April 15-17, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 29 • 2 Sections - 14 Pages
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
US senators slam China for South China Sea actions during pandemic SEVERAL United States senators recently slammed China’s actions in the South China Sea as the world focuses on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The most recent actions by the Asian country include the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese coast guard vessel near Paracel Islands earlier this month and the deployment of military aircraft. “The reports of a Chinese Coast Guard vessel sinking a Vietnamese fishing vessel and China’s other activities on illegally reclaimed features in the South China Sea are deeply concerning,” said Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “These are just the latest examples of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) blatant intimidation of its neighbors to assert its excessive maritime claims. The CCP is undermining regional stability at a time when the international community should be coming together to combat the COVID-19 pandem-
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Legal experts deconstruct federal stimulus package Through the CARES Act, “most American adults” are promised financial aid, but this currently leaves out many undocumented individuals FOR most Americans, financial stability was the primary concern following the massive shelter-in-place orders and the shutdown of multiple industries amid the coronavirus pandemic. Following massive layoffs and workers receiving little to no paid leave, the threat of a ballooning unemployment rate and the financial overturn of families and individuals across the country continues to hang in the balance. As a response to that, President Donald Trump on March 27 signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act with the promise of helping millions of workers who’ve lost their jobs as well as small businesses that are at risk of shuttering. In a press briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services on Wednesday, April 8, immigration experts, as well as medical professionals,
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DFA repatriates over 14K Filipinos amid COVID-19 crisis by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
SOME 400 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived back in the Philippines on Tuesday, April 14, totaling over 14,600 Filipinos who have been repatriated by the Department of Foreign Affairs since the novel coronavirus outbreak began. On the 15th straight day of repatriation efforts,
AirAsia flight in coordination with the DFA, Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, Sumitomo Corporation (the employer of the OFWs), ABD Overseas Manpower Corporation (local manning agency), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Health (DOH). Sumitomo shouldered the cost of the chartered
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COVID-19 to plunge global economy to ‘worst’ post-war recession –IMF by PRINZ
MAGTULIS Philstar.com
THE coronavirus pandemic will pull down the global economy to its worst post-war recession, bringing with it economies like the Philippines which is poised to notch its weakest growth in more than two decades. In its latest World Economic Outlook released Tuesday, April 14, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected the global economy is seen to contract 3% this year, which if realized, would beat the 1.7% drop in gross domestic product (GDP) recorded a year after the 2008 global financial crisis. “It is very likely that this year the global economy will experience its worst recession since the Great Depression, surpassing that seen during the global financial crisis a decade ago, “ the IMF said in its report. “This time, the crisis is to a large extent the conse- VIRTUAL SUMMIT. President Rodrigo Duterte joins other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, the quence of needed containment measures. This makes Republic of Korea, People’s Republic of China and Japan during the special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19 video conference at the Malago
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Clubhouse in Malacañang on Tuesday, April 14.
Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante
PH has the most number of cases in SE Asia, totaling over 5K by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE Philippines has the most number of cases in Southeast Asia with over 5,000 reports, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The country’s Department of Health announced 291 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Tuesday, April 14, bringing the official count of infected individuals to 5,223. After the Philippines, Malaysia trails with 4,817 cases, Indonesia with 4,557 cases, Singapore with 2,918 cases, and Thailand with Cash queue Transport drivers line up in front of the Land Bank of the Philippines along 2,613 cases. Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City to withdraw the financial assistance given by the The DOH also reported that the country’s government under its Social Amelioration Program. death toll has risen to 335, with the addition of
20 new fatalities. Meanwhile, 53 more patients have been cleared of the respiratory illness, bringing the total number of recoveries to 295. On the other hand, 38,103 individuals are currently being treated in hospitals. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that individuals who are vulnerable or severely ill, and health care workers will be the department’s priority for the risk-based and progressive mass testing. DFA: At least 700 Filipinos abroad contracted COVID-19 The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday reported a 31.6% increase in the count of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad compared to last week’s figures.
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ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
LA introduces new information Fil-Am father, 38, who databases, Angeleno Card program died of COVID-19 laid to rest County announces 40 new deaths, 670 new cases by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
Jorel Alfonso (left) with his wife Ashling and their three children ages 12, 10 and 5. Photo courtesy of Alfonso family
two batches arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the nation’s capital: 301 seafarers who worked on various Carnival cruise ships in Miami, Florida, and 101 workers from Indonesia. Arriving on a Qatar Airways flight, the group from the U.S. worked on Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride, Carnival Fascination and Carnival Conquest. The batch from Indonesia came via a chartered
A FILIPINO American father of three from the Inland Empire was laid to rest on Wednesday, April 15, a week after succumbing to complications related to the novel coronavirus. Jorel Alfonso, 38, died of COVID-19 on April 7, according to his family. A resident of Eastvale in Riverside County, he is survived by his wife Ashling and their three young children ages 12, 10 and 5. With social distancing measures still in place, families around the country have been prevented from organizing proper ceremonies for their departed loved ones. Only one individual could attend Alfonso’s burial so the family selected his younger
brother, Justin. “This is the hardest time in my life, despite experiencing some of the darkest days in the past,” Justin Alfonso told the Asian Journal in a phone interview. “Nobody should ever have to see their sibling get buried.” Despite their five-year age difference, Justin said they bonded over cars, fantasy basketball, and collecting sneakers. He regarded his older brother as his confidant and the “closest person” in his life aside from his wife. Before stay-at-home orders hit Southern California, Alfonso was the best man at Justin’s wedding in February. “I always looked up to my brother and would emulate his personality growing up,” Justin said. “But as I got older, I started seeing that he wanted to hang out, be my friend
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by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
AS a way to promote transparency and accuracy regarding information about the coronavirus pandemic, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a pair of new websites this week designed to dispel myths about the city’s actions and keep Angelenos readily informed. The first website is a collection of daily information and data the mayor receives from city staff about the number of cases and deaths as well as the status of testing, the availability of hospital beds.
“I said, ‘We should be sharing this with all of LA,” Garcetti said on Monday, April 13, noting the importance of Angelenos keeping updated with the city’s response. “So, starting tonight, what I get every day, you’ll get every single day.” The second website was designed to be a resource where Angelenos can fact-check the barrage of information and misinformation regarding the COVID-19 virus. As previously reported by the Asian Journal, misinformation about the number of cases, the
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From the Front Page
US senators slam China for South China... PAGE A1
ic,” he added. Meanwhile, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a committee member, noted the discrepancy between the Chinese coast guard’s duty and actions. “At a time when the international community should be working together to face a common foe, China’s continued divisive and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea is deplorable. The first duty of any coast guard is to guarantee safety at sea – not to contribute to lawlessness and danger,” he said. “The Chinese coast guard’s culpability in the collision and sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel is unambiguous, and constitutes unsafe and unacceptable maritime behavior, deserving of condemnation,” he added. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) echoed their sentiments, condemning China’s actions, as well.
“I condemn in the strongest terms China’s sinking of a Vietnamese vessel in the South China Sea,” he said. He added, “This is a flagrant violation of international law and comes at a time when nations around the world are focused on combating the COVID19 scourge that spread in part due to the Chinese Communist Party’s cover-up and negligence.” Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), meanwhile, assured that the U.S. government will not turn a blind eye to China’s military activities. “As authoritarians exploit the pandemic to erode rule of law, we must continue to call out Beijing’s efforts to assert unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea,” he said. “The United States will not turn a blind eye to military coercion of Southeast Asian countries. Like the rest of the world, the Indo-Pacific is fo-
cused on fighting the coronavirus, but the United States must continue to assist our regional partners and allies in defending their freedom of navigation, the free flow of commerce, and adherence to international agreements in the face of Chinese aggression during this pandemic,” he added. The Vietnam foreign ministry on April 3 said it filed a diplomatic protest before the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi over the incident that saw a Chinese coast guard vessel ramming and sinking a fishing boat QNg 90617 carrying eight fishermen. “The above-mentioned Chinese vessel’s act violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, causes property losses and endangers the lives, safety and legitimate interests of the Vietnamese fishermen,” said the Vietnamese foreign CHURCH SENTRY. A soldier drives away people who attempt to congregate at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church in ministry in a statement. (Ritchel Manila on Monday, April 13. ManilaTimes.net photo by Enrique Agcaoili Mendiola/AJPress)
DFA repatriates over 14K...
PAGE A1 flight while ABD Corporation provided temporary accommodation and transportation from NAIA to their designated hotels or respective residences in Metro Manila, the DFA said in a statement. On Monday, the DFA welcomed back six land-based OFWs from Doha, Qatar and 299 seafarers from the following cruise ships: seven from MSC Sinfonia, 47 from Norwegian Jewel, 107 from Carnival Inspiration, and 138 from Carnival Miracle. It also received 228 seafarers
from Costa Fascinosa and another 440 seafarers from Norwegian Getaway. According to the department, the Philippine Embassies in Brasilia in Brazil and Washington D.C. in the United States facilitated this batch’s repatriation. Previously, 822 Filipino crew members of MS Norwegian Epic, MS Marina, and MS Norwegian Spirit arrived in the country. Since the beginning of the month, Norwegian Cruise Lines has spent for the repatriation of over 3,670 of its Filipino seafarers.
All of the Filipinos who returned home will be undergoing 14-day quarantines, supervised by the Bureau of Quarantine. “The DFA ensures the safe and successful repatriation of Filipinos in distress through close coordination and cooperation with its partner agencies — the DOH, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) — through a whole-ofgovernment approach, and the vital support of the private sector,” it said. n
PH has the most number of cases in... PAGE A1 As of writing, there are now 704 Filipinos infected with the disease — 400 of whom are undergoing treatment. “From a week of reflection in observance of the Holy Week, the DFA records a 31.6% increase in the confirmed COVID19 cases among our OFs (overseas Filipinos) in the Americas,
Asia, and the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East/Africa compared to figures last week, which gives a total of 704 confirmed cases as of today,” the agency said. Four have passed away in the Americas and Europe, bringing the death toll to 88. Meanwhile, 216 overseas Filipinos have recovered.
“The DFA, through its Embassies and Consulates, continues to partner with local health authorities and agencies in ensuring proper implementation of preventive measures and restrictions, and remains steadfast in its commitment to attending to the needs of our kababayan affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the agency added. n
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Dateline USa
Jorel Alfonso (far right) is survived by his wife Ashling, three children, sister Jessica (3rd from left) and her family, parents Jessie and Lydia, and younger brother Justin and sister-in-law Cherrie.
Fil-Amfather,38,whodiedofCOVID-19...
PAGE A1 and even learn from me and we started becoming each other.” Alfonso’s immediate family and select friends held an in-person private viewing on Tuesday, and then live streamed a ceremony with prayers and eulogies. Later in the evening, dozens joined a virtual memorial service on Zoom. The Fil-Am father first reported that he had a fever on March 18 and self-isolated at home. It then became a cough and mild shortness of breath, but he still told family members that he felt fine and maintained a positive mindset that he could beat the virus. Six days later following his doctor’s order, Alfonso drove himself to Kaiser Riverside and thought he would still be able to go home that same day. He ended up being kept overnight for further examination and the next morning, he texted his family the result of the test by saying, “positive” for COVID-19. He was shortly sedated and intubated. That led Justin to begin thinking of a contingency plan to take in his nephews and niece if his sister-in-law also got sick. They all tested negative. “I was worried one of the kids would get it and then that would be another issue,” he said. “You think the worst is your brother getting it? No, the worst is a whole family getting it.” For the next two weeks, the older Alfonso stayed in the hospital and couldn’t be visited by his family. He showed some progress as hospital staff said he was on the road to recovery. However, Alfonso, who was borderline pre-diabetic, had a drop in blood pressure and his
organs began to fail. About four hours later on April 7, the family was notified of his death, Justin said. “We didn’t really get to say goodbye because my brother was confident that he would see us again,” the younger Alfonso said, adding that when he picked up his brother’s car from the hospital a few days ago, “He still had food in there. He didn’t think he was going to have to be there for a long time.” Alfonso, who grew up in Long Beach, settled in Eastvale in his adult years and established his young family there. He was a logistics and operations manager for a pharmaceutical company in Orange County for almost two decades. He was an active member of his local community, from a food group that would try new local restaurants to the neighborhood crime watch. Over the years, he would volunteer to take photos for families during Christmastime. Thousands of condolences and memories have been shared on social media by friends and those who had a chance to cross paths with Alfonso. Many recalled his warmth and ability to connect with others. “What has helped me and my parents the most has been people sharing their stories,” Justin said. “It can be hard listening sometimes because I think about him, but the positive stories have made me laugh and smile. I love hearing how he was helpful and impactful in other people’s lives.” A GoFundMe page for his children’s education and other necessities has raised over $83,000 to date. A Meal Train has also
Justin Alfonso (right) remembers his older brother Jorel as his confidant and best man. Photos courtesy of Alfonso family
been set up to deliver meals to their home through April. In addition to his wife, three children and younger brother, Alfonso is survived by his parents, Jessie and Lydia, and sister Jessica. The family wishes to focus on the lighthearted stories and memories of Alfonso, but they also want his case to be a wakeup call that COVID-19 does not discriminate based on age or ethnicity and that the 1.5% mortality rate should not be taken lightly. “All it takes is that 1.5% chance and it could be you or your family who are affected,” Justin said. “So if I could go back and say, ‘Are we taking the smallest chance?’ The answer’s no. It’s not worth risking your life by going to a friend’s house or the grocery store. The conversation going on in every community and household is that if we get it, we’d be okay. That’s not true because my brother died. Don’t wait until you’re that 1.5%.” n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Duterte approves release of P51-B aid for middle-class workers by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
PhIlIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of a P50.8-billion wage subsidy for middle-income workers affected by the enhanced community quarantine enforced in luzon, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday, April 14. During the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting on Monday night, Duterte reportedly approved the Small Business Relief Program to help 3.4 million workers of 1.6 million small businesses, which have ceased to operate due to the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. “Nagbigay na siya ng go dito (he already gave it go signal),”
Nograles said. Under the program, eligible workers will receive a one-time financial assistance worth P5,000 to P8,000, depending on the minimum daily wage rates in their respective regions. To be eligible, however, an individual must be employed as of March 1 this year and have not received their pay for that month. Workers who are not qualified for the cash aid, meanwhile, include those who resigned or are on leave and employees who have availed of unemployment benefits. Nograles said that the cash assistance will be given in two tranches, the first one scheduled between May 1 to May 15. The second one will be on May 16 to
30. “This is our response to the appeal for help for middle-income workers... Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez estimates the program will cover 1.6 million small businesses that have ceased to operate due to the enhanced community quarantine or those who are on skeleton workforce in order to stay afloat. We estimate that 3.4 million workers will benefit from this program,” he said in Filipino. The cash aid may be received through the SSS Unified MultiPurpose ID (UMID) card enrolled as ATM cards, electronic wallets, or a cash pick up arrangement through remittance transfer companies. n
Legal experts deconstruct federal...
PAGE A1 weighed in on the scope of the pandemic and the government’s response for capital relief. Sunita lough, a deputy commissioner for the Internal Revenue Services (IRS), said that, per the bill, the one-time $1,200 relief checks will be directly deposited into individuals’ bank accounts on Friday, April 17. (This is only if the IRS already has this information via tax returns.) lough affirmed that every individual with a social security number who cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return is eligible, and she warned against potential scammers saying, “Do not give your private information to anyone who says [they] can get your check for you.” Instead, for those who may not have provided bank account information to the IRS previously will receive a paper check in the mail instead. lough noted that delivery of the checks would take longer, so anyone who wants to submit direct deposit information to the IRS may visit its website on Friday, April 17 when an application will be live. As for contracted workers — who make up a third of the workforce in several states — they are eligible for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act. As previously reported in
the Asian Journal, an additional weekly benefit of $600 would be provided to those who are eligible for unemployment benefits, but there may be some delay, said Sebastian Sanchez, staff attorney of the employment rights project at the law firm Bet Tzedek. Sanchez said that there will likely be delays in the distribution of unemployment benefits under the CARES Act as states begin to reformat their programs to adhere to the new federal guidelines. In California, those who are unemployed or are eligible for unemployment may claim up to 38 weeks of unemployment through the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Impact on undocumented immigrants The Trump administration’s campaign to tighten legal immigration channels for a number of undocumented immigrants such as those receiving benefits from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and people with legal temporary statuses. “The bills that have passed Congress so far have not provided enough economic support or health coverage for immigrants, including those who have protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status and others,” Kerri Talbot, director of
federal advocacy at the Immigration hub, said in the telebriefing. “We’re really concerned that during the crisis, people are not going to be able to access the health care that they need because they aren’t covered by Medicaid.” DACA recipients’ futures, in particular, have remained in limbo following the Trump administration’s failed effort to terminate the Obama-era program via executive order in 2017. After years of injunctions by federal judges throughout the country, the decision is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, which is set to decide on the constitutionality of the termination later this year. Many mixed-status households, like families wherein the parents are undocumented but have kids who are U.S. citizens, are not eligible for the $1,200 one-time relief check. Talbot noted in the press briefing that Immigration hub is encouraging Washington lawmakers to include relief for undocumented people in the proposed fourth stimulus package. “At the very least, Congress needs to make sure that people who were born here should have access to cash payments, and we believe undocumented individuals should as well. So many are doing essential services and working essential jobs,” she shared. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
FREE RIDE. Tricycle drivers give free rides for health workers and other front-liners in Bubukal, Santa Cruz, Laguna on Monday, April 13. Mayor Edgar San Luis provided the free rides in compliance with the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon amid the coronavirus disease 2019 threat. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
Health workers with contracts as of March 8 allowed to go abroad Future applications for health care jobs abroad on hold for now by KRistine Joy
Philstar.com
Patag
MANIlA — health workers with existing overseas employment contracts as of March 8, 2020 will be allowed to leave the country, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases said on Tuesday, April 14. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a virtual briefing that medical and allied healthcare workers are exempted from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration resolution banning the deployment of 14 categories of healthcare professionals. “All medical and allied healthcare professionals with perfected and signed overseas employment contracts as of March 8, 2020 shall be allowed for deployment abroad,” Nograles, spokesperson of the Task Force, said. Those who will leave the country will sign a declaration that they know the risks they are facing by going abroad, as advised by the government. POEA chief Bernard Olalia said the resolution banning deployment of health workers overseas is effective “until the national state of emergency is lifted and travel restrictions are lifted at the
destination countries.” The deployment ban covers the following professionals: • Doctors • Nurses • Microbiologists • Molecular biologists • Medical technologists • Clinical analysts • Respiratory therapists • Pharmacists • laboratory technicians • Radiologic technicians • Nursing assistants • Operator of medical equipment • Supervisor of health services and personal care • Repairmen of medical hospital equipment Olalia said the POEA resolution is meant to sustain the supply and meet any future contingencies amid the COVID-19 crisis in the country. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro locsin Jr. said Monday night that health workers with existing contracts of work overseas can depart the country. “Future applications frozen until notice provided all our 450,000+ nurses—exceeeding by 250,000 ideal [World health Organization] ratio of people-tonurses—must be given employment,” locsin wrote in a tweet.
locsin previously objected to the deployment ban calling it an “abomination.” “We will fight the ban in Cabinet. We will fight shit for brains. We will never surrender our constitutional right to travel and our contractual right to work where there is need for our work,” he said last Saturday, April 11. hiring of more health workers Nograles meanwhile said the task force is directing the Department of health to hire additional healthcare workers to beef up manpower in our local healthcare system. The hiring is subjected to the evaluation of the Department of Budget and Management, Nograles said. President Rodrigo Duterte reported to Congress,a requirement of the ‘Bayanihan’ Act that gave him sweeping powers to address the novel coronavirus pandemic, that the health department will hire 857 healthcare workers, under contract of service. They will be deployed to the lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine General hospital and the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Medical—hospitals designated as COVID-19 referral facilities. n
COVID-19 to plunge global economy to... PAGE A1
stimulating activity more challenging and, at least for the most affected sectors, undesirable,” it added. The economic impact will be widespread, although will be felt at varying degrees. In the Philippines, GDP is still seen to grow, albeit at a miniscule 0.6% this year, far slower than the 5.9% recorded a year ago. Across regions, GDP in advanced economies such as the US and Italy, which are also home to most number of coronavirus cases, are projected to lose drop 6.1% due to the pandemic, while emerging markets like China where the virus originated, are seen to lose only 1%. The entire Europe, specifically, is seen to contract at a faster rate of 6.6% than the US’s 5.9%. China, which has enjoyed strong growth in past couple of years, will still be growing but on a much-constrained pace of 1.2% this year. IMF said forecasts consider that the pandemic will fade in the second half of this year when lockdowns and movement restrictions are already “gradually” being eased. At that baseline scenario, it sees everything going back to normal in 2021. But the lender was also quick to note of the “extreme uncertainty” on how the novel coronavirus will behave, and as such the exact economic fallout and
its “intensity” will be difficult to predict. “The immediate priority is to contain the fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak, especially by increasing healthcare expenditures to strengthen the capacity and resources of the health sector while adopting measures that reduce contagion,” IMF said. Safety nets to support affected populations and enterprises are also prescribed, although IMF noted that for developing economies with tight budgets, this can be harder to take than in advanced economies with healthy balance sheets. These social programs can include “temporary and targeted policies” such as cash transfers, wage subsidies, tax relief and debt payment moratorium, prescriptions which the Philippines, in one way or another, have already taken. Beyond the archipelago, developing economies that make up the ASEAN-5 are seen to contract 0.6% on average this year, led by a massive 6.7% GDP drop in Thailand and 1.7% dip in Malaysia. Vietnam is seen to remain the strongest with growth forecast to slow to 2.7%. A weaker economic performance would inevitably lead to more jobless people, while weakening demand for commodity prices and therefore, tempering inflation. In the Philippines alone, the unemployment rate
would likely hit 6.2% in 2020, up from 5.1% last year. Inflation will go the other way around, and slow to 1.7% from 2.5% in 2019. Trade will remain luckluster, with global shipments poised for a 11% slide, IMF projections showed. 2021 recovery A global bounce-back in 2021 was penciled in by the IMF. The global economy would likely grow 5.8% next year if the pandemic comes under control, with China leading the rest in GDP growth at a projected 9.2%. The Philippine economy would likely accelerate 7.6% next year, slightly slower than the ASEAN-5 average of 7.8% but next only to Indonesia’s 8.2% in the region. The entire Europe would probably post a 4.5% GDP uptick. “Uncertainty about contagion could lead to persistent voluntary social distancing and subdued consumer demand for services. Firms may only slowly start hiring workers and expanding payroll because they remain unsure about the demand for their output and about securing parts and components, and if they worry about attrition of workers’ skills following a spell of unemployment,” the lender explained. “Clear and effective communication about the state of the pandemic and the decline of new infections will be essential,” it added. n
LA introduces new information databases... PAGE A1 origins of the virus and the city’s response to the pandemic have been disseminated across social media. “So the next time your friend texts you, or you see something up on Facebook, you can point them to the truth,” Garcetti said. Garcetti also announced a new financial aid program for lowincome Angelenos called the Angeleno Card program. The program provides prepaid debit cards with balances ranging between $700 to $1,500 for residents with incomes below the poverty line before the Safer at home order was imposed. It also applies to those who’ve had work hours reduced or had their incomes slashed by at least 50%. To apply for a debit card, Angelenos may submit an application online or call 213-252-3040.
Applications for the debit card will be accepted only from Tuesday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Garcetti emphasized that the cards would be available to all individuals regardless of citizenship status as well as individuals who already receive public benefits from the state or federal government. “We are all Angelenos and I hope that our federal government will listen to that too,” Garcetti said. “Those who are cleaning our hospitals, those who are picking our food, those who are working in our warehouses, it doesn’t matter what their legal status is today. They are here as Angelenos and we will help them no matter what.” Garcetti said that those who apply but do not receive a card will be placed on a waiting list. The no-fee debit cards were
funded through the mayor’s Angeleno Fund in partnership with Mastercard and Garcetti’s Accelerator for America. LA County expected to peak this weekend On Monday, Garcetti also shared a model by the Institute for health Metrics and Evaluation that projected that 2,004 hospital beds, 470 ICU beds and 412 ventilators will be needed Friday when hospitalizations are expected to peak. On Tuesday, April 14, lA County officials announced 40 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total number to 360 countywide. From Sunday to Tuesday, there have been a whopping 909 new cases, and as of Tuesday, about a quarter of positive cases required hospitalization. Doubling down on physical u PAGE A5
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Dateline PhiliPPines
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Roque returns, replaces Panelo as Duterte spokesperson Trafficking of children could worsen – Gatchalian by Alexis
RomeRo,
edith RegAlAdo Philstar.com
MANILA — He’s back. Lawyer Harry Roque is returning as President Duterte’s spokesman, as Malacañang seeks a “new tack on messaging” amid the coronavirus pandemic. He will replace Salvador Panelo, who took over before Roque decided to run for senator. Roque, however, withdrew his senatorial bid days before the start of the campaign because of a heart condition. Panelo recently received flak for suggesting that eating bananas and gargling with salt water might work to fend off the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID 19. Health experts belied this. “The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has offered the position of presidential spokesperson to Atty. Harry Roque who, in turn, has accepted the same,” Panelo said in a statement. Panelo, who will remain as chief legal counsel, said the present crisis “calls for a new tack on messaging.” He did not elaborate. “The Office of the President welcomes Secretary Roque back to the Cabinet and wishes him all the best as he assumes the role of the Chief Executive’s spokesman, a post he has already held in the past,” Panelo said. “The Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel will be working together with the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, as well as with all the departments, in pursuing the national policy of the government,
specially on COVID-19, and thereafter,” Panelo added. Roque, a former lawmaker and law professor at the University of the Philippines, was named the President’s spokesman in October 2017, replacing Ernesto Abella, who was transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs. He had previously handled high-profile cases, serving as lawyer of the family of transgender Jeffrey Laude, who was killed by American serviceman Joseph Scott Pemberton in Olongapo in 2014. He also represented the families of the victims of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, the single deadliest attack against journalists, the family of slain environmental activist Gerry Ortega, and comfort women who were sexually abused by Japanese soldiers during World War II. During his stint as Duterte’s spokesman, Roque was criticized for making an about face on various issues, including his support for the Rome Statute, a treaty that created the International Criminal Court, and for rebel soldier group Magdalo, which has been critical of Duterte’s policies. Days before he stepped down as presidential spokesman, Roque drew flak for denying that Duterte went to a hospital. The President later announced that he went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center for endoscopy. ‘I’m back!’ Roque did not think twice when Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea called in the evening of Easter Sunday to offer him his old post. “I am now back with the President,” Roque quipped.
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, April 12 warned that cybersex trafficking of children could spike amid the expanded Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. The senator called on the Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) for increased vigilance, saying the coronavirus pandemic fuels fears of a surge in cybersex trafficking among children in Southeast Asia. Gatchalian, chairman of the Reappointed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Senate Committee on Basic Roque Philstar.com photo Education, Arts and Culture, After his stint at Malacañang, warned that traffickers could he tended to his Miniong Farm take advantage of the comto while away his time in agricul- munity quarantine because ture. children spend more time at He then found himself deliver- home. ing at least five lechon (roasted He said the United Nations pigs) and three thousand eggs or Children’s Fund already identi100 trays to stranded students at fied the Philippines as the globthe University of the Philippines- al epicenter of the livestream Los Baños in Laguna before sexual abuse trade, with 8 out noon yesterday. of 10 children and youth at risk He had to first deliver the of online sexual abuse. lechon and the eggs to the stuThe DoJ’s Cybercrime Ofdents as promised, he said. fice reported in 2018 that it reRoque partook of the lechon ceived 600,000 tips of images which he shared with the stu- and videos of naked, sexualized dents for lunch yesterday before and abused Filipino children, he ran off to Malago Clubhouse an increase of more than 1,000 in Palace grounds. percent from 45,645 cases in “I promised them 10 lechon, 2017. and I still owe the students five He said the United States Demore lechon,” Roque said. partment of Labor’s “2018 FindThe lechon and eggs he gives ings on the Worst Forms of Child to various groups actually come Labor” also reported that at the from his farm where he has a direction of paying customers, piggery, a poultry and also a victims in the Philippines were strawberry farm. induced to perform sex acts for Roque said he has been giving live internet broadcasts in small away lechon, Jolibee Chickenjoy internet cafes, private homes, and baked goodies whenever he and “cybersex dens.” can, especially with the onset of “Bago pa dumating ang banta the enhanced community quar- ng Covid-19, isang hamon na sa antine. n atin kung paano natin lalabanan ang online sexual abuse sa mga kabataan (Before the onset of the Covid-19 threat, it was already a edged. “I think everyone knows challenge for us on how to fight that reopening is going to be online sexual abuse among chilstaggered, and we’re gonna dren),” Gatchalian said. “Now that children are fomake sure that what we don’t do is act with haste. That causes a cused on the internet, we need significant increase in both the to strengthen our measures to number of cases and, just as protect them [against cybersex importantly, in the number of trafficking] and prosecute the people behind this [crime],” he deaths.” She added, “I think we all said in Filipino. The senator urged DepEd share the same intent here, which is you know we want to to leverage its online learning get to the other side of this, but platform “DepEd Commons” to we want to get to the other side increase awareness on the danof this without causing either a gers, prevention, and reporting collapse of our healthcare sys- of Online Sexual Exploitation of tem or unnecessary deaths and Children. Aside from teaching children illnesses.” n
LA introduces new information databases...
PAGE A4 distancing and the significance of the Safer at Home order, Garcetti noted that the projections are based “on the assumption that we keep up our work of the physical distancing that we have done and must do.” “If we take our foot off the gas right now and stop physical distancing, models show that our hospitals could be overloaded by May 12,” he added. As LA County prepares for the peak, leaders on the federal level are already discussing the “re-opening” of the country, i.e. lifting the shelter-at-home or-
ders. The Trump administration has announced a committee to re-open the country despite the growing number of cases and deaths across the country. But during a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors briefing on Monday, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of LA County Public Health, noted that the county will continue to base its response on the local numbers and cases before lifting any physical distancing measures. “I know the president is really anxious for us to reopen and we’re also really anxious for us to reopen,” Ferrer acknowl-
about these, he said parents should monitor their children’s online activities and ensure the strictest possible level of their privacy settings. He also urged the DoJ and the PNP to use their communication platforms to raise awareness while mobilizing their cybercrime units to track down child predators. These efforts should also involve women and children protection units such as the PNP-Women and Children Pro-
tection Center and the National Bureau of Investigation-Violence Against Women and Children Desk, he said. Gatchalian in 2019 filed Senate Bill 735 or the “Human Trafficking Preventive Education Program Act” to orient Filipino children and youth about their rights, government protection measures, and the dangers posed by different forms of trafficking, including online sexual exploitation. (Bernadette Tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)
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OPINION
Deployment ban
FEATURES
EVEN before the coronavirus disease 2019 pestilence arrived in the Philippines, the country already suffered from a shortage of approximately 290,000 health workers. This is according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, which has banned the deployment abroad of health workers while the country is battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The POEA reported that last year, about 13,000 health professionals left the country for jobs overseas. and getting the required residency for overseas deployment. Poor compensation – in some cases even lower than the minimum wage – has driven nurses to work instead in business process outsourcing or to find jobs overseas. As of Tuesday last week, COVID-19 had reportedly killed 21 doctors in the Philippines, accounting for a significantly high percentage of the total deaths nationwide, now at over 300. Nurses and other health professionals are also among the COVID-19 fatalities. The pandemic is showing the nation the importance of this sector not only for public health but also for the economic health of the country. The government is reviewing the POEA’s suspension of overseas deployment of health workers. Even with the deployment ban, going to the emy is best done voluntarily. If only a few answer frontlines of a battle against a deadly, unseen en- the call, the government – and the nation – should
Critics have decried the POEA ban as unconstitutional. Proponents, on the other hand, said such moves are allowed under a state of public health emergency and the special powers granted by Congress to President Duterte to contain the unprecedented pandemic. Other proponents have taken a different tack, appealing to the patriotism of health workers in fighting the highly contagious and deadly disease. Hundreds of health workers have answered the call. Hailed as heroes of the pandemic, the plight of health workers should prompt a review of government policies toward this sector. Before the arrival of COVID-19, nurses in both government and private health facilities had been pushing for better compensation. Some private hospitals even charge nurses for the privilege of working
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
review the possible reasons, and find ways to address them. (Philstar.com)
Trump claims total authority and wants to open America on May 1 contrary to advice from health officials in America and governors’ safety assessment What is paradoxical about Trump’s claim is that he had not The Fil-Am been on board in implementing a nationwide social distancing and Perspective other safety measures, and said he would leave that to the governors in compliance with the Constitution. This, after downplaying the GEL SANTOS-RELOS threat of the pandemic, calling it a hoax, and not doing any concrete measures to mitigate the spread in February and early March despite warnings from experts since January. California became the first state to implement statewide “stay at home” and “shelter in place” safety measures, followed by New York and other states, and not surprising to note that those states who voted for Trump did not get on board. It was only after this that Trump supported the social distancing measures but has been pushing the business as usual in the U.S. in time for Easter, calling for people to flock to churches for mass, despite the upward trajectory of cases and deaths in the nation. As the social distancing and other safety measures helped toward “flattening the curve” and mitigating the spread of the virus, Trump then started patting his back for his handling of this pandemic. And yet, he again started criticizing governors for their overly restrictive social distancing measures, for allegedly overstating their needs for ventilators and other medical equipment — a proactive measure to prepare for the worst in order to save as many lives
TOTAL AUTHORITY is what President Donald Trump now claims in relaxing the social distancing and other safety measures in place and in pushing to reopen the United States for business on May 1, despite the statement of health officials that this is premature, and that the United States isn’t there yet. Why? Trump wants and needs the U.S. economy to boom because he needs it for his re-election bid, never mind what the facts say. It is all about the numbers. His numbers. Not the number of corononavirus cases, not the death toll, not the wide scale testing still needed to isolate those who are infected, not the scientific clinical trials needed for drugs to be approved by the FDA. It is all about his ratings. As of press time Tuesday, April 14, the total number of coronavirus cases in the United States has recorded more than 594,207 with a death toll of more than 25,402. Governors likewise rebuked Trump and said they would not follow him if he mandates that their states relax social distancing measures and open for business by May 1 because they are duty-bound to protect their constituents’ lives and safety. Georgetown University Law Professor Neal K. Katyal rebuked Trump’s claim, writing in the New York Times, “Our Constitution was designed to reject such arrogation of power. Separation of powers and federalism aren’t fusty concepts designed to please rebellious aristocrats; they are the living embodiment of our founders’ desire to divide and check power — not vest “total” “authority” in one person, no matter how wise that person may be.”
as possible. Social distancing has been working to save lives and prevent our health system from being overburdened which could lead to more cases, more hospitalization, more deaths. Trump also criticized scientific models for inflating the threat of the virus, going back to his previous contention of downplaying the threat of the virus, without tying it to the success of social distancing efforts in mitigating the spread of the virus. In an interview on CNN on Tuesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “If he ordered me to reopen in a way that would endanger the public health of the people of my state, I wouldn’t do it”. Cuomo “And we would have a constitutional challenge between the state and the federal government, and that would go into the courts. And that would be the worst possible thing he could do at this moment, would be to act dictatorial and to act in a partisan, divisive way.” Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a list of six benchmarks the state must meet before it can begin relaxing strict social distancing mandates: • The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; • The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; • The ability of the hospital and health systems to
handle surges; • The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand; • The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and • The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary. After denigrating journalists who question his assertion of “total authority,” following the backlash of his claims on Monday from governors, constitutional experts, and the American people, Trump retreated and changed the tune on Tuesday’s news briefing. He said governors can seek his help when they are ready to open their economy, a power he need not give to them because the governors already have this authority. AND THEN, he attacked a new bogeyman, blaming the World Health Organization to shift focus of discussion and deflect from the reason the virus has spread in America. Let us leave this issue for another day. FIGHT, Americans fight! Be relentless. Do not give in to helplessness under the bullying tactic of this president. Speak up and speak out! Our lives depend on our voice! *** 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.
How to fight and win over this pandemic
Commentary
ANTONIO P. CONTRERAS EVERY one of us is affected by this global pandemic. But it is a fact that we suffer differently and that some people are suffering more or are more exposed to risks. These are the people who have very little in life even before the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019. They include those whose livelihoods have been disrupted, and those who lost their sources of income and have nothing left except to rely on relief goods and government dole-outs. Also affected because of being more at risk are those who are immuno-compromised and those who work on the frontlines, from the medical personnel who risk their lives as they stare face to face with the disease to those working in the essential sectors that remained open if only to give us a semblance of normalcy — the staff of drugstores, groceries and supermarkets; the janitors, drivers and delivery personnel; and those who work at the checkpoints, including village and other local government workers. But, certainly, the ones who bear the brunt of the disease the most are those who are confirmed to have been infected by it; those who are suspected and are in constant monitoring, waiting for their test results; and their relatives and loved ones. It is simply unfathom-
able to even imagine the pain felt by those who are left behind by patients who succumbed to the disease and who were denied the last chance to hug and kiss them goodbye. It is, therefore, because of them that we need to call out several kinds of people for their callousness and insensitivity. There are those who fail to exercise empathy. These are the people who allow their fears and biases to get hold of the better of them, and make them act inhumanely against the vulnerable, the afflicted and their families, and those at the frontlines. These are the people who now shun their neighbors who work at the frontlines, or are persons under monitoring or investigation, or even those who are recovering, to the point of setting up barricades and denying them entry to their homes. The house of one family affected by the disease was even stoned. Medical frontliners suffer the brunt of the persecution. A nurse’s face was doused by a chemical disinfectant and an ambulance driver was shot by a prejudiced neighbor. An infected patient was bullied by her neighborhood association. But what was worse is when a rural health unit in a town in Camarines Sur became the agent for inflicting prejudice on their own kind when it publicized the names and addresses of health workers from their town who work at the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, thereby stigmatizing and offering
them up for discrimination. And then we have those who use their privileges to sequester limited resources and those who hoard more than they need. These include not only ordinary citizens driven by fear and anxiety, but also politicians and public officials who take advantage of their positions to corner relief goods or prioritize their own relatives and friends over those who are truly in need and are more deserving. We all collectively expressed outrage when high-ranking public officials jumped the queue for testing, at a time when these resources were in limited supply. We also have people who use the pandemic as a reason for them to claim privileges that they do not deserve. There are people who are not as stressed and don’t need special care and attention. For someone to feign or fake a suffering just to enjoy a benefit or a privilege is simply unforgivable. Indeed, there is reason to feel empathy for everyone, considering that we are all exposed and are potential targets. But for someone to demand special treatment that is undeserved by using the pandemic as an excuse deserves condemnation. Included in this, for example, are students and employees who are not as challenged and who are relatively more comfortable yet would demand from their schools and employers benefits and privileges, which could either stress the already strained resources of the
A police officer checks the body temperature of motorists passing through the Novaliches proper entry point on Friday, April 10 on Quirino Highway, Quezon City. The measure is part of the extended enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
latter, or would be unfair to those who are really in need of special treatment and consideration. And, finally, there are those who are in the habit of peddling fakery and lies on social media to whip up undue hysteria. What we need in order to defeat this virus at the moment is to stick to facts and to have faith in science. We do not and cannot abdicate our duty to call out the government for its flaws and shortcomings. But when we do this, it is important to avoid sensationalism and fear-mongering. Unfortunately, there are people who are not as prudent in sharing
information, particularly when they see it to be consistent with their preferred narratives. Thus, even without verifying the veracity of the information, they share and make the material viral, not knowing that it can create panic and hysteria. Wrong or embellished information can create either a false sense of security or an unwarranted sense of fear. We all live in uncertain times. And while it is important to check the government’s failures, nerves are already frayed enough. People are already stressed and afraid and it doesn’t help if we either feed people with exaggerated
information or falsely give people hope based on something that is not scientific or vetted. There is a war out there. If we cannot be at the frontlines, let us all just be enablers. And we cannot do this if we persecute the frontliners and the sick. We cannot be enablers if we use our position, our fears and the pandemic as a basis to obtain undeserved privileges. We cannot win this war if we base our choices on lies and distortions. We cannot allow the virus to win over us. And it definitely will, if we will all be acting selfishly and irrationally. (ManilaTimes.net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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‘Superstore’ actor Nico Santos on queer Filipino roles: ‘I don’t feel like I’m being pigeonholed at all’ by
get ahead. “As an immigrant, we As most Filipino children know that feeling all too well can attest to, having the con- of wanting to be an overaversation to pursue the arts is chiever and make something not an easy feat; though his of yourself in this country, so parents threw their support that really spoke to me,” Sanonce he was adamant that he tos said, adding that Mateo wouldn’t be pursuing a tradi- also sounded like “a lot of tional career. Santos went on the bitchy queens” he used to study acting at a state uni- to work with during his retail versity, where a teacher told days. him he would never strike it He continued, “I knew big in the industry. this person. I could play this In his early adult years, person, not as a straight he moved to San Francisco Latino like it was written, but and worked at luxury retail I could tailor it to somebody stores. He attended open that I recognize as myself. I mic nights and immediately tweaked it and they liked my “got hooked.” interpretation. ‘Superstore’ is “I would say that it wasn’t my first big break.” until I started stand-up comFrom the beginning, edy that it was the fire under- Mateo has delivered quick, neath me and made me really sarcastic one-liners, and is a pursue a career in entertaindetermined employee who ment,” Santos said. cares about succeeding in his What drew him to comjob. By the second season, it edy was that there aren’t is revealed that Mateo’s charridiculous standards of physi- acter is undocumented, and cal appearance. It matters during the season four finale, how funny you are and how he is arrested and detained the audience reacts. by ICE. “I could draw from my Playing an undocumented own experience and make it Filipino on network TV has relatable. I could be myself been personal for Santos, on stage and talk about drawing from the stories of myself and my experience as family members and friends an immigrant, Filipino and a who came to the United queer person,” he said. States without papers. His first shot at televi“A lot of Filipinos who sion came in 2012 when he are living in America know, made regular appearances either people from their own on late-night talk show family or somebody through “Chelsea Lately.” He venhowever degrees of separa-
Christina M. Oriel / AJPress
In a season five episode of NBC sitcom “Superstore,” Cloud 9 employees Mateo (Nico Santos) and Marcus (Jon Barinholtz) get into a heated argument in Tagalog, surprising many Filipino viewers to hear the language on American television. Mateo: “Tarantado ka talaga!” Marcus: “Narinig ko ‘yon, gago!” Mateo: “Kapal ng mukha mo, alam kong ikaw kumuha ng gamit ko, tumigil ka na!” This episode marked the second time Mateo had a scene speaking in his native tongue. Marcus’ character moved in with Mateo’s family and has started to pick up on the culture, which led Santos to suggest to producers that the two characters should have a scene fighting in Tagalog. “I never know if they’re actually listening to suggestions, but when we went to the table read, there was that scene,” Santos told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. “The [writers] worked with me on how to execute it. A lot of people who saw that scene made comparisons to a teleserye (soap opera).” Since 2015, the 41-yearold actor has portrayed Mateo Liwanag, a gay, undocumented Filipino sales associate at the fictional big-box store Cloud 9 in St. Louis, Missouri. Santos was born in Manila and lived in Dasmariñas Village until the age of 16 when he and his brother went to live with their father in Gresham, Oregon, a small city outside of Portland. Back in the Philippines, Santos said he was a “huge dork” who loved comic books and Dungeons & Dragons. Migrating abroad was an opportunity to “re-invent” himself, which he did by joining his school’s drama club. “I was like one of two other Filipinos in my high school. A lot of the people there didn’t know what to make of me. They would say, ‘Your last name is Mexican, but I don’t understand why you look Chinese’…They just didn’t know what a Filipino was. I got involved with theatre and choir and that gave me a community to be a part of,” he recalled.
Nico Santos as Mateo Liwanag and Nichole Bloom as Cheyenne Lee in NBC’s “Superstore.”
workers at the big-box store, equal pay or the environmental impact of shopping. “Real comedy has to stem from truth. Our cast is one of the most diverse casts on television and if you look at our cast, that’s what America looks like…,” Santos said. “We should be addressing issues and topics that affect those people who are everyday Americans. It’s been a joy and privilege to be able to do a show as silly as ‘Superstore’ gets sometimes but still be able to maintain truth and speak power to those topics.” “Superstore” — which also stars America Ferrera, Ben Feldman and Lauren Ash — wraps up its fifth season this month. “In this industry, you never know how long things last. The fact that we are going into season six is a miracle because shows don’t last as long anymore. I’m fortunate to be able to work with these people for that long,” Santos said. The sitcom has been renewed for a sixth season, though production has been put on hold for now. In the meantime, Santos recommended that this is the time for people to watch the show if they haven’t already. Santos said he hasn’t seen any materials for future episodes yet, but hopes that more Filipino characters can be introduced. “I’m hoping in the future that we’ll be able to draw from a larger pool of Filipino actors because we do want to cast authentically,” Santos said. “If the show had existed 10 years ago in Hollywood, they would have just gotten any Asian person and made them Filipino. We want Filipino actors playing Filipino parts.” The role garnered him a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination in 2018 for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. It also comes at a time when more Filipino/ a faces are on network TV and are part of a show’s main cast. In addition to Santos onscreen, Manny Jacinto has been on NBC’s “The Good Place,” but the series ended in January, while Conrad Ricamora is wrapping up his role as Oliver Hampton in
“As an immigrant, we know that feeling all too well of wanting to be an overachiever and make something of yourself in this country, so that really spoke to me.” tured into comedy acting, with guest roles on “2 Broke Girls” and “Mulaney,” and a small part in the movie “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.” Some three years later, Santos’ agents emailed him about a new NBC project created by Justin Spitzer and the potential role of Mateo, which was originally written as a straight Latino male, not a queer Filipino. What drew him to the show was Mateo’s hypercompetitiveness and drive to
Awkwafina, Nico Santos, and Constance Wu in Warner Bros’ “Crazy Rich Asians.”
tion, who’s undocumented,” Santos said. “It is something that’s a very relatable experience for not only Filipinos, but for anybody in America. People in America underestimate the amount of undocumented immigrants that are present in the country [who] run and make this country work.” Though it’s a comedy, “Superstore” tackles the serious issues of the moment, whether it’s Mateo’s immigration status, the rights of
Photo by Sanja Bucko
Photo by Evans Vestal Ward/NBC
Since 2015, Santos has played Mateo, a gay, undocumented Filipino store associate who is sassy and overly competitive. Photo by Evans Vestal Ward/NBC
the sixth and final season of ABC’s “How to Get Away With Murder.” Apart from his television career, Santos is eyeing more roles to flex his acting chops, especially in movies. His high-profile shot at the big screen was Oliver T’sien in the 2018 blockbuster hit, “Crazy Rich Asians.” It was a lot of pressure to bring Oliver — the “rainbow sheep of the family” — to life as he is a beloved character in Kevin Kwan’s book trilogy, as well as work alongside big names like Michelle Yeoh, he said. “I worked on the voice for a really long time because… when I start developing characters, the voice is the first thing I develop,” Santos said. “Making that movie was so much fun, getting to go back to Asia because I hadn’t been back to the Philippines in like 21 years. I hope that we get to do the sequels soon and would love to get back together with the rest of the cast.” Whatever future projects come Santos’ way, he is not afraid of being typecast as a queer Asian man and getting those parts. “It’s so hard to work in this industry period and it’s so hard to reach this level of work. For me, I don’t feel like I’m being pigeonholed at all. I’m actually only interested in playing parts that look like me, that speak like me, and that speak to my experience. I don’t feel like I’m being stifled as an actor by not exploring ‘other types of
characters,’” Santos said. Beyond the diversity and accuracy of Asian Americans on screen, Santos is also championing the nuances of the LGBT experience, especially for those who are people of color. “If I just have a career playing those types of characters, I will be more than happy because it’s like there’s so few and far between so you have to relish them when you do,” Santos said. Aside from the current pandemic postponing Santos’ work, it has affected him on a personal level as his stepfather Sonny — a “kind, caring man” who greeted others with smile and laughter — died of COVID-19 at the end of March. His mother also tested positive, but has since recovered. Because of social distancing measures, the family hasn’t been able to hold a celebration of life for Sonny. “It still doesn’t feel real… It comes in waves. I don’t have a lot of experience with grief. There are days when I wake up and forget what happened. It’s hard but right now, you take it day by day…or even it’s like hour by hour,” Santos explained. What’s been comforting him is the art of comedy and humor. “That’s how I deal with tragedy. That’s how I deal and cope, through laughter. If I didn’t have a chance to escape into some humor, I definitely would have spiraled into a much darker place,” he said.
How to manage stress, anxiety: Jodi shares her ABCs By Jan
MilO severO Philstar.com
ACTRESS Jodi Sta. Maria shared tips on how to cope with stress and anxiety during this novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. In a Facebook live video last Saturday, April 11, Jodi said it is important during this time to be physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually healthy. “I think what’s important is we not only keep ourselves physically healthy, but emotionally, mentally and spiritu-
ally healthy. We are tripartite beings (spirit, soul and body), we cannot separate one from the other. So it’s important that balanced ang tatlong iyon — physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy. Physically kasi, you eat right. I have a better understanding now that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should be taking care of it,” Jodi said. “Emotionally, as much possible you look at things at a different perspective. Also, you try to stay away from anything that will undermine
your peace. On social media, for example, you have the power to block, mute or unfollow anyone that undermines your peace. Please protect your peace at all cost. Spiritually, you just fill yourself with the Word of God because at the end of the day, yun ang mag-e-encourage, magbibigay ng peace and that will really sustain us,” she added. Jodi added she managed her stress and anxiety with three basic steps. She said her ABCs are A is to accept, B is to behave appropriately and C is to commit.
“A-B-C lang siya. A is you accept, acknowledge, adjust accordingly. To accept that it’s out of our control. To acknowledge this will give us somehow the power to deal with life-changing obstacles. Don’t forget that we have the power to respond to any given circumstance and we have the choice to respond negatively or positively. And I hope and pray that we always choose to do what is right. We stop spreading hate and realize that we are all affected by this. No one is spared. This is a great equalizer. This pandemic
discriminates no one. What we can do is lift up somebody today by sending a positive quote, or maybe checking on them, saying hi, giving encouragement,” she said. “Some people feel that they’re not able to do anything. But can I share just a tweet I received, which said, ‘Wala naman akong mabibigay, prayer lang.’ But you see, prayers are powerful and praying for someone is actually a noble act — praying for our leaders, for our frontliners, even d’un sa mga tao nasa paligid natin,” she vouched.
Jodi Sta. Maria Photo from Instagram/@jodistamaria
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PNB waives remittance charges
THE Philippines’ fifth largest lender, Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB), is waiving the remittance fees for various channels through May 8, 2020. The waiver applies to money transfers that will be credited to personal deposit accounts with PNB in the Philippines. PNB President and CEO Wick Veloso said the bank is committed to make remittance convenient and hassle-free for customers. “Waiving the remittance fees is a big help to our kababayans who send cash to their loved ones in our country,” Veloso said. “So starting April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan, through May 8, we would like to do our own simple part in helping them. They are our selfless
heroes.” He adds, “This is especially needed now that the entire world is coping with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The waiver covers overthe-counter transactions done at the following PNB overseas branches: Los Angeles, Guam, Singapore, Japan, Global Hong Kong, Canada (through PNB-Remittance Company Canada) and Europe. For PNB Europe, remittance fees are also waived for the Web Remit and Phone Remit channels. Mail-in remittance is covered by the waiver in the areas of New York and Japan. For Japan, remittance fees are also waived when done via ATMs of Mizuho Bank and Japan Postal Bank. Remittances done
through PNB Global Remit (PNB Remittance Centers, Inc.) branches are also free of charge when done over-thecounter and via Web Remit and Phone Remit. Meanwhile, users of Xchanged mobile remittance app in USA and Guam can avail of free remittance for their first two transactions. XChanged clients can use the following codes: XCHFREE for USA and BEATCOVID for Guam. Earlier last month, PNB also waived the transaction fees for local money transfer done via Instapay and PESONet. Clients are encouraged to regularly visit PNB’s official Facebook page (@PNBph) for updates on the latest news and promos.
By Ricky Lo Philstar.com
THE family of Patricia Javier and her chiropractor husband Dr. Robert Walcher III is a moveable feast. Since they and their two sons transplanted themselves to the Philippines from San Diego, California, they have changed residences five times — first from the Azure Condo (near SLEX) to Antipolo City (where Patricia hails from) to Scout Rallos St. and Woodside (both in Quezon City) and finally to a sprawling community of highend townhouses also in Q.C. “This is our home, we own it,” Patricia told Jojo Gabinete and me early last month when she invited us for a freewheeling chat over a merienda of pansit, empanada and banana cue. “Except for the one in Antipolo, we were renting the three other places we stayed in. We loved this place the first time we saw it so we bought a unit. The neighborhood is quiet and cozy. Our neighbors (among them talent manager Leo Dominguez) are friendly, very nice, mababait.” Weeks before the ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) was declared, the Walchers have virtually been in a self-imposed “quarantine” as they were busy fixing the three-floor unit and at the same time family bonding since they moved there early this year. The sala and dining area are on the ground floor. On the second floor, displayed are Patricia’s plaques, trophies (and crown and sash as Noble Queen of the Philippines) and other memorabilia, highlighted by a cute doll that looks like her — yes, a Patricia/Barbie Doll that has a poignant story behind it. As Patricia recalled, years ago when she was a grade school student in Marikina, her
‘Big Brother’ house vs COVID-19 lockdown: Richard spells the difference By Jan
MiLo SeveRo Philstar.com
FORMER “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Richard Juan revealed that living in the Big Brother house is far from being in self-quarantine. In an exclusive interview with Philstar.com, Richard said in Big Brother house, “Kuya” always gave them tasks to keep the housemates busy, as compared to the real world where a person in self-quarantine will look for things to do. “You really cannot compare PBB and self-quarantine! People often think that we got nothing to do but in fact, inside the house, Kuya always gives us tasks to do in order to keep us busy! Here right now I will have to find things or find tasks for myself to do but in the house, Big Brother is the one that dictates and tells us what we need to do,” shared Richard, who was recently in self-isolation after his “Love Thy Woman” co-star Christopher de Leon tested positive for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). “Oh and also in the house, we get to hang out with friends in person. But right now, I can only hang out with my friends virtually,” Richard added. The model-actor, however, pointed out some similarities between being on self-quarantine and living inside the Big Brother house. “I guess if there are any similarities, it’s only the fact
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - April 15, 2020
Bea, John Lloyd reunion project set next week on Instagram By chRiStina
aLpad ManilaTimes.net
FANS of the erstwhile blockbuster love team of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz need not wait for the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to be lifted to see them together again in an acting project. On Black Saturday, the actors announced on their respective Instagram accounts (@beaalonzo and @dumpsitegallery) that everyone can watch their reunion project on the same social website in a few days’ time. (Advertising Supplement) “Over the next week, we will be performing a work of fiction on Instagram. It is a love story and it is about these times. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is intentional,” read their posts. The black and white text that bore this announcement also used the hashtag #unconfinedcinema and included box-office director Antoinette Jadaone in the caption. Jadaone, who helmed big screen hits “That Thing Called Tadhana” and “Love You to the Stars and Back,” also posted the announcement on her Instagram account (@tonetjadaone) and tagged fellow director and reallife partner Dan Villegas. Besides this information, the team is mum on what is shaping up to be a surprise treat for audiences all confined in their homes. This will not be the first time for Alonzo and Cruz to randomly treat their fans to a “reunion project”. On Valentine’s Day, the pair showed up at an Art Fair Philippines 2020 side event and did a live script reading of the Jadaonedirected film “That Thing Called Tadhana”. The event also marked Cruz’s first public performance following his showbiz hiatus. The Alonzo-Cruz love team Patricia Javier with husband Rob Walcher and their sons Robert and James. Photo from Instagram.@patriciajavier1 goes as far back as 2002, when they were paired on the ABSfamily was so hard-up that she paid the doll-maker around CBN drama “Kay Tagal Kang P50,000 for the “mastercouldn’t afford to have a doll. Hinintay.” A string of teleseryes piece.” “During the recess, my followed the successful first “Actually,” said Patricia, schoolmates would take out tandem with such top-rating titles “since I started earning, I their Barbie Dolls at ako naas “It Might Be You,” “Maging man nakatunganga lang, man- would set aside a certain Sino Ka Man” and “I Love Betty amount to buy as many giyak-iyak. Walang doll, eh!” Barbie Dolls as I can afford at It was only when she was ipinamimigay ko sa mga poor around 20 and started workgirls. Payback time ko ‘yan. ing was she able to buy a I see in their faces the same Barbie Doll. When Rob heard happiness that I had when I Patricia’s sob story as a dollgot my first Barbie Doll.” less kid, he comforted her by The couple owns and mansaying, “Don’t worry, you are ages four chiropractic clinics, my Barbie Doll and you are one each in Libis and in the more beautiful than all the Timog-Morato area in Q.C., Barbie Dolls in the world.” one in Makati City and one Unknown to Patricia, in Alabang. The opening of Rob had something big in another branch in Eastwood, mind. After Patricia won Q.C. was derailed by the her “Noble” title last year, lockdown. a beautifully-wrapped box At home, the family is with a huge ribbon around it not just idling around. Rob was delivered to their home. is busy with his Lego hobby, Patricia broke into tears when creating mini racing cars and she opened it. Inside was a whatnots, the kids glued on doll in a beauty-queen gown video games and Patricia with that looked like her. It was a housekeeping chores. surprise gift from Rob who
Patricia on raising her Fil-Am family in PH: ‘Home sweet home’
paying rent, electricity, utilities, food or anything that’s happening outside. And of course the companionship with my co-housemates and the bond that we fostered and the jokes inside the house are just a future name of the things that I’ve missed in the PBB house,” Richard said. As for the things he misses in the outside world while on quarantine: “I miss my routine I used to do in the outside world! Having the human interactions, going to the gym, hanging out with my friends, playing football, taping for Love Thy Woman, Eating out at my favorite restaurants, traveling.” Richard, meanwhile, agreed with a joke in an article that said that the PBB house is the safest place to be during an enRichard Juan hanced community quarantine. Photo from Instagram/@richardjuan “Well I guess so, because there’s no one else in the that we are not able to go to house besides me and the the outside world! Furtherother housemates. I remember more, one major similarity is reading an article about the that both now being at home German Big Brother or was under quarantine and being in it another European country the PBB house both are both I don’t remember, their Big massive privileges,” he said. Brother show was ongoing When asked what are the things he misses inside the PBB and the housemates did not know about the Coronavirus house, Richard said he missed the idea of not having to worry outbreak. I guess during that time the show runners thought about inside the PBB house that it would be safe for them except for the tasks. to be in the house anyway. And “I guess the idea of not if I’m not mistaken Big Brother having to worry about anything in the outside the house, and all his houses have a little magical bubble that protects it except for the tasks that Big from the outside world, right?” Brother assigned to us. We he said. didn’t have to worry about
La Fea” to name a few. Their premiere love team status was cemented in the 2007 film “One More Chance” where their characters Popoy and Basha also became Pinoy pop culture
icons. A sequel came out due to insistent public demand in 2015. Titled “A Second Chance,” the movie became the actors’ last major project together as a love team.
entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - April 15, 2020
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA AT a breakfast after mass at the Holy Family Church during a school fundraiser in Glendale California one beautiful fall morning years ago, a statuesque, well groomed lady holding her breakfast tray asked my husband, my sister Olga and myself, if she could join us. We said yes of course. There weren’t enough tables and chairs in the auditorium at the time. After a few pleasantries and the frost among strangers had thawed, the woman indicated that she was from the East Coast and she was visiting her son who lived in the city. She was staying in a hotel for a few days and had checked online for the nearest church where she could attend mass. She remarked that the Glendale Holy Family Catholic Church with Spanish architecture built in the 1920’s was beautiful. The conversation around the table was light at first, meandering around innocuous, safe topics. Out of nowhere, she asked us to pray for her son. Startled at first, I asked what her son’s name was and we all must have made a mental note of it. It seems that her 36-year old son who is an engineer, with so much going for him, had a major relapse in his bid to overcome his alcoholic addiction — yet again. His poison of choice – vodka. She was in town to check him in to a rehab facility and taking a chance on a new drug that would have adverse, irreversible ramifications if there is recidivism or if he ever went back to the bottle. In short, it was a last ditch attempt to end his addiction. Over breakfast we had a glimpse of the turmoil the woman was going through in seeing a loved one going through the repeated cycles of addiction and rehabilitation, only to go through it over and over again– a seemingly hopeless struggle that many battle
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The power of prayer “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin with these days. It is like Sisyphus of Greek mythology who was punished by the gods for chronic deceitfulness and wickedness. He was cursed for eternity to roll a rock uphill only to have fate roll it back downhill just when success at lodging it safely on top of a steep hill seemed like a sure thing. She let slip that another son had died in the last year, the reason for which, she didn’t mention. And she would have to come again and visit in December because her alcoholic son has an ex-girlfriend who is pregnant and is due by then. You can’t make this stuff up. Life is just so tough that her face was etched in pain. Yet there was also a brief glimpse of hope for the baby about to be born. Grief, just like joy, has way of welling up within and spilling over. We listened to her over breakfast aware that she just wanted to ease up some of the heavy burden that was troubling her. A lot of us are like this woman. We each have problems that seem too much to bear until we reach out and ask others to pray for us, even strangers we will never ever see again. We ask others to knock and bang on the doors of heaven with a battering ram, if need be, to beg for help on our behalf. In many ways, each one of us can be a prayer warrior. Often, we come to church just to be with others who are a bit like us, searching for one another’s company in seeking God’s help in many ways, big and small. We know deep down, by ourselves, we can do nothing. Just as gravity holds the
physical universe together, prayer draws the spirit universe together among kindred souls. The power of prayer is boundless among those whose faith is built on solid rock. If you can, please pray for this anonymous woman Mrs. B and her son G. Mother and son both need prayers so badly; for the son to break the bonds of addiction once and for all and for the mother or the strength and the fortitude to endure her trials and finally, for both mother and son to find the peace, serenity and just maybe, hope and joy even during a deeply personal season of darkness. And while we’re at it, we might as well decide to make time for prayer ourselves. We need to grit our teeth and cut off the extremely intrusive electronic leash that is so much a part of our lives these days. We know we are in deep trouble when we have to post the latest “selfies” on FB even while we are in the restroom. Isn’t it time we weaned ourselves from having to spend too much time tethered to our gadgets? Our obsession with our tech toys may very well be another form of addiction. Dwell in the silence for that is where God is. How can God speak to us if our ears are stuffed up, our hearts are not right and our minds are cluttered with non-essentials all the time? Modern life is much too full of inane, sometimes insane, distractions assailing all our senses during our waking hours to make time for God. Dwell in prayerful silence for that is where God is. Perhaps we can even pray for complete strangers and those in our immediate orbit who we know are in dire straits but are either too timid or too
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proud to ask for help. There are people who feel diminished if they ask for help. They label themselves as proudly independent. The truth is that they are poor, unfortunate fools severely afflicted with hubris. Hubris, that extreme form of pride, the same brand that brought down the fallen angels, always prevents humans from seeking help. When we pray, we need to learn how to delete specifics. God knows specifics — our blood type, our DNA, even the number of hair on our heads. God knows what we are asking for. The how, what, why, when and where of answers to prayers will have to be his call and his alone. God’s love for us is beyond all telling. It will be between God and each one of us alone in the silence of our hearts. It will be that space and time where there is no FB, no Instagram, no Snapchat, no Twitter — none of the things that tend to make pompous asses of ourselves demanding attention and approval from others.
The answer to prayers is God’s call alone. We ask for help but end our prayers in humble supplication saying as Jesus said in agony as he prayed to the Father, “ … yet not my will, but yours be done.” We are simply conduits, pipelines of the flow of good that comes from God. But there is a residual effect when we suit up and become prayer warriors. The prayers we pray build layer upon layer an intangible aura of light and goodness that soak us, permeate and envelop us. And just like in the physical universe, what goes around always comes around. The laws of cause and effect also govern the spiritual universe. It is uncanny but most of us who try our best to nurture a spiritual life even as we take care of our bodies, have that instinctive gift for detecting which among us emanate this invisible shield of energy and light. They are usually the ones with the quiet or sometimes effusive, contagious joy about them. Strangely, we tend to gravitate towards such people.
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After all, as humans, we are all in this together, from one generation to the next. As the Jesuit priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin once so astutely said of humanity: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” I have the strangest feeling that with faith and unceasing prayer, both mother and son and his new family will be just fine in the end. There is no doubt it will be a long tough slog but they won’t be alone. The woman has faith. She reaches out and asks for prayers and the ripple of powerful heartfelt prayers builds up like a tsunami wave that will burst open heaven’s door for the graces they need. Will we ever know for certain of the outcome? Perhaps not, but that is what faith does. We do not need to know. We simply trust in God’s ways. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - April 15, 2020
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - April 15, 2020
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