040921 - San Diego Edition

SAN DIEGO

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

APRIL 9-15, 2021 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages

T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c a n C o m m u n i t y N e w s pa p e r

Also published in LOS ANGELES • ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE • NORTHERN CALIFORNIA • NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY • LAS VEGAS

USA

DATELINE

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Los Gatos police looking for suspect who attacked Fil-Am health care worker

550 East 8th St., Suite 6, National City, CA 91950 Tel: (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • Email: info@asianjournalinc.com

California targets full reopening by June 15

by AJPress CALIFORNIA plans to move away from its color-coded tier system and fully reopen its economy by June 15, if vaccine and hospitalization numbers remain stable.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the target date on Tuesday, April 6 and said the state must meet the criteria of sufficient vaccine supply for residents over the age of 16 who plan to

be vaccinated and stable hospitalization rates.

“With more than 20 million vaccines administered across the state, it is time to turn the page on our tier system and begin looking to fully reopen California’s economy,” Newsom said in a statement. “We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic. We will need to remain vigilant and continue the practices that got us here – wearing masks and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”

The state will ditch the Blueprint for a Safer

POLICE are asking the public for help in its search for a man suspected of attacking a Filipina American medical worker in Los Gatos, California on March 30.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 30, around 5 p.m. near Los Gatos Boulevard and Garden Lane, according to the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.

Fil-Am teen punched at San Francisco bar in alleged anti-Asian attack

u PAGE 2

u PAGE 2

With anti-Asian attacks, Fil-Ams in LA remain vigilant, seek community support

u PAGE 4

A FILIPINO American teenager was reportedly the victim of an anti-Asian attack outside a San Francisco bar over the weekend.

The victim’s mother, Sofia Enguillado, posted a TikTok video that showed images of her 18-year-old son, C.J, with a bruised and swollen face after allegedly getting punched outside of Gino and Carlo, a bar on the 500 block of Green St. in the city’s North Beach neighborhood.

“If you’re Asian, this is the type of service you get waiting for pizza in Little Italy North Beach, San Francisco,” says the caption on

Economy, its tiered system, once the economy fully reopens, but health measures like face coverings and social distancing will remain.

The state further said with the reopening “everyday activities will be allowed and businesses can open with common-sense risk reduction measures” but didn’t elaborate on further details.

“The state will continue contact tracing and testing to detect cases early and contain spread of the virus. The entire state will move into this new

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

WAITING AREA. An elderly woman (right) sits on a bench inside the Cathedral Church as barangay personnel monitor other beneficiaries during the distribution of cash aid assistance in Barangay Immaculate Conception, Quezon City on Thursday, April 8. This is the second day of the distribution of cash aid in Quezon City.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

FOR Myrla Baldonado, daily walks outside have provided some solace during the pandemic lockdown.

But in addition to being vigilant about COVID-19 every time she steps out of her door, she is hyper-aware of her surroundings, knowing that older Filipino Americans around her age have been targeted across the country.

“I need to get my exercise, but I’ve been torn between going out or just staying and moving around inside,” Baldonado, a lead organizer at the Pilipino Workers Center in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown, told the Asian Journal. “Now when I go out, I watch my back and look at each direction, and really make sure cars stop before crossing the street.”

u PAGE 2

17 PH tycoons on Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada in stable condition Forbes 2021 World’s Billionaires List

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FORMER Philippine President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada is reportedly in stable condition after being placed on a ventilator due to pneumonia.

In a Facebook post, his son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said that his father’s requirement for oxygen support is “getting better.”

“As per updates from my father’s physicians, he continues to be in stable condition.

His kidney function is improving and his requirement for oxygen support is also slowly getting better,” the younger Estrada said on Wednesday, April 7.

“His other vital organs are functioning well,” he added.

u PAGE 4

by AJPress

Former President Joseph Estrada

ManilaTimes.net photo

SEVENTEEN Filipino tycoons have secured their spots on Forbes’ annual list of the wealthiest people in the world.

Forbes on Tuesday, April 6, released its 2021 list of global billionaires, with this year’s roster having a record-breaking 2,755 billionaires, including 493 newcomers.

“The number of billionaires on Forbes’ 35th annual list of the world’s wealthiest exploded to an unprecedented 2,755 — 660 Photo shows a mark on the window of Historic Filipinotown restaurant Dollar Hits after an more than a year ago. Altogether they are unidentified man allegedly threw a rock on Saturday afternoon, April 3.

Photo courtesy of Andre Cadiz worth $13.1 trillion, up from $8 trillion on the 2020 list,” the publication said.

u PAGE 5

Philippine lawmakers Mayor Gloria encourages call for probe after low-income families to Filipino man dies doing apply for rent relief squats as punishment for breaking curfew PHILIPPINE lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the death of an alleged quarantine violator who was forced to do 300 rounds of squats as punishment.

Bayan Muna Reps. Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite on Wednesday, April 7, filed House Resolution No. 1697, urging members of Congress to defend the human rights of Filipinos.

“It is imperative for members of Congress,

u PAGE 4

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

SAN DIEGO – Continuing his efforts to protect vulnerable San Diego families affected by COVID-19, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria today encouraged families with low income whose children attend schools in the San Diego Unified School District to apply for help from the City of San Diego’s COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program.

Mayor Gloria was joined at a press conference on Monday, March 22 at Clark Middle School in City Heights by U.S. Representative Juan Vargas, City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, San Diego Housing Commission Presi-

u PAGE 4

Rock throwing incident reported at LA Historic Filipinotown restaurant

SD Mayor Todd Gloria

File photo

ANDRE Cadiz was having lunch outside of Dollar Hits in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown on Saturday, April 3 when he heard a man yelling incoherently.

The 26-year-old Filipino American graphic designer, who was sitting facing the restaurant with his back toward the strip mall’s parking lot, chose to ignore the remarks and kept eating.

Then, he heard a loud bang

on the window in front of where he was sitting.

A rock that was allegedly thrown by the man narrowly missed Cadiz’s head, he said in an interview.

“I jumped out of my seat and then I realized this guy in the parking lot was in a stance that looked like he just threw something,” Cadiz, who was dining alone with his dog at around 4 p.m., told the Asian Journal.

“There was a mark on the window and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, that was a rock that went over

u PAGE 2

2

APRIL 9-15, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

From The Front Page

California targets full reopening by June 15... With anti-Asian attacks, Fil-Ams in LA...

PAGE 1 phase as a whole. The state will monitor hospitalization rates, vaccine access and vaccine efficacy against variants, with the option to revisit the June 15 date if needed,” a release from the Governor’s Office said.

Earlier this week, three Bay Area counties — Napa, Sonoma and Contra Costa County — moved to the orange tier as part of the state’s reopening blueprint.

The three counties join most of the Bay Area with lessened restrictions as Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda and Santa Clara counties have been in this tier.

Under the second least restrictive phase, bars that don’t serve meals can now reopen outdoors from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. with 8-foot distance between tables. Visits are limited to 90 minutes and masks are re-

quired except when people are eating or drinking.

Businesses and activities such as movie theaters, restaurants, churches, museums, zoos and aquariums can increase their capacity from 25% to 50%.

Gyms and fitness studios operating indoors can go from 10% to 25% capacity. Cardrooms and family entertainment centers can move indoors at 25% capacity.

Meanwhile, grocery and retail stores can increase capacity to 75%. Hair salons, barbershops and personal care services can increase capacity to 75% with masks required, except for services where customers need to remove their masks.

Despite the rollback on restrictions, county officials urged residents to avoid non-essential travel. Those who are fully vaccinated are at lower risk and

may travel with public health precautions in mind.

Non-essential travels who are not fully vaccinated must quarantine for seven full days after travel if they get tested and get a negative COVID-19 test result from a specimen collected 3-5 days after their arrival. They must also quarantine for 10 full days after travel if they did not get tested with a COVID-19 test after their arrival, based on the updated travel advisory.

Newsom’s announcement on Tuesday came as the Golden State was set to reach 20 million vaccine doses administered.

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expanded to all residents 50 through 64 years old in addition to all other eligible groups at the beginning of April. On April 15, vaccines become available to any resident in the state who is 16 and older.

Fil-Am teen punched at San Francisco bar...

PAGE 1 the now-viral video posted on Sunday, April 4.

Officers responded at about 5:27 p.m. on Friday, April 2 to a commotion on the sidewalk and found an adult male who had been struck during a physical altercation and who suffered non-life threatening injuries, as reported by CBS SF Bay Area.

C.J. Enguillado was reportedly sitting in an area outside the bar while waiting for his parents, thinking it was open seating.

According to Enguillado, the bar owner Frank Rossi repeatedly told him to leave after learning he was underaged.

The Fil-Am teen said he interpreted the request to leave as racially charged.

“By the way it sounded, he said, ‘Get the f— out of here, you don’t belong here,’ that’s what he said, and I cannot forget those words,” he told KPIX 5.

“That’s, like, traumatizing to me,” he added.

After Enguillado refused to leave because he was waiting for his parents — who were reportedly waiting to get food at a nearby pizzeria — a bystander who was also a patron of the

bar punched him in the face.

Rossi, for his part, denied that the incident was due to racism. He insisted that the victim was asked to leave because of his age, not his race.

“You have to leave this area, you are not allowed in this area, this is our area. It’s considered inside the bar, even though it’s outside, it’s like a bar. You cannot – you’re under 21,’” Rossi allegedly told C.J. He also said that he “went nuts” after a bystander got involved with the situation.

“I went nuts when he hit him, went nuts. I could not believe he did it. There was no threat, no threat. I was completely caught off guard by it,” said Rossi.

The suspect, identified as a retired professional boxer Pat Lawlor, was arrested and charged with assault and battery, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He was cited and released on a misdemeanor battery charge.

Meanwhile, police maintained that they did not have evidence to indicate that the incident was a hate crime.

“We do not have evidence to believe this incident was predicated by hate,” police said in a

statement.

Rossi told reporters that he has been receiving death threats because of the incident.

His bar also received an influx of negative reviews on Yelp, prompting the website to disable reviews, saying that while it “unequivocally” rejects “racism in any form,” entries must “reflect an actual first-hand consumer experience.”

“I want to say that they’re mistaken, their son shouldn’t have been hit,” Rossi said in a message to the Enguillado family, who are accusing him of racism. “[The arrested man] doesn’t work for us, he never did work for us. He’s just a customer.

Sorry it happened, but it wasn’t racism at all, or a hate crime against Asians,” he added.

Gino and Carlo released a statement on its Yelp page on April 4: “An unfortunate incident occurred on our property between two patrons when an underaged guest refused to leave. No Gino and Carlo employees were involved in the physical altercation. We don’t condone violence or racism of any kind. Sincerely, Frank Rossi and Gino and Carlo staff.”

(Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

PAGE 1 Debra Romig, who also lives in Downtown LA, echoed Baldonado’s concerns, referencing the recent attack of Vilma Kari, a 65-year-old Filipina immigrant, who was seen on surveillance footage being kicked and stomped on her way to church in New York.

“That attack on a Filipina was so devastating to hear about. Going outside was a way to not be so bored staying inside. But I’m scared to go out now because you can’t help but think about what if it happens to you or your friends?” Romig told the Asian Journal.

Asian Americans are quick to point out that hate against the community is not a new occurrence, but recent violence like the March 16 shootings that killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, has brought the issue to a national level.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Chinese, Filipino or Vietnamese community, we’re all experiencing attacks,” Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center, told the Asian Journal. “But we have to know that is happening and we need to voice it out, so that means reporting it because if not, it remains invisible.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, PWC has received reports of its members, who are predominantly domestic workers, being harassed at their workplace or being verbally assaulted and blamed for the virus while out in public.

The organization is encouraging their members to stick together as many of them walk or take public transportation to and from work.

“If you are able to, move collectively and not just by yourself as that’s a way to protect,” Soriano Versoza said. “We’re encouraging people to be connected and communicative with each other. There are programs like in Chinatown that have volunteers who can accompany elders or those who are vulnerable.”

Stop AAPI Hate, a national reporting center

that began last spring, received 3,795 firsthand incidents of racism and discrimination from all 50 states and the District of Columbia between March 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021.

Based on that figure, 503 incidents took place in the first two months of 2021 alone.

While individuals of Chinese descent accounted for 42% of the reports, other groups like Filipinos (7.9%) have experienced hate too.

“We’re outraged because Asians are part of the community. Health care workers in the Filipino community are sticking their necks out to help with the public health situation, and yet we are the victims. Women are usually the first to be attacked,” Perla Santos, who leads the MOTHER Movement, told the Asian Journal.

She added, “This is unacceptable in a place like this, where for many of us immigrants, we have a high regard for the United States. We see it as a sanctuary here but we can never tell if the people around us might one day attack us like what happened in Atlanta.”

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

Santos’ group, which offers awareness-raising and prevention against crimes like domestic violence and assault, will begin hosting self-defense training sessions again given the necessity amid the hate incidents.

Since the pandemic began, Santos has connected senior citizens to meal and grocery programs to reduce their time spent outside.

However, many of the elders live alone so a virtual support group helps them deal with the isolation.

“It started off as a group of close friends and then it expanded to more people,” Santos said.

“We make sure we keep in to contact with each other and know where each other are at all times.”

Rock throwing incident reported...

PAGE 1 my head.”

His first instinct was to pull out his phone to record a video, in which he confronts the man and asks him, “What the (expletive), bro?”

The man, who Cadiz said was holding another rock and a pair of scissors, can be heard on the video daring restaurant staff to “come outside” and “call the cops.”

During the exchange, Cadiz alleged that the man threw another object, which could have been a small black rock or piece of charcoal that landed on the table where he had been sitting.

Some witnesses are heard on camera telling the man to stay put in the parking lot, but he then walked away.

There have been no reports of injuries from the incident. The man in the video has not been identified, as of this writing.

Cadiz said he did not hear the man use any racist language targeted toward Filipinos or Asians, but noted that Saturday’s incident comes amid a string of violent attacks that have been reported by Asian Americans across the country, with some incidents going viral in recent weeks.

“I wondered if it was even worth reporting or if it was racially motivated,” said Cadiz. “From my perspective, whether someone said something racist or not, there’s still violence against Asians happening here in LA and around the country.”

After the incident, Cadiz posted the one-minute video on his Instagram account, along with a photo of rocks reportedly found outside the restaurant and another image showing a white mark left on the window.

He sent the photos and videos to the restaurant owner for evidence if a police report is filed. The Los Angeles Police Department did not respond to the Asian Journal’s request for comment on whether it was investigating the incident, as of press time.

Elvie Chan — who owns Dollar Hits, which specializes in Filipino street food along the 4200 block of Temple Street — told the Asian Journal that she and the staff had not seen the man before and suspected he could be a transient.

She was uncertain whether Saturday’s incident could be classified as a racially motivated attack.

Chan hopes the encounter will not scare customers away from coming to her restaurant, which in addition to having prepared dishes inside, sets up grills outside for customers to cook their skewers at night until they close at 10 p.m.

In the hours following the incident, she said the restaurant had its usual influx of Saturday night customers.

“We want our community to be aware, but to not be scared of supporting Filipino businesses

Two rocks were reportedly found outside of Dollar Hits on Saturday, April 3.

Photo courtesy of Andre Cadiz

like ours,” Chan told the Asian Journal.

The day after, Cadiz returned with pepper spray and a baseball bat to thank the staff for making sure he was okay.

“We need to really take charge of protecting ourselves because it seems like at this point, we’re not able to count on others to protect our communities and businesses,” he said. “There’s still a stereotype that Asians aren’t going to speak up or fight back so maybe that’s why they’re seen as vulnerable or easy to take advantage of.”

Kimmy Maniquis, the executive director of HiFi’s Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, told the Asian Journal that the nonprofit organization plans to offer online self-defense and Filipino martial arts classes for community members who want to learn tactics to protect themselves in public.

The organization is also holding virtual spaces with mental health practitioners to help community members talk about and process the recent anti-Asian hate incidents.

Maniquis reminded the community of resources, such as bystander trainings and reporting platforms like the county’s 211 hotline or StopAAPIHate.org, which allows individuals to report an incident in English or another language like Tagalog.

(818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • http://www.asianjournal.com

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 9-15, 2021

BAGONG FORMS NG VIRUS, PAREHO ANG LABAN! Isang napakahabang taon ng pagbabago ang lumipas lamang. At ngayon, pati na ang COVID ay nagbabago—sa mga bagong uri ng virus na tinatawag na variants na mas madaling kumalat. Ngunit isang bagay ang hindi nagbago: ang ating determinasyon na tumulong para pabagalin ang pagkalat ng COVID. Kung mananatili tayong maingat at ipagpapatuloy ang dati nating ginagawa—pagsuot ng masks, pagpapanatili ng 6 feet na distansya sa isa’t isa, pagpabakuna kapag panahon na natin—sama-sama nating kakayaning talunin ang virus na ito.

Alamin ang higit pa sa cdc.gov/coronavirus

Inihahandog sa inyo ng U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

3

4

APRIL 9-15, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

From The Front Page

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

Philippine lawmakers call for probe after Filipino... Mayor Gloria encourages...

PAGE 1 as representatives of our people, to defend the rights of our people and check on excesses and violations committed against them, especially in this time of crisis,” they said.

“Laws and rules should serve the interest of our proper, and should not be weaponized to suppress their rights and oppress them,” the lawmakers added.

On April 1, 28-year-old Darren Manaog Peñaredondo was nabbed by village guards (barangay tanod) while he was on his way to buy water during curfew hours in a village in General Trias, Cavite.

He was ordered to do 100 rounds of squats as punishment for violating curfew. The enforcers also reportedly made him repeat the exercises, leading him to do a total of 300 rounds.

Peñaredondo returned home on April 1, and died from a stroke the following day.

“Umuwi po siya ng Friday ng 8 a.m. ng umaga hindi na sya makalakad ng maayos.. Tapos sabado ng madaling araw nag-comvulsion siya na-revive pa namin siya sa bahay… Sinumpong ulet siya na-revive ulet kaya lang comatose na siya. Hanggang ngayong 10 p.m. wala na (He went home on Friday at 8 a.m. and he couldn’t walk properly. In the middle of the night on Saturday, he started convulsing but we managed to review him. It happened again and we revived him but he was already comatosed. As of 10 p.m., he’s gone),”

wrote Peñaredondo’s cousin Adrian Luceña in a Facebook post.

Rights group Karapatan likewise called for an investigation into the incident.

“We call for the investigation on this incident on the possible violations of the Anti-Torture Law among others. Law enforcement officials who impose cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment should be held accountable,” Karapatan Secretary General Tinay Palabay said in a Facebook post.

The country’s Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that the punishment was an overreach of quarantine rules.

“Excessive punishments and fines which are punitive in nature and disproportionate with the violation represent an overreach of the enforcement of quarantine rules and regulations,” said CHR spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia in a statement.

She also stressed that the quarantine measures are for public health, not for peace and order.

“We stress that quarantine measures are being implemented as a public health measure and not as a peace and order solution – this is the rationale as previously espoused by the Chief Executive himself when he stated that the quarantine is not tantamount to martial law,” said De Guia.

Following the incident, General Trias police chief, Police Lt. Col. Marlo Solero, and two other cops were relieved from their post.

(Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

Los Gatos police looking for suspect who...

PAGE 1 The 40-year-old Fil-Am, who was wearing medical scrubs, was reportedly walking along the boulevard when she was shoved from behind to the ground unprovoked.

The suspect also allegedly yelled at the victim to “go back to China” before leaving the scene on his bicycle.

“Without provocation, she was shoved from behind, causing her to fall to the ground,” said Police Chief Peter Decena in a video.

“As she was falling, she heard someone say, ‘Go back to (expletive) China,’” he added.

The suspect was described as a white man with tan skin or a light-skinned Hispanic. He was wearing a black or gray bicycle helmet, a dark-colored neck gaiter, a black T-shirt with white lettering on the back, and dark-colored jeans.

Decena noted that the victim was “shaken” but not injured.

The police chief highlighted the importance of reporting hate crimes and incidents to authorities.

“I know from experience that many Asian Americans, and especially our seniors, are often reluctant to report crimes against them.

We need to make sure that our family and our friends understand how important it is to report these incidents,” Decena stressed.

An investigation is ongoing but anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the police department (408) 3548600 or email police@losgatosca.gov.

Los Gatos Mayor Marico Sayoc, who is also Fil-Am, told the Asian Journal in an email that she was “heartbroken” to learn there was a hate crime in her own town following incidents reported in other

parts of the Bay Area and across the country.

She said the town, which is located in Santa Clara County about an hour outside of San Francisco, is increasing foot and bicycle patrols, training for police officers on hate incidents and crimes, “upstander” training for community members, and encouraging residents to report any incidents.

“I want everyone to know that we are a town that will not tolerate this hatred not only to the AAPI community but also to our Black, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and other communities,” she said.

The mayor added, “We can not prevent these incidents/crimes; however, we are doing what we can to collectively assure our community that hate is not welcome in Los Gatos and we will prosecute to the full extent of the law.”

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

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

Verbal harassment (68.1%) and shunning (20.5%), which entails the “deliberate avoidance of Asian Americans,” are the top two types of discrimination reported. Meanwhile, physical assault (11.1%) comprises the third largest category of total incidents.

Businesses were the “primary site” of discrimination (35.4%), followed by public streets (25.3%) and public parks (9.8%). (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada in stable...

PAGE 1 Jinggoy also expressed hope that his father’s inflammatory markers being on a “downward trend” means his immune system is responding to the treatment.

“We were informed by his physicians that his inflammatory markers are on a downward trend for which we are thankful and hopefully this signals that his immune system is responding

well,” he said.

Jinggoy reiterated his call for more prayers for the recovery of his father.

“We are praying that no new complications set in and that he continues to improve. Please continue to pray for him,” he said.

“Thank you very much for all your love and concern for my father. Very much appreciated,” he added.

Estrada was rushed to the hospital on March 28 and tested positive for COVID-19.

He was said to be in “a stable condition,” but was sedated and moved to the intensive care unit on April 4.

On April 6, Estrada was placed on mechanical ventilation following the doctors’ recommendation “to improve oxygen delivery” and “prevent the tiring” of his respiratory system.

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

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

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

PAGE 1 dent and CEO Richard C. Gentry, and San Diego Unified School District Board President Richard Barrera and Vice President Sharon Whitehurst-Payne.

“Low-income working families across San Diego have been affected disproportionately by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially families of color. We must use every avenue we have to get the word out that resources are available to help them with past-due rent and provide the stability they desperately need,” Mayor Gloria said. “I appreciate San Diego Unified School District stepping up to make sure parents of school-age children know about the Housing Stability Assistance Program.”

More than $83 million is available through the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program to help qualifying households with rent and utility payments, supported by federal funding.

“Many families across the nation are experiencing housing insecurity as the pandemic’s economic impacts accelerate,” said Rep. Vargas. “I’m pleased that families in my district have access to apply for the City of San Diego COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program. I encourage individuals and families to apply for local, state, and federal assistance programs and aid available through the CARES and American Rescue plan.”

More than 8,100 applications for help from the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program have been submitted since the program launched on March 15, 2021, of which approximately 19 percent are from households in Council District 9.

“Housing is a human right,” said Councilmember Elo-Rivera.

“With crucial support from the federal government and in collaboration with Mayor Gloria, we have created the most significant rental assistance program in our City’s history. While we must address the root causes of housing instability, the Housing Stability Assistance Program is addressing the needs of the over 8,000 families that have already applied and, with continued intentional outreach, has the potential of helping thousands more.”

The San Diego Housing Commission administers the program for the City of San Diego. The online application is available at covidassistance.sdhc.org.

“We want to make sure that every family in the city experi-

encing financial challenges due to COVID-19 knows that help is available now,” Housing Commission President & CEO Gentry said. “The San Diego Housing Commission thanks the San Diego Unified School District and the many additional community organizations working with us for helping to raise awareness of this vital program.”

San Diego Unified School District will distribute roughly 15,000 flyers about the program during its regularly scheduled food distributions to help families in need that have children in the district.

“All students deserve the opportunity to thrive and enjoy the benefits that come with stable housing,” San Diego Unified Board President Barrera said.

“We encourage families who are struggling to pay rent to apply for the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program.”

“Housing instability and the added stress that goes along with it can have a negative impact on student achievement,” San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten said. “We do not want any of our students falling behind because their families are facing economic hardships due to the ongoing pandemic.”

Federal and state regulations require prioritizing past-due rent before paying upcoming rent. If funds remain available, the program can help with upcoming rent.

To be eligible for assistance through the City’s COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program, households must meet the following criteria: • Tenant has a City of San Diego address.

• Household income is at or below 80 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income (AMI), currently $92,400 per year for a family of four.

• Household has an obligation to pay rent.

• Household does not currently receive any rental subsidies.

(Households that receive rental subsidies can only apply for help with their past-due utilities. Assistance will depend on funding availability.)

• At least one member of the household has a reduction of income or other financial hardship due to COVID-19.

• Household experienced or is at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

(818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • http://www.asianjournal.com

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 9-15, 2021

Dateline Philippines

Philippines hopeful of 17 PH tycoons on... exclusion anew in US piracy list

by Louella

Desiderio Philstar.com

MANILA — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is optimistic the Philippines would be kept off the U.S. government’s upcoming counterfeiting and piracy watchlist or the Special 301 report.

“In terms of a general assessment with the upcoming 301, we are optimistic we will remain out of the USTR (Office of U.S. Trade Representative) Special 301 report, particularly because of the inroads and projects we have been undertaking for the past 2020 particularly when it comes to online space. As we all know, trade has gone online. We have also been focusing on that,” Ann Edillon, officer-in-charge director at the IP Enforcement Office of the IPOPHL, said in an online press conference on Monday, April 5.

On the concern raised by the USTR on the use of unlicensed software by the Philippine government, IPOPHL deputy director general Teodoro Pascua said he is hopeful this would no longer be an issue as steps have been taken to address this.

“That mention by the USTR has always been there for the last two years, 2019 and last year, in spite of the fact we have already answered it and structurally, the Philippine government has really put on so many safeguards for keeping the use of software which are genuine within government offices. The government of the Philippines

spent practically billions already buying software, original software,” he said.

He also said the IPOPHL is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology which would be spearheading an audit of all government offices’ use of licensed software.

“I think eventually in the upcoming USTR, this matter can perhaps be settled already. But what is important is that we are not sitting on comments that may be even against our interest. We are fully working on it.

And we thank USTR for calling our attention to it. We’re not perfect but we are always doing what needs to be done when our attention is called,” he said.

The USTR is set to release its annual Special 301 report which identifies countries unable to effectively protect and enforce IP rights, this month.

While the Philippines has not been included in the Special 301 list since 2014, the USTR called on the country to come up with measures to ensure government agencies use only legitimate software in the last two editions of the report.

As the IPOPHL is celebrating National IP month which is focused on activities to enabling micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to integrate IP in their business strategy, IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba said in the same event, the agency would want to see more IP filings being made by these businesses this year.

HEADCOUNT. A member of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (IACT) counts the passengers aboard a public utility jeepney along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City on Wednesday, Arpil 7. Public vehicles are required to maintain a 50-percent seating capacity while passengers are obligated to wear face masks and face shields.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

“Hopefully with all these efforts and with the help of partners, other government agencies like DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and IP Ambassador RJ Ledesma, we are optimistic we can get more MSMEs to file for their IPs and put IP strategy in their business,” he said.

He is also hopeful the MSMEs would help drive filings back to the pre-pandemic level.

As part of the celebration of the National IP month, he said the IPOPHL is extending the Juana Make a Mark program which waives the trademark application fees for women-led MSMEs in priority sectors identified by the IPOPHL and DTI. “The fourth cycle intends to benefit 1,000 women-led MSMEs more,” Barba said.

So far, the Juana Make a Mark program has enabled 3,000 women to gain greater market competitiveness with the protection of their trademarks.

“With registration, women entrepreneurs could enjoy timebound exclusive rights over their trademarks. This gives them strategic advantage in building their brand and business and the right to prevent others from using their marks for the same or similar goods or services without their authority or consent,” Barba said.

He said IPOPHL would also be pushing MSMEs and independent inventors and artists to explore global opportunities through international filing services and programs.

IPOPHL’s other programs for MSMEs include the online marketplace IP Depot featuring 50 MSMEs with IP products being promoted to potential buyers or investors, as well as free online learning workshops on the IP system.

“This National IP Month we hope we can gather more MSMEs to take advantage of these programs. To this day, there remains low awareness and appreciation among MSMEs of what IP can do for their businesses and for economic, social, cultural and technological development.

It’s time to change this culture and mindset,” Barba said.

PAGE 1 “There are a record high 493 newcomers to the list — roughly one new billionaire every 17 hours,” it added.

Former lawmaker and property tycoon Manny Villar led the pack of Filipino billionaires on the list, retaining his title as the richest Filipino for the third year in a row.

He placed 352nd worldwide, with a net worth of $7.2 billion (around P349.7 billion) this year.

Villar is the founder and chairman of Vista Land and Lifescapes, the largest home builder in the Philippines. The firm has built about 300,000 homes in more than 140 cities.

He also owns stakes in Golden Bria Holdings, a property and death care company, as well as Vistamalls, a shopping mall operator.

Following Villar was Enrique Razon Jr., chairman of International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI). Razon ranked 561st in the list with a net worth of $5 billion (around P242.8 billion).

Lucio Tan, founder and chair of the LT Group, is the third richest Filipino, ranking 925th with a net worth of $3.3 billion (about 150.2 billion).

Tied at 1008th are Hans Sy, Herbert Sy, and Andrew Tan with a net worth of $3 billion (about P145.7 billion).

The other Sy siblings, namely Harley Sy, Hen-

5

ry Sy Jr., and Teresita Sy-Coson, placed 1,174th with a net worth of $2.7 billion (about P131.1 billion).

Elizabeth Sy, on the other hand, ranked 1,299th along with Tony Tan Caktiong and his family, recording a net worth of $2.7 billion (about P131.1 billion).

Below is the complete list of Filipino tycoons included in Forbes’ Billionaires List: 1. Manuel Villar, $7.2 billion 2. Enrique Razón Jr., $5 billion 3. Lucio Tan, $3.3 billion 4. Hans Sy, $3 billion 5. Herbert Sy, $3 billion 6. Andrew Tan, $3 billion 7. Harley Sy, $2.7 billion 8. Henry Sy Jr., $2.7 billion 9. Teresita Sy-Coson, $2.7 billion 10. Elizabeth Sy, $2.4 billion 11. Tony Tan Caktiong, $2.4 billion 12. Ramon Ang, $2.2 billion 13. Inigo Zobel, $1.4 billion 14. Lance Gokongwei, $1.2 billion 15. Roberto Ongpin, $1.2 billion 16. Ricardo Po Sr., $1.1 billion 17. Edgar Sia II, $1.1 billion Amazon’s Jeff Bezos topped this year’s global list, with a net worth of $177 billion. He was followed by Elon Musk ($151 billion), Bernard Arnault ($150 billion), Bill Gates ($124 billion), and Mark Zuckerberg ($97 billion).

6

APRIL 9-15, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

Opinion

Features

Another week of ECQ

Philstar.com photo

WITH fresh COVID cases still rising steadily, breaking new record highs almost with each passing day, the government has decided to extend by another week the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal or NCR-Plus.

The move was expected; the OCTA Research Group and epidemiologists had said it would take at least two weeks for the impact of ECQ, the strictest quarantine status, to be reflected in a slowdown in infections.

OCTA fellows, who had pushed for the ECQ in mid-March amid a spike in infections, warned that the numbers would likely get worse before they get better. The worst projections of OCTA are coming to pass, overwhelming private hospitals.

Without ECQ, daily cases could surge to 18,000 to 20,000 by mid-April, OCTA had warned.

Whether the ECQ would be enough to contain the surge remains to be seen. Several local government executives have lamented that the transmission is unusually rapid and widespread, leading to speculation that more infectious variants are fueling the surge. With the Philippine Genome Center able to sequence only 750 specimens ev-

ery week, the government should be erring on the side of caution and responding as if the variants are the principal culprits.

The current ECQ is unlike the original last year, with allowances given to keep certain economic sectors going.

At the current infection rate and with vaccines scarce, however, even these concessions to the economy may have to be reviewed. Contact tracing has deteriorated, as described by contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong who has been infected, and testing is still beyond the reach of many.

If the ECQ fails to slow down infections, OCTA has warned that by June 30, some 8.5 million people would have been infected in the NCR, epicenter of the pandemic. Herd immunity would then have been achieved – but at what cost to health and life? Not everyone will survive or have only mild or asymptomatic afflictions. Millions won’t worse shape for a long time. Even as the NCR- the accompanying protocols and measures to curb be able to work and the economy will be in even Plus enters another week of ECQ, it should review transmission. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Voter suppression by Republican leaders is a blatant violation of the most important constitutional right of citizens in a democracy

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel Santos-Relos DEMOCRACY is the government of the people, by the people, for the people. The laws of the land, therefore, are meant to protect the governed, and not the governor; the citizens and not the public officials who only have the power and the public trust accorded to their office by the citizens.

The will of the people is voiced out through the right of suffrage.

The right to vote freely is the foundation, the cornerstone of democracy.

The right to vote freely is protected by the Constitution, as it should be by federal and state laws. Constitutional Amendments 15th, 19th and 26th, are added onto the highest law of the land to make sure voting rights of U.S. citizens cannot be abridged on account of race, color, previous condition of servitude, sex, or age (18 and older is now the legal age to vote).

The sacred goal of every branch of government — executive, legislative, and judiciary — is to make sure this most sacred right in a democracy is protected and strengthened by each generation so that the will of the people, and not the selfish and twisted personal and political agenda of public

officials and their conspirators and enablers that go against what is in the best interest of all citizens, pursuant to the rule of law.

But this is not what is happening now in the United States, especially after the term of the 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump, who has hijacked the Republican Party, the Good Old Party (GOP), that used to be faithful to and fight for the Constitution and the rule of law, because of his and his cronies’ greed for power.

What have these GOP leaders been doing after the American people voted out Trump and many Republicans in the legislature and state posts? What have they been pushing after counties and states that used to lean Republican have now been leaning Democrat, which lead to the Republicans losing the Presidency and the leadership in both the House and the Senate?

This shift of vote of from red to blue was evidenced in a clean and honest election certified by election officials representing Republicans, Democrats and Independents, affirmed by no less than the Supreme Court of the United States and many lower courts in the judiciary.

These despicable Republicans

who would not respect the will of the people through their sacred votes have decided to change the laws instead, rationalizing this assault on our democracy and our Constitution by lies and conspiracy theories espoused by Donald Trump who maliciously and falsely claim that the election was stolen from him by massive election fraud, a lie supported by his minions without bases in fact.

As Mother Jones reported, “361 voter suppression bills have already been introduced this year,” and that “Republicans in state legislatures are dramatically escalating their efforts to restrict voting rights.”

A new report by the Brennan Center for Justice revealed that “361 bills to make it harder to vote have been introduced in 47 states in the first three months of this year, overwhelmingly by Republicans. That’s up from 253 restrictive bills tallied as of February 19, an increase of 43% in just over a month.”

The reporting further said: “Five restrictive bills have already been signed into law—in Georgia, Iowa, Arkansas, and Utah. The Georgia law passed last week prohibits giving food and water to voters in line, severely restricts mail ballot drop boxes, allows right-wing groups

to challenge the eligibility of an unlimited number of voters, and gives the GOP-controlled legislature sweeping new powers over election administration.”

As of press time, there are 55 restrictive bills that are moving through state legislatures in 24 states; 29 have passed at least one legislative chamber.

More details on the voter suppression as reported: “The Texas Senate passed a sweeping bill that bans extended voting hours, prohibits drive-thru voting, closes polling places in minority neighborhoods, and allows partisan poll watchers to record voters who receive help filling out their ballots, greatly increasing the prospect of voter intimidation. The bill is widely viewed as targeting the voting methods used by large Democratic areas like Houston’s Harris County to increase voter turnout in 2020. Lawmakers in Texas (49 bills), Georgia (25 bills), and Arizona (23 bills) have introduced the largest number of restrictive measures this year.”

“Most restrictive bills take aim at absentee voting, while nearly a quarter seek stricter voter ID requirements,” the report reveals.

“State lawmakers also aim to make voter registration harder, expand voter roll purges or adopt

flawed practices that would risk improper purges, and cut back on early voting.”

In Arizona, ‘legislation would make it more difficult to receive a mail-in ballot and add new requirements for casting one. Florida wants to ban all mail ballot drop boxes, which 1.5 million voters used in 2020. Michigan Republicans introduced eight restrictive bills in a single day, including adding new voter ID requirements for mail voting and prohibiting election officials from sending out absentee ballot request forms to voters, the report finds”.

Thankfully there are legislators who push to help more citizens exercise their votes freely, in fulfillment of the Constitutional mandate.

Mother Jones reported: ‘843 bills to expand access to the ballot have also been introduced in 47 states. While most have no chance of becoming law in red states, nine bills have been signed into law this year, mostly in blue states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.”

In Virginia, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam “signaled his support for a state-level Voting Rights Act, which would make it the first southern state to adopt protections for voters that the Su-

preme Court gutted in 2013”.

“At a time when voting rights are under attack across our country, Virginia is expanding access to the ballot box, not restricting it,” he said.

WE, THE PEOPLE, need to speak up and speak out against these rotten politicians who are undermining our power and our rights. They do not deserve the public trust they are abusing for their own selfish agenda. They are not true public servants and must be voted out from the office they hold.

WE, THE PEOPLE, have such power. Let us not abdicate our solemn duty to defend and protect our democracy. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

***

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

A border of bureaucracy has kept On dealing with racists, bullies and thugs my family apart for 35 years Street Talk

Commentary

Greg B. Macabenta Michael Milan I WAS born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents from the Philippines. My father served in the U.S. Navy and my mother was a registered nurse who traveled across the country and finally landed in California.

After my parents divorced, my sister and I stayed with our mother who raised us as a single parent while she continued to work at the hospital. My mother worked hard to provide for me so I could have a good education and be an upstanding citizen in this community.

As a U.S. citizen, my mother petitioned her sister to come to the United States a few years after I was born. After 11 years, my family received confirmation that the petition was received. We were told that we could now submit the visa application for my aunt. We had to wait 11 years for confirmation

of receipt from INS – the wait period was excruciating, but we were still hopeful.

The INS document stated: “This completes all INS action on this petition” and at that point, we were approved to apply for a visa. We immediately applied for a visa in 1997, we knew it was going to take some time to get a response back. We did not receive further notice until 2019, 22 years after we applied for a visa.

Some try to equate the immigration backlog to a line at a grocery store, or the post office. But have you ever waited 33 years for a government document? A few of us have.

My aunt was corresponding with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and was given a notice that stated in part that my mother was required to provide a birth certificate from the Philippines. However, my mother

u PAGE 7

TWO instances of unprovoked attacks on elderly Asian women were featured on network TV in March — one in New York and the other incident, in San Francisco.

The New York attack was so brutal. I’ve only seen that kind of cruelty in movies, inflicted by Nazis on prisoners of war (POWs).

The 65-year-old Filipino woman, Vilma Kari, was walking on the sidewalk, in the vicinity of Times Square, when a big, burly man met her with a kick to the body.

The poor woman fell on the pavement. The brute then kicked her thrice, before walking off.

The assailant was arrested the next day. He was on parole and had served time for killing his own mother.

The San Francisco anti-Asian attack, which was also unprovoked, frankly made me feel good. The intended victim, 76-year-old Xiao Zhen Xie, fought back with a piece of wood and maimed the assailant.

The old woman suffered a swollen face, but the attacker — also big

and burly like the New York brute — was in an even worse condition and had to be carried off in a stretcher by the police.

According to data compiled by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism of California State University, San Bernardino, hate crimes in the U.S. have decreased overall by 7%. But acts of violence committed against Asians have increased by almost 150%.

Yet, it could be a mistake to attribute all of these attacks to racism. Some may have been plain bullying or an intended robbery or hold-up. Asians may just seem more vulnerable, particularly the elderly.

When I sent my wife and four kids to the U.S. in 1986, racism was rampant in America. I was told that this was the case in Cambridge, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where my elder sister had a medical practice.

Our two youngest children, Jinx and Jojo, were the only Asians at Cambridge South Dorchester High School. Before my sister’s children went on to college, they were also the only Asians in that school. But our boys had no problem making friends, some of whom keep in touch to this day.

But one morning, as I prepared to drive to work in Makati, my wife called me long distance to inform me that Jinx had been suspended

for getting into a fight in school.

Asked what had happened, Jinx explained that a classmate used a racial slur on him. “So I hit him!”

Then he asked me quite candidly: “What would you have done, Papa?”

My response must have sounded awkward, coming from a father who wanted to properly raise his kids: “Well...I would have waited until after school.”

In truth, I felt conflicted. Gigi and I had endeavored to raise our children, according to the Boy Scout motto: Physically strong mentally alert, and morally straight. While the kids, all strived for good grades, they were also active in competitive sports.

Jinx, Jojo and Christina, our only girl, had been members of the tae kwon do team at Colegio San Agustin in Makati. Ringo, the eldest, was a member of the swimming team at Don Bosco. He was also taking judo lessons at YMCA. Christina was the first of the children to study in the U.S., as a high school exchange student in Massachusetts. In one of her letters, she told us about a boy in the school bus who kept taunting her.

Apparently, the boy had heard that she knew “some tae kwon do.” Boasting that he was good in martial arts, he said he wanted to test Christina. She avoided the

u PAGE 7

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

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. Publisher

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Chief Executive Office

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

San Diego Office: 550 East 8th St., Suite 6, National City, CA 91950 Tel (619) 474-0588

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

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President MOMAR G. VISAYA Editor-in-Chief San Diego Asian Journal

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

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

Publition of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publition.

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

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

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

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

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • http://www.asianjournal.com

A border of bureaucracy...

PAGE 6 t was born in 1941, during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and did not have a birth certificate. She had to find two witnesses from her hometown, who knew my grandparents and could provide a signed affidavit acknowledging my mother’s birth. It took a while to make this happen, but with a 33 year wait – we had to do everything we were asked.

It wasn’t until November of 2020, after nearly 35 years of waiting and stuck in the backlog, we received notice that my aunt’s visa application was denied and that she was not eligible. She did everything that was asked of her yet, she was forced to be separated from our family for 35 years and was denied.

We searched for the attorney who helped my mom file the paperwork 35 years ago, but he has since passed away. These documents were filed before I was even born and now I have witnessed firsthand the injustices of the separation of families and the extreme backlog to reunite families and process immigration paperwork.

I joined the Value Our Fam-

ilies campaign to fight for reform in the family immigration system, and as someone who has witnessed the limitations of this program, I fight for other families who are working to reunite. My family wants to share our immigration story to raise awareness about problems caused by our country’s seriously flawed immigration system, in the hopes of helping to pass important legislation intended to address these very fixable problems.

I have met with governmental officials such as Congressmembers Norma Torres, Pete Aguilar and Ken Calvert, and back then Senator Kamala Harris to ask for their support in the passage of the Reuniting Families Act. I will continue to advocate for immigrant rights and the reunification of families. ***

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

***

Michael Milan is a U.S. citizen and the son of Filipino immigrants.

LEGAL NOTICE CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00013401-CU-PT-CTL TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Victor Manuel Reyes Orozco filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Victor Manuel Reyes Orozco to Manny Orozco.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 05/12/2021 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: MAR 29, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 711 04/09, 04/16, 04/23, and 04/30/2021 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE – Name Change (NC120) Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120)..

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause.

AJSD 711

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 9-15, 2021

On dealing with racists...

PAGE 6 t boy for as long as she could — but finally gave in one day.

She gave the boy a sound beating.

In another incident in Cambridge, three boys ganged up on Jinx outside of school. The next day, the news was all over the campus: “Hey, we heard you got beat by a guy named Jesus!”

Jinx’s full name is Jesus Federico.

Indeed, having lived in the U.S. for almost 35 years, my family and I have had a taste of racism, as well as bullying. But, frankly, I experienced more racism growing up in the land of my birth.

I spent my boyhood in Tacloban, Leyte, overlooking Cancabato Bay and the San Juanico Straits.

To say that I was swarthy from frequent dips in the sea, would be an understatement. People actually used the “N” word on me.

In Tagalog movies, where I worked for many years, a common plot was a variation of the ugly duckling who — you guessed it — was always dark-skinned.

Towards the end of the film, she would be magically transformed into a cream-complexioned Gloria Romero.

Former Makati Mayor, Vice President and presidential candidate, Jojo Binay, knows what I mean. Because he was leading early in the polls, pundits quipped that he could be “the first black president of the Philippines.”

However, VP Binay did not suffer from an “inferiority complexion.” During the presidential campaign, he actually made his swarthiness part of his “pang-masa” appeal. But, for good or ill, another non-Tisoy candidate won the presidency.

Sadly, we Filipinos have been so brainwashed in over 300 years of Spanish colonization, followed by decades under the influence of America and Hollywood. This could explain why most Pinoy men fantasize about a “white cover” girlfriend and why the women have made skin whiteners a hot-selling commodity.

Whether we are willing to admit it or not, Pinoys tend to regard those with darker skin as inferior.

I understand that this attitude is also common in Latin America, a region of indios and mestizos.

In 1978, as I prepared for my first trip to the U.S. to attend the Advertising Age Creative Workshop in Chicago, Ruffin Grey, a

LEGAL NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9003800

Paradise Shack Rentals located at 445 Ella Lane, San Diego, CA 92114.

Registrant: Jaron Rotor Fackler, 1097 East J St., Chula Vista, CA 91910.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Jaron Rotor Fackler.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/06/2021.

AJ 703 03/26, 04/02, 04/09, and 04/16/2021.

AJSD 703

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9004235

Randolph Photography located at 4451 Central Ave., San Diego, CA 92116.

Registrant: Victoria Srunn Ing, 4451 Central Ave., San Diego, CA 92116.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

RREGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Victoria Srunn Ing. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/10/2021.

AJ 706 03/26, 04/02, 04/09, 04/16/2021.

AJSD 706

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9003460

LAF Personal Designs located at 615 Crescent Dr., Chula Vista, San Diego, CA 91911.

Registrants: Maria Fernanda Ortega, 2450 Biola Ave., San Diego, CA 92159 / Luis Enrique Ortega, 681 Primrose PL, Perris, CA, 92571.

This business is conducted

by General Partnership.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Maria Fernanda Ortega / Luis Enrique Ortega.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/04/2021.

AJ 709 04/02, 04/09, 04/16, and 04/23/2021.

AJSD 709

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9004138

EMPLOYMENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9005650

Vila Massage located at 1816 Oceanside Blvd. #B, Oceanside, CA 92054.

Registrant: Pink Spa INC., 1816 Oceanside Blvd. #B, Oceanside, CA 92054.

This business is conducted

by CORPORATION. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 08/01/2019.

Signature: Xintian Lyu. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/09/2021.

AJ 708 04/02, 04/09/, 04/16, and 04/23/2021.

Mex-Group J&S located at 402 West Broadway Ste#400-74A, San Diego, CA 92101.

Registrant: Mex-Group J&S, 402 West Broadway Ste#400-74A, San Diego, CA 92101.

This business is conducted

by CORPORATION. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 01/01/2021.

Signature Mex-Group J&S. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/22/2021.

AJ 712 04/09, 04/16, 0423, and 04/30/2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9004795

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9003561

AJSD 708

Helen Nails & Hair Salon located at 1020 Highland Avenue, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Harry Hoang Nguyen, 1037 Angelus Avenue, San Diego, CA 92114.

This business is conducted

by Married Couple.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Harry Hoang Nguyen.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/13/2021.

AJ 707 03/26, 04/02, 04/09, 04/16/2021.

AJSD 707

friend from Clark Field, warned me about the dangers of walking around Chicago and downtown Los Angeles. It sounded like the advisory the State Department issues about going to Muslim Mindanao.

However, I enjoyed Chicago and Los Angeles without any incident. Well...almost. There was this drunken salesman at the bar of the Conrad Hilton in Chicago. He barked at me to vacate my seat at the bar, so he could take over.

Having had a few drinks myself, I snarled back at the fellow and told him I didn’t want to kill anyone on my birthday. I was bluffing, of course, although it really was my 38th birthday. The guy turned pale and backed off. We ended the evening buying drinks for each other.

Wolfgang Schoen, a client at Nestle Philippines, gave me an earful about dealing with people in strange places. A German with a fondness for beer and playing the piano, he frequented the honkytonks in Culi-Culi in Makati, West of South Superhighway. Worried for his safety, I cautioned him about going to Culi-Culi, then notorious as a red light district.

“You don’t know your people enough,” said Wolfgang. “You should go with me sometime.”

I did join him in Culi-Culi and

AJSD 712

Cafe 2020 Crepes And Panini located at 4105 Mission Blvd., San Diego, CA 92109.

Registrant: Mihan N. Zaman, 3980 Ingraham St. #A, San Diego, CA 92109.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 08/11/2013.

Signature Mihan N. Zaman.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/05/2021.

AJ 710 04/02, 04/09, 04/16, and 04/23/2021.

AJSD 710

7

was amazed at how protective the bar girls and the “tambays” (street gangs) were of him.

“If you look for trouble,” Wolfgang lectured, “trouble will find you.”

Of course, the two elderly Asian women who were assaulted in New York and San Francisco were not looking for trouble. But trouble found them, nonetheless. And I’m afraid that they won’t be the last victims of anti-Asian violence in America. In fact, my eldest grandchild, Derick, who is active with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, has been designated to organize a protest march against anti-Asian violence in San Francisco.

But I would still advise everyone to heed Wolfgang Schoen’s words as much as possible: “Don’t look for trouble or trouble will find you.”

The keywords are: “As much as possible.”

However, if it is not possible, my own advice is also from the Boy Scouts: “Be Prepared!” *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

***

(gremacabenta@hotmail.com)

8

APRIL 9-15, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

ANNOUNCEMENT

LEGAL NOTICE

SD#0033 Advertisement for Bids Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will receive “ELECTRONIC-ONLY” bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services to: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR WANGENHEIM MIDDLE SCHOOL RE-ROOF AND HVAC REPLACEMENT - LEASE-LEASEBACK (LLB)*

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on April 15, 2021, in front of the main office of Wangenheim Middle School, 9230 Gold Coast Dr., San Diego, CA 92126. ALL CONTRACTORS MUST PREREGISTER WITH THE DISTRICT PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE SITE WALK. Please send only one representative per Company.

Contact mmoyers1@sandi.net for the link to preregister. (PLEASE SEE BID FOR DETAILS No. CZ21-0873-39).

COVID-19 SITE WALK SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL BE ENFORCED Please refer to Planwell (www.crispimg.com, click on PlanWell, Public Planroom, search SDUSD and project bid number CZ21-0873-39) or The Daily Transcript Publication for the complete Advertisement for Bids which includes Site Walk Safety Precautions AND preregistration.

All bids must be received electronically at or before 2:00 p.m. on APRIL 30, 2021. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=43764 then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CZ21-0873-39, RFP Wangenheim MS Re-Roof and HVAC Replacement LLB. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration”.

Under Public Contract Code §3400, the District has made a finding that the following particular materials, products, things, or services are designated by specific brand or trade name in order to match other products in use on the particular public improvement either completed or in the course of completion for: Wangenheim Middle School Re-roof and HVAC Replacement – Division 1-28 – DSA # 04-118591 • Specification Section 28 31 11 Digital, Addressable Fire-Alarm System The pre-approved Group F Pool of Prime Contractors are highly encouraged to invite subcontractors to the site visit.

Only proposals from the following Group F Pool of Prime Contractors will be accepted. Subcontractors should contact the following Prime Contractors to submit their bids to be incorporated into their proposals: • Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC • Nexgen Building Group, Inc. • Barnhart-Reese Construction, Inc. • PCL Construction Services, Inc. • Clark Construction Group – California, LP • Soltek Pacific Construction Company • C.W. Driver, LLC • Sundt Construction, Inc. • Erickson-Hall Construction Co. • Swinerton Builders • Level 10 Construction, LP • Turner Construction Company • McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. The project estimate is between $8.5 million and $9.9 million with an anticipated duration of nine (9) months of construction only. This is a PSA project and does require prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: B or other appropriate license, subject to District approval.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Andrea O’Hara, M.A. Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Officer Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department

CZ21-0873-39

SD#0034

ADDENDUM NO. 1A

Advertisement for Bids

REVISED 4/7/2021

Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will receive “ELECTRONIC-ONLY” bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services for: SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL WHOLE SITE MODERNIZATION, BUILDINGS 900 AND 1000 COATING REPAIR AND HVAC/ROOFING REPLACEMENT, AND INTERIM HOUSING A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 FRIDAY, APRIL 16TH, 2021, outside the main office of San Diego High School, 1405 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101. ALL CONTRACTORS MUST PREREGISTER WITH THE DISTRICT PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE SITE WALK. Please send only one representative per Company. Contact Sharon Cheng at scheng@sandi.net for the link to preregister. PLEASE SEE BID FOR DETAILS (No. CZ21-0678-24).

COVID-19 SITE WALK SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL BE ENFORCED: All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on MAY 13, 2021. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=43764 then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CZ210678-24 San Diego High School Whole Site Modernization, Buildings 900 and 1000 Coating Repair and HVAC Replacement, and Interim Housing. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration”.

Under Public Contract Code 3400, the District has made a finding that the following particular materials, products, things, or services are designated by specific brand or trade name in order to match other products in use on the particular public improvement either completed or in the course of completion: Coating/Repair and HVAC, DSA# 04-118774 • 28 31 11 “Digital, Addressable Fire-Alarm System” • 23 09 00 “Instrumentation and Control for HVAC” Interim Housing, DSA # 04-119224 • 08 71 00 “Door Hardware” • 27 51 29 “Emergency Communications Systems” • 28 46 21.11 “Addressable Fire-Alarm Systems”

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner ISLAM SAMIR MAMMADBAYOV filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: ISLAM SAMIR MAMMADBAYOV to IZZY ROCK BRYANT. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 04/20/2021 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: MAR. 08, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 701 03/19, 03/26, 04/02, and 04/09/2021.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE – Name Change (NC-120) Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120)..

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD 701

Whole Site Modernization, DSA #04-118796 • 05 08 10 “Decorative Coated Metal” • 08 71 00 “Door Hardware” • 10 14 19 “Dimensional Characters Signage” • 10 14 27 “Monumental Directional Signage” • 23 09 23 “Direct Digital Control System for HVAC” • 27 51 29 “Emergency Communications Systems” • 28 13 00 “Intrusion Detection” • 28 46 21.11 “Addressable Fire-Alarm Systems

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9003984

The project estimate for the Whole Site Modernization (including CTE Engineering Design) is between $57 million and $58 million, the project estimate for the coating repair and HVAC is between $3.7 million and $3.9 million, and the project estimate for the interim housing is between $5 million and $5.3 million. This is a PSA project and requires Level 2 prequalification for projects $30,000,000 and higher. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: B or other appropriate license, subject to District approval.

Each bid shall be in accordance with all terms, conditions, plans, specifications and any other documents that comprise the bid package. All bids shall be submitted on bid forms furnished by the District in the bid package; bid package will be available by end of day, April 8, 2021. Bid packages will only be accepted via PlanetBids.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Andrea O’Hara, M.A., Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Officer, Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00009845-CU-PT-CTL

PAT IMPORT located at 8610 LAKE JODY DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92119.

Registrant: PATCHAREE ARUNANGKOON, 8610 LAKE JODY DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92119.

This business is conducted

by INDIVIDUAL. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature PATCHAREE ARUNANGKOON. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/08/2021.

AJ 699 03/19, 03/26, 04/02, 04/09/2021.

AJSD 699

CZ21-0678-24

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00011546-CU-PT-CTL

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00011543-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Mark Edgar Dansereau filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Mark Edgar Dansereau to Mark Dancero.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 04/28/2021 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: MAR. 16, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 704 03/26, 04/02, 04/09, and 04/16/2021 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE – Name Change (NC-120) Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120)..

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Olivia Anne Dansereau filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.

Olivia Anne Dansereau to Olivia Anne Dancero AND b. Jacqueline Elizabeth Dansereau to Jacqueline Elizabeth Dancero.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 04/28/2021 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: MAR. 16, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 705 03/26, 04/02, 04/09, and 04/16/2021.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE – Name Change (NC-120) Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120)..

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD 704

AJSD 705

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9004333

a. La Pensione Hotel at India and Date b. La Pensione Hotel located at 606 W. Date St., San Diego, CA 92101.

Registrant: LP III Dodge Corp., 606 W. Date St., San Diego, CA 92101.

This business is conducted

by CORPORATION. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 02/01/1996.

Signature LP III Dodge Corp.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/11/2021.

AJ 700 03/19, 03/26, 04/02, 04/09/2021

AJSD 700

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9004762

GOSEN PRODUCE located at 1605 EAST 4TH STREET, NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950.

Registrant: ADRIANA MURPHY, 1400 RIDGEBACK RD #C, CHULA VISTA, CA 91910.

This business is conducted

by INDIVIDUAL. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. ADRIANA Signature MURPHY. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/13/2021.

AJ 702 03/26, 04/02, 04/09, 04/16/2021.

AJSD 702

SAN DIEGO

(818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • http://www.asianjournal.com

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 9-15, 2021

JOURNAL

9

9

A P R I L 9, 2 0 2 1

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

by Christina

M. Oriel / AJPress

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

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

That moniker was bestowed upon her by General Emilio

Released in March 2021, “Fierce Filipina” tells the story of Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, who was named the “Godmother of the Revolutionary Forces” by General Emilio Aguinaldo following the declaration of Philippine Indepdence on June 12, 1898.

It is written by Gliceria’s great-greatgranddaughter Maxie Villavicencio Pulliam and illustrated by Manila-based artist Jill Arteche.

Aguinaldo on the same day that the Philippine Republic was proclaimed on June 12, 1898.

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

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

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

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

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

in the Philippines.

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

The result is “Fierce Filipina,” an illustrated biography independently published ahead of International Women’s Day 2021 that not only captures Gliceria’s life but also depicts a timeless tale of a heroine’s pursuit for equality and social justice. Accompanying the words by Villavicencio Pulliam are vibrant and bold scenes by Manila-based illustrator Jill Arteche.

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

Unapologetically fierce Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, known as Aling Eriang, was born on May 13, 1852 to a wealthy family in Taal. Despite

A monument dedicated to Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio stands in Taal, Batangas, where she lived until her death on September 25, 1929.

Photo by Eric Jam via Wikimedia Commons

her privilege, the book recounts her being friends with house staff and treating them as equals.

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

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

Together, they lent money to support the revolutionary efforts and offered their home — which Eulalio had given to Gliceria as a

“Fierce Filipina” author Maxie Villavicencio Pulliam poses with a portrait of her great-greatgrandmother Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio that was painted by Juan Luna during the Philippine revolution.

Contributed photo

wedding gift — as a secret meeting place for leaders.

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

“I think the biggest running

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

u PAGE 10

10

APRIL 9-15, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

Miguel reunites with Kyline after 3 years in GMA drama anthology

By Allan

Policarpio Inquirer.net

Dominique Roque and Bea Alonzo

Photo from Instagram/@dominiqueroque

Bea clarifies status of her relationship with Dominic

By Dana

Cruz Inquirer.net

BEA Alonzo finally opened up about the real score between her and Dominic Roque, after months of speculation that they are dating.

Alonzo confirmed that she is indeed dating her fellow actor in an interview with Mega, April 8. She clarified though that they are not in an exclusive relationship yet.

“Wala pa kami. Ang hirap kasing sabihin,” she stated.

“Nahihiya ako sa mga tao na ‘I’m 33, I am dating.’” (Not yet.

It’s hard to tell. I get embarrassed telling people, “I’m 33, I am dating.”)

Alonzo also admitted that she is still feeling uncertain about how her relationship with

Health@Heart Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS AS of Monday, April 5, 2021, there were 478,884 new cases of COVID -19 increasing the total to 132,432, 231 cases worldwide (population: about 7.858 billion) with 7,404 new deaths, making the total deaths to 2,873.411. In the USA, 500 new deaths that day, with a total of 569,282 mortalities, as the total cases rose to 31.496,976.

Brazil had the highest deaths for that day, 1,623, total cases 13,023,189 (38,233 new cases).

The Philippines had 803,387 total cases and 13.435 deaths, 10 new deaths.

The following day, US had 7,335 new cases and 116 deaths, while the Philippines had 9,373 new cases and 382 new deaths.

More than 1/3 of the people in the USA (population: around 332.5 million) have been vaccinated. The Philippines (population around 110.8 million) started its anti-COVID-19 vaccination March 1, 2021, using Chana’s SinoVac. To contain COVID-19 in the country, foreign citizens are currently not allowed to travel to the Philippines, including Filipinos who are not holders of Philippine passports. Those who are allowed to enter the country must have a hotel reservation for 7 days, for quarantine purposes upon arrival.

CDC COVID-19 Advisory Fully vaccinated (those who completed their shots two weeks prior) are “no longer required to test before or after traveling domestically or internationally from the U.S, unless required to do so by the international destination country, and they no longer have to self-quarantine after returning to the U.S., unless required to do so by a state or local jurisdiction,” according to the updated guideline from the CDC. The rest of the advisory follows: “The agency still recommends that even fully vaccinated travelers wear a mask in public, and take other public health precautions, such as social distancing and avoiding crowds, and practicing hand hygiene,” the rule emphasizes.

“Some travel guidance remains unchanged. CDC still recommends fully vaccinated people have proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to the U.S., and get tested 3-5 days later.

“Meanwhile, nothing has changed for travelers who are not fully vaccinated. CDC continues to recommend that not fully vaccinated travelers get a COVID-19 test 1-3 days prior to domestic or international travel, as well as 3-5 days after returning. Those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to self-quarantine for 7 days after travel and a negative test, or 10 days after travel if not tested.

Roque will progress. She noted that she does not want to face another failed attempt in dating, but Roque is “a good guy.”

“Hindi ko alam kung it will materialize into something else or like it would lead to something else but then, what if I fail again? I don’t want to keep failing in front of you guys, it’s embarrassing.”

(I am not sure if it will materialize into something else or like [if] it would lead to something else, but then, what if I fail again? I don’t want to keep failing in front of you guys, it’s embarrassing.)

Alonzo also stated that she is happy, but also a little terrified of the decisions that she thought she will not be making at 33 years old. She stated that she did not imagine

being single at her age now but promised that she will talk more about her love life if she becomes sure about the person she is seeing.

She also said she did not want to be a “prisoner of her past” which is why she is open to falling in love again. At the same time, she is being careful about trusting anybody just yet.

Fans started asking about the real score between Alonzo and Roque when the actor professed his admiration for Alonzo last year. The actress’ most recent relationship was with Gerald Anderson, which ended in controversy in 2019 after allegations of a third party, speculated to be Julia Barretto. Anderson admitted his relationship with Barretto last March.

COVID-19 Stats

CDC also said those who are not fully vaccinated should avoid non-essential domestic travel.”

Fourth wave?

Fearing worsening of the COVID pandemic in the United States and a probable fourth wave as the COVID-19 cases increased by 10 percent and hospitalization to around 4,800 per day on a 7-day average, “CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, her voice shaking, warned of ‘impending doom’ if states continue to relax restrictions, and if Americans continue to increase travel and ignore public health precautions.”

The 4 more common variants of COVID-19 include the UK strain (B.1.1.7), around 2,000 cases found in 45 States so far, also in Denmark and Scandinavia, the South African variety (B.1.351), which emerged in South Africa and found in 14 US States, and the Brazilian variant (P.1) infecting at least 5 cases in Minnesota, Oklahoma, Florida, and Maryland. A US variant, homegrown in California (CAL.,20C), has infected more than 30 percent of entire state by mid-to-late January and more than 40 percent in Southern California.

The importance of following the guidelines, especially with the re-opening of businesses, is even more important today.

Masking, social distancing, good hygiene, and avoiding crowds, limiting travels to essential needs, even after vaccination, could help mitigate the labile situation. The significance of this discipline might not be earth-shaking until a loved one is taken away from us because we did not behave accordingly.

SARS-CoV2 virus is new and it is mutating to new strains, which could be expected to be more virulent. There are a lot we still do not know about this killer and the available vaccines. So, it is best to be cautious, or even a bit over-protective, than being arrogant, overly confident and let our guard down, simply because we have been vaccinated.

It is now clear worldwide that these vaccines are generally effective (95 percent and greater) and safe, and that mask and social distancing work.

One shot not enough Some people refuse to get the second shot of the 2-dose vaccines (P-BioNT and Moderna), fearing danger from the second dose and thinking one dose confers full protection.

That is not true and very dangerous. And a waste of the vaccine. Also, if one was okay after the first does, the second one should also be fine, as statistics today show.

A physician colleague of mine had his first dose of the vaccine, still got COVID-19 infection from his son five days postshot, and died. We do not totally know our enemy, especially the variants and worse strains that might evolve; let’s be wise and stay safe.

Amazing FAR-UVC One of the beneficial side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the development of antiviral treatments and mitigating technologies that were also found to be useful in the management of other bacterial/viral illnesses, and the discovery of new uses for old medications we have been using for specific conditions for some time. An example of this is the use of UVC light, the conventional form of which has a wavelength of 254 nm. UV radiation was first discovered on February 22, 1801

by Johann Wilhelm Ritter. Subsequently, they were differentiated by wavelength into UVA (315-400 nm), UVB (2870-315 nm), and UVC 100-280 nm).

Dr. David Brenner and his team at Columbia University have developed a technique “that zaps airborne viruses with a narrow-wavelength band of UV light shows promise for curtailing the person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in indoor public places. The technology “uses lamps that emit continuous, low doses of a particular wavelength of ultraviolet light, known as far-UVC (wavelength 222 nm), which can kill viruses and bacteria without harming human skin, eyes and other tissues, as is the problem with conventional UV light.”

“Far-UVC light has the potential to be a ‘game changer,’” said Professor Brenner, “It can be safely used in occupied public spaces, and it kills pathogens in the air before we can breathe them in.”

These Far-UVC lamps could be used like today’s mosquito electric zapper, installed in homes and public places, offices, hotels, dorms, convention centers, sports arena, theaters, restaurants, stores, schools, etc., to destroy bacteria and various viruses, including Flu viruses and SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID-19, without health risk to humans, animals, and plants.

This will eliminate the need for countless toxic chemicals we currently use to kills microbes.

Progress, indeed! *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

THREE years after “Kambal, Karibal,” Miguel Tanfelix gets reunited with Kyline Alcantara in “Future,” the latest installment of the GMA 7 drama anthology “I Can See You.” And the actor was pleasantly surprised to find out that there are many fans who remain invested in their pairing.

“I’m happy that our supporters are still there. It means that the relationship we had built behind the cameras translates to what we do onscreen.

What the people see from us on television is natural. We don’t need to pretend,” Miguel said in a recent virtual conference for the said show.

Despite past rumors linking them together, Miguel has never felt uncomfortable working with Kyline. “There’s no awkwardness with Ky, because we have known each other and worked together for so long. I know her personally: As an actress, she’s very talented and professional; and as a person, she’s always fun to be with… I feel at ease working with her,” said Miguel, who noted that he and Kyline have grown a lot since their previous project.

“She’s more mature now. We learn a lot of things from each other… we listen to each other,” he added.

In “#Future,” which currently airs weeknights on the Kapuso network, Miguel plays Vinchie, a segment producer and social media addict fueled by his obsession with likes and going viral.

One day, he stumbles upon and records a robbery incident. After getting footage, he quickly flees without helping the victim. Little did he know that his father, Elvin (Gabby Eigenmann), would come to the rescue shortly after, only to meet an untimely demise.

Mystery Months later, Vinchie unwittingly gains the ability to see the future on CCTV recordings.

And one day, while going through footage, he witnesses an incident from the future and attempts to save the mysterious woman in it, Lara (Kyline).

More than a mystery plot, the series, Miguel said, also shows how social media affects people’s sense of worth.

“Sometimes, the standards we set for ourselves can become impossibly high because we see so many people posting about their seemingly perfect lives on social media. But we shouldn’t feel that way or get pressured because we don’t know what’s going in their lives behind the scenes,” he said.

While he loves using social media to interact with his fans, going viral is something he doesn’t see the need for.

“I don’t post for the sake of going viral. I just post about the things I like, the things I’m feeling. If you force it, you will lose authenticity—a quality people look for. And it’s something you don’t get when you fake things,” he said.

Tight-lipped While the 22-year-old Kapuso actor remains

Miguel Tanfelix and Kyline Alcantara

GMA photo

tight-lipped about his love life, he did talk about what he looks for in a relationship.

“When I get into one, I think about what I can give, not what I can take from my partner. You have to be whole. You shouldn’t go looking for your missing pieces in your partner. Both of you should be whole—that’s how real growth starts,” he explained.

Besides, career remains his top priority, especially now that high-profile projects are coming his way. After “#Future,” Miguel is also set to star in the upcoming live action adaptation of “Voltes V.” “I do feel pressure. But people around me always remind me that I wouldn’t get these offers for no reason. That’s what I use to fire me up and fuel my passion for my craft. I wake up feeling pumped up,” he said.

Working in a taping bubble is more challenging, Miguel observed, because the production no longer has the luxury of time. “Back then, if we don’t finish something within the day, we will just resume tomorrow. But we don’t now, so you have to be more disciplined when it comes to work,” he said. “You have to compute schedule because we’re only given a set amount of time to tape.”

Thus, energy management becomes just as important as time management.

“You have to shoot your scenes in succession.

Paspasan. And that’s challenging as an actor,” he pointed out. “You don’t have much time to prepare, so you have to stay on your toes all the time.”

More responsibilities The limited number of crew members on set also means that actors are compelled to help the team with tasks that are usually outside their scope.

“You have more responsibilities. You have to take care of your own wardrobe and things. Tulungan,” he said. “There are now a lot of streaming sites available, so we have to work harder and put in more effort.”

But as challenging working amid the pandemic is, Miguel said he wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s not just us who benefit from the shows; it’s the staff and crew, too. The shows provide jobs for us and allow us to put food on the table.

It’s a blessing to be working now.”

James not taking path of least resistance with his music end, which revisited portions of some of the Concert King’s favorite episodes (and featured guests like Iza Calzado, Jay R and Nadine Lustre), James JAMES Reid has always let his music do the explained why, instead of conveniently taking the talking—and explaining—for him. The official path of least resistance, he is instead pursuing music video of his latest single “Soda,” as smooth the sort of R&B-hybrid sound we’ve been hearing and stylish as it is catchy, was released last March from him these days.

20, featuring a sci-fi story set on an alternate “With Careless (the record label he put up with Earth in the Year 3038. his partners), I’m really just going back to the kind But in the Black Saturday edition of ANC’s chat of music that I first fell in love with growing up,” show “LSS: The Martin Nievera Show” last week- James said in the interview. “And they’re not necessarily the sounds that are more popular now. My music has been changing a lot—it started mainly with R&B, then it became more like R&B pop and soul. Now, I’m playing around with a bit of funk.”

It’s this evolving musicality that is served well by having a music label of his own, James said: “I wanted to take a different direction with my music than from my acting career. Acting is very different from making music. I wanted more creative freedom [because] music is extremely personal.”

The singer-actor said this has given him and his creative process more elbow room.

“It’s made me just want to focus on the things that I know I love, instead of what I think other people will love,” James explained. “It’s definitely given me a deeper understanding of music production, and how it works. So, I’ve been focusing on that. And I don’t just get to do it for myself.

James Reid Photo from Instagram/@james Now, I can also do that for other artists.”

By Allan

Policarpio Inquirer.net

‘Godmother of the Philippine...

PAGE 9 In exchange for her generosity, Filipino painter and political activist Juan Luna painted portraits of the Villavicencio couple, a tidbit that didn’t make it into the book. A copy of one of Gliceria’s portraits continues to hang in the ancestral home today, and Villavicencio Pulliam is photographed next to it in the author’s note of the book.

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

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

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

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

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

“Her inner voice said:

Fierce are those who are brave.

Fierce are those who are strong.

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

She knew what she needed to do. She needed to be a Fierce Filipina.”

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

Channeling her great-great-grandmother’s unwavering spirit, Villavicencio Pulliam is living her legacy through her career as a social worker.

She has also been vocal about the ongoing anti-Asian hate and hopes this story can be a lesson in boldly calling for systemic change.

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

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

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

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

(818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Community

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 9-15, 2021

11

San Diego Public Library’s City of San Diego Spring into STEAM challenge celebrates Earth Day with focuses on exploration drawing contest for kids Fifth annual challenge encourages students to explore new places, cultures and modes of travel

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Public Library kicked off its fifth annual Spring into STEAM program on Thursday, April 1, 2021, with a series of virtual workshops designed to strengthen the STEAM (science, technology, engineering arts and mathematics) skills of local students.

With this year’s theme “Let’s Go!” students will embark on adventures to the rainforest and the pyramids of Egypt, traveling by air, land and sea.

Spring into STEAM programs are free to youth ages nine through 12 and are a collaboration with local science experts and organizations including Arts for Learning San Diego, San Diego Air & Space Museum and Toshwerks.

Classes will be held virtually throughout the month of April. Registration is required and includes an activity kit that can be picked up at one of the 25 library service locations. There are four programs to choose from: • Sounds of the Rainforest: Making a Manguaré: Make a small drum and learn how tribes in the rainforest use drums to talk to each other across vast distances.

• Junior Explorers: Let’s Go to Egypt: Learn about the history of Egypt and create a pyramid and pharaoh’s mask.

• By Air, By Land, By Sea: Take a behind-thescenes tour of the San Diego Air & Space Museum and create a vehicle that will travel on land, through the air and over the water.

• Illuminated Map Quest: Make a light-up map of the world and choose places to learn about and explore.

Participants who finish two or more programs will receive a pair of binoculars as a prize. Spring into STEAM registration information and program dates and times are available on the library’s website. Twelve library locations are currently open for in-person services and an additional 13 locations are offering contactless pickup service.

With a vision of being the place for opportunity, discovery and inspiration, the San Diego Public Library is a hub for knowledge and lifelong learning. As the largest library system in the region, it serves a population of more than 1.4 million people. Learn about events at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Irwin Jacobs Common and 35 community branch libraries, find links to programs and resources or search for materials in the online catalog at www.sandiegolibrary.org.

(SDPL Release)

Rhian tested positive for COVID-19, now ‘out of the woods’

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPUSO actress Rhian Ramos revealed that she tested positive for COVID-19 but is now “out of the woods.”

In her Instagram account, Rhian posted her COVID-19 journey with her road manager Rach Librado, who also tested positive for the virus.

“We’re out of the woods @ rachlibrado,” Rhian wrote.

“The past few weeks have been harrowing at times, but I’m not really here to scare anyone, just sharing how grateful I am for life, health, love, and friendship. Thank you to everyone who sent us encouragement and help through this experience. It meant the world to us and I’ll always remember how much you’ve blessed us.. (you know who you are),” she added.

Rhian Ramos

Rhian also advised COVID-19 patients to stay motivated and keep their morale up to win the battle against the virus.

“Can I just say though. The light at the end of the tunnel is wonderful. If you or someone you know is still going through the covid battle, stay motivated my friend. Keep

Activity challenges young people to imagine a sustainable San Diego; booklets available at libraries and online

SAN DIEGO – April 22 is Earth Day and the City of San Diego is encouraging kids celebrate this year with a coloring contest that imagines what the future holds for a sustainable San Diego. Are there more community gardens and green spaces? Are people carpooling to work and school? The City wants to see what young people can dream up.

The contest is open to children ages four to 13 who live in the City of San Diego. To enter, they need to draw their vision of a sustainable San Diego in the Climate Action Plan children’s activity booklet “Our Climate, Our Future.” Children are encouraged to use crayons, colored pencils, markers or any other art medium to il-

lustrate their vision.

The entry form and booklets are available at San Diego Public Library locations offering in-person services. They can also be downloaded online in English and Spanish. The deadline to submit entries is April 30, 2021. Two winning entries will receive an environmentally friendly prize package courtesy of Think Blue. The winning drawings will also be shared on City social media channels and the City’s website.

The City’s Environmental Services, Library and Sustainability departments collaborated on the coloring contest to encourage children to think and live sustainably.

(City of San Diego Release)

Jeric now supports daughter AJ’s sexy career, but...

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

SEXY actress AJ Raval revealed that her father Jeric Raval is now supporting her decision to do daring roles in movies.

During the digital media conference of her new film “Death of a Girlfriend” with Diego Loyzaga earlier, AJ said she was inspired to join showbiz because of her action star dad.

“Sa totoo lang po, gusto kong mag-artista kasi nakikita ko sa kanya (Jeric) mismo. Nakikita niya rin po na naniniwala sa akin ang Viva family, sila boss and wine-welcome naman ako ng mga tao kaya nagiging okay na rin para sa kanya,” AJ said.

Photo from Instagram/@whianwamos

your morale up. When you see your first negative result, you’ll be overcome with relief and that feeling you’ve been dreaming of, where for 5 minutes there’s finally no fear. God bless our countrymen and God bless our healthworkers,” she said.

“Praying for you all out Celebrity father and daughter Jeric and AJ Raval Photo from Instagram/@ajravsss there. Stay safe.”

The actress added that her father told her to just put limitations on her sexy roles.

“Lagyan ko lang daw ng limitations. Hindi naman po ako nagpapa-sexy na magpo-post lang po ako sa Instagram na sexy na selfie. Nagpapa-sexy po ako kasi po trabaho,” AJ said.

AJ said last January that her

dad doesn’t support her choice to accept sexy roles in movies.

“To be honest, never siyang naging supportive sa pagpapa sexy ko,” Raval told ABS-CBN News. “We don’t talk. Pinapabayaan niya ako sa gagawin ko.

Nasa edad na rin ako. Mayroon na po akong sariling decision,” she said.

12

APRIL 9-15, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

“A Taste of History”

In celebration of the 500th Year Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021, experience MonteMaria Cellars, an exclusive wine collection cellared and bottled in Napa Valley, California by the Buhman Estate Vineyards specially made in honor of the Holy Site of MonteMaria located in Batangas Province of the Philippines.

Browse our collection and order today on MonteMariaCellars.com.

Please enjoy our wines responsibily.