COVID19 cases in addition to regular patients. But this number could change anytime soon as patients

pour in each day. Nurses are burdened with juggling between infectious disease patients and others who require immediate and thorough medical attention.

At the current rate, makeshift isolation units have been prepared.

Within the ICU, the hospital crew has set up temporary barriers to isolate non-COVID-19 patients from positive ones. Tabuclin notes that it is not totally safe but somehow helps in the meantime.

Due to the volume of patients needing ventilators and intensive support, he worries that the whole telemetry unit might be converted into an ICU, but not all workers are trained in intensive care.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has become scarce, causing health care workers to resort to improvising. Tabuclin and his colleagues had to buy their own gear while seeing others using garbage bags and other plastic materials to cover themselves. At one point, he had to use swimming goggles while handling patients as face shields were running out from stores.

Medical front-liners are at the fore of this warfare and are risking their own lives. With the increasing number of patients coming in each day, some of the nurses have be-

Fil-Am journalists remember CBS’ Maria Mercader...

PAGE 3 ‘Are you dating anyone?’ When I would inevitably answer ‘no,’ I could see her matchmaking mind start to work. Only after she grilled me about dating could we catch up about what was happening in our lives. But I didn’t mind.

She just wanted me to be happy in my career and personal life.

She was truly like a Filipina Ate to me,” Casquejo added.

Will Chang, a former online editor and recruiter for the AssoFilipino nurse, Jiggz Tabuclin, works as an ICU ciated Press, recalled how Mernurse in Queens, New York and uses a face cader became a familiar face at shield he bought from Home Depot due to the job fairs and how she would try scarcity of PPE. to find a way to bond with anyone Photos courtesy of Jiggz Tabuclin

come sick themselves. So far, one nurse has been diagnosed with the disease in Tabuclin’s unit.

But this is the sacrifice and commitment Tabuclin — who was a food attendant at a Filipino restaurant while he took his nursing degree — made when he became a nurse three years ago.

“My only wish now is for a cure against this disease to come out soon and maybe an assurance from authorities that they know what they’re doing to end this crisis so we can all go back to our families,” said Tabuclin. n

she met.

“Even I wasn’t exempt from her playfulness. When we got to know each other, we both bonded over being ‘secret Filipinos.’

Most people would look at our last names and would assume we were something else, so we both got a kick out of surprising new people with being Pinoy. She never met my wife, so she would tease me and say that she didn’t think I was married,” Chang wrote in an email to the Asian Journal. “But I also remember her kind ness. She made time for me when I was going through some rough patches and always

[lent] an ear when asked. That is the Maria I remember. I just wish I got to know her better.”

The AAJA asked individuals to donate to the American Ballet Theatre and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to honor Mercader’s legacy as a patron of the arts.

Mercader’s mother Gladys, who predeceased her, was the pianist for the American Ballet Theatre. She is survived by her father, Manuel, who worked in finance, and brother, Manuel, an attorney in New York. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress) n

aspect of that that the speakers emphasized was the growing incidents of anti-Asian racism and hate. Written extensively in the Asian Journal, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have reported disturbing instances of verbal abuse, harassment and violence by people who accused them of having the virus or blaming them for the virus’ spread.

“This is obviously a very challenging time for all Americans, and unfortunately, it has been made worse by racism and xeno-

phobia that is targeting our Asian American communities,” said Manju Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), who shared the rise of hate crimes and acts of hate against Asian Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, which began in Wuhan, China.

According to Kulkarni, A3PCON has received more than 750 reports of hate crimes and acts of hate in the month of March, all related to the COVID-19 virus. n

‘I’ve never seen doctors so scared by an infection’...

PAGE 3 “Lower wages and insufficient insurance coverage limits their access to treatment and often forces them to work even while ill, increasing the risk of exposure to the community,” Manchanda explained, pointing out that many people of color and immigrants work in service industries like health care, transit systems or in grocery stores, which further puts them at risk for exposure.

The social inequity of this pandemic is multilayered, but one

Sen. Kamala Harris on anti-Asian...

PAGE 3 However, in San Francisco County only a total of 374 cases have been confirmed, which officials say is a testament to the distancing measures taken.

“We now know it was one of the smartest things that could have been done because… we’re hearing back that San Francisco, as an example, is one of the areas that is not being overwhelmed in terms of bed capacity and hospitals,” Harris said.

The historic bipartisan $2.2 trillion stimulus bill passed in Congress and signed by Trump on Thursday, March 26 was a start in providing relief with key provisions giving most Americans $1,200 and expanding unemployment insurance to selfemployed individuals.

Governor Gavin Newsom reported that 1 million Californians have filed for unemployment since March 13. The state offers $450 per week of unemployment insurance, while the Senate bill adds $600 per week up to four months.

The plan also provides emergency grants up to $10,000 for

small businesses to cover operating costs and $350 billion for the Small Business Administration to provide up to $10 million in loans.

“As we go forward, one of my biggest areas of focus is going to be on supporting small business owners, especially in the Asian community, as well as so many others. It’s a family business, it’s intergenerational. It represents an economic lifeblood, not only for the family, but for the community,” Harris said.

The plan allocates a $150 billion fund for the health care system so hospitals can purchase masks, ventilators and other necessary equipment as more patients come in.

However, the senator said the relief package falls short in addressing other issues, such as paid sick leave for front-line workers. “[The bill] was a function of the urgency of the moment, but it really was not sufficient. That’s actually why I have not come home and I’m still in DC working on the next phase of this,” she said.

“Our Filipino community is be-

ing very hard hit [with] a lot of health care workers on the front line,” Harris said, adding that more follow up legislation needs to expand on more support.

“Also things like helping to pay for childcare for those essential workers…[and] looking at other ways that they can be supported in what is actually required of them to go to work every day and leave their homes.”

With the pandemic, it’s also opened up a bigger conversation on the need for systemic changes, whether health care coverage for all Americans or the capacity of federal disaster response.

Harris made a plea for Californians to fill out their 2020 Census form, as the data helps determine how federal funds are allocated to each state, and to vote in the upcoming election this fall.

“Who holds these positions matters in times like this,” Harris said. “We have to make sure that we have elected representatives who understand the community…and who speak up for the community. No one should be made to fight alone, we’re all in this together.” n

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 3-9, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

Dr. Sally Gatchalian: ‘As beautiful DOH denounces violence vs health care workers on the inside as she was outside’

by RitChel

Mendiola AJPress

by Cathy

S. BaBao

Inquirer.net

heR bright and cheerful presence could fill an entire room.

From her patients and their families, to her mentees, colleagues, friends and family — they all loved her.

She was also one of the brightest lights in Philippine pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases. last March 26, that light was snuffed out by the very disease she was protecting so many against.

But the lights have been dimmed only momentarily. For Dr. Sally Gatchalian — Doc Sally to many — left a legacy that will go beyond death.

She was descended from the Rodriguez clan of San Marcelino, Zambales. The late actor, Miguel Rodriguez, was her second cousin.

From an early age, her family could tell that she would be an achiever. her cousin, Michael Rodriguez, recalls how, as a young boy, he would be in awe of her.

“We would spend our summers in Zambales. She was very beautiful, very fair, almost blonde. What always struck me was how at ease she was with everyone, even with the common folk.”

Doc Sally was one of the older cousins in the Rodriguez family, very sociable and the life of the party.

After high school at St. Paul’s, she went to the University of the Philippines for medicine. Graduating with class 1977, she became a leading light in her field. At the time of her passing, she was president of the Philippine Pediatrics Society, and was assistant director of the Research institute for Tropical Medicine. even given her stature, Doc Sally was humble, very caring and supportive of younger colleagues.

So much admiration in the words of one of her mentees, pediatric diseases specialist Dr. Jing Aro, “From the moment i began my training in pediatrics, there was so much admiration.

She was the epitome of beauty and brains with a very big and generous heart. her achievements were intimidating, yet Ma’am Sally never made me feel like she was up there and i was a nobody.

She was always giving. When i had doubts, she lifted me up. She took me into her team despite my lack of experience and inadequacies. She molded and trained me.

When others would have feelings of uncertainty in my capabilities, she was always there to give me confidence and assurance that i could make it.”

“Ma’am Sally was as great as she was humble, as beautiful on the inside as she was outside,” says Dr. Carmen nievera, one of her mentees who eventually became one of her closest friends.

“She was as famous for her expertise as for her caring heart.”

She recalls how Doc Sally would go the extra mile to support her young colleagues. “When i started my practice as pediatric infectious disease specialist, one of my very first patients was the grandson of a senator. it was a case of dengue, and although technically i knew how to manage the case, i found myself hesitating at every decision because of the ViPs in front of me. Ma’am Sally traveled across Metro Manila and went to my hospital, talked to the ViP, and said something to the effect that they were in very good hands and quite lucky to have me as their physician. i was overwhelmed by this gesture. her support was consistent and unwavering. Through

Dr. Sally Gathcalian

the years, she was always there for me — no qualms, no airs, no big deal, just a ready ‘yes’ for things great and small.”

Doc Sally’s kindness extended not just to her colleagues, but to the other people who worked with her at various points in her stellar career. She was never one to tolerate bullying or unjust practices.

She was the medical director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for many years. While there, GSK’s publication relations consultant, Jeff Tan, remembers an incident when Doc Sally came to his rescue. “i will never forget when she defended me against a government official who raised his voice at me in a restaurant because he got irritated by what i said. She could have just ignored it because intervening could have compromised her professional relationship with the person and jeopardized her advocacy projects, but still she went up to the guy and defended me. That’s Doc Sally.”

Licking her fingers One of her dearest friends, Dr. May Montellano, says that she will always remember Doc Sally for her unpretentious ways. “Dozing off in the middle of conferences and meetings, fanning herself with her skirt whenever it was hot, and licking her fingers whenever she ate her favorite chicken barbecue.

Sally was passionate, vibrant and full of joie de vivre, but most of all Sally was prayerful. She always asked to be blessed before a lecture, imploring the lord’s guidance and wisdom. no matter how great she had become as a physician, Sally was first and foremost a humble servant of God.” Dr. lulu Bravo, Doc Sally’s best

The Philippine Department of health (DOh) on Sunday, March 29, condemned the acts of harassment and discrimination against health care workers amid the COViD-19 crisis. in the past few weeks, incidents of some health care professionals being victimized and subjected to acts of violence have been reported across the country.

The DOh, in particular, denounced an attack on a nurse in Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao’s Soccsksargen region. The frontliner’s face was reportedly doused with bleach by five individuals who ganged up on him. it added that there are reports of workers being refused access to public transportation and laundries. They are also being blocked and fined at checkpoints, and even evicted from their homes.

“We denounce the acts of physical assault, harassment, and discrimination committed against our friend, was left devastated by her fellow health care workers. These loss. in a letter to colleagues, she acts cannot be tolerated,” the dewrote, “i read and listened about partment said in a statement. finding meaning in our grief, and it added, “We are mobilizing i realized that perhaps we could our own personnel in efforts to asraise and lend our voices to supporting the call for greater protection for our health care workers and for more generous contributions of protective measures and by aJPress equipment in hospitals, as well as continuing the fight against COViD-19 and other infectious PhiliPPine Department of diseases through education and interior and local Government communication. let’s all work to- Secretary eduardo Año angether to do this as her legacy and nounced on Tuesday, March 31 in her honor. This work has begun that he tested positive for the and everyone can be part of this. novel coronavirus (COViD-19).

This is how we can find meaning “Today, March 31, i received in her death!” the result from RiTM (Research Despite her achievements, Doc institute for Tropical Medicine) Sally was most devoted to her fam- informing me that i am positive ily: her husband, Dr. ed Gatchal- for COViD-19,” he said in a stateian, her children Gayle and Geoff, ment. and her siblings, Cindoy, Ruby, The DilG chief said he underRaffy and Cecile. When i chatted went self-quarantine on Thursbriefly with Ruby, who was very day, March 26 after learning that close to her Manang Sally because four people he interacted with they were the only ones left in the tested positive for the disease.

Philippines, she said: “There will The next day, he got tested and never be a time when her memory received his results on Tuesday. will not cross my mind, and that “i make this announcement to will make me smile. She was my call the attention of all persons i travel buddy, BFF, coconspirator, had close contact with to go on frenemy and K-drama addict. She self-quarantine and observe any never treated me as a younger sis- symptoms, in accordance with ter, more like an equal. Whenever DOh guidelines,” he said. we would travel together and she Año assured that he will continwould always go in business class, and there were times i couldn’t, she and i would meet in the middle. She would say, ‘Basta magkatabi tayo para ma-massage ko legs at kamay mo.’ Manang Sally, one of these days, i know you’re going to pick me up. Business class, OK? love you, Manang. Until we meet again.” n

Photo courtesy of wikipedia

certain more details and hold perpetrators of these attacks liable and reporting these incidents to the inter-Agency Task Force on COViD-19 for proper investigation and resolution.”

The agency also urged the Philippine national Police, the Department of Transportation, the Department of the interior and local Government and local governments to protect the country’s front-liners.

“We appeal to the public to extend understanding and compassion to our health care workers. Our health care workers have responded to our country’s need with dedication, courage, and selflessness. This is not the time

for us to turn our backs on them,” the DOh said. “it is not enough that we thank them. We need to protect them too,” it added.

The DOh assured everyone that health care workers are taking extra precautions to ensure infection prevention and control. “health care workers who are PUis (persons under investigation) and PUMs (persons under monitoring) are following protocol, taking steps to isolate themselves even from their loved ones,” the agency said.

As of writing, there are a total of 1,546 COViD-19 cases in the Philippines, with 78 fatalities and 42 recoveries. n

DILG Secretary Año tests positive for COVID-19

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año

ue to do his work at his home. “i am doing fine and have no symptoms. i will continue my quarantine and work from home.

The result of my test will not in any way dampen my spirit and energy to do my job,” he said, adding that the public should continue to stay at home and follow social distancing.

Año is one of the three top officials who were designated to implement the national Action Plan against COViD-19. Defense Secretary Delfin lorenzana is also on self-quarantine.

The Philippines now has a total of 2,084 confirmed COViD-19 cases with 88 fatalities and 49 recoveries as of Tuesday. n

6

APRIL 3-9, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OPINION

Ramping up COVID testing IN a tragic manifestation of how the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is overwhelming the public health system, the assistant director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Dr. Salvacion Rodriguez-Gatchalian, last March 26 joined the ranks of frontliners who have fallen in the difficult battle. The RITM is the country’s lone testing center for COVID-19 infection.

Health experts have stressed the importance of rapid, widespread testing to contain the spread of a potentially deadly affliction for which there is still no vaccine or cure.

There was excitement over reports that the city government of Marikina was set to open

its own testing center, using the GenAmplify test kits developed by the University of the Philippines-Manila’s National Institutes of Health and Philippine Genome Center, to be mass-produced locally.

Both the opening of the testing cenvter and rollout of the local test kit, however, are still waiting for an official green light.

Other countries have fast-tracked approval processes for such critical items. While Philippine health officials have valid concerns over the need to ensure the accuracy and safety of the tests, the other side of the argument is that time is of the essence in containing this highly infectious disease.

Editorial

FEATURES

Gabor Kelen, director of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, which now has the world’s highest number of COVID cases, has argued that easing regulatory hurdles for testing in this emergency outweighs the disadvantages, and governments do not have the luxury of aiming for a perfect testing environment.

With COVID deaths surging in the U.S. and their hospitals overwhelmed, Kelen was quoted in a report as saying: “If we could have done contact tracing, we might have found a lot more cases quickly and shut down the hotspots.” Arguing for the speedy rollout of more testing kits, he said: “Some- than later, and if one test is good, thing is better than nothing, sooner is better two are better. So let’s get to it

Philstar.com photo

– perfect is the enemy of good.”

(Philstar.com)

HUWAG MAGING PASAWAY: Prepare for the surge in coronavirus cases in the US in the next three weeks The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic the world is now fighting against is personal to me. My husband is a surgeon and is part of the pool of doctors called to assist in the care of coronavirus patients. My sister-in-law in Boston has just tested positive after taking care of her elderly patient who also tested positive.

There are so many more people who have been unselfishly and courageously fighting this war, risking their own health, safety, and even their lives so we may live.

They are the front-liners in this war zone, those who cannot stay home because they have a sacred vow and duty to fulfill.

They are the doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals, first responders, 9-1-1 operators, dispatchers in the Department of Emergency Management. They are the police, firemen, the pharmacy personnel, supermarket and farmers’ market personnel, and volunteers.

They are the government officials who have been true and faithful to their oaths as public servants. They have been on top of this emergency, collaborating with scientists and experts, and health officials in navigating through this labyrinth in search of ways to slow down and stop the outbreak, find a possible cure and vaccine, provide health and support to hardworking Americans whose life and livelihood had been disrupted by this crisis.

EXPECT A SURGE in the number of coronavirus cases in the United States in the next three weeks, experts warn, urgently calling on government officials to prepare for the apex of the pandemic.

As of press time on Tuesday,

Demand and Supply BOO CHANCO LET us face the reality of our situation: the pace and quality of our lives now and in the foreseeable future will be dictated by the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

The virus respects no human title. The Crown Prince of England is infected and the British Prime Minister as well. Senators and Congressmen here and in the US are infected. A World War is raging and we can only see the enemy in a laboratory test.

President Trump wants to declare America reopened for business by Easter. He wants people to pack their Churches in celebration of Easter, the most important holiday in Christianity. He wants businesses to start churning the economy again. But it is not his call. The virus will make that call.

We can only react to the challenge the virus in hurling at us each day. The quality of our response will dictate how soon we

Experts warn that death toll could go up to 100,000-200,000

quickly and too many people become infected at one time, the resources available to fight it could quickly become overwhelmed. By staggering the number of COVID19 cases over a longer period of time, everyone who becomes infected can have better access to care”, Health.com explained.

IGNORE the lies and misinformation being forced feed to us

by President Donald Trump by his irresponsible use of the bully pulpit to raise his personal ratings and feed his delusional insatiable desire to hold on to power, at the expense of the safety and lives of the American people.

As the New York Times reported, Trump’s very proven characteristics have made him unfit to lead the country especially in a global emergency of this magnitude: • profound need for personal praise • propensity to blame others • lack of human empathy

• penchant for rewriting history • disregard for expertise • distortion of facts • impatience with scrutiny REMEMBER: We would have not been in this desperate situation had Trump not eliminated the White House National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, established by former President Barack Obama, to prepare the United States for future pandemics like COVID-19. This is consistent with Trump’s obsession to erase Obama’s legacy in America.

We wouldn’t have been in this desperate situation had Trump not cut back on the funding for health institutions like the CDC. The CDC’s rationale: It works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, the CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.

The CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, it saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission, it conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.

WE WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN BEHIND in the war against the coronavirus had Trump heeded the classified warning of U.S. intelligence agencies in January and February about the global danger posed by the coronavirus. Instead, President Trump and his minions in the Republican Party and Fox News downplayed the threat and failed to take action that might have slowed the spread of the pathogen, according to U.S. offi-

cials familiar with spy agency reporting, as reported by the Washington Post.

All these because Trump did not want the growing “numbers” of the pandemic cases in the United States to affect his own “numbers” in economic terms he wants to brag about for his re-election bid.

We would not have been behind had Trump and his team followed the National Security Council’s pandemic playbook. The 69-page document, finished in 2016, provided a step by step list of priorities. The Trump administration was briefed on the playbook’s existence in 2017, which was then ignored by the administration.

We would not have been behind if instead of self-aggrandizing and self-promoting in his daily briefings, instead of fighting with governors and mayors and demanding “appreciation” from them, Trump should seriously and pragmatically listen to their inputs based on facts on the ground and carry out their suggestions to meet their needs and taking care of their states and citizens-- more testing kits, protective gears for the front liners, ventilators, hospital beds, etc.

LISTEN instead to your governors and city mayors and COMPLY with their orders to exercise social distancing, work from home, shelter in place and stay at home OR face punishments like imprisonment and fines pursuant to the rule of law, just to protect us all.

HUWAG MAGING PASAWAY! GOD BLESS US ALL. ***

income households all over the country. The President has the power to realign whatever money there is in all government agencies, including GOCCs. But the big question is, how will the poor get hold of those funds?

We don’t have a system to flow the money down without a large part of it being lost in the hands of corrupt officials.

Things will get worse before it gets better. According to NEDA, without mitigating measures, they see a reduction in our real GDP growth to -0.6 to 4.3 percent this year.

NEDA also warns that “if the ECQ is extended beyond one month, or if the spread of COVID-19 is unabated even after the ECQ, then even the low-end of the estimate is still too high.”

That’s why some economists, like Toti Chikiamco, are saying a prolonged lockdown will cause not only an economic crisis, but also a social crisis, with food riots and other socially disruptive events.

Because the Philippines has a young population with a median age of 23 versus Italy with a median age of 46, Toti thinks it should be possible to risk easing the lockdown by April 14.

By easing, that means allowing mass transport to operate and businesses to reopen, provided, regular disinfection is mandated for all mass transport, and social distancing where possible.

Toti wants to adopt a riskbased approach to confront the epidemic – omnipresent temperature checking before entering workplaces, mandate wearing of masks for everybody, continuous public education on hand washing, social distancing; “Continue the bans on mass gatherings of more than five people; continue the quarantine of seniors who are the most vulnerable to the virus; build surge capacity of temporary hospitals and quarantine hotels for PUIs or Persons Under Investigation. It’s important for suspect cases to be removed from their families as they can spread the infection to their families as what happened in Wuhan; “Continue the ban on foreign visitors, or put all visitors under a 14-day quarantine. Let herd immunity build among our young population. Eventually, too, we have to do mass testing. Therefore, we have to reserve resources to buy cheap testing kits that are presently being developed by

biotech companies.

“In other words, the Philippines can’t afford the 60, 90 or-120-day lockdowns being contemplated in the West. The cure may be worse than the disease…

“Flattening the curve is really about matching our health capacity to the exponential increase in cases, and therefore, hopefully, more people will be saved. How many lives will be saved, versus how many lives also lost due to hunger and unemployment?”

There is also a proposal to devalue the peso to P55 to $1 as an economic relief and stimulus package: it will put money in the pockets of OFWs, boost exports and BPOs, and protect importsubstituting local industries.

China is reported to have quietly done that for the yuan.

“With oil prices at historic lows and demand down, the inflationary aspect is muted.”

So many things to do. So little time. Not enough data to act upon. And we have to fight this virus intelligently. Mistakes are too costly in terms of negative impact on lives as well as on the economy.

March 31, the United States reported more than 770 deaths, the most in one day. This has been the trend that started this week — the exponential growth in the number of people infected by the virus, and those who did not make it.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 183,588 cases have been documented, and 3,780+ have

test results become known.”

However, Dr. Fauci emphasized that the prediction is “such a moving target that you could so easily be wrong and mislead people.”

The movement would then be contingent on how urgently the country moves — both the government and the people” to help “flatten the curve.”

The chart above — shared by

spread of the coronavirus.

“The ideal goal in fighting an epidemic or pandemic is to completely halt the spread. But merely slowing it—mitigation—is critical,” Harris was quoted by The New York Times.

This is so consequential and critical to the survival of people already infected by the virus. ”If the coronavirus is passed on too

died in the U.S. Globally, there have been 850,500+ cases of people suffering from coronavirus, while 41,600+ have perished.

Dr. Anthoiny Fauci, the leading expert in infectious diseases and member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, warned on CNN’s “State of the Union” that “based on modeling of the current pace of the coronavirus’ spread in the U.S., ‘between 100,000 and 200,000’ people may die from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.”

This estimate of 100,000-to200,000 death figure is a middleof-the-road estimate, Dr. Fauci said, much lower than the worstcase scenario predictions.

As NPR reported, public health experts explain that “because of undocumented chains of transmission in many parts of the country, the number of new coronavirus cases in the U.S. is set to keep surging as more and more

Drew Harris, a population health analyst at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia on Twitter — was based on another chart in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paper.

As Health.com explains: The “flattening the curve” chart illustrates the wave of new coronavirus cases expected to hit. A high curve means the virus is spreading quickly; some people won’t get the medical care they need, and the number of deaths is likely to increase. A low curve means coronavirus is spreading slowly, which gives doctors the time and resources to treat more people (and hopefully save more lives).

As Health.com reported, Harris drew a dotted line onto the chart, showing that the smoothness of the curve could be the difference between treating the disease and health care providers struggling to cope with the demand for help.

It summarizes the importance of taking measures to try to slow the

Our COVID-19 economy

can get back to normal.

Are we actively testing and isolating more cases? Are we getting more ventilators and building more overflow patient facilities?

When can we expect a cure and a vaccine?

This is why it is important we have leaders we can trust and have confidence in their ability to make the right decisions. I am not sure Health Secretary Duque still deserves our trust.

Duque played politics with China and then the VIP tests. We had just three cases between Jan. 30 and March 4. Then the numbers increased. He wasted 35 days by not preparing more test and other facilities for the upsurge.

It isn’t as if changing him is like changing horses in the middle of a war. The graphs show the war has barely started for us and we must flatten it.

It isn’t as if we are lacking in leadership talent. There is former health secretary Manuel Dayrit who has experience managing our SARS response and also has WHO work exposure. There is Dr Gap Legaspi of UP-PGH, who keeps on impressing us with his

ability to get things done despite lack of resources.

This is still primarily a health and not a military crisis. We need a credible medical professional in top level decision making. That’s not Duque.

As we approach a month of total isolation for many countries, the question is often asked: Will our economies survive the virus?

Will people revolt over the draconian measures before the virus kills them?

It is bad for poor countries like ours. We have so many people living in extreme poverty even in the best of times. Now we must add those living hand-to-mouth who lost their daily wages.

It is easy to demand that government provide our poor with enough money to cover basic needs for as long as the medical emergency exists. Our national treasury can probably afford such subsidy for a month or two. But what happens if the virus lingers for a year or more?

The emergency power law recently passed by Congress provides for an emergency subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 to 18 million low

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.

*** Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@gmail.com.

Follow him on Twitter @boochanco

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya THIS coronavirus crisis seems to come out of nowhere but it didn’t. Like any story, it has a beginning, a peak and an end. And hopefully, there are no sequels to this grim story.

It seems the animal to human transmission of the hypedup yet truly deadly virus may have happened to Patient Zero in November of 2019 in Wuhan in the Hubei province of China. Ground zero of the virus is a level 4 bio-weapons laboratory in the Wuhan University of Technology not far from a wet market where exotic and domesticated live animals were sold as human food fare. How exotic? Consider bats, snakes, rabbits, etcetera. Yes, you name it, they probably sell it.

Initial reports indicate that a bio-chemistry chairman of Harvard University named Dr. Charles Lieber was arrested by federal agents towards the end of January 2020. His expertise was nanoscience. In December, there were 2 Chinese student assistants also arrested by federal agents. It is claimed Lieber was instrumental in setting up the Wuhan laboratory from the period 2011 to 2017. His secret involvement was unreported to Harvard or to the US government. He lied when confronted.

He was paid $50,000 per month and hefty living expenses to share his expertise on nanoscience and biochemistry to China. He was part of China’s aggressive drive to recruit talents from around the world to advance their science and technology to further build their war machinery by stealing them from everywhere else.

Yet the alarm bells weren’t sounded until the middle of January of 2020. By then, the virus from Patient Zero had spread to many parts of the world by infected carriers who travelled to other countries, particularly Milan in Italy where over 100,000 Chinese workers lived and worked in the factories and spread the contagion after the Chinese New Year celebration but not before causing thousands of death in Wuhan itself.

The official numbers being tout-

EMPLOYMENT

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 3-9, 2020

Petitioning children of your Cathartic pause during coronavirus isolation spouse from a previous marriage “THIS CRISIS however, like everything else in the course of human history, SHALL COME TO PASS.” ed by China regarding number of infections and deaths should be taken with a smidgen, nope, make that a mountain of hmmmmm.

Fortunately for the US, travel from China was halted by President Trump by the end of January 2020 and then from Europe and the UK weeks later, bold moves that may have saved millions of coronavirus infections and death. Time will tell.

For the time being, let the powers that be sort this out.

The waters are muddy and a clearer picture will come out in due time.

It seems however that war and the decimation of populations, as envisioned by globalists who want to control human population growth and consumption of the earth’s resources, foremost among whom is Bill Gates and his ilk, know that pandemics are an efficient, nearly bloodless way of achieving their elitist one world view.

They will crash economies if they have to. They already have more money than God. A few of these elitist globalists want to play God and get to decide just how many people the earth can and should sustain.

This is the view where abortion is the norm and socialist healthcare death panels decide who gets to live or die among the elderly members of the population. The current case in point is Italian triage where the elderly is left to die in favor of the younger patients because of limited resources and exhausted medical personnel. Climate change is the globalist’s religion and planet earth is his god.

The internet as a tool to gather information is like a sword. It is double-edged. You can use it for good or ill. It is rife with stories, information and disinformation and tons of propaganda. The global blame game is coming up. I hear

grumblings as to who should be held to account for this pandemic. It is still early because the virus, scientists claim, has not peaked yet in many places.

There will surely be hell to pay for all the destruction wrought, whether deliberate or accidental. Sifting through information or what passes for it these days needs an industrial strength filter and a good noggin just to sort through them. Forget the media. It cannot be trusted.

Big media, owned just by 7 conglomerates all in alignment with a globalist agenda, have decidedly morphed as the enemy of the people, spinning lies, disinformation and propaganda to push its one world view agenda. VIEWER BEWARE! The antidote to lies, damned lies and statistics made to lie: Go direct to the source and figure it out yourself. Too busy to do this? Read or listen to those who have a good grasp and understanding of history and current world events and more importantly, who have no agenda to push.

THIS CRISIS however, like everything else in the course of human history, SHALL COME TO PASS. On a different note, my sister Evelyn texted me this short message below. Consider it a wake-up call. Apparently written by an anonymous writer, it addresses why this thing may be happening. Perhaps, there IS a much bigger story behind why the world is on a cathartic pause. We are on a standstill and in uncharted territory waiting maybe for a reset, a confrontation, a war or even an earthshaking spiritual revival.

God is renewing the face of the earth.

In any case, I hope this goes viral and makes people think more deeply.

In three short months, just PAGE 8

FOR RENT

HOUSING

The CTV Files

atty. DenniS Chua, eSq. A STEPPARENT may file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an immigrant petition for a stepchild, the stepparent–stepchild relationship should have been created before a stepchild turns 18 years old. This means that the stepparent and the biological parent of the stepchild must get married before the child turns 18 years old.

If the petitioner can no longer file an immigrant petition for the stepchild because the child has turned 18 years old, the child can still be petitioned by the biological parent after he/she obtains his/her permanent residency status. The sig-

nificance of having a US citizen stepparent file for a stepchild is so that they could avoid the visa backlogs for visa petitions filed by legal permanent residents for their minor children (2d preference category). But considering the current visa priority dates being processed under the 2d preference category, the stepchild may be able to immigrate sooner than later even if petitioned by a legal permanent resident biological parent.

If the biological parent is about to get married to the US citizen petitioner and the biological parent has a child who is already over 18 years of age, it might be wise to consider postponing the marriage to give the child an opportunity to enter the United States faster.

Instead of marrying the biological parent, the US citizen petitioner can just file a fiancé petition for the biological parent. Once the fiancé petition is approved, both the biological parent and child can be issued the corresponding K visas for them to enter the United States.

Upon marriage of the US citi-

zen to the biological parent, both parent and child can file their respective applications for adjustment of status to have their status changed from K to permanent resident status.

The decision whether to file a fiancé petition or an immigrant petition is crucial especially if the child is aging out or turning 21 years of age. The decision to just get married instead of filing a fiancé petition could mean a long wait of at least eight years before the child can be able to immigrate to the United States and join the biological parent. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua, Tinsay and Vega (CTV) – a full-service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088, (619) 955-6277, or (916)449-3923; or send email to Dchua@ctvattys.com.

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Know thy enemy: SARS-CoV2 Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS IN any war, it is best to know one’s enemy well to have a better chance of survival. We must know all we can about our invisible adversary, SARS-CoV2 virus, the cause of the current COVID-19 pandemic, in order to defeat this virus. As of 7 a.m., Wednesday, April 1, it had infected almost a million and killed more than 50,000 worldwide in 203 countries, including 188,881 cases in the USA with 4,066 deaths, 81,554 in China, with 3,312 deaths, and 2,311 in the Philippines, with 96 deaths.

The numbers and fatalities are still going up. It is suggested that 30 percent or more of the world population could be in-

fected before this pandemic ends. WHO estimates the average mortality death to be 3.4%, and 15% for those admitted to the hospital.

Viruses are not alive What is a virus? Contrary to conventional knowledge, viruses are not living microorganisms like bacteria, so the virus is not “alive.” It is actually a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which when absorbed by the cells of our ocular (eyes), nasal (nose) or buccal (mouth) mucosal lining, “instantly changes its genetic code (mutate) and rapidly converts itself into an aggressor and multiplier cell,” then replicates superfast in a host (in animals, in the case of COVID-19, like bats, which was transmitted to humans in Wuhan, Hubei, China) and massively attack and damage the main target: the lungs (resulting in pneumonia, which is the final killer).

The virus is unable to “sur-

SERVICES

vive” on its own, without a host.

It is totally dependent, a parasite, which decays on its own outside of a living host. On surfaces, this protein molecule will lose its potential activeness (destroyed) within a period of time (see list below), depending on the material of the surface.

We can destroy and inactivate the molecule by damaging/altering its DNA thru handwashing with foamy soap and water (preferably warm, since it hates temperature beyond 23˚C or 73˚F) for at least 20 seconds, and drying our hands well since it loves moisture. It is also destroyed by disinfectants: at least 70% alcohol; diluted chlorine bleach (5 tbsp per gallon water); likely by UVC light, which damages its DNA to disable replication; by antiSARS-CoV2 medications (the old anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine, with Azithromycin for the pneumonia), a combo still being clinically tried; and PAGE 9

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Kapamilya singers band together to help needy Filipinos affected by community quarantine SINGERS from ABS-CBN are joining forces to help their fellow Filipinos affected by the community quarantine imposed in the Philippines to help battle the novel coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic.

According to the Philippine Star, a group of Kapamilya singers have breathed new life to the Gary Valenciano-originally recorded “Ililigtas Ka Niya,” which was written and produced by Jonathan Manalo for Star Music. The song talks of putting one’s fears and worries behind, while remembering God’s promise that He will not desert His people and He will save them, whatever challenges will face them.

Among those joining Valenciano in the new rendition are Angeline Quinto, Ebe Dancel, Erik Santos, Inigo Pascual, Janella Salvador, Jason Dy, Jaya, Jayda, Jay R, Jed Madela, Jeremy G, Jessa Zaragoza, Jona, Juris, Kyla, Lani Misalucha, Lea Salonga, Marlo Mortel, Martin Nievera, Moira dela Torre, Morissette, Ogie Alcasid, Piolo Pascual, Regine Velasquez, Toni Gonzaga, Yeng Constantino, Zephanie and Zsa Zsa Padilla.

The song’s royalties from online views and streams will be donated to the “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” campaign launched by the network which seeks to raise funds to assist Filipinos whose source of livelihood has been greatly affected by the community quarantine.

The funds will be used to purchase food and other basic necessities, which will be turned over to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila for distribution.

The song’s original version was aired in the popular ABSCBN series “Ang Probinsiyano” in 2018 and subsequently won Best Inspiration Recording during the 2019 Awit Awards. ***

Ito Curata, a Filipino designer who has worked with the likes of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Sharon Stone, passed away last March 26 due to complications from the novel coronavirus (COVID19), according to a report from Lifestyle Asia.

Known for his Filipiniana designs and creations, Curata was a veteran in the fashion industry who was well-known in the Bay Area before he decided to live in the Philippines full-time to provide couture for then President Macapagal-Arroyo and other clients.

He was the producer of the long-running “Queen of the World” beauty pageant held annually at the Palace of Fine Arts theater in San Francisco.

According to the report, Curata’s long-time partner, Bob Miller, is also in ICU for pneumonia.

My condolences to his family, to his son Taj and to his partner Bob. *** Actress Angelica Panganiban had fun with her fans at a recent Twitter question-andanswer, according to reports from PEP.ph.

She gamely answered queries from her fans regarding her lovelife, her exes and who among them she cannot work with anymore.

Based on her answers, Angelica said she is ready to fall in love again. And it seems that among her exes (Carlo Aquino, John Lloyd Cruz and Derek Ramsay), it is Carlo whom she does not think she can work with in another project again, although she wishes him well.

Angelica and Carlo were paired together during their Gmik days and he became her first boyfriend. It seemed that they had another turn at romance when they worked in the film “Exes Baggage” in 2018.

But early 2019, photos surfaced

of Carlo with another girl, who is Carlo’s girlfriend now. Prior to the photos surfacing, Angelica had unfollowed Carlo on social media.

Asked by a netizen who among her ex-boyfriends would she bring to hell with her, Angelica had a diplomatic answer.

“Wala. Ayokong may kalabasan na hindi maganda sa mga buhay nila. I wish them happiness (smiley),” answered the actress.

Recently, the actress was seen in a photo in Dubai with an unidentified guy (photo was taken behind them). Although, she was teased by fellow artists and asked by netizens who the guy in the photo is, Angelica has remained mum on his identity.

Wishing the best for beautiful Angelica Panganiban, always!

Ariel Rivera, a handsome and debonair actor of Filipino Channel 367, showed his excellent acting abilities in a weekly episode of Charo Santos’ Magpakailanman recently.

Edward Cabrera, a United Airlines employee, celebrated his birthday with his family at the Cabrera Residence in Hayward, CA recently. Shown in photo are Edward, his wife Myrna and son Michael.

seafood city fpfc Dante Rivero, a veteran actor in the Philippine entertainment world, is currently showing his acting skills in the new teleserye Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit with Superstar Nora Aunor, telecast on GMA Channel 369.

Multi-awarded singer/songwriter/TV host Gary Valenciano is joined by fellow Kapamilya Singers for a new version of “Ililigtas Ka Niya,” which will benefit families affected by community quarantine in the Philippines.

Inquirer File Photo

Angelica Panganiban had a fun Q&A on Twitter with her fans recently.

Instagram photo/@iamangelicap

Well-known fashion designer Ito Curata passed away last March 26 due to complcations from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Instagram photo/@itocurata

The Instagram photo that had people asking Angelica Panganiban recently if a new romance is in the offing.

Instagram photo/@iamangelicap

‘This pandemic has kept my family Fil-Am director Dean Devlin’s ‘Almost apart’: Fil-Am actor Nico Santos says Paradise’ is the first-ever American TV series shot in the Philippines stepdad died from coronavirus

By Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FILIPINO American actor Nico Santos over the weekend announced that his stepfather has succumbed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Santos paid tribute to his stepfather “Tito Sonny” on Saturday, March 28, a day after the latter lost his battle with the virus.

“He was a kind, caring man.

Friendly to a fault. He always greeted strangers walking past him with a chipper ‘Good Morning!’ and a big smile. He had a great laugh that filled the room with joy,” the actor said in the tribute, sharing a photo of his stepfather and mother.

Santos shared that his mother “Tita” also contracted COVID-19, but hasn’t required hospitalization.

“My mom is also fighting COVID-19. For the time being, she has not required hospitalization,” he said.

He also expressed his pain and frustrations in dealing with the family’s loss during the pandemic.

“The loss of my stepfather is devastating but what has gutted me is that this pandemic has kept my family apart.

We were unable to be with him during his last days. I can’t hold my mother as she mourns her husband. I can’t hug my brother as he contemplates a world without his father. I can’t wipe away the tears from my nephews’ eyes as they wonder

By aJPRess

“This is my stepdad Sonny and my mom Tita. My Tito Sonny passed away yesterday after losing his battle with COVID-19,” actor Nico Santos wrote on Instagram on Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Nico Santos/Instagram

why their Lolo Sonny isn’t here anymore,” he said.

Santos ended his post by requesting everyone to send prayers for his mother.

“Please continue to pray and send healing energy to my mom. I hope all of you are staying safe and healthy. Rest In Peace Tito Sonny. I love you,” he said.

Santos was born in the Philippines and moved to Gresham, Oregon with his family at 16. He played Oliver T’sien in the movie adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” and is also starring in the NBC hit series “Superstore” as a sales associate named Mateo Liwanag.

As of writing, there are now more than 140,000 con- Nico Santos firmed cases of COVID-19 in than 2,000 fatalities and 4,000 the United States, with more recoveries.

Cathartic pause during...

PAGE 7 like He did with the plagues of Egypt, God has taken away everything we worship.

God said, “You want to worship athletes, I will shut down stadiums. You want to worship musicians, I will shut down civic centers. You want to worship actors, I will shut down theaters. You want to worship money, I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market.

You don’t want to go to

we focus on the only thing in the world that really matters – JESUS. Enjoy this forced sabbatical church and worship ME, I will make it where you can’t go to hiatus. It will be for only a short period of time and we will all church.”

“If my people who are called be back to the rat race. SIGH. by my name will humble them- It may surprise you what amazselves and seek my face and ing grace it is having precious turn from their wicked ways, time in your hands to do as you then I will hear from heaven please, even perhaps, to find and will forgive their sin and the time for a personal revival of our relationship with God. will heal their land.” *** Maybe we don’t need a vaccine. Maybe we need to take Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is this time of isolation from the SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. distractions of the world and To send comments, e-mail monette. have a personal revival where maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

THE first-ever American TV series filmed entirely in the Philippines made its debut on Monday, March 30 on WGN America.

“Almost Paradise” is an action-thriller show created, written and produced by award-winning Filipino American filmmaker Dean Devlin.

Known for his work on “Independence Day,” “Godzilla, “Leverage,” and “The Librarians,” this is Devlin’s first project involving his Filipino roots.

The series is centered around Alex Walker (Christian Kane, “The Librarians” and “Angel”), a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who goes into early retirement and moves to a beach in the Philippines he remembers visiting years ago.

Alex finds himself drawn into cases where he uses his skills as a longtime operative to put away the bad guys that cross his path.

The idea came to Devlin during his honeymoon in Hawaii some 14 years ago when the local news had a story about residents capturing a drug dealer on their own.

“It just got me thinking about island justice, island culture and island spirituality. I always said, ‘I really would like to write something about that,’” Devlin told the Asian Journal. “Over the years, I thought, ‘Why do it in Hawaii?’

I’m half Filipino and I’ve never done anything connected to my own culture so when the idea came to put this story in the Philippines then things started to accelerate quite quickly.”

Beyond the “poverty porn” and other stereotypical notions people may have about the Philippines, Devlin didn’t want to make the storyline about the current political climate and the controversial drug war.

“To be able to bring things from the culture — the looks, the costumes, the traditions — and put that seamlessly in a very American show…one of the goals here is not to say that Filipinos are the other. The goal is to say Filipinos are us and we’re all part of the same beautiful community,” he said.

As for the challenges that

Filipino American producer and filmmaker, Dean Devlin (“Independence Day,” “Godzilla”).

came with filming in the country, Devlin joked, saying “The better question is what wasn’t the challenge?” His production company, Electric Entertainment, partnered with ABS-CBN and built a soundstage at Bigfoot Studios in Cebu.

Thankfully, the production had finished and left the Philippines before the government stopped international flights because of the coronavirus outbreak.

“We literally wrapped production 18 hours before they stopped the international flights.

It was crazy. It felt like we were on the top of that building in Saigon during the fall of Vietnam trying to get the last helicopter out. But we finished the season,” Devlin said.

The 10-episode series, shot in the island of Cebu, features a predominantly Filipino cast and crew. Actors Samantha Richelle and Arthur Acuña star as detectives Kai Mendoza and Ernesto Alamares, respectively.

When Devlin and Kane took a trip to Manila to scout local talent, Richelle auditioned for the role of Kai Mendoza upon the recommendation of Dela Torre and blew them away.

“In me preparing for the role of Kai, I literally fell in love with her…She’s such a ballsy character, but yet also very sympathetic.

It was just amazing to be able to delve into that,” Richelle told the Asian Journal, adding that a week before filming began, she did combat training and learned how to shoot.

Samantha Richelle makes her American TV debut as Kai Mendoza.

Photos courtesy of Electric Entertainment

“You’ll see in the show, every episode we pushed a little bit farther on [how] she can go as an actor and every time we raised the expectations, Samantha reached it. This character really develops over the course of the season and this is no easy acting job,” Devlin said. “She’s really the breakout actor on this show.”

Filmmakers Francis Dela Torre, Hannah Espia, Dan Villegas and Irene Villamor directed several episodes; meanwhile, Pao Orendain served as director of photography and Digo Ricio as production designer.

“This is a very intense American way of doing a TV series…

This crew was amazingly responsive because this was not in their comfort zone at all. It’s not the way that they do shows in the Philippines. They were all eager to learn [and]…they all kind of wanted to show what they could do,” Devlin added.

With more Filipino faces on an American network, Devlin sees it as a way to usher in more Filipino representation.

“There’s been a wonderful explosion of diversity in entertainment over the last few years.

But the Asian community in general — and the Filipino community in specific — has really been left behind that. We wanted to be part of the energy that’s correcting that and part of pushing us into the spotlight and saying, ‘Hey, take a look. I think you’re gonna like what you see,’” he said.

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Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ WITH the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with “stay-at-home,” “shelter in place,” quarantines, travel bans, etc., there has been a profound effect on immigration. Here are some of the latest restrictions, limitations, and changes as of March 30, 2020. This is not an exhaustive list, and is subject to change literally on a daily basis: 1. For those who have filed work authorization extension requests (Form I-765), which ordinarily require fingerprinting, USCIS will reuse your existing fingerprints on file, rather than having you go to an Application Support Center (ACS) to be refingerprinted.

2. For those of you who have a response due by a particular date, USCIS has provided for a 60-day extension from the due date for any response to a Request for Evidence (RFE), Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), Notice of Intent to Revoke NOIR), Notice of Intent to Terminate (NOIT), or to file an appeal from a decision to the AAO, in connection with any decision/denial issued between March 1, 2020 and May 1, 2020. a. For example, if a NOID is issued April 1, 2020, with a response date of May 1, 2020, the person would have an additional 60 days beyond May 1, 2020 to respond.

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COVID-19 immigration update as of March 30, 2020 3. Unfortunately, USCIS continues to serve denials and requests for additional evidence while people are subject to the shelter in place quarantines. It is “business as usual” for USCIS, even as the officers continue to work from home. I believe it is unfair, as we don’t know if the shelter in place or pandemic will be resolved within those 60 days. Moreover, it is difficult for people to be able to gather the appropriate information and documents for responses, such as declarations, leases, bank records, birth certificates from overseas, or other documentation necessary for a response or appeal. People may risk a denial for not providing sufficient documentation when they are prevented from being able to properly gather documentation or respond. USCIS should simply hold these types of decisions\denials in abeyance until this pandemic is over.

However, if a person should miss a deadline because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in certain circumstances there could still be relief available based on “extraordinary circumstances.”

For my part, my office is still open and operational in order to serve our clients and community. While we are all operating remotely from our homes, all of our staff members are equipped with technology and tools to continue to call clients, work on cases, and keep clients informed at all times. Consultations are

Know thy enemy...

PAGE 7 prevented with a vaccine, now being developed.

The foam that forms when we wash our hands with soap and warm water (heat melts fats) cuts, destroys, and dissolves the protective fats around this very fragile virus, breaking and dispersing the protein molecule on its own, inactivated.

The same good effect happens when we wash our face or take a shower.

SARS-CoV2 virus on surfaces Recent studies have suggested that the SARS-CoV2 virus remains active on various

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 3-9, 2020

surfaces for different length of time: From the time an infected person coughs or sneezes, the trajectory of the virus-loaded droplets stay in the air for up to 3 hours, and thereafter settle on the ground within about 6 to 10 feet, depending on the air flow or wind. It is best not to do dusting or shake clean clothing, which will spread the virus more. Use damp cloth to clean the floor, to limit the virus from flying around.

On copper and wooden surfaces, it stays active for up to 4 hours. On cardboard and paper, this virus could survive up to

still done by phone. This is a testimony to our commitment in serving our clients, and we are prepared to do so no matter what.

This is a very difficult time for all of us, requiring virtually an overnight retooling in the way we operate. But we are up to the challenge, and we will continue to keep you informed of any further developments.” *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

24 hours, and about 2 to 3 days on ATM machines (screen and keypad), likewise on plastic and metal surfaces. It is unclear for porous material, like clothing and textile, but it is suspected that the virus may be absorbed by the fiber and the virus dies more quickly than on hard surfaces.

Since the virus does not survive well when the temperature is above 73˚F (23˚C), when the summer months arrive in the sun belt States and in other countries, the hot season might mitigate the spread of the virus somewhat. Since the SARSCoV2 virus is new, we still have a lot to learn about it.

New speedy testing At the behest of President

THREE DIVINE SIGNS GUIDED FAMILY TO HUMANITARIAN REVALIDATION APPROVAL. Nanay Beatriz petitioned her sons Romeo (left) and Mario (not in photo) back in 1994, and when she became a U.S. citizen, the category was updated from single child to married (F-3). However, Nanay Beatriz was diagnosed with late stage cancer, and her final wish was that her daughter, Juliet (3rd from left), make sure that her brothers make it to the U.S. by retaining leading U.S. immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (right). The devout Juliet prayed for three signs to know how she should proceed, since after her mother died, the petition for her brothers “died” with her. And the signs came while Juliet was watching an episode of Citizen Pinoy. Find out what these three signs were, and see how the power of prayer and a dedicated team at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel were able to make Nanay Beatrizʼ final wish come true on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

How three divine signs helped make a mother’s final wish come true on a brand new episode of Citizen Pinoy

IT was their mother’s dying wish: “Hire Atty. Gurfinkel so I can rest in peace.”

Nanay Beatriz petitioned her sons Romeo and Mario back in 1994, and when she became a U.S. citizen and her sons married, the category was updated to F-3. Unfortunately, while waiting for the petition to become current, Nanay Beth developed cancer, and the whole family was worried, not just for Nanay Beth’s health, but also for the petitions of her sons.

When Nanay Beatriz knew her time was coming soon, she relayed her final wish to her U.S. citizen daughter, Juliet: Hire

Atty. Gurfinkel to take care of the petition for her sons, even if he is expensive. Nanay’s words were “Anak, salamat. Kasi kahit paano, alam kong gagawa ka ng paraan… para makarating ang mga kapatid mo…” (Thank you, child. I know that you will find the means to be able to get your brothers here to the U.S.) One Sunday, at Church, Juliet prayed for three signs to know how she should proceed, since after her mother died, the petition for her brothers “died” with her. By divine intervention, Juliet discerned the three signs while watching an episode of Citizen Pinoy that evening.

During the Q&A portion of the show, (1) the first person to ask a question was Beth, which was her mother Beatriz’ nickname; (2) the second person’s name was Del, which is part of Juliet’s last name; and (3) the third person’s case was exactly the same as theirs: the petitioner died.

Watch how the power of prayer and a dedicated team at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel were able to make Nanay Beatriz’ final wish come true on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

Trump, the FDA had fasttracked the approval for countless labs to develop tests for COVID-19. He announced recently that Abbott Lab had developed lightning-fast and accurate instant “point-of-care” molecular test that can be performed in doctor’s offices, hospitals, etc., which will yield positive results in 5 minutes and

13 minutes for negative test, on the spot. This brilliant test was launched on April 1. This good news should not make us overly confident and careless.

The mnemonic COVID strategy we coined below is still the best tactic we have against COVID19 to save ourselves, our loved ones, and the elderly.

UVC light: Anti-viral

Since UVC light was found to be effective in damaging the DNA of viruses in past MERS/ SARS epidemic and pandemic, it is reasonable to suspect that UVC light could also be effective in destroying the SARSCoV2 virus. All medical centers have been routinely sterilizing their OR and ICUs, etc. usPAGE 10

(Advertising Supplement)

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April 3-9, 2020 • NOrCAl ASiAN JOUrNAl

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

Friday, April 3, 2020

OMETHING

ILIPINO

Celebrating the life and legacy of Chef Rodelio Aglibot

F

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

ILIPINO American chef Rodelio Aglibot died over the weekend of an apparent heart attack and tributes and testimonials continue to pour.

He was a man who wore many hats: as a chef, restaurateur, TV host and personality, entrepreneur and food consultant.

“Our hearts are broken. We learned yesterday that my big brother, favorite chef, best uncle and lolo ever, the always-smiling, never-met-a-stranger, family-to-everyone passed away on Friday, due to an apparent cardiac arrest,” Aglibot’s sister Ruby Byers posted on Sunday, March 29. “In his 52 years on earth, he touched so many lives all around the world. He had the best time no matter where he went, what he was doing, or whom he was with.

If you knew him, you loved him. If you knew him, I know your heart is broken too.”

The last time Byers saw Aglibot was about a month ago when she visited him in Cincinnati, right after his latest restaurant opened.

“It was really good to see him back in his element and he was really excited about some upcoming projects,” Byers told the Asian Journal. “He cooked my daughter and me a breakfast of spam, eggs, and rice before we left for the airport. It was the perfect last meal to share with him as it was reminiscent of our childhood and just felt like home.”

Aglibot introduced Filipino food to mainstream America in San Francisco back in 1996. He was then working as a sous chef at E&O Trading Company, a panAsian restaurant, which served wood-fired adobo pork chops and Filipino egg rolls. He moved back to Los Angeles as the chef of Zazen, another pan-Asian restaurant where he infused more Filipino dishes and flavors into the restaurant’s menu.

He became more famous in the Los Angeles area when he became the opening executive chef at Koi, a celebrity hotspot.

Then he opened Yi Cuisine, where he wrote a menu t h a t mir-

rored his biography as a young chef and served a number of Filipino dishes. He then moved to Chicago and became the founding chef at the hotspot Sunda.

Years later, he opened Me Geisha Salerno in Rome and Salerno.

The Fil-Am chef goes by a number of monikers: Den or Denden to his close friends and relatives, Tiny to his UCLA pals, and Chef Rod and Food Buddha to those he fed and mentored and to the culinary world. He also starred in the TLC show eponymously called “Food Buddha,” which became famous because he would go to restaurants with some friends and order OOE, or “one of each.” He is the man behind various restaurant concepts like E+O and FireFin Poke.

“My brother’s impact in the restaurant community extends beyond the four walls of any restaurant,” said Byers. “It’s the relationships he built, the personal touch he gave, and how he made his colleagues, team and customers feel. As I read through Facebook post after post, it was obvious to me that he made every person feel like they were indeed his very best friend. It’s that kind of legacy that we all hope to leave and he achieved it with humility, love, and the biggest smile that will not be forgotten.”

Byers also requested Aglibot’s friends for more prayers for their parents, who are in the Philippines.

“I rest in the fact that he’s reunited with our younger brother and know I will see them both again. I have two guardian angels now, even though, honestly, I would rather have them here,”

Chef Rod was a TV host and personality who starred on his own show on TLC called Food Buddha.

Know thy enemy...

PAGE 9 ing UVC light for more than a century, after it was invented in 1801. Many have been trying it these days to sterilize the much-needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our medical front-liners, like masks, eye wears, gowns, gloves, etc., which are in low supply. In Italy 50 physicians have died from COVID-19, six in the Philippines, and countless around the globe, including in China, Spain, and Iran, among others.

Caution: UVC light is injurious to the skin (burns and potential skin cancer) and to the eyes (cataract formation). Use only on empty rooms.

HydroxyChloroquine + Azithromax Following President Trump’s request, the FDA has reluctantly allowed the off-label use of Hydroxycholoquine (used for decades for malaria, lupus, arthritis, amebiasis), for trial use for COVID-19 patients.

Added to treat the COVID-19 pneumonia, is Azithromycin, a previously approved antibiotic. Some initial reports are very encouraging, especially from France. The next question is whether hydroxychloroquine could also be effective for prophylaxis, to prevent infection by this virus, especially those physicians and other front-liners, the unsung heroes putting themselves in harm’s way in this pandemic, who are directly exposed to COVID-19 patients day in and day out, like my own four children and three sons-in-law, who are treating patients without adequate PPE to protect them.

Convalescent serum The serum from recovered virus patients in past pandemics, including in the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed about 100 million, MERS, and SARS, showed that their (serum) contained a lot of antibodies that could be transfused to those

she wrote. “Please keep our family in your prayers, especially our mom and dad. They will be traveling home to CA in the next few days from the Philippines. No parent should have to bury their child, let alone two. They will especially need to feel your love, prayers and God’s presence in the coming days, weeks, months.”

Among those who expressed grief and sent their prayers and condolences on social media are people he had worked with, from fellow chefs and customers to colleagues in the culinary industry.

Billy Dec, the TV personality and restauranteur who owns Sunda, shared photos of a trip he and Aglibot took around Southeast Asia in 2007.

“We bonded immediately both being of Filipino descent, in love with the culture and culinary of the Islands of the Philippines, and the rest of Southeast Asia,” he wrote on Instagram.

Dec also shared that Aglibot helped him with his bouts of panic attacks during the trip.

“That’s Rod — for everyone, that’s the level of happiness and comfort he brought with his smile, empathy, talent, and love for food, family, friends and fun,” Dec added.

Jacqueline Chio Lauri, editor of the book “The New Filipino Kitchen,” recalled the day when he invited Chef Rod for an interview, along with a recipe and a story for the book.

“I didn’t expect to hear back from him at all, let alone hear back from him quickly. You see, he was a celebrity chef, running an empire of restaurants. Why would he bother giving me or my little project the time of day?” Lauri said.

“He had nothing to gain and a lot of precious time to lose by participating in the project. Apparently, I didn’t know him at all. Chef Rod was not in it to gain, he was in it to give.”

And he, indeed, gave wholeheartedly. He organized and joined events last year to launch the book, bringing people together and advancing the goal of having the group’s diverse voices heard through Filipino cuisine.

In the book, Aglibot shared the recipe for Avocado Mousse with Raspberry Sauce and Lychee Granita, a dessert he created at Yi Cuisine, which was the first upscale Filipino restaurant in Los Angeles when it opened.

The inspiration behind this signature dish was the avocado dessert that Aglibot’s parents used to serve them back in Hawaii, something which he called “a piece of his childhood.”

He also grieved the time when they had to close the restaurant for good.

“But there’s one thing I’m certain of to this day: of all the restaurants I’ve opened, Yi Cuisine is the one I’m proudest of,” he said.

“I am proud of it not for the accolades it earned, but for what the menu stood for and the story it told. Filipino cuisine, after all, is like the pear-shaped avocado.

The fact that it is lesser-known as a fruit in culinary preparations doesn’t make it any less of a fruit.”

It was at Yi where Aglibot said he completely embraced and promoted his heritage.

On the menu then were dishes that highlighted his Filipino background such as chicken adobo, oxtail kare kare, crispy pata using Kurobuta pork served with a complementary vinegar dip enriched with foie gras and his own take on sinigang, using seafood soured with tamarind.

Fellow contributors to “The New Filipino Kitchen” book also honored Aglibot’s memory.

“When I learned he was part of the ‘New Filipino Kitchen’ Cookbook, I thought how dope it was to be part of a project with someone who did so much for the Filipino food community,” wrote Joanne Boston Kwanhull, who remembers seeing him on TV. “He opened doors for the Filipino food community long before it was the ‘cool’ or ‘IG-worthy’ thing to do.”

“My memories of you will remain strong, and as nourishing as the lugaw you made for our book launch in Chicago, as delicious as the crab fat aioli you whipped up at my birthday party (to accompany the prawn paste chicken) and sweet like your signature avocado dessert,” said writer Vanessa Hangad, who contributed the recipe of kare kare, which was one of Aglibot’s favorite dishes.

“My deepest condolences to your family & everyone who loves you (there’s so many of us) “You made the world a better place as an internationally renowned (yet down

infected with the virus to help them fight the infection successfully, in an otherwise helpless situation. The regimen is now used as an adjunct therapy for COVID-19 patients.

ECMO for severe COVID19 The use of Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenator (heartlung machine used routinely in open-heart surgery) is an option among those with COVID-19 pneumonia that is not responding to standard ventilator, which are in serious short supply even in the U.S. The ECMO acts as an artificial lung to keep the patient’s blood oxygenated. There are indications, restrictions, and limitations of this treatment.

To end COVID-19, practice COVID The best tool we have to end this deadly pandemic faster and sooner is this common sense personal behavioral modification DIY strategy – Fight COVID-19 with COVID: Cover face to scratch, sneeze or cough; Omit non-essential

travels; Voluntary quarantine; Intensive handwashing; Distancing.

Potential threat A clinical report from China says the SARS-CoV2 virus was found in the saliva of recovered patients 39 days after the pharyngeal swab was negative and positive in feces up to 13 days afterwards. The question is whether those who had recovered and had tested negative are truly virus-free and non-contagious. The other is, is the virus also spread by fecal contamination? Studies are ongoing.

Our unsung heroes While we who are able to stay home on self-quarantine are safe, front-liner physicians, nurses, allied healthcare and other hospital personnel, first responders of every kind, put themselves in harm’s way, exposing themselves to the killer virus 24/7, stepping out of their comfort zone in the name of selfless service to their sick fellowmen. Even their families at home are at a higher risk. They

As a man who wore many hats, Chef Rod was also a restaurateur, entrepreneur and food consultant.

Photos from Facebook/Rodelio Aglibot

Ruby Byers told the Asian Journal that the last time she saw her brother was when she visited him in Cincinnati last month where he just opened a new location of E+O. She said he looked happy and was in his element doing his thing and excited for their future projects.

Chef Rogelio Aglibot with his sister Ruby Byers and her daughter Caroline who he fondly calls Callie Sue, according to Byers. Photo was taken when Byers visited him in Cincinnati about a month ago. Contributed photo by Ruby Byers

“Whether you knew him as Den, Rod, Rodelio, Lolo, Ninong, Chef, or the Food Buddha, you knew he had the most infectious laugh, an amazing talent, and THE biggest heart,” Ruby posted on her brother’s Facebook wall.

to earth) chef, entrepreneur, trailblazer & friend.”

Byers told Asian Journal that there are no funeral plans yet.

are our unsung heroes. At least 50 physicians treating COVID19 patients in Italy have died from COVID-19, six physicians in the Philippines (the youngest in her mid-30s), and unaccounted for numbers in China, Spain, Iran, Korea and the U.S. There is one thing, individually, we can do to help them: STAY OUT OF THE WAY. Stay home and avoid getting infected and spreading it to others, especially to the elderly, majority of whom have health issues.

Let us not be the carrier of the virus and the courier of death.

Once again, unless someone at home had tested positive, a clean and well-ventilated home is the safest sanctuary against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Young people can also die from COVID-19.

Among the youngest ones who died so far were ages 12, 17, 24, and 26 years old.

The young man on the beach teeming with people during his summer break two weeks ago saying on TV “It’s my civil right to do what I want with my body

and enjoy,” is obviously stupid and a greater threat than the virus to the public and especially to freedom and democracy. He has the right to kill himself but not others.

Gear up when outside If we have to go out to a grocery store, drug store, or for other essential matters, let us put on gloves, mask, and a cap, observe distancing, and wash our hands properly and frequently. We must not touch the mask either. Having a healthy dose of paranoia (medical vigilance) during this deadly pandemic is also helpful to protect ourselves and our family. Our invisible enemy is out there killing humans rapidly, including the young. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 3-9, 2020

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April 3-9, 2020 • NOrCAl ASiAN JOUrNAl

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