MAY 9-12, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 36 • 2 Sections – 20 Pages
COVID-19 cases, deaths continue to rise as US provides additional California begins to reopen for business $5.9 million in virus DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
assistance to PH
by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
ALTHOUGH the number of cases and deaths reTHE Philippines will get an additional $5.9 million (P298 million) from the U.S. govern- lated to the novel coronavirus continue to rise, state ment to help support its fight against the novel and Los Angeles County officials have begun relaxcoronavirus. The additional funding brings the total amount of U.S. pandemic assistance to the country to more than P768 million or $15.2 million, the U.S. Embassy in Manila announced on Thursday, May 7. “As part of this new assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will partner with 18 local governments in some of the Philippines’ hardest-hit areas to promote effective crisis management and implement response plans,” the embassy said in a statement. The funding will be used to support local governments to rapidly disburse emergency funding and supplies, and strengthen the capacity of local crisis response centers to disseminate accurate and timely crisis response information, manage quarantine measures, set up public handwashing facilities, ensure food u PAGE A5
Highway in Daly City closer to being named after Pinay trailblazer A PORTION of State Route 35 in Daly City, California may soon be named after a Bay Area Filipina trailblazer. The state Assembly Transportation Committee on Monday, May 4 approved ACR 165, a resolution by Assemblymember Phil Ting (DSan Francisco) that designates the Daly City portion of the highway as the Alice Peña Bulos Memorial Highway. “In recognition of Alice Peña Bulos’ four decades of dedicated public service to residents of the City of Daly City and throughout the County of San Mateo and across the world, it is fitting to designate a portion of State Route 35 in her honor,” a part of the resolution reads. Born on March 31, 1930 in the Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Bulos received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social and behavioral science from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where she later served as professor and chair of the Department of Sociology. In 1972, she and her family moved to San Francisco and later to Sacramento. “Every May, we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month to commemorate the important contributions Asian and Pacific Islander u PAGE A2
M. ORIEL
AJPress
FROM denouncing anti-Asian sentiments to explaining economic relief options, several Filipino American elected officials in California came together in a recent town hall to share resources available to the community during the coronavirus pandemic. Hosted by the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD) on Saturday, May 2,
the total number of cases to 30,296. “Protocols with directives on how to protect workers and customers [are] posted on our website, and stores and facilities are not allowed to open until they’ve complied with the changes and the direcu PAGE A2
ABS-CBN moves news broadcast online by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
SILENT PROTEST. Employees and members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines light candles in front of the headquarters of ABS-CBN Corp in Quezon City on Tuesday, May 5. The National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order against the broadcast network even if it said previously that it would issue provisional authority to allow ABS-CBN to operate until June 2022 while Congress deliberates on its franchise renewal. Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman
BROADCAST giant ABS-CBN announced that its flagship evening news program “TV Patrol” would resume delivering the news through its digital platforms. The shift came two days after the network was forced to go off-air following the cease-and-desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission. “TV Patrol” on Thursday, May 7 was broadcasted on ABS-CBN News’ official website and pages on Facebook and YouTube, ANC, and the streaming service iWant. It also aired live via The Filipino Channel for overseas Filipinos. According to ABS-CBN News, the newscast’s stream reached 7.5 million views on Facebook within hours. Its concurrent viewers, or the number of people watching at the same time, peaked at around 218,000. Meanwhile, its livestream on Youtube garnered over 73,000 peak concurrents, with a total of 720,000 playbacks. Since ABS-CBN’s shut down, netizens, popular personalities, and officials alike have expressed their disappointment over the loss of the country’s largest television network. u PAGE A5
Candlelight vigil held for Pinay nurse who died of COVID-19 at Hollywood hospital by AJPRESS ON National Nurses Day, a Filipina nurse who died on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic was memorialized with a candlelight vigil in front of CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, where she had worked for 16 years. Some 200 individuals — including colleagues, community leaders, family and friends — came together on Wednesday night, May 6 to honor Celia Lardizabal Marcos, a 61-year-old telemetry charge nurse at the hospital who died on April 17 from complications related to COVID-19. Fr. Rolando B. Clarin of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church offered a prayer, while the nurse’s son John Marcos came from the Bay
Fil-Am elected officials share relief options for community, dispel misinformation amid pandemic by CHRISTINA
ing some of the shelter-in-place rules to slowly reopen the California economy. LA County reported 51 new deaths due to the COVID-19 virus, adding to the county’s overall death toll of 1,468 as of Friday, May 8. County officials also revealed 883 new cases of the virus, bringing
the conversation included officials on the federal, state and local levels: Rep. TJ Cox, California Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) and Sierra Madre Mayor Pro Tempore Rachelle Arizmendi. PALAD President Jessica Caloza, the first Pinay to serve as a commissioner on the LA Board of Public Works, organized the virtual town hall as the first in a series to engage with local FilAms during the pandemic and u PAGE A4
Area to pay respects to his mother. “Our family in the Philippines is really grieving,” said John in a written statement read by a union representative. “My mom was the one everyone could count on. She was the same quiet, strong, supportive person in our extended family that she was to you here at the hospital. She was always the one to offer to help.” Marcos was the first fatality for the SEIU Local 121RN, which represents 9,000 registered nurse members in Southern California. The union organized Wednesday’s vigil to honor Marcos’s service as a nurse and to also highlight the need for adequate personal protective equipment. “If you don’t have the proper protection on all of the floors, it’s like having no pro- Celia Lardizabal Marcos, 61, was honored with a candlelight vigil in front of CHA Hollywood
Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 6, three weeks after she died from COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Steve Angeles / Balitang America, ABS-CBN News
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Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League schools commits to Yale University by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
THE Filipino American student from Jacksonville, Florida who was accepted to all eight Ivy League schools will be part of Yale University’s class of 2024. Craig McFarland, 18, has committed to the prestigious university in New Haven, Connecticut, he revealed in a recent interview with the Asian Journal. In total, 17 colleges and universities across the country, including Stanford University, offered him a slot in their freshman class. “I actually planned on committing to StanFil-Am student Craig McFarland has committed to Yale University after being accepted to all 8 Ivy League schools ford and chose [it] a few minutes before the deadline, but I felt so much regret and sadness and nine other universities across the country. Photo courtesy of Craig McFarland personally and just knew that Yale was right for
me,” McFarland told the Asian Journal. Yale was his first college acceptance back in December as he applied under the early action program. It was one of those days where everything seemed to go awry, he recalled. “I had many problems that day and I actually only opened the letter because I was like, ‘Let me make this day even worse.’ The next day would feel amazing just by comparison,” McFarland narrated. “When I found out I was accepted, I was freaking out. I was screaming with my mom and hugged her.” He waited until March to hear from other schools, which included admission letters one after another from the seven additional Ivy Leagues — Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth u PAGE A3
A May 9-12, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL
Highway in Daly City closer... PAGE A1 t Americans have provided our country,” said Ting in a statement. “With this in mind, it is my honor to recognize Alice Peña Bulos, who is considered the Godmother of Filipino American politics and empowerment. Her career in community organizing epitomizes leadership not just in the Filipino community, but also throughout the state of California. I am proud to represent the district where Bulos’ activism was rooted and her legacy lives on.” Over the span of four decades, Bulos — known by many as “Tita Alice” — dedicated herself to empowering generations of Filipino Americans to amplify their voices through civic participation. Her influence includes forming the Filipino American Grassroots Movement, and co-founding the state Filipino American Democratic Caucus and the Fil-Am Democratic Club of San Mateo County. She also served on the National Filipino Women’s Network and the National Asian Pacific Democratic Council.
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From the Front Page
Alice’ was committed to opening doors for young Fil-Ams who wanted to enter public service and politics but did not see themselves represented in those places of power. While she is no longer with us, her memory lives on in her family and the numerous friends, supporters, and pupils she inspired over her decades of service,” said the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County, whose members include Daly City and South San Francisco Council members, as well as other prominent San Mateo County Filipino American leaders. Alice Peña Bulos ACR 165, which was introduced She became the first Fil-Am ap- in the Assembly in February, has pointed by a sitting U.S. president a few more stops in the legislative to a federal council when then process, Ting’s office said. If the President Bill Clinton picked her resolution is signed into law, supto be part of the National Coun- porters may raise money for the cil on Aging in 1993. Two years cost of signage. Non-state funds later, Clinton called upon Bulos to are required for the creation of all serve as a delegate for the White memorial highway signs. In addition to the highway House Conference on Aging. Bulos spent many years as a proposal, last year the Daly City San Mateo resident, before she Council approved the Serra stadied of heart failure on October tion townhouse project community room to be named in honor 21, 2016 at the age of 86. “Throughout her life, ‘Tita of Bulos. (AJPress)
FARM TO MARKET. People buy fresh agricultural products at “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) along Elliptical Road in Quezon City on Thursday, May 7. The Kadiwa market helps farmers sell their produce and at the same time ensure consumers of fresh and affordable food such as fruits and vegetables. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
COVID-19 cases, deaths continue to...
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tives,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county’s Public Health director, said, adding that the increase of deaths and cases should alert people to exercise caution when going out to these newly-reopened businesses. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has also released the list of businesses that are allowed to reopen with curbside service as of Friday. These retailers include florists, book stores, music stores, toy stores, sporting goods stories, clothing stores and other “low-risk” businesses. Car dealerships are also allowed to reopen given they impose strict physical distancing and cleanliness measures. Sacramento has also been hoping to open other businesses up, like manufacturing and logistics businesses, as long as physical distancing and safety measures are put in place. LA County is also reopening many hiking trails starting Saturday, May 9, with the exception of the widely popular Runyon Canyon trails; physical distancing measures like wearing face coverings and maintaining 6 feet of
distance will still be required. Though Orange County beaches are beginning to re-open after weeks of protest, LA County beaches remain closed, Ferrer said. Even though the reopening of some businesses and the easing of shelter-in-place rules may signal a return to normal life, county officials emphasized that the virus is still present and that all people should continue to practice good hygiene and physical distancing. “As these places reopen, we do need to remember the new normal. When we’re out and about more, we have to behave as if anyone could be infected with COVID-19 and that we also could be infected,” Ferrer said, adding that high-risk Angelenos — those aged 65 or above and those with preexisting health conditions — should “remain home as much as possible.” According to new figures available on Friday, Ferrer emphasized the continued trend of the virus’ disproportionate impact on communities of color and lower-income Angelenos. In the 1,352 deaths in which ethnic-
ity was stated, 18% were Asian and 1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. But within the respective communities, the numbers tell a staggering tale. The death rate from the virus is 89 for every 100,000 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, and the death rate for the Asian community is 12 per 100,000. “The data are not only concerning, but they require all of us to work together and take quick action,” Ferrer said. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the county had begun working with USC on serology tests to determine whether some people have developed antibodies against the COVID-19 virus, which would suggest they had contracted the infection before and recovered. The first round of testing concluded that roughly 4.1% of the county’s 10 million residents have been infected so far, but Ferrer said that the upcoming rounds of tests will zero-in on the more “highly-impacted groups,” i.e. the black, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian and Latino communities. n
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Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League... Candlelight vigil held for Pinay nurse who... PAGE A1 t College, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton university — as well as high-ranked institutions like Stanford and Duke University. “I had the same reaction when I found out I was accepted to all the Ivys,” he said, noting that friends and family were not surprised by the news and told him that he shouldn’t doubt himself. “It’s nice that people had that confidence… but I believe that there is absolutely no one who should be confident enough to know that they’re going to be accepted into a school.” McFarland, who is half Filipino and half Black, entered the exclusive club of being admitted to all the Ivy League schools, which have between a 4 to 8% acceptance rate. As the May 1st deadline to decide approached, McFarland narrowed down his choices to Florida State University, Harvard, Stanford and Yale, which are among the schools that extended full-ride scholarships. Other institutions said he could qualify for a scholarship on top of the private ones he’s received. The pandemic prevented him from visiting schools in person so he resorted to virtual tours, watching YouTube videos, and connecting with current students and alumni for insight. “I often ask them the worst questions, like ‘What do you hate?’ or ‘What would you change?’ because no one necessarily wants to talk about the bad unless prompted but that bad stuff was what was going to determine how much I truly love an institution,” he said. Then, the final round came between the latter two universities. His mother Donabel Santiago said the only advice she gave McFarland was to “pick whatever feels right” and where he would thrive as a student and individual. “I told him that he’d be happy [with] whichever he chose as they’re both amazing…but one most likely [felt] more right than the other, and that one so happened to be Yale,” Santiago, who is originally from Nueva Ecija, Philippines, told the Asian Journal. “When he told me he chose Yale, I just could tell he was not only relieved, but happy as well.” As evidenced by his academic record, McFarland has excelled and enjoyed every subject he’s taken and can’t be boxed into either a humanities or math and science student. For now, he is leaning towards studying biochemistry and linguistics in college. “I’ve genuinely been interested in everything,” he said. “I want a college experience that provides the freedom to explore myself because I’ve been able to do great things in math and science but also in foreign languages and law competitions.” During his four years at Stanton College Preparatory School — which has been rated among the top public high schools in the country and from where he will be graduating valedictorian — McFarland hit the benchmarks that made him appear extraordinary on paper. He maintained a 4.98 grade point average, received near perfect standardized test scores, studied 48 courses when only 24 are required at school, took 20 Advanced Placement and eight International Baccalaureate exams, and mastered several languages, including French, Spanish, Arabic, Italian and Tagalog. Outside of the classroom, he boasts a long list of extracurricular activities from debate club to varsity track and field, and has won numerous accolades, such as a top award in the local Ethics Bowl and first place in column writing for The Florida Times-Union’s high school journalism competition. Early on, McFarland created a regimented routine so he could manage his academic workload and activities. “I would do my homework right away and pay attention intently in class because the more I paid attention, the less I would have to study after,” he said. “It was out of necessity that I needed to manage my time because I would have track practice, a club, a competition, or a tutoring session, and then try to make time for family and friends.” He has been able to take advantage of the opportunities at his high school, but the downside was being in an environment where
Donabel Santiago (left) with two of her three children, Craig, 18, and Mary Alice, 15. Photo courtesy of Donabel Santiago
students are “competitive, cutthroat and only care about test scores and class rank.” What the Fil-Am student tried to illustrate in the college applications was that he is more than straight As and high marks and that he has a personality and life apart from school. Burying in schoolwork hasn’t deprived him of the experiences that come with the teenage years. He recounts that on the morning he took the SAT, he went through a break-up right before and was crying on the way to the testing center, for instance. He was named homecoming prince, and loves driving around listening to music, getting frozen yogurt with friends, watching “Game of Thrones,” scrolling through Instagram for memes, and watching TikTok videos. (Though he promises he’s not glued to his phone like most Gen Zers.) “I wanted to emphasize that yes, I’m a student, but above all, I am a person,” he said. “I’m more proud of the fact that I was able to accomplish all of that despite everything in a single-parent household and never having a lot of academic resources.” McFarland has risen above his circumstances when the system is typically stacked against someone with his background. He credits his mother for instilling the importance of education and hard work. Santiago, who obtained a nursing degree in her home country, raised McFarland and his two siblings, an older brother and younger sister, by herself while she went back to school for sonography. “Craig knows the struggles we’ve had to go through with me as a single mom, and I hope my experiences have helped drive him to be great,” she said, adding that education “is our wealth that nobody can take away from us.” The family moved around 12 times in the Jacksonville area and lived in a small house with extended relatives for several years. Santiago was able to find a job as a registered cardiac sonographer, though she commutes about two hours each day. “It was pretty much being left to our own devices so we often had to find out how to cook for ourselves and just mature on our own for the times in our lives when my mom was out working or at school,” McFarland said. “That independence, while a bit sad at times, was undoubtedly useful, even today.” Santiago never worried about whether her son finished his homework or studied for exams because of his self-discipline. Whenever she did ask, he would say he did it days before. “He honestly pushes himself harder than anyone has pushed him, and I say that as his mother,” she said. Since McFarland was young, he has been curious and compassionate, and always wears a smile on his face. “I always see him looking out for his friends and even people he barely knows,” she said. “I’ve heard him spend hours on the phone helping friends with their homework or spending whatever small amount of money he has saved up on gifts for friends.” McFarland admits that he was “incredibly shy” as a child, but started coming out of his shell around middle school and explored activities to fill his time, especially those that tested his knowledge on subjects or challenged him to defend a position on a social issue. “Any competition that involved a requirement of being well-spoken and reaching an audience, I ended up really loving,” he said. Being raised in a single-parent
McFarland (2nd to right) and classmates hold up a trophy after a win at the First Coast High School Ethics Bowl in February. Photos courtesy of Craig McFarland
PAGE A1 t tection,” said Sydnie Boylan, vice president of the union. On April 3, the Pinay nurse was only provided a surgical mask to respond to a patient, suspected to have COVID-19, who went into cardiac arrest, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. Though she worked on a floor that was considered free of positive cases, the particular patient was an “overflow,” according to the union. Three days later, Marcos began developing symptoms, which included a headache, body aches With a 4.98 GPA and other academic and difficulty breathing. She was accomplishments, McFarland has enjoyed admitted to the same hospital entering competitions outside of the two days prior to her death and classroom. Photo shows an awards ceremony was hooked up to a ventilator to Nurses at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California honor Marcos Photo courtesy of SEIU Local 121RN for the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition help her breathe after she devel- and call for more PPE. during which he won multiple awards, oped pneumonia, a complication CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Control and Prevention recomincluding one for visual artwork. associated with COVID-19. Hospital in a statement emailed mendations. to the Asian Journal said it hon“Despite these efforts, and household meant that there was ored Marcos in a ceremony on our commitment to following only one source of income for the Monday. all guidelines, we still lost one family. Since his mom is not famil“It is impossible for mere of our own to this terrible virus, iar with the U.S. college process, words to express the deep sad- and we feel this loss very deephe researched financial aid opness we feel, to adequately un- ly,” it added. portunities and was able to get the derscore Celia’s courage and The nurses union this week application fees waived. Whatever contribution,” the hospital said, also organized another vigil extracurricular activities McFaradding “Celia was truly a health- at Los Robles Regional Mediland wanted to participate in, he care hero, and she fervently cal Center in Thousand Oaks had to raise the money himself by dedicated herself to devoted for Marcos and to call for more taking on a private tutoring job. service for human welfare and PPE. “A lot of people don’t underto the high ideals of the nursing Marcos, who would have celstand the privilege of being able profession. She will be sorely ebrated her 62nd birthday in to access things, such as a private missed.” less than two weeks, has been tutor or a review book, or even Amid calls for more PPE for its cremated and will be buried at a just having a parent there with health care workers, the hospital later date alongside her parents you to advocate for your success said it is “doing our best to over- in their hometown of Tagudin, at a counselor meeting,” he said. “I didn’t want to ask my mom to A flower wreath for Marcos during the come” the challenges associated Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. (With reports from Christina pay for the SAT or all these dues Hollywood hospital’s memorial for her on with the pandemic and is following equipment supplies under M. Oriel / AJPress and Steve Anfor activities.” Monday, May 5. He also acknowledges teachPhoto courtesy of CHA Hollywood LA County Department of Public geles / Balitang America, ABSPresbyterian Hospital Health and Centers for Disease CBN News) u PAGE A5
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A May 9-12, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL
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The emotional cost of saving the world: Understanding the new normal for front-liners Experts discuss the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of AAPI first responders by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
ON a regular day, working in a hospital can present unbelievable scenarios that strain the mind, body and heart. During a pandemic, that magnifies to a degree of which most people will never see the likes. The greater population, in the last several weeks, has expressed reverence toward those working in the medical field, during the pandemic and otherwise. And this being National Nurses Week and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the attention to and appreciation for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) working these essential jobs feels most fitting. “From the outside when we look at these people, they’re strong and they’re resilient, but what they’re going through on a day-to-day basis [takes] a toll
on their mental and emotional health,” said Cindy Shin, founder and CEO of KACIE Strategies, an organization dedicated to meaningful partnerships with California’s diverse communities. KACIE Strategies is currently hosting weekly roundtables with leaders and experts to help the community better understand the ways in which the coronavirus pandemic is affecting different areas of California life. And while most people have had their lives put to a halt due to shelter-in-pace orders, for medical professionals and other “essential” workers, their dials have been turned up with their work becoming more crucial than ever. “They still respond to people in distress for a variety of different reasons,” former LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said during the meeting. “Their roles and responsibilities remain un-
changed in that regard, but the environment that they’re going into, however, has changed.” Although nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers and EMTs are the face of the COVID-19 front lines, other essential workers are also putting their lives on the line. McDonnell, who worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, stressed the expanded definition of “first responder” to include grocery workers, deliverers and other essential workers who’ve had their jobs elevated as the pandemic ballooned over the last two months. The former sheriff expressed admiration for those who are “dealing with the public in grocery stores” and applauded the newfound appreciation for those workers risking their lives and family’s lives by continuing to work.
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The Philippine American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD) hosted the first of its virtual merienda series on Saturday, May 2, featuring Assemblymember Rob Bonta, PALAD President and LA Board of Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza, and Sierra Madre Mayor Pro Tem Rachelle Arizmendi.
Fil-Am elected officials share relief options for... PAGE A1 t leading up to November. The bright side of hosting the event online was reaching a broader audience as Fil-Ams from across the country were able to tune in. “We are truly trying to work together towards a common goal to save our country [and] to save our state to make sure we’re protected and come out of this pandemic stronger and that we are able to get the strength from this that we need to really win in November,” Caloza said. “What we’ve seen in the last few months is that elections have consequences.” Bonta, the first Fil-Am elected to the California Legislature, said that while the state likely won’t have its own stimulus package, its role is “to make sure that we finish the build out around the [federal] stimulus package so that no one is left behind. No one’s forgotten and no one falls through the cracks.” Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the largest economic stimulus package in the country’s history passed in March, close to $2 trillion was allocated for programs, such as direct payments for up to $1,200 for those making less than $75,000 and unemployment insurance of an additional $600 per week that also covers independent contracts and selfemployed individuals. However, relief for undocumented families and minority-owned businesses has been largely missing. California announced that it has allocated $125 million to give payments for undocumented residents who don’t qualify for the federal stimulus, becoming the first state in the nation to
Rep. TJ Cox, who made history as the first Filipino American from California to serve Congress, spoke about the bills he’s introduced to combat pandemic-related misinformation.
recognize the sizeable population, Bonta said. Other efforts the Legislature has pushed for in Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive orders is financial support for low-income students so they can complete their studies, compensation for front-liners who may contract COVID-19, and protections for farmworkers who contribute to the state’s food supply chain. Rep. Adam Schiff, who represents the 28th District, also spoke at the town hall about the impact of Filipino Americans on California’s health care workforce, as 20% of the state’s registered nurses identify as Filipino. “So many in the Filipino community, in particular, are on the front lines of this pandemic, and [are] showing just extraordinary courage and compassion, going to work, risking their own health, and coming home and at times having to risk or worry about the health of their family,” said Schiff. The high-ranking congress-
man said a priority in Congress is to get adequate protective gear for those working in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. His district — which is home to many Filipinos, particularly in Hollywood, Glendale and Burbank — has seen several nursing facilities have COVID-19 outbreaks. One facility in East Hollywood he mentioned had 50 staff and 90 residents test positive for the disease. “I think the top priority for us in Congress has to be protecting our people…those on the front lines, making sure everyone has the gear that they need,” Schiff said, adding that that hazard pay for workers in high-risk professions is another consideration for the next round of federal relief. Cox — who became the first Fil-Am in Congress from California and the first Democrat to represent the Central Valley district since 1981 — spoke about his district’s challenges being
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ABS-CBN moves news broadcast... PAGE A1 t Urban Poor Action Committee pointed out that millions of Filipinos don’t have the luxury to tune in to the network’s online platform due to lack of internet connections and gadgets. “Sa isang iglap, mistulang ninakawan ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino — lalo na kaming mga maralitang tagalungsod na karamihan ay walang akses sa internet — ng mapagkukunan ng balita, impormasyon at libreng libangan na napakahalaga lalo na ngayong panahon ng enhanced community quarantine (In a snap, it seems that ordinary Filipinos — especially urban poor communities without access to internet — have been robbed of a source of news, information and entertainment especially when enhanced community quarantine is enforced),” it said in a statement. A netizen — John from the province of Rizal — also expressed his concern for the Filipinos who don’t have the means to turn to online for entertainment and news. “To be honest, I don’t personally watch TV. I catch up with news via online news sites such as ABS-CBN’s online portal and thankfully, it continues to report to and for Filipinos even after the unfortunate cease-and-desist order. However, I find it worrying — to say the least — that accurate information, which plays a huge part during this pandemic, won’t reach those whose only source is ABS-CBN’s channel,” he said. He added, “We all know not everyone has the access to the internet and even the aforementioned channel’s competitors. So even though the shutdown won’t directly affect my access to news and entertainment, I find it difficult to accept that many people will suffer from the difficulties of distinguishing what’s real news and what’s fake.”
An avid ABS-CBN viewer also expressed disappointment over the shutdown. “Malaki yung epekto ng pagkawala ng ABS-CBN kasi wala na yung mga naka-schedule na pinapanood ko ngayon. Kailangan ko pa maghanap ng ibang paraan para makanood ng balita at magpalipas oras habang nasa quarantine (ABS-CBN’s shutdown has a huge effect because the shows I regularly watch are now gone. I need to find other ways to watch the news and pass the time while in quarantine),” Niel from Taguig City said. Celebrities also reacted to the network’s shutdown across different social media platforms. “Hindi na ako uupo at mananahimik (I will no longer sit in silence). I grieve the (temporary) death of my home station, but it won’t keep me from joining the fight,” said actress Angel Aquino. “Mahirap magsawalang-kibo sa mga taong katulad ninyo na patuloy na nang-aabuso (It’s hard not to react to people like you who continue to commit abuses). Wala kayong mga konsensiya, naatim niyong pagkaitan ng hanapbuhay at pabayaang magutom ang ilang libong mga pamilya (You have no conscience, you deprive people of their jobs and leave thousands of families starving),” Kapamilya actor Coco Martin posted on Instagram. Actress Angel Locsin noted “Sa panahon na kailangan ng hanapbuhay ng mga tao (In this time when people need jobs), let’s be considerate and ask ourselves kung makakatulong ba ang mga desisyon natin lalo na sa panahong ito (if our decisions will help in these trying times). Sharon Cuneta for her part chimed in, by saying,“Iniisip at inaalala naming artists ng aming tahanan, ang ABS-CBN, ang ilampung-libong empleyadong
Dateline USa
lumaki nang kasama ko, at ang mga batang bagong empleyado pa lamang ng aming istasyon. (ABS-CBN’s artists are thinking and worrying over the thousands of employees who grew with me, and also the new employees of our station).” “You are all in my heart and prayers,” she added. GMA-7 star Dingdong Dantes, meanwhile, said: “Magkaiba man ng bakod (Despite working in different stations), we are one in the media industry. We have one love for the many talents and crafts under this network, the products and output of which, directly or indirectly, benefit the lives of millions of Filipinos.” Several senators also filed a resolution urging NTC to reconsider its cease and desist order against ABS-CBN. The group of lawmakers also urged the NTC to allow ABSCBN, as well as its subsidiaries and affiliates, to continue operations pending the disposition of its franchise renewal. “Now more than ever, in the middle of the biggest public health crisis of our generation, the Filipino people deserve access to up-to-date news provided by a free and unfettered media, and multiple sources of information provide the best pathways for truth to emerge,” the senators said. Vice President Leni Robredo said shutting down ABS-CBN will “cost lives.” “In this time of crisis, we are relying on free flow of accurate and timely information to give shape and direction to our actions,” she said in Filipino. She added, “This free flow of information literally saves lives. Closing down ABS-CBN costs lives on top of unnecessarily burdening the thousands who will lose their jobs.” n
US provides additional $5.9 million in virus... PAGE A1 t supply, and support local business recovery. “Other activities funded through this new assistance tranche will provide supply chain analytics and promote a regulatory environment that facilitates logistics and transportation for food, medical products, and other essential goods,” the embassy said. To assist with small and microenterprise recovery, USAID will also facilitate access to credit and provide grants and skills training
to heavily affected sectors and communities. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim welcomed the new round of support to the country. “This latest assistance builds on our long-standing relationships with local government units across the Philippines, and represents our continued commitment to our Filipino friends, partners, and allies in this time of crisis,” he said. The additional funding from
the U.S. also includes $875,000 (P44 million) from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for the International Committee of the Red Cross to support COVID-19 response in the Philippines, including increasing stocks of essential medical supplies and expanding hospital capacity, preventing the spread of disease in detention centers, and supporting resilience for vulnerable people and communities. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 9-12, 2020
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Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League... PAGE A3 t ers who mentored and took an interest in helping him succeed and those who served as “father figures” since he did not have one growing up. Moving to Connecticut this fall will be the third time McFarland has ever left his home state. He’ll be swapping the sunny, humid weather for a Northeast winter, though he has no clue what’s in store for him climate wise and culturally. “I’m extremely sentimental and emotional and part of the reason why I cried when I got accepted to the colleges was because it marked this rite of passage,” he said. “Eventually I’m going to have to leave my mom — that dichotomy of success academically but also having to say goodbye to the only person who’s been a constant in my life beyond my brother and sister.” The other two times McFarland has ventured out of Florida were trips to the Philippines, first at the age of 4 and then at 16. Santiago said she raised her children immersed in their Filipino heritage, whether it was through watching teleseryes, eating the food, observing holiday traditions or teaching them to address and respect elders with mano po. “I’ve told [them] that we Filipinos are strong and smart people. Craig especially has been interested in his Filipino culture. He is a member of his school’s Filipino performance group and dances tinikling for his school’s multicultural club,” she said. McFarland’s biracial identity has presented extra challenges, as he never quite fit in or felt completely welcomed by either side. (Since his college acceptances garnered nationwide press attention, he also received comments about “not being black” or “not being a real Filipino,” he said.) He recalled that he and his younger sister were targets of racial slurs and were discriminated against because of the color of their skin during their 2018 trip to the Philippines. “It’s not necessarily that I hold that against the Philippines as I know it’s a product of colonialism, but it pushes me to want to make social change,” he said. “I hope that my accomplishments provide a testament that certain type of people aren’t dumb or lesser than any other.” While his final high school semester moved online and events
like prom were scrapped, McFarland was particularly sad about initial reports saying graduation would be canceled. He will still be able to deliver his valedictorian speech since the school’s ceremony was postponed to July. As the achiever he is, he’s already prepared his remarks and hopes to impart the message that test scores and getting into top schools aren’t the only metrics to measure one’s impact. Before he heads off to college,
he intends to enjoy one last summer in his hometown with his best friends and family and do “normal teen stuff.” “My main goal in college is to be happy and to genuinely live,” McFarland said. “It’s important to be successful but my definition of success isn’t to become a CEO or make a high paying job. It’s being content with what I’ve done and that contentment comes from being able to help others, especially those who are in situations similar to mine.” n
A6 MAY 9-12, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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O PINION Bad habit
FEATURES
JUST hours after broadcast giant ABS-CBN went off the air on Tuesday, May 5, putting thousands of its employees and talents out of work, a radio reporter was shot dead in Dumaguete City. The cases are vastly different, but they illustrate the difficulties faced by media organizations and workers in this country. The National Telecommunications Commission ordered ABS-CBN to cease its use of the airwaves after the company’s broadcasting franchise ended on May 4. Cable and content generation services of the media network can continue. The NTC explained that it had no choice but to issue the order in the absence of a new franchise for the network from the House of Representatives, which has sat on the media group’s application for franchise renewal. A remedy here is to de-politicize the issuance of broadcast franchises by taking the power out of the hands of Congress. Approval of this move, however, seems as unlikely as the passage of laws curbing political dynasties, regulating campaign finance and stopping racketeering. Will Congress finally act on the franchise bill, with the NTC refusing to issue a provisional authority for ABS-CBN to operate? Perhaps the adminis-
tration-dominated House wants to give the network the squeeze until the campaign period for the 2022 elections starts. In another type of assault on the media, Rex Cornelio Pepino was on his motorcycle with his wife along North Road in Barangay Daro before 9 p.m. on Tuesday when two men on another motorcycle pulled up and shot him. The 48year-old reporter of Energy 93.7 FM radio did not make it to a hospital. Pepino became the third radio journalist to be murdered in Dumaguete in the past two years, after Dindo Generoso in November last year and Edmund Sestoso in April 2018. Sestoso’s killing is unsolved; three men have been indicted for Generoso’s murder. Media organizations say Cornelio is Philstar.com photo the 16th journalist to be killed during the Duterte administration, and the 188th since democracy Cornelio’s murder. Unless killers are caught and was restored in 1986. the brains are held accountable, permanently siPolice are still trying to establish a motive for lencing journalists can become a bad habit. The
Editorial
same goes for shutting down media organizations who fall into disfavor with those in power. (Philstar.com)
Sifting through the blame game and misinformation about the Duterte administration’s shutdown of ABS-CBN
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS DURA LEX, SED LEX. “The law is harsh, but it is the law” and should, therefore, be executed and followed. I have heard this principle more than a thousand times when I used to anchor the top rating legal education program “Compañero y Compañera” on DZMM with the late Senator and “Compañero ng Bayan” as I fondly called him, Atty. Rene Cayetano. I have been reading this Latin phrase from comments posted on social media from among those who support President Rodrigo Duterte and the shutdown of ABS-CBN. Compañero was also the father of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who is now among the main characters in the saga of shutting down ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. The younger Cayetano stated in an interview that ABS-CBN won’t be shut down a week before it did because of the cease and desist order from the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). On Tuesday, May 5, the NTC issued a cease and desist order that prohibits ABS-CBN from continuing its broadcast operations effective immediately. The shutdown covers five AM stations, including DZMM, 18 FM stations and 42 TV stations, including Channels 2 and 23. As TIME reported, the NTC’s order “caused shock and confusion among lawmakers because
the agency’s top officials had agreed to grant a temporary operating license to ABS-CBN while Congress weighs its franchise renewal.” “Rep. Franz Alvarez, who heads the congressional committee on legislative franchises, told ABS-CBN that he was surprised that the commission backtracked on its pledge. Many senators and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra have agreed that the broadcaster could operate with a temporary license pending renewal of its franchise. Alvarez added that the company’s franchise renewal application would remain active, and the network said it will pursue efforts to reopen.” NTC’s surprise order was prompted by the “threat” of Solicitor General Jose Calida that NTC’s members will be sued for graft should it grant the network an extension to operate. Calida had also filed a case in February asking the Supreme Court to revoke the operating franchise of ABS-CBN and its subsidiary ahead of the franchise expiration, for allegedly abusing its franchises and violating a constitutional prohibition on foreign investment in Philippine media. ABS-CBN denied the allegations in public statements on Calida’s quo warrant petition and in a sworn testimony during a Senate hearing. In the same hearing, government officials from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Securities and Exchange Commission also testified that ABS-CBN has no unpaid taxes,
and has not violated any laws pertaining to the use of the franchise — the claim circulated on social media as the “reasons” the network should be shut down. Reporting on this news, the Washington Post said, “President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly threatened to close down the network in the past. His office denied that he had a hand in the order, saying the decision was entirely up to the commission.” CBS News reported, that “ABSCBN is not the first news organization to be on the receiving end of pressure from Duterte’s government. Maria Ressa, who was a correspondent for CNN International and now runs the Manila-based online news service Rappler, is facing close to a dozen court cases.” This report was in corroborated by TIME: “At least two other media organizations, including a leading newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, have come under attack from Duterte for critical reporting. The government separately accused an online news organization, Rappler, of violating the ban on foreign ownership and sought its closure. Rappler denied the allegation and continues to operate.” So this brings us back to House Speaker Cayetano, who has many times said that conducting hearings on the renewal of the ABSCBN franchise was not the priority of Congress, and would rather tackle the passing of the charter change proposal. The inaction and delay come from the very
branch of government tasked by law to do its job on this matter. CBS News reported that pursuant to Philippine laws, “Congress has sole authority in the Philippines to grant broadcast licenses, but lawmakers in the Lower House, who are overwhelmingly allied with President Rodrigo Duterte, have declined to act on bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s permit. Duterte has repeatedly stated his disdain for the network and the family who own it.” With the public outcry, media organizations, free press advocates and the international community’s criticism against the Duterte administration’s shutdown of ABS-CBN especially as the network has been in the service of the Filipino more than ever during this time of pandemic, a new talking point has been circulating as the “real reason” behind the network’s closure: ABS-CBN used the airwaves to broadcast six channels without separate franchises. I heard more about this issue from ABS-CBN Global’s Managing Director Jun Del Rosario, who wrote on his Facebook page: “I am appalled by the gross stupidity of Tamano’s and FICTAP’s argument that ABS-CBN used the airwaves to broadcast 6 channels without separate franchises. And that the renewal application includes these 6 channels and therefore should be applied as separate franchises.” “Why am I appalled? Because as a cable TV operator one needs
to at least understand the progression of television from analog to digital,” Del Rosario added. He then reposted an article written by another former colleague Mr. Apa Ongpin, who explained more about the technology behind it and how it affects the law governing franchise renewal. I am not gifted on this techie stuff and so let me just share how Apa Ongin explained it. I hope this helps sift through any misinformation that may affect our understanding of this new “narrative” on this debate. Apa Ongpin wrote: “A franchise is a privilege granted by the government to use a limited public resource that it controls on behalf of the public. In the case of a broadcast franchise, that resource, is, specifically, a set of radio frequencies. That is all it boils down to: Radio frequencies. The franchise does not regulate ABS-CBN’s right to exist as a corporation, or to produce content, or operate a news organization. In fact, parts of ABS-CBN are still operational online right now, as we speak, including its news department, and all of its cable channels, including ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), which is still broadcasting TV Patrol, ABS-CBN International and its prime business unit, The Filipino Channel (TFC) in the United States. Cable, despite the fact that it reaches millions of people, is not defined as “broadcast”, but as “narrowcast”, since it is paid for, not “free-to-air”, and in general uses no radio frequencies.
Of course, the radio frequencies are critical, in the sense that this was how ABS-CBN’s content was made available to the majority of its viewers, and thus, the majority of its advertising revenue is based on this. By cutting off the frequency access, the government is thus cutting off ABS-CBN’s main revenue. In the case of ABS-CBN, in the National Capital Region, those frequencies are, specifically: 55.25 MHz in the VHF band 1, for what we in Metro Manila know as “Channel 2”, but whose official call sign is DWWX-TV; 525.25 MHz in the UHF band for “Channel 23”, call sign DWAC-TV; 630 kHz in the AM band for “DZMM Radyo Patrol”, officially DZMM-AM; 101.9 kHz in the FM band for “MOR 101.9 For Life!”, call sign DWRR-FM. The foregoing are termed “analog” frequencies, which broadcast television signals according to the NTSC standard originally promulgated in the United States, and thus can be received by conventional analog television sets, or the international AM and FM standards for radio. In addition to the analog broadcasts, ABS-CBN has been broadcasting digitally for about a decade now, using the following separate frequencies: 485.143 MHz, channel 16 UHF, for ABS-CBN TV Plus; 647.143 MHz, channel 43 UHF, for ABS-CBN Manila.
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If life gives you lemons, make lemonade
Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA THERE is a saying, “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” In other words, you try to make the best out of what fate has given you. Jessica Cox, a young FilipinoAmerican from Arizona, was born without arms. In 2005, she decided to learn how to fly a plane. It took her three years and a plane with special dual controls that she could manipulate with her feet – but Jessica succeeded in earning her pilot’s license. She became the world’s first armless licensed pilot. But that’s not all. Jessica is also the world’s first armless taekwando black belter. She is married to her karate instructor, Patrick Chamberlain. This suggests that she is also good in this martial art. Jessica, who has a book on her life entitled “Righthanded,” devotes a good part of her time as a motivational speaker, inspir-
ing those who would otherwise despair over their misfortunes. If a college degree is considered a plum, then dropping out of college would be like getting lemons. But many high-tech legends converted their lemons into lemonade, among them, Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates and Paul Allen of Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, and Larry Ellison of Oracle. These multi-billionaires all dropped out of college en route to making their fortunes and changing the world’s digital landscape. Of Forbes Magazine’s 2017 list of the 400 wealthiest people in the U.S., 70 did not finish college. In another era, industrialist Andrew Carnegie was also a college drop-out, while Thomas Edison, who invented the incandescent lamp, the phonograph and the movie camera, among many others, did not even finish high school. Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s greatest presidents, had very little formal education. But Lincoln had a voracious appetite for learning. As a barefoot boy,
he studied by lamplight in a log cabin. Max Indolos was the editor-inchief of the Movie Confidential Magazine, of which I was associate editor as a teenage writer. Max and his wife may not have been in the same league as the high-tech and industrial titans but they did something that most parents would consider daunting. They decided to teach their children at home instead of sending them to regular schools. The kids attained college level education to a degree that would have been the envy of most alumni of exclusive universities. Well, maybe, these were exemplary human beings who could have made a fortune making virtual lemonades out of the lemons that life had given them. But what about ordinary folks with ordinary talents and skills but subjected to extraordinary streaks of bad luck? What does one do in the face of the coronavirus/COVID-19 global pandemic that has forced businesses to close down and lay off their employees? And what
do you do if you suddenly find yourself without regular earnings while your bills continue coming regularly? What do you do with your time if you are forced to remain indoors for weeks and even months? How does one make lemonade out of this bitter lemon? One fine example is the readyto-wear company in Florida that switched from making clothes to fabricating face masks when the coronavirus pandemic caused most manufacturing operations to close down. The RTW firm has been able to keep its workforce and has even hired extra help. An Asian supermarket and restaurant chain has developed a new online customer segment among young homeowners who had remained untapped through its regular bricks-and-mortar operations. Restaurants that have not been able to offer dine-in services are managing to remain in business with home-delivered meals. Hunger is said to be stalking those who have lost their jobs. But, as a little boy during the Japanese occupation of the Phil-
ippines, I recall that most people did not have jobs either. But the Japanese army, realizing the need to keep the people fed, made it mandatory for every household to grow its own vegetables. Those that did not have land had to plant in pots which were mounted on the window sills of their homes. Home-grown poultry and hogs provided the meat requirements of people, while those living by the sea or near rivers and streams survived by fishing. Indeed, the squatter problem of Metro Manila would be significantly solved if people remained in the provinces where seeds stuck into the ground can sprout into edibles while the seas and rivers yield fish a-plenty. Of course, I should not criticize those who decide to go to the big cities to try their luck. My own parents gave up a comfortable existence in Leyte to bring us, their children, to Manila – because they felt that the city was where we could get our “breaks.” It was a struggle, because no one had a job at the outset, but through God’s mercy and through
hard work, we managed to make lemonade out of the lemons of our lives. Of my parents’ five children, four had the benefit of higher education, with two becoming medical doctors. Only one could not finish college. Me. I guess I was too busy making lemonade out of the lemons. Years later, my wife and I decided to relocate to the US to give our four children their own “breaks.” To do this, I had to give up my job as CEO of an advertising agency in Manila. I was willing to take on any kind of job to feed my family and send the kids to school, but being a college drop-out limited my employment options. So I decided to follow a piece of advice that I had been giving to friends who had difficulty finding satisfactory jobs in America: put up a company and appoint yourself President and General Manager. That would look impressive on a business card. With your self-confidence revived, build a network of contacts and prospects. With
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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
PH sees flattening of COVID-19 curve - expert by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
HAS the Philippines flattened the coronavirus curve? A local epidemiology expert thinks so, citing the recent decline in the number of new cases and fatalities due to the virus. According to Dr. John Wong, who serves on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the doubling time for the confirmed cases has slowed down to at least every four days while the death cases have been flattening at a “more dramatic” slowdown as it now approaches the seven-day rate. “When April 1 came around, you see the curve started to flatten. From doubling every less than three days, now it’s doubling around four days,” he said, presenting a graph to members of the media on Tuesday, May 5. “The deaths started very fast... then we start to see it flattening. Deaths are flattening at a more dramatic rate. Near the 7-day line,” he added. Wong also acknowledged that the picture of the Philippines’ COVID-19 situation presented in his data was from 10 to 14 days ago. “This is a picture [of the COVID19 situation in the country] about 10 days back. We already saw that 10 days ago, there was already an improvement in both cases and mortality,” he said.
Female coast guards in full protective gear on Tuesday, May 5 prepare to man 66 testing booths at Palacio de Maynila, an events venue on Roxas Boulevard that has been converted into a temporary swabbing center to expand the government’s testing capacity for the new coronavirus. The Department of Health aims to conduct 30,000 tests a day by the end of May. Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez
“We already saw that the curve had already flattened. If there [are] no significant changes, the flattening will continue, meaning, we will have very few additional cases,” he added. When asked if the country has reached its peak, Wong admitted that it was “difficult to predict when the peak will be and how many cases we’ll have at the peak.” “There are several models going around, but they are [presenting] different numbers. I don’t want to speculate whether we have reached the peak,” he added. The Philippine Department of Health (DOH), on the other hand, said that flattening the curve should not be based solely on the number of new cases and mortality rates. “Ito pong mga sinasabi nat-
ing mga ito ay kailangan hindi kuhanin or intindihin sa iisang konteksto lang. Katulad ng sinasabi natin, hindi lang numero ng kaso ang pinag-uusapan natin dito (What we are discussing here should not be interpreted within only one context. Like what we’ve been saying, we should not just look into the figures),” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. “Pinag-uusapan natin dito ang kapasidad ng health system kung tayoy makakagapay kung sakaling dumami ang kaso (We are also talking about the capacity of the country’s health care system to respond if there’s a rise in the number of infections),” she added. As of writing, there are now 10,343 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with 685 fatalities and 1,618 recoveries. n
PH gov’t constantly monitoring global supply chain for COVID-19 test kits by chRistia
MaRie Inquirer.net
RaMos
MANILA — The Philippine government is constantly monitoring the global supply chain for test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a bid to ramp up the country’s testing capacity, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Friday. “The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management really look at the global supply chain,” he said in an online press briefing. “Talagang minomonitor namin yan, minomonitor ng DBM kung saan yung available na pwedeng
ma-procure natin,” Duque added. (We really monitor this, the DBM monitors where supplies are available.) Duque admitted that ramping up the country’s testing capacity is hampered by the a shortage in supply of equipment and material essential in detecting the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. “Minsan nakaka-frustrate kasi minsan nag-order tayo, 25% lang yung makakarating. Talagang dinudugo kami rito eh, talagang halos araw-araw ito ang tinututkan natin eh,” he said. (Sometimes, it’s frustrating that when we order, only 25% arrive in the country. We are really having difficulties here, we monitor
this almost everyday.) DOH has been working towards an “expanded testing” or “targeted testing” although it missed its goal of 8,000 tests per day by the end of April. It is now aiming to increase the country’s testing capacity for COVID-19 to 30,000 tests per day by the end of May, as this will be able to give a “complete picture” of the pandemic in the country and will enable the government to come up with policies suited to address the crisis. Unlike mass testing, “expanded testing” or “targeted testing” intends to broaden the scope of tests to include and prioritize exposed but asymptomatic patients and healthcare workers. n
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 9-12, 2020
A
A May 9-12, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL
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Cayetano deflects ABS-CBN ECQ cuts crime rate by 34% – PNP shutdown blame to NTC, Calida by emmanuel
tuPas
Philstar.com
by Kristine Joy
Philstar.com
Patag
MANILA — Days after ABSCBN shutdown after its franchise expired and bills for its renewal were stuck at the Congress, House Speaker Alan Cayetano on Friday, May 8 deflected the blame on the network going off air to the National Telecommunications Commission and Solicitor General Jose Calida. Cayetano kept mum for three days since the broadcast giant stopped operations following the NTC’s cease and desist order issued Tuesday, which he said was an “ambush.” Finally on Friday, the House speaker broke his silence and vowed that there will be “reckoning” for the “flip-flopping of the NTC and the unconstitutional meddling by the solicitor general in the business of Congress.” Cayetano stressed that the “exclusive Constitutional authority to grant, deny, extend, revoke or modify broadcast franchises” remains to the Congress. And the Congress will do its job, he added. “The Committee on Legislative Franchises will conduct hearings” that are “fair, impartial, thorough and comprehensive,” Cayetano said but failed to indicate a day for when a hearing may be held.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano Philstar.com photo
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied that Solicitor General Jose Calida, a member of the president’s cabinet who warned NTC of graft charges if it issues provisional authority to ABS-CBN, influenced the decision of the telecommunication regulation body. He also asserted that President Rodrigo Duterte, who lashed out on ABS-CBN several times for years until he accepted the network’s apology late February, is neutral on the network’s issue. Cayetano: The country faced bigger threats Cayetano, in his latest statement, said that the Congress was on track on priority legislation, but the eruption of Taal Volcano in January “necessitated adjustments in the Congressional calendar.” “It is in this context that the
leadership of the House tried to gain a consensus with the Executive Department, through the DOJ and the NTC, to allow us time to properly address the ABS-CBN issue in the midst of all the other more important problems facing the country,” he said. In a hearing at the Batangas City Convention Center on January 22, the House passed a resolution expressing only its support and commitment for the passage of supplemental budget for government response for Taal’s eruption, but no funding legislation was passed. The House also hosted exhibit for the late NBA player Kobe Bryant, including Cayetano’s own shoe collection, on January 29 and another on February 24—the same day that the Senate held a hearing on allegations against ABS-CBN. Cayetano said the senators who led the hearing are “sipsip” or suck-ups. Cayetano was quoted in a CNN Philippines report on February 14 as saying that the Congress is “busy” dealing with more important bills to tackle as he asserted that the broadcast giant will not go off air. Early March, Cayetano insisted that bills for the network’s franchise will be discussed by the House panel either in May or August, saying that they needed “cooler heads” to deal with an “emotional issue.” n
Fil-Am elected officials share relief options for... PAGE A4 t
agricultural and home to a large minority population. One mission under his office is to combat falsities about cures and the origin of COVID-19, especially as they bring about stigmas targeted toward the Asian American community. “One of the key tools that they use is certainly misinformation and that was something that I know, being Chinese and Filipino, about how dangerous could be to all of us,” Cox said. He introduced two bills: one to combat COVID-19 misinformation and another to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to fund media campaigns to spread factual information.
Arizmendi, who became the first woman of color to be on Sierra Madre’s City Council, shared her role as a board member Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), which spearheaded a reporting site for community members to document experiences of hate and discrimination. The STOP AAPI Hate Reporting Center has reached over 1,500 reports of coronavirus-related discrimination from AAPIs across the country in the first month since it launched. Incidents from California and New York constituted over 58% of all reports, while AAPI women were harassed 2.3 times more than men. Arizmendi said it’s impor-
tant for victims to report these crimes because the data will help push for more legislation and resources. “We want to be able to demonstrate that with numbers and actual stories so that it’s not just these hypothetical things that are happening in the community,” she said. Saturday’s session kicked off a series of weekly town halls throughout May in recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The next one on May 9 will have former Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido and John Santos, AAPI political director for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), speak about campaigning for the presidential election while physical distancing. n
MANILA — The number of crimes in the country dropped by 34 percent during the enhanced community quarantine or ECQ, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Thursday, May 7. PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said a total of 38,484 crimes were recorded from March 17 to April 30. The figure is lower by 34.45 percent compared to 58,705 posted from Feb. 1 to March 16.
Gamboa said among the factors that contributed to the drop in crime volume are the restricted movement of people, increased presence of police and force multipliers as well as the liquor ban, which were put in place by the government in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The shift in the country’s crime trend will be sustained for as long as the people will cooperate with authorities even if protocols are relaxed under a general community quarantine, Gamboa said.
“If this trend can be sustained under the new normal when the ECQ is downgraded, we can look forward to better days ahead with fewer crimes,” he said. PNP data showed that index crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, car theft and rape went down by 60.49 percent from 6,756 to 4,087. Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP deputy chief for operations, urged local chief executives to maintain the curfew imposed in their jurisdictions to deter criminals. n
The emotional cost of saving the world... PAGE A4 t Moreover, as local and state jurisdictions begin to reopen (prematurely, according to public health officials), these first responders are at a far greater risk. The physical dangers of that risk coalesce with the emotional and mental hardships that come with working in an environment that has been overtaken by a silent killer. Public health officials, medical professionals and scientists working within the confines of pandemics face a specific kind of distress that further erases the demarcations of personal and professional concerns. Professor and licensed psychologist Dr. Michi Fu of the American Psychological Association (APA) referenced the psychosocial model, a psychological approach to observing an individual and the effect that their social environment has on their mental health. People who work in the areas of science and medicine are going to be more acutely aware of the pandemic’s severity. “When you’re informed and looking at science and studying epidemiology, you’re probably going to feel a great level of anxiety because of looking at things like how the Spanish Flu had three waves, so understanding that and trying to cope with that might be foremost on their mind,” Dr. Fu said during the roundtable. The psychological toll on medical professionals, especially, comprises things like caregiver burnout in which people who work in convalescent homes, for example, may be exposed to the virus on a daily basis and experience “horrific” tragedies while on the job. However, because of physical distancing, they can’t go home afterward and be with their families, Fu said. The doctor also discussed the unique struggle of moral injury that medical workers are facing today. Choosing to work in the realm of patient care means taking an oath to save as many lives
as you can. But today, nurses across the state of California are protesting for safer, hygienic workplace practices to protect nurses, which are seeing a higher infection rate among those working at Kaiser Permanente. The moral injury of trying to square a nurse’s instinct to save lives while also taking time to fight against “dangerous mask decontamination systems” (and the practice of reprocessing other personal protective equipment) is slowly becoming a greater stress among all nurses. “Most people when they go into helping professions, go into [it to] help everyone that they can. They’re not trying to distinguish between who deserves more resources,” Fu said. “There’s a lot of moral injury, not just related to the possibility that you yourself and your family will get sick and can I care for my patients adequately, but it’s also do you feel protected enough to feel good about your job.” Nurses and doctors, in particular, are being labeled as the real heroes of our time, quite literally saving the world one person at a time. Displays of appreciation have manifested themselves in advertisements from companies like McDonald’s and Dove thanking nurses and celebrity-run fundraisers and charity drives. In New York City, officials have begun daily cheers at 7 p.m. where residents stop to clap, cheer and honk in solidarity outside of hospitals for the frontliners of the pandemic. On a smaller community level, small businesses have helped feed medical staff, firefighters and those in law enforcement, many of whom have been working non-stop since the beginning of the emergency, as previously reported in the Asian Journal. But while the appreciation for doctors and nurses is a muchneeded sliver of positivity, Fu noted that there “were some stories about people feeling mixed about the 7 p.m. cheers because on one hand, they’re saying, ‘It feels great knowing that people
are behind us, but I didn’t sign up to be a hero.’” And even though people are lionizing health care workers and front-liners during this pandemic, the recognition can often feel purely symbolic rather than genuine gratitude, especially for AAPI front liners. The rich AAPI community within the patient care sphere is vast. The global network of Filipino nurses, in particular, is a keystone of the Filipino identity, with the Philippines being the largest exporter of nurses in the world, according to a study from Health Services Research. And given the recent uptick of anti-Asian sentiments, harassment, violence and microaggressions coinciding with the emergence of the COVID-19 virus, the “added layer of being Asian American” for AAPI health care workers can be “a complicating factor during such times,” Fu shared. “It’s a very complicated feeling of being despised by society and blamed for something while also trying to be a part of the solution,” she added, also factoring in the long-understood stigmatization of mental health within the AAPI community as another emotional roadblock. Community organizations that have set up hate crime hotlines to track COVID-19-related acts of hate against Asians, like the one at the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council which, since mid-March, has reported more than 1,500 cases of antiAsian aggression, as previously reported in the Asian Journal. “We’ve certainly seen the thousands of cases, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a toddler, or a senior, you might get slashed or kicked in the back,” Fu said. “These kinds of things have happened, not just in the states, but in other parts of the world where someone’s trying to go to work as a frontline medical worker and they’re being called something racist. And then they have to roll up their sleeves and act like a hero.” n
Sifting through the blame game and... PAGE A6 ABS-CBN has many other frequencies nationwide, which are allocated by geography and date of application; this is dictated both by the first-come-first-served nature of the allocations, and the archipelagic nature of our geography. As a side technical note, the lower the frequency, the more desirable, as the rate of propagation, or coverage, per watt of broadcast power is more efficient. This applies to both analog and digital broadcast. The higher in the frequency spectrum you go, the more power you will need to achieve the same effective coverage. ABS-CBN has the lowest analog frequency allocated in the VHF band, because it was the first television station in the Philippines. There are two things to note here: first, in digital broadcast, it is possible to put multiple channels on the same frequency without interference. On the TVPlus frequency, 485.143 MHz, ABSCBN offers a total of seven channels. Second, the extra TVPlus channels (5 out of the 7) are encrypted, and thus not free-to-air. You need to obtain the TVPlus appliance and a paid subscription in order to be able to view them. The other frequency, 647.143 MHz, is unencrypted and free-toair, and can be viewed by anyone with an appliance that conforms to the Japanese ISDB-T standard, for example, any television made in Japan for the domestic market. I believe the TVPlus channel uses the European DVB standard, the same as its ABS-CBN affiliate SkyCable, as well as the TV5 group’s Cignal TV. They are not required to conform to the ISDBT standard because they are not “broadcast”. Update: yes, they did start off this way, but have now switched to ISDB-T. This has become relevant recently, because an obscure group known as FICTAP, the Federation of International Cable Television Associates of the Philippines, has been alleging that ABS-CBN violated its franchise by broadcast-
ing more than one channel on its TVPlus frequency. FICTAP’s complaint is nonsense, because the franchise (which is a law) explicitly allows ABS-CBN to broadcast on its assigned frequencies, with no mention of any limits, or even the word “channel”. Both Congress and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) are well aware of the potential to broadcast multiple channels on the same frequency. In any case, the NTC granted additional frequencies to ABS-CBN for its digital channels. It was noted that the shrill complainant, Estrellia JulianoTamano, head of the FICTAP, is the stepmother of Adel Tamano, who, in turn, is the spokesperson and right hand of Dennis A. Uy, a known Duterte crony. Uy formed a media and communications company, which until now has no known franchise asset, right before Duterte made a public appearance telling the owners of ABS-CBN to sell the station, on Dec. 30 last year. Update: I am told that Estrellia Juliano and the Tamano family are not on good terms. In fact, Juliano should not even be using the name Tamano, as she was never legally married to the father of Adel Tamano, and this case was decided against her twice at the Supreme Court. While a couple of other top-tier businessmen have been rumored to express interest in the station, Dennis A. Uy and Udenna Corp. have denied having any interest in ABS-CBN. Under Philippine laws, broadcast franchises are not transferable. Any entity that buys broadcast assets must apply for their own franchise, or a renewal of the previous franchise, but under a change of ownership, which is about the same thing. Having established that the object of regulation is radio frequencies, let us turn to the nature of regulation. A typical Philippine broadcast franchise today sets the following conditions: 1. It gives the franchisee the right to construct, install, estab-
lish, maintain and operate radio and television stations, for commercial purposes, and in the public interest, usually in a defined territory, which can be as small as a province, or as large as the whole Philippines. 2. The broadcaster may not broadcast outside their assigned frequencies, or in a manner that interferes with other licensed frequencies. 3. The broadcaster must have the approval and assignment of frequencies from the NTC. 4. The broadcaster must exercise public responsibility. This is specifically defined. 5. The broadcaster must comply with labor standards. 6. The privilege of the radio frequency may be withdrawn by government at any time after due process. 7. The franchise period, usually 25 years. 8. The company granted the franchise must have a minimum public equity ownership, usually 30%, within usually 5 years after the franchise is granted. The rest is boilerplate. These provisions are pretty well-defined, and thus one might expect that renewal of such a franchise would be merely ‘ministerial’. In other words, it takes but a moment, and not a lot of debate, to determine whether or not a company has complied with its franchise conditions, or not. It’s a binary question, yes or no. If that company has not clearly violated any franchise condition, then the franchise should be renewed. In fact, franchises should automatically renew, unless there is a formal legal objection. Think about it. Why should we give the government that kind of power over business? *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 9-12, 2020
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A10 May 9-12, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL
Dateline PhiliPPines
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Economy shrinks by 0.2% in 1st quarter by anna leah
e. Gonzales ManilaTimes.net
ECQ TRAFFIC. Vehicles passing through EDSA increases on Wednesday, May 6 but seem to be practicing social distancing under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed to contain the coronavirus disease. The ECQ was extended in the National Capital Region; Central Luzon, except Aurora; Albay; Calabarzon; Benguet; Pangasinan; Iloilo province; Cebu province; Bacolod City; Davao City; and Zamboanga City up to May 15. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Duterte institutionalizes Balik Probinsya program by Catherine
Valente ManilaTimes.net
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order (EO) institutionalizing the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” program that seeks to decongest Metro Manila. EO 114 institutionalized the program to “ensure balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities through policies and programs that boost countryside development and inclusive growth; provide adequate social services; and promote full employment, industrialization and an improved quality of life in rural areas.” He noted that the epicenters of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the Philippines were congested areas located in the National Capital Region (NCR). “The uncontroled upsurge of population in the NCR brings to the fore longstanding issues on the lack of viable and sustainable employment opportunities in the countryside, unbalanced regional development, and unequal distribution of wealth,” Duterte said in his order. “To reverse migration to the NCR and other congested metropolises, as well as to attain rural prosperity through equitable distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities, a balanced re-
gional development program to foster socially cohesive, resilient and sustainable rural communities needs to be institutionalized,” he added. The President also ordered the creation of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Council, which will be chaired by the Executive Secretary and co-headed by the Socioeconomic Planning secretary and director-general and the National Economic and Development Authority. The members of the council includes the heads of almost all the agencies in the executive branch. “The Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program is hereby established as a national program of the government, and adopted as a continuing strategy to drive inclusive and balanced urban and rural development, ensure rural prosperity and complement initiatives towards attaining resilient and sustainable communities,” Duterte said. The council shall identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes to promote balanced regional development and recommend to Congress the enactment of such reforms into law. It must also coordinate with local government units to formulate policies and implement the program’s components. The program’s key areas are empowerment of local indus-
tries; food security and agricultural productivity; social welfare, health and employment; and development of infrastructure. The funding requirements of its pipeline or existing programs, activities or projects shall be identified by the Department of Budget and Management. The order takes effect immediately. The Senate on Monday adopted a resolution sponsored by Duterte’s long-time aide — Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, urging the executive department to formulate and implement a “Balik Probinsya” program. Go earlier urged the government to consider the Balik Probinsya program, noting that congestion in Metro Manila and other urban centers had led to the fast spread of Covid-19 and slowed down the distribution of relief aid to affected communities Under the Balik Probinsya program, the government would provide free transportation and livelihood assistance to Metro Manila residents who want to be relocated to their respective provinces. The relocation program will begin after the national government lifts community quarantine policies in various areas. The 2015 census revealed that Metro Manila is home to 12.87 million Filipinos. n
THE economy shrank by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of the year, the first contraction since the fourth quarter of 1998 as the COVID-19 crisis took a heavy toll on locked-down businesses, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Thursday, May 7. The first-quarter figure was dismal compared to the 5.7 percent during the same period last year. It was far worse than what analysts had projected. Polled by The Manila Times earlier, they forecast a first-quarter growth of -0.8 percent to as high as 4.5 percent. Net primary income from the rest of the world and gross national income contracted by 4.4 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively. Taking the biggest hit were manufacturing, transportation and storage, and accommodation and food service activities, the PSA said. Agriculture, forestry and fishing contracted by 0.4 percent and industry by 3.0 percent. Only services grew, by 1.4 percent, during the period. Household final consumption spending, which makes up almost 75 percent of the economy, was up by 0.2 percent, the lowest since the first quarter of 1986. Government spending grew by 7.1 percent, while capital formation contracted by 18.3 percent. In a statement, National Eco-
nomic and Development Authority Secretary Karl Chua said the COVID-19 posed serious challenges to the country’s strong growth and development prospects, noting that this is the first time the gross domestic product (GDP) fell into negative territory since 1998. That year, the economy took a beating from a particularly severe El Niño episode and the Asian financial crisis. “Our country has faced significant socio-economic risks and shocks during the first quarter of 2020, all totally unexpected: the Taal Volcano eruption in January, a significant decline in tourism and trade starting in February due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to implement the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon and other parts of the country starting March,” said Chua. Enforcing the coronavirus lockdown “has come at great cost to the Philippine economy. Our economic growth is showing weaker performance compared to the past two decades. Even so, our priorities are clear: to protect the lives and health of our people,” he added. Chua said the full impact of the extension of the ECQ on the economy would be felt in the second quarter: “Now in the second quarter we know that, April, will be very bad because of the ECQ.” He noted that as more areas transition to a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ), the growth shrinkage will
be smaller. “But we also know that starting May, two-thirds of the country have been put in the GCQ; and that is basically light that we are seeing at the end of the tunnel. Now we will use our policies, proactively to ensure that we gradually normalize. We are hoping that with mega swabbing, 30,000 tests per day by the end of May, then we can start to reverse the economic trajectory by June so that by the second half of the year, we can fully recover,” he added. Chua’s optimism of a bounce back was shared by Malacañang. Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday said the government would make a “very strong” economic rebound once the COVID-19 pandemic had passed. “We expect the economy to shrink even more during the month of April because the whole month of April is basically under ECQ and the first two weeks of May as well. We definitely expect a big contraction but the economic planners are very vigilant,” the spokesman told a virtual press briefing. He expressed optimism that the country’s economy would bounce back strongly due to the anticipated increase in infrastructure spending. “There will be a steep decline in the GDP for the second quarter. But we expect a very strong rebound through the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” Roque said. n
If life gives you lemons, make... PAGE A6
diligence, luck and prayers, you could hit paydirt. I got to know Philippine News publisher Alex Esclamado. With his encouragement and a loan, we set up an ad agency, Minority Media Services, that would specialize on the Filipino- American consumer market. This was at a time when the major advertisers were not even aware of the potentials of this market segment. But like prospectors digging for gold, through hard work and diligence, we finally hit paydirt. We landed AT&T as a client. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history. But to go back to the coronavirus pandemic, there have been some positive results, of
sorts. With most cars kept off the streets and traffic minimized, the environment has been cleared of smog and the air has been cleansed, The coronavirus scare has also kept wayward husbands at home for their children to finally get to know, although this has also created marital problems among stir-crazy adults and frustrated adulterers. Of course, life’s lemons can also be used to make bad lemonade. The face masks and gloves that have become necessary as protection against the virus can hide the identities and fingerprints of criminals. I haven’t heard of any incidents, so far – but the pandemic has already been used in other unsavory ways. Hustlers have been soliciting donations from
unsuspecting folks, ostensibly for the benefit of the poor and those who have lost their jobs. It should also have become obvious by now that a certain politician has been using the television briefings on the pandemic as a means to gain high visibility and prominence. And if you believe in karma, then you may also have noted that this tactic has backfired on the politician. Instead of enhancing his popularity, the TV briefings have exposed his mean-spirited nature and his ignorance. That’s what you call harvesting rotten fruits from the lemon tree. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 9-12, 2020
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US Embassy cancels visa interviews through May 31, 2020 Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ THE U.S. Embassy in Manila announced that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is canceling all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews scheduled through May 31, 2020. They hope to resume routine visa services as soon as possible, but cannot provide a specific date at this time, meaning it is possible visa interviews will be canceled beyond May 31. Once the quarantine is lifted in Manila, applicants should reschedule their own visa interviews through the Embassy’s call center. If your immigrant or nonimmigrant visa interview was canceled, don’t sit back and wait to be notified by the Embassy of a new interview date. Instead, you must take steps to have your interview rescheduled. And make sure you do so within one year, or it could be possible the Embassy will terminate your case. However, Pres. Trump has already signed a 60-day “suspension” of immigrant visa applicants coming to the U.S. through June 22, 2020 (except for spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens), so it would seem only nonimmigrant visa
applications would be entertained starting May 31, 2020, unless the Embassy further cancels interviews. And there may be further confusions or delays because of Pres. Trump’s proclamation, in that while people applying for their immigrant visas outside the U.S. are subject to that 60day suspension, workers in the U.S. applying for adjustment of status inside the U.S. are not. They could still be interviewed and have their green cards issued in the U.S. What’s more, the annual allotment and distribution of employment visas are based on those applying both outside and inside the U.S. If only those inside the U.S. can apply, the State Department may advance or move the priority date forward, allowing even more applicants in the U.S. to apply, so as to use of the supply of annual visas. For example, right now the priority date for EB-3 and other workers is January 1, 2017. In order to make sure the annual allotment of visas is used up by those in the U.S., the State Department might make that category “current,” and the annual supply could be quickly depleted. Then, no more visas would be left for those applying outside the U.S. until October 2020, which is the new fiscal year for visas. I understand many people are anxious and confused because the rules, regulations, and procedures are constantly changing
in the middle of the game to deal with this pandemic. People have followed the rules, waited patiently in line, and it seems now they’re being told they will have to wait in an even longer line. If you have any questions or concerns about your case, you should consult with an attorney who can evaluate your situation and determine your best course of action. *** 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 attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES
The 2020 Gold House A100 list includes Ernesto Tanmantiong and Francis Flores, CEO and CMO of Jollibee Foods Corporation Global, respectively; model and trans activist Geena Rocero; comedian Jo Koy; Tony-nominated actress and singer Eva Noblezada (“Hadestown” on Broadway and the film “Yellow Rose”); award-winning filmmaker Diane Paragas (“Yellow Rose”); Deadline associate editor and podcaster Dino-Ray Ramos; and Worldwide Managing Partner of Bain & Company, Manny Maceda.
8 Pinoys make Gold House 2020 list of 100 most impactful APIs
by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
IN its yearly roundup of the 100 most impactful Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs), the nonprofit organization Gold House named eight Filipinos and Filipino Americans who have made significant contributions to American culture. Released every May in time for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the A100 list includes thought leaders, activists, politicians, entertainers, athletes and business figures. During a time when more (Advertising Supplement) Asians are winning Oscars, breaking records in professional sports and disrupting the heteronormative, Gold House’s list honors those “who are transforming society many of whom are the first, the youngest, the best and the only in their fields.”
Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili’s fundamental laws of her giving, compassion and generosity for others Rhizomes
ProSy AbArQuezDelAcruz, J.D. AS the title reflects, fundamental laws are meant to guide us to be on the right path at all times, and as law-abiding citizens, to function daily with ethics and integrity. Beyond these traits really, there are fundamental laws, a sort of a North Star, which animates one’s life to be a place of serenity, peace and joy. Once you meet Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili, a Philippine Medical Society of Northern California (PMSNC) officer/active member and medical direcDr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili in full personal protective equipment at Washington Hospital tor of the intensivist program at in Fremont, California. Photo courtesy of Washington Hospital Healthcare System Washington Hospital in Fremont, California, you will get a sense of ner in Chinatown awaited us to would it say about me? Whom her persona. celebrate and after, and a lecture have I helped? Whom have I At a meeting, Cynthia Bonta, on the value of higher education. guided? What small interactions president of the Alameda Sister There were many more moments did I make to others? What would City Association, asked me: like this that I recall and in ad- it say about my whole life?” “Have you met Dr. Carmencita,” dition to the stories, the feeling Would you still raise them and added, “She is well-liked by of hearts full. when these have been the quesall.” Should I tions that care to know guided your this amiable upbringing? “My wife is a woman of grace, a woman of woman? Is it I surmise character, a woman of strength. She is very even possible these soulto be liked generous in spirit and her capacity to tolerate, searching legand stand out acy questions to accommodate, to forgive anybody knows amongst the informed the 150+ volunupbringing of no bounds.” – Arnaldo Agcaoili, husband teers? Dr. Carmenof Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili, in During a cita, who credtrip to Santa its her dad, Dr. 2015’s Physician of the Year video tribute at Barbara, Iloilo Buenaventura, Washington Hospital in Fremont, California. a p h y s i c i a n , in 2018, we were introsurgeon, hosduced formalpital founder, ly. Her nametag had a middle As I write this piece, I couldn’t music aficionado and the father name Abarquez, as my maiden’s help my tears, not an ugly cry, of five other siblings, along with surname. Boldly, I approached perhaps missing both my dad her mom, Conchita, a pharmaher: “there are not too many and my uncle, nostalgic even, cist, and the Isabelans she grew Abarquez names in the world, wishing those moments repeat. up with, as those influencing her could you perhaps be my relaJust as my mood changed, philosophy. tive?” Dr. Carmencita was mentored pulling myself out of regrets, I “Yes, we are cousins, we fre- felt a sense of gratitude to be on ethics, life skills, and surgical quently visited your home.” reunited with my cousin and her skills by her dad. Duh, how could I have forgot- family, and with that feeling, I “I shadowed him in major ten? It turns out her father, Dr. glanced at an apple green but- and minor surgeries. From him, Buenaventura, “Uncle Bonnie” terfly in my backyard, one that I learned hard work, discipline, to me, and my dad, Eleazar, were grabbed my attention, preparing and inquisitiveness,” she said. best friends. Both have the sur- me perhaps for reflections. “He inculcated in me, ‘Take care name, Abarquez. Unmistakably, What will my story tell? What of your patients well and you will we are related by blood and are would it say about my whole never go wrong.’” connected by good memories in life? As Conchita, her mom took our hearts. In the successful musical care of their family, kept their When her family came to “Hamilton,” created by Lin- home, raised six children, asvisit, our lunch became many Manuel Miranda, these ques- signed them chores and later, afternoons of sharing stories, tions alluded to in a song, moved in the U.S., took good care of laughter, and during gradua- me: “What legacy did I build? her grandchildren, she also tions, a nine-course laureate din- What will my story tell? What PAGE B2
The Filipinos who made the list include Ernesto Tanmantiong and Francis Flores, CEO and CMO of Jollibee Foods Corporation Global, respectively; model and trans activistGeena Rocero; Tony-nominated actress and singer Eva Noblezada (“Hadestown” on Broadway and the film “Yellow Rose”); award-winning filmmaker Diane Paragas(“Yellow Rose”); comedian Jo Koy; Deadline associate editor and podcaster Dino-Ray Ramos; and Worldwide Managing Partner of Bain & Company, Manny Maceda. Tanmantiong, president and CEO of Jollibee Foods Corporation, has helped grow the company into one of the largest Asian food service companies with over 4,500 stores in 21 countries. As CMO, Flores has been instrumental in bringing the Chickenjoy brand worldwide. The company also owns
several other brands, including Chowking and Red Ribbon in the Philippines, and Smashburger and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the United States. Rocero, last year, made headlines when she became the first transgender AAPI to pose for Playboy magazine when she became Playmate of the Month in August 2019. In response to her inclusion on the list, Rocero wrote on Instagram, “[It is a] HUGE honor to be included with some of the most inspiring people in a variety of industries.” “In this moment of crisis, this togetherness gives hope. Keep on shining Asian Pacific American fam,” she added, including a warm “salamat to my fellow Filipinos” on the list. Ramos also took to social media to share his thoughts on earning a spot on the list. PAGE B2
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EntErtainmEnt
Michael Bublé gifts Pinay caretaker a ‘home’ By Ratziel
SaN JuaN Philstar.com
MICHAEL Bublé recently honored his grandfather’s dying wish to leave his longtime caretaker Minette a home to stay at with her family. The Canadian singer behind the hit song “Home” rewarded the lucky Filipina, who stood by her grandfather’s side for eight years, with a picturesque, newly-renovated house in Vancouver — and it is everything! He employed the help of award-winning “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott to jazz up the 1970s house built and once owned by his late grandfather Demetrio as a special present for Minette. Michael even had a hand in the restoration as seen in the latest episode of HGTV series “Celebrity IOU,” a show “where Hollywood A-listers express their deep gratitude to individuals who had a major impact on their lives by surprising them with big, heartwarming home renovations that bring everyone to tears.” The multi-Grammy-winning artist was initially lost, admit-
GMA artists show support for ABS-CBN Nika Roque ManilaTimes.net
by
Michael Bublé surprises his grandfather’s Filipina caretaker Minette with a newly-renovated home that he helped work on with “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott. Photos from Facebook/Property Brothers
ting that he never worked on building or renovation prior to shooting the episode. “I’ve never broke n stuff before...purposely,” Michael confessed, to which one of the Scott twins quipped back that he’s “broken hearts for a living.” Surely enough, before-andafter pictures of the property’s interiors only underscore how the already beautiful can be magnified into perfection. Among the features that had
the recipient feeling good are gas fireplace inserts, energyefficient windows and a stylish slat wall that offers privacy by separating the dining room from the rest of the house. “I came from the Philippines, working as a community health worker, then I got hired by Michael’s family to look after grandma and grandpa at the same time,” Minette said on “Celebrity IOU,” revealing how she knows Michael as family outside of stardom.
Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili’s...
PAGE B1 tended to their pharmacy, and the community. “They loved to host impromptu get-togethers, dancing mostly as well as singing. I was in charge of making the flower arrangements and at times, I [would] pick from the neighbor’s. It was commonly understood that what we have, we share with the community. My dad and mom taught us to have fun, to dance, to harvest the flower blooms, and to decorate the tables for the folks who came to join us for these get-togethers,” she recalled. The century-old traditional Filipino value of “loving your neighbor” anchored the beginnings of Our Lady of Peñafrancia Clinic and Hospital, a 25-bed facility founded by her father in Santiago, Isabella. Its mission was prominently displayed on a wood décor wall in the hospital: “With the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Peñafrancia as a model of love and humility, our hospital is committed to its task of creating a Catholic environment enculturating the values of environmental awareness and responsiveness to the needs of patients and providing optimum care towards the development of a whole person.” Her dad was a pioneering environmental activist, a visionary in total quality care, and believed in providing medical care for all, including the rebels. Politics did not determine who got health care. A lot of the folks could not pay, yet it did not stop her dad from providing medical
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services to his community. Folks exchanged their labor to help out the family: washing clothes for a week, supplying them with chickens and eggs, and rarely, land titles in exchange for health care services. Dr. Carmencita met her husband in college while pursuing her bachelor’s of science degree in public health. She completed her medical degree at UE Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center and got married to Arnaldo and from that marriage, they have three children, all boys: Alastair, Andrew, and Alexander. She first became a research assistant in Neuroscience Institute in UE RMM and after a year, she relocated back to Santiago and became a rural health physician for its Municipal Health Center. Dr. Carmencita had planned to practice medicine in the Philippines and enlarge the 25-bed hospital in Isabela, founded by her father. This hospital took care of everyone, that her father kept inculcating in her, “Don’t forget to help, and don’t forget to care for them.” She then became its house staff physician for a year, followed by a postgraduate internship at UP’s Philippine General Hospital for another year. After Dr. Carmencita gave birth to the couple’s first son, Alastair, her dream with her father was preempted by her husband, Arnold’s dream of pursuing a computer career in the United States.
Alastair, then 2 years old, was left in the care of his Grandma Conchita. After a year of passing exams, Dr. Carmencita applied for matching residency. She had her eyes set on internal medicine, and while waiting, she volunteered to work at SFGH. She was a graduate research fellow at the Cellular Immunology and Trauma Center, where she assisted in collecting blood samples for a research study on battered women. At the end of this research study and with the help of a good recommendation letter from the chief, she applied at 100 hospitals, which resulted in 10 interview requests and finally, two offers for residency. She accepted the three-year internal medicine residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, New York, an affiliate of Cornell University. Arnold worked in New Jersey as a software engineer, while Alastair was cared for at home, by Grandma Conchita, who has now immigrated to join the couple. She then obtained a three-year fellowship in pulmonary/critical care medicine at USC-LA County Hospital through her New Yorkbased physician contact, which recommended her. During that fellowship, she also worked as an urgent care physician at Claude Hudson Comprehensive Clinic and a clinic physician specialist at a Tuberculosis Clinic in Northeast Health Center in Los Angeles. Her family then moved to Fremont, where she practiced internal medicine/pulmonary/critical care with Washington Internal Medical Group for 16 years. Board-certified in all three specialties — internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care — she also began her long association with Washington Hospital, as a consultant, medical director in respiratory care services, co-director of Intensive Care, co-director of Palliative Care, Medical Director of Intermediate Care and Medical Director of Critical Care Units, a consistent tenure now of 28 years. She is also the medical director of Respiratory Care Services at Ohlone College since 2010 up to the present. These parent-derived homegrown values of universal care, compassion, and generosity in spirit found convergence in Dr. Carmencita’s choice of working at the mission-oriented Washington Hospital, Fremont. Another factor was to be near her in-laws who lived in San Francisco. “This is my community, and it is important to me to be actively involved in providing the best possible care for people in our community,” she said. “I get a real sense of fulfillment in caring for patients who are fragile and are at a crucial point in their lives,” the hospital’s website captured her life-giving philosophy in practicing medicine. She was the team leader in 2017 on an 18-month collaboration of 67 hospitals nationwide, garnering Washington Hospital the Top Performance Award in the west coast from the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) ICU Liberation ABCDEF Collaborative. Health care as a right, not commodity Isabela was a center of agriculture, growing mung beans, tobacco, and coffee while she PAGE B4
GMA Network artists and broadcast journalists joined various groups and citizens who expressed support for ABS-CBN Corp., setting aside the longstanding competition between the big media giants. GMA prime time actress Aiko Melendez posted a lengthy take on the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) order against the Kapamilya network, which went off air on Tuesday, May 5. “Napaka mali ng timing ng closure kung kelan [may] pandemic crisis tayo kailangan [natin] ng mga mas karagdagang impormasyon. Naawa ako sa mga mawawalan ng trabaho. 11k workers ang mawawalan ng trabaho. Ang dami din ‘di sinunod ng NTC sa sinabi nila during the hearing sabi magbibigay ng temporary permit to operate. Sana man lang binigyan man lang ng oras ang ABS-CBN makapaghanda,” Melendez said. “Nagiging objective lang ako,” she added. “Maswerte ako nasa GMA ako pero gaya ng network na pinagtratrabahuhan ko, sila ay nakikiisa din at nalulungkot sa pangyayaring ito.” “Hindi po ‘to laban ng sino ang mas magaling o mahusay. Ang @gmanetwork ay nagpakita ng fair comments sa shutdown ng ABS… Ang mundo na ginagalawan namin ay napakaliit lamang. Ang network war ay just to spice up the competition. GMA has never taken this step to take advantage and media mileage. Instead, they gave [their] fair share of sympathy and empathy to the people who just lost their jobs. Again I am blessed to be part of GMA but please allow me also to feel pain because ABS gave me the opportunity to work for them for a long time.” “I am a Kapuso but I am in solidarity with the Kapamilya Network! We are one television community serving the Filipino people,” she added. Former ABS-CBN News personality Atom Araullo, who is now with GMA, took to Twitter to say, “Sorrow today, courage and defiance tomorrow. #DefendPressFreedom” His post has garnered more than 100,000 likes and counting. Actor Jason Abalos who caused a stir a couple of years ago when he crossed over to GMA from ABS-CBN, posted, “12 years ako dito [in ABS-CBN]. Dito nabuo pagkatao ko at mga pangarap, madami ako mga mahal sa buhay na naiwan sa network na ‘to… Kasama niyo ako
Aiko Melendez
GMA photos
Atom Araullo
Jason Abalos
Janine Gutierrez
Julie Anne San Jose
Paolo Ballesteros
sa mga dasal niyo Kapamilya.. Hanggang sa muli!” Homegrown GMA talent Janine Gutierrez, who is known to be very opinionated on social media with her one-liners simply tweeted, “Appalling.” She posted an accompanying photo of philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt’s quote which read, “The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen. What makes it possible for a totalitarian or any other dictatorship to rule is that people are not informed; how can you have an opinion if you are not informed? If everybody always lies to you, the consequence
is not that you believe the lies, but rather that nobody believes anything any longer.” Fellow GMA Artist Center talents Julie Anne San Jose also tweeted, “Yakap at dasal,” and Gabbi Garcia simply expressing, “Grabe,” yet garnering more than 100,000 likes. Popular hosts of GMA Network blocktimer “Eat Bulaga” also showed support for the beleaguered station, with Maine Mendoza tweeting three hearts in the colors of red, green and blue — ABS-CBN’s colors while Paolo Ballesteros wrote on Instagram, “Sending love to our Kapamilya friends.”
AlDub fans rejoice ‘Kalyeserye’ comeback By JaN
Milo SeveRo Philstar.com
“KALYESERYE,” the “Eat Bulaga” segment that launched the love team of Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards, is making a comeback as the longest noontime show will air its episodes again. In its Twitter account, “Eat Bulaga” posted a photo of the “Kalyeserye.” “Tutok lang sa inyong ga TV mga Dabarkads! Enjoy your tanghalian kasama ang inyong mga Dabarkads at iba pang throwback episode ng Eat Bulaga,” it said. Fans of the AlDub love team showed their excitement for the comeback as #ALDUBKalyeSeryeAngSimula has been trending on Twitter with over 194,000 tweets. “Ngayon na lang ulit ako manonood ng Eat Bulaga mula noong hindi na sila Live. Because of Kalyeserye,” a Twitter user wrote. “Is Eat Bulaga seriously going to rerun AlDub Kalyeserye? The memories! Those were the days,” another posted.
Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards
GMA photo
“Di ako masyadong nakatu- mented. log, gusto ko lunes na, Excited “K a l y e s e r y e ” r e i nve nt e d ulet mapanuod Ang aking num- “Eat Bulaga” as they shatber 1 Phenomenal loveteam, tered rating records and even my Multimedia idols ALDEN broke social media records. It RICHARD and MAINE MEN- also filled the 55,000-seated DOZA...thank you EB and GMA Philippine Arena during Alden marinig nyo rin Ang aming and Yaya Dub’s first screen hinaing,” another user com- meeting.
8 Pinoys make Gold House 2020...
PAGE B1 On May 1, the Deadline editor wrote, “Today is my mom’s birthday. When I called her [to] tell her [happy birthday], she said, ‘Congratulations!’ for making that #A100 list’… And then she said: ‘That was a really great birthday gift…to see you make that list.’” Gold House, which seeks to foster stronger relationships among the vast API community across the globe, said in a video announcing the list that, now more than ever in the COVID-19 pandemic, the API community risks becoming misrepresented, ignored and attacked in the
media. “In contrast to other diasporas Asians have struggled to fortify a culture of mutual support. Our diverse ethnicities, hundreds of dialects, separation across the globe only extended this divide,” Gold House said in a video unveiling the A100 list. “We deserve better because we’ve given better. We deserve to be here because we have been and are growing. We are the ones we have been waiting for,” the organization added. The honorees are publicly nominated by top Asian nonprofits and Gold House’s Member base that includes C-Suite
executives, A-List celebrities and top founders. Then, nonprofit leaders, a panel of multicultural icons and Gold House members cast their votes to determine the final 100 list. 2020 judges included Filipinos Dado and Maria Banatao and Lea Salonga. Among the prominent APIs on the list also include California Senator Kamala Harris, “Parasite” director and Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, comedian Ali Wong and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 9-12, 2020
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NVC terminates daughter’s case for failing to apply for visa within one year on an all new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
KHALIDHA was petitioned by her mother, Shami, in 2004. Seven years later, in 2011, the National Visa Center (NVC) sent notices to Khalidha, informing her of the availability of her visa and giving her one year to apply. However, Khalidha never got these notices and therefore did not respond within the one-year deadline. The NVC then termi-
nated the case. The family went to two lawyers without any success. They even sought the help from a U.S. senator and a U.S. congressman, to no avail. A Filipino coworker suggested the family consult with leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who reviewed and evaluated hundreds
of documents provided by the family and came up with a winning strategy. He was then able to convince the NVC to reinstate the petition and issue visas for the entire family. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY on Sunday at 6:15 PM (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
Andi urges fellow moms to embrace pregnancy stretch marks by Cha Lino Inquirer.net
ACTRESS Andi Eigenmann imparted a body-positivity message to her fellow moms who might look at their stretch marks as a flaw. Eigenmann declared that she is proud of the marks left by her pregnancies, as per her Instagram post on Thursday, May 7. The mom of two daughters also believed that consistent exercise, eating healthy and “some trusty [argan] oil” improved her marks over time. “I often get questions about how I got rid of my stretch marks,” she said. “I don’t know why because as you can see in this photo (just like in a couple of others), I never did!” The actress accompanied the post with two snapshots of her by the beach while carrying her baby Lilo. Eigenmann was all smiles, sporting a white crop top and a pair of shorts. Eigenmann mused that it might be an optical illusion that some thought she no longer had stretch marks. “Maybe with the right angle and good lighting, (or with a super cute distraction like the one [I’m] carrying here LOL), it sometimes seems like it isn’t there,” she said. Eigenmann also came to the defense of her fellow moms, especially in relation to what they are supposedly allowed to wear. “[Just] because we have these belly marks, doesn’t mean we aren’t [allowed] to wear your
Andi Eigenmann with daughter Lilo
favorite cropped tops and bikinis anymore!” Eigenmann said. “I’ve grown to be more comfortable and proud of them because hey! This body has done amazing things.” “It carried my 2 beautiful girls for 9 months, and gave birth to them safely too!” she added. “I hope you guys will [realize] that too.” Eigenmann is currently residing in Siargao with her boyfriend Philmar Alipayo, the
Photo from Instagram/@andieigengirl
father of her almost 1-year-old child Lilo. The actress also has an 8-year-old daughter named Ellie with her former partner Jake Ejercito. Recently, actress Ellen Adarna had to ward off negative comments from a basher who told her to get her stretch marks surgically removed. Adarna admitted that she did have marks on her thighs, but she immediately slammed the netizen for the body-shaming comment.
Quarantine’s effect on Dingdong’s parenting style by aLLan
PoLiCarPio Inquirer.net
WHEN the community quarantine was first put in place in March, Dingdong Dantes’ son, Sixto, had yet to learn how to stand up on his own. Now, he’s practically “running around” the house. But while witnessing such a milestone was an exciting moment for him as a father, Dingdong also couldn’t help but feel worried about the future, not only for his children, but also for their generation. “At the start of the quarantine, Sixto was just crawling. Then one time, I saw him suddenly stand up and walk. I was happy that I was there to see that milestone in his life. But looking forward, I worry about the kind of world he will live in, post-COVID-19,” he related in a recent online Q&A session hosted by Regal Entertainment on Facebook. “I’m afraid for our children … the next generation,” admitted the Kapuso star, who has an elder daughter, 4-year-old Zia, with his wife, Marian Rivera. Still, Dingdong chooses to remain hopeful. But everyone needs to do his or her part, he stressed. “Our children weren’t given to us for no reason. We have to make this world a better place for them because their generation will reap the effects of our actions,” he said. Dingdong is one of the many local celebrities who heed the call for help of people whose livelihoods have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew’s Fund PH—a fundraising project supported by Dingdong’s charity organization YesPinoy Foundation—has recently finished the third wave of its rice-and-food-pack donations to thousands of marginalized families in poor areas, including those in Smokey Mountain and Payatas. The drive has also donated boxes of milk to beneficiary families with kids 3 years old and up, as well as sets of per-
Dingdong Dantes
sonal protective equipment (PPE) to various hospitals. “We would like to thank the Philippine Navy, community and church leaders, volunteers, hospital partners, logistics and service providers, donors and our operations team for making the third wave of our food and PPE distribution possible,” Dingdong said in statement posted on YesPinoy’s Instagram page. It’s heartening to see, Dingdong said, that camaraderie prevailed amid all the struggles people are dealing with at the moment. “As we face COVID-19, we continue to witness the heroism of Filipinos—the health workers, military, police force, delivery men, media, fast-food crews, sales clerks, volunteers and other front-liners,” he wrote. “We would like to honor our workers who are dedicating their time and effort; who risk their safety, not only to provide for their loved ones, but also to keep our communities healthy and secure,” Dingdong added. Prior to the lockdown, Ding-
GMA photo
dong was busy shooting for GMA-7’s adaptation of the Korean series “Descendants of the Sun,” and preparing for the Metro Manila Summer Film Festival bid of his action film “A Hard Day.” Now, he gets to spend more time with his family. “I had been out a lot, working and shooting, so I’m more hands-on now,” said Dingdong, who has been posting on Instagram photos of his bonding activities with Sixto and Zia. “We have a daily routine. We wake up at a specific time and do the activities and chores we have set. After lunch, we play with the kids. It’s good to have something to look forward to every day… It’s also good to set small goals for the week, like cleaning the kitchen or other parts of the house,” he related. His time at home is likewise spent strengthening his relationship with Marian even more. “ The time is good for married life. It’s sad it had to happen in this context, but we’re grateful we have each other,” Dingdong said.
CASE REVIVED AFTER NVC TERMINATES IT FOR FAILURE TO APPLY FOR VISA WITHIN ONE YEAR – FULL STORY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Khalidha (second from right) was petitioned by her mother Shami (center) in 2004. In 2011, the National Visa Center (NVC) sent a notice that Khalidha’s visa was available and gave her one year to reply. However, Khalida never received any notice, until she finally received one advising that her visa petition had been terminated for failure to respond to the NVC within one year. The family went to two lawyers, to a U.S. senator, and to a congressman, but none were successful in reviving the case. Finally, a Filipino co-worker (and fan of Citizen Pinoy) suggested they consult with leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. After going through hundreds of pages of documents, and diligently reviewing the case history, Attorney Gurfinkel was able to convince the NVC to reopen the case and issued visas for the entire family. Watch this success story on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
B4 MAY 9-12, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
MOONLIGHTING BY MYLAH DE
LEON
ON this big production called Mother’s Day, a whole nation of sons and daughters paused to remember their mothers. My first knowledge of the world about life came to me through my senses, in so far as they were directed by my mother. She was the first one I saw, the first thing I felt, and the first thing upon which I depended on security the day I was born when everything made me cry, in a desperate wail because of hunger, light and anger. The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital, I have made my way. I remember that day I guided her into her flight gate. She turned around, waved at us smiling blithely, cheering us with her mirth. She was the most beautiful woman, I have ever seen. It was the last time I saw my mother alive. I missed her until I ached. I missed her steadfast faith in a loving unseen God — her complete love for her family anchored on the dictum “love one another” by giving all, asking little and accepting less. There never was a woman like her. She was a rich and treasured gift from God, who taught us what real love means. It meant sharing the hurts, hopes, joys and homecomings. When we grew older and went on our separate ways, she said love was staying when it would be easier to leave, defending when others accused, holding on when you’re tempted to let go, and most importantly,
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I remember mama
letting go when you desperately want to hold on. She was an accomplished gardener that made orchids bloom in the moonlight; the roses grew even in winter. But her five girls were her fertile field. In the soul of the human heart, she was perfect. In her children’s hearts, she had tenderly planted the seed of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control — courageously protecting that precious field from destruction and uninvited strangers. When spiritual or physical tribulations threatened her brood, she worked with a bleeding hand to protect the roots of life from its violent storms as she struggled through seasons of growth and celebrated unharmed growth as she weeded, watered, plowed and prayed. When our hearts got broken or our dreams fell apart, she would remind us that God holds the key to real happiness. He is the rebuilder of dashed hopes and shattered dreams. Her cheerful heart and encouragement were transfusions of courage. Her weekend mornings were meant for special things and anybody who messed with the divine plan was placing her health and eternal happiness in great danger. Yet, when the grand and great-grandchildren came, she could find joy in the Saturday and Sunday mornings filled with scampering feet raucous laughter and squeals of “Apong!” She relished her home straightened just yesterday and strewn with toys and coloring books today. She was always a tender nurse beside the bed of a sick child, a diplomatic disciplinarian, and a mighty warrior against the focus of evil that threatened her domain.
She taught us that laughter would lengthen your life span, improve your marriage and increase your humility. Of her funeral…oh, she would have liked it. It had the decorum and dash. Grief borne nobly was her very ways. It was full of children, laborers, lawyers and judges. It had a marvelous eyeful jumble of the mighty and the obscure, with the sounds of the day smashingly appropriate. The tolling of the bells and her loved ones’ silent lament blended with elegiac Schubert, Tosseli, Romberg, Mendelsohn, Debussy and the lugubrious songs of the lost love of Nicanor Abelardo and Buencamino. She would have seen every person she had helped, the simple folks of labor, their employees, and her grieving friends, each one bearing tales and evoking her so vividly that tears splashed on the red carpet and benches of the parlor. They all wept but nobody broke down. I believe that God has a special place for her and that she and her friends are happy and singing “I love thee”; Shubert’s “Ave Maria”, “When I Grow Too Old to Dream,” and “Ay, Ay Kalisud.” “Come on,” she would coax me. “You sing alto, it goes like this, and I’ll sing soprano.” She was a coloratura soprano. I’d rush to her with joy because I know how happy it will make her, as I accompanied her on the piano. She would sing a capella, “Trees,” “ Indian Love Call” and “Nasaan ka Irog” and “La Golondrina,” “None But the Lonely Hearts,” “On Wings of Song.“ And they were, you know, some of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. ***
E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol. com.
Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili’s... PAGE B2 was growing up. Similarly, Fremont, located southeast of San Francisco, was an agricultural site for grapes, nursery plants, and olives, following the founding of Mission San Jose in 1795 and the subsequent Gold Rush in the 1800s. In 1948, compelled by community needs, a group of publicminded citizens founded Washington Hospital. It opened its doors in 1958 with this mission of health care as an “intensely personal service” and a “patient first ethic.” In 2008, when Dr. Carmencita was working as an internist/pulmonologist/intensivist in a group private practice, she was recruited by Washington Hospital to head and to develop the pioneering intensivist program, attracting trained and high caliber physicians from UCSF, Stanford, and NIH. Starting with 28 beds, they have now expanded to 48. As the medical director of the critical care units at Washington Hospital, Dr. Carmencita embodies these homegrown values of ‘patient first,’ generosity of spirit and compassion. “The objective is to provide the right care at exactly the right moment in time to achieve the best possible patient outcome, where the intensivist-led model for critical care has become the ‘gold standard.’ It is focused on patient safety. It improves patient outcomes. It reflects the patient-first ethic of Washington Hospital. It’s the right thing to do for our patients. Patients in the ICU generally have life-threatening illnesses or conditions such as cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, strokes, severe trauma or resistant infections,” she noted. The hopsital’s website explains that “studies have shown that having an intensivist act as the team leader in providing critical care definitely improves the quality of care for these patients.” In Washington Hospital’s annual report for 2017-2018, their mortalities in critical care of patients went down, an unusual trend considering that sepsis (blood poisoning) is typically a deadly condition that one hardly survives from. In a month, the hospital would receive 50 patient cases of severe septic shocks and 85% of whom were 65 years and above. If septic shock cases had 40% mortality in 2008, by 2019, it was reduced to 20%, meaning 10 more lives were spared, as opposed to 20 dead patients. The fact that this hospital can treat serious septic shock cases says a lot about this hospital’s level of patient care. In 2015, the hospital Hospital recognized Dr. Carmencita as its first woman Physician of the Year. A YouTube video tribute captured how her colleagues felt about her, including being “a consummate intensivist” and “a great authority to go to” who “has raised [the] standards of care for thousands of patients. From a fellow intensivist, Daniel
Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili and husband Arnold during a medical mission in January 2018 in Santa Barbara, Iloilo. Photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
Sweeney, M.D, a graduate of the National Institute of Health, “she is a mentor, a humane person, a friend.” A woman of substance, grace and good character Last Nov. 2018, the hospital inaugurated a 224,800-square foot medical facility, named after Morris Hyman, who was a community leader, advocate, philanthropist, and Fremont Bank founder. His life-size statue greets visitors and patients in the lobby, as well as a recognition wall bearing the names of the donors who made this Pavilion possible. In that recognition wall, one notices various donor categories and in the Ambassador category, the top line has Arnaldo Agcaoili and Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili, M.D. inscribed, a couple who made a sizeable donation to fund the C-pod of the Critical Care Pavilion. Are you now getting a sense of how Dr. Carmencita has merged her life’s mission of career growth, with giving back to others, in the form of donations, for more lives to be saved in this hospital, along with raising her family? Would you conclude as Arnaldo, who describes from the quotes above, the essence of Dr. Carmencita’s character and her radiant soul so to speak, a radiance unaffected by folks surrounding her: rich, middle or poor folks? Spontaneous care anchors desire to make a difference That “other-self orientation” is what attracted me to Philippine Medical Society for Northern California (PMSNC), the altruism of its nearly 200 volunteers, and the organizational mission of training others and passing on knowledge and skills, while providing thousands urgent health care for a week, each of the 33 years and more, that they have been in existence. In 2015, when Dr. Carmencita was president of PMSNC, she brought five multi-disciplinary doctors, 10 nurses and other medical staffers in Bohol. Eight staffers of Washington Hospital joined her at the organization’s medical mission in Candon, Ilocos Sur in Jan. 2019. Some are not Filipinos; yet, they cared enough to go to The Philippines on their own dime to help out in
surgeries and outpatient care for a week. What moved them? Try to have a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Carmencita, as joy is her animating force. With broad smiles, she relates how their medical missions went. She shares a slideshow created by her husband, Arnaldo, from the photos taken of thousands of patients helped, plus how the biomedical engineers who go to this mission have given new life to stored medical equipment donated to this medical mission by Washington Hospital. She rarely talks about what she did, instead, what her colleagues have done to save a life. So her colleagues did the same, talk about how she saved lives as well, miracles manifested so to speak. She started with PMSNC in 2006 when she went to a meeting for doctors sponsored by a pharmaceutical drug company. She met Dr. Linda Ursua who recruited her and enthusiastically talked about their camaraderie, their medical mission of helping thousands and the continuing medical education seminars. For a licensed professional, sustained learning of state of the art practices and updated body of knowledge is required. It was not until 2012 when she joined the medical mission, as she was raising her young children. She joined as part of the outpatient team and consulted as part of the pulmonology team. The first year she joined the medical mission in 2012, Dr. Carmencita encountered a twoyear-old child who underwent a complicated cleft lip surgery. While being aspirated, the child became unresponsive, she had to be intubated but given there was no ventilator in this province, she had to do “ambu-bagging,” manually squeezing in oxygen into the airway that goes to the lungs. The child had to be flown to a larger capacity hospital or she would die not from surgery, but from complications. A 1940s, single-engine plane would fly them to Manila and the usual rental of Php 75,000 ($1,500) was reduced to Php 40,000 ($800), given the emergency of saving a child’s life. The team had no time to wait for a more suitable plane. Arnold, her husband, said, “Let’s go,” thinking it was a Lear jet.
The Prophetic Voice REVEREND RODEL G. BALAGTAS MY friends, this coronavirus pandemic has challenged and tested not only our faith, health, and our nation’s strength but one’s leadership. When I talk about leadership, I don’t just mean the leadership in government. I also refer to leadership is families, schools, churches, businesses, and personal lives. This trying time has challenged the usual ways we govern, do business, study, meet, worship, live as a family, and serve others. It has challenged us to think outside the box and to face courageously the “new norms” that have emerged out of this pandemic. Most of all, it has challenged us to sacrifice one’s needs for the sake of others. This pandemic has reminded us that self-sacrifice, courage, presence, the ability to listen and to collaborate are the marks of a true leader. The image of The Good Shepherd captures these marks of authentic leadership. The true shepherd is one who walks ahead of his sheep, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. He does not climb over elsewhere but enters through the gate to meet their needs. He dives in their midst to take care of each of them and lead everyone to safety.
The Kite Runner PROF. ENRIQUE M. SORIANO
Testing leadership A true leader then leads his people to the truth and not lie to them. He is accountable to them and their needs. He is present to them, listens to them, and provides for their wants. As Pope Francis says, “He smells like the sheep.” A leader possesses courage, an attribute that is most needed nowadays to deal with the troubles and uncertainties of life. Hence, he needs to walk bravely ahead of his people, armed with compassion, understanding, and wisdom. We look at our lives and examine if we do possess these attributes of a true leader. Let me then ask you the following questions for your reflection this week. First, how are you leading yourself? Are you taking care of your physical, spiritual, and emotional health? Are you cultivating good habits of prayer, exercise, and eating, listening, and soulful conversations? These take sacrifices too, and they are essential, for as the old cliché says, we cannot take care of others if we do not know how to take care of ourselves. Second, how are you leading others? How are you encouraging them and giving them hope in these trying times? How are you modeling courage, faith, and patience to our children? It is time to show our real concern and care for them. It is the time not to wallow in fear but to show your strength and ability to withstand any crisis. Third, how are you collaborating with the leaders of our
government and nation? It’s not easy to isolate ourselves for a long time, to follow orders not to congregate, and to cover our mouth and nose with a mask. But if these are what the experts and our local leaders ask us to do to mitigate the spread of this virus, then we’ll have to collaborate with them. Fourth, as leaders in the different sectors of the society, including the church, how are you demonstrating creativity, proactivity, wisdom, boldness, and tenacity during these difficult times? Indeed, the way we do business, lead government, schools, and the church will be different now. We’re coming up with new norms of protecting everyone’s health and assuring the education of our young people. Even the church has to deal with changes in the ministries of worship, evangelization, and teaching. Are you ready to face this challenge? Are you learning from other people’s creativity to deal with changes and to find new ways of working and serving one another? Finally, who is the person that you turn to the most to gain strength, courage, and peace? Do you turn to Jesus—the Good Shepherd? Do you allow him to hold and caress you when you become afraid, anxious, and doubtful? Let’s keep in mind the image of the Good Shepherd as we face another COVID-19 week. Let’s turn to him for courage and strength! *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
Business owners must never, never give up!
AS the world economy grounds to a complete halt, a looming recession is at our doorstep and deaths and infections continue to surge everywhere, it is time for business owners to assess the impact of an agonizingly painful journey towards normalcy both on the family and the business aspect. Looking beyond this lockdown, we can expect that losses will be staggering. We also acknowledge that this unprecedented crisis is wrought with uncertainty. Yes, we can see the tip of the iceberg but we do not know how deep it is. If the infection spread decelerates, we can anticipate that the crisis will be severely felt in the third and fourth quarter of 2020. However, if the pandemic worsens, the economic impact
will extend until the end of 2021. While we are all in a state of shock and making sense of this unheard-of disruption, it is important for business leaders to take a step back and make a full assessment on the severity of the impact and immediately plan on how to navigate, weather and hopefully bounce back as quickly as possible. Upside-down world In a well written Forbes article by globally recognized family business expert and author Prof Dennis Jaffe, he highlighted that “today’s pandemic crisis is turning everyone’s world upside-down in ways that couldn’t have been anticipated just a short time ago. After a half-century of observing and sometimes resisting the increasing pace of change and the many innovations disrupting our behavior, we are now encountering a
situation that makes it impossible not to change. However, there appears to be no clear way to reasonably plan what to do next or how to manage the extent of the upheaval. Yet every day we must act and even make some tough choices—despite the lack of any reliable information about the best direction to take.” He further added that “every business, large and small, is feeling threatened, and every family faces deep challenges just to stay afloat. Without being able to go to work or attend school right now, we cannot imagine how life will return to some sense of normalcy. That uncertainty and inability to control makes us anxious. And when we’re anxious, we can do impulsive, short-sighted things.” As a family business advisor, my advice to entrepreneurs and PAGE B6
When she got to the airport, she was perturbed that it was a single-engine propeller plane that could only take five passengers, but there were seven of them. So six went: Dr. Carmencita, the pilot, mother and child, an intern and Arnold. Grandma was left behind. “The pilot started the engine, but it would not start. So, luggages were removed. The pilot came back with a working battery, replaced it and hurriedly flew as a storm was coming. I told the pilot not to go so high as oxygen was getting low at 85% and it should be 90%. The mother of the child started throwing up, as the ride was so bumpy that every time they hit a headwind, it would move sideways. Arnold had to hold the IV for me, and the child’s temperature went up, and the danger was another seizure. The pilot was tapping the instrument panel. The pilot said we lost power and no instruments were working. Arnold started praying. We don’t know how high we were, as we had no contact with the tower,” Dr. Carmencita said in methodically shared the incident. The pilot did not tell the passengers that he followed the coastline and did not really tell them the full extent of what was going on. Until they saw, Taal Volcano and asked, “Is that Taal?” The pilot said yes, all felt relieved that they were near Manila and were given priority to land. “It turns out the alternator was dead, even though we had a new battery in the plane,” Dr. Carmencita continued, “I was pumping oxygen for two hours, alternating with the intern and when we got to Philippine General Hospital, no room was ready, and the emergency room would not be available until one to hours later and all the ventilators were being used. We waited another hour until the grandfather came to relieve us, as there is a cultural expectation that “doctors and nurses are not expected to “ambu-bag.” After two months of hospitalization, which PMSNC paid for, the boy was able to go home,” Dr. Carmencita recalled. Not even this scary incident, with a fiery plane crash that
could have resulted in losing her own life could deter her from joining the annual medical mission. Dr. Carmencita and Arnold have gone to yearly medical missions ever since and many more miracles have been witnessed, combining their professional judgment, creative resourcefulness along with resilience, patience to make-do with thirdworld conditions and still save lives. What generates her sustained giving is her love of the country where she was born and her love for the Filipino people. In a way, a sense of guilt too, as she promised her father to enlarge the 25-bed hospital in Santiago, Isabela but was preempted when they went to the U.S. Now, they have their own charity in which they sponsor students in high school to continue on to college. They provide tuition, allowances, and transportation. So far, they have helped a poor deserving student become a lawyer, another a policeman, a teacher, an economics graduate and another with a degree in business. They are also very active members of their town’s organization, United Vintarinians, which has also helped more than 20 students graduate with a college degree and are now gainfully employed. The organization also supports Filipino veterans with a feeding program in San Francisco every Thanksgiving Day celebration. Has she made a difference in the world? Does she feel right about herself? Has she fulfilled her dad’s dream for her? Was her husband right in describing her as a woman of substance, grace, and good character? What about her children – what do they say about their mom? Her oldest Alastair recognized the struggles and triumphs of his mother as a woman of color and an immigrant who dreamed of practicing medicine in the U.S. “She found a profession that was at first unwelcoming to people like her. But rather than turning back, she persevered, she committed, and she thrived,” he said. “Now, at the top of her game, she is respected and loved
by her patients, coworkers, and staff, not the least because she gives back to the community that supported her with projects like the Medical Mission. She is an excellent doctor, a loving parent and grandparent, and a kind soul. I am proud and humbled to be her son.” While Andrew shared a life’s lesson: “Mom passionately serves her calling. She’s always been my example for hard work and self-sacrifice. Mom always told me: ‘Excellence is one step above average and you can always outwork others’ intelligence.’” While the youngest, Alexander, has validated Dr. Carmencita’s great example, “Mom has always been an amazing source of strength for our entire family. Her work both in the hospital and at home provides a strong foundation for all of us.” I say that she has made a difference in the world — her life speaks volumes about love and a legacy of service, I say that now with even more certitude that in her giving service, she has also amplified her self-esteem, even her caring sense of self as an international lifesaver, as an instrument of God’s miracles through PMSNC, as one who directs critical life-saving Units at Washington Hospital, and one who makes a difference in the lives of others, one scholar and one patient at a time! Would you agree that she follows her own North Star – the fundamental laws of her giving self: compassion and generosity of spirit to others? *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. is a writer, after having retired from a 27-year public service at a state health agency. She served as LA Civil Service Commissioner, appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as part of a five-member board. She supports the slow food movement and buys organic produce at Los Angeles Farmers Market. Her essays have been published in the Los Angeles Times, Philippine News, Taliba and Amerasia Journal. She wrote this in 2007 and has updated it in 2019. She has been writing for the Asian Journal for 11 years now and occasionally contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. She authored her first book, “Even the Rainbow Has a Body,” an anthology of 31 distinct artistic legacies of Filipino, FilipinoAmericans and Italian Americans.
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Who won’t you get stimulus checks? Tax Tips Victor Sy, cPA, MBA & roger L. orieL THE following groups won’t get stimulus payments: • Children who are 17 or 18 years old (those claimed as dependents by another). • Many college students between the ages of 19 to 23. • Adults who can be claimed as dependents (example: your parents). • Nonresident aliens (example: those without green cards). • Individuals who earn more than $99,000 and married couples earning more than $198,000. • People who haven’t filed 2018 and 2019 tax returns (but seniors receiving SS benefits are OK). • Estates. Children dependents The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) relies on the tax-code definition of “child” that describes a qualifying child as somebody who has not attained age 17. Unfortunately,
Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA SAMSon ANG green card holder ay maaaring mag-file ng N400 Application for Naturalization kung siya ay may 5 taon nang green card holder (3 taon kung ang green card ay nakuha dahil sa kasal sa U.S. citizen at sila ay nagsasama pa din). Ang aplikante para sa naturalization ay kailangang magpakita na sa statutory period na 5 taon bago ang N-400 filing, siya ay may good moral character (GMC). Kung ang aplikante ay kusang hindi nagbigay ng child support sa loob ng statutory period, maaaring masabi na siya ay walang GMC. Kailangang magpakita ang aplikante ng extenuating circumstances para sa hindi pagtupad ng kanyang obligasyon na magbigay ng child support. Kasama sa obligasyon ng child support ang mga child
EMPLOYMENT
this definition excludes many high school juniors and seniors. In other words, their parents and the students won’t receive a $500 check from the stimulus bill. College students If you file taxes on your own, independently, you qualify for a stimulus check. If you are claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return (such as your parents), you won’t qualify for a stimulus check. Simply said, you won’t qualify if you are claimed as a dependent of another. This is sad since college students probably need stimulus the most. Adult dependents Adults claimed as dependents on other taxpayers’ return aren’t entitled to stimulus payments. Sadly, the new law excludes many college students and some disabled adults. The new law also excludes adults who can be claimed (even if not actually claimed) as dependents. Nonresident aliens “Nonresident aliens” (non-U.S. citizens) who have no green card or who fail to reside in the U.S. for a long enough period of time” are not entitled to stimulus payments (though I’m not yet sure how long that time is). No tax return for 2018 or
2019 The Department of Treasury will base stimulus payments on your 2019 tax returns. If you have not filed 2019, IRS will base it on your 2018 return. If you have not filed either, you may not receive the stimulus check. However, if you are a senior receiving Social Security benefits, the government will use your data from the Social Security Administration. You don’t have to file your income tax returns. Please read upcoming updates. There’s still confusion over stimulus checks. More news releases are coming still out of the woodwork. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.
Child support and naturalization
support orders dito sa U.S. at sa ibang bansa. Ang mga magulang ay may legal at moral na obligasyon para magbigay ng child support kahit walang court order para sa child support. Ayon din sa mga korte, ang hindi pagbigay ng child support ay nagpapakita na ang aplikante ay walang GMC. Kung ang aplikante para sa naturalization ay may arrears o pagkukulang sa pagbigay ng child support, o ang kanyang binigay na child support ay hindi naaayon sa court- ordered child support, kailangan niya ipakita kung magkano ang kanyang arrears, kung gaano siya katagal na hindi nagbayad ng child support, at ang dahilan sa hindi pagbayad ng child support. Ang mga sumusunod ay maaaring maging konsiderasyon sa hindi pagbayad ng child support: (1) ang aplikante ay walang traba-
ho at walang pinansyal na abilidad para sa pagbayad ng child support; (2) mga dahilan kung bakit walang trabaho ang aplikante; (3) ebidensya ng goodfaith effort para magbigay ng child support; (4) kung inakala ng aplikante na wala na siyang obligasyon na magbigay ng child support dahil tapos na ang obligasyong ito; at (5) kung ang arrears ay dahil sa miscalculation ng court-ordered support at arrears. Kung ang aplikante ay makakapagpakita ng extenuating circumstances sa hindi pagbayad ng child support, maaari pa ring magkaroon ng determinasyon ang USCIS na siya ay may GMC. A green card holder can file for N-400 Application for Naturalization if he has held permanent resident status, or has had green card for at least 5 years PAGE B6
EMPLOYMENT
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 9-12, 2020
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How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code §7610. Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child. Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child. A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father. Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend. One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary
declaration Family.Code. § 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485 If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps §7611 presumptions discussed below. A post 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.” Family .Code §§ 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re J.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33. Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories PAGE B6
Unable to pay commercial lease due to coronavirus
THE clients are a husband and wife in their sixties. They operate a retail business that provides a service. There is no corporation or LLC. In other words, clients are sole proprietors of the business. The commercial lease for the premises is $5,000/month with three more years to go. Before the coronavirus arrived in Los Angeles, their business was humming along smoothly. Revenues were good and they had no problem paying the $5,000 commercial rent for the premises. Their gross receipts hovered $15,000 to $20,000 a month and life was good. Of course in March, before New York locked down, the virus travelled from Europe to NY, and from NY it was spread and fanned out to the rest of the country. Domestic flights from NY to the rest of the country kept going on and on, so the virus kept on spreading, all the way to us here in the West Coast. This is the conclusion of official studies that try to understand how we became the number one hot spot for the virus in the world
Debt Relief
Atty. LAwrence yAng with 1.2M infected, with 75,000 deaths and still going. The virus strain that we have here in our country is the same strain that is ravaging Europe. Well, whatever. The fight is against the virus in whatever mutated form it is. It’s not against a particular race. The virus does not distinguish race or geography. It attacks human beings. The golden rule of Christianity Now is the time for kindness and our humanity to shine forth, to help each other not get sick, by wearing face masks, gloves and self-isolating and helping our society’s most vulnerable, seniors, get the good treatment and protection they need. After all, we pride ourselves as being a Christian country right?
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And what is the “golden rule” in Christianity? Jesus described the “golden rule” as the second great commandment for human beings to follow. The “golden rule” of Leviticus 19:18, quoted by Jesus of Nazareth (Mathew 7:12; Luke 6:31 is: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” So this is how we should be treating each other, especially now during the time of the pandemic, we should be following the golden rule. Let’s go back to clients. Since the virus came over to LA and the shutdown began, they had to close shop. In the last two months, their gross income was zero. Yes, no sales at all. Well, it’s shut down after all, but even if it were open, people are afraid to go in and have the service performed on them because of the fear of getting infected. They were still able to squeeze out the $5,000 rent payment for March. But there’s no money left to pay for April. And there’s still three years of lease to go. That means clients are legally liable PAGE B6
B May 9-12, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL
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Firing employees for taking leave to care for a family member may be illegal
STANLEY Vincent worked as a Patrol Officer for the California Highway Patrol for seven years. The Daily Journal reports that Vincent was fired from his job when he took three weeks of leave so he could look for his missing mentally disabled sister. Vincent sued, alleging that the employer’s failure to grant his requested leave, refusal to reinstate him, and retaliation after he requested leave violated the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FMLA). Both the CFRA and the FMLA protect employees’ rights to take a leave of absence for, the serious health condition of the employee or the employee’s immediate family (i.e., child, parent or spouse). The employer denied Vincent’s leave to search and care for his sister because an employee’s sister is not covered under the CFRA or the FMLA’s “immediate family” requirement. These laws define immediate family as the employee’s child, spouse, or parent. However, Vincent stated that for over 15 years, he has acted as a parent for his disabled sister. He provided her with a home, visited her often, supported her financially and emotionally, and acted as her health care advocate. Vincent argued that he stood in loco parentis to his sister, making him eligible for a protected family medical
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. leave of absence to care for her. However, his employer refused to grant Vincent leave even after presenting a medical certification of his sister’s health condition. Instead, the employer considered him as AWOL, refused to return him to his job duties, demoted him, investigated him, and ultimately fired him for alleged poor performance, even though he had no prior record of discipline. Under the FMLA and CFRA, “in loco parentis” means in the place of a parent; charged with a parent’s rights, duties, and responsibilities. It does not require a biological or legal relationship. To stand in loco parentis means to assume parental status and carry out the duties of a parent to a child (even in the absence of a legal or biological connection). The terms “son” or “daughter” means a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, and who is either under age 18, or age 18 or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability. To establish the in loco parentis
Business owners...
PAGE B4 business leaders is straightforward: Never, never give up even when the going gets tough. Sail along despite the headwinds and manage your emotions! When we help turnaround businesses, our go-to-mindset will always be on a long-term view but in our current situation, it’s nothing but crafting a short-term future. Time can be our friend or foe and speed in decision making is paramount. Additionally, alignment of strategies with well-defined roles within the ownership and management team is extremely important. Every owner must learn how to adapt by constantly tinkering with business models outside his industry. Focus on solutions At this juncture, it is in the best interest of owners to break down the issues so ICU’s (Important, Critical, Urgent) that need immediate intervention is prioritized. As you start sorting the problems, you can now rationally focus on how you can move forward with a certain degree of confidence. One of the first few items that are usually raised is the current financial state of the business. Understandably, when the lockdown restriction was imposed, most companies experienced a sharp downturn in their top lines. When sales dropped, the natural reaction was to preserve cash while maintaining a workforce. By default, the leadership team should have stepped up and prepared a financial and
workforce contingency plan outlining the operational aspect of cash flow and human resource management during and post lockdown. In my ICU interventions since March, sadly most companies did nothing, and their leaders were passive all throughout the lockdown. Interventions Moving forward, any decision that can impact cash must be studied. But preserving cash is one thing, managing the workforce is another significant and sensitive variable in the equation therefore any decision that will impact people must always be thoroughly planned with a strategic intent in mind. Owners must demonstrate empathy toward its employees as work reduction and termination are highly likely options for as long as the crisis continues to compromise business operations. I commiserate with the owners as they are wrestling with many tough decisions – including being forced to let some employees go especially when the same employees may have spent a significant part of their careers in the organization. It is a very delicate balancing act and requires really tough decisions. Apart from cash and workforce planning, there are other key metrics that must be considered. Some of them are highlighted below: • Capability and commitment of the leadership team • Control of Operating ex-
Unable to pay...
PAGE B5 for $180,000 of lease payments even if they voluntarily surrender the leased premises today. And why is this? Because the contract requires that clients pay three more years of rent. The landlord expects another $180,000 of rent irrespective of the fact that the lease premises are surrendered back to the landlord. Trust me. That’s the way it works. In addition to $180,000 of lease liability, clients also owe $200,000 of credit cards. These cards were used over the last five years, for various businesses of clients, including the retail business. Therefore, clients are looking at $380,000 of debt. Faced with a business that has no revenues and a pandemic with an unknown end date when life gets back to normal, clients have decided to throw in the towel and start fresh without any debt. They even decided to return the 2019 Camry lease that had two more years to go. They’ll just make do with their fully paid 2010 Tacoma. They want a fresh start with no debt. When things get back to normal, they will get back into the business without any debt. They decide to file for Chapter 7 to wipe out the $380,000 of liability, which includes $180,000 of unpaid commercial lease and $200,000 of credit cards. In this case, the clients do not own a house. So that issue did not come into play. Just like Walt Disney who filed for Chapter 7 twice, before his Disney theme parks and entertainment business became successful, clients decided to start life again with no
debts, the proverbial fresh start. Milton Hershey, the owner of Hershey chocolates, the biggest chocolate business in the world, also decided to file for Chapter 7 for a fresh start before his business became a worldwide success story. Who’s to say that my clients won’t become the next Disney or Hershey? Anything is possible with businesspeople once they start thinking clearly again and have no debt to worry about. The next client is not a senior. She is young, even younger than my own son or daughter. She signed a commercial lease in December, less than 5 months ago, for $10K a month, and still owes two years on it. She has not paid January to April, and obviously cannot pay May. She will owe $50K of lease payment this month. Well, two more years at $10K a month of rent means that she will $240K. But she has the same problem with senior clients. The business has shriveled up to nothing. In December, she grossed $100,000, which is really good. That’s why without the pandemic, she would have no problem paying the $10,000 a month of rent. However, this young client’s case is a lot more complicated. She personally guaranteed the lease even as the lease is signed by the LLC. And she has a house in her name. This house does not actually belong to her, but it’s in her name. This is an interesting situation that has many different issues with the primary focus on protecting the rental property in her name that she does not own. The real owners are her parents
status of an employee, the employee need only provide either financial support or care for the child. As a result, an employee who provides care for an unmarried partner’s child (with whom there is no legal or biological relationship) but provides no financial support for the child may still be considered to be in loco parentis for FMLA or CFRA purposes. After 12 days of trial, the jury found that Vincent’s termination violated the CFRA and the FMLA. They returned a verdict in favor of Vincent, awarding him $344,591 in past economic loss, $2,115,255 in future economic loss, $60,000 in future medical expenses, $1,000,000 million in past emotional distress, and $350,000 in future emotional distress – for a total of $3,869,846 in damages. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at nocost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.] (Advertising Supplement) penses • Managing inventory levels • Compensation cuts of the senior team • Temporary or permanent layoffs • Elimination of dividends • Rationalizing or deferment of capital acquisitions • Communication plan for partners, employees, customers and suppliers For skeptical leaders who think their businesses are so small and feel that contingency planning has no place in their companies, I urge you to think and reflect on this critical initiative. We are experiencing an uncertain environment out there and your inaction coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 virus on most sectors can lead to irreversible damage to your business. Believe me, without a plan, this crisis can take your business out overnight! It does not distinguish between big or small businesses. Just like when you were starting your business, every day was all about survival. That instinct must be reactivated. You must take action, move fast, rise to the challenge and decide on things that you need to do. Now! *** Prof. Soriano is a National Agora Awardee for Marketing Excellence, an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author and Executive Director of ASEAN-based Consulting group, W+B Strategic Advisory. He has close to three decades of real estate experience and is currently the Program Director for Real Estate at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. who don’t live here. Force majeure contract clause to excuse contract performance on lease The LLC can file for Chapter 7 to get out of the lease. But she’s on the hook on the personal guarantee. So, this needs surgical removal of the guarantee. The first line of defense once she is sued to collect on the personal guarantee is to defend herself using the force majeure clause, which allows performance on the contract to be excused if an entirely unforeseen supervening event has happened which renders performance on the contract unreasonable. The unforeseen supervening event may include an epidemic such as the one we have now. Government action such as the lockdown may also qualify as an event to excuse performance. The events are normally described in the contract. Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advice. Each case is different. *** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader. There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with Attorney Yang. The first general consultation is free. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789. (Advertising Supplement)
Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases
DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500.00 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K. Dear K.K., The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave. The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.” Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident cases on their own, or
Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn with the assistance of inexperienced counsel. Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C. How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those self-employed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider. After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and
the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings. Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident. If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 6390277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
How to obtain custody and...
PAGE B5 listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611: (a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court. (b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce. (2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation. (c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate. (2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order. (d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child. (e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Pro-
cedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative. (f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied. An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v. Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877. The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the childs birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612. Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual
Child support and... PAGE B5 prior to the filing (3 years if green card was based on marriage to a U.S. citizen and applicant is still married to U.S. citizen). An applicant filing for naturalization must show that during the statutory period of 5 years prior to N-400 filing, he was a person of good moral character (GMC). If the applicant has willfully failed or refused to support his dependents during the statutory period, he cannot establish GMC unless he shows extenuating circumstances. Child support obligations include child support obligations and child support orders in the U.S. and abroad. Even if there is no court-ordered child support for the applicant for naturalization, the Courts have held that parents have a legal and moral obligation to provide support for their dependents. A willful failure
to provide such support shows that the naturalization applicant lacks GMC. If the applicant for naturalization has not fully-paid child support pursuant to a court order and has arrears, the applicant must show how long there was non-payment, the current arrears due, and the circumstances for the non-payment and arrears. The following circumstances may be considered by USCIS in determining GMC despite the child support arrears: (1) applicant’s unemployment and financial inability to pay child support; (2) cause of the unemployment and financial inability to support dependents; (3) evidence of good-faith effort to reasonably provide child support; (4) whether the nonpayment was due to an honest but mistaken belief that the duty to support minor child had terminated; and (5) whether the non-
rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675. Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail Kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement) payment was due to miscalculation of court-ordered support and arrears. If the applicant for naturalization is able to show extenuating circumstances, a failure to support dependents will not adversely affect GMC determination. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005). SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: info@ samsonlawfirmpc.com.
(Advertising Supplement)
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