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APRIL 24-30, 2020 Volume 13 - No. 25 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

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WHO: Lifting lockdown should be gradual DATELINE USA

by JOVIC

YEE Inquirer.net

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump says he will temporarily suspend immigration during COVID-19 pandemic

AS the coronavirus pandemic puts his administration under even more scrutiny, President Donald Trump took to Twitter this week to announce that he plans to “temporarily” terminate immigration to the United States.

“In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporar-

THE World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, April 21 that any plans to ease quarantine restrictions should be carried out gradually to prevent a likely resurgence of infections as President Rodrigo Duterte weighed

whether to lift, extend or loosen the lockdown he imposed on Luzon nearly two months ago to halt the spread the new coronavirus in the Philippines.

According to Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the WHO Western Pacific regional director, the lockdowns and other stringent measures have been “proven to be effective in slowing

down and reducing the transmission” of SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID19, which has downed 2.46 million people globally and killed 169,863 of them as of Tuesday.

But Kasai acknowledged that the restrictions had upended millions of lives and had had a major impact on economies that

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

Palace says decision on Luzon-wide quarantine to be ‘carefully’ studied

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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50 Filipinos in northeast US die of coronavirus

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will “carefully” study his options before deciding what to do with the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Malacañang said on Wednesday, April 22.

“The decision will be carefully studied as the

governments are now deciding how best to remove them without rolling back their gains in trying to suppress the contagion.

Public health principles He noted that while there was no one-size-fits-all solution to this issue, the WHO strongly urged governments to make decisions

STRICTER CHECKPOINT. The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) implements stricter checkpoints along Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 21. This is to check compliance of motorists especially motorcycle drivers with quarantine rules.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

FIFTY Filipinos and Filipino Americans have succumbed to the novel coronavirus in the 10 states covered by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, according to Consul General Claro Cristobal.

“The pandemic is very much in our midst and our community has been affected badly.

Out of the 50 casualties, 18 are front-liners, doctors, nurses, hospital transport workers, laboratory technicians, among others,” Cristobal said. “That’s huge. The fatality rate is about 3.4%. That’s about 1 out of every 3 Filipino deaths in the Northeast so far.”

Addressing the members of the Fil-Am Press Club of New York through Facebook Live, Cristobal shared updates to the community and urged people to continue staying at home.

The media briefing happened after an online

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NYPD detective, film director, doctor Duterte offers P10M reward to Filipino who can discover COVID-19 vaccine among latest virus casualties

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

have documented the deaths of frontliners, from doctors THE Filipino community in to nurses to heath aides. This New York continues to mourn week, we are looking into the the loss of some community lives of an occupational theramembers to complications aris- pist who was also a filmmaker, ing from the coronavirus infec- a New York Police Department tion. New York City has more detective, a doctor, and a couple than 130,000 as of press time, married for 44 years.

Gerry Balasta (New York roughly about 17.5 percent of the 830,000 reported cases in City) On March 15, Gerry Balasta the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University data. posted on his Facebook wall the For the past few weeks, we u PAGE 2 AJPress

Gerry Balasta

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to give P10 million in reward money to any Filipino citizen who can find a cure for the novel coronavirus.

“Because COVID-19 is public enemy number one not only in the Philippines, but also in the whole world, the President is announcing that he will give

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President Rodrigo Duterte

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

April 24-30, 2020 • NEW YOrK AND NEW JErSEY ASiAN JOUrNAl

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From the Front Page NYPD detective, film director, doctor among...

WHO: Lifting lockdown should...

PAGE 1

guided by public health principles and that any easing of measures should be gradually done.

“If restrictions are relaxed too soon before a strong system is in place to identify, isolate, care for the sick and trace their contacts, this will likely lead to a resurgence of the disease,” Kasai said in an online press conference.

“The important key principles are: [decisions] should be based on data and public health principles, the lifting [of the lockdown] should be gradual and in a phased manner, and individual interventions should be addressed in a riskbased manner by checking its effectiveness depending on the cultural context,” he added As of Monday, the Western Pacific region, home to 22 countries including the Philippines, had 132,438 confirmed coronavirus cases. It accounted for nearly 5 percent of all fatalities, or 5,648 patients.

Within the week, Duterte is expected to decide whether to

prolong the Luzon lockdown or enforce it only in parts of the island where there is active transmission of the virus.

“This is not the time to be lax. Instead, we need to ready ourselves for a new way of living in the foreseeable future,” Kasai said. “As we move forward in this difficult time, our lives, our health system and approach to stopping transmission must continue to adapt and evolve along with the epidemic, at least until a vaccine or very effective treatment is found,” he added.

There are currently more than 70 candidate vaccines, of which three are in the first phase of clinical trials while one is in the second phase, the WHO said.

No country is safe“As long as the new coronavirus is circulating, no country is safe from potentially overwhelming outbreaks. We can only get out of this together,” Kasai said.

“Citizens should accept the responsibility of protecting themselves, their family and community through social

distancing, frequent hand washing and staying at home.

The private sector should also adopt new ways of working from home and other measures to reduce infection in the workplace,” he added.

Asked what industries might be allowed to reopen without causing a second wave of infection, Kasai said such businesses included those with low concentration of contact as well as those that could modify their operations to minimize risk of infection “What is important is to have a system where we could monitor whether we’re lifting [the measures] in the right way or would need to bring back certain interventions,” he said.

Some Asian and European governments have gradually eased or started relaxing lockdown measures like quarantines, school and business closures and restrictions on public gatherings, citing a decline in the growth coronavirus case counts and deaths.

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PAGE 1 story of Penn Baluyut’s brother, one of the earliest deaths caused by the coronavirus.

“My friends and colleagues, Please stay safe everyone.

Something to ponder in these difficult times as this gets so real so quick and very close to home,” he wrote. “This is so tragic and kindly share if you can, I’m not able to tag everyone. Please be careful and take care. All the best, and we will make it through this,” Exactly a month after he wrote it, Balasta died. He was 49 years old.

A registered Occupational Therapist, Balasta is also an entrepreneur and a filmmaker, among other things. He is the CEO of Wonderful Beginnings NY, which specializes in early childhood and early intervention program for children from birth to 3 years old and beyond and he was looking forward to going full blast this year.

He is also a film enthusiast and made a film, The Mountain Thief, which made the filmfest circuit a decade ago. Among the festivals where Balasta’s film screened was the D.C. Asian Pacific American Film Festival, where he received the 2010 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award.

Balasta co-founded the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) with his friend and colleague Luis Pedron.

“He was supportive to me, and his family, his film community, Filipino community in NY and the Philippines and medical community as an OT,” Pedron told the Asian Journal. “He was always thinking of how he can help and how he can make a difference. Marami siyang natulungan.”

Pedron recalled meeting Balasta more than ten years ago in community events in the city. Their love for film bonded them.

About 12 years we met throughout different Filipino events but we spoke about filmmaking during an IFP (Independent Feature Project) event at FIT in Manhattan,” Pedron said.

Raymond Abear (New York City) Det. Raymond Abear was one of the two NYPD officers who died on April 13 due to the coronavirus. He was 43 years old and is survived by his wife, their 2-year-old son and 5-month-old daughter “He had this amazing ability to make you feel connected,” Det. Kevin Fulham told CBS News. “Before I walked through

Dr. Tomas Pattugalan

NYPD Detective Raymond Abear

Susana, 64, and Alfredo Pabatao, 68, of Palisades Park, are among those in New Jersey who contracted coronavirus and later died. The couple died four days apart.

Photo courtesy of Sheryl Pabatao

the door, I just heard this voice, and that’s what he was. He was loud and he was funny.”

Abear, who has been with the NYPD for 19 years, was the first person Det. Fulham met at the Queens Special Victims Division.

He’s one of at least 32 members of the NYPD to die from COVID-19. According to the NYPD, 4,435 of its members have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak began.

Abear’s cousin Maricel Evasco posted her own tribute on her Facebook wall. She called Abear a loving uncle to her kids.

“His loss is so painful. I think about him in my sleep,” she wrote. “Like his dad, my Tito Boy, Raydil was one of the most genuinely caring relative in our large clan. We always knew he got our backs.”

The Detectives Endowment Association, the second largest labor union in the New York City Police Department, uploaded a video that showed the transport of Abear’s body from the hospital to the funeral parlor in Staten Island.

The video’s caption read, “Today, with masks on our faces, the DEA and hundreds of our brothers and sisters in blue lined up to salute hero Detective Raymond Abear — another tragic loss due to COVID-19.

Honoring fallen Finest is a tradition unstoppable by any force.

Our responsibility does not stop there as we vow to never forget Raymond, and forever be here for his loving family. Please keep them all in your prayers.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for Abear’s wife and two small children.

Dr. Tomas Pattugalan, Private Practice (Queens, NY) Dr. Tomas Pattugalan, 70, a primary care physician in Queens fought the war against coronavirus. He passed away on March 29, 2020 in the emergency department at Nassau University Medical Center.

“It is with profound sadness that I announce the death of our colleague, Tomas Pattugalan, MD,” said Harry S. Jacob, MD, Chief Executive Medical Officer of Primary PartnerCare. “Dr Pattugalan loved and cared for his patients, truly exemplifying the profession of medicine, and the critical role of primary care in our country.”

“Being a doctor was not a job for Tomas, it was a calling and a profession. He loved being a doctor.” Dr. Jacob stated.

The frontline, private practice doctors are silently fighting this war with little recognition or support. He continued to see patients in his Queens practice up until mid March when he converted to telehealth.

Alfredo & Susana Pabatao (Palisades Park, NJ)

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Trump says he will temporarily suspend immigration...

PAGE 1 ily suspend immigration into the United States!” Trump tweeted on Monday, April 20, unsurprisingly generating controversy and confusion among White House officials and pundits alike.

As a result, the next morning on Tuesday, April 21 administration officials began scrambling to draft the executive order with the hope of Trump signing it later this week.

Trump’s tweet, which came as a surprise to policy experts and administration officials, may largely be a symbolic move characteristic of the president’s disciplinarian nature; and, what is actually known about the highly-anticipated executive order fails to introduce new, permanent policies.

According to an administration official who spoke to reporters, the order is expected to temporarily bar the issuance of new green cards, a policy change already implemented by the State Department in March.

On Tuesday night, Trump further clarified his executive order by saying that the immigration ban would only last for 60 days (with the possibility of extension depending on the state of the economy) and would only apply to those

seeking green cards.

A second administration official said that the executive order will place a 120-day ban for work visas to mitigate unemployment concerns raised amid the massive layoffs and business closures across the country.

Additionally, a White House official confirmed that it would not apply to those with temporary work visas because of the arduous process of sorting out those visas. Also, many immigrants who have temporary work visas work in front line industries — like agriculture, food processing and health care — that are most needed during the pandemic.

But the rest of what the order will include remains largely a mystery. It is unclear what legal executive authority Trump will utilize and what other channels of immigration, like family petitioning and parole programs, will be affected.

The announcement of the executive order is yet another attempt from Trump and his administration to slash, not only illegal immigration, but also legal immigration channels. Previously, he has called to restrict family petitioning and lottery visa programs.

Most recently, his administration tightened the public

charge rule, making it more difficult for lower income undocumented immigrants to achieve legal permanent status.

“It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday night.

Though the move is temporary and doesn’t signal a major shift in current immigration policy under Trump, it could affect tens of thousands of immigrants waiting to immigrate, many of whom are looking to reunite with family members who are U.S. citizens. Data from the Dept. of Homeland Security found that last year 459,000 people were issued green cards, which is a 13% drop from 2018.

On Tuesday, the newly-appointed White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sent a statement praising the president’s commitment “to protecting the health and economic well-being of American citizens as we face unprecedented times,” but she provided no additional details or timing for the executive order.

Though a full-blown ban of immigration has never been enacted in the U.S., the president has broader authority to

WHO: Lifting lockdown should...

PAGE 2

Easing Luzon lockdown In the Philippines, health experts are pushing for a gradual easing of the Luzon lockdown, recommending the imposition of restrictions on parts of the island with high infection rates.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday that no one among the health experts consulted by the government had recommended a “total lockdown,” a threat being spread by some people on social media.

The President met with the health experts and former heads of the Department of Health (DOH) and listened to their recommendations on what steps his administration could take after April 30, when the lockdown ends.

Present at the meeting were former health secretaries Janette Garin, Esperanza Cabral and Jaime Galvez-Tan. Roque said Duterte made no decision, as he still had to hear from the DOH, National Economic and Devel-

opment Authority, and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, the temporary government body overseeing the administration’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.

“He said his decision may come today or may come on April 30. Because whatever his decision will be, people might leave their houses. But what is clear is that no one recommended [ a total lockdown] in Luzon. They said there is a need to relax or lift the quarantine [in] areas where there are few cases of COVID-19,” Roque said.

Metro lockdown extension Several senators on Tuesday supported a proposal for the extension of the lockdown in Metro Manila, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Sen. Sonny Angara, the Senate finance committee chair who survived COVID-19, said he agreed with the proposal of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go to further extend the lockdown after April 30, but the

government should inform the public about it ahead of the extension. “[Go’s proposal] sounds like a reasonable proposal,” Angara said in a Viber message. He said the government should open the ports and allow the free movement of food and other necessities throughout the country.

Sen. Joel Villanueva also supported Go’s proposal, saying certain businesses like food manufacturing, logistics and construction might be allowed to resume operations in Bulacan, Cebu, Davao and even in some parts of Metro Manila.

But people who would be allowed to return to work should be strictly required to follow public health measures, he added.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said commerce should be allowed to resume in coronavirus-free parts of the country, but local government and the private sector should jointly conduct mass testing. n

Dateline USa

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BOTTLENECK. Motorists, mostly front-liners, fall in line to get inspected by police at a quarantine checkpoint near the boundary of Las Piñas City and Bacoor City in Cavite on Monday, April 20. They may be riding alone on their own motorcycles and yet obviously there is no physical distancing here. Authorities have tightened security at checkpoints as more vehicles are seen on the roads despite the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Duterte offers P10M reward to Filipino who...

PAGE 1 a reward of up to P10 million to any Filipino who can discover a vaccine against COVID-19,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced at a press briefing on Tuesday, April 21.

He added that Duterte will also offer a “substantial grant” to the laboratories of the University of the Philippines and the Philippine General Hospital for vaccine development.

The Philippine General Hospital, one of the main referral hospitals for COVID-19 patients, has also asked those who have recovered from the disease for blood donations to be used in finding a cure.

Scientists are checking if they can use the antibodies developed by a recovered COVID-19 patient to help those who are still struggling with the disease to combat it, according to CNN Philippines.

Among the recovered patients who have donated are Philippine Senators Sonny Angara and Migz Zubiri.

Duterte earlier said he will only lift the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon to help contain the spread of COVID-19 once a cure has been discovered.

As of writing, there are a total of 6,710 confirmed cases

of COVID-19 in the country, with 446 fatalities and 693 recoveries.

Of the health care professionals, 1,602 have been infected with the disease — 422 are workers and 386 are nurses. Medical and radiological technologists as well as nursing assistants have been also infected.

The World Health Organization has described the situation as “worrisome” as 13% of the cases in the country are health care workers when the average for medical workers infected with COVID-19 in the Western Pacific region is only 2 to 3%. n

Palace says decision on Luzon-wide...

PAGE 1 lives of the people and the nation are at stake,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during a press briefing.

Senator Bong Go said Duterte was slated to announce the next action that the government will take with regards to the quarantine by April 23.

On Tuesday, Roque said Duterte is weighing whether to “maintain, relax or lift” Luzon’s quarantine, following the recommendations given to him by health experts and former heads of the Department of Health during Monday’s meeting.

“Ang option na lumabas kahapon ay ipagpatuloy, ‘di naman kaya i-relax o di naman kaya completely itigil ang ECQ sa iba’t ibang lugar ng bansa, depende sa dami ng kaso ng COVID-19 (The option being recommended yesterday was continue, relax or completely stop ECQ in different areas in the country, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases),” he said.

However, Roque revealed that experts lobbied for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), and portions of Bulacan to remain under quarantine after April 30 due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in those areas.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, meanwhile, noted that the infection rate of COVID-19 has slowed down from three days to five days due to the quarantine.

“Actually, we are able to see, along with the private sector, that we have been able to slow down the infection rate of COVID-19. You can see that the rate of doubling is well… in some studies comparing the Philippines to other countries, we are between five to 10 days,” said Secretary to the Cabinet and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles.

“Because some countries double (the infection rate) every three days, while other (countries) double between two days to three days. The Philip-

pines is within the segment that its cases double every five to 10 days,” he added.

According to Nograles, this is one of the bases they will consider while deciding the next steps on what to do after April 30.

Roque also said that the Palace agrees with the statement of World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warning that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to come.

“We further agree with the WHO chief’s assertion that ‘it’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.’ It is for this reason that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been in consultation with different experts across different sectors on how to best address the COVID-19 situation in the country,” Roque said.

He added, “He even set aside politics and met Health secretaries of previous administrations as he weighs the different options for our people.”n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 24-30, 2020

OPINION

FEATURES

No room for thievery

THERE are complaints about favoritism in the selection of beneficiaries and in prioritizing the areas for distribution of aid.

There are reports of assistance being diverted for personal use, and of relief items such as rice being replaced with cheaper varieties.

Personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development were supposed to be in charge of directly handing out financial and other forms of assistance to people who are suffering from the economic impact of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 or coronavirus disease 2019. But because of the inadequacy of DSWD manpower, the task has been largely relegated to local governments and barangay offices.

Amid the complaints about anomalies in aid distribution, the Office of the Ombudsman has warned barangay personnel that there will be an audit of the utilization of over P200 billion in COVID-related assistance funds and relief goods provided under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Republic Act 11469. Apart from facing penalties provided under RA 11469, those who misuse the COVID funds will face charges

5

for violating laws against graft and plunder, the ombudsman warned.

Allegations of wrongdoing in aid distribution are on top of continuing complaints about barangay personnel, together with some police officers, going overboard in punishing people who violate quarantine rules.

In several areas, local executives and barangay officials who like playing god have also imposed narrow window hours – apart from the nighttime curfew hours – for going to markets and drug stores even in areas that are not under extreme lockdown. This has effectively promoted crowding and difficulty in observing physical distancing. Yesterday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government ordered local executives to stop imposing such window hours. The DILG should see to it that its order is followed, with penalties imposed for defiance.

Amid complaints about officials pocketing COVID funds, there is a sound proposal for the publication of the names of aid beneficiaries, in platforms that can be accessed by the public for verification of identities and qualifications

Editorial

GEL SANTOS-RELOS

CDC director warns of deadlier second virus wave this winter as many GOPled states open despite uptick in cases

WE are in a war against the coronavirus infection.

After bragging he is a “wartime president,” we would think President Donald Trump would finally unite the country in leading us all, regardless of political affiliation, race, age, gender, income, and immigration status toward safety and to mitigate the spread of this pandemic.

But instead, Trump has

again pushed to irresponsibly re-open the United States for business, despite serious warnings from scientists, health officials and experts, many governors and mayors that “we are not there yet” and that relaxing the social distancing safety measures would put the lives and safety of the American people at risk.

More ominous is a dire warning from the director of

The Fil-Am Perspective

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through.”

CDC Director Robert Redfield said in an interview with The Washington Post, “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronaPAGE 7

Philstar.com photo

for emergency aid. The government must also provide hotlines where people can report complaints, even anonymously.

Life under quarantine is arduous enough without people being victimized by abusive and

crooked public officials. Revenue collection has also been badly hit by the quarantine, and every centavo of that P200-billion COVID relief fund must be utilized judiciously. There is no room for thievery in this pandemic. (Philstar.com)

US luring medical professionals

Commentary

REYNALDO ARCILLA FOR the past three weeks, I’ve been trying to replenish the twice daily maintenance medication that my wife and I need, to no avail.

Not one of the Mercury Drug and other drugstores in and around our area (Muntinlupa City) have them. I’m talking about medication for hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and another for the heart — health issues that are common among persons of age

group 60 and above.

The reason given is that they are out of stock and there have been no deliveries. They also said they would call us as soon as supplies become available. Still nothing available as of this writing.

I’m almost sure the same situation exists in other areas in Metro Manila, if not the entire country.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) may wish to look into this situation before it becomes

dire.

Another form of ‘modern piracy?’

Three weeks ago, I wrote about the accusation leveled against the United States by a German official for committing what he called “modern piracy” for the alleged diversion of face masks ordered by Berlin from China. This was later labeled as fake news.

Nonetheless, the masks reportedly remain unaccounted for.

France and Canada also talked about shipments of face masks being allegedly PAGE 10

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Locsin: Diplomatic protests sent to China over On Earth Day, conservationists violations of int’l law, Philippine sovereignty urge UN to make a ‘healthy natural environment’ a human right

by Ratziel

San Juan Philstar.com

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday, April 22, said that two diplomatic protests have been filed today at the local Chinese embassy, namely “the pointing of a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship in [Philippine] waters” and “declaring parts of Philippine territory as part of Hainan province.”

The country’s top diplomat did not expound on the details of either incident but said that both constitute “violations of international law and Philippine sovereignty.” “[W]e worked on this the whole day. And that is all that will be said on it because diplomatic notes are strictly confidential between the two states parties. Period,” Locsin posted on social media Wednesday evening.

“I expect that no one else in the government will comment

by Gaea

KatReena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — As the world faces the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing climate crisis, conservationists called on the United Nations to declare a healthy natural environment a fundamental human right.

In an open letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, global conservation partnership BirdLife International asked the organization to enshrine a new article in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights—one that recForeign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Philstar.com photo ognizes the right to a healthy on it because they are not Network has reported that environment.

“The health of our planet, competent to do it. Only the Beijing has established two president himself can reveal districts to administer the our ecosystems, our econothese notes of his alter ego the Paracel and Spratlys under mies, indeed ourselves, cry out now for the General Assembly Secretary of Foreign Affairs Sansha City in Hainan.

Over the global coronavirus to recognize our universal and rule thereon.”

China Global Television PAGE 10 right to live in a healthy natural

environment—guaranteed by public policies and governed by sustainability and the best scientific and traditional indigenous knowledge,” the letter read.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. Its 30 articles cover subjects such as torture, education, freedom of expression but the declaration says nothing about preserving the environment.

The letter called for the right to a healthy natural environment to be included on the agenda of the UN General Assembly’s Summit on Biodiversity in September 2020, with the ultimate goal of its approval in December 2023.

If approved, the amendment would be the first addition since the milestone document was proclaimed in December

1948.

“Our magnificent Earth is equally sacred and there has perhaps never been a more important moment to enshrine a human right that would oblige us all to respect it, for the benefit of all,” the letter read.

Experts say that the current coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 2.5 million worldwide has its roots in the degradation of ecosystem and the illegal wildlife trade.

“COVID-19 marks the persistence of an old enemy. We believe that human-caused ecosystem disturbances is one of the urgent environmental issues that should be addressed today in order to prevent pandemics,” Alejandro Flores Jr., Haribon Foundation Board of Trustees chair, said. Haribon is the partner of BirdLife in the Philippines. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 24-30, 2020

OFW remittances seen falling by 20% CDC director warns of deadlier second virus...

World Bank sees many job losses due to economic crisis induced by COVID-19 pandemic

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

REMITTANCE flows to the Philippines may decline by more than a fifth this year as many Filipinos working and living abroad stood to lose employment while the global economy grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington-based World Bank said.

“Year-on-year growth in remittances [to the Philippines] for January and February 2020 was 4.8 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively, suggesting little slowdown to date. However, the government is anticipating a 20-30 percent decline in remittances for 2020 and a corresponding growth rate of 2 percent due to the fallout from COVID-19,” the World Bank said in its latest Migration and Development Brief for April 2020 titled “COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens” released on Wednesday, April 22.

Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rose by a faster 4 percent to $35.2 billion last year, the World Bank noted.

The World Bank nonetheless said that historically, countries hit by crises tended to receive more remittances as migrants supported their families back home.

“Migrants new and old increase the amounts they send home during times of crisis and

hardship in their country of origin, a phenomenon [called] as the countercyclicality of remittances,” it said.

“During a crisis in the host country, however, remittances can decline. For instance, during the global financial crisis, remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries declined by 5 percent in 2009,” it added.

In the case of the Philippines, the World Bank noted: “[An] event study showed the countercyclical increase in remittance flows to the Philippines during the bird flu pandemic in November 2003, and a procyclical decline in response to the global financial crisis starting in September 2008.”

But the World Bank said it would help that remittance fees to the Philippines were among the lowest in the East Asia and Pacific region.

Across East Asia and the Pacific, the World Bank expects remittances to drop 13 percent this year, “to be driven by declining inflows from the United States, the largest source of remittances to the region,” it said in a statement.

Across the globe, the World Bank projected the “sharpest decline of remittances in recent history” of about 20 percent “due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.”

“The projected fall is largely due to a fall in the wages

and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country. Remittances to low and middle-income countries are projected to fall by 19.7 percent to $445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households,” the World Bank said.

“Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies. Remittances help families afford food, health care, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities’ access to these most basic needs,” World Bank Group president David Malpass said.

Remittances were the Philippines’ biggest source of foreign exchange income, insulating the domestic economy from external shocks by ensuring steady supply of dollars into the financial system.

These cash transfers were also a major driver of consumption, hence contributing to economic growth. n

NYPD detective, film director, doctor among...

PAGE 2

Alfredo & Susana Pabatao, both health care workers and married for 44 years, died four days apart in the same hospital in New Jersey.

On March 26, Alfredo succumbed to COVID19 at the age of 68. His wife Susana, 64, died four days later. They were both admitted to the Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, where Alfredo worked for 18 years as a transport aide. Susana worked as an assistant nurse at a nursing home.

“They are wonderful, dedicated, medical front liners, amazing grandparents, loving parents, caring siblings, extraordinary Tita and Tito, exceptional friends, coworkers and colleagues,” their youngest daughter, Sheryl Pabatao, wrote on their GoFundMe page. “They were

everyone’s shoulder to cry on, lean on and even just someone to listen to.”

Sheryl started a GoFundMe page for her parents’ funeral and memorial expenses, saying that the sudden death of their parents has taken a toll on their family mentally, emotionally and financially.

In a moving tribute to her father, Sheryl said that Alfredo had the most vibrant attitude: he was always optimistic, always smiling and telling jokes. He was nurturing and welcoming to his family, colleagues, coworkers, family friends and relatives.

“He was hardworking and had an incredible work ethic.

But of all the roles he fulfilled throughout his lifetime, the most important one was being Dad. He never failed or disappointed us. He’s a hand to hold when everything is uncertain. He stays with you to

your lowest point of your life and will pick you up over and over with unconditional love.

This virus will never define him nor defeat him. He was a true warrior,” she wrote.

“It breaks my heart twice to write another obituary for my mom just a couple of days apart from my dad’s passing.

My mom Susana Pabatao lived her life full of compassion,” Sheryl wrote. “She genuinely loved her job, she took care of the elderly with her whole heart. She’s the one that’s there to hold their hands and consoled them when their own family doesn’t show up.”

Sheryl hopes to be able to ho honor their last wishes and bring their ashes back home to the Philippines. She and her siblings are also planning to start a nonprofit foundation or scholarship that will cater to low-income families. n

PAGE 5 virus epidemic at the same time.”

In the report, Redfield explained that having two simultaneous respiratory outbreaks would put unimaginable strain on the health-care system. The COVID-19 pandemic alone has overwhelmed hospitals, and contrary to the claims of the Trump administration, the United States has concerning shortages in test kits, ventilators, hospitals beds, ICU, and even protective equipment for health-care workers, who have already killed so many of our front liners in the line of duty.

As of press time on Tuesday, April 21, COVID-19 has killed more than 44,000 Americans and infected more than 816,240 people. Many parts of the country continue to report a record number of deaths and infection cases.

Globally, total cases have topped 2.5 million, with a nearly 176,000 death toll.

This is the reality we are now facing and yet, Trump has been encouraging people from different Republicanled states to protest against the social distancing, stayat-home and shelter-in-place safety measures.

Trump even praised these protestors for their “patriotism,” saying they love this country and want to go back to work. He has been encouraging and inciting protesting people to defy the safety orders of the governors, which the demonstrators say violated their “civil rights” — eating out in restaurants, getting tattoos, chilling in the bars, getting their hair and nails done, working out in the gym, attending concerts, partying, etc.

CEOs have also been pressuring Trump about their businesses’ growing losses, leading them to fire or furlough workers and causing an uptick in the unemployment rate, and investors selling their shares in the stock market has lowered the GDP. These are “numbers” Trump has been obsessed with and critical to his re-election.

Trump himself has been complaining how the social distancing measures have prevented him from holding his campaign rallies, which he boasted had been attended by hundreds of thousands of American people, the numbers of which he claims the world has never

seen before. Another important number for Trump: crowd size and ratings!

Therefore, the president has been using the taxpayer-funded coronavirus daily briefings to rewrite history about his inaction for two months after he was warned about the possible threat of the pandemic by our own intelligence agencies. He has called COVID-19 a hoax and accused the Democrats of using it to kick him out of office. He has taken advantage of the briefings to spread lies, confusing the American people with his “doublespeak” to give him political cover.

And even after the coronavirus has progressed to be a pandemic, killing so many Americans, Trump remained fixated on his ratings and his need to be praised by the governors before he starts heeding their call for help from the federal government. Further, he has directed coronavirus stimulus funds to give more money to rich corporations instead of ordinary hardworking Americans.

Trump also announced Tuesday that he will stop immigration to the United PAGE 10

50 Filipinos in northeast US die...

PAGE 1 health forum that tackled the epidemiology of COVID-19.

In this forum, Cristobal shared that the first case in New York contracted the disease at a family dinner attended by 10 people, where nearly all of them contracted the disease and one died.

Two people at the Philippine Consulate also tested positive and their parents and spouses also contracted it.

The series of health forums is a collaborative effort of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA), Kalusugan Coalition (KC), Philippine Nurses Association of New York (PNANY), and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations of New York (NaFFAA-NY) in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in New York (PCGNY).

New normal Through its own network and the “warden system” implemented a few years ago, the Consulate received reports of deaths of Filipino nationals. Cristobal said that they continue to monitor the figures.

He also appealed to the war-

dens to continue their work and reach out to members of the community, particularly those who live alone. He also asked the community to continue taking care of themselves and practice social distancing if they need to go out for essentials.

Cristobal added that the Philippine Consulate does not stop working even if the offices on Fifth Avenue are closed. They continue to serve Filipinos in emergency cases and they have also been mailing the few passports they have received from Manila.

The consulate has received about 57 requests for assistance, including rebooking of flights and assistance in searching for information, with around 15 seeking financial help.

If and when the lockdown is lifted on May 16, Cristobal said the public should expect a different work setting as new operational procedures will be set in place.

“Major changes will happen,” Cristobal said. “Before you come to the consulate, you must have a valid appointment.”

The consulate will be imple-

menting an online queue-less appointment system, which will give clients a specific time period for their appointments. The system will help ensure both operational efficiency and effective crowd control management. They are expecting to have this operational a week before reopening.

“All community events including the annual Filipino Restaurant Week, will also be cancelled, until it is already safe to resume,” Cristobal added.

On Monday, April 20, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the cancellation of June all parades in the city, including the NYC Pride March and Parade, Puerto Rican Day and Salute to Israel parades, and the Philippine Independence Day Parade along Madison Avenue.

“This year is the 50th anniversary of the pride parade, and it’s a very, very big deal,” De Blasio said in Monday’s briefing. “That march is such an important part of life in this city, but this year in particular it was going to be something that was a historic moment.” n

April 24-30, 2020 • NEW YOrK AND NEW JErSEY ASiAN JOUrNAl

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10 April 24-30, 2020 • NEW YOrK AND NEW JErSEY ASiAN JOUrNAl

Locsin: Diplomatic protests sent to...

PAGE 6 pandemic, the Philippines has maintained strong ties with China — the ‘ground zero’ of the virus that causes COVID 19.

Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is open to accepting China’s offer of help and highlighted their government’s outbreak response.

“Ako ang tingin ko (In my opinion), maybe there will be a time if things deteriorate that I have to call on China to help,” Duterte said in a March 12 address.

“So to the Chinese government, to the people, especially to president Xi Jinping, thank you for the consoling words.

And maybe I hope it would not reach to that point, but maybe we will need your help.

Salamat po (Thank you).”

A day before the Philippines reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, Duterte also told reporters that he is not yet willing to ban flights between the country and China.

“Not yet at this time. As a matter of fact, there is no known transmission from human to human na galing (originating in) China...Mahirap ‘yang ano — sabihin mo (That’s difficult because) you suspend everything because they are not also suspending

theirs and they continue to respect the freedom flights that we enjoy in their country,” Duterte said in a January 29 interview.

China has maritime disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea with the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Over $5 trillion in trade passes yearly through the waterway.

At the height of the global health crisis, China also reportedly began building new facilities on Philippineclaimed terrorities in the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that the rising power owes the Philippines billions in environmental damage and should start paying reparations that would help fund the local COVID-19 response.

“According to reports, China owes us at least P200B in reparations for its damage of reef ecosystems in the [West Philippine] Sea for more than 6 years now. China should stop its adventurism in the region, and pay reparations to the [Philippines] immediately,” the senator posted Wednesday.

“Our government already has a huge budget deficit because of COVID-19. Thus, it should demand what is rightfully ours, and use this to

Dateline PhiliPPines

PAGE 7 States for 60 days, explaining that this freeze will block green card recipients from moving to the country but allow temporary workers to arrive.

Trump regurgitated his demonizing claims against immigrants. As the Post reported, Trump decreed late Monday that he “wanted to protect the country from the threat of foreigners bringing the virus to U.S. shores and to stem the economic crash the pandemic has triggered — and he retweeted the same post Tuesday, in one measure of his enthusiasm for the plan.”

WE ARE IN A WAR. And yet this president continues to divide the nation and has been riding on and enflaming the frustrations of the people to demand the relaxation of social distancing and force their local government officials to open for business — all because of his personal and political motives.

This is a betrayal of the

oath he took as president of the United States: to protect the people’s safety and lives.

More Americans have been killed by this war against the coronavirus more than any other war before!

This is selfish. This is short-sided. This is electioneering. This is criminal. This is immoral.

We are in a war and our first goal is to keep our people safe and alive. But this president, who has put the blame to all but himself, continues to pull the country into his quagmire, stirred by his own greed for power and money more than anything else.

This is not a Democrat argument. This is a fight for our life.

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele called out Trump for defending those protesting stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Steele pointed out that those protestors “aren’t just putting their own lives at risk,

US luring medical...

strengthen our health system, PAGE 5 to increase the aid given to diverted from China to the low-middle-income families, U.S. These, too, were denied and to help [Filipinos] recover by the U.S. post-COVID.” But one thing the U.S. canThe Chinese Embassy in not now deny is its attempt to the Philippines, however, lure, to pirate if you will, medresponded indirectly to Hon- ical professionals from other tiveros, saying that China countries, including the Phildoes not need to shoulder ippines, to come to the U.S. the Philippine government’s to help in battling COVID-19 COVID-19-related expens- with a promise to disregard es. the usual waiting period.

“China and the Philippine The U.S. State Department are working closely to fight posted the following advisory the common threat of the in its website: COVID-19 pandemic. At this “We encourage medical trying time, it is ridiculously professionals seeking work absurd and irresponsible to in the US on a work or exmake such remarks for the change visitor visa (H or J), sole purpose of catching eye- particularly those working on balls and for selfish political #COVID19 issues, to contact gains,” the embassy posted the nearest U.S. Embassy/ Wednesday night.

Consulate for a visa appoint“China and the Philippines ment. Please see more inare friendly neighbors across formation here: http://ow.ly/ the sea. China will continue rPU450yX6fJ.” to provide our support and No doubt, many Filipino assistance to the best of our nurses, and doctors too, will ability to the Philippines, want to take advantage of the and stand together with the opportunity to avail of the Philippine government and U.S. offer. people to jointly tackle the Fortunately for us, the challenges and tide over the IATF-EID has decided that difficulties.” the temporary deployment Presidential spokesperson ban on health workers exHarry Roque last week said empts only those with existthat as China’s “BFF,” the ing contracts returning to Philippines would hopefully their jobs abroad and those be prioritized if the former with contracts signed as of develops a cure for the novel March 8. coronavirus. n The temporary suspension is “until the national state of emergency is lifted and until COVID-19-related travel restrictions are lifted in the desthey’re also endangering the tination countries.”

As it were, the country allives of vulnerable people ready had a shortage of nursaround them.”

“Go to work and die?” he es even before COVID-19, asked in a report by MSNBC. mainly because many chose “Go to work and get sick? to work in other countries because of higher pay.

What is the point of that?”

President Rodrigo Duterte, He continued, “And if you weigh your job greater than aka Digong, says he has no you weigh your grandpar- “emotion,” one way or the ents’ lives or your children’s other, about the deployment lives or your own life, maybe ban and that he does not that’s your individual choice, mind seeing Filipino health but that’s not something that workers leave while the numI’m willing to take a risk with ber of COVID-19 cases in the country is rising. my life on.”

“I do not blame anyone. I WHAT is more important to you? Money and “civil am not angry. I do not have liberties” or your life and emotions actually about this. the lives and safety of your But if you Filipino nurses want to serve other countries, family and country? other people, it’s OK with *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, me,” he said.

“America is part of the talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN problem of the Filipinos now and is now serving the Filipino audience kasi sa karaming tinamaan sa using different platforms, including kanila, marami nang patay, digital broadcasting, and print, and maski sino nalang nananis working on a new public service awagan sila basta ‘yung nars, program for the community. You may mga nars, sige punta kayo sa contact her through email at gelrelos@ embassy, i-process nila ang icloud.com, or send her a message via visa, one day; kinabukasan, Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos. lipad ka na (because many people there have been inRelos.

CDC director warns of deadlier second virus...

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fected, many are dead, [that is why] they are calling on anyone; nurses, you can go to the embassy, it will process your visa in one day; the next day you can already fly [out of the country]),” Digong lamented.

Last Sunday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 720,630 COVID-19 cases in the U.S., an increase of 29,916 cases from its previous count, and that the number of deaths had risen by 1,759 to 37,202.

Trump politicizing COVID-19?

Not too long ago, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping and they reportedly agreed to cooperate with each other in battling COVID-19. China sent face masks and other paraphernalia to the U.S. afterwards.

So, why does Trump now keep on blaming China for causing the pandemic, notwithstanding the fact that there has been no concrete evidence uncovered to justify the accusation?

The answer: politics!

Trump is running for reelection this November and the Democrats are accusing him of being “soft” on China.

Trump also seems to be trying to cover up his failure to act posthaste in battling COVID-19 by using China as a scapegoat.

Ex-military men and Locsin in Cabinet As far as I can recall, President Digong’s idol, the late president Ferdinand Marcos, appointed during his nearly 20-year watch only two exmilitary officers — Alejandro Melchor Jr. and Ernesto Mata. All his other Cabinet members were civilian technocrats who proved themselves to be highly qualified and effective.

Of course, there was Gen. Carlos Romulo, who was not, strictly speaking, from the military. He was a journalist and an editor. He was also the spokesman of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War 2. It was he who coined MacArthur’s famous “I shall return” vow when he left the Philippines for Australia.

MacArthur at first wanted to say “We shall return,” but Romulo advised him that the Filipino people would believe him more if he said “I shall return.”

The main reason given

by Digong for appointing so many ex-military men to his Cabinet is that they were

more disciplined and followed orders without questions or something to that effect.

Many suspect it is more than that. They say that if discipline is the main reason he appoints ex-military men to his Cabinet, all the more reason he should demand that of the civilians in his team.

They cite, for instance, his defiant, recalcitrant, quarrelsome, disobedient and insubordinate Foreign secretary, Teodoro “Tweeterboy” Locsin Jr. They believe, as I do, that Locsin should have been fired long ago, especially after he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations committee and stated that the Visiting Forces Agreement with the U.S. should be “vigorously reviewed” instead of abrogated as Digong wanted.

The question that has been bugging us is what is the compelling reason President Digong couldn’t let go of Locsin, even after committing such a flagrant insubordination? To begin with, he is suspected of actually belonging to the Yellow horde, whose members are unabashed U.S. worshipers.

Mr. President, Sir? Imelda’s jewels There is a proposal to sell the jewelry confiscated from former first lady Imelda Marcos to augment the funds for fighting COVID-19.

I believe this is not the right time to do that. “Babaratin lang ang mga iyan!”

Incidentally, the only Marcos I have heard of who is doing something to help the victims of COVID-19 is one Francis Leo Marcos who apparently is not related to the late president.

Many people are wondering why president Marcos’ family does not seem to be doing their bit. Maybe they prefer to do it quietly? *** From an internet friend: “The current pandemic is exposing not only our [US] government’s utter failures to protect its own citizens, but also its profound lack of human decency in dealing with other nations.” — Oliver Stone, legendary Hollywood director.

(Stone was referring to Washington’s “contempt for human compassion and global solidarity to lift draconian sanctions against Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua and Venezuela during this COVID-19 pandemic.” (ManilaTimes.net)

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COMMUNITY Journal

11

Trump’s executive order ‘suspending’ immigration Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON April 22, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) or Proclamation, effective at 11:59 PM on April 23, 2020, suspending for 60 days the entry of immigrants into the U.S., as they may compete for jobs with unemployed Americans caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some highlights are: 1. It applies to: a. Immigrant visa applicants (both employment- and family-based cases) who are

outside the U.S. on the effective date. Therefore, it does not seem to affect people in the U.S. applying for adjustment of status. b. The person does not yet have an immigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of the proclamation, meaning an immigrant visa has not yet been issued in their passport. c. They do not have any kind of official travel or entry document, such as advance parole, boarding letter, etc. that allows them to enter the U.S. in lieu of having an immigrant visa.

2. This proclamation does not apply to the following: a. Existing green card holders, who may be outside the U.S. on a trip or vacation b. Any alien seeking to en-

ter the U.S. on an immigrant visa as a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional, who will help in combating COVID-19, or recovering from COVID-19, including their immediate family. c. EB-5 investors d. Spouses and children of U.S. citizens, and members of the Armed Forces and their families e. People with nonimmigrant visas such as tourist visas, H-1B visas etc.

The proclamation will expire 60 days from its effective date, and could be extended or modified. Trump said the purpose of this 60 day suspension is to ensure that unemployed Americans will be first in line for jobs as the economy reopens, and PAGE 12

McDonald’s celebrates health care workers and first responders with free ‘thank you meals’ Frontline heroes can enjoy free meals at participating U.S. McDonald’s restaurants

IN appreciation for the healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics who are committed to our health and safety, McDonald’s will offer free Thank You Meals*, between Wednesday, April 22 and Tuesday, May 5, as a token of appreciation for their selfless service.

While the majority of America is staying home, McDonald’s has remained open, with our franchisees and hardworking restaurant employees serving hot meals

to communities who need quick and affordable options, especially those on the frontlines such as healthcare workers and first responders.

The company is grateful for the ongoing dedication and commitment of McDonald’s employees who enable McDonald’s to stay open to serve our communities during these challenging times.

Each Thank You Meal will be available at no charge via drive thru or carry out at participating McDonald’s res-

taurants nationwide through May 5. The Thank You Meal, available during breakfast, lunch or dinner, will feature a choice of sandwiches, drinks, and a side featuring small World Famous Fries or a Hash Brown, along with a note of appreciation. It will be served in McDonald’s iconic Happy Meal box, in the hopes of bringing a smile along with delicious food.

“We have been inspired by the way our franchisees have PAGE 12

ADMITTING TO DRUG USE RESULTED IN LIFETIME BAN FROM ENTERING THE U.S.! Junior (left) was looking forward to joining his wife, Marissa (center), in the U.S. Marissa filed the petition and all the necessary paperwork was in order, including an interview at the U.S. Embassy.

However, they received the news that Junior was banned from entering the U.S. for life due to drug use. The couple was heartbroken. They were wondering if Marissa had to give up a good job in the U.S. just to be with Junior back in the Philippines. Marissa consulted one other lawyer, who gave up based on the medical documents from St. Luke’s, saying they could not defend Junior’s case. Fortunately, friends and family have seen an episode of Citizen Pinoy where the case was like Junior’s. A consultation with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel provided hope and the much-anticipated reconsideration and visa issuance. See how a couple is finally reunited for good on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

12

april 24-30, 2020 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSiaN JOUrNal

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A wife is finally reunited with her husband in US after his ‘lifetime ban’ for admitting drug use was lifted on a brand-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday THIS case involved persuading the U.S. Embassy to reconsider a lifetime ban from entering the U.S. for admitting drug use. Junior was petitioned by his wife, Marissa, in 2004. The petition was approved, and he had undergone all the processing, including medicals at St. Luke’s and an interview at the Embassy.

However, while waiting for the visa, they received the devastating news that Junior

was banned for life from entering the U.S. because he admitted, to the doctors at St. Luke’s, he had used drugs year ago. The couple was heartbroken.

Marissa decided to consult with another lawyer, who eventually gave up based on the medical documents from St. Luke’s, saying they could not defend Junior’s case.

Fortunately, friends and family had seen an episode of Citizen Pinoy where the case

was like Junior’s. The couple consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel and they learned that there may be hope even if one has admitted to drug use in the past.

Watch how the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to convince the Embassy to reconsider and issue the visa, on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Trump’s executive order...

PAGE 11 it’s not fair to them to have to compete with newly arrived immigrants who may have “open market” employment authorizations, allowing them to work anywhere.

In my opinion, this Proclamation is not that disruptive to intending immigrants: – Embassies are closed at the present time anyway. No interviews are being scheduled or visas are being issued, and it’s unlikely a person will be scheduled for an interview within the next 60 days.

– For employment-based Labor Certification, the employer went through tremendous trouble and advertising to recruit U.S. workers, and had the job “certified” for the alien. It’s unlikely

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE international medical community is still examining, observing, and learning about this novelCorona virus, SARS-Cov-2 virus, the cause of COVID19. Since it is new, the virus, which belongs to the family of Corona viruses, is still posing a great challenge to the scientific world and all peoples around the globe.

The first case Since the very first case, a 55-year-old man infected in Wuhan (the city where a

the employer can advertise and interview a qualified U.S. worker within the next 60 days anyway. How would any job interview occur if everyone is “shelter in place” and many businesses are closed?

If you may be affected by these changes in immigration or your case is subject to this proclamation, you may want to consult with an attorney to evaluate your situation and the effects of Trump’s proclamation on your case. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each

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

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

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biolab is working on various viruses), Hubei, China, on November 17, 2019, as reported by South China Morning Post, the actual confirmed case of the nCorona infection was of an elderly man with Alzheimer’s who was homebound and whose symptoms started December 1, 2019. He had not been to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, according to the January 2020 issue of The Lancet. China first reported the Wuhan nCorona outbreak on December 30, 2019. The duplicity and delay have killed thousands of lives around the globe, courtesy of socialism. This would not have happened

in a free and democratic society.

Wuhan COVID-19 deaths up by 50% As of April 17, Chinese officials have reported a 50% increase in the Wuhan city death toll from COVID-19, raising it to 3,869, from 2,579, an increase of 1,290 due to an overwhelmed system which delayed reporting, including those who died at home that were previously unreported. Current cases in the U.S. is greater than 810,000, with more 45,000 deaths; China is around 83,000, with about 4,700 deaths; Philippines, about 6,700, and around PAGE 13

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya I NEARLY had a vehicular accident three years ago.

Operative word: Nearly.

I was minding my business at a traffic stop when the vehicle before me decided to back up because her car was caught in the crosswalk. I then noticed her white backlights were lit indicating that she had left her car in reverse gear.

Instinctively I knew it

Mindfulness as a survival skill in today’s tech crazy world “Be present. It is the only thing that matters.”

— Ways of the Peaceful Warrior was an accident waiting to happen. I was ready with just my senses, reflexes and an annoying horn to blast the danger away. But full disclosure and credit go to my Guardian Angels for the countless times of

full protection. It is like being in tune with God’s cosmic script and being on the same page, most times.

When the lights turned green, true enough, she stepped on the gas and PAGE 13

McDonald’s celebrates health care...

PAGE 11 been going above and beyond to support their local communities throughout this trying time,” said Joe Erlinger, President, McDonald’s USA. “I couldn’t be more proud of how our company, franchisees and supplier partners have come together to give back to those who are working tirelessly for our country.

That is truly our McDonald’s system at its best.”

Day or night, these frontline heroes can simply show their work badge, or be in uniform, to receive one of the below Thank You Meal options: Breakfast A choice of an Egg McMu ffin®, Chicken McGriddles® or a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit. All options come with any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee and a Hash Brown.

Lunch and Dinner A choice of a Double Cheeseburger, 6-Piece Chicken McNuggets® or a Filet-OFish® will be offered. All options come with any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee and small fries.

Serving these brave men and women would not be possible without McDonald’s dedicated and unwavering restaurant employees, who are also doing their part to help during this time. McDonald’s employees are the heart of the business, and their health and safety has been, and will continue to be, the company’s top priority. McDonald’s has implemented nearly 50 new safety measures to ensure the well-being of its employees, and is continuing to explore additional safety steps in accordance with guidance issued by local and national health authorities including the CDC.

“Emergency physicians and other health care workers on the frontlines are spending hours a day on their feet, often missing meals in their efforts to care for their patients,” said Dr. William Jaquis, President of American College of Emergency Physicians. “McDonald’s Thank You Meal is a much appreciated gesture for those risking their lives each day to take a break with a hot meal amidst the turbulence.”

During past times of national crisis, McDonald’s has helped and served communities in need, from donating funds to disaster relief efforts to providing food for those impacted by natural disasters. McDonald’s commitment to feeding the nation’s healthcare workers and first responders throughout the current pandemic is a continuation of that dedication.

Additionally, McDonald’s local franchises have also been working throughout this crisis to support the thousands of communities their restaurants call home.

“Our restaurants have always been a place for the community to come together and share everyday feel-good moments with family, friends and neighbors,” said Vicki Chancellor, an Atlanta-based Owner/Operator and chair of McDonald’s Operator’s National Advertising Committee. “And, now during times like this, it’s more important than ever for our restaurants to continue to serve and help the communities that have supported us for so long.”

Nearly all McDonald’s U.S. restaurants remain open and are offering convenient and contactless ways for customers to enjoy McDonald’s favorites through drive thru,

carry out, McDelivery, and mobile order & pay with our app. *Thank You Meals offered at participating US McDonald’s 4/22/20 through 5/5/20.

Valid ID required. Limit one per person per day. Menu options may vary by restaurant. Visit McDonalds.com for more details.

McDonald’s approach to challenging situations is guided by our belief that we are all in this together, and our system has come together in extraordinary ways to help each other, our customers and the communities we serve. In the U.S. we remain committed to leading by example as an organization, which is why we’ve donated $3.1 million in food to support local communities, made commitments to support truck drivers across the country, donated 1 million N95 masks to Chicago and the state of Illinois and donated $1 million to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund to ensure non-profits in our home state have the supplies they need during this time.

McDonald’s has always been a home base for our communities, and we’re proud to provide calm and comfort to them throughout this crisis. We are here to serve.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day. Ninetyfive percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent local business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www. facebook.com/mcdonalds.

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Mindfulness as a...

PAGE 12 was doing a fast reverse headed to the front of my car. I pounded on my horn and let out the screechiest, loudest, longest honk, enough to scare the daylights out of her. And NO 3-fingered salute. It’s not something I want to give or receive in tenuous situations. Besides, my mother and the nuns who taught me will be aghast.

She braked about a hairline away from my car grille — and then froze.

She didn’t know what to do and held up the lane longer. I had to hand signal her to go. The cars behind us were blasting away with their horns at being kept waiting, unaware that a chain collision that could involve them, has just been averted.

Whew! That was a close call. Imagine the hours that would have been lost never to return again if a crash did occur and you are left to tussle with insurance matters.

I don’t know whether she was a young, new driver, on the phone or just pre-

FOR RENT

occupied with something.

But when you are behind the wheel, it requires all of the neurons in your brains and all your senses to be engaged in just that one activity. Without it, you can do damage not only to yourself but sadly, to others as well, within your immediate physical orbit.

I kept 3 car lengths as following distance until she turned left onto another street.

These are, indeed, the best of times. These are the worst of times as well.

Charles Dickens could have said these words just as fittingly to apply to this crazy world we live in today.

I would like to plead the case for mindfulness for everyone at all times and in all places.

Do you feel incomplete, naked, inept and insecure when you are not tethered electronically to your cellphone or your computer?

Do you feel less of a person? Take heart. You are not alone.

The advances in communication technology have created a world where we

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 24-30, 2020 can send and receive information at breakneck speed. The thoughts, the images of anyone, from kings to paupers, from the most profound to the most profane, from the wisest to the most foolish, from the most beautiful to the most horrific, once formed, can be transmitted to billions of people around the electronically wired community.

Just like the common cold, thoughts and images “go viral…” The power of a message is now measured by the number of tweets, hits and views it gets. Many are choosing to live in virtual reality rather than in the real world believing they can safely hide behind a cloak of anonymity.

Disabuse yourself of the idea. No one remains anonymous for long. No one in the internet is sacrosanct.

Everyone is fair game.

These thoughts and images go around fast just like the weather patterns that change and swirl around the globe. And just like the weather, our cultural world is being shaped by our collective thoughts within the structure and PAGE 15

SERVICES

More on COVID-19...

PAGE 12 450 deaths. The global total is higher than 2.6 million, with about 190,000 deaths, in 210 countries.

First case by country China reported its first case on January 2, 2020; Thailand, January 13; Japan, January 16; South Korea and the USA, January 20; Taiwan, January 21; Hong Kong, Macau, January 22; Singapore, Vietnam, January 23; France, Nepal, January 24; Australia, Canada, Malaysia, January 25; Cambodia, Germany, Sri Lanka, January 27; Finland, United Arab Emirates, January 29; India, Italy, Philippines, January 30; Russia, Spain, Sweden, United kingdom, January 31.

Most infectious Those persons exposed to the SARS-CoV2 virus and are carriers are most infectious a day or two before symptoms appear.

This makes the virus quite treacherous, and because of its virulence – it is rapidly transmitted exponentially to people within 6 feet of each other. The

virus could remain floating in the air for up to 7.5 hours, and travel more than 12 feet, compared to about 3 hours (6 feet) in the previous SARS-CoV1 of 2002, which also started in China (Guangdong province). This is where staying home, social distancing, wearing a cap, well-fitted mask (N-95 of possible, with an added layer of coffee filter or cloth or paper), goggles over glasses, and gloves are vital. It is best to avoid touching public doorknobs, doors, handrails, and other surfaces in public with bare hands.

Gloves, once used, must be considered contaminated and cannot be used to touch the face either.

Gloves must be washed with soap and water also, just like hands.

SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces Studies have shown that this virus (which is not a living microbe but a protein molecule covered by a protective layer of fat like other viruses) stays active on various surfaces for a different length of time.

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On metals, glass, ceramics, paper, wood – active up to 5 days; on plastic, stainless steel – up to 3 days; on cardboard (shipping boxes) – up to 24 hours; on aluminum – up to 8 hours; and on copper – up to 4 hours.

Virus spread by shoes Swab testing of floors shows that the shoes of hospital personnel and others spread the contamination with SARS-CoV2 virus on the floor. The tests revealed 100% positivity on the pharmacy floor where there are no COVID-19 patients, 35% in ICU, 12.5% in the general wards, 45% in COVID-19 patient’s room, and 36% near air outlets. One of the 8 tests was positive in the doctors’ clinic. This virus can spread 13 feet through the air and carried on shoes, per CDC report, as confirmed by the tests above.

Mail and packages It is best not to handle mail or packages with bare hands. We do not know if the mail carrier or handlers are carriers of the virus, so it is safer to leave those items in your garage for at least 24 hours. AfPAGE 15

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people events arts culture entertainment

‘Superstore’ actor Nico Santos on queer Filipino roles: ‘I don’t feel like I’m being pigeonholed at all’

I

by

CHRISTINA M. ORIEL / AJPress

N 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

Awkwafina, Nico Santos, and Constance Wu in Warner Brosʼ “Crazy Rich Asians.”

Photo by Sanja Bucko

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.

As most Filipino children can attest to, having the conversation to pursue the arts is not an easy feat; though his parents threw their support once he was adamant that he wouldn’t be pursuing a traditional career.

Santos went on to study acting at a state university, where a teacher told him he wouldn’t never strike it big in the industry.

In his early adult years, he moved to San Francisco

and worked at luxury retail stores. He attended open mic nights and immediately “got hooked.”

“I would say that it wasn’t until I started stand-up comedy that it was the fire underneath me and made me really pursue a career in entertainment,” Santos said.

What drew him to comedy was that there aren’t ridiculous standards of physical appearance. It matters how funny you are and how the audience reacts.

“I could draw from my own experience and make it relatable. I could be myself on stage and talk about myself and my experience as an immigrant, Filipino and a queer person,” he said.

His first shot at television came in 2012 when he

made regular appearances on late-night talk show “Chelsea Lately.” He ventured 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 get ahead.

“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,” Santos said, adding that Mateo also sounded like “a lot of the bitchy queens” he used to work with during his retail days.

He continued, “I knew this person. I could play this person, not as a straight Latino like it was written, but I could tailor it to somebody that I recognize as myself. I tweaked it and they liked my interpretation. ‘Superstore’ is my first big break.”

From the beginning, Mateo has delivered quick, sarcastic one-liners, and is a determined employee who cares about succeeding in his job. By the second season, it is revealed that Mateo’s character is

Nico Santos as Mateo Liwanag and Nichole Bloom as Cheyenne Lee in NBCʼs “Superstore.”

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

undocumented, and during the season four finale, he is arrested and detained by ICE. Playing an undocumented Filipino on network TV has been personal for Santos, drawing from the stories of family members and friends who came to the United States without papers.

“A lot of Filipinos who are living in America know, either people from their own family or somebody through however degrees of separation, 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 workers at the big-box store, equal pay or the environmental impact of shopping.

“Real comedy has to stem PAGE 15

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Mindfulness as a...

PAGE 13 framework of the technologically wired environment we live in today.

Do we then damn technology because of the potent power it helps wield over us? Certainly NOT! It would be a big mistake to blame technology for our present woes. Just like fire and electricity and practically all of man’s tools and inventions through the ages, technology is a double-edged sword. It can enhance human life or it can destroy just as well.

The fault, dear tech user, is not in our stars but in OURSELVES. It is how we define our relationship to technology and use it in our daily lives.

We can be the boss of it. Or if we lose control, we can let ourselves be obsessed by technology and all its bells and whistles.

It can wreak havoc on our souls, our persona and ultimately our lives if we use it as a tool to enable a hubristic tendency among many people today who think the world revolves around them and who then count their worthiness with the number of likes they get from their posts.

How do we know if technology has us wrapped around its little keypads?

It is easy enough to self-diagnose this condition.

Observe if you cross streets and railroad tracks with your phones tethered

to your ears. Note if you like taking selfies even in dangerous places. See if you become unhinged because you forgot or lost your phone. If so, break the habit. If not, you as a specie will disappear just like the dodo bird who has become so stupid that it has foolishly lost its instinct to danger.

When we are no longer mindful of our present conditions and depend on technology overly much to do the thinking for us, then we are truly in deep doodoo.

People have become so preoccupied and distracted by the mind boggling possibilities presented by multitasking that is engendered by a tech-enhanced way of life, that they tend to forget what is important and what truly matters.

How badly can it get?

There are horror stories of mindless idiocy. Countless car accidents borne of texting while driving, are a testament to the tragic loss of mindfulness and by extension, common sense, among us earthlings.

Witness the number of news items about overly busy working parents, juggling balls of parenthood and a career and who forget that they have babies strapped in car seats in the back of their cars leaving them to die in the heat of the sun. It is a sad commentary that while we have

More on COVID-19...

PAGE 12 ter handling them, wash hands with warm water and foamy soap, which washes away the protective fatty layer around the protein molecule and destroys the virus. This virus is also deactivated by a temperature of 133F or 56.1C. Hospitals, clinics, and some people use UV-C light to destroy the virus.

After using disinfectants, wash hands thoroughly, especially for chlorine-based cleaners. The old faithful hydrogen peroxide also destroys the SARS-CoV2 virus. And so with 75% to 91% alcohol, Lysol, and Clorox. Again: foamy soap suds and water demolishes the virus!

C-19 worse than the flu This season, more than 39 million Americans will be infected with the flu,

compared to about 810,000 COVID-19 patients so far, with nearly 45,000 deaths in the U.S. The estimated deaths from flu this year will be around 59,000 in the United States. The death rate for flu is 0.1%, while for COVID-19 it is 23%. Those with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, have about 6% higher risk. COVID-19 is evidently deadlier.

Recovered, re-tested positive On April 17, 2020, 163 fully recovered COVID-19 patients in South Korea have tested positive again.

After flattening the curve and feeling some relief, this country is now concerned about the relapse, which doubled from 74 on April 9, following recovery of 7,829 patients, 2% of whom are now back to iso-

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 24-30, 2020 all the technological aids at our disposal to make our lives better, we fail to use them appropriately.

How do we detox? Try going tech free at designated times or for long stretches of time without having to check your phone or your computer for messages that you feel compelled to respond to ASAP. As I have said in another article championing the cause of living mindfully in the moment, “Log off and enjoy your hot chocolate.”

Unless your work involves saving lives, taking a vacation from technology may prove to offer a higher quality of life. Eventually, as we learn to synch and balance our lives with our tech tool, it will be an obedient dog serving us as its master.

Think of the perks. We get to appreciate the present moment and appreciate and deeply love the people we are with right then and there. We get to “Carpe Diem” and experience JOY in real time. We get to open our eyes and our hearts to the beauty and infinite majesty of just breathing and knowing LIFE IS GOOD – so good you can feel it in your bones.

Best of all, we get to reserve the eminent right to remain ESSENTIALLY HUMAN. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal P u b l i c a t i o n s , I n c . To s e n d co m m e n t s , e - m a il m o n e t te. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com. lation. These patients were supposed to have antibodies in them, so re-infection from a new carrier is ruled most improbable.

The WHO is investigating. In the meantime, recovered patients are advised to stay home for an additional 2 weeks for extended monitoring.

In view of the possibility of resurgence (or re-infection?), even among those who have recovered, it appears we have to continue our proactive and preemptive strategy to avoid COVID-19, even after this pandemic has subsided for at least for a couple of months thereafter. This goes with frequent handwashing, personal hygiene, a bit of social distancing, and even a bit of paranoia (medical vigilance), which are also good to avoid other infections.

Deaths among our healthcare heroes

Superstore actor...

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PAGE 14 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 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 in-

terested 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 has been 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.

Many physicians, nurses, allied healthcare personnel and other front-liners in this war against COVID19, with courage and compassion, braved the battlefield, many unprotected because of shortage in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) a couple of weeks ago, and sacrificed their (and their family’s) safety and lives to save the lives of others.

In Italy, as of the end of March, there were 61 physicians and countless nurses and other caretakers who died of COVID-19 and around 17,000 healthcare providers who had tested

positive. Some of them were retired physicians who volunteered. China has 198 physician-deaths (ages between 20 and 90), and in the Philippines almost 20 physicians. In the U.S., more than 9,200 health workers have tested positive, with 27 deaths, but officials say the accurate figures could be higher. We do not have the data for the other 207 countries.

When the global statistics are finally available, it is certain that the death toll among these selfless and dedicated super-humans on the front line of this war would be in the thousands.

They and their colleagues who survived and are today in harm’s way, honorably serving, are all our unsung heroes, whose selfless sacrifices will forever inspire the world and be admired with eternal gratitude. *** 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 Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail. com.

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